Chapter 60: The Young Dragon King Does Not Yet Understand

Six Flags Great America.

True to its name, this was a theme park centered around the thrill of roller coasters. Pitch-black iron tracks dominated the park's skyline, twisting into serpentine coils that rose from the ground and snaked toward the heavens. The thunderous rumble of cars clashing against rails was nearly incessant, punctuated by the piercing shrieks and screams of tourists.

Lu Mingfei pulled his head into his shoulders. Every time a coaster plummeted overhead, he felt the vibration rattling against his very skull.

Not long ago, Principal Hilbert Jean Angers had found him and used him as a "shill" to attend a high-society auction. Having just spent a cool hundred million dollars on alchemical blades, Mingfei felt he had finally seen the world. However, the tiny sprout of pride that had cropped up in his heart was quickly crushed back into the depths by the roaring machinery.

He suddenly regretted coming here.

If he had known that Chu Zihang and his younger schoolmate Xia Mi were coming to this park, he would have preferred to spend more time with Principal Angers. The old man liked to drive fast, sure, but compared to these roller coasters, the ground felt a lot safer.

Mingfei was a sharp-witted lad. He had noticed a knife-cut scar on the console of the Principal's flashy Maserati and had tried to ask about it jokingly. Unfortunately, the old man had brushed him off with a few vague sentences. He had a nagging feeling that something big was happening in the world behind his back, while he was being kept entirely in the dark.

Withdrawing his gaze, he looked toward the Ferris wheel. He had to admit, even though Chu Zihang usually looked like he had permanent "poker face," the guy knew how to please a girl. He actually knew to bring a schoolmate on a Ferris wheel.

Mingfei's eyes caught two figures inside a cabin through the glass. The massive wheel turned slowly like a watermill, lowering those two silhouettes toward the platform.

"Setting quite the romantic mood, aren't we?" Mingfei grumbled.

"Is that so?" a voice suddenly answered beside him. He nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Hey! Brother! Popping up like that and scaring people to death is a crime, you know!" Mingfei blurted out as he looked at the man who had suddenly appeared behind him.

They had met before, not long ago. The middle-aged man with the unique aura.

Zoran walked up beside him, seemingly waiting for someone as well. His gaze followed Mingfei's toward the passenger cabin, and with a trace of reflection, he said:

"Humans always yearn for the sky. They try to pack themselves into giant machines just to get a little closer to the heavens. I used to be the same way."

Mingfei stared blankly. The way the man spoke made it sound like he could just fly right now. Was this "brother" actually some kind of winged angel?

"At Principal Angers' request, I will be responsible for leading your itinerary for the next few days," Zoran said. "I happen to be heading to the College as well."

Mingfei clapped his hands. Bingo. The guy was from Cassell College. He didn't look like staff, so with that aura, he must be a professor, right? Mingfei hadn't been enrolled for long; it was normal not to have met everyone. Besides, with so many foreigners at Cassell, it made sense to have a Chinese teacher.

"So you're a Professor! I've heard so much about you. Please excuse my lack of manners!" Mingfei bowed with a practiced grin.

No wonder the guy knew his name right off the bat, it all clicked now! Even though this was only their second meeting, it didn't stop him from trying to butter up the Professor. Who knew if he'd end up taking one of the man's classes?

Lowering his voice slightly, he struck a "profound" pose and said, "Indeed, how can man compare to the birds? No matter how high we fly, we can never truly touch the sky. And even if we could, there's still the moon above us!"

In reality, his mind was busy wondering what Chu Zihang and the pretty girl were chatting about in that cabin.

Zoran glanced at him, knowing full well the kid was talking nonsense, but he simply smiled and nodded. "You are right."

The cabin pulled into the platform, and the doors slid open to reveal the young, striking pair. Seeing the two people waiting outside, Xia Mi was clearly startled. She flashed a sun-drenched smile: "Senior! What are you doing here?"

Chu Zihang glanced at Lu Mingfei, his eyes immediately shifting to Zoran. A very unique man, Chu Zihang thought, searching his memory. He was certain he had never met him. A person with such a distinct style was someone you could never forget after a single glance.

"Ta-da! This is Professor Tso Lan. Senior Chu, you probably recognize him? Principal Angers thought we were working too hard, so he sent someone to join our operation." Mingfei made the introduction, looking quite pleased with himself.

Working... hard? Chu Zihang thought. He had intended to give Xia Mi an orientation, only to end up hearing a string of tragic stories about her brother.

Chu Zihang lowered his eyes. As an A-rank hybrid, his memory was impeccable. The man before him had absolutely never appeared in his line of sight before. He instinctively wondered if the "sweet but simple" Lu Mingfei had been scammed.

Xia Mi also looked at Zoran. Compared to the two boys, the emotions in her eyes were far more complex. She couldn't sense even a trace of draconic blood in his veins, yet her instincts brought a faint, creeping sense of danger.

In almost an instant, she was certain. This was a man far more dangerous than the Principal of Cassell College.

Zoran shifted his gaze to meet hers and offered a gentle smile.

Xia Mi. Female. A freshman at Cassell College this year.

Simultaneously, she was one of the twins of the King of Earth and Mountains. Between "Authority" and "Power," she was the Dragon King who held the Authority: Jormungandr.

And she was one of the targets of his journey.

The reason he said "one of" was simple: a singular Dragon King was simply... too weak. Practically useless.

Perhaps in this world, a Dragon King was an existence that struck terror and cold dread into the hearts of all. The title meant absolute dominion, a terrifying monster that countless people desired to both become and destroy. Their mere resurrection was enough to spark global panic.

But to Zoran, a Dragon King holding only a single side of their essence didn't even qualify for his definition of "useful." Such a power, even if cast into the Netherworld, wouldn't cause so much as a ripple.

Dragon Kings were twins. Only after they devoured each other could they evolve into a "King" in the true sense of the word. Only when Authority and Power merged to create a True Dragon King, and were then further enhanced by his hand, would that power be barely sufficient.

Otherwise, the so-called Dragon Kings of this world were, in Zoran's eyes, virtually indistinguishable from humans. Both were equally frail, in body and spirit. A complete Dragon King invoking a Yanling could destroy an entire city, or perhaps exert some minor influence over a continent.

That was all.

For now, however, she was just a lively, energetic little girl. Despite having the eyes of a Dragon King, she was completely unable to see through Zoran's existence.

Perhaps he should give her a sense of urgency? Force her to find her brother, the other Dragon King of the twins, so they could merge and upgrade.

Xia Mi blinked, her eyes fixated on Zoran. The young Dragon King did not yet understand exactly what kind of figure was standing before her.

But when the day of understanding finally arrived, it would also be the end of her life as a dragon.