《Ashen Dragon》


 Chapter 1 The Boss is Actually Myself

    "Roar¨D¨D¨D"A tremendous roar echoed from the distance.


    It made the mountains tremble, the earth shake, birds and beasts fled in terror, and awoke the young beast in the depths of the cave, leaving it bewildered.


    "Hiss..."


    "What on earth is happening?"


    Lin Kai felt as if he had just woken up from a nightmare, his mind still foggy.


    But before him was not the familiar room, nor the high-tech gaming pod and its equipment.


    Instead, there was a dark, warm cave, hard rocks, and even a few scattered Gold Coins.


    "Where is this?"


    Lin Kai felt like his head was splitting, countless memories flooded into his mind. There were scenes of magic from fantasy novels, as well as his past experiences as a player.


    He only remembered that he had taken a rich player''s task to collect Hill Giant fingers, heading to Giant Canyon and fought for over eight hours straight.


    In the end, his body couldn''t hold up, so he left his character idling to get some rest, planning to wake up and get back into the gaming pod.


    When he opened his eyes, he found himself in this strange place, and his body felt off.


    He struggled to his feet, instinctively walking on all fours toward a nearby puddle.


    "A dragon?"


    What appeared before him was a "beast" covered in fine red scales, with menacing golden vertical pupils.


    The three-meter-long body was still somewhat juvenile, but many parts showed signs of ferocity, with dense sharp teeth, keen claws, and powerful limbs as the best proof.


    Yes, it was a young dragon.


    Moreover, it was a Red Dragon, the strongest and most ferocious among the five-colored dragons.


    Its mouth brimmed with sulfuric breath, its throat seemed to harbor a volcano ready to erupt at any moment, which made Lin Kai feel very uncomfortable.


    He couldn''t help but sneeze, a burst of steaming hot air and smoke spewed from his nostrils.


    A semi-transparent blue screen suddenly floated before his eyes.


    [Young Red Dragon]


    Name: Cassius Claudius Norixius


    Template: NPC (10 years, 1 day, and 18 hours until servers open)


    Category: Large dragons, Lawful Neutral


    AC: 18 (natural armor)


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª21


    Agility¡ª¡ª10


    Constitution¡ª¡ª18


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª12


    Perception¡ª¡ª11


    Charisma¡ª¡ª14


    Skill Proficiency: Stealth +4, Perception +8, Hunting +2, Escape +4, Knowledge (Future) +4


    Damage Immunities: Fire


    Senses: Blindsight 10, Dark Vision 60, Passive Perception 14


    Languages: Draconic, Common


    Abilities: Bite, Clawing, Tail Attack, Flight, Breath Attack (fire)


    Feats: None


    Challenge Level: 6 (2100 XP)


    Assessment: "The powerful claws and teeth of a Red Dragon are enough to become an adventurer''s nightmare. They often use breath attacks or other special physical attacks, as well as ancient magic. Never underestimate a young Red Dragon; otherwise, it will become your lifelong nightmare."


    "I''ve transmigrated to Erezer?"


    "And I''ve become Brother Kai?"


    Looking at this information for a while, Lin Kai, or Cassius, finally sorted out his thoughts and understood his current situation.


    He then fell into memories of his past life.


    "Erezer" was a holographic game based on the 20th-century "Dungeons and Dragons" (D&D).


    This mysterious game, with an unknown publisher, featured black technology, claiming to create a real world for players, with a global peak of tens of millions of simultaneous online players.


    Ordinary people to social elites and even business and political tycoons were immersed in it; some spent their entire days in the gaming pod, except for meals and sleep.


    Surrounding this epic creation, a huge market was born, with game updates affecting world markets. A piece of legendary equipment could be sold for millions, likened to a new-age Bitcoin, attracting more people to dive into the game¡ªhe was one of them.


    "Brother Kai" was now him, with the true name of Cassius Claudius Norixius, the first world boss in "Erezer" version 1.0 - "Anzeta Tempest," an evil Red Dragon who signed a pact with abyssal demons. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had countless titles: The Fire of Rekindling, Mountain''s Wrathful Flame, Harvester of Players'' Lives, Newbie''s Nightmare.


    In the early game, during the "Winter Rage" quest, thousands of newly entered players were tormented by the Red Dragon''s flames, agonized yet unable to harm the dragon soaring in the sky.


    Players died dozens of times each, their charred bodies piled up like mountains, including many future renowned professional gamers. Ultimately, it was brute force and suicide attacks that brought him down.


    This glorious achievement earned Cassius the immortal title¡ª"Brother Kai."


    Even now, with the game in version 4.0, level caps raised to 20, players exploring the star realm, cross-planar missions, and the multiverse, tales of Brother Kai were still told: the story of a Red Dragon roasting experts into heaps of charred bodies.


    "Brother Kai''s BBQ, unparalleled in the world."


    But when was the current timeline?


    "Roar!"


    A roar outside the lair interrupted Cassius''s thoughts.


    The powerful pressure in the air made the hatchling''s heart quiver, but he resisted the urge to flee, scurrying to the cave entrance to observe the situation.


    In the distant sky, a large Red Dragon flapped its huge wings, stirring gusts of wind, looking down from a towering height.


    That must be Cassius''s current biological mother. From the twenty-meter-long giant dragon body, one could tell this was a powerful Red Dragon in its prime.


    "Half-human, half-elf mongrel, get out of my territory!"


    "Do you know who you face?"


    "Before you stands Tiamat''s most favored offspring, the ruler of Cloud Summit Peak, the noble and mighty Red Dragon Akrenea!"


    The Red Dragon''s voice was incredibly arrogant, a trait granted by her bloodline.


    Confronting her fearlessly on the ground was a warrior clad in dark golden armor, with a blurred face seemingly shrouded in a faint glow.


    Only the half-elf identity could be discerned from the exposed pointed ears and the female form from the silhouette.


    She stood with a sword, her voice firm and calm: "Evil dragon, your arrogance and conceit blind you to your inevitable demise."


    The half-elf gazed at the giant dragon in the sky, speaking forcefully: "You plunder unjustly, harm the innocent, your actions disrupt the world''s justice and order."


    "Regardless of the deity behind you, we keepers of vows shall demand the price you owe¡ªyour life!"


    This was the Paladin''s Oath of Vengeance!


    After speaking, the half-elf drew the Silver Sword from her back.


    The Red Dragon in the sky snorted, let out a long cry, and swooped down.


    Her gaping maw seemed ready to tear the tiny half-elf apart.


    From her throat spewed scorching flames, the intense heat distorting the air.


    "That''s ''Twilight Blade'' Rhea."


    Cassius couldn''t help but think, finally remembering the quest line related to him.


    Main Quest: [Winter Night''s Rage]


    [Ten years ago, the mother of Red Dragon Cassius Claudius Norixius was slain by the wandering Half-Elf Paladin "Twilight Blade" Rhea. The young Red Dragon fled in panic, hiding in the Ancytica Mountains, waiting for a chance to avenge itself on humanity.


    Now, it has signed a pact with an ancient demon in the depths of the mountains, becoming "The Fire of Rekindling," continually destroying cities, leading its evil army to shatter justice and order, turning the North into ashes!]


    Now seemed to be the time of the battle between the Red Dragon and the Paladin, a decade before the players'' arrival!


    In Cassius''s view, the distant Half-Elf Paladin was around level 20, nearing legendary status with divine favor, an unequivocal world-class powerhouse.


    It was known that an adult Red Dragon''s standard challenge rating was only level 17. Even with its legendary life levels, it wasn''t enough against a divinely favored Paladin.


    Moreover, the renowned "Twilight Blade" had already advanced to legendary status in the 4.0 version from his past life and was an important NPC in the "Elf Kingdom" main questline.


    It seemed his cheap mother was doomed.


    The Red Dragon shook his head; he had no time to dwell. He merely flapped his immature wings, scampering back to the nest to pack and run.


    Of course, before leaving, he needed to "rightfully" take some startup capital from this cheap mother.


    "By Tiamat, this is a Red Dragon''s treasure hoard."


    "I hope it won''t be too shabby..."


    Cassius let out a sulfuric breath, gently shook his body, and stretched his slightly stiff wings.

 Chapter 2 The Treasure Vault of the Red Dragon

    Cassius, relying on the familiar scent from his cheap mother''s bloodline, twisted and turned through the deep cavern and finally came to a stone door.The stone door was heavy and exuded a dangerous aura.


    This was the red dragon''s secret vault.


    It was her forbidden place, her place of greed, a place craved by every creature in Anzeta yet unknown to them. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The red dragon cautiously extended her claw and pushed open the heavy stone door, then flapped her wings and soared up.


    "Boom!"


    In an instant, surging lava gushed out.


    They roared, like a frenzied giant beast, emitting terrifying heat, threatening to devour all living beings.


    This was the harshest punishment the greedy red dragon dealt to creatures that dared to covet her treasures¡ªturned into something within the lava, melting their bodies until even their bones remained no more.


    Even though he had reacted in advance, the lava filling the entrance still inevitably engulfed Cassius.


    Fortunately, the same bloodline as his mother''s flowed within him, granting him a natural affinity for fire and heat.


    Although his scales were thin and his skin tender, unable to leisurely bathe in lava like an adult red dragon, the lava was only hot water to him, not life-threatening.


    "Hey-yo!"


    The young red dragon paddled desperately with his wings, pushing himself deeper into the vault, through a deep opening.


    Suddenly, it opened up in front of him¡ª


    Gold, mountains of gold.


    A slight touch on the coins would make them flow like a river, falling onto the rocky ground with a clattering sound.


    Among the gold mountains lay items shining with a magical aura.


    Cassius felt his breathing quicken, unable to resist exhaling a breath of hot air, his amber-colored pupils reflecting the glittering gold.


    The deep-seated greed in his red dragon bloodline drove him to stay here, a voice in his mind telling him:


    Claim this gold, claim these treasures¡ªthey are all his.


    "Boom!"


    A massive sound caused the mountains to shake.


    It was the roar of the red dragon, the stern shout of the paladin.


    This sound also snapped Cassius out of his deep greed.


    Indeed, he didn''t have much time left.


    The red dragon was battling the paladin and was evidently losing.


    Once his cheap mother was killed, the next target for this Oath of Vengeance paladin to eradicate would likely be himself, the "young evil one."


    And wanting to take away all the gold in front of him was an impossible task.


    No wonder this red dragon was targeted by this quasi-legendary paladin, such a vast amount of gold, likely in the millions of gold coins.


    She must have plundered the treasure vault of a kingdom passed down through generations, otherwise, even an ancient dragon''s collection wouldn''t be so exaggerated.


    He also understood why a red dragon fond of heat would appear in the cold Anzeta Great Wilderness¡ªit was to escape with her stolen goods.


    "Magical items, I only need magical items that can enhance my self-preservation."


    Cassius quickly regained his composure, forcing down his greed, digging through the gold mountain in front of him, checking for magical items that shimmered with an aura.


    "Blade Ring, reduces slashing damage."


    "Soul Amulet, can use Speak with Dead once per day."


    "Spell Nullifying Amulet, can exempt once from spells below the sixth tier, this is a divine artifact for pioneering, I''ll take it."


    The young dragon swallowed the mithril-made, intricately carved amulet in one go.


    Red dragons were natural spellcasters, their bodies natural storage rooms and materials for magic, any magical item could be stored and function within them.


    Rumor had it that some ancient dragons afflicted with "Spellthirst Syndrome" even carved magical runes on each scale, utilizing them as magic scrolls at any time.


    "Heart of Magma, deals extra flame damage, a good thing."


    "Staff of Scorching, three Fire Rays, I''ll take it."


    ...


    In just a few dozen seconds, the red dragon had swallowed more than ten magical items, but those with significant value were only these. The remaining many were flashy court magics, though expensive, they held little practical use.


    Evidently, this adult red dragon had a preference for gold far surpassing magic.


    The fighting outside grew more intense, but the dragon''s roars were clearly weakening.


    The red dragon was about to collapse.


    "Time to go."


    The young dragon headed towards the entrance, but he seemed to be under a charm spell, frequently glancing back at the pile of gold.


    The deep-seated greed from his bloodline gave him a desire to gulp down all this gold, an addiction-like craving that was almost irresistible.


    But unfortunately, the magical items in his stomach were nearly filling it to the brim.


    "Just one mouthful, just one."


    Cassius opened his huge mouth and wolfed down a large mouthful of gold, the remaining coins cascading like a waterfall from the corner of his mouth.


    He had expected a metallic texture, but to his surprise, the gold in his mouth filled with the smell of sulfur and scorching air felt like greasy sweets, with an inexplicable soft and glutinous texture.


    A semi-transparent panel reappeared in front of him.


    Achievement: [Gold Devourer]


    "As an evil dragon, you are not merely content with stashing gold in your cave, but also attempt to merge it with your insatiable body. Your greed is so great that even the gods sigh."


    "It is believed that once you gain enough power, the world will be consumed by your endless desire."


    Passive Trait Acquired:


    [Metallic Scales] Level 4 (4250/5000)


    AC +2, Constitution +1


    When you devour a certain amount of precious metal, its elements will attach to your body surface and heart''s depth. Your scales will display the corresponding metallic luster, significantly boosting your armor and constitution.


    (Note: Yorn Capricorn, one of the greediest dragons in the multiverse, once even set his sights on the gods'' vault, and he got his wish. Ultimately, he was transformed into a gigantic golden statue, eternally floating in the void of the star realm.)


    "Clatter, clatter..."


    The red dragon felt the rapid melting of gold within his body, trickling to his surface, his crimson scales vaguely revealing a noble golden luster under the firelight.


    Meanwhile, the red dragon''s heart pounded more vigorously under the nourishment of the elements, pumping more scorching blood throughout his body.


    "Phew¡ª¡ª"


    Cassius exhaled comfortably.


    It''s known that attribute panel enhancements are not merely linear increments but approximately exponential increases. Each level is about 1.2 times higher than the previous one, greatly strengthening the constitution.


    "Such a good thing, too bad I can''t take all the gold."


    Cassius hadn''t expected a moment of greed to bring such an unexpected pleasure, but the battle outside was about to end. If he didn''t escape now, he wouldn''t have another chance.


    In such a life-and-death moment, allowing his bloodline to affect his mind would truly make him fit the stereotype of a muscle-brained red dragon.


    "Time to go."


    The red dragon, incredibly arrogant and self-conceited, never even considered abandoning the treasure and escaping the lair.


    But fortunately, his cheap mother wasn''t entirely like that; at least she left a narrow back route for the young ones to escape.


    The young red dragon, his belly bulging, squeezed out from the vault, flying and running through the nest towards another exit.


    This passage led to the southern slope of Cloud Summit Peak, and below was the Bokara Forest. Once he reached there, it was "the sky''s the limit, the ocean vast for the dragon to leap."


    An adult red dragon''s movements might be too noticeable to hide, but those tall spruces and birches could easily conceal a young dragon, allowing him to live and hunt within.


    "Wind tight, let''s fly."


    Cassius looked towards the entrance he was about to reach and leapt forward.

 Chapter 3 The Battle of Fate

    And at this moment, above the sky.The once imposing Red Dragon was now covered in wounds, moaning softly, with deep scars etched into its flesh, glistening with golden radiance that continuously corroded the injuries.


    The wing membranes were like tattered rags, giving off a woeful sound with every beat, making its misery even more apparent.


    Yet she merely thought of this as a troublesome enemy, not one capable of utterly defeating her. After all, she was a Red Dragon, she still had the power of Tiamat, she still had intense flames, and various methods yet to be unleashed.


    "Boom!"


    The Red Dragon laboriously landed on the peak, causing the cliffs to roar and rocks to tumble down.


    For the first time, her tone carried hesitation, "Half-elf, you are strong."


    "Unlike those mortals, your strength far surpasses theirs, thus you are worthy of a mighty True Dragon''s attention."


    "Become my retainer, and you can rule Anzeta Great Wilderness with me!"


    But the Half-Elf Paladin did not reply, only slowly raising the Silver Sword in her hand, her eyes determined. Her silver armor, scorched and blackened, still faintly glimmered with light.


    "To hunt sworn foes or drive out lesser evils, I vow to challenge greater malevolence."


    "And a sworn enemy, deserves no mercy."


    Rhea leaped gracefully, her Silver Sword emitting an aurora like the rays of the setting sun.


    Though not dazzling nor intense, it carried an unyielding resolve to shine brightly even in the darkness.


    This was the origin of the "Twilight Blade."


    "Soul of Vengeance!"


    With a crisp shout, countless spectral spirits appeared around the Half-Elf Paladin.


    They were the children burned to death in the fire, the mothers crushed by collapsing houses, the men who bravely raised pitchforks but were turned to ashes by dragonflame, the warriors who fought evil but were crushed into pulp by claws, and¡ªPaladins burning with the will of vengeance.


    Rhea began to fly, sprouting illusory black wings on her back, making her resemble an angel born from vengeance.


    At this moment, she soared above the mountain peak.


    "Roar¡ª"


    And Aclecia roared furiously, the absolute pride of a Red Dragon not allowing any lesser being to dare look down upon her.


    At that moment, all the power in her bloodline was fully unleashed, using the most primal, most savage physical strength, and the Red Dragon''s most adept melee combat¡ª


    She charged forward with an unstoppable force!


    "Boom!"


    The impending clash of two mighty forces made the mountain tremble incessantly, causing the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness to shake.


    This sight made Kai Xu, who was desperately fleeing, unable to resist turning his head to sneak a glance at the terrifying scene.


    "Supreme Holy Slash!"


    Rhea used all her strength, gripping the Silver Sword tightly and slashing down, completely ignoring the Red Dragon''s gaping, snarling giant maw.


    The silver longsword, glowing with twilight radiance, simply slashed diagonally.


    "Slice¡ª"


    The longsword sliced through the dragon scales, harder than any armor, like a hot knife through butter, tearing through the Red Dragon''s scalding, surging blood vessels and flesh.


    The illusory spirits surrounding her formed a massive legion, the Souls of Vengeance roaring and charging towards the wound on the Red Dragon''s neck.


    Each impact deepened the scar by several feet.


    In immense pain, Aclecia reared her head back, letting out a painful howl. But this instinctive movement only further tore the wound, causing scalding blood to gush out like a fountain.


    "Ao¡ª"


    The Red Dragon at first could make pained sounds, but once her throat was completely cut, she could no longer make any sound.


    Everything happened too quickly.


    So fast that the Red Dragon hadn''t even had time to swing her mighty claws or swat with her thick tail.


    She hadn''t even had time to use her invincible power from Tiamat.


    But the Silver Sword mercilessly cut her throat.


    This lengthy Red Dragon, spanning dozens of meters, struggled in mid-air before her wings went limp and she crashed heavily halfway down the mountain.


    "Boom!"


    The earth trembled, the massive body rolled down the slope with a rumble, ending her evil and greedy life.


    Her soul might be taken by Tiamat, or perhaps shattered by the Souls of Vengeance.


    But one thing was certain without a doubt.


    This Red Dragon was dead.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the foot of the southern slope of Cloud Summit Peak.


    "A vengeful angel with wings, almost the highest level of Black Rider, truly terrifying."


    "Run, run."


    Cassius couldn''t help but exclaim.


    Sub-Legendary level power, even in the 4.0 version of the previous life, was top-tier, with only hundreds out of tens of millions of players reaching that level.


    And those who could step into the path of Legendary were even rarer.


    Thinking of this, the young Red Dragon was even more determined to run away, hurriedly using the ability granted by the swallowed Ring of the Nimble Mage to cast a spell on himself,


    "Oil on the soles of the feet!"


    Immediately, his speed became even more rapid.


    Cassius dashed away like a red lightning bolt, heading for the distant dense forest.


    As for flying? S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t dare right now.


    If his luck turned bad and he got noticed by this Sub-Legendary Paladin''s perception, a casual Evil-Crushing Slash from a few hundred meters away could send his soul straight back to Tiamat.


    That was a Sub-Legendary Paladin.


    With innate Divine Sense, it was only normal.


    Cassius was fleeing in panic, unable to consider anything else.


    Unaware that the Half-Elf Paladin now stood at the mountain''s peak, covered in warm dragon blood, looking down at the southern slope of Cloud Summit Peak


    ¡ªthe same direction the young dragon was fleeing.


    There was a trace of confusion in Rhea''s amber eyes.


    Because under her evil-perceiving vision, the distant young Red Dragon was not covered in the black representing the evil faction like a normal Red Dragon.


    Instead, it was colorless, representing the neutral faction.


    "A neutral Red Dragon, how is that possible..."


    After a moment''s thought, she still raised her Silver Sword, pointing it towards the young dragon, determined to investigate.


    "Monster Immobilization Spell!"


    As the Silver Sword pointed, a spell radiance flew into the distance.


    If it hit, the young Red Dragon would be immobilized, unable to move an inch.


    But just as the radiance was about to touch the Red Dragon''s scales.


    An invisible barrier suddenly appeared from Cassius, completely blocking the Monster Immobilization Spell, then shattering.


    [Spell Nullification Barrier]


    Cassius was horrified, realizing that this magic-nullifying amulet could only be used once a day, and he had no second chance.


    "Run!"


    Under the pressure of a life-and-death crisis, the young dragon frantically flapped his still immature wings, flying desperately.


    He fled with all his might, diving into the forest within moments, vanishing into the thick woods, hiding his presence entirely.


    Rhea looked down at the endless Bokara Forest, furrowing her brow, then shaking her head, releasing a sigh.


    A Red Dragon of the neutral faction.


    Maybe she had created a terrible enemy for her future, or perhaps she had brought about a better change for the world, or maybe nothing would happen at all...


    Yes.


    She would not kill someone for potential future evil, but if that Red Dragon committed heinous crimes, Rhea was confident she could, just like today¡ª


    ¡ªuse her sharp and unmatched Silver Sword to slay it completely.


    This was the creed of the Avenging Paladin''s Oath.


    "No mercy for the wicked."


    "But...maybe mercy for a steadfast enemy."


    The Half-Elf slowly took off her helmet, revealing a cold and beautiful face, murmuring to herself.

 Chapter 4 The Escaped Beast

    "Huff, huff..."The young Red Dragon hid in a hidden cave deep in the forest, the entrance concealed by dense, hanging branches.


    Cassius wasn''t sure if he had eluded the Half-Elf paladin''s pursuit, so he kept fleeing into the depths of Bokara Forest.


    He didn''t look back, nor did he stop.


    He didn''t know how long he ran until he was nearly out of strength and found this relatively hidden cave, where he could somewhat relax.


    When out adventuring, caution is key.


    "I think I''ve shaken them off..."


    Cassius panted, still uncertain.


    The light screen unfolded slowly again, another three-dimensional trophy icon appearing.


    Achievement obtained: [Fugitive Beast]


    "The hunter is coming, escape, leave this place, and never return..."


    Passive Trait acquired:


    [Fugitive]


    Agility +1


    Stealth +2, Athletics +4


    (Note: Surviving a near-death experience has taught you how to escape. This is not a disgrace, but merely a means of survival.)


    Instantly, the Red Dragon felt a non-physical, breeze-like power crawl over his body, visibly and rapidly transforming him.


    He gladly accepted this transformation.


    He stayed in the cave for several hours until the power finally subsided.


    "Is this a spell?"


    "No, I don''t sense any elemental flow."


    "It''s more like a form of spiritual energy."


    The Red Dragon observed himself in a puddle:


    His limbs and torso were still muscular, but were now transforming into a more streamlined and aesthetic form.


    The exaggerated muscular bulge typical of Red Dragons was gone. Even his wing membranes had changed slightly, allowing him to better interact with the elements in the air for flight.


    Compared to before, the Red Dragon was now more agile.


    The achievement system, it seemed, was his unique feature, rewarding him for completing certain tasks. Passive abilities like Metallic Scales and Fugitive would still be powerful even in the late game.


    But what puzzled Cassius was his template.


    In his past life in "Elzegai," player templates and monster templates were completely different entities.


    Before reaching legendary status, player templates could gain experience (XP) through battles and quests to level up, leading to a late-game scenario where thousands of level 12+ Transcendent Warriors altered the course of battle.


    The monster template, however, was native to this world, only able to grow stronger through self-discovery and aging.


    But as long as the panel was still there, everything else could be managed.


    The semi-transparent blue screen unfolded slowly.


    Cassius noticed his prefix had changed.


    [Wealthy Young Red Dragon]


    Name: Cassius Claudius Norixius


    Template: NPC (10 years, 1 day, and 4 hours until server opens)


    Category: Large dragons, Lawful Neutral


    AC: 20 (natural armor, Metallic Scales)


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª21


    Agility¡ª¡ª11


    Constitution¡ª¡ª19


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª12


    Perception¡ª¡ª11


    Charisma¡ª¡ª14


    Skill Proficiencies: Stealth +6, Athletics +4, Perception +8, Hunting +2, Escape +4, Knowledge (future) +4


    Damage Immunity: Flame


    Senses: Blindsight 10, Dark Vision 60, Passive Perception 14


    Languages: Draconic, Common


    Abilities: Biting, clawing, tail attack, flight, flame breath attack


    Traits: Metallic Scales, Fugitive


    Combat Equipment: Magic Nullification Amulet, Dexterous Mage''s Action Ring, Staff of Scorching, Dead Speak Amulet, Lava Splasher, Blade Evasion Ring, Silent Footsteps Amulet, Owl Bear Perception Mask...


    Challenge Level: 8 (3,600 XP)


    Assessment: "Never underestimate even a young Red Dragon; it will become a lifelong nightmare. Especially one with more than ten magical items, one slip and you''ll fall into its grasp."


    The prefix can change?


    Intriguing.


    A tawny feather floated down onto the Red Dragon''s nose, prompting him to exhale a sulfurous breath, burning the feather black and blowing it away.


    "The owner of this nest should be back by now."


    So thought Cassius.


    Sure enough.


    A furious roar soon came from the cave entrance.


    "Roar! Roar!"


    A fierce beast tore away the branches¡ªa dull, ivory-colored beak, powerful limbs also covered in eagle feathers.


    The massive creature stood a full eight feet tall, its robust body lined with dense, dark feathers, even larger than Cassius by a few measures.


    This was an Owl Bear, a savage predator of the wild.


    Possibly the creation of some ancient mad mage using bear and owl samples, Owl Bears were now spread throughout the continent. Cassius''s own panel displayed the Owl Bear''s details.


    [Based on your own power, you can observe the following information]


    [Adult Male Owl Bear]


    Category: Large Beast, Always Neutral


    AC: 15


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª20


    Agility¡ª¡ª12


    Constitution¡ª¡ª19


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª2


    Perception¡ª¡ª12 S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Charisma¡ª¡ª10


    Proficiency Skills: Listening +4, Perception +8, Hunting +4


    Senses: Keen Smell 14, Passive Perception 16, Owl Beast Instinct 20


    Language: None


    Actions: Grapple, biting, ramming, clawing


    Trait: Mastery in grappling


    Challenge Level: 3 (700 XP)


    Assessment: "Owl Bears are extremely savage predators, typically deemed fierce, aggressive, and bad-tempered. They tend to attack any moving creature without warning."


    Cassius looked at the beast before him, simply spreading his wings and using a magical item to preemptively cast Animal Language Skill, testing it:


    "Submit to me, Owl Bear."


    But the feral beast responded with an angry roar, pounding the ground with its powerful claws.


    It squeezed through the cave entrance, charging at the Red Dragon with full force.


    With only 2 Intelligence, these beasts could only roughly gauge size and had no way of realizing the terrible power lurking within this young dragon''s body.


    Moreover, the Red Dragon had yet to awaken its Aura of Majesty, making it appear even more "ordinary."


    "Just a beast, after all?"


    Cassius shook his head, unafraid of the charging beast, casually opening his mouth.


    [Searing Ray]


    The fire elemental crystal in his internal staff glowed red, bursting with scorching magical energy, deploying this Second Tier Spell.


    As the Red Dragon''s natural affinity for fire elements enhanced the spell''s power through his throat, it became even deadlier, despite his young age and undeveloped spellcasting ability.


    "Bang, bang, bang!"


    Three scorching Fire Rays shot out, hitting the Owl Bear directly.


    With its abundant fur, the beast was especially vulnerable to fire, and as the Fire Rays struck, its fur instantly charred and caught fire, burning fiercely.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The beast howled in pain, rolling on the ground.


    But this did nothing to stop the raging flames, nor did it prevent the young dragon from pouncing to bite it forcefully.


    Even Cassius''s internal "Heart of Magma" emitted searing magical aurora, causing additional flame damage.


    Soon, the cave filled with the scent of scorched fur and the rich aroma of roasted meat.


    "Not bad."


    "Just a bit tough."


    Cassius chewed the charred yet thick bear meat, and the panel opened before him again.


    [Killed Adult Male Owl Bear, gained 700 XP]


    [Level increased to 1]


    [Due to racial traits, leveling up in your occupation will be more challenging, but you will gain even greater power]


    Achievement obtained: [First Blood]


    "Welcome to this colorful world."


    Player occupation panel obtained


    Warrior, Mage, Magician, Martial Monk, and several other occupation badges appeared on the panel, leading to numerous sub-occupation branches.


    Cassius was first stunned, then overjoyed.


    He recalled that in the previous game, players had to complete the novice task of "killing a turkey" in the unknown space to unlock the player occupation panel.


    Dragons yearn for power.


    But seeking humanoid abilities is not a natural thing for them. They are proud and disdainful of non-draconic knowledge.


    Overall, dragons detest learning the skills of "lower" species. Hence their legacy lacks enhancement methods, relying more on innate spells and an insatiable greed for treasure.


    Players, on the other hand, could easily find ways to become stronger, but their base stats were imported from real-world data.


    In the game''s early stages, player attributes were notoriously weak. There was even an unnamed barbarian player who created the "miracle" of starting with 8 Intelligence.


    But Cassius could easily combine the terrifying talents of Dragonkin with the player occupations.

 Chapter 5 The Origin of Sorcery

    If it were later stages now, Cassius would have chosen the mage without hesitation. After all, being a mage master wasn''t just for show.A fully prepared and well-equipped mage had the assurance of defeating any enemy of the same level, with powerful branch occupations like time mages that mastered spatial and temporal powers in the later stages.


    However, the mage had one critical flaw in the early stages: the need to transcribe spells.


    Yes, magic seemed like a science to mages, something that needed to be studied.


    Only through detailed understanding of spell prototypes via spell scrolls, mastering various Magic Web parameters, and thorough learning could one successfully acquire a spell.


    And right now, Cassius was penniless, with only a few pieces of magic equipment on him.


    He couldn''t possibly run to a human town to learn magic in his dragon form, could he?


    Would he have to advance through a magic academy?


    Warlocks were different. Their spells were "heaven-sent." A better word to describe it would be innate talent.


    After contemplating for a moment, Cassius made his choice.


    [Choose to advance the Warlock occupation]


    [Detected that you have dragonkin bloodline]


    [Automatically selected as Dragon Vein Sorcerer - Red Dragon Bloodline]


    Dragons were powerful magical creatures, naturally adept at various supernatural phenomena.


    Any age dragon, even a hatchling, could possess occupational levels in sorcery.


    Ancient scholars believed that a sorcerer''s abilities were inherited from dragons, possibly from intermarriages long ago.


    More importantly, a warlock''s casting level could add to a dragon''s innate spellcasting level, enabling the dragon to fully utilize its bloodline, producing even stronger effects.


    The renowned Ancient Red Dragon Imwalnao dedicated himself to mastering fire magic, possessing a casting level as high as level 40.


    [Your warlock level has been raised to 1]


    [[Origin of Sorcery]: Magic itself is part of a warlock, this latent power permeates their body, mind, and soul, waiting to be released.]


    [No one can choose sorcery; sorcery chooses you.] Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [You have acquired 4 Cantrips, 2 first-level spells]


    A rich spell table appeared on the screen.


    [Acquired Cantrips [Mage''s Hand], [Act Before the Enemy], [Magic Tricks], [Minor Illusion]]


    [Acquired first-level spells [Cloud Mist Technique], [Magic Missile]]


    Still the standard early-stage setup.


    In his previous life, when advancing his occupation, Cassius only got cold data displayed, never realizing anything different.


    Only now did he notice how incredible this power felt.


    "This feeling..."


    Each spell appeared in his mind out of thin air.


    No, not out of thin air.


    More like innate, gifted talent.


    This precious knowledge penetrated his body, memory, and even attached to his will.


    [Mage''s Hand]


    Cassius thought, and an invisible hand appeared out of thin air, picking up and throwing a stone from the ground.


    Even the lowest level spells and simple actions amazed the Red Dragon.


    Because this power didn''t come from a magical item or program; it came from himself.


    Compared to the rigorous scientific casting of a mage, warlock casting was more like art.


    No need to meticulously construct a spell prototype or calculate Magic Web parameters, just use his consciousness to feel the Magic Web and project his will into reality, making it happen.


    Therefore, warlocks with innate talent in easily casting powerful spells often garnered envy and disdain from mages. They were ridiculed as "barbarians among spellcasters" and "orcs with magic wands."


    "Truly fascinating."


    The Red Dragon walked out of the cave with a light step, stepping over the enormous carcass of an owl bear half-eaten.


    He understood why Erezer''s spellcasters were so arrogant, given this sense of controlling the real world created an illusion of being godlike to ordinary people.


    However, the text prompts on the panel hadn''t ended yet.


    [Bloodline Tracing from Ancient Red Dragon fills your body with scorching flame power.]


    [You gain affinity with fire element magic; flame damage will be enhanced]


    [Breath Weapon (Fire) has been enhanced]


    [Acquired additional Cantrip [Fire Arrow]]


    In Cassius''s golden vertical pupils, fierce flames reflected, and his body surged like an erupting volcano.


    His heart thumped vigorously, pumping this fire elemental energy throughout his body, while his blood flowed like pulsating magma, hot and vibrant.


    [Tracing your bloodline heritage¡­]


    The Red Dragon closed his eyes, and illusions appeared in his mind.


    It seemed to be an ancient battlefield of unnamed outer planes, with vast metallic city walls hundreds of meters high in the distance.


    An Ancient Red Dragon flapped its gigantic wings, stirring a whirlwind; heavenly troops with wings were thrown over helplessly beneath him.


    He opened his massive maw, spitting out a terrifying flame unimaginable to mortals. The air distorted from the heat,


    melting the sturdy wall into a giant gap as the metal flowed down as scalding liquid.


    Asen angels with dragon heads and human bodies wielded magic wands to cast divine arts, several Heavenly Colossuses towering tens of meters jumped high, lunging at the Ancient Red Dragon in the sky, and more silver-haired Barani angels took shared aim with their bows, shooting up toward the sky.


    Yet, even the Ancient Red Dragon seemed insignificant compared to the vast battlefield.


    "Roar¡ª"


    In the far distance of the vision, an appalling creature with five fierce dragon heads howled skyward, spreading its wings that blanketed the sky, slowly rising into the air.


    Instantly, a hurricane surged, dust swirling high.


    A shadow enveloped the earth, resembling the descent of the apocalypse.


    In the illusion, Cassius couldn''t help but look up to the sky.


    However, he clearly saw, among the heads overlooking the beings below, one red dragon head very similar to his own gazed down at him, a slight curve in its formidable mouth.


    The head slowly spoke: "My child..."


    The voice seemed to originate from the depths of his soul, and the Red Dragon immediately felt a strong bloodline pressure.


    This horrifying force made him involuntarily want to bow and kneel, yielding under this divine might.


    "It noticed me!"


    Alarm bells rang within the Red Dragon''s heart.


    In the next moment, the illusionary sky fractured like shattered glass.


    Be it the Ancient Red Dragon, the Heavenly Colossuses, or the fearsome five-headed figure in the sky, everything in the illusion broke apart.


    "Huff, huff."


    "Huff..."


    Cassius barely escaped the suffocating pressure, gasping for air, his entire body shaking and stiff.


    With a look of utter astonishment, the Red Dragon glanced at the game panel before him, discovering it was frantically refreshing information as if it had been infected by a virus.


    [Warning!]


    [Warning!]


    [Warning!]


    [You have drawn the attention of the deity [Mother of Evil Dragons Tiamat]]


    [Mind Shielding System activated]


    [Having faced the deity [Mother of Evil Dragons Tiamat] directly, you may undergo unforeseen changes.]


    Staring at the data streaming across the panel, Cassius felt apprehensive but helpless.


    "Is this the power of the deity? Truly terrifying."


    "Ancient plane battlefield..."


    "Did I actually see Tiamat''s true form?"


    In Erezer, even when the players maximum level had reached legendary level (21), the powers of the deities remained a mystery. Almost no one had witnessed the true form of any deity, be it even a minor god.


    As for so-called "god-slaying," it was pure fantasy.


    Some top-tier players once said, "If it has a health bar, even a god can be killed."


    Yet, in reality, a deity''s level of power was unimaginable to mortals and were set to "have no health bars."


    This was the power of a deity. Just gazing at its true form in an illusion could lead to dire consequences.


    But for this fledgling dragon, Ancient Red Dragons, inter-planar wars, and Tiamat all seemed too distant, too grand.


    If any mighty existence indeed had designs on him, he had no means to resist right now.


    Thus, rather than worrying about outer plane deities, it was more practical to steadily increase his power and consider his future plans.


    "Since I''ve already been noticed, as a Red Dragon, I better offer incense to Tiamat, for she is quite aged."


    "Don''t want her holding grudges against me."


    Gently leaping up, Cassius flapped his strong wings, gradually spiraling into the sky.


    "Next, it''s time to earn some experience."


    Gazing at the vast forest and distant mountains, the Red Dragon couldn''t help but let out a roar, his youthful voice carrying a touch of a mighty dragon''s majesty.

 Chapter 6 Hunting in the Forest

    Five months later.Snowflakes had begun to fall over the Bokara Forest.


    This foretold that the Anzeta Plateau was about to enter winter, and the beasts were starting to hunt in groups, preparing for the long and severe winter.


    The forest rustled with sound, and gray figures darted swiftly through the trees.


    Their prominent snouts, triangular blue eyes, and sharp fangs betrayed their identity: Terror Wolves.


    One of the top predators in the forest, masters of group hunting tactics.


    And in front of them, a herd of frightened deer was running for their lives.


    The wolf pack seemed unhurried, the strong leading Terror Wolf let out a long howl, and the rest responded with light howls.


    The pack consisted of more than ten wolves. They coordinated with each other; some drove the deer from behind, others flanked from the sides, and some even disappeared, forming an open pocket-like formation.


    After several tens of minutes of chase, the wolves had the absolute upper hand, wasting little energy as they herded the panicked deer to a mountain pass.


    The deer, under the wolves'' relentless pursuit, scrambled into the pass, seeing it as their last escape route, like grasping at a lifeline.


    In the chaos, even small fawns were trampled to death.


    But they didn''t realize that what they mistook as a lifeline was actually a trap.


    "Awoo¡ª"


    As the last of the deer entered the valley, the Wolf King let out an excited howl, and the previously missing wolves reappeared at the other end of the valley, completely surrounding the thirty-plus deer in the narrow pass.


    The deer were now in total disarray, bumping into each other, only to find menacing wolves everywhere they turned.


    The wolves'' blue eyes were gleaming, and they eagerly swarmed in.


    Blood splattered, pained cries echoed, and the valley filled with the scent of blood.


    In the end, the leading buck broke through the blockade on the opposite side with its large antlers, leading more than ten deer to escape, leaving behind several dozen carcasses in the valley.


    The wolf pack had achieved their goal.


    The Terror Wolves rushed forward, tearing into the deer''s flesh, eager to feast before winter set in, hoping to survive the harsh cold of the North.


    The Wolf King chewed on the most succulent organs, savoring this hard-earned, carefully planned meal.


    A mist arose in the valley.


    At first, the wolves paid it no mind, but as the mist thickened, enveloping them in a murky haze where they could barely see each other, they began to panic.


    Mysterious shadows flickered within the mist.


    "Crunch, crunch"


    It was unclear if it was the sound of wolves crushing deer bones or wolves'' bones being crushed. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then erratic howls emanated from the mist, perhaps hunting signals, attack calls, or feeding permissions, unclear but meaningful to the wolves.


    If a knowledgeable mage were here, they could easily identify this as a spell, "Magic Tricks," creating additional noises and sensations.


    Unfortunately, the beasts were unaware and instinctively afraid of the unknown, losing their reason.


    "Aroo¡ª"


    The Wolf King stood alertly, howling to call its pack.


    The pack howled back in confusion, trying to locate each other.


    But the dense fog blurred their vision, and the strange sounds made it impossible to discern the direction or gain any useful information.


    The Wolf King suddenly sensed a strange sound from above.


    A whooshing wind.


    It instinctively looked up, and its pupils reflected blazing flames...


    "Boom¡ª"


    [Killed adult male Terror Wolf, gained 200xp]


    [Killed adult male Terror Wolf, gained 200xp]


    [Killed adult male Terror Wolf, gained 200xp]


    [Killed adult female Terror Wolf, gained 200xp]


    ...


    [Killed Terror Wolf Leader, gained 700xp]


    "A bumper harvest, not one escaped."


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfuric heat, then spread his wings.


    A red figure swept across the valley, circling above the forest.


    The Red Dragon, transformed into a fearsome Hunter, scanned the forest below, searching for the next prey. To him, the normally feared beasts were just walking experience packs.


    ...


    Near the bushes on the ground, a huge feral boar was digging through the soil, looking for anything edible.


    Whether it was the juicy roots of ferns, a hibernating snake, or soil clumps containing special elements, the boar would eat it all.


    This enormous boar stood over two meters tall at the shoulder, looking like a small hill from a distance.


    Its tusks, like curved blades, jutted out from its mouth. Beneath its thick hide were layers of fat, covered by a tough exterior of hardened dirt accumulated over the years.


    Ordinary iron swords couldn''t cut through this natural armor, and only the most experienced hunters dared to challenge such a formidable beast.


    "Snort, snort..."


    The boar snorted, blowing out a clump of dirt, and continued its digging, finally uncovering an insect pupa in the mess.


    Delighted, the boar quickly swallowed the precious protein.


    Suddenly, it spotted what seemed like a small snake''s shadow in the grass, slithering away.


    "Grunt..."


    The boar trotted after the snake.


    The snake lured the boar to a cliffside.


    Just as the boar lumbered forward, eager to gobble up the snake, the snake vanished.


    A shadow descended from the cliff.


    [Magic Missile]


    Several Arcane Orbs hit the boar''s thick hide, dealing inescapable, indefensible magical damage.


    The boar couldn''t help but let out a painful wail, immediately followed by a frenzy induced by its injury.


    "Beast Fury!"


    Its eyes turned red with rage, its fur bristling, and it stomped around, kicking up dust, searching for its attacker.


    "Huff, huff¡ª"


    This state was similar to a barbarian''s trait, where the boar''s strength and constitution were tremendously enhanced.


    Even more frightening, it became immune to pain and fatigue. Many adventurers who thought they''d mortally wounded it were torn in two by its tusks in its furious rage.


    But the furious beast couldn''t find its target, nor its attacker, and could only vent its overflowing anger everywhere.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom! Boom!"


    It rammed its massive body into the cliff, dislodging rocks, and tore up earth and trees with its tusks.


    Minutes passed.


    When the frenzy subsided, the giant beast lay exhausted on the ground.


    The surroundings were a mess, with debris everywhere, the ground torn up, and the cliff cracked.


    Recovering from its rage-induced frenzy, it began lazily munching on grass roots.


    "Ignis (Fire Arrow)!"


    A Flaming Arrow fell from above, scorching its hide.


    Another red figure dove from the sky, landing on its bristling back.


    "Arooo..."


    The boar''s wail was pained and sorrowful, but it lacked the strength to fight back.


    It could only let the Red Dragon on its back bite through its spine, ending its life swiftly and decisively.


    This once-unbeatable forest ruler perished miserably.


    [Killed mature feral boar, gained 1100xp]


    [Your level has increased to 2]


    Ripping through its tough hide and thick fat, exposing the bloody flesh beneath.


    Cassius, not bothering to cook it, tore off a piece of tenderloin and devoured it.


    The Red Dragon had a unique digestive system, converting most of what it ate into nutrients for growth, and the remainder into elemental energy, with little waste.


    "Very chewy pork, but a bit too old."


    With blood dripping from his mouth, the Red Dragon couldn''t help but give an assessment.

 Chapter 7 Magician Metamagic

    In the past five months, Cassius had spent his time in the Bokara Forest, searching everywhere for more powerful beasts. The Red Dragon had both transformed them into his growth sustenance and his leveling experience.Appropriate caution was necessary. Before being fully confident, Cassius would not attempt to challenge those formidable creatures.


    Now, Cassius had already risen to level 2, learned the "Magic Powered Fountain" ability, and gained sorcery power.


    After this period of hunting, this young Red Dragon in his growth phase had grown significantly larger, now measuring a full six meters from head to tail.


    His scales had become brighter in color, and slightly protruding bone spurs grew along his spine, though they had not yet formed a complete dorsal fin. It was evident that he was about to enter the next stage.


    His raised head had become more ferocious, his forehead horns had elongated and hardened, and new horn rings had appeared. Short keratinous spikes grew on his chin, and his pupils were now several shades lighter than before.


    Of course, the Red Dragon still had the disproportionally large head and small body characteristic of a juvenile dragon.


    His proportions still appeared somewhat comical.


    Cassius swallowed a piece of meat whole and then looked up at the panel. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Choose to level up the sorcerer class."


    [Your sorcerer level has increased to level 3]


    [The magic power suppressed within your body, mind, and soul has been released. You can now use strong willpower to twist your spells to achieve the desired effects, gaining the [Metamagic] ability]


    [You can choose two metamagic effects]


    [You have gained [Metamagic: Instantaneous Spell] [Metamagic: Twin Spell]]


    [Metamagic: Instantaneous Spell]


    You expend a certain amount of sorcery power to twist a spell with strong sorcerer willpower. Your spell can be cast instantly, without preparation.


    [Metamagic: Twin Spell]


    You expend the corresponding amount of sorcery power to duplicate a prepared spell, allowing it to affect multiple targets simultaneously.


    Cassius directly chose the most straightforward metamagic combination.


    Although sorcerers did not need to construct spell prototypes like mages, they still needed to use willpower to feel the Magic Web and prepare for magic.


    However, the instantaneous metamagic allowed for direct casting, making spells as easy to control as moving an arm.


    The Twin Spell was even more notable; in battle, an additional spell, even a fraction of one, could change the course of the conflict.


    [You have gained the first-tier spells [Charm Person] [Thunderwave]]


    [You have gained the second-tier spells [Invisibility Technique] [Enhanced Attributes]]


    In terms of spells, Cassius chose those that were more functional rather than directly damaging.


    After all, being a Red Dragon, most low-tier spells in the early stages did not inflict as much damage as his sharp teeth and Flame Breath. Besides, he had the once-a-day Searing Ray.


    Being invisible or charming others provided much more utility than minor damage.


    Upon making his choices, the Red Dragon slowly closed his eyes.


    Vast sorcery power was unlocked from the depths of his body, rolling out like a fountain, forcefully attaching to his will.


    There was no need to calculate parameters, nor to construct models. One only needed to use that power and twist the magic illogically as required by the spellcaster.


    This was the Magic Web, a system that simultaneously harbored both order and chaos.


    Several spells emerged from deep within his mind, deeply inscribed into the Red Dragon''s consciousness. He had finally touched a higher layer of the Magic Web and gained a more profound understanding of this world''s Magic Web.


    "It''s about time to leave here."


    "The next destination will be Stormy Ridge."


    The Red Dragon gorged himself, leaving behind several abandoned nests in the forest without a second thought, and soared into the sky.


    The sky was clear, with not a single cloud in sight.


    He gazed down at the earth; below him was a dense forest teeming with trees, with deer darting through the woods.


    Further out lay a vast, desolate plateau where the outlines of several cities could be vaguely seen. Beyond his line of sight were endless, snow-covered mountains that seemed to stretch to infinity...


    This was the Anzeta Great Wilderness, located in the northwest of the Elzegai West Continent, surrounded by the imposing Ancytica Mountains. Due to its perpetually cold climate, it was known as the "Land of Eternal Winter."


    The indomitable Skandar People had established dozens of cities here over a millennium, gradually forming the Northern United Kingdom led by Duke Boske. Many diverse creatures, including orcs, giants, goblins, and even giant dragons, coexisted in this vast region.


    The strong wind in the sky brushed across the Red Dragon''s scales, drying the bloodstains at the corners of his mouth.


    All these real, vivid sensations were clearly reminding Cassius, or rather Lin Kai:


    He was alive.


    Truly alive under this sky.


    This was not some virtual game.


    The Red Dragon looked down at the vast land, mumbling to himself:


    "I am Cassius¡­"


    But his latter half of the sentence was lost in the high-altitude howling hurricane¡ª"I was also Lin Kai."


    ...


    Deep in the mountains, in the coldest part of Anzeta, stood a black tower.


    No one knew its origin, and no one dared to visit.


    Unknown beastly howls often emanated from the tower, leading people to call it the Polar Night Demon Tower.


    At the top of the tower, a man clad in a black cloak, his face obscured, was waiting for something.


    An old, rusty badge on his chest depicted a blazing flame with eyes growing on dragon claws.


    Soon after, a portal appeared out of thin air, and a grotesque creature slowly wriggled and crawled out of it, kneeling peculiarly before the man.


    The creature was over three meters tall, and even kneeling, it was considerably taller than the man.


    Its body was twisted, a misshapen assemblage of disordered flesh.


    It was covered in many white scales, but large patches of raw flesh remained exposed, with a thick mat of hair on its head, giving it a disgusting and grotesque appearance.


    The creature spoke with great difficulty: "Mas...ter, it is... it is a Red Dragon."


    With that, it extended its bloodied, twisted limb, presenting a charred bone that still bore the outline of a Terror Wolf''s skull.


    "A powerful Red Dragon?"


    "Excellent, excellent!"


    The man''s tone was unusually excited.


    "It is... very cunning. I have not yet found its lair."


    "Hahaha, don''t be hasty. I know these Red Dragons too well¡ªproud, greedy, furious, prone to violence, and lazy to think¡­"


    "Once these creatures obtain enough power, they will mark their territory and flaunt their power like a dog in heat."


    The man laughed maniacally, his voice filled with fanaticism and obsession.


    "When that time comes, that power will be mine to control."


    "Yes... master..."


    The creature slowly lowered its head, its thick hair covering its ghostly blue eyes.


    The man stepped forward, gently stroking the creature''s head, unfazed by the unknown slime covering his hands. He softly said:


    "I will not fail again, absolutely not..."


    These words seemed to be meant for the creature, but also for himself.

 Chapter 8 Stormy Ridge

    The Red Dragon soared freely in the sky. In the distance, towering and steep cliffs pierced the clouds, which was Hurricane Cliffs.This was the Arcade Mountain Pass in the north, also a gathering place for storms, where hurricanes often raged.


    Spreading southward from here across a vast, undulating terrain filled with scattered rocks, sparse trees, and even tundra, it was collectively known as Stormy Ridge.


    In the past life, Stormy Ridge had another name ¡ª "Newbie''s Mass Grave."


    Due to active and intense elemental reactions, this area was sparsely populated, with countless creatures growing wild here.


    Hill Giants, Gnolls, Ogres, Goblins, and even Bipedal Wyverns, all kinds of monsters coexisted here, where one could easily find themselves surrounded by evil creatures if not careful.


    Yet, for Cassius, the evil dragon, this place was a holy land for leveling up and recruiting retainers.


    As winter approached, hurricanes on Stormy Ridge mixed with fragments of snow. The ground''s weeds were withered and dry, covered by thin layers of snow.


    The Red Dragon felt a chill in the air and couldn''t help but exhale a breath of sulfur-scented heat, sublimating the snowflakes in the air into water vapor.


    "Need to find a warm enough shelter."


    The Red Dragon thought.


    Previously, Cloud Summit Peak was a good place. While located in the northwest part of the continent in the so-called "Land of Eternal Winter" of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, the cave had plenty of geothermal heat, with even some magma in its depths, fitting the Red Dragon''s pursuit of fire and heat.


    Unfortunately, after his cheap mother got slain, it was no longer safe. There might be kingdom guards stationed at the cave entrance to prevent the evil dragon from coming back.


    Cassius tried to recall memories of Stormy Ridge from his past life and suddenly thought of a good place.


    "Just in time to see if I could recruit a subordinate, or... gain some experience."


    Feeling invigorated, the Red Dragon stretched his wings and glided over the ground, filled with excitement despite the cold wind.


    ...


    Giant''s Mouth Cave.


    Whoever came up with that lousy name probably was some bored bard.


    Perhaps it was because the uneven rocks around the cave entrance resembled a giant''s rotten teeth, or because the open hole looked like a mouth, but at some point, it got this name.


    The surrounding Ogres and Goblins also called it that, reflecting their limited imagination.


    The cave had changed owners many times, and currently, it belonged to a Chimera.


    The Chimera, a beast said to be created by the Demon Lord Demogorgon who was summoned to the mortal world, had the hind legs of a goat, the forelegs of a lion, a pair of dragon wings, and the heads of these three creatures.


    It combined the worst traits of each part: the dragon''s head driving it to raid and hoard treasures, the lion''s nature sparking its desire to hunt powerful creatures threatening its territory, and its goat''s head making it malicious and tenacious, fighting to the death.


    At present, the cave''s owner lounged near the entrance, leisurely licking its wounds.


    Its massive seven-meter-long body lazily lay on the rocks, absorbing their lingering warmth.


    It was the most terrifying monster within a hundred miles, sitting at the top of the food chain, only needing to ravage and kill. The accumulated bones inside the cave attested to its gruesome reign.


    There were even numerous human relics like armor and swords among the hoard, suggesting many adventurers had fallen to this greedy beast.


    But the roaring of wings outside interrupted everything.


    The Chimera roared furiously, rising to see outside, ready to tear the foolish intruder apart, only to see a robust Red Dragon land with a thud.


    "Submit to me, or choose death."


    The Red Dragon said in Draconic.


    The Chimera had dragon blood in its veins, rarely speaking but understanding Draconic.


    It studied the creature before it. This Red Dragon was clearly not fully grown, smaller in size but more robust.


    Though a formidable opponent, it didn''t look invincible.


    The lion''s head growled, its nature triggering a fierce desire to hunt the strong creature before it, a worthy challenge no doubt.


    Hearing the Chimera''s growl, Cassius shook his head regretfully, thinking that indeed, size does matter ¡ª doing anything becomes troublesome otherwise.


    If a twenty-meter-long adult Red Dragon had occupied this place, shielding the cave entrance with its wings, there would be no worry about the Chimera''s defiance.


    He had to find a way to grow quickly.


    He too was observing the fearsome beast before him.


    [Based on your levels, you can observe the following information]


    [Chimera]


    Category: Large Monster, Chaotic Evil


    AC: 14 (natural armor)


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª19


    Agility¡ª¡ª11


    Constitution¡ª¡ª19


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª7


    Perception¡ª¡ª14


    Charisma¡ª¡ª10


    Proficiencies: Listening +4, Scout +3, Hunting +5


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 ft., Passive Perception 18 ft.


    Language: Draconic


    Actions: Multi-Attack, Biting, Goring, Claw Attacks, Flame Breath


    Traits: Contradictory Creature, Evil Minion


    Challenge Level: 6 (2,300 XP)


    Assessment: "The Chimera is a brutal creature like a demon, fond of ambushing its prey from high above, spitting flames while diving down and continuing the assault on landing.


    It purely seeks amusement in hunting, savoring its prey''s fear and pain, often toying with them, or leaving them mortally wounded only to return and kill them after they''ve suffered enough."


    This was the strongest opponent Cassius had encountered since his reincarnation, a genuine Chimera. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Since you''re not submitting, let''s settle this with a brawl."


    Cassius grew more serious, his golden slit pupils narrowing, revealing the Red Dragon''s zeal in facing a formidable enemy.


    His well-developed muscles tightened, looking ready to explode into action.


    The Chimera howled, flapping its wings and taking to the skies.


    It stuck to its familiar tactic, diving down from the sky with its left dragon head spitting deadly flame breath.


    Using flame against a nearly fire-immune Red Dragon was clearly not a wise choice.


    It showed the beast lacked knowledge and combat wisdom.


    On the ground, the Red Dragon just tensed its muscles, remaining poised.


    "Act Before the Enemy."


    Cassius whispered in Draconic, pale-purple magical aurora flickering at his eyes.


    This was a practical cantrip, allowing him to anticipate the enemy''s moves before striking, delivering a deadly blow, crucial at times.


    The Chimera spewed flames wildly, diving to a few meters in front of the Red Dragon.


    The Red Dragon''s glowing slit pupils coldly fixed on it, discerning its flight direction.


    Then, his tensed muscles instantly unleashed immense energy.


    He spread his wings, his over-seven-meter-long body springing into the air, braving the intense flame breath to side-step the Chimera mid-air.


    The Chimera hastily flapped its wings to change direction ¡ª but it was already too late.

 Chapter 9 Battle of the Giants Mouth

    Red Dragon opened its bloodthirsty maw and bit down mercilessly at the Chimera''s neck.Its incredibly sharp dragon teeth pierced through the Chimera''s scales, tore through its tough hide, and deeply embedded into its flesh and blood.


    Blood splattered, and the Chimera''s head threw back as it let out a piercing wail. The once formidable flame breath abruptly ceased.


    "Aah¡ª"


    The Chimera''s dragon-like wings flapped wildly, struggling to ascend, while its robust and sharp lion claws swung at the Red Dragon in midair, hoping to launch a counterattack and break free from its plight.


    Cassius unclenched his jaws, agilely dodged the incoming strike, and gracefully flapped his wings, spiraling diagonally above the Chimera.


    The tides of battle had turned. The Red Dragon let out a satisfied long howl, diving down swiftly toward the Chimera''s back.


    "Roar¡ª"


    Compared to the bizarrely shaped beast below, the streamlined body of the Red Dragon provided a clear advantage in flight.


    The Chimera, suspended midair, was powerless to evade his actions, fluttering its wings futilely, helplessly watching as the Red Dragon''s silhouette drew ever closer.


    "Got you."


    Cassius spread his wings wide, his powerful claws gripping the Chimera''s wings tightly.


    Panic-stricken, the Chimera lost its balance, flailing its wings erratically. All three of its heads turned back to bite, desperately trying to shake off the Red Dragon on its back.


    "Bull''s Strength!"


    The Red Dragon roared fiercely, the power of the spell surging into his heart and then pumping through every inch of his muscles, making his already powerful limbs bulge exaggeratedly, even emitting steam.


    Cassius instantly felt his strength surge immensely.


    His claws locked firmly onto the Chimera''s wings, nearly crushing its flesh and bones.


    "Who gave you the courage¡ª"


    "to fly before a True Dragon?"


    "Down!"


    Cassius said viciously.


    He then folded his wings tightly, pressing down with all his weight and strength¡ª


    The Red Dragon needed a crushing victory.


    The previously struggling Chimera now had no chance of escape under the absolute dominance of his power.


    It could only despairingly await its fate.


    "Aoo¡ªaah¡ª"


    The Chimera first wobbled in the air, struggling, and then, under the Red Dragon''s immense pressure, plummeted straight to the ground from a height of more than ten meters.


    "Boom!"


    The earth roared.


    Dust filled the air, rubble flew everywhere, rocks cracked, and the ground was smashed into a massive shallow pit.


    And in the pit, the Chimera was particularly miserable, with scars all over and its wings nearly broken.


    "Let me show you what true flame really is!"


    The Red Dragon pressed against the half-dead Chimera, his mouth slightly open, with scorching fire elements building up in the depths of his throat¡ªthe air around his mouth subtly distorted by the intense heat of the impending flame breath.


    "Submit."


    "Or die."


    Cassius stared into the terrified, dejected eyes of the Chimera''s lion head and spoke each word forcefully.


    Though the Chimera was a vicious and belligerent creature, it still valued its own life. Besides, its dragon bloodline made it naturally submissive to stronger dragons, becoming their evil minions.


    Under the threat of death, the Chimera did not hesitate long. Its dragon, lion, and goat heads all struggled to lower, exposing vulnerable necks and letting out deep murmurs to express submission to the stronger dragon.


    "Awoo¡­"


    Before strength, all are equal¡ªthis was the most straightforward and brutal law of the wild.


    "Submit¡­ Master¡­"


    The Chimera could speak simple Draconic, though only managing to utter the words coarsely.


    Cassius then loosened his grip on the Chimera and sprayed his accumulated flame breath to the ground less than a meter away. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In an instant, the scorching flames charred the ground and shattered the rocks.


    The Chimera, frightened yet more reverent, knew that it stood no chance if hit directly by that flame.


    The Chimera slowly climbed out of the shallow pit, its injured wings tightly folded on its back, and its scarred limbs struggling to support its body, the three heads drooping and not daring to look directly at the Red Dragon.


    The Red Dragon leaped to a towering rock wall outside the cave, roaring in Draconic from above:


    "From now on, this place is mine¡ª


    "Cassius'' lair."


    His voice shook the surroundings, allowing creatures within a few miles to hear it.


    Whether it was the feasting gnolls, the marauding ogres, or the snoring bugbears¡­


    They might not realize the change of ownership in this territory yet, but Cassius was confident they would soon understand in one way or another.


    He then lightly jumped down the rock wall, his eyes returning to the submissive Chimera below, and said casually:


    "From now on, remember this name well, and do not defy me. Lead the way ahead."


    "Yes¡­"


    The Chimera nodded slightly and walked ahead, heading deeper into the Giant''s Mouth Cave.


    Inside the cave was warm, probably due to the abundant fire elements within the mountain, making the Red Dragon feel exceptionally comfortable.


    As they traversed the deep passageways, Cassius noticed numerous skeletal remains scattered around¡ªgiant skulls, bipedal wyvern wing bones, and even horned humanoid skulls.


    "Is it a Campion?


    "No, it should be a Tiefling."


    Cassius thought to himself.


    The Red Dragon continued following behind. After passing through the deep external passage, the cave opened up before him, the space much larger, enough to house a mature Red Dragon.


    All around were remnants of feeding, and various other passageways and openings.


    The Chimera hesitated momentarily while passing a pile of skeletal remains but then swiftly pretended not to see it and walked forward.


    It was deliberately guiding the Red Dragon inside.


    However, Cassius keenly observed this anomaly, stopped the Chimera leading the way, and coldly asked in Draconic:


    "What are you hiding? What is there?"


    "No¡­"


    "Nothing¡­"


    The Chimera turned around, whimpered, and bowed its head in a pleading posture.


    The Red Dragon scraped away the pile of bones, revealing a hidden entrance. A glance inside showed thousands of shimmering Gold Coins flickering in the dark cave.


    The Chimera, with its dragon bloodline, had inherited the dragon''s greed. Hoarding treasure was second nature to it, but to collect so many Gold Coins was quite a talent.


    "By dragonkin laws, I shall take half."


    "But if you dare conceal from me again¡­"


    "There won''t be another chance."


    "Yes¡­ Master."


    The beast''s three heads lowered.


    Cassius glanced at it, then entered the cave, feeling the Chimera''s dragon head''s painfully watchful gaze.


    With just one bite, his massive jaws swallowed hundreds of Gold Coins¡ª


    Most of the Chimera''s lifetime hoard from its constant plundering and slaughter.

 Chapter 10 The Tragedy of Northwind Castle

    Gold coins flowed from the Red Dragon''s mouth, while the Chimera outside the cave stared intently at the scene. Its greedy eyes not only showed a heartache over the lost treasure but also a hint of resentment. However, this emotion vanished swiftly, unable to display it before the Red Dragon.Cassius noticed this but didn''t care, even feeling a sense of accomplishment in transforming into a Minotaur.


    For such chaotic evil creatures, showing mercy was useless because the Chimera could never be unconditionally loyal to him. It would seize any opportunity to devour its master and take over.


    As an ancient saying from his past life went, "Fear power, not virtue," this described the monster perfectly.


    The only thing the Red Dragon could do was to use its strength while maintaining its powerful presence, ensuring it remained forever a retainer without the opportunity to rise.


    [Metallic Scales rose to full level (5230/5000)]


    [New trait obtained: Gilded Scales]


    [Gilded Scales] Ac+3 Constitution+1


    [You have devoured an excessive amount of Gold Element. The flowing gold will attach to your outer body and the depths of your heart.


    You can actively trigger Gilded Carapace. The gold inside your body will form a gilded layer on your surface, greatly increasing your armor value and changing the scales'' appearance to gold.]


    "Able to turn my scales golden?"


    Cassius suddenly had some strange thoughts.


    Because in his memory, there should''ve been no Gold Dragon in Anzeta.


    Is it possible...?


    Regardless, another life-saving measure had been added. The Red Dragon felt quite delighted.


    He ignored the Chimera''s resentful gaze, merely continuing to have it lead the way, exploring the Giant''s Mouth Cave.


    "Not there yet?"


    Cassius wondered.


    This place was far more complicated than he imagined, with numerous extremely deep sections that made one suspect it wasn''t naturally formed but crafted by some Dwarven artisans.


    Not far off, in a narrow cave, bursts of scalding white steam erupted, with some magma splashing out. This made the Red Dragon feel somewhat nostalgic.


    "Keep going,"


    Cassius signaled the Chimera to lead the way.


    But the cowardly beast kept whimpering and pleading, refusing to go further no matter what.


    "Master, hot, dangerous."


    "Will die."


    After all, it had submitted to the Red Dragon to save its own life.


    Not to lose its life in the magma. It didn''t have the Red Dragon''s flame resistance.


    "A strange place."


    "However, with such a strong elemental reaction, it''s better to explore once we are fully prepared."


    "As for the name, let''s call it the Bottomless Cavern." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius pondered for a while before deciding to temporarily put it aside, as he was, after all, just a young Red Dragon.


    He was barely managing to be a ruler in this wilderness, let alone face the unknown monsters below ground. If an Eye Demon or other high-level monsters appeared, he wasn''t confident of winning.


    "You may leave now."


    "Thank you, Master."


    The Chimera breathed a sigh of relief.


    It didn''t even care about its injuries, bolting toward its treasure-stashing cave and hurriedly moving the remaining hundreds of gold coins.


    Even risking its nearly fractured wings, it shakily flew across, finding a place to hide these treasures.


    "Truly a creature with Dragon blood."


    "So obsessively fond of wealth."


    Cassius couldn''t help but shake his head disdainfully.


    Thus, Cassius made the outer cave of the Giant''s Mouth Cave his first lair and temporarily sealed the inner passage with rocks.


    The Chimera, meanwhile, was sent to a small cave on the opposite cliff by Cassius to serve as a retainer, guarding his home.


    To Cassius, the provided treatment was quite generous. At least he left it some savings, didn''t he? Many modern enterprises didn''t even offer that kind of treatment...


    "Magic Tricks!"


    As Cassius chanted, a corner of the cave, one cubic foot, became clean and tidy. The initially foul-smelling bloodstains vanished.


    This Red Dragon, like a cleaner, used magic to scrub the cave inch by inch.


    "This brainless beast surely ruined the place. This cave, if it were in a cultivation novel, should have been a ''Land of Good Fortune and Heavenly Caves,'' but instead, it turned it into a slaughterhouse." Cassius looked at the bloody mess and couldn''t help but complain.


    Another pile of bones lay ahead. The Red Dragon was preparing to clear them out of the cave but once again saw a skull with goat horns.


    This skull looked relatively recent, probably weeks old, with some meat still clinging to it, surrounded by buzzing flies.


    From the human-like body shape and the broken tailbone, it was discernible as a Tiefling.


    Tieflings were derived from human bloodlines, with bodies generally appearing human.


    However, their devilish lineage left a clear mark on their appearance: horns on their heads, four to five feet long, thick tails, and solid-colored eyes, with skins in various hues.


    These hell-blooded beings often gathered in human towns. Though not inherently evil, they always faced mistrust and discrimination from others.


    Cassius pondered for a moment, recalling a questline from his past life: "It''s Tieflings, indeed. Could it be related to the ''Northwind Fortress Tragedy'' quest?"


    [Northwind Fortress Tragedy]


    [Northwind Castle, also known as Cavanagh Castle, was a city on the Northern United Kingdom''s border, north of Stormy Ridge. With over thirty thousand residents, it housed more than a thousand Tieflings under the rule of Earl Rackman.]


    [A century ago, the aged Duke Brad Rackman, troubled by his dwindling life, struck a pact with an evil Necromancer, transforming himself into an undying Vampire. Now reawakened, he agreed to offer a thousand lives to the Necromancer within ten years to achieve a great ascension.]


    [In the ensuing months, many people vanished from the city without a trace. Amid this, Brad Rackman took advantage of the situation by delivering a notorious ''Bloody Speech,'' placing all blame on the Tiefling tribe, dubbed the ''Devil''s Offspring,'' claiming they were sacrificing humans to devils.]


    [Thus began a ''righteous'' massacre as enraged townspeople rushed into the city, tying unprepared Tieflings to the stake and burning them alive, old and young alike, under accusations of collusion with devils.]


    [The Tiefling Holy Warrior Mezulash, originally part of the city defense forces, vehemently resisted. Evading the Duke''s soldiers, he led a group of three hundred surviving Tieflings to flee northward, near Stormy Ridge, establishing the Tiefling refugee camp ''House of Ruin.'']


    In the early game, one of the main questlines involved cooperating with Tieflings to expose Duke Rackman''s true nature and eventually kill the brutal Vampire.


    And Northwind Castle was a crucial Main City.


    "Could the Tiefling refugee camp be located near this territory? Perhaps I can leverage this questline¡­ to seize Northwind Castle."


    This was the player''s main city. Seizing the city equated to gaining control over the players. From his experience in past versions, Cassius knew the significant benefits of this.


    Thinking this, the Red Dragon summoned the Chimera again, pointing at the remains on the ground:


    "Where did you encounter these creatures?"


    The Chimera approached, sniffing with its lion head before answering: "Horned humans, not tasty."


    Cassius glanced at the Chimera''s battered wings, deducing it lacked the capability for long-distance flight.


    He thought there was no rush. Besides, his current power wasn''t strong enough. He could gradually rally surrounding beings under his banner.


    "Go back and heal first."


    "Yes, Master."

 Chapter 11 Ogre Mage

    In a corner of Stormy Ridge, in Cannibal Valley, more than a dozen ogres were feasting on a charred wild boar, tearing the meat excitedly and making a mess everywhere."Mine, all mine!"


    "You fool, you think you can snatch from me?"


    The tallest and also the fattest ogre among them knocked out his companion with a club, seized the pig leg, and swallowed it whole, licking his fingers with satisfaction.


    His name was Ramp, the leader of the ogre tribe.


    Ramp found himself getting smarter, and his subordinates often said the same, though they didn''t use such sophisticated terms. They just said he was "really good at finding food."


    But the clever Ramp understood their meaning and felt very flattered by it.


    In the ogres'' dictionary, "good at finding food" was the highest praise, whether by using a stout club or a smart brain.


    Besides gluttony, Ramp would often flip through the books he had seized from "Nibbles," enjoying them greatly, and he learned many useful things from them:


    For example, from "Sean''s Adventure Diary," he learned that placing a treasure chest or scattering some gold coins on the road and then digging a pit ahead, covering it with straw, could quickly snare more "little ones." The book called this behavior "trap." Ramp loved this elegant term.


    What fascinated him the most was something called a "Spell" from the book "Fool''s Guide to Fireball Spell." It allowed him to cast fireballs larger than a boar''s head, easily turning a mammoth into roast meat.


    Ramp used this method to gather a large amount of food and consolidated the commonly scattered two or three ogre groups into a tribe of over twenty ogres. Those who refused to join were turned into roast meat by Ramp and ended up in everyone''s bellies.


    This was an epoch-making achievement that could be recorded in the history of ogres¡ªat least Ramp thought so. Hence, he named the tribe "New Era," a term learned from books.


    Unfortunately, no one in the ogre tribe could understand this name, and a subordinate even asked why it wasn''t called the "Big Meat Chunk" tribe. As a result, Ramp gave him a severe beating with a club.


    Ramp always had a feeling of "hating iron for not being steel" towards his ogre subordinates. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whenever he tried to line his subordinates up to ambush enemies, as described in the "Military Exercise Manual," the ogres would always shout "Meat! Meat!" and rush in a disorganized manner, wielding their big clubs.


    He wanted to teach his subordinates the common language, hoping to extort more food from humans, but the ogres only knew the words "eat," "meat," and "food."


    "Sigh..."


    "There were still too few smart ones in the tribe."


    While eating, Ramp often thought and sighed at the same time.


    However, unlike Ramp, the other ogres, after eating, were already snoring loudly, in a deep sleep.


    He''d recently been focusing on training an ogre named "Bighead." As the name suggested, this ogre had a very large head, twice the size of a normal head. Ramp thought that a big-headed fellow might be smarter.


    "Chief, there''s food over there!"


    The "scout" arranged by Ramp shouted excitedly from the hilltop.


    "Bighead, what kind of creature came by?"


    Ramp happily spat out a bone and climbed up the slope since ogres were never full.


    "It''s a big lizard, plenty of meat!"


    The ogre named Bighead waved his wolf fang club excitedly.


    Was it a fire lizard?


    Or a bipedal wyvern?


    Several images flashed through Ramp''s mind, but none were easy to deal with.


    "Describe what it looks like."


    "Let me see¡ªit''s the color of fresh meat, bright red, four legs, two wings, one tail..."


    The more Ramp listened, the more off it sounded. He climbed up the hill and saw the "big lizard" for himself.


    His expression changed dramatically, and he gave Bighead a hard clubbing, making his already large head swell even more.


    "You fool!"


    "That''s a damn dragon! A True Dragon!"


    After saying that, Ramp couldn''t contain his anger and chased after the foolish ogre, beating him mercilessly, causing the latter to howl repeatedly.


    Bighead said, aggrieved, "Chief, why are you hitting me? What did I say wrong?"


    "Isn''t it just a big lizard?"


    Indeed, compared to most of his kind, he was already considered smart for recognizing it was a lizard and not shouting "meat" repeatedly. That was already an achievement.


    "You just keep talking!"


    "I''ll teach you!"


    "Stop hitting, Chief. The¡ªuh¡ªdragon is coming over."


    Bighead cried out while holding his swollen head.


    Ramp put down his club and looked up angrily.


    He saw the red dragon already above him, with its wings spread wide, casting a shadow that enveloped him.


    Ramp used his clever brain to organize his words, hesitated for a moment, and then said:


    "Uh... Mighty, proud, and noble Red Dragon, Bighead is an ignorant fool who lacks manners, and I will discipline him well. I hope you won''t stoop to his level."


    Considering that the sky was occupied by an arrogant dragon, Ramp deliberately referred to the phrasing in the "Noble Etiquette Record."


    Such a strong bardic tone almost made Cassius fall from the sky.


    But the red dragon didn''t reply, merely looking down at this seemingly "smarty" ogre.


    Only a trace of undisguised surprise showed in its vertical pupils.


    [Based on your own abilities, you can observe the following information]


    [Ogre Mage]


    Name: Ramp


    Category: Large Giant, Neutral Evil


    Race: Ogre


    AC: 12 (Beastskin Armor)


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª18


    Agility¡ª8


    Constitution¡ª16


    Intelligence¡ª17


    Perception¡ª8


    Charisma¡ª12


    Proficiencies: Arcane +3, Hunting +4, Traps +3, Reading +6, Military +2, Ruling +4, Herbology +2, Persuasion +2, Deception +2


    Senses: Passive Perception 14 ft.


    Languages: Common, Draconic, Giant


    Actions: Slam, Bite, Pound


    Combat Equipment:


    [Ring of Wisdom''s Study]: A headband handcrafted by an archmage for an inept noble student, it locks the user''s intelligence at 17.


    [Mithril Ring]: Arcane +1, Reading +4


    [Albert''s Mithril Bracelet]: Allows a daily save on a 4th-level spell.


    Occupational Level: 5th Level Mage


    Spellcaster Level: 5


    Spells:


    1st Level - None


    2nd Level - None


    3rd Level - Fireball


    Challenge Level: 6 (2,100 XP)


    Assessment: "This is a rare ogre mage. He is indeed very smart. Never underestimate him; otherwise, he will let you experience the consequences of scorning a mage with a fireball."


    "Arcane, military, governance, herbology... A well-rounded individual who even knows magic. This guy is a talent..."


    Cassius couldn''t help but marvel in his heart.


    With an intelligence of 17, he would be considered a sage in any human city and would probably be called a "prophet" in an orc tribe.


    It''s a pity that in an ogre tribe, which does nothing but eat and sleep, he would only become an overworked leader finding food for his subordinates.


    The intelligence headband could be considered divine gear for the early stages.


    If Cassius were a mage right now, he would do anything to get it. Unfortunately, he had chosen the path of a magician and did not plan to cross-class for the time being.


    For now, it was better to recruit a mage follower.


    The multiverse was vast and full of infinite possibilities.


    If even an ogre could become a mage, what wasn''t possible?


    The air grew a bit tense.


    The red dragon and the ogre faced each other, one high and one low, staring each other down.


    Ramp, watching the seemingly contemplative red dragon, gripped his club tightly, sweat forming on his brow, and began preparing to construct a spell prototype in his mind.

 Chapter 12 Arcane Priory

    In the tense atmosphere, Cassius finally spoke,"I see you have remarkable bones and exceptional intelligence, you''re quite a talent. No, a magical talent. Would you be willing to become my retainer?"


    Ramp heaved a sigh of relief and stopped casting the Fireball Technique.


    He responded flatteringly, "From the perspective of submitting to the strong, of course, I am willing to become your retainer. After all, you are a powerful Red Dragon."


    But before the Red Dragon could reply, he tentatively looked up and said in a low voice,


    "However, I would also like to know, what benefits do I and my tribe get from becoming your retainer?"


    "This ogre is really hard to fool, quite the Smarty. If it were any other Red Dragon, he would have been roasted to ashes with one Flame Breath. But not me, I have an eye for talent."


    Cassius couldn''t help but internally comment.


    Given the rarity of spellcasters, the Red Dragon decided to show some deference to this ogre. He adopted the posture of a former-life leader giving a speech, and began slowly,


    "I can tell, you are different from the usual ogres, you are very intelligent, seeking knowledge and wisdom."


    Ramp nodded somewhat appreciatively.


    Who could understand the bitterness of staying amidst a bunch of ogres who only knew how to eat?


    "But do you really wish to spend your life eating and sleeping in this narrow valley?"


    "Are you willing to only keep company with these tribemates, waiting for the day when adventurers break into the valley and turn you into bounty?"


    Seeing the ogre somewhat moved, Cassius intensified his efforts, tempting the ogre like a devil from Hell,


    "Don''t you want to wield greater strength, see broader horizons, and have your name sung by bards?"


    "Submit to me, I can provide you with endless food, unimaginable power, knowledge as vast as the stars, to truly realize your potential. I will build a great empire."


    The Red Dragon paused for a moment, "Imagine, you will be a part of my grand blueprint."


    Cassius''s promises grew increasingly grandiose, figuring that the more the better when it came to boasting.


    "I, I..."


    The ogre was so excited he couldn''t speak.


    Ramp pondered, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.


    These words had a significant impact on him, making him, for the first time as an ogre, start to consider if there was more to life than eating. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ogres had already gathered around but were afraid to disturb their leader. Yet when they heard the word "food," they couldn''t help but cheer,


    "Submit! Submit!"


    "Food!"


    They didn''t understand much else but knew what food meant.


    "Now, I need an answer."


    "Are you willing to become my retainer?"


    Cassius''s tone was impassioned.


    Finally, Ramp''s gaze grew resolute. He raised his head, his plump body half-kneeling, and solemnly said,


    "Witness this, gods. I, Ramp, lord of the ogres of Gluttonous Valley, the smartest ogre in the world, am willing to become your retainer and conquer this world for you."


    The Red Dragon wasn''t moved by this somewhat "magnificent" pledge of allegiance, he only felt a bit parched.


    He thought to himself that this Smarty had stayed in the mountains too long, not having experienced the hardships of human society. Even with an intelligence of 17, he could be fooled.


    "Cassius, your master, remember this name well."


    "Yes, my noble master, I am willing to be your sword in hand, your shield in front, to charge into battle..."


    The ogre spoke passionately, still wanting to continue his lines, seemingly already lost in the fantasy of the "great blueprint."


    "Don''t speak like that."


    Cassius interrupted Ramp''s impromptu performance,


    An ogre standing three meters tall and weighing a ton speaking in such a bard-like tone sounded very odd.


    "Yes, master."


    The Ogre Mage wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    "Oh! Oh, oh, oh!"


    The ogres cheered again, waving their assorted wolf fang clubs, wooden hammers, and big bone clubs.


    In truth, they didn''t know what had happened, only vaguely understanding that there seemed to be a new boss on top.


    And according to the second smartest ogre in the tribe, Bighead, they would get to eat more, which made these gluttonous creatures very happy.


    "We have a new boss!"


    The "smartest" ogre in the crowd, Bighead, cheered.


    Ramp solemnly corrected, "Not a new boss, he is master, or call him His Majesty."


    "Okay, old boss."


    Ramp, unable to bear it any longer, raised his big club again.


    "Old boss, why are you hitting me again?"


    "Ouch!"


    ...


    While leading the ogres to move into the territory, the Red Dragon curiously asked the Ogre Mage,


    "Where did you learn magic and those books from?"


    Ramp scratched his head for a moment before answering,


    "A few months ago, I ate a mage in a carriage, tender skin, very tasty. There were many books in his carriage."


    As he recalled, this ogre couldn''t help but lick his lips, a look of ecstasy appearing on his ugly face. It seemed that even wisdom couldn''t change the gluttonous nature of these ogres.


    "Under my command, refrain from eating humanoid beings."


    "Yes, master."


    Ramp''s expression was somewhat disappointed. Those mages with tender skin were obviously very tasty, but for the sake of the "great blueprint" in his heart, he had to accept this harsh demand for an ogre.


    However, for Cassius, it was a necessary requirement, not out of pity, but because he planned to recruit a large number of players. If his retainers kept their cannibalistic habits, they might end up being hunted by the players.


    "By the way, take me to see that carriage."


    The Red Dragon''s expression was somewhat peculiar, he roughly guessed what had happened.


    Following Ramp to a hidden spot in the valley, Cassius saw the wrecked carriage.


    Although it had been abandoned for a long time, the exquisite gilded decorations still exuded an aura of luxury, and a gilded emblem was set on the carriage''s inner wall¡ªdepicting an eye symbolizing true knowledge and two crossed magic wands.


    "As expected, it''s the Arcane Priory, and it''s a high-member emblem."


    "Such a waste."


    Cassius remarked privately.


    The Arcane Priory, a renowned mage organization founded by the famous Archmage Trafalgar.


    Members regularly gathered to share spell knowledge, exchange research results, and sometimes seek assistance in eliminating evil. Their branches spread throughout Erezer, with one possibly in Anzeta.


    Cassius marveled at the unpredictability of the Goddess of Fate.


    An aristocratic mage apprentice, highly anticipated as a member of the Arcane Priory, bearing the hopes of many, with limited spell abilities, yet suffering from the arrogance typical of mages.


    He defied orders, refused family help, stubbornly embarked on an adventure alone, possibly uttering youthful words like, "My fate is mine to decide."


    He wanted to establish himself in the wild, slay monsters, rescue princesses, seize treasures, gain accolades, and create his own legendary adventure story.


    But this poor apprentice didn''t get far before being knocked out and swallowed by an ogre roaming around, ending up as lunch.


    Not only were the precious books he carried lost, but the expensive magic equipment inherited from his family was also taken.


    Ironically, the incident led to his killer, a rough and ugly ogre named Ramp, becoming a rare Ogre Mage.

 Chapter 13 Subduing Retainers

    Cassius walked forward and pressed the emblem on the carriage wall. Using a spell, he infused it with a bit of fire element. Instantly, words appeared in the burning flame."Anzeta Branch cordially invites you to join."


    "Gathering Date: December 1, 1723."


    "Location: Stratholme Fortress."


    "Teleport Coordinates: *******"


    "An emblem of the Arcane Priory; interesting. This gathering should be in a few years," Cassius remarked with satisfaction as he put away the emblem.


    "What about those books?" the Red Dragon then asked.


    "They''re here, all hidden. I was afraid those fools might use them for cooking fuel." Ramp awkwardly laughed, pushing aside a heap of bones to reveal a box of Golden Silk Nanmu filled with exquisitely packaged books inside.


    "Noble Military Training Code¡ªHow to Build an Attractive Army"


    "Fool''s Guide to Fireball Spell"


    "Spell Apprentice Encyclopedia¡ªHow to Explain the Magic Web to Your Son"


    "Sean''s Adventure Log"


    "Bard''s Court Poetry Collection"


    "How to Become a True Noble"


    "How to Survive in the Wilderness¡ªA Complete Guide to Wild Herbs"


    "Power and Strife¡ªA Chronicle of Court Intrigue in the Arcanas Kingdom"


    "Appreciation of Giant Women"


    Seeing this array of absurd books, Cassius was left speechless. He finally understood why the ogre before him spoke in such a bizarre poetic tone and realized that the young noble mage apprentice died unjustly.


    Even if he hadn''t died in an ogre''s stomach, he would have succumbed to his own peculiar hobbies...


    "Uh...not bad. Keep collecting." Cassius still found himself at a loss for words and could only offer a perfunctory compliment.


    Ramp awkwardly scratched his head. The Red Dragon saw, for the first time, how "bashful" could appear on the face of a three-meter-tall, one-ton ogre.


    "Ramp, I need you to build camps and fortresses in Giant Valley."


    "And here, this will become the base for my retainers. In the future, it will no longer be called Giant Valley; it will be known as..."


    The Red Dragon thought for a moment and finally chose the name that Cassius from his past life had given it.


    "It will be called Ashen Nest."


    "Yes, master."


    Ramp''s face was full of excitement, imagining once more the blueprint for world conquest in his mind. Unfortunately, the noisy ogres beside him, oblivious to the wisdom that set him apart, shattered his daydreams unceremoniously.


    "Boss, when are we eating?"


    "Yeah, my stomach is so empty I can see my toes now," the ogre named Long Fang grumbled discontentedly, its yellowing tusks trembling up and down.


    "Eat, eat, eat. You only know how to eat. Get to work!" Ramp waved his wooden club menacingly.


    ...


    But aside from the outrageous ones, Ramp¡ªor rather, the young noble''s collection of books¡ªdid hold valuable knowledge.


    For instance, the "Fool''s Guide to Fireball Spell" and the "Spell Apprentice Encyclopedia," with their detailed and easy-to-understand explanations of magic applications, greatly benefited Cassius, deepening his understanding of the Magic Web.


    And this so-called "New Era" ogre tribe, with over thirty ogres, plus an Ogre Mage proficient in the Fireball Technique, was a formidable force in the surrounding hundreds of miles.


    After consecutively subduing the Chimera of the Giant''s Mouth Cave and the ogre tribe of Gluttonous Valley, the Red Dragon finally had underlings, officially making a name for himself.


    Ashen Nest.


    In just two days, over four hundred goblins led by a Great Goblin came to Giant Valley to defect.


    These goblins were noisy and loud, but the moment they saw the Red Dragon''s seemingly enormous figure, they all fell silent. A few even fainted in fear, losing control of their bladders.


    The leader was not a goblin but a tall, imposing Goblin Warlord.


    They were closely related to goblins but were a different race altogether, far more powerful and intelligent than goblins.


    Behind the Great Goblin followed several large, muscular humanoid creatures¡ªthe bugbears, the commander''s trusted aides.


    The Goblin Warlord in front had reddish-brown skin and dark grey hair, yellow eyes nestled under a prominent brow, and a large mouth filled with long, sharp yellow teeth.


    He was unmistakably male, with a large red nose symbolizing goblin masculinity and strength.


    At this moment, he knelt on one knee before the Red Dragon, his expression humble. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius looked down at him imperiously.


    [Based on your strength, you acquire the following information]


    [Goblin Commander]


    Medium humanoid (goblin-kind), lawful evil


    Race: Great Goblin


    AC: 17 (half-plate armor)


    Strength¡ª14


    Agility¡ª13


    Constitution¡ª14


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª10


    Charisma¡ª11


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 ft.


    Skill Proficiency: Ruling +6, Hunting +4, Military +4, Building +4


    Language: Common, Goblin


    Trait: Army Advantage, Military Regiment


    Actions: Multi-Attack, Great Sword, Leadership


    Challenge Level: 4 (1,100 XP)


    Assessment: "When the war horn sounds and the catapults launch giant stones, the Great Goblins march onto the battlefield, their boots thundering across the land. Settlements and residents on the fringes of civilization often find themselves battling these humanoid invaders to stave off their insatiable hunger for conquest."


    The Red Dragon stared at the leading Great Goblin, speaking slowly: "Why do you want to become my retainer?"


    The Great Goblin kept his head lowered, his expression unchanged: "Goblins always submit to the strong."


    He paused, then added: "Especially since you are a powerful Red Dragon, your desire for conquest is unending."


    "And I can demonstrate my talents under your command."


    The Red Dragon narrowed his eyes: "Why should I trust you, a mere goblin?"


    The Great Goblin did not cling to the racial slur, speaking each word firmly:


    "I will prove my loyalty with blood and fire."


    Cassius pondered briefly and decided to accept these goblins too. After all, his territory was still in its nascent stage; some goblins as cheap labor were essential. Moreover, among them was a quite capable Great Goblin.


    The conquest desire of Great Goblins was extreme; their strong lust for war often meant they did not survive to die of natural causes.


    Having him command the troops was far better than the half-baked skills the ogres learned from the "Noble Military Training Code."


    "Well said, but we''ll see how things go."


    "I will allow you to enter my territory. Go find my retainers; they will tell you what to do."


    "I obey your command."


    Upon hearing that they were accepted by the powerful Red Dragon, the goblins erupted in joyous cheers.


    These goblins were weak, generally standing just over a meter tall. A single goblin could not even contend with an ordinary human farmer alone.


    They survived in the wilderness only by clustering and attaching themselves to stronger beings. And now, they had latched onto the sturdiest pillar¡ªa Red Dragon.


    No wonder these goblins were so ecstatic.


    ...

 Chapter 14 Leader Struggle

    After nearly a month of recuperation, the Red Dragon''s territory was thriving.Under Ramp and the Great Goblin''s command, the Goblins and Ogres had already piled up a simple stone fortress within the Giant Valley.


    The city walls stood over five meters high, with watchtowers placed at higher terrain. Named "Rock Fortress" by the well-read Ramp.


    This made the valley, already easy to defend and hard to attack, become even more indestructible. Even if a human formal army attacked, the Red Dragon was confident in keeping them out.


    "Get to work, no slacking off!" A three-meter-tall Ogre shouted from the top of the watchtower, looking downward.


    However, the wooden watchtower appeared so fragile under the Ogre''s large and fat body that one could even hear the wood creak as if lamenting for the half-ton weight it bore.


    "Heave ho!"


    The Ogres lifted giant logs, laboriously transporting them upwards to serve as the framework of the Rock Fortress watchtowers.


    As close relatives of Giants, Ogres had immense strength. Besides their greed and laziness, they were excellent laborers.


    And the Goblins, already accustomed to building camps, worked in groups of over four hundred, cooperating with the immensely strong Ogres. Under the command of the intelligent Ramp, with an intelligence score of 17, and the leadership of the Great Goblin, building a simple fortress was relatively easy.


    Beneath the five-meter-high city walls, a group of Goblins was swinging pickaxes, vigorously chiseling away at the rocks.


    "Hurry up!"


    "You''re hitting my foot!"


    As creatures known for their laziness, they often slack off. However, ever since an angry Ogre overseer had smashed a pretending-to-sleep Goblin into a pulp, such incidents had ceased.


    After all, Ramp''s "lessons" were just a momentary pain for the slow-witted Ogres, but for the Goblins, it meant a lifetime''s end. They knew this well.


    "Awooo¡ª"


    "What was that?"


    The working Goblins all looked up, startled by the enormous shadows in the sky.


    In the distance, several massive figures flew closer, like a giant black cloud¡ªthere were more than ten Bipedal Wyverns.


    They merely felt the call of their dragon bloodline, gathering together to see if there was an existence worthy of their allegiance.


    The largest among these Wyverns was over seven meters long, fierce and menacing, comparable in size to Cassius, though far slimmer than the Red Dragon.


    Unlike the True Dragon, they had two scaled legs and a pair of sturdy wings instead of four limbs and two wings.


    The Wyvern''s tail was strong and ended with its most potent weapon: a venomous stinger.


    This potent Wyvern toxin could incinerate the victim''s heart and arteries, making hunters and adventurers often covet its venom for alchemical concoctions and weapon poisonings.


    The Bipedal Wyverns landed, setting their front limbs on the ground, and pulled their wing membranes close to their bodies.


    They descended, roaring.


    Summoning the master of this place.


    The nearby Goblins scrambled in panic, fearing being eaten or crushed by the Bipedal Wyverns, and fled in groups.


    They were simply too weak, a slight motion from these powerful creatures could easily kill them.


    Meanwhile, the Ogre Mage stood alert on the fortress walls, already beginning to construct a Fireball spell model.


    The Chimera within the cliffside cave also became alert, its three heads displaying different expressions.


    "Master, there''s a group of Wyverns!"


    "Roar!"


    The Red Dragon flew out from the Giant''s Mouth Cave, letting out a long, resonant roar, landing before the Wyvern group.


    "Submit to me," Cassius said.


    The Wyverns roared noisily, then bent their long necks, lowering their heads in submission.


    However, the largest Wyvern among them, seeing the Red Dragon before it was only in its adolescent stage, comparable in size to itself, dared to let out a challenging roar.


    Clearly, it was driven by the rare chance to become the leader.


    A leadership challenge?


    An ancient tradition among dragonkin.


    The two would duel, and the victor would become the leader, while the defeated would be driven away.


    But for a proud Pureblood Red Dragon, a lowly Bipedal Wyvern issuing such a challenge was an utmost insult.


    If Cassius were a fully grown Red Dragon, he would have been so furious he''d be steaming with rage, eager to tear it apart.


    "You made the worst choice," Cassius snarled, his anger focused on his smaller size¡ªhow much longer before he could make these creatures submit with a mere roar like an adult Red Dragon. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And I will grant you¡ªdeath!"


    The Red Dragon flapped its wings and soared high, looking down at the Wyvern from above.


    [Based on your strength, you can observe the following information]


    Wyvern


    Large dragon-type creature, unaligned


    AC: 13 (natural armor)


    Speed: 20 feet, flying 80 feet


    Strength¡ª19


    Agility¡ª10


    Constitution¡ª16


    Intelligence¡ª5


    Perception¡ª12


    Charisma¡ª6


    Skill Proficiency: Perception +2, Hunting +4


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 feet, Passive Perception 14


    Language: Understands Draconic


    Action Skills: Multi-Attack, Biting, Claw Attack, Stinging


    Challenge Level: 6 (2300 XP)


    Assessment: "Sometimes, travelers in the wild can look up to see Wyverns flying with prey in their clutches. These relatives of giant dragons also hunt within dense forests and caves. They are ruthless hunters, and their appearances often spread waves of panic along the borders of civilization."


    The Wyvern on the ground arched its long neck slightly and lifted its fierce head, letting out a challenging hiss. The sound was hoarse, more like that of some kind of serpent.


    "Hiss¡ª"


    Next, the massive Bipedal Wyvern spread its front limbs and took off, its strong tail swaying in the air, the sharp stinger on its end glinting coldly.


    "Flame Breath!"


    Before it could fully leave the ground, the Red Dragon spouted a scorching cone of flame from its mouth, aiming right at the Wyvern''s body.


    The Bipedal Wyvern hurriedly adjusted its body in mid-air, angling its wings to claw at the ground in an attempt to escape the attack, but it couldn''t evade being hit by the blazing flames.


    Its chest scales were charred black, the skin and flesh underneath scorched by the intense flames, leaving it in a miserable state.


    "Awooo¡ª"


    The Wyvern let out a wail of pain, but it quickly supported itself with its front limbs and wobbled back into the air.


    There wasn''t much time left, for the Red Dragon''s next breath was imminent, its throat already glowing with an orange-yellow light, like an erupting volcano.


    "Boom¡ª"


    With another whoosh of flames raging through the air, another scorching stream of red flames descended from above, tracing the Wyvern''s flight path.


    The heat from the flames caused the nearby air to twist and tremble, leaving the Wyvern in terror.


    All it could do was desperately flit about, dodging in the air with no means to counterattack.

 Chapter 15 Monster Lord

    Finally, the flames temporarily stopped.Perhaps it was deliberate, or perhaps it was due to a lack of reserves.


    Yet the Red Dragon still hovered high in the sky, coldly watching the Wyvern below.


    By now, the Wyvern had been burned all over, its body covered in dirt and grime, showing no trace of its former aggressive stance.


    But its innate recklessness and combativeness did not cause it to think about fleeing despite its injuries; instead, it was furious with shame.


    "Roar~"


    The Bipedal Wyvern let out an almost frenzied roar as it vigorously flapped its wings, charging straight at the Red Dragon in the sky.


    Its thick tail curved slightly, muscles tensed in an instant, with sharp tail spikes ready to pierce and inject deadly Wyvern toxin upon contact.


    Just as it was about to pounce.


    Touching the Red Dragon''s scales.


    "Thunderwave (Draconic)"


    "Boom!"


    A sudden thunderclap echoed in the clear sky.


    Centered on Cassius''s body, a powerful sonic wave spread outward.


    The invisible wave instantly shook the unprepared Wyvern several meters away, causing it to momentarily lose balance in its wings and descend uncontrollably.


    The Goblins watching below covered their ears in panic, with some even hiding behind stones, too frightened to look up.


    As the Wyvern plummeted down from the sky, Cassius continued to experiment with his spell.


    "Witchcraft Arrow"


    A blue energy spear, entwined with shattered magic, shot out from the Red Dragon''s maw, rapidly targeting the nearby Wyvern.


    The Wyvern, unable to evade, was struck by the incoming energy spear mid-air, its scales crackling with the lightning energy, plunging its already scarred body into extreme pain.


    But this was not the end; a lasting electric arc formed at the impact site, linking the Red Dragon and the Wyvern.


    It incessantly channeled magical lightning, even causing weak arcs to coil around the Wyvern''s body.


    "Boom!"


    The Wyvern crashed to the ground, black smoke rising from its body, rolling weakly a few times.


    "It, it''s going to crash down!"


    "Help¡ª¡ª"


    "Run¡ª¡ª"


    The Goblins were scared out of their wits, scattering in all directions, yet a few could not escape being crushed by the massive body of the Wyvern, ending their lives.


    Cassius did not care; he just gracefully descended.


    Step by step, he walked up to the Wyvern.


    There were over a dozen Wyverns that had submitted to him.


    This Wyvern was not crucial to him; rather, it was a perfect target to make an example of.


    "Ugh..."


    The Bipedal Wyvern weakly lifted its head, letting out a feeble whine, trying to express its submission at this last moment.


    But the Red Dragon extended a strong claw, pressing it against the slender neck, and then applied force.


    "Crack"


    The sound of bones breaking echoed abruptly.


    The Wyvern''s head remained in its terrified expression, but it was completely lifeless.


    The more than ten Bipedal Wyverns that had come together were instantly terrified, quickly flapping their wings and gathering around the Red Dragon.


    The Bipedal Wyverns bent their long necks, lowering their ferocious heads, emitting low growls from their throats, demonstrating their absolute submission to the stronger dragon.


    "Cassius Claudius Norixius, your master (Draconic)."


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The Red Dragon stood on the Wyvern''s corpse, letting out a long howl towards the sky.


    The Wyverns, sensing the situation, followed suit, raising their heads and howling, a cacophonous and hoarse sound, as if celebrating the birth of a new king.


    After a long while, the Red Dragon finally released the dead Wyvern underfoot, ordering the Wyverns to reside in the stone caves of the valley cliffs.


    "Cut off its head and hang it on the wall."


    "Make arrows out of the toxin in its tail."


    The Red Dragon casually commanded.


    "Yes, my mighty master, your power is unmatched." A Great Goblin, waiting by the side for orders, flattered Cassius and then drove his Goblins to do the work.


    "M-milord, I am afraid it''s still alive."


    The Goblins trembled, afraid to approach the massive corpse.


    "Useless!"


    "What good are you!"


    Dolores, enraged, turned an even deeper shade of red and brandished his whip.


    Faced with the ensuing scolding and whipping, the Goblins had no choice but to overcome their fear and step forward.


    The Chimera in the cave watched the dead Wyvern from afar, a trace of fear in its eyes.


    Ramp gazed at the Wyvern''s corpse, marveling at the Red Dragon''s might, and rejoicing in the easy victory:


    "The master will surely conquer this world."


    The Big Headed Ogre beside him whispered in his ear, "Boss, that big lizard has so much meat; can the brothers have some?"


    "Ouch!"


    Another thump landed on him.


    This time, the heavy-handed example proved to be very effective.


    Although this "chicken" was a bit too large.


    After a long absence, a translucent blue screen appeared in front of the Red Dragon.


    [Achievement Unlocked: Monster Lord]


    [Monster Lord]


    "You could never imagine what I saw. I sneaked into its lair, and there was no treasure as the legends told; instead, there were broken bones everywhere. This place is an adventurer''s graveyard but a paradise for monsters. ¡ª¡ªFrom the will of an unknown adventurer."


    Passive Trait Acquired: S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Monster Leader]


    Charisma +2, Ruling Proficiency +8


    [Extraordinary Charm] Acquired, your power compels monsters to submit.


    You have gained the ability of [Bloodline Gift], allowing you to influence creatures within your territory and create bloodline retainers.


    A peculiar power surged through Cassius''s body.


    His charisma had increased.


    Here, "charisma" was not merely about superficial human looks. Rather, it referred to "influence."


    Even if you were short and ugly, if you possessed extraordinary leadership qualities that made soldiers follow you to conquer the world, your charisma attribute would undoubtedly be high.


    In the magic-filled world of Erezer, if intelligence represented inner aspects like memory and logic, and perception represented receiving information from the outside and divine influence, then charisma represented the output of influence¡ªwhether by eloquence to sway others or innate spellcasting to affect the world.


    Cassius, a Magician, relied on "charisma" to cast spells, using his connection with the world to influence the Magic Web and willpower to alter reality.


    The Red Dragon deeply felt his tightened connection with surrounding elements, a stronger influence on reality, and an additional thread of fate seemed to bind him to his retainers, allowing him to effortlessly reshape the world.


    He let out a satisfied roar, flapping his wings, and flew back into the Giant''s Mouth Cave.


    He looked down upon his retainers.


    With this soft roar, the laboring Ogres seemed inspired, raising their logs and cheering loudly.


    The terrified Goblins stared in awe at the sky, as if seeing a deity.


    Even the Chimera, secretly watching from the cave, could not help but lower its head, sensing a powerful aura that compelled it to submit willingly.


    This was the fearsome influence of the "Monster Lord."


    In the distant underground mines, Kobolds, as if summoned, laid down their pickaxes and instinctively moved in a certain direction. Lizards in their dark camps lit bonfires and began a primal dance.


    And some terrifying creature lurking deeper within the cave slithered on the ground...

 Chapter 16 The Escaped Kobolds

    Another half a month went by, and snowflakes started falling from the sky over Stormy Ridge.The Rock Fortress already stood majestically at the entrance of the "Ashen Nest," blocking all creatures that dared to trespass.


    The goblins, who were not tolerant of the cold, hastily set up makeshift camps in the valley, huddling together for warmth, while the ogres enjoyed slightly better accommodations, occupying several large caves where they snored loudly in slumber.


    Cassius also slept in the Giant''s Mouth Cave, yawning idly at the moment, exhaling streams of sulfur-scented heat that filled the cave with smoke.


    The red dragon naturally loved warmth, and the geothermal energy in the cave made it reluctant to leave.


    Several bipedal wyverns clung shamelessly to the entrance of the cave, ostensibly to guard their master, but really to soak up the heat as well.


    But seeing their diligence, the red dragon merely turned a blind eye.


    Meanwhile, Ramp had found a warm and hidden cave to serve as a library, spending his days immersed in his books, complaining daily to Cassius about the weakness of the goblin army and their inability to rob new books from human caravans.


    "Awoooo¡ª¡ª"


    A bipedal wyvern circling in the sky let out a howl.


    That sound meant¡ª¡ªsomeone was coming.


    Cassius perked up, rising slowly on all fours, shaking his wings before walking out of the cave and taking to the sky.


    For the past half month, he had either been sleeping or studying spells in the cave.


    As for food, the great goblin led an elite hunting party and surrounded several mammoths, even sending one specifically to the Giant''s Mouth Cave.


    The red dragon could be described as living a life of luxury.


    Just when he was feeling a bit bored, wishing for something to expend his excess energy and destructive urges on, an opportunity presented itself.


    The wyverns piled at the cave entrance eagerly made way the moment they saw Cassius wanting to leave, respectfully bowing their heads and then closely following behind him.


    But when Cassius soared to the valley entrance and looked down to see the uninvited guests in front of the Rock Fortress, his interest waned slightly.


    At the city gate stood a group of about a hundred small, thin, humanoid creatures.


    They were covered in scales ranging from dark brown to black, with heads resembling a cross between a dragon and a canine, and small light-colored horns on their foreheads¡ªthese were kobolds, cave-dwelling reptilian humanoids often worshiped evil dragons as demigods.


    But this group of kobolds was clearly in bad shape, many bearing wounds and bloodstains, huddled together in panic under the fortress gate, making a cacophony of noises.


    Cassius could tell they were speaking in Draconic, but from their mouths, it sounded like noisy barking.


    "It''s... it''s the Great Dragon!"


    "It''s really a dragon!"


    Until one kobold struggled to lift its head, seeing the red dragon in the sky and letting out a cry of surprise.


    "We are saved!"


    Suddenly, all the kobolds knelt down as if witnessing a miracle, muttering indistinctly in Draconic.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    The red dragon descended from the sky with a thunderous impact, sending flurries of snow flying at the city gate.


    "Why have you come here? (Draconic)"


    Under the pressure from the dragon''s bloodline, the kobolds continued to kneel without daring to look up.


    After a long while, a slightly larger kobold slowly crawled out from among the crowd.


    It threw itself at the red dragon''s feet, speaking in a barking Draconic with a hint of sobbing, "Great Dragon, we have come to seek refuge with you¡ª¡ª"


    The red dragon coldly gazed at the small creatures before him, as if he could crush them with just a slight move of his body.


    It was said that kobolds had a trace of dragon blood in their veins and were naturally inclined to serve evil dragons, but their strength was pitifully weak, and with goblins as substitutes, their utility to him was minimal.


    Seeing the red dragon unmoved, the kobold raised its head stealthily, showing extreme sorrow, "Our whole tribe was devoured by that monster, leaving only these few of us alive, and we felt your immense power, so we came to seek your protection..."


    Hearing the mention of the so-called "monster" from the kobold''s mouth, Cassius finally showed a bit of interest.


    "If I take in you weak kobolds, what can you offer me?"


    Seeing a glimmer of hope, the kobold''s eyes brightened, and it quickly said, "Gold! We can bring you lots of gold!


    Our whole tribe lived in the mine, enslaved by human smugglers to dig gold for them, we know everything about it, understand the veins, and know where the most gold is."


    The kobolds behind it hurriedly chimed in.


    "Yes, yes."


    "That''s right, I can dig out gold as big as my head every day."


    "Great Dragon, you must take us in."


    Cassius''s interest grew.


    Gold, a universally hard currency, with enough gold, he could confidently procure all sorts of contraband from humans, including and not limited to weapons and magical books, thereby rapidly expanding his power.


    If he couldn''t buy it, it only meant there wasn''t enough gold.


    Moreover, the kobold''s story included the so-called "monster."


    Cassius continued to probe, "Tell me more about this monster you mentioned, what exactly is it?"


    Hearing this, terror flashed across the lead kobold''s face, and the other kobolds began to clamor, some even bursting into tears out of fear.


    The kobold leader tapped his chest to steady himself before speaking slowly, "Master, you must believe what I am about to tell you."


    The red dragon did not mind the title and merely nodded slightly.


    The kobold seemed immersed in a terrifying memory, speaking with a tone as if reliving it, "It was a very dreadful monster, its body was larger, larger than a small hill, its mouth was also huge, bigger than... than a cave, and it could swallow ten kobolds at once."


    His voice trembled uncontrollably as he said this.


    "In the mine, it was like a shadow, omnipresent, no matter where we ran to, the monster would find us, the tribe originally had over seven hundred members, all... all got eaten, not even bones were left."


    The kobold appeared visibly shaken.


    "I went through great lengths to lead over a hundred of my kin out through the mine''s secret passage." He sighed in relief as he finished speaking.


    By now, the kobolds behind him had huddled together in fear, not daring to make a sound.


    "Is this monster you''re talking about bigger than me?" the red dragon asked with interest.


    Sweat beaded on the kobold leader''s forehead, unsure how to answer.


    In his memory, red dragons were the most haughty and brutal creatures, even a slight offense could lead to a death with no burial.


    "Speak the truth." Cassius stated impatiently.


    "Yes, yes." The kobold stuttered, even closing his eyes in fear. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What is your name?"


    "Jin Ya."


    Not feeling the anticipated claws, the kobold leader let out a sigh of relief, wearing an ingratiating smile and exposing his notably prominent golden tooth.

 Chapter 17 Wolf Cavalry and Scorpion-tailed Lion

    The heavy wooden gates of Rock Fortress were pulled up by ogre guards, and the noisy kobolds flooded into the valley, assigned to some dark, damp underground caves¡ªtheir most preferred habitats due to their sensitive skin.Fortunately, the vast expanse of Giant Canyon could easily accommodate these retainers; otherwise, with hundreds of kobolds suddenly coming in, the temporary overseer Ramp would be overwhelmed.


    Cassius soared into the sky, looking down at these weak creatures.


    [Based on your strength, you can see the following information]


    [Kobold]


    Small humanoid (kobold), lawful evil


    AC: 12


    Speed: 30 ft.


    Strength¡ª7


    Agility¡ª15


    Constitution¡ª9


    Intelligence¡ª8


    Perception¡ª7


    Charisma¡ª8


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 ft., Passive Perception 8 ft.


    Languages: Common, Draconic


    Proficiencies: Construction +4, Traps +4, Digging +6, Stealth +6


    Traits: Sunlight Sensitivity, Pack Tactics


    Actions: Dagger, Sling


    Challenge Level: 1/8 (25 XP)


    Assessment: "Kobolds use their talents in burrowing and trap-making to compensate for their physical deficiencies. Weak as they are, they are merely a small snack for predators, forced to band together due to their vulnerability."


    A Challenge Level of 1/8, this might be the weakest monster Cassius had ever encountered. Their only value as retainers would be as miners and sappers. If sent into battle, they would likely only serve as cannon fodder.


    But considering the gold and the intelligence on that monster, the Red Dragon still took them as retainers.


    Because kobolds were so weak, the mysterious creature in the mine devouring hundreds of them didn''t mean much in his eyes; more detailed intelligence and strength assessment were required.


    But the creature, which had grown larger than the current Red Dragon, was obviously not easy to deal with. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With this in mind, he summoned the Great Goblin chief, Dolores.


    With the Ashen Nest as a backing, the ambitious Goblin Warlord had ended his days of wandering and evading human capture, now living comfortably. Perhaps it was an illusion, but even his rough, reddish-brown skin appeared to have smoothed.


    This, compounded with the influence of leadership aura, made Dolores respect his master even more, his ugly red face filled with a smile: "My mighty master, what orders do you have?"


    "How is the training of your wolf cavalry coming along?"


    The so-called wolf cavalry referred to goblin soldiers riding worgs.


    Goblins and wolves had a unique affinity, becoming good partners, and wolf cavalry was indeed the elite of the goblin army.


    Great Goblin Dolores had once said during a hunt: "I''d rather sacrifice dozens of cannon fodder than lose a single wolf cavalryman."


    And he did just that, during that hunt, letting a dozen goblins be trampled to death by mammoths to save a toppled worg rider.


    "Very well, the worgs are eager to taste the blood of enemies."


    Dolores licked his lips, his eyes showing an innate craving for war,


    "Send a few scout teams to investigate the mines the kobolds mentioned, and scout the nearby forces. Report back immediately with any intelligence, without incurring excessive losses."


    "As you command."


    The Great Goblin respectfully took his leave, mounting his worg and wielded his whip to summon the wolf cavalry.


    "After researching spells for so long, it''s time to sweep through the area again and gain some levels," the Red Dragon mused.


    For the past while, Cassius had been focused on researching spells, striving to master his powers, even deliberately suppressing his experience gain and level advancement.


    Although the player panel could easily increase his strength, Cassius wanted a more stable control over his power, understanding the workings of the spells and the world''s mechanisms.


    He needed not only a strong body but also the mentality of a strong person, so as not to become a complete puppet to the so-called "system."


    With a flap of his wings, the Red Dragon soared into the sky.


    ...


    On an unknown cliff, two hideous creatures were tearing at scraps of meat.


    Their food¡ªthough already torn beyond recognition, could still be identified as a human, or at least a humanoid, from the smooth skin, distinct fingers, and exquisitely crafted clothing.


    They were huge, about four meters long, with the bodies of lions and a pair of dragon wings.


    Their standing manes extended to their backs, with the long, slender tails ending in tufts of spikes, and most chilling was their heads¡ªthey had smooth, hairless, human-like faces, making the blood-stained scene particularly eerie.


    They were manticores, notoriously evil creatures especially fond of human flesh, often featured in human fairy tales meant to scare children to sleep, except they were very real.


    They liked to capture humans to their nests on high cliffs and savor them slowly.


    But this time, a faint mist rose on the cliff.


    Soon the mist grew thicker, blinding all creatures within it.


    However, the manticores, who were usually terrifying predators, engrossed in their feast, had no sense of the impending danger.


    A shadow swept through the thick mist, followed by a faintly visible bright flame.


    "Flame Breath!"


    The Red Dragon, holding scorching flames in his mouth, suddenly emerged from the rolling mist. The breath engulfed one of the manticores, setting its fur and body ablaze, leaving it helpless but to wail.


    All it could do was roll around in its nest.


    However, the nest made of dry wood and straw also caught fire, the blazing flames consuming it completely.


    The other manticore, seeing this, let out a bizarre shriek akin to human laughter, then flapped its wings, preparing to flee the mist and flame-covered area.


    But Cassius wouldn''t give it the chance.


    "Instant Cast: Cat''s Grace"


    With the enhanced attributes of the mockingly named "zoo spell," the Red Dragon''s massive body instantly became much more agile.


    With just a slight flap of his wings, he swept across the sky, swiftly overtaking the fleeing manticore.


    The Red Dragon showed no mercy, extending his powerful claws to grab the manticore flying in mid-air and slam it against the cliff wall.


    Immediately, the entire cliff reverberated, with various sizes of fragmented rocks tumbling down.


    The manticore let out a faint whimper, a plea for mercy.


    "I, I yield."


    Tears flowed from the human-like face, showing a begging expression, but this demeanor appeared particularly strange to any creature with normal aesthetic sense.


    "Crack"


    The Red Dragon exerted force with his claws, mercilessly breaking the manticore''s spine.


    He released his grip, letting the massive and ugly body naturally fall, followed by smaller rocks.


    A thud and the sound of rocks hitting the ground echoed from below, followed by faint struggling sounds, then silence.


    The Red Dragon stood atop the cliff, watching the mist-covered ground below: "In the future, I need to capture human cities and host the arrival of players. I require retainers who can be managed, at least able to suppress their wild instincts."


    "As for scaring people, I have the chaotic evil Chimera for that."


    "Besides, these things are just too ugly."


    As the mist cleared, Cassius looked at the twisted human face on the ground and couldn''t help but sneer.

 Chapter 18 Advancement and News

    The translucent screen slowly unfolded.[You killed the Scorpion-tailed Lion and gained 700xp] sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [You killed the Scorpion-tailed Lion and gained 700xp]


    [Occupation Level increased to Level 4]


    Cassius couldn''t help but feel excited. In the "Erezer" system, improving one''s strength was extremely difficult.


    And every fourth level was almost a qualitative leap for general professionals, significantly enhancing their strength, making it a considerable leap in the early stages.


    [Choose to enhance Sorcerer Level]


    [You can choose to increase your Attribute Points by 2]


    Cassius pondered for a moment and decided to allocate all his Attribute Points to Charisma to enhance his spellcasting ability.


    The Attribute Points obtained in the early stages could only augment attributes below 20, and the original strength level of the Red Dragon was too high to be augmented.


    [Choose to increase Charisma to 18]


    [You obtained an extra feat: Combat Casting]


    Combat Casting (General Feat)


    Casting or using spell-like abilities while in defense, captured, or suppressed states gives bonuses to concentration.


    [Due to the Dragon Bloodline, you obtained the Dragonkin''s extra feat: Maximized Breath Weapon]


    Maximized Breath Weapon:


    Once a day, the dragon could choose to unleash its most powerful breath weapon, with three times the power of the original breath weapon, requiring 25-45 seconds of charging time. Within the preceding hour, the dragon must not have used its breath weapon, and the energy consumed in this attack would prevent the dragon from using another breath attack for at least two hours thereafter.


    [Due to the Dragon Bloodline, you obtained the Dragonkin''s extra feat: Targeted Breath Attack]


    Targeted Breath Attack:


    Once a day, the dragon could target specific targets with its breath attack, instead of causing the usual carpet-bombing area effect. The dragon could also choose up to ten individual creatures to aim at and unleash small, focused breath attacks on them with its breath weapon.


    [Obtain additional Second Tier Spells: Misty Step, Phantom Force]


    Misty Step


    2nd Tier Spell


    You are briefly surrounded by silvery mist and teleport to an unoccupied location you can see within 30 feet.


    Phantom Force


    2nd Tier Illusion Spell


    You designate a creature you can see within spellcasting distance, creating an illusion rooted in its consciousness.


    The affected target believes in the illusion''s authenticity, even suffering direct harm from it.


    For instance, an illusion manifesting as flames, acidic pools, or magma could burn the target.


    [Obtain additional First Tier Spells: Hypnotism, Shield Spell]


    Several spells appeared in Cassius''s mind.


    His spellcasting ability was further enhanced, and his willpower in reality became more substantial.


    Cassius had no doubt that with his current spellcasting ability, he could easily toy with the young dragon he encountered previously.


    The information panel unexpectedly unfolded before him.


    Red Dragon, Cassius


    Name: Caius Claudius Norixius


    Template: NPC (nine years, one hundred fifteen days, seven hours until server opening)


    Category: Large Dragonkin, Lawful Neutral


    Race: Young Red Dragon


    AC: 22 (natural armor, gilded scales)


    Base Attributes:


    Strength¡ª23


    Agility¡ª11


    Constitution¡ª20


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª12


    Charisma¡ª18


    Skill Proficiencies: Arcana +4, Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Ruling +8, Stealth +6, Perception +8, Hunting +4, Fugitive +4, Knowledge (Future) +4


    Damage Immunities: Flame


    Senses: Blindsight 10 feet, Dark Vision 60 feet, Passive Perception 16


    Language: Draconic


    Actions: Bite, Clawing, Tail Attack, Fly, Enhanced Breath Attack (Flame)


    Special Abilities: Maximized Breath (Flame), Targeted Breath (Flame), Gilded Carapace, Bloodline Gift


    Feats: Gilded Scales, Maximized Breath Weapon, Targeted Breath Weapon, Combat Casting, Extraordinary Aura, Fugitive


    Combat Equipment: Spell Nullification Amulet, Nimble Mage Action Ring, Staff of Scorching, Talking to the Dead Amulet, Lava Spouting Device, Blade Evasion Ring, Silent Steps Amulet, Owl''s Perception Mask


    Equipped Spells:


    Once per day - Spell Nullification Barrier, Talking to the Dead, Oil on the Soles of the Feet


    Twice per day - Owl''s Perception, Burning Hands


    Three times per day - Searing Ray, Blade Defense


    Occupational Level: Magician 4


    Spellcaster Level: 4


    Spells:


    Cantrips - Mage''s Hand, Minor Illusion, Act Before the Enemy, Magic Tricks, Text Transmission Spell


    1st Tier - Cloud Mist Technique, Charm Person, Magic Missile, Shield Spell, Thunderwave, Witchcraft Arrow


    2nd Tier - Enhanced Attributes, Misty Step, Phantom Force, Invisibility Spell, Searing Ray


    3rd Tier - None


    Challenge Level: 11 (7,600xp)


    Assessment: "A highly talented Red Dragon Sorcerer, continually pursuing power. Terrifying. Generally, Dragon Sorcerers are driven by a desire stronger than wealth and power. They seek to master themselves and the power brewing within them. They pursue the most mysterious and dangerous knowledge, touching upon the most undisturbed elements firsthand."


    "Reaching Challenge Level above ten, they acquire a unique title."


    "So, it looks like I am considered a minor boss." Cassius thought to himself.


    He needed to continue enhancing his strength.


    Legend had it that Cassius in his previous life, after signing a pact with the demons, was covered in heavy red-black armor, with eyes blazing with the flames of Abyssal revenge.


    In just a short decade, his Challenge Level even surpassed the twentieth level mark, becoming an undisputed world boss, a player killer, and a newbie nightmare, causing countless professional gamers to meet their demise under his claws.


    Yet the current Cassius, although much stronger, was still far from that level of power.


    "Where exactly is the ''Demon of the Mountains'' mentioned in the legend?"


    "In the depths of the Ancytica Mountains?"


    "Or in the northern Carpathian Mountains?"


    Cassius didn''t know, but he was not ready to seek it out just yet.


    He felt his strength was insufficient, and he was well-versed in the nature of abyssal demons, being an experienced player.


    From version 1.0 to 4.0, from the Anzeta Demon Tide to the Dark Moon Catastrophe, nearly every main questline was related to the invasion of abyssal demons.


    They were purely chaotic evil beings with no sense of morality and were unpredictable, dedicated to destroying and obliterating everything. According to some scholars, they were considered products of chaotic consciousness in the multiverse.


    They could be drinking merrily with you one moment, and the next moment, they would mince you into meat paste. Compared to demons, even devils in hell seemed amiable.


    So, he speculated that Cassius in his previous life must have paid an unimaginable price.


    "However, I still have to see it."


    "Even if it is truly a demon, I must tear a piece of flesh off it." Cassius muttered to himself.


    Immediately, he took off from the top of the cliff.


    The Scorpion-tailed Lion''s nest was still burning, though the fire was gradually dying down. The massive nest had been charred.


    Among the ashes, piles of blackened remains were mixed together, making it hard to distinguish whether they were from the Scorpion-tailed Lion or its unfortunate victims.

 Chapter 19 The Dragon Returning to Its Nest

    "Roar¡ª¡ª"With a loud roar, the red dragon swept across the Rock Fortress with its wings spread wide.


    The ogre guards on the ground immediately waved their clubs and cheered, while the wyverns guarding the gates extended their necks, raised their heads, and let out long howls, welcoming the return of the nest''s master.


    When Cassius returned to the Giant''s Mouth Cave, even the chimeras approached respectfully to greet him, not daring to show any negligence.


    "Ramp, how have things been these past few days while I was away?"


    The ogre mage in front of him wore a pair of intricately crafted silver-rimmed glasses, their oversized head making the tiny glasses look extremely comical.


    Ramp deliberately pushed up his glasses, unrolled the scroll in his hand, and while carefully examining it, said, "Currently, there are thirty-eight ogres in the Ashen Nest, four hundred and thirty-five goblins, twenty-six worgs, twenty-seven bugbears, one hundred and twenty-one kobolds, and fifteen wyverns."


    He paused significantly before continuing, "Three days ago, the great goblin leader Dolores dispatched twenty-seven worgs cavalry to the Lost Mine. They suffered heavy losses, with only six riders returning, three of whom are wounded. The remaining twenty-one worgs cavalry are all missing."


    "Where is Dolores?"


    "He''s still over at the Goblin Camp. The goblin camp overlapped with the kobolds'' nest, and he''s currently leading people to dismantle those pups'' dens." The ogre mage chuckled slyly, a cunning glint in his eye.


    "Understood. Continue your spell research." The red dragon''s tone was unreadable.


    ...


    "Lord Dolores, you can''t just tear this down; our little ones need this place to hatch their eggs." The kobold leader with gold teeth forced a smile, looking up at the towering great goblin.


    "Get lost, you mangy pups, don''t get in our way." Dolores waved disdainfully.


    Gold Tooth hesitated but ultimately stood his ground: "My lord, we specifically reported this to Steward Ramp, and he approved it. Changing it now would be... unreasonable."


    To a war-worshiping goblin, these weak kobolds were worthless, not even qualified to be cannon fodder, let alone their intelligence indirectly causing him to lose dozens of worgs, which had earned him Ramp''s repeated ridicule.


    Thinking of this made the great goblin leader even angrier, his reddish-brown face now even redder. He kicked the kobold away and spat at it fiercely.


    "Ramp, Ramp, Ramp again, just an ogre mage, what''s the big deal!"


    "If it weren''t for the master knowing you, I would''ve already¡ª"


    Just as he was about to continue kicking, he noticed his shadow being covered by a large dark figure, and the kobold on the ground looked up with a hopeful expression.


    "Would''ve done what?" The red dragon''s tone was cold.


    Dolores''s face immediately changed by one hundred and eighty degrees, instantly wearing a flattering smile: "Master, you''re back! I neglected to greet you at the door and wasted time here instead."


    Gold Tooth, however, knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face: "Master, you must stand up for us kobolds. Lord Dolores means well, but without our nest, how can we...?"


    Dolores glared at him viciously and then put on a sycophantic smile: "You misunderstood. I was supervising the construction of the goblin camp, seeing these kobolds causing trouble, so¡ª"


    Cassius couldn''t bear to watch this farce any longer and interrupted, "Enough. Dolores, give the kobolds some space, and stop stirring up trouble."


    Gold Tooth was satisfied, continually offering flattering words until his lips were almost a blur.


    "Great master, your mercy and justice are unparalleled, your might..."


    "Go continue building your nest."


    The red dragon didn''t pay much attention to Gold Tooth and casually said to Dolores, "Gather those worgs cavalry. I want to see what caused such a heavy loss."


    Dolores, hearing the red dragon mention the worgs cavalry, felt uneasy but noticed the dragon wasn''t angry and sighed in relief, continuing to carry out the order.


    With howls, several worgs carrying goblins emerged from the camp and kneeled before the red dragon.


    The six goblins in front looked terrified, most of them injured, and one was even being carried by a worg, its body covered in scorched wounds and healing herbs, looking as though it wouldn''t survive much longer.


    Dolores gripped a whip and commanded sternly, "Tell the great master what happened."


    "It was a terrifying monster," one goblin said.


    "It ate everyone," another added.


    "It, it was a shadow."


    Like the kobolds'' previous accounts, it described a monster that could devour everything, retained vague impressions of a large shadow in the dark mine, and suggested its immense size.


    "No useful information at all?" the red dragon scolded.


    Seeing the red dragon seemed angry, Dolores cracked his whip loudly, shouting, "Your cowardly retreat has shamed the master enough. Given this chance to redeem yourselves, can''t you offer any useful information?"


    The goblins, though fearful of the whip, knew nothing more. Even their feeble minds couldn''t fabricate convincing lies.


    Dolores looked up at the red dragon, changing his expression to one of servility: "Master, please trust me one more time. I will make these wastes useful. Next time, next time I will surely..."


    Just as Cassius was feeling disappointed.


    The goblin on the worg''s back barely opened its eyes, laboriously speaking in broken words: "I, I saw lightning. It, it could use lightning, blue lightning."


    The goblin''s mind was clouded.


    But clearly, the lightning had left a deep impression on it.


    Lightning?


    And blue lightning?


    Could it be a blue dragon?


    However, Cassius shook his head, blue dragons preferred deserts rather than dark mines, their proud nature didn''t allow hiding in darkness.


    Moreover, blue dragons were known for their territorial behavior, making it impossible for kobolds and humans smugglers to enter their territory.


    "It seems I need to investigate personally," the red dragon thought. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Given the current circumstances, sending more retainers would just weaken his forces; even if wyverns were sent, they would likely suffer the same fate.


    Cassius wouldn''t let the gold mine slip through his fingers.

 Chapter 20 The Barons Fury

    ```Late at night, at the Baron''s Mansion.


    "Wham!"


    A pair of pale hands slammed heavily on the tabletop.


    "Useless! You''re all useless!"


    The man cursed loudly, spittle flying.


    His face was harsh, shadowed with malice, and his gaunt frame was wrapped in formal attire.


    On his chest was pinned a delicate, small insignia, carved with the emblem of an eagle and swords. Anyone knowledgeable would recognize it as the Northwind Eagle¡ªthe crest of the Rackman Family.


    His name was Todd Rackman, one of the old Duke''s overlooked sons, perhaps the twelfth son, assigned barony over a remote and insignificant place.


    The man standing in front of the table was Hart, a robust middle-aged man who had once been a slave trader but transformed himself into the baron''s steward.


    "Sir, I also had no choice..."


    "So you tell me all the kobolds escaped? And the gold mine was abandoned?"


    "No no no, listen to my explanation..."


    "I don''t want explanations, I want gold! Gleaming gold! Without gold, I can''t sustain the Baron''s Mansion or pay the troops, much less compete with my dear brothers for power back home, stuck eating dirt in a place even goblins avoid!"


    As Todd spoke, he grew more furious. In his rage, he kicked the man in front of him, completely disregarding the so-called noble etiquette.


    Hart crawled up from the ground, not a trace of complaint about being hit visible on his face. He merely said, "Sir, it really was sudden. Half of the mercenaries we brought along simply vanished."


    "According to those mercenaries guarding the kobolds deep in the mine, their comrades disappeared without even raising a call for help."


    "There really is a monster in that mine!"


    "And we have no clue about it, don''t know its habits, or why it suddenly attacked. At the time, to avoid more losses for you, sir, I had no choice but to retreat with the men."


    Todd gave him a scornful glance and sneered, "That only shows you and your hired mercenaries are too pathetic! If you had been stronger, you wouldn''t have fled before even catching a glimpse of the enemy."


    Hart wiped the cold sweat off his brow and smiled obsequiously, "Indeed, how could us humble commoners compare to you? You are the noble blood of the Northwind Eagle, a powerful spellcaster."


    Todd adjusted his lapels and said slowly, "Well, that''s better said, there''s some merit in it."


    The baron reclined in the leather chair behind the desk, crossing his arms: Since it''s come to this, do you have any methods to remedy it?"


    "I need you to give me a satisfactory explanation."


    Seeing Todd calm down, Hart breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "Sir, we could request a few Eagle Guards from the duke to protect the mine''s safety, what do you think¡ª"


    "Eagle Guards?" Todd interrupted coldly.


    "How could you suggest that?"


    "Don''t you know¡ªthey''re all Father''s spies? Let them into the mine, and the gold inside will have nothing to do with us!"


    "It will just be transported to Northwind Castle!"


    Hart hastened to add in a fluster, "My apologies, sir, it was merely a trivial suggestion. With your wisdom, there''s naturally a better solution, but..."


    "Enough. If I don''t see gold by next month, I will personally take people there."


    Todd interrupted his justification again, staring at Hart with a gaze that sent chills down the spine.


    "Yes... Yes, sir." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My patience is very limited. There''s no next time, really no next time, Hart."


    Todd''s fingers drummed rhythmically on the tabletop.


    "Understood, sir," Hart responded quickly, bowing his head, not daring to meet the baron''s eyes.


    "Look up, Hart."


    "Do you really understand?"


    Under command, Hart reluctantly looked up, meeting the baron''s eyes.


    Those eyes were cold, with a hint of scarlet deep in the pupils, not gazing at a subordinate, but more like looking at¡ªa piece of meat on a plate.


    "Sir, I truly understand." Hart''s voice trembled.


    "Make preparations and gather your useless mercenaries."


    "Yes, yes."


    "Sir, I will take my leave now."


    Upon receiving the command from the baron, he accepted without hesitation and then retreated as if fleeing for his life.


    "Huff, huff..."


    Hart closed the door behind him and breathed heavily, knowing that he still had value to this baron. Otherwise, he wouldn''t leave so easily next time.


    Inside the room, Baron Todd Hackman adjusted his lapels once again in front of the dressing mirror. He licked his lips unconsciously, revealing unusually sharp teeth.


    This too was a mark of the Rackman Family.


    ...


    "Is this the place?"


    The Red Dragon stood atop a rather tall hill, staring at the seemingly bottomless mine in the distance, with a kobold clutched in his claw.


    "Master, y-yes, this is the place."


    Jin Ya instinctively rubbed his head, barely recovering from the dizzying speed of the flight.


    "Then lead me in."


    "Oh great master, I am but a humble kobold, th-this..." Jin Ya''s scaled forehead broke out in cold sweat again.


    The mine was a nightmare for these kobolds. Most of his kin were devoured by that monster. Having escaped once, he never wanted to go back.


    Even with the backing of the Red Dragon, he still felt uneasy.


    After all, giant dragons wouldn''t care about the life or death of a mere kobold.


    "What? Are you unwilling?" Cassius asked.


    "Of course, I am willing, absolutely."


    The kobold quickly answered upon sensing the Red Dragon''s displeased tone.


    "Serving you is the greatest honor of my life, it''s just..."


    "Just what?"


    "It''s just that I... I need some time to recall the mine routes." The kobold''s cold sweat dripped off his chin.


    "Clip-clop, clip-clop..."


    Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves approached from afar, interrupting their conversation and giving the kobold a breath of relief.


    Down the distant road, a number of fine horses sped towards them, ridden by humans dressed in leather armor, with crossbows at their waists.


    The Red Dragon lowered himself slowly, trying to conceal his body, and softly used a text transmission spell on the kobold: "Who are they, do you recognize them?"


    The kobold peeked out cautiously, noting the decorations of those human knights and clearly saw the faces of a few before speaking.


    "Master, it''s those slave traders who previously enslaved us. Their leader... I remember is called Hart."


    "Human slave traders? Are they also here to seize the gold mine?"


    "Master, these seem to be scouts. Originally, there were over twenty of them, some are professionals. The main force should be waiting behind." The kobold added.


    "How convenient, we can use these people to scout the way." Cassius squinted.


    ```

 Chapter 21 Exploring the Cave

    "Boss, we barely got out of this hellhole, and now we really have to go back in?"The archer warrior Kelu stared at the dark mine tunnel before him, still somewhat fearful.


    Hart, dressed in leather armor, was applying blade oil to his sword: "The Baron gave the order. If we don''t dig out the gold, we are all dead."


    The barbarian Scar, clad in bear hide, grumbled in displeasure: "What Baron? Just a snot-nosed brat. What right does he have to send us to our deaths?"


    He snorted: "If it weren''t for the gold, I''d have quit long ago!" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Kelu chimed in: "Exactly, if I had known earlier, I would have taken the gold and run."


    Having finished wiping his sword, Hart stood up and said seriously: "He''s not just any brat. Offend the Northwind Eagle, and who could survive here? Do you think you can outrun the Eagle Guards?"


    Scar retorted in anger: "I don''t care about any eagle. Even if giant dragons came, they can''t use us as cannon fodder."


    Hart simply said: "Save your energy. This job always had our heads on the line. Now that we finally have a legitimate status and a powerful patron, we can''t waste it."


    "That accident was just an anomaly. Even if there is some monster, after eating so much, it should be going into hibernation."


    "Besides¡ª" he shifted the topic.


    "I also got a bunch of serfs from the Baron, no, according to the Kingdom''s official term, ''honest and diligent peasants'' as miners."


    He looked behind, where over a hundred frail humans carrying baskets were arriving one after another, walking numbly under the supervision of whips. The recruitment payment was merely some words - a meal, not starved.


    However, what awaited them was not a job that could prevent starvation, but a deep, dark mine with unknown monsters lurking within.


    "Take a spear for yourself." Hart called out.


    "This is a special reward from the Baron for your self-defense."


    "If you encounter a monster, retreating is a death sentence; don''t be afraid, just throw your spear at it."


    "If anyone sacrifices themselves, don''t worry, the Baron will remember their merit, reduce their family''s taxes, and compensate with grain for their family."


    "Oh, and also take a pickaxe."


    These serfs were recruited by Hart from the Baron as cannon fodder. Such a dangerous place was no place for him to send his men first, let alone lead personally.


    From his years of wilderness experience, Hart knew that the best way to deal with large monsters was to throw spears. With enough people, even a massive mammoth could be killed easily.


    And even if they failed, with these cannon fodders, the monster would be satiated and wouldn''t come after them.


    "Get in!"


    "Hurry up, get in! Don''t dawdle!"


    The deceived miners picked up their weapons and walked disorderly into the cave.


    Even if someone realized something was wrong and wanted to escape, under the relentless whips of the overseers, they had no choice but to comply.


    But why didn''t dozens of armed men resist a few overseers?


    Perhaps it was something deeply ingrained within them...


    Facing the unknown depths, the ones forced to lead raised their torches with trembling hands, exploring forward under the threats of whips and blades.


    Scar, following behind the serf team, clicked his tongue in amazement: "When it comes to slave trading, these nobles are really crafty."


    "They don''t even need to bring in the goods; they can sell people directly."


    "Stop talking and get in." someone urged.


    Soon, Hart''s group had all entered the mine tunnel, leaving a few soldiers at the entrance to support.


    But they were unaware that something else had quietly followed them into the mine.


    Nor did they realize that there was a spell known as the Invisibility Spell, which could completely hide one''s form from ordinary beings.


    "Boss, I feel something strange."


    Kelu''s senses, though keen, always felt something was off, yet he couldn''t pinpoint it.


    "Stop being so paranoid, we haven''t gone far yet, the road is still long." Scar scoffed.


    Hart merely lightened his footsteps from behind and said in a low voice: "Keep your voices down and watch what''s ahead."


    Following the rudimentary markers they had set, the group slowly descended deeper into the mine.


    The space inside was spacious; this was where the kobolds had toiled earlier, with broken pickaxes, mining carts for transportation, and stray ore scattered on the ground.


    A ''miner'' couldn''t help but pick up a piece of gold ore from the ground and secretly stash it in his rough burlap clothing.


    However, this action was spotted by the sharp-eyed Scar.


    The barbarian walked up and hoisted the frail man by his weak body, and with a shake, pieces of glittering gold ore fell out.


    "Just like those lowly kobolds."


    Scar threw him to the ground with one hand and confidently stepped forward to break his arm with his foot, eliciting a scream of pain.


    "Remember, everything here belongs to the Baron."


    "You are here to mine, not to steal."


    "Any further violations..."


    "Haha, you''ll never leave this mine for the rest of your life."


    Scar grinned, relishing the feeling of holding someone else''s life in his hands. It was one of the few entertainments in his life as a slave trader.


    At the back of the group, Hart was carefully examining the damage within the mine - the forcibly broken wooden doors, the deformed furnace, the human limbs and torsos, and the fences torn apart by great strength.


    Looking at these traces, cold sweat trickled down Hart''s forehead.


    "A terrifying monster."


    "Its strength is likely on par with Frost Giants."


    To him, this was a high assessment, as those giants, who came with the cold winds, were one of the most feared enemies of the Northern Kingdom.


    Hearing Scar''s loud proclamations nearby, Hart angrily rushed up and, lowering his voice, said to him:


    "That monster might still be here."


    "If you want to die, just say it, but don''t drag me down with you."


    "But, boss, our gold..."


    The barbarian, who often spoke without thinking and worshipped violence, was about to reply when strange sounds echoed in the cave.


    "Quiet! Listen carefully." Hart frowned.


    "Thump, thump..."


    "Thump, thump..."


    A heavy, footstep-like sound reverberated in the dark cavern, making hearts pound.


    "The sound is coming from the cave walls," Hart thought.


    He glanced around the cave walls, but it was still pitch black all around.


    "In front."


    "To the left."


    "No, it''s above." Kelu said in a low voice.


    The sound seemed to be moving around within the cave, making it impossible for anyone to pinpoint its source or direction.


    But the sound was getting closer...


    Panic and noise spread through the group, with more people suggesting they return to the surface, and even the overseers couldn''t help but become anxious.


    "Stay calm, pick up your weapons."


    Hart''s back was drenched in sweat. He had never faced the ''monster'' this closely before, and the chaotic situation was beyond his expectations.


    "Don''t be afraid, raise your torches."


    "We''re doomed. This definitely isn''t just an ordinary monster but a terrifying hunter. It''s creating chaos to take us all down." Hart thought to himself.

 Chapter 22 The Cave Game

    The constant rustling sound continued without end, making everyone in the dark mine feel on edge.Everyone instinctively quieted down, afraid that something might attack from the darkness, making the sounds in the cave even clearer, mixed with the pounding of their hearts.


    Suddenly, a huge shadow flashed across the corner of the cave, passing over a certain spot in the crowd.


    A miner didn''t even have time to shout before losing his voice.


    "Ah¡ª¡ª"


    "Gulp..."


    What followed was the sound of something swallowing, crunching food.


    In the tense atmosphere where you could hear a pin drop, everyone heard this swallowing sound, echoing clearly.


    Instantly, people''s fear almost became uncontrollable.


    The chaotic crowd instinctively surged towards the mine''s exit.


    Hart squeezed to the center of the crowd, trying to keep his voice steady, "Everyone stay calm, if you see anything unusual, throw your spears there."


    "It''s nothing more than a frightened Beast in the dark, we just need to..."


    "Gulp."


    As if to slap him in the face, before Hart finished speaking, another clear swallowing sound echoed.


    Another unlucky soul had lost their life.


    Instantly, the crowd erupted, fear exploded, survival instincts overwhelmed everything.


    "Don''t, don''t eat me!"


    "There''s a Monster! There really is a Monster!"


    "Run for your lives!"


    "Damn it, get out of the way! Don''t block me."


    The screams and chaos were incessant, the entire mine turned into a chaotic mess. Even the overseers'' whips could no longer control the disorderly crowd. In fact, even the overseers themselves were thinking of sneaking away.


    "I want to live."


    "We''re almost out, once we get out of here..."


    And in this chaotic situation, amid the clamor, countless people were silently swallowed in the darkness.


    However, just as the first batch of people desperately climbed upwards, trying to escape, the huge shadow struck from the darkness.


    "Ah¡ª¡ª"


    The leaders of the group were instantly seized by the shadow, disappearing without a trace.


    Under the brief illumination of torches, people only saw a massive green Monster flash by.


    Immediately after, the place where several people had been standing was empty, the torchlight extinguished, swallowed by darkness.


    The people behind, unaware of the situation, continued to push forward.


    The people in front, having seen the fate of those ahead, dared not advance, but were shoved from behind and had to venture forward.


    The swallowing sounds were drowned out by the crowd''s noise.


    Hart watched the situation in the cave, sweat dripping from his forehead and chin, sinking into near despair.


    How to move, how to escape?


    That Monster could swallow a person in an instant.


    It only needed to wait at the cave''s entrance, and people would be delivered to it one by one, fed into its endlessly hungry, bottomless belly.


    "Throw your spears forward!"


    "Kill that Monster!"


    In their state of despair, the miners had no other choice but to follow the command, blindly throwing their spears into the darkness.


    All that could be heard was the sharp sound of spearheads striking rock.


    People screamed and cried, the deep darkness in their eyes was already a symbol of death.


    Suddenly, a hoarse laughter came from the darkness.


    "Humans, your little tricks are really amusing."


    "I''ve already eaten three giant bats today, two Goblins, eight Humans, but I think my belly can still hold¡ªyou all."


    Then, the Monster slowly slithered out from the darkness, the weak light of the torch barely revealing its true form.


    Only its ferocious head was exposed, its vertical pupils glowing in the dim cave, the massive, curving horns on either side of its head particularly conspicuous.


    Its gaping maw alone could probably swallow several people at once.


    Its elongated body, covered in striped scales, resembled a cross between a crocodile and a centipede, with numerous legs, stretching into the darkness.


    In the flickering firelight, the Monster''s grotesque face showed a chilling smile.


    "I don''t want to miss this opportunity, this delivered food will fill my belly."


    "No, don''t eat me!"


    "It''s over! It''s over!"


    "We''re all going to die!"


    "Help!"


    "It''s coming!"


    People stumbled backward in panic, huddled together, trying to escape this Hell.


    Trampling, shoving, screaming.


    But the Monster merely followed the crowd unhurriedly, slithering on the ground, like a shepherd driving a flock, occasionally swallowing one or two people.


    "I don''t mind playing a game with you."


    "Run, run as much as you want..."


    "I''m still very interested."


    To the people, the Monster''s hoarse voice sounded like the call of death, dragging them into the depths of fear.


    "Bang!"


    Kelu''s arrow struck the Monster.


    Weak spears, tiny arrows, inferior long swords, the Humans'' counterattacks hit its striped scales, all seemed so powerless.


    Even if they were lucky and broke its Armor, the little wound was insignificant compared to its massive body.


    Barbarian Scar finally couldn''t take this cat-and-mouse game, stopping in his tracks, turning to face the Monster directly.


    But his proud, strong body seemed as small as a rat in the face of the Monster.


    Scar took a deep breath, lifting his Warhammer and cursing loudly, "All these years, only I''ve ever played others, never has anyone taken me for a damn toy!"


    "Ahhhhh¡ª¡ª"


    Scar roared, panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot¡ªthis was the sign of a Barbarian going into a Frenzy.


    The irrational Barbarian lifted his Warhammer, charging at the Monster''s massive body like a Knight charging at a windmill. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But faced with the frenzied Barbarian, the Monster didn''t move, watching him with interest, as if it were looking at an amusing plaything.


    "Frenzied Strike!"


    With a cry, Scar''s muscles tensed, hurling the Warhammer fiercely into the Monster''s chest.


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    "Bang!"


    Hammer blow after hammer blow landed on the Monster.


    It actually shattered a few scales on its chest, causing blue blood to seep out.


    "Interesting Human, I''ll give you a good death."


    The Monster cackled, completely unconcerned about the damage from the Barbarian, while its body subtly writhed on the ground.


    "Ah! Ahhh¡ª¡ª"


    Furious after hearing this mocked Scar even more, he hammered away desperately, over and over.


    But soon he noticed, the Monster''s massive body had unknowingly coiled up, trapping him.


    Or rather, it was more accurate to say the Monster''s massive body had enclosed him, like a green-blue prison.


    Scar felt the space around him growing narrower, his muscles constantly being squeezed, his breathing grew more rapid.


    "I never thought... I''d suffocate to death."


    This was his last thought as it flashed through his mind.

 Chapter 23 Thunder and Fire

    The monster wriggled slowly.The barbarian wrapped in its coils had blood-filled limbs, bulging veins, and an extremely grimace of pain, but had already lost his vitality.


    "So boring,"


    a hoarse voice sounded again.


    It coiled its body and opened its giant mouth, ready to swallow this "delicacy" in one bite.


    Seeing a living person swallowed, the crowd gasped in shock once again. However, at this moment, they had no way to retreat, and their minds were nearly numb.


    "Scar, rest in peace,"


    "But this painful death suits what you have done."


    Hart watched his follower of more than ten years die in humiliation, but he was helpless. He could only silently grit his teeth and pray that he could escape from here.


    Water droplets formed on his head. He couldn''t help but wipe them with his hands. Strangely, it seemed this was not cold sweat, nor tears, but sweat from heat.


    "But... why is it so hot in the cave?"


    He had a slight doubt in his heart. Previously, because he had been busy fleeing for his life, he hadn''t realized this.


    But now, coming back to his senses, he felt the cave was like a large steamer, with waves of hot air coming from above.


    Hart instinctively looked up¡ª


    Then he couldn''t help but open his mouth wide. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the rocky top of the cave, a giant creature of more than eight meters suddenly appeared.


    It was a dragon!


    What shocked him even more was that the red dragon''s mouth was brewing terrifying white-hot flames, like a miniature sun, lighting up the entire mine like daylight.


    Both humans and the monster looked up astonished¡ª


    Then they were dumbfounded.


    "Got you,"


    a strange voice sounded above the mine.


    Cassius unleashed the fiery breath he had been preparing for a long time. Instantly, most of his energy was drained.


    "Extremely Effective Flame Breath!"


    A pillar of scorching flame descended from the sky, with the inner flame blindingly white and the outer flame bright orange.


    "Boom!"


    With a loud explosion, the coiled monster let out a cry of pain.


    The blazing flames distorted the air. The creature wriggled in the flames, trying to escape.


    The scales it prided itself on were immediately incinerated by the scorching flames, turning into charred blackness.


    "Despicable dragon!"


    "You are a shameful sneak attacker!"


    It struggled in the flames, shouting hoarsely.


    The terrifying breath lasted several breaths, until the monster slithered away into the darkness before it gradually stopped.


    "To withstand it head-on, truly terrifying," Cassius said as he gazed into the dark part of the mine.


    "Twin Dancing Light Technique!"


    Several rays of light shot from the red dragon''s claws, illuminating the dark corners of the mine.


    In an instant, the entire inside of the mine lit up, leaving the monster nowhere to hide.


    Its body was fully exposed for the first time.


    The enormous body was seventeen or eighteen meters long, a mix of centipede and crocodile.


    Its sides had twelve pairs of crowded double legs, making it menacing at first sight.


    But at this moment, the monster was in a dire state. Large patches of its scales had been burned away, and large chunks of flesh were charred black.


    The red dragon stared fixedly at the monster, a trace of excitement at encountering a strong enemy appearing on its face.


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information]


    [Bluefoot Dragon-snake - Mana]


    Category: Giant Monster, Neutral Evil


    AC: 18 (natural armor)


    Speed: 50 feet, climbing 40 feet


    Strength ¡ª 23


    Agility ¡ª 16


    Constitution ¡ª 18


    Intelligence ¡ª 7


    Perception ¡ª 14


    Charisma ¡ª 12


    Proficient Skills: Perception +6, Stealth +7, Hunting +4


    Senses: Dark Vision 90 feet, Passive Perception 16


    Damage Immunities: Lightning


    Languages: Common, Draconic


    Actions: Lightning Breath, Multi-Attack, Strangle, Biting, Swallow


    Traits: Cave Predator, Enemy of Dragons


    Challenge Level: 11 (7,200 XP)


    Assessment: "The Bluefoot Dragon-snake slithers along the ground and walls hunting prey. Its lightning breath can incinerate most creatures. Even stronger beings can be strangled tightly and swallowed whole by the Bluefoot Dragon-snake."


    "Terrifying opponent,"


    was Cassius''s assessment.


    The monster, or rather the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, seeing its position fully exposed, simply stopped hiding.


    "A young dragon sorcerer?"


    "How... strange,"


    The snake-like eyes fixated on the red dragon, showing not only anger from being ambushed but also a deep-seated hatred from its bloodline.


    In the long-forgotten ancient times, giants and dragonkin were engaged in nearly unending wars.


    It is said that the storm giants created the first Bluefoot Dragon-snake to use as a weapon against the dragonkin.


    Therefore, Bluefoot Dragon-snakes still harbor a natural hatred towards dragonkin, and their lineage retains methods to deal with giant dragons.


    The red dragon, seeing the enemy''s severe injuries, decided to press the attack.


    "Searing Ray!"


    Rays of fire shot from the red dragon''s mouth.


    Though injured, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake used its twelve legs to climb quickly. Its enormous body appeared exceptionally agile on the rocky wall.


    It managed to dodge two consecutive searing rays with its speed, shifting left and right.


    But it was hit by the third ray. The scorching flame ray seared its skin, causing it to scream in pain.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake was furious, raising its head with its mouth glowing with lightning.


    "Lightning Breath!"


    In an instant, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake spewed streams of lightning.


    Each lightning bolt was as thick as a bowl, capable of incinerating most creatures in an instant, far more powerful than the red dragon''s first-tier Witchcraft Arrow.


    Cassius, facing the imminent lightning breath, knew he couldn''t fully evade it. He leaped to the side to dodge while casting a spell instantly with his metamagic expertise.


    "Instant Shield Spell!"


    An invisible magical shield appeared in front of the red dragon, blocking part of the lightning.


    But soon, the invisible shield couldn''t suppress the fierce lightning and shattered. Several bolts struck the red dragon directly.


    Cassius felt a strong electric current conducted through his scales, penetrating his skin and flowing through his body.


    His body was in immense pain, muscles twitching, and several scales were charred black.


    Fortunately, the red dragon''s innate constitution was strong, enduring the attack. If it had been an ordinary human, they might have suffered internal injuries or even been burned to charcoal.


    "What a terrifying breath. If I took it all, I might have been gravely injured."


    Feeling the mild twitching and pain, Cassius couldn''t help licking his lips.


    His tone carried a hint of excitement.


    "It''s been a long time since I felt the taste of being hurt."


    Since arriving in this world, apart from his initial panicked fleeing, he had rarely encountered an evenly matched enemy. After all, a red dragon''s starting point surpassed the endpoint of most creatures.


    Now, for the first time, he had an opponent who could excite him. This was a rare occurrence.

 Chapter 24 The Fleeing Enemy

    "Cat''s Grace!""Oil on the soles of my feet!"


    As the Bluefoot Dragon-snake prepared its next Lightning Breath, Cassius cast several Acceleration Spells on himself.


    His body became extraordinarily agile, leaping lightly several times in the cave to approach the Bluefoot Dragon-snake.


    Though the Red Dragon''s strength was far less than that of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, and their sizes were vastly different, physical combat was not determined by these factors alone.


    He had confidence in defeating his opponent in close combat.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake spat out several bolts of lightning, but the Red Dragon was prepared, having anticipated its direction in advance, dodging to the left and right with ease.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake realized Cassius''s intention to engage in melee combat and laughed hoarsely, "Stupid dragon, daring to oppose me in this cave."


    "Without the advantage of flight¡ª"


    "What are you really?"


    Its twelve pairs of feet wriggled, moving on the rock wall as if on flat ground, its steps swift, even faster than the spell-enhanced Red Dragon.


    It charged at the Red Dragon like a bolt of blue lightning.


    "Bull''s Strength!"


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s charge played right into the Red Dragon''s plan. He instantly cast the spell to enhance his strength, his muscular body bulging with veins, exuding waves of scorching steam as his strength surged.


    "Act Before the Enemy!"


    The Red Dragon''s golden slit pupils emanated a purple magical aura as he stared intently at the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, attempting to discern its next move.


    "Pathetic dragon,"


    "You are as weak as the human mages, no match for me!"


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake saw the Red Dragon filled with spells but remained unflustered, opening its maw wide for a biting attack.


    The Red Dragon foresaw this, dodging to the side and preparing to retaliate with claws and fangs.


    But he didn''t expect the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s bite to be a feint.


    As the Red Dragon evaded, it twisted abruptly, launching itself like a lasso to encircle the Red Dragon with its massive body.


    It was strangle!


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake slowly tightened its muscles, compressing any space for the Red Dragon''s escape, initiating a suffocating constriction.


    Its body was more than twice as long as the Red Dragon''s, and far stronger. Once it successfully constricted, the outcome was decided.


    Seeing the situation, the Red Dragon relentlessly attacked the exposed, scorched skin of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake with its sharp claws, causing flesh and blood to splatter.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake let out a pained hiss but did not stop tightening its coils.


    It knew releasing would mean defeat, while a successful constriction would sap the Red Dragon''s strength.


    But Cassius''s attacks were not those of a barbarian; his sharp claws dug several feet deep into the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s flesh, tearing its skin apart.


    "You are merely my prey!"


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake roared furiously.


    Yet even though it was covered in wounds, its body moved swiftly, tightly encircling the Red Dragon.


    "You are struggling in vain!"


    It succeeded.


    The Red Dragon was tightly wrapped by the long, massive body, trapped like a beast in a snare, unable to escape.


    Even its claws were immobilized, weakened in its struggle, barely able to counterattack with its teeth.


    On the verge of killing a Red Dragon.


    This made the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s heart race wildly, making it forget the intense pain, tightening its muscles purely on instinct.


    This was the horrifying power of ancient biological weapons, imprinted with hatred toward dragons.


    However, in the next moment, the situation reversed dramatically.


    "Misty Step!"


    The Red Dragon, tightly constricted, recited a spell.


    The combat caster''s expertise allowed him to cast spells even while restrained.


    Instantly, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake felt its coils empty; where its prey had been was now just silvery-white smoke.


    And the Red Dragon had teleported to a cliff ten meters away.


    "Oh no!"


    It cried out in surprise.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake, having exerted too much force, was now twisted into a tangled position, extremely awkward.


    Cassius had actually been able to escape the moment the Bluefoot Dragon-snake began to constrict.


    But he chose to play along, letting it believe he was trapped to further exhaust the opponent.


    The Red Dragon let out a triumphant roar, leaping down directly at the Bluefoot Dragon-snake.


    "Now, tell me¡ª"


    "Who is the prey?"


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake, still tangled, had no chance to evade, confronting Cassius in a panic.


    It barely lifted its head to bite.


    But at this moment, Cassius''s agility far surpassed the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s.


    The Red Dragon simply leapt lightly to the left, easily dodging the attack.


    Taking advantage of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s missed strike, he slipped behind it, biting down hard on its exposed, heavily injured body.


    Blood splattered!


    Warm blood sprayed into his mouth.


    Teeth sank deep into the flesh, tearing muscle fibers, piercing deeper, this feeling invigorated the Red Dragon.


    "Aargh¡ª"


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake let out a deafening screech, thrashing wildly to escape.


    But the Red Dragon not only clamped its jaws firmly but also, with muscles bulging, its claws plunged into its body, clawing recklessly.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake rolled frantically, yet the Red Dragon wouldn''t let go.


    "Boom..."


    Two giant beasts fought with primal rage, using the most savage techniques in their violent physical struggle.


    The cave''s rocks rumbled.


    It felt as if the entire mine was shaking, trembling, with debris continuously falling from the ceiling.


    "Aargh..."


    At last, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s strength seemed to fade, letting out a weak whimper.


    Yet the Red Dragon did not relent; his strength was nearly spent. If this formidable foe had any tricks left, he was defenseless.


    Was it finally over?


    Cassius felt the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s body weaken, its struggles dimming.


    A cloud of blue-green blood mist erupted suddenly.


    "Bang!"


    It escaped!


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake had torn off a significant portion of its own body to escape.


    The remaining seven pairs of feet scrambled quickly across the rock wall.


    Though severely injured, carrying less body weight made the Bluefoot Dragon-snake even faster.


    "It still escaped."


    The Red Dragon released its grip, laboriously pulling its claws from the remaining half of the body.


    He watched the Bluefoot Dragon-snake disappear into the darkness.


    There was no choice, after the intense struggle, his energy was largely spent, especially since this cave was the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s territory.


    In the cave, the Red Dragon''s flying advantage was nullified, making it difficult to catch up with the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s seven pairs of feet.


    Dancing lights had faded, but the weak torchlight remained.


    Cassius silently gazed, watching the Bluefoot Dragon-snake escape into the deep cave.


    The reflective membrane behind the Red Dragon''s eyes helped him see in the dim cave, making his eyes glow in the darkness.


    However, his vision was monochrome at this moment.


    "That direction is the Ashen Nest."


    The Red Dragon''s sense of direction was also very keen. Even in the dark cave, they could gather information from the environment to judge the approximate direction.


    "Abyssal Pit?"


    Cassius suddenly thought of something. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 25 Humans and Giant Dragons

    Cassius relied on his night vision to steadily walk out of the mining cave, only to find that the people had not run far.Although the recent battle had been perilous, it actually had not taken much time.


    Ordinary humans exiting the deep mining cave would have spent a considerable amount of time, especially in such chaotic circumstances.


    Jin Ya greeted him at the cave entrance, bowing deeply in an exaggerated manner, "My great master, your strength is unrivaled, even the mightiest monsters cannot withstand your flames."


    The humans in the distance stared fearfully at the blood-soaked red dragon emerging from the cave.


    The monster within the cave had been horrifying enough, but what about the dragon that had seemingly defeated it?


    They used their last reserves of strength to flee desperately.


    Many had been devoured by the monster in the cave, while others had been crushed by falling rocks.


    Originally, more than a hundred had entered the cave, but now only around fifty managed to escape; the rest were forever entombed in the deep, dark cave.


    Jin Ya moved forward obsequiously and inquired, "My great master, how do you wish to deal with... these despicable humans?"


    A cunning glint flashed in the kobold''s eyes.


    Once enslaved by humans, it now saw a chance for revenge.


    "I have my plans."


    The red dragon dismissively flapped its wings, lifting off to pursue the fleeing humans.


    The crowd was in an uproar, terrified as they ran even faster.


    But how could running match the speed of flight?


    Soon, the shadow cast by the red dragon enveloped the panicked crowd.


    Yet they did not experience the expected flames, claws, or gaping maw.


    "Humans, you have trespassed upon the territory of Ashen Nest."


    "However, the merciful red dragon is willing to forgive your transgression."


    "This time, I will only punish the ringleader as he deserves."


    The red dragon swooped down, skimming the ground, and grabbed the most conspicuous armored figure¡ªHart.


    Then he flew back to the cave entrance.


    Hart, held in the dragon''s claws, was thrown heavily to the ground. He knelt there, too terrified to stand, his tongue stumbling, "Great, great dragon, I was wrong."


    "No, no, don''t eat me, I, I don''t taste good."


    The once arrogant slave trader now trembled in fear.


    Cassius looked down at him from above, noting that Hart was actually a Level Three warrior. He feigned anger, "Who gave you the courage¡ªto invade Ashen Nest''s territory and steal the dragon''s gold?"


    In the red dragon''s shameless propaganda, the gold mine had become his own property.


    The kobold, watching his former slave master in such a pathetic state, couldn''t help but join in the intimidation, "You are but a despicable human, daring to infringe upon the great dragon''s assets and enslave his kin. Your fate is sealed¡ªyou will be torn to pieces!"


    Upon hearing "torn to pieces," Hart collapsed in fear.


    His face was covered in snot and tears as he stammered, "It wasn''t me, it, it was someone else who ordered me, someone else made me do it."


    Hearing there was someone behind this, Cassius grew interested.


    "Who is it?"


    "Tell me the thief''s name."


    Detecting a glimmer of hope for survival, Hart clung to it desperately, replying without hesitation.


    "It was Baron Todd!"


    "Todd Rackman!"


    Upon hearing this, Cassius''s curiosity deepened, and he asked further:


    "From the Rackman Family?"


    "The so-called Northwind Eagle, ruler of Northwind Castle?"


    Hart nodded repeatedly, his tone sincere in his life-or-death desperation.


    "Yes, yes, great dragon, it is the Rackman."


    Hart knelt on the ground, cautiously raising his head, his voice filled with tears.


    "Great dragon, you must seek justice for me!"


    "It''s that Baron Todd, he used evil spells to control me, threatening my family''s lives so I had no choice but to follow his orders and invade your property."


    At this point, Hart disregarded any notion of loyalty; survival was paramount, and he would pile all the blame on the Baron.


    "How interesting." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From what he knew, the Rackman Family''s old Duke was a vampire, his offspring often becoming derivatives or new vampires. This Baron Todd was likely a vampire as well¡ªa perfect opportunity to gather intelligence on Northwind Castle.


    The red dragon grinned, "Where is this Baron Todd now?"


    Hart hesitated briefly, then answered hurriedly, "Great dragon, I can take you to him, he must compensate for your losses."


    Typical behavior of someone flipping sides.


    "Fine, but we will have to wait a while first."


    The red dragon seized the human and once again took to the skies, heading straight for Ashen Nest.


    ...


    Ashen Nest.


    Cassius landed amidst the welcoming wyverns.


    This time, however, his wounds drew various speculations from his retainers about who had managed to injure him so severely. Yet, no one dared voice their thoughts, fearing they might anger the wounded red dragon.


    Great Goblin Dolores, along with a squad of Worg Cavalry, greeted him at the entrance, their faces fawning.


    The red dragon casually tossed Hart in front of the Great Goblin, "Watch this human; don''t let him escape or die."


    "Yes, great master, I will complete the task and never disappoint you again."


    The Great Goblin eagerly complied, cracking his whip to give instructions.


    A few sturdy Bugbears then stepped forward with a piece of animal hide, placing the human on it and carrying him to the military camp''s dungeons.


    After giving his orders, the red dragon flew directly back to Giant''s Mouth Cave.


    He headed straight to the deepest part of the cave, moving the stone blocking the entrance.


    "No wonder I felt uneasy earlier."


    "I should clear out the hidden dangers in the nest."


    Cassius muttered to himself.


    He leaped into the cave.


    Inside, magma splashed everywhere, emitting waves of white smoke and heat.


    But the boiling magma was merely hot water to the red dragon, and the sulfuric heat made him feel at home.


    He descended further for a long time, unsure how deep he had gone, before finally spotting another entrance¡ªonly blocked by flowing magma.


    "Splash!"


    The red dragon leapt out of the magma.


    Magma splattered, searing the hard rock.


    It was an endlessly long tunnel.


    The entrance was just over four meters high. The red dragon had to tuck in his wings to barely fit, continuing his exploration.

 Chapter 26 Pursuit and Spells

    The scene before him was entirely different from earlier. Compared to the previous scorching heat, it was much darker and colder here.Inside, it was as if a small world had opened up, the terrain rugged and steep, with various unique plants growing on the rocks.


    Cassius could recognize a few of them: spore mushrooms, algae green dust, and mad frogmen horns, all plants that only grew in the deepest parts of the underground.


    Glow rocks, noctilucent crystals, and phosphorescent mosses, lichens, and fungi dimly illuminated some areas.


    There were also unknown piles of crystal stones growing on the cliff walls, shimmering with a ghostly blue glow, casting a dark blue hue on the surrounding rocks.


    "Is this... the Gloomy Region?"


    "No, that''s not right."


    The depth here clearly exceeded the range of the cave, reaching a much deeper and more profound area.


    It was the dark, unknown world beneath the feet of surface dwellers, commonly known as the Gloomy Region.


    However, this section of the Bottomless Cavern seemed sealed off, disconnected from the outside world, more like an artificially created underground realm.


    The Red Dragon extended its forked tongue, utilizing its incredibly sharp sense of smell, tasting various pheromones in the air. Finally, it found a familiar scent¡ªit was the blood of that Bluefoot Dragon-snake.


    It looked at a corner of the cliff wall. Under the illumination of the noctilucent crystal, the color there was distinctly different from its surroundings. There was a distribution of blue-green bloodstains, and by following these blood trail, it would easily find the escaped prey.


    "Found you..."


    "Bluefoot Dragon-snake."


    He wouldn''t let this enemy escape again, so he had to ensure a fatal strike.


    Cassius had just gone through an exhilarating battle and had depleted his spells. Thus, he used the power of the surge of spells to recover his spell slots.


    Colossal sorcery energy surged into his body.


    "Invisibility Spell"


    He silently chanted the spell incantation.


    Instantly, the seven-meter-long body merged into the darkness once more.


    ...


    In a certain corner, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake weakly licked its wounds.


    Its once seventeen-meter-long body was now less than ten meters, its rear end not a tail but a massive, horrifyingly severed section.


    Torn muscles, shattered organs, and oozing blue-green blood.


    This was enough to show the severity of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s injuries.


    Unless something unexpected happened, its lower body might never fully recover. It would have to let the wounds slowly heal, becoming a "crippled" Bluefoot Dragon-snake, though it still had seven pairs of legs.


    "Damn dragon," it muttered.


    Thinking of the culprit behind all this¡ªthe peculiar Dragon Sorcerer¡ªthe Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s small, ghostly-blue eyes brimmed with unstoppable hatred, combining blood feud with the grudge of its wounds.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake never nested in areas where giant dragons resided.


    If a dragon tried to nest within dozens of miles of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s lair, it would have to go and kill or drive it away.


    Only when the dragon was too powerful to oppose would the Bluefoot Dragon-snake give up and wander afar to find a new nesting ground.


    Its last departure from the lair was for this reason.


    A bewildering gust of wind blew past the dark cliff wall, making the Bluefoot Dragon-snake shiver a bit.


    "What''s this feeling..."


    For some reason, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake suddenly felt a throbbing fear from deep within its bloodline. It became alert and involuntarily raised its body, using seven pairs of legs to cling to the cliff wall.


    But it was already too late.


    "Got you."


    The Red Dragon descended from the sky, appearing out of nowhere, directly clutching the Bluefoot Dragon-snake with its powerful claws.


    And this time, it grabbed not the torso but the neck.


    Cassius had learned from earlier experience, not believing that the Bluefoot Dragon-snake could escape by decapitating itself again.


    "Awooo¡ª"


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake looked at the Red Dragon in disbelief.


    Its massive body struggled frantically, seven pairs of legs furiously scratching the cliff wall, its body slamming fiercely, attempting to break free from the Red Dragon''s chokehold.


    "Crash!"


    The cliff wall shattered under the impact of its body, debris falling to the ground.


    But the Red Dragon did not loosen its grip at all, even opening its jaws to bite into its neck. Its mouth full of sharp teeth deeply pierced the flesh.


    Its long, strong tail repeatedly whipped the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s wound, causing blood to splatter.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake emitted weakened whimpers.


    The struggling motions gradually diminished.


    The Red Dragon still didn''t release its grip, even exerting more strength, almost to the point of exhaustion.


    Until there was a crisp "crack," the Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s hard bones broke.


    Cassius finally let go, relieved, and the huge body of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake fell from the cliff, crashing to the ground.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The Red Dragon stood on the cliff''s edge, spreading its wings, letting out a long, triumphant roar.


    [You killed the Bluefoot Dragon-snake (Mana), gaining 7200xp]


    [Your occupational level rises to Level 5]


    The dense list of spells appeared again, bringing immense joy to Cassius''s heart.


    Receiving rewards after an exhilarating battle was the most satisfying thing ever.


    Upon reaching Level Five, the sorcerer occupation granted two additional Third Tier spells.


    Regarding spell selection, Cassius didn''t choose the famous Fireball Technique but rather leaned towards support spells.


    His dragonkin specialty, Maximized Breath Weapon, already provided sufficient damage, making the Fireball Technique less of a priority.


    After pondering for a moment, Cassius made his choice.


    [You gain the additional Third Tier spells Blink Spell and Protective Energy Damage]


    [Blink Spell]


    Third Tier alteration spell


    During the spell''s duration, there is a 50% chance that you will disappear from the plane you''re on and appear in the Ethereal Plane. When in the Ethereal Plane, you can see and hear the original plane, but all things appear in black and white. Other creatures can only affect or be affected by you if they are also in the Ethereal Plane.


    [Protective Energy Damage]


    Third Tier protective spell


    For up to one hour, a willing creature you touch gains resistance to one type of damage you specify: strong acid, freezing, flame, lightning, or thunder.


    During the battle with the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, if he had these two spells, Cassius wouldn''t have feared its lightning breath so much, thus avoiding hand-to-hand combat.


    These two spells appeared in Cassius''s mind out of thin air.


    They were far more intricate and varied than his previous spells¡ªso much so that the moment they surfaced in his mind, he almost couldn''t comprehend them.


    After standing and thinking for a long time, he barely grasped the essence of these two spells and could cast them, albeit clumsily.


    The complexity and difficulty of understanding each layer of the Magic Web were exponentially greater than the previous ones.


    Fortunately, Cassius was an "artistic" sorcerer. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He only needed to grasp their basic workings and twist reality with his will, rather than meticulously calculating and constructing models.


    Anyway, Cassius finally made another step forward, touching the third layer of the Magic Web.

 Chapter 27 Giants Tomb

    After the ritual completion, Cassius leaped off the dark-shrouded cliff, hoping to harvest some spoils from the Bluefoot Dragon-snake.But when he reached the bottom of the cliff, he surveyed his surroundings.


    He suddenly realized that things were far from simple.


    Because on the ground, there were not only the corpse of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake but also more massive, ancient bones scattered around.


    These bones were each over ten meters long. From the ferocious snake-like skulls and long spines, it became clear¡ªthese bones all belonged to Bluefoot Dragon-snakes.


    And there were hundreds of them!


    The massive skeletons almost covered the entire floor of the cliff, forming a somewhat spectacular bone pathway. The corpse of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake among them was not at all conspicuous.


    Hundreds of Bluefoot Dragon-snakes.


    What kind of concept was that?


    Just one Bluefoot Dragon-snake was already a tough battle for a Red Dragon, who had to use every trick to barely win.


    With ten Bluefoot Dragon-snakes attacking together, their frenzied thunder could char the Red Dragon into cinders.


    And hundreds of Bluefoot Dragon-snakes?


    It was no exaggeration to say they could easily destroy a human kingdom.


    "These bones, the oldest could be thousands of years old, almost turning into ash."


    "What is this place?"


    Cassius felt a chill run down his spine, involuntarily exhaling a breath of sulfur-laden hot air.


    At this moment, he no longer cared about the dead Bluefoot Dragon-snake. He only wanted to explore the secrets of this terrifying path.


    "Creak..."


    His claws crunched on the ancient skeletons as he walked.


    The Red Dragon treaded cautiously on the bony path, step by step towards the depths shrouded in darkness.


    High cliffs towered on both sides of the road, almost vertical.


    After walking for a long time.


    The end of the path revealed a massive stone gate.


    Thick stone pillars adorned both sides, engraved with texts.


    The stone gate had no excessive decorations, only simple, archaic patterns. Though not finely carved, it exuded a sense of strength and primal wildness from a barbaric age. One could barely make out an eye within a storm in the designs.


    "Storm Giants?"


    Cassius couldn''t help but mutter to himself.


    The shadow of the Ancient Giant Empire once spanned far and wide, with the Storm Giants holding the highest middle-rank among giants.


    Their numbers were few, living in remote corners of the world, reminiscing about past glories, known for being reclusive and wise prophets.


    He carefully examined the texts on the stone pillars.


    "Ancient Giant Language..."


    The Red Dragon did not recognize these ancient texts. They might have long vanished with the fall of the Giant Empire.


    Yet a translucent blue panel silently unfolded.


    [The wisdom of the magician allows you to trace back to more ancient things.]


    [The texts before you awaken memories deep within your bloodline.]


    [Memories of the long, drawn-out war between dragonkin and giants, spanning generations, deeply etched into your bloodline, flowing within every vein.]


    Cassius felt a wave of dizziness, falling into a haze.


    He saw a terrifying army formed of giant dragons, their multitude of wings enough to block out the sky.


    The giants stood ready, their massive forms dominating the horizon.


    The two sides clashed, shaking heaven and earth.


    Engaging in the most primal of battles.


    Storm Giants hurled lightning of boundless power. Cloud Giants conjured rolling clouds, and Stone Giants lifted hill-like boulders...


    [You have gained precious ancient knowledge.]


    [Obtained proficient skills: "Ancient Draconic +4" and "Ancient Giant Language +2"]


    When the Red Dragon awakened, his mind was brimming with newfound knowledge.


    Cassius stared at the texts on the stone pillars, reading them aloud:


    "I seek the great remains, recovering the heritage lost when the empire fell.


    In the end, I found that the deities had abandoned us.


    I witnessed the rise and fall of royalty, the victories and defeats of wars, and grew weary of the unending battles between good and evil.


    So I descended from the sky, sinking into the depths of the abyss, with my former weapons guarding the gate for me.


    Mortal beings from afar, please remain humble.


    Do not disturb my rest.


    Otherwise, the enraged Storm Giant will bring forth more thorough destruction.


    This is my final prophecy as a prophet.


    ¡ªStorm Giant Elder Randta, resting here."


    After reading the text, or rather the epitaph.


    Cassius''s breathing grew slightly rapid. He exhaled deeply, puffing out another gust of sulfur-scented smoke.


    "This is the tomb of a Storm Giant, and those Bluefoot Dragon-snakes were merely his guards."


    "What an extravagance."


    "This means that within this tomb, there might be incredibly precious treasures."


    The greed from Tiamat deep within the Red Dragon''s bloodline urged him repeatedly to open this stone gate.


    "However, the epitaph warned that he would bring forth more thorough destruction."


    "It''s better to be cautious..."


    Cassius was not a purebred Red Dragon with muscles for brains. His rational side prevailed.


    But this did not mean he gave up exploring this tomb. Rather, he decided to ''bide'' his time until he was fully recovered, and all preparations were complete, before considering further exploration.


    Thus, the Red Dragon decided to temporarily settle here.


    Yes, he settled down.


    Cassius first returned to the spot where he had fought the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, preparing to devour its mutilated body.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s strength was immense, making its flesh particularly chewy, with a tinge of electric numbness, a result of the special energy it contained as a magical monster.


    "Like the spicy hotpot I had in my previous life."


    Cassius mumbled while gobbling it down.


    This was the highest praise the Red Dragon had given any food in this world so far.


    Dragons could easily digest meat equaling half their body weight daily, converting the food into elemental energy and storing it for future use.


    The stored energy was often used for their breath weapon and during the rapid growth phases throughout their lives.


    The Red Dragon spent his days eating Bluefoot Dragon-snake meat, studying the texts on the stone pillars, and napping atop the bone piles.


    Several days passed.


    ...


    The Cave Lurker curled up in a crevice at the top of the cave.


    This monster, resembling a giant worm, had a blue-black body that blended with the background. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It waited quietly in the cave.


    Whenever prey approached, the Cave Lurker would rise, spreading four hooked tendrils, revealing its hungry beak in the center.


    But as it lay in wait, motionless like a dead thing, a giant maw suddenly appeared, snatching it from the cave.


    Its soft, elastic body struggled briefly before being crammed into a powerful, sharp maw.


    "Tastes like chicken, nice and crunchy."


    Cassius chewed on the tough meat, commenting as he did.


    This monster, which was akin to the Grim Reaper to most explorers, was merely a tasty snack for the Red Dragon.


    Now the Red Dragon''s scales shone brightly, his wounds had all healed, his vitality was restored, and all his spells were fully replenished.


    "It''s time to see what that ''destruction'' is all about."


    Cassius continued chewing on the Cave Lurker, thinking to himself.


    In the memories of his past life, someone had once found legendary-level equipment from a cave in the North, and this might just be the rumored place.


    After killing the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, Cassius felt as if a mechanism had been triggered, some force brewing, likely to destroy this place completely. When that happened, he would miss this precious opportunity.


    For his still-growing self, surrounded by powerful enemies, such a significant boost was invaluable.


    "Take a gamble, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle."


    Feeling his body brimming with energy and magical power, Cassius clenched his teeth and thought.

 Chapter 28 Entering the Ether

    After eating and drinking to his heart''s content, fully recovered, Cassius once again came to the heavy stone door.He didn''t push the door open but instead performed actions:


    [Bear''s Resilience]


    [Cat''s Grace]


    [Owl''s Wisdom]


    Bear''s Resilience made his constitution more durable, Cat''s Grace made his actions more agile, and Owl''s Wisdom heightened his perception, providing the Red Dragon with an overall boost.


    After casting what he jokingly called the "zoo series" of spells on himself, Cassius still felt uneasy, as this was the legacy of a Legendary Druid, and who knew what kind of traps might be waiting.


    [Gilded Carapace]


    The accumulated Gold Element within his body converged on the surface of the Red Dragon, turning its scales into a metallic golden hue. If one didn''t look closely, it could easily be mistaken for a Gold Dragon.


    [Protection from Lightning Damage]


    With a soft whistle from Cassius, an invisible field gradually formed around his body, protecting him from lightning attacks.


    "After all, it''s a Magic System profession."


    "How could it be done without some trickery?"


    After this entire display of magical radiance, Cassius felt much more at ease, finally having some confidence.


    The Red Dragon gazed at the stone door in front of him, took a deep breath, and then stepped forward resolutely.


    [Knocking Technique] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His claws, glowing with Magical Aura, touched the stone door.


    "Boom..."


    With a loud knocking sound, the heavy stone door made a dull roar and then slowly lifted.


    The scene before him widened.


    And the sight left the Red Dragon stunned.


    It was a vast, open space, almost large enough to accommodate a mountain peak.


    But ahead was only a narrow suspended stone bridge, while the rest of the ground had sunken dozens of meters.


    The cliff walls were smooth and straight, as if cut by sharp blades from top to bottom.


    Looking down from the stone bridge, illuminated by ever-burning azure flames, he could see the ground below piled with various debris, including broken colossal statues, ruins of grand buildings, blurred inscriptions, old fragmented weapons, and massive giant skeletons¡­


    Looking up, the high domed ceiling was covered in murals that were not exquisite but were filled with a sense of primal strength.


    He could see ancient wars between Giants and Dragons, the past splendor of the Giant Empire''s territories, the majestic figures of the Giant gods, and the tragic scenes of the empire''s fall¡­


    These weren''t just murals; they were a history book.


    "So this is the legacy of the Giant Empire he collected."


    As Cassius marveled, he walked cautiously on the stone bridge.


    His wings were slightly spread, steps light, and he constantly monitored his surroundings, ready to deal with any potential danger.


    The Red Dragon looked towards the end of the stone bridge.


    There sat a throne.


    It was also made of stone, towering over twenty meters high.


    There were no excessive decorations, only ancient and mysterious patterns carved into it.


    And there, seated on it, was the long-dead body of a Storm Giant. Its purple-gray skin was covered in thick dust, seeming to have rested there for thousands of years, silently watching the approaching visitors.


    Yet somehow, it had not decayed into bones.


    "The last Storm Giant Prophet..."


    "Is this Randta?"


    The Red Dragon was quite curious about this Storm Giant.


    He wondered how this being managed to create such a magnificent tomb all by himself, though the spectacle alone was enough to demonstrate the tremendous power he wielded in life.


    Cassius continued walking along the stone bridge, approaching the giant corpse within dozens of meters.


    Yet in an instant, an unexpected change occurred.


    The Giant''s single eye suddenly opened!


    That eye contained an endless storm, seemingly glaring at the unscrupulous visitor!


    Unknown crystals around flashed continuously, filled with violent and abundant elemental energy.


    And those turbulent elemental energies swiftly converged.


    "This is bad!"


    Cassius felt a terrifying magical wave suddenly spread out.


    "This power..."


    The Red Dragon raised its head slightly.


    A mass of churning black clouds, centered on the Giant''s corpse, spread nearly madly, proliferating like a monstrous beast about to devour everything in the cavern.


    It was filled with flashing lightning, thunder, and howling wind.


    "Storm of Vengeance!"


    Thunder roared!


    It was a primal cry from ancient times.


    "Boom!"


    The mere aftermath of the thunder caused the rocky ceiling to crack and break, with stones falling in succession.


    "Buzz ¡ª¡ª"


    And this thunderous roar made Cassius'' ears ring incessantly, as if struck by a giant hammer, rendering him temporarily deaf.


    The black cloud spread rapidly, about to engulf him.


    Seeing the dire situation, the Red Dragon, despite the headache and ringing ears, summoned the strength to cast a spell.


    "Instant Blink Spell!"


    As Cassius invoked the spell with his will, he prayed in his heart for its success. The "Destruction" brought by this Druid far exceeded his imagination.


    After all, the Blink Spell only had a fifty percent chance of breaching the barrier of the Prime Material World to enter the Ethereal Plane; if not, he would have to endure the raging storm directly.


    "It worked!"


    The Red Dragon was overjoyed, suddenly feeling his body break through the boundary between reality and the void.


    [You cast [Blink Spell]]


    [Gained special status "Entering the Ether"]


    The Ethereal Plane is the conduit connecting the Prime Material Plane and the Inner Planes, with the void of the Ethereal Plane touching every part of the Prime Material Plane like two parallel, contiguous surfaces where people can see the landscape of the adjacent plane.


    He was now at the edge of the plane.


    In an instant, everything before Cassius turned black and white, with chaotic lines appearing in his vision.


    His body was in a disabled state, unable to move easily, only quietly floating in this void.


    In the next moment, he saw the location where he had been, engulfed by the turbulent black clouds.


    The clouds first brought a torrential acid rain, corroding the stone bridge with countless holes.


    Then, hail poured down from the clouds, with the hailstones striking the stone surface with crisp sounds.


    Powerful lightning bolts descended from the sky, blasting meter-deep holes into the stone surface, creating terrifying lightning storms that instantly swept through where the Red Dragon had stood.


    For a moment, lightning filled the air, with thunder and lightning swirling all around.


    Intersecting thunderbolts formed a fearsome lightning prison, incinerating everything caught within it to ashes.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom! Boom!"


    Several bolts of lightning descended, directly shattering the stone bridge, causing massive stones to collapse down. If such lightning had struck the Red Dragon, it would have been difficult for him to survive.


    Endless winds and ice rains assaulted the area beneath the clouds, turning it into a complete ruin.


    And in Cassius'' eyes, the formerly grand tomb had turned into a black and white graveyard of all beings.


    After avoiding this terrifying storm by using the Blink Spell to enter the Ethereal Plane, Cassius felt lingering fear.


    If the Red Dragon had remained in place just now, even with Protection from Energy Damage, it wouldn''t have been able to withstand the violent lightning and endless ice rain.


    "This is..."


    Cassius felt a strong gravitational force trying to pull him back to the Prime Material Plane, to mend the breach in the plane''s barrier.


    Despite his desperate resistance, it was to no avail; Cassius was simply too weak to contend with the plane''s rules, and he had no choice but to submit.


    [Lost special status "Entering the Ether"]


    The Red Dragon reappeared in the original place, instantly stunned.


    "Are you kidding me¡ª¡ª"


    Immediately, the elements became restless once again.


    Endless winds and ice rain lashed at his body, and the flashing electric arcs on the ground quickly gathered, reaching towards his limbs.


    In the rolling black clouds above, terrifying thunder was once again accumulating, the sound like a deep, long-suppressed roar.


    The most terrifying wave of spells had passed, and these were just its lingering aftermath.

 Chapter 29 Eye of the Storm King

    Cassius stretched his wings and glided over the collapsing stone bridge.But he wasn''t fleeing. He flew towards the Storm Giant''s corpse.


    The hurricane buffeted him left and right. Flickering arcs of lightning chased him, with bolts striking behind him, creating charred craters in the ruins.


    The red dragon dodged desperately in the chaotic airflow, flapping his wings with all his might against the fierce wind and rain, wobbling towards the eye of the storm.


    The closer he got to the center, the more intense the elemental reactions became. Arcs of electricity filled every inch of the air.


    In a few breaths, the red dragon was already covered in wounds.


    Despite having several spells for protection, his body bore charred scars under the violent elemental reactions.


    The golden scales were corroded with pockmarks from the acid rain, arcs of electricity circulated around his body, and every wingbeat produced sizzling sounds.


    Finally, he was only ten meters from the corpse.


    "Boom!"


    Another bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl struck Cassius, so fast he didn''t even notice it.


    [Spell Nullification Barrier]


    An invisible barrier appeared, barely withstanding the bolt before shattering, saving his life once again, making Cassius feel a chill in his heart.


    He couldn''t waste any more time.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The red dragon let out a slightly immature roar, almost a hoarse scream.


    Then, with all his might, he flapped his wings, pushing his powerful body against the escalating storm, finally managing to get close to the Storm Giant''s corpse.


    "I have to get there!"


    Cassius roared.


    At this moment, the wild thunder had turned the area into purgatory, surrounding him layer by layer. A single step could turn him into charcoal instantly.


    He had no way back.


    Cassius ignored the incoming thunder, focusing solely on the Storm Giant''s eye.


    The eye looked like amber, surrounded by bright lightning and containing unimaginable destructive power.


    It wasn''t just the body of a giant. It was clearly a terrifying magical relic!


    This was the manifestation of the Storm Giant''s great power to control calamities while alive, also fulfilling his final prophecy ¡ª the bringer of ultimate destruction.


    It was this eye that had launched the dreadful spell.


    "Come down!"


    Cassius''s muscles bulged as he exerted all his strength.


    Just as the thunder was about to engulf him, he forcibly pulled the eye from the Storm Giant''s socket, clutching it tightly in his claw.


    "Sizzle¡ªBoom!" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In an instant, the Eye of the Storm Giant drew the surrounding lightning, forming a terrifying vortex of electrical energy in the Magic Web.


    The red dragon twitched, his flesh vaporized.


    Blinding light emanated from his claw, making his palm almost transparent, and even his bones were visible.


    But he held on tightly, knowing that if he let go, he would be turned to ash by the surrounding lightning.


    One second.


    Two seconds.


    Three seconds.


    A few breaths passed.


    As the red dragon panted heavily, the light in his claw gradually dimmed.


    "Rumble..."


    In an instant, the surrounding lightning retreated like a tide, and the rolling dark clouds in the sky slowly dispersed under the wind''s influence.


    The fierce storm in the cave lost its power, becoming calm.


    Everything returned to darkness and silence.


    The once majestic tomb had turned into a pile of rubble, indistinguishable from any collapsed cavern, with no trace of the ancient Giant Empire''s glory.


    "It''s over¡ª"


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfur-laden air.


    He carefully opened his claw.


    His thick paw was charred and many fleshy parts were burned, the scales melted into ugly lumps. But the red dragon didn''t care, his eyes were full of anticipation and excitement.


    The blue amber-like "eye" lay quietly in his palm like a beautiful gem that could be set in any noble lady''s dress.


    Only the faint flickering of blue light reminded Cassius of the terrifying lightning and the dreadful storm that had shaken him.


    [The ancient storm yields to your strength.]


    [You have acquired the legendary equipment ¡ª "Eye of the Storm King"]


    [Eye of the Storm King]


    Quality: Legendary


    Creator: Randta Hurricane Argates


    Introduction: The legendary druid, Storm Giant Elder Randta, once stared at the shining stars and deep ocean from the sky castle, seeking all signs and omens left by Annan. The Storm Giants could control the weather and change the fate of countless beings, but he knew that intervening in many matters was futile.


    Randta buried his lifetime collection underground, sealing the power comparable to a scourge in an eye, waiting for himself and the remnants of his empire to be forgotten. Of course, if an uninvited guest came, Randta would gladly bring ultimate death.


    "An enraged Storm Giant will bring more thorough destruction. This is my final prophecy. ¡ª Randta"


    Effects:


    [Storm of Vengeance] - Charge and release


    [Weather Control] - Once a week


    [Remnant of the Storm]: Contact causes additional lightning damage, with a chance to summon lightning after multiple accumulations, granting a certain degree of lightning immunity.


    [Storm of Vengeance]


    Ninth Tier Curse Spell


    A tumultuous cloud forms and expands from a visible point, filling the area with lightning and roaring winds. All creatures under the cloud have a chance to become continuously deafened.


    Storm of Vengeance produces different effects depending on control: acid rain, lightning, hail, strong winds, and ice rain besiege the area, heavily obscuring it. The strong winds disperse all magical or non-magical smoke and similar effects in the area.


    [Weather Control]


    Eighth Tier Transformation Spell


    You control the weather conditions within a certain range during the spell''s duration. You can freely change precipitation, temperature, and wind conditions, and spend time creating extreme weather like hail, fog, and blizzards. The weather gradually returns to normal when the spell ends.


    "This..."


    "A worthy relic of a legendary druid."


    The red dragon couldn''t help but widen his eyes, revealing the deep orange, flame-like irises.


    Divine Artifact.


    Cassius had only two words to assess this equipment.


    Just the "Eye of the Storm King" alone made this life-threatening adventure worthwhile. It could fetch an astronomical price of over a billion dollars on the black market in his previous life.


    [Storm of Vengeance] was a noble Ninth Tier top-level spell. It was no exaggeration to say it could easily determine the outcome of a battle.


    [Weather Control] was also an extremely precious Eighth Tier high-rank spell with extensive adaptability.


    Even the additional [Remnant of the Storm] was a powerful weapon for close combat.


    Cassius tightly grasped the bluish gem, fearing to lose it, for the first time understanding how the chimera felt when hoarding gold coins.


    "Boom!"


    Huge stones fell from the dome, nearly hitting the red dragon''s head before smashing into the ground and scattering into fragments.


    Cassius looked up to see the cracks in the ceiling deepening and spreading like a web.


    "No, this underground world is about to collapse!"


    "Run!"


    The red dragon flapped his wings, struggling to dodge the falling boulders. Fortunately, his increased agility made him more nimble than ordinary red dragons.


    On one side was the joy of obtaining the treasure, on the other, the helplessness of being in danger again. Cassius was pained yet delighted.

 Chapter 30 Northwind Eagle Guards (I)

    "Boom!""Boom! Boom!"


    Several massive rocks fell continuously, crashing to the ground with a thunderous noise.


    Cassius dodged and weaved in the air with unimaginable speed; anyone witnessing it would hardly believe this was a Red Dragon, known for its brute strength and sluggishness.


    "Crack!"


    The sound of breaking suddenly echoed atop the rock.


    As Cassius flew at high speed, he looked up and saw that the rocks at the top of the exit were collapsing.


    The Red Dragon''s expression turned grave, his wings and limbs tightly folding against his body.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    His body shot downward like an arrow losing its string.


    At the very last moment before the rocks collapsed, Cassius dashed out of the cave, his tail barely brushing past the falling stones.


    "Boom¡ª"


    The next sound was a thunderous crash, followed by billowing dust.


    Silence ensued.


    The tomb was completely buried under the rocks, beyond the reach of any intruder. Although the process wreaked havoc on the tomb itself, in a way, it fulfilled the Storm Giant elder''s long-forgotten desire.


    "Rest in peace."


    Cassius murmured softly, looking once more at the entrance covered in debris.


    He patted the ancient inscriptions on the stone pillar at the entrance and turned away.


    The Red Dragon spread his claws, with the eerie blue Eye of the Storm King still lying in them.


    "The power of this thing is immense. I can''t just swallow it directly; I need to find a container."


    The recent terrifying storm still lingered in his heart.


    ....


    Stormy Ridge, Ashen Nest.


    On the walls of Rock Fortress, there were numerous corpses of goblins and kobolds, and even a few ogres, all felled by arrows from the sky.


    In the sky, there were not just wyverns roaring and screeching, but also over forty giant eagles.


    These giant eagles had bright plumage and wore scaled armor on vital parts, with wingspans over six meters long.


    Upon closer inspection, each giant eagle bore a knight clad in thick plate armor, with only their eyes visible.


    Their chests displayed emblems of eagles and swords.


    These were the Eagle Guards of the Rackman Family!


    The Rackman Family earned the title of "Northwind Eagle" because their ancestor, Telgai Rackman, had stolen giant eagle eggs from the top of the Storm Cliffs and raised numerous giant eagles in their territory, training them to be elite Giant Eagle Knights as a personal guard.


    These Giant Eagle Knights could fend off invasions from monsters like Frost Giants and wyverns and could be formidable weapons in wars between lords.


    The knights called "Eagle Guards" had a history spanning hundreds of years.


    The battle in the sky continued.


    Over forty Eagle Guards, wielding bows and arrows or spears, rode their giant eagles, continuously circling the eight wyverns.


    They connected head to tail, forming a massive encirclement.


    The Eagle Guards were well-versed in combating wyverns, knowing not to confront these massive beasts head-on, aware of their large size and limited agility in the air, while exploiting their own mobility.


    Hence, they adopted the "circle formation."


    The Eagle Guards covered each other''s tails, confusing the wyverns.


    Any wyvern that lunged at them would face a barrage of arrows, and if it missed, it would be struck by spears from behind.


    The goblin troops on the ground could do nothing against these fast-moving aerial targets but shoot feeble arrows.


    But these arrows, slowed by air resistance, merely bounced off the Eagle Guards'' plate armor like tickles. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ogres roared and growled, haphazardly throwing massive stones into the sky.


    One ogre aimed purely by instinct and hurled a stone.


    "Bang!"


    The stone drew a beautiful arc in the sky, astonishingly hitting an unlucky Eagle Guard and knocking him down.


    "Oh, oh, oh! It hit!"


    "Well done, Bighead!"


    "Bring down those little flies, those tin cans!"


    The ogres cheered excitedly, swarming over and tearing the giant eagle and the knight to pieces.


    From the top of the wall, Ramp wasn''t to be outdone, waving his giant club skyward.


    "Fireball Technique!"


    A scorching fireball shot toward the giant eagles in the sky.


    But under the superb control of the knight, the giant eagle dodged in a circle, the fireball grazing its chest, leaving only a trail of scorched marks.


    Although it missed, the fireball had a strong deterrent effect, and the Eagle Guards immediately became alert.


    "It''s a spellcaster!"


    "Don''t get close to that section of the wall! Damn, how can there be an Ogre Mage?"


    "Watch out, there''s a spellcaster!"


    Ramp''s face darkened; the giant eagle knights were too agile, often flying out of reach before his fireball technique even completed.


    Even hitting one or two with rocks was just a matter of luck.


    Ramp adjusted the small glasses on his face and muttered, "The goblins are useless, these brainless wyverns aren''t dependable either, it''s all up to that beast, or... wait for the master to return to handle it."


    "No, it''s just a few dozen humans."


    "The master would be disappointed in me."


    With that thought, the Ogre Mage roared in Draconic at the cave in the rock wall, "Chimera, if you don''t act now, are you waiting for the master to come back and tear you apart?"


    "Roar¡ª"


    A furious roar echoed from the cave.


    A massive monster with the heads of a goat, a lion, and a dragon burst forth from the dark cave, beating its dragon-like wings, taking to the air.


    "It''s a Chimera!"


    An Eagle Guard exclaimed in the air.


    "Scatter the formation!"


    A calm voice came from the sky.


    The voice belonged to Alger Yorman, the Guard Commander of these Eagle Guards and a seasoned warrior.


    Behind the heavy regulation plate armor were a pair of extremely calm eyes.


    Unlike others, his weapon was not a lance or a bow, but a heavy great sword engraved with an open-winged eagle motif.


    The Chimera flew to the highest point, beating its wings.


    "Roar¡ª"


    It let out a long roar.


    Then it dived, spewing scorching Flame Breath from its mouths.


    The Eagle Guards broke their formation, scattering to avoid the flames.


    But faced with the high-speed dive of the Chimera, three Eagle Guards couldn''t evade in time and were engulfed in flames, burning fiercely in the air before plummeting to the ground in agony.


    Seeing his comrades fall, Alger shouted decisively:


    "Leave the Chimera to me! You continue to surround those wyverns!"


    He leaned slightly, gently stroking the feathers of his giant eagle, whispering, "Eagle, it''s time to go!"


    The bond between the giant eagle and its rider was such that words were unnecessary; they understood each other perfectly.


    "Screech¡ª"


    A piercing eagle cry echoed through the sky.

 Chapter 31 Northwind Eagle Guards (Part 2)

    The Chimera finished its dive, achieving remarkable results.With just one strike, it took down three Eagle Guards, eliciting a wave of enthusiastic cheers from the many monsters of the Ashen Nest. Even the usually unruly Bipedal Wyverns, who only submitted to the Red Dragon, roared in acknowledgment.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The three-headed monster roared triumphantly.


    It flapped its wings vigorously, ascending once more to prepare for another attack.


    "Monster, your opponent is me!"


    A shadow darted behind the Chimera.


    Alger''s superb riding skill and the Giant Eagle''s flight techniques combined to allow them to fly within the Chimera''s airflow, keeping them perfectly in its blind spot.


    He leaned forward, swinging his sharp great sword to slice through the Chimera''s tough hide.


    Blood splattered in the air.


    "Roar!"


    The Chimera roared in fury as it felt a wound on its back.


    Next, the Chimera quickly turned in the air, swinging its thick dragon''s tail forcefully at where Alger had been.


    "Eagle!"


    Alger shouted to his companion, clenching his legs tightly.


    The Giant Eagle immediately understood, rolling sideways in the air to deftly evade the strike.


    The dragon tail missed its target, leaving the Chimera enraged. It accelerated, turning its dragon head to spew scorching flame breath at the pursuing Eagle Guard.


    "Boom¡ª"


    Flames roared in the air.


    But the Chimera''s neck was clearly not fully articulating.


    Alger, controlling the Giant Eagle with one hand, slightly tilted to the side and dodged the flame breath, taking advantage of his maneuverability to fly back into the Chimera''s upper blind spot.


    "Control the sky, and you control everything," the old instructor often told them.


    The Chimera, seeing this stubborn Eagle Guard clinging to its tail, dived once more.


    "Swish¡ª"


    Using its familiarity with the terrain, it swiftly spread its dragon wings and came to a sudden halt, hoping the Eagle Guard would crash into the rocky wall.


    However, Alger was not easily fooled.


    He calmly followed behind the Chimera, leisurely turning his direction.


    This time, with his eagle-like sharp eyes, he noticed something odd.


    The Chimera''s left wing, when spread, lagged for a moment.


    But since Alger had such keen perception, he noticed it. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Its left wing has an old injury!"


    Alger exclaimed excitedly.


    He gently stroked the feathers beneath him, and the Giant Eagle let out a sharp shriek, diving down swiftly.


    "Swish¡ª"


    This time, the sword blade sliced through the Chimera''s hindquarters.


    Facing large monsters, Alger was very patient.


    He never hoped for a one-hit kill; instead, he aimed to use his maneuverability advantage to make the opponent bleed slowly.


    When facing such monsters, patient hunters often secured trophies, while impatient hotheads often lost their lives under the monster''s accidental trampling.


    Barbarians, of course, were an exception.


    Now that he knew the Chimera''s wings had old injuries and couldn''t change direction easily, the Eagle Guard Commander attacked even more recklessly.


    This time, the Giant Eagle hovered under the Chimera''s belly.


    "Actions like tides!"


    Alger''s muscles bulged, his movements suddenly sped up.


    In just a few seconds, he swung his sword several times in rapid succession, each stroke slicing through the tough lion skin, sinking deep into the flesh, even reaching the Chimera''s soft internal organs.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The Chimera let out a howl of pain, enduring the agony, swiping its claws downward.


    But the Giant Eagle Knight had already moved to its side, spotting the next opening.


    "Downward slash!"


    Alger finished one sword strike and followed up with a side slash, precisely cutting through the Chimera''s downward-swinging claw.


    The Chimera howled again, raising its three heads together.


    Eagle feathers flew, blood sprayed everywhere.


    Under Alger''s superb techniques, the Giant Eagle repeatedly passed over the Chimera''s back, sides, and belly. His great sword repeatedly splattered the monster''s blood, while the Chimera struggled to touch even one feather of his.


    Such was the difference between a beast and a warrior.


    The Bipedal Wyverns flapped their wings, trying to assist.


    But they could barely protect themselves.


    Soon, each Bipedal Wyvern was surrounded and harassed by small teams of seven or eight Eagle Guards, roaring in futile rage, stabbing their tails wildly.


    "Eagle, left-upward,"


    Alger''s tone carried a hint of excitement, as slaying such a large monster always got his blood pumping.


    "I want this guy''s wings chopped off!"


    "Screech!"


    With a sharp eagle cry, Alger and his Giant Eagle dove down, flying toward the already somewhat disoriented Chimera.


    Just as his great sword was about to cleave the dragon wing¡ª


    "Fireball Technique!"


    A scorching fireball sped towards the Giant Eagle from the ground.


    The Ogre Mage Ramp had been observing for a long time, waiting for a moment when they let down their guard.


    "Eagle!"


    Alger shouted, twisting his body to change direction.


    In the midst of the dive, the Giant Eagle forcibly turned sideways, narrowly dodging the fireball''s blast.


    However, the right wing''s feathers were singed by the fire, leaving a scorched mark.


    But this mid-air adjustment made their posture awkward.


    The Chimera, regaining its senses, realized this was a rare opportunity, despite the accumulating wounds driving it to the brink of madness. It only wanted to unleash its pent-up fury.


    With a roar, it swiped its lion''s claws with tremendous force.


    "Bang!"


    Feathers and blood sprayed everywhere.


    The Giant Eagle, along with the knight atop it, was sent flying several meters away.


    Even after suffering such an attack and spinning in mid-air, Alger held tightly to the Giant Eagle, not falling off.


    "Eagle, tilt right!"


    Despite not falling, he adjusted his center of gravity, helping the wounded Giant Eagle maintain balance, spreading its wings for basic flight.


    Seeing Alger still in the air, the Chimera grew even angrier and charged again.


    "Eagle Guards, assemble!"


    "This Chimera is nearly done!"


    Alger raised his long sword high.


    The Eagle Guards, engaged in combat with the Wyverns, immediately dispersed, gradually surrounding and harassing the Chimera in formation.


    Arrows flew from all directions, with occasional lance charges from the rear.


    The Chimera was battered and exhausted.


    Though not highly intelligent, the Chimera knew things wouldn''t end well if this continued; it could no longer endure these annoying "flies" swarming it.


    Therefore, the Chimera''s three heads roared hoarsely, feigning a few attacks. Seizing the opportunity as the Eagle Guards dodged and spread out, it turned and fled.


    It aimed to retreat to a cave to defend one side.


    Alger instantly saw through the Chimera''s intent.


    "It''s trying to escape!"


    "Eagle Guards, prepare for a mass charge!"

 Chapter 32 Northwind Eagle Guards (III)

    "Screeeech¡ª"The giant eagles let out a series of sharp cries, forming a formation and diving straight after the chimera.


    But just as they were about to catch up from behind, a red figure appeared in the cave.


    The chimera, escaping headlong, saw the figure and immediately cried out in the little Draconic it knew:


    "Master, help!"


    Cassius looked at the line of giant eagles behind the chimera, his eyes full of confusion.


    Seeing knights wearing heavy plate armor adorned with eagle emblems, his puzzlement deepened.


    "Are these the Eagle Guards?"


    He had only been in the underground for a few days.


    How had the Eagle Guards come all the way to his home?


    Could it be that Ramp had been blinded by the "Grand Plan" and sent troops to attack Northwind Castle?


    But seeing the giant eagles diving in formations, he couldn''t bother to think much and could only prepare for battle.


    "Such a dense formation¡­"


    "Are you waiting for me to barbecue you?"


    Not having killed in a while, Cassius couldn''t help but lick his lips and exhale a breath of sulfurous heat.


    The violence deep within his Red Dragon bloodline was awakened.


    Alger was originally commanding from high in the sky, sword waving as he directed the Eagle Guards'' charge.


    But upon seeing the red figure from afar, his face changed dramatically, his tone betraying panic and tension for the first time.


    "Dragon!"


    "It''s a Red Dragon!"


    Alger shouted desperately.


    A dragon, any kind of giant dragon, was the last opponent he wanted to face in battle.


    Whether it was the scales harder than armor, the endless wide-area breath, or the numerous spell-like abilities, they were absolute nightmares for the Giant Eagle Knights. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Scatter! Scatter!"


    But not everyone had his keen senses and excellent riding skills to detect danger and stop the charge at high speed.


    The Eagle Guards were already charging at the cave entrance.


    It was already too late.


    Cassius only slightly opened his jaw, the unique dragon basal vessels channeling flame energy from his entire body into his lungs, those hot elements accumulating in his lungs and throat, making his chest glow faintly like lava¡ªthis was the precursor to the Red Dragon''s breath.


    "Flame Breath!"


    In an instant, a torrent of scorching flame spewed from the Red Dragon''s mouth, the ravaging tongues of fire mercilessly consuming all the charging Eagle Guards in the front line, turning the cave entrance into a purgatory.


    The flames swept through everything, the few in the forefront didn''t even have a chance to resist, their pupils reflecting the red glow of the flames before they were reduced to ashes.


    But compared to many of their companions, they were even considered lucky, at least they died swiftly.


    And behind them, over a dozen Eagle Guards were also engulfed in intense flames, turning into one fireball after another.


    "Ah!"


    "I''m on fire!"


    "It''s so hot!"


    "Help! Help!"


    They could only wail, scream, and struggle, eventually either being burned alive or falling off their giant eagles to their deaths, unable to escape the deadly clutches of the Red Dragon.


    The Red Dragon, unhurried, flapped its wings and ascended, overlooking the Eagle Guards being scorched by the flames.


    The chimera cowered behind the Red Dragon, its neck retracted, watching the massacre unfold and letting out cries of vengeance, having no more will to resist the Red Dragon.


    Because the scene before it made it deeply understand that such power was beyond anything it could contend with.


    The bipedal wyverns in midair raised their heads and roared in unison, celebrating the return of their nest''s master.


    The ogres waved their clubs and hammers, cheering loudly. Goblins raised their short spears, exhilarated.


    Kobolds knelt down as if witnessing a deity, attesting to the overwhelming strength of their master.


    In just a moment, the tide had completely turned.


    Seeing dozens of comrades fall in an instant, Alger''s eyes turned slightly red, but he still controlled his giant eagle to fly up, raising his great sword high.


    The wind whistled through the hollow patterns on the sword, making an ear-piercing sound like an eagle''s cry.


    He commanded loudly, "Retreat! Everyone, retreat!"


    "Scatter and retreat!"


    The remaining twenty-odd Eagle Guards, having witnessed the horrific situation earlier, knew they couldn''t match the enemy before them and unhesitatingly flew away on their giant eagles, heading in different directions.


    The Eagle Guards required a large amount of resources to train; thus, they were taught from a young age to maximize the preservation of their force.


    Cassius hovered in midair, flapping his wings slowly.


    He watched the scattering Eagle Guards, a barely noticeable cruel smile forming on his face.


    "You''ve come to my nest¡ª


    and still think you can escape?"


    "A bit too much disdain for a dragon, isn''t it?"


    The Red Dragon ascended to the highest point unhurriedly, the basal vessels channeling flame elements into his lungs again, high-temperature energy accumulating deep in his throat¡ªonly this time, the energy wasn''t as concentrated as before.


    As he retreated, Alger didn''t forget to look back, watching the Red Dragon hovering high above, his expression changing dramatically again.


    "Dragon breath!"


    "Another dragon breath! Dodge it!"


    He screamed hoarsely in warning.


    Cassius only slightly opened his jaw, and scalding flames poured out.


    "Targeted breath weapon!"


    This time, the Red Dragon''s breath wasn''t the wide-ranging flame breath but several short, flameball breaths.


    Each fireball aimed precisely at the fleeing Eagle Guards, carrying scorching energy to the targets.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    The sounds of several flaming explosions rang out, and several hit knights fell, trailing fire.


    Alger, also targeted, performed a risky series of spins and sudden turns in midair, barely dodging the fireball''s impact.


    "What is this¡­"


    This wasn''t just breath; it was as precise as a mage''s flame spell.


    Watching one companion after another fall from the sky, Alger took a deep breath and spoke firmly:


    "You all retreat first!"


    "I''ll distract the dragon."


    Alger patted his giant eagle''s slightly singed feathers and said softly, "Eagle, this may be our last charge."


    The giant eagle understood his words, letting out a low, mournful cry.


    They were not just knight and mount; they were companions who grew up together, sharing every moment.


    "It''s just a pity we never had the chance to repay His Grace''s kindness nor to kill off those¡­ damned devils."


    Alger muttered to himself.


    Years of battle training had taught him every detail of flight, understanding every current of air, merging almost as one with his giant eagle.


    He skillfully maneuvered his giant eagle, continuously rising until he was higher than the Red Dragon, becoming a small black dot in everyone''s eyes.


    Alger dove from the highest point.


    ¨CHe plunged straight towards the powerful, dreaded Red Dragon, like Don Quixote charging at the windmills in the story.


    "Screeeech¡ª"


    A fierce eagle cry echoed through the sky.


    Cassius slightly raised his head, noticing the rapidly diving Eagle Guard above, his golden eyes widening a bit:


    "Interesting."


    "So, you''re a high-level warrior?"

 Chapter 33 Northwind Eagle Guards (Part 4)

    Alger dove rapidly, taking advantage of the Red Dragon''s massive and clumsy body, preparing to skim past its side, launching an attack, and then darting into its blind spot."Act before the enemy,"


    Cassius''s vertical pupils shimmered with purple magic aura, directly seeing through Alger''s flight path, the powerful claws following his trajectory to strike.


    "Eagle!"


    Alger squeezed his legs tight, pulling the reins around the giant eagle''s body, forcing it to turn right. In the high-speed dive, he managed to barely dodge the sweeping claw.


    "Swish¡ª"


    The sound of air being sliced open echoed behind him.


    Alger maneuvered the giant eagle to the side, his brows knitted tightly, heart pounding rapidly.


    He glanced towards the distance, where a dozen Northwind Eagle Guards had narrowly escaped the dragon''s line of sight, but they were still being pursued by the wyverns, screeching in chase.


    "At least, I''ve got to hold out until they fully escape."


    Alger murmured to himself.


    He felt like he had just flown by the gates of death.


    The monster before him was extraordinarily agile, almost unlike a true Red Dragon. It also seemed to anticipate his attacks, making ordinary feinting and harassment tactics ineffective.


    Cassius, on the other hand, grew intrigued by this extremely mobile Giant Eagle Knight.


    "As annoying as a fly,"


    "But quite a decent unit."


    He watched the rapidly circling giant eagle, exhaling a breath of sulfurous heat.


    Alger continued to circle, trying to find a flaw in the Red Dragon''s defenses. Finally, he spotted a blind spot in its vision.


    "It''s right here!"


    He again dive-bombed down resolutely.


    Alger clutched his Silver Sword with both hands, using the momentum of the dive to slash at the Red Dragon''s body with all his might.


    "Clang¡ª"


    Not only did he fail to harm the Red Dragon, but the impact made his arms go numb.


    The scales struck by the sword turned into a lustrous gold. It was like hitting a piece of metal.


    "Remnant of the Storm!"


    Cassius let out a light whistle, as lightning abruptly burst out from his claws, quickly covering his body.


    Alger immediately withdrew his sword and attempted to evade, but the electric current had already traveled along the Silver Sword, coursing through his body and the giant eagle.


    A sharp eagle screech rang out.


    The feathers of the giant eagle stood on end, arcing with fine electric currents, causing it great pain and rendering it paralyzed and weak.


    "Clearly a Red Dragon, how could it..."


    As a warrior, Alger had a strong constitution. Although in pain, he was not severely injured by the fleeting electric current.


    He barely managed to keep the giant eagle balanced, preventing it from falling. Yet with each flap of its wings, bolts of current jolted through its body, so he reduced its movements, gliding slowly through the air.


    "A spellcaster!"


    This Red Dragon was a spellcaster!


    And this lightning spell was not an innate ability, it was learned!


    Alger''s heart sank. Facing a Dragon Mage or Sorcerer was the worst scenario.


    As he turned his head, he saw the Red Dragon baring its teeth, its golden pupils flashing with a terrifying light.


    His instincts screamed danger. He reflexively wanted to close his eyes, but he couldn''t evade the spell''s swiftness.


    "Phantom Force!"


    A heavy, scorching hot chain wrapped around Alger.


    He wanted to believe it was an illusion, but the searing pain on his body was too real, a sign that it was almost impossible to resist without proper training.


    The more the target believed in the illusion created by Phantom Force, the more real and logical it became.


    Now, in Alger''s eyes, his body was covered in blackened burn marks, with the chains even exuding flames.


    He and the giant eagle plummeted together, dragged down by the chains.


    "No! No!"


    "It''s fake!"


    "I haven''t avenged them yet, how can this..."


    "Just end like this!"


    Alger roared, his voice hoarse.


    He endured the excruciating burning sensation, tightly closing his eyes. Relying solely on his sense of the airflow, he maneuvered the giant eagle to gliding flight, forcing himself to break free from the spell through sheer willpower.


    When he opened his eyes again, everything was gone.


    The chains, the flames, the scars, all vanished.


    Even Cassius was slightly surprised in the high sky.


    "Impressive, still able to break free from the spell. Truly the Captain of the Northwind Castle Eagle Guards."


    Witnessing such an impressive performance, Cassius finally remembered the identity of this Giant Eagle Knight.


    The renowned gate-keeper boss from the past life, known as the "Claw of the Male Eagle" and "Rackman''s Sharp Sword," the Captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards¡ªAlger Yorman.


    He had led the Eagle Guards multiple times in the massacres and hunts against Tieflings. He was the infamous butcher under the Duke Brad and the future Death Knight.


    Orphaned at a young age, Alger was indoctrinated by Duke Brad to believe that his parents were sacrificed to devils by Tieflings. Thus, he was manipulated into becoming a Death Warrior for the Rackman Family, swearing lifelong loyalty and participating in the horrific "Tiefling Camp Massacre."


    But when Alger approached the truth behind his parents'' death, the once trusted Duke Brad turned him into an unconscious Death Knight, forever wandering outside the Ducal Mansion on his Bone Eagle.


    Thinking of this, Cassius decided not to kill him yet¡ªsuch a waste. It wasn''t out of mercy or some leftover human empathy from a past life; it was solely for setting the stage for his takeover of Northwind Castle.


    After all, goblins and kobolds were nothing but expendable tools in his eyes, their deaths insignificant.


    A loyalist grown in Northwind Castle and a Chief Guard for many years, an elite Giant Eagle Knight, was invaluable. Cassius was sure he could extract significant benefits from him and possibly even train an air force for the Ashen Nest.


    The Red Dragon swooped over the sky, closing in on the slowly gliding Giant Eagle Knight.


    Before he could react, Cassius cast twin spells, aiming at two targets simultaneously. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sleep spell!"


    A flash of magic aura occurred, and the exhausted knight, along with his giant eagle, fell into a deep sleep, descending from the sky and caught roughly by the Red Dragon''s strong claws.


    Under normal circumstances, Alger''s strength would resist a sleep spell, but drained by the fight, he was left defenseless.


    "You could withstand illusions, but can you escape hard control?"


    Cassius dropped him to the ground, unable to resist exclaiming.


    [Based on your own strength and the enemy''s "sleep" state, you can observe the following information]


    [Chief Guard of the Northwind Eagle Guards]


    Name: Alger Yorman


    Category: Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Neutral


    AC: 18 (Fine Plate Armor)


    Speed: Flight 90 ft, Ground movement 30 ft


    Strength¡ª¡ª17


    Agility¡ª¡ª16


    Constitution¡ª¡ª14


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª11


    Perception¡ª¡ª13


    Charisma¡ª¡ª12


    Occupational Level: Warrior (Giant Eagle Knight) Level 8


    Mount: Giant Eagle of the Anzeta subspecies (Level 4)


    Military Weapons: Long Sword, Short Sword, Great Sword, Long Bow, Heavy Crossbow, Spear


    Simple Weapons: Dagger, Short Bow, Light Crossbow


    Skill Proficiency: Riding +14, Military +9, Hunting +7, Athletics +6, Perception +4, Leadership +4, Survival +4, Investigation +2, Tracking +4, Stealth +4


    Senses: Passive Perception 14


    Language: Common Language


    Actions: Group Attack, Commander''s Surprise Attack, Dive Attack, Aerial Quick Stop, Swift Turn, Slashing Attack, Piercing Attack, Actions Like Tides, Recovery


    Feats: Vigilance, Downward Slash, Great Weapon Master, Heavy Armor Usage, Riding Expert, Flying Master


    Combat Equipment: Eagle Shriek Silver Sword, Northrun Castle Standard Plate Armor, Eagle Guard Cloak


    Challenge Level: 9 (5,000 XP)


    "What a luxurious panel,"


    Cassius clicked his tongue in admiration.

 Chapter 34 Northwind Eagle Guards (V)

    "Flame Breath Target!"Another several short bursts of breath were released, and several Eagle Guards fell to the ground as blazing fireballs.


    The remaining few Eagle Guards, as Alger wished, fled this place that had cost them heavy casualties under the pursuit of the Wyvern, spreading the Red Dragon''s fearful reputation throughout the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Letting them escape was partially due to the time-wasting factor of capturing Alger alive and partially intentional.


    It was important to know that the Rackman Family''s Northwind Eagle Guards totaled only around three hundred, and in just this one battle, they had lost one-tenth of their number. Such a unit was considered elite throughout the Northern United Kingdom.


    A few days later, the news of a "terrifying Red Dragon" at Stormy Ridge spread to many places, and a wanted poster was also hung up at Northwind Castle, depicting a ferocious Red Dragon breathing flames from its mouth.


    Location: Stormy Ridge, Ashen Nest


    Target: Suspected young Red Dragon, codename "Flying Flame"


    Bounty: 5000 Gold Coins


    Adventurers, while chatting and boasting in taverns during their downtime, fantasized about becoming the legendary Dragon Slayer. They often said while sprawled on the table in a drunken stupor, "If that Red Dragon met me, its head would have been chopped off and taken to claim the bounty long ago!"


    Of course, this was all talk for later.


    ...


    Alger felt heavy-headed, his memories confused. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He first dreamt of his carefree and happy childhood, with his mother gently stroking his head and softly reading stories from a book. He ran through the alleyways, playing and laughing with newly made friends, the atmosphere filled with joyful sounds.


    However, the scene shifted, and in the dream, he was crying bitterly on the street, searching everywhere for his parents, only to find two bodies in a dark corner, gutted and marked with eerie symbols.


    A middle-aged man, whose face was indistinct and dressed in luxurious clothing, stood in the dark alley, patting his shoulder. His tone was grave as he said, "It was the Devil, the Devil''s spawn that harmed them."


    Following this were blazing flames, fleeing crowds crying out, rivers of spilled blood, women holding wailing children begging for mercy, and the Silver Sword in his hand emitting an eagle''s shriek...


    "No!"


    "Huff, huff!"


    Alger woke up from the nightmare, sitting up abruptly. He instinctively reached to his side, and only when he felt the familiar touch of feathers did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    It was his giant eagle.


    He checked his body all over; there were no new wounds, but his standard-issue plate armor and the Eagle Shriek Silver Sword at his waist were gone.


    Heavy iron shackles still bound his hands and feet.


    "Where am I?"


    Alger immediately looked around.


    The surroundings were damp and dark, with only the faint glow from torches on the rock walls providing any light.


    All around were hard rocks, and bars made from thick tree trunks enclosed him. At the entrance, a fat Bugbear was sleeping against the door, its wooden club on the ground, while Goblins holding short spears patrolled the corridor.


    "This is the dungeon of a monster''s lair."


    Alger immediately concluded.


    He suspected that the Red Dragon had cast a spell to put him to sleep and then thrown him into the dungeon. Now, his sole objective was to find a way to escape, gather as much information as possible, and report his findings to His Grace the Duke.


    But without any weapons, and with the cell firmly locked with heavy iron locks, escape seemed difficult.


    "Hey, Bugbear, wake up."


    Alger waved his hand, trying to attract the dozing Bugbear''s attention, hoping to glean some information and find a chance to escape.


    The Bugbear at the door suddenly woke up. Seeing Alger awake, it immediately began shouting.


    "Quick, notify Lord Dolores, this human is awake!"


    Alger lowered his voice and said to the Bugbear Guard,


    "Do you want gold?"


    "Give me the key, and I have..."


    "Bah!"


    The Bugbear spat at him.


    It picked up the wooden club from the ground and left unceremoniously, muttering, "You humans always think you''re so clever, thinking we''re fools."


    "You''ve already been stripped clean, nothing left, just a pauper."


    "Someone, come!"


    "This human is awake!"


    With the Bugbear''s robust shout, the Goblins ran to spread the news quickly beyond the dungeon.


    "Damn it!"


    "Let me out!"


    Alger grabbed the bars and shook them with all his might, the heavy iron chains on his shackles clanking loudly, but the cell door was so strong that even an Ogre couldn''t break it easily, let alone a weakened human, making the effort nothing but a waste of energy.


    After trying for a long time, the sturdy wood bars still didn''t budge, and Alger finally gave up on breaking the cell door by force.


    He regained his composure, slumped down, and began to think carefully about a strategy.


    "The Red Dragon kept me alive for a reason."


    "It will interrogate me."


    "This cunning evil dragon likely intends to harm His Grace, perhaps to steal treasures, seize a city, or even overthrow the government..."


    "But no matter what it asks or demands, I must not reveal anything."


    "It''s a pity all my belongings were taken; otherwise, I could have kept some Wyvern Toxin on hand, ready to end my life if necessary."


    Alger gritted his teeth, mentally prepared to face cruel torture.


    Sure enough, three strong Bugbears approached from the end of the corridor.


    They struggled with the rough key to unlock the iron lock, unfasten the heavy chains wrapped around the cell door, and slowly open the door.


    The doorway was blocked by the Bugbears'' bulky bodies, leaving no gap for escape.


    "Come with me, human; the master wants to see you."


    The Bugbear bent down and entered the cell, approaching Alger.


    "Don''t touch me."


    Alger snarled fiercely.


    But the Bugbear ignored him, stepping forward to grab his shackles, wrapping the chains around its hand, then dragging Alger out of the cell.


    Other Bugbears surrounded him, lifting his entire body to ensure he had no chance of escaping.


    "I tell you, this human tried to bribe me."


    "But I didn''t fall for it, haha!"


    "Previously so imperious, now just like this once captured."


    "Yeah, those Wyverns are useless, couldn''t even handle one human, eating all that meat for nothing."


    "Right, might as well share it all with us."


    The Bugbears chatted and laughed among themselves while working.


    And the weakened Giant Eagle Knight had no strength to resist.


    If he were soaring in the sky on his giant eagle, Alger was confident he could single-handedly take down these ugly creatures, even mocking them with ease.


    But now, trapped in the dungeon, weakened and shackled, the once-proud Giant Eagle Knight could only let these brute-force Bugbears handle him as they pleased, without any means of resistance.

 Chapter 35 Northwind Eagle Guards (VI)

    Alger was blindfolded, turning left and right in the passage.When the black cloth was removed, he saw an incredibly spacious cave before him. In the very center of the cave, a red dragon lay coiled on a massive rock, its eyes half-closed, seemingly resting.


    The bugbear pushed Alger forward, forcing him to kneel, and then respectfully said, "Master, I have brought this human."


    The red dragon lazily opened its eyes and casually said, "Well done, you may leave now."


    Alger could even feel the hot breath of sulfur from the red dragon''s mouth.


    "Yes, master."


    The bugbear respectfully withdrew.


    Alger struggled to stand up from the ground, gritting his teeth, and said each word with determination, "Evil dragon, no matter what plot you have, I won''t let you succeed, even if I have to die!"


    After speaking, he closed his eyes, straightened his back, and prepared to face the red dragon''s wrath.


    Whether it was the scorching flames or sharp fangs he would face, he showed no fear.


    To his surprise, the red dragon''s tone showed no anger, simply asking, "Why did Brad Rackman send you here?"


    Alger kept his eyes tightly shut, not responding as if he hadn''t heard.


    Seeing Alger''s reaction, coupled with the timing, Cassius could roughly guess his current mission, which should be the infamous "Tiefling Camp Massacre" from his past life.


    Hundreds of Eagle Guards searched everywhere for traces of Tieflings; once found, they would immediately slaughter them, regardless of age or gender, leaving no one and incinerating the site, destroying everything in the vicinity.


    This mission should have gone very smoothly.


    Unfortunately for them, they encountered the Ashen Nest.


    At this moment, looking at the unwavering Alger, Cassius mockingly asked, "Alger Yorman, do you know how your parents died?"


    These words hit Alger like a shockwave. The most secret wound in his heart was torn open, and he couldn''t help but open his eyes, shouting:


    "Impossible!"


    "How do you know!"


    Seeing Alger open his eyes, the red dragon slowly said, "You don''t need to know why. Just truthfully answer based on what you know."


    Cassius repeated once more:


    "Then tell me, how did your parents die?"


    "They were..."


    However, Alger did not notice the faint red glow in the red dragon''s vertical pupils, which also appeared in his own eyes.


    "They were¡­ sacrificed to devils by those damned Tiefling bastards!"


    Alger thought of those painful memories, his eyes instantly turning red with rage. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius casually asked, "Who told you this information?"


    "It was¡­ His Grace."


    "Then why do I know otherwise?"


    "What do you know?"


    "I know that your esteemed His Grace, in pursuit of eternal life, to become an Undying Blood Clan member, exchanged the lives of thousands in the city, among which¡ª"


    Cassius paused.


    "Included your parents."


    In front of Alger, the red dragon was like a devil from Hell, using cunning words to lure the human''s thoughts towards him step by step.


    "No¡­ impossible!"


    "You''re lying!"


    Alger''s voice trembled as he shouted.


    However, under the red dragon''s deliberate guidance, he couldn''t help but consider the terrifying possibility¡ªhis benefactor, his godfather, the Duke to whom he swore lifelong loyalty, was his enemy.


    Cassius pressed on step by step, slowly spreading his wings, enveloping Alger in a gigantic shadow, towering above him:


    "Think carefully. Has your esteemed His Grace ever left the castle even once?"


    "Has he ever basked in sunlight, instead of being shrouded in shadows, even while giving those high-sounding speeches?"


    "With your keen perception, have you ever heard the victim''s wails from the Rackman Castle''s backyard, smelled the scent of blood mixed with the soil?"


    "When you slaughtered innocent beings, did you know they became sacrifices, pathetic materials for the Duke''s eternal life?"


    As Cassius finished speaking, images of roaring flames appeared before Alger, with crying children and mothers holding their babies amidst them.


    "No, no, I didn''t..."


    "I didn''t."


    Alger kept retreating, shaking his head continuously.


    He felt dizzy, his head splitting with pain. Every detail in his memory became so vivid, as if they all testified to this truth.


    "No..."


    "You''re lying, you''re deceiving me."


    "I won''t believe your slander, His Grace is clearly..."


    Alger collapsed to the ground, murmuring and shaking his head, shadows clouding his eyes.


    After a long time, his eyes regained a hint of clarity, his voice trembling, "Evil dragon!"


    "What did you do to me?"


    Cassius glanced down indifferently at him and said, "Just a little trick to help you accept the truth."


    "Moreover, having done those things, what gives you the right to call me an ''evil dragon''?"


    "No, I don''t believe it."


    "This must be your plot!"


    "You are deceiving me, aren''t you! You used a spell to mislead me! I won''t believe your lies."


    "Your conspiracy is worthless before the loyal Northwind Eagle Guards!"


    Alger forced himself to stand upright, trying not to dwell on those terrible words, but his denial was weak and powerless.


    "I have no need to deceive you."


    "Besides¡­ you will know soon enough."


    Cassius did not argue further with Alger, he just calmly lay down, closing his eyes to rest, and summoned the bugbear at the door.


    "Take him back to the dungeon."


    "Yes, master."


    Three waiting bugbears advanced, forcibly dragging away the struggling Alger.


    Before he was taken away, he still looked agitated, constantly shouting.


    "Evil dragon, you won''t deceive me!"


    "You will never smear His Grace!"


    "You and those devils are in cahoots!"


    Years of loyalty education within the family had instilled in him the principle of absolute obedience, he was merely a blade of the family, and weapons had no sense of good or evil.


    Never question why, just execute.


    This was a frequent saying of his old instructor,


    So, as a competent Eagle Guard, Alger often emptied his mind, avoiding thoughts of right and wrong, habitually deceiving himself¡ªespecially during massacres, when facing unarmed refugees.


    And now, Alger rarely pondered all this.


    Just making him do this indicated a crack had appeared in his mental defenses, needing only a little more, and it would completely collapse.


    Cassius had achieved his objective.

 Chapter 36 36 Chapters: Silver-Tongued

    The panel unfolded before Cassius.[You have broken through someone''s mind with words, achieving the [Silver-Tongued] achievement]


    Achievement [Silver-Tongued]


    "My tongue can be a rose with thorns or a sword dipped in poison, depending on your choice¡ªa quote from an unnamed Hell Devil."


    Obtained passive trait: [Smooth Talker]


    Persuasion +6, Deception +4, obtained an additional spell [Suggestion Spell]


    You are a rare smooth talker, relying heavily on your words. Your eloquence can drive anyone to brave the fiery pits for you. Your sophistry can conceal any crime. Your words can turn black into white and plunge the entire world into chaos.


    [Suggestion Spell]


    2nd-level Enchantment spell


    You influence a creature within casting range that you can see, suggesting a specific action (the suggestion must sound reasonable to the creature). sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not a bad passive trait, could be very useful in specific situations."\\p>


    That was Cassius''s assessment.


    Although it wasn''t much use in combat, it was still a versatile tool that may come in handy one day, especially since it came with a rather rare 2nd-level spell.


    The sudden invasion by the Eagle Guards caused significant losses to the fledgling Ashen Nest.


    According to Ramp''s statistics, a total of two wyverns, seven ogres, eighty-six goblins, and ninety-five kobolds died, with countless others injured. Even the chimera suffered severe injuries and was temporarily unable to fight.


    This alerted Cassius.


    The loss of goblins and kobolds didn''t matter much; with a little effort, new ones would be born by the hundreds next year, and they would even need places to consume the population drastically.


    But the loss of wyverns, which had significant combat power and a long reproductive cycle, made Cassius feel a pinch.


    Not to mention, had he not returned in time, the losses would have been far greater.


    This was not a good sign.


    Indeed, compared to Cassius''s rapidly growing strength, the quality of Ashen Nest''s retainers was starting to fall behind, which could lead to:


    In the future, after the red dragon had just fought a battle and hadn''t had time to rest, his lair would be completely wiped out by enemies.


    Thinking of this, Cassius looked at the special ability "Bloodline Gift" on the panel.


    [Bloodline Gift]


    [You are a born leader, capable of influencing creatures within your domain with your powerful presence. You can also perform a ritual using your blood to create bloodline family members.]


    [After the ritual is completed, the bloodline''s deep-seated dominance will make them completely submit to you, and even their descendants will become your eternal retainers.]


    "Spending a little blood to create a batch of loyal retainers seems like a good deal."\\p>


    Cassius thought.


    With this in mind, Cassius let out a long, resonant roar, summoning all the retainers to gather in the spacious valley.


    "Roar¡ª"


    This was the first large gathering in Ashen Nest.


    The red dragon personally notifying them indicated that something significant was happening, and the leaders of the various retainers took it very seriously.


    Ramp reminded the ogres to follow regulations, Dolores donned her imposing leather armor, Jin Ya polished his scales, and even the wyverns roared softly, communicating in an unknown manner.


    Soon, Ashen Nest became bustling, leaving only necessary guards at key points, while the rest of the retainers poured out in full force.


    Thousands of various monsters filled the entire valley so densely that it was impenetrable. They jostled, quarreled, and made a racket, even clashing with each other¡ªfor instance, the goblins and kobolds.


    Both numerous and weak, the goblins and kobolds didn''t get along. The goblins felt they had been in Ashen Nest longer and were its founding merit-makers, while the kobolds believed their close kinship to their master made them superior, thinking of the goblins as mere cannon fodder.


    "Goblins, get lost!"


    "This is our spot!"


    "You''re late, so you stand at the back!"


    Several slightly taller kobolds blocked the way, chattering incessantly.


    The goblins, infuriated, tried to force their way through, but the kobolds also surged forward together.


    "Get out, don''t block our path!"


    The goblins made a path as the goblin chieftain Dolores spoke from behind.


    Several strong bugbear guards nearby stepped forward and kicked the kobolds several meters away.


    Although common goblins held low status, the strength and dexterity of the great goblins and bugbears were undeniable. They were prominent figures in military and construction within Ashen Nest, even feared by Jin Ya, the kobold leader.


    Several kobolds, seeing this, slinked away without daring to say a word.


    The lizardfolk arrived with their tribe.


    They numbered over fifty, significantly taller than the goblins and kobolds and comparable in size to humans, resembling a blend of upright lizards and crocodiles. Most wielded primitive wooden spears and shell shields, clearly quite strong.


    However, having just arrived in Ashen Nest with no stable foothold, they dared not easily clash with other tribes.


    This was the "Black Tooth" lizardfolk tribe.


    They originally lived in an abandoned cavern, fleeing due to the disaster caused by the Bluefoot Dragon-snake. As Cassius was out, Ramp temporarily took them in, so they had not yet received the red dragon''s recognition.


    Their leader had yet to formally meet the red dragon, only glimpsing his majestic presence in battle, which firmly decided their allegiance.


    Their leader was named Acker Longtooth, after his great dagger-like teeth.


    He differed from typical lizardfolk, boasting a robust, muscular body over two meters tall. A bright crest stood tall on his head, resembling a crown, signifying strength and attracting mates.


    In his hand, he gripped a trident made from crocodile bones¡ªthe symbol of tribal leadership.


    But at the moment, the lizardfolk chief appeared uneasy, uncertain if the powerful red dragon would accept him.


    He instinctively glanced at the lizardfolk shaman Koda Blackscale beside him, an elderly, hunched lizardfolk with somewhat cloudy eyes and a black scale on his chest.


    "Koda, can we settle here?"


    The old shaman merely smiled meaningfully and pointed behind them.


    Several strong lizardfolk were carrying heavy chests, surrounded by guards.


    From the cracks in the chests, a bit of gold gleamed¡ªthey were filled with various goldware, some looted from human caravans and others dug out of the caverns, the accumulated wealth of the Black Tooth tribe over the years.


    "You can always trust in a red dragon''s greed,"


    the old shaman softly recited an ancient proverb.

 Chapter 37 Family Members Gathering

    The Lizardfolk spoke Draconic, which they believed was taught by the ancient giant dragons.Those Lizardfolk tribes that resided within the territories of giant dragons would often offer tributes to gain the dragons'' favor. The malevolent dragons would also use the Lizardfolk to achieve their wicked purposes, turning them into raiders and plunderers.


    Thus, the Old Shaman made what might have been a correct judgment based on ancient traditions.


    "I hope so."


    "I just want to lead the tribe... to survive."


    Looking at the valley that was about to be overrun, Acker quietly led the tribe to a more secluded corner.


    In the previous cave, the tribe had lost more than twenty people to the monsters in the darkness; they could no longer afford greater losses.


    "Your wishes will come true."


    The Old Shaman watched the retainers coming and going, speaking calmly.


    Unlike inherently evil races, these Lizardfolk were more like cold-blooded reptiles.


    They lacked traditional moral concepts, believing that good and evil were entirely foreign notions. They were truly neutral beings, only resorting to slaughter when it was expedient and doing whatever it took to survive.


    And the struggle for territory continued.


    "Roar!"


    The twelve wyverns landed with a roar, indomitable, occupying the largest rock in the valley.


    The Goblins and Kobolds scattered and avoided them, afraid that they might be crushed by the heedless wyverns, which would be a disaster for them.


    But then, a louder roar came from above.


    The undisputed hero of the battle, the Chimera, despite being covered in wounds, aggressively arrived at the assembly, driving away several wyverns.


    It claimed a vast area for its massive body, and no one dared to approach.


    "Brainless beast."


    Ramp stood at the front, pushing his disproportionately silver-rimmed glasses deliberately, a superior attitude.


    However, as the real elder in the valley, the steward of the Ashen Nest, and one of the few spellcasters, he indeed had the qualification.


    "Exactly, exactly."


    "Everyone knows you are the master''s true confidant."


    Kobold Jin Ya squeezed in beside Ramp, grinning and flattering, his small, hunched figure even more pronounced against the three-meter-tall Ogre.


    Since offending Goblin Chieftain Dolores last time, he had decided to cling to this Ogre Mage''s thick leg, the only way to secure his position in the nest and barely contend with those Goblins.


    Ramp snorted coldly, though inwardly overjoyed.


    "Boss, I''m so hungry."


    "Isn''t the master going to give us meat?"


    "Calling so many Goblins, the master must be agreeing to us eating Goblin meat."


    The Ogres discussed loudly without any scruples, making the nearby Goblins'' scalps tingle, instinctively moving farther away, some even considering reporting to Dolores.


    Ramp''s face instantly darkened, and he knocked the Ogre "Bighead" who raised the topic on the head with a stick.


    "Eat, eat, all you know is to eat!"


    Bighead rubbed his head, face full of grievance, trying to argue.


    Ramp sternly called over the assembled Ogres.


    He first drew a Goblin figure on the ground with a stick, then wrote a word in common language beside it, pointing at it, speaking in the gentlest tone he could muster:


    "Now, you follow me, say comrade."


    "Food!"


    The Ogres roared in unison.


    Ramp''s smile froze, his expression darkened, and the veins on his hand holding the stick bulged.


    Despite having been comrades for a long time, the Goblins watching from the side were more frightened, wishing they could sneak away immediately, afraid of being caught and eaten by some fool.


    Goblin Chieftain Dolores stood not far away, watching Ramp disciplining the Ogres, a flash of resentment in his yellow eyes. Last time, this same Ogre had caused him to lose face in front of the master.


    "Look at these Ogres."


    "I wonder what else they have in their heads besides food." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "With creatures like them, how can they manage the Ashen Nest properly?"


    The Great Goblin crossed his arms, seemingly unintentionally speaking to the Bugbear beside him. Although his voice was low, it was clear and heard by everyone nearby.


    These Ogres, not understanding what he was saying, could tell from the tone that he was mocking them, and they brandished their clubs, surrounding him.


    "Roar, roar!"


    "Do you want to turn into snacks, Goblin?"


    Several strong Bugbears immediately stood in front of the Great Goblin. Although not as tall as the Ogres, in terms of physical strength, they were no less formidable and better trained.


    Even the ordinary Goblins, albeit reluctantly, stepped out to barely provide support.


    "What do you want?"


    "Ugly big guys, get lost!"


    The Ogre Mage coldly watched the Great Goblin obstructed by the Bugbears, then spoke:


    "Captain Dolores, the master already warned you last time. Hope you''ve learned your lesson and won''t stir up trouble again."


    Though it sounded like advice, to Dolores, it was derogatory.


    The Great Goblin immediately got angry, his red skin turning even redder.


    "What do you mean, Ramp?"


    The Ogre Mage looked down at him, saying: "This assembly was personally notified by the master. If you dare cause trouble here¡ªwell, I don''t need to tell you the consequences."


    "Hmph, we''ll see."


    "Follow me."


    The Great Goblin snorted coldly, leading his subordinates away to another location.


    Dolores'' face was exceedingly grim at this moment.


    He hadn''t actually intended to conflict with the Ogres at such an important event. He just wanted to gain some advantage in words to undermine Ramp''s prestige, but instead, it had backfired, and he found himself at a disadvantage.


    Jin Ya and a few Kobolds gathered around Ramp, their expressions more fawning than ever, continuing to shower him with flattery:


    "Those crude Goblins really don''t appreciate it. Your wisdom is unmatched."


    Seeing the previously conflicted Goblins lose, the Kobolds took pleasure in it.


    "Roar¡ª"


    A distant, powerful roar echoed from above.


    Instantly, the various monsters in the valley, whether they were arguing, cursing, roaring, or fighting, all involuntarily stopped what they were doing and looked up at the sky.


    For a moment, the valley became silent, the noise ceased.


    The Red Dragon descended from the sky, spreading its wings, landing at the highest point of the cliff.


    Its shadow cast down, enveloping the many retainers.


    ¡ªThe host of this assembly had finally arrived.

 Chapter 38 Bloodline Gift (Part 1)

    Cassius stood high above, looking down at his retainers and noticed a new face watching from the corner. Ramp had previously reported to him that it should be the so-called "Black Tooth" Lizardfolk tribe.The Red Dragon saw that these Lizardfolk were quite robust, at least more suitable for the army than the current goblins and kobolds, so he said:


    "Why are you here?"


    The retainers consciously made way.


    The Lizardfolk Chieftain, Acker Longtooth, anxiously walked forward, with the Old Shaman calmly following behind.


    Acker knelt on the ground, took a deep breath, and then said, "We left our homeland due to the monsters in the cave and fled to this place. Your immense power has impressed us."


    "The Black Tooth tribe is willing to submit under your mighty wings, becoming the most loyal retainers of the great Red Dragon."


    "This represents the utmost sincerity of our tribe."


    "We present all these to you."


    The Lizardfolk Old Shaman pointed behind him with his wooden staff, and several strong Lizardfolk brought forward heavy treasure chests.


    The chests were opened, revealing gleaming gold.


    The surrounding retainers could not help but widen their eyes at the sight, but quickly averted their gaze.


    ¡ªFor this would be the treasure solely belonging to the Red Dragon, and anyone daring to covet it would face the wrath of the Red Dragon.


    Even the ever-greedy Chimera turned its avaricious dragon head away, deliberately not looking directly, only sneaking peeks out of the corner of its eye.


    Cassius, standing high above, remained expressionless, the gleam of gold reflecting in his vertical pupils.


    But what he first noticed was not the gold, but the Old Shaman behind the Lizardfolk Chieftain.


    [Based on your own strength and the opponent''s status as "submissive," you can observe the following information]


    [Lizardfolk Shaman]


    Medium humanoid (Lizardfolk), absolutely neutral


    Name: Koda Blackscale


    AC: 13 (natural armor)


    Speed: 30 feet, swim 30 feet


    Strength¡ª15


    Agility¡ª10


    Constitution¡ª13


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª15


    Charisma¡ª9


    Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +4, Survival +6


    Senses: Dark Vision 30 feet, Passive Perception 14


    Language: Draconic


    Actions: Multi-Attack, Biting, Claw attack


    Special Abilities:


    Hold Breath: The Lizardfolk can hold its breath for 15 minutes.


    Shape Change: Can transform into a crocodile using magic and maintain that form for 1 hour.


    Occupational Level: Druid 5


    Casting (Lizardfolk form only):


    As a 5th-level spellcaster, the Lizardfolk Shaman has prepared the following druid spells:


    Cantrips: Druid Tricks, Fire Ignition Spell, Thorn Whip


    1st level: Entangle, Cloud Mist Technique


    2nd level: Scorching Metal, Spike Growth


    3rd level: Summon Animals (Reptiles only), Plant Growth


    Challenge Level: 5 (1800 xp)


    Assessment: "The Lizardfolk Shaman is the most special existence in the entire tribe. They are often wise and powerful, leading the entire tribe."


    "An actively presenting Druid?"


    "Interesting."


    Cassius thought.


    "That Shaman, are you a spellcaster?"


    The Lizardfolk Old Shaman took a step forward, slightly nodded, and calmly replied, "Great Red Dragon, your power and wisdom amaze me."


    "I have merely taken a shallow step on the Way of Nature, learning some minor tricks." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then he raised his withered wooden staff and pointed to an empty space.


    "Entangle."


    The power of nature responded to the Old Shaman''s call, and the Magic Web rippled subtly as vines and weeds instantly grew tangled on that patch of ground.


    Unlike the Arcane Magic of Magicians and Mages, druid spells were classified as Divine Magic. These spellcasters relied on divine power from nature to invoke the Magic Web.


    Facing a spellcaster who came to him voluntarily, Cassius immediately said, "A good spell, the gates of Ashen Nest will be open to you."


    "I hope you will prove your loyalty to me."


    "Praise to you, great master."


    The Lizardfolk quietly withdrew and returned to their dark corner, never to partake in any disputes over the other retainers'' positions.


    Cassius liked such sensible subordinates.


    The Lizardfolk were absolutely neutral cold-blooded animals, lacking desires, viewing good and evil as foreign concepts, acting only for survival, which fit Cassius''s principles.


    Such qualities made them excellent choices for managing human cities, or even players, in the future. At least they could maintain basic order without being swayed by personal desires.


    "Simple and useful tools."


    This was Cassius''s high evaluation of them.


    But subduing the Lizardfolk was just a minor episode; the main event of the ritual was next.


    Bloodline Gift.


    As he gazed down at the expectant, puzzled, or anxious eyes of his retainers, Cassius finally opened his mouth slowly under the watchful gaze of everyone:


    "I once told you that my retainers should never be content with being weak. I shall bestow upon you great power and long life."


    "And today, it is time to fulfill that promise."


    "I will grant the outstanding among you¡ªthe Dragon Vein!"


    Instantly, the retainers clamored, astonished if they had even a bit of intelligence.


    Ogre Lamp''s eyes were filled with tears, moved by this gift. The kobolds, distantly related to dragons, were shocked; even the Lizardfolk, once worshippers of dragons, were incredulous and in awe.


    "This, how can this be!"


    "That is the Dragon Bloodline!"


    "The master''s generosity amazes me."


    It''s known that dragon bloodlines are extremely precious throughout Erezer.


    Aside from reproduction, granting a true dragon vein normally required the True Blood of dragons, whose every drop in their main blood vessels was a potent source of magical power. Even a True Dragon granting it willingly would leave them weak and drained for days.


    Therefore, no one could imagine a stingy True Dragon making such a generous gift.


    But they didn''t know, Cassius needed only ordinary blood as a ritual lead, with the rest of the "Bloodline Gift" being a special skill he had earned from an achievement.


    This was almost a cost-free deal.


    And the "Bloodline Gift" was divided into significant active gifts and more subtle passive ones. The former Cassius planned to bestow only on the best retainers, while the latter would be conducted within the entire Ashen Nest.


    In the center of the valley stood a more than three-meter-high giant stone, with a flat and spacious top.


    The middle of the stone had a shallow pit.


    Cassius had informed Ramp in advance to issue the order prohibiting anyone from approaching this stone.


    The retainers had believed it was where Cassius landed, so no one dared to approach. But now, they looked at the stone with eager eyes, recognizing it as the "Promised Land of Blessings."


    Whether they were goblins, kobolds, or even wyverns, their breaths quickened.

 Chapter 39 Bloodline Gift (II)

    "Silence!""You must submit to me absolutely."


    Cassius fully unleashed his leader''s aura, causing all present retainers to feel a heavy pressure from above.


    Whether it was the wyverns, chimeras, or ogres, they all involuntarily bowed and prostrated themselves.


    Only after all retainers had bowed did Red Dragon, Cassius slowly use his sharp claws to cut open the skin on his palm.


    His palm was not covered by scales but had thick, tough skin, making it difficult even for the red dragon himself to slice it open.


    The scratch widened, and warm blood slowly seeped from the wound, gathering and dripping.


    "Drip...Drip...Drip..."


    The bright red blood continuously dripped onto the boulder, pooling in a shallow pit.


    The retainers still had their heads bowed, and the air was filled with a silent atmosphere.


    No one dared to look up, not even to divert their gaze from the ground, for fear of angering the red dragon and facing a tragic end.


    "Bloodline Gift,"


    Cassius murmured.


    As the special ability was activated under the red dragon''s will.


    A strange power emerged from the leader''s aura, connecting the red dragon with the blood.


    Instantly, Cassius felt the dripping blood was no longer a dead object but something closely linked to his body, to his own bloodline.


    It was almost like an extension of his bloodline, able to extend his influence even further and deeper.


    When all the blood was completely transformed, Cassius could clearly feel a part of his strength being divided.


    But this act was not purely giving; it was more like a tree sowing its seeds, to be replenished when they "bear fruit."


    The still warm blood in the shallow pit slowly flowed.


    It contained unbelievable power.


    This was the Blood of Grace.


    The retainers did not know to what extent or if the ritual had succeeded, so they still did not dare to look up.


    The air in the valley was nearly stagnant, with thousands of monsters crowded within, yet it was extraordinarily silent.


    Finally, Cassius broke the silence.


    "You may rise."


    Upon hearing their master''s command, the retainers in the valley heaved a sigh of relief and stood up in large numbers.


    But as soon as they noticed the blood slowly flowing in the shallow pit, they held their breath again, hearts pounding.


    Who wouldn''t wish to be the lucky one to gain long life and great power?


    "Ramp,"


    Cassius called out the first name.


    This ogre mage was personally chosen by the red dragon as the chief steward, a rare monster spellcaster, and a key contributor to the Ashen Nest''s prosperity. Remarkably, he had been completely convinced, wholeheartedly dedicated to the red dragon''s so-called grand blueprint.


    Cassius needed him to maintain authority, possess greater power, and set a positive example for all the monsters of the Ashen Nest.


    Ramp pretended to push his glasses calmly, as if he had long expected to be the first to be gifted.


    But in reality, he had been trembling with nervousness until the red dragon named him, barely calming his erratic emotions, displaying a look of knowing exactly what was happening.


    Ramp struggled to climb the rock and quietly waited.


    The blood flowed backward, surging into the ogre''s mouth.


    The blood that entered Ramp''s mouth was just a portion of it, not much for an ogre over three meters tall.


    Usually, this big-bellied ogre could even drink an entire mammoth''s blood dry.


    But as soon as the "Blood of Grace" entered his mouth, Ramp''s body convulsed violently.


    His entire bulk of fat trembled incessantly.


    "Ah¡ª"


    As the immense elemental energy flowed down his throat.


    The ogre''s eyes turned crimson, his face contorted. He opened his gaping maw, capable of swallowing a human head, looking every bit like a monster that had lost all sanity, with none of his previous pretended calmness.


    But the scorching fire element continued to travel down his esophagus into his stomach, causing his abdomen to turn as red as a blazing flame burning inside him.


    Ogres were known to eat anything, with incredibly strong digestive systems, but at that moment, for the first time, he felt unimaginable agony in his stomach.


    "It''s burning, it''s burning!"


    Ramp could no longer stand; he curled up on the ground, his huge body rolling and struggling, his arms pounding the ground to vent his pain.


    He hammered the boulder with a loud thud, while the dragon blood churned in his belly.


    Under the ogre''s thrashing, the blood containing elemental power entered his bloodstream, pumped by his intensely beating heart to every part of his body, about to bring a complete transformation.


    "Huff, huff..."


    He panted heavily on the rock, his enormous body swelling and reddening, steam rising from his skin. At that moment, he was like an overinflated balloon, seemingly about to burst at any moment.


    The dragonkin''s power was too strong for this lowly-blooded ogre.


    Ramp let out one low howl after another, his voice growing weaker, but his eyes gradually cleared, allowing anyone to feel his life force slowly waning.


    The dragon blood greedily drained his life, transforming into immense elemental energy, filling his body.


    Was it going to fail?


    Cassius did not make a sound, just quietly observed.


    If it failed, he would feel the loss of a valuable subordinate, but that was the extent of it.


    The ogres clenched their wooden clubs tightly, tense. They didn''t have much kinship among their kind, even willing to devour a fallen comrade''s corpse without hesitation. But for this resourceful leader, they still wished for his survival.


    On the other side, Dolores, the goblin chieftain, began to breathe rapidly.


    He had been suppressed by Ramp for too long, and if the ogre died, with the other retainers not up to the task, he could seize the opportunity to rise and become the rightful chief steward of the Ashen Nest.


    Thinking of this, the corners of Dolores'' mouth lifted slightly.


    At that moment, a sudden change occurred.


    "Ah¡ª"


    The long-silent ogre let out a heavy roar.


    He was on all fours in a strange posture, and his swollen body continued to expand, greedily absorbing the surrounding energy, making the nearby air dry up.


    One breath.


    Two breaths.


    Three breaths.


    His body heaved up and down.


    His size grew from three meters to four meters, finally stopping at over five meters.


    His back protruded with spiny ridges.


    His limbs also became sharper, turning into a form resembling dragon claws.


    His thick skin cracked open, forcibly torn apart by his own body, revealing newly grown, incredibly hard red scales beneath, like a snake shedding its skin.


    Only then did Cassius realize, the ogre mage was not passively accepting the changes brought by the gift but was using the elemental power contained in the dragon blood to trigger a magic web, constructing a spell prototype similar to the "Fireball Technique" within himself to more thoroughly absorb the energy from the dragon blood.


    This method was extremely risky but also highly rewarding.


    Thanks to Ramp''s deep research, his control over spells had reached a terrifying level.


    S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 40 Bloodline Gift (III)

    Thick white smoke filled the surroundings, and the monsters couldn''t see what was happening above. All they could see was a massive black shadow faintly emerging."Roar¡ª¡ª"


    Ramp let out a dragon-like roar.


    As the smoke dispersed, he tore open the discarded hide, supporting himself with both arms as he slowly stood up.


    Erezer''s first Dragon Vein Ogre was thus born¡ªif the aesthetic tastes of the giant dragons weren''t so absurd.


    The monster before them could no longer be called an ogre.


    He stood over five meters tall, with a width to match. His former kin would look like short dwarves standing before him.


    That still stout and hulking body was now covered in bright crimson scales.


    The originally stubby fingers had become long and sharp, transforming from humanoid hands into claws with dragon-like features.


    Ramp slowly opened his eyes.


    His pupils were golden.


    Several rows of red horns protruded from his forehead, making his already hideous and frightening head even more ferocious.


    If one could cut through his flesh, they would discover that the blood flowing within this ogre mage was scorching hot, filled with frenzied elements. Dragon-like vascular structures were gradually forming within his body.


    Compared to an ogre, Ramp would now be better described as a "Giant Dragon Demon."


    After all, he could no longer be considered a pure giant subspecies but a dragon vein creature with the true blood of dragons flowing through his veins. His previously short lifespan of a few decades would now extend to several centuries.


    Ramp could now even breathe fire.


    On Cassius''s retainer panel, Ramp''s stats had undergone earth-shattering changes.


    [Dragon Vein Ogre Mage - Ramp]


    Name: Ramp


    Race: Dragon Vein Ogre


    Giant Dragon Vein Giant (Fire), Neutral Evil


    AC: 16 (natural armor)


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª20


    Agility¡ª¡ª10


    Constitution¡ª¡ª18


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª17


    Perception¡ª¡ª8


    Charisma¡ª¡ª13


    Proficiencies: Reading +6, Arcane +4, Hunting +4, Ruling +4, Herbalism +2, Persuasion +2, Military +2


    Senses: Passive Perception 14 feet


    Languages: Common, Draconic, Giant


    Actions: Slam, Bite, Pound, Claw


    Special Abilities: Breath Weapon (Fire)


    Combat Equipment: Ring of Wisdom''s Study, Secret Technique Ring, Albert''s Mithril Bracelet


    Occupational Level: 6 Mage


    Spellcasting Level: 6


    Spells:


    Cantrip: Fire Arrow


    1st Level: Burning Hands


    2nd Level: Searing Ray


    3rd Level: Fireball Technique


    Challenge Level: 10 (7000xp)


    Assessment: "This Dragon Vein Ogre will turn you into roast meat and swallow you whole."


    His challenge level had soared to level 10, and key values such as strength, constitution, and agility had seen earth-shattering changes, introducing the special ability of breath attack.


    Simultaneously, Cassius could clearly sense that due to the repression from deep within his bloodline, the bond between him and his retainers had become even tighter. They could no longer defy orders. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even the thought of rebellion would be detected.


    "The effect is quite remarkable."


    Cassius said joyfully.


    However, this outcome was achieved at the risk of Ramp''s life and through deep research into the Magic Web.


    Cassius knew this wasn''t generally reproducible.


    "Master, I did it."


    The tone was filled with uncontrollable excitement and joy, along with the satisfaction of a mage successfully completing an experiment.


    The monster more aptly called a "Giant Dragon Demon" knelt on the giant rock to thank the Red Dragon, then leaped down, causing a rumble on the ground.


    "Boss, you''re frigging huge!"


    "Think of how much more you can eat now!"


    The ogres, holding to the principle that "big is good," cheered for their boss''s new form. In their simple, brute minds, the only thing they could think of was that getting bigger meant eating more food.


    But off to the side, Dolores''s face was clouded with gloom.


    "Chimera,"


    Cassius called out the second name.


    The Chimera was the Red Dragon''s first retainer, the top combat force of the Ashen Nest.


    Moreover, it was already a distant relative of dragons. Cassius wanted to conduct an experiment to see how the "Bloodline Gift" would affect a dragon vein creature.


    Even if it failed, the Red Dragon wouldn''t feel the slightest remorse. After all, such a chaotic evil beast had no loyalty.


    The three-headed monster landed on the giant rock, folding its wings and lowering its heads submissively.


    Blood entered the dragon head''s mouth.


    The Chimera let out a low, suppressed growl as the blood boiled within its body.


    But unlike the ogre, it didn''t experience much pain. To this creature, already dragonborn, absorbing dragon blood wasn''t that difficult.


    The monsters watched quietly from around, noting that the Chimera''s reaction wasn''t as intense as that of the ogre.


    As the blood spread throughout its body, its three heads rose high.


    The dragon head even spewed fire uncontrollably.


    Though the Chimera had three distinct heads, its will was still unified, with different heads representing its triple-sided personality.


    The dragon head drove it to attack, plunder, and hoard treasures. The lion''s nature incited a desire to hunt powerful creatures within its territory, while the goat''s head made it vicious and stubborn, willing to fight to the death.


    The original Chimera had a lion head as the main head.


    But as the blood of grace filled its entire being, the dragon head began to expand continuously. Horn-like spikes extended from the back of its neck onto its spine, replacing the lush mane, and scales began to grow where lion skin once covered.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The Chimera''s dragon head raised high, emitting a loud roar.


    Its body rapidly swelled, growing visibly by the second.


    Though it didn''t absorb energy as exaggeratedly as the ogre, it grew to over eight meters before slowing to a halt.


    Its dragon head grew much faster than the heads of the lion or goat, thoroughly taking over its personality.


    Compared to the previous chaotic, mismatched creature, the Chimera now resembled a distorted Red Dragon, with the goat and lion heads becoming extraneous appendages.


    "Roar..."


    After fully assimilating the blood, the Chimera again lowered its three heads submissively, letting out a low growl.


    Cassius could feel that due to both the increase in power and bloodline suppression, the Chimera was now completely devoid of rebellious thoughts, its only desire being to cling to their master.


    As for what the future held, that remained uncertain. After all, loyalty wasn''t in a dragon''s nature.


    Cassius''s retainer panel changed once again.


    [Dragon-like Chimera]


    Challenge Level: 9 (5000xp)


    This Chimera''s challenge level reached 9, just below Ramp''s.


    The power of its flame breath had become even more terrifying, and its scaly armor had significantly enhanced its natural armor value. The blades of the Giant Eagle Knights, which once could hurt it, now had little effect.


    "How can a mere beast receive the blessing before me..."


    Seeing the Chimera receive the blessing first, the face of Great Goblin Dolores grew progressively darker.


    But due to the presence of the Red Dragon above, he could only suppress his fury and stand in place, breathing more heavily.

 Chapter 41 Bloodline Gift (IV)

    "Dolores."Cassius called out the next name.


    As the military chief of the Ashen Nest, as well as the designer of the trenches, fences, gates, watchtowers, and pitfalls at the Rock Fortress, Dolores did indeed need to enhance some strength as a guarantee.


    The Goblin chieftain let out a sigh of relief.


    This at least proved that his status in the Ashen Nest had not decreased too much¡ªafter all, such creatures love power even more than their zeal for war.


    Dolores climbed onto the giant rock, kneeling on one knee in anticipation.


    The blood flowed into his mouth.


    Scorching.


    This was the only sensation the Goblin felt.


    The blood went down his throat like boiling magma, churning inside him, burning every inch of his body. He finally understood Ramp''s pain.


    But he still maintained his kneeling posture, trembling all over, his jaws clenched so tight that his teeth were nearly breaking.


    "I will not die here."


    "I will climb higher¡ªat least higher than that foolish Ogre."


    This was the only thought in the Goblin''s mind at that moment.


    The Goblin''s originally crimson skin became translucent from the scorching elemental energy, faintly glowing with a red hue.


    His body moved rhythmically.


    Every heartbeat, every breath pumped Dragon Blood to every corner of his body, and through his slightly transparent flesh, his pulsating veins could be seen.


    "Perhaps the effect is more apparent on non-Dragon Vein creatures."


    Cassius watched the Goblin''s transformation calmly, making a mental note.


    "Ah¡ª¡ª"


    Finally, the Goblin could no longer bear the scorching heat and cried out in pain.


    His body began to swell dramatically, with scale-like protrusions appearing under his skin.


    As his roar grew more heart-wrenching, the Goblin''s body rapidly expanded at a visible speed.


    His height shot from around 1.8 meters directly to 2.5 meters. Scarlet scales forcibly burst through his fragile skin, emitting white smoke as they were exposed to the air.


    "Huff, huff..."


    He opened his mouth slightly, exhaling bursts of white smoke.


    The originally sharp yellow teeth became as sharp as dragon teeth.


    The scales even extended to his face, with fringes appearing on his ears, blending into the scales on his cheeks. Two small protruding horns also grew on his forehead.


    A Dragon Vein Goblin was born.


    His body underwent a tremendous transformation, his strength surged dramatically, and his size rivaled that of a regular Ogre.


    However, as a creature more inclined towards legion warfare, he did not awaken Flame Breath but gained the ability to cast the spell "Fire Arrow," along with a heavy set of protective scales, making him more resistant to heat.


    Originally having a lifespan comparable to humans and often dying in battle due to their love for war, the Goblin now became a "Long-Lived Race" with a lifespan of around three hundred years¡ªalthough this was still short in the eyes of a giant dragon.


    [Dragon Vein Goblin Chieftain]


    Challenge Level: 7 (2900xp)


    "Grateful for your generous gift."


    "I can''t wait¡ªto taste the blood of my enemies on the battlefield."


    Dolores panted.


    His already red face flushed with excitement.


    The Goblin chieftain felt an unprecedented surge of strength within him. As a creature naturally fond of war, he had a strong urge to unleash this power on the battlefield.


    "Not bad."


    Cassius remarked.


    Dolores lacked spell support, so having this level of enhancement was quite commendable.


    "Stieg."


    Cassius called out the next name.


    The largest of the Bipedal Wyverns in the group immediately became excited upon hearing the call.


    Drooling thick saliva, it jumped onto the giant rock, using the wing bones of its forelimbs to support itself against the rock, even rhythmically swaying its thick, barbed tail.


    This name certainly did not originate from this world, instead it was a little joke by Cassius.


    After making an example by "killing a chicken to scare the monkeys," he casually appointed the largest of the remaining wyverns as the new leader of the wyvern group.


    Wyverns, being creatures of low intelligence, often had no names.


    When Cassius saw the Bipedal Wyvern with its forelimbs on the ground, he thought of the famous dragon Stieg from movies in his previous life and whimsically gave it that name.


    The wyvern called "Stieg" screeched excitedly, drooling as its saliva dripped onto the rock surface.


    These beasts, with bloodlines of both dragons and griffins, longed for the blood of a True Dragon.


    The blood flowed into its mouth.


    The Bipedal Wyvern leaned on its forewings and emitted deep growls.


    Although it had dragon blood within its body, that bloodline had been diluted over countless generations, becoming extremely sparse and nowhere near comparable to the Blood of Grace from the Red Dragon.


    Thus, when the blood filled with frenzied elements surged into its body, the beast was still in immense pain.


    With the blood churning within, the Bipedal Wyvern began to roll around on the giant rock.


    It let out ear-piercing screams.


    The noise was so sharp and grating, like metal scraps rubbing and grinding against each other, that the monsters watching felt unbearable agony.


    The wyvern''s body also visibly swelled.


    It grew from over five meters long to more than six meters, and then to over seven meters before the expansion finally ceased.


    Originally covered in mucus and wrinkled skin, it grew hard, scarlet scales. The fleshly protrusions turned into keratinized spikes, and its mouth, which could previously only emit foul-smelling mucus, could now spew scorching flames.


    The wyvern had become more like a True Dragon. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, it was still a thin, ground-crawling creature.


    [Ancestral Bipedal Wyvern]


    Challenge Level: 8 (3900xp)


    "Not bad, at least the Northwind Eagle Guards won''t beat you so easily now."


    Cassius commented expressionlessly.


    The Bipedal Wyvern spewed a jet of flame into the sky, then jumped off the giant rock, raising its head proudly towards its companions, proving it truly was a beast.


    At this moment, there was not much Dragon Blood left in the shallow pit.


    Only a thin layer remained.


    The blood flowed slowly.


    Exuding a tempting metallic scent.


    By previous standards, there should be enough for one more gift.


    Presently, thousands of eyes in the valley were fixed intently on the remaining blood. They panted heavily, their gazes feverish, almost setting their eyes aflame.


    Having witnessed several transformations, the blood had become a definitive symbol of power in their eyes.


    Although the transformation was painful, such pain was insignificant compared to immense power.


    Now, the indisputably highest-ranked beings in the Ashen Nest had finished their share.


    Could someone else have a chance to partake?


    The valley remained silent, but the breathing grew heavier, and the pounding heartbeats became more evident, like heavy drumbeats.


    Bugbears, with beads of sweat rolling down their fur-covered foreheads, did not even blink, their gazes fixated on the pool of blood.


    The Lizardfolk stood motionless in the dark corners, observing secretly, watching the blood with dead-eyed intensity.


    The wyverns stretched their necks, mouths slightly open, saliva dripping from both sides, with a look of longing in their fierce eyes.


    Who would be the lucky one?


    They all waited in anticipation.

 Chapter 42 Bloodline Gift (V)

    In this fanatical yet silent strange atmosphere, Cassius uttered the last name."Jin Ya."


    Suddenly, all the monsters were stunned.


    No one had expected that the final recipient of the "gift" would be a weak kobold.


    Even Jin Ya stood frozen for a moment, only reacting after a while.


    The kobold''s ugly face immediately flashed a fawning smile, and with the help of several of its kin as makeshift stair steps, it finally managed to climb atop the giant rock towering several times its height.


    "How is this possible?"


    Dolores looked at the flattered kobold, steam puffing from his mouth, gritting his teeth, wishing he could tear it to pieces.


    His Bugbear underlings were even more resentful, their sturdy arms bulging with veins, thicker than the kobold''s thin waist.


    These monsters grew up on Stormy Ridge, worshipping strength from a young age. Naturally, they were deeply resentful of being dominated by such a weak kobold.


    But they dared not challenge the Red Dragon''s authority and could only swallow their frustration.


    Cassius actually didn''t care much about the selection.


    After bestowing the previous gifts, the combat power within the Ashen Nest had become quite formidable, enough to be considered a local tyrant in the Anzeta Wasteland.


    He also considered that someone had to dig for gold, so the kobolds needed some hope too. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Besides, kobolds were natural retainers of giant dragons.


    These oviparous creatures matured quickly and could live as "dragon-like creatures" for over a century, digging gold for their masters everywhere. However, due to their frail bodies, few lived to natural death.


    After being around dragons for a long time, they could even undergo unpredictable mutations.


    This time, Cassius intended to conduct an experiment with the gift.


    Even if it failed, the loss would be negligible. A kobold with a challenge level of only one-fourth, dying one year could yield hundreds more the next.


    The ritual began under Cassius''s control.


    Blood flowed into the kobold''s mouth.


    Due to its short and frail body, it consumed much less blood compared to the previous recipients.


    "Awooo¡ª¡ª"


    The kobold let out suppressed low howls.


    The scorching blood flowed into its body, roasting its flesh, causing a faint red glow from within.


    All the monsters watched the kobold intently, out of jealousy, resentment, or unwillingness. Most of the retainers silently hoped the kobold would suffer to death.


    Suddenly, there was an abrupt change.


    The kobold lifted its head and let out frenzied, dog-like barks, with thick saliva dripping from its open mouth, steaming.


    Its body swelled rapidly, a huge bulge forming on its back.


    The kobold''s thin body greedily absorbed every bit of energy from the blood, visibly growing sturdier.


    Its size grew from less than one meter to nearly two meters.


    A strange power seeped from the depths of its bloodline.


    There was a ripping sound like tearing leather, and the enormous bulges forced open the skin.


    A pair of brand-new, mucus-covered wings appeared on the kobold''s back!


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The kobold leader clumsily spread its wings.


    Its mouth emitted sounds no longer like barking but more akin to a dragon''s roar.


    "How can this be!"


    "This is..."


    "It''s Urd, by Tiamat, it''s Urd!"


    "An Urd born after!"


    Some of the older, more knowledgeable kobolds among the tribe cried out in amazement.


    A few kobolds were naturally born with leathery wings and could fly; they were called Urds.


    Urd wings were seen as gifts from the Dragon Queen Tiamat, and because of this, they were envied by the wingless kobolds, causing constant strife between the two.


    But now, the kobold''s dragon wings grew postnatally, making the kobolds feel not only jealous but also endlessly eager.


    They could become Urds too!


    Cassius watched the winged kobold, his eyes narrowing slightly¡ªhe also detected a slight change in the Magic Web as a sorcerer.


    Sure enough, he closely examined the retainer''s status information.


    [Your retainer, Kobold Leader, has undergone an unpredictable mutation due to the Bloodline Gift.]


    The manifestation of sorcery talents was often pure luck.


    Some magicians couldn''t even pinpoint the source of their power, but others could recall strange pivotal moments in their lives:


    The touch of a witch, drinking from a mysterious Magic Spring, blessings from Heavenly Creatures to newborns, all could spark the flame of sorcery talents.


    Exposure to the elemental forces of the Inner Plane or chaotic magic in the Sea of Chaos, or glimpsing the inner workings of reality, could also be opportunities to gain sorcery power.


    Drinking the Blood of Grace was undoubtedly a major "opportunity."


    [Your retainer, Kobold Leader, has awakened the dragonkin magic overflowing in their ancestral bloodline due to the Bloodline Gift.]


    [Kobold Leader has unlocked the occupation of Dragon Vein Sorcerer-Red Dragon; his innate magic comes from dragonkin magic, fundamentally mingled in blood and inherited from his ancestors.]


    What started as a casual experiment added another spellcaster to the Ashen Nest, which greatly pleased Cassius.


    "A Kobold Dragon Vein Sorcerer, interesting."


    Cassius watched the transforming Jin Ya.


    The winged kobold, or rather, the Urd panted heavily, with steam rising from between its scales.


    After several breaths, it barely calmed the raging elemental energy within.


    "Huff, huff, huff..."


    The transformed kobold shook its body slightly, feeling the unfamiliar powerful force within and the spells suddenly appearing in its mind.


    Jin Ya looked up at the Red Dragon, his eyes filled with unprecedented fanaticism, shedding a few genuine tears from the corners of his eyes.


    The humiliation of being enslaved by humans, the fear of being hunted by monsters, and years of constant fleeing¡ªall dissipated at that moment.


    At this moment, he truly regarded the Red Dragon as a living demigod.


    However, the Red Dragon didn''t care about the kobold''s loyalty or "fervent faith." Instead, he was more curious about what spells the kobold had awakened.


    "Cast your spell."


    Cassius said with great interest.


    Unlike the player panel''s occupation system, original sorcerers in this world couldn''t choose their spells; the power of sorcery chose them and allowed them to master innate spells.


    Therefore, most sorcerers were only proficient in one or two spells and used them skillfully.


    "Yes¡­great master."


    Without hesitation, Jin Ya followed the inheritance in his mind, channeling the unknown power within.


    He slowly raised his arms, thumbs together, other fingers spread, guiding the Magic Web to slightly gather the surrounding fire elemental energy.


    "Boom!"


    A cone of flame several feet long instantly spewed from his palms.


    "Burning Hands, a good first-tier spell, very fitting for a Red Dragon Sorcerer character."


    Cassius silently assessed.

 Chapter 43 - Arrangements by All Parties

    Cassius stared at the brand-new retainer panel in front of him; this guy had truly leaped over the dragon gate, soaring into the skies.[Dragon Winged Kobold Warlock]


    Medium humanoid (Kobold), Lawful Evil


    AC: 16 (natural armor)


    Speed: 30 ft, Fly 50 ft


    Strength: 15


    Dexterity: 14


    Constitution: 16


    Intelligence: 10


    Perception: 8


    Charisma: 11


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 ft, Passive Perception 8


    Languages: Common, Draconic


    Proficiencies: Construction +4, Trap +4, Digging +6, Stealth +6


    Traits: Pack Tactics, Flame Resistance


    Actions: Dagger, Sling, Claw Attack, Biting


    Occupational Level: Warlock 1


    Spellcasting Level: 1


    Cantrips: Fire Arrow, Light Spell


    1st level: Burning Hands


    Challenge Level: 5 (1700xp)


    This kobold''s challenge level had soared from a pitiful 1/8 level to 5th level, now capable of contending with a squad of well-trained soldiers, barely making its way into the high-level combat strength of the Ashen Nest.


    Dolores gazed at the transformed kobold below, arms crossed, with a rather unpleasant expression.


    "Jin Ya..."


    The Dragon Vein Goblin murmured the name.


    Before, this guy could have been kicked away effortlessly by him.


    But now, the kobold, or rather Urd, was about two meters tall, capable of flight, and mastered spells, becoming a rather troublesome opponent.


    Since that conflict, this kobold had firmly clutched onto the thigh of the Ogre Mage, making Ramp''s position within the Ashen Nest unshakable.


    Ramp, observing from not far away, merely raised the corners of his mouth slightly, his eyes glimmering with unknown thoughts.


    "Not bad at all."


    The Ogre instinctively tried to push up his spectacles on the bridge of his nose, only to find that his delicate silver-rimmed glasses had long been shattered during his transformation.


    He regrettably lowered his hand, secretly planning to snatch a more durable pair.


    The gift ceremony finally concluded.


    Cassius slowly stretched his wings, casting shadows over the myriad monsters below.


    He fully harnessed his [Leader''s Aura], exuding an indisputable influence that made all the retainers present submit from the depths of their hearts.


    "A soldier who does not aspire to be a general is not a good soldier. My Ashen Nest only needs the strong, and absolutely no useless fools."


    "Continue to fight for me."


    "Prove your loyalty to me with blood and fire."


    "You can also gain immense power and endless lifespan." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the beneficiaries of the gifts, the clan leaders were the first to cheer.


    The wyvern spewed scorching flames into the sky, the kobold unfurled its newly acquired wings, and Ramp showcased his massive body and sturdy scales.


    With Cassius''s tacit approval and even encouragement, they flaunted their newly acquired power recklessly.


    The monsters within the Ashen Nest cheered along as well. Be it kobolds, goblins, or ogres, they roared and screeched wildly, their hearts brimming with fervor and a boundless yearning for power.


    The clamor of the celebrations echoed within the valley, lingering endlessly.


    ...


    January.


    Feather-like snowflakes drifted in the sky, dancing wildly with the howling gale, while the pervasive ice fog reduced the visibility outside to less than a hundred meters.


    It was clearly the coldest season in the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    That unforgettable "gift ceremony" had been over for more than three months.


    Shortly after his transformation, Jin Ya was dispatched to a dark mine, leading his over three hundred kin to dig for gold for the Red Dragon in the warm underground.


    When the snow melted in the coming spring, the kobolds would transport the gold back to the Ashen Nest.


    They also received the task of searching for elemental ores¡ªCassius was seeking energy for the Eye of the Storm King.


    During this period, many creatures heard of it and joined the Ashen Nest.


    The goblin warlord "Skull Face" fled to escape the Northern Kingdom''s pursuit, bringing his hundred-strong goblin army and a large amount of wealth to seek refuge. Just a week later, the strange goblin warlord drowned in a cesspool due to an "accident," and naturally, his remnants fell under the command of the Dragon Vein Goblin Dolores.


    Dolores finally had the exceptional troops he had yearned for, rather than the weak and cowardly common goblins who dared not even step onto the battlefield.


    Later, more than thirty half-goat people came to seek refuge, hoping to spend the winter in the warm Ashen Nest.


    These half-goat people were physically weak with no clear moral compass, driven by curiosity and hedonism, a noisy race. But their pan flute performance, akin to bards, could produce certain magical effects, thus they were accepted by Cassius.


    Despite the cold season, the Ashen Nest remained relatively warm.


    Partly because the Stormy Ridge wasn''t at the northernmost end of Anzeta, and the undulating mountains blocked the invading cold wind, preserving a slight warmth in the valley.


    Especially in the Red Dragon''s abode, it was particularly warm.


    At that moment, within the Giant''s Mouth Cave, Cassius slowly opened his sleepy eyes, his massive body lying in the place with the most abundant geothermal heat in the cave.


    "Master, I have brought the person you wanted."


    Dolores, leading several goblin guards, respectfully walked into the cave entrance.


    The guards were carrying a ragged, messy-haired human, the very slave trader Hart whom the Red Dragon had personally captured earlier.


    "Did you accomplish the task I gave you?"


    "It was very successful, Master."


    Dolores answered.


    After speaking, the goblin guards on both sides pulled out several scrolls from their backs and handed them over. They were written in Common, the handwriting was scrawled, with some crude drawings.


    The goblins were well-versed in all military and war skills, including interrogation. The task given by the Red Dragon was to extract all the human''s knowledge and ensure its accuracy.


    Hart, merely a craven slave trader, succumbed to the simplest threat, revealing everything he knew without any harsh methods from Dolores.


    "Then withdraw."


    "Yes."


    Dolores and the guards retreated leisurely.


    Cassius gazed at the anxious human before him and said:


    "Long time no see, Hart."


    Hart trembled all over, his legs gave way, and he knelt on the ground, his voice quivering:


    "Lord Cassius, master of the Ashen Nest, mighty Red Dragon, I realize my mistake. I am willing to compensate for all losses, just spare my insignificant life."


    The Red Dragon grinned, revealing his sharp dragon teeth, a smile that sent chills down Hart''s spine.


    Cassius said: "Not only do I not need your compensation but I will also let you go back."


    Hart was stunned and subconsciously asked:


    "Back, back where?"


    "Sgurr Town. I might have some common ground with your baron."


    Hart''s mind recalled the baron''s cold gaze, and he murmured: "The baron, he, he will kill me."


    The Red Dragon slowly got up, looking down at the trembling human, with a playful glint in his golden vertical pupils.


    "No, he won''t."

 Chapter 44 Sgurr Town

    ```htmlNighttime, the snow was nearing its end, with only a few scattered snowflakes falling. The ground was covered in a thick layer of snow.


    The town was dark and silent. People closed their doors and windows tightly, calling their children inside. Only the Baron''s mansion was brightly lit.


    The stone tablet at the crossroads was inscribed with a name: Sgurr Town.


    This was a small town on the outskirts of the Rackham Family''s territory. The nearby land was open and fertile, ideal for farming. A hundred years ago, an ancestor of the Rackham Family led his subordinates to cultivate this area, establishing Sgurr Town.


    It was also a bustling town with over a thousand residents, providing a constant supply of food to the surrounding areas.


    But due to its remote location, Frost Giants, Snowmen, and even White Dragons frequently visited, causing the town to be rebuilt several times, leaving only about four hundred residents.


    Most of them were serfs who couldn''t leave. The rest were a few merchants, millers, grooms, and attendants serving the nobles.


    The Rackham Family only assigned unimportant family members to this place to provide food to Northwind Castle.


    And shortly after Baron Todd was dispatched here, the town began to have rumors of "Night Demons." Several young women mysteriously disappeared at night, making the town''s atmosphere tense, with residents living in constant fear. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Inside the Baron''s Mansion.


    Baron Todd Rackman sat at a luxurious wooden table, his hands supporting his chin, his face solemn. A silver cup on the table held a red, viscous liquid.


    "Damn Ashen Nest..."


    Mentioning this name, his face seemed to be covered with a shadow.


    The last time he sent all his subordinates to the mines, they were completely wiped out. His former head butler, Hart, was reportedly captured, and only a few insignificant serfs managed to escape back.


    He initially thought these reports were lies fabricated by those despicable slaves. But a few days later, even the Rackham Family''s elite Eagle Guards suffered heavy losses at the place known as "Ashen Nest."


    Only then did he have to acknowledge the report''s authenticity.


    Even the Northwind Eagle Guards couldn''t conquer the monster''s nest, rumored to be the lair of the Red Dragon called "Flying Flame." How could he possibly attack with the small guard force he had?


    No more gold.


    No more army.


    Only lowly, weak serfs and the guards sent by the family.


    Though he wasn''t the family''s eldest son, he was still a legitimate son of the Duke.


    Did this mean he was destined to guard this remote place all his life, providing food for the family and never getting close to the center of power?


    "I will return to Northwind Castle."


    "Father will eventually recognize me."


    Thinking this, the Baron''s gaunt face looked even darker, with a hint of hunger in his deep eyes.


    It seemed he needed some fresh food tonight to calm his mood.


    "My Lord, outside there is..."


    A soldier hurriedly pushed open the door and entered, appearing to have urgent news to report.


    But when he realized he was interrupting the Baron''s thoughts and saw the hungry and unfriendly gaze, he quickly shut his mouth.


    Todd saw that it was a soldier who had come and suppressed his bloody impulse, slowly and deliberately asking:


    "What is so urgent?"


    "Urgent enough... to disturb my rest?"


    The soldier felt his scalp tingle as Todd stared at him.


    Though the Baron had not been here long, he was secretly known as the "Bloody Baron."


    Previously, a maid had mysteriously disappeared after soiling his ceremonial robe while cleaning, and she was never seen again in Sgurr Town.


    Thinking of this, the soldier nervously replied:


    "My Lord, it is Hart."


    "There is someone outside claiming to be Hart. He wishes to see you."


    Hearing the familiar name, Todd slapped the table and stood up abruptly, asking loudly:


    "How is that possible?"


    "Wasn''t he captured?"


    The soldier shook his head in panic and quickly answered, "Sir, I don''t know."


    Todd coldly said, "Bring him in."


    The soldier hesitated and said, "He requested that you go out to meet him. He has something important to present."


    The soldier''s voice had a hint of a sob.


    Thinking of his lost gold and troops, and the rumor of Hart being captured, Todd''s anger flared up. He laughed coldly and said:


    "Fine, fine, fine!"


    "Where is he? I will personally go and see."


    "Let me see how this... deserter, my dear subordinate, is faring."


    Baron Todd''s tone was gritted with rage.


    "Yes, my Lord."


    The soldier felt his heart pounding but obediently led the Baron outside.


    The Baron''s mansion, newly built, wasn''t very large. After passing through the hall and walking down a narrow corridor for dozens of meters, they arrived at the entrance.


    The person outside was dressed in rags, with disheveled hair and a filthy appearance, looking more like an Orc. There was no trace of the once confident head butler.


    But Todd recognized the familiar scent of blood on him and immediately confirmed¡ªit was Hart.


    The Baron spoke first, with a sneering tone:


    "Hart, long time no see."


    "Isn''t this my most trusted subordinate? The one who promised to bring me gold."


    "Why have you been gone so long and returned now?"


    Hart''s expression was uneasy. "My Lord, I have important information to report."


    "Oh? What information?"


    Todd looked at him with a half-smile, his gaze filled with both hatred and hunger, his rationality fading.


    He hadn''t fed on fresh blood in a long time. When Hart finished reporting, he would become Todd''s next meal.


    "Please, have your men leave."


    Hart''s voice trembled.


    "Very well."


    "You all leave." Todd agreed to the request, dismissing the surrounding guards, and took Hart to a secluded spot in the mansion''s back garden, which also suited his own intentions.


    To him, Hart was delivering himself to death.


    Baron Todd''s pupils had turned crimson. He sneered, "Speak, Hart, I am curious to see how you will justify yourself."


    Hart''s voice trembled even more, his forced smile worse than a cry.


    He said, word by word:


    "The, Dragon, has, come."


    Baron Todd reacted with astonishment, "What?"


    But the next moment, he found himself covered by a colossal shadow. The massive wings blocked most of the night sky, obscuring the cascading moonlight.


    The Red Dragon looked down at the Baron from above, its sinister head holding a hint of a smile. Its golden slitted eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.


    "Do you need me to repeat it again? My unseen Baron."


    "The Dragon has come."


    ```

 Chapter 45 Forced Collaborator

    The dragon''s gaze was still quite oppressive. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Baron Todd looked up in fear, the scarlet pupils revealing his terror, his previous arrogance nowhere to be seen.


    But he still tried to maintain his composure, hands behind his back, managing to make his voice less shaky:


    "You are the one they call ''Flying Flame,'' right?"


    "May I ask, what brings you to my territory... Do you have urgent business?"


    Cassius keenly perceived the fluctuations in the Magic Web, knowing that the baron was constructing a spell prototype, his face darkened slightly:


    "Baron Todd, is this how you treat guests from afar?"


    "Using rude spells."


    "Instead of noble etiquette and hospitality."


    The baron''s face changed drastically upon being seen through.


    But he still hurriedly fumbled in his dress for some prepared vials and a few bat hairs, quickly casting a spell.


    "Darkness Spell!"


    As the bat hairs turned to ash, a thick black fog rapidly expanded from Baron Todd''s center, covering a spherical area with a radius of five meters, enveloping him entirely.


    Even creatures with Dark Vision could not see through this darkness, and non-magical light could not illuminate it. Even low-level light spells under Second Tier were ineffective.


    Cassius just silently watched all this, calmly praising:


    "Quite a good spell, Baron."


    "If it were ordinary humans, they would be too scared to move, allowing you to quietly drain their blood in the dark fear."


    His tone suddenly turned cold.


    "But do you remember you are facing a giant dragon?"


    Cassius abruptly turned, his thick and long tail sweeping across with great force.


    The black fog sphere was suddenly swept open, rolling and spreading. It could block light but not physical attacks.


    Baron Todd, who was preparing his next spell in the darkness, was also abruptly struck.


    "Boom!"


    He flew out several meters.


    Luckily, Baron Todd had some regeneration trait. Although this hit broke all his bones and flesh, they quickly recovered at a visible speed.


    Baron Todd lay on the ground, spitting blood, struggling to pull out a dried-out viper''s stomach.


    "Mayuf''s Strong Acid Arrow!"


    A shimmering green arrow swiftly flew towards the red dragon.


    "Shield Spell."


    The red dragon sneered, and an invisible shield appeared before him, blocking the fast-approaching arrow. The strong acid arrow exploded into acid mist but did not harm Cassius in the slightest.


    "Spellcaster?"


    Baron Todd''s face turned horrified. A dragon mage, there couldn''t be a worse situation.


    With this in mind, he began constructing a spell prototype.


    "Misty Step!"


    The spot where the baron originally stood left only a puff of silver-white smoke, and he appeared tens of meters away by the manor wall, which had twisted, hanging vines.


    Cassius flapped his wings and followed, calmly saying: "Baron, please stop struggling needlessly."


    "Your little tricks..."


    "Are simply trivial."


    Flames ignited in the red dragon''s pupils.


    Seeing the red dragon chasing, Baron Todd hurriedly used his exhausted mind to construct another spell prototype.


    He suddenly pulled down a vine, and the other end of the vine rapidly rose until it was vertically suspended in the air.


    At the last moment when the red dragon was about to grab him, Todd climbed the vine and disappeared, and the vine also vanished.


    "Magic Rope Spell?"


    Cassius said with interest to himself.


    This spell was a famous mage''s exclusive escape spell, allowing travel to a small other-dimensional space during the spell''s duration with items possessing the "rope" trait.


    Attacks and spells could not pass through the entrance of the other-dimensional space, but creatures inside could see the outside like a window at the rope''s position.


    But once the spell ended, everything in the other-dimensional space would fall out.


    At this moment, Baron Todd, in the other-dimensional space, looked particularly nervous, fearing that the red dragon would notice something was wrong.


    If he needed to breathe, he might have already gasped.


    Cassius seemed to mutter to himself:


    "Interesting spell."


    "But I have already said...


    "Your little tricks mean nothing to me!"


    As he finished, a faint light barrier quickly emerged centered on the red dragon, covering the entire area.


    "Spell Nullification Barrier!"


    The other-dimensional space shattered like a broken glass cup, causing Baron Todd hiding inside to appear out of nowhere and fall heavily to the ground.


    Facing the red dragon''s open bloody maw, Baron Todd finally couldn''t help but slump to the ground, kneeling and begging for mercy:


    "No, no, don''t kill me!"


    "I''m the Duke Brad''s son, a baron of the Northwind Eagle Rackham Family."


    "If you spare my life, my family can give you much gold, far more than you gain by killing me!"


    "Great Dragon, I, I am willing to submit to you..."


    As a mage, Todd naturally had knowledge and understood the greed of red dragons.


    The red dragon looked down at him, eyes slightly narrowed: "I only need you to agree to three conditions of cooperation."


    "I agree, I agree to all!"


    Before the words finished, Baron Todd eagerly agreed, afraid that the capricious, brutal red dragon would turn him into ashes.


    Though the red dragon before him seemed relatively rational.


    But who could say for sure?


    Cassius slightly nodded and said:


    "First, I need all your spell scrolls, remember, all of them, to pay for invading the Ashen Nest territory. This is the premise of our cooperation."


    "Second, I welcome trade, even provide gold, but I need to exchange for all kinds of goods, including weapons and armor. Hart will be responsible for this ''friendly trade'' caravan."


    "Third, I will send some retainers to protect the caravan and also to station in Sgurr Town to ensure your¡ªmy partner''s safety."


    "Aren''t you afraid I will betray our cooperation?"


    Baron Todd tentatively asked.


    At least for now, the red dragon''s conditions seemed relatively lenient, and he needed to take the opportunity to gain the red dragon''s trust.


    Cassius sneered, saying: "Baron, I have already said, we are here to cooperate. This is a win-win process."


    "Think about it, without trade with Ashen Nest, no gold, no powerful troops, your baronial territory is nothing, just a grain-producing area to be abandoned at any time. An invasion from the North is enough to destroy you."


    "I think... you know what I mean."


    The red dragon''s pupils flickered, as if burning with raging fire.

 Chapter 46 Caravan

    Baron Todd nodded, indicating that he understood.Because the fact was indeed so, the Red Dragon before him disdained deceiving him.


    As the thirteenth son, who was not valued by the family, he had angered his father by manipulating power in Northwind Castle and was exiled to the remote Sgurr Town.


    Rather than being granted a territory, it was more accurate to say he was banished.


    This small town, adjacent to Stormy Ridge with a sparse population, faced imminent disaster from any outside invasion, whether it be from Giants or True Dragons, without adequate military power.


    It was better to really seek powerful outsiders nearby to maintain his own power, grow and expand his own forces, and then find an opportunity to break free of control, competing with his brothers to gain his father''s attention.


    Thinking of this, Todd said ingratiatingly:


    "Thank you for your honesty, Lord Flying Flame. I am very pleased that we can cooperate with you¡ªthe great Red Dragon."


    Cassius nodded slightly:


    "Baron, please remember well, acknowledging Ashen Nest''s sovereignty over Stormy Ridge and compensating for your past reckless actions are the premises and foundation of our cooperation."


    Todd replied, "I will keep that in mind."


    Cassius added a touch of mockery to his tone:


    "Then please take your loyal subordinates and return to the Baron''s Mansion. I hope to see what I want tomorrow."


    "Yes, Lord Flying Flame."


    Baron Todd looked at Hart not far away, hatred for his betrayal deeply hidden in his eyes and almost uncontrollable.


    But thinking of the Red Dragon before him, he did not dare to act immediately and forced a thin, insincere smile onto his pale face.


    Seeing this, Hart had beads of sweat roll down his forehead.


    But when he thought about having the Red Dragon''s backing, ensuring his life was secure and that he would act as a spy for Ashen Nest to check the Baron, he also grinned provocatively.


    "Let''s go, my Baron,"


    Hart said, gritting his teeth on the last four words.


    Cassius watched the two men with mutual hatred and hidden agendas leave side by side, feeling a perverse satisfaction.


    The conditions he proposed seemed "equal," but were actually malicious. Todd surely noticed this to some extent, but he had no room to refuse.


    Stationing troops and managing trade.


    When the region''s military and financial powers are all in his hands, Baron Todd would be merely a puppet. And in his plan, after the players descended, even the Baron would become dispensable and be replaced.


    The Red Dragon watched Baron Todd''s thin figure.


    This Baron did not become his retainer after signing the contract.


    Because he was a Vampire Variant¡ªa greedy creation filled with a thirst for vampire blood, yet controlled by its vampire creator.


    When vampires held their evil "Ascension Ritual," becoming Ascendant Vampires unafraid of sunlight, these variants would become sacrifices, turning into pools of blood.


    However, if a vampire allowed its variant to sip its own blood, the variant would also become a true vampire, no longer under the creator''s control, although very few vampires would do so.


    In the previous life, regarding the vampire mission, Duke Brad had held an Ascension Ritual, but fortunately, it was stopped by the players. Hundreds of people broke into the castle''s underground with a spree of explosions, solving the crisis.


    "Tsk tsk..."


    "A Vampire Variant attempting to gain its master''s attention."


    "What a pathetic guy."


    Cassius''s pupils flickered slightly in the darkness, then vanished.


    ...


    The next morning.


    A sizable caravan loaded with goods left Sgurr Town.


    The townsfolk were no longer surprised by the sight of a caravan, even though the guards of this one wore thick, heavy armor that concealed their faces and black cloaks that covered their tall frames.


    But leading them was Hart, someone familiar to the townsfolk who had not appeared for several days.


    Since it was Hart leading, it must have been an order from the Baron.


    Coveting the treasures of this "Bloody Baron" was undoubtedly foolish.


    The townspeople quickly restrained their curious children, averting their eyes from the caravan, fearing being taken as forced labor.


    Hart rode his horse in the middle of the line.


    The tall guards walked on both sides, breathing heavily.


    Although Hart could not see their faces, knowing they were from Ashen Nest''s forces, he guessed they were likely Great Goblins or Bugbears, which did not alarm him overly; these monsters were his survival assets.


    After returning to the Baron''s Mansion last night, the enraged Baron Todd issued various threats and even vile curses at him, but ultimately dared not harm him, revealing the Baron''s bluff.


    Baron Todd did not dare to anger the Red Dragon.


    This was the conclusion Hart came to.


    The goods the caravan carried included armor, weapons, and twenty invaluable Magic Scrolls, clearly displaying Baron Todd''s intent to curry favor.


    This was more of a tribute than a trade. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hoo..."


    Winter in Anzeta was just that cold. Hart exhaled white breath and couldn''t help but wrap his thick fur coat tighter.


    The snow continued to fall, the fully-loaded wagons leaving deep ruts in the snow, transforming the sizable caravan into a string of black dots in the snowy landscape.


    "Awooo¡ª"


    A strange sound echoed from the snow-covered slope.


    The sound was long and mournful, like some form of sorrowful weeping.


    The caravan guards thought it was the wind and paid little attention.


    But Hart, experienced, listened carefully for a moment and immediately snapped to attention.


    "Stay on guard! That is not the sound of the wind!"


    Hart shouted.


    On a distant slope, several fur-covered white figures moved like ghosts in the snow-covered landscape, rushing towards the caravan with mournful howls.


    "Snowmen!"


    Hart recognized these monsters at a glance.


    These towering creatures roamed the mountain peaks, hunting and foraging constantly.


    Even in blizzard conditions, Snowmen would be lured by the scent of prey, traversing the cold and wind.


    Hart groaned inwardly. Encountering Snowmen in a snowstorm could not be worse; one misstep meant total annihilation.


    He instinctively wanted to call for the caravan to flee, but then he noticed the "guards" removing the black cloths draped over themselves.


    These "guards" were nearly two meters tall, with strong, muscular bodies, sharp tusks jutting from their mouths, murky yellow eyes filled with combat fervor and bloodlust, and striking red skin dotted with sparse scales standing out starkly against the snow.


    ¡ªThey were Great Goblins.


    These were Dolores''s most elite troops.


    "Almost forgot... we have our own monsters,"


    Hart murmured in astonishment.

 Chapter 47 Tiefling (1)

    The bitter cold wind blew through the gate of Rock Fortress, causing the goblin guarding the entrance to sneeze involuntarily."Damn, it''s really cold¡­"


    "Yeah."


    The goblin next to him agreed, rubbing his red nose, but accidentally scratching a long gash on his face with his claws.


    "Ouch!"


    The goblin yelped.


    Beads of blood oozed out but quickly solidified.


    Over the past few months, many of the retainers of Ashen Nest had begun to exhibit "Dragonification" traits, though not as pronounced as their leader but showing some distinct characteristics of a Red Dragon.


    For example, the occasional sparse scales, sharpened claws and fangs, the fringes on their ears, and a preference for warm or even hot climates...


    The Red Dragon, who had been long asleep in the cavern, acted like a massive radiation source, using its Bloodline Gift to influence and transform all the retainers within Ashen Nest.


    Cassius still lay sideways in the cavern, his enormous body heaving gently.


    As the weather turned cold, being a Red Dragon that favored warmth, he loathed going outside and preferred staying in the cavern, spending his days eating and sleeping like any native Red Dragon of Erezer.


    Cassius lazily stretched, slowly opened his eyes, "But there are still things that need to be done."


    He softly called out in Draconic:


    "Chimera¡ª¡ª"


    The three-headed beast immediately flew out from a hole in the rocky wall, obediently crouching in front of Cassius, awaiting its master''s orders.


    Since receiving the "Bloodline Gift" last time, the once defiant beast had become particularly docile, so much so that even Cassius felt a bit unaccustomed.


    Cassius continued in Draconic, "Take me to find those Tieflings."


    "What?" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the three heads of the Chimera tilt in unison with confusion.


    The Red Dragon was speechless, picking up an old, horned skull from a corner of the cavern and tossing it in front of the Chimera.


    "Find me these people."


    The lion head of the Chimera leaned in and sniffed carefully, then spoke in its still-unskilled Draconic,


    "Horned, human, not tasty."


    Impatiently, Cassius said, "Yes, them. Take me there."


    Seeing this, the Chimera quickly bowed compliantly to show obedience.


    "Yes, master."


    It then let out a low growl and took off, flapping its wings.


    The Chimera flew out of the warm cavern, leaving the broad Giant Valley, and into the snowstorm-filled sky.


    Cassius followed closely, soaring through the wind and snow.


    ...


    Amid the secluded mountains, a clearing was covered with many makeshift tents pitched in the snow, while a nearby spacious cave was brightly lit, surrounded by walls precariously stacked with rocks¡ªthis was the refuge the Tieflings called the "House of Ruin."


    Here resided the Tieflings, with their long horns and red skin.


    The mountains shielded them from pursuers, but couldn''t protect them against the harsh cold and snow.


    The Tieflings still wore ragged clothes in the severe weather, with men chopping wood in the forest, women kindling fires in front of tents to roast their hunted prey, and children collecting dry wood and grass to fuel the bonfire and doing whatever little chores they could.


    Some injured Tieflings were placed in the comparatively warmer cave, wrapped in layers of animal skins and grass velvet, but these measures couldn''t stop their breaths from growing weaker, their eyelids fluttering before closing.


    "Mezulash, if this goes on, we won''t survive the winter."


    "The injured are on the verge of death. We need to go to the nearby towns."


    A female voice, hoarse from the cold, was heard.


    The Tiefling referred to as "Mezulash" turned his head.


    His rugged face bore burn scars, and his tall body was clad in blood-stained, battle-scarred armor.


    Speaking in a grave tone, he said, "Lerisa, you still hold on to fantasies about those humans."


    The female Tiefling shook her head in defense:


    "No, I didn''t..."


    Mezulash interrupted her roughly, his voice growing intense:


    "Those pitchforks, those stakes, those blazing houses, those naked bodies hanging at the city gates, the cheers and curses of the citizens, haven''t they revealed their true nature to you?"


    "This is humanity, Lerisa."


    "If we go to any town now, we won''t be greeted with fine wine but with ruthless expulsion¡ªand the pursuit of the Old Vampire''s lackeys."


    Lerisa''s voice trembled, tinged with sobs, "They just don''t know the truth, but perhaps, maybe we could clear up the misunderstanding, explain to them..."


    "You should understand how humans see us, Child of the Devil."


    His cold, black eyes seemed to pierce into her soul, and the sudden gravity in his voice silenced her.


    Mezulash continued,


    "One person is curiosity, two people are a conspiracy."


    He paused.


    "Three... people are a curse."


    "The moment they raise their blades against us, urged on by hatred, there''s no room left for misunderstandings."


    Finishing his words, Mezulash ignored Lerisa''s sobs, silently wiping his bloodstained Silver Sword.


    The polished blade reflected his weathered face.


    Horns curled like those of a ram, eyes pure black without irises, sharp canine teeth, red skin, his appearance still largely human, but his Devil lineage was clearly marked.


    "Such a naive fool."


    Mezulash couldn''t help but recall his past life, those painful yet intertwined memories.


    At Northwind Castle, his younger self often faced stares and whispers due to his identity as a "Devil''s Offspring," bearing the brunt of street violence and insults, always seeing distrust and fear in others'' eyes.


    But he still had human friends he could trust.


    This was a kind of luck.


    And a kind of cruel fate.


    Such genuine concern from his friends kept a spark of kindness and trust in young Mezulash''s heart.


    Thus, he joined the City Guard Army, becoming a paladin at a young age, taking the Oath of Redemption.


    Paladins of the Oath of Redemption face evil creatures, hoping to turn their enemies toward the light, resorting to violence only as a last measure.


    And, except in situations where it would clearly save other lives, they never kill their enemies.


    The young Tiefling believed that everyone could be redeemed, that all could tread the path of mercy and justice.


    Mezulash believed his benevolent actions could correct the world''s biases against his Devil bloodline, and it seemed he was moving towards that goal.

 Chapter 48 Tiefling (II)

    Very quickly, the exceptionally talented Mezulash became the captain of the City Defense Army in Northwind Castle, maintaining public order and taking on the responsibility of protecting the city.During this period, he found a beloved wife from his own race, soon had children, and bought a loft in the city. Everything in life seemed to be heading in a beautiful direction.


    But one day, everything changed.


    That day, he was diligently investigating a series of disappearances in the city, not noticing the strange looks people were giving him, thinking it was just an ordinary day.


    But then His Grace, the Duke, gave a speech.


    The seemingly harmonious human neighbors suddenly showed a different face. They raised torches, stormed into his home, and tied his wife and child to a pyre, burning them alive.


    When he arrived upon hearing the news, everything he had was reduced to ashes. His former comrades were slaughtering his people, just like slaughtering cattle and sheep.


    Crying in grief, Mezulash swung his Silver Sword, killing all the perpetrators present.


    He became the Oathbreaker.


    The Radiance burning in the heart of the Redemption Knight had extinguished, leaving only darkness; the cruel reality shattered his naive ideals completely.


    "What a... naive fool."


    He repeated again.


    Suddenly, the urgent sound of horns came from outside the cave.


    Mezulash was abruptly pulled back to reality, grabbed his long sword, and hurriedly walked out of the cave.


    "What''s the situation?"


    The Guards stationed at the camp gate looked panic-stricken: "It''s Snowmen! More than one Snowman!"


    "Howl¡ª¡ª"


    In the deadly cold, the howls of Snowmen echoed through the remote mountains, sweeping across the slopes with the cold wind, instilling extreme fear into the hearts of the gathered Tieflings.


    These monsters could smell the scent of fresh flesh from miles away and track it through the snowstorm.


    Mezulash looked up, dozens of ghostly white figures charged down the slope like a tide.


    "Everyone, prepare for battle!"


    "Damacus, shoot them to death."


    The Tiefling Warrior called "Damacus" nodded solemnly, drawing his bowstring.


    "Swish¡ª¡ª"


    With the piercing whistling sound, an arrow pierced the forehead of a Snowman, causing it to fall straight down.


    Several Tiefling Warriors behind Damacus also began to draw their bows and nock arrows.


    However, shooting up the slope from below, and with the blizzard as an obstacle, they did not possess their captain''s superb archery skills, causing many of the arrows to quickly bury themselves in the snow.


    Damacus fired several arrows in succession.


    Two hits out of seven, causing two more Snowmen to fall.


    But in such harsh weather, the Snowmen moved like phantoms in the snow, making it impossible for even an archery expert like Damacus to guarantee accuracy, unable to stop the Snowmen''s tidal charge.


    "It''s not working, Mezulash, the snow is too heavy."


    "I can''t see clearly."


    Shouting, Damacus fired another arrow, taking down a Snowman.


    But the tidal wave of Snowmen had already closed in less than a hundred meters from the camp.


    If these hungry, blood-craving Snowmen breached the almost defenseless camp, it would be a complete disaster.


    "Follow me, charge out to meet them!"


    Mezulash raised his sword high, followed by over forty Tieflings.


    These Tieflings were poorly equipped, some without even swords, holding only pitchforks and torches, but their eyes were filled with determination.


    They might have been merchants, clerks, or artists, but at this moment, to protect the camp, to protect their families, they had no choice but to be warriors.


    The Snowmen surged forward, their eyes filled with a greedy desire for flesh as they stared at the Tieflings.


    These Snowmen, more than three meters tall, covered in snow-like white fur, with their massive and powerful bodies, saw the average Tiefling merely as naked prey.


    Mezulash led the charge, heading straight for a Snowman. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the Snowman did not immediately pounce, instead watching the Tiefling with an eerie gaze.


    "Shivering Gaze"


    Its small eyes shone with a ghostly blue light, the freezing gaze capable of instantly freezing its prey.


    The gaze fell upon Mezulash, instantly filling him with a bone-chilling cold, almost freezing his entire body.


    "Damn monster..."


    But Mezulash cursed softly, relying on his robust body to resist the cold, pointing a finger.


    "Inferno Scold!"


    Suddenly, the Snowman was surrounded by burning Hellfire, screaming in agony.


    The fire-fearing monster''s fur was ignited by the inextinguishable flames, making it desperately pat its body.


    "Die!"


    With a fierce shout, Mezulash leaped several meters high, chopping off the burning head of the Snowman with one blow.


    The nearby Snowman attempted to use Shivering Gaze, but it was no longer effective on Mezulash.


    "Downward Slash!"


    Using his downward momentum, Mezulash''s long sword cleaved into another Snowman''s shoulder.


    "Howl!"


    The Snowman howled in pain, its large hand instinctively swiping at the Tiefling.


    "Cause injury!"


    A ghostly green Necrosis Power spread from the sword to the Snowman''s body, continuously corroding and expanding its wound.


    The next moment, Mezulash, using this power, forcibly severed the Snowman''s entire left shoulder along with its arm.


    Blue blood splattered on the Tiefling''s face; his expression remained unchanged, his eyes unblinking.


    After consecutively slaying two Snowmen, he surveyed the battlefield holding his sword, seeing Tieflings and Snowmen engaged in fierce combat, with several Tiefling Warriors already turned into ice sculptures by the Snowmen''s Shivering Gaze.


    Just as another Tiefling was about to be frozen, encased in ice.


    "Guardian Aura!"


    Scarlet light flickered around Mezulash, temporarily shielding against the Snowmen''s Shivering Gaze and halting the freezing of the Tiefling.


    He stepped forward, plunging his sword into the Snowman''s heart.


    "Howl¡ª¡ª"


    More and more Snowmen surrounded him, a dozen in total, surging from all directions to kill the Tiefling Holy Warrior first.


    Mezulash remained calm in the face of the approaching Snowmen, merely raising his long sword high.


    "Oathbreaker, Guiding Divine Power..."


    "Terror Manifestation!"


