266-270

Chapter 266: Feels… Not as Good as Catgirl 

The next day arrived in a flash. 

In the morning, Uchiha Hikari headed to the training ground beneath the Naka River waterfall. She started with a few sets of basic stretches to loosen up her joints before pulling out several sealing scrolls she’d brought from the Jujutsu Kaisen world, ready to test out the techniques of a few cursed spirits. 

Mufū Henka (Idle Transfiguration) needed no introduction. 

Hikari practiced this technique almost daily. It didn’t require a specific training ground—she could use it on herself anytime, even while eating or drinking. In theory, she could transform into any form she wanted, like a “catgirl,” “armored mech-girl,” or even a “mature lady.” But those forms felt a bit embarrassing, so she’d only tried them in private, never showing them off to others. 

—Except for the “catgirl” form, which Esdeath had already seen. 

As for the other cursed spirits, Hikari had the best compatibility with Dagon’s techniques. 

“Domain Expansion…” 

“Coffin of the Iron Mountain!” 

With Hikari forming hand signs, an invisible aura radiated from her, spreading in all directions and enveloping a few hundred meters around her. In that moment, countless dark red sparks appeared in the air, drifting like snowflakes and scattering across the ground. 

—This was Dagon’s domain ability. 

For Hikari, who was already skilled in Fire Release and wielded the Mangekyō’s “Fire Thunder God” spirit tool, this ability was a natural fit. She barely needed to practice, mastering it with just a few tries. 

The moment the domain formed, all the grass, leaves, and anything flammable within hundreds of meters vanished instantly. Even the layer of ice Esdeath had set up beforehand melted completely in a flash. 

This wasn’t even “burning” anymore—it was closer to “annihilation.” 

It was as if she’d artificially created a volcanic crater, producing this terrifying incineration effect. If ordinary people were caught in it, they’d likely turn to ash in seconds. 

“…Not bad.” 

Hikari nodded slightly. 

In terms of raw power, Coffin of the Iron Mountain was decent but not extraordinary—roughly comparable to an enhanced Majestic Fire Destruction, a technique suited for clearing a battlefield quickly. She had plenty of similar moves in her arsenal. 

But… 

The visual of “calamitous fire raining from the heavens” was undeniably intimidating. 

Especially when Hikari activated her Fire Thunder God, dyeing her long hair red and cloaking herself in a flowing, crimson veil. The effect gave her an almost breathtaking, otherworldly beauty. 

Click— 

A crisp shutter sound rang out nearby. 

Esdeath had pulled out her phone to snap a photo, admiring it as she walked over. A faint white mist rose from her body, giving her an ethereal, almost仙-like vibe. 

—In reality, it was the thin layer of ice covering her evaporating under the heat of Hikari’s Coffin of the Iron Mountain. 

“Is that the ability of that ‘Dagon’ guy?” Esdeath asked. “It looks pretty good, suits you. Like my Ice Storm Commander-in-Chief, it’s perfect for weeding out the weak.” 

She paused, then added, “But it’s still not as good as the one that gives you cat ears.” 

“?” 

A question mark slowly appeared on Hikari’s face. 

Despite Esdeath’s comment, there was no way Hikari would show off her “catgirl form” again. Trying it in private was one thing, but doing it in broad daylight? Way too embarrassing. If any passing Uchiha clan members saw their “Great-Grandmother” like that, her dignity would be in tatters. 

Esdeath, meanwhile, tucked her phone back into her pocket, stretched her neck, and looked at Hikari with interest. “So… wanna spar? It’d help you get a handle on those new abilities.” 

“…I think you just want an excuse to fight.” 

Hikari gave her a sidelong glance. 

It had been a while since their last spar—back at the Dragon Ball world’s World Martial Arts Tournament. Since then, Esdeath had only fought weaker opponents like Doma, Gojo Satoru, and Dagon. While those fights were fun, they clearly weren’t enough to scratch her itch. 

“Fine, let’s have a quick match. Just don’t wreck the place—it’s a pain to fix,” Hikari said. 

… 

Even though Hikari and Esdeath held back, sticking mostly to taijutsu and avoiding large-scale ninjutsu—let alone Susanoo or Esdeath’s ice demon powers—the shockwaves from their fight still caused a minor earthquake-like disturbance that rippled through half the Uchiha clan grounds. 

Shisui and the others stationed there thought it was another incident like the Mist ninja attack from before. They rushed to the scene, only relaxing once they confirmed what was happening. 

In the end, Shisui surveyed the heavily damaged training ground with a sigh. “Great-Grandmother’s strength has gotten even more incredible.” 

“And Lady Esdeath being able to keep up with her? That’s something else.” 

Hikari scratched her head. “Guess we overdid it a bit… Shisui, get someone to fix this place up later. I’ll cover the costs.” 

