Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 662 - 573: Bloodline Stripping! _2
"Now, let me ask, and you two compete to answer, is that clear enough?"
The Storm Dragonman Leoni, terrified by the fate of her companion, dared not utter any nonsense and hastily said:
"Clear! Clear! That is the Sacrificial Mark of the Dragon God 'Jet Black Dragon' Nidhogg. Although the God is bound by duty and unable to leave the Origin of the 'Nether River', it is likely that other Dragonmen from other regions will follow the mark to Mit.
It might even be possible for powerful Dragonman enforcers from the true Netherworld on the left bank of the Nether River to come after you. They have been engaged in constant battle with Netherworld monsters, completely different from us branch territory administrators."
However, driven by the pride of being a Netherworld administrator, Leoni couldn't help but add:
"You cannot possibly escape. Even suicide in the Netherworld won't save your souls. Returning the sacrifice is your only choice."
"Wrong answer!"
Aiven ruthlessly sent her a [Blood Backflow], urging her to return to the main point.
Soon enough.
He pieced together from the intermittent statements of the two Dragonmen to understand what kind of power he and Angie were about to face.
The [Nether River], which runs through all territories of the Death God, originates from three springs at the very beginning: the Spring of Sanctity, the Spring of Wisdom, and the Frost Mist Spring, each possessing incredible power.
And at the level equivalent to a demigod, the Dragon King "Jet Black Dragon", the "Ancestor Dragon" Nidhogg, resides in an endless swamp outside the source of the Nether River.
He is the Guardian of the three springs, the Gatekeeper of the Netherworld, and the "Extraordinary Source" for Dragonmen.
However, it is not the "Extraordinary Source" as humans typically understand it.
The Frog God Golden Crown Aiven had seen before served as a kind of powerful "radiation source" carrying specific rules, knowledge, and energy, unconsciously transforming the environment around Kunsai City.
This created a Secret Realm like a fairy tale, bringing about many rare creatures like the Gem Shell.
The power radiated by this Dragon King aligns in significance with that Golden Crown, being the origin of these Dragonmen and Dragon Beasts.
Therefore, they are not the normal offspring of Giant Dragons and humans, but Dragon Vein bloodline creatures formed by the invasion of power, knowledge, and authority from a higher mysterious existence. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Dragonmen are both their species and their profession.
Of course.
Even so, upon thorough investigation, their bloodline from the Dragon King ranks higher than the Sea Dragon bloodline of Anita. These are true Giant Dragons, not sub-dragon species like the Sea Dragons.
Looking around, there is a great variety, ranging from the common Green Dragon, White Dragon, Black Dragon..., to the two Tier 3 leaders, the Storm Dragon and the Sea Emperor Dragon, with at least a dozen types visible at a glance.
Yet it is clearly a result of adapting to the environment of the [Netherworld], with no existence inclined towards positive elements like the Red Dragon.
If not for their current dire situation, this place could be a paradise for a "Vitalist School" wizard. Aiven would love to stay longer to explore the secrets behind the Dragon Veins.
Through them, Aiven also obtained another crucial piece of information about the "Jet Black Dragon".
By the waters of the [Nether River], there often wanders a projection of a black-robed figure with Dragon Wings, referred to by the inhabitants of the Netherworld as the "Gatekeeper", "Angel of Death", "Announcer of Death". His duty is to lead all creatures that come here to their destined end.
In other words, the left bank of the [Nether River] marks the farthest range of the "Jet Black Dragon"'s power projection. This is also why He, after projecting his will through the [Gate of Sacrifice] before, did not choose to take direct action.
After pondering for a moment, although Aiven held little hope, he still asked them:
"Can you Dragonmen, as one of the administrators of the [Netherworld], open it?"
And as expected, Andreas smirked with self-mockery:
"Ha, the so-called administrators are nothing more than alternative undead with flesh and blood. This place is a home for the undead and our prison.
Asking us would be less useful than asking the shamans downstream of the [Nether River], stationed at the 'Castillo Pyramid', to communicate with Wuhao to reopen Mit and let you out."
Clearly, the Dragonmen were unaware of the Atrean people's "Death God" Wuhao already being dormant, and Aiven obviously wouldn't reveal it. But he understood that within the [Netherworld], management privileges are divided by level and region. The door to Mit from the Material World can only be "unlocked" by Wuhao.
However, knowing that a Demigod would not come personally relieved Aiven quite a bit.
"So, will there be Tier 4 Dragonmen following the [Sacrificial Mark] here? How can they traverse space to reach Mit?"
Having answered so many questions from Aiven, the two Dragonmen decided to spill it all in desperation.
"Even an ordinary adult Giant Dragon is no more than Tier 4. As far as I know, the limit of Dragonmen is Tier 3, though there are strengths and weaknesses within Tier 3. Across the Nether River, there are certainly Tier 3 Dragonmen stronger than you, and perhaps more than just one.
As for how they get here?
We Dragonmen hold the method to enter other Death God territories through the [Nether River]. When mist rises over the river, we drop the Dragon Vein Blood originating from the 'Jet Black Dragon' into an oil lamp to guide us, allowing free passage on the Nether River.
But one must be at least Tier 3, with blood from three different kinds of Dragonmen, the more the merrier, because it brings us closer to the 'Jet Black Dragon''s original authority.
Moreover, on the [Nether River], distance really isn't an issue. Perhaps by tomorrow or, at the latest, the day after tomorrow, powerful Dragonman Warriors will arrive here."
Hearing this, even Angie, who was holding Aiven's strong hand, couldn't help but shiver slightly.
Aiven's face also grew heavy.
Although it wasn't the first time facing a Demigod.
When Hipponeo was revived, there was the Kingdom Guardian and Pope to fend him off.
The last time in the "Mist Sea", although facing a chaotic Ancient God, the "Maze God" bore no targeted hostility.
But this time was different, the malice of a Demigod was undisguised, with no one standing in front of him.
Under the premise of being unable to escape the [Netherworld] directly for the time being.
The top priority was to advance to Tier 3 as quickly as possible. If no Tier 4 true Giant Dragon came, the suppression by an Upper-Rank Wizard would render any number of Tier 3 Dragonmen insignificant.
Glancing downward at the two Dragonmen, a slight smile appeared on Aiven's face:
"Very well, thank you for your cooperation, you two didn't lie."
Just as the two were about to breathe a sigh of relief, Aiven's next words plunged them directly back into hell:
"Then, are you ready to atone for everything you did to Little Angie?"
Overhead, the "Flesh Sacrifice" flipped rapidly, and red, blood-like viscous light poured out.
Ding! Ding! Ding!...
In the sky full of light, countless runes, techniques, and magical seals... formed rings upon rings of chains, boundless knowledge colliding and exulting in the red glow.
The Spiritual Wind stirred the cloak on Aiven, as he solemnly declared:
"Unleash the altar! Strip the bloodline!!!"
In the moment before being engulfed in red light, the two completely restrained and powerless Tier 3 Dragonmen screamed in terror and anguish:
"No—!"