    The Oathbreaker Paladin summoned the darkest emotions, condensing them into a burst of magical intimidation.


    Scarlet light radiated from the center of the long sword, rapidly spreading around.


    Each Snowman surrounding him saw their deepest fear, plunging them into inescapable terror, leaving them rooted in place.


    To him, these Snowmen were now just sitting ducks.


    "Downward Slash!"


    Mezulash''s sword sliced through the throats of several Snowmen, sending blood splattering everywhere.


    A few breaths later, the dozen giant Snowmen fell backward, and no Snowman around him could stand.


    "Huff, huff, huff..."


    Mezulash knelt on one knee, leaning on his sword, panting heavily.

 Chapter 49 Tiefling (3)

    The battle still raged on, with many Tieflings frozen into ice sculptures, torn apart, and devoured, yet many snowmen also fell under the Tieflings'' onslaught, their bodies disappearing into the thick snow."Awooo¡ª¡ª"


    Suddenly, a tremendous roar came from afar.


    The sound was chilling, sweeping across the entire hillside with the cold wind.


    Immediately, all the snowmen howled in response, their voices echoed endlessly, traveling across the undulating mountains, sending shivers down everyone''s spine.


    "This is..."


    Mezulash slowly looked up.


    At the edge of the hillside, a towering snowman beat its chest, raising its head high.


    Its size was far greater than an ordinary snowman, towering over three men combined, standing like a snow-covered hill in the snowfield.


    It had large, curved horns on either side of its head, teeth sharp enough to pierce a human skull, and its ghostly blue eyes exuded an arctic chill, intensifying the blizzard around it.


    "The Giant Yeti."


    Mezulash took a deep breath, uttering the name that struck fear into all the northern residents.


    These towering snowmen often featured in mothers'' scary tales for children, fiercely territorial and savage, attacking and devouring any warm-blooded creature they encountered, scattering the remains in the snow.


    "Everyone back off!"


    The Tiefling Holy Warrior halted his comrades who were eager to charge forward, stepping ahead alone, pointing his longsword defiantly at the monster.


    "It''s my opponent."


    The distant Giant Yeti let out an excited hunting howl, leaping over ten meters, sending waves of snow flying.


    It landed in front of the Tiefling, eyes fixed on him, the freezing magical power in its gaze seeming to freeze everything in its path.


    "Shivering Gaze!"


    This magical stare was more terrifying than any snowman''s before.


    Instantly, Mezulash felt an intense cold, as if his entire body was submerged in ice water, every inch of skin and bone freezing solid, an unbearable sensation.


    "Guardian Aura!"


    The Tiefling resisted the lure of eternal sleep, a scarlet aura emerging around him. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The aura guarded his body, fending off the extreme cold''s magical invasion, allowing him to partially recover from the freezing state.


    "Infernal Rebuke!"


    Mezulash pointed out again, a ring of flames surrounding the Giant Yeti.


    However, this feeble flame was insignificant to the enormous Giant Yeti, which slowly opened its bloody mouth, and tiny, dense ice shards appeared in its throat.


    "It''s Freezing Breath!"


    Suddenly, a blast of cold air capable of freezing any warm-blooded creature into ice spewed from its mouth, covering a large conical area in front, extinguishing the infernal flames, and rushing toward the Tiefling Holy Warrior. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    Mezulash rolled to the left, barely avoiding the breath.


    "Huff, huff..."


    "What a terrifying breath."


    He propped himself up, panting, only to find his fingers on the right hand frozen numb and completely losing sense from the cold he had touched earlier.


    Fortunately, the Giant Yeti''s breath wasn''t a continuous attack and required time to recharge. Impatiently, it charged forward, ready to engage in close combat with the small Tiefling.


    "If I take a direct hit¡ª¡ª"


    "I''ll die."


    Mezulash felt a lingering fear, his gaze toward the charging Giant Yeti grew more serious.


    With this thought, he no longer hesitated and advanced with his sword.


    "Curse Spell!"


    He shouted, the black glow of necromancy enveloping his sword as he swung it at the Giant Yeti.


    The Giant Yeti instinctively raised its thick arms to block.


    The enormous strength sent Mezulash flying back with his sword, but at the same time, the sharp sword cut through its white fur, allowing the curse spell to take effect.


    "Roaar¡ª¡ª"


    The Giant Yeti stood rooted to the spot as if immobilized.


    It clutched its head with both hands, roaring in agony.


    Mezulash rolled several times on the snow to absorb the impact, then, despite the pain, he scrambled to his feet and charged at the Giant Yeti again.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The Giant Yeti roared again, its body swaying, pounding its chest in a frenzy, as if trying to break free from the curse.


    Mezulash knew he had only one minute.


    He once was a Redemption Knight, his sword glowed with holy radiance as if an angel descended to the earth. Now, the Oathbreaker''s sword gleamed with a blood-red light, akin to a hellish glow.


    But it didn''t matter, he just needed to follow his own will.


    "Supreme Holy Slash!"


    With a shout, he leaped high, his longsword enveloped in a scarlet, breathtaking glow.


    But just as the Tiefling was about to strike, the Giant Yeti''s gaze cleared instantly, raising its strong arm to block.


    "Swish¡ª¡ª"


    A sound of the sword cutting through flesh.


    Mezulash''s sword cleaved off the Giant Yeti''s massive hand.


    The Giant Yeti roared a blend of pain, anger, and frenzy.


    Its other giant hand seized the descending Mezulash.


    "This is bad!"


    Mezulash struggled fiercely, but under the absolute strength of the Giant Yeti, he couldn''t budge an inch.


    The monster''s gaping maw loomed larger in his eyes.


    He could even feel the bone-chilling cold emanating from its throat.


    The Giant Yeti''s eyes, filled with the hatred of losing its hand, indicated it intended to swallow the Tiefling whole!


    Desperation struck, Mezulash raised his longsword, using his last ounce of strength to fend off the Giant Yeti''s biting attempts.


    "Clang¡ª¡ª"


    The longsword clashed against the Giant Yeti''s great fangs.


    The surrounding Tiefling Warriors hurried to aid their leader.


    But their swords and arrows were like pinpricks on the tough hide of the Giant Yeti, merely an itch, while the nearby snowmen seized the opportunity for a counterattack, causing more losses.


    Seizing the opportunity created by the Giant Yeti''s distraction, Mezulash unleashed his final oath forsaking magic.


    "Darkness Spell!"


    A dense fog spread from the Tiefling, enveloping the Giant Yeti, obscuring its vision.


    But even in the darkness, the monster gripped him tightly, refusing to let go.


    At the same time, the Giant Yeti dragged him along the snow, nearing the edge of the dark fog.


    "No..."


    "I will lead my tribe..."


    In the shadowy mist, Mezulash''s jet-black eyes shone with determination.


    "To survive."


    His longsword gleamed with a scarlet glow, again slashing at the Giant Yeti''s head.


    "Supreme Holy Slash!"

 Chapter 50 Tiefling (4)

    The giant evil yeti also realized the danger of this attack, so it quickly gathered its strength, and dense ice gravel appeared deep in its throat, sending bone-chilling cold straight at the Tiefling paladin."Freezing Breath!"


    But Mezulash still pressed forward against the piercing cold wind, wielding his sword with both hands and slashing down fiercely.


    The giant evil yeti tilted its head, and the longsword struck the large, coiled horns on its head, slowly cutting them. But the yeti resisted the blade with great force, causing the horns to shake violently from side to side, making it difficult for Mezulash to concentrate his strength.


    The guardian aura around Mezulash flickered, barely holding off the invasion of the cold.


    The giant evil yeti''s severed arm continued to bleed, and Mezulash''s body gradually started to freeze. This was their final struggle for life.


    For a moment, they were locked in a stalemate, both trying to kill the other.


    At that moment, a sudden change occurred.


    "Boom!"


    Several scorching fireballs struck the giant evil yeti''s back, charring large patches of its fur and causing it to stagger.


    The power of the flames even penetrated into its flesh, scorching its cold blood.


    The weakened giant evil yeti let out a painful howl and instinctively let go, throwing the Tiefling to the side.


    It turned its head abruptly, pounding its chest, trying to intimidate the despicable attacker.


    Yet, what it saw was a blaze of fire.


    "Supreme Flame Breath!"


    In an instant, the snow evaporated, and the exposed ground emitted plumes of white smoke. Discover exclusive tales on empire


    The giant evil yeti, which had previously been menacing, still stood there, but its entire body was now charred and blurry, emitting a smell of burnt flesh.


    A slight breeze blew, and that charred body fell straight down, crumbling into a pile of fine ashes, which were soon scattered by the wind.


    "Tsk tsk, a weak flame creature."


    Cassius folded his wings and descended to the ground, stepping right onto the remaining ashes of the carcass.


    Information refreshed on his panel.


    [You''ve killed the Giant Evil Yeti (Challenge Level 9) and gained 5000xp]


    [Your level has increased to 6]


    The pleasure of snatching kills was just so satisfying¡ªa strong level 9 monster taken down with a single hit.


    As the giant evil yeti turned to ashes, the other yetis scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing back to the snow-covered mountains.


    Though the yetis fled, the Tieflings were still tense.


    ¡ªBecause they now faced an even stronger and unpredictable Red Dragon.


    Although it had helped them kill the giant evil yeti, no one knew whether this intruding dragon was friend or foe, especially given its notorious reputation for evil and brutality.


    The Tiefling warriors held their swords and shields, watching the Red Dragon warily as it slowly approached, but no one dared to anger the dragon.


    Mezulash used his longsword to support himself, barely managing to climb up from the snow.


    He tried to remain calm, watching the Red Dragon before him¡ªits three or four meters long, massive and muscular body was extraordinarily strong, covered in bright, metallic scales, and its mouth exuded a scorching sulfuric breath, as if a volcano lay dormant within it.


    A powerful Red Dragon, absolutely invincible.


    This was his final judgment.


    Red Dragons were infamous for their brutality, and any offense could provoke them, resulting in fiery destruction.


    The most famous Red Dragon around Stormy Ridge recently was "Flying Flame," the one who had massacred the Eagle Guards.


    The enemy of my enemy is my friend.


    With that in mind, he commanded:


    "Lower your weapons."


    Although the Tiefling warriors were reluctant, they obeyed the order and dropped their weapons.


    Mezulash sheathed his longsword at his waist and bowed with difficulty.


    "Honorable ''Flying Flame,'' thank you for helping us eliminate our enemy. Once we settle down, we will give you ample compensation to show our sincerity."


    "I just don''t know... why have you graced us with your presence?"


    Cassius watched the Tiefling before him, not answering directly but saying with some amusement:


    "Are you the leader of the Tiefling resistance?"


    "The one they say devours three humans at every meal? The devil''s offspring, the Child of Hell?"


    Mezulash''s expression didn''t change; he spoke calmly:


    "Those are merely slanders from the Rackman Family. Surely, you know better than I the arrogance and impudence of those blood-sucking parasites. The Rackman Family is always like this¡ªjust as they''ve brazenly invaded your territory."


    Cassius looked down at the Tiefling, saying, "A nice speech. But words and this pathetic army aren''t enough to get you through the winter in Anzeta."


    Mezulash replied respectfully:


    "You foresaw this, so you came, didn''t you?"


    Cassius shook his head lightly, saying: "Honestly, you mean nothing to me. Only you have a bit of value; the rest of the Tieflings... might be worth less than a box of silver coins."


    Mezulash said firmly:


    "But I will fight to the death for them, give up my life."


    Cassius'' eyes narrowed slightly, and he said: "I can help you fight against Rackman Family''s army."


    "But you''re already their enemy. It has nothing to do with the Tieflings."


    Cassius sneered and shook his head, saying: S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That doesn''t change the fact that I can decide your fate. If I negotiate with the Rackman Family, tell them your location, and grant them military access, what do you think will happen next?"


    "Honestly, you have no leverage to negotiate with me."


    He continued:


    "Think about it, my Ashen Nest can accommodate Tieflings."


    "I can offer you shelter, help you survive the harsh winter, and even... fend off the Eagle Guards chasing you."


    This tempting offer made Mezulash''s breath quicken slightly.


    The light of his ideal had long since dimmed; now his only wish was to protect his tribe.


    And the opportunity was right before him.


    The Tiefling hesitated for a moment but finally spoke slowly:


    "Then, Lord..."


    "What''s the price?"


    This Tiefling paladin, who had experienced so much hardship at a young age, knew that everything came at a price. There were no free lunches in this world, just hatred that arrived unbidden.


    Cassius leaned in slightly, his words like a devil''s whisper:


    "Northwind Castle."


    "I want you to become my retainers and help me seize it all."


    Mezulash raised his head slightly and saw that the Red Dragon''s golden pupils seemed to be burning with hellfire.


    He had once yearned for light and redemption, walking the path of mercy and justice. Even after breaking his oath, he still habitually followed the paladin''s code of redemption, trying to maintain his nature.


    But now, for survival, just to live, he had to make this choice.


    Become the retainer of an evil dragon, help him seize the city.


    "Yes... master."


    "The Tiefling tribe is willing to follow your will."


    Mezulash, the paladin who had once sworn to kneel only to deities, bent his knees and knelt down.

 Chapter 51 Tiefling (5)

    In the "House of Ruin," Mezulash gathered all the Tiefling refugees.Regardless of age, gender, or rank, as long as they were conscious, all Tiefling refugees were summoned to the camp square. This place was not only for their daily meetings but also for announcing significant news.


    Mezulash first looked around, gazing at his kin''s thin, scarred, and tormented faces.


    "I... did nothing wrong."


    Mezulash murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear.


    He finally made up his mind and slowly raised his longsword.


    "Fellow kin, I have had enough of a life of wandering and endless pursuit."


    "Our Tiefling blood has flowed enough."


    "What we need is not to run away¡ª"


    "But to exact revenge. An eye for an eye, blood for blood."


    This Tiefling Holy Warrior, usually so composed, now spoke with fervor, his pitch-black eyes gleaming with a light never seen before.


    This left many Tieflings who knew him well in disbelief.


    "From now on, we will join the Ashen Nest."


    "The great Red Dragon, destroyer of the Eagle Guards, "Flying Flame" Lord Cassius will be our master, providing us shelter and leading us to avenge those vampires and humans who persecuted us."


    "We will reclaim Northwind Castle, reclaim our former homeland."


    "Lord Cassius will lead us in establishing new and truly fair rules."


    Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted, voices of discussion and argument filling the air.


    Many Tieflings, whose relatives were massacred in that tragic event, had long made revenge their only reason to live. Now, the flames in their hearts were ignited by Mezulash''s words.


    They raised their weapons and cheered.


    "Revenge!"


    "Revenge! Revenge!"


    "Storm Northwind Castle!"


    "Cut off Duke Rackman''s head!"


    However, there were also many different voices. Though they were to some extent affected by the tragedy, they still believed in goodness and humanity, hoping to secure their place through peaceful means.


    For example, Lerisa.


    This young female Tiefling, full of shock and resentment, couldn''t help but step forward to persuade:


    "No, Mezulash, we must not become retainers of an evil dragon."


    "If we do that, what difference is there between us and that blood-sucking duke!"


    Many Tieflings agreed with her, expressing verbal support or nodding in agreement.


    However, Mezulash merely stared at her.


    "Lerisa, you did not listen to what I said before." S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The look in his eyes puzzled her, as if it contained a certain pity, or perhaps reluctance.


    But she didn''t care about that at the moment; she was more concerned about making her point.


    Lerisa shook her head vigorously, arguing:


    "No, Mezulash, you''re wrong..."


    "Those humans are under the duke''s manipulation. We can tell them the truth and rally them to peacefully resist the duke''s bloody rule. That''s the right path."


    "I have already contacted a group of righteous men from various places. But if we become subordinates to the evil dragon, everything will be ruined, I..."


    Her voice suddenly halted.


    The sound of a sword piercing flesh echoed.


    "Swish¡ª"


    Lerisa''s face was covered in blood.


    Those beautiful, blue, lake-like eyes stared in disbelief at the man who had plunged the sword into her chest.


    "For...?"


    It seemed she had never anticipated such an occurrence.


    Mezulash''s familiar pitch-black eyes were cold and distant now, making her feel somewhat alien, even horrified.


    Before losing consciousness, she seemed to see Mezulash''s lips move slightly, recognizing the words he wanted to say as she was versed in lip-reading.


    ¡ª¡ªIt was the Hellish phrase for "I''m sorry."


    Her delicate body slowly fell.


    Warm blood gushed out, staining the pristine snow red.


    Mezulash swiftly pulled out his sword.


    He knew that cunning Red Dragon was observing everything from the shadows. This was a "credential," a gesture showing that he had no way back, only submission.


    It was also to declare to all the camp''s clansmen that the so-called "Peace Faction" had no place to stand anymore.


    Lerisa was not wrong; she was just too naive.


    Naive enough to believe that as long as there was mutual trust, there would be no conflict in the world, just like he once believed. But now, this former Redemption Knight was covered in blood.


    "I''m sorry, Lerisa."


    "This was just for our kin... to survive."


    The blood splattered on his face slowly flowed down, Mezulash thought to himself.


    All around, the Tieflings seemed stunned by the bloody scene, the air frozen, everyone silent.


    No one dared to speak again, even those Tieflings who had called for "revenge" fell silent.


    "Lerisa colluded with external enemies, leaking information..."


    "Dealt with according to military law."


    Ignoring the bloodstains on his face, Mezulash coldly raised his blood-stained longsword.


    "Revenge!"


    He repeated.


    "Revenge! Revenge!"


    "Reclaim Northwind Castle! Blood for blood!"


    More Tieflings responded to his call this time, cheering in rhythm. Though some of them perhaps did not look as natural.


    A sudden dragon''s roar echoed in the sky.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The Red Dragon descended slowly from the sky, standing on the highest boulder, looking down from above at the Tieflings.


    Mezulash turned around timely, blending into the crowd, saying no more.


    Cassius spread his wings slowly, casting a massive shadow over the crowd, making the Tieflings feel a strong sense of oppression.


    "I, Cassius, lord of the Ashen Nest, welcome you to join us."


    "I will provide you with ample protection and support, bestow upon you honor and strength, and help you build a town here."


    "And in return, you will need to be my eternal retainers, fight for me, help me defeat that greedy Northwind Eagle, and seize the entire Northwind Castle."


    Mezulash stepped forward, respectfully saying:


    "This town will be born under your shadow, please grant it a name."


    The Red Dragon''s golden eyes showed a hint of playfulness:


    "Since you are called Devil''s Offspring, how about naming it ''Barto City''?"


    Mezulash''s expression didn''t change, showing no signs of anger at the insult, and he calmly said:


    "Thank you for your grace."


    Cassius half-closed his eyes, looking at the composed Mezulash below, thinking to himself that this indeed was the man who had troubled the entire Rackman Family for over a decade. Stay connected with empire


    The nearly emotionless rationality, truly a terrifying fellow.

 Chapter 52 Tiefling (6)

    Suddenly, a child''s scream echoed from the camp''s entrance.The Tieflings quickly turned their heads to look.


    "Hey ho, hey ho, hey ho..."


    They saw several strong and mighty ogres shouting as they carried thick logs, casually walking into the camp. The Tiefling guards at the entrance did not dare to stop them.


    "Everyone, line up¡ª"


    Another troop of more than thirty half-dragonized hobgoblins appeared at the entrance of the "House of Ruin," marching in orderly formation, ready to station themselves in the camp.


    Hundreds of Dragon Vein Kobolds followed closely behind, natural diggers and builders, destined to be the main force in constructing this town.


    "Roar¡ª"


    Ancestral wyverns roared freely in the sky; any yeti daring to intrude would be reduced to ashes by their flames.


    "Oh my god, ogres are actually our allies."


    "Will these kobolds steal our stuff..."


    "Is that a wyvern?"


    "We''ll be working with these monsters from now on."


    The Tiefling refugees had mixed feelings about the oddly shaped "reinforcements," some joyous, some fearful, some anxious, some astonished.


    But one thing was certain


    ¡ªthey couldn''t stop these monsters from entering.


    Faced with such a grand spectacle, the always composed Mezulash couldn''t help but be stunned, and he couldn''t resist speaking:


    "Master, this was surely not a spur-of-the-moment idea."


    "This... was part of your plan, wasn''t it?"


    Cassius, overlooking the arriving retainers, exhaled a breath of sulfur-tinged heat: Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I told you all before, you have no bargaining power."


    Mezulash shook his head with a bitter smile:


    "Master, you really aren''t like a pure Red Dragon. If it weren''t for your immense strength, I would suspect... you were a Green Dragon fond of manipulating situations."


    Cassius simply replied: "That''s why you can stand here alive, instead of being turned to ashes the moment you said that."


    "Thank you for your extraordinary mercy."


    Mezulash realized he had overstepped, ignoring his own position, and quickly nodded in apology.


    Cassius paid no mind, simply saying: "Take me to your cavern. I''m interested in some things there."


    "Yes, Master."


    This time Mezulash didn''t speak further, silently leading the way.


    Reaching the depth of the camp''s cavern, Cassius finally saw what he wanted to see.


    ¡ªThe Ancient Teleportation Circle.


    Purple runes appeared on the rock walls; their patterns were inscrutable yet emanated a profound sense of order from the depths of the soul.


    This was what players in their past lives commonly called a "respawn point." Countless mages studied it, yet still couldn''t understand how these arrays, devoid of mana fluctuations, created these "Starfallen."


    And the Ancient Teleportation Circle in the "House of Ruin" was the players'' initial spawn point.


    Mezulash said: "Master, please forgive our ignorance; even the most learned in the camp can''t discern the purpose of these ancient runes."


    Cassius replied: "You''ll know in due course.


    "Protect this place well. Absolutely no one must discover or destroy it."


    Mezulash solemnly declared: "I will follow your command."


    Cassius seemed to recall something and then asked: "That contract, it''s still in your possession?"


    The so-called contract referred to the one Duke Rackman signed with an entity in the darkness, exchanging a thousand lives to transform into vampires.


    Mezulash once pursued a disappearance case to the Ducal Mansion and got it at the cost of near-death, bringing deadly retribution upon his family.


    Hearing this question, Mezulash nodded gravely, recalling those tragedies.


    It wasn''t just a contract; it was evidence of a crime.


    A blood-soaked piece of evidence.


    Cassius''s tone was indisputable: "Three days from now, bring the contract to Ashen Nest and find me."


    Then, this Tiefling Paladin turned and left to coordinate the town''s construction.


    Cassius squinted slightly, examining Mezulash''s information.


    This Holy Warrior''s Divine Sense felt the Red Dragon''s scrutiny, but he treated it as usual, making no reaction.


    [Target category is [Retainer]; you can perceive the following information.]


    [Oathbreaker Sword, Mezulash]


    Category: Medium Humanoid (Tiefling), Lawful Neutral


    AC: 17 (City Guard Armor)


    Speed: 40 feet on land


    Strength¡ª19


    Agility¡ª16


    Constitution¡ª15


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª14


    Charisma¡ª17


    Occupational Level: Paladin - Oathbreaker Level 11


    Military Weapons: Longsword, Great Sword, Heavy Crossbow


    Simple Weapons: Dagger, Light Crossbow


    Skill Proficiency: Military +7, Hunting +6, Insight +6, Athletics +6, Knowledge (Religion) +4, Ruling +4, Leadership +4, Survival +4, Stealth +2


    Senses: Passive Perception 17


    Languages: Common, Infernal


    Abilities: Supreme Holy Slash, Divine Sense, Guardian Aura, Aura of Courage, Oathbreaker Guiding Divine Power: Terror Manifestation, Oathbreaker Guiding Divine Power: Control Undead


    Feats: Alert, Downward Slash, Defensive Duelist, Great Weapon Master, Heavy Armor Use


    Battle Gear: Bloodstained Great Sword, Standard Issue City Defense Armor, Paladin Cloak, Tiefling Ring


    Oathbreaker Spells


    3rd level: Inferno Scold, Inflict Wounds


    5th level: Crown of Madness, Darkness Spell


    9th level: Animate Dead, Curse Spell


    Challenge Level: 10 (5900 XP)


    Assessment: When the crimson curtain falls, the Paladin breaks all vows, making their final stand.


    "Aside from Ramp, none of Ashen Nest''s retainers could compare to him."


    This was Cassius''s assessment.


    In his view, Mezulash''s stalemate with the giant yeti was purely because he had recently become an oathbreaker and was not yet familiar with his abilities.


    If he could master his spells and abilities, defeating the giant yeti alone would be no problem.


    Paladins were a favored occupation in past lives too, with their combination of melee and spells, nicknamed "Holy Daddy" by people.


    Although the strength of the Oathbreaker wasn''t as high as the Oath of Vengeance or Oath of Conquest, it was still formidable.


    "Players are still needed..."


    Cassius was somewhat looking forward to it. If these beings, known as "The Fourth Calamity," could be properly harnessed, they would be a formidable force.


    And the first batch of beta testers would appear within the Ancient Teleportation Circle of the "House of Ruin," many of whom would become illustrious figures in the future.


    Cassius flew into the sky, overlooking the still-primitive "House of Ruin."


    The ogres planted the logs in the ground as pillars, framing the buildings. The kobolds scurried around, hammering and tinkering, while some Tieflings stood awkwardly by, unsure of how to help.


    In the distance, goblins had begun laying roads to connect this place to the Giant Human Valley, though progress was slow due to the snow.


    The future Barto City would be built here, with buildings rising one after another. This place would become the gathering ground for Starfallen and the first "Main City" for players.

 Chapter 53 Nest and Ascension

    Ashen Nest."Quick, bring the stone up."


    "Lord Dolores said to make room for the catapult."


    "Oh, okay."


    "Captain, why did you hit me?"


    "You idiot, you blocked the window!"


    The goblins were still routinely building fortifications, making Rock Fortress even more indestructible.


    The well-trained great goblins took over the sentry duties of the goblins, further lowering their status within the nest, but these timid and cowardly creatures dared only to be angry and not speak up.


    "Open the gate, we want to come in."


    The lizardfolk called out from below the city gate.


    Behind them, they dragged a huge corpse on a sled, with warm blood still flowing down.


    The lizardfolk, new arrivals, temporarily took on the tasks of patrolling and hunting.


    The strong and robust lizardfolk chieftain Acker had superb hunting skills; he always managed to lead the lizardfolk to encircle and kill massive woolly boars and mammoths. Meanwhile, the old shaman stayed in the valley, using Druid spells to heal the wounded.


    The half-goat people loved the strongest wine, the finest spices, and the most dazzling dances.


    Shortly after entering Ashen Nest, these bard-like fellows spent sleepless nights in wild celebration.


    It wasn''t until Ramp, irritated by the noise, killed one of the dancing half-goat people with a club and roasted the body, that these fellows finally quieted down, although they appeared somewhat dejected.


    They played different melodies on their magic pan flutes, causing enemies to fall into states of panic or charm.


    Meanwhile, the ogres once again gathered in the depths of the valley, and Ramp resumed his literacy class.


    This ogre mage had been living well recently; a caravan from Sgurr Town brought over twenty precious magic scrolls.


    ¡ªAmong them were useful Second Tier Spells like [Misty Step], [Magic Rope Spell], and [Human Binding Spell], and even a Third Tier Spell like [Stinking Cloud Spell].


    This no doubt freed him from the embarrassment of being a mage who only knew fireball spells.


    Ramp treasured these scrolls and stored them in the cave, placing guards at the entrance to prevent anyone from approaching, while he spent days and nights immersed in learning spells.


    "I need to build a mage tower."


    Ramp adjusted his newly received gold-framed glasses and thought this.


    Considering his large frame, standing over five meters tall, the cave felt rather cramped.


    He was contemplating building a mage tower, like all decent mages, to store magic scrolls and items and to spread his name across the continent. He had already thought of a good name¡ª


    "Giant Sage."


    It conveyed both size and wisdom.


    If he could add labels like Ashen Nest and Great Blueprint, it would be even more perfect.


    Just now, the noisy curses of the surrounding ogres pulled Ramp back to reality.


    "Boss, what''s up?"


    Bighead poked his head out from the side and said gleefully:


    "Why aren''t you talking, are you giving us something to eat?"


    "I want to eat green-skinned goblin!"


    "I want little one canned food!"


    Ramp''s face, covered in dragon scales, turned dark with a thick shadow.


    "Shut up!"


    He swung his club onto Bighead''s skull, the terrifying strength from dragonification smashing down, causing Bighead''s eyes to well with tears and his forehead to swell.


    "Bang!"


    Bighead fell straight over.


    "Does everyone... know?"


    A kind smile spread across Ramp''s scaled, menacing face, showing a mouthful of sharp teeth.


    Ignoring the fainted Bighead, he pulled out a few lifelike paintings drawn by the half-goat people''s studio, pointing to the goblin figures on them.


    "Come, read with me¡ª"


    "Companions."


    Having seen what happened to Bighead, the ogres obeyed more and no longer dared to make trouble, timidly echoing:


    "Com¡ªpa¡ªnions¡ª"


    Ramp finally nodded in satisfaction; these guys were showing some improvement.


    But then, the ogres didn''t stop.


    "Delicious!"


    This exclamation, more unified than before, contained an earnest joy akin to a farmer''s harvest.


    Ramp''s face, which had just returned to normal, turned pitch black again, his thick arms slightly bulging, the veins under the dragon scales pulsating.


    "Crack."


    His newly received golden-framed glasses snapped under the strain of the bulging veins.


    This stoked the flames of Ramp''s anger even more.


    "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"


    Soon, the Ogre Cave was filled with wailing.


    ...


    Giant''s Mouth Cave.


    Inside the Red Dragon''s lair.


    Cassius stretched, taking in the surrounding scent of sulfur and floatstone.


    Every red dragon exuded abundant energy before entering adolescence, causing this scent as the impurities mixed into the air.


    "Almost time for the hibernation phase."


    Cassius thought this as well.


    The experience he gained earlier from the gigantic snowmen remained unspent; he looked at his status screen, preparing to level up.


    [Choose to increase Sorcerer level]


    [Your Sorcerer level rose to 6]


    [Acquired additional Third Tier Spell [Fireball Technique]]


    The method of casting the fireball spell appeared in the red dragon''s mind. Though a Third Tier Spell, the fireball spell seemed so straightforward and brutal¡ªjust one word¡ªboom.


    As a red dragon born to control flames, Cassius found releasing this spell to be second nature.


    With a few tries, he could already summon searing fireballs, casually hurling them at the ground.


    "Boom!"


    The fireball hit the stone surface, leaving a large scorch mark.


    "No wonder there was a cult of sorcerers dedicated to fireball spells in my past life; it really is quite satisfying to cast."


    Cassius couldn''t help but say.


    [Acquired Trait [Advanced Elemental Affinity]]


    [The powerful bloodline of the ancient red dragon imbues you with fiery strength. When you cast a spell dealing damage of the same type as your draconic bloodline, you can add your own charisma to enhance the spell.]


    Though a pureblood red dragon from the righteous flag of ancient Tiamat, Cassius, as a dragon vein sorcerer, dug into his bloodline to gain spells far beyond what typical dragon vein sorcerer players could, and acquired far more potent traits.


    Standard sorcerers knew only a handful of spells, casting them repeatedly, often becoming akin to artillery units in a team. Mages, however, had access to the entire spell list, allowing them to flexibly adjust their prepared spells daily.


    Thus, at higher levels, once their spell list was known, a sorcerer of the same level had difficulty contending with a well-prepared mage.


    In Cassius''s view, the occupational abilities of the dragon vein sorcerer were becoming inadequate for his growing power.


    Traits like [Wings of the Dragon], [True Dragon Majesty], and [Dragonification] in the mid to late stages of a dragon vein sorcerer''s career seemed unnecessary luxuries to him.


    Was he supposed to grow an extra set of wings?


    Or have a dragon turn into a dragon?


    Or perhaps add another layer of dragon might?


    This showcased the importance of multiclassing and advanced occupations.


    Yet many human occupations didn''t suit a red dragon, such as warriors or paladins, which involved restrictions like weapons, equipment, and faith. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, Cassius had not yet decided on developing other occupations and could only hope to find hidden or advanced occupations.

 Chapter 54 Red Scales (Part 1)

    In the dark dungeon, the light of the torches flickered.From time to time, there were sounds of cursing and screams, and the Bugbear Guards wandered back and forth.


    Alger leaned silently against the stone wall, his thin figure and pale, unnatural complexion indicating that he had not seen sunlight for a long time.


    There were several horizontal lines carved on the wall.


    He used these to keep track of time.


    But as dozens of days passed, he could no longer distinguish time in this dark dungeon.


    After that interrogation, he had been locked in the dungeon with no one caring about him.


    There were no imagined tortures, no deliberate mistreatment, just eating some unknown mush daily and staying in the dark dungeon day after day.


    Besides thinking and sleeping, there didn''t seem to be anything else he could do.


    The Bugbear Guards at the door were impossible to bribe, these simple-minded muscle-bound fellows only chatted with their comrades and had no ambitions of their own.


    But through their words, he learned that the Ashen Nest was growing stronger, and that terrifying Red Dragon was becoming even more powerful.


    Alger had thought of fasting, accepting death calmly.


    But whenever he recalled the words the Red Dragon had spoken, he felt like a fog was shrouding his memory. He knew far too little.


    And what made him feel most horrified was that the Red Dragon seemed to have spoken no lies.


    His Grace had never left the castle; he had never basked in the sunlight. From the moment Alger had entered, His Grace seemed always accompanied by shadows.


    When he executed the Tieflings, they didn''t display the power of Devils, instead, they seemed like ordinary innocent beings. That scene didn''t give him any sense of revengeful delight; on the contrary, he often felt a pang of guilt.


    There was often a smell of blood in the castle''s backyard.


    Originally, as the family''s Death Warrior, Alger didn''t care much about these things, but when all these details came together, it seemed too coincidental.


    He needed the truth before he died.


    Alger often told himself not to think about it, reminding himself repeatedly of the old instructor''s teaching: "Do not question right or wrong, just execute orders."


    But in this empty cell, he couldn''t help but think. What else could he do?


    "I need the truth."


    Alger muttered to himself.


    He didn''t realize that his mindset had undergone a drastic change, the once loyal dog of the family was no more.


    "Eagle, how long do you think we''ll stay here?"


    Alger stroked his companion''s feathers.


    The Giant Eagle just watched him, lightly flapping its wings, indicating that it also longed to leave.


    "Maybe we''ll get out soon."


    "Maybe¡­"


    Alger gave a bitter smile.


    "That Dragon could sleep for decades, forgetting us, leaving us to become skeletons in this dungeon."


    This could truly happen.


    Once, a White Dragon kidnapped several nobles for ransom, but it slept for over thirty years. When it woke up, those nobles had already died in the dungeon.


    However, the commotion at the cell''s door broke his train of thought.


    Alger looked up and saw a few Bugbear Guards carrying iron chains approaching.


    "Human, come out."


    "Master wants to see you."


    The Bugbear Guards said unceremoniously.


    "Finally¡­ is it time?"


    Alger muttered to himself.


    This time, he didn''t resist pointlessly, just allowed the Bugbear Guards to take him away. He was ready to face the truth.


    ...


    After a long time, the black cloth on Alger''s face was removed.


    It was still that familiar cave.


    The Red Dragon in front of him was even stronger and larger.


    "Long time no see, Alger Yorman." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius''s golden eyes carried a hint of mockery.


    Here it was again, that look, that feeling of being controlled, toyed with¡ªmade Alger very uncomfortable.


    He took a deep breath, trying his best to keep his tone calm.


    "What do you want to deceive me with this time?"


    "What kind of schemes are you trying to make me help accomplish?"


    But Cassius wasn''t angry at all, he just laughed and said, "I merely wanted you to meet an old friend."


    "Mezulash, come out."


    Hearing this name, Alger''s expression changed instantly, his hand instinctively reaching to his waist.


    In Rackman Territory, that name was well-known. He was the leader of the Tiefling Resistance Army, a target that the Northwind Eagle Guards would kill at all costs.


    And also¡­ his childhood friend.


    They had grown up together in Northwind Castle, once inseparable until¡ªAlger''s parents died, and he entered Rackman Castle with hatred.


    Mezulash stepped out from the shadows, looking indifferently at the human not far away, a trace of hatred flickering deep within his dark pupils.


    The Tiefling had once witnessed his former friend, as the Duke''s loyal servant, wield the killing blade against his kin. If it weren''t for the presence of the Red Dragon, he would have killed him on the spot.


    "Why¡­ is he here."


    Alger''s tone was a bit stilted, not knowing what to say for a moment, or how to face him.


    Enemy?


    Or a former friend?


    Perhaps in the past, he would have regarded him as an enemy. But after hearing the Red Dragon''s words, he could no longer distinguish truth from falsehood.


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfurous air and merely said:


    "Mezulash, where''s the contract I asked you to bring?"


    "I brought it, my Lord."


    Mezulash took out a leather contract.


    The contract was covered with dense writing and, although it had lost its power because it was completed, it still faintly emanated an aura of dark, evil magic.


    Cassius ordered:


    "Let him see it."


    Mezulash stepped forward, unfurling the contract and shoving it into Alger''s hand with quick precision.


    Alger had a very bad feeling, his heart struggling, but driven by his thirst for the truth, he ended up looking at the writing, quickly murmuring each line to himself.


    "Third Era, 1705 AD, December 23, the clock''s hand moving one-third of the way."


    "I, the Necromancer, Voice of the Night..."


    "...sign this contract under the witness of the Styx River."


    "...at the cost of a thousand lives."


    "...and he will gain immortality, drink blood, bathe in eternal youth in the darkness."


    Instantly, Alger felt dizzy, his hand holding the scroll trembled slightly.


    "No."


    "How can this be¡­"


    He couldn''t help but keep reading, looking at the signatory''s name.


    "Duke Brad Rackman"


    This name, written in scarlet blood, was incredibly familiar to Alger.


    He had seen this signature on administrative documents in Northwind Castle, in Eagle Guards'' logistics approval, in vows of loyalty...


    But he had never expected to see it on the contract that sacrificed his parents.


    Brad Rackman

 Chapter 55 Red Scale (Part 2)

    "Smack!"The scroll fell from his hand.


    The scarlet signature was so striking and clear.


    Outside the Giant''s Mouth Cave, the cold wind still howled, and the snow fell heavily, making the retainers shiver and exhale white mist. But inside the cave, it was warm as a furnace.


    However, Alger felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, collapsing to the ground.


    His oath, his faith, his years of training and education, everything he pursued, all collapsed in this moment.


    He had tirelessly trained in combat, harmonizing with the Giant Eagle, only to become an accomplice in sacrificing lives.


    He had pledged loyalty to Duke Brad, never imagining that the one bestowing the sword was his greatest enemy in life.


    He received education from the family''s instructors, only to become a hound under someone''s control.


    His life-risking battles and sacrifices ultimately served his greatest foe in life, like a tragic figure from some opera.


    ¡ªAnd this was undoubtedly the most thorough negation and most biting mockery of his life.


    Once, Alger used hatred to blind his own thoughts, allowing him to carry out tasks recklessly, without considering morality.


    But when this last layer of pretense was torn away, his heart was left with nothing but bloody wounds and endless regret.


    Alger kneeled on the ground.


    The scene of that massacre replayed before his eyes.


    Surrounded by burning buildings, people waving torches and cheering, following him, shouting slogans of "Drive out the devil" and "Protect the citizens," while a Tiefling mother, empty-handed, only held her child tightly, kneeling before him with tears in her eyes, begging for mercy.


    He also remembered what that mother said to him before she died¡ª


    "Please, let my child live."


    But blinded by hatred, he had swung the Eagle Shriek Silver Sword without hesitation.


    With a clear and crisp eagle''s cry, he killed her cruelly.


    He had murdered the mother and child.


    He had personally set fire to their settlement.


    His actions were no different from those he hated, even making him his foe''s accomplice.


    He was no avenger.


    Nor a warrior of justice.


    Just an ignorant pawn used by his enemy.


    A butcher who slaughtered commoners. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A wretch who didn''t even know himself.


    "I''m sorry..."


    His voice trembled.


    Whether this apology was for Mezulash or those dead Tieflings, he didn''t know.


    Mezulash''s pitch-black eyes remained unmoved, standing with arms folded, coldly watching him.


    "Alger, it''s too late."


    "All of this has already happened."


    "Your apology means nothing to me, it only disgusts me."


    Alger didn''t lift his head, but responded, trembling all over:


    "Kill me."


    Mezulash sneered and replied softly:


    "If I could decide your life and death, you would have long been tortured to death in a dungeon."


    "But look at you now, you look like a stray dog. Letting you live in pain, that''s not too bad."


    For his sworn enemy, this former Paladin spared no malicious words.


    Alger repeatedly banged his head against the ground.


    Blood flowed from his forehead.


    Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the blood, blurring his vision.


    He repeated again:


    "Please, kill me."


    Mezulash watched coldly, then said:


    "You think being killed by me will bring you redemption, don''t you? The clich¨¦d trope of a killer being slain by an avenger."


    "You always take things for granted."


    "Just as you took for granted that the bloodstained Duke was a magnanimous good man, placing the blame for your parents'' deaths on us, just as you took for granted the slaughter of our settlements."


    Mezulash stepped forward, grabbing Alger''s head and lifting him forcefully.


    He whispered in his ear:


    "Alger, your life and death have long ceased to be in your control."


    "The only reason you''re alive is because you still have value to Lord Cassius."


    Alger was thrown heavily to the ground.


    Mezulash finished speaking, then stood by watching.


    This Tiefling Holy Warrior wasn''t consumed by the hatred in his heart, now he only cared about the survival of his people; Alger''s life meant nothing to him.


    Cassius looked down at Alger, his golden eyes devoid of any so-called compassion.


    "I told you there was no need to deceive you, only to let you witness the truth."


    "You should have known all this long ago."


    Alger kneeled on the ground, blood continually flowing.


    "I should have... known."


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    He mumbled to himself.


    The flowing blood seemed to clear his mind.


    Alger finally regained his calm from the extreme collapse, his eyes a bit clearer.


    He couldn''t die yet; he hadn''t resolved the true culprit behind all this, hadn''t truly avenged his parents, hadn''t completed his own redemption.


    Once dead, there would be no chance to make amends.


    The image of Duke Brad Rackman appeared in his mind.


    That face seemed about fifty years old, with a pale complexion, always sporting two delicate mustaches, wearing silver-framed glasses, his hair and eyes pitch black, with an occasional flash of crimson.


    He spoke slowly, with a heavy noble accent, yet without seeming forced.


    Once, Alger felt deep admiration and gratitude upon seeing this face.


    But now, all he felt was endless hatred.


    With this thought, Alger said in a deep voice:


    "I must live, to kill him."


    "Who?"


    Cassius''s golden eyes showed a hint of amusement, feigning ignorance.


    "Brad Rackman."


    Alger uttered the familiar name, but this time with unwavering determination, a tone of inevitability.


    "You alone cannot accomplish it."


    "..."


    Alger fell silent.


    After a long silence, seemingly after deep contemplation, he finally lowered his forehead slowly to touch the ground, ignoring the dirt, his gaze exceptionally firm.


    "Lord Cassius, I swear loyalty to you."


    "I am willing to offer my life to you, to be your most faithful servant, to serve you with all my heart and soul. I will be the dagger in your shadow, the hidden blade in your hand, removing all obstacles for you."


    "As long as you allow me..."


    "To kill him."


    Cassius nodded slightly and said:


    "I don''t need you to become a so-called Death Warrior, that is meaningless. I need you to help me... with an experiment."

 Chapter 56 Red Scales (Part 3)

    Cassius stared at the panel displaying the newly refreshed information.[The NPC faction you created, the Ashen Nest, has achieved a standard level of comprehensive strength]


    [The Ashen Nest has gained some fame within the Anzeta Great Wilderness. It is located in Giant Valley, with its territory covering half of Stormy Ridge. Rumor has it that it is the lair of the Red Dragon, Flying Flame Cassius, the graveyard of the Northwind Eagle Guards.


    Countless ferocious monsters, including Ogres, Wyverns, and Chimeras, gather here to serve their wicked lord, ready to unleash an insatiable desire for expansion...]


    [You can create a special faction subclass]


    The so-called faction subclasses are unique career branches available to each faction.


    As a player, one must have a certain level of faction contribution and meet specific occupation requirements to advance.


    For example, the Rackman Family''s Northwind Eagle Guards require absolute loyalty to the family and proficiency in "riding a Giant Eagle." Many players in the past joined Northwind Castle for this reason.


    Many faction subclasses are incredibly powerful, such as the Boske Family''s Lionheart Knight, the Corrupted Druid of the Gloomy Marsh, and the Time Soul Magician of the Tower of Time.


    Cassius specifically subdued Alger because of this unit''s exceptional mobility, making them excellent scouts and aerial forces.


    He planned to create the Ashen Nest''s exclusive subclass based on the Northwind Eagle Guards.


    Alger would be the first experimental subject.


    In the future, he would become a kind of "occupation mentor," enticing more players to join the Ashen Nest.


    Discover hidden stories at empire


    [Note, granting a subclass requires the target to be a retainer of your faction]


    [Target Alger is currently your retainer]


    [Preparing to construct the occupation¡ª]


    In the wide and enclosed cave, Alger and his Giant Eagle sat in a deep pit as per Cassius''s instructions.


    "Close your eyes."


    Cassius commanded.


    Now a retainer, Alger obediently shut his eyes.


    The Giant Eagle, however, shook its feathers restlessly, but Alger forcibly covered its eyes.


    "Begin."


    The Red Dragon nodded slightly.


    He sliced open his palm, letting a drop of scorching dragon blood trickle out.


    "Bloodline Gift."


    "Semi-Dragon Form¡ª"


    Cassius chanted in his mind.


    This was a more potent bloodline gift that could grant humanoid creatures a semi-dragon template. This dragonkin bloodline could even be passed down to offspring.


    For humanoid creatures, only those with highly trained and incredibly strong bodies¡ªsuch as the warrior before him¡ªcould successfully endure this trial.


    The blood, like an extension of his limb, slowly rose and merged into Alger''s mouth.


    "Ugh..."


    Alger let out a suppressed groan.


    Yet, the resolute warrior gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out.


    As the hot blood infused with raging elements flowed down his throat, Alger''s skin turned red, emitting wisps of white smoke. Sweat poured from his forehead.


    His stomach churned as if filled with a lake of magma.


    "Ugrah¡ª"


    Alger tightly shut his eyes, gritting his teeth to stifle any scream, his brows knitted in pain.


    His body involuntarily bent over, curling up on the ground.


    The dragon blood brutally seeped into his veins, pumped to every part of his body by his violently beating heart.


    Alger''s skin turned dark red, releasing intense steam and appearing anything but human.


    "Aaaah¡ª"


    He could no longer hold back and howled to the sky.


    This agony was worse than a thousand cuts, as if his entire being, including his bones, was being ground up and reshaped.


    Beneath his skin, the bones at his elbows, knees, and spine pushed out violently, even piercing through the skin to form sharp bone spurs. As the skin split open, scales rigidly pushed themselves out.


    His body grew to nearly two meters tall.


    His flesh was roughly altered by chaotic elemental power, rapidly growing numerous small yet tough ducts specific to dragons, used for channeling elements.


    His face underwent the most horrifying transformation.


    The scales stretched the skin taut, the bones around his mouth jutted forward to form upper and lower jaws. The gums produced numerous sharp teeth, his eyes rolled back to show whites before transforming into reptilian slits, his head forcibly reshaped into a dragon-like form.


    The transformation for the Giant Eagle beside him was much simpler: sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was just a regular bloodline gift.


    The beak grew sharp teeth, scales appeared under its feathers, its size increased significantly, and its wingspan extended close to ten meters, becoming a hybrid of a Giant Eagle and Dragonhawk.


    When the pervasive steam dissipated, Alger opened his eyes again to reveal golden slit pupils.


    His appearance was now more dragonborn than human.


    "This is..."


    He found his field of vision vastly expanded, able to see black-and-white images even in near blindness due to a special reflective membrane.


    Alger lay on the ground, awkwardly moving his arm. He felt his strength surpassing what it used to be.


    This two-meter-tall, muscular body not only brimmed with strength but also contained fiery magical power.


    Strength was indeed the most intoxicating thing.


    No matter the pain, it was worth it.


    With strength, he could atone for everything he had done.


    Alger clumsily got up from the ground, kneeling before Cassius.


    Now, he was not just kneeling symbolically but felt an oppressive force deep in his blood, making rebellion impossible. His willpower alone could hardly restrain this instinct.


    "To become a dragon''s claw and fangs..."


    "This feeling..."


    "Isn''t bad."


    Alger knelt on the floor, facing downward, contemplating.


    "Master, thank you for the strength you bestowed."


    "I will use it on the battlefield to terrify your enemies."


    His words carried immense sincerity.


    Cassius sensed Alger''s thoughts but simply said:


    "Get used to this body. I need you to¡ªtrain a new army for me."


    The panel''s information refreshed again.


    [Faction Advanced Sub-occupation constructed successfully.]


    [Occupation advancement requirements:]


    [Join the Ashen Nest faction.]


    [Become a retainer of the faction leader, the Red Dragon, Cassius.]


    [Possess a Basic Warrior occupation level of at least level 3, with +4 proficiency in riding skill.]


    [Own a large or larger Dragon Vein creature as a mount and possess some degree of dragonkin bloodline.]


    [Please name your faction subclass¡ª]


    Cassius gazed at the kneeling Alger, whose face was covered in crimson scales, appearing particularly sinister.


    [Name it: Red Scale Conqueror]

 Chapter 57 Red Scales (Conclusion)

    Faction subclass construction complete.[Red Scale Conqueror]:


    [Red Scale Conquerors are a special group of knights loyal to the master of the Ashen Nest¡ªthe Red Dragon Cassius. They served as ranger knights, patrolling the vast territories of the Red Dragon, scouting for potential threats that could come from the kingdom''s army or adventurers seeking to slay the dragon. When war broke out, they were terrible conquerors.


    To become a Red Scale Conqueror, one must have dragon blood, signifying their status as the most loyal claws and fangs of the Red Dragon. When they charged in groups, flames and claws became their weapons, and no enemy would wish to face these dragon-featured beings.


    When the Dragon''s Roar came from afar, the Red Scale Conquerors would ride massive and ferocious Dragon Vein creatures, descending from the sky to bring endless flames and utter destruction upon their enemies.]


    [Besides the basic warrior abilities, the Red Scale Conqueror received additional traits.]


    [At level 3, you would gain the traits: Born to Ride and Dragon''s Roar Charge]


    [Born to Ride: Your expertise as a cavalryman becomes evident, granting you an additional +3 proficiency in riding skills. You gain an advantage on saving throws to avoid being dismounted. If you fall from your mount and are not incapacitated, you can land on your feet.]


    [Dragon''s Roar Charge: You and your mount emit a terrifying Dragon''s Roar while charging. All enemies in the path of the charge must make a saving throw, or they fall into a state of panic if they fail. In this state, you and your mount are fearless, your strength increases, and you are immune to most status effects.]


    [At level 7, you will gain the traits: Heaven Conqueror and Dragon''s Talons and Fangs]


    [Heaven Conqueror: Your mastery of riding skills conquers the sky, granting you an additional +3 proficiency in riding. You and your mount are in sync, able to perform aerial maneuvers like sudden stops, changes in direction, rolls, ascents, and dives.]


    [Dragon''s Talons and Fangs: As the most loyal claws and fangs of the Red Dragon, your Dragonification increases further, transforming you from a humanoid Dragon Vein creature to a full-fledged dragon-type being¡ªa Half-Dragon. You gain dragon-specific feats, with your claw and bite attacks strengthened.


    You can breathe flames in mid-air but will also suffer additional damage from weapons designed to target dragons.]


    [Currently, the level cap for Red Scale Conqueror is 8]


    [Remaining traits await further construction and unlocking¡ª¡ª]


    "This power level makes it undoubtedly the strongest subclass for warriors in the early game."


    "With the added uniqueness of flight, tsk tsk."


    "It''s practically overpowered."


    Cassius mused to himself.


    "This is going to be a gold mine."


    Cassius was already calculating how to profit from the future players.


    In the 1.0 version, where the level cap was only 8, melee classes were still popular, and the powerful traits of the Red Scale Conqueror would undoubtedly attract countless hardcore players.


    Moreover, some players with peculiar tastes wouldn''t consider transforming into a Half-Dragon to be ugly; on the contrary, it was a symbol of charisma.


    After all, when the "Dragonborn" race emerged in the previous life, many strange videos popped up on certain black-and-yellow websites, demonstrating the fervor and terror of these dragon-enthusiasts.


    And in times when Flight Magic and Gravity Magic had not yet become widespread, flying monsters were certainly nightmares for players, as evidenced by the thousands of players who were powerless against that Red Dragon boss.


    Explore stories on empire


    The flying mounts and aerial skills of the Red Scale Conqueror subclass would undoubtedly drive players crazy in pursuit.


    The Red Dragon perused the panel for a while.


    During this time, the Half-Dragon waited on his knees without a word until Cassius finished reviewing all the information and then finally spoke:


    "Rise."


    Alger slowly stood up, his clothes already ripped apart, exposing scales all over his body.


    Cassius gazed at his half-dragon, half-human form and said:


    "For now, you will carry out patrol duties. Additionally, I need you to train more cavalry like yourself within the Ashen Nest. Human, Great Goblin, Lizardfolk, Tiefling¡ªchoose anyone you deem talented."


    "Master, it''s challenging. It might take a long time, and the success rate is very low."


    "I underwent ten years of training at Northwind Castle, starting with over a hundred recruits for initial training, yet only six of us succeeded."


    "And your current retainers..."


    "Pardon my honesty, they wouldn''t have even passed my initial screening."


    Alger replied truthfully.


    "Just do it. There will be many... special individuals joining in the future."


    "They will show you what innate talent truly is."


    Cassius said with confidence.


    Although Alger was unaware of the players'' arrival, he saw his master''s confidence and took the order seriously.


    "Yes, Master."


    Alger then mounted the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle and soared out of the cave.


    "Scree¡ª"


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, seeing the sunlight it hadn''t seen in a long while, was excited and let out loud eagle screeches, now tinged with the power of Dragon''s Roar.


    Cassius watched Alger riding the giant eagle away and exhaled a breath that smelled of sulfur.


    [Target identified as your retainer Alger. Based on your status, you can perceive the following information.]


    [Red Scale Conqueror Alger] Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Name: Alger Yorman


    Category: Medium-sized dragon-type creature (Half-Dragon Human), Neutral Evil


    AC: 17 (natural armor)


    Speed: Flying 90 feet, ground movement 40 feet


    Strength¡ª20


    Agility¡ª16


    Constitution¡ª18


    Intelligence¡ª11


    Perception¡ª14


    Charisma¡ª13


    Occupational Level: Warrior - Red Scale Conqueror Level 8


    Mount: Dragon Vein Giant Eagle (Level 5)


    Military Weapons: Long Sword, Short Sword, Great Sword, Long Bow, Heavy Crossbow, Spear


    Simple Weapons: Dagger, Short Bow, Light Crossbow


    Skills: Riding +15, Military +9, Hunting +7, Athletics +6, Perception +6, Leadership +4, Survival +4, Investigation +2, Tracking +4, Stealth +4


    Senses: Passive Perception 14


    Language: Common


    Actions: Dragon''s Roar Charge, Flame Breath, Commander''s Surprise Attack, Slashing Attack, Piercing Attack, Actions Like Tides, Recovery


    Occupational Traits: Born to Ride, Heaven Conqueror, Dragon''s Talons and Fangs


    Feats: Alert, Downward Slash, Great Weapon Master, Riding Specialist, Flight Master, Dragonhide


    Combat Equipment: Eagle Shriek Silver Sword


    Challenge Level: 10 (5,900xp)


    Assessment: Formerly an Eagle Guard, now the most loyal claws and fangs of the giant dragon. Reborn in the flames, he treads the path of revenge. If you mistakenly anger the Red Dragon, he might descend on a Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, bringing you death with sword and flame.

 Chapter 58 Slumber

    Cassius ordered Ramp to cast several "guardian inscription" spells at the entrance of the cave.Any unauthorized entity attempting to breach the cave would be met with a rune explosion, engulfing the intruder in flames, lightning, and strong acid.


    He also arranged for retainers to guard the entrance in shifts. In the future, Great Goblins, Bugbears, and Lizardfolk guards would be stationed at the entrance continuously, ensuring that the cave remained undisturbed.


    Once everything was settled, Cassius ventured alone into the depths of Giant''s Mouth Cave, his wings loosely folded at his sides.


    Here, it was close to the lava region. Scalding white steam emanated everywhere, the air heavy with powerful fire elements, and hot magma oozed from the ground.


    For ordinary people, this environment would be the Land of Death, but for Cassius, it felt incredibly comfortable.


    The scent of sulfur and floatstone on him grew stronger, indicating that this Red Dragon''s body was eager for slumber, ready to enter the next stage of its age. This magma-filled cave was the perfect place for him to absorb and store elemental energy during his sleep.


    All True Dragons were warm-blooded. Given their elemental nature, they could hardly be anything else, and fire dragons, in particular, grew hotter with age.


    Unlike most warm-blooded creatures, dragons had no apparent means of shedding excess heat. They did not sweat and rarely panted. Instead, dragon capillaries extracted heat from the blood flow, storing this energy.


    Thus, in a sense, dragons could be considered ectothermic (as they utilized environmental heat sources).


    However, when dragons lost external heat sources, their metabolism and activity levels remained unaffected, neither slowing nor forcing them into dormancy due to cold exposure.


    "It is time to sleep..."


    Cassius muttered to himself as he inhaled the air''s scents.


    Since arriving at Erezer, he had been relentlessly enhancing his strength, seldom taking long rests.


    A true Red Dragon, besides occasional raiding and plundering, spent most of its time sleeping and eating.


    Dragons possessed lengthy lifespans and innate strength. A giant dragon could gain enormous power, unimaginable to ordinary beings, merely by sleeping.


    This made them both exceedingly proud and exceedingly lazy.


    Despite their craving for power, they seldom wasted time seeking it like ordinary creatures. This stemmed from both their confidence and disdain for mortal concerns.


    "How can anyone imagine anything more magnificent than a dragon, the epitome of creation?"


    ¡ªBheilorveilthion, Ancient Red Dragon.


    Yet, it was precisely the dragons'' laziness and arrogance that allowed them to be defeated by adventurers.


    A "diligent" dragon like Cassius was considered an outlier among all dragons. Such a dragon, in a sense, was the most terrifying, a diligent evil dragon capable of causing a global catastrophe.


    "I wonder how long this slumber will last."


    "I hope that when I wake up, the Ashen Nest will still be intact."


    "But I still haven''t found the demon in the mountains."


    "And my actions may have already drawn the Kingdom''s attention. If they dispatch troops to attack..."


    Cassius pondered silently.


    He slowly lay down, pressing his body against the warm ground, feeling the continuous flow of underground energy into him.


    "Forget it, let''s sleep."


    "Without strength, everything is in vain."


    "Like a true giant dragon, grow strong by sleeping."


    The Red Dragon curled up in the depths of the magma, slowly closed his eyes, and slept like a true Red Dragon.


    The surrounding frenzied fire element energy flowed relentlessly into his body, entering his beating heart through capillaries, filling his every inch of flesh and blood.


    Cassius''s massive frame rose and fell with each breath...


    ...


    Northwind Castle.


    Rackman Castle cellar.


    The surroundings were dimly lit and quiet, with the candles on the walls flickering.


    A man in his fifties lay in a cold stone coffin.


    His face bore an unnatural pallor, with a delicately groomed mustache on his lips, and silver-framed glasses perched on his nose.


    His hair was jet black, and he wore a black and red robe trimmed with luxurious gold.


    He was Brad Rackman.


    The current Duke of the Rackman Family, ruler of Northwind Castle.


    He seldom appeared before people, except for that speech in the dim hall and... during feeding time.


    There was a faint sound in the cellar.


    The murmuring whispers of bats and the flapping of their wings.


    A woman with the same pale face and slender build, dressed in a heavily ruffled gown, slowly walked in and approached the stone coffin.


    "Father."


    The man in the stone coffin slowly opened his eyes, and a deep crimson color flickered in his pupils.


    "What is it, Alexia?"


    The woman lifted her skirt, bowed, and spoke in a voice as cold as ice.


    "The Eagle Guards returned with news. They have found traces of Tieflings in Stormy Ridge. Those filthy creatures have set up a camp there."


    Brad''s expression remained unchanged as he said:


    "Then send someone to wipe them out completely."


    "But..."


    Alexia hesitated slightly.


    "They seem to be under the protection of Ashen Nest. The scouts we sent were killed by Wyverns, and only a few escaped."


    Duke Brad''s brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of anger appeared on his pale face.


    "It''s that again..."


    "That damn Red Dragon."


    The duke was still bitter about the loss of his Eagle Guards. These elite cavalrymen had cost the Rackham Family thousands of gold coins, and Alger, in particular, had been deemed a useful tool. The duke even planned to turn him into his eternal servant.


    "So do you think we should seek out..."


    "That lord."


    Alexia observed the duke''s expression, testingly asking.


    "No, do not engage Ashen Nest directly."


    "And do not summon that Mage." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We can''t control his power; it will only bring disaster to us."


    His response was decisive, clearly rejecting her proposal.


    Duke Brad gazed at the woman, speaking earnestly:


    "You must be patient, Alexia."


    "I have bestowed upon you endless life, and as noble Immortals, unlike those vile human mortals, we must learn to wait."


    "Once I complete the grand ascension..."


    "All problems will be solved."


    "Yes, Father."


    Alexia responded promptly, obediently.


    Duke Brad involuntarily licked his lips, revealing sharp teeth, with deep crimson seeping from his pupils.


    "Alexia, when does the feast begin?"


    "I am somewhat famished."

 Chapter 59, 5 years

    The snow on Stormy Ridge accumulated and covered the ground, then melted into water, again and again.In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.


    Five years, for a long-lived race like the giant dragons, might pass in the blink of an eye, but for short-lived creatures like humans and goblins, it was enough time for their whole world to undergo massive changes.


    What happened during these five years?


    First, the number of retainers in the Ashen Nest increased sharply, with its territory continually expanding.


    Creatures like kobolds and lizardfolk, which lay eggs, could produce a dozen eggs in one clutch. Meanwhile, live-bearing creatures like goblins were not to be outdone, with an incredibly rapid reproduction rate that could birth seven or eight offspring in a year. This high reproductive rate was a significant factor in the survival of these weaker races in the wild.


    Soon, Dragon Valley could no longer accommodate them all.


    The retainers had to expand outward.


    Now, the territory of the Ashen Nest encompassed the entire Stormy Ridge. Many tribes were conquered and absorbed, and dozens of valleys and caves became the dwelling places of the retainers. Only the most elite and powerful family members could reside in the core of Dragon Valley, receiving the unconscious blessings of the Red Dragon.


    Living in Dragon Valley was regarded as an honor.


    Even the valley itself had been renamed "Dragon Valley."


    In the Ashen Nest, there were currently three chimeras, forty-one bipedal wyverns, sixty-five ogres, four hundred sixty great goblins, three hundred seventy lizardfolk, two hundred four half-goat people, and an uncountable number of goblins and kobolds.


    Conservatively estimated, their numbers had reached tens of thousands.


    There were also many newly-subjugated minor tribes like the serpentfolk, war lizards, and orcs, who were not listed individually since they paid protection fees only.


    Secondly, the entire Stormy Ridge had become the "pasture" and "minefield" of the Ashen Nest.


    The great goblins had a long history of beast taming. Like some more civilized races, they used laborers such as cattle and horses to transport goods and weapons over long distances.


    They communicated using trained crows and had fierce wolves guard prisoners and protect their camps, and the great goblins of the Ashen Nest did the same.


    Under Dolores''s leadership, the goblin faction, including great goblins, goblins, and bugbears, intentionally started raising large herbivores like woolly mammoths, aurochs, and giant rhinos, providing ample meat for the retainers. They even began breeding land dragons from the tundra, though there were only three so far.


    These enormous creatures would become valuable assets in battle and transportation. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ramp primarily controlled the ogres, kobolds, lizardfolk, and other retainers.


    The numerous goblins and kobolds had now established a massive underground mining network, continuously transporting metals and elemental ores into the valleys.


    These metals were smelted in underground furnaces and forged into crude weapons for the army''s use. The elemental ores were stored in the Red Dragon''s cave as an energy reserve.


    However, these creatures were difficult to manage and often tried to escape with gold if there was any lax supervision, so Ramp assigned a considerable number of lizardfolk and ogres as overseers.


    During this time, Ramp still served as the steward of the Ashen Nest, approving all matters, even those involving the goblin faction.


    Despite Dolores''s frequent attempts to undermine and scheme against him in secret, any actions involving her faction still had to be reported to Ramp.


    They maintained a facade of peace, ensuring the basic internal order of the Ashen Nest, as none wished to incur the Red Dragon''s wrath due to internal strife.


    They awaited each other''s mistakes, hoping to report their failures to the Red Dragon upon his awakening and seize the opportunity to bring the other down.


    Meanwhile, clashes and conflicts between the lower-ranked goblins, kobolds, ogres, and others were countless. Such incidents occurred almost daily, becoming increasingly normalized.


    "When the master awakens, he won''t stay in that position for long,"


    Dolores often told her closest subordinates.


    Additionally, the Ashen Nest''s interactions with humans became more frequent.


    Sgurr Town served as a puppet under the actual control of the Ashen Nest. The "friendly trade" caravans, led by Hart, continuously supplied the Ashen Nest with human-made armor, weapons, and books through trade.


    Perhaps due to the bounty orders, almost every few months, ambitious but overconfident adventurers, dreaming of slaying dragons, recklessly ventured into the Ashen Nest.


    Ramp welcomed these uninvited and rude guests with what he considered warm hospitality¡ªturning their heads into necklaces and hanging them at the entrance as decoration.


    The Ogre Mage commonly lamented why the Red Dragon prohibited him from eating intelligent creatures, as it had been a long time since he savored such "little snacks."


    Ramp even captured several who claimed to be nobles, extracting a considerable ransom from their families, or even forcing them to hand over a few spell scrolls before releasing them, significantly enriching his collection of spells.


    In fact, the rapid expansion of the Ashen Nest had already drawn the attention of human forces in the Northern Countries.


    Not only the Duchy of Rackman but also the Grand Duchy of Boske farther south and the continental-wide organization of justice, the Harpist Alliance, had dispatched scouts to investigate the area, though most scouts never returned.


    In the absence of Cassius''s awakening, Ramp harbored grand ambitions of world conquest but dared not recklessly start a war with other nations without the Red Dragon''s permission.


    Thus, while small skirmishes occurred, the Ashen Nest had yet to engage in direct confrontation with any major human force.


    Cassius remained in deep slumber for a full five years.


    When a True Dragon slept, its intrinsic magical nature caused significant impacts on the surrounding environment. A White Dragon''s slumber would cover the ground in frost, a Blue Dragon''s slumber would turn the earth into sand, a Black Dragon''s slumber would turn forests into swamps, and a Red Dragon''s slumber would turn everything into lava.


    Cassius did just that, filling the cave with lava.


    During this time, whenever the Red Dragon stirred or felt uncomfortable, it produced loud sounds, causing scalding white smoke to emanate from the cave entrance, spurting magma, and even burning several great goblins guarding the entrance.


    This overwhelming power aroused both fear and reverence in the retainers.


    Meanwhile, Cassius unconsciously released "bloodline gifts."


    This influence expanded increasingly in scope and intensity, and now nearly all the retainers in Dragon Valley had transformed into Dragon Vein Creatures, exhibiting distinct Red Dragon characteristics.


    The nearby adventurers regarded these creatures as the most dangerous, earning them the fearsome reputation of "evil dragon minions," which no one dared provoke lightly.

 Chapter 60 Awakening (Part 1)

    With a low roar, Cassius slowly opened his eyes. He felt a bit dazed, as a flood of information had surged into his mind during his slumber, and he hadn''t had the time to thoroughly digest it."I must have slept for a long time this time."


    His scales were covered by a thick layer of dust.


    Cassius shook his enormous head and gently flapped his wings. The bones, which hadn''t moved for ages, made a crisp sound, and ashes flew around his body.


    "This time, I seem to have grown more dignified. Not bad."


    Cassius glanced at the massive glass mirror that had long been prepared in the underground palace, nodding in satisfaction.


    Perhaps it was due to deeply excavating his bloodline power, but now Cassius was far more mature than an ordinary Red Dragon. His enormous body was a full fifteen meters long, and his proportions were nearly identical to those of an adult Red Dragon; no longer did he possess the juvenile naivety of a youngling.


    The two sturdy, backward-sweeping horns atop Cassius''s head had lengthened, their surface a yellowish, bone-white. Several rows of small horns extended from the top of his head, and the small horns on his cheeks and jaws became more prominent, making his massive head appear even more ferocious.


    The golden pupils of the Red Dragon had slightly faded¡ª a sign of aging, and it was said that the eyes of the oldest Red Dragons would resemble lava spheres.


    His body was covered in bright, crimson scales that had turned a deeper red. The glossy patterns had been replaced by smooth, matte textures, although the edges of the scales still held a touch of gold due to the metallic scales.


    The wings of the Red Dragon had become broader, with the trailing edges of the wing membrane connecting his hind legs and tail to the body. Along the trailing edges of the wings appeared pale blue fringes, resembling the blue color of metal burning in fire.


    "A dragon''s intelligence also grows stronger with age."


    After observing his appearance, Cassius began to process the vast and complex legacy in his mind. He was pleasantly surprised to find that his ability to accept and understand information had also improved.


    "Is this the Dragon''s Might?"


    According to the information in the legacy, Cassius controlled his body to release an invisible field, known as the "Terrifying Presence" ability, or commonly referred to as "Dragon''s Might."


    Just the presence of a dragon could cause herds of animals to flee in terror and shake the resolve of the most steadfast warriors.


    Unfortunately, in this underground palace, there were no other creatures besides him (even if there were, they would have been burned by the effects of his slumber). Cassius really wished he could test the effects of this so-called Dragon''s Might on living beings.


    Having experimented with Dragon''s Might, Cassius continued to process the information in his mind.


    This time, it was spells.


    Due to their intrinsic magical nature, all dragons developed innate magical abilities as they matured.


    Among them, this was the ability to cast Arcane Spells. A dragon reaching the juvenile stage could exhibit the earliest magic talents.


    "Is this the innate magical ability of dragons...?"


    "Truly terrifying."


    With this realization, Cassius could not help but click his tongue in amazement.


    As he processed this legacy information, his panel began to frantically refresh with updates.


    [Dragons are powerful magical beings, innately versed in various supernatural phenomena. As a Red Dragon, upon reaching a certain age, you gain spellcasting abilities deep within your bloodline.]


    [You gain an additional casting level: 3] S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Your racial casting level and sorcerer casting level are combined. Your current casting level is: 9]


    Cassius''s heart surged with excitement.


    "It''s finally here, the stacking of casting levels."


    "Let me show you the Dragon Sorcerer''s¡ª a leap to the top."


    Instantly, the Red Dragon felt his understanding of the world rise sharply, directly touching the fifth layer of the Magic Web.


    His connection to the Magic Web deepened further, with every move able to stir the powers of magic, and he could even reach into the depths of the Magic Web with pure mental will.


    However, the panel data still did not stop refreshing.


    More broad and complex information poured into his mind.


    "Is this...?"


    [Some wise men insist that humans originally learned the arcane arts from dragons. If these claims are true¡ª and elves also argue for their own honor on this matter¡ª then dragons certainly retain some unknown secrets. These hidden legacies are known only to True Dragons who delve into their own bloodline.]


    [These dragons refer to themselves as "True Dragon Sorcerers", a proud title to differentiate themselves from the lesser bloodline sorcerers.]


    Discussing spells with mortals is as meaningless as discussing seasons with locusts. ¡ª Sarimoske, Gold Dragon Scholar


    [Requirements for the "True Dragon Sorcerer" class: Sorcerer class level above 5, Pureblood Giant Dragon]


    [You meet the class requirements and possess the necessary legacy. Do you wish to advance?]


    "A hidden advancement class!"


    Cassius''s heart was overjoyed. Indeed, just what he needed at the right time¡ª when the dragon vein sorcerer class felt too insignificant, an advancement class exclusive to dragons appeared. It was bound to be powerful.


    "Confirm."


    Without hesitation, Cassius chose to confirm.


    Instantly, vast and exquisite spell knowledge gushed out, overflowing in his mind.


    As it turned out, if these exceptionally gifted and long-lived dragons could devote themselves to study, their results would far surpass those of mere mortals.


    [You have gained the sorcerer advancement sub-occupation: True Dragon Sorcerer]


    [Trait: Dragonkin Spells: You will gain unique spells known only to dragons. Sorcerers or wizards may also learn these spells if taught by a dragon, but most are useless to mortals.]


    [You have gained Dragon''s Spells: Scratch Technique, Egg of Sanctuary, Scales of Energy, Braving the Fiery Pits]


    Scratch Technique


    Shaping Energy Cantrip


    A magical force field flickering in the shape of claws solidifies before the dragon. By waving its claws towards the enemy, the dragon channels the spell''s energy towards the target.


    Egg of Sanctuary


    2nd-level Transformation Spell


    Upon casting this spell, a flickering dragon egg composed of purple energy envelops the dragon, then disappears, transporting it to an extradimensional pocket space where it remains immune to any form of attack. The dragon cannot see the material world nor cast spells or attack the place it left, but it can use spells or magical items that affect only itself.


    Scales of Energy


    3rd-level Transformation Spell


    The caster transforms their natural defenses into a magical aura. The scales will shimmer with energy, generating clusters of energy shards that float around the dragon''s body like thousands of tiny satellites.


    Braving the Fiery Pits


    4th-level Shaping Energy and Spellcasting Spell


    The dragon fills its lungs with swirling, burning energy. Then, with a powerful exhalation, it sweeps the space before it with intense, cone-shaped flames. As the last wisp of energy leaves its lips, its body becomes part of this breath weapon, allowing it to traverse space and reconstitute its body anywhere within the breath weapon''s range.

 Chapter 61 Awakening (Part 2)

    Several dragon spells appeared in Cassius''s mind. He could now release these exquisite spells like an artist. This was the innate talent of a True Dragon Sorcerer.The magical essence of giant dragons made their every move seem like spell casting. Thus, dragon sorcerers derived various spells from actions like scratching, flying, hatching, and breathing.


    "No wonder they''re called dragon spells,"


    "They truly suit the dragons perfectly."


    Cassius sighed.


    For instance, the Scratch Technique. If any ordinary mortal used it, it would only be a completely useless trick. But paired with the naturally powerful claw strikes of dragons, it could become an effective long-range attack method, consuming no energy at all.


    "Scratch Technique!"


    A flickering magical field vaguely in the shape of claws materialized in front of the Red Dragon. As he swung his claws forcefully, this magic energy was directed toward the distant stone pillar.


    Instantly, stone fragments flew everywhere, and three deep gashes appeared on the pillar. Following that, the fragile middle of the pillar could no longer bear the weight of its upper part, collapsing to the ground with a crash, shattering into pieces.


    "Not bad power."


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    Cassius nodded with satisfaction, exhaling a breath of sulfurous hot air.


    "And then there''s this Fourth Tier Spell..."


    He had never accessed the fourth layer of the Magic Web before.


    Moreover, "Braving the Fiery Pits" was even more complex than typical Fourth Tier Spells because it was a hybrid of spell and shaping energy.


    Transforming the body into flames and reconstructing it with fire was an extremely subtle form of shaping energy, while transporting oneself to any area covered by Flamethrower Breath was similar to the spell form of Misty Step.


    "Braving the Fiery Pits!"


    With the incantation in Draconic, Cassius took a deep breath and spewed out a large blaze.


    As the last bit of energy left his mouth, his massive body merged directly into the raging flames, becoming a complete incarnation of flame.


    "Boom!"


    A mass of fire condensed into a giant dragon shape, but it crashed into a stone wall, causing the entire cave to shake and a number of stones to fall down.


    "Such a complex spell, having to manage both fire and transportation,"


    "I still can''t fully control the teleportation location."


    "Ouch¡­ that hurt a bit."


    Cassius shook his slightly pained head, muttering to himself. Fortunately, the thick-skinned Red Dragon didn''t mind the minor collision.


    Although a sorcerer''s spell casting wasn''t as rigorous as a mage''s, it still required an understanding of its operational principles and coordinated control.


    After experimenting with a series of newly gained abilities, Cassius fully recovered from the drowsiness of his deep slumber, becoming somewhat inexplicably excited.


    With such a significant power boost, how could he not test it out?


    "I''ve been sleeping for so long¡ª"


    "It''s time to go out and take a look."


    The Red Dragon stepped out of the cave, directly crossing the several guardian inscriptions Ramp had set up earlier.


    If triggered, these inscriptions would cause rune explosions, but Ramp had set it so the Red Dragon was excluded from their trigger conditions.


    Walking through the dim underground passage, the once spacious tunnel now felt somewhat narrow to him.


    Finally, the Red Dragon saw the sunlight he hadn''t seen in ages.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    Cassius couldn''t help but let out a cheerful dragon''s roar.


    The scene before the Ashen Nest had undergone almost a complete transformation compared to before his slumber.


    The Rock Fortress at the entrance of the valley had been reinforced multiple times, now as indestructible as its name suggested. The city walls were over ten meters high and three meters thick, equipped with catapults and great crossbows, with the Goblin Guard Army standing ready atop the walls.


    Several tall watchtowers stood on either side, with sharp-eyed Lizardfolk crossbowmen stationed on them, guarding against any invaders. The hillside also featured several wide wooden platforms for the wyverns to take off and land. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside the Ashen Nest, several wooden military camps had sprung up, built using standard goblin construction, housing the most elite Goblin Corps.


    In the depths of the valley stood a stone tower, its surface flickering with magical aura. It was clear the designer intended to make it elegant and beautiful, but it came across as more like "a dog painted to look like a tiger."


    "A Mage Tower?"


    "That guy Ramp¡­ really needs to improve his aesthetic sense."


    Cassius gazed at the so-called "Mage Tower"¡ªespecially its entrance, resembling a huge mouth¡ªand couldn''t help but twitch his lips slightly.


    The retainers of the Ashen Nest, the goblin guards and Lizardfolk, and the ogres carrying items, all looked up towards the source of the sound.


    Soon after, there was an uproar.


    "What''s that sound?"


    "Is it¡­"


    Having slept for five years, some of the newer retainers hadn''t even seen Cassius''s true form, only remembering the huge commotion caused by the Red Dragon''s slumber.


    "It''s the master!"


    "The master has awakened!"


    "So big, so powerful."


    "By Maglubiyet, this is my first time seeing such a gigantic dragon."


    "I knew joining wasn''t a mistake."


    Cassius looked down upon these retainers.


    Their numbers had greatly increased compared to before his slumber, and most of them had completed the transformation, becoming half-dragon monstrosities with scales, claws, and other dragon characteristics.


    From the distant stone tower, a massive figure awkwardly flew over¡ªthat was Ramp.


    "Flight Magic?"


    Cassius watched the ogre mage struggling with flight, his expression slightly surprised.


    "Huff, huff, huff¡­ Master, you''ve... finally awakened."


    Ramp landed with a thud, still panting heavily.


    Cassius looked him up and down. Compared to before, the ogre was even more massive and robust.


    He no longer wore shabby animal skins, but a large robe sewn from several magic cloaks, his hands adorned with numerous rings¡ªclearly human magical bracelets.


    Cassius chuckled:


    "Ramp, it''s been a while, and you''ve become quite wealthy, even building a Mage Tower."


    Ramp quickly bowed his head, replying, "Master, all these treasures are yours, obtained from those ignorant adventurers."


    "Give me a basic report on the Ashen Nest."


    "Yes, master."


    Ramp used a prepared spell on the wall, projecting image after image.


    Like a company manager from a previous life, he reported various aspects of the Ashen Nest to the Red Dragon¡ªsomething Cassius had previously taught him and called "ppt," a method Ramp quite liked for its elegance.


    In this report, Ramp tallied the territory and retainers status, progress on mining veins and metal smelting, the scale of beast taming, and even briefly mentioned the still under-construction Barto City.


    "I must say, well done."


    Cassius sincerely praised him, feeling the ogre was truly talented. Although the report was rough in many areas, it was quite impressive for an ogre to achieve such detail.


    Hearing the Red Dragon''s praise, the Dragon Vein Ogre was elated:


    "It''s all thanks to you, master. Under your wings, we''ve achieved these small successes."


    "Beep¡­"


    The ogre''s "ring" sounded, and his expression became excited.


    Cassius observed his ecstatic, ugly face, somewhat puzzled, and asked:


    "Ramp, what''s happening?"


    "Master, my Alert Technique was triggered! More adventurers have arrived!"


    Ramp''s face showed the joy of a farmer during harvest; it seemed he had reaped many benefits from those adventurers.

 Chapter 63 Awakening (III)

    The bounty for the Red Dragon had been raised to ten thousand gold coins. In the Northern Countries, that amount of money was considerable, but it also represented a fortune in the prosperous Empire of Fadlan to the south and the affluent Victoria Port near Moon Bay¡ªeven more so for these impoverished adventurers.This amount was enough to allow a fledgling Mage to construct his own Mage Tower. It could also enable a warrior to purchase a set of magic equipment that could be passed down through generations.


    Perhaps due to deliberate publicity by the Rackman Family, the Ashen Nest had been depicted as a perilous yet affluent realm.


    Rumor had it that within that Dragon Valley lay the treasure of a greedy Red Dragon, with endless gold coins flowing from the valley. Despite no one taking the Bard''s exaggerated tales seriously, it indeed left adventurers with the illusion that the Ashen Nest was a "symbol of wealth."


    This enticed countless adventurers who set out from various cities in the North, filled with heroic ambitions, flocking to Stormy Ridge, though most never returned.


    Of course, not all of these adventurers were foolhardy and reckless. Some, like the twenty-member adventure group currently hiding behind a rock, were properly prepared.


    However, ordinary people could no longer see them now.


    "Have you all finished drinking the invisibility potion?"


    "Yes."


    "And also apply the breath-blocking potion.


    "These giant dragons can taste the air with their forked tongues. Their sense of smell is unbelievably keen, so do not lower your guard."


    The one speaking was a Mage in his twenties. He wore a purple robe and held a hollow wooden Magic Wand, looking somewhat tense.


    His name was Bennett, a young noble from Victoria Port. He had hired an elite mercenary group from various places and had come here after months of preparation.


    According to the information from Northwind Castle, that giant dragon had been asleep for a long time.


    "Bennett, you might be overly nervous. It''s just a young dragon, maybe even smaller. So what if it''s a Red Dragon?"


    "We''ve interviewed those survivors."


    "Moreover, your divination spells confirmed that the information was correct."


    "Even though they trembled all over in fear, hahaha, look at those cowardly wretches, scared stiff by an immature dragon."


    A scar-faced warrior, with bulging muscles, laughed.


    His name was Ivan, a seasoned warrior from the Empire of Fadlan. Having followed a thirty-member adventure group to slay an adult Green Dragon, he always enjoyed the topic of dragon slaying.


    Nearby, a Wanderer in a black cloak, whose face was indistinguishable, spoke:


    "Approximately seven or eight meters long, with a special breath that can target enemies. Aside from those exaggerated tales, there seems to be nothing special."


    His name was Vincent, from a certain Thieves'' Guild.


    Ivan laughed heartily: "After so long, the only reason this dragon hasn''t been defeated is that the people of the North are too weak. They can''t even handle those white beasts, let alone a Red Dragon."


    "But we''re different¡ªI''m a Dragon Slayer."


    Bennett admonished: "Damn it, Ivan, put away your boastfulness. Even a young Red Dragon isn''t something to be trifled with.


    Moreover, he has a vast force."


    "This time, we''re to sneak in, kill the sleeping Red Dragon, and take everything valuable from his treasury. Got it? If there''s no good opportunity, forget about the dragon and head straight for the treasury."


    Ivan sneered at this:


    "Heh, sneaking in like a thief in the shadows; I didn''t slay dragons in such a cowardly way."


    Vincent, usually silent, couldn''t help but retort:


    "Shut your mouth, which stinks worse than a goblin''s."


    Ivan, puffing with indignation, wanted to retort but was suddenly interrupted by Bennett.


    "Shh¡ªquiet."


    He pointed into the distance, where a patrol of Great Goblins was heading back.


    Bennett whispered, "Follow them, and we should be able to reach Dragon Valley.


    "Damn, these Great Goblins are so tall, almost dragon-like, and even wear armor. They must be those ''Evil Dragon Minions'' the Northerners spoke of."


    "Everyone stay hidden and follow them without engaging."


    The adventure group followed the Great Goblin patrol deeper until they saw the Rock Fortress in the valley.


    They hid behind a protruding rock on the hillside, observing the fortified walls: many Great Goblins were on guard, with catapults, great crossbows, and other siege weapons, numerous towering watchtowers, and wyverns patrolling the skies.


    "By Kanas¡­ this is a fortress."


    Ivan couldn''t help but exclaim.


    Though he had seen grander walls in the Empire, he never expected to find such defenses in a monster''s lair.


    "No, this is indeed a fortress."


    "There must be humans collaborating with them; otherwise, these monsters couldn''t have such things."


    Tristan, the usually taciturn Paladin, observed the armored Great Goblins, speaking thoughtful words, his brows furrowed.


    Bennett, looking at the fortress, felt conflicted.


    On one hand, this indicated wealth was indeed here, and the treasure must be abundant. On the other hand, escaping safely was another issue.


    After contemplating for a moment, he spoke:


    "Everyone has seen it. The dragon''s retainers are not mere goblins; engaging them head-on would be difficult, so we must sneak in, avoiding any direct conflict."


    "Roar¡ª"


    A distant roar interrupted him.


    "Dragon''s roar?"


    "Could that dragon be awake?"


    Upon hearing this, Bennett''s heart beat faster. Months of preparation and thousands of gold coins¡­ This was a high-stakes gamble, and he couldn''t afford to fail here.


    Though intimidated by the fortress, Ivan moved forward, saying:


    "What should we fear? It''s merely a young dragon. We just need to lure it out of the lair..."


    "Crack."


    He stepped on the ground ahead, triggering intricate runes that suddenly glowed and sprayed flames. Find more to read at empire


    "Not good, it''s a guardian inscription!"


    "Move away!" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bennett quickly raised his Magic Wand and cast a pre-prepared spell.


    "Protective Energy Damage!"


    A thin, translucent light film surrounded them, barely holding back the surging flames, but Ivan''s extended foot had been charred black, causing him to groan in pain.


    Facing this sudden turn of events, Bennett couldn''t help wiping the sweat off his forehead:


    "Damn, how could there be such a spell here."

 Chapter 64 Awakening (IV)

    The guardian inscription had completed its rune explosion, but Bennett noticed a chain-triggered rune in the rocky corner. It was the Alert Technique."It''s the Alert Technique!"


    "Damn, this is supposed to be a giant dragon''s lair, why does it feel like a Mage Tower filled with spells everywhere."


    "Could it have predicted we would hide here?"


    "That''s impossible."


    Bennett''s face darkened at the thought.


    His breathing grew suddenly rapid, and his heart pounded because he thought of a terrible possibility¡ª


    This was a Law-Addicted Dragon.


    Moreover, it had probably foreseen their presence here and made all the preparations in advance, like any meticulous mage would.


    This was no place of renown and wealth; it was a death trap crafted by an Evil Dragon Mage!


    And they were merely the prey walking into the Trap!


    In the distance, thunder boomed, mirroring Bennett''s feelings at that moment.


    "Retreat..."


    "Retreat now, everyone."


    "The Red Dragon is coming!"


    Bennett shouted, waving his Magic Wand. He had no desire to die in this wilderness, becoming food for a monster.


    However, he found that his teammates stood frozen, staring at the sky, making him anxious.


    "What are you standing there for? Move!"


    Ivan looked up at the sky, his voice shaking.


    "I think..."


    "It''s... It''s already here."


    Bennett felt a massive shadow envelop him, and cold sweat dripped down his face.


    He stiffly turned his head around.


    "My God..."


    It was a Red Dragon of enormous size, fifteen meters long, a behemoth comparable to an adult Red Dragon.


    Its body was covered in golden-red scales, with energy shards floating around its body like thousands of microscopic star fragments, and beyond those shards, blinding lightning swirled.


    Behind it, rolling dark clouds and a fierce hurricane followed, as the Red Dragon, surrounded in dazzling light, slowly flapped its wings, as if it were the master of the storm.


    "Damn Northerners...


    "Your intelligence..."


    "You call this a... young dragon?"


    Bennett wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, muttering to himself.


    He recognized the spells in the air¡ªan Eighth Tier Weather Control spell, for his mentor had shown him before, something he couldn''t cast himself.


    The Red Dragon in the sky wore a mocking expression.


    "Humans, how dare you...


    "enter my territory!"


    The voice rumbled like thunder, causing everyone''s ears to ring.


    Then, the Red Dragon dived down, opening its jaws slowly, and a dazzling light gathered at its throat.


    "Not good!"


    "It''s Dragon Breath! Prepare yourselves!"


    The team snapped out of their daze and quickly readied for battle.


    Experienced adventurers indeed, although stunned by the grand spectacle, they quickly recovered and entered combat mode.


    Paladin Tristan raised his Dragon Scale Shield and moved to the forefront, releasing the shield''s spell, Anti-Dragon Aura, which enveloped them in a faint light.


    "Force Wall Technique!"


    Bennett chanted, and a massive invisible barrier appeared before them, ready to withstand the incoming Breath, a solid defensive spell.


    Vincent silently took down the black longbow from his back and drew a Dragon Slayer Arrow from his cloak, nocking it to the string.


    Ivan gripped his long sword tightly, his muscles tensed, his fingers caressing the emerald green scales on the blade, muttering prayers.


    "Boom!"


    White-hot flames spewed from the Red Dragon''s mouth, the terrifying heat warping the air¡ªit was Flame Breath.


    The blazing fire roared towards the group, currently held back by the combined Force Wall Technique and Anti-Dragon Aura barriers.


    This seemed to be just a probe.


    But sweat broke out on Bennett''s forehead again; he felt his spell was close to failing.


    "Such frightening flame..."


    He thought silently.


    Ivan shouted, "If this keeps up, we''ll be burnt to ashes. Attack! Follow me, attack!"


    The seasoned warrior dodged the Flame Breath from the side, eyeing the ever-nearing Red Dragon, then leaped several meters high.


    However, before he even touched the energy shards surrounding the dragon scale, he was struck by the encircling lightning, his whole body convulsing and numb.


    Remnant of the Storm!


    But it wasn''t over¡ªthe Red Dragon casually swatted him with a claw.


    Immediately, the lightning around him flooded into the warrior''s body. A thick bolt of lightning struck down from the dark clouds, hitting him directly. Ivan''s entire body glowed nearly transparent, his bones clearly visible.


    He turned into a charred mass and fell to the ground.


    Ivan died just like that, but he bought precious time for his teammates to attack.


    "Whiz¡ª"


    Vincent released the bowstring, sending the black Dragon Slayer Arrow straight toward the Red Dragon''s heart.


    This arrow was inscribed with spells to harm dragonkin, soaked in Dragon Blood, explicitly made for slaying dragons.


    Braving the Fiery Pits!


    With the last bit of energy leaving its mouth, the Red Dragon''s massive body turned into a raging inferno.


    The black arrow shot through the flames, falling feebly in the distance with no apparent effect on the Red Dragon.


    "Where is it..."


    Vincent muttered darkly, for all he saw before him was roaring fire.


    Even the keen instincts of a thief couldn''t locate the enemy.


    "Alert!"


    "Damn it, what is that?"


    In the next moment, the flames before the adventurers transformed rapidly, coalescing and forming into a colossal dragon shape.


    A thunderous roar echoed from within the flames.


    "How dare you defy me!"


    The Red Dragon surged forward from within the flames!


    Its lightning-wrapped massive body smashed through the invisible Force Wall, making Bennett tremble.


    The warriors of the adventure group shot arrow after arrow at the Red Dragon, but the energy shards circling it deflected them effortlessly.


    Dark clouds blanketed the land, thunder roared down from the sky, striking the panicked adventurers with precision.


    "Scatter, scatter!"


    Paladin Tristan quickly raised the Dragon Scale Shield, protecting himself while shouting.


    The teammates behind him scattered in all directions. Explore stories at empire


    Yet, the Red Dragon gathered its breath briefly and spewed several short flames straight at their retreating teammate, the Wanderer Vincent.


    "Bang!"


    The frail Wanderer collapsed, his charred body blending with his black cloak, clearly lifeless.


    Then, a thick bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the Paladin''s head directly. His Dragon Scale Shield could block dragon damage but not the thunder.


    "Ahhh¡ª!"


    Tristan let out a cry of pain.


    The sky, filled with dark clouds, flashing with lightning, stormed; the ground, chaotic with the mix of flames and thunder. The Red Dragon rampaged within the group, easily destroying the adventure team.


    Bennett, witnessing this despairing scene, shakily raised his Magic Wand, mustering all his strength for the spell he had long prepared.


    "Monster Immobilization Spell!"


    A red spell radiance flew out.


    This was originally their trump card for dragon slaying, but now it had become their key to survival.


    To his shock, a dimly flickering barrier surrounded the Red Dragon. The Magic Web around them smoothed out forcefully, disabling any spell casting. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Spell Nullification Barrier..."


    Bennett felt profound despair, more certain than ever of his suspicion.


    This was a damn Law-Addicted Dragon!

 Chapter 65 Awakening (5)

    Seeing the red dragon wantonly slaughtering, pressing step by step, Bennett finally made up his mind¡ªthis damned spell-hungry red dragon before him was unbeatable. He could only abandon his hard-recruited adventure group and leave this land of death."Damn it, I have to get out of here."


    "Sorry, everyone, it''s just... I''m still on the path to seeking the truth." Bennett found himself a grandiose excuse.


    As a mage, he naturally had numerous means of escape.


    Bennett took off the silver pendant hanging from his chest, on which was a delicate little door.


    "Dimension Door."


    While praying to the Goddess of Magic, he muttered silently.


    The pendant glowed with a magical aura, and the space beside Bennett suddenly twisted and folded. Soon, a door-like spatial crack slowly emerged. On the other side of the crack was Victoria Port, his familiar and beloved home.


    Bennett''s face immediately lit up with joy, and he rushed toward the dimensional door. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Great, finally, I can leave this damned place..."


    However, before he finished speaking, the shadow of the red dragon''s wings enveloped him. The spell nullification barrier surrounding the dragon ruthlessly smoothed out the nearby magic web. The spatial crack gradually healed and closed, the space stabilizing as if it had never fluctuated.


    "Where do you think you''re going?"


    "Uninvited guest."


    The red dragon, looking down from above, scrutinized the mage with a particularly sinister look.


    Bennett looked up at the red dragon, his hands holding the magic wand trembling slightly, cold sweat streaming down his forehead like free-flowing water, and a smile appeared more ugly than crying on his face.


    His mage robe seemed to detect the danger, automatically casting a shield spell on him, but this did not increase his sense of security at all; instead, it brought about a strange awkwardness.


    "I¡ªI am right here, not going anywhere."


    Bennett answered timidly.


    "Why are you here?"


    A hint of mockery glimmered in Cassius''s golden eyes.


    Half of this group had already been killed by him, and they were indeed the elite among adventurers. The majority of the team members were advanced professionals around the tenth level. If they had faced an ordinary young red dragon, they might have successfully slain it. Unfortunately, they encountered Cassius.


    However, Cassius was not a genuine red dragon obsessed with killing. These adventurers kept coming, and even killing them all would be of no use. It was better to squeeze every bit of value out of them.


    "I..."


    Hearing the red dragon''s words, Bennett was momentarily speechless.


    He turned to look at the remaining team members beside him; they were also shivering, unable to speak.


    One simply couldn''t tell such a cruel, exceedingly proud red dragon that they were here to slay it! They would definitely be roasted to ashes or even swallowed alive.


    Just as the air grew tense and the red dragon seemed to grow impatient,


    a bard gathered his courage and stepped forward.


    This bard, handsome in appearance, wore a green robe and carried an exquisite lute. However, at this moment, he looked somewhat haggard; his robe was tattered and scorched in places, obviously the result of the recent one-sided battle.


    His name was Eugene, and he came to write the epic of dragon slayers.


    Just when everyone, including the red dragon, thought the bard was about to deliver a passionate speech¡ª


    Eugene unhesitatingly knelt, tears welling up in his eyes, and shouted:


    "Oh legendary Flame-winged Dragon King, your claws can shred all enemies, your flame can scorch all things in this world, your strength is enough to make the gods tremble! We followed your footsteps here to behold your true form but recklessly intruded upon your domain..."


    "This is truly a desecration! They have already paid for their recklessness with death, and we, the remaining insignificant beings, are willing to become your eternal servants, by your side always. To witness your grand body, even death is worth it."


    "This, this..."


    This series of flattering words left everyone present dumbfounded, but they had no choice but to follow suit and kneel, pleading for the red dragon''s forgiveness.


    "Damn, he''s quite a talent."


    Cassius silently remarked, listening to the bard''s rhythmic and melodious boot-licking.


    The red dragon exhaled sulfurous hot breath, making everyone''s eyes water, but none dared to move an inch.


    "You speak well."


    Kneeling on the ground, Eugene breathed a sigh of relief.


    He slightly raised his head, noting that the red dragon''s expression seemed to soften a bit, secretly rejoicing: "It''s true, all giant dragons are incredibly vain. Thank the gods, this information was accurate!"


    As everyone thought they might be forgiven and began to feel fortunate, Dolores led the goblin corps, encircling them tightly.


    "It just lacked a bit of earnest emotion."


    Cassius was not a simple-minded monster and would not be fooled by such shoddy lies. He merely found the flattery somewhat amusing.


    "Take them all to the dungeon."


    Red dragon casually instructed.


    "Yes, master."


    Dolores respectfully obeyed, commanding the burly dragon vein goblins to roughly haul away the kneeling adventurers.


    Under the red dragon''s watchful eyes, no one dared to resist, knowing well the consequence¡ªthat the corpses of their fallen comrades were still warm.


    The ogre mage Ramp arrived late, flying clumsily through the air before landing with a bang¡ªit seemed he was still not proficient in flight magic.


    However, Ramp was brimming with excitement, his face full of joy from the harvest: "Master, see, I knew these adventurers would hide here. Haha, this huge rock appears to be natural, but actually, I placed it here deliberately. It is the only place nearby where you can spy on Rock Fortress."


    He pointed to the runes and said.


    "Whenever these adventurers hide here, they trigger my guardian inscriptions first, getting beaten half to death, then setting off my alert technique in succession. When they try to escape through the back passage, they encounter an automatically triggered web spell trap inside, and then the boulders would come rolling down. Pity they didn''t trigger it this time."


    Ramp''s tone carried a hint of disappointment.


    Cassius''s mouth twitched slightly, momentarily speechless.


    Ramp then asked: "Master, what will you do with these adventurers?"


    "Strip the mage of his spell equipment, especially that Dimension Door necklace. Then drain every spell from his mind. After that, whether he lives or dies is irrelevant; he could be converted into a dragonborn to serve you or killed to avoid any future troubles."


    "As for the rest, kill half and let the other half escape, but make sure they believe they escaped through their own strength."


    "As for that bard..."


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    Cassius''s face revealed a playful smile.


    "Make him a scribe, have him write some PR articles for us. Assign someone to check his progress; he can''t rest until he''s written at least twelve thousand words a day, even if he has to rely on mental stimulant elixirs to keep going."


    "Yes, master."


    Ramp couldn''t help but admire his master for being so adept at tormenting people.

 Chapter 66 Awakening (6)

    In the near future, those adventurers who thought they had escaped the Red Dragon''s wrath would spread its fame across the Northland, setting the stage for the Ashen Nest''s upcoming actions, drawing attention from all races in Anzeta and sparking widespread discussion in human cities like Northwind Castle. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.And that bard, under Cassius''s orders, would tirelessly compose popular poems extolling the Red Dragon''s might, spreading them throughout the North.


    ¡ªAfter all, this was the bard''s own request, so Cassius decided to gratify him thoroughly.


    Cassius did not fear others coming after him; he now had immense confidence in his power, at least in the bleak Anzeta Great Wilderness in the North where he could act almost without restraint.


    In this twenty-member team, half of the high-level professionals had become Cassius''s experience packs.


    Cassius lazily sprawled in the cave, playing with various magical items taken from Bennett with great interest.


    That Dimension Door Necklace in the Red Dragon''s massive claw could only serve as a tiny ring, barely fitting on his thick finger. The Shield Cloak seemed like a handkerchief, and the hollow Carved Wooden Staff looked exactly like a toothpick.


    Beside him, in a box, lay hundreds of pieces of equipment shimmering with a magical aura.


    There were swords, shields, staffs, amulets, and all kinds of items, many stained with blood.


    But in Cassius''s eyes, there was nothing particularly precious among them; most were essential lifelines for ordinary adventurers, rated at most as ''rare'' according to the board''s assessment.


    For instance, the Whisper Greatsword, which could be considered divine gear for early players, was nothing but a chicken rib to the Red Dragon.


    This was all the loot Ramp had gathered from adventurers over the years; apart from a few magic artifacts he studied himself, he sent the rest to Cassius.


    The clever ogre even intentionally spread tales of "Ashen Nest Treasure" and planted several wrong maps in caravans to lure adventurers to their deaths. No wonder he managed to build a mage tower.


    "Ah, the greed of men knows no bounds,"


    Cassius set down the equipment in his claw, gazing at his panel.


    ...


    [You killed the Human Archer Warrior and gained 1100 XP]


    [You killed the Church Paladin and gained 2900 XP]


    [You killed the Shadow Guild Thief and gained 2900 XP] Your next chapter awaits on empire


    [You killed the Hemolytic Warband Warrior and gained 3900 XP]


    [Your occupational level has increased to Level 7]


    [Selected to advance True Dragon Sorcerer level]


    Cassius held his breath, watching the panel.


    Unlike the free choice of regular sorcerers, the spells of a True Dragon Sorcerer were randomly drawn from their bloodline, much influenced by luck.


    Cassius believed that from his past life to the present, he had never been the so-called ''Europe King.''


    [You traced your bloodline and found a secret technique from the ancient dragonkin, gaining the additional Dragon''s Spell Dread Tremors]


    "Zero-Tier Cantrip, causes your enemies to tremble in fear, harder to resist Dragon''s Might."


    Cassius couldn''t help but sigh, though it was better than nothing ¡ª at least it was a useful spell.


    Fortunately, due to the occupational trait bonus, he could select a Fourth-Tier spell from his warlock''s spell list.


    [You have acquired the Fourth-Tier Spell Shape-shifting Spell]


    There was no need for further explanation of this renowned spell, which could transform seen creatures into new forms, constrained to his own control and power.


    Cassius felt the evocation spell in his mind and cast it.


    His spellcasting ability now reached the fifth layer of the magical web, allowing him to swiftly master the Fourth-Tier spell.


    "Shape-shifting Spell."


    The magical web stirred at his words and command, sparkling fragments of mana twinkled on his body. His massive, sinister form rapidly shrunk until it became that of an ordinary human.


    However, the Shape-shifting Spell automatically adjusted to the caster''s condition, so Cassius, being a young dragon, naturally transformed into a half-grown kid.


    Cassius looked at his new form with a somewhat dark expression.


    The reflection showed a young boy around twelve or thirteen years old with delicate features, golden eyes, and fiery red hair like a flame. His sharp fangs made him look like a little troublemaker.


    Yet his gaze held an unexplainable haughtiness, giving off an oppressive aura.


    "If I show up like this, I''d be utterly disgraced."


    "I can''t let players see this form, or I''ll become a regular on certain peculiar websites..."


    Resolving firmly, Cassius decided never to let players see this shape.


    He reactivated his spell, gradually adjusting his appearance. Each twinkle of mana caused a change: color shifts, body elongations, or facial feature alterations, akin to the notorious Korean plastic surgery from his past life.


    At last, a young man with black hair and golden eyes, exuding stability and handsomeness, appeared in the mirror.


    He looked about twenty, wearing a dark red, gold-edged, lavishly decorated toga. His high nose bridge and golden eyes hinted at his noble status. Although slightly arrogant, he emanated elegance and composure, making him hard to refuse.


    "Now this is more like it."


    Cassius nodded in satisfaction.


    He glanced at his panel.


    [Warlock Cassius (Human Form)]


    Challenge Level: 8 (3900 XP)


    "In this form, my physical strength and spellcasting ability are limited to that of a high-level human warlock."


    Human-shaped Cassius frowned and dispelled the spell.


    Instantly, his body rapidly expanded, and the colossal Red Dragon re-emerged in the cave.


    "The original form is more comfortable; feeling restricted is extremely unpleasant."


    Cassius contentedly exhaled a burst of hot breath.


    He looked at the panel before him, which had drastically changed since his slumber.


    [Flying Flame Dragon - Cassius]


    Name: Cassius Claudius Norixius


    Template: NPC (271 days, 5 hours until public testing)


    Category: Super Dragon Type, Lawful Evil


    Race: Young Red Dragon


    AC: 24 (Natural Armor, Gilded Scales)


    Base Attributes:


    Strength ¡ª 26


    Agility ¡ª 12


    Constitution ¡ª 23


    Intelligence ¡ª 14


    Perception ¡ª 13


    Charisma ¡ª 24


    Skill Proficiency: Persuasion +12, Deception +8, Ruling +8, Stealth +6, Perception +8, Hunting +4, Arcane +4, Escape +4, Knowledge (Future) +4


    Damage Immunities: Fire, Lightning


    Senses: Blind Sight 10 ft, Dark Vision 60 ft, Passive Perception 16


    Languages: Common, Draconic


    Capabilities: Remnant of the Storm, Maximized Breath (Flame), Targeted Breath (Flame), Gilded Carapace, Bloodline Gift


    Feats: Gilded Scales, Maximized Breath Weapon, Targeted Breath Weapon, Combat Casting, Leader''s Aura, Fugitive, Smooth Talker


    Combat Equipment: Eye of the Storm King, Magic Nullification Amulet, Dimension Door Necklace, Agile Mage''s Action Ring, Staff of Scorching, Talk to the Deceased Amulet, Lava Spouter, Blade Immunity Ring, Silent Steps Amulet...


    Equipped Spells:


    Charge Release: Storm of Vengeance


    Once per week: Weather Control


    Once per day: Spell Nullification Barrier, Dimension Door, Talk to the Deceased, Burning Hands, Searing Ray, Blade Guard, Oil on the soles of the feet


    Occupational Level: True Dragon Sorcerer 7


    Spellcasting Level: 10


    Spells:


    Fourth Tier: Braving the Fiery Pits, Shape-shifting Spell


    Third Tier: Energy Scales, Blink Spell, Protective Energy Damage, Fireball Technique


    Second Tier: Egg of Sanctuary, Enhanced Attributes, Misty Step, Phantom Force, Invisibility Spell


    First Tier: Cloud Mist Technique, Charm Person, Magic Missile, Shield Spell, Thunderwave


    Cantrips: Dread Tremors, Mage''s Hand, Minor Illusion, Act Before the Enemy, Magic Tricks, Text Transmission Spell


    Inherent Spellcasting Ability:


    Once per day: Suggestion Spell


    Challenge Level: 15 (13000 XP)


    Assessment: When a flame streaks across the sky, beware of his arrival.

 Chapter 67 Beta Test (I)

    [Beta testing was about to begin, retrieving data...][Data retrieval complete, beta testing duration: 365 days]


    [Countdown to beta start: 3 days]


    "Beta testing."


    "Finally, it''s coming."


    Cassius watched the information on his panel, expectantly spewing a mouthful of flame.


    He vaguely remembered that there had been a beta testing event in his previous life, but he was unclear about the exact time since he wasn''t one of the lucky ones to get a beta account.


    Furthermore, "Erezer" was initially not well-known at all. The developers didn''t do any commercial publicity, only uploading the purchase link for the gaming pod on the official website. Later, because of the game''s quality, it went viral globally.


    This beta version was also called [Starfall Origin], with only a thousand slots available. Players started in a Tiefling refugee camp with no mainline quests, allowing them to freely choose their faction: help the Tieflings, join the Rackman Family, or go to other countries in the North.


    The ultimate conclusion would be players uncovering Duke Brad''s conspiracy, and the Tieflings returning to Northwind Castle under Mezulash''s leadership.


    This was also the reason Cassius deliberately took in the Tieflings. Find exclusive stories on empire


    In Cassius''s view, Mezulash was a thorough utilitarian, very much to Cassius''s liking. In the previous life, after the players appeared, he quickly realized this new force''s power and utilized it to expand his own strength, opposing the thriving Rackham Family.


    But Cassius clearly remembered that a few months after this beta test ended, "Erezer" began the public test, which was not the time written on his NPC panel at all.


    "Erezer''s time and Earth''s time are not equivalent."


    "Only when players enter will the time on both sides synchronize, and Erezer''s time flow is four times faster than Earth''s."


    "When players returned after the first major update in the previous life, more than ten years had already passed in Erezer."


    Thought Cassius to himself.


    But that''s fine; otherwise, if as a dragon he slept for decades, only to wake up and find players already legendary, fully geared waiting for dragon slaying, wouldn''t that be awkward?


    [Retrieving data... Data retrieval complete]


    [Unlocking player interaction template]


    Obviously, this was the template for interacting and communicating with players. Though now, with no players yet, the functions couldn''t be used, Cassius could issue quests, sell goods, teach skills, grant occupations, and even adjust favorability towards players.


    Cassius deeply understood this.


    In the previous life, facing those capricious NPCs, one moment they were full of favor, but after a wrong word, the favorability dropped to zero, and sometimes even turned hostile. That was quite normal.


    [Unlocking faction template]


    [Unlocking player forum]


    "This thing is open to me too?"


    Cassius was a bit surprised; the player forum was for players to communicate and entertain in the past life.


    Players often chose to surf the forum while waiting to revive, saying nonsense like, "Getting hit by a rock doesn''t count as death," or, "What do you mean killed in one hit? I''m just tanking damage," or seriously discussing occupation builds and equipment selection. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the forum, you could watch for fun, or step out to become the fun. Some even made clown posts to confess their love in-game, drawing a lot of mocking and spectators.


    Cassius entered the forum, finding it indeed empty, nothing inside.


    "Sure enough, it must wait for players to come."


    "But before that, I should talk to them..."


    Thinking of this, the Red Dragon left the cavern, ready to instruct his retainers, passing on some techniques to tame players.


    The main strategy was "enticement with benefits and coercion with threats."


    Commonly known as the carrot and stick tactic.


    As for "reasoning with them and convincing them emotionally"?


    Don''t even think about it. That''s impossible, and it would even trigger some players'' rebellious psychology.


    The first entry of players would definitely cause a lot of unpleasantness. Cassius knew this group of lawless guys too well. After all, in his previous life, he was like that too, poking here, slashing there, unintentionally maxing out hatred.


    Afterwards, he''d put on an innocent face on the forum, asking, "I did nothing, why are all the town NPCs chasing me," which was really infuriating.


    ...


    [Nickname: I''m Going to Eat Mantou]


    Mantou was an up-and-coming game district streamer whose video content mainly consisted of live experiences of new games.


    He was a semi-wealthy second-generation, without worries about food and shelter, having more than a dozen of the latest gaming pods at home. His daily work was finding new games to experience online, be it My Virtual Girlfriend, Lord of the Rings: Gollum, King Kong vs. Qin Qiong, or Trash Picking Simulator...


    Regardless of the game''s quality, as long as it drew traffic.


    "Ah, an era of material desires."


    In this age where fully immersive games were prevalent, games of all kinds emerged in an endless stream, but Mantou already felt a bit of electronic impotence.


    Even with an interactive beauty in front of him, he remained unmoved, unable to find the thrill he had from tapping on his phone in childhood.


    By chance, he stumbled upon a promo video for "Erezer," or rather, a gameplay video. It had no extraneous dialogue, only clearly showcasing a real world of swords and magic: "Dragons soaring in the sky, knights raising their swords."


    This couldn''t help but remind Mantou of his original intent of playing games¡ªfantasy.


    Everyone wanted to be a hero saving the world.


    So he didn''t hesitate to place an order, happily receiving a brand new gaming pod and an account balance of -8000.


    "Ah, can''t customize the face?"


    "Turns out it''s a face-scanning mechanism. This will turn away many face-customization-loving players."


    "Maybe even some players who like to use gender-bender accounts for online dating. Uh... don''t ask me how I know."


    In this era of fully immersive games, online dating was a deep pit.


    Actions, voices, and appearances couldn''t determine gender. Mantou knew this well, involuntarily recalling some unknown tearful experience.


    "Since it''s a face-scanning game, I can''t customize an Ancient God Physique either."


    [Connecting to the neural system...]


    [Scanning your body data...]


    [Constructing your character...]


    [Character construction complete]


    [I''m Going to Eat Mantou]


    (Note: Standard human attribute points are 10)


    Strength ¡ª 10


    Agility ¡ª 10


    Constitution ¡ª 11


    Intelligence ¡ª 12


    Perception ¡ª 10


    Charisma ¡ª 9


    "Although I appreciate your recognition of my wisdom..."


    "Why is my charisma only 9¡ª¡ª"


    Mantou in the gaming pod wept again, remembering a certain online dating experience where he was blocked after sharing his photo. Maybe the gaming pod wasn''t wrong; it was his fault.


    "Now there''s no sense of immersion."


    Mantou dutifully complained.


    [Confirming your birthplace... Confirmation complete!]


    [Beta starting location, coordinates 17834.4524.455, Barto City]


    [Preparing for arrival...]


    [Hello, welcome to Erezer!]

 Chapter 68 Beta Testing (Part 2)

    Barto City, player spawn point.In five years, this once barren land had undergone tremendous change, becoming a bustling small town.


    Now, Barto City spanned several square kilometers, with over five hundred inhabitants. Shops, taverns, blacksmiths, and tailor shops had sprung up, with Tieflings taking on different roles. Though these buildings were quite rudimentary, resembling wooden and stone camps, they still reminded the residents of their past life in Northwind Castle, giving them a glimmer of hope for the future.


    At the center of town stood a massive stone statue¡ªthe Red Dragon, the master of this place.


    What set this town apart from ordinary ones was the coexistence of monsters and humanoids. You could see Great Goblin garrisons patrolling, Wyverns resting in the square, and even Ogres ordering meals for ten in the tavern.


    Despite inevitable conflicts and frictions, under Mezulash''s supervision, Barto City managed to maintain basic order.


    But the order he struggled to maintain might be shattered today.


    "Everyone, remember, don''t listen to anything they say,"


    "Anyone who dares to attack, kill on the spot."


    Mezulash led dozens of guards to the cave, looking solemn and prepared for the worst.


    Based on the master''s description, these strange-behaving "Starfallen" were no easy group, but they seemed to be a power that could be leveraged.


    ...


    Mantou saw a flash of white light before regaining consciousness in a cave. Underfoot was hard rock, with flickering candlelight on the walls, and light at the far end of the cave.


    He tried moving his limbs, pinching his cheek, feeling no delay or unfamiliarity, almost identical to reality. This amazed him.


    "WTF? This feels so real?"


    "You guys might not get it from the videos, but my current feeling is¡ªthis freaking feels like the real world."


    Mantou walked out of the cave with great anticipation. In the small square outside the cave entrance, hundreds of players had already gathered.


    They had all sorts of nicknames floating above their heads. "Just Eating Mantou" seemed quite normal compared to ones like "Uncle Ji," "Manure Sea Maggot," "The Sky Has Wells Naturally Empty," "Invincible Tyrannosaurus Warrior." But everyone was well-used to such names.


    "No newbie missions, huh."


    "But this tactile experience is amazing. I gotta pull my classmates into this."


    "What can we do now?"


    "Search my ID for study materials, over a thousand GB of fully immersive videos, all kinds of knowledge available~"


    "WTF, is that Cereal Bro?"


    "Get lost, I aspire to become an Archmage, don''t distract me with beauty."


    "Heathen, taste my sword!"


    The players noisily discussed in the square, curiously looking at everything around them. After all, the fully immersive quality of Erezer was unmatched, offering 100% realistic tactile experience that fascinated the players.


    "As usual, let''s first¡ªWTF, what''s that!"


    "Can this be shown?"


    Mantou was about to check his panel when he noticed a nearby player with the ID "Wings of Freedom" starting to strip off his simple cloth clothes, getting stark naked while his lower body was covered in a dazzling Holy Light.


    "Finally, I''m free¡ª"


    The guy stood naked, spreading his arms in a pose reminiscent of Rose at the bow of the Titanic, his Holy Light blinding the surrounding players.


    "Dude, are you serious?"


    "You know this game uses face recognition, right."


    "Huh?"


    Mantou gave a good-natured reminder and then walked away, leaving the guy to cry out in regret.


    Explore new worlds at empire


    "Sure enough, there are still many who skip reading the player agreement and jump straight into the game. They end up paying for their recklessness."


    "Mantou said with a sigh.


    Entertainment value achieved?


    But soon, the players'' attention was drawn by the approaching line of Tieflings, no longer focusing on the "Holy Light Bro."


    "These must be our guide NPCs, but I noticed that this game has a favorability system, so be careful with your words,"


    Mantou explained quietly.


    A player with the ID "Swashbuckler" loudly suggested, "What are those red-skinned NPCs with horns, demons? Can we attack them?"


    "Wanna try attacking them?"


    Instantly, dozens of Tieflings turned their angry gazes towards him. If not for their leader''s orders, they might have chopped him into mince meat.


    "No, no, just kidding."


    "Haha, I was just joking, why so serious?"


    Swashbuckler laughed awkwardly, his panel showing a full screen of Favorability -50.


    "See, I told you not to speak recklessly. But this game''s AI is really smart, it can even recognize players'' words."


    Mantou looked gleefully at "Swashbuckler" and continued explaining.


    He knew that guy, a famous fully immersive risky player. His notable act was stealing chickens from villagers in "Ancient Scrolls 10" and getting hunted by thousands.


    As expected, it wasn''t over yet.


    Swashbuckler slipped to the back of the crowd while the Tieflings weren''t looking, throwing a small stone at the leading Tiefling''s head.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The stone drew a beautiful arc in the air, caught effortlessly by Mezulash without even turning.


    However, the next moment, another stone hit his armor, making a clear "clang."


    For a moment, the air nearly froze as everyone stared in shock.


    Finally, the long-silent Damacus cautiously asked, "Captain... what should we do?"


    Even the usually composed Mezulash seemed a bit flustered.


    Mezulash had seen everything, he could barely tolerate people undressing in the square, but never someone risking life to throw random stones at him.


    "Attacking the army... kill!"


    He crushed the stone in his hand, his tone unexpectedly gritted with anger.


    The Tieflings, who had long endured Swashbuckler, finally found an outlet, drawing their bows and shooting arrows with all their might.


    In no time, he was filled with arrows.


    Swashbuckler raised his arrow-filled arm and, with the last of his strength, said, "Though I die... I remain... Swashbuckler!"


    Finishing his lines, he then satisfactorily passed away. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, instead of being intimidated by Mezulash''s strict enforcement, the players burst into laughter.


    "There are still many good NPCs in this world."


    "RIP Swashbuckler."


    "I must sneak into his house and max out his pain threshold one day."


    Mantou laughed so hard he teared up: "Hahaha, this guy is something else, pulling off a ''Borrowing Arrows with Thatched Boats,'' turning himself into a porcupine!"


    The Tiefling Guards, seeing these human-like figures laughing and joking without any respect, were filled with fury.


    But Mezulash, watching the laughing crowd, crossed his arms thoughtfully.


    "It seems these... Starfallen cannot be judged by common sense," he thought.

 Chapter 69 Internal Testing (Part 3)

    Facing the never-ending noise from the players, Mezulash stepped forward and raised his bloody Great Sword."Silence!"


    But the players seemed to rebel even more, becoming even noisier, with all kinds of cheeky remarks emerging one after another.


    "I''m hyped, hubby."


    "No male waifu, let me at it."


    "Why is a red-skinned NPC so arrogant? Sooner or later, we''ll take you down."


    "That gear looks awesome, is it available in the store?"


    "He''s so cocky, I love it."


    Mezulash felt his scalp tingle but he had to force himself to keep speaking.


    "Warriors from unknown spaces, I am the steward of Barto City under the command of the Red Dragon, a Tiefling Warrior. You can call me Mezulash. By my master''s order, I have come to welcome you."


    "However, neither Barto City nor the entire Ashen Nest welcomes idlers. You need to prove your value to me."


    "As you can see, Barto City is newly built, everything is waiting for development. I hope you can contribute your strength..."


    Mezulash tried to be as stirring as possible, but most players were not paying attention except for those extremely into the story.


    "That gear looks kinda nice, feels like at least a mini-boss level."


    Mantou instinctively pulled up his panel and threw out a scout.


    [Loading data...]


    [Loading complete!]


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information.]


    [Oathbreaker Sword, Mezulash]


    Faction: [Ashen Nest - Barto City]


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: ???


    Favorability: -5 (Mild Dislike)


    "According to official data, information only fails to show when the Challenge Level difference is five levels apart from the player''s level. Is this Newbie Village NPC that strong?"


    "Wait, why did favorability turn negative?"


    He looked up, only to see the Tiefling eyeing him with a glimmer of danger in his eyes, clearly aware of his spying.


    "Damn, can scouting even be detected?"


    Dejectedly, Mantou put away his panel and stood at attention, obediently listening to him speak.


    Mezulash swept his gaze over the crowd with a warning look, then continued, "You can accept tasks. Barto City will give you corresponding rewards."


    "Everyone, please wait a moment."


    His tone suddenly paused.


    "Captain, we found it," Damacus reported coming forward.


    Several strong Tiefling Guards carried a new corpse full of arrows out of the cave and placed it next to the original one¡ªthe same "Swashbuckler."


    Only this time, he didn''t even have time to say his lines before dying.


    Mezulash already knew from Cassius that players would revive, and he also knew that player revivals were limited.


    In "Erezer," players could only revive once every ten minutes, each time with an experience penalty based on their current level, and they only had three revival opportunities per day. After the third death, they could only hang out on the forum.


    "Damn, is this NPC that smart?"


    "Camping at the respawn point!"


    "The AI from the developers is just messing with our minds."


    "Good, Rogue Beast has messed with many people''s minds. He previously brought the final boss to our main city and got it destroyed in another game. He deserves to be messed with so hard his will breaks."


    "Instant fan conversion."


    "Seeing a player getting camped at the gate makes me furious; seeing it''s Rogue Beast, I''m overjoyed."


    "I guess there are still good NPCs in the world..."


    Finally, Mezulash''s face showed a chillingly kind smile.


    "Everyone, please be silent."


    "This is just a small warning."


    This time, as soon as he spoke, the players suddenly fell silent, like a group of primary school students caught by the class teacher.


    After all, no one wanted to be camped at the gate without even having a chance to develop. Next to the arrow-pierced corpse of "Swashbuckler," Mezulash''s words carried extra weight.


    Mezulash started introducing various information according to the instructions of the Red Dragon.


    "The Blacksmith sells weapons and armor, the market has food and water for sale, the tavern sells drinks and you can stay on the second floor. You can accept quests from the bulletin board in the square and collect rewards at the Adventurers'' Guild in Barto City..."


    According to Mezulash''s description, the players roughly understood the situation in Barto City.


    And after the tasks were released, corresponding task data appeared on the players'' panels, including building city walls, constructing houses, going out hunting, and hunting hostile monsters.


    The system allocated experience based on the difficulty and consumption of tasks, while Faction Contribution Points were managed by Kai Xu, the faction leader.


    But most of these tasks were life-oriented, commonly known as "brick-moving," with fewer opportunities for the familiar monster-hunting and leveling up¡ªafter all, Stormy Ridge was almost contracted by Ashen Nest, leaving only the monsters in the mountains and forests to find.


    "So many tasks..."


    "This task [Hunt Savage Boars] rewards a set of standard City Guard Army equipment. Watch me get a perfect start."


    "This is real body data, you probably can''t even beat a chicken."


    "You can''t beat a chicken."


    "Why are there brick-moving tasks..."


    Having just entered the game, the players were very interested in these diverse tasks, to the point that they even ignored "Swashbuckler" being carried up again.


    Three corpses lined up neatly in a row.


    As if silently telling the fate of this troublemaker.


    Although Barto City had begun to take shape with some city elements, it had only developed for five years, with sparse population and thin foundation, and the buildings were still very simplistic.


    And the most crucial problem was the lack of labor force. The assistance from Ashen Nest somewhat alleviated this issue, but it was not an immediate solution. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With the addition of hundreds of players, the various aspects of Barto City could rapidly develop, especially since they had a workforce unafraid of death and tireless.


    The players had thus begun their exploration.


    "Damn, why is there an Ogre in this tavern! Can''t they see it?"


    "No, bro, don''t hit me. I''m a good human!" Stay tuned for updates on empire


    "That big-nosed Goblin is part of the patrol team? I thought it was a monster."


    "The Wyvern understands human language."


    "Ogres, Goblins, Wyverns and that... uh, Tiefling. I feel like our Newbie Village doesn''t seem like a proper faction."


    "The dragon statue in the center of the square looks pretty cool. He seems to be our boss."


    "Wait, aren''t we born in the boss''s lair?"


    "..."


    Standing high, Mezulash quietly watched these "Starfallen" taking on tasks everywhere, lost in thought.


    Their appearance had brought much chaos to Barto City, but also a vitality full of infinite possibilities. Although Mezulash often found them hard to deal with, he clearly recognized this.


    "I begin to understand the master''s words, ''Lure with benefits, coerce with threats''."


    This Tiefling Holy Warrior thought.


    ...

 Chapter 70 Beta Testing (IV)

    Four days had passed in the game "Elzegai World," with hundreds of players wandering around Barto City, taking on various missions within the city, and summarizing various points of caution.Things like how to move bricks with the least effort, how to cut corners when building houses, how to climb trees to find the Tiefling girl''s cat, and even how to steal vegetables from the market without getting caught. Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    "Elzegai World" gave players the feeling of extreme freedom and extreme realism.


    You could get chased and beaten by the shopkeeper for stealing, get legally killed by the male householder for breaking into someone''s home and rummaging through their belongings, and even get arrested by the Tiefling Guard Squad for drawing a mustache on the statue in the town square...


    Moreover, what surprised players even more was that various physical and chemical reactions from reality were also presented in this world in the form of magic¡ªa civil engineering guy with the ID "Bucket Runner," for instance, had become a supervisor of Barto City''s walls due to his superb and skilled grey-casting techniques, along with his ancient method of cement making.


    Most players had reached level one within four days, and Mantou was no exception.


    There were twelve basic profession branches for players to choose from in "Elzegai World": Warrior, Barbarian, Bard, Priest, Druid, Martial Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Wanderer, Magician, Warlock, and Mage.


    Each profession had its strengths and weaknesses, which made many people suffer from a dilemma of choice.


    After much deliberation, Mantou chose the Warrior profession as he preferred the thrill of battle with swords and blades.


    However, most of them were forced to log off due to the 24-hour limit on the gaming pod¡ªexcept for a few Liver Emperors who had modified their gaming systems to stay far ahead of everyone else.


    "Whew, time passed so quickly."


    "I didn''t even feel it, and four days had already gone by."


    Mantou took off his gaming pod helmet, feeling a sense of loss.


    But he didn''t have time to lament, for he had to seize the moment to grind and quickly release his video.


    "Ah, another update, it really makes me feel bald."


    Mantou touched his somewhat sparse back of the head and sat down at his computer to start editing his video.


    From Mantou''s perspective, after this beta test, "Elzegai World" would definitely explode in popularity due to its high quality. He needed to seize this opportunity to ride the first wave of traffic and become a pioneer among gaming enthusiasts.


    Several hours later, the video was finally published.


    ...


    "Mantou''s Live Broadcast: Elzegai World, Creating a Real World."


    Mantou was already a somewhat famous gaming host with tens of thousands of followers on a certain site. As soon as the video was released, a lot of people clicked on it.


    "The missing person has returned!"


    "First row"


    "I am the first"


    "The title is so exaggerated, aren''t they paying you money?"


    "Hello everyone, I''m Mantou. Today, I bring you this game¡ª''Elzegai World.''"


    "I believe many people have never heard of it, but you will soon. I discovered this gem of a game by chance, and now I''ve played it continuously for a day and night. My mental state is excellent, and if it weren''t for the time limit, I think I could play it for a year."


    "Alright, without further ado, let''s get into our live gameplay session."


    "Classic nonsense opening."


    "Can''t he survive without talking nonsense?"


    Before the game even started, there were already numerous comments, especially during the character selection phase when the charisma stat was set to 9.


    "Sky King covering the Earth Tiger, Mantou''s charisma 9."


    "Hahaha, sorry, I couldn''t help but laugh."


    "Mantou: Don''t have an Ancient God Physique? I am the Ancient God Physique!"


    "Too funny."


    "Now we know why Mantou''s online dating failed."


    And that wasn''t even talking about later when "Holy Light Bro" took off his clothes to pursue freedom, only to realize he had socially died, and Swashbuckler visited the respawn point three times, getting blocked by NPCs each time, making for a perfect comedic effect.


    "Hahaha, the Rogue Beast finally got his comeuppance!"


    "Wow, is the AI this advanced?"


    "This is a bit scary."


    "Makes me want to play too."


    Later, Mantou showcased his various brick-moving and earning experiences in Barto City¡ªincluding getting chased by an Ogre for speaking out of turn, nearly losing his precious first life.


    "Chase, chase him!"


    "Ogre eats Mantou, funny."


    "Seems like you''ve become a black slave in the game!"


    "That''s all for today''s gameplay. I need a short rest and will continue brick-moving in Elzegai World tomorrow. Farewell for now, everyone."


    "In the future, I will be making and releasing a video series called ''Mantou''s Adventures in Elzegai World,'' which will be serialized on both the player forum and a certain site. Stay tuned."


    The video caused a huge sensation among immersive game players soon after its release, reaching a million views and topping the daily gaming chart. It also drew more players'' attention to "Elzegai World."


    ...


    Cassius browsed through the posts on the player forum, which were all over the place, a real variety.


    There were novice questions:


    "Why can''t my level one Mage get a spell, and what''s this about learning scrolls?"


    "Looking for a Wild Sorcerer guide, what to do if you burn your teammates?"


    Team recruitments:


    "Tracking an Orc rebel tribe, looking for a Barbarian teammate to tank."


    "Looking for a Bard, want to hear some tunes."


    "Looking for people for an owl bear hunting quest, no Mages, and definitely no Wild Sorcerers."


    And someone''s protest:


    "A million people sign a blood-soaked petition! Protesting against the game officials for targeting excellent players, camping the respawn point, interfering with normal gameplay, demanding a 1000 gold coin compensation." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But most of the replies were sarcastic: "More officials, please" "Not so heroic, Rogue Beast?" "Compensate you with 1000 deaths."


    At this moment, Cassius accidentally found a strategy post.


    "Learn how to get started quickly in ''Elzegai World'' in five minutes!"


    He was very familiar with the nickname of the post''s author, Xin Dog, known as S-Dog in his past life, and sometimes Black Slave, a veteran immersive game player and professional solo player.


    Not only was he highly skilled, but he also wrote great strategies, serving as an undying beacon for many solo newcomer players.


    The main content of his strategy summarized ways for beginners to complete missions and offered an evaluation of cost-effectiveness, emphasizing four golden rules for accepting missions:


    "If there''s money, choose money; if not, choose equipment."


    "Faction Contribution? Not even a dog wants it."


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, exhaling a breath of sulfur-scented air.


    "This won''t do."


    "If you all go for money, how am I going to fleece you? This bad trend must be stopped!"


    From a player''s perspective, Xin Dog''s strategy was absolutely correct.


    Compared to gold coins and equipment, which had inherent value and wide circulation, faction contribution provided by Cassius was more like a form of credit currency issued by the faction.


    Faction contribution had an inherent weakness¡ªit had no value on its own and only gained value when circulated.


    You had to use it to buy things, right?


    If it couldn''t buy anything, its value would drop to zero, and currently, players had no way to use faction contribution.


    If Cassius wanted to fleece the players and perform his "something for nothing" act, he had to make the players believe faction contribution was valuable.


    With this in mind, Cassius smiled slightly.


    "Shape-shifting Spell!"


    As the scattered magical aura flickered, the enormous Red Dragon vanished, replaced by a noble youth with black hair, golden eyes, and clad in a crimson robe in the cave.


    "I''ll just have to engage with the players personally..."

 Chapter 1 Mysterious Invitation

    "Warrior, step up quickly, this ferocious wild boar is almost out of health!" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Someone shouted.


    Mantou gripped his Standard Iron Sword, eyes fixed on the wild boar in front of him.


    The wild boar was foul and fierce, towering in stature and weighing several hundred kilograms.


    Its body was covered with tough and sharp bristles, and two long tusks protruded from its head, emitting a foul odor. However, the beast appeared drowsy and sluggish at this moment, its body riddled with scars, seemingly on the verge of death.


    To Mantou, it looked like a big, walking chunk of experience and money.


    "Whatever, let''s do it!"


    Mantou gritted his teeth and stepped forward, thrusting his sword into the boar''s side.


    The Iron Sword pierced through the tough bristles, plunging deep into the flesh, causing blood to spray from the wound.


    "Hit!"


    The players cheered loudly.


    Suddenly, the boar''s drowsy, sleepy eyes turned blood-red, it exhaled a foul, stinking breath, and the muscles under its thick layer of fat bulged out, releasing an unimaginably powerful force.


    "Oh crap, don''t tell me this thing has a second phase..."


    Mantou awkwardly pulled out the blood-stained Iron Sword, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, feeling like he was about to lose his first life.


    The wild boar glared at Mantou with fierce eyes, its sturdy hooves scraping the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.


    "Grrr¡ªah¡ª"


    The ferocious boar let out a low growl and charged straight at Mantou, causing the ground to tremble under the players'' feet.


    Mantou, though not one of the top players, was a seasoned professional in immersive gaming. Seeing the terrifying charge, he instinctively rolled to the side.


    Dust flew up from the ground as Mantou narrowly dodged the charge.


    The wild boar crashed into a rock behind him, even creating spider-web-like cracks on the rock wall.


    "So, ''ferocious'' means it goes berserk when nearly dead."


    "That kind of destructive power could definitely one-shot me."


    Mantou couldn''t help but complain, but the boar''s next charge was already coming with a cloud of dust, and Mantou was cornered with nowhere to hide.


    "Looks like I''ll be giving up my first life, huh?"


    Mantou skillfully opened his panel and adjusted his pain perception to the minimum.


    "Sanctuary Spell!"


    A clear female voice rang out.


    A thin layer of light appeared around Mantou. Although the boar had charged right up to him¡ªMantou could even hear its heavy breathing and smell its foul odor¡ªit couldn''t attack him and crashed into the adjacent rock wall again.


    This time the charge was so powerful that the boar''s long, thick tusks became embedded in the cliff wall, leaving it unable to pull them out for the time being.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    An arrow shot from the side, piercing the wild boar''s heart directly.


    It struggled a few times before finally losing its life.


    "I''ve always said, Archer Warriors are the future."


    A male voice rang out.


    Mantou turned and saw three players approaching together.


    He recognized these three; they were famous professional players in the full-immersion gaming circle.


    There was the hardcore strategy expert "Xin Dog," the highly popular female professional player with over a million fans "Summer Night Autumn Rain," and "Natural War Maniac," a top player known for dominating virtual game competitions for ten years and capable of defeating all opponents.


    Their current roles were warrior, priest, and barbarian¡ªa very complementary team of three.


    In their presence, Mantou felt somewhat insignificant. Though he also considered himself a professional player and had tens of thousands of followers, he couldn''t compare to these renowned figures.


    He said somewhat awkwardly, "Thanks, what do you need me for?"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain said, "We''ve watched your videos; they''re good."


    "You overpraise me." Experience new stories on empire


    Mantou sheepishly scratched his head.


    But Xin Dog was straightforward, "Mantou, when you last logged off, you had four Gold Coins, right?"


    "Uh, yeah, just got lucky."


    Four Gold Coins didn''t sound like much, but it was real gold.


    The value was equivalent to 100 silver coins or 400 copper coins. A "Liver Emperor" player, taking up a full slate of tasks and working day and night, would need nearly ten days to accumulate that amount. Mantou had merely stumbled upon it in a mine, where miners had secretly stashed some Gold Coins.


    Natural War Maniac asked, "Interested in joining us on a quest? We need that money."


    Mantou was bewildered, "Why not approach those big guilds? They would probably be very willing to take you in, and this amount of money shouldn''t be a problem for them."


    Though the game was still in its beta phase, wealthy players had already organized small guilds like the "Sword Pavilion," "Gold Club," and "Royalty." Some of these small groups had nearly fifty members, many of whom would later form the core of big guilds.


    Speaking of guilds, Natural War Maniac got irritated and swore, "Those bastards are shameless. They station people at the mission board all day, snatching up all the good-paying quests and leaving us scattered individuals with brick-laying and wall-repairing tasks for contribution points."


    Xin Dog nodded in agreement, "Guilds? Not even a dog would join them."


    He liked to use the word "dog" in his speech, which was one reason his haters called him "Xin Dog." The other major reason was that he was perpetually single.


    Mantou pondered for a moment and said,


    "Why do you need these Gold Coins? Let me think about it."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain showed Mantou a piece of item information.


    [Mysterious Invitation]


    Usable by: 4 people


    "This invitation burns eternally, never extinguishing. It can take you to unknown realms, where danger or opportunity might await you."


    Item price: 10 Gold Coins


    "This is a new item in the exchange, and it seems to have a limited stock. The guilds haven''t noticed it yet. We''ve managed to gather six Gold Coins, so we came to find you." Summer Night Autumn Rain explained.


    "Geez, what kind of invitation costs this much? This could buy several sets of equipment," Mantou couldn''t help but complain.


    Xin Dog said bluntly, "This is the difference between you and top professional players. Ten Gold Coins might seem important early on, but in the mid to late game, it''s not much at all."


    "If you buy equipment, you''ll just get a bunch of scrap iron. But if you buy mission items like this, you can gain an early advantage and keep winning."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain tried to smooth things over, "Say less, please."


    Xin Dog, still expressionless, said, "If he doesn''t agree, it just shows he lacks the vision. We can find someone else."


    Mantou awkwardly smiled. He finally realized why this strategy genius was unmatched in all aspects yet remained single.


    But as he thought over Xin Dog''s words, they made some sense, and he agreed cheerfully.


    "Alright, I''ll join you, but my share is bigger, and you''ll need to give me more permissions in the subsequent missions."


    "No problem."


    Natural War Maniac grinned and readily agreed.

 Chapter 2 The Noble NPC

    The four of them, holding the ten Gold Coins they had scraped together, went to the Tiefling Trading Center and bought the Mysterious Invitation.Your next chapter is on empire


    When Singo handed the shiny Gold Coins to the Tiefling merchant, Mantou felt an immense pain. He thought to himself, "How many pieces of equipment could this buy, you spendthrift!"


    The invitation in their hands felt heavy.


    They returned to their rented cabin and excitedly opened the invitation.


    The paper inside was a delicate pale yellow, thin and seemingly no different from ordinary paper, but the words on it were written in burning flames, constantly flickering.


    There was only one short sentence¡ª¡ª


    "You will meet the most distinguished person here." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Is it really that influential?"


    "Seems like this gamble was worth it, at least we''ll break even."


    Looking at the tiny words on the invitation, Mantou was filled with anticipation.


    Singo, however, remained calm: "I told you, anything that costs so much Gold Coins will definitely yield significant rewards."


    The Natural War Maniac chuckled: "Come on, stand still, I''m about to use it."


    "Okay."


    [Confirm using Mysterious Invitation!]


    Immediately, the space in front of the four of them started to ripple, then gradually twisted and cracked, forming a door-shaped space rift. Flames roared around the edges of the rift, making it look like the "doorframe" of this Dimension Door.


    "Wow, a teleportation portal? This is top-notch!"


    Mantou exclaimed.


    So far in the game, no Magic System Profession had developed teleportation skills. Mages without scrolls would be out of the question, and even those now called "true mage masters," the sorcerers, didn''t have such high-end abilities.


    Both Summer Night Autumn Rain and the Natural War Maniac were pleasantly surprised, and even Singo, who usually had a sour face, showed a hint of excitement.


    But he still reminded: "The item description said, the other side could be dangerous or a reward, so we need to be fully prepared."


    "That''s true. We don''t want to get wiped out as soon as we go in."


    Mantou nodded.


    "Blessing Spell!"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain waved a wooden staff, and beams of light descended, enveloping everyone.


    This Divine Arts could give the recipients an advantage in attack and saving throws, an all-purpose spell for priests in their early stages.


    "Healing Potion, Toxin Resistance Potion, Wyvern Toxin, Slippery Oil, Oil of Precision..."


    Singo pulled out one item after another from his backpack and introduced them as if they were his treasured possessions. Before long, these items were piled like a small mountain.


    "Where did you get so much stuff?" Mantou couldn''t help but ask.


    In this resource-scarce early stage, many newbie players couldn''t even gather a basic set of equipment and would lose to the large goose raised by the Tiefling aunt next door. Yet Singo had accumulated such a stash.


    "Look more, practice more, grind more."


    Singo simply replied calmly.


    Mantou finally understood what set these top-tier players apart; in this respect, he had to concede¡ªhe couldn''t compete with their show-off skills.


    After applying oil to weapons and armor, placing potions in his backpack to handle various situations, and making a series of preparations, Singo was finally ready. Although he looked quite bulky, an epitome of practicality over aesthetics.


    "Let''s go."


    "Alright."


    The four of them stepped into the flaming teleportation portal.


    A wave of heat hit them, seemingly leaving a mark on each person''s face.


    "Wow, it''s so dark."


    "Where is this?"


    "It feels a bit warm."


    "Autumn Rain, use a Light Spell; we can''t see anything."


    "Okay."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain raised the wooden staff and began to cast Divine Arts.


    "Light Spell!"


    The tip of the staff emitted a faint light.


    Though the glow was weak, it was enough for the four to barely see their surroundings.


    They were now in a dim, narrow rock tunnel. The air inside was stuffy, with hard rock walls surrounding them and the tunnel leading into an unknown darkness.


    "What should we do, should we keep going?"


    The narrow rock tunnel made Mantou feel uneasy, and the Light Spell hardly provided any comfort.


    Singo grit his teeth and said fiercely: "We''re here now, we can''t just turn back. Let''s go all in!"


    They carefully made their way forward along the tunnel.


    Finally, the four seemed to have exited the tunnel; the space in front of them was much wider.


    "This should be the place."


    "Everyone, stay alert. Report any findings."


    But the Light Spell no longer reached the rock walls; all around was darkness. The vast, dark cave echoed now and then, making them even more nervous and sweaty.


    Suddenly, an unknown light appeared, followed by more lights.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    With the sound of flames igniting, hundreds of intricately dragon-headed oil lamps along the rock walls lit up consecutively, illuminating the surrounding darkness and revealing the cavern''s expansive interior.


    Waves of heat rolled over them.


    A spacious road appeared before them, with blazing fires on both sides,


    and at the end of the road stood a man.


    He had black hair and golden eyes, with delicate features. Dark gold pupils reflected the blazing flames, exuding an inherent arrogance. Red scales faintly appeared on both sides of his face, and bone-white dragon horns adorned his forehead.


    He was adorned in a dark red, gold-bordered luxurious robe, his tall frame radiating an aura of nobility and irresistibility.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn''t help but blush, exclaiming, "Wow, the official model looks really good."


    Mantou, on the other hand, joked, "Wow, is this NPC really this handsome? Almost as handsome as me."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn''t help but roll her eyes.


    Singo urged, "Mantou, quickly cast a detection spell. We must have encountered a key character."


    "Oh, right."


    Mantou instinctively responded, then skillfully brought up the panel.


    Mysterious Dragon Vein Sorcerer ¨C Cassius


    Affiliation: Ashen Nest


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: ??? (Extremely Dangerous!)


    Favorability: -5 (Slight Disdain)


    Mantou realized what he had done and cursed, "Damn you, Xin Dog! You''ve tricked me again, now our favorability dropped!"


    Singo, hearing his nickname, still wore his expressionless face, "Everyone will remember your sacrifice. So, what did you see, Mantou?"


    Mantou shook his head, "Nothing, all the information is unknown."


    Singo clenched his fists with excitement, "Great! We really found him."


    "Based on my observations, the only one in Barto City with an unknown Challenge Level is the Oathbreaker Sword, Mezulash. Others, like Guard Captain Damacus, have visible Challenge Levels. We''ve found the second key NPC first, so we definitely¡ª"


    However, a steady male voice interrupted his speech from afar.


    "Honored guests, using detection upon meeting might be considered impolite, don''t you think?"

 Chapter 3 Red Scale Conqueror!

    The four quickly walked along the Flaming Road.Mantou wore a fawning smile, hoping to use his own skills to make up for the favorability points Singo had lost.


    "Dear sir, is there something you wish to ask us? Just say the word, and I will go through fire and water to serve you!"


    [Favorability -5.]


    [Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius has a favorability of -10 towards you (Mild Dislike).]


    Mantou''s smile instantly froze on his face.


    "Why did it go down instead of up!" Read new adventures at empire


    "Damn, why is this mysterious NPC so troublesome?" He cursed inwardly, growing frustrated.


    A faint hint of mockery flickered across Cassius''s face. You think I don''t know what you''re like? You must be secretly cursing me in your heart, he thought.


    But outwardly, he remained calm and said, "Starfallen from lands unknown, I did not invite you here to listen to such nonsense."


    [You have been given a quest by the player Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius: I''m Going to Eat Mantou, Singo, Summer Night Autumn Rain, Natural War Maniac.]


    Singo simply said, "Please go ahead."


    The Half-Dragon Spellcaster looked down at them, exuding a powerful aura. His golden pupils shimmered with light:


    "Since you were born in Barto City, it is surely the arrangement of the God of Fate. Go and learn about its brief history, or delve further into the stories of the Tiefling and Ashen Nest. You''ll make new discoveries."


    The quest appeared on their panels.


    [Investigate the Tiefling''s Story]


    Quest Description: The Tiefling, known as the "Devil''s Offspring," originally did not belong here. Driven away and massacred, they migrated here with impressive resolve, founding their city on the monster-infested Stormy Ridge in just five years. What did they face five years ago? What drove them to migrate here and join Ashen Nest?


    Quest Reward: +500 Faction Contribution to Ashen Nest


    "So the reward is faction contribution..."


    Singo''s voice sounded disappointed. Given the importance of the NPC, he forcefully swallowed the words, "Not even a dog would want this."


    Even Natural War Maniac and Summer Night Autumn Rain looked slightly disheartened. They had read Singo''s guide, which stated that faction contributions were currently useless. Although there might be future uses, at the early stages, they were like empty promissory notes.


    "Wait... look at this!"


    "Quick, check out the shop interface!"


    Mantou''s voice trembled with excitement.


    "Damn, are you crazy?"


    Singo was startled by Mantou''s overreaction and cursed before instinctively opening the interface.


    [Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius opens his personal shop to you.]


    Unlike typical merchant NPCs, the trade panel of the high-end Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius was divided into three sections: Mithril Shop, Common Shop, and Normal Shop.


    The Normal Shop sold items similar to those of regular merchants: various iron swords, leather armor, potions, raw materials, and food. There was a wide variety, but nothing seemed particularly special.


    "What''s the big deal? I can get more of this."


    But as they looked further, Singo was stunned, struggling to utter two words¡ª


    "Holy... crap."


    Starting from the Mithril Shop, the product listings underwent a dramatic change. Rare quality gear appeared, items never before seen during the beta test, like the Whisper Greatsword, Emerald Dragon Scale Sword, Carved Wooden Staff, and Hunter''s Longbow.


    These dazzling items, over a hundred in total, with their shimmering magical auras, made everyone dizzy with excitement.


    Singo scanned the equipment descriptions, growing more ecstatic: "Whisper Greatsword, with roots of the Whisper Tree extending from the hilt to silence targets upon hit, an incredibly versatile early-game divine gear. Dragon Scale Shield, with its built-in Anti-Dragon Class Type Aura, a core piece against dragon bosses.


    Hunter''s Longbow, capable of marking targets with a single aim, the graduation gear for archer warriors in the early stages..."


    However, looking at the prices below, his excitement waned.


    Most of these items cost dozens of Gold Coins, and several of the Rare quality early-game divine gears were priced over a hundred Gold Coins. Even for a pro player like Singo, saving up that amount was difficult; only wealthy, large guilds could afford to buy one or two pieces.


    These high-priced items weren''t meant for individual players like Singo. They were placed by Cassius to specifically target large guilds for profit.


    Yet, Singo noticed the shop''s descriptions. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Mithril Shop: Requires 3000 Faction Contribution Points to Ashen Nest to unlock.]


    Singo sharply inhaled: "I see, faction contributions are crucial!"


    Cassius''s golden eyes narrowed slightly, a cold smile forming within. "Called my faction contributions worthless, didn''t you? Now, see their importance!"


    Cassius''s position had risen from a diligent worker in his past life to the faction leader. With his elevated status, his attitude had naturally changed.


    As the boss now, his only desire was to exploit the players, squeezing them first for Gold Coins with invitation letters, and then for labor with faction contribution restrictions.


    As for buying gear?


    Players could scrape together some Gold Coins, pooling their resources. Eventually, they would manage to gather enough.


    Can''t gather enough? No problem, they could just opt for installments with a bit of interest, making regular payments. After all, Cassius wasn''t a devil, just a plain Red Dragon, eager to fulfill every player''s dream of acquiring divine gear.


    "Singo, check out the Mithril Shop next."


    Mantou prompted, his voice now numb with shock.


    Singo ignored Mantou''s nickname and pulled up the panel.


    [Mithril Shop: Requires 10000 Faction Contribution Points to Ashen Nest to unlock.]


    It started with the familiar faction contribution requirement.


    However, instead of a myriad of items, the Mithril Shop displayed only a few, each priced in faction contribution points!


    Singo fixated on those item descriptions.


    "Dragon Blood Elixir, unlocks the sub-occupation quest for Dragon Vein Sorcerer, priced at 4500 faction contributions."


    "This is... Scarlet Scale, unlocks the advanced warrior occupation quest for Red Scale Conqueror, priced at 9800 faction contributions."


    [Red Scale Conqueror]


    Requirements: Large Dragon Vein Creature Mount, Dragon Bloodline, Warrior base level 3, +4 proficiency in Riding Skill


    Occupation Description: When the Dragon''s Roar echoes from afar, the Red Scale Conquerors charge on their massive and fierce Dragon Vein creatures from the sky, bringing endless flames and total death to their enemies.


    Mantou gritted his teeth, eyes filled with unprecedented determination: "No one stop me, I''m becoming a Dragon Knight!"

 Chapter 4 The Advancing Player

    Suddenly, Cassius spoke, shattering Mantou''s fantasy of diving with a wyvern."It''s getting late, everyone please head back. I hope that the next time we meet, you will be fully prepared."


    Then, he gently waved his hand, and a portal burning with intense flames appeared before them. Before the four could react, a powerful magical field forced them inside, leaving no room for struggle or resistance.


    Everyone saw a flash of white light and found themselves back in the small cabin. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The words on the invitation had already dimmed, indicating there was no second chance for use.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain, recalling their recent experiences, couldn''t help but say, "That shop is so cool, no wait, I mean that NPC is really important."


    Xin Dog, a bit regretful for having written that strategy guide too early, said, "I really didn''t expect faction contribution to be this crucial. I shouldn''t have jumped to conclusions."


    "That warrior''s advanced occupation, Red Scale Conqueror, is definitely the strongest in the early stages, bar none."


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head, "I also want to play with the Dragon Bloodline, it feels really powerful."


    Xin Dog agreed, "Yeah, just having natural armor can set you apart from regular players, not to mention the attribute boosts and spell abilities."


    Mantou said quietly, "Shouldn''t we keep this news to ourselves and not let others know?"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain and Natural War Maniac nodded in agreement at his suggestion.


    Thinking like professional gamers, it was normal to monopolize information to gain an edge over others.


    But Xin Dog objected, "No, we must make this information public."


    Mantou didn''t understand, "What if someone else grabs the Red Scale Conqueror?"


    His mind was set on becoming a Wyvern Knight, leaving no room for other thoughts¡ªbeing a knight was a man''s ultimate dream!


    Xin Dog cast a disdainful glance at him before saying, "Of course, we don''t announce it right away, but rather wait for the right moment."


    "What moment?"


    "Watch the big guilds'' movements, wait until they start grabbing faction contribution tasks."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain quickly understood and explained, "In the early stages, gold coins are scarce. Those big guilds might focus more on gear and not spend money on quest items. But once they develop, they will definitely try to buy quest items like the Mysterious Invitation."


    "Once they realize the importance of faction contribution, they will definitely monopolize the information and start grabbing those faction contribution tasks they initially didn''t care about. At that point, we need to make the information public, encouraging more scattered individuals to compete with the guilds and slow down their progress."


    Natural War Maniac added, "And during that time before the information goes public, we''ll be able to pull ahead in faction contribution."


    Mantou finally understood and exclaimed, "You top-tier professional gamers are so devious."


    Xin Dog said, "What devious? This is game strategy. If you''re weak, practice more. When the time comes, you''ll make videos, and I''ll write guides. We''ll drive the traffic up."


    "Alright."


    Natural War Maniac looked at the invitation on the table that seemed no different from ordinary paper, "Should we buy another invitation? That thing probably isn''t in unlimited supply. We can''t let those guild ruffians, especially Royalty, snatch it up."


    "Do you have a grudge against them?" asked Mantou curiously.


    Natural War Maniac grinned and rubbed his bald head, "Not really. Just that in the previous game, Star-Travel Domain, I chopped their guild''s mothership with my Battleship Cleaver. I''m worried they''ll target me this time."


    Mantou broke into a cold sweat, thinking this guy was seriously hardcore, not someone to mess with easily.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain asked, "Where will we get enough gold coins? We already pawned everything to get these ten gold coins."


    Xin Dog laughed confidently, "Did you know Barto City''s exchange recently started a new gold coin loan service? You only need to pledge items worth one-tenth of the loan amount."


    Mantou noticed that Xin Dog was eyeing him-not to be exact, his gear. His face darkened immediately.


    "This gear is what I worked hard for. Don''t even think about it!"


    "Mantou, don''t you want to be a cool Dragon Knight?"


    Xin Dog approached with a sinister grin, his words whispering like a devil''s temptation.


    "Ah¨C"


    "Don''t strip my gear¨C"


    "At least leave me with my underwear, Xin Dog..."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain blushed and covered her eyes, but peeked through her fingers, cheeks growing redder.


    Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Natural War Maniac scratched his bald head awkwardly and said, "That''s just how Xin Dog is, don''t mind him."


    When Xin Dog turned around, a despondent Mantou had returned to his newbie state, wearing simple cloth clothes and exuding a cute newbie aura.


    Xin Dog also led by example, stripping off all his gear.


    With a refined smile, Xin Dog said, "Do I need to say more to you two?"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain, peeking through her fingers at Mantou''s sorry state, instinctively hugged herself tighter, her cheeks flushing.


    She quickly said, "Don''t come over, I''ll do it myself."


    Fearing Xin Dog might change into some kind of tentacle monster and misbehave.


    Natural War Maniac simply shrugged off his beast hide armor, "Barbarians don''t need much gear anyway, just need to go into a frenzy."


    "Clap!"


    Xin Dog clapped his hands with a smile.


    "No objections, then let''s get grinding! We''ll pull ahead from the other players, starting now!"


    "I''ll take the gear to the exchange for a loan. Once I get the gold coins, I''ll grab the Mysterious Invitation. War Maniac, Autumn Rain, and Mantou, you three go to the plaza to get quests, as many faction contributions as possible. Also, look into the Tiefling investigation quests, do them simultaneously."


    Mantou, wearing simple cloth clothes, collapsed on the ground with hollow eyes.


    "Is this the world of professional gamers?"


    "I have an objection..."


    But Xin Dog seemed not to hear, quickly leaving with the gear Mantou had worked so hard for.


    Natural War Maniac patted Mantou''s shoulder with his big hand, "Don''t take it to heart, Mantou. Xin Dog''s just like that, we often get mentally strained, too. You''ll get used to it."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain stood by, sympathizing, and softly consoled him.


    But Mantou could only cry without tears, "Who''s taking Xin Dog''s words to heart? I''m thinking about the gear I worked so hard for ten days to earn¨C"


    ...


    Several days later, the story of the "Black Slave Team" spread through the city.


    These were four famous professional gamers, oddly wearing only the most basic newbie cloth clothes. Some players suspected they had been robbed and were heavily in debt.


    These "gods" accepted any task, from bricklaying, dusting, wall patching, mail delivery, to mining. Even faction contribution quests others avoided, they enthusiastically took on.


    In just a few days, they had amassed nearly five thousand faction contribution points, shocking the forums and earning the nickname "Black Slave Team."


    "Achoo!"


    In a dark mine, Mantou wiped his sweat, sneezing for some unknown reason.


    "Black Slave Team..."


    "I will become a Dragon Knight!"


    He thought determinedly, his resolute gaze shining in the darkness. However, the scolding of the Earth Goblin Supervisor and the sound of a whip cracking jerked him back.


    "What are you doing? Daydreaming? Get to work!"


    "Oh, alright."


    Mantou swung his pickaxe again, with increasingly skilled movements.

 Chapter 5 The Red Dragons Ambition

    Cassius lounged lazily in the cave, using Ramp''s magic mirror to observe the diligent players within Barto City."Work hard, my dear chattel."


    In just a month, the once crude Barto City had shown a brand-new appearance. The city walls had become much taller and thicker, several uniquely styled buildings had sprung up, and the city had gained some vitality due to the comings and goings of the players.


    "I''m Going to Eat Mantou," "Singo," "Summer Night Autumn Rain," and "Natural War Maniac" were able to receive that mysterious invitation not by chance, but because he deliberately arranged it.


    These few had their own following in the gaming community. Once they discovered the uses of faction contributions, the entire player base would take it seriously.


    For instance, even though Singo had not yet revealed the strategy information, his loyal followers had already, through analysis, begun to suspect the significant utility of faction contributions and started attempting to accumulate them. Soon, those big guilds would also begin competing for contribution tasks.


    By then, Cassius''s mission of reaping benefits with no effort would be a grand success.


    And after that, he would introduce another heavy dose¡ªthe faction position system. By using faction contributions, players could acquire certain positions within the city, such as patrol officer, tax officer, judge, investigator, and perhaps even, in the future, mayor or city governor of conquered human cities.


    As for wages, of course, they would mainly be faction contributions, with money as a supplement.


    Allowing players to relish the thrill of power would also let Cassius enjoy the pleasure of having free labor. It was a win-win policy.


    He believed the players would understand his moves and be deeply grateful.


    He was watching intently when Great Goblin Dolores came to report.


    Over the years, this dragon vein goblin had become increasingly seasoned, commanding over ten thousand goblin creatures and becoming well-versed in the military affairs within Ashen Nest.


    "Master, the wolf cavalry recently spotted traces of the Eagle Guards near the border of Stormy Ridge."


    Cassius''s golden eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh? Haven''t they refrained from provoking me for a long time?"


    Dolores continued, "While you were asleep, we took in a dozen pureblood serpentfolk and sent them to Northwind Castle to gather intelligence."


    "A very good decision, but remember, serpents'' fangs are venomous."


    "Don''t fully trust them; it''s best to treat them as disposable tools," Cassius said meaningfully.


    Serpentfolk always plotted to replace and dominate other races, eventually declaring themselves gods.


    And pureblood serpentfolk were the lowest in serpentfolk society. Their appearance was very similar to humans but could not pass human scrutiny.


    They always exposed some innate traits, such as scaly skin, serpent-like eyes, sharp fangs, or forked tongues. They wore cloaks and hoods to disguise themselves as humans and infiltrated civilized lands to gather information, kidnap prisoners for interrogation and sacrifice, or make deals to further their endless schemes.


    "We followed your instructions exactly, Master," Dolores replied.


    "And recently, these pureblood serpentfolk seemed to have received news that the Rackman Family planned to collaborate with the Southern ''Northern Lion'' Boske Family and the Northwestern ''Double-Headed Eagle'' Notte Family to form an allied army, and their likely target is us¡ªAshen Nest."


    "If I may say so, my great Master, Ashen Nest''s expansion in recent years has aroused the vigilance of the Northern Countries. They covet our gold and fear our retainers, but we have yet to endure a true trial by blood and fire."


    Cassius slowly stood up, his golden eyes looking down at Dolores. "So you are saying... we need a war?" Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    Dolores knelt on one knee, bowing his head respectfully. "I believe so, Master."


    "Only war can make those pathetic, shortsighted humans realize your might."


    "Ramp, what do you think?"


    Cassius looked toward the magic mirror. The mirrors were naturally connected to Ramp''s "Mage Tower" and followed the Red Dragon''s will, only activating when he needed them.


    Ramp''s grotesque and ferocious face appeared in the mirror. He had put on his gold-rimmed glasses again and was holding several magic scrolls.


    "Master, I also believe Ashen Nest needs a war. According to my statistics, the number of goblins in the nest has reached thirteen thousand four hundred fifty-seven, and kobolds number ten thousand three hundred forty-one. Without continuous, large-scale war consumption, our food supply can no longer fill these creatures'' bellies." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ramp deliberately adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses as if unintentionally, mentioning, "With Dolores''s um... rather rudimentary, even primitive, farming system, he can barely make a dent."


    Dolores''s already red face flushed at Ramp''s deliberate mockery, but with the Red Dragon present, he dared not react.


    Cassius didn''t care about their scheming, just asking, "How long until their so-called ''allied forces'' are assembled?"


    Dolores quickly replied, "The dukes of the Northern Countries do not have complete control over their lords. These humans delay, bicker, and vie for power, which is very slow. Assembling such a tens of thousands-strong force will take at least three months. This is a conservative estimate."


    "Very well, three months is enough."


    A dangerous glint appeared in Cassius''s golden pupils.


    "Master, are we going to war?"


    Dolores''s expression showed extreme excitement. Goblins were born to love war, causing most of them to die before their natural end. With the Red Dragon bloodline, his innate savagery and thirst for blood and fire had only intensified.


    "Dolores, don''t rush. Have those serpentfolk keep an eye on the Northern Allied Forces and prepare your troops for war¡ªweaponry, training, tactics. You should know these better than I."


    "After all... you''ve long been eager, haven''t you?"


    "Yes, Master."


    Dolores knelt on one knee again, excitement causing white smoke to puff from his large red nose. He seemed to already imagine the enemy''s blood smeared on his claws.


    "Ramp, start preparing logistics, using the spells you''ve developed over the years."


    "Yes, Master."


    "If they want war, we''ll give them war.


    "But as for when it ends... that''s not up to them."


    The two retainers took their orders and returned to work.


    The goblin soldiers began sharpening their long-idle weapons and armor, practicing for war and discussing tactics.


    The ogres cheered at the prospect of the coming war, and upon learning they could use enemy corpses as rations, their morale rose further, celebrating around bonfires.


    The goblins transported food to the depths of Dragon Mountain Valley, storing it for wartime use.


    The kobolds started making slingshots, bows, and other simple weapons.


    The Red Dragon stood tall at the highest point of the valley, overlooking his busy retainers with golden eyes that seemed to reflect blazing flames.


    "It is time to set this massive war machine... in motion."


    Three months until war.


    ...

 Chapter 6 Mantous Struggle

    Barto City Central Square.Players came and went, bustling about, making the square lively.


    "Buying a set of standard iron equipment!"


    "Looking for a magician, a group of twenty to go into the mountains to fight snowmen. No wild sorcerers."


    "Buying a musical instrument."


    "Buying all kinds of potions at market price, especially healing potions. As many as you have, I''ll take them."


    The small team humorously called the "Black Slave Team" by other players gathered again. They were still in their newbie sets without a single change. After all, the money they worked so hard to earn from tasks was all used to repay loans.


    Xin Dog asked enthusiastically, "What''s your faction contribution? I''m now at 7985."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain said, "I''m at 6389."


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head, "7071."


    Mantou''s expression had shifted from lifeless to wooden, "I only have 5789."


    "Xin Dog, we''ve been doing labor for eighteen days now. The title ''Black Slave Team'' is already famous on the player forum. When is this going to end?"


    Mantou caressed the rough fabric of his clothes, longing for the leather armor he used to wear. It wasn''t particularly stylish, but it gave him a rare sense of safety.


    Natural War Maniac patted Mantou''s shoulder, speaking earnestly, "When heaven assigns a great responsibility to a person, it must first toughen their spirit, exhaust their muscles and bones, and starve their body... The path to becoming a professional gamer is not an easy one."


    Mantou watched Xin Dog, who remained enthusiastic even after eighteen days of labor, and thought to himself, "This guy is a complete monster." The cheerful Natural War Maniac beside him was also not to be underestimated.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain tidied his hair, which had become a bit messy from mining, "Any clues about the Tiefling task?"


    Mantou shook his head, "We''re so exhausted these days, I haven''t had the mind to think about it."


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head until it almost shone, "I asked those Tieflings, but they all clammed up. Some even attacked me directly. Fortunately, my Barbarian skin is thick, or I''d have lost a point of health right there."


    Xin Dog smiled mysteriously, "I''ve already completed the task."


    Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire


    "A few days ago, I paid off a destitute Tiefling for information. It took a lot of effort even then; they seemed very reluctant to talk about their past. But later, I understood."


    "These Tieflings originally came from a city called ''Northwind Castle,'' ruled by Duke Brad Rackman of the Rackman Family..."


    When Xin Dog finished telling this sad and bloody history, their task panels all displayed "[Task Completed]" with 500 faction contributions added to their accounts.


    After nearly a month of playing, most players had developed a sense of recognition and belonging to Barto City. There was even a support group for Mezulash on the player forum.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain sighed, "Mezulash has it tough..."


    Natural War Maniac echoed with anger, "Let''s wipe out those damned vampires."


    Only Mantou suddenly remembered something, wide-eyed, "Where did you get the money? Didn''t you use all your gold coins to buy the invitation?"


    Xin Dog kept a calm face and said, "When I went to get the loan, I found there was some surplus in the equipment. I used my own, Autumn Rain''s, and War Maniac''s equipment as collateral. I sold yours for money. I''ll make it up to you next time."


    "You beast, Xin Dog, you''d rather sell them than return the equipment to me, huh!"


    The anger Mantou had suppressed during the eighteen days of labor finally exploded. He charged at Xin Dog, trying to strip off his newbie set and turn him into the next "Holy Light Bro," completely disgraced.


    But Xin Dog, with his notable agility, easily dodged, causing Mantou to nearly crash into the giant dragon stone sculpture in the center of the square.


    "Calm down. Even if you strip me¡ª"


    "The equipment won''t come back."


    Xin Dog dodged, showcasing his sharp tongue.


    However, Mantou, lying on the ground, noticed a line of barely perceptible text on the statue''s base¡ª


    "Dedicated to the master of Ashen Nest, the mighty and unparalleled Red Dragon, eternal lord of Barto City, Cassius Claudius Norixius."


    "Holy crap, come look at this! I found important information!"


    The four of them hurried over. Xin Dog, ignoring his image, lay on the ground, butt raised, carefully examining.


    "Cassius..."


    "This name sounds familiar."


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his now shiny bald head.


    After eighteen days of labor, even his brain was not functioning well.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn''t help but facepalm, kindly reminding, "Remember that super handsome¡ª I mean, important NPC? His name displayed above is ''[Mysterious Dragon Vein Sorcerer-Cassius]''.


    Xin Dog added, "And he has features of a Red Dragon, scales, dragon horns, golden eyes."


    Mantou suddenly realized, "So that mysterious NPC¡ªis actually the leader of our faction, the humanoid form of the Red Dragon boss who''s never appeared?"


    "It seems so,"


    Xin Dog nodded in agreement.


    Mantou couldn''t help but sigh, "So we''ve hooked a big fish, huh¡ª Wait, my favor with the boss is already -10. Xin Dog, give me back my favorability!"


    Ignoring him, Xin Dog turned to the other two, "Have you noticed the recent actions of the big guilds? The president of [Royalty], ''Tyrant,'' has started assigning people to take the wall construction tasks. That civil engineering guy ''Bucket Runner'' was hired heavily, and they took over the whole area."


    "Also, the people from [Sword Pavilion] have even started mining themselves. Their intentions are becoming too obvious." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mantou was stunned, "You mean..."


    "They''ve already discovered the use of faction contributions?"


    "It seems so."


    Xin Dog crossed his arms, looking confident, "But we can already make the task information public now. Each of us has around seven thousand faction contributions and have bought the [Mysterious Invitation] in advance. Even those big guilds can''t catch up to us."


    "Now we need to get all players to work on faction contributions, snatch tasks from those guilds, and delay their progress. Meanwhile, we can take more profitable tasks that we missed before and make more money."


    "Mantou, after today, work on the video directly. I''ll post guides on the forum. Tonight, we''ll go all in."


    "Oh, okay."


    Mantou''s tone immediately regained some confidence, "Heh, thirty years to the east, thirty years to the west. Don''t underestimate a poor young man! I''m going to show those who mocked me as a slave what it means to seize opportunities everywhere!"


    But while editing the video that night, he rubbed his increasingly sparse back of the head, suddenly feeling something was a bit off.


    "Damn it, everyone''s logged off, and I''m still working for Xin Dog¡ª"

 Chapter 7 The Forum Turmoil

    After a marathon gaming session, Mantou finally released the first episode of his video on the forum and some video sites simultaneously."Erezer Diary: The Beginning of the Dragon Knight"


    "First"


    "Front row, munching on melon seeds"


    "Missing persons, coming back repeatedly."


    "King Tiger Covering the Earth, Mantou charisma 9!"


    Mantou''s face appeared in the video, but he looked somewhat inexplicably downcast at the moment: "Hey everyone, welcome to the much-anticipated first episode of ''Erezer Diary'', I''m Mantou."


    "During this period, I spent, um... an unforgettable eighteen days in this world of swords and magic. Next, I will share my experiences from a personal perspective, including the shocking secrets of the Ashen Nest faction and the bygone days of Barto City."


    After the opening lines, Mantou, looking sleepy, seemed almost ready to drift off.


    "Why does Mantou look so drained?"


    "Mantou''s been popular in the game lately, working as a slave with a few pro players."


    "Hahaha, I know right."


    "Black Slave Team, Blood Sweat Squad."


    "Where did you guys get the beta qualifications? I want to play too." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "All gone already, wait for the public beta in a few months."


    It started with three top-tier pros inviting Mantou to their team. These three were well-known in the full immersion gaming circles, far more famous than Mantou, naturally causing a barrage of comments.


    "Summer Night Autumn Rain! My wife!"


    "Nonsense, clearly my wife."


    "War Maniac Bro''s hair is still so lush."


    "Caught a wild Xin Dog!"


    Players also started discussing the [Mysterious Invitation]:


    "Damn, this Eight Hook invitation is so expensive? It could outfit several squads."


    "How come I didn''t see this special item?"


    "Cloud players not familiar with the game might not get what ten gold coins mean. For context, a normal player can earn 35 copper coins in a day mining, and ten gold coins equal about 4,000 copper coins, which means you''d need to mine for 114.514 days."


    "The previous example had some bias..."


    "Damn, for a crappy quest item, why?"


    The next scene shocked the players even more. The invitation summoned a flame portal, leading the team into a dark cave.


    In the cave, they met the ridiculously handsome [Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius], opened the [Mithril Shop] and [Mithril Shop], and discovered the use of faction contributions and the advanced occupation of [Red Scale Conqueror].


    Mantou even added in the narration that the identity of this mysterious spellcaster was the leader of the Ashen Nest, the King of Flying Flame, Red Dragon Cassius!


    Instantly, the comment section exploded, and both cloud players and gaming fans were shocked.


    The casual viewers were mostly amazed by Cassius'' charisma, making all kinds of over-the-top remarks:


    "Damn, this NPC is too hot!"


    "I''m in!"


    "Think it through, this is a dragon, how big must it be¡ª"


    "A dragon? Even better!"


    "From now on, I am Lord Cassius''s dog!"


    "I want to lick Lord Cassius''s horns..."


    "Join the Cassius Support Group, group number 697838040."


    The gaming community, however, focused on the impact of these revelations on the game, especially the appearance of the [Red Scale Conqueror], which caused a massive uproar among players.


    "Damn, faction contribution is this useful? Feels like I missed out on a billion!"


    "These gears are all divine tier!"


    "Can you afford it? Starting at ten gold coins, just a toy for major guilds from the greedy devs."


    "Damn, the faction leader''s handsomeness is on par with mine!"


    "Stop bragging, the one above."


    "Whoa, innate dragon bloodline, large dragon vein creature mount, plus exclusive traits, this advanced occupation is god-tier!"


    "Red Scale Conqueror is a god!"


    "The sky is the limit for a man''s dreams, I want to be one!"


    "Enough said, I''ve switched to warrior already. Paladin? Never heard of it!"


    The later video showed Mantou''s woeful eighteen days: mining, brick-lugging, wall-fixing, dust-busting. He faced ogre overseers'' insults, goblin officers'' commands, chases by phase spiders in the mines, and was mocked by fellow players...


    "Feels like the American 18th century..."


    "I now get why they''re called the Black Slave Team..."


    "I thought he just went bankrupt, but Mantou was biding his time, enduring hardships!"


    "Just eighteen days..."


    "I''m willing to do the same to become a Dragon Knight!"


    "Heh, by the time you save up the contribution, the flowers will have wilted."


    "Not watching anymore, time to head back to Erezer for some brick-lugging!"


    Mantou''s first episode of the "Elzegai Diary"¡ªor Mantou''s Slave Labor Blood and Tears History¡ªsoared in views like a rocket, quickly hitting the day''s hot trends. This helped many beta players learn about Cassius, this crucial NPC of the Ashen Nest faction. Now, his status among players was significantly important.


    What''s more widely known was his astonishing charisma, breaking beyond the gaming circles.


    It even trended with tags like:


    #Incredibly Handsome NPC


    ...


    "Got killed by a Wild Sorcerer teammate, heartbroken, thinking of kicking him out."


    "Rogue Beast caught "


    "Is the Mysterious Invitation out of stock? Why can''t I find it on the shelf!"


    Cassius browsed the forum, watching players chat and joke around, but soon he saw a familiar name¡ªSingo.


    This guy posted several guides in a row, even while being a slave for eighteen days straight, making one wonder if he had another organ growing on his liver.


    "Shock! The real identity of the mysterious NPC Cassius is¡ª"


    "Stunning! The uses of faction contributions are¡ª"


    "Unbeatable! Analysis of the Warrior''s advanced occupation [Red Scale Conqueror]" Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Why no one should choose the Mage in the current version"


    But his posts'' comment sections were a mess, with players who struggled due to his newbie guides pouring in to vent, calling him Xin Dog and cursing relentlessly.


    He pretended not to see it at all.


    "Xin Dog, you screwed me over so bad, I only have fifty contributions now!"


    "Xin Dog, give back my faction contributions!"


    "So greedy, misleading us with posts to earn contributions yourself, huh!"


    "I say he''s doing it on purpose, let''s gather a group and block Xin Dog at the respawn point!"


    "Count me in!"


    "+1"


    "+10086"


    Singo innocently commented: "You guys should hurry and do quests, go too late, and you won''t get them. Even if you kill me, I won''t drop faction contributions."


    This only fueled the players'' rage.


    "Damn, this guy really deserves to die¡ª"


    "Xin Dog, prepare to die!"


    "I declare that Xin Dog and Rogue Beast are now the two beasts!"


    "Don''t slander me, I, Swashbuckler, have always been a just and honorable person."


    "You can die together with Xin Dog. Picking a Trickster Thief, lurking in the mines all day and stealing. Last time, you emptied my potions using Mage''s Hand."


    "I, I took them with my own skills, can that be called stealing?"

 Chapter 8 Surge of Contributions

    ```Mantou''s videos and Singo''s strategies caused a huge stir among the player community. The 10 limited-edition [Mysterious Invitations] in the trading post were already sold out.


    The big guilds all declared that they would stop pretending and started monopolizing the previously ignored faction contribution quests, while the money quests were left in the dust.


    So, the players set off on a frenzy of chasing faction contributions, working tirelessly day and night for free for Cassius, with the task board even being looted.


    "Let me be a dragon vein sorcerer!"


    "I want to be a dragon knight!"


    "Ahhh! Give me divine gear!"


    "The sky is a man''s romance!"


    Excited players shouting these slogans appeared in the mines, beside the city walls, on rooftops, and even beside dung heaps.


    Even Mezulash was struck by the players'' overwhelming enthusiasm for work, rushing to create many new tasks.


    And at this critical moment, Cassius pushed his advantage further, rolling out his long-prepared fully automated harvesting machine¡ª the faction position system.


    Using players to manage players, driving management costs into the negatives. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Currently, only three low-level positions were open: tax officer, clerk, and security officer.


    They were responsible for assisting in collecting taxes, recording and processing paperwork, and maintaining city security. Barto City would give them appropriate outfits and accommodations. Their only salary would be daily faction contributions, and the amount would depend on their performance.


    Even these low-level positions required an application standard of 3000 faction contributions, which most players had not even reached a tenth of that number.


    As a result, they could only sigh in exasperation and continue to work hard, dreaming of a better future.


    At this moment, the famous "Black Slave Team" was overly excited, having endured eighteen days of brutal torture to meet the requirement.


    [Faction Position System Activated!]


    [Your contribution value is 6457, you may choose the positions: [Tax Officer][Clerk][Security Officer]]


    [Note: The base daily salary for low-level positions is: 100 faction contributions]


    [You can earn additional faction contributions through commissions.]


    Mantou pointed at the prompt on the panel and said, "This system is awesome, you get a base salary of 100 faction contributions every day, looks like we won''t have to work random jobs anymore!"


    "Yeah, it''s finally over."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain nodded with lingering fear. If not for her strong professional ethic, she would not want to stay another moment in those dark and dirty mines.


    Natural War Maniac touched his bald head: "It''s indeed pretty good."


    Singo skimmed through the detailed job descriptions and summarized, spouting off, "My opinion, I mainly recommend the security officer and tax officer positions."


    "For security officers, you get an extra 150 contributions for every crime you catch. Heh, you know how high crime rates are in the player community."


    "As for tax officers, you earn contribution commissions based on the taxes collected. We might even swipe some gold coins; there''s a lot of room to maneuver here."


    "And for clerks? They handle 4000 words of paperwork daily and a base of 1500 contributions monthly."


    "Not even a dog would take that job."


    He reiterated his classic statement.


    Natural War Maniac, Mantou, and Summer Night Autumn Rain all proposed in unison: "Then let''s go with security officer."


    After all, tax officers drew too much hate.


    Singo flashed a sinister smile: "Heh, then I''ll be a tax officer. I''ll make the players realize that paying taxes is as inevitable as death."


    Mantou felt a chill down his spine, once again acknowledging that Singo was an absolute freak.


    Who knows how this future tax officer would torment the other players.


    [You have chosen the faction position¡ª [Sheriff]]


    [You may reside in the [Barto City Security Officer Dormitory]]


    [You need to go to the [Barto City Administration Hall] to collect your outfit and weapon.]


    Mantou and his team first checked out their pretty decent new dormitory, then headed to the hall to collect their armor and weapons.


    "Wow, this is so cool!"


    "The perks are amazing."


    Mantou marveled at his shiny new [Sheriff''s Armor][Sword of Order].


    It was far superior to the gear Singo had taken and sold earlier, a qualitative leap indeed. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Though Xin Dog is a bit of a jerk, he''s really competent," Mantou sighed.


    The armor was refined iron armor, hard to purchase for players. The weapon was a standardized iron longsword, with an exquisite crest engraved on the chest of the armor and the hilt of the sword: a golden vertical pupil surrounded by flames¡ª the symbol of the Ashen Nest.


    They even gained the right to use horses.


    Donning their new gear, wielding the longsword, and riding high on their horses.


    "In spring, the horses gallop briskly, taking in the sight of Barto''s flowers in one go."


    He recited proudly.


    Mantou felt elated, all previous gloom vanished, and even his gaze towards the players working hard had a hint of arrogance.


    The players in the square noticed Mantou, thinking he was an NPC at first, until they recognized the [I''m Going to Eat Mantou] identifier above his head.


    "Is that really Mantou?"


    "Where did they get these stylish outfits?"


    "Did he rob a bank?"


    "Where did he get the mount? I want to ride a horse too."


    "Seeing Mantou living so well is more painful than seeing myself living poorly."


    A dusty-faced player just out from the mines exclaimed: "Wow, that''s the Black Slave Team?"


    Mantou heard this and immediately widened his eyes, raising his sword to point at the player, shouting according to the security manual:


    "Citizen, I am responsible for maintaining public order here. Watch your words!"


    "Do not provoke the security officers!"


    ...


    "Pfft!"


    Watching the scene from the cave, Cassius burst out laughing, almost spewing flames, thinking Mantou sure knew how to put on a show.


    The Red Dragon exhaled a breath of sulfurous hot air.


    But it was good this way, having them as positive examples of working for the Ashen Nest, letting all players understand the importance of striving for faction contributions so Cassius could reap the benefits.


    "Heh heh..."


    Cassius let out an insidious laugh.


    After most players met the faction contribution requirements, he planned to initiate a "consumption upgrade."


    He would put items on par with the former [Mithril Shop] into the new [Diamond Treasure Shop], and ramp up the faction contribution requirements several times over, continuing to make them work for him for free.


    "Don''t worry, everyone."


    "There''s plenty of time ahead."


    In just over a month of closed beta, Cassius had already mastered the essence of harvesting players like crops.


    ```

 Chapter 9 The Adventure of the Magic Coin

    Outside the scramble in Barto City, players had even expanded to other regions of the Anzeta Great Wilderness. Some players already planned to head to the headquarters of Ashen Nest, the most dangerous and wealthiest place in adventurer''s eyes¡ªDragon Valley.In these five years, a crude road had already been laid between Dragon Valley and Barto City, called the "Bumpy Road" by the goblins. It made it easier for monster kin to come for support.


    And now, a group of players was marching along the Bumpy Road.


    They all came from a later renowned magic guild, [Magic Coin]. But for now, it was just an obscure little guild with only about twenty members. The president was [Charlotte], one of the few steadfast mage players.


    In this version where you couldn''t get Magic Scrolls, mages, with their annoying skill checks, had turned into the useless "Mage Descendants," while warlocks took up the banner of the magic-system profession, being known as the "true mage masters."


    Even within the [Magic Coin] guild, there were only a handful of players still sticking to the mage profession. Most had turned into warlocks.


    At this moment, five players, all elite members at level three, had come here.


    "President, are you sure we can get spells here?"


    The female player ID''d as "Sky Flying Witch" asked.


    She was a wild sorcerer, although a warlock profession, she was one of the sub-occupations most likely to sabotage teammates¡ªwild sorcerers'' innate magic came from the wild chaotic power lurking beneath the order of creation, causing their spells to often release untamed magic surges.


    Charlotte looked at the crude sheepskin map in his hand, pointing at a wobbly skull icon:


    "It should be here¡ªthe Tower of the Great Sage."


    "I spent eight gold coins to buy out the tavern stock for the ogre overseers, so this map shouldn''t be wrong. They seemed quite naive and honest."


    Vice President Mingyue, standing beside him, looked uneasy: "But I heard those ogres talk when they got drunk; their boss is also an ogre. Are you sure these big ogres...can be mages?"


    Charlotte recalled the ogres lying on the ground drinking, shouting "meat! meat! meat!", and his mouth involuntarily twitched:


    "Should...should be okay."


    He didn''t have much confidence either. Coming to Dragon Valley this time, he was prepared for returning empty-handed. After all, eight gold coins were still fairly easy for the whole guild to scrape together.


    "We at least have to try it."


    "To restore mage glory is my duty!"


    Determination shone in Charlotte''s gaze. He was the last hope for mage players.


    "President!"


    Mingyue felt deeply moved.


    [Magic Coin] was a guild formed by mage enthusiasts, although most of them had switched to warlocks, they still held faith in the mage masters.


    Soon, the team from [Magic Coin] saw the outline of Rock Fortress from afar.


    "Damn, it''s so big?"


    "This fortress looks pretty spectacular."


    Wyverns roared in the sky, great goblins patrolled back and forth outside the city walls, and from within the fortress came a fierce roar¡ªthe sound of Ashen Nest''s army training.


    After observing for some time, Charlotte concluded, "The fortress can''t be entered from the front. The officials probably won''t let us obtain spells so easily."


    "I think they discriminate against mage players."


    "Yeah, I think so too."


    Sky Flying Witch gritted her teeth in anger. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, Mingyue keenly noticed a huge rock on the hillside not far outside the fortress, it seemed to have a passage behind it. He pointed in that direction:


    "Captain, we can hide there and then sneak in."


    "Good idea."


    Charlotte praised.


    So, the five players from [Magic Coin] sneaked behind the huge rock.


    However, they didn''t know they had made the same mistake every adventurer makes. This rock had witnessed countless adventurer deaths, and they would be the next ones.


    "Click."


    Mingyue sensed something was wrong as soon as his foot stepped in.


    "Wait! Don''t come over!"


    The complex rune array beneath his foot lit up instantly, and a surge of magic washed over him. Mingyue saw flames reflected in his eyes.


    "Oh...shit."


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    With the sound of flames burning the air, Mingyue was engulfed by the guardian inscription''s blast, turning into a charred corpse, losing his first and precious life.


    Although Charlotte didn''t step into the rune array, his face was still blackened by the blast.


    "There''s an ambush. Be careful, everyone!"


    "Mingyue is dead, we can''t lose anyone else."


    He noticed another spell in the corner besides the guardian inscription, but he couldn''t identify its effect.


    Meanwhile, the great goblin guards on Rock Fortress had noticed the commotion. They casually approached while chatting, "Another bunch of dumb adventurers fell into the trap," "Guess how many this time," "How many do you think will die?"


    Charlotte watched the approaching great goblin guards and said to the group: "No, we need to leave now, or we might get wiped out here."


    "Everyone, use this passage. Someone cast Mage Armor on me, I temporarily can''t protect myself." Charlotte commanded.


    Sky Flying Witch quickly responded: "Oh, sure."


    "Mage Armor!"


    A magical aura appeared in her hand as she reached out to touch Charlotte''s body.


    However, the surrounding magic power suddenly became chaotic, wildly fluctuating.


    [Your casting triggered an untamed magic surge, creating an unknown magical effect!]


    "Bang!"


    A loud explosion sound rang.


    Charlotte was unexpectedly transformed into a docile and cute sheep by the random spell effect from the wild magic surge.


    "Baa¡«¡«"


    Even through the sheep''s bleat, one could sense Charlotte''s helpless despair.


    "Ah, sorry, triggered a wild surge¡­"


    Sky Flying Witch quickly bowed to apologize to the sheep, but seeing the president''s adorable appearance, she couldn''t hold back and laughed.


    "Forget it. Let''s retreat first."


    "If we stay here, the losses will be greater."


    Reminded a team member beside them.


    "Baa¡«¡«"


    The sheep-turned Charlotte also agreed with a bleat.


    So, Sky Flying Witch and the remaining two team members quickly crawled into the passage, preparing to escape through it.


    "Why are there more?"


    "What is this?"


    But someone triggered another spell, Web Spell, and got stuck in the thick, sticky web that shot out.


    "Rumble¡ª¡ª"


    A huge rock rolled down from the end of the passage, mercilessly crushing those who were trapped.


    "Baa..."


    Charlotte as a sheep let out a despairing bleat.


    "The officials must be targeting us. They''re too cruel. How could there be more traps here¡ª¡ª" Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    He silently roared in his mind.

 Chapter 10 Ramps Magic Shop

    Suddenly, Charlotte noticed a massive shadow appearing in the sky."Boom!"


    The Dragon Vein Ogre Mage landed with a crash!


    His colossal body, over six meters long, was draped in a robe stitched from various mage robes. The Magic Wand in his hand looked exceptionally delicate, and his face still wore those gold-framed glasses. There was a look of slight disappointment on his face.


    "Why is it you poor guys..."


    "Get lost! Don''t disturb me while I catch foreign adventurers."


    "Wasted another Third Tier Spell..."


    Ramp glanced at the sheep-turned Charlotte. Seeing that he was one of those "Starfallen," his eyebrows furrowed. He lightly swung his Magic Wand.


    "Dispel Magic!"


    A Magical Aura flew out from the Magic Wand, hitting Charlotte the sheep.


    "Bang!"


    Charlotte instantly transformed back into a human. He instinctively cast a Scout spell.


    [Dragon Vein Ogre Mage - Ramp]


    Affiliated Faction: [Ashen Nest]


    Basic Ability: ??? S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Challenge Level: ???


    Favorability: -10 (Mild Dislike)


    "This is truly a Senior Mage! I''ve finally found one!" Charlotte screamed wildly inside.


    He looked up at the gigantic ogre mage adorned with magical equipment, as if seeing the future of the mage occupation, his eyes sparkled with hope.


    "Please!"


    "Lord Ramp, I want to learn Spells!"


    Ramp gave him a disdainful look, snorted, and said, "Don''t try to use your inferior Spell to scan me. Do you think you can see through me with such petty tricks?"


    "A mage apprentice who knows nothing?"


    "Ridiculous!"


    Ramp, now possessing numerous spells, had become so arrogant that he''d forgotten his earlier days when he knew only the Fireball Technique.


    "I''m returning to the Mage Tower. Don''t waste my time again. The retainers of Ashen Nest should go in through the small gate directly. Don''t sneak around here, obstructing my business."


    "What bad luck."


    Ramp cursed and was about to cast Flight Magic to leave.


    Seeing his mage mentor and the guiding light of his career about to leave, Charlotte gritted his teeth and suddenly jumped up to hug Ramp''s thick leg.


    "Lord Ramp, please teach me Spells!"


    Charlotte shouted, hugging Ramp''s leg with an unwavering gaze of determination.


    At this moment, he was not only carrying the beliefs of his deceased teammates but also bearing the will to restore the mage''s glory!


    So he had to hold on to this thick leg tightly!


    "Damn human..."


    "Get off!"


    Ramp hurriedly shouted.


    His Flight Magic was already not very skilled, and he was being pulled off balance by Charlotte, wobbly falling to the ground.


    Ramp was furious, his face turning red: "How can you be so stupid, rude, and disgusting, human..."


    However, Charlotte just clung to his leg and firmly said, "Lord Ramp, please teach me Spells!"


    "Even if you kill me, I''ll come back again! You should know I''ll resurrect!"


    "Let go first."


    Even though Ramp had held a high position for years, managing Ashen Nest''s affairs and seen all sorts of people, he still found himself feeling a bit ridiculous in the face of this leg-clinging situation.


    The humans his master brought over were really something else, not just because of their resurrection ability but also their peculiar personalities.


    Charlotte finally let go and quickly said, "So, can you teach me Spells now?"


    Ramp deliberately adjusted his gold-framed glasses, his golden pupils squinting slightly, "It''s not impossible."


    He rubbed his fingers together.


    "But for these valuable knowledge, you need to pay a small amount of money and contribution."


    "I believe you understand what I mean."


    Charlotte''s face lit up with joy.


    [The personal shop of [Dragon Vein Ogre Mage - Ramp] is now open to you.]


    [You need 3000 faction contribution to unlock [Ramp''s Magic Shop]]


    Ramp''s Magic Shop:


    [Mage Hand Scroll] 10 Gold Coins


    [Light Spell Scroll] 10 Gold Coins


    [Shield Spell Scroll] 30 Gold Coins


    [Flying Scroll] 100 Gold Coins


    [Fireball Scroll] 100 Gold Coins


    [Fire Wall Scroll] 300 Gold Coins


    ...


    "This, this is..."


    Over a hundred colorful spell scrolls appeared before Charlotte, ranging from the lowest tier cantrip [Mage''s Hand] to the noble Fourth Tier Spell [Fire Wall Spell], dazzling him.


    Charlotte felt like he was in Heaven. Even faced with the daunting prices marked on the scrolls, he remained unafraid because he saw the future¡ª¡ª


    To restore the glory of the mage, I am duty-bound!


    Ramp watched Charlotte''s ecstatic expression, his face showing a hint of oddity, wondering if he had set the prices too low. Could there be room for an increase?


    No, I''ve already multiplied the market price several times over.


    "I''ll have to consult with my master on how to more efficiently squeeze these guys..."


    Ramp adjusted his gold-framed glasses, thinking to himself.


    ...


    That night, a hot topic appeared on the player forum.


    "Mage players finally see a rise! The third unscannable NPC, Mage career mentor [Dragon Vein Ogre Mage - Ramp] has appeared! A new location [Dragon Valley] is now open!"


    This post was naturally from the guild master of [Magic Coin], Charlotte.


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    "Mage? Not even a dog would choose that!"


    "Look at your pitiful cost performance. It''s not even as good as a sorcerer''s single spell. Sorcerers have innate spells, which are stronger than what you''d buy with Gold Coins. Running a mage requires an entire guild to support you, doesn''t it?"


    "I think Dragon Vein Sorcerers'' natural armor and elemental affinity with fire are better."


    Singo engaged in intense forum debates because he had been door-camped by an enemy recently and had to stay in the safest tax officer''s dormitory to avoid being killed first.


    "Just by the ability to learn unlimited spell lists, mages will definitely surpass sorcerers in the late game!"


    "Sorcerers become turrets in the late game. My mage master will still be invincible."


    "To restore the mage''s glory, we are duty-bound!"


    "Everyone, change your career!"


    "It''s just that Gold Coins are scarce for now. Wait till mid-game, and I''ll beat you so hard, Singo, you''ll end up like a dog."


    "Did you not see the price tags? The highest tier spell scroll is 300 Gold Coins, can''t afford it even if I sell myself..."


    "How much? Three hundred?"


    "I''m out, it''s a rich man''s occupation, commoners can''t play."


    "It''s not that commoners can''t afford to play as mages, it''s that sorcerers are more cost-effective."


    "Let''s form a group and do contribution tasks, everyone becoming Dragon Vein Sorcerers, wouldn''t that be wonderful?"


    As the discussion went on, the trend gradually shifted, and Charlotte stared at the screen grimly.


    "One day, I''ll make all of you class discriminators understand what a mage master is!"


    "Mage''s Hand!"


    With Charlotte''s motion, a transparent hand formed by magic appeared out of thin air - this was the cantrip scroll he bought with all his savings.


    "I can finally cast spells!"


    Charlotte was overwhelmed with tears, and the members of the [Magic Coin] guild behind him celebrated joyously.

 Chapter 11 The Grieving Swashbuckler

    As soon as Swashbuckler stepped into the most famous bar in Barto City, "Caroline''s Home," all the players began to laugh at him. Some shouted"Swashbuckler, you got killed again!"


    Swashbuckler didn''t reply. He said to the bartender, "Warm two cups of beer, and give me a grilled sausage."


    Then he handed over nine copper coins.


    The food and drinks sold at "Caroline''s Home" were the best way for players to replenish their energy, as certified by many occupation strategy players.


    The players then deliberately shouted louder, "You must have stolen someone''s stuff again!"


    Swashbuckler widened his eyes and said, "How can you slander someone''s innocence without any proof¡­"


    "What innocence? I saw you with my own eyes using Mage''s Hand to steal a Magic Ring from the Royal Guild in the mine the day before yesterday. You got blocked at the respawn point and killed seven or eight times."


    Swashbuckler''s face turned red, the veins on his forehead bulging as he argued, "Stealing equipment can''t be considered stealing¡­ stealing equipment!...


    Can the actions of a Wanderer be considered stealing?"


    He went on to say incomprehensible words, like "Mage Hand Sleight," "Trickster Thief Profession," "Thieves'' Tools Proficiency," causing everyone to burst into laughter.


    The air inside and outside the bar was filled with joy.


    Suddenly, Mantou, dressed in a Security Officer''s uniform, swaggered into the bar with a long sword carved with intricate emblems in his hand, which made many players envious.


    Swashbuckler got excited but didn''t know how to respond, so he just said


    "Ah! Mantou."


    "¡ªYou''re here?"


    During the eighteen days Mantou worked as a laborer, Swashbuckler had many encounters with him while sneaking around the mine, so he had a lot to say about the mine, the Great Goblin, the Ogre, blocking the door, and moving bricks¡­


    But he always felt as if something was holding him back, swirling in his mind and unable to come out.


    He thought that now Mantou had made it big, maybe he could get some gold coins or something by hanging out with him.


    "Yo, isn''t this Brother Lang!"


    "How have you been recently?"


    Mantou was very happy to see him, took off his helmet, and greeted him warmly.


    Swashbuckler shook his head in sorrow and sighed, "Not so good, the Royal Guild is really too much, all the things I worked hard for with my own hands were stolen by them."


    Mantou patted his chest heroically, "What did they steal from you? I''ll get it back for you!"


    "Robbery is a serious crime!"


    "It''s the Sheriff''s duty to punish all criminals, whether it''s robbery or theft!"


    When he said "theft," Mantou''s tone was intentionally heavier.


    Swashbuckler shivered immediately. He knew a sad, thick wall had formed between them.


    "Nothing, nothing... I already got it back."


    Swashbuckler mumbled.


    Mantou grabbed Swashbuckler and said heartily, "It''s all right, Brother Lang, if you feel wronged, just tell me!"


    "I, Mantou, will stand up for you!"


    As a fragile Trickster Thief, Swashbuckler couldn''t resist against Mantou, a warrior.


    Swashbuckler almost cried, "You don''t need to intervene, Mantou."


    "These things are not worth mentioning..."


    Someone nearby who enjoyed the drama shouted, "Swashbuckler has stolen something again and got chased all over, hahaha!"


    "Exactly, exactly."


    "Even stealing from Royal, tsk tsk."


    "Swashbuckler should be killed more often."


    Swashbuckler barely managed to break free and once again widened his eyes and loudly argued: "How can you always slander someone''s innocence without any proof..."


    "Haha, there''s even a video on the forum, you can go check it yourself!" said a player who had been stolen from by Swashbuckler, gritting his teeth.


    "Is what they say true?"


    "And... was it you who stole that healing potion in the mine back then?"


    A hint of a malicious smile appeared on Mantou''s face.


    Suddenly, Swashbuckler recalled the days working in the mine when he secretly took Mantou''s potion, not expecting the guy to remember for so long!


    Swashbuckler sensed danger, ready to escape.


    "No¡­" he said. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mantou, what are you going to do?"


    "Brother Lang, sorry, but I''m just doing my job," Mantou said with a heavy tone, but his hands never stopped moving.


    He pulled Swashbuckler back and skillfully snapped a carefully prepared silver bracelet onto his wrist.


    "Citizen, you are suspected of theft. I am ordered to arrest you!"


    A reward notification popped up on Mantou''s screen.


    [You have captured a criminal, earning an additional Faction Contribution: 150 points]


    "Hehe, that was easy."


    Mantou smiled with joy.


    Swashbuckler was stunned, his face showing a mix of joy and sorrow, his lips trembling but saying nothing.


    His face finally turned indignant as he shouted clearly


    "Mantou, you son of..."


    But his mouth was immediately stuffed with a towel.


    "Citizen, please do not try to provoke a Security Officer," said Mantou calmly.


    "Hahahaha!"


    The bar was again filled with joyous air.


    ...


    That night, Swashbuckler leaned against the cold wall of the Barto City Prison, bored, scrolling through the player forum. He still had three days of imprisonment before he could get out.


    Then he found a hotly discussed post.


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    "Mantou''s justice arrest of Swashbuckler [Video]"


    The comments below were filled with joy


    "First time liking Mantou this much."


    "Support Mantou!"


    "There are still good Mantous in the world!"


    "No laughing, just arrest him straight away!"


    As Swashbuckler scrolled through the comments, his face gradually turned red and he gnashed his teeth:


    "Hmph, damn Mantou..."


    Suddenly, Swashbuckler stumbled upon Singo''s strategy post, introducing the homeland of the Tieflings, the city full of blood and sin¡ªNorthwind Castle.


    "I, Swashbuckler, am a cunning hero in chaotic times, how could I be confined in this small Barto City?"


    He looked at the cold, hard prison bars, and suddenly made up his mind.


    ...


    The next day, the prison guards found the cell door pried open, and it was empty inside, leaving only a small line of writing:


    "A golden fish is not meant for a small pond, it turns into a dragon when it meets the storm."


    The handwriting was messy, but bold.


    However, the guards didn''t understand it, just thinking it was a stain and wiped it off.


    Meanwhile, a new hot post appeared on the player forum:


    "How could a small Barto City confine me, Swashbuckler! Brother Lang''s Northwind Castle adventure!"


    "Damn, Swashbuckler left the main city?"


    "Awesome, Brother Lang!"


    "Don''t worry, with Swashbuckler''s nature, he''ll get himself killed and respawn back soon."


    "Good news, after Swashbuckler left, Barto City''s crime rate significantly dropped."


    "Everyone disperse, let''s block him at the respawn point later."


    While the players were heatedly discussing, Swashbuckler was running madly on the edge of Stormy Ridge, with several ugly Hill Giants chasing after him.


    "What the hell is this¡ª¡ª" Swashbuckler wailed, activating his Rogue''s sprint, his legs almost blurring.


    (Note: Not an ensemble cast! Not an ensemble cast! The author had a brain freeze when writing on launch and got carried away, too many players in the beginning, but it will focus on the protagonist later!)

 Chapter 12 Arcane Priory (I)

    "The players are already starting to expand their territories...""Not only in Dragon Valley and Northwind Castle but also in South cities like Cathis City and Kriburg, players'' traces have been appearing."


    "That''s impressive..."


    Cassius browsed the player forums and Ramp''s Magic Mirror, silently marveling.


    Yes, besides the Swashbuckler, some players had already left Barto City and ventured into unknown regions.


    This was no easy feat. They had to break through the heavy obstruction of monsters at Stormy Ridge''s periphery. Besides Ashen Nest, there were also Frost Giants, Hill Giants, scattered Orc resistance tribes. Although pressured to the edge of the ridge, these forces still retained some strength.


    Moreover, these traveling players couldn''t die easily. Once dead, they would be sent back to Barto City, nullifying all their efforts.


    "Huh? What''s that sound?"


    Cassius''s frilled, active dragon ears twitched and rotated, tracking the sound¡ªRed Dragon hearing was far sharper than a human''s, able to discern critical sounds and filter out background noise, focusing on noteworthy sounds.


    "Ding¡ª"


    A sound came from a corner of the cave.


    The "Arcane Priory Medal" was emitting a magical aura, a magic image appearing.


    "The Anzeta Branch cordially invites you to join!"


    "Gathering Time: Three days later"


    "Location: Stratholme Fortress"


    "Teleport Coordinates: 1345.8375.527"


    The Arcane Priory, a famed wizard organization in later years, was founded by the renowned legendary Archmage Trafalgar.


    Members gathered regularly to share spell knowledge, exchange research findings, and sometimes seek help to eradicate evil. This seemed to be the Anzeta Branch''s first meeting.


    "Quite a few notable figures from Anzeta would attend this branch meeting."


    "I must join in the fun¡ª"


    With this thought, Cassius summoned the Magic Mirror.


    "Ramp, come here immediately."


    Ramp''s ugly face appeared on the image, seemingly engrossed in counting his gold coins, showing the profound impact of Red Dragon Bloodline''s greed on him.


    "One hundred and one, one hundred and two, one hundred and three..."


    The coins clinked crisply as they fell.


    Only when Cassius called him impatiently for the second time did he wake, panicking


    "Ah, sorry, master, I''ll be right there."


    In no time, Ramp lumbered down from the sky, landing heavily before Cassius.


    The ogre mage muttered, "Master, these ''Starfallen'' you brought are so easy to deceive. I sell magic scrolls at three to four times the market price, yet they still rush to buy from me. Too bad these guys are dirt poor, their pockets hardly jingling. If everyone were this foolish, I wouldn''t need to rob adventurers."


    "Master, should I raise the prices a bit to earn you more gold coins..."


    Cassius snorted out a puff of white smoke, "Ramp, you must understand the concept of long-term gains. Don''t fish with a dry pond."


    "The price of our goods should vary with their spending capacity. Have someone regularly check their assets. Always set the price so that they barely have any money left but aren''t desperate enough to not survive. Isn''t that the way?"


    Ramp pondered momentarily, clapping with approval, "Master, your wisdom is admirable. I''ll have my subordinates prepare."


    Content, Cassius nodded.


    This Ramp was getting the hang of squeezing the players dry. Truly commendable.


    "But this time, I called you over not for the Starfallen matter."


    "Come, take a look at this¡ª"


    Ramp looked toward the corner of the cave, spotting the semi-transparent magical image.


    "The Arcane Priory?"


    "That''s right, interested in witnessing it?" Cassius asked with a smile.


    Ramp''s hideous, grotesque face immediately showed a trace of reminiscence and gratitude.


    "Of course, master..."


    Previously ignorant and not knowing what happened, he now realized he had mysteriously grown smarter.


    As the Butler of Ashen Nest, Ramp had long occupied a high position and extensively researched spells. He had his Mage Tower and understood what had happened back then. He even managed to further modify the "Ring of Wisdom''s Study."


    Everything seemed orchestrated by the God of Fate. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    If that youthful, energetic mage apprentice hadn''t gone wandering, and if Ramp hadn''t knocked him out and eaten him, Ramp might still be an ordinary, muddle-headed ogre.


    ¡ªlike all ogres, only thinking about eating and sleeping, he would have no qualification to be part of the great plan of the Red Dragon.


    But this experience changed his life, or rather, his "ogre life."


    "Shape-shifting Spell!"


    The enormous Red Dragon transformed into a black-haired, golden-eyed, noble young aristocrat, this time without any draconic features.


    "Still feels a bit restrained."


    Feeling his immense strength constrained by a human form, Cassius flexed his wrists.


    He observed Ramp''s massive frame, his brow slightly furrowing, "The Arcane Priory should be a good-alignment gathering. This form of yours might not be suitable."


    "Yes, master."


    Ramp quickly waved his magic wand, constructing a spell prototype through the Magic Web, transforming into a human.


    "Shape-shifting Spell!"


    But the human form was over two meters tall, fat, and stout, with bloated features, looking utterly horrendous. He resembled an ogre in human skin¡ªwhich was actually the truth.


    "Master, is this acceptable?"


    Cassius looked at Ramp with some speechlessness.


    "Can''t you modify it a bit... This shape is far from being a normal human."


    "It might even be better to take an ogre along."


    But Cassius forgot that an ogre couldn''t cast spells like a Magician "artist" by intuition and consciousness but needed the meticulous construction of a mage.


    Ramp scratched his head, embarrassed, "Sorry, master. My spell prototype parameters weren''t adjusted well. It might take seven to eight days to perfect it."


    "Seven to eight days?"


    "The Arcane Priory meeting will be over by then."


    This won''t do...


    Cassius thought for a moment.


    "Transform into a Steel Golem. At least it will look relatively normal. A noble spellcaster with a constructed creature guardian should be quite normal."


    "Yes, master."


    Ramp cast the Shape-shifting Spell again, this time successfully transforming into a three-meter-tall, fully metallic giant statue smoothly.


    Though still ugly, at least no one would suspect him of being any sort of chaotic evil creature. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Get me a cloak."


    Ramp retrieved a long cloak imbued with "anti-spying" magic from his collection and draped it over Cassius.


    Cassius toyed with the Mithril Necklace in his hand, stroking the pendant shaped like a door.


    "Dimension Door."


    With the coordinates confirmed, space gradually distorted, and a rift opened before Cassius.

 Chapter 13 Arcane Priory (II)

    Boske Duchy, Stratholme Fortress.A door suddenly appeared in the corner of the city wall, invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.


    This was the "Trafalgar Deluxe Mansion Spell," a marvelously intricate Seventh Tier Spell, leading to a luxurious mansion in an other-dimensional space that existed for the duration of the spell.


    Organizers of the Arcane Priory from various regions, if authorized by this Legendary Mage, could receive the "Ring of the Sage," allowing them to periodically cast this spell to organize the Arcane Priory.


    "Is it here..."


    Soon, a man appeared, wearing a robe with a medal on his chest. With the magical aura of the medal flickering slightly, he entered directly through the non-existent door and vanished.


    After him, more people entered one after another. They were both male and female, mostly dressed in luxurious robes, sparkling with magical auras, identifying them as spellcasters.


    Inside, on the luxurious red carpet, constructed beings looking like human women but moving very mechanically were asking questions and taking notes:


    "Please provide a name, as your identity code within the Arcane Priory."


    A tall noblewoman contemplated for a moment before saying, "Hmm... call me ''Tulip.''"


    "Welcome to the Arcane Priory, Lord Tulip."


    "Seeker."


    "Welcome to the Arcane Priory, Lord Seeker."


    "Grey Hair." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Blue Eyes."


    "Elf''s Song."


    ...


    In just a moment, over thirty people had gathered here, mostly human nobles, with some elves and half-elves, and even some individuals with elemental bloodlines.


    "So many spellcasters in Anzeta?"


    "Unbelievable."


    "A Legendary Mage indeed. This deluxe mansion spell is simply a work of art..."


    "Incredible."


    "Where is the organizer of this Arcane Priory meeting?"


    "No idea, I am also..."


    ...


    "It should be here."


    A Dimension Door appeared by the city wall. Cassius and Ramp, disguised as a Steel Golem, entered one after the other.


    As Cassius entered, his striking black hair and golden eyes, combined with his extraordinary charisma, drew much attention, particularly from the women.


    The noblewoman with the alias "Tulip" couldn''t help but remark to her companion:


    "What a charming fellow. Perhaps only someone like him deserves me, not those buffoons."


    "And... he comes from a nobler bloodline."


    "Pleasure to meet you."


    She approached to chat, lifting her skirt in a curtsy, and Cassius responded with a polite smile.


    "Good day, beautiful lady."


    A mage behind them couldn''t help but grumble:


    "Another one of those magicians, using their extraordinary charm to deceive the Magic Web, spellcasters among barbarians."


    "Yes, they will never understand spells, never grasp the workings of the Magic Web."


    "Merely bending and playing with it like children."


    Some others were curious about Ramp behind Cassius.


    "What is that follower of his?"


    "It appears to be... a Steel Golem."


    "A Steel Golem?"


    "I heard that the Southern Fadlan Empire''s palace has such constructs, crafted from heavy metals and fused with rare tinctures and mixtures, making them indestructible."


    "A golem of this size must be very expensive."


    "Tsk tsk, what an enviable fellow."


    "Tulip" listened to their gossip, feeling slightly displeased. She deliberately said, "I trust with your status, you wouldn''t mind such envious remarks."


    Cassius merely smiled, saying, "Getting used to others'' envy is a required lesson for every Talented One."


    "Wouldn''t you agree, ''Tulip''?"


    He easily discerned that the noblewoman was also a magician, though of low strength, barely at level 2, likely knowing only simple tricks.


    "Of course."


    The noblewoman smiled sweetly, clearly pleased.


    Considering Anzeta''s remote and impoverished location in the north, Cassius glanced around and saw no high-level professionals, mostly noble offspring with some magic knowledge.


    The strongest among them was a man with the alias "Black Hawk," whose mage occupational level showed as level 8 on the panel, roughly equivalent to the current Ramp.


    "You haven''t registered an alias yet? I''ll take you there."


    "Alright, thank you."


    The noblewoman led Cassius to the front of the hall.


    The human-like constructed being followed its usual process by asking: "Please provide a name, as your identity code within the Arcane Priory."


    Cassius pondered briefly.


    "Call me ''Remnant Flame.''"


    "Lord Remnant Flame, welcome to the Arcane Priory." The construct''s voice was cold.


    It was said to be a small toy made by Trafalgar in his youth, named "Steel Beauty" for its human-female-like appearance and stiff, mechanical movements.


    There was room for improvement, but the Legendary Archmage had become accustomed to it and finalized the design.


    Although created casually, it was equipped with devices capable of casting Fourth Tier Spells, making it a rare artifact.


    In the spacious, luxuriously decorated hall was a large round table, and the attendees sat around it.


    The exquisite dome above depicted many great arcane miracles in frescoes, leaving everyone in awe.


    "As everyone is here..."


    "Let the meeting begin." Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    "I am the organizer of this Arcane Priory meeting. You may call me ''Venus.''"


    A clear voice echoed.


    Everyone turned to the source of the voice¡ªa young woman who appeared to be in her twenties.


    Her slender dress outlined her graceful figure, with the robe''s surface glittering like star-dust.


    Long silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, with long, slightly curled eyelashes below which were clear and bright blue-gray eyes, containing both goodwill and a hint of pride.


    While everyone marveled at her appearance, Cassius fell into thought.


    "It''s her..."


    "''Silver Star'' Olivia, a young Silver Dragon Mage, I didn''t expect her to be one of the organizers of the Arcane Priory."


    She was a renowned figure, with her Silver Dragon Clan "Melwood" being a significant force in Anzeta''s fight against the demon scourge in later years.


    It was said that an ancient dragon-stage Silver Dragon Elder existed within it, though in deep slumber and indifferent to worldly affairs.


    [Silver Star-Olivia (Human Form)]


    Occupational Level: 11 Mage


    "An eleventh-level mage..."


    This level didn''t seem high but already marked a kingdom-level master capable of casting Sixth Tier Spells, which was the upper limit for most players.


    In a magic-poor area like Anzeta, an eleventh-level mage could even be respectfully called an "Archmage."

 Chapter 14 Arcane Priory (III)

    With the seating of "Venus," the gathering began.The "Seeker" spoke first:


    "Everyone, I believe you all have a considerable understanding of the Magic Web''s operation..."


    "Spellcasters need to connect to the primordial magic through specific bridges, but these primordial energies..."


    Immediately, someone countered.


    "No, no, no, it is not like that at all!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What about the priest then?"


    "Didn''t your mentor teach you? Arcane Magic and Divine Magic are different systems."


    "I graduated from the Fadlan Court Magic Academy; how could I not understand these things!"


    "Hmph, it''s laughable."


    This group of mages, none of whom had even reached the Tenth Level, discussed everything from the operation of spell prototypes to the essence of the Magic Web, even touching upon deities, until the debate transformed into a contest of backgrounds and experiences.


    They argued fiercely, seemingly eager to showcase their knowledge and wisdom to gain the others'' recognition at this gathering.


    Ms. "Tulip," sitting next to Cassius, didn''t understand and merely sneered:


    "Show-offs."


    However, Ramp, standing behind, couldn''t resist quietly using the Text Transmission Spell to say: "Full of errors!"


    "These humans are truly like a half-full bottle, wobbling around."


    He even used a proverb Cassius had once taught him; if his identity couldn''t be exposed, he would have joined the chaotic debate long ago.


    "It seems competition among mages is quite fierce." Cassius observed the red-faced mages and mused to himself.


    Ms. "Venus" also continually expressed her views, though she remained much calmer, and her opinions were more profound yet less frequent.


    "Quite interesting."


    As a magician, Cassius relied more on his will and perception to cast spells and wasn''t deeply knowledgeable about complex theoretical knowledge. He could only listen quietly, trying to glean some useful information.


    Despite the presence of much pretentious boasting, he still felt he had gained a lot.


    However, these individuals were not truly profound scholars; after only a morning of debate, they had little left to say and had to move on to the next segment¡ªitem exchange.


    When this part arrived, Cassius''s eyes lit up instantly.


    He was not a player type who worked tirelessly day and night only to end up poor; instead, he was the lord of the entire Stormy Ridge.


    Every day, kobolds and goblins brought gold from underground mining into his spacious cavern in a steady stream, while players willingly handed over their scarce gold coins to him in exchange for so-called "Divine Gear."


    A mage code-named "Gold Digger" first placed a matte black pearl on the table.


    "Mana Regeneration Pearl, enabling the holder to cast one additional Fifth Tier spell or lower daily, starting at 200 gold coins."


    "210 gold coins."


    The mage known as "Grey Hawk" responded with a voice that was indifferent and calm.


    After checking the panel to confirm it was a genuine [Rare] item with all descriptions accurate, Cassius declared straightforwardly: "300 gold coins."


    "Grey Hawk" glanced at him but remained silent.


    A person, who had been silent all along and code-named "Heart Whisperer," pulled a thick, pungent-smelling book from his black robe and placed it on the table, suddenly capturing everyone''s attention.


    "This book is an heirloom from my ancestors. I don''t have the capability to use it, so I don''t know its effects. I hope to sell it for a good price here..."


    Cassius, watching the book, narrowed his eyes slightly.


    He could even feel that Ramp, connected to his bloodline, had a somewhat faster heartbeat.


    [**Alchemy Principle**]


    Quality: Rare


    This faded, hefty book with a pungent smell is a treasured heirloom passed down through the Terfa Family for centuries.


    The metallic fittings on the book are made from a solid intermediary substance capable of transmuting between copper, iron, lead, silver, and gold. When discovered, this book contained the following spells: Acceleration Spell, Projection Spell, Petrification Spell, Gaseous Form, Magic-infused Weapon, and Miraculous Craftsmanship. It could be used both as a spellbook and as a magic artifact.


    "Good stuff... buy it!"


    Preparing for a lavish purchase, though the Red Dragon''s greedy nature still pained him a bit.


    He shouted the price: "500 gold coins."


    For minor nobles, this amount of money was quite substantial, yet for heirs of major families, it was merely a slight discomfort, still easily affordable.


    The "Seeker" also unhesitatingly raised the bid: "700 gold coins."


    "800 gold coins."


    "Grey Hawk" joined in as well: "850 gold coins."


    However, Cassius did not hesitate and continued to bid: "1000 gold coins."


    "Heart Whisperer" hadn''t expected that something dug out from his family''s tomb could be worth so much. This nearly equaled an annual income of a baronial territory, with which he could already indulge in lavish pleasures in the prosperous south. This made him visibly excited.


    "He''s yours, sir."


    He hastily said, afraid the other party might regret it.


    Cassius unhurriedly handed the book to Ramp, who had transformed into a Steel Golem behind him.


    After his aggressive bidding, there was no further movement, only soft murmurs of discussion.


    "Where is he from?"


    "That was a thousand gold coins..."


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    "Is he a duke''s offspring, capable of casually offering a thousand gold coins?"


    "Probably an heir from a magician family or a merchant from Victoria Port..."


    ...


    The subsequent items were various bizarre and peculiar pieces of magic equipment, quite amusing but somewhat "chicken ribs" to Cassius''s eyes.


    Thus, he did not bid again but watched with considerable interest.


    "Tentacle Scepter: When holding the scepter, three fleshy tentacles can extend from the tip."


    "Can these tentacles be controlled?"


    "You can control the tentacles to attack targets, but¡­ you cannot control their actions and strength."


    "Then forget it, sounds uninteresting."


    The seller "Black Rock" inexplicably wiped a cold sweat, and except for the woman with unclear intentions earlier, no one made an offer.


    "Black Rock" even specifically glanced at the wealthy Cassius, but the latter merely smiled without speaking.


    He looked at "Venus." Was it his imagination, or were her cheeks slightly reddened? Nonetheless, she stayed purposely silent.


    Disillusioned, he took away his precious wand, quietly cursing his bad luck.


    "Withering Staff: Can inflict a necrosis effect on the target."


    "Bat Cape: Grasping the edges of the cape can transform oneself into a bat."


    "Floating Horseshoes: Equipping a horse with four of these allows it to hover one foot above the ground."


    "Why not just use the Levitation Skill?"


    "Mind Whip: In the hands of a Heart Snatching Demon, this weapon can strip a creature''s survival will and devour its mind as if tearing off its flesh."


    "And in the hands of an ordinary person?"


    Someone questioned.


    The mage, who had fervently praised the item earlier, immediately fell silent and awkwardly rubbed his nose:


    "Like any ordinary whip."

 Chapter 15 Arcane Priory (IV)

    At the auction appeared many novel items, though their functions were not very powerful, their uses were certainly unique, making Cassius feel quite eye-opening.But soon he also wanted to earn some extra money for himself.


    So under Cassius''s orders, the "Steel Golem" pulled out one scale after another from the dimensional bag.


    "What is this?"


    "There seems to be a remnant of lightning elements on it, reacting very strongly."


    "Is this a dragon scale?"


    Everyone observed closely, but no one could discern its origin, and Cassius just smiled without saying anything.


    "It''s a scale from a Bluefoot Dragon-snake."


    Lady Venus said in a determined tone.


    "Armor made from the scales of this monster has the effect of protecting against lightning, and these scales still have residual elements, their age should not exceed ten years. In the hands of some masters, they can even be made into magic artifacts capable of releasing shaping spells like chain lightning and lightning bolt."


    Only then did Cassius speak: "Your extensive knowledge sincerely impresses me."


    Lady Venus smiled slightly, appearing somewhat proud.


    "However... please wait a moment."


    The "Steel Golem" at its waist was actually tied with several dimensional bags, it emptied them one by one, revealing that they were all filled with Bluefoot Dragon-snake scales.


    "So many?"


    "Heavens, how much armor can this make."


    "This must have killed one Bluefoot Dragon-snake, perhaps even more than one."


    As the crowd buzzed with discussion, Cassius stated a number:


    "These, a total of two thousand gold coins."


    For a moment, the crowd fell silent, no one could take out so many gold coins at once.


    After a moment of hesitation, the Grey Hawk said: "Five hundred gold coins, I want a quarter of them."


    The "Seeker" followed up by saying: "The same for me."


    And so, half of Cassius''s scales that had piled up for years were sold for a thousand gold coins, though he did make a little trick.


    These scales had been accumulating in the nest for years, he was very familiar with them, allowing him to determine their location with a spell ability of the dragonkin talent, "Item Location," with a range of several kilometers.


    As he had just entered, he noticed that the Grey Hawk''s robe was faintly displaying a medal at the chest, showing an eagle and a sword.


    "I hope you store them well in your vault..."


    "When the time comes¡ª"


    "I will come to find you..."


    Cassius looked at the buyer with kind eyes, while the other party, indifferent, just assumed he was satisfied with the transaction.


    The item trading session soon ended.


    Besides sharing spell knowledge, exchanging research results, and auctioning items, the Arcane Priory sometimes sought help to eradicate evil, like the current call for action from the Grey Hawk.


    "Ashen Nest, you may not have heard this name, but this evil power has expanded over the entire Stormy Ridge and is threatening the surrounding countries, gathering ogres, wyverns, chimeras, those vicious and terrifying monsters all in one place..."


    "Ashen Nest?"


    "I think some nearby adventurers mentioned it."


    "That Land of Death?"


    "Their leader seems to be a Red Dragon."


    The Grey Hawk said through gritted teeth: "That''s right! Their leader is indeed a ferocious Red Dragon, those shameful reptiles."


    "Giant dragons, these creatures are born with immensely powerful strength, yet they continue to try to take everything from us."


    "Their desire is endless, they greedily crave more, attempting to seize all the treasures of the world, and people like us who stand for justice should step up¡ª"


    Hearing this, Olivia frowned slightly, but said nothing more.


    It was Cassius who timely interrupted: "Lord Grey Hawk, you are somewhat overgeneralizing. Aren''t there Gold Dragons and Silver Dragons among giant dragons who are aligned with righteousness?"


    "These noble creatures deserve the word justice far more than mortals."


    "Indeed so."


    Olivia subconsciously nodded slightly.


    But she quickly realized her inappropriate words and noticed Cassius''s smiling gaze. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    She gave Cassius a deep look and remained silent.


    "The goodwill of giant dragons..."


    Cassius thought to himself, this is the contradiction of these metal dragons.


    On one hand, their lives are immensely long, believing themselves far more noble than other creatures, just like most dragons, hence they will never view other creatures from an equal perspective.


    But at the same time, these metal dragons are "kind," willing to help weaker beings and promote their own sense of justice, making such behavior more akin to the charity of a pet.


    Though interrupted, the Grey Hawk was somewhat displeased but continued: "Now dukes Rackman, Boske, and Notte are organizing allied forces, preparing to combine and eradicate the evil on this land, attacking Ashen Nest."


    "However... the allied forces still lack some spellcasters, if any present are willing to fight for Anzeta''s order and peace, you can contact me. The family can provide sufficient rewards to those who step forward, at least the offer will definitely be satisfying."


    "But that so-called Ashen Nest hasn''t attacked you yet, has it?"


    "So why would you... initiate a war?"


    Olivia asked softly.


    Silver Dragons do not like war, they hate injustice and cruelty, yet unlike Gold Dragons, they do not yearn to be the enemies of evil or villainy. Compared to punishing or eradicating wrongdoers, Silver Dragons are more concerned with protecting the innocent and healing their wounds.


    Seeing the highest-ranking person speak, the Grey Hawk quickly replied: "Lady Venus, that is a Red Dragon, you can expect the worst from it."


    "Its claws and flames can displace us at any moment, it can abduct our wives and daughters, destroy our homes, and the only thing we can do... is to strike first."


    "Clap, clap, clap!"


    In the spacious hall, applause rang out.


    ¡ªIt came from Cassius.


    "Well said, Lord Grey Hawk, this Red Dragon indeed threatens the peace and order of Anzeta. In my homeland, there is a saying: with great power comes great responsibility." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We, as the darlings of the world, indeed have the responsibility to uphold justice and eradicate these violent evildoers. I believe everyone present feels the same way."


    "I, and the faction I represent, are willing to contribute to the allied forces'' campaign."


    Cassius''s words were firm and powerful.


    Seeing the well-resourced and mysterious Cassius offering strong support, the Grey Hawk''s expression immediately brightened, completely forgetting the earlier displeasure, and stepped forward to flatter:


    "Lord Remnant Fire, to be willing to fight for justice against a giant dragon, I truly respect you."


    Cassius waved his hand, saying: "It''s nothing, we are all on the path of pursuing justice, this is what we should do."


    "Precisely so."


    Applause sounded around them.


    The two shook hands warmly, their smiles friendly, yet each held secret motives, both viewing the other as a fool, though Cassius had the upper hand with more information.

 Chapter 16 Arcane Priory (5)

    The meeting concluded with the support of Cassius, representing the "Knights of Justice."Lord Remnant Flame and Grey Hawk had a cordial and friendly conversation, during which both sides fully exchanged opinions and enhanced mutual understanding. Lord Remnant Flame expressed serious concern for the safety of the people of Northwind Castle and was willing to provide as much humanitarian aid as possible.


    They agreed to engage in related activities during the second Arcane Priory in a few months.


    The spellcasters left one after another, either using some teleportation tools, walking on foot, or having already prepared transportation methods¡ªsuch as a floating horse, though the floating horseshoes had not sold yet.


    Stratholme Fortress was one of the most prosperous cities in Anzeta and the capital of Boske Duchy. Naturally, it was bustling with people and traffic, and the streets even occasionally saw some non-human races.


    Moreover, the spellcasters did not attract much attention and quickly blended into the crowd, disappearing from sight.


    After leaving the area around the "Trafalgar Deluxe Mansion Spell," Cassius did not immediately leave. Instead, he waited quietly in a city alley.


    "Three, two, one."


    He counted the numbers quietly.


    The space in front of Cassius suddenly distorted, and a spatial rift appeared before him.


    First, long, slender, fair legs appeared, followed by a body wrapped in a silver-white long dress.


    The dress had a high slit that reached the root of her thigh, revealing magical tattoos on the smooth skin beneath.


    Seeing the person he had anticipated arriving, Cassius gave a polite smile:


    "Long time no see, Miss Venus."


    Olivia, puzzled, replied, "But we just saw each other."


    Still smiling, Cassius switched to bard mode, "In my homeland, there''s a saying: A day apart feels like three years. Your beauty makes me..."


    Hearing the flattery, Olivia''s cheeks flushed slightly but she quickly regained her composure and interrupted:


    "Lord Remnant Flame, don''t try to distract me with these flowery words. I didn''t come here to listen to your sweet talk. How did you discover my identity?"


    Cassius feigned ignorance, "Which identity are you referring to?"


    "I''m talking about... the Silver Dragon identity."


    Her tone had a hint of gnashing teeth but she maintained basic etiquette.


    Cassius then pretended to "suddenly realize" and replied:


    "Oh, you mean the Silver Dragon identity..."


    "That''s quite simple."


    "Who wouldn''t know Olivia, the most outstanding youth of the Melwood Clan''s younger generation, nicknamed the ''Silver Star''?"


    "She was able to cast the ''Crown of Stars'' in her youth and single-handedly thwart a Dragon Shaman Cult''s plot."


    His tone paused.


    Olivia''s delicate face immediately showed a look of surprise. She had thought it was a flaw in her shape-shifting spell but didn''t expect him to know so much about her, including her real name and clan, even detailing her feats.


    Cassius continued, "Besides, your demeanor and manner of speaking are too much like a young Silver Dragon inexperienced in the world. You are not good at hiding your thoughts."


    "Who exactly are you?"


    "How do you know these things?"


    Olivia persistently asked.


    Cassius, unhurriedly, responded, "I am under no obligation to answer you, Miss Olivia. You only need to know my codename is ''Remnant Flame.''"


    He then changed his tone, adding a hint of playfulness.


    "Moreover... Pardon me for saying this, but while I may not be your equal in spells, my skill in disguise far surpasses yours."


    "You¡ª"


    Olivia bit her silver teeth gently.


    She quickly realized he wasn''t wrong; members of the Arcane Priory were not obligated to reveal their true identities. However, this feeling of being led by the nose made her inwardly frustrated.


    Cassius smiled and said, "Miss Olivia, see you at the next Arcane Priory."


    After finishing, he lightly touched the pendant on his chest, opening a dimension door, and stepped into the spatial rift along with the "Steel Golem" behind him.


    "Wait a minute..."


    Olivia stood at her original spot, stamping her feet in anger and her face slightly red, only able to watch the spatial rift slowly close.


    But soon, she also noticed some subtle details, such as when Lord Remnant Flame left, the faintly visible golden scales on the back of his neck.


    She proudly muttered to herself:


    "You''re not so good at disguising, after all..."


    "At least your shape-shifting spell is riddled with flaws from my perspective, Remnant Flame, or should I say, Lord Gold Dragon."


    Combining Remnant Flame''s rebuke of Black Hawk when mentioning gold and silver dragons, his uncompromising attitude toward evil forces, and the "accidental" revealing of golden scales,


    this Silver Dragon Mage naturally concluded that she had uncovered Lord Remnant Flame''s true identity¡ªa purebred Gold Dragon.


    She softly muttered:


    "Arrogant, self-important, and clever-clever guy."


    "I will find out your name." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hmph... I''ll ask Grandpa. There aren''t many gold dragons in Anzeta; they don''t like the environment here."


    This Silver Dragon Mage never had a good impression of Gold Dragons. In her memory, as the naturally strongest among the Metal Dragons, these Gold Dragons always held a high and mighty attitude, looking down on others and trying to lead everything, often acting as self-appointed enforcers of "justice."


    Now, Olivia''s stereotypical view of Gold Dragons deepened, adding "smug" and "flippant" to her negative labels.


    However, Olivia did not realize that everything she saw was only what Cassius wanted her to see.


    ...


    Cassius stepped out of the dimension door, returning to his warm cavern, eagerly releasing his restraints and reverting to his Red Dragon form.


    Ramp followed closely behind, transforming back into his large Dragon Vein Ogre form.


    Cassius couldn''t help but exhale a breath of sulfur-scented hot air:


    "That Silver Dragon was pretty easy to fool. It seems her high intelligence is entirely focused on studying spells."


    "Let''s see if we can trick her out of that Crown of Stars."


    Dealing with good alignment people indeed felt more comfortable. Although there were still conflicts of interest, the other party''s actions didn''t involve deliberate scheming.


    Ramp, excitedly, pulled out a book from the dimensional bag titled [Alchemy Principle].


    "Master, this is great! That human doesn''t recognize value; we''ve struck it rich."


    This book not only served as a spellbook for several spells but also functioned as a magic artifact, assisting in synchronizing magic power.


    Cassius said, "Since we''ve spent the gold coins, you should learn these spells. I''m particularly interested in the Acceleration Spell. Demonstrate it to me as soon as possible."


    Ramp quickly responded, "Yes, Master."


    Magicians could learn spells, but they couldn''t rely on the runes from a spell scroll to do so. They had to understand the workings of the spell and then cast based on intuition.


    For players, the success rate for this kind of learning was minuscule. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire


    But at least Cassius had already learned the "Fire Wall Spell" through Ramp''s multiple demonstrations, as he was naturally suited for fire-shaping spells.

 Chapter 17 Second Meeting

    Singo, Mantou, Natural War Maniac, and Summer Night Autumn Rain gathered once again in the plaza. They had shed their nickname "Black Slave Team" and even caused resentment among some players.The Security Officer wasn''t too bad, as he only detained illegal and criminal activities, effectively preventing rookies from getting robbed blind by senior thieves while maintaining basic order in Barto City. However, Singo, the Tax Officer, was a different story.


    During his tenure, Singo worked diligently, often offering suggestions for various taxes such as property tax, income tax, and guild tax, many of which were adopted.


    These recommendations significantly increased Barto City''s financial revenue, earning him a substantial share and the glamorous nickname "Xin Papi."


    Particularly the guild tax, which required guilds to pay a higher proportion of taxes on their collective income. This made each guild bitterly hate him, with some even waiting to ambush him at the gates.


    Mantou, dressed in his Security Officer uniform, eyed Singo: "Damn, with all the trouble you''ve stirred up recently, you''re brave enough to show up in the plaza. Aren''t you afraid of getting assassinated?"


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head and chuckled, "Didn''t the guild leader of Royalty threaten to paint you on the city walls?"


    Singo crossed his arms confidently, "No worries, I''ve already reached a ''Non-Expansion Tax Pact'' with them. I won''t submit the new Level Three Tax Plan, and they won''t bother me. As long as everyone pays their taxes, we can live in peace."


    His tone grew a bit excited, "How about you guys? Have you met the faction contribution requirements? I''ve got thirty-one thousand now."


    "How much?"


    "Thirty-one thousand?"


    Mantou initially thought he had misheard.


    Singo pretended to be nonchalant, "Increasing Barto City''s tax revenue by 600% in a month, it''s not excessive to have this level of contribution."


    Mantou clicked his tongue in appreciation, "No wonder people want to ambush you. You''re practically stealing food from their mouths."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain said, "I have twelve thousand seven hundred now, but I''m leaning towards becoming a dragon vein sorcerer. However, I find the half-dragon template too ugly, so I''ve switched to becoming a Level Three sorcerer."


    Singo scoffed, "Ha, aesthetics mean nothing compared to strength."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain furrowed her brows in anger.


    Natural War Maniac awkwardly admitted, "I''m a bit afraid of heights, so I''ll just take the semi-dragon gift. I don''t need a flying mount." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mantou was surprised: "Dude, you''re afraid of heights?"


    Singo couldn''t help but tease, "How come you weren''t afraid of heights when you were smashing people''s motherships with your battleship cleaver?"


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head, laughed, and said, "That was in outer space. Couldn''t see the ground when looking down. But when I fell into low Earth orbit and saw the planet''s surface, it was quite scary."


    Mantou: "..."


    He was silent for a moment, then said, "My current contribution is twelve thousand five hundred. It should be enough to buy the Red Scaled Token."


    Mantou''s tone was quite excited as well. He had been waiting for this moment for too long.


    Singo took out the invitation he had prepared long ago, with the handwriting still like blazing flames.


    "Now it''s¡ªharvest time!"


    "Let''s go!"


    ...


    The group arrived in a secure secret chamber and used the [Mysterious Invitation].


    It could be said that Singo had foresight, as the price of this invitation in the black market had soared to nearly a hundred gold coins and was mostly in the hands of wealthy guilds. It was almost impossible for ordinary scattered players to obtain it.


    [Confirm using [Mysterious Invitation]!]


    Again, it was the familiar flame portal and the long, narrow, dark corridor. The four were already well-practiced.


    "Got your lines ready?"


    "Yeah, I''m not going to be as reckless as you, wasting favorability points."


    "That was your fault!"


    As the lanterns lit up, the mysterious half-dragon, half-human sorcerer appeared at the end.


    Cassius, adopting an NPC tone, slowly said, "I''m pleased to see you all again, warriors from the unknown realm. Have you completed the tasks I assigned you?"


    Singo stepped forward and answered calmly, "Yes, Lord Cassius, we have unveiled the dusty tears of the Tieflings. I believe those hypocrites will get what they deserve."


    "You''ve done well."


    Cassius nodded slightly, and the crowd couldn''t discern the meaning in his golden eyes, so they all agreed repeatedly.


    Mantou whispered, "Hurry and buy stuff, this invitation likely has a time limit."


    Singo snorted, "Do you know nothing about maximizing benefits? Stick to the faction leader, and you can profit more in the next quest."


    Though he said this, he opened the store template anyway.


    "Lord Cassius, I''d like to purchase some equipment."


    "Hunting Longbow, enhances attacks against beast-type creatures, and while aiming, it can mark enemies with a Hunter''s Mark that increases precision and deals continuous extra damage, priced at eighty gold coins."


    "I''ll buy it."


    Singo showed a somewhat pained expression but continued anyway.


    "Ring of Flames, adds additional stackable flame damage to your weapon attacks, priced at forty gold coins."


    "Bought."


    Singo clenched his teeth and continued, "Trembling Scale Armor, adds three additional armor points and grants a chance to apply [Trembling Static] to enemies when attacked, priced at¡­ one hundred gold coins.


    "I''ll buy it!"


    Singo handed over his bulging money pouch with both hands.


    The jingle from the bag made him wince in pain.


    Cassius accepted the gold coins and casually rummaged through his dimensional bag, pulling out the three pieces of equipment shimmering with a magical aura.


    "They''re yours now." Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    Everyone held their breath as they watched. This wasn''t just a magical aura; it was practically the glow of money.


    Mantou, hearing these numbers, was stunned: "Damn, Singo, did you rob a bank?"


    "Where did you get so much gold?"


    Singo, having obtained the equipment, patted his thin wallet and forced a smile, "This wasn''t that hard to get."


    "Tax Officers receive a commission on additional tax revenue they collect."


    "Here, for you, as compensation for the gear I sold you last time. Including the favorability points debt."


    "Ding¡ª"


    With a crisp sound, he tossed the [Ring of Flames] across like flipping a coin. Mantou scrambled to catch it, worried that the precious item might get damaged.


    "Altogether, it''s more than two hundred gold coins..."


    "No wonder the guilds want to hunt you down. You''re not just a Tax Officer; you''re practically robbing people."


    Mantou clicked his tongue in amazement.


    The Ring of Flames was practically divine gear for warriors in the early stages, adding brainless flame damage, usable in both close and long-range combat.


    But handling the ring glowing with fiery light carefully, Mantou thought: "Though Singo has a stinky temper, loves to show off, and never saves face for anyone... he''s barely pleasant to deal with."

 Chapter 18 Red Scale Path (Part 1)

    "Scarlet Scale, 9800 contribution points. After spending, I still have 20,000 left, not bad."Mantou was a bit stunned: "Wasn''t it 10780? Why is it cheaper for you by so much?"


    Singo said casually: "The price is linked to favorability. Every point decrease in favorability increases the price by 1%, so..."


    Mantou: ...


    Singo said to Cassius: "Lord Cassius, I also want to purchase the ''Scarlet Scale''."


    Mantou quickly followed: "Me too."


    Cassius''s golden eyes watched them and slowly said: "This is the sharp blade under my command. Becoming a Red Scale Conqueror means you will have no other choice but to fight for me."


    "Are you really prepared for this?"


    Mantou''s gaze was resolute.


    "I am ready!"


    Eighteen days of being a black slave flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, making his determination to become a Red Scale Conqueror even stronger.


    Cassius took out two scarlet-colored scales.


    "Then go and prove your capability to me!"


    "I hope you can last till then."


    As Cassius finished speaking, information refreshed on their panels. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Advanced Task: ''Red Scale Conqueror'' has been activated.]


    [Red Scale Conqueror are a special group of knights who swear allegiance to the master of the Ashen Nest, Red Dragon Cassius. They can patrol the vast territory of the Red Dragon as Ranger Knights, scouting for enemies that may come at any time, whether it be the Kingdom''s army or adventurers attempting to slay the dragon. When war comes, they will also be terrifying conquerors.


    When the Dragon''s Roar echoes from afar, the Red Scale Conquerors will ride giant, fierce dragon vein creatures from the sky, bringing endless flames and complete death to the enemy.]


    [Task 1: Head to Dragon Mountain to find ''Red Scale Conqueror Instructor - Alger''.]


    "Alger? Another unknown NPC."


    Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    "And we have to go to Dragon Mountain. Have you read the post by Charlotte, the president of the Magic Coin?"


    "Yes."


    "Let''s go straight through the gate at the bottom of the city wall, unlike them who got wiped out."


    The four left the mysterious cave, temporarily going separate ways. Natural War Maniac and Summer Night Autumn Rain only needed to wait for the Dragon''s Blood Blessing to succeed, while Mantou and Singo needed to complete a series of advanced tasks.


    They both followed the road built by the retainers to the Rock Fortress.


    The Great Goblin guards stood on the city wall, crossbows in hand aimed at them, and questioned: "Who are you?"


    Facing the aggressive inspection, Singo remained calm: "We are retainers from Barto City, here to see Instructor Alger."


    Upon hearing this, the Great Goblins opened the gate and let them in, though their expressions were somewhat mocking, chatting amongst themselves.


    "Do you think these two will succeed?"


    "Let''s make a bet, I wager a hundred copper coins."


    "Bet on nothing, Alger''s Red Scale Legion has been going for years, and he''s still the only one. Do you think I''m foolish?"


    "Haha, the last hapless guy who went to test directly fell to his death and was even bitten by an ogre. No one has dared to go since then, let alone these two humans."


    Singo and Mantou encountered various monsters in the valley, Lizardfolk, Great Goblins, Kobolds, and even Half-Goat People, asking for directions while walking, finally finding Alger''s residence.


    However, for some reason, upon hearing they were looking for Alger, those monsters'' faces all showed gloating expressions.


    "That''s it, right?"


    Mantou pointed to the simple cave.


    "Something''s not right, this Professional Instructor should at least be an important figure. Why is he living so poorly?"


    "Never mind, let''s go in and check it out first."


    The two recklessly barged into the cave.


    The warrior inside was sitting on a stone bench sharpening his sword¡ªexcept he did not look human.


    The guy in front of them was about two meters tall, with solid and tough muscles all over, his skin covered with dense scarlet scales. His head was not human-like but vicious like a giant dragon''s head, with striking golden, reptilian slit eyes.


    Behind his head, a crown-like structure made of keratinous scales resembled a messy clump of hair. The hand holding the longsword was not purely human either, looking more like a dragon''s claw, but more flexible.


    "Who are you?"


    He raised his head, his golden slit eyes fixing on the visitors, emitting a chillingly dangerous aura.


    [Red Scale Conqueror - Alger]


    Affiliation: [Ashen Nest]


    Basic Ability: ?


    Challenge Level: ?


    "This is the fourth unknown NPC!"


    Mantou exclaimed in a low voice.


    Singo, however, calmly took out his token¡ªthe scarlet scale.


    "We are here under the order of Lord Cassius to undertake the Red Scale Conqueror''s advanced task."


    A fleeting moment of surprise flashed in Alger''s golden eyes.


    He had thought it was another overconfident trialist, having seen many over the years, but this time they brought the token, likely the ''Talented Ones'' his master mentioned, which made him give a bit of respect.


    Alger also wanted to see what kind of talent could make them become a Flying Knight in such a short time.


    Nevertheless, after scrutinizing them, he found nothing exceptional, not even in strength compared to monsters.


    "Very well, I hope you can... survive."


    "Follow me."


    The two players obediently followed Alger.


    Mantou whispered: "Why did he say he hopes we survive? Is this expensive advanced task dangerous?"


    Singo snorted: "Don''t rush, you will soon find out."


    They ventured deeper into the valley, passing several forks.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    Before they entered, chaotic, loud roars echoed ceaselessly within.


    Finally, they reached the valley filled with fire and heat. They saw its true face.


    High rocky walls were dotted with various sized niches, and numerous Bipedal Wyverns inhabited the valley, flapping their wings, whipping their long tails, opening their foul-smelling maw.


    Some wyverns rested perched in niches, some hovered in mid-air, and some tangled in fights, emitting loud roars.


    Alger crossed his arms and coldly said: "This is Wyvern Valley, where bipedal wyverns raise their young. You need to find your mount here."


    Seeing visitors, those glowing slit eyes in the shadows immediately focused on them.


    Alger''s Red Dragon bloodline was far more noble than the wyverns'', so they still respected him.


    But to Mantou and Singo, the Bipedal Wyverns were rude, some even drooling, wanting to take these two tender-skinned humans as dessert.


    Mantou stared up at the myriad wyverns, dumbfounded.


    "I... damn it..."

 Chapter 19 Red Scale Path (Part 2)

    Alger said to the two of them, "With me guarding here, they won''t actively attack you, but if you accidentally fall to your death, then you''ll just become food for the wyverns.""Good luck."


    This was the entry trial for the [Red Scale Conqueror] set by Cassius. Over the years, at least a hundred retainers had participated in this challenge, yet none succeeded. They either fell to their deaths or fled in panic.


    Mantou was on the verge of tears. "Well, I really must thank you."


    The wyverns flapped their wings wildly in mid-air, screeching, roaring, and growling, gradually closing in.


    To them, as long as they knocked these humans to their deaths, they would have some snacks. This was quite easy for them. They were even somewhat familiar with this already, having devoured several Great Goblins and Tieflings before.


    Singo looked at the approaching wyverns and said in a low voice, "Mantou, have you chosen yet?"


    "Chosen what?"


    Mantou was still in a daze.


    Singo pulled a few bundles of lassos from his backpack, throwing one to Mantou, along with a spray can filled with some unknown liquid.


    "Of course, your mount!"


    "Huh?"


    Mantou was still shocked by the wyverns surrounding them, but he quickly understood the crazy move and was stunned by it.


    Singo ignored him and continued, "I think that one on the cliff looks good. It''s the largest and strongest one in this area, so don''t you dare steal it from me."


    "Watch closely. I''ll demonstrate only once. I''ve trained this move for a long time, previously tested it in the Great Escort."


    With that, he swiftly threw the lasso, accurately looping it around the neck of a four-meter-long, large wyvern on the cliff, then tightened the rope.


    "Grrr-ooar!" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The bipedal wyvern was suddenly ensnared, momentarily panicked.


    It struggled violently, swinging its neck and letting out a series of screeches. It then frantically flapped its wings, attempting to throw the human off.


    But Singo held the rope tightly, winding the hemp rope around his hand several times. Then, using the wyvern''s struggle and movements, he leapt onto the back of the bipedal wyvern.


    "Roar!"


    The wyvern went into a frenzy when the human, whom it viewed as weak and insignificant, sat on its back.


    Its neck twisted back and forth, wings wildly flapping, its large body accelerating, stopping abruptly, spinning, and even crashing its back into the cliff intentionally.


    But Singo''s arms held on tightly around its neck, refusing to let go no matter how it struggled.


    He even managed to free one hand to take the spray can and sprayed it on the wyvern''s head, not forgetting to educate in mid-air: "This can contains female wyvern hormones; it can calm their emotions and nerves!"


    However, contending with the wyvern drained Singo significantly.


    After several clashes, he eventually ran out of strength. He had to find an opportunity during the wyvern''s low flight and dive, leap off, and roll several times on the ground to cushion the fall.


    The wyvern saw this and tried to seize the chance to attack, letting out a roar.


    But Singo quickly got up, drank a Vitality Potion, and continued to confront the wyvern head-on, looking for another chance to climb back onto its back.


    "Still not there yet. I guess we''ll be stuck here all day."


    Singo grinned excitedly, breathing heavily as he said, "This thing is really tough, but fortunately, every time I get back on, the system shows my proficiencies increasing."


    "If we repeat this a few more times, we might max out our Riding Skill proficiencies."


    Mantou was speechless, only able to exclaim:


    "You really are a beast."


    But then Mantou thought about his dream of soaring in the sky, remembering his eighteen days of hard work. He was just one step away from the goal. How could he retreat now?


    He gritted his teeth with determination.


    Looking at the wyverns, Mantou threw his lasso with all his might. By a stroke of luck, he hit the mark on the first try, snaring a three-meter-long, aggressive bipedal wyvern.


    The wyvern struggled wildly and took off into the air.


    However, Mantou didn''t manage to mount its back and was instead dragged along, flailing in the air.


    "Ahhhh¡ª"


    "I''m going to die, I''m going to die¡ªSingo, help me!"


    His desperate cries echoed through the valley.


    Singo watched Mantou being flung around, dizzy and disoriented, and mocked, "Pathetic, you need more practice."


    He drew his Hunter''s Longbow and took aim.


    "Whiz¡ª"


    An arrow flew out, severing the lasso rope, causing Mantou to plummet to the ground and crash face down.


    "Singo, is this how you save people?"


    With his face in the dirt, Mantou teared up, drinking a Healing Potion silently.


    Meanwhile, Singo caught up to the wyvern he had been fighting earlier and engaged in a second round of struggle.


    Thus, in the Wyvern Valley, the two players engaged in vigorous skirmishes with the bipedal wyverns. The wyverns repeatedly threw them off, but they climbed back on time and again, growing increasingly skilled and staying on the wyverns'' backs for longer periods.


    Eventually, they could even control the wyverns'' direction with their movements and maintain balance with just their legs, avoiding falling off.


    By now, the wyvern had become impatient, flying a hundred meters high and circling, trying to throw off the human on its back to their death.


    But Singo stayed composed, using the Featherfall Technique scroll he had prepared, gently descending to the ground, much to the wyvern''s sputtering frustration.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The wyvern let out a hoarse, helpless roar.


    [Your skill experience has reached the requirement]


    [Your proficiency in the project [Riding Skill] has increased to +3]


    Singo landed lightly and said to Mantou, who had just dismounted from the wyvern, "This round felt great. My Riding Skill proficiency is now +3. How about you?"


    Mantou, supporting himself with his knees, panted heavily, "Now +2. The weightlessness is making me want to puke. I wonder if there''s a vomiting mechanic here..."


    Singo snorted, "That''s just because you''re lousy. How can someone who gets dragon-sick become a knight?"


    Mantou retorted, "Do you think everyone is a beast like you? If you call War Maniac Bro here, he might actually puke everywhere."


    Alger watched as the two breathless humans improved their riding skills visibly. His golden eyes showed a rare trace of astonishment.


    "These so-called ''Talented Ones'' might really become Wyvern Knights in a short time." Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Truly... unbelievable."


    His years of training experience were utterly shattered.


    These wyverns were much more volatile monsters than the giant eagles. Controlling them was as challenging as climbing the sky.


    Probably, even among the 300 people in the previous Northwind Eagle Guard who had undergone ten years of training, only a few elites like him could achieve this.


    And these two humans...


    Their talent even made Alger question life a little.

 Chapter 20 Red Scale Path (3)

    The last rays of the sunset could no longer reach into the valley, filling Wyvern Valley with shadows. The wyverns flew in the darkness, emitting noisy screeches.Mantou''s actions grew more skilled, almost becoming muscle memory. He climbed the steep rock walls and quickly found the wyvern, which was already close to exhaustion, again.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The wyvern, upon seeing the troublesome human coming again, let out a strained screech and flapped its wings, preparing to leave. But it was too fatigued to take off properly.


    "You think you can still run?"


    "Hehehe, stop struggling. Just let me ride you already."


    Mantou''s face showed a lewd smile as the lasso in his hand, like an automatic tracker, precisely looped around the wyvern''s long neck.


    "Roar..."


    This time, the wyvern didn''t expend much energy struggling, only letting out a wail as Mantou tightened the lasso and easily mounted its back.


    Were it not for the scales protecting its neck, blood might have been drawn by the lasso.


    "Good, good, good."


    "Another day of riding a wyvern."


    Mantou patted the side of the wyvern''s neck and then took out a spray, giving its head a generous misting.


    The wyvern slowly spread its wings, trying to glide in the air, but soon could no longer support itself and crashed to the ground.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The wyvern used its last bit of strength to lift its head high and let out a long howl before bowing its head, ceasing its futile struggle.


    The human on its back filled the young wyvern, still in its growth phase, with despair. For three whole days, this human had been trying to ride on its back, stubbornly getting back up no matter how many times he was thrown off. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was even once when the human fell from a height of a hundred meters, crashing into the ground and turning into a bloody mess, and the wyvern thought it was finally free from this torment.


    But within half a day, the human returned to the valley unscathed and energetic, once again trying to lasso and ride it.


    This made the wyvern question its existence as a dragon.


    "Holy crap, I did it!"


    Mantou''s face was full of joy and immense satisfaction as the wyvern bowed its head. He had been trying day and night for three days and had finally succeeded.


    He tried to pet the wyvern''s head, and this time it didn''t bite or screech, instead, it lay still, displaying a resigned posture.


    Maybe it was fed up, or maybe it had genuinely surrendered.


    Mantou felt the texture of the wyvern''s scales, sensed its pulse and breathing, and felt a great sense of triumph and relief.


    He looked at the wyvern, lying exhausted with its eyes closed, and said to it:


    "Do I need to give you a name too...?"


    "Darling?"


    "No, that''s a bit vulgar, and you seem to be male."


    "Big Dragon? That sounds too rough."


    "Since I''m called Mantou, how about I call you... Noodle, seeing as your neck is so long and slender?"


    Mantou cheerfully patted the wyvern on the top of its head.


    "Noodle!"


    "Roar..."


    The wyvern lifted its head slightly and gave a weak response. It seemed both fed up and resigned; these two feelings were not mutually exclusive.


    "Mantou, what kind of name is that!"


    Xin Dog landed nearby on his wyvern.


    He had already tamed his wyvern by the second day. According to him, he used draconic language learned from the kobolds to communicate with it, which Mantou doubted.


    Mantou protested: "Noodle, what a meaningful name! Look at the crappy name you came up with."


    Xin Dog proudly said: "My mount is called Wyvern, pure and simple. What''s wrong with that? Look at Ash, he didn''t come up with some weird name for Pikachu, did he?"


    Mantou cursed: "Don''t make excuses for your poor naming skills, Xin Dog."


    Ignoring him, Xin Dog addressed Alger, who was overseeing them from nearby: "Instructor Alger, we''ve completed the trial. Can we advance now?"


    Mantou, feeling the wyvern''s neck, exclaimed: "Red Scale Conqueror, activate!"


    "Yes."


    "You two are truly... unexpected."


    Usually quiet, Alger couldn''t help but marvel at this rare talent, which defied common sense.


    "Eagle!"


    Alger softly called out. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, with a wingspan nearing ten meters, cast a large shadow as it descended from the sky, drawing envious glances from the two.


    Alger skillfully mounted the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle without needing to command it as it spread its wings and took off.


    He said without looking back:


    "Follow me. I will take you to meet the master and complete the advancement ceremony."


    Xin Dog followed closely on his wyvern.


    "Wyvern, let''s go."


    The wyvern seemed excited for what was to come, raising its head and letting out a long screech before flapping its wings to follow.


    This was the argument Xin Dog used to make the wyvern submit: becoming a Red Scale Conqueror would allow it to receive a precious bloodline gift and gain strength comparable to their leader''s.


    But at this critical moment, Mantou''s "Noodle" faltered. It could only weakly lift its wings, indicating it was too tired to fly.


    Mantou patted Noodle''s side neck, almost tearfully, suspecting it of deliberate revenge:


    "Come on, Noodle, you need to get up."


    "If you don''t fly, we''ll be left behind!"


    "Noodle" seemed to grow annoyed by the shouting and let out a low roar.


    With great effort, it flapped its wings and finally lifted off the ground, flying unsteadily and causing Mantou to feel constantly jostled on its back.


    Meanwhile, the other two had already widened the distance.


    "Wait for me¡ª"


    "Why don''t you consider a newbie starting out¡ª"


    Mantou, riding on the wobbling wyvern, shouted from afar.


    Their commotion caught the attention of many retainers, especially when they saw the human on the wyvern''s back, which seemed incredible, like seeing a ghost,


    At Rock Fortress, a goblin guard patted his colleague''s shoulder, pointing to the sky.


    "Look!"


    "What''s that?"


    "It''s just a wyvern¡ªbut wait, there''s a human riding it!"


    "They... they really succeeded?"


    The goblin guard spread his palms towards his colleague: "I won, one hundred copper coins."


    The other goblin guard cursed: "Were there bets being made? You just want my money, get lost!"


    But then, the guard watched the humans riding the wyverns with envy and muttered: "These two humans are going to soar to great heights..."


    "Who could have guessed? Captain Dolores even sent six trusted men for the trial, and four died while two fled, getting mocked by Director Ramp for a long time."


    "I never thought these raging beasts could be ridden."


    "Yeah, I thought their heads were filled with slime."

 Chapter 21 Red Scale Path (Part 4)

    Alger led the two to the entrance of the Giant''s Mouth Cave. Singo elegantly landed astride his wyvern, while Mantou lagged behind."This is it. I will take you to meet the master."


    They walked into the cavern, feeling the heat and noticing the scent of sulfur and floatstone all around, like an impending volcanic eruption.


    Mantou shuddered: "Is there another trial waiting for us?"


    Singo remained calm: "No, I guess this might be the residence of our faction leader¡ªthe Red Dragon. Did you notice the strange smell and unusual temperature?"


    "According to the information I have, dragons can even alter their surrounding environment."


    Mantou clicked his tongue in admiration: "If this becomes a boss, it''d definitely be a world boss, killing a whole lot of people."


    Mantou had no idea that his guess was accurate.


    They continued along the narrow rock tunnel.


    Soon, the path ahead opened up, and the two saw the master of this place¡ªthe Red Dragon.


    A massive sixteen-meter-long body with burly, knotted muscles covered in hard, dark red scales with a metallic sheen met their eyes.


    Gold vertical pupils on the fierce, massive head exuded power, gleaming with a lava-like glow. The two swept-back, thick, bone-white horns on the head looked like a crown.


    The Red Dragon lay in the center of the cave, its enormous mountainous body rising and falling with each breath. White smoke occasionally rose from its body, and just looking at it made one feel its heat, like a volcano about to erupt.


    This was their first time seeing the true form of their faction leader.


    Mantou couldn''t help but exclaim: "Holy..."


    After a long pause, with his limited vocabulary, he could only add, "So damn big!"


    The two half-grown wyverns beside them were so intimidated by the powerful bloodline pressure that they crouched low to the warm ground, making gurgling sounds from deep within their throats, unmoved by Mantou''s attempts to get them to lift their heads.


    Seeing guests arrive, Cassius slowly stood up, his golden vertical pupils looking down at them from seven or eight meters high.


    "We meet again, Starfallen."


    "Are you¡ªready?"


    Alger knelt on one knee, head bowed, and reported: "Master, they have completed the trials you set for them."


    Cassius narrowed his eyes and lowered his head slightly: "Good, this is beyond my expectations."


    As he spoke, the two almost felt the sulfur-tinged heat blowing against their faces. The sheer presence of the giant creature in front of them made them a bit anxious.


    The Red Dragon continued, "The Red Scale Conquerors will be my sharp blades, and from now on, you will shed this weak, powerless human shell and become the most loyal claws and fangs of the Ashen Nest."


    Mantou muttered under his breath: "What a pity for my handsome face, to be ruined like this."


    Singo hissed quietly: "Do you want to lose favorability points? Just shut up if you don''t."


    Cassius paid them no mind and simply said:


    "Alger, prepare to begin."


    The Half-Dragon Knight stepped forward, reading the prepared oath aloud: "In the presence of the Lord of Ashes, the Great Red Dragon Cassius, do you swear loyalty, dedicating your life to being the faithful claws and fangs of the Ashen Nest, regardless of good or evil, right or wrong, using your flames to conquer everything for your master?"


    "Do you swear to become Red Scale Conquerors?"


    The task information on the panel refreshed.


    [Do you accept the faction sub-occupation (Red Scale Conqueror)? If yes, please follow the ritual.]


    [Note: Once you select the faction sub-occupation, you will be locked to the faction and cannot change it freely.]


    A string of oaths appeared below the panel.


    "I, Mantou (Singo), swear loyalty to my master Cassius Klaubow, Noricus, with unwavering devotion, to be the vanguard of the king, burning enemies to ashes, conquering all."


    The two players knelt on one knee, speaking in unison.


    "Very well, follow me."


    Alger blindfolded them with crimson cloth and led them and their bipedal wyverns deeper into the cave, arriving at a hidden grotto.


    "Bloodline Gift¡ª"


    "Semi-Dragon Form." Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Cassius silently chanted, and several drops of scalding dragon blood floated in the air, then merged into the bodies of the two players.


    The dragon blood touched their fragile flesh, instantly making a sizzling sound, even emitting white smoke.


    "Ah!" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The scalding blood entered his mouth, and Mantou couldn''t help but scream in pain, frantically rolling on the ground.


    "What the hell, even with the pain threshold set to 5%, it still hurts this much?"


    "I need to turn off the pain!"


    Singo also found his breathing quickening, his entire body turning red.


    White steam burst from his pores, spreading all around.


    Under their skin, the bones at their elbows, knees, and spine crazily extended, piercing through the skin and clothes, turning into sharp bone barbs.


    Red scales grew at a visible speed, spreading all over their bodies, chest, arms, and even faces, tearing through the skin.


    Their previously human-looking faces, created by scanning reality, were now altered by dragon-like bones and scales, showing only traces of their former selves, now resembling fierce dragon heads.


    Though the pain system shut down in time, Mantou was still frightened. His panel kept updating information.


    [Acquiring data¡­]


    [You have obtained a special race template (Half-Red Dragon)]


    [Note: This race template is permanent and will be used upon revival.]


    [Your attributes have significantly increased, and you have gained natural armor, flame breath, and other half-red dragon abilities¡­]


    Blindfolded and still undergoing transformation, Mantou watched the information refresh on the panel, feeling an exhilarating sensation. If he could control his body to speak, he would have shouted "Badass!"


    Beside him, his bipedal wyvern, Noodle, was also transforming, screeching and struggling. Its red scales grew harder, its slender body stronger, and its frame larger.


    In its flesh, new capillaries formed, and its blood emitted scorching elemental power.


    Furthermore, an even more unknown transformation was unfolding¡­


    [Data conversion in progress¡­]


    [Data conversion complete!]


    [Verifying parameters¡­]


    [Parameters verified!]


    [Detected bipedal wyvern "Noodle" as your special subclass mount. It will be considered part of the player''s occupation system. Therefore, when the mount dies, you can revive it through an ancient magic circle, but it will require equivalent value items.]


    "Mounts can be revived?"


    "Damn!"


    "This occupation¡ªis invincible!"


    Mantou, browsing the panel information in the darkness, couldn''t help but marvel inwardly.

 Chapter 22 Red Scale Path (End)

    [You have completed the advanced task [Red Scale Path]][You have advanced to the Warrior''s Ashen Nest faction subclass [Red Scale Conqueror]! When the Dragon''s Roar is heard from afar, the Red Scale Conquerors will ride the fierce and vast Dragon Vein Creatures from the sky, bringing endless flames and utter destruction to their enemies.]


    [You have gained traits: [Born to Ride][Dragon''s Roar Charge]]


    Mantou slowly opened his eyes, feeling that his body had become much stronger, and his senses like vision and hearing had become sharper.


    "I am so damn strong¡ª"


    Mantou looked down at his hands, covered in scales and tipped with sharp claws, and marveled to himself.


    Looking to his side, he saw a familiar-looking "Dragonfolk," whose head had fully transformed into a dragon''s shape, but hints of his former self could still be seen in his brow and eyes.


    "Xin Dog, you look kind of ugly like this."


    Xin Dog, while shaking his new body and adapting to the change, snorted disdainfully and said, "And you don''t look like a freak yourself."


    He paused, raising his horned eyebrows slightly.


    "By the way, I suggest you check your attribute panel. You might be in for a surprise."


    Mantou retorted in displeasure, "Even in dragon form, nothing can hide my soul''s innate handsomeness."


    Though he said this, he obediently opened his panel.


    [I''m Going to Eat Mantou]


    Strength¡ª14


    Agility¡ª12


    Constitution¡ª13


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª10


    Charisma¡ª11


    Initially, he looked at those significantly improved stats with pride, until he noticed the charisma column.


    "Why has my charisma increased even though I look like this?!"


    Mantou let out a heartfelt wail.


    He couldn''t believe it. This ugly, scale-covered dragon face was rated higher by the system than his originally handsome and charming one. He couldn''t accept it!


    Xin Dog cast a gloating glance at him before explaining, "Actually, charisma isn''t just about appearance. Do you really think those magicians cast spells with their looks?"


    "According to our intelligence group, charisma is more about things like aura and influence. The most charismatic individuals can even bend reality with their will."


    Mantou breathed a sigh of relief, "I thought it was just my¡­"


    But before he could finish, Xin Dog mercilessly continued, "In the ordinary human stage system scan, looks probably play a big part."


    Mantou: "..."


    Xin Dog then struck another blow: "As an extra note, my initial charisma was 12, Autumn Rain''s was 14, and even War Maniac Bro had 11. You didn''t have less than 10, did you?


    "No way, no way."


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    Mantou just wanted to calm down and not continue this topic.


    "Noodle, although you can''t talk, at least you don''t mock me."


    He patted "Noodle" on the neck, his expression sorrowful, seeking some solace.


    Since the ceremony, Mantou had unlocked the [Born to Ride] trait, feeling a deep bond with this Bipedal Wyvern, who also felt a bloodline connection from this once-disliked human. The relationship between man and dragon had become much closer.


    This Bipedal Wyvern had grown to nearly five meters long. While its neck was still as slender as a noodle, its muscles had become much more robust, covered in tough scarlet scales, and it could even breathe fire, resembling a miniature Red Dragon.


    "Tsk tsk, it''s so cool, way better than any Ferrari or Lamborghini."


    Mantou marveled at the sensation of the scales.


    Noodle, excited by his newfound strength, couldn''t help but swing his hefty tail, even breathing a spurt of fire.


    "Boom!"


    It seemed he couldn''t control this power well yet.


    Mantou''s dragon face was blackened by the flames. Though the Red Dragon bloodline made him immune to such fire, he fell into complete silence.


    Noodle slightly retracted his neck, lowered his body, and looked at Mantou with innocent eyes.


    Mantou: "..."


    Xin Dog couldn''t help but say, "Stop wasting time here. Autumn Rain and War Maniac Bro are waiting for us to gather."


    Before he finished speaking, Xin Dog effortlessly mounted his wyvern and took off. The seamless coordination made it look like they had been fighting partners for years.


    "Got it, got it."


    Mantou also mounted his wyvern and followed closely.


    Shrill cries of excitement resounded through the sky as the two Wyvern Knights headed for Barto City.


    ...


    Barto City, Central Plaza.


    Two Bipedal Wyverns circled in the sky, slowly descending.


    "Damn, you guys see that?"


    "It''s just two Bipedal Wyverns. What''s the big deal?"


    "You must be a newbie. I''ve seen a ten-meter-long wyvern before."


    "No, look at their backs."


    "Is that¡­people?"


    The two wyverns circled a few times, letting out a series of screeches, descending to seven or eight meters above the ground, then landing with a crash, dust rising in the plaza.


    Mantou and Xin Dog took a moment to strike a cool pose, one wyvern roaring at the sky and the other spreading its wings, and then they dismounted proudly.


    "They have player names!"


    "Damn! It''s Mantou and Xin Dog. They''ve advanced successfully! Red Scale Conquerors!"


    "Why do they look like Dragonkin?"


    "So cool!"


    "Damn, seeing their success hurts more than my own failure."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain and Natural War Maniac had waited long and came up to congratulate them.


    Natural War Maniac chuckled, "You guys look so badass."


    Having bought the Semi-Dragon Form boon with his contributions, he too had taken on a semi-dragon shape. Though his head was covered in scales, it still appeared smooth. However, touching his bald head often left scratches from his claws.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain said with relief, "Good thing I didn''t choose Semi-Dragon Form, or I''d look just as ugly as you guys."


    She was satisfied with her result. As she advanced to the Dragon Vein Sorcerer subclass, she gained the magical powers of a Red Dragon. As a result, she only had faint scale marks on her cheeks, developed delicate little horns on her forehead, and her pupils turned into golden slits. Her refined features hadn''t changed much, these alterations adding to her noble aura.


    Xin Dog said seriously, "Let''s tally up our gains. I''ll go back to refining the strategy, Mantou, make the video."


    The remaining three nodded, "Got it."


    That night, a guide post titled "How to Become a Qualified Dragon Knight?" sparked a hot discussion on the player forum.


    It specifically mentioned buying Xin Dog''s exclusive "Wyvern Lasso" and "Sedative Hormones" as keys to success, though the price was a bit steep.


    The second issue of "Elzegai Diary" was also released smoothly.


    Fans eagerly clicked it, the first thing they saw was a fierce dragon face.


    "First!"


    "The missing person returns."


    "What''s this? A monster?" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The dragon face''s opening lines came from a familiar, humorous voice: "Welcome to the second issue of Elzegai Diary, I''m Mantou."


    "Whoa, it''s Mantou!"


    "How did he turn into a Dragonfolk? It has a kind of intense beauty."


    "Mantou looks more handsome now!"


    ...

 Chapter 23 Hill Giant

    "I will eat you all!"A fervent roar echoed from the slope.


    The towering figure, over five meters tall, with rough, brown skin, wielding a large tree as a weapon¡ªstill smeared with soil¡ªdraped in crudely stitched animal furs, sweat dripping onto the putrid hide, emitting a strong stench¡ªthat was a Hill Giant.


    Hill Giants were selfish and dull-witted savages, often residing in hills and valleys and gathering in woodland camps or shanties.


    They hunted, foraged, and pillaged everything in their path to gain more food. Prone to hunt prey over hills and forests with all their might, bullying the weak. If not for their massive frames and unending strength, the lazy and slow-minded Hill Giants would have likely gone extinct long ago.


    But now, it seemed food had delivered itself to their door.


    The Hill Giant licked its lips, foul-smelling saliva dripping from its mouth.


    Ever since that unusually large Ogre led a pack of monsters to drive the Hill Giants out of the valley, they had been wandering the outskirts of Stormy Ridge, scavenging rotten food or devouring passing humans.


    This greedy Hill Giant hadn''t had a full meal in a long time; now clearly appeared to be a golden opportunity.


    [Based on your capabilities, you can observe the following information.]


    [Greedy Hill Giant]


    Huge Giant, Chaotic Evil


    AC:13 (natural armor)


    HP:105


    Strength¡ª21


    Agility¡ª8


    Constitution¡ª19


    Intelligence¡ª5


    Perception¡ª9


    Charisma¡ª6


    Senses: Passive Perception 12


    Actions: Multi-Attack, Great Club Attack, Throw Rock, Bite


    Challenge Level: 5 (1,800 XP)


    Mantou sighed: "This creature seems strong. Can we really defeat it?"


    Singo scoffed: "Afraid of what? With our setup, just basic attacks can crush it. We''re here to level you up. If you were at Fourth Level, believe it or not, it''d already be dead."


    "Alright, just don''t get us wiped out later."


    At the bottom of the hill stood the "Dragon Vein Quartet." Their team''s strength had significantly increased, leading them to take on the highest-difficulty quest: [Defeat the Hill Giant Wrecking the Farm]. The official recommended challenge level for this quest stood at Level Five.


    It''s worth noting that even professional gamers like Singo had barely reached Fourth Level, a result of relentless effort day and night, with most players stuck at Levels One or Two.


    Watching the Hill Giant charge down the slope with a large tree in hand, Singo remained unfazed: "War Maniac Bro, you and Autumn Rain keep it busy here. Mantou and I will launch an aerial attack."


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    Natural War Maniac nodded simply: "Got it."


    Then Singo and Mantou mounted their rides, steering their Bipedal Wyverns into the air.


    Natural War Maniac advanced to meet the enemy head-on. Facing this larger-than-life foe, he felt no fear. After all, he had once slain even interstellar beasts. This Giant was nothing in his eyes.


    He had chosen the Barbarian''s Path of the Berserker.


    For Barbarians, frenzy was a way to reach the extreme¡ªviolence at its peak.


    The Path of the Berserker was a route chasing blood and unbridled rage. When players entered the Berserker''s frenzy, they would shiver in the chaotic thrill of battle, abandoning any concern for their safety. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aaaaahhhh¡ª¡ª"


    Natural War Maniac roared to the sky, activating his frenzy.


    Immediately, his eyes turned blood-red, muscles bulging exaggeratedly, veins popping out, his entire body emanating an aura of bloodlust.


    In a frenzy, Natural War Maniac charged up to the Hill Giant, leaping high into the air, raising his Great Axe.


    "Frenzied Strike!"


    The Great Axe sliced through the air with potent force, cleaving downwards.


    Given the Hill Giant''s massive frame, the axe barely reached its chest.


    Even the Hill Giant was startled by this ferocious "Little One," but soon realized it had been frightened by this small creature, who clearly wasn''t afraid of it. A gnarly look of rage crossed its ugly face.


    "I, I will smash you into pulp!"


    The Hill Giant used the large tree to block the axe and, with all its might, swung it, sending Natural War Maniac and the Great Axe flying backward.


    Natural War Maniac hit the ground hard, with his battle-axe embedded into the earth beside him.


    Yet, having been knocked back, he showed no sign of retreating. In his blood-red eyes, there was a glint of joy and craze at the encounter with such a strong enemy.


    "Aaaaahhhh¡ª¡ª"


    Natural War Maniac wrenched out the deeply buried axe and charged again with eyes aflame.


    "Wait for me¡ª¡ª"


    A crisp female voice came from behind, yet Natural War Maniac ignored it and continued his assault.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain sighed with a hand on her forehead. The Berserker occupation was great for offense and defense, but once in a frenzy, they wouldn''t listen to anything and would only charge forward.


    Luckily, she caught up and cast a Spell on Natural War Maniac.


    [Enlarge Spell]


    Natural War Maniac''s size rapidly increased, growing from nearly two meters tall to almost four meters. Both his weapon and beast-skin clothing expanded accordingly, making him almost as large as the Hill Giant.


    Feeling the heightened perspective, Natural War Maniac laughed loudly and leapt once more, aiming now for the head instead of the chest.


    The dim-witted Hill Giant could not grasp magic but realized that the "Little One" had grown larger and posed a threat.


    So, with an enraged roar, the Hill Giant swung its arms with all its might to smash down.

 Chapter 23 Hill Giant_2

    "Bang!"The dull edge of the great axe and the large tree collided, trembling slightly, as Natural War Maniac hit the ground with a roar.


    But the Hill Giant still held an absolute strength advantage, pressing down the great axe along with Natural War Maniac''s body bit by bit.


    "Agnasa''s Fire-Breathing Technique!"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain''s lips parted slightly, releasing a stream of blazing fire, directly striking the Hill Giant''s massive body while it was immobile. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    The Hill Giant''s right shoulder was scorched black, causing it to open its foul-smelling giant mouth in a painful wail, its grip on the tree loosening slightly.


    This slight relaxation gave Natural War Maniac the opportunity he needed.


    He knocked the tree from the Hill Giant''s hand with one blow, and his more-than-three-meter-long great axe swung down heavily at the Hill Giant''s shoulder.


    "Swish!"


    The great axe cleaved through the already scorched right shoulder, severing the arm completely.


    The massive right arm tumbled to the ground.


    Warm, sticky blood splattered onto Natural War Maniac''s face, but instead of being repulsed, he showed even more excitement.


    "Aaaah¡ªI''m going to kill you!"


    The Giant threw back its head in a painful howl, losing control due to the loss of its right arm and becoming frenzied.


    Grabbing the great axe embedded in its flesh, it tossed it over ten meters away, then charged at Natural War Maniac for the most primal and brutal close combat.


    The two "Giants" wrestled and grappled, using knees, fists, heads, and even teeth.


    From the sky, Xin Dog looked down on the battlefield and said to Mantou, "I told you, if you don''t act soon, that Hill Giant will be beaten to death by War Maniac Bro. Once he''s in Frenzy, he never listens to anyone, just enjoys the fight."


    Mantou watched the blood-soaked, ravenous Natural War Maniac with admiration, "Damn, War Maniac Bro is truly fierce..."


    Xin Dog was straightforward: "Stop talking shit and get ready for the charge."


    Mantou replied, "Got it."


    He then skillfully maneuvered the Wyvern, preparing for a dive.


    "Roar¡ª"


    A series of Wyvern roars echoed from the sky.


    The Hill Giant, still pounding Natural War Maniac into the ground, ignored the strange sound and continued to vent its rage over the lost arm.


    Even with his enlarged body, Natural War Maniac''s strength couldn''t match the Hill Giant''s. His Frenzy had ended, leaving him exhausted.


    Facing a higher Challenge Level monster alone was difficult even for a Professional Gamer like him.


    Moreover, he had a backup plan.


    Defeating the Hill Giant wasn''t his ultimate goal.


    Bruised and battered, Natural War Maniac looked up and saw the Wyvern in the sky, and a grim smile spread across his face.


    The Wyvern dived, and Xin Dog drew his bow.


    A purple, complex rune appeared on the Hill Giant''s arm, a Hunter''s Mark.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    A sharp arrow pierced through the Hunter''s Mark on the Hill Giant''s left arm, the bloodied arrowhead emerging from the other side.


    Influenced by the purple rune, a tremendous amount of blood gushed from the Hill Giant''s wound.


    "Who is it!"


    The frenzied Hill Giant, attacked from behind, threw back its head in a furious roar, twisting around to lock its blood-red eyes on the airborne Wyvern Knight.


    "Die!"


    The Hill Giant picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it at Xin Dog with immense force, sending the massive stone flying towards the enemy in the sky.


    However, Xin Dog skillfully maneuvered the Wyvern, performing a barrel roll to avoid the close call.


    The stone drew a graceful arc in the air before plummeting to the ground.


    Xin Dog shouted, "Mantou!"


    Xin Dog''s attack was just a feint!


    The real killing move was behind!


    Overexerted, the Hill Giant remained in the posture of throwing the stone, while a loud Dragon''s Roar came from behind.


    "Roar¡ª"


    Mantou dived at high speed from behind the Hill Giant, the bipedal Wyvern folding its wings tightly.


    He leaned forward slightly, gripping his six-meter-long lance tightly, feeling the wind howling past his ears.


    His heart pounded with excitement as he descended quickly.


    "Your life is mine!"


    Mantou yelled.


    [Dragon''s Roar Charge] activated, the lance plunged into the Hill Giant''s massive occiput.


    Under the powerful momentum of the Wyvern Knight''s dive, the immense force transferred to the lance tip, even covered in scarlet Dragon Spirit Light.


    In an instant, blood splattered.


    The lance pierced through the Hill Giant''s tough skin, its hard skull, and its filthy flesh, emerging from its gaping, ferocious mouth.


    The Hill Giant''s roar ceased abruptly, its massive body collapsing to the ground.


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    Mantou gracefully let go of the lance.


    His bipedal Wyvern, "Noodle," suddenly spread its wings, slowing down and rapidly ascending with the air current again.


    The panel refreshed with information.


    [You have slain the [Greedy Hill Giant], gaining 1800xp]


    [Your occupational level has increased to the Fourth Level]


    Mantou''s heart raced with excitement, and he declared, "The wine is still warm, and I''ve already taken the enemy general''s head."


    He circled a few times in the air before landing.


    Mantou arrogantly asked, "Xin Dog, wasn''t that cool?"


    Xin Dog poured cold water on him, "If you weren''t such a noob, still not at Fourth Level, I would''ve aimed for the head with that arrow, and War Maniac Bro would''ve chopped at the neck."


    Mantou instantly felt crestfallen.


    Natural War Maniac climbed up, rubbing his bald head, "That monster''s strength is really immense. I think I couldn''t take him one-on-one."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain, looking at the ravaged ground, nodded with lingering fear. Her constitution wasn''t high, and a hit from the Hill Giant would mean death.


    But soon, she questioned, "Xin Dog, what... what are you doing?"


    They saw him embracing the Hill Giant''s foul-smelling arm as if it were a treasure, even sniffing it with a longing to take a bite.


    Xin Dog replied matter-of-factly, "This is good stuff! Hill Giant fingers can be made into Hill Giant Spirit Medicine to boost strength to 21 points."


    "Twenty-one points? That''s amazing!"


    Natural War Maniac became interested, joining Xin Dog in examining the stinky Giant corpse without any disgust.


    Even the Wyvern hovering above curiously landed beside them, though not for research.


    "Hey, hey, Wyvern, don''t take a bite! It''ll be wasted on you!"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain: "..."


    After they finished cleaning up, the ground was a mess, and Xin Dog''s backpack bulged with excitement, it seemed he had a fruitful hunt.


    However, the intense stench emanating from him, as if he hadn''t showered in years, made Summer Night Autumn Rain quietly step back.


    Xin Dog mysteriously said, "Do you know what the next main quest is?"


    Mantou cursed, "Xin Dog, stop talking nonsense and just say it."


    Xin Dog slowly uttered two words:


    "War."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain asked curiously, "How do you know?"


    Xin Dog explained, "I stayed in the Dragon Valley of Ashen Nest for three days. Unlike Mantou, who only focuses on completing tasks like a noob, I noticed the situation in the valley."


    He paused, then continued, "Nearly every day, the Great Goblin and Lizardfolk troops were training. In a place with medieval-level productivity, daily troop drills are unusual.


    Mantou quickly agreed, "I also heard those sounds."


    Natural War Maniac said, "So you mean our next main quest will be a war?"


    Xin Dog nodded, "Yes, and it definitely won''t be small in scale. As subordinates of the [Red Scale Conqueror] faction, Mantou and I will play significant roles."

 Chapter 24 Main Quest: War!

    However, it wasn''t just Xin Dog, other guilds also noticed the anomaly in Dragon Valley.[Royalty] was now the most prestigious of the powerful families, boasting over eighty members with strict standards. Most of its members were professional gamers. They had even built a rudimentary castle within Barto City to serve as their guild headquarters, naming it "Royalty Hall."


    The guild leader was a well-known, wealthy professional gamer called "Tyrant," a towering and robust Paladin Conqueror.


    At this moment, the core members of the guild were gathered in the Royalty Hall.


    Tyrant sat in the main seat, asking, "So if the intel is accurate, we''re facing a war?"


    The vice leader, "Fengyun," responded, "Yes, according to our eyes in Northwind Castle, the enemy should be the Allied Forces of the Northern Countries. Three prominent ducal families are participating, and it''s said they have assembled nearly thirty thousand troops, gathering in the Stormy Ridge area."


    Bibo Sword Rain asked, "Can we win? If we can''t, can we defect to the other side?"


    Fengyun shook his head, "I don''t recommend defection. Our guild''s roots are already established in Barto City. We monopolize the city''s alcohol production and wall construction industries. Switching sides would mean starting over from scratch, placing us back on the same starting line as everyone else. The advantage we hold would be completely lost, and that is a price we cannot afford."


    Tyrant asked, "What''s our strength assessment?"


    Fengyun pondered for a moment before replying, "It''s hard to say. On paper, we should be evenly matched. Although we might be at a numerical disadvantage, these Dragon Vein Monsters are likely far stronger than ordinary human soldiers."


    His tone paused.


    "But there are too many uncertain variables, such as their spellcasters, and¡­ our faction leader."


    "You mean that Red Dragon?"


    "Yes, so far we''ve only seen his avatar and statues. The lair in Dragon Valley is off-limits to most, making it difficult to assess his role in the war."


    Tyrant made a decision, "Then we''ll fight our best. If we win, we''ll certainly gain contribution points. If we lose, no big deal. If the enemy breaks in, we''ll switch sides as guides. After all, our race is human. Even if the Northern Countries'' forces occupy Barto City, we could still run things locally."


    Fengyun agreed, "That''s what I think too."


    Tyrant turned to the elite warrior player "Big Blade," asking, "How many contribution points do you have? When can you get the Red Scale Conqueror?"


    Big Blade responded loudly, "I have 9300 points already. I should be able to exchange it by tomorrow, though I still need to buy some items to tame the Wyvern from Xin Dog."


    Tyrant nodded, "Good. I''m planning to use the Mysterious Invitation tomorrow. Let''s prepare the money and contribution points. We''ll buy everything we need in one trip."


    The construction brother "Bucket Runner" weakly suggested, "Since we''re going to war, shouldn''t we get some special weapons?"


    "Indeed, we shoul¡ª"


    Tyrant was about to reply when a loud roar came from the sky, distinctly different from the raspy cries of Wyverns. This sound was deep and powerful, filled with majesty, compelling a desire to kneel in submission.


    Fengyun asked in confusion, "What''s happening?"


    The guild members guarding the door rushed in, shouting, "Come quickly!" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The faction leader has descended!"


    Tyrant immediately said, "Let''s go see."


    All the Royalty guild members followed Tyrant to the hillside area of Barto City.


    "Roar¡ª"


    Another long roar echoed.


    A large crowd of players had gathered in the hillside area. The Tiefling residents were also present, along with the Tiefling Guards led by Mezulash.


    In the sky, a massive shadow appeared, casting many into darkness.


    Next, the red figure descended thunderously, landing on the highest rock in the hillside area.


    Dust flew, even the ground trembled slightly.


    Everyone looked up in shock. As the dust settled, they saw the visitor clearly¡ªit was a terrifying Red Dragon. Its immense body was strong and muscular, covered in armor-like red scales. Backward swept horns resembled a crown.


    Cassius stood on the rock, spreading his wings tens of meters wide, casting a shadow over the people of Barto City below.


    He looked down from his high perch, golden pupils flashing with authority. An invisible aura emanated instantly.


    The crowd felt a profound fear of this mighty creature, instinctively lowering their heads. This is what they felt as Dragon''s Might.


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    Cassius then slowly spoke, his voice rumbling like thunder, "My subjects, war is upon us."


    His voice echoed throughout Barto City.


    "The Allied Forces of the Northern Countries are gathering. They march towards Stormy Ridge, intending to destroy my city, slaughter my retainers, and plunder my wealth."


    "Yet my strength will show them this is a mere delusion. All they have will turn to ashes under the flame."


    "Subjects, prepare yourselves. Prove your loyalty with blood and fire. The crucible of battle is about to begin, and we will undoubtedly crush the feeble forces of the Northern Countries."


    "For Ashen Nest!"


    "For Barto City!"


    "For the great Red Dragon!"


    "For¡­ revenge!"


    Mezulash was the first to raise his sword and shout, followed by the Tiefling Guards raising their spears and cheering.


    Soon, more joined, the shouts forming waves of fervent cries. The people of Barto City yelled passionately, vowing to crush the invading forces.


    Players also joined the fervor, adding cries of "For Dragon Mother!" "For experience!" "For the Succubus!" and other personal tags. The Tieflings, used to this, pretended not to hear.


    Tyrant looked up at the colossal Red Dragon, whose wings shadowed them all, and sighed, "What challenge level can this reach? With our whole guild, we wouldn''t last a few minutes."


    Fengyun murmured, "I don''t know, but I know one thing."


    "This war¡­ we shouldn''t lose."


    Player panels refreshed with information.


    [Main Mission: The Beginning of War]


    [Led by the "Flame Wing Dragon" Cassius, the expansion of Ashen Nest has alarmed the three Northern Duchies of Rackman, Boske, and Notte. They have therefore formed an allied army of over thirty thousand, preparing to march on Stormy Ridge to eradicate this evil force.


    You can freely choose your faction in the war to strive for victory. For each enemy killed, you''ll earn 150 Faction Contribution Points. The mission will start in about 30 days, so make all necessary preparations for the upcoming war.]

 Chapter 95 25. The Barons Banquet

    Sgurr Town.At the Baron''s Mansion.


    Todd Rackman clasped his hands together, looking deeply troubled.


    A close attendant patiently served him¡ªit was Todd''s new butler, named Charlotte, who had a knack for pleasing the Baron with his words.


    Todd couldn''t help but ask the attendant, "What should I do? My father has already sent a message. The Allied Forces might choose Sgurr Town as their camp. Once they discover my collusion with the Ashen Nest, then..."


    Thinking of his father''s crimson eyes made Todd''s body shiver uncontrollably.


    The attendant simply said, "You must make a choice. You can choose to become a faithful servant of the evil dragons, or become... the hero of your family."


    "What should I do?"


    Todd clung to the suggestion like a lifeline.


    The attendant replied, "It''s straightforward. The first step is to eliminate Hart and report the situation here to your family."


    Todd immediately gnashing his teeth said, "Yes, yes, we need to get rid of Hart, that scourge, that traitor! He''s the one who brought this Red Dragon here. If it weren''t for him, I wouldn''t be in this predicament. That damned lapdog!"


    Perhaps alert to the sounds of war, Hart had recently become all-seeing over the Baron''s activities, acting increasingly brazenly, paying no heed to Baron Todd.


    This made the Baron extremely displeased, growing ever more hateful towards Hart. How dare the former slave trader, once groveling at his feet, now rise above him?


    The attendant offered advice at the right moment, "My lord Baron, maybe you need a banquet."


    "Oh?"


    "Hart has become so arrogant that he completely disregards you. He''s certain that out of concern for the Ashen Nest, you wouldn''t dare act against him. So, you could invite him to a banquet, using the opportunity to eliminate him completely."


    Baron Todd pondered for a moment, slowly lowering his clasped hands.


    "Alright, let''s do it."


    "I''ll make sure he knows who the real master here is...."


    The Baron''s pupils glowed with a bloody light.


    ...


    In the dim hall, candle flames flickered.


    The long table was laden with a feast, with several soldiers standing guard nearby.


    Hart and the Baron sat across from each other at the long table, while the attendant Charlotte stood by.


    Hart spoke first, laughing heartily, "My lord Baron, did you call me over just to treat me to a sumptuous dinner? It seems that someone as proud as you has learned how to please others."


    Baron Todd''s pale face showed a false smile, "You''re right, Hart... my lord."


    He slowly rose, straightened his clothes, then walked to stand behind Hart.


    The attendant followed closely behind.


    Hart seemed unaware of the danger, leaning back in his chair, smugly saying, "What, my dear Baron, are you going to serve me dinner?"


    Baron Todd stood behind Hart, a crimson light appearing deep in his pupils.


    "Yes, of course, serve dinner¡ª"


    His tone turned somewhat sinister.


    In an instant, Baron Todd lunged forward, sharp fangs aiming for Hart''s neck. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    Only by draining this insolent human''s blood could Todd alleviate his hatred; he wanted Hart to witness his own life draining away.


    "Crunch."


    There was no familiar sensation of flesh.


    Instead, Hart''s neck, which should have been soft and vulnerable, was covered in hard, crimson scales that broke Todd''s fangs.


    Baron Todd, face contorted, cried out in shock, "How could this be¡ª"


    Hart, expecting this, laughed wildly, "You, a vermin of the shadows, how could you understand the power of a master!


    "Look, this is the noble bloodline of the True Dragon!"


    Hart then slowly stood, turning around, his bulging muscles tearing through his clothes.


    Not just his neck; scales also covered the sides of his face, though hidden by his hair. Even his eyes had turned into golden vertical pupils, sharp claws growing from his hands.


    Baron Todd shouted, "Quick! Guards! Kill this monster for me!"


    The soldiers standing guard immediately raised their spears, but instead of attacking Hart as Todd expected, they pointed their weapons at Baron Todd.


    A heavy cloud of darkness fell over Baron Todd''s face, followed by uncontrollable anger, "Damn it! You betrayed me!"


    "These lowly humans truly can''t be trusted!"


    In his fury, he lost his mind, directly casting a spell at Hart.


    "Mayuf''s Strong Acid Arrow!"


    An acid arrow flew towards Hart but was blocked by an invisible shield.


    Baron Todd tried to cast a teleportation spell to escape, but found the room surrounded by Whispering Flowers¡ªa special material that suppresses magic, rendering him unable to pass through.


    Growing more infuriated, he thought, "There''s another spellcaster? This is a complete ambush, and I''m the prey!"


    "No, it''s Charlotte!"


    "You are the biggest traitor!"


    Baron Todd angrily turned around, only to see the always humble attendant now showing a disdainful expression.


    [Hypnotism]


    Charlotte''s hand glowed with eerie magical light.


    Baron Todd immediately fell into a magical sleep, collapsing to the ground.


    Hart kicked the unconscious vampire variant on the ground, laughing heartily, "Well done, Charlotte, this vampire hiding in the darkness isn''t very powerful but has too many ways to escape.


    "It wouldn''t be good if he escaped back to Northwind Castle."


    He laughed, "Poor Baron Todd, thinking he had set a trap for me, only to become the prey himself."


    Charlotte said, "Lord Hart, about the reward you promised...."


    Hart waved his hand generously, "Don''t worry, five hundred gold coins, not a single coin less, and all the magic scrolls in the Baron''s Mansion, plus positions in Sgurr Town will be reserved for you, as long as you do your job well."


    Hart was about to use a silver knife to kill the vampire, but Charlotte hurriedly stopped him.


    "Don''t kill him. Lord Ramp specifically instructed that he needs to study the vampire variant."


    At the mention of Ramp''s name, Hart shivered and sighed, "Tsk tsk, this poor Baron won''t even be able to wish for death."


    When it was all over, the guards revealed their true identities.


    ¡ªThey were all members of the [Magic Coin] guild! S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The vice president Bright Moon, guild members Heavenly Fire, Mage of Love, Kabaleba, and many other renowned mage players were there.


    Even the maid serving the meal was disguised by the Sky Flying Witch.


    These players mastered advanced techniques learned in the New Era, flattering and serving Baron Todd, quickly becoming his trusted confidants within the mansion.


    Poor Baron Todd believed he had found allies free from the control of the Ashen Nest, not realizing they were all players eyeing his head.


    Charlotte laughed wildly, hands on hips, "Haha, completing this set of tasks has filled our guild''s coffers. From now on, Sgurr Town is the territory of the Magic Coin guild!"

 Chapter 26 Mechanical God Cult

    "Clang! Clang! Clang!"The saying goes, hoist the bellows with a whoosh, snatch the hammer with a clang. At this moment, a player with the ID "Steel Torrent" was frantically blacksmithing with brute force, and a pile of processed iron pipes had already accumulated beside him.


    Steel Torrent, entirely oblivious to the scorching heat blowing against his face and the sweat streaming down his forehead, looked incredibly excited, as if he had boundless energy to expend.


    This guy chose the Barbarian occupation but had hardly fought, only to have more strength.


    That brute force was only used for one thing: blacksmithing.


    Yes, since entering the game, he had been tirelessly forging iron, and now he had become the youngest and strongest blacksmith in Daimo Blacksmith Shop in Barto City.


    The Tiefling old blacksmith Daimo, watching from the side, blew his beard and glared: "You rascal, idling around all day and tinkering with this junk. What''s the use?"


    He shook his head in regret, his face full of heartache.


    "Such a waste of materials! With this much fine iron, I could have forged a set of the best armor in my younger days."


    Steel Torrent gave the old blacksmith a disdainful glance, his hands never stopping.


    "It''s not like I haven''t done my job properly. I''ve completed all the task targets. What I do on my own time is none of your business."


    He looked at the crooked steel pipes with an excited expression and a strangely enthusiastic tone:


    "Old Daimo, just wait and see."


    "The direction of the times is right under my hammer!"


    Steel Torrent continued to blacksmith passionately, brimming with confidence.


    Daimo: "..."


    Fortunately, he had seen plenty of these things these days. No matter what these so-called "players" said or did, Old Daimo wasn''t surprised at all.


    "Tsk tsk, these guys."


    He was used to it, just that.


    Daimo fell into his memories.


    A few months ago, he was manning the blacksmith shop when two seemingly normal players came to buy equipment.


    One chatted with him, while the other boldly started stealing right in the shop, causing a mess and even reaching into Daimo''s pockets.


    And the one trying to "distract" him didn''t even blush or show any guilt, continuing to chat with him.


    This left Daimo profoundly shocked. He had seen thieves but never so brazen ones, nor such arrogant ones.


    Old Daimo couldn''t take it anymore, veins bulging on his arm. He directly picked up a ten-pound hammer and knocked both of them out.


    When he called the sheriff to arrest them, the two "players" still struggled, faces full of disbelief, muttering nonsense like "I bypassed you", "My stealth is very high", and "I clearly triggered dialogue". This left Daimo speechless.


    However, similar incidents became more frequent, and Old Daimo grew numb, hitting thieves unconscious with a hammer expressionlessly, like a seasoned farmer harvesting wheat.


    But later, he noticed the positive side of these players, their tirelessness, and disregard for life and death.


    For example, he didn''t have to work anymore. All his tasks were handed over to these blacksmith apprentices.


    "Got it! Got it!"


    "I did it!"


    Steel Torrent''s excited shout interrupted Old Daimo''s thoughts.


    Just as he was about to step forward for a look, a dozen blacksmith apprentice players swarmed ahead, completely ignoring the frail old Daimo.


    "These rude brats."


    Old Daimo muttered softly.


    But he couldn''t be bothered to check what they were up to this time.


    Old Daimo lay back in his chair, squinting, covering his face with an old, yellowing book, enjoying the leisurely time of not working.


    "Got it, got it!"


    Steel Torrent shouted madly.


    Everyone gathered tightly around the blacksmith shop, staring at the still warm, rough iron gun barrel.


    They were all members of the same guild¡ª"Mechanical God Cult".


    This guild was formed by machinery enthusiasts, led by Steel Torrent, and their slogan was "Flesh is weak, mechanical ascension!" Unfortunately, there were no mechanics-related occupations in the early game. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    Luckily, they found that the reactions of reality might appear in magical form in Anzeta, so these Mechanical God Cult players pioneered a new way to blacksmith¡ªblacksmithing.


    Now, Daimo Blacksmith Shop was filled with various items, iron pipes, crude springs, taps and dies, simple lathes, and table drills and vices. All were made by these machinery enthusiasts.


    Daimo turned a blind eye, considering they worked for free.


    A guild member and famous firearm enthusiast, "Battlefield Wheelchair Man," shouted: "Bring me the best wood! The stock needs to be big!"


    Now, the Mechanical God Cult players were busy and happy in the blacksmith shop.


    "One part nitre, two parts sulfur, three parts charcoal. The equipment isn''t perfect, but we''ll use the old method to make black powder."


    "Where are the triggers and hammers?"


    "Crap, Daimo made them into rings. We''ll have to remake them."


    "Where''s the gunshot pellet? Let''s use scrap iron and crush it."


    "Bullets? Just put some lead into small steel beads, wrap it in cloth, and shove it into the barrel. It''ll stay inside."


    Soon, after everyone''s busy work


    Perhaps the first firearm in Anzeta was born.


    A primitive front-loading shotgun lay there, with its rough wrought iron barrel, simple hammer-firing mechanism, oversized wooden stock, and "bullets" wrapped in oiled cloth. Some small steel beads even accidentally fell out, and the air was filled with the scent of saltpeter.


    Although it looked crude and like garbage from an abandoned factory, it represented the collective effort of everyone.


    They created this in a place with medieval-level productivity, naturally filled with difficulties. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Is it a success?"


    "Quick, try it out."


    Steel Torrent carefully picked up the makeshift gun and laboriously stuffed the oiled cloth-wrapped bullet into the barrel, with several steel beads falling out.


    He slowly raised the gun, aiming at a prepared straw target.


    The members of the Mechanical God Cult held their breath.


    "Bang!"


    The gunshot resounded like thunder in the flatland.


    Old Daimo, napping soundly, was startled awake, the book falling from his face.


    He yelled furiously: "What are you brats up to now?"


    Only to see the players celebrating, dancing around a bizarre-looking, ragged iron tube.


    Next to them, a straw dummy was in pieces, black smoke rising, with iron beads still warm on the ground.


    The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.


    "So they''re tinkering with this junk again."


    Old Daimo muttered softly, picked up the old book from the ground, dusted it off, and covered his face again, falling back into a deep sleep.

 Chapter 27 Hidden Occupation: Mechanic Mage

    "Holy crap, we really did it!""Hehehe..."


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man stroked the huge stock of the primitive gun, as if caressing his lover of the future.


    Steel Torrent slapped his hand away:"Step aside, you creep."


    Nearby, the player with the ID "Electromagnetic Blast" suggested:"This is our first gun, a milestone, it deserves a name."


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man eagerly proposed:"How about SMG0818? Or Type Two Submachine Gun, those are my true loves!"


    Steel Torrent scoffed:"Get lost with those lame wheelchair gun names."


    "Besides, this is a shotgun."


    "How about M30 Composite Gun?" Battlefield Wheelchair Man suggested again.


    Steel Torrent ignored him, pondered for a moment, then decided:"Since this gun can shoot steel pellets, let''s call it... Steel Shooter?"


    Everyone:"..."


    That moment of silence said it all.


    Steel Torrent realized the name was a bit crude, awkwardly scratched his head, and quickly corrected himself:"I was just kidding, let''s discuss it further."


    But as they were about to start another round of debates, information appeared on the panel.


    Amid the smoky smell, a faint magical aura appeared on the rough barrel of the primitive gun, a result of the series of magical reactions from firing the bullet.


    [Creator Naming Successful!]


    [You have successfully created the magical weapon [Steel Shooter]]


    [Steel Shooter]


    Quality: Special


    Range: Within fifty meters, it depends on luck. Beyond fifty meters, it''s up to fate.


    Introduction:


    This gun was forged with the simplest equipment and the crudest materials but condensed the efforts of more than a dozen blacksmiths. The pitted hammer marks on the barrel reveal its origins.


    This simple-structured shotgun requires tens of seconds to reload, or even longer, and can only fire once per reload. But trust me, with its power, before the second shot, the dense steel pellets will turn you into a pile of pulp!


    "The direction of the era lies beneath my hammer!" - From the firearm creator, Steel Torrent


    Steel Torrent:"..."


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man patted his shoulder, comforting:"Boss, it''s fine. Even though the name is a bit ugly, aren''t we making history... or rather, infamous history?"


    "In the future, when people mention you, they''ll say, hey, he''s the creator of the first gun in "Erezer", the great Jet Warrior, Steel Torrent!"


    By the end, Battlefield Wheelchair Man couldn''t help but burst into laughter.


    Steel Torrent glared at him fiercely.


    But soon, everyone''s attention was drawn to the updated panel information.


    Steel Torrent muttered to himself:"Holy crap..."


    [You have created a new magical item, unlocking the hidden occupation: Mechanic Mage!]


    [In the Multiverse, Mechanic Mages have created inventions and magical items for both peace and war. Many lives have been illuminated or saved by the work of kind Mechanic Mages, but countless lives have also suffered from mass destruction due to some ingenious creations.]


    [As masters of invention, Mechanic Mages use their originality and magic to unleash extraordinary abilities in objects. They view magic as a complex system to be decoded and utilized in their spells and inventions, using various tools to channel their arcane power.]


    [Detected that your current occupation is: Barbarian]


    [Do you wish to change occupations?]


    [Note: After changing occupations, you will receive an experience penalty, your experience points will be 40% of the original, please consider carefully.]


    Steel Torrent was instantly overwhelmed with excitement, waved his hand vigorously:


    "To hell with considering¡ª¡ª"


    "I confirm the change!"


    [Your current occupation is: Mechanic Mage Level 1]


    [To cast spells, Mechanic Mages might use Alchemist supplies to create a potent Miracle Medicine, Calligrapher supplies to inscribe a symbol of strength, or mending tools to create a temporary talisman.]


    [A Mechanic Mage''s magic is closely tied to their tools and talent, few other occupations can create items that utilize the Multiverse''s magic rules as effectively as a Mechanic Mage.]


    [Gained Mechanic Mage trait: [Magic Craftsmanship]]


    [Magic Craftsmanship]:


    [You have learned the principles of magic and know how to channel magic into objects and awaken it. Therefore, you gain limited spellcasting ability. To onlookers, you don''t seem to cast spells traditionally¡ªyou appear to create miracles through various items. You will learn to infuse ordinary items with the spark of magic.]


    After reading the occupation description, Steel Torrent was thrilled.


    "The Mechanical God Cult''s spring has arrived!"


    "In the future, whether it''s planes, cannons, or aircraft carriers, and mechas, we can make them all!" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Steel Torrent clenched his fist tightly, raised his arm, and shouted:


    "Flesh is weak, mechanical ascension!"


    ...


    Cassius coiled in the Giant''s Mouth Cave, used a magical image to observe the cheering players in the blacksmith shop, his expression slightly surprised.


    "Mechanical God Cult?"


    "Isn''t this the guild that appeared after the server opened? How come it already has a prototype and even unlocked Mechanic Mage early."


    The Mechanical God Cult was one of the most powerful player guilds in later eras.


    In the early days of its establishment, [Mechanical God Cult] was just a small group of mechanical enthusiasts. Their leader "Steel Torrent" was merely an ordinary mechanical engineering college student.


    But as the player base in "Erezer" grew larger, this early-start guild attracted top talents from around the world, including cutting-edge scientists in various fields, which made the later stage of [Mechanical God Cult] look like something out of science fiction. They even established a floating fortress in the Mechanical Realm as their headquarters.


    "I must recruit them."


    "I need to bring this force under my control."


    Watching the image of the shotgun tearing the strawman apart, Cassius made up his mind.


    Thus, Ramp, the chief steward of the Ashen Nest and the giant sage, personally went to Barto City, found the members of the [Mechanical God Cult], and offered generous treatment, ample funding, and the most advanced spell resources, even proactively offering each member a rare Dragon Blood Elixir.


    Under the allure of these offers, Steel Torrent, who had never seen the world, gave in easily.


    Especially the ample funding, which deeply moved him after months of frugally forging iron.


    Without hesitation, Steel Torrent led his guild members to join, contentedly becoming the Red Dragon''s lackey¡ªa half-dragon.


    Now, not only did he forge iron with more vigor, but he could also breathe fire himself, saving the effort of fanning the flames to stoke the furnace.


    With the expedited work of the Bugbears and Ogres, in just seven days, a brand-new, sizable building appeared in Barto City.


    A huge iron plaque hung at the entrance¡ªStorm Arsenal.

 Chapter 28 Doloress New Army

    "You call these ''secret weapons'' just these broken iron rods?"Dolores, the military leader of the Ashen Nest, a Dragon Vein Great Goblin over two meters tall, looked down at the human in front of him, his golden eyes filled with doubt.


    Chekhov, the player, hurried forward to explain: "This is the latest model of firearm we researched at the Storm Arsenal, the Breaker of Enemies. Although it''s still a smoothbore gun, after modifying the barrel, while the power has somewhat decreased, its accuracy and range have significantly improved..."


    Dolores casually picked up a gun, weighed it in his hand, and said disdainfully, "What can you attack with this little short stick? In war, the most effective weapons are our spears, bows, and warhammers!"


    He casually threw the so-called "rifle" aside.


    Seeing the gun about to hit the ground, Chekhov quickly stepped forward and caught it, fearing any damage.


    Though he was scornful of Dolores'' lack of insight, Chekhov still took the initiative to say, "Lord Dolores, this thing is not used like that, let me demonstrate it for you."


    Coincidentally, a Goblin Breeder nearby was leading an aurochs.


    Dolores, although dismissive of such a trifle, was also curious to see what would come of it, so he nodded slightly in approval.


    "Please step back."


    Chekhov expertly loaded the ammunition, held his breath, and aimed the gun.


    "Bang!"


    A thunderous sound rang out, and wisps of blue smoke rose from the muzzle.


    The enormous body of the aurochs collapsed with a thud, riddled with countless tiny holes. Steel balls were deeply embedded in its flesh, even its internal organs. The creature''s body was turned into a sieve by the single shot.


    Dolores gasped in shock.


    Seeing this weapon kill an aurochs with a single shot, he quickly realized its significance in warfare.


    Moreover, its power wasn''t even the scariest part. If you had to compare, a bow and arrow could achieve the same lethal power, albeit needing an excellent archer.


    This thing called a "rifle" was terrifying because it was almost without an entry threshold. Even the weakest, most inferior goblin could pick up a gun and pull the trigger.


    Just by doing this, he could be on par in a shootout with a skilled archer.


    Remember, archers were an absolute elite in the army, with high training costs, while goblins were the most abundant expendables, prolific in numbers.


    He became somewhat excited, grabbing the human''s shoulders, his hot breath almost hitting Chekhov''s face: "How many of these iron sticks can you produce?"


    Chekhov softly corrected: "It''s the ''Breaker of Enemies'' rifle."


    Dolores said, "I don''t care what it''s called. I just want to know how many you can make."


    After a moment''s hesitation, Chekhov said, "Given that our Storm Arsenal was recently established and manpower is limited, if we expedite production, we should be able to make three hundred rifles before the war starts. As for bullets, we can supply them freely since the resources in the Ashen Nest are relatively abundant."


    "Very good."


    Hearing this number, Dolores was not surprised.


    After all, expecting such battlefield weapons to be produced as easily as common swords was unrealistic. With just three hundred rifles, if used well, they might sway the course of a war. Dolores was deeply aware of this.


    Chekhov returned to the arsenal to report the situation.


    Soon, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man arrived at the Dragon Valley encampment with a hundred guns and a cart full of bullets.


    He said to Dolores: "This is all our current stock."


    Dolores nodded, summoned several sturdy Bugbears, and prepared to transport them back to the encampment.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man approached and said to him: "Lord Dolores, our Storm Arsenal has also provided tactical training for this weapon. You should try it."


    "Oh? What kind of tactics?"