“No, no, how could we let you pay, Great-Grandmother?” Shisui shook his head vigorously. “The clan has a dedicated fund for maintaining training grounds. It’s been a while since the last repair, so I’ll just discuss it with the clan leader.” 

“…Alright then.” 

Hikari didn’t mind paying—she had plenty of money, including a gold mine being developed in the Demon Slayer world, making her practically richer than a small nation. But since Shisui insisted, she let it go. 

… 

Next, Hikari moved to another spot to test Hanami and Jogo’s abilities. 

Hanami’s powers were like a weaker version of Wood Release, able to rapidly grow plants or drain the life force from surrounding vegetation to replenish herself. It was also great at concealing her presence, bypassing barriers set by others. 

—In the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Hanami used this stealth to trick Jujutsu High’s barriers into registering her as a plant, allowing her to come and go without triggering alarms. 

In theory, this could work in the Naruto world too, letting Hikari sneak past the defensive barriers of Konoha, Mist, Cloud, or Rain Village. 

She’d been planning to visit those places anyway. 

With her current strength, she could waltz in, face an entire village’s attack, and still walk away unscathed. But she preferred to keep things low-key—she had her pride, after all, and wasn’t about to pull a Cloud Village move and kidnap someone in their own home. 

As for the fourth cursed spirit, Jogo… 

His ability was water-based. 

His Domain: Horizon of the Captivating Skandha could create a beach-like environment, one of Hikari’s favorite abilities from the Jujutsu Kaisen world. It was basically a portable vacation resort. 

However… 

Her compatibility with Hanami and Jogo’s abilities wasn’t great. 

She hit some snags while trying to use them, and even after spending the entire afternoon experimenting, she couldn’t quite get the hang of them. 

“Guess I’ll need to practice more…” 

That evening, Hikari visited Naruto’s house, picked up the little blond, and, along with Esdeath, headed to a barbecue restaurant in Konoha. They ordered a dozen plates of premium barbecue, ready to dig in. 

During the meal, she released the Nine-Tails’ chakra, using Mufū Henka to shape it into an orange tabby cat and tossed a few pieces of grilled meat in front of it. The Nine-Tails didn’t need to eat, but it had a sense of taste, so it could enjoy food like any ninja beast if it wanted to. 

Since Hikari had promised to let the Nine-Tails “see” the outside world, it only made sense to share some of the good stuff. 

Meanwhile, Naruto cautiously checked the menu prices, his little face growing uneasy. “Big Sis Hikari, isn’t this… kinda expensive? It’s like ten times more than stuff at the supermarket…” 

“Don’t worry, it’s my treat. Your big sis is loaded now,” Hikari said with a smile. 

She’d given Naruto his parents’ savings book when she moved out, letting him manage the money himself. But the kid was used to a frugal life, often scorned by others, so he stuck to buying cheap ingredients or discounted bentos at night. Being in a high-end place like BBQ Q clearly made him a bit overwhelmed. 

Seeing him like this, Hikari felt a twinge of guilt. 

“Speaking of which, it’s been a while since I sent Minato any pictures of Naruto…” 

“Bulma was saying she wanted to visit him, and so did Erii and Yamato… Maybe next time we have a multiverse meetup, I’ll bring him along to broaden his horizons?” 

Chapter 267: A Message from the Dragon World 

Naruto’s a good kid at heart, someone you can trust. 

Given Hikari’s bond with him, letting him in on a little about the other worlds shouldn’t be a problem. No need to worry about him spilling the beans. 

Still… 

World-hopping’s a bit risky for a kid. If they were gonna do it, they’d have to be extra careful. Plus, she’d need to check with his actual guardian, Minato Namikaze, first. 

With that in mind, Hikari flipped some grilled meat with her chopsticks and pinged Minato in the group chat, tossing a few words about Naruto his way. 

[NoName]: So, Minato-san, you still not planning to tell Naruto you’re his dad, the Fourth Hokage? 

[NoName]: I mean, I don’t see the point in hiding it. He’s gonna find out eventually. 

[ForeverBro]: You’re right… but let’s hold off a bit longer. For now, Hikari-san, could you pass on the things I want to say to Naruto in my place? If there comes a day when Kushina and I can stand in front of him ourselves, I’ll tell him everything, no holds barred. 

[ForeverBro]: As for taking Naruto to other worlds for fun… If Bulma-san and the others are cool with it, I’m fine with it. 

Bulma, of course, had no objections. 

[Bulma]: No problem at all! My place is huge. Forget Naruto, Hikari could bring the whole Uchiha clan over, and we’d still have room. I could take him to hang out with kid Goku—they’re close enough in age, they’d probably hit it off. 

—To be precise, Goku’s almost a full cycle older than Naruto, but their mental ages are probably about the same. 

