Dragon Raja 4; Chapter 108: Odin’s Shadow (5)

Dragon Raja 4

“Back then, didn’t I ask you if I had gotten ugly, and you said no, right?” Nono placed a hand on his shoulder, patting her chest. Wearing her high-heeled boots, she was now the same height as him, and the gesture made her look very much like a brother-in-arms. “Is your senior sister real or not? Does my beauty still hold up? Was it real when I saved you in that screening room? Come on! You were escorted from Shilan Middle School by Ferrari, helicopters, and international flights all the way to Cassell College! Your past wasn’t some dream! You’ve been the school prince from Shilan to Cassell, a heartthrob the entire time! You have no right to be down! You think a river lantern determines your fate? Even if you were to die, it’d have to be the ‘Heavenly Judgment Sword’ itself coming down!”

Lu Mingfei looked into her fierce eyes. “That’s not what I meant. I meant that everyone has old dreams. When they finally wake up from those dreams, that’s when they truly grow up.”

“Huh?” Nono was dumbfounded. “Are you saying you’ve grown up? That I shouldn’t worry about you? You’re talking so seriously now, it’s a bit unsettling.”

She had come because she was worried about him, but after hearing his response, he seemed so calm, almost indifferent.

As they traveled together, Nono found it harder and harder to read this former junior. Sometimes he was still adorably clueless, and at other times, he seemed like a silent, twisted statue—clear enough to see, yet impossible to understand. This made her weigh her words more carefully when speaking to him, and she even felt a little uncertain at times.

“Well, since you’re okay, I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll go back and drink with Finger. You want to join us?” Nono asked, eager to escape the awkward conversation.

“I’ll keep walking for a bit. I’ll be back soon,” Lu Mingfei said. “Senior Sister, you’re part of my old dream too.”

Nono’s wide grin froze on her face, and she almost thought she had misheard. Then, in her heart, she swore.

You’ve got to be kidding me! Sure, you know, I know, Heaven and Earth know, even Caesar knows, but can’t you just keep that to yourself? I was your teenage crush—so what? I didn’t mind at the time. You were just going through puberty, and I had a face. I’m fine with it; I’ve been ogled plenty over the years. But that was ages ago! Why are you bringing it up now? Are you trying to confess to me or something? And while chewing on a malt candy? It sounds more like you’re saying I’m a thing of the past!

After Lu Mingfei spoke, he turned back to staring at the lanterns, as if the whole matter wasn’t important. He had said what he wanted to say without any intent to dwell on it.

Since he didn’t pursue the topic, Nono didn’t either. She rolled her eyes and turned to leave. As soon as her back was turned, Lu Mingfei turned to silently watch her retreating figure.

“Brother, what kind of show are you putting on here? Shouldn’t that kind of thing be said on a quiet, moonlit night when it’s just the two of you?” a voice sounded behind him.

“It was just the two of us, but some nosy devil couldn’t help but show up,” Lu Mingfei replied, putting his hand behind him and pressing down on a fluffy head.

“You should’ve set the mood better! You scared Senior Sister so much she can’t even walk straight!” Lu Mingze leaned on Lu Mingfei’s shoulder, watching Nono’s back with him.

“This isn’t a secret that can’t be told anymore. I just said it because it came to mind,” Lu Mingfei said calmly.

“You’ve got the aura of Jing Ke heading off to assassinate the First Emperor! Like you’re thinking, ‘If I don’t say it now, I’ll never get the chance!’ You’ve got me, the devil, scared, you know that? Didn’t I pull you back from that γ world line? What are you afraid of? As for Gungnir, I’m still working on it! If it dares harm our Senior Sister, I’ll make sure it’s destroyed completely, banished forever! You know me, I may not be good at nice things, but I’m great at taking people down,” Lu Mingze said, his bright eyes gleaming. “Has anyone who’s crossed us ever had a good ending?”

“I do know you,” Lu Mingfei said. “When you say you’re working on it, that means you haven’t found a solution yet. Some things, if not said at the right time, become meaningless afterward.”

“So how’s your novel going to end? Will the boy confess to the girl with the freckles? Even if she’s not as pretty as he imagined, she liked him.”

“No, the boy will go back to the city, apologize to his boss, and withdraw his resignation. Growing up means heading to the battlefield, and that’s where his fight is.”

Lu Mingze sighed. “I used to tease you, saying all sorts of things, but now I don’t even dare scare you anymore.”

Lu Mingfei forced a smile. “It’s fine, really. After all, I grew up with you scaring me. If you keep doing it, I’ll stay alert. I can handle it.”

Lu Mingze smirked. “I’m just worried that if I scare you too much, you might end up destroying the world…”

“You’re overthinking it. I actually like this world. After all, I have friends here.” Lu Mingfei paused, suddenly remembering something. “Wait, are you saying I have the power to destroy the world?”