    Dolores was intrigued; Great Goblins were endlessly fascinated by war topics.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man took out a crooked piece of parchment, on which simple little figures were drawn.


    "An ancient, simple, yet effective tactic. We usually call it¡ª"


    He lowered his voice mysteriously:


    "Firing squad."


    ...


    Three days later, in Dragon Valley.


    It was another routine military drill.


    At this time, the Red Dragon would appear at the entrance of the Giant''s Mouth Cave to inspect the troops from above, boosting morale and preparing for the coming war.


    But this time, there was a special unit in the ranks, equipped with new weapons.


    "Master, this drill will definitely satisfy you."


    Dolores waited respectfully on the side, his tone excited.


    "Oh?"


    Cassius was quite interested.


    He could guess that the players from the Mechanical God Cult had played a significant role in this.


    The military drill began, and all the retainers wanted to show off in front of the Red Dragon, so they worked extra hard.


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    "WHAAAAH!" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was a familiar charging drill. The burly Bugbears raised their giant hammers and charged forward like beasts, smashing the straw men in front of them.


    "Hey-ho!"


    The smaller goblins followed, throwing short spears at the targets.


    "For Lord Cassius!"


    A well-equipped Goblin Corps, holding shields in their left hands and knives and spears in their right, advanced in a tight formation.


    "Not bad, I am quite pleased."


    Cassius casually assessed.


    He didn''t really care much about these troops; these monsters were not crucial to his standing; even if they were all expended, he wouldn''t feel a thing.


    Dolores said excitedly: "Master, it''s not over yet."


    The sound of war drums echoed through the valley.


    "Boom, boom, boom!"


    At the end of the ranks, an elite Goblin Corps appeared, clad in plate armor. Their steps were uniform, moving to the rhythm of the war drums, and each held the newest Breaker of Enemies rifle from the Storm Arsenal.


    Moreover, they had loaded their ammunition before entering the field.


    "Oh?"


    Cassius'' interest was piqued, his golden pupils brightening slightly.


    The goblins formed a line, halting at about fifty meters from the straw targets, arranging themselves in a semicircle.


    The drumsticks stopped, and the training ground fell silent.


    Dolores, quite pleased, stepped forward and yelled to the army below:


    "Ready!"


    The goblins raised their rifles according to their training, and a flurry of sounds followed.


    "Fire!"


    They pulled the triggers.


    "Bang!"


    A tremendous roar echoed through the valley.


    A row of blue smoke slowly rose from the muzzles, the scent of gunpowder filling the air. Sweat dripped from the goblins'' foreheads, but they were also excited by the sight.


    The straw targets were instantly shredded by countless bullets, falling in rows to the ground, the power making even the Red Dragon marvel.


    "Firing squad?"


    Cassius recognized the familiar tactic, feeling a bit amused. These guys had really brought this technique to Erezer.


    However, the Red Dragon still spread his wings and looked down at his retainers from atop the mountain, saying:


    "Excellent! I hope that in the future, you can smash the enemy on the battlefield just like this and prove your loyalty to me with their blood."


    Dolores raised his gun high, shouting spiritedly: "For the Master, the Ashen Nest!"


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    "For the great will of the Red Dragon!"


    "Conquer everything!"


    The troops below erupted, their cheers rising like waves, unceasing for a long time.

 Chapter 29 Dailennas Report

    After watching the military exercise, Cassius returned to the cave, where the Great Goblin presented another secret report.He examined it carefully.


    The report was titled "Notes on the Northern Tripartite Alliance."


    "In terms of direct military power comparison, the Boske Duchy is obviously far superior to the combined strengths of Rackman and Notte Duchies.


    Boske emerged victorious in the internal struggles of the Northern United Kingdom. It gained a special status in the "Lionheart Alliance" a century ago and has since occupied the southern part of the Anzeta Wasteland as the nominal controllers of the United Kingdom.


    However, their relationship with other duchies has always been subtle and distant. The current Grand Duke of Boske dreams of a unified, federated kingdom, so he does not fully exert his strength to assist any particular country but rather prefers to see his neighbors'' power weakened.


    Of the so-called thirty thousand allied forces, less than five thousand originated from the "Northern Lion" of the Boske Duchy, and even these were unimportant border guards. The Notte Family of the "Double-Headed Eagle," though reliant on Rackman as a shield, was willing to help but could only muster three thousand troops due to limited strength.


    As for the bulk of this so-called allied force, it was primarily made up of soldiers from the Rackman Duchy, as this matter concerned their survival. They dispatched virtually their entire military.


    This collection of notes aims to record the military status of the Rackman Duchy.


    The lowest and most common soldiers in the army are the conscripted laborers. Before the war, these men were likely farmers without any systematic military training. Equipped only with inferior weapons and almost no armor, their primary roles were feeding warhorses and transporting supplies, or being used as cannon fodder before elite units engaged the enemy.


    In the Rackman Duchy, these men are typically tenants and serfs under the control of local gentry, lacking personal freedom and without the right to claim spoils of war. Any military achievements or spoils they gain are recorded under their owner''s name.


    Slightly better are the second-tier soldiers, who are free men that joined the military for conscription. They keep their spoils of war, and although their financial means are limited, they often fight with inherited weapons.


    In the duchy, these men are usually self-sufficient farmers who serve under their lords. Military service is their obligation to the lords. Theoretically, they are on par with the gentry, as the gentry are essentially farmers with more land who do not participate directly in production.


    The third-tier soldiers are closely associated with their lords and are true professional soldiers. Their eagerness to fight far surpasses that of conscripts. They are often the lords'' attendants or local gentry. Whether through stipends from their lords or income from their own lands, they have enough wealth to procure superior weapons and armor and gain more benefits from war.


    There is another type of soldier between the second and third tiers, known as mercenaries. Although they do not possess as much property as the gentry, their constant battle experience compels them to convert their existing wealth into better weapons and armor to survive and achieve more in combat.


    Conscripted soldiers from farming backgrounds tend to spend their spoils on living expenses. While mercenaries do not receive structured military training like third-tier soldiers, their extensive combat experience serves as their training, provided they survive.


    The fourth and highest-tier soldiers not only have ample wealth to procure top-tier weapons and armor but also receive enough military education to qualify for junior officer positions.


    Only this group can form sizeable cavalry units. They often serve as knights or barons under lords. The representative of this group is the so-called "Northwind Eagle Guards" Knight Order."


    The final signature read, "Your loyal servant, the humble pureblood Serpentfolk, Dailenna. Poisonstroke."


    "Interesting..."


    Cassius stared at the text, thinking to himself.


    This is no mere military report; it is a comprehensive overview of the social structure of the Northern countries¡ªor rather, it seems more like a show of credentials.


    Whatever Dailenna''s motive, she had successfully piqued the Red Dragon''s interest.


    After a moment of thought, Cassius ordered, "Dolores, bring the author of this report over."


    Dolores quickly said, "Master, that Serpentfolk has been waiting at the door for a long time. I wanted to send her away..."


    "Let her in."


    "Yes, Master."


    In a moment, Dolores brought her up.


    Cassius scrutinized the pureblood Serpentfolk closely. She wore a heavy headscarf, and her purple robe accentuated her graceful figure. For now, there was little to distinguish her from a human.


    Under Cassius''s scrutinizing gaze, Dailenna removed her headscarf and, without any hesitation, lifted her head to reveal a captivating smile.


    Her face was stunningly beautiful, but it emitted a hint of danger. The vertical pupils, sharp fangs, and forked tongue revealed her Serpentfolk heritage.


    "Lord Cassius, I have long admired your name. I knew you would let me in."


    Her voice was enchanting yet had a serpent''s rasp.


    Cassius looked down at her from above.


    "To write such text, you must be quite capable. You could earn a good position among humans. Why come to my secluded Ashen Nest?"


    Dailenna instinctively flashed a flattering smile and coquettishly said, "Lord Cassius..."


    However, she was interrupted before she could finish.


    "Do not use your feeble Charm Person spell on a noble dragon."


    Cassius''s tone was perilous, emitting a faint Magical Aura of Dragon''s Might.


    She truly felt for the first time that she was facing a genuine and ferocious Red Dragon, not a bloated human lord.


    Under this pressure, Dailenna felt an instinctive fear. She trembled and bowed her head, kneeling on the ground.


    "I-my identity..."


    "In Serpentfolk society, I am the lowest scum, and in human society, my bloodline prevents me from showcasing my talents. So I came here..."


    Cassius said indifferently, "Now, isn''t it better when you speak plainly?"


    "I prefer directness. So tell me¡ªwhat do you seek to gain in the Ashen Nest?"


    After a moment''s hesitation, Dailenna gritted her teeth and said,


    "Power, status."


    With that, she knelt in silence.


    The air was nearly static as sweat rolled down her forehead. She awaited the final judgment.


    Cassius glanced at her, and a faint Magical Aura flashed in his golden eyes.


    [Lie Detector]


    The spell showed she was not lying.


    Cassius''s calm voice sounded again.


    "Good. You did not deceive me, or you would now be a pile of ashes."


    Dailenna sighed in relief.


    "Here at the Ashen Nest, we welcome capable individuals. I do not mind your ambitions but encourage them, as long as you prove useful to me..."


    "Do you understand?"


    Dailenna quickly nodded in agreement.


    "Go to the ugly tower and find my steward, Ramp. He will arrange a suitable position for you."


    "Yes."


    "...Master"


    S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 30 Northwind Castle Log (1)

    The disheveled, tattered Swashbuckler finally saw the towering city walls in the distance."Finally¡ªNorthwind Castle."


    Tears immediately streamed down his face.


    These past few months had been exceedingly tough for him, but somehow, he had managed to stay alive every time. First, he was knocked out by a Hill Giant from the Stormy Ridge''s outskirts with a club and taken as food stock. Just as he was about to be roasted, he used his Wanderer''s Handy Proficiencies to untie the ropes and escaped with the Blur Technique.


    But barely out of the frying pan, he found himself back in the fire. Half-Orcs robbed him blind on the road, stripping him of all his equipment and dragging him away to be a slave. He toiled in the mines for over a month before he finally escaped and made his way to Northwind Castle.


    Thinking of these unbearable experiences, the Swashbuckler gritted his teeth.


    "This time, in Northwind Castle, I have to make a name for myself!"


    At the city gate, dozens of Guards were patrolling. The emblem on their chests featured a crossed eagle and sword¡ªsignifying the City Defense Army of Northwind Castle, the Rackman Duchy''s Guardians¡ªthe Eagle''s Shield. It was a time of war preparedness, and every entrant had to undergo inspection and questioning.


    Merchants driving carts and hurried travelers bustled by.


    The Swashbuckler quickly pulled his hood down further and tried to blend into the crowd, hoping to slip through unnoticed.


    However, a spear was suddenly thrust in front of him.


    "Halt!"


    "Five silver coins for entry."


    The Swashbuckler froze. He had no money left; everything he owned had been stripped by the Half-Orcs. Even this hooded robe was something he snagged from a merchant convoy. He was as broke as one could be.


    Thinking this, he put on a fawning smile:


    "Sir, my money was stolen outside the city. I have to go back..."


    The Guard''s face turned hostile, the spear tip pointed at his nose. "How do we know you''re a legitimate resident? Don''t even think about sneaking in!"


    The Swashbuckler''s smile faded, and he turned to leave reluctantly, only to be stopped again.


    "Halt!"


    "Sir, what now?"


    "Who said you could leave? What if you''re a spy?" Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    The Swashbuckler was on the verge of tears.


    Is there no justice? They wouldn''t let him in, nor out. What was he to do¡ª


    He thought about taking a gamble by using the Blur Technique to escape. But then again, he had come so far. Using the Blur Technique would confirm him as a spy. If he got skewered by spears and returned to the Respawn Point, all his struggles would be for nothing.


    He might even face ridicule from those haters with jabs like "Rogue Beast is back" "Welcome home, Rogue Beast" already echoing in his mind.


    Thinking of this, the usually reckless Swashbuckler gritted his teeth, thinking to himself:


    "I''ll just stay here! Even if they throw me in prison, at least I''ll be inside!"


    He was really learning not to court death this time!


    The Swashbuckler made small talk with the Guard.


    "Sir, the weather is nice today."


    "Have you eaten?"


    "Your uniform looks mighty sharp!"


    However, the Guard remained indifferent, busy catching other refugees and beggars trying to slip through. The number of people gathered around the Swashbuckler kept growing.


    Soon, another squad of Guards arrived.


    The refugees were handed over to this new squad and finally, they were inside the gates of Northwind Castle.


    Inside the city, the streets were bustling and prosperous, but the refugees were escorted down a little-known alleyway.


    The Swashbuckler felt puzzled and asked:


    "Where are we going?"


    "Why don''t you answer?"


    The leading Guard Captain didn''t even look back, treating him as if he were already dead.


    The deeper they went, the eerier the atmosphere became. Finally, the Swashbuckler saw a large stone building adorned with a battered wooden sign that read "Refugee Shelter."


    The area was surrounded by dense, dark forests. Besides the Guard at the shelter entrance, it was just them.


    "I hope this isn''t another sweatshop..."


    The Swashbuckler shivered at the thought.


    He followed the refugees into this so-called "shelter."


    The place was lined with rusty iron cages, often stained with dried black blood, and traces of uncleaned urine and feces. The air was thick with the stench of blood and metal.


    The Swashbuckler was escorted deeper underground and thrown into a cage.


    "Where is this place?"


    "Damn it..."


    In the darkness, the torchlight flickered.


    As he looked around, he saw that the cages were filled with frail, pale humans.


    They were all in rags, their emaciated bodies covered in filth, either curled up or lying down in the cages. Some cages held more than ten people, emitting a faint rustling sound.


    They no longer looked human, more like animals awaiting slaughter¡ªor perhaps that''s exactly what they were.


    The Swashbuckler hesitated for a moment before softly asking.


    "Hey, do you know where this is?"


    "Do you know how to get out?"


    As expected, there was no useful response.


    Those emaciated "humans" all turned to look at him, their pupils glowing red in the dark, eyes hungry like they were eyeing a meal.


    "Damn it, if you don''t want to answer, just say so. No need for this."


    The Swashbuckler was startled.


    "F...Food..."


    "B...Blood..."


    "I want blood!"


    "I want to drain you dry¡ª"


    "Clang! Clang! Clang!"


    Those "humans" grasped the iron bars of the cages, shaking them. Their faces were pressed tightly against the bars, leaving red marks.


    But they didn''t care, their gaunt, sunken faces twisted and crazed, expressions like travelers dying of thirst in the desert finding water, filled with primal greed and desire.


    The Swashbuckler furrowed his brow at those ravenous gazes:


    "Are these Vampires?" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I didn''t expect to find such creatures here. Does that mean¡ª"


    "Tap, tap, tap..."


    Rhythmic footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor, gradually drawing closer.


    All the Blood Slaves immediately fell silent, trembling as if faced with a natural enemy.


    "What disgusting creatures."


    A cold female voice sounded.


    A noblewoman in an elaborate gown walked slowly towards them. Her face was pale, and her exquisite features showed undisguised disdain for the "beasts" around her.


    "Lady Alexia, it is him."


    The attending Guard indicated the Swashbuckler, speaking respectfully.

 Chapter 31 Northwind Castle Log (2)

    The noblewoman known as Alexia unabashedly sized up Swashbuckler from head to toe."Miss, while I know I''m handsome, could you be a little more restrained?"


    Swashbuckler felt a chill run through him. That gaze was like picking out ingredients, making him uncomfortable. Even his usual flirtations came out awkwardly.


    Alexia''s scarlet pupils suddenly brightened.


    "Excellent."


    "What''s excellent? Is it my overly handsome face?"


    "Your vitality is strong, you are qualified to become my father''s sustenance. This will be the greatest honor of your humble life." Her voice trembled, sounding somewhat intoxicated. She couldn''t be bothered to converse with Swashbuckler and was completely absorbed in her own world.


    "No, I haven''t¡ª"


    "Take this human away."


    Alexia ordered coldly.


    A few guards nearby quickly stepped forward, opened the cage, and forcibly lifted Swashbuckler out.


    "Easy, easy."


    "Don''t grab my neck!"


    "Brother, I beg you, let me walk myself, okay?" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Swashbuckler didn''t resist much but thought secretly: "Am I going to turn into a vampire? This could be interesting!"


    He didn''t despair; instead, he became intrigued.


    The reckless spirit in his heart burned fiercely!


    Even if Swashbuckler were to die, he would go out with a bang, fitting his identity.


    Swashbuckler walked along the corridor under the escort of the guards.


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    He looked around, overwhelmed.


    "Damn..."


    The underground of this "Refugee Shelter" was far more expansive than he had imagined, extending into unfathomable depths. Hundreds of iron cages hung in mid-air along the corridor, filled with Blood Slaves, driven mad by their bloodlust, likely numbering in the thousands.


    He was first taken to a secret room where the guards thoroughly cleansed his body.


    Finally, he was escorted to the end of a dark hallway.


    A thick door slowly opened.


    Lamps in the corners flickered to life, casting a dim, wavering light.


    In the center of the luxuriously adorned, dark, and eerie hall was an intricately carved stone coffin.


    Alexia lifted her skirt and bowed.


    "Father, this is your dinner for tonight."


    The stone coffin slowly opened, and Duke Brad Rackman opened his scarlet eyes, a slight smile tugging at his lips.


    It seemed his mood was quite good today.


    Looking at the restrained Swashbuckler, the pale-faced duke approached, sniffing delicately like he was savoring a fine wine, and said in a hoarse voice:


    "You have the scent of trickery on you. Why... did you come here?"


    Swashbuckler couldn''t help but shudder: "Damn, you creepy old vampire, if you''re going to drink blood, drink it, I don''t offer other services."


    The duke chuckled, revealing sharp teeth.


    "You''re right, once I transform you into a Vampire Variant, you will be entirely under my control. This will be the greatest honor of your life, enjoy this moment!"


    Swashbuckler replied sarcastically: "Are all you vampires this narcissistic?"


    The duke didn''t care about attempting to provoke the human before him, merely smiling contemptuously:


    "You mortal beings can never understand an immortal like me. I come from centuries past; my origin has long been lost to the darkness. I was once a great general; all of Anzeta trembled under my Giant Eagle. But I chose a more twisted path."


    "And you, will become the sustenance for my further transformation into true immortality."


    "So..."


    "Tremble, fear, respect!"


    "When I rule this land, your blood will boil within my immortal body."


    The duke caressed Swashbuckler''s neck, speaking with an air of intoxication.


    He wasn''t really talking to his ''meal'', but was rather immersed in his own dream of immortality, in which he alone was the only noble being.


    Regarding the common vice of this vampire family, Swashbuckler muttered: "Damn, how is this old vampire not dead yet..."


    But he was held fast by the guards, unable to move.


    "I am eternally undead."


    The duke sneered before sinking his teeth into Swashbuckler''s vulnerable neck.


    His blood vessels bulged as his blood was greedily sucked.


    An irreversible transformation was taking place; his body visibly emaciated, his once rosy skin turned deathly pale, and the light of life in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a red glow.


    "Excellent."


    "Throw this insolent scum into the dungeon."


    The duke reluctantly released him, wiping the blood from his mouth with an exquisite silk handkerchief.


    "Yes, my lord."


    Much lighter, Swashbuckler was put into an iron cage, just like those Blood Slaves.


    However, Swashbuckler felt no sorrow. Instead, he looked at the information continually updating on his panel with some joy.


    [You have been attacked by the vampire Duke Brad Rackman, transforming into a special template Vampire Variant]


    [Note: This transformation is irreversible]


    [You have acquired the trait Born from Death: Most victims of vampire attacks become Vampire Variants¡ªgreedy creations filled with a vampire''s bloodlust, under the control of their vampire creator.


    If the vampire allows their variant to drink their own blood, the variant also becomes a true vampire, no longer under the creator''s control. Of course, this is extremely rare. Usually, variants only regain freedom upon their creator''s death.


    You have acquired the trait Undying Essence, you do not need to breathe air or eat.


    You have acquired the trait Regeneration, you can recover from any injuries unless attacked by a weakness.


    You have acquired the trait Spider Walk, you can climb walls, and hang from the ceiling.


    You have acquired vampire weaknesses Wounding Water, Wooden Stake Heart Piercing, Sunlight Allergy, Relic Fear. When encountering any of this damage, you may face permanent death.]


    "This template is awesome, combined with my Trickster occupation... "


    "Tsk tsk, absolutely devious."


    "Heh heh heh..."


    He was already fantasizing about stealing like mad, unrestrained, in the mines.


    "But first, I need to get out of here. And that disgusting old vampire, someday I''ll make him pay dearly in Gold Coins."


    Swashbuckler recalled the duke''s caresses, and a chill swept over him.


    "Damn, could this old vampire be a priest...?"


    He muttered while pulling out thief tools from the hidden pocket of his robe, skillfully picking the lock, a technique he had perfected over time.


    "Creak, creak..."


    The iron cage door rattled, making a piercing noise.


    When the guards patrolled by, the cage was already empty.


    And Swashbuckler was effortlessly clinging to the ceiling, watching the guards below, silently mocking, "Didn''t see that coming, did you? This is my escape route!"

 Chapter 33 Northwind Castle Log (3)

    The Swashbuckler clung to the ceiling of the dark dungeon, silently crawling, while the blood slaves in the iron cages let out shrill wails. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Ow, ow..."


    "Blood..."


    "Give me blood..."


    They had long lost their sanity from the many years of captivity, their desire for blood reducing them to beasts driven solely by instinct.


    "None of them can even speak properly."


    The Swashbuckler looked at the blood slaves, shaking his head in exasperation.


    Suddenly, a hoarse voice broke the silence.


    "Newcomer, you should escape. Once the Duke wakes up, you won''t be able to."


    "At least now you can still enjoy playing the cat-and-mouse game, stealing a moment of freedom, pretty amusing, right?"


    The Swashbuckler glanced toward the voice. A man stood straight within a cage, his face pale but his attire much more intact, though marked by the ravages of time and partially decayed.


    "Who are you?"


    "Yeno Rackman."


    "That surname..."


    "Yes, I am the Duke''s offspring, the former Earl of Herray Fortress, and one of his one thousand one hundred and seventy-two vampire variants, imprisoned here with the blood slaves for rebelling against his brutal ruling." Even in captivity, his tone carried the inherent arrogance of his family.


    The Swashbuckler retorted: "Why do you think I can''t escape?"


    Yeno Rackman chuckled lightly, "Heh."


    The Swashbuckler, unable to bear it anymore, cursed, "F***, what''s wrong with everyone in your family? Is there anyone who can speak normally?"


    Yeno''s hoarse voice rose again, "My father''s strength is far beyond your imagination. All vampire variants have a slave mark branded deep within their souls. The Duke can easily control all the variants with his will, and when he ascends, you and I will turn into boiling blood within his body."


    The Swashbuckler replied bluntly, "Then just kill the old vampire, won''t that solve it?"


    "Heh..."


    Another weary chuckle followed.


    The Swashbuckler raged, "What''s so funny, huh? Is it really that funny? Even Creekwood Town''s chicken god I dared to kill, what does an old vampire count for?"


    Yeno gently shook his head, "I''ve seen too many like you. Over a hundred years in the dungeon, I''ve seen countless escape from their cages, seeking revenge, but ultimately, none have escaped their destined fate, becoming mindless blood slaves. This is the Duke''s eternal curse."


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    "So, run while you still have some freedom left."


    "I know my father well. He enjoys this cat-and-mouse game."


    "He often plays the role of the all-knowing and all-powerful, watching his prey spiral into despair. Perhaps...he''s watching you now."


    The Swashbuckler shuddered at the thought of the old vampire observing him.


    "That old vampire...could he really be all-knowing?"


    The Swashbuckler shook his head, dispelling the dreadful thought, and said to the man in the cage, "Then why the f*** did you rebel if it''s all destined? Do you think you''re so noble? If it were truly destined, you wouldn''t be locked up in this godforsaken cage."


    "Your words only show how you''ve become more cowardly."


    After a moment''s silence, Yeno finally spoke, "Maybe you''re right."


    The Swashbuckler, sensing he had the upper hand, continued, "So, there''s no difference between you and those people you mock. Stop pretending to be a prophet, it''s damned irritating."


    He held up two fingers.


    "I''ll give you two choices. First, I break you out. You''ve been here for over a hundred years, so you should know something useful, right? If not, you''re a total waste. You''ll lead me to rob your father''s lair and find a chance to take him down.


    "Second, keep rotting in this dog cage, moaning and posing, boasting about your nonsense destined fate to newcomers, only to end up as a pool of blood."


    "Choose."


    Although Yeno didn''t understand some of his terms, he could tell from the tone that it wasn''t anything good.


    He fell silent, staring at the infuriatingly nonchalant face of the Swashbuckler.


    This vampire variant was unlike any he had ever seen. Others, upon becoming vampires, reacted with panic, despair, or rage, but never with such...indifference.


    Yes, indifference.


    Every move he made seemed to say, "So what if I die? It doesn''t matter."


    Even upon becoming a vampire variant, instead of panicking, he seemed intrigued, experimenting with his new abilities.


    Too strange.


    In a century, he had never encountered anyone so strange.


    Yeno Rackman remained silent and pensive.


    The Swashbuckler finally couldn''t hold back and muttered, "Are you coming or not? Spare me the sullen face. If you weren''t of some use, I''d have pissed in your cage and bailed. Quit dragging your feet. Are you a man or what?"


    "Fine, I''ll go with you."


    After a long silence, Yeno finally made his choice.


    This peculiar individual might just have the power to break this miserable destiny.


    "There you go, why the hesitance? I almost thought I''d need to haul you out in a grand sedan chair."


    The Swashbuckler grumbled as he deftly picked the lock.


    The iron door creaked open, and Yeno took his first step out of the cage in a hundred years.


    The Swashbuckler urged, "Quickly, is there a treasure room or something? Lead me to rob that old vampire blind. I''ll show him what it means to be robbed of everything he owns!"


    Yeno: "..."


    The Swashbuckler demanded, "Is there or not? Don''t tell me you spent a hundred years telling stories here and can''t even find your dad''s secret stash. If so, get back in the dog cage. I don''t need a useless teammate dragging me down."


    Yeno was speechless. As a noble, it was his first time dealing with someone like this. Still, he said, "I do know the locations of some of my father''s treasure vaults, but they''re heavily guarded. With our limited strength, we may not be able to..."


    While speaking, he noticed the Swashbuckler had vanished.


    From a dark corner came the sound of rustling. Cloaked in black, the Swashbuckler clung to the wall, stealthily moving like a cockroach.


    "What are you staring at? Never seen a Trickster Thief?"


    "Do you even understand stealth? Get up here and lead the way, forget about the guards, we''ll sneak right into that old vampire''s stash."


    Yeno once again fell into silence.


    Hesitating, he finally relinquished his last bit of noble pride and climbed up.

 Chapter 34 The Contention of Scouts

    At the edge of Stormy Ridge, more than forty giant eagles were flying in a neat formation.On the back of each giant eagle sat a knight dressed in plate armor, with the emblem of an eagle and sword on their chest.


    They were the kin of the Rackham Family, the renowned Northwind Eagle Guards. This time, they dispatched an entire knight order, a total of forty-eight Eagle Guards, as scouts for the war to investigate the enemy''s situation from the air.


    The Rackham Family was indeed putting everything on the line for this.


    This particular Northwind Eagle Guard unit was the sixth regiment, reorganized from Alger''s previous remnants.


    Their current commander was named Nelly, the only female commander among the six Northwind Eagle Guard regiments and a former trusted subordinate of Alger.


    Nelly, dressed in thick plate armor and holding the commander''s exclusive Eagle Shriek Silver Sword, had a resolute look in her clear eyes.


    "We''re back here again..." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Stormy Ridge."


    She whispered to herself, her voice trembling slightly.


    This place was a heart demon for her. The commander she once admired stayed here forever so that they could escape, unknown whether dead or alive. She believed he would never submit to the evil dragons.


    Most of her former comrades from the sixth regiment, who lived and died together, were buried in the dragonflame inferno.


    Thinking of this, Nelly clenched her teeth and secretly swore.


    "I will avenge you, Commander."


    "And my comrades."


    "I swear, even if it costs my life, we will flatten this evil nest, repay His Grace''s kindness, and let justice and order sweep through all of Anzeta!"


    With this in mind, Nelly squeezed her legs, urging the giant eagle beneath her to speed up.


    "Screee¡ª"


    A long eagle cry echoed in the sky.


    However, she had forgotten¡ªStormy Ridge''s airspace was no longer a place where Eagle Guards could freely soar. The Ashen Nest was now patrolled day and night by eighteen Red Scale Conquerors, who destroyed any possible enemy due to the large-scale war.


    "Commander, it seems there''s something ahead!"


    The leading Eagle Guard reported.


    Nelly peered into the distance, seeing over ten large wyverns coming aggressively, led by a rare Dragon Vein Giant Eagle.


    On the backs of those dragons were knights clad in heavy armor, carrying various weapons. However, they all had ferocious dragonheads, appearing as half-dragon half-human monstrosities.


    "Damn, they''re the Red Dragon Minions!"


    "Northwind Eagle Guards, prepare for battle!"


    Nelly gritted her teeth.


    The Eagle Shriek Silver Sword slashed through the air, producing a piercing whistle.


    She didn''t know about the Red Scale Conquerors, but these dragon-veined evil minions were already infamous in the surrounding areas.


    On the Red Scale Conqueror''s side, Alger had already spotted the enemy.


    After all, this Eagle Guard unit had brazenly entered the Ashen Nest''s airspace without any concealment, naturally caught by Alger''s seasoned eyes, not to mention that the dragon-type creatures had keener vision than humans.


    As he looked at the leader, a trace of surprise flashed in his golden, vertical pupils.


    "Nelly?"


    This was his former subordinate, the one who always stuck close to him, a resilient woman.


    But he didn''t expect their next meeting would be on the battlefield.


    Alger quickly steadied himself, his gaze firm, staring at the distant enemy.


    "The former Eagle Guard Alger died in the dragonflame. The one who survived is nothing but a Red Dragon Minion, an unfeeling Red Scale Conqueror."


    He gently stroked the giant eagle''s feathers, calming its agitation. It seemed Igor also recognized their old comrade on the other side.


    "Igor, prepare for battle."


    "After all..."


    "We each serve our masters."


    His soft words dissipated into the howling wind.


    Alger raised the Everburning Greatsword, its blade igniting with a blazing flame like a beacon in the sky.


    He shouted, "Red Scale Conquerors, destroy them with me!"


    The dozen or so players behind him burst out in an array of cheers.


    "Charge, charge, charge!"


    "Light it up!"


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    "For faction contribution!"


    "Damn, air combat is this intense!"


    Facing the larger and fewer wyvern knights, Nelly''s Northwind Eagle Guards instinctively chose a large circle formation, aiming to utilize the giant eagles'' maneuverability and the Eagle Guards'' numerical superiority to encircle and annihilate the wyvern knights.


    But they hadn''t even gotten close before sustaining casualties.


    From several hundred meters away, Singo drew his bow and aimed at the leading Eagle Guard''s giant eagle.


    "Wyvern, hold steady for me."


    Purple runes appeared on the giant eagle''s body, but it remained unaware, continuing to fly steadily under the Eagle Guard''s command.


    Singo released his hold, and under the special skill [Elven Precision] and the spell [Hunter''s Mark], his arrow was guaranteed to hit the mark.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The arrow flew out rapidly.


    It pierced through the giant eagle''s chest, precisely striking its heart.


    The giant eagle fell powerlessly, and the Eagle Guard, along with it, plummeted with a wail, inevitably meeting his death.


    The Red Scale Conqueror players erupted in excitement.


    "Amazing!"


    "Singo got the first kill!"


    "My contribution value!"


    "I''m not satisfied!"


    Beside him, Mantou exclaimed at the falling Eagle Guard, "No way, Singo. Was that a fluke? Hitting from so far away."


    Singo snorted coldly, saying, "Do you understand the value of an Elven Precision Archer''s skill? This is technique. If you''re not convinced, come duel me in an arrow shootout."


    Mantou, knowing he couldn''t win, still retorted stubbornly, "You got lucky with one arrow and you''re already showing off."


    "Dare to shoot another?"


    Singo said, "This time, they were unprepared. If they''re sensible, they''ll make adjustments."


    He pointed to the Eagle Guards. Indeed, their formation had already changed.


    Among the Northwind Eagle Guard unit, Nelly looked at the fallen subordinate in shock, muttering to herself,


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    With her many years of combat experience, she knew that shooting accurately in mid-air severely diminished accuracy, let alone hitting a target several hundred meters away. Even on the ground, it was challenging to hit such a distant target, so she did not make additional arrangements while closing in.


    The death of the Eagle Guard could only mean one thing¡ªthe strength of these dragon minions far exceeded their imagination!


    Nelly quickly raised the Eagle Shriek Silver Sword, commanding loudly:


    "Disperse!"


    "Avoid the enemy archers'' shots!"


    The Eagle Guards spread out to avoid unnecessary collisions.


    They began to demonstrate their excellent riding skills, constantly changing directions, attempting to surround from all sides.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    Another arrow flew.


    Feathers fluttered in the air.


    A tumbling Eagle Guard fell with a wail.


    Singo lowered his longbow, glancing at Mantou beside him, whose jaw had dropped in disbelief. Singo remarked casually,


    "Trying all these fancy maneuvers, really a pushover."


    Mantou, having no room for further argument, reluctantly admitted, "You really showed off this time."

 Chapter 35 Aerial Duel

    After being shot down unreasonably by the players, the Eagle Guards finally approached a suitable distance and began to retaliate.Unfortunately, their archery accuracy during high-speed flight was worrisome, and even if they hit, the soft and powerless arrows couldn''t penetrate the tough scales on the Wyvern''s bodies.


    On the contrary, the players were more heroic, shooting a Giant Eagle down with one arrow at close range. Some who specialized in throwing methods even threw short spears forcefully, piercing both the rider and the eagle simultaneously.


    "Damn, it feels great!"


    The player with the ID "Big Blade" cheered.


    His strength was as high as 17 points, earning him the nickname Strong Brother among players. He had even specialized in the [Tavern Brawl] skill just to enjoy high-altitude throwing.


    It should be noted that Giant Eagles only had soft, flight-adapted feathers without any hard scales.


    "Damn it..."


    Nelly bit her lip, her expression grave.


    She witnessed the Eagle Guards falling one after another without causing any effective damage to the enemy, already losing ten people.


    Even Nelly herself had made a dangerously sharp turn, barely dodging an incoming arrow.


    "This can''t go on."


    She made a quick decision, raised her Eagle Howl Longsword, and commanded loudly: "Northwind Eagle Guards, listen! Close in on the enemy, form a circular formation!"


    The sky resounded with the sharp cries of eagles.


    The Northwind Eagle Guards decisively abandoned their futile mounted archery retaliations, at all costs closing in rapidly, intending to form small circular formations where three to four Eagle Guards surrounded one Red Scale Conqueror. They planned to use their maneuverability and numerical superiority to defeat these tricky enemies one by one.


    This was part of the Northwind Eagle Guards'' tactical training manual, entirely appropriate.


    Unfortunately, they encountered their former commander.


    ¡ªAlger.


    As the melee approached, Alger looked up at the groups of Eagle Guards encircling him¡ªthe leader being his former subordinate, Nelly.


    "Seems like you''ve learned well."


    "Nelly..."


    He recognized this all-too-familiar tactic at a glance.


    But in his days with the players, he had not only been teaching them but had also learned many novel strategies from them, such as the so-called "Energy Maneuver" tactics, where kinetic and potential energy were mutually transformed to flexibly respond to different aerial combat situations for maximum combat efficiency.


    The giant eagles were much smaller than the Dragon Vein Giant Eagles, faster, and more agile.


    As many as five Eagle Guards circled around Alger, waiting for an opportunity to harass and attack.


    "Eagle."


    Faced with the encirclement, Alger remained calm, maneuvering his Giant Eagle to climb instantly, turning kinetic energy into potential energy, executing a high-powered aerial loop to easily escape the Eagle Guards'' tight encirclement.


    Nelly watched the Half-Dragon Half-Human Knight, her brows tightly furrowed.


    "Continue to surround him, don''t give him a chance to counterattack!"


    She shouted.


    The Giant Eagles weaved, turned sharply, and rolled in the air.


    Nelly recognized the leader of these half-dragons, so she brought along a full five Eagle Guards to coordinate combat, yet they could gain no advantage and were even being toyed with in the air by the opponent.


    For some reason, she always felt that this enemy''s movements had a familiar touch.


    "Why exactly..."


    Alger looped up to the highest point, his whole body inverted but still decisively piloting his Giant Eagle in a diving attack.


    "Danger!"


    Nelly shouted loudly.


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle traced a beautiful arc in the sky, diving with unstoppable momentum and striking an Eagle Guard in the encirclement from the side.


    The speed was so fast that the Eagle Guard didn''t even realize the danger''s arrival.


    "Shu¡ª"


    With the terrifying speed of the dive, the blazing Everburning Greatsword cleanly beheaded the Giant Eagle, and the Eagle Guard on its back plummeted down, wailing.


    Alger ascended once more. His speed appeared relatively slow but was building up for the next thrilling attack.


    "Damn evil dragon minion!"


    Nelly gritted her teeth, wishing she could hack the menacing dragon''s face into pieces.


    But she forced herself to stay calm, commanding: "Attack while he is ascending! Pay attention to his next dive path!"


    The Eagle Guards quickly drew their bows and arrows, releasing volleys of arrows.


    However, Alger, who was ascending, calmly flipped, changed directions, and rolled sideways in the air, performing a fluent aerial waltz. Though it looked breathtaking, the arrows always lagged behind by a step.


    "Eagle."


    Alger whispered.


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle instantly understood and once again dived from high altitude.


    Feathers flurried, blood splattered, and yet another Eagle Guard was effortlessly harvested.


    In front of this Half-Dragon Half-Human Dragon Vein Giant Eagle Knight, the Eagle Guards seemed to be mere playthings, manipulated at will.


    Nelly stayed silent for a while before slowly speaking:


    "Disperse, all of you. Let me handle him."


    "I won''t lose again¡­"


    Nelly''s dark brown pupils gleamed with unwavering determination.


    This rare female Eagle Guard, instead of succumbing to despair after that heart-wrenching battle, carried the will of her fallen comrades, training tirelessly, diving, and slashing repeatedly. She underwent extraordinary trials to finally become the first female commander of the Northwind Eagle Guard in a century.


    She absolutely couldn''t allow the events of five years ago to happen to her again.


    Even at the cost of her life!


    "Terna..."


    She softly called her Giant Eagle companion''s name, then her tone brightened.


    "This time I won''t¡ª"


    "¡ªflee hastily!"


    Nelly squeezed her legs, driving the Giant Eagle to take flight with a scream, raising the Silver Sword in her hand and launching a direct frontal charge at the fearsome enemy. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Die, evil dragon minion!"


    Alger, watching Nelly rushing straight at him, murmured:


    "Is this a challenge to a duel...?"


    "Then so be it."


    Alger''s eyes turned serious.


    He bent his body slightly, gripped the Everburning Greatsword tightly, and piloted the massive Dragon Vein Giant Eagle into a diving charge.


    The distance between them was a hundred meters.


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    But in flight, it would pass in an instant.


    Nelly fixed her gaze on the charging figure, her heart pounding, sweat trickling down her hand gripping the sword. The distance was so close now that she could see every scale on the enemy''s face.


    That Half-Dragon Knight began a diving attack, wielding the flaming Great Sword.


    In that instant.


    Nelly suddenly hesitated slightly.


    This movement was too familiar, whether it was the dive, the sword strike, or even the crouching posture.


    A terrifying possibility flashed through her mind¡ªthe evil monster before her, Half-Dragon Half-Person, was in fact her once-admired commander.


    This can''t be!


    No, I am still fighting!


    Nelly quickly regained her senses, gripping the Silver Sword tightly.


    But the brief moment of distraction cost her the final chance of victory.


    "Shu¡ª"


    Flames filled her vision, and the sharp longsword mercilessly sliced through her vulnerable neck.


    As her head plummeted from the sky, the beautiful and resilient face still bore a trace of bewilderment and helplessness.

 Chapter 36 The Arrival of the Allied Forces

    Another easy victory.Facing enemies stunned in battle, Alger never missed a chance, but he felt no joy in killing them. Even the giant eagle beneath him let out a low, mournful cry.


    Alger looked down at the spot where Nelly had fallen and said calmly,


    "Eagle, I told you, we''re just after our own masters. The old Alger died long ago."


    "Nelly... she should have understood that."


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    Without a moment''s mourning for his fallen friend, who he had just killed with his own hands, Alger rode his giant eagle back into the battlefield.


    "Eagle, continue fighting."


    But the skirmish was nearly over. The novice wyvern knights couldn''t withstand the seasoned Eagle Guards, presenting a one-sided battle.


    "Watch me roast them!"


    "Triple kill!"


    "Going crazy, killing spree."


    "Don''t steal my kills, I''m maxing out my contribution today!"


    The wyverns, completely disregarding the Eagle Guards'' encirclement, unleashed a torrent of fire, turning numerous guards into charred husks that plummeted to the ground.


    Forget tactics, maneuvering, probing ¨C these players ignored everything. If an Eagle Guard dared to retaliate, they''d charge in and torch them until they couldn''t fight back.


    Tactics?


    Just talking big. In a real fight, who remembers any of that? It all becomes chaotic brawling.


    What?


    You dare to harass from behind?


    The players would even ignore the enemies in front of them, turning around despite the risk of being attacked from both sides, just to bite that sneaky bastard to death.


    More terrifyingly, their natural scales made arrows from behind feel like mere tickles.


    This rough, wild style left the Eagle Guards completely disoriented.


    What kind of fighting is this?


    They didn''t teach this in tactical training!


    With Nelly fallen, the Northwind Eagle Guards were leaderless, and they couldn''t handle the players'' unstoppable, unpredictable fighting style.


    Quickly, the battle turned into a one-sided chase.


    "Keep chasing! Keep chasing!"


    "Where are you running?"


    "Scoundrels, halt!"


    Mantou, riding his wyvern "Noodle," led the charge. Clenching his five-meter lance tightly, his expression was extremely excited.


    The lance was already stained with blood, thirsty for the next enemy''s life.


    Seeing the Eagle Guards flying farther away, desperate for contributions, Mantou activated his skill. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Dragon''s Roar Charge!]


    "Roar¡ª"


    The half-dragon knight and his wyvern roared in unison.


    Their resonant roar was so intimidating it made the nearby giant eagles tremble in instinctive fear, their speed dropping, wings wobbling, unable to maintain normal flight.


    "Haha, prepare to die!"


    "Five hundred contributions, here I come!"


    Mantou laughed maniacally, diving down on his wyvern.


    Just as his lance was about to pierce the enemy''s back and drink of fresh blood¡ª


    "Whoosh!"


    An arrow whizzed past Mantou''s side, hitting the Eagle Guard''s head, the force pushing the arrowhead through his forehead.


    The Eagle Guard fell from his giant eagle.


    Mantou didn''t get the expected contributions, his smug smile slowly fading.


    He fumed, shouting angrily into the sky,


    "Xin Dog, why''d you steal my kill! My five hundred contributions¡ª"


    From above, Singo''s lazy voice answered, "I''m an archer, aren''t I? If I don''t land finishing blows, what''s the point? I had him targeted long ago. Blame your lance for not being as quick as my arrow."


    "Damn it..."


    "If you''re bad, practice more. You''ve only killed a few, I''ve got six thousand contributions already."


    "Then stop stealing my kills! I already stunned him with Dragon''s Roar."


    "You stunned him so I could finish him, right?"


    "To hell with you..."


    The battle had completely devolved into a massacre.


    Alger no longer paid attention to the chaotic fight. He had been with these players long enough to know how utterly insane they could be over "faction contributions." He believed they wouldn''t let a single enemy escape.


    He was more concerned about the whereabouts of the allied forces.


    "These guys are so loud, they''ll be exposed easily..."


    "Eagle, let''s scout ahead ourselves."


    Alger instructed his giant eagle. After years of cooperation, they were almost telepathic, needing only a gesture to understand each other''s intentions.


    While the players chased after contributions, Alger quietly left on his giant eagle.


    "Finally found it."


    He crossed mountain ranges and eventually spotted his target in the distance. It was too obvious, not requiring much observation.


    ¡ªIt was an enormous army, tens of thousands marching across the wilderness like a mottled torrent. Many wore iron armor, holding spears. Horses neighed, infantry and cavalry interspersed, spear tips gleaming under the sun. Numerous heavy carts, covered with thick cloth, carried unknown contents.


    Several flags waved in the center of the army, the foremost being a grey eagle banner¡ªthe Rackman family''s "Northwind Eagle" standard. Behind it followed banners of "Northern Lion" Boske and "Double-Headed Eagle" Notte. There were various other banners, representing different noble lords.


    Besides soldiers, there was a large number of laborers, carrying loads and driving carts, transporting supplies. Serfs, often still struggling with hunger themselves, were emaciated and bent under the heavy grain bags.


    Many giant eagles circled in the sky, vigilance evident.


    Their military uniforms were easy to distinguish: Rackman''s were typically dark grey, Boske''s leaned toward deep blue, and Notte''s favored earthy yellow.


    In this torrent of people, grey dominated.


    Even the combined population of the twelve kingdoms in the Northern United Kingdom couldn''t add up to a million. Even Rackman''s capital, Northwind Castle, was just a city of over thirty thousand.


    This time, the Rackman family had sent nearly twenty thousand troops, exhausting their resources to destroy the Ashen Nest.


    Gazing at the formidable army, Alger murmured,


    "The allied forces of the Northern Three Kingdoms..."


    "They''ve come, as expected."


    "Anzeta, it has been decades since we''ve seen a war of this scale..."


    "I must report back to the master immediately."


    Alger commanded his giant eagle to speedily traverse mountains, quickly heading towards Dragon Valley.

 Chapter 37 War (Part 1)

    "Master, this is the situation I observed."Alger knelt on the ground and spoke in a deep voice.


    "Very good, I understand."


    Cassius coiled on the highest spot, leisurely grooming his scales, displaying no sense of urgency despite the impending war.


    Within Dragon Valley, the leaders of various factions from the Ashen Nest had already gathered.


    Ogre Mage Ramp, Goblin Chieftain Dolores, Wyvern Leader Stieg, the Chimera, Lizardfolk Leader Acker and Shaman Koda, Kobold Magician Jin Ya...


    And representatives of the newly conquered races: Orcs, Half-Goat People, Pureblood Serpentfolk. Essentially, all notable figures within the Ashen Nest were assembled in the valley, waiting attentively.


    "Anzeta hasn''t seen such a large-scale war for a long time, not since the Northern Lion Alliance War thirty years ago," Dailenna added.


    For now, she served as a strategist and had no real decision-making power, but she was earnest in her efforts.


    "According to Lord Alger''s intelligence, the Allied Forces have now advanced to the edge of Stormy Ridge. Only the Tel''Fah Hills in that region are suitable for large-scale troop movements."


    "And here¡ª"


    She spread out a sheepskin map, her slender finger pointing to a spot¡ª a wide, flat valley, flanked on the north by a series of mountain barriers with only one pass leading to Stormy Ridge, and on the south, enclosed by rolling hills.


    "Triel Valley is their inevitable route to Dragon Valley."


    "All we need to do is hold this easily defensible pass¡ª the Throat of Triel, and we can secure Stormy Ridge, blocking the Allied Forces from entering."


    Cassius made no comment and merely looked calmly over his retainers below.


    Ramp adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said in a somber tone, "I think this is a very good idea. We can set up spell traps there in advance, causing disorder among their troops and making them lose the will to fight."


    Cassius gave no response, just continued to gaze down at his retainers. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The surroundings fell silent, with most of the retainers adopting a wait-and-see attitude.


    Seeing this, Dolores''s eyes flickered, and he snorted a puff of white smoke from his nostrils, shouting at Ramp: "Ramp, you''ve been studying human spells so long that you''ve become as cowardly and apprehensive as a human mage! Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Are we, the Ashen Nest, really going to hide and defend against a mere group of humans?"


    The Great Goblin waved his spear and shouted, "We are the retainers of the mighty Red Dragon, with the blood of destruction and invasion flowing in our veins!


    "We should take the initiative, using flame and strength to utterly destroy them! Crush their pathetic courage and bring them blood and death!"


    This time, his proclamation received significant support from the retainers. They were mostly not very smart and extremely revered brute force, making Dolores''s words resonate deeply with them.


    Ramp snorted derisively, "Ignoring a natural barrier and going head-to-head with the enemy? Your head is filled with goblin dung."


    "Pitiful fool."


    "Exactly, Lord Ramp. Those goblins truly are greedy, cowardly, and foolish..." The Kobold Magician Jin Ya chimed in timely.


    Though talking about goblins, every word made the Goblin Chieftain tremble with rage, turning his already red and ugly face even redder.


    Dolores stepped forward, glaring down at him, and roared fiercely,


    "Jin Ya! Get lost!"


    "You are not qualified to speak here!"


    But Jin Ya stood alongside the towering Ramp, giving him the courage to confront Dolores. Since they were already at odds, he figured he might as well make it worse.


    The Kobold Magician opened his wings aggressively toward Dolores and said smugly, "Look, who here has the purer bloodline of the master."


    "Who is the true Dragon Vein!"


    Dolores laughed angrily, "You¡ª"


    "Enough."


    The Dragon''s voice broke the tension, and an invisible force of Dragon''s Might spread through the valley, pressing heavily upon each retainer.


    The scene instantly became silent, even eerily still. Whether Ogre, Goblin, or Kobold, all stood obediently, not daring to even breathe loudly.


    "We do need to take the initiative."


    Upon hearing this, Dolores''s face lit up with joy, casting a provocative glance at Ramp.


    Cassius''s tone then paused.


    "But..."


    "I intend to give them a grand gift."


    The Red Dragon rose slowly on his forelimbs, unfurling his expansive wings.


    "Woo¡ª"


    The horns in Dragon Valley sounded.


    The horns made from the Azure-footed Wyrmhorn emitted a sound as heavy as thunder.


    Goblins drove the massive Land Dragon Beasts forward, causing the ground to tremble with a thunderous rumble. Tieflings and Lizardfolk warriors, fully armed, marched in neat formations. Meanwhile, from countless mines and nests within Stormy Ridge, Kobolds and Goblins surged out like a tidal wave.


    The Ashen Nest, a terrifying beast dormant for years, finally revealed its ferocious claws and fangs.


    ...


    In the Northern Allied Forces'' camp, a hand wearing a white glove slapped a map scroll.


    "Here, Triel Valley."


    "Our primary campsite. We can advance to Stormy Ridge and retreat to defend the Throat of Triel, preventing the Ashen Nest from pursuing us. Everything is perfect."


    The man speaking appeared to be in his forties, clad in a richly adorned knight''s armor, with meticulously groomed moustaches, and an air of authority.


    His name was Robert Dudley, the youngest Earl of the Rackman Duchy, the trusted son-in-law of Duke Brad Rackman, commander of the Tri-Nation Alliance, and a seasoned noble knight.


    Inside the tent, a young blonde man in his twenties voiced a concern, "What if they attack from behind and trap us in the valley?"


    "Hahahaha!"


    The noble lords in the tent burst into laughter again.


    The spokesperson was Andrei Boske, the third son of the "Northern Lion" Boske House, and a young and promising Paladin committed to the Oath of Honor.


    However, aside from his personal strength, his naive impulsiveness often amused others, earning him the nickname "Little Lion" in private.


    Robert stroked his moustache and laughed, "Andrei, war is not a simple game. In a war involving tens of thousands, moving troops is not as easy as a chess match."


    He pointed at the map.


    "Look here, with the Lext Mountains on the edge of Stormy Ridge, it is impossible for them to appear behind us without warning."


    Andrei thought for a moment before replying softly,


    "I understand, Lord Robert."

 Chapter 38 War (II)

    Count Matthew Notte of the Notte Duchy asked in a clear voice, "What plans do you have regarding the order of the army''s assault?"As soon as he spoke, everyone in the tent held their breath, as this was the question that the various noble lords present most wanted to ask.


    After all, under the customary feudal system of the North, their armies were their foundations; no one was selfless enough to want to deplete their own strength to win. Many nobles were even participating under half-coercion, though the Rackman Family had made offers that were hard to refuse.


    Duke Robert pressed his gloved hands down slightly and said calmly,


    "Everyone, please remain calm. I will not let your armies die in vain."


    "The Duke has conscripted ten thousand laborers to form the ''Legion of Honor,'' who will act as the vanguard. These brave people will test the strength of the evil dragons'' minions for us."


    The hearts of the nobles finally settled, and no one raised any more questions¡ªso there were cannon fodder to pave the way after all.


    However, Andrei frowned and asked again, "How can we let commoners be cannon fodder? This does not conform to the spirit of knighthood, which values bravery and compassion."


    "Hahaha!"


    Everyone laughed again, and the atmosphere lightened significantly.


    This freshly emerged "Little Lion" was incredibly naive. They were Northern Nobility after all; who would consider these so-called "Gray Beasts" to be worth anything?


    But seeing Andrei''s serious expression, Robert suppressed his laughter and explained,


    "Hmm... They are all volunteers, if they die bravely in battle, the Duchy will compensate their families handsomely."


    "Whether they have families and whether the compensation reaches them is another matter," he silently added in his heart.


    Before the battle, the "Legion of Honor" might have been mere farmers in the fields, without any formal military training.


    Aside from poor-quality weapons, they had almost no armor. Their primary work was to feed the warhorses and transport supplies, acting as cannon fodder for the elite troops.


    They were usually the tenant farmers and serfs under local landlords, people with no personal freedom. They didn''t even have the right to the spoils of war; any achievements and spoils would be recorded under their master''s name.


    Such was this group.


    Regarded as mere chaff by the Northern Nobility.


    Andrei felt the mocking glances around him and lowered his head in silence.


    Robert pointed to the map and continued to lay out his tactical arrangements.


    The Rackman Family''s direct army, the "Claw of the Male Eagle," numbering over eight thousand, would hold the central position, making a frontal attack once the laborers had scouted the situation.


    The Boske Family''s three thousand-strong "Lionheart Legion," along with the Notte Family''s five-thousand-strong reinforcements, would guard both flanks upon entering Stormy Ridge.


    Private armies of various noble lords, totaling over four thousand, would be interspersed within the allied forces, following the commanders'' orders, though Robert didn''t expect them to be easily controlled. He mixed them up primarily to prevent them from fighting each other before the battle began.


    The three hundred Northwind Eagle Guards would circle in the air, surveying the situation and providing airstrikes at crucial moments. For some reason, the Sixth Northwind Hawk Guard Brigade, sent to scout, had not yet returned, causing Robert considerable frustration.


    A baron from the Rackman Duchy asked in a low voice, "My lord, what about that giant dragon?"


    "I''ve heard... it''s a terrifying existence."


    His fief was close to Stormy Ridge, and fearful rumors of the dreaded "Flame Wing Dragon" often reached the North.


    In those poems, the Red Dragon was described as a beloved of Tiamat, an incarnation of the Infernal Flame Devil, a master of endless flames, the prophesied destroyer of the Northern Kingdom, capable of burning everything.


    Robert sneered.


    "Ha, the so-called ''Flame Wing Dragon''?"


    "Don''t be deceived by those foolish bard''s poems. Whether it''s the intelligence from the Northwind Eagle Guards or my divination spells, it confirms that it''s merely a young Red Dragon with a slightly unusual breath, even smaller than a typical young dragon."


    The mage, ''Grey Hawk,'' who was also in the tent, raspily said,


    "This is Sir Schroeder, the Duchy''s Chief Archmage. His mastery of spells is unrivaled among us."


    Robert continued, "Indeed, those so-called poems are likely just the self-aggrandizing propaganda of that vain Red Dragon."


    "Gentlemen, please follow me."


    Feeling that words alone were insufficient, Robert strode out of the tent, followed closely by the nobles.


    They came to an open area where supplies were stored.


    Their eyes were immediately drawn to a massive object covered with a thick cloth, standing over two meters tall. Just this one piece required twelve horses and over a hundred laborers for transport, and there were three of them here.


    They had long noticed it and were intensely curious.


    "Gentlemen, observe¡ª"


    At Robert''s cue, the guards stepped forward and removed the thick cloth covering it.


    It was a giant, clumsy mechanical weapon made of coarse black wood and dark gray metal. The body was tall and thick, with a sturdy iron frame at the base supported by several metal wheels to aid in slow movement.


    On top was a conical arrow tube wrapped in iron plates studded with rivets. Long, curved crossbow arms were fixed on either side.


    A giant arrow, as thick as an arm and over two meters long, lay quietly on the bed, its iron tip glinting coldly with traces of blood on it.


    This was a formidable great crossbow!


    "Whoa¡ª" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The crowd gasped in awe at this terrifying weapon of war.


    Duke Robert seemed pleased with their reactions and explained proudly, "This is a Dragon-Slaying Ballista. Its arrowheads are soaked in Dragon Blood, easily piercing a dragon''s scales.


    "A hundred and forty years ago, General Terna Rackman killed the ravaging elder White Dragon¡ªGlacier Wing¡ªwith one of these."


    He raised a finger, waving it deliberately.


    "One shot, just one shot pierced the dragon''s heart."


    "And back then, the great General Terna only had one Dragon-Slaying Ballista."


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    "Now, our Rackman Duchy spent tens of thousands of gold coins to acquire these three Dragon-Slaying Ballistae and used hundreds of horses and over a thousand laborers to bring them here. You can understand the immense effort we''ve made and my confidence."


    "If that giant dragon dares to show itself, these three ballistae will bring it down."


    Robert''s tone was filled with certainty.


    "Flame Wing Dragon?"


    "Ha, I will make it the ''Fallen Dragon.''"

 Chapter 39 War (3)

    The vanguard of the allied forces advanced to the hilly area before Triel Valley."Damn, where are the enemies..."


    The knight on horseback gazed into the distance. He did not see any sign of the monsters, but the numerous traps in Triel Valley had already driven him to distraction. Various pitfalls, poison arrows, lassos, and tripwires only resulted in dozens of deaths, but they caused the front units to move cautiously forward.


    After all, their principal job wasn''t combat; before the war, they were just timid laborers, even serfs without personal freedom.


    The commander of the "Legion of Honor" was named Joseph, merely a baron.


    However, he did not even have his own fief; this so-called "baron" was more like an honorary title. Joseph was once a lowly carpenter''s son, but through luck, he was chosen by the Rackman Family, received the purest knightly education, and ultimately leaped in social class to become an honorary noble and the commander of this so-called "Legion of Honor."


    He always felt grateful to the Rackman Family, often fantasizing about dying heroically on the battlefield, repaying the family''s kindness with the death a knight should have.


    Watching the hesitant militia, Joseph suddenly felt an uncontrollable surge of anger.


    This bunch of worms, how dare they serve alongside me!


    I am a knight!


    A noble from above!


    Thinking this, he rode directly to the front of the formation.


    "Crack!"


    He lashed the hesitant soldiers with his whip, causing them to cry out in pain and agony.


    Joseph shouted angrily:


    "Advance forward for me!"


    "No one is allowed to hide at the back!"


    "His Grace was merciful enough to provide you scum with food and even relief funds. Is it to waste time here?"


    "If such small traps can stop you, where is your courage? How do you live up to the honor of the title bestowed by His Grace?"


    Under Joseph''s stern orders, over a hundred supervising officers also used violent means to urge the soldiers forward, finally making the "Legion of Honor" advance properly.


    Even though this massive legion often had trampling accidents, at least they would not be stopped by a trap or two.


    Finally, the terrain opened up ahead, flat and expansive, as they finally entered Triel Valley.


    "We finally made it."


    Joseph breathed a sigh of relief.


    Marching through the complex hilly terrain, those various traps had driven him mad.


    Out of the thousands of militia members, they had already lost over a hundred men before even starting the battle, making the remaining ones feel some panic due to those dead soldiers. He had to kill several deserters in a row to barely maintain order.


    "These despicable creatures, they don''t even deserve to be called the ''Legion of Honor.''"


    "These fellows who utterly lack noble honor... They should be starved to death!"


    Joseph cursed silently as he rode his horse.


    "Sir..."


    The messenger''s voice trembled slightly.


    "What is it?"


    "Are there more deserters up ahead, or another trampling accident, or another trap? Don''t bring everything to me to handle; I''m here to fight for honor, not to babysit!"


    Joseph spoke impatiently, unable to bear it any longer.


    "No, sir, it''s... it''s none of that."


    "Then what is it?"


    "Sir, please... please come and see for yourself."


    The messenger''s voice trembled even more.


    Joseph urged his horse forward and looked into the distance, only to stare dumbfoundedly into silence.


    On that flat, expansive wasteland was a mottled torrent made up of goblins and kobolds.


    Their march even stirred up a dust cloud.


    This endless torrent surged in from all directions, probably numbering in the tens of thousands. Their eyes glowed with a haunting light, letting out low, clamorous roars.


    Many of the monsters had sparse scales on their bodies, granted by the bloodline of the Red Dragon, filling their veins with a greedy thirst for slaughter and destruction.


    Dozens of winged kobolds, Urd, flew chaotically in the air.


    "This... this is..."


    Joseph''s hand holding the reins trembled.


    He had imagined countless times charging on the battlefield, heroically slaying enemies and dying of exhaustion, sacrificing his life for the family.


    He was always moved to tears by such thoughts, secretly determined to die heroically when the opportunity arose.


    But he never imagined the real battlefield would be like this.


    If they rushed into the torrent of monsters, they would be torn to pieces, devoid of any honor and dignity.


    "No, it shouldn''t be like this."


    Joseph murmured to himself.


    For a moment, he even wanted to turn his horse around and flee back to camp.


    But the monsters had already surrounded them from all sides, coming into contact with the militia in the front line.


    Joseph snapped out of his daze and fear, shouting with a trembling voice, "Engage! Engage and kill the enemies!"


    In fact, the tactics chosen by Dolores of the Ashen Nest and Robert of the allied forces were surprisingly similar¡ªboth used the cannon fodder legion to pave the way and had elite troops follow.


    This winged kobolds and goblins legion comprised over twenty thousand monsters summoned from various parts of Stormy Ridge, with only about thirty percent possessing a thin bloodline of the Red Dragon.


    Due to their small size, the battle power of goblins and kobolds was inferior to that of ordinary human farmhands, but influenced by the aura of the Red Dragon, they became cruel and belligerent, their willingness to fight far surpassing that of the serf-manned "Legion of Honor."


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    "For the Great Red Dragon!"


    From the monster legion, waves of roaring shouts arose. On the "Legion of Honor" side, under Joseph''s orders, they also sounded the horn of attack.


    Thus, two large-scale cannon fodder legions intertwined, signalling the start of the war.


    The monster legion''s kobolds and goblins attacked frantically, charging at the enemy with no regard for their lives, even though their opponents were just some farmhands.


    Several kobolds surrounded a human, clinging to his roughly made leather armor, hitting his head with stones, and stabbing his body repeatedly with crude daggers.


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    A dragon vein goblin threw a short spear that pierced a soldier''s body. With no weapons left, it clawed at him, and finally, leapt onto him to bite, tearing his face into a bloody mess and causing him to howl in pain. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    The winged kobold Urd in the air spewed fire arrows, setting many soldiers'' cloth uniforms alight, turning them into blazing "fire men."


    Flames, blood, dust.


    There was no tactic on this battlefield, just pure and primitive slaughter, with chaos reigning supreme.


    Within just a few minutes of contact, the "Legion of Honor" had lost over a hundred men. Panic, wails, and cries resounded, and this cannon fodder army was inevitably heading towards collapse. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 40 War (4)

    "No, it shouldn''t be like this.""It shouldn''t..."


    "I was chosen by His Grace the Duke as a knight..."


    Joseph, riding his horse, stopped not far from the battlefield, staring intently at the rapid defeat of the "Legion of Honor."


    His "soldiers" were crying and howling, fleeing in all directions, chased by those short but exceptionally ferocious monsters.


    In countless fantasies, Joseph had envisioned himself leading charges, defeating enemies, and eventually receiving special commendation from the Duke, being granted land, and becoming a true noble.


    At the very least, he would bravely kill enemies in the presence of witnesses, fight to exhaustion, die heroically, and become a tragic hero celebrated by bards.


    But now, he was leading a bunch of "Gray Beasts" towards defeat, about to die meaninglessly and unobserved on this desolate plain.


    "It shouldn''t be like this!"


    Joseph''s face suddenly turned ruthless as he made up his mind.


    As people fled in swarms, he spurred his horse and leaped high, charging against the flow, trampling several people and even decapitating the foremost deserter with his sword.


    Joseph held up the deserter''s head, his face covered in blood, and roared ferociously:


    "Do you see this? This is the fate of deserters!"


    "You cowards! Scum!"


    "Fight! Battle to the death!"


    At this moment, to the soldiers, he looked no different from the monsters chasing them.


    Joseph''s fierce rallying cry actually had some effect, slowing the retreat slightly. Faced with the choice of dying in battle or being killed by their commander, many soldiers mustered a shred of courage for a final stand.


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    But soon, they were overwhelmed by the tide of monsters and fell into a more complete rout.


    Surrounded by goblins and kobolds, people could only instinctively retreat.


    "Die, you monsters!"


    Joseph, still on his horse, sliced off a kobold''s head with one swing.


    But soon, goblins swarmed him from all directions, jumping onto him, holding his arms, clawing at his eyes, and biting his face.


    "Bang!"


    He fell hard from his horse.


    Joseph crashed to the ground, tearing off the goblin clinging to his arm and stabbing it to death, his face twisted in pain.


    "Damn you scum! Die!"


    His voice was hoarse, spitting with rage, as he summoned his last strength to stand, shaking off the goblins from his body.


    But before he could swing his sword again, more goblins pounced on him, their weight causing the already exhausted Joseph to stumble and fall.


    He struggled repeatedly, but this only attracted more goblins and kobolds, with dozens of monsters piling onto him like a small mountain, pinning him down, unable to move.


    "Die, die..."


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    His voice grew weaker, eventually drowned in the cacophony of monsters'' cries.


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    "For the great Red Dragon Master!"


    Kobolds and goblins continued their pursuit and slaughter.


    When the piled-up monsters finally scattered, the ground was left with just a puddle of blood, scattered bones, and shredded clothing. The emblem of a hawk and sword on the chest of the clothing stained with blood, unnoticed by anyone.


    It had once been a symbol of nobility that Joseph was fanatically enamored with.


    But on this bloody battlefield, it was nothing, not even worth picking up by the kobolds.


    ...


    Aiden, the commander of the First Regiment of the Northwind Eagle Guards, descended on his giant eagle and strode into the tent, reporting solemnly.


    "Lord Earl, the Legion of Honor is in full retreat."


    "About six thousand routed soldiers are approaching our position."


    Robert nodded slightly and said calmly, "Only lasted less than an hour, just as I expected. These rabble''s only use was to scout the way for our troops, reducing unnecessary losses."


    He rhythmically tapped the table, "What about the enemy''s situation?"


    "Mainly goblins and kobolds, around twenty thousand of them. Some of them are evil dragon minions, but they can only handle the so-called ''Legion of Honor'' and pose no real threat to us."


    "Good, it''s time to show these foolish and ignorant monsters¡ª"


    "What real warfare looks like."


    Robert slowly stood up and walked out of the tent.


    Aiden and Schneider followed closely behind.


    Dressed in gray robes and armed with spears and shields, the "Claw of the Male Eagle" formed tight phalanxes with their shields intricately carved with hawk feathers. The five-meter-long spear tips gleamed ominously, resembling a forest of steel.


    War horses neighed as the plate-armored cavalry prepared to charge at any moment.


    In the sky, hundreds of Eagle Guards flew in orderly circles, constantly vigilant of their surroundings.


    Behind the tent on the open ground, soldiers worked together to push heavy ballistae forward slowly.


    "My soldiers¡ª"


    Robert''s voice was not loud, but thanks to a spell, everyone present could hear him clearly.


    "Real warfare is upon us. This time, we face unprecedented enemies: the brutal monsters: goblins, kobolds, ogres, and even giant dragons."


    "They may be strong, or incredibly powerful, or capable of spewing terrifying flames, but remember, behind you lies the Rackman Duchy, where your parents, wives, children, and friends reside. The Red Dragon''s expansion is relentless, and our only choice is to fight back as best we can, showing these monsters our might!"


    "The Duchy has shielded us with peace for years. You have grown up under the Duke''s protection. Now, any man who knows gratitude and has blood in his veins should know to repay this kindness, fighting to the death for His Grace and the Rackman Duchy!"


    "For the Duke, for the Rackman Duchy!"


    Robert raised his Silver Sword, shouting.


    These elite soldiers of the Rackman Family, mostly from cities, often descendants of urban petty bourgeoisie or minor nobles, had received top-notch military education since childhood. This talk of "protecting those around you, repaying the nation" resonated deeply with them.


    Thus, the soldiers also raised their weapons, the rhythmic sound of spear shafts hitting the ground echoing, producing wave after wave of cheers.


    "For the Duke¡ª


    "For the Rackman Duchy¡ª"


    The rousing cheers reverberated through the camp.


    Yet, a shadow crossed Robert''s face.


    He turned aside and asked in a low voice, "Aiden, why hasn''t the Sixth Regiment returned yet?"


    Aiden''s heart sank, and he quickly replied, "I''m not sure, but they might have... encountered that dragon."

 Chapter 41 War (Part 5)

    "Help me¡ª""Don''t eat me!"


    The routed soldiers of the "Legion of Honor" had already fled to the central army, followed by a surging tide of Goblins and Kobolds.


    "Please, save me!"


    The elite soldiers of the "Claw of the Male Eagle" stood motionless, coldly watching the routed troops being slaughtered. They held their spears tightly, forming a solid shield formation.


    "Attack!"


    Robert gave the order.


    Horn blew, and the spear and shield soldiers advanced in unison, their movements coordinated and orderly, like a wall slowly advancing.


    The tide of Goblins and Kobolds clashed against this wall.


    The shields blocked the monsters'' assaults, while spears thrust out from the gaps between the shields, spearing multiple Goblins and Kobolds at once.


    The archers behind the spear and shield soldiers drew their bows and loosed arrows that arced gracefully through the air, raining down and pinning many monsters to the ground.


    It was truly a formidable elite unit. Within mere minutes, the seemingly endless horde of monsters was decimated, the ground littered with Goblin and Kobold corpses.


    The spear and shield soldiers continued their crisp, orderly march, trampling over the corpses without hesitation.


    In the face of this one-sided battle, even the fearless Dragon Vein Goblins and Kobolds began to scatter in all directions.


    "Good, just like that, crush them!"


    "Keep advancing!"


    Robert watched the one-sided battle from afar, a hint of joy finally appearing on his face.


    It seemed that the retainers of the Ashen Nest were no match for a regular army. Now the only concern was that cunning Red Dragon.


    "Advance! Bring the Dragon-Slaying Ballista!"


    Dozens of strong soldiers pushed the massive ballista, its wheels creaking.


    Over twenty thousand regular troops followed the "Claw of the Male Eagle" formation, advancing unimpeded into the Triel Valley in just one day.


    Apart from clearing some scattered Kobold and Goblin squads, they encountered little resistance.


    But soon, the allied forces realized they were wrong.


    The weak Kobolds and Goblins were merely cannon fodder to delay them, while the true forces of the Ashen Nest were waiting in formation within Triel Valley.


    "So..."


    "This is their real army."


    Robert gazed into the distance, his expression gradually growing serious.


    The entire field of view was occupied by a gigantic monster legion.


    "Roar¡ª"


    Several land dragon beasts, as large as small mountains, walked, causing the ground to rumble. They were covered in massive iron armor plates, like moving steel fortresses.


    Hundreds of Bipedal Wyverns circled and glided in the sky, casting chaotic shadows on the ground as they roared.


    The towering and muscular Ogres roared fervently, their rolls of fat trembling, shouting "Enemies" and "Food."


    The most striking Ogre was over six meters tall, covered in red scales, wearing a patched and assembled robe, looking particularly strange.


    Dragon Vein Goblins formed tight formations, the front row wielding standard metal staffs, emanating a scent of smoke.


    The Lizardfolk held bone spears and beastskin shields, their vertical pupils emitting a cold glint, an indication of absolute ruthlessness towards their enemies.


    Known as the "Children of the Devil," the Tieflings stood ready under the lead of the Oathbreakers, many of them full of hatred for the "Claw of the Male Eagle."


    And in front of them were still hills of Goblins and Kobolds, but these troops were mostly all Dragon Veins, their combat power not much inferior to ordinary human soldiers, with quite a few Kobold Spellcasters among them.


    A thousand players were mixed into this terrifying monster legion, ironically standing out as they didn''t look intimidating enough.


    Suddenly, stirring music echoed around¡ªit was the Half-Goat People military band playing the pan flute.


    "Roar¡ª"


    A distant dragon''s roar resounded.


    A massive, hideous head appeared on the horizon, followed by expansive wings that blotted out the sky, and an enormous dragon body.


    Compared to it, those land dragon beasts were like tiny rats.


    Robert gazed upward at the spectacular sight, dumbfounded, muttering:


    "By the Gods..."


    "How¡­ is this possible?"


    He even forgot to order the Dragon-hunting Crossbow to fire.


    The allied forces were in an uproar, filled with terror. How could humans possibly contend with such a monster?


    The Red Dragon looked down on the allied forces with undisguised contempt in its golden vertical pupils.


    "Humans, I admire your courage."


    But unfortunately, you misplaced your courage. You believed yourselves to be heroes eliminating evil yet only became tools for that Vampire Duke."


    "Enough..."


    "Since you seek war, I will grant you¡­ total death by fire."


    Robert finally regained his senses, hurriedly commanding: "Dragon-Slaying Ballista! Dragon-Slaying Ballista! Kill him!"


    The soldiers, though fearful, obeyed the order and began loading the great crossbow at the rear.


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    Schroeder reminded from the side: "Marquis, a massive dragon like that wouldn''t appear on the Prime Material Plane. That''s an illusion technique, projecting a pre-made image into the air. Quite a clever trick."


    "But this doesn''t mean much, it only shows that there''s a skilled Spellcaster in the Ashen Nest, and the dragon dares not confront us directly, likely knowing we possess large-scale dragon-slaying weapons."


    "So that''s it."


    Robert finally felt a wave of relief, letting go of his fear.


    He watched carefully and noticed that the edge of the dragon seemed slightly translucent and wavering with flames.


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    "Cunning evil dragon."


    He felt ashamed and angry at his earlier misstep, his hatred growing stronger.


    The dragon in the sky turned into a mass of flames and disappeared, leaving only its last words echoing in people''s ears¡ª"I will burn everything to ashes."


    The information that the dragon was an illusion quickly spread through the allied forces, calming their fear somewhat. After all, they faced an unknown dragon.


    The North had not seen dragon disasters for over a hundred years, the last being "Glacier Wing."


    However, on the hillside, Dolores raised her sword, shouting: "Did you hear the master''s words? Destroy them utterly! For the Ashen Nest!"


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    The monsters erupted in a frenzy, cheering, roaring, howling, and shrieking. There was a newfound greed and fanaticism in their eyes as they looked at the allied forces.


    The Kingdom Allied Forces and the Ashen Kin stood in opposition.


    The stalemate finally broke.


    War was about to erupt.

 Chapter 42 War (VI)

    The leaders of the Family Members issued orders, and the heavy sound of horns echoed."Kill!"


    "Crush them!"


    Smoke and dust billowed, and the ground trembled.


    The Half-Goat People played the pan flute, performing a magical suite that made the monsters even more frenzied, but this tune was ironically taught to them by a bored Bard player, "the Mass."


    Under this majestic, soul-stirring melody, a horde of clawing monsters charged at the humans, creating an ironic contrast.


    The Kobolds and Goblin Legion at the front swarmed in a frantic attack on the "Claw of the Male Eagle" Spear and Shield Soldiers'' defense line.


    From behind the Spear and Shield Soldiers, hundreds of archers released volley after volley of arrows, causing casualties among the Dragon Vein Monsters before they could reach the line.


    But the Kobolds and Goblins behind them marched on without hesitation, even stepping over the bodies of their fallen comrades, showing a fearless advance that arrows could not deter.


    Even when they reached the front of the Spear and Shield Soldiers, they were easily slain by spears.


    However, under the cover of life-sacrificing Kobolds and Goblins, the three hundred-strong Goblin Infantry Brigade, composed of Dragon Vein Great Goblins, moved forward in orderly steps to the beat of the drums.


    Even with the high-spirited music, if a Great Goblin fell to an enemy''s arrow, another would step in to fill the gap without hesitation.


    Fortunately, most Great Goblins wore leather armor and were often protected by scales, so ordinary arrows couldn''t easily kill them, resulting in minimal losses during the advance.


    When they were just fifty paces away from the Spear and Shield Soldiers, the Great Goblins halted and shouldered their spears.


    "Fire!"


    Dolores let out a frenzied roar.


    "Boom!"


    With a roar of gunfire, acrid smoke enveloped the battlefield, obscuring visibility.


    On the Allied Forces'' side, the Spear and Shield Soldiers'' thin shields were pierced by the powerful bullets, as if made of paper, and many soldiers in robes behind them were also hit, falling backwards.


    The "Breaker of Enemies," magically modified by the Mechanic Mages, was far more powerful than historical smoothbore guns, and each shot produced a thick layer of smoke.


    Just from this volley, the front line of "Claw of the Male Eagle" saw over two hundred Spear and Shield Soldiers dead or injured.


    "Tampas above..."


    "How do these monsters form such an army,"


    Robert muttered in disbelief as he observed the situation from the rear.


    His view was blocked by the thick smoke, unable to see the clumsy reloading of the Goblin Infantry Brigade, but his battlefield experience led him to infer: This level of attack likely required extensive preparation time.


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    The messengers quickly relayed the signal to the front lines.


    The Winged Cavalry, clad in heavy plate armor, held lances adorned with Grey Hawk banners, and had wing-like ornaments spread behind them.


    These winged ornaments were not merely decorative; during a charge, the wings sliced through the air, producing a piercing whistle that spooked enemy horses and exerted significant psychological pressure on the foe.


    "They can''t be stopped,"


    Robert had great confidence in his cavalry.


    This cavalry, having fought countless battles, had seen numerous enemies flee in panic under the whistle of the wings, heading towards defeat.


    "For His Grace, charge!"


    Smoke and dust billowed, and the ground quaked.


    Over four hundred Winged Cavalry galloped across the flat wasteland, the whistles from their winged ornaments shrieking, their hooves thudded heavily on the ground.


    "Wind Making Spell!"


    The spellcasters of the Allied Forces conjured gusts of wind to disperse the smoke.


    Yet, as the smoke slowly cleared, the cavalry faced not only the reloading Infantry Brigade but also the mountain-like Land Dragon Beasts. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The Land Dragon Beasts bellowed, their steps making the ground tremble.


    Under the shadow of these colossal creatures, the Winged Cavalry looked up in bewilderment, their once determined faces now showing fear.


    The seasoned warhorses too instinctively neighed in terror, some throwing their knights off.


    But now, within thirty paces, they couldn''t stop.


    They had no choice but to charge forward with gritted teeth.


    "Roar!"


    With a roar, a Land Dragon Beast plunged into the close formation of charging cavalry.


    In a single encounter, several knights were crushed under its claws, reduced to a bloody pulp.


    Many more knights crashed into the enormous body, their lances, even if they pierced the rough and thick skin of the beast, couldn''t penetrate deeply. They could only watch as the colossal creature collided, plunging them into darkness.


    Dolores could no longer suppress his bloodlust and personally came to the front line.


    This Dragon Vein Great Goblin stood three meters tall, unarmored, yet his muscle-bound body was covered in hard scales, impervious to ordinary weapons.


    In his hands was a five-meter-long heavy Great Axe¡ªthe "Bloodfire Battle Axe."


    This long-handled battle axe, with a rough blade stained with old blood, was said to have required twelve Goblins to laboriously transport it to the camp when first made. But the Dragon Vein''s immense strength allowed Dolores to wield it effortlessly.


    Now, the Dragon Vein Great Goblin was a pure killing machine.


    With his eyes blood-red, hot white smoke puffed from Dolores''s nostrils as he leaped onto the Land Dragon Beast, wielding the Great Axe.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    "I will¡ªcrush you!"


    With a whistling swing, the Bloodfire Battle Axe drew a semi-circular arc in the air, slicing a Winged Cavalry knight in half at the waist with great force.


    Yet it did not stop there; the axe continued, killing three more, the blade soaked in fresh blood still warm.


    "Excellent... just like this,"


    Blood splattered onto the Great Goblin''s crazed face; he licked it, savoring the metallic taste of blood mixed with rust.


    "Die!"


    Dolores raised the battle axe high, splitting a knight and his horse from head to toe.


    With the Great Axe in hand, he became a relentless killing machine, slaughtering cavalry around him, leaving severed limbs and broken bodies in his wake. The Winged Cavalry scattered, fleeing like hunted lambs from this terrifying figure.


    The Infantry Brigade, having reloaded, commenced free shooting at the cavalry. Though their hit rate on the fast-moving targets was low, many knights still fell from their horses.


    "Tampas above..."


    "These are truly... monsters,"


    Robert observed the chaotic battle, his expression growing grim, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.


    His prideful Winged Cavalry was utterly ineffective against these ruthless and brutal monsters.


    Now, he needed to rethink his tactics.

 Chapter 43 War (VII)

    Of more than four hundred cavalrymen, less than thirty percent remained, and the death toll continued to rise as the cavalry scattered in every direction.Meanwhile, the spear and shield soldiers suffered heavy casualties under the continuous volleys from the Goblin Infantry Brigade. The once-tight formation now showed gaps, and the soldiers behind grew fearful, unwilling to fill the voids before them, as doing so seemed akin to suicide.


    Fortunately, after several rounds of volley, the Great Goblins'' ammunition ran out, and they discarded their smoking guns, switching to sharp blades.


    The Ogres and Lizardfolk charged in unison, clashing violently with the main force of the allied army, the "Claw of the Male Eagle," in a ferocious melee.


    This was the fiercest battlefield on the frontlines.


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    "For the great Red Dragon Lord!"


    Dolores led the charge, brandishing his Bloodfire Battle Axe fiercely. Several horrified spear and shield soldiers were pulverized into bloody paste by his blows, and the nearby soldiers, witnessing the horror, fled in terror.


    The once-sturdy formation of the allied forces was forcefully breached by Dolores, creating a massive gap.


    The monsters behind cheered fanatically, flooding through the breach and slaughtering madly within the ranks, using claws and fangs or blades to relentlessly expand their advantage.


    The Great Goblins hacked with knives, Lizardfolk hurled bone spears, and Ogres swung large clubs while Kobold Magicians spewed flames.


    "Enemies!"


    The Ogre called "Bighead" roared angrily, smashing a heavily armored soldier into a pulp with one strike. Yet, he did not continue his attack. Instead, he looked around, then tore a chunk from the mangled remains and stealthily stuffed it into his mouth. A satisfied expression appeared on his ugly face.


    "Canned men, delicious."


    "Can''t let the boss know. He doesn''t allow Bighead to eat canned men. If I eat it, he''ll hit me again."


    Bighead muttered to himself quietly.


    Unbeknownst to him, Ramp was watching this scene with a dark expression, relying on the Magic pendants the Ogres carried.


    "Bighead! You''re stealing food again!"


    Ramp''s angry voice suddenly appeared next to Bighead.


    Bighead was so frightened that he immediately covered his head, instinctively wanting to protect it from being knocked unconscious by a club.


    But after a quick scan, he didn''t see Ramp''s tall figure. Confused, he rubbed his oversized head, muttering, "Strange, I clearly heard the boss''s voice¡­"


    "Could I have heard wrong?"


    Soon enough, his simple mind was distracted by the enticing aroma of the flesh, and he forgot all about it.


    "Never mind. Keep fighting the canned men!"


    Bighead let out an excited shout and rejoined the bloody battle to fill his belly.


    To these monsters infused with the Red Dragon''s bloodline, killing was as mundane as eating or drinking, but for humans, it was far from the same.


    "Help me¡ª¡ª¡ª"


    "Let me go, I don''t want to fight anymore!"


    "They''re demons incarnate!"


    "Let me leave here¡­"


    Many soldiers, witnessing their comrades falling one after another under the monstrous onslaught and dying gruesomely, were overwhelmed and desperately tried to escape this dreadful meat grinder.


    "Deserters face execution!"


    However, the supervising officers at the rear blocked these fleeing soldiers, mercilessly cutting them down with the Sword of Judgment and forcing them to turn back and face the enemy.


    But this only slightly slowed down the overall retreat, unable to halt the inevitable collapse of the entire army.


    "We can''t let this continue."


    Robert watched his defensive line being rapidly overrun by the Monster Legion, his brow furrowing deeply.


    He called for the commander of the Northwind Eagle Guards.


    "Aiden, it''s your turn to act. Stop them."


    "Yes, Your Grace."


    Aiden accepted the order, leapt onto his Giant Eagle, and took flight, raising his Eagle Shriek Silver Sword in the air, causing a sharp whistling sound to resonate.


    "Northwind Eagle Guards, prepare to charge!"


    Over a hundred Giant Eagle Knights soared high, their loud eagle cries echoing as they swooped down rapidly.


    "Fight for His Grace!"


    "Charge with me!"


    One by one, the Giant Eagles swept over the battlefield, casting patchy shadows and bringing down their lances and longswords.


    The monsters suffered heavy casualties under the concentrated charge of the Eagle Guards, even the thick-skinned Ogres found themselves skewered by the aerial lances.


    After several charges, supported by the air assault, the rout of the "Claw of the Male Eagle" was temporarily halted, showing faint signs of pushing the front line back.


    But the Northwind Eagle Guards had evidently forgotten that they were not the only ones in the sky. Just as they completed another dive and began to ascend again¡ª S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The cry of Wyverns echoed.


    The Red Scale Conquerors descended from the heavens with blazing flames.


    They had been circling high above the clouds, waiting for the opportune moment. The moment the Northwind Eagle Guards relaxed and exposed a weakness, Alger seized the opportunity and gave the order to attack.


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    "Charge!"


    Alger raised his Everburning Greatsword.


    The Dragon''s Roar Charge commenced collectively, accompanied by imposing roars. Seventeen Ancestral Wyverns breathed torrents of searing flames, creating a raging sea of fire before them.


    The Northwind Eagle Guards were still in tight formation, slowly ascending, never anticipating an aerial assault.


    When the Dragon''s Roar sounded, the Giant Eagles succumbed to uncontrollable fear, incapable of evading. When the Eagle Guards panicked and looked up, their vision was entirely engulfed by flames.


    "Boom!"


    The flames raged wildly in the sky, the Giant Eagles ignited one by one, becoming flaming meteors crashing to the ground.


    Alger''s timing was nearly flawless. With just this one wave of the Dragon''s Roar Charge, almost an entire company of nearly a hundred Eagle Guards was incinerated.


    "Scatter! Scatter!"


    "Retreat quickly!"


    Aiden''s anguished roar echoed.


    He finally understood why the Sixth Eagle Guard Regiment had mysteriously vanished: the Ashen Nest concealed a terrifying aerial force.


    Not only the mindless Wyverns but also Flying Knights!


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    As the Red Scale Conquerors charged, the Wyvern leader "Stieg" let out a long cry. The Bipedal Wyverns took to the air chaotically, chasing after the isolated Eagle Guards.


    The Chimera''s three heads roared in unison, flapping their Dragon Wings as they, along with two female kindred, joined the fray.


    The aerial battlefield grew ever more tumultuous.


    Flames, arrows, and lances crisscrossed chaotically in the sky.


    Three Chimeras, over a hundred Wyverns, eighteen Red Scale Conquerors, and the remaining two hundred Northwind Eagle Guards engaged in a perilous aerial battle, unable to afford any distractions¡ªfor even a momentary lapse would result in attacks from all directions.


    Humans and monsters continually plummeted from the skies.


    With the human forces on the ground losing their aerial support, they were once again pushed back by the monsters, forced to retreat amidst screams and devastation.

 Chapter 44 War (VIII)

    The commander of the allied forces, Count Robert, nervously watched the battle in the sky.The adjutant quietly suggested, "My lord, should we use the Dragon-Slaying Ballista to support the Northwind Eagle Guards? Those wyverns shouldn''t be able to withstand our bolts."


    "No, maintain vigilance."


    Robert''s tone was somewhat grave.


    Although the Northwind Eagle Guards were his most important asset, his mind was plagued with doubts: Where was that Red Dragon, the leader of the Ashen Nest? It had not appeared since the start of the war!


    It only took a little thought to realize that a force capable of cultivating such a legion couldn''t possibly be an ordinary young Red Dragon.


    Robert could only secretly pray, hoping the gods would bless his Dragon-Slaying Ballista to be effective against that Red Dragon.


    "We must wait for that Red Dragon to appear."


    Sweat dripped from Robert''s forehead. At some point, the air in the Triel Valley had become stiflingly hot, unlike its usual freshness.


    "Yes, my lord."


    The adjutant reluctantly stepped back.


    In the sky and on the ground, tens of thousands of humans and monsters clashed and tangled in a chaotic melee.


    A Bugbear crushed the skull of a Spear and Shield Soldier with a Wolf Fang Club, brain matter splattering. But several archers behind the fallen soldier drew their bows and turned the towering Bugbear into a pincushion. A wyvern swooped down from the sky, its sharp poisonous stinger piercing through the archers.


    However, the Northwind Eagle Guards dived in from behind, lances piercing the wyvern''s vulnerable neck...


    "I will crush you!"


    Once again, Dolores led the charge, swinging his heavy Bloodfire Battle Axe with great force.


    This Great Goblin had already tasted the sweetness of battle; he knew well how terrifying a weapon of war he was now.


    But this time, instead of splitting his enemies as expected, his axe was blocked by a heavy shield, requiring great effort to pull it out.


    "For order, stand forth!"


    Before him stood seven warriors in silver-white heavy armor. They were the "Oath of the Crown" Paladins of the Boske Family, led by the renowned "White Lion Knight" Tarik, who was surrounded by a Guardian Aura¡ªit was he who had single-handedly blocked Dolores''s swing.


    They had come specifically to support the central army.


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    At Tarik''s command, the Paladins surrounded Dolores.


    "Guardian Chain!"


    The Paladins raised their Silver Swords, and radiant chains linked them, distributing the damage from every attack among them, moving and acting as one.


    "Damn tortoise shells."


    Dolores swung his axe repeatedly, but each strike clashed against the Paladins'' shields.


    With the radiant chains flickering, the force of each attack was divided into seven portions, allowing the Paladins to easily block and counterattack with their Silver Swords.


    Dolores attempted to break through in another direction, avoiding these troublesome Paladins.


    However, Tarik immediately saw through his intentions.


    "Forced Duel!"


    The Silver Sword glowed, dragging Dolores into a holy duel. He could neither escape nor break the Paladins'' defenses, while the Paladins used their numerical advantage to launch attacks from all directions.


    For a moment, Dolores was at a disadvantage, covered in wounds.


    "Lord Dolores, I''m here to help you!"


    The Lizardfolk leader, Acker, charged in on his Land Dragon Beast, sending several Paladins flying.


    But the Paladins quickly got up and reformed their impregnable formation, like a seamless silver fortress.


    The Lizardfolk Old Shaman, Koda, followed closely, wielding a wooden staff.


    [Scorching Metal]


    A Paladin''s shield turned red-hot, his hands scorched black, sizzling. He couldn''t bear it and threw the shield aside, trying to retreat to the rear.


    The Old Shaman squinted slightly, an undetectable emerald light flickering on the wooden staff.


    [Entangle]


    Tight coils of wild grass and vines sprang from the ground, binding the isolated Paladin tightly.


    "Die!"


    Dolores and Acker seized the opportunity and charged.


    The surrounding Paladins tried to block with their shields, but it was too late.


    The Paladin was first pierced through the shoulder by a Bone Spear, then his skull was shattered by a powerful swing from the Great Axe. Even though he was still linked by the Guardian Chain, without the shield''s protection, his flesh and blood couldn''t withstand the heavy strike of the Great Axe.


    "Watch out for their spellcasters!"


    "Guard formation!"


    Tarik shouted loudly.


    The remaining Paladins reformed their tight formation, facing off against Dolores and his retainers, with numerous soldiers dispatched to cover them. Even the allied spellcasters hurried to join.


    [Mithril Rampart]


    [Protective Array]


    The reduced Paladins became more cautious, multiple protective spells surrounding them, leaving Dolores temporarily finding no chance to attack.


    Panting heavily, Dolores glared at his enemies, his blood-red eyes filled with a desire to kill.


    "Koda, can you cast that spell again?"


    "My Force of Nature has not reached that level, and they have too many protective spells..."


    The Lizardfolk Shaman shook his head helplessly.


    "Damn tortoise shells."


    Dolores cursed through gritted teeth, then charged again on his Land Dragon Beast.


    But the Paladins'' silver rampart blocked him again and again, preventing him from advancing an inch.

 Chapter 44 War (VIII)_2

    With the loss of Dolores as a breakthrough point, the advance speed of the Ashen Legion immediately slowed down significantly, not as aggressive as before when they were following behind the Great Goblin Chieftain and crushing everything in their path.And, after all, the "Claw of the Male Eagle" was the most elite force of the Rakman Kingdom. After undergoing several attacks, they gradually adapted to the brutal combat against monsters.


    The soldiers loyal to the Duke, stimulated by the consecutive deaths of their comrades, had blood-red eyes and stubbornly held the basic defensive line with their flesh and blood, leading to a stalemate for the time being.


    The front line see-sawed back and forth around strategic points.


    One moment, the ogres roared and killed a bunch of humans to seize high ground; the next moment, archers would shoot them into a sieve and lead the spear and shield soldiers to retake the position. But soon, chimeras descended from the sky, bringing flame to the allied soldiers.


    Death continuously unfolded.


    Blood flowed across the Triel Valley, nourishing the wild grass.


    This vast battlefield was like a black hole, greedily devouring lives from both sides of the war.


    ...


    Due to Cassius''s absolute distrust of the players'' discipline, he did not place them in the most crucial frontal battlefield but instead positioned them on the flank.


    Thus, on the side of the Ashen Nest were one thousand players led by Mezulash and five hundred Tiefling warriors.


    On the side of the allied forces was a three thousand men reinforcement from the Boske Family, though not elite.


    Compared to the extremely intense and deadly frontal battlefield, the right flank was somewhat more relaxed, but the situation was still chaotic and even more so.


    While the Tieflings and allied troops carefully formed their formations and tested each other''s strength cautiously, the players charged forward like runaway horses.


    After all, they never cared about military discipline.


    "Charge!"


    "WHAAAA!"


    "Watch my performance!"


    "For the Horde! No, for the Ashen Nest!"


    Leading the charge was the player with the ID "Wings of Freedom." By now, he had fully accepted his nickname, Holy Light Bro, and ran naked at the front of the battlefield.


    Wings of Freedom''s occupation was the nature-embracing Earth Druid, fitting his character, and he was accompanied by several owls, his animal companions.


    "Wild Form!"


    "Roar!"


    Holy Light Bro assumed a cringe-inducing pose, dropped to all fours, and transformed into a robust brown bear, roaring as he charged directly toward the line.


    The allied forces gaped at the players recklessly charging without any tactics, then quickly snapped out of it and began rapidly shooting volleys of arrows.


    "Why are there so many arrows!"


    "Shield up, shield me!"


    "Barbarian, cover me!"


    "Priest, cast a Sanctuary Spell, I''m about to drop!"


    After several rounds of arrow volleys, the players suffered heavy casualties.


    The worst off was Holy Light Bro in bear form; his large size made him a conspicuous target, and he was struck by the most arrows, looking more like a giant porcupine than a brown bear.


    He reverted to his bare-bottomed corpse still shrouded in a thin layer of Holy Light only after his health dropped to zero, with arrows sticking out all over.


    "No¡ªHoly Light Bro¡ª"


    "How can we stand this?"


    "A bunch of NPCs dare to cause trouble here!"


    The players quickly launched a counterattack, led by the members of the [Mechanical God Cult]. Mostly Mechanic Mages, they had already created a lot of bizarre gadgets.


    "Guardian Mech activated."


    With the cold mechanical voice, a tall black shadow appeared among the players'' ranks.


    "Holy shit, what is that?"


    "Did someone make a Gundam?"


    "So damn cool, I want one too!"


    The over-four-meter-tall Arcane Armor stood on the battlefield, though the metal parts looked crudely made; it still didn''t hide the mech''s romanticism. The pilot was none other than Steel Torrent, the president of the Mechanical God Cult.


    This was an [Arcane Armor], a trait of the Armored Division, a sub-occupation of the Mechanic Mage. The piece Steel Torrent wore was the Guardian model, suitable for charging and front-line combat.


    "Make way, let me through!"


    Steel Torrent laughed heartily, driving his mech forward, crashing through the enemies.


    He had used up all his savings and even privately diverted funds from Storm Arsenal to create this armor and was now excited to finally show it off.


    What''s the point of having a mech if you don''t flaunt it?


    The archers of the allied forces immediately focused on the oddly shaped iron lump, shooting various arrows at it.


    "Trying to shoot a Gundam with arrows?"


    Steel Torrent sneered.


    "Protective Field!"


    The Guardian Armor raised its left arm, and under the activation of magic runes, a transparent force field appeared in front of it, effortlessly blocking the incoming arrows.


    Following Steel Torrent, the players pushed forward, arriving in front of the spear and shield soldiers.


    The allied forces had never seen such a thing before. Facing the ever-approaching Guardian Armor, they scrambled to attack in panic.


    "Sir, the times have changed!"


    "Thunder Combat Fist!"


    Steel Torrent shouted and threw a punch; boosters on his arm burst into flames, and arcs of electricity wrapped around his fist.


    "Boom!"


    With a thunderous boom, the shields of the allied forces were smashed in, leaving a dramatic fist imprint. The soldiers behind the shield were killed instantly.


    The surrounding soldiers clutched their ears in pain, their bodies still zapped by paralyzing electric arcs.


    "Three hundred!"


    "Three hundred! Three hundred!"


    Steel Torrent laughed wildly, plowing through the allied lines like a wolf among sheep, smashing soldiers with each punch. The continuous "contribution +300" updates on his interface thrilled him immensely.


    "I''m going to go eat fries after this!"


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man followed behind Steel Torrent, holding his "Steel Shooter," firing a shot straight ahead.


    With the gunfire roaring, dense metal bullets sprayed out, and clusters of allied soldiers fell, wailing in agony.


    "Holy shit, four kills with one shot!"


    "Is it this strong?"


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man, eyes wide open in excitement, watched the updates on his interface.


    This gun had earned a spot next to the Type Two submachine gun in his heart.


    "Mechanic Mages are so much fun to play." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I want to switch occupations, anyone want to join?"


    "Do you even understand the blueprints? Talking about switching so suddenly."


    "Charge, charge!"


    Steel Torrent had brutally torn a hole in the enemy formation, and the players surged forward, swarming into the breach in the line.


    "For the faction contribution!"


    "For the Dragon Maid!"


    Sorcerers launched fiery fireballs, Druids summoned strange beasts, Bards played spell songs, and Wanderers sniped from the ground.


    "Mage, don''t cast Darkness Spell! I can''t see!"


    "Hold off, Wild Sorcerer!"


    "Did you just cast Wild Magic Surge under your feet?"


    "Bard, cast Demon Fire."


    The players charged forward, shouting, and used their various skills. Technicolor lights flew everywhere in a mix of weird weapons. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    The allied forces had never encountered such a professional army before. Facing the unruly tactics of the players, they had no choice but to retreat in panic.


    The Tieflings in the distance initially had their tactics planned out, but after seeing the players rushing headlong, they suddenly didn''t know what to do.


    "Captain, what do we..."


    Damascus stepped forward and asked.


    Mezulash donned his helmet, picked up his sword, and calmly said, "Just follow their attack and enjoy the spoils. Don''t worry about these Starfallen''s lives."


    "They are undying, but we are not."


    "Prepare to attack."


    He had become increasingly adept at exploiting the players.


    "Yes, Captain."


    The Tieflings also charged through the breach made by the players, but they still maintained a tight formation, attacking in a more orderly manner.


    The players noticed the Tieflings joining the fray.


    "Damn, NPCs are stealing our kills!"


    That was their only thought.

 Chapter 45 War (9)

    The Steel Torrent was fighting fiercely when a sudden shout came from behind."Supreme Holy Slash!"


    A dazzling light descended from the sky, the sound of metal clashing echoed, and in the next moment, the right arm of the armor fell to the ground.


    The Steel Torrent was initially incredulous, and then felt immense heartache: "My Guardian Armor¡ª"


    He turned the armor around, only to see a blonde, blue-eyed Paladin standing with his sword.


    It was none other than Andrei Boske.


    "You bastard, compensate me for my complete armor!"


    The Steel Torrent was furious at the guy who damaged his armor, rushed forward, and swung his left fist, with flames erupting from his arm.


    "Taste my Thunder Combat Fist!"


    However, the Paladin was surrounded by Swift Radiance and easily dodged the powered-up strike, then swung his sword again.


    "Supreme Holy Slash!"


    Another dazzling light flashed by.


    With a "clang," the left arm of the Guardian Armor was also detached.


    "How is this possible..."


    The Steel Torrent muttered, on the verge of tears.


    This was equipment he had spent all his savings, even embezzled funds, to create, only to find it so vulnerable in front of this blonde Paladin.


    Andrei stared at the half-dragon in the cockpit, his gaze determined, and said each word clearly: "Evil Dragon Kin, your existence threatens the peace and order of the North, and eliminating you will become a part of my heroic deeds!"


    "Bang!"


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man shot, but Andrei easily dodged. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Andrei pointed his long sword towards the Battlefield Wheelchair Man.


    [Guiding Light Arrow]


    A beam of light shot towards the half-dragon''s forehead, piercing a small hole, and Battlefield Wheelchair Man died.


    "Taste my Mount Tai Peak!"


    The Steel Torrent leaped, trying to crush the Paladin with his massive armor.


    But Andrei stepped aside, and magical aura sparkled on his sword blade.


    [Magic-infused Weapon]


    With one thrust, he pierced through the sturdy cockpit shield, nailing the Steel Torrent to his beloved armor.


    Andrei withdrew his blood-stained sword, his fierce gaze sweeping over the other players.


    "Holy crap, there''s a boss!"


    "He''s coming over!"


    "The guild master and deputy guild master were both insta-killed!"


    "This Paladin is intense; he chopped down the mecha."


    Natural War Maniac exclaimed at the Paladin slaughtering players in the distance: "This monster is quite strong."


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information]


    [Andrei Boske]


    Basic Ability: Glory Holy Knight


    Challenge Level: 6 (2100xp)


    Natural War Maniac grinned, his eyes filled with battle intent.


    He looked at Summer Night Autumn Rain beside him: "Autumn Rain, this is a rare elite monster, should we fight for it?"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain nodded slightly but whispered: "Of course, we should fight for it, but we need to capture him alive."


    Natural War Maniac asked with confusion: "Why not kill him? Are you attracted to this elite monster?"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain held his forehead, helplessly pointing to the information on the panel: "Look at his surname, Boske, the most powerful family in the official setting of Anzeta, the Northern Lion."


    "If we kidnap this guy, who knows how much gold coin we can ransom, isn''t that better than the meager experience points?"


    Natural War Maniac touched his bald head, awkwardly saying: "You''re right."


    The battle continued.


    "Huff, huff, huff..."


    "Damn it..."


    Andrei knelt on one knee, propping himself up with his sword, sweat dripping from his forehead. His body already bore many wounds, some burnt, some frozen, and even some corroded by acid.


    The ways players attacked were bizarre, and though he had Protection and Swift Radiance, he still couldn''t dodge them all.


    It was important to note that players were not Honor Knights; if they had a chance to ambush, they would never give it up.


    These guys were unlike any enemies he had ever met.


    Even if Andrei killed their companions, they would still swarm forward fearlessly, shouting things like "I''m doing damage," "Get a tank," and "Heal, please," which he couldn''t understand.


    Now Andrei''s stamina was almost exhausted, and his body was reaching its limit.


    And surrounding him were piles of player corpses.


    There were at least a hundred of them!


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    The sound of an arrow breaking through the air was heard.


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    Andrei sharply perceived the arrow coming from behind, rolled to the left to dodge it, and killed the despicable attacker with a Guiding Light Arrow.


    However, a Barbarian beside him threw a spear with great force, and he instinctively parried the incoming spear with his sword.


    Just as he lifted his sword, another spell radiance attacked from behind.


    [Human Binding Spell]


    This time he couldn''t dodge in time, and he was frozen in place, unable to move.


    Fengyun, the vice president of Royal Guild, exclaimed excitedly: "He''s frozen, everyone don''t act rashly, wait for our president to come and finish him off!"


    "I''m coming!"


    Tyrant rushed forward with his great sword, full of fury.


    But thick mist mysteriously spread across the battlefield, engulfing the immobilized Andrei¡ªthat was Cloud Mist Technique.


    Tyrant stumbled through the mist, angrily shouting: "Who cast Cloud Mist Technique?"


    For a moment, members of the Royal Guild, scattered individuals, and members of other guilds all rushed into the mist, trying to fish in troubled waters.


    "Hey, you hit the wrong person, I''m a player!"


    "Is the boss still here?"


    "Someone cast a Wind Making Spell!"


    In this chaotic situation, a dark figure darted through the mist.


    Fengyun raised his magic wand, casting a spell.


    [Wind Making Spell]


    A gust of wind arose, blowing the mist away.


    But where the Paladin supposed to be immobilized stood, there was nothing.


    Seeing the duck fly away, Tyrant was furious, shouting: "We must drag out this sneaky bastard!"


    Behind a hill, Natural War Maniac, empowered by Acceleration Spell, knocked the blonde youth to the ground and tied his hands and feet tightly with rope.


    He touched his bald head, smiling satisfactorily.


    "Haha, fooled this guy again."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn''t help but remind: "Don''t get too cocky, the Human Binding Spell is about to wear off."


    Sure enough, Andrei struggled to get up.


    "Where is this¡ª"


    "Bang!"


    Natural War Maniac struck Andrei''s head with a stick, making him fall flat.


    He clapped his hands, satisfied at the sight of the tightly bound youth: "Mission accomplished, now this feels secure."


    Seemingly still uneasy, he hit Andrei''s head a few more times for good measure.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn''t help but say: "Be careful not to kill him outright."


    Natural War Maniac said confidently: "I''ve got plenty of experience knocking people out, besides, this is a mini-boss with the divine physique trait of a Paladin, he won''t die that easily."


    "Haha, we''re going to be rich."


    He looked at the unconscious blonde youth with his swollen head, seeing a pile of gleaming gold coins.


    The third son of the Boske Family, the Glory Holy Knight who was full of hope, was thus humiliatingly kidnapped by players on the battlefield.

 Chapter 46 War (10)

    Unlike the aimless and tactless players chasing the Allied Forces soldiers on the outskirts,the Tiefling army had already formed a tight offensive formation. Seizing the gap created by the players, they charged like a razor-sharp blade into the three thousand strong Allied Forces.


    Mezulash led the vanguard, his armor mottled with bloodstains. Few dared to approach him.


    He raised his blood-stained great sword high.


    [Guiding Divine Power: Terror Manifestation]


    A dark night glow immediately enveloped the surroundings.


    Mezulash invoked the darkest emotions, concentrating them into an explosion of magical coercion, a unique ability of the Oathbreaker.


    The Allied soldiers, shrouded in darkness, discarded their helmets and armor, succumbing to instinctual panic.


    "No, stay away!"


    "Ah¡ª¡ª"


    "Run for your lives!" Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Devil, he''s the embodiment of a devil!"


    Blood splashed onto his face, and Mezulash''s lips curled slightly: "The embodiment of a devil, huh...


    This seemed to trigger some memories.


    He remained silent for a while, then calmly said: "Since you all want me to be, I''ll be it."


    Mezulash strode forward, swinging his blood-stained great sword and casting down scarlet red light¡ªthe Bloody Sacred Slash unique to the Oathbreaker.


    Amidst the chilling screams, the lives of the Allied soldiers were ruthlessly reaped.


    The soldiers scattered and fled as if escaping a devil. Even his own Tiefling subordinates felt a strange unfamiliarity toward their terrifying leader, only managing to shoot a few arrows behind him.


    Damascus hurried forward, worried: "Captain, are you... alright?"


    "I''m fine."


    "I couldn''t be better."


    While speaking, Mezulash raised his great sword once again. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Guiding Divine Power: Control Undead]


    Bodies slowly crawled up, picking up their severed limbs and attaching them to their torsos, hollow eyes flickering with a wavering glow, growling lowly as they pounced on their former comrades.


    "No¡ª¡ª"


    "Gods..."


    "He''s truly a devil!"


    "This devil resurrected them! He can control the undead!"


    Seeing their former comrades turned into undead, with familiar faces full of a craving for flesh, shattered the Allied soldiers'' psychological defenses. They fled desperately, for no one wanted to end up in such a state.


    Mezulash slowly lowered his blood-stained great sword.


    "The effect isn''t bad."


    His pure black eyes, devoid of irises, flickered with a ghostly light. Blood stains covered his ram-like curved horns, making him look like a true Hell Demon.


    Control Undead was an ability he had never used before. But now, Mezulash was free from any psychological burden.


    Being an Evil Dragon''s retainer, even this...


    didn''t matter.


    Mezulash glanced around, only to find even his own companions having a trace of fear deep in their eyes.


    But he pretended not to see it, calmly ordering: "Continue advancing."


    Under the onslaught led by the undead, the Tieflings soon chased the crying and fleeing Allied soldiers to the Boske Family''s command post.


    Compared to a commander, Andrei Boske seemed more like a front-line vanguard. After the battle started, he charged alone to the front lines, leaving all the heavy command duties to his subordinate nobles.


    These pampered nobles were utterly terrified as they watched the undead gradually approach, one even fainting with fear on the spot.


    To them, war was often a refined art, not a brutal slaughter.


    The nobles were instructed by the Boske Family to not engage in a deadly fight, but rather preserve their strength.


    However, now the enemy had slaughtered their way to their doorstep, far beyond their expectations.


    Baron Matthew''s voice trembled: "What... what should we do?"


    Viscount Luton whispered from the side: "Why not... surrender?"


    "But I fear they won''t honor the sacred nobility accord..."


    "These are the Evil Dragon Kin."


    The undead growled and advanced, while the Tieflings stood in formation holding their weapons.


    Mezulash leisurely stepped forward a few paces, pointing his sword at the tent from afar:


    "Everyone, surrender and I won''t kill."


    Though not loud, his voice was unmistakably clear.


    A silence fell within the tent, followed by the rustling sounds.


    Finally, Baron Matthew couldn''t withstand the immense pressure anymore. He stumbled out from the back door, leaping onto his warhorse.


    "Damn you devils!


    "Go to Hell!"


    He cursed as he galloped away.


    Mezulash remained silent, coldly observing the noble on horseback, raising his sword that flickered with spell radiance.


    [Crown of Madness]


    A twisted jagged crown appeared on Baron Matthew''s head, his eyes instantly flashing with madness.


    He uncontrollably fell from his horse, thrashing around on the ground.


    Mezulash walked forward unhurriedly, looking down at him.


    "You do have courage."


    Baron Matthew rolled on the ground, madly howling: "One day, I''ll kill you all!"


    "Shush¡ª¡ª"


    Neatly, a strike fell, pinning the insane baron to the ground.


    The remaining nobles in the tent watched this bloody scene, exclaiming in horror.


    But it wasn''t over yet.


    Mezulash pulled out the blood-stained sword.


    The dismembered body on the ground started to wriggle, staggering to stand, hollow eyes flickering ghostly¡ªBaron Matthew was transformed into an undead.


    The nobles fell silent at once.


    Mezulash guided the undead to the tent front, calmly repeating: "Everyone, surrender and I won''t kill."


    He paused.


    "At least¡ªI won''t turn you into something like this."


    Sweat dripped from Viscount Luton''s forehead. Unable to withstand the pressure any longer, he knelt down with a thud, tears and snot streaming: "I surrender! I surrender! Please don''t turn me into an undead!"


    "I surrender too, just spare my life!"


    "The Teman Family is willing to pay a ransom!"


    "The Fatte Family seeks cooperation."


    "I represent the Chris Family in saluting the Lord of Ashen."


    With Viscount Luton taking the lead, the nobles in the tent all fell to their knees, begging for mercy and weeping bitterly.


    Mezulash slightly nodded.


    "Then I apologize."


    The Tieflings tied up the kneeling nobles.


    Damascus stepped forward, cautiously reporting: "Captain... no, sir, the right flank of the Allied Forces has completely collapsed. The players are chasing the remnants. Should we cooperate with Lord Ramp and launch an attack on the enemies'' central army from the flank?"


    Mezulash shook his head: "No, we retreat straight away."


    Damascus was stunned: "But sir, we..."


    Mezulash''s pure black eyes held a teasing glint: "Retreat directly, we need to let these nobles witness a grand ceremony."


    "Yes, sir."


    Though puzzled, Damascus followed orders, leading the panic-stricken nobles back to the north of the pass.

 Chapter 47 War (11)

    The battle on the right flank of the battlefield came to an abrupt halt with the surrender of the nobles, leaving only a few players chasing down the routed soldiers. Meanwhile, on the front lines, the fierce battle between the two behemoths and the thousands of combatants continued."Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The Chimera''s three heads roared in unison.


    The dragon head spewed scorching flames, once again knocking down an Eagle Guard in front of it.


    "Monster, die!"


    Aiden, captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards'' first regiment, shouted angrily as he thrust his spear into the Chimera''s goat head.


    With a shrill wail, the goat head reared back high, blood splattering everywhere.


    This three-headed monster had already killed more than a dozen of his subordinates. Aiden was so determined to kill the Chimera that he even ignored the threat from above.


    However, just as Aiden thrust his spear, an excited shout and a resounding dragon''s roar came from behind him.


    "Noodle, go for the Dragon''s Roar Charge directly!"


    "Here comes my two thousand experience points!"


    First came the sound of metal clashing, then the soft sound of piercing flesh.


    The six-meter-long lance impaled the unsuspecting Aiden, still in the motion of thrusting his spear, along with his Eagle Guard. Even the finest plate armor couldn''t withstand the terrifying force of the lance diving from a hundred meters in the air.


    Aiden, captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards'' first regiment, died at the hands of a player.


    The message "You gained 2100 xp" refreshed on Mantou''s panel.


    "Damn, took down an elite monster in one hit!"


    Mantou tossed aside Aiden''s corpse, cheered exuberantly, and then urged his wyvern to ascend again.


    ...


    In the command camp, Robert watched the increasingly intense situation. Whether from tension or heat, sweat continuously streamed down his face.


    He wiped his face dry with luxurious silk, his expression grave as he said to the staff officer beside him, "This can''t go on."


    "At this rate, the soldiers won''t hold out for long."


    "We need to take the initiative to break the deadlock."


    The staff officer contemplated for a moment before asking, "What do you mean, sir?"


    Robert said solemnly, "You go and ask Sir Schroeder to take action and support the frontline troops."


    The staff officer was surprised and said, "But didn''t you say that unless the Red Dragon appeared, Sir Schroeder need not cast spells?"


    Robert said, "We have no choice but to reserve the Dragon-Slaying Ballista as our final trump card. If Sir Schroeder doesn''t support the front lines, I don''t know how much longer our army can hold out."


    He paused.


    "Aiden has already sacrificed himself..."


    "Yes, my lord." Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    The staff officer understood his meaning and quickly nodded in agreement, going to request the chief mage.


    Soon, a man in a gray robe arrived on the front lines under heavy guard from the allied forces. He was the Grey Hawk of the Arcane Priory, as well as the chief court mage of the Rackman Duchy¡ªSchroeder.


    An armored general stood by respectfully, saying:


    "Lord Schroeder, that''s the situation."


    "We hope you can cast spells to support the frontline troops."


    Schroeder looked at the monsters, clawing and biting, fighting with the allied forces in the distance, and said in a hoarse voice, "Scions of the Red Dragon''s flame, huh..."


    "I understand."


    He gazed at the high ground where the Dragon Vein monsters were gathered, squinting slightly, and slowly raised his magic wand.


    [Ice Storm]


    In an instant, vast cold clouds appeared in the sky, first scattering tiny ice shards, then gradually forming hail, raining down many rock-hard ice chunks.


    The hail pummeled the Dragon Vein monsters, not only hitting them but also bringing a biting chill.


    "Bang!"


    Hail struck a Dragon Vein Lizardman, its movements becoming increasingly sluggish, the once hot dragon blood freezing, ultimately turning it into an immobile ice sculpture.


    This was happening repeatedly within the high ground area, as the monsters scrambled to escape from this region. Many of them were turned into ice sculptures, even frozen in their fleeing postures.


    These monsters, bearing the scorching hot Red Dragon bloodline, would rather die in combat than be inexplicably frozen to death by this spell.


    "Damn it, it''s an Ice Storm!"


    Dolores was also unfortunate enough to be at the center of this spell''s range.


    Although he used his Bloodfire Battle Axe to block the hail from above, his movements gradually slowed, and his blood turned cold.


    Realizing the dire situation, Dolores roared with all his might: Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ramp! Did you die back there or what?"


    "There''s a spellcaster on the other side!"


    "Boom!"


    The ground quaked loudly.


    The six-meter-tall Dragon Vein Ogre used Flight Magic to reach the front lines and landed with a crash.


    Despite his numerous conflicts with Dolores, he couldn''t just let him die here; it would be hard to explain to his master later.


    With this in mind, Ramp calmly adjusted his gold-framed glasses and raised his paper-thin magic wand.


    [Force Wall Technique]


    An inclined, invisible force field wall appeared above the high ground.


    The hail fell and struck the force field wall, but it was all blocked and directed down its slant, falling onto the allied forces'' positions instead.


    Immediately, the allied forces screamed and suffered heavy casualties.


    Schroeder''s face changed drastically, quickly casting a Shield Spell to block the incoming hail.


    But the soldiers guarding him weren''t as lucky, either being smashed to death by the hail or turned into ice sculptures.


    Schroeder used Misty Step to retreat to the back of the line.


    He looked up at the invisible force field in the air and murmured, "Damn, it''s the Force Wall Technique. Only the Disintegrate spell can destroy it. There''s such a high-level spellcaster on the other side."


    Disintegrate was a Sixth Tier spell, and even Schroeder found himself helpless against this force field wall.


    Meanwhile, on the monster legion''s side, Dolores was panting heavily, gritting his teeth as he "thanked" him:


    "Ramp, you came just in time; I almost froze to death in that spell!"


    His tone grew more furious.


    "I''m fighting for my life up front, and you were nowhere to be seen!"


    Ramp looked down at the Great Goblin with disdain, speaking in a flat tone, "Captain Dolores, think about it. You are leading the best troops of the Ashen Nest, and yet you were pushed to this point by mere humans."


    Ramp''s tone carried a hint of mockery.


    "You said you would easily crush them. Those were your exact words, so I gave you the chance to prove it. But look now¡ªwhy do you need to ask me for help?"


    "Ramp, you..."


    With Ramp''s sneering, Dolores''s face grew even redder, unable to find a retort and had to swallow his anger.


    Ramp raised his wand and looked towards the battlefield.


    "Watch closely, this is what it means to easily crush them."


    [Fire Wall Spell]


    A wall of fire, stretching tens of meters, appeared on the battlefield.


    Ferocious flames mercilessly burned the unprepared allied soldiers, causing waves of wails and screams.


    Meanwhile, the Ashen Nest retainers, bearing the Red Dragon bloodline, were unafraid of the fire. They surged into the fire wall, pursuing the unfortunate, burning enemies.

 Chapter 48 War (12)

    Seeing the rising fire wall and the enemies scattering in all directions, Dolores snorted white smoke from his nostrils, gripped his axe, and was about to charge into the enemy lines.But Ramp stopped him.


    "It''s time to retreat, Captain Dolores."


    Dolores turned his head in confusion, his blood-red eyes filled with resentment, "Ramp, in such a situation, you want me to retreat? Did you take those humans'' gold coins?"


    Ramp replied calmly, "This is the master''s order. Do you also want to defy it?"


    Dolores spat on the ground and said viciously, "Ramp, don''t be too pleased with yourself, I will report all your inaction in this war to the master truthfully."


    "Hmph, let''s go!"


    Then, the Goblin Chieftain gathered his troops, preparing to return to the northern pass.


    Dolores, in the end, had not completely lost his mind in the frenzy of battle. He knew there was a reason for Ramp''s certainty.


    Ramp no longer paid attention to the furious Goblin Chieftain. Instead, he took out a special Green-Footed Dragon-Serpent Horn from the dimensional bag, covered with magic runes.


    He easily activated it. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    Immediately, the majestic voice of the Red Dragon, recorded by magic, thundered across the battlefield.


    "Ashen Nest kin¡ª"


    "Heed the command, full retreat!"


    Ramp followed with a loud shout:


    "This is the master''s order, the will of the great Red Dragon!"


    The Ogre, who had been smashing soldiers into pulp, raised his head, the Chimera with its three heads turned in confusion, the Lizardfolk withdrew their bloodied bone spears, the Wyvern that had been diving and spewing fire spread its wings and slowly ascended...


    Although the Ashen Nest kin didn''t understand why they had to retreat, the command of the Red Dragon was unquestionable.


    So, even though they were fighting fiercely, they reluctantly left the battlefield, following orders to withdraw from the front lines. The Ogres and Great Goblins ran, the Land Dragon Beasts moved slowly, the Wyverns and Chimeras flew in the sky, all heading towards the kin camp north of the Throat of Triel.


    Soon, the ground was left with only blood, human and monster corpses, and burning embers.


    "Am I dreaming?"


    "They... left?"


    "The Gods be praised, these monsters retreated!"


    "I... I actually survived..."


    "My God¡ª"


    The Allied Soldiers, having just endured a brutal battle, stood in place, dazed. Most were covered in wounds and blood, muttering to themselves as if in a dream.


    This inexplicable "victory" didn''t make them cheer as usual; they felt a sense of surviving a catastrophe.


    ...


    The staff officer rode up, panting, and reported, "Sir, Sir! All the Ashen Nest kin have retreated!"


    Robert wiped the sweat from his forehead and exhaled deeply. At least he no longer had to worry about being attacked.


    But faced with the situation, he still felt puzzled, "They clearly had the absolute advantage, why retreated?"


    Sir Schroeder, the "Grey Hawk," who had also withdrawn from the front line, stood by and pondered for a moment before saying in a low voice, "The Red Dragon is a greedy and stingy creature that rarely bestows goodwill. Perhaps the power of these monsters isn''t granted. And any power comes with a price."


    "In other words, it''s possible they''re burning their own life force." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Robert mused for a moment before speaking, "So you mean..."


    "Ashen Nest fears prolonged warfare?"


    Schroeder''s voice was hoarse, "It''s just a reasonable guess."


    "I can only say... maybe so."


    Robert stepped out of the tent, gazing at the backs of the flying Wyverns in the sky, finally gritting his teeth and making a decision.


    "Then pursue!"


    "This is the Allied Forces'' last chance."


    "We must not let them recover!"


    The loud sound of the charging horn blew. At Robert''s command, the Allied Soldiers continued to advance, reclaiming their former positions, but their progress was slow.


    The soldiers moved sluggishly, step by step, and even the warhorses let out exhausted neighs.


    "Soldiers, victory is within sight!"


    "These monsters can''t hold on much longer!"


    "You will become heroes maintaining the Northern Order!"


    The Military Governor officers shouted passionately, but the soldiers only looked on coldly.


    "Victory? What a joke."


    "Has this guy ever seen the fangs of a Wyvern?"


    "Has he ever been hit by an Ogre''s club?"


    Discontented whispers rose among the ranks.


    These soldiers, who had endured brutal combat, were already weary and reluctant to fight, only avoiding desertion out of self-preservation. Despite the Military Governor officers'' repeated emphasis on the monsters'' retreat, the soldiers still followed at a slow pace, afraid of catching up too quickly.


    And using this passive resistance, even the Military Governor couldn''t punish them by military law.


    ...


    North of the Throat of Triel.


    Ramp stood halfway up the mountain, overlooking the slowly pursuing Allied Forces, a hint of an expectant smile appearing on his ugly face.


    "You people of the North,"


    "You finally come to meet your doom..."


    Surrounded by Ogres, Great Goblins, Kobolds, Lizardfolk, and other Ashen Kin, even the captured nobles were brought here.


    They were noisy and boisterous, the frenzy of battle not yet fully dissipated.


    "I killed twelve humans with my hammer."


    "Haha, I crushed them alive."


    "It''s a pity, I wanted to taste their blood again."


    "Tsk, tsk, here you go."


    As they spoke, their greedy eyes couldn''t help but glance at the noble captives.


    Viscount Luton, terrified by the nearby monsters, nervously asked the Tiefling, "Sir, you brought us here for what?"


    "Please ensure our safety."


    Mezulash smiled without answering.


    "I was fighting so well, why did we retreat?"


    "Yeah, I only gained six hundred contributions."


    "Is the war over?"


    "Is there a final mission?"


    "No cinematic?"


    The players, following the quest lead, also arrived at the camp halfway up the mountain to watch the spectacle.


    Seeing the approaching Allied Forces in the distance, Ramp raised his Magic Wand.


    [Stone Wall Spell]


    They heard a rumbling sound from the ground.


    A thick stone wall slowly rose, completely sealing off the last exit of the Throat of Triel, trapping nearly ten thousand Allied remnants in the Triel Valley.


    "This is what the master means by ''catching a turtle in a jar''."


    Ramp looked down at the uproarious Allied Forces below, mumbling to himself.

 Chapter 119 49. Scourge (I)

    Robert rode on horseback, following at the rear of the army.On either side of him, dozens of soldiers struggled to push the heavy Dragon-Slaying Ballista, the massive wheels on the ballista''s base turning slowly with a grating metallic sound.


    Schroeder, the "Grey Hawk," also rode a black horse, following beside Robert.


    "This damned place is getting hotter and hotter."


    Robert wiped the sweat off his body and complained.


    He asked the adjutant, "Why is the army moving so slowly? How much longer until we pass through the Throat of Triel?"


    The adjutant responded in a solemn tone, "My lord, our forces have just endured a bloody battle. It''s normal for our march to be a bit slower."


    "Lord Robert!"


    "We discovered a stone wall ahead, blocking the Throat of Triel."


    A messenger arrived on horseback at full speed, urgently reporting.


    "What?"


    "How is that possible? They only just passed through." Robert''s face was full of disbelief.


    Schroeder spoke gravely, "It''s the spellcasters. The Ashen Nest harbors senior spellcasters. If I''m not mistaken, that''s a Stone Wall Spell, a Fifth Tier Shaping Spell that can create an indestructible wall of rock."


    "It seems they anticipated our pursuit and prepared accordingly."


    "Then what should we do?"


    Robert was already somewhat panicked, sweat pouring off his forehead like rain.


    Schroeder spoke in a steady voice, "My lord, do not worry. This stone wall can be broken, and even if the other side has an Archmage, maintaining such a spell for a long period is nearly impossible."


    "That''s good, that''s good."


    Robert muttered to himself.


    He pulled out his handkerchief again and wiped the sweat off his head.


    Compared to when the Allied Forces had just entered, the Triel Valley now felt like a broiling furnace, the weather unpredictably hot and erratic.


    Robert could even smell the scent of burnt ash in the air.


    Wait¡ª


    Fire?


    Heat?


    The Red Dragon was known as the "Volcanic Dragon."


    Thinking of this, and combined with the sudden withdrawal of the Ashen Legion and the Red Dragon''s absence, Robert''s heart filled with a sense of foreboding.


    Unfortunately, his premonitions were often accurate.


    "M-My lord..."


    The adjutant''s voice trembled beside him.


    Robert''s pondering was interrupted, and he looked to his side, somewhat impatiently asking, "What is it?"


    "You- You should turn around and look."


    "You''ll understand."


    The adjutant''s tone was desperate, tinged with tears.


    Robert finally realized that something was amiss. He twisted around in his saddle and then fell to the ground in shock.


    He crumpled to the ground, gazing up at the sky in despair.


    "Tampas, be merciful..."


    Flames, endless flames.


    The distant horizon was dyed a vibrant orange-red, the skyline transforming into a blazing, dancing line of fire, with billowing clouds of thick smoke rising, gradually obscuring the land.


    Gales from the southwest howled, flipping over bodies strewn across the battlefield. Broken limbs were tossed into the air like locusts, ignited by the rising heat waves as they passed over the blazing terrain, turning into burning fireballs that rained down.


    At the center of the inferno¡ª


    A massive Red Dragon slowly beat its wings.


    The Red Dragon was the very embodiment of flame, the heart of the vast fire. With each wingbeat, the fire expanded, breathed, and grew fiercer.


    "Schroeder..."


    "Is this... an illusion?"


    It was a question that needed no answer.


    Robert gazed at the sky, his face illuminated in crimson by the flames; he could even feel the scorching heat and the scent of sulfur in the air.


    Schroeder did not respond. He stood staring blankly into the distance, muttering in disbelief:


    "Weather control..."


    "Eighth Tier, that''s an Eighth Tier Spell!"


    The Grey Robe Mage shouted frantically as if driven mad.


    The soldiers of the Allied Forces were also stunned by the terrifying, grand scene. They cried, wailed, and prayed in despair, but in the face of this boundless sea of fire, all was futile.


    "Gods above..."


    "This is Hell, isn''t it?"


    "No..."


    "How could we ever think to oppose such a being!"


    The path ahead was sealed by an indestructible stone wall, while behind lay an endless expanse of flames.


    To survive, it seemed they would need a miracle from the gods themselves, a miracle that had not occurred in the thousands of years of the Third Era.


    In other words, this was a hopeless dead end.


    This was a flame-engulfed purgatory!


    "Roar¡ª"


    Amidst the seething flames, Cassius let out a powerful, imposing roar.


    "Ignorant humans..."


    "I am the Flame, I am Death!"


    "I shall bring you total annihilation¡ª"


    The rising heat generated columns of thermal currents. Countless fire dragons surged from the ground to the sky, leaping, rolling, and spiraling. The southwestern wind grew ever stronger, forming a vortex that swept up grass, corpses, flames, and ashes into the air.


    Numerous fire dragons merged into a gigantic Fire Tornado, swirling over the expanse of the Triel Valley for miles.


    The world seemed to have been torn open by a massive rift.


    And within that pillar of fire, a hundred meters high and linking heaven and earth, the Red Dragon beat its wings slowly. With each wingbeat, the Fire Tornado grew fiercer and larger.


    The Fire Tornado ravaged the land, burning everything in its path.


    And the Allied Forces had no way out.


    It was only then that Robert, as if awakening from a dream, climbed to his feet. He gazed up at the Red Dragon in the sky, a flash of resolve crossing his eyes as a thought struck him.


    A scourge could not be killed.


    But the being responsible for it could be.


    Robert looked towards the Dragon-Slaying Ballistae covered in heavy cloth, as if seeing the last straw of hope.


    If these great crossbows could kill the "Glacier Wing" that terrorized the North a century ago, then they surely could work against this calamity-incarnate Red Dragon.


    His eyes gleamed with ferocity as he murmured to himself:


    "Kill it, just kill it..."


    "Prepare the Dragon-Slaying Ballistae! At any cost, kill this damned Red Dragon for me!"


    Robert shouted frantically.


    He pushed aside the panicked soldiers around him and pulled off the heavy cloth covering the Dragon-Slaying Ballista, straining with all his might to move it.


    "My lord, let me help you."


    The loyal soldiers standing guard around him saw the Earl''s resolve and quickly mustered their courage, moving to assist, working together to push the heavy ballista and aim it at the Red Dragon in the sky.


    A giant two-meter-long arrow, as thick as an arm, lay quietly on the bed of the ballista, its iron tip gleaming menacingly, stained with the blood of the past.


    It had once pierced the heart of a giant dragon.


    And now, the moment of fate had come again.


    The licking tongues of flame drew near, threatening to consume all. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "As long as this arrow hits..."


    "It will all be over."


    Robert aimed the Dragon-Slaying Ballista at the sky, nervously eyeing the approaching Red Dragon, sweat dripping from his chin. He held his breath, his heart pounding.


    Through the blazing curtain of fire, he could see those golden, vertical pupils looking down at him.


    Flames filled the sky, and the air grew heavy.


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    Man and dragon locked gazes.


    Robert seemed to catch a hint of disdain in those eyes.

 Chapter 50 Scourge (II)

    Robert felt a deep sense of helplessness, followed by uncontrollable anger.How dare this red dragon mock him like this!


    He suddenly loosened his grip, and the several-meter-long crossbow arm launched the arrow with immense force.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    A sharp whistle pierced the air.


    Robert gazed at the arrow soaring toward the sky, involuntarily holding his breath as he prayed to his deities for it to hit its mark.


    As the giant arrow neared Cassius''s chest, about to pierce that burning, pulsating dragon heart, his enormous dragon body transformed into a blazing inferno, merging into the twisted, swirling fire tornado.


    [Braving the Fiery Pits]


    At this moment, the red dragon truly became the incarnation of flame!


    The dragon-slaying arrow that once killed "Glacier Wing" passed through the fire without resistance, finally embedding powerlessly into the ground.


    Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Impossible, this is impossible!"


    Robert collapsed to the ground again, seemingly going mad, shaking his head and muttering incessantly.


    He looked up at the sky, now empty except for the endless flames, his eyes reflecting the dazzling firelight, filled with utter despair.


    "No..."


    As the fire tornado approached, ravenous tongues of flame rushed toward him.


    Those terrifying blazes rotated at high speed, condensing, forming, finally transforming into the enormous dragon body¡ªthat of Cassius.


    "Who gave you the courage,"


    "to oppose me with these pitiful toys?"


    Cassius crushed the few great crossbows under his claws, and the flames surrounding him completely consumed the prostrate Robert.


    The youngest Earl of Rackman''s Duchy, commander of the thirty thousand allied forces, turned to ashes in the blazing fire without a single last word. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The final judgment is near!"


    "You pitiful mortals will soon take your leave!"


    With billowing smoke and raging flames, Cassius rampaged through the enormous army of thousands like a god of destruction.


    The red dragon''s horrific body flickered in and out of the firelight, directly crushing the soldiers fleeing in all directions. His sharp claws and fangs, like the world''s most lethal weapons, destroyed everything in their path.


    Even if someone tried to fight back, those feeble arrows could not pierce his hard, golden-red scales, instead inviting scorching white flying flames.


    "Help!"


    "Stay away from me!"


    Faced with this monster akin to a scourge, the allied soldiers completely lost the will to resist.


    However, the soldiers directly destroyed by Cassius were actually the luckiest; at least they could be considered to have died honorably in the fight against the evil dragons.


    But the rest were purely victims.


    A nearly hundred-meter-high fire tornado followed the red dragon, sweeping soldiers into the sky only to ignite them into blazing fireballs.


    Soldiers on the outskirts managed to run upwind, only to be bombarded by a rain of fireballs.


    Many soldiers, unable to escape, were engulfed by falling fire. They flailed, ablaze, screaming and running. Some desperately burrowed into the ground only to die miserably, burned to a crisp. Others, encased in heavy iron armor, were melted by the flames, their remains fusing with molten metal.


    Firelight filled the sky and earth, smoke and ash swirling everywhere.


    The soldiers, like headless flies, darted frantically in the fire and smoke. Some reached dead ends, others exhausted, some barely clinging to life, some charred beyond recognition.


    The furthest soldiers, lucky enough to avoid the fire, attempted to climb over stone walls but were enveloped by pervasive, choking smoke, asphyxiating to death.


    Amid the thick smoke, a grey-robe mage used a spell to hastily flee to the battlefield''s edge, trembling, raising his magic wand.


    "I must leave."


    "I''m sorry, Lord Earl."


    [Secondary Teleportation Spell]


    A ripple of space emerged before him, and Schroeder''s form gradually became illusory.


    Cassius keenly sensed the Magic Web''s fluctuations and turned, but upon seeing the fleeing grey-robe mage "Grey Hawk," he deliberately allowed him to escape.


    The red dragon soared above, slowly flapping his wings, surveying the burning, hellish landscape below.


    This place, once housing tens of thousands of troops, now scarcely contained any living beings.


    All he could see was fire and charred remains.


    Countless ashes danced in the wind.


    It had become a carnival for flames, a forbidden zone for the living.


    Cassius meticulously fulfilled his pre-battle promise, landing with a resounding thud, sending ashes into the sky. Surrounded by embers, he lifted his head and let out a long roar.


    "Roar¡ª"


    ...


    On the mountain, Viscount Luton trembled as he witnessed the apocalyptic scene. His mind brimming with classical works of court poets, lavishly adorned with eloquent words, but at this moment, none of them could capture even a fraction of the scene''s magnitude.


    His lips quivered, finally uttering a few words: "Infernal Calamity..."


    Luton recalled a line from the holy scriptures: "Sinners cast into purgatory, the flames will consume them."


    "Fire... the incarnation of flame, he is the incarnation of flame!"


    "By the gods..."


    The captured nobles stared blankly at the sight of tens of thousands of elite troops turning to ash, trembling all over. Many collapsed on the spot, some even wetting themselves in fright.


    Meanwhile, the retainers of the Ashen Nest, whether Great Goblins, Ogres, or Wyverns, all fixed their eyes on the massive dragon silhouette encircled by embers at the fire''s core.


    Reverence, panic, longing¡ªall these emotions appeared on their grotesque faces: "This is the master''s strength, this is... the great red dragon''s rage."


    "This is the purest form of power incarnate."


    "He will conquer the world or destroy it."


    Ramp stared at the infernal scene, muttering to himself.


    The red dragon flapped his enormous wings, detaching from the sea of flames, descending to the Ashen Nest''s camp halfway up the mountain.


    As he gradually approached, whether retainer or captive noble, all trembled and lowered their heads in the presence of his mighty dragon''s might.


    "Quite the splendid display of fireworks."


    "Wouldn''t you agree?"


    Cassius gazed down at them, his golden eyes still seemingly burning with recent flames.


    ...


    "The allied forces never had a chance at victory; it was all like a grand play orchestrated by him for himself."


    "That day, flames swept through the sky and earth. The Triel Valley was filled with ashes. He wielded scourge-like power, announcing his presence to the Anzeta Great Wilderness in the strongest possible way¡ªa war, or rather a massacre of thirty thousand allied forces, usually referred to as the Triel Tragedy."


    "From that day forward, the seemingly impregnable Northern United Kingdom, standing for centuries, was on the brink of collapse, heralding the impending era of dragon domination."


    ¡ªThe Triel Tragedy, Annals of Anzeta, Duke Luton

 Chapter 51 Flames of War and Army Breaker

    The Battle of Triel had ended, with heavy casualties for the Ashen Nest, amounting to over ten thousand goblins and kobolds, but they still maintained a strong fighting force and high morale.Meanwhile, the allied forces of the Rackman, Boske, and Notte duchies, numbering over thirty thousand, were utterly annihilated. All the senior generals of the Boske and Notte duchies were captured and imprisoned in the dungeons of Dragon Valley.


    Since the Lion''s Covenant Battle thirty years ago, which changed the situation in Anzeta, there hadn''t been a war of such scale for decades. Thus, ever since the outbreak of the war, all the factions in the Anzeta Great Wilderness had been awaiting the final outcome with bated breath.


    When the war ended, news of the total annihilation of the allied forces spread at an astonishing speed.


    And the rumor of "Infernal Calamity" Cassius annihilating the allied forces with flames also spread far and wide.


    Throughout the North, a great uproar ensued, and everywhere was abuzz with shock. At first, no one could believe that the army, composed of the most elite forces of the three duchies, had been completely destroyed.


    Until brave rangers risked their lives to infiltrate the Triel Valley.


    They saw the scorched brown earth and the thick ashes, which all proved the authenticity of the information.


    In no time, this previously obscure Red Dragon became a terrifying presence that could stop children from crying at night, the final enemy in countless bard tales, the greatest evil adventurers attempted to eliminate, and a close-watched target for various factions in the North, regardless of their alignment, be it good or evil. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Since they want war, I will give them war."


    "But when the war ends, that will not be for them to decide."


    This phrase from the Red Dragon had already spread widely within the Ashen Nest and even reached the duchies of the Northern Kingdom.


    The massive, sinister war machine of the Ashen Nest clearly had not yet fully unleashed its power. The dragon vein monsters, having sharpened their claws and prepared, were eager to go. After a few days of rest, they were impatient to charge southward, spreading the raging flames of war from the Triel Valley to the homeland of the Rackman Duchy.


    But this time, whether it was the Boske Duchy, the nominal leader of the Northern United Kingdom, or the Norton Kingdom with close marital bonds to the Rackman Duchy, or the remaining ten large and small duchies, they all shivered under the wings of the Ashen Nest, choosing to turn a blind eye and stand by idly.


    The Principality of Norton even proactively sent envoys, offering a large ransom for their captives and signing a peace agreement.


    Many northern nobles also bypassed their lords, secretly sending envoys to discuss cooperation in advance.


    Even the Boske Duchy used underground channels to subtly express their desire to ransom Andrei and apologized for their actions.


    Dailenna, the pureblood serpentfolk temporarily in charge of diplomatic affairs, welcomed this, but the agreements proposed by the northern nobles were far from satisfying her greedy appetite. She wanted to extract more benefits from these nobles, preferably to drain their blood entirely, turning it into nourishment for the Ashen Nest.


    The long, thunderous sound of the horn echoed, startling countless birds into flight.


    "Advance¡ª"


    Dolores rode on a land dragon beast, holding the Bloodfire Battle Axe high.


    The massive dragon beasts made earthquake-like sounds, the wyverns'' wings filled the sky, and kobolds and goblins covered the mountains and plains. Meanwhile, Great Goblins and lizardfolk formed orderly military formations. They would crush all enemies blocking their path with unstoppable force.


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    The monsters'' fervent, clamorous roars rang out.


    ...


    As the North''s situation was in upheaval, Cassius, the culprit of it all, lay weakly in the cavern, resting, his massive dragon body rising and falling with each breath.


    "The expenditure was indeed immense."


    "I probably can''t use it easily for the next few days."


    Cassius gently turned his head, gazing at the mithril ring on his clawed finger, embedded with the blue amber-like "Eye of the Storm King," now dim.


    Due to excessive magic conduction, the previously indestructible structure of the mithril had also become somewhat fragile, almost unable to withstand it.


    "Tsk, this vessel is still too fragile."


    This calamity, which was tantamount to purgatory, was achieved partly through Cassius utilizing the power of the Eye of the Storm King to cast the Eighth Tier Spell [Weather Control], creating a hurricane tornado, and partly by relying on the formidable fire element control of the True Dragon Sorcerer to create an endless sea of fire with his breath and spells.


    The combination of the two, wind aiding the fire, formed the all-consuming fire tornado.


    But weather itself was a chaotic system with vast and complex information flows. Even with the help of equipment, casting the Eighth Tier Spell of weather control was still an immense challenge for Cassius.


    Maintaining the spell for every second subjected his mind to horrific pressure.


    It could be said, spellcasting brought momentary elation, but afterward, a crematorium.


    However, all this was worth it.


    Cassius gazed at the information refreshed on the panel, revealing a sinister smile.


    [You single-handedly destroyed an army of ten thousand, earning the special achievement [Army Breaker]]


    Achievement [Army Breaker]


    "When the power of an individual reaches its peak, the number of enemies becomes a meaningless numeral. In other words, you alone can easily annihilate an entire army. ¨C War Historian, Trimson"


    Gained Passive Trait: [Army Breaker]


    Strength +1, Constitution +2


    As an entity capable of single-handedly destroying armies, any siege would fill you with excitement. When facing multiple enemies simultaneously, your strength and constitution would greatly increase.


    (Note: Legendary Dwarf War Maniac Kuzarf once flattened a demon army with an iron hammer. He claimed he didn''t even blink. Scholars attempted to challenge this academically, but none dared confront him directly.)


    Army Breaker, a terrifying ability.


    Not only did it prove effective in wars against large armies, but also against sieges by multiple enemies, especially adventurer squads.


    Moreover, the bodily enhancements.


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Soon, Cassius felt an inexplicable force remodeling his body. His already robust muscles became more solid and resilient, and the power and vitality of his dragon body were directly elevated to another level.


    Moreover, a certain trait emerged within his dragon body as if it had been there all along, the ability to grow stronger when faced with numerous enemies, brought by [Army Breaker].


    "Still no mana fluctuations."


    "Not even the space can detect..."


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, roused himself, feeling the new power, pondering silently.


    He now stood at the pinnacle of Anzeta''s combat power, but even so, he couldn''t detect any trace of the system, which tempered his sense of complacency after the great victory.


    After all, in this world, he was still far too weak.

 Chapter 52 Ascension and Terrifying Illusions

    After adapting to the changes and feeling the surge of power within his body, Cassius once again looked at the panel, which was filled with messages about experience gained.[You killed [White Lion Knight, Tarik], gaining 2100 xp]


    [You killed [Captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards, Narilan], gaining 1800 xp]


    [You killed [Captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards, Atla], gaining 1800 xp]


    [You killed [Silver Hand, Ter], gaining 1200 xp]


    [You killed [Count Robert], gaining 1200 xp]


    ¡­


    [You killed [transporation corps], gaining 0.5 xp]


    [You killed [transportation corps], gaining 0.5 xp]


    [You killed [peasant auxiliary], gaining 0.25 xp]


    ¡­


    There were tens of thousands of data entries refreshing on the panel.


    At the top were those high-ranking officers of the allied forces, Paladins, and spellcasters, followed by various elite soldiers, and finally, countless ordinary soldiers and laborers.


    Due to Cassius''s high level of life energy, those weak creatures provided him with negligible experience, but gathering the bits can build a tower.


    "Whoa¡ªso many?"


    Even Cassius was somewhat surprised.


    Because the data in front of him far exceeded his expectations.


    In the end panel statistics, Cassius had gained over sixty-three thousand experience points. Even with the Red Dragon template making level-ups exceptionally difficult, this massive amount of experience was enough to raise him four levels in one go.


    However, Cassius did not intend to do so.


    Recklessly accepting uncontrollable power could be very risky.


    He had only just digested and achieved preliminary control over the spell abilities he mastered after his previous sleep.


    [Choose to improve [True Dragon Sorcerer] level]


    [Your [True Dragon Sorcerer] level has risen to level 8]


    [You have gained an additional Dragonkin feat: [Hard Landing]]


    [Hard Landing]


    Prerequisite: Circling, Flipping


    If a Dragon takes enough damage or spell attacks to make it unable to fly, an experienced Dragon can adopt a forced method to maintain its dignity. A Dragon with this feat can find the most reasonable way to avoid damage in any fall.


    Cassius nodded slightly. At least this feat could be useful in battles.


    [You have gained a special attribute point, you can choose to enhance one of your attributes by 1 point (including above 20)]


    [Choose to enhance charisma to 25]


    That familiar feeling once again enveloped his body, soul, and spirit.


    His impact on reality deepened further, making him feel like a controller of the world, able to manipulate the Magic Web with a mere gesture.


    It was said that when attributes like charisma and intelligence reached thirty, one could touch the Source Sea with their will, achieving a new, extraordinary spellcasting realm that no player in his previous life had ever reached.


    Cassius took a deep breath, feeling his connection to the world and silently praying to gain a useful spell.


    But he did not call upon any deity.


    [Gained 5th-tier Dragon spell [Dragon''s Breath]]


    [Dragon''s Breath]


    5th-tier spell


    Golden light beams shoot up from the ground beneath you, bathing you in a healing column filled with yellow particles. This spell converts arcane energy into pure Dragonkin life energy and guides it to repair the damage to your body.


    Cassius breathed a sigh of relief.


    He had gained a highly functional healing spell, which could be life-saving in critical battles against powerful enemies.


    But the next spell made his expression turn grim.


    [Gained 6th-tier Dragon spell [Tiamat''s Terrifying Illusion]]


    [Tiamat''s Terrifying Illusion]


    6th-tier illusion spell


    The target being sees an illusion of the Dragon Queen, Tiamat. Unless they have incredibly strong willpower, they will believe the illusion is real and that they are about to become the target of her multiple breath attacks.


    Creatures that believe in this illusion will see fire, ice, acid, lightning, and poison gas spewing from "Tiamat''s" mouth, and unless their mental will is tough enough, they will be scared to death by this scene. The illusion is so horrific that even those with strong willpower will still suffer heavy mental trauma.


    "Tiamat''s Illusion..."


    "Is it a coincidence? Or is it the will of the Five-Colored Dragon Queen?"


    Cassius pondered, his expression gradually freezing.


    Though the Anzeta Great Wilderness is just a remote corner of Erezer on the Prime Material Plane, insignificant in the grand scheme.


    But as a Red Dragon, rumored to be a favored one of the Dragon Queen, Cassius''s performance might indeed have caught the attention of the Evil Dragon Queen. After all, shortly after entering Erezer, that terrifying illusion had already appeared in his mind.


    Now, managing Stormy Ridge and soon taking over the Rackman Duchy, he was barely able to meet the threshold of being a minion to the Dragon Queen.


    "This spell is undoubtedly powerful."


    "But I''d better not use it recklessly unless absolutely necessary."


    He did not believe that when summoning an illusion of a true deity, the deity would not notice; it was purely absurd.


    Cassius did not want to make early contact with the Dragon Queen when his power was still relatively weak, as it would reduce him to a mere pawn.


    "Tiamat..."


    "Rather than being a pawn, I would prefer to become the ''renegade'' who replaces her."


    Cassius thought to himself.


    Of course, such blasphemous thoughts would remain internal; he would never voice them.


    The spellcasting method of "Tiamat''s Terrifying Illusion" appeared in Cassius''s mind. The images of the Five-Colored Dragon Queen were so hideous and terrifying, seemingly watching everything, making him feel uneasy. So, Cassius tried to build a fortress in his memory, sealing the spell away for now.


    If not for being unavoidable, he would even prefer to lose this 6th-tier spell.


    Even after sealing it, Cassius still felt uneasy, unable to find peace.


    "Ramp." Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Red Dragon called to the magic mirror in the cave.


    With his call, Ramp''s ugly face appeared in the mirror, his expression humble and respectful.


    After that horrible scourge, his appreciation for the Red Dragon''s power became more direct, making him even more reverent.


    "Great master, what are your orders?"


    Cassius commanded: "Find an empty cave within Stormy Ridge, and place a shrine to Her Majesty Tiamat inside. Regularly send a few gold coins there as an offering."


    After a moment of contemplation, he reminded specifically:


    "Also, make sure this place is far away from Dragon Valley."


    Ramp gladly accepted the order, respectfully saying: "Yes, master."


    The Dragon Vein Ogre Mage severed the magic image, sighing: "The master is truly generous and devout, even offering precious gold coins to Her Majesty the Dragon Queen. No wonder he has such great power."


    However, considering the general greed of dragons, Cassius planned to replace the gold coins with less conspicuous copper coins¡ªa matter for later, and certainly not because of his stinginess.

 Chapter 53 The Besieged City

    Within the boundaries of the Rackman Duchy, Trolo City.This was once the fief of the legendary General Terna Rackman.


    This city was also known as the "City of Virile Wind," home to more than ten thousand people. As a military stronghold defending Northwind Castle in the northern part of the duchy, Trolo City had long resisted invasions from the north.


    The people here were resilient and brave, or as they said, "steeped in martial spirit." For hundreds of years, they faced waves of invasions from Frost Giants, Orcs, and even a White Dragon, yet none of these had managed to defeat them.


    The Skandar People were like an iron nail, resolutely rooted in the central and northern regions of Anzeta.


    But now, fear was spreading within this city.


    A dark, oppressive army of monsters had surrounded the city for a full seven days. All communication was cut off. No water, people, or food could enter or leave Trolo City.


    However, the shortage of supplies was not the most terrifying aspect; it was the resulting unrest among the people.


    Having not faced war for decades, the Trolonians had become somewhat lax. They seemed to have forgotten the glory of their ancestors, immersed in years of peace and stability. Their enemies, however, were the formidable and aggressive Ashen Kin.


    Even many elite soldiers from the Allied Forces hailed from Trolo City. After that battle, the city was left in ruins, the sound of wailing everywhere, as if the backbone of Trolo City had been broken.


    Wyvern Knights swept across the sky, dropping countless fliers urging surrender upon the terrified populace below.


    "Will they slaughter the city?"


    "What should we do? Maybe we should surrender."


    "Even the elite of the Allied Forces have been wiped out..."


    "How can we possibly hold out against such an army?"


    Such whispered conversations echoed throughout the city.


    However, the City Defense Army had already imposed martial law, and the entire city was under strict military control. Anyone who publicly voiced such demoralizing sentiments was arrested by the City Defense Army as a traitor.


    The high walls of Trolo City were weathered and had borne witness to centuries of turbulent history.


    The City Defense Army stood at their posts, ready for action, but they could not launch an attack, as the monsters were too far away for even the ballistas to reach them.


    The current City Lord, Count Dawson Vileir, stood on the city wall, looking solemnly down at the monsters surrounding the city.


    "My Lord, we caught another group of traitors."


    A City Defense Army captain reported hurriedly.


    Dawson''s voice was firm: "Execute them all. Leave no room for these scum."


    The City Defense Army captain shivered, then quickly responded: "Yes, my Lord!"


    "Again..."


    "Have they forgotten the glory of their ancestors?"


    Dawson clenched his fist, muttering to himself.


    He turned to his adjutant and inquired: "How many days can our food and water last within the city?"


    The adjutant pondered for a moment before replying:


    "Three days, at most three days."


    "Recently, people have started dying of thirst. Their families dragged the bodies to the square, wailing, and were temporarily detained by our guards. But now the situation is becoming uncontrollable, and more and more troublemakers are emerging. The city''s troops are... nearly insufficient."


    A heavy gloom settled over Dawson''s face. Could surrender truly be the only option?


    No, surrender was not an option.


    It was about his honor, the struggle of the Trolonians over the centuries, and the glory of their ancestors.


    With this in mind, Count Dawson''s expression turned stern. He told the adjutant: "Gather the citizens, I have something to say to them."


    "Yes, my Lord."


    Soon, under the supervision of the City Defense Army, the starving and complaining citizens gathered below the city walls.


    "I am so hungry..."


    "Is Lord Earl going to give us relief?"


    "These lackeys of the City Defense, my family starved to death, and they took the bodies away."


    "Please, let this be over soon..."


    At that moment, a steady and powerful voice echoed from the city walls, and the citizens, or rather, refugees, looked up with hope.


    Only to see Count Dawson, looking stern, standing high on the city wall, loudly proclaiming.


    "Citizens, Trolo City has reached a life-or-death moment. This is the most critical time in nearly a hundred years!"


    "But do not fear, do not retreat. Our ancestors lived here, in this mighty city. Look around, this tall wall has withstood countless terrifying enemies. Giants, Orcs, Dragons, but no enemy has ever conquered us! And this time will be no different!"


    A refugee courageously asked: "But what about food? What about water?"


    "My Lord, if I may be blunt, our courage needs a material foundation."


    Dawson''s expression stiffened for a moment but then he spoke forcefully: "Courage and will are your sharpest spears and swords!"


    "No water and food?"


    "How could that be! Citizens, don your armor, take up your weapons. They are just outside the city, waiting for you to claim them with your swords!"


    ...


    While Count Dawson was delivering his impassioned speech, he had no idea that, in the fields several hundred meters away, someone was secretly observing him.


    "Boss, can you really use this mortar?"


    "It looks pretty shoddy to me."


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man pretended to calibrate the device, speaking to the Iron Madman beside him.


    Before him lay a more than two-meter-long metal smoothbore cannon, but it had no artillery mount. Instead, it was supported on the shoulders of a large and strong Ogre sitting on the ground, serving as a makeshift mount.


    The Iron Madman leaned in, whispering: "It should still work, at least it won''t blow up. The budget for the mount was diverted to build a mech. But do you really know how to use this thing?"


    Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Alright, I''ll give it a shot."


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man, looking at Count Dawson on the distant city wall, spoke with excitement: "Judging by his outfit, he must be a bigwig."


    "Bighead, move a bit to the left."


    The Ogre moved impatiently to the left.


    "That''s too much, about... hmm, the distance of a steak."


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man tried to think of a unit of measurement the Ogre could understand.


    "Wait, that''s too much!"


    "Yes, that''s about right."


    "Load the ammunition¡ª"


    Another Ogre clumsily loaded the heavy shell, fumbling with the fuse on the side.


    After recalibrating for a long while without finding any clues, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man decided to leave it to chance and shouted:


    "Ready¡ªfire!"


    "Boom!"


    The sound of thunderous cannon fire echoed across the fields.


    The shell traced a high arc in the sky but landed in the moat in front of the city wall, exploding into a massive crater. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Damn it, what happened?"


    Count Dawson, in the midst of his speech, felt the earth tremble. He staggered slightly, dirt splattering onto his splendid armor.


    "Was it thunder?"


    "Is the enemy attacking?"


    "Run for your lives¡ª"


    The refugees panicked, creating chaos as they jostled and clamored to escape.

 Chapter 124 54th Chapter: Bombardment

    "Pillar, you motherfucker, you missed the shot!""Get out of here and stick to playing with the wheelchair gun!" Iron Madman shoved the Battlefield Wheelchair Man aside, cursing all the while.


    He had thought this guy could actually handle the artillery, but it turned out to be all bluff, wasting one of his precious shells.


    Iron Madman noticed that the general had not yet retreated from the city walls, so he immediately started recalculating and aiming again.


    The distance wasn''t too far, and the terrain was particularly simple and open.


    Iron Madman quickly ordered,


    "Set up firing data!"


    "Azimuth 27-00, elevation angle 06-80!"


    The ogre "Bighead" immediately adjusted its position according to the command, casting a contemptuous glance at the Battlefield Wheelchair Man beside it. Meanwhile, another ogre began prepping the shell and setting the fuse. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man stood there, dumbfounded and unable to get involved, musing to himself, "Did an ogre just look down on my intelligence?"


    However, Iron Madman had no time to care about his self-esteem, focusing solely on taking down that elite monster. He yelled,


    "Ready¡ªfire!"


    With a thunderous roar, the shell once again screamed through the air, tracing a graceful arc in the sky.


    But this time, after recalibration, the shell''s landing point was exceptionally accurate, clearly targeting that general.


    ...


    At the city gate of Trolo City.


    The pitch-black metal shell plummeted from the heavens, landing precisely beside Count Dawson Vileir.


    "Boom!"


    A deafening explosion ensued.


    Shrapnel flew in all directions, and dust filled the air.


    Count Dawson was blasted from the city gate to the ground, becoming a mangled, charred mess of flesh, mixed with fragments of his shattered ancestral armor.


    His adjutant and the City Defense Army nearby were also annihilated.


    Not to mention the bricks that were blown off, falling among the crowds below the city wall, causing even more casualties.


    "Oh my god¡ª"


    "Lord Earl is dead!"


    "The Ashen Nest breached the city!"


    "Help! They''re breaking in!"


    Refugees crowded and cried as they fled in all directions, even causing a stampede at one point.


    The City Defense Army was powerless to handle the situation. Their Lord Earl had been blown to smithereens, and many soldiers were paralyzed with fear from the falling shells, not knowing what to do.


    "What¡ªwhat do we do?"


    "Should we continue to follow orders?"


    "But... Lord Earl is dead, and even the captain is dead."


    "I don''t know."


    The City Defense Army could only stand by helplessly.


    The news of the Earl''s death quickly spread throughout the city, plunging Trolo City into chaos. Loyal retainers swore to resist to the death and fulfill the Earl''s last wishes, while despicable nobles intended to surrender and protect their positions, and Pureblood Serpentfolk spies stirred trouble in the shadows.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the Ashen Nest''s stronghold.


    The retainers were a bit puzzled by the commotion in Trolo City, but the players knew exactly what was happening.


    [You killed Count Dawson Vileir, gaining 1200xp]


    [You defeated an enemy general, gaining 5500 Faction Contribution from the Ashen Nest]


    "Holy shit, one shot kill!"


    Iron Madman''s eyes widened, staring at the generous rewards on the screen, filled with delight and surprise.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man whispered, "Boss, how did this ogre understand the instructions and aim so accurately?"


    Iron Madman sneered, "This ogre is much smarter than you. He even memorized the artillery''s firing table. I only used three hundred pounds of raw meat to motivate him. Unlike you, who''s just a lousy aim."


    "No way..."


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man muttered in disbelief, as if struck by lightning.


    He had been outsmarted by an ogre?


    Iron Madman patted him sympathetically on the shoulder, "You''re not suited for this complicated stuff. Once we have more resources, I''ll personally make you a Type two submachine gun. Now, go play somewhere else."


    Ogre "Bighead" seemed to notice they were discussing him, turning his head with a challenging smile on his ugly face.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, trying to change the subject and suddenly cheered, "Boss, you''re amazing! Fire again!"


    "Give them a little fireworks show!"


    Unexpectedly, the Goblin Chieftain and commander of this siege, Dolores, was attracted by the ruckus and came over personally, asking if these Starfallen could blow open the city wall.


    "I don''t think so."


    Iron Madman scratched his head awkwardly.


    He patted the hot artillery barrel, only to hear a crisp explosion as the metal barrel suddenly cracked open like a blooming flower, emitting wisps of blue smoke.


    "This was just a prototype for testing."


    "It could only fire twice at most."


    Not because he skimped on quality, secretly using the special mithril assigned to the Ashen Nest for making armor, and instead mixed inferior metal for the mortar barrel¡ªIron Madman silently added in his heart, vowing never to tell anyone about it. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the day went on, the chaos in the city gradually subsided.


    Dolores was somewhat disappointed but still looked at the tall city walls with a menacing smile.


    "Master said to maintain order in the city."


    "But if they don''t surrender, that''s not my problem."


    A hint of savagery flashed in his eyes. It was said that his master would personally come to this siege. He had to showcase his valor and loyalty, making enemies tremble at the mention of his name.


    "Boom¡ª"


    However, just as he was fantasizing, the heavy city gates slowly opened.


    White flags fluttered on the tall city towers.


    The once impregnable Trolo City had fallen easily, and the Ashen Nest had only expended two shells, one of which even missed.


    Under Dolores'' command, the most orderly of the Goblin and Lizardfolk troops were the first to enter the city, followed by the players. The more unruly retainers like ogres and wyverns were left to camp outside the city.


    As the gates opened, the Ashen Nest''s army formed neat lines and marched in.


    The once bustling streets were now deserted, with only a few worried and frightened eyes occasionally peeking out from the cracks in doors and windows.


    After Count Dawson''s death, the highest-ranking official in the city was Deputy City Lord, Viscount Berry, who now stood at the gates, respectfully welcoming the Ashen Nest''s army. Facing Dolores, who was tall and ferocious, his whole body quivered with fat.


    "M¡ªMy lord, on behalf of all the citizens of Trolo City, I welcome you."


    "Good."


    Dolores grinned, his scaly face attempting to show a friendly smile.


    However, it had the opposite effect, making the viscount even more terrified, fearing that this Dragon Vein Goblin would eat him in a fit of rage.


    ...


    "People often regard the fall of Trolo City as a great humiliation, a complete farce, but in my view, it was merely a continuation of the results of the Triel Conference. If the Allied Forces hadn''t been utterly defeated, those bloodthirsty citizens would have returned to Trolo City, and this wouldn''t have gone down the same way."


    ¡ª "History of the Duchy: The Fall of Trolo City," Duke Luton

 Chapter 55 The Kings Landing

    In Trolo City, key locations like the City Lord''s Mansion, Military Government Hall, and the Armory were immediately seized by the Goblin Army.There were sporadic disturbances, the City Defense Army swore to follow the Earl to the death and rose up in resistance. As many as a hundred people shouted, "For Count Dawson!" "For the glory of Trolo City!" and charged at the monster army, but the Goblins just silently formed ranks and raised their spears.


    "Bang!"


    After the deafening gunshots.


    Everything fell silent.


    The interior of Trolo City was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood.


    These rebels were hung on the city walls, becoming a terrifying sight in the city. People peeked at the blood-dripping corpses riddled with bullets, and their hearts filled with greater fear and unease.


    "Don''t go outside."


    "Don''t look..."


    The residents tightly shut their doors and windows, covered their children''s eyes, trembling while constantly praying.


    But soon, they were ordered to come out and greet.


    The doors were knocked on with loud thuds, and outside were the grim faces of the Goblins and Lizardfolk.


    The children cried out loudly in fear, but the adults hastily covered their mouths.


    No one dared to resist.


    Even though the Goblins and Lizardfolk were the most orderly and power-following beings within the Ashen Nest, people could still see that these Dragon Vein Monsters were suppressing their frenzied nature, waiting for a rebel to appear so they could tear them apart.


    During this process, perhaps someone was killed by an uncontrollable Dragon Vein Descendant, but no one would notice, and no one would investigate.


    In this atmosphere of terror, Trolo City still maintained the most basic order.


    Everyone knew that the era of Red Dragon''s rule over Trolo City had begun.


    But no one knew when this era would end.


    Or what it would be like.


    The residents were driven by the monster army to the central plaza, which was once the most prosperous place in Trolo City but was now filled with unspeakable terror.


    Whether they were former nobles, sergeants, commoners, or even beggars, whether they were dressed in fine robes, rags, or coarse hemp clothing, all were driven here by the Goblins and Lizardfolk.


    People were anxious and uneasy, no one dared to speak. They were like criminals on their way to execution, quietly waiting for the final judgment.


    They waited like this.


    Suddenly, the assimilated City Defense Army stationed at the gate looked into the distance, their voices trembling, and so did the residents.


    "Oh my God..."


    "What... what is that?"


    "Gods protect us."


    The Bipedal Wyverns gathered close together, like a mass of surging dark clouds, densely approaching from the distance, almost blocking out the sun.


    However, the Wyverns were only the servants ahead of the King.


    They parted in the sky, forming a broad path, and the massive Red Dragon slowly approached, flapping its wings, and gradually descended. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius cast a gigantic shadow on the ground, almost covering everyone at one moment, then he thunderously landed in the central plaza of Trolo City.


    The immense figure appeared in the plaza''s center.


    Dust rose into the air.


    When the smoke cleared, people could barely make out his form.


    It was a terrifying Red Dragon.


    Huge, strong, like the embodiment of strength.


    The large horns sweeping back were like a majestic crown, and the golden pupils seemed to burn with blazing flames.


    As his gaze swept down from above, people felt an instinctive fear of this powerful creature, their heads lowered unconsciously. Some with weaker constitutions even fell to their knees.


    The horrific monster opened its mouth, and people immediately felt a scorching, burning breath hitting their faces, reminding them of the rumor of the "Incarnation of Flame."


    "People of Trolo City, greetings."


    The voice resounded like thunder.


    Standing at the front, Viscount Burton, who had barely managed a smile, slumped to the ground in fright.


    Cassius calmly stated, "I know that Trolo City has a glorious history. Your ancestors once resisted the invasion of the White Dragons and the Frost Giants, you were once the renowned City of Virile Wind."


    His tone paused.


    "But that is all in the past."


    "Now, this is my territory."


    "I will establish a new order here, one that belongs solely to the Ashen Nest. Any dissidents will be met with the most thorough destruction."


    "I will rule here, who agrees and who opposes?"


    Cassius looked down at the tens of thousands of citizens, the golden vertical pupils exerting an invisible pressure as he swept over the nobles, sergeants, and commoners. Yet no one dared to meet his gaze.


    Silence pervaded the plaza.


    Suddenly, a voice drew everyone''s attention, including Cassius'' gaze.


    Viscount Burton, trembling, prostrated on the ground and whispered, "Ke¡­ King of Ashen..."


    Seeing the Red Dragon''s gaze on him, he trembled more violently, sweat streaming down his chubby face, but he mustered the courage and shouted, "The old era is over, welcome the King of Ashen to rule Trolo City!"


    Ignoring the disdainful looks around him, Viscount Burton staggered to his feet and continued to shout, "King of Ashen!"


    "King of Ashen!"


    "He will rule Trolo City and the world!"


    First, the Goblins and Lizardfolk raised their weapons and cheered.


    Then, the residents of Trolo City, under the supervision of the monsters, were forced to join in the celebration of the city''s downfall.


    Cassius observed the cheering monsters and crowd.


    He saw that these Dragon Vein Monsters harbored countless suppressed violent desires, those reddened eyes, those heat-spewing maw, those menacing scales and horns...


    They craved slaughter, needed to release the boiling blood inside.


    It was only due to Cassius'' restraint that they barely maintained order. Without the Red Dragon''s personal presence, a catastrophe no less than the "Tragedy of Northwind Castle" could have occurred in the city, something he definitely did not want to see.


    Cassius hoped to establish a regime of order, a diverse Empire of multiple races.


    An empire that served him, powerful and able to grow and thrive.


    He did not wish to create a chaotic force of slaughter. That would only invite disaster, much like those abyssal demons, who were attacked wherever they went.


    "This is the violent bloodline of the Red Dragon. These Dragon Vein Descendants can only serve as sharp swords in hand, not to be relied on to establish a new order."


    "Players, I need to control more players."


    "And... I must find a way to suppress the chaos and violence within the Red Dragon bloodline."


    He mused to himself.


    Cassius had actually already realized that the chaos and evil flowing in the boiling blood of the Red Dragon had affected his way of thinking to a certain extent. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire


    Brutal, arrogant, bloodthirsty, he often unintentionally exhibited these terrifying traits, sometimes even without his own awareness.

 Chapter 56 Lord

    The information appeared on Cassius''s panel.[You have occupied a city with a population of tens of thousands, gaining the special achievement [Lord]]


    Achievement [Lord]


    "This place shall become my territory, and I shall be the lord of the world! ¡ªConqueror King Audik"


    Trait gained: [Dictator''s Rule]


    Charisma +1


    Ruling Proficiency +6


    You conquered cities with overwhelming strength, and your dictatorial rule instilled fear in all. Inhabitants within your territory, viewed as "subjects," found it nearly impossible to disobey your orders. Furthermore, your decrees would manifest as natural laws within your domain.


    (Note: All players belonging to your faction who are within your territory must pass a stringent will check if they attempt to break the law; otherwise, they will be judged as deceased. Depending on your domain and number of subjects, you can currently enforce: 3 laws)


    An invisible power enveloped Cassius.


    His charisma was further enhanced, reaching a terrifying 26 points¡ªalmost comparable to some ancient dragons who had lived nearly a thousand years and had deep connections with the world.


    Additionally, a special, psionic-like power also appeared in Cassius''s will, quietly waiting to be used.


    "Dictator''s Rule, interesting..."


    "It will have a miraculous effect on controlling players."


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    Players might appear chaotic and disorderly, but in reality, they were bound by the greatest order¡ªthe system.


    Everything they did, whether fighting or leveling up, strictly followed the system''s rules.


    And now, with [Dictator''s Rule], Cassius could make himself like a system administrator, exercising precise and detailed control over players'' actions, finally making them accustomed to and accepting their roles as laborers for the Ashen Nest.


    "Let''s try it then."


    With this thought, Cassius used the invisible power attached to his will to issue the first "Dictator''s Rule."


    Given his understanding of players, they would definitely break this rule, allowing him to see the effects of this new ability.


    [Theft is prohibited here.]


    ...


    "Damn, this city is much bigger than Barto City."


    "Yeah."


    "It''s said to have tens of thousands of people inside."


    "The modeling is so realistic; even the marks on the city walls feel ancient."


    Players stood at the city gates, marveling at Trolo City''s tall walls that had stood for hundreds of years.


    "In such a big city, think of all the items there could be to pick up..."


    A player with the ID "Nocturne Psalm" sighed.


    Everyone turned their heads, looking at the person warily and distancing themselves.


    "Nocturne Psalm" was a player with the wanderer sub-occupation [Thief], already at level three, a notorious pickpocket, known alongside Swashbuckler as one of the "Double Dogs of the Mine," who stole gear and money from countless new players in the dark mines.


    His occupation traits [Sleight of Hand] and [Gentlemanly Thief] allowed him to escape unscathed each time, leaving the victims infuriated yet helpless, able only to vent on forums.


    "Black Beast, go away!"


    "Don''t come into the city with us!"


    Players expressed their disdain, given that his victims numbered in the hundreds.


    Nocturne Psalm protested, "I was just sighing; I didn''t take any action, nor did I steal anything from you all. Why so serious?"


    Once those players left, he took out the ring he had just stolen, a sly, moist grin forming on his lips.


    [Treasure Ring]


    Quality: Common


    Description: A very precious ring that can be sold for five gold coins in jewelry stores.


    "Hehe, good stuff."


    Nocturne Psalm deftly used his "Gentlemanly Thief" trait, silently leaping onto a building rooftop.


    Several minutes later, that player sensed something amiss, touching his now empty finger, and exclaimed in shock.


    "Wait...my ring is gone!"


    "Damn, it''s the Black Beast!"


    When he turned around in anger, Nocturne Psalm had already disappeared without a trace.


    "Next time, let''s go together and catch him!"


    "Unbelievable, this jerk is pure scum!"


    "I worked over ten days to earn that reward¡ª"


    As players grieved their losses, Nocturne Psalm had already picked the complex lock and sneaked into a luxurious mansion.


    "Hehe, that poor place Barto City had nothing good, with annoying sheriffs.


    "Here, this is paradise for us thief players!"


    The interior was adorned with exquisite decorations, many precious gold and silver jewels displayed in mahogany cabinets.


    Nocturne Psalm eagerly rubbed his hands, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    "This necklace is worth fifteen gold coins, this bracelet eleven gold, this pendant twenty-one gold, these earrings six gold..."


    "Hehe..."


    "Treasures, here I come¡ª"


    Suddenly, Nocturne Psalm''s body stiffened.


    Information continuously refreshed on his panel.


    [You have broken [Dictator''s Rule First Item¡ªTheft is prohibited here]]


    [You need to pass a will check]


    [Check target is 20, your current check result is 2]


    [Will check failed]


    [You have received the status: Death]


    Nocturne Psalm only had time to say two words: "Damn it..."


    Immediately, his brain was squeezed by an immense, invisible power.


    "Boom!"


    His entire head exploded, like a shattered watermelon, leaving red and white pieces splattered on the ground.


    The next day, rumors circulated that several headless bodies had been found in Viscount Burton''s mansion, located in different places, with nearby locks all picked.


    It was said these people were Count Dawson''s followers, intending to assassinate the surrendered Viscount Burton but fell into Viscount Burton''s anticipated trap.


    On the other hand, several posts appeared on the player forums.


    "Solemn protest against targeting wanderer players by the officials!"


    "Has the game bugged?"


    "What''s with this ridiculous rule¡ª"


    "Theft is a part of the world; banning theft is not conducive to the normal operation of the game."


    However, most posts attracted mocking comments, especially in Nocturne Psalm''s section, which turned into a celebration for the victims.


    "Good and evil will be repaid; the Heavenly Dao is a good cycle."


    "Look up and see, who has the official''s ever spared." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Black Beast: I stole your money. Official: I stole your head."


    "Strong support! Suggest extending this rule to Barto City."


    "Seems like it''s updated over there too; now sheriffs can''t catch thief players, only native pickpockets."


    "Great satisfaction, great satisfaction!"


    "You officials did a good job, dog officials!"


    "Why hasn''t the theft rule triggered in Northwind Castle yet; has it not been updated?"


    "Rogue Beast, why aren''t you dead yet¡ª"


    Cassius browsed the player posts, nodding slightly.


    This display of killing one to warn a hundred seemed very successful; these guys had started treating his rule as part of the system''s rules. Once this opening was made, they would gradually accept stricter rules.


    It just needed to be done gradually; if squeezed too hard, pushing players out of the Ashen Nest would be bad.

 Chapter 57 War and Rumors

    After the fall of Trolo City, the entire Anzeta was in an uproar, though it was long expected.Without the elite "Claw of the Male Eagle," how could the Rackman Family resist the claws and fangs of those Dragon Vein Monsters, especially when faced with the terrifying Red Dragon, known as the Infernal Calamity? S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What they hadn''t predicted was that Trolo City, known as the "City of Virile Wind," which had stood in the Northern United Kingdom for a hundred years without falling, would be so easily breached. It couldn''t even be called a breach, but rather an effortless occupation, as Trolo City couldn''t organize even a decent resistance.


    With Count Dawson killed by a mysterious weapon, the humiliating white flag fluttered at the city gate, and the centuries of glory of Trolo City vanished into thin air.


    In the following months, the Ashen Nest didn''t rush to break through the capital of the Rackman Duchy, Northwind Castle, but patiently conquered the remaining eleven cities within the duchy one by one: Havertz Fort, Turner City, Mex City...


    One of the three most powerful duchies in the Northern United Kingdom, the Rackman Duchy, was thus gradually devoured. This caused the nobles of Anzeta to be on edge.


    During this period, many bloody events occurred, and there were rumors of Ogres and Chimeras eating people. However, under Cassius''s supervision, the Dragon Vein Descendants still maintained basic order.


    Compared to the human soldiers of this era, who would burn, kill, and plunder to vent their desires when encountering war, and the noble knights who saw commoners as insignificant and often took pleasure in killing, these monsters under the Red Dragon''s "Dictator''s Rule" could already be considered disciplined. At least those Ogres only viewed humans as tasty snacks, not as targets for bullying.


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    However, within the borders of Anzeta, due to deliberate propaganda, the retinue of the Ashen Nest had already been likened to legendary demons. Some bards even created a long poem called the Song of Embers.


    Their evil tyrant, the "Infernal Calamity" Cassius, had become a symbol of original sin at this moment. It was said he was the Dragon of Lust, the Dragon of Wrath, and even the Dragon of Pride. He would transform into a humanoid figure several meters tall to ravage beautiful maidens and then return to his original form to devour them whole.


    The steward of the Ashen Nest, the Dragon Vein Ogre Mage Ramp, was naturally depicted as the embodiment of gluttony. He would greedily devour everything in sight, and whenever someone tremblingly came to see him, he would be chewing on human remains.


    The military commander, Great Goblin Dolores, was portrayed as the embodiment of envy, perhaps simply to fit the bards'' parallelisms...


    Cassius neither confirmed nor denied these tales, nor did he care about them.


    Before he completely conquered the Northern Kingdom, such inversions of truth were only to be expected.


    Once he devoured the remaining twelve countries, all the clamor would dissipate, and he would become Anzeta''s only, supreme monarch.


    "Very soon."


    "Once I deal with this old vampire..."


    "The next target is you, decrepit Northern Nobility."


    The Red Dragon exhaled a breath of sulfur-scented heat and murmured to itself.


    He was currently lying in the Council Hall of Trolo City, which was spacious and bright enough to barely accommodate Cassius''s massive dragon body.


    The Council Hall had once been the place where Trolo City''s affairs were decided. The city''s noble councillors would gather here to discuss governance together. It was a proud tradition passed down through generations in Trolo City, with the flying eagles on the tall stone pillars representing courage and authority.


    Now, this place still decided everything in Trolo City, but those eagles no longer symbolized power; they were marks of failure.


    At this moment, it was the Red Dragon that judged everything here.


    "Master, Mex City has fallen."


    The image of Dolores appeared in the hall.


    One could see a city filled with smoke and fire behind him, with Dragon Vein Monsters constantly passing by and the sound of gunfire in the distance.


    The Red Dragon nodded slightly: "Very good."


    Standing by for a long time, Dailenna picked up a brush and crossed out the name "Mex City" on the giant map of the duchy in the center of the hall.


    Besides that, ten other cities had already been crossed out, including the Trolo City where they currently stayed.


    Northwind Castle was left isolated within these cities¡ªit was the last remaining city under Rackman Duchy''s control.


    Dailenna fawningly said: "Congratulations, Master, the centuries-old history of the Rackman Duchy is about to end. Their vast territories will be yours, and your great deeds will be recorded in history. The entire North will tremble under your wings."


    "Now, only Northwind Castle remains."


    Cassius suddenly asked Ramp: "When you conquered Mex City, did you catch those vampire variants?"


    He was referring to the offspring of the Rackman Family, the most elite of the vampire variants, who often referred to themselves as the Blood Clan, like the late Baron Todd.


    Speaking of Todd, the poor guy had already lost his mind after Ramp''s endless tortures and various experiments, reduced to a complete beast.


    Ramp, with the academic spirit of a mage, finally cut him into fine mince when Todd lost his value after numerous tests. This time Todd never recovered, proving that not all of the "Undying Blood Clan" were truly undying.


    After months of experiments and various forms of tactics, Ramp had already grasped many characteristics of these vampire variants, such as the Wounding Water.


    He now had a greater interest in Duke Brad Rackman, the old vampire lurking in Northwind Castle.


    Ramp honestly answered: "No."


    "At Earl Caythlene Rackman''s mansion, we only found drained human corpses. The eldest son had long disappeared. The other cities controlled by the Rackman offspring were the same. I suspect they''ve all been summoned to Northwind Castle for that so-called Ascension Ritual."


    "Ascension Ritual..."


    Ramp thought Cassius was asking a question, not making a statement, and so replied respectfully:


    "Yes, the Ascension Ritual. During the interrogation of Todd Rackman, we learned about this special ritual, similar to a sacrificial ceremony. This is the fabled ritual that supposedly allows vampires to evolve into ''truly immortal beings.''


    "When the ritual is completed, vampires will no longer fear sunlight and will lose weaknesses like the Wounding Water, gaining powerful Necrosis abilities."


    The Red Dragon slowly stood up and stretched its wings.


    "It''s time. Time to end all of this."


    "Ramp, notify all the retinue of the Ashen Nest to draw the best troops from each city and prepare to besiege Northwind Castle. I don''t want to see a troublesome Ascendant Vampire appear."


    "That old guy... it''s time for him to go where he belongs."


    "Yes, Master."


    Ramp eagerly responded.

 Chapter 58 City Fengyun

    Within the final city of Rackman Duchy, Northwind Castle.At this moment, the people of Northwind Castle were in a state of panic. The news of various places being overrun by Ashen Nest was strictly sealed by the "Eagle''s Shield," but people could still make guesses or receive bits of news here and there.


    "I, I have a secret to tell you all..."


    "Mesc City, Trolo City, Arkan City..."


    "They have all fallen."


    Someone in the tavern said this drunkenly. He seemed to have drunk too much.


    But that drunkard was quickly taken away by plainclothes spies, plunging the tavern into silence. No one else dared to speak.


    In this atmosphere, everyone felt a looming disaster about to descend. The air in the city was heavy, almost stagnant.


    The city was heavily guarded, with several "Eagle''s Shields" checking every important area. Any anomalies would be treated as traitors and captured.


    Every household''s doors and windows were tightly shut, but that didn''t stop gray-robed spies from barging in for inspections. Any irregularities would lead to severe scrutiny, or even immediate capture.


    No one knew where those so-called "traitors" were taken. There were even rumors that they were all executed.


    This pervasive sense of fear spread throughout the city, not just the terror of Ashen Nest''s attack, but also the dread of the City Guard Army''s stringent searches and the unknown future.


    "Damn it, where has he gone?"


    "He should be in that direction. Chase him!"


    "Catch him, dead or alive!"


    In a dark alley, the Swashbuckler hid in the shadows, evading the pursuers once again.


    He wiped the nonexistent sweat off his forehead¡ªas a Vampire Variant with the Undying trait, he seemingly didn''t have the function to sweat. It was just a force of habit.


    "Has that old vampire gone mad? Grabbing people like this..."


    "But this guy''s end is near. When the Heavenly Soldiers from Ashen Nest descend, this Venerable Vampire will surely be brought to justice!"


    Just thinking of Ashen Nest''s overwhelming military might crushing the Allied Forces made every player puff out their chests with pride.


    Yeno also hid beside a trash bin.


    Close association with the Swashbuckler over time had turned this former Earl into a shadowy manipulator, abandoning all so-called noble dignity.


    Hearing the Swashbuckler, he curiously asked: "You''ve been hiding in the bunker. How do you know what''s happening outside?"


    The Swashbuckler chuckled: "The wise have their ways."


    "I even know that the entire Allied Forces sent by that old vampire have perished. Over thirty thousand have all become barbeque."


    Thinking about the Battle of Triel, the Swashbuckler felt a pang of bitterness. Such an important faction battleground mission, and he hadn''t participated! Many players had gained tons of Faction Contribution and made a name for themselves. Even armored units were built, while he could only crawl in the dark dungeon, silently browsing the forums.


    "This time, I have to show what I can do!"


    The Swashbuckler silently vowed to himself.


    Yeno reminded him: "Don''t just stand there daydreaming. The pursuers will find us sooner or later. By then, we won''t be able to escape."


    "Moreover... if things are really as you say, my father won''t go down without a fight.


    "I know my father well. To achieve his goals, he will go to any lengths, reaching the point of obsession. He''s been planning for a whole century, and thousands have been forcibly sacrificed over these years."


    The Swashbuckler was stunned and then asked:


    "You mean... that old vampire is trying something big?"


    "Exactly."


    "I suspect those city residents labeled as traitors have been taken to the bunker to be made into Blood Slaves. My father must have realized his time is running out, so he''s no longer hiding, but openly using the entire city''s power to accomplish his so-called great Ascension."


    The Swashbuckler immediately felt eager: "Looks like I have to become the hero who saves this city."


    "Don''t get too excited. Although you''ve faced my father directly, you don''t understand his strength."


    As though recalling some long-lost memory, a hint of fear flashed across Yeno''s pale face.


    The Swashbuckler, however, scoffed indifferently: "Why are you scared again? PTSD acting up? We''ve been out for so long. Do you think that old vampire can control me?


    "Besides, I have this¡ª"


    He pulled out an exquisite metal emblem stained with mottled blood.


    [Rebel Crest]


    Quality: Special


    "A certain mage was once turned into a Vampire Variant. He tried to resist his master, spending all his effort to create this emblem.


    Unfortunately, he failed, turning into a puddle of blood, and the emblem was quietly displayed in the Duke''s collection, waiting for the next rebel to appear."


    Effect: Temporarily makes a Vampire Variant immune to its master''s control.


    This was an item the Swashbuckler and Yeno had found in the Vampire Duke''s collection room, giving him tremendous confidence.


    Yeno shook his head, a hint of resignation appearing on his pale face devoid of blood.


    "Do you really think you can succeed?"


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    "I knew the creator of this emblem. His name was Triss, the most talented mage I''ve ever met. He was always full of hope and passion. Even after being transformed into a Vampire Variant, he never gave up, tirelessly seeking ways to resist the Duke."


    "But in the end, he still failed..."


    A sense of nostalgia and regret flashed through Yeno Rackman''s eyes, but so did a fleeting trace of despair.


    "Just because he failed doesn''t mean I will. I, the Swashbuckler, am... "


    The Swashbuckler was boasting, but his words suddenly stopped, leaving only two words.


    "Oh, crap¡ª"


    Yeno''s pupils suddenly darkened to a crimson hue, his eyes devoid of any sanity, radiating a chilling aura of death.


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    "For the great Ascension..."


    "All sacrifices are worth it."


    "Give everything¡ª"


    Yeno whispered in a low voice, his pale face showing an ecstatic expression.


    At this moment, he seemed like a devout believer about to bask in the deity''s favor, unlike the awkward NPC the Swashbuckler knew.


    His body stiffened, striking an odd posture, and he walked toward the Duke''s castle in the shadows.


    The sky seemed to be tinged with blood.


    The Swashbuckler noticed his "Rebel Crest" emitting a faint glow, as if struggling against some overpowering force.


    "That old vampire has gone all-out?"


    "But... this could be an opportunity."


    After a moment''s hesitation, he hid the emblem in his pants pocket.


    "Um... for the great Ascension?"


    The Swashbuckler mimicked Yeno''s strange behavior, pretending to be a controlled Vampire Variant, and closely followed.

 Chapter 59 Siege

    Outside Northwind Castle.The clamor and noise rose and fell, filling the air in all directions.


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    "Occupy Northwind Castle!"


    The crowded wyverns resembled a surge of dark clouds that covered the sky, and the densely packed kobolds and Goblins flooded the ground like a muddy tide.


    The skies and lands outside Northwind Castle were occupied by the retainers. To those inside the city, it appeared as if the end of days had arrived.


    "Oh, my god..."


    The city guards standing on the walls looked up at the sky and murmured to themselves.


    The Wyvern Knights from the Ashen Nest flew over the city, dropping leaflets like snowflakes.


    The leaflets promised generous treatment upon surrender. They also included a reproduction of the contract with Duke Brad Rackman, even featuring images of the blood slaves of Northwind Castle.


    The final line struck straight to the heart¡ª


    [Do you really want to pledge your loyalty to the death for a vampire?]


    Some previously unseen Anzeta Academy bards appeared in the city, using their talents to mesmerize the audience. Once the applause ceased, the watchers would likely start questioning all their deeply held beliefs, from their faith in local temple clergy to their loyalty to their ruler. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These bards spoke of the dark history of the Rackman Family.


    Before they could finish their tales, the guards would arrest them or even hack them to death on the spot, to serve as a brutal warning to others.


    But the bards remained fearless, shouting before their deaths,


    "One life for a thousand contributions, this life is worth it!"


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    At this moment, a bard with the username "Lonely as Snow" was dragged by the guards and shouted, "I laugh towards the heavens with a heroic blade, whether to stay or leave, my courage as vast as the Kunlun Mountains!"


    Though people couldn''t understand the meaning, they sensed the passionate and heroic tone.


    He was then taken to the street and beheaded on the spot for public display.


    With the swish of a blade, a head rolled, blood splattered, and many timid onlookers trembled in fear.


    Soon, whether guided intentionally or naturally, differing voices arose within the city.


    People quickly formulated a terrifying suspicion¡ªthose "traitors" who had been arrested might indeed have become so-called blood slaves, sacrificed to Duke Brad Rackman. Recalling the recent Devil contract cases, everything started to make sense.


    But no one dared voice this suspicion, for it would bring about a fatal disaster.


    They could only harbor this fear and conjecture in their hearts, waiting for the right moment, when it would inevitably explode.


    At the entrance of the ceremonial hall in Northwind Castle, on Eagle Plaza, frightened citizens were gathered together.


    Perhaps learning from the lesson of Count Dawson''s death in a shelling, they didn''t set the assembly location near the city walls.


    Northwind Castle''s chief military commander, ostensibly the highest-ranking officer, Earl Brandon, surveyed the surroundings.


    In the plaza below the high platform, there were nobles in ornate attire, soldiers in armor, beggars in rags, and farmers with patched clothes... at this moment, they were all gathered here, their eyes filled with fear and anxiety.


    "His Grace said, we must delay time at all costs."


    "Once he completes the great ritual, everything will be resolved."


    "We must extract the last ounce of value from these people."


    With this in mind, Brandon slowly began to speak.


    "Citizens, I understand your fear."


    "After all, the enemy you''re about to face is the infamous ''Infernal Calamity,'' the dragon that once destroyed thirty thousand allied forces, possibly the most terrifying, powerful, and evil monster to have appeared in Anzeta in nearly a century. Even combined, our entire army may not be a match for that beast."


    The crowd broke out in an uproar.


    Even though the Ashen Nest''s forces had already surrounded Northwind Castle and rumors were rampant within the city, many people still doubted the authenticity of these tales, with some even thinking the so-called Infernal Calamity was just an excuse for the allied commanders.


    But now, the truth was exposed.


    "Indeed, I don''t intend to hide it, nor could I. The Red Dragon and its evil retainers have already descended upon Northwind Castle, besieging our entire city. But do we just surrender, resign ourselves, and become slaves to these monsters, accepting the brutal rule of an evil dragon?"


    The crowd fell silent.


    Earl Brandon surveyed the surroundings and looked at a middle-aged soldier in the crowd.


    "Soldier, yes, I mean you."


    "Answer honestly, do you have children?"


    With the Earl personally addressing him, the soldier seemed nervous but still stammered out, "Yes, a daughter."


    Brandon nodded slightly. "A daughter, very well."


    "But according to what I know, that Red Dragon is a dragon of lust and wrath. It once transformed into a hideous four-meter-tall humanoid, shamelessly violating a beautiful young woman before cruelly devouring her. This was personally witnessed by knights of justice in hiding and is a true account."


    He paused deliberately, then continued, staring closely at the soldier,


    "Imagine, if this evil dragon rules Northwind Castle, what it might do to your daughter? Could you bear to watch your daughter suffer inhuman torment, ultimately meeting a tragic end? Could you endure coming home to find the house in disarray, only to see the bloodied remains of your daughter?"


    "No! I can''t!"


    Seemingly picturing such a horrific scene, the soldier''s eyes immediately reddened, veins bulging.


    Brandon nodded in satisfaction, then shifted his gaze to a merchant.


    "Do you have a wife?"


    "Yes."


    The same approach, the same outcome, but under the Earl''s skillful persuasion, the conversation''s stirring power soared even higher.


    "It''s almost time."


    Brandon thought to himself.


    Seeing the emotions of the people, Brandon finally surveyed all around, looking at everyone present, and raised his sword high.


    "Everyone here, regardless of your identity, whether you are nobles, soldiers, farmers, or merchants. At this moment, there''s no distinguished Duke, only an ordinary person. Like you, I''m just a father to my children, a husband to my wife, a son to my parents, all of us are merely those hoping to protect our loved ones.


    So tell me, can any of you allow your loved ones to suffer inhuman treatment, to fall into the claws of the evil dragon?"


    "No!"


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    The crowd was silent for a moment, then a wave of voices surged.


    Among the over thirty thousand citizens of Northwind Castle, many were indeed moved by the Earl''s passionate speech, but some scoffed at it, swept up only by the momentum of the crowd.

 Chapter 60 Threat

    Seeing the people''s emotions rising, Brandon hurriedly continued to fan the flames, his voice even more resounding."Everyone present, four hundred years ago, Lord Terry Rackman led our ancestors here, riding a giant eagle, to establish the first Northwind Castle. Back then, there were only a mere three hundred people here."


    "In these magnificent four hundred years, we have undergone countless trials and tribulations of blood and fire. Our ancestors sacrificed their precious lives one after another, which is why this magnificent city stands steadfastly on this land today. This is a city that carries the glorious history of our generations. This is also a city that carries our beautiful lives and our refuge..."


    "Now, everyone has only one identity ¨C the citizen of Northwind Castle."


    "We ¨C absolutely cannot let it fall into the hands of evil dragons!"


    Brad''s Silver Sword drew a semicircle in the air.


    "For Northwind Castle!"


    The crowd''s emotions surged even more. After all, they had not yet seen the enemy, but they had just listened to a textbook-like pre-war speech and were moved by the Earl''s "sincere" words. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Looking at the raucous crowd, Earl Brandon panted slightly, only thinking, "I hope they can hold out a little longer until His Grace completes the ritual."


    "For Northwind Castle! For Northwind Castle!"


    "Kill the evil dragons! Protect our loved ones!"


    The cheers continued, soldiers raised their spears, determined to fight for their daughters'' futures. Merchants raised their arms high, determined to fight for their own and their wives'' happiness...


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    However, a long roar echoed, interrupting the cheers.


    Everyone suddenly felt a deep-seated fear rise within them.


    The wyverns came in dense swarms, blotting out the sky and the sunlight. They surged like a black tide from the horizon, emitting a cacophony of screeches.


    "Damn it, aim the city crossbows!"


    "Shoot them down!"


    But these monsters flew so high that even the city defense crossbows barely reached them, only managing to shoot down a single, lower-positioned wyvern, which wailed and fell to the ground.


    Then, the wyverns in the sky made way, revealing a massive red dragon hovering, slowly flapping its wings.


    The red dragon stood with its back to the sunlight, surrounded by what seemed like a ring of flames. Under the influence of a spell, its massive shadow was cast far larger on the ground, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure.


    People looked up, gazing at the bright golden vertical pupils that shone even from a hundred meters away, reminded involuntarily of the tale of the "Infernal Calamity" that annihilated thirty thousand allied forces with fire.


    The soldiers'' hands holding the spears trembled slightly before the spears clattered to the ground. The merchants hid behind their wives, shivering with fear that the monster in the sky would notice them.


    When this terrifying wyvern truly descended, their previous ambitions were thrown to the winds, and the Earl''s impassioned speech was forgotten.


    After all ¨C they could really die from this.


    Surprisingly, the giant dragon in the sky spoke.


    "Quite a decent speech, just a bit too clich¨¦. I thought I was back in the Second Era."


    Brandon looked up at the sky. Even though he was a rather powerful warrior, facing the red dragon still caused sweat to drip from his forehead.


    "Evil dragon, you shall not bewitch the citizens of Northwind Castle!"


    Finally, he mustered his courage and roared towards the sky.


    "Bewitch?"


    Cassius''s tone was tinged with mockery.


    "You must be talking about yourself, using seemingly reasonable but utterly nonsensical reasons to bewitch them into selling their lives as cannon fodder for the old vampire you serve. Quite a shrewd plan."


    This news had long been sealed by the City Guard Army, but many people had already known, and now it was finally spoken without care by the red dragon.


    Brandon could no longer endure it, pointing to the sky and shouting angrily.


    "Slander!"


    "This is utter slander!"


    Cassius ignored them, merely projecting the images of blood slaves inside the bunker into the sky: "Everyone, this is your beloved Duke whom you serve, turning your dear ones into these blood-sucking beasts. Serving the nobles is ridiculous enough. Serving such a thing is even more of a joke within a joke."


    "If you wish to continue your loyalty and die for him, be my guest."


    A sinister smirk appeared on the red dragon''s face.


    "But that''s not why I''m here. I have another message ¨C if by dusk I don''t see the gates open and white flags flying, flames will turn everything here to ash, including your parents, companions, and children, without exception."


    "Note ¨C"


    "This is not a negotiation, but a notification."


    The black tide of bipedal wyverns receded, and the red dragon vanished after delivering its final words.


    Before leaving, Cassius thought to himself, "That bard who wrote this story must be a pervert. Am I such a particular dragon?"


    "Even when eating humans, one must maintain basic hygiene. This makes even ogres gag..."


    "No, I must find a chance to capture him and torment him thoroughly."


    The red dragon did not want to destroy this city known as the "Pearl of the North". It would be the future main city for his planned players and the starting point of his Empire. Therefore, he adopted a strategy of besiegement without attack, threatening propaganda to avoid direct destruction.


    He had already established his might after the Triel Conference. What he needed next was to consolidate his rule and establish a truly diverse empire.


    In the plaza, Earl Brandon looked stern.


    He watched the restless crowd, their eyes filled with fear, anxiety, or hesitation. He knew the situation was now out of control.


    Admittedly, the red dragon''s threat was very persuasive because it had just destroyed thirty thousand allied forces. Brandon''s speech had inadvertently become irrefutable evidence, adding credence to the red dragon''s threat.


    "His Grace said, we must hold on until nightfall."


    "This is my mission."


    Thinking this, a fierce expression appeared on Earl Brandon''s face.


    He removed the mask of "approachable and kind" and looked down with an unparalleled cold and arrogant gaze at the people with different expressions. He said coldly, "Citizens, please remain calm and do not listen to the dragon''s bewitchment."


    "Anyone who defies orders and dares to cause unrest ¨C kill!" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Earl''s loyal soldiers immediately took control of the situation.


    However, it wasn''t just Eagle Plaza. Countless people in the city had clearly heard the red dragon''s threat. Their reactions varied: some stayed silent in their homes, some went to the city walls to contact acquaintances, and even some had already taken action against the grey-robed spies of the Rackman Family.


    For a time, the city was filled with undercurrents.

 Chapter 61 Defeated

    "Boom¡ª"With a deafening noise, the west gate of Northwind Castle burst open.


    The rusty iron mechanism rotated and moved, emitting a harsh grinding sound. The huge drawbridge slowly descended, crossing the wide moat and connecting directly to the other side.


    "Who is the traitor!"


    "Damn it, someone opened the gate!"


    "Quick! Raise the drawbridge!"


    "No, they are coming in!"


    "Everyone, prepare for battle!"


    The castle was in chaos, with shouts, yells, and curses echoing continuously, making it impossible to distinguish between ally and enemy in the confusion.


    The Dragon Vein Descendants, who had been waiting outside the castle for a long time, eagerly charged across the drawbridge and flooded into Northwind Castle like an unstoppable torrent.


    Leading the charge were the tall and strong Ogre Club Shield Warriors, followed by the Goblin Skirmishers with rifles and the Lizardfolk Tribe Warriors.


    "For the Ashen Nest!"


    "Seize Northwind Castle!"


    Although the Rackman Family had a tight grip on the City Defense Army, almost bordering on the limits of feudal lords, the army within the city was not entirely unified.


    After the direct threat from the Red Dragon, even the most loyal "Eagle''s Shield" members could not help but waver. Perhaps one or two out of every ten City Defense soldiers had resolved to betray, and that was enough to shake the foundation of Northwind Castle.


    What happened next was very simple.


    Those determined to betray secretly contacted the player spies lurking in the city, gathered strength, and instigated a mutiny. They killed the unprepared City Guard Army commander at the west gate of Northwind Castle and opened the century-old gate that had never been breached.


    The leader of this mutiny was named John. His wife had died at the hands of the so-called "Devil," so he had once been the Duke''s most loyal soldier. When he plunged his sword into the commander''s chest, the commander''s face was filled with astonishment. He could not believe that John, often called a "loyal dog," would betray him.


    The mutinous soldiers, as agreed, tied red armbands on their right arms and attacked their former comrades.


    "Kill those Vampire lackeys!"


    "For our families!"


    "To survive!"


    John raised his standard longsword and shouted loudly.


    Thus, the forces of the Ashen Nest, the mutinous soldiers, and the loyal City Guard Army engaged in chaotic battles within the city.


    Unlike Trolo City, Northwind Castle, the strongest stronghold of the Rackman Family, would not surrender without resistance.


    Interests were always the most solid bonds.


    Many elite forces in Northwind Castle had long been tied to the fortunes of the Rackman Family, with no way out.


    They knew that if the Duke, their strong support, fell, their own fate wouldn''t be much better, possibly even worse than death. Thus, they were determined to fight to the death, holding back the Ashen Nest''s Descendants in the narrow passages at the castle gate.


    "Humans, die!"


    The Ogre swung his spiked Wolf Fang Club, viciously smashing the soldiers in front of him into meat paste.


    He held a giant Leather Shield, shrugging off the arrows from the City Guard Army, charging forward like a heavy tank.


    However, a cold fragment precisely hit his muscular arm holding the Wolf Fang Club, shattering and releasing biting cold, slowing the Ogre''s movements.


    It was the Ice Blade Technique.


    The spellcasters loyal to the Rackman Family had also joined the battle.


    "Charge!"


    "Kill that monster, avenge our comrades!"


    The Allied Forces soldiers aimed to kill the Ogre and were about to charge forward.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    The bullets from the Goblin Skirmishers whistled through, and several soldiers fell in succession.


    Shortly after the Battle of Triel, the players of Storm Arsenal developed more accurate rifled guns, and the more flexible and free skirmisher tactics emerged in response.


    "For the Ashen Nest! For endless food!"


    "Charge!"


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    The Ogres raised their Giant Shields and continued to charge, advancing like a moving thick wall.


    Ice Cones, flames, acid, radiance...


    The spellcasters rained spells down on the Descendants like a storm, and several Ogres fell in succession, dying in various ways, but they showed no fear.


    In the simple minds of the Ogres, only battle and food mattered. Death was a common occurrence to them¡ªin the wilderness, hungry Ogres often held impromptu funeral feasts, burying their fallen kin in their bellies.


    But the Ashen Nest was not without countermeasures.


    Besides the continuous gunfire from the Goblins hunting down soldiers, the players also joined the battlefield.


    In an instant, the dazzling Magical Aura also appeared on the Ashen Nest''s side, and the players'' attack methods were even more varied.


    "The enemy firepower is pretty intense¡ª"


    "Paladins, push forward!"


    "Cast an Acceleration Spell! With an Acceleration Spell, I''m invincible, okay!"


    "Priests, cast a Sanctuary Spell¡ª"


    The bare-chested Martial Monk player "Mighty Heavenly Dragon," with an Acceleration Spell, climbed walls and leapt over eaves, descending sharply into the ranks of the City Defense Army.


    Surveying the panicked soldiers, who had no idea where the enemy had come from, he shouted proudly.


    "I will fight ten!" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Gale Strike!"


    His punches were so fast they were almost invisible, only the rapid thumping of impacts could be heard.


    The fists charged with "Qi" struck the soldiers with such force that seven or eight of them fell in quick succession. The powerful strikes even dented their armor, leaving fist marks¡ªthis skilled Martial Monk player had activated the mowing mode.


    "Hahaha!"


    "This time, I''ve gone berserk!"


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon rampaged through the crowd, roaring triumphantly, his bald head splattered with the blood spat out by soldiers.


    Before long, the City Defense Army noticed him and started aiming arrows at him.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    An arrow flew straight toward his bald head.


    "Deflecting Projectile!"


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon snorted coldly, gathering Qi in his hand, catching the speeding arrow bare-handed, and deflecting it back.


    The arrow pierced the archer''s forehead, killing him instantly.


    "Hmph, a trivial trick, trying to show off to me!"


    "A mere minion, trying to sneak attack me, truly¡ª"


    Before he could finish his sentence, arrows came from all directions.


    Though as a Martial Monk, he could deflect projectiles, he was not an Eight-Armed Arhat, and soon his bare body was turned into a pincushion.


    "Overestimating yourself."


    "My life was worth it..."


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon lay on the ground, happily looking at the massive contribution and experience points refreshed on his panel, and his screen went black.

 Chapter 62 The Advancing Player

    However, this charge by Mighty Heavenly Dragon had already thrown the City Defense Army into disarray, drawing much of their fire, allowing the Ogres and Great Goblins, Dragon Vein Descendants, to advance smoothly, pushing the battle lines into the city and preparing for street combat."It''s my turn to have some fun!"


    "Watch me replicate those maneuvers!"


    "For every Martial Monk''s dream!"


    Many Martial Monk players wanted to mimic Mighty Heavenly Dragon''s tactics, scaling walls and charging forward, though most ended up riddled with arrows.


    After all, not everyone was a master like Mighty Heavenly Dragon. With the fragile physique of a Martial Monk unable to wear armor, they couldn''t withstand even a few sword strikes.


    Meanwhile, some players had found alternative, sneaky strategies.


    For example, Charlotte.


    His [Magic Coin] guild had unprecedentedly accepted a Druid player ¡ª Holy Light Bro.


    The two sneaked up to the tall city wall, looking down at the mass of City Guard soldiers below.


    Their eyes met, and they exchanged sinister smiles.


    "Holy Light Bro, transform into owl bear form."


    "Got it."


    The Druid, naked but covered in Holy Light, got down on all fours. His body, covered in natural magical aura, rapidly expanded, transforming into a massive owl bear standing two meters tall at the shoulder and weighing several tons.


    Charlotte grinned wickedly, waving his Carved Wooden Staff.


    [Enlarge Spell]


    This spell increased the size of a creature by one level.


    As tiny magical auras flickered, the owl bear that Holy Light Bro had become doubled in height and weighed eight times more!


    Charlotte raised his staff, pointing at the clustered soldiers below, numbering in the hundreds, and said viciously:


    "Holy Light Bro, smash them! Smash them hard!"


    "Roar!"


    Holy Light Bro roared dominantly. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    He was now a monster eight meters long and weighing over ten tons.


    Below, the City Guard''s temporary western command, led by Baron Alta, was raising his sword high for a final charge. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clad in ornate, heavy armor, his expression was resolute, with his loyal soldiers surrounding him.


    Alta had been trained by the Rackham Family from a young age. His swordsmanship was renowned throughout the Duchy, and he had traveled the world years ago.


    In this moment of life and death for the nation, he had traveled from the South to assist Northwind Castle, repaying the Rackham Family''s kindness.


    "Soldiers, it''s time to give your lives!"


    "For the glory of the family!"


    "Defend Northwind Castle to the death! Stop those invading monsters!"


    Suddenly, Baron Alta noticed a shadow looming over him.


    He instinctively looked up, only to see the massive body of the owl bear filling his vision, growing larger by the second.


    "What is this¡ª"


    "Boom!"


    A deafening crash resounded as dust filled the air.


    When the smoke cleared, a huge crater could be seen where the ground had been struck.


    Baron Alta and his twenty elite loyal soldiers were all smashed into a bloody pulp, unrecognizable as human.


    On top of the pile of flesh lay a naked male corpse ¡ª it was Holy Light Bro, who hadn''t survived the fall damage.


    Though he had reverted from his transformation, the Enlarge Spell hadn''t worn off, leaving Holy Light Bro''s corpse the size of a three-meter-tall giant.


    Charlotte looked at the devastated City Defense Army position, nodding in satisfaction: "Killed the boss directly. Holy Light Bro, you died honorably this time!"


    He opened the player forum and messaged Holy Light Bro, who was waiting to respawn:


    "How much experience and faction contribution did you get?"


    "3900 experience, 4000 faction contribution."


    "So much?"


    Charlotte''s eyes widened in jealousy, gritting his teeth, wishing it was his own corpse lying below.


    As guild leader, seeing a member receive such a huge reward filled Charlotte with a mix of pride and envy.


    "Let''s keep earning!"


    Charlotte said fiercely.


    Just as he was thinking this, a new task message appeared on his panel.


    "Wait, is this a special mission?"


    Despite the fact that players were currently capped at Fourth Level, they were already starting to shine.


    According to the system''s evaluation standards, most of the creatures in Erezer had no levels, even in the army, only the most seasoned soldiers could be considered Level One, and a unit composed of Level One professionals was already considered elite.


    But a thousand professional players, including a significant proportion of spellcasters, would be a force to be reckoned with in the Anzeta Great Wilderness, or anywhere in Erezer.


    When the open beta version [Northern Wind and Cloud] was launched, tens of thousands of players flooded into Erezer, and they would make their mark on the entire world.


    Back to the present, with the players'' involvement, the fall of Northwind Castle was inevitable.


    The Descendants of the Ashen Nest continued pushing forward, crushing the resisting remnants of soldiers, marching toward the Council Hall.


    But the Rackham Family was also playing all their cards, with the elite "Eagle''s Shield" of Northwind Castle and the court spellcasters causing some setbacks in the advance of the Dragon Vein Descendants.


    As the battle intensified, a covert team moved through the city.


    In a hidden alley in one corner of Northwind Castle, Singo was browsing the task panel.


    [Special Mission: Prevent Ascension!]


    [Mission Description: The withered trees in the forest weep, and within the eerie Rackman Castle, Duke Brad Rackman is scheming an evil plot. He plans to sacrifice the souls and bodies of 1674 vampire variants to obtain a great ascension.


    When black mist shrouds the moonlight and blood boils in the body, Duke Brad will transform into an immortal Vampire King! Once his ascension is complete, he will be able to withstand sunlight and possess unimaginable evil power. Warriors, stop him!]


    [Faction Mission: Stop the Ascension Ritual]


    [Affiliated Faction: Ashen Nest]


    [Mission Description: Cooperate with Mezulash and Alger to stop the ascension ritual, kill Brad Rackman, and the Lord of Ashen will grant you power and riches.]


    Singo''s tone was somewhat excited:


    "The Duke of Northwind Castle, Vampire Brad Rackman, a character only mentioned in the backstory. This boss won''t be easy to fight."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain nodded: "We should prepare properly."


    Natural War Maniac unconcernedly rubbed his bald head: "Whatever, let''s just chop our way through."


    Mantou''s dragon face was full of tension.


    "This mission description sounds scary. Is this some kind of horror dungeon? I, I''m kind of scared of ghosts."


    Singo glanced at him disdainfully.


    "Pathetic. Why don''t you head back?


    "Even Autumn Rain isn''t scared, and you''re the one getting all worked up."


    Mantou blushed, hugging his arms defiantly.


    "Fine, I''ll go, let''s see who gets scared in the end!"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain smiled helplessly, stepping in to mediate:


    "We might not have the strength to tackle such a major boss alone. The faction task description says to cooperate with Mezulash and Alger, let''s follow the guide and find them first."

 Chapter 63 Twilight Garden

    Sleeping Mermaid Tavern.The wooden signboard had a vividly lifelike mermaid sculpture.


    This was a famous tavern in Northwind Castle and also the secret gathering place of the pureblood Serpentfolk spies. The lady boss here had long been bought off by Gold Coins, willingly becoming a lackey of the Ashen Nest.


    At this moment, the city was in chaos.


    The City Defense Army was busy resisting the invasion of the Dragon Vein Troops, having no time to attend to other matters. Thus, this tavern naturally became a blatant gathering place for the Ashen Nest faction.


    A four-person team pushed the door open and entered, finding the tavern bustling with noise.


    The players had gathered together.


    "Boss lady, do you have Flaming Red Lips?"


    "I heard drinking that will give you an Excited State."


    "The alcohol here is much more expensive than in Barto City."


    Mantou sighed. "So many people..."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain murmured softly. "I thought only we got this special task."


    Singo scanned the surroundings, quickly recognizing these familiar faces.


    The Tyrant of Royalty, the Steel Torrent of the Mechanical God Cult, Charlotte of Magic Coin, Alpha of the Golden Age...


    The professional gamers of the major guilds were all here. Any player who took on the task and came to the tavern had generally already reached the level cap of the beta version¡ªFourth Level, which in Airez counted as elite adventurers, the backbone of adventurers¡ªnot just anyone could make it.


    Natural War Maniac glanced disdainfully at the nearby Tyrant and scoffed.


    Singo lowered his voice and said to him, "War Maniac Bro, don''t compete with the Royalty in group tasks. Focus on the important NPC first."


    "Look over there."


    He signaled with his eyes.


    Alger and Mezulash were sitting at a wooden table in the center of the tavern, with two glasses of wine on the table.


    Although there had been quite a bit of friction before, now, to deal with their common enemy¡ªBrad Rackman, the two still sat down together to discuss strategies.


    Facing his archenemy, Alger looked particularly excited yet somewhat anxious.


    After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke, "I''ve lived nearby for many years and know the secret paths leading into Rackman Castle. What we need to do is infiltrate Rackman Castle."


    "And then... kill him."


    Mezulash nodded slightly, took a sip from his cup, and then said, "A very simple and crude plan, but you forgot one thing¡ª you''ve been away for years. Now that the Ashen Nest is about to invade, how could that cunning old vampire not have made preparations?"


    Alger''s dragon face grew slightly surprised, but he still said, "We have no other way. If we let him complete the Ascension Ritual, the consequences will be unimaginable."


    Mezulash gave a light laugh. "Indeed. These Starfallen are Undying, while you and I¡ªshould''ve been dead long ago, and have no fear of death."


    Alger pointed to the map of Northwind Castle on the table.


    "Given the importance of the Ascension Ritual, the main roads will definitely be heavily guarded. So we''ll go through here, along the dark path in Rackman''s backyard garden."


    "Alright."


    Mezulash slowly stood up and said in a loud voice,


    "Warriors, we are ready to set off."


    "Stop this Ascension, and the master will reward you generously."


    For a moment, the fiery gazes of more than twenty elite players in the tavern were all directed at him.


    Mezulash had become adept at controlling players.


    ...


    Outside Rackman Castle, at Twilight Garden.


    This lush forest surrounded the ancient castle, isolating it from the outside world.


    The trees in the forest towered into the sky, and the mottled bark on the twisted trunks seemed like ancient scars. The deep darkness spread through the forest, making it impossible to distinguish day from night. The eerie leaves swayed in the wind, emitting a chilling whisper.


    The old trees stretched like ghostly arms, with twisted claws spiraling ominously.


    And deep within the forest, howls echoed back and forth, causing hearts to race.


    Alger looked at the dark and deep forest, and the path filled with twisted branches, his expression solemn.


    "No, it didn''t use to be like this."


    "In the years I''ve been away, what exactly has Brad Rackman done?"


    Mezulash sneered. "Perhaps he has a pack of loyal guard dogs in there, keeping watch for him."


    "It looks like we need to be careful from here on."


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    "Let''s go in."


    Alger, Meshlaf, and their group unhesitatingly plunged into the dense forest.


    ...


    Walking on the vine-covered path, Mantou heard rustling sounds behind him, making him shiver involuntarily.


    "Oh God, this place really has creepy things..."


    "Wait, there''s something behind me!"


    Mantou felt something brush across the back of his neck and let out a scream.


    Cold sweat dripped down as he turned to see it was just a twisted vine hanging from a branch.


    He breathed a sigh of relief, turned to Singo beside him, and said, "This place is too spooky, let''s hurry and leave. We can''t stay here long."


    Singo, too, couldn''t find the words to mock him, merely nodding gravely.


    Because he had just keenly noticed that the bush ahead seemed to move towards them briefly, though he wasn''t sure if it was just his imagination. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let''s keep moving."


    Mantou bit his lip and continued walking, but he couldn''t resist the curiosity and looked back once more, seeing that the vine had moved again, now like a menacing arm reaching out for him.


    He gasped sharply.


    The rustling sounds around them grew louder and more intense, with something seeming to twist and squirm in the darkness.


    Fragmented, terrifying whispers spread around, surrounding the group.


    "It''s alive..."


    "Don''t¡­ leave me behind..."


    "Hold my hand¡­ get me out..."


    But those voices didn''t come from anyone among them!


    Summer Night Autumn Rain''s face was already white as a sheet, sweat dripping from her chin, and her voice trembled, "Did you... did you hear that? Those voices."


    Singo said sternly, "I heard it too."


    "It didn''t sound like a monster''s roar, more like... final words of victims before they died."


    Mantou was terrified out of his wits. "Don''t... don''t scare me..."


    "Take a good look around."


    Mantou looked around, seeing it was already a writhing, deep darkness.


    At the head of the group, Alger raised the Everburning Greatsword, instantly illuminating the surroundings, revealing the gruesome appearances of the monsters to everyone.


    In the dappled shadows of the forest, they saw gnarled roots, branches, and vines gradually converging, eventually forming countless staggering, twisted ghostly figures.


    Their bodies were made from dead branches, vines, and even thorny brambles entwined together, with undigested human limbs intertwined among them. The thick roots were soaked in blood.


    Alger gritted his teeth and shouted loudly,


    "Prepare for battle!"


    "Damn it, this forest is alive!"

 Chapter 64 Witherbeast and Death Knight

    Mezulash watched as unknown beings surged from all directions, gradually surrounding them.He recognized these monsters; he had seen them in a necromancer''s diary.


    "Withervine creatures, they are withervine creatures!"


    "They are the plague that spreads dark infection. Drawing nutrients from the earth and carrying ancient evil wills wherever they go."


    "In forests infected by withervine creatures, trees and plants will grow at a supernatural speed. Vines and various undergrowth plants will quickly cover buildings and roads. After the withervine creatures kill or drive away all the residents, an entire village can perish within days."


    Mezulash swung his sword and severed a thorn lashing out from the shadows, cursing loudly:


    "Damn it, it''s said that the first withervine creatures were nourished by vampire blood. That old vampire had long been prepared!"


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    Alger tightly gripped the Everburning Greatsword and plunged it into the twisted limb of a withervine creature.


    The blade ignited with fierce flames, setting the withervine creature ablaze in an instant, turning it to ash amidst its wails.


    Alger loudly reminded, "They ignite easily!"


    As these monsters, hidden in the darkness and concealed within the dense forest, revealed their true forms, the players began to display their abilities.


    Mantou gazed at the prior vine monster, his panel refreshed with new information.


    [Withervine Creature]


    Challenge Level: 1 (200xp)


    Mantou heaved a sigh of relief, followed by anger.


    "I thought it was some filthy thing, but it turned out to be a mere minion. Daring to scare your grandpa Mantou, you''ll die for this!"


    He charged forward, sword in hand.


    The monster, composed of twisted vines, trembled and voiced in fear, "It has ensnared me... don''t leave me behind..."


    "Save me..."


    Withervine creatures are the only type of witherbeasts capable of speech. They can mimic the fragmented speech of their deceased owner''s voice to mock their victims.


    However, upon seeing the monster''s health bar, Mantou felt not fear but a growing rage at being deceived.


    "Still trying to scare me?"


    "Die!"


    The long sword cleaved into the fragile vine.


    As a faint light flickered on Mantou''s Ring of Flames, the scorching power of fire spread along the blade to the withervine creature, igniting its arid, withered, and twisted body.


    With a grin, Mantou withdrew his sword:


    "One strike each."


    Singo launched flaming arrows, sarcastically reminding from the side, "Who was scared stiff just now?"


    Summer Night Autumn Rain''s golden pupils also brimmed with anger as she slightly opened her mouth.


    [Agnasa''s Fire-Breathing Technique]


    "Boom!"


    A line of rolling flames spread out, directly incinerating over ten witherbeasts into charcoal.


    However, this was not the largest area-of-effect damage among the players.


    The president of the Eternal Brilliance Guild and Light Priest player Dawn Light Cherish Dance directly charged into the dark forest depths, raising his warhammer high.


    [Guiding Divine Power: Dawn''s Light]


    An endless radiance descended, centered on the priest.


    The surrounding darkness was completely dispelled.


    The hundreds of wither beasts surging toward him were purified into fine ash without even time for a scream.


    Iron Madman, meanwhile, held a cigar in his mouth, tossing rune incendiary bombs with intention. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Art is explosion!"


    The continuous explosions and spreading fire reduced the witherbeasts before him to ashes.


    These witherbeasts hiding in the shadows might be able to claim the lives of lost commoners and solitary adventurers, but facing bizarrely capable, explosions-loving players, they were helpless.


    After all, the ancient evil forces had not taught them how to combat the Fourth Calamity.


    The players hacked their way through the Death Forest and quickly reached Rackman Castle.


    The Twilight Garden behind them was now filled with thick smoke and flames, with withervine creatures burned to ruins everywhere.


    ...


    The sky seemed to be covered with a thin blood veil.


    Rackman Castle appeared decrepit and desolate, as if ravaged by endless time. The castle, built from black stones, had walls riddled with cracks and moss, along with patches of stained blood.


    The spires engulfed in overcast sky exuded a chilling atmosphere. The windows were protected by iron bars and sharp spikes, giving a sense of confinement and menace.


    The shadows emanating from the castle cast the surrounding land into darkness, instilling fear and oppression.


    Mezulash gazed mockingly at the castle and said to Alger, "Did you live in such a hellhole?"


    "No wonder you''re so twisted."


    Alger shook his head slightly, "No, it wasn''t like this when I left."


    He looked at the heavy castle gates, his expression solemn, "Maybe that Vampire Duke did something to turn it into this."


    An ear-piercing screech came from above.


    Alger immediately became alert and shouted, "Attention!"


    "Everyone, this is certainly not the sound of the wind!"


    Years of combat experience told him that the approaching enemy was not simple.


    The crowd hastily looked around but found no enemies.


    "The enemy is in the sky!"


    "Damn!"


    In the gloomy sky, a massive bone eagle soared.


    It had no feathers, only yellowed, branched wing bones trailing ghostly green flames.


    The wind blowing through those bone joints emitted an ear-piercing screech, like the wail of a ghost.


    On the bone eagle''s back was a skeleton knight clad in terrifying plate armor. Through its helmet, one could see the burning malicious light in the knight''s eye sockets, filled with boundless hatred for the living¡ªit was a Death Knight!


    "Intruders!"


    "I''ll¡ªkill you all!"


    The knight in the sky let out a hoarse voice, diving rapidly towards the ground.


    Alger stared fixedly at the Bone Eagle Knight, murmuring, "Old Wald..."


    Old Wald had been Alger''s instructor back when he was in the Northwind Eagle Guards, the man who had taught him all his skills.


    Wald Chris, known for his outstanding service to the Rackman Duchy, had achieved great feats on eagle-back, but ultimately requested to serve as an instructor for the next generation of Eagle Guards.


    Now, this loyal Old Wald had taken Alger''s place, transformed into a Death Knight by the Duke, eternally patrolling Rackman Castle atop the bone eagle, mindlessly guarding the Duke he swore loyalty to.


    "I''ll let you rest in peace..."


    "Annoying old man."


    Alger gripped his great sword firmly, silently vowing in his heart.

 Chapter 65 Ascension Ritual (I)

    The Bone Eagle shrieked in the sky as the Death Knight raced across the ground.The eagle''s beak spewed countless Hellfire Beads, causing repeated explosions on the ground. The corrosive, ghostly green flames spread, devouring life at the slightest touch, turning the earth into a semblance of Hell.


    "This place¡ªforbids the living!"


    Old Wald hovered in the air, wielding his Eagle Shriek Silver Sword. Decayed skeletons crawled out of the earth, summoned by this Undead Commander, surrounding the unexpected intruders from all directions.


    Mezulash raised his blood-stained Great Sword high, his pitch-black eyes flickering with a ghostly light.


    [Oathbreaker Guiding Divine Power: Control Undead]


    A dense fog of darkness erupted from the Great Sword, taking control of all the surrounding skeletons and making them turn against their master.


    The players unleashed various Radiance and Flame Spells, easily destroying the fragile skeletal undead creatures.


    Alger stared intently at the Death Knight circling in the air.


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    Those movements and techniques were all too familiar to him. Even though Old Wald had become a Death Knight, Alger could still recognize the traces of his former self.


    A scarlet bond appeared in his hand.


    With a loud eagle shriek, the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, Eagle, materialized out of thin air.


    This was the new trait attained by the Red Scale Conqueror upon reaching the tenth level¡ª[Dragon Vein Connection]. It allowed him to summon his mount anytime, anywhere through the essence of Dragon Blood Magic.


    Alger mounted the giant eagle and whispered, "Come, Wald Chris, my old instructor."


    "Let me see if your skills have dulled since becoming this wretched thing."


    "Screech¡ª"


    With another resonant eagle shriek, the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle spread its wings and soared, swiftly gaining altitude, its aura no less intimidating than the terrifying bone eagle cloaked in ghostly flames.


    The Death Knight circling high above naturally noticed this rapidly approaching enemy and unhesitatingly charged forward.


    "Despicable living..."


    His bones creaked audibly.


    Alger and Wald circled each other in the sky, testing each other repeatedly.


    Turning, rolling, climbing, diving¡ªtheir actions in controlling their giant eagles had become instinctual, as if cast from the same mold, though Alger''s maneuvers were notably more aggressive, often featuring daring flashes of brilliance.


    Blazing flames and ghostly green fire intertwined, making the sky-bound duel of the two knights a spectacle of fleeting silhouettes and bursts of light.


    "Not bad."


    Alger panted, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his tone slightly excited. "Old Wald, you still got it."


    His half-dragon body bore numerous wounds, the dark mist of necrosis slowly corroding the injuries.


    "Despicable living¡ªdie¡ª"


    The Death Knight Wald was in no better condition, his plate armor shattered, revealing cracked bones, with ghostly flames flickering as they healed his wounds.


    They slowly ascended, then dove toward each other.


    This was the final charging duel.


    Both gripped their long swords tightly, leaning forward, their diving postures nearly identical. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But just as they were less than ten meters apart, Alger and the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle simultaneously let out a fearsome roar.


    [Dragon''s Roar Charge]


    This Dragon''s Roar carried the essence of magic, instilling fear even in undead creatures.


    An immense Red Dragon illusion seemed to rise above them.


    "Dragon..."


    The Death Knight momentarily lost focus.


    His bone eagle also froze in terror.


    Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Alger struck decisively.


    "Downward Slash!"


    Using the momentum of the rapid dive, the half-dragon knight slashed down.


    With a crisp sound, the Everburning Greatsword easily severed the Death Knight''s neck bones, sending the head, burning with malevolent light, flying high before dimming.


    His bone eagle also lost its undead essence, its ghostly flames extinguished, its body turning into a mundane skeleton, with bones falling from the sky.


    Alger gracefully landed on the ground with his giant eagle.


    He casually dug a small pit in the ground, buried the cracked skull, covered it with soil, and stamped it down.


    "Rest in peace, pitiful old man."


    "I will kill that old vampire."


    Alger muttered to himself, eyes fixed on the heavy, intricately carved door of Rackman Castle.


    ¡­


    In the depths of Rackman Castle.


    The space here was extraordinarily vast, unlike the interior of a building, more like an immense underground world.


    Bats fluttered in the darkness, rats scurried in the shadows, and blood slaves howled in agony from iron cages.


    At the center of this underground world stood a massive stone platform, a hundred meters in diameter, inscribed with twisted, eerie runes, surrounded by bottomless abysses.


    Encircling the stone platform were seven tall stone pillars, each adorned with devilish carvings. Every pillar had a vampire variant bound with iron chains soaked in blood.


    They resembled sinners of religious myth, bound naked to the pillars, bearing strange tattoos on their backs.


    Their faces wore expressions of fanatical fervor, chanting wicked hymns.


    Even Alexia, the eldest daughter of the Rackman Family, was bound to one of the pillars, her ornate dress removed, exposing her pale, beautiful form.


    Yet, the scene bore no trace of eroticism, instead emanating a sense of bloody, eerie horror.


    She whispered softly, "On the day of the full moon..."


    "Bats rejoice, sick rats sing."


    "Blood mist covers the sky, shadows overflow."


    "Daylight will tremble, eternal night will descend."


    "He will become the immortal monarch of the night!"


    "He will become the eternal master of darkness!"


    "Let our blood boil within His body, let us embrace the great Ascension!"


    The sound of bats'' wings flapping filled the air.


    Brad Rackman emerged from the tunnel''s end, not taking the stairs but instead floating upward, slowly ascending to the stone platform.


    His crimson eyes brimming with endless greed and anticipation, he recited like a poet in ecstasy.


    "Finally..."


    "After lurking in the darkness for a hundred and seventy-two long years, at last, the hardships are over."


    "Ascension, once achieved, will render all obstacles insignificant, even giant dragons will not halt my progress."


    "My children..."


    Duke Brad gazed adoringly at the naked vampire variants bound to the pillars, his eyes filled with undisguised, twisted affection. In a sense, he genuinely loved them.


    They were both his offspring.


    And the fuel for his ascension.


    Duke Brad''s brow furrowed slightly, as if recalling something.


    "It''s a pity... Todd didn''t return."

 Chapter 66 Ascension Ritual (Part 2)

    According to the contract of the "Voice of the Night," the Vampire Ascension Ritual had extremely cumbersome requirements.In addition to sacrificing one thousand six hundred and seventy-four vampire variants to the great evil entity, seven meticulously cultivated variants were required, each serving the Lord of Sin and symbolizing the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust.


    As the master, the vampire needed to genuinely "love" these variants.


    When the ritual commenced, the power and blood within these variants would flow into the main body and be absorbed by the vampire.


    For example, Alexia symbolized Pride.


    Duke Brad sent his youngest son, Todd Rackman, to Sgurr Town, hoping he could become the embodiment of Envy in that remote little place, ultimately becoming the perfect feast for his Ascension Ritual.


    However, before he could enjoy this supreme honor, Ramp turned him into a pile of meat mush through a series of experiments.


    "Damn Red Dragon¡­" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thinking of this, Duke Brad gritted his teeth even harder.


    "I must find another special variant to replace Todd''s position, and it''s best if it''s a spellcaster."


    During the vampire''s ascension, not only would the blood be drained, but the variant''s entire abilities, including spellcasting abilities, would be absorbed. That''s why he painstakingly trained Todd to become a mage.


    "Spellcasters¡­"


    Duke Brad pondered for a moment. He suddenly remembered the disrespectful vampire variant he captured not long ago, who seemed to be a trickster with a high affinity for dark powers.


    "Isn''t that just ready-made?"


    Thinking of this, a smile curled on his lips¡ªa very interesting prey that had now fallen into his control.


    Duke Brad enjoyed this feeling of being high above and in control of everything. He relished the struggles of his prey, especially loving to see their faces fall into despair.


    For a vampire who had long lost his sense of taste, it was like sweet, mellow wine.


    Duke Brad could not help but lick his lips.


    "To watch such an unruly human, seeing himself controlled and become a sacrifice without being able to resist, should be a most wonderful thing,"


    "I''m really looking forward to it¡­"


    A gleam of expectation flashed in Duke Brad''s scarlet pupils, looking grotesque and horrifying.


    ...


    "For the great Ascension¡­"


    The Swashbuckler stood in the iron cage, mimicking the mindless blood slaves, and murmured softly, "For the great Ascension¡­"


    The "Rebel Crest" was secretly hidden under his tongue, making it impossible for the guards searching his body to discover it.


    Watching the blood mist gradually spread in the air and the sacrificial array flickering with ghostly light inside the iron cage, the Swashbuckler felt like crying but had no tears, thinking to himself: "Damn, am I really going to be sacrificed¡­"


    Suddenly, a powerful pressure emanated from the bloodline.


    The blood slaves all fell to the ground, licking the floor like devout zealots.


    The Swashbuckler also knelt down.


    To become stronger, he could even endure the humiliation beneath his crotch.


    Wasn''t it just a kneel?


    He endured it!


    But his eyes were sneaking a glance at the uninvited guest.


    The visitor had pale skin, scarlet eyes, and wore a luxurious black robe trimmed with gold¡ªthat was Duke Brad Rackman.


    The Swashbuckler''s heart leaped with joy, thinking, "This old man finally came!"


    But Duke Brad''s gaze swept over him, making him quickly lower his head, not daring to make a sound.


    "Very good, the strength is still abundant."


    Duke Brad smiled with satisfaction.


    He slightly raised his hand, and with the sound of wings flapping, hundreds of bats surged from the darkness, forming a huge hand that wrapped around the Swashbuckler, carrying him out of the iron cage.


    His cloak slightly opened, and his whole body floated upwards.


    Soon, they arrived at the stone platform for the ritual.


    The bats dispersed, and the Swashbuckler''s vision was no longer pitch black. He immediately saw the variants bound to the stone pillars, his eyes widening in shock.


    Ordinary people would feel immense fear in such an environment, but the Swashbuckler''s thought process was evidently different, and his focus was somewhat peculiar.


    As an experienced old lecher, he immediately noticed the Duke''s eldest daughter, Alexia Rackman, who was entirely naked, with her snow-white body exposed.


    "Damn, playing it this big?"


    "And there''s no Holy Light?!"


    "No, Swashbuckler, Swashbuckler, you cannot let beauty blind your eyes."


    "You''re a man aiming to become the King of Games!"


    Thinking of this, he forcefully moved his gaze away, continuing to pretend to be controlled. Fortunately, Duke Brad was still gazing at his masterpiece with indulgence, not noticing anything amiss.


    During this moment, he also saw Yeno Rackman, similarly bound to the stone pillar, who symbolized "Sloth" among the Seven Deadly Sins.


    "It hurts the eye."


    The Swashbuckler sighed inwardly.


    At this moment, Duke Brad turned his head to look at the Swashbuckler, a scarlet gleam flashing in his eyes.


    "What''s your name?"


    "Swashbuckler."


    Swashbuckler answered honestly.


    Afraid his disguise would be seen through, he feared getting killed on the spot by the vampire duke before achieving anything.


    Fortunately, Duke Brad did not find anything unusual, only curling his lips and saying softly:


    "Strange name¡­ but it doesn''t matter. From now on, your name is Todd Rackman. You are my youngest son, who has been banished to the outskirts. You are insanely jealous of your siblings, understand?"


    "Now, let me ask again, who are you?"


    "I''m Todd Rackman, your neglected youngest son."


    "Very good, say it again."


    The Swashbuckler complied physically, but in his mind, he cursed the old vampire''s ancestors. He had seen people recognizing their fathers, but never assigning themselves as someone''s son!


    "Who wants to be your darn son, old lamp!"


    The Swashbuckler roared inwardly, but outwardly, he obediently said: "I''m Todd Rackman, your neglected youngest son. I''m jealous of my siblings."


    "Very good."


    Duke Brad nodded slightly.


    He observed the puppet-like Swashbuckler, rubbing his chin, frowning and pondering.


    "Simply letting this variant replace Todd''s identity doesn''t seem enough to make me feel ''love'' for it."


    Duke Brad was a complete monster, able to forcefully manufacture a twisted, perverse kind of "love" to achieve his goals.


    Though he could deliberately guide and control, he couldn''t freely manufacture emotions.


    "The body and emotions are deeply entwined."


    "In the eyes of mortals, the ultimate carnal desire seems to naturally produce love, so¡­"


    Duke Brad looked at the Swashbuckler again, his scarlet pupils revealing a strange gleam and an inexplicable desire.


    The Swashbuckler immediately felt a chill, a bad premonition surfacing in his mind.


    Though his expression did not change, alarm bells were ringing in his head.


    "Wait, what the heck is this old Biden planning on doing?!"

 Chapter 67 Ascension Ritual (3)

    Duke Brad squinted his eyes, slowly closing in."Rejoice, enjoy all of this, you lowly creature, this will be the greatest honor of your life."


    "Don''t worry, it will be over soon."


    It seemed that Brad Rackman had never tasted such prey before, as he even licked his lips expectantly, the scent of blood almost blowing into Swashbuckler''s face.


    Swashbuckler frantically screamed in his heart: "Damn, is Eight Hook''s so-called Lord of the Night this deep dark?"


    A terrifying thought suddenly popped into his mind.


    "Am I going to be the first player in history to get screwed over by an NPC?!"


    "Where''s the healthy game system?"


    "Come out and take care of this!"


    "Save me!"


    However, at that moment, Duke Brad had already forcefully embraced him, his pallid fingers, like old tree bark, brushing against his neck.


    He gently blew on Swashbuckler''s earlobe.


    "Come on..."


    "Fall into joy and lust."


    "And finally, become my nourishment..."


    Swashbuckler''s expression changed instantly.


    As an old pervert who hadn''t even held a girl''s hand, now he was about to lose his innocence to this centuries-old freak!


    He gritted his teeth, determination in his eyes.


    A nobleman can be killed but not humiliated!


    Some things are intolerable!


    He couldn''t stand it any longer and decided to take down this perverted old freak!


    "I can''t take it anymore, I''ll bite you to death, you damn scumbag!"


    While Duke Brad was still lost in his own world, Swashbuckler fiercely bit down on his unguarded neck.


    This bite was filled with the anger of nearly being screwed over!


    Sharp canine teeth pierced the skin, sinking into the blood vessel.


    Thick blood flowed into Swashbuckler''s mouth, tasting like sewage, making him want to gag.


    But the constant source of evil energy within that blood also entered Swashbuckler''s body.


    At that moment, as a derivative, Swashbuckler drank the blood of the vampire''s main body, completely freeing himself from Duke Brad''s control, becoming a true vampire!


    "You deceitful creature! You tricked me!"


    "You are a rebel!"


    Duke Brad''s expression changed drastically as dark waves spread across him, instantly sending the blood-sucking Swashbuckler flying ten meters.


    He raised his hand, and the blood mist in the air condensed into a twisted hand, gripping him tightly.


    Seeing that things had gotten out of control, Duke Brad''s scarlet eyes were filled with endless rage. He straightened his blood-soaked lapel and shouted angrily:


    "You filthy creature, you could have chosen to die in ecstasy, honored to be the nourishment for the great Ascension..."


    "But now, you''ve chosen the most painful death!"


    "Ptooey, that''s disgusting."


    Swashbuckler struggled in midair, spitting a mouthful of blood at Duke Brad.


    "Ecstasy, Bull Demon special offer!"


    "Couldn''t you use a seduction tactic? I would''ve tolerated it. At least turn into a beautiful woman, that I could barely accept. Or turn into a cute boy, I would struggle for a bit before giving in.


    You''re an old vampire freak who hasn''t bathed in centuries, your skin is all wrinkled like tree bark, almost rotting and stinking, in our world that''s called Giant''s View, you could dig a hole and use it to breed maggots. If you touch me, I''ll get goosebumps all over, you know¡­"


    Seeing no chance of escape, the already triggered Swashbuckler completely dropped his facade, hurling verbal abuse intensely, saliva flying everywhere.


    Duke Brad grew even more furious, the blood mist hand gripping even tighter, causing Swashbuckler''s body to emit creaking sounds as if his bones were about to be crushed.


    "Damn you, mortal!"


    "How could you possibly understand¡ª"


    "My body is perfect, it is immortal!"


    Swashbuckler, already squeezed into a ball and distorted beyond recognition, still managed to say: "Immortal, my ass¡­ Wait for Ashen Nest¡­ They''ll turn you into barbecue¡­" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But your¡­ old meat¡­ is worse than¡­ sick pig¡­ wouldn''t pass¡­ food safety inspection¡­"


    Duke Brad, though not understanding exactly what Swashbuckler was saying, knew it wasn''t anything good. He laughed angrily.


    "Mortal, you''ve angered me."


    "I''ve changed my mind, I won''t kill you. I''ll keep you as my sacrifice, to helplessly witness my great ascension."


    However, Swashbuckler paid no mind, already in a ranting state. At that moment, his mind was filled with the vilest insults, with no room for anything else.


    "Witness¡­ Bull Demon¡­ special offer¡­"


    "I''ll slap you¡­ see if you still¡­ act crazy¡­"


    "Your¡­ mom¡­ is¡­ dead¡­"


    "What a filthy, foul mouth."


    Duke Brad waved his hand, and a bat flew from the darkness, clinging to Swashbuckler''s face, its dirty wings gagging him.


    Duke Brad''s determination was terrifying, his hatred reaching an extreme that twisted into a bizarre "affection".


    "Witness it, tremble!"


    "You all shall become my sustenance, and I shall achieve immortality!"


    He slowly walked forward, carving intricate runes into Swashbuckler''s back with a delicate dagger, blood constantly dripping from the marks.


    "Mmm¡­ mmm¡­"


    Swashbuckler tried to speak, but the bat clung tightly to his face, completely blocking his mouth.


    "It''s done."


    "The last sacrifice."


    Brad Rackman gently raised his hand, causing Swashbuckler to float midair, slamming his back against a pillar symbolizing "Jealousy".


    The blood-soaked iron chains wrapped around his body like a python, layer after layer, leaving no chance for escape or struggle.


    The blood of the vampire derivatives flowed steadily.


    Gradually filling the eerie patterns on the stone platform, creating a massive blood array.


    Swashbuckler, unable to move, bound to the pillar, thought to himself: "This is probably it, this old freak is too strong, but at least I kept my dignity."


    "Thank goodness no other players saw this."


    "Or I''d be the laughingstock of the forums."


    Swashbuckler secretly rejoiced.


    But what he didn''t know was that players had already been watching invisibly at the entrance for a long time, struggling to hold back their laughter, with Mantou''s face even turning red.


    These elite players were professional enough to remain silent, fearing they would be discovered by the boss.


    However, the player forum was still active.


    The forum was instantly flooded with new posts.


    "Shocking! Swashbuckler got screwed!"


    "Swashbuckler and the old priest''s 45-second video."


    "Top secret footage! Swashbuckler and the Vampire Duke''s unspeakable secret!"


    "Swashbuckler spews nonsense! Is it a twist of human nature or a collapse of morality!"


    At that moment, clueless Swashbuckler, thinking he was lucky, was unaware that the true disaster was about to strike, making him the first player in game history to nearly get screwed.

 Chapter 68 Ascension Ritual (IV)

    "Bats celebrate, sick rats sing.""Blood mist covers the sky, shadows overflow."


    "Daylight dreads its arrival, eternal night descends."


    The vampire variants on the stone pillars were still chanting. As time went by, their voices gradually turned into wails.


    Blood gradually filled the patterns on the stone platform, activating the strange and evil array. In the bunker, the arrays in the hundreds of iron cages emitted a bloody glow.


    The blood light connected those variants to Duke Brad. The evil power surged into his body through the blood light.


    "Ascension. How absolutely delightful."


    Duke Brad raised his arms, seeming to embrace the imminent power.


    He slowly closed his eyes. Despite his undying essence not needing to breathe, he still took a deep breath, savoring the inviting scent of blood in the air.


    Duke Brad''s expression suddenly stiffened.


    "Wait..."


    "I think I smell... unfamiliar blood."


    "It seems there is a group of vile rats hiding in my castle."


    Duke Brad opened his eyes, his crimson pupils filled with endless rage.


    "Come out¡ª"


    "You are courting death!"


    Duke Brad floated in mid-air, his cloak billowing without wind, and thick blood mist surrounded him.


    This old vampire would not let anyone interfere with the ascension he had planned for centuries!


    Seeing that they were exposed, the commander of the operation, Mezulash, raised his blood-stained great sword and shouted loudly.


    "Attack!"


    His usually calm face now showed excitement, and even his voice trembled slightly.


    His wife and children''s tragic deaths, the wanton slaughter of thousands of his people, ten years of hardship and wandering...


    Now, the final conclusion was finally approaching.


    "Kill him!"


    Mezulash charged forward.


    At the entrance of the passage, the players did not expect to be discovered in this way, causing immediate chaos.


    [Crimson Duke¡ªBrad Rackman]


    Basic abilities: ???


    Challenge level: ??? (Extremely dangerous!)


    The red panel, representing danger and hostility, appeared before everyone.


    Yet, being a group of elite players, after a brief moment of panic, they steadfastly executed the preplanned tactics.


    "He found us!"


    "Mage master, cast your spells!"


    "Leave it to me!"


    Charlotte raised the carved wooden staff, the vine at the top glowing with a magical aura.


    [Cloud Mist Technique]


    In an instant of casting the spell, Charlotte lost her invisibility and was revealed in her true form. However, thick mist swiftly enveloped the platform where the vampire stood.


    Meanwhile, the bard player "Flying Guitar" played his violin. As the strings trembled, not only did a melodious tune float out, but it also caused ripples in the magic web. This was the bard''s artistic way of casting spells.


    [Sorcery of Wraithfire]


    Demonic fire attached to the vampire''s body, outlining its figure with a violet glow, clearly visible even through the thick mist.


    The vice president of the Royal Guild, Fengyun, also waved his magic wand.


    [Tidal Surge Wave]


    With his movement, a wave surged toward the vampire. This spell was specifically designed to target the vampire''s "Wounding Water" weakness.


    At the same time, several mages and sorcerers cast spells together. Hypnotic patterns, rainbow sprays, and charming monsters as control spells bombarded the vampire. Scorching rays, magic missiles, fireball techniques, lightning, radiance, flames, and force fields created a dazzling display of spell lights directed at the figure outlined by the violet glow within the mist.


    The martial monks, warriors, paladins, and barbarians among the melee players charged into the mist, following the glow of the demonic fire to launch their attacks.


    Steel Torrent also summoned his newly built guardian mecha, frantically pouring bullets while raising a shield to charge at the vampire.


    Mezulash, leading the charge, already carried his blood-stained great sword to the front, excitement in his pure black eyes, anticipating his pending revenge.


    But before they could get close, a low voice echoed in the bunker.


    "Pathetic ants..."


    "Do you really think you can oppose me?"


    With a terrifying shockwave, a bloody current erupted, dispersing the thick mist.


    Faced with the dozens of colorful spell radiances and the rain of arrows, flying knives, and even bullets from afar, Duke Brad merely smirked, his body transforming into a blur of blood mist, which then dispersed suddenly.


    In an instant, lightning, radiance, and flames intersected, flying knives, arrows, and bullets whizzed through the air, but all hit nothing.


    The group looked around, unable to find the vampire anymore.


    Only a faint blood mist lingered in the air.


    "Let the blood boil in His body..."


    "Let us embrace the great ascension..."


    Yet, the vampire variants kept chanting, with the bloody light still flashing.


    Clearly, it was far from over.


    Suddenly, Duke Brad''s raspy voice echoed in the dark underground world. The sound was erratic, seeming to come from everywhere.


    "Foolish mortals."


    "Your attacks are utterly laughable."


    "For I am everywhere..."


    "I once swept across the land like divine wrath, but I gave all that up for immortality."


    The voice grew more intense, causing an inner trembling in anyone who heard it.


    "And now, I am immortality; I am the darkness! I shall become the monarch of eternal night! And you all are mere fodder on my path to ascension!"


    Everyone present felt their blood boil, as if it wished to break free from its bodily confines and escape.


    The blood mist in the air churned and swirled, forming a massive vortex, eventually reconsolidating into a human shape above the stone platform.


    At this moment, Brad Rackman had shed his luxurious attire and donned a robe of red and black. He floated high above, his crimson-glowing eyes disdainfully and coldly look down on everyone on the platform.


    He raised his hand gently.


    In mid-air, the blood mist formed two giant blood-colored hands.


    Steel Torrent raised the gun on his armored left arm to fire upward, but the giant hand wrapped around the four-meter-tall armor, squeezing it and crushing it, along with the pilot inside.


    The once formidable mech now lay as wreckage on the ground, while the pilot''s blood was absorbed into the blood mist, making it thicker and more intense.


    "Fresh blood..." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A trace of intoxication and satisfaction appeared on Duke Brad''s pale face.


    "Run, wail..."


    "I will thoroughly enjoy this moment."


    With the vampires'' eerie chanting, Duke Brad played with the blood mist, hunting down the players, effortlessly killing them and absorbing their blood, driving them to their wits'' end.


    In just a few minutes, over a dozen players met their end, all elite fighters.


    "Damn, the guild leader got one-shot again!"


    "How are we supposed to fight this?"


    "This boss''s damage is insane¡ª"


    "Can someone cast Flight Magic for me? I want to try engaging up close."


    Meshlaf swung his sword, dispersing the blood mist. Glaring at the vampire in the air, he muttered, "No, he''s absorbing power, getting stronger."


    "We must stop him."


    Mezulash looked towards a dark corner, a peculiar light in his pure black pupils.

 Chapter 69 Ascension Ritual (5)

    "Ahhhh¡ª¡ª"The Natural War Maniac roared angrily and stomped to activate his Frenzy.


    "Die!"


    His eyes turned bloodshot, and with the help of Flight Magic, he leaped high and swung his Great Axe fiercely at the Vampire in the air.


    Duke Brad sneered contemptuously.


    "Ridiculous struggle."


    A blood mist churned in the air, forming a gigantic blood-red maw that swallowed the Natural War Maniac whole, draining every drop of his blood, leaving only a dried and shriveled husk that fell to the ground.


    Just as the Natural War Maniac died, several wooden arrows swiftly shot towards the Vampire''s heart.


    "Whoosh¡ª¡ª"


    It turned out the Natural War Maniac was only a distraction, while Singo''s heart-targeting wooden arrows were the real attack strategy.


    "Crack."


    However, those arrows were easily caught by a pair of pale hands and then snapped effortlessly.


    "How is this possible..."


    Singo muttered to himself. He hadn''t expected this boss to be so exaggeratedly strong, not only having powerful Spell Abilities but also unbelievable physical strength.


    "Pathetic rats."


    A sinister smile appeared on Duke Brad''s face as he spoke.


    "I was once the mightiest general in all of Anzeta. I rode a Giant Eagle into battle, unrivaled wherever I went."


    "And now, I am something far more noble."


    "You¡ª¡ª"


    "think you can be my opponents?"


    Duke Brad slowly descended. Blood mist and countless shadowy hands surrounded him.


    [Vampire''s Touch]


    Anyone entangled by those shadowy hands suffered unimaginable Necrosis damage, their Vitality drained rapidly.


    That Vitality surged within the shadowy tendrils and eventually flowed into Duke Brad''s body, nourishing him.


    "Priest, give me a heal!"


    "Cast an Acceleration Spell on me!"


    The Tyrant shouted to Fengyun.


    But before he could finish, a black tendril rose from the ground and wrapped around him tightly, turning his muscular body into a dried husk in an instant.


    "I need a chance to cast a¡ª"


    Charlotte hadn''t finished speaking before the blood mist engulfed him from behind, then enveloped him entirely.


    Singo stood at the edge of the stone platform, bow drawn and arrow ready, aiming again at the Vampire, but black tendrils rose from the ground and wrapped around him, dragging him into the endless Abyss below. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    The players were desperately running, dodging the terrifying blood mist and tendrils, while Duke Brad leisurely paced back and forth in the center of the stone platform.


    "I am the Lord of Darkness."


    "I am the Monarch of the Night."


    "Entering here was the greatest mistake of your lives!"


    His voice was hoarse and low, like the grim announcement of a night reaper, mercilessly declaring the fate of the crowd.


    Countless bats and rats surged from the darkness, obeying the commands of the Monarch of the Night, attacking them in waves. Some players were gnawed to pieces by thousands of rats.


    "Supreme Holy Slash!"


    Mezulash swung his blood-glowing sword, cutting off the shadow tendrils attacking from behind. The Guardian Aura around him blocked the encroaching blood mist.


    He lifted his blood-stained Great Sword high.


    [Oathbreaker Guiding Divine Power: Terror Manifestation]


    An aura of magical intimidation gathered and erupted, dispelling the approaching rats and bats.


    Mezulash stared intently, pointing the sword''s tip at the Duke.


    "I will kill you, Vampire."


    His pitch-black eyes were wide open, emitting a cold light filled with frenzied hatred, like a ghostly fire, making Duke Brad''s heart skip a beat.


    Duke Brad pretended to ponder for a moment, then suddenly revealed a playful smile.


    "Oh? I remember you."


    "Leader of the Child of the Devil, pitiful scapegoat."


    "Tsk, your wailing and cries lasted for three days and three nights back then, bringing me immense joy, while my righteous and brave people vented their fury, soaking Northwind Castle with Tiefling blood, even filling the moat with flowing blood." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Duke Brad''s tone was light, as if recounting a delightful anecdote.


    "However, it was not a waste. Your kinsmen died valuably, granting me the opportunity for the great Ascension."


    "Everything was perfect, except for the one regret of letting you escape."


    "But now... that regret will be mended."


    Duke Brad curled his lips into a smile, a hint of crimson flashing in his eyes.


    He enjoyed seeing the despair and pain in the eyes of these mortals. Clearly, Mezulash was just such a presence, and he would personally extinguish the Tiefling''s hope for revenge.


    "I will kill you."


    "Kill you..."


    Mezulash swung his sword again and again, cutting off the shadow tendrils that kept attacking, struggling to advance to within ten meters of Duke Brad.


    Wounds exuding Necrosis smoke continuously appeared on his body, with the evil forces greedily devouring his Vitality, but Mezulash remained expressionless, paying no heed.


    The image of his family struggling in the flames seemed to appear before his eyes. The souls of countless dead kinsmen seemed to appear before him, shouting in unison.


    "Kill him."


    Duke Brad watched the Tiefling gradually close in, his pale face filled with excitement.


    "Yes, that''s it, strong will, lost reason, feeling the hope of revenge."


    "Only to be utterly cast into the abyss by me in the end..."


    He eagerly licked his lips. This kind of despairing blood required careful nurturing, as sweet as the finest wine.

 Chapter 69 Ascension Ritual (5)_2

    "Come on, kill me, Child of the Devil.""Hahaha, do you want revenge? To slay your mortal enemy?"


    Duke Brad spread his hands nonchalantly.


    Mezulash charged forward, swinging with all his might. The longsword, glowing with a scarlet hue, slashed toward the vampire''s neck.


    The only sound was the sword slicing through flesh.


    Duke Brad did not dodge, allowing the longsword to cut deep into the flesh of his neck.


    Blood splattered instantly.


    It even sprayed onto Mezulash''s face.


    However, Duke Brad merely gripped the blade tightly with his hand and pulled it out forcefully. As the blood-stained sword was drawn out, the wound on his neck healed at a visible speed, restoring to its original state.


    He toyed with the blood-stained sword in his hand.


    "Good, try harder."


    "But this level of attack is not enough to kill me; after all, I am an undying existence."


    A smile appeared on Duke Brad''s face. He eagerly anticipated seeing that familiar, desperate, regretful, and fearful expression on Mezulash''s face.


    Yet, Mezulash showed none of it.


    The previous rage seemed only a facade.


    The Tiefling''s expression instead became calm. His pitch-black eyes stared at the vampire before him: "Long ago, perhaps seven years, I started thinking about how to kill you."


    "You are powerful, almost without weakness."


    "But you are too arrogant, despising all mortals, even... your enemies."


    "What?"


    The blood-stained sword flickered with a strong magical aura; it was a spell ingrained in the sword that Mezulash had searched all of Anzeta for years to find, one capable of controlling vampires¡ª


    [Ottu Dance]


    Due to the spell''s influence, Duke Brad began to sway and dance in place, kicking his feet in a ridiculous manner.


    But Mezulash did not dare to relax in the slightest because he knew the mighty vampire before him could break free from the spell''s restraint at any moment.


    "Alger!"


    Mezulash shouted loudly.


    At this moment, the two former enemies joined forces to face this terrifying adversary.


    A loud eagle''s cry echoed from the darkness as Alger, who had been lurking, revealed his presence for the first time.


    He descended rapidly, holding a wooden spear soaked in holy water.


    Alger''s once-human eyes, now dragon-like and golden, burned with an endless fury, ready to unleash. The former Alger had long died; what remained was the claw of the evil dragons, the Red Scale Conqueror, born for revenge.


    He would slay the vampire who had wrought untold suffering.


    He would end all these tragedies.


    "Swish¡ª"


    The wooden spear pierced through the flesh with a sound, penetrating from the vampire''s back and stabbing through the heart that should have ceased to beat but still held boundless evil power.


    The holy water on the wooden spear seared the vampire''s chest, emitting a hissing sound.


    Brad Rackman was pinned to the ground by the wooden spear, his head lowered, blood flowing from the wound, and the Ottu Dance steps ceased abruptly.


    "Huff... huff..."


    "Mezulash, is it over just like that?"


    Alger, riding his giant eagle, landed on the ground, still panting from the intense tension and excitement, breathing out sulfur-scented breaths.


    "I''m afraid it is far from over."


    "Listen."


    Mezulash gazed at the seemingly dead vampire, his brows furrowed, and his voice heavy.


    Alger immediately became alert, pulling out his Everburning Greatsword, looking around warily for any threat.


    "He is everywhere..."


    "Let our blood boil within his body..."


    "Let us embrace the great Ascension..."


    The chanting of the Vampire Variants continued, becoming increasingly mournful and tragic.


    The heavy chains still bound them, the blood light still connected them to Duke Brad, and even the evil array beneath them showed a peculiar sense of liveliness.


    Suddenly, a tall and hefty Vampire Variant on the stone pillar exploded, turning into filthy, viscous blood.


    In death, he was still murmuring: "I will attain eternal life within his immortal body!"


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    That was Traviv Rackman, the Duke''s second son, famously obese, a symbol of gluttony.


    Following that, the blood foam flowed along the blood light into Brad Rackman''s body, his previously gaunt body becoming tall and strong¡ªhe had absorbed Traviv Rackman''s constitution.


    Finally, the worst fear of Mezulash and Alger was realized.


    He revived.


    Or rather, he had never died.


    The wooden spear quivered with Brad''s body.


    A deep voice reverberated within the fortress.


    "Hahaha..."


    "Such immense strength."


    "Centuries of hibernation for this moment..."


    Duke Brad, who had appeared lifeless, began to stand up slowly, forcibly pulling out the wooden spear from his chest.


    And as he pulled, flesh rapidly filled the wound. By the time the wooden spear was completely removed, the hole in his chest had healed entirely. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By then, having absorbed the Ascension Sacrifice, he had lost the vampire''s weakness of "Wooden Stake Heart Piercing," becoming a truly undying monster.


    Duke Brad grinned, revealing a smile.


    "Thank goodness, this power did not disappoint me."


    As he said this, his body had already swollen to three meters tall, now looking down on Alger and Mezulash, his crimson eyes filled with greed.


    He sniffed the blood in the air, recognizing his former subordinate.


    "Oh? It''s you."


    "Alger Yorman, my once most trusted hound, I thought you had perished on Stormy Ridge. I intended to turn you into an undying existence, serving me for eternity. Unfortunately, you missed that wonderful opportunity."


    "But, you''re just a dog. How dare you... bite back at your master?"


    Alger''s half-dragon, half-human face instantly twisted with rage, his golden eyes burning with fury.


    "Brad Rackman, you destroyed everything I had."


    "I will kill you!"


    Duke Brad approached unhurriedly, his presence exuding intense oppression.


    "You know?"


    "Poor little thing, I wanted to tell you the truth before turning you. If only I could have seen your agony then... I would have been utterly delighted."


    "You!"


    Mezulash severed the attacking dark tendrils, shouting sharply: "Don''t let him provoke you, go destroy those Variants, or his power will only grow stronger!"


    Alger came to his senses, flipping onto the giant eagle.


    However, it was too late. A sensual Vampire Variant on the stone pillar exploded, becoming filthy, viscous blood.


    In dying moments, she moaned loudly: "I will be satisfied in his eternal desire!"


    That was Lilannie Rackman, the Duke''s second daughter, a symbol of lust.


    The blood foam once again flowed along the blood light into Brad Rackman''s body. His crimson eyes flickered with seductive colors, now seeming like the embodiment of desire¡ªhe had absorbed Lilannie Rackman''s charisma.


    Duke Brad gazed at Alger.


    "Your struggle is amusing."


    "Since that''s the case, be reborn as my eternal hound, Alger."


    His crimson eyes glimmered with enchanting Magical Aura.


    [Domination of Humans]


    "No!"


    Alger roared.


    He closed his eyes tightly, trying to resist the spell forcibly.


    Despite his strong will, he couldn''t withstand the spell containing the sin of "lust." Alger once again became a puppet, even a marionette, of Duke Brad.


    "Die!"


    Alger''s eyes turned vacant as he swung his Everburning Greatsword towards Mezulash.


    Unarmed, Mezulash could only dodge frantically. However, under Alger''s skilled swordsmanship, he sustained numerous wounds, his expression growing increasingly grave.


    "This cannot go on."


    "But, the master is about to descend."


    He thought thus, while in his hand, he clutched a scarlet crystal stone that had long been shattered.

 Chapter 70 Ascension Ritual (6)

    Duke Brad once again hovered in midair, a blood mist condensed into a crimson cloak, casting a shadow on the stone platform."Struggle, tremble!"


    "You can never escape your destined fate."


    Under the Duke''s command, Alger launched a stormy assault on Mezulash.


    Countless rats and bats surged from the darkness, tireless. Shadows with tentacle-like limbs emerged from the ground, the air filled with chaotic blood mist.


    "Damn vampires..."


    Mezulash casually picked up a longsword from the ground, repelling the attacking bats and rats with a blood-colored sword light. The Guardian Aurora around him flickered, blocking the tentacles and blood mist.


    Under Duke Brad''s control, he couldn''t even get close to those Derivatives, being forced near the passage, watching helplessly as the vampires prepared for another ascension absorption.


    Just when Mezulash was struggling to cope, there was someone sneaking around the edge of the battlefield.


    ¡ªIt was Mantou.


    Mantou huddled in a corner behind a stone pillar, his whole body smeared with Potion to isolate his aura, peeking at the fierce battle on the stone platform.


    "This boss is too tough, even Xin Dog and War Maniac were taken out in an instant."


    "Now, it seems like it''s just me left."


    "But from what Mezulash said, it looks like we need to take down those Derivatives, or else this monster will get even stronger?"


    Mantou scanned the vampire Derivatives bound to the stone pillars. He awkwardly looked away upon seeing the naked Countess, finally fixing his gaze on Swashbuckler, who was also stripped.


    "Let''s get Rogue Beast out of here."


    Mantou stealthily approached, eyeing the blood-stained iron chains, grit his teeth, and swung an axe down.


    "Clang."


    The iron chain broke with a sound.


    Swashbuckler fell from the stone pillar.


    Due to being tightly bound by the chains, his body felt like a pile of mush, seemingly on the verge of death.


    However, Swashbuckler, with his fully vampiric constitution, had his bones emitting creaking sounds, flesh regenerating at a speed visible to the naked eye. He quickly recovered from a state of shattered bones and mangled flesh.


    Watching the outrageous regenerative ability, Mantou exclaimed, "Wow, what the hell is this?"


    "How can you auto-heal so fast?"


    Swashbuckler proudly said, "The Vampire''s [Undying Essence], as long as my weak points aren''t hit, I can auto-heal. Even if my head gets chopped off, I can grow it back!"


    Mantou exclaimed again, "That''s amazing?"


    Remembering something, he patted Swashbuckler''s shoulder meaningfully, "Brother Lang, take care. The price of fate''s gifts has already been marked in the dark since you chose to sell yourself..."


    "You, how did you know..."


    Swashbuckler''s voice trembled, his expression contorted in rage and shame upon hearing Mantou''s words.


    His entire reputation... ruined.


    As they conversed, Duke Brad in the air sensed something unusual. One of the vampire Derivatives, the symbol of "Envy," was missing!


    With the Duke''s wrath, the entire underground world seemed to tremble, echoing with wails.


    "Mortals, you seek your own doom!"


    "How dare you hinder the grand Ascension!"


    In an instant, countless shadowy tentacles rose from the ground, the blood mist boiled like tidewater, and thousands of bats and rats swarmed toward them. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mantou, trembling at the overwhelming attack, said, "Brother Lang, I think we''re done for this time."


    "Brother Lang?"


    He turned, only to find that Swashbuckler had already turned into a thin mist and fled.


    This was the Vampire''s [Mist Escape] ability, a means for the weak Swashbuckler to escape, unlike the vast blood mist Duke Brad had accumulated over centuries.


    "Rogue Beast, you damn¡ª" Mantou was swallowed by Duke''s furious attack, wanting to cry without tears, only able to watch himself black out.


    Even though he risked his life to rescue Swashbuckler, the guy ran off at the first sign of danger, truly living up to the name of a virtual game scoundrel.


    The Duke felt the new blood, his crimson eyes fixed on the distant thin mist.


    "I will catch you, Rebellion."


    "This game of cat and mouse ends here."


    Duke Brad raised his right hand, blood continuously surged on the stone platform, eventually forming a tumultuous blood sea, spreading. This blood sea could take away the life of anyone who touched it.


    The blood sea surged toward Mezulash. This time, he had no escape and had to flee to the entrance passage, with the space to stand growing increasingly smaller.


    "Rebellion, come back to me!"


    "You are part of the grand Ascension!"


    Duke Brad, personally maneuvering the blood mist tornado, summoned countless bats and rats to chase the thin mist form of Swashbuckler.


    The Duke could once easily control Swashbuckler, but now Swashbuckler had fully assimilated the Vampire template''s abilities. With no magical chains and no connection to the Vampire host Derivative, he was hard to capture again as a thin mist.


    Though Swashbuckler''s vampiric strength was weak, his escape capability was more than sufficient, matching the shady creeping attributes of his Vampire template abilities.


    The thin mist darted around the bunker, hiding and dodging, weaving back and forth. If the Duke had a beating heart, his blood pressure would likely be through the roof.


    "Boom¡ª"


    At that moment, space within the bunker rippled, then gradually distorted and cracked. Finally, a flame portal appeared out of thin air.


    A black-haired, golden-eyed dragon vein sorcerer emerged from the portal.


    This time, he had no need to conceal his identity. Red scales appeared on his cheeks, bone dragon horns on his head, and his golden pupils radiated authority.


    With his arrival, the entire underground air seemed to turn hot and restless.


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    "It seems I''m a bit late?"


    Cassius immediately noticed the blood-mist-enshrouded Vampire Duke in the distance.


    [Based on your strength, you can observe the following information]


    [Bloody Duke Brad Rackman]


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: 15 (13000 xp)


    Assessment: Brad Rackman, he was not always named this, possibly Triel or Nax; this secret long ago faded into darkness.


    Two hundred years ago, he returned from the battlefield, witnessing his wife''s death, thus realizing the fragility of mortal life. He began pursuing immortality. Two hundred years later, the awakened vampire from endless nights craved the life he had lost, filling his hunger with the blood of the living.


    "Challenge level fifteen..."


    "In this form, I probably can''t beat him."


    Cassius furrowed his brow. In his human form, he was roughly equivalent to a Level Eleven dragon vein sorcerer, a significant gap from the old vampire''s strength.


    "Time to revert to my true form."

 Chapter 73 Ascension Ritual (7)

    "Roar¡ª¡ª"Tiny fragments of magical aura flickered on the Dragon Vein Sorcerer, and his body expanded rapidly.


    White smoke instantly spread all around him, the scent of sulfur and niter overpowering the heavy stench of blood, making it feel like being at a volcano''s crater. As the smoke dispersed, an eighteen-meter-long red dragon abruptly appeared in the underground world.


    Duke Brad stopped chasing the swashbuckler and looked at the red dragon, his scarlet eyes filled with rage.


    "It was you after all."


    "Damn reptile..."


    "Why, why do you keep getting in my way again and again!"


    For the first time, the Vampire Duke set aside his pride and became serious. After all, the enemy before him was a genuine giant dragon!


    In the Prime Material Plane, no one dared to take a giant dragon lightly, let alone one that was known as Tiamat''s favorite, the leader of the five-colored evil dragons.


    Cassius remained silent and simply spat out a breath of flame.


    "Boom!"


    Scorching flames surged toward the vampire.


    Duke Brad twisted and turned like an agile bat in the air, dodging the attack.


    Under his control, Alger rushed toward the red dragon, his eyes lifeless as he roared and swung his everburning greatsword at his master at that moment.


    "Domination of Humans?"


    Cassius immediately recognized the spell.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The red dragon let out a low growl, and an invisible aura of majesty emanated from his enormous body, causing even Alger''s body and soul to tremble from the suppression of bloodline.


    [Leader''s Aura]


    In an instant, clarity returned to Alger''s eyes.


    Cassius paid no attention to the still somewhat disoriented Alger. Instead, he flapped his wings and charged forward with an unstoppable momentum, letting out a heart-stopping dragon''s roar.


    "Damn reptile."


    Watching the approaching red dragon, Duke Brad gritted his teeth, uncontrollable fury burning in his scarlet eyes.


    "I will make you understand what death is!"


    For centuries, no one had obstructed him like this. He had prepared for this ascension for two centuries.


    Duke Brad raised his arms with all his might. Darkness seemed to wail, and countless necrotic shadow tendrils rose from the ground. The sky filled with a scarlet mist, and thousands of bats gathered like roiling black clouds, charging forward one after another, followed by a surging sea of blood.


    The vampire''s accumulated strength of a century exploded, turning everything in sight into a blood sea in hell.


    At this moment, he was the monarch here!


    However, the red dragon''s scales suddenly turned into dazzling gold and red. Energy shards floated around his dragon body like thousands of tiny satellites. Lightning flickered and crackled around his dragon form.


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    As the red dragon charged into the tide of blood mist, shadows and bats, blinding light erupted and dispersed the incoming darkness.


    Clusters of bats fell from the sky, charred by the leaping lightning. Shadows were effortlessly dispelled by the energy shards, and the blood mist evaporated before it even got close.


    "I have never deliberately obstructed you."


    "It''s just... you''re in my way, old bat."


    The red dragon spat out a sea of flames, burning everything in his path toward the vampire.


    "Even a giant dragon will meet its end!"


    "But I am the eternal monarch!"


    Duke Brad''s pale face twisted even more horribly. Absorbing the power of original sin had also skewed his character.


    "You should worship me!"


    The overwhelming sea of blood surged like a gigantic crimson curtain, blocking the approaching flames. The blood sea''s wave rolled, rushing toward the red dragon.


    "Only tricks to scare mortals."


    "What gives you the confidence to use such inferior methods to attack a giant dragon?"


    Cassius charged into the blood sea without hesitation.


    He slightly opened his jaws, powerful vessels transporting flame energy from his entire body to his lungs. The scorching fire elements accumulated in his lungs and throat, his chest glowing like magma, with the gaps in his scales reflecting the faint light of fire.


    The smell of sulfur and niter grew even stronger. His enormous dragon body was like a volcano about to erupt.


    [Extremely Effective Flame Breath]


    "Boom!"


    A blinding white-hot pillar of fire spewed from the red dragon''s mouth, instantly piercing through the blood sea in front of him.


    With a sizzling sound, the flames vaporized the thick blood before it even got close. In an instant, the fierce fire burned everything, and the air was filled with the dispersing blood mist. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius slightly tilted his head, directing the pillar of fire toward the vampire.


    For the first time, a hint of panic flickered in Duke Brad''s scarlet eyes.


    Such terrifying flames, if taken head-on, could cause great harm to a vampire, even one possessing an undying essence. It wouldn''t be easy to recover.


    But Duke Brad still grinned ferociously, shouting madly, "Useless, reptile."


    "I am everywhere. I am the undying existence!"


    Suddenly, the vampire turned into a cloud of blood mist, merging himself into the rolling blood sea, making it impossible for Cassius to target his true form.


    "Annoying creature."


    "Since you''re so good at running, don''t blame me for killing your entire family."


    Cassius thought to himself.


    He didn''t hesitate to turn his head, starting to attack the naked vampire variants tied helplessly to stone pillars.


    In an instant, the vampire variants bound to the stone pillars were engulfed by the white-hot flames. When the flames receded, only the molten rock, exuding dense steam and oozing red magma, was left.


    Even the iron chains wrapped around the vampires melted into glowing molten iron, slowly flowing.


    Once again, it was proven that the "undying" nature of vampire variants was not as absolute as they boasted; it had clear limitations.


    The Duke''s second son, the symbol of wrath, Atley Rackman, perished completely.


    He was a powerful berserker meant to provide "strength" for Duke Brad''s ascension, but now he didn''t even have time to scream or struggle before being reduced to ashes in the extreme flames.


    "No¡ª¡ª"


    "My, my child..."


    Duke Brad reformed into a human shape in mid-air, letting out a sorrowful wail, nearly losing his sanity.


    After years of self-hypnosis, Duke Brad genuinely "loved" these children. This love meant that only by fully absorbing these variants could their lives be completely fulfilled, leaving no regrets.


    Atley''s demise.


    Also meant his ascension had failed.


    Seeing the red dragon turn his head again, about to destroy the symbol of arrogance, his most beloved daughter, Alexia, with flames¡ª¡ª


    Duke Brad could no longer bear it, his scarlet eyes filled with boundless fury as he commanded the endless blood mist to assault the red dragon from the sky.


    "Reptile, I want you dead!"

 Chapter 71 Ascension Ritual (8)

    However, Duke Brad''s intervention had no effect, and the raging flames mercilessly engulfed the vampire variant on the stone pillar.The Duke''s eldest daughter, the symbol of arrogance, Alexia, perished.


    She was the oldest, noblest, and most powerful of the vampire variants, the perfect embodiment of arrogance. Duke Brad had countless times fantasized about absorbing her, imagining how intoxicating that power would be.


    But, alas, she was gone now.


    "Let it end, all of this."


    The air was twisted by the scorching flames, white smoke filled the surroundings.


    Cassius, still unsatiated, closed his mouth and glanced at the almost deranged vampire descending from the sky.


    "No, Alexia, my only treasure..."


    "Die¡ª¡ª"


    Duke Brad''s roar grew sharper and sharper, eventually turning into a piercing wail. His body suddenly expanded to nearly five meters, his pupils turned a deep black-red, his skin changed rapidly from pale to a near-gray hue, his fingers transformed into sharp claws, and a giant bat wing unfolded behind him¡ªan undying monster, the incomplete form of an ascending vampire.


    In this moment, Duke Brad lost all previous nobility, naked like a beast, his bare chest showing an eerie black tattoo.


    The vampire turned into a blurred shadow wandering the sky, countless shadowy tentacles emerging from his body, and a mist of dark green necrosis spreading around him.


    [Wither Spell]


    The necromantic energy would drain all water and vitality from living beings, turning them into blood food.


    Cassius used Act Before the Enemy, his pupils flashing with purple magical aurora, observing and predicting that monster''s ghostly flight path.


    "I see you."


    Just as the shadow enveloped in mist approached.


    [Spell Nullification Barrier]


    A barrier of fine, fragmented light surrounded Cassius, calming the agitated Magic Web and dispersing the Wither Spell, revealing the vampire''s hideous form without the mist''s cover.


    The Red Dragon reached out its giant claw, grabbing the airborne, unprepared vampire, dragging him to the ground before slamming him down like swatting a pesky fly.


    The vampire tried to resist, attempting to break free from the shackles, but under the Red Dragon''s overwhelming strength, all struggles were futile.


    Instantly, rocks shattered, and the vampire was crushed deep into the ground, nearly flattened into a meat patty.


    "No¡ª¡ª"


    The vampire let out a heartbreaking howl, trying to turn into a blood mist and escape, but the Spell Nullification Barrier made the surrounding Magic Web as solid as rock, completely nullifying any spell abilities.


    Despite being pinned under the Red Dragon''s claw, with his entire body crushed and bones broken, piercing through skin, this vampire with the "Gluttony" sin kept regenerating at an astonishing speed visible to the naked eye.


    The surrounding blood surged towards him.


    As long as the tens of thousands of lives he had accumulated over two centuries were not exhausted, he could resurrect again and again; no one could kill him.


    Fresh flesh and bones constantly regrew, restoring the vampire''s disfigured, shapeless body, only to be crushed again and again in a repeating cycle.


    Even when his body was mangled like a rag, the vampire still laughed wildly; "You can''t kill me, worm! I am immortal!


    "We can play this game forever."


    "Until you die!"


    Cassius looked down at him.


    "A pathetic wretch clinging to life..."


    A cruel, violent smile, unnoticed by himself, formed at the corner of Cassius''s mouth, akin to the rage of any Red Dragon.


    "Then I''ll make you understand what ''eternal death''s reality'' truly is."


    Cassius''s forelimb exerted force suddenly, muscles bulging, veins popping, even emitting white smoke.


    This was the purest physical strength, the essence of the Red Dragon.


    "Boom!"


    With a dull thud, the stone platform''s ground collapsed violently.


    "Useless..."


    The vampire''s words were cut off as he was crushed into a meat patty once more, blood and gray matter splattered as bones shattered, forming a blood-stained pit on the ground. The vampire lost consciousness; even for him, such injuries would take a few seconds to recover from.


    It was at this moment that Cassius dispelled the Spell Nullification Barrier.


    His chest once again took on a lava-like texture, and his throat glowed with a dazzling white light.


    [Extremely Effective Flame Breath]


    A pillar of fire engulfed the vampire''s hideous body.


    Yet Cassius did not stop.


    The scorching, terrifying white flames continued to burn, gradually melting the ground. The rocks in the pit turned into sluggish, fiery red magma, like freshly smelted molten steel, sizzling as they enveloped the vampire''s body.


    During this time, the vampire regained a moment of awareness, realizing the Spell Nullification Barrier was lifted.


    Trying to turn into blood mist within the magma only intensified his burning, extending the time for his next regeneration.


    Realizing this, the high-temperature magma seared his skin immediately, melting his flesh shortly after.


    But in the process, new flesh grew, then was charred once more...


    "Such resilient immortality."


    Even Cassius had to admire the vampire''s dreadful regeneration after absorbing the "Gluttony" sin. The simultaneous destruction by the magma and regeneration produced layers of charred shells outside his body.


    The vampire writhing struggled in the magma pit.


    "Pain..."


    "So...much pain..."


    A suppressed voice came from the bottom of the magma.


    "I...curse you..."


    "I will...offer everything...to kill you."


    Cassius felt a strong mana fluctuation from the bottom of the magma, his heart instantly alarmed.


    "Does he still have a trump card?"


    The Red Dragon quickly clawed at the vampire from the magma, effortlessly pulling him out.


    The vampire''s condition was particularly miserable, his face burned beyond recognition, covered in charred marks, magma slowly dripping from his body, but the mysterious tattoo on his chest glowed intensely, as if to devour all light.


    Brad Rackman stared directly at the Red Dragon, a twisted smile forming on his horribly burned face.


    "I''m about to die."


    "But you...will die too."


    "You all will die."


    The vampire''s eyes suddenly widened, mouth agape, his eyes, mouth, nostrils, and every crack in his body emitting a dark glow.


    His body exploded into a dense black fog of evil.


    This time, he did not condense again.


    Instead, he slowly ascended, surging towards a certain direction.


    [You have killed (Bloody Duke Brad Rackman), gaining 13000 xp]


    This vampire, who had hibernated in the North, controlling the Rackman Duchy for two hundred years, finally perished. Cassius gained enormous experience, but there was no joy of victory in his heart, only unease.


    "Such a fluctuation...


    "Damn it, what did he do?"


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    The Red Dragon''s golden pupils flickered in the darkness as he stared intently at the black fog, flapping his wings to chase after it. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 72 Voice of the Night (I)

    Cassius followed the black mist as it flew through the castle.He saw the array in the iron cage flickering, countless blood slaves howling as they exploded, turning into ghostly black mist, rushing in a certain direction.


    "These blood slaves have all been sacrificed..."


    "Their destination is probably the outside world."


    Thinking of this, Cassius stopped chasing and instead flapped his wings to fly upwards, his massive dragon body crashing through walls and ceilings made of stone, rampaging through the fortress.


    Quickly, with the continuous collapse of the buildings behind him, Cassius swiftly reached the outside.


    However, the scene before his eyes had changed drastically from before.


    There was neither a bright moon nor a starry sky in the outside world at this moment.


    It was a night without light.


    The sky overhead was shrouded in heavy shadow, resembling a deep black canopy.


    The surrounding colors were tainted by the environment, dim as the universe, filled with monotonous black and white, while tall black mountains appeared in the distance.


    Over the Twilight Forest, countless clumps of shadowy material gathered together, forming a continuously rotating black mist vortex.


    Cassius gazed at the black sky and murmured:


    "This is a projection of the Nether Shadow Realm..."


    "No, it''s that old bat who breached the barrier between the Shadow Realm and the Prime Material World."


    The Nether Shadow Realm, also called the Shadow Plane, was a dim layer connected and coexisting with the Prime Material World, a realm of darkness and power, sinister in nature, a desolate borderland of the unknown.


    It was filled with amorphous, mist-like shadow creatures, empty and desolate, devoid of any life.


    The black mist assembly in the sky was evidently an otherworldly vortex connecting the Shadow Realm and the Prime Material World, set to summon the unknown shadowy creatures from there.


    "No, I must stop him."


    At this moment, Cassius finally understood the vampire''s dying curse, "You will all die."


    Once the shadow curse from the Nether Shadow Realm invaded, the whole Northwind Castle would turn into a dead city filled with shadow creatures, assimilated by the endless, all-devouring darkness, and he himself might even be transformed into an undying shadow red dragon.


    Enveloped in a faint light barrier, Cassius forced his way into the vortex, attempting to halt the breaching of the planar barrier by the black mist vortex.


    [Spell Nullification Barrier]


    However, it had no effect; the level of this otherworldly vortex was clearly far beyond the fifth tier. Even the usually unfailing Spell Nullification Barrier could not handle such a complex, high-tier space distortion, only smoothing out the most superficial fluctuations.


    The red dragon opened its mouth, spewing out a scorching Flame Breath.


    The blazing flames immediately set those shadow creatures ablaze, producing a series of shrill wails.


    But its scale was already too vast, thousands of shadows forming a giant vortex nearly a hundred meters in diameter in the sky, and even if the red dragon exhausted its dragonflame, it couldn''t easily burn it to ashes.


    "Such a degree of Magic Web fluctuation."


    "Such a scale..."


    "What on earth did that old bat summon?"


    A chill rose from the depths of Cassius''s heart. The entity coming to the Prime Material Plane through this otherworldly vortex was likely not something he could contend with!


    Thinking of this, he spared no effort, throwing Fireball Technique, Fire Wall Spell, Lightning Bolt, and other area-damage spells into the vortex recklessly.


    Flames, lightning, and radiance intertwined and crisscrossed within the vortex, yet they could not stop the black mist from continuously gathering, swelling madly, and obscuring the sky.


    "I can''t drag this out any longer."


    Cassius thought.


    A terrifying pressure emanated from the vortex, making even Cassius feel a tremor throughout his body.


    As a naturally powerful red dragon, Cassius rarely felt this kind of instinctive oppression, but now he felt it, and it was strong!


    "Roar¡ª"


    Accompanied by a deep roar, a dragon projection wrapped in black mist floated out from the vortex, becoming visibly more solid.


    The powerful existence in the Nether Shadow Realm, truly descending into the Prime Material Plane, required some time.


    Its enormous body, over twenty meters long, was covered in lusterless black scales, hued like embers, with wings devoid of wing membranes, instead appearing to be made of a spirit-like translucent material.


    Most terrifying were its eyes, pools of utterly dim gray-white with no pupils or lenses, like the Abyssal depths aiming to swallow one''s soul.


    At this moment, those gray-white eyes were fixed on Cassius, accompanied by a hoarse voice.


    "So it''s a former kin?"


    "A young red dragon? No wonder. I was wondering who could drive my poor contractor to such desperation."


    "However, I should thank you."


    The giant dragon, or rather the shadow dragon, licked its lips expectantly, black mist-like dragon saliva dripping.


    "Soon, I''ll be back in the Prime Material World again, and this feeling... is really nice."


    Cassius flapped his wings with all his might, barely managing to hover in midair, facing the far larger and more terrifying shadow dragon apparition. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information]


    [Voice of the Night, Motifel]


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: 21 (33000xp)


    Assessment: Motifel arrived at the Nether Shadow Realm seven hundred years ago and has resided there since. He enjoys its bleakness and desolation, cursing all light and life venomously, eager to spread its darkness and evil outward.


    He often transforms into a mage calling himself the "Voice of the Night," signing contracts with traps hidden within with humanoids, leading them toward their downfall, ultimately turning villages, even towns, into desolate places filled with shadowy specters, greedily siphoning their strength.


    "Legendary..."


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    Cassius''s expression changed drastically.


    A Challenge Level of 21, undoubtedly a Legendary Level being.


    And due to the unique nature of dragons, its actual strength would only be higher than the paper stats indicated.


    In other words, this was an existence that a whole legendary adventurer squad could barely contend with! Enough to trigger a planar-level disaster!


    Since Cassius arrived at Erezer Gate, he had never encountered such a powerful opponent.


    Voice of the Night, Motifel, was a name Cassius had heard of in his previous life, from the 4.0 [Planar Expedition] version, rumored to be the final boss of the high-difficulty side dungeon [Dragon Shadow City] in the Gloomy Region.


    But Cassius never thought he''d encounter such a formidable enemy now. In his view, the Anzeta Great Wilderness was just a barren and remote area, not worth the attention of significant figures.


    However, his estimation was incorrect.


    Evidently, this shadow dragon was very interested in spreading darkness and death across the Anzeta Great Wilderness, transforming it into a dead land.


    Duke Brad vanished without a trace after his Ascension Ritual was destroyed in an explosion in the previous life, likely meeting a cruel fate at the hands of this shadow dragon.


    "I must not let him truly descend into the Prime Material World!"


    This was Cassius''s only thought at this moment.

 Chapter 74 Voice of the Night (II)

    Cassius surveyed his surroundings with a grave expression. The scenery grew increasingly dark, transitioning into the Nether Shadow Realm¡ªthe surroundings were deep black and silent, filled with monotonous black and white. The trees'' withered branches twisted grotesquely, the sky was shrouded in endless shadows like a black dome, and the distant mountains remained a vague black silhouette.


    A terrifying thought suddenly arose in the Red Dragon''s heart.


    The space of this entire region was distorted!


    In other words, this limited area of the Twilight Forest was inescapable.


    All living beings were trapped here!


    Cassius gazed at the giant dragon''s projection in the air and said, "Shadow Dragon, you have cursed this forest."


    "You are correct. This is my Shadow Domain. My unfortunate contractor consumed a thousand lives to allow me to use this power in the Prime Material World, creating this insignificant place to facilitate my arrival in the Material Plane."


    "Look at it..."


    "Silent, tranquil, dark, and profound, free from the noisy riffraff of the Prime Material World. What a beautiful scenery, truly captivating."


    "If only we could hear the wails of the Undead Shadows, it would be even more splendid."


    Mortifael squinted his eyes and slowly flapped his wings, his expression relaxed, as if genuinely appreciating the unique beauty of the darkness, even though he had not yet fully transformed and his true form remained in the Nether Shadow Realm.


    The atmosphere seemed to lack hostility, but this did not ease Cassius''s tension in the slightest; he felt terrified.


    ¡ªThis only indicated the Shadow Dragon''s absolute confidence.


    "Voice of the Night, was it you who offered Brad Rackman that so-called ascension?"


    "Indeed, mortal perceptions are always so short-sighted. Even when transformed into so-called vampires, it''s no different. But you are different, my former kin. However... I did not deceive him. For beings of such low caliber, ascension was indeed a decent path.


    He just failed himself, so he had to be converted into my nourishment per the contract."


    "Despicable creature."


    Mortifael opened his eyes, his gray-white pupils staring straight at Cassius, as if to devour him.


    "Red Dragon, we have plenty of time to reminisce. But I promised my contractor that I would take your life. I always keep my promises, and this time is no exception."


    "Don''t worry, my dear kin. That''s just a literal meaning. When I truly descend to the Material Plane, you will indeed lose your life, but you will continue to exist in a more magnificent form."


    His words were gentle, like those of a polite scholar, but they sent a chill deep into Cassius''s soul¡ªit was the infinite hatred towards the living.


    "I prefer the most tranquil darkness."


    "So... do not resist, do not make noise, just quietly await my arrival."


    "Okay?"


    Mortifael''s phantom grinned, a sinister smile spreading as thick black mist slowly seeped from the corners of his mouth.


    "Shadow Dragon, you''re delusional!"


    "I will turn you to ashes!"


    The Red Dragon roared and breathed mighty flames at the transforming, defenseless projection.


    However, the flames, hot enough to melt rock, passed straight through Mortifael''s massive phantom without causing any harm.


    "Has no one ever told you¡ª"


    "Never try to attack a shadow."


    Mortifael''s phantom bathed in the flames nonchalantly, chuckling mockingly.


    Though the flames pierced his form, the projection continued to solidify, entirely unaffected by the blaze.


    "It doesn''t work... does it?" Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire


    Cassius''s scaled brow furrowed slightly as he muttered to himself.


    The Red Dragon had anticipated his proud Supreme Flame Breath to be ineffective.


    "How about this, then?"


    Surrounded by flickering lightning, the Red Dragon charged into Mortifael''s phantom.


    It was the Remnant of the Storm!


    But as expected, Cassius''s dragon body passed straight through, with the lightning having no effect, merely continuing to dance around the Red Dragon.


    This attack instead made the Red Dragon''s body feel cold, as if falling into an icy cave, sensing his vitality siphoned by the phantom composed of shadows.


    "So this is a shadow creature?"


    "Flames, physical attacks, lightning don''t work, then... how about a force field?"


    [Magic Missile]


    Orbs containing force field energy struck.


    These low-grade Magic Missiles, even usable by mage apprentices, didn''t pass through but hit the phantom, causing minor damage.


    But this was a drop in the ocean, far from stopping the Shadow Dragon''s transformation and descent.


    The panel refreshed with information.


    [Living Shadow]


    [In dim or dark environments, Shadow Dragons are immune to all damage except for force fields, mind, and radiance.]


    Cassius was horrified by such a trait!


    This meant once the Shadow Dragon descended, almost all his techniques would be ineffective!


    "In a dim or dark environment..."


    Cassius looked up at the lightless sky, the obscured moon. He doubted he could create light in this domain of myriad shadows. His only Light Spell cantrip was a joke in the Shadow Domain.


    All living things would weaken here, all spells suppressed. Only the night and shadows would prevail.


    This was the world of shadows, Mortifael''s absolute domain.


    When he fully descended¡ª


    Wherever shadows existed, there the Shadow Dragon''s body would be. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Do not struggle; I will hold a grand funeral for you."


    "To mourn the death of a True Dragon and celebrate the birth of a great, immortal Shadow Red Dragon."


    The Shadow Dragon raised his head and roared.


    The sound seemed to come from eternal darkness, mingling the wails of tens of thousands of Undead Shadows, echoing the Shadow Dragon''s boundless hatred for light and life, and endless greed.


    This was the exclusive Ninth Tier Spell of the Shadow Dragon.


    ¡ª[Mortifael''s Shadow Descending Spell]


    His phantom solidified further, and the pitch-black dome in the sky began to descend slowly.


    Distant shadowy mountains drew nearer, enclosing the area around the Red Dragon like a cage, shrinking.


    The countless shadow creatures in the Twilight Forest wailed and surged like a tide, even displaying the black mist that was once Duke Brad.


    "What a fearsome power..."


    "Will I truly be trapped here, awaiting the Shadow Dragon''s descent?"


    Cassius flapped his wings, gazing at the slowly descending black dome. Feeling the growing pressure, his anxiety surged.

 Chapter 75 Voice of the Night (III)

    At this critical moment, a strange light suddenly flickered in Cassius''s golden pupils.


    "No."


    "It seems... there is another way."


    Even if it was a living shadow, even if separated by different planes, the shadow dragon could not be immune to psychic attacks. This was the only means by which Cassius could affect it.


    Thinking of this, Cassius shouted without hesitation:


    "Despicable shadow dragon!"


    "Her Majesty Tiamat is watching all this!"


    Mortifael laughed openly: "The Dragon Queen''s darling? Every red dragon claims so. It seems arrogance and conceit are universal traits of red dragons. Even you... are no exception."


    His voice suddenly turned cold.


    "Put down your pathetic pride of the living, accept the great transformation, and throw yourself into the endless shadows!"


    "I will grant you... eternal life."


    Mortifael did not stop the transformation for a moment.


    The surrounding space emitted a violent rumbling sound, the wailing of the plane space trembling, and the Prime Material World''s instincts fiercely rejected the invasion of the shadows. But under Mortifael''s powerful spell, even the rules of space had to temporarily give way.


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    Cassius stared intently at the shadow dragon''s phantom, instantly unlocking the psychic barriers in his mind and constructing the horrifying illusion of that five-headed dragon. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He did not avoid Mortifael''s gray eyes, the golden pupils flashing with intense magical aurora.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The illusion pierced through the plane''s barrier, traversed the Prime Material Plane, and reached Mortifael''s true form located in the Nether Shadow Realm.


    [Tiamat''s Terrifying Illusion]


    "Roar¡ª"


    In Mortifael''s eyes, a colossal dragon nearly a hundred meters tall suddenly appeared. The monster''s wings blotted out the sky; even the shadow dragon could only look up at it in awe.


    It was a nightmare amalgamation, the thick and short legs of a colored giant dragon supporting its monstrous body. The dragon''s body writhed with five necks and five heads, each head corresponding to a different colored dragon, and each head''s color covered the corresponding neck, embedded in the front of the dragon''s torso like bands.


    Her back and hindquarters gradually merged into three stripes of gray, blue-green, and purple, then converged into a murky dark brown tail. Her abdomen and legs transitioned from light green to the color of her upper body.


    This terrifying image was all too familiar to Mortifael.


    ¡ªThat was the Mother of Evil Dragons, the Five-Colored Dragon Queen, the enemy of the gods, Tiamat!


    "How is this possible..."


    Mortifael looked up in a daze, muttering to himself.


    Seven hundred years ago, when he was just an ordinary black dragon, Mortifael built a makeshift altar in his dark swamp nest, offering his precious iron coins to the Dragon Queen. As a member of the five-colored evil dragons, Mortifael had countless times fantasized about gaining the Dragon Queen''s gaze, or even the personal favor of the Mother of Evil Dragons, experiencing supreme pleasure.


    But the Dragon Queen never responded.


    At that time, he was just a scrawny black dragon, his status among the five-colored dragons only slightly higher than that of a white dragon.


    Ultimately, he couldn''t resist the allure of power and chose to embrace the Nether Shadow Realm, transforming into an undying shadow dragon.


    At this moment, Mortifael trembled all over.


    It was unclear whether it was from fear or excitement.


    The five-colored, five-headed dragon coldly gazed down at the earth, with fire, ice, acid, lightning, and poison gas spewing from the mouths of those five ferocious heads, wantonly unleashing her fury.


    "No, no, this can''t be real!"


    "Damn it, this is an illusion!"


    Mortifael, after studying spells for a thousand years and able to cast ninth-tier spells as a legendary spellcaster, even in his unsettled state, still saw through the intricacies within the Dragon Queen''s illusion.


    The multi-layered illusory damage of fire, ice, and acid hitting his body, the power of the sixth-tier spell was insignificant to his soul, steeped in desolate darkness for a thousand years.


    But another worry arose in Mortifael''s mind.


    "An ordinary young red dragon, even a True Dragon Sorcerer, how could he know such a spell?"


    "An illusion of this quality depicting a deity¡ªcould he truly be one of Her Majesty the Dragon Queen''s chosen?"


    Mortifael''s concern was not without reason.


    Shadow dragons were infamous among dragonkin, considered public enemies by the dragon race.


    They abandoned the noble bloodline of giant dragons, chose to embrace darkness, becoming despicable shadow creatures. Moreover, no dragon god emerged among them, and even the five-colored evil dragons scoffed at them.


    Gold dragons with a sense of justice would even actively seek out shadow dragons, gathering their kin to eradicate them completely, to remove this "shame" from the dragonkin.


    And killing one who might be a chosen of the Dragon Queen, inciting the enmity of the five-colored dragons, was clearly not a good idea for him.


    "Damn red dragon..."


    Mortifael was conflicted, his construction of the summoning spell stalled.


    He did not want to provoke a deity-level existence, but being deceived by the illusion filled him with a vast humiliation he had not felt in a thousand years, making him want to tear the red dragon in front of him apart.


    "Are you really one of those chosen..."


    "Red dragon."


    Mortiel''s phantom gazed down at the red dragon, squinting slightly, seemingly trying to find a clue in his expression.


    Cassius noticed Mortifael''s hesitation. He knew that at this moment, he had to appear more confident, more arrogant, more like an exalted chosen one of a deity to deceive this millennia-old monster.


    So, Cassius stepped forward, fearlessly meeting Mortiel''s phantom''s gaze, arrogantly saying, "Despicable shadow creature defiling the noble traditions of dragonkin, you better think carefully."


    "Can you endure the wrath of Her Majesty Tiamat!"


    Hearing this, Mortifael''s dim gray eyes filled with uncontrollable anger, as if burning with ghostly shadow flames.


    "Damn red dragon."


    "Damn Prime Material World."


    This moment of hesitation allowed the repulsive force of the plane to act on the shadow dragon incompatible with the material plane, shattering his attempt to invade the Prime Material World.


    This time, he had already harvested thousands of shadow souls; centuries of planning had not been in vain. He didn''t need to provoke a potential divine-level enemy further.


    Thinking of this, Mortifael stared deeply at the red dragon, his dull gray eyes showing a trace of venom.


    "The plane''s barrier has been breached by those thousands of resentful spirits."


    "This place has already been marked by the Nether Shadow Realm."


    "Someday, I will return here, and you will not be able to protect all that you possess."


    Mortifael said coldly.


    Several distorted vortices appeared around the phantom of his colossal dragon body, as the plane repellant force forcibly expelled his descending projection from the Prime Material World, dragging it back to that lightless, gloomy place¡ªthe Nether Shadow Realm.

 Chapter 76 Giant Dragons Seize Power

    "Phew..."


    "Such a terrifying enemy."


    After confirming that the Shadow Dragon had left, the Red Dragon slowly descended to the ground, licking its wounds.


    [Dragon''s Breath]


    Golden life energy particles descended from the sky, rapidly healing the injuries, making the somewhat weakened dragon body visibly recover.


    "Someday, I will kill him."


    "Mortifael."


    Cassius uttered the name representing the night.


    The Red Dragon gazed at the area where the Shadow Dragon had disappeared, its expression slightly ferocious, and its golden pupils seemed to burn with raging flames. Having been attacked on its own territory, retaliation was unavoidable. In the near future, he would crush the dragon hiding in the shadows.


    But now was not the time; his strength was still far from sufficient.


    The surroundings were already in complete disarray. Traces of the Shadow Curse still lingered here, with broken branches and splattered mud emitting faint black mist.


    However, the moon finally appeared in the sky, casting gentle and serene moonlight, purifying the pervasive shadow energy around.


    Cassius could feel that due to Duke Brad''s sacrifice of everything, the space here had become extremely fragile, almost on the verge of becoming a boundary between the Prime Material World and the Nether Shadow Realm.


    Mortifael had not lied; this transformation was still ongoing unless the source of the curse¡ª the Shadow Dragon¡ª was eliminated.


    "But..."


    "For now, it''s finally over."


    The shadow dragon''s strength was indeed great, possessing absolute suppression power. That dark mist covering the sky made him realize his own insignificance.


    Fortunately, he understood the principle of "borrowing power to do evil" and invoked the name of the Five-Colored Dragon Queen Tiamat, scaring off the Shadow Dragon.


    However, any power beyond control came at a price, and Tiamat''s terrifying illusion was no exception.


    "Maybe, it hasn''t completely ended yet."


    Cassius looked up at the sky and suddenly held his breath.


    The illusion that should have appeared only in Mortifael''s eyes now appeared in front of him.


    This was the power of deities. Even by merely creating an illusion, uttering a name, or recalling a concept, they could perceive it and descend into the world using it as a medium.


    Unlike the overwhelming oppression of the Shadow Dragon controlling the night, the Dragon Mother brought him a despair that transcended dimensions.


    Five heads looked down on him from above.


    "We meet again, my child."


    Her gaze was more of a certain greed than kindness.


    This look made Cassius feel as if his soul had been seen through. He dared not look directly at her anymore, only bowing his head and saying calmly, "Greetings, great Mother of Evil Dragons, Queen of the Five-Colored Dragons, Her Majesty Tiamat."


    "I sincerely apologize. Just now, to drive away that Shadow Dragon, I presumptuously borrowed your mighty name and used your majestic image. This was indeed an overstep."


    Tiamat chuckled lightly. The White Dragon head spoke, "Heh, it''s no big deal."


    The Green Dragon head said, "You did well. You established a kingdom for the dragons in Anzeta, preserving the former glory of the giant dragons."


    The Black Dragon head said, "But greater trials await you in the future, my child."


    Finally, the Red Dragon head said, "Ten years. I want you to unify Anzeta within ten years, march south to Fadlan, and become my aid in ruling the world. This¡ª will be part of the grand blueprint for the entire dragonkin."


    "When I ascend the throne, the tyranny of the gods will end. The rule of the giant dragons will return to the earth. Dragon wings will once again cover the Prime Material World, and as one of my lieutenants, my child, you will become a duke serving me. You will also gain immense strength and endless wealth."


    Tiamat''s eyes were filled with boundless greed. Perhaps being in Aphernas for too long, her words seemed to lure Cassius into Hell.


    Hearing the words "grand blueprint," Cassius''s heart skipped a beat. He felt something was off, as if the lines were somewhat familiar, wondering if he had heard them somewhere before.


    But he still lowered his head, pretending to be extremely excited, respectfully saying, "Yes, Your Majesty."


    "I will follow your will."


    The illusion of Tiamat in the sky suddenly vanished, and Cassius finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly constructed a mental barrier, sealing away the [Tiamat''s Terrifying Illusion] in his mind.


    Information refreshed on his panel.


    [You have gained the status [Tiamat''s Greedy Gaze], your intimidating aura will receive an extra bonus, and your proficiencies: Intimidation +6]


    "I might actually become a chosen one this time."


    "Tsk, wanting to rebel but can''t..."


    After all, Cassius was just a pitiable young Red Dragon with a challenge level of 17. What else could he do?


    Under the powerful intimidation of the Dragon Mother, he was forced to play the filial role. After all, having borrowed another''s authority, one had to show some respect.


    Several warning messages refreshed again on the panel.


    Although Tiamat''s words seemed like praise, Cassius was well aware that this Mother of Evil Dragons was definitely not benign. There must be benefits she coveted on him.


    If he blindly trusted Tiamat''s words, he would be doomed to be completely eaten away, leaving not a single crumb.


    And her rhetoric was all too familiar to Cassius¡ª pie in the sky. This was a tactic he often used on his subordinates, and now it was being used on him, making Cassius feel somewhat strange.


    "Kings'' Strife, Dragons Usurping the Throne."


    "I must quickly enhance my strength, or I''ll be unable to cope with such world-class events."


    Cassius thought to himself.


    This was one of the side quests in version 2.0 [Kings'' Strife]. The Holy Fadlan Empire, also known as the Sun Empire, was the most expansive and most powerful nation on the central continent. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Its emperor had received the blessing of the Sun God Amentana and created an army comparable to divine descendants using the divine artifact "Wheel of Eternal Radiance." This army was invincible, conquering vast lands for the empire, proclaiming, "Everything under the sun is our territory."


    But after the old emperor, known as Aragon the First or the Sun King, unexpectedly died, his vast empire fell apart. His three sons devoured the remnants of the empire, forming the three legitimate kingdoms of Cassandra, Thrace, and Seleucis. The divine descendant nobles of the Sun Legion also established various small kingdoms.


    For a time, the empire disintegrated, the kingdoms spread like stars, and this period was known as the "Great Collapse of the Holy Fadlan," marking the beginning of [Kings'' Strife].


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    Tiamat used a cult to control the southwestern Kingdom of Seleucis in the Fadlan Region, attempting to summon her true form, restore the rule of the giant dragons to the earth, and reassert Tiamat''s name in the world. This event was known as¡ª [Dragons Usurping the Throne]

 Chapter 77 Promotion Again

    This thrilling encounter struck Cassius like a wake-up call, making him eager to increase his own power.


    Perhaps it was the laziness within the True Dragon bloodline, or the confidence brought by continuous victories, but after falling asleep, he had grown somewhat complacent, forgetting that this was a world full of crises. He overconfidently regarded Erezer as his own garden.


    The Red Dragon eyed the panel, not only from the previous war but Duke Brad also provided him with a massive amount of experience.


    This time, he did not deliberately suppress it but chose to harness these abilities first and convert them into strength. As for the remaining two levels of experience¡ªhe already had a concrete plan in mind.


    [Your [True Dragon Sorcerer] level has increased to level 9]


    [Your [True Dragon Sorcerer] level has increased to level 10]


    [You have gained additional Metamagic talents, you chose [Enhanced Spell][Delayed Spell]]


    Although he had risen two levels, the newly gained spell slots were too high and there were only four slots. This was a shortcoming of any sorcerer, including True Dragon Sorcerers¡ªprecise but not plentiful.


    However, his casting level had now reached level 13, and he could even reach the seventh layer of the Magic Web, making him a senior spellcaster throughout Erezer.


    [You have gained Dragon''s Spells [Agile as a Dragon][Bag of Greed][Undying Offender][Heaven''s Calamity Dragon Eye]]


    [Agile as a Dragon]


    5th-tier Transformation Spell


    [Dragon uses the power of space to make its massive dragon body agile, with the Agility attribute continuously increasing as long as the spell lasts, reaching a maximum Agility attribute of 30.]


    [Bag of Greed]


    5th-tier Shaping Magic


    [This spell creates a bag-shaped force field trailing behind a flying dragon, allowing it to transport a large number of items. The items in the Bag of Greed become practically weightless, enabling the dragon to fly at its normal maximum speed.]


    [Undying Offender]


    6th-tier Protection, Transformation Spell


    [Dragon condenses its vitality, designating a specific scale as its "Reverse Scale." Before the scale is shattered, the dragon can bypass one fatal injury. Upon shattering, the dragon''s strength, constitution, and agility all receive significant enhancements.]


    [Heaven''s Calamity Dragon Eye]


    7th-tier Divination Spell


    [An incorporeal dragon eye appears and floats, moving according to the dragon''s will. The dragon can see through this eye and may glimpse past or future scenes. The eye can withstand damage equivalent to that of the dragon''s own and can even emit the dragon''s breath weapon, though doing so will cause the eye to disappear.]


    "So, this is a seventh-tier spell¡­"


    Feeling the complex spell information in his mind, Cassius was somewhat exhilarated. These spells were mostly aligned with his desires, truly the private stash of the dragonkin.


    Even though he had obtained seventh-tier spells, Cassius had not yet fully mastered them. More experimentation was necessary.


    Next, it was time to take over the Rackman Duchy, reap the rewards of this war, and begin preparations to conquer the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Within Rackman Castle, Mezulash and Alger, among others, barely escaped the ruins enshrouded by the Shadow Curse and came before the Red Dragon.


    Behind them were Swashbuckler and the newly freed vampire variant, Yeno Rackman.


    "Master, it was my incompetence that allowed the enemy to control us, forcing you to take action yourself."


    Alger knelt on the ground, his half-dragon face showing no hint of vengeful satisfaction, only calm.


    Duke Brad was dead.


    The last obsession of "human Alger" had disappeared. What remained was merely the body of the loyal Red Scale Conqueror from Ashen Nest¡ªhalf-dragon Alger.


    Mezulash stepped forward to report: "Master, what should we do with these remaining vampires? Among them is even a Starfallen."


    As the leader of the Tieflings, Mezulash naturally despised everything related to vampires, but rationality told him that only the Red Dragon could decide everything.


    Cassius looked at Swashbuckler.


    Swashbuckler wore a black robe, picked up from who knows where, his skin pale, canine teeth sharp, and a hint of crimson in his pupils.


    Swashbuckler had once sipped the blood of the old vampire, becoming a true vampire with terrifying regenerative abilities and could even create his own vampire variants.


    Seeing the Red Dragon''s gaze, Swashbuckler immediately flashed a flattering smile: "Boss, I''m very strong. I can''t die no matter how hard you hit me. If I can''t win, I can even turn to mist and escape."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Swashbuckler turned into a wisp of mist.


    He had thought it through. If the leader in front wanted to kill him, he could flee immediately.


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    Cassius: "..."


    Swashbuckler popped back to his original form with a puff, scratching his head with an awkward smile: "I just wanted to show you my abilities."


    After a moment of thought, Cassius quickly realized that these undying night walkers were perfectly suited for executing special missions like infiltration, assassination, and scouting.


    The Red Dragon then said, "I want you to form a special vampire unit, dedicated to executing tasks that cannot see the light. As for the name..."


    "Wave Corps, how about Wave Corps?" Swashbuckler eagerly suggested.


    "..."


    Noticing the Red Dragon''s impatient gaze and sensing the tense atmosphere around, Swashbuckler again smiled awkwardly.