Tanjiro chimed in at just the right moment: 

[IronHead]: If Naruto comes to my world, my mom, Nezuko, Mr. Tomioka, and Mr. Ubuyashiki would probably be happy to look after him. 

[GhostPrincess]: And me! [raising_hand.jpg] 

[GhostPrincess]: But my place might not be super safe. My dad Kaido and the All-Stars could come back from the sea any time… Probably best to wait until Hikari-san and Bulma-san’s pirate crew is set up and they get me out of here. 

[ForeverBro]: …I’m deeply grateful for everyone’s kindness. 

As the group started chatting about visiting each other’s worlds, Eri popped up with something else entirely. 

[LittleMonster @NoName]: Hikari, you there? 

[LittleMonster]: That girl Xia Mi messaged me again. She said Cassell College has picked up a lead on the “Bronze City” and they’re searching around the Three Gorges. She’s heading over to check it out and asked if you want to come along. 

[NoName]: Oh? 

This wasn’t the first time Eri had gotten a message from Xia Mi. 

Two weeks ago, when Hikari was still dealing with Yuji Itadori, Xia Mi had reached out to Eri about some “Fire King activity.” But Hikari was busy hunting down the four major cursed spirits at the time, so she put it off, planning to check it out after wrapping up the Jujutsu Kaisen stuff. 

And now… 

“Is Constantine about to wake up?” Hikari wondered. “And Lu Mingfei’s probably enrolled by now, right?” 

If so, it might be worth taking a trip to the Dragon world to make contact with the Secret Party. While she was at it, she could try to snag some fresh Dragon King blood samples. The two samples she’d gotten from Xia Mi and Fenrir were almost used up after Orochimaru, Dr. Gero, and the others had been tinkering with them. 

[NoName]: Tell her I’ll head over in a day or two. Have her pick a meeting spot and let me know. 

[NoName]: Also… 

[NoName]: Sorry, Yamato, might have to hold off a few days before heading to your place. But don’t worry, Ace should be fine for now. 

Yamato was a bit bummed when she got Hikari’s reply. 

But then she perked up with a new idea.  

[GhostPrincess]: By the way, I’ve never been to Eri-san’s world. It sounds like it’d be fun! Can I come check it out? That way, even if my dad comes back, he can’t punish me. 

[NoName]: Hmm… You’d have to ask Eri first. 

Looks like Yamato was getting hooked on running away from home. 

And, well, fair enough. 

Whether it was the Dragon Ball, Akame ga Kill, or Jujutsu Kaisen worlds, they were all way comfier than being stuck on Onigashima. Plus, Yamato had made a bunch of new friends in those worlds—kid Goku, Leone, Nobara Kugisaki… If it weren’t for Ace still being in the One Piece world, she might not even want to go back. 

Eri, of course, didn’t mind Yamato’s request. 

But since this trip might involve some serious travel, Hikari suggested Yamato hold off for now. She’d pull her over once things were settled in the Dragon world. 

[GhostPrincess]: Alright, got it. 

After wrapping up the group chat, Hikari turned to Esdeath, who was watching her. She flashed a smile. “Hey, Esdeath, wanna come with me to another world? There’s probably a few opponents there who’d give you a real fight.” 

“?” Esdeath raised an eyebrow. 

Her answer, naturally, was a no-brainer. 

… 

That night, back at home, Hikari soaked in the bathtub for a good half-hour, letting her mind wander as she mulled over the group chat’s member-adding function. 

From what she’d figured out… 

As the “acting group admin,” she couldn’t directly add new members. 

But there was a way to give someone world-hopping abilities. 

For 1500 points, she could unlock a “private chat slot.” This would let her set up a direct, two-way communication channel with someone and grant them permission to travel to her world or another group member’s world—assuming the member in question agreed. The catch? This function was limited to three uses per month. 

Three times was honestly plenty. 

Even the official group members, aside from Hikari, Bulma, Eri, and a few other frequent travelers, didn’t hop worlds more than a couple of times a month. 

Hikari planned to test it out by opening a slot for Esdeath first. 

She didn’t use her points much anyway, so sparing enough for one or two people shouldn’t be an issue. 

As for Kikai Maru from the Jujutsu Kaisen world… 

Spending 1500 points as an “employee onboarding perk” felt a bit steep. Better to wait until he’d proven his worth before considering it. 

Chapter 268: The Ocean and Water King, Esdeath 

[Private Chat Function Unlocked] 

[“Ice Queen” Added as Designated Private Chat Contact. You Can Send Two-Way Messages or Grant World-Traversal Permissions] 

[Nameless: Moshi moshi? Yo, Esdeath, can you see this?] 

[Ice Queen: …] 

Inside a standalone villa in the Uchiha clan grounds, at the dining table, Esdeath set down her half-drunk glass of milk. She glanced curiously at the transparent frame floating in front of her, then shifted her gaze to Uchiha Hikari, her brows slightly furrowed. “What’s this?” 