“Depends on the situation. Maybe you’ll destroy the world, or maybe you’ll destroy yourself,” Lu Mingze shrugged. “But don’t worry, Senior Sister can still be saved. Don’t panic just yet. According to alchemy theory, the more overpowered a weapon is, the stricter its usage restrictions are. Otherwise, Odin could just kill Nidhogg with one spear throw. Have you heard of Rupert’s drop? It’s made of regular glass, but its head is so tough even a bullet can’t shatter it. However, if you pinch the delicate tail, the whole thing shatters. Scientists have tried to create a tail-less version, but it defies the basic laws of the world.”

“So what’s the limitation on using Gungnir?” Lu Mingfei’s eyes lit up. “Don’t leave me hanging, tell me!”

“Well, that’s the tricky part. It was crafted by Odin, so outsiders can only speculate. No one can say for sure,” Lu Mingze scratched his head. “We’ll need to investigate the weapon’s usage in the field.”

“How the hell are we supposed to investigate that? The marker’s already on Senior Sister! If that thing gets thrown, someone dies!” Lu Mingfei was on the verge of panic.

Just then, a familiar cawing sound came from above. Lu Mingfei looked up to see a black bird flying low overhead. The gentle, cool sea breeze suddenly turned sharp and cold, and rain began to pour down on the lagoon. The people strolling along the sandbar started running for cover.

Lu Mingze’s face darkened as he slowly turned to look out at the sea. Lu Mingfei followed his gaze, and his pupils widened. His hands clenched into fists instinctively.

A dense fog rose from the sea beyond the sandbar, and flocks of crows flew toward them, crossing over into the lagoon. Several landed on a small boat selling lanterns, scaring the vendor into jumping into the water. Though it wasn’t time for the tide, massive waves pounded the sandbar, accompanied by a rumble like distant thunder. On the side facing the ocean, large concrete tetrapods were stacked to prevent tidal erosion. The crashing waves splintered against them, creating pale white spray, though for now, the lagoon remained untouched—but it was only a matter of time.

Moments later, the sound of heavy hoofbeats echoed across the water, as if an enormous steed was approaching, each step deliberate and steady. Its stride was odd, of course—after all, it had eight legs. This was Sleipnir, the horse that could travel anywhere, in heaven or on earth.

Though he found it hard to believe, Lu Mingfei couldn’t help but recall that eerie highway. The rain, the thunder, the crows, the hoofbeats—all the elements were coming together.

“Is the Nibelungen… invading reality?” Lu Mingfei’s voice trembled slightly.

This was something he had never imagined. He had entered several Nibelungen realms before, and in his understanding, they were hidden, mysterious spaces tucked away in the corners of the world. Access between them and the real world required a door or a secret passage. But now, the Nibelungen of the Zero Highway was rushing toward them like a tidal wave, rewriting reality wherever the fog reached. Whether it would drag everyone into this rewritten world, or only those targeted by Odin, remained to be seen.

“It’s been years since anyone’s managed something on this scale,” Lu Mingze said, licking his teeth. “Odin, huh? He’s really grown.”

A crow darted straight toward Lu Mingze, but with lightning-fast reflexes, he snapped its neck and tossed its body to the ground.

“I’ll take care of the first wave,” Lu Mingze said, pulling the malt candy from Lu Mingfei’s mouth and popping it into his own. “You go protect Senior Sister. Find a place shielded from the rain and fog.”

With a snap of his fingers, Lu Mingfei could feel an invisible force field expanding from where he stood, pushing the fog back toward the sea. From the outside, it looked like a strong gust of wind had blown across the lagoon, forcing the swirling sea fog back. The fog didn’t dissipate, though; instead, it grew thicker and more solid. Silhouettes began to form within it—figures resembling the spectral warriors from the highway. A gust of wind would bring them into being, another would cause them to collapse.

The ominous sound of hoofbeats still echoed, slowly drawing closer. Occasionally, flashes of light appeared in the fog, likely from Gungnir’s deadly glow.

Lu Mingze walked to the southernmost edge of the sandbar, facing the raging sea, the malt candy rolling lazily between his lips.

The second wave of crows didn’t dare approach the transparent barrier. They screeched and circled in the air while, beyond the barrier, the sound of thunder and crashing waves roared. But within the field, the rain suddenly lightened.

Lu Mingze reached into the air, and a glass of golden champagne materialized in his hand. For him, this symbol of elegance was always a necessary accessory.

One man, one glass of champagne, and an army kept at bay.

But Lu Mingze’s attention was fixed on the eight-legged horse emerging from the fog, leaving him no time to deal with the crows that had already crossed into reality. The birds swooped and cawed through the crowd, landing on billboards, tree branches, lampposts, and rooftops. Some even perched on people’s shoulders, sending panicked girls shrieking. Attempts to shoo them away were futile—the birds would just hop back after a brief flutter. They seemed to be searching for Nono, and wherever they flew became Odin’s hunting ground.

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