    "Uh... of course, it''s up to you to decide."


    "I just think Wave Corps sounds cool, or we can name it Swashbuckler''s Fan Support Group."


    "Nocturne, bringing eternal sleep to our enemies in the dead of night."


    Cassius spoke with an indisputable tone.


    Swashbuckler immediately flattered: "Great name, boss! How did you come up with such a brilliant name!"


    Cassius continued, "Choose suitable individuals to transform into vampire variants and join Nocturne. As for your blood supply, I will allocate funds specifically. Buying some blood from the infinitely respawning Starfallen shouldn''t be too difficult."


    "You must keep these bloodsuckers in check. If I find any normal residents attacked by vampires... as the person in charge, I don''t need to spell out your fate, do I?"


    "Yes, yes, boss, I, Swashbuckler, will serve you diligently, ensuring that Nocturne becomes the most successful organization in Ashen Nest''s performance!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon hearing Cassius'' words, especially the mention of "fund allocation," Swashbuckler immediately nodded vigorously, agreeing to everything.


    He finally ascended the social ladder, transforming from a lowly worker into a department manager!


    Though he had paid a great price, gaining the nickname "Vampire''s Favorite" in forums, this trip to Northwind Castle was worth it. Swashbuckler felt tears of joy well up in his heart, giving him immense satisfaction.


    At that moment, Cassius had no idea that this "Nocturne" would become infamous in the future.


    Once already unafraid of death, these players became undead creatures, and under Swashbuckler''s leadership, they crazily courted death, heralding their motto of "eliminating all witnesses for a perfect infiltration," stirring a bloody storm across the continent.

 Chapter 78 The Situation in the North

    After Duke Brad''s death, the Ashen Nest swiftly occupied the entirety of Northwind Castle. Key areas such as the city hall and the armory naturally fell into the control of the evil dragon''s minions.


    The Rackman Castle, surrounded by the Shadow Curse, was sealed off by the army and turned into a forbidden zone.


    Every gate of Northwind Castle was guarded by the Goblin Army, armed with muskets, enforcing martial law. No one dared to escape, for patrols composed of Dragon Vein Goblins and Kobolds eagerly awaited to tear apart any fleeing individuals. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    An oppressive atmosphere permeated Northwind Castle.


    The thirty thousand inhabitants of the city were all anxious about their fates.


    As Northwind Castle fell, news of the Rackman Duchy''s collapse spread throughout Anzeta.


    Though the Northern nobility had anticipated the duchy''s fall, its swift demise left them stunned.


    "Infernal Calamity" Cassius led his wicked servants and demonstrated terrifying military prowess, conquering the vast Rackman Duchy in less than a month, erasing this four-century-old nation from the annals of history.


    Suddenly, the Northern United Kingdom was in a state of alarm, with everyone fearing for their safety.


    But soon, Bipedal Wyverns appeared across Anzeta, dropping leaflets like snowflakes.


    It was an official proclamation¡ª


    Duke Brad Rackman, ruler of the Rackman Duchy, signed a contract with an evil entity, converting himself into a vampire. Over his two-hundred-year reign, he slaughtered and enslaved the local populace, creating horrifying atrocities and accumulating a blood debt.


    Additionally, Brad Rackman repeatedly sent forces to invade the Ashen Nest, even dispatching armies that severely threatened the local safety and disrupted the peace and order of the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Therefore, the great Red Dragon, King of Ashen, His Majesty Cassius Claudius Norixius, upheld justice and righteousness for the deceased, killed Brad Rackman, and brought the dark and decaying Rackman Duchy under his enlightened rule, officially declaring the formation of the great Ashen Kingdom.


    After this proclamation came a series of bewildering additional clauses.


    "The Notte Duchy, aiding Rackman Duchy''s assault on Stormy Ridge, infringed upon the Ashen Kingdom''s sovereignty. We believe the Notte Family''s actions were extremely reckless. They lack the capability to take responsibility for their citizens and territory and should be subject to oversight and management by the kingdom."


    "The Boske Duchy, deceived by Duke Brad, participated in the so-called allied forces, causing significant losses to the kingdom. They must compensate with twenty-five thousand gold coins, and furthermore..."


    "The Carter Duchy spread shameful rumors. Their ''Song of Embers'' caused extremely negative public opinion against the kingdom..."


    "The Fano Duchy colluded with the Rackman Family, providing economic support and indirectly causing harm to the kingdom..."


    The Northern nobility was in an uproar.


    This greedy dragon dared to extort the entire Northern United Kingdom!


    He was far more avaricious than those Red Dragons that only showcased their strength by massacring cities!


    Once obscure and only existent in bard tales, "Flame Wing Dragon" Cassius had in just a few years grown into such a colossal being right under their noses, now capable of making the North tremble with a mere flap of his wings.


    Remember, even "Glacier Wing" a century ago only destroyed a city and did not occupy a duchy, let alone extort the entire Northern United Kingdom.


    Dragons ruling the land was something only of legends, even tracing back to the first era of the Dragon-Giant conflict. Now it was happening right before the Northern nobility''s eyes.


    At least in these past few centuries, at least since the establishment of the Northern United Kingdom, there had never been such an arrogant dragon on the Anzeta Great Wilderness!


    In Stratholme Fortress, the nominal capital of the United Kingdom and also the capital of the Boske Duchy, in the grand Lion Council Hall.


    Hundreds of Northern nobility rarely gathered in one place, discussing how to deal with this terrifying dragon. This was the first time since the "Lionheart Alliance" thirty years ago.


    "Outrageous!"


    "This evil dragon is outrageous!"


    Duke Leo Boske slammed the flyer on the long table with a resounding "slap."


    His face was full of fury, his tall and sturdy body trembled with anger, even his lion''s mane-like beard quivered, and his thunderous roar terrified his attendants.


    "We, the Boske Duchy, will never accept such humiliating terms!"


    "Who does he think he is? Just a fire-breathing lizard! We Scania People have slaughtered dozens of such overestimating lizards to establish ourselves in Anzeta!"


    Not far from him, Grand Duke Oliver Norton of the Norton Principality also rose angrily, slamming the table: "Yes! We must reclaim the Rackman Duchy''s land! Kill this overestimating Red Dragon!"


    "Or we won''t be able to quell the public outrage!"


    Grand Duke Oliver gritted his teeth; his hatred for Cassius was already deep-seated.


    The Ashen Empire''s notices to other countries mainly involved extorting some money or transit rights. But the demand on the Norton Principality was so-called "international trusteeship," with an outrageously absurd reason: "Grand Duke Oliver does not have the capability to govern the Norton Principality and requires the assistance of the more civilized and orderly Ashen Empire."


    An absolute mockery!


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    This was a blatant insult!


    An empire ruled by a monster shamelessly issued such a despicable notice, causing Grand Duke Oliver to lose sleep for days. In fury, he dismissed all envoys originally destined for the Ashen Nest.


    "But¡­that Red Dragon can cast Eighth Tier Spells."


    "The entire North has only a few spellcasters of this level. He''s catastrophic for the army."


    A hoarse, weary voice sounded.


    "Grey Hawk" Schroeder also attended this meeting. At this moment, his eyes were dim, full of fatigue and helplessness, and a deep-seated hatred for the Red Dragon.


    The lord he served and the country he belonged to had perished. He had no choice but to take refuge here, barely finding shelter with Grand Duke Leo.


    "Maybe we can seek external assistance."


    "Yes, there''s a rumor from six years ago that a ''Twilight Blade'' from the South slew a Red Dragon. Just not sure if it''s true."


    Some nobles said.


    Hearing this, Grand Duke Leo''s anger subsided a bit, and he asked the nearby nobles: "Count Tapley, didn''t that ''Twilight Blade'' once stay in your domain? Can you get in touch with her?"


    Count Tapley shook his head helplessly: "She left hurriedly five years ago, leaving no contact information."


    Grand Duke Leo''s tone grew solemn: "Maybe we can look to the South, and seek help from the Holy Fadlan Federation."


    "I''m afraid that won''t work."


    Count Triss, who often visited the South, said: "Recently, unprecedented rebellions have erupted in several provinces of Fadlan. His Majesty Aragon has led the Sun Legion in a campaign for months, probably unable to attend to us."


    Grand Duke Leo roared furiously:


    "Then what should we do? Will we just wait to die, surrender to that Red Dragon, and watch him flaunt his power before us?"


    The nobles fell into silence, the hall echoing only with Grand Duke Leo''s roar.


    Suddenly, a hoarse voice broke the silence¡ª


    ¡ªIt was none other than "Grey Hawk" Schroeder.


    "Your Grace, I know of someone who might be able to counter that Red Dragon and is willing to help."

 Chapter 79 Ruling by the Giant Dragons

    The residents of Northwind Castle would never forget that morning.


    The "Infernal Calamity" Cassius stood on the century-old city wall, his enormous wings shrouding the sunlight.


    The Red Dragon looked down upon the thirty thousand city citizens gathered there, proclaiming the establishment of the Ashen Kingdom and the demise of the country they and their ancestors had known.


    "Who agrees? Who opposes?"


    The spears of the Great Goblins glimmered coldly.


    There was no room for negotiation; it was merely a dispassionate notification.


    Thus, the era of dragon rule began.


    At first, people were terrified and anxious, locking their doors, fearing that these monsters would commit heinous acts just like the "Song of Embers" described, insult and devour their wives and daughters, burn their homes.


    But things did not develop as many feared, nor as the northern nobility outside Northwind Castle anticipated.


    The crimes of Duke Brad Rackman were made public, with solid evidence within the bastion. During his two hundred years of rule, tens of thousands were tortured to death, and countless disappearances were all his doing.


    "This is complete slander!"


    "They want to destroy our history!"


    There was an uproar among the residents. Their immediate reaction was to suspect that this was Ashen Kingdom''s slander.


    But as more evidence surfaced, the piles of bones and heaps of corpses beneath Rackman Castle came to light. Even the most stubborn and dragon-hating individuals within the city had to admit that the Duke they once revered was indeed evil and tyrannical.


    Only the northern nobility continued to stubbornly insist that this was fabricated evidence from the Ashen Kingdom, even claiming that the Red Dragon had cruelly murdered these people, despite the Ashen Kingdom having only taken Northwind Castle a few days ago.


    Panic and dread soon followed.


    After the Ashen Kingdom took control, the law-abiding Tieflings had become the main force of Northwind Castle''s city defense, and among the city''s residents, many had blood on their hands from Tieflings.


    Judgment indeed arrived, with Tieflings arresting all who knew the truth and still helped commit crimes among the nobles, putting them on trial in Parliament Square, and beheading dozens.


    That day, blood stained the square red.


    But for the ordinary residents who knew nothing, although some still harbored hatred and looked for revenge, the Tieflings did not take further action.


    Contrary to his usual image to the outside world, Mezulash was not an extreme avenger but a pragmatic individual willing to do anything for the continuation of his race.


    Thus, during the wartime years exiled to Stormy Ridge, he promoted many hawkish supporters of revenge to maintain the might of his race and ensure the ability to resist externally. But after truly reclaiming Northwind Castle, he chose to align with the previously unpopular doves advocating for peaceful coexistence with humans to balance those hawks.


    Mezulash stood on the city wall, overlooking Northwind Castle which had already resumed its functions.


    The streets were bustling with humans, Tieflings, and even Great Goblins. Although human and Tiefling coexistence was far from harmonious, they were no longer mortal enemies, nor engaged in racial massacres.


    "Lerisa, you should have realized this long ago."


    "War."


    "Only war can bring peace."


    Mezulash murmured to himself as he watched everything. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those blue, lake-like beautiful eyes seemed to appear before him again, filled with innocence and kindness.


    He often felt regret and guilt but never remorse, for it had been a rational choice at that time.


    Only rationality could save his race.


    Mezulash never let irrelevant emotions control him. He also understood clearly that if he had cruelly massacred humans as the hawks wished, the Tiefling Tribe would have no place in the Ashen Kingdom.


    The dictatorial Red Dragon would not tolerate any race disrupting his order, even if it was the Tieflings, who were gradually becoming the kingdom''s main pillar.


    ...


    "Fresh raw meat!"


    "Big size leather pants, special supply for Great Goblins!"


    "Selling former Rackman Duchy standard Silver Swords!"


    The once war-stricken streets finally regained some liveliness, though far from what it had been.


    For the tens of thousands of residents in Northwind Castle, regardless of who was ruling above them, be it vampires or Red Dragons, they had to look forward and continue their lives.


    They were surprised to find that these dragon vein monsters were not as brutally terrifying as they had imagined, at least not after they divided up the nobles'' hidden wealth of wine, meat, and treasures to satisfy their greed.


    But who could say what the future would hold?


    "Theft is prohibited in the city."


    "Private brawls are forbidden in the city."


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    "Murderers within the city shall be put to death."


    Cassius temporarily resided in the Council Hall, issuing one succinct "Dictator''s Rule" after another.


    Though he could not enforce "immediate death" upon violation among the original residents as he did with players, he only subtly influenced them to follow subconsciously, and that was enough.


    Under Cassius''s dictatorial laws, even the dragon vein monsters temporarily suppressed their deeply buried cruelty and savagery, refraining from excessive behavior and producing quite a few farcical situations instead:


    For instance, an Ogre named "Bighead" ate up the tavern''s stockpile and ran off without paying, only to be caught by the security team and sentenced to three years of unpaid labor at the tavern, with no room and board provided during the period.


    People were even more surprised to find that, due to the rigorous searches by the "Ashen Claws" security team and the "Nocturne" forces, the criminal gangs that operated in the power vacuum and colluded with the nobility vanished. Secret groups like the "Nine Fingers Guild" and the "Devil Gang" were eradicated, and public security in Northwind Castle actually improved significantly.


    The previously arrogant nobles had fallen from grace under the Ashen Kingdom''s new system, no longer able to oppress the common people, and even faced trials. Those once-oppressed slaves regained their freedom, and small boys were rescued from basements.


    Players too rushed into the city, eager to seize opportunities. The "Mechanical God Cult" guild players made magically powered steam engines and started building mechanized factories. The "Magic Coin" guild used spells to provide services to residents and earn gold coins, bringing spellcasters, once lofty and rare, closer to the people''s daily lives.


    The "Royalty" guild even brazenly bought a hall and claimed to accept all commission tasks.


    Some thought these were merely Ashen Kingdom''s attempts to win over people''s hearts while secretly planning to contact the outside world to resist the empire''s tyranny. Yet others gradually got used to this life and abandoned past traditions...

 Chapter 80 Kingdom Domain

    Northwind Castle, inside the council hall''s chamber.


    "How much longer will it take to complete the criminal code?"


    "Lord Cassius, if I may speak frankly, this task is too monumental. To compile a comprehensive kingdom code... this isn''t something we can complete in just a few months."


    "Oh? Why?"


    "The structure of the Ashen Kingdom is too complex. We must consider the local productivity, social structure, and even the habits of different races and the use of spells. This is a completely new field for us, and without a large amount of practical investigation, we simply cannot proceed."


    "My Lord, let me give you an example. For instance, consuming the bodies of one''s kind is undoubtedly a grave insult to human remains, but for Ogres, it''s an ancient social custom. Meaning that, considering the current number of races in the kingdom, we need to create more than twenty different versions, and the number could continue to increase."


    His voice showed fatigue.


    "But the kingdom''s order needs to be regulated by written law, and it''s urgent."


    "Of course, we will do our best¡ª"


    "One month. Within a month, you must submit a simplified framework of the ''Kingdom Code.'' The rest of the content can be discussed and gradually filled in over time."


    "My Lord, I think this timeframe is still¡ª" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I will provide you with all the textual materials accumulated over a century in Rackman Duchy and a large amount of funding."


    "But¡ª"


    "There are no ''buts.'' If you satisfy me, whether it''s wealth, status, or power, none will be beyond reach. Do you understand?"


    "Understood, understood."


    The player''s name was "Clouds Light and Breeze Mild." His expression at the moment was particularly complex, a mix of joy and sorrow.


    "Sigh¡­"


    He was just an ordinary lawyer, under immense work pressure and suffering from hair loss at the age of thirty due to constant overtime. On doctor''s advice, he temporarily put aside his work to recuperate in a virtual world, seeking some peace in the world of Erezer Sword and Magic.


    Unlike those professional players who had reached the occupation limit of level 4, "Clouds Light and Breeze Mild" was just a level 1 ordinary player who had never taken on a combat mission, having only killed a chicken¡ªsimilar to many ordinary players.


    "Clouds Light and Breeze Mild" originally intended to earn some contribution as a sorcerer but unexpectedly exposed his high professional competence by accident, and was assigned the task of compiling the code in the council hall.


    However, in light of the dizzying array of rewards, he finally chose to return to his old profession.


    "Clouds Light and Breeze Mild" glanced around at the various players, most of them law students and even intern lawyers. He was considered a senior among them.


    "Everyone, the project timeline is very tight. The party A has ceased to be human, wait, he''s never been human; he''s actually a dragon."


    "The deadline is only a month."


    "We might have to work overtime to catch up on the progress."


    He looked down at the densely scattered ''Kingdom Code'' drafts on the floor, and suddenly tears flowed freely. The middle-aged "Clouds Light and Breeze Mild" vanished, replaced by the sorrow of a balding young man.


    "No..."


    "Why am I still working even in another world?"


    ...


    Cassius got up and walked out of the chamber, back into the main hall.


    "These players need constant prompting to keep up the pace, lest they slack off. Otherwise, they might delay me until the public beta."


    Cassius was very familiar with the methods of party A prompting project progress.


    He didn''t actually expect them to produce the framework of the "Ashen Kingdom Code" within a month. It would be good enough if they could complete it within three months. But by setting the deadline at one month, he could push them to race against time.


    Players always liked compromises. For example, if you want to open a window, everyone would oppose it. But if you propose to tear down the roof, people would be willing to open a window. The compilation of the code was similar.


    "The Dictator''s Rule has limited influence on the native people; it cannot replace real laws. The kingdom needs a genuine code that can transcend ages and races."


    Cassius thought.


    The Red Dragon lay sprawling in the council hall. Its gigantic body made the hall, which could accommodate a thousand people, seem cramped.


    He looked at the interface; a new achievement had long appeared. A golden crown appeared in his mind.


    [You have established a country and gained the advanced achievement ''King'']


    "Wherever the sunlight reaches, the land belongs to the empire!¡ªHoly Fadlan Emperor, Aragon the First"


    Your trait ''Dictator''s Rule'' upgraded to: ''Kingdom Domain''


    Charisma +3


    Ruling Proficiency +10


    Your kingdom is under your control. You can spend a certain amount of time to transform an area under your rule into ''Kingdom Domain.'' In the ''Kingdom Domain,'' you can actively suppress all spell reaction effects and enhance your spellcasting potency.


    (Note: The original effect of Dictator''s Rule still exists.)


    "As expected of an advanced trait, it''s essentially a gigantic antimagic field, and it boosts one''s own spellcasting potency."


    "It even significantly enhances charisma."


    Cassius looked at the interface, clicking his tongue in wonder.


    The familiar sensation descended upon him once more, distorting his body and soul, bringing a pure enhancement.


    His charisma increased by two points, totaling a 1.3 times boost twice. This leap in his influencing capability made his external persuasion power reach a terrifying level.


    Although Cassius''s spellcaster level was merely 13, his base value of 28 charisma, which could twist reality, allowed his spell potency to rival that of some legendary sorcerers.


    "So this is what it feels like to be a numbers freak..."


    "Not bad at all."


    The Red Dragon only focused its will on one point; it didn''t even cast a spell, and the elements there began to stir, little flames dancing in the air.


    There was no spell prototype or Magic Web parameters, only the firmament of will and the presentation of talent. This was the ''Power of Deep Thinking'' of sorcerers.


    "Now let''s try the new ability."


    "Kingdom Domain."


    Cassius slowly closed his eyes, focusing his will on the golden crown in his mind.


    The surrounding space underwent a marvelous change, an invisible force field slowly expanded, and within the field, all spell energy bowed down to the Red Dragon.


    One could say he was the absolute ruler within this domain.


    [Kingdom Domain]


    The Red Dragon opened his eyes, and golden energy surged in his eyes.


    He could feel the elemental currents around him and control them. He could cause them to intensify or fall silent; within this domain, all spell energy was like his subjects, his retainers.


    "A very powerful ability." Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    "If I''m in the Kingdom Domain, facing that Shadow Dragon again, I certainly wouldn''t be powerless."


    Suddenly, there was a sound from Cassius''s dimensional bag. The ''Arcane Priory Medal'' was flashing with magical aura.


    "Looks like it''s time for the second Arcane Priory."


    The Red Dragon cast a shape-shifting spell. The fragments of aurora floated around him, and his enormous dragon body vanished. A black-haired, golden-eyed human noble appeared in the council hall.


    "However, quite a lot has happened between these two meetings."


    Cassius''s face revealed a smile.

 Chapter 81 Schroeders Speech

    Boske Duchy, Stratholme Fortress.


    Cassius lightly pushed open a hidden door in the wall and entered the hall.


    This time, the members of the Arcane Priory had not yet arrived in full, but the venue was already abuzz with discussions. Most members'' faces were shrouded in a cloud¡ªthat of fear for the uncertain future.


    The majority of the Anzeta Branch members were Northern nobility, accustomed to a life of extravagance and debauchery. But now, the shadow of the Red Dragon loomed over the North, with each duchy teetering on the brink of collapse. They also feared the flames of war spreading to their own homes, threatening to strip them of their noble status.


    Upon seeing Cassius arrive, a tall noblewoman promptly greeted him.


    "Good day, Mr. Remnant Flame."


    "Good day, Lady Tulip, you are as beautiful and enchanting as ever," Cassius responded politely.


    It wasn''t just this noblewoman; many others approached him, looking to converse, some even going out of their way to curry favor.


    At the last Arcane Priory meeting, his generosity had caught many''s attention. Speculations about his identity were rife, with the most reasonable and widely accepted one being: "Remnant Flame" was an illegitimate noble child from the Southern Fadlan Empire, here to establish a foothold for his family in Anzeta.


    Yet at this moment, the beautiful noblewoman''s eyes contained a hint of worry.


    Cassius knowingly asked, "Lady Tulip, is there something troubling you?"


    "Tulip" sighed, answering, "It''s not just me, everyone here laments the fall of the Rackman Principality."


    "That evil dragon is too terrifying, too brutal. It is said he ruthlessly trampled on the sacred traditions of the North and cruelly murdered many nobles. It is said that on that day, blood stained the Parliament Square."


    "Indeed, it is truly horrific," Cassius nodded slightly, following her words.


    Another member echoed, "The evil dragon''s tyrannical rule will surely be overthrown, and Knights of Justice will rise."


    "He actually placed the noble Northern aristocrats on equal footing with those peasants, those Gray Beasts. It''s simply incomprehensible!"


    "This is a complete destruction of Northern Order!"


    "Yes, this evil dragon will definitely face retribution!"


    "Our Triss Family has already recruited adventurers to eliminate that evil dragon!"


    "If war comes, the Fano Duchy will fight to the death! We will never let our land fall into monsters'' hands!"


    Cassius listened to these impassioned declarations, secretly noting their words, as well as the families and countries they represented.


    "Just for beheading a few dozen people, such a fuss. These Northern nobility have quite the intense reaction."


    "But no matter, we''ll take this step by step.


    "You will all adapt eventually."


    Cassius made a silent vow in his heart.


    The noblewoman had no inkling that her offhand remark would bring catastrophe to her family in the near future.


    Amid the gaze of the crowd, Olivia, the "Silver Star," appeared in the hall once more.


    "Good day, Miss Venus," Cassius took the initiative to greet her.


    She didn''t answer, instead using a Text Transmission Spell to deliver a clear female voice audible only to Cassius.


    "I asked my grandfather, and he said Gold Dragons don''t like this magic-poor place of Anzeta. Aside from an adult female Gold Dragon, only a young male Gold Dragon resides here temporarily. If I''m not mistaken, your name is Angel, son of the Ancient Gold Dragon Castro, right?"


    Olivia glanced at him, her expression smug as if she had uncovered a secret.


    Cassius first froze, then was somewhat dumbfounded. He hadn''t expected this cunning Silver Dragon to help complete his disguise, saving him the trouble of gathering materials to fabricate an identity.


    So he neither confirmed nor denied, responding with the same Text Transmission Spell.


    "Miss Venus, prying into members'' identities is against the Arcane Priory''s rules. As the head of the Anzeta Branch, are you intending to break the rules?"


    "Clearly you first..."


    "I didn''t purposefully seek it out, just heard it through the grapevine. There''s a fundamental difference between the two."


    "Hmph, pretentious Gold Dragon."


    ...


    The hall was still lavishly decorated, with a massive round table.


    The members of the Arcane Priory sat down one by one.


    "Since everyone is here..."


    Olivia was about to proceed with the usual segments of the Arcane Priory meeting when someone interrupted her, speaking first.


    She frowned slightly but remained polite, nodding slightly to indicate the person could continue speaking.


    "Forgive my rudeness, Lady Venus."


    "I do not intend to disrupt the meeting''s progression, but I believe there are more urgent matters that need discussing, in line with Lord Trafalgar''s principle: ''United against evil when necessary.''"


    The speaker was "Grey Hawk" Schroeder.


    His face was etched with the lines of fatigue and worry, appearing twenty years older than before. At this moment, Schroeder looked grave, covered in a shadow, his voice filled with pain.


    "Since things have come to this, I won''t hide my identity any longer."


    "I was once a court mage of the Rackman Principality, as well as a noble of high lineage in the North. But now... I am merely a homeless wanderer."


    Upon hearing his words, no matter what thoughts the attendees harbored, they all intentionally displayed sympathetic and regretful expressions.


    Schroeder''s voice gradually became hoarse.


    "I once witnessed that Red Dragon destroy our allied forces, annihilate our cities, while I stood powerless."


    "Now, this Red Dragon has destroyed the country I served, brutally oppressing my people, mercilessly slaughtering the principality''s nobles."


    The members present were all deeply saddened by these words, some even shedding tears for this tragic fate.


    Olivia, hearing his words, frowned slightly.


    She softly said, "But according to my investigation, the Duke you served, Brad, was indeed a vampire, and the Ashen Kingdom hasn''t committed any massacres of civilians yet. What you said is somewhat¡ª" Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    Before she could finish, she was interrupted by Schroeder''s passionate words. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lady Venus, you are simply too kind, too na?ve! By the gods, that is a Red Dragon! The embodiment of evil and brutality! How can you be so unreasonable as to believe the lies of a Red Dragon!"


    "A vampire? Utter slander! He is the true vampire, greedily draining the Northern Kingdom!"


    "And who knows what atrocities this evil dragon may commit in the future? Today he slaughters nobles, tomorrow he may devour entire cities, even the entire Northern human population!"


    "I..."


    Olivia wanted to retort that she had acquired her information through Spell Image, not through Ashen Kingdom''s propaganda.


    But Schroeder, intentionally or not, ignored her doubts, his impassioned words flowing uninterrupted, leaving her no chance to defend herself.


    At this moment, Schroeder''s speech reached its climax. He stood up, looking around with a tragically solemn gaze.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, the four-hundred-year-old Rackman Principality is gone, and next is the Norton Principality. Then who will be next?"


    "If we do not resist, the next to be slaughtered by the evil dragon could be you!"

 Chapter 82 Righteous Cooperation

    Schroeder''s speech finally ended, and the crowd erupted in outrage, slamming their tables in unison.


    "That evil dragon must pay the price!"


    "The tyranny of the Ashen Kingdom will come to an end!"


    "The justice and order of the North shall not be undermined!"


    "One day, his dragon head will be chopped off and put on display as a trophy!"


    Schroeder surveyed the room. Seeing that the atmosphere had been sufficiently stirred up, he spoke in a low voice:


    "Now, I have found a special method to trap that Red Dragon, but I am lacking in strength and need your assistance."


    "..."


    Instantly, the hall fell silent. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The very people who had spoken so eloquently before now seemed to have been cast in a Group Silence Spell, all falling silent in unison.


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    After all, saying it was one thing, but actually doing it was another. That giant dragon had single-handedly destroyed thirty thousand of the allied forces. Though everyone talked about slaying the dragon, no one was foolish enough to risk their own life.


    Schroeder perceived the crowd''s silence, but his face did not show any sign of disappointment.


    These low-level spellcasters were not his target for this recruitment anyway.


    His gaze shifted to Madam "Venus."


    Her beautiful blue-gray eyes showed displeasure, with no intention of responding.


    Schroeder, who excelled at reading people, had long noticed that although Madam "Venus" possessed strong spellcasting abilities, she was obviously inexperienced and somewhat indecisive; her interpersonal skills could even be described as "naive."


    ¡ª¡ªThis was also why Schroeder dared interrupt her speech earlier. If it had been a more assertive senior spellcaster, he would never have dared.


    However, since Madam "Venus" had just questioned him and he hadn''t saved her face, she was clearly not who Schroeder intended to recruit, either.


    Thinking this, he turned to Mr. "Remnant Flame."


    The black-haired, golden-eyed noble youth, showing a face full of indignation, seemed eager to kill the brutal Red Dragon.


    Yes, he was the one.


    Strong spellcasting ability, backed by influence, and a sincere heart pursuing justice¡ªwasn''t he the perfect pawn Schroeder had been hoping for?


    In fact, not just Olivia, Schroeder too had noticed the "flaws" in the Shape-shifting Spell and the subsequent exchanges uncovered an unmistakable arrogance, leading him to suspect that Mr. "Remnant Flame" was highly likely a Gold Dragon.


    Championing justice¡ªthis was a creed carved into every Gold Dragon bloodline. These obsessive creatures often spent most of their time in disguise, practicing "entrapment justice." Many assassins and bandits lingering in desolate places met with swift ends when their seemingly helpless victims turned out to be disguised Gold Dragons.


    Gold Dragons wouldn''t rest until they defeated and judged or killed the wrongdoers. They demanded nothing less than complete victory over evil.


    Schroeder was willing to offend senior spellcasters to create an atmosphere of despair brought on by evil, just to lure this suspected Gold Dragon.


    As expected, Lord "Remnant Flame" stood up, slamming the table.


    "Bang!"


    He glanced scornfully around and said in a loud voice:


    "Is the justice just mentioned by everyone here just a joke?"


    "Mr. Grey Hawk, I and my backers are willing to provide all possible assistance to help subdue that brutal Red Dragon!"


    "Lord Remnant Flame, thank you for stepping forward and contributing to the justice and order of the North."


    "Mr. Grey Hawk, there''s no need for more words. Eliminating the evil dragon is simply what I should do, and it is also the unquestionable duty of anyone who carries a heart of justice."


    "You, you... I don''t even know what to say."


    Schroeder rushed up, gripping Cassius''s hand tightly, showing a look of tearful gratitude.


    "Such a gullible Gold Dragon; once they both are exhausted, I can capture them all at once. Then, I will become the hero of the entire North."


    Schroeder thought to himself.


    "I will surely do my best to ''help'' you."


    Cassius also thought to himself, a barely noticeable hint of mischief flashing in his golden eyes.


    Their hands clasped tightly together, pledging to join forces to vanquish the brutal Red Dragon that plagued the North, no matter the cost.


    ¡ª¡ªThis scene was like the beginning of an epic tale recited by a bard, brimming with a strong sense of heroism.


    However, the true nature of the scene was the handshake of an evil spellcaster under the command of a vampire and the disguised Red Dragon itself, vowing together to defeat the Red Dragon in the name of justice.


    Seen in this light, it appeared particularly absurd.


    Thus, the meeting ended with everyone in high spirits.


    People praised Lord "Remnant Flame" for his righteousness and wished them success in eliminating the Red Dragon, bringing peace back to the Northern people. Of course, more importantly, was to maintain their noble status.


    ...


    As the meeting ended, people began to leave.


    Schroeder left a teleportation coordinate, inviting Cassius to a secret place prepared specifically in the Boske Duchy tomorrow morning to discuss the specifics of their cooperation.


    Cassius, however, did not rush to leave but stayed waiting in place. As expected, Madam "Silver Star" Olivia called out to him once again.


    She hurried over, her blue-gray eyes filled with a trace of concern.


    "Angel, you cannot trust that human so easily, he is lying. My divination spells tell me he is likely a subordinate of the Vampire Duke, definitely not a kind person."

 Chapter 82 The Justice Collaboration_2

    "Of course I know."


    Cassius replied calmly.


    Olivia was a bit puzzled, "Then why did you agree to him?"


    Cassius looked up at the sky, a trace of determination in his golden pupils, "Because a greater evil has shrouded Anzeta, I must unite all forces that can be united to eliminate that rampaging Red Dragon."


    He looked at Olivia, raising an eyebrow slightly.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t let any evil go unpunished. Once Grey Hawk helps me kill that Red Dragon, I will eliminate him without hesitation too."


    "I will bring true justice and order to all of Anzeta, even all of Erezer. This has always been my goal."


    "You..."


    Olivia was stunned.


    In her over seventy years of dragon life, she had not had much contact with Gold Dragons. Most of her companions were Silver Dragons of the same clan.


    Compared to Gold Dragons'' obsession, Silver Dragons usually did not take eradicating evil as their mission. They preferred to live among humanoid creatures and enjoy life, not taking action unless faced with an aggressive enemy.


    Olivia, although having had encounters against the Dragon Shaman Cult, had never seen a Gold Dragon as dedicated to eliminating evil as the one before her. It made her feel somewhat strange but immensely moved.


    Cassius saw the Silver Dragon was stunned, the [Smooth Talker] trait in full effect.


    "My father, the Ancient Gold Dragon Castro, once told me fifty years ago: The greater the power, the greater the responsibility." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This world grants us Metal Dragons a strength unmatched by mortals, and we must bear the immense responsibility of eliminating all evil. This is the world''s rule."


    Olivia couldn''t help but sigh, "Angel, your father was truly a great and wise Gold Dragon."


    Cassius gazed into her eyes, speaking heavily, "Olivia, I''ve investigated thoroughly. That Red Dragon is incredibly strong, beyond your imagination, capable of casting Ninth Tier Spells."


    Olivia''s beautiful eyes instantly showed a look of astonishment.


    "How is that possible?"


    As a Senior Spellcaster who had studied spells for over fifty years, few understood the difficulty of casting Ninth Tier Spells better than her. It was a dream that most mages could never achieve in their entire lives.


    But a Red Dragon, not known for spellcasting, and merely in its youth stage, capable of casting Ninth Tier Spells, was too strange.


    "Nothing is impossible."


    Cassius''s tone grew heavier.


    "So, if I don''t participate in the next Arcane Priory, it likely means the operation has already failed. By then, I will leave a message on the battlefield at Northwind Castle, telling you the intelligence I discovered about that Red Dragon at the cost of my life."


    "By then, I hope you can find it and deliver it to those Knights of Justice."


    "Alright..."


    Olivia answered softly after a long silence.


    "Angel, don''t always think the worst. His Majesty Bahamut will protect you. I hope I can see you at the next Arcane Priory."


    "Hope so."


    Cassius replied indifferently, as if he had long since disregarded his own life and death.


    He gazed into Olivia''s dimly glowing blue-gray eyes, thinking that he had finally fooled this Silver Dragon, just waiting for her to deliver the goods later.


    ...


    Stratholme Fortress, Avenger''s Chamber.


    This was a secret base specially prepared by Duke Leo of the Boske Duchy for Schroeder and others who had lost their country. Its location was extremely secret, even the spies of the Ashen Kingdom''s Serpentfolk did not know of its existence.


    Schroeder and six former Rackman Court Mages gathered here, waiting for the arrival of their collaborator.


    The space distorted and a portal opened.


    A noble young man, whom Cassius had transformed into, stepped out, looking around and observing the mages.


    In his eyes, these were all Fourth Level mages, not worth his attention.


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    Schroeder hurriedly led the people to greet him, a fawning smile on his face, "Lord Remnant Fire, welcome to your arrival. We, these homeless people, have been waiting for this moment for too long."


    Cassius said calmly, "The situation is urgent now, you don''t need to say much. As long as the Red Dragon is not eliminated, the Northern Countries are in constant crisis."


    His tone paused, a doubtful look appearing on his face.


    "I just want to know, what confidence do you have to contend with that Red Dragon? Just relying on you few Court Mages?"


    "Of course not, please don''t be anxious, Lord Remnant Fire."


    Schroeder replied with a wry smile.


    He pulled out an old parchment scroll from the secret chamber''s hidden cabinet.


    Cassius narrowed his eyes slightly, immediately becoming alert. He could sense a dangerous aura from it¡ªthat was a forbidden secret technique against dragonkin.


    [Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle]


    Eighth Tier Spell


    The "Dragon Fan Black Mage" Vagnard developed this spell out of his endless obsession with dragons, to study giant dragons indefinitely.


    Due to the excessive strength of dragons, this spell required over twenty spellcasters to cast together or for a legendary spellcaster to cast, using True Dragon''s blood and scales as the primer. It could bind a dragon whose hierarchy of life had not reached the Ancient Dragon stage.


    Vagnard, Cassius knew this name, which was also the famous boss of Anzeta in a previous life.


    A hundred years ago, he was kidnapped and became a member of the Dragon Shaman Cult, forced to serve the Evil Dragons and Dragon Liches until a famished Red Dragon devoured his wife. Vagnard went mad.


    Since then, Vagnard became insanely obsessed with dragon strength. He captured the White Dragons of Anzeta, built the Polar Night Demon Tower, and even turned his own daughter into a half-human, half-dragon monster, becoming the so-called "Dragon Fan Black Mage."

 Chapter 82 Righteous Cooperation 3

    Cassius furrowed his brow, a hint of rage in his voice.


    "Is this from the Polar Night Demon Tower?"


    "You dare to cooperate with that lunatic Vagnard?"


    Schroeder clearly did not expect the other party to know of the mysterious mage, and hastily explained: "No, we did not know the origin of this scroll; we just wanted to use it against the Red Dragon."


    Cassius said coldly: "Lord Grey Hawk, I imagine you can guess my identity."


    A powerful pressure emanated, cold sweat dripping from Schroeder''s forehead. He trembled as he spoke: "Of, of course, you are a Gold Dragon, a guardian of justice and order."


    Cassius snorted coldly, fully displaying the pride of a Gold Dragon.


    "It''s good that you know. Human, I will cooperate with you, but don''t think about playing any tricks."


    "Yes, Lord Remnant Fire."


    Schroeder took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.


    "Lord Remnant Fire, our plan is this: You will return to your true form and engage the Red Dragon in direct combat, luring him to a predetermined location. Then I will activate the array to bind him."


    "Of course..."


    "We also need your scales and blood."


    He stole a glance at "Remnant Fire" and, seeing no change in his expression, he was reassured.


    Cassius questioned again.


    "Surely, you few mages aren''t enough to cast this Eighth Tier Spell."


    Schneider answered respectfully: "I am gathering spellcasters from all over, but the response has been minimal. It may take several months to prepare."


    Cassius said bluntly: "We do not have that much time. The Northern People are constantly in danger." Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    Schroeder said helplessly: "But spellcasters are extremely scarce..."


    Cassius interrupted without hesitation: "I have dozens of spellcasters under my command who can be summoned immediately. I also have contacts in Northwind Castle who can provide a safe area for setting up the array."


    "So, when can we begin?"


    "One month."


    Schroeder answered honestly.


    "Ordinary mages take at least a month to learn to draw part of the array. This array is too high-level; it can only be drawn once, and once drawn, it will be completely forgotten. I will serve as the main controller of the array."


    "Very well. I will transport my spellcasters here one by one. I hope you succeed in one month."


    "Yes, Lord Remnant Fire."


    ...


    Northwind Castle, headquarters of the [Magic Coin] Guild.


    "Five hundred and one, five hundred and two..."


    "We struck it rich recently!"


    Charlotte, the president of the Magic Coin Guild and now a Fourth Level Mage, was eagerly counting the gold coins in the guild warehouse. Recently, they had earned a lot of gold coins by taking on tasks in the city.


    Suddenly, a faction mission refreshed on his panel.


    [Lurking Mage]


    [Court Mage Schroeder from the Former Rackman Duchy is planning revenge against the King of Ashen, Cassius. Please gather 20 players to disguise as the retainers of Gold Dragon Anhel and infiltrate the Avenger''s Chamber in the Boske Duchy...]


    [Reward: 15,000 faction contribution per person, a total of 2,500 gold coins]


    "Why is it another traitor mission?"


    Charlotte was about to complain, but when he saw the reward section, his eyes widened.


    "Damn, such high rewards?"


    Their guild had made a living by being traitors, and their business skills were quite polished. This time, they might really strike it rich.


    "Woohoo, let''s take off!"


    "Brothers, keep up!"


    "Magic Coin, follow me to battle!" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ignoring the looks of madness from ordinary residents, Charlotte shouted and screamed within the guild''s headquarters.

 Chapter 83 Action Begins

    A month later, Stratholme Fortress.


    Charlotte stepped forward and reported: "Sir Schroeder, my men have memorized the seventeenth part of the array, and the basic structure of Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle is complete."


    "Good, very good."


    Schroeder revealed an expression of unconcealable joy, already imagining the success of his plans.


    "Soon, I will kill that Red Dragon, become the hero of the North, and even the Rackman Duchy will fall into my hands..."


    Schroeder did not know where the Gold Dragon managed to find so many spellcasters. Although their spellcasting abilities were generally low, their speed of learning and understanding far surpassed that of ordinary people.


    ¡ªHe did not know that players could use experience to learn spells, and Charlotte fretted over this as well, simply attributing it to the exceptional talent of the Golden Dragon Kin.


    Charlotte''s face immediately turned into a sycophantic grin: "Sir Schroeder, about the spell scroll and gold coin you promised..."


    Schroeder''s expression turned dark, but since these mages were still very useful to his plan, he impatiently waved his hand: "Of course, go to Teman to retrieve them yourself¡­"


    Charlotte exclaimed joyfully: "Thank you, Sir Schroeder."


    "Sky Flying Witch, go to Lord Teman and collect 200 gold coins and a Third Tier Spell scroll."


    "Got it, boss."


    The Sky Flying Witch skipped towards the chamber''s warehouse to ask the overseer for the reward.


    Charlotte had originally thought this double-agent task would require a lot of effort to flatter and please, but upon arrival found that they could actually swindle spell scrolls and gold coins from the Northern Kingdom.


    Now, they no longer wanted to leave, even considering making the Avenger''s Chamber the new base for the [Magic Coin] guild.


    Suddenly, a portal of flames opened.


    A young noble with black hair and golden eyes stepped out¡ªit was the incarnation of Cassius.


    "Lord Grey Hawk, the appointed date has arrived. Are you ready?"


    On seeing this, Schroeder hurried to greet him, respectfully saying: "Your subordinates have been learning very quickly. I believe we are well-prepared. However, Lord Remnant Fire, please wait a moment. I have also gathered a group of righteous spellcasters from across the kingdom to join us in this operation."


    "Rest assured, they are absolutely loyal." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "They will be the central controllers of the array."


    Schroeder crushed the Text Transmission Spell crystal in his hand.


    As spatial ripples formed, twelve grey-robed mages appeared one after another in the chamber.


    Cassius''s gaze swept over them and he discovered that no less than four of them were of the seventh level. In a magical wasteland like Anzeta, this already made them high rank spellcasters. It seemed Schroeder still did not fully trust this "Gold Dragon" and had assigned the most crucial parts of Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle to his own men.


    Nevertheless, this was just to Cassius''s liking.


    "Gather them all at once so I don''t have to waste effort capturing you one by one, how fortuitous," Cassius thought, a playful glint flashing in his golden eyes.


    His expression unchanged, Cassius just slightly nodded: "Court mages from the Northern Kingdom, this looks promising."


    "Greetings, Lord Remnant Fire."


    The twelve grey-robed mages respectfully saluted Cassius. The Gold Dragon was a revered entity in any part of Erezer, even treated as an honored guest by the emperor in southern Fadlan, let alone in a remote area like Anzeta.


    The twenty members of the [Magic Coin] guild also gathered around.


    By now, over forty spellcasters crowded the narrow chamber. This was a considerable force in all of Anzeta; even the Rackman Duchy, in its heyday, never had so many court spellcasters at its service.


    They were all gathered here with one goal¡ªto slay a dragon.


    Of course, most of them were undercovers from the Ashen Kingdom, and even Cassius himself had personally arrived, truly outnumbering the actual organization members.


    Looking around, Cassius declared passionately: "Everyone, the situation is dire now, and the Northern countries are on the brink of disaster. I will not waste many words." Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Whether we can kill that Red Dragon, success rests on this moment!"


    "I believe the evil dragon''s reign will end soon, and justice and order will prevail in the North!"


    "Clap clap clap¡­"


    The spellcasters rose and applauded as though their great success were already achieved.


    Charlotte watched Cassius''s earnest expression and clapped while commenting in the guild chat: "I admire him. This faction leader acts even better than we do¡ª"


    "These mages are pitiful."


    "Haha, everyone but Schroeder is an undercover."


    After Cassius''s brief speech ended, Schroeder approached, asking somewhat anxiously: "Lord Remnant Fire, can you truly provide a completely secure location near Northwind Castle for us to cast our spells?"


    He still had some doubts in his heart.


    Northwind Castle was now the center of the Ashen Kingdom, heavily guarded; one wrong move could lead to complete annihilation.


    Cassius glanced at him, his golden eyes showing a hint of disdain: "What, human, are you questioning a dragon''s capability?"


    An invisible pressure emanated from him.


    Schroeder became convinced it was indeed a genuine Gold Dragon, as such inherent arrogance could not be faked.


    Sweat trickled down his forehead, and he quickly answered: "No, Lord Remnant Fire, I did not mean that. I just wanted to confirm that if you can provide a safe place near Northwind Castle, that would be best."


    He continued: "To be honest, I have also contacted the Boske Duchy and the Norton Principality. The dukes have specially dispatched the Lionheart Knights and Double-Headed Eagle Warriors to wait near Northwind Castle. Once we kill that giant dragon, they will immediately come to our succor, helping us escape smoothly."


    "After the evil dragon''s death, his remaining forces will be of little concern, as the duchies around will dispatch their elite forces to eradicate the dragon''s surviving retainers."


    "Then, the North''s order will return to its usual peace and stability."


    Cassius''s eyes lit up: "Excellent, you have done well."


    "Rest assured, this time our combined forces will definitely kill the evil dragon!"


    However, Schroeder thought Cassius was excited because of the additional reinforcements, while Cassius was actually pleased to be able to capture even more of the enemy''s elite forces at once.


    Never would Schroeder have imagined that the "Gold Dragon" before him was the very target of his plan, his greatest foe, the terrifying Red Dragon known as the King of Ashen and Infernal Calamity.


    "Begin your ''dragon slaying'' operation quickly, I am already¡­ impatient."

 Chapter 84 Vagnards Dragon Binding Magic Circle

    Northwind Castle Suburbs.


    Portals opened one after another, bringing mages to a hidden clearing.


    This clearing was not far from Northwind Castle, surrounded by tall dense forest. The area was quite quiet, and the flat ground had nothing but wildflowers and weeds.


    This was the site Cassius had chosen to build a grand palace in the future, the "safe casting place" he had provided for Schroeder.


    In a month''s time, he had completely transformed this place into his Kingdom Domain.


    Schroeder looked around nervously. He did not sense any danger, but the higher rank mage''s intuition made him detect a slight anomaly.


    "Lord Remnant Fire, it seems a bit... too quiet here."


    He gently felt the air with his hand.


    "The flow of elements here is extremely calm."


    Cassius calmly explained, "This is a barrier of breath isolation. It prevents prying from the outside. Otherwise, how do you think I managed to create this secret base right under that red dragon''s nose? It cost me quite a bit of effort."


    "Truly ingenious."


    Schroeder nodded slightly.


    After all, that red dragon could cast Eighth Tier Spells. Being cautious was very normal.


    "Let''s start drawing the array."


    Schroeder ordered.


    His voice trembled slightly. The Greyhawk Mage knew this was his last chance to redeem himself.


    The twelve Grey Robe Mages cast sound isolation spells, just in case.


    The parchment scroll radiated a dangerous aura, and its complex and abundant magical power poured out.


    A man''s strange wailing echoed, blocked by the spell but still resonating within the clearing.


    "Fear it, praise the dragon''s strength."


    "Its gaping maw can swallow me whole."


    "Its sharp fangs can tear me apart."


    "Its flame can burn me to ashes."


    "I will control it, I will bind it, I will become the dragon!"


    The players guided that magical power, drawing complex and eerie patterns on the ground. These patterns combined to form the powerful Eighth Tier Spell¡ª Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle.


    "It''s finally starting."


    "I will become a dragon-slaying hero."


    Thinking of the red dragon that had destroyed everything he had, hatred gleamed deeply in Schroeder''s eyes. He had dreamt countless times about thrusting his sword into that red dragon''s chest, making the dragon wail and die before him, just as the Allied Forces had once been slaughtered.


    Schroeder took a deep breath, stepped forward a few paces, and walked to the center of the array.


    The twelve court spellcasters of the Northern Kingdom took their positions at the central nodes, forming a circle.


    The twenty-something players stood at the outer edge, handling the most basic spell controls.


    "Buzz¡ª"


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    As the last controller took their place, the complex patterns lit up immediately. The surging magic flow roared within the array like a massive vortex. Even Cassius could deeply feel the terrifying power.


    Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle, being an Eighth Tier Spell, was chaotic and complex. Even with dozens of spellcasters working together, it was extremely draining.


    Schroeder struggled to maintain primary control over the array, gasping for breath as he pleaded:


    "Lord Remnant Fire..."


    "Please transform back to your noble and grand form, and lower yourself to provide a dragon scale and fifteen drops of dragon blood for the binding array."


    "As long as you lure that red dragon here, I can ensure it gets trapped!"


    Cassius curiously observed him, his body flickering with subtle magical radiance.


    "No problem."


    His body rapidly expanded, and a colossal figure soon dominated everyone''s sight. The enormous shadow cast by it enveloped those within the array.


    Schroeder looked up in amazement.


    But soon, that amazement turned into terror.


    ¡ª¡ªA body nearly twenty meters long, as if the embodiment of strength, covered in crimson scales. Jagged spikes jutted outward, and the backward-swept fringe extended to the tail tip. The massive horns atop its head resembled a majestic crown, and its golden, vertical pupils danced with fierce flames.


    This was no gold dragon at all but an incredibly terrifying red dragon!


    Moreover, Schroeder recognized it at once. It was the one that haunted his nightmares countless times, the Infernal Calamity, the King of Ashen, Red Dragon Cassius!


    Schroeder stood trembling, shaking his head repeatedly as if he couldn''t believe what he was seeing.


    "No, no, this is absolutely impossible."


    "You... you''re no damn gold dragon. You are that cursed red dragon!"


    Schroeder had lost his sanity, pointing at the players, shouting maniacally.


    "They, they are all spies too!"


    "Damn it!"


    "This was all a lie from the start!"


    Over twenty players revealed their true identities as spies, launching attacks on the defenseless court mages. Various spell radiances flew about chaotically.


    The red dragon did not attack but watched those panicked mages from above with a hint of mockery in its golden eyes.


    "For justice... isn''t that right?"


    "I never said I was a so-called gold dragon."


    "Schroeder."


    Schroeder had fully come to his senses by now, realizing he had fallen into a trap. His eyes burned with endless hatred and bitterness directed at Cassius.


    "Red dragon, you ruined everything I had."


    "My family, my status..."


    "You even crushed my last hope... I want you dead! At any cost!"


    Schroeder, driven mad, as the primary controller, forcibly activated the incomplete Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle, attempting a final gamble against Cassius with the strong magic targeting dragons.


    However, Cassius had been prepared.


    In this month, he had completely transformed the area into his Kingdom Domain.


    The red dragon''s eyes glowed with golden energy, an ethereal crown crowning him with his will.


    An invisible aura spread out, and the surrounding elements fell under his control. All magical energy became his subjects; even the Magic Web submitted to his will.


    Kingdom Domain, ForbiddenProhibition.


    Instantly, the surrounding magical energy fell silent.


    Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle dimmed once more.


    "Damn, damn it..."


    "It failed."


    Schroeder, losing the support of that powerful force, felt the dead magic domain-like space around him. His last resort was futile.


    He collapsed to the ground, his face pale as death, his eyes empty, filled with deep despair.


    The twelve court mages tried to escape using spatial magic, but the surrounding Magic Web didn''t budge, rendering them no different than ordinary people.


    The Great Goblin army surrounded them, capturing the powerless mages. They would be sent to Ramp''s new "Tower of the Great Sage" to become unfortunate test subjects.

 Chapter 85 Ramps New Ornament

    The Dragon Vein Ogre Mage Ramp had been waiting for a long time, and now he lazily flew over from the city, landing with a thud.


    It was clear that his Flight Magic had improved significantly, as he could now control it freely.


    Ramp greedily eyed the unconscious mages, saliva nearly dripping from his menacing mouth. For him, and indeed for the entire Ashen Kingdom, each mage was a valuable, reusable resource.


    Yes, resources¡ªthe vast spell knowledge in the mages'' minds and their incredibly wise brains were extremely useful to Ramp.


    Ramp approached the Red Dragon, his face brimming with the joy of a bountiful harvest. He respectfully said:


    "Congratulations, Master, Your wisdom shames me. You managed to round up these rats hiding in the gutters."


    Cassius nodded slightly.


    "These mages are yours to handle. Make good use of their worth, let them become assets of the Ashen Nest."


    "Yes, Master."


    Ramp grinned, unable to hide the grotesque smile on his ugly face.


    Cassius noticed Ramp''s overwhelming excitement and grew curious.


    Had he eaten those mages?


    So Cassius casually asked:


    "Ramp, what did you do with the Bennett we caught earlier, and his mage apprentices?"


    Upon hearing this, Ramp realized the Red Dragon suspected him of cannibalizing, a suspicion not without precedent.


    He quickly responded:


    "Reporting to Master, please rest assured, our ''Tower of the Great Sage'' has a complete process in place. There is no chance of secret eating."


    Ramp opened up, introducing with great enthusiasm:


    "First, we strip them of their magical items. These will be added to the Ashen Kingdom''s inventory, which means your treasury.


    "Next, we subject them to severe torture, while utilizing the Truth Spell to extract the spell knowledge and intelligence from the spellcasters'' minds."


    "Finally, when they are thoroughly exhausted and at their most vulnerable, we can cast Charming Spells on them to completely break down their psychological defenses, ensuring total control over them."


    Cassius, who either usually slept or researched spells, paid little attention to the specifics of the Ashen Kingdom''s affairs, leaving them to his trusted subordinates.


    Hearing this, he gained some understanding of Ramp''s operations.


    "Where did they end up?"


    "Most of the mage apprentices have become menial laborers within the tower. Their lives, even their thoughts, are under my control. Any signs of trouble can be immediately eradicated, with no unusual situations occurring."


    "As for the senior mage Bennett from Victoria Port..."


    Ramp lowered his head, his tone hesitant but continued speaking:


    "His spellcasting ability was too strong, making it difficult to control him. Even if successful, it posed significant risk, potentially becoming an unstable factor within the Kingdom."


    "So, I made a unilateral decision to kill him and turn him into a magical item. Master, please forgive me. This item was only just completed, and I haven''t had time to report it to you."


    The Dragon Vein Ogre unveiled a new pendant on his chest.


    ¡ªIt was a human skull, even featuring a fresh, red, wet brain, preserved by the power of Spatial Magic. Mithril chains connected it on both sides, hanging from the ogre''s thick neck.


    On Ramp''s massive frame, the skull indeed looked like a dainty pendant.


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    Listening to Ramp''s guilty words and seeing his bashful expression, even Cassius was momentarily speechless.


    Bennett''s Wisdom


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    Creator: Ramp


    Introduction: The Ogre Mage Ramp enjoyed a congenial conversation with the noble mage Bennett from Victoria Port, appreciating his wisdom and considering him a close friend. Bennett felt fortunate, thinking he would be freed by his ''friend,'' only to meet Ramp''s slaughter¡ªRamp didn''t even use his preferred club, fearing damage to the precious brain.


    Thus, through a series of careful experiments, Ramp permanently hung this ''friend''s'' wisdom around his neck. When the wind blows through the skull''s gaps, if you listen closely, you might still hear Bennett''s dying scream: "Ramp¡ªwhy did you kill me?"


    Effect: Intelligence +3


    Proficiencies: Arcane +4, Knowledge +4, Research +3


    You can store spells that Bennett learned in life within it as additional spell slots, to be cast at any time, including Force Wall Technique, Monster Immobilization Spell, and Protective Energy Damage. The number of spells it can store is four, requiring a day to pre-load them.


    After reading through the item''s details, Cassius looked at Ramp with an increasingly strange expression. This guy definitely had the makings of a deranged boss.


    "Intelligence boost, spell storage."


    "If you ignore its appearance, this is absolutely divine gear for a mage."


    Cassius sighed inwardly.


    But this item wasn''t much use to him, as his spellcasting didn''t rely on intelligence.


    With this Bennett''s Wisdom crafted by his own hands equipped, Ramp could achieve an astounding intelligence boost of 20 points. For mortals, this was already pinnacle wisdom, only surpassed by Archmages with advanced spells capable of world-altering effects.


    This was a remarkable leap in capability, and it was no wonder Ramp was so excited.


    Cassius sensed the guilt, anxiety, and apprehension under Ramp''s bloodline pressure.


    Considering this, Cassius calmly said: "In the future, make sure to report any experiments of this level to me in advance. This is the last time it won''t be excused."


    "Yes, Master."


    Ramp knelt down in response.


    "These mages are yours to handle. Extract their value completely."


    "I will complete the task, Master!"


    Finding Cassius not angry, and gaining a new batch of mages for experiments, Ramp was exceedingly delighted.


    Especially with the ''Grey Hawk'' Schroeder, whose powerful spells like Ice Storm had long been coveted by Ramp since their days at the Arcane Priory.


    After bidding farewell to Cassius, Ramp hurriedly left with the mages.


    Even Cassius watched them with a hint of pity, for they were about to face inhuman torment. Ramp''s hundreds of simultaneous experiments were no joke.


    After the loss of its primary controller, the completed Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle remained in place, temporarily suppressed by the power of the Kingdom Domain, waiting quietly for its next use.


    "The Lionheart Knights of the Boske House should be arriving soon..."


    "Schroeder, I really must thank you for helping me lure this big, juicy fish."


    Cassius thought.


    The Lionheart Knights, the Boske Family''s absolute elite force, were a formidable presence in battle. Even Dragon Vein Descendants struggled against them. During the Triel Conference, just seven of them supporting led to considerable trouble for Dolores, placing them high on the danger scale within the Ashen Kingdom.

 Chapter 86 Lionheart Knights

    Near Northwind Castle, in a hidden spot in the Zereya Hills.


    More than twenty members of the Lionheart Knights lay in concealment, quietly waiting.


    They were clad in heavy armor, with breastplates shaped like the roaring head of a lion, appearing mighty and imposing, and red cloaks bearing the emblem of the Boske House with two crossed swords and a lion.


    One knight, watching the bipedal wyverns patrolling the sky, asked uneasily:


    "Captain, we haven''t seen the signal from His Grace, Duke Leo. Could they have already failed?"


    "Keep waiting, Jaden, we have time."


    The voice was calm and steady.


    The knight who spoke stood out from the others, with a circle of black lion''s mane around his neck, and the lion on his breastplate looking more lifelike¡ªhe was Frederick Orbi, one of the original seven Knight Commanders of the Lionheart Knights, known as the Black Lion Knight.


    Now there were only six Knight Commanders. His childhood friend and brother-like comrade, the White Lion Knight Tarik, had perished in that tragic event, leaving him in deep sorrow. He swore revenge against that Red Dragon, and so volunteered for this mission against the Ashen Kingdom.


    "Tarik, the evil dragon will soon be beheaded, and your soul will find peace in God''s realm."


    Frederick stroked the pocket watch in his hand, silently making a vow.


    It was a gift from Tarik ten years ago, engraved with the emblem of Heronis, the God of Bravery, constantly reminding him to be a brave and fearless warrior.


    Jaden was still a bit worried, as they had already penetrated deep into enemy territory, with their safety not guaranteed. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    "But this is near Northwind Castle, and the patrols of the Ashen Kingdom are frequent. I''m afraid that..."


    "Are you afraid we might be annihilated here?"


    "So you must always remain vigilant about the surroundings. Rest assured, according to the Duke''s orders, if we encounter a life-threatening situation, whether or not the task is completed, we must immediately retreat."


    Frederick spoke calmly.


    As an experienced Lionheart Knight, he was fully aware of the perilous and challenging nature of this mission, knowing that their enemy was the "Infernal Calamity" that had crushed thirty thousand from the Allied Forces,


    but he kept reminding himself to hold firm belief, trusting in his ability to complete the mission successfully, or at the very least, retreat safely.


    "Yes, captain."


    "Wait, look¡ªisn''t that the signal from His Grace?"


    In the distance, golden ripples appeared in mid-air¡ªclearly the signal arranged by Duke Leo. Only Paladins with Divine Sense could see these subtle radiant energies and react quickly, ensuring their communication went unnoticed by the Ashen Kingdom.


    Faint dragon roars seemed to drift from afar, already drawing the attention of some Ashen Kin.


    "Could they really have..."


    "Succeeded?"


    Frederick''s face lit up with excitement.


    Even the always composed Black Lion Knight was thrilled at this possible reality¡ªthe Red Dragon had been subdued or even killed, and the enormous shadow looming over the Northern Countries had dissipated!


    "That is the signal of success! Quickly, go to support those heroes!"


    "Yes, captain!"


    Under the effect of the invisibility screen, the Lionheart Knights advanced rapidly along the pre-planned route, camouflaged by both terrain and spells, towards the signal''s origin¡ªthe dense forest.


    The journey was surprisingly unimpeded, without the anticipated heavy obstruction from wyverns or the Goblin Corps.


    In just a few dozen minutes, the concealed Lionheart Knights quickly entered the designated area.


    "Captain, is this the place?"


    "It should be. The signal was sent from here. My perception can''t be wrong, those remnants of holy energy are still lingering in the sky."


    "But why..."


    "Is it so quiet here?"


    "I don''t know either. Let''s maintain our guard and continue to approach."


    In Frederick''s estimation, after the Red Dragon was restrained, the Knights of Justice might have engaged in a fierce battle with the Ashen Kingdom''s retainers, with swarms of wyverns chasing behind them.


    Even the rumored "Man-Eating Mage" Ramp, "Slaughtering Warlord" Dolores, and "Gold-Crazed Demon" Jin Ya, leaders of the Ashen Kingdom, might be frantically hunting them down.


    The other Lionheart Knights thought the same, already gripping their Silver Swords and shields, repeatedly reciting the Holy Oath Magic in their minds.


    They were ready for a hard battle, even mentally prepared to die heroically and gloriously.


    But events did not unfold as the Knights expected; the forest felt like an ordinary woodland, so quiet that one could hear the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.


    Yes, it was too quiet.


    So quiet it was eerie.


    No signs of a fierce battle were evident.


    In the battle-hardened eyes of Frederick, this looked more like a trap, luring them in.


    But if the signal was real, only Duke Leo and Schroeder would understand its significance. What if it was a genuine call and their mission failed?


    Then he would be the one who trapped heroes, placing them in jeopardy.


    This plunged him into inner turmoil.


    In this seemingly calm and safe atmosphere, beads of cold sweat appeared on Frederick''s forehead.


    When facing unknown dangers, he felt fear.


    He wished to be as brave and fearless as his childhood friend Tarik, facing death without hesitation.


    But Frederick knew that even after defeating hundreds and becoming a renowned Knight Commander of the Lionheart Knights, deep down, he harbored a sense of inferiority¡ªunlike the radiant Tarik, he had, to some degree, relied on Tarik''s goodwill to become the Black Lion Knight.


    "We must retreat."


    Frederick ultimately chose to trust his intuition.


    He told his trusted aides, "There''s something strange here. We should retreat quickly. Once we reach the previous safe zone, I''ll activate the portal I prepared there, and we will all leave immediately."


    "What about those we were supposed to meet?"


    "Trust my intuition. We don''t have time to worry about that. They might have already... perished in the Dragon''s Maw, or released the signal in panic."


    "Yes, captain."


    Under the cautious leadership of the Knight Commander, disregarding mission completion, the Lionheart Knights retreated.


    Enclosed by an invisibility screen crafted by a court mage, distorting the incoming light, they moved stealthily, undetected by patrolling wyverns and Goblins.


    Just as the Lionheart Knights were quickly moving.


    A massive shadow fell from the sky, engulfing them entirely¡ªthe screen had failed!


    Frederick looked up in bewilderment. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 87 Fire and Shield

    The expansive dragon wings unfurled, slowly flapping, blocking the sunlight over the knights, the enormous dragon''s body hovering in the air, its edges seemingly gilded with a golden trim.


    Just as the rumors described: golden vertical pupils, a robust body, menacing horns, and thick scales...


    Under the overwhelming presence of the Dragon''s Might, the Lionheart Knights held their breath. This was "Infernal Calamity" Cassius, the epitome of pride and brutality, the Red Dragon who single-handedly demolished thirty thousand allied forces, and their target for this mission.


    At this moment, everyone couldn''t help but waver in their hearts.


    This thing was utterly invincible. How could they ever fantasize about killing such a dreadful monster?


    That monster in the sky opened his mouth, revealing fangs, wreathed in searing white smoke that could distort the air.


    "I hear... you want to slay a dragon?"


    Sparks danced in those golden vertical pupils.


    Frederick looked up at the sky, his expression frozen.


    "Tarik, did you die at the hands of such a monster...?"


    "Even an excellent knight like you perished in a sea of flames. How can I possibly defeat it?"


    He instinctively rubbed the pocket watch in his hand, shaking his head and muttering to himself.


    "Captain! What should we do?"


    But soon his subordinate''s reminder snapped him out of his daze, realizing they were on a battlefield, at a life-or-death juncture!


    Years of training had made it instinctual. The "Black Lion Knight" raised his Sword of Oath, commanding in a loud voice, "Everyone, listen up! Protection link!"


    The Lionheart Knights simultaneously raised their Silver Swords, which emitted dazzling light. As Holy Oath Magic took effect, luminous chains connected them, ultimately linking more than twenty of them together. They all raised their heavy shields, forming an indestructible radiant fortress.


    They fought and defended as one, covering each other.


    Damage hitting any member would be distributed among the more than twenty of them.


    This made the Lionheart Knights a moving fortress on the battlefield, both impenetrable in defense and devastating in attack. Any commander would dread seeing dozens of Lionheart Knights charging at their position; they were known as the "Lion''s Bastion."


    Cassius still hovered in the sky, leisurely flapping his wings as he observed the knights below.


    "Is this the tortoise shell Dolores mentioned?"


    "Interesting."


    The Ashen Kingdom''s forces had completely surrounded the area. Cassius had no worries the knights would escape; instead, he grew curious and wanted to study this special sub-class of the Boske Family: the [Lionheart Knights].


    With this in mind, Cassius swung his claws towards the ground.


    [Scratch Technique]


    The barely discernable claw-shaped Magical Field materialized before the Red Dragon, and with a casual wave of his claw, this magical power was directed at the Lionheart Knights on the ground.


    Frederick looked at the gigantic claw marks descending from the sky, his face immediately tense, shouting loudly:


    "Everyone, defensive stance!"


    A light "swish" was heard as the Lionheart Knights uniformly raised their Silver Shields, engraved with lion emblems, forming an airtight defense with the shields above their heads.


    "Skrriiiik¡ª"


    As the ear-piercing sound of metal scraping echoed, three narrow, penetrating scars appeared on the giant shield.


    The tremendous force transmitted through the shields to everyone, nearly breaking their formation with a single swipe.


    "Hold it!"


    Frederick roared.


    As the luminous chains flickered alternately, the vast force was distributed among each Lionheart Knight, making their faces contorted and sweat bead on their foreheads.


    To withstand Cassius''s attack and disperse the force, they even pressed shallow pits into the ground.


    Cassius looked at the still tightly packed shield formation, amazed, and remarked:


    "Tsk tsk, quite a sturdy tortoise shell, no wonder it gave Dolores so much trouble."


    Though it was just a casual dragon kin spell, given Cassius''s current spell power and his inherent strength, even a random attack could easily handle a typical high-rank warrior.


    "So, can you withstand the flames?"


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, gently opening his jaws.


    Fiery light surged from deep in his throat. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Boom!"


    Immediately, scorching flames poured from the Red Dragon''s mouth, surging toward the Lionheart Knights on the ground.


    "It''s Dragon Breath!"


    The adjutant loudly reminded.


    "So hot, so scalding."


    That was what everyone felt in their hearts.


    Feeling the blistering heat, the Lionheart Knights immediately thought of the rumor of the "Infernal Calamity" incinerating the allied forces with flames.


    But they didn''t know this was just a controlled breath attack by Cassius.


    Facing these terrifying flames, the Lionheart Knights instinctively wanted to disperse and flee. Sweating profusely, their hands holding swords trembled slightly. Yet years of training made them stand firm without orders.


    "Don''t run, scattering only means quicker death!"


    "If you want to live, withstand the pressure!"


    Frederick commanded harshly.


    The Lionheart Knights maintained their giant shields to fend off the sky, a thin layer of light appearing outside the shields, resisting the continuous fire assault.


    "Lion Spirit Guardian!"


    The "Black Lion Knight" Frederick finally issued a fierce roar.


    ¡ª This was the trump card of the Lionheart Knights. They could summon a Radiant Spirit Body, uniting all knights'' indomitable wills to attack the enemy.


    A colossal lion phantom emerged from the tightly packed formation of the Lionheart Knights, vivid and roaring, momentarily holding back the flames, even showing signs of launching a counterattack.


    "That''s it!"


    "We are the invincible Lionheart Knights!"


    Frederick shouted, inspiring his comrades just like he remembered Tarik did, hoping to be as invincible and brilliant as the White Lion Knight.


    "Oh?"


    "An interesting spell, it''s still a biting tortoise."


    Cassius beheld this Lion Spirit Body with interest. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In his view, the combined might of the Boske''s Lionheart Knights far surpassed Rackman''s Northwind Eagle Guards. Their systematic Holy Oath Magic abilities were unmatched by those mere flying Eagle Guards.


    "Such thick defenses, it would be a pity not to test their limits."


    "So, let me play with you a bit."


    A malicious grin appeared on Cassius''s face.


    Frenzied fire elemental energy flowed through his blood vessels into his lungs, eventually erupting.


    The flames suddenly intensified, and the temperature soared. The lion spirit body that had barely held on before now wailed, gradually deteriorating into illusion amidst the encircling flames.

 Chapter 88 The Knights Submission

    "Aaargh¡ª¡ª"


    With a heartrending wail, the lion was completely consumed by the flames.


    The lion spirit body was not only a weapon for offense and defense but also the embodiment of the Lionheart Knights'' willpower. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the moment the spirit body was destroyed, the Lionheart Knights suffered immense mental anguish, their heads splitting with pain. Some even trembled while holding their shields.


    Cassius had not even used his Extremely Effective Spew yet; he had simply intensified the elemental reaction of his Breath using his formidable fire element control. This Flame Breath cost him virtually nothing.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    The Breath started as a conical spread, then gradually condensed into a pillar of fire.


    The flames were first dark red, then orange, then yellow, and finally a blinding white.


    The silver shields turned red, transmitting terrifying heat, even the handles behind the shields grew unbearably hot.


    "Damn it!"


    A Lionheart Knight couldn''t hold on any longer, dropping his shield.


    He was immediately turned to charcoal by the surrounding flames.


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    Under the baptism of the white-hot fire pillar, the giant shield composed of dozens of silver shields was shattered beyond repair, its surface melting into liquid silver, flowing like a stream!


    "Ah!"


    "I''m going to be burned alive!"


    "Damn it, it''s melting!"


    "Fire! Fire everywhere!"


    Wretched cries echoed through the ranks of the Lionheart Knights.


    Some were burned alive by the searing flames, some choked to death by the thick smoke, and some were engulfed by the flowing silver, cast into struggling silver statues.


    Frederick barely maintained the Guardian Aura around him, struggling to fend off the frenzied fire elements.


    "Worthy of the infamous ''Infernal Calamity,'' truly a hellish sight..."


    He looked up at the blinding white flames descending from the sky like divine retribution, watching his comrades die in agony, their faces contorted in horror, hearing their anguished cries...


    The face of this "Black Lion Knight" exhibited an inexplicable calm, perhaps the last serenity before death.


    "How can we win against such a monster... even someone like Tarik is dead."


    "If it were Tarik, what would he do..."


    Frederick bowed his head, as if lost in thought.


    He realized suddenly that he had never been that kind of person.


    Loyalty, courage, justice¡ªthey had never aligned with his gloomy and indifferent nature.


    Yes, he was not the famed "White Lion Knight," not the one who single-handedly defeated hundreds of enemy heroes, even though he had become one of the Lionheart Knights'' commanders, he could never follow in that deceased knight''s footsteps. He was merely a poor imitation of Tarik.


    "Why, I''m not dead yet..."


    The Red Dragon in the sky looked down at the ravaged land, momentarily ceasing its furious flames.


    "Those who last long under dragonflame, I admire you."


    His powerful voice echoed over the land.


    "Submit to me, serve the Ashen Kingdom, and I will grant you great power and long life!"


    "Otherwise, only complete death awaits you!"


    The remaining Lionheart Knights on the ground raised their heads, glaring at the Red Dragon in the sky.


    As the most elite of the Boske Duchy, they were mostly nobles who had received the best knightly education from a young age and had sworn sacred oaths of loyalty. They represented not just themselves but the honor of their entire families.


    To become retainers of an evil dragon was, to them, not only the erasure of individual identity but also an eternal disgrace to their families.


    "You delude yourself, evil dragon!"


    Adjudant Jaden, eyes bloodshot, stood with his sword pointed at the Red Dragon in the sky, firing a Guiding Light Arrow.


    He knew this attack was futile, but it was his last act of defiance as a knight, representing the courage to charge against an invincible enemy.


    Indeed, the light vanished before it even came close.


    And a fireball followed, reducing Jaden to charcoal.


    "Impressive courage, but your strength does not match it,"


    Cassius said coldly.


    Seeing Jaden''s death, the knights did not feel fear, but rather became even more enraged.


    "Evil dragon, your tyranny will end!"


    "My death is not the end, rebels will never be scarce!"


    "For the Boske Duchy! For Duke Leo!"


    As the most loyal and powerful knights of the Boske House, they deemed being killed by a formidable foe as a badge of honor. Even in this fatal deadlock, they chose to become heroic martyrs, like Don Quixotes charging windmills, attacking the Red Dragon in the sky.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Fireballs shot from the Red Dragon''s maw, landing precisely on those knights.


    The sound of burning bodies echoed, sparse flames flickered on the wasteland, wails continued, and the Lionheart Knights perished one by one.


    Soon, only the last Lionheart Knight remained¡ª"Black Lion Knight" Frederick.


    Unlike those noble knights who embodied the honor of their families, Frederick, who grew up in a monastery, had no kin. The only one he considered a brother was Tarik.


    Just moments ago, Frederick had also tried to launch a fearless charge like his comrades, fulfilling his last duty as a Lionheart Knight.


    But no matter what, he couldn''t force his body to embrace death.


    His nature was what it was, indifferent to loyalty, honor, and the so-called knightly spirit.


    Frederick had spent his life following in Tarik''s footsteps, but he had never experienced living for himself, even if it meant doing so as a retainer of an evil dragon.


    "I am not Tarik, nor even a so-called Lionheart Knight."


    "I am just myself."


    "A petty man putting self-interest above all else."


    Frederick mumbled, telling himself this.


    The Red Dragon in the sky descended with a roar, raising dust and cracking the ground.


    Cassius looked down at this lone "Black Lion Knight" with a playful glint in his golden eyes. He saw the knight''s inner turmoil and confusion, finding it amusing.


    But he said nothing more, nor needed to, simply stating flatly,


    "Surrender, or die."


    "I..."


    "Surrender."


    Frederick gritted his teeth and bowed his head.


    Like a fateful decision, the once "Black Lion Knight" finally surrendered to the evil dragon, submitting to his former enemy.


    The pocket watch inscribed with the crest of Heronis, the God of Bravery, fell to the ground, covered in a thin layer of dust, as if it had never truly belonged to Frederick, not even for a moment.

 Chapter 89 Dragonsworn Holy Warrior

    Northwind Castle, Council Hall.


    Cassius lay sprawled on the massive iron throne, looking down at Frederick who was kneeling on the ground. His voice was slightly languid. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Frederick, you are one of the seven great knight commanders of the Lionheart Knights. Why did you choose to betray the Boske Duchy and submit to me?"


    "Look at me, Frederick."


    "To survive, to gain greater power."


    "And also... to choose my own destiny."


    After a moment of hesitation, Frederick answered truthfully. He mustered the courage to raise his head and look directly into the red dragon''s golden vertical pupils.


    Just in that moment of silence, his heart pounded, and his back was already soaked with sweat.


    Finally, the red dragon''s voice sounded again.


    "Very well, you did not lie. Otherwise, I would have burned you to ashes."


    "The Ashen Kingdom needs ambitious people. As for loyalty... heh, this is not an issue for me."


    Cassius slowly stood up, leaning his head closer and observing him carefully.


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information]


    [Black Lion Knight - Frederick]


    Basic Ability: Tenth-Level Lionheart Knight


    Challenge Level: 10 (5900 xp)


    Assessment: The last among the seven knight commanders of the Boske Duchy''s Lionheart Knights, excellent in sword and shield combat techniques, he became a knight commander through outstanding performance in battle.


    He was indeed one of the seven great knight commanders. Although lacking loyalty, his combat prowess was undeniable.


    A tenth-level Lionheart Knight would still be considered high-level combat strength even in the Ashen Kingdom, only a notch below the top-tier forces like Ramp and Dolores.


    However, his current state could not be maintained for long. [Lionheart Knight] was a faction subclass derived from the [Oath of the Crown] Paladin. The moment he surrendered to the red dragon and betrayed the duke he served, he renounced the loyalty oath of the Lionheart Knight¡ªwords turned into action. Without loyalty, oaths and laws were meaningless.


    In just a few days, the shattering of the holy oath would cause him to lose his strength as a Lionheart Knight and all his holy oath magic, turning instead into something akin to Mezulash''s Oathbreaker.


    The conversion of Frederick was imminent.


    And bestowing the bloodline gift upon such a high-level retainer was very profitable, with very few chances of failure.


    Moreover, according to Cassius''s experiments, combining his bloodline gift with existing occupations could create unique faction subclasses for the Ashen Kingdom, even bestowing these to players to make them die-hard loyalists of the Ashen Kingdom.


    The Lionheart Knight Order possessed comprehensive capabilities, playing significant roles in both positional and skirmish battles. Dolores had long proposed the need for such an army to shield the line infantry, and even the red dragon coveted this for a long time.


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfur-scented air, feeling a bit expectant.


    "Frederick, this is your choice. You will become a retainer of the True Dragon. Remember, you will completely sever ties with your past."


    "Are you ready?"


    "Yes, master."


    Frederick answered without hesitation.


    After experiencing this battle with a vast disparity in power, he had come to understand one simple truth¡ªthose who resist this red dragon would meet a grim fate.


    If he wanted to save his own life, he had no other choice.


    "Then let''s begin."


    Cassius squinted slightly, exuding a powerful and nearly tangible Dragon''s Might that temporarily obscured Frederick''s external senses.


    A drop of scalding blood hovered in the air.


    [Bloodline Gift]


    In his plan, this new occupation did not need to be paired with Dragon Vein creatures, also somewhat considering the players'' tendencies. The degree of dragonification was not as exaggerated as that of the Red Scale Conqueror.


    But even so, the power of dragon blood was not something ordinary beings could endure. One player, after buying the Dragon Blood Elixir, had bad luck, failed the constitution check, and immediately exploded to death.


    The blood flowed into Frederick''s mouth, and the frantic elemental energy coursed through his throat into his body, gradually spreading throughout.


    "Aah¡ª"


    Frederick let out painful groans, his body undergoing drastic changes, with muscles growing stronger, scales appearing on his cheeks and neck, and his eyes turning into golden vertical pupils.


    Sulfur-smelling white smoke spewed from his pores, and weak sparks even flickered from his mouth and nose.


    "Aaaargh¡ª"


    Smoke shrouded Frederick''s form, with only his continued wails and a vague silhouette visible.


    The figure struggled, writhed, and curled in the smoke.


    Soon, a man with Dragon Vein traits emerged from the swirling smoke¡ªthat was now Frederick.


    If one overlooked the conspicuous scales, his appearance was mostly unchanged, but his essence had undergone a complete transformation.


    This was the Dragon Vein, capable of bestowing magical attributes to creatures.


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    Frederick knelt on the ground, struggling to open his eyes, feeling the overwhelming pressure of the red dragon before him, and the absolute suppression from the bloodline. The only thought that came to his mind was¡ªsubmission.


    He finally understood why the red dragon did not care for loyalty.


    Because the brute, instinctive suppressive force of the bloodline far surpassed the so-called knightly spirit.


    In an instant, Frederick felt a tinge of regret for binding himself to a stronger existence, but the thought vanished as quickly as it appeared.


    At this point, everything had lost meaning.


    He used to be one of the seven great knight commanders of the Lionheart Knights, known as the "Black Lion Knight."


    But now, Frederick had only one identity¡ªthat of the red dragon''s retainer and a traitor who had surrendered to the Ashen Kingdom. He knew he had no escape route now. He could only cling tightly to the Ashen Kingdom. Once his identity was exposed, Duke Leo would hunt him down relentlessly and spare no expense to kill him.


    Frederick moved his body, still feeling somewhat unaccustomed, and spoke:


    "Master, thank you... for your gift. I can feel this strength is very powerful."


    "Very good."


    Cassius observed the Dragon Vein-influenced Frederick while browsing through the panel, showing a slightly pleased expression.


    He could sense Frederick''s thoughts, and that fleeting moment of regret, but it did not matter. The strong bond of the bloodline gift was enough to eradicate any treacherous intentions, not to mention he was now firmly tied to the war chariot of the Ashen Kingdom.


    [Faction Advanced Sub-occupation Constructed Successfully]


    Occupation Advancement Requirements:


    Join the [Ashen Kingdom] faction.


    Become a retainer of the faction leader [King of Ashen, Cassius].


    Have at least three levels of Holy Warrior occupational level, proficient in military weapons like shields and swords.


    Possess a certain degree of dragon bloodline.


    [Please name your faction subclass¡ª]


    Cassius glanced at the kneeling, thoughtfully looking Frederick.


    [Named: [Dragonsworn Holy Warrior]]

 Chapter 90 Dragons Pledge

    [Dragonsworn Holy Warrior] was a faction subclass derived from the paladin, naturally requiring an oath like that of a paladin to wield holy oath magic.


    [Create an oath for the faction subclass.]


    Cassius pondered for a moment, considering the specific conditions of the Ashen Kingdom, and created a new oath based on the Oath of Conquest.


    Flames danced wildly in the air, forming lines of chaotic text¡ª


    [Dragon''s Creed]


    Paladins who took the oath of Dragon''s Creed would brand the creed onto their upper arms.


    Extinguish the flame of hope: Defeating the enemy in battle alone was insufficient. Your overwhelming victory must be significant enough to permanently shatter the enemy''s will to fight. Swords could only end lives, but fear could end nations.


    Enforce order with an iron fist: Once you completed the conquest, tolerate no dissent. Those who adhered to the kingdom''s order would be favored and become the esteemed ones, while those who opposed it would be punished and turned to ashes as a warning to others.


    The Dragon Lord above all: Cassius Klaubow Norixius was your sole master of blood, spirit, and even soul. You must unconditionally obey the commands of the Red Dragon until the end of time, or face total annihilation.


    Cassius commanded:


    "Speak your oath."


    "Yes, Master."


    Frederick knelt on one knee, looking up at the words floating mid-air, suddenly recalling the moment twelve years ago when he swore to become a Lionheart Knight. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that time, the energetic Duke Leo had just accomplished the great feat of forming the Lionheart Alliance, proudly placing his sword on Frederick''s shoulder, conferring upon him the supreme glory of the Lionheart Knight.


    But now, things had changed; he had become a retainer of an infamous dragon who made the North tremble in fear, soon to be the claw of the Red Dragon in its conquest of the world.


    However, Frederick felt only a sense of irony and no complex emotions. After confronting his true self, he realized he was always a self-serving individual, never the knight that Tarik had hoped for.


    He calmly recited the oath:


    "Extinguish the flame of hope, enforce order with an iron fist, the Dragon Lord above all."


    As the words formed from flames embedded themselves in his upper arm, they left behind charred marks glowing with fire.


    "Very good."


    The Red Dragon pressed its sharp claw tip against Frederick''s arm, piercing the skin before exerting any force. Blood seeped from where the claw touched.


    The blood caused the oath on Frederick''s arm to gleam with fire.


    It connected with the Red Dragon''s power, forming a bond with the dragon''s magic essence, ultimately creating unique holy oath magic.


    Thus was the effect of the [Dragon''s Oath].


    The faction subclass was completed.


    [Dragonsworn Holy Warrior]:


    [The Dragonsworn Holy Warriors were a special group of paladins who sought powerful strength, eternal life, or reveled in warfare and conquest, yearning for the baptism of blood and fire. Yet they all shared a common allegiance to the master of the Ashen Kingdom, the Red Dragon Cassius.


    The Dragonsworn Holy Warriors abandoned their former sense of justice, adorning their armor with the spoils taken from fallen enemies, and bestowing the cruelest deaths by fire to foes as a dreadful warning to any who dared defy their Dragon Lord''s decree.


    Unlike typical paladin oaths, those who broke their oaths would not become Oathbreakers but would instead burn alive in both body and soul, dying in the most excruciating manner.


    When the Dragon''s Roar echoed across the land, the Dragonsworn Holy Warriors would march from the horizon, mercilessly delivering the most brutal fates to enemies, sacrificing blood to their Dragon Lord.]


    [In addition to the basic abilities of paladins, [Dragonsworn Holy Warriors] would gain additional traits]


    [At level 3, they would acquire traits: [Dragon Oath Spells], [Guiding Dragon Force: Majesty of the Dragonkin], and [Guiding Dragon Force: Dragon Vein Connection]]


    [Majesty of the Dragonkin]: You could use your Guiding Dragon Force to exhibit a terrifying majesty. If the enemy failed to resist, they would experience a minute of Dread Tremors.


    [Dragon Vein Connection]: You could use your Guiding Dragon Force to create Dragon Vein Shackles, linking with other Dragonsworn Holy Warriors. You would share all received damage, and whenever damage was inflicted, the Dragon Vein Shackles would emit flame, continuously scorching nearby enemies.


    [At level 6, you would gain the trait from your holy oath: [Dragon Lord''s Descent]]


    [Dragon Lord''s Descent]


    If twelve or more Dragonsworn Holy Warriors simultaneously chanted the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Oath, they could summon a fiery phantom of a Red Dragon that could embody Cassius''s will. The phantom''s appearance and abilities were replicas of Cassius, determined by the number and strength of the chanting Dragonsworn Holy Warriors, with the maximum being Cassius''s true form.


    [At level 9, you would gain the trait bestowed by your holy oath: [Fiery Spirit Light]]


    [Fiery Spirit Light]


    You would constantly emit a Fiery Spirit Light as long as you were not incapacitated. This light would significantly raise the surrounding temperature, increase flame damage, place enemies in a burn state, and provide an exaltation effect to allies. If a sufficient number of Dragonsworn Holy Warriors emitted Fiery Spirit Light simultaneously, it could even trigger a volcanic eruption.


    After reviewing the information about Dragonsworn Holy Warriors, Cassius exhaled a breath laced with the scent of sulfur.


    "Very impressive faction subclass."


    "It also seems somewhat familiar."


    Cassius pondered for a moment, then commanded Frederick to use his newly obtained abilities.


    "Yes, Master."


    Frederick obediently complied, releasing that power.


    [Guiding Dragon Force: Majesty of the Dragonkin]


    A familiar Dragon''s Might emanated from him, though it was much weaker compared to the Red Dragon''s.


    "Continue."


    [Guiding Dragon Force: Dragon Vein Connection] Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    A scarlet spiritual chain coiled around him, radiating intense heat but lacking other targets for connection.


    Cassius watched the display of these abilities, narrowing his eyes, his golden slitted pupils shimmering with a strange light.


    "As expected."


    "This is an extension of my power."


    After the creation of this faction subclass, Cassius felt his power had gained a certain extension, able to transmit through bloodline connections to these Dragonsworn Holy Warriors.


    Each time Frederick used the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Oath spells, Cassius could feel the presence of this power.


    It was not a theft of his own power but an extension and manifestation of the Red Dragon''s potent magic essence.


    "This form somewhat resembles..."


    "Divine Arts?"


    Cassius thought.


    Yet deities still seemed too distant; he was presently more thrilled by the birth of another powerful faction subclass, a new significant aid for the Ashen Kingdom.


    "Frederick, I command you to construct the Hall of Dragon Oath in Northwind Castle and quickly train more Dragonsworn Holy Warriors."


    "Yes, Master."


    Frederick knelt on one knee, gladly accepting the order.

 Chapter 91 The Situation

    Just like that, the twenty Lionheart Knights dispatched by the Boske Duchy were completely annihilated. Even the "Black Lion Knight" Frederick, one of the Seven Great Knight Commanders, became a traitor and a minion of the Red Dragon.


    The fate of the hundred Double-Headed Eagle Warriors sent by the Principality of Norton was even more tragic¡ªCassius didn''t even bother to take action personally. He merely issued a casual camp mission, deploying a few Red Scale Conquerors, who decimated these so-called "elites" that weren''t even considered professionals, letting those exuberant wyverns ruthlessly burn them into charred remains.


    Cassius lay sprawled in the grand hall, gazing at the Anzeta map before him, especially fixated on the small nation adjacent to the Ashen Kingdom. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the face of the Ashen Kingdom, which integrated Stormy Ridge and the former Rakman Duchy territories, boasting an expansive territory far surpassing most of the Northern duchies, the Principality of Norton seemed like an insect that could be crushed at any time.


    Dailenna stood gracefully beside him, the pureblood Serpentfolk adorned in formal attire, always wearing a radiant smile.


    "The Boske Duchy is one thing, but as for this Principality of Norton..."


    "Where do they muster the audacity to provoke me repeatedly?"


    Cassius''s tone conveyed puzzlement.


    Dailenna mused that since Cassius had forced the Principality of Norton to surrender the so-called "International Trusteeship," they would naturally fight to the death, but she maintained her professional smile and patiently explained:


    "The Principality of Norton has a narrow territory and weak strength, essentially more like a vassal state of the Boske Duchy, even mockingly called the ''Marquisate of Norton'' or ''Barbarian Tribe'' by other northern nobles."


    "They aren''t Scania people, the nobles of the north, but the original inhabitants of the North, also known as the Val Barbarians. Seven hundred years ago, the Grand Duke of the Boske Duchy, the ''Lionheart King'' Aubrick, conquered this place. To facilitate management, he confined the surrendering tribes here, establishing it as a nation, and renamed the chieftain clans to Norton."


    "However, over the past four hundred years, with the intentional assimilation by the Scania people, the language and customs of the Principality of Norton have become nearly indistinguishable from the northern countries. Even the surname Norton has long been accepted by the northern nobility."


    Cassius suddenly understood.


    "So, it''s a well-kept dog of the Boske Duchy."


    Dailenna immediately praised, "Your Highness Cassius, your summary is truly insightful." Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    "So... how do you plan to deal with the Boske Duchy and the Principality of Norton?"


    Though Dailenna was temporarily in charge of the Ashen Kingdom''s diplomacy, she knew very well that final decisions still lay with the Red Dragon. She wouldn''t risk her future or life for temporary power.


    Cassius tried hard to recall memories of his past life.


    The Boske Duchy was immense, covering tens of thousands of square kilometers with twenty-eight cities. The current Ashen Kingdom, ruling the former Rakman Duchy, was already struggling to assimilate its legacy and couldn''t manage such a vast region.


    Moreover, the Holy Fadlan Empire, after this great rebellion, would have a few years of resurgence. Declaring formal war on the Boske Duchy now would undoubtedly trigger a full-scale war across Anzeta, inevitably drawing the intervention of legendary level forces from the Holy Fadlan Federation.


    Meanwhile, Cassius currently had only a thousand players under his command, and these beta players would temporarily disappear over the next four years.


    The time point Cassius envisioned for unifying the North was five years later.


    Yes, five years later.


    By then, the great collapse of Holy Fadlan would begin, with various southern factions vying for the enormous imperial remains, leaving no room to look north. Cassius''s strength was expected to rise to the Legendary level, ensuring solid hard power. And thirty thousand formal players would surge into Erezer, with Cassius confident to recruit at least ten thousand of them to serve him.


    This plan, after numerous internal discussions within the Ashen Kingdom, was close to perfect.


    That would be the convergence of time, place, and people.


    Cassius would then declare war on Boske Duchy and the northern countries, unifying the entire North with an overwhelming force, becoming the lord of Anzeta, and bringing the [Northern Wind and Cloud] version''s players under his rule.


    Immediately after, the Ashen Kingdom, or rather, the Empire, could march south and participate in the Kings'' Strife as disruptors, becoming the greediest vulture preying on the remains of the Holy Fadlan Empire.


    This was his plan for the Boske Duchy.


    As for the Principality of Norton?


    They were weak, adjacent to the Ashen Kingdom, and as a vassal of the Boske Duchy, they were perfect for becoming a cautionary example to deter the northern countries and secure a stable development space for the Ashen Kingdom.


    At the same time, such a level of local war would serve to give the Boske Duchy a warning, to reduce their covert actions.


    With these thoughts, Cassius emphatically said, "We will annex them at the fastest speed, leaving no time for the northern countries to react."


    "I will kill the Principality of Norton''s ''chicken'' to show those attention-seeking monkeys."


    Hearing this, Dailenna''s face was already filled with excitement.


    Although she didn''t know the story behind the phrase "kill the chicken to warn the monkeys," she easily understood the implication in Cassius''s words.


    What a wonderful feeling, deciding the fate of other nations, those human lords she once had to please were now only fit to kneel at her feet and beg for mercy.


    "Yes, Master."


    "I will make sure they understand the consequences of provoking you."


    Dailenna knelt on the ground, a smile of anticipation in her eyes, licking her dry lips with her forked tongue.


    It had been months since the conquest of the Rakman Duchy, and now the Ashen Kingdom could barely function, but the Dragon Vein Clans had long been suppressed.


    Although their lives had become much more affluent after looting the nobles'' wealth, compared to a stable and prosperous life, these inherently wicked beings still enjoyed the baptism of blood and fire more.


    For this Red Dragon-ruled nation, war was not a burden but an outlet.


    ...


    Stratholme Fortress, Boske Duchy.


    As the capital of Boske, and the nominal capital of the entire North, it was always bustling and lively.


    In the city center, Aubrick Square, named in honor of the first Duke Boske, merchants, singers, bards, noble scions, and various other people gathered.


    Suddenly, a commotion arose in the crowd.


    Wyverns swooped from the heights unreachable by arrows, scattering leaflets from the Ashen Kingdom. People had grown used to this sight, and a few leaflets were even rushed to Duke Leo''s residence.


    But this time, the content was not the usual dull propaganda, but a war report.


    It was astonishing, sparking widespread discussion.


    "Did someone really go to assassinate that Red Dragon?"


    "By the Gods, they are truly righteous and brave, but unfortunately, they failed. I should use them as inspiration to write a deeply moving epic poem."


    "Heavens, our twenty Lionheart Knights were utterly wiped out! That''s a full twenty men!"


    "Is there going to be a war...?"


    "I don''t want to fight those monsters."


    The people in the square, whether shocked, regretful, or worried, all showed great concern for this matter.

 Chapter 92 Reactions from All Sides

    "The latest bulletin from the Ashen Kingdom!


    "The assassination attempt on the Red Dragon by the Knight of Justice ended in total defeat!"


    "Lionheart Knights ambushed!"


    The newsboy called out in the streets, selling the bulletins he had picked up, his voice echoing.


    Bulletins from the Ashen Kingdom seemed to use some advanced technology. The paper was delicate, the ink clear, greatly favored by the residents. Even without considering the content, they had many uses. Moreover, there were many eye-catching messages.


    Those wandering around the streets had long discovered the business opportunity in these free bulletins and began selling them widely.


    Initially, such acts of indirectly aiding the Ashen Kingdom''s propaganda were not allowed by the Duchy, and those caught were easily arrested. But as the number of bulletins distributed increased and the benefits grew, patrols could only turn a blind eye. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I want to buy one."


    A melodious female voice came, though it was filled with urgency.


    The newsboy looked up, seeing the person clad in a robe, her face hidden by a hood, yet unable to conceal her tall stature and smooth, fair skin.


    He guessed it might be a noblewoman or young lady sneaking out and quickly smiled fawningly.


    "Madam, five copper coins."


    "Alright."


    "Have a good day."


    The newsboy handed over the bulletin, took the copper coins, and smiled uncontrollably, thinking how easy it was to deceive these naive noblewomen.


    In a secluded alley, the noblewoman who bought the bulletin removed her hood, revealing her delicate and beautiful face¡ªshe was Olivia, the Silver Star, the manifestation of the Silver Dragon.


    She browsed through the lines of text on the bulletin, her expression grave, softly reading aloud:


    "Court Mage of the Rackman Duchy, these despicable people from the Northern United Kingdom..."


    "They set a vicious trap, attempting to ambush the great King of Ashen..."


    "But the might of the dragon ended everything."


    As she read this, Olivia frowned, her blue-gray eyes full of worry.


    The report mentioned the assassination attempt on the Red Dragon and its failure, but it didn''t narrate the specific process or include the news she was most concerned with¡ªthat of the Gold Dragon kin.


    In other words, his life or death was uncertain.


    Olivia looked up at the sky and couldn''t help but murmur:


    "Angel, are you... still alive?"


    She initially disliked this Gold Dragon, disliked his secrecy and cunning.


    But since their last conversation, Olivia had an unusual feeling. The Gold Dragon''s righteous words and final entrustment had left a deep impression on her heart.


    She felt for the first time the charm of the Gold Dragon''s sense of justice and idealism.


    Perhaps it was due to the Silver Dragon''s inherent kindness or concern for a kin, or perhaps other complicated feelings; she now eagerly wanted to find the Gold Dragon''s whereabouts.


    "I hope the next time the Arcane Priory can see you."


    "Angel..."


    "I don''t want to fulfill your troublesome entrustment."


    Olivia lowered her eyes, put her hood back on, and disappeared into the alley with a ripple in space.


    ...


    The Boske Ducal Mansion.


    "My lord, this is the latest intelligence from the Ashen Kingdom."


    "Mm, you may leave."


    Duke Leo Boske took the bulletin handed by his attendant, reading it carefully.


    Contrary to the image he usually presented to the public as a mighty and irritable lion, Leo in private was quite composed, something evident from his series of experiences.


    Thirty years ago, this duke, known as the "New Lionheart King," defeated the Northern Nobility''s Allied Forces, holding a famous "Lionheart Alliance."


    He unified the nearby territories, re-establishing the dominance of the Boske Duchy within the entire Northern United Kingdom after more than three hundred years, reclaiming the honorary title of "Northern Monarch," though he seldom referred to himself as such.


    At this moment, Duke Leo''s brow was tightly furrowed, his expression extremely grave, his lion''s mane-like beard seemed to tangle.


    "They indeed did not succeed."


    "A pity, I shouldn''t have sent the Lionheart Knights to assist."


    "Cassius Klaubow Norixius..."


    Duke Leo articulated the name that had repeatedly thwarted him.


    Since the Lionheart Alliance, Boske Duchy''s development had been smooth and increasingly powerful, and Duke Leo hadn''t faced such a setback in a long time.


    In this operation, he didn''t expect to kill the Red Dragon truly; he just hoped to probe. It would have been even better if they could restrain it in any way. However, the dispatched Lionheart Knights sent for reinforcement ended up completely wiped out.


    Fortunately, he had sent "Black Lion Knight" Frederick, whose loyalty was questionable, and Duke Leo had long wanted to replace him.


    He turned to look at Count Trischka not far away.


    "Trischka, any response from Holy Fadlan?"


    Count Trischka spread his hands helplessly: "This rebellion is unprecedented in scale; all Imperial forces are deployed for suppression. They are only willing to send border guards from the North. As for the ''Divine Descendants'' of the Sun Legion, not a single one can be dispatched."


    Duke Leo''s tone was heavy: "This is utterly useless. Only Legendary-level power can confront the Red Dragon."


    Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire


    Count Trischka reminded: "My lord, aren''t you forgetting something..."


    "I know what you''re going to say, the Polar Night Demon Tower, Dragon Fan Mage Vagnard, right."


    Duke Leo shook his head and said: "He''s a complete madman. To buy that scroll, I''ve exhausted every means. Normal humans can''t cooperate with this damned lunatic."


    Count Trischka spoke softly: "My lord, we don''t need to cooperate with him. We only need to make him and the Red Dragon fight to the death. That way, our benefits would be maximized."


    "Hmm..."


    Duke Leo stroked his somewhat messy beard, deep in thought.


    Suddenly, the urgent sound of the door opening interrupted his thoughts.


    A knight rushed in, anxious.


    "My lord, bad news, the Principality of Norton has fallen!"


    "What?"


    "How is this possible!"


    Staring in disbelief, Duke Leo slammed the table and stood up abruptly. Even the usually composed him was utterly shocked.


    Cracks appeared on the table.


    This recent emergent country, the Ashen Kingdom, which was established just months ago, had, without any prior warning or notice, directly invaded and conquered the Principality of Norton. How was this possible?


    "Are the intelligence agencies of the Boske Duchy utterly useless and deserving of the guillotine?"


    Duke Leo rarely showed genuine fury.


    The knight''s voice trembled: "Th-they moved too fast. From marching to conquering, it took only a single day."

 Chapter 93 Captured

    The day before.


    Principality of Norton, near the Falling Leaf Path.


    "Hurry up, the master is watching you!"


    "This is the will of the great Red Dragon!"


    "For the Ashen Kingdom!"


    Dolores led hundreds of Great Goblin and Bugbear troops, advancing rapidly along a special path. Their mission was to attack the capital of the Principality of Norton, Kenya City, as quickly as possible.


    Although it was called a principality, the territory of Norton wasn''t even as large as some of the more powerful counties. The entire region had only three cities, and three-quarters of its population resided in Kenya City, a city built with the assistance of the Boske Duchy. The name meant "place of rise" in the Scania language, reflecting the hopes of the Principality of Norton.


    The city had nearly twenty thousand residents. Once it was captured, the entire Principality of Norton would essentially fall. The strategy of the Ashen Kingdom was to use "blitzkrieg" to quickly attack the capital and capture it directly. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    To that end, they brought along ten cannons, heavy siege weapons crafted overtime by the players at Storm Arsenal.


    Fortunately, the Dragon Vein Goblins were strong enough to carry the cannons, allowing them to march quickly without being encumbered.


    The Bugbear guarding Dolores was a bit puzzled:


    "Sir, are these broken iron pipes really useful? They don''t seem better than the big club in my hand."


    "Ignorant fool."


    "You''ll see soon enough."


    "These are the true symbols of blood and fire."


    Dolores grinned and laughed excitedly.


    Having experienced many large-scale wars and seen the effectiveness of firearms, this war-savvy goblin had become a thorough "reformist" and even befriended Iron Madman, the president of the Mechanical God Cult.


    The city''s garrison hadn''t gone through such wars. They were completely unaware of the impending danger and had not yet spotted the well-hidden Ashen Kingdom forces in their blind spots.


    The well-trained Goblin Soldiers set up the cannon positions and calibrated them quickly, finishing the preparations.


    The Goblin Skirmishers stood ready to advance.


    Dolores wiped his Bloodfire Battle Axe, tearing off a piece of flesh stuck to it, and then shouted loudly:


    "Fire the cannons!"


    The goblins obeyed the command and loaded the shells into the cannons.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    The cannons roared, sending thunderous echoes across the earth.


    The Bugbear from earlier covered his ears in fear, collapsing to the ground, muttering continuously: "What... what powerful iron pipes."


    "Coward."


    "You will no longer be my personal guard."


    Dolores glanced at him with disdain, his tone full of contempt.


    A Bugbear afraid of cannon fire wasn''t fit to be the guard of the Great General of the Ashen Kingdom!


    "Hahaha!"


    "That''s right! Blast them away!"


    Dolores laughed heartily, savoring the delightful smell of gunpowder in the air, his laughter undiminished by the loud cannon fire.


    Most of Norton''s troops were already deployed with the allied forces. Now, fewer than a thousand defenders were on the city walls.


    The defenders on the walls had never seen such a display before. The simultaneous cannon blasts and explosions lit up the sky.


    They only saw shadowy figures streaking through the air before their vision was filled with the light of the explosions.


    Many of the soldiers on the walls were killed by the explosions, and most of the survivors were left in a state of panic, not realizing that war had already begun.


    "Oh gods... is this divine retribution?"


    "What on earth is this?"


    "Ah!"


    "Where is the enemy?"


    Under centuries of "assimilation" and "taming" by the Boske Duchy, these once valiant barbarians had lost the courage and fearlessness of their ancestors.


    Artillery rained down on the walls, and under the barrage, the centuries-old battlements collapsed, creating a gap several meters wide.


    That was enough.


    "Charge!"


    Dolores lifted his Bloodfire Battle Axe in one hand and shouted fiercely: "Follow me to capture the city! Crush them!"


    He led the charge at the front, leaping through the gap with a single bound, and with a wide swing of his Great Axe, he sliced the dozen defenders blocking the way in half.


    "Monster!"


    "Help!"


    "Dear gods, it''s the Envious War Maniac, Dolores!"


    "It''s the Ashen Kingdom''s army!"


    Hearing the foul nickname infuriated Dolores further. He leapt tens of meters, catching up to the speaker, and smashed the insolent human into a meat patty with the flat of his axe.


    "I am Dolores!"


    "The strongest general under the great Red Dragon!"


    "And your eternal nightmare!"


    Dolores swung his axe, roaring in a rage.


    The Goblin sword and shield troops followed closely, slaughtering the defenders on the walls, venting their long-repressed killing desires.


    "Damn, these monsters!"


    "I can''t kill them at all!"


    "Are those scales?"


    Under the blitz attack from the Ashen Kingdom, the defenders on the walls crumbled, fleeing in disarray.


    The goblin skirmishers behind them raised their spears and, following their sergeant''s order to "fire at will," began shooting at the exposed heads on the walls, causing many defenders to fall.


    Soon, nearly a thousand defenders were all wiped out.


    By now, this battle could no longer be called a fight; it was simply a one-sided massacre.


    And it only took an hour.


    To put it simply, killing a thousand pigs might take more than an hour, but the Ashen Kingdom''s army wiped out the defenders in the same amount of time.


    Dolores himself became a killing machine, personally taking down at least a hundred people.


    "There''s trouble over the wall!"


    "What''s happening outside?"


    "There seems to be an enemy!"


    "I think I heard thunder."


    "Damn it, what''s going on?"


    The city''s residents were still unaware of what had happened, remaining in anxious confusion. They didn''t know the city had already fallen.


    But they soon understood.


    A loud dragon''s roar echoed from the sky.


    "Roar¡ª"


    The dreadful flaming apparition of the Red Dragon appeared over the city. Its golden eyes looked down upon the earth, and its wings seemed like a sea of flames, ready to burn the entire city.


    "By the gods..."


    "What kind of monster is this?" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I, I know what it is now..."


    "Is that the legendary Infernal Calamity?"


    The people were shaken by the dragon''s phantom in the sky, falling into terrified chaos.


    "Greetings, residents of Kenya."


    The airborne monster slowly spoke, its voice deep and authoritative, exuding a sense of overwhelming pressure.


    "I am here to inform you."


    "From now on, there is no more so-called Principality of Norton, only the Ashen Kingdom."


    "Everyone, welcome to the Ashen Kingdom."

 Chapter 94 Grand Duke Oliver

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    Kenya City, within the Ducal Residence.


    Duke Oliver Norton''s entire body shook with his trembling voice.


    As a descendant of the Val Barbarians, the Norton Family was said to bear the bloodline of Giants. Grand Duke Oliver himself was exceptional, standing over two meters tall, with a beard that was a pale white.


    But at this moment, wrapped in his luxurious robes, his corpulent body showed none of the barbarian vigor.


    "Wh... what do we do? The Ashen Kingdom has broken through!"


    "It''s over, completely over!"


    He never imagined that the Ashen Kingdom would strike here like a bolt of lightning.


    The Principality of Norton had long been under the protection of the Boske Duchy, with the Lionheart Knights often stationed within its borders. Few were the nations that dared attack¡ªit was, after all, forbidden to harm a dog without considering its master. No one wanted to provoke Boske, the mighty colossus of the North, which is why Oliver had dared to provoke so many times.


    Now, with the Lionheart Knights redeployed and most of Norton''s local forces drawn into the Triel Conference,


    during this time of the weakest defenses, the Ashen Kin led by Dolores took them by surprise, directly conquering Kenya City.


    Duke Oliver looked at his adjutant beside him, grabbing his shoulders like a drowning man clutching at straws, shaking him violently.


    "Quick, Gardel, go find Duke Leo!"


    "The Boske Duchy must have a way!"


    "Hurry, go now!"


    But Gardel only looked despairing, not moving a muscle.


    Seeing this, Duke Oliver flew into a rage, pushing him violently to the ground and cursing furiously: "Damn it, don''t you understand human speech? Go contact Duke Leo for me!"


    "Now! Immediately!"


    Collapsing on the ground, Gardel''s voice was heavy with resignation.


    "Lord Oliver, it''s too late. They''ve already broken in, and Boske''s reinforcements... can''t sprout wings and fly over to save us."


    As a steward-like figure within the Principality of Norton, Gardel had maintained a pessimistic view of the future ever since the defeat at the Triel Conference. He had fervently advised Duke Oliver not to get involved in this mess, but Oliver, relying on the backing of the Boske Duchy, still sent over a hundred elite warriors.


    Oliver grew even more furious, grabbing Gardel by the collar and lifting him up, spitting with rage.


    "Then what do we do?"


    "Wait here to die?"


    Gardel cautiously suggested, "Perhaps, maybe we can surrender."


    Oliver threw him to the ground, laughing angrily: "Maybe you can surrender, but do I have that chance?"


    "Don''t forget the Rackham Family is already extinct, and most of the nobles in the Rackman Duchy have been slaughtered. Do you think, as the Duke of Norton and ruler of this Principality, that I have a chance to surrender?"


    He unfastened the axe at his waist, gripping it tightly, advancing step by step. His towering figure nearly obscured Gardel, and his tone grew increasingly menacing.


    Gardel sensed danger as he lay on the ground.


    Yet he did not panic, instead a semblance of calm took over. Suddenly, his face twisted into a mocking smile, "Who knows, maybe you still have a chance. After all, a dog of the Boske Duchy or a dog of the Ashen Kingdom, either way you''re still a dog¡ª"


    "Swish¡ª"


    Duke Oliver chopped Gardel''s head off, blood splattering his face.


    "Hmph, despicable rebel."


    He snorted coldly, his visage growing even more grotesque.


    Duke Oliver knew all too well that he had angered the Red Dragon multiple times, and with the Red Dragon''s vindictive nature, there was no way it would let him live.


    He would likely be dragged to the executioner''s block, facing so-called "judgment," becoming the laughingstock of all. This was absolutely intolerable to Oliver.


    Duke Oliver looked at his trusted aides, his expression icy as he addressed them: "This is the fate that awaits those who dare to think of surrendering. Do you understand?"


    The Frost Giant bloodline seemed to be taking effect as he held Gardel''s head aloft, panting heavily. His bloodied face took on a bluish hue, and with his towering stature over two meters, he indeed resembled a fierce and brutal Frost Giant. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Out of fear or respect, the trusted aides nodded in agreement, not daring to make a sound.


    "..."


    "So, what will you do next...?"


    After a long silence, the Guard Captain finally gathered the courage to ask.


    The chaos outside grew louder with howls, cries, even gunshots echoing throughout the city. Clearly, the Ashen Kingdom''s army had entered the city and begun killing the resisting enemies. They wouldn''t hold out much longer.


    "Damn it, how could they break through so fast? Useless bastards."


    Duke Oliver tossed Gardel''s unseeing head aside, contemplating with a grim face that seemed shrouded in a thick gloom.


    Suddenly, he recalled a story about the Norton Family. Passed down through generations since the time the Norton Family were still Val Barbarian chieftains, it had been four hundred years. People had even regarded it as legend, including his father.


    But with the Red Dragon''s retainers approaching, perhaps this was the last straw to clutch.


    With this thought, Oliver ordered: "Let''s go to the family tomb."


    "Yes, my lord."


    Oliver and his trusted aides moved through a secret passage behind the Ducal Residence, arriving at the Norton Family tomb.


    This cemetery was lavishly adorned, with flowers symbolizing the repose of the deceased planted throughout.


    Engraved on the tombstones were intricate inscriptions bearing the names of the Norton Family ancestors and their epitaphs. There were many sizable underground mausoleums within the graveyard, providing a resting place for each Duke.


    Hundreds of years of assimilation had made the Norton Family''s burial customs almost identical to those of the Northern Nobility.


    "This is the place."


    "You may stand guard outside. Await my return."


    "Yes, my lord."


    The trusted aides obeyed, guarding the entrance.


    Grand Duke Oliver approached the largest mausoleum and walked straight in.


    Etched upon it was the name of the Norton ancestor, the first to be given the Norton surname¡ªKavaha Norton.


    "According to the Secret Codex, it should be like this."


    Following the procedures outlined in the family''s Secret Codex, he used a dagger to cut his finger, letting his blood drip into the groove in front of the sarcophagus.


    The blood, a peculiar blend of red and white, immediately merged into it, producing a subtle icy ripple.


    "Boom¡ª"


    With a deep rumble, a concealed stone door slowly opened. Behind the sarcophagus, a deep secret passage appeared.


    "So it''s true. It''s all true!"


    Duke Oliver''s eyes lit up with excitement as he quickly stepped into the secret passage.


    The passage seemed to be designed just for him. Despite his height of over two meters, he walked through it effortlessly.

 Chapter 95 Eternal Frost Horn

    On the stone walls flanking the hidden passage, there were not carvings of the Northern Nobility''s design, but rather some murals.


    These were drawn with some unknown red pigment, using the simplest lines to portray scenes brimming with primal vitality and intense strength.


    In these pictures, one could see Frost Giants wielding weapons, a horn, humans, a blizzard...


    According to later investigations by court scholars, these murals were a way for the Val Barbarians to record history, and Oliver, being a descendant of the Val Barbarians, knew this well.


    Clearly, the murals within the tomb also used this primitive form to record some true story.


    "Frost Giants, a horn, blizzards..."


    "This is..."


    Duke Oliver murmured to himself, as if the story seemed familiar to him.


    He continued walking along the hidden passage, eventually arriving at the end, a secluded burial chamber.


    Inside, there were no luxurious burial items, only a large horn placed there.


    The horn appeared to be made from a leg bone, its slightly yellowed surface glistening, etched with bold and grand runes, reminiscent of an artifact from an ancient, wild era. From the gaps of these runes, a chill emanated that invoked a feeling of an ice-cold abyss.


    It seemed less like a horn and more like a dormant glacier.


    Seeing the horn, Duke Oliver was initially stunned, soon followed by sheer delight.


    He finally understood, the generational story was indeed real.


    "The Eternal Frost Horn."


    Duke Oliver murmured, pronouncing the name.


    The Norton Family claimed their ancestor was a Frost Giant.


    Back then, there wasn''t a Norton surname yet, and this Frost Giant bore the tribal name "Everfrost," Gahe Everfrost.


    This Frost Giant couldn''t endure the desolate environment of the glacial plateau and sought powerful strength. Seizing an opportunity when his tribesmen were out hunting, he killed the guard of the Holy Land and stole the relic capable of controlling frost and snow¡ªthe Eternal Frost Horn.


    He blew the horn, and an endless blizzard severed the path behind him, allowing him to escape his pursuers and reach the warmer South.


    In the area of Stormy Ridge in the South, the naturally large and strong Frost Giant became the mightiest warrior, conquering the entire barbarian tribe by force and founding the Var Tribe, thus passing down the bloodline of the Frost Giants to the present day.


    But it was said that when the horn was blown again, Frost Giants from the Far North Great Glacier would hear the ancestor''s call, chase down the rebel''s descendants, and at all costs, retrieve the relic by heading South.


    "Damn Red Dragon, since you won''t let me live peacefully¡ª"


    "Then bear the wrath of the Frost Giants! I''ll drag you all to the grave with me!"


    Grand Duke Oliver stared at the massive horn, a sinister smile spreading across his face.


    These Frost Giants, known as the Everfrost Tribe, came from the Vaar Glacier at the northernmost tip of Anzeta, a place called the Icebound Forbidden Land. Every now and then, they would raid the South with accompanying blizzards. However, the interval wasn''t fixed; it might be years, decades, or even centuries.


    Sixty years had passed since the last Frost Giants raided the South in the "Frost Calamity." That calamity caused tremendous losses to the Northern Countries, with several cities destroyed and tens of thousands killed or injured, ultimately rendering Stormy Ridge a forbidden zone for humans.


    In other words, Duke Oliver held the key to another "Frost Calamity."


    As long as he blew the horn, he could unleash a catastrophe that would engulf the entire North.


    But reflecting on blowing the horn, knowing his own life would be at peril, Duke Oliver''s face again showed hesitation.


    He valued his life greatly and wouldn''t risk it unless driven to the brink.


    And this time, Duke Oliver seemed to see a turn in events.


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    "Perhaps, I can use the Eternal Frost Horn to threaten the Ashen Kingdom to maintain the Principality of Norton''s status."


    "I might even gain more benefits, enhancing my position."


    "First, let''s take it in hand."


    With this thought, he attempted to touch the surface of the bone horn, but failed to notice the bleeding wound on his hand.


    "Vroom¡ª¡ª"


    A heavy humming sound rang out; the horn was blown directly!


    This was indeed the bloodline relic of the Frost Giants!


    The sound, like a battle cry from ancient times, mingled with the howl of a snowstorm, echoed across the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    At that moment, the runes flashed with blinding cold light, resonated with the Frost Giants'' bloodline, and transmitted the immense frost power from the Progenitor of Frost Giants to his body, filling Duke Oliver with inexhaustible strength.


    Through those cold lights, he seemed to see wars between Giants and Dragons of ancient times, those towering Frost Giants blowing the horn, summoning endless wind and snow, turning the Red Dragons in the sky into ice sculptures.


    To Oliver, this was both an ancient history and a prophecy of the future¡ªwith such power, he might truly stand against the giant dragons.


    "This, this power..."


    "It''s unbelievable."


    Duke Oliver opened his fingers, a chilling stream mixed with snow fragments flowing from between them.


    When he clenched his fist again, an ice cone had formed before him.


    A glaring cold light appeared in Oliver''s pupils, and runes flickered ceaselessly across his body. His body suddenly swelled to over four meters tall, and his skin turned glacial blue.


    At this moment, he was like the master of frosty calamities, even able to control glaciers and summon blizzards out of thin air.


    This sudden boon filled him with unparalleled confidence, making him understand how his ancestor had conquered the entire barbarian tribe.


    "I can''t fathom why the ancestor hid this secret."


    "It''s so wonderful."


    Oliver suddenly burst into wild laughter.


    With his laughter, howling wind and snow surrounded him, growing increasingly intense.


    "From now on¡ª"


    "I need no support at all!"


    "Neither the Ashen Kingdom nor the Boske Duchy, the entire North, and all of Anzeta will tremble under this power! Here will be my empire!"


    "I am the blizzard! I am the scourge!"


    The ice cone pierced the ground, creating a deep fissure in the earth. Duke Oliver, now almost indistinguishable from a true Frost Giant, rode the ice storm and flew out with a sudden leap. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This, this is."


    Oliver''s trusted aides were all stunned, rooted in place, unsure of how to react.


    But they were soon turned into ice sculptures in the howling wind and snow.


    "These mortal lives are like ants to me now."


    "Fleeting."


    Oliver coldly glanced at the ice sculptures, with not the slightest bit of remorse for his once-loyal subordinates, nodding with satisfaction instead.

 Chapter 96 Blizzard

    "Those who resist to the end shall die!"


    Dolores hoisted the Bloodfire Battle Axe and let out a furious roar.


    The trusted aides of the Ducal Mansion were no match for the Goblins Army''s assault.


    Every swing of Dolores''s battle axe carved a blood-red arc through the air, severing multiple bodies at once, blood spraying everywhere.


    Archers in the distance aimed to kill the monstrous foe, but the spears wielded by the Goblin Skirmishers produced a clattering noise, emitting wisps of green smoke.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    Like the Grim Reaper marking names on a list, every shot from the spears felled an archer¡ªthanks to refined firearms, the Dragon Vein blessings, and the crucible of war, these Goblin Skirmishers had become lethal avatars on small battlefields, able to swiftly and easily annihilate human troops of a hundred soldiers.


    Dolores wiped the blood off his face, exhaled white mist, and sneered:


    "Let''s go capture that ridiculous duke."


    "Let him see... what Hell looks like."


    After months of peace, he was eager for warfare, volunteering for this lightning siege even before the Red Dragon assigned anyone.


    Previously, Dolores''s Goblins Army was invincible, breaching multiple cities in succession, filling him with confidence.


    This time turned out as he expected: the Goblin Skirmishers, equipped with the latest model "Dragon Fire Longspears," crushed the opposition, swiftly ending the battle.


    But just as they broke through the City Defense Army, a long horn sound resonated from within the city. The sound was strange, making him feel cold all over and a bit suspicious.


    "But... what is that sound?"


    "Forget it, catch the duke first."


    Dolores thought.


    A fierce wind suddenly blew.


    A few snowflakes touched Dolores''s face, making him shiver involuntarily.


    This Dragon Vein Goblin, who disliked the cold, scratched his head and shivered again, a puzzled expression on his ugly face.


    "Did I misremember? It''s not winter yet."


    "How can it be snowing..."


    Even in the Land of Eternal Winter, it was unusual to have such early snowfall, especially in a relatively warmer city.


    "Hoo¡ª"


    The gale intensified, cold air spreading all around, mixed with large hailstones, forming a small snowstorm in mid-air.


    Dolores finally became alarmed, gripping his battle axe tightly as he realized that this sudden snowstorm was not a natural phenomenon!


    Dolores immediately retreated, leaving the area, and didn''t forget to shout:


    "Stay alert! This is no ordinary snowstorm!"


    "That''s a spell!"


    The goblins hurried to retreat, but the snowstorm, like a living entity, pursued them, howling continuously.


    "Damn it, it really is a spell."


    "Damn it, how does this small town have such high-level spells."


    "Those serpentfolk in the intelligence department deserve a bullet!"


    Dolores watched the approaching snowstorm, spat, and cursed.


    The Principality of Norton was rated the lowest in Ashen Kingdom''s internal gradation, with hardly any competent troops, merely a dog under Boske. Who would have thought such high-level spells would appear!


    "Die!"


    In the middle of the snowstorm, a giant figure, light blue-skinned and ferocious, appeared.


    Floating in mid-air, with a large horn tied to his back, his body glowed with icy blue magic tattoos. Holding an ice cone, he was like the master of the snowstorm¡ªthat was Grand Duke Oliver.


    He laughed wildly, his pupils emanating endless cold, radiating dazzling ice-blue light.


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    "Let me show you... true power!"


    "I am the Blizzard!"


    With his laughter, the snowstorm around him intensified, its range further expanding.


    The goblins who failed to escape were frozen solid within moments in that extreme cold, turned into ice statues still in their lifelike poses.


    "Look, is that His Grace?"


    "Oh my god, what is this?"


    "So cold¡­"


    "I''m losing consciousness¡­"


    The blizzard ravaged the city, and many residents couldn''t escape this terrible scourge.


    Grand Duke Oliver showed no regard for the lives of the city''s inhabitants, unleashing the power of the Eternal Frost Horn recklessly, turning a hundred meters around him into a white world, with snowy roads lined with various ice sculptures.


    "What on earth is this thing."


    "That is definitely no low-level spell!"


    While fleeing in panic, Dolores cursed vehemently. Even he wouldn''t last long within this icy domain.


    "Boom!"


    The Dragon Vein Goblin saw the approaching snowstorm, and without hesitation, he threw down his battle axe and jumped over twenty meters, barely escaping the snowstorm''s reach. The Dragon Vein''s power granted him agility, allowing a quicker retreat.


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    "You cannot fight the Blizzard!"


    Controlling the blizzard, Grand Duke Oliver showed no intention of letting up, chasing Dolores to the city''s outskirts, bent on completely destroying this so-called "Envious War Maniac," making the hateful Red Dragon lose a key lieutenant.


    "This can''t go on!"


    Having reached the city''s edge, Dolores looked back at the approaching snowstorm, gritting his teeth with determination as he crushed the crimson crystal stone in his hand.


    Dolores frantically called for help from the shattered crystal stone.


    "Master, save me!"


    This was the communication crystal stone "Flaming Dragon Crystal" that only Ashen Kingdom''s tribal leaders possessed, allowing direct contact with the Red Dragon in critical moments.


    Though the Dragon Vein Goblin was fearless in battle, he didn''t wish to die inexplicably in this spell. Thus, he swallowed his pride and sought the Red Dragon''s aid.


    "Hoo¡ª"


    The wind and snow roared on.


    Dolores had not given up entirely. Mustering his last bit of strength, he charged towards Grand Duke Oliver at the storm''s center.


    "I''ll tear you apart!"


    But the white domain gradually engulfed him, his massive Dragon Vein Goblin body trembling, his actions stiffening, his dragon-scaled face gradually covered in ice, even his eyelids coated with frost.


    Fueled by the fervent, lively Red Dragon Bloodline inside him, he possessed immense vitality, still alive, his teeth chattering, eyes slowly blinking.


    "Damn¡­"


    "If I die like this, Ram the stupid ogre will laugh at me."


    "I can''t... die here..."


    In this life-and-death moment, Dolores thought.


    Having endured just a few minutes in this extreme cold, he felt his body entirely numb, completely insensate, and his thoughts slowing, as if frozen solid.

 Chapter 97 Ice and Fire

    At this moment, a fire portal abruptly appeared in the snowy white realm.


    "Such an interesting fluctuation..."


    A noble youth with black hair and golden eyes walked out from it, and immediately his entire body sparkled with tiny flickers of magical aura, suddenly swelling into an enormous red dragon nearly twenty meters long.


    With the appearance of the red dragon, the high-temperature heat spread around, causing magma to surge from the snow-covered ground, and the intense blizzard was blocked.


    The frost on Dolores'' body also slowly receded, turning into flowing water, but he collapsed to the ground with weak breaths.


    [Dragon''s Breath]


    Cassius lightly waved his claw, and beams of light descended from the sky, carrying the purest vitality of dragons, healing the frostbite inside the Dragon Vein Goblin and saving his life.


    "Master..."


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    "You''re... here..."


    Dolores, lying on the ground and barely alive, weakly opened his eyes and struggled to speak, his heart filled with the disappointment of being easily defeated and nearly killed.


    "Forgive my... incompetence..."


    Seeing Dolores out of danger, the red dragon no longer paid attention to him, instead looking thoughtfully at Duke Oliver in midair and the swirling snowstorm around him.


    "Such powerful frost powers."


    "But the person harnessing this power is too weak."


    In Cassius'' eyes, the only thing worth noting was the horn behind Duke Oliver. The human with the Frost Giant bloodline was merely an insignificant vessel.


    Seeing the red dragon''s arrival, Duke Oliver''s seething hatred from his Frost Giant blood toward dragons combined with his own grudges, and a surge of anger filled his heart.


    "Damn red dragon!"


    "I''ll show you what frost truly is!"


    He directed the wind and snow toward the red dragon. The violent storm, filled with ice shards and an endless chill, ravaged toward the dragon.


    [Agile as a Dragon]


    The surface of Cassius'' wings was infused with spatial power, making his flying speed incredibly frightening, turning his whole body into a blur, easily evading the snowstorm like a phantom.


    "Swish¡ª"


    The red dragon swiftly soared over the ground, flying directly above Duke Oliver, but he didn''t rush to attack, instead stopping leisurely.


    Cassius looked down disdainfully at Duke Oliver.


    "A decent spell."


    "But can you truly control this power?"


    "Pathetic bastard."


    Seeing the contempt in the red dragon''s golden slit eyes, Duke Oliver became even more furious.


    "How dare you¡ª"


    From a young age, he was indoctrinated by his family to obey the orders of the Boske Duchy and serve them obediently.


    Though those Northern Nobility politely addressed him as "His Grace" on the surface, they secretly mocked him as the so-called "Loyal Dog Duke" or "Lord Barbarian."


    He never had the power to make his own choices and could only timidly follow under the wings of the Boske Duchy, leading to his twisted personality, arrogant yet inferior, often venting his anger on his subjects. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, possessing unimaginable power enough to control everything, he was still despised by this red dragon.


    That contemptuous gaze was all too familiar, one he had endured silently from childhood to now!


    Duke Oliver''s eyes flashed with intense cold light, runes on his body flickering as he shouted toward the sky:


    "Worm, I''ll kill you!"


    With his roar, ice cones erupted from the ground, stabbing at the red dragon in midair.


    Cassius still looked at him with disdain, his chest glowing with intense red light, energy building up in his throat, and then spewing out.


    [Extremely Effective Flame Breath]


    Far more concentrated than frost power, the gathered fire elements formed a blazing white pillar of fire, effortlessly tearing through wind and snow, shattering ice cones, and evaporating all the surrounding ice and snow.


    But he didn''t use the flames to further attack Oliver, instead closing his mouth leisurely, mocking him.


    "Is that all?"


    "Duke Oliver, in my eyes, you are merely a good dog tied to that horn."


    Cassius said calmly.


    He was provoking Duke Oliver, just wanting to see what this guy with the Frost Giant bloodline could do under the horn''s blessing.


    This guy''s use of Eternal Frost Power was too superficial; he couldn''t even gather elements at a single point, just wasting power like a frenzied dog.


    Therefore, in Cassius'' eyes, Duke Oliver was no threat at all but rather an experimental opportunity.


    To experiment with the horn''s capability.


    Perhaps by coincidence or intentional, the red dragon''s words were exactly what Duke Oliver wanted to hear, completely igniting his rage.


    "You''re asking for death!"


    "I''ll make you sleep forever!"


    Oliver roared recklessly.


    He took the horn from his back and blew it, extreme cold air poured out from the horn, creating a never-ending intense snowstorm in the sky.


    "Buzz¡ª"


    The horn''s sound echoed through the clouds, and an even more violent snowstorm appeared in the sky, the chill feeling even made the red dragon feel threatened, his body as if plunged into an ice cave.


    Cassius spewed fierce flames, the flames forming a wall blocking the invasion of cold air, and he watched Oliver blowing the horn, a spark lighting up in his eyes.


    "This fluctuation has reached the Legendary Level."


    "Unexpected gain, who knew this horn could actually allow a mortal to use Legendary Level power."


    "However... his time is running out."


    In Cassius'' eyes, Oliver now looked like a bomb ready to explode anytime, his body filled with uncontrollable power.


    "Come, attack me!"


    "Let me see your power!"


    The red dragon still sneered, slowly flapping his wings amidst the storm, hovering midair through spatial power, with flames dancing in the air with his wingbeats.


    Oliver, almost losing his mind, extended his palm, from which extreme cold poured out like a rushing river.


    "No, not enough..."


    "Need... more power!"


    "To kill that red dragon!"


    Oliver continued to greedily draw the power from the horn, the Eternal Frost Power resonating with his bloodline, the ice-blue runes on his body glowing brighter and more blinding.


    The power poured out as cold air.


    "Boom¡ª"


    The tidal wave of cold air washed over the red dragon''s body, but the huge dragon body vanished out of thin air. The missed cold air formed several meter-high grim ice cones on the ground.


    It turned out that was just an incarnation of flames!


    With Oliver''s spell skills, he couldn''t even discern the simplest flame incarnation, pouring all his power into the incarnation.


    The real red dragon had long used the terrifying speed brought by [Agile as a Dragon] to silently appear behind him.


    "Experiment finished, your life should end as well."


    "Truly¡ªpathetic fellow."


    Cassius casually swiped his claw.


    He only used the most basic Dragon''s Trickery.


    The reason was simple, Duke Oliver now had Legendary Level energy output, but no corresponding defensive means or control ability.


    If not blocked by the snowstorm and unable to get close, even Dolores could easily chop Oliver into minced meat.


    [Scratch Technique]


    A claw-shaped magical field appeared behind Oliver, easily slashing through his fragile, untrained body.


    As the red dragon tore through Duke Oliver''s body, the Eternal Frost Power, barely maintained by his bloodline, finally lost balance and exploded completely!


    "I clearly hit¡ª"


    "No¡ª"


    Cold light seeped from his mouth, nose, and eyes.


    Duke Oliver''s inflated body, from absorbing power, burst open like a balloon, sharp ice cones erupting from the wounds, rolling white mist spreading over them.


    Eventually, his entire body turned into irregular extreme-cold crystals, like a glacier buried underground for millennia.


    The horn fell to the ground, lying there quietly, its runes dimming, and the snowstorm in the sky gradually ceasing.


    "Tsk, a guy blinded by power, a hybrid Frost Giant with a bloodline diluted who knows how many times..."


    "Thinking he could fight a dragon single-handedly just because he had a racial relic? Truly clueless."


    Cassius watched the ice crystal, lamenting.

 Chapter 98 The Chronicles of Dailenna

    Although there were minor incidents and unexpected casualties along the way, Kenya City was ultimately conquered by the Ashen Kingdom, marking the end of the Principality of Norton after over four hundred years.


    The members of the Norton family, under the strict house-to-house search conducted by the "Nocturne" troops, were all captured without exception and almost all were sent to the dungeons of Northwind Castle.


    After all, these individuals with the diluted bloodline of Frost Giants were too conspicuous in their physique¡ªeven their blood had a unique scent.


    Dragon Vein Goblin Leader Dolores, frustrated by the perilous battle, voluntarily asked Cassius for a temporary leave from the military and vowed to become a Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight. He was now diligently studying in the Hall of Dragon Oath, though it was unclear if he would succeed.


    In the Council Hall, Cassius sprawled on the throne, enthusiastically toying with the horn in his hand.


    To gain such equipment effortlessly was an unexpected delight for him.


    [You have plundered ice from ancient times.]


    [You have obtained the legendary equipment¡ª[Eternal Frost Horn]]


    [Eternal Frost Horn]


    Quality: Legendary


    Creator: Kobal Everfrost


    Description: In the ancient times, long forgotten, during a war that lasted several generations, Kobal demonstrated terrifying spell-casting talent, summoning ice hundreds of meters tall to freeze an Ancient Red Dragon into an ice block. This made him a brilliant star in the Giant Empire, establishing his own Giant Clan and even receiving the surname "Everfrost" from the Frost Giant god Soleim.


    When the war ended, both sides were paralyzed. Even in his old age, Kobal was still alive. Knowing that his clan would face threats after his death, he cut off his right leg, engraved runes on the leg bone, and forged it into a horn imbued with the power of Everfrost, which he handed to his son before he died.


    When the horn is blown, a howling blizzard will sweep forth, sending all enemies of the Everfrost Tribe into eternal sleep. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    "I will freeze everything, not just my enemies, but all that I own! ¡ªKolba Everfrost"


    Effects:


    (Requires resonance with the "Everfrost" Frost Giant bloodline, otherwise the effect is reduced to one-third of its original strength.)


    [Power of the Everfrost Rune]: When the horn is blown, the runes will glow an icy blue, and the power of frost and snow will be under your control. A howling blizzard will encircle within a radius of several hundred meters around you, with magically cold hail and snowflakes falling from the sky to freeze your enemies.


    [Kolba''s Glacier Prison]


    9th Level Shaping Magic


    A nearly hundred-meter-high glacier will rise from the ground, imprisoning any creature you designate. The creature will suffer continuous cold damage until it dies.


    [Extreme Cold Ice Explosure Spell]


    8th Level Shaping Magic


    You will open your palm to release a torrent of extremely cold water, resembling a waterfall, causing targets to become sluggish and suffer cold damage.


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    7th Level Shaping Magic


    You will create several sharp icicles to inflict cold and piercing damage on your enemies.


    "As expected of the sacred relic of the Frost Giant Clan."


    "A truly powerful legendary equipment, but unfortunately, there are too many limitations, and it doesn''t suit my Red Dragon form."


    Cassius commented like this.


    This equipment was essentially crafted to counter Red Dragons, and as a genuine Red Dragon who could even bathe in magma, he couldn''t withstand extreme cold climates and wasn''t compatible with the power of the Everfrost Rune.


    Moreover, activating this equipment required the bloodline of a Frost Giant. Though he had captured the descendants of the Norton family, their bloodlines were diluted over many generations and could not fully unleash the power of such a legendary relic.


    "Thankfully, it was in Oliver''s hands."


    "If it had fallen into the hands of a Frost Giant elder, I would have had a tough time."


    Cassius felt a bit relieved.


    That power-hungry Duke Oliver probably didn''t even utilize half the power of this legendary equipment, yet it posed a slight threat to him, demonstrating its immense power.


    A captivating female voice interrupted Cassius''s thoughts.


    "Master, I have found the relevant information!"


    "The records are in this book from the Rackman Duchy''s library, titled ''The Secrets of the Norton Family.''"


    Dailenna appeared in the hall holding a worn, parchment book, looking quite pleased.


    Cassius, still toying with the bone horn in his hand, showed keen interest.


    "Highlight the key points and read them to me."


    "Yes, Master."


    "This horn is called the Eternal Frost Horn, a sacred relic passed down through the ''Everfrost'' Frost Giant Clan near the Vaar Glacier. It was stolen centuries ago by an ancestor of the Norton family¡ªa traitorous Frost Giant..."


    Dailenna''s expression grew more serious as she turned to the last page, her brow furrowing slightly.


    "When the horn is blown again, the Frost Giants from the extreme north will stop at nothing to reclaim it and restore the glory of their ancestors..."


    "What''s wrong?"


    Seeing Dailenna''s grim expression, Cassius felt a bit curious.


    She spoke heavily, uttering two words.


    "Frost Calamity."


    Dailenna cautiously lifted her eyes, and seeing that the Red Dragon did not interrupt, she continued.


    "The Everfrost Clan, estimated to have over three hundred Frost Giants, hails from the ''Icebound Forbidden Land'' of the Vaar Glacier at the northernmost end of Anzeta."


    "These Frost Giant Clans periodically invade the south along with blizzards. The timing is uncertain, and the Northerners refer to such invasions as ''Frost Calamities.''"


    "It has been over sixty years since the last Frost Calamity. That catastrophe caused heavy losses to all countries in the North, with tens of thousands of casualties. It almost destroyed a duchy. My grandfather witnessed that calamity firsthand; villages and farms were plundered, the roads littered with the broken bodies of humans and beasts, and some cities turned into snow-covered ruins."


    At this point, a glint of delight flashed in Cassius''s golden eyes.


    "Three hundred Frost Giants..."


    "Isn''t this just the perfect opportunity to collect materials for the Eternal Frost Horn?"


    Cassius looked meaningfully at Dailenna and said:


    "Dailenna, understand your position."


    "Our Ashen Kingdom can only be the calamity for all enemies, never a victim of any disaster."


    "Notify the retainers and prepare for battle. I want to collect a large amount of Frost Giant''s blood."


    Dailenna finally came to her senses, realizing she was no longer a trembling Serpentfolk under the enemy''s iron heel, but a member of the Ashen Kingdom ruled by the Red Dragon.


    Yes, he was called the Scourge, and the entire North trembled under his wings.


    "Yes, Master."


    Dailenna half-knelt on the ground, her tone tinged with inexplicable excitement.

 Chapter 99 Kasa Everfrost

    "Hoo¡ª¡ª"


    A long horn sound echoed.


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    Sunlight pierced through thin clouds, a cold wind howled, and the glacier covered in white frost and snow sparkled with a chilling light.


    This place, known to the world as the "Icebound Forbidden Land," was the Vaar Glacier, the survival ground of the Frost Giants for millennia. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Within the crevices of the glacier, beds made of solid ice could be found, scattered with clothes made of animal skins, bone spears, and rough stone blades¡ªmarking the gathering place of the Everfrost Tribe.


    The glacial crevice where the Frost Giants gathered almost never saw sunlight in winter. As crops couldn''t grow, they could only corral the livestock they looted for food and hunt on the tundra and snowy mountains, hence mammoths and even a few land dragons were kept outside the ice cavern.


    "Is that... the horn sound?"


    "Soleim above, that''s the Eternal Frost Horn!"


    The Frost Giant, wearing a bull horn helmet, raised his double-bladed axe, feeling the resonance in his blood, and roared excitedly.


    He was tall and strong, standing over eight meters high, with glacier-blue skin marked with scars. His whitish beard resembled a pool of frost and snow, and he wore strands of frost and ice pillars on his body.


    He was the current chieftain of the Everfrost Tribe, Kasa Everfrost the Bonebreaker.


    Kasa was the mightiest and strongest warrior in the tribe, in his prime at just over eighty years old, who had once barehandedly snapped the neck of an adult white dragon, earning him the title "Bone Breaker." All Frost Giant warriors held him in high esteem.


    But Kasa had a trouble, which was not finding the tribe''s relic¡ªthe Eternal Frost Horn.


    The loss of the Eternal Frost Horn happened over six hundred years ago, when the shameful traitor known as "The Betrayer" stole the relic, used its power to reach the south, and eventually allied with the humans.


    In natural conditions, the average lifespan of a Frost Giant was just over two hundred and thirty years.


    Over the past six hundred years, nine chieftains had perished, and apart from continuous small-scale raids, the Everfrost Tribe had launched thirteen major invasions into the south, known as the "Frost Calamities," yet they never found the relic representing their ancestors'' supreme glory.


    Now, within the Everfrost Tribe, there were five hundred and thirty-two adult Frost Giants. These vigorous Frost Giants were consuming the great glacier quickly, and Kasa had originally planned to mobilize the entire tribe for an incursion in ten years. Unexpectedly, the Eternal Frost Horn had sounded.


    "This matter is too significant."


    "We should ask Elder Nur."


    Kasa walked to the deepest part of the ice cavern, finding a special Frost Giant in the most deep and cold place.


    Even the usually reckless Kasa restrained his excitement at this moment, tentatively asking:


    "Elder Nur, is it time?"


    "Yes..."


    "We will reclaim the relic... and restore the honor of our ancestors."


    The voice was hoarse and low but firm.


    This Frost Giant, known as "Elder Nur," was hunched and aged, with light blue skin etched with strange runes. Upon closer inspection, one would find these runes were almost identical to those on the Eternal Frost Horn.


    He was the shaman of the Everfrost Tribe¡ªNur Everfrost of the Wooden Staff. It was said he was three hundred and seventy-four years old, had seen the reigns of five chieftains, and personally participated in six invasions of the south. He was the most revered Frost Giant in the tribe and was said to communicate with the long-silent Frost Giant God, Soleim.


    Nur, supporting himself with the wooden staff, wobbled as he stood up, eyes closed, one hand outstretched as if feeling the cold in the air.


    "I can feel..."


    "The power of the Eternal Frost Horn, guiding me..."


    "That is the call of the ancestors, Great Kolba calling us."


    Kasa was ecstatic, his hand holding the double-bladed axe trembling. The tribe''s centuries-old wish was about to be fulfilled by him; he would become the most successful chieftain in a thousand years.


    "Excellent, Elder Nur!"


    "I will gather all the tribespeople and launch a war against the humans in the south, reclaiming our relic! This time, I will certainly wash away the disgrace and restore the honor of the ancestor Kolba!"


    Nur softly agreed:


    "Yes, the tribespeople have already waited too long..."


    "But..."


    The aged Frost Giant, who had seen much of life, closed his eyes again, as if seeing something shocking, his body trembling slightly.


    "I also see... a scourge. A destined scourge."


    "Scourge?"


    Kasa was puzzled.


    Nur furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, and then slowly replied:


    "Yes, a scourge. I don''t know what this omen represents; it might be a group of humans, it might be a dragon, or something else entirely."


    Kasa laughed heartily, casually shouldering his double-bladed axe, confidently said:


    "Elder Nur, you''re worrying too much."


    "For us, no scourge could exist. Let''s be real, we Frost Giants are called the ''Frost Calamity'' by the southerners. Even dragons would have their necks snapped by my own hands."


    There was a flash of confident gleam in his eyes.


    "We bring disaster to others; no one dares to provoke us!"


    "Hope so."


    Nur remained noncommittal, only wobbling out with the help of a Frost Giant attendant.


    "Kasa, since you''ve made up your mind, inform the tribe. The southern humans have enjoyed peace for too long. Another holy conquest is about to begin, and this is still your first time."


    "Yes, Elder Nur."


    Compared to the calmness of Nur, who had experienced several campaigns, Kasa was extremely excited, hardly able to contain his joy.


    A successful large-scale raid by the Frost Giants could result in looted goods that lasted decades, a valuable opportunity for the Frost Giants growing on barren glaciers, and a symbol of the achievements of successive chieftains.


    "Reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn!"


    "Kill all the southern humans! Rob them all!"


    Standing at the glacier''s summit, Kasa raised his double-bladed axe with one arm and shouted loudly.


    Hundreds of Frost Giants below raised their diverse weapons, unleashing excited roars and growls.


    Of course, the Frost Giants yearned to restore their ancestors'' honor, but they seemed more interested in killing and robbing the rich southerners than these intangible things.


    Pillaging was inherent in the Frost Giants'' nature. Unlike their benevolent cousins, the Cloud Giants and Storm Giants, to the Frost Giants born in ice and snow, strength was everything.


    "I will lead the tribe to reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn and retrieve all we once had."


    "Anything standing in our way will be crushed!"


    Kasa Everfrost the Bonebreaker overlooked the boiling tribe below, tightened his grip on the double-bladed axe, and made a silent vow.

 Chapter 100 The Duke and the Player

    A week later.


    Stratholme Fortress, Duke Boske''s Mansion. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Duke Leo Boske kept stroking his beard, his face full of anxiety. It had been a long time since he had lost his composure like this. The bad news of late was too much, making even the usually calm duke find it hard to accept.


    The Principality of Norton had been swiftly annihilated by the Ashen Kingdom in a single day, without even sending out a distress signal.


    And in the northern part of the kingdom, with the sounding of the strange horn, the legendary "Frost Calamity" started to stir once more. Signs of Frost Giants'' advancement had appeared near the Vaar Glacier.


    "Your Grace, Your Grace!"


    The adjutant rushed in hurriedly, bringing the latest intelligence.


    "Our scouts in the north have discovered signs of Frost Giants'' rapid advance! On roads long sealed, there are remnants of beasts, massive footprints, and the ground... is covered in snow."


    Duke Leo''s face immediately darkened, masked by a heavy shadow.


    "Just as recorded."


    "It is indeed... the Frost Calamity."


    Duke Leo turned to the adjutant, asking anxiously:


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    "What about their marching direction? Where will those Frost Giants appear?"


    The adjutant hurriedly responded truthfully: "Stormy Ridge. According to our current intelligence, they will head south from the vicinity of Stormy Ridge, passing through Triel Valley, entering the northern region."


    However, he added:


    "But, the area around Stormy Ridge is Ashen Kingdom''s territory. Though their patrol and defense focus has shifted to the former Rackman Duchy, it is still controlled by the Red Dragon''s retainers. The information we have is extremely scarce, all obtained at the risk of our scouts'' lives."


    The adjutant presented a map, respectfully offering it up.


    The parchment map was scarred with marks and blemishes, red paint marking areas where signs of Frost Giants'' march had been discovered.


    Duke Leo carefully examined the map, his expression shifting between joy and puzzlement.


    He paced back and forth in the hall.


    "That''s not right... This is different from the recorded Frost Calamities.


    "According to records, during the Frost Calamities sixty and a hundred seventy years ago, the Frost Giants surged into the northern region from different directions, rapidly destroying everything in their path and looting everything around. Often, just a few dozen Frost Giants were enough to obliterate a city."


    "According to domestic scholars'' analysis, their main goal should be plundering resources while weakening our forces, hence why these Frost Giants would unleash their destructive power recklessly."


    "But this time, they seem to have a specific target."


    "And that target, which requires them to concentrate their power, should be the current... Ashen Kingdom."


    Continuing to scrutinize the map, Duke Leo''s eyes gleamed with a peculiar light.


    Upon hearing this, the adjutant immediately showed a look of delight.


    "My Lord, doesn''t that mean we''ve hit the jackpot?"


    "This Ashen Kingdom is fending off the Frost Calamity from the north, with the Frost Giants and the giant dragons tangled up amongst themselves, too preoccupied to look south. We can take this opportunity to..."


    "Launch an attack on the Ashen Kingdom, right?"


    Duke Leo finished the thought.


    The adjutant quickly bowed, flattering: "You are wise, my Lord, that is exactly what I was thinking."


    Duke Leo''s expression slightly softened, finally revealing a hint of relaxation: "Let me correct you on one term¡ªit''s not ''take this opportunity,'' but ''bide our time.''


    "We still don''t know the upper limit of the Red Dragon''s strength in the Ashen Kingdom, and the Northern Frost Giants have only appeared sixty years ago according to records. The outcome of their clash is still uncertain."


    "So we must wait, wait for an opportunity that clearly reveals the situation."


    "If the Frost Giants have the upper hand, about to annihilate the Ashen Kingdom, then we can aid the Ashen Kingdom in resisting the Frost Giants, exhausting their remaining strength to fend off the calamity for us. Once the Frost Giants retreat, we can slowly settle accounts with the Ashen Kingdom.


    If the Ashen Kingdom prevails, during the lax period after their battle with the Frost Giants, we can launch a surprise attack."


    The adjutant showed an expression of sudden realization and quickly echoed:


    "My Lord, your wisdom is far beyond my reach."


    Duke Leo did not continue to respond, but thoughtfully looked at the map.


    "What a rare opportunity... "


    "Luck is a part of strength too. The initiative is back in my hands; how will you respond?"


    "Cassius Klaubow Norixius..."


    He once again pronounced that long, cumbersome name that had made him restless for days, but now his tone held a touch of expectation.


    ...


    Ashen Kingdom, Northwind Castle.


    "Ah, isn''t that Mantou?"


    "Out on patrol again, you''re working hard."


    The passing townsfolk called out warmly, though their voices carried deep reverence.


    "Serving the Ashen citizens is my duty."


    Mantou declared righteously.


    He still wore the sheriff''s uniform, patrolling the streets of the Southwest Urban District he was responsible for.


    But due to the Dictator''s Rule, there were hardly any players daring to break the law in the city. Mantou now considered the original residents as his primary targets. For instance, the notorious "Black Beer" gang in the Southwest Urban District was single-handedly wiped out by Mantou on his own, earning him over seven thousand faction contributions from that mission.


    Since then, the Southwest Urban District had become eerily quiet, with few special cases occurring, leaving Mantou quite bored.


    "Why is it so peaceful? Can''t there be a major case for me?"


    "Is there no hidden gang in Northwind Castle for me to make a fortune?"


    Mantou thought as he rode on the dragon''s back.


    "Hey, isn''t that Mantou? How come you''re all dressed up?"


    A snarky voice interrupted Mantou''s thoughts.


    Mantou immediately exploited his authority, not even looking at the person before sternly shouting:


    "Citizen, watch your language. Do not attempt to provoke the sheriff!"


    Unexpectedly, the speaker did not restrain himself but instead grew more arrogant: "Why are you, a little Level 2 sheriff, putting on airs?"


    "I''m now the head of ''Nocturne,'' ranked two levels above you in the Ashen System. Let me tell you, I can directly reach the Big Dragon Boss. Who do you think you are?"


    "Come on, call me ''officer!''"


    The speaker was none other than Swashbuckler. At this moment, he was flaunting himself, his tail practically sky-high.


    And upon hearing the name "Nocturne," the surrounding residents all scattered, adamantly closing their doors and windows, afraid of getting involved with this important figure¡ªafter all, the Nocturne Troop in the Ashen Kingdom was notorious, rumored to have assassinated countless would-be rebels.

 Chapter 101 Main Quest: Frost Calamity!

    Seeing that the newcomer was Swashbuckler, Mantou didn''t bother with any formalities, and immediately began to mock him without mercy.


    After all, during the mission at Rackman Castle, Swashbuckler''s cowardly behavior of abandoning his benefactor and fleeing had deeply etched itself into his mind, leaving an indelible mark.


    "Yo, isn''t this our Chief Eunuch from the Eastern Factory, Swashbuckler?"


    "Or should I call you... the Vampire''s Favorite?"


    "Why are you always hiding in the shadows? Come out and get some sun."


    These few words undoubtedly hit Swashbuckler''s sore spot, delivering a heavy strike that made him boil with anger.


    Especially the phrase "Vampire''s Favorite," which directly broke his defenses.


    After all, that post about the "Old Vampire and the Rogue Beast''s Unspeakable Thirty Seconds" still maintained high popularity on the forums, where curious onlookers often checked in, pushing the thread''s count to over ten thousand comments, making it a landmark within the forum.


    Swashbuckler sneered: "Humph, I think you''re just jealous of my higher position and strength. My Vampire template is at least a mini-boss level; I bet even the three of you together couldn''t beat me."


    "Wanna try outside the city?"


    "Let''s bet three hundred gold coins, Rogue Beast. Today it''s either you die or I live."


    Mantou patted his wyvern on the side of its neck, and "Noodle" immediately understood, glaring at Swashbuckler with bared teeth and a low growl.


    Swashbuckler was so frightened that he stepped back a few steps and hastily said:


    "Don''t come over here. I''m telling you, fighting in the city is illegal. It''ll blow your brains out."


    "I''m usually swamped with tasks. I''m not here to chat idly; Singo has something serious to discuss with you."


    Mantou finally patted the dragon''s neck, calming it down.


    "What''s going on?"


    "You''ll find out when you get there, at the Red Scale Guardhouse."


    "Alright, don''t try to trick me, or I''ll definitely bust your head."


    "Hah, who beats whom is still up in the air."


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    "Damn, don''t let your stinky lizard bite me! I said I''m sorry, okay?"


    ...


    Northwest District of Northwind Castle, at the Red Scale Guardhouse.


    This was a rather large building located at the edge of the city, newly built after the Ashen Kingdom took over Northwind Castle. It was still under construction, with powerful ogre workers bustling inside, but its basic framework was already complete.


    The building stood over twenty meters high, making it seem quite imposing for this era. It used the most advanced structure, with statues of knights riding wyverns at the entrance, and the doors bore the emblem unique to the Ashen Kingdom¡ªa golden vertical pupil surrounded by flames.


    At the very top of the building was an exceptionally flat and open platform, painted with neat marker symbols, where many wyverns were perched.


    This was the Red Scale Guardhouse, headquarters of the Red Scale Conqueror, where wyvern knights returning from patrol would rest, waiting for the next mission assignment. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Mantou had originally been a member of the patrol team, but disliked the arduous patrol tasks and found the rewards lackluster, so he returned to the city to comfortably serve as sheriff. Only Singo remained in the patrol team, now promoted to squad leader, becoming the highest-ranking Red Scale Conqueror under Alger.


    Mantou parked his wyvern at the entrance and entered the hall with Swashbuckler, who had been hiding in the shadows.


    "Yo, Xin Dog, long time no see."


    "You''re too slow."


    In the distance, Singo appeared quite excited.


    Singo patted Mantou''s shoulder and said eagerly: "Mantou, stop slacking off in the city. There''s only one month left of the beta test. This is our golden opportunity to leapfrog ahead. When the game officially launches, we''ll be far ahead of the rest."


    Mantou seemed confused: "What tasks could be left at this point? Isn''t the beta version in its final phase?


    "Other than the crazies from the Mechanical God Cult still climbing their tech tree, which I can''t make heads or tails of, most players are probably doing daily quests..."


    Recently, Mantou''s videos hadn''t stirred much excitement, mainly consisting of patrol diaries within the city. The last popular video was "Exploring Rackman Castle"¡ªparticularly the thirty seconds between Swashbuckler and the old vampire, which earned him thousands of comments, also making Swashbuckler hold a grudge.


    Singo gave Mantou a disdainful glance.


    "Small-minded people, incapable of understanding grand ambitions. Same goes for those people, their understanding of the game is pitiful."


    "Then tell me, what''s there to do?"


    As Singo summoned a panel, he replied: "I''ve always told you to join the Red Scale Patrol Team."


    "It''s not just about the rewards; it''s also about obtaining the latest information."


    "If not for me, you wouldn''t know about this final month''s main quest in advance."


    Mantou''s eyes widened: "You found another main quest?"


    "What main quest?"


    An elegant female voice came from behind.


    ¡ªIt was Summer Night Autumn Rain, with Natural War Maniac following closely. They had both responded to Singo''s call, putting aside their tasks to come here.


    Singo said calmly: "See for yourselves. I triggered it during my patrol at Stormy Ridge."


    A transparent open information screen appeared before them.


    [Main Quest: Frost Calamity]


    [Every few decades, the Frost Giants from the "Icebound Forbidden Land" at Vaar Glacier blow their horns and start a rapid march from their icy home, accompanied by howling blizzards. Wherever they go, towns and villages turn into snow-covered ruins, and the unlucky souls on their path are left as plundered corpses.]


    [This horrifying scene is known as the "Frost Calamity" by the natives of the North. Now, the Frost Calamity is rising again, but this time the Frost Giants have a clearer target¡ªthe Ashen Kingdom. They intend to plunder everything here and reclaim their ancestors'' glory. Anyone standing in their way will be crushed mercilessly.]


    [Heroes, use your swords and shields to withstand the blizzard and stop this Frost Calamity!]


    "Frost Giants..."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain furrowed her eyebrows slightly, seeming to recall something unpleasant, and after a moment''s thought, she asked:


    "Are they similar to the Hill Giants we fought before?"


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head and chuckled: "That''d be great. Even the Hill Giant was a treasure, its toenails could be turned into potions."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain: "..."


    That was exactly why she didn''t want to remember it.


    Singo answered calmly: "That''s right. I used my position to specially review related books. These monsters belong to the giant category, but the Frost Giants are of a much higher sequential rank than Hill Giants."


    "Moreover, they most likely possess frost-related spell abilities."


    Mantou stroked his chin: "That could be tricky... Our Red Dragon Bloodline doesn''t have high resistance to cold."


    Singo nodded: "That''s why for this mission, we must prepare thoroughly in advance."

 Chapter 102 The Skirmish of Jin Ya

    North of Stormy Ridge, in the Castnail Hills.


    A troop of more than a thousand Kobolds was slowly progressing along the hills, looking like a swarm of ants from afar. They were the transport team of the Ashen Kingdom.


    "Hurry up, get that gold moved. This is a direct order from Lord Ramp."


    "Snap!"


    Jin Ya wielded a leather whip, sharply cracking it against the ground as he commanded the Kobolds at the entrance of the mine.


    As retainers left on Stormy Ridge, the Kobolds were still responsible for the mining and transport work. Day and night, they diligently hauled gold out of the mines, working with surprising tenacity. The reason was that those with excellent performance would be granted the Dragon Vein Elixir, transforming them into the legendary winged Kobolds¡ª"Urd."


    With the deepening effect of the Dragon Vein Blessing, Jin Ya could now even transform Dragon Vein Kobolds himself, bestowing the Bloodline Gift.


    Currently, Jin Ya''s appearance increasingly resembled an actual dragon. Although he still stood on two legs, his body stretched over four meters long from head to tail. His head resembled that of a drake, and a row of bone spikes ran down his back. However, the gold tooth in his mouth looked quite diminutive due to his inflated size.


    Seeing a Kobold stumble and fall, Jin Ya roared in anger.


    "Roar¡ª"


    "Move faster, you brats. Don''t you want to grow wings?"


    Now, even Jin Ya''s roar sounded less like a dog''s bark and more like an infant dragon''s roar.


    The fallen Kobold struggled to get up and picked up the scattered gold ore, grumbling under his breath.


    "Tch, just because he got lucky, acting all high and mighty."


    "He''s just an Urd. One day, I''ll also..."


    This Kobold was named Black Tooth, named after his yellowish-black teeth. Kobolds loved this kind of naming convention.


    Though grumbling, Black Tooth still picked up the ore in his basket, shook himself off, and hurriedly tried to catch up with the troop.


    "Wait for me¡ª"


    But the troop had already moved far ahead, and Black Tooth couldn''t catch up right away.


    A chilling gust of wind suddenly swept in from behind, making the cold-fearing Kobold shiver.


    "Hiss¡ª"


    "Great Red Dragon above, it''s so cold at this time of year..."


    The cold intensified, spreading from behind him, slowing Black Tooth''s movements and covering his scales with a thin layer of frost.


    Just as Black Tooth was about to call for help, a massive shadow enveloped him.


    He slowly lifted his head, and an expression of extreme terror appeared on his ugly face.


    "This, this is..."


    A Frost Giant, over six meters tall, wearing a bull horn helmet and clad in rough armor made of beast hide and bones, was looming over him, wielding a battle axe.


    The Frost Giant grinned menacingly.


    "Ugly little creature..." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Crushing you underfoot will feel satisfying."


    Black Tooth quickly tried to run, but the cold had already stiffened his movements. He looked up in terror as the fur-wrapped foot got larger in his vision.


    "Splat!"


    The sound of flesh and bones being crushed was heard, and Black Tooth was squashed into a meat patty.


    The Frost Giant nonchalantly scraped his foot along the ground, looking impatient.


    "Why are there so many of these little creatures along the way? They have nothing worth looting."


    Behind him stood forty more Frost Giants. They were scouts from the Everfrost Tribe, sent by Clan Leader Kasa to gather information around Stormy Ridge.


    "Teman, don''t forget the clan leader''s task." Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Don''t waste time on these insignificant weaklings."


    This Frost Giant''s voice was deep; he was the leader of this scouting party.


    This Frost Giant was different, being taller by half a head compared to his companions. He wore a suit made of scales and held a long bone pickaxe in his hand, with a Long Fang Pendant hanging on his chest.


    The Frost Giants made their clothes from beast hide and bones, carved items from bones and fangs, and repurposed the armor and weapons of smaller enemies¡ªfor instance, sewing multiple shields together for armor or attaching sword blades to wooden shafts to make spears. Most of the Frost Giants'' equipment was this kind of jumbled assortment.


    But for them, the best trophies came from dragon-slaying battles. The great Frost Giant leaders wore armor made of dragon scales and wielded weapons made of dragon bones¡ªthis Frost Giant leader was no exception.


    His name was Baya Everfrost, Kasa''s brother and captain of the Frost Giant hunting party. He had also participated in the battle to kill a White Dragon.


    The Frost Giant named Teman pointed forward and said:


    "Captain Baya, these Kobolds are not insignificant. Look ahead, that''s clearly a formation."


    "We can pry their mouths open to gather information about the vicinity. After all, it''s been decades since we Frost Giants last marched south en masse."


    Baya responded coldly, "You make a good point. Then... crush them."


    The cold wind howled, and the ground rumbled.


    Several Frost Giants charged forward on Dragon Tundras, appearing like moving mountains, crushing hundreds of Kobolds beneath them.


    Baya led the charge with a cold face, killing more than ten Kobolds with a single swing of his pickaxe. Those dog-headed creatures, barely reaching his knees at their tallest, were laughably helpless in his presence.


    "Enemy attack!"


    "Heavens, what is that?"


    "Damn, it''s the Frost Giants!"


    "The Frost Giants are attacking! Frost Calamity is here!"


    The Kobolds let out wails and cries like distressed dogs, fleeing in all directions.


    The dragon blood coursing through their veins made them fierce and brave, but only against human militias. Against the overwhelming strength of the Frost Giants, all resistance was futile.


    In the dire situation, Jin Ya flapped his wings and took to the sky. He was visibly panicked but still instinctively tried to stabilize the situation:


    "Brats, hold the line!"


    "These are just some dumb humans!"


    "You must endure until the Kingdom''s reinforcements arrive!"


    Baya was drawn by this familiar voice. He looked up into the sky, squinting his eyes with a gleam of excitement in his icy blue pupils.


    "Is this... a drake?"


    The Frost Giant licked his lips.


    Baya didn''t recognize it as a Kobold but mistook it for a malformed drake and was thrilled by the discovery.


    "Didn''t expect such an unexpected prize. This dragon blood must taste excellent, likely different from that of a White Dragon."


    "It will become my finest trophy!"


    Baya leaped off his Dragon Tundra, picked up a rock from the ground, and hurled it into the sky.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The rock traced an arc in the air, but Jin Ya, reacting swiftly, dodged it.


    However, he had no time to prepare for what came next. Baya gripped his bone pickaxe tightly, leaped over ten meters high, and yanked the winged Kobold down from the sky with the pickaxe''s head.


    "Dragon, I will strip your hide!"


    The Frost Giant roared excitedly, clutching Jin Ya''s wing with his right hand.

 Chapter 103 Frost Giants and Retainers

    Jin Ya also realized the critical situation and quickly opened his mouth.


    "Fireball Spell"


    Jin Ya was not a trivial figure in the Ashen Kingdom. As a kobold magician for many years, he had already been able to fully harness the magic in his bloodline, even able to easily cast a Third Tier spell like the Fireball Spell.


    A blazing fireball spewed from Jin Ya''s mouth, directly hitting the unprepared frost giant''s face.


    With the sizzling sound of flesh and skin being scorched, half of the frost giant''s face was burned black, horrific wounds appearing on his skin. In the agony, he loosened his grip, allowing Jin Ya, hooked by the bone pickaxe, to break free.


    "So hot..."


    Baya first covered his face, then roared to the sky, his face full of burn marks brimming with battle intent.


    The frost giant saw the scars on his body and the trophies he stripped from the enemies as symbols of strength and value. Jin Ya''s attack not only did not scare him, but it also excited Baya''s fighting spirit.


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    "Dragon, I will kill you!"


    "Come down and fight me!"


    He recklessly threw stones into the sky, hoping to strike Jin Ya down.


    Jin Ya dodged in mid-air, grumbling:


    "What a damned lunatic."


    He spat out another fireball toward the ground, but this time the frost giant was prepared and blocked it with a bone shield.


    "Crawl, your flames are weak and feeble!"


    "Come! Fight me in close combat!"


    The frost giant leaped high again, trying to repeat the trick, hooking Jin Ya from the air down to the ground for a battle.


    But this time, Jin Ya was also prepared. He deftly flapped his wings, dodging the bone pickaxe while reaching the frost giant''s back.


    "Burning Hands"


    The winged kobold extended his claws, a cone of flame spouting from the center of his palm, burning the frost giant''s unprotected back, leaving a large charred area.


    The frost giant dropped to the ground in pain, rolling several times to relieve the force but quickly got up again.


    "Your attack is nothing but a scratch!"


    The tenacious and valiant frost giant still roared on the ground, brewing his next attack.


    For them, fighting was an everyday affair. Frost giants often wrestled with the giant beasts on the ice fields; such injuries were nothing to them.


    While Jin Ya seized this precious breath of air, he looked toward the chaotic battlefield. The cold wind became increasingly fierce as the frost giants effortlessly crushed the kobolds, even capturing a few cowardly ones alive.


    In the face of the absolute size and strength of the frost giants, this was not even considered an equal battle, merely a one-sided game.


    "When those frost giants surround me, it won''t be easy for me to escape either."


    "With only over a thousand pups here, given the current situation, the best option is to abandon them and hurry to inform the master about the frost giants'' southward invasion."


    Jin Ya had been leading the kobolds in the mine for several months, having little contact with the Ashen Kingdom during this period. He did not know the changes in the outside world, but he knew the terror of the frost giants.


    These guys averaged six meters tall and were born as fierce and tough warriors. Their battles could even cause avalanches on the White Summit Peaks. Even the dozens of frost giants present here were enough to completely destroy a city, far beyond what these kobolds could contend with.


    Thinking of this, Jin Ya roared and flapped his wings to ascend into the sky¡ªhe did not want to continue entangling with Baya.


    "Stupid giant! I am not a dragon, just a kobold under the command of the great red dragon!"


    "The strength you are so proud of is nothing in front of my master!"


    "Remember, when my master descends, all you frost giants will turn to ashes!"


    After finishing his harsh words, Jin Ya spread his wings and left the battlefield, soaring over the hills¡ªthis is the advantage of being able to fly.


    Can''t beat him, but can''t I outrun him?


    The frost giants on the ground could only rage impotently, throwing giant stones, but Jin Ya had already flown so high that even the formidable strength of the frost giants could not reach him.


    Baya touched the wound on his face, his expression fierce.


    "He, he is not a dragon?"


    "Just a mere kobold!"


    The frost giant warrior gnashed his teeth¡ªhe was not even this angry when he was first injured.


    If these scars were caused by a red dragon, it would undoubtedly be a symbol of honor. But being caused by a weak kobold would only make Baya a laughingstock among his tribe.


    "Huff, huff..."


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    "And the dragon behind it..."


    Baya stared intently at the small black dot in the distance, filled with hatred, the scars on his face particularly prominent.


    As he spoke, he casually stomped, crushing another fleeing kobold into a pulp without even giving it a chance to wail.


    The wilderness was already littered with corpses, disfigured kobold bodies everywhere, the howling wind often covering them with a thin layer of frost.


    The frost giants, on the other hand, were unscathed, swiftly clearing the battlefield. They would only take the large chunks of gold, completely ignoring the kobolds'' small gear and trinkets.


    Similar scenes were unfolding all over the Stormy Ridge¡ªthe goblin strongholds were trampled by the giants, kobold mines were crushed, and the half-orc hunting grounds were destroyed.


    These frost giants moved quickly in several small teams, plundering and destroying everything in their path.


    Because the Ashen Kingdom had shifted its defense focus to the south, the Stormy Ridge in the north had almost no regular army, just those disregarded monster kin with no resistance against the powerful frost giants, making their invasion of the Stormy Ridge a crushing defeat.


    In fact, Cassius had deliberately left an opening, letting the frost giants eliminate these rapidly reproducing monsters to control the monster population in the Stormy Ridge.


    Keep in mind that kobolds and goblins in the Stormy Ridge had become uncountable without human control. If left to reproduce freely, they could likely overrun the entire Stormy Ridge.


    The goblin chieftain Dolores had once said: "These creatures reproducing like beasts, I don''t even consider them my kin."


    The upper echelons of the Ashen Kingdom had already planned to classify kobolds and goblins within the Kingdom based on the concentration of dragon blood, delineating them into dragon vein and ordinary species.


    The dragon vein individuals would become Ashen citizens, while the ordinary ones would remain monsters, with a planned strategy for their control and cleansing. Most of the ordinary monsters, given their high reproductive rate, would become disposable resources for the kingdom''s development¡ªsuch as miners, porters, or frontline cannon fodder.


    Originally, the elite forces of the Ashen Nest, like bipedal wyverns and Chimeras, were mainly concentrated around the Rock Fortress, yet unaffected by the frost giants'' invasion.


    At the moment, having already received the kingdom''s message, they were on high alert in front of the Rock Fortress.

 Chapter 104 The Battle of Dragon Valley

    Dragon Valley, in front of Rock Fortress.


    The dragon-blooded monsters stood ready, letting out low growls.


    The bipedal wyverns flew in dense formations in the sky, wings overlapping wings, like thick, dark clouds, blocking the sunlight.


    The wildland dragons roared loudly, stomping on the ground with reckless abandon. Three chimeras stood at the edge of the cliff, their three heads roaring in unison.


    The dragon vein goblins and lizardfolk stationed at the fortress stood silently, awaiting the enemy''s arrival. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Though the most elite troops had long been dispatched to the south, the retainers remaining in Dragon Valley were still the core strength of the former Ashen Nest, many of whom were veterans of the Triel war who had not yet followed the Red Dragon to the south.


    During Cassius''s absence, Dolores''s trusted subordinate¡ªthe great goblin Derol¡ªhad become the temporary overseer of Dragon Valley.


    He had attained the position Dolores had long coveted, but sadly, the center of the Ashen Kingdom had already shifted to Northwind Castle, making Dragon Valley now more of a frontier stronghold and primary troop source.


    "Whoo¡ª"


    A cold wind howled, surging into the valley.


    Derol sneezed, his expression growing more solemn.


    "Just as Lord Dolores had said, they would come with the cold wind..."


    "Frost Giants..."


    The great goblin stood at the highest point of Rock Fortress, gazing into the distance, where he saw many enormous figures appear on the horizon¡ªit was the main force of Frost Giants.


    Hundreds of frost giants, either riding large tundra dragons or running on the ground, charged towards the valley, accompanied by clouds of steam.


    The rapid march of the giants caused the ground to tremble violently.


    As the temporary overseer of Dragon Valley, Derol was young and inexperienced, and he did not provide any unnecessary pre-battle motivation. He merely raised the spear engraved with the Ashen emblem, mimicking Dolores''s remembered stance, and shouted loudly:


    "For the Ashen Kingdom!"


    "Fight for the great Red Dragon!"


    The monsters below erupted in thunderous cheers and jubilation, their excitement lingering.


    "Roar, roar¡ª"


    Having survived that battle, their reverence for the Red Dragon was nearly divine, especially since the Ashen Kingdom had also filled their bellies.


    These frost giants were indeed powerful, but the dragon-blooded retainers only felt an exhilarating thrill facing such a formidable enemy¡ªafter all, they were the minions of the evil dragons.


    In the midst of the Frost Giant formation, Baya also swung his dragonbone pickaxe, letting out a battle roar.


    "Take down this fortress!" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let them witness the Frost Calamity!"


    The frost giants charged forward with the cold wind.


    However, they first fell into the traps dug by the kobolds, who were indeed master trap-makers. Several frost giants, caught unawares, stumbled into specially crafted deep pits and were pierced by sharp spears.


    Even a giant tundra dragon was tripped by steel cables, toppling with a heavy wail, crushing its rider and two frost giants beneath its weight.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    At Derol''s command to "open fire," the artillery on Rock Fortress roared, echoing through the valley.


    Shells rained down on the frost giants, with shrapnel flying and dust scattering, killing several unlucky giants on the spot.


    Baya was somewhat taken aback by the quick casualties but continued to shout angrily:


    "These small tricks are useless against us!"


    "Charge up and crush them!"


    Despite losing several members, the frost giants showed no signs of retreat.


    "Hiss¡ª"


    Accompanied by noisy screeches, the "clouds" in the sky descended; hundreds of bipedal wyverns dived chaotically, spitting scorching flames, biting with sharp teeth, or striking with barbed, poisonous tails.


    The frost giants, after the initial losses, immediately counterattacked.


    They were natural enemies of the dragon-like creatures and had great experience hunting these flying lizards.


    The frost giants hurled massive stones into the sky, knocking down the erratically flying wyverns, then grabbed and wrestled them to the ground in vicious combat.


    These frost giants were larger and stronger than the wyverns, often ripping the wyverns to shreds once they were dragged to the ground.


    "Annoying bugs!"


    Baya leapt up high again, hooking another wyvern with his dragonbone pickaxe.


    The frost giant warrior used his weight advantage to drag it to the ground, pinning it beneath his massive body, and then, with a single hand, tore its slender neck apart.


    "Rip¡ª"


    Blood and flesh splattered across Baya''s scarred face, making him grin with satisfaction as he prepared to charge at another target.


    However, right after the wyverns initiated their attack, Dragon Valley''s ground forces immediately followed suit, seizing the opportunity of the giants and wyverns entangled in combat to launch their assault.


    "Advance!"


    Derol shouted the command.


    Feeling exceptionally excited, his hand holding the saber trembled slightly. He had once been a member of the line infantry legion, following Dolores in participating in that volley drill and the Triel battle. Now it was finally his turn to command the legion.


    The Goblin Infantry Brigade marched in unison to the beat of the half-goat people''s drums.


    The frost giants occasionally hurled stones, crushing a few goblins, but the rear troops quickly filled the gaps.


    When the goblin corps reached within fifty paces of the frost giants, close enough to smell the stench on the giants and feel their breath, Derol finally gave another command, just like Dolores had done before.


    His heart pounded, whether from excitement or nervousness.


    "Ready¡ª"


    The goblins, following their training, raised their rifles, creating a series of clattering sounds.


    "Fire!"


    The goblins squeezed their triggers.


    "Bang!"


    The rifles roared, with blue smoke rising slowly from the muzzles, the scent of gunpowder filling the air.


    And just not far from the formation, several frost giants first leaned forward, then collapsed to the ground with a loud crash, raising clouds of dust.


    These giant targets were much easier to hit than ordinary ones, often being pierced by several blooming bullets that deformed and expanded upon contact, burrowing into the frost giants'' bodies and wreaking havoc, easily ending their lives.


    "Ah¡ª"


    "It hurts!"


    The frost giants even struggled on the ground, their faces twisted in agony, holding a combat stance, unable to comprehend how they had died so easily.


    Baya was also shocked by the effect of the volley, dropping the mangled wyvern in his hand. Staring at the distant infantry legion, he wore an extremely grim expression:


    "Damn it..."


    "How can these little things so easily kill our warriors..."


    He knew that the Everfrost Tribe had only just over five hundred adult frost giants in total, and each warrior was a valuable asset. If he caused too much loss, he would be held accountable, even though he was the clan leader''s brother.

 Chapter 103 Bayas Evacuation

    "Slaughter these little creatures, avenge our clan!"


    Seeing the Great Goblins loading their ammunition, Baya finally reacted, waving his Dragonbone Pickaxe, preparing to charge the line infantry''s formation.


    Seeing their leader being so brave, the Frost Giants quickly followed, swinging their weapons and charged fiercely.


    However, the front-row Great Goblins fell back to the rear, and the rear Great Goblins advanced to the front, performing another volley.


    This was the volley firing method designed by the Iron Madman for these Goblin Infantry Brigades. Due to the increased firing rate of the muskets, the three rows of soldiers could essentially maintain a continuous onslaught of firepower.


    At the same time, several Chimeras swept across the sky, spitting lines of flames on the path of the Frost Giant charge, covering the infantry formation.


    For a moment, the Frost Giants could not get close and were forced to endure the attack passively.


    "Ready, fire!"


    "Bang!"


    With another deafening gunshot, several more Frost Giants fell.


    Thanks to the Dragon Scale Armor, Baya was unharmed except for a few stray bullets in his arm.


    The Frost Giants looked around¡ªthe most valiant warriors who charged with him had mostly fallen, and the remaining ones were cautious, no longer daring to advance.


    "Damn it..."


    Baya''s eyes were bloodshot with rage, the veins on his burn-scarred forehead throbbing.


    "How dare you oppose the great Frost Giant warriors! I will smear your blood on myself!"


    It could only be said that he lived up to being a Frost Giant warrior who had once hunted dragons.


    Baya roared, relying on his entire body''s Dragon Scale Armor, holding a leather shield in one hand and a Dragonbone Pickaxe in the other, charging through the barrage and tearing the Goblin Army''s formation apart.


    The Dragonbone Pickaxe swung, easily piercing through the front-row Great Goblins'' bodies, its white bone surface stained with blood.


    This unparalleled Frost Giant warrior rampaged through the formation. In just a few breaths, the Goblin Infantry Brigade lost dozens of soldiers.


    "Stupid giant! How dare you challenge the Ashen Kingdom!"


    Derol shouted, riding a Land Dragon Beast and charging forward, catching the frenzied Frost Giant off guard and knocking him to the ground.


    But Baya, an experienced Frost Giant warrior, rolled on the ground and found an opportunity to slip under the Land Dragon Beast, using his sharp Dragonbone Pickaxe to disembowel it.


    "Tear!" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The thick skin of the Land Dragon split open, and rich fat and mixed internal organs spilled uncontrollably.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The Land Dragon Beast let out a heavy wail and slowly toppled, causing the ground to tremble, and Derol fell to the ground as well.


    "Chimera Lord, save me!"


    Seeing the Frost Giant approaching, Derol hurriedly called for reinforcements.


    The Chimera was the oldest existence in Dragon Valley and the entire kingdom. Although its retainers often called it a "beast," even the Goblin Chieftain Dolores had to show respect to it, let alone Derol.


    Seeing that the one calling for help was Derol, who had flattered him many times, the Chimera finally swooped down from the sky, pouncing on the Frost Giant''s back, grabbing hold with its claws, and the dragon head spewed out flames.


    "Boom!"


    The fierce flames scorched the Frost Giant''s already severely burned back, making it even more scorched.


    At this moment, Baya no longer looked like a Frost Giant but more like an obsidian subspecies of a Stone Giant.


    However, the Chimera did not expect such a reaction from its reckless attack.


    "Ah¡ª¡ª"


    Baya screamed in pain but maintained a heightened battle sense. He grabbed the Chimera''s forelimb with one hand, yanking it off his back.


    "Boom!"


    The ground trembled again.


    The huge body of the Chimera was thrown to the ground, rolling several times before struggling to get up.


    "Come!"


    "Chimera, your fur will be my new cloak!"


    However, the Frost Giant gave it no chance to breathe, he leaped and pounced on the Chimera, using his powerful arms to lock its lion head''s neck.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    But the Chimera had more than one head. Its dragon head fiercely bit the giant''s arm, spewing hot flames again, but the Frost Giant held on tightly.


    The ground was dusty and constantly shaking. The giant and the triple-headed Chimera, equally gigantic, wrestled and fought each other.


    The other two female Chimeras wanted to help but, without the Dragon Blood''s blessing, they couldn''t compete in this battle due to their size and strength.


    As for Baya, in terms of strength and combat skills, he held absolute dominance, progressively pushing the Chimera into a corner. The Chimera''s only effective counter was its flame.


    Baya took advantage of the Chimera''s exhaustion, grabbed its dragon head from behind, tightly wrapping his arm around it, intending to strangle it and break its neck, just like his brother "Bone Breaker."


    "Ha ha, I''ve got you!"


    The Chimera struggled desperately against the Frost Giant''s strangle, scratching with its claws, ramming with its goat head, and biting with its lion head, to no avail.


    "Steady your aim..."


    Fortunately, their actions were at a stalemate, giving Derol a chance to find his target. Holding his breath, he aimed his spear at the Frost Giant''s body and pulled the trigger¡ª


    "Bang!"


    The bullet drilled into the Frost Giant''s body, causing him to howl in pain and slightly loosen his grip, allowing the tightly locked Chimera to break free. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Howl¡ª¡ª"


    The Chimera breathed heavily, flapping its wings and quickly soaring into the sky, not wanting to engage in a death match with this fearless Frost Giant any longer.


    The Frost Giant slowly got up from the ground, provocatively watching the fleeing Chimera, hammered his chest, and let out a battle cry.


    "Coward! Continue to fight with me!"


    He walked back to the Frost Giant''s formation from the front lines, and no one dared to provoke this mad Frost Giant warrior during this time.


    At this moment, however, a horn sounded from afar.


    "Wooo¡ª¡ª"


    The sound was like a howling cold wind but much heavier.


    Baya instantly recognized the familiar sound, the military signal of the Everfrost Tribe. It was the Clan Leader Kasa Everfrost summoning all units to return.


    He looked at the fortress as solid as a rock, at the courageous fallen Frost Giant warriors all around, his face darkened.


    "Damn, lost so many warriors for nothing here."


    Teman stepped forward to dissuade him. "Captain, Clan Leader Kasa said, when the horn sounds, we must gather immediately. Besides..."


    His tone paused.


    "Our clansmen have shed too much blood outside this barren valley with little gain."


    Baya''s face changed dramatically. He squinted at Teman, finally sighed, and said, "Retreat, let''s go find Kasa."

 Chapter 104 Kasas Ambition

    Stormy Ridge, temporary camp of the Frost Giants.


    This place used to be a verdant forest, but the Frost Giants had chopped down all the trees, and the howling cold wind brought heavy snow.


    Rough tents made of Dragon Beast bones and fur were set up on the snow, with the spoils of war piled beside them: food, fur, armor, and weapons taken from nearby areas.


    The Frost Giant Sacrificers of the tribe prayed to the deity, casting ancient spells to create frozen lands, which not only made the environment comfortable for the Frost Giants but also prevented enemy incursions.


    The Frost Giants used these frozen lands as bases to raid and plunder all nearby communities.


    Kasa stood on the top of the slope with his double-bladed axe, overlooking the wounded Baya.


    "Baya, where are your men?"


    "And why did you return empty-handed, without any spoils?"


    Baya bowed his head, gritting his teeth as he spoke: "Clan Leader, we encountered a tough enemy, there was..."


    He hesitated for a moment before choosing to speak the truth.


    "Twenty-six warriors were heroically killed in battle."


    Baya looked ferocious as he said this and quickly added.


    "But rest assured, I will avenge them and flatten that fortress. Just give me fifty more warriors, and I guarantee¡ª"


    Kasa frowned, angrily looking at Baya as he rudely interrupted: Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Twenty-six clansmen? You lost these many for a mere fortress? Remember, sixty years ago, your father destroyed all of Nitri City and plundered centuries of treasures, with only eleven casualties!"


    Baya whispered in defense: "That was no ordinary fortress, there was a real dragon behind them."


    Kasa coldly interrupted him again, not giving him any chance to defend himself: "The most important quality of a seasoned captain is patience, which you clearly lack. You''ll give your position to... Teman."


    "I don''t want to see such rash behavior from you again."


    "Yes, Clan Leader."


    Baya wanted to argue but swallowed his words when he saw the unwavering look in Kasa''s eyes.


    Kasa gave a signal, and the overjoyed Teman took a step forward, with the Clan Leader marking his forehead with two red streaks¡ªthe emblem of a Frost Giant leader for identifying them during war.


    Kasa returned to the tent, where a huge cowhide map was spread out, filled with crude markings.


    Several Frost Giant Sacrificers sat around, mostly vigorous in their prime, while the old and frail Elder Nur chose to stay behind at the Vaar Glacier with the elderly and weak.


    "Will, can you sense the exact location of the Eternal Frost Horn now?"


    The young Frost Giant Sacrificer nodded slightly.


    "Clan Leader, we can''t pinpoint it exactly, but we can estimate a general area."


    He pointed to the ancient map and marked out an area south of the Stormy Ridge with his staff.


    "However, according to the former Clan Leader''s map, there is only one human city within this range¡ªNorthwind Castle."


    "Good, very good."


    "Capture that city, reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn, and we shall restore the glory of the ancestors in our hands."


    Upon hearing the positive response from the Sacrificer, Kasa''s eyes lit up.


    But he quickly thought of something and frowned, asking another question.


    "Based on your knowledge, is there a dragon on this Stormy Ridge?"


    The Everfrost Tribe, blocked by the towering Korhka Mountains to the south, required a great deal of time and effort for each journey, leaving them clueless about recent southern affairs, still relying on ancestral information.


    The Sacrificer answered truthfully: "There''s no such record."


    "However, Clan Leader, pardon me for saying this, our information is sixty years outdated. For these weak mortals, sixty years is many generations, and the situation in the North may have drastically changed from before."


    "Is that so..."


    Kasa rubbed his chin, squinting his eyes.


    But soon his gaze filled with ambition again: "Regardless of how those tiny humans change, they are destined to be destroyed by our great giant race."


    "And a dragon that was unheard of sixty years ago, likely still in its youth? It was nothing, only adding to my illustrious achievements with another dragon-slaying feat."


    "Once we reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn, I will turn the entire North into a frozen land, leading the Frost Giants to rule the ancestral territories once more!"


    "Under the mighty power of Everfrost, all resistance is utterly futile."


    ...


    Northwind Castle, Council Hall.


    Cassius sat on the throne, reviewing the latest reports from his subordinates.


    "They''ve reached Rock Fortress? That was fast."


    Dailenna responded seriously: "The Frost Giants'' rapid marches in the North are well-known. They often form small squads of several giants, accompanied by the cold wind, performing quick raids, moving faster than any human troops in the North''s history."


    "Currently, both Barto City and Sgurr Town have suffered small-scale Frost Giant attacks, but thankfully with minimal damage. Rock Fortress faced the main force of the Frost Giants but still held."


    "According to intelligence from the Red Scale Patrol Team, it seems they''ve given up on raiding Stormy Ridge, intending to gather their forces and march southwards, likely aiming for¡ªthe Eternal Frost Horn."


    "Based on research from the Tower of the Great Sage, Lord Ramp suspects that the horn''s rune power can resonate with the Frost Giant bloodline, providing a locator-like effect, but this magical effect is too high-level to be nullified temporarily."


    Cassius got up from the throne, shaking his body and slowly spreading his wings.


    "No need to nullify it. Their march south fits my plan nicely. I don''t like running around putting out fires and losing the initiative."


    "However... this charade should come to an end."


    "Inform all the Kingdom''s troops to block the Frost Giants north of Triel''s Throat, lest they cause too much disruption in the south''s normal production."


    "The age of the Giant Empire is long over, and these scavengers of ancestral heritage should go back to their graves."


    Dailenna hesitated for a moment and then continued.


    "Master, there''s one more thing."


    "The Boske Duchy has sent an envoy, claiming to assist the Ashen Kingdom against the Frost Calamity. What do you think..."


    Cassius showed a bit of interest.


    "Oh, is that so?"


    "Quickly invite this ''kind-hearted'' envoy in. I want to see what medicine the old lion has in his gourd."


    The golden pupils of the Red Dragon glittered with a hint of playful light.


    Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 180 107. A Special Diplomatic Mission

    The Boske Duchy did not merely send an envoy; they dispatched an entire high-status diplomatic mission, which included historians, bards, and court mages.


    Leading the group was Count Trischka, who was skilled in diplomacy and had frequently represented the Holy Fadlan Federation.


    His title was merely honorary without any actual fiefs. It was both a testament to his outstanding diplomatic achievements and a symbol of the Boske Duchy''s emphasis on foreign diplomacy.


    Escorted into the hall by the guards, the handsome Count Trischka wore a luxurious ceremonial suit and bowed deeply, exuding a pleasant and courteous manner that showcased centuries of Northern nobility etiquette.


    "Greetings, esteemed King of Ashen."


    "I bring you greetings from Duke Leo."


    Cassius still lay sprawled on the steel throne, looking down upon the envoy without immediately responding.


    The air in the room suddenly became still.


    The guards inside the hall clutched their spears tightly.


    Despite appearing calm and composed, the slight tremble of Trischka''s hands and his inability to meet Cassius''s gaze betrayed his inner tension.


    The other members of the diplomatic mission were in no better condition.


    Despite their mental preparation, the aged historian Morr, at over fifty, turned pale and broke into a cold sweat upon facing the twenty-meter-long giant dragon, almost fainting, and barely managed to stay upright with the help of an attendant.


    Yelena, the famous female bard known as the "Flower of Stratholme" who could perform flawlessly at gatherings of thousands, was now so frightened that her beautiful face was drained of color, and she inadvertently let out a scream.


    Cassius found it somewhat amusing.


    The Red Dragon narrowed his eyes and finally spoke, breaking the oppressive silence.


    "Envoys from Boske, I would very much like to extend my greetings to you out of courtesy." he said slowly.


    "But your Duke has just recently organized an assassination attempt against me. How should I be convinced that you are not another group of assassins with ill intentions?"


    This statement immediately made the hearts of the diplomatic mission jump to their throats, pounding heavily.


    Faced with such a dangerous question, Trischka''s forehead broke into a cold sweat, but this scenario was within their anticipations.


    He adhered to the prepared response, striving to maintain a calm tone, and answered:


    "Esteemed King of Ashen, our Boske Duchy did not participate in that action and were not even aware of it. It was solely the decision of the Principality of Norton.


    "And you should know very well that they have already received their due punishment."


    "As for those Lionheart Knights, they have long been expelled from Boske''s ranks, acting on their own. We had no authority over them..." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Enough."


    Before Trischka could finish, Cassius interrupted him.


    "Envoy from Boske, you do not need to feign ignorance before me. Everyone here understands very well what has happened, and I am also aware of your Duke''s little schemes."


    The Red Dragon''s mouth curled into a sinister smile, with the scales around his eye sockets raising slightly, sending chills down the spines of the members of the diplomatic mission.


    "However, this time, I do welcome you becoming so-called ''observers'' because only when you truly see the disparity in strength will you refrain from causing trouble behind my back."


    He exhaled a breath imbued with the scent of sulfur.


    "After all... flies can be easily crushed, but it is quite annoying to let them buzz incessantly around one''s ears."


    Hearing Cassius''s remark, Trischka felt a wave of indignation but dared not show it.


    After hesitating for a moment, he mustered the courage to speak unyieldingly,


    "Lord Cassius, I acknowledge your immense strength, incomparable even if thousands like me were to gather."


    "But..."


    He slowly raised his head, fighting his instinctive fear, and met the Red Dragon''s golden eyes with trembling determination.


    "Are you not being somewhat arrogant?"


    As soon as these words left his mouth, the other members of the diplomatic mission were stricken with fear, terrified that the Red Dragon would erupt in fury and turn them all to ashes with a single breath.


    Contrary to their expectations, Cassius did not become enraged. Instead, he gazed at Trischka''s eyes with a keen interest.


    "Why, do you say so?"


    Hearing the Red Dragon''s question, Trischka feigned calmness and continued:


    "To be frank, Anzeta is ultimately a remote region, a desert in terms of wealth, culture, and strength."


    "Over the past decade or so, I have traveled to the Empire of Fadlan in the South and the Free Trade Federation in the West. I have seen lands flowing with honey and milk, the Emperor''s vast treasures, and Sun Warriors akin to demigods. Such prosperity is beyond the imagination of Northerners."


    Hearing this, Cassius finally understood the envoy''s ulterior motive¡ªto divert danger southward, exploiting the Red Dragon''s inherent greed to lead this formidable force elsewhere.


    "It''s a clever idea. But with my current strength, heading south would likely result in conflict with numerous important figures."


    Cassius thought to himself.


    The Red Dragon narrowed his eyes but did not respond, saying instead in a detached tone,


    "I am tired of the Boske people''s flowery words. I will arrange for you to witness this battle from Trischka''s gullet."


    "Record everything carefully and report back to your Duke." Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire


    "So he will refrain from petty tricks."


    With that, Cassius summoned his Goblin Guards to escort the diplomatic mission out of the Council Hall.


    Morr, Yelena, and the others could no longer bear the overwhelming pressure within the hall. Hearing Cassius''s command, they felt as if they had been granted a reprieve.


    They let out long sighs of relief, glad they no longer had to worry about becoming a Red Dragon''s meal due to his capriciousness.


    Count Trischka, however, remained deep in thought.


    The members of the diplomatic mission had already reached the outside of the hall.


    Old Scholar Morr took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow and couldn''t help but complain, "Trischka, you were too reckless this time!"


    "Had we angered that Red Dragon, we all would have perished here!"


    Yelena, her arms crossed, added with lingering fear, "That scene was terrifying, like an executioner''s guillotine ready to drop at any moment."


    "Yes, thank the Gods we survived unscathed this time."


    Trischka, however, frowned and stared worriedly at the tightly shut metal doors behind him.


    "If he were so easily provoked, it would only mean he was an ordinary Red Dragon, prone to uncontrollable rage, pillaging, and greed."


    "While such unchecked recklessness may flourish temporarily, such entities are ultimately short-lived and will eventually be eliminated by the important figures who maintain order."


    "Yet he did not."


    "I believe he is not a typical, scholarly Red Dragon of cruel brutality but a more cunning and terrifying existence."


    "Perhaps... he truly has the potential to completely unsettle the ruling of the North."

 Chapter 181 108 Chapter: Alternating Hot and Cold

    Stormy Ridge, north of the Triel Throat.


    This region, once ravaged by fiery flames, was now met with endless cold winds.


    "In the name of Soleim..."


    "You are the ancestor of all Frost Giants, grant our enemies eternal slumber..."


    "The blizzard is your roaring breath, transform into the cold and fight alongside us, let the enemies fall into eternal shivers!"


    The Frost Giant Sacrificers chanted ancient incantations in unison, and the mysterious runes covering their bodies lit up.


    Eternal Frost Descends


    In the sky, clusters of frigid mist surged and roiled, spreading and sweeping across the once serene land to create a terrifying blizzard.


    This was the power of Eternal Frost passed down through generations of the Frost Giant tribe, even without the aid of relics. If they possessed the Eternal Frost Horn, the blizzard would become even more dreadful, possibly engulfing the entire Stormy Ridge.


    The blizzard advanced rapidly southward, with hundreds of Frost Giants marching swiftly within it, wind howls mingling with war cries and rugged chants.


    "We are the biting frost, the roiling ice mist."


    "The fierce cold wind, the icy resentful spirits, the eternal howl."


    "Humans tremble before us, even giant dragons bow to the cold wind."


    "We come from ancient times, following the glory of the past, letting the white storm sweep across the land once more."


    "We are¡ªthe Endless Frost Calamity!"


    The Clan Leader of the Everfrost Tribe, Frost Giant Warrior Kasa Everfrost, donned menacing armor crafted from White Dragon Scales and smeared his face with war-symbolizing black paint. Mounted on the mightiest Dragon Tundra, he raised a heavy double-bladed axe with one arm.


    "For the Everfrost Tribe!"


    "Reclaim the relic, rekindle the ancestral glory!"


    Sunlight was nearly obscured, the wasteland roughly painted frost-white by their advance, and in the snow-blurred horizon, the giant''s army moved south like a towering ice wall.


    This catastrophic scene made the earth tremble and all beings in the wasteland shiver.


    The howling wind proclaimed to the beings of Anzeta¡ª


    Frost Calamity had descended!


    ...


    Outside the Triel Throat.


    The Ashen Kingdom''s army stood prepared.


    Ogre Heavy Armor Soldiers clutched their giant shields tightly, Goblin Infantry held spears in formation, and bipedal wyverns flapped their wings densely at low altitude. The Dragon Tundras, serving as war fortresses, snorted heavily.


    "Damn it..."


    "These blasted things again."


    Staring at the invading blizzard, a dragon vein goblin, who feared the cold, spat in disdain, seemingly recalling some unpleasant past.


    This was the first time the Ashen Kingdom''s army had encountered such formidable foes. Compared to the frost giant army arriving with cold winds, the human forces in the Triel Conference seemed insignificant.


    Yet this also fueled their fervor to face strong adversaries¡ªthat was the battle lust granted by their flowing Red Dragon bloodline.


    Ramp gazed at the approaching blizzard, a grave expression on his face.


    "Such a quality spell..." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The casting method isn''t arcane; it seems more like divine art, almost at the ninth tier level. Quite a troublesome opponent."


    The Ogre Archmage assessed.


    But confronted with this terrifying sight, Ramp showed no fear and adjusted his gold-framed glasses calmly, analyzing meticulously.


    Dolores, waiting impatiently on the side, said to him: "Ramp, do you have the means to deal with this so-called Frost Calamity?


    "Just glaring at it won''t calm the blizzard."


    Ramp glanced sideways at him, his tone still indifferent and slightly sarcastic:


    "Pointless hurrying doesn''t solve anything."


    "Captain Dolores, are you scared, after almost being killed by a human with a hint of Frost Giant blood?"


    Dolores gritted his teeth in anger, exhaling smoke. That incident had brought him much shame, and Ramp''s untimely reminder intensified his fury.


    "Ramp, I warn you! Do not disrupt military morale!"


    "I merely respond truthfully."


    Ramp curled his mouth, a sinister smile appearing on his ugly face.


    "I don''t have the sole ability to resolve a spell of this caliber, but we have our trump card¡ªour master."


    ...


    The transformed Cassius stood silently atop the mountain, overlooking the advancing Frost Giants and the accompanying terrifying blizzard heading southward.


    "You think you''re the only ones who can influence the weather?"


    "Frost Giants..."


    Cassius murmured.


    He revealed the ring on his finger, the Eye of the Storm King, which he had grown increasingly adept at wielding, now glowing with a breathtaking light.


    It was a spell reaching the eighth tier of the Magic Web¡ª


    Weather Control


    With intense mana fluctuations, the climate within a span of several kilometers underwent dramatic changes.


    Temperatures rose significantly, ground moisture rapidly evaporated, the air turned hot and moist, and vast clouds of steam ascended.


    This surging warm current collided with the cold wind pushing southward, triggering an imminent fierce reaction.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    With a rush of sound, a vast band of mist stretching over a thousand meters formed at the junction, snowflakes and hail soared instantly melting into billowing steam, and heavy warm winds thwarted the invasion of the blizzard.


    The two contrasting forces clashed, countered, and eroded each other, stabilizing the surrounding temperature to normal, creating an area filled with puddles and shrouded in mist.


    Before the armies clashed, a spell war had already begun.


    Cassius squinted his eyes, controlling the Eye of the Storm King with his will, combating the northern blizzard.


    "The quality of this spell is indeed high, weather control can''t completely take over."


    "The Everfrost Tribe''s spellcasters are quite formidable."


    "Seems like it''s impossible to wield a natural disaster like in the Triel Conference."


    Even Cassius was astonished by the resilience of the blizzard, the power of the Everfrost Rune being on par with his Eighth Tier Spell.


    In the snowstorm, the Frost Giant Sacrificers wore grave expressions, encountering such a situation for the first time, feeling somewhat bewildered.


    "In the name of Soleim."


    "The power of Eternal Frost has been... obstructed."


    The Frost Giants'' rapid snow marches usually swept away all before them, rampantly roaming the North.


    But for the first time, these Frost Giants met an equal adversary worthy of their attention.


    In the "Observation Group" at the rear of the Ashen Camp, Trischka noticed the changing weather nearby, observing the confrontation between the blizzard and the warm winds in the distance, feeling a sense of incredulity.


    "This level of spell duel, how could it appear in a magical wasteland like Anzeta..." Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Neither Frost Giants nor Red Dragons should be here."


    Trischka thought privately.

 Chapter 109 Winters Roar

    Staring at the steam cloud in front of him, and the gradually receding blizzard, Kasa did not halt his charge.


    He still rode his Tundra Drake, charging forward without hesitation.


    Even though the absence of the blizzard''s cover and the surrounding heated air made him somewhat uncomfortable, Kasa had absolute confidence in his own strength. He was confident that with his dual-bladed axe, he could slice any enemy before him in two¡ªafter all, he was "Bone Breaker" Kasa Everfrost.


    "Warriors of the Everfrost Tribe!"


    "Charge with me, fight for the glory of our ancestors!"


    Seeing their leader so relentless, the Frost Giant warriors immediately became excited, brandishing their weapons and following him in the charge.


    On the vast wasteland, hundreds of Frost Giants swept forward, raising rolling dust clouds and causing the earth to tremble.


    Meanwhile, in the Ashen Kingdom''s ranks, Dolores, filled with unvented rage, shouted loudly:


    "Fire! Fire!"


    "Blast these ignorant giants to death!"


    "Let them taste our cannon fire!"


    The new cannons developed by the Mechanical Cult were neatly lined up, each cannon manned by a number of well-trained Goblin soldiers, and each cannon emplacement had a technical player from the Mechanical Cult as a guide, although the Iron Madman was not among them.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom! Boom!"


    The intense cannon fire roared, its deafening thunder shaking the air.


    Raindrops of cannonballs poured down the path of the Frost Giants'' charge, blasting out one blackened crater after another, the unfortunate Frost Giants hit by the cannonballs being blown into a bloody mess.


    However, the Frost Giants'' formation was not dense, and the wasteland was too vast, so the bombardment did not cause much damage, not even delaying the advance of these brave and fearless Frost Giant warriors.


    It should be known that the first Frost Giants following the chieftain into battle were absolute elite warriors; the timid had no qualification to participate. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Wyverns dived from the sky, dropping magic incendiary vials tied to their claws, spewing out scorching flames that turned the battlefield into a sea of fire.


    For a moment, the battlefield was filled with smoke and firelight.


    "Warriors, follow my steps!"


    "The great Soleim is watching over us!"


    Kasa, braving the cannon fire and flames, continued to charge forward without hesitation.


    A cannonball landed above Kasa''s head, but he casually swung his dual-bladed axe, throwing it out of his hand.


    "Swish¡ª"


    The heavy dual-bladed axe spun in the air, slicing through the air and becoming almost a blur, cutting the about-to-explode cannonball in half. The smooth sections were sealed with frost, and the halved cannonball clanked to the ground.


    But this was not the end; the battle-axe continued to fly wildly in the air, its silhouette flashing like an iron curtain, turning the explosive cannonballs into cold iron blocks.


    "Ding¡ª"


    The dual-bladed axe then precisely spun back into the hands of the Frost Giant, who gripped it firmly.


    Kasa laughed heartily:


    "Did you see?"


    "These toys are worthless, nothing to fear at all!"


    "The enemy knows their strength is insufficient to fight us, so they resort to these petty tricks!"


    The Frost Giants, witnessing this scene, immediately let out a triumphant cheer, and any fear they had of the cannon fire dissipated completely.


    He was like the battle flag of the Frost Giants, leading the warriors and inspiring their bravery and fearlessness.


    It should be known that the frost-covered dual-bladed axe was not an ordinary weapon.


    Legend had it that the weapon of Soleim, the god of the Frost Giants, was a snow-white dual-bladed axe. Wielded, it would turn the entire world into a white winter. The one in Kasa''s hand was a replica of the Soleim Battle Axe, an ancient creation passed down through generations of chieftains in the Everfrost Tribe as the "Raging Winter''s Howl."


    Dolores also noticed this scene, frowning as he watched Kasa. Although he considered himself skilled with the battle-axe, he could not achieve such mastery.


    "What a formidable foe..."


    "Line infantry, prepare to advance."


    The Goblin Chieftain gave the order.


    In the current large-scale warfare, Dolores still preferred using the line infantry tactic of "volley fire," as it had repeatedly been proven effective in battle.


    Accompanied by the Half-Goat People playing stirring music and rhythmic drumbeats, the Goblin Infantry Brigade began to advance.


    The "step, step, step" of their marching was uniform, exerting great pressure on the enemy.


    When they were about a hundred meters from the Frost Giant forces, the newest long guns fired in unison, the smoke filling the air, and the blooming bullets hitting many unprepared Frost Giants.


    With the ground shaking and painful roars, more than a dozen Frost Giants fell to the ground.


    Kasa, an exceptionally skilled warrior, immediately discerned that the approaching enemies were dangerous, sensing the magical aura emanating from their gun barrels.


    "Is this the army that gave Baya such a hard time?"


    The Frost Giant narrowed his eyes, gripping his frost-white dual-bladed axe, his muscles tensed, and he grinned grimly.


    "They look¡ªrather weak!"


    Before finishing his words, the ground rumbled and slightly indented as Kasa''s muscles released powerful strength. He raised the "Raging Winter''s Howl" with both hands and leaped high in a standard jumping slash posture, almost as if flying.


    This leap covered nearly a hundred meters.


    "How is that possible?"


    "He... he''s flying over here!"


    Looking up at the increasingly large Frost Giant in their field of view, the advancing Goblin Infantry scrambled in disarray.


    They hastily fired into the sky, but were unable to hit a high-speed moving target, and even if they did, the bullets would be blocked by the impenetrable White Dragon Scale Armor.


    "Boom!"


    Kasa landed with a crash, cutting several Goblins to pieces at once and cracking the ground beneath them.


    As "Raging Winter''s Howl" struck the ground, several-meter-tall gigantic ice cones erupted along the cracks, easily flinging the Goblins into the air and even piercing them through.


    This tore apart the Goblins'' tight formation.


    "Before you stands the Everfrost Tribe''s greatest warrior in two hundred years¡ªBone Breaker Kasa Everfrost!"


    "Remember this name! For it will be your last glory!"


    Kasa barged into the line infantry''s formation, wielding his dual-bladed axe and cutting more than a dozen Goblin soldiers in two who were unable to evade in time.


    As the axe blade effortlessly ripped through their bodies, the severed remains were as cold and stiff as glaciers. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Before my strength, your struggles and escape are futile!"


    "Haha, witness the wrath of winter!"


    Kasa roared to the sky, almost single-handedly slaughtering the entire brigade and reinvigorating the Frost Giants who had just suffered heavy losses.


    In just a few breaths, the Ashen Kingdom''s precious Goblin Infantry Brigade suffered a loss of over a hundred men, leaving the Goblin Chieftain Dolores heartbroken.


    "We must find a way to eliminate this Frost Giant leader."


    "Otherwise, this war is impossible to win!"


    Dolores bit down hard, gripping his Bloodfire Battle Axe tightly, thinking this.

 Chapter 110 Fierce Battle

    Kasa rampaged through the ranks, and Dolores actually stepped down personally to stand before him.


    As a retainer with dragon blood flowing through his veins, this Dragon Vein Great Goblin stood a full four meters tall, his muscle-bound body covered in scales, making him appear as a giant before regular soldiers.


    But in front of the robust Frost Giant Kasa, the Great Goblin''s head reached barely to the Frost Giant''s waist. The stark contrast made Dolores look more like a small dwarf.


    Faced with such a formidable opponent, Dolores showed no fear and yelled sharply:


    "Stupid Giant, I''m going to kill you!"


    He then leapt up suddenly, raising the Bloodfire Battle Axe above his head and swung it straight down towards the Frost Giant''s head.


    "Clang!"


    The crisp sound of metal striking metal rang out.


    The Bloodfire Battle Axe and Winter''s Roar clashed, sending out dazzling sparks.


    Dolores had used all his strength, pouring every ounce of his energy into this strike, but Kasa merely lifted his battle axe with one arm, easily blocking the attack with the flat side of the axe.


    "Such a weak and feeble attack¡ªhow dare you fight me!"


    "Clang¡ª"


    Kasa''s thick arm muscles bulged as he exerted force, flinging Dolores back more than ten meters.


    Dolores rolled several times on the ground, feeling his arms go numb from the tremendous impact, rendering his whole body weak.


    "What terrifying strength."


    He used his battle axe to support himself, gritting his teeth as he climbed up from the ground.


    However, he heard the whistling sound of the wind and the roar of the Giant above his head.


    "Die, you worthless weakling!"


    Kasa wouldn''t give his enemy any chance to recover. He executed a massive leaping chop, with Winter''s Roar carrying unstoppable force, accompanied by a howling gale, chopping straight towards Dolores''s head.


    ¡ªIf this blow landed, Dolores''s scale-covered sturdy body would definitely be split in two like paper.


    Dolores stared at the approaching axe blade, his pupils widening, only managing to say two words:


    "Save me!"


    Just as the battle axe was about to land, an invisible force wall appeared in front of Dolores.


    It was the Force Wall Technique.


    The battle axe, carrying enormous power, struck the force wall, producing a rumbling noise that caused ripples in the nearby space.


    Ramp stood nearby, raising his Magic Wand with his left hand, clutching the "Bennett''s Wisdom" glowing with spell radiance at his chest with his right hand, his expression calm.


    "Oh? A spell?"


    "Haha, people who rely on external spells are too weak to be my opponents!"


    Kasa grinned ferociously.


    He leapt over the force wall with ease, directly stepping behind Dolores.


    "Dolores, stall that Frost Giant!"


    Ramp didn''t hesitate to activate dozens of magic items all over his body, the spell radiance interweaving. One carefully prepared spell after another was released, infusing into the Dragon Vein Great Goblin.


    Enlarge Spell, Acceleration Spell, Shield Spell, Protective Energy Damage, Bear''s Resilience, Bull''s Strength, Cat''s Grace.


    In just a few breaths, the Dragon Vein Great Goblin''s form expanded to nearly eight meters tall, almost equal to the Frost Giant before him.


    His body was enveloped under multiple layers of magical shields, the power of magic covering him entirely, significantly boosting all his attributes.


    Dolores panted heavily, feeling the surging strength within his body. He excitedly roared:


    "Damn it, Ramp, why didn''t you use these earlier?"


    "Stall him?"


    "I feel like I can take him down now!"


    Dolores let out a furious roar and rushed towards Kasa, swinging the Bloodfire Battle Axe, now like a hand axe, aiming it fiercely at the Frost Giant''s massive head.


    "Clang¡ª"


    The sound of clashing metal rang out again.


    The battle axe was once again blocked by Winter''s Roar, but this time Kasa needed both arms to handle it, and even then, he was slightly at a disadvantage in the stalemate.


    Taking advantage of the deadlock, Ramp unleashed several scorching fireballs at the Frost Giant.


    Advanced Fireball Spell


    After years of modification, Ramp''s elevated fireball spell had reached the fifth tier level. Not only did it gather the flames more powerfully than ordinary spells, but it also combined spell abilities to track and seek out targets within a certain range.


    However, Kasa merely tilted his head slightly, effortlessly dodging the precise strike of the fireballs.


    Yet his evasion caused his grip to slacken just a bit.


    Dolores seized the opportunity, slashing horizontally with force, the Bloodfire Battle Axe slicing through the air straight towards the Frost Giant''s head.


    And Ramp''s spell followed suit.


    Slow Spell


    The space around the Frost Giant distorted, making his movements incredibly slow.


    Kasa quickly dodged backward, but under the spell''s influence, he could not move entirely out of the way, the axe''s blade cutting into his skin.


    A narrow gash appeared on the right side of his cheek, with cold, dark blue blood trickling down.


    "It''s been a long time since I bled."


    "Even though it was spell-enhanced, it was... interesting."


    Kasa wiped the blood off his cheek haphazardly, his rugged face showing a sinister smile, his pupils full of fervent desire for battle.


    "I will kill you all!"


    ...


    "For the Ashen Kingdom!"


    "Kill the enemies!"


    "For Everfrost!"


    As Dolores, Ramp, and the Frost Giant Chieftain fought fiercely, both sides'' armies also engaged in a brutal struggle.


    The Great Goblins poured bullets and shells madly at the Frost Giants, while the Frost Giants raised their beast bone shields, braving the dense fire as they charged forward. Once these massive beings broke into the ranks, they could easily crush dozens of soldiers.


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    But several Frost Giants fell on their way, their bodies covered in a dense array of bullet holes and shrapnel.


    Ogre Heavy Armor Soldiers held the front lines of the Ashen Kingdom''s formation. Though significantly shorter than their northern cousins, their bodies were fatter and sturdier, barely holding off the waves of Frost Giant cavalry charges.


    Wildland Dragons clashed with Dragon Tundras, producing thunderous sounds. These mighty creatures finally met equals, but the Wildland Dragons affected by the Dragon Vein were often larger and could overpower their northern counterparts.


    Chimeras, Wyverns, and other aerial units swooped repeatedly, turning the battlefield into a boiling sea of flames, using the intense blaze to stall the Frost Giants'' advance.


    But they couldn''t avoid being struck down by the Frost Giants'' thrown boulders or pulled from the sky by the leaping giants. Once on the ground, they were essentially sentenced to death.


    In fact, a female Chimera was pinned to the ground by Baya. The Frost Giant Warrior, mimicking his brother, snapped the Chimera''s three spines with his bare hands, earning cheers from the Frost Giant warriors.


    "Baya!" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Our warrior!"


    "You are the little Bone Breaker!"


    Soon, the smoke and scent of blood permeated the battlefield. Great Goblins, Ogres, Wyverns, and even Frost Giant corpses covered the wasteland. This cruel, evenly matched battle turned the weathered wilderness once again into a slaughterhouse.

 Chapter 110 The War of the Players

    As an important force of the Ashen Kingdom, the players naturally participated in this battle.


    But now there were only a thousand beta testers, which was not enough to influence the overall situation of the war.


    The players'' strength seemed to rise quickly, but that was just an exception¡ªelite players like Singo, Mantou, and Charlotte, who had reached the fourth level and touched the upper limit, were very few, with only a little over a hundred among all the beta testers.


    Most players were stuck at level 2 and couldn''t progress any further, which was the norm.


    In this hardcore "game," the monsters available for leveling up, like Savage Boars and Hill Giants, were nearly impossible for regular players to defeat. They could only silently complete daily tasks and be the workers of Erezer.


    This war with the "Frost Calamity" was on an even more exaggerated level.


    According to the player panel, the average challenge level of an adult Frost Giant reached level 8, which was almost equivalent to a mini-boss. And there were three hundred such Frost Giants in this war. Even the elite troops of the Ashen Kingdom required dozens of average casualties to kill one Frost Giant.


    Therefore, this quest was only issued to the elite players who had reached level four.


    As for the others?


    They should just stay in the city and work behind the scenes, contributing their strength. Letting them enter such a battlefield was purely sending them to their doom; the gameplay experience would be terrible.


    However, there were still noobs who followed the steps of the professional players into this chaotic battlefield.


    "Damn, how come there are so many question mark-level bosses?"


    "The number of elite monsters is too high."


    "These don''t seem to be bosses, just the mobs in this instance!"


    "Huh?"


    "You¡ªcall these mobs?" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before the words were even finished, there was a "plop" sound. The player who questioned with his soul was smashed into minced meat by a Frost Giant with a club, turning to black screen at light speed before he even had a chance to react.


    "Such weak little things."


    The Frost Giant scratched his head in confusion and continued running forward.


    But soon he was pounced on by a dozen or so Bipedal Wyverns from the sky. After struggling to tear apart four of them, he was finally pierced through by a poisonous tail stinger and his heartbeat stopped, losing his life.


    "Let these foolish giants from the primitive era witness the power of Magic Technology!"


    Steel Torrent summoned upgraded armor, the [Watcher] model armor was now larger, reaching a standing height of six meters, almost like a mobile suit.


    The armor''s left arm held an Energy Force Field Shield to block the rocks thrown by the giants, while the right hand''s magic ballista kept firing Arcane Missiles, suppressing several Frost Giants at the front with powerful firepower.


    "I''ve been waiting for this day for a long time!"


    "Give me your heart!"


    A player named "Tata Kai," a Mechanic Mage, activated the "Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear" modified by Transformation Spell runes, quickly firing anchor hooks, flying directly to the back of a Frost Giant''s neck, and slashing it with a knife.


    "Swoosh¡ª"


    The skin on the back of the neck was sliced open, blood flowing out.


    However, this Frost Giant did not die instantly as Tata Kai had imagined. Instead, it subconsciously slapped its neck, squashing him into meat paste.


    "Weird little thing..."


    The Frost Giant looked at the human-shaped bloodstain on its hand, mumbling in confusion.


    This Frost Giant was much larger than his kin, standing at eleven meters tall. In his tribe, he was known as "Big Guy, Kuba." His close-combat ability was second only to the clan leader, Kasa, so it was no wonder Tata Kai targeted this super-sized giant.


    "Hahaha, did you come to the wrong set?"


    "Let me teach him a lesson!"


    Steel Torrent laughed loudly from the cockpit.


    He piloted his armor, shooting several Arcane Missiles from the right arm, hitting the head of the Frost Giant multiple times.


    "Annoying iron lump! I''m going to smash you!"


    The thick-skinned Kuba charged forward despite the missile bombardment.


    The Frost Giant raised his massive bone rod high.


    "Damn..."


    Looking up at the gigantic figure about to envelop him, Steel Torrent felt a sense of impending danger. He raised his left arm and activated the highest level of the Force Field Shield.


    "Bang!"


    "Crash!"


    With a crisp sound, the Force Field Shield shattered like fragile glass under a single blow from the bone rod.


    Steel Torrent''s armor was deeply dented by the blow, and with an explosion, it turned into a heap of scrap metal. The pilot himself had long been smashed into mince, merging with his beloved armor.


    "The guild leader got one-shotted again!"


    "What kind of damage is this?"


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    "Even heavy spenders like Steel Torrent got one-shotted, which tank can withstand that thing?"


    The ground battle was intense, but the aerial battle was much easier as they only needed to dodge the giant''s throws.


    Singo and Mantou, riding on the backs of wyverns, swooped across the battlefield from above.


    Mantou looked at the fierce battle below, especially noticing the instant-killed Steel Torrent, and couldn''t help but click his tongue, "What''s with this Frost Giant''s toughness? It took dozens of Arcane Missiles and one-shotted him with a single hit."


    Singo nodded, "The difficulty of this war quest is too high. Even us fourth-level players struggle to make a difference. Let''s find some small fry to deal with, and stay away from those bosses."


    He pointed at Kasa on the ground.


    "Especially¡ªthat one."


    The battle between Kasa and Dolores was still raging fiercely. Within tens of meters around them, no living creature remained, and the ground was ruined by the aftershocks of their fight. Each clash of their battle axes produced powerful ripples.


    The player "Big Blade" from the [Royalty] guild, a Red Scale Conqueror, wanted to try his luck. He aimed at Kasa, preparing to shoot an arrow.


    However, before he could release the bowstring, the Frost Giant Chieftain on the ground sensed it all with his beast-like instincts. Seizing the moment when Dolores paused, he hurled a rock into the sky.


    "Weakling!"


    "Who gave you the guts to interfere in this battle!"


    The rock, like a cannonball, shot straight up into the sky, piercing through Big Blade and his dragon, causing them both to fall to the ground.


    Mantou couldn''t help but swallow, muttering, "Hmm, you''re right."


    In their view, the information of the [Bone Breaker-Kasa] was marked with question marks indicating extreme danger. If their clearance was high enough, they might see "Challenge Level 16" above the Frost Giant''s head.


    Singo observed the battlefield and finally noticed a lone Frost Giant far from the central battlefield, with an ordinary challenge level of 8.


    "That''s the one, Mantou."


    "Same old tactic. One of us controls and feigns attack, while the other deals damage!"


    "Alright, just don''t steal my kill later¡ª"


    "You have to beat it first!"


    At the edge of the battlefield, two Bipedal Wyverns swooped down rapidly from the sky.

 Chapter 111 Raging Winter Falls (Part 1)

    "Frost Calamity descends!"


    "Long live the Ashen Kingdom!"


    The battle grew ever more chaotic, with the armies of the Ashen Kingdom and the Frost Giants locked in fierce combat. It was like a continuation of that ancient war between dragons and giants from tens of thousands of years ago.


    The Ashen Kin, who bore the Red Dragon bloodline, and the Frost Giants, who perpetuated the Giant bloodline, fought savagely, unleashing the brutal power deep within their veins.


    "It is time to end this."


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    Cassius stood atop the mountain, overlooking the brutal battle below.


    This human noble, often overlooked by the giants, was enveloped by a shimmering, fragmented magical aura. His figure rapidly expanded, ultimately transforming into a colossal form twenty meters long¡ªa Red Dragon.


    Cassius did not rush into the fray. The surging and chaotic power of sorcery roiled within him, and dozens of spells prepared long ago activated instantly under the influence of metamagic¡ªHeaven''s Calamity Dragon Eye, Agile as a Dragon, Energy Scales, Undying Offender, Protective Energy Damage, Enhanced Attributes, Advanced Shield Spell...


    Accompanied by powerful magical fluctuations, dazzling spell radiance interwove on the surface of the Red Dragon, erupting with astonishing strength.


    This was the spellcasting ability of a True Dragon Sorcerer, and coupled with the Red Dragon''s own ample magical equipment, it rendered his entire body''s spell strength to an exaggerated level.


    "Roar¡ª" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A long dragon''s roar echoed from the mountaintop.


    Both the Ashen Kin and the Frost Giants looked up in unison.


    Yet their emotions varied; some were thrilled and elated, as if witnessing the descent of a deity, while others were anxious and terrified.


    Even the usually reckless Baya stood dumbfounded:


    "How could Anzeta have such a thing? This has only been sixty years..."


    The Frost Giant Sacrificer prayed continuously: "Soleim above, is this really a dragon from the Third Era?"


    The Red Dragon hovered atop the mountain, slowly flapping its wings. Between its crown-like, swept-back horns hung an ethereal golden vertical pupil, seemingly capable of seeing through everything, striking fear into the hearts of any intelligent being.


    The massive and muscular body was covered with golden-red scales, surrounded by energy shards like fragments of stars, and even adorned with a layer of electrical light. Various strange and dazzling energies entwined around his body.


    With each flap of his wings, the air crackled with lightning and thundered with flames, as if he controlled the very weather, followed by billowing clouds of steam.


    "Arrogant Frost Giants."


    "Not only will you lose the glory of your ancestors, but you will also forfeit¡ªeverything of your future!"


    After making his final declaration, Cassius soared across the sky. Contrary to the common perception of Red Dragons as strong but unwieldy, this Red Dragon possessed both immense strength and terrifying speed.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The air was abruptly torn apart, emitting a piercing screech.


    The massive twenty-meter-long body transformed into a colossal afterimage that dived downward, slicing through the sky like a crimson scalpel. Before the Frost Giants could recover from their shock, the Red Dragon crashed into their ranks.


    Cassius rampaged through as if there were no one in his way. Any giant about to come into contact with his body was instantly consumed by thunder and flames.


    His form often turned into surging thunder and fire, resembling a moving catastrophe.


    The Frost Giants threw spears, axes, and even poisoned arrows with all their might. These methods, particularly effective in hunting White Dragons, were futile against Cassius, almost all intercepted by his layers of spells.


    During the Red Dragon''s incursion, almost every breath was accompanied by the death of several Frost Giant warriors.


    Such one-sided slaughter was unimaginable for the Frost Giants, who were used to crushing their enemies.


    "Clang¡ª"


    Another crisp clash.


    Dolores''s Bloodfire Battle Axe shattered directly. He could barely defend against Kasa''s axe strikes, nearly getting his head chopped off.


    But instead of being dejected, he laughed triumphantly: "Hahaha! You foolish brute, I told you that our master wouldn''t leave any of you alive!"


    "Even if you somehow manage to kill me, your Frost Giants will still face extermination!"


    Kasa gripped his Raging Winter''s Howl tightly, looking towards the distant battlefield and at the Red Dragon, which seemed like a god of death among the Frost Giant ranks.


    Unexpectedly, instead of showing fear, anxiety, or despair, the face of the Frost Giant was filled with a surging fighting spirit.


    He grinned menacingly, lifting the Raging Winter''s Howl and even licking the blood trickling from his mouth.


    "So the time has finally come..."


    "Do you know¡ª"


    "Besides Bone Breaker, I have another nickname?"


    Dolores, particularly wary of Kasa''s unusual behavior, couldn''t resist asking, "What?"


    "Son of Winter!"


    The Frost Giant rubbed the Raging Winter''s Howl in his hand, forcefully peeling off the bloodstained metal shell, revealing its purest essence¡ªa battle axe formed entirely from ice crystals, brimming with unimaginable magical power.


    Soleim, the Frost Giants'' and Winter God, had vanished along with Annan after the fall of the Giant Empire. But before falling into deep slumber, the protective Soleim divided a minuscule portion of his divine power into hundreds of parts, bestowing them on his surviving descendants. What Kasa held was one of these¡ªa weapon containing pure Eternal Frost Power.


    A gleam appeared in his eyes, radiating a bone-chilling cold, surrounded by a layer of divine cold aura.


    Kasa gripped the Raging Winter''s Howl, appearing as a demigod incarnate.


    The blood for the Frost Giants was cold, but their fighting spirit burned hot. He roared towards the sky.


    "Red Dragon, your flashy sorcery won''t scare the mighty Frost Giant warriors!"


    "In the name of Soleim, the Winter God and Father of the Frost Giants, I will grant you eternal death!"


    "Your strong body will be frozen into ice and then shattered into pieces!"


    "Your skull will become the most eye-catching trophy in my hall of honor!"


    With his roar, the cold wind danced, a fierce blizzard once again swept in, lifting him into the air.


    Several other Frost Giant Sacrificers hastily chanted ancient spells, bestowing him with various powerful blessing spells, making the howling cold wind even more intense.


    The cold wind howled in the air, carrying the urgency of an ancient call from the wild. The sound seemed anxious.


    "Did you hear that?"


    "Father God knows your name, your days are numbered, Red Dragon!"


    Kasa triumphantly made a gesture of listening, laughing heartily, and flew skyward amid the blizzard.


    As a genuine Frost Giant, possibly even a Chosen One of the Winter God, his mastery over the cold far surpassed that of a half-baked practitioner like Oliver.


    The blizzard swirling around him concealed hidden dangers, containing many ice cones filled with high concentrations of Eternal Frost Power. Even if Cassius took a direct hit, it would certainly not be a pleasant experience.

 Chapter 112 Raging Winters Fall (Part 2)

    Cassius watched the frost giant flying toward him with fierce momentum, his heart filled with joy.


    This was a great opportunity for him to come into contact with divine-level power. Deities were strictly limited in the Prime Material World, but powerful gods could always exert influence on the mortal realm through various means.


    ¡ª¡ªBut a tribal deity like Soleim, who had been sleeping for tens of thousands of years, was different. The only retaliation he needed to worry about came from the gradually declining giant race, which did not even include the benevolent Cloud Giants and Storm Giants.


    In his previous life, he had heard of a frost giant rising abruptly in Anzeta, showcasing unimaginable frost power, seemingly related to a deity. However, most players had left Anzeta at that time and paid little attention to the subsequent situation. Therefore, he could now confirm that the frost giant before him was indeed Kasa.


    Thus, Cassius had been waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity for Kasa to reveal his trump card.


    The red dragon let out a roar, suddenly flapping its wings to create distance.


    "Is it just the power left behind by a guy buried in a grave? Is this the source of your courage?"


    Under the influence of Agile as a Dragon, his wing membranes were covered with the power of a spell, distorting space at the moment of flapping, instantly throwing Kasa dozens of meters away.


    As the battle progressed, the effects of the spell continued to strengthen, the red dragon''s agility attribute had reached a terrifying 24 points, comparable to the legendary Wanderers of divine dragons. But even more terrifying was this speed appearing in a giant dragon!


    The frost giant maneuvered through the blizzard, it couldn''t even be called flying, merely "lifting." This speed was difficult for even a clumsy ordinary red dragon to catch up with, let alone Cassius.


    Thinking of this, Kasa could only roar towards the sky, hoping to arouse the red dragon''s anger.


    "Fight me head-on!"


    "Is the red dragon also a coward relying on spells?"


    "What about your race''s proud close combat?"


    Cassius''s speed was enough to circle the frost giant several times, still leaving him out of reach. However, out of caution, he always maintained an appropriate distance from the frost giant and launched timely attacks.


    "Son of Winter! You are a joke in the sky, this is not the domain of you clumsy giants."


    "Since you want a direct confrontation¡ª¡ª"


    Cassius taunted.


    The red dragon rolled in midair and then faced the frost giant directly, indeed responding to Kasa''s call for a direct confrontation.


    However, what Kasa awaited was not the anticipated melee combat that would allow him to slay the dragon.


    A bright light appeared in Cassius''s chest, his core veins fully powered, continuously pumping elemental fire energy into him.


    He grinned, revealing a ferocious smile, hot energy accumulating in his throat. With his strength enhancement, it had been a long time since he unleashed his full power breath.


    "Then, as you wish!"


    With the red dragon''s words, the colossal energy poured out.


    "Boom¡ª¡ª"


    A scorching white pillar of fire erupted from his mouth, instantly evaporating the surrounding air, as if tearing open a blazing rift in the sky.


    The terrifying pillar of fire tore through the blizzard, heading straight for the frost giant''s head.


    Kasa crossed the Rigorous Winter''s Battle Cry in front of him as a shield.


    The seemingly fragile ice crystal double-bladed axe, which appeared to shatter at a touch, now acted like a black hole devouring flames, absorbing all the colossal Supreme Flame Breath energy, leaving only a few barely noticeable water droplets.


    "Red dragon, your fire is powerful."


    "But it cannot melt the ice of the Father God!"


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    Kasa swung his battle axe, sending out three meters-long ice blades.


    These ice blades contained a trace of the Winter God''s power. Any creature struck by them would gradually slow down and ultimately fall into an eternal cold slumber.


    However, at this moment, Cassius, whose agility attribute had further increased, merely spread his wings slightly, allowing his massive body to navigate the narrow space less than ten meters wide, dodging the attack.


    "Frost giant, you''re too slow!"


    Cassius taunted.


    And this was his genuine thought. As the power of time and space entwined more tightly, Kasa''s actions appeared in slow motion to him.


    During this time, he had been deliberately guiding the frost giant, always keeping a distance, but never completely shaking him off.


    The red dragon''s agility attribute was about to reach 30 points, which also meant the spell duration was almost over.


    "The process is going smoothly."


    "It''s time to end this."


    Cassius thought.


    Unbeknownst to Kasa, he continued roaring exuberantly:


    "Red dragon, such spells cannot last long!"


    "You want to toy with me? You''ll pay for your arrogance!"


    The frost giant swung Rigorous Winter''s Howl, the range of cold air suddenly expanded, enveloping the red dragon. The power of the Winter God caused everything to settle, and slowing down one''s movements was no exception.


    He gripped his battle axe tightly, his expression excited and fervent, just waiting for the red dragon''s spell to expire, and for him to rush forward, using Soleim''s divine power to chop him down.


    But Kasa didn''t notice the trace of excitement that flashed in his opponent''s eyes.


    Cassius suddenly slowed his actions, no longer distancing himself from the frost giant, but slowly turning to face him.


    Kasa felt an ominous premonition in his heart. In this dire situation, this cunning red dragon must have a reliance.


    He had fallen into a trap!


    Indeed, that was the case.


    "Winter is about to come to an end."


    Cassius said. This was the area he had long designated¡ªthe frost giant''s burial ground.


    [Kingdom Domain, Forbidden]


    An invisible aura spread out, controlling the surrounding elements. All magic energy became like his subjects, even the Magic Web fell under his control.


    Suddenly, the surging magic energy around fell silent.


    It should be known that divine power also has a magical essence.


    Cassius had long realized that the power of this Kingdom Domain had a peculiar repulsion to divine power. He relied on this ability to erase the mental imprint Tiamat left on him through illusions. Since it was effective against the Mother of Evil Dragons, it was even more certain to work against a trace of divine power left by Soleim from tens of thousands of years ago.


    "This, this..."


    With Kasa''s incredulous gaze, the ice crystal battle axe began to melt like ordinary ice.


    The cold wind circling the frost giant dissipated instantly.


    He fell clumsily from nearly a hundred meters in the air, rolling several times before barely cushioning the fall, relying on his strong constitution to endure.


    The frost giant looked up shakily, gazing at the divine-like red dragon. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He reached for the battle axe, only to find that the ice crystals symbolizing divine power were already in the red dragon''s claws, controlled by him.


    "It''s over, all over..."


    Kasa bowed his head, murmuring in despair.

 Chapter 187 113. Raging Winter Falls (3)

    Kasa Everfrost closed his eyes.


    He could even feel the brightness before him through his eyelids¡ªit was the light of fire. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Extremely Effective Flame Breath]


    The flames poured down like a torrential flood, engulfing Kasa and turning the once bare-handed, dragon-slaying, mighty Frost Giant Warrior to ashes.


    Only the remnants of his White Dragon Scale Armor were left, barely recognizable to any who knew his former appearance.


    In the Kingdom Domain, all spell abilities of Cassius were greatly enhanced. That breath just now was comparable to a Legendary Spell, instantly reducing the physically mighty Frost Giant, capable of battling Elder White Dragons, to dust.


    "This domain, it''s almost like... my Divine Realm."


    Cassius gently flapped his wings, sighing.


    He gazed at the ice crystal in his hand, within which contained a trace of divine power.


    Though it was very thin, the supreme essence of the cold law it held was unmistakable.


    It was a pity, really. This power was incompatible with Cassius, even entirely repulsive. If he were to recklessly attempt to use it, the consequences could be irreversible.


    Cassius carefully placed the ice crystal into his Dimensional Bag.


    The panel refreshed with several new messages.


    [You have slain the Son of Winter, Kasa, gaining 18000 EXP]


    [Kasa was meant to lead his tribe to greatness, to gather faith and awaken their Father God, but he was slain by you. You have received the enmity of a deity and acquired the negative status: Frost Giant''s Foe]


    "Such a petty deity," Cassius remarked.


    He had no intention to provoke a deity lightly, but the Everfrost Tribe''s expansion and the Ashen Kingdom''s order were fundamentally at odds.


    Since conflict was inevitable, he might as well offend this Frost Giant deity thoroughly, ensuring his faith dwindled evermore, consigning him to eternal slumber, never to awaken. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire


    Cassius''s expression turned sinister.


    "But first, let''s focus on gaining more strength."


    "With enough power, what could even a deity''s avatar do?"


    [You choose to advance True Dragon Sorcerer to level 11]


    [You may select an additional Metamagic feat]


    [You have gained the Metamagic feat: Distant Spell]


    With the surge of sorcery, a magician can significantly increase the range and scope of their spells. As a Dragon Sorcerer, Cassius''s ranged spell effects were even more formidable.


    What came next was the spell drawing phase that Cassius most dreaded.


    [You have gained additional spells: Burning Stone Haze, Aerial Maneuver Technique]


    [Burning Stone Haze]


    Seventh Tier Spell, Shaping Energy


    Like a mobile volcano, blistering embers surround you and then shoot outwards, blasting the enemy with hundreds of tiny, scalding volcanic rocks and releasing dense volcanic ash, causing blindness and suffocation.


    [Aerial Maneuver Technique]


    Fourth Tier Spell, Transformation


    This spell grants perfect aerial maneuverability, allowing the caster to perform sudden stops, sharp turns, rolls, and other high-mobility actions while in flight.


    Cassius let out a deep breath.


    One potent Seventh Tier Shaping Spell and one Fourth Tier Transformation Spell with unexpected combat applications.


    Though not a fundamental upgrade, they both significantly enhanced his capabilities.


    For instance, Burning Stone Haze could be combined with Weather Control to create the effect of a massive volcanic eruption, and Aerial Maneuver Technique, when paired with Agile as a Dragon, could even achieve acute angle turns.


    "Since Kasa is dead..."


    "It''s time to clean up the aftermath properly."


    A sinister smile appeared on Cassius''s dragon face.


    He cast the spell "Bag of Greed" to collect Kasa''s ashes and remaining gear, flaunting them proudly behind himself.


    ...


    North of the Triel range.


    The Frost Giants and the retainers of the Ashen Kingdom simultaneously stopped fighting.


    This wasn''t due to a love for peace but rather out of trust in their respective leaders. Once one of them returned, this war would end completely, with no further miracles.


    Baya anxiously gazed at the sky, muttering:


    "He''ll come back, Kasa..."


    "He was chosen by Lord Soleim, it''s impossible that¡ª"


    Before Baya could finish his sentence, everyone instantly felt a scorching heat approaching. The sound of wings flapping grew closer, and the massive Red Dragon became increasingly visible. Hanging beneath him was a tattered White Dragon Scale Armor, and by some unknown means, it also carried ashes.


    Suddenly, the Ashen Kingdom''s forces erupted in cheers.


    "Oh oh! The master burned him to ashes!"


    "Indeed, this is the master''s might!"


    "Fight for the great Red Dragon!"


    "What did I say? The King of Ashen could not lose!"


    In stark contrast, the Frost Giants sank into sorrow and despair.


    "Impossible, impossible..."


    "He was the chosen of Lord Soleim..."


    Baya''s face turned wooden, and he kept shaking his head, mumbling.


    Cassius''s golden eyes swept over the battlefield from above as he arrogantly proclaimed:


    "Frost Giants, your leader has been reduced to ashes by me!"


    "Now, I give you two choices."


    "Become the servile slaves of the Ashen Kingdom..."


    "Or¡ªdeath!"


    The Frost Giants had varied expressions. Some gritted their teeth, unyielding, their eyes filled with hatred for their enemy, while others seemed shaken to their core.


    These Frost Giants were inherently Neutral Evil; in their view, strength was everything. Kasa had subdued them with his immense power, and this Red Dragon before them¡ªhad burned Kasa alive.


    Suddenly, Baya raised the Dragonbone Pickaxe, his eyes bloodshot as he shouted:


    "This Red Dragon is deceiving us!"


    "Kasa is the chosen of Lord Soleim, he''s not dead yet!"


    "This Red Dragon is at the end of its strength. Warriors of the Everfrost Tribe, charge with me!"


    Without hesitation, Baya rushed forward, his fearless stance strongly reminiscent of the late Kasa, stirring many Frost Giants. Over thirty Frost Giant Warriors responded to the call.


    These Frost Giants were mostly Kasa''s hunting party comrades, considered elite, and followed Baya''s lead, charging towards the Red Dragon like knights tilting at windmills.


    "Thank you for your sacrifice.


    "It allows me... to practice."


    The Red Dragon watched the reactions of the Frost Giants with interest, blistering embers surrounding him.


    [Burning Stone Haze]


    Hundreds of tiny, scalding volcanic rocks were hurled at the charging Frost Giants, followed by a mass of volcanic ash, engulfing all thirty Frost Giants.


    The sounds of coughing, wails, and roars filled the air.


    These Frost Giants, once dubbed "Scourge," now struggled helplessly in the torrent, powerless.

 Chapter 114 Battle of Glaciers Demise (1)

    "By Soleim above..."


    "They didn''t even get close, just¡ª"


    "How can we possibly defeat such an enemy."


    As the wasteland turned into a Purgatory overflowing with magma, the remaining hundred Frost Giants all looked terrified, fearing to be spotted by this terrible Red Dragon.


    The Ogre Heavy Armor Soldiers surrounded them, enclosing the Frost Giants completely. Three or four Ogres struggled to tightly bind the Frost Giants with ropes as thick as a human wrist, eventually transporting them to the South.


    "These Frost Giants will become useful expendables of the Empire."


    "They are not allowed to have offspring, not allowed to have faith, and will be kept in dark dungeons during idle times."


    "We will use them to build city walls, fortify defenses, reduced to the victims of hard labor and whipping, and their blood¡ªwill all become my property."


    Cassius''s eyes sparkled.


    Towards these beings who called themselves the Frost Calamity and caused countless bloodsheds, Cassius felt no compassion. He didn''t even feel morally guilty for striking them down, he was solely focused on squeezing out all their value.


    "Yes, as you will."


    Ramp spoke with exhilaration.


    He, too, had little sympathy for these close kin, more so excited as a Mage to study this "Eternal Frost Power."


    Dolores reported on the side:


    "Master, I have inquired thoroughly about the situation at the Vaar Glacier. Those Giants were quite easy to make talk."


    "Apart from the 300 Frost Giant warriors invading the South, there are about a hundred elderly and weak ones, as well as dozens of warriors stationed there. During their leave, it''s the High Priest of the Everfrost Tribe, the oldest Elder, Nur Everfrost, who handles the various matters."


    "The High Priest huh..."


    "I see."


    Cassius said calmly.


    If he wanted to destroy the Everfrost Tribe, he had to eliminate this so-called sacrificial priest, shattering their faith.


    Since they had already provoked Soleim, arousing the enmity of that slumbering deity, why not go further and slaughter what''s left of this deity''s believers in Anzeta, transforming the entire tribe into the Empire''s slaves, leaving him with no faith to speak of.


    After the fall of the Giant Empire, the traces of Giants walking upon the earth grew increasingly rare. The Storm Giants and Cloud Giants mostly left the Prime Material Plane, serving other Lawful deities, Heavenly Creatures, or even benevolent Metal Dragons, while robber races like the Frost Giants vanished through successive wars, eventually driven to the Northern edge of the world.


    "Give me their location, I will bring them...a disaster they will never forget."


    "As you will."


    ...


    Vaar Glacier.


    Inside the massive, crude ice fortress of the Frost Giants.


    "It''s over, everything will be over."


    "My prophecy wasn''t wrong. The destined Scourge is coming, he''s about to destroy everything, enslave my tribe..."


    Nur put down the Ice Orb of True Knowledge in his hand, trembling as he stood. The warriors on both sides hurried to assist but were pushed away by the aged sacrificer.


    He mumbled to himself as if in a sudden frenzy.


    "No, no, maybe there is still a chance."


    "Quickly, call all the young warriors of the tribe here."


    The few Frost Giant warriors were puzzled by Nur''s panic but obeyed his command, summoning the young warriors.


    Dozens of Frost Giant warriors gathered beneath the great glacier.


    "What''s wrong with Elder Nur?"


    "Why summon us?" Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Chieftain Kasa hasn''t returned yet, it''s only been a few days, the sacred southern expedition is still ongoing."


    The young and exuberant Frost Giant warriors were confused, whispering among themselves until the frail and weathered Elder Nur appeared.


    "Kasa''s campaign is over. They encountered the destined Scourge and...the entire army was annihilated."


    His words were low and hoarse, yet particularly clear.


    These words set off a storm among the Frost Giants, unable to suppress their excitement.


    Although they were left at Vaar Glacier as totem warriors defending the Holy Land, they yearned for southern raids, believing Kasa would make southern humans tremble with fear.


    But in merely a few days, 300 Frost Giant warriors, all annihilated?


    This was not just inconceivable, it outright defied the Everfrost Tribe''s centuries-old norms!


    "Elder Nur, your spell must have gone awry!"


    "Gone awry? You''re insane!"


    "Kasa could wrestle Dragons bare-handed. With his strength, it''s impossible for a bunch of humans to defeat him!"


    "Elder Nur, we are the Frost Calamity!"


    The elderly Frost Giant sacrificer sighed helplessly, sorrow apparent in his eyes.


    He, too, once believed the "destined Scourge" of the prophecy referred to themselves, that the Frost Giants would sweep away everything in the North like a calamity, rebuilding their nation through brutality. But now it seemed they were merely victims of the calamity.


    Nur''s right hand trembled as he used his wooden staff to draw a small circle on the ice surface. A cold wind blew in¡ªimmediately, a terrifying Red Dragon appeared in the reflection, with dozens of Frost Giants struggling in lava beneath it. The Frost Giants scrambled to extend their hands, in a pitiful state, their flesh about to be melted by the blazing magma, revealing stark white bones.


    Nur stopped appropriately, his tone immensely oppressive. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Do you...see clearly?"


    The Frost Giants fell silent at once.


    If not for seeing this brutal magic effect firsthand, they would never have guessed that Chieftain Kasa''s army could be cornered and fall to such a fate.


    "We are the Everfrost Tribe''s last line of defense, everyone."


    "Evacuate all the women and children, this is our fight."


    "Elder, I..."


    A young Frost Giant wanted to speak but was silenced by Nur''s cold gaze.


    The young Frost Giants'' expressions were repressed, filled with countless questions they could not voice, only obediently following orders, darting about the glacier.


    Only Kasa''s young son, Keman Everfrost, was brought over under Nur''s command.


    This Frost Giant was just 30 years old, still in his youthful stage, barely four meters tall, a mere child before Nur.


    But Keman was not innocent, his eyes were already filled with hatred, the Frost Giant''s usual sentiment towards the loss of loved ones.


    "I will kill that Dragon to avenge my father. Elder Nur, let me join this battle! I am Kasa''s son, I am not afraid of death!"


    Nur caressed his head, speaking softly:


    "I, too, am near death..."


    "But you are different. You bear the blood of the Chosen One, you are our last hope."


    "Child, escape, go South, go to the Ancytica Mountains, continue our tribe, let the name Everfrost...strike fear again in the future."


    The aged Frost Giant sacrificer''s hands trembled as he placed a transformation ring, glowing with Aurora, onto Keman''s finger.

 Chapter 115 Battle of Glaciers Demise (II)

    Sunlight pierced through the clouds, the cold wind whimpering.


    The glacier, covered in frost and snow, shimmered with a piercing light. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was the Vaar Glacier, known as the "Icebound Forbidden Land" to the world, the area where the Frost Giants had survived for millennia, guarding it generation after generation for the Everfrost Tribe.


    The Frost Giants built crude fortresses on the Vaar Glacier, carving out the icy mountains.


    They were cruel, destructive plunderers who tamed the massive Dragon Tundras, Hundred-legged Beasts, and Frost Bugs. In the peak moments of the Everfrost Tribe thousands of years ago, they even tamed a White Dragon, using these genuine evil dragons to guard their fortifications.


    But today, the Everfrost Tribe was about to face its most terrifying disaster.


    All the young warriors of the tribe picked up their weapons, standing ready.


    Some Frost Giant warriors even trembled with nervousness, the expectations of countless ancestors weighing on their shoulders. This would be the battle of life and death to decide the survival of their tribe. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    "It will succeed."


    "Chieftain Kasa has already fought it; that Red Dragon couldn''t possibly be unharmed."


    "That Red Dragon must be severely injured."


    "We have nearly a hundred Frost Giant warriors here!"


    The young Frost Giants encouraged each other. Having seen that magic image, they understood the peril of this battle but still hoped for a miracle to occur.


    Nur stood at the highest point of the glacier, his eyes slightly squinted, a tranquil expression on his face, feeling the rush of the wind, almost as if he were about to fall into a deep sleep.


    Suddenly, the Frost Giant Sacrificer opened his eyes, a sharp gleam emerging from his cloudy blue pupils.


    "The time has come."


    "He... is coming."


    Nearby, the young and robust Frost Giant warrior, who was serving him, quickly swung a bone rod, beating the war drum, shouting loudly:


    "Warriors of the Everfrost Tribe! Be ready!"


    "The giant dragon is coming, and we must slay it!"


    Hearing his words, with the thumping of drums, the Frost Giant warriors collectively looked towards the sky, praying to spot the Red Dragon''s trail in advance.


    However, they did not know that Cassius never traveled in such inefficient ways.


    ¡ª He preferred spells.


    "Look quickly!"


    "What is that?"


    The alarmed cries of the Frost Giants rang out.


    Waves of ripples emerged in the space before the glacier, gradually distorting, deforming, and folding. The flame portal, incongruous with the surrounding cold air, slowly opened on the vast glacier, causing white mist to rise in swathes nearby.


    First, a hideous head poked out, followed by a strong body, and finally, a long tail tip.


    The Red Dragon had finally descended upon the Vaar Glacier.


    "The coordinates you provided were very accurate."


    Cassius surveyed the assembled Frost Giants around him, armed with a variety of weapons, finally locking his gaze on the elderly Frost Giant Sacrificer.


    Nur spoke in a hoarse voice:


    "You have finally come, destined scourge."


    "Oh?"


    "Old Frost Giant, you know me?"


    A gleam of interest shone in the golden pupils of the Red Dragon.


    Nur tried to keep his tone calm, speaking in a low voice: "Of course I know you; this is the trial given to us by Soleim, the great Father of the Frost Giants."


    He looked towards the Red Dragon, a determined gleam in his eyes.


    "This is also an indispensable part of restoring the glory of the Frost Giants and reviving the splendor of the Everfrost Tribe."


    Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope rekindled in the eyes of the Frost Giant warriors. As guardians of the Holy Land, most were devout followers of Soleim. Their gaze towards the Red Dragon was filled with hatred and battle spirit. Upon hearing the Red Dragon referred to as a "Deity''s trial," they felt even more invigorated.


    Cassius''s gaze abruptly turned cold.


    "Did your so-called deity tell you¡ª"


    "That the Everfrost Tribe is about to be annihilated?"


    The Red Dragon spread his wings, soaring nearly a hundred meters high.


    Koh, the leader of the Frost Giant warriors, also raised his weapon, shouting loudly: "Fight! This reptile won''t scare the warriors of Everfrost!"


    "Lord Soleim is watching us. The survival of the Everfrost Tribe throughout millennia comes down to this moment!"


    The long horn sounded.


    The Frost Giants constantly hurled spears, stones, and even ice cones at the Red Dragon in the sky.


    Elite archers also drew their nearly five-meter-long beast bone giant bows, shooting giant arrows as thick as a bowl, aiming straight for the Red Dragon''s heart.


    For millennia, the Frost Giants living on the Vaar Glacier had hunted countless White Dragons in this manner. However, these attacks had no effect on Cassius. Layers of shields, glowing with spell radiance, easily deflected the attacks.


    Cassius looked down at them condescendingly, mocking ruthlessly.


    "Is this your resistance?"


    "Such a joke¡ª"


    The Red Dragon spewed out a torrent of flames from his mouth. Wherever his breath reached, it turned into purgatory. Ice and snow rapidly melted under the high temperature, and rolling white fog enveloped the glacier.


    Frost Giant hunters blew bone whistles.


    A sharp sound arose.


    The glacier rumbled, shaking off fragments of ice shards.


    A massive beast, resembling a centipede, burst out from beneath the ice and snow amidst the steaming fog, its body covered in frost, while purgatory flame surged within. Wing-like fins spread out behind its head, and serrated fangs wiggled along its giant maw.


    Cassius glanced at it, his expression unchanged.


    "Hundred-legged Beast..."


    It was the Hundred-legged Beast, one of the most terrifying hunters in the polar regions. Their bodies housed magic organs generating heat like a furnace to withstand the cold, possessing dual resistance to both ice and fire.


    Frost Giant hunters searched for their eggs in the frigid wastelands, taming them from larvae to adult, using them to guard their icy fortresses.


    And now, they were finally put to use.


    The ground shook violently, like an earthquake. Several huge cracks appeared on the ice surface. As many as eleven Hundred-legged Beasts broke through the ice, attacking the Red Dragon, rising like giant pillars in a spectacular scene.


    "So, this is your last resort?"


    "Just a dozen bugs?"


    Cassius''s tone was indifferent as he suddenly flapped his wings.


    The air crackled continuously with a fierce sound as blinding lightning surrounded him, striking the reckless Hundred-legged Beasts charging at him. That was the Remnant of the Storm!


    The Red Dragon swung his sharp claws. Instantly, a flashing claw-shaped force field appeared midair not far away, slicing several Hundred-legged Beasts in half with a single strike.


    In an instant, most of the Hundred-legged Beasts, which the Frost Giants had painstakingly nurtured with immense resources, were decimated. The remaining ones, too, hurriedly tunneled back into the glacier, not daring to show themselves recklessly again.


    The Frost Giants continued their assault, but Cassius''s speed was just too fast. Flying in the air, most stones, spears, and even arrows missed their mark. Even those that did hit couldn''t penetrate the layers of defense.


    This remained a highly unequal battle. They were helpless on the ground, while the Red Dragon could breathe fire, scorching the Frost Giants, making them wail in agony.

 Chapter 116 Battle of Glaciers Demise (III)

    "Elder Nur, what should we do?"


    "Soleim, why would Lord Soleim impose such a trial on us?"


    Seeing the Frost Giant warriors helpless against the Red Dragon, Koh''s expression was anxious as he sought advice from the sheltered Elder Nur.


    "Do not worry, you all hold him off."


    The elderly Frost Giant sacrificer gritted his teeth, his voice trembling, as if making a firm decision.


    "I will make him experience the power of Raging Winter¡ª"


    "Even if it costs my life!"


    At this moment, he seemed not like a 300-year-old Frost Giant elder nearing the end of his life, but like a middle-aged sacrificer from centuries ago, ambitious and hopeful to lead his tribe to revival.


    He muttered words under his breath, as if in prayer.


    "O exalted Father of the Frost Giants Soleim..."


    "I will unleash Your boundless power and bring Raging Winter upon the enemies of our tribe, and this, this is the best sacrifice for Your blood offering."


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    The cold wind howled as if cheering for him.


    The old Frost Giant decisively crushed the ice crystal in his hand.


    He closed his eyes tightly. The runes covering his skin flickered continuously, and the wooden staff in his hand swiftly grew white ice crystals. A bone-chilling power radiated from him to the surroundings.


    In the sky, Cassius also felt this familiar ripple and looked toward its source.


    "Eternal Frost Power?"


    "So that ''Winter War Axe'' wasn''t the only one, the rest... are waiting for me here."


    Cassius immediately swung his wings and changed direction, diving directly toward the old sacrificer preparing his spell.


    [Agile as a Dragon] [Aerial Maneuver Technique] instantly enhanced him.


    This gave the Red Dragon a terrifying boost in speed, making his figure almost invisible, appearing as a red blur to the Frost Giants.


    Koh hastily and anxiously shouted.


    "Stop him! At all costs!"


    The Frost Giant warriors leaped from the ice cliff, charging straight at the speeding Red Dragon, clearly ready to lay down their lives.


    However, they couldn''t halt him in the slightest; the enormous body of the Red Dragon, already at high speed, collided without hesitation, carrying terrifying kinetic energy. The nearly eight-meter-tall body of the Frost Giant was flung away, blood splattering and turning into a shredded mess in the air.


    An impassioned Frost Giant hunter threw a beast-capturing net meant for catching giant beasts, but it was ripped apart by the Scratch Technique. With three claw marks appearing in the air, the net didn''t even have a chance to touch the Red Dragon.


    Several more Frost Giant warriors perished in succession.


    Finally, Koh himself took the front line, raising his shield to block, banging it with a bone rod, letting out a powerful roar.


    "Red Dragon! You can kill me, but you''ll never destroy the Everfrost Tribe!"


    "Lord Soleim is watching me!"


    The scorching flame instantly penetrated the shield and effortlessly killed Koh behind it.


    "So... this is faith?"


    "These Frost Giants must not be left alive, not a single one of them."


    Watching these Frost Giant warriors rushing to their deaths, Cassius''s scaly brows knit together as he thought secretly.


    However, their deaths were not in vain.


    The elderly Frost Giant sacrificer finally opened his eyes, his murky blue pupils emitting a heart-stopping cold light.


    A white domain enveloped the Frost Giants, giving Cassius a peculiar sense of sluggishness.


    ¡ªThe extreme cold meant stillness, not only putting life into eternal sleep but even bringing time and space to a standstill. Due to the eruption of this Eternal Frost Power, even time itself tended toward stagnation!


    Slowly, he raised the ice-crusted staff.


    "Soleim''s Domain of Frost Blades!"


    Blade-like ice crystals filled the surroundings, each one exuding a freezing aura, expanding rapidly from him, soon filling the space within several meters and causing everything within hundreds of meters to move incredibly slow.


    Nur trembled all over, intending to freeze both himself and the Red Dragon!


    However, he overlooked one thing¡ªthis Red Dragon was a magician.


    The protective magic covering Cassius''s body couldn''t fully resist the time-freezing ice blades, but it could temporarily fend off the pervasive cold, giving him enough time to cast an instantaneous spell.


    "This is the correct use of Eternal Frost Power¡ª"


    "Resisting head-on won''t work, but avoiding the sharp edge is possible, thanks to Dragon''s Spells."


    [Egg of Sanctuary]


    An egg-shaped magical field immediately enveloped the Red Dragon.


    He struggled to break through the frosty space, teleporting himself into a temporary other-dimensional space created by the Egg of Sanctuary.


    "No¡ª"


    Nur tried to wave his staff to stop it, but he too was in the extremely cold domain, unable to move, only able to watch the Red Dragon disappear.


    His thoughts also became increasingly sluggish.


    "It''s over..."


    "Truly... the extinction of the tribe..."


    This was Nur''s last thought.


    The ice crystals in his hand continued to spread, rapidly filling the entire space, turning it into a world of complete ice. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As time passed, the elderly Frost Giant sacrificer was sealed in a huge ice crystal, his face frozen in despair and regret, poised to wave his staff as if he would come to life in the next second, but motionless, as if paused.


    Affected by the cold, the Frost Giants finally began to move slowly again. They were in chaos, their eyes filled with panic as they looked at the old sacrificer.


    "What in Soleim''s name happened?"


    "Elder Nur is dead!"


    "Damn it, where did that Red Dragon go?"


    "Not good, he... he seems to be coming back."


    As spatial ripples emerged, a portal appeared in the void, and the Red Dragon''s head emerged once more.


    "This Egg of Sanctuary truly lives up to its name, the other-dimensional space feels just like a dragon egg, so cramped it''s suffocating."


    "But this spell is terrifying, almost sealed off space itself. Even after stopping the spell, the nearby space is still so hard to break, like it''s frozen."


    Cassius, his heart skimming with relief, looked solemnly at the old sacrificer trapped in the ice crystal.


    "Soleim''s followers....."


    "No Frost Giant here shall remain, not one."


    He thought again.


    The ones left to guard the Holy Land were mostly loyal followers of Soleim, the targets Cassius needed to eliminate completely. Yes, he would bring these giants total destruction, not leaving a single one alive.


    The Red Dragon flapped his wings, rising high into the sky, his fierce gaze fixated on the remaining Frost Giants below.


    He hovered in the air, looking down at the surviving Frost Giants with a sinister grin on his face.


    "It''s been so long, I haven''t used this spell yet... you should feel honored, as my first batch of experimenters."


    "Then..."


    "Storm of Vengeance!"


    A stirring surge of spell energy rose, and the Eye of the Storm King on the Red Dragon''s chest suddenly gleamed brightly.

 Chapter 117 Battle of Glaciers Demise (IV)

    The Frost Giants had not given up yet. Apart from his own divine power, Nur had one last trick up his sleeve, a technique meant for taking down all enemies alongside them¡ªSoleim''s Incarnation of Winter.


    Those Frost Giants, faces full of despair, showed a glimmer of resolve in their eyes.


    "Our enemies can kill our bodies, but they cannot kill winter..."


    "My father Soleim will bring eternal slumber to our enemies on the glacier stained with the blue blood of Frost Giants."


    More than thirty Frost Giant warriors, adorned with Everfrost Runes, broke off some ice cones from the glacier and, without hesitation, stabbed them into their chests. They chanted an ancient and lengthy hymn, or rather, a curse¡ªharboring the deepest hatred for the enemies who destroyed their tribe.


    As the dark blue blood seeped through cracks into the ground, the glacier, bathed in brilliance, rumbled and quaked violently once again.


    "Everfrost''s foe¡ª"


    A roar echoed through the clouds.


    A thirty-plus-meter-tall giant composed of blade-like ice crystals rose from the glacier, standing imposingly on the vast icy expanse. Its features bore a faint resemblance to Kasa, who had fallen under the Red Dragon, but the smooth facets of the ice reflected the varied expressions of the Frost Giant warriors.


    The giant held an Ice Crystal Double-Bladed Axe, its face filled with the rage of winter, embodying the last will of the Everfrost Tribe.


    Facing the charging Ice Crystal Giant, Cassius merely fluttered his wings in the air and continued casting his spell.


    "Faith... is truly a terrifying thing."


    "It can turn a group of dying Frost Giants into this monstrosity."


    "But... I wonder if you can withstand my spell?"


    As Cassius spoke these words, the clear, cloudless sky suddenly resounded with thunder, shaking the entire Vaar Glacier.


    As the Eye of the Storm King on his chest gleamed with dazzling light, an unimaginable spell fluctuation arose. The Magic Web surged like a turbulent ocean, waves crashing violently. Countless complex magic structures embedded themselves together, interlocking and influencing each other, ultimately forming this intricate Ninth Tier Spell¡ªthe **Storm of Vengeance**.


    Yet Cassius''s greed did not end there.


    He not only wanted to kill the Ice Crystal Giant before him but also to obliterate all traces of the Frost Giants'' existence in this icy field, erasing their civilization entirely.


    Thus, the Red Dragon Sorcerer drew upon a wilder and more chaotic sorcery power. The ferocious tide of magic gushed without restraint, amplifying the spell''s range and power twofold. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    **Metamagic: Distant Spell**


    **Metamagic: Enhanced Spell**


    Once this process began, it was like opening Pandora''s box, never to be closed again. Cassius could no longer control the spell''s progression, allowing it to pour forth uncontrollably, barely able to protect himself amidst it, remembering¡ªthis was a Ninth Tier Spell!


    The present Storm of Vengeance was potent enough to destroy a nation, a spell of nation-destroying magnitude!


    Cassius watched the distant Ice Crystal Giant, grinning menacingly.


    "To force me to use this power indeed befits your standing."


    "Frost Giants, let me see if your final strength can withstand my scourge!"


    Overhead, a swirling storm of thundering clouds began to form, centered on the Red Dragon and spreading over several kilometers around.


    The dark clouds billowed turbulently, filled with flashes of lightning and howling winds. Only Cassius at the center stood like a lonely island amidst the storm, barely maintaining stability in the wild surge of magic.


    The terrifying storm clouds spread and proliferated almost madly, like a monstrous, devouring beast about to swallow everything on the glacier.


    Blocking out the sunlight, it turned the polar summer into a nightfall-like darkness.


    "Everfrost''s foe, I will kill you!"


    "I will flay your skin and crush your flesh!"


    The giant roared up to the heavens. It lacked much reason, driven by the instinct of revenge alone, a product of the last hatred of these Frost Giants combined with a shred of Soleim''s divinity. If the ancient giant deity were at the peak of his power, with hundreds of devoted Frost Giants sacrificing together under his gaze, it possibly could have been called a God Scourge.


    But now, it was only fit to be called a monster.


    In Anzeta, a region with sparse magical energy, under the sacrifices of dozens of Frost Giants and the influence of a barely perceptible sliver of divine power, this "Soleim''s Incarnation of Winter" had barely reached the legendary level of life.


    The thirty-plus-meter tall Ice Crystal Giant swung its great axe, its enormous footsteps shaking the ground as it charged towards the Red Dragon with clear intent.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Under the covering clouds, thundering roars echoed like war drums through the sky.


    The powerful thunderwave, potent enough to kill a mortal with its sheer force, repeatedly struck the Ice Crystal Giant''s body, causing countless cracks to appear and tiny ice shards to crumble off its solid form.


    "Futile struggle!" Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    The giant roared again, though its voice had grown slightly weaker.


    Next, a rain of strong acid fell from the storm clouds. The eerie green magical acid drops pitted the giant''s icy body like ravenous insects, boring deep holes into its smooth surface and sending up plumes of steam and mist.


    "Despair! You are insignificant before the Raging Winter!"


    The giant''s voice weakened further, but its stance did not falter as it raised its double-bladed axe high, nearly touching the stormy clouds, ready to strike down in fury.


    "Crack¡ª!"


    Thunder roared first.


    In the next moment, six raging bolts of lightning, each as thick as a bowl, converged like divine retribution, striking the giant''s axe head-on.


    The blinding light illuminated the area for hundreds of meters around the giant, its entire icy form reflecting the thunder''s glow.


    The Ice Crystal Double-Bladed Axe was vaporized by the lightning, taking the giant''s right arm with it. The massive, ten-plus-meter-long arm crashed to the ground, shattering into ice chunks with a tremendous noise.


    "No¡ªyou can''t kill me!"


    "I am the Incarnation of Winter!"


    The giant roared once more, but its voice had grown even weaker.


    Unyielding still, despite losing its right arm and half of its shoulder, it picked up an ice cone from the ground with its left arm and charged the Red Dragon with it as a weapon.


    Hail poured down from the storm clouds, pelting the giant continuously. Though these similar attacks caused it little harm, they riddled its body with numerous pits, transforming what had been a nearly flawless Ice Crystal Giant into something more twisted.

 Chapter 118 Battle of Glaciers Demise (5)

    The giant continued to charge forward. Even with a broken arm, he still used his remaining hand to snap off an ice cone as a weapon, attacking the red dragon relentlessly.


    Cassius just flapped his wings, hovering in place.


    "What a peculiar thing..."


    "I wonder how long it can last?"


    He didn''t think about leaving the center of the storm. On one hand, the storm of vengeance was no longer within his control, even entering it himself would be incredibly dangerous.


    On the other, he had immense confidence in the power of this masterpiece he had crafted with his own hands. He didn''t believe the giant could stand before him alive.


    The storm of vengeance had already surged for more than ten rounds. The fierce winds and icy rain ravaged the area beneath the thunderclouds.


    The giant''s figure grew more slender, several sizes smaller than at the start, as if stripped layer by layer, revealing its fragile structure within.


    Its movements became increasingly sluggish, struggling within the storm, yet it remained undaunted, charging toward Cassius.


    "Everfrost...foe!"


    "I will never...spare you..."


    The voice, like a boat tossing in a stormy sea, grew weaker, yet it remained steadfast, a testament to the unyielding will of the Everfrost Holy Land''s guardians before their death.


    However, with the surge of spells, the storm of vengeance did not cease. Instead, it grew increasingly violent. White, blue, and purple lightning continuously tore through the black sky, their immense strength descending upon the ice field, ruthlessly destroying everything on the ground.


    Black mist churned, thunderclouds billowed, and from the dense darkness shone an irresistible radiance, illuminating the snow and ice. It was the most terrifying thunder.


    But the giant on the ground seemed oblivious, now only a few hundred meters from the red dragon, brandishing a sharp ice cone as it charged.


    "Boom!"


    Thunder rumbled again, earth-shattering.


    Dozens of blinding flashes of lightning struck simultaneously, forming a giant claw in the sky that tore through the dark clouds. This furious power gathered and finally struck the unsuspecting ice crystal giant''s head.


    "No¡ª"


    Blinding endless lightning enveloped the massive body, illuminating the surroundings like daylight, with white smoke rising in billows.


    Across the vast Vaar Glacier, nearly all living beings could hear the piercing wail and the crackling of lightning.


    When the lightning subsided and the white smoke dissipated, the ice crystal giant was seen shattered, nearly at the end of this strange form of life.


    Its head was half gone, looking grotesque.


    Its massive left arm was broken, fallen to the ground.


    Its hip was also half split, its right leg missing from the hip down, and its left calf was split in two, with only the left thigh still movable.


    Maintaining this form had already exhausted all its strength. The ice crystal giant''s entire body was covered in cracks, as if it could shatter at any moment, turning into scattered ice pieces.


    Yet that half mouth still twitched slightly.


    "Everfrost... foe..."


    The barely human-like ice crystal giant, using its only left thigh to scrape the ground, its torso writhing, presented a grotesque posture on the ground, like a crawling worm. Though exceedingly slow, it did indeed move toward the red dragon.


    The red dragon watched silently, observing the giant crawling closer.


    Each meter forward ground its body further against the ground, leaving behind fragments of ice.


    As it crawled, its path was strewn with ice shards.


    The giant on the ground barely touched the red dragon''s claw with its left shoulder, laboriously lifting its head, its half mouth twitching slightly.


    "Caught...you..."


    "Ever...frost''s..."


    Before it could finish saying "foe," a cracking sound interrupted. The ice crystal giant could no longer hold together its cracked form, shattering completely. This body, even though heavily damaged, nearly twenty meters long, turned into a small ice mountain, standing silently on the ice surface of Vaar Glacier.


    Cassius casually picked up an ice crystal, holding it in his claws, feeling the instinctively loathed coldness.


    "A magical creature driven purely by hatred, devoid of wisdom, yet it could reach a legendary level of life."


    "Such a strange thing, let''s have Ramp study it thoroughly when we get back."


    "Maybe this thing... could become a sharp axe in my hands."


    Cassius glanced around, quietly admiring the scourge he had created.


    Though the ice crystal giant was dead, the terrifying storm of vengeance continued unabated. With the surge of spells, it would keep expanding until the natural laws balanced it, quelling this destructive force.


    Endless gales and icy rain scoured everything under the thunderclouds, countless lightning bolts crashed down, shattering ice mountains one after another.


    The frost giants'' snow fortresses were split by lightning, collapsing with a roar, their thousand-year-old holy land buried under shattered ice. The records and deeds of former giants would sink into the earth, forever frozen in hundred-meter-deep ice.


    The frost giants'' hunting grounds were eroded by acid rain, becoming unrecognizable; their coarse horns, bone spears, and shields turned into the land''s nutrients.


    Even the ice valleys, where the frost giants depended on for survival, were buried under collapsing glaciers with each thunderous roar, all traces of the frost giants'' lives ¡ª crafted fur, leftover bones, and even children''s ice sculptures ¡ª would be sealed in ice, known to none.


    The Everfrost Tribe, lingering since ancient wars nearly ten thousand years ago, growing weaker over time, was finally destroyed by a red dragon.


    Kobal Everfrost''s tribe rose because they killed a red dragon, and ended because they provoked one, a small divine joke spanning millennia. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The scourge of frost is over..."


    "Because I brought disaster to the ''scourge of frost.''"


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    Cassius glanced around, finding humor in the devastation, thinking it almost a paradox.


    He slightly raised his head as new information refreshed on his panel.


    [You have slain the Incarnation of Winter from Soleim (Challenge Level: 20)], gaining 25000xp]


    [You have annihilated the racial faction, the Everfrost Tribe]


    [Special achievement obtained, Destroyer of Frost Giants]


    Achievement, Destroyer of Frost Giants


    "Frost giants are the easiest things to kill. Without the annoying spells of storm giants or cloud giants, you can easily slaughter them in close combat, even a trashy white dragon. The only downside is their meat tastes like ice chunks, fresh out of a frozen cave, truly unpalatable. ¡ª Ancient Red Dragon, Kabalia Halls"


    Acquired trait: Frost Giant Slayer


    Strength +2


    Proficiencies: Intimidation +3


    As the destroyer of the frost giant tribe, your renown is enough to make them tremble, and your damage to the race, frost giants, becomes more significant, with an inherent intimidation effect.


    Meanwhile, your experience destroying Everfrost has made you stronger, your confidence altering reality, granting you some resistance to cold.

 Chapter 119 Battle of Glaciers Demise (End)

    "Blessed Amanata..." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s simply... a Scourge."


    In the Ashen Kingdom''s temporary camp, Count Trischka was dumbfounded.


    "The Everfrost Tribe was just... annihilated. From now on, there will be no more Frost Calamity."


    Trischka couldn''t help but mutter to himself.


    He gazed at the distant half of Vaar Glacier covered by sun-blocking clouds, listening to the roaring thunder. Even his voice, usually steady, trembled.


    "Boom!"


    Another thunderclap resounded. Though nearly thirty kilometers away, people could still feel the terror of the Storm of Vengeance. The powerful spell''s fluctuations even brushed against their faces.


    Old scholar Morr took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his brow, murmuring quietly:


    "This, this is also a good thing."


    "We originally thought this Frost Calamity would kill or injure countless people again, but now the Dragon Lord of the Ashen Kingdom has solved even its root cause."


    Yelena also wiped her pale face, reluctantly agreeing:


    "Yes, the Frost Calamity is resolved. With the help of that Red Dragon, our Boske Duchy didn''t even need to expend manpower or resources. Truly a win-win."


    But Trischka continued to gaze at the sky in silence, a gloomy shadow crossing his face. After a long pause, he spoke slowly.


    "Ninth Tier Spell."


    "At least a Ninth Tier Spell, possibly higher."


    He turned to look at Morr, his expression extremely grave, and asked in a deep voice: "Morr, do you understand what this means?"


    "No, I don''t."


    Morr''s forehead started to sweat again.


    Trischka''s tone grew even heavier, and his voice quickened slightly: Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    "It means that Red Dragon could easily destroy our cities, even our entire nation. Remember, that''s a Ninth Tier Spell!"


    "I once personally witnessed a legendary court mage of the Fadlan Kingdom cast a Ninth Tier Spell. Meteors fell from the sky, and within mere breaths, the rebellion of tens of thousands was quelled. The unknown spell cast by this Red Dragon is even more terrifying."


    By the end, his voice trembled.


    Trischka sighed lightly, lowering his eyes, but the image of the storm just moments ago remained vivid, lingering in his mind.


    Duke Leo had originally sent him to investigate, negotiate the various powers, and secure the greatest interests for the Boske Duchy in this war.


    In the best-case scenario, the Ashen Kingdom and the Everfrost Tribe would become embroiled in a bitter struggle, reaching a stalemate. Then the Boske Duchy could, under the guise of "ally," weaken the Ashen Kingdom and seize the opportunity to eradicate both powerful factions, maintaining order in the North to the greatest extent.


    At worst, they could significantly damage the Ashen Kingdom, preventing it from venturing south.


    But both he and Duke Leo gravely underestimated the Red Dragon''s power.


    They never imagined that this Red Dragon would end the battle within days, eradicating the Everfrost Tribe¡ªthe Frost Calamity that plagued the Northern Kingdom for nearly a millennium¡ªand even pursuing them to their ancestral home in Vaar Glacier, exterminating the Frost Giants.


    "We''ve lost the initiative. The Ashen Kingdom has become an unmanageable behemoth. We must report this news to His Grace immediately. Our Boske Duchy can''t afford to lose."


    "Unless external forces intervene, we''ll have to wait for the North to be devoured by the Red Dragon."


    Trischka thought to himself.


    His throat turned sour, wanting to speak but finding himself unable.


    "Military advisors, the war is over. Do any of you have insights to share?"


    A stranger''s voice interrupted Trischka''s thoughts.


    Everyone turned their heads to find the tiefling commander of the Ashen Kingdom¡ªMezulash.


    This Oathbreaker Paladin was a key concern within the Boske Duchy and highly dangerous. He was widely known for his Control Undead ability and was labeled the "Hand of the Wicked Spirit" by Northerners, reputedly sacrificing hundreds of living people daily to turn them into undead.


    However, Trischka was skeptical of such exaggerated rumors. At least, the "Hand of the Wicked Spirit" appeared courteous and refined, far from the hateful villain the stories painted, although his pure black eyes did chill anyone who met his gaze.


    Trischka bowed slightly, responding politely:


    "His Majesty Cassius is awe-inspiring. A total, crushing victory. What more can we, insignificant figures, say?"


    "My meager words can only offer congratulations to the Ashen Kingdom for its complete victory. The Frost Calamity, which threatened the North for nearly a millennium, is resolved. The entire Anzeta will celebrate, and I, on behalf of His Grace, extend our highest respect."


    Mezulash smiled and shook his head, saying:


    "You should know what my master wants to hear isn''t this."


    Trischka''s expression froze. A futile smile flashed across his face.


    "I will report the situation here truthfully to His Grace. From now on, we should cease all covert actions against the Ashen Kingdom and accept your reparation treaties, only hoping you maintain basic peace..."


    Listening to Trischka''s plea, Mezulash nodded in satisfaction.


    Finally, he spoke again, his face showing a devilish smile.


    "My respected master thinks similarly. He hopes we can reach a consensus and does not wish to engage in meaningless conflicts."


    "I hope you understand. The Ashen Kingdom does not recklessly plunder or neglect production. For now, at least until we''ve integrated the remnants of the Rackman Duchy and the Principality of Norton, we have no intention of initiating a full-scale war."


    The tiefling''s tone paused, a threatening meaning glimmering in his black eyes.


    "Of course, if any country wants to try, we wouldn''t mind becoming a bit greedier."


    Trischka exhaled deeply, a forced smile appearing on his pale face, extending his hand.


    "Of course, peace is the consensus of all orderly nations. Our Boske is no exception."


    Two hands, of different colors, clasped together.


    ...


    "The ''Frost Calamity'' paled in comparison to the true Scourge. The Raging Winter, lasting millennia, was of no consequence to Him. That day, the terrible Storm of Vengeance swept across all of Vaar Glacier, eradicating the Frost Giants'' civilization that had endured for thousands of years. The surviving Frost Giants became slaves of the Empire."


    "He once again demonstrated Scourge-like prowess to all of Anzeta. With the effortless destruction of the Everfrost Tribe, the ''Frost Calamity'' was no more, replaced by the more terrifying ''Dragon Scourge.'' The entire North shuddered under His wings."


    "Some scholars believe that the ''Battle of Raging Winter''s Fall'' objectively eliminated the millennia-old Frost Calamity troubling the North. While there is some positive significance to this, I maintain that occasional good deeds by the wicked should not earn them the title of hero, as it disrespects countless justice-minded individuals who sacrificed heroically.


    "Though the ''Frost Calamity'' brought great disaster to the Northern People, the evil dragon''s rule shattered the sacred order of the North and ruthlessly destroyed Anzeta''s justice, inflicting a deeper, broader catastrophe."


    ¡ªThe **Chronicles of Anzeta: Battle of Raging Winter''s Fall** by Duke Luton

 Chapter 120 Clearing the Battlefield

    As the war ended and the Frost Giant tribe was annihilated, the Ashen Kingdom''s army swiftly cleaned up the battlefield littered with debris, casually scavenging for loot and transporting the Frost Giant slaves back to Northwind Castle.


    The players, on the other hand, recklessly rummaged through the smoky battlefield, having a great time looting bodies.


    "Wow, great stuff! The Frost Giant''s eyeball is mine!"


    "Can this finger be used to make Giant Elixir..."


    "Such a big bone rod, how much soup can we make from this..."


    "Do you guys think that the Giant''s... could be some kind of super tonic? We should cut off a couple to take back. Hey, maybe they''ll be useful in a future update. Damn, this thing is heavy. Come help me carry it.


    My strength attribute is too low; I can''t lift it."


    "You''re disgusting; keep that thing away from me!"


    "Come on, use your head. When the game opens up, there''ll be perverts aplenty wanting this. It''ll sell out for sure, and even make an excellent exhibit!"


    The players, like a flock of vultures, plundered the broken battlefield without hesitation, even terrifying the ogres known for their cannibalistic habits.


    An ogre known as "Bighead" watched the ravenous players, sneering.


    "Hmph, a bunch of barbarians."


    "We civilized ogres clean these things up properly when we eat our elders at home. They don''t even bother."


    Bighead tore off a piece of meat from the Frost Giant''s arm, looked around to ensure no one was watching, and then stuffed the meat into his mouth, chewing with great satisfaction.


    "Bighead, you''re eating humanoid meats again!"


    A familiar voice rang in Bighead''s ears.


    He was so scared that he dropped the meat from his mouth, trembling as he looked around, but he couldn''t find Ramp''s towering figure.


    As he breathed a sigh of relief, a magic field shaped like a wooden stick appeared above his head.


    "Ouch!"


    "The boss is getting more unpredictable." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bighead, in pain, threw the meat he had just picked up and rubbed the bump on his head, feeling aggrieved.


    In the central tent on the battlefield, Ramp felt the spell being triggered, and a contented smile spread across his face.


    "Hmph, that''s the fate of those who don''t follow orders."


    This was Ramp''s self-created Second Tier Spell "Ramp''s Ogre Discipline Magic." It detected when an ogre violated the set rules, alerted Ramp, and automatically created a magic wooden stick to knock the disobedient ogre unconscious.


    Ramp was quite proud of this. He firmly believed that he would eventually cultivate the ogres into a wise and civilized race. At that time, ogres would become the symbol of wisdom and strength on this continent, second only to red dragons as the most perfect race.


    "Ouch!"


    Bighead''s wail rang out once more.


    Ramp''s face darkened, his arm trembling slightly.


    "Ouch! Why is it happening again!"


    The familiar voice echoed again.


    Ramp''s face was shrouded in a thick layer of gloom, his ugly face dark as dripping water.


    The ogre mage picked up the club from the ground, veins bulging on his arms, and stormed out of the tent.


    "Bighead! Do you have a death wish!"


    ...


    Mantou and Singo landed on the ground, leading their wyvern as they scavenged for loot. They grabbed some Frost Giant eyeballs and fingers as materials, but they had no interest in the gigantic, crude weapons and armor.


    Mantou complained: "I feel like we haven''t even gotten started, and these Frost Giants are already down. We''ve just been watching the main boss''s battle CG."


    Singo asked: "So how many Frost Giants did you kill?"


    Mantou awkwardly touched his nose: "Didn''t I successfully restrain one?"


    "Noob."


    Singo harshly assessed before continuing: "The officials really didn''t balance this right. The main storyline''s challenge was set too high, so players didn''t get much of a chance to participate. Only high-level professional players like me managed to kill one or two Frost Giants for some insignificant achievements."


    Mantou, already used to this blatant showboating, ignored the topic and asked, "What should we do next? With just a few days left in the late beta period, my experience has overflowed a lot. Just waiting for the server to open and unlock the level cap so I can level up like crazy."


    Singo was about to answer when someone patted him on the shoulder from behind.


    "Singo!"


    He turned around to see a shiny bald head¡ªit was Natural War Maniac.


    The seasoned barbarian player was covered in Frost Giant blood, with a string of Frost Giant fingers hanging around his neck, smiling broadly.


    "Guys, I just had an awesome fight. I cast Enlarge Spell and Acceleration Spell and charged right in, jumped on the Frost Giant from behind, and put it in a chokehold¡ª"


    His excitement growing, Natural War Maniac enthusiastically struck a pose.


    "With a crack, I choked the Frost Giant to death. It was a thrilling battle!"


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    "And there was this one Frost Giant trying to ambush me from behind, but I turned and slashed it..."


    Mantou listened to Natural War Maniac''s excited recount, thinking about being pelted and chased by the Frost Giants, and a shameful sweat broke out.


    Indeed, people''s joys and sorrows do not connect.


    "There you all are!"


    A crisp female voice called out¡ªit was Summer Night Autumn Rain.


    Unlike the others, she hadn''t picked up any weird stuff like Frost Giant eyeballs or fingers. Instead, she recorded a few Everfrost Runes to see if they might trigger something later.


    "I had a decent haul this time. Flame spells are very effective against Frost Giants."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain''s body was surrounded by the smell of gunpowder, and red scales faintly surfaced on her face, signs that she had just used a spell with her dragon bloodline. Rumor had it she had joined a flame spellcaster player group called the "Five Fireball Cult," whose members were all fanatical fireball technique enthusiasts, ready to go crazy hurling fireballs once the server opened.


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head in annoyance: "Autumn Rain''s fighting style is getting more violent. While I''m grappling with the Frost Giant, she nearly roasted me with her flame spell."


    Summer Night Autumn Rain blushed and defended herself: "Well, you didn''t get burned to death, did you?"


    The professional squad, once jokingly called the "Black Slave Team," was gathered together once again.


    Mantou was the first to propose: "Since it''s the end of the beta, and there are only a few days left before the server shuts down, and we''re all here, why don''t we team up and explore the Kalka Mountains to see if we can get lucky and find a divine artifact?"


    Singo rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and agreed: "Sure."


    Natural War Maniac wiped his shiny bald head and grinned: "No problem."

 Chapter 121 Encounter

    Summer Night Autumn Rain, having exhausted all his spell slots in the previous battle, chose to return with the main team for a long rest, leaving only the trio to venture into the depths of the Kalka Mountains.


    This mountainous region, located north of Stormy Ridge, was rarely visited by humans and was filled with countless legendary tales. Stories about giant evil snowmen that sucked out brains, the wailing Polar Night Demon Tower, and the ghostly shadows on the snow were widely spread across the Northern Countries.


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    "Hoo¡ª"


    The cold wind howled past, coating the rocks with white frost and bringing a chill to the valley.


    "Damn, this... this place is freezing."


    Mantou shivered, exhaling white puffs of breath from his nostrils.


    "Serves you right for not preparing in advance."


    Xin Dog took out a blue potion and tossed it casually to Mantou. It was a potion for cold resistance, made from magical herbs that grew underground, quite a rare potion.


    Mantou pulled the cork out and gulped it down. It felt like a furnace had been ignited inside him, warming him up immediately.


    "Feels good."


    "Good job, Xin Dog."


    Mantou, feeling cozy, gave Xin Dog a thumbs-up.


    "This is great stuff!"


    The Heavenly Berserker, being a Barbarian with a robust constitution, wasn''t too bothered by the cold but still drank his prepared potion. Warm steam rose from his body, and two white plumes puffed from his nostrils, making him feel invigorated.


    "Hoo-hoo¡ª"


    Another sharp sound pierced the air.


    "Stay alert, that might not just be the wind. Prepare for combat!"


    Xin Dog noticed something amiss and cautioned everyone sharply.


    The sound wasn''t just the wind whistling through the valley; it carried a mournful, wailing tone, similar to the howling of wolves.


    The cliffs on both sides of the valley flickered with strange, colorful shadows, accompanied by rustling noises.


    Natural War Maniac quickly turned his head, but the place where the noise came from was empty, showing only dark rocks.


    "Looks like we have incoming enemies, trying to be sneaky."


    Xin Dog drew his bow, fired an arrow at the rock, and it exploded upon impact, creating a blaze of fire.


    The creatures hiding behind the rock were startled by the fire and scattered, revealing themselves.


    The standing creatures were about two meters tall, their backs covered in fur and hunched. Their heads resembled those of hyenas, with disheveled yellow teeth and blood-red triangular eyes.


    The blood-red eyes stared intently at the people in the valley, growling deeply from their throats, wishing to tear them apart and devour them.


    These monsters preferred eating intelligent beings alive, letting their prey witness their own consumption, relishing the terrified screams before death. Humans made up a significant part of their diet.


    "Gnolls?"


    Xin Dog immediately recognized these creatures. He had killed many in the mines but felt something was off.


    Gnolls preferred warm and humid environments, often appearing in warm plains or underground areas, rarely in such cold mountains. Moreover, their appearance differed from regular gnolls¡ªtheir skin had red-brown and black fur, with some spots becoming bald, growing sparse white scales.


    All three players instantly thought of the Dragonblood Goblins from the Ashen Kingdom.


    "Interesting, could it be White Dragon Bloodline?"


    "No wonder they can withstand the cold."


    "We should catch a few alive if we can."


    Xin Dog became intrigued, observing the gnolls with growing excitement¡ªthis was a rare special breed, and sending them to the Tower of the Great Sage could fetch a considerable amount of gold and contribution.


    The battle commenced immediately.


    "Awooo¡ª"


    The Dragon Vein Gnolls howled toward the sky, their cries sounding eerily like sobbing.


    These creatures leaped off the cliffs toward the group, snarling and drooling foul-smelling saliva.


    "Go, go, go! War Maniac Bro, Mantou, you hold them off."


    "Damn it, Xin Dog, why don''t you go handle these disgusting things yourself?"


    Despite his complaints, Mantou advanced with his Silver Sword to engage the enemy.


    The Heavenly Berserker, eager for a fight, roared skyward, stomped fiercely to activate his frenzy, and charged at the gnolls with bloodshot eyes.


    "Aaargh¡ª"


    "Battle, yes!"


    The Heavenly Berserker swung his Great Axe horizontally, decapitating a gnoll and making the others retreat in fear.


    Mantou seized the opportunity to rush in, performing actions like tides, his sword movements were incredibly swift, effortlessly slashing open the gnolls'' chests and spilling their organs.


    Xin Dog, even more dramatic, drew his Hunting Longbow and marked the gnolls with a purple Hunter''s Mark.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The arrow pierced through the air, striking one gnoll''s heart and emerging from the other side, its sharp head bloodied. The power of the Hunter''s Mark continued tearing the wound, causing additional damage, ensuring the gnoll''s death.


    "Don''t kill too quickly!"


    "Leave some for capturing alive!"


    After shooting another gnoll dead, Xin Dog reminded the others.


    Against these fourth-level professional gamers, whose true power far surpassed their stats, ordinary gnolls with a touch of White Dragon Bloodline were no match, becoming mere tools for the gamers to farm experience and loot.


    But quantity could make up for the lack of quality.


    Mantou and the Heavenly Berserker fought on the frontlines, but the gnolls around them instead of decreasing, multiplied rapidly, with growing howls echoing from afar.


    "Damn, how many of these dog things are there¡ª"


    "It''s endless, totally endless."


    Standing in the valley, Xin Dog grew serious, glancing around as hundreds of hyena-like ugly heads peered from the cliffs, their numerous blood-red eyes making his scalp tingle.


    "Uh-oh¡ªwe might have stumbled into their lair."


    "What?"


    More and more gnolls swarmed, forming a mottled wave of stench threatening to engulf them.


    Even the largest gnoll took a deep breath and exhaled a chilling breath¡ªa freezing breath, similar to that of a White Dragon!


    Mantou, startled, rolled several times on the ground to barely avoid it. The spot where he had stood was now coated in thick frost. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having earlier underestimated their enemy, Mantou and the Heavenly Berserker launched attacks from opposite sides, placing them far apart, and Xin Dog was further away at the valley''s end with no chance of providing support.


    Mantou glanced at the diverging paths within the valley and, struck with a sudden idea, shouted: "Let''s split up and escape!"


    "Got it!"


    So, with Mantou and the Heavenly Berserker going left and right and Xin Dog moving backward, the three of them raced off in different directions.


    "Awooo¡ª"


    The greedy but not-so-intelligent gnolls hesitated, unsure whom to chase first. They stood there howling for a while before finally splitting into three groups at their leader''s command and pursuing in various directions.

 Chapter 122 Igloo Girl

    The howls of the gnolls behind him continued intermittently, mournful and piercing, causing immense fear.


    Mantou sped up along the deep path in the valley, shaking off the pursuers behind him, and reached an open area, finally escaping, breathless and alive.


    "Huff... huff..."


    "It''s really strange, where did so many gnolls come from, and they''re all mutants."


    Mantou looked up and saw a delicate wooden cabin suddenly appear on the mountainside of the snow peak. The roof made of log rolls was covered with thick snow, and warm firelight glowed from the window.


    "Where is this?"


    Mantou curiously approached.


    He knew that encountering such a wooden cabin in this uninhabited deep mountain definitely meant something peculiar, but for players, it was impossible not to investigate this kind of place.


    "Never mind! Let''s just go in and see!"


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    Mantou gritted his teeth, making up his mind.


    With a light creak, Mantou gently pushed open the wooden door and entered the cabin.


    The interior was quite cozy, with soft fur sofas, exquisite woven carpets, and the crackling sound of wood burning in the fireplace.


    On the table were delicacies like milk, bread, fruits, and silver spoons. There were even exquisite ornaments, starkly contrasting with the barren snow mountain outside.


    "How can there be such a place in these mountains..."


    Mantou muttered to himself, observing everywhere but finding nothing unusual.


    "A guest from afar, it''s impolite to come uninvited¡ª"


    A clear and beautiful female voice rang out.


    Mantou hurriedly turned around, only to see a girl of about seventeen or eighteen push open the wooden door and enter the main room.


    She had her hair tied in a neat ponytail, holding a steaming cup of tea in her slender hands, with a playful smile on her kind face.


    She placed the hot tea on the table and slyly winked at Mantou.


    "It''s very cold outside, please have some hot tea to warm your stomach first."


    "By the way, my name is Valena, the daughter of the owner of this cabin."


    Mantou felt somewhat flattered, staring blankly at the girl''s beautiful big eyes, nodding repeatedly, and drinking the hot tea. Fortunately, his Red Dragon Bloodline made him immune to heat.


    "Ah, thank you."


    "I... I''m Mantou."


    He hastily placed the tea on the table, answering.


    "Your name is quite... unique."


    Valena smiled sweetly at Mantou until his already somewhat red dragon cheeks turned crimson, even producing steam from his skin''s surface.


    After several failed online relationships, Mantou considered himself rock-solid, not having felt his heart race in a long time¡ª"Mom, I''m in love!" He didn''t expect to be so unsettled by a beautiful NPC in "Erezer."


    Mantou thought to himself: "Mantou, that''s just a virtual character! How can you be mesmerized by fake beauty! It''s an NPC!"


    Valena''s face intentionally showed a puzzled expression.


    "Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?"


    "Ah, no, I didn''t¡­"


    Mantou stammered awkwardly.


    Valena burst out laughing.


    "Don''t be nervous."


    Her big eyes still looked directly at Mantou.


    "I''m the one who should be nervous. It''s rare for anyone to visit here, and you are the only guest in recent years. I have been looking forward to your arrival for a long time."


    A hint of apology appeared on Valena''s delicate face.


    "I''m sorry to trouble you, but I''ve grown up in this cabin and have never been outside. I can only learn about the outside world through passing travelers."


    "So¡ªcould you tell me about the outside world? Just for a while, okay?"


    The girl''s earnest tone made Mantou feel unable to refuse and he couldn''t help but touch his nose. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah, ah¡­ Of course."


    Mantou was initially a bit nervous, speaking haltingly, but as he drank the tea, his words flowed more smoothly, and a dazed expression appeared on his face.


    "We call this the Kalka Mountains, and south of here is Stormy Ridge, a beautiful place inhabited by ogres, goblins, kobolds, and other residents. Further south is the North, where humans like you have built beautiful cities and work diligently..."


    "Huh? Cities?"


    "Yes, cities, a wonderful place with many, many people living there¡­"


    The firewood in the fireplace burned quietly as Mantou and the girl sat on the soft fur sofa, talking all night long.


    As they talked, the girl began relying on Mantou, leaning against him with a look full of admiration and longing.


    "The world you described is truly beautiful¡­"


    Mantou''s cheeks burned, not knowing what to do, so he stiffly sat there and changed the subject.


    "Valena, why do you always stay here?"


    The girl raised her head, unhesitatingly looking into his eyes: "My father is here, and I want to stay with him."


    "Valena, staying here must be very lonely..."


    Mantou tenderly stroked the girl''s head, and Valena obediently nestled in his arms.


    "Have another sip of tea, Brother Mantou. Drink it all, then you can tell me the next story."


    The girl murmured softly in his arms.


    Mantou subconsciously complied, picked up the cup, and wanted to drink the tea in one gulp.


    "Mantou! You''ve been hit by an illusion technique!"


    "Open your eyes and show me!"


    A familiar voice rang out, it was Singo, breaking the rare moment of warmth.


    Mantou woke up as if from a dream, suddenly alert, and threw the glass cup in his hand to the ground, the remaining tea spilling all over.


    "Crack!"


    "Ah!"


    Mantou was so scared that he collapsed to the ground, retreating on all fours.


    Looking around, he realized this was not a cozy cabin but a cold metallic chamber, even with bloodstains remaining.


    What he held in his arms was indeed a "girl" in human form, but it was just part of a monster, stitched onto a twisted, writhing mass of flesh.


    The massive, twisted body was like a faulty creation made of various pieces of flesh. Sparse white scales covered its body but left large patches of exposed flesh, its head with greasy hair hanging down, making it look disgusting and ugly.


    On its back were bat-like wing bones, but the wing membrane was tattered and decayed like a corroded piece of cloth.


    What had been steaming tea on the ground now was an unknown liquid, emitting a mist.


    "Valena" seemed unaware of her true form being discovered. The multi-lobed mouth, like a cracked flesh seam, filled with rows of sharp teeth writhing, lips twitching slightly:


    "Big brother, drink it quickly..."


    "Then you can... continue telling me stories..."

 Chapter 123 Fleeing the Famine

    The monster was still wriggling towards Mantou, and the twisted human form stitched on it reached out an arm towards him:


    "Why... aren''t you talking..."


    "I still want to... hear a story..."


    "Valena is so lonely here by herself..."


    Mantou''s expression was filled not only with fear but also with the heartbreak of another romance gone wrong. It was already bad enough to discover that online love was a fraud in reality, but to be deceived by an illusion in a game world too!


    Indeed, humans are visual creatures, and Mantou was no exception.


    "Monster, give me back my heartfelt love!"


    "Give me back Miss Valena!"


    In a fit of rage and sorrow, Mantou drew his Silver Sword from his waist and slashed fiercely at the monster.


    Not far away, Xin Dog also bent his bow and released an arrow that could pierce armor.


    "Clang! Clang!"


    With two crisp sounds, sparks flew as both the sword blade and the arrow were deflected by the monster''s tough, thick skin and extremely hard scales, causing no damage at all. The flesh continued to wriggle, and a tentacle covered in slime reached out and wrapped around the Silver Sword, swallowing it whole.


    "Why... do you... hurt me?"


    "Mantou... Brother..."


    "Why does everyone... do this?"


    The human-shaped mass of flesh wriggled, changing its voice from a soft, sweet female tone to a low growl, and finally into a cacophony of mixed, shrill voices that sent shivers down Mantou''s spine.


    The mass of flesh squirmed and quivered, transforming into various twisted shapes on the spot.


    "Then I''ll just... keep you here forever!"


    Xin Dog, seeing that their attacks were ineffective, immediately shouted to Mantou: "Run! Run fast!" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This thing isn''t something we can defeat!"


    "How was I supposed to know¡ª"


    Mantou, on the verge of tears, quickly followed Xin Dog, running away in a panic.


    Xin Dog said gravely, "This so-called cabin and girl were all illusions. Luckily, I bought a Potion of True Sight in advance, which lets me see through illusions. Otherwise, you would have died here for sure!"


    "That cup of tea was definitely problematic. If you had drunk it, you would have become a slave here completely."


    Mantou looked back at the potion on the ground with lingering fear, then looked around. What he saw were cold metal walls covered in blotchy blood stains, the huge claw marks of unknown creatures, and chaotic, bizarre symbols.


    A moment later, the long-silent monster moved again.


    "Why¡ª"


    A chilling, overlapping voice echoed.


    The roar seemed to be produced by many organs vibrating together. In it, Mantou could hear a girl''s call, a frost wolf''s howl, a giant''s bellow, and even the anger-filled roar of a White Dragon. It made both Mantou and Xin Dog shiver in terror, temporarily paralyzing them with fear.


    "That''s Dragon''s Might!"


    "This monster is likely of the Dragon Bloodline!"


    "Damn it, dragons in this world have such unique tastes. They must be really starving to go after something like this."


    The familiar sense of oppression made Xin Dog''s alarm bells ring.


    But Xin Dog quickly snapped out of it, shaking off the abnormal state. He looked up at the monster, which was closing in and waving its tentacles, then glanced at the terrified Mantou. In an instant, he thought of a solution. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Roar¡ª"


    Another dragon roar echoed.


    But this time, it was Xin Dog''s Dragon''s Roar Charge.


    Facing a roar born from Cassius''s strength and possessing a higher essence of Dragon''s Might, the horrifying stitched beast was temporarily stunned, and the flesh tentacles aiming at the two of them momentarily froze in mid-air.


    "Smack!"


    Xin Dog slapped the terrified Mantou awake.


    "I can''t hold it for long. The monster is waking up soon. Run!"


    Mantou, clutching his slapped-red face, gritted his teeth and took off, fleeing with Xin Dog.


    "Xin Dog, you damn well had a personal vendetta."


    "Didn''t I just wake you up? You were nearly making out with that stitched-together mess. Embarrassing."


    "You¡ª"


    Mantou''s face darkened instantly, so much so that it could drip water. He wondered whether he should kill Xin Dog to ensure he didn''t leak the shameful incident that could lead to his social death.


    If the scene just now was recorded and posted on a forum, he would lose face and likely become the subject of a classic video like "Swashbuckler and the Old Vampire''s Unspeakable Thirty Seconds," attracting countless viewers.


    "Brother¡ª"


    "Come back and stay with me!"


    That "sweet" voice made Mantou''s hair stand on end and his scalp tingle.


    The monster behind them wriggled closer, its entire body of scales trembling. Luckily, its three-meter-tall body was too large and twisted to move quickly in the narrow passage, with the flesh scraping against the walls.


    This allowed them to widen the distance and escape through a hidden door, narrowly avoiding Valena''s pursuit.


    "Come back!"


    At the last moment of their escape, Valena opened her horrifyingly wide mouth, with blood strands linking her jaws. From deep within her throat, a terrifying icy breath erupted. The freezing air instantly condensed the surrounding mist into ice, and even the door they passed through was covered in a thick layer of frost.


    "Phew, phew..."


    "Xin Dog, you should have just let me die in that false paradise..."


    Mantou muttered softly as he seemed to savor the previous tenderness but immediately turned sullen when recalling that creature''s true form.


    "What in the world is that thing?"


    "It''s your dear Miss Valena."


    Xin Dog taunted in a deliberately saccharine tone.


    "Shut up¡ª"


    Mantou''s face turned beet-red, looking utterly dejected. Still reeling from his dashed fantasy of companionship with a beautiful girl, he could hardly come to terms with the reality that the "beauty" was a monster stitched from corpse parts.


    Xin Dog rolled his eyes at him in disdain: "You spineless fool, no wonder you''re single."


    "That last breath attack was terrifying. If it hit us, we''d be frozen solid. From what I know, that must be the Bloodline of the White Dragon from the five-colored dragons. White Dragons are known to inhabit the Anzeta Great Wilderness."


    He then observed their surroundings, rubbing his chin thoughtfully: "As for this place, it should be the legendary Polar Night Demon Tower. It''s at least a hundred years old. Supposedly, it contains terrifying beings, with very few survivors ever escaping it."


    Mantou suddenly remembered something and asked: "By the way, where''s War Maniac Bro?"


    Xin Dog shook his head: "No idea. We lost him when we encountered those Gnolls. But War Maniac Bro is mentally strong and once crushed a Succubus with sheer will in a previous game. He wouldn''t make such an elementary mistake like you."


    Mantou''s face turned red with frustration, but he was speechless.


    "I¡ª"


    Xin Dog patted him on the shoulder and said solemnly: "Mantou, I advise you to take care of yourself."

 Chapter 124 Valenas Diary

    "Look here, Mantou!"


    "There''s probably a hidden room here!"


    Singo found a concealed door and easily pried off the old lock.


    Mantou complained, "As a warrior, it''s impressive enough that you have perception, but you even developed handy skills?"


    Singo replied righteously, "A skilled professional must be versatile. Isn''t that exactly for situations like this? Think about it, if it weren''t for my handy skills, we''d be trapped here."


    "Tsk."


    Mantou remained disdainful and was skeptical about the previously mysteriously missing Gold Coin.


    "Enough, no more talking. Let''s move before that monster catches up."


    Singo opened the concealed door and crawled into the narrow tunnel first, followed closely by Mantou. The tunnel echoed with constant shuffling sounds until they finally reached a pitch-black hidden room.


    Singo skillfully took out a spare Glowing Stone to light up the area. The scene before them opened up.


    "This is..."


    To their surprise, the hidden room was not that small; it was more than spacious enough for the two of them. The floor was covered with a thick layer of dust, and cobwebs filled the corners, clearly indicating it had been abandoned for years.


    The room was quite well furnished, with a bed, blankets, and a desk all present. On the desk were a few quill pens and yellowing sheets of paper. The walls even had innocent-looking doodles, giving it quite a homely feel.


    Mantou looked at the doodles on the wall.


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    Those drawings were rather simple but colorful, depicting a warm family consisting of a man, a woman, and a little girl against the backdrop of a dark tower, some humans in black robes, and terrifying giant dragons.


    The chaotic strokes indicated the little girl''s fear towards those entities.


    "A child''s bedroom."


    "It''s unimaginable that someone would live in a place like this."


    Mantou sighed.


    "Mantou! Look what I found!"


    Singo opened a drawer in the small desk and seemed to have discovered something incredible.


    "What is it? Let me see."


    Mantou leaned in to look and saw a simple diary. It seemed to have been carefully preserved, though time had left some pages decaying and a few roughly torn out. The cover bore prominent letters¡ª"Valena''s Diary."


    "Valena''s Diary..."


    Mantou''s expression instantly became complex, as if a terrible suspicion had arisen in his mind, making him silent while he carefully turned the pages.


    The handwriting inside was clumsy and childish, full of innocence.


    "January 3rd, Mom told me to start this, my first diary entry. Dad, as usual, told me to stay silent. Otherwise, those bad people from the Dragon Shaman Cult outside would capture me, and the terrifying Dragon would devour me in one bite. I have always obeyed."


    "January 4th, I stayed in the room quietly. Dad said I was very obedient."


    "January 5th, still in the room. Today, I found a cute animal. Dad said it was a spider. I invited it to eat black bread with me."


    "January 6th, Mom brought me a book called Beautiful Bird. It told the story of a bird family. I liked it very much."


    "January 7th, I read the book in the room. A cute rat accompanied me. I named it Tete as a reward for keeping me company. I let it gnaw on a page." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..."


    "February 15th, Dad hasn''t visited for a long time. This time, when he came to see me, I was very happy. He said he would soon defeat the bad people and rescue Mom and me from this tower. We would be together forever like in the stories."


    "February 16th, Dad told me many things. He said he would take me to see the outside world. I was very happy."


    "February 17th, stayed in the room."


    "February 18th, stayed in the room. Food ran out. I''m so hungry."


    "February 22nd, I ate Tete, but I was very sad."


    "February 23rd, Mom finally came back. She brought food but cried a lot. She said she was chosen to be a ''sacrifice'' and might never come back. I hugged her tightly for a long time."


    "February 24th, Dad hasn''t been back for a long time."


    "March 17th, Mom celebrated my twelfth birthday. I was very happy. I asked her why Dad hadn''t come back, but she didn''t answer. I saw she was a little sad."


    "July 16th, I really want to see the outside world. I want a friend."


    "..."


    "December 27th, Mom hasn''t been back for seven days. I''m very scared."


    "December 30th, Dad has been gone for a long time, ten months if my watch is right. He finally came back today, but he said Mom was dead. I cried."


    "January 20th, Dad said Mom''s death was worth it, that it was great. I didn''t understand what he was saying, but I was very scared. He seemed like a different person. He used to love Mom."


    "January 21st, stayed in the room trembling."


    "..."


    "September 12th, Dad told me he had defeated the bad people. I asked if we could leave here, but he didn''t answer."


    "September 13th, I was taken out of the room, but Dad still wouldn''t let me leave the tower. I was very angry. To me, this tower was like the prison described in the books, very restrictive."


    "September 14th, a girl named Mary was brought to the tower. She was about my age and very scared. I hoped we could become friends."


    "September 15th, stayed in the tower, but I secretly came back here. This place made me feel very safe. Here, I could remember my old Dad when he still loved me and Mom."


    "September 16th, there were strange noises in the tower, but Dad wouldn''t tell me what they were. Mary was also very scared."


    "October 1st, the noise grew louder. I was very scared."


    "September 16th, Dad was really different from before. I missed Mom and cried for a long time."


    ...


    "I don''t know the date, Dad told me not to resist. His original words were ''to welcome the noble evolution with joy.'' I didn''t understand what he meant, but he scared me more and more."


    "Dad was completely different from before. He would never treat me like this before, never. I was so scared."


    "Mary said Dad was a bad man."


    "Dad wouldn''t let me see Mary. He said she did something wrong and needed to be punished. He said I would see her later."


    "Dad said everything was for my good. If I behaved, I could leave. I thought so too."


    "I would behave."


    "First day, scales grew on me, it hurt a lot."


    "Second day, more scales grew."


    "Third day, spikes grew on my back, it still hurt a lot. But Dad was very happy. He said I was almost successful. Seeing Dad happy made me happy too."


    "Fourth day, I felt like I was becoming a bad person. Dad fed me some meat. He said it was edible, but it felt wrong. My nose became very sensitive, and I seemed to smell... Mary."


    ...


    "Eleventh day, still no changes today. Dad said he was disappointed in me and called me an inferior species, saying I had let him down. I cried a lot. I didn''t know what I did wrong."


    "Twelfth day, Dad said he found a new method."