“A chat channel,” Hikari replied casually. “Didn’t you see Yuji Itadori and Satoru Gojo using ‘LINR’ and email in the Jujutsu Kaisen world? It’s basically the same thing.” 

“Hm…” 

Esdeath wasn’t the same imperial warrioress who once knew little about modern tech. She’d even gotten the hang of smartphones, so grasping the concept of a “chat app” wasn’t hard for her. 

“So… this is how you met and talked with Bulma, Erii, and the others?” she asked. 

“Pretty much,” Hikari said. 

“…I see.” Esdeath nodded, then narrowed her eyes with a playful expression. 

Hikari felt a bit uneasy under her gaze. “What’s up?” 

“Nothing, just wondering why you suddenly pulled me into this. And… aren’t you worried I might do something behind your back that’s not in your favor, especially since you’ve given me world-traversal permissions?” 

“Not at all,” Hikari said, flashing a bright grin. “If you wanted to do something like that, you wouldn’t have waited until now, right? Besides, world traversal requires the other side’s consent. If I don’t vouch for you, they won’t just let you waltz in. So, go on, beg me, and I’ll help you out~” 

“…” 

Esdeath rolled her eyes. 

Hikari’s “beg me” was obviously a joke. And with Esdeath’s personality, she wasn’t about to say something like that, even as a playful tease. 

Next, Hikari ran a few experiments. She traveled to another world and used the private chat to talk with Esdeath, who stayed in Konoha. She also tested chatting while both were confined by barrier techniques. The results showed that private and group chats worked across worlds without any delay or interference, regardless of their current state. 

As for the traversal function… 

After briefing Shisui, Naruto, and the others about her plans in the Naruto world, Hikari picked a time to give it a try. 

[Nameless Requests to Enter Little Monster’s World] 

[Nameless (Ice Queen) Requests to Enter Little Monster’s World] 

[Little Monster Has Approved the Request] 

… 

With two flashes of white light, Hikari and Esdeath vanished, reappearing in Tokyo, Japan, in the Dragon Clan world. 

The Tokyo of the Dragon Clan world was similar to Yuji Itadori’s, with comparable geography, administrative divisions, and era. But since the timeline was 2009, it lacked some of the high-tech flair, giving it a more rustic vibe. 

When Hikari arrived, Uesugi Koshi and Genichiro hurried to meet her at Genji Heavy Industries. 

“Miss… Uchiha, it’s been a while,” Uesugi Koshi said, catching himself before saying “Miss White King.” He glanced at Esdeath and cautiously asked, “And this is…?” 

“You can call her Esdeath, or…” Hikari’s lips curved into a sly smile. “The Ocean and Water King.” 

Uesugi Koshi and Genichiro: “?!” 

Another Dragon King?! 

They weren’t entirely convinced Hikari was telling the truth, but as the current and former Shadow Emperors, the Uesugi father and son carried high-purity royal blood, giving them exceptional perception. They could sense the overwhelming aura Esdeath unintentionally exuded—strong enough to kill them. 

Someone with that kind of power, even if not a Dragon King, was at least a high-tier Next-Gen. For regular hybrids, the distinction was negligible. 

But… “Esdeath” sounded unfamiliar. Most Dragon Kings had names tied to ancient myths. Was “Esdeath” linked to any mythology? 

… 

“First, rule out Norse mythology.” 

In another room, separated by several walls, a Snake Qiba researcher in a white coat made a judgment. 

Another chimed in, “Celtic and Greek mythology probably don’t have her either…” 

“Maybe it’s just a name she’s using now, like how we once called her ‘Izanagi.’ For Dragon Kings, only their birth names matter; other names are just temporary preferences. Instead of that, we should figure out when and where this Water King was revived.” 

“Any records of unusual activity in the Arctic Ocean recently?” 

… 

Hikari had no idea her offhand comment had caused a stir next door. 

But even if she knew, it wouldn’t matter. 

That was her goal. 

Unlike the Mountain and Fire Kings, the Wind and Water Kings were elusive, even for someone like Hikari who knew the plot. Tracking them down would take effort. So, why not stir the pot with a fake Water King, muddy the waters, and fish for opportunities? 

If she could lure out the real Herzog or even Odin, that’d be perfect. 

Meanwhile, the Uesugi duo didn’t press further after learning Esdeath’s “identity.” If the “White King” had returned, another “Water King” wasn’t too shocking. As for why these two Dragon Kings were together… well, human minds could hardly fathom dragon affairs. 

Esdeath, however, poked Hikari’s lower back curiously and whispered through the chat. 

[Nameless: Hey, stop poking, it tickles.] 