    "Fourteenth day, Dad replaced my hand with a new one. Though I got used to it, it still hurt a lot. But he told me not to cry, so I held back. I couldn''t make Dad angry anymore."


    "Fifteenth day, I felt a bit odd."


    ...


    The following pages were roughly torn out.


    Mantou read it all in one go and couldn''t help but take a deep breath.

 Chapter 124 Polar Night Demon Tower

    "Damn it, beasts!"


    "The ''father'' in that diary deserves to be executed by dismemberment! And what about the officials? They''re not acting like humans at all, stuffing such perverted plots into the story!"


    Mantou was indignant, pounding the table fiercely.


    His eyes betrayed a rare determination. He was resolute in his decision to eliminate that monster and bring peace to Valena, who remained in a state of extreme pain, neither alive nor dead, her will uncontrollable.


    "I will put you to rest, Valena."


    He gently closed the diary and carefully placed it back in its original spot, resolving not to touch it again. It was the last trace of Valena''s humanity and her most cherished possession.


    "Mantou, you''re still thinking too simplistically."


    Singo frowned and softly said, "We need to be careful. This tower isn''t just home to that poor Miss Valena wandering about; there''s also her ''father.'' This guy can transform people into terrifying monsters; he''s not someone to be trifled with."


    "Moreover, War Maniac is missing, which means our team''s combat ability is reduced. With our current strength, escaping this place would be lucky, let alone trying to slay monsters for the people."


    Mantou frowned, "Then what should we do, wait here to die?"


    "The server is shutting down soon anyway, and we''ve already maxed out our experience. Losing a bit doesn''t matter. Worst-case scenario, you give me a rune gunpowder bomb, and I''ll trade myself for the tower''s boss."


    Singo was a bit surprised.


    "How did you know I had a rune gunpowder bomb?"


    Mantou chuckled, "We all see you hanging around that Mechanical God Cult factory all the time. Who would''ve thought the famous pro gamer would suck up to Crazy Brother like that?"


    Singo defended, "Do you even understand what it means to prioritize gaming skills? Acquiring gear through reasonable means, got it?"


    "I totally get it."


    "Stop bullshitting. That boss is a high-level Mage."


    The two left the secret room while talking and continued to explore the hidden tower.


    As they entered the passageway, they heard rustling sounds, like gnolls breathing.


    "Sniff, sniff."


    "I smell blood."


    "Where, where?"


    "Got new prey, the master will be pleased." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The deep, hoarse voices conversed.


    Singo immediately pressed Mantou down, silently nocking an arrow, slowly drawing the bowstring, and holding his breath, aiming at the corner of the passage.


    As expected, an ugly gnoll head with saliva dripping from the mouth and sparse white scales appeared.


    Singo instantly locked onto it, and a purple Hunter''s Mark appeared on the gnoll''s forehead. An arrow then broke the air, easily piercing its skull.


    "Howl¡ª¡ª"


    The gnoll only managed to let out a howl before collapsing backward.


    Several more gnolls stood behind it. They felt no fear; instead, their murky eyes flashed with a frenzied light as they charged at the two, brandishing their claws and emitting foul-smelling breaths.


    Mantou raised his sword, aiming for their weak points in the fur, and stabbed through the neck of the foremost gnoll. Then he kicked the gnoll''s corpse down and used the momentum to cut down another gnoll.


    Within a few breaths, the patrol team of seven gnolls was annihilated.


    "Huff, huff, it''s those gnolls again."


    Mantou kicked a corpse on the ground, panting heavily.


    Singo rubbed his chin and said, "As I thought, the source of these gnolls is here, the Polar Night Demon Tower. However, these creatures'' Dragonification levels are quite low, far from those transformed monsters; otherwise, we wouldn''t have defeated them so easily."


    Singo took a few steps forward, noticing the bones scattered along the corridor. He quickly gave a warning.


    "Not good, let''s go! There are probably many monsters in this tower."


    However, the dying gnolls'' howls had already caused a resonance, stirring the tower''s monsters. Countless sounds of varying pitches and painful wails echoed, and the entire Polar Night Demon Tower seemed to tremble.


    Mantou turned to look behind him.


    "Damn."


    His voice trembled.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª" Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Savage Dragonified monsters surged like a flood, gnolls, centaurs, goblins, lizardfolk, and even humans, all transformed into twisted half-dragon forms. But these monsters looked far less natural than the Dragon Vein creatures of the Ashen Kingdom.


    ¡ª¡ªSparse white scales covered their bodies, tumors and warts protruded everywhere, some even grew extra limbs and heads, and their mouths drooled corrosive saliva. Most of them had frenzied eyes, clearly having lost their sanity long ago.


    Singo summarized:


    "My guess was right, this place is essentially a¡ª¡ªlaboratory."


    "We were lured here on purpose."


    "The controller behind this Polar Night Demon Tower is probably that Mage!"


    Mantou listened intently when a Half-Dragon Goblin crawled over from behind, pouncing on Mantou and biting at his neck with sharp teeth. Luckily, Mantou wore plate armor, which the goblin couldn''t penetrate in time. He took the chance to decapitate it with his sword.


    But even with its head pierced, the headless, frenzied Dragon Vein Goblin continued to attack wildly, one claw gripping the plate armor and the other clawing Mantou''s arm, leaving bloody marks. It took several breaths for it to stop moving.


    "Damn it! This monster is so crazy! Won''t let go even after dying?"


    "Stop fighting them and run!"


    Singo and Mantou sprinted along the bone-ridden corridor, finally reaching the end, where they faced a massive iron door.


    Mantou urged, "Hurry and unlock it, Xin Dog!"


    "Don''t rush me, you try it if you can¡ª¡ª"


    But Singo was also struggling; the door lock wasn''t the simplest type, and he wasn''t proficient in the thief occupation, far from Handy level.


    The Dragonified centaurs were almost upon them.


    Unlike regular centaurs, these creatures, affected by the White Dragon Bloodline, had lower bodies resembling terrifying lizards instead of horses. Their tails drooped behind them, and the surface of their scales was covered in sticky fluids. Their upper bodies looked like life-drained corpses, gaunt and frail.


    Suddenly, the iron door swung open.


    "Swish¡ª¡ª"


    A battle axe swung through the doorway, cutting a Dragonified centaur behind Mantou in half.


    The severed lizard body twitched and crawled chaotically on the ground, like a headless fly, before finally dying out.


    Mantou and Singo seized the chance to dart through the iron door, using their bodies to slam it shut.


    They glanced at the familiar face in front of them and were overjoyed.


    "War Maniac Bro!"


    "I''ve been looking for you guys for ages. These monsters are tough to kill."


    Natural War Maniac grinned, rubbing his smooth head.


    The trio, separated earlier in a Dragonified gnoll chase, finally reunited.

 Chapter 125 Soul-Devouring Pot

    The cold wind howled, and sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, casting a blinding glow over the white ice field.


    The mountains rose and fell in dramatic waves, shrouded in layers of shadow. Within their depths stood a pitch-black high tower, its sharp spires like straight claws reaching toward the sky, as if about to tear through the heavens, evoking a deep sense of dread.


    This was the Polar Night Demon Tower.


    At this moment, Mantou and his two companions were at the very bottom of the Demon Tower.


    The Natural War Maniac led them into the depths of a secret chamber and activated a mechanism.


    "I fought my way here and found this thing."


    It was a strange jug. The rim was adorned with a ferocious dragon head, and from the jug came countless wails and moans, as if numerous souls were trapped inside, struggling in agony, accompanied by a deeply concealed laughter.


    Singo carefully observed the jug, seemingly trying to discern its secrets.


    "This thing feels familiar..."


    Mantou stepped forward and said, "This is clearly some kind of magic artifact. It might even be a Soul-Refining Banner or something. You guys stand back; I''ll take it and study it."


    Singo suddenly remembered something and hurriedly stopped him: "Wait¡ª"


    "What did you say?"


    By then, Mantou had already placed his hands on the jug and turned his head to look at Singo in confusion.


    "There''s nothing wrong, why are you so nervous?"


    But in the next moment, his eyes rolled back, then transformed into eerie vertical pupils, filled with a fanatical glow.


    A spectral figure emerged from the jug and rushed into Mantou''s nose and mouth.


    Soul-Devouring Pot


    This was the infamous Sixth-Tier Necromancy Spell. The Magic Pot served as a vessel for souls. Once someone touched the jug, the souls within would possess the individual, seizing control of their body and trapping their soul within the vessel. The possessed soul could perceive the environment through its own senses but was unable to move or take any action.


    "Mantou" looked down, touching his body, his claws caressing every scale and muscle of the half-dragon, an expression of utter enchantment appearing on his face.


    "Ah, what a beautifully exquisite body."


    "Perfect, with no side effects¡ªa flawless fusion of the Red Dragon''s flame and strength. In nearly a century of experimentation, I''ve never had such a perfect specimen. Thankfully, I left a sliver of my soul here, just in case of these despicable thieves."


    Singo asked coldly: "You''re not him. Who are you?"


    The Natural War Maniac gripped his battle axe tightly, his arms trembling with bulging veins, ready to enter a frenzy at any moment.


    They both knew Mantou had likely been possessed by a boss.


    But at this moment, "Mantou" was engrossed in his new vessel, oblivious to them, marveling as though he were reciting poetry: "What immense strength. If my guess is correct, this body''s owner¡ªthis Red Dragon¡ªis an even greater creation. It''s utterly fascinating."


    Only then did he notice the two people in front of him.


    Although still Mantou''s face, the red vertical pupils fixed on the two of them made their hairs stand on end.


    "Ah, two more valuable specimens. Today is truly a bountiful day."


    The entity occupying Mantou''s body slightly bowed, politely.


    "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am a wizard, an artist, and a follower of dragons. You may call me by the name I had as a mortal¡ªVagnard.


    "We should be spending a lot of time together from now on."


    Vagnard smiled, a chilling smile that sent shivers down one''s spine.


    Dragon Fan Black Wizard Vagnard, once a mortal captured by the Dragon Shaman Cult, had gone completely mad after witnessing his wife being eaten as a sacrifice.


    He pursued dragon strength at any cost, turned his own daughter into a monster, and kept countless dragonified monsters in the tower, even a genuine White Dragon.


    Unlike the Dragon Shaman Cult, which worshipped evil dragons as deities, Vagnard revered only the dragons'' power. For this power, he created powerful spells to trap giant dragons and did not hesitate to experiment recklessly on his beloved daughter, treating her as a lowly specimen.


    "Oh? Wait, my dear experiment is questioning me?"


    "Did not expect someone with Red Dragon blood to speak like this."


    Vagnard brought the jug closer to his ear, attentively listening.


    Mantou''s soul inside was furiously cursing, calling him a beast who experimented on his own daughter.


    As a player, Mantou, whose body had been taken, felt anger but not fear, knowing he could revive. At worst, he would lose some experience points and start again.


    "You beast! How could you do this to your own daughter, you should be..."


    Hearing Mantou''s curses, Vagnard laughed lightly.


    "You mean my daughter?"


    "I loved her dearly. I poured the best of everything into her, but her lowly heritage disappointed me."


    "She refused to accept the great evolution, and I had no choice but to replace her arms, her torso, her legs... with the finest dragonified organs.


    "Look at those scales, that surging dragon blood, those powerful muscles. Is this not far stronger than her fragile original form? She is now my most pleasing work, more perfect than all my previous creations."


    As he spoke, Vagnard''s tone grew more obsessive.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    Seizing Vagnard''s moment of distraction, Singo launched a surprise attack, marking Vagnard''s head with the Hunter''s Mark, followed by a swift arrow. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But a pitch-black spell force field appeared around Vagnard, effortlessly reducing the arrow to dust.


    "This is your companion''s body."


    "If my soul division dissipates, his body will also die. Your companion will be eternally trapped in the Magic Pot."


    The Natural War Maniac roared in fury, charging up with a fierce slash of his battle axe.


    "Die!"


    "You don''t care about the original host''s life? How interesting."


    Vagnard''s eyes gleamed playfully, injected with fear energy, turning them into vacant, deep black holes.


    Heart-Capturing Gaze


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    Black light flickered.


    The Natural War Maniac, having met his gaze, fell into a deep sleep, lying on the cold ground.


    Singo was also struck by the spell before he could react.


    A needle with an inbuilt trigger jabbed into his neck, abruptly waking him from the induced slumber.


    It was a device he had specially commissioned from the Mechanical God Cult, designed to wake him automatically if it detected he had fallen into unconsciousness.


    "Oh?"


    "What an interesting little thing."


    Vagnard grinned, his eyes flashing with scarlet spell radiance again.


    Domination of Humans


    His lips moved silently, but the command was issued.


    Singo instantly felt a powerful spiritual force taking control of him, offering no room for resistance.


    Even though this was merely a sliver of the Black Wizard''s soul, the immense mental strength accumulated over a century was as deep as an abyss, leaving the novice player powerless to fight back.

 Chapter 126 The Red Dragons Gaze

    Chains of mind control flew out from Vagnard, binding Singo''s soul tightly.


    His eyes were hollow and lifeless, with an eerie dark red glow replacing the light in his pupils. His movements were as stiff as a marionette''s, entranced.


    Vagnard chuckled softly, issuing commands with his will.


    "Come here"


    Just a simple command, but the overwhelming mental force poured through the chains into Singo''s brain. His body moved unconsciously, walking lightly to Vagnard''s side.


    He stroked Singo''s scaly arm, marveling:


    "Truly... an artistic creation."


    "The perfect blend of scales and muscle¡ªI''ve only seen this on actual giant dragons. How have I never created such a masterpiece?"


    "Move him over here"


    Vagnard effortlessly gave the command.


    Singo, like a puppet, followed the order, lifting the unconscious War Maniac and bringing him back to Vagnard.


    Vagnard led them forward, with the Soul-Devouring Pot containing Mantou''s soul floating beside them. Heavy iron doors swung open automatically as they approached, bringing them to a platform adorned with dragon scales.


    Complex gravity spell runes caused the platform to ascend layer by layer.


    At each level, grotesque monsters felt the tremors and erupted into a cacophony of roars, shaking and crashing against their cages. But Vagnard paid them no mind; to him, they were insignificant failures.


    Finally, they reached the highest level of the Black Tower, Vagnard''s most cherished laboratory¡ªthe Land of the Demon Dragon.


    Everywhere lay broken scales, dismembered limbs, and the floor was almost entirely covered in thick blood. Blood-splattered instruments, shattered syringes, and sharp implements were scattered about.


    Vagnard took a deep breath, as if savoring the rich scent of blood in the air.


    "Secure him"


    Singo, under control, strapped the War Maniac to a metal table.


    Vagnard meticulously examined the War Maniac''s robust frame. His fervent eyes seemed to penetrate scales and skin to see every intricate structure, even the blood vessels coursing with thick blood.


    "Indeed..."


    "It is the Red Dragon''s power. The purest Dragon Blood flows through this humanoid creature."


    "Why do they not experience rejection? I have experimented dozens of times, and even the hardy body of a Frost Giant could not endure White Dragon blood; it would just disintegrate entirely. How could this most volatile, most repellent Red Dragon Bloodline be any different?"


    "And these organs¡ªdragon heads perfectly fused with human bodies. Even my greatest creation, Valena, was just a stitched product. They naturally transform¡­"


    Reluctantly, Vagnard tore his gaze from the War Maniac and looked into the distance.


    His eyes pierced through the cold, thick metal walls, the layers of mountains, and the vast Stormy Ridge, focusing on the enormous Red Dragon in its lair, a fervent light glinting in them.


    "Cassius Klaubow Norixius, a mutant Red Dragon who rose abruptly within a decade. You must harbor many secrets."


    "You interest me more and more."


    ...


    In Northwind Castle''s Council Hall.


    Cassius was experimenting with spells when the Heavenly Calamity Dragon Eye floating beside him suddenly reacted. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Broken snippets of scenes appeared in his vision¡ªplayers battling gnolls, a mysterious and dangerous tower, eerie stitched monsters, finally freezing on a pair of fanatical eyes.


    ¡ª This was the unique ability of the Heavenly Calamity Dragon Eye, "Past Eye Sight".


    "This is..."


    Cassius immediately recognized the Mantou he had been watching closely. But those eyes were definitely not a player''s, and "Mantou''s" eyes sparkled with layers of high-tier magical aurora.


    "Black Tower, monsters, spells..."


    "So it''s Vagnard. He even possesses players and dares to blatantly spy on me!"


    "What a reckless madman."


    The Red Dragon''s mouth curved into a cold smile.


    In his previous life, Vagnard was notorious, especially for turning his own daughter into a monster and conducting numerous inhumane experiments in secret, inciting the collective wrath of players.


    The players united, ultimately sacrificing countless lives to blow this "Dragon Fan Black Wizard" to pieces.


    Being targeted by this lunatic was extremely troublesome, and Vagnard, being not only a senior mage but also adept in maneuvering against dragons, was something Cassius did not fear but preferred to avoid entangling with.


    Once offended, it must be eradicated root and branch.


    He wouldn''t gamble on the consequences of letting a high-rank mage run free.


    Cassius exhaled a puff of sulfurous smoke and decided to teach him a lesson first, before settling other scores.


    "Heh, since you like to spy¡ª"


    "Then let you enjoy it!"


    The Red Dragon raised his head slightly, meeting the gaze from hundreds of miles away, a sinister smile on his face, golden pupils gleaming with a breathtaking magical aurora.


    Since he was already affiliated with the Dragon Queen, he could afford to be a bit more unrestrained.


    Sixth Tier Spell¡ª


    "Tiamat''s Terrifying Illusion"


    The illusion traversed the Stormy Ridge, pierced through layers of mountains, and instantly appeared before Vagnard in the tower, presenting itself to his eyes.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    With a thunderous dragon''s roar, a nightmare-like amalgamation appeared before Vagnard. Colossal dragon limbs supported a monstrous dragon body, five writhing necks and heads sprouting from it, each corresponding to a color dragon.


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    The five-headed evil dragon spread its wings, obscuring the sky, and looked down at Vagnard with an unspeakable terror in its gaze.


    "Tiamat, it''s Tiamat!"


    "Five-Colored Dragon Queen, Evil Dragon Queen, Tiamat!"


    Vagnard trembled all over, exclaiming in shock.


    The trembling of his body stemmed not just from fear but also from excitement and agitation.


    "How... magnificent..."


    Vagnard''s face flushed red, his speech even slurred.


    He had pursued the power of dragons for centuries, and the legendary Evil Dragon Queen, progenitor of all colored dragons, Tiamat, was undoubtedly the pinnacle of that power, the illusionary light of his life.


    Being a mere shard of his soul, he naturally couldn''t discern the illusion''s reality. In extreme fear and excitement, he instinctively regarded this "Tiamat''s Terrifying Illusion" as a True God''s descent.


    Yet, with his intellect, how could he not guess that this was due to peeking at the Red Dragon?


    The five-colored evil dragons in the sky looked down coldly at the earth. Fire, ice, acid, lightning, and poison spewed from the five hideous heads, delivering the god of evil dragons'' punishment.


    "To witness Tiamat''s magnificent form and feel this unparalleled power in person, my existence has no regrets."


    "You are indeed special..."


    "Red Dragon."


    Vagnard murmured, looking up to the sky.


    The next moment, the dazzling breaths frenziedly washed over his soul, effortlessly obliterating this wisp of soul fragment completely.


    Yet, the soul fragment, with its dying strength, cast a spell sending a faint stream of information to the main body.

 Chapter 127 The Awakened Player

    "Where the hell am I?"


    "Wasn''t I subjected to a control spell?"


    Xin Dog suddenly jolted awake. He first checked his body and, finding no injuries, then looked around the surroundings.


    What he saw was a wrecked experiment site, strewn with chunks of flesh and remains. The floor was covered in thick blood, even submerging his ankles.


    In front of him was a heavy metallic bed, stained with blood, where Natural War Maniac was firmly fixed.


    He then looked warily beside him.


    The body belonging to Mantou was already lying in the pool of blood, silent like a dead corpse.


    Xin Dog felt a bit puzzled again. The mage who had possessed Mantou had easily dealt with the three of them and was in his own lair without encountering any enemies. How could he have suddenly disappeared?


    "Did that ''Vagnard'' vanish?"


    "Did the spell terminate, or is there some other reason?"


    A blurred figure seemed to float out of the Soul-Devouring Pot and enter the body.


    Xin Dog gasped,


    "Mantou?"


    The body belonging to Mantou first had fingers that slightly twitched, then opened its eyes. Supporting itself with its arms, it struggled to sit up in the pool of blood.


    "This place is so disgusting. Why is it so sticky?"


    Mantou complained with a look of disdain.


    However, when he lifted his head, he saw Xin Dog drawing a bowstring with an armor-piercing arrow aimed at his forehead.


    "Damn it, it''s me, Mantou!"


    Xin Dog was unmoved, his tone icy,


    "How can I be sure you are Mantou and not something else? You have to pass my test first, or I''ll shoot you with one arrow."


    Mantou cursed in frustration, "Xin Dog, are you crazy? What kind of NPC has the same charismatic style as me?"


    But the sharp arrowhead pressed against his forehead, making Mantou break into a cold sweat.


    Mantou raised his hands in a French salute, on the verge of tears.


    "Alright, alright, I''ll answer."


    Xin Dog looked down at him coldly and said, "What''s Mantou''s most-viewed video?"


    "''Swashbuckler and the Old Vampire''s Unspeakable Thirty Seconds.'' sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How many times has Mantou failed at online dating?"


    "Damn it, three times."


    "What''s the name of Mantou''s mount?"


    "Noodle."


    "How many gold coins has Mantou stolen from me?"


    "Fifteen, when you were asleep¡ªwait, damn it, Xin Dog, you''re tricking me!"


    Mantou jumped up in shock, suddenly realizing the so-called "test" was just Xin Dog''s trap.


    "Very good, you passed the test, Mantou."


    "But about those stolen gold coins..."


    Xin Dog spoke slowly, with a cold smile on his face, still holding the drawn bow aimed at Mantou''s forehead.


    "I''ll work for you to pay it back, alright? Please, stop this."


    Seeing the situation was bad, Mantou pleaded earnestly.


    Xin Dog finally put away his weapon and seriously asked, "What was it like in the pot? Do you know what happened just now?"


    Mantou thought for a moment and then said, "It felt very strange. I could perceive the environment from inside the container but couldn''t move at all. I had to watch helplessly as he used my body to control you. But it was kind of satisfying, like I was personally bullying you, haha."


    "..."


    Xin Dog ignored his personal feelings and continued, "What did he say? Why did he disappear?"


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    Mantou was suddenly enraged, "That guy is a beast. Not only did he use Miss Valena as a test subject, but he also wanted to use us all as his samples. Fortunately, he suddenly vanished without a trace."


    Xin Dog rubbed his chin, feeling puzzled.


    "Are you saying he just vanished?"


    "Didn''t he say anything before he left?"


    Mantou scratched his head and thought for a moment, then said hesitantly, "The perception from inside the pot wasn''t very clear, and I was busy talking, but... I think I heard him mention our faction leader''s name."


    "Cassius."


    Xin Dog''s eyes brightened with excitement, "So Vagnard is indeed a boss related to the main quest. Tasks related to that Red Dragon are significant. We might be in luck this time again."


    "Xin Dog, hurry and save War Maniac Bro first."


    "If War Maniac Bro dies, it''s all your fault."


    Only then did Xin Dog remember that Natural War Maniac was still tied to the metallic bed. He quickly walked up and used thief tools to pry open the metal shackles on his hands, then injected a stimulant into Natural War Maniac''s neck.


    "Ugh¡ª"


    "Where are we? Wasn''t I in a battle?"


    Natural War Maniac opened his eyes and struggled to get up from the metallic bed, looking confused. Instinctively, he reached for his battle axe at his waist, but found it empty.


    Seeing him awake, Mantou hurried over to help.


    Natural War Maniac looked at Mantou''s familiar face, and his face instantly flushed with anger, still immersed in the previous fight.


    His veins bulged as he swung a fist, roaring in rage,


    "Monster! Get off Mantou!"


    The barbarian, with 18 points of strength, hit Mantou''s face with a fist the size of a fist.


    "Bam!"


    A dull thud was heard, and Mantou''s face immediately deformed dramatically, his face turning a mix of red, purple, and green.


    "Ouch!"


    Mantou couldn''t help but scream in pain.


    He was seeing stars and almost lost consciousness again.


    Natural War Maniac wanted to land another punch but was quickly stopped by Xin Dog.


    "Why are you stopping me, Xin Dog? I''m going to kill that beast!"


    "Fight! Thrill!"


    "Haa¡ª"


    Mantou finally regained his senses. Holding his rapidly swelling face, he said quickly in a high-pitched voice, "War Maniac Bro, hold on!"


    "It''s me! It''s really me, Mantou!"


    He pointed to his face, crying out.


    Xin Dog also explained, "The boss just possessed Mantou. You were under a spell and fell asleep. Be careful not to kill Mantou by mistake."


    "Huh?"


    Natural War Maniac quickly dropped his fist, touched his shiny bald head, and blushed slightly.


    "Uh, sorry, Mantou. I mistook you for the boss. Are you okay? I''ll compensate you with a healing potion back in town later."


    "Alright, I''m okay."


    Mantou wanted to cry, but his face was already as swollen as a steamed bun.


    Xin Dog, somewhat gloating, said, "War Maniac, don''t worry about Mantou, as long as he''s not dead. We happened to stumble into a hidden dungeon, so let''s explore it properly."


    "Oh? Hidden dungeon?"


    "There must be some powerful enemies then."


    Natural War Maniac''s eyes were suddenly filled with battle spirit, the excitement unique to professional gamers on his face. He was, after all, a man who had single-handedly fought the Star Leviathan!


    Mantou was still rubbing his injured face, letting out a miserable wail,


    "My handsome face¡ª"

 Chapter 128 Five-headed dragon monster

    Singo took out the flashlight and kept moving forward. Cold iron doors appeared in front of him. From behind some of them came eerie roars, painful howls, and even the sound of claws scraping against steel.


    "There must be quite a few monsters here, let''s pick a quieter one and go in to take a look."


    "Alright."


    The Natural War Maniac found the door with the least movement and cautiously unlocked it before pushing it open.


    Mantou followed closely behind, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.


    This laboratory felt like a forsaken corner of the world, filled with the scent of blood and death. There was hardly any light, only the weak candle flame on Mantou flickering, illuminating the small area around them. The cold gleam of the experimental instruments made everyone shudder.


    Mantou raised the torch and whispered,


    "I think I heard... breathing."


    The Natural War Maniac gripped the battle axe tighter and stepped forward, listening closely. Sure enough, he heard faint airflow.


    He looked into the depths of the dark laboratory, as if something there was rising and falling.


    "Get ready for battle."


    But it seemed something here had detected their presence. A row of dragon-head torches suddenly ignited, casting a haunting blue light that illuminated the entire laboratory. A colossal figure in the shadows revealed its true form.


    ¡ªA nearly six-meter-long body, with five lizard-like grotesque heads stitched onto a body that seemed to be pieced together from different creatures, with even the stitches visible.


    That skeletal, almost skin-and-bone body was covered with sparse white scales, revealing large patches of wrinkled skin.


    In front of it were shattered bones and chunks of flesh, blood-stained surgical knives, silver needles, and saws, emitting a foul odor.


    The monster''s limbs were tightly bound to a metal platform, rusted iron shackles making it unable to move or break free. Each of its heads had its eyes closed, and its enormous body rose and fell, clearly in a state of deep sleep.


    "Wha... What the hell is this?"


    Mantou was pale with fright, the physiological disgust brought on by the monster was one thing, but the white scales evoked some unpleasant memories for him.


    "Look at this."


    Singo stepped forward and discovered a small plaque with inscriptions in front of the metal bed.


    "Number 66: [Five-Headed Dragon Monster]"


    "This work is dedicated to the great Five-Colored Dragon Queen."


    "Indeed, this is a failed creation. The filthy bloodline has not been purified by the noble Dragon Blood. It lacks intelligence and doesn''t even deserve to be called a Dragon species. Tiamat, forgive my blasphemy for creating this wretched imitation¡ªVagnard, December 1, Third Era 1387"


    Mantou patted his chest, still feeling frightened: "It''s another one of that old man''s monsters. Luckily, it''s still bound up, doesn''t seem to have any... illusion techniques or anything like that."


    Singo sneered, "Ha ha."


    The Natural War Maniac was puzzled, rubbing his bald head: "Did you guys encounter any illusory realm before? Why don''t I know about it?"


    "Uh¡ª"


    Before Singo could speak, Mantou dashed forward, covering his mouth with his hand, and forced out a smile,


    "No, no, nothing happened at all."


    However, he was too anxious and stepped on a scattered surgical knife, making a crisp clanging sound.


    "Ugh... Roar..."


    A low, raspy growl rose, not loud but extremely grating, as if resonating with the air.


    Mantou turned pale at once, cold sweat dripping down his face as he turned around.


    He saw the monster''s ten eyes open simultaneously, the elongated necks writhing uneasily. The skull-like gaunt heads were full of greed, with thick saliva dripping from their mouths.


    Since its creation, it had been abandoned by Vagnard, and had not eaten for who knows how many years. The "humans" before it were undoubtedly a feast, making it drool with anticipation.


    Mantou stammered, "It''s okay, it''s trapped here. There''s no way it can get out."


    But before he finished speaking, the shackles began to make creaking noises, with the metal platform shaking violently along with the monster''s body.


    "Crack!"


    A crisp sound rang out.


    The five-headed dragon monster''s desire to eat had become uncontrollable. It struggled continuously, its skeletal frame bursting with unimaginable strength, actually breaking those rusty metal shackles.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The five heads shook themselves, and the monster raised its heads, letting out an angry roar.


    Immediately, five greedy, fiery gazes turned to Mantou and the others, with corrosive spittle dripping to the ground, creating holes in the surface.


    Singo glared at the monster, gritting his teeth, "Mantou, I should have let War Maniac beat you to death earlier!"


    Mantou, crying without tears, retreated: "How was I supposed to know it would wake up so easily? This thing has terrible sleep quality!"


    "Get out of the way, let me handle it!"


    The Natural War Maniac unhesitatingly stood in front, gripping his battle axe and confronting the monster head-on. But without Summer Night Autumn Rain and lacking spells to boost them, even he could not single-handedly take on such a terrifying creature.


    [Five-Headed Dragon Monster]


    Challenge Level: 8 (3600 XP)


    "Damn, this is tricky."


    Singo spat, quickly took off the hunting longbow from his back, drew it, and aimed at the five-headed dragon monster. A purple Hunter''s Mark appeared on the monster.


    "Hrah¡ª¡ª"


    The Natural War Maniac let out a war cry, stomping the ground.


    His eyes turned red, steam rose from his body, and he entered a frenzied state, charging at the five-headed dragon monster with his battle axe.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The dragon monster roared hoarsely, its eyes gleaming with joy at the food delivered to its doorstep. It didn''t expect these "small fry" to rush forward unafraid of death.


    "Frenzied Strike!"


    The Natural War Maniac leaped high with his battle axe, aiming for one of the dragon monster''s necks.


    "Clang!"


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    Sparks flew as the axe struck the scales exactly.


    The Berserker''s strength, even through the scales, made the dragon monster feel intense pain, its flesh battered.


    The five-headed dragon monster roared, twisting its massive body. Two of its heads on the side extended, occupying the warrior''s view, launching a bite attack from above.


    If those sharp fangs pierced flesh, even the tough-skinned, thick-skinned Natural War Maniac would be impaled and killed instantly.


    Singo, observing from afar, shouted,


    "Mantou!"


    "I''m coming, War Maniac Bro!"


    Mantou seized the moment, charging from the side, stabbing his sword into the exposed skin of the five-headed dragon monster. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Actions Like Tides!"


    He activated the warrior''s ability, moving with incredible speed, making his arm nearly a blur as he slashed multiple times, carving bloody wounds on the monster.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    It howled in pain, raising its heads to the sky.


    But the dragon monster had five heads, and soon three heads targeted Mantou, sending giant claws stomping repeatedly.


    Despite using Actions Like Tides, Mantou struggled to avoid the relentless attacks, dodging and weaving like a grasshopper, utterly unable to retaliate.


    "Bang!"


    And the Natural War Maniac received special attention, taking a direct hit from the mighty tail, sent flying several meters. He rolled over a dozen times on the ground before crashing heavily into the wall.

 Chapter 129 Battle in the Tower

    Natural War Maniac had already crawled up from the ground, waving his battle axe, roaring as he charged at the five-headed dragon monster.


    "Ugly beast!"


    "Your War Maniac grandpa is here!"


    He hacked away at a menacing head that came at him and slashed at the long neck, but once again, another head slammed him away.


    Mantou scrambled to roll left, avoiding the monster''s bloodthirsty jaws, but still screamed as the splattering goo burned him.


    "This thing''s head is definitely stitched-on from a bipedal wyvern. I''m way too familiar with this corrosive stuff."


    Dodging another heavy stomp, he turned to the distant Xin Dog and couldn''t help but curse:


    "Damn, do something!"


    "I''m fighting for my life here with War Maniac Bro, Xin Dog, stop slacking off!"


    Xin Dog observed the chaotic battle from afar, Mantou and Natural War Maniac were completely suppressed by the five-headed dragon monster, and he couldn''t find the perfect moment to strike.


    This five-headed dragon monster had thick skin and scales; arrows wouldn''t cause enough damage unless they hit vital spots.


    "Without spellcasters, dealing with such a monster is really tough."


    Xin Dog waited for a moment, seeing the monster''s five heads lift up simultaneously, exposing their vulnerable throats, his eyes lit up.


    He immediately shouted:


    "Mantou, now!"


    "Give me a Dragon''s Roar!"


    Xin Dog had already used up his Dragon''s Roar charges for the day and was in recovery. But as a fellow Red Scale Conqueror, Mantou could also unleash a Dragon''s Roar, though its effect was much weaker without the resonance from a wyvern mount.


    "Damn, you''re giving commands now."


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    "You think this is Pok¨¦mon or what?"


    Mantou grumbled internally but didn''t dare pause. Instinctively, he opened his mouth wide and activated the skill instantly.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    With the activation of Dragon''s Roar Charge, a thunderous roar erupted from Mantou''s throat.


    That sound was akin to the roar of a red dragon, and the resulting force from Cassius''s strength made the five-headed dragon monster feel an immense bloodline pressure, freezing it in place with its heads held high.


    Xin Dog pulled out a gleaming black arrow from his quiver, etched with crack-like patterns.


    He drew his hunting longbow fully, aiming with just his right eye, and released the string within a single breath.


    "Whoosh¡ª¡ª"


    The arrow''s head split the air with a piercing whistle.


    That special arrow suddenly split into three mid-air, dispersing in different directions to pierce the throats of three heads of the dragon monster.


    The arrows tore through the thinner, unscaled skin of the throats, directly puncturing the filthy blood vessels and embedding deep into the grotesque heads.


    The Hunter''s Mark glowed faintly, with the spell''s power continuously tearing the already severe wounds, thoroughly shredding flesh and bone.


    Blood sprayed out.


    Three blood falls appeared in mid-air.


    The three grotesque heads of the dragon monster struggled in mid-air, flailing back and forth before hanging limp.


    Though this five-headed dragon monster was a stitched-together creature, each head had its own will, but their nerves had long been linked by Vagnard''s spell, and pain was shared.


    With three heads hit by the splitting arrows, the remaining two felt intense pain and immediately let out agonized howls.


    "Aaargh¡ª¡ª"


    Then, a horrifying scene unfolded: the remaining two heads bit off the dead ones, opened their mouths to a grotesque extent, and with a gulp, swallowed one of their own dead heads whole, even wanting to eat the next one.


    The monster''s consciousness had been replaced by a greedy desire to feed, rendering it irrational, enough to consume "itself" as food¡ªbut clearly, this did provide valuable energy.


    Xin Dog wanted to shoot another arrow while the monster fed, aiming to kill it in one shot, but his hand found an empty quiver.


    "Damn it!"


    He couldn''t help but curse aloud.


    His seemingly ample arrows were exhausted mid-battle!


    Mantou and Natural War Maniac came charging from the sides, but the monster''s thick tail swept them away, sending them both flying.


    The twin-headed dragon monster swallowed a mouthful of blood with a gulp, then lifted its head, locking its eyes on Xin Dog afar, a cunning gleam in its murky eyes¡ªit possessed a beast''s primal wisdom.


    The monster slightly opened its mouth, and cold air emerged from its throat.


    Xin Dog recognized the scene, recalling something, and urgently warned:


    "It''s frost breath!"


    The two heads of the monster simultaneously spewed forth frost-white breath, which covered everything in frost, even forming solid ice.


    Being hit by such a frost breath would likely turn one into an ice sculpture, losing life, and wasting the hard-earned dungeon opportunity!


    "Run!"


    Without hesitation, Xin Dog said.


    Frost chased him like a spreading road at visible speed.


    Mantou and Natural War Maniac saw this and quickly got up, following Xin Dog''s footsteps out the door¡ªthey weren''t in good shape either, running out of means, so they could only flee.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The dragon monster''s two heads raised and roared, clawing at the door, smashing the surrounding walls with its massive body.


    "We have to shake it off!"


    "Or we''ll be frozen and eaten eventually!"


    Mantou shouted anxiously, feeling his back chilling already.


    The monster''s claws and fangs swung in the air, barely missing the desperate Mantou several times.


    Xin Dog saw the long hallway ahead, noticing a huge hole, over ten meters high, in a distant wall.


    Different from the surrounding laboratories, this passage seemed to lead to the tower''s core, to Vagnard''s largest experiment lab.


    Xin Dog gritted his teeth and said:


    "Let''s bet! We go straight in!"


    Mantou narrowly dodged the frost breath, shouting hurriedly, "Okay, your call, don''t screw us over!"


    "Three, two, one."


    "Go!"


    At the moment they reached the passage, the three made a sharp turn, avoiding the monster''s claws, and slipped into the dark, deep hole.


    The monster instinctively wanted to pursue but froze at the entrance, seeing something frightening, retreated.


    It stayed clinging at the entrance, growling threats at the players inside.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    Panting, Mantou bent over, still taunting outside: "Ugly thing!"


    "Come in if you''ve got the guts!"


    "Roar!" Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The twin-headed dragon monster outside roared angrily with a furious face but remained fearful, not daring to step into the passage.

 Chapter 130 The Bound White Dragon

    Mantou looked at the furious double-headed dragon monster outside the cave entrance and showed a sly smile, not caring if the monster could understand Common Tongue.


    "Hehe, I love seeing you this mad, yet unable to touch me."


    "Weren''t you going to eat me?"


    But Singo ignored the monster directly. He frowned slightly and said to the Natural War Maniac beside him,


    "War Maniac, do you feel it? That monster... it''s afraid."


    "In the current situation, we can call it borrowing power to do evil. We are the fox, so where''s the tiger behind us?"


    The Natural War Maniac nodded solemnly and hesitated,


    "You''re saying... there might be an even more terrifying existence in this tunnel, one that even this dragon monster wouldn''t dare to approach.


    That''s definitely not something we can defeat."


    Singo gazed into the deep tunnel and revealed an extremely excited smile, "However, extreme risks often come with extreme rewards. We''ve come this far, dare to take the gamble?"


    The Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head and laughed, "Couldn''t ask for more."


    "Mantou, let''s go."


    Mantou, who was still verbally attacking the double-headed dragon monster, snapped back to reality with an "Oh" and followed along.


    The tunnel was still made of black metal, reflecting a cold glow under the flickering candlelight, impossible for ordinary creatures to break through.


    Yet the three saw deep claw marks all over the metallic walls, each several meters long, with dense indentations where teeth had bitten in, and even places where entire sections of the wall had been dented several feet deep, leaving craters nearly five meters in diameter.


    The floor was scattered with dried blood and broken white scales.


    It''s hard to imagine what kind of monstrous battle occurred here.


    Singo walked ahead, turned his head, and spoke in a trembling, excited voice.


    "Guys, if I''m not mistaken, there might be a dragon locked up in here!"


    "Hiss¡ª" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mantou gasped.


    He said nothing more and ran back to gather the scattered scales, counted them meticulously, then returned joyously, full of glee from the harvest.


    "Why are you all looking at me?"


    "These are rare materials, fallen off a dragon! If you don''t want them, plenty of people will. I''ll sell them to that bunch of idiots for magic coins; I''ll make a fortune."


    Singo sighed, face-palming lightly.


    "Alright..."


    "Now we need to discuss a strategy. Just based on us little four-level critters, how do we face¡ªa dragon?"


    The air turned silent.


    Mantou stammered, "How about... we just head back?"


    After all, since the beta test, players had only one reference point for dragons¡ªRed Dragon Cassius.


    This familiar leader''s performance during the Triel Conference could only be described as "exaggerated." His catastrophic fire tornado easily incinerated an army of tens of thousands. Videos of that war were even posted online, with bullet comments reading "Budget on fire" flooding the screen.


    And in the recently concluded "Battle of Glacier''s Demise," this Red Dragon showed overwhelming power again, creating a black storm that covered half of the Vaar Glacier and almost single-handedly destroyed the Frost Giant Tribe.


    Low-level professionals like them were merely insignificant digits in the face of such beings.


    However, the Natural War Maniac laughed heartily, "We''re already here; even if it means death, we''ve got to witness it."


    Singo turned to look at Mantou and taunted, "If you''re scared, feel free to head home."


    Mantou knew this was provocation, but still snorted, "Let''s go, whoever doesn''t dare is a coward."


    "Alright."


    The three walked deeper inside.


    The further they went, the more they felt an invisible pressure.


    That pressure was unavoidable, the very essence of Dragon Vein Magic from deep in their bloodline, causing a shudder from the soul.


    Dragon.


    Only a True Dragon could exert such a degree of suppression on lower beings.


    As if feeling the group''s approach, a repressed growl echoed down the tunnel. The sound was hoarse, seemingly from deep within the throat, carrying an indescribable chill that sent goosebumps all over.


    Singo broke into a cold sweat, but still managed to maintain his composure.


    "Keep moving."


    "It should be right ahead."


    They entered a spacious opening, and the scene before them suddenly expanded.


    Mantou''s eyes widened, and he couldn''t help but exclaim.


    "It''s really..."


    "A dragon."


    In the broad hall that spanned several hundred meters, a white dragon was coiled in the center.


    Its entire body was covered in shimmering white scales. Its enormous body, nearly fifteen meters long, was exceptionally robust, with a short neck and a thick tail.


    The dragon''s head had smooth contours, featuring a small, sharp beak-like nose, a pronounced jawline, a crown supported by backward-curving spines, scaly cheeks, spiky rags, and several teeth sticking out when its mouth was closed.


    ¡ªThis was a typical White Dragon, the weakest of the five-colored dragons, but still a creature that countless mortals looked up to, capable of bringing disaster to an entire northern town.


    At this moment, however, the White Dragon looked extremely pitiful. It was lying on a complex array and tightly bound by numerous ethereal magic chains, unable to move an inch. Dozens of needle tubes pierced through the gaps in its scales and deeply embedded in various parts of its body, continuously drawing its precious dragon blood into instruments.


    The immense dragon''s body was riddled with scars. Hundreds of scales on its side were torn off, the flesh underneath roughly gouged out, leaving several deep pits bleeding crimson blood.


    The ground was littered with all kinds of experimental instruments¡ªknives, needles, bone saws¡ªall clearly tested on this White Dragon.


    But even under such torture, the White Dragon retained incredible vitality. Although in a state of slumber, its heart''s deep thumping echoed in the hall, and the chilling breath emitted from its long breaths numbed their scalps.


    Mantou tiptoed closer carefully, spotting a metal plate standing in front of the White Dragon.


    Unlike the others they had seen before, this metal plate had vicious bite marks, mottled bloodstains, and broken cracks. Though patched up, it was still placed there.


    Number 1: [White Dragon "Tiniya"]


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    "She''s so beautiful"


    "I''m enamored with her slumbering form, even more with her frenzied struggle. Without the spell''s restraint, those claws and fangs would surely tear me to pieces."


    "Ah, she''s the most perfect specimen, leading me to the path of great evolution, a White Dragon with a trace of ancestral lineage. ¡ªVagnard, January 1, 1346, Third Era"

 Chapter 206 131. Vagnard

    Mantou, learning from last time''s lesson, quietly retreated and whispered:


    "What should we do?"


    Singo rubbed his chin, analyzing the situation.


    "It seems... this White Dragon is trapped by Vagnard and used as an experimental subject. The monsters we''ve seen earlier probably all stem from this White Dragon''s bloodline, you could even say they''re its offspring."


    The Natural War Maniac pointed to the transparent container connected by hundreds of pipes and said:


    "That should be the Dragon''s True Blood."


    It''s important to know that for native dragons, only their Dragon''s True Blood can create Dragon Vein Creatures. It''s a precious product that they condense all their magical energy to transport through their unique blood vessels. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Vagnard inserted nearly a hundred pipes into the base blood vessels, greedily draining the True Blood from this White Dragon.


    Singo stared intently at the sleeping White Dragon, suddenly grinning. He turned to Mantou beside him and said, "Mantou, interested in... destroying that old beast''s century-old collection, or even releasing this White Dragon to cause trouble for that bastard who''s using his own daughter for experiments?"


    Mantou, already excited about it, eagerly replied, "Absolutely!"


    "Here you go!"


    Singo rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a few round metallic balls and handing them to Mantou, then turned to the Natural War Maniac and said:


    "War Maniac Bro, smash that blood vat for me!"


    "On it!"


    The Natural War Maniac wielded his battle axe with all his might and struck the transparent container.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    The container was fortified with magic runes, far more robust than ordinary glass. But under the Barbarian''s repeated blows, first, tiny white dots appeared on the container''s side, then turned into radiating cracks, which grew larger and larger until the container shattered completely, and the magic-element-infused Dragon Blood gushed out.


    Singo hurriedly stepped forward and filled several pre-prepared bottles with the Dragon Blood, then allowed the precious True Blood to overflow onto the ground.


    The Natural War Maniac continued smashing those hair-raising experimental instruments, using pure strength to turn those meticulously tuned devices into a wreck.


    The slumbering White Dragon was finally awakened by the commotion caused by the players.


    It opened its eyes and slowly struggled to rise. The magical chains binding it shook violently, and the pipes inserted into its body swayed along. The magic circle beneath it flickered with intense spell radiance, but ultimately, it tied the White Dragon down again, forcing it to lie back down.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The White Dragon''s struggle ended in failure once more as it turned its head.


    Its vertical pupils fixated on the players before it, revealing a long-suppressed frenzy in its eyes.


    Mantou was startled by those icy eyes and instinctively raised his hand in a mock military salute, reciting hastily, "Don''t eat me, Brother Dragon, no, Sister."


    "I''m a Dragonborn, just here to smash some stuff and annoy that old pervert. We''re on the same side."


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    The White Dragon didn''t respond, only letting out a raging roar. Its enormous body struggled again, its scales almost standing on end.


    But its gaze wasn''t on the players; it was staring at a spot behind them¡ªa carved, sinister dragon-head altar.


    Singo realized the roar wasn''t aimed at the players but something behind them.


    He quickly led the group to hide aside, peeking out carefully¡ª


    They saw ripples in the space, followed by a pair of menacing claws tearing the space open, creating jagged cracks.


    A man emerged from the dark void.


    He wore a black robe, his face shrouded in some kind of fog, and there was a rusty medal on his chest, embossed with flames burning on a dragon claw, surrounded by eyeballs.


    The man, or rather Vagnard, let out a sinister laugh.


    "Ah, I''m back."


    "Long time no see, my dear ''Sleeping Beauty''."


    "Roar!"


    The White Dragon''s vertical pupils were filled with fury. If looks could kill, it would have devoured the distant robed man whole. The White Dragon let out suppressed, rasping growls, its enormous body struggling violently, thrashing and constantly clashing against its restraints, ignoring the deep bloody marks left behind.


    The robed man didn''t care, saying indulgently:


    "Haha, all these years, you still love to throw tantrums."


    He chuckled softly and raised his hand slightly.


    The [Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle] beneath the White Dragon emitted shocking magical aurora, countless new chains rose from the ground, wrapping around the White Dragon''s bruised and battered body. The magical chains were solid like never before, tangling tighter and tighter, almost wrapping the White Dragon entirely.


    The White Dragon''s scales were crushed, even its bones creaked under the pressure.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    Its head drooped, neck weakly pressed against the ground, and a mournful cry echoed from its throat.


    Vagnard calmly walked forward, gently stroking the small, sharp beak-like protrusion on the White Dragon''s nose.


    "Tiniya, my most precious specimen, are you finally willing to surrender willingly?"


    At that moment, the White Dragon, which had just been on the verge of death, suddenly erupted, straining its neck to its fullest and opening its jaws wide to bite the robed man.


    "Roar!"


    However, it bit down with all its might and snapped at the empty air, the collision of its interlocking teeth producing a crisp "clack."


    The White Dragon''s mouth was left with only a cloud of blurry mist.


    And Vagnard had already reappeared dozens of meters away.


    He laughed manically, clapping his hands repeatedly and trembling with excitement:


    "Haha, hahaha!"


    "Excellent! That''s right. This is the dragon I adore. I love watching you struggle desperately, it''s¡ªso beautiful! Just like when that Red Dragon devoured Catherine over a century ago, that scene etched deeply in my mind, unparalleled by any artwork, unforgettable forever."


    "Come on, use all your strength to tear me apart! It would be best if you could devour me alive!"


    "I will cheer, revel in ecstasy for it!"


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    Vagnard spread his arms wide toward the White Dragon, like a zealot in a pilgrimage, while the White Dragon continued smashing against the magic circle''s restraints, eyes brimming with immense hatred, relentlessly trying to attack Vagnard.


    The scene looked rather bizarre.


    Mantou, hiding in the shadows, couldn''t help but feel a shiver down his spine, thinking: "This guy... is a pure madman!"


    As if sensing something, Vagnard''s tone paused.


    "But before we enjoy some happy moments, let''s deal with the little rats that have broken in."


    "Such naughty little beings, messing up my home."


    The voice had a hint of gritted teeth.

 Chapter 132 Dragon Shifting

    Vagnard''s eyes turned into a black corridor lined with teeth. His gaze was like an abyss, drawing people into a bottomless chasm.


    It was the same sixth-tier spell that had instantly killed the Natural War Maniac.


    [Heart-Capturing Gaze]


    Mantou recognized this spell and, afraid someone might fall for it again, hurriedly shouted:


    "Get away! Don''t look him in the eye!"


    The three players quickly and without hesitation dodged in different directions, not giving Vagnard any chance to cast the spell.


    "Oh? It seems you''ve met my soul division."


    Vagnard seemed a bit surprised, then nonchalantly tapped the Dragon Shaman Cult emblem on his chest.


    As his knuckles lightly tapped it, flickering ethereal waves spread out rapidly like ripples, leaving nowhere to hide.


    The ethereal light eventually formed a massive emblem on the ground, resembling a single eye, enveloping everyone within.


    [Mark of Fear]


    It was yet another sixth-tier spell!


    The three caught within the spell''s range immediately fell into an extreme state of terror, as if seeing something unimaginably horrifying. Their bodies, which had been fleeing in panic, froze in place, trembling uncontrollably.


    "Come out, my faithful hounds. Bring these guys to me."


    "I smell dragon blood." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Vagnard snapped his fingers.


    Under the spell''s influence, several iron cages around them suddenly opened, and from the darkness came a cacophony of barks, mixed with the imposing tones of a dragon''s roar.


    Several dragonized hound demons, about five to six meters long, darted out of the darkness. Drool hung from their mouths, their tongues lolled to the side, and their jagged teeth were as sharp as knives. Their triangular eyes glowed with a wildness and uncontrollable power.


    Their bodies were solid and muscular, their skin covered with sparse scales stained with blood, exuding a nauseating stench.


    "My dear pets haven''t eaten in such a long time."


    "But they''ll have to wait until I''m done studying them. Only then will I reward them with the leftover scraps. Such good specimens mustn''t be wasted."


    Vagnard, ignoring the sticky fluid covering their bodies, affectionately stroked the ferocious creatures. Leaning close to one dragonized hound demon''s ear, he whispered in fluent Draconic:


    "Capture them alive."


    "Aroo¡ªhowl!"


    The dragonized hound demons let out excitable howls.


    Receiving their orders, they went wild, flashing their teeth, drooling, their fur and scales standing on end. Their blood-red eyes focused on the three players, who had just managed to break free from their panic, and chased them relentlessly.


    Vagnard remained behind, "kindly" reminding them:


    "Make sure the specimens stay alive. Missing an arm or a leg is normal, though."


    "Go."


    Hearing his words, the dragonized hound demons grew even more excited, charging forward with feral yelps, as if they intended to tear everything to pieces.


    Mantou ran desperately, but two legs were no match for four. A hound demon sprang like a spring, leaping over fifty meters and pinning him to the ground. Its foul breath, mixed with thick drool, sprayed onto his face, making his scalp tingle.


    "Damn, what the hell is this thing?"


    On the other side, Singo dodged left and right, rolling repeatedly and narrowly avoiding the hound demon''s attacks.


    But soon, two more hound demons surrounded him from different directions, forcing him to stay still, fearing they might rip off his limbs if he tried to resist.


    "Arrrgh¡ª"


    The Natural War Maniac let out a furious shout, forcefully prying apart the massive claws of the hound demon.


    But the hound demon simply snorted, its taut muscles bulging slightly. The sheer weight of several tons pressed down, instantly pinning the Natural War Maniac to the ground, leaving him no room to resist.


    The dragonized hound demons carried the players back to Vagnard from different directions, looking fiercely satisfied.


    Vagnard scrutinized the players before him.


    "Excellent, very good."


    "The information from my soul division was correct. So, it really is the Red Dragon''s bloodline. It indeed is different!"


    He stared into Mantou''s eyes, speaking each word clearly:


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    "Tell me, what happened to my soul division I left here before it died?"


    Mantou, however, kept his eyes closed, refusing to look at him.


    "Now''s the time!"


    Singo shouted from a distance.


    In one hand, he pulled the pin of a shock grenade he had prepared in advance. The strong vibration and flash of light disoriented even the hound demons.


    Singo seized the opportunity to break free of the hound demon''s restraints, throwing a syringe filled with Dragon''s True Blood like a dart directly at Mantou.


    "Whoosh¡ª"


    The sharp needle pierced the skin, injecting the liquid into his body. The blood containing a sliver of Ancestral Dragon power merged with his veins, fusing with the original Red Dragon bloodline, causing an intense reaction.


    "Roar!"


    Mantou threw his head back, letting out an enraged roar.


    Perhaps due to the player''s digitized body, perhaps due to Cassius''s unique Bloodline Gift, the previously incompatible Red Dragon and White Dragon bloodlines didn''t reject each other. Instead, they blended together, their draconic essence rapidly evolving, generating immense power.


    Dozens of messages refreshed on Mantou''s interface.


    [You have accepted the special item [Diluted Ancestral Dragon True Blood]]


    [Your [Dragon Bloodline] has been enhanced]


    [You have gained a bloodline transcendence effect]


    [You have gained the special ability: [Dragon Shifting]]


    [At the cost of your life, you can transform into a [Young Dragon Form], lasting three minutes]


    [Note: When you respawn, you will revert to your original form and need to consume life again to unlock this form]


    Mantou''s entire body underwent a dramatic transformation. The immense bloodline power wantonly altered his physique, his once upright body shifting to move on all fours. A tail extended from his coccyx, the bones in his back protruding until they pierced through the skin, forming fresh, bloody wing membranes.


    At this moment, consuming all his vitality and undergoing a bloodline transcendence, he became an actual young dragon.


    The dragonified Mantou let out an immature roar, thinking to himself: "Damn, I''m invincible now!"


    The newly transformed young dragon twisted its body. The overwhelming draconic power allowed him to easily escape from the confused hound demon''s grasp.


    "Rua!"


    "I''ve become a dragon!"


    "Die, you old bastard who experimented on your own daughter!"


    The young dragon Mantou clumsily flapped his wings, aggressively charging at the black-robed mage with claws bared.


    Vagnard merely lifted his head slightly. As if seeing a priceless treasure, he remained rooted in place, forgetting to dodge.


    "Finally found it..."


    "Such a perfect masterpiece..."


    "I must have it."


    He stared vacantly at the charging Mantou, muttering to himself. His tone was filled with extreme obsession and fervor, enough to send chills down one''s spine.

 Chapter 133 Self-Destruction

    Just as Mantou was about to pounce on him, Vagnard still didn''t react. He even started to chuckle.


    "Hahaha, hahaha!"


    "I''ve finally found the perfect experimental subject!"


    That nearly inhuman face, covered in white scales, emerged from beneath the hood, looking especially horrifying.


    Vagnard gently lifted his hand. A faint red Spell Radiance flashed in his murky eyes, and that power was transmitted through his fingertips to the target.


    [Mind Remote Control]


    The dragonling that Mantou had transformed into was controlled by that powerful telekinesis, coming to a halt in midair.


    Though it temporarily possessed the Red Dragon''s strength, after all, it was just a young dragon, about the size of a horse. It didn''t have the power to resist this mighty spell and could only struggle and twist in the air, continuously spewing flames and filthy curses from its throat.


    "Old beast, when I get out, I''m going to sew your mouth to your **!"


    "I ******!"


    Vagnard gave no response to this, acting as if he hadn''t heard. He simply stared obsessively at that dragon body.


    His focus wasn''t on Mantou, but on the body that had perfectly absorbed the dragon bloodline, which intoxicated him immensely.


    "From my awakening up to now, it has been over a hundred years, with 36,714 experiments."


    "Never has there been such a perfect product."


    "This is the will of the world. It, it will grant me the greatest evolution!"


    Vagnard''s voice trembled, like a zealot witnessing a miracle. His gaze at Mantou grew greedier, as if he wanted to suck out its marrow and devour it alive.


    "Come on, child, resist."


    "Look at this fascinating strength, like a true giant dragon."


    "I will discover your secrets and turn you into nourishment for my great evolution."


    Mantou noticed Vagnard''s gaze and felt his hair stand on end. At that moment, he finally understood Swashbuckler''s feeling of being "targeted" by a pure old pervert.


    Singo reminded from afar: "Mantou! Don''t forget what I gave you!"


    Only then did Mantou remember that he had the rune gunpowder bomb!


    Just as Vagnard thought victory was in his grasp, standing unguarded in front of him.


    Such a good opportunity, how could he miss it!


    Mantou gritted his teeth, fumbled out the rune gunpowder bomb in mid-air, and screamed hysterically:


    "Damn it, I can''t take it anymore. I''ll blow up with you, beast!"


    "Rua! Activate backup hidden energy!"


    "No¡ª¡ª"


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    Vagnard immediately sensed danger, but before he could stop it, Mantou triggered the bomb, causing a direct explosion.


    A few oddly shaped metal balls were instantly triggered, their engraved runes flashing brilliantly.


    With a deafening sound, a massive fireball formed in mid-air. The intense explosion engulfed Mantou, Vagnard, the Hound Demon, and others in hot flames. The resulting dust cloud shrouded most of the laboratory.


    The smoke slowly dispersed.


    A huge pit had been blown open in the ground. If not for the sufficiently thick floor designed to trap dragons, the explosion might have pierced the tower, causing the ground to collapse to the level below.


    The young dragon Mantou had transformed into was blown to pieces, lying in the ruins.


    The Hound Demon behind him was also turned into a heap of charred meat by the powerful bomb.


    But the black-robed man still stood in place, even standing on air. An orb-shaped shield surrounded him, flashing with Magical Aura.


    That was the classic permanent spell combination of a High Rank Archmage, [Trigger Spell] chained to [Orthluck Elastic Sphere], effectively granting them an extra life, making them difficult to harm with ordinary ambush tactics.


    "As expected of a mage boss, it''s not so simple, huh..."


    Singo murmured as he stared at the unharmed mage.


    But at this moment, Vagnard''s hideous and ugly face didn''t show any relief from escaping an ambush. Instead, it twisted in anger, his eyes blood red, veins bulging on his forehead, nearly losing his sanity.


    "Damn, damn it!"


    "Why do you resist! I need a living experimental subject!"


    "I will find his secrets!"


    "No, no, there''s still a chance. He still has companions. As long as I capture them alive¡ª"


    Vagnard hurriedly turned his head, intending to cast a spell to seize the two.


    Only to see the two players holding rune gunpowder bombs that had already been activated and were beeping in their arms.


    Singo grinned ferociously at Vagnard, not forgetting to mock:


    "Does it feel good to be bombed, old beast!"


    "We''re inviting you to a fireworks show!"


    Vagnard extended a finger, releasing a green ray, shouting anxiously:


    "Stop it!"


    That was the Sixth Tier spell [Disintegrate], capable of disassembling inanimate matter. If the ray touched the rune gunpowder bombs, they would instantly disintegrate into mere fragments.


    But his spell was a step too late.


    The moment that green ray was released, the two had already transformed into brilliant fireballs, along with the explosion of the rune gunpowder bombs, turning to ashes and giving Vagnard no chance. They even destroyed the surrounding experimental equipment. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Damn, damn it all."


    "I, I will find a more perfect sample!"


    Vagnard slumped to the ground, his body trembling under the black robe, as if he had fallen into madness.


    "Roar¡ª¡ª"


    At this moment, a roar came from the distance. The White Dragon struggled violently, and the chains entwining its body loosened slightly.


    The successive self-detonations of the three players had destroyed part of the [Vagnard''s Dragon Binding Magic Circle] on the ground, giving the White Dragon a bit of a chance to escape. Imprisoned for a hundred years, it couldn''t wait to seize this precious opportunity, struggling with all its strength to shake this dreadful Array.


    Vagnard''s face was ashen, his expression incomparably hideous, wildly pounding the ground with dull thudding sounds.


    "Tiniya, even you... you want to resist me?"


    "Why, why are you all unwilling to sacrifice for my great evolution!"


    "Catherine was like this, Valena was like this, those intruders were like this, and even you are the same!"


    After venting wildly, Vagnard''s expression gradually turned indifferent. He slowly climbed up from the ground, coldly watching the White Dragon struggling like a trapped beast.


    "It seems, I have to give you a little punishment."


    The black-robed mage lightly raised his hand, and countless hideous, scaled and distorted limbs rose from the ground.


    "Howl¡ª¡ª"


    The cold wind howled through the Kalka Mountains, snowflakes falling.


    Snow covered the undulating mountains.


    In the deepest part of those mountains, inside the black tower known as the "Polar Night Demon Tower," a terrifying roar once again resounded, incessantly echoing. If noticed by a passerby, it would undoubtedly give rise to countless terrifying legends.

 Chapter 134 Checking the Gains

    A few hours later, as tiny particles of light gathered, the three were resurrected together in Northwind Castle.


    This ancient teleportation circle was heavily guarded, with Mezulash assigning the most elite and reliable Tiefling soldiers to its protection. They were well aware of these "Starfallen''s" miraculous abilities, including their "resurrection." As long as the players didn''t break any rules, the soldiers would turn a blind eye.


    As experienced "public servants," Mantou and Singo were already familiar with the soldiers guarding the respawn point.


    "Yo, Kailon, you''re on duty today?"


    The Tiefling guard called "Kailon" nodded politely in response.


    "All good, another normal day, no strange Starfallen." Kailon thought to himself.


    He was relieved to encounter normal players. You never knew what you might see here¡ªlast time, a player walked out of the array in broad daylight completely naked, indifferent to the Tiefling''s lack of "Holy Light" as they paraded their unclothed body. It was an eyesore!


    Whenever he recalled that scene, his hand holding the spear would tremble slightly.


    If not for the rules, he would''ve loved to stab that indecent fellow to death.


    Yet again, light particles gathered within the circle, forming an unconstrained, shamelessly naked body in midair. It symbolized humanity''s primal pursuit of freedom, contorting the Tiefling guard''s expression into a grimace.


    The player still had the familiar ID¡ª[Wings of Freedom], a figure revered by many beta testers as Holy Light Bro.


    Due to the special nature of the Druid''s wild form, Holy Light Bro often charged into the front lines of various battles as a giant bear. Death was a routine matter for him, which led to his one-sided acquaintance with the guards stationed there.


    "I heard the NPCs here are highly intelligent, forming good relationships with them might be beneficial," he thought.


    Thus, the stark-naked Holy Light Bro "amicably" waved at the guard.


    "Yo, it''s you again. Long time no see."


    Kailon''s face immediately darkened, and his expression twisted with gritted teeth. To him, this was a blatant provocation, in the literal sense.


    "Restrain, must not stab him to death."


    "But this Starfallen, he truly deserved to die¡ª" The Tiefling guard thought as he gripped his spear so tightly his hands trembled, watching Holy Light Bro scratch his head in confusion from a distance.


    .....


    Mantou and the others couldn''t wait to return to their temporary base and start tallying their spoils.


    Due to death penalties, Mantou, who had accumulated less experience, dropped directly to level three, while Singo and Natural War Maniac barely managed to stay at level four.


    But these penalties didn''t bother them much.


    After all, they were professional gamers participating in high-level battles, far superior to most average players who just coasted along.


    At the moment, Mantou''s backpack was already filled with precious White Dragon Scales. His panel showed the trait [Thin Ancestral Dragon Bloodline], with his base attributes significantly boosted, and he even gained the unprecedented [Dragon Shifting] ability.


    He had also received a hidden quest reward.


    Hidden Quest: [Explore the Polar Night Demon Tower]


    Investigate the truth behind the Polar Night Demon Tower (1/1)


    This tower, located deep within the Kalka Mountains, was one of the haunting legends of the North. Many adventurers sought its treasures, but they all became fodder for the tower''s monsters, sometimes transformed into half-human, half-dragon creatures that roamed the tower, wailing miserably.


    Reward: 1000xp


    Passive Trait: [Black Tower Explorer]


    Proficient Skills: Insight +1, Investigation +1, Perception +1


    Mantou was elated, his face full of harvest joy.


    "Whoa, we''ve hit the jackpot this time!"


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his shiny bald head: "Ha, it wasn''t a wasted death, especially for Mantou, who made a killing."


    Singo suddenly reminded, "Hasn''t it been a while since you updated your video?"


    "Ah, update?"


    "I almost forgot¡ªI''ve been so busy gaming. The last update was... a month ago?"


    Mantou smacked his forehead and chuckled awkwardly. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    He could already imagine the barrage of comments like "Lock Mantou in a small black room" and "Send razor blades" from his fans, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.


    What was wrong with that?


    He was just a creator who wanted to game freely!


    Singo patted his shoulder and said calmly, "This dungeon run is great material, you can show off your new ability."


    Mantou asked in surprise, "Do it now? You don''t want to hog the dungeon resources?"


    Singo said helplessly, "I have some self-awareness; this dungeon''s difficulty is beyond us. The NPC intelligence in this game is ridiculously high, almost like real life. We got lucky this time, but next time, if that Mage is prepared with all his high-level spells, we''ll be easily taken out."


    "Alright, I''ll edit it tonight."


    Mantou scratched his head, speaking nonchalantly.


    He then realized that the hand patting his shoulder remained there, squeezing harder and causing pain.


    Singo murmured, "Do you remember those fifteen Gold Coins?"


    "Come on, no hitting below the belt!"


    "I''ll pay you back!"


    ...


    After going bankrupt to pay off his debt, tearfully pawning all his Dragon Scales to Singo, Mantou finally escaped the clutches and stayed up late to edit the video.


    He uploaded the video at three in the morning, giving it a clickbait title.


    Mysterious Black Tower Howls at Night, Who''s the Culprit? Beastly Mage Transforming His Own Daughter, Is It a Twist of Humanity or Moral Decay?¡ªAll in "Elzegai Diary, Issue 8: Explore the Polar Night Demon Tower."


    Mantou''s previous video had amassed a lot of views, attracting nearly 100,000 curious players on top of his old fans. Though he hadn''t updated in a while, the moment he released the video, fans and intrigued newcomers immediately clicked on it.


    "The truly missing person returns!"


    "Mantou finally resurrected?"


    "It''s been a month! Do you know how long I''ve been waiting?"


    "People, calm down. Let me clarify: Mantou isn''t dead, he was just locked in a small black room and tortured by me. I just let him out after having my fill, just so you know."


    "Hahaha, the previous guy is such a weirdo."


    "Mantou is dead, burn paper if necessary, call his soul for small matters, dig up his grave for big ones, if you see him again, he must be resurrected."


    Mantou''s mischievous face appeared on the screen once more.


    "Welcome to the long-awaited ''Elzegai Diary,'' Issue 8, I''m Mantou."


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 Chapter 135 Erezer Diary

    "Ahaha, everyone, long time no see! I''ve been busy gathering material to give you all better videos, so I haven''t updated in a while. Sorry to keep you waiting."


    Mantou had an awkward smile on his face in the video.


    "I don''t believe you! Dog author, take this!"


    "Even though it''s a bit outdated, I still have to say this: the king of heaven covers the tiger, Mantou''s charisma is five!"


    "The blades have already been sent, please sign for them."


    "Why did I see you riding a wyvern and slacking off in someone else''s video every day?"


    Then Mantou immediately got into character, his tone becoming generous and passionate, somewhat like a storyteller slamming the table: "Mysterious Black Tower hears howls in the night. Who is behind the scenes causing trouble? A mage transforms his own daughter; is it a twist of humanity or a loss of morality?"


    "Are you playing awkward?"


    The camera switched to Mantou''s first-person perspective.


    The video was edited by Mantou from his personal experiences, with post-production voiceovers added. It was mainly a casual chat and banter.


    The content started with their encounter with the dragonified gnolls. The three-man team displayed their individual skills, cooperating to kill several monsters. However, overwhelmed by the gnolls calling for reinforcements and sheer numbers, they had to flee in a panic, accompanied by Mantou''s rising and falling voice-over.


    "Watch closely here. I fought three gnolls alone, cut down two with one sword, and scared off another with my strong presence, saving Xin Dog from danger once again. I stood with my sword, surrounded by dozens of gnolls that dared not approach me. This must be the demeanor of a master from martial arts novels... But the enemy numbers were overwhelming, and my teammates couldn''t keep up with my pace.


    Even with my strength, I had no choice but to make a strategic retreat."


    The bullet comments were full of roasts.


    "Adding extra stuff secretly, huh?"


    "What about Autumn Rain? If she''s not there, I''ll unfollow."


    "What kind of master stands with a sword and gasps for breath?"


    The scene changed to Mantou meeting the snow house girl. She kindly offered Mantou a cup of hot tea, but the scene of Mantou being tricked was secretly deleted by someone. The image switched, and the girl revealed her disguise, turning into a terrifying monster.


    Special post-editing techniques were used here, overlapping the hideous dragonified monster and the clean girl, switching back and forth between the cold metal chamber and the cozy wooden house. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire


    In the end, Mantou and Singo luckily escaped from the monster''s clutches, finding a hidden room and discovering Valena''s Diary. It detailed how Valena went from an innocent girl with beautiful dreams of the future to being transformed step-by-step, ultimately becoming a fully dragonified monster.


    "When I turned to the last page of the diary, I was already horrified. We then realized Valena was real, and the monsters were real too. Who would have thought that the so-called ''daddy'' in the diary actually transformed his own daughter into a monster!"


    At this point, Mantou''s tone also held a suppressed anger.


    The bullet comments surged into a frenzy.


    "Beast!"


    "This guy even laid hands on his own daughter. Worse than an animal!"


    "Chilling! Did Valena eat Mary?"


    "So painful¡ªmy dear Valena!"


    "Who wants to team up for this dungeon! I want to chop this boss into pieces!"


    Next, the two encountered a second wave of dragonified monsters, and joined forces with Natural War Maniac. Mantou''s itchy hands triggered the Soul-Devouring Pot, getting possessed by Vagnard''s soul division, and the three were easily wiped out.


    "Is this boss''s duplicate that strong?"


    "Damn, Archmage!"


    However, the next scene unfolded from Mantou''s blurry view within the pot, giving the audience a fresh experience. Mantou also took this chance to share his various guesses, specifically mentioning Cassius.


    The mysterious disappearance of the soul division, the trio awoke, and met the imprisoned White Dragon at the top of the tower. Then they battled Vagnard''s true form, the scene cutting off abruptly with Mantou''s intense explosion.


    "Explode! Blow him up hard!"


    "Blow that bastard to pieces!"


    Eventually, Mantou''s mischievous face reappeared on the screen. He specifically recorded the rewards for triggering the hidden task, the exclusive trait he obtained, and the much-envied Dragon Shifting ability. He even showcased his inventory full of White Dragon Scales.


    Although those scales no longer belonged to him, at least he could show off to the audience.


    "Suck!"


    "Suck Mantou dry!"


    "Seeing Mantou get loot feels worse than me getting nothing!"


    This flaunting overflowed on the screen, creating a wave of envy in the bullet comments.


    At the end of the video, Mantou said: "That''s all for this video. Everyone, do you want to avenge Valena? Want to gain the cool Dragon Shifting ability? Want to grab lots of White Dragon materials? Want to learn high-level spells? Go to the Polar Night Demon Tower, I left everything there!"


    "Playing awkward again?"


    "I don''t care, I must go and see!"


    "When is the official release? I really want to play..."


    "No way, has anyone not played Elzegai yet?"


    This video once again broke boundaries.


    Valena''s cries of "big brother" were mentioned on many platforms, becoming an object of pity, while Vagnard was nailed to the internet''s pillar of shame, despised by millions. This breakthrough further boosted Elzegai''s popularity, with over five million public test reservations.


    Players were more pragmatic, focusing on the new dungeon¡ªthe Polar Night Demon Tower.


    Located in the depths of the mountains, the Black Tower. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A captured White Dragon, a mysterious mage.


    And¡ªextremely generous rewards.


    The rewards Mantou received were incredibly generous, not only a hidden task and rare materials but also the game-changing Dragon Shifting ability, causing intense envy. Even large guilds were green with jealousy, and had started organizing manpower to raid the dungeon.


    Rumor had it that the Royalty Guild''s tyrant had gathered a hundred players, determined to obtain a share of Dragon Blood.


    After all, it''s a dragon, even the smallest hatchling is far beyond the reach of an ordinary player. What''s more, this ability might have future advancements, possibly even becoming an adult Red Dragon!"


    And Cassius, being mentioned multiple times by Vagnard, sparked intense discussions among story enthusiasts and combat fans. The buzz around this famous faction boss rose again, with debates like "Cassius vs. Void Whale: Who is stronger?" appearing on forums.

 Chapter 1 - 1: The Boss is Actually Myself

    Chapter 1: Chapter 1: The Boss is Actually Myself


    ¡°Roar¨D¨D¨D¡±


    A tremendous roar echoed from the distance.


    It made the mountains tremble, the earth shake, birds and beasts fled in terror, and awoke the young beast in the depths of the cave, leaving it bewildered.


    ¡°Hiss¡­¡±


    ¡°What on earth is happening?¡±


    Lin Kai felt as if he had just woken up from a nightmare, his mind still foggy.


    ...


    But before him was not the familiar room, nor the high-tech gaming pod and its equipment.


    Instead, there was a dark, warm cave, hard rocks, and even a few scattered Gold Coins.


    ¡°Where is this?¡±


    Lin Kai felt like his head was splitting, countless memories flooded into his mind. There were scenes of magic from fantasy novels, as well as his past experiences as a player.


    He only remembered that he had taken a rich player¡¯s task to collect Hill Giant fingers, heading to Giant Canyon and fought for over eight hours straight.


    In the end, his body couldn¡¯t hold up, so he left his character idling to get some rest, planning to wake up and get back into the gaming pod.


    When he opened his eyes, he found himself in this strange place, and his body felt off.


    He struggled to his feet, instinctively walking on all fours toward a nearby puddle.


    ¡°A dragon?¡±


    What appeared before him was a ¡°beast¡± covered in fine red scales, with menacing golden vertical pupils.


    The three-meter-long body was still somewhat juvenile, but many parts showed signs of ferocity, with dense sharp teeth, keen claws, and powerful limbs as the best proof.


    Yes, it was a young dragon.


    Moreover, it was a Red Dragon, the strongest and most ferocious among the five-colored dragons.


    Its mouth brimmed with sulfuric breath, its throat seemed to harbor a volcano ready to erupt at any moment, which made Lin Kai feel very uncomfortable.


    He couldn¡¯t help but sneeze, a burst of steaming hot air and smoke spewed from his nostrils.


    A semi-transparent blue screen suddenly floated before his eyes.


    [Young Red Dragon]


    Name: Cassius Claudius Norixius


    Template: NPC (10 years, 1 day, and 18 hours until servers open)


    Category: Large dragons, Lawful Neutral


    AC: 18 (natural armor)


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª21


    Agility¡ª¡ª10


    Constitution¡ª¡ª18


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª12


    Perception¡ª¡ª11


    Charisma¡ª¡ª14


    Skill Proficiency: Stealth +4, Perception +8, Hunting +2, Escape +4, Knowledge (Future) +4


    Damage Immunities: Fire


    Senses: Blindsight 10, Dark Vision 60, Passive Perception 14


    Languages: Draconic, Common


    Abilities: Bite, Clawing, Tail Attack, Flight, Breath Attack (fire)


    Feats: None


    Challenge Level: 6 (2100 XP)


    Assessment: ¡°The powerful claws and teeth of a Red Dragon are enough to become an adventurer¡¯s nightmare. They often use breath attacks or other special physical attacks, as well as ancient magic. Never underestimate a young Red Dragon; otherwise, it will become your lifelong nightmare.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve transmigrated to Erezer?¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ve become Brother Kai?¡±


    Looking at this information for a while, Lin Kai, or Cassius, finally sorted out his thoughts and understood his current situation.


    He then fell into memories of his past life.


    ¡°Erezer¡± was a holographic game based on the 20th-century ¡°Dungeons and Dragons¡± (D&D).


    This mysterious game, with an unknown publisher, featured black technology, claiming to create a real world for players, with a global peak of tens of millions of simultaneous online players.


    Ordinary people to social elites and even business and political tycoons were immersed in it; some spent their entire days in the gaming pod, except for meals and sleep.


    Surrounding this epic creation, a huge market was born, with game updates affecting world markets. A piece of legendary equipment could be sold for millions, likened to a new-age Bitcoin, attracting more people to dive into the game¡ªhe was one of them.


    ¡°Brother Kai¡± was now him, with the true name of Cassius Claudius Norixius, the first world boss in ¡°Erezer¡± version 1.0 ¨C ¡°Anzeta Tempest,¡± an evil Red Dragon who signed a pact with abyssal demons. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had countless titles: The Fire of Rekindling, Mountain¡¯s Wrathful Flame, Harvester of Players¡¯ Lives, Newbie¡¯s Nightmare.


    In the early game, during the ¡°Winter Rage¡± quest, thousands of newly entered players were tormented by the Red Dragon¡¯s flames, agonized yet unable to harm the dragon soaring in the sky.


    Players died dozens of times each, their charred bodies piled up like mountains, including many future renowned professional gamers. Ultimately, it was brute force and suicide attacks that brought him down.


    This glorious achievement earned Cassius the immortal title¡ª¡±Brother Kai.¡±


    Even now, with the game in version 4.0, level caps raised to 20, players exploring the star realm, cross-planar missions, and the multiverse, tales of Brother Kai were still told: the story of a Red Dragon roasting experts into heaps of charred bodies.


    ¡°Brother Kai¡¯s BBQ, unparalleled in the world.¡±


    But when was the current timeline?


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    A roar outside the lair interrupted Cassius¡¯s thoughts.


    The powerful pressure in the air made the hatchling¡¯s heart quiver, but he resisted the urge to flee, scurrying to the cave entrance to observe the situation.


    In the distant sky, a large Red Dragon flapped its huge wings, stirring gusts of wind, looking down from a towering height.


    That must be Cassius¡¯s current biological mother. From the twenty-meter-long giant dragon body, one could tell this was a powerful Red Dragon in its prime.


    ¡°Half-human, half-elf mongrel, get out of my territory!¡±


    ¡°Do you know who you face?¡±


    ¡°Before you stands Tiamat¡¯s most favored offspring, the ruler of Cloud Summit Peak, the noble and mighty Red Dragon Akrenea!¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s voice was incredibly arrogant, a trait granted by her bloodline.


    Confronting her fearlessly on the ground was a warrior clad in dark golden armor, with a blurred face seemingly shrouded in a faint glow.


    Only the half-elf identity could be discerned from the exposed pointed ears and the female form from the silhouette.


    She stood with a sword, her voice firm and calm: ¡°Evil dragon, your arrogance and conceit blind you to your inevitable demise.¡±


    The half-elf gazed at the giant dragon in the sky, speaking forcefully: ¡°You plunder unjustly, harm the innocent, your actions disrupt the world¡¯s justice and order.¡±


    ¡°Regardless of the deity behind you, we keepers of vows shall demand the price you owe¡ªyour life!¡±


    This was the Paladin¡¯s Oath of Vengeance!


    After speaking, the half-elf drew the Silver Sword from her back.


    The Red Dragon in the sky snorted, let out a long cry, and swooped down.


    Her gaping maw seemed ready to tear the tiny half-elf apart.


    From her throat spewed scorching flames, the intense heat distorting the air.


    ¡°That¡¯s ¡®Twilight Blade¡¯ Rhea.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but think, finally remembering the quest line related to him.


    Main Quest: [Winter Night¡¯s Rage]


    [Ten years ago, the mother of Red Dragon Cassius Claudius Norixius was slain by the wandering Half-Elf Paladin ¡°Twilight Blade¡± Rhea. The young Red Dragon fled in panic, hiding in the Ancytica Mountains, waiting for a chance to avenge itself on humanity.


    Now, it has signed a pact with an ancient demon in the depths of the mountains, becoming ¡°The Fire of Rekindling,¡± continually destroying cities, leading its evil army to shatter justice and order, turning the North into ashes!]


    Now seemed to be the time of the battle between the Red Dragon and the Paladin, a decade before the players¡¯ arrival!


    In Cassius¡¯s view, the distant Half-Elf Paladin was around level 20, nearing legendary status with divine favor, an unequivocal world-class powerhouse.


    It was known that an adult Red Dragon¡¯s standard challenge rating was only level 17. Even with its legendary life levels, it wasn¡¯t enough against a divinely favored Paladin.


    Moreover, the renowned ¡°Twilight Blade¡± had already advanced to legendary status in the 4.0 version from his past life and was an important NPC in the ¡°Elf Kingdom¡± main questline.


    It seemed his cheap mother was doomed.


    The Red Dragon shook his head; he had no time to dwell. He merely flapped his immature wings, scampering back to the nest to pack and run.


    Of course, before leaving, he needed to ¡°rightfully¡± take some startup capital from this cheap mother.


    ¡°By Tiamat, this is a Red Dragon¡¯s treasure hoard.¡±


    ¡°I hope it won¡¯t be too shabby¡­¡±


    Cassius let out a sulfuric breath, gently shook his body, and stretched his slightly stiff wings.

 Chapter 2 - 2: The Treasure Vault of the Red Dragon

    Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Treasure Vault of the Red Dragon


    Cassius, guided by the familiar scent of bloodline left by his adoptive mother, navigated through the twists and turns of the deep cave until at last, he arrived in front of a stone door.


    The stone door was thick and emitted a dangerous aura.


    This was the secret treasure vault of the Red Dragon.


    It was her forbidden hoard, her place of greed, and a location in Anzeta that all creatures longed to discover yet could never find out about.


    The Red Dragon carefully extended a claw, pushing open that heavy stone door, and then she suddenly flapped her wings and took flight.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ...


    Instantly, surging magma erupted forth.


    It roared like a furious beast, emitting terrifying heat, attempting to devour all lifeforms completely.


    This was the greedy Red Dragon¡¯s harshest punishment for any creature daring to touch her treasures¡ªturning them into part of the magma, melting their bodies until not even their bones remained.


    Even though Cassius had reacted in advance, the magma filling the entire cave entrance inevitably submerged him.


    Fortunately, he had the same bloodline as his mother, naturally attuned to fire and heat.


    Although his scales were thin and his skin tender¡ªhe couldn¡¯t enjoy a comfortable bath in the magma like adult Red Dragons¡ªthis magma was merely warm water to him, posing no threat to his life.


    ¡°Hey-ho!¡±


    The juvenile Red Dragon used its wings as paddles, vigorously flapping to propel himself deeper into the treasure vault, into a deep cave mouth.


    Suddenly, the view opened up¡ª


    Gold, piles of gold formed into hills.


    The gold coins, when slightly touched, flowed slowly like a river, falling onto the rocky ground, making a rustling sound.


    And among these hills of gold, there lay items shimmering with magical aura.


    Cassius felt his breathing quicken and couldn¡¯t help but exhale a warm breath, his vertically slit orange-yellow pupils reflecting the shimmering gold.


    The deep-seated greed within his Red Dragon bloodline urged him to stay here, as if a voice in his head was telling him:


    Seize this gold, claim these treasures¡ªthey are all his. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A tremendous noise caused the hills to quake.


    It was the Red Dragon¡¯s growl and the Paladin¡¯s fierce shout.


    This sound also snapped Cassius out of his deep greed.


    Indeed, he didn¡¯t have much time left.


    The Red Dragon was battling a Paladin and clearly losing.


    Once his adoptive mother was killed, the next target of this Oath of Vengeance Paladin, who was sworn to eradicate evil, would likely be him, the ¡°juvenile evil.¡±


    And trying to take all this gold mountain with him was an impossible task.


    No wonder this Red Dragon became a target of the almost-Legendary Paladin; with so much gold, likely millions of gold coins.


    She must have once plundered the treasury of a kingdom passed down through generations in one fell swoop; otherwise, even an Ancient Dragon¡¯s hoard wouldn¡¯t be this ludicrous.


    He also understood why a heat-loving Red Dragon would emerge in the cold Anzeta Great Wilderness¡ªit turned out to be fleeing with stolen goods.


    ¡°Magical items, I only need magical items that can enhance my ability to protect myself.¡±


    Cassius quickly regained his senses, fought back his greed, dug through the gold mountain in front of him, and examined the magically shimmering items.


    ¡°Blade Ring, reduces slashing damage.¡±


    ¡°Soul Amulet, allows speaking with the dead once per day.¡±


    ¡°Magic Nullification Amulet, negates damage from a spell below the Sixth Tier once. This is a pioneering artifact. Taking it.¡±


    The young dragon swallowed a mithril amulet, carved with exquisite patterns, into his mouth.


    Red Dragons are natural spellcasters; their bodies serve as natural magic storages and materials, and all magical items could be preserved and utilized within them.


    It was rumored that some Ancient Dragons afflicted with Spellthirst Syndrome would even carve magic runes onto every single one of their scales, using them as Magic Scrolls whenever necessary.


    ¡°Heart of Magma, inflicts extra fire damage¡ªnice item.¡±


    ¡°Staff of Scorching, three Fire Rays, take it.¡±


    ¡­


    In just a few seconds, the Red Dragon had swallowed over a dozen magical items, but only these were valuable. The rest were flashy court magic, expensive but of little practical use.


    It was clear that this mature Red Dragon preferred gold far more than magic.


    The sounds of fighting outside grew fiercer, but their roars noticeably weakened.


    The Red Dragon was about to give in.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡±


    The young dragon headed towards the cave entrance, but he kept looking back at the mound of gold as if he were under a Charm Spell.


    The greed deep in his bloodline made him crave to devour all the gold, a desire so addictive it was hard to resist.


    Unfortunately, the magical items had almost filled his stomach.


    ¡°Just one bite.¡±


    Cassius opened his massive jaws and greedily swallowed a large chunk of gold, the remaining coins cascading from the corners of his mouth like a waterfall.


    He expected a metallic texture, but instead, in his mouth filled with the smell of sulfur and scorching air, the gold coins felt like greasy sweets with an oddly soft and mushy texture.


    A transparent panel appeared again in front of him.


    Achievement [Gold Swallower]


    ¡°As an evil dragon, you were not satisfied with merely storing gold in your cave, but also aimed to integrate it into your insatiable body. Your greed astounds even the gods.


    Once powerful enough, the world will be consumed by your endless desires.¡±


    Gained passive trait:


    [Metallic Scales] Level 4 (4250/5000)


    Ac+2, constitution +1,


    As you devour a significant amount of precious metal, its elements adhere to your skin and deep within your heart. Your scales will display a corresponding metallic luster and significantly increase your armor and constitution.


    (Note: Enoch Kapalius was once one of the greediest giant dragons in the Multiverse, even targeting the gods¡¯ treasure vaults. Eventually, he achieved his desire and was transformed into a giant gold statue, eternally floating in the void of the star realm.)


    ¡°Whoosh¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon felt the gold coins melting quickly inside him, flowing to the surface, his bright red scales softly glowing with a golden hue under the firelight.


    His heart, nourished by the elements, thumped vigorously, propelling the heated blood throughout his body.


    ¡°Phew¡ª¡±


    Cassius exhaled comfortably.


    You see, an increase in the attribute panel isn¡¯t just a linear growth but more akin to exponential. Each level is about 1.2 times higher than the previous, significantly boosting constitution.


    ¡°Good stuff, too bad I can¡¯t take all the gold with me.¡±


    Cassius hadn¡¯t expected such a delightful surprise from his momentary greed, but the battle outside was nearly over, and he¡¯d lose his chance to escape soon.


    Allowing his bloodline to cloud his mind now would make him the literal stereotype of a Red Dragon with a brain full of muscle.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡±


    The Red Dragon was extremely arrogant and never thought of abandoning his treasure to escape the nest.


    Fortunately, his cheap mother wasn¡¯t entirely so, having left him a narrow back route for escape.


    The young Red Dragon, belly bulging, squeezed out of the treasury, running and flying towards another cave entrance.


    This led to the southern slopes of Cloud Summit Peak, and further down was Bokara Forest. Once there, ¡°the sky¡¯s the limit, and the ocean depths are the bounds.¡±


    An adult Red Dragon might struggle to hide due to its size, but hiding a young dragon amid the tall spruce and birch trees was another matter entirely, even providing ample hunting opportunities.


    ¡°The wind¡¯s fierce, time to dash.¡±


    As Cassius approached the exit, he leaped forward.

 Chapter 3 - 3: The Battle of Fate

    Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Battle of Fate


    And at this moment, above the sky.


    The once imposing Red Dragon was now covered in wounds, moaning softly, with deep scars etched into its flesh, glistening with golden radiance that continuously corroded the injuries.


    The wing membranes were like tattered rags, giving off a woeful sound with every beat, making its misery even more apparent.


    Yet she merely thought of this as a troublesome enemy, not one capable of utterly defeating her. After all, she was a Red Dragon, she still had the power of Tiamat, she still had intense flames, and various methods yet to be unleashed.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Red Dragon laboriously landed on the peak, causing the cliffs to roar and rocks to tumble down.


    ...


    For the first time, her tone carried hesitation, ¡°Half-elf, you are strong.¡±


    ¡°Unlike those mortals, your strength far surpasses theirs, thus you are worthy of a mighty True Dragon¡¯s attention.¡±


    ¡°Become my retainer, and you can rule Anzeta Great Wilderness with me!¡±


    But the Half-Elf Paladin did not reply, only slowly raising the Silver Sword in her hand, her eyes determined. Her silver armor, scorched and blackened, still faintly glimmered with light.


    ¡°To hunt sworn foes or drive out lesser evils, I vow to challenge greater malevolence.¡±


    ¡°And a sworn enemy, deserves no mercy.¡±


    Rhea leaped gracefully, her Silver Sword emitting an aurora like the rays of the setting sun.


    Though not dazzling nor intense, it carried an unyielding resolve to shine brightly even in the darkness.


    This was the origin of the ¡°Twilight Blade.¡±


    ¡°Soul of Vengeance!¡±


    With a crisp shout, countless spectral spirits appeared around the Half-Elf Paladin.


    They were the children burned to death in the fire, the mothers crushed by collapsing houses, the men who bravely raised pitchforks but were turned to ashes by dragonflame, the warriors who fought evil but were crushed into pulp by claws, and¡ªPaladins burning with the will of vengeance.


    Rhea began to fly, sprouting illusory black wings on her back, making her resemble an angel born from vengeance.


    At this moment, she soared above the mountain peak.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    And Aclecia roared furiously, the absolute pride of a Red Dragon not allowing any lesser being to dare look down upon her.


    At that moment, all the power in her bloodline was fully unleashed, using the most primal, most savage physical strength, and the Red Dragon¡¯s most adept melee combat¡ª


    She charged forward with an unstoppable force!


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The impending clash of two mighty forces made the mountain tremble incessantly, causing the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness to shake.


    This sight made Kai Xu, who was desperately fleeing, unable to resist turning his head to sneak a glance at the terrifying scene.


    ¡°Supreme Holy Slash!¡±


    Rhea used all her strength, gripping the Silver Sword tightly and slashing down, completely ignoring the Red Dragon¡¯s gaping, snarling giant maw.


    The silver longsword, glowing with twilight radiance, simply slashed diagonally.


    ¡°Slice¡ª¡±


    The longsword sliced through the dragon scales, harder than any armor, like a hot knife through butter, tearing through the Red Dragon¡¯s scalding, surging blood vessels and flesh.


    The illusory spirits surrounding her formed a massive legion, the Souls of Vengeance roaring and charging towards the wound on the Red Dragon¡¯s neck.


    Each impact deepened the scar by several feet.


    In immense pain, Aclecia reared her head back, letting out a painful howl. But this instinctive movement only further tore the wound, causing scalding blood to gush out like a fountain.


    ¡°Ao¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon at first could make pained sounds, but once her throat was completely cut, she could no longer make any sound.


    Everything happened too quickly.


    So fast that the Red Dragon hadn¡¯t even had time to swing her mighty claws or swat with her thick tail.


    She hadn¡¯t even had time to use her invincible power from Tiamat.


    But the Silver Sword mercilessly cut her throat.


    This lengthy Red Dragon, spanning dozens of meters, struggled in mid-air before her wings went limp and she crashed heavily halfway down the mountain.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The earth trembled, the massive body rolled down the slope with a rumble, ending her evil and greedy life.


    Her soul might be taken by Tiamat, or perhaps shattered by the Souls of Vengeance.


    But one thing was certain without a doubt. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This Red Dragon was dead.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, at the foot of the southern slope of Cloud Summit Peak.


    ¡°A vengeful angel with wings, almost the highest level of Black Rider, truly terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Run, run.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    Sub-Legendary level power, even in the 4.0 version of the previous life, was top-tier, with only hundreds out of tens of millions of players reaching that level.


    And those who could step into the path of Legendary were even rarer.


    Thinking of this, the young Red Dragon was even more determined to run away, hurriedly using the ability granted by the swallowed Ring of the Nimble Mage to cast a spell on himself,


    ¡°Oil on the soles of the feet!¡±


    Immediately, his speed became even more rapid.


    Cassius dashed away like a red lightning bolt, heading for the distant dense forest.


    As for flying?


    He didn¡¯t dare right now.


    If his luck turned bad and he got noticed by this Sub-Legendary Paladin¡¯s perception, a casual Evil-Crushing Slash from a few hundred meters away could send his soul straight back to Tiamat.


    That was a Sub-Legendary Paladin.


    With innate Divine Sense, it was only normal.


    Cassius was fleeing in panic, unable to consider anything else.


    Unaware that the Half-Elf Paladin now stood at the mountain¡¯s peak, covered in warm dragon blood, looking down at the southern slope of Cloud Summit Peak


    ¡ªthe same direction the young dragon was fleeing.


    There was a trace of confusion in Rhea¡¯s amber eyes.


    Because under her evil-perceiving vision, the distant young Red Dragon was not covered in the black representing the evil faction like a normal Red Dragon.


    Instead, it was colorless, representing the neutral faction.


    ¡°A neutral Red Dragon, how is that possible¡­¡±


    After a moment¡¯s thought, she still raised her Silver Sword, pointing it towards the young dragon, determined to investigate.


    ¡°Monster Immobilization Spell!¡±


    As the Silver Sword pointed, a spell radiance flew into the distance.


    If it hit, the young Red Dragon would be immobilized, unable to move an inch.


    But just as the radiance was about to touch the Red Dragon¡¯s scales.


    An invisible barrier suddenly appeared from Cassius, completely blocking the Monster Immobilization Spell, then shattering.


    [Spell Nullification Barrier]


    Cassius was horrified, realizing that this magic-nullifying amulet could only be used once a day, and he had no second chance.


    ¡°Run!¡±


    Under the pressure of a life-and-death crisis, the young dragon frantically flapped his still immature wings, flying desperately.


    He fled with all his might, diving into the forest within moments, vanishing into the thick woods, hiding his presence entirely.


    Rhea looked down at the endless Bokara Forest, furrowing her brow, then shaking her head, releasing a sigh.


    A Red Dragon of the neutral faction.


    Maybe she had created a terrible enemy for her future, or perhaps she had brought about a better change for the world, or maybe nothing would happen at all¡­


    Yes.


    She would not kill someone for potential future evil, but if that Red Dragon committed heinous crimes, Rhea was confident she could, just like today¡ª


    ¡ªuse her sharp and unmatched Silver Sword to slay it completely.


    This was the creed of the Avenging Paladin¡¯s Oath.


    ¡°No mercy for the wicked.¡±


    ¡°But¡­maybe mercy for a steadfast enemy.¡±


    The Half-Elf slowly took off her helmet, revealing a cold and beautiful face, murmuring to herself.

 Chapter 4 - 4 The Escaped Beast

    Chapter 4: Chapter 4 The Escaped Beast


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    The young Red Dragon hid in a hidden cave deep in the forest, the entrance concealed by dense, hanging branches.


    Cassius wasn¡¯t sure if he had eluded the Half-Elf paladin¡¯s pursuit, so he kept fleeing into the depths of Bokara Forest.


    He didn¡¯t look back, nor did he stop.


    He didn¡¯t know how long he ran until he was nearly out of strength and found this relatively hidden cave, where he could somewhat relax.


    When out adventuring, caution is key.


    ... S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve shaken them off¡­¡±


    Cassius panted, still uncertain.


    The light screen unfolded slowly again, another three-dimensional trophy icon appearing.


    Achievement obtained: [Fugitive Beast]


    ¡°The hunter is coming, escape, leave this place, and never return¡­¡±


    Passive Trait acquired:


    [Fugitive]


    Agility +1


    Stealth +2, Athletics +4


    (Note: Surviving a near-death experience has taught you how to escape. This is not a disgrace, but merely a means of survival.)


    Instantly, the Red Dragon felt a non-physical, breeze-like power crawl over his body, visibly and rapidly transforming him.


    He gladly accepted this transformation.


    He stayed in the cave for several hours until the power finally subsided.


    ¡°Is this a spell?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t sense any elemental flow.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more like a form of spiritual energy.¡±


    The Red Dragon observed himself in a puddle:


    His limbs and torso were still muscular, but were now transforming into a more streamlined and aesthetic form.


    The exaggerated muscular bulge typical of Red Dragons was gone. Even his wing membranes had changed slightly, allowing him to better interact with the elements in the air for flight.


    Compared to before, the Red Dragon was now more agile.


    The achievement system, it seemed, was his unique feature, rewarding him for completing certain tasks. Passive abilities like Metallic Scales and Fugitive would still be powerful even in the late game.


    But what puzzled Cassius was his template.


    In his past life in ¡°Elzegai,¡± player templates and monster templates were completely different entities.


    Before reaching legendary status, player templates could gain experience (XP) through battles and quests to level up, leading to a late-game scenario where thousands of level 12+ Transcendent Warriors altered the course of battle.


    The monster template, however, was native to this world, only able to grow stronger through self-discovery and aging.


    But as long as the panel was still there, everything else could be managed.


    The semi-transparent blue screen unfolded slowly.


    Cassius noticed his prefix had changed.


    [Wealthy Young Red Dragon]


    Name: Cassius Claudius Norixius


    Template: NPC (10 years, 1 day, and 4 hours until server opens)


    Category: Large dragons, Lawful Neutral


    AC: 20 (natural armor, Metallic Scales)


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª21


    Agility¡ª¡ª11


    Constitution¡ª¡ª19


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª12


    Perception¡ª¡ª11


    Charisma¡ª¡ª14


    Skill Proficiencies: Stealth +6, Athletics +4, Perception +8, Hunting +2, Escape +4, Knowledge (future) +4


    Damage Immunity: Flame


    Senses: Blindsight 10, Dark Vision 60, Passive Perception 14


    Languages: Draconic, Common


    Abilities: Biting, clawing, tail attack, flight, flame breath attack


    Traits: Metallic Scales, Fugitive


    Combat Equipment: Magic Nullification Amulet, Dexterous Mage¡¯s Action Ring, Staff of Scorching, Dead Speak Amulet, Lava Splasher, Blade Evasion Ring, Silent Footsteps Amulet, Owl Bear Perception Mask¡­


    Challenge Level: 8 (3,600 XP)


    Assessment: ¡°Never underestimate even a young Red Dragon; it will become a lifelong nightmare. Especially one with more than ten magical items, one slip and you¡¯ll fall into its grasp.¡±


    The prefix can change?


    Intriguing.


    A tawny feather floated down onto the Red Dragon¡¯s nose, prompting him to exhale a sulfurous breath, burning the feather black and blowing it away.


    ¡°The owner of this nest should be back by now.¡±


    So thought Cassius.


    Sure enough.


    A furious roar soon came from the cave entrance.


    ¡°Roar! Roar!¡±


    A fierce beast tore away the branches¡ªa dull, ivory-colored beak, powerful limbs also covered in eagle feathers.


    The massive creature stood a full eight feet tall, its robust body lined with dense, dark feathers, even larger than Cassius by a few measures.


    This was an Owl Bear, a savage predator of the wild.


    Possibly the creation of some ancient mad mage using bear and owl samples, Owl Bears were now spread throughout the continent. Cassius¡¯s own panel displayed the Owl Bear¡¯s details.


    [Based on your own power, you can observe the following information]


    [Adult Male Owl Bear]


    Category: Large Beast, Always Neutral


    AC: 15


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª20


    Agility¡ª¡ª12


    Constitution¡ª¡ª19


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª2


    Perception¡ª¡ª12


    Charisma¡ª¡ª10


    Proficiency Skills: Listening +4, Perception +8, Hunting +4


    Senses: Keen Smell 14, Passive Perception 16, Owl Beast Instinct 20


    Language: None


    Actions: Grapple, biting, ramming, clawing


    Trait: Mastery in grappling


    Challenge Level: 3 (700 XP)


    Assessment: ¡°Owl Bears are extremely savage predators, typically deemed fierce, aggressive, and bad-tempered. They tend to attack any moving creature without warning.¡±


    Cassius looked at the beast before him, simply spreading his wings and using a magical item to preemptively cast Animal Language Skill, testing it:


    ¡°Submit to me, Owl Bear.¡±


    But the feral beast responded with an angry roar, pounding the ground with its powerful claws.


    It squeezed through the cave entrance, charging at the Red Dragon with full force.


    With only 2 Intelligence, these beasts could only roughly gauge size and had no way of realizing the terrible power lurking within this young dragon¡¯s body.


    Moreover, the Red Dragon had yet to awaken its Aura of Majesty, making it appear even more ¡°ordinary.¡±


    ¡°Just a beast, after all?¡±


    Cassius shook his head, unafraid of the charging beast, casually opening his mouth.


    [Searing Ray]


    The fire elemental crystal in his internal staff glowed red, bursting with scorching magical energy, deploying this Second Tier Spell.


    As the Red Dragon¡¯s natural affinity for fire elements enhanced the spell¡¯s power through his throat, it became even deadlier, despite his young age and undeveloped spellcasting ability.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang!¡±


    Three scorching Fire Rays shot out, hitting the Owl Bear directly.


    With its abundant fur, the beast was especially vulnerable to fire, and as the Fire Rays struck, its fur instantly charred and caught fire, burning fiercely.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The beast howled in pain, rolling on the ground.


    But this did nothing to stop the raging flames, nor did it prevent the young dragon from pouncing to bite it forcefully.


    Even Cassius¡¯s internal ¡°Heart of Magma¡± emitted searing magical aurora, causing additional flame damage.


    Soon, the cave filled with the scent of scorched fur and the rich aroma of roasted meat.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°Just a bit tough.¡±


    Cassius chewed the charred yet thick bear meat, and the panel opened before him again.


    [Killed Adult Male Owl Bear, gained 700 XP]


    [Level increased to 1]


    [Due to racial traits, leveling up in your occupation will be more challenging, but you will gain even greater power]


    Achievement obtained: [First Blood]


    ¡°Welcome to this colorful world.¡±


    Player occupation panel obtained


    Warrior, Mage, Magician, Martial Monk, and several other occupation badges appeared on the panel, leading to numerous sub-occupation branches.


    Cassius was first stunned, then overjoyed.


    He recalled that in the previous game, players had to complete the novice task of ¡°killing a turkey¡± in the unknown space to unlock the player occupation panel.


    Dragons yearn for power.


    But seeking humanoid abilities is not a natural thing for them. They are proud and disdainful of non-draconic knowledge.


    Overall, dragons detest learning the skills of ¡°lower¡± species. Hence their legacy lacks enhancement methods, relying more on innate spells and an insatiable greed for treasure.


    Players, on the other hand, could easily find ways to become stronger, but their base stats were imported from real-world data.


    In the game¡¯s early stages, player attributes were notoriously weak. There was even an unnamed barbarian player who created the ¡°miracle¡± of starting with 8 Intelligence.


    But Cassius could easily combine the terrifying talents of Dragonkin with the player occupations.

 Chapter 5 - 5 The Origin of Sorcery

    Chapter 5: Chapter 5 The Origin of Sorcery


    If it were later stages now, Cassius would have chosen the mage without hesitation. After all, being a mage master wasn¡¯t just for show.


    A fully prepared and well-equipped mage had the assurance of defeating any enemy of the same level, with powerful branch occupations like time mages that mastered spatial and temporal powers in the later stages.


    However, the mage had one critical flaw in the early stages: the need to transcribe spells.


    Yes, magic seemed like a science to mages, something that needed to be studied.


    Only through detailed understanding of spell prototypes via spell scrolls, mastering various Magic Web parameters, and thorough learning could one successfully acquire a spell.


    And right now, Cassius was penniless, with only a few pieces of magic equipment on him.


    ...


    He couldn¡¯t possibly run to a human town to learn magic in his dragon form, could he?


    Would he have to advance through a magic academy?


    Warlocks were different. Their spells were ¡°heaven-sent.¡± A better word to describe it would be innate talent.


    After contemplating for a moment, Cassius made his choice.


    [Choose to advance the Warlock occupation]


    [Detected that you have dragonkin bloodline]


    [Automatically selected as Dragon Vein Sorcerer ¨C Red Dragon Bloodline]


    Dragons were powerful magical creatures, naturally adept at various supernatural phenomena.


    Any age dragon, even a hatchling, could possess occupational levels in sorcery.


    Ancient scholars believed that a sorcerer¡¯s abilities were inherited from dragons, possibly from intermarriages long ago.


    More importantly, a warlock¡¯s casting level could add to a dragon¡¯s innate spellcasting level, enabling the dragon to fully utilize its bloodline, producing even stronger effects.


    The renowned Ancient Red Dragon Imwalnao dedicated himself to mastering fire magic, possessing a casting level as high as level 40.


    [Your warlock level has been raised to 1]


    [[Origin of Sorcery]: Magic itself is part of a warlock, this latent power permeates their body, mind, and soul, waiting to be released.]


    [No one can choose sorcery; sorcery chooses you.]


    [You have acquired 4 Cantrips, 2 first-level spells]


    A rich spell table appeared on the screen.


    [Acquired Cantrips [Mage¡¯s Hand], [Act Before the Enemy], [Magic Tricks], [Minor Illusion]]


    [Acquired first-level spells [Cloud Mist Technique], [Magic Missile]]


    Still the standard early-stage setup.


    In his previous life, when advancing his occupation, Cassius only got cold data displayed, never realizing anything different.


    Only now did he notice how incredible this power felt.


    ¡°This feeling¡­¡±


    Each spell appeared in his mind out of thin air.


    No, not out of thin air.


    More like innate, gifted talent.


    This precious knowledge penetrated his body, memory, and even attached to his will.


    [Mage¡¯s Hand]


    Cassius thought, and an invisible hand appeared out of thin air, picking up and throwing a stone from the ground.


    Even the lowest level spells and simple actions amazed the Red Dragon.


    Because this power didn¡¯t come from a magical item or program; it came from himself.


    Compared to the rigorous scientific casting of a mage, warlock casting was more like art.


    No need to meticulously construct a spell prototype or calculate Magic Web parameters, just use his consciousness to feel the Magic Web and project his will into reality, making it happen.


    Therefore, warlocks with innate talent in easily casting powerful spells often garnered envy and disdain from mages. They were ridiculed as ¡°barbarians among spellcasters¡± and ¡°orcs with magic wands.¡±


    ¡°Truly fascinating.¡±


    The Red Dragon walked out of the cave with a light step, stepping over the enormous carcass of an owl bear half-eaten.


    He understood why Erezer¡¯s spellcasters were so arrogant, given this sense of controlling the real world created an illusion of being godlike to ordinary people.


    However, the text prompts on the panel hadn¡¯t ended yet.


    [Bloodline Tracing from Ancient Red Dragon fills your body with scorching flame power.]


    [You gain affinity with fire element magic; flame damage will be enhanced]


    [Breath Weapon (Fire) has been enhanced]


    [Acquired additional Cantrip [Fire Arrow]]


    In Cassius¡¯s golden vertical pupils, fierce flames reflected, and his body surged like an erupting volcano.


    His heart thumped vigorously, pumping this fire elemental energy throughout his body, while his blood flowed like pulsating magma, hot and vibrant. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Tracing your bloodline heritage¡­]


    The Red Dragon closed his eyes, and illusions appeared in his mind.


    It seemed to be an ancient battlefield of unnamed outer planes, with vast metallic city walls hundreds of meters high in the distance.


    An Ancient Red Dragon flapped its gigantic wings, stirring a whirlwind; heavenly troops with wings were thrown over helplessly beneath him.


    He opened his massive maw, spitting out a terrifying flame unimaginable to mortals. The air distorted from the heat,


    melting the sturdy wall into a giant gap as the metal flowed down as scalding liquid.


    Asen angels with dragon heads and human bodies wielded magic wands to cast divine arts, several Heavenly Colossuses towering tens of meters jumped high, lunging at the Ancient Red Dragon in the sky, and more silver-haired Barani angels took shared aim with their bows, shooting up toward the sky.


    Yet, even the Ancient Red Dragon seemed insignificant compared to the vast battlefield.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    In the far distance of the vision, an appalling creature with five fierce dragon heads howled skyward, spreading its wings that blanketed the sky, slowly rising into the air.


    Instantly, a hurricane surged, dust swirling high.


    A shadow enveloped the earth, resembling the descent of the apocalypse.


    In the illusion, Cassius couldn¡¯t help but look up to the sky.


    However, he clearly saw, among the heads overlooking the beings below, one red dragon head very similar to his own gazed down at him, a slight curve in its formidable mouth.


    The head slowly spoke: ¡°My child¡­¡±


    The voice seemed to originate from the depths of his soul, and the Red Dragon immediately felt a strong bloodline pressure.


    This horrifying force made him involuntarily want to bow and kneel, yielding under this divine might.


    ¡°It noticed me!¡±


    Alarm bells rang within the Red Dragon¡¯s heart.


    In the next moment, the illusionary sky fractured like shattered glass.


    Be it the Ancient Red Dragon, the Heavenly Colossuses, or the fearsome five-headed figure in the sky, everything in the illusion broke apart.


    ¡°Huff, huff.¡±


    ¡°Huff¡­¡±


    Cassius barely escaped the suffocating pressure, gasping for air, his entire body shaking and stiff.


    With a look of utter astonishment, the Red Dragon glanced at the game panel before him, discovering it was frantically refreshing information as if it had been infected by a virus.


    [Warning!]


    [Warning!]


    [Warning!]


    [You have drawn the attention of the deity [Mother of Evil Dragons Tiamat]]


    [Mind Shielding System activated]


    [Having faced the deity [Mother of Evil Dragons Tiamat] directly, you may undergo unforeseen changes.]


    Staring at the data streaming across the panel, Cassius felt apprehensive but helpless.


    ¡°Is this the power of the deity? Truly terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Ancient plane battlefield¡­¡±


    ¡°Did I actually see Tiamat¡¯s true form?¡±


    In Erezer, even when the players maximum level had reached legendary level (21), the powers of the deities remained a mystery. Almost no one had witnessed the true form of any deity, be it even a minor god.


    As for so-called ¡°god-slaying,¡± it was pure fantasy.


    Some top-tier players once said, ¡°If it has a health bar, even a god can be killed.¡±


    Yet, in reality, a deity¡¯s level of power was unimaginable to mortals and were set to ¡°have no health bars.¡±


    This was the power of a deity. Just gazing at its true form in an illusion could lead to dire consequences.


    But for this fledgling dragon, Ancient Red Dragons, inter-planar wars, and Tiamat all seemed too distant, too grand.


    If any mighty existence indeed had designs on him, he had no means to resist right now.


    Thus, rather than worrying about outer plane deities, it was more practical to steadily increase his power and consider his future plans.


    ¡°Since I¡¯ve already been noticed, as a Red Dragon, I better offer incense to Tiamat, for she is quite aged.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t want her holding grudges against me.¡±


    Gently leaping up, Cassius flapped his strong wings, gradually spiraling into the sky.


    ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to earn some experience.¡±


    Gazing at the vast forest and distant mountains, the Red Dragon couldn¡¯t help but let out a roar, his youthful voice carrying a touch of a mighty dragon¡¯s majesty.

 Chapter 6 - 6 Hunting in the Forest

    Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Hunting in the Forest


    Five months later.


    Snowflakes had begun to fall over the Bokara Forest.


    This foretold that the Anzeta Plateau was about to enter winter, and the beasts were starting to hunt in groups, preparing for the long and severe winter.


    The forest rustled with sound, and gray figures darted swiftly through the trees.


    Their prominent snouts, triangular blue eyes, and sharp fangs betrayed their identity: Terror Wolves.


    One of the top predators in the forest, masters of group hunting tactics.


    ...


    And in front of them, a herd of frightened deer was running for their lives.


    The wolf pack seemed unhurried, the strong leading Terror Wolf let out a long howl, and the rest responded with light howls.


    The pack consisted of more than ten wolves. They coordinated with each other; some drove the deer from behind, others flanked from the sides, and some even disappeared, forming an open pocket-like formation.


    After several tens of minutes of chase, the wolves had the absolute upper hand, wasting little energy as they herded the panicked deer to a mountain pass.


    The deer, under the wolves¡¯ relentless pursuit, scrambled into the pass, seeing it as their last escape route, like grasping at a lifeline.


    In the chaos, even small fawns were trampled to death.


    But they didn¡¯t realize that what they mistook as a lifeline was actually a trap.


    ¡°Awoo¡ª¡±


    As the last of the deer entered the valley, the Wolf King let out an excited howl, and the previously missing wolves reappeared at the other end of the valley, completely surrounding the thirty-plus deer in the narrow pass.


    The deer were now in total disarray, bumping into each other, only to find menacing wolves everywhere they turned.


    The wolves¡¯ blue eyes were gleaming, and they eagerly swarmed in.


    Blood splattered, pained cries echoed, and the valley filled with the scent of blood.


    In the end, the leading buck broke through the blockade on the opposite side with its large antlers, leading more than ten deer to escape, leaving behind several dozen carcasses in the valley.


    The wolf pack had achieved their goal.


    The Terror Wolves rushed forward, tearing into the deer¡¯s flesh, eager to feast before winter set in, hoping to survive the harsh cold of the North.


    The Wolf King chewed on the most succulent organs, savoring this hard-earned, carefully planned meal.


    A mist arose in the valley.


    At first, the wolves paid it no mind, but as the mist thickened, enveloping them in a murky haze where they could barely see each other, they began to panic.


    Mysterious shadows flickered within the mist.


    ¡°Crunch, crunch¡±


    It was unclear if it was the sound of wolves crushing deer bones or wolves¡¯ bones being crushed. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then erratic howls emanated from the mist, perhaps hunting signals, attack calls, or feeding permissions, unclear but meaningful to the wolves.


    If a knowledgeable mage were here, they could easily identify this as a spell, ¡°Magic Tricks,¡± creating additional noises and sensations.


    Unfortunately, the beasts were unaware and instinctively afraid of the unknown, losing their reason.


    ¡°Aroo¡ª¡±


    The Wolf King stood alertly, howling to call its pack.


    The pack howled back in confusion, trying to locate each other.


    But the dense fog blurred their vision, and the strange sounds made it impossible to discern the direction or gain any useful information.


    The Wolf King suddenly sensed a strange sound from above.


    A whooshing wind.


    It instinctively looked up, and its pupils reflected blazing flames¡­


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    [Killed adult male Terror Wolf, gained 200xp]


    [Killed adult male Terror Wolf, gained 200xp]


    [Killed adult male Terror Wolf, gained 200xp]


    [Killed adult female Terror Wolf, gained 200xp]


    ¡­


    [Killed Terror Wolf Leader, gained 700xp]


    ¡°A bumper harvest, not one escaped.¡±


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfuric heat, then spread his wings.


    A red figure swept across the valley, circling above the forest.


    The Red Dragon, transformed into a fearsome Hunter, scanned the forest below, searching for the next prey. To him, the normally feared beasts were just walking experience packs.


    ¡­


    Near the bushes on the ground, a huge feral boar was digging through the soil, looking for anything edible.


    Whether it was the juicy roots of ferns, a hibernating snake, or soil clumps containing special elements, the boar would eat it all.


    This enormous boar stood over two meters tall at the shoulder, looking like a small hill from a distance.


    Its tusks, like curved blades, jutted out from its mouth. Beneath its thick hide were layers of fat, covered by a tough exterior of hardened dirt accumulated over the years.


    Ordinary iron swords couldn¡¯t cut through this natural armor, and only the most experienced hunters dared to challenge such a formidable beast.


    ¡°Snort, snort¡­¡±


    The boar snorted, blowing out a clump of dirt, and continued its digging, finally uncovering an insect pupa in the mess.


    Delighted, the boar quickly swallowed the precious protein.


    Suddenly, it spotted what seemed like a small snake¡¯s shadow in the grass, slithering away.


    ¡°Grunt¡­¡±


    The boar trotted after the snake.


    The snake lured the boar to a cliffside.


    Just as the boar lumbered forward, eager to gobble up the snake, the snake vanished.


    A shadow descended from the cliff.


    [Magic Missile]


    Several Arcane Orbs hit the boar¡¯s thick hide, dealing inescapable, indefensible magical damage.


    The boar couldn¡¯t help but let out a painful wail, immediately followed by a frenzy induced by its injury.


    ¡°Beast Fury!¡±


    Its eyes turned red with rage, its fur bristling, and it stomped around, kicking up dust, searching for its attacker.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡ª¡±


    This state was similar to a barbarian¡¯s trait, where the boar¡¯s strength and constitution were tremendously enhanced.


    Even more frightening, it became immune to pain and fatigue. Many adventurers who thought they¡¯d mortally wounded it were torn in two by its tusks in its furious rage.


    But the furious beast couldn¡¯t find its target, nor its attacker, and could only vent its overflowing anger everywhere.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    It rammed its massive body into the cliff, dislodging rocks, and tore up earth and trees with its tusks.


    Minutes passed.


    When the frenzy subsided, the giant beast lay exhausted on the ground.


    The surroundings were a mess, with debris everywhere, the ground torn up, and the cliff cracked.


    Recovering from its rage-induced frenzy, it began lazily munching on grass roots.


    ¡°Ignis (Fire Arrow)!¡±


    A Flaming Arrow fell from above, scorching its hide.


    Another red figure dove from the sky, landing on its bristling back.


    ¡°Arooo¡­¡±


    The boar¡¯s wail was pained and sorrowful, but it lacked the strength to fight back.


    It could only let the Red Dragon on its back bite through its spine, ending its life swiftly and decisively.


    This once-unbeatable forest ruler perished miserably.


    [Killed mature feral boar, gained 1100xp]


    [Your level has increased to 2]


    Ripping through its tough hide and thick fat, exposing the bloody flesh beneath.


    Cassius, not bothering to cook it, tore off a piece of tenderloin and devoured it.


    The Red Dragon had a unique digestive system, converting most of what it ate into nutrients for growth, and the remainder into elemental energy, with little waste.


    ¡°Very chewy pork, but a bit too old.¡±


    With blood dripping from his mouth, the Red Dragon couldn¡¯t help but give an assessment.

 Chapter 7 - 7 Magician Metamagic

    Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Magician Metamagic


    In the past five months, Cassius had spent his time in the Bokara Forest, searching everywhere for more powerful beasts. The Red Dragon had both transformed them into his growth sustenance and his leveling experience.


    Appropriate caution was necessary. Before being fully confident, Cassius would not attempt to challenge those formidable creatures.


    Now, Cassius had already risen to level 2, learned the ¡°Magic Powered Fountain¡± ability, and gained sorcery power.


    After this period of hunting, this young Red Dragon in his growth phase had grown significantly larger, now measuring a full six meters from head to tail. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His scales had become brighter in color, and slightly protruding bone spurs grew along his spine, though they had not yet formed a complete dorsal fin. It was evident that he was about to enter the next stage.


    His raised head had become more ferocious, his forehead horns had elongated and hardened, and new horn rings had appeared. Short keratinous spikes grew on his chin, and his pupils were now several shades lighter than before.


    ...


    Of course, the Red Dragon still had the disproportionally large head and small body characteristic of a juvenile dragon.


    His proportions still appeared somewhat comical.


    Cassius swallowed a piece of meat whole and then looked up at the panel.


    ¡°Choose to level up the sorcerer class.¡±


    [Your sorcerer level has increased to level 3]


    [The magic power suppressed within your body, mind, and soul has been released. You can now use strong willpower to twist your spells to achieve the desired effects, gaining the [Metamagic] ability]


    [You can choose two metamagic effects]


    [You have gained [Metamagic: Instantaneous Spell] [Metamagic: Twin Spell]]


    [Metamagic: Instantaneous Spell]


    You expend a certain amount of sorcery power to twist a spell with strong sorcerer willpower. Your spell can be cast instantly, without preparation.


    [Metamagic: Twin Spell]


    You expend the corresponding amount of sorcery power to duplicate a prepared spell, allowing it to affect multiple targets simultaneously.


    Cassius directly chose the most straightforward metamagic combination.


    Although sorcerers did not need to construct spell prototypes like mages, they still needed to use willpower to feel the Magic Web and prepare for magic.


    However, the instantaneous metamagic allowed for direct casting, making spells as easy to control as moving an arm.


    The Twin Spell was even more notable; in battle, an additional spell, even a fraction of one, could change the course of the conflict.


    [You have gained the first-tier spells [Charm Person] [Thunderwave]]


    [You have gained the second-tier spells [Invisibility Technique] [Enhanced Attributes]]


    In terms of spells, Cassius chose those that were more functional rather than directly damaging.


    After all, being a Red Dragon, most low-tier spells in the early stages did not inflict as much damage as his sharp teeth and Flame Breath. Besides, he had the once-a-day Searing Ray.


    Being invisible or charming others provided much more utility than minor damage.


    Upon making his choices, the Red Dragon slowly closed his eyes.


    Vast sorcery power was unlocked from the depths of his body, rolling out like a fountain, forcefully attaching to his will.


    There was no need to calculate parameters, nor to construct models. One only needed to use that power and twist the magic illogically as required by the spellcaster.


    This was the Magic Web, a system that simultaneously harbored both order and chaos.


    Several spells emerged from deep within his mind, deeply inscribed into the Red Dragon¡¯s consciousness. He had finally touched a higher layer of the Magic Web and gained a more profound understanding of this world¡¯s Magic Web.


    ¡°It¡¯s about time to leave here.¡±


    ¡°The next destination will be Stormy Ridge.¡±


    The Red Dragon gorged himself, leaving behind several abandoned nests in the forest without a second thought, and soared into the sky.


    The sky was clear, with not a single cloud in sight.


    He gazed down at the earth; below him was a dense forest teeming with trees, with deer darting through the woods.


    Further out lay a vast, desolate plateau where the outlines of several cities could be vaguely seen. Beyond his line of sight were endless, snow-covered mountains that seemed to stretch to infinity¡­


    This was the Anzeta Great Wilderness, located in the northwest of the Elzegai West Continent, surrounded by the imposing Ancytica Mountains. Due to its perpetually cold climate, it was known as the ¡°Land of Eternal Winter.¡±


    The indomitable Skandar People had established dozens of cities here over a millennium, gradually forming the Northern United Kingdom led by Duke Boske. Many diverse creatures, including orcs, giants, goblins, and even giant dragons, coexisted in this vast region.


    The strong wind in the sky brushed across the Red Dragon¡¯s scales, drying the bloodstains at the corners of his mouth.


    All these real, vivid sensations were clearly reminding Cassius, or rather Lin Kai:


    He was alive.


    Truly alive under this sky.


    This was not some virtual game.


    The Red Dragon looked down at the vast land, mumbling to himself:


    ¡°I am Cassius¡­¡±


    But his latter half of the sentence was lost in the high-altitude howling hurricane¡ª¡±I was also Lin Kai.¡±


    ¡­


    Deep in the mountains, in the coldest part of Anzeta, stood a black tower.


    No one knew its origin, and no one dared to visit.


    Unknown beastly howls often emanated from the tower, leading people to call it the Polar Night Demon Tower.


    At the top of the tower, a man clad in a black cloak, his face obscured, was waiting for something.


    An old, rusty badge on his chest depicted a blazing flame with eyes growing on dragon claws.


    Soon after, a portal appeared out of thin air, and a grotesque creature slowly wriggled and crawled out of it, kneeling peculiarly before the man.


    The creature was over three meters tall, and even kneeling, it was considerably taller than the man.


    Its body was twisted, a misshapen assemblage of disordered flesh.


    It was covered in many white scales, but large patches of raw flesh remained exposed, with a thick mat of hair on its head, giving it a disgusting and grotesque appearance.


    The creature spoke with great difficulty: ¡°Mas¡­ter, it is¡­ it is a Red Dragon.¡±


    With that, it extended its bloodied, twisted limb, presenting a charred bone that still bore the outline of a Terror Wolf¡¯s skull.


    ¡°A powerful Red Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Excellent, excellent!¡±


    The man¡¯s tone was unusually excited.


    ¡°It is¡­ very cunning. I have not yet found its lair.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t be hasty. I know these Red Dragons too well¡ªproud, greedy, furious, prone to violence, and lazy to think¡­¡±


    ¡°Once these creatures obtain enough power, they will mark their territory and flaunt their power like a dog in heat.¡±


    The man laughed maniacally, his voice filled with fanaticism and obsession.


    ¡°When that time comes, that power will be mine to control.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ master¡­¡±


    The creature slowly lowered its head, its thick hair covering its ghostly blue eyes.


    The man stepped forward, gently stroking the creature¡¯s head, unfazed by the unknown slime covering his hands. He softly said:


    ¡°I will not fail again, absolutely not¡­¡±


    These words seemed to be meant for the creature, but also for himself.

 Chapter 8 - 8: Stormy Ridge

    Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Stormy Ridge


    The Red Dragon soared freely in the sky. In the distance, towering and steep cliffs pierced the clouds, which was Hurricane Cliffs.


    This was the Arcade Mountain Pass in the north, also a gathering place for storms, where hurricanes often raged.


    Spreading southward from here across a vast, undulating terrain filled with scattered rocks, sparse trees, and even tundra, it was collectively known as Stormy Ridge.


    In the past life, Stormy Ridge had another name ¡ª ¡°Newbie¡¯s Mass Grave.¡±


    Due to active and intense elemental reactions, this area was sparsely populated, with countless creatures growing wild here.


    Hill Giants, Gnolls, Ogres, Goblins, and even Bipedal Wyverns, all kinds of monsters coexisted here, where one could easily find themselves surrounded by evil creatures if not careful.


    ...


    Yet, for Cassius, the evil dragon, this place was a holy land for leveling up and recruiting retainers.


    As winter approached, hurricanes on Stormy Ridge mixed with fragments of snow. The ground¡¯s weeds were withered and dry, covered by thin layers of snow.


    The Red Dragon felt a chill in the air and couldn¡¯t help but exhale a breath of sulfur-scented heat, sublimating the snowflakes in the air into water vapor.


    ¡°Need to find a warm enough shelter.¡±


    The Red Dragon thought.


    Previously, Cloud Summit Peak was a good place. While located in the northwest part of the continent in the so-called ¡°Land of Eternal Winter¡± of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, the cave had plenty of geothermal heat, with even some magma in its depths, fitting the Red Dragon¡¯s pursuit of fire and heat.


    Unfortunately, after his cheap mother got slain, it was no longer safe. There might be kingdom guards stationed at the cave entrance to prevent the evil dragon from coming back.


    Cassius tried to recall memories of Stormy Ridge from his past life and suddenly thought of a good place.


    ¡°Just in time to see if I could recruit a subordinate, or¡­ gain some experience.¡±


    Feeling invigorated, the Red Dragon stretched his wings and glided over the ground, filled with excitement despite the cold wind.


    ¡­


    Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave.


    Whoever came up with that lousy name probably was some bored bard.


    Perhaps it was because the uneven rocks around the cave entrance resembled a giant¡¯s rotten teeth, or because the open hole looked like a mouth, but at some point, it got this name.


    The surrounding Ogres and Goblins also called it that, reflecting their limited imagination.


    The cave had changed owners many times, and currently, it belonged to a Chimera.


    The Chimera, a beast said to be created by the Demon Lord Demogorgon who was summoned to the mortal world, had the hind legs of a goat, the forelegs of a lion, a pair of dragon wings, and the heads of these three creatures.


    It combined the worst traits of each part: the dragon¡¯s head driving it to raid and hoard treasures, the lion¡¯s nature sparking its desire to hunt powerful creatures threatening its territory, and its goat¡¯s head making it malicious and tenacious, fighting to the death.


    At present, the cave¡¯s owner lounged near the entrance, leisurely licking its wounds.


    Its massive seven-meter-long body lazily lay on the rocks, absorbing their lingering warmth.


    It was the most terrifying monster within a hundred miles, sitting at the top of the food chain, only needing to ravage and kill. The accumulated bones inside the cave attested to its gruesome reign.


    There were even numerous human relics like armor and swords among the hoard, suggesting many adventurers had fallen to this greedy beast.


    But the roaring of wings outside interrupted everything.


    The Chimera roared furiously, rising to see outside, ready to tear the foolish intruder apart, only to see a robust Red Dragon land with a thud.


    ¡°Submit to me, or choose death.¡±


    The Red Dragon said in Draconic.


    The Chimera had dragon blood in its veins, rarely speaking but understanding Draconic.


    It studied the creature before it. This Red Dragon was clearly not fully grown, smaller in size but more robust.


    Though a formidable opponent, it didn¡¯t look invincible.


    The lion¡¯s head growled, its nature triggering a fierce desire to hunt the strong creature before it, a worthy challenge no doubt.


    Hearing the Chimera¡¯s growl, Cassius shook his head regretfully, thinking that indeed, size does matter ¡ª doing anything becomes troublesome otherwise.


    If a twenty-meter-long adult Red Dragon had occupied this place, shielding the cave entrance with its wings, there would be no worry about the Chimera¡¯s defiance.


    He had to find a way to grow quickly.


    He too was observing the fearsome beast before him.


    [Based on your levels, you can observe the following information]


    [Chimera]


    Category: Large Monster, Chaotic Evil


    AC: 14 (natural armor)


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª19


    Agility¡ª¡ª11


    Constitution¡ª¡ª19


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª7


    Perception¡ª¡ª14


    Charisma¡ª¡ª10


    Proficiencies: Listening +4, Scout +3, Hunting +5


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 ft., Passive Perception 18 ft.


    Language: Draconic


    Actions: Multi-Attack, Biting, Goring, Claw Attacks, Flame Breath


    Traits: Contradictory Creature, Evil Minion


    Challenge Level: 6 (2,300 XP)


    Assessment: ¡°The Chimera is a brutal creature like a demon, fond of ambushing its prey from high above, spitting flames while diving down and continuing the assault on landing.


    It purely seeks amusement in hunting, savoring its prey¡¯s fear and pain, often toying with them, or leaving them mortally wounded only to return and kill them after they¡¯ve suffered enough.¡±


    This was the strongest opponent Cassius had encountered since his reincarnation, a genuine Chimera.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re not submitting, let¡¯s settle this with a brawl.¡±


    Cassius grew more serious, his golden slit pupils narrowing, revealing the Red Dragon¡¯s zeal in facing a formidable enemy.


    His well-developed muscles tightened, looking ready to explode into action.


    The Chimera howled, flapping its wings and taking to the skies.


    It stuck to its familiar tactic, diving down from the sky with its left dragon head spitting deadly flame breath.


    Using flame against a nearly fire-immune Red Dragon was clearly not a wise choice.


    It showed the beast lacked knowledge and combat wisdom.


    On the ground, the Red Dragon just tensed its muscles, remaining poised.


    ¡°Act Before the Enemy.¡±


    Cassius whispered in Draconic, pale-purple magical aurora flickering at his eyes.


    This was a practical cantrip, allowing him to anticipate the enemy¡¯s moves before striking, delivering a deadly blow, crucial at times.


    The Chimera spewed flames wildly, diving to a few meters in front of the Red Dragon.


    The Red Dragon¡¯s glowing slit pupils coldly fixed on it, discerning its flight direction.


    Then, his tensed muscles instantly unleashed immense energy.


    He spread his wings, his over-seven-meter-long body springing into the air, braving the intense flame breath to side-step the Chimera mid-air.


    The Chimera hastily flapped its wings to change direction ¡ª but it was already too late.


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 Chapter 9 - 9: Battle of the Giants Mouth

    Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Battle of the Giant¡¯s Mouth


    Red Dragon opened its bloodthirsty maw and bit down mercilessly at the Chimera¡¯s neck.


    Its incredibly sharp dragon teeth pierced through the Chimera¡¯s scales, tore through its tough hide, and deeply embedded into its flesh and blood.


    Blood splattered, and the Chimera¡¯s head threw back as it let out a piercing wail. The once formidable flame breath abruptly ceased.


    ¡°Aah¡ª¡±


    The Chimera¡¯s dragon-like wings flapped wildly, struggling to ascend, while its robust and sharp lion claws swung at the Red Dragon in midair, hoping to launch a counterattack and break free from its plight.


    Cassius unclenched his jaws, agilely dodged the incoming strike, and gracefully flapped his wings, spiraling diagonally above the Chimera.


    ...


    The tides of battle had turned. The Red Dragon let out a satisfied long howl, diving down swiftly toward the Chimera¡¯s back.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Compared to the bizarrely shaped beast below, the streamlined body of the Red Dragon provided a clear advantage in flight.


    The Chimera, suspended midair, was powerless to evade his actions, fluttering its wings futilely, helplessly watching as the Red Dragon¡¯s silhouette drew ever closer.


    ¡°Got you.¡±


    Cassius spread his wings wide, his powerful claws gripping the Chimera¡¯s wings tightly.


    Panic-stricken, the Chimera lost its balance, flailing its wings erratically. All three of its heads turned back to bite, desperately trying to shake off the Red Dragon on its back.


    ¡°Bull¡¯s Strength!¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Red Dragon roared fiercely, the power of the spell surging into his heart and then pumping through every inch of his muscles, making his already powerful limbs bulge exaggeratedly, even emitting steam.


    Cassius instantly felt his strength surge immensely.


    His claws locked firmly onto the Chimera¡¯s wings, nearly crushing its flesh and bones.


    ¡°Who gave you the courage¡ª¡±


    ¡°to fly before a True Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Down!¡±


    Cassius said viciously.


    He then folded his wings tightly, pressing down with all his weight and strength¡ª


    The Red Dragon needed a crushing victory.


    The previously struggling Chimera now had no chance of escape under the absolute dominance of his power.


    It could only despairingly await its fate.


    ¡°Aoo¡ªaah¡ª¡±


    The Chimera first wobbled in the air, struggling, and then, under the Red Dragon¡¯s immense pressure, plummeted straight to the ground from a height of more than ten meters.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The earth roared.


    Dust filled the air, rubble flew everywhere, rocks cracked, and the ground was smashed into a massive shallow pit.


    And in the pit, the Chimera was particularly miserable, with scars all over and its wings nearly broken.


    ¡°Let me show you what true flame really is!¡±


    The Red Dragon pressed against the half-dead Chimera, his mouth slightly open, with scorching fire elements building up in the depths of his throat¡ªthe air around his mouth subtly distorted by the intense heat of the impending flame breath.


    ¡°Submit.¡±


    ¡°Or die.¡±


    Cassius stared into the terrified, dejected eyes of the Chimera¡¯s lion head and spoke each word forcefully.


    Though the Chimera was a vicious and belligerent creature, it still valued its own life. Besides, its dragon bloodline made it naturally submissive to stronger dragons, becoming their evil minions.


    Under the threat of death, the Chimera did not hesitate long. Its dragon, lion, and goat heads all struggled to lower, exposing vulnerable necks and letting out deep murmurs to express submission to the stronger dragon.


    ¡°Awoo¡­¡±


    Before strength, all are equal¡ªthis was the most straightforward and brutal law of the wild.


    ¡°Submit¡­ Master¡­¡±


    The Chimera could speak simple Draconic, though only managing to utter the words coarsely.


    Cassius then loosened his grip on the Chimera and sprayed his accumulated flame breath to the ground less than a meter away.


    In an instant, the scorching flames charred the ground and shattered the rocks.


    The Chimera, frightened yet more reverent, knew that it stood no chance if hit directly by that flame.


    The Chimera slowly climbed out of the shallow pit, its injured wings tightly folded on its back, and its scarred limbs struggling to support its body, the three heads drooping and not daring to look directly at the Red Dragon.


    The Red Dragon leaped to a towering rock wall outside the cave, roaring in Draconic from above:


    ¡°From now on, this place is mine¡ª


    ¡°Cassius¡¯ lair.¡±


    His voice shook the surroundings, allowing creatures within a few miles to hear it.


    Whether it was the feasting gnolls, the marauding ogres, or the snoring bugbears¡­


    They might not realize the change of ownership in this territory yet, but Cassius was confident they would soon understand in one way or another.


    He then lightly jumped down the rock wall, his eyes returning to the submissive Chimera below, and said casually:


    ¡°From now on, remember this name well, and do not defy me. Lead the way ahead.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    The Chimera nodded slightly and walked ahead, heading deeper into the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave.


    Inside the cave was warm, probably due to the abundant fire elements within the mountain, making the Red Dragon feel exceptionally comfortable.


    As they traversed the deep passageways, Cassius noticed numerous skeletal remains scattered around¡ªgiant skulls, bipedal wyvern wing bones, and even horned humanoid skulls.


    ¡°Is it a Campion?


    ¡°No, it should be a Tiefling.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    The Red Dragon continued following behind. After passing through the deep external passage, the cave opened up before him, the space much larger, enough to house a mature Red Dragon.


    All around were remnants of feeding, and various other passageways and openings.


    The Chimera hesitated momentarily while passing a pile of skeletal remains but then swiftly pretended not to see it and walked forward.


    It was deliberately guiding the Red Dragon inside.


    However, Cassius keenly observed this anomaly, stopped the Chimera leading the way, and coldly asked in Draconic:


    ¡°What are you hiding? What is there?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡­¡±


    The Chimera turned around, whimpered, and bowed its head in a pleading posture.


    The Red Dragon scraped away the pile of bones, revealing a hidden entrance. A glance inside showed thousands of shimmering Gold Coins flickering in the dark cave.


    The Chimera, with its dragon bloodline, had inherited the dragon¡¯s greed. Hoarding treasure was second nature to it, but to collect so many Gold Coins was quite a talent.


    ¡°By dragonkin laws, I shall take half.¡±


    ¡°But if you dare conceal from me again¡­¡±


    ¡°There won¡¯t be another chance.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ Master.¡±


    The beast¡¯s three heads lowered.


    Cassius glanced at it, then entered the cave, feeling the Chimera¡¯s dragon head¡¯s painfully watchful gaze.


    With just one bite, his massive jaws swallowed hundreds of Gold Coins¡ª


    Most of the Chimera¡¯s lifetime hoard from its constant plundering and slaughter.

 Chapter 10 - 10: The Tragedy of Northwind Castle

    Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The Tragedy of Northwind Castle


    Gold coins flowed from the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth, while the Chimera outside the cave stared intently at the scene. Its greedy eyes not only showed a heartache over the lost treasure but also a hint of resentment. However, this emotion vanished swiftly, unable to display it before the Red Dragon.


    Cassius noticed this but didn¡¯t care, even feeling a sense of accomplishment in transforming into a Minotaur.


    For such chaotic evil creatures, showing mercy was useless because the Chimera could never be unconditionally loyal to him. It would seize any opportunity to devour its master and take over.


    As an ancient saying from his past life went, ¡°Fear power, not virtue,¡± this described the monster perfectly.


    The only thing the Red Dragon could do was to use its strength while maintaining its powerful presence, ensuring it remained forever a retainer without the opportunity to rise.


    [Metallic Scales rose to full level (5230/5000)]


    ...


    [New trait obtained: Gilded Scales]


    [Gilded Scales] Ac+3 Constitution+1


    [You have devoured an excessive amount of Gold Element. The flowing gold will attach to your outer body and the depths of your heart.


    You can actively trigger Gilded Carapace. The gold inside your body will form a gilded layer on your surface, greatly increasing your armor value and changing the scales¡¯ appearance to gold.]


    ¡°Able to turn my scales golden?¡±


    Cassius suddenly had some strange thoughts.


    Because in his memory, there should¡¯ve been no Gold Dragon in Anzeta.


    Is it possible¡­?


    Regardless, another life-saving measure had been added. The Red Dragon felt quite delighted.


    He ignored the Chimera¡¯s resentful gaze, merely continuing to have it lead the way, exploring the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave.


    ¡°Not there yet?¡±


    Cassius wondered.


    This place was far more complicated than he imagined, with numerous extremely deep sections that made one suspect it wasn¡¯t naturally formed but crafted by some Dwarven artisans.


    Not far off, in a narrow cave, bursts of scalding white steam erupted, with some magma splashing out. This made the Red Dragon feel somewhat nostalgic.


    ¡°Keep going,¡±


    Cassius signaled the Chimera to lead the way.


    But the cowardly beast kept whimpering and pleading, refusing to go further no matter what.


    ¡°Master, hot, dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Will die.¡±


    After all, it had submitted to the Red Dragon to save its own life.


    Not to lose its life in the magma. It didn¡¯t have the Red Dragon¡¯s flame resistance.


    ¡°A strange place.¡±


    ¡°However, with such a strong elemental reaction, it¡¯s better to explore once we are fully prepared.¡±


    ¡°As for the name, let¡¯s call it the Bottomless Cavern.¡±


    Cassius pondered for a while before deciding to temporarily put it aside, as he was, after all, just a young Red Dragon.


    He was barely managing to be a ruler in this wilderness, let alone face the unknown monsters below ground. If an Eye Demon or other high-level monsters appeared, he wasn¡¯t confident of winning.


    ¡°You may leave now.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    The Chimera breathed a sigh of relief.


    It didn¡¯t even care about its injuries, bolting toward its treasure-stashing cave and hurriedly moving the remaining hundreds of gold coins.


    Even risking its nearly fractured wings, it shakily flew across, finding a place to hide these treasures.


    ¡°Truly a creature with Dragon blood.¡±


    ¡°So obsessively fond of wealth.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but shake his head disdainfully.


    Thus, Cassius made the outer cave of the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave his first lair and temporarily sealed the inner passage with rocks.


    The Chimera, meanwhile, was sent to a small cave on the opposite cliff by Cassius to serve as a retainer, guarding his home.


    To Cassius, the provided treatment was quite generous. At least he left it some savings, didn¡¯t he? Many modern enterprises didn¡¯t even offer that kind of treatment¡­


    ¡°Magic Tricks!¡±


    As Cassius chanted, a corner of the cave, one cubic foot, became clean and tidy. The initially foul-smelling bloodstains vanished.


    This Red Dragon, like a cleaner, used magic to scrub the cave inch by inch.


    ¡°This brainless beast surely ruined the place. This cave, if it were in a cultivation novel, should have been a ¡®Land of Good Fortune and Heavenly Caves,¡¯ but instead, it turned it into a slaughterhouse.¡± Cassius looked at the bloody mess and couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    Another pile of bones lay ahead. The Red Dragon was preparing to clear them out of the cave but once again saw a skull with goat horns.


    This skull looked relatively recent, probably weeks old, with some meat still clinging to it, surrounded by buzzing flies.


    From the human-like body shape and the broken tailbone, it was discernible as a Tiefling.


    Tieflings were derived from human bloodlines, with bodies generally appearing human.


    However, their devilish lineage left a clear mark on their appearance: horns on their heads, four to five feet long, thick tails, and solid-colored eyes, with skins in various hues.


    These hell-blooded beings often gathered in human towns. Though not inherently evil, they always faced mistrust and discrimination from others.


    Cassius pondered for a moment, recalling a questline from his past life: ¡°It¡¯s Tieflings, indeed. Could it be related to the ¡®Northwind Fortress Tragedy¡¯ quest?¡±


    [Northwind Fortress Tragedy]


    [Northwind Castle, also known as Cavanagh Castle, was a city on the Northern United Kingdom¡¯s border, north of Stormy Ridge. With over thirty thousand residents, it housed more than a thousand Tieflings under the rule of Earl Rackman.]


    [A century ago, the aged Duke Brad Rackman, troubled by his dwindling life, struck a pact with an evil Necromancer, transforming himself into an undying Vampire. Now reawakened, he agreed to offer a thousand lives to the Necromancer within ten years to achieve a great ascension.] sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [In the ensuing months, many people vanished from the city without a trace. Amid this, Brad Rackman took advantage of the situation by delivering a notorious ¡®Bloody Speech,¡¯ placing all blame on the Tiefling tribe, dubbed the ¡®Devil¡¯s Offspring,¡¯ claiming they were sacrificing humans to devils.]


    [Thus began a ¡®righteous¡¯ massacre as enraged townspeople rushed into the city, tying unprepared Tieflings to the stake and burning them alive, old and young alike, under accusations of collusion with devils.]


    [The Tiefling Holy Warrior Mezulash, originally part of the city defense forces, vehemently resisted. Evading the Duke¡¯s soldiers, he led a group of three hundred surviving Tieflings to flee northward, near Stormy Ridge, establishing the Tiefling refugee camp ¡®House of Ruin.¡¯]


    In the early game, one of the main questlines involved cooperating with Tieflings to expose Duke Rackman¡¯s true nature and eventually kill the brutal Vampire.


    And Northwind Castle was a crucial Main City.


    ¡°Could the Tiefling refugee camp be located near this territory? Perhaps I can leverage this questline¡­ to seize Northwind Castle.¡±


    This was the player¡¯s main city. Seizing the city equated to gaining control over the players. From his experience in past versions, Cassius knew the significant benefits of this.


    Thinking this, the Red Dragon summoned the Chimera again, pointing at the remains on the ground:


    ¡°Where did you encounter these creatures?¡±


    The Chimera approached, sniffing with its lion head before answering: ¡°Horned humans, not tasty.¡±


    Cassius glanced at the Chimera¡¯s battered wings, deducing it lacked the capability for long-distance flight.


    He thought there was no rush. Besides, his current power wasn¡¯t strong enough. He could gradually rally surrounding beings under his banner.


    ¡°Go back and heal first.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±

 Chapter 11 - 11: Ogre Mage

    Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Ogre Mage


    In a corner of Stormy Ridge, in Cannibal Valley, more than a dozen ogres were feasting on a charred wild boar, tearing the meat excitedly and making a mess everywhere.


    ¡°Mine, all mine!¡±


    ¡°You fool, you think you can snatch from me?¡±


    The tallest and also the fattest ogre among them knocked out his companion with a club, seized the pig leg, and swallowed it whole, licking his fingers with satisfaction.


    His name was Ramp, the leader of the ogre tribe.


    Ramp found himself getting smarter, and his subordinates often said the same, though they didn¡¯t use such sophisticated terms. They just said he was ¡°really good at finding food.¡±


    ...


    But the clever Ramp understood their meaning and felt very flattered by it.


    In the ogres¡¯ dictionary, ¡°good at finding food¡± was the highest praise, whether by using a stout club or a smart brain.


    Besides gluttony, Ramp would often flip through the books he had seized from ¡°Nibbles,¡± enjoying them greatly, and he learned many useful things from them:


    For example, from ¡°Sean¡¯s Adventure Diary,¡± he learned that placing a treasure chest or scattering some gold coins on the road and then digging a pit ahead, covering it with straw, could quickly snare more ¡°little ones.¡± The book called this behavior ¡°trap.¡± Ramp loved this elegant term.


    What fascinated him the most was something called a ¡°Spell¡± from the book ¡°Fool¡¯s Guide to Fireball Spell.¡± It allowed him to cast fireballs larger than a boar¡¯s head, easily turning a mammoth into roast meat.


    Ramp used this method to gather a large amount of food and consolidated the commonly scattered two or three ogre groups into a tribe of over twenty ogres. Those who refused to join were turned into roast meat by Ramp and ended up in everyone¡¯s bellies.


    This was an epoch-making achievement that could be recorded in the history of ogres¡ªat least Ramp thought so. Hence, he named the tribe ¡°New Era,¡± a term learned from books.


    Unfortunately, no one in the ogre tribe could understand this name, and a subordinate even asked why it wasn¡¯t called the ¡°Big Meat Chunk¡± tribe. As a result, Ramp gave him a severe beating with a club.


    Ramp always had a feeling of ¡°hating iron for not being steel¡± towards his ogre subordinates.


    Whenever he tried to line his subordinates up to ambush enemies, as described in the ¡°Military Exercise Manual,¡± the ogres would always shout ¡°Meat! Meat!¡± and rush in a disorganized manner, wielding their big clubs.


    He wanted to teach his subordinates the common language, hoping to extort more food from humans, but the ogres only knew the words ¡°eat,¡± ¡°meat,¡± and ¡°food.¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    ¡°There were still too few smart ones in the tribe.¡±


    While eating, Ramp often thought and sighed at the same time.


    However, unlike Ramp, the other ogres, after eating, were already snoring loudly, in a deep sleep.


    He¡¯d recently been focusing on training an ogre named ¡°Bighead.¡± As the name suggested, this ogre had a very large head, twice the size of a normal head. Ramp thought that a big-headed fellow might be smarter.


    ¡°Chief, there¡¯s food over there!¡±


    The ¡°scout¡± arranged by Ramp shouted excitedly from the hilltop.


    ¡°Bighead, what kind of creature came by?¡±


    Ramp happily spat out a bone and climbed up the slope since ogres were never full.


    ¡°It¡¯s a big lizard, plenty of meat!¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ogre named Bighead waved his wolf fang club excitedly.


    Was it a fire lizard?


    Or a bipedal wyvern?


    Several images flashed through Ramp¡¯s mind, but none were easy to deal with.


    ¡°Describe what it looks like.¡±


    ¡°Let me see¡ªit¡¯s the color of fresh meat, bright red, four legs, two wings, one tail¡­¡±


    The more Ramp listened, the more off it sounded. He climbed up the hill and saw the ¡°big lizard¡± for himself.


    His expression changed dramatically, and he gave Bighead a hard clubbing, making his already large head swell even more.


    ¡°You fool!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a damn dragon! A True Dragon!¡±


    After saying that, Ramp couldn¡¯t contain his anger and chased after the foolish ogre, beating him mercilessly, causing the latter to howl repeatedly.


    Bighead said, aggrieved, ¡°Chief, why are you hitting me? What did I say wrong?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a big lizard?¡±


    Indeed, compared to most of his kind, he was already considered smart for recognizing it was a lizard and not shouting ¡°meat¡± repeatedly. That was already an achievement.


    ¡°You just keep talking!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you!¡±


    ¡°Stop hitting, Chief. The¡ªuh¡ªdragon is coming over.¡±


    Bighead cried out while holding his swollen head.


    Ramp put down his club and looked up angrily.


    He saw the red dragon already above him, with its wings spread wide, casting a shadow that enveloped him.


    Ramp used his clever brain to organize his words, hesitated for a moment, and then said:


    ¡°Uh¡­ Mighty, proud, and noble Red Dragon, Bighead is an ignorant fool who lacks manners, and I will discipline him well. I hope you won¡¯t stoop to his level.¡±


    Considering that the sky was occupied by an arrogant dragon, Ramp deliberately referred to the phrasing in the ¡°Noble Etiquette Record.¡±


    Such a strong bardic tone almost made Cassius fall from the sky.


    But the red dragon didn¡¯t reply, merely looking down at this seemingly ¡°smarty¡± ogre.


    Only a trace of undisguised surprise showed in its vertical pupils.


    [Based on your own abilities, you can observe the following information]


    [Ogre Mage]


    Name: Ramp


    Category: Large Giant, Neutral Evil


    Race: Ogre


    AC: 12 (Beastskin Armor)


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª18


    Agility¡ª8


    Constitution¡ª16


    Intelligence¡ª17


    Perception¡ª8


    Charisma¡ª12


    Proficiencies: Arcane +3, Hunting +4, Traps +3, Reading +6, Military +2, Ruling +4, Herbology +2, Persuasion +2, Deception +2


    Senses: Passive Perception 14 ft.


    Languages: Common, Draconic, Giant


    Actions: Slam, Bite, Pound


    Combat Equipment:


    [Ring of Wisdom¡¯s Study]: A headband handcrafted by an archmage for an inept noble student, it locks the user¡¯s intelligence at 17.


    [Mithril Ring]: Arcane +1, Reading +4


    [Albert¡¯s Mithril Bracelet]: Allows a daily save on a 4th-level spell.


    Occupational Level: 5th Level Mage


    Spellcaster Level: 5


    Spells:


    1st Level ¨C None


    2nd Level ¨C None


    3rd Level ¨C Fireball


    Challenge Level: 6 (2,100 XP)


    Assessment: ¡°This is a rare ogre mage. He is indeed very smart. Never underestimate him; otherwise, he will let you experience the consequences of scorning a mage with a fireball.¡±


    ¡°Arcane, military, governance, herbology¡­ A well-rounded individual who even knows magic. This guy is a talent¡­¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but marvel in his heart.


    With an intelligence of 17, he would be considered a sage in any human city and would probably be called a ¡°prophet¡± in an orc tribe.


    It¡¯s a pity that in an ogre tribe, which does nothing but eat and sleep, he would only become an overworked leader finding food for his subordinates.


    The intelligence headband could be considered divine gear for the early stages.


    If Cassius were a mage right now, he would do anything to get it. Unfortunately, he had chosen the path of a magician and did not plan to cross-class for the time being.


    For now, it was better to recruit a mage follower.


    The multiverse was vast and full of infinite possibilities.


    If even an ogre could become a mage, what wasn¡¯t possible?


    The air grew a bit tense.


    The red dragon and the ogre faced each other, one high and one low, staring each other down.


    Ramp, watching the seemingly contemplative red dragon, gripped his club tightly, sweat forming on his brow, and began preparing to construct a spell prototype in his mind.

 Chapter 12 - 12 Arcane Priory

    Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Arcane Priory


    In the tense atmosphere, Cassius finally spoke,


    ¡°I see you have remarkable bones and exceptional intelligence, you¡¯re quite a talent. No, a magical talent. Would you be willing to become my retainer?¡±


    Ramp heaved a sigh of relief and stopped casting the Fireball Technique.


    He responded flatteringly, ¡°From the perspective of submitting to the strong, of course, I am willing to become your retainer. After all, you are a powerful Red Dragon.¡±


    But before the Red Dragon could reply, he tentatively looked up and said in a low voice,


    ¡°However, I would also like to know, what benefits do I and my tribe get from becoming your retainer?¡±


    ...


    ¡°This ogre is really hard to fool, quite the Smarty. If it were any other Red Dragon, he would have been roasted to ashes with one Flame Breath. But not me, I have an eye for talent.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but internally comment.


    Given the rarity of spellcasters, the Red Dragon decided to show some deference to this ogre. He adopted the posture of a former-life leader giving a speech, and began slowly,


    ¡°I can tell, you are different from the usual ogres, you are very intelligent, seeking knowledge and wisdom.¡±


    Ramp nodded somewhat appreciatively.


    Who could understand the bitterness of staying amidst a bunch of ogres who only knew how to eat?


    ¡°But do you really wish to spend your life eating and sleeping in this narrow valley?¡±


    ¡°Are you willing to only keep company with these tribemates, waiting for the day when adventurers break into the valley and turn you into bounty?¡±


    Seeing the ogre somewhat moved, Cassius intensified his efforts, tempting the ogre like a devil from Hell,


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to wield greater strength, see broader horizons, and have your name sung by bards?¡±


    ¡°Submit to me, I can provide you with endless food, unimaginable power, knowledge as vast as the stars, to truly realize your potential. I will build a great empire.¡±


    The Red Dragon paused for a moment, ¡°Imagine, you will be a part of my grand blueprint.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s promises grew increasingly grandiose, figuring that the more the better when it came to boasting.


    ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    The ogre was so excited he couldn¡¯t speak.


    Ramp pondered, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.


    These words had a significant impact on him, making him, for the first time as an ogre, start to consider if there was more to life than eating.


    The ogres had already gathered around but were afraid to disturb their leader. Yet when they heard the word ¡°food,¡± they couldn¡¯t help but cheer,


    ¡°Submit! Submit!¡±


    ¡°Food!¡±


    They didn¡¯t understand much else but knew what food meant.


    ¡°Now, I need an answer.¡±


    ¡°Are you willing to become my retainer?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone was impassioned.


    Finally, Ramp¡¯s gaze grew resolute. He raised his head, his plump body half-kneeling, and solemnly said,


    ¡°Witness this, gods. I, Ramp, lord of the ogres of Gluttonous Valley, the smartest ogre in the world, am willing to become your retainer and conquer this world for you.¡±


    The Red Dragon wasn¡¯t moved by this somewhat ¡°magnificent¡± pledge of allegiance, he only felt a bit parched.


    He thought to himself that this Smarty had stayed in the mountains too long, not having experienced the hardships of human society. Even with an intelligence of 17, he could be fooled.


    ¡°Cassius, your master, remember this name well.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my noble master, I am willing to be your sword in hand, your shield in front, to charge into battle¡­¡±


    The ogre spoke passionately, still wanting to continue his lines, seemingly already lost in the fantasy of the ¡°great blueprint.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak like that.¡±


    Cassius interrupted Ramp¡¯s impromptu performance,


    An ogre standing three meters tall and weighing a ton speaking in such a bard-like tone sounded very odd.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    The Ogre Mage wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    ¡°Oh! Oh, oh, oh!¡±


    The ogres cheered again, waving their assorted wolf fang clubs, wooden hammers, and big bone clubs.


    In truth, they didn¡¯t know what had happened, only vaguely understanding that there seemed to be a new boss on top.


    And according to the second smartest ogre in the tribe, Bighead, they would get to eat more, which made these gluttonous creatures very happy. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°We have a new boss!¡±


    The ¡°smartest¡± ogre in the crowd, Bighead, cheered.


    Ramp solemnly corrected, ¡°Not a new boss, he is master, or call him His Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Okay, old boss.¡±


    Ramp, unable to bear it any longer, raised his big club again.


    ¡°Old boss, why are you hitting me again?¡±


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    ¡­


    While leading the ogres to move into the territory, the Red Dragon curiously asked the Ogre Mage,


    ¡°Where did you learn magic and those books from?¡±


    Ramp scratched his head for a moment before answering,


    ¡°A few months ago, I ate a mage in a carriage, tender skin, very tasty. There were many books in his carriage.¡±


    As he recalled, this ogre couldn¡¯t help but lick his lips, a look of ecstasy appearing on his ugly face. It seemed that even wisdom couldn¡¯t change the gluttonous nature of these ogres.


    ¡°Under my command, refrain from eating humanoid beings.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s expression was somewhat disappointed. Those mages with tender skin were obviously very tasty, but for the sake of the ¡°great blueprint¡± in his heart, he had to accept this harsh demand for an ogre.


    However, for Cassius, it was a necessary requirement, not out of pity, but because he planned to recruit a large number of players. If his retainers kept their cannibalistic habits, they might end up being hunted by the players.


    ¡°By the way, take me to see that carriage.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s expression was somewhat peculiar, he roughly guessed what had happened.


    Following Ramp to a hidden spot in the valley, Cassius saw the wrecked carriage.


    Although it had been abandoned for a long time, the exquisite gilded decorations still exuded an aura of luxury, and a gilded emblem was set on the carriage¡¯s inner wall¡ªdepicting an eye symbolizing true knowledge and two crossed magic wands.


    ¡°As expected, it¡¯s the Arcane Priory, and it¡¯s a high-member emblem.¡±


    ¡°Such a waste.¡±


    Cassius remarked privately.


    The Arcane Priory, a renowned mage organization founded by the famous Archmage Trafalgar.


    Members regularly gathered to share spell knowledge, exchange research results, and sometimes seek assistance in eliminating evil. Their branches spread throughout Erezer, with one possibly in Anzeta.


    Cassius marveled at the unpredictability of the Goddess of Fate.


    An aristocratic mage apprentice, highly anticipated as a member of the Arcane Priory, bearing the hopes of many, with limited spell abilities, yet suffering from the arrogance typical of mages.


    He defied orders, refused family help, stubbornly embarked on an adventure alone, possibly uttering youthful words like, ¡°My fate is mine to decide.¡±


    He wanted to establish himself in the wild, slay monsters, rescue princesses, seize treasures, gain accolades, and create his own legendary adventure story.


    But this poor apprentice didn¡¯t get far before being knocked out and swallowed by an ogre roaming around, ending up as lunch.


    Not only were the precious books he carried lost, but the expensive magic equipment inherited from his family was also taken.


    Ironically, the incident led to his killer, a rough and ugly ogre named Ramp, becoming a rare Ogre Mage.

 Chapter 13 - 13: Subduing Retainers

    Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Subduing Retainers


    Cassius walked forward and pressed the emblem on the carriage wall. Using a spell, he infused it with a bit of fire element. Instantly, words appeared in the burning flame.


    ¡°Anzeta Branch cordially invites you to join.¡±


    ¡°Gathering Date: December 1, 1723.¡±


    ¡°Location: Stratholme Fortress.¡±


    ¡°Teleport Coordinates: *******¡±


    ¡°An emblem of the Arcane Priory; interesting. This gathering should be in a few years,¡± Cassius remarked with satisfaction as he put away the emblem.


    ...


    ¡°What about those books?¡± the Red Dragon then asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re here, all hidden. I was afraid those fools might use them for cooking fuel.¡± Ramp awkwardly laughed, pushing aside a heap of bones to reveal a box of Golden Silk Nanmu filled with exquisitely packaged books inside.


    ¡°Noble Military Training Code¡ªHow to Build an Attractive Army¡±


    ¡°Fool¡¯s Guide to Fireball Spell¡±


    ¡°Spell Apprentice Encyclopedia¡ªHow to Explain the Magic Web to Your Son¡±


    ¡°Sean¡¯s Adventure Log¡±


    ¡°Bard¡¯s Court Poetry Collection¡±


    ¡°How to Become a True Noble¡±


    ¡°How to Survive in the Wilderness¡ªA Complete Guide to Wild Herbs¡±


    ¡°Power and Strife¡ªA Chronicle of Court Intrigue in the Arcanas Kingdom¡±


    ¡°Appreciation of Giant Women¡±


    Seeing this array of absurd books, Cassius was left speechless. He finally understood why the ogre before him spoke in such a bizarre poetic tone and realized that the young noble mage apprentice died unjustly.


    Even if he hadn¡¯t died in an ogre¡¯s stomach, he would have succumbed to his own peculiar hobbies¡­ S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Uh¡­not bad. Keep collecting.¡± Cassius still found himself at a loss for words and could only offer a perfunctory compliment.


    Ramp awkwardly scratched his head. The Red Dragon saw, for the first time, how ¡°bashful¡± could appear on the face of a three-meter-tall, one-ton ogre.


    ¡°Ramp, I need you to build camps and fortresses in Giant Valley.¡±


    ¡°And here, this will become the base for my retainers. In the future, it will no longer be called Giant Valley; it will be known as¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon thought for a moment and finally chose the name that Cassius from his past life had given it.


    ¡°It will be called Ashen Nest.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s face was full of excitement, imagining once more the blueprint for world conquest in his mind. Unfortunately, the noisy ogres beside him, oblivious to the wisdom that set him apart, shattered his daydreams unceremoniously.


    ¡°Boss, when are we eating?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, my stomach is so empty I can see my toes now,¡± the ogre named Long Fang grumbled discontentedly, its yellowing tusks trembling up and down.


    ¡°Eat, eat, eat. You only know how to eat. Get to work!¡± Ramp waved his wooden club menacingly.


    ¡­


    But aside from the outrageous ones, Ramp¡ªor rather, the young noble¡¯s collection of books¡ªdid hold valuable knowledge.


    For instance, the ¡°Fool¡¯s Guide to Fireball Spell¡± and the ¡°Spell Apprentice Encyclopedia,¡± with their detailed and easy-to-understand explanations of magic applications, greatly benefited Cassius, deepening his understanding of the Magic Web.


    And this so-called ¡°New Era¡± ogre tribe, with over thirty ogres, plus an Ogre Mage proficient in the Fireball Technique, was a formidable force in the surrounding hundreds of miles.


    After consecutively subduing the Chimera of the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave and the ogre tribe of Gluttonous Valley, the Red Dragon finally had underlings, officially making a name for himself.


    Ashen Nest.


    In just two days, over four hundred goblins led by a Great Goblin came to Giant Valley to defect.


    These goblins were noisy and loud, but the moment they saw the Red Dragon¡¯s seemingly enormous figure, they all fell silent. A few even fainted in fear, losing control of their bladders.


    The leader was not a goblin but a tall, imposing Goblin Warlord.


    They were closely related to goblins but were a different race altogether, far more powerful and intelligent than goblins.


    Behind the Great Goblin followed several large, muscular humanoid creatures¡ªthe bugbears, the commander¡¯s trusted aides.


    The Goblin Warlord in front had reddish-brown skin and dark grey hair, yellow eyes nestled under a prominent brow, and a large mouth filled with long, sharp yellow teeth.


    He was unmistakably male, with a large red nose symbolizing goblin masculinity and strength.


    At this moment, he knelt on one knee before the Red Dragon, his expression humble.


    Cassius looked down at him imperiously.


    [Based on your strength, you acquire the following information]


    [Goblin Commander]


    Medium humanoid (goblin-kind), lawful evil


    Race: Great Goblin


    AC: 17 (half-plate armor)


    Strength¡ª14


    Agility¡ª13


    Constitution¡ª14


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª10


    Charisma¡ª11


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10 ft.


    Skill Proficiency: Ruling +6, Hunting +4, Military +4, Building +4


    Language: Common, Goblin


    Trait: Army Advantage, Military Regiment


    Actions: Multi-Attack, Great Sword, Leadership


    Challenge Level: 4 (1,100 XP)


    Assessment: ¡°When the war horn sounds and the catapults launch giant stones, the Great Goblins march onto the battlefield, their boots thundering across the land. Settlements and residents on the fringes of civilization often find themselves battling these humanoid invaders to stave off their insatiable hunger for conquest.¡±


    The Red Dragon stared at the leading Great Goblin, speaking slowly: ¡°Why do you want to become my retainer?¡±


    The Great Goblin kept his head lowered, his expression unchanged: ¡°Goblins always submit to the strong.¡±


    He paused, then added: ¡°Especially since you are a powerful Red Dragon, your desire for conquest is unending.¡±


    ¡°And I can demonstrate my talents under your command.¡±


    The Red Dragon narrowed his eyes: ¡°Why should I trust you, a mere goblin?¡±


    The Great Goblin did not cling to the racial slur, speaking each word firmly:


    ¡°I will prove my loyalty with blood and fire.¡±


    Cassius pondered briefly and decided to accept these goblins too. After all, his territory was still in its nascent stage; some goblins as cheap labor were essential. Moreover, among them was a quite capable Great Goblin.


    The conquest desire of Great Goblins was extreme; their strong lust for war often meant they did not survive to die of natural causes.


    Having him command the troops was far better than the half-baked skills the ogres learned from the ¡°Noble Military Training Code.¡±


    ¡°Well said, but we¡¯ll see how things go.¡±


    ¡°I will allow you to enter my territory. Go find my retainers; they will tell you what to do.¡±


    ¡°I obey your command.¡±


    Upon hearing that they were accepted by the powerful Red Dragon, the goblins erupted in joyous cheers.


    These goblins were weak, generally standing just over a meter tall. A single goblin could not even contend with an ordinary human farmer alone.


    They survived in the wilderness only by clustering and attaching themselves to stronger beings. And now, they had latched onto the sturdiest pillar¡ªa Red Dragon.


    No wonder these goblins were so ecstatic.

 Chapter 14 - 14: Leader Struggle

    Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Leader Struggle


    After nearly a month of recuperation, the Red Dragon¡¯s territory was thriving.


    Under Ramp and the Great Goblin¡¯s command, the Goblins and Ogres had already piled up a simple stone fortress within the Giant Valley.


    The city walls stood over five meters high, with watchtowers placed at higher terrain. Named ¡°Rock Fortress¡± by the well-read Ramp.


    This made the valley, already easy to defend and hard to attack, become even more indestructible. Even if a human formal army attacked, the Red Dragon was confident in keeping them out.


    ¡°Get to work, no slacking off!¡± A three-meter-tall Ogre shouted from the top of the watchtower, looking downward.


    However, the wooden watchtower appeared so fragile under the Ogre¡¯s large and fat body that one could even hear the wood creak as if lamenting for the half-ton weight it bore.


    ...


    ¡°Heave ho!¡±


    The Ogres lifted giant logs, laboriously transporting them upwards to serve as the framework of the Rock Fortress watchtowers.


    As close relatives of Giants, Ogres had immense strength. Besides their greed and laziness, they were excellent laborers.


    And the Goblins, already accustomed to building camps, worked in groups of over four hundred, cooperating with the immensely strong Ogres. Under the command of the intelligent Ramp, with an intelligence score of 17, and the leadership of the Great Goblin, building a simple fortress was relatively easy.


    Beneath the five-meter-high city walls, a group of Goblins was swinging pickaxes, vigorously chiseling away at the rocks.


    ¡°Hurry up!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re hitting my foot!¡±


    As creatures known for their laziness, they often slack off. However, ever since an angry Ogre overseer had smashed a pretending-to-sleep Goblin into a pulp, such incidents had ceased.


    After all, Ramp¡¯s ¡°lessons¡± were just a momentary pain for the slow-witted Ogres, but for the Goblins, it meant a lifetime¡¯s end. They knew this well.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    The working Goblins all looked up, startled by the enormous shadows in the sky.


    In the distance, several massive figures flew closer, like a giant black cloud¡ªthere were more than ten Bipedal Wyverns.


    They merely felt the call of their dragon bloodline, gathering together to see if there was an existence worthy of their allegiance.


    The largest among these Wyverns was over seven meters long, fierce and menacing, comparable in size to Cassius, though far slimmer than the Red Dragon.


    Unlike the True Dragon, they had two scaled legs and a pair of sturdy wings instead of four limbs and two wings.


    The Wyvern¡¯s tail was strong and ended with its most potent weapon: a venomous stinger.


    This potent Wyvern toxin could incinerate the victim¡¯s heart and arteries, making hunters and adventurers often covet its venom for alchemical concoctions and weapon poisonings.


    The Bipedal Wyverns landed, setting their front limbs on the ground, and pulled their wing membranes close to their bodies.


    They descended, roaring.


    Summoning the master of this place.


    The nearby Goblins scrambled in panic, fearing being eaten or crushed by the Bipedal Wyverns, and fled in groups.


    They were simply too weak, a slight motion from these powerful creatures could easily kill them.


    Meanwhile, the Ogre Mage stood alert on the fortress walls, already beginning to construct a Fireball spell model.


    The Chimera within the cliffside cave also became alert, its three heads displaying different expressions.


    ¡°Master, there¡¯s a group of Wyverns!¡±


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    The Red Dragon flew out from the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave, letting out a long, resonant roar, landing before the Wyvern group.


    ¡°Submit to me,¡± Cassius said. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Wyverns roared noisily, then bent their long necks, lowering their heads in submission.


    However, the largest Wyvern among them, seeing the Red Dragon before it was only in its adolescent stage, comparable in size to itself, dared to let out a challenging roar.


    Clearly, it was driven by the rare chance to become the leader.


    A leadership challenge?


    An ancient tradition among dragonkin.


    The two would duel, and the victor would become the leader, while the defeated would be driven away.


    But for a proud Pureblood Red Dragon, a lowly Bipedal Wyvern issuing such a challenge was an utmost insult.


    If Cassius were a fully grown Red Dragon, he would have been so furious he¡¯d be steaming with rage, eager to tear it apart.


    ¡°You made the worst choice,¡± Cassius snarled, his anger focused on his smaller size¡ªhow much longer before he could make these creatures submit with a mere roar like an adult Red Dragon.


    ¡°And I will grant you¡ªdeath!¡±


    The Red Dragon flapped its wings and soared high, looking down at the Wyvern from above.


    [Based on your strength, you can observe the following information]


    Wyvern


    Large dragon-type creature, unaligned


    AC: 13 (natural armor)


    Speed: 20 feet, flying 80 feet


    Strength¡ª19


    Agility¡ª10


    Constitution¡ª16


    Intelligence¡ª5


    Perception¡ª12


    Charisma¡ª6


    Skill Proficiency: Perception +2, Hunting +4


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 feet, Passive Perception 14


    Language: Understands Draconic


    Action Skills: Multi-Attack, Biting, Claw Attack, Stinging


    Challenge Level: 6 (2300 XP)


    Assessment: ¡°Sometimes, travelers in the wild can look up to see Wyverns flying with prey in their clutches. These relatives of giant dragons also hunt within dense forests and caves. They are ruthless hunters, and their appearances often spread waves of panic along the borders of civilization.¡±


    The Wyvern on the ground arched its long neck slightly and lifted its fierce head, letting out a challenging hiss. The sound was hoarse, more like that of some kind of serpent.


    ¡°Hiss¡ª¡±


    Next, the massive Bipedal Wyvern spread its front limbs and took off, its strong tail swaying in the air, the sharp stinger on its end glinting coldly.


    ¡°Flame Breath!¡±


    Before it could fully leave the ground, the Red Dragon spouted a scorching cone of flame from its mouth, aiming right at the Wyvern¡¯s body.


    The Bipedal Wyvern hurriedly adjusted its body in mid-air, angling its wings to claw at the ground in an attempt to escape the attack, but it couldn¡¯t evade being hit by the blazing flames.


    Its chest scales were charred black, the skin and flesh underneath scorched by the intense flames, leaving it in a miserable state.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    The Wyvern let out a wail of pain, but it quickly supported itself with its front limbs and wobbled back into the air.


    There wasn¡¯t much time left, for the Red Dragon¡¯s next breath was imminent, its throat already glowing with an orange-yellow light, like an erupting volcano.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    With another whoosh of flames raging through the air, another scorching stream of red flames descended from above, tracing the Wyvern¡¯s flight path.


    The heat from the flames caused the nearby air to twist and tremble, leaving the Wyvern in terror.


    All it could do was desperately flit about, dodging in the air with no means to counterattack.

 Chapter 15 - 15: Monster Lord

    Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Monster Lord


    Finally, the flames temporarily stopped.


    Perhaps it was deliberate, or perhaps it was due to a lack of reserves.


    Yet the Red Dragon still hovered high in the sky, coldly watching the Wyvern below.


    By now, the Wyvern had been burned all over, its body covered in dirt and grime, showing no trace of its former aggressive stance.


    But its innate recklessness and combativeness did not cause it to think about fleeing despite its injuries; instead, it was furious with shame.


    ¡°Roar~¡±


    ...


    The Bipedal Wyvern let out an almost frenzied roar as it vigorously flapped its wings, charging straight at the Red Dragon in the sky.


    Its thick tail curved slightly, muscles tensed in an instant, with sharp tail spikes ready to pierce and inject deadly Wyvern toxin upon contact. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as it was about to pounce.


    Touching the Red Dragon¡¯s scales.


    ¡°Thunderwave (Draconic)¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A sudden thunderclap echoed in the clear sky.


    Centered on Cassius¡¯s body, a powerful sonic wave spread outward.


    The invisible wave instantly shook the unprepared Wyvern several meters away, causing it to momentarily lose balance in its wings and descend uncontrollably.


    The Goblins watching below covered their ears in panic, with some even hiding behind stones, too frightened to look up.


    As the Wyvern plummeted down from the sky, Cassius continued to experiment with his spell.


    ¡°Witchcraft Arrow¡±


    A blue energy spear, entwined with shattered magic, shot out from the Red Dragon¡¯s maw, rapidly targeting the nearby Wyvern.


    The Wyvern, unable to evade, was struck by the incoming energy spear mid-air, its scales crackling with the lightning energy, plunging its already scarred body into extreme pain.


    But this was not the end; a lasting electric arc formed at the impact site, linking the Red Dragon and the Wyvern.


    It incessantly channeled magical lightning, even causing weak arcs to coil around the Wyvern¡¯s body.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Wyvern crashed to the ground, black smoke rising from its body, rolling weakly a few times.


    ¡°It, it¡¯s going to crash down!¡±


    ¡°Help¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Run¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Goblins were scared out of their wits, scattering in all directions, yet a few could not escape being crushed by the massive body of the Wyvern, ending their lives.


    Cassius did not care; he just gracefully descended.


    Step by step, he walked up to the Wyvern.


    There were over a dozen Wyverns that had submitted to him.


    This Wyvern was not crucial to him; rather, it was a perfect target to make an example of.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    The Bipedal Wyvern weakly lifted its head, letting out a feeble whine, trying to express its submission at this last moment.


    But the Red Dragon extended a strong claw, pressing it against the slender neck, and then applied force.


    ¡°Crack¡±


    The sound of bones breaking echoed abruptly.


    The Wyvern¡¯s head remained in its terrified expression, but it was completely lifeless.


    The more than ten Bipedal Wyverns that had come together were instantly terrified, quickly flapping their wings and gathering around the Red Dragon.


    The Bipedal Wyverns bent their long necks, lowering their ferocious heads, emitting low growls from their throats, demonstrating their absolute submission to the stronger dragon.


    ¡°Cassius Claudius Norixius, your master (Draconic).¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon stood on the Wyvern¡¯s corpse, letting out a long howl towards the sky.


    The Wyverns, sensing the situation, followed suit, raising their heads and howling, a cacophonous and hoarse sound, as if celebrating the birth of a new king.


    After a long while, the Red Dragon finally released the dead Wyvern underfoot, ordering the Wyverns to reside in the stone caves of the valley cliffs.


    ¡°Cut off its head and hang it on the wall.¡±


    ¡°Make arrows out of the toxin in its tail.¡±


    The Red Dragon casually commanded.


    ¡°Yes, my mighty master, your power is unmatched.¡± A Great Goblin, waiting by the side for orders, flattered Cassius and then drove his Goblins to do the work.


    ¡°M-milord, I am afraid it¡¯s still alive.¡±


    The Goblins trembled, afraid to approach the massive corpse.


    ¡°Useless!¡±


    ¡°What good are you!¡±


    Dolores, enraged, turned an even deeper shade of red and brandished his whip.


    Faced with the ensuing scolding and whipping, the Goblins had no choice but to overcome their fear and step forward.


    The Chimera in the cave watched the dead Wyvern from afar, a trace of fear in its eyes.


    Ramp gazed at the Wyvern¡¯s corpse, marveling at the Red Dragon¡¯s might, and rejoicing in the easy victory:


    ¡°The master will surely conquer this world.¡±


    The Big Headed Ogre beside him whispered in his ear, ¡°Boss, that big lizard has so much meat; can the brothers have some?¡±


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Another thump landed on him.


    This time, the heavy-handed example proved to be very effective.


    Although this ¡°chicken¡± was a bit too large.


    After a long absence, a translucent blue screen appeared in front of the Red Dragon.


    [Achievement Unlocked: Monster Lord]


    [Monster Lord]


    ¡°You could never imagine what I saw. I sneaked into its lair, and there was no treasure as the legends told; instead, there were broken bones everywhere. This place is an adventurer¡¯s graveyard but a paradise for monsters. ¡ª¡ªFrom the will of an unknown adventurer.¡±


    Passive Trait Acquired:


    [Monster Leader]


    Charisma +2, Ruling Proficiency +8


    [Extraordinary Charm] Acquired, your power compels monsters to submit.


    You have gained the ability of [Bloodline Gift], allowing you to influence creatures within your territory and create bloodline retainers.


    A peculiar power surged through Cassius¡¯s body.


    His charisma had increased.


    Here, ¡°charisma¡± was not merely about superficial human looks. Rather, it referred to ¡°influence.¡±


    Even if you were short and ugly, if you possessed extraordinary leadership qualities that made soldiers follow you to conquer the world, your charisma attribute would undoubtedly be high.


    In the magic-filled world of Erezer, if intelligence represented inner aspects like memory and logic, and perception represented receiving information from the outside and divine influence, then charisma represented the output of influence¡ªwhether by eloquence to sway others or innate spellcasting to affect the world.


    Cassius, a Magician, relied on ¡°charisma¡± to cast spells, using his connection with the world to influence the Magic Web and willpower to alter reality.


    The Red Dragon deeply felt his tightened connection with surrounding elements, a stronger influence on reality, and an additional thread of fate seemed to bind him to his retainers, allowing him to effortlessly reshape the world.


    He let out a satisfied roar, flapping his wings, and flew back into the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave.


    He looked down upon his retainers.


    With this soft roar, the laboring Ogres seemed inspired, raising their logs and cheering loudly.


    The terrified Goblins stared in awe at the sky, as if seeing a deity.


    Even the Chimera, secretly watching from the cave, could not help but lower its head, sensing a powerful aura that compelled it to submit willingly.


    This was the fearsome influence of the ¡°Monster Lord.¡±


    In the distant underground mines, Kobolds, as if summoned, laid down their pickaxes and instinctively moved in a certain direction. Lizards in their dark camps lit bonfires and began a primal dance.


    And some terrifying creature lurking deeper within the cave slithered on the ground¡­

 Chapter 16 - 16 The Escaped Kobolds

    Chapter 16: Chapter 16 The Escaped Kobolds


    Another half a month went by, and snowflakes started falling from the sky over Stormy Ridge.


    The Rock Fortress already stood majestically at the entrance of the ¡°Ashen Nest,¡± blocking all creatures that dared to trespass.


    The goblins, who were not tolerant of the cold, hastily set up makeshift camps in the valley, huddling together for warmth, while the ogres enjoyed slightly better accommodations, occupying several large caves where they snored loudly in slumber.


    Cassius also slept in the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave, yawning idly at the moment, exhaling streams of sulfur-scented heat that filled the cave with smoke.


    The red dragon naturally loved warmth, and the geothermal energy in the cave made it reluctant to leave.


    Several bipedal wyverns clung shamelessly to the entrance of the cave, ostensibly to guard their master, but really to soak up the heat as well.


    ...


    But seeing their diligence, the red dragon merely turned a blind eye.


    Meanwhile, Ramp had found a warm and hidden cave to serve as a library, spending his days immersed in his books, complaining daily to Cassius about the weakness of the goblin army and their inability to rob new books from human caravans.


    ¡°Awoooo¡ª¡ª¡±


    A bipedal wyvern circling in the sky let out a howl.


    That sound meant¡ª¡ªsomeone was coming.


    Cassius perked up, rising slowly on all fours, shaking his wings before walking out of the cave and taking to the sky.


    For the past half month, he had either been sleeping or studying spells in the cave.


    As for food, the great goblin led an elite hunting party and surrounded several mammoths, even sending one specifically to the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave.


    The red dragon could be described as living a life of luxury.


    Just when he was feeling a bit bored, wishing for something to expend his excess energy and destructive urges on, an opportunity presented itself.


    The wyverns piled at the cave entrance eagerly made way the moment they saw Cassius wanting to leave, respectfully bowing their heads and then closely following behind him.


    But when Cassius soared to the valley entrance and looked down to see the uninvited guests in front of the Rock Fortress, his interest waned slightly.


    At the city gate stood a group of about a hundred small, thin, humanoid creatures.


    They were covered in scales ranging from dark brown to black, with heads resembling a cross between a dragon and a canine, and small light-colored horns on their foreheads¡ªthese were kobolds, cave-dwelling reptilian humanoids often worshiped evil dragons as demigods.


    But this group of kobolds was clearly in bad shape, many bearing wounds and bloodstains, huddled together in panic under the fortress gate, making a cacophony of noises.


    Cassius could tell they were speaking in Draconic, but from their mouths, it sounded like noisy barking.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s the Great Dragon!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really a dragon!¡±


    Until one kobold struggled to lift its head, seeing the red dragon in the sky and letting out a cry of surprise.


    ¡°We are saved!¡±


    Suddenly, all the kobolds knelt down as if witnessing a miracle, muttering indistinctly in Draconic.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    The red dragon descended from the sky with a thunderous impact, sending flurries of snow flying at the city gate.


    ¡°Why have you come here? (Draconic)¡±


    Under the pressure from the dragon¡¯s bloodline, the kobolds continued to kneel without daring to look up.


    After a long while, a slightly larger kobold slowly crawled out from among the crowd.


    It threw itself at the red dragon¡¯s feet, speaking in a barking Draconic with a hint of sobbing, ¡°Great Dragon, we have come to seek refuge with you¡ª¡ª¡±


    The red dragon coldly gazed at the small creatures before him, as if he could crush them with just a slight move of his body.


    It was said that kobolds had a trace of dragon blood in their veins and were naturally inclined to serve evil dragons, but their strength was pitifully weak, and with goblins as substitutes, their utility to him was minimal.


    Seeing the red dragon unmoved, the kobold raised its head stealthily, showing extreme sorrow, ¡°Our whole tribe was devoured by that monster, leaving only these few of us alive, and we felt your immense power, so we came to seek your protection¡­¡±


    Hearing the mention of the so-called ¡°monster¡± from the kobold¡¯s mouth, Cassius finally showed a bit of interest.


    ¡°If I take in you weak kobolds, what can you offer me?¡±


    Seeing a glimmer of hope, the kobold¡¯s eyes brightened, and it quickly said, ¡°Gold! We can bring you lots of gold!


    Our whole tribe lived in the mine, enslaved by human smugglers to dig gold for them, we know everything about it, understand the veins, and know where the most gold is.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The kobolds behind it hurriedly chimed in.


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I can dig out gold as big as my head every day.¡±


    ¡°Great Dragon, you must take us in.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s interest grew.


    Gold, a universally hard currency, with enough gold, he could confidently procure all sorts of contraband from humans, including and not limited to weapons and magical books, thereby rapidly expanding his power.


    If he couldn¡¯t buy it, it only meant there wasn¡¯t enough gold.


    Moreover, the kobold¡¯s story included the so-called ¡°monster.¡±


    Cassius continued to probe, ¡°Tell me more about this monster you mentioned, what exactly is it?¡±


    Hearing this, terror flashed across the lead kobold¡¯s face, and the other kobolds began to clamor, some even bursting into tears out of fear.


    The kobold leader tapped his chest to steady himself before speaking slowly, ¡°Master, you must believe what I am about to tell you.¡±


    The red dragon did not mind the title and merely nodded slightly.


    The kobold seemed immersed in a terrifying memory, speaking with a tone as if reliving it, ¡°It was a very dreadful monster, its body was larger, larger than a small hill, its mouth was also huge, bigger than¡­ than a cave, and it could swallow ten kobolds at once.¡±


    His voice trembled uncontrollably as he said this.


    ¡°In the mine, it was like a shadow, omnipresent, no matter where we ran to, the monster would find us, the tribe originally had over seven hundred members, all¡­ all got eaten, not even bones were left.¡±


    The kobold appeared visibly shaken.


    ¡°I went through great lengths to lead over a hundred of my kin out through the mine¡¯s secret passage.¡± He sighed in relief as he finished speaking.


    By now, the kobolds behind him had huddled together in fear, not daring to make a sound.


    ¡°Is this monster you¡¯re talking about bigger than me?¡± the red dragon asked with interest.


    Sweat beaded on the kobold leader¡¯s forehead, unsure how to answer.


    In his memory, red dragons were the most haughty and brutal creatures, even a slight offense could lead to a death with no burial.


    ¡°Speak the truth.¡± Cassius stated impatiently.


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡± The kobold stuttered, even closing his eyes in fear.


    ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°Jin Ya.¡±


    Not feeling the anticipated claws, the kobold leader let out a sigh of relief, wearing an ingratiating smile and exposing his notably prominent golden tooth.

 Chapter 17 - 17: Wolf Cavalry and Scorpion-tailed Lion

    Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Wolf Cavalry and Scorpion-tailed Lion


    The heavy wooden gates of Rock Fortress were pulled up by ogre guards, and the noisy kobolds flooded into the valley, assigned to some dark, damp underground caves¡ªtheir most preferred habitats due to their sensitive skin.


    Fortunately, the vast expanse of Giant Canyon could easily accommodate these retainers; otherwise, with hundreds of kobolds suddenly coming in, the temporary overseer Ramp would be overwhelmed.


    Cassius soared into the sky, looking down at these weak creatures.


    [Based on your strength, you can see the following information]


    [Kobold]


    Small humanoid (kobold), lawful evil


    ...


    AC: 12


    Speed: 30 ft.


    Strength¡ª7


    Agility¡ª15


    Constitution¡ª9


    Intelligence¡ª8


    Perception¡ª7


    Charisma¡ª8


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 ft., Passive Perception 8 ft.


    Languages: Common, Draconic


    Proficiencies: Construction +4, Traps +4, Digging +6, Stealth +6


    Traits: Sunlight Sensitivity, Pack Tactics


    Actions: Dagger, Sling


    Challenge Level: 1/8 (25 XP)


    Assessment: ¡°Kobolds use their talents in burrowing and trap-making to compensate for their physical deficiencies. Weak as they are, they are merely a small snack for predators, forced to band together due to their vulnerability.¡±


    A Challenge Level of 1/8, this might be the weakest monster Cassius had ever encountered. Their only value as retainers would be as miners and sappers. If sent into battle, they would likely only serve as cannon fodder.


    But considering the gold and the intelligence on that monster, the Red Dragon still took them as retainers.


    Because kobolds were so weak, the mysterious creature in the mine devouring hundreds of them didn¡¯t mean much in his eyes; more detailed intelligence and strength assessment were required.


    But the creature, which had grown larger than the current Red Dragon, was obviously not easy to deal with.


    With this in mind, he summoned the Great Goblin chief, Dolores.


    With the Ashen Nest as a backing, the ambitious Goblin Warlord had ended his days of wandering and evading human capture, now living comfortably. Perhaps it was an illusion, but even his rough, reddish-brown skin appeared to have smoothed.


    This, compounded with the influence of leadership aura, made Dolores respect his master even more, his ugly red face filled with a smile: ¡°My mighty master, what orders do you have?¡±


    ¡°How is the training of your wolf cavalry coming along?¡±


    The so-called wolf cavalry referred to goblin soldiers riding worgs.


    Goblins and wolves had a unique affinity, becoming good partners, and wolf cavalry was indeed the elite of the goblin army.


    Great Goblin Dolores had once said during a hunt: ¡°I¡¯d rather sacrifice dozens of cannon fodder than lose a single wolf cavalryman.¡±


    And he did just that, during that hunt, letting a dozen goblins be trampled to death by mammoths to save a toppled worg rider.


    ¡°Very well, the worgs are eager to taste the blood of enemies.¡±


    Dolores licked his lips, his eyes showing an innate craving for war,


    ¡°Send a few scout teams to investigate the mines the kobolds mentioned, and scout the nearby forces. Report back immediately with any intelligence, without incurring excessive losses.¡±


    ¡°As you command.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Great Goblin respectfully took his leave, mounting his worg and wielded his whip to summon the wolf cavalry.


    ¡°After researching spells for so long, it¡¯s time to sweep through the area again and gain some levels,¡± the Red Dragon mused.


    For the past while, Cassius had been focused on researching spells, striving to master his powers, even deliberately suppressing his experience gain and level advancement.


    Although the player panel could easily increase his strength, Cassius wanted a more stable control over his power, understanding the workings of the spells and the world¡¯s mechanisms.


    He needed not only a strong body but also the mentality of a strong person, so as not to become a complete puppet to the so-called ¡°system.¡±


    With a flap of his wings, the Red Dragon soared into the sky.


    ¡­


    On an unknown cliff, two hideous creatures were tearing at scraps of meat.


    Their food¡ªthough already torn beyond recognition, could still be identified as a human, or at least a humanoid, from the smooth skin, distinct fingers, and exquisitely crafted clothing.


    They were huge, about four meters long, with the bodies of lions and a pair of dragon wings.


    Their standing manes extended to their backs, with the long, slender tails ending in tufts of spikes, and most chilling was their heads¡ªthey had smooth, hairless, human-like faces, making the blood-stained scene particularly eerie.


    They were manticores, notoriously evil creatures especially fond of human flesh, often featured in human fairy tales meant to scare children to sleep, except they were very real.


    They liked to capture humans to their nests on high cliffs and savor them slowly.


    But this time, a faint mist rose on the cliff.


    Soon the mist grew thicker, blinding all creatures within it.


    However, the manticores, who were usually terrifying predators, engrossed in their feast, had no sense of the impending danger.


    A shadow swept through the thick mist, followed by a faintly visible bright flame.


    ¡°Flame Breath!¡±


    The Red Dragon, holding scorching flames in his mouth, suddenly emerged from the rolling mist. The breath engulfed one of the manticores, setting its fur and body ablaze, leaving it helpless but to wail.


    All it could do was roll around in its nest.


    However, the nest made of dry wood and straw also caught fire, the blazing flames consuming it completely.


    The other manticore, seeing this, let out a bizarre shriek akin to human laughter, then flapped its wings, preparing to flee the mist and flame-covered area.


    But Cassius wouldn¡¯t give it the chance.


    ¡°Instant Cast: Cat¡¯s Grace¡±


    With the enhanced attributes of the mockingly named ¡°zoo spell,¡± the Red Dragon¡¯s massive body instantly became much more agile.


    With just a slight flap of his wings, he swept across the sky, swiftly overtaking the fleeing manticore.


    The Red Dragon showed no mercy, extending his powerful claws to grab the manticore flying in mid-air and slam it against the cliff wall.


    Immediately, the entire cliff reverberated, with various sizes of fragmented rocks tumbling down.


    The manticore let out a faint whimper, a plea for mercy.


    ¡°I, I yield.¡±


    Tears flowed from the human-like face, showing a begging expression, but this demeanor appeared particularly strange to any creature with normal aesthetic sense.


    ¡°Crack¡±


    The Red Dragon exerted force with his claws, mercilessly breaking the manticore¡¯s spine.


    He released his grip, letting the massive and ugly body naturally fall, followed by smaller rocks.


    A thud and the sound of rocks hitting the ground echoed from below, followed by faint struggling sounds, then silence.


    The Red Dragon stood atop the cliff, watching the mist-covered ground below: ¡°In the future, I need to capture human cities and host the arrival of players. I require retainers who can be managed, at least able to suppress their wild instincts.¡±


    ¡°As for scaring people, I have the chaotic evil Chimera for that.¡±


    ¡°Besides, these things are just too ugly.¡±


    As the mist cleared, Cassius looked at the twisted human face on the ground and couldn¡¯t help but sneer.

 Chapter 18 - 18 Advancement and News

    Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Advancement and News


    The translucent screen slowly unfolded.


    [You killed the Scorpion-tailed Lion and gained 700xp]


    [You killed the Scorpion-tailed Lion and gained 700xp]


    [Occupation Level increased to Level 4]


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but feel excited. In the ¡°Erezer¡± system, improving one¡¯s strength was extremely difficult.


    And every fourth level was almost a qualitative leap for general professionals, significantly enhancing their strength, making it a considerable leap in the early stages.


    ...


    [Choose to enhance Sorcerer Level]


    [You can choose to increase your Attribute Points by 2]


    Cassius pondered for a moment and decided to allocate all his Attribute Points to Charisma to enhance his spellcasting ability.


    The Attribute Points obtained in the early stages could only augment attributes below 20, and the original strength level of the Red Dragon was too high to be augmented.


    [Choose to increase Charisma to 18]


    [You obtained an extra feat: Combat Casting]


    Combat Casting (General Feat)


    Casting or using spell-like abilities while in defense, captured, or suppressed states gives bonuses to concentration.


    [Due to the Dragon Bloodline, you obtained the Dragonkin¡¯s extra feat: Maximized Breath Weapon]


    Maximized Breath Weapon:


    Once a day, the dragon could choose to unleash its most powerful breath weapon, with three times the power of the original breath weapon, requiring 25-45 seconds of charging time. Within the preceding hour, the dragon must not have used its breath weapon, and the energy consumed in this attack would prevent the dragon from using another breath attack for at least two hours thereafter.


    [Due to the Dragon Bloodline, you obtained the Dragonkin¡¯s extra feat: Targeted Breath Attack]


    Targeted Breath Attack:


    Once a day, the dragon could target specific targets with its breath attack, instead of causing the usual carpet-bombing area effect. The dragon could also choose up to ten individual creatures to aim at and unleash small, focused breath attacks on them with its breath weapon.


    [Obtain additional Second Tier Spells: Misty Step, Phantom Force]


    Misty Step


    2nd Tier Spell


    You are briefly surrounded by silvery mist and teleport to an unoccupied location you can see within 30 feet.


    Phantom Force


    2nd Tier Illusion Spell


    You designate a creature you can see within spellcasting distance, creating an illusion rooted in its consciousness.


    The affected target believes in the illusion¡¯s authenticity, even suffering direct harm from it.


    For instance, an illusion manifesting as flames, acidic pools, or magma could burn the target.


    [Obtain additional First Tier Spells: Hypnotism, Shield Spell]


    Several spells appeared in Cassius¡¯s mind.


    His spellcasting ability was further enhanced, and his willpower in reality became more substantial.


    Cassius had no doubt that with his current spellcasting ability, he could easily toy with the young dragon he encountered previously.


    The information panel unexpectedly unfolded before him.


    Red Dragon, Cassius


    Name: Caius Claudius Norixius


    Template: NPC (nine years, one hundred fifteen days, seven hours until server opening)


    Category: Large Dragonkin, Lawful Neutral


    Race: Young Red Dragon


    AC: 22 (natural armor, gilded scales)


    Base Attributes:


    Strength¡ª23


    Agility¡ª11


    Constitution¡ª20


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª12


    Charisma¡ª18


    Skill Proficiencies: Arcana +4, Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Ruling +8, Stealth +6, Perception +8, Hunting +4, Fugitive +4, Knowledge (Future) +4


    Damage Immunities: Flame


    Senses: Blindsight 10 feet, Dark Vision 60 feet, Passive Perception 16


    Language: Draconic Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Actions: Bite, Clawing, Tail Attack, Fly, Enhanced Breath Attack (Flame)


    Special Abilities: Maximized Breath (Flame), Targeted Breath (Flame), Gilded Carapace, Bloodline Gift


    Feats: Gilded Scales, Maximized Breath Weapon, Targeted Breath Weapon, Combat Casting, Extraordinary Aura, Fugitive


    Combat Equipment: Spell Nullification Amulet, Nimble Mage Action Ring, Staff of Scorching, Talking to the Dead Amulet, Lava Spouting Device, Blade Evasion Ring, Silent Steps Amulet, Owl¡¯s Perception Mask


    Equipped Spells:


    Once per day ¨C Spell Nullification Barrier, Talking to the Dead, Oil on the Soles of the Feet


    Twice per day ¨C Owl¡¯s Perception, Burning Hands


    Three times per day ¨C Searing Ray, Blade Defense


    Occupational Level: Magician 4


    Spellcaster Level: 4


    Spells:


    Cantrips ¨C Mage¡¯s Hand, Minor Illusion, Act Before the Enemy, Magic Tricks, Text Transmission Spell


    1st Tier ¨C Cloud Mist Technique, Charm Person, Magic Missile, Shield Spell, Thunderwave, Witchcraft Arrow


    2nd Tier ¨C Enhanced Attributes, Misty Step, Phantom Force, Invisibility Spell, Searing Ray


    3rd Tier ¨C None


    Challenge Level: 11 (7,600xp)


    Assessment: ¡°A highly talented Red Dragon Sorcerer, continually pursuing power. Terrifying. Generally, Dragon Sorcerers are driven by a desire stronger than wealth and power. They seek to master themselves and the power brewing within them. They pursue the most mysterious and dangerous knowledge, touching upon the most undisturbed elements firsthand.¡±


    ¡°Reaching Challenge Level above ten, they acquire a unique title.¡±


    ¡°So, it looks like I am considered a minor boss.¡± Cassius thought to himself.


    He needed to continue enhancing his strength.


    Legend had it that Cassius in his previous life, after signing a pact with the demons, was covered in heavy red-black armor, with eyes blazing with the flames of Abyssal revenge.


    In just a short decade, his Challenge Level even surpassed the twentieth level mark, becoming an undisputed world boss, a player killer, and a newbie nightmare, causing countless professional gamers to meet their demise under his claws.


    Yet the current Cassius, although much stronger, was still far from that level of power.


    ¡°Where exactly is the ¡®Demon of the Mountains¡¯ mentioned in the legend?¡±


    ¡°In the depths of the Ancytica Mountains?¡±


    ¡°Or in the northern Carpathian Mountains?¡±


    Cassius didn¡¯t know, but he was not ready to seek it out just yet.


    He felt his strength was insufficient, and he was well-versed in the nature of abyssal demons, being an experienced player.


    From version 1.0 to 4.0, from the Anzeta Demon Tide to the Dark Moon Catastrophe, nearly every main questline was related to the invasion of abyssal demons.


    They were purely chaotic evil beings with no sense of morality and were unpredictable, dedicated to destroying and obliterating everything. According to some scholars, they were considered products of chaotic consciousness in the multiverse.


    They could be drinking merrily with you one moment, and the next moment, they would mince you into meat paste. Compared to demons, even devils in hell seemed amiable.


    So, he speculated that Cassius in his previous life must have paid an unimaginable price.


    ¡°However, I still have to see it.¡±


    ¡°Even if it is truly a demon, I must tear a piece of flesh off it.¡± Cassius muttered to himself.


    Immediately, he took off from the top of the cliff.


    The Scorpion-tailed Lion¡¯s nest was still burning, though the fire was gradually dying down. The massive nest had been charred.


    Among the ashes, piles of blackened remains were mixed together, making it hard to distinguish whether they were from the Scorpion-tailed Lion or its unfortunate victims.

 Chapter 19 - 19: The Dragon Returning to Its Nest

    Chapter 19: Chapter 19: The Dragon Returning to Its Nest


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    With a loud roar, the red dragon swept across the Rock Fortress with its wings spread wide.


    The ogre guards on the ground immediately waved their clubs and cheered, while the wyverns guarding the gates extended their necks, raised their heads, and let out long howls, welcoming the return of the nest¡¯s master.


    When Cassius returned to the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave, even the chimeras approached respectfully to greet him, not daring to show any negligence.


    ¡°Ramp, how have things been these past few days while I was away?¡±


    The ogre mage in front of him wore a pair of intricately crafted silver-rimmed glasses, their oversized head making the tiny glasses look extremely comical.


    ...


    Ramp deliberately pushed up his glasses, unrolled the scroll in his hand, and while carefully examining it, said, ¡°Currently, there are thirty-eight ogres in the Ashen Nest, four hundred and thirty-five goblins, twenty-six worgs, twenty-seven bugbears, one hundred and twenty-one kobolds, and fifteen wyverns.¡±


    He paused significantly before continuing, ¡°Three days ago, the great goblin leader Dolores dispatched twenty-seven worgs cavalry to the Lost Mine. They suffered heavy losses, with only six riders returning, three of whom are wounded. The remaining twenty-one worgs cavalry are all missing.¡±


    ¡°Where is Dolores?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s still over at the Goblin Camp. The goblin camp overlapped with the kobolds¡¯ nest, and he¡¯s currently leading people to dismantle those pups¡¯ dens.¡± The ogre mage chuckled slyly, a cunning glint in his eye.


    ¡°Understood. Continue your spell research.¡± The red dragon¡¯s tone was unreadable.


    ¡­


    ¡°Lord Dolores, you can¡¯t just tear this down; our little ones need this place to hatch their eggs.¡± The kobold leader with gold teeth forced a smile, looking up at the towering great goblin.


    ¡°Get lost, you mangy pups, don¡¯t get in our way.¡± Dolores waved disdainfully.


    Gold Tooth hesitated but ultimately stood his ground: ¡°My lord, we specifically reported this to Steward Ramp, and he approved it. Changing it now would be¡­ unreasonable.¡±


    To a war-worshiping goblin, these weak kobolds were worthless, not even qualified to be cannon fodder, let alone their intelligence indirectly causing him to lose dozens of worgs, which had earned him Ramp¡¯s repeated ridicule.


    Thinking of this made the great goblin leader even angrier, his reddish-brown face now even redder. He kicked the kobold away and spat at it fiercely.


    ¡°Ramp, Ramp, Ramp again, just an ogre mage, what¡¯s the big deal!¡±


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the master knowing you, I would¡¯ve already¡ª¡±


    Just as he was about to continue kicking, he noticed his shadow being covered by a large dark figure, and the kobold on the ground looked up with a hopeful expression.


    ¡°Would¡¯ve done what?¡± The red dragon¡¯s tone was cold.


    Dolores¡¯s face immediately changed by one hundred and eighty degrees, instantly wearing a flattering smile: ¡°Master, you¡¯re back! I neglected to greet you at the door and wasted time here instead.¡±


    Gold Tooth, however, knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face: ¡°Master, you must stand up for us kobolds. Lord Dolores means well, but without our nest, how can we¡­?¡±


    Dolores glared at him viciously and then put on a sycophantic smile: ¡°You misunderstood. I was supervising the construction of the goblin camp, seeing these kobolds causing trouble, so¡ª¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t bear to watch this farce any longer and interrupted, ¡°Enough. Dolores, give the kobolds some space, and stop stirring up trouble.¡±


    Gold Tooth was satisfied, continually offering flattering words until his lips were almost a blur.


    ¡°Great master, your mercy and justice are unparalleled, your might¡­¡±


    ¡°Go continue building your nest.¡±


    The red dragon didn¡¯t pay much attention to Gold Tooth and casually said to Dolores, ¡°Gather those worgs cavalry. I want to see what caused such a heavy loss.¡±


    Dolores, hearing the red dragon mention the worgs cavalry, felt uneasy but noticed the dragon wasn¡¯t angry and sighed in relief, continuing to carry out the order.


    With howls, several worgs carrying goblins emerged from the camp and kneeled before the red dragon.


    The six goblins in front looked terrified, most of them injured, and one was even being carried by a worg, its body covered in scorched wounds and healing herbs, looking as though it wouldn¡¯t survive much longer. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dolores gripped a whip and commanded sternly, ¡°Tell the great master what happened.¡±


    ¡°It was a terrifying monster,¡± one goblin said.


    ¡°It ate everyone,¡± another added.


    ¡°It, it was a shadow.¡±


    Like the kobolds¡¯ previous accounts, it described a monster that could devour everything, retained vague impressions of a large shadow in the dark mine, and suggested its immense size.


    ¡°No useful information at all?¡± the red dragon scolded.


    Seeing the red dragon seemed angry, Dolores cracked his whip loudly, shouting, ¡°Your cowardly retreat has shamed the master enough. Given this chance to redeem yourselves, can¡¯t you offer any useful information?¡±


    The goblins, though fearful of the whip, knew nothing more. Even their feeble minds couldn¡¯t fabricate convincing lies.


    Dolores looked up at the red dragon, changing his expression to one of servility: ¡°Master, please trust me one more time. I will make these wastes useful. Next time, next time I will surely¡­¡±


    Just as Cassius was feeling disappointed.


    The goblin on the worg¡¯s back barely opened its eyes, laboriously speaking in broken words: ¡°I, I saw lightning. It, it could use lightning, blue lightning.¡±


    The goblin¡¯s mind was clouded.


    But clearly, the lightning had left a deep impression on it.


    Lightning?


    And blue lightning?


    Could it be a blue dragon?


    However, Cassius shook his head, blue dragons preferred deserts rather than dark mines, their proud nature didn¡¯t allow hiding in darkness.


    Moreover, blue dragons were known for their territorial behavior, making it impossible for kobolds and humans smugglers to enter their territory.


    ¡°It seems I need to investigate personally,¡± the red dragon thought.


    Given the current circumstances, sending more retainers would just weaken his forces; even if wyverns were sent, they would likely suffer the same fate.


    Cassius wouldn¡¯t let the gold mine slip through his fingers.

 Chapter 20 - 20: The Barons Fury

    Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The Baron¡¯s Fury


    ¡°`


    Late at night, at the Baron¡¯s Mansion.


    ¡°Wham!¡±


    A pair of pale hands slammed heavily on the tabletop.


    ¡°Useless! You¡¯re all useless!¡±


    The man cursed loudly, spittle flying.


    ...


    His face was harsh, shadowed with malice, and his gaunt frame was wrapped in formal attire.


    On his chest was pinned a delicate, small insignia, carved with the emblem of an eagle and swords. Anyone knowledgeable would recognize it as the Northwind Eagle¡ªthe crest of the Rackman Family.


    His name was Todd Rackman, one of the old Duke¡¯s overlooked sons, perhaps the twelfth son, assigned barony over a remote and insignificant place.


    The man standing in front of the table was Hart, a robust middle-aged man who had once been a slave trader but transformed himself into the baron¡¯s steward.


    ¡°Sir, I also had no choice¡­¡±


    ¡°So you tell me all the kobolds escaped? And the gold mine was abandoned?¡±


    ¡°No no no, listen to my explanation¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want explanations, I want gold! Gleaming gold! Without gold, I can¡¯t sustain the Baron¡¯s Mansion or pay the troops, much less compete with my dear brothers for power back home, stuck eating dirt in a place even goblins avoid!¡±


    As Todd spoke, he grew more furious. In his rage, he kicked the man in front of him, completely disregarding the so-called noble etiquette.


    Hart crawled up from the ground, not a trace of complaint about being hit visible on his face. He merely said, ¡°Sir, it really was sudden. Half of the mercenaries we brought along simply vanished.¡±


    ¡°According to those mercenaries guarding the kobolds deep in the mine, their comrades disappeared without even raising a call for help.¡±


    ¡°There really is a monster in that mine!¡±


    ¡°And we have no clue about it, don¡¯t know its habits, or why it suddenly attacked. At the time, to avoid more losses for you, sir, I had no choice but to retreat with the men.¡±


    Todd gave him a scornful glance and sneered, ¡°That only shows you and your hired mercenaries are too pathetic! If you had been stronger, you wouldn¡¯t have fled before even catching a glimpse of the enemy.¡±


    Hart wiped the cold sweat off his brow and smiled obsequiously, ¡°Indeed, how could us humble commoners compare to you? You are the noble blood of the Northwind Eagle, a powerful spellcaster.¡±


    Todd adjusted his lapels and said slowly, ¡°Well, that¡¯s better said, there¡¯s some merit in it.¡±


    The baron reclined in the leather chair behind the desk, crossing his arms: Since it¡¯s come to this, do you have any methods to remedy it?¡±


    ¡°I need you to give me a satisfactory explanation.¡±


    Seeing Todd calm down, Hart breathed a long sigh of relief and said, ¡°Sir, we could request a few Eagle Guards from the duke to protect the mine¡¯s safety, what do you think¡ª¡±


    ¡°Eagle Guards?¡± Todd interrupted coldly.


    ¡°How could you suggest that?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know¡ªthey¡¯re all Father¡¯s spies? Let them into the mine, and the gold inside will have nothing to do with us!¡±


    ¡°It will just be transported to Northwind Castle!¡±


    Hart hastened to add in a fluster, ¡°My apologies, sir, it was merely a trivial suggestion. With your wisdom, there¡¯s naturally a better solution, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough. If I don¡¯t see gold by next month, I will personally take people there.¡±


    Todd interrupted his justification again, staring at Hart with a gaze that sent chills down the spine.


    ¡°Yes¡­ Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°My patience is very limited. There¡¯s no next time, really no next time, Hart.¡±


    Todd¡¯s fingers drummed rhythmically on the tabletop.


    ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Hart responded quickly, bowing his head, not daring to meet the baron¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Look up, Hart.¡±


    ¡°Do you really understand?¡±


    Under command, Hart reluctantly looked up, meeting the baron¡¯s eyes.


    Those eyes were cold, with a hint of scarlet deep in the pupils, not gazing at a subordinate, but more like looking at¡ªa piece of meat on a plate.


    ¡°Sir, I truly understand.¡± Hart¡¯s voice trembled.


    ¡°Make preparations and gather your useless mercenaries.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I will take my leave now.¡±


    Upon receiving the command from the baron, he accepted without hesitation and then retreated as if fleeing for his life.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    Hart closed the door behind him and breathed heavily, knowing that he still had value to this baron. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t leave so easily next time.


    Inside the room, Baron Todd Hackman adjusted his lapels once again in front of the dressing mirror. He licked his lips unconsciously, revealing unusually sharp teeth.


    This too was a mark of the Rackman Family.


    ¡­


    ¡°Is this the place?¡±


    The Red Dragon stood atop a rather tall hill, staring at the seemingly bottomless mine in the distance, with a kobold clutched in his claw.


    ¡°Master, y-yes, this is the place.¡±


    Jin Ya instinctively rubbed his head, barely recovering from the dizzying speed of the flight.


    ¡°Then lead me in.¡±


    ¡°Oh great master, I am but a humble kobold, th-this¡­¡± Jin Ya¡¯s scaled forehead broke out in cold sweat again.


    The mine was a nightmare for these kobolds. Most of his kin were devoured by that monster. Having escaped once, he never wanted to go back.


    Even with the backing of the Red Dragon, he still felt uneasy.


    After all, giant dragons wouldn¡¯t care about the life or death of a mere kobold.


    ¡°What? Are you unwilling?¡± Cassius asked.


    ¡°Of course, I am willing, absolutely.¡±


    The kobold quickly answered upon sensing the Red Dragon¡¯s displeased tone.


    ¡°Serving you is the greatest honor of my life, it¡¯s just¡­¡±


    ¡°Just what?¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡­ I need some time to recall the mine routes.¡± The kobold¡¯s cold sweat dripped off his chin.


    ¡°Clip-clop, clip-clop¡­¡±


    Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves approached from afar, interrupting their conversation and giving the kobold a breath of relief.


    Down the distant road, a number of fine horses sped towards them, ridden by humans dressed in leather armor, with crossbows at their waists.


    The Red Dragon lowered himself slowly, trying to conceal his body, and softly used a text transmission spell on the kobold: ¡°Who are they, do you recognize them?¡±


    The kobold peeked out cautiously, noting the decorations of those human knights and clearly saw the faces of a few before speaking.


    ¡°Master, it¡¯s those slave traders who previously enslaved us. Their leader¡­ I remember is called Hart.¡±


    ¡°Human slave traders? Are they also here to seize the gold mine?¡±


    ¡°Master, these seem to be scouts. Originally, there were over twenty of them, some are professionals. The main force should be waiting behind.¡± The kobold added.


    ¡°How convenient, we can use these people to scout the way.¡± Cassius squinted.

 Chapter 21 - 21: Exploring the Cave

    Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Exploring the Cave


    ¡°Boss, we barely got out of this hellhole, and now we really have to go back in?¡±


    The archer warrior Kelu stared at the dark mine tunnel before him, still somewhat fearful.


    Hart, dressed in leather armor, was applying blade oil to his sword: ¡°The Baron gave the order. If we don¡¯t dig out the gold, we are all dead.¡±


    The barbarian Scar, clad in bear hide, grumbled in displeasure: ¡°What Baron? Just a snot-nosed brat. What right does he have to send us to our deaths?¡±


    He snorted: ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the gold, I¡¯d have quit long ago!¡±


    Kelu chimed in: ¡°Exactly, if I had known earlier, I would have taken the gold and run.¡±


    ...


    Having finished wiping his sword, Hart stood up and said seriously: ¡°He¡¯s not just any brat. Offend the Northwind Eagle, and who could survive here? Do you think you can outrun the Eagle Guards?¡±


    Scar retorted in anger: ¡°I don¡¯t care about any eagle. Even if giant dragons came, they can¡¯t use us as cannon fodder.¡±


    Hart simply said: ¡°Save your energy. This job always had our heads on the line. Now that we finally have a legitimate status and a powerful patron, we can¡¯t waste it.¡±


    ¡°That accident was just an anomaly. Even if there is some monster, after eating so much, it should be going into hibernation.¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Besides¡ª¡± he shifted the topic.


    ¡°I also got a bunch of serfs from the Baron, no, according to the Kingdom¡¯s official term, ¡®honest and diligent peasants¡¯ as miners.¡±


    He looked behind, where over a hundred frail humans carrying baskets were arriving one after another, walking numbly under the supervision of whips. The recruitment payment was merely some words ¨C a meal, not starved.


    However, what awaited them was not a job that could prevent starvation, but a deep, dark mine with unknown monsters lurking within.


    ¡°Take a spear for yourself.¡± Hart called out.


    ¡°This is a special reward from the Baron for your self-defense.¡±


    ¡°If you encounter a monster, retreating is a death sentence; don¡¯t be afraid, just throw your spear at it.¡±


    ¡°If anyone sacrifices themselves, don¡¯t worry, the Baron will remember their merit, reduce their family¡¯s taxes, and compensate with grain for their family.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and also take a pickaxe.¡±


    These serfs were recruited by Hart from the Baron as cannon fodder. Such a dangerous place was no place for him to send his men first, let alone lead personally.


    From his years of wilderness experience, Hart knew that the best way to deal with large monsters was to throw spears. With enough people, even a massive mammoth could be killed easily.


    And even if they failed, with these cannon fodders, the monster would be satiated and wouldn¡¯t come after them.


    ¡°Get in!¡±


    ¡°Hurry up, get in! Don¡¯t dawdle!¡±


    The deceived miners picked up their weapons and walked disorderly into the cave.


    Even if someone realized something was wrong and wanted to escape, under the relentless whips of the overseers, they had no choice but to comply.


    But why didn¡¯t dozens of armed men resist a few overseers?


    Perhaps it was something deeply ingrained within them¡­


    Facing the unknown depths, the ones forced to lead raised their torches with trembling hands, exploring forward under the threats of whips and blades.


    Scar, following behind the serf team, clicked his tongue in amazement: ¡°When it comes to slave trading, these nobles are really crafty.¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t even need to bring in the goods; they can sell people directly.¡±


    ¡°Stop talking and get in.¡± someone urged.


    Soon, Hart¡¯s group had all entered the mine tunnel, leaving a few soldiers at the entrance to support.


    But they were unaware that something else had quietly followed them into the mine.


    Nor did they realize that there was a spell known as the Invisibility Spell, which could completely hide one¡¯s form from ordinary beings.


    ¡°Boss, I feel something strange.¡±


    Kelu¡¯s senses, though keen, always felt something was off, yet he couldn¡¯t pinpoint it.


    ¡°Stop being so paranoid, we haven¡¯t gone far yet, the road is still long.¡± Scar scoffed.


    Hart merely lightened his footsteps from behind and said in a low voice: ¡°Keep your voices down and watch what¡¯s ahead.¡±


    Following the rudimentary markers they had set, the group slowly descended deeper into the mine.


    The space inside was spacious; this was where the kobolds had toiled earlier, with broken pickaxes, mining carts for transportation, and stray ore scattered on the ground.


    A ¡®miner¡¯ couldn¡¯t help but pick up a piece of gold ore from the ground and secretly stash it in his rough burlap clothing.


    However, this action was spotted by the sharp-eyed Scar.


    The barbarian walked up and hoisted the frail man by his weak body, and with a shake, pieces of glittering gold ore fell out.


    ¡°Just like those lowly kobolds.¡±


    Scar threw him to the ground with one hand and confidently stepped forward to break his arm with his foot, eliciting a scream of pain.


    ¡°Remember, everything here belongs to the Baron.¡±


    ¡°You are here to mine, not to steal.¡±


    ¡°Any further violations¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯ll never leave this mine for the rest of your life.¡±


    Scar grinned, relishing the feeling of holding someone else¡¯s life in his hands. It was one of the few entertainments in his life as a slave trader.


    At the back of the group, Hart was carefully examining the damage within the mine ¨C the forcibly broken wooden doors, the deformed furnace, the human limbs and torsos, and the fences torn apart by great strength.


    Looking at these traces, cold sweat trickled down Hart¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°A terrifying monster.¡±


    ¡°Its strength is likely on par with Frost Giants.¡±


    To him, this was a high assessment, as those giants, who came with the cold winds, were one of the most feared enemies of the Northern Kingdom.


    Hearing Scar¡¯s loud proclamations nearby, Hart angrily rushed up and, lowering his voice, said to him:


    ¡°That monster might still be here.¡±


    ¡°If you want to die, just say it, but don¡¯t drag me down with you.¡±


    ¡°But, boss, our gold¡­¡±


    The barbarian, who often spoke without thinking and worshipped violence, was about to reply when strange sounds echoed in the cave.


    ¡°Quiet! Listen carefully.¡± Hart frowned.


    ¡°Thump, thump¡­¡±


    ¡°Thump, thump¡­¡±


    A heavy, footstep-like sound reverberated in the dark cavern, making hearts pound.


    ¡°The sound is coming from the cave walls,¡± Hart thought.


    He glanced around the cave walls, but it was still pitch black all around.


    ¡°In front.¡±


    ¡°To the left.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s above.¡± Kelu said in a low voice.


    The sound seemed to be moving around within the cave, making it impossible for anyone to pinpoint its source or direction.


    But the sound was getting closer¡­


    Panic and noise spread through the group, with more people suggesting they return to the surface, and even the overseers couldn¡¯t help but become anxious.


    ¡°Stay calm, pick up your weapons.¡±


    Hart¡¯s back was drenched in sweat. He had never faced the ¡®monster¡¯ this closely before, and the chaotic situation was beyond his expectations.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, raise your torches.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re doomed. This definitely isn¡¯t just an ordinary monster but a terrifying hunter. It¡¯s creating chaos to take us all down.¡± Hart thought to himself.

 Chapter 22 - 22: The Cave Game

    Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Cave Game


    The constant rustling sound continued without end, making everyone in the dark mine feel on edge.


    Everyone instinctively quieted down, afraid that something might attack from the darkness, making the sounds in the cave even clearer, mixed with the pounding of their hearts.


    Suddenly, a huge shadow flashed across the corner of the cave, passing over a certain spot in the crowd.


    A miner didn¡¯t even have time to shout before losing his voice.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Gulp¡­¡±


    ...


    What followed was the sound of something swallowing, crunching food.


    In the tense atmosphere where you could hear a pin drop, everyone heard this swallowing sound, echoing clearly.


    Instantly, people¡¯s fear almost became uncontrollable.


    The chaotic crowd instinctively surged towards the mine¡¯s exit.


    Hart squeezed to the center of the crowd, trying to keep his voice steady, ¡°Everyone stay calm, if you see anything unusual, throw your spears there.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing more than a frightened Beast in the dark, we just need to¡­¡±


    ¡°Gulp.¡±


    As if to slap him in the face, before Hart finished speaking, another clear swallowing sound echoed.


    Another unlucky soul had lost their life.


    Instantly, the crowd erupted, fear exploded, survival instincts overwhelmed everything.


    ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t eat me!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a Monster! There really is a Monster!¡±


    ¡°Run for your lives!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, get out of the way! Don¡¯t block me.¡±


    The screams and chaos were incessant, the entire mine turned into a chaotic mess. Even the overseers¡¯ whips could no longer control the disorderly crowd. In fact, even the overseers themselves were thinking of sneaking away.


    ¡°I want to live.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re almost out, once we get out of here¡­¡±


    And in this chaotic situation, amid the clamor, countless people were silently swallowed in the darkness.


    However, just as the first batch of people desperately climbed upwards, trying to escape, the huge shadow struck from the darkness.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±


    The leaders of the group were instantly seized by the shadow, disappearing without a trace.


    Under the brief illumination of torches, people only saw a massive green Monster flash by.


    Immediately after, the place where several people had been standing was empty, the torchlight extinguished, swallowed by darkness.


    The people behind, unaware of the situation, continued to push forward.


    The people in front, having seen the fate of those ahead, dared not advance, but were shoved from behind and had to venture forward.


    The swallowing sounds were drowned out by the crowd¡¯s noise.


    Hart watched the situation in the cave, sweat dripping from his forehead and chin, sinking into near despair.


    How to move, how to escape?


    That Monster could swallow a person in an instant.


    It only needed to wait at the cave¡¯s entrance, and people would be delivered to it one by one, fed into its endlessly hungry, bottomless belly.


    ¡°Throw your spears forward!¡±


    ¡°Kill that Monster!¡±


    In their state of despair, the miners had no other choice but to follow the command, blindly throwing their spears into the darkness.


    All that could be heard was the sharp sound of spearheads striking rock.


    People screamed and cried, the deep darkness in their eyes was already a symbol of death.


    Suddenly, a hoarse laughter came from the darkness.


    ¡°Humans, your little tricks are really amusing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten three giant bats today, two Goblins, eight Humans, but I think my belly can still hold¡ªyou all.¡±


    Then, the Monster slowly slithered out from the darkness, the weak light of the torch barely revealing its true form.


    Only its ferocious head was exposed, its vertical pupils glowing in the dim cave, the massive, curving horns on either side of its head particularly conspicuous.


    Its gaping maw alone could probably swallow several people at once. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Its elongated body, covered in striped scales, resembled a cross between a crocodile and a centipede, with numerous legs, stretching into the darkness.


    In the flickering firelight, the Monster¡¯s grotesque face showed a chilling smile.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to miss this opportunity, this delivered food will fill my belly.¡±


    ¡°No, don¡¯t eat me!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over! It¡¯s over!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all going to die!¡±


    ¡°Help!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡±


    People stumbled backward in panic, huddled together, trying to escape this Hell.


    Trampling, shoving, screaming.


    But the Monster merely followed the crowd unhurriedly, slithering on the ground, like a shepherd driving a flock, occasionally swallowing one or two people.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind playing a game with you.¡±


    ¡°Run, run as much as you want¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still very interested.¡±


    To the people, the Monster¡¯s hoarse voice sounded like the call of death, dragging them into the depths of fear.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Kelu¡¯s arrow struck the Monster.


    Weak spears, tiny arrows, inferior long swords, the Humans¡¯ counterattacks hit its striped scales, all seemed so powerless.


    Even if they were lucky and broke its Armor, the little wound was insignificant compared to its massive body.


    Barbarian Scar finally couldn¡¯t take this cat-and-mouse game, stopping in his tracks, turning to face the Monster directly.


    But his proud, strong body seemed as small as a rat in the face of the Monster.


    Scar took a deep breath, lifting his Warhammer and cursing loudly, ¡°All these years, only I¡¯ve ever played others, never has anyone taken me for a damn toy!¡±


    ¡°Ahhhhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    Scar roared, panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot¡ªthis was the sign of a Barbarian going into a Frenzy.


    The irrational Barbarian lifted his Warhammer, charging at the Monster¡¯s massive body like a Knight charging at a windmill.


    But faced with the frenzied Barbarian, the Monster didn¡¯t move, watching him with interest, as if it were looking at an amusing plaything.


    ¡°Frenzied Strike!¡±


    With a cry, Scar¡¯s muscles tensed, hurling the Warhammer fiercely into the Monster¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Hammer blow after hammer blow landed on the Monster.


    It actually shattered a few scales on its chest, causing blue blood to seep out.


    ¡°Interesting Human, I¡¯ll give you a good death.¡±


    The Monster cackled, completely unconcerned about the damage from the Barbarian, while its body subtly writhed on the ground.


    ¡°Ah! Ahhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    Furious after hearing this mocked Scar even more, he hammered away desperately, over and over.


    But soon he noticed, the Monster¡¯s massive body had unknowingly coiled up, trapping him.


    Or rather, it was more accurate to say the Monster¡¯s massive body had enclosed him, like a green-blue prison.


    Scar felt the space around him growing narrower, his muscles constantly being squeezed, his breathing grew more rapid.


    ¡°I never thought¡­ I¡¯d suffocate to death.¡±


    This was his last thought as it flashed through his mind.

 Chapter 23 - 23: Thunder and Fire

    Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Thunder and Fire


    The monster wriggled slowly.


    The barbarian wrapped in its coils had blood-filled limbs, bulging veins, and an extremely grimace of pain, but had already lost his vitality.


    ¡°So boring,¡±


    a hoarse voice sounded again.


    It coiled its body and opened its giant mouth, ready to swallow this ¡°delicacy¡± in one bite.


    Seeing a living person swallowed, the crowd gasped in shock once again. However, at this moment, they had no way to retreat, and their minds were nearly numb.


    ...


    ¡°Scar, rest in peace,¡±


    ¡°But this painful death suits what you have done.¡±


    Hart watched his follower of more than ten years die in humiliation, but he was helpless. He could only silently grit his teeth and pray that he could escape from here.


    Water droplets formed on his head. He couldn¡¯t help but wipe them with his hands. Strangely, it seemed this was not cold sweat, nor tears, but sweat from heat.


    ¡°But¡­ why is it so hot in the cave?¡±


    He had a slight doubt in his heart. Previously, because he had been busy fleeing for his life, he hadn¡¯t realized this.


    But now, coming back to his senses, he felt the cave was like a large steamer, with waves of hot air coming from above.


    Hart instinctively looked up¡ª


    Then he couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth wide.


    In the rocky top of the cave, a giant creature of more than eight meters suddenly appeared.


    It was a dragon!


    What shocked him even more was that the red dragon¡¯s mouth was brewing terrifying white-hot flames, like a miniature sun, lighting up the entire mine like daylight.


    Both humans and the monster looked up astonished¡ª


    Then they were dumbfounded.


    ¡°Got you,¡±


    a strange voice sounded above the mine.


    Cassius unleashed the fiery breath he had been preparing for a long time. Instantly, most of his energy was drained.


    ¡°Extremely Effective Flame Breath!¡±


    A pillar of scorching flame descended from the sky, with the inner flame blindingly white and the outer flame bright orange.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a loud explosion, the coiled monster let out a cry of pain.


    The blazing flames distorted the air. The creature wriggled in the flames, trying to escape.


    The scales it prided itself on were immediately incinerated by the scorching flames, turning into charred blackness.


    ¡°Despicable dragon!¡±


    ¡°You are a shameful sneak attacker!¡±


    It struggled in the flames, shouting hoarsely.


    The terrifying breath lasted several breaths, until the monster slithered away into the darkness before it gradually stopped.


    ¡°To withstand it head-on, truly terrifying,¡± Cassius said as he gazed into the dark part of the mine.


    ¡°Twin Dancing Light Technique!¡±


    Several rays of light shot from the red dragon¡¯s claws, illuminating the dark corners of the mine.


    In an instant, the entire inside of the mine lit up, leaving the monster nowhere to hide.


    Its body was fully exposed for the first time.


    The enormous body was seventeen or eighteen meters long, a mix of centipede and crocodile.


    Its sides had twelve pairs of crowded double legs, making it menacing at first sight.


    But at this moment, the monster was in a dire state. Large patches of its scales had been burned away, and large chunks of flesh were charred black.


    The red dragon stared fixedly at the monster, a trace of excitement at encountering a strong enemy appearing on its face.


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information]


    [Bluefoot Dragon-snake ¨C Mana]


    Category: Giant Monster, Neutral Evil


    AC: 18 (natural armor)


    Speed: 50 feet, climbing 40 feet


    Strength ¡ª 23


    Agility ¡ª 16


    Constitution ¡ª 18


    Intelligence ¡ª 7


    Perception ¡ª 14


    Charisma ¡ª 12


    Proficient Skills: Perception +6, Stealth +7, Hunting +4


    Senses: Dark Vision 90 feet, Passive Perception 16


    Damage Immunities: Lightning


    Languages: Common, Draconic


    Actions: Lightning Breath, Multi-Attack, Strangle, Biting, Swallow


    Traits: Cave Predator, Enemy of Dragons


    Challenge Level: 11 (7,200 XP)


    Assessment: ¡°The Bluefoot Dragon-snake slithers along the ground and walls hunting prey. Its lightning breath can incinerate most creatures. Even stronger beings can be strangled tightly and swallowed whole by the Bluefoot Dragon-snake.¡±


    ¡°Terrifying opponent,¡±


    was Cassius¡¯s assessment. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The monster, or rather the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, seeing its position fully exposed, simply stopped hiding.


    ¡°A young dragon sorcerer?¡±


    ¡°How¡­ strange,¡±


    The snake-like eyes fixated on the red dragon, showing not only anger from being ambushed but also a deep-seated hatred from its bloodline.


    In the long-forgotten ancient times, giants and dragonkin were engaged in nearly unending wars.


    It is said that the storm giants created the first Bluefoot Dragon-snake to use as a weapon against the dragonkin.


    Therefore, Bluefoot Dragon-snakes still harbor a natural hatred towards dragonkin, and their lineage retains methods to deal with giant dragons.


    The red dragon, seeing the enemy¡¯s severe injuries, decided to press the attack.


    ¡°Searing Ray!¡±


    Rays of fire shot from the red dragon¡¯s mouth.


    Though injured, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake used its twelve legs to climb quickly. Its enormous body appeared exceptionally agile on the rocky wall.


    It managed to dodge two consecutive searing rays with its speed, shifting left and right.


    But it was hit by the third ray. The scorching flame ray seared its skin, causing it to scream in pain.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake was furious, raising its head with its mouth glowing with lightning.


    ¡°Lightning Breath!¡±


    In an instant, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake spewed streams of lightning.


    Each lightning bolt was as thick as a bowl, capable of incinerating most creatures in an instant, far more powerful than the red dragon¡¯s first-tier Witchcraft Arrow.


    Cassius, facing the imminent lightning breath, knew he couldn¡¯t fully evade it. He leaped to the side to dodge while casting a spell instantly with his metamagic expertise.


    ¡°Instant Shield Spell!¡±


    An invisible magical shield appeared in front of the red dragon, blocking part of the lightning.


    But soon, the invisible shield couldn¡¯t suppress the fierce lightning and shattered. Several bolts struck the red dragon directly.


    Cassius felt a strong electric current conducted through his scales, penetrating his skin and flowing through his body.


    His body was in immense pain, muscles twitching, and several scales were charred black.


    Fortunately, the red dragon¡¯s innate constitution was strong, enduring the attack. If it had been an ordinary human, they might have suffered internal injuries or even been burned to charcoal.


    ¡°What a terrifying breath. If I took it all, I might have been gravely injured.¡±


    Feeling the mild twitching and pain, Cassius couldn¡¯t help licking his lips.


    His tone carried a hint of excitement.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I felt the taste of being hurt.¡±


    Since arriving in this world, apart from his initial panicked fleeing, he had rarely encountered an evenly matched enemy. After all, a red dragon¡¯s starting point surpassed the endpoint of most creatures.


    Now, for the first time, he had an opponent who could excite him. This was a rare occurrence.

 Chapter 24 - 24: The Fleeing Enemy

    Chapter 24: Chapter 24: The Fleeing Enemy


    ¡°Cat¡¯s Grace!¡±


    ¡°Oil on the soles of my feet!¡±


    As the Bluefoot Dragon-snake prepared its next Lightning Breath, Cassius cast several Acceleration Spells on himself.


    His body became extraordinarily agile, leaping lightly several times in the cave to approach the Bluefoot Dragon-snake.


    Though the Red Dragon¡¯s strength was far less than that of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, and their sizes were vastly different, physical combat was not determined by these factors alone.


    He had confidence in defeating his opponent in close combat.


    ...


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake spat out several bolts of lightning, but the Red Dragon was prepared, having anticipated its direction in advance, dodging to the left and right with ease.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake realized Cassius¡¯s intention to engage in melee combat and laughed hoarsely, ¡°Stupid dragon, daring to oppose me in this cave.¡±


    ¡°Without the advantage of flight¡ª¡±


    ¡°What are you really?¡±


    Its twelve pairs of feet wriggled, moving on the rock wall as if on flat ground, its steps swift, even faster than the spell-enhanced Red Dragon.


    It charged at the Red Dragon like a bolt of blue lightning.


    ¡°Bull¡¯s Strength!¡±


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s charge played right into the Red Dragon¡¯s plan. He instantly cast the spell to enhance his strength, his muscular body bulging with veins, exuding waves of scorching steam as his strength surged.


    ¡°Act Before the Enemy!¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s golden slit pupils emanated a purple magical aura as he stared intently at the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, attempting to discern its next move.


    ¡°Pathetic dragon,¡±


    ¡°You are as weak as the human mages, no match for me!¡±


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake saw the Red Dragon filled with spells but remained unflustered, opening its maw wide for a biting attack.


    The Red Dragon foresaw this, dodging to the side and preparing to retaliate with claws and fangs.


    But he didn¡¯t expect the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s bite to be a feint.


    As the Red Dragon evaded, it twisted abruptly, launching itself like a lasso to encircle the Red Dragon with its massive body.


    It was strangle!


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake slowly tightened its muscles, compressing any space for the Red Dragon¡¯s escape, initiating a suffocating constriction.


    Its body was more than twice as long as the Red Dragon¡¯s, and far stronger. Once it successfully constricted, the outcome was decided.


    Seeing the situation, the Red Dragon relentlessly attacked the exposed, scorched skin of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake with its sharp claws, causing flesh and blood to splatter.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake let out a pained hiss but did not stop tightening its coils.


    It knew releasing would mean defeat, while a successful constriction would sap the Red Dragon¡¯s strength.


    But Cassius¡¯s attacks were not those of a barbarian; his sharp claws dug several feet deep into the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s flesh, tearing its skin apart.


    ¡°You are merely my prey!¡±


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake roared furiously.


    Yet even though it was covered in wounds, its body moved swiftly, tightly encircling the Red Dragon.


    ¡°You are struggling in vain!¡±


    It succeeded.


    The Red Dragon was tightly wrapped by the long, massive body, trapped like a beast in a snare, unable to escape.


    Even its claws were immobilized, weakened in its struggle, barely able to counterattack with its teeth.


    On the verge of killing a Red Dragon.


    This made the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s heart race wildly, making it forget the intense pain, tightening its muscles purely on instinct.


    This was the horrifying power of ancient biological weapons, imprinted with hatred toward dragons.


    However, in the next moment, the situation reversed dramatically.


    ¡°Misty Step!¡±


    The Red Dragon, tightly constricted, recited a spell.


    The combat caster¡¯s expertise allowed him to cast spells even while restrained.


    Instantly, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake felt its coils empty; where its prey had been was now just silvery-white smoke.


    And the Red Dragon had teleported to a cliff ten meters away.


    ¡°Oh no!¡±


    It cried out in surprise.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake, having exerted too much force, was now twisted into a tangled position, extremely awkward.


    Cassius had actually been able to escape the moment the Bluefoot Dragon-snake began to constrict.


    But he chose to play along, letting it believe he was trapped to further exhaust the opponent.


    The Red Dragon let out a triumphant roar, leaping down directly at the Bluefoot Dragon-snake.


    ¡°Now, tell me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who is the prey?¡±


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake, still tangled, had no chance to evade, confronting Cassius in a panic.


    It barely lifted its head to bite.


    But at this moment, Cassius¡¯s agility far surpassed the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s.


    The Red Dragon simply leapt lightly to the left, easily dodging the attack.


    Taking advantage of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s missed strike, he slipped behind it, biting down hard on its exposed, heavily injured body.


    Blood splattered!


    Warm blood sprayed into his mouth.


    Teeth sank deep into the flesh, tearing muscle fibers, piercing deeper, this feeling invigorated the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Aargh¡ª¡±


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake let out a deafening screech, thrashing wildly to escape.


    But the Red Dragon not only clamped its jaws firmly but also, with muscles bulging, its claws plunged into its body, clawing recklessly.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake rolled frantically, yet the Red Dragon wouldn¡¯t let go.


    ¡°Boom¡­¡±


    Two giant beasts fought with primal rage, using the most savage techniques in their violent physical struggle.


    The cave¡¯s rocks rumbled.


    It felt as if the entire mine was shaking, trembling, with debris continuously falling from the ceiling.


    ¡°Aargh¡­¡±


    At last, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s strength seemed to fade, letting out a weak whimper.


    Yet the Red Dragon did not relent; his strength was nearly spent. If this formidable foe had any tricks left, he was defenseless.


    Was it finally over?


    Cassius felt the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s body weaken, its struggles dimming.


    A cloud of blue-green blood mist erupted suddenly.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    It escaped!


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake had torn off a significant portion of its own body to escape.


    The remaining seven pairs of feet scrambled quickly across the rock wall.


    Though severely injured, carrying less body weight made the Bluefoot Dragon-snake even faster.


    ¡°It still escaped.¡±


    The Red Dragon released its grip, laboriously pulling its claws from the remaining half of the body.


    He watched the Bluefoot Dragon-snake disappear into the darkness.


    There was no choice, after the intense struggle, his energy was largely spent, especially since this cave was the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s territory. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the cave, the Red Dragon¡¯s flying advantage was nullified, making it difficult to catch up with the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s seven pairs of feet.


    Dancing lights had faded, but the weak torchlight remained.


    Cassius silently gazed, watching the Bluefoot Dragon-snake escape into the deep cave.


    The reflective membrane behind the Red Dragon¡¯s eyes helped him see in the dim cave, making his eyes glow in the darkness.


    However, his vision was monochrome at this moment.


    ¡°That direction is the Ashen Nest.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s sense of direction was also very keen. Even in the dark cave, they could gather information from the environment to judge the approximate direction.


    ¡°Abyssal Pit?¡±


    Cassius suddenly thought of something.

 Chapter 25 - 25 Humans and Giant Dragons

    Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Humans and Giant Dragons


    Cassius relied on his night vision to steadily walk out of the mining cave, only to find that the people had not run far.


    Although the recent battle had been perilous, it actually had not taken much time.


    Ordinary humans exiting the deep mining cave would have spent a considerable amount of time, especially in such chaotic circumstances.


    Jin Ya greeted him at the cave entrance, bowing deeply in an exaggerated manner, ¡°My great master, your strength is unrivaled, even the mightiest monsters cannot withstand your flames.¡±


    The humans in the distance stared fearfully at the blood-soaked red dragon emerging from the cave.


    The monster within the cave had been horrifying enough, but what about the dragon that had seemingly defeated it?


    ...


    They used their last reserves of strength to flee desperately.


    Many had been devoured by the monster in the cave, while others had been crushed by falling rocks.


    Originally, more than a hundred had entered the cave, but now only around fifty managed to escape; the rest were forever entombed in the deep, dark cave.


    Jin Ya moved forward obsequiously and inquired, ¡°My great master, how do you wish to deal with¡­ these despicable humans?¡±


    A cunning glint flashed in the kobold¡¯s eyes.


    Once enslaved by humans, it now saw a chance for revenge.


    ¡°I have my plans.¡±


    The red dragon dismissively flapped its wings, lifting off to pursue the fleeing humans.


    The crowd was in an uproar, terrified as they ran even faster.


    But how could running match the speed of flight?


    Soon, the shadow cast by the red dragon enveloped the panicked crowd.


    Yet they did not experience the expected flames, claws, or gaping maw.


    ¡°Humans, you have trespassed upon the territory of Ashen Nest.¡±


    ¡°However, the merciful red dragon is willing to forgive your transgression.¡±


    ¡°This time, I will only punish the ringleader as he deserves.¡±


    The red dragon swooped down, skimming the ground, and grabbed the most conspicuous armored figure¡ªHart.


    Then he flew back to the cave entrance.


    Hart, held in the dragon¡¯s claws, was thrown heavily to the ground. He knelt there, too terrified to stand, his tongue stumbling, ¡°Great, great dragon, I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°No, no, don¡¯t eat me, I, I don¡¯t taste good.¡±


    The once arrogant slave trader now trembled in fear.


    Cassius looked down at him from above, noting that Hart was actually a Level Three warrior. He feigned anger, ¡°Who gave you the courage¡ªto invade Ashen Nest¡¯s territory and steal the dragon¡¯s gold?¡±


    In the red dragon¡¯s shameless propaganda, the gold mine had become his own property.


    The kobold, watching his former slave master in such a pathetic state, couldn¡¯t help but join in the intimidation, ¡°You are but a despicable human, daring to infringe upon the great dragon¡¯s assets and enslave his kin. Your fate is sealed¡ªyou will be torn to pieces!¡±


    Upon hearing ¡°torn to pieces,¡± Hart collapsed in fear.


    His face was covered in snot and tears as he stammered, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, it, it was someone else who ordered me, someone else made me do it.¡±


    Hearing there was someone behind this, Cassius grew interested.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Tell me the thief¡¯s name.¡±


    Detecting a glimmer of hope for survival, Hart clung to it desperately, replying without hesitation.


    ¡°It was Baron Todd!¡±


    ¡°Todd Rackman!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Cassius¡¯s curiosity deepened, and he asked further:


    ¡°From the Rackman Family?¡±


    ¡°The so-called Northwind Eagle, ruler of Northwind Castle?¡±


    Hart nodded repeatedly, his tone sincere in his life-or-death desperation.


    ¡°Yes, yes, great dragon, it is the Rackman.¡±


    Hart knelt on the ground, cautiously raising his head, his voice filled with tears.


    ¡°Great dragon, you must seek justice for me!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that Baron Todd, he used evil spells to control me, threatening my family¡¯s lives so I had no choice but to follow his orders and invade your property.¡±


    At this point, Hart disregarded any notion of loyalty; survival was paramount, and he would pile all the blame on the Baron.


    ¡°How interesting.¡±


    From what he knew, the Rackman Family¡¯s old Duke was a vampire, his offspring often becoming derivatives or new vampires. This Baron Todd was likely a vampire as well¡ªa perfect opportunity to gather intelligence on Northwind Castle.


    The red dragon grinned, ¡°Where is this Baron Todd now?¡±


    Hart hesitated briefly, then answered hurriedly, ¡°Great dragon, I can take you to him, he must compensate for your losses.¡±


    Typical behavior of someone flipping sides.


    ¡°Fine, but we will have to wait a while first.¡±


    The red dragon seized the human and once again took to the skies, heading straight for Ashen Nest.


    ¡­


    Ashen Nest.


    Cassius landed amidst the welcoming wyverns.


    This time, however, his wounds drew various speculations from his retainers about who had managed to injure him so severely. Yet, no one dared voice their thoughts, fearing they might anger the wounded red dragon.


    Great Goblin Dolores, along with a squad of Worg Cavalry, greeted him at the entrance, their faces fawning.


    The red dragon casually tossed Hart in front of the Great Goblin, ¡°Watch this human; don¡¯t let him escape or die.¡±


    ¡°Yes, great master, I will complete the task and never disappoint you again.¡±


    The Great Goblin eagerly complied, cracking his whip to give instructions.


    A few sturdy Bugbears then stepped forward with a piece of animal hide, placing the human on it and carrying him to the military camp¡¯s dungeons. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After giving his orders, the red dragon flew directly back to Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave.


    He headed straight to the deepest part of the cave, moving the stone blocking the entrance.


    ¡°No wonder I felt uneasy earlier.¡±


    ¡°I should clear out the hidden dangers in the nest.¡±


    Cassius muttered to himself.


    He leaped into the cave.


    Inside, magma splashed everywhere, emitting waves of white smoke and heat.


    But the boiling magma was merely hot water to the red dragon, and the sulfuric heat made him feel at home.


    He descended further for a long time, unsure how deep he had gone, before finally spotting another entrance¡ªonly blocked by flowing magma.


    ¡°Splash!¡±


    The red dragon leapt out of the magma.


    Magma splattered, searing the hard rock.


    It was an endlessly long tunnel.


    The entrance was just over four meters high. The red dragon had to tuck in his wings to barely fit, continuing his exploration.

 Chapter 26 - 26: Pursuit and Spells

    Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Pursuit and Spells


    The scene before him was entirely different from earlier. Compared to the previous scorching heat, it was much darker and colder here.


    Inside, it was as if a small world had opened up, the terrain rugged and steep, with various unique plants growing on the rocks.


    Cassius could recognize a few of them: spore mushrooms, algae green dust, and mad frogmen horns, all plants that only grew in the deepest parts of the underground.


    Glow rocks, noctilucent crystals, and phosphorescent mosses, lichens, and fungi dimly illuminated some areas.


    There were also unknown piles of crystal stones growing on the cliff walls, shimmering with a ghostly blue glow, casting a dark blue hue on the surrounding rocks.


    ¡°Is this¡­ the Gloomy Region?¡±


    ...


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not right.¡±


    The depth here clearly exceeded the range of the cave, reaching a much deeper and more profound area.


    It was the dark, unknown world beneath the feet of surface dwellers, commonly known as the Gloomy Region.


    However, this section of the Bottomless Cavern seemed sealed off, disconnected from the outside world, more like an artificially created underground realm.


    The Red Dragon extended its forked tongue, utilizing its incredibly sharp sense of smell, tasting various pheromones in the air. Finally, it found a familiar scent¡ªit was the blood of that Bluefoot Dragon-snake.


    It looked at a corner of the cliff wall. Under the illumination of the noctilucent crystal, the color there was distinctly different from its surroundings. There was a distribution of blue-green bloodstains, and by following these blood trail, it would easily find the escaped prey. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Found you¡­¡±


    ¡°Bluefoot Dragon-snake.¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t let this enemy escape again, so he had to ensure a fatal strike.


    Cassius had just gone through an exhilarating battle and had depleted his spells. Thus, he used the power of the surge of spells to recover his spell slots.


    Colossal sorcery energy surged into his body.


    ¡°Invisibility Spell¡±


    He silently chanted the spell incantation.


    Instantly, the seven-meter-long body merged into the darkness once more.


    ¡­


    In a certain corner, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake weakly licked its wounds.


    Its once seventeen-meter-long body was now less than ten meters, its rear end not a tail but a massive, horrifyingly severed section.


    Torn muscles, shattered organs, and oozing blue-green blood.


    This was enough to show the severity of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s injuries.


    Unless something unexpected happened, its lower body might never fully recover. It would have to let the wounds slowly heal, becoming a ¡°crippled¡± Bluefoot Dragon-snake, though it still had seven pairs of legs.


    ¡°Damn dragon,¡± it muttered.


    Thinking of the culprit behind all this¡ªthe peculiar Dragon Sorcerer¡ªthe Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s small, ghostly-blue eyes brimmed with unstoppable hatred, combining blood feud with the grudge of its wounds.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake never nested in areas where giant dragons resided.


    If a dragon tried to nest within dozens of miles of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s lair, it would have to go and kill or drive it away.


    Only when the dragon was too powerful to oppose would the Bluefoot Dragon-snake give up and wander afar to find a new nesting ground.


    Its last departure from the lair was for this reason.


    A bewildering gust of wind blew past the dark cliff wall, making the Bluefoot Dragon-snake shiver a bit.


    ¡°What¡¯s this feeling¡­¡±


    For some reason, the Bluefoot Dragon-snake suddenly felt a throbbing fear from deep within its bloodline. It became alert and involuntarily raised its body, using seven pairs of legs to cling to the cliff wall.


    But it was already too late.


    ¡°Got you.¡±


    The Red Dragon descended from the sky, appearing out of nowhere, directly clutching the Bluefoot Dragon-snake with its powerful claws.


    And this time, it grabbed not the torso but the neck.


    Cassius had learned from earlier experience, not believing that the Bluefoot Dragon-snake could escape by decapitating itself again.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake looked at the Red Dragon in disbelief.


    Its massive body struggled frantically, seven pairs of legs furiously scratching the cliff wall, its body slamming fiercely, attempting to break free from the Red Dragon¡¯s chokehold.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    The cliff wall shattered under the impact of its body, debris falling to the ground.


    But the Red Dragon did not loosen its grip at all, even opening its jaws to bite into its neck. Its mouth full of sharp teeth deeply pierced the flesh.


    Its long, strong tail repeatedly whipped the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s wound, causing blood to splatter.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake emitted weakened whimpers.


    The struggling motions gradually diminished.


    The Red Dragon still didn¡¯t release its grip, even exerting more strength, almost to the point of exhaustion.


    Until there was a crisp ¡°crack,¡± the Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s hard bones broke.


    Cassius finally let go, relieved, and the huge body of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake fell from the cliff, crashing to the ground.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon stood on the cliff¡¯s edge, spreading its wings, letting out a long, triumphant roar.


    [You killed the Bluefoot Dragon-snake (Mana), gaining 7200xp]


    [Your occupational level rises to Level 5]


    The dense list of spells appeared again, bringing immense joy to Cassius¡¯s heart.


    Receiving rewards after an exhilarating battle was the most satisfying thing ever.


    Upon reaching Level Five, the sorcerer occupation granted two additional Third Tier spells.


    Regarding spell selection, Cassius didn¡¯t choose the famous Fireball Technique but rather leaned towards support spells.


    His dragonkin specialty, Maximized Breath Weapon, already provided sufficient damage, making the Fireball Technique less of a priority.


    After pondering for a moment, Cassius made his choice.


    [You gain the additional Third Tier spells Blink Spell and Protective Energy Damage]


    [Blink Spell]


    Third Tier alteration spell


    During the spell¡¯s duration, there is a 50% chance that you will disappear from the plane you¡¯re on and appear in the Ethereal Plane. When in the Ethereal Plane, you can see and hear the original plane, but all things appear in black and white. Other creatures can only affect or be affected by you if they are also in the Ethereal Plane.


    [Protective Energy Damage]


    Third Tier protective spell


    For up to one hour, a willing creature you touch gains resistance to one type of damage you specify: strong acid, freezing, flame, lightning, or thunder.


    During the battle with the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, if he had these two spells, Cassius wouldn¡¯t have feared its lightning breath so much, thus avoiding hand-to-hand combat.


    These two spells appeared in Cassius¡¯s mind out of thin air.


    They were far more intricate and varied than his previous spells¡ªso much so that the moment they surfaced in his mind, he almost couldn¡¯t comprehend them.


    After standing and thinking for a long time, he barely grasped the essence of these two spells and could cast them, albeit clumsily.


    The complexity and difficulty of understanding each layer of the Magic Web were exponentially greater than the previous ones.


    Fortunately, Cassius was an ¡°artistic¡± sorcerer.


    He only needed to grasp their basic workings and twist reality with his will, rather than meticulously calculating and constructing models.


    Anyway, Cassius finally made another step forward, touching the third layer of the Magic Web.

 Chapter 27 - 27 Giants Tomb

    Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Giant¡¯s Tomb


    After the ritual completion, Cassius leaped off the dark-shrouded cliff, hoping to harvest some spoils from the Bluefoot Dragon-snake.


    But when he reached the bottom of the cliff, he surveyed his surroundings.


    He suddenly realized that things were far from simple.


    Because on the ground, there were not only the corpse of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake but also more massive, ancient bones scattered around.


    These bones were each over ten meters long. From the ferocious snake-like skulls and long spines, it became clear¡ªthese bones all belonged to Bluefoot Dragon-snakes.


    And there were hundreds of them!


    ...


    The massive skeletons almost covered the entire floor of the cliff, forming a somewhat spectacular bone pathway. The corpse of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake among them was not at all conspicuous.


    Hundreds of Bluefoot Dragon-snakes.


    What kind of concept was that?


    Just one Bluefoot Dragon-snake was already a tough battle for a Red Dragon, who had to use every trick to barely win.


    With ten Bluefoot Dragon-snakes attacking together, their frenzied thunder could char the Red Dragon into cinders.


    And hundreds of Bluefoot Dragon-snakes?


    It was no exaggeration to say they could easily destroy a human kingdom. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°These bones, the oldest could be thousands of years old, almost turning into ash.¡±


    ¡°What is this place?¡±


    Cassius felt a chill run down his spine, involuntarily exhaling a breath of sulfur-laden hot air.


    At this moment, he no longer cared about the dead Bluefoot Dragon-snake. He only wanted to explore the secrets of this terrifying path.


    ¡°Creak¡­¡±


    His claws crunched on the ancient skeletons as he walked.


    The Red Dragon treaded cautiously on the bony path, step by step towards the depths shrouded in darkness.


    High cliffs towered on both sides of the road, almost vertical.


    After walking for a long time.


    The end of the path revealed a massive stone gate.


    Thick stone pillars adorned both sides, engraved with texts.


    The stone gate had no excessive decorations, only simple, archaic patterns. Though not finely carved, it exuded a sense of strength and primal wildness from a barbaric age. One could barely make out an eye within a storm in the designs.


    ¡°Storm Giants?¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself.


    The shadow of the Ancient Giant Empire once spanned far and wide, with the Storm Giants holding the highest middle-rank among giants.


    Their numbers were few, living in remote corners of the world, reminiscing about past glories, known for being reclusive and wise prophets.


    He carefully examined the texts on the stone pillars.


    ¡°Ancient Giant Language¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon did not recognize these ancient texts. They might have long vanished with the fall of the Giant Empire.


    Yet a translucent blue panel silently unfolded.


    [The wisdom of the magician allows you to trace back to more ancient things.]


    [The texts before you awaken memories deep within your bloodline.]


    [Memories of the long, drawn-out war between dragonkin and giants, spanning generations, deeply etched into your bloodline, flowing within every vein.]


    Cassius felt a wave of dizziness, falling into a haze.


    He saw a terrifying army formed of giant dragons, their multitude of wings enough to block out the sky.


    The giants stood ready, their massive forms dominating the horizon.


    The two sides clashed, shaking heaven and earth.


    Engaging in the most primal of battles.


    Storm Giants hurled lightning of boundless power. Cloud Giants conjured rolling clouds, and Stone Giants lifted hill-like boulders¡­


    [You have gained precious ancient knowledge.]


    [Obtained proficient skills: ¡°Ancient Draconic +4¡± and ¡°Ancient Giant Language +2¡±]


    When the Red Dragon awakened, his mind was brimming with newfound knowledge.


    Cassius stared at the texts on the stone pillars, reading them aloud:


    ¡°I seek the great remains, recovering the heritage lost when the empire fell.


    In the end, I found that the deities had abandoned us.


    I witnessed the rise and fall of royalty, the victories and defeats of wars, and grew weary of the unending battles between good and evil.


    So I descended from the sky, sinking into the depths of the abyss, with my former weapons guarding the gate for me.


    Mortal beings from afar, please remain humble.


    Do not disturb my rest.


    Otherwise, the enraged Storm Giant will bring forth more thorough destruction.


    This is my final prophecy as a prophet.


    ¡ªStorm Giant Elder Randta, resting here.¡±


    After reading the text, or rather the epitaph.


    Cassius¡¯s breathing grew slightly rapid. He exhaled deeply, puffing out another gust of sulfur-scented smoke.


    ¡°This is the tomb of a Storm Giant, and those Bluefoot Dragon-snakes were merely his guards.¡±


    ¡°What an extravagance.¡±


    ¡°This means that within this tomb, there might be incredibly precious treasures.¡±


    The greed from Tiamat deep within the Red Dragon¡¯s bloodline urged him repeatedly to open this stone gate.


    ¡°However, the epitaph warned that he would bring forth more thorough destruction.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better to be cautious¡­¡±


    Cassius was not a purebred Red Dragon with muscles for brains. His rational side prevailed.


    But this did not mean he gave up exploring this tomb. Rather, he decided to ¡®bide¡¯ his time until he was fully recovered, and all preparations were complete, before considering further exploration.


    Thus, the Red Dragon decided to temporarily settle here.


    Yes, he settled down.


    Cassius first returned to the spot where he had fought the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, preparing to devour its mutilated body.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake¡¯s strength was immense, making its flesh particularly chewy, with a tinge of electric numbness, a result of the special energy it contained as a magical monster.


    ¡°Like the spicy hotpot I had in my previous life.¡±


    Cassius mumbled while gobbling it down.


    This was the highest praise the Red Dragon had given any food in this world so far.


    Dragons could easily digest meat equaling half their body weight daily, converting the food into elemental energy and storing it for future use.


    The stored energy was often used for their breath weapon and during the rapid growth phases throughout their lives.


    The Red Dragon spent his days eating Bluefoot Dragon-snake meat, studying the texts on the stone pillars, and napping atop the bone piles.


    Several days passed.


    ¡­


    The Cave Lurker curled up in a crevice at the top of the cave.


    This monster, resembling a giant worm, had a blue-black body that blended with the background.


    It waited quietly in the cave.


    Whenever prey approached, the Cave Lurker would rise, spreading four hooked tendrils, revealing its hungry beak in the center.


    But as it lay in wait, motionless like a dead thing, a giant maw suddenly appeared, snatching it from the cave.


    Its soft, elastic body struggled briefly before being crammed into a powerful, sharp maw.


    ¡°Tastes like chicken, nice and crunchy.¡±


    Cassius chewed on the tough meat, commenting as he did.


    This monster, which was akin to the Grim Reaper to most explorers, was merely a tasty snack for the Red Dragon.


    Now the Red Dragon¡¯s scales shone brightly, his wounds had all healed, his vitality was restored, and all his spells were fully replenished.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to see what that ¡®destruction¡¯ is all about.¡±


    Cassius continued chewing on the Cave Lurker, thinking to himself.


    In the memories of his past life, someone had once found legendary-level equipment from a cave in the North, and this might just be the rumored place.


    After killing the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, Cassius felt as if a mechanism had been triggered, some force brewing, likely to destroy this place completely. When that happened, he would miss this precious opportunity.


    For his still-growing self, surrounded by powerful enemies, such a significant boost was invaluable.


    ¡°Take a gamble, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.¡±


    Feeling his body brimming with energy and magical power, Cassius clenched his teeth and thought.

 Chapter 28 - 28: Entering the Ether

    Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Entering the Ether


    After eating and drinking to his heart¡¯s content, fully recovered, Cassius once again came to the heavy stone door.


    He didn¡¯t push the door open but instead performed actions:


    [Bear¡¯s Resilience]


    [Cat¡¯s Grace]


    [Owl¡¯s Wisdom]


    Bear¡¯s Resilience made his constitution more durable, Cat¡¯s Grace made his actions more agile, and Owl¡¯s Wisdom heightened his perception, providing the Red Dragon with an overall boost.


    ...


    After casting what he jokingly called the ¡°zoo series¡± of spells on himself, Cassius still felt uneasy, as this was the legacy of a Legendary Druid, and who knew what kind of traps might be waiting.


    [Gilded Carapace]


    The accumulated Gold Element within his body converged on the surface of the Red Dragon, turning its scales into a metallic golden hue. If one didn¡¯t look closely, it could easily be mistaken for a Gold Dragon.


    [Protection from Lightning Damage]


    With a soft whistle from Cassius, an invisible field gradually formed around his body, protecting him from lightning attacks.


    ¡°After all, it¡¯s a Magic System profession.¡±


    ¡°How could it be done without some trickery?¡±


    After this entire display of magical radiance, Cassius felt much more at ease, finally having some confidence.


    The Red Dragon gazed at the stone door in front of him, took a deep breath, and then stepped forward resolutely.


    [Knocking Technique]


    His claws, glowing with Magical Aura, touched the stone door.


    ¡°Boom¡­¡±


    With a loud knocking sound, the heavy stone door made a dull roar and then slowly lifted.


    The scene before him widened.


    And the sight left the Red Dragon stunned.


    It was a vast, open space, almost large enough to accommodate a mountain peak.


    But ahead was only a narrow suspended stone bridge, while the rest of the ground had sunken dozens of meters.


    The cliff walls were smooth and straight, as if cut by sharp blades from top to bottom.


    Looking down from the stone bridge, illuminated by ever-burning azure flames, he could see the ground below piled with various debris, including broken colossal statues, ruins of grand buildings, blurred inscriptions, old fragmented weapons, and massive giant skeletons¡­


    Looking up, the high domed ceiling was covered in murals that were not exquisite but were filled with a sense of primal strength.


    He could see ancient wars between Giants and Dragons, the past splendor of the Giant Empire¡¯s territories, the majestic figures of the Giant gods, and the tragic scenes of the empire¡¯s fall¡­


    These weren¡¯t just murals; they were a history book.


    ¡°So this is the legacy of the Giant Empire he collected.¡±


    As Cassius marveled, he walked cautiously on the stone bridge.


    His wings were slightly spread, steps light, and he constantly monitored his surroundings, ready to deal with any potential danger.


    The Red Dragon looked towards the end of the stone bridge.


    There sat a throne.


    It was also made of stone, towering over twenty meters high.


    There were no excessive decorations, only ancient and mysterious patterns carved into it.


    And there, seated on it, was the long-dead body of a Storm Giant. Its purple-gray skin was covered in thick dust, seeming to have rested there for thousands of years, silently watching the approaching visitors.


    Yet somehow, it had not decayed into bones.


    ¡°The last Storm Giant Prophet¡­¡±


    ¡°Is this Randta?¡±


    The Red Dragon was quite curious about this Storm Giant.


    He wondered how this being managed to create such a magnificent tomb all by himself, though the spectacle alone was enough to demonstrate the tremendous power he wielded in life.


    Cassius continued walking along the stone bridge, approaching the giant corpse within dozens of meters.


    Yet in an instant, an unexpected change occurred.


    The Giant¡¯s single eye suddenly opened!


    That eye contained an endless storm, seemingly glaring at the unscrupulous visitor!


    Unknown crystals around flashed continuously, filled with violent and abundant elemental energy.


    And those turbulent elemental energies swiftly converged.


    ¡°This is bad!¡±


    Cassius felt a terrifying magical wave suddenly spread out.


    ¡°This power¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon raised its head slightly.


    A mass of churning black clouds, centered on the Giant¡¯s corpse, spread nearly madly, proliferating like a monstrous beast about to devour everything in the cavern.


    It was filled with flashing lightning, thunder, and howling wind.


    ¡°Storm of Vengeance!¡±


    Thunder roared!


    It was a primal cry from ancient times.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The mere aftermath of the thunder caused the rocky ceiling to crack and break, with stones falling in succession.


    ¡°Buzz ¡ª¡ª¡±


    And this thunderous roar made Cassius¡¯ ears ring incessantly, as if struck by a giant hammer, rendering him temporarily deaf.


    The black cloud spread rapidly, about to engulf him.


    Seeing the dire situation, the Red Dragon, despite the headache and ringing ears, summoned the strength to cast a spell.


    ¡°Instant Blink Spell!¡±


    As Cassius invoked the spell with his will, he prayed in his heart for its success. The ¡°Destruction¡± brought by this Druid far exceeded his imagination.


    After all, the Blink Spell only had a fifty percent chance of breaching the barrier of the Prime Material World to enter the Ethereal Plane; if not, he would have to endure the raging storm directly.


    ¡°It worked!¡±


    The Red Dragon was overjoyed, suddenly feeling his body break through the boundary between reality and the void.


    [You cast [Blink Spell]]


    [Gained special status ¡°Entering the Ether¡±]


    The Ethereal Plane is the conduit connecting the Prime Material Plane and the Inner Planes, with the void of the Ethereal Plane touching every part of the Prime Material Plane like two parallel, contiguous surfaces where people can see the landscape of the adjacent plane.


    He was now at the edge of the plane.


    In an instant, everything before Cassius turned black and white, with chaotic lines appearing in his vision.


    His body was in a disabled state, unable to move easily, only quietly floating in this void.


    In the next moment, he saw the location where he had been, engulfed by the turbulent black clouds.


    The clouds first brought a torrential acid rain, corroding the stone bridge with countless holes.


    Then, hail poured down from the clouds, with the hailstones striking the stone surface with crisp sounds.


    Powerful lightning bolts descended from the sky, blasting meter-deep holes into the stone surface, creating terrifying lightning storms that instantly swept through where the Red Dragon had stood.


    For a moment, lightning filled the air, with thunder and lightning swirling all around.


    Intersecting thunderbolts formed a fearsome lightning prison, incinerating everything caught within it to ashes.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    Several bolts of lightning descended, directly shattering the stone bridge, causing massive stones to collapse down. If such lightning had struck the Red Dragon, it would have been difficult for him to survive.


    Endless winds and ice rains assaulted the area beneath the clouds, turning it into a complete ruin. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And in Cassius¡¯ eyes, the formerly grand tomb had turned into a black and white graveyard of all beings.


    After avoiding this terrifying storm by using the Blink Spell to enter the Ethereal Plane, Cassius felt lingering fear.


    If the Red Dragon had remained in place just now, even with Protection from Energy Damage, it wouldn¡¯t have been able to withstand the violent lightning and endless ice rain.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Cassius felt a strong gravitational force trying to pull him back to the Prime Material Plane, to mend the breach in the plane¡¯s barrier.


    Despite his desperate resistance, it was to no avail; Cassius was simply too weak to contend with the plane¡¯s rules, and he had no choice but to submit.


    [Lost special status ¡°Entering the Ether¡±]


    The Red Dragon reappeared in the original place, instantly stunned.


    ¡°Are you kidding me¡ª¡ª¡±


    Immediately, the elements became restless once again.


    Endless winds and ice rain lashed at his body, and the flashing electric arcs on the ground quickly gathered, reaching towards his limbs.


    In the rolling black clouds above, terrifying thunder was once again accumulating, the sound like a deep, long-suppressed roar.


    The most terrifying wave of spells had passed, and these were just its lingering aftermath.

 Chapter 29 - 29: Eye of the Storm King

    Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Eye of the Storm King


    Cassius stretched his wings and glided over the collapsing stone bridge.


    But he wasn¡¯t fleeing. He flew towards the Storm Giant¡¯s corpse.


    The hurricane buffeted him left and right. Flickering arcs of lightning chased him, with bolts striking behind him, creating charred craters in the ruins.


    The red dragon dodged desperately in the chaotic airflow, flapping his wings with all his might against the fierce wind and rain, wobbling towards the eye of the storm.


    The closer he got to the center, the more intense the elemental reactions became. Arcs of electricity filled every inch of the air.


    In a few breaths, the red dragon was already covered in wounds.


    ...


    Despite having several spells for protection, his body bore charred scars under the violent elemental reactions.


    The golden scales were corroded with pockmarks from the acid rain, arcs of electricity circulated around his body, and every wingbeat produced sizzling sounds.


    Finally, he was only ten meters from the corpse.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl struck Cassius, so fast he didn¡¯t even notice it.


    [Spell Nullification Barrier]


    An invisible barrier appeared, barely withstanding the bolt before shattering, saving his life once again, making Cassius feel a chill in his heart.


    He couldn¡¯t waste any more time.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The red dragon let out a slightly immature roar, almost a hoarse scream.


    Then, with all his might, he flapped his wings, pushing his powerful body against the escalating storm, finally managing to get close to the Storm Giant¡¯s corpse.


    ¡°I have to get there!¡±


    Cassius roared.


    At this moment, the wild thunder had turned the area into purgatory, surrounding him layer by layer. A single step could turn him into charcoal instantly.


    He had no way back.


    Cassius ignored the incoming thunder, focusing solely on the Storm Giant¡¯s eye.


    The eye looked like amber, surrounded by bright lightning and containing unimaginable destructive power.


    It wasn¡¯t just the body of a giant. It was clearly a terrifying magical relic!


    This was the manifestation of the Storm Giant¡¯s great power to control calamities while alive, also fulfilling his final prophecy ¡ª the bringer of ultimate destruction.


    It was this eye that had launched the dreadful spell.


    ¡°Come down!¡±


    Cassius¡¯s muscles bulged as he exerted all his strength.


    Just as the thunder was about to engulf him, he forcibly pulled the eye from the Storm Giant¡¯s socket, clutching it tightly in his claw.


    ¡°Sizzle¡ªBoom!¡±


    In an instant, the Eye of the Storm Giant drew the surrounding lightning, forming a terrifying vortex of electrical energy in the Magic Web.


    The red dragon twitched, his flesh vaporized.


    Blinding light emanated from his claw, making his palm almost transparent, and even his bones were visible.


    But he held on tightly, knowing that if he let go, he would be turned to ash by the surrounding lightning.


    One second.


    Two seconds.


    Three seconds.


    A few breaths passed.


    As the red dragon panted heavily, the light in his claw gradually dimmed.


    ¡°Rumble¡­¡±


    In an instant, the surrounding lightning retreated like a tide, and the rolling dark clouds in the sky slowly dispersed under the wind¡¯s influence.


    The fierce storm in the cave lost its power, becoming calm.


    Everything returned to darkness and silence.


    The once majestic tomb had turned into a pile of rubble, indistinguishable from any collapsed cavern, with no trace of the ancient Giant Empire¡¯s glory.


    ¡°It¡¯s over¡ª¡±


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfur-laden air.


    He carefully opened his claw.


    His thick paw was charred and many fleshy parts were burned, the scales melted into ugly lumps. But the red dragon didn¡¯t care, his eyes were full of anticipation and excitement.


    The blue amber-like ¡°eye¡± lay quietly in his palm like a beautiful gem that could be set in any noble lady¡¯s dress.


    Only the faint flickering of blue light reminded Cassius of the terrifying lightning and the dreadful storm that had shaken him.


    [The ancient storm yields to your strength.]


    [You have acquired the legendary equipment ¡ª ¡°Eye of the Storm King¡±]


    [Eye of the Storm King]


    Quality: Legendary


    Creator: Randta Hurricane Argates


    Introduction: The legendary druid, Storm Giant Elder Randta, once stared at the shining stars and deep ocean from the sky castle, seeking all signs and omens left by Annan. The Storm Giants could control the weather and change the fate of countless beings, but he knew that intervening in many matters was futile.


    Randta buried his lifetime collection underground, sealing the power comparable to a scourge in an eye, waiting for himself and the remnants of his empire to be forgotten. Of course, if an uninvited guest came, Randta would gladly bring ultimate death.


    ¡°An enraged Storm Giant will bring more thorough destruction. This is my final prophecy. ¡ª Randta¡±


    Effects:


    [Storm of Vengeance] ¨C Charge and release


    [Weather Control] ¨C Once a week S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Remnant of the Storm]: Contact causes additional lightning damage, with a chance to summon lightning after multiple accumulations, granting a certain degree of lightning immunity.


    [Storm of Vengeance]


    Ninth Tier Curse Spell


    A tumultuous cloud forms and expands from a visible point, filling the area with lightning and roaring winds. All creatures under the cloud have a chance to become continuously deafened.


    Storm of Vengeance produces different effects depending on control: acid rain, lightning, hail, strong winds, and ice rain besiege the area, heavily obscuring it. The strong winds disperse all magical or non-magical smoke and similar effects in the area.


    [Weather Control]


    Eighth Tier Transformation Spell


    You control the weather conditions within a certain range during the spell¡¯s duration. You can freely change precipitation, temperature, and wind conditions, and spend time creating extreme weather like hail, fog, and blizzards. The weather gradually returns to normal when the spell ends.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°A worthy relic of a legendary druid.¡±


    The red dragon couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes, revealing the deep orange, flame-like irises.


    Divine Artifact.


    Cassius had only two words to assess this equipment.


    Just the ¡°Eye of the Storm King¡± alone made this life-threatening adventure worthwhile. It could fetch an astronomical price of over a billion dollars on the black market in his previous life.


    [Storm of Vengeance] was a noble Ninth Tier top-level spell. It was no exaggeration to say it could easily determine the outcome of a battle.


    [Weather Control] was also an extremely precious Eighth Tier high-rank spell with extensive adaptability.


    Even the additional [Remnant of the Storm] was a powerful weapon for close combat.


    Cassius tightly grasped the bluish gem, fearing to lose it, for the first time understanding how the chimera felt when hoarding gold coins.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Huge stones fell from the dome, nearly hitting the red dragon¡¯s head before smashing into the ground and scattering into fragments.


    Cassius looked up to see the cracks in the ceiling deepening and spreading like a web.


    ¡°No, this underground world is about to collapse!¡±


    ¡°Run!¡±


    The red dragon flapped his wings, struggling to dodge the falling boulders. Fortunately, his increased agility made him more nimble than ordinary red dragons.


    On one side was the joy of obtaining the treasure, on the other, the helplessness of being in danger again. Cassius was pained yet delighted.

 Chapter 30 - 30: Northwind Eagle Guards (I)

    Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Northwind Eagle Guards (I)


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    Several massive rocks fell continuously, crashing to the ground with a thunderous noise.


    Cassius dodged and weaved in the air with unimaginable speed; anyone witnessing it would hardly believe this was a Red Dragon, known for its brute strength and sluggishness.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    The sound of breaking suddenly echoed atop the rock.


    ...


    As Cassius flew at high speed, he looked up and saw that the rocks at the top of the exit were collapsing.


    The Red Dragon¡¯s expression turned grave, his wings and limbs tightly folding against his body.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    His body shot downward like an arrow losing its string.


    At the very last moment before the rocks collapsed, Cassius dashed out of the cave, his tail barely brushing past the falling stones.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The next sound was a thunderous crash, followed by billowing dust.


    Silence ensued.


    The tomb was completely buried under the rocks, beyond the reach of any intruder. Although the process wreaked havoc on the tomb itself, in a way, it fulfilled the Storm Giant elder¡¯s long-forgotten desire.


    ¡°Rest in peace.¡±


    Cassius murmured softly, looking once more at the entrance covered in debris.


    He patted the ancient inscriptions on the stone pillar at the entrance and turned away.


    The Red Dragon spread his claws, with the eerie blue Eye of the Storm King still lying in them.


    ¡°The power of this thing is immense. I can¡¯t just swallow it directly; I need to find a container.¡±


    The recent terrifying storm still lingered in his heart.


    ¡­.


    Stormy Ridge, Ashen Nest.


    On the walls of Rock Fortress, there were numerous corpses of goblins and kobolds, and even a few ogres, all felled by arrows from the sky.


    In the sky, there were not just wyverns roaring and screeching, but also over forty giant eagles. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These giant eagles had bright plumage and wore scaled armor on vital parts, with wingspans over six meters long.


    Upon closer inspection, each giant eagle bore a knight clad in thick plate armor, with only their eyes visible.


    Their chests displayed emblems of eagles and swords.


    These were the Eagle Guards of the Rackman Family!


    The Rackman Family earned the title of ¡°Northwind Eagle¡± because their ancestor, Telgai Rackman, had stolen giant eagle eggs from the top of the Storm Cliffs and raised numerous giant eagles in their territory, training them to be elite Giant Eagle Knights as a personal guard.


    These Giant Eagle Knights could fend off invasions from monsters like Frost Giants and wyverns and could be formidable weapons in wars between lords.


    The knights called ¡°Eagle Guards¡± had a history spanning hundreds of years.


    The battle in the sky continued.


    Over forty Eagle Guards, wielding bows and arrows or spears, rode their giant eagles, continuously circling the eight wyverns.


    They connected head to tail, forming a massive encirclement.


    The Eagle Guards were well-versed in combating wyverns, knowing not to confront these massive beasts head-on, aware of their large size and limited agility in the air, while exploiting their own mobility.


    Hence, they adopted the ¡°circle formation.¡±


    The Eagle Guards covered each other¡¯s tails, confusing the wyverns.


    Any wyvern that lunged at them would face a barrage of arrows, and if it missed, it would be struck by spears from behind.


    The goblin troops on the ground could do nothing against these fast-moving aerial targets but shoot feeble arrows.


    But these arrows, slowed by air resistance, merely bounced off the Eagle Guards¡¯ plate armor like tickles.


    Ogres roared and growled, haphazardly throwing massive stones into the sky.


    One ogre aimed purely by instinct and hurled a stone.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The stone drew a beautiful arc in the sky, astonishingly hitting an unlucky Eagle Guard and knocking him down.


    ¡°Oh, oh, oh! It hit!¡±


    ¡°Well done, Bighead!¡±


    ¡°Bring down those little flies, those tin cans!¡±


    The ogres cheered excitedly, swarming over and tearing the giant eagle and the knight to pieces.


    From the top of the wall, Ramp wasn¡¯t to be outdone, waving his giant club skyward.


    ¡°Fireball Technique!¡±


    A scorching fireball shot toward the giant eagles in the sky.


    But under the superb control of the knight, the giant eagle dodged in a circle, the fireball grazing its chest, leaving only a trail of scorched marks.


    Although it missed, the fireball had a strong deterrent effect, and the Eagle Guards immediately became alert.


    ¡°It¡¯s a spellcaster!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get close to that section of the wall! Damn, how can there be an Ogre Mage?¡±


    ¡°Watch out, there¡¯s a spellcaster!¡±


    Ramp¡¯s face darkened; the giant eagle knights were too agile, often flying out of reach before his fireball technique even completed.


    Even hitting one or two with rocks was just a matter of luck.


    Ramp adjusted the small glasses on his face and muttered, ¡°The goblins are useless, these brainless wyverns aren¡¯t dependable either, it¡¯s all up to that beast, or¡­ wait for the master to return to handle it.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just a few dozen humans.¡±


    ¡°The master would be disappointed in me.¡±


    With that thought, the Ogre Mage roared in Draconic at the cave in the rock wall, ¡°Chimera, if you don¡¯t act now, are you waiting for the master to come back and tear you apart?¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    A furious roar echoed from the cave.


    A massive monster with the heads of a goat, a lion, and a dragon burst forth from the dark cave, beating its dragon-like wings, taking to the air.


    ¡°It¡¯s a Chimera!¡±


    An Eagle Guard exclaimed in the air.


    ¡°Scatter the formation!¡±


    A calm voice came from the sky.


    The voice belonged to Alger Yorman, the Guard Commander of these Eagle Guards and a seasoned warrior.


    Behind the heavy regulation plate armor were a pair of extremely calm eyes.


    Unlike others, his weapon was not a lance or a bow, but a heavy great sword engraved with an open-winged eagle motif.


    The Chimera flew to the highest point, beating its wings.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    It let out a long roar.


    Then it dived, spewing scorching Flame Breath from its mouths.


    The Eagle Guards broke their formation, scattering to avoid the flames.


    But faced with the high-speed dive of the Chimera, three Eagle Guards couldn¡¯t evade in time and were engulfed in flames, burning fiercely in the air before plummeting to the ground in agony.


    Seeing his comrades fall, Alger shouted decisively:


    ¡°Leave the Chimera to me! You continue to surround those wyverns!¡±


    He leaned slightly, gently stroking the feathers of his giant eagle, whispering, ¡°Eagle, it¡¯s time to go!¡±


    The bond between the giant eagle and its rider was such that words were unnecessary; they understood each other perfectly.


    ¡°Screech¡ª¡±


    A piercing eagle cry echoed through the sky.

 Chapter 31 - 31 Northwind Eagle Guards (Part 2)

    Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Northwind Eagle Guards (Part 2)


    The Chimera finished its dive, achieving remarkable results.


    With just one strike, it took down three Eagle Guards, eliciting a wave of enthusiastic cheers from the many monsters of the Ashen Nest. Even the usually unruly Bipedal Wyverns, who only submitted to the Red Dragon, roared in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The three-headed monster roared triumphantly.


    It flapped its wings vigorously, ascending once more to prepare for another attack.


    ¡°Monster, your opponent is me!¡±


    ... sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A shadow darted behind the Chimera.


    Alger¡¯s superb riding skill and the Giant Eagle¡¯s flight techniques combined to allow them to fly within the Chimera¡¯s airflow, keeping them perfectly in its blind spot.


    He leaned forward, swinging his sharp great sword to slice through the Chimera¡¯s tough hide.


    Blood splattered in the air.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    The Chimera roared in fury as it felt a wound on its back.


    Next, the Chimera quickly turned in the air, swinging its thick dragon¡¯s tail forcefully at where Alger had been.


    ¡°Eagle!¡±


    Alger shouted to his companion, clenching his legs tightly.


    The Giant Eagle immediately understood, rolling sideways in the air to deftly evade the strike.


    The dragon tail missed its target, leaving the Chimera enraged. It accelerated, turning its dragon head to spew scorching flame breath at the pursuing Eagle Guard.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    Flames roared in the air.


    But the Chimera¡¯s neck was clearly not fully articulating.


    Alger, controlling the Giant Eagle with one hand, slightly tilted to the side and dodged the flame breath, taking advantage of his maneuverability to fly back into the Chimera¡¯s upper blind spot.


    ¡°Control the sky, and you control everything,¡± the old instructor often told them.


    The Chimera, seeing this stubborn Eagle Guard clinging to its tail, dived once more.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Using its familiarity with the terrain, it swiftly spread its dragon wings and came to a sudden halt, hoping the Eagle Guard would crash into the rocky wall.


    However, Alger was not easily fooled.


    He calmly followed behind the Chimera, leisurely turning his direction.


    This time, with his eagle-like sharp eyes, he noticed something odd.


    The Chimera¡¯s left wing, when spread, lagged for a moment.


    But since Alger had such keen perception, he noticed it.


    ¡°Its left wing has an old injury!¡±


    Alger exclaimed excitedly.


    He gently stroked the feathers beneath him, and the Giant Eagle let out a sharp shriek, diving down swiftly.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    This time, the sword blade sliced through the Chimera¡¯s hindquarters.


    Facing large monsters, Alger was very patient.


    He never hoped for a one-hit kill; instead, he aimed to use his maneuverability advantage to make the opponent bleed slowly.


    When facing such monsters, patient hunters often secured trophies, while impatient hotheads often lost their lives under the monster¡¯s accidental trampling.


    Barbarians, of course, were an exception.


    Now that he knew the Chimera¡¯s wings had old injuries and couldn¡¯t change direction easily, the Eagle Guard Commander attacked even more recklessly.


    This time, the Giant Eagle hovered under the Chimera¡¯s belly.


    ¡°Actions like tides!¡±


    Alger¡¯s muscles bulged, his movements suddenly sped up.


    In just a few seconds, he swung his sword several times in rapid succession, each stroke slicing through the tough lion skin, sinking deep into the flesh, even reaching the Chimera¡¯s soft internal organs.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Chimera let out a howl of pain, enduring the agony, swiping its claws downward.


    But the Giant Eagle Knight had already moved to its side, spotting the next opening.


    ¡°Downward slash!¡±


    Alger finished one sword strike and followed up with a side slash, precisely cutting through the Chimera¡¯s downward-swinging claw.


    The Chimera howled again, raising its three heads together.


    Eagle feathers flew, blood sprayed everywhere.


    Under Alger¡¯s superb techniques, the Giant Eagle repeatedly passed over the Chimera¡¯s back, sides, and belly. His great sword repeatedly splattered the monster¡¯s blood, while the Chimera struggled to touch even one feather of his.


    Such was the difference between a beast and a warrior.


    The Bipedal Wyverns flapped their wings, trying to assist.


    But they could barely protect themselves.


    Soon, each Bipedal Wyvern was surrounded and harassed by small teams of seven or eight Eagle Guards, roaring in futile rage, stabbing their tails wildly.


    ¡°Eagle, left-upward,¡±


    Alger¡¯s tone carried a hint of excitement, as slaying such a large monster always got his blood pumping.


    ¡°I want this guy¡¯s wings chopped off!¡±


    ¡°Screech!¡±


    With a sharp eagle cry, Alger and his Giant Eagle dove down, flying toward the already somewhat disoriented Chimera.


    Just as his great sword was about to cleave the dragon wing¡ª


    ¡°Fireball Technique!¡±


    A scorching fireball sped towards the Giant Eagle from the ground.


    The Ogre Mage Ramp had been observing for a long time, waiting for a moment when they let down their guard.


    ¡°Eagle!¡±


    Alger shouted, twisting his body to change direction.


    In the midst of the dive, the Giant Eagle forcibly turned sideways, narrowly dodging the fireball¡¯s blast.


    However, the right wing¡¯s feathers were singed by the fire, leaving a scorched mark.


    But this mid-air adjustment made their posture awkward.


    The Chimera, regaining its senses, realized this was a rare opportunity, despite the accumulating wounds driving it to the brink of madness. It only wanted to unleash its pent-up fury.


    With a roar, it swiped its lion¡¯s claws with tremendous force.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Feathers and blood sprayed everywhere.


    The Giant Eagle, along with the knight atop it, was sent flying several meters away.


    Even after suffering such an attack and spinning in mid-air, Alger held tightly to the Giant Eagle, not falling off.


    ¡°Eagle, tilt right!¡±


    Despite not falling, he adjusted his center of gravity, helping the wounded Giant Eagle maintain balance, spreading its wings for basic flight.


    Seeing Alger still in the air, the Chimera grew even angrier and charged again.


    ¡°Eagle Guards, assemble!¡±


    ¡°This Chimera is nearly done!¡±


    Alger raised his long sword high.


    The Eagle Guards, engaged in combat with the Wyverns, immediately dispersed, gradually surrounding and harassing the Chimera in formation.


    Arrows flew from all directions, with occasional lance charges from the rear.


    The Chimera was battered and exhausted.


    Though not highly intelligent, the Chimera knew things wouldn¡¯t end well if this continued; it could no longer endure these annoying ¡°flies¡± swarming it.


    Therefore, the Chimera¡¯s three heads roared hoarsely, feigning a few attacks. Seizing the opportunity as the Eagle Guards dodged and spread out, it turned and fled.


    It aimed to retreat to a cave to defend one side.


    Alger instantly saw through the Chimera¡¯s intent.


    ¡°It¡¯s trying to escape!¡±


    ¡°Eagle Guards, prepare for a mass charge!¡±

 Chapter 32 - 32: Northwind Eagle Guards (III)

    Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Northwind Eagle Guards (III)


    ¡°Screeeech¡ª¡±


    The giant eagles let out a series of sharp cries, forming a formation and diving straight after the chimera.


    But just as they were about to catch up from behind, a red figure appeared in the cave.


    The chimera, escaping headlong, saw the figure and immediately cried out in the little Draconic it knew:


    ¡°Master, help!¡±


    Cassius looked at the line of giant eagles behind the chimera, his eyes full of confusion.


    ...


    Seeing knights wearing heavy plate armor adorned with eagle emblems, his puzzlement deepened.


    ¡°Are these the Eagle Guards?¡±


    He had only been in the underground for a few days.


    How had the Eagle Guards come all the way to his home?


    Could it be that Ramp had been blinded by the ¡°Grand Plan¡± and sent troops to attack Northwind Castle?


    But seeing the giant eagles diving in formations, he couldn¡¯t bother to think much and could only prepare for battle.


    ¡°Such a dense formation¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you waiting for me to barbecue you?¡±


    Not having killed in a while, Cassius couldn¡¯t help but lick his lips and exhale a breath of sulfurous heat.


    The violence deep within his Red Dragon bloodline was awakened.


    Alger was originally commanding from high in the sky, sword waving as he directed the Eagle Guards¡¯ charge.


    But upon seeing the red figure from afar, his face changed dramatically, his tone betraying panic and tension for the first time.


    ¡°Dragon!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a Red Dragon!¡±


    Alger shouted desperately.


    A dragon, any kind of giant dragon, was the last opponent he wanted to face in battle.


    Whether it was the scales harder than armor, the endless wide-area breath, or the numerous spell-like abilities, they were absolute nightmares for the Giant Eagle Knights.


    ¡°Scatter! Scatter!¡±


    But not everyone had his keen senses and excellent riding skills to detect danger and stop the charge at high speed.


    The Eagle Guards were already charging at the cave entrance.


    It was already too late.


    Cassius only slightly opened his jaw, the unique dragon basal vessels channeling flame energy from his entire body into his lungs, those hot elements accumulating in his lungs and throat, making his chest glow faintly like lava¡ªthis was the precursor to the Red Dragon¡¯s breath.


    ¡°Flame Breath!¡±


    In an instant, a torrent of scorching flame spewed from the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth, the ravaging tongues of fire mercilessly consuming all the charging Eagle Guards in the front line, turning the cave entrance into a purgatory.


    The flames swept through everything, the few in the forefront didn¡¯t even have a chance to resist, their pupils reflecting the red glow of the flames before they were reduced to ashes.


    But compared to many of their companions, they were even considered lucky, at least they died swiftly.


    And behind them, over a dozen Eagle Guards were also engulfed in intense flames, turning into one fireball after another.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m on fire!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so hot!¡±


    ¡°Help! Help!¡±


    They could only wail, scream, and struggle, eventually either being burned alive or falling off their giant eagles to their deaths, unable to escape the deadly clutches of the Red Dragon.


    The Red Dragon, unhurried, flapped its wings and ascended, overlooking the Eagle Guards being scorched by the flames.


    The chimera cowered behind the Red Dragon, its neck retracted, watching the massacre unfold and letting out cries of vengeance, having no more will to resist the Red Dragon.


    Because the scene before it made it deeply understand that such power was beyond anything it could contend with. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The bipedal wyverns in midair raised their heads and roared in unison, celebrating the return of their nest¡¯s master.


    The ogres waved their clubs and hammers, cheering loudly. Goblins raised their short spears, exhilarated.


    Kobolds knelt down as if witnessing a deity, attesting to the overwhelming strength of their master.


    In just a moment, the tide had completely turned.


    Seeing dozens of comrades fall in an instant, Alger¡¯s eyes turned slightly red, but he still controlled his giant eagle to fly up, raising his great sword high.


    The wind whistled through the hollow patterns on the sword, making an ear-piercing sound like an eagle¡¯s cry.


    He commanded loudly, ¡°Retreat! Everyone, retreat!¡±


    ¡°Scatter and retreat!¡±


    The remaining twenty-odd Eagle Guards, having witnessed the horrific situation earlier, knew they couldn¡¯t match the enemy before them and unhesitatingly flew away on their giant eagles, heading in different directions.


    The Eagle Guards required a large amount of resources to train; thus, they were taught from a young age to maximize the preservation of their force.


    Cassius hovered in midair, flapping his wings slowly.


    He watched the scattering Eagle Guards, a barely noticeable cruel smile forming on his face.


    ¡°You¡¯ve come to my nest¡ª


    and still think you can escape?¡±


    ¡°A bit too much disdain for a dragon, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The Red Dragon ascended to the highest point unhurriedly, the basal vessels channeling flame elements into his lungs again, high-temperature energy accumulating deep in his throat¡ªonly this time, the energy wasn¡¯t as concentrated as before.


    As he retreated, Alger didn¡¯t forget to look back, watching the Red Dragon hovering high above, his expression changing dramatically again.


    ¡°Dragon breath!¡±


    ¡°Another dragon breath! Dodge it!¡±


    He screamed hoarsely in warning.


    Cassius only slightly opened his jaw, and scalding flames poured out.


    ¡°Targeted breath weapon!¡±


    This time, the Red Dragon¡¯s breath wasn¡¯t the wide-ranging flame breath but several short, flameball breaths.


    Each fireball aimed precisely at the fleeing Eagle Guards, carrying scorching energy to the targets.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    The sounds of several flaming explosions rang out, and several hit knights fell, trailing fire.


    Alger, also targeted, performed a risky series of spins and sudden turns in midair, barely dodging the fireball¡¯s impact.


    ¡°What is this¡­¡±


    This wasn¡¯t just breath; it was as precise as a mage¡¯s flame spell.


    Watching one companion after another fall from the sky, Alger took a deep breath and spoke firmly:


    ¡°You all retreat first!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll distract the dragon.¡±


    Alger patted his giant eagle¡¯s slightly singed feathers and said softly, ¡°Eagle, this may be our last charge.¡±


    The giant eagle understood his words, letting out a low, mournful cry.


    They were not just knight and mount; they were companions who grew up together, sharing every moment.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a pity we never had the chance to repay His Grace¡¯s kindness nor to kill off those¡­ damned devils.¡±


    Alger muttered to himself.


    Years of battle training had taught him every detail of flight, understanding every current of air, merging almost as one with his giant eagle.


    He skillfully maneuvered his giant eagle, continuously rising until he was higher than the Red Dragon, becoming a small black dot in everyone¡¯s eyes.


    Alger dove from the highest point.


    ¨CHe plunged straight towards the powerful, dreaded Red Dragon, like Don Quixote charging at the windmills in the story.


    ¡°Screeeech¡ª¡±


    A fierce eagle cry echoed through the sky.


    Cassius slightly raised his head, noticing the rapidly diving Eagle Guard above, his golden eyes widening a bit:


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re a high-level warrior?¡±

 Chapter 33 - 33: Northwind Eagle Guards (Part 4)

    Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Northwind Eagle Guards (Part 4)


    Alger dove rapidly, taking advantage of the Red Dragon¡¯s massive and clumsy body, preparing to skim past its side, launching an attack, and then darting into its blind spot.


    ¡°Act before the enemy,¡±


    Cassius¡¯s vertical pupils shimmered with purple magic aura, directly seeing through Alger¡¯s flight path, the powerful claws following his trajectory to strike.


    ¡°Eagle!¡±


    Alger squeezed his legs tight, pulling the reins around the giant eagle¡¯s body, forcing it to turn right. In the high-speed dive, he managed to barely dodge the sweeping claw.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    ...


    The sound of air being sliced open echoed behind him.


    Alger maneuvered the giant eagle to the side, his brows knitted tightly, heart pounding rapidly.


    He glanced towards the distance, where a dozen Northwind Eagle Guards had narrowly escaped the dragon¡¯s line of sight, but they were still being pursued by the wyverns, screeching in chase.


    ¡°At least, I¡¯ve got to hold out until they fully escape.¡±


    Alger murmured to himself.


    He felt like he had just flown by the gates of death.


    The monster before him was extraordinarily agile, almost unlike a true Red Dragon. It also seemed to anticipate his attacks, making ordinary feinting and harassment tactics ineffective.


    Cassius, on the other hand, grew intrigued by this extremely mobile Giant Eagle Knight.


    ¡°As annoying as a fly,¡±


    ¡°But quite a decent unit.¡±


    He watched the rapidly circling giant eagle, exhaling a breath of sulfurous heat.


    Alger continued to circle, trying to find a flaw in the Red Dragon¡¯s defenses. Finally, he spotted a blind spot in its vision.


    ¡°It¡¯s right here!¡±


    He again dive-bombed down resolutely.


    Alger clutched his Silver Sword with both hands, using the momentum of the dive to slash at the Red Dragon¡¯s body with all his might.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    Not only did he fail to harm the Red Dragon, but the impact made his arms go numb.


    The scales struck by the sword turned into a lustrous gold. It was like hitting a piece of metal.


    ¡°Remnant of the Storm!¡±


    Cassius let out a light whistle, as lightning abruptly burst out from his claws, quickly covering his body.


    Alger immediately withdrew his sword and attempted to evade, but the electric current had already traveled along the Silver Sword, coursing through his body and the giant eagle.


    A sharp eagle screech rang out.


    The feathers of the giant eagle stood on end, arcing with fine electric currents, causing it great pain and rendering it paralyzed and weak. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Clearly a Red Dragon, how could it¡­¡±


    As a warrior, Alger had a strong constitution. Although in pain, he was not severely injured by the fleeting electric current.


    He barely managed to keep the giant eagle balanced, preventing it from falling. Yet with each flap of its wings, bolts of current jolted through its body, so he reduced its movements, gliding slowly through the air.


    ¡°A spellcaster!¡±


    This Red Dragon was a spellcaster!


    And this lightning spell was not an innate ability, it was learned!


    Alger¡¯s heart sank. Facing a Dragon Mage or Sorcerer was the worst scenario.


    As he turned his head, he saw the Red Dragon baring its teeth, its golden pupils flashing with a terrifying light.


    His instincts screamed danger. He reflexively wanted to close his eyes, but he couldn¡¯t evade the spell¡¯s swiftness.


    ¡°Phantom Force!¡±


    A heavy, scorching hot chain wrapped around Alger.


    He wanted to believe it was an illusion, but the searing pain on his body was too real, a sign that it was almost impossible to resist without proper training.


    The more the target believed in the illusion created by Phantom Force, the more real and logical it became.


    Now, in Alger¡¯s eyes, his body was covered in blackened burn marks, with the chains even exuding flames.


    He and the giant eagle plummeted together, dragged down by the chains.


    ¡°No! No!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fake!¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t avenged them yet, how can this¡­¡±


    ¡°Just end like this!¡±


    Alger roared, his voice hoarse.


    He endured the excruciating burning sensation, tightly closing his eyes. Relying solely on his sense of the airflow, he maneuvered the giant eagle to gliding flight, forcing himself to break free from the spell through sheer willpower.


    When he opened his eyes again, everything was gone.


    The chains, the flames, the scars, all vanished.


    Even Cassius was slightly surprised in the high sky.


    ¡°Impressive, still able to break free from the spell. Truly the Captain of the Northwind Castle Eagle Guards.¡±


    Witnessing such an impressive performance, Cassius finally remembered the identity of this Giant Eagle Knight.


    The renowned gate-keeper boss from the past life, known as the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle¡± and ¡°Rackman¡¯s Sharp Sword,¡± the Captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards¡ªAlger Yorman.


    He had led the Eagle Guards multiple times in the massacres and hunts against Tieflings. He was the infamous butcher under the Duke Brad and the future Death Knight.


    Orphaned at a young age, Alger was indoctrinated by Duke Brad to believe that his parents were sacrificed to devils by Tieflings. Thus, he was manipulated into becoming a Death Warrior for the Rackman Family, swearing lifelong loyalty and participating in the horrific ¡°Tiefling Camp Massacre.¡±


    But when Alger approached the truth behind his parents¡¯ death, the once trusted Duke Brad turned him into an unconscious Death Knight, forever wandering outside the Ducal Mansion on his Bone Eagle.


    Thinking of this, Cassius decided not to kill him yet¡ªsuch a waste. It wasn¡¯t out of mercy or some leftover human empathy from a past life; it was solely for setting the stage for his takeover of Northwind Castle.


    After all, goblins and kobolds were nothing but expendable tools in his eyes, their deaths insignificant.


    A loyalist grown in Northwind Castle and a Chief Guard for many years, an elite Giant Eagle Knight, was invaluable. Cassius was sure he could extract significant benefits from him and possibly even train an air force for the Ashen Nest.


    The Red Dragon swooped over the sky, closing in on the slowly gliding Giant Eagle Knight.


    Before he could react, Cassius cast twin spells, aiming at two targets simultaneously.


    ¡°Sleep spell!¡±


    A flash of magic aura occurred, and the exhausted knight, along with his giant eagle, fell into a deep sleep, descending from the sky and caught roughly by the Red Dragon¡¯s strong claws.


    Under normal circumstances, Alger¡¯s strength would resist a sleep spell, but drained by the fight, he was left defenseless.


    ¡°You could withstand illusions, but can you escape hard control?¡±


    Cassius dropped him to the ground, unable to resist exclaiming.


    [Based on your own strength and the enemy¡¯s ¡°sleep¡± state, you can observe the following information]


    [Chief Guard of the Northwind Eagle Guards]


    Name: Alger Yorman


    Category: Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Neutral


    AC: 18 (Fine Plate Armor)


    Speed: Flight 90 ft, Ground movement 30 ft


    Strength¡ª¡ª17


    Agility¡ª¡ª16


    Constitution¡ª¡ª14


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª11


    Perception¡ª¡ª13


    Charisma¡ª¡ª12


    Occupational Level: Warrior (Giant Eagle Knight) Level 8


    Mount: Giant Eagle of the Anzeta subspecies (Level 4)


    Military Weapons: Long Sword, Short Sword, Great Sword, Long Bow, Heavy Crossbow, Spear


    Simple Weapons: Dagger, Short Bow, Light Crossbow


    Skill Proficiency: Riding +14, Military +9, Hunting +7, Athletics +6, Perception +4, Leadership +4, Survival +4, Investigation +2, Tracking +4, Stealth +4


    Senses: Passive Perception 14


    Language: Common Language


    Actions: Group Attack, Commander¡¯s Surprise Attack, Dive Attack, Aerial Quick Stop, Swift Turn, Slashing Attack, Piercing Attack, Actions Like Tides, Recovery


    Feats: Vigilance, Downward Slash, Great Weapon Master, Heavy Armor Usage, Riding Expert, Flying Master


    Combat Equipment: Eagle Shriek Silver Sword, Northrun Castle Standard Plate Armor, Eagle Guard Cloak


    Challenge Level: 9 (5,000 XP)


    ¡°What a luxurious panel,¡±


    Cassius clicked his tongue in admiration.

 Chapter 34 - 34: Northwind Eagle Guards (V)

    Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Northwind Eagle Guards (V)


    ¡°Flame Breath Target!¡±


    Another several short bursts of breath were released, and several Eagle Guards fell to the ground as blazing fireballs.


    The remaining few Eagle Guards, as Alger wished, fled this place that had cost them heavy casualties under the pursuit of the Wyvern, spreading the Red Dragon¡¯s fearful reputation throughout the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Letting them escape was partially due to the time-wasting factor of capturing Alger alive and partially intentional.


    It was important to know that the Rackman Family¡¯s Northwind Eagle Guards totaled only around three hundred, and in just this one battle, they had lost one-tenth of their number. Such a unit was considered elite throughout the Northern United Kingdom.


    A few days later, the news of a ¡°terrifying Red Dragon¡± at Stormy Ridge spread to many places, and a wanted poster was also hung up at Northwind Castle, depicting a ferocious Red Dragon breathing flames from its mouth.


    ...


    Location: Stormy Ridge, Ashen Nest


    Target: Suspected young Red Dragon, codename ¡°Flying Flame¡±


    Bounty: 5000 Gold Coins


    Adventurers, while chatting and boasting in taverns during their downtime, fantasized about becoming the legendary Dragon Slayer. They often said while sprawled on the table in a drunken stupor, ¡°If that Red Dragon met me, its head would have been chopped off and taken to claim the bounty long ago!¡±


    Of course, this was all talk for later.


    ¡­


    Alger felt heavy-headed, his memories confused.


    He first dreamt of his carefree and happy childhood, with his mother gently stroking his head and softly reading stories from a book. He ran through the alleyways, playing and laughing with newly made friends, the atmosphere filled with joyful sounds.


    However, the scene shifted, and in the dream, he was crying bitterly on the street, searching everywhere for his parents, only to find two bodies in a dark corner, gutted and marked with eerie symbols.


    A middle-aged man, whose face was indistinct and dressed in luxurious clothing, stood in the dark alley, patting his shoulder. His tone was grave as he said, ¡°It was the Devil, the Devil¡¯s spawn that harmed them.¡±


    Following this were blazing flames, fleeing crowds crying out, rivers of spilled blood, women holding wailing children begging for mercy, and the Silver Sword in his hand emitting an eagle¡¯s shriek¡­


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Huff, huff!¡±


    Alger woke up from the nightmare, sitting up abruptly. He instinctively reached to his side, and only when he felt the familiar touch of feathers did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    It was his giant eagle.


    He checked his body all over; there were no new wounds, but his standard-issue plate armor and the Eagle Shriek Silver Sword at his waist were gone.


    Heavy iron shackles still bound his hands and feet.


    ¡°Where am I?¡±


    Alger immediately looked around.


    The surroundings were damp and dark, with only the faint glow from torches on the rock walls providing any light.


    All around were hard rocks, and bars made from thick tree trunks enclosed him. At the entrance, a fat Bugbear was sleeping against the door, its wooden club on the ground, while Goblins holding short spears patrolled the corridor.


    ¡°This is the dungeon of a monster¡¯s lair.¡±


    Alger immediately concluded.


    He suspected that the Red Dragon had cast a spell to put him to sleep and then thrown him into the dungeon. Now, his sole objective was to find a way to escape, gather as much information as possible, and report his findings to His Grace the Duke.


    But without any weapons, and with the cell firmly locked with heavy iron locks, escape seemed difficult.


    ¡°Hey, Bugbear, wake up.¡±


    Alger waved his hand, trying to attract the dozing Bugbear¡¯s attention, hoping to glean some information and find a chance to escape.


    The Bugbear at the door suddenly woke up. Seeing Alger awake, it immediately began shouting.


    ¡°Quick, notify Lord Dolores, this human is awake!¡±


    Alger lowered his voice and said to the Bugbear Guard,


    ¡°Do you want gold?¡±


    ¡°Give me the key, and I have¡­¡±


    ¡°Bah!¡±


    The Bugbear spat at him.


    It picked up the wooden club from the ground and left unceremoniously, muttering, ¡°You humans always think you¡¯re so clever, thinking we¡¯re fools.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already been stripped clean, nothing left, just a pauper.¡±


    ¡°Someone, come!¡±


    ¡°This human is awake!¡±


    With the Bugbear¡¯s robust shout, the Goblins ran to spread the news quickly beyond the dungeon.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°Let me out!¡±


    Alger grabbed the bars and shook them with all his might, the heavy iron chains on his shackles clanking loudly, but the cell door was so strong that even an Ogre couldn¡¯t break it easily, let alone a weakened human, making the effort nothing but a waste of energy.


    After trying for a long time, the sturdy wood bars still didn¡¯t budge, and Alger finally gave up on breaking the cell door by force.


    He regained his composure, slumped down, and began to think carefully about a strategy.


    ¡°The Red Dragon kept me alive for a reason.¡±


    ¡°It will interrogate me.¡±


    ¡°This cunning evil dragon likely intends to harm His Grace, perhaps to steal treasures, seize a city, or even overthrow the government¡­¡±


    ¡°But no matter what it asks or demands, I must not reveal anything.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity all my belongings were taken; otherwise, I could have kept some Wyvern Toxin on hand, ready to end my life if necessary.¡±


    Alger gritted his teeth, mentally prepared to face cruel torture.


    Sure enough, three strong Bugbears approached from the end of the corridor.


    They struggled with the rough key to unlock the iron lock, unfasten the heavy chains wrapped around the cell door, and slowly open the door.


    The doorway was blocked by the Bugbears¡¯ bulky bodies, leaving no gap for escape.