[Nameless: This is the Dragon Clan world, once ruled by Dragon Kings—think of them as highly intelligent, super-dangerous species. The strongest, the Black King, might even have world-destroying power…] 

The private chat was incredibly convenient. Even standing in front of the Uesugi duo, Hikari and Esdeath could multitask, communicating via thought. 

Erii noticed their subtle interaction, a hint of confusion crossing her pale face. 

“…By the way,” Uesugi Koshi said, as if remembering something. “We’ve never leaked any information about you, Miss Hikari, but some people seem to have caught wind of something. Lately, there’ve been more Black King descendants around Tokyo. Any instructions regarding them?” 

“Hm?” Hikari raised an eyebrow. 

It made sense, though. In the internet age, keeping things under wraps was tough, especially with a super-AI like “Norma/EVA” in the Dragon Clan world. The first time Hikari visited, she’d fought the Fierce Ghosts in public, and some bystanders had caught blurry footage of the battle. It wasn’t surprising that such intel reached certain interested parties. 

As for “Black King descendants”… that was even less surprising. Outside Japan, most hybrids stemmed from the Black King. 

“Who are these people?” Hikari asked calmly. 

Uesugi Koshi glanced at Genichiro, who immediately listed a string of factions and names—Secret Party, European dragon-slaying families, North American hybrid groups… 

It was about what Hikari expected. 

She was mainly interested in the Secret Party and the Gattuso family. For the former, it was because of Angers—she was curious to see his “Time Zero” in action. For the latter, it was their connection to Odin, the Wind King. 

Of course, spying missions like this wouldn’t involve Angers or Odin personally. They’d send minor lackeys. 

Hikari waved it off. “Keep an eye on them. If there’s any trouble, handle it according to Snake Qiba’s rules. Don’t bother asking me unless it involves S-rank hybrids.” 

“…Understood,” Uesugi Koshi nodded. 

After a bit more talk, he and Genichiro excused themselves. 

Hikari watched them leave, stretched lazily, and walked over to Erii. Erii handed her a phone, pointing at the chat screen, then held up her notebook: “This is the message Xia Mi sent me.” 

“Hm… let’s see.” Hikari skimmed the screen quickly, getting the gist. 

Xia Mi’s intel network was impressive. Though she was studying in the capital, she kept tabs on other regions. She knew about the “Fire King” activity near the Three Gorges and Cassell College’s recruitment trip to a small city in Fuzhou, though she didn’t know their target was Lu Mingfei. 

Also… 

“There’s some chat logs about game dungeons here. Xia Mi’s playing World of Warcraft with you too?” Hikari noticed a detail. 

Erii held up her notebook: “That’s not Xia Mi, it’s Fenrir.” 

“?” 

Chapter 269: Stay Right Here, Don’t Move 

Under Uchiha Hikari’s gaze, Erii scribbled a few more lines in her notebook before holding it up again. 

“…So, this account is shared by Xia Mi and her brother, but Fenrir mostly handles it, and recently he’s been learning to play online games with you?” 

Hikari tilted her head, picturing the giant dragon Fenrir sprawled out in the Nibelungen of a Beijing subway station, clumsily using his massive claws to control a tiny game character in a World of Warcraft raid. 

Yeah… that’s a weird image. 

But for Fenrir, it was probably something to celebrate. As the “slow” kid among dragons, he used to pass the time with old movie discs, beer bottle caps, and candy wrappers. Playing online games with Erii was a huge upgrade in his quality of life. 

Just wondering… has Fenrir ever gotten into a flame war with some hotheaded gamer bro? 

That’d be a sight to see. 

… 

Fenrir’s gaming habits were just a small side note. 

Next, Hikari munched on a fruit platter sent over by the Snake Qiba family—luxury stuff in Japan, the kind most people could only afford a few times a month. While eating, she pulled out a map to check the rendezvous point Xia Mi had mentioned in her message. 

The location of the “Bronze City” was no mystery. 

It was near the “White Emperor City,” in the southwest of Tokyo, Japan, at roughly a 30° angle. The distance was about 3,000 kilometers, practically spanning all of China. 

But… 

That distance was nothing to “Shangri-La.” Hikari had used it to travel thousands of kilometers in the Akame ga Kill world. The Dragon Clan world was new territory for the device, though, so the teleportation might not be pinpoint accurate, likely with some margin of error. 

“Let’s give it a shot.” 

After confirming the general destination, Hikari signaled Esdeath and Erii to stand in front of her. She raised her wristwatch, channeling her mental energy into the Teigu, her consciousness stretching southwest. 

Mountains, rivers, and bustling towns flashed through her mind before settling on a remote, uninhabited spot. 

“Get ready…” 

“Here we go.” 

With that, a massive lavender teleportation circle appeared. With a whoosh, Hikari, Esdeath, and Erii vanished from the spot. 

“?!!” 