    ¡°Come with me, human; the master wants to see you.¡±


    The Bugbear bent down and entered the cell, approaching Alger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    Alger snarled fiercely.


    But the Bugbear ignored him, stepping forward to grab his shackles, wrapping the chains around its hand, then dragging Alger out of the cell.


    Other Bugbears surrounded him, lifting his entire body to ensure he had no chance of escaping.


    ¡°I tell you, this human tried to bribe me.¡±


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t fall for it, haha!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Previously so imperious, now just like this once captured.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, those Wyverns are useless, couldn¡¯t even handle one human, eating all that meat for nothing.¡±


    ¡°Right, might as well share it all with us.¡±


    The Bugbears chatted and laughed among themselves while working.


    And the weakened Giant Eagle Knight had no strength to resist.


    If he were soaring in the sky on his giant eagle, Alger was confident he could single-handedly take down these ugly creatures, even mocking them with ease.


    But now, trapped in the dungeon, weakened and shackled, the once-proud Giant Eagle Knight could only let these brute-force Bugbears handle him as they pleased, without any means of resistance.

 Chapter 35 - 35 Northwind Eagle Guards (VI)

    Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Northwind Eagle Guards (VI)


    Alger was blindfolded, turning left and right in the passage.


    When the black cloth was removed, he saw an incredibly spacious cave before him. In the very center of the cave, a red dragon lay coiled on a massive rock, its eyes half-closed, seemingly resting.


    The bugbear pushed Alger forward, forcing him to kneel, and then respectfully said, ¡°Master, I have brought this human.¡±


    The red dragon lazily opened its eyes and casually said, ¡°Well done, you may leave now.¡±


    Alger could even feel the hot breath of sulfur from the red dragon¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    ...


    The bugbear respectfully withdrew.


    Alger struggled to stand up from the ground, gritting his teeth, and said each word with determination, ¡°Evil dragon, no matter what plot you have, I won¡¯t let you succeed, even if I have to die!¡±


    After speaking, he closed his eyes, straightened his back, and prepared to face the red dragon¡¯s wrath.


    Whether it was the scorching flames or sharp fangs he would face, he showed no fear.


    To his surprise, the red dragon¡¯s tone showed no anger, simply asking, ¡°Why did Brad Rackman send you here?¡±


    Alger kept his eyes tightly shut, not responding as if he hadn¡¯t heard.


    Seeing Alger¡¯s reaction, coupled with the timing, Cassius could roughly guess his current mission, which should be the infamous ¡°Tiefling Camp Massacre¡± from his past life.


    Hundreds of Eagle Guards searched everywhere for traces of Tieflings; once found, they would immediately slaughter them, regardless of age or gender, leaving no one and incinerating the site, destroying everything in the vicinity.


    This mission should have gone very smoothly.


    Unfortunately for them, they encountered the Ashen Nest.


    At this moment, looking at the unwavering Alger, Cassius mockingly asked, ¡°Alger Yorman, do you know how your parents died?¡±


    These words hit Alger like a shockwave. The most secret wound in his heart was torn open, and he couldn¡¯t help but open his eyes, shouting:


    ¡°Impossible!¡±


    ¡°How do you know!¡±


    Seeing Alger open his eyes, the red dragon slowly said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know why. Just truthfully answer based on what you know.¡±


    Cassius repeated once more:


    ¡°Then tell me, how did your parents die?¡±


    ¡°They were¡­¡±


    However, Alger did not notice the faint red glow in the red dragon¡¯s vertical pupils, which also appeared in his own eyes.


    ¡°They were¡­ sacrificed to devils by those damned Tiefling bastards!¡±


    Alger thought of those painful memories, his eyes instantly turning red with rage.


    Cassius casually asked, ¡°Who told you this information?¡±


    ¡°It was¡­ His Grace.¡±


    ¡°Then why do I know otherwise?¡±


    ¡°What do you know?¡±


    ¡°I know that your esteemed His Grace, in pursuit of eternal life, to become an Undying Blood Clan member, exchanged the lives of thousands in the city, among which¡ª¡±


    Cassius paused.


    ¡°Included your parents.¡±


    In front of Alger, the red dragon was like a devil from Hell, using cunning words to lure the human¡¯s thoughts towards him step by step.


    ¡°No¡­ impossible!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡±


    Alger¡¯s voice trembled as he shouted.


    However, under the red dragon¡¯s deliberate guidance, he couldn¡¯t help but consider the terrifying possibility¡ªhis benefactor, his godfather, the Duke to whom he swore lifelong loyalty, was his enemy.


    Cassius pressed on step by step, slowly spreading his wings, enveloping Alger in a gigantic shadow, towering above him:


    ¡°Think carefully. Has your esteemed His Grace ever left the castle even once?¡±


    ¡°Has he ever basked in sunlight, instead of being shrouded in shadows, even while giving those high-sounding speeches?¡±


    ¡°With your keen perception, have you ever heard the victim¡¯s wails from the Rackman Castle¡¯s backyard, smelled the scent of blood mixed with the soil?¡±


    ¡°When you slaughtered innocent beings, did you know they became sacrifices, pathetic materials for the Duke¡¯s eternal life?¡±


    As Cassius finished speaking, images of roaring flames appeared before Alger, with crying children and mothers holding their babies amidst them.


    ¡°No, no, I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±


    Alger kept retreating, shaking his head continuously.


    He felt dizzy, his head splitting with pain. Every detail in his memory became so vivid, as if they all testified to this truth.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying, you¡¯re deceiving me.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t believe your slander, His Grace is clearly¡­¡±


    Alger collapsed to the ground, murmuring and shaking his head, shadows clouding his eyes.


    After a long time, his eyes regained a hint of clarity, his voice trembling, ¡°Evil dragon!¡±


    ¡°What did you do to me?¡±


    Cassius glanced down indifferently at him and said, ¡°Just a little trick to help you accept the truth.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, having done those things, what gives you the right to call me an ¡®evil dragon¡¯?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°This must be your plot!¡±


    ¡°You are deceiving me, aren¡¯t you! You used a spell to mislead me! I won¡¯t believe your lies.¡±


    ¡°Your conspiracy is worthless before the loyal Northwind Eagle Guards!¡±


    Alger forced himself to stand upright, trying not to dwell on those terrible words, but his denial was weak and powerless.


    ¡°I have no need to deceive you.¡±


    ¡°Besides¡­ you will know soon enough.¡±


    Cassius did not argue further with Alger, he just calmly lay down, closing his eyes to rest, and summoned the bugbear at the door.


    ¡°Take him back to the dungeon.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Three waiting bugbears advanced, forcibly dragging away the struggling Alger.


    Before he was taken away, he still looked agitated, constantly shouting. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Evil dragon, you won¡¯t deceive me!¡±


    ¡°You will never smear His Grace!¡±


    ¡°You and those devils are in cahoots!¡±


    Years of loyalty education within the family had instilled in him the principle of absolute obedience, he was merely a blade of the family, and weapons had no sense of good or evil.


    Never question why, just execute.


    This was a frequent saying of his old instructor,


    So, as a competent Eagle Guard, Alger often emptied his mind, avoiding thoughts of right and wrong, habitually deceiving himself¡ªespecially during massacres, when facing unarmed refugees.


    And now, Alger rarely pondered all this.


    Just making him do this indicated a crack had appeared in his mental defenses, needing only a little more, and it would completely collapse.


    Cassius had achieved his objective.

 Chapter 36 - 36: 36 Chapters: Silver-Tongued

    Chapter 36: 36 Chapters: Silver-Tongued


    The panel unfolded before Cassius.


    [You have broken through someone¡¯s mind with words, achieving the [Silver-Tongued] achievement]


    Achievement [Silver-Tongued]


    ¡°My tongue can be a rose with thorns or a sword dipped in poison, depending on your choice¡ªa quote from an unnamed Hell Devil.¡±


    Obtained passive trait: [Smooth Talker]


    Persuasion +6, Deception +4, obtained an additional spell [Suggestion Spell]


    ...


    You are a rare smooth talker, relying heavily on your words. Your eloquence can drive anyone to brave the fiery pits for you. Your sophistry can conceal any crime. Your words can turn black into white and plunge the entire world into chaos.


    [Suggestion Spell]


    2nd-level Enchantment spell


    You influence a creature within casting range that you can see, suggesting a specific action (the suggestion must sound reasonable to the creature).


    ¡°Not a bad passive trait, could be very useful in specific situations.¡±p>


    That was Cassius¡¯s assessment.


    Although it wasn¡¯t much use in combat, it was still a versatile tool that may come in handy one day, especially since it came with a rather rare 2nd-level spell.


    The sudden invasion by the Eagle Guards caused significant losses to the fledgling Ashen Nest.


    According to Ramp¡¯s statistics, a total of two wyverns, seven ogres, eighty-six goblins, and ninety-five kobolds died, with countless others injured. Even the chimera suffered severe injuries and was temporarily unable to fight.


    This alerted Cassius.


    The loss of goblins and kobolds didn¡¯t matter much; with a little effort, new ones would be born by the hundreds next year, and they would even need places to consume the population drastically.


    But the loss of wyverns, which had significant combat power and a long reproductive cycle, made Cassius feel a pinch.


    Not to mention, had he not returned in time, the losses would have been far greater.


    This was not a good sign.


    Indeed, compared to Cassius¡¯s rapidly growing strength, the quality of Ashen Nest¡¯s retainers was starting to fall behind, which could lead to:


    In the future, after the red dragon had just fought a battle and hadn¡¯t had time to rest, his lair would be completely wiped out by enemies.


    Thinking of this, Cassius looked at the special ability ¡°Bloodline Gift¡± on the panel.


    [Bloodline Gift]


    [You are a born leader, capable of influencing creatures within your domain with your powerful presence. You can also perform a ritual using your blood to create bloodline family members.]


    [After the ritual is completed, the bloodline¡¯s deep-seated dominance will make them completely submit to you, and even their descendants will become your eternal retainers.]


    ¡°Spending a little blood to create a batch of loyal retainers seems like a good deal.¡±p>


    Cassius thought.


    With this in mind, Cassius let out a long, resonant roar, summoning all the retainers to gather in the spacious valley.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    This was the first large gathering in Ashen Nest.


    The red dragon personally notifying them indicated that something significant was happening, and the leaders of the various retainers took it very seriously.


    Ramp reminded the ogres to follow regulations, Dolores donned her imposing leather armor, Jin Ya polished his scales, and even the wyverns roared softly, communicating in an unknown manner.


    Soon, Ashen Nest became bustling, leaving only necessary guards at key points, while the rest of the retainers poured out in full force.


    Thousands of various monsters filled the entire valley so densely that it was impenetrable. They jostled, quarreled, and made a racket, even clashing with each other¡ªfor instance, the goblins and kobolds.


    Both numerous and weak, the goblins and kobolds didn¡¯t get along. The goblins felt they had been in Ashen Nest longer and were its founding merit-makers, while the kobolds believed their close kinship to their master made them superior, thinking of the goblins as mere cannon fodder.


    ¡°Goblins, get lost!¡±


    ¡°This is our spot!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re late, so you stand at the back!¡±


    Several slightly taller kobolds blocked the way, chattering incessantly.


    The goblins, infuriated, tried to force their way through, but the kobolds also surged forward together.


    ¡°Get out, don¡¯t block our path!¡±


    The goblins made a path as the goblin chieftain Dolores spoke from behind.


    Several strong bugbear guards nearby stepped forward and kicked the kobolds several meters away.


    Although common goblins held low status, the strength and dexterity of the great goblins and bugbears were undeniable. They were prominent figures in military and construction within Ashen Nest, even feared by Jin Ya, the kobold leader.


    Several kobolds, seeing this, slinked away without daring to say a word.


    The lizardfolk arrived with their tribe. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They numbered over fifty, significantly taller than the goblins and kobolds and comparable in size to humans, resembling a blend of upright lizards and crocodiles. Most wielded primitive wooden spears and shell shields, clearly quite strong.


    However, having just arrived in Ashen Nest with no stable foothold, they dared not easily clash with other tribes.


    This was the ¡°Black Tooth¡± lizardfolk tribe.


    They originally lived in an abandoned cavern, fleeing due to the disaster caused by the Bluefoot Dragon-snake. As Cassius was out, Ramp temporarily took them in, so they had not yet received the red dragon¡¯s recognition.


    Their leader had yet to formally meet the red dragon, only glimpsing his majestic presence in battle, which firmly decided their allegiance.


    Their leader was named Acker Longtooth, after his great dagger-like teeth.


    He differed from typical lizardfolk, boasting a robust, muscular body over two meters tall. A bright crest stood tall on his head, resembling a crown, signifying strength and attracting mates.


    In his hand, he gripped a trident made from crocodile bones¡ªthe symbol of tribal leadership.


    But at the moment, the lizardfolk chief appeared uneasy, uncertain if the powerful red dragon would accept him.


    He instinctively glanced at the lizardfolk shaman Koda Blackscale beside him, an elderly, hunched lizardfolk with somewhat cloudy eyes and a black scale on his chest.


    ¡°Koda, can we settle here?¡±


    The old shaman merely smiled meaningfully and pointed behind them.


    Several strong lizardfolk were carrying heavy chests, surrounded by guards.


    From the cracks in the chests, a bit of gold gleamed¡ªthey were filled with various goldware, some looted from human caravans and others dug out of the caverns, the accumulated wealth of the Black Tooth tribe over the years.


    ¡°You can always trust in a red dragon¡¯s greed,¡±


    the old shaman softly recited an ancient proverb.

 Chapter 37 - 37 Family Members Gathering

    Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Family Members¡¯ Gathering


    The Lizardfolk spoke Draconic, which they believed was taught by the ancient giant dragons.


    Those Lizardfolk tribes that resided within the territories of giant dragons would often offer tributes to gain the dragons¡¯ favor. The malevolent dragons would also use the Lizardfolk to achieve their wicked purposes, turning them into raiders and plunderers.


    Thus, the Old Shaman made what might have been a correct judgment based on ancient traditions.


    ¡°I hope so.¡±


    ¡°I just want to lead the tribe¡­ to survive.¡±


    Looking at the valley that was about to be overrun, Acker quietly led the tribe to a more secluded corner.


    ...


    In the previous cave, the tribe had lost more than twenty people to the monsters in the darkness; they could no longer afford greater losses.


    ¡°Your wishes will come true.¡±


    The Old Shaman watched the retainers coming and going, speaking calmly.


    Unlike inherently evil races, these Lizardfolk were more like cold-blooded reptiles.


    They lacked traditional moral concepts, believing that good and evil were entirely foreign notions. They were truly neutral beings, only resorting to slaughter when it was expedient and doing whatever it took to survive.


    And the struggle for territory continued.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    The twelve wyverns landed with a roar, indomitable, occupying the largest rock in the valley.


    The Goblins and Kobolds scattered and avoided them, afraid that they might be crushed by the heedless wyverns, which would be a disaster for them.


    But then, a louder roar came from above.


    The undisputed hero of the battle, the Chimera, despite being covered in wounds, aggressively arrived at the assembly, driving away several wyverns.


    It claimed a vast area for its massive body, and no one dared to approach.


    ¡°Brainless beast.¡±


    Ramp stood at the front, pushing his disproportionately silver-rimmed glasses deliberately, a superior attitude.


    However, as the real elder in the valley, the steward of the Ashen Nest, and one of the few spellcasters, he indeed had the qualification.


    ¡°Exactly, exactly.¡±


    ¡°Everyone knows you are the master¡¯s true confidant.¡±


    Kobold Jin Ya squeezed in beside Ramp, grinning and flattering, his small, hunched figure even more pronounced against the three-meter-tall Ogre.


    Since offending Goblin Chieftain Dolores last time, he had decided to cling to this Ogre Mage¡¯s thick leg, the only way to secure his position in the nest and barely contend with those Goblins.


    Ramp snorted coldly, though inwardly overjoyed.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m so hungry.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the master going to give us meat?¡±


    ¡°Calling so many Goblins, the master must be agreeing to us eating Goblin meat.¡±


    The Ogres discussed loudly without any scruples, making the nearby Goblins¡¯ scalps tingle, instinctively moving farther away, some even considering reporting to Dolores.


    Ramp¡¯s face instantly darkened, and he knocked the Ogre ¡°Bighead¡± who raised the topic on the head with a stick.


    ¡°Eat, eat, all you know is to eat!¡±


    Bighead rubbed his head, face full of grievance, trying to argue.


    Ramp sternly called over the assembled Ogres.


    He first drew a Goblin figure on the ground with a stick, then wrote a word in common language beside it, pointing at it, speaking in the gentlest tone he could muster:


    ¡°Now, you follow me, say comrade.¡±


    ¡°Food!¡±


    The Ogres roared in unison.


    Ramp¡¯s smile froze, his expression darkened, and the veins on his hand holding the stick bulged.


    Despite having been comrades for a long time, the Goblins watching from the side were more frightened, wishing they could sneak away immediately, afraid of being caught and eaten by some fool.


    Goblin Chieftain Dolores stood not far away, watching Ramp disciplining the Ogres, a flash of resentment in his yellow eyes. Last time, this same Ogre had caused him to lose face in front of the master.


    ¡°Look at these Ogres.¡±


    ¡°I wonder what else they have in their heads besides food.¡±


    ¡°With creatures like them, how can they manage the Ashen Nest properly?¡±


    The Great Goblin crossed his arms, seemingly unintentionally speaking to the Bugbear beside him. Although his voice was low, it was clear and heard by everyone nearby.


    These Ogres, not understanding what he was saying, could tell from the tone that he was mocking them, and they brandished their clubs, surrounding him.


    ¡°Roar, roar!¡±


    ¡°Do you want to turn into snacks, Goblin?¡±


    Several strong Bugbears immediately stood in front of the Great Goblin. Although not as tall as the Ogres, in terms of physical strength, they were no less formidable and better trained.


    Even the ordinary Goblins, albeit reluctantly, stepped out to barely provide support.


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Ugly big guys, get lost!¡±


    The Ogre Mage coldly watched the Great Goblin obstructed by the Bugbears, then spoke:


    ¡°Captain Dolores, the master already warned you last time. Hope you¡¯ve learned your lesson and won¡¯t stir up trouble again.¡±


    Though it sounded like advice, to Dolores, it was derogatory.


    The Great Goblin immediately got angry, his red skin turning even redder.


    ¡°What do you mean, Ramp?¡±


    The Ogre Mage looked down at him, saying: ¡°This assembly was personally notified by the master. If you dare cause trouble here¡ªwell, I don¡¯t need to tell you the consequences.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, we¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    The Great Goblin snorted coldly, leading his subordinates away to another location.


    Dolores¡¯ face was exceedingly grim at this moment.


    He hadn¡¯t actually intended to conflict with the Ogres at such an important event. He just wanted to gain some advantage in words to undermine Ramp¡¯s prestige, but instead, it had backfired, and he found himself at a disadvantage.


    Jin Ya and a few Kobolds gathered around Ramp, their expressions more fawning than ever, continuing to shower him with flattery:


    ¡°Those crude Goblins really don¡¯t appreciate it. Your wisdom is unmatched.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the previously conflicted Goblins lose, the Kobolds took pleasure in it.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    A distant, powerful roar echoed from above.


    Instantly, the various monsters in the valley, whether they were arguing, cursing, roaring, or fighting, all involuntarily stopped what they were doing and looked up at the sky.


    For a moment, the valley became silent, the noise ceased.


    The Red Dragon descended from the sky, spreading its wings, landing at the highest point of the cliff.


    Its shadow cast down, enveloping the many retainers.


    ¡ªThe host of this assembly had finally arrived.

 Chapter 38 - 38 Bloodline Gift (Part 1)

    Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Bloodline Gift (Part 1)


    Cassius stood high above, looking down at his retainers and noticed a new face watching from the corner. Ramp had previously reported to him that it should be the so-called ¡°Black Tooth¡± Lizardfolk tribe.


    The Red Dragon saw that these Lizardfolk were quite robust, at least more suitable for the army than the current goblins and kobolds, so he said:


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    The retainers consciously made way.


    The Lizardfolk Chieftain, Acker Longtooth, anxiously walked forward, with the Old Shaman calmly following behind.


    Acker knelt on the ground, took a deep breath, and then said, ¡°We left our homeland due to the monsters in the cave and fled to this place. Your immense power has impressed us.¡±


    ...


    ¡°The Black Tooth tribe is willing to submit under your mighty wings, becoming the most loyal retainers of the great Red Dragon.¡±


    ¡°This represents the utmost sincerity of our tribe.¡±


    ¡°We present all these to you.¡±


    The Lizardfolk Old Shaman pointed behind him with his wooden staff, and several strong Lizardfolk brought forward heavy treasure chests.


    The chests were opened, revealing gleaming gold.


    The surrounding retainers could not help but widen their eyes at the sight, but quickly averted their gaze.


    ¡ªFor this would be the treasure solely belonging to the Red Dragon, and anyone daring to covet it would face the wrath of the Red Dragon.


    Even the ever-greedy Chimera turned its avaricious dragon head away, deliberately not looking directly, only sneaking peeks out of the corner of its eye.


    Cassius, standing high above, remained expressionless, the gleam of gold reflecting in his vertical pupils.


    But what he first noticed was not the gold, but the Old Shaman behind the Lizardfolk Chieftain.


    [Based on your own strength and the opponent¡¯s status as ¡°submissive,¡± you can observe the following information]


    [Lizardfolk Shaman]


    Medium humanoid (Lizardfolk), absolutely neutral


    Name: Koda Blackscale


    AC: 13 (natural armor)


    Speed: 30 feet, swim 30 feet


    Strength¡ª15 S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Agility¡ª10


    Constitution¡ª13


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª15


    Charisma¡ª9


    Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +4, Survival +6


    Senses: Dark Vision 30 feet, Passive Perception 14


    Language: Draconic


    Actions: Multi-Attack, Biting, Claw attack


    Special Abilities:


    Hold Breath: The Lizardfolk can hold its breath for 15 minutes.


    Shape Change: Can transform into a crocodile using magic and maintain that form for 1 hour.


    Occupational Level: Druid 5


    Casting (Lizardfolk form only):


    As a 5th-level spellcaster, the Lizardfolk Shaman has prepared the following druid spells:


    Cantrips: Druid Tricks, Fire Ignition Spell, Thorn Whip


    1st level: Entangle, Cloud Mist Technique


    2nd level: Scorching Metal, Spike Growth


    3rd level: Summon Animals (Reptiles only), Plant Growth


    Challenge Level: 5 (1800 xp)


    Assessment: ¡°The Lizardfolk Shaman is the most special existence in the entire tribe. They are often wise and powerful, leading the entire tribe.¡±


    ¡°An actively presenting Druid?¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Cassius thought.


    ¡°That Shaman, are you a spellcaster?¡±


    The Lizardfolk Old Shaman took a step forward, slightly nodded, and calmly replied, ¡°Great Red Dragon, your power and wisdom amaze me.¡±


    ¡°I have merely taken a shallow step on the Way of Nature, learning some minor tricks.¡±


    Then he raised his withered wooden staff and pointed to an empty space.


    ¡°Entangle.¡±


    The power of nature responded to the Old Shaman¡¯s call, and the Magic Web rippled subtly as vines and weeds instantly grew tangled on that patch of ground.


    Unlike the Arcane Magic of Magicians and Mages, druid spells were classified as Divine Magic. These spellcasters relied on divine power from nature to invoke the Magic Web.


    Facing a spellcaster who came to him voluntarily, Cassius immediately said, ¡°A good spell, the gates of Ashen Nest will be open to you.¡±


    ¡°I hope you will prove your loyalty to me.¡±


    ¡°Praise to you, great master.¡±


    The Lizardfolk quietly withdrew and returned to their dark corner, never to partake in any disputes over the other retainers¡¯ positions.


    Cassius liked such sensible subordinates.


    The Lizardfolk were absolutely neutral cold-blooded animals, lacking desires, viewing good and evil as foreign concepts, acting only for survival, which fit Cassius¡¯s principles.


    Such qualities made them excellent choices for managing human cities, or even players, in the future. At least they could maintain basic order without being swayed by personal desires.


    ¡°Simple and useful tools.¡±


    This was Cassius¡¯s high evaluation of them.


    But subduing the Lizardfolk was just a minor episode; the main event of the ritual was next.


    Bloodline Gift.


    As he gazed down at the expectant, puzzled, or anxious eyes of his retainers, Cassius finally opened his mouth slowly under the watchful gaze of everyone:


    ¡°I once told you that my retainers should never be content with being weak. I shall bestow upon you great power and long life.¡±


    ¡°And today, it is time to fulfill that promise.¡±


    ¡°I will grant the outstanding among you¡ªthe Dragon Vein!¡±


    Instantly, the retainers clamored, astonished if they had even a bit of intelligence.


    Ogre Lamp¡¯s eyes were filled with tears, moved by this gift. The kobolds, distantly related to dragons, were shocked; even the Lizardfolk, once worshippers of dragons, were incredulous and in awe.


    ¡°This, how can this be!¡±


    ¡°That is the Dragon Bloodline!¡±


    ¡°The master¡¯s generosity amazes me.¡±


    It¡¯s known that dragon bloodlines are extremely precious throughout Erezer.


    Aside from reproduction, granting a true dragon vein normally required the True Blood of dragons, whose every drop in their main blood vessels was a potent source of magical power. Even a True Dragon granting it willingly would leave them weak and drained for days.


    Therefore, no one could imagine a stingy True Dragon making such a generous gift.


    But they didn¡¯t know, Cassius needed only ordinary blood as a ritual lead, with the rest of the ¡°Bloodline Gift¡± being a special skill he had earned from an achievement.


    This was almost a cost-free deal.


    And the ¡°Bloodline Gift¡± was divided into significant active gifts and more subtle passive ones. The former Cassius planned to bestow only on the best retainers, while the latter would be conducted within the entire Ashen Nest.


    In the center of the valley stood a more than three-meter-high giant stone, with a flat and spacious top.


    The middle of the stone had a shallow pit.


    Cassius had informed Ramp in advance to issue the order prohibiting anyone from approaching this stone.


    The retainers had believed it was where Cassius landed, so no one dared to approach. But now, they looked at the stone with eager eyes, recognizing it as the ¡°Promised Land of Blessings.¡±


    Whether they were goblins, kobolds, or even wyverns, their breaths quickened.

 Chapter 39 - 39: Bloodline Gift (II)

    Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Bloodline Gift (II)


    ¡°Silence!¡±


    ¡°You must submit to me absolutely.¡±


    Cassius fully unleashed his leader¡¯s aura, causing all present retainers to feel a heavy pressure from above.


    Whether it was the wyverns, chimeras, or ogres, they all involuntarily bowed and prostrated themselves.


    Only after all retainers had bowed did Red Dragon, Cassius slowly use his sharp claws to cut open the skin on his palm.


    His palm was not covered by scales but had thick, tough skin, making it difficult even for the red dragon himself to slice it open.


    ...


    The scratch widened, and warm blood slowly seeped from the wound, gathering and dripping.


    ¡°Drip¡­Drip¡­Drip¡­¡±


    The bright red blood continuously dripped onto the boulder, pooling in a shallow pit.


    The retainers still had their heads bowed, and the air was filled with a silent atmosphere.


    No one dared to look up, not even to divert their gaze from the ground, for fear of angering the red dragon and facing a tragic end.


    ¡°Bloodline Gift,¡±


    Cassius murmured.


    As the special ability was activated under the red dragon¡¯s will.


    A strange power emerged from the leader¡¯s aura, connecting the red dragon with the blood.


    Instantly, Cassius felt the dripping blood was no longer a dead object but something closely linked to his body, to his own bloodline.


    It was almost like an extension of his bloodline, able to extend his influence even further and deeper.


    When all the blood was completely transformed, Cassius could clearly feel a part of his strength being divided. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But this act was not purely giving; it was more like a tree sowing its seeds, to be replenished when they ¡°bear fruit.¡±


    The still warm blood in the shallow pit slowly flowed.


    It contained unbelievable power.


    This was the Blood of Grace.


    The retainers did not know to what extent or if the ritual had succeeded, so they still did not dare to look up.


    The air in the valley was nearly stagnant, with thousands of monsters crowded within, yet it was extraordinarily silent.


    Finally, Cassius broke the silence.


    ¡°You may rise.¡±


    Upon hearing their master¡¯s command, the retainers in the valley heaved a sigh of relief and stood up in large numbers.


    But as soon as they noticed the blood slowly flowing in the shallow pit, they held their breath again, hearts pounding.


    Who wouldn¡¯t wish to be the lucky one to gain long life and great power?


    ¡°Ramp,¡±


    Cassius called out the first name.


    This ogre mage was personally chosen by the red dragon as the chief steward, a rare monster spellcaster, and a key contributor to the Ashen Nest¡¯s prosperity. Remarkably, he had been completely convinced, wholeheartedly dedicated to the red dragon¡¯s so-called grand blueprint.


    Cassius needed him to maintain authority, possess greater power, and set a positive example for all the monsters of the Ashen Nest.


    Ramp pretended to push his glasses calmly, as if he had long expected to be the first to be gifted.


    But in reality, he had been trembling with nervousness until the red dragon named him, barely calming his erratic emotions, displaying a look of knowing exactly what was happening.


    Ramp struggled to climb the rock and quietly waited.


    The blood flowed backward, surging into the ogre¡¯s mouth.


    The blood that entered Ramp¡¯s mouth was just a portion of it, not much for an ogre over three meters tall.


    Usually, this big-bellied ogre could even drink an entire mammoth¡¯s blood dry.


    But as soon as the ¡°Blood of Grace¡± entered his mouth, Ramp¡¯s body convulsed violently.


    His entire bulk of fat trembled incessantly.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    As the immense elemental energy flowed down his throat.


    The ogre¡¯s eyes turned crimson, his face contorted. He opened his gaping maw, capable of swallowing a human head, looking every bit like a monster that had lost all sanity, with none of his previous pretended calmness.


    But the scorching fire element continued to travel down his esophagus into his stomach, causing his abdomen to turn as red as a blazing flame burning inside him.


    Ogres were known to eat anything, with incredibly strong digestive systems, but at that moment, for the first time, he felt unimaginable agony in his stomach.


    ¡°It¡¯s burning, it¡¯s burning!¡±


    Ramp could no longer stand; he curled up on the ground, his huge body rolling and struggling, his arms pounding the ground to vent his pain.


    He hammered the boulder with a loud thud, while the dragon blood churned in his belly.


    Under the ogre¡¯s thrashing, the blood containing elemental power entered his bloodstream, pumped by his intensely beating heart to every part of his body, about to bring a complete transformation.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    He panted heavily on the rock, his enormous body swelling and reddening, steam rising from his skin. At that moment, he was like an overinflated balloon, seemingly about to burst at any moment.


    The dragonkin¡¯s power was too strong for this lowly-blooded ogre.


    Ramp let out one low howl after another, his voice growing weaker, but his eyes gradually cleared, allowing anyone to feel his life force slowly waning.


    The dragon blood greedily drained his life, transforming into immense elemental energy, filling his body.


    Was it going to fail?


    Cassius did not make a sound, just quietly observed.


    If it failed, he would feel the loss of a valuable subordinate, but that was the extent of it.


    The ogres clenched their wooden clubs tightly, tense. They didn¡¯t have much kinship among their kind, even willing to devour a fallen comrade¡¯s corpse without hesitation. But for this resourceful leader, they still wished for his survival.


    On the other side, Dolores, the goblin chieftain, began to breathe rapidly.


    He had been suppressed by Ramp for too long, and if the ogre died, with the other retainers not up to the task, he could seize the opportunity to rise and become the rightful chief steward of the Ashen Nest.


    Thinking of this, the corners of Dolores¡¯ mouth lifted slightly.


    At that moment, a sudden change occurred.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    The long-silent ogre let out a heavy roar.


    He was on all fours in a strange posture, and his swollen body continued to expand, greedily absorbing the surrounding energy, making the nearby air dry up.


    One breath.


    Two breaths.


    Three breaths.


    His body heaved up and down.


    His size grew from three meters to four meters, finally stopping at over five meters.


    His back protruded with spiny ridges.


    His limbs also became sharper, turning into a form resembling dragon claws.


    His thick skin cracked open, forcibly torn apart by his own body, revealing newly grown, incredibly hard red scales beneath, like a snake shedding its skin.


    Only then did Cassius realize, the ogre mage was not passively accepting the changes brought by the gift but was using the elemental power contained in the dragon blood to trigger a magic web, constructing a spell prototype similar to the ¡°Fireball Technique¡± within himself to more thoroughly absorb the energy from the dragon blood.


    This method was extremely risky but also highly rewarding.


    Thanks to Ramp¡¯s deep research, his control over spells had reached a terrifying level.

 Chapter 40 - 40: Bloodline Gift (III)

    Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Bloodline Gift (III)


    Thick white smoke filled the surroundings, and the monsters couldn¡¯t see what was happening above. All they could see was a massive black shadow faintly emerging.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Ramp let out a dragon-like roar.


    As the smoke dispersed, he tore open the discarded hide, supporting himself with both arms as he slowly stood up.


    Erezer¡¯s first Dragon Vein Ogre was thus born¡ªif the aesthetic tastes of the giant dragons weren¡¯t so absurd.


    The monster before them could no longer be called an ogre.


    ...


    He stood over five meters tall, with a width to match. His former kin would look like short dwarves standing before him.


    That still stout and hulking body was now covered in bright crimson scales.


    The originally stubby fingers had become long and sharp, transforming from humanoid hands into claws with dragon-like features.


    Ramp slowly opened his eyes.


    His pupils were golden.


    Several rows of red horns protruded from his forehead, making his already hideous and frightening head even more ferocious.


    If one could cut through his flesh, they would discover that the blood flowing within this ogre mage was scorching hot, filled with frenzied elements. Dragon-like vascular structures were gradually forming within his body.


    Compared to an ogre, Ramp would now be better described as a ¡°Giant Dragon Demon.¡±


    After all, he could no longer be considered a pure giant subspecies but a dragon vein creature with the true blood of dragons flowing through his veins. His previously short lifespan of a few decades would now extend to several centuries.


    Ramp could now even breathe fire.


    On Cassius¡¯s retainer panel, Ramp¡¯s stats had undergone earth-shattering changes.


    [Dragon Vein Ogre Mage ¨C Ramp]


    Name: Ramp


    Race: Dragon Vein Ogre


    Giant Dragon Vein Giant (Fire), Neutral Evil


    AC: 16 (natural armor) Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Attributes:


    Strength¡ª¡ª20


    Agility¡ª¡ª10


    Constitution¡ª¡ª18


    Intelligence¡ª¡ª17


    Perception¡ª¡ª8


    Charisma¡ª¡ª13


    Proficiencies: Reading +6, Arcane +4, Hunting +4, Ruling +4, Herbalism +2, Persuasion +2, Military +2


    Senses: Passive Perception 14 feet


    Languages: Common, Draconic, Giant


    Actions: Slam, Bite, Pound, Claw


    Special Abilities: Breath Weapon (Fire)


    Combat Equipment: Ring of Wisdom¡¯s Study, Secret Technique Ring, Albert¡¯s Mithril Bracelet


    Occupational Level: 6 Mage


    Spellcasting Level: 6


    Spells:


    Cantrip: Fire Arrow


    1st Level: Burning Hands


    2nd Level: Searing Ray


    3rd Level: Fireball Technique


    Challenge Level: 10 (7000xp)


    Assessment: ¡°This Dragon Vein Ogre will turn you into roast meat and swallow you whole.¡±


    His challenge level had soared to level 10, and key values such as strength, constitution, and agility had seen earth-shattering changes, introducing the special ability of breath attack.


    Simultaneously, Cassius could clearly sense that due to the repression from deep within his bloodline, the bond between him and his retainers had become even tighter. They could no longer defy orders.


    Even the thought of rebellion would be detected.


    ¡°The effect is quite remarkable.¡±


    Cassius said joyfully.


    However, this outcome was achieved at the risk of Ramp¡¯s life and through deep research into the Magic Web.


    Cassius knew this wasn¡¯t generally reproducible.


    ¡°Master, I did it.¡±


    The tone was filled with uncontrollable excitement and joy, along with the satisfaction of a mage successfully completing an experiment.


    The monster more aptly called a ¡°Giant Dragon Demon¡± knelt on the giant rock to thank the Red Dragon, then leaped down, causing a rumble on the ground.


    ¡°Boss, you¡¯re frigging huge!¡±


    ¡°Think of how much more you can eat now!¡±


    The ogres, holding to the principle that ¡°big is good,¡± cheered for their boss¡¯s new form. In their simple, brute minds, the only thing they could think of was that getting bigger meant eating more food.


    But off to the side, Dolores¡¯s face was clouded with gloom.


    ¡°Chimera,¡±


    Cassius called out the second name.


    The Chimera was the Red Dragon¡¯s first retainer, the top combat force of the Ashen Nest.


    Moreover, it was already a distant relative of dragons. Cassius wanted to conduct an experiment to see how the ¡°Bloodline Gift¡± would affect a dragon vein creature.


    Even if it failed, the Red Dragon wouldn¡¯t feel the slightest remorse. After all, such a chaotic evil beast had no loyalty.


    The three-headed monster landed on the giant rock, folding its wings and lowering its heads submissively.


    Blood entered the dragon head¡¯s mouth.


    The Chimera let out a low, suppressed growl as the blood boiled within its body.


    But unlike the ogre, it didn¡¯t experience much pain. To this creature, already dragonborn, absorbing dragon blood wasn¡¯t that difficult.


    The monsters watched quietly from around, noting that the Chimera¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t as intense as that of the ogre.


    As the blood spread throughout its body, its three heads rose high.


    The dragon head even spewed fire uncontrollably.


    Though the Chimera had three distinct heads, its will was still unified, with different heads representing its triple-sided personality.


    The dragon head drove it to attack, plunder, and hoard treasures. The lion¡¯s nature incited a desire to hunt powerful creatures within its territory, while the goat¡¯s head made it vicious and stubborn, willing to fight to the death.


    The original Chimera had a lion head as the main head.


    But as the blood of grace filled its entire being, the dragon head began to expand continuously. Horn-like spikes extended from the back of its neck onto its spine, replacing the lush mane, and scales began to grow where lion skin once covered.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Chimera¡¯s dragon head raised high, emitting a loud roar.


    Its body rapidly swelled, growing visibly by the second.


    Though it didn¡¯t absorb energy as exaggeratedly as the ogre, it grew to over eight meters before slowing to a halt.


    Its dragon head grew much faster than the heads of the lion or goat, thoroughly taking over its personality.


    Compared to the previous chaotic, mismatched creature, the Chimera now resembled a distorted Red Dragon, with the goat and lion heads becoming extraneous appendages.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    After fully assimilating the blood, the Chimera again lowered its three heads submissively, letting out a low growl.


    Cassius could feel that due to both the increase in power and bloodline suppression, the Chimera was now completely devoid of rebellious thoughts, its only desire being to cling to their master.


    As for what the future held, that remained uncertain. After all, loyalty wasn¡¯t in a dragon¡¯s nature.


    Cassius¡¯s retainer panel changed once again.


    [Dragon-like Chimera]


    Challenge Level: 9 (5000xp)


    This Chimera¡¯s challenge level reached 9, just below Ramp¡¯s.


    The power of its flame breath had become even more terrifying, and its scaly armor had significantly enhanced its natural armor value. The blades of the Giant Eagle Knights, which once could hurt it, now had little effect.


    ¡°How can a mere beast receive the blessing before me¡­¡±


    Seeing the Chimera receive the blessing first, the face of Great Goblin Dolores grew progressively darker.


    But due to the presence of the Red Dragon above, he could only suppress his fury and stand in place, breathing more heavily.

 Chapter 41 - 41: Bloodline Gift (IV)

    Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Bloodline Gift (IV)


    ¡°Dolores.¡±


    Cassius called out the next name.


    As the military chief of the Ashen Nest, as well as the designer of the trenches, fences, gates, watchtowers, and pitfalls at the Rock Fortress, Dolores did indeed need to enhance some strength as a guarantee.


    The Goblin chieftain let out a sigh of relief.


    This at least proved that his status in the Ashen Nest had not decreased too much¡ªafter all, such creatures love power even more than their zeal for war.


    Dolores climbed onto the giant rock, kneeling on one knee in anticipation.


    ...


    The blood flowed into his mouth.


    Scorching.


    This was the only sensation the Goblin felt.


    The blood went down his throat like boiling magma, churning inside him, burning every inch of his body. He finally understood Ramp¡¯s pain.


    But he still maintained his kneeling posture, trembling all over, his jaws clenched so tight that his teeth were nearly breaking.


    ¡°I will not die here.¡±


    ¡°I will climb higher¡ªat least higher than that foolish Ogre.¡±


    This was the only thought in the Goblin¡¯s mind at that moment.


    The Goblin¡¯s originally crimson skin became translucent from the scorching elemental energy, faintly glowing with a red hue.


    His body moved rhythmically.


    Every heartbeat, every breath pumped Dragon Blood to every corner of his body, and through his slightly transparent flesh, his pulsating veins could be seen.


    ¡°Perhaps the effect is more apparent on non-Dragon Vein creatures.¡±


    Cassius watched the Goblin¡¯s transformation calmly, making a mental note.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±


    Finally, the Goblin could no longer bear the scorching heat and cried out in pain.


    His body began to swell dramatically, with scale-like protrusions appearing under his skin.


    As his roar grew more heart-wrenching, the Goblin¡¯s body rapidly expanded at a visible speed.


    His height shot from around 1.8 meters directly to 2.5 meters. Scarlet scales forcibly burst through his fragile skin, emitting white smoke as they were exposed to the air.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    He opened his mouth slightly, exhaling bursts of white smoke.


    The originally sharp yellow teeth became as sharp as dragon teeth.


    The scales even extended to his face, with fringes appearing on his ears, blending into the scales on his cheeks. Two small protruding horns also grew on his forehead.


    A Dragon Vein Goblin was born.


    His body underwent a tremendous transformation, his strength surged dramatically, and his size rivaled that of a regular Ogre.


    However, as a creature more inclined towards legion warfare, he did not awaken Flame Breath but gained the ability to cast the spell ¡°Fire Arrow,¡± along with a heavy set of protective scales, making him more resistant to heat.


    Originally having a lifespan comparable to humans and often dying in battle due to their love for war, the Goblin now became a ¡°Long-Lived Race¡± with a lifespan of around three hundred years¡ªalthough this was still short in the eyes of a giant dragon.


    [Dragon Vein Goblin Chieftain]


    Challenge Level: 7 (2900xp)


    ¡°Grateful for your generous gift.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait¡ªto taste the blood of my enemies on the battlefield.¡±


    Dolores panted.


    His already red face flushed with excitement.


    The Goblin chieftain felt an unprecedented surge of strength within him. As a creature naturally fond of war, he had a strong urge to unleash this power on the battlefield.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Cassius remarked.


    Dolores lacked spell support, so having this level of enhancement was quite commendable.


    ¡°Stieg.¡±


    Cassius called out the next name.


    The largest of the Bipedal Wyverns in the group immediately became excited upon hearing the call.


    Drooling thick saliva, it jumped onto the giant rock, using the wing bones of its forelimbs to support itself against the rock, even rhythmically swaying its thick, barbed tail.


    This name certainly did not originate from this world, instead it was a little joke by Cassius.


    After making an example by ¡°killing a chicken to scare the monkeys,¡± he casually appointed the largest of the remaining wyverns as the new leader of the wyvern group.


    Wyverns, being creatures of low intelligence, often had no names.


    When Cassius saw the Bipedal Wyvern with its forelimbs on the ground, he thought of the famous dragon Stieg from movies in his previous life and whimsically gave it that name.


    The wyvern called ¡°Stieg¡± screeched excitedly, drooling as its saliva dripped onto the rock surface.


    These beasts, with bloodlines of both dragons and griffins, longed for the blood of a True Dragon.


    The blood flowed into its mouth.


    The Bipedal Wyvern leaned on its forewings and emitted deep growls.


    Although it had dragon blood within its body, that bloodline had been diluted over countless generations, becoming extremely sparse and nowhere near comparable to the Blood of Grace from the Red Dragon.


    Thus, when the blood filled with frenzied elements surged into its body, the beast was still in immense pain.


    With the blood churning within, the Bipedal Wyvern began to roll around on the giant rock.


    It let out ear-piercing screams.


    The noise was so sharp and grating, like metal scraps rubbing and grinding against each other, that the monsters watching felt unbearable agony.


    The wyvern¡¯s body also visibly swelled.


    It grew from over five meters long to more than six meters, and then to over seven meters before the expansion finally ceased.


    Originally covered in mucus and wrinkled skin, it grew hard, scarlet scales. The fleshly protrusions turned into keratinized spikes, and its mouth, which could previously only emit foul-smelling mucus, could now spew scorching flames.


    The wyvern had become more like a True Dragon.


    However, it was still a thin, ground-crawling creature.


    [Ancestral Bipedal Wyvern]


    Challenge Level: 8 (3900xp)


    ¡°Not bad, at least the Northwind Eagle Guards won¡¯t beat you so easily now.¡±


    Cassius commented expressionlessly.


    The Bipedal Wyvern spewed a jet of flame into the sky, then jumped off the giant rock, raising its head proudly towards its companions, proving it truly was a beast.


    At this moment, there was not much Dragon Blood left in the shallow pit.


    Only a thin layer remained.


    The blood flowed slowly.


    Exuding a tempting metallic scent.


    By previous standards, there should be enough for one more gift.


    Presently, thousands of eyes in the valley were fixed intently on the remaining blood. They panted heavily, their gazes feverish, almost setting their eyes aflame.


    Having witnessed several transformations, the blood had become a definitive symbol of power in their eyes. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although the transformation was painful, such pain was insignificant compared to immense power.


    Now, the indisputably highest-ranked beings in the Ashen Nest had finished their share.


    Could someone else have a chance to partake?


    The valley remained silent, but the breathing grew heavier, and the pounding heartbeats became more evident, like heavy drumbeats.


    Bugbears, with beads of sweat rolling down their fur-covered foreheads, did not even blink, their gazes fixated on the pool of blood.


    The Lizardfolk stood motionless in the dark corners, observing secretly, watching the blood with dead-eyed intensity.


    The wyverns stretched their necks, mouths slightly open, saliva dripping from both sides, with a look of longing in their fierce eyes.


    Who would be the lucky one?


    They all waited in anticipation.

 Chapter 42 - 42: Bloodline Gift (V)

    Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Bloodline Gift (V)


    In this fanatical yet silent strange atmosphere, Cassius uttered the last name.


    ¡°Jin Ya.¡±


    Suddenly, all the monsters were stunned.


    No one had expected that the final recipient of the ¡°gift¡± would be a weak kobold.


    Even Jin Ya stood frozen for a moment, only reacting after a while.


    The kobold¡¯s ugly face immediately flashed a fawning smile, and with the help of several of its kin as makeshift stair steps, it finally managed to climb atop the giant rock towering several times its height.


    ...


    ¡°How is this possible?¡±


    Dolores looked at the flattered kobold, steam puffing from his mouth, gritting his teeth, wishing he could tear it to pieces.


    His Bugbear underlings were even more resentful, their sturdy arms bulging with veins, thicker than the kobold¡¯s thin waist.


    These monsters grew up on Stormy Ridge, worshipping strength from a young age. Naturally, they were deeply resentful of being dominated by such a weak kobold.


    But they dared not challenge the Red Dragon¡¯s authority and could only swallow their frustration.


    Cassius actually didn¡¯t care much about the selection.


    After bestowing the previous gifts, the combat power within the Ashen Nest had become quite formidable, enough to be considered a local tyrant in the Anzeta Wasteland.


    He also considered that someone had to dig for gold, so the kobolds needed some hope too.


    Besides, kobolds were natural retainers of giant dragons.


    These oviparous creatures matured quickly and could live as ¡°dragon-like creatures¡± for over a century, digging gold for their masters everywhere. However, due to their frail bodies, few lived to natural death.


    After being around dragons for a long time, they could even undergo unpredictable mutations.


    This time, Cassius intended to conduct an experiment with the gift.


    Even if it failed, the loss would be negligible. A kobold with a challenge level of only one-fourth, dying one year could yield hundreds more the next.


    The ritual began under Cassius¡¯s control.


    Blood flowed into the kobold¡¯s mouth.


    Due to its short and frail body, it consumed much less blood compared to the previous recipients.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡ª¡±


    The kobold let out suppressed low howls.


    The scorching blood flowed into its body, roasting its flesh, causing a faint red glow from within.


    All the monsters watched the kobold intently, out of jealousy, resentment, or unwillingness. Most of the retainers silently hoped the kobold would suffer to death.


    Suddenly, there was an abrupt change.


    The kobold lifted its head and let out frenzied, dog-like barks, with thick saliva dripping from its open mouth, steaming.


    Its body swelled rapidly, a huge bulge forming on its back.


    The kobold¡¯s thin body greedily absorbed every bit of energy from the blood, visibly growing sturdier.


    Its size grew from less than one meter to nearly two meters.


    A strange power seeped from the depths of its bloodline.


    There was a ripping sound like tearing leather, and the enormous bulges forced open the skin. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A pair of brand-new, mucus-covered wings appeared on the kobold¡¯s back!


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The kobold leader clumsily spread its wings.


    Its mouth emitted sounds no longer like barking but more akin to a dragon¡¯s roar.


    ¡°How can this be!¡±


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Urd, by Tiamat, it¡¯s Urd!¡±


    ¡°An Urd born after!¡±


    Some of the older, more knowledgeable kobolds among the tribe cried out in amazement.


    A few kobolds were naturally born with leathery wings and could fly; they were called Urds.


    Urd wings were seen as gifts from the Dragon Queen Tiamat, and because of this, they were envied by the wingless kobolds, causing constant strife between the two.


    But now, the kobold¡¯s dragon wings grew postnatally, making the kobolds feel not only jealous but also endlessly eager.


    They could become Urds too!


    Cassius watched the winged kobold, his eyes narrowing slightly¡ªhe also detected a slight change in the Magic Web as a sorcerer.


    Sure enough, he closely examined the retainer¡¯s status information.


    [Your retainer, Kobold Leader, has undergone an unpredictable mutation due to the Bloodline Gift.]


    The manifestation of sorcery talents was often pure luck.


    Some magicians couldn¡¯t even pinpoint the source of their power, but others could recall strange pivotal moments in their lives:


    The touch of a witch, drinking from a mysterious Magic Spring, blessings from Heavenly Creatures to newborns, all could spark the flame of sorcery talents.


    Exposure to the elemental forces of the Inner Plane or chaotic magic in the Sea of Chaos, or glimpsing the inner workings of reality, could also be opportunities to gain sorcery power.


    Drinking the Blood of Grace was undoubtedly a major ¡°opportunity.¡±


    [Your retainer, Kobold Leader, has awakened the dragonkin magic overflowing in their ancestral bloodline due to the Bloodline Gift.]


    [Kobold Leader has unlocked the occupation of Dragon Vein Sorcerer-Red Dragon; his innate magic comes from dragonkin magic, fundamentally mingled in blood and inherited from his ancestors.]


    What started as a casual experiment added another spellcaster to the Ashen Nest, which greatly pleased Cassius.


    ¡°A Kobold Dragon Vein Sorcerer, interesting.¡±


    Cassius watched the transforming Jin Ya.


    The winged kobold, or rather, the Urd panted heavily, with steam rising from between its scales.


    After several breaths, it barely calmed the raging elemental energy within.


    ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­¡±


    The transformed kobold shook its body slightly, feeling the unfamiliar powerful force within and the spells suddenly appearing in its mind.


    Jin Ya looked up at the Red Dragon, his eyes filled with unprecedented fanaticism, shedding a few genuine tears from the corners of his eyes.


    The humiliation of being enslaved by humans, the fear of being hunted by monsters, and years of constant fleeing¡ªall dissipated at that moment.


    At this moment, he truly regarded the Red Dragon as a living demigod.


    However, the Red Dragon didn¡¯t care about the kobold¡¯s loyalty or ¡°fervent faith.¡± Instead, he was more curious about what spells the kobold had awakened.


    ¡°Cast your spell.¡±


    Cassius said with great interest.


    Unlike the player panel¡¯s occupation system, original sorcerers in this world couldn¡¯t choose their spells; the power of sorcery chose them and allowed them to master innate spells.


    Therefore, most sorcerers were only proficient in one or two spells and used them skillfully.


    ¡°Yes¡­great master.¡±


    Without hesitation, Jin Ya followed the inheritance in his mind, channeling the unknown power within.


    He slowly raised his arms, thumbs together, other fingers spread, guiding the Magic Web to slightly gather the surrounding fire elemental energy.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A cone of flame several feet long instantly spewed from his palms.


    ¡°Burning Hands, a good first-tier spell, very fitting for a Red Dragon Sorcerer character.¡±


    Cassius silently assessed.

 Chapter 43 - 43 - Arrangements by All Parties

    Chapter 43: Chapter 43 ¨C Arrangements by All Parties


    Cassius stared at the brand-new retainer panel in front of him; this guy had truly leaped over the dragon gate, soaring into the skies.


    [Dragon Winged Kobold Warlock]


    Medium humanoid (Kobold), Lawful Evil


    AC: 16 (natural armor)


    Speed: 30 ft, Fly 50 ft


    Strength: 15


    ...


    Dexterity: 14


    Constitution: 16


    Intelligence: 10


    Perception: 8


    Charisma: 11


    Senses: Dark Vision 60 ft, Passive Perception 8


    Languages: Common, Draconic


    Proficiencies: Construction +4, Trap +4, Digging +6, Stealth +6


    Traits: Pack Tactics, Flame Resistance


    Actions: Dagger, Sling, Claw Attack, Biting


    Occupational Level: Warlock 1


    Spellcasting Level: 1


    Cantrips: Fire Arrow, Light Spell


    1st level: Burning Hands


    Challenge Level: 5 (1700xp)


    This kobold¡¯s challenge level had soared from a pitiful 1/8 level to 5th level, now capable of contending with a squad of well-trained soldiers, barely making its way into the high-level combat strength of the Ashen Nest.


    Dolores gazed at the transformed kobold below, arms crossed, with a rather unpleasant expression.


    ¡°Jin Ya¡­¡±


    The Dragon Vein Goblin murmured the name.


    Before, this guy could have been kicked away effortlessly by him.


    But now, the kobold, or rather Urd, was about two meters tall, capable of flight, and mastered spells, becoming a rather troublesome opponent.


    Since that conflict, this kobold had firmly clutched onto the thigh of the Ogre Mage, making Ramp¡¯s position within the Ashen Nest unshakable.


    Ramp, observing from not far away, merely raised the corners of his mouth slightly, his eyes glimmering with unknown thoughts.


    ¡°Not bad at all.¡±


    The Ogre instinctively tried to push up his spectacles on the bridge of his nose, only to find that his delicate silver-rimmed glasses had long been shattered during his transformation.


    He regrettably lowered his hand, secretly planning to snatch a more durable pair.


    The gift ceremony finally concluded.


    Cassius slowly stretched his wings, casting shadows over the myriad monsters below.


    He fully harnessed his [Leader¡¯s Aura], exuding an indisputable influence that made all the retainers present submit from the depths of their hearts.


    ¡°A soldier who does not aspire to be a general is not a good soldier. My Ashen Nest only needs the strong, and absolutely no useless fools.¡±


    ¡°Continue to fight for me.¡±


    ¡°Prove your loyalty to me with blood and fire.¡±


    ¡°You can also gain immense power and endless lifespan.¡±


    As the beneficiaries of the gifts, the clan leaders were the first to cheer.


    The wyvern spewed scorching flames into the sky, the kobold unfurled its newly acquired wings, and Ramp showcased his massive body and sturdy scales.


    With Cassius¡¯s tacit approval and even encouragement, they flaunted their newly acquired power recklessly.


    The monsters within the Ashen Nest cheered along as well. Be it kobolds, goblins, or ogres, they roared and screeched wildly, their hearts brimming with fervor and a boundless yearning for power.


    The clamor of the celebrations echoed within the valley, lingering endlessly.


    ¡­


    January.


    Feather-like snowflakes drifted in the sky, dancing wildly with the howling gale, while the pervasive ice fog reduced the visibility outside to less than a hundred meters.


    It was clearly the coldest season in the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    That unforgettable ¡°gift ceremony¡± had been over for more than three months.


    Shortly after his transformation, Jin Ya was dispatched to a dark mine, leading his over three hundred kin to dig for gold for the Red Dragon in the warm underground.


    When the snow melted in the coming spring, the kobolds would transport the gold back to the Ashen Nest.


    They also received the task of searching for elemental ores¡ªCassius was seeking energy for the Eye of the Storm King.


    During this period, many creatures heard of it and joined the Ashen Nest.


    The goblin warlord ¡°Skull Face¡± fled to escape the Northern Kingdom¡¯s pursuit, bringing his hundred-strong goblin army and a large amount of wealth to seek refuge. Just a week later, the strange goblin warlord drowned in a cesspool due to an ¡°accident,¡± and naturally, his remnants fell under the command of the Dragon Vein Goblin Dolores.


    Dolores finally had the exceptional troops he had yearned for, rather than the weak and cowardly common goblins who dared not even step onto the battlefield.


    Later, more than thirty half-goat people came to seek refuge, hoping to spend the winter in the warm Ashen Nest.


    These half-goat people were physically weak with no clear moral compass, driven by curiosity and hedonism, a noisy race. But their pan flute performance, akin to bards, could produce certain magical effects, thus they were accepted by Cassius.


    Despite the cold season, the Ashen Nest remained relatively warm.


    Partly because the Stormy Ridge wasn¡¯t at the northernmost end of Anzeta, and the undulating mountains blocked the invading cold wind, preserving a slight warmth in the valley.


    Especially in the Red Dragon¡¯s abode, it was particularly warm.


    At that moment, within the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave, Cassius slowly opened his sleepy eyes, his massive body lying in the place with the most abundant geothermal heat in the cave.


    ¡°Master, I have brought the person you wanted.¡±


    Dolores, leading several goblin guards, respectfully walked into the cave entrance.


    The guards were carrying a ragged, messy-haired human, the very slave trader Hart whom the Red Dragon had personally captured earlier.


    ¡°Did you accomplish the task I gave you?¡±


    ¡°It was very successful, Master.¡±


    Dolores answered.


    After speaking, the goblin guards on both sides pulled out several scrolls from their backs and handed them over. They were written in Common, the handwriting was scrawled, with some crude drawings.


    The goblins were well-versed in all military and war skills, including interrogation. The task given by the Red Dragon was to extract all the human¡¯s knowledge and ensure its accuracy.


    Hart, merely a craven slave trader, succumbed to the simplest threat, revealing everything he knew without any harsh methods from Dolores.


    ¡°Then withdraw.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Dolores and the guards retreated leisurely.


    Cassius gazed at the anxious human before him and said:


    ¡°Long time no see, Hart.¡±


    Hart trembled all over, his legs gave way, and he knelt on the ground, his voice quivering:


    ¡°Lord Cassius, master of the Ashen Nest, mighty Red Dragon, I realize my mistake. I am willing to compensate for all losses, just spare my insignificant life.¡±


    The Red Dragon grinned, revealing his sharp dragon teeth, a smile that sent chills down Hart¡¯s spine.


    Cassius said: ¡°Not only do I not need your compensation but I will also let you go back.¡±


    Hart was stunned and subconsciously asked: S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Back, back where?¡±


    ¡°Sgurr Town. I might have some common ground with your baron.¡±


    Hart¡¯s mind recalled the baron¡¯s cold gaze, and he murmured: ¡°The baron, he, he will kill me.¡±


    The Red Dragon slowly got up, looking down at the trembling human, with a playful glint in his golden vertical pupils.


    ¡°No, he won¡¯t.¡±

 Chapter 44 - 44 Sgurr Town

    Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Sgurr Town


    ¡°`html


    Nighttime, the snow was nearing its end, with only a few scattered snowflakes falling. The ground was covered in a thick layer of snow.


    The town was dark and silent. People closed their doors and windows tightly, calling their children inside. Only the Baron¡¯s mansion was brightly lit.


    The stone tablet at the crossroads was inscribed with a name: Sgurr Town.


    This was a small town on the outskirts of the Rackham Family¡¯s territory. The nearby land was open and fertile, ideal for farming. A hundred years ago, an ancestor of the Rackham Family led his subordinates to cultivate this area, establishing Sgurr Town.


    It was also a bustling town with over a thousand residents, providing a constant supply of food to the surrounding areas.


    ...


    But due to its remote location, Frost Giants, Snowmen, and even White Dragons frequently visited, causing the town to be rebuilt several times, leaving only about four hundred residents.


    Most of them were serfs who couldn¡¯t leave. The rest were a few merchants, millers, grooms, and attendants serving the nobles.


    The Rackham Family only assigned unimportant family members to this place to provide food to Northwind Castle.


    And shortly after Baron Todd was dispatched here, the town began to have rumors of ¡°Night Demons.¡± Several young women mysteriously disappeared at night, making the town¡¯s atmosphere tense, with residents living in constant fear.


    ¡­


    Inside the Baron¡¯s Mansion.


    Baron Todd Rackman sat at a luxurious wooden table, his hands supporting his chin, his face solemn. A silver cup on the table held a red, viscous liquid.


    ¡°Damn Ashen Nest¡­¡±


    Mentioning this name, his face seemed to be covered with a shadow.


    The last time he sent all his subordinates to the mines, they were completely wiped out. His former head butler, Hart, was reportedly captured, and only a few insignificant serfs managed to escape back.


    He initially thought these reports were lies fabricated by those despicable slaves. But a few days later, even the Rackham Family¡¯s elite Eagle Guards suffered heavy losses at the place known as ¡°Ashen Nest.¡±


    Only then did he have to acknowledge the report¡¯s authenticity.


    Even the Northwind Eagle Guards couldn¡¯t conquer the monster¡¯s nest, rumored to be the lair of the Red Dragon called ¡°Flying Flame.¡± How could he possibly attack with the small guard force he had?


    No more gold.


    No more army.


    Only lowly, weak serfs and the guards sent by the family.


    Though he wasn¡¯t the family¡¯s eldest son, he was still a legitimate son of the Duke.


    Did this mean he was destined to guard this remote place all his life, providing food for the family and never getting close to the center of power?


    ¡°I will return to Northwind Castle.¡±


    ¡°Father will eventually recognize me.¡±


    Thinking this, the Baron¡¯s gaunt face looked even darker, with a hint of hunger in his deep eyes. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It seemed he needed some fresh food tonight to calm his mood.


    ¡°My Lord, outside there is¡­¡±


    A soldier hurriedly pushed open the door and entered, appearing to have urgent news to report.


    But when he realized he was interrupting the Baron¡¯s thoughts and saw the hungry and unfriendly gaze, he quickly shut his mouth.


    Todd saw that it was a soldier who had come and suppressed his bloody impulse, slowly and deliberately asking:


    ¡°What is so urgent?¡±


    ¡°Urgent enough¡­ to disturb my rest?¡±


    The soldier felt his scalp tingle as Todd stared at him.


    Though the Baron had not been here long, he was secretly known as the ¡°Bloody Baron.¡±


    Previously, a maid had mysteriously disappeared after soiling his ceremonial robe while cleaning, and she was never seen again in Sgurr Town.


    Thinking of this, the soldier nervously replied:


    ¡°My Lord, it is Hart.¡±


    ¡°There is someone outside claiming to be Hart. He wishes to see you.¡±


    Hearing the familiar name, Todd slapped the table and stood up abruptly, asking loudly:


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he captured?¡±


    The soldier shook his head in panic and quickly answered, ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Todd coldly said, ¡°Bring him in.¡±


    The soldier hesitated and said, ¡°He requested that you go out to meet him. He has something important to present.¡±


    The soldier¡¯s voice had a hint of a sob.


    Thinking of his lost gold and troops, and the rumor of Hart being captured, Todd¡¯s anger flared up. He laughed coldly and said:


    ¡°Fine, fine, fine!¡±


    ¡°Where is he? I will personally go and see.¡±


    ¡°Let me see how this¡­ deserter, my dear subordinate, is faring.¡±


    Baron Todd¡¯s tone was gritted with rage.


    ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡±


    The soldier felt his heart pounding but obediently led the Baron outside.


    The Baron¡¯s mansion, newly built, wasn¡¯t very large. After passing through the hall and walking down a narrow corridor for dozens of meters, they arrived at the entrance.


    The person outside was dressed in rags, with disheveled hair and a filthy appearance, looking more like an Orc. There was no trace of the once confident head butler.


    But Todd recognized the familiar scent of blood on him and immediately confirmed¡ªit was Hart.


    The Baron spoke first, with a sneering tone:


    ¡°Hart, long time no see.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this my most trusted subordinate? The one who promised to bring me gold.¡±


    ¡°Why have you been gone so long and returned now?¡±


    Hart¡¯s expression was uneasy. ¡°My Lord, I have important information to report.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What information?¡±


    Todd looked at him with a half-smile, his gaze filled with both hatred and hunger, his rationality fading.


    He hadn¡¯t fed on fresh blood in a long time. When Hart finished reporting, he would become Todd¡¯s next meal.


    ¡°Please, have your men leave.¡±


    Hart¡¯s voice trembled.


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°You all leave.¡± Todd agreed to the request, dismissing the surrounding guards, and took Hart to a secluded spot in the mansion¡¯s back garden, which also suited his own intentions.


    To him, Hart was delivering himself to death.


    Baron Todd¡¯s pupils had turned crimson. He sneered, ¡°Speak, Hart, I am curious to see how you will justify yourself.¡±


    Hart¡¯s voice trembled even more, his forced smile worse than a cry.


    He said, word by word:


    ¡°The, Dragon, has, come.¡±


    Baron Todd reacted with astonishment, ¡°What?¡±


    But the next moment, he found himself covered by a colossal shadow. The massive wings blocked most of the night sky, obscuring the cascading moonlight.


    The Red Dragon looked down at the Baron from above, its sinister head holding a hint of a smile. Its golden slitted eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.


    ¡°Do you need me to repeat it again? My unseen Baron.¡±


    ¡°The Dragon has come.¡±


    ¡°`

 Chapter 45 - 45: Forced Collaborator

    Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Forced Collaborator


    The dragon¡¯s gaze was still quite oppressive.


    Baron Todd looked up in fear, the scarlet pupils revealing his terror, his previous arrogance nowhere to be seen.


    But he still tried to maintain his composure, hands behind his back, managing to make his voice less shaky:


    ¡°You are the one they call ¡®Flying Flame,¡¯ right?¡±


    ¡°May I ask, what brings you to my territory¡­ Do you have urgent business?¡±


    Cassius keenly perceived the fluctuations in the Magic Web, knowing that the baron was constructing a spell prototype, his face darkened slightly:


    ...


    ¡°Baron Todd, is this how you treat guests from afar?¡±


    ¡°Using rude spells.¡±


    ¡°Instead of noble etiquette and hospitality.¡±


    The baron¡¯s face changed drastically upon being seen through.


    But he still hurriedly fumbled in his dress for some prepared vials and a few bat hairs, quickly casting a spell.


    ¡°Darkness Spell!¡±


    As the bat hairs turned to ash, a thick black fog rapidly expanded from Baron Todd¡¯s center, covering a spherical area with a radius of five meters, enveloping him entirely.


    Even creatures with Dark Vision could not see through this darkness, and non-magical light could not illuminate it. Even low-level light spells under Second Tier were ineffective.


    Cassius just silently watched all this, calmly praising:


    ¡°Quite a good spell, Baron.¡±


    ¡°If it were ordinary humans, they would be too scared to move, allowing you to quietly drain their blood in the dark fear.¡±


    His tone suddenly turned cold.


    ¡°But do you remember you are facing a giant dragon?¡±


    Cassius abruptly turned, his thick and long tail sweeping across with great force.


    The black fog sphere was suddenly swept open, rolling and spreading. It could block light but not physical attacks.


    Baron Todd, who was preparing his next spell in the darkness, was also abruptly struck.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    He flew out several meters.


    Luckily, Baron Todd had some regeneration trait. Although this hit broke all his bones and flesh, they quickly recovered at a visible speed.


    Baron Todd lay on the ground, spitting blood, struggling to pull out a dried-out viper¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°Mayuf¡¯s Strong Acid Arrow!¡±


    A shimmering green arrow swiftly flew towards the red dragon.


    ¡°Shield Spell.¡±


    The red dragon sneered, and an invisible shield appeared before him, blocking the fast-approaching arrow. The strong acid arrow exploded into acid mist but did not harm Cassius in the slightest.


    ¡°Spellcaster?¡±


    Baron Todd¡¯s face turned horrified. A dragon mage, there couldn¡¯t be a worse situation.


    With this in mind, he began constructing a spell prototype.


    ¡°Misty Step!¡±


    The spot where the baron originally stood left only a puff of silver-white smoke, and he appeared tens of meters away by the manor wall, which had twisted, hanging vines.


    Cassius flapped his wings and followed, calmly saying: ¡°Baron, please stop struggling needlessly.¡±


    ¡°Your little tricks¡­¡±


    ¡°Are simply trivial.¡±


    Flames ignited in the red dragon¡¯s pupils. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing the red dragon chasing, Baron Todd hurriedly used his exhausted mind to construct another spell prototype.


    He suddenly pulled down a vine, and the other end of the vine rapidly rose until it was vertically suspended in the air.


    At the last moment when the red dragon was about to grab him, Todd climbed the vine and disappeared, and the vine also vanished.


    ¡°Magic Rope Spell?¡±


    Cassius said with interest to himself.


    This spell was a famous mage¡¯s exclusive escape spell, allowing travel to a small other-dimensional space during the spell¡¯s duration with items possessing the ¡°rope¡± trait.


    Attacks and spells could not pass through the entrance of the other-dimensional space, but creatures inside could see the outside like a window at the rope¡¯s position.


    But once the spell ended, everything in the other-dimensional space would fall out.


    At this moment, Baron Todd, in the other-dimensional space, looked particularly nervous, fearing that the red dragon would notice something was wrong.


    If he needed to breathe, he might have already gasped.


    Cassius seemed to mutter to himself:


    ¡°Interesting spell.¡±


    ¡°But I have already said¡­


    ¡°Your little tricks mean nothing to me!¡±


    As he finished, a faint light barrier quickly emerged centered on the red dragon, covering the entire area.


    ¡°Spell Nullification Barrier!¡±


    The other-dimensional space shattered like a broken glass cup, causing Baron Todd hiding inside to appear out of nowhere and fall heavily to the ground.


    Facing the red dragon¡¯s open bloody maw, Baron Todd finally couldn¡¯t help but slump to the ground, kneeling and begging for mercy:


    ¡°No, no, don¡¯t kill me!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the Duke Brad¡¯s son, a baron of the Northwind Eagle Rackham Family.¡±


    ¡°If you spare my life, my family can give you much gold, far more than you gain by killing me!¡±


    ¡°Great Dragon, I, I am willing to submit to you¡­¡±


    As a mage, Todd naturally had knowledge and understood the greed of red dragons.


    The red dragon looked down at him, eyes slightly narrowed: ¡°I only need you to agree to three conditions of cooperation.¡±


    ¡°I agree, I agree to all!¡±


    Before the words finished, Baron Todd eagerly agreed, afraid that the capricious, brutal red dragon would turn him into ashes.


    Though the red dragon before him seemed relatively rational.


    But who could say for sure?


    Cassius slightly nodded and said:


    ¡°First, I need all your spell scrolls, remember, all of them, to pay for invading the Ashen Nest territory. This is the premise of our cooperation.¡±


    ¡°Second, I welcome trade, even provide gold, but I need to exchange for all kinds of goods, including weapons and armor. Hart will be responsible for this ¡®friendly trade¡¯ caravan.¡±


    ¡°Third, I will send some retainers to protect the caravan and also to station in Sgurr Town to ensure your¡ªmy partner¡¯s safety.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I will betray our cooperation?¡±


    Baron Todd tentatively asked.


    At least for now, the red dragon¡¯s conditions seemed relatively lenient, and he needed to take the opportunity to gain the red dragon¡¯s trust.


    Cassius sneered, saying: ¡°Baron, I have already said, we are here to cooperate. This is a win-win process.¡±


    ¡°Think about it, without trade with Ashen Nest, no gold, no powerful troops, your baronial territory is nothing, just a grain-producing area to be abandoned at any time. An invasion from the North is enough to destroy you.¡±


    ¡°I think¡­ you know what I mean.¡±


    The red dragon¡¯s pupils flickered, as if burning with raging fire.

 Chapter 46 - 46 Caravan

    Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Caravan


    Baron Todd nodded, indicating that he understood.


    Because the fact was indeed so, the Red Dragon before him disdained deceiving him.


    As the thirteenth son, who was not valued by the family, he had angered his father by manipulating power in Northwind Castle and was exiled to the remote Sgurr Town.


    Rather than being granted a territory, it was more accurate to say he was banished.


    This small town, adjacent to Stormy Ridge with a sparse population, faced imminent disaster from any outside invasion, whether it be from Giants or True Dragons, without adequate military power.


    It was better to really seek powerful outsiders nearby to maintain his own power, grow and expand his own forces, and then find an opportunity to break free of control, competing with his brothers to gain his father¡¯s attention.


    ...


    Thinking of this, Todd said ingratiatingly:


    ¡°Thank you for your honesty, Lord Flying Flame. I am very pleased that we can cooperate with you¡ªthe great Red Dragon.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly:


    ¡°Baron, please remember well, acknowledging Ashen Nest¡¯s sovereignty over Stormy Ridge and compensating for your past reckless actions are the premises and foundation of our cooperation.¡±


    Todd replied, ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡±


    Cassius added a touch of mockery to his tone:


    ¡°Then please take your loyal subordinates and return to the Baron¡¯s Mansion. I hope to see what I want tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Flying Flame.¡±


    Baron Todd looked at Hart not far away, hatred for his betrayal deeply hidden in his eyes and almost uncontrollable.


    But thinking of the Red Dragon before him, he did not dare to act immediately and forced a thin, insincere smile onto his pale face.


    Seeing this, Hart had beads of sweat roll down his forehead.


    But when he thought about having the Red Dragon¡¯s backing, ensuring his life was secure and that he would act as a spy for Ashen Nest to check the Baron, he also grinned provocatively.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, my Baron,¡±


    Hart said, gritting his teeth on the last four words.


    Cassius watched the two men with mutual hatred and hidden agendas leave side by side, feeling a perverse satisfaction.


    The conditions he proposed seemed ¡°equal,¡± but were actually malicious. Todd surely noticed this to some extent, but he had no room to refuse.


    Stationing troops and managing trade.


    When the region¡¯s military and financial powers are all in his hands, Baron Todd would be merely a puppet. And in his plan, after the players descended, even the Baron would become dispensable and be replaced.


    The Red Dragon watched Baron Todd¡¯s thin figure.


    This Baron did not become his retainer after signing the contract.


    Because he was a Vampire Variant¡ªa greedy creation filled with a thirst for vampire blood, yet controlled by its vampire creator.


    When vampires held their evil ¡°Ascension Ritual,¡± becoming Ascendant Vampires unafraid of sunlight, these variants would become sacrifices, turning into pools of blood.


    However, if a vampire allowed its variant to sip its own blood, the variant would also become a true vampire, no longer under the creator¡¯s control, although very few vampires would do so.


    In the previous life, regarding the vampire mission, Duke Brad had held an Ascension Ritual, but fortunately, it was stopped by the players. Hundreds of people broke into the castle¡¯s underground with a spree of explosions, solving the crisis.


    ¡°Tsk tsk¡­¡±


    ¡°A Vampire Variant attempting to gain its master¡¯s attention.¡±


    ¡°What a pathetic guy.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s pupils flickered slightly in the darkness, then vanished.


    ¡­


    The next morning.


    A sizable caravan loaded with goods left Sgurr Town.


    The townsfolk were no longer surprised by the sight of a caravan, even though the guards of this one wore thick, heavy armor that concealed their faces and black cloaks that covered their tall frames.


    But leading them was Hart, someone familiar to the townsfolk who had not appeared for several days.


    Since it was Hart leading, it must have been an order from the Baron.


    Coveting the treasures of this ¡°Bloody Baron¡± was undoubtedly foolish.


    The townspeople quickly restrained their curious children, averting their eyes from the caravan, fearing being taken as forced labor.


    Hart rode his horse in the middle of the line.


    The tall guards walked on both sides, breathing heavily.


    Although Hart could not see their faces, knowing they were from Ashen Nest¡¯s forces, he guessed they were likely Great Goblins or Bugbears, which did not alarm him overly; these monsters were his survival assets.


    After returning to the Baron¡¯s Mansion last night, the enraged Baron Todd issued various threats and even vile curses at him, but ultimately dared not harm him, revealing the Baron¡¯s bluff. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Baron Todd did not dare to anger the Red Dragon.


    This was the conclusion Hart came to.


    The goods the caravan carried included armor, weapons, and twenty invaluable Magic Scrolls, clearly displaying Baron Todd¡¯s intent to curry favor.


    This was more of a tribute than a trade.


    ¡°Hoo¡­¡±


    Winter in Anzeta was just that cold. Hart exhaled white breath and couldn¡¯t help but wrap his thick fur coat tighter.


    The snow continued to fall, the fully-loaded wagons leaving deep ruts in the snow, transforming the sizable caravan into a string of black dots in the snowy landscape.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    A strange sound echoed from the snow-covered slope.


    The sound was long and mournful, like some form of sorrowful weeping.


    The caravan guards thought it was the wind and paid little attention.


    But Hart, experienced, listened carefully for a moment and immediately snapped to attention.


    ¡°Stay on guard! That is not the sound of the wind!¡±


    Hart shouted.


    On a distant slope, several fur-covered white figures moved like ghosts in the snow-covered landscape, rushing towards the caravan with mournful howls.


    ¡°Snowmen!¡±


    Hart recognized these monsters at a glance.


    These towering creatures roamed the mountain peaks, hunting and foraging constantly.


    Even in blizzard conditions, Snowmen would be lured by the scent of prey, traversing the cold and wind.


    Hart groaned inwardly. Encountering Snowmen in a snowstorm could not be worse; one misstep meant total annihilation.


    He instinctively wanted to call for the caravan to flee, but then he noticed the ¡°guards¡± removing the black cloths draped over themselves.


    These ¡°guards¡± were nearly two meters tall, with strong, muscular bodies, sharp tusks jutting from their mouths, murky yellow eyes filled with combat fervor and bloodlust, and striking red skin dotted with sparse scales standing out starkly against the snow.


    ¡ªThey were Great Goblins.


    These were Dolores¡¯s most elite troops.


    ¡°Almost forgot¡­ we have our own monsters,¡±


    Hart murmured in astonishment.

 Chapter 47 - 47 Tiefling (1)

    Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Tiefling (1)


    The bitter cold wind blew through the gate of Rock Fortress, causing the goblin guarding the entrance to sneeze involuntarily.


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s really cold¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    The goblin next to him agreed, rubbing his red nose, but accidentally scratching a long gash on his face with his claws.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The goblin yelped.


    ...


    Beads of blood oozed out but quickly solidified.


    Over the past few months, many of the retainers of Ashen Nest had begun to exhibit ¡°Dragonification¡± traits, though not as pronounced as their leader but showing some distinct characteristics of a Red Dragon.


    For example, the occasional sparse scales, sharpened claws and fangs, the fringes on their ears, and a preference for warm or even hot climates¡­


    The Red Dragon, who had been long asleep in the cavern, acted like a massive radiation source, using its Bloodline Gift to influence and transform all the retainers within Ashen Nest.


    Cassius still lay sideways in the cavern, his enormous body heaving gently.


    As the weather turned cold, being a Red Dragon that favored warmth, he loathed going outside and preferred staying in the cavern, spending his days eating and sleeping like any native Red Dragon of Erezer.


    Cassius lazily stretched, slowly opened his eyes, ¡°But there are still things that need to be done.¡±


    He softly called out in Draconic:


    ¡°Chimera¡ª¡ª¡±


    The three-headed beast immediately flew out from a hole in the rocky wall, obediently crouching in front of Cassius, awaiting its master¡¯s orders.


    Since receiving the ¡°Bloodline Gift¡± last time, the once defiant beast had become particularly docile, so much so that even Cassius felt a bit unaccustomed.


    Cassius continued in Draconic, ¡°Take me to find those Tieflings.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Seeing the three heads of the Chimera tilt in unison with confusion.


    The Red Dragon was speechless, picking up an old, horned skull from a corner of the cavern and tossing it in front of the Chimera.


    ¡°Find me these people.¡±


    The lion head of the Chimera leaned in and sniffed carefully, then spoke in its still-unskilled Draconic,


    ¡°Horned, human, not tasty.¡±


    Impatiently, Cassius said, ¡°Yes, them. Take me there.¡±


    Seeing this, the Chimera quickly bowed compliantly to show obedience.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    It then let out a low growl and took off, flapping its wings.


    The Chimera flew out of the warm cavern, leaving the broad Giant Valley, and into the snowstorm-filled sky.


    Cassius followed closely, soaring through the wind and snow.


    ¡­


    Amid the secluded mountains, a clearing was covered with many makeshift tents pitched in the snow, while a nearby spacious cave was brightly lit, surrounded by walls precariously stacked with rocks¡ªthis was the refuge the Tieflings called the ¡°House of Ruin.¡±


    Here resided the Tieflings, with their long horns and red skin.


    The mountains shielded them from pursuers, but couldn¡¯t protect them against the harsh cold and snow.


    The Tieflings still wore ragged clothes in the severe weather, with men chopping wood in the forest, women kindling fires in front of tents to roast their hunted prey, and children collecting dry wood and grass to fuel the bonfire and doing whatever little chores they could.


    Some injured Tieflings were placed in the comparatively warmer cave, wrapped in layers of animal skins and grass velvet, but these measures couldn¡¯t stop their breaths from growing weaker, their eyelids fluttering before closing.


    ¡°Mezulash, if this goes on, we won¡¯t survive the winter.¡±


    ¡°The injured are on the verge of death. We need to go to the nearby towns.¡±


    A female voice, hoarse from the cold, was heard.


    The Tiefling referred to as ¡°Mezulash¡± turned his head.


    His rugged face bore burn scars, and his tall body was clad in blood-stained, battle-scarred armor.


    Speaking in a grave tone, he said, ¡°Lerisa, you still hold on to fantasies about those humans.¡±


    The female Tiefling shook her head in defense:


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Mezulash interrupted her roughly, his voice growing intense:


    ¡°Those pitchforks, those stakes, those blazing houses, those naked bodies hanging at the city gates, the cheers and curses of the citizens, haven¡¯t they revealed their true nature to you?¡±


    ¡°This is humanity, Lerisa.¡±


    ¡°If we go to any town now, we won¡¯t be greeted with fine wine but with ruthless expulsion¡ªand the pursuit of the Old Vampire¡¯s lackeys.¡±


    Lerisa¡¯s voice trembled, tinged with sobs, ¡°They just don¡¯t know the truth, but perhaps, maybe we could clear up the misunderstanding, explain to them¡­¡±


    ¡°You should understand how humans see us, Child of the Devil.¡±


    His cold, black eyes seemed to pierce into her soul, and the sudden gravity in his voice silenced her.


    Mezulash continued,


    ¡°One person is curiosity, two people are a conspiracy.¡±


    He paused.


    ¡°Three¡­ people are a curse.¡±


    ¡°The moment they raise their blades against us, urged on by hatred, there¡¯s no room left for misunderstandings.¡±


    Finishing his words, Mezulash ignored Lerisa¡¯s sobs, silently wiping his bloodstained Silver Sword.


    The polished blade reflected his weathered face.


    Horns curled like those of a ram, eyes pure black without irises, sharp canine teeth, red skin, his appearance still largely human, but his Devil lineage was clearly marked.


    ¡°Such a naive fool.¡±


    Mezulash couldn¡¯t help but recall his past life, those painful yet intertwined memories.


    At Northwind Castle, his younger self often faced stares and whispers due to his identity as a ¡°Devil¡¯s Offspring,¡± bearing the brunt of street violence and insults, always seeing distrust and fear in others¡¯ eyes.


    But he still had human friends he could trust.


    This was a kind of luck.


    And a kind of cruel fate.


    Such genuine concern from his friends kept a spark of kindness and trust in young Mezulash¡¯s heart.


    Thus, he joined the City Guard Army, becoming a paladin at a young age, taking the Oath of Redemption.


    Paladins of the Oath of Redemption face evil creatures, hoping to turn their enemies toward the light, resorting to violence only as a last measure.


    And, except in situations where it would clearly save other lives, they never kill their enemies.


    The young Tiefling believed that everyone could be redeemed, that all could tread the path of mercy and justice.


    Mezulash believed his benevolent actions could correct the world¡¯s biases against his Devil bloodline, and it seemed he was moving towards that goal.

 Chapter 48 - 48 Tiefling (II)

    Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Tiefling (II)


    Very quickly, the exceptionally talented Mezulash became the captain of the City Defense Army in Northwind Castle, maintaining public order and taking on the responsibility of protecting the city. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    During this period, he found a beloved wife from his own race, soon had children, and bought a loft in the city. Everything in life seemed to be heading in a beautiful direction.


    But one day, everything changed.


    That day, he was diligently investigating a series of disappearances in the city, not noticing the strange looks people were giving him, thinking it was just an ordinary day.


    But then His Grace, the Duke, gave a speech.


    The seemingly harmonious human neighbors suddenly showed a different face. They raised torches, stormed into his home, and tied his wife and child to a pyre, burning them alive.


    ...


    When he arrived upon hearing the news, everything he had was reduced to ashes. His former comrades were slaughtering his people, just like slaughtering cattle and sheep.


    Crying in grief, Mezulash swung his Silver Sword, killing all the perpetrators present.


    He became the Oathbreaker.


    The Radiance burning in the heart of the Redemption Knight had extinguished, leaving only darkness; the cruel reality shattered his naive ideals completely.


    ¡°What a¡­ naive fool.¡±


    He repeated again.


    Suddenly, the urgent sound of horns came from outside the cave.


    Mezulash was abruptly pulled back to reality, grabbed his long sword, and hurriedly walked out of the cave.


    ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡±


    The Guards stationed at the camp gate looked panic-stricken: ¡°It¡¯s Snowmen! More than one Snowman!¡±


    ¡°Howl¡ª¡ª¡±


    In the deadly cold, the howls of Snowmen echoed through the remote mountains, sweeping across the slopes with the cold wind, instilling extreme fear into the hearts of the gathered Tieflings.


    These monsters could smell the scent of fresh flesh from miles away and track it through the snowstorm.


    Mezulash looked up, dozens of ghostly white figures charged down the slope like a tide.


    ¡°Everyone, prepare for battle!¡±


    ¡°Damacus, shoot them to death.¡±


    The Tiefling Warrior called ¡°Damacus¡± nodded solemnly, drawing his bowstring.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    With the piercing whistling sound, an arrow pierced the forehead of a Snowman, causing it to fall straight down.


    Several Tiefling Warriors behind Damacus also began to draw their bows and nock arrows.


    However, shooting up the slope from below, and with the blizzard as an obstacle, they did not possess their captain¡¯s superb archery skills, causing many of the arrows to quickly bury themselves in the snow.


    Damacus fired several arrows in succession.


    Two hits out of seven, causing two more Snowmen to fall.


    But in such harsh weather, the Snowmen moved like phantoms in the snow, making it impossible for even an archery expert like Damacus to guarantee accuracy, unable to stop the Snowmen¡¯s tidal charge.


    ¡°It¡¯s not working, Mezulash, the snow is too heavy.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t see clearly.¡±


    Shouting, Damacus fired another arrow, taking down a Snowman.


    But the tidal wave of Snowmen had already closed in less than a hundred meters from the camp.


    If these hungry, blood-craving Snowmen breached the almost defenseless camp, it would be a complete disaster.


    ¡°Follow me, charge out to meet them!¡±


    Mezulash raised his sword high, followed by over forty Tieflings.


    These Tieflings were poorly equipped, some without even swords, holding only pitchforks and torches, but their eyes were filled with determination.


    They might have been merchants, clerks, or artists, but at this moment, to protect the camp, to protect their families, they had no choice but to be warriors.


    The Snowmen surged forward, their eyes filled with a greedy desire for flesh as they stared at the Tieflings.


    These Snowmen, more than three meters tall, covered in snow-like white fur, with their massive and powerful bodies, saw the average Tiefling merely as naked prey.


    Mezulash led the charge, heading straight for a Snowman.


    But the Snowman did not immediately pounce, instead watching the Tiefling with an eerie gaze.


    ¡°Shivering Gaze¡±


    Its small eyes shone with a ghostly blue light, the freezing gaze capable of instantly freezing its prey.


    The gaze fell upon Mezulash, instantly filling him with a bone-chilling cold, almost freezing his entire body.


    ¡°Damn monster¡­¡±


    But Mezulash cursed softly, relying on his robust body to resist the cold, pointing a finger.


    ¡°Inferno Scold!¡±


    Suddenly, the Snowman was surrounded by burning Hellfire, screaming in agony.


    The fire-fearing monster¡¯s fur was ignited by the inextinguishable flames, making it desperately pat its body.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    With a fierce shout, Mezulash leaped several meters high, chopping off the burning head of the Snowman with one blow.


    The nearby Snowman attempted to use Shivering Gaze, but it was no longer effective on Mezulash.


    ¡°Downward Slash!¡±


    Using his downward momentum, Mezulash¡¯s long sword cleaved into another Snowman¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Howl!¡±


    The Snowman howled in pain, its large hand instinctively swiping at the Tiefling.


    ¡°Cause injury!¡±


    A ghostly green Necrosis Power spread from the sword to the Snowman¡¯s body, continuously corroding and expanding its wound.


    The next moment, Mezulash, using this power, forcibly severed the Snowman¡¯s entire left shoulder along with its arm.


    Blue blood splattered on the Tiefling¡¯s face; his expression remained unchanged, his eyes unblinking.


    After consecutively slaying two Snowmen, he surveyed the battlefield holding his sword, seeing Tieflings and Snowmen engaged in fierce combat, with several Tiefling Warriors already turned into ice sculptures by the Snowmen¡¯s Shivering Gaze.


    Just as another Tiefling was about to be frozen, encased in ice.


    ¡°Guardian Aura!¡±


    Scarlet light flickered around Mezulash, temporarily shielding against the Snowmen¡¯s Shivering Gaze and halting the freezing of the Tiefling.


    He stepped forward, plunging his sword into the Snowman¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Howl¡ª¡ª¡±


    More and more Snowmen surrounded him, a dozen in total, surging from all directions to kill the Tiefling Holy Warrior first.


    Mezulash remained calm in the face of the approaching Snowmen, merely raising his long sword high.


    ¡°Oathbreaker, Guiding Divine Power¡­¡±


    ¡°Terror Manifestation!¡±


    The Oathbreaker Paladin summoned the darkest emotions, condensing them into a burst of magical intimidation.


    Scarlet light radiated from the center of the long sword, rapidly spreading around.


    Each Snowman surrounding him saw their deepest fear, plunging them into inescapable terror, leaving them rooted in place.


    To him, these Snowmen were now just sitting ducks.


    ¡°Downward Slash!¡±


    Mezulash¡¯s sword sliced through the throats of several Snowmen, sending blood splattering everywhere.


    A few breaths later, the dozen giant Snowmen fell backward, and no Snowman around him could stand.


    ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­¡±


    Mezulash knelt on one knee, leaning on his sword, panting heavily.

 Chapter 49 - 49 Tiefling (3)

    Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Tiefling (3)


    The battle still raged on, with many Tieflings frozen into ice sculptures, torn apart, and devoured, yet many snowmen also fell under the Tieflings¡¯ onslaught, their bodies disappearing into the thick snow.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a tremendous roar came from afar.


    The sound was chilling, sweeping across the entire hillside with the cold wind.


    Immediately, all the snowmen howled in response, their voices echoed endlessly, traveling across the undulating mountains, sending shivers down everyone¡¯s spine.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ...


    Mezulash slowly looked up.


    At the edge of the hillside, a towering snowman beat its chest, raising its head high.


    Its size was far greater than an ordinary snowman, towering over three men combined, standing like a snow-covered hill in the snowfield.


    It had large, curved horns on either side of its head, teeth sharp enough to pierce a human skull, and its ghostly blue eyes exuded an arctic chill, intensifying the blizzard around it.


    ¡°The Giant Yeti.¡±


    Mezulash took a deep breath, uttering the name that struck fear into all the northern residents.


    These towering snowmen often featured in mothers¡¯ scary tales for children, fiercely territorial and savage, attacking and devouring any warm-blooded creature they encountered, scattering the remains in the snow.


    ¡°Everyone back off!¡±


    The Tiefling Holy Warrior halted his comrades who were eager to charge forward, stepping ahead alone, pointing his longsword defiantly at the monster.


    ¡°It¡¯s my opponent.¡±


    The distant Giant Yeti let out an excited hunting howl, leaping over ten meters, sending waves of snow flying.


    It landed in front of the Tiefling, eyes fixed on him, the freezing magical power in its gaze seeming to freeze everything in its path.


    ¡°Shivering Gaze!¡±


    This magical stare was more terrifying than any snowman¡¯s before.


    Instantly, Mezulash felt an intense cold, as if his entire body was submerged in ice water, every inch of skin and bone freezing solid, an unbearable sensation.


    ¡°Guardian Aura!¡±


    The Tiefling resisted the lure of eternal sleep, a scarlet aura emerging around him. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The aura guarded his body, fending off the extreme cold¡¯s magical invasion, allowing him to partially recover from the freezing state.


    ¡°Infernal Rebuke!¡±


    Mezulash pointed out again, a ring of flames surrounding the Giant Yeti.


    However, this feeble flame was insignificant to the enormous Giant Yeti, which slowly opened its bloody mouth, and tiny, dense ice shards appeared in its throat.


    ¡°It¡¯s Freezing Breath!¡±


    Suddenly, a blast of cold air capable of freezing any warm-blooded creature into ice spewed from its mouth, covering a large conical area in front, extinguishing the infernal flames, and rushing toward the Tiefling Holy Warrior.


    Mezulash rolled to the left, barely avoiding the breath.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    ¡°What a terrifying breath.¡±


    He propped himself up, panting, only to find his fingers on the right hand frozen numb and completely losing sense from the cold he had touched earlier.


    Fortunately, the Giant Yeti¡¯s breath wasn¡¯t a continuous attack and required time to recharge. Impatiently, it charged forward, ready to engage in close combat with the small Tiefling.


    ¡°If I take a direct hit¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll die.¡±


    Mezulash felt a lingering fear, his gaze toward the charging Giant Yeti grew more serious.


    With this thought, he no longer hesitated and advanced with his sword.


    ¡°Curse Spell!¡±


    He shouted, the black glow of necromancy enveloping his sword as he swung it at the Giant Yeti.


    The Giant Yeti instinctively raised its thick arms to block.


    The enormous strength sent Mezulash flying back with his sword, but at the same time, the sharp sword cut through its white fur, allowing the curse spell to take effect.


    ¡°Roaar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Giant Yeti stood rooted to the spot as if immobilized.


    It clutched its head with both hands, roaring in agony.


    Mezulash rolled several times on the snow to absorb the impact, then, despite the pain, he scrambled to his feet and charged at the Giant Yeti again.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Giant Yeti roared again, its body swaying, pounding its chest in a frenzy, as if trying to break free from the curse.


    Mezulash knew he had only one minute.


    He once was a Redemption Knight, his sword glowed with holy radiance as if an angel descended to the earth. Now, the Oathbreaker¡¯s sword gleamed with a blood-red light, akin to a hellish glow.


    But it didn¡¯t matter, he just needed to follow his own will.


    ¡°Supreme Holy Slash!¡±


    With a shout, he leaped high, his longsword enveloped in a scarlet, breathtaking glow.


    But just as the Tiefling was about to strike, the Giant Yeti¡¯s gaze cleared instantly, raising its strong arm to block.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    A sound of the sword cutting through flesh.


    Mezulash¡¯s sword cleaved off the Giant Yeti¡¯s massive hand.


    The Giant Yeti roared a blend of pain, anger, and frenzy.


    Its other giant hand seized the descending Mezulash.


    ¡°This is bad!¡±


    Mezulash struggled fiercely, but under the absolute strength of the Giant Yeti, he couldn¡¯t budge an inch.


    The monster¡¯s gaping maw loomed larger in his eyes.


    He could even feel the bone-chilling cold emanating from its throat.


    The Giant Yeti¡¯s eyes, filled with the hatred of losing its hand, indicated it intended to swallow the Tiefling whole!


    Desperation struck, Mezulash raised his longsword, using his last ounce of strength to fend off the Giant Yeti¡¯s biting attempts.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡ª¡±


    The longsword clashed against the Giant Yeti¡¯s great fangs.


    The surrounding Tiefling Warriors hurried to aid their leader.


    But their swords and arrows were like pinpricks on the tough hide of the Giant Yeti, merely an itch, while the nearby snowmen seized the opportunity for a counterattack, causing more losses.


    Seizing the opportunity created by the Giant Yeti¡¯s distraction, Mezulash unleashed his final oath forsaking magic.


    ¡°Darkness Spell!¡±


    A dense fog spread from the Tiefling, enveloping the Giant Yeti, obscuring its vision.


    But even in the darkness, the monster gripped him tightly, refusing to let go.


    At the same time, the Giant Yeti dragged him along the snow, nearing the edge of the dark fog.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°I will lead my tribe¡­¡±


    In the shadowy mist, Mezulash¡¯s jet-black eyes shone with determination.


    ¡°To survive.¡±


    His longsword gleamed with a scarlet glow, again slashing at the Giant Yeti¡¯s head.


    ¡°Supreme Holy Slash!¡±

 Chapter 50 - 50: Tiefling (4)

    Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Tiefling (4)


    The giant evil yeti also realized the danger of this attack, so it quickly gathered its strength, and dense ice gravel appeared deep in its throat, sending bone-chilling cold straight at the Tiefling paladin.


    ¡°Freezing Breath!¡±


    But Mezulash still pressed forward against the piercing cold wind, wielding his sword with both hands and slashing down fiercely.


    The giant evil yeti tilted its head, and the longsword struck the large, coiled horns on its head, slowly cutting them. But the yeti resisted the blade with great force, causing the horns to shake violently from side to side, making it difficult for Mezulash to concentrate his strength.


    The guardian aura around Mezulash flickered, barely holding off the invasion of the cold.


    The giant evil yeti¡¯s severed arm continued to bleed, and Mezulash¡¯s body gradually started to freeze. This was their final struggle for life.


    ...


    For a moment, they were locked in a stalemate, both trying to kill the other.


    At that moment, a sudden change occurred.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Several scorching fireballs struck the giant evil yeti¡¯s back, charring large patches of its fur and causing it to stagger.


    The power of the flames even penetrated into its flesh, scorching its cold blood.


    The weakened giant evil yeti let out a painful howl and instinctively let go, throwing the Tiefling to the side.


    It turned its head abruptly, pounding its chest, trying to intimidate the despicable attacker.


    Yet, what it saw was a blaze of fire.


    ¡°Supreme Flame Breath!¡±


    In an instant, the snow evaporated, and the exposed ground emitted plumes of white smoke. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The giant evil yeti, which had previously been menacing, still stood there, but its entire body was now charred and blurry, emitting a smell of burnt flesh.


    A slight breeze blew, and that charred body fell straight down, crumbling into a pile of fine ashes, which were soon scattered by the wind.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, a weak flame creature.¡±


    Cassius folded his wings and descended to the ground, stepping right onto the remaining ashes of the carcass.


    Information refreshed on his panel.


    [You¡¯ve killed the Giant Evil Yeti (Challenge Level 9) and gained 5000xp]


    [Your level has increased to 6]


    The pleasure of snatching kills was just so satisfying¡ªa strong level 9 monster taken down with a single hit.


    As the giant evil yeti turned to ashes, the other yetis scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing back to the snow-covered mountains.


    Though the yetis fled, the Tieflings were still tense.


    ¡ªBecause they now faced an even stronger and unpredictable Red Dragon.


    Although it had helped them kill the giant evil yeti, no one knew whether this intruding dragon was friend or foe, especially given its notorious reputation for evil and brutality.


    The Tiefling warriors held their swords and shields, watching the Red Dragon warily as it slowly approached, but no one dared to anger the dragon.


    Mezulash used his longsword to support himself, barely managing to climb up from the snow.


    He tried to remain calm, watching the Red Dragon before him¡ªits three or four meters long, massive and muscular body was extraordinarily strong, covered in bright, metallic scales, and its mouth exuded a scorching sulfuric breath, as if a volcano lay dormant within it.


    A powerful Red Dragon, absolutely invincible.


    This was his final judgment.


    Red Dragons were infamous for their brutality, and any offense could provoke them, resulting in fiery destruction.


    The most famous Red Dragon around Stormy Ridge recently was ¡°Flying Flame,¡± the one who had massacred the Eagle Guards.


    The enemy of my enemy is my friend.


    With that in mind, he commanded:


    ¡°Lower your weapons.¡±


    Although the Tiefling warriors were reluctant, they obeyed the order and dropped their weapons.


    Mezulash sheathed his longsword at his waist and bowed with difficulty.


    ¡°Honorable ¡®Flying Flame,¡¯ thank you for helping us eliminate our enemy. Once we settle down, we will give you ample compensation to show our sincerity.¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t know¡­ why have you graced us with your presence?¡±


    Cassius watched the Tiefling before him, not answering directly but saying with some amusement:


    ¡°Are you the leader of the Tiefling resistance?¡±


    ¡°The one they say devours three humans at every meal? The devil¡¯s offspring, the Child of Hell?¡±


    Mezulash¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change; he spoke calmly:


    ¡°Those are merely slanders from the Rackman Family. Surely, you know better than I the arrogance and impudence of those blood-sucking parasites. The Rackman Family is always like this¡ªjust as they¡¯ve brazenly invaded your territory.¡±


    Cassius looked down at the Tiefling, saying, ¡°A nice speech. But words and this pathetic army aren¡¯t enough to get you through the winter in Anzeta.¡±


    Mezulash replied respectfully:


    ¡°You foresaw this, so you came, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Cassius shook his head lightly, saying: ¡°Honestly, you mean nothing to me. Only you have a bit of value; the rest of the Tieflings¡­ might be worth less than a box of silver coins.¡±


    Mezulash said firmly:


    ¡°But I will fight to the death for them, give up my life.¡±


    Cassius¡¯ eyes narrowed slightly, and he said: ¡°I can help you fight against Rackman Family¡¯s army.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re already their enemy. It has nothing to do with the Tieflings.¡±


    Cassius sneered and shook his head, saying:


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t change the fact that I can decide your fate. If I negotiate with the Rackman Family, tell them your location, and grant them military access, what do you think will happen next?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, you have no leverage to negotiate with me.¡±


    He continued:


    ¡°Think about it, my Ashen Nest can accommodate Tieflings.¡±


    ¡°I can offer you shelter, help you survive the harsh winter, and even¡­ fend off the Eagle Guards chasing you.¡±


    This tempting offer made Mezulash¡¯s breath quicken slightly.


    The light of his ideal had long since dimmed; now his only wish was to protect his tribe.


    And the opportunity was right before him.


    The Tiefling hesitated for a moment but finally spoke slowly:


    ¡°Then, Lord¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the price?¡±


    This Tiefling paladin, who had experienced so much hardship at a young age, knew that everything came at a price. There were no free lunches in this world, just hatred that arrived unbidden.


    Cassius leaned in slightly, his words like a devil¡¯s whisper:


    ¡°Northwind Castle.¡±


    ¡°I want you to become my retainers and help me seize it all.¡±


    Mezulash raised his head slightly and saw that the Red Dragon¡¯s golden pupils seemed to be burning with hellfire.


    He had once yearned for light and redemption, walking the path of mercy and justice. Even after breaking his oath, he still habitually followed the paladin¡¯s code of redemption, trying to maintain his nature.


    But now, for survival, just to live, he had to make this choice.


    Become the retainer of an evil dragon, help him seize the city.


    ¡°Yes¡­ master.¡±


    ¡°The Tiefling tribe is willing to follow your will.¡±


    Mezulash, the paladin who had once sworn to kneel only to deities, bent his knees and knelt down.

 Chapter 51 - 51 Tiefling (5)

    Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Tiefling (5)


    In the ¡°House of Ruin,¡± Mezulash gathered all the Tiefling refugees.


    Regardless of age, gender, or rank, as long as they were conscious, all Tiefling refugees were summoned to the camp square. This place was not only for their daily meetings but also for announcing significant news.


    Mezulash first looked around, gazing at his kin¡¯s thin, scarred, and tormented faces.


    ¡°I¡­ did nothing wrong.¡±


    Mezulash murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear.


    He finally made up his mind and slowly raised his longsword.


    ...


    ¡°Fellow kin, I have had enough of a life of wandering and endless pursuit.¡±


    ¡°Our Tiefling blood has flowed enough.¡±


    ¡°What we need is not to run away¡ª¡±


    ¡°But to exact revenge. An eye for an eye, blood for blood.¡±


    This Tiefling Holy Warrior, usually so composed, now spoke with fervor, his pitch-black eyes gleaming with a light never seen before.


    This left many Tieflings who knew him well in disbelief.


    ¡°From now on, we will join the Ashen Nest.¡±


    ¡°The great Red Dragon, destroyer of the Eagle Guards, ¡°Flying Flame¡± Lord Cassius will be our master, providing us shelter and leading us to avenge those vampires and humans who persecuted us.¡±


    ¡°We will reclaim Northwind Castle, reclaim our former homeland.¡±


    ¡°Lord Cassius will lead us in establishing new and truly fair rules.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted, voices of discussion and argument filling the air.


    Many Tieflings, whose relatives were massacred in that tragic event, had long made revenge their only reason to live. Now, the flames in their hearts were ignited by Mezulash¡¯s words.


    They raised their weapons and cheered.


    ¡°Revenge!¡±


    ¡°Revenge! Revenge!¡±


    ¡°Storm Northwind Castle!¡±


    ¡°Cut off Duke Rackman¡¯s head!¡±


    However, there were also many different voices. Though they were to some extent affected by the tragedy, they still believed in goodness and humanity, hoping to secure their place through peaceful means.


    For example, Lerisa.


    This young female Tiefling, full of shock and resentment, couldn¡¯t help but step forward to persuade:


    ¡°No, Mezulash, we must not become retainers of an evil dragon.¡±


    ¡°If we do that, what difference is there between us and that blood-sucking duke!¡±


    Many Tieflings agreed with her, expressing verbal support or nodding in agreement.


    However, Mezulash merely stared at her.


    ¡°Lerisa, you did not listen to what I said before.¡±


    The look in his eyes puzzled her, as if it contained a certain pity, or perhaps reluctance.


    But she didn¡¯t care about that at the moment; she was more concerned about making her point.


    Lerisa shook her head vigorously, arguing:


    ¡°No, Mezulash, you¡¯re wrong¡­¡±


    ¡°Those humans are under the duke¡¯s manipulation. We can tell them the truth and rally them to peacefully resist the duke¡¯s bloody rule. That¡¯s the right path.¡±


    ¡°I have already contacted a group of righteous men from various places. But if we become subordinates to the evil dragon, everything will be ruined, I¡­¡±


    Her voice suddenly halted.


    The sound of a sword piercing flesh echoed.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Lerisa¡¯s face was covered in blood.


    Those beautiful, blue, lake-like eyes stared in disbelief at the man who had plunged the sword into her chest.


    ¡°For¡­?¡±


    It seemed she had never anticipated such an occurrence.


    Mezulash¡¯s familiar pitch-black eyes were cold and distant now, making her feel somewhat alien, even horrified.


    Before losing consciousness, she seemed to see Mezulash¡¯s lips move slightly, recognizing the words he wanted to say as she was versed in lip-reading.


    ¡ª¡ªIt was the Hellish phrase for ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Her delicate body slowly fell.


    Warm blood gushed out, staining the pristine snow red.


    Mezulash swiftly pulled out his sword.


    He knew that cunning Red Dragon was observing everything from the shadows. This was a ¡°credential,¡± a gesture showing that he had no way back, only submission.


    It was also to declare to all the camp¡¯s clansmen that the so-called ¡°Peace Faction¡± had no place to stand anymore.


    Lerisa was not wrong; she was just too naive.


    Naive enough to believe that as long as there was mutual trust, there would be no conflict in the world, just like he once believed. But now, this former Redemption Knight was covered in blood.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lerisa.¡±


    ¡°This was just for our kin¡­ to survive.¡±


    The blood splattered on his face slowly flowed down, Mezulash thought to himself.


    All around, the Tieflings seemed stunned by the bloody scene, the air frozen, everyone silent.


    No one dared to speak again, even those Tieflings who had called for ¡°revenge¡± fell silent.


    ¡°Lerisa colluded with external enemies, leaking information¡­¡±


    ¡°Dealt with according to military law.¡±


    Ignoring the bloodstains on his face, Mezulash coldly raised his blood-stained longsword.


    ¡°Revenge!¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He repeated.


    ¡°Revenge! Revenge!¡±


    ¡°Reclaim Northwind Castle! Blood for blood!¡±


    More Tieflings responded to his call this time, cheering in rhythm. Though some of them perhaps did not look as natural.


    A sudden dragon¡¯s roar echoed in the sky.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon descended slowly from the sky, standing on the highest boulder, looking down from above at the Tieflings.


    Mezulash turned around timely, blending into the crowd, saying no more.


    Cassius spread his wings slowly, casting a massive shadow over the crowd, making the Tieflings feel a strong sense of oppression.


    ¡°I, Cassius, lord of the Ashen Nest, welcome you to join us.¡±


    ¡°I will provide you with ample protection and support, bestow upon you honor and strength, and help you build a town here.¡±


    ¡°And in return, you will need to be my eternal retainers, fight for me, help me defeat that greedy Northwind Eagle, and seize the entire Northwind Castle.¡±


    Mezulash stepped forward, respectfully saying:


    ¡°This town will be born under your shadow, please grant it a name.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s golden eyes showed a hint of playfulness:


    ¡°Since you are called Devil¡¯s Offspring, how about naming it ¡®Barto City¡¯?¡±


    Mezulash¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, showing no signs of anger at the insult, and he calmly said:


    ¡°Thank you for your grace.¡±


    Cassius half-closed his eyes, looking at the composed Mezulash below, thinking to himself that this indeed was the man who had troubled the entire Rackman Family for over a decade.


    The nearly emotionless rationality, truly a terrifying fellow.

 Chapter 52 - 52 Tiefling (6)

    Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Tiefling (6)


    Suddenly, a child¡¯s scream echoed from the camp¡¯s entrance.


    The Tieflings quickly turned their heads to look.


    ¡°Hey ho, hey ho, hey ho¡­¡±


    They saw several strong and mighty ogres shouting as they carried thick logs, casually walking into the camp. The Tiefling guards at the entrance did not dare to stop them.


    ¡°Everyone, line up¡ª¡±


    Another troop of more than thirty half-dragonized hobgoblins appeared at the entrance of the ¡°House of Ruin,¡± marching in orderly formation, ready to station themselves in the camp.


    ...


    Hundreds of Dragon Vein Kobolds followed closely behind, natural diggers and builders, destined to be the main force in constructing this town.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Ancestral wyverns roared freely in the sky; any yeti daring to intrude would be reduced to ashes by their flames.


    ¡°Oh my god, ogres are actually our allies.¡±


    ¡°Will these kobolds steal our stuff¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that a wyvern?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be working with these monsters from now on.¡±


    The Tiefling refugees had mixed feelings about the oddly shaped ¡°reinforcements,¡± some joyous, some fearful, some anxious, some astonished.


    But one thing was certain


    ¡ªthey couldn¡¯t stop these monsters from entering.


    Faced with such a grand spectacle, the always composed Mezulash couldn¡¯t help but be stunned, and he couldn¡¯t resist speaking:


    ¡°Master, this was surely not a spur-of-the-moment idea.¡±


    ¡°This¡­ was part of your plan, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Cassius, overlooking the arriving retainers, exhaled a breath of sulfur-tinged heat:


    ¡°I told you all before, you have no bargaining power.¡±


    Mezulash shook his head with a bitter smile:


    ¡°Master, you really aren¡¯t like a pure Red Dragon. If it weren¡¯t for your immense strength, I would suspect¡­ you were a Green Dragon fond of manipulating situations.¡±


    Cassius simply replied: ¡°That¡¯s why you can stand here alive, instead of being turned to ashes the moment you said that.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your extraordinary mercy.¡±


    Mezulash realized he had overstepped, ignoring his own position, and quickly nodded in apology.


    Cassius paid no mind, simply saying: ¡°Take me to your cavern. I¡¯m interested in some things there.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    This time Mezulash didn¡¯t speak further, silently leading the way.


    Reaching the depth of the camp¡¯s cavern, Cassius finally saw what he wanted to see.


    ¡ªThe Ancient Teleportation Circle.


    Purple runes appeared on the rock walls; their patterns were inscrutable yet emanated a profound sense of order from the depths of the soul.


    This was what players in their past lives commonly called a ¡°respawn point.¡± Countless mages studied it, yet still couldn¡¯t understand how these arrays, devoid of mana fluctuations, created these ¡°Starfallen.¡±


    And the Ancient Teleportation Circle in the ¡°House of Ruin¡± was the players¡¯ initial spawn point.


    Mezulash said: ¡°Master, please forgive our ignorance; even the most learned in the camp can¡¯t discern the purpose of these ancient runes.¡±


    Cassius replied: ¡°You¡¯ll know in due course.


    ¡°Protect this place well. Absolutely no one must discover or destroy it.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mezulash solemnly declared: ¡°I will follow your command.¡±


    Cassius seemed to recall something and then asked: ¡°That contract, it¡¯s still in your possession?¡±


    The so-called contract referred to the one Duke Rackman signed with an entity in the darkness, exchanging a thousand lives to transform into vampires.


    Mezulash once pursued a disappearance case to the Ducal Mansion and got it at the cost of near-death, bringing deadly retribution upon his family.


    Hearing this question, Mezulash nodded gravely, recalling those tragedies.


    It wasn¡¯t just a contract; it was evidence of a crime.


    A blood-soaked piece of evidence.


    Cassius¡¯s tone was indisputable: ¡°Three days from now, bring the contract to Ashen Nest and find me.¡±


    Then, this Tiefling Paladin turned and left to coordinate the town¡¯s construction.


    Cassius squinted slightly, examining Mezulash¡¯s information.


    This Holy Warrior¡¯s Divine Sense felt the Red Dragon¡¯s scrutiny, but he treated it as usual, making no reaction.


    [Target category is [Retainer]; you can perceive the following information.]


    [Oathbreaker Sword, Mezulash]


    Category: Medium Humanoid (Tiefling), Lawful Neutral


    AC: 17 (City Guard Armor)


    Speed: 40 feet on land


    Strength¡ª19


    Agility¡ª16


    Constitution¡ª15


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª14


    Charisma¡ª17


    Occupational Level: Paladin ¨C Oathbreaker Level 11


    Military Weapons: Longsword, Great Sword, Heavy Crossbow


    Simple Weapons: Dagger, Light Crossbow


    Skill Proficiency: Military +7, Hunting +6, Insight +6, Athletics +6, Knowledge (Religion) +4, Ruling +4, Leadership +4, Survival +4, Stealth +2


    Senses: Passive Perception 17


    Languages: Common, Infernal


    Abilities: Supreme Holy Slash, Divine Sense, Guardian Aura, Aura of Courage, Oathbreaker Guiding Divine Power: Terror Manifestation, Oathbreaker Guiding Divine Power: Control Undead


    Feats: Alert, Downward Slash, Defensive Duelist, Great Weapon Master, Heavy Armor Use


    Battle Gear: Bloodstained Great Sword, Standard Issue City Defense Armor, Paladin Cloak, Tiefling Ring


    Oathbreaker Spells


    3rd level: Inferno Scold, Inflict Wounds


    5th level: Crown of Madness, Darkness Spell


    9th level: Animate Dead, Curse Spell


    Challenge Level: 10 (5900 XP)


    Assessment: When the crimson curtain falls, the Paladin breaks all vows, making their final stand.


    ¡°Aside from Ramp, none of Ashen Nest¡¯s retainers could compare to him.¡±


    This was Cassius¡¯s assessment.


    In his view, Mezulash¡¯s stalemate with the giant yeti was purely because he had recently become an oathbreaker and was not yet familiar with his abilities.


    If he could master his spells and abilities, defeating the giant yeti alone would be no problem.


    Paladins were a favored occupation in past lives too, with their combination of melee and spells, nicknamed ¡°Holy Daddy¡± by people.


    Although the strength of the Oathbreaker wasn¡¯t as high as the Oath of Vengeance or Oath of Conquest, it was still formidable.


    ¡°Players are still needed¡­¡±


    Cassius was somewhat looking forward to it. If these beings, known as ¡°The Fourth Calamity,¡± could be properly harnessed, they would be a formidable force.


    And the first batch of beta testers would appear within the Ancient Teleportation Circle of the ¡°House of Ruin,¡± many of whom would become illustrious figures in the future.


    Cassius flew into the sky, overlooking the still-primitive ¡°House of Ruin.¡±


    The ogres planted the logs in the ground as pillars, framing the buildings. The kobolds scurried around, hammering and tinkering, while some Tieflings stood awkwardly by, unsure of how to help.


    In the distance, goblins had begun laying roads to connect this place to the Giant Human Valley, though progress was slow due to the snow.


    The future Barto City would be built here, with buildings rising one after another. This place would become the gathering ground for Starfallen and the first ¡°Main City¡± for players.

 Chapter 53 - 53 Nest and Ascension

    Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Nest and Ascension


    Ashen Nest. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Quick, bring the stone up.¡±


    ¡°Lord Dolores said to make room for the catapult.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    ¡°Captain, why did you hit me?¡±


    ¡°You idiot, you blocked the window!¡±


    ...


    The goblins were still routinely building fortifications, making Rock Fortress even more indestructible.


    The well-trained great goblins took over the sentry duties of the goblins, further lowering their status within the nest, but these timid and cowardly creatures dared only to be angry and not speak up.


    ¡°Open the gate, we want to come in.¡±


    The lizardfolk called out from below the city gate.


    Behind them, they dragged a huge corpse on a sled, with warm blood still flowing down.


    The lizardfolk, new arrivals, temporarily took on the tasks of patrolling and hunting.


    The strong and robust lizardfolk chieftain Acker had superb hunting skills; he always managed to lead the lizardfolk to encircle and kill massive woolly boars and mammoths. Meanwhile, the old shaman stayed in the valley, using Druid spells to heal the wounded.


    The half-goat people loved the strongest wine, the finest spices, and the most dazzling dances.


    Shortly after entering Ashen Nest, these bard-like fellows spent sleepless nights in wild celebration.


    It wasn¡¯t until Ramp, irritated by the noise, killed one of the dancing half-goat people with a club and roasted the body, that these fellows finally quieted down, although they appeared somewhat dejected.


    They played different melodies on their magic pan flutes, causing enemies to fall into states of panic or charm.


    Meanwhile, the ogres once again gathered in the depths of the valley, and Ramp resumed his literacy class.


    This ogre mage had been living well recently; a caravan from Sgurr Town brought over twenty precious magic scrolls.


    ¡ªAmong them were useful Second Tier Spells like [Misty Step], [Magic Rope Spell], and [Human Binding Spell], and even a Third Tier Spell like [Stinking Cloud Spell].


    This no doubt freed him from the embarrassment of being a mage who only knew fireball spells.


    Ramp treasured these scrolls and stored them in the cave, placing guards at the entrance to prevent anyone from approaching, while he spent days and nights immersed in learning spells.


    ¡°I need to build a mage tower.¡±


    Ramp adjusted his newly received gold-framed glasses and thought this.


    Considering his large frame, standing over five meters tall, the cave felt rather cramped.


    He was contemplating building a mage tower, like all decent mages, to store magic scrolls and items and to spread his name across the continent. He had already thought of a good name¡ª


    ¡°Giant Sage.¡±


    It conveyed both size and wisdom.


    If he could add labels like Ashen Nest and Great Blueprint, it would be even more perfect.


    Just now, the noisy curses of the surrounding ogres pulled Ramp back to reality.


    ¡°Boss, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Bighead poked his head out from the side and said gleefully:


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking, are you giving us something to eat?¡±


    ¡°I want to eat green-skinned goblin!¡±


    ¡°I want little one canned food!¡±


    Ramp¡¯s face, covered in dragon scales, turned dark with a thick shadow.


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    He swung his club onto Bighead¡¯s skull, the terrifying strength from dragonification smashing down, causing Bighead¡¯s eyes to well with tears and his forehead to swell.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Bighead fell straight over.


    ¡°Does everyone¡­ know?¡±


    A kind smile spread across Ramp¡¯s scaled, menacing face, showing a mouthful of sharp teeth.


    Ignoring the fainted Bighead, he pulled out a few lifelike paintings drawn by the half-goat people¡¯s studio, pointing to the goblin figures on them.


    ¡°Come, read with me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Companions.¡±


    Having seen what happened to Bighead, the ogres obeyed more and no longer dared to make trouble, timidly echoing:


    ¡°Com¡ªpa¡ªnions¡ª¡±


    Ramp finally nodded in satisfaction; these guys were showing some improvement.


    But then, the ogres didn¡¯t stop.


    ¡°Delicious!¡±


    This exclamation, more unified than before, contained an earnest joy akin to a farmer¡¯s harvest.


    Ramp¡¯s face, which had just returned to normal, turned pitch black again, his thick arms slightly bulging, the veins under the dragon scales pulsating.


    ¡°Crack.¡±


    His newly received golden-framed glasses snapped under the strain of the bulging veins.


    This stoked the flames of Ramp¡¯s anger even more.


    ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡±


    Soon, the Ogre Cave was filled with wailing.


    ¡­


    Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave.


    Inside the Red Dragon¡¯s lair.


    Cassius stretched, taking in the surrounding scent of sulfur and floatstone.


    Every red dragon exuded abundant energy before entering adolescence, causing this scent as the impurities mixed into the air.


    ¡°Almost time for the hibernation phase.¡±


    Cassius thought this as well.


    The experience he gained earlier from the gigantic snowmen remained unspent; he looked at his status screen, preparing to level up.


    [Choose to increase Sorcerer level]


    [Your Sorcerer level rose to 6]


    [Acquired additional Third Tier Spell [Fireball Technique]]


    The method of casting the fireball spell appeared in the red dragon¡¯s mind. Though a Third Tier Spell, the fireball spell seemed so straightforward and brutal¡ªjust one word¡ªboom.


    As a red dragon born to control flames, Cassius found releasing this spell to be second nature.


    With a few tries, he could already summon searing fireballs, casually hurling them at the ground.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The fireball hit the stone surface, leaving a large scorch mark.


    ¡°No wonder there was a cult of sorcerers dedicated to fireball spells in my past life; it really is quite satisfying to cast.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but say.


    [Acquired Trait [Advanced Elemental Affinity]]


    [The powerful bloodline of the ancient red dragon imbues you with fiery strength. When you cast a spell dealing damage of the same type as your draconic bloodline, you can add your own charisma to enhance the spell.]


    Though a pureblood red dragon from the righteous flag of ancient Tiamat, Cassius, as a dragon vein sorcerer, dug into his bloodline to gain spells far beyond what typical dragon vein sorcerer players could, and acquired far more potent traits.


    Standard sorcerers knew only a handful of spells, casting them repeatedly, often becoming akin to artillery units in a team. Mages, however, had access to the entire spell list, allowing them to flexibly adjust their prepared spells daily.


    Thus, at higher levels, once their spell list was known, a sorcerer of the same level had difficulty contending with a well-prepared mage.


    In Cassius¡¯s view, the occupational abilities of the dragon vein sorcerer were becoming inadequate for his growing power.


    Traits like [Wings of the Dragon], [True Dragon Majesty], and [Dragonification] in the mid to late stages of a dragon vein sorcerer¡¯s career seemed unnecessary luxuries to him.


    Was he supposed to grow an extra set of wings?


    Or have a dragon turn into a dragon?


    Or perhaps add another layer of dragon might?


    This showcased the importance of multiclassing and advanced occupations.


    Yet many human occupations didn¡¯t suit a red dragon, such as warriors or paladins, which involved restrictions like weapons, equipment, and faith.


    Therefore, Cassius had not yet decided on developing other occupations and could only hope to find hidden or advanced occupations.

 Chapter 54 - 54 Red Scales (Part 1)

    Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Red Scales (Part 1)


    In the dark dungeon, the light of the torches flickered.


    From time to time, there were sounds of cursing and screams, and the Bugbear Guards wandered back and forth.


    Alger leaned silently against the stone wall, his thin figure and pale, unnatural complexion indicating that he had not seen sunlight for a long time.


    There were several horizontal lines carved on the wall.


    He used these to keep track of time.


    But as dozens of days passed, he could no longer distinguish time in this dark dungeon.


    ...


    After that interrogation, he had been locked in the dungeon with no one caring about him.


    There were no imagined tortures, no deliberate mistreatment, just eating some unknown mush daily and staying in the dark dungeon day after day.


    Besides thinking and sleeping, there didn¡¯t seem to be anything else he could do.


    The Bugbear Guards at the door were impossible to bribe, these simple-minded muscle-bound fellows only chatted with their comrades and had no ambitions of their own.


    But through their words, he learned that the Ashen Nest was growing stronger, and that terrifying Red Dragon was becoming even more powerful.


    Alger had thought of fasting, accepting death calmly.


    But whenever he recalled the words the Red Dragon had spoken, he felt like a fog was shrouding his memory. He knew far too little.


    And what made him feel most horrified was that the Red Dragon seemed to have spoken no lies.


    His Grace had never left the castle; he had never basked in the sunlight. From the moment Alger had entered, His Grace seemed always accompanied by shadows.


    When he executed the Tieflings, they didn¡¯t display the power of Devils, instead, they seemed like ordinary innocent beings. That scene didn¡¯t give him any sense of revengeful delight; on the contrary, he often felt a pang of guilt.


    There was often a smell of blood in the castle¡¯s backyard.


    Originally, as the family¡¯s Death Warrior, Alger didn¡¯t care much about these things, but when all these details came together, it seemed too coincidental.


    He needed the truth before he died.


    Alger often told himself not to think about it, reminding himself repeatedly of the old instructor¡¯s teaching: ¡°Do not question right or wrong, just execute orders.¡±


    But in this empty cell, he couldn¡¯t help but think. What else could he do?


    ¡°I need the truth.¡±


    Alger muttered to himself.


    He didn¡¯t realize that his mindset had undergone a drastic change, the once loyal dog of the family was no more.


    ¡°Eagle, how long do you think we¡¯ll stay here?¡±


    Alger stroked his companion¡¯s feathers.


    The Giant Eagle just watched him, lightly flapping its wings, indicating that it also longed to leave.


    ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll get out soon.¡±


    ¡°Maybe¡­¡±


    Alger gave a bitter smile.


    ¡°That Dragon could sleep for decades, forgetting us, leaving us to become skeletons in this dungeon.¡±


    This could truly happen.


    Once, a White Dragon kidnapped several nobles for ransom, but it slept for over thirty years. When it woke up, those nobles had already died in the dungeon.


    However, the commotion at the cell¡¯s door broke his train of thought.


    Alger looked up and saw a few Bugbear Guards carrying iron chains approaching.


    ¡°Human, come out.¡±


    ¡°Master wants to see you.¡±


    The Bugbear Guards said unceremoniously.


    ¡°Finally¡­ is it time?¡±


    Alger muttered to himself.


    This time, he didn¡¯t resist pointlessly, just allowed the Bugbear Guards to take him away. He was ready to face the truth.


    ¡­


    After a long time, the black cloth on Alger¡¯s face was removed.


    It was still that familiar cave.


    The Red Dragon in front of him was even stronger and larger.


    ¡°Long time no see, Alger Yorman.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s golden eyes carried a hint of mockery.


    Here it was again, that look, that feeling of being controlled, toyed with¡ªmade Alger very uncomfortable.


    He took a deep breath, trying his best to keep his tone calm.


    ¡°What do you want to deceive me with this time?¡±


    ¡°What kind of schemes are you trying to make me help accomplish?¡±


    But Cassius wasn¡¯t angry at all, he just laughed and said, ¡°I merely wanted you to meet an old friend.¡±


    ¡°Mezulash, come out.¡±


    Hearing this name, Alger¡¯s expression changed instantly, his hand instinctively reaching to his waist.


    In Rackman Territory, that name was well-known. He was the leader of the Tiefling Resistance Army, a target that the Northwind Eagle Guards would kill at all costs.


    And also¡­ his childhood friend.


    They had grown up together in Northwind Castle, once inseparable until¡ªAlger¡¯s parents died, and he entered Rackman Castle with hatred.


    Mezulash stepped out from the shadows, looking indifferently at the human not far away, a trace of hatred flickering deep within his dark pupils.


    The Tiefling had once witnessed his former friend, as the Duke¡¯s loyal servant, wield the killing blade against his kin. If it weren¡¯t for the presence of the Red Dragon, he would have killed him on the spot.


    ¡°Why¡­ is he here.¡±


    Alger¡¯s tone was a bit stilted, not knowing what to say for a moment, or how to face him.


    Enemy?


    Or a former friend?


    Perhaps in the past, he would have regarded him as an enemy. But after hearing the Red Dragon¡¯s words, he could no longer distinguish truth from falsehood.


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfurous air and merely said:


    ¡°Mezulash, where¡¯s the contract I asked you to bring?¡±


    ¡°I brought it, my Lord.¡±


    Mezulash took out a leather contract.


    The contract was covered with dense writing and, although it had lost its power because it was completed, it still faintly emanated an aura of dark, evil magic.


    Cassius ordered:


    ¡°Let him see it.¡±


    Mezulash stepped forward, unfurling the contract and shoving it into Alger¡¯s hand with quick precision.


    Alger had a very bad feeling, his heart struggling, but driven by his thirst for the truth, he ended up looking at the writing, quickly murmuring each line to himself.


    ¡°Third Era, 1705 AD, December 23, the clock¡¯s hand moving one-third of the way.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I, the Necromancer, Voice of the Night¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­sign this contract under the witness of the Styx River.¡±


    ¡°¡­at the cost of a thousand lives.¡±


    ¡°¡­and he will gain immortality, drink blood, bathe in eternal youth in the darkness.¡±


    Instantly, Alger felt dizzy, his hand holding the scroll trembled slightly.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°How can this be¡­¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but keep reading, looking at the signatory¡¯s name.


    ¡°Duke Brad Rackman¡±


    This name, written in scarlet blood, was incredibly familiar to Alger.


    He had seen this signature on administrative documents in Northwind Castle, in Eagle Guards¡¯ logistics approval, in vows of loyalty¡­


    But he had never expected to see it on the contract that sacrificed his parents.


    Brad Rackman

 Chapter 55 - 55 Red Scale (Part 2)

    Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Red Scale (Part 2)


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    The scroll fell from his hand.


    The scarlet signature was so striking and clear.


    Outside the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave, the cold wind still howled, and the snow fell heavily, making the retainers shiver and exhale white mist. But inside the cave, it was warm as a furnace.


    However, Alger felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, collapsing to the ground.


    His oath, his faith, his years of training and education, everything he pursued, all collapsed in this moment.


    ...


    He had tirelessly trained in combat, harmonizing with the Giant Eagle, only to become an accomplice in sacrificing lives.


    He had pledged loyalty to Duke Brad, never imagining that the one bestowing the sword was his greatest enemy in life.


    He received education from the family¡¯s instructors, only to become a hound under someone¡¯s control.


    His life-risking battles and sacrifices ultimately served his greatest foe in life, like a tragic figure from some opera.


    ¡ªAnd this was undoubtedly the most thorough negation and most biting mockery of his life.


    Once, Alger used hatred to blind his own thoughts, allowing him to carry out tasks recklessly, without considering morality.


    But when this last layer of pretense was torn away, his heart was left with nothing but bloody wounds and endless regret.


    Alger kneeled on the ground.


    The scene of that massacre replayed before his eyes.


    Surrounded by burning buildings, people waving torches and cheering, following him, shouting slogans of ¡°Drive out the devil¡± and ¡°Protect the citizens,¡± while a Tiefling mother, empty-handed, only held her child tightly, kneeling before him with tears in her eyes, begging for mercy.


    He also remembered what that mother said to him before she died¡ª


    ¡°Please, let my child live.¡±


    But blinded by hatred, he had swung the Eagle Shriek Silver Sword without hesitation.


    With a clear and crisp eagle¡¯s cry, he killed her cruelly.


    He had murdered the mother and child.


    He had personally set fire to their settlement.


    His actions were no different from those he hated, even making him his foe¡¯s accomplice.


    He was no avenger.


    Nor a warrior of justice.


    Just an ignorant pawn used by his enemy.


    A butcher who slaughtered commoners.


    A wretch who didn¡¯t even know himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    His voice trembled.


    Whether this apology was for Mezulash or those dead Tieflings, he didn¡¯t know.


    Mezulash¡¯s pitch-black eyes remained unmoved, standing with arms folded, coldly watching him.


    ¡°Alger, it¡¯s too late.¡±


    ¡°All of this has already happened.¡±


    ¡°Your apology means nothing to me, it only disgusts me.¡±


    Alger didn¡¯t lift his head, but responded, trembling all over:


    ¡°Kill me.¡±


    Mezulash sneered and replied softly:


    ¡°If I could decide your life and death, you would have long been tortured to death in a dungeon.¡±


    ¡°But look at you now, you look like a stray dog. Letting you live in pain, that¡¯s not too bad.¡±


    For his sworn enemy, this former Paladin spared no malicious words.


    Alger repeatedly banged his head against the ground.


    Blood flowed from his forehead.


    Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the blood, blurring his vision.


    He repeated again:


    ¡°Please, kill me.¡±


    Mezulash watched coldly, then said:


    ¡°You think being killed by me will bring you redemption, don¡¯t you? The clich¨¦d trope of a killer being slain by an avenger.¡±


    ¡°You always take things for granted.¡±


    ¡°Just as you took for granted that the bloodstained Duke was a magnanimous good man, placing the blame for your parents¡¯ deaths on us, just as you took for granted the slaughter of our settlements.¡±


    Mezulash stepped forward, grabbing Alger¡¯s head and lifting him forcefully.


    He whispered in his ear:


    ¡°Alger, your life and death have long ceased to be in your control.¡±


    ¡°The only reason you¡¯re alive is because you still have value to Lord Cassius.¡±


    Alger was thrown heavily to the ground.


    Mezulash finished speaking, then stood by watching.


    This Tiefling Holy Warrior wasn¡¯t consumed by the hatred in his heart, now he only cared about the survival of his people; Alger¡¯s life meant nothing to him.


    Cassius looked down at Alger, his golden eyes devoid of any so-called compassion.


    ¡°I told you there was no need to deceive you, only to let you witness the truth.¡±


    ¡°You should have known all this long ago.¡±


    Alger kneeled on the ground, blood continually flowing.


    ¡°I should have¡­ known.¡±


    He mumbled to himself.


    The flowing blood seemed to clear his mind.


    Alger finally regained his calm from the extreme collapse, his eyes a bit clearer.


    He couldn¡¯t die yet; he hadn¡¯t resolved the true culprit behind all this, hadn¡¯t truly avenged his parents, hadn¡¯t completed his own redemption.


    Once dead, there would be no chance to make amends.


    The image of Duke Brad Rackman appeared in his mind.


    That face seemed about fifty years old, with a pale complexion, always sporting two delicate mustaches, wearing silver-framed glasses, his hair and eyes pitch black, with an occasional flash of crimson.


    He spoke slowly, with a heavy noble accent, yet without seeming forced. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once, Alger felt deep admiration and gratitude upon seeing this face.


    But now, all he felt was endless hatred.


    With this thought, Alger said in a deep voice:


    ¡°I must live, to kill him.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s golden eyes showed a hint of amusement, feigning ignorance.


    ¡°Brad Rackman.¡±


    Alger uttered the familiar name, but this time with unwavering determination, a tone of inevitability.


    ¡°You alone cannot accomplish it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Alger fell silent.


    After a long silence, seemingly after deep contemplation, he finally lowered his forehead slowly to touch the ground, ignoring the dirt, his gaze exceptionally firm.


    ¡°Lord Cassius, I swear loyalty to you.¡±


    ¡°I am willing to offer my life to you, to be your most faithful servant, to serve you with all my heart and soul. I will be the dagger in your shadow, the hidden blade in your hand, removing all obstacles for you.¡±


    ¡°As long as you allow me¡­¡±


    ¡°To kill him.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly and said:


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to become a so-called Death Warrior, that is meaningless. I need you to help me¡­ with an experiment.¡±

 Chapter 56 - 56 Red Scales (Part 3)

    Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Red Scales (Part 3)


    Cassius stared at the panel displaying the newly refreshed information.


    [The NPC faction you created, the Ashen Nest, has achieved a standard level of comprehensive strength]


    [The Ashen Nest has gained some fame within the Anzeta Great Wilderness. It is located in Giant Valley, with its territory covering half of Stormy Ridge. Rumor has it that it is the lair of the Red Dragon, Flying Flame Cassius, the graveyard of the Northwind Eagle Guards. Countless ferocious monsters, including Ogres, Wyverns, and Chimeras, gather here to serve their wicked lord, ready to unleash an insatiable desire for expansion¡­]


    [You can create a special faction subclass]


    The so-called faction subclasses are unique career branches available to each faction.


    As a player, one must have a certain level of faction contribution and meet specific occupation requirements to advance.


    ...


    For example, the Rackman Family¡¯s Northwind Eagle Guards require absolute loyalty to the family and proficiency in ¡°riding a Giant Eagle.¡± Many players in the past joined Northwind Castle for this reason.


    Many faction subclasses are incredibly powerful, such as the Boske Family¡¯s Lionheart Knight, the Corrupted Druid of the Gloomy Marsh, and the Time Soul Magician of the Tower of Time.


    Cassius specifically subdued Alger because of this unit¡¯s exceptional mobility, making them excellent scouts and aerial forces.


    He planned to create the Ashen Nest¡¯s exclusive subclass based on the Northwind Eagle Guards.


    Alger would be the first experimental subject.


    In the future, he would become a kind of ¡°occupation mentor,¡± enticing more players to join the Ashen Nest.


    [Note, granting a subclass requires the target to be a retainer of your faction]


    [Target Alger is currently your retainer]


    [Preparing to construct the occupation¡ª]


    In the wide and enclosed cave, Alger and his Giant Eagle sat in a deep pit as per Cassius¡¯s instructions.


    ¡°Close your eyes.¡±


    Cassius commanded.


    Now a retainer, Alger obediently shut his eyes.


    The Giant Eagle, however, shook its feathers restlessly, but Alger forcibly covered its eyes.


    ¡°Begin.¡±


    The Red Dragon nodded slightly. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He sliced open his palm, letting a drop of scorching dragon blood trickle out.


    ¡°Bloodline Gift.¡±


    ¡°Semi-Dragon Form¡ª¡±


    Cassius chanted in his mind.


    This was a more potent bloodline gift that could grant humanoid creatures a semi-dragon template. This dragonkin bloodline could even be passed down to offspring.


    For humanoid creatures, only those with highly trained and incredibly strong bodies¡ªsuch as the warrior before him¡ªcould successfully endure this trial.


    The blood, like an extension of his limb, slowly rose and merged into Alger¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Alger let out a suppressed groan.


    Yet, the resolute warrior gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out.


    As the hot blood infused with raging elements flowed down his throat, Alger¡¯s skin turned red, emitting wisps of white smoke. Sweat poured from his forehead.


    His stomach churned as if filled with a lake of magma.


    ¡°Ugrah¡ª¡±


    Alger tightly shut his eyes, gritting his teeth to stifle any scream, his brows knitted in pain.


    His body involuntarily bent over, curling up on the ground.


    The dragon blood brutally seeped into his veins, pumped to every part of his body by his violently beating heart.


    Alger¡¯s skin turned dark red, releasing intense steam and appearing anything but human.


    ¡°Aaaah¡ª¡±


    He could no longer hold back and howled to the sky.


    This agony was worse than a thousand cuts, as if his entire being, including his bones, was being ground up and reshaped.


    Beneath his skin, the bones at his elbows, knees, and spine pushed out violently, even piercing through the skin to form sharp bone spurs. As the skin split open, scales rigidly pushed themselves out.


    His body grew to nearly two meters tall.


    His flesh was roughly altered by chaotic elemental power, rapidly growing numerous small yet tough ducts specific to dragons, used for channeling elements.


    His face underwent the most horrifying transformation.


    The scales stretched the skin taut, the bones around his mouth jutted forward to form upper and lower jaws. The gums produced numerous sharp teeth, his eyes rolled back to show whites before transforming into reptilian slits, his head forcibly reshaped into a dragon-like form.


    The transformation for the Giant Eagle beside him was much simpler:


    It was just a regular bloodline gift.


    The beak grew sharp teeth, scales appeared under its feathers, its size increased significantly, and its wingspan extended close to ten meters, becoming a hybrid of a Giant Eagle and Dragonhawk.


    When the pervasive steam dissipated, Alger opened his eyes again to reveal golden slit pupils.


    His appearance was now more dragonborn than human.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    He found his field of vision vastly expanded, able to see black-and-white images even in near blindness due to a special reflective membrane.


    Alger lay on the ground, awkwardly moving his arm. He felt his strength surpassing what it used to be.


    This two-meter-tall, muscular body not only brimmed with strength but also contained fiery magical power.


    Strength was indeed the most intoxicating thing.


    No matter the pain, it was worth it.


    With strength, he could atone for everything he had done.


    Alger clumsily got up from the ground, kneeling before Cassius.


    Now, he was not just kneeling symbolically but felt an oppressive force deep in his blood, making rebellion impossible. His willpower alone could hardly restrain this instinct.


    ¡°To become a dragon¡¯s claw and fangs¡­¡±


    ¡°This feeling¡­¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t bad.¡±


    Alger knelt on the floor, facing downward, contemplating.


    ¡°Master, thank you for the strength you bestowed.¡±


    ¡°I will use it on the battlefield to terrify your enemies.¡±


    His words carried immense sincerity.


    Cassius sensed Alger¡¯s thoughts but simply said:


    ¡°Get used to this body. I need you to¡ªtrain a new army for me.¡±


    The panel¡¯s information refreshed again.


    [Faction Advanced Sub-occupation constructed successfully.]


    [Occupation advancement requirements:]


    [Join the Ashen Nest faction.]


    [Become a retainer of the faction leader, the Red Dragon, Cassius.]


    [Possess a Basic Warrior occupation level of at least level 3, with +4 proficiency in riding skill.]


    [Own a large or larger Dragon Vein creature as a mount and possess some degree of dragonkin bloodline.]


    [Please name your faction subclass¡ª]


    Cassius gazed at the kneeling Alger, whose face was covered in crimson scales, appearing particularly sinister.


    [Name it: Red Scale Conqueror]

 Chapter 57 - 57 Red Scales (Conclusion)

    Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Red Scales (Conclusion)


    Faction subclass construction complete.


    [Red Scale Conqueror]:


    [Red Scale Conquerors are a special group of knights loyal to the master of the Ashen Nest¡ªthe Red Dragon Cassius. They served as ranger knights, patrolling the vast territories of the Red Dragon, scouting for potential threats that could come from the kingdom¡¯s army or adventurers seeking to slay the dragon. When war broke out, they were terrible conquerors.


    To become a Red Scale Conqueror, one must have dragon blood, signifying their status as the most loyal claws and fangs of the Red Dragon. When they charged in groups, flames and claws became their weapons, and no enemy would wish to face these dragon-featured beings.


    When the Dragon¡¯s Roar came from afar, the Red Scale Conquerors would ride massive and ferocious Dragon Vein creatures, descending from the sky to bring endless flames and utter destruction upon their enemies.]


    [Besides the basic warrior abilities, the Red Scale Conqueror received additional traits.]


    ...


    [At level 3, you would gain the traits: Born to Ride and Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge]


    [Born to Ride: Your expertise as a cavalryman becomes evident, granting you an additional +3 proficiency in riding skills. You gain an advantage on saving throws to avoid being dismounted. If you fall from your mount and are not incapacitated, you can land on your feet.]


    [Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge: You and your mount emit a terrifying Dragon¡¯s Roar while charging. All enemies in the path of the charge must make a saving throw, or they fall into a state of panic if they fail. In this state, you and your mount are fearless, your strength increases, and you are immune to most status effects.]


    [At level 7, you will gain the traits: Heaven Conqueror and Dragon¡¯s Talons and Fangs]


    [Heaven Conqueror: Your mastery of riding skills conquers the sky, granting you an additional +3 proficiency in riding. You and your mount are in sync, able to perform aerial maneuvers like sudden stops, changes in direction, rolls, ascents, and dives.]


    [Dragon¡¯s Talons and Fangs: As the most loyal claws and fangs of the Red Dragon, your Dragonification increases further, transforming you from a humanoid Dragon Vein creature to a full-fledged dragon-type being¡ªa Half-Dragon. You gain dragon-specific feats, with your claw and bite attacks strengthened. You can breathe flames in mid-air but will also suffer additional damage from weapons designed to target dragons.]


    [Currently, the level cap for Red Scale Conqueror is 8]


    [Remaining traits await further construction and unlocking¡ª¡ª]


    ¡°This power level makes it undoubtedly the strongest subclass for warriors in the early game.¡±


    ¡°With the added uniqueness of flight, tsk tsk.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s practically overpowered.¡±


    Cassius mused to himself.


    ¡°This is going to be a gold mine.¡±


    Cassius was already calculating how to profit from the future players.


    In the 1.0 version, where the level cap was only 8, melee classes were still popular, and the powerful traits of the Red Scale Conqueror would undoubtedly attract countless hardcore players.


    Moreover, some players with peculiar tastes wouldn¡¯t consider transforming into a Half-Dragon to be ugly; on the contrary, it was a symbol of charisma.


    After all, when the ¡°Dragonborn¡± race emerged in the previous life, many strange videos popped up on certain black-and-yellow websites, demonstrating the fervor and terror of these dragon-enthusiasts.


    And in times when Flight Magic and Gravity Magic had not yet become widespread, flying monsters were certainly nightmares for players, as evidenced by the thousands of players who were powerless against that Red Dragon boss. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The flying mounts and aerial skills of the Red Scale Conqueror subclass would undoubtedly drive players crazy in pursuit.


    The Red Dragon perused the panel for a while.


    During this time, the Half-Dragon waited on his knees without a word until Cassius finished reviewing all the information and then finally spoke:


    ¡°Rise.¡±


    Alger slowly stood up, his clothes already ripped apart, exposing scales all over his body.


    Cassius gazed at his half-dragon, half-human form and said:


    ¡°For now, you will carry out patrol duties. Additionally, I need you to train more cavalry like yourself within the Ashen Nest. Human, Great Goblin, Lizardfolk, Tiefling¡ªchoose anyone you deem talented.¡±


    ¡°Master, it¡¯s challenging. It might take a long time, and the success rate is very low.¡±


    ¡°I underwent ten years of training at Northwind Castle, starting with over a hundred recruits for initial training, yet only six of us succeeded.¡±


    ¡°And your current retainers¡­¡±


    ¡°Pardon my honesty, they wouldn¡¯t have even passed my initial screening.¡±


    Alger replied truthfully.


    ¡°Just do it. There will be many¡­ special individuals joining in the future.¡±


    ¡°They will show you what innate talent truly is.¡±


    Cassius said with confidence.


    Although Alger was unaware of the players¡¯ arrival, he saw his master¡¯s confidence and took the order seriously.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Alger then mounted the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle and soared out of the cave.


    ¡°Scree¡ª¡±


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, seeing the sunlight it hadn¡¯t seen in a long while, was excited and let out loud eagle screeches, now tinged with the power of Dragon¡¯s Roar.


    Cassius watched Alger riding the giant eagle away and exhaled a breath that smelled of sulfur.


    [Target identified as your retainer Alger. Based on your status, you can perceive the following information.]


    [Red Scale Conqueror Alger]


    Name: Alger Yorman


    Category: Medium-sized dragon-type creature (Half-Dragon Human), Neutral Evil


    AC: 17 (natural armor)


    Speed: Flying 90 feet, ground movement 40 feet


    Strength¡ª20


    Agility¡ª16


    Constitution¡ª18


    Intelligence¡ª11


    Perception¡ª14


    Charisma¡ª13


    Occupational Level: Warrior ¨C Red Scale Conqueror Level 8


    Mount: Dragon Vein Giant Eagle (Level 5)


    Military Weapons: Long Sword, Short Sword, Great Sword, Long Bow, Heavy Crossbow, Spear


    Simple Weapons: Dagger, Short Bow, Light Crossbow


    Skills: Riding +15, Military +9, Hunting +7, Athletics +6, Perception +6, Leadership +4, Survival +4, Investigation +2, Tracking +4, Stealth +4


    Senses: Passive Perception 14


    Language: Common


    Actions: Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge, Flame Breath, Commander¡¯s Surprise Attack, Slashing Attack, Piercing Attack, Actions Like Tides, Recovery


    Occupational Traits: Born to Ride, Heaven Conqueror, Dragon¡¯s Talons and Fangs


    Feats: Alert, Downward Slash, Great Weapon Master, Riding Specialist, Flight Master, Dragonhide


    Combat Equipment: Eagle Shriek Silver Sword


    Challenge Level: 10 (5,900xp)


    Assessment: Formerly an Eagle Guard, now the most loyal claws and fangs of the giant dragon. Reborn in the flames, he treads the path of revenge. If you mistakenly anger the Red Dragon, he might descend on a Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, bringing you death with sword and flame.

 Chapter 58 - 58: Slumber

    Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Slumber


    Cassius ordered Ramp to cast several ¡°guardian inscription¡± spells at the entrance of the cave.


    Any unauthorized entity attempting to breach the cave would be met with a rune explosion, engulfing the intruder in flames, lightning, and strong acid.


    He also arranged for retainers to guard the entrance in shifts. In the future, Great Goblins, Bugbears, and Lizardfolk guards would be stationed at the entrance continuously, ensuring that the cave remained undisturbed.


    Once everything was settled, Cassius ventured alone into the depths of Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave, his wings loosely folded at his sides.


    Here, it was close to the lava region. Scalding white steam emanated everywhere, the air heavy with powerful fire elements, and hot magma oozed from the ground.


    For ordinary people, this environment would be the Land of Death, but for Cassius, it felt incredibly comfortable.


    ...


    The scent of sulfur and floatstone on him grew stronger, indicating that this Red Dragon¡¯s body was eager for slumber, ready to enter the next stage of its age. This magma-filled cave was the perfect place for him to absorb and store elemental energy during his sleep.


    All True Dragons were warm-blooded. Given their elemental nature, they could hardly be anything else, and fire dragons, in particular, grew hotter with age.


    Unlike most warm-blooded creatures, dragons had no apparent means of shedding excess heat. They did not sweat and rarely panted. Instead, dragon capillaries extracted heat from the blood flow, storing this energy.


    Thus, in a sense, dragons could be considered ectothermic (as they utilized environmental heat sources).


    However, when dragons lost external heat sources, their metabolism and activity levels remained unaffected, neither slowing nor forcing them into dormancy due to cold exposure. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It is time to sleep¡­¡±


    Cassius muttered to himself as he inhaled the air¡¯s scents.


    Since arriving at Erezer, he had been relentlessly enhancing his strength, seldom taking long rests.


    A true Red Dragon, besides occasional raiding and plundering, spent most of its time sleeping and eating.


    Dragons possessed lengthy lifespans and innate strength. A giant dragon could gain enormous power, unimaginable to ordinary beings, merely by sleeping.


    This made them both exceedingly proud and exceedingly lazy.


    Despite their craving for power, they seldom wasted time seeking it like ordinary creatures. This stemmed from both their confidence and disdain for mortal concerns.


    ¡°How can anyone imagine anything more magnificent than a dragon, the epitome of creation?¡±


    ¡ªBheilorveilthion, Ancient Red Dragon.


    Yet, it was precisely the dragons¡¯ laziness and arrogance that allowed them to be defeated by adventurers.


    A ¡°diligent¡± dragon like Cassius was considered an outlier among all dragons. Such a dragon, in a sense, was the most terrifying, a diligent evil dragon capable of causing a global catastrophe.


    ¡°I wonder how long this slumber will last.¡±


    ¡°I hope that when I wake up, the Ashen Nest will still be intact.¡±


    ¡°But I still haven¡¯t found the demon in the mountains.¡±


    ¡°And my actions may have already drawn the Kingdom¡¯s attention. If they dispatch troops to attack¡­¡±


    Cassius pondered silently.


    He slowly lay down, pressing his body against the warm ground, feeling the continuous flow of underground energy into him.


    ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s sleep.¡±


    ¡°Without strength, everything is in vain.¡±


    ¡°Like a true giant dragon, grow strong by sleeping.¡±


    The Red Dragon curled up in the depths of the magma, slowly closed his eyes, and slept like a true Red Dragon.


    The surrounding frenzied fire element energy flowed relentlessly into his body, entering his beating heart through capillaries, filling his every inch of flesh and blood.


    Cassius¡¯s massive frame rose and fell with each breath¡­


    ¡­


    Northwind Castle.


    Rackman Castle cellar.


    The surroundings were dimly lit and quiet, with the candles on the walls flickering.


    A man in his fifties lay in a cold stone coffin.


    His face bore an unnatural pallor, with a delicately groomed mustache on his lips, and silver-framed glasses perched on his nose.


    His hair was jet black, and he wore a black and red robe trimmed with luxurious gold.


    He was Brad Rackman.


    The current Duke of the Rackman Family, ruler of Northwind Castle.


    He seldom appeared before people, except for that speech in the dim hall and¡­ during feeding time.


    There was a faint sound in the cellar.


    The murmuring whispers of bats and the flapping of their wings.


    A woman with the same pale face and slender build, dressed in a heavily ruffled gown, slowly walked in and approached the stone coffin.


    ¡°Father.¡±


    The man in the stone coffin slowly opened his eyes, and a deep crimson color flickered in his pupils.


    ¡°What is it, Alexia?¡±


    The woman lifted her skirt, bowed, and spoke in a voice as cold as ice.


    ¡°The Eagle Guards returned with news. They have found traces of Tieflings in Stormy Ridge. Those filthy creatures have set up a camp there.¡±


    Brad¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he said:


    ¡°Then send someone to wipe them out completely.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Alexia hesitated slightly.


    ¡°They seem to be under the protection of Ashen Nest. The scouts we sent were killed by Wyverns, and only a few escaped.¡±


    Duke Brad¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of anger appeared on his pale face.


    ¡°It¡¯s that again¡­¡±


    ¡°That damn Red Dragon.¡±


    The duke was still bitter about the loss of his Eagle Guards. These elite cavalrymen had cost the Rackham Family thousands of gold coins, and Alger, in particular, had been deemed a useful tool. The duke even planned to turn him into his eternal servant.


    ¡°So do you think we should seek out¡­¡±


    ¡°That lord.¡±


    Alexia observed the duke¡¯s expression, testingly asking.


    ¡°No, do not engage Ashen Nest directly.¡±


    ¡°And do not summon that Mage.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t control his power; it will only bring disaster to us.¡±


    His response was decisive, clearly rejecting her proposal.


    Duke Brad gazed at the woman, speaking earnestly:


    ¡°You must be patient, Alexia.¡±


    ¡°I have bestowed upon you endless life, and as noble Immortals, unlike those vile human mortals, we must learn to wait.¡±


    ¡°Once I complete the grand ascension¡­¡±


    ¡°All problems will be solved.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father.¡±


    Alexia responded promptly, obediently.


    Duke Brad involuntarily licked his lips, revealing sharp teeth, with deep crimson seeping from his pupils.


    ¡°Alexia, when does the feast begin?¡±


    ¡°I am somewhat famished.¡±

 Chapter 59 - 59, 5 years

    Chapter 59: Chapter 59, 5 years


    The snow on Stormy Ridge accumulated and covered the ground, then melted into water, again and again.


    In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.


    Five years, for a long-lived race like the giant dragons, might pass in the blink of an eye, but for short-lived creatures like humans and goblins, it was enough time for their whole world to undergo massive changes.


    What happened during these five years?


    First, the number of retainers in the Ashen Nest increased sharply, with its territory continually expanding.


    Creatures like kobolds and lizardfolk, which lay eggs, could produce a dozen eggs in one clutch. Meanwhile, live-bearing creatures like goblins were not to be outdone, with an incredibly rapid reproduction rate that could birth seven or eight offspring in a year. This high reproductive rate was a significant factor in the survival of these weaker races in the wild. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Soon, Dragon Valley could no longer accommodate them all.


    The retainers had to expand outward.


    Now, the territory of the Ashen Nest encompassed the entire Stormy Ridge. Many tribes were conquered and absorbed, and dozens of valleys and caves became the dwelling places of the retainers. Only the most elite and powerful family members could reside in the core of Dragon Valley, receiving the unconscious blessings of the Red Dragon.


    Living in Dragon Valley was regarded as an honor.


    Even the valley itself had been renamed ¡°Dragon Valley.¡±


    In the Ashen Nest, there were currently three chimeras, forty-one bipedal wyverns, sixty-five ogres, four hundred sixty great goblins, three hundred seventy lizardfolk, two hundred four half-goat people, and an uncountable number of goblins and kobolds.


    Conservatively estimated, their numbers had reached tens of thousands.


    There were also many newly-subjugated minor tribes like the serpentfolk, war lizards, and orcs, who were not listed individually since they paid protection fees only.


    Secondly, the entire Stormy Ridge had become the ¡°pasture¡± and ¡°minefield¡± of the Ashen Nest.


    The great goblins had a long history of beast taming. Like some more civilized races, they used laborers such as cattle and horses to transport goods and weapons over long distances.


    They communicated using trained crows and had fierce wolves guard prisoners and protect their camps, and the great goblins of the Ashen Nest did the same.


    Under Dolores¡¯s leadership, the goblin faction, including great goblins, goblins, and bugbears, intentionally started raising large herbivores like woolly mammoths, aurochs, and giant rhinos, providing ample meat for the retainers. They even began breeding land dragons from the tundra, though there were only three so far. These enormous creatures would become valuable assets in battle and transportation.


    Ramp primarily controlled the ogres, kobolds, lizardfolk, and other retainers.


    The numerous goblins and kobolds had now established a massive underground mining network, continuously transporting metals and elemental ores into the valleys.


    These metals were smelted in underground furnaces and forged into crude weapons for the army¡¯s use. The elemental ores were stored in the Red Dragon¡¯s cave as an energy reserve.


    However, these creatures were difficult to manage and often tried to escape with gold if there was any lax supervision, so Ramp assigned a considerable number of lizardfolk and ogres as overseers.


    During this time, Ramp still served as the steward of the Ashen Nest, approving all matters, even those involving the goblin faction.


    Despite Dolores¡¯s frequent attempts to undermine and scheme against him in secret, any actions involving her faction still had to be reported to Ramp.


    They maintained a facade of peace, ensuring the basic internal order of the Ashen Nest, as none wished to incur the Red Dragon¡¯s wrath due to internal strife.


    They awaited each other¡¯s mistakes, hoping to report their failures to the Red Dragon upon his awakening and seize the opportunity to bring the other down.


    Meanwhile, clashes and conflicts between the lower-ranked goblins, kobolds, ogres, and others were countless. Such incidents occurred almost daily, becoming increasingly normalized.


    ¡°When the master awakens, he won¡¯t stay in that position for long,¡±


    Dolores often told her closest subordinates.


    Additionally, the Ashen Nest¡¯s interactions with humans became more frequent.


    Sgurr Town served as a puppet under the actual control of the Ashen Nest. The ¡°friendly trade¡± caravans, led by Hart, continuously supplied the Ashen Nest with human-made armor, weapons, and books through trade.


    Perhaps due to the bounty orders, almost every few months, ambitious but overconfident adventurers, dreaming of slaying dragons, recklessly ventured into the Ashen Nest.


    Ramp welcomed these uninvited and rude guests with what he considered warm hospitality¡ªturning their heads into necklaces and hanging them at the entrance as decoration.


    The Ogre Mage commonly lamented why the Red Dragon prohibited him from eating intelligent creatures, as it had been a long time since he savored such ¡°little snacks.¡±


    Ramp even captured several who claimed to be nobles, extracting a considerable ransom from their families, or even forcing them to hand over a few spell scrolls before releasing them, significantly enriching his collection of spells.


    In fact, the rapid expansion of the Ashen Nest had already drawn the attention of human forces in the Northern Countries.


    Not only the Duchy of Rackman but also the Grand Duchy of Boske farther south and the continental-wide organization of justice, the Harpist Alliance, had dispatched scouts to investigate the area, though most scouts never returned.


    In the absence of Cassius¡¯s awakening, Ramp harbored grand ambitions of world conquest but dared not recklessly start a war with other nations without the Red Dragon¡¯s permission.


    Thus, while small skirmishes occurred, the Ashen Nest had yet to engage in direct confrontation with any major human force.


    Cassius remained in deep slumber for a full five years.


    When a True Dragon slept, its intrinsic magical nature caused significant impacts on the surrounding environment. A White Dragon¡¯s slumber would cover the ground in frost, a Blue Dragon¡¯s slumber would turn the earth into sand, a Black Dragon¡¯s slumber would turn forests into swamps, and a Red Dragon¡¯s slumber would turn everything into lava.


    Cassius did just that, filling the cave with lava.


    During this time, whenever the Red Dragon stirred or felt uncomfortable, it produced loud sounds, causing scalding white smoke to emanate from the cave entrance, spurting magma, and even burning several great goblins guarding the entrance.


    This overwhelming power aroused both fear and reverence in the retainers.


    Meanwhile, Cassius unconsciously released ¡°bloodline gifts.¡±


    This influence expanded increasingly in scope and intensity, and now nearly all the retainers in Dragon Valley had transformed into Dragon Vein Creatures, exhibiting distinct Red Dragon characteristics.


    The nearby adventurers regarded these creatures as the most dangerous, earning them the fearsome reputation of ¡°evil dragon minions,¡± which no one dared provoke lightly.

 Chapter 60 - 60: Awakening (Part 1)

    Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Awakening (Part 1)


    With a low roar, Cassius slowly opened his eyes. He felt a bit dazed, as a flood of information had surged into his mind during his slumber, and he hadn¡¯t had the time to thoroughly digest it.


    ¡°I must have slept for a long time this time.¡±


    His scales were covered by a thick layer of dust.


    Cassius shook his enormous head and gently flapped his wings. The bones, which hadn¡¯t moved for ages, made a crisp sound, and ashes flew around his body.


    ¡°This time, I seem to have grown more dignified. Not bad.¡±


    Cassius glanced at the massive glass mirror that had long been prepared in the underground palace, nodding in satisfaction.


    ...


    Perhaps it was due to deeply excavating his bloodline power, but now Cassius was far more mature than an ordinary Red Dragon. His enormous body was a full fifteen meters long, and his proportions were nearly identical to those of an adult Red Dragon; no longer did he possess the juvenile naivety of a youngling. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two sturdy, backward-sweeping horns atop Cassius¡¯s head had lengthened, their surface a yellowish, bone-white. Several rows of small horns extended from the top of his head, and the small horns on his cheeks and jaws became more prominent, making his massive head appear even more ferocious.


    The golden pupils of the Red Dragon had slightly faded¡ª a sign of aging, and it was said that the eyes of the oldest Red Dragons would resemble lava spheres.


    His body was covered in bright, crimson scales that had turned a deeper red. The glossy patterns had been replaced by smooth, matte textures, although the edges of the scales still held a touch of gold due to the metallic scales.


    The wings of the Red Dragon had become broader, with the trailing edges of the wing membrane connecting his hind legs and tail to the body. Along the trailing edges of the wings appeared pale blue fringes, resembling the blue color of metal burning in fire.


    ¡°A dragon¡¯s intelligence also grows stronger with age.¡±


    After observing his appearance, Cassius began to process the vast and complex legacy in his mind. He was pleasantly surprised to find that his ability to accept and understand information had also improved.


    ¡°Is this the Dragon¡¯s Might?¡±


    According to the information in the legacy, Cassius controlled his body to release an invisible field, known as the ¡°Terrifying Presence¡± ability, or commonly referred to as ¡°Dragon¡¯s Might.¡±


    Just the presence of a dragon could cause herds of animals to flee in terror and shake the resolve of the most steadfast warriors.


    Unfortunately, in this underground palace, there were no other creatures besides him (even if there were, they would have been burned by the effects of his slumber). Cassius really wished he could test the effects of this so-called Dragon¡¯s Might on living beings.


    Having experimented with Dragon¡¯s Might, Cassius continued to process the information in his mind.


    This time, it was spells.


    Due to their intrinsic magical nature, all dragons developed innate magical abilities as they matured.


    Among them, this was the ability to cast Arcane Spells. A dragon reaching the juvenile stage could exhibit the earliest magic talents.


    ¡°Is this the innate magical ability of dragons¡­?¡±


    ¡°Truly terrifying.¡±


    With this realization, Cassius could not help but click his tongue in amazement.


    As he processed this legacy information, his panel began to frantically refresh with updates.


    [Dragons are powerful magical beings, innately versed in various supernatural phenomena. As a Red Dragon, upon reaching a certain age, you gain spellcasting abilities deep within your bloodline.]


    [You gain an additional casting level: 3]


    [Your racial casting level and sorcerer casting level are combined. Your current casting level is: 9]


    Cassius¡¯s heart surged with excitement.


    ¡°It¡¯s finally here, the stacking of casting levels.¡±


    ¡°Let me show you the Dragon Sorcerer¡¯s¡ª a leap to the top.¡±


    Instantly, the Red Dragon felt his understanding of the world rise sharply, directly touching the fifth layer of the Magic Web.


    His connection to the Magic Web deepened further, with every move able to stir the powers of magic, and he could even reach into the depths of the Magic Web with pure mental will.


    However, the panel data still did not stop refreshing.


    More broad and complex information poured into his mind.


    ¡°Is this¡­?¡±


    [Some wise men insist that humans originally learned the arcane arts from dragons. If these claims are true¡ª and elves also argue for their own honor on this matter¡ª then dragons certainly retain some unknown secrets. These hidden legacies are known only to True Dragons who delve into their own bloodline.]


    [These dragons refer to themselves as ¡°True Dragon Sorcerers¡±, a proud title to differentiate themselves from the lesser bloodline sorcerers.]


    Discussing spells with mortals is as meaningless as discussing seasons with locusts. ¡ª Sarimoske, Gold Dragon Scholar


    [Requirements for the ¡°True Dragon Sorcerer¡± class: Sorcerer class level above 5, Pureblood Giant Dragon]


    [You meet the class requirements and possess the necessary legacy. Do you wish to advance?]


    ¡°A hidden advancement class!¡±


    Cassius¡¯s heart was overjoyed. Indeed, just what he needed at the right time¡ª when the dragon vein sorcerer class felt too insignificant, an advancement class exclusive to dragons appeared. It was bound to be powerful.


    ¡°Confirm.¡±


    Without hesitation, Cassius chose to confirm.


    Instantly, vast and exquisite spell knowledge gushed out, overflowing in his mind.


    As it turned out, if these exceptionally gifted and long-lived dragons could devote themselves to study, their results would far surpass those of mere mortals.


    [You have gained the sorcerer advancement sub-occupation: True Dragon Sorcerer]


    [Trait: Dragonkin Spells: You will gain unique spells known only to dragons. Sorcerers or wizards may also learn these spells if taught by a dragon, but most are useless to mortals.]


    [You have gained Dragon¡¯s Spells: Scratch Technique, Egg of Sanctuary, Scales of Energy, Braving the Fiery Pits]


    Scratch Technique


    Shaping Energy Cantrip


    A magical force field flickering in the shape of claws solidifies before the dragon. By waving its claws towards the enemy, the dragon channels the spell¡¯s energy towards the target.


    Egg of Sanctuary


    2nd-level Transformation Spell


    Upon casting this spell, a flickering dragon egg composed of purple energy envelops the dragon, then disappears, transporting it to an extradimensional pocket space where it remains immune to any form of attack. The dragon cannot see the material world nor cast spells or attack the place it left, but it can use spells or magical items that affect only itself.


    Scales of Energy


    3rd-level Transformation Spell


    The caster transforms their natural defenses into a magical aura. The scales will shimmer with energy, generating clusters of energy shards that float around the dragon¡¯s body like thousands of tiny satellites.


    Braving the Fiery Pits


    4th-level Shaping Energy and Spellcasting Spell


    The dragon fills its lungs with swirling, burning energy. Then, with a powerful exhalation, it sweeps the space before it with intense, cone-shaped flames. As the last wisp of energy leaves its lips, its body becomes part of this breath weapon, allowing it to traverse space and reconstitute its body anywhere within the breath weapon¡¯s range.

 Chapter 61 - 61 Awakening (Part 2)

    Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Awakening (Part 2)


    Several dragon spells appeared in Cassius¡¯s mind. He could now release these exquisite spells like an artist. This was the innate talent of a True Dragon Sorcerer.


    The magical essence of giant dragons made their every move seem like spell casting. Thus, dragon sorcerers derived various spells from actions like scratching, flying, hatching, and breathing.


    ¡°No wonder they¡¯re called dragon spells,¡±


    ¡°They truly suit the dragons perfectly.¡±


    Cassius sighed.


    For instance, the Scratch Technique. If any ordinary mortal used it, it would only be a completely useless trick. But paired with the naturally powerful claw strikes of dragons, it could become an effective long-range attack method, consuming no energy at all.


    ...


    ¡°Scratch Technique!¡±


    A flickering magical field vaguely in the shape of claws materialized in front of the Red Dragon. As he swung his claws forcefully, this magic energy was directed toward the distant stone pillar.


    Instantly, stone fragments flew everywhere, and three deep gashes appeared on the pillar. Following that, the fragile middle of the pillar could no longer bear the weight of its upper part, collapsing to the ground with a crash, shattering into pieces.


    ¡°Not bad power.¡±


    Cassius nodded with satisfaction, exhaling a breath of sulfurous hot air.


    ¡°And then there¡¯s this Fourth Tier Spell¡­¡±


    He had never accessed the fourth layer of the Magic Web before.


    Moreover, ¡°Braving the Fiery Pits¡± was even more complex than typical Fourth Tier Spells because it was a hybrid of spell and shaping energy.


    Transforming the body into flames and reconstructing it with fire was an extremely subtle form of shaping energy, while transporting oneself to any area covered by Flamethrower Breath was similar to the spell form of Misty Step.


    ¡°Braving the Fiery Pits!¡±


    With the incantation in Draconic, Cassius took a deep breath and spewed out a large blaze.


    As the last bit of energy left his mouth, his massive body merged directly into the raging flames, becoming a complete incarnation of flame.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A mass of fire condensed into a giant dragon shape, but it crashed into a stone wall, causing the entire cave to shake and a number of stones to fall down.


    ¡°Such a complex spell, having to manage both fire and transportation,¡±


    ¡°I still can¡¯t fully control the teleportation location.¡±


    ¡°Ouch¡­ that hurt a bit.¡±


    Cassius shook his slightly pained head, muttering to himself. Fortunately, the thick-skinned Red Dragon didn¡¯t mind the minor collision.


    Although a sorcerer¡¯s spell casting wasn¡¯t as rigorous as a mage¡¯s, it still required an understanding of its operational principles and coordinated control.


    After experimenting with a series of newly gained abilities, Cassius fully recovered from the drowsiness of his deep slumber, becoming somewhat inexplicably excited.


    With such a significant power boost, how could he not test it out?


    ¡°I¡¯ve been sleeping for so long¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to go out and take a look.¡±


    The Red Dragon stepped out of the cave, directly crossing the several guardian inscriptions Ramp had set up earlier.


    If triggered, these inscriptions would cause rune explosions, but Ramp had set it so the Red Dragon was excluded from their trigger conditions.


    Walking through the dim underground passage, the once spacious tunnel now felt somewhat narrow to him.


    Finally, the Red Dragon saw the sunlight he hadn¡¯t seen in ages.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but let out a cheerful dragon¡¯s roar.


    The scene before the Ashen Nest had undergone almost a complete transformation compared to before his slumber.


    The Rock Fortress at the entrance of the valley had been reinforced multiple times, now as indestructible as its name suggested. The city walls were over ten meters high and three meters thick, equipped with catapults and great crossbows, with the Goblin Guard Army standing ready atop the walls.


    Several tall watchtowers stood on either side, with sharp-eyed Lizardfolk crossbowmen stationed on them, guarding against any invaders. The hillside also featured several wide wooden platforms for the wyverns to take off and land.


    Inside the Ashen Nest, several wooden military camps had sprung up, built using standard goblin construction, housing the most elite Goblin Corps.


    In the depths of the valley stood a stone tower, its surface flickering with magical aura. It was clear the designer intended to make it elegant and beautiful, but it came across as more like ¡°a dog painted to look like a tiger.¡±


    ¡°A Mage Tower?¡±


    ¡°That guy Ramp¡­ really needs to improve his aesthetic sense.¡±


    Cassius gazed at the so-called ¡°Mage Tower¡±¡ªespecially its entrance, resembling a huge mouth¡ªand couldn¡¯t help but twitch his lips slightly.


    The retainers of the Ashen Nest, the goblin guards and Lizardfolk, and the ogres carrying items, all looked up towards the source of the sound.


    Soon after, there was an uproar.


    ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡±


    ¡°Is it¡­¡±


    Having slept for five years, some of the newer retainers hadn¡¯t even seen Cassius¡¯s true form, only remembering the huge commotion caused by the Red Dragon¡¯s slumber.


    ¡°It¡¯s the master!¡±


    ¡°The master has awakened!¡±


    ¡°So big, so powerful.¡±


    ¡°By Maglubiyet, this is my first time seeing such a gigantic dragon.¡±


    ¡°I knew joining wasn¡¯t a mistake.¡±


    Cassius looked down upon these retainers.


    Their numbers had greatly increased compared to before his slumber, and most of them had completed the transformation, becoming half-dragon monstrosities with scales, claws, and other dragon characteristics.


    From the distant stone tower, a massive figure awkwardly flew over¡ªthat was Ramp.


    ¡°Flight Magic?¡±


    Cassius watched the ogre mage struggling with flight, his expression slightly surprised.


    ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­ Master, you¡¯ve¡­ finally awakened.¡±


    Ramp landed with a thud, still panting heavily. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius looked him up and down. Compared to before, the ogre was even more massive and robust.


    He no longer wore shabby animal skins, but a large robe sewn from several magic cloaks, his hands adorned with numerous rings¡ªclearly human magical bracelets.


    Cassius chuckled:


    ¡°Ramp, it¡¯s been a while, and you¡¯ve become quite wealthy, even building a Mage Tower.¡±


    Ramp quickly bowed his head, replying, ¡°Master, all these treasures are yours, obtained from those ignorant adventurers.¡±


    ¡°Give me a basic report on the Ashen Nest.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Ramp used a prepared spell on the wall, projecting image after image.


    Like a company manager from a previous life, he reported various aspects of the Ashen Nest to the Red Dragon¡ªsomething Cassius had previously taught him and called ¡°ppt,¡± a method Ramp quite liked for its elegance.


    In this report, Ramp tallied the territory and retainers status, progress on mining veins and metal smelting, the scale of beast taming, and even briefly mentioned the still under-construction Barto City.


    ¡°I must say, well done.¡±


    Cassius sincerely praised him, feeling the ogre was truly talented. Although the report was rough in many areas, it was quite impressive for an ogre to achieve such detail.


    Hearing the Red Dragon¡¯s praise, the Dragon Vein Ogre was elated:


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, master. Under your wings, we¡¯ve achieved these small successes.¡±


    ¡°Beep¡­¡±


    The ogre¡¯s ¡°ring¡± sounded, and his expression became excited.


    Cassius observed his ecstatic, ugly face, somewhat puzzled, and asked:


    ¡°Ramp, what¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°Master, my Alert Technique was triggered! More adventurers have arrived!¡±


    Ramp¡¯s face showed the joy of a farmer during harvest; it seemed he had reaped many benefits from those adventurers.

 Chapter 62 - 63: Awakening (III)

    Chapter 62: Chapter 63: Awakening (III)


    The bounty for the Red Dragon had been raised to ten thousand gold coins. In the Northern Countries, that amount of money was considerable, but it also represented a fortune in the prosperous Empire of Fadlan to the south and the affluent Victoria Port near Moon Bay¡ªeven more so for these impoverished adventurers.


    This amount was enough to allow a fledgling Mage to construct his own Mage Tower. It could also enable a warrior to purchase a set of magic equipment that could be passed down through generations.


    Perhaps due to deliberate publicity by the Rackman Family, the Ashen Nest had been depicted as a perilous yet affluent realm.


    Rumor had it that within that Dragon Valley lay the treasure of a greedy Red Dragon, with endless gold coins flowing from the valley. Despite no one taking the Bard¡¯s exaggerated tales seriously, it indeed left adventurers with the illusion that the Ashen Nest was a ¡°symbol of wealth.¡±


    This enticed countless adventurers who set out from various cities in the North, filled with heroic ambitions, flocking to Stormy Ridge, though most never returned.


    Of course, not all of these adventurers were foolhardy and reckless. Some, like the twenty-member adventure group currently hiding behind a rock, were properly prepared.


    ...


    However, ordinary people could no longer see them now.


    ¡°Have you all finished drinking the invisibility potion?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And also apply the breath-blocking potion.


    ¡°These giant dragons can taste the air with their forked tongues. Their sense of smell is unbelievably keen, so do not lower your guard.¡±


    The one speaking was a Mage in his twenties. He wore a purple robe and held a hollow wooden Magic Wand, looking somewhat tense.


    His name was Bennett, a young noble from Victoria Port. He had hired an elite mercenary group from various places and had come here after months of preparation.


    According to the information from Northwind Castle, that giant dragon had been asleep for a long time.


    ¡°Bennett, you might be overly nervous. It¡¯s just a young dragon, maybe even smaller. So what if it¡¯s a Red Dragon?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve interviewed those survivors.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, your divination spells confirmed that the information was correct.¡±


    ¡°Even though they trembled all over in fear, hahaha, look at those cowardly wretches, scared stiff by an immature dragon.¡±


    A scar-faced warrior, with bulging muscles, laughed.


    His name was Ivan, a seasoned warrior from the Empire of Fadlan. Having followed a thirty-member adventure group to slay an adult Green Dragon, he always enjoyed the topic of dragon slaying.


    Nearby, a Wanderer in a black cloak, whose face was indistinguishable, spoke:


    ¡°Approximately seven or eight meters long, with a special breath that can target enemies. Aside from those exaggerated tales, there seems to be nothing special.¡±


    His name was Vincent, from a certain Thieves¡¯ Guild.


    Ivan laughed heartily: ¡°After so long, the only reason this dragon hasn¡¯t been defeated is that the people of the North are too weak. They can¡¯t even handle those white beasts, let alone a Red Dragon.¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re different¡ªI¡¯m a Dragon Slayer.¡±


    Bennett admonished: ¡°Damn it, Ivan, put away your boastfulness. Even a young Red Dragon isn¡¯t something to be trifled with.


    Moreover, he has a vast force.¡±


    ¡°This time, we¡¯re to sneak in, kill the sleeping Red Dragon, and take everything valuable from his treasury. Got it? If there¡¯s no good opportunity, forget about the dragon and head straight for the treasury.¡±


    Ivan sneered at this:


    ¡°Heh, sneaking in like a thief in the shadows; I didn¡¯t slay dragons in such a cowardly way.¡±


    Vincent, usually silent, couldn¡¯t help but retort:


    ¡°Shut your mouth, which stinks worse than a goblin¡¯s.¡±


    Ivan, puffing with indignation, wanted to retort but was suddenly interrupted by Bennett.


    ¡°Shh¡ªquiet.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He pointed into the distance, where a patrol of Great Goblins was heading back.


    Bennett whispered, ¡°Follow them, and we should be able to reach Dragon Valley.


    ¡°Damn, these Great Goblins are so tall, almost dragon-like, and even wear armor. They must be those ¡®Evil Dragon Minions¡¯ the Northerners spoke of.¡±


    ¡°Everyone stay hidden and follow them without engaging.¡±


    The adventure group followed the Great Goblin patrol deeper until they saw the Rock Fortress in the valley.


    They hid behind a protruding rock on the hillside, observing the fortified walls: many Great Goblins were on guard, with catapults, great crossbows, and other siege weapons, numerous towering watchtowers, and wyverns patrolling the skies.


    ¡°By Kanas¡­ this is a fortress.¡±


    Ivan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    Though he had seen grander walls in the Empire, he never expected to find such defenses in a monster¡¯s lair.


    ¡°No, this is indeed a fortress.¡±


    ¡°There must be humans collaborating with them; otherwise, these monsters couldn¡¯t have such things.¡±


    Tristan, the usually taciturn Paladin, observed the armored Great Goblins, speaking thoughtful words, his brows furrowed.


    Bennett, looking at the fortress, felt conflicted.


    On one hand, this indicated wealth was indeed here, and the treasure must be abundant. On the other hand, escaping safely was another issue.


    After contemplating for a moment, he spoke:


    ¡°Everyone has seen it. The dragon¡¯s retainers are not mere goblins; engaging them head-on would be difficult, so we must sneak in, avoiding any direct conflict.¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    A distant roar interrupted him.


    ¡°Dragon¡¯s roar?¡±


    ¡°Could that dragon be awake?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Bennett¡¯s heart beat faster. Months of preparation and thousands of gold coins¡­ This was a high-stakes gamble, and he couldn¡¯t afford to fail here.


    Though intimidated by the fortress, Ivan moved forward, saying:


    ¡°What should we fear? It¡¯s merely a young dragon. We just need to lure it out of the lair¡­¡±


    ¡°Crack.¡±


    He stepped on the ground ahead, triggering intricate runes that suddenly glowed and sprayed flames.


    ¡°Not good, it¡¯s a guardian inscription!¡±


    ¡°Move away!¡±


    Bennett quickly raised his Magic Wand and cast a pre-prepared spell.


    ¡°Protective Energy Damage!¡±


    A thin, translucent light film surrounded them, barely holding back the surging flames, but Ivan¡¯s extended foot had been charred black, causing him to groan in pain.


    Facing this sudden turn of events, Bennett couldn¡¯t help wiping the sweat off his forehead:


    ¡°Damn, how could there be such a spell here.¡±

 Chapter 63 - 64 Awakening (IV)

    Chapter 63: Chapter 64 Awakening (IV)


    The guardian inscription had completed its rune explosion, but Bennett noticed a chain-triggered rune in the rocky corner. It was the Alert Technique.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Alert Technique!¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Damn, this is supposed to be a giant dragon¡¯s lair, why does it feel like a Mage Tower filled with spells everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Could it have predicted we would hide here?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±


    Bennett¡¯s face darkened at the thought.


    ...


    His breathing grew suddenly rapid, and his heart pounded because he thought of a terrible possibility¡ª


    This was a Law-Addicted Dragon.


    Moreover, it had probably foreseen their presence here and made all the preparations in advance, like any meticulous mage would.


    This was no place of renown and wealth; it was a death trap crafted by an Evil Dragon Mage!


    And they were merely the prey walking into the Trap!


    In the distance, thunder boomed, mirroring Bennett¡¯s feelings at that moment.


    ¡°Retreat¡­¡±


    ¡°Retreat now, everyone.¡±


    ¡°The Red Dragon is coming!¡±


    Bennett shouted, waving his Magic Wand. He had no desire to die in this wilderness, becoming food for a monster.


    However, he found that his teammates stood frozen, staring at the sky, making him anxious.


    ¡°What are you standing there for? Move!¡±


    Ivan looked up at the sky, his voice shaking.


    ¡°I think¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s already here.¡±


    Bennett felt a massive shadow envelop him, and cold sweat dripped down his face.


    He stiffly turned his head around.


    ¡°My God¡­¡±


    It was a Red Dragon of enormous size, fifteen meters long, a behemoth comparable to an adult Red Dragon.


    Its body was covered in golden-red scales, with energy shards floating around its body like thousands of microscopic star fragments, and beyond those shards, blinding lightning swirled.


    Behind it, rolling dark clouds and a fierce hurricane followed, as the Red Dragon, surrounded in dazzling light, slowly flapped its wings, as if it were the master of the storm.


    ¡°Damn Northerners¡­


    ¡°Your intelligence¡­¡±


    ¡°You call this a¡­ young dragon?¡±


    Bennett wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, muttering to himself.


    He recognized the spells in the air¡ªan Eighth Tier Weather Control spell, for his mentor had shown him before, something he couldn¡¯t cast himself.


    The Red Dragon in the sky wore a mocking expression.


    ¡°Humans, how dare you¡­


    ¡°enter my territory!¡±


    The voice rumbled like thunder, causing everyone¡¯s ears to ring.


    Then, the Red Dragon dived down, opening its jaws slowly, and a dazzling light gathered at its throat.


    ¡°Not good!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Dragon Breath! Prepare yourselves!¡±


    The team snapped out of their daze and quickly readied for battle.


    Experienced adventurers indeed, although stunned by the grand spectacle, they quickly recovered and entered combat mode.


    Paladin Tristan raised his Dragon Scale Shield and moved to the forefront, releasing the shield¡¯s spell, Anti-Dragon Aura, which enveloped them in a faint light.


    ¡°Force Wall Technique!¡±


    Bennett chanted, and a massive invisible barrier appeared before them, ready to withstand the incoming Breath, a solid defensive spell.


    Vincent silently took down the black longbow from his back and drew a Dragon Slayer Arrow from his cloak, nocking it to the string.


    Ivan gripped his long sword tightly, his muscles tensed, his fingers caressing the emerald green scales on the blade, muttering prayers.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    White-hot flames spewed from the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth, the terrifying heat warping the air¡ªit was Flame Breath.


    The blazing fire roared towards the group, currently held back by the combined Force Wall Technique and Anti-Dragon Aura barriers.


    This seemed to be just a probe.


    But sweat broke out on Bennett¡¯s forehead again; he felt his spell was close to failing.


    ¡°Such frightening flame¡­¡±


    He thought silently.


    Ivan shouted, ¡°If this keeps up, we¡¯ll be burnt to ashes. Attack! Follow me, attack!¡±


    The seasoned warrior dodged the Flame Breath from the side, eyeing the ever-nearing Red Dragon, then leaped several meters high.


    However, before he even touched the energy shards surrounding the dragon scale, he was struck by the encircling lightning, his whole body convulsing and numb.


    Remnant of the Storm!


    But it wasn¡¯t over¡ªthe Red Dragon casually swatted him with a claw.


    Immediately, the lightning around him flooded into the warrior¡¯s body. A thick bolt of lightning struck down from the dark clouds, hitting him directly. Ivan¡¯s entire body glowed nearly transparent, his bones clearly visible.


    He turned into a charred mass and fell to the ground.


    Ivan died just like that, but he bought precious time for his teammates to attack.


    ¡°Whiz¡ª¡±


    Vincent released the bowstring, sending the black Dragon Slayer Arrow straight toward the Red Dragon¡¯s heart.


    This arrow was inscribed with spells to harm dragonkin, soaked in Dragon Blood, explicitly made for slaying dragons.


    Braving the Fiery Pits!


    With the last bit of energy leaving its mouth, the Red Dragon¡¯s massive body turned into a raging inferno.


    The black arrow shot through the flames, falling feebly in the distance with no apparent effect on the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Where is it¡­¡±


    Vincent muttered darkly, for all he saw before him was roaring fire.


    Even the keen instincts of a thief couldn¡¯t locate the enemy.


    ¡°Alert!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, what is that?¡±


    In the next moment, the flames before the adventurers transformed rapidly, coalescing and forming into a colossal dragon shape.


    A thunderous roar echoed from within the flames.


    ¡°How dare you defy me!¡±


    The Red Dragon surged forward from within the flames!


    Its lightning-wrapped massive body smashed through the invisible Force Wall, making Bennett tremble.


    The warriors of the adventure group shot arrow after arrow at the Red Dragon, but the energy shards circling it deflected them effortlessly.


    Dark clouds blanketed the land, thunder roared down from the sky, striking the panicked adventurers with precision.


    ¡°Scatter, scatter!¡±


    Paladin Tristan quickly raised the Dragon Scale Shield, protecting himself while shouting.


    The teammates behind him scattered in all directions.


    Yet, the Red Dragon gathered its breath briefly and spewed several short flames straight at their retreating teammate, the Wanderer Vincent.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The frail Wanderer collapsed, his charred body blending with his black cloak, clearly lifeless.


    Then, a thick bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the Paladin¡¯s head directly. His Dragon Scale Shield could block dragon damage but not the thunder.


    ¡°Ahhh¡ª!¡±


    Tristan let out a cry of pain.


    The sky, filled with dark clouds, flashing with lightning, stormed; the ground, chaotic with the mix of flames and thunder. The Red Dragon rampaged within the group, easily destroying the adventure team.


    Bennett, witnessing this despairing scene, shakily raised his Magic Wand, mustering all his strength for the spell he had long prepared.


    ¡°Monster Immobilization Spell!¡±


    A red spell radiance flew out.


    This was originally their trump card for dragon slaying, but now it had become their key to survival.


    To his shock, a dimly flickering barrier surrounded the Red Dragon. The Magic Web around them smoothed out forcefully, disabling any spell casting.


    ¡°Spell Nullification Barrier¡­¡±


    Bennett felt profound despair, more certain than ever of his suspicion.


    This was a damn Law-Addicted Dragon!

 Chapter 64 - 65 Awakening (5)

    Chapter 64: Chapter 65 Awakening (5)


    Seeing the red dragon wantonly slaughtering, pressing step by step, Bennett finally made up his mind¡ªthis damned spell-hungry red dragon before him was unbeatable. He could only abandon his hard-recruited adventure group and leave this land of death.


    ¡°Damn it, I have to get out of here.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, everyone, it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m still on the path to seeking the truth.¡± Bennett found himself a grandiose excuse.


    As a mage, he naturally had numerous means of escape.


    Bennett took off the silver pendant hanging from his chest, on which was a delicate little door.


    ¡°Dimension Door.¡±


    ...


    While praying to the Goddess of Magic, he muttered silently.


    The pendant glowed with a magical aura, and the space beside Bennett suddenly twisted and folded. Soon, a door-like spatial crack slowly emerged. On the other side of the crack was Victoria Port, his familiar and beloved home.


    Bennett¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy, and he rushed toward the dimensional door.


    ¡°Great, finally, I can leave this damned place¡­¡±


    However, before he finished speaking, the shadow of the red dragon¡¯s wings enveloped him. The spell nullification barrier surrounding the dragon ruthlessly smoothed out the nearby magic web. The spatial crack gradually healed and closed, the space stabilizing as if it had never fluctuated.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    ¡°Uninvited guest.¡±


    The red dragon, looking down from above, scrutinized the mage with a particularly sinister look.


    Bennett looked up at the red dragon, his hands holding the magic wand trembling slightly, cold sweat streaming down his forehead like free-flowing water, and a smile appeared more ugly than crying on his face.


    His mage robe seemed to detect the danger, automatically casting a shield spell on him, but this did not increase his sense of security at all; instead, it brought about a strange awkwardness.


    ¡°I¡ªI am right here, not going anywhere.¡±


    Bennett answered timidly.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    A hint of mockery glimmered in Cassius¡¯s golden eyes.


    Half of this group had already been killed by him, and they were indeed the elite among adventurers. The majority of the team members were advanced professionals around the tenth level. If they had faced an ordinary young red dragon, they might have successfully slain it. Unfortunately, they encountered Cassius.


    However, Cassius was not a genuine red dragon obsessed with killing. These adventurers kept coming, and even killing them all would be of no use. It was better to squeeze every bit of value out of them.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    Hearing the red dragon¡¯s words, Bennett was momentarily speechless. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He turned to look at the remaining team members beside him; they were also shivering, unable to speak.


    One simply couldn¡¯t tell such a cruel, exceedingly proud red dragon that they were here to slay it! They would definitely be roasted to ashes or even swallowed alive.


    Just as the air grew tense and the red dragon seemed to grow impatient,


    a bard gathered his courage and stepped forward.


    This bard, handsome in appearance, wore a green robe and carried an exquisite lute. However, at this moment, he looked somewhat haggard; his robe was tattered and scorched in places, obviously the result of the recent one-sided battle.


    His name was Eugene, and he came to write the epic of dragon slayers.


    Just when everyone, including the red dragon, thought the bard was about to deliver a passionate speech¡ª


    Eugene unhesitatingly knelt, tears welling up in his eyes, and shouted:


    ¡°Oh legendary Flame-winged Dragon King, your claws can shred all enemies, your flame can scorch all things in this world, your strength is enough to make the gods tremble! We followed your footsteps here to behold your true form but recklessly intruded upon your domain¡­¡±


    ¡°This is truly a desecration! They have already paid for their recklessness with death, and we, the remaining insignificant beings, are willing to become your eternal servants, by your side always. To witness your grand body, even death is worth it.¡±


    ¡°This, this¡­¡±


    This series of flattering words left everyone present dumbfounded, but they had no choice but to follow suit and kneel, pleading for the red dragon¡¯s forgiveness.


    ¡°Damn, he¡¯s quite a talent.¡±


    Cassius silently remarked, listening to the bard¡¯s rhythmic and melodious boot-licking.


    The red dragon exhaled sulfurous hot breath, making everyone¡¯s eyes water, but none dared to move an inch.


    ¡°You speak well.¡±


    Kneeling on the ground, Eugene breathed a sigh of relief.


    He slightly raised his head, noting that the red dragon¡¯s expression seemed to soften a bit, secretly rejoicing: ¡°It¡¯s true, all giant dragons are incredibly vain. Thank the gods, this information was accurate!¡±


    As everyone thought they might be forgiven and began to feel fortunate, Dolores led the goblin corps, encircling them tightly.


    ¡°It just lacked a bit of earnest emotion.¡±


    Cassius was not a simple-minded monster and would not be fooled by such shoddy lies. He merely found the flattery somewhat amusing.


    ¡°Take them all to the dungeon.¡±


    Red dragon casually instructed.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Dolores respectfully obeyed, commanding the burly dragon vein goblins to roughly haul away the kneeling adventurers.


    Under the red dragon¡¯s watchful eyes, no one dared to resist, knowing well the consequence¡ªthat the corpses of their fallen comrades were still warm.


    The ogre mage Ramp arrived late, flying clumsily through the air before landing with a bang¡ªit seemed he was still not proficient in flight magic.


    However, Ramp was brimming with excitement, his face full of joy from the harvest: ¡°Master, see, I knew these adventurers would hide here. Haha, this huge rock appears to be natural, but actually, I placed it here deliberately. It is the only place nearby where you can spy on Rock Fortress.¡±


    He pointed to the runes and said.


    ¡°Whenever these adventurers hide here, they trigger my guardian inscriptions first, getting beaten half to death, then setting off my alert technique in succession. When they try to escape through the back passage, they encounter an automatically triggered web spell trap inside, and then the boulders would come rolling down. Pity they didn¡¯t trigger it this time.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s tone carried a hint of disappointment.


    Cassius¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, momentarily speechless.


    Ramp then asked: ¡°Master, what will you do with these adventurers?¡±


    ¡°Strip the mage of his spell equipment, especially that Dimension Door necklace. Then drain every spell from his mind. After that, whether he lives or dies is irrelevant; he could be converted into a dragonborn to serve you or killed to avoid any future troubles.¡±


    ¡°As for the rest, kill half and let the other half escape, but make sure they believe they escaped through their own strength.¡±


    ¡°As for that bard¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯s face revealed a playful smile.


    ¡°Make him a scribe, have him write some PR articles for us. Assign someone to check his progress; he can¡¯t rest until he¡¯s written at least twelve thousand words a day, even if he has to rely on mental stimulant elixirs to keep going.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Ramp couldn¡¯t help but admire his master for being so adept at tormenting people.

 Chapter 65 - 66: Awakening (6)

    Chapter 65: Chapter 66: Awakening (6)


    In the near future, those adventurers who thought they had escaped the Red Dragon¡¯s wrath would spread its fame across the Northland, setting the stage for the Ashen Nest¡¯s upcoming actions, drawing attention from all races in Anzeta and sparking widespread discussion in human cities like Northwind Castle.


    And that bard, under Cassius¡¯s orders, would tirelessly compose popular poems extolling the Red Dragon¡¯s might, spreading them throughout the North.


    ¡ªAfter all, this was the bard¡¯s own request, so Cassius decided to gratify him thoroughly.


    Cassius did not fear others coming after him; he now had immense confidence in his power, at least in the bleak Anzeta Great Wilderness in the North where he could act almost without restraint.


    In this twenty-member team, half of the high-level professionals had become Cassius¡¯s experience packs.


    Cassius lazily sprawled in the cave, playing with various magical items taken from Bennett with great interest.


    ...


    That Dimension Door Necklace in the Red Dragon¡¯s massive claw could only serve as a tiny ring, barely fitting on his thick finger. The Shield Cloak seemed like a handkerchief, and the hollow Carved Wooden Staff looked exactly like a toothpick.


    Beside him, in a box, lay hundreds of pieces of equipment shimmering with a magical aura.


    There were swords, shields, staffs, amulets, and all kinds of items, many stained with blood.


    But in Cassius¡¯s eyes, there was nothing particularly precious among them; most were essential lifelines for ordinary adventurers, rated at most as ¡®rare¡¯ according to the board¡¯s assessment.


    For instance, the Whisper Greatsword, which could be considered divine gear for early players, was nothing but a chicken rib to the Red Dragon.


    This was all the loot Ramp had gathered from adventurers over the years; apart from a few magic artifacts he studied himself, he sent the rest to Cassius.


    The clever ogre even intentionally spread tales of ¡°Ashen Nest Treasure¡± and planted several wrong maps in caravans to lure adventurers to their deaths. No wonder he managed to build a mage tower.


    ¡°Ah, the greed of men knows no bounds,¡±


    Cassius set down the equipment in his claw, gazing at his panel.


    ¡­


    [You killed the Human Archer Warrior and gained 1100 XP]


    [You killed the Church Paladin and gained 2900 XP]


    [You killed the Shadow Guild Thief and gained 2900 XP]


    [You killed the Hemolytic Warband Warrior and gained 3900 XP]


    [Your occupational level has increased to Level 7]


    [Selected to advance True Dragon Sorcerer level]


    Cassius held his breath, watching the panel.


    Unlike the free choice of regular sorcerers, the spells of a True Dragon Sorcerer were randomly drawn from their bloodline, much influenced by luck.


    Cassius believed that from his past life to the present, he had never been the so-called ¡®Europe King.¡¯


    [You traced your bloodline and found a secret technique from the ancient dragonkin, gaining the additional Dragon¡¯s Spell Dread Tremors]


    ¡°Zero-Tier Cantrip, causes your enemies to tremble in fear, harder to resist Dragon¡¯s Might.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but sigh, though it was better than nothing ¡ª at least it was a useful spell.


    Fortunately, due to the occupational trait bonus, he could select a Fourth-Tier spell from his warlock¡¯s spell list.


    [You have acquired the Fourth-Tier Spell Shape-shifting Spell]


    There was no need for further explanation of this renowned spell, which could transform seen creatures into new forms, constrained to his own control and power.


    Cassius felt the evocation spell in his mind and cast it.


    His spellcasting ability now reached the fifth layer of the magical web, allowing him to swiftly master the Fourth-Tier spell.


    ¡°Shape-shifting Spell.¡±


    The magical web stirred at his words and command, sparkling fragments of mana twinkled on his body. His massive, sinister form rapidly shrunk until it became that of an ordinary human.


    However, the Shape-shifting Spell automatically adjusted to the caster¡¯s condition, so Cassius, being a young dragon, naturally transformed into a half-grown kid.


    Cassius looked at his new form with a somewhat dark expression.


    The reflection showed a young boy around twelve or thirteen years old with delicate features, golden eyes, and fiery red hair like a flame. His sharp fangs made him look like a little troublemaker.


    Yet his gaze held an unexplainable haughtiness, giving off an oppressive aura.


    ¡°If I show up like this, I¡¯d be utterly disgraced.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t let players see this form, or I¡¯ll become a regular on certain peculiar websites¡­¡±


    Resolving firmly, Cassius decided never to let players see this shape.


    He reactivated his spell, gradually adjusting his appearance. Each twinkle of mana caused a change: color shifts, body elongations, or facial feature alterations, akin to the notorious Korean plastic surgery from his past life.


    At last, a young man with black hair and golden eyes, exuding stability and handsomeness, appeared in the mirror.


    He looked about twenty, wearing a dark red, gold-edged, lavishly decorated toga. His high nose bridge and golden eyes hinted at his noble status. Although slightly arrogant, he emanated elegance and composure, making him hard to refuse.


    ¡°Now this is more like it.¡±


    Cassius nodded in satisfaction.


    He glanced at his panel.


    [Warlock Cassius (Human Form)]


    Challenge Level: 8 (3900 XP)


    ¡°In this form, my physical strength and spellcasting ability are limited to that of a high-level human warlock.¡±


    Human-shaped Cassius frowned and dispelled the spell.


    Instantly, his body rapidly expanded, and the colossal Red Dragon re-emerged in the cave.


    ¡°The original form is more comfortable; feeling restricted is extremely unpleasant.¡±


    Cassius contentedly exhaled a burst of hot breath.


    He looked at the panel before him, which had drastically changed since his slumber.


    [Flying Flame Dragon ¨C Cassius]


    Name: Cassius Claudius Norixius


    Template: NPC (271 days, 5 hours until public testing)


    Category: Super Dragon Type, Lawful Evil


    Race: Young Red Dragon


    AC: 24 (Natural Armor, Gilded Scales)


    Base Attributes:


    Strength ¡ª 26


    Agility ¡ª 12


    Constitution ¡ª 23


    Intelligence ¡ª 14


    Perception ¡ª 13


    Charisma ¡ª 24


    Skill Proficiency: Persuasion +12, Deception +8, Ruling +8, Stealth +6, Perception +8, Hunting +4, Arcane +4, Escape +4, Knowledge (Future) +4


    Damage Immunities: Fire, Lightning


    Senses: Blind Sight 10 ft, Dark Vision 60 ft, Passive Perception 16


    Languages: Common, Draconic


    Capabilities: Remnant of the Storm, Maximized Breath (Flame), Targeted Breath (Flame), Gilded Carapace, Bloodline Gift


    Feats: Gilded Scales, Maximized Breath Weapon, Targeted Breath Weapon, Combat Casting, Leader¡¯s Aura, Fugitive, Smooth Talker


    Combat Equipment: Eye of the Storm King, Magic Nullification Amulet, Dimension Door Necklace, Agile Mage¡¯s Action Ring, Staff of Scorching, Talk to the Deceased Amulet, Lava Spouter, Blade Immunity Ring, Silent Steps Amulet¡­


    Equipped Spells:


    Charge Release: Storm of Vengeance


    Once per week: Weather Control


    Once per day: Spell Nullification Barrier, Dimension Door, Talk to the Deceased, Burning Hands, Searing Ray, Blade Guard, Oil on the soles of the feet


    Occupational Level: True Dragon Sorcerer 7


    Spellcasting Level: 10


    Spells:


    Fourth Tier: Braving the Fiery Pits, Shape-shifting Spell


    Third Tier: Energy Scales, Blink Spell, Protective Energy Damage, Fireball Technique


    Second Tier: Egg of Sanctuary, Enhanced Attributes, Misty Step, Phantom Force, Invisibility Spell


    First Tier: Cloud Mist Technique, Charm Person, Magic Missile, Shield Spell, Thunderwave


    Cantrips: Dread Tremors, Mage¡¯s Hand, Minor Illusion, Act Before the Enemy, Magic Tricks, Text Transmission Spell


    Inherent Spellcasting Ability:


    Once per day: Suggestion Spell


    Challenge Level: 15 (13000 XP)


    Assessment: When a flame streaks across the sky, beware of his arrival. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 66 - 67 Beta Test (I)

    Chapter 66: Chapter 67 Beta Test (I)


    [Beta testing was about to begin, retrieving data¡­]


    [Data retrieval complete, beta testing duration: 365 days]


    [Countdown to beta start: 3 days]


    ¡°Beta testing.¡±


    ¡°Finally, it¡¯s coming.¡±


    Cassius watched the information on his panel, expectantly spewing a mouthful of flame.


    ...


    He vaguely remembered that there had been a beta testing event in his previous life, but he was unclear about the exact time since he wasn¡¯t one of the lucky ones to get a beta account.


    Furthermore, ¡°Erezer¡± was initially not well-known at all. The developers didn¡¯t do any commercial publicity, only uploading the purchase link for the gaming pod on the official website. Later, because of the game¡¯s quality, it went viral globally.


    This beta version was also called [Starfall Origin], with only a thousand slots available. Players started in a Tiefling refugee camp with no mainline quests, allowing them to freely choose their faction: help the Tieflings, join the Rackman Family, or go to other countries in the North.


    The ultimate conclusion would be players uncovering Duke Brad¡¯s conspiracy, and the Tieflings returning to Northwind Castle under Mezulash¡¯s leadership.


    This was also the reason Cassius deliberately took in the Tieflings.


    In Cassius¡¯s view, Mezulash was a thorough utilitarian, very much to Cassius¡¯s liking. In the previous life, after the players appeared, he quickly realized this new force¡¯s power and utilized it to expand his own strength, opposing the thriving Rackham Family.


    But Cassius clearly remembered that a few months after this beta test ended, ¡°Erezer¡± began the public test, which was not the time written on his NPC panel at all.


    ¡°Erezer¡¯s time and Earth¡¯s time are not equivalent.¡±


    ¡°Only when players enter will the time on both sides synchronize, and Erezer¡¯s time flow is four times faster than Earth¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°When players returned after the first major update in the previous life, more than ten years had already passed in Erezer.¡±


    Thought Cassius to himself.


    But that¡¯s fine; otherwise, if as a dragon he slept for decades, only to wake up and find players already legendary, fully geared waiting for dragon slaying, wouldn¡¯t that be awkward?


    [Retrieving data¡­ Data retrieval complete]


    [Unlocking player interaction template]


    Obviously, this was the template for interacting and communicating with players. Though now, with no players yet, the functions couldn¡¯t be used, Cassius could issue quests, sell goods, teach skills, grant occupations, and even adjust favorability towards players.


    Cassius deeply understood this.


    In the previous life, facing those capricious NPCs, one moment they were full of favor, but after a wrong word, the favorability dropped to zero, and sometimes even turned hostile. That was quite normal.


    [Unlocking faction template]


    [Unlocking player forum]


    ¡°This thing is open to me too?¡±


    Cassius was a bit surprised; the player forum was for players to communicate and entertain in the past life.


    Players often chose to surf the forum while waiting to revive, saying nonsense like, ¡°Getting hit by a rock doesn¡¯t count as death,¡± or, ¡°What do you mean killed in one hit? I¡¯m just tanking damage,¡± or seriously discussing occupation builds and equipment selection.


    In the forum, you could watch for fun, or step out to become the fun. Some even made clown posts to confess their love in-game, drawing a lot of mocking and spectators.


    Cassius entered the forum, finding it indeed empty, nothing inside.


    ¡°Sure enough, it must wait for players to come.¡±


    ¡°But before that, I should talk to them¡­¡±


    Thinking of this, the Red Dragon left the cavern, ready to instruct his retainers, passing on some techniques to tame players.


    The main strategy was ¡°enticement with benefits and coercion with threats.¡±


    Commonly known as the carrot and stick tactic.


    As for ¡°reasoning with them and convincing them emotionally¡±?


    Don¡¯t even think about it. That¡¯s impossible, and it would even trigger some players¡¯ rebellious psychology.


    The first entry of players would definitely cause a lot of unpleasantness. Cassius knew this group of lawless guys too well. After all, in his previous life, he was like that too, poking here, slashing there, unintentionally maxing out hatred.


    Afterwards, he¡¯d put on an innocent face on the forum, asking, ¡°I did nothing, why are all the town NPCs chasing me,¡± which was really infuriating.


    ¡­


    [Nickname: I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou]


    Mantou was an up-and-coming game district streamer whose video content mainly consisted of live experiences of new games.


    He was a semi-wealthy second-generation, without worries about food and shelter, having more than a dozen of the latest gaming pods at home. His daily work was finding new games to experience online, be it My Virtual Girlfriend, Lord of the Rings: Gollum, King Kong vs. Qin Qiong, or Trash Picking Simulator¡­


    Regardless of the game¡¯s quality, as long as it drew traffic.


    ¡°Ah, an era of material desires.¡±


    In this age where fully immersive games were prevalent, games of all kinds emerged in an endless stream, but Mantou already felt a bit of electronic impotence.


    Even with an interactive beauty in front of him, he remained unmoved, unable to find the thrill he had from tapping on his phone in childhood.


    By chance, he stumbled upon a promo video for ¡°Erezer,¡± or rather, a gameplay video. It had no extraneous dialogue, only clearly showcasing a real world of swords and magic: ¡°Dragons soaring in the sky, knights raising their swords.¡±


    This couldn¡¯t help but remind Mantou of his original intent of playing games¡ªfantasy.


    Everyone wanted to be a hero saving the world.


    So he didn¡¯t hesitate to place an order, happily receiving a brand new gaming pod and an account balance of -8000.


    ¡°Ah, can¡¯t customize the face?¡±


    ¡°Turns out it¡¯s a face-scanning mechanism. This will turn away many face-customization-loving players.¡±


    ¡°Maybe even some players who like to use gender-bender accounts for online dating. Uh¡­ don¡¯t ask me how I know.¡±


    In this era of fully immersive games, online dating was a deep pit.


    Actions, voices, and appearances couldn¡¯t determine gender. Mantou knew this well, involuntarily recalling some unknown tearful experience.


    ¡°Since it¡¯s a face-scanning game, I can¡¯t customize an Ancient God Physique either.¡±


    [Connecting to the neural system¡­]


    [Scanning your body data¡­]


    [Constructing your character¡­]


    [Character construction complete]


    [I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou]


    (Note: Standard human attribute points are 10)


    Strength ¡ª 10


    Agility ¡ª 10 S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Constitution ¡ª 11


    Intelligence ¡ª 12


    Perception ¡ª 10


    Charisma ¡ª 9


    ¡°Although I appreciate your recognition of my wisdom¡­¡±


    ¡°Why is my charisma only 9¡ª¡ª¡±


    Mantou in the gaming pod wept again, remembering a certain online dating experience where he was blocked after sharing his photo. Maybe the gaming pod wasn¡¯t wrong; it was his fault.


    ¡°Now there¡¯s no sense of immersion.¡±


    Mantou dutifully complained.


    [Confirming your birthplace¡­ Confirmation complete!]


    [Beta starting location, coordinates 17834.4524.455, Barto City]


    [Preparing for arrival¡­]


    [Hello, welcome to Erezer!]

 Chapter 67 - 68: Beta Testing (Part 2)

    Chapter 67: Chapter 68: Beta Testing (Part 2)


    Barto City, player spawn point.


    In five years, this once barren land had undergone tremendous change, becoming a bustling small town.


    Now, Barto City spanned several square kilometers, with over five hundred inhabitants. Shops, taverns, blacksmiths, and tailor shops had sprung up, with Tieflings taking on different roles. Though these buildings were quite rudimentary, resembling wooden and stone camps, they still reminded the residents of their past life in Northwind Castle, giving them a glimmer of hope for the future.


    At the center of town stood a massive stone statue¡ªthe Red Dragon, the master of this place.


    What set this town apart from ordinary ones was the coexistence of monsters and humanoids. You could see Great Goblin garrisons patrolling, Wyverns resting in the square, and even Ogres ordering meals for ten in the tavern.


    Despite inevitable conflicts and frictions, under Mezulash¡¯s supervision, Barto City managed to maintain basic order.


    ...


    But the order he struggled to maintain might be shattered today.


    ¡°Everyone, remember, don¡¯t listen to anything they say,¡±


    ¡°Anyone who dares to attack, kill on the spot.¡±


    Mezulash led dozens of guards to the cave, looking solemn and prepared for the worst.


    Based on the master¡¯s description, these strange-behaving ¡°Starfallen¡± were no easy group, but they seemed to be a power that could be leveraged.


    ¡­


    Mantou saw a flash of white light before regaining consciousness in a cave. Underfoot was hard rock, with flickering candlelight on the walls, and light at the far end of the cave.


    He tried moving his limbs, pinching his cheek, feeling no delay or unfamiliarity, almost identical to reality. This amazed him.


    ¡°WTF? This feels so real?¡±


    ¡°You guys might not get it from the videos, but my current feeling is¡ªthis freaking feels like the real world.¡±


    Mantou walked out of the cave with great anticipation. In the small square outside the cave entrance, hundreds of players had already gathered.


    They had all sorts of nicknames floating above their heads. ¡°Just Eating Mantou¡± seemed quite normal compared to ones like ¡°Uncle Ji,¡± ¡°Manure Sea Maggot,¡± ¡°The Sky Has Wells Naturally Empty,¡± ¡°Invincible Tyrannosaurus Warrior.¡± But everyone was well-used to such names.


    ¡°No newbie missions, huh.¡±


    ¡°But this tactile experience is amazing. I gotta pull my classmates into this.¡±


    ¡°What can we do now?¡±


    ¡°Search my ID for study materials, over a thousand GB of fully immersive videos, all kinds of knowledge available~¡±


    ¡°WTF, is that Cereal Bro?¡±


    ¡°Get lost, I aspire to become an Archmage, don¡¯t distract me with beauty.¡±


    ¡°Heathen, taste my sword!¡±


    The players noisily discussed in the square, curiously looking at everything around them. After all, the fully immersive quality of Erezer was unmatched, offering 100% realistic tactile experience that fascinated the players.


    ¡°As usual, let¡¯s first¡ªWTF, what¡¯s that!¡±


    ¡°Can this be shown?¡±


    Mantou was about to check his panel when he noticed a nearby player with the ID ¡°Wings of Freedom¡± starting to strip off his simple cloth clothes, getting stark naked while his lower body was covered in a dazzling Holy Light.


    ¡°Finally, I¡¯m free¡ª¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The guy stood naked, spreading his arms in a pose reminiscent of Rose at the bow of the Titanic, his Holy Light blinding the surrounding players.


    ¡°Dude, are you serious?¡±


    ¡°You know this game uses face recognition, right.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Mantou gave a good-natured reminder and then walked away, leaving the guy to cry out in regret.


    ¡°Sure enough, there are still many who skip reading the player agreement and jump straight into the game. They end up paying for their recklessness.¡±


    ¡°Mantou said with a sigh.


    Entertainment value achieved?


    But soon, the players¡¯ attention was drawn by the approaching line of Tieflings, no longer focusing on the ¡°Holy Light Bro.¡±


    ¡°These must be our guide NPCs, but I noticed that this game has a favorability system, so be careful with your words,¡±


    Mantou explained quietly.


    A player with the ID ¡°Swashbuckler¡± loudly suggested, ¡°What are those red-skinned NPCs with horns, demons? Can we attack them?¡±


    ¡°Wanna try attacking them?¡±


    Instantly, dozens of Tieflings turned their angry gazes towards him. If not for their leader¡¯s orders, they might have chopped him into mince meat.


    ¡°No, no, just kidding.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I was just joking, why so serious?¡±


    Swashbuckler laughed awkwardly, his panel showing a full screen of Favorability -50.


    ¡°See, I told you not to speak recklessly. But this game¡¯s AI is really smart, it can even recognize players¡¯ words.¡±


    Mantou looked gleefully at ¡°Swashbuckler¡± and continued explaining.


    He knew that guy, a famous fully immersive risky player. His notable act was stealing chickens from villagers in ¡°Ancient Scrolls 10¡± and getting hunted by thousands.


    As expected, it wasn¡¯t over yet.


    Swashbuckler slipped to the back of the crowd while the Tieflings weren¡¯t looking, throwing a small stone at the leading Tiefling¡¯s head.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The stone drew a beautiful arc in the air, caught effortlessly by Mezulash without even turning.


    However, the next moment, another stone hit his armor, making a clear ¡°clang.¡±


    For a moment, the air nearly froze as everyone stared in shock.


    Finally, the long-silent Damacus cautiously asked, ¡°Captain¡­ what should we do?¡±


    Even the usually composed Mezulash seemed a bit flustered.


    Mezulash had seen everything, he could barely tolerate people undressing in the square, but never someone risking life to throw random stones at him.


    ¡°Attacking the army¡­ kill!¡±


    He crushed the stone in his hand, his tone unexpectedly gritted with anger.


    The Tieflings, who had long endured Swashbuckler, finally found an outlet, drawing their bows and shooting arrows with all their might.


    In no time, he was filled with arrows.


    Swashbuckler raised his arrow-filled arm and, with the last of his strength, said, ¡°Though I die¡­ I remain¡­ Swashbuckler!¡±


    Finishing his lines, he then satisfactorily passed away.


    However, instead of being intimidated by Mezulash¡¯s strict enforcement, the players burst into laughter.


    ¡°There are still many good NPCs in this world.¡±


    ¡°RIP Swashbuckler.¡±


    ¡°I must sneak into his house and max out his pain threshold one day.¡±


    Mantou laughed so hard he teared up: ¡°Hahaha, this guy is something else, pulling off a ¡®Borrowing Arrows with Thatched Boats,¡¯ turning himself into a porcupine!¡±


    The Tiefling Guards, seeing these human-like figures laughing and joking without any respect, were filled with fury.


    But Mezulash, watching the laughing crowd, crossed his arms thoughtfully.


    ¡°It seems these¡­ Starfallen cannot be judged by common sense,¡± he thought.

 Chapter 68 - 69: Internal Testing (Part 3)

    Chapter 68: Chapter 69: Internal Testing (Part 3)


    Facing the never-ending noise from the players, Mezulash stepped forward and raised his bloody Great Sword.


    ¡°Silence!¡±


    But the players seemed to rebel even more, becoming even noisier, with all kinds of cheeky remarks emerging one after another.


    ¡°I¡¯m hyped, hubby.¡±


    ¡°No male waifu, let me at it.¡±


    ¡°Why is a red-skinned NPC so arrogant? Sooner or later, we¡¯ll take you down.¡±


    ...


    ¡°That gear looks awesome, is it available in the store?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s so cocky, I love it.¡±


    Mezulash felt his scalp tingle but he had to force himself to keep speaking.


    ¡°Warriors from unknown spaces, I am the steward of Barto City under the command of the Red Dragon, a Tiefling Warrior. You can call me Mezulash. By my master¡¯s order, I have come to welcome you.¡±


    ¡°However, neither Barto City nor the entire Ashen Nest welcomes idlers. You need to prove your value to me.¡±


    ¡°As you can see, Barto City is newly built, everything is waiting for development. I hope you can contribute your strength¡­¡±


    Mezulash tried to be as stirring as possible, but most players were not paying attention except for those extremely into the story.


    ¡°That gear looks kinda nice, feels like at least a mini-boss level.¡±


    Mantou instinctively pulled up his panel and threw out a scout.


    [Loading data¡­]


    [Loading complete!]


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information.]


    [Oathbreaker Sword, Mezulash]


    Faction: [Ashen Nest ¨C Barto City]


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: ???


    Favorability: -5 (Mild Dislike)


    ¡°According to official data, information only fails to show when the Challenge Level difference is five levels apart from the player¡¯s level. Is this Newbie Village NPC that strong?¡±


    ¡°Wait, why did favorability turn negative?¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He looked up, only to see the Tiefling eyeing him with a glimmer of danger in his eyes, clearly aware of his spying.


    ¡°Damn, can scouting even be detected?¡±


    Dejectedly, Mantou put away his panel and stood at attention, obediently listening to him speak.


    Mezulash swept his gaze over the crowd with a warning look, then continued, ¡°You can accept tasks. Barto City will give you corresponding rewards.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, please wait a moment.¡±


    His tone suddenly paused.


    ¡°Captain, we found it,¡± Damacus reported coming forward.


    Several strong Tiefling Guards carried a new corpse full of arrows out of the cave and placed it next to the original one¡ªthe same ¡°Swashbuckler.¡±


    Only this time, he didn¡¯t even have time to say his lines before dying.


    Mezulash already knew from Cassius that players would revive, and he also knew that player revivals were limited.


    In ¡°Erezer,¡± players could only revive once every ten minutes, each time with an experience penalty based on their current level, and they only had three revival opportunities per day. After the third death, they could only hang out on the forum.


    ¡°Damn, is this NPC that smart?¡±


    ¡°Camping at the respawn point!¡±


    ¡°The AI from the developers is just messing with our minds.¡±


    ¡°Good, Rogue Beast has messed with many people¡¯s minds. He previously brought the final boss to our main city and got it destroyed in another game. He deserves to be messed with so hard his will breaks.¡±


    ¡°Instant fan conversion.¡±


    ¡°Seeing a player getting camped at the gate makes me furious; seeing it¡¯s Rogue Beast, I¡¯m overjoyed.¡±


    ¡°I guess there are still good NPCs in the world¡­¡±


    Finally, Mezulash¡¯s face showed a chillingly kind smile.


    ¡°Everyone, please be silent.¡±


    ¡°This is just a small warning.¡±


    This time, as soon as he spoke, the players suddenly fell silent, like a group of primary school students caught by the class teacher.


    After all, no one wanted to be camped at the gate without even having a chance to develop. Next to the arrow-pierced corpse of ¡°Swashbuckler,¡± Mezulash¡¯s words carried extra weight.


    Mezulash started introducing various information according to the instructions of the Red Dragon.


    ¡°The Blacksmith sells weapons and armor, the market has food and water for sale, the tavern sells drinks and you can stay on the second floor. You can accept quests from the bulletin board in the square and collect rewards at the Adventurers¡¯ Guild in Barto City¡­¡±


    According to Mezulash¡¯s description, the players roughly understood the situation in Barto City.


    And after the tasks were released, corresponding task data appeared on the players¡¯ panels, including building city walls, constructing houses, going out hunting, and hunting hostile monsters.


    The system allocated experience based on the difficulty and consumption of tasks, while Faction Contribution Points were managed by Kai Xu, the faction leader.


    But most of these tasks were life-oriented, commonly known as ¡°brick-moving,¡± with fewer opportunities for the familiar monster-hunting and leveling up¡ªafter all, Stormy Ridge was almost contracted by Ashen Nest, leaving only the monsters in the mountains and forests to find.


    ¡°So many tasks¡­¡±


    ¡°This task [Hunt Savage Boars] rewards a set of standard City Guard Army equipment. Watch me get a perfect start.¡±


    ¡°This is real body data, you probably can¡¯t even beat a chicken.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t beat a chicken.¡±


    ¡°Why are there brick-moving tasks¡­¡±


    Having just entered the game, the players were very interested in these diverse tasks, to the point that they even ignored ¡°Swashbuckler¡± being carried up again.


    Three corpses lined up neatly in a row.


    As if silently telling the fate of this troublemaker.


    Although Barto City had begun to take shape with some city elements, it had only developed for five years, with sparse population and thin foundation, and the buildings were still very simplistic.


    And the most crucial problem was the lack of labor force. The assistance from Ashen Nest somewhat alleviated this issue, but it was not an immediate solution.


    With the addition of hundreds of players, the various aspects of Barto City could rapidly develop, especially since they had a workforce unafraid of death and tireless.


    The players had thus begun their exploration.


    ¡°Damn, why is there an Ogre in this tavern! Can¡¯t they see it?¡±


    ¡°No, bro, don¡¯t hit me. I¡¯m a good human!¡±


    ¡°That big-nosed Goblin is part of the patrol team? I thought it was a monster.¡±


    ¡°The Wyvern understands human language.¡±


    ¡°Ogres, Goblins, Wyverns and that¡­ uh, Tiefling. I feel like our Newbie Village doesn¡¯t seem like a proper faction.¡±


    ¡°The dragon statue in the center of the square looks pretty cool. He seems to be our boss.¡±


    ¡°Wait, aren¡¯t we born in the boss¡¯s lair?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Standing high, Mezulash quietly watched these ¡°Starfallen¡± taking on tasks everywhere, lost in thought.


    Their appearance had brought much chaos to Barto City, but also a vitality full of infinite possibilities. Although Mezulash often found them hard to deal with, he clearly recognized this.


    ¡°I begin to understand the master¡¯s words, ¡®Lure with benefits, coerce with threats¡¯.¡±


    This Tiefling Holy Warrior thought.


    ¡­

 Chapter 69 - 70 Beta Testing (IV)

    Chapter 69: Chapter 70 Beta Testing (IV)


    Four days had passed in the game ¡°Elzegai World,¡± with hundreds of players wandering around Barto City, taking on various missions within the city, and summarizing various points of caution.


    Things like how to move bricks with the least effort, how to cut corners when building houses, how to climb trees to find the Tiefling girl¡¯s cat, and even how to steal vegetables from the market without getting caught.


    ¡°Elzegai World¡± gave players the feeling of extreme freedom and extreme realism.


    You could get chased and beaten by the shopkeeper for stealing, get legally killed by the male householder for breaking into someone¡¯s home and rummaging through their belongings, and even get arrested by the Tiefling Guard Squad for drawing a mustache on the statue in the town square¡­


    Moreover, what surprised players even more was that various physical and chemical reactions from reality were also presented in this world in the form of magic¡ªa civil engineering guy with the ID ¡°Bucket Runner,¡± for instance, had become a supervisor of Barto City¡¯s walls due to his superb and skilled grey-casting techniques, along with his ancient method of cement making.


    Most players had reached level one within four days, and Mantou was no exception.


    ...


    There were twelve basic profession branches for players to choose from in ¡°Elzegai World¡±: Warrior, Barbarian, Bard, Priest, Druid, Martial Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Wanderer, Magician, Warlock, and Mage.


    Each profession had its strengths and weaknesses, which made many people suffer from a dilemma of choice.


    After much deliberation, Mantou chose the Warrior profession as he preferred the thrill of battle with swords and blades.


    However, most of them were forced to log off due to the 24-hour limit on the gaming pod¡ªexcept for a few Liver Emperors who had modified their gaming systems to stay far ahead of everyone else.


    ¡°Whew, time passed so quickly.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even feel it, and four days had already gone by.¡±


    Mantou took off his gaming pod helmet, feeling a sense of loss.


    But he didn¡¯t have time to lament, for he had to seize the moment to grind and quickly release his video.


    ¡°Ah, another update, it really makes me feel bald.¡±


    Mantou touched his somewhat sparse back of the head and sat down at his computer to start editing his video.


    From Mantou¡¯s perspective, after this beta test, ¡°Elzegai World¡± would definitely explode in popularity due to its high quality. He needed to seize this opportunity to ride the first wave of traffic and become a pioneer among gaming enthusiasts.


    Several hours later, the video was finally published.


    ¡­


    ¡°Mantou¡¯s Live Broadcast: Elzegai World, Creating a Real World.¡±


    Mantou was already a somewhat famous gaming host with tens of thousands of followers on a certain site. As soon as the video was released, a lot of people clicked on it.


    ¡°The missing person has returned!¡±


    ¡°First row¡±


    ¡°I am the first¡±


    ¡°The title is so exaggerated, aren¡¯t they paying you money?¡±


    ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Mantou. Today, I bring you this game¡ª¡¯Elzegai World.''¡±


    ¡°I believe many people have never heard of it, but you will soon. I discovered this gem of a game by chance, and now I¡¯ve played it continuously for a day and night. My mental state is excellent, and if it weren¡¯t for the time limit, I think I could play it for a year.¡±


    ¡°Alright, without further ado, let¡¯s get into our live gameplay session.¡±


    ¡°Classic nonsense opening.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t he survive without talking nonsense?¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before the game even started, there were already numerous comments, especially during the character selection phase when the charisma stat was set to 9.


    ¡°Sky King covering the Earth Tiger, Mantou¡¯s charisma 9.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, sorry, I couldn¡¯t help but laugh.¡±


    ¡°Mantou: Don¡¯t have an Ancient God Physique? I am the Ancient God Physique!¡±


    ¡°Too funny.¡±


    ¡°Now we know why Mantou¡¯s online dating failed.¡±


    And that wasn¡¯t even talking about later when ¡°Holy Light Bro¡± took off his clothes to pursue freedom, only to realize he had socially died, and Swashbuckler visited the respawn point three times, getting blocked by NPCs each time, making for a perfect comedic effect.


    ¡°Hahaha, the Rogue Beast finally got his comeuppance!¡±


    ¡°Wow, is the AI this advanced?¡±


    ¡°This is a bit scary.¡±


    ¡°Makes me want to play too.¡±


    Later, Mantou showcased his various brick-moving and earning experiences in Barto City¡ªincluding getting chased by an Ogre for speaking out of turn, nearly losing his precious first life.


    ¡°Chase, chase him!¡±


    ¡°Ogre eats Mantou, funny.¡±


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve become a black slave in the game!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all for today¡¯s gameplay. I need a short rest and will continue brick-moving in Elzegai World tomorrow. Farewell for now, everyone.¡±


    ¡°In the future, I will be making and releasing a video series called ¡®Mantou¡¯s Adventures in Elzegai World,¡¯ which will be serialized on both the player forum and a certain site. Stay tuned.¡±


    The video caused a huge sensation among immersive game players soon after its release, reaching a million views and topping the daily gaming chart. It also drew more players¡¯ attention to ¡°Elzegai World.¡±


    ¡­


    Cassius browsed through the posts on the player forum, which were all over the place, a real variety.


    There were novice questions:


    ¡°Why can¡¯t my level one Mage get a spell, and what¡¯s this about learning scrolls?¡±


    ¡°Looking for a Wild Sorcerer guide, what to do if you burn your teammates?¡±


    Team recruitments:


    ¡°Tracking an Orc rebel tribe, looking for a Barbarian teammate to tank.¡±


    ¡°Looking for a Bard, want to hear some tunes.¡±


    ¡°Looking for people for an owl bear hunting quest, no Mages, and definitely no Wild Sorcerers.¡±


    And someone¡¯s protest:


    ¡°A million people sign a blood-soaked petition! Protesting against the game officials for targeting excellent players, camping the respawn point, interfering with normal gameplay, demanding a 1000 gold coin compensation.¡±


    But most of the replies were sarcastic: ¡°More officials, please¡± ¡°Not so heroic, Rogue Beast?¡± ¡°Compensate you with 1000 deaths.¡±


    At this moment, Cassius accidentally found a strategy post.


    ¡°Learn how to get started quickly in ¡®Elzegai World¡¯ in five minutes!¡±


    He was very familiar with the nickname of the post¡¯s author, Xin Dog, known as S-Dog in his past life, and sometimes Black Slave, a veteran immersive game player and professional solo player.


    Not only was he highly skilled, but he also wrote great strategies, serving as an undying beacon for many solo newcomer players.


    The main content of his strategy summarized ways for beginners to complete missions and offered an evaluation of cost-effectiveness, emphasizing four golden rules for accepting missions:


    ¡°If there¡¯s money, choose money; if not, choose equipment.¡±


    ¡°Faction Contribution? Not even a dog wants it.¡±


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, exhaling a breath of sulfur-scented air.


    ¡°This won¡¯t do.¡±


    ¡°If you all go for money, how am I going to fleece you? This bad trend must be stopped!¡±


    From a player¡¯s perspective, Xin Dog¡¯s strategy was absolutely correct.


    Compared to gold coins and equipment, which had inherent value and wide circulation, faction contribution provided by Cassius was more like a form of credit currency issued by the faction.


    Faction contribution had an inherent weakness¡ªit had no value on its own and only gained value when circulated.


    You had to use it to buy things, right?


    If it couldn¡¯t buy anything, its value would drop to zero, and currently, players had no way to use faction contribution.


    If Cassius wanted to fleece the players and perform his ¡°something for nothing¡± act, he had to make the players believe faction contribution was valuable.


    With this in mind, Cassius smiled slightly.


    ¡°Shape-shifting Spell!¡±


    As the scattered magical aura flickered, the enormous Red Dragon vanished, replaced by a noble youth with black hair, golden eyes, and clad in a crimson robe in the cave.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just have to engage with the players personally¡­¡±

 Chapter 70 - 1: Mysterious Invitation

    Chapter 70: Chapter 1: Mysterious Invitation


    ¡°Warrior, step up quickly, this ferocious wild boar is almost out of health!¡±


    Someone shouted.


    Mantou gripped his Standard Iron Sword, eyes fixed on the wild boar in front of him.


    The wild boar was foul and fierce, towering in stature and weighing several hundred kilograms.


    Its body was covered with tough and sharp bristles, and two long tusks protruded from its head, emitting a foul odor. However, the beast appeared drowsy and sluggish at this moment, its body riddled with scars, seemingly on the verge of death.


    To Mantou, it looked like a big, walking chunk of experience and money.


    ...


    ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s do it!¡±


    Mantou gritted his teeth and stepped forward, thrusting his sword into the boar¡¯s side.


    The Iron Sword pierced through the tough bristles, plunging deep into the flesh, causing blood to spray from the wound.


    ¡°Hit!¡±


    The players cheered loudly.


    Suddenly, the boar¡¯s drowsy, sleepy eyes turned blood-red, it exhaled a foul, stinking breath, and the muscles under its thick layer of fat bulged out, releasing an unimaginably powerful force.


    ¡°Oh crap, don¡¯t tell me this thing has a second phase¡­¡±


    Mantou awkwardly pulled out the blood-stained Iron Sword, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, feeling like he was about to lose his first life.


    The wild boar glared at Mantou with fierce eyes, its sturdy hooves scraping the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.


    ¡°Grrr¡ªah¡ª¡±


    The ferocious boar let out a low growl and charged straight at Mantou, causing the ground to tremble under the players¡¯ feet.


    Mantou, though not one of the top players, was a seasoned professional in immersive gaming. Seeing the terrifying charge, he instinctively rolled to the side.


    Dust flew up from the ground as Mantou narrowly dodged the charge.


    The wild boar crashed into a rock behind him, even creating spider-web-like cracks on the rock wall.


    ¡°So, ¡®ferocious¡¯ means it goes berserk when nearly dead.¡±


    ¡°That kind of destructive power could definitely one-shot me.¡±


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but complain, but the boar¡¯s next charge was already coming with a cloud of dust, and Mantou was cornered with nowhere to hide.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be giving up my first life, huh?¡±


    Mantou skillfully opened his panel and adjusted his pain perception to the minimum.


    ¡°Sanctuary Spell!¡±


    A clear female voice rang out.


    A thin layer of light appeared around Mantou. Although the boar had charged right up to him¡ªMantou could even hear its heavy breathing and smell its foul odor¡ªit couldn¡¯t attack him and crashed into the adjacent rock wall again.


    This time the charge was so powerful that the boar¡¯s long, thick tusks became embedded in the cliff wall, leaving it unable to pull them out for the time being.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    An arrow shot from the side, piercing the wild boar¡¯s heart directly.


    It struggled a few times before finally losing its life.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always said, Archer Warriors are the future.¡±


    A male voice rang out.


    Mantou turned and saw three players approaching together.


    He recognized these three; they were famous professional players in the full-immersion gaming circle.


    There was the hardcore strategy expert ¡°Xin Dog,¡± the highly popular female professional player with over a million fans ¡°Summer Night Autumn Rain,¡± and ¡°Natural War Maniac,¡± a top player known for dominating virtual game competitions for ten years and capable of defeating all opponents.


    Their current roles were warrior, priest, and barbarian¡ªa very complementary team of three.


    In their presence, Mantou felt somewhat insignificant. Though he also considered himself a professional player and had tens of thousands of followers, he couldn¡¯t compare to these renowned figures.


    He said somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Thanks, what do you need me for?¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain said, ¡°We¡¯ve watched your videos; they¡¯re good.¡±


    ¡°You overpraise me.¡±


    Mantou sheepishly scratched his head.


    But Xin Dog was straightforward, ¡°Mantou, when you last logged off, you had four Gold Coins, right?¡±


    ¡°Uh, yeah, just got lucky.¡±


    Four Gold Coins didn¡¯t sound like much, but it was real gold.


    The value was equivalent to 100 silver coins or 400 copper coins. A ¡°Liver Emperor¡± player, taking up a full slate of tasks and working day and night, would need nearly ten days to accumulate that amount. Mantou had merely stumbled upon it in a mine, where miners had secretly stashed some Gold Coins.


    Natural War Maniac asked, ¡°Interested in joining us on a quest? We need that money.¡±


    Mantou was bewildered, ¡°Why not approach those big guilds? They would probably be very willing to take you in, and this amount of money shouldn¡¯t be a problem for them.¡±


    Though the game was still in its beta phase, wealthy players had already organized small guilds like the ¡°Sword Pavilion,¡± ¡°Gold Club,¡± and ¡°Royalty.¡± Some of these small groups had nearly fifty members, many of whom would later form the core of big guilds.


    Speaking of guilds, Natural War Maniac got irritated and swore, ¡°Those bastards are shameless. They station people at the mission board all day, snatching up all the good-paying quests and leaving us scattered individuals with brick-laying and wall-repairing tasks for contribution points.¡±


    Xin Dog nodded in agreement, ¡°Guilds? Not even a dog would join them.¡±


    He liked to use the word ¡°dog¡± in his speech, which was one reason his haters called him ¡°Xin Dog.¡± The other major reason was that he was perpetually single.


    Mantou pondered for a moment and said,


    ¡°Why do you need these Gold Coins? Let me think about it.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain showed Mantou a piece of item information.


    [Mysterious Invitation]


    Usable by: 4 people


    ¡°This invitation burns eternally, never extinguishing. It can take you to unknown realms, where danger or opportunity might await you.¡±


    Item price: 10 Gold Coins


    ¡°This is a new item in the exchange, and it seems to have a limited stock. The guilds haven¡¯t noticed it yet. We¡¯ve managed to gather six Gold Coins, so we came to find you.¡± Summer Night Autumn Rain explained.


    ¡°Geez, what kind of invitation costs this much? This could buy several sets of equipment,¡± Mantou couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    Xin Dog said bluntly, ¡°This is the difference between you and top professional players. Ten Gold Coins might seem important early on, but in the mid to late game, it¡¯s not much at all.¡±


    ¡°If you buy equipment, you¡¯ll just get a bunch of scrap iron. But if you buy mission items like this, you can gain an early advantage and keep winning.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain tried to smooth things over, ¡°Say less, please.¡±


    Xin Dog, still expressionless, said, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t agree, it just shows he lacks the vision. We can find someone else.¡±


    Mantou awkwardly smiled. He finally realized why this strategy genius was unmatched in all aspects yet remained single.


    But as he thought over Xin Dog¡¯s words, they made some sense, and he agreed cheerfully.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll join you, but my share is bigger, and you¡¯ll need to give me more permissions in the subsequent missions.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    Natural War Maniac grinned and readily agreed.

 Chapter 71 - 2: The Noble NPC

    Chapter 71: Chapter 2: The Noble NPC


    The four of them, holding the ten Gold Coins they had scraped together, went to the Tiefling Trading Center and bought the Mysterious Invitation.


    When Singo handed the shiny Gold Coins to the Tiefling merchant, Mantou felt an immense pain. He thought to himself, ¡°How many pieces of equipment could this buy, you spendthrift!¡±


    The invitation in their hands felt heavy.


    They returned to their rented cabin and excitedly opened the invitation.


    The paper inside was a delicate pale yellow, thin and seemingly no different from ordinary paper, but the words on it were written in burning flames, constantly flickering.


    There was only one short sentence¡ª¡ª


    ...


    ¡°You will meet the most distinguished person here.¡±


    ¡°Is it really that influential?¡±


    ¡°Seems like this gamble was worth it, at least we¡¯ll break even.¡±


    Looking at the tiny words on the invitation, Mantou was filled with anticipation.


    Singo, however, remained calm: ¡°I told you, anything that costs so much Gold Coins will definitely yield significant rewards.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Natural War Maniac chuckled: ¡°Come on, stand still, I¡¯m about to use it.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    [Confirm using Mysterious Invitation!]


    Immediately, the space in front of the four of them started to ripple, then gradually twisted and cracked, forming a door-shaped space rift. Flames roared around the edges of the rift, making it look like the ¡°doorframe¡± of this Dimension Door.


    ¡°Wow, a teleportation portal? This is top-notch!¡±


    Mantou exclaimed.


    So far in the game, no Magic System Profession had developed teleportation skills. Mages without scrolls would be out of the question, and even those now called ¡°true mage masters,¡± the sorcerers, didn¡¯t have such high-end abilities.


    Both Summer Night Autumn Rain and the Natural War Maniac were pleasantly surprised, and even Singo, who usually had a sour face, showed a hint of excitement.


    But he still reminded: ¡°The item description said, the other side could be dangerous or a reward, so we need to be fully prepared.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. We don¡¯t want to get wiped out as soon as we go in.¡±


    Mantou nodded.


    ¡°Blessing Spell!¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain waved a wooden staff, and beams of light descended, enveloping everyone.


    This Divine Arts could give the recipients an advantage in attack and saving throws, an all-purpose spell for priests in their early stages.


    ¡°Healing Potion, Toxin Resistance Potion, Wyvern Toxin, Slippery Oil, Oil of Precision¡­¡±


    Singo pulled out one item after another from his backpack and introduced them as if they were his treasured possessions. Before long, these items were piled like a small mountain.


    ¡°Where did you get so much stuff?¡± Mantou couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    In this resource-scarce early stage, many newbie players couldn¡¯t even gather a basic set of equipment and would lose to the large goose raised by the Tiefling aunt next door. Yet Singo had accumulated such a stash.


    ¡°Look more, practice more, grind more.¡±


    Singo simply replied calmly.


    Mantou finally understood what set these top-tier players apart; in this respect, he had to concede¡ªhe couldn¡¯t compete with their show-off skills.


    After applying oil to weapons and armor, placing potions in his backpack to handle various situations, and making a series of preparations, Singo was finally ready. Although he looked quite bulky, an epitome of practicality over aesthetics.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The four of them stepped into the flaming teleportation portal.


    A wave of heat hit them, seemingly leaving a mark on each person¡¯s face.


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so dark.¡±


    ¡°Where is this?¡±


    ¡°It feels a bit warm.¡±


    ¡°Autumn Rain, use a Light Spell; we can¡¯t see anything.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain raised the wooden staff and began to cast Divine Arts.


    ¡°Light Spell!¡±


    The tip of the staff emitted a faint light.


    Though the glow was weak, it was enough for the four to barely see their surroundings.


    They were now in a dim, narrow rock tunnel. The air inside was stuffy, with hard rock walls surrounding them and the tunnel leading into an unknown darkness.


    ¡°What should we do, should we keep going?¡±


    The narrow rock tunnel made Mantou feel uneasy, and the Light Spell hardly provided any comfort.


    Singo grit his teeth and said fiercely: ¡°We¡¯re here now, we can¡¯t just turn back. Let¡¯s go all in!¡±


    They carefully made their way forward along the tunnel.


    Finally, the four seemed to have exited the tunnel; the space in front of them was much wider.


    ¡°This should be the place.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, stay alert. Report any findings.¡±


    But the Light Spell no longer reached the rock walls; all around was darkness. The vast, dark cave echoed now and then, making them even more nervous and sweaty.


    Suddenly, an unknown light appeared, followed by more lights.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    With the sound of flames igniting, hundreds of intricately dragon-headed oil lamps along the rock walls lit up consecutively, illuminating the surrounding darkness and revealing the cavern¡¯s expansive interior.


    Waves of heat rolled over them.


    A spacious road appeared before them, with blazing fires on both sides,


    and at the end of the road stood a man.


    He had black hair and golden eyes, with delicate features. Dark gold pupils reflected the blazing flames, exuding an inherent arrogance. Red scales faintly appeared on both sides of his face, and bone-white dragon horns adorned his forehead.


    He was adorned in a dark red, gold-bordered luxurious robe, his tall frame radiating an aura of nobility and irresistibility.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn¡¯t help but blush, exclaiming, ¡°Wow, the official model looks really good.¡±


    Mantou, on the other hand, joked, ¡°Wow, is this NPC really this handsome? Almost as handsome as me.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes.


    Singo urged, ¡°Mantou, quickly cast a detection spell. We must have encountered a key character.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    Mantou instinctively responded, then skillfully brought up the panel.


    Mysterious Dragon Vein Sorcerer ¨C Cassius


    Affiliation: Ashen Nest


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: ??? (Extremely Dangerous!)


    Favorability: -5 (Slight Disdain)


    Mantou realized what he had done and cursed, ¡°Damn you, Xin Dog! You¡¯ve tricked me again, now our favorability dropped!¡±


    Singo, hearing his nickname, still wore his expressionless face, ¡°Everyone will remember your sacrifice. So, what did you see, Mantou?¡±


    Mantou shook his head, ¡°Nothing, all the information is unknown.¡±


    Singo clenched his fists with excitement, ¡°Great! We really found him.¡±


    ¡°Based on my observations, the only one in Barto City with an unknown Challenge Level is the Oathbreaker Sword, Mezulash. Others, like Guard Captain Damacus, have visible Challenge Levels. We¡¯ve found the second key NPC first, so we definitely¡ª¡±


    However, a steady male voice interrupted his speech from afar.


    ¡°Honored guests, using detection upon meeting might be considered impolite, don¡¯t you think?¡±


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 Chapter 72 - 3: Red Scale Conqueror!

    Chapter 72: Chapter 3: Red Scale Conqueror!


    The four quickly walked along the Flaming Road.


    Mantou wore a fawning smile, hoping to use his own skills to make up for the favorability points Singo had lost.


    ¡°Dear sir, is there something you wish to ask us? Just say the word, and I will go through fire and water to serve you!¡±


    [Favorability -5.]


    [Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius has a favorability of -10 towards you (Mild Dislike).]


    Mantou¡¯s smile instantly froze on his face.


    ...


    ¡°Why did it go down instead of up!¡±


    ¡°Damn, why is this mysterious NPC so troublesome?¡± He cursed inwardly, growing frustrated.


    A faint hint of mockery flickered across Cassius¡¯s face. You think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re like? You must be secretly cursing me in your heart, he thought.


    But outwardly, he remained calm and said, ¡°Starfallen from lands unknown, I did not invite you here to listen to such nonsense.¡±


    [You have been given a quest by the player Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius: I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou, Singo, Summer Night Autumn Rain, Natural War Maniac.]


    Singo simply said, ¡°Please go ahead.¡±


    The Half-Dragon Spellcaster looked down at them, exuding a powerful aura. His golden pupils shimmered with light:


    ¡°Since you were born in Barto City, it is surely the arrangement of the God of Fate. Go and learn about its brief history, or delve further into the stories of the Tiefling and Ashen Nest. You¡¯ll make new discoveries.¡±


    The quest appeared on their panels.


    [Investigate the Tiefling¡¯s Story]


    Quest Description: The Tiefling, known as the ¡°Devil¡¯s Offspring,¡± originally did not belong here. Driven away and massacred, they migrated here with impressive resolve, founding their city on the monster-infested Stormy Ridge in just five years. What did they face five years ago? What drove them to migrate here and join Ashen Nest?


    Quest Reward: +500 Faction Contribution to Ashen Nest


    ¡°So the reward is faction contribution¡­¡±


    Singo¡¯s voice sounded disappointed. Given the importance of the NPC, he forcefully swallowed the words, ¡°Not even a dog would want this.¡±


    Even Natural War Maniac and Summer Night Autumn Rain looked slightly disheartened. They had read Singo¡¯s guide, which stated that faction contributions were currently useless. Although there might be future uses, at the early stages, they were like empty promissory notes.


    ¡°Wait¡­ look at this!¡±


    ¡°Quick, check out the shop interface!¡±


    Mantou¡¯s voice trembled with excitement.


    ¡°Damn, are you crazy?¡±


    Singo was startled by Mantou¡¯s overreaction and cursed before instinctively opening the interface.


    [Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius opens his personal shop to you.]


    Unlike typical merchant NPCs, the trade panel of the high-end Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius was divided into three sections: Mithril Shop, Common Shop, and Normal Shop.


    The Normal Shop sold items similar to those of regular merchants: various iron swords, leather armor, potions, raw materials, and food. There was a wide variety, but nothing seemed particularly special.


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I can get more of this.¡±


    But as they looked further, Singo was stunned, struggling to utter two words¡ª


    ¡°Holy¡­ crap.¡±


    Starting from the Mithril Shop, the product listings underwent a dramatic change. Rare quality gear appeared, items never before seen during the beta test, like the Whisper Greatsword, Emerald Dragon Scale Sword, Carved Wooden Staff, and Hunter¡¯s Longbow.


    These dazzling items, over a hundred in total, with their shimmering magical auras, made everyone dizzy with excitement.


    Singo scanned the equipment descriptions, growing more ecstatic: ¡°Whisper Greatsword, with roots of the Whisper Tree extending from the hilt to silence targets upon hit, an incredibly versatile early-game divine gear. Dragon Scale Shield, with its built-in Anti-Dragon Class Type Aura, a core piece against dragon bosses. Hunter¡¯s Longbow, capable of marking targets with a single aim, the graduation gear for archer warriors in the early stages¡­¡±


    However, looking at the prices below, his excitement waned.


    Most of these items cost dozens of Gold Coins, and several of the Rare quality early-game divine gears were priced over a hundred Gold Coins. Even for a pro player like Singo, saving up that amount was difficult; only wealthy, large guilds could afford to buy one or two pieces.


    These high-priced items weren¡¯t meant for individual players like Singo. They were placed by Cassius to specifically target large guilds for profit.


    Yet, Singo noticed the shop¡¯s descriptions.


    [Mithril Shop: Requires 3000 Faction Contribution Points to Ashen Nest to unlock.]


    Singo sharply inhaled: ¡°I see, faction contributions are crucial!¡±


    Cassius¡¯s golden eyes narrowed slightly, a cold smile forming within. ¡°Called my faction contributions worthless, didn¡¯t you? Now, see their importance!¡±


    Cassius¡¯s position had risen from a diligent worker in his past life to the faction leader. With his elevated status, his attitude had naturally changed.


    As the boss now, his only desire was to exploit the players, squeezing them first for Gold Coins with invitation letters, and then for labor with faction contribution restrictions.


    As for buying gear?


    Players could scrape together some Gold Coins, pooling their resources. Eventually, they would manage to gather enough.


    Can¡¯t gather enough? No problem, they could just opt for installments with a bit of interest, making regular payments. After all, Cassius wasn¡¯t a devil, just a plain Red Dragon, eager to fulfill every player¡¯s dream of acquiring divine gear.


    ¡°Singo, check out the Mithril Shop next.¡±


    Mantou prompted, his voice now numb with shock.


    Singo ignored Mantou¡¯s nickname and pulled up the panel.


    [Mithril Shop: Requires 10000 Faction Contribution Points to Ashen Nest to unlock.]


    It started with the familiar faction contribution requirement.


    However, instead of a myriad of items, the Mithril Shop displayed only a few, each priced in faction contribution points!


    Singo fixated on those item descriptions.


    ¡°Dragon Blood Elixir, unlocks the sub-occupation quest for Dragon Vein Sorcerer, priced at 4500 faction contributions.¡±


    ¡°This is¡­ Scarlet Scale, unlocks the advanced warrior occupation quest for Red Scale Conqueror, priced at 9800 faction contributions.¡±


    [Red Scale Conqueror]


    Requirements: Large Dragon Vein Creature Mount, Dragon Bloodline, Warrior base level 3, +4 proficiency in Riding Skill


    Occupation Description: When the Dragon¡¯s Roar echoes from afar, the Red Scale Conquerors charge on their massive and fierce Dragon Vein creatures from the sky, bringing endless flames and total death to their enemies.


    Mantou gritted his teeth, eyes filled with unprecedented determination: ¡°No one stop me, I¡¯m becoming a Dragon Knight!¡±


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 Chapter 73 - 4: The Advancing Player

    Chapter 73: Chapter 4: The Advancing Player


    Suddenly, Cassius spoke, shattering Mantou¡¯s fantasy of diving with a wyvern.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting late, everyone please head back. I hope that the next time we meet, you will be fully prepared.¡±


    Then, he gently waved his hand, and a portal burning with intense flames appeared before them. Before the four could react, a powerful magical field forced them inside, leaving no room for struggle or resistance.


    Everyone saw a flash of white light and found themselves back in the small cabin.


    The words on the invitation had already dimmed, indicating there was no second chance for use.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain, recalling their recent experiences, couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°That shop is so cool, no wait, I mean that NPC is really important.¡±


    ...


    Xin Dog, a bit regretful for having written that strategy guide too early, said, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect faction contribution to be this crucial. I shouldn¡¯t have jumped to conclusions.¡±


    ¡°That warrior¡¯s advanced occupation, Red Scale Conqueror, is definitely the strongest in the early stages, bar none.¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head, ¡°I also want to play with the Dragon Bloodline, it feels really powerful.¡±


    Xin Dog agreed, ¡°Yeah, just having natural armor can set you apart from regular players, not to mention the attribute boosts and spell abilities.¡±


    Mantou said quietly, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we keep this news to ourselves and not let others know?¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain and Natural War Maniac nodded in agreement at his suggestion.


    Thinking like professional gamers, it was normal to monopolize information to gain an edge over others.


    But Xin Dog objected, ¡°No, we must make this information public.¡±


    Mantou didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What if someone else grabs the Red Scale Conqueror?¡±


    His mind was set on becoming a Wyvern Knight, leaving no room for other thoughts¡ªbeing a knight was a man¡¯s ultimate dream!


    Xin Dog cast a disdainful glance at him before saying, ¡°Of course, we don¡¯t announce it right away, but rather wait for the right moment.¡±


    ¡°What moment?¡±


    ¡°Watch the big guilds¡¯ movements, wait until they start grabbing faction contribution tasks.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain quickly understood and explained, ¡°In the early stages, gold coins are scarce. Those big guilds might focus more on gear and not spend money on quest items. But once they develop, they will definitely try to buy quest items like the Mysterious Invitation.¡±


    ¡°Once they realize the importance of faction contribution, they will definitely monopolize the information and start grabbing those faction contribution tasks they initially didn¡¯t care about. At that point, we need to make the information public, encouraging more scattered individuals to compete with the guilds and slow down their progress.¡±


    Natural War Maniac added, ¡°And during that time before the information goes public, we¡¯ll be able to pull ahead in faction contribution.¡±


    Mantou finally understood and exclaimed, ¡°You top-tier professional gamers are so devious.¡±


    Xin Dog said, ¡°What devious? This is game strategy. If you¡¯re weak, practice more. When the time comes, you¡¯ll make videos, and I¡¯ll write guides. We¡¯ll drive the traffic up.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Natural War Maniac looked at the invitation on the table that seemed no different from ordinary paper, ¡°Should we buy another invitation? That thing probably isn¡¯t in unlimited supply. We can¡¯t let those guild ruffians, especially Royalty, snatch it up.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a grudge against them?¡± asked Mantou curiously.


    Natural War Maniac grinned and rubbed his bald head, ¡°Not really. Just that in the previous game, Star-Travel Domain, I chopped their guild¡¯s mothership with my Battleship Cleaver. I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll target me this time.¡±


    Mantou broke into a cold sweat, thinking this guy was seriously hardcore, not someone to mess with easily.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain asked, ¡°Where will we get enough gold coins? We already pawned everything to get these ten gold coins.¡±


    Xin Dog laughed confidently, ¡°Did you know Barto City¡¯s exchange recently started a new gold coin loan service? You only need to pledge items worth one-tenth of the loan amount.¡±


    Mantou noticed that Xin Dog was eyeing him-not to be exact, his gear. His face darkened immediately.


    ¡°This gear is what I worked hard for. Don¡¯t even think about it!¡±


    ¡°Mantou, don¡¯t you want to be a cool Dragon Knight?¡±


    Xin Dog approached with a sinister grin, his words whispering like a devil¡¯s temptation.


    ¡°Ah¨C¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t strip my gear¨C¡±


    ¡°At least leave me with my underwear, Xin Dog¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain blushed and covered her eyes, but peeked through her fingers, cheeks growing redder.


    Natural War Maniac scratched his bald head awkwardly and said, ¡°That¡¯s just how Xin Dog is, don¡¯t mind him.¡±


    When Xin Dog turned around, a despondent Mantou had returned to his newbie state, wearing simple cloth clothes and exuding a cute newbie aura.


    Xin Dog also led by example, stripping off all his gear.


    With a refined smile, Xin Dog said, ¡°Do I need to say more to you two?¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain, peeking through her fingers at Mantou¡¯s sorry state, instinctively hugged herself tighter, her cheeks flushing.


    She quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t come over, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±


    Fearing Xin Dog might change into some kind of tentacle monster and misbehave.


    Natural War Maniac simply shrugged off his beast hide armor, ¡°Barbarians don¡¯t need much gear anyway, just need to go into a frenzy.¡±


    ¡°Clap!¡±


    Xin Dog clapped his hands with a smile.


    ¡°No objections, then let¡¯s get grinding! We¡¯ll pull ahead from the other players, starting now!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the gear to the exchange for a loan. Once I get the gold coins, I¡¯ll grab the Mysterious Invitation. War Maniac, Autumn Rain, and Mantou, you three go to the plaza to get quests, as many faction contributions as possible. Also, look into the Tiefling investigation quests, do them simultaneously.¡±


    Mantou, wearing simple cloth clothes, collapsed on the ground with hollow eyes.


    ¡°Is this the world of professional gamers?¡±


    ¡°I have an objection¡­¡±


    But Xin Dog seemed not to hear, quickly leaving with the gear Mantou had worked so hard for.


    Natural War Maniac patted Mantou¡¯s shoulder with his big hand, ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart, Mantou. Xin Dog¡¯s just like that, we often get mentally strained, too. You¡¯ll get used to it.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain stood by, sympathizing, and softly consoled him.


    But Mantou could only cry without tears, ¡°Who¡¯s taking Xin Dog¡¯s words to heart? I¡¯m thinking about the gear I worked so hard for ten days to earn¨C¡±


    ¡­


    Several days later, the story of the ¡°Black Slave Team¡± spread through the city.


    These were four famous professional gamers, oddly wearing only the most basic newbie cloth clothes. Some players suspected they had been robbed and were heavily in debt.


    These ¡°gods¡± accepted any task, from bricklaying, dusting, wall patching, mail delivery, to mining. Even faction contribution quests others avoided, they enthusiastically took on. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In just a few days, they had amassed nearly five thousand faction contribution points, shocking the forums and earning the nickname ¡°Black Slave Team.¡±


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    In a dark mine, Mantou wiped his sweat, sneezing for some unknown reason.


    ¡°Black Slave Team¡­¡±


    ¡°I will become a Dragon Knight!¡±


    He thought determinedly, his resolute gaze shining in the darkness. However, the scolding of the Earth Goblin Supervisor and the sound of a whip cracking jerked him back.


    ¡°What are you doing? Daydreaming? Get to work!¡±


    ¡°Oh, alright.¡±


    Mantou swung his pickaxe again, with increasingly skilled movements.

 Chapter 74 - 5: The Red Dragons Ambition

    Chapter 74: Chapter 5: The Red Dragon¡¯s Ambition


    Cassius lounged lazily in the cave, using Ramp¡¯s magic mirror to observe the diligent players within Barto City.


    ¡°Work hard, my dear chattel.¡±


    In just a month, the once crude Barto City had shown a brand-new appearance. The city walls had become much taller and thicker, several uniquely styled buildings had sprung up, and the city had gained some vitality due to the comings and goings of the players.


    ¡°I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou,¡± ¡°Singo,¡± ¡°Summer Night Autumn Rain,¡± and ¡°Natural War Maniac¡± were able to receive that mysterious invitation not by chance, but because he deliberately arranged it.


    These few had their own following in the gaming community. Once they discovered the uses of faction contributions, the entire player base would take it seriously.


    For instance, even though Singo had not yet revealed the strategy information, his loyal followers had already, through analysis, begun to suspect the significant utility of faction contributions and started attempting to accumulate them. Soon, those big guilds would also begin competing for contribution tasks.


    ...


    By then, Cassius¡¯s mission of reaping benefits with no effort would be a grand success.


    And after that, he would introduce another heavy dose¡ªthe faction position system. By using faction contributions, players could acquire certain positions within the city, such as patrol officer, tax officer, judge, investigator, and perhaps even, in the future, mayor or city governor of conquered human cities.


    As for wages, of course, they would mainly be faction contributions, with money as a supplement.


    Allowing players to relish the thrill of power would also let Cassius enjoy the pleasure of having free labor. It was a win-win policy.


    He believed the players would understand his moves and be deeply grateful.


    He was watching intently when Great Goblin Dolores came to report.


    Over the years, this dragon vein goblin had become increasingly seasoned, commanding over ten thousand goblin creatures and becoming well-versed in the military affairs within Ashen Nest. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Master, the wolf cavalry recently spotted traces of the Eagle Guards near the border of Stormy Ridge.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s golden eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Oh? Haven¡¯t they refrained from provoking me for a long time?¡±


    Dolores continued, ¡°While you were asleep, we took in a dozen pureblood serpentfolk and sent them to Northwind Castle to gather intelligence.¡±


    ¡°A very good decision, but remember, serpents¡¯ fangs are venomous.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fully trust them; it¡¯s best to treat them as disposable tools,¡± Cassius said meaningfully.


    Serpentfolk always plotted to replace and dominate other races, eventually declaring themselves gods.


    And pureblood serpentfolk were the lowest in serpentfolk society. Their appearance was very similar to humans but could not pass human scrutiny.


    They always exposed some innate traits, such as scaly skin, serpent-like eyes, sharp fangs, or forked tongues. They wore cloaks and hoods to disguise themselves as humans and infiltrated civilized lands to gather information, kidnap prisoners for interrogation and sacrifice, or make deals to further their endless schemes.


    ¡°We followed your instructions exactly, Master,¡± Dolores replied.


    ¡°And recently, these pureblood serpentfolk seemed to have received news that the Rackman Family planned to collaborate with the Southern ¡®Northern Lion¡¯ Boske Family and the Northwestern ¡®Double-Headed Eagle¡¯ Notte Family to form an allied army, and their likely target is us¡ªAshen Nest.¡±


    ¡°If I may say so, my great Master, Ashen Nest¡¯s expansion in recent years has aroused the vigilance of the Northern Countries. They covet our gold and fear our retainers, but we have yet to endure a true trial by blood and fire.¡±


    Cassius slowly stood up, his golden eyes looking down at Dolores. ¡°So you are saying¡­ we need a war?¡±


    Dolores knelt on one knee, bowing his head respectfully. ¡°I believe so, Master.¡±


    ¡°Only war can make those pathetic, shortsighted humans realize your might.¡±


    ¡°Ramp, what do you think?¡±


    Cassius looked toward the magic mirror. The mirrors were naturally connected to Ramp¡¯s ¡°Mage Tower¡± and followed the Red Dragon¡¯s will, only activating when he needed them.


    Ramp¡¯s grotesque and ferocious face appeared in the mirror. He had put on his gold-rimmed glasses again and was holding several magic scrolls.


    ¡°Master, I also believe Ashen Nest needs a war. According to my statistics, the number of goblins in the nest has reached thirteen thousand four hundred fifty-seven, and kobolds number ten thousand three hundred forty-one. Without continuous, large-scale war consumption, our food supply can no longer fill these creatures¡¯ bellies.¡±


    Ramp deliberately adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses as if unintentionally, mentioning, ¡°With Dolores¡¯s um¡­ rather rudimentary, even primitive, farming system, he can barely make a dent.¡±


    Dolores¡¯s already red face flushed at Ramp¡¯s deliberate mockery, but with the Red Dragon present, he dared not react.


    Cassius didn¡¯t care about their scheming, just asking, ¡°How long until their so-called ¡®allied forces¡¯ are assembled?¡±


    Dolores quickly replied, ¡°The dukes of the Northern Countries do not have complete control over their lords. These humans delay, bicker, and vie for power, which is very slow. Assembling such a tens of thousands-strong force will take at least three months. This is a conservative estimate.¡±


    ¡°Very well, three months is enough.¡±


    A dangerous glint appeared in Cassius¡¯s golden pupils.


    ¡°Master, are we going to war?¡±


    Dolores¡¯s expression showed extreme excitement. Goblins were born to love war, causing most of them to die before their natural end. With the Red Dragon bloodline, his innate savagery and thirst for blood and fire had only intensified.


    ¡°Dolores, don¡¯t rush. Have those serpentfolk keep an eye on the Northern Allied Forces and prepare your troops for war¡ªweaponry, training, tactics. You should know these better than I.¡±


    ¡°After all¡­ you¡¯ve long been eager, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Dolores knelt on one knee again, excitement causing white smoke to puff from his large red nose. He seemed to already imagine the enemy¡¯s blood smeared on his claws.


    ¡°Ramp, start preparing logistics, using the spells you¡¯ve developed over the years.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°If they want war, we¡¯ll give them war.


    ¡°But as for when it ends¡­ that¡¯s not up to them.¡±


    The two retainers took their orders and returned to work.


    The goblin soldiers began sharpening their long-idle weapons and armor, practicing for war and discussing tactics.


    The ogres cheered at the prospect of the coming war, and upon learning they could use enemy corpses as rations, their morale rose further, celebrating around bonfires.


    The goblins transported food to the depths of Dragon Mountain Valley, storing it for wartime use.


    The kobolds started making slingshots, bows, and other simple weapons.


    The Red Dragon stood tall at the highest point of the valley, overlooking his busy retainers with golden eyes that seemed to reflect blazing flames.


    ¡°It is time to set this massive war machine¡­ in motion.¡±


    Three months until war.


    ¡­

 Chapter 75 - 6 Mantous Struggle

    Chapter 75: Chapter 6 Mantou¡¯s Struggle


    Barto City Central Square.


    Players came and went, bustling about, making the square lively.


    ¡°Buying a set of standard iron equipment!¡±


    ¡°Looking for a magician, a group of twenty to go into the mountains to fight snowmen. No wild sorcerers.¡±


    ¡°Buying a musical instrument.¡±


    ¡°Buying all kinds of potions at market price, especially healing potions. As many as you have, I¡¯ll take them.¡±


    ...


    The small team humorously called the ¡°Black Slave Team¡± by other players gathered again. They were still in their newbie sets without a single change. After all, the money they worked so hard to earn from tasks was all used to repay loans.


    Xin Dog asked enthusiastically, ¡°What¡¯s your faction contribution? I¡¯m now at 7985.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain said, ¡°I¡¯m at 6389.¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head, ¡°7071.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s expression had shifted from lifeless to wooden, ¡°I only have 5789.¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog, we¡¯ve been doing labor for eighteen days now. The title ¡®Black Slave Team¡¯ is already famous on the player forum. When is this going to end?¡±


    Mantou caressed the rough fabric of his clothes, longing for the leather armor he used to wear. It wasn¡¯t particularly stylish, but it gave him a rare sense of safety.


    Natural War Maniac patted Mantou¡¯s shoulder, speaking earnestly, ¡°When heaven assigns a great responsibility to a person, it must first toughen their spirit, exhaust their muscles and bones, and starve their body¡­ The path to becoming a professional gamer is not an easy one.¡±


    Mantou watched Xin Dog, who remained enthusiastic even after eighteen days of labor, and thought to himself, ¡°This guy is a complete monster.¡± The cheerful Natural War Maniac beside him was also not to be underestimated.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain tidied his hair, which had become a bit messy from mining, ¡°Any clues about the Tiefling task?¡±


    Mantou shook his head, ¡°We¡¯re so exhausted these days, I haven¡¯t had the mind to think about it.¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head until it almost shone, ¡°I asked those Tieflings, but they all clammed up. Some even attacked me directly. Fortunately, my Barbarian skin is thick, or I¡¯d have lost a point of health right there.¡±


    Xin Dog smiled mysteriously, ¡°I¡¯ve already completed the task.¡±


    ¡°A few days ago, I paid off a destitute Tiefling for information. It took a lot of effort even then; they seemed very reluctant to talk about their past. But later, I understood.¡±


    ¡°These Tieflings originally came from a city called ¡®Northwind Castle,¡¯ ruled by Duke Brad Rackman of the Rackman Family¡­¡±


    When Xin Dog finished telling this sad and bloody history, their task panels all displayed ¡°[Task Completed]¡± with 500 faction contributions added to their accounts.


    After nearly a month of playing, most players had developed a sense of recognition and belonging to Barto City. There was even a support group for Mezulash on the player forum.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain sighed, ¡°Mezulash has it tough¡­¡±


    Natural War Maniac echoed with anger, ¡°Let¡¯s wipe out those damned vampires.¡±


    Only Mantou suddenly remembered something, wide-eyed, ¡°Where did you get the money? Didn¡¯t you use all your gold coins to buy the invitation?¡±


    Xin Dog kept a calm face and said, ¡°When I went to get the loan, I found there was some surplus in the equipment. I used my own, Autumn Rain¡¯s, and War Maniac¡¯s equipment as collateral. I sold yours for money. I¡¯ll make it up to you next time.¡±


    ¡°You beast, Xin Dog, you¡¯d rather sell them than return the equipment to me, huh!¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The anger Mantou had suppressed during the eighteen days of labor finally exploded. He charged at Xin Dog, trying to strip off his newbie set and turn him into the next ¡°Holy Light Bro,¡± completely disgraced.


    But Xin Dog, with his notable agility, easily dodged, causing Mantou to nearly crash into the giant dragon stone sculpture in the center of the square.


    ¡°Calm down. Even if you strip me¡ª¡±


    ¡°The equipment won¡¯t come back.¡±


    Xin Dog dodged, showcasing his sharp tongue.


    However, Mantou, lying on the ground, noticed a line of barely perceptible text on the statue¡¯s base¡ª


    ¡°Dedicated to the master of Ashen Nest, the mighty and unparalleled Red Dragon, eternal lord of Barto City, Cassius Claudius Norixius.¡±


    ¡°Holy crap, come look at this! I found important information!¡±


    The four of them hurried over. Xin Dog, ignoring his image, lay on the ground, butt raised, carefully examining.


    ¡°Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°This name sounds familiar.¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his now shiny bald head.


    After eighteen days of labor, even his brain was not functioning well.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn¡¯t help but facepalm, kindly reminding, ¡°Remember that super handsome¡ª I mean, important NPC? His name displayed above is ¡®[Mysterious Dragon Vein Sorcerer-Cassius]¡¯.


    Xin Dog added, ¡°And he has features of a Red Dragon, scales, dragon horns, golden eyes.¡±


    Mantou suddenly realized, ¡°So that mysterious NPC¡ªis actually the leader of our faction, the humanoid form of the Red Dragon boss who¡¯s never appeared?¡±


    ¡°It seems so,¡±


    Xin Dog nodded in agreement.


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°So we¡¯ve hooked a big fish, huh¡ª Wait, my favor with the boss is already -10. Xin Dog, give me back my favorability!¡±


    Ignoring him, Xin Dog turned to the other two, ¡°Have you noticed the recent actions of the big guilds? The president of [Royalty], ¡®Tyrant,¡¯ has started assigning people to take the wall construction tasks. That civil engineering guy ¡®Bucket Runner¡¯ was hired heavily, and they took over the whole area.¡±


    ¡°Also, the people from [Sword Pavilion] have even started mining themselves. Their intentions are becoming too obvious.¡±


    Mantou was stunned, ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve already discovered the use of faction contributions?¡±


    ¡°It seems so.¡±


    Xin Dog crossed his arms, looking confident, ¡°But we can already make the task information public now. Each of us has around seven thousand faction contributions and have bought the [Mysterious Invitation] in advance. Even those big guilds can¡¯t catch up to us.¡±


    ¡°Now we need to get all players to work on faction contributions, snatch tasks from those guilds, and delay their progress. Meanwhile, we can take more profitable tasks that we missed before and make more money.¡±


    ¡°Mantou, after today, work on the video directly. I¡¯ll post guides on the forum. Tonight, we¡¯ll go all in.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s tone immediately regained some confidence, ¡°Heh, thirty years to the east, thirty years to the west. Don¡¯t underestimate a poor young man! I¡¯m going to show those who mocked me as a slave what it means to seize opportunities everywhere!¡±


    But while editing the video that night, he rubbed his increasingly sparse back of the head, suddenly feeling something was a bit off.


    ¡°Damn it, everyone¡¯s logged off, and I¡¯m still working for Xin Dog¡ª¡±

 Chapter 76 - 7: The Forum Turmoil

    Chapter 76: Chapter 7: The Forum Turmoil


    After a marathon gaming session, Mantou finally released the first episode of his video on the forum and some video sites simultaneously.


    ¡°Erezer Diary: The Beginning of the Dragon Knight¡±


    ¡°First¡±


    ¡°Front row, munching on melon seeds¡±


    ¡°Missing persons, coming back repeatedly.¡±


    ¡°King Tiger Covering the Earth, Mantou charisma 9!¡±


    ...


    Mantou¡¯s face appeared in the video, but he looked somewhat inexplicably downcast at the moment: ¡°Hey everyone, welcome to the much-anticipated first episode of ¡®Erezer Diary¡¯, I¡¯m Mantou.¡±


    ¡°During this period, I spent, um¡­ an unforgettable eighteen days in this world of swords and magic. Next, I will share my experiences from a personal perspective, including the shocking secrets of the Ashen Nest faction and the bygone days of Barto City.¡±


    After the opening lines, Mantou, looking sleepy, seemed almost ready to drift off.


    ¡°Why does Mantou look so drained?¡±


    ¡°Mantou¡¯s been popular in the game lately, working as a slave with a few pro players.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hahaha, I know right.¡±


    ¡°Black Slave Team, Blood Sweat Squad.¡±


    ¡°Where did you guys get the beta qualifications? I want to play too.¡±


    ¡°All gone already, wait for the public beta in a few months.¡±


    It started with three top-tier pros inviting Mantou to their team. These three were well-known in the full immersion gaming circles, far more famous than Mantou, naturally causing a barrage of comments.


    ¡°Summer Night Autumn Rain! My wife!¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, clearly my wife.¡±


    ¡°War Maniac Bro¡¯s hair is still so lush.¡±


    ¡°Caught a wild Xin Dog!¡±


    Players also started discussing the [Mysterious Invitation]:


    ¡°Damn, this Eight Hook invitation is so expensive? It could outfit several squads.¡±


    ¡°How come I didn¡¯t see this special item?¡±


    ¡°Cloud players not familiar with the game might not get what ten gold coins mean. For context, a normal player can earn 35 copper coins in a day mining, and ten gold coins equal about 4,000 copper coins, which means you¡¯d need to mine for 114.514 days.¡±


    ¡°The previous example had some bias¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn, for a crappy quest item, why?¡±


    The next scene shocked the players even more. The invitation summoned a flame portal, leading the team into a dark cave.


    In the cave, they met the ridiculously handsome [Mystic Dragonvein Spellcaster, Cassius], opened the [Mithril Shop] and [Mithril Shop], and discovered the use of faction contributions and the advanced occupation of [Red Scale Conqueror].


    Mantou even added in the narration that the identity of this mysterious spellcaster was the leader of the Ashen Nest, the King of Flying Flame, Red Dragon Cassius!


    Instantly, the comment section exploded, and both cloud players and gaming fans were shocked.


    The casual viewers were mostly amazed by Cassius¡¯ charisma, making all kinds of over-the-top remarks:


    ¡°Damn, this NPC is too hot!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in!¡±


    ¡°Think it through, this is a dragon, how big must it be¡ª¡±


    ¡°A dragon? Even better!¡±


    ¡°From now on, I am Lord Cassius¡¯s dog!¡±


    ¡°I want to lick Lord Cassius¡¯s horns¡­¡±


    ¡°Join the Cassius Support Group, group number 697838040.¡±


    The gaming community, however, focused on the impact of these revelations on the game, especially the appearance of the [Red Scale Conqueror], which caused a massive uproar among players.


    ¡°Damn, faction contribution is this useful? Feels like I missed out on a billion!¡±


    ¡°These gears are all divine tier!¡±


    ¡°Can you afford it? Starting at ten gold coins, just a toy for major guilds from the greedy devs.¡±


    ¡°Damn, the faction leader¡¯s handsomeness is on par with mine!¡±


    ¡°Stop bragging, the one above.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, innate dragon bloodline, large dragon vein creature mount, plus exclusive traits, this advanced occupation is god-tier!¡±


    ¡°Red Scale Conqueror is a god!¡±


    ¡°The sky is the limit for a man¡¯s dreams, I want to be one!¡±


    ¡°Enough said, I¡¯ve switched to warrior already. Paladin? Never heard of it!¡±


    The later video showed Mantou¡¯s woeful eighteen days: mining, brick-lugging, wall-fixing, dust-busting. He faced ogre overseers¡¯ insults, goblin officers¡¯ commands, chases by phase spiders in the mines, and was mocked by fellow players¡­


    ¡°Feels like the American 18th century¡­¡±


    ¡°I now get why they¡¯re called the Black Slave Team¡­¡±


    ¡°I thought he just went bankrupt, but Mantou was biding his time, enduring hardships!¡±


    ¡°Just eighteen days¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to do the same to become a Dragon Knight!¡±


    ¡°Heh, by the time you save up the contribution, the flowers will have wilted.¡±


    ¡°Not watching anymore, time to head back to Erezer for some brick-lugging!¡±


    Mantou¡¯s first episode of the ¡°Elzegai Diary¡±¡ªor Mantou¡¯s Slave Labor Blood and Tears History¡ªsoared in views like a rocket, quickly hitting the day¡¯s hot trends. This helped many beta players learn about Cassius, this crucial NPC of the Ashen Nest faction. Now, his status among players was significantly important.


    What¡¯s more widely known was his astonishing charisma, breaking beyond the gaming circles.


    It even trended with tags like:


    #Incredibly Handsome NPC


    ¡­


    ¡°Got killed by a Wild Sorcerer teammate, heartbroken, thinking of kicking him out.¡±


    ¡°Rogue Beast caught


    ¡±


    ¡°Is the Mysterious Invitation out of stock? Why can¡¯t I find it on the shelf!¡±


    Cassius browsed the forum, watching players chat and joke around, but soon he saw a familiar name¡ªSingo.


    This guy posted several guides in a row, even while being a slave for eighteen days straight, making one wonder if he had another organ growing on his liver.


    ¡°Shock! The real identity of the mysterious NPC Cassius is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stunning! The uses of faction contributions are¡ª¡±


    ¡°Unbeatable! Analysis of the Warrior¡¯s advanced occupation [Red Scale Conqueror]¡±


    ¡°Why no one should choose the Mage in the current version¡±


    But his posts¡¯ comment sections were a mess, with players who struggled due to his newbie guides pouring in to vent, calling him Xin Dog and cursing relentlessly.


    He pretended not to see it at all.


    ¡°Xin Dog, you screwed me over so bad, I only have fifty contributions now!¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog, give back my faction contributions!¡±


    ¡°So greedy, misleading us with posts to earn contributions yourself, huh!¡±


    ¡°I say he¡¯s doing it on purpose, let¡¯s gather a group and block Xin Dog at the respawn point!¡±


    ¡°Count me in!¡±


    ¡°+1¡±


    ¡°+10086¡±


    Singo innocently commented: ¡°You guys should hurry and do quests, go too late, and you won¡¯t get them. Even if you kill me, I won¡¯t drop faction contributions.¡±


    This only fueled the players¡¯ rage.


    ¡°Damn, this guy really deserves to die¡ª¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog, prepare to die!¡±


    ¡°I declare that Xin Dog and Rogue Beast are now the two beasts!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t slander me, I, Swashbuckler, have always been a just and honorable person.¡±


    ¡°You can die together with Xin Dog. Picking a Trickster Thief, lurking in the mines all day and stealing. Last time, you emptied my potions using Mage¡¯s Hand.¡±


    ¡°I, I took them with my own skills, can that be called stealing?¡±

 Chapter 77 - 8: Surge of Contributions

    Chapter 77: Chapter 8: Surge of Contributions


    ¡°`


    Mantou¡¯s videos and Singo¡¯s strategies caused a huge stir among the player community. The 10 limited-edition [Mysterious Invitations] in the trading post were already sold out.


    The big guilds all declared that they would stop pretending and started monopolizing the previously ignored faction contribution quests, while the money quests were left in the dust.


    So, the players set off on a frenzy of chasing faction contributions, working tirelessly day and night for free for Cassius, with the task board even being looted.


    ¡°Let me be a dragon vein sorcerer!¡±


    ¡°I want to be a dragon knight!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Ahhh! Give me divine gear!¡±


    ¡°The sky is a man¡¯s romance!¡±


    Excited players shouting these slogans appeared in the mines, beside the city walls, on rooftops, and even beside dung heaps.


    Even Mezulash was struck by the players¡¯ overwhelming enthusiasm for work, rushing to create many new tasks.


    And at this critical moment, Cassius pushed his advantage further, rolling out his long-prepared fully automated harvesting machine¡ª the faction position system.


    Using players to manage players, driving management costs into the negatives.


    Currently, only three low-level positions were open: tax officer, clerk, and security officer.


    They were responsible for assisting in collecting taxes, recording and processing paperwork, and maintaining city security. Barto City would give them appropriate outfits and accommodations. Their only salary would be daily faction contributions, and the amount would depend on their performance.


    Even these low-level positions required an application standard of 3000 faction contributions, which most players had not even reached a tenth of that number.


    As a result, they could only sigh in exasperation and continue to work hard, dreaming of a better future.


    At this moment, the famous ¡°Black Slave Team¡± was overly excited, having endured eighteen days of brutal torture to meet the requirement.


    [Faction Position System Activated!]


    [Your contribution value is 6457, you may choose the positions: [Tax Officer][Clerk][Security Officer]]


    [Note: The base daily salary for low-level positions is: 100 faction contributions]


    [You can earn additional faction contributions through commissions.]


    Mantou pointed at the prompt on the panel and said, ¡°This system is awesome, you get a base salary of 100 faction contributions every day, looks like we won¡¯t have to work random jobs anymore!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s finally over.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain nodded with lingering fear. If not for her strong professional ethic, she would not want to stay another moment in those dark and dirty mines.


    Natural War Maniac touched his bald head: ¡°It¡¯s indeed pretty good.¡±


    Singo skimmed through the detailed job descriptions and summarized, spouting off, ¡°My opinion, I mainly recommend the security officer and tax officer positions.¡±


    ¡°For security officers, you get an extra 150 contributions for every crime you catch. Heh, you know how high crime rates are in the player community.¡±


    ¡°As for tax officers, you earn contribution commissions based on the taxes collected. We might even swipe some gold coins; there¡¯s a lot of room to maneuver here.¡±


    ¡°And for clerks? They handle 4000 words of paperwork daily and a base of 1500 contributions monthly.¡±


    ¡°Not even a dog would take that job.¡±


    He reiterated his classic statement.


    Natural War Maniac, Mantou, and Summer Night Autumn Rain all proposed in unison: ¡°Then let¡¯s go with security officer.¡±


    After all, tax officers drew too much hate.


    Singo flashed a sinister smile: ¡°Heh, then I¡¯ll be a tax officer. I¡¯ll make the players realize that paying taxes is as inevitable as death.¡±


    Mantou felt a chill down his spine, once again acknowledging that Singo was an absolute freak.


    Who knows how this future tax officer would torment the other players.


    [You have chosen the faction position¡ª [Sheriff]]


    [You may reside in the [Barto City Security Officer Dormitory]]


    [You need to go to the [Barto City Administration Hall] to collect your outfit and weapon.]


    Mantou and his team first checked out their pretty decent new dormitory, then headed to the hall to collect their armor and weapons.


    ¡°Wow, this is so cool!¡±


    ¡°The perks are amazing.¡±


    Mantou marveled at his shiny new [Sheriff¡¯s Armor][Sword of Order].


    It was far superior to the gear Singo had taken and sold earlier, a qualitative leap indeed.


    ¡°Though Xin Dog is a bit of a jerk, he¡¯s really competent,¡± Mantou sighed.


    The armor was refined iron armor, hard to purchase for players. The weapon was a standardized iron longsword, with an exquisite crest engraved on the chest of the armor and the hilt of the sword: a golden vertical pupil surrounded by flames¡ª the symbol of the Ashen Nest.


    They even gained the right to use horses.


    Donning their new gear, wielding the longsword, and riding high on their horses.


    ¡°In spring, the horses gallop briskly, taking in the sight of Barto¡¯s flowers in one go.¡±


    He recited proudly.


    Mantou felt elated, all previous gloom vanished, and even his gaze towards the players working hard had a hint of arrogance.


    The players in the square noticed Mantou, thinking he was an NPC at first, until they recognized the [I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou] identifier above his head.


    ¡°Is that really Mantou?¡±


    ¡°Where did they get these stylish outfits?¡±


    ¡°Did he rob a bank?¡±


    ¡°Where did he get the mount? I want to ride a horse too.¡±


    ¡°Seeing Mantou living so well is more painful than seeing myself living poorly.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A dusty-faced player just out from the mines exclaimed: ¡°Wow, that¡¯s the Black Slave Team?¡±


    Mantou heard this and immediately widened his eyes, raising his sword to point at the player, shouting according to the security manual:


    ¡°Citizen, I am responsible for maintaining public order here. Watch your words!¡±


    ¡°Do not provoke the security officers!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Pfft!¡±


    Watching the scene from the cave, Cassius burst out laughing, almost spewing flames, thinking Mantou sure knew how to put on a show.


    The Red Dragon exhaled a breath of sulfurous hot air.


    But it was good this way, having them as positive examples of working for the Ashen Nest, letting all players understand the importance of striving for faction contributions so Cassius could reap the benefits.


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡±


    Cassius let out an insidious laugh.


    After most players met the faction contribution requirements, he planned to initiate a ¡°consumption upgrade.¡±


    He would put items on par with the former [Mithril Shop] into the new [Diamond Treasure Shop], and ramp up the faction contribution requirements several times over, continuing to make them work for him for free.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s plenty of time ahead.¡±


    In just over a month of closed beta, Cassius had already mastered the essence of harvesting players like crops.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 78 - 9 The Adventure of the Magic Coin

    Chapter 78: Chapter 9 The Adventure of the Magic Coin


    Outside the scramble in Barto City, players had even expanded to other regions of the Anzeta Great Wilderness. Some players already planned to head to the headquarters of Ashen Nest, the most dangerous and wealthiest place in adventurer¡¯s eyes¡ªDragon Valley.


    In these five years, a crude road had already been laid between Dragon Valley and Barto City, called the ¡°Bumpy Road¡± by the goblins. It made it easier for monster kin to come for support.


    And now, a group of players was marching along the Bumpy Road.


    They all came from a later renowned magic guild, [Magic Coin]. But for now, it was just an obscure little guild with only about twenty members. The president was [Charlotte], one of the few steadfast mage players.


    In this version where you couldn¡¯t get Magic Scrolls, mages, with their annoying skill checks, had turned into the useless ¡°Mage Descendants,¡± while warlocks took up the banner of the magic-system profession, being known as the ¡°true mage masters.¡±


    Even within the [Magic Coin] guild, there were only a handful of players still sticking to the mage profession. Most had turned into warlocks.


    ...


    At this moment, five players, all elite members at level three, had come here.


    ¡°President, are you sure we can get spells here?¡±


    The female player ID¡¯d as ¡°Sky Flying Witch¡± asked.


    She was a wild sorcerer, although a warlock profession, she was one of the sub-occupations most likely to sabotage teammates¡ªwild sorcerers¡¯ innate magic came from the wild chaotic power lurking beneath the order of creation, causing their spells to often release untamed magic surges.


    Charlotte looked at the crude sheepskin map in his hand, pointing at a wobbly skull icon:


    ¡°It should be here¡ªthe Tower of the Great Sage.¡±


    ¡°I spent eight gold coins to buy out the tavern stock for the ogre overseers, so this map shouldn¡¯t be wrong. They seemed quite naive and honest.¡±


    Vice President Mingyue, standing beside him, looked uneasy: ¡°But I heard those ogres talk when they got drunk; their boss is also an ogre. Are you sure these big ogres¡­can be mages?¡±


    Charlotte recalled the ogres lying on the ground drinking, shouting ¡°meat! meat! meat!¡±, and his mouth involuntarily twitched:


    ¡°Should¡­should be okay.¡±


    He didn¡¯t have much confidence either. Coming to Dragon Valley this time, he was prepared for returning empty-handed. After all, eight gold coins were still fairly easy for the whole guild to scrape together.


    ¡°We at least have to try it.¡±


    ¡°To restore mage glory is my duty!¡±


    Determination shone in Charlotte¡¯s gaze. He was the last hope for mage players.


    ¡°President!¡±


    Mingyue felt deeply moved.


    [Magic Coin] was a guild formed by mage enthusiasts, although most of them had switched to warlocks, they still held faith in the mage masters.


    Soon, the team from [Magic Coin] saw the outline of Rock Fortress from afar.


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s so big?¡±


    ¡°This fortress looks pretty spectacular.¡±


    Wyverns roared in the sky, great goblins patrolled back and forth outside the city walls, and from within the fortress came a fierce roar¡ªthe sound of Ashen Nest¡¯s army training.


    After observing for some time, Charlotte concluded, ¡°The fortress can¡¯t be entered from the front. The officials probably won¡¯t let us obtain spells so easily.¡±


    ¡°I think they discriminate against mage players.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I think so too.¡±


    Sky Flying Witch gritted her teeth in anger.


    At this moment, Mingyue keenly noticed a huge rock on the hillside not far outside the fortress, it seemed to have a passage behind it. He pointed in that direction:


    ¡°Captain, we can hide there and then sneak in.¡±


    ¡°Good idea.¡±


    Charlotte praised.


    So, the five players from [Magic Coin] sneaked behind the huge rock.


    However, they didn¡¯t know they had made the same mistake every adventurer makes. This rock had witnessed countless adventurer deaths, and they would be the next ones.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    Mingyue sensed something was wrong as soon as his foot stepped in. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t come over!¡±


    The complex rune array beneath his foot lit up instantly, and a surge of magic washed over him. Mingyue saw flames reflected in his eyes.


    ¡°Oh¡­shit.¡±


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    With the sound of flames burning the air, Mingyue was engulfed by the guardian inscription¡¯s blast, turning into a charred corpse, losing his first and precious life.


    Although Charlotte didn¡¯t step into the rune array, his face was still blackened by the blast.


    ¡°There¡¯s an ambush. Be careful, everyone!¡±


    ¡°Mingyue is dead, we can¡¯t lose anyone else.¡±


    He noticed another spell in the corner besides the guardian inscription, but he couldn¡¯t identify its effect.


    Meanwhile, the great goblin guards on Rock Fortress had noticed the commotion. They casually approached while chatting, ¡°Another bunch of dumb adventurers fell into the trap,¡± ¡°Guess how many this time,¡± ¡°How many do you think will die?¡±


    Charlotte watched the approaching great goblin guards and said to the group: ¡°No, we need to leave now, or we might get wiped out here.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, use this passage. Someone cast Mage Armor on me, I temporarily can¡¯t protect myself.¡± Charlotte commanded.


    Sky Flying Witch quickly responded: ¡°Oh, sure.¡±


    ¡°Mage Armor!¡±


    A magical aura appeared in her hand as she reached out to touch Charlotte¡¯s body.


    However, the surrounding magic power suddenly became chaotic, wildly fluctuating.


    [Your casting triggered an untamed magic surge, creating an unknown magical effect!]


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A loud explosion sound rang.


    Charlotte was unexpectedly transformed into a docile and cute sheep by the random spell effect from the wild magic surge.


    ¡°Baa¡«¡«¡±


    Even through the sheep¡¯s bleat, one could sense Charlotte¡¯s helpless despair.


    ¡°Ah, sorry, triggered a wild surge¡­¡±


    Sky Flying Witch quickly bowed to apologize to the sheep, but seeing the president¡¯s adorable appearance, she couldn¡¯t hold back and laughed.


    ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s retreat first.¡±


    ¡°If we stay here, the losses will be greater.¡±


    Reminded a team member beside them.


    ¡°Baa¡«¡«¡±


    The sheep-turned Charlotte also agreed with a bleat.


    So, Sky Flying Witch and the remaining two team members quickly crawled into the passage, preparing to escape through it.


    ¡°Why are there more?¡±


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    But someone triggered another spell, Web Spell, and got stuck in the thick, sticky web that shot out.


    ¡°Rumble¡ª¡ª¡±


    A huge rock rolled down from the end of the passage, mercilessly crushing those who were trapped.


    ¡°Baa¡­¡±


    Charlotte as a sheep let out a despairing bleat.


    ¡°The officials must be targeting us. They¡¯re too cruel. How could there be more traps here¡ª¡ª¡±


    He silently roared in his mind.

 Chapter 79 - 10 Ramps Magic Shop

    Chapter 79: Chapter 10 Ramp¡¯s Magic Shop


    Suddenly, Charlotte noticed a massive shadow appearing in the sky.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Dragon Vein Ogre Mage landed with a crash!


    His colossal body, over six meters long, was draped in a robe stitched from various mage robes. The Magic Wand in his hand looked exceptionally delicate, and his face still wore those gold-framed glasses. There was a look of slight disappointment on his face.


    ¡°Why is it you poor guys¡­¡±


    ¡°Get lost! Don¡¯t disturb me while I catch foreign adventurers.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Wasted another Third Tier Spell¡­¡±


    Ramp glanced at the sheep-turned Charlotte. Seeing that he was one of those ¡°Starfallen,¡± his eyebrows furrowed. He lightly swung his Magic Wand.


    ¡°Dispel Magic!¡±


    A Magical Aura flew out from the Magic Wand, hitting Charlotte the sheep.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Charlotte instantly transformed back into a human. He instinctively cast a Scout spell.


    [Dragon Vein Ogre Mage ¨C Ramp]


    Affiliated Faction: [Ashen Nest]


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: ???


    Favorability: -10 (Mild Dislike)


    ¡°This is truly a Senior Mage! I¡¯ve finally found one!¡± Charlotte screamed wildly inside.


    He looked up at the gigantic ogre mage adorned with magical equipment, as if seeing the future of the mage occupation, his eyes sparkled with hope.


    ¡°Please!¡±


    ¡°Lord Ramp, I want to learn Spells!¡±


    Ramp gave him a disdainful look, snorted, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t try to use your inferior Spell to scan me. Do you think you can see through me with such petty tricks?¡±


    ¡°A mage apprentice who knows nothing?¡±


    ¡°Ridiculous!¡±


    Ramp, now possessing numerous spells, had become so arrogant that he¡¯d forgotten his earlier days when he knew only the Fireball Technique.


    ¡°I¡¯m returning to the Mage Tower. Don¡¯t waste my time again. The retainers of Ashen Nest should go in through the small gate directly. Don¡¯t sneak around here, obstructing my business.¡±


    ¡°What bad luck.¡±


    Ramp cursed and was about to cast Flight Magic to leave.


    Seeing his mage mentor and the guiding light of his career about to leave, Charlotte gritted his teeth and suddenly jumped up to hug Ramp¡¯s thick leg.


    ¡°Lord Ramp, please teach me Spells!¡±


    Charlotte shouted, hugging Ramp¡¯s leg with an unwavering gaze of determination.


    At this moment, he was not only carrying the beliefs of his deceased teammates but also bearing the will to restore the mage¡¯s glory!


    So he had to hold on to this thick leg tightly!


    ¡°Damn human¡­¡±


    ¡°Get off!¡±


    Ramp hurriedly shouted.


    His Flight Magic was already not very skilled, and he was being pulled off balance by Charlotte, wobbly falling to the ground.


    Ramp was furious, his face turning red: ¡°How can you be so stupid, rude, and disgusting, human¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, Charlotte just clung to his leg and firmly said, ¡°Lord Ramp, please teach me Spells!¡±


    ¡°Even if you kill me, I¡¯ll come back again! You should know I¡¯ll resurrect!¡±


    ¡°Let go first.¡±


    Even though Ramp had held a high position for years, managing Ashen Nest¡¯s affairs and seen all sorts of people, he still found himself feeling a bit ridiculous in the face of this leg-clinging situation.


    The humans his master brought over were really something else, not just because of their resurrection ability but also their peculiar personalities.


    Charlotte finally let go and quickly said, ¡°So, can you teach me Spells now?¡±


    Ramp deliberately adjusted his gold-framed glasses, his golden pupils squinting slightly, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡±


    He rubbed his fingers together.


    ¡°But for these valuable knowledge, you need to pay a small amount of money and contribution.¡±


    ¡°I believe you understand what I mean.¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s face lit up with joy.


    [The personal shop of [Dragon Vein Ogre Mage ¨C Ramp] is now open to you.]


    [You need 3000 faction contribution to unlock [Ramp¡¯s Magic Shop]]


    Ramp¡¯s Magic Shop:


    [Mage Hand Scroll] 10 Gold Coins


    [Light Spell Scroll] 10 Gold Coins


    [Shield Spell Scroll] 30 Gold Coins


    [Flying Scroll] 100 Gold Coins


    [Fireball Scroll] 100 Gold Coins


    [Fire Wall Scroll] 300 Gold Coins


    ¡­


    ¡°This, this is¡­¡±


    Over a hundred colorful spell scrolls appeared before Charlotte, ranging from the lowest tier cantrip [Mage¡¯s Hand] to the noble Fourth Tier Spell [Fire Wall Spell], dazzling him.


    Charlotte felt like he was in Heaven. Even faced with the daunting prices marked on the scrolls, he remained unafraid because he saw the future¡ª¡ª


    To restore the glory of the mage, I am duty-bound!


    Ramp watched Charlotte¡¯s ecstatic expression, his face showing a hint of oddity, wondering if he had set the prices too low. Could there be room for an increase?


    No, I¡¯ve already multiplied the market price several times over.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to consult with my master on how to more efficiently squeeze these guys¡­¡±


    Ramp adjusted his gold-framed glasses, thinking to himself.


    ¡­


    That night, a hot topic appeared on the player forum.


    ¡°Mage players finally see a rise! The third unscannable NPC, Mage career mentor [Dragon Vein Ogre Mage ¨C Ramp] has appeared! A new location [Dragon Valley] is now open!¡±


    This post was naturally from the guild master of [Magic Coin], Charlotte.


    ¡°Mage? Not even a dog would choose that!¡±


    ¡°Look at your pitiful cost performance. It¡¯s not even as good as a sorcerer¡¯s single spell. Sorcerers have innate spells, which are stronger than what you¡¯d buy with Gold Coins. Running a mage requires an entire guild to support you, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I think Dragon Vein Sorcerers¡¯ natural armor and elemental affinity with fire are better.¡±


    Singo engaged in intense forum debates because he had been door-camped by an enemy recently and had to stay in the safest tax officer¡¯s dormitory to avoid being killed first.


    ¡°Just by the ability to learn unlimited spell lists, mages will definitely surpass sorcerers in the late game!¡±


    ¡°Sorcerers become turrets in the late game. My mage master will still be invincible.¡±


    ¡°To restore the mage¡¯s glory, we are duty-bound!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, change your career!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that Gold Coins are scarce for now. Wait till mid-game, and I¡¯ll beat you so hard, Singo, you¡¯ll end up like a dog.¡±


    ¡°Did you not see the price tags? The highest tier spell scroll is 300 Gold Coins, can¡¯t afford it even if I sell myself¡­¡±


    ¡°How much? Three hundred?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m out, it¡¯s a rich man¡¯s occupation, commoners can¡¯t play.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that commoners can¡¯t afford to play as mages, it¡¯s that sorcerers are more cost-effective.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s form a group and do contribution tasks, everyone becoming Dragon Vein Sorcerers, wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?¡±


    As the discussion went on, the trend gradually shifted, and Charlotte stared at the screen grimly.


    ¡°One day, I¡¯ll make all of you class discriminators understand what a mage master is!¡±


    ¡°Mage¡¯s Hand!¡±


    With Charlotte¡¯s motion, a transparent hand formed by magic appeared out of thin air ¨C this was the cantrip scroll he bought with all his savings.


    ¡°I can finally cast spells!¡±


    Charlotte was overwhelmed with tears, and the members of the [Magic Coin] guild behind him celebrated joyously.

 Chapter 80 - 11: The Grieving Swashbuckler

    Chapter 80: Chapter 11: The Grieving Swashbuckler


    As soon as Swashbuckler stepped into the most famous bar in Barto City, ¡°Caroline¡¯s Home,¡± all the players began to laugh at him. Some shouted Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Swashbuckler, you got killed again!¡±


    Swashbuckler didn¡¯t reply. He said to the bartender, ¡°Warm two cups of beer, and give me a grilled sausage.¡±


    Then he handed over nine copper coins.


    The food and drinks sold at ¡°Caroline¡¯s Home¡± were the best way for players to replenish their energy, as certified by many occupation strategy players.


    The players then deliberately shouted louder, ¡°You must have stolen someone¡¯s stuff again!¡±


    ...


    Swashbuckler widened his eyes and said, ¡°How can you slander someone¡¯s innocence without any proof¡­¡±


    ¡°What innocence? I saw you with my own eyes using Mage¡¯s Hand to steal a Magic Ring from the Royal Guild in the mine the day before yesterday. You got blocked at the respawn point and killed seven or eight times.¡±


    Swashbuckler¡¯s face turned red, the veins on his forehead bulging as he argued, ¡°Stealing equipment can¡¯t be considered stealing¡­ stealing equipment!¡­


    Can the actions of a Wanderer be considered stealing?¡±


    He went on to say incomprehensible words, like ¡°Mage Hand Sleight,¡± ¡°Trickster Thief Profession,¡± ¡°Thieves¡¯ Tools Proficiency,¡± causing everyone to burst into laughter.


    The air inside and outside the bar was filled with joy.


    Suddenly, Mantou, dressed in a Security Officer¡¯s uniform, swaggered into the bar with a long sword carved with intricate emblems in his hand, which made many players envious.


    Swashbuckler got excited but didn¡¯t know how to respond, so he just said


    ¡°Ah! Mantou.¡±


    ¡°¡ªYou¡¯re here?¡±


    During the eighteen days Mantou worked as a laborer, Swashbuckler had many encounters with him while sneaking around the mine, so he had a lot to say about the mine, the Great Goblin, the Ogre, blocking the door, and moving bricks¡­


    But he always felt as if something was holding him back, swirling in his mind and unable to come out.


    He thought that now Mantou had made it big, maybe he could get some gold coins or something by hanging out with him.


    ¡°Yo, isn¡¯t this Brother Lang!¡±


    ¡°How have you been recently?¡±


    Mantou was very happy to see him, took off his helmet, and greeted him warmly.


    Swashbuckler shook his head in sorrow and sighed, ¡°Not so good, the Royal Guild is really too much, all the things I worked hard for with my own hands were stolen by them.¡±


    Mantou patted his chest heroically, ¡°What did they steal from you? I¡¯ll get it back for you!¡±


    ¡°Robbery is a serious crime!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the Sheriff¡¯s duty to punish all criminals, whether it¡¯s robbery or theft!¡±


    When he said ¡°theft,¡± Mantou¡¯s tone was intentionally heavier.


    Swashbuckler shivered immediately. He knew a sad, thick wall had formed between them.


    ¡°Nothing, nothing¡­ I already got it back.¡±


    Swashbuckler mumbled.


    Mantou grabbed Swashbuckler and said heartily, ¡°It¡¯s all right, Brother Lang, if you feel wronged, just tell me!¡±


    ¡°I, Mantou, will stand up for you!¡±


    As a fragile Trickster Thief, Swashbuckler couldn¡¯t resist against Mantou, a warrior.


    Swashbuckler almost cried, ¡°You don¡¯t need to intervene, Mantou.¡±


    ¡°These things are not worth mentioning¡­¡±


    Someone nearby who enjoyed the drama shouted, ¡°Swashbuckler has stolen something again and got chased all over, hahaha!¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly.¡±


    ¡°Even stealing from Royal, tsk tsk.¡±


    ¡°Swashbuckler should be killed more often.¡±


    Swashbuckler barely managed to break free and once again widened his eyes and loudly argued: ¡°How can you always slander someone¡¯s innocence without any proof¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha, there¡¯s even a video on the forum, you can go check it yourself!¡± said a player who had been stolen from by Swashbuckler, gritting his teeth.


    ¡°Is what they say true?¡±


    ¡°And¡­ was it you who stole that healing potion in the mine back then?¡±


    A hint of a malicious smile appeared on Mantou¡¯s face.


    Suddenly, Swashbuckler recalled the days working in the mine when he secretly took Mantou¡¯s potion, not expecting the guy to remember for so long!


    Swashbuckler sensed danger, ready to escape.


    ¡°No¡­¡± he said.


    ¡°Mantou, what are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Brother Lang, sorry, but I¡¯m just doing my job,¡± Mantou said with a heavy tone, but his hands never stopped moving.


    He pulled Swashbuckler back and skillfully snapped a carefully prepared silver bracelet onto his wrist.


    ¡°Citizen, you are suspected of theft. I am ordered to arrest you!¡±


    A reward notification popped up on Mantou¡¯s screen.


    [You have captured a criminal, earning an additional Faction Contribution: 150 points]


    ¡°Hehe, that was easy.¡±


    Mantou smiled with joy.


    Swashbuckler was stunned, his face showing a mix of joy and sorrow, his lips trembling but saying nothing.


    His face finally turned indignant as he shouted clearly


    ¡°Mantou, you son of¡­¡±


    But his mouth was immediately stuffed with a towel.


    ¡°Citizen, please do not try to provoke a Security Officer,¡± said Mantou calmly.


    ¡°Hahahaha!¡±


    The bar was again filled with joyous air.


    ¡­


    That night, Swashbuckler leaned against the cold wall of the Barto City Prison, bored, scrolling through the player forum. He still had three days of imprisonment before he could get out.


    Then he found a hotly discussed post.


    ¡°Mantou¡¯s justice arrest of Swashbuckler [Video]¡±


    The comments below were filled with joy


    ¡°First time liking Mantou this much.¡±


    ¡°Support Mantou!¡±


    ¡°There are still good Mantous in the world!¡±


    ¡°No laughing, just arrest him straight away!¡±


    As Swashbuckler scrolled through the comments, his face gradually turned red and he gnashed his teeth:


    ¡°Hmph, damn Mantou¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Swashbuckler stumbled upon Singo¡¯s strategy post, introducing the homeland of the Tieflings, the city full of blood and sin¡ªNorthwind Castle.


    ¡°I, Swashbuckler, am a cunning hero in chaotic times, how could I be confined in this small Barto City?¡±


    He looked at the cold, hard prison bars, and suddenly made up his mind.


    ¡­


    The next day, the prison guards found the cell door pried open, and it was empty inside, leaving only a small line of writing:


    ¡°A golden fish is not meant for a small pond, it turns into a dragon when it meets the storm.¡±


    The handwriting was messy, but bold.


    However, the guards didn¡¯t understand it, just thinking it was a stain and wiped it off.


    Meanwhile, a new hot post appeared on the player forum:


    ¡°How could a small Barto City confine me, Swashbuckler! Brother Lang¡¯s Northwind Castle adventure!¡±


    ¡°Damn, Swashbuckler left the main city?¡±


    ¡°Awesome, Brother Lang!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with Swashbuckler¡¯s nature, he¡¯ll get himself killed and respawn back soon.¡±


    ¡°Good news, after Swashbuckler left, Barto City¡¯s crime rate significantly dropped.¡±


    ¡°Everyone disperse, let¡¯s block him at the respawn point later.¡±


    While the players were heatedly discussing, Swashbuckler was running madly on the edge of Stormy Ridge, with several ugly Hill Giants chasing after him.


    ¡°What the hell is this¡ª¡ª¡± Swashbuckler wailed, activating his Rogue¡¯s sprint, his legs almost blurring.


    (Note: Not an ensemble cast! Not an ensemble cast! The author had a brain freeze when writing on launch and got carried away, too many players in the beginning, but it will focus on the protagonist later!)

 Chapter 81 - 12 Arcane Priory (I)

    Chapter 81: Chapter 12 Arcane Priory (I)


    ¡°The players are already starting to expand their territories¡­¡±


    ¡°Not only in Dragon Valley and Northwind Castle but also in South cities like Cathis City and Kriburg, players¡¯ traces have been appearing.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°That¡¯s impressive¡­¡±


    Cassius browsed the player forums and Ramp¡¯s Magic Mirror, silently marveling.


    Yes, besides the Swashbuckler, some players had already left Barto City and ventured into unknown regions.


    This was no easy feat. They had to break through the heavy obstruction of monsters at Stormy Ridge¡¯s periphery. Besides Ashen Nest, there were also Frost Giants, Hill Giants, scattered Orc resistance tribes. Although pressured to the edge of the ridge, these forces still retained some strength.


    ...


    Moreover, these traveling players couldn¡¯t die easily. Once dead, they would be sent back to Barto City, nullifying all their efforts.


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that sound?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s frilled, active dragon ears twitched and rotated, tracking the sound¡ªRed Dragon hearing was far sharper than a human¡¯s, able to discern critical sounds and filter out background noise, focusing on noteworthy sounds.


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±


    A sound came from a corner of the cave.


    The ¡°Arcane Priory Medal¡± was emitting a magical aura, a magic image appearing.


    ¡°The Anzeta Branch cordially invites you to join!¡±


    ¡°Gathering Time: Three days later¡±


    ¡°Location: Stratholme Fortress¡±


    ¡°Teleport Coordinates: 1345.8375.527¡±


    The Arcane Priory, a famed wizard organization in later years, was founded by the renowned legendary Archmage Trafalgar.


    Members gathered regularly to share spell knowledge, exchange research findings, and sometimes seek help to eradicate evil. This seemed to be the Anzeta Branch¡¯s first meeting.


    ¡°Quite a few notable figures from Anzeta would attend this branch meeting.¡±


    ¡°I must join in the fun¡ª¡±


    With this thought, Cassius summoned the Magic Mirror.