The Snake Qiba researchers were stunned. 

They couldn’t see inside Erii’s bedroom—after all, she was a young woman with a mature figure, and even without Hikari’s presence, Genichiro wouldn’t dream of putting cameras near her bed, respecting her privacy. But Shangri-La’s teleportation circle was large enough that even the living room’s surveillance caught some traces of it. 

“What just happened? Did Miss White King… take Erii and the ‘Ocean and Water King’ with her?” 

“It looks like some kind of spatial teleportation… Could it be the Mangekyō Sharingan’s Kamui?” 

“I knew it! Kishimoto must’ve been to Miss White King’s Nibelungen! And he even saw that ability!” 

“…We need to talk to Mr. Kishimoto again. He might know something about the ‘Water King’ too.” 

Amid the researchers’ chatter, Kishimoto Masashi and Naruto’s credibility skyrocketed. 

Some even threw out wild theories like “the Nine Tailed Beasts are all Miss White King’s dragon vassals” or “Water Release was probably inspired by the Water King Esdeath,” debating them with utmost seriousness. 

Whether they’d reach any conclusions was anyone’s guess… 

But it’s safe to say this world’s Naruto was barreling toward an even wilder plot divergence. 

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Hikari and her group appeared thousands of kilometers away in a sparsely populated forest in mainland China. 

“Is this that ‘China’ place?” Esdeath asked, squinting at their surroundings. “Doesn’t look much different from Erii’s world.” 

“Of course not,” Hikari replied, pulling out her phone to check their location on a map app. “You haven’t seen any people yet. Scenery’s pretty similar everywhere.” 

“Hm… We’re probably at the border of Sichuan and Chongqing, near a tributary of the Yangtze River, about 150 kilometers off from Xia Mi’s coordinates. But she’s probably just arriving there herself, so we’ll take our time heading over.” 

Based on Xia Mi’s intel, Cassell College had only just started exploring the “Bronze City.” Retrieving Constantine’s bone bottle and shipping it back to their Chicago headquarters would take at least ten days to two weeks, if not longer. 

So, they had plenty of time to act. 

More than finding Constantine, Hikari wanted to linger in this world’s China for a few days, do some sightseeing, and take in the scenery. As a Chinese person herself, being here felt like coming home, even if it was a different world. The familiarity was comforting. 

“Let’s go, Esdeath, Erii.” 

“First, we’ll find a place with people, grab some food, and then check in with Xia Mi.” 

Hikari waved her hand, her feet lifting slightly off the ground as she floated toward a town marked on the map. Esdeath and Erii followed close behind. 

… 

Over an hour later, the trio stood on a small county town’s street, each holding a roasted sweet potato wrapped in wax paper. They nibbled slowly, blowing on the steaming bites while watching the bustling crowd. 

“How’s it taste?” Hikari asked, glancing at Esdeath and Erii. 

Erii couldn’t respond easily—her hands were full with the sweet potato, and she needed to write to communicate. As for Esdeath… 

“Not bad. Kinda like a mountain fruit I ate as a kid,” Esdeath said with a nod, then frowned slightly at the crowd. “What’s with these people? Why do they keep staring at us? And what language are they speaking? I can’t understand a word.” 

“Well…” 

Hikari’s group had indeed drawn a lot of attention since entering the town. 

And no wonder—their appearances were striking. 

Three women with long, flowing hair—one dark red, another ice-blue—and two of them exuded an aura of commanding authority, like queens from a movie. The third, Erii, was pure and untainted, like a blank canvas, creating a perfect contrast with the other two. 

It was a combination most people would never see in their lifetime. 

In just a short while, a few bold locals had approached, quietly asking if they were foreign celebrities or VIPs, requesting autographs or photos. 

—Cosplayers? That possibility was ruled out. The regal air of Hikari and Esdeath wasn’t something you could just “cosplay.” If someone could pull that off, they’d have to come from serious money. 

“Sorry, we’re just regular tourists here to sightsee. Photos are fine, but no autographs,” Hikari explained with a friendly smile. 

“…Wait, you speak Chinese?” one of the locals asked, surprised. 

“Of course.” 

Hikari politely declined the autograph requests, then took two big bites to finish her sweet potato, gesturing for Esdeath and Erii to follow her. 

Good thing Yamato didn’t come along this time. 

With her towering height and distinctive look, she’d have drawn an even bigger crowd. 

For the rest of the day, Hikari leisurely led Esdeath and Erii around the county town. They shopped at a mall and even tried a roller coaster at an amusement park—the money for it all came from Hikari exchanging some gold nuggets she carried. 

They kept at it until the next afternoon, when they returned to their temporary inn room. Hikari then contacted Xia Mi via phone to check in and see if she had any plans or a timeline for meeting up. 