    ¡°Ramp, come here immediately.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s ugly face appeared on the image, seemingly engrossed in counting his gold coins, showing the profound impact of Red Dragon Bloodline¡¯s greed on him.


    ¡°One hundred and one, one hundred and two, one hundred and three¡­¡±


    The coins clinked crisply as they fell.


    Only when Cassius called him impatiently for the second time did he wake, panicking


    ¡°Ah, sorry, master, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    In no time, Ramp lumbered down from the sky, landing heavily before Cassius.


    The ogre mage muttered, ¡°Master, these ¡®Starfallen¡¯ you brought are so easy to deceive. I sell magic scrolls at three to four times the market price, yet they still rush to buy from me. Too bad these guys are dirt poor, their pockets hardly jingling. If everyone were this foolish, I wouldn¡¯t need to rob adventurers.¡±


    ¡°Master, should I raise the prices a bit to earn you more gold coins¡­¡±


    Cassius snorted out a puff of white smoke, ¡°Ramp, you must understand the concept of long-term gains. Don¡¯t fish with a dry pond.¡±


    ¡°The price of our goods should vary with their spending capacity. Have someone regularly check their assets. Always set the price so that they barely have any money left but aren¡¯t desperate enough to not survive. Isn¡¯t that the way?¡±


    Ramp pondered momentarily, clapping with approval, ¡°Master, your wisdom is admirable. I¡¯ll have my subordinates prepare.¡±


    Content, Cassius nodded.


    This Ramp was getting the hang of squeezing the players dry. Truly commendable.


    ¡°But this time, I called you over not for the Starfallen matter.¡±


    ¡°Come, take a look at this¡ª¡±


    Ramp looked toward the corner of the cave, spotting the semi-transparent magical image.


    ¡°The Arcane Priory?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, interested in witnessing it?¡± Cassius asked with a smile.


    Ramp¡¯s hideous, grotesque face immediately showed a trace of reminiscence and gratitude.


    ¡°Of course, master¡­¡±


    Previously ignorant and not knowing what happened, he now realized he had mysteriously grown smarter.


    As the Butler of Ashen Nest, Ramp had long occupied a high position and extensively researched spells. He had his Mage Tower and understood what had happened back then. He even managed to further modify the ¡°Ring of Wisdom¡¯s Study.¡±


    Everything seemed orchestrated by the God of Fate.


    If that youthful, energetic mage apprentice hadn¡¯t gone wandering, and if Ramp hadn¡¯t knocked him out and eaten him, Ramp might still be an ordinary, muddle-headed ogre.


    ¡ªlike all ogres, only thinking about eating and sleeping, he would have no qualification to be part of the great plan of the Red Dragon.


    But this experience changed his life, or rather, his ¡°ogre life.¡±


    ¡°Shape-shifting Spell!¡±


    The enormous Red Dragon transformed into a black-haired, golden-eyed, noble young aristocrat, this time without any draconic features.


    ¡°Still feels a bit restrained.¡±


    Feeling his immense strength constrained by a human form, Cassius flexed his wrists.


    He observed Ramp¡¯s massive frame, his brow slightly furrowing, ¡°The Arcane Priory should be a good-alignment gathering. This form of yours might not be suitable.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Ramp quickly waved his magic wand, constructing a spell prototype through the Magic Web, transforming into a human.


    ¡°Shape-shifting Spell!¡±


    But the human form was over two meters tall, fat, and stout, with bloated features, looking utterly horrendous. He resembled an ogre in human skin¡ªwhich was actually the truth.


    ¡°Master, is this acceptable?¡±


    Cassius looked at Ramp with some speechlessness.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you modify it a bit¡­ This shape is far from being a normal human.¡±


    ¡°It might even be better to take an ogre along.¡±


    But Cassius forgot that an ogre couldn¡¯t cast spells like a Magician ¡°artist¡± by intuition and consciousness but needed the meticulous construction of a mage.


    Ramp scratched his head, embarrassed, ¡°Sorry, master. My spell prototype parameters weren¡¯t adjusted well. It might take seven to eight days to perfect it.¡±


    ¡°Seven to eight days?¡±


    ¡°The Arcane Priory meeting will be over by then.¡±


    This won¡¯t do¡­


    Cassius thought for a moment.


    ¡°Transform into a Steel Golem. At least it will look relatively normal. A noble spellcaster with a constructed creature guardian should be quite normal.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Ramp cast the Shape-shifting Spell again, this time successfully transforming into a three-meter-tall, fully metallic giant statue smoothly.


    Though still ugly, at least no one would suspect him of being any sort of chaotic evil creature.


    ¡°Get me a cloak.¡±


    Ramp retrieved a long cloak imbued with ¡°anti-spying¡± magic from his collection and draped it over Cassius.


    Cassius toyed with the Mithril Necklace in his hand, stroking the pendant shaped like a door.


    ¡°Dimension Door.¡±


    With the coordinates confirmed, space gradually distorted, and a rift opened before Cassius.

 Chapter 82 - 13 Arcane Priory (II)

    Chapter 82: Chapter 13 Arcane Priory (II)


    Boske Duchy, Stratholme Fortress.


    A door suddenly appeared in the corner of the city wall, invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.


    This was the ¡°Trafalgar Deluxe Mansion Spell,¡± a marvelously intricate Seventh Tier Spell, leading to a luxurious mansion in an other-dimensional space that existed for the duration of the spell.


    Organizers of the Arcane Priory from various regions, if authorized by this Legendary Mage, could receive the ¡°Ring of the Sage,¡± allowing them to periodically cast this spell to organize the Arcane Priory.


    ¡°Is it here¡­¡±


    Soon, a man appeared, wearing a robe with a medal on his chest. With the magical aura of the medal flickering slightly, he entered directly through the non-existent door and vanished.


    ...


    After him, more people entered one after another. They were both male and female, mostly dressed in luxurious robes, sparkling with magical auras, identifying them as spellcasters.


    Inside, on the luxurious red carpet, constructed beings looking like human women but moving very mechanically were asking questions and taking notes:


    ¡°Please provide a name, as your identity code within the Arcane Priory.¡±


    A tall noblewoman contemplated for a moment before saying, ¡°Hmm¡­ call me ¡®Tulip.''¡±


    ¡°Welcome to the Arcane Priory, Lord Tulip.¡±


    ¡°Seeker.¡±


    ¡°Welcome to the Arcane Priory, Lord Seeker.¡±


    ¡°Grey Hair.¡±


    ¡°Blue Eyes.¡±


    ¡°Elf¡¯s Song.¡±


    ¡­


    In just a moment, over thirty people had gathered here, mostly human nobles, with some elves and half-elves, and even some individuals with elemental bloodlines.


    ¡°So many spellcasters in Anzeta?¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°A Legendary Mage indeed. This deluxe mansion spell is simply a work of art¡­¡±


    ¡°Incredible.¡±


    ¡°Where is the organizer of this Arcane Priory meeting?¡±


    ¡°No idea, I am also¡­¡±


    ¡­ S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It should be here.¡±


    A Dimension Door appeared by the city wall. Cassius and Ramp, disguised as a Steel Golem, entered one after the other.


    As Cassius entered, his striking black hair and golden eyes, combined with his extraordinary charisma, drew much attention, particularly from the women.


    The noblewoman with the alias ¡°Tulip¡± couldn¡¯t help but remark to her companion:


    ¡°What a charming fellow. Perhaps only someone like him deserves me, not those buffoons.¡±


    ¡°And¡­ he comes from a nobler bloodline.¡±


    ¡°Pleasure to meet you.¡±


    She approached to chat, lifting her skirt in a curtsy, and Cassius responded with a polite smile.


    ¡°Good day, beautiful lady.¡±


    A mage behind them couldn¡¯t help but grumble:


    ¡°Another one of those magicians, using their extraordinary charm to deceive the Magic Web, spellcasters among barbarians.¡±


    ¡°Yes, they will never understand spells, never grasp the workings of the Magic Web.¡±


    ¡°Merely bending and playing with it like children.¡±


    Some others were curious about Ramp behind Cassius.


    ¡°What is that follower of his?¡±


    ¡°It appears to be¡­ a Steel Golem.¡±


    ¡°A Steel Golem?¡±


    ¡°I heard that the Southern Fadlan Empire¡¯s palace has such constructs, crafted from heavy metals and fused with rare tinctures and mixtures, making them indestructible.¡±


    ¡°A golem of this size must be very expensive.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, what an enviable fellow.¡±


    ¡°Tulip¡± listened to their gossip, feeling slightly displeased. She deliberately said, ¡°I trust with your status, you wouldn¡¯t mind such envious remarks.¡±


    Cassius merely smiled, saying, ¡°Getting used to others¡¯ envy is a required lesson for every Talented One.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you agree, ¡®Tulip¡¯?¡±


    He easily discerned that the noblewoman was also a magician, though of low strength, barely at level 2, likely knowing only simple tricks.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    The noblewoman smiled sweetly, clearly pleased.


    Considering Anzeta¡¯s remote and impoverished location in the north, Cassius glanced around and saw no high-level professionals, mostly noble offspring with some magic knowledge.


    The strongest among them was a man with the alias ¡°Black Hawk,¡± whose mage occupational level showed as level 8 on the panel, roughly equivalent to the current Ramp.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t registered an alias yet? I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±


    The noblewoman led Cassius to the front of the hall.


    The human-like constructed being followed its usual process by asking: ¡°Please provide a name, as your identity code within the Arcane Priory.¡±


    Cassius pondered briefly.


    ¡°Call me ¡®Remnant Flame.''¡±


    ¡°Lord Remnant Flame, welcome to the Arcane Priory.¡± The construct¡¯s voice was cold.


    It was said to be a small toy made by Trafalgar in his youth, named ¡°Steel Beauty¡± for its human-female-like appearance and stiff, mechanical movements.


    There was room for improvement, but the Legendary Archmage had become accustomed to it and finalized the design.


    Although created casually, it was equipped with devices capable of casting Fourth Tier Spells, making it a rare artifact.


    In the spacious, luxuriously decorated hall was a large round table, and the attendees sat around it.


    The exquisite dome above depicted many great arcane miracles in frescoes, leaving everyone in awe.


    ¡°As everyone is here¡­¡±


    ¡°Let the meeting begin.¡±


    ¡°I am the organizer of this Arcane Priory meeting. You may call me ¡®Venus.''¡±


    A clear voice echoed.


    Everyone turned to the source of the voice¡ªa young woman who appeared to be in her twenties.


    Her slender dress outlined her graceful figure, with the robe¡¯s surface glittering like star-dust.


    Long silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, with long, slightly curled eyelashes below which were clear and bright blue-gray eyes, containing both goodwill and a hint of pride.


    While everyone marveled at her appearance, Cassius fell into thought.


    ¡°It¡¯s her¡­¡±


    ¡°¡®Silver Star¡¯ Olivia, a young Silver Dragon Mage, I didn¡¯t expect her to be one of the organizers of the Arcane Priory.¡±


    She was a renowned figure, with her Silver Dragon Clan ¡°Melwood¡± being a significant force in Anzeta¡¯s fight against the demon scourge in later years.


    It was said that an ancient dragon-stage Silver Dragon Elder existed within it, though in deep slumber and indifferent to worldly affairs.


    [Silver Star-Olivia (Human Form)]


    Occupational Level: 11 Mage


    ¡°An eleventh-level mage¡­¡±


    This level didn¡¯t seem high but already marked a kingdom-level master capable of casting Sixth Tier Spells, which was the upper limit for most players.


    In a magic-poor area like Anzeta, an eleventh-level mage could even be respectfully called an ¡°Archmage.¡±

 Chapter 83 - 14 Arcane Priory (III)

    Chapter 83: Chapter 14 Arcane Priory (III)


    With the seating of ¡°Venus,¡± the gathering began.


    The ¡°Seeker¡± spoke first:


    ¡°Everyone, I believe you all have a considerable understanding of the Magic Web¡¯s operation¡­¡±


    ¡°Spellcasters need to connect to the primordial magic through specific bridges, but these primordial energies¡­¡±


    Immediately, someone countered.


    ¡°No, no, no, it is not like that at all!¡±


    ...


    ¡°What about the priest then?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t your mentor teach you? Arcane Magic and Divine Magic are different systems.¡±


    ¡°I graduated from the Fadlan Court Magic Academy; how could I not understand these things!¡±


    ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s laughable.¡±


    This group of mages, none of whom had even reached the Tenth Level, discussed everything from the operation of spell prototypes to the essence of the Magic Web, even touching upon deities, until the debate transformed into a contest of backgrounds and experiences.


    They argued fiercely, seemingly eager to showcase their knowledge and wisdom to gain the others¡¯ recognition at this gathering.


    Ms. ¡°Tulip,¡± sitting next to Cassius, didn¡¯t understand and merely sneered:


    ¡°Show-offs.¡±


    However, Ramp, standing behind, couldn¡¯t resist quietly using the Text Transmission Spell to say: ¡°Full of errors!¡±


    ¡°These humans are truly like a half-full bottle, wobbling around.¡±


    He even used a proverb Cassius had once taught him; if his identity couldn¡¯t be exposed, he would have joined the chaotic debate long ago.


    ¡°It seems competition among mages is quite fierce.¡± Cassius observed the red-faced mages and mused to himself.


    Ms. ¡°Venus¡± also continually expressed her views, though she remained much calmer, and her opinions were more profound yet less frequent.


    ¡°Quite interesting.¡±


    As a magician, Cassius relied more on his will and perception to cast spells and wasn¡¯t deeply knowledgeable about complex theoretical knowledge. He could only listen quietly, trying to glean some useful information.


    Despite the presence of much pretentious boasting, he still felt he had gained a lot.


    However, these individuals were not truly profound scholars; after only a morning of debate, they had little left to say and had to move on to the next segment¡ªitem exchange.


    When this part arrived, Cassius¡¯s eyes lit up instantly.


    He was not a player type who worked tirelessly day and night only to end up poor; instead, he was the lord of the entire Stormy Ridge.


    Every day, kobolds and goblins brought gold from underground mining into his spacious cavern in a steady stream, while players willingly handed over their scarce gold coins to him in exchange for so-called ¡°Divine Gear.¡±


    A mage code-named ¡°Gold Digger¡± first placed a matte black pearl on the table.


    ¡°Mana Regeneration Pearl, enabling the holder to cast one additional Fifth Tier spell or lower daily, starting at 200 gold coins.¡±


    ¡°210 gold coins.¡±


    The mage known as ¡°Grey Hawk¡± responded with a voice that was indifferent and calm.


    After checking the panel to confirm it was a genuine [Rare] item with all descriptions accurate, Cassius declared straightforwardly: ¡°300 gold coins.¡±


    ¡°Grey Hawk¡± glanced at him but remained silent.


    A person, who had been silent all along and code-named ¡°Heart Whisperer,¡± pulled a thick, pungent-smelling book from his black robe and placed it on the table, suddenly capturing everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°This book is an heirloom from my ancestors. I don¡¯t have the capability to use it, so I don¡¯t know its effects. I hope to sell it for a good price here¡­¡±


    Cassius, watching the book, narrowed his eyes slightly.


    He could even feel that Ramp, connected to his bloodline, had a somewhat faster heartbeat.


    [**Alchemy Principle**]


    Quality: Rare


    This faded, hefty book with a pungent smell is a treasured heirloom passed down through the Terfa Family for centuries.


    The metallic fittings on the book are made from a solid intermediary substance capable of transmuting between copper, iron, lead, silver, and gold. When discovered, this book contained the following spells: Acceleration Spell, Projection Spell, Petrification Spell, Gaseous Form, Magic-infused Weapon, and Miraculous Craftsmanship. It could be used both as a spellbook and as a magic artifact.


    ¡°Good stuff¡­ buy it!¡±


    Preparing for a lavish purchase, though the Red Dragon¡¯s greedy nature still pained him a bit.


    He shouted the price: ¡°500 gold coins.¡±


    For minor nobles, this amount of money was quite substantial, yet for heirs of major families, it was merely a slight discomfort, still easily affordable.


    The ¡°Seeker¡± also unhesitatingly raised the bid: ¡°700 gold coins.¡±


    ¡°800 gold coins.¡±


    ¡°Grey Hawk¡± joined in as well: ¡°850 gold coins.¡±


    However, Cassius did not hesitate and continued to bid: ¡°1000 gold coins.¡±


    ¡°Heart Whisperer¡± hadn¡¯t expected that something dug out from his family¡¯s tomb could be worth so much. This nearly equaled an annual income of a baronial territory, with which he could already indulge in lavish pleasures in the prosperous south. This made him visibly excited.


    ¡°He¡¯s yours, sir.¡±


    He hastily said, afraid the other party might regret it.


    Cassius unhurriedly handed the book to Ramp, who had transformed into a Steel Golem behind him.


    After his aggressive bidding, there was no further movement, only soft murmurs of discussion.


    ¡°Where is he from?¡±


    ¡°That was a thousand gold coins¡­¡±


    ¡°Is he a duke¡¯s offspring, capable of casually offering a thousand gold coins?¡±


    ¡°Probably an heir from a magician family or a merchant from Victoria Port¡­¡±


    ¡­


    The subsequent items were various bizarre and peculiar pieces of magic equipment, quite amusing but somewhat ¡°chicken ribs¡± to Cassius¡¯s eyes.


    Thus, he did not bid again but watched with considerable interest.


    ¡°Tentacle Scepter: When holding the scepter, three fleshy tentacles can extend from the tip.¡±


    ¡°Can these tentacles be controlled?¡±


    ¡°You can control the tentacles to attack targets, but¡­ you cannot control their actions and strength.¡±


    ¡°Then forget it, sounds uninteresting.¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The seller ¡°Black Rock¡± inexplicably wiped a cold sweat, and except for the woman with unclear intentions earlier, no one made an offer.


    ¡°Black Rock¡± even specifically glanced at the wealthy Cassius, but the latter merely smiled without speaking.


    He looked at ¡°Venus.¡± Was it his imagination, or were her cheeks slightly reddened? Nonetheless, she stayed purposely silent.


    Disillusioned, he took away his precious wand, quietly cursing his bad luck.


    ¡°Withering Staff: Can inflict a necrosis effect on the target.¡±


    ¡°Bat Cape: Grasping the edges of the cape can transform oneself into a bat.¡±


    ¡°Floating Horseshoes: Equipping a horse with four of these allows it to hover one foot above the ground.¡±


    ¡°Why not just use the Levitation Skill?¡±


    ¡°Mind Whip: In the hands of a Heart Snatching Demon, this weapon can strip a creature¡¯s survival will and devour its mind as if tearing off its flesh.¡±


    ¡°And in the hands of an ordinary person?¡±


    Someone questioned.


    The mage, who had fervently praised the item earlier, immediately fell silent and awkwardly rubbed his nose:


    ¡°Like any ordinary whip.¡±

 Chapter 84 - 15 Arcane Priory (IV)

    Chapter 84: Chapter 15 Arcane Priory (IV)


    At the auction appeared many novel items, though their functions were not very powerful, their uses were certainly unique, making Cassius feel quite eye-opening.


    But soon he also wanted to earn some extra money for himself.


    So under Cassius¡¯s orders, the ¡°Steel Golem¡± pulled out one scale after another from the dimensional bag.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°There seems to be a remnant of lightning elements on it, reacting very strongly.¡±


    ¡°Is this a dragon scale?¡±


    ...


    Everyone observed closely, but no one could discern its origin, and Cassius just smiled without saying anything.


    ¡°It¡¯s a scale from a Bluefoot Dragon-snake.¡±


    Lady Venus said in a determined tone.


    ¡°Armor made from the scales of this monster has the effect of protecting against lightning, and these scales still have residual elements, their age should not exceed ten years. In the hands of some masters, they can even be made into magic artifacts capable of releasing shaping spells like chain lightning and lightning bolt.¡±


    Only then did Cassius speak: ¡°Your extensive knowledge sincerely impresses me.¡±


    Lady Venus smiled slightly, appearing somewhat proud.


    ¡°However¡­ please wait a moment.¡±


    The ¡°Steel Golem¡± at its waist was actually tied with several dimensional bags, it emptied them one by one, revealing that they were all filled with Bluefoot Dragon-snake scales.


    ¡°So many?¡±


    ¡°Heavens, how much armor can this make.¡±


    ¡°This must have killed one Bluefoot Dragon-snake, perhaps even more than one.¡±


    As the crowd buzzed with discussion, Cassius stated a number:


    ¡°These, a total of two thousand gold coins.¡±


    For a moment, the crowd fell silent, no one could take out so many gold coins at once.


    After a moment of hesitation, the Grey Hawk said: ¡°Five hundred gold coins, I want a quarter of them.¡±


    The ¡°Seeker¡± followed up by saying: ¡°The same for me.¡±


    And so, half of Cassius¡¯s scales that had piled up for years were sold for a thousand gold coins, though he did make a little trick.


    These scales had been accumulating in the nest for years, he was very familiar with them, allowing him to determine their location with a spell ability of the dragonkin talent, ¡°Item Location,¡± with a range of several kilometers.


    As he had just entered, he noticed that the Grey Hawk¡¯s robe was faintly displaying a medal at the chest, showing an eagle and a sword.


    ¡°I hope you store them well in your vault¡­¡±


    ¡°When the time comes¡ª¡±


    ¡°I will come to find you¡­¡±


    Cassius looked at the buyer with kind eyes, while the other party, indifferent, just assumed he was satisfied with the transaction.


    The item trading session soon ended.


    Besides sharing spell knowledge, exchanging research results, and auctioning items, the Arcane Priory sometimes sought help to eradicate evil, like the current call for action from the Grey Hawk.


    ¡°Ashen Nest, you may not have heard this name, but this evil power has expanded over the entire Stormy Ridge and is threatening the surrounding countries, gathering ogres, wyverns, chimeras, those vicious and terrifying monsters all in one place¡­¡±


    ¡°Ashen Nest?¡±


    ¡°I think some nearby adventurers mentioned it.¡±


    ¡°That Land of Death?¡±


    ¡°Their leader seems to be a Red Dragon.¡±


    The Grey Hawk said through gritted teeth: ¡°That¡¯s right! Their leader is indeed a ferocious Red Dragon, those shameful reptiles.¡±


    ¡°Giant dragons, these creatures are born with immensely powerful strength, yet they continue to try to take everything from us.¡±


    ¡°Their desire is endless, they greedily crave more, attempting to seize all the treasures of the world, and people like us who stand for justice should step up¡ª¡±


    Hearing this, Olivia frowned slightly, but said nothing more.


    It was Cassius who timely interrupted: ¡°Lord Grey Hawk, you are somewhat overgeneralizing. Aren¡¯t there Gold Dragons and Silver Dragons among giant dragons who are aligned with righteousness?¡±


    ¡°These noble creatures deserve the word justice far more than mortals.¡±


    ¡°Indeed so.¡±


    Olivia subconsciously nodded slightly.


    But she quickly realized her inappropriate words and noticed Cassius¡¯s smiling gaze.


    She gave Cassius a deep look and remained silent.


    ¡°The goodwill of giant dragons¡­¡±


    Cassius thought to himself, this is the contradiction of these metal dragons.


    On one hand, their lives are immensely long, believing themselves far more noble than other creatures, just like most dragons, hence they will never view other creatures from an equal perspective.


    But at the same time, these metal dragons are ¡°kind,¡± willing to help weaker beings and promote their own sense of justice, making such behavior more akin to the charity of a pet.


    Though interrupted, the Grey Hawk was somewhat displeased but continued: ¡°Now dukes Rackman, Boske, and Notte are organizing allied forces, preparing to combine and eradicate the evil on this land, attacking Ashen Nest.¡±


    ¡°However¡­ the allied forces still lack some spellcasters, if any present are willing to fight for Anzeta¡¯s order and peace, you can contact me. The family can provide sufficient rewards to those who step forward, at least the offer will definitely be satisfying.¡±


    ¡°But that so-called Ashen Nest hasn¡¯t attacked you yet, has it?¡±


    ¡°So why would you¡­ initiate a war?¡±


    Olivia asked softly.


    Silver Dragons do not like war, they hate injustice and cruelty, yet unlike Gold Dragons, they do not yearn to be the enemies of evil or villainy. Compared to punishing or eradicating wrongdoers, Silver Dragons are more concerned with protecting the innocent and healing their wounds.


    Seeing the highest-ranking person speak, the Grey Hawk quickly replied: ¡°Lady Venus, that is a Red Dragon, you can expect the worst from it.¡±


    ¡°Its claws and flames can displace us at any moment, it can abduct our wives and daughters, destroy our homes, and the only thing we can do¡­ is to strike first.¡±


    ¡°Clap, clap, clap!¡±


    In the spacious hall, applause rang out.


    ¡ªIt came from Cassius.


    ¡°Well said, Lord Grey Hawk, this Red Dragon indeed threatens the peace and order of Anzeta. In my homeland, there is a saying: with great power comes great responsibility.¡±


    ¡°We, as the darlings of the world, indeed have the responsibility to uphold justice and eradicate these violent evildoers. I believe everyone present feels the same way.¡±


    ¡°I, and the faction I represent, are willing to contribute to the allied forces¡¯ campaign.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s words were firm and powerful.


    Seeing the well-resourced and mysterious Cassius offering strong support, the Grey Hawk¡¯s expression immediately brightened, completely forgetting the earlier displeasure, and stepped forward to flatter:


    ¡°Lord Remnant Fire, to be willing to fight for justice against a giant dragon, I truly respect you.¡±


    Cassius waved his hand, saying: ¡°It¡¯s nothing, we are all on the path of pursuing justice, this is what we should do.¡±


    ¡°Precisely so.¡±


    Applause sounded around them. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two shook hands warmly, their smiles friendly, yet each held secret motives, both viewing the other as a fool, though Cassius had the upper hand with more information.

 Chapter 85 - 16 Arcane Priory (5)

    Chapter 85: Chapter 16 Arcane Priory (5)


    The meeting concluded with the support of Cassius, representing the ¡°Knights of Justice.¡±


    Lord Remnant Flame and Grey Hawk had a cordial and friendly conversation, during which both sides fully exchanged opinions and enhanced mutual understanding. Lord Remnant Flame expressed serious concern for the safety of the people of Northwind Castle and was willing to provide as much humanitarian aid as possible. They agreed to engage in related activities during the second Arcane Priory in a few months.


    The spellcasters left one after another, either using some teleportation tools, walking on foot, or having already prepared transportation methods¡ªsuch as a floating horse, though the floating horseshoes had not sold yet.


    Stratholme Fortress was one of the most prosperous cities in Anzeta and the capital of Boske Duchy. Naturally, it was bustling with people and traffic, and the streets even occasionally saw some non-human races.


    Moreover, the spellcasters did not attract much attention and quickly blended into the crowd, disappearing from sight.


    After leaving the area around the ¡°Trafalgar Deluxe Mansion Spell,¡± Cassius did not immediately leave. Instead, he waited quietly in a city alley.


    ...


    ¡°Three, two, one.¡±


    He counted the numbers quietly.


    The space in front of Cassius suddenly distorted, and a spatial rift appeared before him.


    First, long, slender, fair legs appeared, followed by a body wrapped in a silver-white long dress.


    The dress had a high slit that reached the root of her thigh, revealing magical tattoos on the smooth skin beneath.


    Seeing the person he had anticipated arriving, Cassius gave a polite smile:


    ¡°Long time no see, Miss Venus.¡±


    Olivia, puzzled, replied, ¡°But we just saw each other.¡±


    Still smiling, Cassius switched to bard mode, ¡°In my homeland, there¡¯s a saying: A day apart feels like three years. Your beauty makes me¡­¡±


    Hearing the flattery, Olivia¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly but she quickly regained her composure and interrupted:


    ¡°Lord Remnant Flame, don¡¯t try to distract me with these flowery words. I didn¡¯t come here to listen to your sweet talk. How did you discover my identity?¡±


    Cassius feigned ignorance, ¡°Which identity are you referring to?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m talking about¡­ the Silver Dragon identity.¡±


    Her tone had a hint of gnashing teeth but she maintained basic etiquette.


    Cassius then pretended to ¡°suddenly realize¡± and replied: Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Oh, you mean the Silver Dragon identity¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite simple.¡±


    ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t know Olivia, the most outstanding youth of the Melwood Clan¡¯s younger generation, nicknamed the ¡®Silver Star¡¯?¡±


    ¡°She was able to cast the ¡®Crown of Stars¡¯ in her youth and single-handedly thwart a Dragon Shaman Cult¡¯s plot.¡±


    His tone paused.


    Olivia¡¯s delicate face immediately showed a look of surprise. She had thought it was a flaw in her shape-shifting spell but didn¡¯t expect him to know so much about her, including her real name and clan, even detailing her feats.


    Cassius continued, ¡°Besides, your demeanor and manner of speaking are too much like a young Silver Dragon inexperienced in the world. You are not good at hiding your thoughts.¡±


    ¡°Who exactly are you?¡±


    ¡°How do you know these things?¡±


    Olivia persistently asked.


    Cassius, unhurriedly, responded, ¡°I am under no obligation to answer you, Miss Olivia. You only need to know my codename is ¡®Remnant Flame.''¡±


    He then changed his tone, adding a hint of playfulness.


    ¡°Moreover¡­ Pardon me for saying this, but while I may not be your equal in spells, my skill in disguise far surpasses yours.¡±


    ¡°You¡ª¡±


    Olivia bit her silver teeth gently.


    She quickly realized he wasn¡¯t wrong; members of the Arcane Priory were not obligated to reveal their true identities. However, this feeling of being led by the nose made her inwardly frustrated.


    Cassius smiled and said, ¡°Miss Olivia, see you at the next Arcane Priory.¡±


    After finishing, he lightly touched the pendant on his chest, opening a dimension door, and stepped into the spatial rift along with the ¡°Steel Golem¡± behind him.


    ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡±


    Olivia stood at her original spot, stamping her feet in anger and her face slightly red, only able to watch the spatial rift slowly close.


    But soon, she also noticed some subtle details, such as when Lord Remnant Flame left, the faintly visible golden scales on the back of his neck.


    She proudly muttered to herself:


    ¡°You¡¯re not so good at disguising, after all¡­¡±


    ¡°At least your shape-shifting spell is riddled with flaws from my perspective, Remnant Flame, or should I say, Lord Gold Dragon.¡±


    Combining Remnant Flame¡¯s rebuke of Black Hawk when mentioning gold and silver dragons, his uncompromising attitude toward evil forces, and the ¡°accidental¡± revealing of golden scales,


    this Silver Dragon Mage naturally concluded that she had uncovered Lord Remnant Flame¡¯s true identity¡ªa purebred Gold Dragon.


    She softly muttered:


    ¡°Arrogant, self-important, and clever-clever guy.¡±


    ¡°I will find out your name.¡±


    ¡°Hmph¡­ I¡¯ll ask Grandpa. There aren¡¯t many gold dragons in Anzeta; they don¡¯t like the environment here.¡±


    This Silver Dragon Mage never had a good impression of Gold Dragons. In her memory, as the naturally strongest among the Metal Dragons, these Gold Dragons always held a high and mighty attitude, looking down on others and trying to lead everything, often acting as self-appointed enforcers of ¡°justice.¡±


    Now, Olivia¡¯s stereotypical view of Gold Dragons deepened, adding ¡°smug¡± and ¡°flippant¡± to her negative labels.


    However, Olivia did not realize that everything she saw was only what Cassius wanted her to see.


    ¡­


    Cassius stepped out of the dimension door, returning to his warm cavern, eagerly releasing his restraints and reverting to his Red Dragon form.


    Ramp followed closely behind, transforming back into his large Dragon Vein Ogre form.


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but exhale a breath of sulfur-scented hot air:


    ¡°That Silver Dragon was pretty easy to fool. It seems her high intelligence is entirely focused on studying spells.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see if we can trick her out of that Crown of Stars.¡±


    Dealing with good alignment people indeed felt more comfortable. Although there were still conflicts of interest, the other party¡¯s actions didn¡¯t involve deliberate scheming.


    Ramp, excitedly, pulled out a book from the dimensional bag titled [Alchemy Principle].


    ¡°Master, this is great! That human doesn¡¯t recognize value; we¡¯ve struck it rich.¡±


    This book not only served as a spellbook for several spells but also functioned as a magic artifact, assisting in synchronizing magic power.


    Cassius said, ¡°Since we¡¯ve spent the gold coins, you should learn these spells. I¡¯m particularly interested in the Acceleration Spell. Demonstrate it to me as soon as possible.¡±


    Ramp quickly responded, ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Magicians could learn spells, but they couldn¡¯t rely on the runes from a spell scroll to do so. They had to understand the workings of the spell and then cast based on intuition.


    For players, the success rate for this kind of learning was minuscule.


    But at least Cassius had already learned the ¡°Fire Wall Spell¡± through Ramp¡¯s multiple demonstrations, as he was naturally suited for fire-shaping spells.

 Chapter 86 - 17 Second Meeting

    Chapter 86: Chapter 17 Second Meeting S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Singo, Mantou, Natural War Maniac, and Summer Night Autumn Rain gathered once again in the plaza. They had shed their nickname ¡°Black Slave Team¡± and even caused resentment among some players.


    The Security Officer wasn¡¯t too bad, as he only detained illegal and criminal activities, effectively preventing rookies from getting robbed blind by senior thieves while maintaining basic order in Barto City. However, Singo, the Tax Officer, was a different story.


    During his tenure, Singo worked diligently, often offering suggestions for various taxes such as property tax, income tax, and guild tax, many of which were adopted.


    These recommendations significantly increased Barto City¡¯s financial revenue, earning him a substantial share and the glamorous nickname ¡°Xin Papi.¡±


    Particularly the guild tax, which required guilds to pay a higher proportion of taxes on their collective income. This made each guild bitterly hate him, with some even waiting to ambush him at the gates.


    Mantou, dressed in his Security Officer uniform, eyed Singo: ¡°Damn, with all the trouble you¡¯ve stirred up recently, you¡¯re brave enough to show up in the plaza. Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting assassinated?¡±


    ...


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head and chuckled, ¡°Didn¡¯t the guild leader of Royalty threaten to paint you on the city walls?¡±


    Singo crossed his arms confidently, ¡°No worries, I¡¯ve already reached a ¡®Non-Expansion Tax Pact¡¯ with them. I won¡¯t submit the new Level Three Tax Plan, and they won¡¯t bother me. As long as everyone pays their taxes, we can live in peace.¡±


    His tone grew a bit excited, ¡°How about you guys? Have you met the faction contribution requirements? I¡¯ve got thirty-one thousand now.¡±


    ¡°How much?¡±


    ¡°Thirty-one thousand?¡±


    Mantou initially thought he had misheard.


    Singo pretended to be nonchalant, ¡°Increasing Barto City¡¯s tax revenue by 600% in a month, it¡¯s not excessive to have this level of contribution.¡±


    Mantou clicked his tongue in appreciation, ¡°No wonder people want to ambush you. You¡¯re practically stealing food from their mouths.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain said, ¡°I have twelve thousand seven hundred now, but I¡¯m leaning towards becoming a dragon vein sorcerer. However, I find the half-dragon template too ugly, so I¡¯ve switched to becoming a Level Three sorcerer.¡±


    Singo scoffed, ¡°Ha, aesthetics mean nothing compared to strength.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain furrowed her brows in anger.


    Natural War Maniac awkwardly admitted, ¡°I¡¯m a bit afraid of heights, so I¡¯ll just take the semi-dragon gift. I don¡¯t need a flying mount.¡±


    Mantou was surprised: ¡°Dude, you¡¯re afraid of heights?¡±


    Singo couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°How come you weren¡¯t afraid of heights when you were smashing people¡¯s motherships with your battleship cleaver?¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head, laughed, and said, ¡°That was in outer space. Couldn¡¯t see the ground when looking down. But when I fell into low Earth orbit and saw the planet¡¯s surface, it was quite scary.¡±


    Mantou: ¡°¡­¡±


    He was silent for a moment, then said, ¡°My current contribution is twelve thousand five hundred. It should be enough to buy the Red Scaled Token.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s tone was quite excited as well. He had been waiting for this moment for too long.


    Singo took out the invitation he had prepared long ago, with the handwriting still like blazing flames.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s¡ªharvest time!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    ¡­


    The group arrived in a secure secret chamber and used the [Mysterious Invitation].


    It could be said that Singo had foresight, as the price of this invitation in the black market had soared to nearly a hundred gold coins and was mostly in the hands of wealthy guilds. It was almost impossible for ordinary scattered players to obtain it.


    [Confirm using [Mysterious Invitation]!]


    Again, it was the familiar flame portal and the long, narrow, dark corridor. The four were already well-practiced.


    ¡°Got your lines ready?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not going to be as reckless as you, wasting favorability points.¡±


    ¡°That was your fault!¡±


    As the lanterns lit up, the mysterious half-dragon, half-human sorcerer appeared at the end.


    Cassius, adopting an NPC tone, slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m pleased to see you all again, warriors from the unknown realm. Have you completed the tasks I assigned you?¡±


    Singo stepped forward and answered calmly, ¡°Yes, Lord Cassius, we have unveiled the dusty tears of the Tieflings. I believe those hypocrites will get what they deserve.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve done well.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly, and the crowd couldn¡¯t discern the meaning in his golden eyes, so they all agreed repeatedly.


    Mantou whispered, ¡°Hurry and buy stuff, this invitation likely has a time limit.¡±


    Singo snorted, ¡°Do you know nothing about maximizing benefits? Stick to the faction leader, and you can profit more in the next quest.¡±


    Though he said this, he opened the store template anyway.


    ¡°Lord Cassius, I¡¯d like to purchase some equipment.¡±


    ¡°Hunting Longbow, enhances attacks against beast-type creatures, and while aiming, it can mark enemies with a Hunter¡¯s Mark that increases precision and deals continuous extra damage, priced at eighty gold coins.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy it.¡±


    Singo showed a somewhat pained expression but continued anyway.


    ¡°Ring of Flames, adds additional stackable flame damage to your weapon attacks, priced at forty gold coins.¡±


    ¡°Bought.¡±


    Singo clenched his teeth and continued, ¡°Trembling Scale Armor, adds three additional armor points and grants a chance to apply [Trembling Static] to enemies when attacked, priced at¡­ one hundred gold coins.


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy it!¡±


    Singo handed over his bulging money pouch with both hands.


    The jingle from the bag made him wince in pain.


    Cassius accepted the gold coins and casually rummaged through his dimensional bag, pulling out the three pieces of equipment shimmering with a magical aura.


    ¡°They¡¯re yours now.¡±


    Everyone held their breath as they watched. This wasn¡¯t just a magical aura; it was practically the glow of money.


    Mantou, hearing these numbers, was stunned: ¡°Damn, Singo, did you rob a bank?¡±


    ¡°Where did you get so much gold?¡±


    Singo, having obtained the equipment, patted his thin wallet and forced a smile, ¡°This wasn¡¯t that hard to get.¡±


    ¡°Tax Officers receive a commission on additional tax revenue they collect.¡±


    ¡°Here, for you, as compensation for the gear I sold you last time. Including the favorability points debt.¡±


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±


    With a crisp sound, he tossed the [Ring of Flames] across like flipping a coin. Mantou scrambled to catch it, worried that the precious item might get damaged.


    ¡°Altogether, it¡¯s more than two hundred gold coins¡­¡±


    ¡°No wonder the guilds want to hunt you down. You¡¯re not just a Tax Officer; you¡¯re practically robbing people.¡±


    Mantou clicked his tongue in amazement.


    The Ring of Flames was practically divine gear for warriors in the early stages, adding brainless flame damage, usable in both close and long-range combat.


    But handling the ring glowing with fiery light carefully, Mantou thought: ¡°Though Singo has a stinky temper, loves to show off, and never saves face for anyone¡­ he¡¯s barely pleasant to deal with.¡±

 Chapter 87 - 18 Red Scale Path (Part 1)

    Chapter 87: Chapter 18 Red Scale Path (Part 1)


    ¡°Scarlet Scale, 9800 contribution points. After spending, I still have 20,000 left, not bad.¡±


    Mantou was a bit stunned: ¡°Wasn¡¯t it 10780? Why is it cheaper for you by so much?¡±


    Singo said casually: ¡°The price is linked to favorability. Every point decrease in favorability increases the price by 1%, so¡­¡±


    Mantou: ¡­


    Singo said to Cassius: ¡°Lord Cassius, I also want to purchase the ¡®Scarlet Scale¡¯.¡±


    Mantou quickly followed: ¡°Me too.¡±


    ...


    Cassius¡¯s golden eyes watched them and slowly said: ¡°This is the sharp blade under my command. Becoming a Red Scale Conqueror means you will have no other choice but to fight for me.¡±


    ¡°Are you really prepared for this?¡±


    Mantou¡¯s gaze was resolute.


    ¡°I am ready!¡±


    Eighteen days of being a black slave flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, making his determination to become a Red Scale Conqueror even stronger.


    Cassius took out two scarlet-colored scales.


    ¡°Then go and prove your capability to me!¡±


    ¡°I hope you can last till then.¡±


    As Cassius finished speaking, information refreshed on their panels.


    [Advanced Task: ¡®Red Scale Conqueror¡¯ has been activated.]


    [Red Scale Conqueror are a special group of knights who swear allegiance to the master of the Ashen Nest, Red Dragon Cassius. They can patrol the vast territory of the Red Dragon as Ranger Knights, scouting for enemies that may come at any time, whether it be the Kingdom¡¯s army or adventurers attempting to slay the dragon. When war comes, they will also be terrifying conquerors.


    When the Dragon¡¯s Roar echoes from afar, the Red Scale Conquerors will ride giant, fierce dragon vein creatures from the sky, bringing endless flames and complete death to the enemy.]


    [Task 1: Head to Dragon Mountain to find ¡®Red Scale Conqueror Instructor ¨C Alger¡¯.]


    ¡°Alger? Another unknown NPC.¡±


    ¡°And we have to go to Dragon Mountain. Have you read the post by Charlotte, the president of the Magic Coin?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go straight through the gate at the bottom of the city wall, unlike them who got wiped out.¡±


    The four left the mysterious cave, temporarily going separate ways. Natural War Maniac and Summer Night Autumn Rain only needed to wait for the Dragon¡¯s Blood Blessing to succeed, while Mantou and Singo needed to complete a series of advanced tasks.


    They both followed the road built by the retainers to the Rock Fortress.


    The Great Goblin guards stood on the city wall, crossbows in hand aimed at them, and questioned: ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Facing the aggressive inspection, Singo remained calm: ¡°We are retainers from Barto City, here to see Instructor Alger.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the Great Goblins opened the gate and let them in, though their expressions were somewhat mocking, chatting amongst themselves.


    ¡°Do you think these two will succeed?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet, I wager a hundred copper coins.¡±


    ¡°Bet on nothing, Alger¡¯s Red Scale Legion has been going for years, and he¡¯s still the only one. Do you think I¡¯m foolish?¡±


    ¡°Haha, the last hapless guy who went to test directly fell to his death and was even bitten by an ogre. No one has dared to go since then, let alone these two humans.¡±


    Singo and Mantou encountered various monsters in the valley, Lizardfolk, Great Goblins, Kobolds, and even Half-Goat People, asking for directions while walking, finally finding Alger¡¯s residence.


    However, for some reason, upon hearing they were looking for Alger, those monsters¡¯ faces all showed gloating expressions.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, right?¡±


    Mantou pointed to the simple cave.


    ¡°Something¡¯s not right, this Professional Instructor should at least be an important figure. Why is he living so poorly?¡±


    ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s go in and check it out first.¡±


    The two recklessly barged into the cave.


    The warrior inside was sitting on a stone bench sharpening his sword¡ªexcept he did not look human.


    The guy in front of them was about two meters tall, with solid and tough muscles all over, his skin covered with dense scarlet scales. His head was not human-like but vicious like a giant dragon¡¯s head, with striking golden, reptilian slit eyes.


    Behind his head, a crown-like structure made of keratinous scales resembled a messy clump of hair. The hand holding the longsword was not purely human either, looking more like a dragon¡¯s claw, but more flexible.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    He raised his head, his golden slit eyes fixing on the visitors, emitting a chillingly dangerous aura.


    [Red Scale Conqueror ¨C Alger]


    Affiliation: [Ashen Nest]


    Basic Ability: ?


    Challenge Level: ?


    ¡°This is the fourth unknown NPC!¡±


    Mantou exclaimed in a low voice.


    Singo, however, calmly took out his token¡ªthe scarlet scale. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°We are here under the order of Lord Cassius to undertake the Red Scale Conqueror¡¯s advanced task.¡±


    A fleeting moment of surprise flashed in Alger¡¯s golden eyes.


    He had thought it was another overconfident trialist, having seen many over the years, but this time they brought the token, likely the ¡®Talented Ones¡¯ his master mentioned, which made him give a bit of respect.


    Alger also wanted to see what kind of talent could make them become a Flying Knight in such a short time.


    Nevertheless, after scrutinizing them, he found nothing exceptional, not even in strength compared to monsters.


    ¡°Very well, I hope you can¡­ survive.¡±


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    The two players obediently followed Alger.


    Mantou whispered: ¡°Why did he say he hopes we survive? Is this expensive advanced task dangerous?¡±


    Singo snorted: ¡°Don¡¯t rush, you will soon find out.¡±


    They ventured deeper into the valley, passing several forks.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Before they entered, chaotic, loud roars echoed ceaselessly within.


    Finally, they reached the valley filled with fire and heat. They saw its true face.


    High rocky walls were dotted with various sized niches, and numerous Bipedal Wyverns inhabited the valley, flapping their wings, whipping their long tails, opening their foul-smelling maw.


    Some wyverns rested perched in niches, some hovered in mid-air, and some tangled in fights, emitting loud roars.


    Alger crossed his arms and coldly said: ¡°This is Wyvern Valley, where bipedal wyverns raise their young. You need to find your mount here.¡±


    Seeing visitors, those glowing slit eyes in the shadows immediately focused on them.


    Alger¡¯s Red Dragon bloodline was far more noble than the wyverns¡¯, so they still respected him.


    But to Mantou and Singo, the Bipedal Wyverns were rude, some even drooling, wanting to take these two tender-skinned humans as dessert.


    Mantou stared up at the myriad wyverns, dumbfounded.


    ¡°I¡­ damn it¡­¡±

 Chapter 88 - 19 Red Scale Path (Part 2)

    Chapter 88: Chapter 19 Red Scale Path (Part 2)


    Alger said to the two of them, ¡°With me guarding here, they won¡¯t actively attack you, but if you accidentally fall to your death, then you¡¯ll just become food for the wyverns.¡±


    ¡°Good luck.¡±


    This was the entry trial for the [Red Scale Conqueror] set by Cassius. Over the years, at least a hundred retainers had participated in this challenge, yet none succeeded. They either fell to their deaths or fled in panic.


    Mantou was on the verge of tears. ¡°Well, I really must thank you.¡±


    The wyverns flapped their wings wildly in mid-air, screeching, roaring, and growling, gradually closing in.


    To them, as long as they knocked these humans to their deaths, they would have some snacks. This was quite easy for them. They were even somewhat familiar with this already, having devoured several Great Goblins and Tieflings before.


    ...


    Singo looked at the approaching wyverns and said in a low voice, ¡°Mantou, have you chosen yet?¡±


    ¡°Chosen what?¡±


    Mantou was still in a daze.


    Singo pulled a few bundles of lassos from his backpack, throwing one to Mantou, along with a spray can filled with some unknown liquid.


    ¡°Of course, your mount!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Mantou was still shocked by the wyverns surrounding them, but he quickly understood the crazy move and was stunned by it.


    Singo ignored him and continued, ¡°I think that one on the cliff looks good. It¡¯s the largest and strongest one in this area, so don¡¯t you dare steal it from me.¡±


    ¡°Watch closely. I¡¯ll demonstrate only once. I¡¯ve trained this move for a long time, previously tested it in the Great Escort.¡±


    With that, he swiftly threw the lasso, accurately looping it around the neck of a four-meter-long, large wyvern on the cliff, then tightened the rope.


    ¡°Grrr-ooar!¡±


    The bipedal wyvern was suddenly ensnared, momentarily panicked.


    It struggled violently, swinging its neck and letting out a series of screeches. It then frantically flapped its wings, attempting to throw the human off.


    But Singo held the rope tightly, winding the hemp rope around his hand several times. Then, using the wyvern¡¯s struggle and movements, he leapt onto the back of the bipedal wyvern.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    The wyvern went into a frenzy when the human, whom it viewed as weak and insignificant, sat on its back.


    Its neck twisted back and forth, wings wildly flapping, its large body accelerating, stopping abruptly, spinning, and even crashing its back into the cliff intentionally.


    But Singo¡¯s arms held on tightly around its neck, refusing to let go no matter how it struggled.


    He even managed to free one hand to take the spray can and sprayed it on the wyvern¡¯s head, not forgetting to educate in mid-air: ¡°This can contains female wyvern hormones; it can calm their emotions and nerves!¡±


    However, contending with the wyvern drained Singo significantly.


    After several clashes, he eventually ran out of strength. He had to find an opportunity during the wyvern¡¯s low flight and dive, leap off, and roll several times on the ground to cushion the fall.


    The wyvern saw this and tried to seize the chance to attack, letting out a roar.


    But Singo quickly got up, drank a Vitality Potion, and continued to confront the wyvern head-on, looking for another chance to climb back onto its back.


    ¡°Still not there yet. I guess we¡¯ll be stuck here all day.¡±


    Singo grinned excitedly, breathing heavily as he said, ¡°This thing is really tough, but fortunately, every time I get back on, the system shows my proficiencies increasing.¡±


    ¡°If we repeat this a few more times, we might max out our Riding Skill proficiencies.¡±


    Mantou was speechless, only able to exclaim:


    ¡°You really are a beast.¡±


    But then Mantou thought about his dream of soaring in the sky, remembering his eighteen days of hard work. He was just one step away from the goal. How could he retreat now?


    He gritted his teeth with determination.


    Looking at the wyverns, Mantou threw his lasso with all his might. By a stroke of luck, he hit the mark on the first try, snaring a three-meter-long, aggressive bipedal wyvern. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The wyvern struggled wildly and took off into the air.


    However, Mantou didn¡¯t manage to mount its back and was instead dragged along, flailing in the air.


    ¡°Ahhhh¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to die, I¡¯m going to die¡ªSingo, help me!¡±


    His desperate cries echoed through the valley.


    Singo watched Mantou being flung around, dizzy and disoriented, and mocked, ¡°Pathetic, you need more practice.¡±


    He drew his Hunter¡¯s Longbow and took aim.


    ¡°Whiz¡ª¡±


    An arrow flew out, severing the lasso rope, causing Mantou to plummet to the ground and crash face down.


    ¡°Singo, is this how you save people?¡±


    With his face in the dirt, Mantou teared up, drinking a Healing Potion silently.


    Meanwhile, Singo caught up to the wyvern he had been fighting earlier and engaged in a second round of struggle.


    Thus, in the Wyvern Valley, the two players engaged in vigorous skirmishes with the bipedal wyverns. The wyverns repeatedly threw them off, but they climbed back on time and again, growing increasingly skilled and staying on the wyverns¡¯ backs for longer periods.


    Eventually, they could even control the wyverns¡¯ direction with their movements and maintain balance with just their legs, avoiding falling off.


    By now, the wyvern had become impatient, flying a hundred meters high and circling, trying to throw off the human on its back to their death.


    But Singo stayed composed, using the Featherfall Technique scroll he had prepared, gently descending to the ground, much to the wyvern¡¯s sputtering frustration.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The wyvern let out a hoarse, helpless roar.


    [Your skill experience has reached the requirement]


    [Your proficiency in the project [Riding Skill] has increased to +3]


    Singo landed lightly and said to Mantou, who had just dismounted from the wyvern, ¡°This round felt great. My Riding Skill proficiency is now +3. How about you?¡±


    Mantou, supporting himself with his knees, panted heavily, ¡°Now +2. The weightlessness is making me want to puke. I wonder if there¡¯s a vomiting mechanic here¡­¡±


    Singo snorted, ¡°That¡¯s just because you¡¯re lousy. How can someone who gets dragon-sick become a knight?¡±


    Mantou retorted, ¡°Do you think everyone is a beast like you? If you call War Maniac Bro here, he might actually puke everywhere.¡±


    Alger watched as the two breathless humans improved their riding skills visibly. His golden eyes showed a rare trace of astonishment.


    ¡°These so-called ¡®Talented Ones¡¯ might really become Wyvern Knights in a short time.¡±


    ¡°Truly¡­ unbelievable.¡±


    His years of training experience were utterly shattered.


    These wyverns were much more volatile monsters than the giant eagles. Controlling them was as challenging as climbing the sky.


    Probably, even among the 300 people in the previous Northwind Eagle Guard who had undergone ten years of training, only a few elites like him could achieve this.


    And these two humans¡­


    Their talent even made Alger question life a little.

 Chapter 89 - 20 Red Scale Path (3)

    Chapter 89: Chapter 20 Red Scale Path (3)


    The last rays of the sunset could no longer reach into the valley, filling Wyvern Valley with shadows. The wyverns flew in the darkness, emitting noisy screeches.


    Mantou¡¯s actions grew more skilled, almost becoming muscle memory. He climbed the steep rock walls and quickly found the wyvern, which was already close to exhaustion, again.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The wyvern, upon seeing the troublesome human coming again, let out a strained screech and flapped its wings, preparing to leave. But it was too fatigued to take off properly.


    ¡°You think you can still run?¡±


    ¡°Hehehe, stop struggling. Just let me ride you already.¡±


    ...


    Mantou¡¯s face showed a lewd smile as the lasso in his hand, like an automatic tracker, precisely looped around the wyvern¡¯s long neck.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    This time, the wyvern didn¡¯t expend much energy struggling, only letting out a wail as Mantou tightened the lasso and easily mounted its back.


    Were it not for the scales protecting its neck, blood might have been drawn by the lasso.


    ¡°Good, good, good.¡±


    ¡°Another day of riding a wyvern.¡±


    Mantou patted the side of the wyvern¡¯s neck and then took out a spray, giving its head a generous misting.


    The wyvern slowly spread its wings, trying to glide in the air, but soon could no longer support itself and crashed to the ground.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The wyvern used its last bit of strength to lift its head high and let out a long howl before bowing its head, ceasing its futile struggle.


    The human on its back filled the young wyvern, still in its growth phase, with despair. For three whole days, this human had been trying to ride on its back, stubbornly getting back up no matter how many times he was thrown off.


    There was even once when the human fell from a height of a hundred meters, crashing into the ground and turning into a bloody mess, and the wyvern thought it was finally free from this torment.


    But within half a day, the human returned to the valley unscathed and energetic, once again trying to lasso and ride it.


    This made the wyvern question its existence as a dragon.


    ¡°Holy crap, I did it!¡±


    Mantou¡¯s face was full of joy and immense satisfaction as the wyvern bowed its head. He had been trying day and night for three days and had finally succeeded.


    He tried to pet the wyvern¡¯s head, and this time it didn¡¯t bite or screech, instead, it lay still, displaying a resigned posture.


    Maybe it was fed up, or maybe it had genuinely surrendered.


    Mantou felt the texture of the wyvern¡¯s scales, sensed its pulse and breathing, and felt a great sense of triumph and relief.


    He looked at the wyvern, lying exhausted with its eyes closed, and said to it:


    ¡°Do I need to give you a name too¡­?¡±


    ¡°Darling?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s a bit vulgar, and you seem to be male.¡±


    ¡°Big Dragon? That sounds too rough.¡±


    ¡°Since I¡¯m called Mantou, how about I call you¡­ Noodle, seeing as your neck is so long and slender?¡±


    Mantou cheerfully patted the wyvern on the top of its head.


    ¡°Noodle!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    The wyvern lifted its head slightly and gave a weak response. It seemed both fed up and resigned; these two feelings were not mutually exclusive.


    ¡°Mantou, what kind of name is that!¡±


    Xin Dog landed nearby on his wyvern.


    He had already tamed his wyvern by the second day. According to him, he used draconic language learned from the kobolds to communicate with it, which Mantou doubted.


    Mantou protested: ¡°Noodle, what a meaningful name! Look at the crappy name you came up with.¡±


    Xin Dog proudly said: ¡°My mount is called Wyvern, pure and simple. What¡¯s wrong with that? Look at Ash, he didn¡¯t come up with some weird name for Pikachu, did he?¡±


    Mantou cursed: ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses for your poor naming skills, Xin Dog.¡±


    Ignoring him, Xin Dog addressed Alger, who was overseeing them from nearby: ¡°Instructor Alger, we¡¯ve completed the trial. Can we advance now?¡±


    Mantou, feeling the wyvern¡¯s neck, exclaimed: ¡°Red Scale Conqueror, activate!¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You two are truly¡­ unexpected.¡±


    Usually quiet, Alger couldn¡¯t help but marvel at this rare talent, which defied common sense.


    ¡°Eagle!¡±


    Alger softly called out.


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, with a wingspan nearing ten meters, cast a large shadow as it descended from the sky, drawing envious glances from the two.


    Alger skillfully mounted the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle without needing to command it as it spread its wings and took off.


    He said without looking back:


    ¡°Follow me. I will take you to meet the master and complete the advancement ceremony.¡±


    Xin Dog followed closely on his wyvern.


    ¡°Wyvern, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The wyvern seemed excited for what was to come, raising its head and letting out a long screech before flapping its wings to follow.


    This was the argument Xin Dog used to make the wyvern submit: becoming a Red Scale Conqueror would allow it to receive a precious bloodline gift and gain strength comparable to their leader¡¯s.


    But at this critical moment, Mantou¡¯s ¡°Noodle¡± faltered. It could only weakly lift its wings, indicating it was too tired to fly.


    Mantou patted Noodle¡¯s side neck, almost tearfully, suspecting it of deliberate revenge:


    ¡°Come on, Noodle, you need to get up.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t fly, we¡¯ll be left behind!¡±


    ¡°Noodle¡± seemed to grow annoyed by the shouting and let out a low roar.


    With great effort, it flapped its wings and finally lifted off the ground, flying unsteadily and causing Mantou to feel constantly jostled on its back. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, the other two had already widened the distance.


    ¡°Wait for me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you consider a newbie starting out¡ª¡±


    Mantou, riding on the wobbling wyvern, shouted from afar.


    Their commotion caught the attention of many retainers, especially when they saw the human on the wyvern¡¯s back, which seemed incredible, like seeing a ghost,


    At Rock Fortress, a goblin guard patted his colleague¡¯s shoulder, pointing to the sky.


    ¡°Look!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a wyvern¡ªbut wait, there¡¯s a human riding it!¡±


    ¡°They¡­ they really succeeded?¡±


    The goblin guard spread his palms towards his colleague: ¡°I won, one hundred copper coins.¡±


    The other goblin guard cursed: ¡°Were there bets being made? You just want my money, get lost!¡±


    But then, the guard watched the humans riding the wyverns with envy and muttered: ¡°These two humans are going to soar to great heights¡­¡±


    ¡°Who could have guessed? Captain Dolores even sent six trusted men for the trial, and four died while two fled, getting mocked by Director Ramp for a long time.¡±


    ¡°I never thought these raging beasts could be ridden.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I thought their heads were filled with slime.¡±

 Chapter 90 - 21 Red Scale Path (Part 4)

    Chapter 90: Chapter 21 Red Scale Path (Part 4)


    Alger led the two to the entrance of the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave. Singo elegantly landed astride his wyvern, while Mantou lagged behind.


    ¡°This is it. I will take you to meet the master.¡±


    They walked into the cavern, feeling the heat and noticing the scent of sulfur and floatstone all around, like an impending volcanic eruption. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mantou shuddered: ¡°Is there another trial waiting for us?¡±


    Singo remained calm: ¡°No, I guess this might be the residence of our faction leader¡ªthe Red Dragon. Did you notice the strange smell and unusual temperature?¡±


    ¡°According to the information I have, dragons can even alter their surrounding environment.¡±


    ...


    Mantou clicked his tongue in admiration: ¡°If this becomes a boss, it¡¯d definitely be a world boss, killing a whole lot of people.¡±


    Mantou had no idea that his guess was accurate.


    They continued along the narrow rock tunnel.


    Soon, the path ahead opened up, and the two saw the master of this place¡ªthe Red Dragon.


    A massive sixteen-meter-long body with burly, knotted muscles covered in hard, dark red scales with a metallic sheen met their eyes.


    Gold vertical pupils on the fierce, massive head exuded power, gleaming with a lava-like glow. The two swept-back, thick, bone-white horns on the head looked like a crown.


    The Red Dragon lay in the center of the cave, its enormous mountainous body rising and falling with each breath. White smoke occasionally rose from its body, and just looking at it made one feel its heat, like a volcano about to erupt.


    This was their first time seeing the true form of their faction leader.


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but exclaim: ¡°Holy¡­¡±


    After a long pause, with his limited vocabulary, he could only add, ¡°So damn big!¡±


    The two half-grown wyverns beside them were so intimidated by the powerful bloodline pressure that they crouched low to the warm ground, making gurgling sounds from deep within their throats, unmoved by Mantou¡¯s attempts to get them to lift their heads.


    Seeing guests arrive, Cassius slowly stood up, his golden vertical pupils looking down at them from seven or eight meters high.


    ¡°We meet again, Starfallen.¡±


    ¡°Are you¡ªready?¡±


    Alger knelt on one knee, head bowed, and reported: ¡°Master, they have completed the trials you set for them.¡±


    Cassius narrowed his eyes and lowered his head slightly: ¡°Good, this is beyond my expectations.¡±


    As he spoke, the two almost felt the sulfur-tinged heat blowing against their faces. The sheer presence of the giant creature in front of them made them a bit anxious.


    The Red Dragon continued, ¡°The Red Scale Conquerors will be my sharp blades, and from now on, you will shed this weak, powerless human shell and become the most loyal claws and fangs of the Ashen Nest.¡±


    Mantou muttered under his breath: ¡°What a pity for my handsome face, to be ruined like this.¡±


    Singo hissed quietly: ¡°Do you want to lose favorability points? Just shut up if you don¡¯t.¡±


    Cassius paid them no mind and simply said:


    ¡°Alger, prepare to begin.¡±


    The Half-Dragon Knight stepped forward, reading the prepared oath aloud: ¡°In the presence of the Lord of Ashes, the Great Red Dragon Cassius, do you swear loyalty, dedicating your life to being the faithful claws and fangs of the Ashen Nest, regardless of good or evil, right or wrong, using your flames to conquer everything for your master?¡±


    ¡°Do you swear to become Red Scale Conquerors?¡±


    The task information on the panel refreshed.


    [Do you accept the faction sub-occupation (Red Scale Conqueror)? If yes, please follow the ritual.]


    [Note: Once you select the faction sub-occupation, you will be locked to the faction and cannot change it freely.]


    A string of oaths appeared below the panel.


    ¡°I, Mantou (Singo), swear loyalty to my master Cassius Klaubow, Noricus, with unwavering devotion, to be the vanguard of the king, burning enemies to ashes, conquering all.¡±


    The two players knelt on one knee, speaking in unison.


    ¡°Very well, follow me.¡±


    Alger blindfolded them with crimson cloth and led them and their bipedal wyverns deeper into the cave, arriving at a hidden grotto.


    ¡°Bloodline Gift¡ª¡±


    ¡°Semi-Dragon Form.¡±


    Cassius silently chanted, and several drops of scalding dragon blood floated in the air, then merged into the bodies of the two players.


    The dragon blood touched their fragile flesh, instantly making a sizzling sound, even emitting white smoke.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    The scalding blood entered his mouth, and Mantou couldn¡¯t help but scream in pain, frantically rolling on the ground.


    ¡°What the hell, even with the pain threshold set to 5%, it still hurts this much?¡±


    ¡°I need to turn off the pain!¡±


    Singo also found his breathing quickening, his entire body turning red.


    White steam burst from his pores, spreading all around.


    Under their skin, the bones at their elbows, knees, and spine crazily extended, piercing through the skin and clothes, turning into sharp bone barbs.


    Red scales grew at a visible speed, spreading all over their bodies, chest, arms, and even faces, tearing through the skin.


    Their previously human-looking faces, created by scanning reality, were now altered by dragon-like bones and scales, showing only traces of their former selves, now resembling fierce dragon heads.


    Though the pain system shut down in time, Mantou was still frightened. His panel kept updating information.


    [Acquiring data¡­]


    [You have obtained a special race template (Half-Red Dragon)]


    [Note: This race template is permanent and will be used upon revival.]


    [Your attributes have significantly increased, and you have gained natural armor, flame breath, and other half-red dragon abilities¡­]


    Blindfolded and still undergoing transformation, Mantou watched the information refresh on the panel, feeling an exhilarating sensation. If he could control his body to speak, he would have shouted ¡°Badass!¡±


    Beside him, his bipedal wyvern, Noodle, was also transforming, screeching and struggling. Its red scales grew harder, its slender body stronger, and its frame larger.


    In its flesh, new capillaries formed, and its blood emitted scorching elemental power.


    Furthermore, an even more unknown transformation was unfolding¡­


    [Data conversion in progress¡­]


    [Data conversion complete!]


    [Verifying parameters¡­]


    [Parameters verified!]


    [Detected bipedal wyvern ¡°Noodle¡± as your special subclass mount. It will be considered part of the player¡¯s occupation system. Therefore, when the mount dies, you can revive it through an ancient magic circle, but it will require equivalent value items.]


    ¡°Mounts can be revived?¡±


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    ¡°This occupation¡ªis invincible!¡±


    Mantou, browsing the panel information in the darkness, couldn¡¯t help but marvel inwardly.

 Chapter 91 - 22 Red Scale Path (End)

    Chapter 91: Chapter 22 Red Scale Path (End)


    [You have completed the advanced task [Red Scale Path]]


    [You have advanced to the Warrior¡¯s Ashen Nest faction subclass [Red Scale Conqueror]! When the Dragon¡¯s Roar is heard from afar, the Red Scale Conquerors will ride the fierce and vast Dragon Vein Creatures from the sky, bringing endless flames and utter destruction to their enemies.]


    [You have gained traits: [Born to Ride][Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge]]


    Mantou slowly opened his eyes, feeling that his body had become much stronger, and his senses like vision and hearing had become sharper.


    ¡°I am so damn strong¡ª¡±


    Mantou looked down at his hands, covered in scales and tipped with sharp claws, and marveled to himself.


    ...


    Looking to his side, he saw a familiar-looking ¡°Dragonfolk,¡± whose head had fully transformed into a dragon¡¯s shape, but hints of his former self could still be seen in his brow and eyes.


    ¡°Xin Dog, you look kind of ugly like this.¡±


    Xin Dog, while shaking his new body and adapting to the change, snorted disdainfully and said, ¡°And you don¡¯t look like a freak yourself.¡±


    He paused, raising his horned eyebrows slightly.


    ¡°By the way, I suggest you check your attribute panel. You might be in for a surprise.¡±


    Mantou retorted in displeasure, ¡°Even in dragon form, nothing can hide my soul¡¯s innate handsomeness.¡±


    Though he said this, he obediently opened his panel.


    [I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou]


    Strength¡ª14


    Agility¡ª12


    Constitution¡ª13


    Intelligence¡ª12


    Perception¡ª10


    Charisma¡ª11


    Initially, he looked at those significantly improved stats with pride, until he noticed the charisma column.


    ¡°Why has my charisma increased even though I look like this?!¡±


    Mantou let out a heartfelt wail.


    He couldn¡¯t believe it. This ugly, scale-covered dragon face was rated higher by the system than his originally handsome and charming one. He couldn¡¯t accept it!


    Xin Dog cast a gloating glance at him before explaining, ¡°Actually, charisma isn¡¯t just about appearance. Do you really think those magicians cast spells with their looks?¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°According to our intelligence group, charisma is more about things like aura and influence. The most charismatic individuals can even bend reality with their will.¡±


    Mantou breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°I thought it was just my¡­¡±


    But before he could finish, Xin Dog mercilessly continued, ¡°In the ordinary human stage system scan, looks probably play a big part.¡±


    Mantou: ¡°¡­¡±


    Xin Dog then struck another blow: ¡°As an extra note, my initial charisma was 12, Autumn Rain¡¯s was 14, and even War Maniac Bro had 11. You didn¡¯t have less than 10, did you?


    ¡°No way, no way.¡±


    Mantou just wanted to calm down and not continue this topic.


    ¡°Noodle, although you can¡¯t talk, at least you don¡¯t mock me.¡±


    He patted ¡°Noodle¡± on the neck, his expression sorrowful, seeking some solace.


    Since the ceremony, Mantou had unlocked the [Born to Ride] trait, feeling a deep bond with this Bipedal Wyvern, who also felt a bloodline connection from this once-disliked human. The relationship between man and dragon had become much closer.


    This Bipedal Wyvern had grown to nearly five meters long. While its neck was still as slender as a noodle, its muscles had become much more robust, covered in tough scarlet scales, and it could even breathe fire, resembling a miniature Red Dragon.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, it¡¯s so cool, way better than any Ferrari or Lamborghini.¡±


    Mantou marveled at the sensation of the scales.


    Noodle, excited by his newfound strength, couldn¡¯t help but swing his hefty tail, even breathing a spurt of fire.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    It seemed he couldn¡¯t control this power well yet.


    Mantou¡¯s dragon face was blackened by the flames. Though the Red Dragon bloodline made him immune to such fire, he fell into complete silence.


    Noodle slightly retracted his neck, lowered his body, and looked at Mantou with innocent eyes.


    Mantou: ¡°¡­¡±


    Xin Dog couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Stop wasting time here. Autumn Rain and War Maniac Bro are waiting for us to gather.¡±


    Before he finished speaking, Xin Dog effortlessly mounted his wyvern and took off. The seamless coordination made it look like they had been fighting partners for years.


    ¡°Got it, got it.¡±


    Mantou also mounted his wyvern and followed closely.


    Shrill cries of excitement resounded through the sky as the two Wyvern Knights headed for Barto City.


    ¡­


    Barto City, Central Plaza.


    Two Bipedal Wyverns circled in the sky, slowly descending.


    ¡°Damn, you guys see that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just two Bipedal Wyverns. What¡¯s the big deal?¡±


    ¡°You must be a newbie. I¡¯ve seen a ten-meter-long wyvern before.¡±


    ¡°No, look at their backs.¡±


    ¡°Is that¡­people?¡±


    The two wyverns circled a few times, letting out a series of screeches, descending to seven or eight meters above the ground, then landing with a crash, dust rising in the plaza.


    Mantou and Xin Dog took a moment to strike a cool pose, one wyvern roaring at the sky and the other spreading its wings, and then they dismounted proudly.


    ¡°They have player names!¡±


    ¡°Damn! It¡¯s Mantou and Xin Dog. They¡¯ve advanced successfully! Red Scale Conquerors!¡±


    ¡°Why do they look like Dragonkin?¡±


    ¡°So cool!¡±


    ¡°Damn, seeing their success hurts more than my own failure.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain and Natural War Maniac had waited long and came up to congratulate them.


    Natural War Maniac chuckled, ¡°You guys look so badass.¡±


    Having bought the Semi-Dragon Form boon with his contributions, he too had taken on a semi-dragon shape. Though his head was covered in scales, it still appeared smooth. However, touching his bald head often left scratches from his claws.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain said with relief, ¡°Good thing I didn¡¯t choose Semi-Dragon Form, or I¡¯d look just as ugly as you guys.¡±


    She was satisfied with her result. As she advanced to the Dragon Vein Sorcerer subclass, she gained the magical powers of a Red Dragon. As a result, she only had faint scale marks on her cheeks, developed delicate little horns on her forehead, and her pupils turned into golden slits. Her refined features hadn¡¯t changed much, these alterations adding to her noble aura.


    Xin Dog said seriously, ¡°Let¡¯s tally up our gains. I¡¯ll go back to refining the strategy, Mantou, make the video.¡±


    The remaining three nodded, ¡°Got it.¡±


    That night, a guide post titled ¡°How to Become a Qualified Dragon Knight?¡± sparked a hot discussion on the player forum.


    It specifically mentioned buying Xin Dog¡¯s exclusive ¡°Wyvern Lasso¡± and ¡°Sedative Hormones¡± as keys to success, though the price was a bit steep.


    The second issue of ¡°Elzegai Diary¡± was also released smoothly.


    Fans eagerly clicked it, the first thing they saw was a fierce dragon face.


    ¡°First!¡±


    ¡°The missing person returns.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this? A monster?¡±


    The dragon face¡¯s opening lines came from a familiar, humorous voice: ¡°Welcome to the second issue of Elzegai Diary, I¡¯m Mantou.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, it¡¯s Mantou!¡±


    ¡°How did he turn into a Dragonfolk? It has a kind of intense beauty.¡±


    ¡°Mantou looks more handsome now!¡±


    ¡­


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 Chapter 92 - 23 Hill Giant

    Chapter 92: Chapter 23 Hill Giant


    ¡°I will eat you all!¡±


    A fervent roar echoed from the slope.


    The towering figure, over five meters tall, with rough, brown skin, wielding a large tree as a weapon¡ªstill smeared with soil¡ªdraped in crudely stitched animal furs, sweat dripping onto the putrid hide, emitting a strong stench¡ªthat was a Hill Giant.


    Hill Giants were selfish and dull-witted savages, often residing in hills and valleys and gathering in woodland camps or shanties.


    They hunted, foraged, and pillaged everything in their path to gain more food. Prone to hunt prey over hills and forests with all their might, bullying the weak. If not for their massive frames and unending strength, the lazy and slow-minded Hill Giants would have likely gone extinct long ago.


    But now, it seemed food had delivered itself to their door.


    ...


    The Hill Giant licked its lips, foul-smelling saliva dripping from its mouth.


    Ever since that unusually large Ogre led a pack of monsters to drive the Hill Giants out of the valley, they had been wandering the outskirts of Stormy Ridge, scavenging rotten food or devouring passing humans.


    This greedy Hill Giant hadn¡¯t had a full meal in a long time; now clearly appeared to be a golden opportunity.


    [Based on your capabilities, you can observe the following information.]


    [Greedy Hill Giant]


    Huge Giant, Chaotic Evil


    AC:13 (natural armor)


    HP:105


    Strength¡ª21


    Agility¡ª8


    Constitution¡ª19


    Intelligence¡ª5


    Perception¡ª9


    Charisma¡ª6


    Senses: Passive Perception 12


    Actions: Multi-Attack, Great Club Attack, Throw Rock, Bite


    Challenge Level: 5 (1,800 XP)


    Mantou sighed: ¡°This creature seems strong. Can we really defeat it?¡±


    Singo scoffed: ¡°Afraid of what? With our setup, just basic attacks can crush it. We¡¯re here to level you up. If you were at Fourth Level, believe it or not, it¡¯d already be dead.¡±


    ¡°Alright, just don¡¯t get us wiped out later.¡±


    At the bottom of the hill stood the ¡°Dragon Vein Quartet.¡± Their team¡¯s strength had significantly increased, leading them to take on the highest-difficulty quest: [Defeat the Hill Giant Wrecking the Farm]. The official recommended challenge level for this quest stood at Level Five.


    It¡¯s worth noting that even professional gamers like Singo had barely reached Fourth Level, a result of relentless effort day and night, with most players stuck at Levels One or Two.


    Watching the Hill Giant charge down the slope with a large tree in hand, Singo remained unfazed: ¡°War Maniac Bro, you and Autumn Rain keep it busy here. Mantou and I will launch an aerial attack.¡±


    Natural War Maniac nodded simply: ¡°Got it.¡±


    Then Singo and Mantou mounted their rides, steering their Bipedal Wyverns into the air.


    Natural War Maniac advanced to meet the enemy head-on. Facing this larger-than-life foe, he felt no fear. After all, he had once slain even interstellar beasts. This Giant was nothing in his eyes.


    He had chosen the Barbarian¡¯s Path of the Berserker.


    For Barbarians, frenzy was a way to reach the extreme¡ªviolence at its peak. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Path of the Berserker was a route chasing blood and unbridled rage. When players entered the Berserker¡¯s frenzy, they would shiver in the chaotic thrill of battle, abandoning any concern for their safety.


    ¡°Aaaaahhhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    Natural War Maniac roared to the sky, activating his frenzy.


    Immediately, his eyes turned blood-red, muscles bulging exaggeratedly, veins popping out, his entire body emanating an aura of bloodlust.


    In a frenzy, Natural War Maniac charged up to the Hill Giant, leaping high into the air, raising his Great Axe.


    ¡°Frenzied Strike!¡±


    The Great Axe sliced through the air with potent force, cleaving downwards.


    Given the Hill Giant¡¯s massive frame, the axe barely reached its chest.


    Even the Hill Giant was startled by this ferocious ¡°Little One,¡± but soon realized it had been frightened by this small creature, who clearly wasn¡¯t afraid of it. A gnarly look of rage crossed its ugly face.


    ¡°I, I will smash you into pulp!¡±


    The Hill Giant used the large tree to block the axe and, with all its might, swung it, sending Natural War Maniac and the Great Axe flying backward.


    Natural War Maniac hit the ground hard, with his battle-axe embedded into the earth beside him.


    Yet, having been knocked back, he showed no sign of retreating. In his blood-red eyes, there was a glint of joy and craze at the encounter with such a strong enemy.


    ¡°Aaaaahhhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    Natural War Maniac wrenched out the deeply buried axe and charged again with eyes aflame.


    ¡°Wait for me¡ª¡ª¡±


    A crisp female voice came from behind, yet Natural War Maniac ignored it and continued his assault.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain sighed with a hand on her forehead. The Berserker occupation was great for offense and defense, but once in a frenzy, they wouldn¡¯t listen to anything and would only charge forward.


    Luckily, she caught up and cast a Spell on Natural War Maniac.


    [Enlarge Spell]


    Natural War Maniac¡¯s size rapidly increased, growing from nearly two meters tall to almost four meters. Both his weapon and beast-skin clothing expanded accordingly, making him almost as large as the Hill Giant.


    Feeling the heightened perspective, Natural War Maniac laughed loudly and leapt once more, aiming now for the head instead of the chest.


    The dim-witted Hill Giant could not grasp magic but realized that the ¡°Little One¡± had grown larger and posed a threat.


    So, with an enraged roar, the Hill Giant swung its arms with all its might to smash down.

 Chapter 93 - 23 Hill Giant_2

    Chapter 93: Chapter 23 Hill Giant_2


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The dull edge of the great axe and the large tree collided, trembling slightly, as Natural War Maniac hit the ground with a roar.


    But the Hill Giant still held an absolute strength advantage, pressing down the great axe along with Natural War Maniac¡¯s body bit by bit.


    ¡°Agnasa¡¯s Fire-Breathing Technique!¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s lips parted slightly, releasing a stream of blazing fire, directly striking the Hill Giant¡¯s massive body while it was immobile.


    The Hill Giant¡¯s right shoulder was scorched black, causing it to open its foul-smelling giant mouth in a painful wail, its grip on the tree loosening slightly.


    ... sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This slight relaxation gave Natural War Maniac the opportunity he needed.


    He knocked the tree from the Hill Giant¡¯s hand with one blow, and his more-than-three-meter-long great axe swung down heavily at the Hill Giant¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Swish!¡±


    The great axe cleaved through the already scorched right shoulder, severing the arm completely.


    The massive right arm tumbled to the ground.


    Warm, sticky blood splattered onto Natural War Maniac¡¯s face, but instead of being repulsed, he showed even more excitement.


    ¡°Aaaah¡ªI¡¯m going to kill you!¡±


    The Giant threw back its head in a painful howl, losing control due to the loss of its right arm and becoming frenzied.


    Grabbing the great axe embedded in its flesh, it tossed it over ten meters away, then charged at Natural War Maniac for the most primal and brutal close combat.


    The two ¡°Giants¡± wrestled and grappled, using knees, fists, heads, and even teeth.


    From the sky, Xin Dog looked down on the battlefield and said to Mantou, ¡°I told you, if you don¡¯t act soon, that Hill Giant will be beaten to death by War Maniac Bro. Once he¡¯s in Frenzy, he never listens to anyone, just enjoys the fight.¡±


    Mantou watched the blood-soaked, ravenous Natural War Maniac with admiration, ¡°Damn, War Maniac Bro is truly fierce¡­¡±


    Xin Dog was straightforward: ¡°Stop talking shit and get ready for the charge.¡±


    Mantou replied, ¡°Got it.¡±


    He then skillfully maneuvered the Wyvern, preparing for a dive.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    A series of Wyvern roars echoed from the sky.


    The Hill Giant, still pounding Natural War Maniac into the ground, ignored the strange sound and continued to vent its rage over the lost arm.


    Even with his enlarged body, Natural War Maniac¡¯s strength couldn¡¯t match the Hill Giant¡¯s. His Frenzy had ended, leaving him exhausted.


    Facing a higher Challenge Level monster alone was difficult even for a Professional Gamer like him.


    Moreover, he had a backup plan.


    Defeating the Hill Giant wasn¡¯t his ultimate goal.


    Bruised and battered, Natural War Maniac looked up and saw the Wyvern in the sky, and a grim smile spread across his face.


    The Wyvern dived, and Xin Dog drew his bow.


    A purple, complex rune appeared on the Hill Giant¡¯s arm, a Hunter¡¯s Mark.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    A sharp arrow pierced through the Hunter¡¯s Mark on the Hill Giant¡¯s left arm, the bloodied arrowhead emerging from the other side.


    Influenced by the purple rune, a tremendous amount of blood gushed from the Hill Giant¡¯s wound.


    ¡°Who is it!¡±


    The frenzied Hill Giant, attacked from behind, threw back its head in a furious roar, twisting around to lock its blood-red eyes on the airborne Wyvern Knight.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    The Hill Giant picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it at Xin Dog with immense force, sending the massive stone flying towards the enemy in the sky.


    However, Xin Dog skillfully maneuvered the Wyvern, performing a barrel roll to avoid the close call.


    The stone drew a graceful arc in the air before plummeting to the ground.


    Xin Dog shouted, ¡°Mantou!¡±


    Xin Dog¡¯s attack was just a feint!


    The real killing move was behind!


    Overexerted, the Hill Giant remained in the posture of throwing the stone, while a loud Dragon¡¯s Roar came from behind.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Mantou dived at high speed from behind the Hill Giant, the bipedal Wyvern folding its wings tightly.


    He leaned forward slightly, gripping his six-meter-long lance tightly, feeling the wind howling past his ears.


    His heart pounded with excitement as he descended quickly.


    ¡°Your life is mine!¡±


    Mantou yelled.


    [Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge] activated, the lance plunged into the Hill Giant¡¯s massive occiput.


    Under the powerful momentum of the Wyvern Knight¡¯s dive, the immense force transferred to the lance tip, even covered in scarlet Dragon Spirit Light.


    In an instant, blood splattered.


    The lance pierced through the Hill Giant¡¯s tough skin, its hard skull, and its filthy flesh, emerging from its gaping, ferocious mouth.


    The Hill Giant¡¯s roar ceased abruptly, its massive body collapsing to the ground.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Mantou gracefully let go of the lance.


    His bipedal Wyvern, ¡°Noodle,¡± suddenly spread its wings, slowing down and rapidly ascending with the air current again.


    The panel refreshed with information.


    [You have slain the [Greedy Hill Giant], gaining 1800xp]


    [Your occupational level has increased to the Fourth Level]


    Mantou¡¯s heart raced with excitement, and he declared, ¡°The wine is still warm, and I¡¯ve already taken the enemy general¡¯s head.¡±


    He circled a few times in the air before landing.


    Mantou arrogantly asked, ¡°Xin Dog, wasn¡¯t that cool?¡±


    Xin Dog poured cold water on him, ¡°If you weren¡¯t such a noob, still not at Fourth Level, I would¡¯ve aimed for the head with that arrow, and War Maniac Bro would¡¯ve chopped at the neck.¡±


    Mantou instantly felt crestfallen.


    Natural War Maniac climbed up, rubbing his bald head, ¡°That monster¡¯s strength is really immense. I think I couldn¡¯t take him one-on-one.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain, looking at the ravaged ground, nodded with lingering fear. Her constitution wasn¡¯t high, and a hit from the Hill Giant would mean death.


    But soon, she questioned, ¡°Xin Dog, what¡­ what are you doing?¡±


    They saw him embracing the Hill Giant¡¯s foul-smelling arm as if it were a treasure, even sniffing it with a longing to take a bite.


    Xin Dog replied matter-of-factly, ¡°This is good stuff! Hill Giant fingers can be made into Hill Giant Spirit Medicine to boost strength to 21 points.¡±


    ¡°Twenty-one points? That¡¯s amazing!¡±


    Natural War Maniac became interested, joining Xin Dog in examining the stinky Giant corpse without any disgust.


    Even the Wyvern hovering above curiously landed beside them, though not for research.


    ¡°Hey, hey, Wyvern, don¡¯t take a bite! It¡¯ll be wasted on you!¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain: ¡°¡­¡±


    After they finished cleaning up, the ground was a mess, and Xin Dog¡¯s backpack bulged with excitement, it seemed he had a fruitful hunt.


    However, the intense stench emanating from him, as if he hadn¡¯t showered in years, made Summer Night Autumn Rain quietly step back.


    Xin Dog mysteriously said, ¡°Do you know what the next main quest is?¡±


    Mantou cursed, ¡°Xin Dog, stop talking nonsense and just say it.¡±


    Xin Dog slowly uttered two words:


    ¡°War.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain asked curiously, ¡°How do you know?¡±


    Xin Dog explained, ¡°I stayed in the Dragon Valley of Ashen Nest for three days. Unlike Mantou, who only focuses on completing tasks like a noob, I noticed the situation in the valley.¡±


    He paused, then continued, ¡°Nearly every day, the Great Goblin and Lizardfolk troops were training. In a place with medieval-level productivity, daily troop drills are unusual.


    Mantou quickly agreed, ¡°I also heard those sounds.¡±


    Natural War Maniac said, ¡°So you mean our next main quest will be a war?¡±


    Xin Dog nodded, ¡°Yes, and it definitely won¡¯t be small in scale. As subordinates of the [Red Scale Conqueror] faction, Mantou and I will play significant roles.¡±

 Chapter 94 - 24: Main Quest: War!

    Chapter 94: Chapter 24: Main Quest: War!


    However, it wasn¡¯t just Xin Dog, other guilds also noticed the anomaly in Dragon Valley.


    [Royalty] was now the most prestigious of the powerful families, boasting over eighty members with strict standards. Most of its members were professional gamers. They had even built a rudimentary castle within Barto City to serve as their guild headquarters, naming it ¡°Royalty Hall.¡±


    The guild leader was a well-known, wealthy professional gamer called ¡°Tyrant,¡± a towering and robust Paladin Conqueror.


    At this moment, the core members of the guild were gathered in the Royalty Hall.


    Tyrant sat in the main seat, asking, ¡°So if the intel is accurate, we¡¯re facing a war?¡±


    The vice leader, ¡°Fengyun,¡± responded, ¡°Yes, according to our eyes in Northwind Castle, the enemy should be the Allied Forces of the Northern Countries. Three prominent ducal families are participating, and it¡¯s said they have assembled nearly thirty thousand troops, gathering in the Stormy Ridge area.¡±


    ...


    Bibo Sword Rain asked, ¡°Can we win? If we can¡¯t, can we defect to the other side?¡±


    Fengyun shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t recommend defection. Our guild¡¯s roots are already established in Barto City. We monopolize the city¡¯s alcohol production and wall construction industries. Switching sides would mean starting over from scratch, placing us back on the same starting line as everyone else. The advantage we hold would be completely lost, and that is a price we cannot afford.¡±


    Tyrant asked, ¡°What¡¯s our strength assessment?¡±


    Fengyun pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. On paper, we should be evenly matched. Although we might be at a numerical disadvantage, these Dragon Vein Monsters are likely far stronger than ordinary human soldiers.¡±


    His tone paused.


    ¡°But there are too many uncertain variables, such as their spellcasters, and¡­ our faction leader.¡±


    ¡°You mean that Red Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Yes, so far we¡¯ve only seen his avatar and statues. The lair in Dragon Valley is off-limits to most, making it difficult to assess his role in the war.¡±


    Tyrant made a decision, ¡°Then we¡¯ll fight our best. If we win, we¡¯ll certainly gain contribution points. If we lose, no big deal. If the enemy breaks in, we¡¯ll switch sides as guides. After all, our race is human. Even if the Northern Countries¡¯ forces occupy Barto City, we could still run things locally.¡±


    Fengyun agreed, ¡°That¡¯s what I think too.¡±


    Tyrant turned to the elite warrior player ¡°Big Blade,¡± asking, ¡°How many contribution points do you have? When can you get the Red Scale Conqueror?¡±


    Big Blade responded loudly, ¡°I have 9300 points already. I should be able to exchange it by tomorrow, though I still need to buy some items to tame the Wyvern from Xin Dog.¡±


    Tyrant nodded, ¡°Good. I¡¯m planning to use the Mysterious Invitation tomorrow. Let¡¯s prepare the money and contribution points. We¡¯ll buy everything we need in one trip.¡±


    The construction brother ¡°Bucket Runner¡± weakly suggested, ¡°Since we¡¯re going to war, shouldn¡¯t we get some special weapons?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, we shoul¡ª¡±


    Tyrant was about to reply when a loud roar came from the sky, distinctly different from the raspy cries of Wyverns. This sound was deep and powerful, filled with majesty, compelling a desire to kneel in submission.


    Fengyun asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    The guild members guarding the door rushed in, shouting, ¡°Come quickly!¡±


    ¡°The faction leader has descended!¡±


    Tyrant immediately said, ¡°Let¡¯s go see.¡±


    All the Royalty guild members followed Tyrant to the hillside area of Barto City.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Another long roar echoed.


    A large crowd of players had gathered in the hillside area. The Tiefling residents were also present, along with the Tiefling Guards led by Mezulash.


    In the sky, a massive shadow appeared, casting many into darkness.


    Next, the red figure descended thunderously, landing on the highest rock in the hillside area.


    Dust flew, even the ground trembled slightly.


    Everyone looked up in shock. As the dust settled, they saw the visitor clearly¡ªit was a terrifying Red Dragon. Its immense body was strong and muscular, covered in armor-like red scales. Backward swept horns resembled a crown.


    Cassius stood on the rock, spreading his wings tens of meters wide, casting a shadow over the people of Barto City below.


    He looked down from his high perch, golden pupils flashing with authority. An invisible aura emanated instantly.


    The crowd felt a profound fear of this mighty creature, instinctively lowering their heads. This is what they felt as Dragon¡¯s Might.


    Cassius then slowly spoke, his voice rumbling like thunder, ¡°My subjects, war is upon us.¡±


    His voice echoed throughout Barto City.


    ¡°The Allied Forces of the Northern Countries are gathering. They march towards Stormy Ridge, intending to destroy my city, slaughter my retainers, and plunder my wealth.¡±


    ¡°Yet my strength will show them this is a mere delusion. All they have will turn to ashes under the flame.¡±


    ¡°Subjects, prepare yourselves. Prove your loyalty with blood and fire. The crucible of battle is about to begin, and we will undoubtedly crush the feeble forces of the Northern Countries.¡±


    ¡°For Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°For Barto City!¡±


    ¡°For the great Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°For¡­ revenge!¡±


    Mezulash was the first to raise his sword and shout, followed by the Tiefling Guards raising their spears and cheering.


    Soon, more joined, the shouts forming waves of fervent cries. The people of Barto City yelled passionately, vowing to crush the invading forces.


    Players also joined the fervor, adding cries of ¡°For Dragon Mother!¡± ¡°For experience!¡± ¡°For the Succubus!¡± and other personal tags. The Tieflings, used to this, pretended not to hear.


    Tyrant looked up at the colossal Red Dragon, whose wings shadowed them all, and sighed, ¡°What challenge level can this reach? With our whole guild, we wouldn¡¯t last a few minutes.¡±


    Fengyun murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I know one thing.¡±


    ¡°This war¡­ we shouldn¡¯t lose.¡±


    Player panels refreshed with information.


    [Main Mission: The Beginning of War]


    [Led by the ¡°Flame Wing Dragon¡± Cassius, the expansion of Ashen Nest has alarmed the three Northern Duchies of Rackman, Boske, and Notte. They have therefore formed an allied army of over thirty thousand, preparing to march on Stormy Ridge to eradicate this evil force. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    You can freely choose your faction in the war to strive for victory. For each enemy killed, you¡¯ll earn 150 Faction Contribution Points. The mission will start in about 30 days, so make all necessary preparations for the upcoming war.]

 Chapter 95 - 95: 25. The Barons Banquet

    Chapter 95: 25. The Baron¡¯s Banquet


    Sgurr Town.


    At the Baron¡¯s Mansion.


    Todd Rackman clasped his hands together, looking deeply troubled.


    A close attendant patiently served him¡ªit was Todd¡¯s new butler, named Charlotte, who had a knack for pleasing the Baron with his words.


    Todd couldn¡¯t help but ask the attendant, ¡°What should I do? My father has already sent a message. The Allied Forces might choose Sgurr Town as their camp. Once they discover my collusion with the Ashen Nest, then¡­¡±


    Thinking of his father¡¯s crimson eyes made Todd¡¯s body shiver uncontrollably.


    ...


    The attendant simply said, ¡°You must make a choice. You can choose to become a faithful servant of the evil dragons, or become¡­ the hero of your family.¡±


    ¡°What should I do?¡±


    Todd clung to the suggestion like a lifeline.


    The attendant replied, ¡°It¡¯s straightforward. The first step is to eliminate Hart and report the situation here to your family.¡±


    Todd immediately gnashing his teeth said, ¡°Yes, yes, we need to get rid of Hart, that scourge, that traitor! He¡¯s the one who brought this Red Dragon here. If it weren¡¯t for him, I wouldn¡¯t be in this predicament. That damned lapdog!¡±


    Perhaps alert to the sounds of war, Hart had recently become all-seeing over the Baron¡¯s activities, acting increasingly brazenly, paying no heed to Baron Todd.


    This made the Baron extremely displeased, growing ever more hateful towards Hart. How dare the former slave trader, once groveling at his feet, now rise above him?


    The attendant offered advice at the right moment, ¡°My lord Baron, maybe you need a banquet.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Hart has become so arrogant that he completely disregards you. He¡¯s certain that out of concern for the Ashen Nest, you wouldn¡¯t dare act against him. So, you could invite him to a banquet, using the opportunity to eliminate him completely.¡±


    Baron Todd pondered for a moment, slowly lowering his clasped hands.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure he knows who the real master here is¡­.¡±


    The Baron¡¯s pupils glowed with a bloody light.


    ¡­


    In the dim hall, candle flames flickered.


    The long table was laden with a feast, with several soldiers standing guard nearby.


    Hart and the Baron sat across from each other at the long table, while the attendant Charlotte stood by.


    Hart spoke first, laughing heartily, ¡°My lord Baron, did you call me over just to treat me to a sumptuous dinner? It seems that someone as proud as you has learned how to please others.¡±


    Baron Todd¡¯s pale face showed a false smile, ¡°You¡¯re right, Hart¡­ my lord.¡±


    He slowly rose, straightened his clothes, then walked to stand behind Hart.


    The attendant followed closely behind.


    Hart seemed unaware of the danger, leaning back in his chair, smugly saying, ¡°What, my dear Baron, are you going to serve me dinner?¡±


    Baron Todd stood behind Hart, a crimson light appearing deep in his pupils.


    ¡°Yes, of course, serve dinner¡ª¡±


    His tone turned somewhat sinister.


    In an instant, Baron Todd lunged forward, sharp fangs aiming for Hart¡¯s neck.


    Only by draining this insolent human¡¯s blood could Todd alleviate his hatred; he wanted Hart to witness his own life draining away.


    ¡°Crunch.¡±


    There was no familiar sensation of flesh.


    Instead, Hart¡¯s neck, which should have been soft and vulnerable, was covered in hard, crimson scales that broke Todd¡¯s fangs.


    Baron Todd, face contorted, cried out in shock, ¡°How could this be¡ª¡±


    Hart, expecting this, laughed wildly, ¡°You, a vermin of the shadows, how could you understand the power of a master!


    ¡°Look, this is the noble bloodline of the True Dragon!¡±


    Hart then slowly stood, turning around, his bulging muscles tearing through his clothes.


    Not just his neck; scales also covered the sides of his face, though hidden by his hair. Even his eyes had turned into golden vertical pupils, sharp claws growing from his hands.


    Baron Todd shouted, ¡°Quick! Guards! Kill this monster for me!¡±


    The soldiers standing guard immediately raised their spears, but instead of attacking Hart as Todd expected, they pointed their weapons at Baron Todd.


    A heavy cloud of darkness fell over Baron Todd¡¯s face, followed by uncontrollable anger, ¡°Damn it! You betrayed me!¡±


    ¡°These lowly humans truly can¡¯t be trusted!¡±


    In his fury, he lost his mind, directly casting a spell at Hart.


    ¡°Mayuf¡¯s Strong Acid Arrow!¡±


    An acid arrow flew towards Hart but was blocked by an invisible shield.


    Baron Todd tried to cast a teleportation spell to escape, but found the room surrounded by Whispering Flowers¡ªa special material that suppresses magic, rendering him unable to pass through.


    Growing more infuriated, he thought, ¡°There¡¯s another spellcaster? This is a complete ambush, and I¡¯m the prey!¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s Charlotte!¡±


    ¡°You are the biggest traitor!¡±


    Baron Todd angrily turned around, only to see the always humble attendant now showing a disdainful expression.


    [Hypnotism]


    Charlotte¡¯s hand glowed with eerie magical light.


    Baron Todd immediately fell into a magical sleep, collapsing to the ground.


    Hart kicked the unconscious vampire variant on the ground, laughing heartily, ¡°Well done, Charlotte, this vampire hiding in the darkness isn¡¯t very powerful but has too many ways to escape.


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be good if he escaped back to Northwind Castle.¡±


    He laughed, ¡°Poor Baron Todd, thinking he had set a trap for me, only to become the prey himself.¡±


    Charlotte said, ¡°Lord Hart, about the reward you promised¡­.¡±


    Hart waved his hand generously, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, five hundred gold coins, not a single coin less, and all the magic scrolls in the Baron¡¯s Mansion, plus positions in Sgurr Town will be reserved for you, as long as you do your job well.¡±


    Hart was about to use a silver knife to kill the vampire, but Charlotte hurriedly stopped him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill him. Lord Ramp specifically instructed that he needs to study the vampire variant.¡±


    At the mention of Ramp¡¯s name, Hart shivered and sighed, ¡°Tsk tsk, this poor Baron won¡¯t even be able to wish for death.¡±


    When it was all over, the guards revealed their true identities.


    ¡ªThey were all members of the [Magic Coin] guild!


    The vice president Bright Moon, guild members Heavenly Fire, Mage of Love, Kabaleba, and many other renowned mage players were there.


    Even the maid serving the meal was disguised by the Sky Flying Witch.


    These players mastered advanced techniques learned in the New Era, flattering and serving Baron Todd, quickly becoming his trusted confidants within the mansion.


    Poor Baron Todd believed he had found allies free from the control of the Ashen Nest, not realizing they were all players eyeing his head.


    Charlotte laughed wildly, hands on hips, ¡°Haha, completing this set of tasks has filled our guild¡¯s coffers. From now on, Sgurr Town is the territory of the Magic Coin guild!¡±

 Chapter 96 - 26 Mechanical God Cult

    Chapter 96: Chapter 26 Mechanical God Cult


    ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang!¡±


    The saying goes, hoist the bellows with a whoosh, snatch the hammer with a clang. At this moment, a player with the ID ¡°Steel Torrent¡± was frantically blacksmithing with brute force, and a pile of processed iron pipes had already accumulated beside him.


    Steel Torrent, entirely oblivious to the scorching heat blowing against his face and the sweat streaming down his forehead, looked incredibly excited, as if he had boundless energy to expend.


    This guy chose the Barbarian occupation but had hardly fought, only to have more strength.


    That brute force was only used for one thing: blacksmithing.


    Yes, since entering the game, he had been tirelessly forging iron, and now he had become the youngest and strongest blacksmith in Daimo Blacksmith Shop in Barto City.


    ...


    The Tiefling old blacksmith Daimo, watching from the side, blew his beard and glared: ¡°You rascal, idling around all day and tinkering with this junk. What¡¯s the use?¡±


    He shook his head in regret, his face full of heartache.


    ¡°Such a waste of materials! With this much fine iron, I could have forged a set of the best armor in my younger days.¡±


    Steel Torrent gave the old blacksmith a disdainful glance, his hands never stopping.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t done my job properly. I¡¯ve completed all the task targets. What I do on my own time is none of your business.¡±


    He looked at the crooked steel pipes with an excited expression and a strangely enthusiastic tone:


    ¡°Old Daimo, just wait and see.¡±


    ¡°The direction of the times is right under my hammer!¡±


    Steel Torrent continued to blacksmith passionately, brimming with confidence.


    Daimo: ¡°¡­¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fortunately, he had seen plenty of these things these days. No matter what these so-called ¡°players¡± said or did, Old Daimo wasn¡¯t surprised at all.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, these guys.¡±


    He was used to it, just that.


    Daimo fell into his memories.


    A few months ago, he was manning the blacksmith shop when two seemingly normal players came to buy equipment.


    One chatted with him, while the other boldly started stealing right in the shop, causing a mess and even reaching into Daimo¡¯s pockets.


    And the one trying to ¡°distract¡± him didn¡¯t even blush or show any guilt, continuing to chat with him.


    This left Daimo profoundly shocked. He had seen thieves but never so brazen ones, nor such arrogant ones.


    Old Daimo couldn¡¯t take it anymore, veins bulging on his arm. He directly picked up a ten-pound hammer and knocked both of them out.


    When he called the sheriff to arrest them, the two ¡°players¡± still struggled, faces full of disbelief, muttering nonsense like ¡°I bypassed you¡±, ¡°My stealth is very high¡±, and ¡°I clearly triggered dialogue¡±. This left Daimo speechless.


    However, similar incidents became more frequent, and Old Daimo grew numb, hitting thieves unconscious with a hammer expressionlessly, like a seasoned farmer harvesting wheat.


    But later, he noticed the positive side of these players, their tirelessness, and disregard for life and death.


    For example, he didn¡¯t have to work anymore. All his tasks were handed over to these blacksmith apprentices.


    ¡°Got it! Got it!¡±


    ¡°I did it!¡±


    Steel Torrent¡¯s excited shout interrupted Old Daimo¡¯s thoughts.


    Just as he was about to step forward for a look, a dozen blacksmith apprentice players swarmed ahead, completely ignoring the frail old Daimo.


    ¡°These rude brats.¡±


    Old Daimo muttered softly.


    But he couldn¡¯t be bothered to check what they were up to this time.


    Old Daimo lay back in his chair, squinting, covering his face with an old, yellowing book, enjoying the leisurely time of not working.


    ¡°Got it, got it!¡±


    Steel Torrent shouted madly.


    Everyone gathered tightly around the blacksmith shop, staring at the still warm, rough iron gun barrel.


    They were all members of the same guild¡ª¡±Mechanical God Cult¡±.


    This guild was formed by machinery enthusiasts, led by Steel Torrent, and their slogan was ¡°Flesh is weak, mechanical ascension!¡± Unfortunately, there were no mechanics-related occupations in the early game.


    Luckily, they found that the reactions of reality might appear in magical form in Anzeta, so these Mechanical God Cult players pioneered a new way to blacksmith¡ªblacksmithing.


    Now, Daimo Blacksmith Shop was filled with various items, iron pipes, crude springs, taps and dies, simple lathes, and table drills and vices. All were made by these machinery enthusiasts.


    Daimo turned a blind eye, considering they worked for free.


    A guild member and famous firearm enthusiast, ¡°Battlefield Wheelchair Man,¡± shouted: ¡°Bring me the best wood! The stock needs to be big!¡±


    Now, the Mechanical God Cult players were busy and happy in the blacksmith shop.


    ¡°One part nitre, two parts sulfur, three parts charcoal. The equipment isn¡¯t perfect, but we¡¯ll use the old method to make black powder.¡±


    ¡°Where are the triggers and hammers?¡±


    ¡°Crap, Daimo made them into rings. We¡¯ll have to remake them.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the gunshot pellet? Let¡¯s use scrap iron and crush it.¡±


    ¡°Bullets? Just put some lead into small steel beads, wrap it in cloth, and shove it into the barrel. It¡¯ll stay inside.¡±


    Soon, after everyone¡¯s busy work


    Perhaps the first firearm in Anzeta was born.


    A primitive front-loading shotgun lay there, with its rough wrought iron barrel, simple hammer-firing mechanism, oversized wooden stock, and ¡°bullets¡± wrapped in oiled cloth. Some small steel beads even accidentally fell out, and the air was filled with the scent of saltpeter.


    Although it looked crude and like garbage from an abandoned factory, it represented the collective effort of everyone.


    They created this in a place with medieval-level productivity, naturally filled with difficulties.


    ¡°Is it a success?¡±


    ¡°Quick, try it out.¡±


    Steel Torrent carefully picked up the makeshift gun and laboriously stuffed the oiled cloth-wrapped bullet into the barrel, with several steel beads falling out.


    He slowly raised the gun, aiming at a prepared straw target.


    The members of the Mechanical God Cult held their breath.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The gunshot resounded like thunder in the flatland.


    Old Daimo, napping soundly, was startled awake, the book falling from his face.


    He yelled furiously: ¡°What are you brats up to now?¡±


    Only to see the players celebrating, dancing around a bizarre-looking, ragged iron tube.


    Next to them, a straw dummy was in pieces, black smoke rising, with iron beads still warm on the ground.


    The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder.


    ¡°So they¡¯re tinkering with this junk again.¡±


    Old Daimo muttered softly, picked up the old book from the ground, dusted it off, and covered his face again, falling back into a deep sleep.

 Chapter 97 - 27 Hidden Occupation: Mechanic Mage

    Chapter 97: Chapter 27 Hidden Occupation: Mechanic Mage


    ¡°Holy crap, we really did it!¡±


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man stroked the huge stock of the primitive gun, as if caressing his lover of the future.


    Steel Torrent slapped his hand away:¡±Step aside, you creep.¡±


    Nearby, the player with the ID ¡°Electromagnetic Blast¡± suggested:¡±This is our first gun, a milestone, it deserves a name.¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man eagerly proposed:¡±How about SMG0818? Or Type Two Submachine Gun, those are my true loves!¡±


    ...


    Steel Torrent scoffed:¡±Get lost with those lame wheelchair gun names.¡±


    ¡°Besides, this is a shotgun.¡±


    ¡°How about M30 Composite Gun?¡± Battlefield Wheelchair Man suggested again.


    Steel Torrent ignored him, pondered for a moment, then decided:¡±Since this gun can shoot steel pellets, let¡¯s call it¡­ Steel Shooter?¡±


    Everyone:¡±¡­¡±


    That moment of silence said it all.


    Steel Torrent realized the name was a bit crude, awkwardly scratched his head, and quickly corrected himself:¡±I was just kidding, let¡¯s discuss it further.¡±


    But as they were about to start another round of debates, information appeared on the panel.


    Amid the smoky smell, a faint magical aura appeared on the rough barrel of the primitive gun, a result of the series of magical reactions from firing the bullet.


    [Creator Naming Successful!]


    [You have successfully created the magical weapon [Steel Shooter]] Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Steel Shooter]


    Quality: Special


    Range: Within fifty meters, it depends on luck. Beyond fifty meters, it¡¯s up to fate.


    Introduction:


    This gun was forged with the simplest equipment and the crudest materials but condensed the efforts of more than a dozen blacksmiths. The pitted hammer marks on the barrel reveal its origins.


    This simple-structured shotgun requires tens of seconds to reload, or even longer, and can only fire once per reload. But trust me, with its power, before the second shot, the dense steel pellets will turn you into a pile of pulp!


    ¡°The direction of the era lies beneath my hammer!¡± ¨C From the firearm creator, Steel Torrent


    Steel Torrent:¡±¡­¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man patted his shoulder, comforting:¡±Boss, it¡¯s fine. Even though the name is a bit ugly, aren¡¯t we making history¡­ or rather, infamous history?¡±


    ¡°In the future, when people mention you, they¡¯ll say, hey, he¡¯s the creator of the first gun in ¡°Erezer¡±, the great Jet Warrior, Steel Torrent!¡±


    By the end, Battlefield Wheelchair Man couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter.


    Steel Torrent glared at him fiercely.


    But soon, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the updated panel information.


    Steel Torrent muttered to himself:¡±Holy crap¡­¡±


    [You have created a new magical item, unlocking the hidden occupation: Mechanic Mage!]


    [In the Multiverse, Mechanic Mages have created inventions and magical items for both peace and war. Many lives have been illuminated or saved by the work of kind Mechanic Mages, but countless lives have also suffered from mass destruction due to some ingenious creations.]


    [As masters of invention, Mechanic Mages use their originality and magic to unleash extraordinary abilities in objects. They view magic as a complex system to be decoded and utilized in their spells and inventions, using various tools to channel their arcane power.]


    [Detected that your current occupation is: Barbarian]


    [Do you wish to change occupations?]


    [Note: After changing occupations, you will receive an experience penalty, your experience points will be 40% of the original, please consider carefully.]


    Steel Torrent was instantly overwhelmed with excitement, waved his hand vigorously:


    ¡°To hell with considering¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°I confirm the change!¡±


    [Your current occupation is: Mechanic Mage Level 1]


    [To cast spells, Mechanic Mages might use Alchemist supplies to create a potent Miracle Medicine, Calligrapher supplies to inscribe a symbol of strength, or mending tools to create a temporary talisman.]


    [A Mechanic Mage¡¯s magic is closely tied to their tools and talent, few other occupations can create items that utilize the Multiverse¡¯s magic rules as effectively as a Mechanic Mage.]


    [Gained Mechanic Mage trait: [Magic Craftsmanship]]


    [Magic Craftsmanship]:


    [You have learned the principles of magic and know how to channel magic into objects and awaken it. Therefore, you gain limited spellcasting ability. To onlookers, you don¡¯t seem to cast spells traditionally¡ªyou appear to create miracles through various items. You will learn to infuse ordinary items with the spark of magic.]


    After reading the occupation description, Steel Torrent was thrilled.


    ¡°The Mechanical God Cult¡¯s spring has arrived!¡±


    ¡°In the future, whether it¡¯s planes, cannons, or aircraft carriers, and mechas, we can make them all!¡±


    Steel Torrent clenched his fist tightly, raised his arm, and shouted:


    ¡°Flesh is weak, mechanical ascension!¡±


    ¡­


    Cassius coiled in the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave, used a magical image to observe the cheering players in the blacksmith shop, his expression slightly surprised.


    ¡°Mechanical God Cult?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the guild that appeared after the server opened? How come it already has a prototype and even unlocked Mechanic Mage early.¡±


    The Mechanical God Cult was one of the most powerful player guilds in later eras.


    In the early days of its establishment, [Mechanical God Cult] was just a small group of mechanical enthusiasts. Their leader ¡°Steel Torrent¡± was merely an ordinary mechanical engineering college student.


    But as the player base in ¡°Erezer¡± grew larger, this early-start guild attracted top talents from around the world, including cutting-edge scientists in various fields, which made the later stage of [Mechanical God Cult] look like something out of science fiction. They even established a floating fortress in the Mechanical Realm as their headquarters.


    ¡°I must recruit them.¡±


    ¡°I need to bring this force under my control.¡±


    Watching the image of the shotgun tearing the strawman apart, Cassius made up his mind.


    Thus, Ramp, the chief steward of the Ashen Nest and the giant sage, personally went to Barto City, found the members of the [Mechanical God Cult], and offered generous treatment, ample funding, and the most advanced spell resources, even proactively offering each member a rare Dragon Blood Elixir.


    Under the allure of these offers, Steel Torrent, who had never seen the world, gave in easily.


    Especially the ample funding, which deeply moved him after months of frugally forging iron.


    Without hesitation, Steel Torrent led his guild members to join, contentedly becoming the Red Dragon¡¯s lackey¡ªa half-dragon.


    Now, not only did he forge iron with more vigor, but he could also breathe fire himself, saving the effort of fanning the flames to stoke the furnace.


    With the expedited work of the Bugbears and Ogres, in just seven days, a brand-new, sizable building appeared in Barto City.


    A huge iron plaque hung at the entrance¡ªStorm Arsenal.

 Chapter 98 - 28 Doloress New Army

    Chapter 98: Chapter 28 Dolores¡¯s New Army


    ¡°You call these ¡®secret weapons¡¯ just these broken iron rods?¡±


    Dolores, the military leader of the Ashen Nest, a Dragon Vein Great Goblin over two meters tall, looked down at the human in front of him, his golden eyes filled with doubt.


    Chekhov, the player, hurried forward to explain: ¡°This is the latest model of firearm we researched at the Storm Arsenal, the Breaker of Enemies. Although it¡¯s still a smoothbore gun, after modifying the barrel, while the power has somewhat decreased, its accuracy and range have significantly improved¡­¡±


    Dolores casually picked up a gun, weighed it in his hand, and said disdainfully, ¡°What can you attack with this little short stick? In war, the most effective weapons are our spears, bows, and warhammers!¡±


    He casually threw the so-called ¡°rifle¡± aside.


    Seeing the gun about to hit the ground, Chekhov quickly stepped forward and caught it, fearing any damage.


    ...


    Though he was scornful of Dolores¡¯ lack of insight, Chekhov still took the initiative to say, ¡°Lord Dolores, this thing is not used like that, let me demonstrate it for you.¡±


    Coincidentally, a Goblin Breeder nearby was leading an aurochs.


    Dolores, although dismissive of such a trifle, was also curious to see what would come of it, so he nodded slightly in approval.


    ¡°Please step back.¡±


    Chekhov expertly loaded the ammunition, held his breath, and aimed the gun.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A thunderous sound rang out, and wisps of blue smoke rose from the muzzle.


    The enormous body of the aurochs collapsed with a thud, riddled with countless tiny holes. Steel balls were deeply embedded in its flesh, even its internal organs. The creature¡¯s body was turned into a sieve by the single shot.


    Dolores gasped in shock.


    Seeing this weapon kill an aurochs with a single shot, he quickly realized its significance in warfare.


    Moreover, its power wasn¡¯t even the scariest part. If you had to compare, a bow and arrow could achieve the same lethal power, albeit needing an excellent archer.


    This thing called a ¡°rifle¡± was terrifying because it was almost without an entry threshold. Even the weakest, most inferior goblin could pick up a gun and pull the trigger.


    Just by doing this, he could be on par in a shootout with a skilled archer.


    Remember, archers were an absolute elite in the army, with high training costs, while goblins were the most abundant expendables, prolific in numbers.


    He became somewhat excited, grabbing the human¡¯s shoulders, his hot breath almost hitting Chekhov¡¯s face: ¡°How many of these iron sticks can you produce?¡±


    Chekhov softly corrected: ¡°It¡¯s the ¡®Breaker of Enemies¡¯ rifle.¡±


    Dolores said, ¡°I don¡¯t care what it¡¯s called. I just want to know how many you can make.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Chekhov said, ¡°Given that our Storm Arsenal was recently established and manpower is limited, if we expedite production, we should be able to make three hundred rifles before the war starts. As for bullets, we can supply them freely since the resources in the Ashen Nest are relatively abundant.¡±


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    Hearing this number, Dolores was not surprised.


    After all, expecting such battlefield weapons to be produced as easily as common swords was unrealistic. With just three hundred rifles, if used well, they might sway the course of a war. Dolores was deeply aware of this.


    Chekhov returned to the arsenal to report the situation.


    Soon, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man arrived at the Dragon Valley encampment with a hundred guns and a cart full of bullets.


    He said to Dolores: ¡°This is all our current stock.¡±


    Dolores nodded, summoned several sturdy Bugbears, and prepared to transport them back to the encampment.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man approached and said to him: ¡°Lord Dolores, our Storm Arsenal has also provided tactical training for this weapon. You should try it.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What kind of tactics?¡±


    Dolores was intrigued; Great Goblins were endlessly fascinated by war topics.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man took out a crooked piece of parchment, on which simple little figures were drawn.


    ¡°An ancient, simple, yet effective tactic. We usually call it¡ª¡±


    He lowered his voice mysteriously:


    ¡°Firing squad.¡±


    ¡­


    Three days later, in Dragon Valley.


    It was another routine military drill.


    At this time, the Red Dragon would appear at the entrance of the Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave to inspect the troops from above, boosting morale and preparing for the coming war.


    But this time, there was a special unit in the ranks, equipped with new weapons.


    ¡°Master, this drill will definitely satisfy you.¡±


    Dolores waited respectfully on the side, his tone excited.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Cassius was quite interested.


    He could guess that the players from the Mechanical God Cult had played a significant role in this.


    The military drill began, and all the retainers wanted to show off in front of the Red Dragon, so they worked extra hard.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°WHAAAAH!¡±


    It was a familiar charging drill. The burly Bugbears raised their giant hammers and charged forward like beasts, smashing the straw men in front of them.


    ¡°Hey-ho!¡±


    The smaller goblins followed, throwing short spears at the targets.


    ¡°For Lord Cassius!¡±


    A well-equipped Goblin Corps, holding shields in their left hands and knives and spears in their right, advanced in a tight formation.


    ¡°Not bad, I am quite pleased.¡±


    Cassius casually assessed.


    He didn¡¯t really care much about these troops; these monsters were not crucial to his standing; even if they were all expended, he wouldn¡¯t feel a thing. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dolores said excitedly: ¡°Master, it¡¯s not over yet.¡±


    The sound of war drums echoed through the valley.


    ¡°Boom, boom, boom!¡±


    At the end of the ranks, an elite Goblin Corps appeared, clad in plate armor. Their steps were uniform, moving to the rhythm of the war drums, and each held the newest Breaker of Enemies rifle from the Storm Arsenal.


    Moreover, they had loaded their ammunition before entering the field.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Cassius¡¯ interest was piqued, his golden pupils brightening slightly.


    The goblins formed a line, halting at about fifty meters from the straw targets, arranging themselves in a semicircle.


    The drumsticks stopped, and the training ground fell silent.


    Dolores, quite pleased, stepped forward and yelled to the army below:


    ¡°Ready!¡±


    The goblins raised their rifles according to their training, and a flurry of sounds followed.


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    They pulled the triggers.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A tremendous roar echoed through the valley.


    A row of blue smoke slowly rose from the muzzles, the scent of gunpowder filling the air. Sweat dripped from the goblins¡¯ foreheads, but they were also excited by the sight.


    The straw targets were instantly shredded by countless bullets, falling in rows to the ground, the power making even the Red Dragon marvel.


    ¡°Firing squad?¡±


    Cassius recognized the familiar tactic, feeling a bit amused. These guys had really brought this technique to Erezer.


    However, the Red Dragon still spread his wings and looked down at his retainers from atop the mountain, saying:


    ¡°Excellent! I hope that in the future, you can smash the enemy on the battlefield just like this and prove your loyalty to me with their blood.¡±


    Dolores raised his gun high, shouting spiritedly: ¡°For the Master, the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°For the great will of the Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Conquer everything!¡±


    The troops below erupted, their cheers rising like waves, unceasing for a long time.

 Chapter 99 - 29 Dailennas Report

    Chapter 99: Chapter 29 Dailenna¡¯s Report


    After watching the military exercise, Cassius returned to the cave, where the Great Goblin presented another secret report.


    He examined it carefully.


    The report was titled ¡°Notes on the Northern Tripartite Alliance.¡±


    ¡°In terms of direct military power comparison, the Boske Duchy is obviously far superior to the combined strengths of Rackman and Notte Duchies.


    Boske emerged victorious in the internal struggles of the Northern United Kingdom. It gained a special status in the ¡°Lionheart Alliance¡± a century ago and has since occupied the southern part of the Anzeta Wasteland as the nominal controllers of the United Kingdom.


    However, their relationship with other duchies has always been subtle and distant. The current Grand Duke of Boske dreams of a unified, federated kingdom, so he does not fully exert his strength to assist any particular country but rather prefers to see his neighbors¡¯ power weakened.


    ...


    Of the so-called thirty thousand allied forces, less than five thousand originated from the ¡°Northern Lion¡± of the Boske Duchy, and even these were unimportant border guards. The Notte Family of the ¡°Double-Headed Eagle,¡± though reliant on Rackman as a shield, was willing to help but could only muster three thousand troops due to limited strength.


    As for the bulk of this so-called allied force, it was primarily made up of soldiers from the Rackman Duchy, as this matter concerned their survival. They dispatched virtually their entire military.


    This collection of notes aims to record the military status of the Rackman Duchy.


    The lowest and most common soldiers in the army are the conscripted laborers. Before the war, these men were likely farmers without any systematic military training. Equipped only with inferior weapons and almost no armor, their primary roles were feeding warhorses and transporting supplies, or being used as cannon fodder before elite units engaged the enemy.


    In the Rackman Duchy, these men are typically tenants and serfs under the control of local gentry, lacking personal freedom and without the right to claim spoils of war. Any military achievements or spoils they gain are recorded under their owner¡¯s name.


    Slightly better are the second-tier soldiers, who are free men that joined the military for conscription. They keep their spoils of war, and although their financial means are limited, they often fight with inherited weapons.


    In the duchy, these men are usually self-sufficient farmers who serve under their lords. Military service is their obligation to the lords. Theoretically, they are on par with the gentry, as the gentry are essentially farmers with more land who do not participate directly in production.


    The third-tier soldiers are closely associated with their lords and are true professional soldiers. Their eagerness to fight far surpasses that of conscripts. They are often the lords¡¯ attendants or local gentry. Whether through stipends from their lords or income from their own lands, they have enough wealth to procure superior weapons and armor and gain more benefits from war.


    There is another type of soldier between the second and third tiers, known as mercenaries. Although they do not possess as much property as the gentry, their constant battle experience compels them to convert their existing wealth into better weapons and armor to survive and achieve more in combat.


    Conscripted soldiers from farming backgrounds tend to spend their spoils on living expenses. While mercenaries do not receive structured military training like third-tier soldiers, their extensive combat experience serves as their training, provided they survive.


    The fourth and highest-tier soldiers not only have ample wealth to procure top-tier weapons and armor but also receive enough military education to qualify for junior officer positions.


    Only this group can form sizeable cavalry units. They often serve as knights or barons under lords. The representative of this group is the so-called ¡°Northwind Eagle Guards¡± Knight Order.¡±


    The final signature read, ¡°Your loyal servant, the humble pureblood Serpentfolk, Dailenna. Poisonstroke.¡±


    ¡°Interesting¡­¡±


    Cassius stared at the text, thinking to himself.


    This is no mere military report; it is a comprehensive overview of the social structure of the Northern countries¡ªor rather, it seems more like a show of credentials.


    Whatever Dailenna¡¯s motive, she had successfully piqued the Red Dragon¡¯s interest.


    After a moment of thought, Cassius ordered, ¡°Dolores, bring the author of this report over.¡±


    Dolores quickly said, ¡°Master, that Serpentfolk has been waiting at the door for a long time. I wanted to send her away¡­¡±


    ¡°Let her in.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    In a moment, Dolores brought her up.


    Cassius scrutinized the pureblood Serpentfolk closely. She wore a heavy headscarf, and her purple robe accentuated her graceful figure. For now, there was little to distinguish her from a human.


    Under Cassius¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, Dailenna removed her headscarf and, without any hesitation, lifted her head to reveal a captivating smile.


    Her face was stunningly beautiful, but it emitted a hint of danger. The vertical pupils, sharp fangs, and forked tongue revealed her Serpentfolk heritage.


    ¡°Lord Cassius, I have long admired your name. I knew you would let me in.¡±


    Her voice was enchanting yet had a serpent¡¯s rasp.


    Cassius looked down at her from above.


    ¡°To write such text, you must be quite capable. You could earn a good position among humans. Why come to my secluded Ashen Nest?¡±


    Dailenna instinctively flashed a flattering smile and coquettishly said, ¡°Lord Cassius¡­¡±


    However, she was interrupted before she could finish.


    ¡°Do not use your feeble Charm Person spell on a noble dragon.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone was perilous, emitting a faint Magical Aura of Dragon¡¯s Might.


    She truly felt for the first time that she was facing a genuine and ferocious Red Dragon, not a bloated human lord.


    Under this pressure, Dailenna felt an instinctive fear. She trembled and bowed her head, kneeling on the ground.


    ¡°I-my identity¡­¡±


    ¡°In Serpentfolk society, I am the lowest scum, and in human society, my bloodline prevents me from showcasing my talents. So I came here¡­¡±


    Cassius said indifferently, ¡°Now, isn¡¯t it better when you speak plainly?¡±


    ¡°I prefer directness. So tell me¡ªwhat do you seek to gain in the Ashen Nest?¡±


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Dailenna gritted her teeth and said,


    ¡°Power, status.¡±


    With that, she knelt in silence.


    The air was nearly static as sweat rolled down her forehead. She awaited the final judgment.


    Cassius glanced at her, and a faint Magical Aura flashed in his golden eyes.


    [Lie Detector]


    The spell showed she was not lying.


    Cassius¡¯s calm voice sounded again.


    ¡°Good. You did not deceive me, or you would now be a pile of ashes.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dailenna sighed in relief.


    ¡°Here at the Ashen Nest, we welcome capable individuals. I do not mind your ambitions but encourage them, as long as you prove useful to me¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you understand?¡±


    Dailenna quickly nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Go to the ugly tower and find my steward, Ramp. He will arrange a suitable position for you.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°¡­Master¡±

 Chapter 100 - 30: Northwind Castle Log (1)

    Chapter 100: Chapter 30: Northwind Castle Log (1)


    The disheveled, tattered Swashbuckler finally saw the towering city walls in the distance.


    ¡°Finally¡ªNorthwind Castle.¡±


    Tears immediately streamed down his face.


    These past few months had been exceedingly tough for him, but somehow, he had managed to stay alive every time. First, he was knocked out by a Hill Giant from the Stormy Ridge¡¯s outskirts with a club and taken as food stock. Just as he was about to be roasted, he used his Wanderer¡¯s Handy Proficiencies to untie the ropes and escaped with the Blur Technique.


    But barely out of the frying pan, he found himself back in the fire. Half-Orcs robbed him blind on the road, stripping him of all his equipment and dragging him away to be a slave. He toiled in the mines for over a month before he finally escaped and made his way to Northwind Castle.


    Thinking of these unbearable experiences, the Swashbuckler gritted his teeth.


    ...


    ¡°This time, in Northwind Castle, I have to make a name for myself!¡±


    At the city gate, dozens of Guards were patrolling. The emblem on their chests featured a crossed eagle and sword¡ªsignifying the City Defense Army of Northwind Castle, the Rackman Duchy¡¯s Guardians¡ªthe Eagle¡¯s Shield. It was a time of war preparedness, and every entrant had to undergo inspection and questioning. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Merchants driving carts and hurried travelers bustled by.


    The Swashbuckler quickly pulled his hood down further and tried to blend into the crowd, hoping to slip through unnoticed.


    However, a spear was suddenly thrust in front of him.


    ¡°Halt!¡±


    ¡°Five silver coins for entry.¡±


    The Swashbuckler froze. He had no money left; everything he owned had been stripped by the Half-Orcs. Even this hooded robe was something he snagged from a merchant convoy. He was as broke as one could be.


    Thinking this, he put on a fawning smile:


    ¡°Sir, my money was stolen outside the city. I have to go back¡­¡±


    The Guard¡¯s face turned hostile, the spear tip pointed at his nose. ¡°How do we know you¡¯re a legitimate resident? Don¡¯t even think about sneaking in!¡±


    The Swashbuckler¡¯s smile faded, and he turned to leave reluctantly, only to be stopped again.


    ¡°Halt!¡±


    ¡°Sir, what now?¡±


    ¡°Who said you could leave? What if you¡¯re a spy?¡±


    The Swashbuckler was on the verge of tears.


    Is there no justice? They wouldn¡¯t let him in, nor out. What was he to do¡ª


    He thought about taking a gamble by using the Blur Technique to escape. But then again, he had come so far. Using the Blur Technique would confirm him as a spy. If he got skewered by spears and returned to the Respawn Point, all his struggles would be for nothing.


    He might even face ridicule from those haters with jabs like ¡°Rogue Beast is back¡± ¡°Welcome home, Rogue Beast¡± already echoing in his mind.


    Thinking of this, the usually reckless Swashbuckler gritted his teeth, thinking to himself:


    ¡°I¡¯ll just stay here! Even if they throw me in prison, at least I¡¯ll be inside!¡±


    He was really learning not to court death this time!


    The Swashbuckler made small talk with the Guard.


    ¡°Sir, the weather is nice today.¡±


    ¡°Have you eaten?¡±


    ¡°Your uniform looks mighty sharp!¡±


    However, the Guard remained indifferent, busy catching other refugees and beggars trying to slip through. The number of people gathered around the Swashbuckler kept growing.


    Soon, another squad of Guards arrived.


    The refugees were handed over to this new squad and finally, they were inside the gates of Northwind Castle.


    Inside the city, the streets were bustling and prosperous, but the refugees were escorted down a little-known alleyway.


    The Swashbuckler felt puzzled and asked:


    ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you answer?¡±


    The leading Guard Captain didn¡¯t even look back, treating him as if he were already dead.


    The deeper they went, the eerier the atmosphere became. Finally, the Swashbuckler saw a large stone building adorned with a battered wooden sign that read ¡°Refugee Shelter.¡±


    The area was surrounded by dense, dark forests. Besides the Guard at the shelter entrance, it was just them.


    ¡°I hope this isn¡¯t another sweatshop¡­¡±


    The Swashbuckler shivered at the thought.


    He followed the refugees into this so-called ¡°shelter.¡±


    The place was lined with rusty iron cages, often stained with dried black blood, and traces of uncleaned urine and feces. The air was thick with the stench of blood and metal.


    The Swashbuckler was escorted deeper underground and thrown into a cage.


    ¡°Where is this place?¡±


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    In the darkness, the torchlight flickered.


    As he looked around, he saw that the cages were filled with frail, pale humans.


    They were all in rags, their emaciated bodies covered in filth, either curled up or lying down in the cages. Some cages held more than ten people, emitting a faint rustling sound.


    They no longer looked human, more like animals awaiting slaughter¡ªor perhaps that¡¯s exactly what they were.


    The Swashbuckler hesitated for a moment before softly asking.


    ¡°Hey, do you know where this is?¡±


    ¡°Do you know how to get out?¡±


    As expected, there was no useful response.


    Those emaciated ¡°humans¡± all turned to look at him, their pupils glowing red in the dark, eyes hungry like they were eyeing a meal.


    ¡°Damn it, if you don¡¯t want to answer, just say so. No need for this.¡±


    The Swashbuckler was startled.


    ¡°F¡­Food¡­¡±


    ¡°B¡­Blood¡­¡±


    ¡°I want blood!¡±


    ¡°I want to drain you dry¡ª¡±


    ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang!¡±


    Those ¡°humans¡± grasped the iron bars of the cages, shaking them. Their faces were pressed tightly against the bars, leaving red marks.


    But they didn¡¯t care, their gaunt, sunken faces twisted and crazed, expressions like travelers dying of thirst in the desert finding water, filled with primal greed and desire.


    The Swashbuckler furrowed his brow at those ravenous gazes:


    ¡°Are these Vampires?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to find such creatures here. Does that mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°Tap, tap, tap¡­¡±


    Rhythmic footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor, gradually drawing closer.


    All the Blood Slaves immediately fell silent, trembling as if faced with a natural enemy.


    ¡°What disgusting creatures.¡±


    A cold female voice sounded.


    A noblewoman in an elaborate gown walked slowly towards them. Her face was pale, and her exquisite features showed undisguised disdain for the ¡°beasts¡± around her.


    ¡°Lady Alexia, it is him.¡±


    The attending Guard indicated the Swashbuckler, speaking respectfully.

 Chapter 101 - 31: Northwind Castle Log (2)

    Chapter 101: Chapter 31: Northwind Castle Log (2)


    The noblewoman known as Alexia unabashedly sized up Swashbuckler from head to toe.


    ¡°Miss, while I know I¡¯m handsome, could you be a little more restrained?¡±


    Swashbuckler felt a chill run through him. That gaze was like picking out ingredients, making him uncomfortable. Even his usual flirtations came out awkwardly.


    Alexia¡¯s scarlet pupils suddenly brightened.


    ¡°Excellent.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s excellent? Is it my overly handsome face?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Your vitality is strong, you are qualified to become my father¡¯s sustenance. This will be the greatest honor of your humble life.¡± Her voice trembled, sounding somewhat intoxicated. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to converse with Swashbuckler and was completely absorbed in her own world.


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Take this human away.¡±


    Alexia ordered coldly.


    A few guards nearby quickly stepped forward, opened the cage, and forcibly lifted Swashbuckler out.


    ¡°Easy, easy.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t grab my neck!¡±


    ¡°Brother, I beg you, let me walk myself, okay?¡±


    Swashbuckler didn¡¯t resist much but thought secretly: ¡°Am I going to turn into a vampire? This could be interesting!¡±


    He didn¡¯t despair; instead, he became intrigued.


    The reckless spirit in his heart burned fiercely!


    Even if Swashbuckler were to die, he would go out with a bang, fitting his identity.


    Swashbuckler walked along the corridor under the escort of the guards.


    He looked around, overwhelmed.


    ¡°Damn¡­¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The underground of this ¡°Refugee Shelter¡± was far more expansive than he had imagined, extending into unfathomable depths. Hundreds of iron cages hung in mid-air along the corridor, filled with Blood Slaves, driven mad by their bloodlust, likely numbering in the thousands.


    He was first taken to a secret room where the guards thoroughly cleansed his body.


    Finally, he was escorted to the end of a dark hallway.


    A thick door slowly opened.


    Lamps in the corners flickered to life, casting a dim, wavering light.


    In the center of the luxuriously adorned, dark, and eerie hall was an intricately carved stone coffin.


    Alexia lifted her skirt and bowed.


    ¡°Father, this is your dinner for tonight.¡±


    The stone coffin slowly opened, and Duke Brad Rackman opened his scarlet eyes, a slight smile tugging at his lips.


    It seemed his mood was quite good today.


    Looking at the restrained Swashbuckler, the pale-faced duke approached, sniffing delicately like he was savoring a fine wine, and said in a hoarse voice:


    ¡°You have the scent of trickery on you. Why¡­ did you come here?¡±


    Swashbuckler couldn¡¯t help but shudder: ¡°Damn, you creepy old vampire, if you¡¯re going to drink blood, drink it, I don¡¯t offer other services.¡±


    The duke chuckled, revealing sharp teeth.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, once I transform you into a Vampire Variant, you will be entirely under my control. This will be the greatest honor of your life, enjoy this moment!¡±


    Swashbuckler replied sarcastically: ¡°Are all you vampires this narcissistic?¡±


    The duke didn¡¯t care about attempting to provoke the human before him, merely smiling contemptuously:


    ¡°You mortal beings can never understand an immortal like me. I come from centuries past; my origin has long been lost to the darkness. I was once a great general; all of Anzeta trembled under my Giant Eagle. But I chose a more twisted path.¡±


    ¡°And you, will become the sustenance for my further transformation into true immortality.¡±


    ¡°So¡­¡±


    ¡°Tremble, fear, respect!¡±


    ¡°When I rule this land, your blood will boil within my immortal body.¡±


    The duke caressed Swashbuckler¡¯s neck, speaking with an air of intoxication.


    He wasn¡¯t really talking to his ¡®meal¡¯, but was rather immersed in his own dream of immortality, in which he alone was the only noble being.


    Regarding the common vice of this vampire family, Swashbuckler muttered: ¡°Damn, how is this old vampire not dead yet¡­¡±


    But he was held fast by the guards, unable to move.


    ¡°I am eternally undead.¡±


    The duke sneered before sinking his teeth into Swashbuckler¡¯s vulnerable neck.


    His blood vessels bulged as his blood was greedily sucked.


    An irreversible transformation was taking place; his body visibly emaciated, his once rosy skin turned deathly pale, and the light of life in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a red glow.


    ¡°Excellent.¡±


    ¡°Throw this insolent scum into the dungeon.¡±


    The duke reluctantly released him, wiping the blood from his mouth with an exquisite silk handkerchief.


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    Much lighter, Swashbuckler was put into an iron cage, just like those Blood Slaves.


    However, Swashbuckler felt no sorrow. Instead, he looked at the information continually updating on his panel with some joy.


    [You have been attacked by the vampire Duke Brad Rackman, transforming into a special template Vampire Variant]


    [Note: This transformation is irreversible]


    [You have acquired the trait Born from Death: Most victims of vampire attacks become Vampire Variants¡ªgreedy creations filled with a vampire¡¯s bloodlust, under the control of their vampire creator.


    If the vampire allows their variant to drink their own blood, the variant also becomes a true vampire, no longer under the creator¡¯s control. Of course, this is extremely rare. Usually, variants only regain freedom upon their creator¡¯s death.


    You have acquired the trait Undying Essence, you do not need to breathe air or eat.


    You have acquired the trait Regeneration, you can recover from any injuries unless attacked by a weakness.


    You have acquired the trait Spider Walk, you can climb walls, and hang from the ceiling.


    You have acquired vampire weaknesses Wounding Water, Wooden Stake Heart Piercing, Sunlight Allergy, Relic Fear. When encountering any of this damage, you may face permanent death.]


    ¡°This template is awesome, combined with my Trickster occupation¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, absolutely devious.¡±


    ¡°Heh heh heh¡­¡±


    He was already fantasizing about stealing like mad, unrestrained, in the mines.


    ¡°But first, I need to get out of here. And that disgusting old vampire, someday I¡¯ll make him pay dearly in Gold Coins.¡±


    Swashbuckler recalled the duke¡¯s caresses, and a chill swept over him.


    ¡°Damn, could this old vampire be a priest¡­?¡±


    He muttered while pulling out thief tools from the hidden pocket of his robe, skillfully picking the lock, a technique he had perfected over time.


    ¡°Creak, creak¡­¡±


    The iron cage door rattled, making a piercing noise.


    When the guards patrolled by, the cage was already empty.


    And Swashbuckler was effortlessly clinging to the ceiling, watching the guards below, silently mocking, ¡°Didn¡¯t see that coming, did you? This is my escape route!¡±

 Chapter 102 - 33: Northwind Castle Log (3)

    Chapter 102: Chapter 33: Northwind Castle Log (3)


    The Swashbuckler clung to the ceiling of the dark dungeon, silently crawling, while the blood slaves in the iron cages let out shrill wails.


    ¡°Ow, ow¡­¡±


    ¡°Blood¡­¡±


    ¡°Give me blood¡­¡±


    They had long lost their sanity from the many years of captivity, their desire for blood reducing them to beasts driven solely by instinct.


    ¡°None of them can even speak properly.¡±


    ...


    The Swashbuckler looked at the blood slaves, shaking his head in exasperation.


    Suddenly, a hoarse voice broke the silence.


    ¡°Newcomer, you should escape. Once the Duke wakes up, you won¡¯t be able to.¡±


    ¡°At least now you can still enjoy playing the cat-and-mouse game, stealing a moment of freedom, pretty amusing, right?¡±


    The Swashbuckler glanced toward the voice. A man stood straight within a cage, his face pale but his attire much more intact, though marked by the ravages of time and partially decayed.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Yeno Rackman.¡±


    ¡°That surname¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am the Duke¡¯s offspring, the former Earl of Herray Fortress, and one of his one thousand one hundred and seventy-two vampire variants, imprisoned here with the blood slaves for rebelling against his brutal ruling.¡± Even in captivity, his tone carried the inherent arrogance of his family.


    The Swashbuckler retorted: ¡°Why do you think I can¡¯t escape?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yeno Rackman chuckled lightly, ¡°Heh.¡±


    The Swashbuckler, unable to bear it anymore, cursed, ¡°F***, what¡¯s wrong with everyone in your family? Is there anyone who can speak normally?¡±


    Yeno¡¯s hoarse voice rose again, ¡°My father¡¯s strength is far beyond your imagination. All vampire variants have a slave mark branded deep within their souls. The Duke can easily control all the variants with his will, and when he ascends, you and I will turn into boiling blood within his body.¡±


    The Swashbuckler replied bluntly, ¡°Then just kill the old vampire, won¡¯t that solve it?¡±


    ¡°Heh¡­¡±


    Another weary chuckle followed.


    The Swashbuckler raged, ¡°What¡¯s so funny, huh? Is it really that funny? Even Creekwood Town¡¯s chicken god I dared to kill, what does an old vampire count for?¡±


    Yeno gently shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve seen too many like you. Over a hundred years in the dungeon, I¡¯ve seen countless escape from their cages, seeking revenge, but ultimately, none have escaped their destined fate, becoming mindless blood slaves. This is the Duke¡¯s eternal curse.¡±


    ¡°So, run while you still have some freedom left.¡±


    ¡°I know my father well. He enjoys this cat-and-mouse game.¡±


    ¡°He often plays the role of the all-knowing and all-powerful, watching his prey spiral into despair. Perhaps¡­he¡¯s watching you now.¡±


    The Swashbuckler shuddered at the thought of the old vampire observing him.


    ¡°That old vampire¡­could he really be all-knowing?¡±


    The Swashbuckler shook his head, dispelling the dreadful thought, and said to the man in the cage, ¡°Then why the f*** did you rebel if it¡¯s all destined? Do you think you¡¯re so noble? If it were truly destined, you wouldn¡¯t be locked up in this godforsaken cage.¡±


    ¡°Your words only show how you¡¯ve become more cowardly.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s silence, Yeno finally spoke, ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right.¡±


    The Swashbuckler, sensing he had the upper hand, continued, ¡°So, there¡¯s no difference between you and those people you mock. Stop pretending to be a prophet, it¡¯s damned irritating.¡±


    He held up two fingers.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you two choices. First, I break you out. You¡¯ve been here for over a hundred years, so you should know something useful, right? If not, you¡¯re a total waste. You¡¯ll lead me to rob your father¡¯s lair and find a chance to take him down.


    ¡°Second, keep rotting in this dog cage, moaning and posing, boasting about your nonsense destined fate to newcomers, only to end up as a pool of blood.¡±


    ¡°Choose.¡±


    Although Yeno didn¡¯t understand some of his terms, he could tell from the tone that it wasn¡¯t anything good.


    He fell silent, staring at the infuriatingly nonchalant face of the Swashbuckler.


    This vampire variant was unlike any he had ever seen. Others, upon becoming vampires, reacted with panic, despair, or rage, but never with such¡­indifference.


    Yes, indifference.


    Every move he made seemed to say, ¡°So what if I die? It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Even upon becoming a vampire variant, instead of panicking, he seemed intrigued, experimenting with his new abilities.


    Too strange.


    In a century, he had never encountered anyone so strange.


    Yeno Rackman remained silent and pensive.


    The Swashbuckler finally couldn¡¯t hold back and muttered, ¡°Are you coming or not? Spare me the sullen face. If you weren¡¯t of some use, I¡¯d have pissed in your cage and bailed. Quit dragging your feet. Are you a man or what?¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    After a long silence, Yeno finally made his choice.


    This peculiar individual might just have the power to break this miserable destiny.


    ¡°There you go, why the hesitance? I almost thought I¡¯d need to haul you out in a grand sedan chair.¡±


    The Swashbuckler grumbled as he deftly picked the lock.


    The iron door creaked open, and Yeno took his first step out of the cage in a hundred years.


    The Swashbuckler urged, ¡°Quickly, is there a treasure room or something? Lead me to rob that old vampire blind. I¡¯ll show him what it means to be robbed of everything he owns!¡±


    Yeno: ¡°¡­¡±


    The Swashbuckler demanded, ¡°Is there or not? Don¡¯t tell me you spent a hundred years telling stories here and can¡¯t even find your dad¡¯s secret stash. If so, get back in the dog cage. I don¡¯t need a useless teammate dragging me down.¡±


    Yeno was speechless. As a noble, it was his first time dealing with someone like this. Still, he said, ¡°I do know the locations of some of my father¡¯s treasure vaults, but they¡¯re heavily guarded. With our limited strength, we may not be able to¡­¡±


    While speaking, he noticed the Swashbuckler had vanished.


    From a dark corner came the sound of rustling. Cloaked in black, the Swashbuckler clung to the wall, stealthily moving like a cockroach.


    ¡°What are you staring at? Never seen a Trickster Thief?¡±


    ¡°Do you even understand stealth? Get up here and lead the way, forget about the guards, we¡¯ll sneak right into that old vampire¡¯s stash.¡±


    Yeno once again fell into silence.


    Hesitating, he finally relinquished his last bit of noble pride and climbed up.

 Chapter 103 - 34 The Contention of Scouts

    Chapter 103: Chapter 34 The Contention of Scouts


    At the edge of Stormy Ridge, more than forty giant eagles were flying in a neat formation.


    On the back of each giant eagle sat a knight dressed in plate armor, with the emblem of an eagle and sword on their chest.


    They were the kin of the Rackham Family, the renowned Northwind Eagle Guards. This time, they dispatched an entire knight order, a total of forty-eight Eagle Guards, as scouts for the war to investigate the enemy¡¯s situation from the air.


    The Rackham Family was indeed putting everything on the line for this.


    This particular Northwind Eagle Guard unit was the sixth regiment, reorganized from Alger¡¯s previous remnants.


    Their current commander was named Nelly, the only female commander among the six Northwind Eagle Guard regiments and a former trusted subordinate of Alger.


    ...


    Nelly, dressed in thick plate armor and holding the commander¡¯s exclusive Eagle Shriek Silver Sword, had a resolute look in her clear eyes.


    ¡°We¡¯re back here again¡­¡±


    ¡°Stormy Ridge.¡±


    She whispered to herself, her voice trembling slightly.


    This place was a heart demon for her. The commander she once admired stayed here forever so that they could escape, unknown whether dead or alive. She believed he would never submit to the evil dragons.


    Most of her former comrades from the sixth regiment, who lived and died together, were buried in the dragonflame inferno.


    Thinking of this, Nelly clenched her teeth and secretly swore.


    ¡°I will avenge you, Commander.¡±


    ¡°And my comrades.¡±


    ¡°I swear, even if it costs my life, we will flatten this evil nest, repay His Grace¡¯s kindness, and let justice and order sweep through all of Anzeta!¡±


    With this in mind, Nelly squeezed her legs, urging the giant eagle beneath her to speed up.


    ¡°Screee¡ª¡±


    A long eagle cry echoed in the sky.


    However, she had forgotten¡ªStormy Ridge¡¯s airspace was no longer a place where Eagle Guards could freely soar. The Ashen Nest was now patrolled day and night by eighteen Red Scale Conquerors, who destroyed any possible enemy due to the large-scale war.


    ¡°Commander, it seems there¡¯s something ahead!¡±


    The leading Eagle Guard reported.


    Nelly peered into the distance, seeing over ten large wyverns coming aggressively, led by a rare Dragon Vein Giant Eagle.


    On the backs of those dragons were knights clad in heavy armor, carrying various weapons. However, they all had ferocious dragonheads, appearing as half-dragon half-human monstrosities.


    ¡°Damn, they¡¯re the Red Dragon Minions!¡±


    ¡°Northwind Eagle Guards, prepare for battle!¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nelly gritted her teeth.


    The Eagle Shriek Silver Sword slashed through the air, producing a piercing whistle.


    She didn¡¯t know about the Red Scale Conquerors, but these dragon-veined evil minions were already infamous in the surrounding areas.


    On the Red Scale Conqueror¡¯s side, Alger had already spotted the enemy.


    After all, this Eagle Guard unit had brazenly entered the Ashen Nest¡¯s airspace without any concealment, naturally caught by Alger¡¯s seasoned eyes, not to mention that the dragon-type creatures had keener vision than humans.


    As he looked at the leader, a trace of surprise flashed in his golden, vertical pupils.


    ¡°Nelly?¡±


    This was his former subordinate, the one who always stuck close to him, a resilient woman.


    But he didn¡¯t expect their next meeting would be on the battlefield.


    Alger quickly steadied himself, his gaze firm, staring at the distant enemy.


    ¡°The former Eagle Guard Alger died in the dragonflame. The one who survived is nothing but a Red Dragon Minion, an unfeeling Red Scale Conqueror.¡±


    He gently stroked the giant eagle¡¯s feathers, calming its agitation. It seemed Igor also recognized their old comrade on the other side.


    ¡°Igor, prepare for battle.¡±


    ¡°After all¡­¡±


    ¡°We each serve our masters.¡±


    His soft words dissipated into the howling wind.


    Alger raised the Everburning Greatsword, its blade igniting with a blazing flame like a beacon in the sky.


    He shouted, ¡°Red Scale Conquerors, destroy them with me!¡±


    The dozen or so players behind him burst out in an array of cheers.


    ¡°Charge, charge, charge!¡±


    ¡°Light it up!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°For faction contribution!¡±


    ¡°Damn, air combat is this intense!¡±


    Facing the larger and fewer wyvern knights, Nelly¡¯s Northwind Eagle Guards instinctively chose a large circle formation, aiming to utilize the giant eagles¡¯ maneuverability and the Eagle Guards¡¯ numerical superiority to encircle and annihilate the wyvern knights.


    But they hadn¡¯t even gotten close before sustaining casualties.


    From several hundred meters away, Singo drew his bow and aimed at the leading Eagle Guard¡¯s giant eagle.


    ¡°Wyvern, hold steady for me.¡±


    Purple runes appeared on the giant eagle¡¯s body, but it remained unaware, continuing to fly steadily under the Eagle Guard¡¯s command.


    Singo released his hold, and under the special skill [Elven Precision] and the spell [Hunter¡¯s Mark], his arrow was guaranteed to hit the mark.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The arrow flew out rapidly.


    It pierced through the giant eagle¡¯s chest, precisely striking its heart.


    The giant eagle fell powerlessly, and the Eagle Guard, along with it, plummeted with a wail, inevitably meeting his death.


    The Red Scale Conqueror players erupted in excitement.


    ¡°Amazing!¡±


    ¡°Singo got the first kill!¡±


    ¡°My contribution value!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not satisfied!¡±


    Beside him, Mantou exclaimed at the falling Eagle Guard, ¡°No way, Singo. Was that a fluke? Hitting from so far away.¡±


    Singo snorted coldly, saying, ¡°Do you understand the value of an Elven Precision Archer¡¯s skill? This is technique. If you¡¯re not convinced, come duel me in an arrow shootout.¡±


    Mantou, knowing he couldn¡¯t win, still retorted stubbornly, ¡°You got lucky with one arrow and you¡¯re already showing off.¡±


    ¡°Dare to shoot another?¡±


    Singo said, ¡°This time, they were unprepared. If they¡¯re sensible, they¡¯ll make adjustments.¡±


    He pointed to the Eagle Guards. Indeed, their formation had already changed.


    Among the Northwind Eagle Guard unit, Nelly looked at the fallen subordinate in shock, muttering to herself,


    ¡°How is this possible¡­¡±


    With her many years of combat experience, she knew that shooting accurately in mid-air severely diminished accuracy, let alone hitting a target several hundred meters away. Even on the ground, it was challenging to hit such a distant target, so she did not make additional arrangements while closing in.


    The death of the Eagle Guard could only mean one thing¡ªthe strength of these dragon minions far exceeded their imagination!


    Nelly quickly raised the Eagle Shriek Silver Sword, commanding loudly:


    ¡°Disperse!¡±


    ¡°Avoid the enemy archers¡¯ shots!¡±


    The Eagle Guards spread out to avoid unnecessary collisions.


    They began to demonstrate their excellent riding skills, constantly changing directions, attempting to surround from all sides.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    Another arrow flew.


    Feathers fluttered in the air.


    A tumbling Eagle Guard fell with a wail.


    Singo lowered his longbow, glancing at Mantou beside him, whose jaw had dropped in disbelief. Singo remarked casually,


    ¡°Trying all these fancy maneuvers, really a pushover.¡±


    Mantou, having no room for further argument, reluctantly admitted, ¡°You really showed off this time.¡±

 Chapter 104 - 35 Aerial Duel

    Chapter 104: Chapter 35 Aerial Duel


    After being shot down unreasonably by the players, the Eagle Guards finally approached a suitable distance and began to retaliate.


    Unfortunately, their archery accuracy during high-speed flight was worrisome, and even if they hit, the soft and powerless arrows couldn¡¯t penetrate the tough scales on the Wyvern¡¯s bodies.


    On the contrary, the players were more heroic, shooting a Giant Eagle down with one arrow at close range. Some who specialized in throwing methods even threw short spears forcefully, piercing both the rider and the eagle simultaneously.


    ¡°Damn, it feels great!¡±


    The player with the ID ¡°Big Blade¡± cheered.


    His strength was as high as 17 points, earning him the nickname Strong Brother among players. He had even specialized in the [Tavern Brawl] skill just to enjoy high-altitude throwing.


    ...


    It should be noted that Giant Eagles only had soft, flight-adapted feathers without any hard scales.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    Nelly bit her lip, her expression grave.


    She witnessed the Eagle Guards falling one after another without causing any effective damage to the enemy, already losing ten people.


    Even Nelly herself had made a dangerously sharp turn, barely dodging an incoming arrow.


    ¡°This can¡¯t go on.¡±


    She made a quick decision, raised her Eagle Howl Longsword, and commanded loudly: ¡°Northwind Eagle Guards, listen! Close in on the enemy, form a circular formation!¡±


    The sky resounded with the sharp cries of eagles.


    The Northwind Eagle Guards decisively abandoned their futile mounted archery retaliations, at all costs closing in rapidly, intending to form small circular formations where three to four Eagle Guards surrounded one Red Scale Conqueror. They planned to use their maneuverability and numerical superiority to defeat these tricky enemies one by one.


    This was part of the Northwind Eagle Guards¡¯ tactical training manual, entirely appropriate.


    Unfortunately, they encountered their former commander.


    ¡ªAlger.


    As the melee approached, Alger looked up at the groups of Eagle Guards encircling him¡ªthe leader being his former subordinate, Nelly.


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve learned well.¡±


    ¡°Nelly¡­¡±


    He recognized this all-too-familiar tactic at a glance.


    But in his days with the players, he had not only been teaching them but had also learned many novel strategies from them, such as the so-called ¡°Energy Maneuver¡± tactics, where kinetic and potential energy were mutually transformed to flexibly respond to different aerial combat situations for maximum combat efficiency.


    The giant eagles were much smaller than the Dragon Vein Giant Eagles, faster, and more agile.


    As many as five Eagle Guards circled around Alger, waiting for an opportunity to harass and attack.


    ¡°Eagle.¡±


    Faced with the encirclement, Alger remained calm, maneuvering his Giant Eagle to climb instantly, turning kinetic energy into potential energy, executing a high-powered aerial loop to easily escape the Eagle Guards¡¯ tight encirclement.


    Nelly watched the Half-Dragon Half-Human Knight, her brows tightly furrowed. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Continue to surround him, don¡¯t give him a chance to counterattack!¡±


    She shouted.


    The Giant Eagles weaved, turned sharply, and rolled in the air.


    Nelly recognized the leader of these half-dragons, so she brought along a full five Eagle Guards to coordinate combat, yet they could gain no advantage and were even being toyed with in the air by the opponent.


    For some reason, she always felt that this enemy¡¯s movements had a familiar touch.


    ¡°Why exactly¡­¡±


    Alger looped up to the highest point, his whole body inverted but still decisively piloting his Giant Eagle in a diving attack.


    ¡°Danger!¡±


    Nelly shouted loudly.


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle traced a beautiful arc in the sky, diving with unstoppable momentum and striking an Eagle Guard in the encirclement from the side.


    The speed was so fast that the Eagle Guard didn¡¯t even realize the danger¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Shu¡ª¡±


    With the terrifying speed of the dive, the blazing Everburning Greatsword cleanly beheaded the Giant Eagle, and the Eagle Guard on its back plummeted down, wailing.


    Alger ascended once more. His speed appeared relatively slow but was building up for the next thrilling attack.


    ¡°Damn evil dragon minion!¡±


    Nelly gritted her teeth, wishing she could hack the menacing dragon¡¯s face into pieces.


    But she forced herself to stay calm, commanding: ¡°Attack while he is ascending! Pay attention to his next dive path!¡±


    The Eagle Guards quickly drew their bows and arrows, releasing volleys of arrows.


    However, Alger, who was ascending, calmly flipped, changed directions, and rolled sideways in the air, performing a fluent aerial waltz. Though it looked breathtaking, the arrows always lagged behind by a step.


    ¡°Eagle.¡±


    Alger whispered.


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle instantly understood and once again dived from high altitude.


    Feathers flurried, blood splattered, and yet another Eagle Guard was effortlessly harvested.


    In front of this Half-Dragon Half-Human Dragon Vein Giant Eagle Knight, the Eagle Guards seemed to be mere playthings, manipulated at will.


    Nelly stayed silent for a while before slowly speaking:


    ¡°Disperse, all of you. Let me handle him.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t lose again¡­¡±


    Nelly¡¯s dark brown pupils gleamed with unwavering determination.


    This rare female Eagle Guard, instead of succumbing to despair after that heart-wrenching battle, carried the will of her fallen comrades, training tirelessly, diving, and slashing repeatedly. She underwent extraordinary trials to finally become the first female commander of the Northwind Eagle Guard in a century.


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t allow the events of five years ago to happen to her again.


    Even at the cost of her life!


    ¡°Terna¡­¡±


    She softly called her Giant Eagle companion¡¯s name, then her tone brightened.


    ¡°This time I won¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªflee hastily!¡±


    Nelly squeezed her legs, driving the Giant Eagle to take flight with a scream, raising the Silver Sword in her hand and launching a direct frontal charge at the fearsome enemy.


    ¡°Die, evil dragon minion!¡±


    Alger, watching Nelly rushing straight at him, murmured:


    ¡°Is this a challenge to a duel¡­?¡±


    ¡°Then so be it.¡±


    Alger¡¯s eyes turned serious.


    He bent his body slightly, gripped the Everburning Greatsword tightly, and piloted the massive Dragon Vein Giant Eagle into a diving charge.


    The distance between them was a hundred meters.


    But in flight, it would pass in an instant.


    Nelly fixed her gaze on the charging figure, her heart pounding, sweat trickling down her hand gripping the sword. The distance was so close now that she could see every scale on the enemy¡¯s face.


    That Half-Dragon Knight began a diving attack, wielding the flaming Great Sword.


    In that instant.


    Nelly suddenly hesitated slightly.


    This movement was too familiar, whether it was the dive, the sword strike, or even the crouching posture.


    A terrifying possibility flashed through her mind¡ªthe evil monster before her, Half-Dragon Half-Person, was in fact her once-admired commander.


    This can¡¯t be!


    No, I am still fighting!


    Nelly quickly regained her senses, gripping the Silver Sword tightly.


    But the brief moment of distraction cost her the final chance of victory.


    ¡°Shu¡ª¡±


    Flames filled her vision, and the sharp longsword mercilessly sliced through her vulnerable neck.


    As her head plummeted from the sky, the beautiful and resilient face still bore a trace of bewilderment and helplessness.

 Chapter 105 - 36: The Arrival of the Allied Forces

    Chapter 105: Chapter 36: The Arrival of the Allied Forces


    Another easy victory.


    Facing enemies stunned in battle, Alger never missed a chance, but he felt no joy in killing them. Even the giant eagle beneath him let out a low, mournful cry.


    Alger looked down at the spot where Nelly had fallen and said calmly,


    ¡°Eagle, I told you, we¡¯re just after our own masters. The old Alger died long ago.¡±


    ¡°Nelly¡­ she should have understood that.¡±


    Without a moment¡¯s mourning for his fallen friend, who he had just killed with his own hands, Alger rode his giant eagle back into the battlefield.


    ...


    ¡°Eagle, continue fighting.¡±


    But the skirmish was nearly over. The novice wyvern knights couldn¡¯t withstand the seasoned Eagle Guards, presenting a one-sided battle.


    ¡°Watch me roast them!¡±


    ¡°Triple kill!¡±


    ¡°Going crazy, killing spree.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t steal my kills, I¡¯m maxing out my contribution today!¡±


    The wyverns, completely disregarding the Eagle Guards¡¯ encirclement, unleashed a torrent of fire, turning numerous guards into charred husks that plummeted to the ground.


    Forget tactics, maneuvering, probing ¨C these players ignored everything. If an Eagle Guard dared to retaliate, they¡¯d charge in and torch them until they couldn¡¯t fight back.


    Tactics?


    Just talking big. In a real fight, who remembers any of that? It all becomes chaotic brawling.


    What?


    You dare to harass from behind?


    The players would even ignore the enemies in front of them, turning around despite the risk of being attacked from both sides, just to bite that sneaky bastard to death.


    More terrifyingly, their natural scales made arrows from behind feel like mere tickles.


    This rough, wild style left the Eagle Guards completely disoriented.


    What kind of fighting is this?


    They didn¡¯t teach this in tactical training!


    With Nelly fallen, the Northwind Eagle Guards were leaderless, and they couldn¡¯t handle the players¡¯ unstoppable, unpredictable fighting style.


    Quickly, the battle turned into a one-sided chase.


    ¡°Keep chasing! Keep chasing!¡±


    ¡°Where are you running?¡±


    ¡°Scoundrels, halt!¡±


    Mantou, riding his wyvern ¡°Noodle,¡± led the charge. Clenching his five-meter lance tightly, his expression was extremely excited.


    The lance was already stained with blood, thirsty for the next enemy¡¯s life.


    Seeing the Eagle Guards flying farther away, desperate for contributions, Mantou activated his skill.


    [Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge!]


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The half-dragon knight and his wyvern roared in unison.


    Their resonant roar was so intimidating it made the nearby giant eagles tremble in instinctive fear, their speed dropping, wings wobbling, unable to maintain normal flight.


    ¡°Haha, prepare to die!¡±


    ¡°Five hundred contributions, here I come!¡±


    Mantou laughed maniacally, diving down on his wyvern.


    Just as his lance was about to pierce the enemy¡¯s back and drink of fresh blood¡ª


    ¡°Whoosh!¡±


    An arrow whizzed past Mantou¡¯s side, hitting the Eagle Guard¡¯s head, the force pushing the arrowhead through his forehead.


    The Eagle Guard fell from his giant eagle.


    Mantou didn¡¯t get the expected contributions, his smug smile slowly fading. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He fumed, shouting angrily into the sky,


    ¡°Xin Dog, why¡¯d you steal my kill! My five hundred contributions¡ª¡±


    From above, Singo¡¯s lazy voice answered, ¡°I¡¯m an archer, aren¡¯t I? If I don¡¯t land finishing blows, what¡¯s the point? I had him targeted long ago. Blame your lance for not being as quick as my arrow.¡±


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re bad, practice more. You¡¯ve only killed a few, I¡¯ve got six thousand contributions already.¡±


    ¡°Then stop stealing my kills! I already stunned him with Dragon¡¯s Roar.¡±


    ¡°You stunned him so I could finish him, right?¡±


    ¡°To hell with you¡­¡±


    The battle had completely devolved into a massacre.


    Alger no longer paid attention to the chaotic fight. He had been with these players long enough to know how utterly insane they could be over ¡°faction contributions.¡± He believed they wouldn¡¯t let a single enemy escape.


    He was more concerned about the whereabouts of the allied forces.


    ¡°These guys are so loud, they¡¯ll be exposed easily¡­¡±


    ¡°Eagle, let¡¯s scout ahead ourselves.¡±


    Alger instructed his giant eagle. After years of cooperation, they were almost telepathic, needing only a gesture to understand each other¡¯s intentions.


    While the players chased after contributions, Alger quietly left on his giant eagle.


    ¡°Finally found it.¡±


    He crossed mountain ranges and eventually spotted his target in the distance. It was too obvious, not requiring much observation.


    ¡ªIt was an enormous army, tens of thousands marching across the wilderness like a mottled torrent. Many wore iron armor, holding spears. Horses neighed, infantry and cavalry interspersed, spear tips gleaming under the sun. Numerous heavy carts, covered with thick cloth, carried unknown contents.


    Several flags waved in the center of the army, the foremost being a grey eagle banner¡ªthe Rackman family¡¯s ¡°Northwind Eagle¡± standard. Behind it followed banners of ¡°Northern Lion¡± Boske and ¡°Double-Headed Eagle¡± Notte. There were various other banners, representing different noble lords.


    Besides soldiers, there was a large number of laborers, carrying loads and driving carts, transporting supplies. Serfs, often still struggling with hunger themselves, were emaciated and bent under the heavy grain bags.


    Many giant eagles circled in the sky, vigilance evident.


    Their military uniforms were easy to distinguish: Rackman¡¯s were typically dark grey, Boske¡¯s leaned toward deep blue, and Notte¡¯s favored earthy yellow.


    In this torrent of people, grey dominated.


    Even the combined population of the twelve kingdoms in the Northern United Kingdom couldn¡¯t add up to a million. Even Rackman¡¯s capital, Northwind Castle, was just a city of over thirty thousand.


    This time, the Rackman family had sent nearly twenty thousand troops, exhausting their resources to destroy the Ashen Nest.


    Gazing at the formidable army, Alger murmured,


    ¡°The allied forces of the Northern Three Kingdoms¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve come, as expected.¡±


    ¡°Anzeta, it has been decades since we¡¯ve seen a war of this scale¡­¡±


    ¡°I must report back to the master immediately.¡±


    Alger commanded his giant eagle to speedily traverse mountains, quickly heading towards Dragon Valley.

 Chapter 106 - 37 War (Part 1)

    Chapter 106: Chapter 37 War (Part 1)


    ¡°Master, this is the situation I observed.¡±


    Alger knelt on the ground and spoke in a deep voice.


    ¡°Very good, I understand.¡±


    Cassius coiled on the highest spot, leisurely grooming his scales, displaying no sense of urgency despite the impending war.


    Within Dragon Valley, the leaders of various factions from the Ashen Nest had already gathered.


    Ogre Mage Ramp, Goblin Chieftain Dolores, Wyvern Leader Stieg, the Chimera, Lizardfolk Leader Acker and Shaman Koda, Kobold Magician Jin Ya¡­


    ...


    And representatives of the newly conquered races: Orcs, Half-Goat People, Pureblood Serpentfolk. Essentially, all notable figures within the Ashen Nest were assembled in the valley, waiting attentively.


    ¡°Anzeta hasn¡¯t seen such a large-scale war for a long time, not since the Northern Lion Alliance War thirty years ago,¡± Dailenna added.


    For now, she served as a strategist and had no real decision-making power, but she was earnest in her efforts.


    ¡°According to Lord Alger¡¯s intelligence, the Allied Forces have now advanced to the edge of Stormy Ridge. Only the Tel¡¯Fah Hills in that region are suitable for large-scale troop movements.¡±


    ¡°And here¡ª¡±


    She spread out a sheepskin map, her slender finger pointing to a spot¡ª a wide, flat valley, flanked on the north by a series of mountain barriers with only one pass leading to Stormy Ridge, and on the south, enclosed by rolling hills.


    ¡°Triel Valley is their inevitable route to Dragon Valley.¡±


    ¡°All we need to do is hold this easily defensible pass¡ª the Throat of Triel, and we can secure Stormy Ridge, blocking the Allied Forces from entering.¡±


    Cassius made no comment and merely looked calmly over his retainers below.


    Ramp adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said in a somber tone, ¡°I think this is a very good idea. We can set up spell traps there in advance, causing disorder among their troops and making them lose the will to fight.¡±


    Cassius gave no response, just continued to gaze down at his retainers.


    The surroundings fell silent, with most of the retainers adopting a wait-and-see attitude.


    Seeing this, Dolores¡¯s eyes flickered, and he snorted a puff of white smoke from his nostrils, shouting at Ramp: ¡°Ramp, you¡¯ve been studying human spells so long that you¡¯ve become as cowardly and apprehensive as a human mage!


    ¡°Are we, the Ashen Nest, really going to hide and defend against a mere group of humans?¡±


    The Great Goblin waved his spear and shouted, ¡°We are the retainers of the mighty Red Dragon, with the blood of destruction and invasion flowing in our veins!


    ¡°We should take the initiative, using flame and strength to utterly destroy them! Crush their pathetic courage and bring them blood and death!¡±


    This time, his proclamation received significant support from the retainers. They were mostly not very smart and extremely revered brute force, making Dolores¡¯s words resonate deeply with them.


    Ramp snorted derisively, ¡°Ignoring a natural barrier and going head-to-head with the enemy? Your head is filled with goblin dung.¡±


    ¡°Pitiful fool.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, Lord Ramp. Those goblins truly are greedy, cowardly, and foolish¡­¡± The Kobold Magician Jin Ya chimed in timely.


    Though talking about goblins, every word made the Goblin Chieftain tremble with rage, turning his already red and ugly face even redder.


    Dolores stepped forward, glaring down at him, and roared fiercely,


    ¡°Jin Ya! Get lost!¡±


    ¡°You are not qualified to speak here!¡±


    But Jin Ya stood alongside the towering Ramp, giving him the courage to confront Dolores. Since they were already at odds, he figured he might as well make it worse.


    The Kobold Magician opened his wings aggressively toward Dolores and said smugly, ¡°Look, who here has the purer bloodline of the master.¡±


    ¡°Who is the true Dragon Vein!¡±


    Dolores laughed angrily, ¡°You¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡±


    The Dragon¡¯s voice broke the tension, and an invisible force of Dragon¡¯s Might spread through the valley, pressing heavily upon each retainer.


    The scene instantly became silent, even eerily still. Whether Ogre, Goblin, or Kobold, all stood obediently, not daring to even breathe loudly.


    ¡°We do need to take the initiative.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon hearing this, Dolores¡¯s face lit up with joy, casting a provocative glance at Ramp.


    Cassius¡¯s tone then paused.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°I intend to give them a grand gift.¡±


    The Red Dragon rose slowly on his forelimbs, unfurling his expansive wings.


    ¡°Woo¡ª¡±


    The horns in Dragon Valley sounded.


    The horns made from the Azure-footed Wyrmhorn emitted a sound as heavy as thunder.


    Goblins drove the massive Land Dragon Beasts forward, causing the ground to tremble with a thunderous rumble. Tieflings and Lizardfolk warriors, fully armed, marched in neat formations. Meanwhile, from countless mines and nests within Stormy Ridge, Kobolds and Goblins surged out like a tidal wave.


    The Ashen Nest, a terrifying beast dormant for years, finally revealed its ferocious claws and fangs.


    ¡­


    In the Northern Allied Forces¡¯ camp, a hand wearing a white glove slapped a map scroll.


    ¡°Here, Triel Valley.¡±


    ¡°Our primary campsite. We can advance to Stormy Ridge and retreat to defend the Throat of Triel, preventing the Ashen Nest from pursuing us. Everything is perfect.¡±


    The man speaking appeared to be in his forties, clad in a richly adorned knight¡¯s armor, with meticulously groomed moustaches, and an air of authority.


    His name was Robert Dudley, the youngest Earl of the Rackman Duchy, the trusted son-in-law of Duke Brad Rackman, commander of the Tri-Nation Alliance, and a seasoned noble knight.


    Inside the tent, a young blonde man in his twenties voiced a concern, ¡°What if they attack from behind and trap us in the valley?¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha!¡±


    The noble lords in the tent burst into laughter again.


    The spokesperson was Andrei Boske, the third son of the ¡°Northern Lion¡± Boske House, and a young and promising Paladin committed to the Oath of Honor.


    However, aside from his personal strength, his naive impulsiveness often amused others, earning him the nickname ¡°Little Lion¡± in private.


    Robert stroked his moustache and laughed, ¡°Andrei, war is not a simple game. In a war involving tens of thousands, moving troops is not as easy as a chess match.¡±


    He pointed at the map.


    ¡°Look here, with the Lext Mountains on the edge of Stormy Ridge, it is impossible for them to appear behind us without warning.¡±


    Andrei thought for a moment before replying softly,


    ¡°I understand, Lord Robert.¡±

 Chapter 107 - 38 War (II)

    Chapter 107: Chapter 38 War (II)


    Count Matthew Notte of the Notte Duchy asked in a clear voice, ¡°What plans do you have regarding the order of the army¡¯s assault?¡±


    As soon as he spoke, everyone in the tent held their breath, as this was the question that the various noble lords present most wanted to ask.


    After all, under the customary feudal system of the North, their armies were their foundations; no one was selfless enough to want to deplete their own strength to win. Many nobles were even participating under half-coercion, though the Rackman Family had made offers that were hard to refuse.


    Duke Robert pressed his gloved hands down slightly and said calmly,


    ¡°Everyone, please remain calm. I will not let your armies die in vain.¡±


    ¡°The Duke has conscripted ten thousand laborers to form the ¡®Legion of Honor,¡¯ who will act as the vanguard. These brave people will test the strength of the evil dragons¡¯ minions for us.¡±


    ...


    The hearts of the nobles finally settled, and no one raised any more questions¡ªso there were cannon fodder to pave the way after all.


    However, Andrei frowned and asked again, ¡°How can we let commoners be cannon fodder? This does not conform to the spirit of knighthood, which values bravery and compassion.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    Everyone laughed again, and the atmosphere lightened significantly.


    This freshly emerged ¡°Little Lion¡± was incredibly naive. They were Northern Nobility after all; who would consider these so-called ¡°Gray Beasts¡± to be worth anything?


    But seeing Andrei¡¯s serious expression, Robert suppressed his laughter and explained,


    ¡°Hmm¡­ They are all volunteers, if they die bravely in battle, the Duchy will compensate their families handsomely.¡±


    ¡°Whether they have families and whether the compensation reaches them is another matter,¡± he silently added in his heart.


    Before the battle, the ¡°Legion of Honor¡± might have been mere farmers in the fields, without any formal military training.


    Aside from poor-quality weapons, they had almost no armor. Their primary work was to feed the warhorses and transport supplies, acting as cannon fodder for the elite troops.


    They were usually the tenant farmers and serfs under local landlords, people with no personal freedom. They didn¡¯t even have the right to the spoils of war; any achievements and spoils would be recorded under their master¡¯s name.


    Such was this group.


    Regarded as mere chaff by the Northern Nobility.


    Andrei felt the mocking glances around him and lowered his head in silence.


    Robert pointed to the map and continued to lay out his tactical arrangements.


    The Rackman Family¡¯s direct army, the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle,¡± numbering over eight thousand, would hold the central position, making a frontal attack once the laborers had scouted the situation.


    The Boske Family¡¯s three thousand-strong ¡°Lionheart Legion,¡± along with the Notte Family¡¯s five-thousand-strong reinforcements, would guard both flanks upon entering Stormy Ridge.


    Private armies of various noble lords, totaling over four thousand, would be interspersed within the allied forces, following the commanders¡¯ orders, though Robert didn¡¯t expect them to be easily controlled. He mixed them up primarily to prevent them from fighting each other before the battle began.


    The three hundred Northwind Eagle Guards would circle in the air, surveying the situation and providing airstrikes at crucial moments. For some reason, the Sixth Northwind Hawk Guard Brigade, sent to scout, had not yet returned, causing Robert considerable frustration.


    A baron from the Rackman Duchy asked in a low voice, ¡°My lord, what about that giant dragon?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard¡­ it¡¯s a terrifying existence.¡±


    His fief was close to Stormy Ridge, and fearful rumors of the dreaded ¡°Flame Wing Dragon¡± often reached the North.


    In those poems, the Red Dragon was described as a beloved of Tiamat, an incarnation of the Infernal Flame Devil, a master of endless flames, the prophesied destroyer of the Northern Kingdom, capable of burning everything.


    Robert sneered.


    ¡°Ha, the so-called ¡®Flame Wing Dragon¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be deceived by those foolish bard¡¯s poems. Whether it¡¯s the intelligence from the Northwind Eagle Guards or my divination spells, it confirms that it¡¯s merely a young Red Dragon with a slightly unusual breath, even smaller than a typical young dragon.¡±


    The mage, ¡®Grey Hawk,¡¯ who was also in the tent, raspily said,


    ¡°This is Sir Schroeder, the Duchy¡¯s Chief Archmage. His mastery of spells is unrivaled among us.¡±


    Robert continued, ¡°Indeed, those so-called poems are likely just the self-aggrandizing propaganda of that vain Red Dragon.¡±


    ¡°Gentlemen, please follow me.¡±


    Feeling that words alone were insufficient, Robert strode out of the tent, followed closely by the nobles.


    They came to an open area where supplies were stored.


    Their eyes were immediately drawn to a massive object covered with a thick cloth, standing over two meters tall. Just this one piece required twelve horses and over a hundred laborers for transport, and there were three of them here.


    They had long noticed it and were intensely curious.


    ¡°Gentlemen, observe¡ª¡±


    At Robert¡¯s cue, the guards stepped forward and removed the thick cloth covering it.


    It was a giant, clumsy mechanical weapon made of coarse black wood and dark gray metal. The body was tall and thick, with a sturdy iron frame at the base supported by several metal wheels to aid in slow movement.


    On top was a conical arrow tube wrapped in iron plates studded with rivets. Long, curved crossbow arms were fixed on either side.


    A giant arrow, as thick as an arm and over two meters long, lay quietly on the bed, its iron tip glinting coldly with traces of blood on it.


    This was a formidable great crossbow!


    ¡°Whoa¡ª¡±


    The crowd gasped in awe at this terrifying weapon of war.


    Duke Robert seemed pleased with their reactions and explained proudly, ¡°This is a Dragon-Slaying Ballista. Its arrowheads are soaked in Dragon Blood, easily piercing a dragon¡¯s scales.


    ¡°A hundred and forty years ago, General Terna Rackman killed the ravaging elder White Dragon¡ªGlacier Wing¡ªwith one of these.¡±


    He raised a finger, waving it deliberately.


    ¡°One shot, just one shot pierced the dragon¡¯s heart.¡±


    ¡°And back then, the great General Terna only had one Dragon-Slaying Ballista.¡±


    ¡°Now, our Rackman Duchy spent tens of thousands of gold coins to acquire these three Dragon-Slaying Ballistae and used hundreds of horses and over a thousand laborers to bring them here. You can understand the immense effort we¡¯ve made and my confidence.¡±


    ¡°If that giant dragon dares to show itself, these three ballistae will bring it down.¡± Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Robert¡¯s tone was filled with certainty.


    ¡°Flame Wing Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Ha, I will make it the ¡®Fallen Dragon.''¡±

 Chapter 108 - 39 War (3)

    Chapter 108: Chapter 39 War (3)


    The vanguard of the allied forces advanced to the hilly area before Triel Valley.


    ¡°Damn, where are the enemies¡­¡±


    The knight on horseback gazed into the distance. He did not see any sign of the monsters, but the numerous traps in Triel Valley had already driven him to distraction. Various pitfalls, poison arrows, lassos, and tripwires only resulted in dozens of deaths, but they caused the front units to move cautiously forward.


    After all, their principal job wasn¡¯t combat; before the war, they were just timid laborers, even serfs without personal freedom.


    The commander of the ¡°Legion of Honor¡± was named Joseph, merely a baron.


    However, he did not even have his own fief; this so-called ¡°baron¡± was more like an honorary title. Joseph was once a lowly carpenter¡¯s son, but through luck, he was chosen by the Rackman Family, received the purest knightly education, and ultimately leaped in social class to become an honorary noble and the commander of this so-called ¡°Legion of Honor.¡±


    ...


    He always felt grateful to the Rackman Family, often fantasizing about dying heroically on the battlefield, repaying the family¡¯s kindness with the death a knight should have.


    Watching the hesitant militia, Joseph suddenly felt an uncontrollable surge of anger.


    This bunch of worms, how dare they serve alongside me!


    I am a knight!


    A noble from above!


    Thinking this, he rode directly to the front of the formation.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    He lashed the hesitant soldiers with his whip, causing them to cry out in pain and agony.


    Joseph shouted angrily:


    ¡°Advance forward for me!¡±


    ¡°No one is allowed to hide at the back!¡±


    ¡°His Grace was merciful enough to provide you scum with food and even relief funds. Is it to waste time here?¡±


    ¡°If such small traps can stop you, where is your courage? How do you live up to the honor of the title bestowed by His Grace?¡±


    Under Joseph¡¯s stern orders, over a hundred supervising officers also used violent means to urge the soldiers forward, finally making the ¡°Legion of Honor¡± advance properly.


    Even though this massive legion often had trampling accidents, at least they would not be stopped by a trap or two.


    Finally, the terrain opened up ahead, flat and expansive, as they finally entered Triel Valley.


    ¡°We finally made it.¡±


    Joseph breathed a sigh of relief.


    Marching through the complex hilly terrain, those various traps had driven him mad.


    Out of the thousands of militia members, they had already lost over a hundred men before even starting the battle, making the remaining ones feel some panic due to those dead soldiers. He had to kill several deserters in a row to barely maintain order.


    ¡°These despicable creatures, they don¡¯t even deserve to be called the ¡®Legion of Honor.''¡±


    ¡°These fellows who utterly lack noble honor¡­ They should be starved to death!¡±


    Joseph cursed silently as he rode his horse.


    ¡°Sir¡­¡±


    The messenger¡¯s voice trembled slightly.


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    ¡°Are there more deserters up ahead, or another trampling accident, or another trap? Don¡¯t bring everything to me to handle; I¡¯m here to fight for honor, not to babysit!¡±


    Joseph spoke impatiently, unable to bear it any longer.


    ¡°No, sir, it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s none of that.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it?¡±


    ¡°Sir, please¡­ please come and see for yourself.¡±


    The messenger¡¯s voice trembled even more.


    Joseph urged his horse forward and looked into the distance, only to stare dumbfoundedly into silence.


    On that flat, expansive wasteland was a mottled torrent made up of goblins and kobolds.


    Their march even stirred up a dust cloud.


    This endless torrent surged in from all directions, probably numbering in the tens of thousands. Their eyes glowed with a haunting light, letting out low, clamorous roars.


    Many of the monsters had sparse scales on their bodies, granted by the bloodline of the Red Dragon, filling their veins with a greedy thirst for slaughter and destruction.


    Dozens of winged kobolds, Urd, flew chaotically in the air.


    ¡°This¡­ this is¡­¡±


    Joseph¡¯s hand holding the reins trembled.


    He had imagined countless times charging on the battlefield, heroically slaying enemies and dying of exhaustion, sacrificing his life for the family.


    He was always moved to tears by such thoughts, secretly determined to die heroically when the opportunity arose.


    But he never imagined the real battlefield would be like this.


    If they rushed into the torrent of monsters, they would be torn to pieces, devoid of any honor and dignity.


    ¡°No, it shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡±


    Joseph murmured to himself.


    For a moment, he even wanted to turn his horse around and flee back to camp.


    But the monsters had already surrounded them from all sides, coming into contact with the militia in the front line.


    Joseph snapped out of his daze and fear, shouting with a trembling voice, ¡°Engage! Engage and kill the enemies!¡±


    In fact, the tactics chosen by Dolores of the Ashen Nest and Robert of the allied forces were surprisingly similar¡ªboth used the cannon fodder legion to pave the way and had elite troops follow.


    This winged kobolds and goblins legion comprised over twenty thousand monsters summoned from various parts of Stormy Ridge, with only about thirty percent possessing a thin bloodline of the Red Dragon.


    Due to their small size, the battle power of goblins and kobolds was inferior to that of ordinary human farmhands, but influenced by the aura of the Red Dragon, they became cruel and belligerent, their willingness to fight far surpassing that of the serf-manned ¡°Legion of Honor.¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°For the Great Red Dragon!¡±


    From the monster legion, waves of roaring shouts arose. On the ¡°Legion of Honor¡± side, under Joseph¡¯s orders, they also sounded the horn of attack.


    Thus, two large-scale cannon fodder legions intertwined, signalling the start of the war.


    The monster legion¡¯s kobolds and goblins attacked frantically, charging at the enemy with no regard for their lives, even though their opponents were just some farmhands.


    Several kobolds surrounded a human, clinging to his roughly made leather armor, hitting his head with stones, and stabbing his body repeatedly with crude daggers.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    A dragon vein goblin threw a short spear that pierced a soldier¡¯s body. With no weapons left, it clawed at him, and finally, leapt onto him to bite, tearing his face into a bloody mess and causing him to howl in pain.


    The winged kobold Urd in the air spewed fire arrows, setting many soldiers¡¯ cloth uniforms alight, turning them into blazing ¡°fire men.¡±


    Flames, blood, dust.


    There was no tactic on this battlefield, just pure and primitive slaughter, with chaos reigning supreme.


    Within just a few minutes of contact, the ¡°Legion of Honor¡± had lost over a hundred men. Panic, wails, and cries resounded, and this cannon fodder army was inevitably heading towards collapse.

 Chapter 109 - 40 War (4)

    Chapter 109: Chapter 40 War (4)


    ¡°No, it shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°I was chosen by His Grace the Duke as a knight¡­¡±


    Joseph, riding his horse, stopped not far from the battlefield, staring intently at the rapid defeat of the ¡°Legion of Honor.¡±


    His ¡°soldiers¡± were crying and howling, fleeing in all directions, chased by those short but exceptionally ferocious monsters.


    In countless fantasies, Joseph had envisioned himself leading charges, defeating enemies, and eventually receiving special commendation from the Duke, being granted land, and becoming a true noble.


    ...


    At the very least, he would bravely kill enemies in the presence of witnesses, fight to exhaustion, die heroically, and become a tragic hero celebrated by bards.


    But now, he was leading a bunch of ¡°Gray Beasts¡± towards defeat, about to die meaninglessly and unobserved on this desolate plain.


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be like this!¡±


    Joseph¡¯s face suddenly turned ruthless as he made up his mind.


    As people fled in swarms, he spurred his horse and leaped high, charging against the flow, trampling several people and even decapitating the foremost deserter with his sword.


    Joseph held up the deserter¡¯s head, his face covered in blood, and roared ferociously:


    ¡°Do you see this? This is the fate of deserters!¡±


    ¡°You cowards! Scum!¡±


    ¡°Fight! Battle to the death!¡±


    At this moment, to the soldiers, he looked no different from the monsters chasing them.


    Joseph¡¯s fierce rallying cry actually had some effect, slowing the retreat slightly. Faced with the choice of dying in battle or being killed by their commander, many soldiers mustered a shred of courage for a final stand.


    But soon, they were overwhelmed by the tide of monsters and fell into a more complete rout.


    Surrounded by goblins and kobolds, people could only instinctively retreat.


    ¡°Die, you monsters!¡±


    Joseph, still on his horse, sliced off a kobold¡¯s head with one swing.


    But soon, goblins swarmed him from all directions, jumping onto him, holding his arms, clawing at his eyes, and biting his face.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    He fell hard from his horse.


    Joseph crashed to the ground, tearing off the goblin clinging to his arm and stabbing it to death, his face twisted in pain.


    ¡°Damn you scum! Die!¡±


    His voice was hoarse, spitting with rage, as he summoned his last strength to stand, shaking off the goblins from his body.


    But before he could swing his sword again, more goblins pounced on him, their weight causing the already exhausted Joseph to stumble and fall.


    He struggled repeatedly, but this only attracted more goblins and kobolds, with dozens of monsters piling onto him like a small mountain, pinning him down, unable to move.


    ¡°Die, die¡­¡±


    ¡°Die¡­¡±


    His voice grew weaker, eventually drowned in the cacophony of monsters¡¯ cries.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°For the great Red Dragon Master!¡±


    Kobolds and goblins continued their pursuit and slaughter.


    When the piled-up monsters finally scattered, the ground was left with just a puddle of blood, scattered bones, and shredded clothing. The emblem of a hawk and sword on the chest of the clothing stained with blood, unnoticed by anyone.


    It had once been a symbol of nobility that Joseph was fanatically enamored with.


    But on this bloody battlefield, it was nothing, not even worth picking up by the kobolds.


    ¡­


    Aiden, the commander of the First Regiment of the Northwind Eagle Guards, descended on his giant eagle and strode into the tent, reporting solemnly.


    ¡°Lord Earl, the Legion of Honor is in full retreat.¡±


    ¡°About six thousand routed soldiers are approaching our position.¡±


    Robert nodded slightly and said calmly, ¡°Only lasted less than an hour, just as I expected. These rabble¡¯s only use was to scout the way for our troops, reducing unnecessary losses.¡±


    He rhythmically tapped the table, ¡°What about the enemy¡¯s situation?¡±


    ¡°Mainly goblins and kobolds, around twenty thousand of them. Some of them are evil dragon minions, but they can only handle the so-called ¡®Legion of Honor¡¯ and pose no real threat to us.¡±


    ¡°Good, it¡¯s time to show these foolish and ignorant monsters¡ª¡±


    ¡°What real warfare looks like.¡±


    Robert slowly stood up and walked out of the tent.


    Aiden and Schneider followed closely behind.


    Dressed in gray robes and armed with spears and shields, the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle¡± formed tight phalanxes with their shields intricately carved with hawk feathers. The five-meter-long spear tips gleamed ominously, resembling a forest of steel.


    War horses neighed as the plate-armored cavalry prepared to charge at any moment.


    In the sky, hundreds of Eagle Guards flew in orderly circles, constantly vigilant of their surroundings.


    Behind the tent on the open ground, soldiers worked together to push heavy ballistae forward slowly.


    ¡°My soldiers¡ª¡±


    Robert¡¯s voice was not loud, but thanks to a spell, everyone present could hear him clearly.


    ¡°Real warfare is upon us. This time, we face unprecedented enemies: the brutal monsters: goblins, kobolds, ogres, and even giant dragons.¡±


    ¡°They may be strong, or incredibly powerful, or capable of spewing terrifying flames, but remember, behind you lies the Rackman Duchy, where your parents, wives, children, and friends reside. The Red Dragon¡¯s expansion is relentless, and our only choice is to fight back as best we can, showing these monsters our might!¡±


    ¡°The Duchy has shielded us with peace for years. You have grown up under the Duke¡¯s protection. Now, any man who knows gratitude and has blood in his veins should know to repay this kindness, fighting to the death for His Grace and the Rackman Duchy!¡±


    ¡°For the Duke, for the Rackman Duchy!¡±


    Robert raised his Silver Sword, shouting.


    These elite soldiers of the Rackman Family, mostly from cities, often descendants of urban petty bourgeoisie or minor nobles, had received top-notch military education since childhood. This talk of ¡°protecting those around you, repaying the nation¡± resonated deeply with them.


    Thus, the soldiers also raised their weapons, the rhythmic sound of spear shafts hitting the ground echoing, producing wave after wave of cheers.


    ¡°For the Duke¡ª


    ¡°For the Rackman Duchy¡ª¡±


    The rousing cheers reverberated through the camp.


    Yet, a shadow crossed Robert¡¯s face.


    He turned aside and asked in a low voice, ¡°Aiden, why hasn¡¯t the Sixth Regiment returned yet?¡±


    Aiden¡¯s heart sank, and he quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but they might have¡­ encountered that dragon.¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 110 - 41: War (Part 5)

    Chapter 110: Chapter 41: War (Part 5)


    ¡°Help me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t eat me!¡±


    The routed soldiers of the ¡°Legion of Honor¡± had already fled to the central army, followed by a surging tide of Goblins and Kobolds.


    ¡°Please, save me!¡±


    The elite soldiers of the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle¡± stood motionless, coldly watching the routed troops being slaughtered. They held their spears tightly, forming a solid shield formation.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    ...


    Robert gave the order.


    Horn blew, and the spear and shield soldiers advanced in unison, their movements coordinated and orderly, like a wall slowly advancing.


    The tide of Goblins and Kobolds clashed against this wall. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The shields blocked the monsters¡¯ assaults, while spears thrust out from the gaps between the shields, spearing multiple Goblins and Kobolds at once.


    The archers behind the spear and shield soldiers drew their bows and loosed arrows that arced gracefully through the air, raining down and pinning many monsters to the ground.


    It was truly a formidable elite unit. Within mere minutes, the seemingly endless horde of monsters was decimated, the ground littered with Goblin and Kobold corpses.


    The spear and shield soldiers continued their crisp, orderly march, trampling over the corpses without hesitation.


    In the face of this one-sided battle, even the fearless Dragon Vein Goblins and Kobolds began to scatter in all directions.


    ¡°Good, just like that, crush them!¡±


    ¡°Keep advancing!¡±


    Robert watched the one-sided battle from afar, a hint of joy finally appearing on his face.


    It seemed that the retainers of the Ashen Nest were no match for a regular army. Now the only concern was that cunning Red Dragon.


    ¡°Advance! Bring the Dragon-Slaying Ballista!¡±


    Dozens of strong soldiers pushed the massive ballista, its wheels creaking.


    Over twenty thousand regular troops followed the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle¡± formation, advancing unimpeded into the Triel Valley in just one day.


    Apart from clearing some scattered Kobold and Goblin squads, they encountered little resistance.


    But soon, the allied forces realized they were wrong.


    The weak Kobolds and Goblins were merely cannon fodder to delay them, while the true forces of the Ashen Nest were waiting in formation within Triel Valley.


    ¡°So¡­¡±


    ¡°This is their real army.¡±


    Robert gazed into the distance, his expression gradually growing serious.


    The entire field of view was occupied by a gigantic monster legion.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Several land dragon beasts, as large as small mountains, walked, causing the ground to rumble. They were covered in massive iron armor plates, like moving steel fortresses.


    Hundreds of Bipedal Wyverns circled and glided in the sky, casting chaotic shadows on the ground as they roared.


    The towering and muscular Ogres roared fervently, their rolls of fat trembling, shouting ¡°Enemies¡± and ¡°Food.¡±


    The most striking Ogre was over six meters tall, covered in red scales, wearing a patched and assembled robe, looking particularly strange.


    Dragon Vein Goblins formed tight formations, the front row wielding standard metal staffs, emanating a scent of smoke.


    The Lizardfolk held bone spears and beastskin shields, their vertical pupils emitting a cold glint, an indication of absolute ruthlessness towards their enemies.


    Known as the ¡°Children of the Devil,¡± the Tieflings stood ready under the lead of the Oathbreakers, many of them full of hatred for the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle.¡±


    And in front of them were still hills of Goblins and Kobolds, but these troops were mostly all Dragon Veins, their combat power not much inferior to ordinary human soldiers, with quite a few Kobold Spellcasters among them.


    A thousand players were mixed into this terrifying monster legion, ironically standing out as they didn¡¯t look intimidating enough.


    Suddenly, stirring music echoed around¡ªit was the Half-Goat People military band playing the pan flute.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    A distant dragon¡¯s roar resounded.


    A massive, hideous head appeared on the horizon, followed by expansive wings that blotted out the sky, and an enormous dragon body.


    Compared to it, those land dragon beasts were like tiny rats.


    Robert gazed upward at the spectacular sight, dumbfounded, muttering:


    ¡°By the Gods¡­¡±


    ¡°How¡­ is this possible?¡±


    He even forgot to order the Dragon-hunting Crossbow to fire.


    The allied forces were in an uproar, filled with terror. How could humans possibly contend with such a monster?


    The Red Dragon looked down on the allied forces with undisguised contempt in its golden vertical pupils.


    ¡°Humans, I admire your courage.¡±


    But unfortunately, you misplaced your courage. You believed yourselves to be heroes eliminating evil yet only became tools for that Vampire Duke.¡±


    ¡°Enough¡­¡±


    ¡°Since you seek war, I will grant you¡­ total death by fire.¡±


    Robert finally regained his senses, hurriedly commanding: ¡°Dragon-Slaying Ballista! Dragon-Slaying Ballista! Kill him!¡±


    The soldiers, though fearful, obeyed the order and began loading the great crossbow at the rear.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    Schroeder reminded from the side: ¡°Marquis, a massive dragon like that wouldn¡¯t appear on the Prime Material Plane. That¡¯s an illusion technique, projecting a pre-made image into the air. Quite a clever trick.¡±


    ¡°But this doesn¡¯t mean much, it only shows that there¡¯s a skilled Spellcaster in the Ashen Nest, and the dragon dares not confront us directly, likely knowing we possess large-scale dragon-slaying weapons.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s it.¡±


    Robert finally felt a wave of relief, letting go of his fear.


    He watched carefully and noticed that the edge of the dragon seemed slightly translucent and wavering with flames.


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    ¡°Cunning evil dragon.¡±


    He felt ashamed and angry at his earlier misstep, his hatred growing stronger.


    The dragon in the sky turned into a mass of flames and disappeared, leaving only its last words echoing in people¡¯s ears¡ª¡±I will burn everything to ashes.¡±


    The information that the dragon was an illusion quickly spread through the allied forces, calming their fear somewhat. After all, they faced an unknown dragon.


    The North had not seen dragon disasters for over a hundred years, the last being ¡°Glacier Wing.¡±


    However, on the hillside, Dolores raised her sword, shouting: ¡°Did you hear the master¡¯s words? Destroy them utterly! For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    The monsters erupted in a frenzy, cheering, roaring, howling, and shrieking. There was a newfound greed and fanaticism in their eyes as they looked at the allied forces.


    The Kingdom Allied Forces and the Ashen Kin stood in opposition.


    The stalemate finally broke.


    War was about to erupt.

 Chapter 111 - 42 War (VI)

    Chapter 111: Chapter 42 War (VI)


    The leaders of the Family Members issued orders, and the heavy sound of horns echoed.


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    ¡°Crush them!¡±


    Smoke and dust billowed, and the ground trembled.


    The Half-Goat People played the pan flute, performing a magical suite that made the monsters even more frenzied, but this tune was ironically taught to them by a bored Bard player, ¡°the Mass.¡±


    Under this majestic, soul-stirring melody, a horde of clawing monsters charged at the humans, creating an ironic contrast.


    ...


    The Kobolds and Goblin Legion at the front swarmed in a frantic attack on the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle¡± Spear and Shield Soldiers¡¯ defense line.


    From behind the Spear and Shield Soldiers, hundreds of archers released volley after volley of arrows, causing casualties among the Dragon Vein Monsters before they could reach the line.


    But the Kobolds and Goblins behind them marched on without hesitation, even stepping over the bodies of their fallen comrades, showing a fearless advance that arrows could not deter.


    Even when they reached the front of the Spear and Shield Soldiers, they were easily slain by spears.


    However, under the cover of life-sacrificing Kobolds and Goblins, the three hundred-strong Goblin Infantry Brigade, composed of Dragon Vein Great Goblins, moved forward in orderly steps to the beat of the drums.


    Even with the high-spirited music, if a Great Goblin fell to an enemy¡¯s arrow, another would step in to fill the gap without hesitation.


    Fortunately, most Great Goblins wore leather armor and were often protected by scales, so ordinary arrows couldn¡¯t easily kill them, resulting in minimal losses during the advance.


    When they were just fifty paces away from the Spear and Shield Soldiers, the Great Goblins halted and shouldered their spears.


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    Dolores let out a frenzied roar.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a roar of gunfire, acrid smoke enveloped the battlefield, obscuring visibility.


    On the Allied Forces¡¯ side, the Spear and Shield Soldiers¡¯ thin shields were pierced by the powerful bullets, as if made of paper, and many soldiers in robes behind them were also hit, falling backwards.


    The ¡°Breaker of Enemies,¡± magically modified by the Mechanic Mages, was far more powerful than historical smoothbore guns, and each shot produced a thick layer of smoke.


    Just from this volley, the front line of ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle¡± saw over two hundred Spear and Shield Soldiers dead or injured.


    ¡°Tampas above¡­¡±


    ¡°How do these monsters form such an army,¡±


    Robert muttered in disbelief as he observed the situation from the rear.


    His view was blocked by the thick smoke, unable to see the clumsy reloading of the Goblin Infantry Brigade, but his battlefield experience led him to infer: This level of attack likely required extensive preparation time.


    ¡°Northwind Winged Cavalry, prepare to charge!¡±


    The messengers quickly relayed the signal to the front lines. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Winged Cavalry, clad in heavy plate armor, held lances adorned with Grey Hawk banners, and had wing-like ornaments spread behind them.


    These winged ornaments were not merely decorative; during a charge, the wings sliced through the air, producing a piercing whistle that spooked enemy horses and exerted significant psychological pressure on the foe.


    ¡°They can¡¯t be stopped,¡±


    Robert had great confidence in his cavalry.


    This cavalry, having fought countless battles, had seen numerous enemies flee in panic under the whistle of the wings, heading towards defeat.


    ¡°For His Grace, charge!¡±


    Smoke and dust billowed, and the ground quaked.


    Over four hundred Winged Cavalry galloped across the flat wasteland, the whistles from their winged ornaments shrieking, their hooves thudded heavily on the ground.


    ¡°Wind Making Spell!¡±


    The spellcasters of the Allied Forces conjured gusts of wind to disperse the smoke.


    Yet, as the smoke slowly cleared, the cavalry faced not only the reloading Infantry Brigade but also the mountain-like Land Dragon Beasts.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Land Dragon Beasts bellowed, their steps making the ground tremble.


    Under the shadow of these colossal creatures, the Winged Cavalry looked up in bewilderment, their once determined faces now showing fear.


    The seasoned warhorses too instinctively neighed in terror, some throwing their knights off.


    But now, within thirty paces, they couldn¡¯t stop.


    They had no choice but to charge forward with gritted teeth.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    With a roar, a Land Dragon Beast plunged into the close formation of charging cavalry.


    In a single encounter, several knights were crushed under its claws, reduced to a bloody pulp.


    Many more knights crashed into the enormous body, their lances, even if they pierced the rough and thick skin of the beast, couldn¡¯t penetrate deeply. They could only watch as the colossal creature collided, plunging them into darkness.


    Dolores could no longer suppress his bloodlust and personally came to the front line.


    This Dragon Vein Great Goblin stood three meters tall, unarmored, yet his muscle-bound body was covered in hard scales, impervious to ordinary weapons.


    In his hands was a five-meter-long heavy Great Axe¡ªthe ¡°Bloodfire Battle Axe.¡±


    This long-handled battle axe, with a rough blade stained with old blood, was said to have required twelve Goblins to laboriously transport it to the camp when first made. But the Dragon Vein¡¯s immense strength allowed Dolores to wield it effortlessly.


    Now, the Dragon Vein Great Goblin was a pure killing machine.


    With his eyes blood-red, hot white smoke puffed from Dolores¡¯s nostrils as he leaped onto the Land Dragon Beast, wielding the Great Axe.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°I will¡ªcrush you!¡±


    With a whistling swing, the Bloodfire Battle Axe drew a semi-circular arc in the air, slicing a Winged Cavalry knight in half at the waist with great force.


    Yet it did not stop there; the axe continued, killing three more, the blade soaked in fresh blood still warm.


    ¡°Excellent¡­ just like this,¡±


    Blood splattered onto the Great Goblin¡¯s crazed face; he licked it, savoring the metallic taste of blood mixed with rust.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    Dolores raised the battle axe high, splitting a knight and his horse from head to toe.


    With the Great Axe in hand, he became a relentless killing machine, slaughtering cavalry around him, leaving severed limbs and broken bodies in his wake. The Winged Cavalry scattered, fleeing like hunted lambs from this terrifying figure.


    The Infantry Brigade, having reloaded, commenced free shooting at the cavalry. Though their hit rate on the fast-moving targets was low, many knights still fell from their horses.


    ¡°Tampas above¡­¡±


    ¡°These are truly¡­ monsters,¡±


    Robert observed the chaotic battle, his expression growing grim, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.


    His prideful Winged Cavalry was utterly ineffective against these ruthless and brutal monsters.


    Now, he needed to rethink his tactics.

 Chapter 112 - 43 War (VII)

    Chapter 112: Chapter 43 War (VII)


    Of more than four hundred cavalrymen, less than thirty percent remained, and the death toll continued to rise as the cavalry scattered in every direction.


    Meanwhile, the spear and shield soldiers suffered heavy casualties under the continuous volleys from the Goblin Infantry Brigade. The once-tight formation now showed gaps, and the soldiers behind grew fearful, unwilling to fill the voids before them, as doing so seemed akin to suicide.


    Fortunately, after several rounds of volley, the Great Goblins¡¯ ammunition ran out, and they discarded their smoking guns, switching to sharp blades.


    The Ogres and Lizardfolk charged in unison, clashing violently with the main force of the allied army, the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle,¡± in a ferocious melee.


    This was the fiercest battlefield on the frontlines.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ...


    ¡°For the great Red Dragon Lord!¡±


    Dolores led the charge, brandishing his Bloodfire Battle Axe fiercely. Several horrified spear and shield soldiers were pulverized into bloody paste by his blows, and the nearby soldiers, witnessing the horror, fled in terror.


    The once-sturdy formation of the allied forces was forcefully breached by Dolores, creating a massive gap.


    The monsters behind cheered fanatically, flooding through the breach and slaughtering madly within the ranks, using claws and fangs or blades to relentlessly expand their advantage.


    The Great Goblins hacked with knives, Lizardfolk hurled bone spears, and Ogres swung large clubs while Kobold Magicians spewed flames.


    ¡°Enemies!¡±


    The Ogre called ¡°Bighead¡± roared angrily, smashing a heavily armored soldier into a pulp with one strike. Yet, he did not continue his attack. Instead, he looked around, then tore a chunk from the mangled remains and stealthily stuffed it into his mouth. A satisfied expression appeared on his ugly face.


    ¡°Canned men, delicious.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t let the boss know. He doesn¡¯t allow Bighead to eat canned men. If I eat it, he¡¯ll hit me again.¡±


    Bighead muttered to himself quietly.


    Unbeknownst to him, Ramp was watching this scene with a dark expression, relying on the Magic pendants the Ogres carried.


    ¡°Bighead! You¡¯re stealing food again!¡±


    Ramp¡¯s angry voice suddenly appeared next to Bighead. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bighead was so frightened that he immediately covered his head, instinctively wanting to protect it from being knocked unconscious by a club.


    But after a quick scan, he didn¡¯t see Ramp¡¯s tall figure. Confused, he rubbed his oversized head, muttering, ¡°Strange, I clearly heard the boss¡¯s voice¡­¡±


    ¡°Could I have heard wrong?¡±


    Soon enough, his simple mind was distracted by the enticing aroma of the flesh, and he forgot all about it.


    ¡°Never mind. Keep fighting the canned men!¡±


    Bighead let out an excited shout and rejoined the bloody battle to fill his belly.


    To these monsters infused with the Red Dragon¡¯s bloodline, killing was as mundane as eating or drinking, but for humans, it was far from the same.


    ¡°Help me¡ª¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let me go, I don¡¯t want to fight anymore!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re demons incarnate!¡±


    ¡°Let me leave here¡­¡±


    Many soldiers, witnessing their comrades falling one after another under the monstrous onslaught and dying gruesomely, were overwhelmed and desperately tried to escape this dreadful meat grinder.


    ¡°Deserters face execution!¡±


    However, the supervising officers at the rear blocked these fleeing soldiers, mercilessly cutting them down with the Sword of Judgment and forcing them to turn back and face the enemy.


    But this only slightly slowed down the overall retreat, unable to halt the inevitable collapse of the entire army.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let this continue.¡±


    Robert watched his defensive line being rapidly overrun by the Monster Legion, his brow furrowing deeply.


    He called for the commander of the Northwind Eagle Guards.


    ¡°Aiden, it¡¯s your turn to act. Stop them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡±


    Aiden accepted the order, leapt onto his Giant Eagle, and took flight, raising his Eagle Shriek Silver Sword in the air, causing a sharp whistling sound to resonate.


    ¡°Northwind Eagle Guards, prepare to charge!¡±


    Over a hundred Giant Eagle Knights soared high, their loud eagle cries echoing as they swooped down rapidly.


    ¡°Fight for His Grace!¡±


    ¡°Charge with me!¡±


    One by one, the Giant Eagles swept over the battlefield, casting patchy shadows and bringing down their lances and longswords.


    The monsters suffered heavy casualties under the concentrated charge of the Eagle Guards, even the thick-skinned Ogres found themselves skewered by the aerial lances.


    After several charges, supported by the air assault, the rout of the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle¡± was temporarily halted, showing faint signs of pushing the front line back.


    But the Northwind Eagle Guards had evidently forgotten that they were not the only ones in the sky. Just as they completed another dive and began to ascend again¡ª


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The cry of Wyverns echoed.


    The Red Scale Conquerors descended from the heavens with blazing flames.


    They had been circling high above the clouds, waiting for the opportune moment. The moment the Northwind Eagle Guards relaxed and exposed a weakness, Alger seized the opportunity and gave the order to attack.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°Charge!¡±


    Alger raised his Everburning Greatsword.


    The Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge commenced collectively, accompanied by imposing roars. Seventeen Ancestral Wyverns breathed torrents of searing flames, creating a raging sea of fire before them.


    The Northwind Eagle Guards were still in tight formation, slowly ascending, never anticipating an aerial assault.


    When the Dragon¡¯s Roar sounded, the Giant Eagles succumbed to uncontrollable fear, incapable of evading. When the Eagle Guards panicked and looked up, their vision was entirely engulfed by flames.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The flames raged wildly in the sky, the Giant Eagles ignited one by one, becoming flaming meteors crashing to the ground.


    Alger¡¯s timing was nearly flawless. With just this one wave of the Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge, almost an entire company of nearly a hundred Eagle Guards was incinerated.


    ¡°Scatter! Scatter!¡±


    ¡°Retreat quickly!¡±


    Aiden¡¯s anguished roar echoed.


    He finally understood why the Sixth Eagle Guard Regiment had mysteriously vanished: the Ashen Nest concealed a terrifying aerial force.


    Not only the mindless Wyverns but also Flying Knights!


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    As the Red Scale Conquerors charged, the Wyvern leader ¡°Stieg¡± let out a long cry. The Bipedal Wyverns took to the air chaotically, chasing after the isolated Eagle Guards.


    The Chimera¡¯s three heads roared in unison, flapping their Dragon Wings as they, along with two female kindred, joined the fray.


    The aerial battlefield grew ever more tumultuous.


    Flames, arrows, and lances crisscrossed chaotically in the sky.


    Three Chimeras, over a hundred Wyverns, eighteen Red Scale Conquerors, and the remaining two hundred Northwind Eagle Guards engaged in a perilous aerial battle, unable to afford any distractions¡ªfor even a momentary lapse would result in attacks from all directions.


    Humans and monsters continually plummeted from the skies.


    With the human forces on the ground losing their aerial support, they were once again pushed back by the monsters, forced to retreat amidst screams and devastation.

 Chapter 113 - 44: War (VIII)

    Chapter 113: Chapter 44: War (VIII)


    The commander of the allied forces, Count Robert, nervously watched the battle in the sky.


    The adjutant quietly suggested, ¡°My lord, should we use the Dragon-Slaying Ballista to support the Northwind Eagle Guards? Those wyverns shouldn¡¯t be able to withstand our bolts.¡±


    ¡°No, maintain vigilance.¡±


    Robert¡¯s tone was somewhat grave.


    Although the Northwind Eagle Guards were his most important asset, his mind was plagued with doubts: Where was that Red Dragon, the leader of the Ashen Nest? It had not appeared since the start of the war!


    It only took a little thought to realize that a force capable of cultivating such a legion couldn¡¯t possibly be an ordinary young Red Dragon.


    ...


    Robert could only secretly pray, hoping the gods would bless his Dragon-Slaying Ballista to be effective against that Red Dragon.


    ¡°We must wait for that Red Dragon to appear.¡±


    Sweat dripped from Robert¡¯s forehead. At some point, the air in the Triel Valley had become stiflingly hot, unlike its usual freshness.


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    The adjutant reluctantly stepped back. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the sky and on the ground, tens of thousands of humans and monsters clashed and tangled in a chaotic melee.


    A Bugbear crushed the skull of a Spear and Shield Soldier with a Wolf Fang Club, brain matter splattering. But several archers behind the fallen soldier drew their bows and turned the towering Bugbear into a pincushion. A wyvern swooped down from the sky, its sharp poisonous stinger piercing through the archers. However, the Northwind Eagle Guards dived in from behind, lances piercing the wyvern¡¯s vulnerable neck¡­


    ¡°I will crush you!¡±


    Once again, Dolores led the charge, swinging his heavy Bloodfire Battle Axe with great force.


    This Great Goblin had already tasted the sweetness of battle; he knew well how terrifying a weapon of war he was now.


    But this time, instead of splitting his enemies as expected, his axe was blocked by a heavy shield, requiring great effort to pull it out.


    ¡°For order, stand forth!¡±


    Before him stood seven warriors in silver-white heavy armor. They were the ¡°Oath of the Crown¡± Paladins of the Boske Family, led by the renowned ¡°White Lion Knight¡± Tarik, who was surrounded by a Guardian Aura¡ªit was he who had single-handedly blocked Dolores¡¯s swing.


    They had come specifically to support the central army.


    ¡°Savage monster, we will grant you purification!¡±


    At Tarik¡¯s command, the Paladins surrounded Dolores.


    ¡°Guardian Chain!¡±


    The Paladins raised their Silver Swords, and radiant chains linked them, distributing the damage from every attack among them, moving and acting as one.


    ¡°Damn tortoise shells.¡±


    Dolores swung his axe repeatedly, but each strike clashed against the Paladins¡¯ shields.


    With the radiant chains flickering, the force of each attack was divided into seven portions, allowing the Paladins to easily block and counterattack with their Silver Swords.


    Dolores attempted to break through in another direction, avoiding these troublesome Paladins.


    However, Tarik immediately saw through his intentions.


    ¡°Forced Duel!¡±


    The Silver Sword glowed, dragging Dolores into a holy duel. He could neither escape nor break the Paladins¡¯ defenses, while the Paladins used their numerical advantage to launch attacks from all directions.


    For a moment, Dolores was at a disadvantage, covered in wounds.


    ¡°Lord Dolores, I¡¯m here to help you!¡±


    The Lizardfolk leader, Acker, charged in on his Land Dragon Beast, sending several Paladins flying.


    But the Paladins quickly got up and reformed their impregnable formation, like a seamless silver fortress.


    The Lizardfolk Old Shaman, Koda, followed closely, wielding a wooden staff.


    [Scorching Metal]


    A Paladin¡¯s shield turned red-hot, his hands scorched black, sizzling. He couldn¡¯t bear it and threw the shield aside, trying to retreat to the rear.


    The Old Shaman squinted slightly, an undetectable emerald light flickering on the wooden staff.


    [Entangle]


    Tight coils of wild grass and vines sprang from the ground, binding the isolated Paladin tightly.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    Dolores and Acker seized the opportunity and charged.


    The surrounding Paladins tried to block with their shields, but it was too late.


    The Paladin was first pierced through the shoulder by a Bone Spear, then his skull was shattered by a powerful swing from the Great Axe. Even though he was still linked by the Guardian Chain, without the shield¡¯s protection, his flesh and blood couldn¡¯t withstand the heavy strike of the Great Axe.


    ¡°Watch out for their spellcasters!¡±


    ¡°Guard formation!¡±


    Tarik shouted loudly.


    The remaining Paladins reformed their tight formation, facing off against Dolores and his retainers, with numerous soldiers dispatched to cover them. Even the allied spellcasters hurried to join.


    [Mithril Rampart]


    [Protective Array]


    The reduced Paladins became more cautious, multiple protective spells surrounding them, leaving Dolores temporarily finding no chance to attack.


    Panting heavily, Dolores glared at his enemies, his blood-red eyes filled with a desire to kill.


    ¡°Koda, can you cast that spell again?¡±


    ¡°My Force of Nature has not reached that level, and they have too many protective spells¡­¡±


    The Lizardfolk Shaman shook his head helplessly.


    ¡°Damn tortoise shells.¡±


    Dolores cursed through gritted teeth, then charged again on his Land Dragon Beast.


    But the Paladins¡¯ silver rampart blocked him again and again, preventing him from advancing an inch.

 Chapter 114 - 44 War (VIII)_2

    Chapter 114: Chapter 44 War (VIII)_2


    With the loss of Dolores as a breakthrough point, the advance speed of the Ashen Legion immediately slowed down significantly, not as aggressive as before when they were following behind the Great Goblin Chieftain and crushing everything in their path.


    And, after all, the ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle¡± was the most elite force of the Rakman Kingdom. After undergoing several attacks, they gradually adapted to the brutal combat against monsters.


    The soldiers loyal to the Duke, stimulated by the consecutive deaths of their comrades, had blood-red eyes and stubbornly held the basic defensive line with their flesh and blood, leading to a stalemate for the time being.


    The front line see-sawed back and forth around strategic points.


    One moment, the ogres roared and killed a bunch of humans to seize high ground; the next moment, archers would shoot them into a sieve and lead the spear and shield soldiers to retake the position. But soon, chimeras descended from the sky, bringing flame to the allied soldiers.


    Death continuously unfolded.


    ...


    Blood flowed across the Triel Valley, nourishing the wild grass.


    This vast battlefield was like a black hole, greedily devouring lives from both sides of the war.


    ¡­


    Due to Cassius¡¯s absolute distrust of the players¡¯ discipline, he did not place them in the most crucial frontal battlefield but instead positioned them on the flank.


    Thus, on the side of the Ashen Nest were one thousand players led by Mezulash and five hundred Tiefling warriors.


    On the side of the allied forces was a three thousand men reinforcement from the Boske Family, though not elite.


    Compared to the extremely intense and deadly frontal battlefield, the right flank was somewhat more relaxed, but the situation was still chaotic and even more so.


    While the Tieflings and allied troops carefully formed their formations and tested each other¡¯s strength cautiously, the players charged forward like runaway horses.


    After all, they never cared about military discipline.


    ¡°Charge!¡±


    ¡°WHAAAA!¡±


    ¡°Watch my performance!¡±


    ¡°For the Horde! No, for the Ashen Nest!¡±


    Leading the charge was the player with the ID ¡°Wings of Freedom.¡± By now, he had fully accepted his nickname, Holy Light Bro, and ran naked at the front of the battlefield.


    Wings of Freedom¡¯s occupation was the nature-embracing Earth Druid, fitting his character, and he was accompanied by several owls, his animal companions.


    ¡°Wild Form!¡±


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    Holy Light Bro assumed a cringe-inducing pose, dropped to all fours, and transformed into a robust brown bear, roaring as he charged directly toward the line.


    The allied forces gaped at the players recklessly charging without any tactics, then quickly snapped out of it and began rapidly shooting volleys of arrows.


    ¡°Why are there so many arrows!¡±


    ¡°Shield up, shield me!¡±


    ¡°Barbarian, cover me!¡±


    ¡°Priest, cast a Sanctuary Spell, I¡¯m about to drop!¡±


    After several rounds of arrow volleys, the players suffered heavy casualties.


    The worst off was Holy Light Bro in bear form; his large size made him a conspicuous target, and he was struck by the most arrows, looking more like a giant porcupine than a brown bear.


    He reverted to his bare-bottomed corpse still shrouded in a thin layer of Holy Light only after his health dropped to zero, with arrows sticking out all over.


    ¡°No¡ªHoly Light Bro¡ª¡±


    ¡°How can we stand this?¡±


    ¡°A bunch of NPCs dare to cause trouble here!¡±


    The players quickly launched a counterattack, led by the members of the [Mechanical God Cult]. Mostly Mechanic Mages, they had already created a lot of bizarre gadgets.


    ¡°Guardian Mech activated.¡±


    With the cold mechanical voice, a tall black shadow appeared among the players¡¯ ranks. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Holy shit, what is that?¡±


    ¡°Did someone make a Gundam?¡±


    ¡°So damn cool, I want one too!¡±


    The over-four-meter-tall Arcane Armor stood on the battlefield, though the metal parts looked crudely made; it still didn¡¯t hide the mech¡¯s romanticism. The pilot was none other than Steel Torrent, the president of the Mechanical God Cult.


    This was an [Arcane Armor], a trait of the Armored Division, a sub-occupation of the Mechanic Mage. The piece Steel Torrent wore was the Guardian model, suitable for charging and front-line combat.


    ¡°Make way, let me through!¡±


    Steel Torrent laughed heartily, driving his mech forward, crashing through the enemies.


    He had used up all his savings and even privately diverted funds from Storm Arsenal to create this armor and was now excited to finally show it off.


    What¡¯s the point of having a mech if you don¡¯t flaunt it?


    The archers of the allied forces immediately focused on the oddly shaped iron lump, shooting various arrows at it.


    ¡°Trying to shoot a Gundam with arrows?¡±


    Steel Torrent sneered.


    ¡°Protective Field!¡±


    The Guardian Armor raised its left arm, and under the activation of magic runes, a transparent force field appeared in front of it, effortlessly blocking the incoming arrows.


    Following Steel Torrent, the players pushed forward, arriving in front of the spear and shield soldiers.


    The allied forces had never seen such a thing before. Facing the ever-approaching Guardian Armor, they scrambled to attack in panic.


    ¡°Sir, the times have changed!¡±


    ¡°Thunder Combat Fist!¡±


    Steel Torrent shouted and threw a punch; boosters on his arm burst into flames, and arcs of electricity wrapped around his fist.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a thunderous boom, the shields of the allied forces were smashed in, leaving a dramatic fist imprint. The soldiers behind the shield were killed instantly.


    The surrounding soldiers clutched their ears in pain, their bodies still zapped by paralyzing electric arcs.


    ¡°Three hundred!¡±


    ¡°Three hundred! Three hundred!¡±


    Steel Torrent laughed wildly, plowing through the allied lines like a wolf among sheep, smashing soldiers with each punch. The continuous ¡°contribution +300¡± updates on his interface thrilled him immensely.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to go eat fries after this!¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man followed behind Steel Torrent, holding his ¡°Steel Shooter,¡± firing a shot straight ahead.


    With the gunfire roaring, dense metal bullets sprayed out, and clusters of allied soldiers fell, wailing in agony.


    ¡°Holy shit, four kills with one shot!¡±


    ¡°Is it this strong?¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man, eyes wide open in excitement, watched the updates on his interface.


    This gun had earned a spot next to the Type Two submachine gun in his heart.


    ¡°Mechanic Mages are so much fun to play.¡±


    ¡°I want to switch occupations, anyone want to join?¡±


    ¡°Do you even understand the blueprints? Talking about switching so suddenly.¡±


    ¡°Charge, charge!¡±


    Steel Torrent had brutally torn a hole in the enemy formation, and the players surged forward, swarming into the breach in the line.


    ¡°For the faction contribution!¡±


    ¡°For the Dragon Maid!¡±


    Sorcerers launched fiery fireballs, Druids summoned strange beasts, Bards played spell songs, and Wanderers sniped from the ground.


    ¡°Mage, don¡¯t cast Darkness Spell! I can¡¯t see!¡±


    ¡°Hold off, Wild Sorcerer!¡±


    ¡°Did you just cast Wild Magic Surge under your feet?¡±


    ¡°Bard, cast Demon Fire.¡±


    The players charged forward, shouting, and used their various skills. Technicolor lights flew everywhere in a mix of weird weapons.


    The allied forces had never encountered such a professional army before. Facing the unruly tactics of the players, they had no choice but to retreat in panic.


    The Tieflings in the distance initially had their tactics planned out, but after seeing the players rushing headlong, they suddenly didn¡¯t know what to do.


    ¡°Captain, what do we¡­¡±


    Damascus stepped forward and asked.


    Mezulash donned his helmet, picked up his sword, and calmly said, ¡°Just follow their attack and enjoy the spoils. Don¡¯t worry about these Starfallen¡¯s lives.¡±


    ¡°They are undying, but we are not.¡±


    ¡°Prepare to attack.¡±


    He had become increasingly adept at exploiting the players.


    ¡°Yes, Captain.¡±


    The Tieflings also charged through the breach made by the players, but they still maintained a tight formation, attacking in a more orderly manner.


    The players noticed the Tieflings joining the fray.


    ¡°Damn, NPCs are stealing our kills!¡±


    That was their only thought.

 Chapter 115 - 45: War (9)

    Chapter 115: Chapter 45: War (9)


    The Steel Torrent was fighting fiercely when a sudden shout came from behind.


    ¡°Supreme Holy Slash!¡±


    A dazzling light descended from the sky, the sound of metal clashing echoed, and in the next moment, the right arm of the armor fell to the ground.


    The Steel Torrent was initially incredulous, and then felt immense heartache: ¡°My Guardian Armor¡ª¡±


    He turned the armor around, only to see a blonde, blue-eyed Paladin standing with his sword.


    It was none other than Andrei Boske.


    ...


    ¡°You bastard, compensate me for my complete armor!¡±


    The Steel Torrent was furious at the guy who damaged his armor, rushed forward, and swung his left fist, with flames erupting from his arm.


    ¡°Taste my Thunder Combat Fist!¡±


    However, the Paladin was surrounded by Swift Radiance and easily dodged the powered-up strike, then swung his sword again.


    ¡°Supreme Holy Slash!¡±


    Another dazzling light flashed by.


    With a ¡°clang,¡± the left arm of the Guardian Armor was also detached.


    ¡°How is this possible¡­¡±


    The Steel Torrent muttered, on the verge of tears.


    This was equipment he had spent all his savings, even embezzled funds, to create, only to find it so vulnerable in front of this blonde Paladin.


    Andrei stared at the half-dragon in the cockpit, his gaze determined, and said each word clearly: ¡°Evil Dragon Kin, your existence threatens the peace and order of the North, and eliminating you will become a part of my heroic deeds!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man shot, but Andrei easily dodged.


    Andrei pointed his long sword towards the Battlefield Wheelchair Man.


    [Guiding Light Arrow]


    A beam of light shot towards the half-dragon¡¯s forehead, piercing a small hole, and Battlefield Wheelchair Man died.


    ¡°Taste my Mount Tai Peak!¡±


    The Steel Torrent leaped, trying to crush the Paladin with his massive armor.


    But Andrei stepped aside, and magical aura sparkled on his sword blade.


    [Magic-infused Weapon]


    With one thrust, he pierced through the sturdy cockpit shield, nailing the Steel Torrent to his beloved armor.


    Andrei withdrew his blood-stained sword, his fierce gaze sweeping over the other players.


    ¡°Holy crap, there¡¯s a boss!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s coming over!¡±


    ¡°The guild master and deputy guild master were both insta-killed!¡±


    ¡°This Paladin is intense; he chopped down the mecha.¡±


    Natural War Maniac exclaimed at the Paladin slaughtering players in the distance: ¡°This monster is quite strong.¡±


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information]


    [Andrei Boske]


    Basic Ability: Glory Holy Knight


    Challenge Level: 6 (2100xp)


    Natural War Maniac grinned, his eyes filled with battle intent.


    He looked at Summer Night Autumn Rain beside him: ¡°Autumn Rain, this is a rare elite monster, should we fight for it?¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain nodded slightly but whispered: ¡°Of course, we should fight for it, but we need to capture him alive.¡±


    Natural War Maniac asked with confusion: ¡°Why not kill him? Are you attracted to this elite monster?¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain held his forehead, helplessly pointing to the information on the panel: ¡°Look at his surname, Boske, the most powerful family in the official setting of Anzeta, the Northern Lion.¡±


    ¡°If we kidnap this guy, who knows how much gold coin we can ransom, isn¡¯t that better than the meager experience points?¡±


    Natural War Maniac touched his bald head, awkwardly saying: ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    The battle continued.


    ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    Andrei knelt on one knee, propping himself up with his sword, sweat dripping from his forehead. His body already bore many wounds, some burnt, some frozen, and even some corroded by acid.


    The ways players attacked were bizarre, and though he had Protection and Swift Radiance, he still couldn¡¯t dodge them all.


    It was important to note that players were not Honor Knights; if they had a chance to ambush, they would never give it up.


    These guys were unlike any enemies he had ever met.


    Even if Andrei killed their companions, they would still swarm forward fearlessly, shouting things like ¡°I¡¯m doing damage,¡± ¡°Get a tank,¡± and ¡°Heal, please,¡± which he couldn¡¯t understand.


    Now Andrei¡¯s stamina was almost exhausted, and his body was reaching its limit.


    And surrounding him were piles of player corpses.


    There were at least a hundred of them!


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    The sound of an arrow breaking through the air was heard.


    Andrei sharply perceived the arrow coming from behind, rolled to the left to dodge it, and killed the despicable attacker with a Guiding Light Arrow.


    However, a Barbarian beside him threw a spear with great force, and he instinctively parried the incoming spear with his sword.


    Just as he lifted his sword, another spell radiance attacked from behind.


    [Human Binding Spell]


    This time he couldn¡¯t dodge in time, and he was frozen in place, unable to move.


    Fengyun, the vice president of Royal Guild, exclaimed excitedly: ¡°He¡¯s frozen, everyone don¡¯t act rashly, wait for our president to come and finish him off!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡±


    Tyrant rushed forward with his great sword, full of fury.


    But thick mist mysteriously spread across the battlefield, engulfing the immobilized Andrei¡ªthat was Cloud Mist Technique.


    Tyrant stumbled through the mist, angrily shouting: ¡°Who cast Cloud Mist Technique?¡±


    For a moment, members of the Royal Guild, scattered individuals, and members of other guilds all rushed into the mist, trying to fish in troubled waters.


    ¡°Hey, you hit the wrong person, I¡¯m a player!¡±


    ¡°Is the boss still here?¡±


    ¡°Someone cast a Wind Making Spell!¡±


    In this chaotic situation, a dark figure darted through the mist.


    Fengyun raised his magic wand, casting a spell.


    [Wind Making Spell]


    A gust of wind arose, blowing the mist away.


    But where the Paladin supposed to be immobilized stood, there was nothing.


    Seeing the duck fly away, Tyrant was furious, shouting: ¡°We must drag out this sneaky bastard!¡±


    Behind a hill, Natural War Maniac, empowered by Acceleration Spell, knocked the blonde youth to the ground and tied his hands and feet tightly with rope.


    He touched his bald head, smiling satisfactorily.


    ¡°Haha, fooled this guy again.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn¡¯t help but remind: ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky, the Human Binding Spell is about to wear off.¡±


    Sure enough, Andrei struggled to get up.


    ¡°Where is this¡ª¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Natural War Maniac struck Andrei¡¯s head with a stick, making him fall flat.


    He clapped his hands, satisfied at the sight of the tightly bound youth: ¡°Mission accomplished, now this feels secure.¡±


    Seemingly still uneasy, he hit Andrei¡¯s head a few more times for good measure.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn¡¯t help but say: ¡°Be careful not to kill him outright.¡±


    Natural War Maniac said confidently: ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of experience knocking people out, besides, this is a mini-boss with the divine physique trait of a Paladin, he won¡¯t die that easily.¡±


    ¡°Haha, we¡¯re going to be rich.¡±


    He looked at the unconscious blonde youth with his swollen head, seeing a pile of gleaming gold coins.


    The third son of the Boske Family, the Glory Holy Knight who was full of hope, was thus humiliatingly kidnapped by players on the battlefield.

 Chapter 116 - 46: War (10)

    Chapter 116: Chapter 46: War (10)


    Unlike the aimless and tactless players chasing the Allied Forces soldiers on the outskirts,


    the Tiefling army had already formed a tight offensive formation. Seizing the gap created by the players, they charged like a razor-sharp blade into the three thousand strong Allied Forces.


    Mezulash led the vanguard, his armor mottled with bloodstains. Few dared to approach him.


    He raised his blood-stained great sword high.


    [Guiding Divine Power: Terror Manifestation]


    A dark night glow immediately enveloped the surroundings.


    ...


    Mezulash invoked the darkest emotions, concentrating them into an explosion of magical coercion, a unique ability of the Oathbreaker.


    The Allied soldiers, shrouded in darkness, discarded their helmets and armor, succumbing to instinctual panic.


    ¡°No, stay away!¡±


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Run for your lives!¡±


    ¡°Devil, he¡¯s the embodiment of a devil!¡±


    Blood splashed onto his face, and Mezulash¡¯s lips curled slightly: ¡°The embodiment of a devil, huh¡­


    This seemed to trigger some memories.


    He remained silent for a while, then calmly said: ¡°Since you all want me to be, I¡¯ll be it.¡±


    Mezulash strode forward, swinging his blood-stained great sword and casting down scarlet red light¡ªthe Bloody Sacred Slash unique to the Oathbreaker.


    Amidst the chilling screams, the lives of the Allied soldiers were ruthlessly reaped.


    The soldiers scattered and fled as if escaping a devil. Even his own Tiefling subordinates felt a strange unfamiliarity toward their terrifying leader, only managing to shoot a few arrows behind him.


    Damascus hurried forward, worried: ¡°Captain, are you¡­ alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t be better.¡±


    While speaking, Mezulash raised his great sword once again.


    [Guiding Divine Power: Control Undead]


    Bodies slowly crawled up, picking up their severed limbs and attaching them to their torsos, hollow eyes flickering with a wavering glow, growling lowly as they pounced on their former comrades.


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s truly a devil!¡±


    ¡°This devil resurrected them! He can control the undead!¡±


    Seeing their former comrades turned into undead, with familiar faces full of a craving for flesh, shattered the Allied soldiers¡¯ psychological defenses. They fled desperately, for no one wanted to end up in such a state.


    Mezulash slowly lowered his blood-stained great sword.


    ¡°The effect isn¡¯t bad.¡±


    His pure black eyes, devoid of irises, flickered with a ghostly light. Blood stains covered his ram-like curved horns, making him look like a true Hell Demon.


    Control Undead was an ability he had never used before. But now, Mezulash was free from any psychological burden.


    Being an Evil Dragon¡¯s retainer, even this¡­


    didn¡¯t matter.


    Mezulash glanced around, only to find even his own companions having a trace of fear deep in their eyes.


    But he pretended not to see it, calmly ordering: ¡°Continue advancing.¡±


    Under the onslaught led by the undead, the Tieflings soon chased the crying and fleeing Allied soldiers to the Boske Family¡¯s command post.


    Compared to a commander, Andrei Boske seemed more like a front-line vanguard. After the battle started, he charged alone to the front lines, leaving all the heavy command duties to his subordinate nobles.


    These pampered nobles were utterly terrified as they watched the undead gradually approach, one even fainting with fear on the spot.


    To them, war was often a refined art, not a brutal slaughter.


    The nobles were instructed by the Boske Family to not engage in a deadly fight, but rather preserve their strength.


    However, now the enemy had slaughtered their way to their doorstep, far beyond their expectations.


    Baron Matthew¡¯s voice trembled: ¡°What¡­ what should we do?¡±


    Viscount Luton whispered from the side: ¡°Why not¡­ surrender?¡±


    ¡°But I fear they won¡¯t honor the sacred nobility accord¡­¡±


    ¡°These are the Evil Dragon Kin.¡±


    The undead growled and advanced, while the Tieflings stood in formation holding their weapons.


    Mezulash leisurely stepped forward a few paces, pointing his sword at the tent from afar:


    ¡°Everyone, surrender and I won¡¯t kill.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though not loud, his voice was unmistakably clear.


    A silence fell within the tent, followed by the rustling sounds.


    Finally, Baron Matthew couldn¡¯t withstand the immense pressure anymore. He stumbled out from the back door, leaping onto his warhorse.


    ¡°Damn you devils!


    ¡°Go to Hell!¡±


    He cursed as he galloped away.


    Mezulash remained silent, coldly observing the noble on horseback, raising his sword that flickered with spell radiance.


    [Crown of Madness]


    A twisted jagged crown appeared on Baron Matthew¡¯s head, his eyes instantly flashing with madness.


    He uncontrollably fell from his horse, thrashing around on the ground.


    Mezulash walked forward unhurriedly, looking down at him.


    ¡°You do have courage.¡±


    Baron Matthew rolled on the ground, madly howling: ¡°One day, I¡¯ll kill you all!¡±


    ¡°Shush¡ª¡ª¡±


    Neatly, a strike fell, pinning the insane baron to the ground.


    The remaining nobles in the tent watched this bloody scene, exclaiming in horror.


    But it wasn¡¯t over yet.


    Mezulash pulled out the blood-stained sword.


    The dismembered body on the ground started to wriggle, staggering to stand, hollow eyes flickering ghostly¡ªBaron Matthew was transformed into an undead.


    The nobles fell silent at once.


    Mezulash guided the undead to the tent front, calmly repeating: ¡°Everyone, surrender and I won¡¯t kill.¡±


    He paused.


    ¡°At least¡ªI won¡¯t turn you into something like this.¡±


    Sweat dripped from Viscount Luton¡¯s forehead. Unable to withstand the pressure any longer, he knelt down with a thud, tears and snot streaming: ¡°I surrender! I surrender! Please don¡¯t turn me into an undead!¡±


    ¡°I surrender too, just spare my life!¡±


    ¡°The Teman Family is willing to pay a ransom!¡±


    ¡°The Fatte Family seeks cooperation.¡±


    ¡°I represent the Chris Family in saluting the Lord of Ashen.¡±


    With Viscount Luton taking the lead, the nobles in the tent all fell to their knees, begging for mercy and weeping bitterly.


    Mezulash slightly nodded.


    ¡°Then I apologize.¡±


    The Tieflings tied up the kneeling nobles.


    Damascus stepped forward, cautiously reporting: ¡°Captain¡­ no, sir, the right flank of the Allied Forces has completely collapsed. The players are chasing the remnants. Should we cooperate with Lord Ramp and launch an attack on the enemies¡¯ central army from the flank?¡±


    Mezulash shook his head: ¡°No, we retreat straight away.¡±


    Damascus was stunned: ¡°But sir, we¡­¡±


    Mezulash¡¯s pure black eyes held a teasing glint: ¡°Retreat directly, we need to let these nobles witness a grand ceremony.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Though puzzled, Damascus followed orders, leading the panic-stricken nobles back to the north of the pass.

 Chapter 117 - 47: War (11)

    Chapter 117: Chapter 47: War (11)


    The battle on the right flank of the battlefield came to an abrupt halt with the surrender of the nobles, leaving only a few players chasing down the routed soldiers. Meanwhile, on the front lines, the fierce battle between the two behemoths and the thousands of combatants continued.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Chimera¡¯s three heads roared in unison.


    The dragon head spewed scorching flames, once again knocking down an Eagle Guard in front of it.


    ¡°Monster, die!¡±


    Aiden, captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards¡¯ first regiment, shouted angrily as he thrust his spear into the Chimera¡¯s goat head.


    ...


    With a shrill wail, the goat head reared back high, blood splattering everywhere.


    This three-headed monster had already killed more than a dozen of his subordinates. Aiden was so determined to kill the Chimera that he even ignored the threat from above.


    However, just as Aiden thrust his spear, an excited shout and a resounding dragon¡¯s roar came from behind him.


    ¡°Noodle, go for the Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge directly!¡±


    ¡°Here comes my two thousand experience points!¡±


    First came the sound of metal clashing, then the soft sound of piercing flesh.


    The six-meter-long lance impaled the unsuspecting Aiden, still in the motion of thrusting his spear, along with his Eagle Guard. Even the finest plate armor couldn¡¯t withstand the terrifying force of the lance diving from a hundred meters in the air.


    Aiden, captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards¡¯ first regiment, died at the hands of a player.


    The message ¡°You gained 2100 xp¡± refreshed on Mantou¡¯s panel.


    ¡°Damn, took down an elite monster in one hit!¡±


    Mantou tossed aside Aiden¡¯s corpse, cheered exuberantly, and then urged his wyvern to ascend again.


    ¡­


    In the command camp, Robert watched the increasingly intense situation. Whether from tension or heat, sweat continuously streamed down his face.


    He wiped his face dry with luxurious silk, his expression grave as he said to the staff officer beside him, ¡°This can¡¯t go on.¡±


    ¡°At this rate, the soldiers won¡¯t hold out for long.¡±


    ¡°We need to take the initiative to break the deadlock.¡±


    The staff officer contemplated for a moment before asking, ¡°What do you mean, sir?¡±


    Robert said solemnly, ¡°You go and ask Sir Schroeder to take action and support the frontline troops.¡±


    The staff officer was surprised and said, ¡°But didn¡¯t you say that unless the Red Dragon appeared, Sir Schroeder need not cast spells?¡±


    Robert said, ¡°We have no choice but to reserve the Dragon-Slaying Ballista as our final trump card. If Sir Schroeder doesn¡¯t support the front lines, I don¡¯t know how much longer our army can hold out.¡±


    He paused.


    ¡°Aiden has already sacrificed himself¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    The staff officer understood his meaning and quickly nodded in agreement, going to request the chief mage.


    Soon, a man in a gray robe arrived on the front lines under heavy guard from the allied forces. He was the Grey Hawk of the Arcane Priory, as well as the chief court mage of the Rackman Duchy¡ªSchroeder.


    An armored general stood by respectfully, saying:


    ¡°Lord Schroeder, that¡¯s the situation.¡±


    ¡°We hope you can cast spells to support the frontline troops.¡±


    Schroeder looked at the monsters, clawing and biting, fighting with the allied forces in the distance, and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Scions of the Red Dragon¡¯s flame, huh¡­¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    He gazed at the high ground where the Dragon Vein monsters were gathered, squinting slightly, and slowly raised his magic wand.


    [Ice Storm]


    In an instant, vast cold clouds appeared in the sky, first scattering tiny ice shards, then gradually forming hail, raining down many rock-hard ice chunks.


    The hail pummeled the Dragon Vein monsters, not only hitting them but also bringing a biting chill.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Hail struck a Dragon Vein Lizardman, its movements becoming increasingly sluggish, the once hot dragon blood freezing, ultimately turning it into an immobile ice sculpture.


    This was happening repeatedly within the high ground area, as the monsters scrambled to escape from this region. Many of them were turned into ice sculptures, even frozen in their fleeing postures.


    These monsters, bearing the scorching hot Red Dragon bloodline, would rather die in combat than be inexplicably frozen to death by this spell.


    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s an Ice Storm!¡±


    Dolores was also unfortunate enough to be at the center of this spell¡¯s range.


    Although he used his Bloodfire Battle Axe to block the hail from above, his movements gradually slowed, and his blood turned cold.


    Realizing the dire situation, Dolores roared with all his might:


    ¡°Ramp! Did you die back there or what?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a spellcaster on the other side!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The ground quaked loudly.


    The six-meter-tall Dragon Vein Ogre used Flight Magic to reach the front lines and landed with a crash.


    Despite his numerous conflicts with Dolores, he couldn¡¯t just let him die here; it would be hard to explain to his master later.


    With this in mind, Ramp calmly adjusted his gold-framed glasses and raised his paper-thin magic wand.


    [Force Wall Technique]


    An inclined, invisible force field wall appeared above the high ground.


    The hail fell and struck the force field wall, but it was all blocked and directed down its slant, falling onto the allied forces¡¯ positions instead.


    Immediately, the allied forces screamed and suffered heavy casualties.


    Schroeder¡¯s face changed drastically, quickly casting a Shield Spell to block the incoming hail.


    But the soldiers guarding him weren¡¯t as lucky, either being smashed to death by the hail or turned into ice sculptures.


    Schroeder used Misty Step to retreat to the back of the line.


    He looked up at the invisible force field in the air and murmured, ¡°Damn, it¡¯s the Force Wall Technique. Only the Disintegrate spell can destroy it. There¡¯s such a high-level spellcaster on the other side.¡±


    Disintegrate was a Sixth Tier spell, and even Schroeder found himself helpless against this force field wall.


    Meanwhile, on the monster legion¡¯s side, Dolores was panting heavily, gritting his teeth as he ¡°thanked¡± him:


    ¡°Ramp, you came just in time; I almost froze to death in that spell!¡±


    His tone grew more furious.


    ¡°I¡¯m fighting for my life up front, and you were nowhere to be seen!¡±


    Ramp looked down at the Great Goblin with disdain, speaking in a flat tone, ¡°Captain Dolores, think about it. You are leading the best troops of the Ashen Nest, and yet you were pushed to this point by mere humans.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s tone carried a hint of mockery.


    ¡°You said you would easily crush them. Those were your exact words, so I gave you the chance to prove it. But look now¡ªwhy do you need to ask me for help?¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ramp, you¡­¡±


    With Ramp¡¯s sneering, Dolores¡¯s face grew even redder, unable to find a retort and had to swallow his anger.


    Ramp raised his wand and looked towards the battlefield.


    ¡°Watch closely, this is what it means to easily crush them.¡±


    [Fire Wall Spell]


    A wall of fire, stretching tens of meters, appeared on the battlefield.


    Ferocious flames mercilessly burned the unprepared allied soldiers, causing waves of wails and screams.


    Meanwhile, the Ashen Nest retainers, bearing the Red Dragon bloodline, were unafraid of the fire. They surged into the fire wall, pursuing the unfortunate, burning enemies.

 Chapter 118 - 48 War (12)

    Chapter 118: Chapter 48 War (12)


    Seeing the rising fire wall and the enemies scattering in all directions, Dolores snorted white smoke from his nostrils, gripped his axe, and was about to charge into the enemy lines.


    But Ramp stopped him.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to retreat, Captain Dolores.¡±


    Dolores turned his head in confusion, his blood-red eyes filled with resentment, ¡°Ramp, in such a situation, you want me to retreat? Did you take those humans¡¯ gold coins?¡±


    Ramp replied calmly, ¡°This is the master¡¯s order. Do you also want to defy it?¡±


    Dolores spat on the ground and said viciously, ¡°Ramp, don¡¯t be too pleased with yourself, I will report all your inaction in this war to the master truthfully.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Hmph, let¡¯s go!¡±


    Then, the Goblin Chieftain gathered his troops, preparing to return to the northern pass.


    Dolores, in the end, had not completely lost his mind in the frenzy of battle. He knew there was a reason for Ramp¡¯s certainty.


    Ramp no longer paid attention to the furious Goblin Chieftain. Instead, he took out a special Green-Footed Dragon-Serpent Horn from the dimensional bag, covered with magic runes.


    He easily activated it.


    Immediately, the majestic voice of the Red Dragon, recorded by magic, thundered across the battlefield.


    ¡°Ashen Nest kin¡ª¡±


    ¡°Heed the command, full retreat!¡±


    Ramp followed with a loud shout:


    ¡°This is the master¡¯s order, the will of the great Red Dragon!¡±


    The Ogre, who had been smashing soldiers into pulp, raised his head, the Chimera with its three heads turned in confusion, the Lizardfolk withdrew their bloodied bone spears, the Wyvern that had been diving and spewing fire spread its wings and slowly ascended¡­


    Although the Ashen Nest kin didn¡¯t understand why they had to retreat, the command of the Red Dragon was unquestionable.


    So, even though they were fighting fiercely, they reluctantly left the battlefield, following orders to withdraw from the front lines. The Ogres and Great Goblins ran, the Land Dragon Beasts moved slowly, the Wyverns and Chimeras flew in the sky, all heading towards the kin camp north of the Throat of Triel.


    Soon, the ground was left with only blood, human and monster corpses, and burning embers.


    ¡°Am I dreaming?¡±


    ¡°They¡­ left?¡±


    ¡°The Gods be praised, these monsters retreated!¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I actually survived¡­¡±


    ¡°My God¡ª¡±


    The Allied Soldiers, having just endured a brutal battle, stood in place, dazed. Most were covered in wounds and blood, muttering to themselves as if in a dream.


    This inexplicable ¡°victory¡± didn¡¯t make them cheer as usual; they felt a sense of surviving a catastrophe. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    The staff officer rode up, panting, and reported, ¡°Sir, Sir! All the Ashen Nest kin have retreated!¡±


    Robert wiped the sweat from his forehead and exhaled deeply. At least he no longer had to worry about being attacked.


    But faced with the situation, he still felt puzzled, ¡°They clearly had the absolute advantage, why retreated?¡±


    Sir Schroeder, the ¡°Grey Hawk,¡± who had also withdrawn from the front line, stood by and pondered for a moment before saying in a low voice, ¡°The Red Dragon is a greedy and stingy creature that rarely bestows goodwill. Perhaps the power of these monsters isn¡¯t granted. And any power comes with a price.¡±


    ¡°In other words, it¡¯s possible they¡¯re burning their own life force.¡±


    Robert mused for a moment before speaking, ¡°So you mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Ashen Nest fears prolonged warfare?¡±


    Schroeder¡¯s voice was hoarse, ¡°It¡¯s just a reasonable guess.¡±


    ¡°I can only say¡­ maybe so.¡±


    Robert stepped out of the tent, gazing at the backs of the flying Wyverns in the sky, finally gritting his teeth and making a decision.


    ¡°Then pursue!¡±


    ¡°This is the Allied Forces¡¯ last chance.¡±


    ¡°We must not let them recover!¡±


    The loud sound of the charging horn blew. At Robert¡¯s command, the Allied Soldiers continued to advance, reclaiming their former positions, but their progress was slow.


    The soldiers moved sluggishly, step by step, and even the warhorses let out exhausted neighs.


    ¡°Soldiers, victory is within sight!¡±


    ¡°These monsters can¡¯t hold on much longer!¡±


    ¡°You will become heroes maintaining the Northern Order!¡±


    The Military Governor officers shouted passionately, but the soldiers only looked on coldly.


    ¡°Victory? What a joke.¡±


    ¡°Has this guy ever seen the fangs of a Wyvern?¡±


    ¡°Has he ever been hit by an Ogre¡¯s club?¡±


    Discontented whispers rose among the ranks.


    These soldiers, who had endured brutal combat, were already weary and reluctant to fight, only avoiding desertion out of self-preservation. Despite the Military Governor officers¡¯ repeated emphasis on the monsters¡¯ retreat, the soldiers still followed at a slow pace, afraid of catching up too quickly.


    And using this passive resistance, even the Military Governor couldn¡¯t punish them by military law.


    ¡­


    North of the Throat of Triel.


    Ramp stood halfway up the mountain, overlooking the slowly pursuing Allied Forces, a hint of an expectant smile appearing on his ugly face.


    ¡°You people of the North,¡±


    ¡°You finally come to meet your doom¡­¡±


    Surrounded by Ogres, Great Goblins, Kobolds, Lizardfolk, and other Ashen Kin, even the captured nobles were brought here.


    They were noisy and boisterous, the frenzy of battle not yet fully dissipated.


    ¡°I killed twelve humans with my hammer.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I crushed them alive.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity, I wanted to taste their blood again.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, here you go.¡±


    As they spoke, their greedy eyes couldn¡¯t help but glance at the noble captives.


    Viscount Luton, terrified by the nearby monsters, nervously asked the Tiefling, ¡°Sir, you brought us here for what?¡±


    ¡°Please ensure our safety.¡±


    Mezulash smiled without answering.


    ¡°I was fighting so well, why did we retreat?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I only gained six hundred contributions.¡±


    ¡°Is the war over?¡±


    ¡°Is there a final mission?¡±


    ¡°No cinematic?¡±


    The players, following the quest lead, also arrived at the camp halfway up the mountain to watch the spectacle.


    Seeing the approaching Allied Forces in the distance, Ramp raised his Magic Wand.


    [Stone Wall Spell]


    They heard a rumbling sound from the ground.


    A thick stone wall slowly rose, completely sealing off the last exit of the Throat of Triel, trapping nearly ten thousand Allied remnants in the Triel Valley.


    ¡°This is what the master means by ¡®catching a turtle in a jar¡¯.¡±


    Ramp looked down at the uproarious Allied Forces below, mumbling to himself.

 Chapter 119 - 119: 49. Scourge (I)

    Chapter 119: 49. Scourge (I)


    Robert rode on horseback, following at the rear of the army.


    On either side of him, dozens of soldiers struggled to push the heavy Dragon-Slaying Ballista, the massive wheels on the ballista¡¯s base turning slowly with a grating metallic sound.


    Schroeder, the ¡°Grey Hawk,¡± also rode a black horse, following beside Robert.


    ¡°This damned place is getting hotter and hotter.¡±


    Robert wiped the sweat off his body and complained.


    He asked the adjutant, ¡°Why is the army moving so slowly? How much longer until we pass through the Throat of Triel?¡±


    ...


    The adjutant responded in a solemn tone, ¡°My lord, our forces have just endured a bloody battle. It¡¯s normal for our march to be a bit slower.¡±


    ¡°Lord Robert!¡±


    ¡°We discovered a stone wall ahead, blocking the Throat of Triel.¡±


    A messenger arrived on horseback at full speed, urgently reporting.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°How is that possible? They only just passed through.¡± Robert¡¯s face was full of disbelief.


    Schroeder spoke gravely, ¡°It¡¯s the spellcasters. The Ashen Nest harbors senior spellcasters. If I¡¯m not mistaken, that¡¯s a Stone Wall Spell, a Fifth Tier Shaping Spell that can create an indestructible wall of rock.¡±


    ¡°It seems they anticipated our pursuit and prepared accordingly.¡±


    ¡°Then what should we do?¡±


    Robert was already somewhat panicked, sweat pouring off his forehead like rain.


    Schroeder spoke in a steady voice, ¡°My lord, do not worry. This stone wall can be broken, and even if the other side has an Archmage, maintaining such a spell for a long period is nearly impossible.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good.¡±


    Robert muttered to himself.


    He pulled out his handkerchief again and wiped the sweat off his head.


    Compared to when the Allied Forces had just entered, the Triel Valley now felt like a broiling furnace, the weather unpredictably hot and erratic.


    Robert could even smell the scent of burnt ash in the air.


    Wait¡ª


    Fire?


    Heat?


    The Red Dragon was known as the ¡°Volcanic Dragon.¡±


    Thinking of this, and combined with the sudden withdrawal of the Ashen Legion and the Red Dragon¡¯s absence, Robert¡¯s heart filled with a sense of foreboding.


    Unfortunately, his premonitions were often accurate.


    ¡°M-My lord¡­¡±


    The adjutant¡¯s voice trembled beside him.


    Robert¡¯s pondering was interrupted, and he looked to his side, somewhat impatiently asking, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°You- You should turn around and look.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll understand.¡±


    The adjutant¡¯s tone was desperate, tinged with tears.


    Robert finally realized that something was amiss. He twisted around in his saddle and then fell to the ground in shock.


    He crumpled to the ground, gazing up at the sky in despair.


    ¡°Tampas, be merciful¡­¡±


    Flames, endless flames.


    The distant horizon was dyed a vibrant orange-red, the skyline transforming into a blazing, dancing line of fire, with billowing clouds of thick smoke rising, gradually obscuring the land.


    Gales from the southwest howled, flipping over bodies strewn across the battlefield. Broken limbs were tossed into the air like locusts, ignited by the rising heat waves as they passed over the blazing terrain, turning into burning fireballs that rained down.


    At the center of the inferno¡ª


    A massive Red Dragon slowly beat its wings.


    The Red Dragon was the very embodiment of flame, the heart of the vast fire. With each wingbeat, the fire expanded, breathed, and grew fiercer.


    ¡°Schroeder¡­¡±


    ¡°Is this¡­ an illusion?¡±


    It was a question that needed no answer.


    Robert gazed at the sky, his face illuminated in crimson by the flames; he could even feel the scorching heat and the scent of sulfur in the air.


    Schroeder did not respond. He stood staring blankly into the distance, muttering in disbelief:


    ¡°Weather control¡­¡±


    ¡°Eighth Tier, that¡¯s an Eighth Tier Spell!¡±


    The Grey Robe Mage shouted frantically as if driven mad.


    The soldiers of the Allied Forces were also stunned by the terrifying, grand scene. They cried, wailed, and prayed in despair, but in the face of this boundless sea of fire, all was futile.


    ¡°Gods above¡­¡±


    ¡°This is Hell, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°How could we ever think to oppose such a being!¡±


    The path ahead was sealed by an indestructible stone wall, while behind lay an endless expanse of flames.


    To survive, it seemed they would need a miracle from the gods themselves, a miracle that had not occurred in the thousands of years of the Third Era.


    In other words, this was a hopeless dead end.


    This was a flame-engulfed purgatory!


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Amidst the seething flames, Cassius let out a powerful, imposing roar. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ignorant humans¡­¡±


    ¡°I am the Flame, I am Death!¡±


    ¡°I shall bring you total annihilation¡ª¡±


    The rising heat generated columns of thermal currents. Countless fire dragons surged from the ground to the sky, leaping, rolling, and spiraling. The southwestern wind grew ever stronger, forming a vortex that swept up grass, corpses, flames, and ashes into the air.


    Numerous fire dragons merged into a gigantic Fire Tornado, swirling over the expanse of the Triel Valley for miles.


    The world seemed to have been torn open by a massive rift.


    And within that pillar of fire, a hundred meters high and linking heaven and earth, the Red Dragon beat its wings slowly. With each wingbeat, the Fire Tornado grew fiercer and larger.


    The Fire Tornado ravaged the land, burning everything in its path.


    And the Allied Forces had no way out.


    It was only then that Robert, as if awakening from a dream, climbed to his feet. He gazed up at the Red Dragon in the sky, a flash of resolve crossing his eyes as a thought struck him.


    A scourge could not be killed.


    But the being responsible for it could be.


    Robert looked towards the Dragon-Slaying Ballistae covered in heavy cloth, as if seeing the last straw of hope.


    If these great crossbows could kill the ¡°Glacier Wing¡± that terrorized the North a century ago, then they surely could work against this calamity-incarnate Red Dragon.


    His eyes gleamed with ferocity as he murmured to himself:


    ¡°Kill it, just kill it¡­¡±


    ¡°Prepare the Dragon-Slaying Ballistae! At any cost, kill this damned Red Dragon for me!¡±


    Robert shouted frantically.


    He pushed aside the panicked soldiers around him and pulled off the heavy cloth covering the Dragon-Slaying Ballista, straining with all his might to move it.


    ¡°My lord, let me help you.¡±


    The loyal soldiers standing guard around him saw the Earl¡¯s resolve and quickly mustered their courage, moving to assist, working together to push the heavy ballista and aim it at the Red Dragon in the sky.


    A giant two-meter-long arrow, as thick as an arm, lay quietly on the bed of the ballista, its iron tip gleaming menacingly, stained with the blood of the past.


    It had once pierced the heart of a giant dragon.


    And now, the moment of fate had come again.


    The licking tongues of flame drew near, threatening to consume all.


    ¡°As long as this arrow hits¡­¡±


    ¡°It will all be over.¡±


    Robert aimed the Dragon-Slaying Ballista at the sky, nervously eyeing the approaching Red Dragon, sweat dripping from his chin. He held his breath, his heart pounding.


    Through the blazing curtain of fire, he could see those golden, vertical pupils looking down at him.


    Flames filled the sky, and the air grew heavy.


    Man and dragon locked gazes.


    Robert seemed to catch a hint of disdain in those eyes.

 Chapter 120 - 50 Scourge (II)

    Chapter 120: Chapter 50 Scourge (II) Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Robert felt a deep sense of helplessness, followed by uncontrollable anger.


    How dare this red dragon mock him like this!


    He suddenly loosened his grip, and the several-meter-long crossbow arm launched the arrow with immense force.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    A sharp whistle pierced the air.


    Robert gazed at the arrow soaring toward the sky, involuntarily holding his breath as he prayed to his deities for it to hit its mark.


    ...


    As the giant arrow neared Cassius¡¯s chest, about to pierce that burning, pulsating dragon heart, his enormous dragon body transformed into a blazing inferno, merging into the twisted, swirling fire tornado.


    [Braving the Fiery Pits]


    At this moment, the red dragon truly became the incarnation of flame!


    The dragon-slaying arrow that once killed ¡°Glacier Wing¡± passed through the fire without resistance, finally embedding powerlessly into the ground.


    ¡°Impossible, this is impossible!¡±


    Robert collapsed to the ground again, seemingly going mad, shaking his head and muttering incessantly.


    He looked up at the sky, now empty except for the endless flames, his eyes reflecting the dazzling firelight, filled with utter despair.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    As the fire tornado approached, ravenous tongues of flame rushed toward him.


    Those terrifying blazes rotated at high speed, condensing, forming, finally transforming into the enormous dragon body¡ªthat of Cassius.


    ¡°Who gave you the courage,¡±


    ¡°to oppose me with these pitiful toys?¡±


    Cassius crushed the few great crossbows under his claws, and the flames surrounding him completely consumed the prostrate Robert.


    The youngest Earl of Rackman¡¯s Duchy, commander of the thirty thousand allied forces, turned to ashes in the blazing fire without a single last word.


    ¡°The final judgment is near!¡±


    ¡°You pitiful mortals will soon take your leave!¡±


    With billowing smoke and raging flames, Cassius rampaged through the enormous army of thousands like a god of destruction.


    The red dragon¡¯s horrific body flickered in and out of the firelight, directly crushing the soldiers fleeing in all directions. His sharp claws and fangs, like the world¡¯s most lethal weapons, destroyed everything in their path.


    Even if someone tried to fight back, those feeble arrows could not pierce his hard, golden-red scales, instead inviting scorching white flying flames.


    ¡°Help!¡±


    ¡°Stay away from me!¡±


    Faced with this monster akin to a scourge, the allied soldiers completely lost the will to resist.


    However, the soldiers directly destroyed by Cassius were actually the luckiest; at least they could be considered to have died honorably in the fight against the evil dragons.


    But the rest were purely victims.


    A nearly hundred-meter-high fire tornado followed the red dragon, sweeping soldiers into the sky only to ignite them into blazing fireballs.


    Soldiers on the outskirts managed to run upwind, only to be bombarded by a rain of fireballs.


    Many soldiers, unable to escape, were engulfed by falling fire. They flailed, ablaze, screaming and running. Some desperately burrowed into the ground only to die miserably, burned to a crisp. Others, encased in heavy iron armor, were melted by the flames, their remains fusing with molten metal.


    Firelight filled the sky and earth, smoke and ash swirling everywhere.


    The soldiers, like headless flies, darted frantically in the fire and smoke. Some reached dead ends, others exhausted, some barely clinging to life, some charred beyond recognition.


    The furthest soldiers, lucky enough to avoid the fire, attempted to climb over stone walls but were enveloped by pervasive, choking smoke, asphyxiating to death.


    Amid the thick smoke, a grey-robe mage used a spell to hastily flee to the battlefield¡¯s edge, trembling, raising his magic wand.


    ¡°I must leave.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord Earl.¡±


    [Secondary Teleportation Spell]


    A ripple of space emerged before him, and Schroeder¡¯s form gradually became illusory.


    Cassius keenly sensed the Magic Web¡¯s fluctuations and turned, but upon seeing the fleeing grey-robe mage ¡°Grey Hawk,¡± he deliberately allowed him to escape.


    The red dragon soared above, slowly flapping his wings, surveying the burning, hellish landscape below.


    This place, once housing tens of thousands of troops, now scarcely contained any living beings.


    All he could see was fire and charred remains.


    Countless ashes danced in the wind.


    It had become a carnival for flames, a forbidden zone for the living.


    Cassius meticulously fulfilled his pre-battle promise, landing with a resounding thud, sending ashes into the sky. Surrounded by embers, he lifted his head and let out a long roar.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡­


    On the mountain, Viscount Luton trembled as he witnessed the apocalyptic scene. His mind brimming with classical works of court poets, lavishly adorned with eloquent words, but at this moment, none of them could capture even a fraction of the scene¡¯s magnitude.


    His lips quivered, finally uttering a few words: ¡°Infernal Calamity¡­¡±


    Luton recalled a line from the holy scriptures: ¡°Sinners cast into purgatory, the flames will consume them.¡±


    ¡°Fire¡­ the incarnation of flame, he is the incarnation of flame!¡±


    ¡°By the gods¡­¡±


    The captured nobles stared blankly at the sight of tens of thousands of elite troops turning to ash, trembling all over. Many collapsed on the spot, some even wetting themselves in fright.


    Meanwhile, the retainers of the Ashen Nest, whether Great Goblins, Ogres, or Wyverns, all fixed their eyes on the massive dragon silhouette encircled by embers at the fire¡¯s core.


    Reverence, panic, longing¡ªall these emotions appeared on their grotesque faces: ¡°This is the master¡¯s strength, this is¡­ the great red dragon¡¯s rage.¡±


    ¡°This is the purest form of power incarnate.¡±


    ¡°He will conquer the world or destroy it.¡±


    Ramp stared at the infernal scene, muttering to himself.


    The red dragon flapped his enormous wings, detaching from the sea of flames, descending to the Ashen Nest¡¯s camp halfway up the mountain.


    As he gradually approached, whether retainer or captive noble, all trembled and lowered their heads in the presence of his mighty dragon¡¯s might.


    ¡°Quite the splendid display of fireworks.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Cassius gazed down at them, his golden eyes still seemingly burning with recent flames.


    ¡­


    ¡°The allied forces never had a chance at victory; it was all like a grand play orchestrated by him for himself.¡±


    ¡°That day, flames swept through the sky and earth. The Triel Valley was filled with ashes. He wielded scourge-like power, announcing his presence to the Anzeta Great Wilderness in the strongest possible way¡ªa war, or rather a massacre of thirty thousand allied forces, usually referred to as the Triel Tragedy.¡±


    ¡°From that day forward, the seemingly impregnable Northern United Kingdom, standing for centuries, was on the brink of collapse, heralding the impending era of dragon domination.¡±


    ¡ªThe Triel Tragedy, Annals of Anzeta, Duke Luton

 Chapter 121 - 51: Flames of War and Army Breaker

    Chapter 121: Chapter 51: Flames of War and Army Breaker


    The Battle of Triel had ended, with heavy casualties for the Ashen Nest, amounting to over ten thousand goblins and kobolds, but they still maintained a strong fighting force and high morale.


    Meanwhile, the allied forces of the Rackman, Boske, and Notte duchies, numbering over thirty thousand, were utterly annihilated. All the senior generals of the Boske and Notte duchies were captured and imprisoned in the dungeons of Dragon Valley.


    Since the Lion¡¯s Covenant Battle thirty years ago, which changed the situation in Anzeta, there hadn¡¯t been a war of such scale for decades. Thus, ever since the outbreak of the war, all the factions in the Anzeta Great Wilderness had been awaiting the final outcome with bated breath.


    When the war ended, news of the total annihilation of the allied forces spread at an astonishing speed.


    And the rumor of ¡°Infernal Calamity¡± Cassius annihilating the allied forces with flames also spread far and wide.


    Throughout the North, a great uproar ensued, and everywhere was abuzz with shock. At first, no one could believe that the army, composed of the most elite forces of the three duchies, had been completely destroyed.


    ...


    Until brave rangers risked their lives to infiltrate the Triel Valley.


    They saw the scorched brown earth and the thick ashes, which all proved the authenticity of the information.


    In no time, this previously obscure Red Dragon became a terrifying presence that could stop children from crying at night, the final enemy in countless bard tales, the greatest evil adventurers attempted to eliminate, and a close-watched target for various factions in the North, regardless of their alignment, be it good or evil.


    ¡°Since they want war, I will give them war.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But when the war ends, that will not be for them to decide.¡±


    This phrase from the Red Dragon had already spread widely within the Ashen Nest and even reached the duchies of the Northern Kingdom.


    The massive, sinister war machine of the Ashen Nest clearly had not yet fully unleashed its power. The dragon vein monsters, having sharpened their claws and prepared, were eager to go. After a few days of rest, they were impatient to charge southward, spreading the raging flames of war from the Triel Valley to the homeland of the Rackman Duchy.


    But this time, whether it was the Boske Duchy, the nominal leader of the Northern United Kingdom, or the Norton Kingdom with close marital bonds to the Rackman Duchy, or the remaining ten large and small duchies, they all shivered under the wings of the Ashen Nest, choosing to turn a blind eye and stand by idly.


    The Principality of Norton even proactively sent envoys, offering a large ransom for their captives and signing a peace agreement.


    Many northern nobles also bypassed their lords, secretly sending envoys to discuss cooperation in advance.


    Even the Boske Duchy used underground channels to subtly express their desire to ransom Andrei and apologized for their actions.


    Dailenna, the pureblood serpentfolk temporarily in charge of diplomatic affairs, welcomed this, but the agreements proposed by the northern nobles were far from satisfying her greedy appetite. She wanted to extract more benefits from these nobles, preferably to drain their blood entirely, turning it into nourishment for the Ashen Nest.


    The long, thunderous sound of the horn echoed, startling countless birds into flight.


    ¡°Advance¡ª¡±


    Dolores rode on a land dragon beast, holding the Bloodfire Battle Axe high.


    The massive dragon beasts made earthquake-like sounds, the wyverns¡¯ wings filled the sky, and kobolds and goblins covered the mountains and plains. Meanwhile, Great Goblins and lizardfolk formed orderly military formations. They would crush all enemies blocking their path with unstoppable force.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    The monsters¡¯ fervent, clamorous roars rang out.


    ¡­


    As the North¡¯s situation was in upheaval, Cassius, the culprit of it all, lay weakly in the cavern, resting, his massive dragon body rising and falling with each breath.


    ¡°The expenditure was indeed immense.¡±


    ¡°I probably can¡¯t use it easily for the next few days.¡±


    Cassius gently turned his head, gazing at the mithril ring on his clawed finger, embedded with the blue amber-like ¡°Eye of the Storm King,¡± now dim.


    Due to excessive magic conduction, the previously indestructible structure of the mithril had also become somewhat fragile, almost unable to withstand it.


    ¡°Tsk, this vessel is still too fragile.¡±


    This calamity, which was tantamount to purgatory, was achieved partly through Cassius utilizing the power of the Eye of the Storm King to cast the Eighth Tier Spell [Weather Control], creating a hurricane tornado, and partly by relying on the formidable fire element control of the True Dragon Sorcerer to create an endless sea of fire with his breath and spells.


    The combination of the two, wind aiding the fire, formed the all-consuming fire tornado.


    But weather itself was a chaotic system with vast and complex information flows. Even with the help of equipment, casting the Eighth Tier Spell of weather control was still an immense challenge for Cassius.


    Maintaining the spell for every second subjected his mind to horrific pressure.


    It could be said, spellcasting brought momentary elation, but afterward, a crematorium.


    However, all this was worth it.


    Cassius gazed at the information refreshed on the panel, revealing a sinister smile.


    [You single-handedly destroyed an army of ten thousand, earning the special achievement [Army Breaker]]


    Achievement [Army Breaker]


    ¡°When the power of an individual reaches its peak, the number of enemies becomes a meaningless numeral. In other words, you alone can easily annihilate an entire army. ¨C War Historian, Trimson¡±


    Gained Passive Trait: [Army Breaker]


    Strength +1, Constitution +2


    As an entity capable of single-handedly destroying armies, any siege would fill you with excitement. When facing multiple enemies simultaneously, your strength and constitution would greatly increase.


    (Note: Legendary Dwarf War Maniac Kuzarf once flattened a demon army with an iron hammer. He claimed he didn¡¯t even blink. Scholars attempted to challenge this academically, but none dared confront him directly.)


    Army Breaker, a terrifying ability.


    Not only did it prove effective in wars against large armies, but also against sieges by multiple enemies, especially adventurer squads.


    Moreover, the bodily enhancements.


    Soon, Cassius felt an inexplicable force remodeling his body. His already robust muscles became more solid and resilient, and the power and vitality of his dragon body were directly elevated to another level.


    Moreover, a certain trait emerged within his dragon body as if it had been there all along, the ability to grow stronger when faced with numerous enemies, brought by [Army Breaker].


    ¡°Still no mana fluctuations.¡±


    ¡°Not even the space can detect¡­¡±


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, roused himself, feeling the new power, pondering silently.


    He now stood at the pinnacle of Anzeta¡¯s combat power, but even so, he couldn¡¯t detect any trace of the system, which tempered his sense of complacency after the great victory.


    After all, in this world, he was still far too weak.

 Chapter 122 - 52: Ascension and Terrifying Illusions

    Chapter 122: Chapter 52: Ascension and Terrifying Illusions


    After adapting to the changes and feeling the surge of power within his body, Cassius once again looked at the panel, which was filled with messages about experience gained.


    [You killed [White Lion Knight, Tarik], gaining 2100 xp]


    [You killed [Captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards, Narilan], gaining 1800 xp]


    [You killed [Captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards, Atla], gaining 1800 xp]


    [You killed [Silver Hand, Ter], gaining 1200 xp]


    [You killed [Count Robert], gaining 1200 xp]


    ...


    ¡­


    [You killed [transporation corps], gaining 0.5 xp]


    [You killed [transportation corps], gaining 0.5 xp]


    [You killed [peasant auxiliary], gaining 0.25 xp]


    ¡­


    There were tens of thousands of data entries refreshing on the panel.


    At the top were those high-ranking officers of the allied forces, Paladins, and spellcasters, followed by various elite soldiers, and finally, countless ordinary soldiers and laborers.


    Due to Cassius¡¯s high level of life energy, those weak creatures provided him with negligible experience, but gathering the bits can build a tower.


    ¡°Whoa¡ªso many?¡±


    Even Cassius was somewhat surprised.


    Because the data in front of him far exceeded his expectations.


    In the end panel statistics, Cassius had gained over sixty-three thousand experience points. Even with the Red Dragon template making level-ups exceptionally difficult, this massive amount of experience was enough to raise him four levels in one go.


    However, Cassius did not intend to do so.


    Recklessly accepting uncontrollable power could be very risky.


    He had only just digested and achieved preliminary control over the spell abilities he mastered after his previous sleep.


    [Choose to improve [True Dragon Sorcerer] level]


    [Your [True Dragon Sorcerer] level has risen to level 8]


    [You have gained an additional Dragonkin feat: [Hard Landing]]


    [Hard Landing]


    Prerequisite: Circling, Flipping


    If a Dragon takes enough damage or spell attacks to make it unable to fly, an experienced Dragon can adopt a forced method to maintain its dignity. A Dragon with this feat can find the most reasonable way to avoid damage in any fall.


    Cassius nodded slightly. At least this feat could be useful in battles.


    [You have gained a special attribute point, you can choose to enhance one of your attributes by 1 point (including above 20)]


    [Choose to enhance charisma to 25]


    That familiar feeling once again enveloped his body, soul, and spirit.


    His impact on reality deepened further, making him feel like a controller of the world, able to manipulate the Magic Web with a mere gesture.


    It was said that when attributes like charisma and intelligence reached thirty, one could touch the Source Sea with their will, achieving a new, extraordinary spellcasting realm that no player in his previous life had ever reached.


    Cassius took a deep breath, feeling his connection to the world and silently praying to gain a useful spell.


    But he did not call upon any deity.


    [Gained 5th-tier Dragon spell [Dragon¡¯s Breath]]


    [Dragon¡¯s Breath]


    5th-tier spell


    Golden light beams shoot up from the ground beneath you, bathing you in a healing column filled with yellow particles. This spell converts arcane energy into pure Dragonkin life energy and guides it to repair the damage to your body.


    Cassius breathed a sigh of relief.


    He had gained a highly functional healing spell, which could be life-saving in critical battles against powerful enemies.


    But the next spell made his expression turn grim.


    [Gained 6th-tier Dragon spell [Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion]]


    [Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion]


    6th-tier illusion spell


    The target being sees an illusion of the Dragon Queen, Tiamat. Unless they have incredibly strong willpower, they will believe the illusion is real and that they are about to become the target of her multiple breath attacks.


    Creatures that believe in this illusion will see fire, ice, acid, lightning, and poison gas spewing from ¡°Tiamat¡¯s¡± mouth, and unless their mental will is tough enough, they will be scared to death by this scene. The illusion is so horrific that even those with strong willpower will still suffer heavy mental trauma.


    ¡°Tiamat¡¯s Illusion¡­¡±


    ¡°Is it a coincidence? Or is it the will of the Five-Colored Dragon Queen?¡±


    Cassius pondered, his expression gradually freezing.


    Though the Anzeta Great Wilderness is just a remote corner of Erezer on the Prime Material Plane, insignificant in the grand scheme.


    But as a Red Dragon, rumored to be a favored one of the Dragon Queen, Cassius¡¯s performance might indeed have caught the attention of the Evil Dragon Queen. After all, shortly after entering Erezer, that terrifying illusion had already appeared in his mind.


    Now, managing Stormy Ridge and soon taking over the Rackman Duchy, he was barely able to meet the threshold of being a minion to the Dragon Queen.


    ¡°This spell is undoubtedly powerful.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯d better not use it recklessly unless absolutely necessary.¡±


    He did not believe that when summoning an illusion of a true deity, the deity would not notice; it was purely absurd.


    Cassius did not want to make early contact with the Dragon Queen when his power was still relatively weak, as it would reduce him to a mere pawn.


    ¡°Tiamat¡­¡±


    ¡°Rather than being a pawn, I would prefer to become the ¡®renegade¡¯ who replaces her.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    Of course, such blasphemous thoughts would remain internal; he would never voice them.


    The spellcasting method of ¡°Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion¡± appeared in Cassius¡¯s mind. The images of the Five-Colored Dragon Queen were so hideous and terrifying, seemingly watching everything, making him feel uneasy. So, Cassius tried to build a fortress in his memory, sealing the spell away for now.


    If not for being unavoidable, he would even prefer to lose this 6th-tier spell.


    Even after sealing it, Cassius still felt uneasy, unable to find peace.


    ¡°Ramp.¡±


    The Red Dragon called to the magic mirror in the cave. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With his call, Ramp¡¯s ugly face appeared in the mirror, his expression humble and respectful.


    After that horrible scourge, his appreciation for the Red Dragon¡¯s power became more direct, making him even more reverent.


    ¡°Great master, what are your orders?¡±


    Cassius commanded: ¡°Find an empty cave within Stormy Ridge, and place a shrine to Her Majesty Tiamat inside. Regularly send a few gold coins there as an offering.¡±


    After a moment of contemplation, he reminded specifically:


    ¡°Also, make sure this place is far away from Dragon Valley.¡±


    Ramp gladly accepted the order, respectfully saying: ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    The Dragon Vein Ogre Mage severed the magic image, sighing: ¡°The master is truly generous and devout, even offering precious gold coins to Her Majesty the Dragon Queen. No wonder he has such great power.¡±


    However, considering the general greed of dragons, Cassius planned to replace the gold coins with less conspicuous copper coins¡ªa matter for later, and certainly not because of his stinginess.

 Chapter 123 - 53: The Besieged City

    Chapter 123: Chapter 53: The Besieged City


    Within the boundaries of the Rackman Duchy, Trolo City.


    This was once the fief of the legendary General Terna Rackman.


    This city was also known as the ¡°City of Virile Wind,¡± home to more than ten thousand people. As a military stronghold defending Northwind Castle in the northern part of the duchy, Trolo City had long resisted invasions from the north. The people here were resilient and brave, or as they said, ¡°steeped in martial spirit.¡± For hundreds of years, they faced waves of invasions from Frost Giants, Orcs, and even a White Dragon, yet none of these had managed to defeat them.


    The Skandar People were like an iron nail, resolutely rooted in the central and northern regions of Anzeta.


    But now, fear was spreading within this city.


    A dark, oppressive army of monsters had surrounded the city for a full seven days. All communication was cut off. No water, people, or food could enter or leave Trolo City.


    ...


    However, the shortage of supplies was not the most terrifying aspect; it was the resulting unrest among the people.


    Having not faced war for decades, the Trolonians had become somewhat lax. They seemed to have forgotten the glory of their ancestors, immersed in years of peace and stability. Their enemies, however, were the formidable and aggressive Ashen Kin.


    Even many elite soldiers from the Allied Forces hailed from Trolo City. After that battle, the city was left in ruins, the sound of wailing everywhere, as if the backbone of Trolo City had been broken.


    Wyvern Knights swept across the sky, dropping countless fliers urging surrender upon the terrified populace below.


    ¡°Will they slaughter the city?¡±


    ¡°What should we do? Maybe we should surrender.¡±


    ¡°Even the elite of the Allied Forces have been wiped out¡­¡±


    ¡°How can we possibly hold out against such an army?¡±


    Such whispered conversations echoed throughout the city.


    However, the City Defense Army had already imposed martial law, and the entire city was under strict military control. Anyone who publicly voiced such demoralizing sentiments was arrested by the City Defense Army as a traitor. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The high walls of Trolo City were weathered and had borne witness to centuries of turbulent history.


    The City Defense Army stood at their posts, ready for action, but they could not launch an attack, as the monsters were too far away for even the ballistas to reach them.


    The current City Lord, Count Dawson Vileir, stood on the city wall, looking solemnly down at the monsters surrounding the city.


    ¡°My Lord, we caught another group of traitors.¡±


    A City Defense Army captain reported hurriedly.


    Dawson¡¯s voice was firm: ¡°Execute them all. Leave no room for these scum.¡±


    The City Defense Army captain shivered, then quickly responded: ¡°Yes, my Lord!¡±


    ¡°Again¡­¡±


    ¡°Have they forgotten the glory of their ancestors?¡±


    Dawson clenched his fist, muttering to himself.


    He turned to his adjutant and inquired: ¡°How many days can our food and water last within the city?¡±


    The adjutant pondered for a moment before replying:


    ¡°Three days, at most three days.¡±


    ¡°Recently, people have started dying of thirst. Their families dragged the bodies to the square, wailing, and were temporarily detained by our guards. But now the situation is becoming uncontrollable, and more and more troublemakers are emerging. The city¡¯s troops are¡­ nearly insufficient.¡±


    A heavy gloom settled over Dawson¡¯s face. Could surrender truly be the only option?


    No, surrender was not an option.


    It was about his honor, the struggle of the Trolonians over the centuries, and the glory of their ancestors.


    With this in mind, Count Dawson¡¯s expression turned stern. He told the adjutant: ¡°Gather the citizens, I have something to say to them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡±


    Soon, under the supervision of the City Defense Army, the starving and complaining citizens gathered below the city walls.


    ¡°I am so hungry¡­¡±


    ¡°Is Lord Earl going to give us relief?¡±


    ¡°These lackeys of the City Defense, my family starved to death, and they took the bodies away.¡±


    ¡°Please, let this be over soon¡­¡±


    At that moment, a steady and powerful voice echoed from the city walls, and the citizens, or rather, refugees, looked up with hope.


    Only to see Count Dawson, looking stern, standing high on the city wall, loudly proclaiming.


    ¡°Citizens, Trolo City has reached a life-or-death moment. This is the most critical time in nearly a hundred years!¡±


    ¡°But do not fear, do not retreat. Our ancestors lived here, in this mighty city. Look around, this tall wall has withstood countless terrifying enemies. Giants, Orcs, Dragons, but no enemy has ever conquered us! And this time will be no different!¡±


    A refugee courageously asked: ¡°But what about food? What about water?¡±


    ¡°My Lord, if I may be blunt, our courage needs a material foundation.¡±


    Dawson¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment but then he spoke forcefully: ¡°Courage and will are your sharpest spears and swords!¡±


    ¡°No water and food?¡±


    ¡°How could that be! Citizens, don your armor, take up your weapons. They are just outside the city, waiting for you to claim them with your swords!¡±


    ¡­


    While Count Dawson was delivering his impassioned speech, he had no idea that, in the fields several hundred meters away, someone was secretly observing him.


    ¡°Boss, can you really use this mortar?¡±


    ¡°It looks pretty shoddy to me.¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man pretended to calibrate the device, speaking to the Iron Madman beside him.


    Before him lay a more than two-meter-long metal smoothbore cannon, but it had no artillery mount. Instead, it was supported on the shoulders of a large and strong Ogre sitting on the ground, serving as a makeshift mount.


    The Iron Madman leaned in, whispering: ¡°It should still work, at least it won¡¯t blow up. The budget for the mount was diverted to build a mech. But do you really know how to use this thing?¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man, looking at Count Dawson on the distant city wall, spoke with excitement: ¡°Judging by his outfit, he must be a bigwig.¡±


    ¡°Bighead, move a bit to the left.¡±


    The Ogre moved impatiently to the left.


    ¡°That¡¯s too much, about¡­ hmm, the distance of a steak.¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man tried to think of a unit of measurement the Ogre could understand.


    ¡°Wait, that¡¯s too much!¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s about right.¡±


    ¡°Load the ammunition¡ª¡±


    Another Ogre clumsily loaded the heavy shell, fumbling with the fuse on the side.


    After recalibrating for a long while without finding any clues, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man decided to leave it to chance and shouted:


    ¡°Ready¡ªfire!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The sound of thunderous cannon fire echoed across the fields.


    The shell traced a high arc in the sky but landed in the moat in front of the city wall, exploding into a massive crater.


    ¡°Damn it, what happened?¡±


    Count Dawson, in the midst of his speech, felt the earth tremble. He staggered slightly, dirt splattering onto his splendid armor.


    ¡°Was it thunder?¡±


    ¡°Is the enemy attacking?¡±


    ¡°Run for your lives¡ª¡±


    The refugees panicked, creating chaos as they jostled and clamored to escape.

 Chapter 124 - 124: 54th Chapter: Bombardment

    Chapter 124: 54th Chapter: Bombardment


    ¡°Pillar, you motherfucker, you missed the shot!¡±


    ¡°Get out of here and stick to playing with the wheelchair gun!¡± Iron Madman shoved the Battlefield Wheelchair Man aside, cursing all the while.


    He had thought this guy could actually handle the artillery, but it turned out to be all bluff, wasting one of his precious shells.


    Iron Madman noticed that the general had not yet retreated from the city walls, so he immediately started recalculating and aiming again.


    The distance wasn¡¯t too far, and the terrain was particularly simple and open.


    Iron Madman quickly ordered,


    ...


    ¡°Set up firing data!¡±


    ¡°Azimuth 27-00, elevation angle 06-80!¡±


    The ogre ¡°Bighead¡± immediately adjusted its position according to the command, casting a contemptuous glance at the Battlefield Wheelchair Man beside it. Meanwhile, another ogre began prepping the shell and setting the fuse.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man stood there, dumbfounded and unable to get involved, musing to himself, ¡°Did an ogre just look down on my intelligence?¡±


    However, Iron Madman had no time to care about his self-esteem, focusing solely on taking down that elite monster. He yelled,


    ¡°Ready¡ªfire!¡±


    With a thunderous roar, the shell once again screamed through the air, tracing a graceful arc in the sky.


    But this time, after recalibration, the shell¡¯s landing point was exceptionally accurate, clearly targeting that general.


    ¡­


    At the city gate of Trolo City.


    The pitch-black metal shell plummeted from the heavens, landing precisely beside Count Dawson Vileir.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A deafening explosion ensued.


    Shrapnel flew in all directions, and dust filled the air.


    Count Dawson was blasted from the city gate to the ground, becoming a mangled, charred mess of flesh, mixed with fragments of his shattered ancestral armor.


    His adjutant and the City Defense Army nearby were also annihilated.


    Not to mention the bricks that were blown off, falling among the crowds below the city wall, causing even more casualties.


    ¡°Oh my god¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lord Earl is dead!¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Nest breached the city!¡±


    ¡°Help! They¡¯re breaking in!¡±


    Refugees crowded and cried as they fled in all directions, even causing a stampede at one point.


    The City Defense Army was powerless to handle the situation. Their Lord Earl had been blown to smithereens, and many soldiers were paralyzed with fear from the falling shells, not knowing what to do.


    ¡°What¡ªwhat do we do?¡±


    ¡°Should we continue to follow orders?¡±


    ¡°But¡­ Lord Earl is dead, and even the captain is dead.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    The City Defense Army could only stand by helplessly.


    The news of the Earl¡¯s death quickly spread throughout the city, plunging Trolo City into chaos. Loyal retainers swore to resist to the death and fulfill the Earl¡¯s last wishes, while despicable nobles intended to surrender and protect their positions, and Pureblood Serpentfolk spies stirred trouble in the shadows.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, at the Ashen Nest¡¯s stronghold. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The retainers were a bit puzzled by the commotion in Trolo City, but the players knew exactly what was happening.


    [You killed Count Dawson Vileir, gaining 1200xp]


    [You defeated an enemy general, gaining 5500 Faction Contribution from the Ashen Nest]


    ¡°Holy shit, one shot kill!¡±


    Iron Madman¡¯s eyes widened, staring at the generous rewards on the screen, filled with delight and surprise.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man whispered, ¡°Boss, how did this ogre understand the instructions and aim so accurately?¡±


    Iron Madman sneered, ¡°This ogre is much smarter than you. He even memorized the artillery¡¯s firing table. I only used three hundred pounds of raw meat to motivate him. Unlike you, who¡¯s just a lousy aim.¡±


    ¡°No way¡­¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man muttered in disbelief, as if struck by lightning.


    He had been outsmarted by an ogre?


    Iron Madman patted him sympathetically on the shoulder, ¡°You¡¯re not suited for this complicated stuff. Once we have more resources, I¡¯ll personally make you a Type two submachine gun. Now, go play somewhere else.¡±


    Ogre ¡°Bighead¡± seemed to notice they were discussing him, turning his head with a challenging smile on his ugly face.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, trying to change the subject and suddenly cheered, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re amazing! Fire again!¡±


    ¡°Give them a little fireworks show!¡±


    Unexpectedly, the Goblin Chieftain and commander of this siege, Dolores, was attracted by the ruckus and came over personally, asking if these Starfallen could blow open the city wall.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    Iron Madman scratched his head awkwardly.


    He patted the hot artillery barrel, only to hear a crisp explosion as the metal barrel suddenly cracked open like a blooming flower, emitting wisps of blue smoke.


    ¡°This was just a prototype for testing.¡±


    ¡°It could only fire twice at most.¡±


    Not because he skimped on quality, secretly using the special mithril assigned to the Ashen Nest for making armor, and instead mixed inferior metal for the mortar barrel¡ªIron Madman silently added in his heart, vowing never to tell anyone about it.


    As the day went on, the chaos in the city gradually subsided.


    Dolores was somewhat disappointed but still looked at the tall city walls with a menacing smile.


    ¡°Master said to maintain order in the city.¡±


    ¡°But if they don¡¯t surrender, that¡¯s not my problem.¡±


    A hint of savagery flashed in his eyes. It was said that his master would personally come to this siege. He had to showcase his valor and loyalty, making enemies tremble at the mention of his name.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    However, just as he was fantasizing, the heavy city gates slowly opened.


    White flags fluttered on the tall city towers.


    The once impregnable Trolo City had fallen easily, and the Ashen Nest had only expended two shells, one of which even missed.


    Under Dolores¡¯ command, the most orderly of the Goblin and Lizardfolk troops were the first to enter the city, followed by the players. The more unruly retainers like ogres and wyverns were left to camp outside the city.


    As the gates opened, the Ashen Nest¡¯s army formed neat lines and marched in.


    The once bustling streets were now deserted, with only a few worried and frightened eyes occasionally peeking out from the cracks in doors and windows.


    After Count Dawson¡¯s death, the highest-ranking official in the city was Deputy City Lord, Viscount Berry, who now stood at the gates, respectfully welcoming the Ashen Nest¡¯s army. Facing Dolores, who was tall and ferocious, his whole body quivered with fat.


    ¡°M¡ªMy lord, on behalf of all the citizens of Trolo City, I welcome you.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Dolores grinned, his scaly face attempting to show a friendly smile.


    However, it had the opposite effect, making the viscount even more terrified, fearing that this Dragon Vein Goblin would eat him in a fit of rage.


    ¡­


    ¡°People often regard the fall of Trolo City as a great humiliation, a complete farce, but in my view, it was merely a continuation of the results of the Triel Conference. If the Allied Forces hadn¡¯t been utterly defeated, those bloodthirsty citizens would have returned to Trolo City, and this wouldn¡¯t have gone down the same way.¡±


    ¡ª ¡°History of the Duchy: The Fall of Trolo City,¡± Duke Luton

 Chapter 125 - 55: The King’s Landing

    Chapter 125: Chapter 55: The King¡¯s Landing


    In Trolo City, key locations like the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Military Government Hall, and the Armory were immediately seized by the Goblin Army.


    There were sporadic disturbances, the City Defense Army swore to follow the Earl to the death and rose up in resistance. As many as a hundred people shouted, ¡°For Count Dawson!¡± ¡°For the glory of Trolo City!¡± and charged at the monster army, but the Goblins just silently formed ranks and raised their spears.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    After the deafening gunshots.


    Everything fell silent.


    The interior of Trolo City was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood.


    ...


    These rebels were hung on the city walls, becoming a terrifying sight in the city. People peeked at the blood-dripping corpses riddled with bullets, and their hearts filled with greater fear and unease.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go outside.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t look¡­¡±


    The residents tightly shut their doors and windows, covered their children¡¯s eyes, trembling while constantly praying.


    But soon, they were ordered to come out and greet.


    The doors were knocked on with loud thuds, and outside were the grim faces of the Goblins and Lizardfolk.


    The children cried out loudly in fear, but the adults hastily covered their mouths.


    No one dared to resist.


    Even though the Goblins and Lizardfolk were the most orderly and power-following beings within the Ashen Nest, people could still see that these Dragon Vein Monsters were suppressing their frenzied nature, waiting for a rebel to appear so they could tear them apart.


    During this process, perhaps someone was killed by an uncontrollable Dragon Vein Descendant, but no one would notice, and no one would investigate.


    In this atmosphere of terror, Trolo City still maintained the most basic order.


    Everyone knew that the era of Red Dragon¡¯s rule over Trolo City had begun.


    But no one knew when this era would end.


    Or what it would be like.


    The residents were driven by the monster army to the central plaza, which was once the most prosperous place in Trolo City but was now filled with unspeakable terror.


    Whether they were former nobles, sergeants, commoners, or even beggars, whether they were dressed in fine robes, rags, or coarse hemp clothing, all were driven here by the Goblins and Lizardfolk.


    People were anxious and uneasy, no one dared to speak. They were like criminals on their way to execution, quietly waiting for the final judgment.


    They waited like this.


    Suddenly, the assimilated City Defense Army stationed at the gate looked into the distance, their voices trembling, and so did the residents.


    ¡°Oh my God¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡­ what is that?¡±


    ¡°Gods protect us.¡±


    The Bipedal Wyverns gathered close together, like a mass of surging dark clouds, densely approaching from the distance, almost blocking out the sun.


    However, the Wyverns were only the servants ahead of the King.


    They parted in the sky, forming a broad path, and the massive Red Dragon slowly approached, flapping its wings, and gradually descended.


    Cassius cast a gigantic shadow on the ground, almost covering everyone at one moment, then he thunderously landed in the central plaza of Trolo City.


    The immense figure appeared in the plaza¡¯s center.


    Dust rose into the air.


    When the smoke cleared, people could barely make out his form. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was a terrifying Red Dragon.


    Huge, strong, like the embodiment of strength.


    The large horns sweeping back were like a majestic crown, and the golden pupils seemed to burn with blazing flames.


    As his gaze swept down from above, people felt an instinctive fear of this powerful creature, their heads lowered unconsciously. Some with weaker constitutions even fell to their knees.


    The horrific monster opened its mouth, and people immediately felt a scorching, burning breath hitting their faces, reminding them of the rumor of the ¡°Incarnation of Flame.¡±


    ¡°People of Trolo City, greetings.¡±


    The voice resounded like thunder.


    Standing at the front, Viscount Burton, who had barely managed a smile, slumped to the ground in fright.


    Cassius calmly stated, ¡°I know that Trolo City has a glorious history. Your ancestors once resisted the invasion of the White Dragons and the Frost Giants, you were once the renowned City of Virile Wind.¡±


    His tone paused.


    ¡°But that is all in the past.¡±


    ¡°Now, this is my territory.¡±


    ¡°I will establish a new order here, one that belongs solely to the Ashen Nest. Any dissidents will be met with the most thorough destruction.¡±


    ¡°I will rule here, who agrees and who opposes?¡±


    Cassius looked down at the tens of thousands of citizens, the golden vertical pupils exerting an invisible pressure as he swept over the nobles, sergeants, and commoners. Yet no one dared to meet his gaze.


    Silence pervaded the plaza.


    Suddenly, a voice drew everyone¡¯s attention, including Cassius¡¯ gaze.


    Viscount Burton, trembling, prostrated on the ground and whispered, ¡°Ke¡­ King of Ashen¡­¡±


    Seeing the Red Dragon¡¯s gaze on him, he trembled more violently, sweat streaming down his chubby face, but he mustered the courage and shouted, ¡°The old era is over, welcome the King of Ashen to rule Trolo City!¡±


    Ignoring the disdainful looks around him, Viscount Burton staggered to his feet and continued to shout, ¡°King of Ashen!¡±


    ¡°King of Ashen!¡±


    ¡°He will rule Trolo City and the world!¡±


    First, the Goblins and Lizardfolk raised their weapons and cheered.


    Then, the residents of Trolo City, under the supervision of the monsters, were forced to join in the celebration of the city¡¯s downfall.


    Cassius observed the cheering monsters and crowd.


    He saw that these Dragon Vein Monsters harbored countless suppressed violent desires, those reddened eyes, those heat-spewing maw, those menacing scales and horns¡­


    They craved slaughter, needed to release the boiling blood inside.


    It was only due to Cassius¡¯ restraint that they barely maintained order. Without the Red Dragon¡¯s personal presence, a catastrophe no less than the ¡°Tragedy of Northwind Castle¡± could have occurred in the city, something he definitely did not want to see.


    Cassius hoped to establish a regime of order, a diverse Empire of multiple races.


    An empire that served him, powerful and able to grow and thrive.


    He did not wish to create a chaotic force of slaughter. That would only invite disaster, much like those abyssal demons, who were attacked wherever they went.


    ¡°This is the violent bloodline of the Red Dragon. These Dragon Vein Descendants can only serve as sharp swords in hand, not to be relied on to establish a new order.¡±


    ¡°Players, I need to control more players.¡±


    ¡°And¡­ I must find a way to suppress the chaos and violence within the Red Dragon bloodline.¡±


    He mused to himself.


    Cassius had actually already realized that the chaos and evil flowing in the boiling blood of the Red Dragon had affected his way of thinking to a certain extent.


    Brutal, arrogant, bloodthirsty, he often unintentionally exhibited these terrifying traits, sometimes even without his own awareness.

 Chapter 126 - 56 Lord

    Chapter 126: Chapter 56 Lord


    The information appeared on Cassius¡¯s panel.


    [You have occupied a city with a population of tens of thousands, gaining the special achievement [Lord]]


    Achievement [Lord] S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This place shall become my territory, and I shall be the lord of the world! ¡ªConqueror King Audik¡±


    Trait gained: [Dictator¡¯s Rule]


    Charisma +1


    ...


    Ruling Proficiency +6


    You conquered cities with overwhelming strength, and your dictatorial rule instilled fear in all. Inhabitants within your territory, viewed as ¡°subjects,¡± found it nearly impossible to disobey your orders. Furthermore, your decrees would manifest as natural laws within your domain.


    (Note: All players belonging to your faction who are within your territory must pass a stringent will check if they attempt to break the law; otherwise, they will be judged as deceased. Depending on your domain and number of subjects, you can currently enforce: 3 laws)


    An invisible power enveloped Cassius.


    His charisma was further enhanced, reaching a terrifying 26 points¡ªalmost comparable to some ancient dragons who had lived nearly a thousand years and had deep connections with the world.


    Additionally, a special, psionic-like power also appeared in Cassius¡¯s will, quietly waiting to be used.


    ¡°Dictator¡¯s Rule, interesting¡­¡±


    ¡°It will have a miraculous effect on controlling players.¡±


    Players might appear chaotic and disorderly, but in reality, they were bound by the greatest order¡ªthe system.


    Everything they did, whether fighting or leveling up, strictly followed the system¡¯s rules.


    And now, with [Dictator¡¯s Rule], Cassius could make himself like a system administrator, exercising precise and detailed control over players¡¯ actions, finally making them accustomed to and accepting their roles as laborers for the Ashen Nest.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try it then.¡±


    With this thought, Cassius used the invisible power attached to his will to issue the first ¡°Dictator¡¯s Rule.¡±


    Given his understanding of players, they would definitely break this rule, allowing him to see the effects of this new ability.


    [Theft is prohibited here.]


    ¡­


    ¡°Damn, this city is much bigger than Barto City.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said to have tens of thousands of people inside.¡±


    ¡°The modeling is so realistic; even the marks on the city walls feel ancient.¡±


    Players stood at the city gates, marveling at Trolo City¡¯s tall walls that had stood for hundreds of years.


    ¡°In such a big city, think of all the items there could be to pick up¡­¡±


    A player with the ID ¡°Nocturne Psalm¡± sighed.


    Everyone turned their heads, looking at the person warily and distancing themselves.


    ¡°Nocturne Psalm¡± was a player with the wanderer sub-occupation [Thief], already at level three, a notorious pickpocket, known alongside Swashbuckler as one of the ¡°Double Dogs of the Mine,¡± who stole gear and money from countless new players in the dark mines.


    His occupation traits [Sleight of Hand] and [Gentlemanly Thief] allowed him to escape unscathed each time, leaving the victims infuriated yet helpless, able only to vent on forums.


    ¡°Black Beast, go away!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t come into the city with us!¡±


    Players expressed their disdain, given that his victims numbered in the hundreds.


    Nocturne Psalm protested, ¡°I was just sighing; I didn¡¯t take any action, nor did I steal anything from you all. Why so serious?¡±


    Once those players left, he took out the ring he had just stolen, a sly, moist grin forming on his lips.


    [Treasure Ring]


    Quality: Common


    Description: A very precious ring that can be sold for five gold coins in jewelry stores.


    ¡°Hehe, good stuff.¡±


    Nocturne Psalm deftly used his ¡°Gentlemanly Thief¡± trait, silently leaping onto a building rooftop.


    Several minutes later, that player sensed something amiss, touching his now empty finger, and exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Wait¡­my ring is gone!¡±


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s the Black Beast!¡±


    When he turned around in anger, Nocturne Psalm had already disappeared without a trace.


    ¡°Next time, let¡¯s go together and catch him!¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable, this jerk is pure scum!¡±


    ¡°I worked over ten days to earn that reward¡ª¡±


    As players grieved their losses, Nocturne Psalm had already picked the complex lock and sneaked into a luxurious mansion.


    ¡°Hehe, that poor place Barto City had nothing good, with annoying sheriffs.


    ¡°Here, this is paradise for us thief players!¡±


    The interior was adorned with exquisite decorations, many precious gold and silver jewels displayed in mahogany cabinets.


    Nocturne Psalm eagerly rubbed his hands, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    ¡°This necklace is worth fifteen gold coins, this bracelet eleven gold, this pendant twenty-one gold, these earrings six gold¡­¡±


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    ¡°Treasures, here I come¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, Nocturne Psalm¡¯s body stiffened.


    Information continuously refreshed on his panel.


    [You have broken [Dictator¡¯s Rule First Item¡ªTheft is prohibited here]]


    [You need to pass a will check]


    [Check target is 20, your current check result is 2]


    [Will check failed]


    [You have received the status: Death]


    Nocturne Psalm only had time to say two words: ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    Immediately, his brain was squeezed by an immense, invisible power.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    His entire head exploded, like a shattered watermelon, leaving red and white pieces splattered on the ground.


    The next day, rumors circulated that several headless bodies had been found in Viscount Burton¡¯s mansion, located in different places, with nearby locks all picked.


    It was said these people were Count Dawson¡¯s followers, intending to assassinate the surrendered Viscount Burton but fell into Viscount Burton¡¯s anticipated trap.


    On the other hand, several posts appeared on the player forums.


    ¡°Solemn protest against targeting wanderer players by the officials!¡±


    ¡°Has the game bugged?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with this ridiculous rule¡ª¡±


    ¡°Theft is a part of the world; banning theft is not conducive to the normal operation of the game.¡±


    However, most posts attracted mocking comments, especially in Nocturne Psalm¡¯s section, which turned into a celebration for the victims.


    ¡°Good and evil will be repaid; the Heavenly Dao is a good cycle.¡±


    ¡°Look up and see, who has the official¡¯s ever spared.¡±


    ¡°Black Beast: I stole your money. Official: I stole your head.¡±


    ¡°Strong support! Suggest extending this rule to Barto City.¡±


    ¡°Seems like it¡¯s updated over there too; now sheriffs can¡¯t catch thief players, only native pickpockets.¡±


    ¡°Great satisfaction, great satisfaction!¡±


    ¡°You officials did a good job, dog officials!¡±


    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the theft rule triggered in Northwind Castle yet; has it not been updated?¡±


    ¡°Rogue Beast, why aren¡¯t you dead yet¡ª¡±


    Cassius browsed the player posts, nodding slightly.


    This display of killing one to warn a hundred seemed very successful; these guys had started treating his rule as part of the system¡¯s rules. Once this opening was made, they would gradually accept stricter rules.


    It just needed to be done gradually; if squeezed too hard, pushing players out of the Ashen Nest would be bad.

 Chapter 127 - 57: War and Rumors

    Chapter 127: Chapter 57: War and Rumors


    After the fall of Trolo City, the entire Anzeta was in an uproar, though it was long expected.


    Without the elite ¡°Claw of the Male Eagle,¡± how could the Rackman Family resist the claws and fangs of those Dragon Vein Monsters, especially when faced with the terrifying Red Dragon, known as the Infernal Calamity?


    What they hadn¡¯t predicted was that Trolo City, known as the ¡°City of Virile Wind,¡± which had stood in the Northern United Kingdom for a hundred years without falling, would be so easily breached. It couldn¡¯t even be called a breach, but rather an effortless occupation, as Trolo City couldn¡¯t organize even a decent resistance.


    With Count Dawson killed by a mysterious weapon, the humiliating white flag fluttered at the city gate, and the centuries of glory of Trolo City vanished into thin air.


    In the following months, the Ashen Nest didn¡¯t rush to break through the capital of the Rackman Duchy, Northwind Castle, but patiently conquered the remaining eleven cities within the duchy one by one: Havertz Fort, Turner City, Mex City¡­


    One of the three most powerful duchies in the Northern United Kingdom, the Rackman Duchy, was thus gradually devoured. This caused the nobles of Anzeta to be on edge.


    ...


    During this period, many bloody events occurred, and there were rumors of Ogres and Chimeras eating people. However, under Cassius¡¯s supervision, the Dragon Vein Descendants still maintained basic order.


    Compared to the human soldiers of this era, who would burn, kill, and plunder to vent their desires when encountering war, and the noble knights who saw commoners as insignificant and often took pleasure in killing, these monsters under the Red Dragon¡¯s ¡°Dictator¡¯s Rule¡± could already be considered disciplined. At least those Ogres only viewed humans as tasty snacks, not as targets for bullying.


    However, within the borders of Anzeta, due to deliberate propaganda, the retinue of the Ashen Nest had already been likened to legendary demons. Some bards even created a long poem called the Song of Embers.


    Their evil tyrant, the ¡°Infernal Calamity¡± Cassius, had become a symbol of original sin at this moment. It was said he was the Dragon of Lust, the Dragon of Wrath, and even the Dragon of Pride. He would transform into a humanoid figure several meters tall to ravage beautiful maidens and then return to his original form to devour them whole.


    The steward of the Ashen Nest, the Dragon Vein Ogre Mage Ramp, was naturally depicted as the embodiment of gluttony. He would greedily devour everything in sight, and whenever someone tremblingly came to see him, he would be chewing on human remains.


    The military commander, Great Goblin Dolores, was portrayed as the embodiment of envy, perhaps simply to fit the bards¡¯ parallelisms¡­


    Cassius neither confirmed nor denied these tales, nor did he care about them.


    Before he completely conquered the Northern Kingdom, such inversions of truth were only to be expected.


    Once he devoured the remaining twelve countries, all the clamor would dissipate, and he would become Anzeta¡¯s only, supreme monarch.


    ¡°Very soon.¡±


    ¡°Once I deal with this old vampire¡­¡±


    ¡°The next target is you, decrepit Northern Nobility.¡±


    The Red Dragon exhaled a breath of sulfur-scented heat and murmured to itself.


    He was currently lying in the Council Hall of Trolo City, which was spacious and bright enough to barely accommodate Cassius¡¯s massive dragon body.


    The Council Hall had once been the place where Trolo City¡¯s affairs were decided. The city¡¯s noble councillors would gather here to discuss governance together. It was a proud tradition passed down through generations in Trolo City, with the flying eagles on the tall stone pillars representing courage and authority.


    Now, this place still decided everything in Trolo City, but those eagles no longer symbolized power; they were marks of failure.


    At this moment, it was the Red Dragon that judged everything here.


    ¡°Master, Mex City has fallen.¡±


    The image of Dolores appeared in the hall.


    One could see a city filled with smoke and fire behind him, with Dragon Vein Monsters constantly passing by and the sound of gunfire in the distance.


    The Red Dragon nodded slightly: ¡°Very good.¡±


    Standing by for a long time, Dailenna picked up a brush and crossed out the name ¡°Mex City¡± on the giant map of the duchy in the center of the hall.


    Besides that, ten other cities had already been crossed out, including the Trolo City where they currently stayed.


    Northwind Castle was left isolated within these cities¡ªit was the last remaining city under Rackman Duchy¡¯s control.


    Dailenna fawningly said: ¡°Congratulations, Master, the centuries-old history of the Rackman Duchy is about to end. Their vast territories will be yours, and your great deeds will be recorded in history. The entire North will tremble under your wings.¡±


    ¡°Now, only Northwind Castle remains.¡±


    Cassius suddenly asked Ramp: ¡°When you conquered Mex City, did you catch those vampire variants?¡±


    He was referring to the offspring of the Rackman Family, the most elite of the vampire variants, who often referred to themselves as the Blood Clan, like the late Baron Todd.


    Speaking of Todd, the poor guy had already lost his mind after Ramp¡¯s endless tortures and various experiments, reduced to a complete beast.


    Ramp, with the academic spirit of a mage, finally cut him into fine mince when Todd lost his value after numerous tests. This time Todd never recovered, proving that not all of the ¡°Undying Blood Clan¡± were truly undying.


    After months of experiments and various forms of tactics, Ramp had already grasped many characteristics of these vampire variants, such as the Wounding Water.


    He now had a greater interest in Duke Brad Rackman, the old vampire lurking in Northwind Castle.