When Xia Mi learned Hikari was already near Sichuan, her tone was full of surprise: 

[Shrimp: Whoa, Big Sis Hikari, you’re already here? That was fast!] 

[Hikari: Fast?] 

Hikari paused, then realized why. 

Right—Xia Mi didn’t know about Shangri-La. 

From her perspective, Hikari would’ve had to fly from Tokyo to Beijing or Shanghai, then transfer to another flight to Sichuan—a process that’d take two or three days at least. 

—High-purity dragons could fly at high altitudes, like Herzog, the “Pseudo-White King,” who used Erii and the Genji brothers to revive in the original plot. But flying 3,000 kilometers straight was a massive physical challenge. Even for a Dragon King, avoiding human radar detection mid-flight wasn’t easy. 

Hikari didn’t explain any of this. 

Xia Mi, after a brief moment of thought, quickly shifted to another topic. 

[Shrimp: Got it. Please stay where you are and don’t move. I’ll come find you.] 

[Hikari: Sure.] 

Chapter 270: Kuimen Pass 

That morning… 

Xia Mi hopped off a long-distance bus and arrived at the small county town where Uchiha Hikari was temporarily staying. 

“Hikari-nee!”  

The second she spotted Hikari, Xia Mi waved enthusiastically and bounded over, throwing her arms around her in a quick, affectionate hug. “Long time no see!” 

“…Yeah, been a while, Xia Mi,” Hikari replied with a smile. 

It really had been a while. 

Compared to their last meeting half a year ago, Xia Mi hadn’t changed much. Same flawless, almost otherworldly beautiful face, though her hair was a touch longer. She wore a white silk T-shirt and denim shorts, showing off her slim waist and legs, looking every bit the vibrant student on a summer vacation. A big backpack was slung over her shoulders, completing the tourist vibe. 

Just… 

“You took a long-distance bus to get here?” Hikari asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“…Yup,” Xia Mi said. “I thought about renting a car, but it was kinda pricey, so I just took the bus. There are tons of tourist routes around here, so it’s pretty convenient.” 

“Oh…” 

Hikari didn’t comment further, but she couldn’t help but wonder. 

Was this little dragon girl… kinda broke? 

In theory, with the kind of power a Dragon King wielded, getting rich in the human world should be a piece of cake. Even if Xia Mi wanted to keep a low profile, scraping together a million or two for pocket money shouldn’t be hard. But Xia Mi seemed to be an exception, sticking to human society’s rules more strictly than most actual humans. 

Guess that’s the downside of being too immersed in her role. 

If it weren’t for Xia Mi getting way too into her act in the original Dragon story, her “strongest second-generation” status would’ve let her wipe the floor with a thrice-bloodraged Chu Zihang, instead of getting stabbed to death by him. 

On the other side… 

Xia Mi’s gaze shifted to Eri and Esdeath, her pretty eyes glinting with curiosity. 

“This must be Eri-san, right? No surprise Hikari-nee picked you as a companion,” she said, then glanced at Esdeath. “And this is…?” 

“Esdeath, another friend of mine,” Hikari explained smoothly. 

No need to spin the “King of Ocean and Water” lie in front of Xia Mi. 

That kind of story might fool clueless human hybrids, but Xia Mi and the “King of Ocean and Water” were siblings from the same father, probably meeting countless times over millennia. Unless Esdeath actually had the King’s authority, that lie would fall apart in seconds, and Hikari’s “White King” persona might even come into question. 

Not that Hikari was scared of being exposed as a fake. 

But acting’s more fun when you play the part well. 

“…Got it,” Xia Mi said, nodding without pressing further. 

Next up, they dove into the topic of Constantine. 

“I already checked out the White Emperor City area,” Xia Mi said. “From what I saw, Norton’s ‘Bronze City’ is hidden in an underwater fissure around there, sunk to the riverbed after an earthquake. Cassell College somehow got wind of this and sent a team to investigate. They’ve pretty much pinpointed the Bronze City’s location and might send people down to salvage it soon…” 

Hikari didn’t really need Xia Mi to tell her this. 

She already knew the deal—Cassell College’s operation, dubbed the “Kuimen Plan,” was led by Professor Mance, with Ye Sheng, Aki Shutoku, Selma, and others as the field team. 

Ye Sheng and Aki would die during this mission, and Constantine’s bone bottle would be brought back to the college as their “legacy,” later used to trigger the awakening of Old Tang—the other Fire King, Norton. 

So… 

“So, Hikari-nee, are we gonna steal it from them?” Xia Mi asked cautiously, watching Hikari’s expression. “Norton aside, Constantine’s one of the more chill Dragon Kings. He could be an ally. If he falls into the Secret Party’s hands, getting him back might be a bit of a hassle.” 

Well… just a bit of a hassle. 

If this were the original Xia Mi, without enough prep, she’d probably lay low to avoid exposing herself too early to Cassell or other hybrid factions, steering clear of unnecessary trouble. 

But now, with the “esteemed White King” by her side, Xia Mi felt pretty secure. She was confident they could even storm Cassell’s HQ and snatch the bone bottle if it came to that. 

“Hmm…” Hikari mused. 

Truth be told, she was more interested in Norton’s blood sample. 

The Fire King twins were a lot like Xia Mi and Fenrir—an older sibling with some brains dragging around a weaker, childlike younger one. Constantine, fresh from his cocoon, was even less sharp than Fenrir, to the point where he got headshot by Angers and Lu Mingfei in the original story, dying in an even less dignified way than Xia Mi. 

Sure, Xia Mi was called the “strongest second-generation,” but if you ranked all the first-generation dragons, Constantine might just be the weakest… 

Still… 

Norton wasn’t waking up anytime soon, and Hikari didn’t even know where he was. She’d probably have to ask Lu Mingfei or Angers for clues. 

So, Constantine would do as a backup plan for now. 

“Alright, let’s go with your idea,” Hikari said, rolling her shoulders. “One question: can you open the Bronze City’s gate?” 

The Bronze City, supposedly crafted by Norton, the eldest of the four great monarchs’ eight twins, was a marvel of alchemy. Even an S-rank hybrid couldn’t get in without a key—namely, the blood of Chen Motong’s brother, which Cassell used to open the gate. 

As for Xia Mi… 

“I haven’t tried, but I think I can,” she said, sounding a little unsure. 

“…Give it a shot,” Hikari said with a shrug. 

Worst case, if it didn’t work, she could wait for Cassell to drag Constantine out and then swipe him from them. While she was at it, she could save Ye Sheng and Aki Shutoku, the doomed lovebirds, as a fair trade. Two human lives for one Dragon King—Cassell wouldn’t complain. 

That night… 

Hikari got her hands on a black sedan and drove Xia Mi and the others toward the Kuimen Pass, where the Bronze City was located. 

“By the way… Hikari-nee, do you have a Chinese driver’s license?” Xia Mi asked out of the blue from the passenger seat. 

“Huh? Driver’s license? Nope,” Hikari said casually. 

“?!” Xia Mi froze. “What if we get pulled over? This area’s got a lot of accidents, so the cops are always checking cars at intersections.” 

“…You’re a Dragon King, and you’re worried about that?”  

Hikari shot Xia Mi a weird look, then smirked at her speechless expression. “Relax, just sit tight. I’ll handle everything. Even if we get stopped, we’ll breeze right through.” 

Worst case, she’d just toss a Tsukuyomi at them, and problem solved. 

“…Alright,” Xia Mi said, falling silent. She sat quietly in the passenger seat, occasionally glancing at Esdeath in the rearview mirror. 

Esdeath was looking back at her. 

—Xia Mi was trying to figure out Esdeath’s deal. As a Dragon King, she could sense Esdeath’s aura was no joke, though she wasn’t sure just how strong she was. 

Esdeath, meanwhile, was curious about something else. 

[IceQueen]: This Xia Mi woman—is she really your sister? You don’t look much alike, but you seem pretty close. 

[NoName]: Eh, you can think of her as a sworn sister, like a family-by-choice thing. 

[IceQueen]: …So, can I spar with her? 

[NoName]: You mean a friendly match? Hold off for now. Let’s see what’s up at Kuimen Pass first. 

[ … ] 

Amid the chatter, Hikari sped the black sedan along the provincial road, racing toward Kuimen Pass. Sure enough, they hit a police checkpoint, but with one glance from Hikari, the officer completely ignored the obviously underage, unlicensed driver and waved them through. 

“That’s the spot,” Xia Mi said. 

They stopped on a high riverbank. Hikari pushed open the car door and hopped out. 

Xia Mi and the others followed. She stood on her tiptoes, shading her eyes to peer into the distance, then pointed in a direction and turned to Hikari. 

It was nighttime, and they were too far to see the river clearly. 

But the sound of crashing waves carried for miles, and every now and then, moonlight glinted off the water, revealing shimmering reflections. 

“…That’s Kuimen, also called Qutang Pass,” Xia Mi explained. “Back in ancient times, it was a key strategic point for armies. Now, with the reservoir, most of the ruins are underwater, nowhere near as grand as it used to be. A few days ago, when I went diving to scout, I spotted a pureblood dragon—probably the Bronze City’s guardian.” 

“Samson, right?” Hikari said knowingly. 

That one was the Fire King’s dragon servant, a high-pedigree third-generation dragon, and the one who killed Ye Sheng and Aki Shutoku in the original story. 

Also… 

“Cassell’s ship, the Moniah, is around here too, isn’t it?” 

Maybe they could sneak over for a quick look? 

(Chapter End)