    Ramp honestly answered: ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°At Earl Caythlene Rackman¡¯s mansion, we only found drained human corpses. The eldest son had long disappeared. The other cities controlled by the Rackman offspring were the same. I suspect they¡¯ve all been summoned to Northwind Castle for that so-called Ascension Ritual.¡±


    ¡°Ascension Ritual¡­¡±


    Ramp thought Cassius was asking a question, not making a statement, and so replied respectfully:


    ¡°Yes, the Ascension Ritual. During the interrogation of Todd Rackman, we learned about this special ritual, similar to a sacrificial ceremony. This is the fabled ritual that supposedly allows vampires to evolve into ¡®truly immortal beings.¡¯


    ¡°When the ritual is completed, vampires will no longer fear sunlight and will lose weaknesses like the Wounding Water, gaining powerful Necrosis abilities.¡±


    The Red Dragon slowly stood up and stretched its wings.


    ¡°It¡¯s time. Time to end all of this.¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ramp, notify all the retinue of the Ashen Nest to draw the best troops from each city and prepare to besiege Northwind Castle. I don¡¯t want to see a troublesome Ascendant Vampire appear.¡±


    ¡°That old guy¡­ it¡¯s time for him to go where he belongs.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp eagerly responded.

 Chapter 128 - 58 City Fengyun

    Chapter 128: Chapter 58 City Fengyun


    Within the final city of Rackman Duchy, Northwind Castle.


    At this moment, the people of Northwind Castle were in a state of panic. The news of various places being overrun by Ashen Nest was strictly sealed by the ¡°Eagle¡¯s Shield,¡± but people could still make guesses or receive bits of news here and there.


    ¡°I, I have a secret to tell you all¡­¡±


    ¡°Mesc City, Trolo City, Arkan City¡­¡±


    ¡°They have all fallen.¡±


    Someone in the tavern said this drunkenly. He seemed to have drunk too much.


    ...


    But that drunkard was quickly taken away by plainclothes spies, plunging the tavern into silence. No one else dared to speak.


    In this atmosphere, everyone felt a looming disaster about to descend. The air in the city was heavy, almost stagnant.


    The city was heavily guarded, with several ¡°Eagle¡¯s Shields¡± checking every important area. Any anomalies would be treated as traitors and captured.


    Every household¡¯s doors and windows were tightly shut, but that didn¡¯t stop gray-robed spies from barging in for inspections. Any irregularities would lead to severe scrutiny, or even immediate capture.


    No one knew where those so-called ¡°traitors¡± were taken. There were even rumors that they were all executed.


    This pervasive sense of fear spread throughout the city, not just the terror of Ashen Nest¡¯s attack, but also the dread of the City Guard Army¡¯s stringent searches and the unknown future.


    ¡°Damn it, where has he gone?¡±


    ¡°He should be in that direction. Chase him!¡±


    ¡°Catch him, dead or alive!¡±


    In a dark alley, the Swashbuckler hid in the shadows, evading the pursuers once again.


    He wiped the nonexistent sweat off his forehead¡ªas a Vampire Variant with the Undying trait, he seemingly didn¡¯t have the function to sweat. It was just a force of habit.


    ¡°Has that old vampire gone mad? Grabbing people like this¡­¡±


    ¡°But this guy¡¯s end is near. When the Heavenly Soldiers from Ashen Nest descend, this Venerable Vampire will surely be brought to justice!¡±


    Just thinking of Ashen Nest¡¯s overwhelming military might crushing the Allied Forces made every player puff out their chests with pride. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yeno also hid beside a trash bin.


    Close association with the Swashbuckler over time had turned this former Earl into a shadowy manipulator, abandoning all so-called noble dignity.


    Hearing the Swashbuckler, he curiously asked: ¡°You¡¯ve been hiding in the bunker. How do you know what¡¯s happening outside?¡±


    The Swashbuckler chuckled: ¡°The wise have their ways.¡±


    ¡°I even know that the entire Allied Forces sent by that old vampire have perished. Over thirty thousand have all become barbeque.¡±


    Thinking about the Battle of Triel, the Swashbuckler felt a pang of bitterness. Such an important faction battleground mission, and he hadn¡¯t participated! Many players had gained tons of Faction Contribution and made a name for themselves. Even armored units were built, while he could only crawl in the dark dungeon, silently browsing the forums.


    ¡°This time, I have to show what I can do!¡±


    The Swashbuckler silently vowed to himself.


    Yeno reminded him: ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there daydreaming. The pursuers will find us sooner or later. By then, we won¡¯t be able to escape.¡±


    ¡°Moreover¡­ if things are really as you say, my father won¡¯t go down without a fight.


    ¡°I know my father well. To achieve his goals, he will go to any lengths, reaching the point of obsession. He¡¯s been planning for a whole century, and thousands have been forcibly sacrificed over these years.¡±


    The Swashbuckler was stunned and then asked:


    ¡°You mean¡­ that old vampire is trying something big?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°I suspect those city residents labeled as traitors have been taken to the bunker to be made into Blood Slaves. My father must have realized his time is running out, so he¡¯s no longer hiding, but openly using the entire city¡¯s power to accomplish his so-called great Ascension.¡±


    The Swashbuckler immediately felt eager: ¡°Looks like I have to become the hero who saves this city.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. Although you¡¯ve faced my father directly, you don¡¯t understand his strength.¡±


    As though recalling some long-lost memory, a hint of fear flashed across Yeno¡¯s pale face.


    The Swashbuckler, however, scoffed indifferently: ¡°Why are you scared again? PTSD acting up? We¡¯ve been out for so long. Do you think that old vampire can control me?


    ¡°Besides, I have this¡ª¡±


    He pulled out an exquisite metal emblem stained with mottled blood.


    [Rebel Crest]


    Quality: Special


    ¡°A certain mage was once turned into a Vampire Variant. He tried to resist his master, spending all his effort to create this emblem.


    Unfortunately, he failed, turning into a puddle of blood, and the emblem was quietly displayed in the Duke¡¯s collection, waiting for the next rebel to appear.¡±


    Effect: Temporarily makes a Vampire Variant immune to its master¡¯s control.


    This was an item the Swashbuckler and Yeno had found in the Vampire Duke¡¯s collection room, giving him tremendous confidence.


    Yeno shook his head, a hint of resignation appearing on his pale face devoid of blood.


    ¡°Do you really think you can succeed?¡±


    ¡°I knew the creator of this emblem. His name was Triss, the most talented mage I¡¯ve ever met. He was always full of hope and passion. Even after being transformed into a Vampire Variant, he never gave up, tirelessly seeking ways to resist the Duke.¡±


    ¡°But in the end, he still failed¡­¡±


    A sense of nostalgia and regret flashed through Yeno Rackman¡¯s eyes, but so did a fleeting trace of despair.


    ¡°Just because he failed doesn¡¯t mean I will. I, the Swashbuckler, am¡­ ¡±


    The Swashbuckler was boasting, but his words suddenly stopped, leaving only two words.


    ¡°Oh, crap¡ª¡±


    Yeno¡¯s pupils suddenly darkened to a crimson hue, his eyes devoid of any sanity, radiating a chilling aura of death.


    ¡°Ascension¡­¡±


    ¡°For the great Ascension¡­¡±


    ¡°All sacrifices are worth it.¡±


    ¡°Give everything¡ª¡±


    Yeno whispered in a low voice, his pale face showing an ecstatic expression.


    At this moment, he seemed like a devout believer about to bask in the deity¡¯s favor, unlike the awkward NPC the Swashbuckler knew.


    His body stiffened, striking an odd posture, and he walked toward the Duke¡¯s castle in the shadows.


    The sky seemed to be tinged with blood.


    The Swashbuckler noticed his ¡°Rebel Crest¡± emitting a faint glow, as if struggling against some overpowering force.


    ¡°That old vampire has gone all-out?¡±


    ¡°But¡­ this could be an opportunity.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he hid the emblem in his pants pocket.


    ¡°Um¡­ for the great Ascension?¡±


    The Swashbuckler mimicked Yeno¡¯s strange behavior, pretending to be a controlled Vampire Variant, and closely followed.

 Chapter 129 - 59: Siege

    Chapter 129: Chapter 59: Siege


    Outside Northwind Castle.


    The clamor and noise rose and fell, filling the air in all directions.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°Occupy Northwind Castle!¡±


    The crowded wyverns resembled a surge of dark clouds that covered the sky, and the densely packed kobolds and Goblins flooded the ground like a muddy tide.


    The skies and lands outside Northwind Castle were occupied by the retainers. To those inside the city, it appeared as if the end of days had arrived.


    ...


    ¡°Oh, my god¡­¡±


    The city guards standing on the walls looked up at the sky and murmured to themselves.


    The Wyvern Knights from the Ashen Nest flew over the city, dropping leaflets like snowflakes.


    The leaflets promised generous treatment upon surrender. They also included a reproduction of the contract with Duke Brad Rackman, even featuring images of the blood slaves of Northwind Castle.


    The final line struck straight to the heart¡ª


    [Do you really want to pledge your loyalty to the death for a vampire?]


    Some previously unseen Anzeta Academy bards appeared in the city, using their talents to mesmerize the audience. Once the applause ceased, the watchers would likely start questioning all their deeply held beliefs, from their faith in local temple clergy to their loyalty to their ruler.


    These bards spoke of the dark history of the Rackman Family.


    Before they could finish their tales, the guards would arrest them or even hack them to death on the spot, to serve as a brutal warning to others.


    But the bards remained fearless, shouting before their deaths,


    ¡°One life for a thousand contributions, this life is worth it!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    At this moment, a bard with the username ¡°Lonely as Snow¡± was dragged by the guards and shouted, ¡°I laugh towards the heavens with a heroic blade, whether to stay or leave, my courage as vast as the Kunlun Mountains!¡±


    Though people couldn¡¯t understand the meaning, they sensed the passionate and heroic tone.


    He was then taken to the street and beheaded on the spot for public display.


    With the swish of a blade, a head rolled, blood splattered, and many timid onlookers trembled in fear.


    Soon, whether guided intentionally or naturally, differing voices arose within the city.


    People quickly formulated a terrifying suspicion¡ªthose ¡°traitors¡± who had been arrested might indeed have become so-called blood slaves, sacrificed to Duke Brad Rackman. Recalling the recent Devil contract cases, everything started to make sense.


    But no one dared voice this suspicion, for it would bring about a fatal disaster.


    They could only harbor this fear and conjecture in their hearts, waiting for the right moment, when it would inevitably explode.


    At the entrance of the ceremonial hall in Northwind Castle, on Eagle Plaza, frightened citizens were gathered together.


    Perhaps learning from the lesson of Count Dawson¡¯s death in a shelling, they didn¡¯t set the assembly location near the city walls.


    Northwind Castle¡¯s chief military commander, ostensibly the highest-ranking officer, Earl Brandon, surveyed the surroundings.


    In the plaza below the high platform, there were nobles in ornate attire, soldiers in armor, beggars in rags, and farmers with patched clothes¡­ at this moment, they were all gathered here, their eyes filled with fear and anxiety.


    ¡°His Grace said, we must delay time at all costs.¡±


    ¡°Once he completes the great ritual, everything will be resolved.¡±


    ¡°We must extract the last ounce of value from these people.¡±


    With this in mind, Brandon slowly began to speak.


    ¡°Citizens, I understand your fear.¡±


    ¡°After all, the enemy you¡¯re about to face is the infamous ¡®Infernal Calamity,¡¯ the dragon that once destroyed thirty thousand allied forces, possibly the most terrifying, powerful, and evil monster to have appeared in Anzeta in nearly a century. Even combined, our entire army may not be a match for that beast.¡±


    The crowd broke out in an uproar.


    Even though the Ashen Nest¡¯s forces had already surrounded Northwind Castle and rumors were rampant within the city, many people still doubted the authenticity of these tales, with some even thinking the so-called Infernal Calamity was just an excuse for the allied commanders.


    But now, the truth was exposed.


    ¡°Indeed, I don¡¯t intend to hide it, nor could I. The Red Dragon and its evil retainers have already descended upon Northwind Castle, besieging our entire city. But do we just surrender, resign ourselves, and become slaves to these monsters, accepting the brutal rule of an evil dragon?¡±


    The crowd fell silent.


    Earl Brandon surveyed the surroundings and looked at a middle-aged soldier in the crowd.


    ¡°Soldier, yes, I mean you.¡±


    ¡°Answer honestly, do you have children?¡±


    With the Earl personally addressing him, the soldier seemed nervous but still stammered out, ¡°Yes, a daughter.¡±


    Brandon nodded slightly. ¡°A daughter, very well.¡±


    ¡°But according to what I know, that Red Dragon is a dragon of lust and wrath. It once transformed into a hideous four-meter-tall humanoid, shamelessly violating a beautiful young woman before cruelly devouring her. This was personally witnessed by knights of justice in hiding and is a true account.¡±


    He paused deliberately, then continued, staring closely at the soldier,


    ¡°Imagine, if this evil dragon rules Northwind Castle, what it might do to your daughter? Could you bear to watch your daughter suffer inhuman torment, ultimately meeting a tragic end? Could you endure coming home to find the house in disarray, only to see the bloodied remains of your daughter?¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°No! I can¡¯t!¡±


    Seemingly picturing such a horrific scene, the soldier¡¯s eyes immediately reddened, veins bulging.


    Brandon nodded in satisfaction, then shifted his gaze to a merchant.


    ¡°Do you have a wife?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The same approach, the same outcome, but under the Earl¡¯s skillful persuasion, the conversation¡¯s stirring power soared even higher.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost time.¡±


    Brandon thought to himself.


    Seeing the emotions of the people, Brandon finally surveyed all around, looking at everyone present, and raised his sword high.


    ¡°Everyone here, regardless of your identity, whether you are nobles, soldiers, farmers, or merchants. At this moment, there¡¯s no distinguished Duke, only an ordinary person. Like you, I¡¯m just a father to my children, a husband to my wife, a son to my parents, all of us are merely those hoping to protect our loved ones. So tell me, can any of you allow your loved ones to suffer inhuman treatment, to fall into the claws of the evil dragon?¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°No! No!¡±


    The crowd was silent for a moment, then a wave of voices surged.


    Among the over thirty thousand citizens of Northwind Castle, many were indeed moved by the Earl¡¯s passionate speech, but some scoffed at it, swept up only by the momentum of the crowd.

 Chapter 130 - 60 Threat

    Chapter 130: Chapter 60 Threat


    Seeing the people¡¯s emotions rising, Brandon hurriedly continued to fan the flames, his voice even more resounding.


    ¡°Everyone present, four hundred years ago, Lord Terry Rackman led our ancestors here, riding a giant eagle, to establish the first Northwind Castle. Back then, there were only a mere three hundred people here.¡±


    ¡°In these magnificent four hundred years, we have undergone countless trials and tribulations of blood and fire. Our ancestors sacrificed their precious lives one after another, which is why this magnificent city stands steadfastly on this land today. This is a city that carries the glorious history of our generations. This is also a city that carries our beautiful lives and our refuge¡­¡±


    ¡°Now, everyone has only one identity ¨C the citizen of Northwind Castle.¡±


    ¡°We ¨C absolutely cannot let it fall into the hands of evil dragons!¡±


    Brad¡¯s Silver Sword drew a semicircle in the air.


    ...


    ¡°For Northwind Castle!¡±


    The crowd¡¯s emotions surged even more. After all, they had not yet seen the enemy, but they had just listened to a textbook-like pre-war speech and were moved by the Earl¡¯s ¡°sincere¡± words.


    Looking at the raucous crowd, Earl Brandon panted slightly, only thinking, ¡°I hope they can hold out a little longer until His Grace completes the ritual.¡±


    ¡°For Northwind Castle! For Northwind Castle!¡±


    ¡°Kill the evil dragons! Protect our loved ones!¡±


    The cheers continued, soldiers raised their spears, determined to fight for their daughters¡¯ futures. Merchants raised their arms high, determined to fight for their own and their wives¡¯ happiness¡­


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    However, a long roar echoed, interrupting the cheers.


    Everyone suddenly felt a deep-seated fear rise within them.


    The wyverns came in dense swarms, blotting out the sky and the sunlight. They surged like a black tide from the horizon, emitting a cacophony of screeches.


    ¡°Damn it, aim the city crossbows!¡±


    ¡°Shoot them down!¡±


    But these monsters flew so high that even the city defense crossbows barely reached them, only managing to shoot down a single, lower-positioned wyvern, which wailed and fell to the ground.


    Then, the wyverns in the sky made way, revealing a massive red dragon hovering, slowly flapping its wings.


    The red dragon stood with its back to the sunlight, surrounded by what seemed like a ring of flames. Under the influence of a spell, its massive shadow was cast far larger on the ground, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure.


    People looked up, gazing at the bright golden vertical pupils that shone even from a hundred meters away, reminded involuntarily of the tale of the ¡°Infernal Calamity¡± that annihilated thirty thousand allied forces with fire.


    The soldiers¡¯ hands holding the spears trembled slightly before the spears clattered to the ground. The merchants hid behind their wives, shivering with fear that the monster in the sky would notice them.


    When this terrifying wyvern truly descended, their previous ambitions were thrown to the winds, and the Earl¡¯s impassioned speech was forgotten.


    After all ¨C they could really die from this.


    Surprisingly, the giant dragon in the sky spoke.


    ¡°Quite a decent speech, just a bit too clich¨¦. I thought I was back in the Second Era.¡±


    Brandon looked up at the sky. Even though he was a rather powerful warrior, facing the red dragon still caused sweat to drip from his forehead.


    ¡°Evil dragon, you shall not bewitch the citizens of Northwind Castle!¡±


    Finally, he mustered his courage and roared towards the sky.


    ¡°Bewitch?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone was tinged with mockery.


    ¡°You must be talking about yourself, using seemingly reasonable but utterly nonsensical reasons to bewitch them into selling their lives as cannon fodder for the old vampire you serve. Quite a shrewd plan.¡±


    This news had long been sealed by the City Guard Army, but many people had already known, and now it was finally spoken without care by the red dragon.


    Brandon could no longer endure it, pointing to the sky and shouting angrily.


    ¡°Slander!¡±


    ¡°This is utter slander!¡±


    Cassius ignored them, merely projecting the images of blood slaves inside the bunker into the sky: ¡°Everyone, this is your beloved Duke whom you serve, turning your dear ones into these blood-sucking beasts. Serving the nobles is ridiculous enough. Serving such a thing is even more of a joke within a joke.¡±


    ¡°If you wish to continue your loyalty and die for him, be my guest.¡±


    A sinister smirk appeared on the red dragon¡¯s face.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not why I¡¯m here. I have another message ¨C if by dusk I don¡¯t see the gates open and white flags flying, flames will turn everything here to ash, including your parents, companions, and children, without exception.¡±


    ¡°Note ¨C¡±


    ¡°This is not a negotiation, but a notification.¡±


    The black tide of bipedal wyverns receded, and the red dragon vanished after delivering its final words.


    Before leaving, Cassius thought to himself, ¡°That bard who wrote this story must be a pervert. Am I such a particular dragon?¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Even when eating humans, one must maintain basic hygiene. This makes even ogres gag¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I must find a chance to capture him and torment him thoroughly.¡±


    The red dragon did not want to destroy this city known as the ¡°Pearl of the North¡±. It would be the future main city for his planned players and the starting point of his Empire. Therefore, he adopted a strategy of besiegement without attack, threatening propaganda to avoid direct destruction.


    He had already established his might after the Triel Conference. What he needed next was to consolidate his rule and establish a truly diverse empire.


    In the plaza, Earl Brandon looked stern.


    He watched the restless crowd, their eyes filled with fear, anxiety, or hesitation. He knew the situation was now out of control.


    Admittedly, the red dragon¡¯s threat was very persuasive because it had just destroyed thirty thousand allied forces. Brandon¡¯s speech had inadvertently become irrefutable evidence, adding credence to the red dragon¡¯s threat.


    ¡°His Grace said, we must hold on until nightfall.¡±


    ¡°This is my mission.¡±


    Thinking this, a fierce expression appeared on Earl Brandon¡¯s face.


    He removed the mask of ¡°approachable and kind¡± and looked down with an unparalleled cold and arrogant gaze at the people with different expressions. He said coldly, ¡°Citizens, please remain calm and do not listen to the dragon¡¯s bewitchment.¡±


    ¡°Anyone who defies orders and dares to cause unrest ¨C kill!¡±


    The Earl¡¯s loyal soldiers immediately took control of the situation.


    However, it wasn¡¯t just Eagle Plaza. Countless people in the city had clearly heard the red dragon¡¯s threat. Their reactions varied: some stayed silent in their homes, some went to the city walls to contact acquaintances, and even some had already taken action against the grey-robed spies of the Rackman Family.


    For a time, the city was filled with undercurrents.

 Chapter 131 - 61 Defeated

    Chapter 131: Chapter 61 Defeated


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    With a deafening noise, the west gate of Northwind Castle burst open.


    The rusty iron mechanism rotated and moved, emitting a harsh grinding sound. The huge drawbridge slowly descended, crossing the wide moat and connecting directly to the other side.


    ¡°Who is the traitor!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, someone opened the gate!¡±


    ¡°Quick! Raise the drawbridge!¡±


    ...


    ¡°No, they are coming in!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, prepare for battle!¡±


    The castle was in chaos, with shouts, yells, and curses echoing continuously, making it impossible to distinguish between ally and enemy in the confusion.


    The Dragon Vein Descendants, who had been waiting outside the castle for a long time, eagerly charged across the drawbridge and flooded into Northwind Castle like an unstoppable torrent.


    Leading the charge were the tall and strong Ogre Club Shield Warriors, followed by the Goblin Skirmishers with rifles and the Lizardfolk Tribe Warriors.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°Seize Northwind Castle!¡±


    Although the Rackman Family had a tight grip on the City Defense Army, almost bordering on the limits of feudal lords, the army within the city was not entirely unified.


    After the direct threat from the Red Dragon, even the most loyal ¡°Eagle¡¯s Shield¡± members could not help but waver. Perhaps one or two out of every ten City Defense soldiers had resolved to betray, and that was enough to shake the foundation of Northwind Castle.


    What happened next was very simple.


    Those determined to betray secretly contacted the player spies lurking in the city, gathered strength, and instigated a mutiny. They killed the unprepared City Guard Army commander at the west gate of Northwind Castle and opened the century-old gate that had never been breached.


    The leader of this mutiny was named John. His wife had died at the hands of the so-called ¡°Devil,¡± so he had once been the Duke¡¯s most loyal soldier. When he plunged his sword into the commander¡¯s chest, the commander¡¯s face was filled with astonishment. He could not believe that John, often called a ¡°loyal dog,¡± would betray him.


    The mutinous soldiers, as agreed, tied red armbands on their right arms and attacked their former comrades.


    ¡°Kill those Vampire lackeys!¡±


    ¡°For our families!¡±


    ¡°To survive!¡±


    John raised his standard longsword and shouted loudly.


    Thus, the forces of the Ashen Nest, the mutinous soldiers, and the loyal City Guard Army engaged in chaotic battles within the city.


    Unlike Trolo City, Northwind Castle, the strongest stronghold of the Rackman Family, would not surrender without resistance.


    Interests were always the most solid bonds.


    Many elite forces in Northwind Castle had long been tied to the fortunes of the Rackman Family, with no way out.


    They knew that if the Duke, their strong support, fell, their own fate wouldn¡¯t be much better, possibly even worse than death. Thus, they were determined to fight to the death, holding back the Ashen Nest¡¯s Descendants in the narrow passages at the castle gate.


    ¡°Humans, die!¡±


    The Ogre swung his spiked Wolf Fang Club, viciously smashing the soldiers in front of him into meat paste.


    He held a giant Leather Shield, shrugging off the arrows from the City Guard Army, charging forward like a heavy tank.


    However, a cold fragment precisely hit his muscular arm holding the Wolf Fang Club, shattering and releasing biting cold, slowing the Ogre¡¯s movements.


    It was the Ice Blade Technique.


    The spellcasters loyal to the Rackman Family had also joined the battle.


    ¡°Charge!¡±


    ¡°Kill that monster, avenge our comrades!¡±


    The Allied Forces soldiers aimed to kill the Ogre and were about to charge forward.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The bullets from the Goblin Skirmishers whistled through, and several soldiers fell in succession.


    Shortly after the Battle of Triel, the players of Storm Arsenal developed more accurate rifled guns, and the more flexible and free skirmisher tactics emerged in response.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest! For endless food!¡±


    ¡°Charge!¡±


    The Ogres raised their Giant Shields and continued to charge, advancing like a moving thick wall.


    Ice Cones, flames, acid, radiance¡­


    The spellcasters rained spells down on the Descendants like a storm, and several Ogres fell in succession, dying in various ways, but they showed no fear. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the simple minds of the Ogres, only battle and food mattered. Death was a common occurrence to them¡ªin the wilderness, hungry Ogres often held impromptu funeral feasts, burying their fallen kin in their bellies.


    But the Ashen Nest was not without countermeasures.


    Besides the continuous gunfire from the Goblins hunting down soldiers, the players also joined the battlefield.


    In an instant, the dazzling Magical Aura also appeared on the Ashen Nest¡¯s side, and the players¡¯ attack methods were even more varied.


    ¡°The enemy firepower is pretty intense¡ª¡±


    ¡°Paladins, push forward!¡±


    ¡°Cast an Acceleration Spell! With an Acceleration Spell, I¡¯m invincible, okay!¡±


    ¡°Priests, cast a Sanctuary Spell¡ª¡±


    The bare-chested Martial Monk player ¡°Mighty Heavenly Dragon,¡± with an Acceleration Spell, climbed walls and leapt over eaves, descending sharply into the ranks of the City Defense Army.


    Surveying the panicked soldiers, who had no idea where the enemy had come from, he shouted proudly.


    ¡°I will fight ten!¡±


    ¡°Gale Strike!¡±


    His punches were so fast they were almost invisible, only the rapid thumping of impacts could be heard.


    The fists charged with ¡°Qi¡± struck the soldiers with such force that seven or eight of them fell in quick succession. The powerful strikes even dented their armor, leaving fist marks¡ªthis skilled Martial Monk player had activated the mowing mode.


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    ¡°This time, I¡¯ve gone berserk!¡±


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon rampaged through the crowd, roaring triumphantly, his bald head splattered with the blood spat out by soldiers.


    Before long, the City Defense Army noticed him and started aiming arrows at him.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    An arrow flew straight toward his bald head.


    ¡°Deflecting Projectile!¡±


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon snorted coldly, gathering Qi in his hand, catching the speeding arrow bare-handed, and deflecting it back.


    The arrow pierced the archer¡¯s forehead, killing him instantly.


    ¡°Hmph, a trivial trick, trying to show off to me!¡±


    ¡°A mere minion, trying to sneak attack me, truly¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, arrows came from all directions.


    Though as a Martial Monk, he could deflect projectiles, he was not an Eight-Armed Arhat, and soon his bare body was turned into a pincushion.


    ¡°Overestimating yourself.¡±


    ¡°My life was worth it¡­¡±


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon lay on the ground, happily looking at the massive contribution and experience points refreshed on his panel, and his screen went black.

 Chapter 132 - 62: The Advancing Player

    Chapter 132: Chapter 62: The Advancing Player


    However, this charge by Mighty Heavenly Dragon had already thrown the City Defense Army into disarray, drawing much of their fire, allowing the Ogres and Great Goblins, Dragon Vein Descendants, to advance smoothly, pushing the battle lines into the city and preparing for street combat.


    ¡°It¡¯s my turn to have some fun!¡±


    ¡°Watch me replicate those maneuvers!¡±


    ¡°For every Martial Monk¡¯s dream!¡±


    Many Martial Monk players wanted to mimic Mighty Heavenly Dragon¡¯s tactics, scaling walls and charging forward, though most ended up riddled with arrows.


    After all, not everyone was a master like Mighty Heavenly Dragon. With the fragile physique of a Martial Monk unable to wear armor, they couldn¡¯t withstand even a few sword strikes.


    ...


    Meanwhile, some players had found alternative, sneaky strategies.


    For example, Charlotte.


    His [Magic Coin] guild had unprecedentedly accepted a Druid player ¡ª Holy Light Bro.


    The two sneaked up to the tall city wall, looking down at the mass of City Guard soldiers below.


    Their eyes met, and they exchanged sinister smiles.


    ¡°Holy Light Bro, transform into owl bear form.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    The Druid, naked but covered in Holy Light, got down on all fours. His body, covered in natural magical aura, rapidly expanded, transforming into a massive owl bear standing two meters tall at the shoulder and weighing several tons.


    Charlotte grinned wickedly, waving his Carved Wooden Staff.


    [Enlarge Spell]


    This spell increased the size of a creature by one level.


    As tiny magical auras flickered, the owl bear that Holy Light Bro had become doubled in height and weighed eight times more!


    Charlotte raised his staff, pointing at the clustered soldiers below, numbering in the hundreds, and said viciously:


    ¡°Holy Light Bro, smash them! Smash them hard!¡±


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    Holy Light Bro roared dominantly. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was now a monster eight meters long and weighing over ten tons.


    Below, the City Guard¡¯s temporary western command, led by Baron Alta, was raising his sword high for a final charge.


    Clad in ornate, heavy armor, his expression was resolute, with his loyal soldiers surrounding him.


    Alta had been trained by the Rackham Family from a young age. His swordsmanship was renowned throughout the Duchy, and he had traveled the world years ago.


    In this moment of life and death for the nation, he had traveled from the South to assist Northwind Castle, repaying the Rackham Family¡¯s kindness.


    ¡°Soldiers, it¡¯s time to give your lives!¡±


    ¡°For the glory of the family!¡±


    ¡°Defend Northwind Castle to the death! Stop those invading monsters!¡±


    Suddenly, Baron Alta noticed a shadow looming over him.


    He instinctively looked up, only to see the massive body of the owl bear filling his vision, growing larger by the second.


    ¡°What is this¡ª¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A deafening crash resounded as dust filled the air.


    When the smoke cleared, a huge crater could be seen where the ground had been struck.


    Baron Alta and his twenty elite loyal soldiers were all smashed into a bloody pulp, unrecognizable as human.


    On top of the pile of flesh lay a naked male corpse ¡ª it was Holy Light Bro, who hadn¡¯t survived the fall damage.


    Though he had reverted from his transformation, the Enlarge Spell hadn¡¯t worn off, leaving Holy Light Bro¡¯s corpse the size of a three-meter-tall giant.


    Charlotte looked at the devastated City Defense Army position, nodding in satisfaction: ¡°Killed the boss directly. Holy Light Bro, you died honorably this time!¡±


    He opened the player forum and messaged Holy Light Bro, who was waiting to respawn:


    ¡°How much experience and faction contribution did you get?¡±


    ¡°3900 experience, 4000 faction contribution.¡±


    ¡°So much?¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s eyes widened in jealousy, gritting his teeth, wishing it was his own corpse lying below.


    As guild leader, seeing a member receive such a huge reward filled Charlotte with a mix of pride and envy.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep earning!¡±


    Charlotte said fiercely.


    Just as he was thinking this, a new task message appeared on his panel.


    ¡°Wait, is this a special mission?¡±


    Despite the fact that players were currently capped at Fourth Level, they were already starting to shine.


    According to the system¡¯s evaluation standards, most of the creatures in Erezer had no levels, even in the army, only the most seasoned soldiers could be considered Level One, and a unit composed of Level One professionals was already considered elite.


    But a thousand professional players, including a significant proportion of spellcasters, would be a force to be reckoned with in the Anzeta Great Wilderness, or anywhere in Erezer.


    When the open beta version [Northern Wind and Cloud] was launched, tens of thousands of players flooded into Erezer, and they would make their mark on the entire world.


    Back to the present, with the players¡¯ involvement, the fall of Northwind Castle was inevitable.


    The Descendants of the Ashen Nest continued pushing forward, crushing the resisting remnants of soldiers, marching toward the Council Hall.


    But the Rackham Family was also playing all their cards, with the elite ¡°Eagle¡¯s Shield¡± of Northwind Castle and the court spellcasters causing some setbacks in the advance of the Dragon Vein Descendants.


    As the battle intensified, a covert team moved through the city.


    In a hidden alley in one corner of Northwind Castle, Singo was browsing the task panel.


    [Special Mission: Prevent Ascension!]


    [Mission Description: The withered trees in the forest weep, and within the eerie Rackman Castle, Duke Brad Rackman is scheming an evil plot. He plans to sacrifice the souls and bodies of 1674 vampire variants to obtain a great ascension.


    When black mist shrouds the moonlight and blood boils in the body, Duke Brad will transform into an immortal Vampire King! Once his ascension is complete, he will be able to withstand sunlight and possess unimaginable evil power. Warriors, stop him!]


    [Faction Mission: Stop the Ascension Ritual]


    [Affiliated Faction: Ashen Nest]


    [Mission Description: Cooperate with Mezulash and Alger to stop the ascension ritual, kill Brad Rackman, and the Lord of Ashen will grant you power and riches.]


    Singo¡¯s tone was somewhat excited:


    ¡°The Duke of Northwind Castle, Vampire Brad Rackman, a character only mentioned in the backstory. This boss won¡¯t be easy to fight.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain nodded: ¡°We should prepare properly.¡±


    Natural War Maniac unconcernedly rubbed his bald head: ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s just chop our way through.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s dragon face was full of tension.


    ¡°This mission description sounds scary. Is this some kind of horror dungeon? I, I¡¯m kind of scared of ghosts.¡±


    Singo glanced at him disdainfully.


    ¡°Pathetic. Why don¡¯t you head back?


    ¡°Even Autumn Rain isn¡¯t scared, and you¡¯re the one getting all worked up.¡±


    Mantou blushed, hugging his arms defiantly.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go, let¡¯s see who gets scared in the end!¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain smiled helplessly, stepping in to mediate:


    ¡°We might not have the strength to tackle such a major boss alone. The faction task description says to cooperate with Mezulash and Alger, let¡¯s follow the guide and find them first.¡±

 Chapter 133 - 63 Twilight Garden

    Chapter 133: Chapter 63 Twilight Garden


    Sleeping Mermaid Tavern.


    The wooden signboard had a vividly lifelike mermaid sculpture.


    This was a famous tavern in Northwind Castle and also the secret gathering place of the pureblood Serpentfolk spies. The lady boss here had long been bought off by Gold Coins, willingly becoming a lackey of the Ashen Nest.


    At this moment, the city was in chaos.


    The City Defense Army was busy resisting the invasion of the Dragon Vein Troops, having no time to attend to other matters. Thus, this tavern naturally became a blatant gathering place for the Ashen Nest faction. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A four-person team pushed the door open and entered, finding the tavern bustling with noise.


    ...


    The players had gathered together.


    ¡°Boss lady, do you have Flaming Red Lips?¡±


    ¡°I heard drinking that will give you an Excited State.¡±


    ¡°The alcohol here is much more expensive than in Barto City.¡±


    Mantou sighed. ¡°So many people¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain murmured softly. ¡°I thought only we got this special task.¡±


    Singo scanned the surroundings, quickly recognizing these familiar faces.


    The Tyrant of Royalty, the Steel Torrent of the Mechanical God Cult, Charlotte of Magic Coin, Alpha of the Golden Age¡­


    The professional gamers of the major guilds were all here. Any player who took on the task and came to the tavern had generally already reached the level cap of the beta version¡ªFourth Level, which in Airez counted as elite adventurers, the backbone of adventurers¡ªnot just anyone could make it.


    Natural War Maniac glanced disdainfully at the nearby Tyrant and scoffed.


    Singo lowered his voice and said to him, ¡°War Maniac Bro, don¡¯t compete with the Royalty in group tasks. Focus on the important NPC first.¡±


    ¡°Look over there.¡±


    He signaled with his eyes.


    Alger and Mezulash were sitting at a wooden table in the center of the tavern, with two glasses of wine on the table.


    Although there had been quite a bit of friction before, now, to deal with their common enemy¡ªBrad Rackman, the two still sat down together to discuss strategies.


    Facing his archenemy, Alger looked particularly excited yet somewhat anxious.


    After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve lived nearby for many years and know the secret paths leading into Rackman Castle. What we need to do is infiltrate Rackman Castle.¡±


    ¡°And then¡­ kill him.¡±


    Mezulash nodded slightly, took a sip from his cup, and then said, ¡°A very simple and crude plan, but you forgot one thing¡ª you¡¯ve been away for years. Now that the Ashen Nest is about to invade, how could that cunning old vampire not have made preparations?¡±


    Alger¡¯s dragon face grew slightly surprised, but he still said, ¡°We have no other way. If we let him complete the Ascension Ritual, the consequences will be unimaginable.¡±


    Mezulash gave a light laugh. ¡°Indeed. These Starfallen are Undying, while you and I¡ªshould¡¯ve been dead long ago, and have no fear of death.¡±


    Alger pointed to the map of Northwind Castle on the table.


    ¡°Given the importance of the Ascension Ritual, the main roads will definitely be heavily guarded. So we¡¯ll go through here, along the dark path in Rackman¡¯s backyard garden.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Mezulash slowly stood up and said in a loud voice,


    ¡°Warriors, we are ready to set off.¡±


    ¡°Stop this Ascension, and the master will reward you generously.¡±


    For a moment, the fiery gazes of more than twenty elite players in the tavern were all directed at him.


    Mezulash had become adept at controlling players.


    ¡­


    Outside Rackman Castle, at Twilight Garden.


    This lush forest surrounded the ancient castle, isolating it from the outside world.


    The trees in the forest towered into the sky, and the mottled bark on the twisted trunks seemed like ancient scars. The deep darkness spread through the forest, making it impossible to distinguish day from night. The eerie leaves swayed in the wind, emitting a chilling whisper.


    The old trees stretched like ghostly arms, with twisted claws spiraling ominously.


    And deep within the forest, howls echoed back and forth, causing hearts to race.


    Alger looked at the dark and deep forest, and the path filled with twisted branches, his expression solemn.


    ¡°No, it didn¡¯t use to be like this.¡±


    ¡°In the years I¡¯ve been away, what exactly has Brad Rackman done?¡±


    Mezulash sneered. ¡°Perhaps he has a pack of loyal guard dogs in there, keeping watch for him.¡±


    ¡°It looks like we need to be careful from here on.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡±


    Alger, Meshlaf, and their group unhesitatingly plunged into the dense forest.


    ¡­


    Walking on the vine-covered path, Mantou heard rustling sounds behind him, making him shiver involuntarily.


    ¡°Oh God, this place really has creepy things¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, there¡¯s something behind me!¡±


    Mantou felt something brush across the back of his neck and let out a scream.


    Cold sweat dripped down as he turned to see it was just a twisted vine hanging from a branch.


    He breathed a sigh of relief, turned to Singo beside him, and said, ¡°This place is too spooky, let¡¯s hurry and leave. We can¡¯t stay here long.¡±


    Singo, too, couldn¡¯t find the words to mock him, merely nodding gravely.


    Because he had just keenly noticed that the bush ahead seemed to move towards them briefly, though he wasn¡¯t sure if it was just his imagination.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡±


    Mantou bit his lip and continued walking, but he couldn¡¯t resist the curiosity and looked back once more, seeing that the vine had moved again, now like a menacing arm reaching out for him.


    He gasped sharply.


    The rustling sounds around them grew louder and more intense, with something seeming to twist and squirm in the darkness.


    Fragmented, terrifying whispers spread around, surrounding the group.


    ¡°It¡¯s alive¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ leave me behind¡­¡±


    ¡°Hold my hand¡­ get me out¡­¡±


    But those voices didn¡¯t come from anyone among them!


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s face was already white as a sheet, sweat dripping from her chin, and her voice trembled, ¡°Did you¡­ did you hear that? Those voices.¡±


    Singo said sternly, ¡°I heard it too.¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t sound like a monster¡¯s roar, more like¡­ final words of victims before they died.¡±


    Mantou was terrified out of his wits. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t scare me¡­¡±


    ¡°Take a good look around.¡±


    Mantou looked around, seeing it was already a writhing, deep darkness.


    At the head of the group, Alger raised the Everburning Greatsword, instantly illuminating the surroundings, revealing the gruesome appearances of the monsters to everyone.


    In the dappled shadows of the forest, they saw gnarled roots, branches, and vines gradually converging, eventually forming countless staggering, twisted ghostly figures.


    Their bodies were made from dead branches, vines, and even thorny brambles entwined together, with undigested human limbs intertwined among them. The thick roots were soaked in blood.


    Alger gritted his teeth and shouted loudly,


    ¡°Prepare for battle!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, this forest is alive!¡±

 Chapter 134 - 64 Witherbeast and Death Knight

    Chapter 134: Chapter 64 Witherbeast and Death Knight


    Mezulash watched as unknown beings surged from all directions, gradually surrounding them.


    He recognized these monsters; he had seen them in a necromancer¡¯s diary.


    ¡°Withervine creatures, they are withervine creatures!¡±


    ¡°They are the plague that spreads dark infection. Drawing nutrients from the earth and carrying ancient evil wills wherever they go.¡±


    ¡°In forests infected by withervine creatures, trees and plants will grow at a supernatural speed. Vines and various undergrowth plants will quickly cover buildings and roads. After the withervine creatures kill or drive away all the residents, an entire village can perish within days.¡±


    Mezulash swung his sword and severed a thorn lashing out from the shadows, cursing loudly:


    ...


    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s said that the first withervine creatures were nourished by vampire blood. That old vampire had long been prepared!¡±


    Alger tightly gripped the Everburning Greatsword and plunged it into the twisted limb of a withervine creature.


    The blade ignited with fierce flames, setting the withervine creature ablaze in an instant, turning it to ash amidst its wails.


    Alger loudly reminded, ¡°They ignite easily!¡±


    As these monsters, hidden in the darkness and concealed within the dense forest, revealed their true forms, the players began to display their abilities.


    Mantou gazed at the prior vine monster, his panel refreshed with new information.


    [Withervine Creature]


    Challenge Level: 1 (200xp)


    Mantou heaved a sigh of relief, followed by anger.


    ¡°I thought it was some filthy thing, but it turned out to be a mere minion. Daring to scare your grandpa Mantou, you¡¯ll die for this!¡±


    He charged forward, sword in hand.


    The monster, composed of twisted vines, trembled and voiced in fear, ¡°It has ensnared me¡­ don¡¯t leave me behind¡­¡±


    ¡°Save me¡­¡±


    Withervine creatures are the only type of witherbeasts capable of speech. They can mimic the fragmented speech of their deceased owner¡¯s voice to mock their victims.


    However, upon seeing the monster¡¯s health bar, Mantou felt not fear but a growing rage at being deceived.


    ¡°Still trying to scare me?¡±


    ¡°Die!¡±


    The long sword cleaved into the fragile vine.


    As a faint light flickered on Mantou¡¯s Ring of Flames, the scorching power of fire spread along the blade to the withervine creature, igniting its arid, withered, and twisted body.


    With a grin, Mantou withdrew his sword:


    ¡°One strike each.¡±


    Singo launched flaming arrows, sarcastically reminding from the side, ¡°Who was scared stiff just now?¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s golden pupils also brimmed with anger as she slightly opened her mouth.


    [Agnasa¡¯s Fire-Breathing Technique]


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A line of rolling flames spread out, directly incinerating over ten witherbeasts into charcoal.


    However, this was not the largest area-of-effect damage among the players. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The president of the Eternal Brilliance Guild and Light Priest player Dawn Light Cherish Dance directly charged into the dark forest depths, raising his warhammer high.


    [Guiding Divine Power: Dawn¡¯s Light]


    An endless radiance descended, centered on the priest.


    The surrounding darkness was completely dispelled.


    The hundreds of wither beasts surging toward him were purified into fine ash without even time for a scream.


    Iron Madman, meanwhile, held a cigar in his mouth, tossing rune incendiary bombs with intention.


    ¡°Art is explosion!¡±


    The continuous explosions and spreading fire reduced the witherbeasts before him to ashes.


    These witherbeasts hiding in the shadows might be able to claim the lives of lost commoners and solitary adventurers, but facing bizarrely capable, explosions-loving players, they were helpless.


    After all, the ancient evil forces had not taught them how to combat the Fourth Calamity.


    The players hacked their way through the Death Forest and quickly reached Rackman Castle.


    The Twilight Garden behind them was now filled with thick smoke and flames, with withervine creatures burned to ruins everywhere.


    ¡­


    The sky seemed to be covered with a thin blood veil.


    Rackman Castle appeared decrepit and desolate, as if ravaged by endless time. The castle, built from black stones, had walls riddled with cracks and moss, along with patches of stained blood.


    The spires engulfed in overcast sky exuded a chilling atmosphere. The windows were protected by iron bars and sharp spikes, giving a sense of confinement and menace.


    The shadows emanating from the castle cast the surrounding land into darkness, instilling fear and oppression.


    Mezulash gazed mockingly at the castle and said to Alger, ¡°Did you live in such a hellhole?¡±


    ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so twisted.¡±


    Alger shook his head slightly, ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t like this when I left.¡±


    He looked at the heavy castle gates, his expression solemn, ¡°Maybe that Vampire Duke did something to turn it into this.¡±


    An ear-piercing screech came from above.


    Alger immediately became alert and shouted, ¡°Attention!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, this is certainly not the sound of the wind!¡±


    Years of combat experience told him that the approaching enemy was not simple.


    The crowd hastily looked around but found no enemies.


    ¡°The enemy is in the sky!¡±


    ¡°Damn!¡±


    In the gloomy sky, a massive bone eagle soared.


    It had no feathers, only yellowed, branched wing bones trailing ghostly green flames.


    The wind blowing through those bone joints emitted an ear-piercing screech, like the wail of a ghost.


    On the bone eagle¡¯s back was a skeleton knight clad in terrifying plate armor. Through its helmet, one could see the burning malicious light in the knight¡¯s eye sockets, filled with boundless hatred for the living¡ªit was a Death Knight!


    ¡°Intruders!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll¡ªkill you all!¡±


    The knight in the sky let out a hoarse voice, diving rapidly towards the ground.


    Alger stared fixedly at the Bone Eagle Knight, murmuring, ¡°Old Wald¡­¡±


    Old Wald had been Alger¡¯s instructor back when he was in the Northwind Eagle Guards, the man who had taught him all his skills.


    Wald Chris, known for his outstanding service to the Rackman Duchy, had achieved great feats on eagle-back, but ultimately requested to serve as an instructor for the next generation of Eagle Guards.


    Now, this loyal Old Wald had taken Alger¡¯s place, transformed into a Death Knight by the Duke, eternally patrolling Rackman Castle atop the bone eagle, mindlessly guarding the Duke he swore loyalty to.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you rest in peace¡­¡±


    ¡°Annoying old man.¡±


    Alger gripped his great sword firmly, silently vowing in his heart.

 Chapter 135 - 65 Ascension Ritual (I)

    Chapter 135: Chapter 65 Ascension Ritual (I)


    The Bone Eagle shrieked in the sky as the Death Knight raced across the ground.


    The eagle¡¯s beak spewed countless Hellfire Beads, causing repeated explosions on the ground. The corrosive, ghostly green flames spread, devouring life at the slightest touch, turning the earth into a semblance of Hell.


    ¡°This place¡ªforbids the living!¡±


    Old Wald hovered in the air, wielding his Eagle Shriek Silver Sword. Decayed skeletons crawled out of the earth, summoned by this Undead Commander, surrounding the unexpected intruders from all directions.


    Mezulash raised his blood-stained Great Sword high, his pitch-black eyes flickering with a ghostly light.


    [Oathbreaker Guiding Divine Power: Control Undead]


    ...


    A dense fog of darkness erupted from the Great Sword, taking control of all the surrounding skeletons and making them turn against their master.


    The players unleashed various Radiance and Flame Spells, easily destroying the fragile skeletal undead creatures.


    Alger stared intently at the Death Knight circling in the air.


    Those movements and techniques were all too familiar to him. Even though Old Wald had become a Death Knight, Alger could still recognize the traces of his former self.


    A scarlet bond appeared in his hand.


    With a loud eagle shriek, the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, Eagle, materialized out of thin air.


    This was the new trait attained by the Red Scale Conqueror upon reaching the tenth level¡ª[Dragon Vein Connection]. It allowed him to summon his mount anytime, anywhere through the essence of Dragon Blood Magic.


    Alger mounted the giant eagle and whispered, ¡°Come, Wald Chris, my old instructor.¡±


    ¡°Let me see if your skills have dulled since becoming this wretched thing.¡±


    ¡°Screech¡ª¡±


    With another resonant eagle shriek, the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle spread its wings and soared, swiftly gaining altitude, its aura no less intimidating than the terrifying bone eagle cloaked in ghostly flames.


    The Death Knight circling high above naturally noticed this rapidly approaching enemy and unhesitatingly charged forward.


    ¡°Despicable living¡­¡±


    His bones creaked audibly.


    Alger and Wald circled each other in the sky, testing each other repeatedly.


    Turning, rolling, climbing, diving¡ªtheir actions in controlling their giant eagles had become instinctual, as if cast from the same mold, though Alger¡¯s maneuvers were notably more aggressive, often featuring daring flashes of brilliance.


    Blazing flames and ghostly green fire intertwined, making the sky-bound duel of the two knights a spectacle of fleeting silhouettes and bursts of light.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Alger panted, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his tone slightly excited. ¡°Old Wald, you still got it.¡±


    His half-dragon body bore numerous wounds, the dark mist of necrosis slowly corroding the injuries.


    ¡°Despicable living¡ªdie¡ª¡±


    The Death Knight Wald was in no better condition, his plate armor shattered, revealing cracked bones, with ghostly flames flickering as they healed his wounds.


    They slowly ascended, then dove toward each other.


    This was the final charging duel.


    Both gripped their long swords tightly, leaning forward, their diving postures nearly identical.


    But just as they were less than ten meters apart, Alger and the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle simultaneously let out a fearsome roar.


    [Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge]


    This Dragon¡¯s Roar carried the essence of magic, instilling fear even in undead creatures.


    An immense Red Dragon illusion seemed to rise above them.


    ¡°Dragon¡­¡±


    The Death Knight momentarily lost focus.


    His bone eagle also froze in terror.


    Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Alger struck decisively.


    ¡°Downward Slash!¡±


    Using the momentum of the rapid dive, the half-dragon knight slashed down.


    With a crisp sound, the Everburning Greatsword easily severed the Death Knight¡¯s neck bones, sending the head, burning with malevolent light, flying high before dimming.


    His bone eagle also lost its undead essence, its ghostly flames extinguished, its body turning into a mundane skeleton, with bones falling from the sky.


    Alger gracefully landed on the ground with his giant eagle.


    He casually dug a small pit in the ground, buried the cracked skull, covered it with soil, and stamped it down.


    ¡°Rest in peace, pitiful old man.¡±


    ¡°I will kill that old vampire.¡±


    Alger muttered to himself, eyes fixed on the heavy, intricately carved door of Rackman Castle.


    ¡­


    In the depths of Rackman Castle.


    The space here was extraordinarily vast, unlike the interior of a building, more like an immense underground world.


    Bats fluttered in the darkness, rats scurried in the shadows, and blood slaves howled in agony from iron cages.


    At the center of this underground world stood a massive stone platform, a hundred meters in diameter, inscribed with twisted, eerie runes, surrounded by bottomless abysses.


    Encircling the stone platform were seven tall stone pillars, each adorned with devilish carvings. Every pillar had a vampire variant bound with iron chains soaked in blood.


    They resembled sinners of religious myth, bound naked to the pillars, bearing strange tattoos on their backs.


    Their faces wore expressions of fanatical fervor, chanting wicked hymns.


    Even Alexia, the eldest daughter of the Rackman Family, was bound to one of the pillars, her ornate dress removed, exposing her pale, beautiful form.


    Yet, the scene bore no trace of eroticism, instead emanating a sense of bloody, eerie horror. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She whispered softly, ¡°On the day of the full moon¡­¡±


    ¡°Bats rejoice, sick rats sing.¡±


    ¡°Blood mist covers the sky, shadows overflow.¡±


    ¡°Daylight will tremble, eternal night will descend.¡±


    ¡°He will become the immortal monarch of the night!¡±


    ¡°He will become the eternal master of darkness!¡±


    ¡°Let our blood boil within His body, let us embrace the great Ascension!¡±


    The sound of bats¡¯ wings flapping filled the air.


    Brad Rackman emerged from the tunnel¡¯s end, not taking the stairs but instead floating upward, slowly ascending to the stone platform.


    His crimson eyes brimming with endless greed and anticipation, he recited like a poet in ecstasy.


    ¡°Finally¡­¡±


    ¡°After lurking in the darkness for a hundred and seventy-two long years, at last, the hardships are over.¡±


    ¡°Ascension, once achieved, will render all obstacles insignificant, even giant dragons will not halt my progress.¡±


    ¡°My children¡­¡±


    Duke Brad gazed adoringly at the naked vampire variants bound to the pillars, his eyes filled with undisguised, twisted affection. In a sense, he genuinely loved them.


    They were both his offspring.


    And the fuel for his ascension.


    Duke Brad¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, as if recalling something.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity¡­ Todd didn¡¯t return.¡±

 Chapter 136 - 66 Ascension Ritual (Part 2)

    Chapter 136: Chapter 66 Ascension Ritual (Part 2)


    According to the contract of the ¡°Voice of the Night,¡± the Vampire Ascension Ritual had extremely cumbersome requirements.


    In addition to sacrificing one thousand six hundred and seventy-four vampire variants to the great evil entity, seven meticulously cultivated variants were required, each serving the Lord of Sin and symbolizing the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust.


    As the master, the vampire needed to genuinely ¡°love¡± these variants.


    When the ritual commenced, the power and blood within these variants would flow into the main body and be absorbed by the vampire.


    For example, Alexia symbolized Pride.


    Duke Brad sent his youngest son, Todd Rackman, to Sgurr Town, hoping he could become the embodiment of Envy in that remote little place, ultimately becoming the perfect feast for his Ascension Ritual.


    ...


    However, before he could enjoy this supreme honor, Ramp turned him into a pile of meat mush through a series of experiments.


    ¡°Damn Red Dragon¡­¡±


    Thinking of this, Duke Brad gritted his teeth even harder.


    ¡°I must find another special variant to replace Todd¡¯s position, and it¡¯s best if it¡¯s a spellcaster.¡±


    During the vampire¡¯s ascension, not only would the blood be drained, but the variant¡¯s entire abilities, including spellcasting abilities, would be absorbed. That¡¯s why he painstakingly trained Todd to become a mage.


    ¡°Spellcasters¡­¡±


    Duke Brad pondered for a moment. He suddenly remembered the disrespectful vampire variant he captured not long ago, who seemed to be a trickster with a high affinity for dark powers.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that just ready-made?¡±


    Thinking of this, a smile curled on his lips¡ªa very interesting prey that had now fallen into his control.


    Duke Brad enjoyed this feeling of being high above and in control of everything. He relished the struggles of his prey, especially loving to see their faces fall into despair.


    For a vampire who had long lost his sense of taste, it was like sweet, mellow wine.


    Duke Brad could not help but lick his lips.


    ¡°To watch such an unruly human, seeing himself controlled and become a sacrifice without being able to resist, should be a most wonderful thing,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to it¡­¡±


    A gleam of expectation flashed in Duke Brad¡¯s scarlet pupils, looking grotesque and horrifying.


    ¡­


    ¡°For the great Ascension¡­¡±


    The Swashbuckler stood in the iron cage, mimicking the mindless blood slaves, and murmured softly, ¡°For the great Ascension¡­¡±


    The ¡°Rebel Crest¡± was secretly hidden under his tongue, making it impossible for the guards searching his body to discover it.


    Watching the blood mist gradually spread in the air and the sacrificial array flickering with ghostly light inside the iron cage, the Swashbuckler felt like crying but had no tears, thinking to himself: ¡°Damn, am I really going to be sacrificed¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a powerful pressure emanated from the bloodline.


    The blood slaves all fell to the ground, licking the floor like devout zealots.


    The Swashbuckler also knelt down. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To become stronger, he could even endure the humiliation beneath his crotch.


    Wasn¡¯t it just a kneel?


    He endured it!


    But his eyes were sneaking a glance at the uninvited guest.


    The visitor had pale skin, scarlet eyes, and wore a luxurious black robe trimmed with gold¡ªthat was Duke Brad Rackman.


    The Swashbuckler¡¯s heart leaped with joy, thinking, ¡°This old man finally came!¡±


    But Duke Brad¡¯s gaze swept over him, making him quickly lower his head, not daring to make a sound.


    ¡°Very good, the strength is still abundant.¡±


    Duke Brad smiled with satisfaction.


    He slightly raised his hand, and with the sound of wings flapping, hundreds of bats surged from the darkness, forming a huge hand that wrapped around the Swashbuckler, carrying him out of the iron cage.


    His cloak slightly opened, and his whole body floated upwards.


    Soon, they arrived at the stone platform for the ritual.


    The bats dispersed, and the Swashbuckler¡¯s vision was no longer pitch black. He immediately saw the variants bound to the stone pillars, his eyes widening in shock.


    Ordinary people would feel immense fear in such an environment, but the Swashbuckler¡¯s thought process was evidently different, and his focus was somewhat peculiar.


    As an experienced old lecher, he immediately noticed the Duke¡¯s eldest daughter, Alexia Rackman, who was entirely naked, with her snow-white body exposed.


    ¡°Damn, playing it this big?¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s no Holy Light?!¡±


    ¡°No, Swashbuckler, Swashbuckler, you cannot let beauty blind your eyes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a man aiming to become the King of Games!¡±


    Thinking of this, he forcefully moved his gaze away, continuing to pretend to be controlled. Fortunately, Duke Brad was still gazing at his masterpiece with indulgence, not noticing anything amiss.


    During this moment, he also saw Yeno Rackman, similarly bound to the stone pillar, who symbolized ¡°Sloth¡± among the Seven Deadly Sins.


    ¡°It hurts the eye.¡±


    The Swashbuckler sighed inwardly.


    At this moment, Duke Brad turned his head to look at the Swashbuckler, a scarlet gleam flashing in his eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Swashbuckler.¡±


    Swashbuckler answered honestly.


    Afraid his disguise would be seen through, he feared getting killed on the spot by the vampire duke before achieving anything.


    Fortunately, Duke Brad did not find anything unusual, only curling his lips and saying softly:


    ¡°Strange name¡­ but it doesn¡¯t matter. From now on, your name is Todd Rackman. You are my youngest son, who has been banished to the outskirts. You are insanely jealous of your siblings, understand?¡±


    ¡°Now, let me ask again, who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Todd Rackman, your neglected youngest son.¡±


    ¡°Very good, say it again.¡±


    The Swashbuckler complied physically, but in his mind, he cursed the old vampire¡¯s ancestors. He had seen people recognizing their fathers, but never assigning themselves as someone¡¯s son!


    ¡°Who wants to be your darn son, old lamp!¡±


    The Swashbuckler roared inwardly, but outwardly, he obediently said: ¡°I¡¯m Todd Rackman, your neglected youngest son. I¡¯m jealous of my siblings.¡±


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    Duke Brad nodded slightly.


    He observed the puppet-like Swashbuckler, rubbing his chin, frowning and pondering.


    ¡°Simply letting this variant replace Todd¡¯s identity doesn¡¯t seem enough to make me feel ¡®love¡¯ for it.¡±


    Duke Brad was a complete monster, able to forcefully manufacture a twisted, perverse kind of ¡°love¡± to achieve his goals.


    Though he could deliberately guide and control, he couldn¡¯t freely manufacture emotions.


    ¡°The body and emotions are deeply entwined.¡±


    ¡°In the eyes of mortals, the ultimate carnal desire seems to naturally produce love, so¡­¡±


    Duke Brad looked at the Swashbuckler again, his scarlet pupils revealing a strange gleam and an inexplicable desire.


    The Swashbuckler immediately felt a chill, a bad premonition surfacing in his mind.


    Though his expression did not change, alarm bells were ringing in his head.


    ¡°Wait, what the heck is this old Biden planning on doing?!¡±

 Chapter 137 - 67 Ascension Ritual (3)

    Chapter 137: Chapter 67 Ascension Ritual (3)


    Duke Brad squinted his eyes, slowly closing in.


    ¡°Rejoice, enjoy all of this, you lowly creature, this will be the greatest honor of your life.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will be over soon.¡±


    It seemed that Brad Rackman had never tasted such prey before, as he even licked his lips expectantly, the scent of blood almost blowing into Swashbuckler¡¯s face.


    Swashbuckler frantically screamed in his heart: ¡°Damn, is Eight Hook¡¯s so-called Lord of the Night this deep dark?¡±


    A terrifying thought suddenly popped into his mind.


    ...


    ¡°Am I going to be the first player in history to get screwed over by an NPC?!¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the healthy game system?¡±


    ¡°Come out and take care of this!¡±


    ¡°Save me!¡±


    However, at that moment, Duke Brad had already forcefully embraced him, his pallid fingers, like old tree bark, brushing against his neck.


    He gently blew on Swashbuckler¡¯s earlobe.


    ¡°Come on¡­¡±


    ¡°Fall into joy and lust.¡±


    ¡°And finally, become my nourishment¡­¡±


    Swashbuckler¡¯s expression changed instantly.


    As an old pervert who hadn¡¯t even held a girl¡¯s hand, now he was about to lose his innocence to this centuries-old freak!


    He gritted his teeth, determination in his eyes.


    A nobleman can be killed but not humiliated!


    Some things are intolerable!


    He couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and decided to take down this perverted old freak!


    ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore, I¡¯ll bite you to death, you damn scumbag!¡±


    While Duke Brad was still lost in his own world, Swashbuckler fiercely bit down on his unguarded neck.


    This bite was filled with the anger of nearly being screwed over!


    Sharp canine teeth pierced the skin, sinking into the blood vessel.


    Thick blood flowed into Swashbuckler¡¯s mouth, tasting like sewage, making him want to gag.


    But the constant source of evil energy within that blood also entered Swashbuckler¡¯s body.


    At that moment, as a derivative, Swashbuckler drank the blood of the vampire¡¯s main body, completely freeing himself from Duke Brad¡¯s control, becoming a true vampire!


    ¡°You deceitful creature! You tricked me!¡±


    ¡°You are a rebel!¡±


    Duke Brad¡¯s expression changed drastically as dark waves spread across him, instantly sending the blood-sucking Swashbuckler flying ten meters.


    He raised his hand, and the blood mist in the air condensed into a twisted hand, gripping him tightly.


    Seeing that things had gotten out of control, Duke Brad¡¯s scarlet eyes were filled with endless rage. He straightened his blood-soaked lapel and shouted angrily:


    ¡°You filthy creature, you could have chosen to die in ecstasy, honored to be the nourishment for the great Ascension¡­¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But now, you¡¯ve chosen the most painful death!¡±


    ¡°Ptooey, that¡¯s disgusting.¡±


    Swashbuckler struggled in midair, spitting a mouthful of blood at Duke Brad.


    ¡°Ecstasy, Bull Demon special offer!¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you use a seduction tactic? I would¡¯ve tolerated it. At least turn into a beautiful woman, that I could barely accept. Or turn into a cute boy, I would struggle for a bit before giving in. You¡¯re an old vampire freak who hasn¡¯t bathed in centuries, your skin is all wrinkled like tree bark, almost rotting and stinking, in our world that¡¯s called Giant¡¯s View, you could dig a hole and use it to breed maggots. If you touch me, I¡¯ll get goosebumps all over, you know¡­¡±


    Seeing no chance of escape, the already triggered Swashbuckler completely dropped his facade, hurling verbal abuse intensely, saliva flying everywhere.


    Duke Brad grew even more furious, the blood mist hand gripping even tighter, causing Swashbuckler¡¯s body to emit creaking sounds as if his bones were about to be crushed.


    ¡°Damn you, mortal!¡±


    ¡°How could you possibly understand¡ª¡±


    ¡°My body is perfect, it is immortal!¡±


    Swashbuckler, already squeezed into a ball and distorted beyond recognition, still managed to say: ¡°Immortal, my ass¡­ Wait for Ashen Nest¡­ They¡¯ll turn you into barbecue¡­¡±


    ¡°But your¡­ old meat¡­ is worse than¡­ sick pig¡­ wouldn¡¯t pass¡­ food safety inspection¡­¡±


    Duke Brad, though not understanding exactly what Swashbuckler was saying, knew it wasn¡¯t anything good. He laughed angrily.


    ¡°Mortal, you¡¯ve angered me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind, I won¡¯t kill you. I¡¯ll keep you as my sacrifice, to helplessly witness my great ascension.¡±


    However, Swashbuckler paid no mind, already in a ranting state. At that moment, his mind was filled with the vilest insults, with no room for anything else.


    ¡°Witness¡­ Bull Demon¡­ special offer¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll slap you¡­ see if you still¡­ act crazy¡­¡±


    ¡°Your¡­ mom¡­ is¡­ dead¡­¡±


    ¡°What a filthy, foul mouth.¡±


    Duke Brad waved his hand, and a bat flew from the darkness, clinging to Swashbuckler¡¯s face, its dirty wings gagging him.


    Duke Brad¡¯s determination was terrifying, his hatred reaching an extreme that twisted into a bizarre ¡°affection¡±.


    ¡°Witness it, tremble!¡±


    ¡°You all shall become my sustenance, and I shall achieve immortality!¡±


    He slowly walked forward, carving intricate runes into Swashbuckler¡¯s back with a delicate dagger, blood constantly dripping from the marks.


    ¡°Mmm¡­ mmm¡­¡±


    Swashbuckler tried to speak, but the bat clung tightly to his face, completely blocking his mouth.


    ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°The last sacrifice.¡±


    Brad Rackman gently raised his hand, causing Swashbuckler to float midair, slamming his back against a pillar symbolizing ¡°Jealousy¡±.


    The blood-soaked iron chains wrapped around his body like a python, layer after layer, leaving no chance for escape or struggle.


    The blood of the vampire derivatives flowed steadily.


    Gradually filling the eerie patterns on the stone platform, creating a massive blood array.


    Swashbuckler, unable to move, bound to the pillar, thought to himself: ¡°This is probably it, this old freak is too strong, but at least I kept my dignity.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness no other players saw this.¡±


    ¡°Or I¡¯d be the laughingstock of the forums.¡±


    Swashbuckler secretly rejoiced.


    But what he didn¡¯t know was that players had already been watching invisibly at the entrance for a long time, struggling to hold back their laughter, with Mantou¡¯s face even turning red.


    These elite players were professional enough to remain silent, fearing they would be discovered by the boss.


    However, the player forum was still active.


    The forum was instantly flooded with new posts.


    ¡°Shocking! Swashbuckler got screwed!¡±


    ¡°Swashbuckler and the old priest¡¯s 45-second video.¡±


    ¡°Top secret footage! Swashbuckler and the Vampire Duke¡¯s unspeakable secret!¡±


    ¡°Swashbuckler spews nonsense! Is it a twist of human nature or a collapse of morality!¡±


    At that moment, clueless Swashbuckler, thinking he was lucky, was unaware that the true disaster was about to strike, making him the first player in game history to nearly get screwed.

 Chapter 138 - 68 Ascension Ritual (IV)

    Chapter 138: Chapter 68 Ascension Ritual (IV)


    ¡°Bats celebrate, sick rats sing.¡±


    ¡°Blood mist covers the sky, shadows overflow.¡±


    ¡°Daylight dreads its arrival, eternal night descends.¡±


    The vampire variants on the stone pillars were still chanting. As time went by, their voices gradually turned into wails.


    Blood gradually filled the patterns on the stone platform, activating the strange and evil array. In the bunker, the arrays in the hundreds of iron cages emitted a bloody glow.


    The blood light connected those variants to Duke Brad. The evil power surged into his body through the blood light.


    ...


    ¡°Ascension. How absolutely delightful.¡±


    Duke Brad raised his arms, seeming to embrace the imminent power.


    He slowly closed his eyes. Despite his undying essence not needing to breathe, he still took a deep breath, savoring the inviting scent of blood in the air.


    Duke Brad¡¯s expression suddenly stiffened.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡±


    ¡°I think I smell¡­ unfamiliar blood.¡±


    ¡°It seems there is a group of vile rats hiding in my castle.¡±


    Duke Brad opened his eyes, his crimson pupils filled with endless rage.


    ¡°Come out¡ª¡±


    ¡°You are courting death!¡±


    Duke Brad floated in mid-air, his cloak billowing without wind, and thick blood mist surrounded him.


    This old vampire would not let anyone interfere with the ascension he had planned for centuries!


    Seeing that they were exposed, the commander of the operation, Mezulash, raised his blood-stained great sword and shouted loudly.


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    His usually calm face now showed excitement, and even his voice trembled slightly.


    His wife and children¡¯s tragic deaths, the wanton slaughter of thousands of his people, ten years of hardship and wandering¡­


    Now, the final conclusion was finally approaching.


    ¡°Kill him!¡±


    Mezulash charged forward.


    At the entrance of the passage, the players did not expect to be discovered in this way, causing immediate chaos.


    [Crimson Duke¡ªBrad Rackman]


    Basic abilities: ???


    Challenge level: ??? (Extremely dangerous!)


    The red panel, representing danger and hostility, appeared before everyone.


    Yet, being a group of elite players, after a brief moment of panic, they steadfastly executed the preplanned tactics.


    ¡°He found us!¡±


    ¡°Mage master, cast your spells!¡±


    ¡°Leave it to me!¡±


    Charlotte raised the carved wooden staff, the vine at the top glowing with a magical aura.


    [Cloud Mist Technique]


    In an instant of casting the spell, Charlotte lost her invisibility and was revealed in her true form. However, thick mist swiftly enveloped the platform where the vampire stood.


    Meanwhile, the bard player ¡°Flying Guitar¡± played his violin. As the strings trembled, not only did a melodious tune float out, but it also caused ripples in the magic web. This was the bard¡¯s artistic way of casting spells.


    [Sorcery of Wraithfire]


    Demonic fire attached to the vampire¡¯s body, outlining its figure with a violet glow, clearly visible even through the thick mist.


    The vice president of the Royal Guild, Fengyun, also waved his magic wand.


    [Tidal Surge Wave]


    With his movement, a wave surged toward the vampire. This spell was specifically designed to target the vampire¡¯s ¡°Wounding Water¡± weakness.


    At the same time, several mages and sorcerers cast spells together. Hypnotic patterns, rainbow sprays, and charming monsters as control spells bombarded the vampire. Scorching rays, magic missiles, fireball techniques, lightning, radiance, flames, and force fields created a dazzling display of spell lights directed at the figure outlined by the violet glow within the mist.


    The martial monks, warriors, paladins, and barbarians among the melee players charged into the mist, following the glow of the demonic fire to launch their attacks.


    Steel Torrent also summoned his newly built guardian mecha, frantically pouring bullets while raising a shield to charge at the vampire.


    Mezulash, leading the charge, already carried his blood-stained great sword to the front, excitement in his pure black eyes, anticipating his pending revenge.


    But before they could get close, a low voice echoed in the bunker.


    ¡°Pathetic ants¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you really think you can oppose me?¡±


    With a terrifying shockwave, a bloody current erupted, dispersing the thick mist.


    Faced with the dozens of colorful spell radiances and the rain of arrows, flying knives, and even bullets from afar, Duke Brad merely smirked, his body transforming into a blur of blood mist, which then dispersed suddenly.


    In an instant, lightning, radiance, and flames intersected, flying knives, arrows, and bullets whizzed through the air, but all hit nothing.


    The group looked around, unable to find the vampire anymore.


    Only a faint blood mist lingered in the air.


    ¡°Let the blood boil in His body¡­¡±


    ¡°Let us embrace the great ascension¡­¡±


    Yet, the vampire variants kept chanting, with the bloody light still flashing.


    Clearly, it was far from over.


    Suddenly, Duke Brad¡¯s raspy voice echoed in the dark underground world. The sound was erratic, seeming to come from everywhere.


    ¡°Foolish mortals.¡±


    ¡°Your attacks are utterly laughable.¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°For I am everywhere¡­¡±


    ¡°I once swept across the land like divine wrath, but I gave all that up for immortality.¡±


    The voice grew more intense, causing an inner trembling in anyone who heard it.


    ¡°And now, I am immortality; I am the darkness! I shall become the monarch of eternal night! And you all are mere fodder on my path to ascension!¡±


    Everyone present felt their blood boil, as if it wished to break free from its bodily confines and escape.


    The blood mist in the air churned and swirled, forming a massive vortex, eventually reconsolidating into a human shape above the stone platform.


    At this moment, Brad Rackman had shed his luxurious attire and donned a robe of red and black. He floated high above, his crimson-glowing eyes disdainfully and coldly look down on everyone on the platform.


    He raised his hand gently.


    In mid-air, the blood mist formed two giant blood-colored hands.


    Steel Torrent raised the gun on his armored left arm to fire upward, but the giant hand wrapped around the four-meter-tall armor, squeezing it and crushing it, along with the pilot inside.


    The once formidable mech now lay as wreckage on the ground, while the pilot¡¯s blood was absorbed into the blood mist, making it thicker and more intense.


    ¡°Fresh blood¡­¡±


    A trace of intoxication and satisfaction appeared on Duke Brad¡¯s pale face.


    ¡°Run, wail¡­¡±


    ¡°I will thoroughly enjoy this moment.¡±


    With the vampires¡¯ eerie chanting, Duke Brad played with the blood mist, hunting down the players, effortlessly killing them and absorbing their blood, driving them to their wits¡¯ end.


    In just a few minutes, over a dozen players met their end, all elite fighters.


    ¡°Damn, the guild leader got one-shot again!¡±


    ¡°How are we supposed to fight this?¡±


    ¡°This boss¡¯s damage is insane¡ª¡±


    ¡°Can someone cast Flight Magic for me? I want to try engaging up close.¡±


    Meshlaf swung his sword, dispersing the blood mist. Glaring at the vampire in the air, he muttered, ¡°No, he¡¯s absorbing power, getting stronger.¡±


    ¡°We must stop him.¡±


    Mezulash looked towards a dark corner, a peculiar light in his pure black pupils.

 Chapter 139 - 69 Ascension Ritual (5)

    Chapter 139: Chapter 69 Ascension Ritual (5)


    ¡°Ahhhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Natural War Maniac roared angrily and stomped to activate his Frenzy.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    His eyes turned bloodshot, and with the help of Flight Magic, he leaped high and swung his Great Axe fiercely at the Vampire in the air.


    Duke Brad sneered contemptuously.


    ¡°Ridiculous struggle.¡±


    ...


    A blood mist churned in the air, forming a gigantic blood-red maw that swallowed the Natural War Maniac whole, draining every drop of his blood, leaving only a dried and shriveled husk that fell to the ground.


    Just as the Natural War Maniac died, several wooden arrows swiftly shot towards the Vampire¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡ª¡±


    It turned out the Natural War Maniac was only a distraction, while Singo¡¯s heart-targeting wooden arrows were the real attack strategy.


    ¡°Crack.¡±


    However, those arrows were easily caught by a pair of pale hands and then snapped effortlessly.


    ¡°How is this possible¡­¡±


    Singo muttered to himself. He hadn¡¯t expected this boss to be so exaggeratedly strong, not only having powerful Spell Abilities but also unbelievable physical strength.


    ¡°Pathetic rats.¡±


    A sinister smile appeared on Duke Brad¡¯s face as he spoke.


    ¡°I was once the mightiest general in all of Anzeta. I rode a Giant Eagle into battle, unrivaled wherever I went.¡±


    ¡°And now, I am something far more noble.¡±


    ¡°You¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°think you can be my opponents?¡±


    Duke Brad slowly descended. Blood mist and countless shadowy hands surrounded him.


    [Vampire¡¯s Touch]


    Anyone entangled by those shadowy hands suffered unimaginable Necrosis damage, their Vitality drained rapidly.


    That Vitality surged within the shadowy tendrils and eventually flowed into Duke Brad¡¯s body, nourishing him.


    ¡°Priest, give me a heal!¡±


    ¡°Cast an Acceleration Spell on me!¡±


    The Tyrant shouted to Fengyun.


    But before he could finish, a black tendril rose from the ground and wrapped around him tightly, turning his muscular body into a dried husk in an instant.


    ¡°I need a chance to cast a¡ª¡±


    Charlotte hadn¡¯t finished speaking before the blood mist engulfed him from behind, then enveloped him entirely.


    Singo stood at the edge of the stone platform, bow drawn and arrow ready, aiming again at the Vampire, but black tendrils rose from the ground and wrapped around him, dragging him into the endless Abyss below.


    The players were desperately running, dodging the terrifying blood mist and tendrils, while Duke Brad leisurely paced back and forth in the center of the stone platform.


    ¡°I am the Lord of Darkness.¡±


    ¡°I am the Monarch of the Night.¡±


    ¡°Entering here was the greatest mistake of your lives!¡±


    His voice was hoarse and low, like the grim announcement of a night reaper, mercilessly declaring the fate of the crowd.


    Countless bats and rats surged from the darkness, obeying the commands of the Monarch of the Night, attacking them in waves. Some players were gnawed to pieces by thousands of rats.


    ¡°Supreme Holy Slash!¡±


    Mezulash swung his blood-glowing sword, cutting off the shadow tendrils attacking from behind. The Guardian Aura around him blocked the encroaching blood mist.


    He lifted his blood-stained Great Sword high.


    [Oathbreaker Guiding Divine Power: Terror Manifestation]


    An aura of magical intimidation gathered and erupted, dispelling the approaching rats and bats.


    Mezulash stared intently, pointing the sword¡¯s tip at the Duke.


    ¡°I will kill you, Vampire.¡±


    His pitch-black eyes were wide open, emitting a cold light filled with frenzied hatred, like a ghostly fire, making Duke Brad¡¯s heart skip a beat.


    Duke Brad pretended to ponder for a moment, then suddenly revealed a playful smile.


    ¡°Oh? I remember you.¡±


    ¡°Leader of the Child of the Devil, pitiful scapegoat.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, your wailing and cries lasted for three days and three nights back then, bringing me immense joy, while my righteous and brave people vented their fury, soaking Northwind Castle with Tiefling blood, even filling the moat with flowing blood.¡±


    Duke Brad¡¯s tone was light, as if recounting a delightful anecdote.


    ¡°However, it was not a waste. Your kinsmen died valuably, granting me the opportunity for the great Ascension.¡±


    ¡°Everything was perfect, except for the one regret of letting you escape.¡±


    ¡°But now¡­ that regret will be mended.¡±


    Duke Brad curled his lips into a smile, a hint of crimson flashing in his eyes.


    He enjoyed seeing the despair and pain in the eyes of these mortals. Clearly, Mezulash was just such a presence, and he would personally extinguish the Tiefling¡¯s hope for revenge.


    ¡°I will kill you.¡±


    ¡°Kill you¡­¡±


    Mezulash swung his sword again and again, cutting off the shadow tendrils that kept attacking, struggling to advance to within ten meters of Duke Brad.


    Wounds exuding Necrosis smoke continuously appeared on his body, with the evil forces greedily devouring his Vitality, but Mezulash remained expressionless, paying no heed. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The image of his family struggling in the flames seemed to appear before his eyes. The souls of countless dead kinsmen seemed to appear before him, shouting in unison.


    ¡°Kill him.¡±


    Duke Brad watched the Tiefling gradually close in, his pale face filled with excitement.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it, strong will, lost reason, feeling the hope of revenge.¡±


    ¡°Only to be utterly cast into the abyss by me in the end¡­¡±


    He eagerly licked his lips. This kind of despairing blood required careful nurturing, as sweet as the finest wine.

 Chapter 140 - 69 Ascension Ritual (5)_2

    Chapter 140: Chapter 69 Ascension Ritual (5)_2


    ¡°Come on, kill me, Child of the Devil.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, do you want revenge? To slay your mortal enemy?¡±


    Duke Brad spread his hands nonchalantly.


    Mezulash charged forward, swinging with all his might. The longsword, glowing with a scarlet hue, slashed toward the vampire¡¯s neck.


    The only sound was the sword slicing through flesh.


    Duke Brad did not dodge, allowing the longsword to cut deep into the flesh of his neck.


    ...


    Blood splattered instantly.


    It even sprayed onto Mezulash¡¯s face.


    However, Duke Brad merely gripped the blade tightly with his hand and pulled it out forcefully. As the blood-stained sword was drawn out, the wound on his neck healed at a visible speed, restoring to its original state.


    He toyed with the blood-stained sword in his hand.


    ¡°Good, try harder.¡±


    ¡°But this level of attack is not enough to kill me; after all, I am an undying existence.¡±


    A smile appeared on Duke Brad¡¯s face. He eagerly anticipated seeing that familiar, desperate, regretful, and fearful expression on Mezulash¡¯s face.


    Yet, Mezulash showed none of it.


    The previous rage seemed only a facade.


    The Tiefling¡¯s expression instead became calm. His pitch-black eyes stared at the vampire before him: ¡°Long ago, perhaps seven years, I started thinking about how to kill you.¡±


    ¡°You are powerful, almost without weakness.¡±


    ¡°But you are too arrogant, despising all mortals, even¡­ your enemies.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    The blood-stained sword flickered with a strong magical aura; it was a spell ingrained in the sword that Mezulash had searched all of Anzeta for years to find, one capable of controlling vampires¡ª


    [Ottu Dance]


    Due to the spell¡¯s influence, Duke Brad began to sway and dance in place, kicking his feet in a ridiculous manner.


    But Mezulash did not dare to relax in the slightest because he knew the mighty vampire before him could break free from the spell¡¯s restraint at any moment.


    ¡°Alger!¡±


    Mezulash shouted loudly.


    At this moment, the two former enemies joined forces to face this terrifying adversary.


    A loud eagle¡¯s cry echoed from the darkness as Alger, who had been lurking, revealed his presence for the first time.


    He descended rapidly, holding a wooden spear soaked in holy water.


    Alger¡¯s once-human eyes, now dragon-like and golden, burned with an endless fury, ready to unleash. The former Alger had long died; what remained was the claw of the evil dragons, the Red Scale Conqueror, born for revenge.


    He would slay the vampire who had wrought untold suffering.


    He would end all these tragedies.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The wooden spear pierced through the flesh with a sound, penetrating from the vampire¡¯s back and stabbing through the heart that should have ceased to beat but still held boundless evil power.


    The holy water on the wooden spear seared the vampire¡¯s chest, emitting a hissing sound.


    Brad Rackman was pinned to the ground by the wooden spear, his head lowered, blood flowing from the wound, and the Ottu Dance steps ceased abruptly.


    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡±


    ¡°Mezulash, is it over just like that?¡±


    Alger, riding his giant eagle, landed on the ground, still panting from the intense tension and excitement, breathing out sulfur-scented breaths.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it is far from over.¡±


    ¡°Listen.¡±


    Mezulash gazed at the seemingly dead vampire, his brows furrowed, and his voice heavy.


    Alger immediately became alert, pulling out his Everburning Greatsword, looking around warily for any threat.


    ¡°He is everywhere¡­¡±


    ¡°Let our blood boil within his body¡­¡±


    ¡°Let us embrace the great Ascension¡­¡±


    The chanting of the Vampire Variants continued, becoming increasingly mournful and tragic.


    The heavy chains still bound them, the blood light still connected them to Duke Brad, and even the evil array beneath them showed a peculiar sense of liveliness.


    Suddenly, a tall and hefty Vampire Variant on the stone pillar exploded, turning into filthy, viscous blood.


    In death, he was still murmuring: ¡°I will attain eternal life within his immortal body!¡±


    That was Traviv Rackman, the Duke¡¯s second son, famously obese, a symbol of gluttony.


    Following that, the blood foam flowed along the blood light into Brad Rackman¡¯s body, his previously gaunt body becoming tall and strong¡ªhe had absorbed Traviv Rackman¡¯s constitution.


    Finally, the worst fear of Mezulash and Alger was realized.


    He revived.


    Or rather, he had never died.


    The wooden spear quivered with Brad¡¯s body.


    A deep voice reverberated within the fortress.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡±


    ¡°Such immense strength.¡±


    ¡°Centuries of hibernation for this moment¡­¡±


    Duke Brad, who had appeared lifeless, began to stand up slowly, forcibly pulling out the wooden spear from his chest.


    And as he pulled, flesh rapidly filled the wound. By the time the wooden spear was completely removed, the hole in his chest had healed entirely.


    By then, having absorbed the Ascension Sacrifice, he had lost the vampire¡¯s weakness of ¡°Wooden Stake Heart Piercing,¡± becoming a truly undying monster.


    Duke Brad grinned, revealing a smile.


    ¡°Thank goodness, this power did not disappoint me.¡±


    As he said this, his body had already swollen to three meters tall, now looking down on Alger and Mezulash, his crimson eyes filled with greed.


    He sniffed the blood in the air, recognizing his former subordinate.


    ¡°Oh? It¡¯s you.¡±


    ¡°Alger Yorman, my once most trusted hound, I thought you had perished on Stormy Ridge. I intended to turn you into an undying existence, serving me for eternity. Unfortunately, you missed that wonderful opportunity.¡±


    ¡°But, you¡¯re just a dog. How dare you¡­ bite back at your master?¡±


    Alger¡¯s half-dragon, half-human face instantly twisted with rage, his golden eyes burning with fury.


    ¡°Brad Rackman, you destroyed everything I had.¡±


    ¡°I will kill you!¡±


    Duke Brad approached unhurriedly, his presence exuding intense oppression.


    ¡°You know?¡±


    ¡°Poor little thing, I wanted to tell you the truth before turning you. If only I could have seen your agony then¡­ I would have been utterly delighted.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Mezulash severed the attacking dark tendrils, shouting sharply: ¡°Don¡¯t let him provoke you, go destroy those Variants, or his power will only grow stronger!¡±


    Alger came to his senses, flipping onto the giant eagle.


    However, it was too late. A sensual Vampire Variant on the stone pillar exploded, becoming filthy, viscous blood.


    In dying moments, she moaned loudly: ¡°I will be satisfied in his eternal desire!¡±


    That was Lilannie Rackman, the Duke¡¯s second daughter, a symbol of lust.


    The blood foam once again flowed along the blood light into Brad Rackman¡¯s body. His crimson eyes flickered with seductive colors, now seeming like the embodiment of desire¡ªhe had absorbed Lilannie Rackman¡¯s charisma.


    Duke Brad gazed at Alger.


    ¡°Your struggle is amusing.¡±


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, be reborn as my eternal hound, Alger.¡±


    His crimson eyes glimmered with enchanting Magical Aura.


    [Domination of Humans]


    ¡°No!¡±


    Alger roared.


    He closed his eyes tightly, trying to resist the spell forcibly.


    Despite his strong will, he couldn¡¯t withstand the spell containing the sin of ¡°lust.¡± Alger once again became a puppet, even a marionette, of Duke Brad.


    ¡°Die!¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Alger¡¯s eyes turned vacant as he swung his Everburning Greatsword towards Mezulash.


    Unarmed, Mezulash could only dodge frantically. However, under Alger¡¯s skilled swordsmanship, he sustained numerous wounds, his expression growing increasingly grave.


    ¡°This cannot go on.¡±


    ¡°But, the master is about to descend.¡±


    He thought thus, while in his hand, he clutched a scarlet crystal stone that had long been shattered.

 Chapter 141 - 70 Ascension Ritual (6)

    Chapter 141: Chapter 70 Ascension Ritual (6)


    Duke Brad once again hovered in midair, a blood mist condensed into a crimson cloak, casting a shadow on the stone platform.


    ¡°Struggle, tremble!¡±


    ¡°You can never escape your destined fate.¡±


    Under the Duke¡¯s command, Alger launched a stormy assault on Mezulash.


    Countless rats and bats surged from the darkness, tireless. Shadows with tentacle-like limbs emerged from the ground, the air filled with chaotic blood mist.


    ¡°Damn vampires¡­¡±


    ...


    Mezulash casually picked up a longsword from the ground, repelling the attacking bats and rats with a blood-colored sword light. The Guardian Aurora around him flickered, blocking the tentacles and blood mist.


    Under Duke Brad¡¯s control, he couldn¡¯t even get close to those Derivatives, being forced near the passage, watching helplessly as the vampires prepared for another ascension absorption.


    Just when Mezulash was struggling to cope, there was someone sneaking around the edge of the battlefield.


    ¡ªIt was Mantou.


    Mantou huddled in a corner behind a stone pillar, his whole body smeared with Potion to isolate his aura, peeking at the fierce battle on the stone platform.


    ¡°This boss is too tough, even Xin Dog and War Maniac were taken out in an instant.¡±


    ¡°Now, it seems like it¡¯s just me left.¡±


    ¡°But from what Mezulash said, it looks like we need to take down those Derivatives, or else this monster will get even stronger?¡±


    Mantou scanned the vampire Derivatives bound to the stone pillars. He awkwardly looked away upon seeing the naked Countess, finally fixing his gaze on Swashbuckler, who was also stripped.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get Rogue Beast out of here.¡±


    Mantou stealthily approached, eyeing the blood-stained iron chains, grit his teeth, and swung an axe down.


    ¡°Clang.¡±


    The iron chain broke with a sound.


    Swashbuckler fell from the stone pillar.


    Due to being tightly bound by the chains, his body felt like a pile of mush, seemingly on the verge of death.


    However, Swashbuckler, with his fully vampiric constitution, had his bones emitting creaking sounds, flesh regenerating at a speed visible to the naked eye. He quickly recovered from a state of shattered bones and mangled flesh.


    Watching the outrageous regenerative ability, Mantou exclaimed, ¡°Wow, what the hell is this?¡±


    ¡°How can you auto-heal so fast?¡±


    Swashbuckler proudly said, ¡°The Vampire¡¯s [Undying Essence], as long as my weak points aren¡¯t hit, I can auto-heal. Even if my head gets chopped off, I can grow it back!¡±


    Mantou exclaimed again, ¡°That¡¯s amazing?¡±


    Remembering something, he patted Swashbuckler¡¯s shoulder meaningfully, ¡°Brother Lang, take care. The price of fate¡¯s gifts has already been marked in the dark since you chose to sell yourself¡­¡±


    ¡°You, how did you know¡­¡±


    Swashbuckler¡¯s voice trembled, his expression contorted in rage and shame upon hearing Mantou¡¯s words.


    His entire reputation¡­ ruined.


    As they conversed, Duke Brad in the air sensed something unusual. One of the vampire Derivatives, the symbol of ¡°Envy,¡± was missing!


    With the Duke¡¯s wrath, the entire underground world seemed to tremble, echoing with wails.


    ¡°Mortals, you seek your own doom!¡±


    ¡°How dare you hinder the grand Ascension!¡±


    In an instant, countless shadowy tentacles rose from the ground, the blood mist boiled like tidewater, and thousands of bats and rats swarmed toward them.


    Mantou, trembling at the overwhelming attack, said, ¡°Brother Lang, I think we¡¯re done for this time.¡±


    ¡°Brother Lang?¡±


    He turned, only to find that Swashbuckler had already turned into a thin mist and fled.


    This was the Vampire¡¯s [Mist Escape] ability, a means for the weak Swashbuckler to escape, unlike the vast blood mist Duke Brad had accumulated over centuries.


    ¡°Rogue Beast, you damn¡ª¡± Mantou was swallowed by Duke¡¯s furious attack, wanting to cry without tears, only able to watch himself black out.


    Even though he risked his life to rescue Swashbuckler, the guy ran off at the first sign of danger, truly living up to the name of a virtual game scoundrel.


    The Duke felt the new blood, his crimson eyes fixed on the distant thin mist.


    ¡°I will catch you, Rebellion.¡±


    ¡°This game of cat and mouse ends here.¡±


    Duke Brad raised his right hand, blood continuously surged on the stone platform, eventually forming a tumultuous blood sea, spreading. This blood sea could take away the life of anyone who touched it.


    The blood sea surged toward Mezulash. This time, he had no escape and had to flee to the entrance passage, with the space to stand growing increasingly smaller.


    ¡°Rebellion, come back to me!¡±


    ¡°You are part of the grand Ascension!¡±


    Duke Brad, personally maneuvering the blood mist tornado, summoned countless bats and rats to chase the thin mist form of Swashbuckler.


    The Duke could once easily control Swashbuckler, but now Swashbuckler had fully assimilated the Vampire template¡¯s abilities. With no magical chains and no connection to the Vampire host Derivative, he was hard to capture again as a thin mist.


    Though Swashbuckler¡¯s vampiric strength was weak, his escape capability was more than sufficient, matching the shady creeping attributes of his Vampire template abilities.


    The thin mist darted around the bunker, hiding and dodging, weaving back and forth. If the Duke had a beating heart, his blood pressure would likely be through the roof.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    At that moment, space within the bunker rippled, then gradually distorted and cracked. Finally, a flame portal appeared out of thin air.


    A black-haired, golden-eyed dragon vein sorcerer emerged from the portal.


    This time, he had no need to conceal his identity. Red scales appeared on his cheeks, bone dragon horns on his head, and his golden pupils radiated authority.


    With his arrival, the entire underground air seemed to turn hot and restless.


    ¡°It seems I¡¯m a bit late?¡±


    Cassius immediately noticed the blood-mist-enshrouded Vampire Duke in the distance.


    [Based on your strength, you can observe the following information]


    [Bloody Duke Brad Rackman]


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: 15 (13000 xp)


    Assessment: Brad Rackman, he was not always named this, possibly Triel or Nax; this secret long ago faded into darkness.


    Two hundred years ago, he returned from the battlefield, witnessing his wife¡¯s death, thus realizing the fragility of mortal life. He began pursuing immortality. Two hundred years later, the awakened vampire from endless nights craved the life he had lost, filling his hunger with the blood of the living.


    ¡°Challenge level fifteen¡­¡±


    ¡°In this form, I probably can¡¯t beat him.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius furrowed his brow. In his human form, he was roughly equivalent to a Level Eleven dragon vein sorcerer, a significant gap from the old vampire¡¯s strength.


    ¡°Time to revert to my true form.¡±

 Chapter 142 - 73 Ascension Ritual (7)

    Chapter 142: Chapter 73 Ascension Ritual (7)


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Tiny fragments of magical aura flickered on the Dragon Vein Sorcerer, and his body expanded rapidly.


    White smoke instantly spread all around him, the scent of sulfur and niter overpowering the heavy stench of blood, making it feel like being at a volcano¡¯s crater. As the smoke dispersed, an eighteen-meter-long red dragon abruptly appeared in the underground world.


    Duke Brad stopped chasing the swashbuckler and looked at the red dragon, his scarlet eyes filled with rage.


    ¡°It was you after all.¡±


    ¡°Damn reptile¡­¡±


    ...


    ¡°Why, why do you keep getting in my way again and again!¡±


    For the first time, the Vampire Duke set aside his pride and became serious. After all, the enemy before him was a genuine giant dragon!


    In the Prime Material Plane, no one dared to take a giant dragon lightly, let alone one that was known as Tiamat¡¯s favorite, the leader of the five-colored evil dragons.


    Cassius remained silent and simply spat out a breath of flame.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Scorching flames surged toward the vampire.


    Duke Brad twisted and turned like an agile bat in the air, dodging the attack.


    Under his control, Alger rushed toward the red dragon, his eyes lifeless as he roared and swung his everburning greatsword at his master at that moment.


    ¡°Domination of Humans?¡±


    Cassius immediately recognized the spell.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The red dragon let out a low growl, and an invisible aura of majesty emanated from his enormous body, causing even Alger¡¯s body and soul to tremble from the suppression of bloodline.


    [Leader¡¯s Aura]


    In an instant, clarity returned to Alger¡¯s eyes.


    Cassius paid no attention to the still somewhat disoriented Alger. Instead, he flapped his wings and charged forward with an unstoppable momentum, letting out a heart-stopping dragon¡¯s roar.


    ¡°Damn reptile.¡±


    Watching the approaching red dragon, Duke Brad gritted his teeth, uncontrollable fury burning in his scarlet eyes.


    ¡°I will make you understand what death is!¡±


    For centuries, no one had obstructed him like this. He had prepared for this ascension for two centuries.


    Duke Brad raised his arms with all his might. Darkness seemed to wail, and countless necrotic shadow tendrils rose from the ground. The sky filled with a scarlet mist, and thousands of bats gathered like roiling black clouds, charging forward one after another, followed by a surging sea of blood.


    The vampire¡¯s accumulated strength of a century exploded, turning everything in sight into a blood sea in hell.


    At this moment, he was the monarch here!


    However, the red dragon¡¯s scales suddenly turned into dazzling gold and red. Energy shards floated around his dragon body like thousands of tiny satellites. Lightning flickered and crackled around his dragon form.


    As the red dragon charged into the tide of blood mist, shadows and bats, blinding light erupted and dispersed the incoming darkness.


    Clusters of bats fell from the sky, charred by the leaping lightning. Shadows were effortlessly dispelled by the energy shards, and the blood mist evaporated before it even got close.


    ¡°I have never deliberately obstructed you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ you¡¯re in my way, old bat.¡±


    The red dragon spat out a sea of flames, burning everything in his path toward the vampire.


    ¡°Even a giant dragon will meet its end!¡±


    ¡°But I am the eternal monarch!¡±


    Duke Brad¡¯s pale face twisted even more horribly. Absorbing the power of original sin had also skewed his character.


    ¡°You should worship me!¡±


    The overwhelming sea of blood surged like a gigantic crimson curtain, blocking the approaching flames. The blood sea¡¯s wave rolled, rushing toward the red dragon.


    ¡°Only tricks to scare mortals.¡±


    ¡°What gives you the confidence to use such inferior methods to attack a giant dragon?¡±


    Cassius charged into the blood sea without hesitation.


    He slightly opened his jaws, powerful vessels transporting flame energy from his entire body to his lungs. The scorching fire elements accumulated in his lungs and throat, his chest glowing like magma, with the gaps in his scales reflecting the faint light of fire.


    The smell of sulfur and niter grew even stronger. His enormous dragon body was like a volcano about to erupt.


    [Extremely Effective Flame Breath]


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A blinding white-hot pillar of fire spewed from the red dragon¡¯s mouth, instantly piercing through the blood sea in front of him.


    With a sizzling sound, the flames vaporized the thick blood before it even got close. In an instant, the fierce fire burned everything, and the air was filled with the dispersing blood mist.


    Cassius slightly tilted his head, directing the pillar of fire toward the vampire.


    For the first time, a hint of panic flickered in Duke Brad¡¯s scarlet eyes.


    Such terrifying flames, if taken head-on, could cause great harm to a vampire, even one possessing an undying essence. It wouldn¡¯t be easy to recover.


    But Duke Brad still grinned ferociously, shouting madly, ¡°Useless, reptile.¡±


    ¡°I am everywhere. I am the undying existence!¡±


    Suddenly, the vampire turned into a cloud of blood mist, merging himself into the rolling blood sea, making it impossible for Cassius to target his true form.


    ¡°Annoying creature.¡±


    ¡°Since you¡¯re so good at running, don¡¯t blame me for killing your entire family.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    He didn¡¯t hesitate to turn his head, starting to attack the naked vampire variants tied helplessly to stone pillars.


    In an instant, the vampire variants bound to the stone pillars were engulfed by the white-hot flames. When the flames receded, only the molten rock, exuding dense steam and oozing red magma, was left. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even the iron chains wrapped around the vampires melted into glowing molten iron, slowly flowing.


    Once again, it was proven that the ¡°undying¡± nature of vampire variants was not as absolute as they boasted; it had clear limitations.


    The Duke¡¯s second son, the symbol of wrath, Atley Rackman, perished completely.


    He was a powerful berserker meant to provide ¡°strength¡± for Duke Brad¡¯s ascension, but now he didn¡¯t even have time to scream or struggle before being reduced to ashes in the extreme flames.


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°My, my child¡­¡±


    Duke Brad reformed into a human shape in mid-air, letting out a sorrowful wail, nearly losing his sanity.


    After years of self-hypnosis, Duke Brad genuinely ¡°loved¡± these children. This love meant that only by fully absorbing these variants could their lives be completely fulfilled, leaving no regrets.


    Atley¡¯s demise.


    Also meant his ascension had failed.


    Seeing the red dragon turn his head again, about to destroy the symbol of arrogance, his most beloved daughter, Alexia, with flames¡ª¡ª


    Duke Brad could no longer bear it, his scarlet eyes filled with boundless fury as he commanded the endless blood mist to assault the red dragon from the sky.


    ¡°Reptile, I want you dead!¡±

 Chapter 143 - 71 Ascension Ritual (8)

    Chapter 143: Chapter 71 Ascension Ritual (8)


    However, Duke Brad¡¯s intervention had no effect, and the raging flames mercilessly engulfed the vampire variant on the stone pillar.


    The Duke¡¯s eldest daughter, the symbol of arrogance, Alexia, perished.


    She was the oldest, noblest, and most powerful of the vampire variants, the perfect embodiment of arrogance. Duke Brad had countless times fantasized about absorbing her, imagining how intoxicating that power would be.


    But, alas, she was gone now.


    ¡°Let it end, all of this.¡±


    The air was twisted by the scorching flames, white smoke filled the surroundings.


    ...


    Cassius, still unsatiated, closed his mouth and glanced at the almost deranged vampire descending from the sky.


    ¡°No, Alexia, my only treasure¡­¡±


    ¡°Die¡ª¡ª¡±


    Duke Brad¡¯s roar grew sharper and sharper, eventually turning into a piercing wail. His body suddenly expanded to nearly five meters, his pupils turned a deep black-red, his skin changed rapidly from pale to a near-gray hue, his fingers transformed into sharp claws, and a giant bat wing unfolded behind him¡ªan undying monster, the incomplete form of an ascending vampire.


    In this moment, Duke Brad lost all previous nobility, naked like a beast, his bare chest showing an eerie black tattoo.


    The vampire turned into a blurred shadow wandering the sky, countless shadowy tentacles emerging from his body, and a mist of dark green necrosis spreading around him.


    [Wither Spell]


    The necromantic energy would drain all water and vitality from living beings, turning them into blood food.


    Cassius used Act Before the Enemy, his pupils flashing with purple magical aurora, observing and predicting that monster¡¯s ghostly flight path.


    ¡°I see you.¡±


    Just as the shadow enveloped in mist approached.


    [Spell Nullification Barrier]


    A barrier of fine, fragmented light surrounded Cassius, calming the agitated Magic Web and dispersing the Wither Spell, revealing the vampire¡¯s hideous form without the mist¡¯s cover.


    The Red Dragon reached out its giant claw, grabbing the airborne, unprepared vampire, dragging him to the ground before slamming him down like swatting a pesky fly.


    The vampire tried to resist, attempting to break free from the shackles, but under the Red Dragon¡¯s overwhelming strength, all struggles were futile.


    Instantly, rocks shattered, and the vampire was crushed deep into the ground, nearly flattened into a meat patty.


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    The vampire let out a heartbreaking howl, trying to turn into a blood mist and escape, but the Spell Nullification Barrier made the surrounding Magic Web as solid as rock, completely nullifying any spell abilities.


    Despite being pinned under the Red Dragon¡¯s claw, with his entire body crushed and bones broken, piercing through skin, this vampire with the ¡°Gluttony¡± sin kept regenerating at an astonishing speed visible to the naked eye.


    The surrounding blood surged towards him.


    As long as the tens of thousands of lives he had accumulated over two centuries were not exhausted, he could resurrect again and again; no one could kill him.


    Fresh flesh and bones constantly regrew, restoring the vampire¡¯s disfigured, shapeless body, only to be crushed again and again in a repeating cycle.


    Even when his body was mangled like a rag, the vampire still laughed wildly; ¡°You can¡¯t kill me, worm! I am immortal!


    ¡°We can play this game forever.¡±


    ¡°Until you die!¡±


    Cassius looked down at him.


    ¡°A pathetic wretch clinging to life¡­¡±


    A cruel, violent smile, unnoticed by himself, formed at the corner of Cassius¡¯s mouth, akin to the rage of any Red Dragon.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll make you understand what ¡®eternal death¡¯s reality¡¯ truly is.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s forelimb exerted force suddenly, muscles bulging, veins popping, even emitting white smoke.


    This was the purest physical strength, the essence of the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a dull thud, the stone platform¡¯s ground collapsed violently.


    ¡°Useless¡­¡±


    The vampire¡¯s words were cut off as he was crushed into a meat patty once more, blood and gray matter splattered as bones shattered, forming a blood-stained pit on the ground. The vampire lost consciousness; even for him, such injuries would take a few seconds to recover from.


    It was at this moment that Cassius dispelled the Spell Nullification Barrier.


    His chest once again took on a lava-like texture, and his throat glowed with a dazzling white light.


    [Extremely Effective Flame Breath]


    A pillar of fire engulfed the vampire¡¯s hideous body.


    Yet Cassius did not stop.


    The scorching, terrifying white flames continued to burn, gradually melting the ground. The rocks in the pit turned into sluggish, fiery red magma, like freshly smelted molten steel, sizzling as they enveloped the vampire¡¯s body.


    During this time, the vampire regained a moment of awareness, realizing the Spell Nullification Barrier was lifted.


    Trying to turn into blood mist within the magma only intensified his burning, extending the time for his next regeneration.


    Realizing this, the high-temperature magma seared his skin immediately, melting his flesh shortly after.


    But in the process, new flesh grew, then was charred once more¡­


    ¡°Such resilient immortality.¡±


    Even Cassius had to admire the vampire¡¯s dreadful regeneration after absorbing the ¡°Gluttony¡± sin. The simultaneous destruction by the magma and regeneration produced layers of charred shells outside his body.


    The vampire writhing struggled in the magma pit.


    ¡°Pain¡­¡±


    ¡°So¡­much pain¡­¡±


    A suppressed voice came from the bottom of the magma.


    ¡°I¡­curse you¡­¡±


    ¡°I will¡­offer everything¡­to kill you.¡±


    Cassius felt a strong mana fluctuation from the bottom of the magma, his heart instantly alarmed.


    ¡°Does he still have a trump card?¡±


    The Red Dragon quickly clawed at the vampire from the magma, effortlessly pulling him out.


    The vampire¡¯s condition was particularly miserable, his face burned beyond recognition, covered in charred marks, magma slowly dripping from his body, but the mysterious tattoo on his chest glowed intensely, as if to devour all light.


    Brad Rackman stared directly at the Red Dragon, a twisted smile forming on his horribly burned face.


    ¡°I¡¯m about to die.¡±


    ¡°But you¡­will die too.¡±


    ¡°You all will die.¡±


    The vampire¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, mouth agape, his eyes, mouth, nostrils, and every crack in his body emitting a dark glow.


    His body exploded into a dense black fog of evil.


    This time, he did not condense again.


    Instead, he slowly ascended, surging towards a certain direction.


    [You have killed (Bloody Duke Brad Rackman), gaining 13000 xp]


    This vampire, who had hibernated in the North, controlling the Rackman Duchy for two hundred years, finally perished. Cassius gained enormous experience, but there was no joy of victory in his heart, only unease.


    ¡°Such a fluctuation¡­


    ¡°Damn it, what did he do?¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s golden pupils flickered in the darkness as he stared intently at the black fog, flapping his wings to chase after it. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 144 - 72 Voice of the Night (I)

    Chapter 144: Chapter 72 Voice of the Night (I)


    Cassius followed the black mist as it flew through the castle.


    He saw the array in the iron cage flickering, countless blood slaves howling as they exploded, turning into ghostly black mist, rushing in a certain direction. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°These blood slaves have all been sacrificed¡­¡±


    ¡°Their destination is probably the outside world.¡±


    Thinking of this, Cassius stopped chasing and instead flapped his wings to fly upwards, his massive dragon body crashing through walls and ceilings made of stone, rampaging through the fortress.


    Quickly, with the continuous collapse of the buildings behind him, Cassius swiftly reached the outside.


    ...


    However, the scene before his eyes had changed drastically from before.


    There was neither a bright moon nor a starry sky in the outside world at this moment.


    It was a night without light.


    The sky overhead was shrouded in heavy shadow, resembling a deep black canopy.


    The surrounding colors were tainted by the environment, dim as the universe, filled with monotonous black and white, while tall black mountains appeared in the distance.


    Over the Twilight Forest, countless clumps of shadowy material gathered together, forming a continuously rotating black mist vortex.


    Cassius gazed at the black sky and murmured:


    ¡°This is a projection of the Nether Shadow Realm¡­¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s that old bat who breached the barrier between the Shadow Realm and the Prime Material World.¡±


    The Nether Shadow Realm, also called the Shadow Plane, was a dim layer connected and coexisting with the Prime Material World, a realm of darkness and power, sinister in nature, a desolate borderland of the unknown.


    It was filled with amorphous, mist-like shadow creatures, empty and desolate, devoid of any life.


    The black mist assembly in the sky was evidently an otherworldly vortex connecting the Shadow Realm and the Prime Material World, set to summon the unknown shadowy creatures from there.


    ¡°No, I must stop him.¡±


    At this moment, Cassius finally understood the vampire¡¯s dying curse, ¡°You will all die.¡±


    Once the shadow curse from the Nether Shadow Realm invaded, the whole Northwind Castle would turn into a dead city filled with shadow creatures, assimilated by the endless, all-devouring darkness, and he himself might even be transformed into an undying shadow red dragon.


    Enveloped in a faint light barrier, Cassius forced his way into the vortex, attempting to halt the breaching of the planar barrier by the black mist vortex.


    [Spell Nullification Barrier]


    However, it had no effect; the level of this otherworldly vortex was clearly far beyond the fifth tier. Even the usually unfailing Spell Nullification Barrier could not handle such a complex, high-tier space distortion, only smoothing out the most superficial fluctuations.


    The red dragon opened its mouth, spewing out a scorching Flame Breath.


    The blazing flames immediately set those shadow creatures ablaze, producing a series of shrill wails.


    But its scale was already too vast, thousands of shadows forming a giant vortex nearly a hundred meters in diameter in the sky, and even if the red dragon exhausted its dragonflame, it couldn¡¯t easily burn it to ashes.


    ¡°Such a degree of Magic Web fluctuation.¡±


    ¡°Such a scale¡­¡±


    ¡°What on earth did that old bat summon?¡±


    A chill rose from the depths of Cassius¡¯s heart. The entity coming to the Prime Material Plane through this otherworldly vortex was likely not something he could contend with!


    Thinking of this, he spared no effort, throwing Fireball Technique, Fire Wall Spell, Lightning Bolt, and other area-damage spells into the vortex recklessly.


    Flames, lightning, and radiance intertwined and crisscrossed within the vortex, yet they could not stop the black mist from continuously gathering, swelling madly, and obscuring the sky.


    ¡°I can¡¯t drag this out any longer.¡±


    Cassius thought.


    A terrifying pressure emanated from the vortex, making even Cassius feel a tremor throughout his body.


    As a naturally powerful red dragon, Cassius rarely felt this kind of instinctive oppression, but now he felt it, and it was strong!


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Accompanied by a deep roar, a dragon projection wrapped in black mist floated out from the vortex, becoming visibly more solid.


    The powerful existence in the Nether Shadow Realm, truly descending into the Prime Material Plane, required some time.


    Its enormous body, over twenty meters long, was covered in lusterless black scales, hued like embers, with wings devoid of wing membranes, instead appearing to be made of a spirit-like translucent material.


    Most terrifying were its eyes, pools of utterly dim gray-white with no pupils or lenses, like the Abyssal depths aiming to swallow one¡¯s soul.


    At this moment, those gray-white eyes were fixed on Cassius, accompanied by a hoarse voice.


    ¡°So it¡¯s a former kin?¡±


    ¡°A young red dragon? No wonder. I was wondering who could drive my poor contractor to such desperation.¡±


    ¡°However, I should thank you.¡±


    The giant dragon, or rather the shadow dragon, licked its lips expectantly, black mist-like dragon saliva dripping.


    ¡°Soon, I¡¯ll be back in the Prime Material World again, and this feeling¡­ is really nice.¡±


    Cassius flapped his wings with all his might, barely managing to hover in midair, facing the far larger and more terrifying shadow dragon apparition.


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information]


    [Voice of the Night, Motifel]


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: 21 (33000xp)


    Assessment: Motifel arrived at the Nether Shadow Realm seven hundred years ago and has resided there since. He enjoys its bleakness and desolation, cursing all light and life venomously, eager to spread its darkness and evil outward.


    He often transforms into a mage calling himself the ¡°Voice of the Night,¡± signing contracts with traps hidden within with humanoids, leading them toward their downfall, ultimately turning villages, even towns, into desolate places filled with shadowy specters, greedily siphoning their strength.


    ¡°Legendary¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯s expression changed drastically.


    A Challenge Level of 21, undoubtedly a Legendary Level being.


    And due to the unique nature of dragons, its actual strength would only be higher than the paper stats indicated.


    In other words, this was an existence that a whole legendary adventurer squad could barely contend with! Enough to trigger a planar-level disaster!


    Since Cassius arrived at Erezer Gate, he had never encountered such a powerful opponent.


    Voice of the Night, Motifel, was a name Cassius had heard of in his previous life, from the 4.0 [Planar Expedition] version, rumored to be the final boss of the high-difficulty side dungeon [Dragon Shadow City] in the Gloomy Region.


    But Cassius never thought he¡¯d encounter such a formidable enemy now. In his view, the Anzeta Great Wilderness was just a barren and remote area, not worth the attention of significant figures.


    However, his estimation was incorrect.


    Evidently, this shadow dragon was very interested in spreading darkness and death across the Anzeta Great Wilderness, transforming it into a dead land.


    Duke Brad vanished without a trace after his Ascension Ritual was destroyed in an explosion in the previous life, likely meeting a cruel fate at the hands of this shadow dragon.


    ¡°I must not let him truly descend into the Prime Material World!¡±


    This was Cassius¡¯s only thought at this moment.

 Chapter 145 - 74 Voice of the Night (II)

    Chapter 145: Chapter 74 Voice of the Night (II)


    Cassius surveyed his surroundings with a grave expression. The scenery grew increasingly dark, transitioning into the Nether Shadow Realm¡ªthe surroundings were deep black and silent, filled with monotonous black and white. The trees¡¯ withered branches twisted grotesquely, the sky was shrouded in endless shadows like a black dome, and the distant mountains remained a vague black silhouette.


    A terrifying thought suddenly arose in the Red Dragon¡¯s heart.


    The space of this entire region was distorted!


    In other words, this limited area of the Twilight Forest was inescapable.


    All living beings were trapped here!


    Cassius gazed at the giant dragon¡¯s projection in the air and said, ¡°Shadow Dragon, you have cursed this forest.¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    ¡°You are correct. This is my Shadow Domain. My unfortunate contractor consumed a thousand lives to allow me to use this power in the Prime Material World, creating this insignificant place to facilitate my arrival in the Material Plane.¡±


    ¡°Look at it¡­¡±


    ¡°Silent, tranquil, dark, and profound, free from the noisy riffraff of the Prime Material World. What a beautiful scenery, truly captivating.¡±


    ¡°If only we could hear the wails of the Undead Shadows, it would be even more splendid.¡±


    Mortifael squinted his eyes and slowly flapped his wings, his expression relaxed, as if genuinely appreciating the unique beauty of the darkness, even though he had not yet fully transformed and his true form remained in the Nether Shadow Realm.


    The atmosphere seemed to lack hostility, but this did not ease Cassius¡¯s tension in the slightest; he felt terrified.


    ¡ªThis only indicated the Shadow Dragon¡¯s absolute confidence.


    ¡°Voice of the Night, was it you who offered Brad Rackman that so-called ascension?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, mortal perceptions are always so short-sighted. Even when transformed into so-called vampires, it¡¯s no different. But you are different, my former kin. However¡­ I did not deceive him. For beings of such low caliber, ascension was indeed a decent path. He just failed himself, so he had to be converted into my nourishment per the contract.¡±


    ¡°Despicable creature.¡±


    Mortifael opened his eyes, his gray-white pupils staring straight at Cassius, as if to devour him.


    ¡°Red Dragon, we have plenty of time to reminisce. But I promised my contractor that I would take your life. I always keep my promises, and this time is no exception.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear kin. That¡¯s just a literal meaning. When I truly descend to the Material Plane, you will indeed lose your life, but you will continue to exist in a more magnificent form.¡±


    His words were gentle, like those of a polite scholar, but they sent a chill deep into Cassius¡¯s soul¡ªit was the infinite hatred towards the living.


    ¡°I prefer the most tranquil darkness.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ do not resist, do not make noise, just quietly await my arrival.¡±


    ¡°Okay?¡±


    Mortifael¡¯s phantom grinned, a sinister smile spreading as thick black mist slowly seeped from the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°Shadow Dragon, you¡¯re delusional!¡±


    ¡°I will turn you to ashes!¡±


    The Red Dragon roared and breathed mighty flames at the transforming, defenseless projection.


    However, the flames, hot enough to melt rock, passed straight through Mortifael¡¯s massive phantom without causing any harm.


    ¡°Has no one ever told you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Never try to attack a shadow.¡±


    Mortifael¡¯s phantom bathed in the flames nonchalantly, chuckling mockingly.


    Though the flames pierced his form, the projection continued to solidify, entirely unaffected by the blaze.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t work¡­ does it?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s scaled brow furrowed slightly as he muttered to himself.


    The Red Dragon had anticipated his proud Supreme Flame Breath to be ineffective.


    ¡°How about this, then?¡±


    Surrounded by flickering lightning, the Red Dragon charged into Mortifael¡¯s phantom.


    It was the Remnant of the Storm!


    But as expected, Cassius¡¯s dragon body passed straight through, with the lightning having no effect, merely continuing to dance around the Red Dragon.


    This attack instead made the Red Dragon¡¯s body feel cold, as if falling into an icy cave, sensing his vitality siphoned by the phantom composed of shadows.


    ¡°So this is a shadow creature?¡±


    ¡°Flames, physical attacks, lightning don¡¯t work, then¡­ how about a force field?¡±


    [Magic Missile]


    Orbs containing force field energy struck.


    These low-grade Magic Missiles, even usable by mage apprentices, didn¡¯t pass through but hit the phantom, causing minor damage.


    But this was a drop in the ocean, far from stopping the Shadow Dragon¡¯s transformation and descent.


    The panel refreshed with information.


    [Living Shadow]


    [In dim or dark environments, Shadow Dragons are immune to all damage except for force fields, mind, and radiance.]


    Cassius was horrified by such a trait!


    This meant once the Shadow Dragon descended, almost all his techniques would be ineffective!


    ¡°In a dim or dark environment¡­¡±


    Cassius looked up at the lightless sky, the obscured moon. He doubted he could create light in this domain of myriad shadows. His only Light Spell cantrip was a joke in the Shadow Domain.


    All living things would weaken here, all spells suppressed. Only the night and shadows would prevail.


    This was the world of shadows, Mortifael¡¯s absolute domain.


    When he fully descended¡ª


    Wherever shadows existed, there the Shadow Dragon¡¯s body would be.


    ¡°Do not struggle; I will hold a grand funeral for you.¡±


    ¡°To mourn the death of a True Dragon and celebrate the birth of a great, immortal Shadow Red Dragon.¡±


    The Shadow Dragon raised his head and roared.


    The sound seemed to come from eternal darkness, mingling the wails of tens of thousands of Undead Shadows, echoing the Shadow Dragon¡¯s boundless hatred for light and life, and endless greed.


    This was the exclusive Ninth Tier Spell of the Shadow Dragon.


    ¡ª[Mortifael¡¯s Shadow Descending Spell]


    His phantom solidified further, and the pitch-black dome in the sky began to descend slowly.


    Distant shadowy mountains drew nearer, enclosing the area around the Red Dragon like a cage, shrinking.


    The countless shadow creatures in the Twilight Forest wailed and surged like a tide, even displaying the black mist that was once Duke Brad.


    ¡°What a fearsome power¡­¡±


    ¡°Will I truly be trapped here, awaiting the Shadow Dragon¡¯s descent?¡±


    Cassius flapped his wings, gazing at the slowly descending black dome. Feeling the growing pressure, his anxiety surged.

 Chapter 146 - 75 Voice of the Night (III)

    Chapter 146: Chapter 75 Voice of the Night (III)


    At this critical moment, a strange light suddenly flickered in Cassius¡¯s golden pupils.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°It seems¡­ there is another way.¡±


    Even if it was a living shadow, even if separated by different planes, the shadow dragon could not be immune to psychic attacks. This was the only means by which Cassius could affect it.


    Thinking of this, Cassius shouted without hesitation:


    ¡°Despicable shadow dragon!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Her Majesty Tiamat is watching all this!¡±


    Mortifael laughed openly: ¡°The Dragon Queen¡¯s darling? Every red dragon claims so. It seems arrogance and conceit are universal traits of red dragons. Even you¡­ are no exception.¡±


    His voice suddenly turned cold.


    ¡°Put down your pathetic pride of the living, accept the great transformation, and throw yourself into the endless shadows!¡±


    ¡°I will grant you¡­ eternal life.¡±


    Mortifael did not stop the transformation for a moment.


    The surrounding space emitted a violent rumbling sound, the wailing of the plane space trembling, and the Prime Material World¡¯s instincts fiercely rejected the invasion of the shadows. But under Mortifael¡¯s powerful spell, even the rules of space had to temporarily give way.


    Cassius stared intently at the shadow dragon¡¯s phantom, instantly unlocking the psychic barriers in his mind and constructing the horrifying illusion of that five-headed dragon.


    He did not avoid Mortifael¡¯s gray eyes, the golden pupils flashing with intense magical aurora.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The illusion pierced through the plane¡¯s barrier, traversed the Prime Material Plane, and reached Mortifael¡¯s true form located in the Nether Shadow Realm.


    [Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion]


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    In Mortifael¡¯s eyes, a colossal dragon nearly a hundred meters tall suddenly appeared. The monster¡¯s wings blotted out the sky; even the shadow dragon could only look up at it in awe.


    It was a nightmare amalgamation, the thick and short legs of a colored giant dragon supporting its monstrous body. The dragon¡¯s body writhed with five necks and five heads, each head corresponding to a different colored dragon, and each head¡¯s color covered the corresponding neck, embedded in the front of the dragon¡¯s torso like bands.


    Her back and hindquarters gradually merged into three stripes of gray, blue-green, and purple, then converged into a murky dark brown tail. Her abdomen and legs transitioned from light green to the color of her upper body.


    This terrifying image was all too familiar to Mortifael.


    ¡ªThat was the Mother of Evil Dragons, the Five-Colored Dragon Queen, the enemy of the gods, Tiamat!


    ¡°How is this possible¡­¡±


    Mortifael looked up in a daze, muttering to himself.


    Seven hundred years ago, when he was just an ordinary black dragon, Mortifael built a makeshift altar in his dark swamp nest, offering his precious iron coins to the Dragon Queen. As a member of the five-colored evil dragons, Mortifael had countless times fantasized about gaining the Dragon Queen¡¯s gaze, or even the personal favor of the Mother of Evil Dragons, experiencing supreme pleasure.


    But the Dragon Queen never responded.


    At that time, he was just a scrawny black dragon, his status among the five-colored dragons only slightly higher than that of a white dragon.


    Ultimately, he couldn¡¯t resist the allure of power and chose to embrace the Nether Shadow Realm, transforming into an undying shadow dragon.


    At this moment, Mortifael trembled all over.


    It was unclear whether it was from fear or excitement.


    The five-colored, five-headed dragon coldly gazed down at the earth, with fire, ice, acid, lightning, and poison gas spewing from the mouths of those five ferocious heads, wantonly unleashing her fury.


    ¡°No, no, this can¡¯t be real!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, this is an illusion!¡±


    Mortifael, after studying spells for a thousand years and able to cast ninth-tier spells as a legendary spellcaster, even in his unsettled state, still saw through the intricacies within the Dragon Queen¡¯s illusion.


    The multi-layered illusory damage of fire, ice, and acid hitting his body, the power of the sixth-tier spell was insignificant to his soul, steeped in desolate darkness for a thousand years.


    But another worry arose in Mortifael¡¯s mind.


    ¡°An ordinary young red dragon, even a True Dragon Sorcerer, how could he know such a spell?¡±


    ¡°An illusion of this quality depicting a deity¡ªcould he truly be one of Her Majesty the Dragon Queen¡¯s chosen?¡±


    Mortifael¡¯s concern was not without reason.


    Shadow dragons were infamous among dragonkin, considered public enemies by the dragon race.


    They abandoned the noble bloodline of giant dragons, chose to embrace darkness, becoming despicable shadow creatures. Moreover, no dragon god emerged among them, and even the five-colored evil dragons scoffed at them.


    Gold dragons with a sense of justice would even actively seek out shadow dragons, gathering their kin to eradicate them completely, to remove this ¡°shame¡± from the dragonkin.


    And killing one who might be a chosen of the Dragon Queen, inciting the enmity of the five-colored dragons, was clearly not a good idea for him.


    ¡°Damn red dragon¡­¡±


    Mortifael was conflicted, his construction of the summoning spell stalled.


    He did not want to provoke a deity-level existence, but being deceived by the illusion filled him with a vast humiliation he had not felt in a thousand years, making him want to tear the red dragon in front of him apart.


    ¡°Are you really one of those chosen¡­¡±


    ¡°Red dragon.¡±


    Mortiel¡¯s phantom gazed down at the red dragon, squinting slightly, seemingly trying to find a clue in his expression.


    Cassius noticed Mortifael¡¯s hesitation. He knew that at this moment, he had to appear more confident, more arrogant, more like an exalted chosen one of a deity to deceive this millennia-old monster.


    So, Cassius stepped forward, fearlessly meeting Mortiel¡¯s phantom¡¯s gaze, arrogantly saying, ¡°Despicable shadow creature defiling the noble traditions of dragonkin, you better think carefully.¡±


    ¡°Can you endure the wrath of Her Majesty Tiamat!¡±


    Hearing this, Mortifael¡¯s dim gray eyes filled with uncontrollable anger, as if burning with ghostly shadow flames. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Damn red dragon.¡±


    ¡°Damn Prime Material World.¡±


    This moment of hesitation allowed the repulsive force of the plane to act on the shadow dragon incompatible with the material plane, shattering his attempt to invade the Prime Material World.


    This time, he had already harvested thousands of shadow souls; centuries of planning had not been in vain. He didn¡¯t need to provoke a potential divine-level enemy further.


    Thinking of this, Mortifael stared deeply at the red dragon, his dull gray eyes showing a trace of venom.


    ¡°The plane¡¯s barrier has been breached by those thousands of resentful spirits.¡±


    ¡°This place has already been marked by the Nether Shadow Realm.¡±


    ¡°Someday, I will return here, and you will not be able to protect all that you possess.¡±


    Mortifael said coldly.


    Several distorted vortices appeared around the phantom of his colossal dragon body, as the plane repellant force forcibly expelled his descending projection from the Prime Material World, dragging it back to that lightless, gloomy place¡ªthe Nether Shadow Realm.

 Chapter 147 - 76: Giant Dragons Seize Power

    Chapter 147: Chapter 76: Giant Dragons Seize Power


    ¡°Phew¡­¡±


    ¡°Such a terrifying enemy.¡±


    After confirming that the Shadow Dragon had left, the Red Dragon slowly descended to the ground, licking its wounds.


    [Dragon¡¯s Breath]


    Golden life energy particles descended from the sky, rapidly healing the injuries, making the somewhat weakened dragon body visibly recover. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Someday, I will kill him.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Mortifael.¡±


    Cassius uttered the name representing the night.


    The Red Dragon gazed at the area where the Shadow Dragon had disappeared, its expression slightly ferocious, and its golden pupils seemed to burn with raging flames. Having been attacked on its own territory, retaliation was unavoidable. In the near future, he would crush the dragon hiding in the shadows.


    But now was not the time; his strength was still far from sufficient.


    The surroundings were already in complete disarray. Traces of the Shadow Curse still lingered here, with broken branches and splattered mud emitting faint black mist.


    However, the moon finally appeared in the sky, casting gentle and serene moonlight, purifying the pervasive shadow energy around.


    Cassius could feel that due to Duke Brad¡¯s sacrifice of everything, the space here had become extremely fragile, almost on the verge of becoming a boundary between the Prime Material World and the Nether Shadow Realm.


    Mortifael had not lied; this transformation was still ongoing unless the source of the curse¡ª the Shadow Dragon¡ª was eliminated.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°For now, it¡¯s finally over.¡±


    The shadow dragon¡¯s strength was indeed great, possessing absolute suppression power. That dark mist covering the sky made him realize his own insignificance.


    Fortunately, he understood the principle of ¡°borrowing power to do evil¡± and invoked the name of the Five-Colored Dragon Queen Tiamat, scaring off the Shadow Dragon.


    However, any power beyond control came at a price, and Tiamat¡¯s terrifying illusion was no exception.


    ¡°Maybe, it hasn¡¯t completely ended yet.¡±


    Cassius looked up at the sky and suddenly held his breath.


    The illusion that should have appeared only in Mortifael¡¯s eyes now appeared in front of him.


    This was the power of deities. Even by merely creating an illusion, uttering a name, or recalling a concept, they could perceive it and descend into the world using it as a medium.


    Unlike the overwhelming oppression of the Shadow Dragon controlling the night, the Dragon Mother brought him a despair that transcended dimensions.


    Five heads looked down on him from above.


    ¡°We meet again, my child.¡±


    Her gaze was more of a certain greed than kindness.


    This look made Cassius feel as if his soul had been seen through. He dared not look directly at her anymore, only bowing his head and saying calmly, ¡°Greetings, great Mother of Evil Dragons, Queen of the Five-Colored Dragons, Her Majesty Tiamat.¡±


    ¡°I sincerely apologize. Just now, to drive away that Shadow Dragon, I presumptuously borrowed your mighty name and used your majestic image. This was indeed an overstep.¡±


    Tiamat chuckled lightly. The White Dragon head spoke, ¡°Heh, it¡¯s no big deal.¡±


    The Green Dragon head said, ¡°You did well. You established a kingdom for the dragons in Anzeta, preserving the former glory of the giant dragons.¡±


    The Black Dragon head said, ¡°But greater trials await you in the future, my child.¡±


    Finally, the Red Dragon head said, ¡°Ten years. I want you to unify Anzeta within ten years, march south to Fadlan, and become my aid in ruling the world. This¡ª will be part of the grand blueprint for the entire dragonkin.¡±


    ¡°When I ascend the throne, the tyranny of the gods will end. The rule of the giant dragons will return to the earth. Dragon wings will once again cover the Prime Material World, and as one of my lieutenants, my child, you will become a duke serving me. You will also gain immense strength and endless wealth.¡±


    Tiamat¡¯s eyes were filled with boundless greed. Perhaps being in Aphernas for too long, her words seemed to lure Cassius into Hell.


    Hearing the words ¡°grand blueprint,¡± Cassius¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He felt something was off, as if the lines were somewhat familiar, wondering if he had heard them somewhere before.


    But he still lowered his head, pretending to be extremely excited, respectfully saying, ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°I will follow your will.¡±


    The illusion of Tiamat in the sky suddenly vanished, and Cassius finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly constructed a mental barrier, sealing away the [Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion] in his mind.


    Information refreshed on his panel.


    [You have gained the status [Tiamat¡¯s Greedy Gaze], your intimidating aura will receive an extra bonus, and your proficiencies: Intimidation +6]


    ¡°I might actually become a chosen one this time.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, wanting to rebel but can¡¯t¡­¡±


    After all, Cassius was just a pitiable young Red Dragon with a challenge level of 17. What else could he do?


    Under the powerful intimidation of the Dragon Mother, he was forced to play the filial role. After all, having borrowed another¡¯s authority, one had to show some respect.


    Several warning messages refreshed again on the panel.


    Although Tiamat¡¯s words seemed like praise, Cassius was well aware that this Mother of Evil Dragons was definitely not benign. There must be benefits she coveted on him.


    If he blindly trusted Tiamat¡¯s words, he would be doomed to be completely eaten away, leaving not a single crumb.


    And her rhetoric was all too familiar to Cassius¡ª pie in the sky. This was a tactic he often used on his subordinates, and now it was being used on him, making Cassius feel somewhat strange.


    ¡°Kings¡¯ Strife, Dragons Usurping the Throne.¡±


    ¡°I must quickly enhance my strength, or I¡¯ll be unable to cope with such world-class events.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    This was one of the side quests in version 2.0 [Kings¡¯ Strife]. The Holy Fadlan Empire, also known as the Sun Empire, was the most expansive and most powerful nation on the central continent.


    Its emperor had received the blessing of the Sun God Amentana and created an army comparable to divine descendants using the divine artifact ¡°Wheel of Eternal Radiance.¡± This army was invincible, conquering vast lands for the empire, proclaiming, ¡°Everything under the sun is our territory.¡±


    But after the old emperor, known as Aragon the First or the Sun King, unexpectedly died, his vast empire fell apart. His three sons devoured the remnants of the empire, forming the three legitimate kingdoms of Cassandra, Thrace, and Seleucis. The divine descendant nobles of the Sun Legion also established various small kingdoms.


    For a time, the empire disintegrated, the kingdoms spread like stars, and this period was known as the ¡°Great Collapse of the Holy Fadlan,¡± marking the beginning of [Kings¡¯ Strife].


    Tiamat used a cult to control the southwestern Kingdom of Seleucis in the Fadlan Region, attempting to summon her true form, restore the rule of the giant dragons to the earth, and reassert Tiamat¡¯s name in the world. This event was known as¡ª [Dragons Usurping the Throne]

 Chapter 148 - 77: Promotion Again

    Chapter 148: Chapter 77: Promotion Again


    This thrilling encounter struck Cassius like a wake-up call, making him eager to increase his own power. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Perhaps it was the laziness within the True Dragon bloodline, or the confidence brought by continuous victories, but after falling asleep, he had grown somewhat complacent, forgetting that this was a world full of crises. He overconfidently regarded Erezer as his own garden.


    The Red Dragon eyed the panel, not only from the previous war but Duke Brad also provided him with a massive amount of experience.


    This time, he did not deliberately suppress it but chose to harness these abilities first and convert them into strength. As for the remaining two levels of experience¡ªhe already had a concrete plan in mind.


    [Your [True Dragon Sorcerer] level has increased to level 9]


    [Your [True Dragon Sorcerer] level has increased to level 10]


    ...


    [You have gained additional Metamagic talents, you chose [Enhanced Spell][Delayed Spell]]


    Although he had risen two levels, the newly gained spell slots were too high and there were only four slots. This was a shortcoming of any sorcerer, including True Dragon Sorcerers¡ªprecise but not plentiful.


    However, his casting level had now reached level 13, and he could even reach the seventh layer of the Magic Web, making him a senior spellcaster throughout Erezer.


    [You have gained Dragon¡¯s Spells [Agile as a Dragon][Bag of Greed][Undying Offender][Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye]]


    [Agile as a Dragon]


    5th-tier Transformation Spell


    [Dragon uses the power of space to make its massive dragon body agile, with the Agility attribute continuously increasing as long as the spell lasts, reaching a maximum Agility attribute of 30.]


    [Bag of Greed]


    5th-tier Shaping Magic


    [This spell creates a bag-shaped force field trailing behind a flying dragon, allowing it to transport a large number of items. The items in the Bag of Greed become practically weightless, enabling the dragon to fly at its normal maximum speed.]


    [Undying Offender]


    6th-tier Protection, Transformation Spell


    [Dragon condenses its vitality, designating a specific scale as its ¡°Reverse Scale.¡± Before the scale is shattered, the dragon can bypass one fatal injury. Upon shattering, the dragon¡¯s strength, constitution, and agility all receive significant enhancements.]


    [Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye]


    7th-tier Divination Spell


    [An incorporeal dragon eye appears and floats, moving according to the dragon¡¯s will. The dragon can see through this eye and may glimpse past or future scenes. The eye can withstand damage equivalent to that of the dragon¡¯s own and can even emit the dragon¡¯s breath weapon, though doing so will cause the eye to disappear.]


    ¡°So, this is a seventh-tier spell¡­¡±


    Feeling the complex spell information in his mind, Cassius was somewhat exhilarated. These spells were mostly aligned with his desires, truly the private stash of the dragonkin.


    Even though he had obtained seventh-tier spells, Cassius had not yet fully mastered them. More experimentation was necessary.


    Next, it was time to take over the Rackman Duchy, reap the rewards of this war, and begin preparations to conquer the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Within Rackman Castle, Mezulash and Alger, among others, barely escaped the ruins enshrouded by the Shadow Curse and came before the Red Dragon.


    Behind them were Swashbuckler and the newly freed vampire variant, Yeno Rackman.


    ¡°Master, it was my incompetence that allowed the enemy to control us, forcing you to take action yourself.¡±


    Alger knelt on the ground, his half-dragon face showing no hint of vengeful satisfaction, only calm.


    Duke Brad was dead.


    The last obsession of ¡°human Alger¡± had disappeared. What remained was merely the body of the loyal Red Scale Conqueror from Ashen Nest¡ªhalf-dragon Alger.


    Mezulash stepped forward to report: ¡°Master, what should we do with these remaining vampires? Among them is even a Starfallen.¡±


    As the leader of the Tieflings, Mezulash naturally despised everything related to vampires, but rationality told him that only the Red Dragon could decide everything.


    Cassius looked at Swashbuckler.


    Swashbuckler wore a black robe, picked up from who knows where, his skin pale, canine teeth sharp, and a hint of crimson in his pupils.


    Swashbuckler had once sipped the blood of the old vampire, becoming a true vampire with terrifying regenerative abilities and could even create his own vampire variants.


    Seeing the Red Dragon¡¯s gaze, Swashbuckler immediately flashed a flattering smile: ¡°Boss, I¡¯m very strong. I can¡¯t die no matter how hard you hit me. If I can¡¯t win, I can even turn to mist and escape.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Swashbuckler turned into a wisp of mist.


    He had thought it through. If the leader in front wanted to kill him, he could flee immediately.


    Cassius: ¡°¡­¡±


    Swashbuckler popped back to his original form with a puff, scratching his head with an awkward smile: ¡°I just wanted to show you my abilities.¡±


    After a moment of thought, Cassius quickly realized that these undying night walkers were perfectly suited for executing special missions like infiltration, assassination, and scouting.


    The Red Dragon then said, ¡°I want you to form a special vampire unit, dedicated to executing tasks that cannot see the light. As for the name¡­¡±


    ¡°Wave Corps, how about Wave Corps?¡± Swashbuckler eagerly suggested.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Noticing the Red Dragon¡¯s impatient gaze and sensing the tense atmosphere around, Swashbuckler again smiled awkwardly.


    ¡°Uh¡­ of course, it¡¯s up to you to decide.¡±


    ¡°I just think Wave Corps sounds cool, or we can name it Swashbuckler¡¯s Fan Support Group.¡±


    ¡°Nocturne, bringing eternal sleep to our enemies in the dead of night.¡±


    Cassius spoke with an indisputable tone.


    Swashbuckler immediately flattered: ¡°Great name, boss! How did you come up with such a brilliant name!¡±


    Cassius continued, ¡°Choose suitable individuals to transform into vampire variants and join Nocturne. As for your blood supply, I will allocate funds specifically. Buying some blood from the infinitely respawning Starfallen shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡±


    ¡°You must keep these bloodsuckers in check. If I find any normal residents attacked by vampires¡­ as the person in charge, I don¡¯t need to spell out your fate, do I?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, boss, I, Swashbuckler, will serve you diligently, ensuring that Nocturne becomes the most successful organization in Ashen Nest¡¯s performance!¡±


    Upon hearing Cassius¡¯ words, especially the mention of ¡°fund allocation,¡± Swashbuckler immediately nodded vigorously, agreeing to everything.


    He finally ascended the social ladder, transforming from a lowly worker into a department manager!


    Though he had paid a great price, gaining the nickname ¡°Vampire¡¯s Favorite¡± in forums, this trip to Northwind Castle was worth it. Swashbuckler felt tears of joy well up in his heart, giving him immense satisfaction.


    At that moment, Cassius had no idea that this ¡°Nocturne¡± would become infamous in the future.


    Once already unafraid of death, these players became undead creatures, and under Swashbuckler¡¯s leadership, they crazily courted death, heralding their motto of ¡°eliminating all witnesses for a perfect infiltration,¡± stirring a bloody storm across the continent.

 Chapter 149 - 78: The Situation in the North

    Chapter 149: Chapter 78: The Situation in the North


    After Duke Brad¡¯s death, the Ashen Nest swiftly occupied the entirety of Northwind Castle. Key areas such as the city hall and the armory naturally fell into the control of the evil dragon¡¯s minions.


    The Rackman Castle, surrounded by the Shadow Curse, was sealed off by the army and turned into a forbidden zone.


    Every gate of Northwind Castle was guarded by the Goblin Army, armed with muskets, enforcing martial law. No one dared to escape, for patrols composed of Dragon Vein Goblins and Kobolds eagerly awaited to tear apart any fleeing individuals.


    An oppressive atmosphere permeated Northwind Castle.


    The thirty thousand inhabitants of the city were all anxious about their fates.


    As Northwind Castle fell, news of the Rackman Duchy¡¯s collapse spread throughout Anzeta.


    ...


    Though the Northern nobility had anticipated the duchy¡¯s fall, its swift demise left them stunned.


    ¡°Infernal Calamity¡± Cassius led his wicked servants and demonstrated terrifying military prowess, conquering the vast Rackman Duchy in less than a month, erasing this four-century-old nation from the annals of history.


    Suddenly, the Northern United Kingdom was in a state of alarm, with everyone fearing for their safety.


    But soon, Bipedal Wyverns appeared across Anzeta, dropping leaflets like snowflakes.


    It was an official proclamation¡ª


    Duke Brad Rackman, ruler of the Rackman Duchy, signed a contract with an evil entity, converting himself into a vampire. Over his two-hundred-year reign, he slaughtered and enslaved the local populace, creating horrifying atrocities and accumulating a blood debt. Additionally, Brad Rackman repeatedly sent forces to invade the Ashen Nest, even dispatching armies that severely threatened the local safety and disrupted the peace and order of the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Therefore, the great Red Dragon, King of Ashen, His Majesty Cassius Claudius Norixius, upheld justice and righteousness for the deceased, killed Brad Rackman, and brought the dark and decaying Rackman Duchy under his enlightened rule, officially declaring the formation of the great Ashen Kingdom.


    After this proclamation came a series of bewildering additional clauses.


    ¡°The Notte Duchy, aiding Rackman Duchy¡¯s assault on Stormy Ridge, infringed upon the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s sovereignty. We believe the Notte Family¡¯s actions were extremely reckless. They lack the capability to take responsibility for their citizens and territory and should be subject to oversight and management by the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°The Boske Duchy, deceived by Duke Brad, participated in the so-called allied forces, causing significant losses to the kingdom. They must compensate with twenty-five thousand gold coins, and furthermore¡­¡±


    ¡°The Carter Duchy spread shameful rumors. Their ¡®Song of Embers¡¯ caused extremely negative public opinion against the kingdom¡­¡±


    ¡°The Fano Duchy colluded with the Rackman Family, providing economic support and indirectly causing harm to the kingdom¡­¡±


    The Northern nobility was in an uproar.


    This greedy dragon dared to extort the entire Northern United Kingdom! S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was far more avaricious than those Red Dragons that only showcased their strength by massacring cities!


    Once obscure and only existent in bard tales, ¡°Flame Wing Dragon¡± Cassius had in just a few years grown into such a colossal being right under their noses, now capable of making the North tremble with a mere flap of his wings.


    Remember, even ¡°Glacier Wing¡± a century ago only destroyed a city and did not occupy a duchy, let alone extort the entire Northern United Kingdom.


    Dragons ruling the land was something only of legends, even tracing back to the first era of the Dragon-Giant conflict. Now it was happening right before the Northern nobility¡¯s eyes.


    At least in these past few centuries, at least since the establishment of the Northern United Kingdom, there had never been such an arrogant dragon on the Anzeta Great Wilderness!


    In Stratholme Fortress, the nominal capital of the United Kingdom and also the capital of the Boske Duchy, in the grand Lion Council Hall.


    Hundreds of Northern nobility rarely gathered in one place, discussing how to deal with this terrifying dragon. This was the first time since the ¡°Lionheart Alliance¡± thirty years ago.


    ¡°Outrageous!¡±


    ¡°This evil dragon is outrageous!¡±


    Duke Leo Boske slammed the flyer on the long table with a resounding ¡°slap.¡±


    His face was full of fury, his tall and sturdy body trembled with anger, even his lion¡¯s mane-like beard quivered, and his thunderous roar terrified his attendants.


    ¡°We, the Boske Duchy, will never accept such humiliating terms!¡±


    ¡°Who does he think he is? Just a fire-breathing lizard! We Scania People have slaughtered dozens of such overestimating lizards to establish ourselves in Anzeta!¡±


    Not far from him, Grand Duke Oliver Norton of the Norton Principality also rose angrily, slamming the table: ¡°Yes! We must reclaim the Rackman Duchy¡¯s land! Kill this overestimating Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Or we won¡¯t be able to quell the public outrage!¡±


    Grand Duke Oliver gritted his teeth; his hatred for Cassius was already deep-seated.


    The Ashen Empire¡¯s notices to other countries mainly involved extorting some money or transit rights. But the demand on the Norton Principality was so-called ¡°international trusteeship,¡± with an outrageously absurd reason: ¡°Grand Duke Oliver does not have the capability to govern the Norton Principality and requires the assistance of the more civilized and orderly Ashen Empire.¡±


    An absolute mockery!


    This was a blatant insult!


    An empire ruled by a monster shamelessly issued such a despicable notice, causing Grand Duke Oliver to lose sleep for days. In fury, he dismissed all envoys originally destined for the Ashen Nest.


    ¡°But¡­that Red Dragon can cast Eighth Tier Spells.¡±


    ¡°The entire North has only a few spellcasters of this level. He¡¯s catastrophic for the army.¡±


    A hoarse, weary voice sounded.


    ¡°Grey Hawk¡± Schroeder also attended this meeting. At this moment, his eyes were dim, full of fatigue and helplessness, and a deep-seated hatred for the Red Dragon.


    The lord he served and the country he belonged to had perished. He had no choice but to take refuge here, barely finding shelter with Grand Duke Leo.


    ¡°Maybe we can seek external assistance.¡±


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a rumor from six years ago that a ¡®Twilight Blade¡¯ from the South slew a Red Dragon. Just not sure if it¡¯s true.¡±


    Some nobles said.


    Hearing this, Grand Duke Leo¡¯s anger subsided a bit, and he asked the nearby nobles: ¡°Count Tapley, didn¡¯t that ¡®Twilight Blade¡¯ once stay in your domain? Can you get in touch with her?¡±


    Count Tapley shook his head helplessly: ¡°She left hurriedly five years ago, leaving no contact information.¡±


    Grand Duke Leo¡¯s tone grew solemn: ¡°Maybe we can look to the South, and seek help from the Holy Fadlan Federation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t work.¡±


    Count Triss, who often visited the South, said: ¡°Recently, unprecedented rebellions have erupted in several provinces of Fadlan. His Majesty Aragon has led the Sun Legion in a campaign for months, probably unable to attend to us.¡±


    Grand Duke Leo roared furiously:


    ¡°Then what should we do? Will we just wait to die, surrender to that Red Dragon, and watch him flaunt his power before us?¡±


    The nobles fell into silence, the hall echoing only with Grand Duke Leo¡¯s roar.


    Suddenly, a hoarse voice broke the silence¡ª


    ¡ªIt was none other than ¡°Grey Hawk¡± Schroeder.


    ¡°Your Grace, I know of someone who might be able to counter that Red Dragon and is willing to help.¡±

 Chapter 150 - 79 Ruling by the Giant Dragons

    Chapter 150: Chapter 79 Ruling by the Giant Dragons


    The residents of Northwind Castle would never forget that morning.


    The ¡°Infernal Calamity¡± Cassius stood on the century-old city wall, his enormous wings shrouding the sunlight.


    The Red Dragon looked down upon the thirty thousand city citizens gathered there, proclaiming the establishment of the Ashen Kingdom and the demise of the country they and their ancestors had known.


    ¡°Who agrees? Who opposes?¡±


    The spears of the Great Goblins glimmered coldly.


    There was no room for negotiation; it was merely a dispassionate notification.


    ...


    Thus, the era of dragon rule began.


    At first, people were terrified and anxious, locking their doors, fearing that these monsters would commit heinous acts just like the ¡°Song of Embers¡± described, insult and devour their wives and daughters, burn their homes.


    But things did not develop as many feared, nor as the northern nobility outside Northwind Castle anticipated.


    The crimes of Duke Brad Rackman were made public, with solid evidence within the bastion. During his two hundred years of rule, tens of thousands were tortured to death, and countless disappearances were all his doing.


    ¡°This is complete slander!¡±


    ¡°They want to destroy our history!¡±


    There was an uproar among the residents. Their immediate reaction was to suspect that this was Ashen Kingdom¡¯s slander.


    But as more evidence surfaced, the piles of bones and heaps of corpses beneath Rackman Castle came to light. Even the most stubborn and dragon-hating individuals within the city had to admit that the Duke they once revered was indeed evil and tyrannical.


    Only the northern nobility continued to stubbornly insist that this was fabricated evidence from the Ashen Kingdom, even claiming that the Red Dragon had cruelly murdered these people, despite the Ashen Kingdom having only taken Northwind Castle a few days ago.


    Panic and dread soon followed.


    After the Ashen Kingdom took control, the law-abiding Tieflings had become the main force of Northwind Castle¡¯s city defense, and among the city¡¯s residents, many had blood on their hands from Tieflings.


    Judgment indeed arrived, with Tieflings arresting all who knew the truth and still helped commit crimes among the nobles, putting them on trial in Parliament Square, and beheading dozens.


    That day, blood stained the square red.


    But for the ordinary residents who knew nothing, although some still harbored hatred and looked for revenge, the Tieflings did not take further action.


    Contrary to his usual image to the outside world, Mezulash was not an extreme avenger but a pragmatic individual willing to do anything for the continuation of his race.


    Thus, during the wartime years exiled to Stormy Ridge, he promoted many hawkish supporters of revenge to maintain the might of his race and ensure the ability to resist externally. But after truly reclaiming Northwind Castle, he chose to align with the previously unpopular doves advocating for peaceful coexistence with humans to balance those hawks.


    Mezulash stood on the city wall, overlooking Northwind Castle which had already resumed its functions.


    The streets were bustling with humans, Tieflings, and even Great Goblins. Although human and Tiefling coexistence was far from harmonious, they were no longer mortal enemies, nor engaged in racial massacres.


    ¡°Lerisa, you should have realized this long ago.¡±


    ¡°War.¡±


    ¡°Only war can bring peace.¡±


    Mezulash murmured to himself as he watched everything.


    Those blue, lake-like beautiful eyes seemed to appear before him again, filled with innocence and kindness.


    He often felt regret and guilt but never remorse, for it had been a rational choice at that time.


    Only rationality could save his race.


    Mezulash never let irrelevant emotions control him. He also understood clearly that if he had cruelly massacred humans as the hawks wished, the Tiefling Tribe would have no place in the Ashen Kingdom.


    The dictatorial Red Dragon would not tolerate any race disrupting his order, even if it was the Tieflings, who were gradually becoming the kingdom¡¯s main pillar. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    ¡°Fresh raw meat!¡±


    ¡°Big size leather pants, special supply for Great Goblins!¡±


    ¡°Selling former Rackman Duchy standard Silver Swords!¡±


    The once war-stricken streets finally regained some liveliness, though far from what it had been.


    For the tens of thousands of residents in Northwind Castle, regardless of who was ruling above them, be it vampires or Red Dragons, they had to look forward and continue their lives.


    They were surprised to find that these dragon vein monsters were not as brutally terrifying as they had imagined, at least not after they divided up the nobles¡¯ hidden wealth of wine, meat, and treasures to satisfy their greed.


    But who could say what the future would hold?


    ¡°Theft is prohibited in the city.¡±


    ¡°Private brawls are forbidden in the city.¡±


    ¡°Murderers within the city shall be put to death.¡±


    Cassius temporarily resided in the Council Hall, issuing one succinct ¡°Dictator¡¯s Rule¡± after another.


    Though he could not enforce ¡°immediate death¡± upon violation among the original residents as he did with players, he only subtly influenced them to follow subconsciously, and that was enough.


    Under Cassius¡¯s dictatorial laws, even the dragon vein monsters temporarily suppressed their deeply buried cruelty and savagery, refraining from excessive behavior and producing quite a few farcical situations instead:


    For instance, an Ogre named ¡°Bighead¡± ate up the tavern¡¯s stockpile and ran off without paying, only to be caught by the security team and sentenced to three years of unpaid labor at the tavern, with no room and board provided during the period.


    People were even more surprised to find that, due to the rigorous searches by the ¡°Ashen Claws¡± security team and the ¡°Nocturne¡± forces, the criminal gangs that operated in the power vacuum and colluded with the nobility vanished. Secret groups like the ¡°Nine Fingers Guild¡± and the ¡°Devil Gang¡± were eradicated, and public security in Northwind Castle actually improved significantly.


    The previously arrogant nobles had fallen from grace under the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s new system, no longer able to oppress the common people, and even faced trials. Those once-oppressed slaves regained their freedom, and small boys were rescued from basements.


    Players too rushed into the city, eager to seize opportunities. The ¡°Mechanical God Cult¡± guild players made magically powered steam engines and started building mechanized factories. The ¡°Magic Coin¡± guild used spells to provide services to residents and earn gold coins, bringing spellcasters, once lofty and rare, closer to the people¡¯s daily lives. The ¡°Royalty¡± guild even brazenly bought a hall and claimed to accept all commission tasks.


    Some thought these were merely Ashen Kingdom¡¯s attempts to win over people¡¯s hearts while secretly planning to contact the outside world to resist the empire¡¯s tyranny. Yet others gradually got used to this life and abandoned past traditions¡­

 Chapter 151 - 80: Kingdom Domain

    Chapter 151: Chapter 80: Kingdom Domain


    Northwind Castle, inside the council hall¡¯s chamber.


    ¡°How much longer will it take to complete the criminal code?¡±


    ¡°Lord Cassius, if I may speak frankly, this task is too monumental. To compile a comprehensive kingdom code¡­ this isn¡¯t something we can complete in just a few months.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Why?¡±


    ¡°The structure of the Ashen Kingdom is too complex. We must consider the local productivity, social structure, and even the habits of different races and the use of spells. This is a completely new field for us, and without a large amount of practical investigation, we simply cannot proceed.¡±


    ¡°My Lord, let me give you an example. For instance, consuming the bodies of one¡¯s kind is undoubtedly a grave insult to human remains, but for Ogres, it¡¯s an ancient social custom. Meaning that, considering the current number of races in the kingdom, we need to create more than twenty different versions, and the number could continue to increase.¡±


    ...


    His voice showed fatigue.


    ¡°But the kingdom¡¯s order needs to be regulated by written law, and it¡¯s urgent.¡±


    ¡°Of course, we will do our best¡ª¡±


    ¡°One month. Within a month, you must submit a simplified framework of the ¡®Kingdom Code.¡¯ The rest of the content can be discussed and gradually filled in over time.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°My Lord, I think this timeframe is still¡ª¡±


    ¡°I will provide you with all the textual materials accumulated over a century in Rackman Duchy and a large amount of funding.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°There are no ¡®buts.¡¯ If you satisfy me, whether it¡¯s wealth, status, or power, none will be beyond reach. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Understood, understood.¡±


    The player¡¯s name was ¡°Clouds Light and Breeze Mild.¡± His expression at the moment was particularly complex, a mix of joy and sorrow.


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    He was just an ordinary lawyer, under immense work pressure and suffering from hair loss at the age of thirty due to constant overtime. On doctor¡¯s advice, he temporarily put aside his work to recuperate in a virtual world, seeking some peace in the world of Erezer Sword and Magic.


    Unlike those professional players who had reached the occupation limit of level 4, ¡°Clouds Light and Breeze Mild¡± was just a level 1 ordinary player who had never taken on a combat mission, having only killed a chicken¡ªsimilar to many ordinary players.


    ¡°Clouds Light and Breeze Mild¡± originally intended to earn some contribution as a sorcerer but unexpectedly exposed his high professional competence by accident, and was assigned the task of compiling the code in the council hall.


    However, in light of the dizzying array of rewards, he finally chose to return to his old profession.


    ¡°Clouds Light and Breeze Mild¡± glanced around at the various players, most of them law students and even intern lawyers. He was considered a senior among them.


    ¡°Everyone, the project timeline is very tight. The party A has ceased to be human, wait, he¡¯s never been human; he¡¯s actually a dragon.¡±


    ¡°The deadline is only a month.¡±


    ¡°We might have to work overtime to catch up on the progress.¡±


    He looked down at the densely scattered ¡®Kingdom Code¡¯ drafts on the floor, and suddenly tears flowed freely. The middle-aged ¡°Clouds Light and Breeze Mild¡± vanished, replaced by the sorrow of a balding young man.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Why am I still working even in another world?¡±


    ¡­


    Cassius got up and walked out of the chamber, back into the main hall.


    ¡°These players need constant prompting to keep up the pace, lest they slack off. Otherwise, they might delay me until the public beta.¡±


    Cassius was very familiar with the methods of party A prompting project progress.


    He didn¡¯t actually expect them to produce the framework of the ¡°Ashen Kingdom Code¡± within a month. It would be good enough if they could complete it within three months. But by setting the deadline at one month, he could push them to race against time.


    Players always liked compromises. For example, if you want to open a window, everyone would oppose it. But if you propose to tear down the roof, people would be willing to open a window. The compilation of the code was similar.


    ¡°The Dictator¡¯s Rule has limited influence on the native people; it cannot replace real laws. The kingdom needs a genuine code that can transcend ages and races.¡±


    Cassius thought.


    The Red Dragon lay sprawling in the council hall. Its gigantic body made the hall, which could accommodate a thousand people, seem cramped.


    He looked at the interface; a new achievement had long appeared. A golden crown appeared in his mind.


    [You have established a country and gained the advanced achievement ¡®King¡¯]


    ¡°Wherever the sunlight reaches, the land belongs to the empire!¡ªHoly Fadlan Emperor, Aragon the First¡±


    Your trait ¡®Dictator¡¯s Rule¡¯ upgraded to: ¡®Kingdom Domain¡¯


    Charisma +3


    Ruling Proficiency +10


    Your kingdom is under your control. You can spend a certain amount of time to transform an area under your rule into ¡®Kingdom Domain.¡¯ In the ¡®Kingdom Domain,¡¯ you can actively suppress all spell reaction effects and enhance your spellcasting potency.


    (Note: The original effect of Dictator¡¯s Rule still exists.)


    ¡°As expected of an advanced trait, it¡¯s essentially a gigantic antimagic field, and it boosts one¡¯s own spellcasting potency.¡±


    ¡°It even significantly enhances charisma.¡±


    Cassius looked at the interface, clicking his tongue in wonder.


    The familiar sensation descended upon him once more, distorting his body and soul, bringing a pure enhancement.


    His charisma increased by two points, totaling a 1.3 times boost twice. This leap in his influencing capability made his external persuasion power reach a terrifying level.


    Although Cassius¡¯s spellcaster level was merely 13, his base value of 28 charisma, which could twist reality, allowed his spell potency to rival that of some legendary sorcerers.


    ¡°So this is what it feels like to be a numbers freak¡­¡±


    ¡°Not bad at all.¡±


    The Red Dragon only focused its will on one point; it didn¡¯t even cast a spell, and the elements there began to stir, little flames dancing in the air.


    There was no spell prototype or Magic Web parameters, only the firmament of will and the presentation of talent. This was the ¡®Power of Deep Thinking¡¯ of sorcerers.


    ¡°Now let¡¯s try the new ability.¡±


    ¡°Kingdom Domain.¡±


    Cassius slowly closed his eyes, focusing his will on the golden crown in his mind.


    The surrounding space underwent a marvelous change, an invisible force field slowly expanded, and within the field, all spell energy bowed down to the Red Dragon.


    One could say he was the absolute ruler within this domain.


    [Kingdom Domain]


    The Red Dragon opened his eyes, and golden energy surged in his eyes.


    He could feel the elemental currents around him and control them. He could cause them to intensify or fall silent; within this domain, all spell energy was like his subjects, his retainers.


    ¡°A very powerful ability.¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m in the Kingdom Domain, facing that Shadow Dragon again, I certainly wouldn¡¯t be powerless.¡±


    Suddenly, there was a sound from Cassius¡¯s dimensional bag. The ¡®Arcane Priory Medal¡¯ was flashing with magical aura.


    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s time for the second Arcane Priory.¡±


    The Red Dragon cast a shape-shifting spell. The fragments of aurora floated around him, and his enormous dragon body vanished. A black-haired, golden-eyed human noble appeared in the council hall.


    ¡°However, quite a lot has happened between these two meetings.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s face revealed a smile.

 Chapter 152 - 81: Schroeders Speech

    Chapter 152: Chapter 81: Schroeder¡¯s Speech


    Boske Duchy, Stratholme Fortress.


    Cassius lightly pushed open a hidden door in the wall and entered the hall.


    This time, the members of the Arcane Priory had not yet arrived in full, but the venue was already abuzz with discussions. Most members¡¯ faces were shrouded in a cloud¡ªthat of fear for the uncertain future.


    The majority of the Anzeta Branch members were Northern nobility, accustomed to a life of extravagance and debauchery. But now, the shadow of the Red Dragon loomed over the North, with each duchy teetering on the brink of collapse. They also feared the flames of war spreading to their own homes, threatening to strip them of their noble status.


    Upon seeing Cassius arrive, a tall noblewoman promptly greeted him.


    ¡°Good day, Mr. Remnant Flame.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Good day, Lady Tulip, you are as beautiful and enchanting as ever,¡± Cassius responded politely.


    It wasn¡¯t just this noblewoman; many others approached him, looking to converse, some even going out of their way to curry favor.


    At the last Arcane Priory meeting, his generosity had caught many¡¯s attention. Speculations about his identity were rife, with the most reasonable and widely accepted one being: ¡°Remnant Flame¡± was an illegitimate noble child from the Southern Fadlan Empire, here to establish a foothold for his family in Anzeta.


    Yet at this moment, the beautiful noblewoman¡¯s eyes contained a hint of worry.


    Cassius knowingly asked, ¡°Lady Tulip, is there something troubling you?¡±


    ¡°Tulip¡± sighed, answering, ¡°It¡¯s not just me, everyone here laments the fall of the Rackman Principality.¡±


    ¡°That evil dragon is too terrifying, too brutal. It is said he ruthlessly trampled on the sacred traditions of the North and cruelly murdered many nobles. It is said that on that day, blood stained the Parliament Square.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it is truly horrific,¡± Cassius nodded slightly, following her words.


    Another member echoed, ¡°The evil dragon¡¯s tyrannical rule will surely be overthrown, and Knights of Justice will rise.¡±


    ¡°He actually placed the noble Northern aristocrats on equal footing with those peasants, those Gray Beasts. It¡¯s simply incomprehensible!¡±


    ¡°This is a complete destruction of Northern Order!¡±


    ¡°Yes, this evil dragon will definitely face retribution!¡±


    ¡°Our Triss Family has already recruited adventurers to eliminate that evil dragon!¡±


    ¡°If war comes, the Fano Duchy will fight to the death! We will never let our land fall into monsters¡¯ hands!¡±


    Cassius listened to these impassioned declarations, secretly noting their words, as well as the families and countries they represented.


    ¡°Just for beheading a few dozen people, such a fuss. These Northern nobility have quite the intense reaction.¡±


    ¡°But no matter, we¡¯ll take this step by step.


    ¡°You will all adapt eventually.¡±


    Cassius made a silent vow in his heart.


    The noblewoman had no inkling that her offhand remark would bring catastrophe to her family in the near future.


    Amid the gaze of the crowd, Olivia, the ¡°Silver Star,¡± appeared in the hall once more.


    ¡°Good day, Miss Venus,¡± Cassius took the initiative to greet her.


    She didn¡¯t answer, instead using a Text Transmission Spell to deliver a clear female voice audible only to Cassius.


    ¡°I asked my grandfather, and he said Gold Dragons don¡¯t like this magic-poor place of Anzeta. Aside from an adult female Gold Dragon, only a young male Gold Dragon resides here temporarily. If I¡¯m not mistaken, your name is Angel, son of the Ancient Gold Dragon Castro, right?¡±


    Olivia glanced at him, her expression smug as if she had uncovered a secret.


    Cassius first froze, then was somewhat dumbfounded. He hadn¡¯t expected this cunning Silver Dragon to help complete his disguise, saving him the trouble of gathering materials to fabricate an identity. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So he neither confirmed nor denied, responding with the same Text Transmission Spell.


    ¡°Miss Venus, prying into members¡¯ identities is against the Arcane Priory¡¯s rules. As the head of the Anzeta Branch, are you intending to break the rules?¡±


    ¡°Clearly you first¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t purposefully seek it out, just heard it through the grapevine. There¡¯s a fundamental difference between the two.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, pretentious Gold Dragon.¡±


    ¡­


    The hall was still lavishly decorated, with a massive round table.


    The members of the Arcane Priory sat down one by one.


    ¡°Since everyone is here¡­¡±


    Olivia was about to proceed with the usual segments of the Arcane Priory meeting when someone interrupted her, speaking first.


    She frowned slightly but remained polite, nodding slightly to indicate the person could continue speaking.


    ¡°Forgive my rudeness, Lady Venus.¡±


    ¡°I do not intend to disrupt the meeting¡¯s progression, but I believe there are more urgent matters that need discussing, in line with Lord Trafalgar¡¯s principle: ¡®United against evil when necessary.''¡±


    The speaker was ¡°Grey Hawk¡± Schroeder.


    His face was etched with the lines of fatigue and worry, appearing twenty years older than before. At this moment, Schroeder looked grave, covered in a shadow, his voice filled with pain.


    ¡°Since things have come to this, I won¡¯t hide my identity any longer.¡±


    ¡°I was once a court mage of the Rackman Principality, as well as a noble of high lineage in the North. But now¡­ I am merely a homeless wanderer.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, no matter what thoughts the attendees harbored, they all intentionally displayed sympathetic and regretful expressions.


    Schroeder¡¯s voice gradually became hoarse.


    ¡°I once witnessed that Red Dragon destroy our allied forces, annihilate our cities, while I stood powerless.¡±


    ¡°Now, this Red Dragon has destroyed the country I served, brutally oppressing my people, mercilessly slaughtering the principality¡¯s nobles.¡±


    The members present were all deeply saddened by these words, some even shedding tears for this tragic fate.


    Olivia, hearing his words, frowned slightly.


    She softly said, ¡°But according to my investigation, the Duke you served, Brad, was indeed a vampire, and the Ashen Kingdom hasn¡¯t committed any massacres of civilians yet. What you said is somewhat¡ª¡±


    Before she could finish, she was interrupted by Schroeder¡¯s passionate words.


    ¡°Lady Venus, you are simply too kind, too na?ve! By the gods, that is a Red Dragon! The embodiment of evil and brutality! How can you be so unreasonable as to believe the lies of a Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°A vampire? Utter slander! He is the true vampire, greedily draining the Northern Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°And who knows what atrocities this evil dragon may commit in the future? Today he slaughters nobles, tomorrow he may devour entire cities, even the entire Northern human population!¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    Olivia wanted to retort that she had acquired her information through Spell Image, not through Ashen Kingdom¡¯s propaganda.


    But Schroeder, intentionally or not, ignored her doubts, his impassioned words flowing uninterrupted, leaving her no chance to defend herself.


    At this moment, Schroeder¡¯s speech reached its climax. He stood up, looking around with a tragically solemn gaze.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the four-hundred-year-old Rackman Principality is gone, and next is the Norton Principality. Then who will be next?¡±


    ¡°If we do not resist, the next to be slaughtered by the evil dragon could be you!¡±

 Chapter 153 - 82: Righteous Cooperation

    Chapter 153: Chapter 82: Righteous Cooperation


    Schroeder¡¯s speech finally ended, and the crowd erupted in outrage, slamming their tables in unison.


    ¡°That evil dragon must pay the price!¡±


    ¡°The tyranny of the Ashen Kingdom will come to an end!¡±


    ¡°The justice and order of the North shall not be undermined!¡±


    ¡°One day, his dragon head will be chopped off and put on display as a trophy!¡±


    Schroeder surveyed the room. Seeing that the atmosphere had been sufficiently stirred up, he spoke in a low voice:


    ...


    ¡°Now, I have found a special method to trap that Red Dragon, but I am lacking in strength and need your assistance.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Instantly, the hall fell silent.


    The very people who had spoken so eloquently before now seemed to have been cast in a Group Silence Spell, all falling silent in unison.


    After all, saying it was one thing, but actually doing it was another. That giant dragon had single-handedly destroyed thirty thousand of the allied forces. Though everyone talked about slaying the dragon, no one was foolish enough to risk their own life.


    Schroeder perceived the crowd¡¯s silence, but his face did not show any sign of disappointment.


    These low-level spellcasters were not his target for this recruitment anyway.


    His gaze shifted to Madam ¡°Venus.¡±


    Her beautiful blue-gray eyes showed displeasure, with no intention of responding.


    Schroeder, who excelled at reading people, had long noticed that although Madam ¡°Venus¡± possessed strong spellcasting abilities, she was obviously inexperienced and somewhat indecisive; her interpersonal skills could even be described as ¡°naive.¡±


    ¡ª¡ªThis was also why Schroeder dared interrupt her speech earlier. If it had been a more assertive senior spellcaster, he would never have dared.


    However, since Madam ¡°Venus¡± had just questioned him and he hadn¡¯t saved her face, she was clearly not who Schroeder intended to recruit, either.


    Thinking this, he turned to Mr. ¡°Remnant Flame.¡±


    The black-haired, golden-eyed noble youth, showing a face full of indignation, seemed eager to kill the brutal Red Dragon.


    Yes, he was the one.


    Strong spellcasting ability, backed by influence, and a sincere heart pursuing justice¡ªwasn¡¯t he the perfect pawn Schroeder had been hoping for?


    In fact, not just Olivia, Schroeder too had noticed the ¡°flaws¡± in the Shape-shifting Spell and the subsequent exchanges uncovered an unmistakable arrogance, leading him to suspect that Mr. ¡°Remnant Flame¡± was highly likely a Gold Dragon. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Championing justice¡ªthis was a creed carved into every Gold Dragon bloodline. These obsessive creatures often spent most of their time in disguise, practicing ¡°entrapment justice.¡± Many assassins and bandits lingering in desolate places met with swift ends when their seemingly helpless victims turned out to be disguised Gold Dragons.


    Gold Dragons wouldn¡¯t rest until they defeated and judged or killed the wrongdoers. They demanded nothing less than complete victory over evil.


    Schroeder was willing to offend senior spellcasters to create an atmosphere of despair brought on by evil, just to lure this suspected Gold Dragon.


    As expected, Lord ¡°Remnant Flame¡± stood up, slamming the table.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    He glanced scornfully around and said in a loud voice:


    ¡°Is the justice just mentioned by everyone here just a joke?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Grey Hawk, I and my backers are willing to provide all possible assistance to help subdue that brutal Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Lord Remnant Flame, thank you for stepping forward and contributing to the justice and order of the North.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Grey Hawk, there¡¯s no need for more words. Eliminating the evil dragon is simply what I should do, and it is also the unquestionable duty of anyone who carries a heart of justice.¡±


    ¡°You, you¡­ I don¡¯t even know what to say.¡±


    Schroeder rushed up, gripping Cassius¡¯s hand tightly, showing a look of tearful gratitude.


    ¡°Such a gullible Gold Dragon; once they both are exhausted, I can capture them all at once. Then, I will become the hero of the entire North.¡±


    Schroeder thought to himself.


    ¡°I will surely do my best to ¡®help¡¯ you.¡±


    Cassius also thought to himself, a barely noticeable hint of mischief flashing in his golden eyes.


    Their hands clasped tightly together, pledging to join forces to vanquish the brutal Red Dragon that plagued the North, no matter the cost.


    ¡ª¡ªThis scene was like the beginning of an epic tale recited by a bard, brimming with a strong sense of heroism.


    However, the true nature of the scene was the handshake of an evil spellcaster under the command of a vampire and the disguised Red Dragon itself, vowing together to defeat the Red Dragon in the name of justice.


    Seen in this light, it appeared particularly absurd.


    Thus, the meeting ended with everyone in high spirits.


    People praised Lord ¡°Remnant Flame¡± for his righteousness and wished them success in eliminating the Red Dragon, bringing peace back to the Northern people. Of course, more importantly, was to maintain their noble status.


    ¡­


    As the meeting ended, people began to leave.


    Schroeder left a teleportation coordinate, inviting Cassius to a secret place prepared specifically in the Boske Duchy tomorrow morning to discuss the specifics of their cooperation.


    Cassius, however, did not rush to leave but stayed waiting in place. As expected, Madam ¡°Silver Star¡± Olivia called out to him once again.


    She hurried over, her blue-gray eyes filled with a trace of concern.


    ¡°Angel, you cannot trust that human so easily, he is lying. My divination spells tell me he is

 Chapter 154 - 82 The Justice Collaboration_2

    Chapter 154: Chapter 82 The Justice Collaboration_2


    ¡°Of course I know.¡±


    Cassius replied calmly.


    Olivia was a bit puzzled, ¡°Then why did you agree to him?¡±


    Cassius looked up at the sky, a trace of determination in his golden pupils, ¡°Because a greater evil has shrouded Anzeta, I must unite all forces that can be united to eliminate that rampaging Red Dragon.¡±


    He looked at Olivia, raising an eyebrow slightly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let any evil go unpunished. Once Grey Hawk helps me kill that Red Dragon, I will eliminate him without hesitation too.¡±


    ...


    ¡°I will bring true justice and order to all of Anzeta, even all of Erezer. This has always been my goal.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Olivia was stunned.


    In her over seventy years of dragon life, she had not had much contact with Gold Dragons. Most of her companions were Silver Dragons of the same clan.


    Compared to Gold Dragons¡¯ obsession, Silver Dragons usually did not take eradicating evil as their mission. They preferred to live among humanoid creatures and enjoy life, not taking action unless faced with an aggressive enemy.


    Olivia, although having had encounters against the Dragon Shaman Cult, had never seen a Gold Dragon as dedicated to eliminating evil as the one before her. It made her feel somewhat strange but immensely moved.


    Cassius saw the Silver Dragon was stunned, the [Smooth Talker] trait in full effect.


    ¡°My father, the Ancient Gold Dragon Castro, once told me fifty years ago: The greater the power, the greater the responsibility.¡±


    ¡°This world grants us Metal Dragons a strength unmatched by mortals, and we must bear the immense responsibility of eliminating all evil. This is the world¡¯s rule.¡±


    Olivia couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Angel, your father was truly a great and wise Gold Dragon.¡±


    Cassius gazed into her eyes, speaking heavily, ¡°Olivia, I¡¯ve investigated thoroughly. That Red Dragon is incredibly strong, beyond your imagination, capable of casting Ninth Tier Spells.¡±


    Olivia¡¯s beautiful eyes instantly showed a look of astonishment.


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    As a Senior Spellcaster who had studied spells for over fifty years, few understood the difficulty of casting Ninth Tier Spells better than her. It was a dream that most mages could never achieve in their entire lives.


    But a Red Dragon, not known for spellcasting, and merely in its youth stage, capable of casting Ninth Tier Spells, was too strange.


    ¡°Nothing is impossible.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone grew heavier.


    ¡°So, if I don¡¯t participate in the next Arcane Priory, it likely means the operation has already failed. By then, I will leave a message on the battlefield at Northwind Castle, telling you the intelligence I discovered about that Red Dragon at the cost of my life.¡±


    ¡°By then, I hope you can find it and deliver it to those Knights of Justice.¡±


    ¡°Alright¡­¡±


    Olivia answered softly after a long silence.


    ¡°Angel, don¡¯t always think the worst. His Majesty Bahamut will protect you. I hope I can see you at the next Arcane Priory.¡±


    ¡°Hope so.¡±


    Cassius replied indifferently, as if he had long since disregarded his own life and death.


    He gazed into Olivia¡¯s dimly glowing blue-gray eyes, thinking that he had finally fooled this Silver Dragon, just waiting for her to deliver the goods later.


    ¡­


    Stratholme Fortress, Avenger¡¯s Chamber.


    This was a secret base specially prepared by Duke Leo of the Boske Duchy for Schroeder and others who had lost their country. Its location was extremely secret, even the spies of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s Serpentfolk did not know of its existence.


    Schroeder and six former Rackman Court Mages gathered here, waiting for the arrival of their collaborator.


    The space distorted and a portal opened.


    A noble young man, whom Cassius had transformed into, stepped out, looking around and observing the mages.


    In his eyes, these were all Fourth Level mages, not worth his attention.


    Schroeder hurriedly led the people to greet him, a fawning smile on his face, ¡°Lord Remnant Fire, welcome to your arrival. We, these homeless people, have been waiting for this moment for too long.¡±


    Cassius said calmly, ¡°The situation is urgent now, you don¡¯t need to say much. As long as the Red Dragon is not eliminated, the Northern Countries are in constant crisis.¡±


    His tone paused, a doubtful look appearing on his face.


    ¡°I just want to know, what confidence do you have to contend with that Red Dragon? Just relying on you few Court Mages?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, please don¡¯t be anxious, Lord Remnant Fire.¡±


    Schroeder replied with a wry smile.


    He pulled out an old parchment scroll from the secret chamber¡¯s hidden cabinet.


    Cassius narrowed his eyes slightly, immediately becoming alert. He could sense a dangerous aura from it¡ªthat was a forbidden secret technique against dragonkin. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle]


    Eighth Tier Spell


    The ¡°Dragon Fan Black Mage¡± Vagnard developed this spell out of his endless obsession with dragons, to study giant dragons indefinitely.


    Due to the excessive strength of dragons, this spell required over twenty spellcasters to cast together or for a legendary spellcaster to cast, using True Dragon¡¯s blood and scales as the primer. It could bind a dragon whose hierarchy of life had not reached the Ancient Dragon stage.


    Vagnard, Cassius knew this name, which was also the famous boss of Anzeta in a previous life.


    A hundred years ago, he was kidnapped and became a member of the Dragon Shaman Cult, forced to serve the Evil Dragons and Dragon Liches until a famished Red Dragon devoured his wife. Vagnard went mad.


    Since then, Vagnard became insanely obsessed with dragon strength. He captured the White Dragons of Anzeta, built the Polar Night Demon Tower, and even turned his own daughter into a half-human, half-dragon monster, becoming the so-called ¡°Dragon Fan Black Mage.¡±

 Chapter 155 - 82: Righteous Cooperation 3

    Chapter 155: Chapter 82: Righteous Cooperation 3


    Cassius furrowed his brow, a hint of rage in his voice.


    ¡°Is this from the Polar Night Demon Tower?¡±


    ¡°You dare to cooperate with that lunatic Vagnard?¡±


    Schroeder clearly did not expect the other party to know of the mysterious mage, and hastily explained: ¡°No, we did not know the origin of this scroll; we just wanted to use it against the Red Dragon.¡±


    Cassius said coldly: ¡°Lord Grey Hawk, I imagine you can guess my identity.¡±


    A powerful pressure emanated, cold sweat dripping from Schroeder¡¯s forehead. He trembled as he spoke: ¡°Of, of course, you are a Gold Dragon, a guardian of justice and order.¡±


    ...


    Cassius snorted coldly, fully displaying the pride of a Gold Dragon.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you know. Human, I will cooperate with you, but don¡¯t think about playing any tricks.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Remnant Fire.¡±


    Schroeder took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.


    ¡°Lord Remnant Fire, our plan is this: You will return to your true form and engage the Red Dragon in direct combat, luring him to a predetermined location. Then I will activate the array to bind him.¡±


    ¡°Of course¡­¡±


    ¡°We also need your scales and blood.¡±


    He stole a glance at ¡°Remnant Fire¡± and, seeing no change in his expression, he was reassured.


    Cassius questioned again.


    ¡°Surely, you few mages aren¡¯t enough to cast this Eighth Tier Spell.¡±


    Schneider answered respectfully: ¡°I am gathering spellcasters from all over, but the response has been minimal. It may take several months to prepare.¡±


    Cassius said bluntly: ¡°We do not have that much time. The Northern People are constantly in danger.¡±


    Schroeder said helplessly: ¡°But spellcasters are extremely scarce¡­¡±


    Cassius interrupted without hesitation: ¡°I have dozens of spellcasters under my command who can be summoned immediately. I also have contacts in Northwind Castle who can provide a safe area for setting up the array.¡±


    ¡°So, when can we begin?¡±


    ¡°One month.¡±


    Schroeder answered honestly.


    ¡°Ordinary mages take at least a month to learn to draw part of the array. This array is too high-level; it can only be drawn once, and once drawn, it will be completely forgotten. I will serve as the main controller of the array.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I will transport my spellcasters here one by one. I hope you succeed in one month.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Remnant Fire.¡±


    ¡­


    Northwind Castle, headquarters of the [Magic Coin] Guild.


    ¡°Five hundred and one, five hundred and two¡­¡±


    ¡°We struck it rich recently!¡±


    Charlotte, the president of the Magic Coin Guild and now a Fourth Level Mage, was eagerly counting the gold coins in the guild warehouse. Recently, they had earned a lot of gold coins by taking on tasks in the city.


    Suddenly, a faction mission refreshed on his panel.


    [Lurking Mage]


    [Court Mage Schroeder from the Former Rackman Duchy is planning revenge against the King of Ashen, Cassius. Please gather 20 players to disguise as the retainers of Gold Dragon Anhel and infiltrate the Avenger¡¯s Chamber in the Boske Duchy¡­]


    [Reward: 15,000 faction contribution per person, a total of 2,500 gold coins]


    ¡°Why is it another traitor mission?¡±


    Charlotte was about to complain, but when he saw the reward section, his eyes widened.


    ¡°Damn, such high rewards?¡±


    Their guild had made a living by being traitors, and their business skills were quite polished. This time, they might really strike it rich.


    ¡°Woohoo, let¡¯s take off!¡±


    ¡°Brothers, keep up!¡±


    ¡°Magic Coin, follow me to battle!¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ignoring the looks of madness from ordinary residents, Charlotte shouted and screamed within the guild¡¯s headquarters.

 Chapter 156 - 83: Action Begins

    Chapter 156: Chapter 83: Action Begins


    A month later, Stratholme Fortress.


    Charlotte stepped forward and reported: ¡°Sir Schroeder, my men have memorized the seventeenth part of the array, and the basic structure of Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle is complete.¡±


    ¡°Good, very good.¡±


    Schroeder revealed an expression of unconcealable joy, already imagining the success of his plans.


    ¡°Soon, I will kill that Red Dragon, become the hero of the North, and even the Rackman Duchy will fall into my hands¡­¡±


    Schroeder did not know where the Gold Dragon managed to find so many spellcasters. Although their spellcasting abilities were generally low, their speed of learning and understanding far surpassed that of ordinary people.


    ...


    ¡ªHe did not know that players could use experience to learn spells, and Charlotte fretted over this as well, simply attributing it to the exceptional talent of the Golden Dragon Kin.


    Charlotte¡¯s face immediately turned into a sycophantic grin: ¡°Sir Schroeder, about the spell scroll and gold coin you promised¡­¡±


    Schroeder¡¯s expression turned dark, but since these mages were still very useful to his plan, he impatiently waved his hand: ¡°Of course, go to Teman to retrieve them yourself¡­¡±


    Charlotte exclaimed joyfully: ¡°Thank you, Sir Schroeder.¡±


    ¡°Sky Flying Witch, go to Lord Teman and collect 200 gold coins and a Third Tier Spell scroll.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Got it, boss.¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch skipped towards the chamber¡¯s warehouse to ask the overseer for the reward.


    Charlotte had originally thought this double-agent task would require a lot of effort to flatter and please, but upon arrival found that they could actually swindle spell scrolls and gold coins from the Northern Kingdom.


    Now, they no longer wanted to leave, even considering making the Avenger¡¯s Chamber the new base for the [Magic Coin] guild.


    Suddenly, a portal of flames opened.


    A young noble with black hair and golden eyes stepped out¡ªit was the incarnation of Cassius.


    ¡°Lord Grey Hawk, the appointed date has arrived. Are you ready?¡±


    On seeing this, Schroeder hurried to greet him, respectfully saying: ¡°Your subordinates have been learning very quickly. I believe we are well-prepared. However, Lord Remnant Fire, please wait a moment. I have also gathered a group of righteous spellcasters from across the kingdom to join us in this operation.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, they are absolutely loyal.¡±


    ¡°They will be the central controllers of the array.¡±


    Schroeder crushed the Text Transmission Spell crystal in his hand.


    As spatial ripples formed, twelve grey-robed mages appeared one after another in the chamber.


    Cassius¡¯s gaze swept over them and he discovered that no less than four of them were of the seventh level. In a magical wasteland like Anzeta, this already made them high rank spellcasters. It seemed Schroeder still did not fully trust this ¡°Gold Dragon¡± and had assigned the most crucial parts of Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle to his own men.


    Nevertheless, this was just to Cassius¡¯s liking.


    ¡°Gather them all at once so I don¡¯t have to waste effort capturing you one by one, how fortuitous,¡± Cassius thought, a playful glint flashing in his golden eyes.


    His expression unchanged, Cassius just slightly nodded: ¡°Court mages from the Northern Kingdom, this looks promising.¡±


    ¡°Greetings, Lord Remnant Fire.¡±


    The twelve grey-robed mages respectfully saluted Cassius. The Gold Dragon was a revered entity in any part of Erezer, even treated as an honored guest by the emperor in southern Fadlan, let alone in a remote area like Anzeta.


    The twenty members of the [Magic Coin] guild also gathered around.


    By now, over forty spellcasters crowded the narrow chamber. This was a considerable force in all of Anzeta; even the Rackman Duchy, in its heyday, never had so many court spellcasters at its service.


    They were all gathered here with one goal¡ªto slay a dragon.


    Of course, most of them were undercovers from the Ashen Kingdom, and even Cassius himself had personally arrived, truly outnumbering the actual organization members.


    Looking around, Cassius declared passionately: ¡°Everyone, the situation is dire now, and the Northern countries are on the brink of disaster. I will not waste many words.¡±


    ¡°Whether we can kill that Red Dragon, success rests on this moment!¡±


    ¡°I believe the evil dragon¡¯s reign will end soon, and justice and order will prevail in the North!¡±


    ¡°Clap clap clap¡­¡±


    The spellcasters rose and applauded as though their great success were already achieved.


    Charlotte watched Cassius¡¯s earnest expression and clapped while commenting in the guild chat: ¡°I admire him. This faction leader acts even better than we do¡ª¡±


    ¡°These mages are pitiful.¡±


    ¡°Haha, everyone but Schroeder is an undercover.¡±


    After Cassius¡¯s brief speech ended, Schroeder approached, asking somewhat anxiously: ¡°Lord Remnant Fire, can you truly provide a completely secure location near Northwind Castle for us to cast our spells?¡±


    He still had some doubts in his heart.


    Northwind Castle was now the center of the Ashen Kingdom, heavily guarded; one wrong move could lead to complete annihilation.


    Cassius glanced at him, his golden eyes showing a hint of disdain: ¡°What, human, are you questioning a dragon¡¯s capability?¡±


    An invisible pressure emanated from him.


    Schroeder became convinced it was indeed a genuine Gold Dragon, as such inherent arrogance could not be faked.


    Sweat trickled down his forehead, and he quickly answered: ¡°No, Lord Remnant Fire, I did not mean that. I just wanted to confirm that if you can provide a safe place near Northwind Castle, that would be best.¡±


    He continued: ¡°To be honest, I have also contacted the Boske Duchy and the Norton Principality. The dukes have specially dispatched the Lionheart Knights and Double-Headed Eagle Warriors to wait near Northwind Castle. Once we kill that giant dragon, they will immediately come to our succor, helping us escape smoothly.¡±


    ¡°After the evil dragon¡¯s death, his remaining forces will be of little concern, as the duchies around will dispatch their elite forces to eradicate the dragon¡¯s surviving retainers.¡±


    ¡°Then, the North¡¯s order will return to its usual peace and stability.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s eyes lit up: ¡°Excellent, you have done well.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, this time our combined forces will definitely kill the evil dragon!¡±


    However, Schroeder thought Cassius was excited because of the additional reinforcements, while Cassius was actually pleased to be able to capture even more of the enemy¡¯s elite forces at once.


    Never would Schroeder have imagined that the ¡°Gold Dragon¡± before him was the very target of his plan, his greatest foe, the terrifying Red Dragon known as the King of Ashen and Infernal Calamity.


    ¡°Begin your ¡®dragon slaying¡¯ operation quickly, I am already¡­ impatient.¡±

 Chapter 157 - 84 Vagnards Dragon Binding Magic Circle

    Chapter 157: Chapter 84 Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle


    Northwind Castle Suburbs.


    Portals opened one after another, bringing mages to a hidden clearing.


    This clearing was not far from Northwind Castle, surrounded by tall dense forest. The area was quite quiet, and the flat ground had nothing but wildflowers and weeds.


    This was the site Cassius had chosen to build a grand palace in the future, the ¡°safe casting place¡± he had provided for Schroeder.


    In a month¡¯s time, he had completely transformed this place into his Kingdom Domain.


    Schroeder looked around nervously. He did not sense any danger, but the higher rank mage¡¯s intuition made him detect a slight anomaly.


    ...


    ¡°Lord Remnant Fire, it seems a bit¡­ too quiet here.¡±


    He gently felt the air with his hand.


    ¡°The flow of elements here is extremely calm.¡±


    Cassius calmly explained, ¡°This is a barrier of breath isolation. It prevents prying from the outside. Otherwise, how do you think I managed to create this secret base right under that red dragon¡¯s nose? It cost me quite a bit of effort.¡±


    ¡°Truly ingenious.¡±


    Schroeder nodded slightly.


    After all, that red dragon could cast Eighth Tier Spells. Being cautious was very normal.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start drawing the array.¡±


    Schroeder ordered.


    His voice trembled slightly. The Greyhawk Mage knew this was his last chance to redeem himself.


    The twelve Grey Robe Mages cast sound isolation spells, just in case.


    The parchment scroll radiated a dangerous aura, and its complex and abundant magical power poured out.


    A man¡¯s strange wailing echoed, blocked by the spell but still resonating within the clearing.


    ¡°Fear it, praise the dragon¡¯s strength.¡±


    ¡°Its gaping maw can swallow me whole.¡±


    ¡°Its sharp fangs can tear me apart.¡±


    ¡°Its flame can burn me to ashes.¡±


    ¡°I will control it, I will bind it, I will become the dragon!¡±


    The players guided that magical power, drawing complex and eerie patterns on the ground. These patterns combined to form the powerful Eighth Tier Spell¡ª Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle.


    ¡°It¡¯s finally starting.¡±


    ¡°I will become a dragon-slaying hero.¡±


    Thinking of the red dragon that had destroyed everything he had, hatred gleamed deeply in Schroeder¡¯s eyes. He had dreamt countless times about thrusting his sword into that red dragon¡¯s chest, making the dragon wail and die before him, just as the Allied Forces had once been slaughtered.


    Schroeder took a deep breath, stepped forward a few paces, and walked to the center of the array.


    The twelve court spellcasters of the Northern Kingdom took their positions at the central nodes, forming a circle.


    The twenty-something players stood at the outer edge, handling the most basic spell controls.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    As the last controller took their place, the complex patterns lit up immediately. The surging magic flow roared within the array like a massive vortex. Even Cassius could deeply feel the terrifying power.


    Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle, being an Eighth Tier Spell, was chaotic and complex. Even with dozens of spellcasters working together, it was extremely draining.


    Schroeder struggled to maintain primary control over the array, gasping for breath as he pleaded:


    ¡°Lord Remnant Fire¡­¡±


    ¡°Please transform back to your noble and grand form, and lower yourself to provide a dragon scale and fifteen drops of dragon blood for the binding array.¡±


    ¡°As long as you lure that red dragon here, I can ensure it gets trapped!¡±


    Cassius curiously observed him, his body flickering with subtle magical radiance.


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    His body rapidly expanded, and a colossal figure soon dominated everyone¡¯s sight. The enormous shadow cast by it enveloped those within the array.


    Schroeder looked up in amazement.


    But soon, that amazement turned into terror.


    ¡ª¡ªA body nearly twenty meters long, as if the embodiment of strength, covered in crimson scales. Jagged spikes jutted outward, and the backward-swept fringe extended to the tail tip. The massive horns atop its head resembled a majestic crown, and its golden, vertical pupils danced with fierce flames.


    This was no gold dragon at all but an incredibly terrifying red dragon!


    Moreover, Schroeder recognized it at once. It was the one that haunted his nightmares countless times, the Infernal Calamity, the King of Ashen, Red Dragon Cassius!


    Schroeder stood trembling, shaking his head repeatedly as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing.


    ¡°No, no, this is absolutely impossible.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re no damn gold dragon. You are that cursed red dragon!¡±


    Schroeder had lost his sanity, pointing at the players, shouting maniacally.


    ¡°They, they are all spies too!¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°This was all a lie from the start!¡±


    Over twenty players revealed their true identities as spies, launching attacks on the defenseless court mages. Various spell radiances flew about chaotically.


    The red dragon did not attack but watched those panicked mages from above with a hint of mockery in its golden eyes.


    ¡°For justice¡­ isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°I never said I was a so-called gold dragon.¡±


    ¡°Schroeder.¡±


    Schroeder had fully come to his senses by now, realizing he had fallen into a trap. His eyes burned with endless hatred and bitterness directed at Cassius.


    ¡°Red dragon, you ruined everything I had.¡±


    ¡°My family, my status¡­¡±


    ¡°You even crushed my last hope¡­ I want you dead! At any cost!¡±


    Schroeder, driven mad, as the primary controller, forcibly activated the incomplete Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle, attempting a final gamble against Cassius with the strong magic targeting dragons.


    However, Cassius had been prepared.


    In this month, he had completely transformed the area into his Kingdom Domain.


    The red dragon¡¯s eyes glowed with golden energy, an ethereal crown crowning him with his will.


    An invisible aura spread out, and the surrounding elements fell under his control. All magical energy became his subjects; even the Magic Web submitted to his will.


    Kingdom Domain, ForbiddenProhibition.


    Instantly, the surrounding magical energy fell silent.


    Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle dimmed once more.


    ¡°Damn, damn it¡­¡±


    ¡°It failed.¡±


    Schroeder, losing the support of that powerful force, felt the dead magic domain-like space around him. His last resort was futile.


    He collapsed to the ground, his face pale as death, his eyes empty, filled with deep despair.


    The twelve court mages tried to escape using spatial magic, but the surrounding Magic Web didn¡¯t budge, rendering them no different than ordinary people.


    The Great Goblin army surrounded them, capturing the powerless mages. They would be sent to Ramp¡¯s new ¡°Tower of the Great Sage¡± to become unfortunate test subjects.

 Chapter 158 - 85: Ramps New Ornament

    Chapter 158: Chapter 85: Ramp¡¯s New Ornament


    The Dragon Vein Ogre Mage Ramp had been waiting for a long time, and now he lazily flew over from the city, landing with a thud.


    It was clear that his Flight Magic had improved significantly, as he could now control it freely.


    Ramp greedily eyed the unconscious mages, saliva nearly dripping from his menacing mouth. For him, and indeed for the entire Ashen Kingdom, each mage was a valuable, reusable resource.


    Yes, resources¡ªthe vast spell knowledge in the mages¡¯ minds and their incredibly wise brains were extremely useful to Ramp.


    Ramp approached the Red Dragon, his face brimming with the joy of a bountiful harvest. He respectfully said:


    ¡°Congratulations, Master, Your wisdom shames me. You managed to round up these rats hiding in the gutters.¡±


    ...


    Cassius nodded slightly.


    ¡°These mages are yours to handle. Make good use of their worth, let them become assets of the Ashen Nest.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp grinned, unable to hide the grotesque smile on his ugly face.


    Cassius noticed Ramp¡¯s overwhelming excitement and grew curious.


    Had he eaten those mages?


    So Cassius casually asked:


    ¡°Ramp, what did you do with the Bennett we caught earlier, and his mage apprentices?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Ramp realized the Red Dragon suspected him of cannibalizing, a suspicion not without precedent.


    He quickly responded:


    ¡°Reporting to Master, please rest assured, our ¡®Tower of the Great Sage¡¯ has a complete process in place. There is no chance of secret eating.¡±


    Ramp opened up, introducing with great enthusiasm:


    ¡°First, we strip them of their magical items. These will be added to the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s inventory, which means your treasury.


    ¡°Next, we subject them to severe torture, while utilizing the Truth Spell to extract the spell knowledge and intelligence from the spellcasters¡¯ minds.¡±


    ¡°Finally, when they are thoroughly exhausted and at their most vulnerable, we can cast Charming Spells on them to completely break down their psychological defenses, ensuring total control over them.¡±


    Cassius, who either usually slept or researched spells, paid little attention to the specifics of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s affairs, leaving them to his trusted subordinates.


    Hearing this, he gained some understanding of Ramp¡¯s operations.


    ¡°Where did they end up?¡±


    ¡°Most of the mage apprentices have become menial laborers within the tower. Their lives, even their thoughts, are under my control. Any signs of trouble can be immediately eradicated, with no unusual situations occurring.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°As for the senior mage Bennett from Victoria Port¡­¡±


    Ramp lowered his head, his tone hesitant but continued speaking:


    ¡°His spellcasting ability was too strong, making it difficult to control him. Even if successful, it posed significant risk, potentially becoming an unstable factor within the Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°So, I made a unilateral decision to kill him and turn him into a magical item. Master, please forgive me. This item was only just completed, and I haven¡¯t had time to report it to you.¡±


    The Dragon Vein Ogre unveiled a new pendant on his chest.


    ¡ªIt was a human skull, even featuring a fresh, red, wet brain, preserved by the power of Spatial Magic. Mithril chains connected it on both sides, hanging from the ogre¡¯s thick neck.


    On Ramp¡¯s massive frame, the skull indeed looked like a dainty pendant.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Listening to Ramp¡¯s guilty words and seeing his bashful expression, even Cassius was momentarily speechless.


    Bennett¡¯s Wisdom


    Quality: Rare


    Creator: Ramp


    Introduction: The Ogre Mage Ramp enjoyed a congenial conversation with the noble mage Bennett from Victoria Port, appreciating his wisdom and considering him a close friend. Bennett felt fortunate, thinking he would be freed by his ¡®friend,¡¯ only to meet Ramp¡¯s slaughter¡ªRamp didn¡¯t even use his preferred club, fearing damage to the precious brain.


    Thus, through a series of careful experiments, Ramp permanently hung this ¡®friend¡¯s¡¯ wisdom around his neck. When the wind blows through the skull¡¯s gaps, if you listen closely, you might still hear Bennett¡¯s dying scream: ¡°Ramp¡ªwhy did you kill me?¡±


    Effect: Intelligence +3


    Proficiencies: Arcane +4, Knowledge +4, Research +3


    You can store spells that Bennett learned in life within it as additional spell slots, to be cast at any time, including Force Wall Technique, Monster Immobilization Spell, and Protective Energy Damage. The number of spells it can store is four, requiring a day to pre-load them.


    After reading through the item¡¯s details, Cassius looked at Ramp with an increasingly strange expression. This guy definitely had the makings of a deranged boss.


    ¡°Intelligence boost, spell storage.¡±


    ¡°If you ignore its appearance, this is absolutely divine gear for a mage.¡±


    Cassius sighed inwardly.


    But this item wasn¡¯t much use to him, as his spellcasting didn¡¯t rely on intelligence.


    With this Bennett¡¯s Wisdom crafted by his own hands equipped, Ramp could achieve an astounding intelligence boost of 20 points. For mortals, this was already pinnacle wisdom, only surpassed by Archmages with advanced spells capable of world-altering effects.


    This was a remarkable leap in capability, and it was no wonder Ramp was so excited.


    Cassius sensed the guilt, anxiety, and apprehension under Ramp¡¯s bloodline pressure.


    Considering this, Cassius calmly said: ¡°In the future, make sure to report any experiments of this level to me in advance. This is the last time it won¡¯t be excused.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp knelt down in response.


    ¡°These mages are yours to handle. Extract their value completely.¡±


    ¡°I will complete the task, Master!¡±


    Finding Cassius not angry, and gaining a new batch of mages for experiments, Ramp was exceedingly delighted.


    Especially with the ¡®Grey Hawk¡¯ Schroeder, whose powerful spells like Ice Storm had long been coveted by Ramp since their days at the Arcane Priory.


    After bidding farewell to Cassius, Ramp hurriedly left with the mages.


    Even Cassius watched them with a hint of pity, for they were about to face inhuman torment. Ramp¡¯s hundreds of simultaneous experiments were no joke.


    After the loss of its primary controller, the completed Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle remained in place, temporarily suppressed by the power of the Kingdom Domain, waiting quietly for its next use.


    ¡°The Lionheart Knights of the Boske House should be arriving soon¡­¡±


    ¡°Schroeder, I really must thank you for helping me lure this big, juicy fish.¡±


    Cassius thought.


    The Lionheart Knights, the Boske Family¡¯s absolute elite force, were a formidable presence in battle. Even Dragon Vein Descendants struggled against them. During the Triel Conference, just seven of them supporting led to considerable trouble for Dolores, placing them high on the danger scale within the Ashen Kingdom.

 Chapter 159 - 86: Lionheart Knights

    Chapter 159: Chapter 86: Lionheart Knights


    Near Northwind Castle, in a hidden spot in the Zereya Hills.


    More than twenty members of the Lionheart Knights lay in concealment, quietly waiting.


    They were clad in heavy armor, with breastplates shaped like the roaring head of a lion, appearing mighty and imposing, and red cloaks bearing the emblem of the Boske House with two crossed swords and a lion.


    One knight, watching the bipedal wyverns patrolling the sky, asked uneasily:


    ¡°Captain, we haven¡¯t seen the signal from His Grace, Duke Leo. Could they have already failed?¡±


    ¡°Keep waiting, Jaden, we have time.¡±


    ...


    The voice was calm and steady.


    The knight who spoke stood out from the others, with a circle of black lion¡¯s mane around his neck, and the lion on his breastplate looking more lifelike¡ªhe was Frederick Orbi, one of the original seven Knight Commanders of the Lionheart Knights, known as the Black Lion Knight.


    Now there were only six Knight Commanders. His childhood friend and brother-like comrade, the White Lion Knight Tarik, had perished in that tragic event, leaving him in deep sorrow. He swore revenge against that Red Dragon, and so volunteered for this mission against the Ashen Kingdom.


    ¡°Tarik, the evil dragon will soon be beheaded, and your soul will find peace in God¡¯s realm.¡±


    Frederick stroked the pocket watch in his hand, silently making a vow.


    It was a gift from Tarik ten years ago, engraved with the emblem of Heronis, the God of Bravery, constantly reminding him to be a brave and fearless warrior.


    Jaden was still a bit worried, as they had already penetrated deep into enemy territory, with their safety not guaranteed.


    ¡°But this is near Northwind Castle, and the patrols of the Ashen Kingdom are frequent. I¡¯m afraid that¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid we might be annihilated here?¡±


    ¡°So you must always remain vigilant about the surroundings. Rest assured, according to the Duke¡¯s orders, if we encounter a life-threatening situation, whether or not the task is completed, we must immediately retreat.¡±


    Frederick spoke calmly.


    As an experienced Lionheart Knight, he was fully aware of the perilous and challenging nature of this mission, knowing that their enemy was the ¡°Infernal Calamity¡± that had crushed thirty thousand from the Allied Forces,


    but he kept reminding himself to hold firm belief, trusting in his ability to complete the mission successfully, or at the very least, retreat safely.


    ¡°Yes, captain.¡±


    ¡°Wait, look¡ªisn¡¯t that the signal from His Grace?¡±


    In the distance, golden ripples appeared in mid-air¡ªclearly the signal arranged by Duke Leo. Only Paladins with Divine Sense could see these subtle radiant energies and react quickly, ensuring their communication went unnoticed by the Ashen Kingdom.


    Faint dragon roars seemed to drift from afar, already drawing the attention of some Ashen Kin.


    ¡°Could they really have¡­¡±


    ¡°Succeeded?¡±


    Frederick¡¯s face lit up with excitement.


    Even the always composed Black Lion Knight was thrilled at this possible reality¡ªthe Red Dragon had been subdued or even killed, and the enormous shadow looming over the Northern Countries had dissipated!


    ¡°That is the signal of success! Quickly, go to support those heroes!¡±


    ¡°Yes, captain!¡±


    Under the effect of the invisibility screen, the Lionheart Knights advanced rapidly along the pre-planned route, camouflaged by both terrain and spells, towards the signal¡¯s origin¡ªthe dense forest.


    The journey was surprisingly unimpeded, without the anticipated heavy obstruction from wyverns or the Goblin Corps.


    In just a few dozen minutes, the concealed Lionheart Knights quickly entered the designated area.


    ¡°Captain, is this the place?¡±


    ¡°It should be. The signal was sent from here. My perception can¡¯t be wrong, those remnants of holy energy are still lingering in the sky.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But why¡­¡±


    ¡°Is it so quiet here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Let¡¯s maintain our guard and continue to approach.¡±


    In Frederick¡¯s estimation, after the Red Dragon was restrained, the Knights of Justice might have engaged in a fierce battle with the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s retainers, with swarms of wyverns chasing behind them.


    Even the rumored ¡°Man-Eating Mage¡± Ramp, ¡°Slaughtering Warlord¡± Dolores, and ¡°Gold-Crazed Demon¡± Jin Ya, leaders of the Ashen Kingdom, might be frantically hunting them down.


    The other Lionheart Knights thought the same, already gripping their Silver Swords and shields, repeatedly reciting the Holy Oath Magic in their minds.


    They were ready for a hard battle, even mentally prepared to die heroically and gloriously.


    But events did not unfold as the Knights expected; the forest felt like an ordinary woodland, so quiet that one could hear the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.


    Yes, it was too quiet.


    So quiet it was eerie.


    No signs of a fierce battle were evident.


    In the battle-hardened eyes of Frederick, this looked more like a trap, luring them in.


    But if the signal was real, only Duke Leo and Schroeder would understand its significance. What if it was a genuine call and their mission failed?


    Then he would be the one who trapped heroes, placing them in jeopardy.


    This plunged him into inner turmoil.


    In this seemingly calm and safe atmosphere, beads of cold sweat appeared on Frederick¡¯s forehead.


    When facing unknown dangers, he felt fear.


    He wished to be as brave and fearless as his childhood friend Tarik, facing death without hesitation.


    But Frederick knew that even after defeating hundreds and becoming a renowned Knight Commander of the Lionheart Knights, deep down, he harbored a sense of inferiority¡ªunlike the radiant Tarik, he had, to some degree, relied on Tarik¡¯s goodwill to become the Black Lion Knight.


    ¡°We must retreat.¡±


    Frederick ultimately chose to trust his intuition.


    He told his trusted aides, ¡°There¡¯s something strange here. We should retreat quickly. Once we reach the previous safe zone, I¡¯ll activate the portal I prepared there, and we will all leave immediately.¡±


    ¡°What about those we were supposed to meet?¡±


    ¡°Trust my intuition. We don¡¯t have time to worry about that. They might have already¡­ perished in the Dragon¡¯s Maw, or released the signal in panic.¡±


    ¡°Yes, captain.¡±


    Under the cautious leadership of the Knight Commander, disregarding mission completion, the Lionheart Knights retreated.


    Enclosed by an invisibility screen crafted by a court mage, distorting the incoming light, they moved stealthily, undetected by patrolling wyverns and Goblins.


    Just as the Lionheart Knights were quickly moving.


    A massive shadow fell from the sky, engulfing them entirely¡ªthe screen had failed!


    Frederick looked up in bewilderment.

 Chapter 160 - 87 Fire and Shield

    Chapter 160: Chapter 87 Fire and Shield


    The expansive dragon wings unfurled, slowly flapping, blocking the sunlight over the knights, the enormous dragon¡¯s body hovering in the air, its edges seemingly gilded with a golden trim.


    Just as the rumors described: golden vertical pupils, a robust body, menacing horns, and thick scales¡­


    Under the overwhelming presence of the Dragon¡¯s Might, the Lionheart Knights held their breath. This was ¡°Infernal Calamity¡± Cassius, the epitome of pride and brutality, the Red Dragon who single-handedly demolished thirty thousand allied forces, and their target for this mission.


    At this moment, everyone couldn¡¯t help but waver in their hearts.


    This thing was utterly invincible. How could they ever fantasize about killing such a dreadful monster?


    That monster in the sky opened his mouth, revealing fangs, wreathed in searing white smoke that could distort the air.


    ...


    ¡°I hear¡­ you want to slay a dragon?¡±


    Sparks danced in those golden vertical pupils.


    Frederick looked up at the sky, his expression frozen.


    ¡°Tarik, did you die at the hands of such a monster¡­?¡±


    ¡°Even an excellent knight like you perished in a sea of flames. How can I possibly defeat it?¡±


    He instinctively rubbed the pocket watch in his hand, shaking his head and muttering to himself.


    ¡°Captain! What should we do?¡±


    But soon his subordinate¡¯s reminder snapped him out of his daze, realizing they were on a battlefield, at a life-or-death juncture!


    Years of training had made it instinctual. The ¡°Black Lion Knight¡± raised his Sword of Oath, commanding in a loud voice, ¡°Everyone, listen up! Protection link!¡±


    The Lionheart Knights simultaneously raised their Silver Swords, which emitted dazzling light. As Holy Oath Magic took effect, luminous chains connected them, ultimately linking more than twenty of them together. They all raised their heavy shields, forming an indestructible radiant fortress.


    They fought and defended as one, covering each other.


    Damage hitting any member would be distributed among the more than twenty of them.


    This made the Lionheart Knights a moving fortress on the battlefield, both impenetrable in defense and devastating in attack. Any commander would dread seeing dozens of Lionheart Knights charging at their position; they were known as the ¡°Lion¡¯s Bastion.¡±


    Cassius still hovered in the sky, leisurely flapping his wings as he observed the knights below.


    ¡°Is this the tortoise shell Dolores mentioned?¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    The Ashen Kingdom¡¯s forces had completely surrounded the area. Cassius had no worries the knights would escape; instead, he grew curious and wanted to study this special sub-class of the Boske Family: the [Lionheart Knights].


    With this in mind, Cassius swung his claws towards the ground.


    [Scratch Technique]


    The barely discernable claw-shaped Magical Field materialized before the Red Dragon, and with a casual wave of his claw, this magical power was directed at the Lionheart Knights on the ground.


    Frederick looked at the gigantic claw marks descending from the sky, his face immediately tense, shouting loudly:


    ¡°Everyone, defensive stance!¡±


    A light ¡°swish¡± was heard as the Lionheart Knights uniformly raised their Silver Shields, engraved with lion emblems, forming an airtight defense with the shields above their heads.


    ¡°Skrriiiik¡ª¡±


    As the ear-piercing sound of metal scraping echoed, three narrow, penetrating scars appeared on the giant shield.


    The tremendous force transmitted through the shields to everyone, nearly breaking their formation with a single swipe.


    ¡°Hold it!¡±


    Frederick roared.


    As the luminous chains flickered alternately, the vast force was distributed among each Lionheart Knight, making their faces contorted and sweat bead on their foreheads.


    To withstand Cassius¡¯s attack and disperse the force, they even pressed shallow pits into the ground.


    Cassius looked at the still tightly packed shield formation, amazed, and remarked:


    ¡°Tsk tsk, quite a sturdy tortoise shell, no wonder it gave Dolores so much trouble.¡±


    Though it was just a casual dragon kin spell, given Cassius¡¯s current spell power and his inherent strength, even a random attack could easily handle a typical high-rank warrior.


    ¡°So, can you withstand the flames?¡±


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, gently opening his jaws.


    Fiery light surged from deep in his throat.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Immediately, scorching flames poured from the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth, surging toward the Lionheart Knights on the ground.


    ¡°It¡¯s Dragon Breath!¡±


    The adjutant loudly reminded.


    ¡°So hot, so scalding.¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That was what everyone felt in their hearts.


    Feeling the blistering heat, the Lionheart Knights immediately thought of the rumor of the ¡°Infernal Calamity¡± incinerating the allied forces with flames.


    But they didn¡¯t know this was just a controlled breath attack by Cassius.


    Facing these terrifying flames, the Lionheart Knights instinctively wanted to disperse and flee. Sweating profusely, their hands holding swords trembled slightly. Yet years of training made them stand firm without orders.


    ¡°Don¡¯t run, scattering only means quicker death!¡±


    ¡°If you want to live, withstand the pressure!¡±


    Frederick commanded harshly.


    The Lionheart Knights maintained their giant shields to fend off the sky, a thin layer of light appearing outside the shields, resisting the continuous fire assault.


    ¡°Lion Spirit Guardian!¡±


    The ¡°Black Lion Knight¡± Frederick finally issued a fierce roar.


    ¡ª This was the trump card of the Lionheart Knights. They could summon a Radiant Spirit Body, uniting all knights¡¯ indomitable wills to attack the enemy.


    A colossal lion phantom emerged from the tightly packed formation of the Lionheart Knights, vivid and roaring, momentarily holding back the flames, even showing signs of launching a counterattack.


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±


    ¡°We are the invincible Lionheart Knights!¡±


    Frederick shouted, inspiring his comrades just like he remembered Tarik did, hoping to be as invincible and brilliant as the White Lion Knight.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°An interesting spell, it¡¯s still a biting tortoise.¡±


    Cassius beheld this Lion Spirit Body with interest.


    In his view, the combined might of the Boske¡¯s Lionheart Knights far surpassed Rackman¡¯s Northwind Eagle Guards. Their systematic Holy Oath Magic abilities were unmatched by those mere flying Eagle Guards.


    ¡°Such thick defenses, it would be a pity not to test their limits.¡±


    ¡°So, let me play with you a bit.¡±


    A malicious grin appeared on Cassius¡¯s face.


    Frenzied fire elemental energy flowed through his blood vessels into his lungs, eventually erupting.


    The flames suddenly intensified, and the temperature soared. The lion spirit body that had barely held on before now wailed, gradually deteriorating into illusion amidst the encircling flames.

 Chapter 161 - 88: The Knights Submission

    Chapter 161: Chapter 88: The Knight¡¯s Submission


    ¡°Aaargh¡ª¡ª¡±


    With a heartrending wail, the lion was completely consumed by the flames.


    The lion spirit body was not only a weapon for offense and defense but also the embodiment of the Lionheart Knights¡¯ willpower.


    At the moment the spirit body was destroyed, the Lionheart Knights suffered immense mental anguish, their heads splitting with pain. Some even trembled while holding their shields.


    Cassius had not even used his Extremely Effective Spew yet; he had simply intensified the elemental reaction of his Breath using his formidable fire element control. This Flame Breath cost him virtually nothing.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    ...


    The Breath started as a conical spread, then gradually condensed into a pillar of fire.


    The flames were first dark red, then orange, then yellow, and finally a blinding white.


    The silver shields turned red, transmitting terrifying heat, even the handles behind the shields grew unbearably hot.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    A Lionheart Knight couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, dropping his shield.


    He was immediately turned to charcoal by the surrounding flames.


    Under the baptism of the white-hot fire pillar, the giant shield composed of dozens of silver shields was shattered beyond repair, its surface melting into liquid silver, flowing like a stream!


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be burned alive!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s melting!¡±


    ¡°Fire! Fire everywhere!¡±


    Wretched cries echoed through the ranks of the Lionheart Knights.


    Some were burned alive by the searing flames, some choked to death by the thick smoke, and some were engulfed by the flowing silver, cast into struggling silver statues. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Frederick barely maintained the Guardian Aura around him, struggling to fend off the frenzied fire elements.


    ¡°Worthy of the infamous ¡®Infernal Calamity,¡¯ truly a hellish sight¡­¡±


    He looked up at the blinding white flames descending from the sky like divine retribution, watching his comrades die in agony, their faces contorted in horror, hearing their anguished cries¡­


    The face of this ¡°Black Lion Knight¡± exhibited an inexplicable calm, perhaps the last serenity before death.


    ¡°How can we win against such a monster¡­ even someone like Tarik is dead.¡±


    ¡°If it were Tarik, what would he do¡­¡±


    Frederick bowed his head, as if lost in thought.


    He realized suddenly that he had never been that kind of person.


    Loyalty, courage, justice¡ªthey had never aligned with his gloomy and indifferent nature.


    Yes, he was not the famed ¡°White Lion Knight,¡± not the one who single-handedly defeated hundreds of enemy heroes, even though he had become one of the Lionheart Knights¡¯ commanders, he could never follow in that deceased knight¡¯s footsteps. He was merely a poor imitation of Tarik.


    ¡°Why, I¡¯m not dead yet¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon in the sky looked down at the ravaged land, momentarily ceasing its furious flames.


    ¡°Those who last long under dragonflame, I admire you.¡±


    His powerful voice echoed over the land.


    ¡°Submit to me, serve the Ashen Kingdom, and I will grant you great power and long life!¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, only complete death awaits you!¡±


    The remaining Lionheart Knights on the ground raised their heads, glaring at the Red Dragon in the sky.


    As the most elite of the Boske Duchy, they were mostly nobles who had received the best knightly education from a young age and had sworn sacred oaths of loyalty. They represented not just themselves but the honor of their entire families.


    To become retainers of an evil dragon was, to them, not only the erasure of individual identity but also an eternal disgrace to their families.


    ¡°You delude yourself, evil dragon!¡±


    Adjudant Jaden, eyes bloodshot, stood with his sword pointed at the Red Dragon in the sky, firing a Guiding Light Arrow.


    He knew this attack was futile, but it was his last act of defiance as a knight, representing the courage to charge against an invincible enemy.


    Indeed, the light vanished before it even came close.


    And a fireball followed, reducing Jaden to charcoal.


    ¡°Impressive courage, but your strength does not match it,¡±


    Cassius said coldly.


    Seeing Jaden¡¯s death, the knights did not feel fear, but rather became even more enraged.


    ¡°Evil dragon, your tyranny will end!¡±


    ¡°My death is not the end, rebels will never be scarce!¡±


    ¡°For the Boske Duchy! For Duke Leo!¡±


    As the most loyal and powerful knights of the Boske House, they deemed being killed by a formidable foe as a badge of honor. Even in this fatal deadlock, they chose to become heroic martyrs, like Don Quixotes charging windmills, attacking the Red Dragon in the sky.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    Fireballs shot from the Red Dragon¡¯s maw, landing precisely on those knights.


    The sound of burning bodies echoed, sparse flames flickered on the wasteland, wails continued, and the Lionheart Knights perished one by one.


    Soon, only the last Lionheart Knight remained¡ª¡±Black Lion Knight¡± Frederick.


    Unlike those noble knights who embodied the honor of their families, Frederick, who grew up in a monastery, had no kin. The only one he considered a brother was Tarik.


    Just moments ago, Frederick had also tried to launch a fearless charge like his comrades, fulfilling his last duty as a Lionheart Knight.


    But no matter what, he couldn¡¯t force his body to embrace death.


    His nature was what it was, indifferent to loyalty, honor, and the so-called knightly spirit.


    Frederick had spent his life following in Tarik¡¯s footsteps, but he had never experienced living for himself, even if it meant doing so as a retainer of an evil dragon.


    ¡°I am not Tarik, nor even a so-called Lionheart Knight.¡±


    ¡°I am just myself.¡±


    ¡°A petty man putting self-interest above all else.¡±


    Frederick mumbled, telling himself this.


    The Red Dragon in the sky descended with a roar, raising dust and cracking the ground.


    Cassius looked down at this lone ¡°Black Lion Knight¡± with a playful glint in his golden eyes. He saw the knight¡¯s inner turmoil and confusion, finding it amusing.


    But he said nothing more, nor needed to, simply stating flatly,


    ¡°Surrender, or die.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Surrender.¡±


    Frederick gritted his teeth and bowed his head.


    Like a fateful decision, the once ¡°Black Lion Knight¡± finally surrendered to the evil dragon, submitting to his former enemy.


    The pocket watch inscribed with the crest of Heronis, the God of Bravery, fell to the ground, covered in a thin layer of dust, as if it had never truly belonged to Frederick, not even for a moment.

 Chapter 162 - 89: Dragonsworn Holy Warrior

    Chapter 162: Chapter 89: Dragonsworn Holy Warrior


    Northwind Castle, Council Hall.


    Cassius lay sprawled on the massive iron throne, looking down at Frederick who was kneeling on the ground. His voice was slightly languid.


    ¡°Frederick, you are one of the seven great knight commanders of the Lionheart Knights. Why did you choose to betray the Boske Duchy and submit to me?¡±


    ¡°Look at me, Frederick.¡±


    ¡°To survive, to gain greater power.¡±


    ¡°And also¡­ to choose my own destiny.¡±


    ...


    After a moment of hesitation, Frederick answered truthfully. He mustered the courage to raise his head and look directly into the red dragon¡¯s golden vertical pupils.


    Just in that moment of silence, his heart pounded, and his back was already soaked with sweat.


    Finally, the red dragon¡¯s voice sounded again.


    ¡°Very well, you did not lie. Otherwise, I would have burned you to ashes.¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Kingdom needs ambitious people. As for loyalty¡­ heh, this is not an issue for me.¡±


    Cassius slowly stood up, leaning his head closer and observing him carefully.


    [Based on your own strength, you can observe the following information] S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Black Lion Knight ¨C Frederick]


    Basic Ability: Tenth-Level Lionheart Knight


    Challenge Level: 10 (5900 xp)


    Assessment: The last among the seven knight commanders of the Boske Duchy¡¯s Lionheart Knights, excellent in sword and shield combat techniques, he became a knight commander through outstanding performance in battle.


    He was indeed one of the seven great knight commanders. Although lacking loyalty, his combat prowess was undeniable.


    A tenth-level Lionheart Knight would still be considered high-level combat strength even in the Ashen Kingdom, only a notch below the top-tier forces like Ramp and Dolores.


    However, his current state could not be maintained for long. [Lionheart Knight] was a faction subclass derived from the [Oath of the Crown] Paladin. The moment he surrendered to the red dragon and betrayed the duke he served, he renounced the loyalty oath of the Lionheart Knight¡ªwords turned into action. Without loyalty, oaths and laws were meaningless.


    In just a few days, the shattering of the holy oath would cause him to lose his strength as a Lionheart Knight and all his holy oath magic, turning instead into something akin to Mezulash¡¯s Oathbreaker.


    The conversion of Frederick was imminent.


    And bestowing the bloodline gift upon such a high-level retainer was very profitable, with very few chances of failure.


    Moreover, according to Cassius¡¯s experiments, combining his bloodline gift with existing occupations could create unique faction subclasses for the Ashen Kingdom, even bestowing these to players to make them die-hard loyalists of the Ashen Kingdom.


    The Lionheart Knight Order possessed comprehensive capabilities, playing significant roles in both positional and skirmish battles. Dolores had long proposed the need for such an army to shield the line infantry, and even the red dragon coveted this for a long time.


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfur-scented air, feeling a bit expectant.


    ¡°Frederick, this is your choice. You will become a retainer of the True Dragon. Remember, you will completely sever ties with your past.¡±


    ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Frederick answered without hesitation.


    After experiencing this battle with a vast disparity in power, he had come to understand one simple truth¡ªthose who resist this red dragon would meet a grim fate.


    If he wanted to save his own life, he had no other choice.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s begin.¡±


    Cassius squinted slightly, exuding a powerful and nearly tangible Dragon¡¯s Might that temporarily obscured Frederick¡¯s external senses.


    A drop of scalding blood hovered in the air.


    [Bloodline Gift]


    In his plan, this new occupation did not need to be paired with Dragon Vein creatures, also somewhat considering the players¡¯ tendencies. The degree of dragonification was not as exaggerated as that of the Red Scale Conqueror.


    But even so, the power of dragon blood was not something ordinary beings could endure. One player, after buying the Dragon Blood Elixir, had bad luck, failed the constitution check, and immediately exploded to death.


    The blood flowed into Frederick¡¯s mouth, and the frantic elemental energy coursed through his throat into his body, gradually spreading throughout.


    ¡°Aah¡ª¡±


    Frederick let out painful groans, his body undergoing drastic changes, with muscles growing stronger, scales appearing on his cheeks and neck, and his eyes turning into golden vertical pupils.


    Sulfur-smelling white smoke spewed from his pores, and weak sparks even flickered from his mouth and nose.


    ¡°Aaaargh¡ª¡±


    Smoke shrouded Frederick¡¯s form, with only his continued wails and a vague silhouette visible.


    The figure struggled, writhed, and curled in the smoke.


    Soon, a man with Dragon Vein traits emerged from the swirling smoke¡ªthat was now Frederick.


    If one overlooked the conspicuous scales, his appearance was mostly unchanged, but his essence had undergone a complete transformation.


    This was the Dragon Vein, capable of bestowing magical attributes to creatures.


    Frederick knelt on the ground, struggling to open his eyes, feeling the overwhelming pressure of the red dragon before him, and the absolute suppression from the bloodline. The only thought that came to his mind was¡ªsubmission.


    He finally understood why the red dragon did not care for loyalty.


    Because the brute, instinctive suppressive force of the bloodline far surpassed the so-called knightly spirit.


    In an instant, Frederick felt a tinge of regret for binding himself to a stronger existence, but the thought vanished as quickly as it appeared.


    At this point, everything had lost meaning.


    He used to be one of the seven great knight commanders of the Lionheart Knights, known as the ¡°Black Lion Knight.¡±


    But now, Frederick had only one identity¡ªthat of the red dragon¡¯s retainer and a traitor who had surrendered to the Ashen Kingdom. He knew he had no escape route now. He could only cling tightly to the Ashen Kingdom. Once his identity was exposed, Duke Leo would hunt him down relentlessly and spare no expense to kill him.


    Frederick moved his body, still feeling somewhat unaccustomed, and spoke:


    ¡°Master, thank you¡­ for your gift. I can feel this strength is very powerful.¡±


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    Cassius observed the Dragon Vein-influenced Frederick while browsing through the panel, showing a slightly pleased expression.


    He could sense Frederick¡¯s thoughts, and that fleeting moment of regret, but it did not matter. The strong bond of the bloodline gift was enough to eradicate any treacherous intentions, not to mention he was now firmly tied to the war chariot of the Ashen Kingdom.


    [Faction Advanced Sub-occupation Constructed Successfully]


    Occupation Advancement Requirements:


    Join the [Ashen Kingdom] faction.


    Become a retainer of the faction leader [King of Ashen, Cassius].


    Have at least three levels of Holy Warrior occupational level, proficient in military weapons like shields and swords.


    Possess a certain degree of dragon bloodline.


    [Please name your faction subclass¡ª]


    Cassius glanced at the kneeling, thoughtfully looking Frederick.


    [Named: [Dragonsworn Holy Warrior]]

 Chapter 163 - 90: Dragons Pledge

    Chapter 163: Chapter 90: Dragon¡¯s Pledge


    [Dragonsworn Holy Warrior] was a faction subclass derived from the paladin, naturally requiring an oath like that of a paladin to wield holy oath magic.


    [Create an oath for the faction subclass.]


    Cassius pondered for a moment, considering the specific conditions of the Ashen Kingdom, and created a new oath based on the Oath of Conquest.


    Flames danced wildly in the air, forming lines of chaotic text¡ª


    [Dragon¡¯s Creed]


    Paladins who took the oath of Dragon¡¯s Creed would brand the creed onto their upper arms.


    ...


    Extinguish the flame of hope: Defeating the enemy in battle alone was insufficient. Your overwhelming victory must be significant enough to permanently shatter the enemy¡¯s will to fight. Swords could only end lives, but fear could end nations.


    Enforce order with an iron fist: Once you completed the conquest, tolerate no dissent. Those who adhered to the kingdom¡¯s order would be favored and become the esteemed ones, while those who opposed it would be punished and turned to ashes as a warning to others.


    The Dragon Lord above all: Cassius Klaubow Norixius was your sole master of blood, spirit, and even soul. You must unconditionally obey the commands of the Red Dragon until the end of time, or face total annihilation.


    Cassius commanded:


    ¡°Speak your oath.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Frederick knelt on one knee, looking up at the words floating mid-air, suddenly recalling the moment twelve years ago when he swore to become a Lionheart Knight.


    At that time, the energetic Duke Leo had just accomplished the great feat of forming the Lionheart Alliance, proudly placing his sword on Frederick¡¯s shoulder, conferring upon him the supreme glory of the Lionheart Knight.


    But now, things had changed; he had become a retainer of an infamous dragon who made the North tremble in fear, soon to be the claw of the Red Dragon in its conquest of the world.


    However, Frederick felt only a sense of irony and no complex emotions. After confronting his true self, he realized he was always a self-serving individual, never the knight that Tarik had hoped for.


    He calmly recited the oath:


    ¡°Extinguish the flame of hope, enforce order with an iron fist, the Dragon Lord above all.¡±


    As the words formed from flames embedded themselves in his upper arm, they left behind charred marks glowing with fire.


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    The Red Dragon pressed its sharp claw tip against Frederick¡¯s arm, piercing the skin before exerting any force. Blood seeped from where the claw touched.


    The blood caused the oath on Frederick¡¯s arm to gleam with fire.


    It connected with the Red Dragon¡¯s power, forming a bond with the dragon¡¯s magic essence, ultimately creating unique holy oath magic.


    Thus was the effect of the [Dragon¡¯s Oath].


    The faction subclass was completed.


    [Dragonsworn Holy Warrior]:


    [The Dragonsworn Holy Warriors were a special group of paladins who sought powerful strength, eternal life, or reveled in warfare and conquest, yearning for the baptism of blood and fire. Yet they all shared a common allegiance to the master of the Ashen Kingdom, the Red Dragon Cassius.


    The Dragonsworn Holy Warriors abandoned their former sense of justice, adorning their armor with the spoils taken from fallen enemies, and bestowing the cruelest deaths by fire to foes as a dreadful warning to any who dared defy their Dragon Lord¡¯s decree. Unlike typical paladin oaths, those who broke their oaths would not become Oathbreakers but would instead burn alive in both body and soul, dying in the most excruciating manner.


    When the Dragon¡¯s Roar echoed across the land, the Dragonsworn Holy Warriors would march from the horizon, mercilessly delivering the most brutal fates to enemies, sacrificing blood to their Dragon Lord.]


    [In addition to the basic abilities of paladins, [Dragonsworn Holy Warriors] would gain additional traits]


    [At level 3, they would acquire traits: [Dragon Oath Spells], [Guiding Dragon Force: Majesty of the Dragonkin], and [Guiding Dragon Force: Dragon Vein Connection]]


    [Majesty of the Dragonkin]: You could use your Guiding Dragon Force to exhibit a terrifying majesty. If the enemy failed to resist, they would experience a minute of Dread Tremors.


    [Dragon Vein Connection]: You could use your Guiding Dragon Force to create Dragon Vein Shackles, linking with other Dragonsworn Holy Warriors. You would share all received damage, and whenever damage was inflicted, the Dragon Vein Shackles would emit flame, continuously scorching nearby enemies.


    [At level 6, you would gain the trait from your holy oath: [Dragon Lord¡¯s Descent]]


    [Dragon Lord¡¯s Descent]


    If twelve or more Dragonsworn Holy Warriors simultaneously chanted the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Oath, they could summon a fiery phantom of a Red Dragon that could embody Cassius¡¯s will. The phantom¡¯s appearance and abilities were replicas of Cassius, determined by the number and strength of the chanting Dragonsworn Holy Warriors, with the maximum being Cassius¡¯s true form.


    [At level 9, you would gain the trait bestowed by your holy oath: [Fiery Spirit Light]]


    [Fiery Spirit Light]


    You would constantly emit a Fiery Spirit Light as long as you were not incapacitated. This light would significantly raise the surrounding temperature, increase flame damage, place enemies in a burn state, and provide an exaltation effect to allies. If a sufficient number of Dragonsworn Holy Warriors emitted Fiery Spirit Light simultaneously, it could even trigger a volcanic eruption.


    After reviewing the information about Dragonsworn Holy Warriors, Cassius exhaled a breath laced with the scent of sulfur.


    ¡°Very impressive faction subclass.¡±


    ¡°It also seems somewhat familiar.¡±


    Cassius pondered for a moment, then commanded Frederick to use his newly obtained abilities.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Frederick obediently complied, releasing that power.


    [Guiding Dragon Force: Majesty of the Dragonkin]


    A familiar Dragon¡¯s Might emanated from him, though it was much weaker compared to the Red Dragon¡¯s.


    ¡°Continue.¡±


    [Guiding Dragon Force: Dragon Vein Connection]


    A scarlet spiritual chain coiled around him, radiating intense heat but lacking other targets for connection.


    Cassius watched the display of these abilities, narrowing his eyes, his golden slitted pupils shimmering with a strange light.


    ¡°As expected.¡±


    ¡°This is an extension of my power.¡±


    After the creation of this faction subclass, Cassius felt his power had gained a certain extension, able to transmit through bloodline connections to these Dragonsworn Holy Warriors. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Each time Frederick used the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Oath spells, Cassius could feel the presence of this power.


    It was not a theft of his own power but an extension and manifestation of the Red Dragon¡¯s potent magic essence.


    ¡°This form somewhat resembles¡­¡±


    ¡°Divine Arts?¡±


    Cassius thought.


    Yet deities still seemed too distant; he was presently more thrilled by the birth of another powerful faction subclass, a new significant aid for the Ashen Kingdom.


    ¡°Frederick, I command you to construct the Hall of Dragon Oath in Northwind Castle and quickly train more Dragonsworn Holy Warriors.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Frederick knelt on one knee, gladly accepting the order.

 Chapter 164 - 91 The Situation

    Chapter 164: Chapter 91 The Situation


    Just like that, the twenty Lionheart Knights dispatched by the Boske Duchy were completely annihilated. Even the ¡°Black Lion Knight¡± Frederick, one of the Seven Great Knight Commanders, became a traitor and a minion of the Red Dragon.


    The fate of the hundred Double-Headed Eagle Warriors sent by the Principality of Norton was even more tragic¡ªCassius didn¡¯t even bother to take action personally. He merely issued a casual camp mission, deploying a few Red Scale Conquerors, who decimated these so-called ¡°elites¡± that weren¡¯t even considered professionals, letting those exuberant wyverns ruthlessly burn them into charred remains.


    Cassius lay sprawled in the grand hall, gazing at the Anzeta map before him, especially fixated on the small nation adjacent to the Ashen Kingdom.


    In the face of the Ashen Kingdom, which integrated Stormy Ridge and the former Rakman Duchy territories, boasting an expansive territory far surpassing most of the Northern duchies, the Principality of Norton seemed like an insect that could be crushed at any time.


    Dailenna stood gracefully beside him, the pureblood Serpentfolk adorned in formal attire, always wearing a radiant smile.


    ¡°The Boske Duchy is one thing, but as for this Principality of Norton¡­¡±


    ...


    ¡°Where do they muster the audacity to provoke me repeatedly?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone conveyed puzzlement.


    Dailenna mused that since Cassius had forced the Principality of Norton to surrender the so-called ¡°International Trusteeship,¡± they would naturally fight to the death, but she maintained her professional smile and patiently explained:


    ¡°The Principality of Norton has a narrow territory and weak strength, essentially more like a vassal state of the Boske Duchy, even mockingly called the ¡®Marquisate of Norton¡¯ or ¡®Barbarian Tribe¡¯ by other northern nobles.¡±


    ¡°They aren¡¯t Scania people, the nobles of the north, but the original inhabitants of the North, also known as the Val Barbarians. Seven hundred years ago, the Grand Duke of the Boske Duchy, the ¡®Lionheart King¡¯ Aubrick, conquered this place. To facilitate management, he confined the surrendering tribes here, establishing it as a nation, and renamed the chieftain clans to Norton.¡±


    ¡°However, over the past four hundred years, with the intentional assimilation by the Scania people, the language and customs of the Principality of Norton have become nearly indistinguishable from the northern countries. Even the surname Norton has long been accepted by the northern nobility.¡±


    Cassius suddenly understood.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s a well-kept dog of the Boske Duchy.¡±


    Dailenna immediately praised, ¡°Your Highness Cassius, your summary is truly insightful.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ how do you plan to deal with the Boske Duchy and the Principality of Norton?¡±


    Though Dailenna was temporarily in charge of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s diplomacy, she knew very well that final decisions still lay with the Red Dragon. She wouldn¡¯t risk her future or life for temporary power.


    Cassius tried hard to recall memories of his past life.


    The Boske Duchy was immense, covering tens of thousands of square kilometers with twenty-eight cities. The current Ashen Kingdom, ruling the former Rakman Duchy, was already struggling to assimilate its legacy and couldn¡¯t manage such a vast region.


    Moreover, the Holy Fadlan Empire, after this great rebellion, would have a few years of resurgence. Declaring formal war on the Boske Duchy now would undoubtedly trigger a full-scale war across Anzeta, inevitably drawing the intervention of legendary level forces from the Holy Fadlan Federation.


    Meanwhile, Cassius currently had only a thousand players under his command, and these beta players would temporarily disappear over the next four years.


    The time point Cassius envisioned for unifying the North was five years later.


    Yes, five years later.


    By then, the great collapse of Holy Fadlan would begin, with various southern factions vying for the enormous imperial remains, leaving no room to look north. Cassius¡¯s strength was expected to rise to the Legendary level, ensuring solid hard power. And thirty thousand formal players would surge into Erezer, with Cassius confident to recruit at least ten thousand of them to serve him.


    This plan, after numerous internal discussions within the Ashen Kingdom, was close to perfect.


    That would be the convergence of time, place, and people.


    Cassius would then declare war on Boske Duchy and the northern countries, unifying the entire North with an overwhelming force, becoming the lord of Anzeta, and bringing the [Northern Wind and Cloud] version¡¯s players under his rule.


    Immediately after, the Ashen Kingdom, or rather, the Empire, could march south and participate in the Kings¡¯ Strife as disruptors, becoming the greediest vulture preying on the remains of the Holy Fadlan Empire.


    This was his plan for the Boske Duchy.


    As for the Principality of Norton?


    They were weak, adjacent to the Ashen Kingdom, and as a vassal of the Boske Duchy, they were perfect for becoming a cautionary example to deter the northern countries and secure a stable development space for the Ashen Kingdom.


    At the same time, such a level of local war would serve to give the Boske Duchy a warning, to reduce their covert actions.


    With these thoughts, Cassius emphatically said, ¡°We will annex them at the fastest speed, leaving no time for the northern countries to react.¡±


    ¡°I will kill the Principality of Norton¡¯s ¡®chicken¡¯ to show those attention-seeking monkeys.¡±


    Hearing this, Dailenna¡¯s face was already filled with excitement.


    Although she didn¡¯t know the story behind the phrase ¡°kill the chicken to warn the monkeys,¡± she easily understood the implication in Cassius¡¯s words.


    What a wonderful feeling, deciding the fate of other nations, those human lords she once had to please were now only fit to kneel at her feet and beg for mercy.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°I will make sure they understand the consequences of provoking you.¡±


    Dailenna knelt on the ground, a smile of anticipation in her eyes, licking her dry lips with her forked tongue.


    It had been months since the conquest of the Rakman Duchy, and now the Ashen Kingdom could barely function, but the Dragon Vein Clans had long been suppressed.


    Although their lives had become much more affluent after looting the nobles¡¯ wealth, compared to a stable and prosperous life, these inherently wicked beings still enjoyed the baptism of blood and fire more.


    For this Red Dragon-ruled nation, war was not a burden but an outlet.


    ¡­


    Stratholme Fortress, Boske Duchy.


    As the capital of Boske, and the nominal capital of the entire North, it was always bustling and lively.


    In the city center, Aubrick Square, named in honor of the first Duke Boske, merchants, singers, bards, noble scions, and various other people gathered.


    Suddenly, a commotion arose in the crowd.


    Wyverns swooped from the heights unreachable by arrows, scattering leaflets from the Ashen Kingdom. People had grown used to this sight, and a few leaflets were even rushed to Duke Leo¡¯s residence.


    But this time, the content was not the usual dull propaganda, but a war report.


    It was astonishing, sparking widespread discussion.


    ¡°Did someone really go to assassinate that Red Dragon?¡±


    ¡°By the Gods, they are truly righteous and brave, but unfortunately, they failed. I should use them as inspiration to write a deeply moving epic poem.¡±


    ¡°Heavens, our twenty Lionheart Knights were utterly wiped out! That¡¯s a full twenty men!¡±


    ¡°Is there going to be a war¡­?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight those monsters.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The people in the square, whether shocked, regretful, or worried, all showed great concern for this matter.

 Chapter 165 - 92 Reactions from All Sides

    Chapter 165: Chapter 92 Reactions from All Sides


    ¡°The latest bulletin from the Ashen Kingdom!


    ¡°The assassination attempt on the Red Dragon by the Knight of Justice ended in total defeat!¡±


    ¡°Lionheart Knights ambushed!¡±


    The newsboy called out in the streets, selling the bulletins he had picked up, his voice echoing.


    Bulletins from the Ashen Kingdom seemed to use some advanced technology. The paper was delicate, the ink clear, greatly favored by the residents. Even without considering the content, they had many uses. Moreover, there were many eye-catching messages.


    Those wandering around the streets had long discovered the business opportunity in these free bulletins and began selling them widely.


    ...


    Initially, such acts of indirectly aiding the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s propaganda were not allowed by the Duchy, and those caught were easily arrested. But as the number of bulletins distributed increased and the benefits grew, patrols could only turn a blind eye.


    ¡°I want to buy one.¡±


    A melodious female voice came, though it was filled with urgency.


    The newsboy looked up, seeing the person clad in a robe, her face hidden by a hood, yet unable to conceal her tall stature and smooth, fair skin.


    He guessed it might be a noblewoman or young lady sneaking out and quickly smiled fawningly.


    ¡°Madam, five copper coins.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Have a good day.¡±


    The newsboy handed over the bulletin, took the copper coins, and smiled uncontrollably, thinking how easy it was to deceive these naive noblewomen.


    In a secluded alley, the noblewoman who bought the bulletin removed her hood, revealing her delicate and beautiful face¡ªshe was Olivia, the Silver Star, the manifestation of the Silver Dragon.


    She browsed through the lines of text on the bulletin, her expression grave, softly reading aloud:


    ¡°Court Mage of the Rackman Duchy, these despicable people from the Northern United Kingdom¡­¡±


    ¡°They set a vicious trap, attempting to ambush the great King of Ashen¡­¡±


    ¡°But the might of the dragon ended everything.¡±


    As she read this, Olivia frowned, her blue-gray eyes full of worry.


    The report mentioned the assassination attempt on the Red Dragon and its failure, but it didn¡¯t narrate the specific process or include the news she was most concerned with¡ªthat of the Gold Dragon kin.


    In other words, his life or death was uncertain.


    Olivia looked up at the sky and couldn¡¯t help but murmur:


    ¡°Angel, are you¡­ still alive?¡±


    She initially disliked this Gold Dragon, disliked his secrecy and cunning.


    But since their last conversation, Olivia had an unusual feeling. The Gold Dragon¡¯s righteous words and final entrustment had left a deep impression on her heart.


    She felt for the first time the charm of the Gold Dragon¡¯s sense of justice and idealism.


    Perhaps it was due to the Silver Dragon¡¯s inherent kindness or concern for a kin, or perhaps other complicated feelings; she now eagerly wanted to find the Gold Dragon¡¯s whereabouts.


    ¡°I hope the next time the Arcane Priory can see you.¡±


    ¡°Angel¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to fulfill your troublesome entrustment.¡±


    Olivia lowered her eyes, put her hood back on, and disappeared into the alley with a ripple in space.


    ¡­


    The Boske Ducal Mansion.


    ¡°My lord, this is the latest intelligence from the Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Mm, you may leave.¡±


    Duke Leo Boske took the bulletin handed by his attendant, reading it carefully.


    Contrary to the image he usually presented to the public as a mighty and irritable lion, Leo in private was quite composed, something evident from his series of experiences.


    Thirty years ago, this duke, known as the ¡°New Lionheart King,¡± defeated the Northern Nobility¡¯s Allied Forces, holding a famous ¡°Lionheart Alliance.¡±


    He unified the nearby territories, re-establishing the dominance of the Boske Duchy within the entire Northern United Kingdom after more than three hundred years, reclaiming the honorary title of ¡°Northern Monarch,¡± though he seldom referred to himself as such.


    At this moment, Duke Leo¡¯s brow was tightly furrowed, his expression extremely grave, his lion¡¯s mane-like beard seemed to tangle.


    ¡°They indeed did not succeed.¡±


    ¡°A pity, I shouldn¡¯t have sent the Lionheart Knights to assist.¡±


    ¡°Cassius Klaubow Norixius¡­¡±


    Duke Leo articulated the name that had repeatedly thwarted him.


    Since the Lionheart Alliance, Boske Duchy¡¯s development had been smooth and increasingly powerful, and Duke Leo hadn¡¯t faced such a setback in a long time.


    In this operation, he didn¡¯t expect to kill the Red Dragon truly; he just hoped to probe. It would have been even better if they could restrain it in any way. However, the dispatched Lionheart Knights sent for reinforcement ended up completely wiped out.


    Fortunately, he had sent ¡°Black Lion Knight¡± Frederick, whose loyalty was questionable, and Duke Leo had long wanted to replace him.


    He turned to look at Count Trischka not far away.


    ¡°Trischka, any response from Holy Fadlan?¡±


    Count Trischka spread his hands helplessly: ¡°This rebellion is unprecedented in scale; all Imperial forces are deployed for suppression. They are only willing to send border guards from the North. As for the ¡®Divine Descendants¡¯ of the Sun Legion, not a single one can be dispatched.¡±


    Duke Leo¡¯s tone was heavy: ¡°This is utterly useless. Only Legendary-level power can confront the Red Dragon.¡±


    Count Trischka reminded: ¡°My lord, aren¡¯t you forgetting something¡­¡±


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re going to say, the Polar Night Demon Tower, Dragon Fan Mage Vagnard, right.¡±


    Duke Leo shook his head and said: ¡°He¡¯s a complete madman. To buy that scroll, I¡¯ve exhausted every means. Normal humans can¡¯t cooperate with this damned lunatic.¡±


    Count Trischka spoke softly: ¡°My lord, we don¡¯t need to cooperate with him. We only need to make him and the Red Dragon fight to the death. That way, our benefits would be maximized.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    Duke Leo stroked his somewhat messy beard, deep in thought.


    Suddenly, the urgent sound of the door opening interrupted his thoughts. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A knight rushed in, anxious.


    ¡°My lord, bad news, the Principality of Norton has fallen!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°How is this possible!¡±


    Staring in disbelief, Duke Leo slammed the table and stood up abruptly. Even the usually composed him was utterly shocked.


    Cracks appeared on the table.


    This recent emergent country, the Ashen Kingdom, which was established just months ago, had, without any prior warning or notice, directly invaded and conquered the Principality of Norton. How was this possible?


    ¡°Are the intelligence agencies of the Boske Duchy utterly useless and deserving of the guillotine?¡±


    Duke Leo rarely showed genuine fury.


    The knight¡¯s voice trembled: ¡°Th-they moved too fast. From marching to conquering, it took only a single day.¡±

 Chapter 166 - 93 Captured

    Chapter 166: Chapter 93 Captured


    The day before.


    Principality of Norton, near the Falling Leaf Path.


    ¡°Hurry up, the master is watching you!¡±


    ¡°This is the will of the great Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    Dolores led hundreds of Great Goblin and Bugbear troops, advancing rapidly along a special path. Their mission was to attack the capital of the Principality of Norton, Kenya City, as quickly as possible.


    ...


    Although it was called a principality, the territory of Norton wasn¡¯t even as large as some of the more powerful counties. The entire region had only three cities, and three-quarters of its population resided in Kenya City, a city built with the assistance of the Boske Duchy. The name meant ¡°place of rise¡± in the Scania language, reflecting the hopes of the Principality of Norton.


    The city had nearly twenty thousand residents. Once it was captured, the entire Principality of Norton would essentially fall. The strategy of the Ashen Kingdom was to use ¡°blitzkrieg¡± to quickly attack the capital and capture it directly.


    To that end, they brought along ten cannons, heavy siege weapons crafted overtime by the players at Storm Arsenal.


    Fortunately, the Dragon Vein Goblins were strong enough to carry the cannons, allowing them to march quickly without being encumbered.


    The Bugbear guarding Dolores was a bit puzzled:


    ¡°Sir, are these broken iron pipes really useful? They don¡¯t seem better than the big club in my hand.¡±


    ¡°Ignorant fool.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough.¡±


    ¡°These are the true symbols of blood and fire.¡±


    Dolores grinned and laughed excitedly.


    Having experienced many large-scale wars and seen the effectiveness of firearms, this war-savvy goblin had become a thorough ¡°reformist¡± and even befriended Iron Madman, the president of the Mechanical God Cult.


    The city¡¯s garrison hadn¡¯t gone through such wars. They were completely unaware of the impending danger and had not yet spotted the well-hidden Ashen Kingdom forces in their blind spots.


    The well-trained Goblin Soldiers set up the cannon positions and calibrated them quickly, finishing the preparations.


    The Goblin Skirmishers stood ready to advance.


    Dolores wiped his Bloodfire Battle Axe, tearing off a piece of flesh stuck to it, and then shouted loudly:


    ¡°Fire the cannons!¡±


    The goblins obeyed the command and loaded the shells into the cannons.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    The cannons roared, sending thunderous echoes across the earth.


    The Bugbear from earlier covered his ears in fear, collapsing to the ground, muttering continuously: ¡°What¡­ what powerful iron pipes.¡±


    ¡°Coward.¡±


    ¡°You will no longer be my personal guard.¡±


    Dolores glanced at him with disdain, his tone full of contempt.


    A Bugbear afraid of cannon fire wasn¡¯t fit to be the guard of the Great General of the Ashen Kingdom!


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Blast them away!¡±


    Dolores laughed heartily, savoring the delightful smell of gunpowder in the air, his laughter undiminished by the loud cannon fire.


    Most of Norton¡¯s troops were already deployed with the allied forces. Now, fewer than a thousand defenders were on the city walls.


    The defenders on the walls had never seen such a display before. The simultaneous cannon blasts and explosions lit up the sky.


    They only saw shadowy figures streaking through the air before their vision was filled with the light of the explosions.


    Many of the soldiers on the walls were killed by the explosions, and most of the survivors were left in a state of panic, not realizing that war had already begun.


    ¡°Oh gods¡­ is this divine retribution?¡±


    ¡°What on earth is this?¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°Where is the enemy?¡±


    Under centuries of ¡°assimilation¡± and ¡°taming¡± by the Boske Duchy, these once valiant barbarians had lost the courage and fearlessness of their ancestors.


    Artillery rained down on the walls, and under the barrage, the centuries-old battlements collapsed, creating a gap several meters wide.


    That was enough.


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    Dolores lifted his Bloodfire Battle Axe in one hand and shouted fiercely: ¡°Follow me to capture the city! Crush them!¡±


    He led the charge at the front, leaping through the gap with a single bound, and with a wide swing of his Great Axe, he sliced the dozen defenders blocking the way in half.


    ¡°Monster!¡±


    ¡°Help!¡±


    ¡°Dear gods, it¡¯s the Envious War Maniac, Dolores!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army!¡±


    Hearing the foul nickname infuriated Dolores further. He leapt tens of meters, catching up to the speaker, and smashed the insolent human into a meat patty with the flat of his axe.


    ¡°I am Dolores!¡±


    ¡°The strongest general under the great Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°And your eternal nightmare!¡±


    Dolores swung his axe, roaring in a rage.


    The Goblin sword and shield troops followed closely, slaughtering the defenders on the walls, venting their long-repressed killing desires.


    ¡°Damn, these monsters!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t kill them at all!¡±


    ¡°Are those scales?¡±


    Under the blitz attack from the Ashen Kingdom, the defenders on the walls crumbled, fleeing in disarray.


    The goblin skirmishers behind them raised their spears and, following their sergeant¡¯s order to ¡°fire at will,¡± began shooting at the exposed heads on the walls, causing many defenders to fall.


    Soon, nearly a thousand defenders were all wiped out.


    By now, this battle could no longer be called a fight; it was simply a one-sided massacre.


    And it only took an hour.


    To put it simply, killing a thousand pigs might take more than an hour, but the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army wiped out the defenders in the same amount of time.


    Dolores himself became a killing machine, personally taking down at least a hundred people.


    ¡°There¡¯s trouble over the wall!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening outside?¡±


    ¡°There seems to be an enemy!¡±


    ¡°I think I heard thunder.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    The city¡¯s residents were still unaware of what had happened, remaining in anxious confusion. They didn¡¯t know the city had already fallen.


    But they soon understood.


    A loud dragon¡¯s roar echoed from the sky.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The dreadful flaming apparition of the Red Dragon appeared over the city. Its golden eyes looked down upon the earth, and its wings seemed like a sea of flames, ready to burn the entire city.


    ¡°By the gods¡­¡±


    ¡°What kind of monster is this?¡±


    ¡°I, I know what it is now¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that the legendary Infernal Calamity?¡±


    The people were shaken by the dragon¡¯s phantom in the sky, falling into terrified chaos.


    ¡°Greetings, residents of Kenya.¡±


    The airborne monster slowly spoke, its voice deep and authoritative, exuding a sense of overwhelming pressure.


    ¡°I am here to inform you.¡±


    ¡°From now on, there is no more so-called Principality of Norton, only the Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, welcome to the Ashen Kingdom.¡±

 Chapter 167 - 94 Grand Duke Oliver

    Chapter 167: Chapter 94 Grand Duke Oliver


    Kenya City, within the Ducal Residence.


    Duke Oliver Norton¡¯s entire body shook with his trembling voice.


    As a descendant of the Val Barbarians, the Norton Family was said to bear the bloodline of Giants. Grand Duke Oliver himself was exceptional, standing over two meters tall, with a beard that was a pale white.


    But at this moment, wrapped in his luxurious robes, his corpulent body showed none of the barbarian vigor.


    ¡°Wh¡­ what do we do? The Ashen Kingdom has broken through!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over, completely over!¡±


    ...


    He never imagined that the Ashen Kingdom would strike here like a bolt of lightning.


    The Principality of Norton had long been under the protection of the Boske Duchy, with the Lionheart Knights often stationed within its borders. Few were the nations that dared attack¡ªit was, after all, forbidden to harm a dog without considering its master. No one wanted to provoke Boske, the mighty colossus of the North, which is why Oliver had dared to provoke so many times.


    Now, with the Lionheart Knights redeployed and most of Norton¡¯s local forces drawn into the Triel Conference,


    during this time of the weakest defenses, the Ashen Kin led by Dolores took them by surprise, directly conquering Kenya City.


    Duke Oliver looked at his adjutant beside him, grabbing his shoulders like a drowning man clutching at straws, shaking him violently.


    ¡°Quick, Gardel, go find Duke Leo!¡±


    ¡°The Boske Duchy must have a way!¡±


    ¡°Hurry, go now!¡±


    But Gardel only looked despairing, not moving a muscle.


    Seeing this, Duke Oliver flew into a rage, pushing him violently to the ground and cursing furiously: ¡°Damn it, don¡¯t you understand human speech? Go contact Duke Leo for me!¡±


    ¡°Now! Immediately!¡±


    Collapsing on the ground, Gardel¡¯s voice was heavy with resignation.


    ¡°Lord Oliver, it¡¯s too late. They¡¯ve already broken in, and Boske¡¯s reinforcements¡­ can¡¯t sprout wings and fly over to save us.¡±


    As a steward-like figure within the Principality of Norton, Gardel had maintained a pessimistic view of the future ever since the defeat at the Triel Conference. He had fervently advised Duke Oliver not to get involved in this mess, but Oliver, relying on the backing of the Boske Duchy, still sent over a hundred elite warriors.


    Oliver grew even more furious, grabbing Gardel by the collar and lifting him up, spitting with rage.


    ¡°Then what do we do?¡±


    ¡°Wait here to die?¡±


    Gardel cautiously suggested, ¡°Perhaps, maybe we can surrender.¡±


    Oliver threw him to the ground, laughing angrily: ¡°Maybe you can surrender, but do I have that chance?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget the Rackham Family is already extinct, and most of the nobles in the Rackman Duchy have been slaughtered. Do you think, as the Duke of Norton and ruler of this Principality, that I have a chance to surrender?¡±


    He unfastened the axe at his waist, gripping it tightly, advancing step by step. His towering figure nearly obscured Gardel, and his tone grew increasingly menacing.


    Gardel sensed danger as he lay on the ground.


    Yet he did not panic, instead a semblance of calm took over. Suddenly, his face twisted into a mocking smile, ¡°Who knows, maybe you still have a chance. After all, a dog of the Boske Duchy or a dog of the Ashen Kingdom, either way you¡¯re still a dog¡ª¡±


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Duke Oliver chopped Gardel¡¯s head off, blood splattering his face.


    ¡°Hmph, despicable rebel.¡±


    He snorted coldly, his visage growing even more grotesque.


    Duke Oliver knew all too well that he had angered the Red Dragon multiple times, and with the Red Dragon¡¯s vindictive nature, there was no way it would let him live.


    He would likely be dragged to the executioner¡¯s block, facing so-called ¡°judgment,¡± becoming the laughingstock of all. This was absolutely intolerable to Oliver.


    Duke Oliver looked at his trusted aides, his expression icy as he addressed them: ¡°This is the fate that awaits those who dare to think of surrendering. Do you understand?¡±


    The Frost Giant bloodline seemed to be taking effect as he held Gardel¡¯s head aloft, panting heavily. His bloodied face took on a bluish hue, and with his towering stature over two meters, he indeed resembled a fierce and brutal Frost Giant.


    Out of fear or respect, the trusted aides nodded in agreement, not daring to make a sound.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°So, what will you do next¡­?¡±


    After a long silence, the Guard Captain finally gathered the courage to ask.


    The chaos outside grew louder with howls, cries, even gunshots echoing throughout the city. Clearly, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army had entered the city and begun killing the resisting enemies. They wouldn¡¯t hold out much longer. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Damn it, how could they break through so fast? Useless bastards.¡±


    Duke Oliver tossed Gardel¡¯s unseeing head aside, contemplating with a grim face that seemed shrouded in a thick gloom.


    Suddenly, he recalled a story about the Norton Family. Passed down through generations since the time the Norton Family were still Val Barbarian chieftains, it had been four hundred years. People had even regarded it as legend, including his father.


    But with the Red Dragon¡¯s retainers approaching, perhaps this was the last straw to clutch.


    With this thought, Oliver ordered: ¡°Let¡¯s go to the family tomb.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    Oliver and his trusted aides moved through a secret passage behind the Ducal Residence, arriving at the Norton Family tomb.


    This cemetery was lavishly adorned, with flowers symbolizing the repose of the deceased planted throughout.


    Engraved on the tombstones were intricate inscriptions bearing the names of the Norton Family ancestors and their epitaphs. There were many sizable underground mausoleums within the graveyard, providing a resting place for each Duke.


    Hundreds of years of assimilation had made the Norton Family¡¯s burial customs almost identical to those of the Northern Nobility.


    ¡°This is the place.¡±


    ¡°You may stand guard outside. Await my return.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    The trusted aides obeyed, guarding the entrance.


    Grand Duke Oliver approached the largest mausoleum and walked straight in.


    Etched upon it was the name of the Norton ancestor, the first to be given the Norton surname¡ªKavaha Norton.


    ¡°According to the Secret Codex, it should be like this.¡±


    Following the procedures outlined in the family¡¯s Secret Codex, he used a dagger to cut his finger, letting his blood drip into the groove in front of the sarcophagus.


    The blood, a peculiar blend of red and white, immediately merged into it, producing a subtle icy ripple.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    With a deep rumble, a concealed stone door slowly opened. Behind the sarcophagus, a deep secret passage appeared.


    ¡°So it¡¯s true. It¡¯s all true!¡±


    Duke Oliver¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement as he quickly stepped into the secret passage.


    The passage seemed to be designed just for him. Despite his height of over two meters, he walked through it effortlessly.

 Chapter 168 - 95: Eternal Frost Horn

    Chapter 168: Chapter 95: Eternal Frost Horn


    On the stone walls flanking the hidden passage, there were not carvings of the Northern Nobility¡¯s design, but rather some murals.


    These were drawn with some unknown red pigment, using the simplest lines to portray scenes brimming with primal vitality and intense strength.


    In these pictures, one could see Frost Giants wielding weapons, a horn, humans, a blizzard¡­


    According to later investigations by court scholars, these murals were a way for the Val Barbarians to record history, and Oliver, being a descendant of the Val Barbarians, knew this well.


    Clearly, the murals within the tomb also used this primitive form to record some true story.


    ¡°Frost Giants, a horn, blizzards¡­¡±


    ...


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Duke Oliver murmured to himself, as if the story seemed familiar to him.


    He continued walking along the hidden passage, eventually arriving at the end, a secluded burial chamber.


    Inside, there were no luxurious burial items, only a large horn placed there.


    The horn appeared to be made from a leg bone, its slightly yellowed surface glistening, etched with bold and grand runes, reminiscent of an artifact from an ancient, wild era. From the gaps of these runes, a chill emanated that invoked a feeling of an ice-cold abyss.


    It seemed less like a horn and more like a dormant glacier.


    Seeing the horn, Duke Oliver was initially stunned, soon followed by sheer delight.


    He finally understood, the generational story was indeed real.


    ¡°The Eternal Frost Horn.¡±


    Duke Oliver murmured, pronouncing the name.


    The Norton Family claimed their ancestor was a Frost Giant.


    Back then, there wasn¡¯t a Norton surname yet, and this Frost Giant bore the tribal name ¡°Everfrost,¡± Gahe Everfrost.


    This Frost Giant couldn¡¯t endure the desolate environment of the glacial plateau and sought powerful strength. Seizing an opportunity when his tribesmen were out hunting, he killed the guard of the Holy Land and stole the relic capable of controlling frost and snow¡ªthe Eternal Frost Horn. He blew the horn, and an endless blizzard severed the path behind him, allowing him to escape his pursuers and reach the warmer South.


    In the area of Stormy Ridge in the South, the naturally large and strong Frost Giant became the mightiest warrior, conquering the entire barbarian tribe by force and founding the Var Tribe, thus passing down the bloodline of the Frost Giants to the present day.


    But it was said that when the horn was blown again, Frost Giants from the Far North Great Glacier would hear the ancestor¡¯s call, chase down the rebel¡¯s descendants, and at all costs, retrieve the relic by heading South.


    ¡°Damn Red Dragon, since you won¡¯t let me live peacefully¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then bear the wrath of the Frost Giants! I¡¯ll drag you all to the grave with me!¡±


    Grand Duke Oliver stared at the massive horn, a sinister smile spreading across his face.


    These Frost Giants, known as the Everfrost Tribe, came from the Vaar Glacier at the northernmost tip of Anzeta, a place called the Icebound Forbidden Land. Every now and then, they would raid the South with accompanying blizzards. However, the interval wasn¡¯t fixed; it might be years, decades, or even centuries.


    Sixty years had passed since the last Frost Giants raided the South in the ¡°Frost Calamity.¡± That calamity caused tremendous losses to the Northern Countries, with several cities destroyed and tens of thousands killed or injured, ultimately rendering Stormy Ridge a forbidden zone for humans.


    In other words, Duke Oliver held the key to another ¡°Frost Calamity.¡±


    As long as he blew the horn, he could unleash a catastrophe that would engulf the entire North.


    But reflecting on blowing the horn, knowing his own life would be at peril, Duke Oliver¡¯s face again showed hesitation.


    He valued his life greatly and wouldn¡¯t risk it unless driven to the brink.


    And this time, Duke Oliver seemed to see a turn in events.


    ¡°Perhaps, I can use the Eternal Frost Horn to threaten the Ashen Kingdom to maintain the Principality of Norton¡¯s status.¡±


    ¡°I might even gain more benefits, enhancing my position.¡±


    ¡°First, let¡¯s take it in hand.¡±


    With this thought, he attempted to touch the surface of the bone horn, but failed to notice the bleeding wound on his hand.


    ¡°Vroom¡ª¡ª¡±


    A heavy humming sound rang out; the horn was blown directly!


    This was indeed the bloodline relic of the Frost Giants!


    The sound, like a battle cry from ancient times, mingled with the howl of a snowstorm, echoed across the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    At that moment, the runes flashed with blinding cold light, resonated with the Frost Giants¡¯ bloodline, and transmitted the immense frost power from the Progenitor of Frost Giants to his body, filling Duke Oliver with inexhaustible strength.


    Through those cold lights, he seemed to see wars between Giants and Dragons of ancient times, those towering Frost Giants blowing the horn, summoning endless wind and snow, turning the Red Dragons in the sky into ice sculptures.


    To Oliver, this was both an ancient history and a prophecy of the future¡ªwith such power, he might truly stand against the giant dragons.


    ¡°This, this power¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unbelievable.¡±


    Duke Oliver opened his fingers, a chilling stream mixed with snow fragments flowing from between them.


    When he clenched his fist again, an ice cone had formed before him.


    A glaring cold light appeared in Oliver¡¯s pupils, and runes flickered ceaselessly across his body. His body suddenly swelled to over four meters tall, and his skin turned glacial blue.


    At this moment, he was like the master of frosty calamities, even able to control glaciers and summon blizzards out of thin air.


    This sudden boon filled him with unparalleled confidence, making him understand how his ancestor had conquered the entire barbarian tribe.


    ¡°I can¡¯t fathom why the ancestor hid this secret.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so wonderful.¡±


    Oliver suddenly burst into wild laughter.


    With his laughter, howling wind and snow surrounded him, growing increasingly intense.


    ¡°From now on¡ª¡±


    ¡°I need no support at all!¡±


    ¡°Neither the Ashen Kingdom nor the Boske Duchy, the entire North, and all of Anzeta will tremble under this power! Here will be my empire!¡±


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    The ice cone pierced the ground, creating a deep fissure in the earth. Duke Oliver, now almost indistinguishable from a true Frost Giant, rode the ice storm and flew out with a sudden leap.


    ¡°This, this is.¡±


    Oliver¡¯s trusted aides were all stunned, rooted in place, unsure of how to react.


    But they were soon turned into ice sculptures in the howling wind and snow.


    ¡°These mortal lives are like ants to me now.¡±


    ¡°Fleeting.¡±


    Oliver coldly glanced at the ice sculptures, with not the slightest bit of remorse for his once-loyal subordinates, nodding with satisfaction instead.

 Chapter 169 - 96: Blizzard

    Chapter 169: Chapter 96: Blizzard


    ¡°Those who resist to the end shall die!¡±


    Dolores hoisted the Bloodfire Battle Axe and let out a furious roar.


    The trusted aides of the Ducal Mansion were no match for the Goblins Army¡¯s assault.


    Every swing of Dolores¡¯s battle axe carved a blood-red arc through the air, severing multiple bodies at once, blood spraying everywhere.


    Archers in the distance aimed to kill the monstrous foe, but the spears wielded by the Goblin Skirmishers produced a clattering noise, emitting wisps of green smoke.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    ...


    Like the Grim Reaper marking names on a list, every shot from the spears felled an archer¡ªthanks to refined firearms, the Dragon Vein blessings, and the crucible of war, these Goblin Skirmishers had become lethal avatars on small battlefields, able to swiftly and easily annihilate human troops of a hundred soldiers.


    Dolores wiped the blood off his face, exhaled white mist, and sneered:


    ¡°Let¡¯s go capture that ridiculous duke.¡±


    ¡°Let him see¡­ what Hell looks like.¡±


    After months of peace, he was eager for warfare, volunteering for this lightning siege even before the Red Dragon assigned anyone.


    Previously, Dolores¡¯s Goblins Army was invincible, breaching multiple cities in succession, filling him with confidence.


    This time turned out as he expected: the Goblin Skirmishers, equipped with the latest model ¡°Dragon Fire Longspears,¡± crushed the opposition, swiftly ending the battle.


    But just as they broke through the City Defense Army, a long horn sound resonated from within the city. The sound was strange, making him feel cold all over and a bit suspicious.


    ¡°But¡­ what is that sound?¡±


    ¡°Forget it, catch the duke first.¡±


    Dolores thought.


    A fierce wind suddenly blew.


    A few snowflakes touched Dolores¡¯s face, making him shiver involuntarily.


    This Dragon Vein Goblin, who disliked the cold, scratched his head and shivered again, a puzzled expression on his ugly face.


    ¡°Did I misremember? It¡¯s not winter yet.¡±


    ¡°How can it be snowing¡­¡±


    Even in the Land of Eternal Winter, it was unusual to have such early snowfall, especially in a relatively warmer city.


    ¡°Hoo¡ª¡±


    The gale intensified, cold air spreading all around, mixed with large hailstones, forming a small snowstorm in mid-air.


    Dolores finally became alarmed, gripping his battle axe tightly as he realized that this sudden snowstorm was not a natural phenomenon!


    Dolores immediately retreated, leaving the area, and didn¡¯t forget to shout:


    ¡°Stay alert! This is no ordinary snowstorm!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a spell!¡±


    The goblins hurried to retreat, but the snowstorm, like a living entity, pursued them, howling continuously.


    ¡°Damn it, it really is a spell.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, how does this small town have such high-level spells.¡±


    ¡°Those serpentfolk in the intelligence department deserve a bullet!¡±


    Dolores watched the approaching snowstorm, spat, and cursed.


    The Principality of Norton was rated the lowest in Ashen Kingdom¡¯s internal gradation, with hardly any competent troops, merely a dog under Boske. Who would have thought such high-level spells would appear!


    ¡°Die!¡±


    In the middle of the snowstorm, a giant figure, light blue-skinned and ferocious, appeared.


    Floating in mid-air, with a large horn tied to his back, his body glowed with icy blue magic tattoos. Holding an ice cone, he was like the master of the snowstorm¡ªthat was Grand Duke Oliver.


    He laughed wildly, his pupils emanating endless cold, radiating dazzling ice-blue light.


    ¡°Tremble, minions of the Wyrm!¡±


    ¡°Let me show you¡­ true power!¡±


    ¡°I am the Blizzard!¡±


    With his laughter, the snowstorm around him intensified, its range further expanding.


    The goblins who failed to escape were frozen solid within moments in that extreme cold, turned into ice statues still in their lifelike poses.


    ¡°Look, is that His Grace?¡±


    ¡°Oh my god, what is this?¡±


    ¡°So cold¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m losing consciousness¡­¡±


    The blizzard ravaged the city, and many residents couldn¡¯t escape this terrible scourge.


    Grand Duke Oliver showed no regard for the lives of the city¡¯s inhabitants, unleashing the power of the Eternal Frost Horn recklessly, turning a hundred meters around him into a white world, with snowy roads lined with various ice sculptures.


    ¡°What on earth is this thing.¡±


    ¡°That is definitely no low-level spell!¡±


    While fleeing in panic, Dolores cursed vehemently. Even he wouldn¡¯t last long within this icy domain.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Dragon Vein Goblin saw the approaching snowstorm, and without hesitation, he threw down his battle axe and jumped over twenty meters, barely escaping the snowstorm¡¯s reach. The Dragon Vein¡¯s power granted him agility, allowing a quicker retreat.


    ¡°Minions of the Wyrm, stop struggling!¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You cannot fight the Blizzard!¡±


    Controlling the blizzard, Grand Duke Oliver showed no intention of letting up, chasing Dolores to the city¡¯s outskirts, bent on completely destroying this so-called ¡°Envious War Maniac,¡± making the hateful Red Dragon lose a key lieutenant.


    ¡°This can¡¯t go on!¡±


    Having reached the city¡¯s edge, Dolores looked back at the approaching snowstorm, gritting his teeth with determination as he crushed the crimson crystal stone in his hand.


    Dolores frantically called for help from the shattered crystal stone.


    ¡°Master, save me!¡±


    This was the communication crystal stone ¡°Flaming Dragon Crystal¡± that only Ashen Kingdom¡¯s tribal leaders possessed, allowing direct contact with the Red Dragon in critical moments.


    Though the Dragon Vein Goblin was fearless in battle, he didn¡¯t wish to die inexplicably in this spell. Thus, he swallowed his pride and sought the Red Dragon¡¯s aid.


    ¡°Hoo¡ª¡±


    The wind and snow roared on.


    Dolores had not given up entirely. Mustering his last bit of strength, he charged towards Grand Duke Oliver at the storm¡¯s center.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tear you apart!¡±


    But the white domain gradually engulfed him, his massive Dragon Vein Goblin body trembling, his actions stiffening, his dragon-scaled face gradually covered in ice, even his eyelids coated with frost.


    Fueled by the fervent, lively Red Dragon Bloodline inside him, he possessed immense vitality, still alive, his teeth chattering, eyes slowly blinking.


    ¡°Damn¡­¡±


    ¡°If I die like this, Ram the stupid ogre will laugh at me.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ die here¡­¡±


    In this life-and-death moment, Dolores thought.


    Having endured just a few minutes in this extreme cold, he felt his body entirely numb, completely insensate, and his thoughts slowing, as if frozen solid.

 Chapter 170 - 97: Ice and Fire

    Chapter 170: Chapter 97: Ice and Fire


    At this moment, a fire portal abruptly appeared in the snowy white realm.


    ¡°Such an interesting fluctuation¡­¡±


    A noble youth with black hair and golden eyes walked out from it, and immediately his entire body sparkled with tiny flickers of magical aura, suddenly swelling into an enormous red dragon nearly twenty meters long.


    With the appearance of the red dragon, the high-temperature heat spread around, causing magma to surge from the snow-covered ground, and the intense blizzard was blocked.


    The frost on Dolores¡¯ body also slowly receded, turning into flowing water, but he collapsed to the ground with weak breaths.


    [Dragon¡¯s Breath]


    ...


    Cassius lightly waved his claw, and beams of light descended from the sky, carrying the purest vitality of dragons, healing the frostbite inside the Dragon Vein Goblin and saving his life.


    ¡°Master¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ here¡­¡±


    Dolores, lying on the ground and barely alive, weakly opened his eyes and struggled to speak, his heart filled with the disappointment of being easily defeated and nearly killed.


    ¡°Forgive my¡­ incompetence¡­¡±


    Seeing Dolores out of danger, the red dragon no longer paid attention to him, instead looking thoughtfully at Duke Oliver in midair and the swirling snowstorm around him.


    ¡°Such powerful frost powers.¡±


    ¡°But the person harnessing this power is too weak.¡±


    In Cassius¡¯ eyes, the only thing worth noting was the horn behind Duke Oliver. The human with the Frost Giant bloodline was merely an insignificant vessel.


    Seeing the red dragon¡¯s arrival, Duke Oliver¡¯s seething hatred from his Frost Giant blood toward dragons combined with his own grudges, and a surge of anger filled his heart.


    ¡°Damn red dragon!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you what frost truly is!¡±


    He directed the wind and snow toward the red dragon. The violent storm, filled with ice shards and an endless chill, ravaged toward the dragon.


    [Agile as a Dragon]


    The surface of Cassius¡¯ wings was infused with spatial power, making his flying speed incredibly frightening, turning his whole body into a blur, easily evading the snowstorm like a phantom.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The red dragon swiftly soared over the ground, flying directly above Duke Oliver, but he didn¡¯t rush to attack, instead stopping leisurely.


    Cassius looked down disdainfully at Duke Oliver.


    ¡°A decent spell.¡±


    ¡°But can you truly control this power?¡±


    ¡°Pathetic bastard.¡±


    Seeing the contempt in the red dragon¡¯s golden slit eyes, Duke Oliver became even more furious.


    ¡°How dare you¡ª¡±


    From a young age, he was indoctrinated by his family to obey the orders of the Boske Duchy and serve them obediently.


    Though those Northern Nobility politely addressed him as ¡°His Grace¡± on the surface, they secretly mocked him as the so-called ¡°Loyal Dog Duke¡± or ¡°Lord Barbarian.¡±


    He never had the power to make his own choices and could only timidly follow under the wings of the Boske Duchy, leading to his twisted personality, arrogant yet inferior, often venting his anger on his subjects.


    Now, possessing unimaginable power enough to control everything, he was still despised by this red dragon.


    That contemptuous gaze was all too familiar, one he had endured silently from childhood to now!


    Duke Oliver¡¯s eyes flashed with intense cold light, runes on his body flickering as he shouted toward the sky:


    ¡°Worm, I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    With his roar, ice cones erupted from the ground, stabbing at the red dragon in midair.


    Cassius still looked at him with disdain, his chest glowing with intense red light, energy building up in his throat, and then spewing out.


    [Extremely Effective Flame Breath]


    Far more concentrated than frost power, the gathered fire elements formed a blazing white pillar of fire, effortlessly tearing through wind and snow, shattering ice cones, and evaporating all the surrounding ice and snow.


    But he didn¡¯t use the flames to further attack Oliver, instead closing his mouth leisurely, mocking him.


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    ¡°Duke Oliver, in my eyes, you are merely a good dog tied to that horn.¡±


    Cassius said calmly.


    He was provoking Duke Oliver, just wanting to see what this guy with the Frost Giant bloodline could do under the horn¡¯s blessing.


    This guy¡¯s use of Eternal Frost Power was too superficial; he couldn¡¯t even gather elements at a single point, just wasting power like a frenzied dog.


    Therefore, in Cassius¡¯ eyes, Duke Oliver was no threat at all but rather an experimental opportunity.


    To experiment with the horn¡¯s capability.


    Perhaps by coincidence or intentional, the red dragon¡¯s words were exactly what Duke Oliver wanted to hear, completely igniting his rage.


    ¡°You¡¯re asking for death!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you sleep forever!¡±


    Oliver roared recklessly.


    He took the horn from his back and blew it, extreme cold air poured out from the horn, creating a never-ending intense snowstorm in the sky.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    The horn¡¯s sound echoed through the clouds, and an even more violent snowstorm appeared in the sky, the chill feeling even made the red dragon feel threatened, his body as if plunged into an ice cave.


    Cassius spewed fierce flames, the flames forming a wall blocking the invasion of cold air, and he watched Oliver blowing the horn, a spark lighting up in his eyes.


    ¡°This fluctuation has reached the Legendary Level.¡±


    ¡°Unexpected gain, who knew this horn could actually allow a mortal to use Legendary Level power.¡±


    ¡°However¡­ his time is running out.¡±


    In Cassius¡¯ eyes, Oliver now looked like a bomb ready to explode anytime, his body filled with uncontrollable power.


    ¡°Come, attack me!¡±


    ¡°Let me see your power!¡±


    The red dragon still sneered, slowly flapping his wings amidst the storm, hovering midair through spatial power, with flames dancing in the air with his wingbeats.


    Oliver, almost losing his mind, extended his palm, from which extreme cold poured out like a rushing river.


    ¡°No, not enough¡­¡±


    ¡°Need¡­ more power!¡±


    ¡°To kill that red dragon!¡±


    Oliver continued to greedily draw the power from the horn, the Eternal Frost Power resonating with his bloodline, the ice-blue runes on his body glowing brighter and more blinding.


    The power poured out as cold air.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The tidal wave of cold air washed over the red dragon¡¯s body, but the huge dragon body vanished out of thin air. The missed cold air formed several meter-high grim ice cones on the ground.


    It turned out that was just an incarnation of flames!


    With Oliver¡¯s spell skills, he couldn¡¯t even discern the simplest flame incarnation, pouring all his power into the incarnation.


    The real red dragon had long used the terrifying speed brought by [Agile as a Dragon] to silently appear behind him.


    ¡°Experiment finished, your life should end as well.¡±


    ¡°Truly¡ªpathetic fellow.¡±


    Cassius casually swiped his claw. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He only used the most basic Dragon¡¯s Trickery.


    The reason was simple, Duke Oliver now had Legendary Level energy output, but no corresponding defensive means or control ability.


    If not blocked by the snowstorm and unable to get close, even Dolores could easily chop Oliver into minced meat.


    [Scratch Technique]


    A claw-shaped magical field appeared behind Oliver, easily slashing through his fragile, untrained body.


    As the red dragon tore through Duke Oliver¡¯s body, the Eternal Frost Power, barely maintained by his bloodline, finally lost balance and exploded completely!


    ¡°I clearly hit¡ª¡±


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    Cold light seeped from his mouth, nose, and eyes.


    Duke Oliver¡¯s inflated body, from absorbing power, burst open like a balloon, sharp ice cones erupting from the wounds, rolling white mist spreading over them.


    Eventually, his entire body turned into irregular extreme-cold crystals, like a glacier buried underground for millennia.


    The horn fell to the ground, lying there quietly, its runes dimming, and the snowstorm in the sky gradually ceasing.


    ¡°Tsk, a guy blinded by power, a hybrid Frost Giant with a bloodline diluted who knows how many times¡­¡±


    ¡°Thinking he could fight a dragon single-handedly just because he had a racial relic? Truly clueless.¡±


    Cassius watched the ice crystal, lamenting.

 Chapter 171 - 98: The Chronicles of Dailenna

    Chapter 171: Chapter 98: The Chronicles of Dailenna


    Although there were minor incidents and unexpected casualties along the way, Kenya City was ultimately conquered by the Ashen Kingdom, marking the end of the Principality of Norton after over four hundred years.


    The members of the Norton family, under the strict house-to-house search conducted by the ¡°Nocturne¡± troops, were all captured without exception and almost all were sent to the dungeons of Northwind Castle.


    After all, these individuals with the diluted bloodline of Frost Giants were too conspicuous in their physique¡ªeven their blood had a unique scent.


    Dragon Vein Goblin Leader Dolores, frustrated by the perilous battle, voluntarily asked Cassius for a temporary leave from the military and vowed to become a Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight. He was now diligently studying in the Hall of Dragon Oath, though it was unclear if he would succeed.


    In the Council Hall, Cassius sprawled on the throne, enthusiastically toying with the horn in his hand.


    To gain such equipment effortlessly was an unexpected delight for him.


    ...


    [You have plundered ice from ancient times.]


    [You have obtained the legendary equipment¡ª[Eternal Frost Horn]]


    [Eternal Frost Horn]


    Quality: Legendary


    Creator: Kobal Everfrost


    Description: In the ancient times, long forgotten, during a war that lasted several generations, Kobal demonstrated terrifying spell-casting talent, summoning ice hundreds of meters tall to freeze an Ancient Red Dragon into an ice block. This made him a brilliant star in the Giant Empire, establishing his own Giant Clan and even receiving the surname ¡°Everfrost¡± from the Frost Giant god Soleim.


    When the war ended, both sides were paralyzed. Even in his old age, Kobal was still alive. Knowing that his clan would face threats after his death, he cut off his right leg, engraved runes on the leg bone, and forged it into a horn imbued with the power of Everfrost, which he handed to his son before he died.


    When the horn is blown, a howling blizzard will sweep forth, sending all enemies of the Everfrost Tribe into eternal sleep.


    ¡°I will freeze everything, not just my enemies, but all that I own! ¡ªKolba Everfrost¡±


    Effects:


    (Requires resonance with the ¡°Everfrost¡± Frost Giant bloodline, otherwise the effect is reduced to one-third of its original strength.)


    [Power of the Everfrost Rune]: When the horn is blown, the runes will glow an icy blue, and the power of frost and snow will be under your control. A howling blizzard will encircle within a radius of several hundred meters around you, with magically cold hail and snowflakes falling from the sky to freeze your enemies.


    [Kolba¡¯s Glacier Prison]


    9th Level Shaping Magic


    A nearly hundred-meter-high glacier will rise from the ground, imprisoning any creature you designate. The creature will suffer continuous cold damage until it dies.


    [Extreme Cold Ice Explosure Spell]


    8th Level Shaping Magic


    You will open your palm to release a torrent of extremely cold water, resembling a waterfall, causing targets to become sluggish and suffer cold damage.


    [Advanced Icicle Technique]


    7th Level Shaping Magic


    You will create several sharp icicles to inflict cold and piercing damage on your enemies.


    ¡°As expected of the sacred relic of the Frost Giant Clan.¡±


    ¡°A truly powerful legendary equipment, but unfortunately, there are too many limitations, and it doesn¡¯t suit my Red Dragon form.¡±


    Cassius commented like this.


    This equipment was essentially crafted to counter Red Dragons, and as a genuine Red Dragon who could even bathe in magma, he couldn¡¯t withstand extreme cold climates and wasn¡¯t compatible with the power of the Everfrost Rune.


    Moreover, activating this equipment required the bloodline of a Frost Giant. Though he had captured the descendants of the Norton family, their bloodlines were diluted over many generations and could not fully unleash the power of such a legendary relic.


    ¡°Thankfully, it was in Oliver¡¯s hands.¡±


    ¡°If it had fallen into the hands of a Frost Giant elder, I would have had a tough time.¡±


    Cassius felt a bit relieved.


    That power-hungry Duke Oliver probably didn¡¯t even utilize half the power of this legendary equipment, yet it posed a slight threat to him, demonstrating its immense power.


    A captivating female voice interrupted Cassius¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°Master, I have found the relevant information!¡±


    ¡°The records are in this book from the Rackman Duchy¡¯s library, titled ¡®The Secrets of the Norton Family.''¡±


    Dailenna appeared in the hall holding a worn, parchment book, looking quite pleased.


    Cassius, still toying with the bone horn in his hand, showed keen interest.


    ¡°Highlight the key points and read them to me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°This horn is called the Eternal Frost Horn, a sacred relic passed down through the ¡®Everfrost¡¯ Frost Giant Clan near the Vaar Glacier. It was stolen centuries ago by an ancestor of the Norton family¡ªa traitorous Frost Giant¡­¡±


    Dailenna¡¯s expression grew more serious as she turned to the last page, her brow furrowing slightly.


    ¡°When the horn is blown again, the Frost Giants from the extreme north will stop at nothing to reclaim it and restore the glory of their ancestors¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Seeing Dailenna¡¯s grim expression, Cassius felt a bit curious.


    She spoke heavily, uttering two words.


    ¡°Frost Calamity.¡±


    Dailenna cautiously lifted her eyes, and seeing that the Red Dragon did not interrupt, she continued.


    ¡°The Everfrost Clan, estimated to have over three hundred Frost Giants, hails from the ¡®Icebound Forbidden Land¡¯ of the Vaar Glacier at the northernmost end of Anzeta.¡±


    ¡°These Frost Giant Clans periodically invade the south along with blizzards. The timing is uncertain, and the Northerners refer to such invasions as ¡®Frost Calamities.''¡±


    ¡°It has been over sixty years since the last Frost Calamity. That catastrophe caused heavy losses to all countries in the North, with tens of thousands of casualties. It almost destroyed a duchy. My grandfather witnessed that calamity firsthand; villages and farms were plundered, the roads littered with the broken bodies of humans and beasts, and some cities turned into snow-covered ruins.¡±


    At this point, a glint of delight flashed in Cassius¡¯s golden eyes.


    ¡°Three hundred Frost Giants¡­¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this just the perfect opportunity to collect materials for the Eternal Frost Horn?¡±


    Cassius looked meaningfully at Dailenna and said:


    ¡°Dailenna, understand your position.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Our Ashen Kingdom can only be the calamity for all enemies, never a victim of any disaster.¡±


    ¡°Notify the retainers and prepare for battle. I want to collect a large amount of Frost Giant¡¯s blood.¡±


    Dailenna finally came to her senses, realizing she was no longer a trembling Serpentfolk under the enemy¡¯s iron heel, but a member of the Ashen Kingdom ruled by the Red Dragon.


    Yes, he was called the Scourge, and the entire North trembled under his wings.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Dailenna half-knelt on the ground, her tone tinged with inexplicable excitement.

 Chapter 172 - 99 Kasa Everfrost

    Chapter 172: Chapter 99 Kasa Everfrost


    ¡°Hoo¡ª¡ª¡±


    A long horn sound echoed.


    Sunlight pierced through thin clouds, a cold wind howled, and the glacier covered in white frost and snow sparkled with a chilling light.


    This place, known to the world as the ¡°Icebound Forbidden Land,¡± was the Vaar Glacier, the survival ground of the Frost Giants for millennia.


    Within the crevices of the glacier, beds made of solid ice could be found, scattered with clothes made of animal skins, bone spears, and rough stone blades¡ªmarking the gathering place of the Everfrost Tribe.


    The glacial crevice where the Frost Giants gathered almost never saw sunlight in winter. As crops couldn¡¯t grow, they could only corral the livestock they looted for food and hunt on the tundra and snowy mountains, hence mammoths and even a few land dragons were kept outside the ice cavern.


    ...


    ¡°Is that¡­ the horn sound?¡±


    ¡°Soleim above, that¡¯s the Eternal Frost Horn!¡±


    The Frost Giant, wearing a bull horn helmet, raised his double-bladed axe, feeling the resonance in his blood, and roared excitedly.


    He was tall and strong, standing over eight meters high, with glacier-blue skin marked with scars. His whitish beard resembled a pool of frost and snow, and he wore strands of frost and ice pillars on his body.


    He was the current chieftain of the Everfrost Tribe, Kasa Everfrost the Bonebreaker. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Kasa was the mightiest and strongest warrior in the tribe, in his prime at just over eighty years old, who had once barehandedly snapped the neck of an adult white dragon, earning him the title ¡°Bone Breaker.¡± All Frost Giant warriors held him in high esteem.


    But Kasa had a trouble, which was not finding the tribe¡¯s relic¡ªthe Eternal Frost Horn.


    The loss of the Eternal Frost Horn happened over six hundred years ago, when the shameful traitor known as ¡°The Betrayer¡± stole the relic, used its power to reach the south, and eventually allied with the humans.


    In natural conditions, the average lifespan of a Frost Giant was just over two hundred and thirty years.


    Over the past six hundred years, nine chieftains had perished, and apart from continuous small-scale raids, the Everfrost Tribe had launched thirteen major invasions into the south, known as the ¡°Frost Calamities,¡± yet they never found the relic representing their ancestors¡¯ supreme glory.


    Now, within the Everfrost Tribe, there were five hundred and thirty-two adult Frost Giants. These vigorous Frost Giants were consuming the great glacier quickly, and Kasa had originally planned to mobilize the entire tribe for an incursion in ten years. Unexpectedly, the Eternal Frost Horn had sounded.


    ¡°This matter is too significant.¡±


    ¡°We should ask Elder Nur.¡±


    Kasa walked to the deepest part of the ice cavern, finding a special Frost Giant in the most deep and cold place.


    Even the usually reckless Kasa restrained his excitement at this moment, tentatively asking:


    ¡°Elder Nur, is it time?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°We will reclaim the relic¡­ and restore the honor of our ancestors.¡±


    The voice was hoarse and low but firm.


    This Frost Giant, known as ¡°Elder Nur,¡± was hunched and aged, with light blue skin etched with strange runes. Upon closer inspection, one would find these runes were almost identical to those on the Eternal Frost Horn.


    He was the shaman of the Everfrost Tribe¡ªNur Everfrost of the Wooden Staff. It was said he was three hundred and seventy-four years old, had seen the reigns of five chieftains, and personally participated in six invasions of the south. He was the most revered Frost Giant in the tribe and was said to communicate with the long-silent Frost Giant God, Soleim.


    Nur, supporting himself with the wooden staff, wobbled as he stood up, eyes closed, one hand outstretched as if feeling the cold in the air.


    ¡°I can feel¡­¡±


    ¡°The power of the Eternal Frost Horn, guiding me¡­¡±


    ¡°That is the call of the ancestors, Great Kolba calling us.¡±


    Kasa was ecstatic, his hand holding the double-bladed axe trembling. The tribe¡¯s centuries-old wish was about to be fulfilled by him; he would become the most successful chieftain in a thousand years.


    ¡°Excellent, Elder Nur!¡±


    ¡°I will gather all the tribespeople and launch a war against the humans in the south, reclaiming our relic! This time, I will certainly wash away the disgrace and restore the honor of the ancestor Kolba!¡±


    Nur softly agreed:


    ¡°Yes, the tribespeople have already waited too long¡­¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    The aged Frost Giant, who had seen much of life, closed his eyes again, as if seeing something shocking, his body trembling slightly.


    ¡°I also see¡­ a scourge. A destined scourge.¡±


    ¡°Scourge?¡±


    Kasa was puzzled.


    Nur furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, and then slowly replied:


    ¡°Yes, a scourge. I don¡¯t know what this omen represents; it might be a group of humans, it might be a dragon, or something else entirely.¡±


    Kasa laughed heartily, casually shouldering his double-bladed axe, confidently said:


    ¡°Elder Nur, you¡¯re worrying too much.¡±


    ¡°For us, no scourge could exist. Let¡¯s be real, we Frost Giants are called the ¡®Frost Calamity¡¯ by the southerners. Even dragons would have their necks snapped by my own hands.¡±


    There was a flash of confident gleam in his eyes.


    ¡°We bring disaster to others; no one dares to provoke us!¡±


    ¡°Hope so.¡±


    Nur remained noncommittal, only wobbling out with the help of a Frost Giant attendant.


    ¡°Kasa, since you¡¯ve made up your mind, inform the tribe. The southern humans have enjoyed peace for too long. Another holy conquest is about to begin, and this is still your first time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Elder Nur.¡±


    Compared to the calmness of Nur, who had experienced several campaigns, Kasa was extremely excited, hardly able to contain his joy.


    A successful large-scale raid by the Frost Giants could result in looted goods that lasted decades, a valuable opportunity for the Frost Giants growing on barren glaciers, and a symbol of the achievements of successive chieftains.


    ¡°Reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn!¡±


    ¡°Kill all the southern humans! Rob them all!¡±


    Standing at the glacier¡¯s summit, Kasa raised his double-bladed axe with one arm and shouted loudly.


    Hundreds of Frost Giants below raised their diverse weapons, unleashing excited roars and growls.


    Of course, the Frost Giants yearned to restore their ancestors¡¯ honor, but they seemed more interested in killing and robbing the rich southerners than these intangible things.


    Pillaging was inherent in the Frost Giants¡¯ nature. Unlike their benevolent cousins, the Cloud Giants and Storm Giants, to the Frost Giants born in ice and snow, strength was everything.


    ¡°I will lead the tribe to reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn and retrieve all we once had.¡±


    ¡°Anything standing in our way will be crushed!¡±


    Kasa Everfrost the Bonebreaker overlooked the boiling tribe below, tightened his grip on the double-bladed axe, and made a silent vow.


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    Chapter 172: Chapter 99 Kasa Everfrost


    ¡°Hoo¡ª¡ª¡±


    A long horn sound echoed.


    Sunlight pierced through thin clouds, a cold wind howled, and the glacier covered in white frost and snow sparkled with a chilling light.


    This place, known to the world as the ¡°Icebound Forbidden Land,¡± was the Vaar Glacier, the survival ground of the Frost Giants for millennia.


    Within the crevices of the glacier, beds made of solid ice could be found, scattered with clothes made of animal skins, bone spears, and rough stone blades¡ªmarking the gathering place of the Everfrost Tribe.


    The glacial crevice where the Frost Giants gathered almost never saw sunlight in winter. As crops couldn¡¯t grow, they could only corral the livestock they looted for food and hunt on the tundra and snowy mountains, hence mammoths and even a few land dragons were kept outside the ice cavern.


    ¡°Is that¡­ the horn sound?¡±


    ¡°Soleim above, that¡¯s the Eternal Frost Horn!¡±


    The Frost Giant, wearing a bull horn helmet, raised his double-bladed axe, feeling the resonance in his blood, and roared excitedly.


    He was tall and strong, standing over eight meters high, with glacier-blue skin marked with scars. His whitish beard resembled a pool of frost and snow, and he wore strands of frost and ice pillars on his body.


    He was the current chieftain of the Everfrost Tribe, Kasa Everfrost the Bonebreaker.


    Kasa was the mightiest and strongest warrior in the tribe, in his prime at just over eighty years old, who had once barehandedly snapped the neck of an adult white dragon, earning him the title ¡°Bone Breaker.¡± All Frost Giant warriors held him in high esteem.


    But Kasa had a trouble, which was not finding the tribe¡¯s relic¡ªthe Eternal Frost Horn.


    The loss of the Eternal Frost Horn happened over six hundred years ago, when the shameful traitor known as ¡°The Betrayer¡± stole the relic, used its power to reach the south, and eventually allied with the humans.


    In natural conditions, the average lifespan of a Frost Giant was just over two hundred and thirty years.


    Over the past six hundred years, nine chieftains had perished, and apart from continuous small-scale raids, the Everfrost Tribe had launched thirteen major invasions into the south, known as the ¡°Frost Calamities,¡± yet they never found the relic representing their ancestors¡¯ supreme glory.


    Now, within the Everfrost Tribe, there were five hundred and thirty-two adult Frost Giants. These vigorous Frost Giants were consuming the great glacier quickly, and Kasa had originally planned to mobilize the entire tribe for an incursion in ten years. Unexpectedly, the Eternal Frost Horn had sounded.


    ¡°This matter is too significant.¡±


    ¡°We should ask Elder Nur.¡±


    Kasa walked to the deepest part of the ice cavern, finding a special Frost Giant in the most deep and cold place.


    Even the usually reckless Kasa restrained his excitement at this moment, tentatively asking:


    ¡°Elder Nur, is it time?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°We will reclaim the relic¡­ and restore the honor of our ancestors.¡±


    The voice was hoarse and low but firm.


    This Frost Giant, known as ¡°Elder Nur,¡± was hunched and aged, with light blue skin etched with strange runes. Upon closer inspection, one would find these runes were almost identical to those on the Eternal Frost Horn.


    He was the shaman of the Everfrost Tribe¡ªNur Everfrost of the Wooden Staff. It was said he was three hundred and seventy-four years old, had seen the reigns of five chieftains, and personally participated in six invasions of the south. He was the most revered Frost Giant in the tribe and was said to communicate with the long-silent Frost Giant God, Soleim.


    Nur, supporting himself with the wooden staff, wobbled as he stood up, eyes closed, one hand outstretched as if feeling the cold in the air.


    ¡°I can feel¡­¡±


    ¡°The power of the Eternal Frost Horn, guiding me¡­¡±


    ¡°That is the call of the ancestors, Great Kolba calling us.¡±


    Kasa was ecstatic, his hand holding the double-bladed axe trembling. The tribe¡¯s centuries-old wish was about to be fulfilled by him; he would become the most successful chieftain in a thousand years.


    ¡°Excellent, Elder Nur!¡±


    ¡°I will gather all the tribespeople and launch a war against the humans in the south, reclaiming our relic! This time, I will certainly wash away the disgrace and restore the honor of the ancestor Kolba!¡±


    Nur softly agreed:


    ¡°Yes, the tribespeople have already waited too long¡­¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    The aged Frost Giant, who had seen much of life, closed his eyes again, as if seeing something shocking, his body trembling slightly.


    ¡°I also see¡­ a scourge. A destined scourge.¡±


    ¡°Scourge?¡±


    Kasa was puzzled.


    Nur furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, and then slowly replied:


    ¡°Yes, a scourge. I don¡¯t know what this omen represents; it might be a group of humans, it might be a dragon, or something else entirely.¡±


    Kasa laughed heartily, casually shouldering his double-bladed axe, confidently said:


    ¡°Elder Nur, you¡¯re worrying too much.¡±


    ¡°For us, no scourge could exist. Let¡¯s be real, we Frost Giants are called the ¡®Frost Calamity¡¯ by the southerners. Even dragons would have their necks snapped by my own hands.¡±


    There was a flash of confident gleam in his eyes.


    ¡°We bring disaster to others; no one dares to provoke us!¡±


    ¡°Hope so.¡±


    Nur remained noncommittal, only wobbling out with the help of a Frost Giant attendant.


    ¡°Kasa, since you¡¯ve made up your mind, inform the tribe. The southern humans have enjoyed peace for too long. Another holy conquest is about to begin, and this is still your first time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Elder Nur.¡±


    Compared to the calmness of Nur, who had experienced several campaigns, Kasa was extremely excited, hardly able to contain his joy.


    A successful large-scale raid by the Frost Giants could result in looted goods that lasted decades, a valuable opportunity for the Frost Giants growing on barren glaciers, and a symbol of the achievements of successive chieftains.


    ¡°Reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn!¡±


    ¡°Kill all the southern humans! Rob them all!¡±


    Standing at the glacier¡¯s summit, Kasa raised his double-bladed axe with one arm and shouted loudly.


    Hundreds of Frost Giants below raised their diverse weapons, unleashing excited roars and growls.


    Of course, the Frost Giants yearned to restore their ancestors¡¯ honor, but they seemed more interested in killing and robbing the rich southerners than these intangible things.


    Pillaging was inherent in the Frost Giants¡¯ nature. Unlike their benevolent cousins, the Cloud Giants and Storm Giants, to the Frost Giants born in ice and snow, strength was everything.


    ¡°I will lead the tribe to reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn and retrieve all we once had.¡±


    ¡°Anything standing in our way will be crushed!¡±


    Kasa Everfrost the Bonebreaker overlooked the boiling tribe below, tightened his grip on the double-bladed axe, and made a silent vow.

 Chapter 173 - 100: The Duke and the Player

    Chapter 173: Chapter 100: The Duke and the Player


    A week later. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Stratholme Fortress, Duke Boske¡¯s Mansion.


    Duke Leo Boske kept stroking his beard, his face full of anxiety. It had been a long time since he had lost his composure like this. The bad news of late was too much, making even the usually calm duke find it hard to accept.


    The Principality of Norton had been swiftly annihilated by the Ashen Kingdom in a single day, without even sending out a distress signal.


    And in the northern part of the kingdom, with the sounding of the strange horn, the legendary ¡°Frost Calamity¡± started to stir once more. Signs of Frost Giants¡¯ advancement had appeared near the Vaar Glacier.


    ¡°Your Grace, Your Grace!¡±


    ...


    The adjutant rushed in hurriedly, bringing the latest intelligence.


    ¡°Our scouts in the north have discovered signs of Frost Giants¡¯ rapid advance! On roads long sealed, there are remnants of beasts, massive footprints, and the ground¡­ is covered in snow.¡±


    Duke Leo¡¯s face immediately darkened, masked by a heavy shadow.


    ¡°Just as recorded.¡±


    ¡°It is indeed¡­ the Frost Calamity.¡±


    Duke Leo turned to the adjutant, asking anxiously:


    ¡°What about their marching direction? Where will those Frost Giants appear?¡±


    The adjutant hurriedly responded truthfully: ¡°Stormy Ridge. According to our current intelligence, they will head south from the vicinity of Stormy Ridge, passing through Triel Valley, entering the northern region.¡±


    However, he added:


    ¡°But, the area around Stormy Ridge is Ashen Kingdom¡¯s territory. Though their patrol and defense focus has shifted to the former Rackman Duchy, it is still controlled by the Red Dragon¡¯s retainers. The information we have is extremely scarce, all obtained at the risk of our scouts¡¯ lives.¡±


    The adjutant presented a map, respectfully offering it up.


    The parchment map was scarred with marks and blemishes, red paint marking areas where signs of Frost Giants¡¯ march had been discovered.


    Duke Leo carefully examined the map, his expression shifting between joy and puzzlement.


    He paced back and forth in the hall.


    ¡°That¡¯s not right¡­ This is different from the recorded Frost Calamities.


    ¡°According to records, during the Frost Calamities sixty and a hundred seventy years ago, the Frost Giants surged into the northern region from different directions, rapidly destroying everything in their path and looting everything around. Often, just a few dozen Frost Giants were enough to obliterate a city.¡±


    ¡°According to domestic scholars¡¯ analysis, their main goal should be plundering resources while weakening our forces, hence why these Frost Giants would unleash their destructive power recklessly.¡±


    ¡°But this time, they seem to have a specific target.¡±


    ¡°And that target, which requires them to concentrate their power, should be the current¡­ Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    Continuing to scrutinize the map, Duke Leo¡¯s eyes gleamed with a peculiar light.


    Upon hearing this, the adjutant immediately showed a look of delight.


    ¡°My Lord, doesn¡¯t that mean we¡¯ve hit the jackpot?¡±


    ¡°This Ashen Kingdom is fending off the Frost Calamity from the north, with the Frost Giants and the giant dragons tangled up amongst themselves, too preoccupied to look south. We can take this opportunity to¡­¡±


    ¡°Launch an attack on the Ashen Kingdom, right?¡±


    Duke Leo finished the thought.


    The adjutant quickly bowed, flattering: ¡°You are wise, my Lord, that is exactly what I was thinking.¡±


    Duke Leo¡¯s expression slightly softened, finally revealing a hint of relaxation: ¡°Let me correct you on one term¡ªit¡¯s not ¡®take this opportunity,¡¯ but ¡®bide our time.¡¯


    ¡°We still don¡¯t know the upper limit of the Red Dragon¡¯s strength in the Ashen Kingdom, and the Northern Frost Giants have only appeared sixty years ago according to records. The outcome of their clash is still uncertain.¡±


    ¡°So we must wait, wait for an opportunity that clearly reveals the situation.¡±


    ¡°If the Frost Giants have the upper hand, about to annihilate the Ashen Kingdom, then we can aid the Ashen Kingdom in resisting the Frost Giants, exhausting their remaining strength to fend off the calamity for us. Once the Frost Giants retreat, we can slowly settle accounts with the Ashen Kingdom. If the Ashen Kingdom prevails, during the lax period after their battle with the Frost Giants, we can launch a surprise attack.¡±


    The adjutant showed an expression of sudden realization and quickly echoed:


    ¡°My Lord, your wisdom is far beyond my reach.¡±


    Duke Leo did not continue to respond, but thoughtfully looked at the map.


    ¡°What a rare opportunity¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Luck is a part of strength too. The initiative is back in my hands; how will you respond?¡±


    ¡°Cassius Klaubow Norixius¡­¡±


    He once again pronounced that long, cumbersome name that had made him restless for days, but now his tone held a touch of expectation.


    ¡­


    Ashen Kingdom, Northwind Castle.


    ¡°Ah, isn¡¯t that Mantou?¡±


    ¡°Out on patrol again, you¡¯re working hard.¡±


    The passing townsfolk called out warmly, though their voices carried deep reverence.


    ¡°Serving the Ashen citizens is my duty.¡±


    Mantou declared righteously.


    He still wore the sheriff¡¯s uniform, patrolling the streets of the Southwest Urban District he was responsible for.


    But due to the Dictator¡¯s Rule, there were hardly any players daring to break the law in the city. Mantou now considered the original residents as his primary targets. For instance, the notorious ¡°Black Beer¡± gang in the Southwest Urban District was single-handedly wiped out by Mantou on his own, earning him over seven thousand faction contributions from that mission.


    Since then, the Southwest Urban District had become eerily quiet, with few special cases occurring, leaving Mantou quite bored.


    ¡°Why is it so peaceful? Can¡¯t there be a major case for me?¡±


    ¡°Is there no hidden gang in Northwind Castle for me to make a fortune?¡±


    Mantou thought as he rode on the dragon¡¯s back.


    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Mantou? How come you¡¯re all dressed up?¡±


    A snarky voice interrupted Mantou¡¯s thoughts.


    Mantou immediately exploited his authority, not even looking at the person before sternly shouting:


    ¡°Citizen, watch your language. Do not attempt to provoke the sheriff!¡±


    Unexpectedly, the speaker did not restrain himself but instead grew more arrogant: ¡°Why are you, a little Level 2 sheriff, putting on airs?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m now the head of ¡®Nocturne,¡¯ ranked two levels above you in the Ashen System. Let me tell you, I can directly reach the Big Dragon Boss. Who do you think you are?¡±


    ¡°Come on, call me ¡®officer!''¡±


    The speaker was none other than Swashbuckler. At this moment, he was flaunting himself, his tail practically sky-high.


    And upon hearing the name ¡°Nocturne,¡± the surrounding residents all scattered, adamantly closing their doors and windows, afraid of getting involved with this important figure¡ªafter all, the Nocturne Troop in the Ashen Kingdom was notorious, rumored to have assassinated countless would-be rebels.

 Chapter 174 - 101 Main Quest: Frost Calamity!

    Chapter 174: Chapter 101 Main Quest: Frost Calamity!


    Seeing that the newcomer was Swashbuckler, Mantou didn¡¯t bother with any formalities, and immediately began to mock him without mercy.


    After all, during the mission at Rackman Castle, Swashbuckler¡¯s cowardly behavior of abandoning his benefactor and fleeing had deeply etched itself into his mind, leaving an indelible mark.


    ¡°Yo, isn¡¯t this our Chief Eunuch from the Eastern Factory, Swashbuckler?¡±


    ¡°Or should I call you¡­ the Vampire¡¯s Favorite?¡±


    ¡°Why are you always hiding in the shadows? Come out and get some sun.¡±


    These few words undoubtedly hit Swashbuckler¡¯s sore spot, delivering a heavy strike that made him boil with anger.


    ...


    Especially the phrase ¡°Vampire¡¯s Favorite,¡± which directly broke his defenses.


    After all, that post about the ¡°Old Vampire and the Rogue Beast¡¯s Unspeakable Thirty Seconds¡± still maintained high popularity on the forums, where curious onlookers often checked in, pushing the thread¡¯s count to over ten thousand comments, making it a landmark within the forum.


    Swashbuckler sneered: ¡°Humph, I think you¡¯re just jealous of my higher position and strength. My Vampire template is at least a mini-boss level; I bet even the three of you together couldn¡¯t beat me.¡±


    ¡°Wanna try outside the city?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s bet three hundred gold coins, Rogue Beast. Today it¡¯s either you die or I live.¡±


    Mantou patted his wyvern on the side of its neck, and ¡°Noodle¡± immediately understood, glaring at Swashbuckler with bared teeth and a low growl.


    Swashbuckler was so frightened that he stepped back a few steps and hastily said:


    ¡°Don¡¯t come over here. I¡¯m telling you, fighting in the city is illegal. It¡¯ll blow your brains out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m usually swamped with tasks. I¡¯m not here to chat idly; Singo has something serious to discuss with you.¡±


    Mantou finally patted the dragon¡¯s neck, calming it down.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you get there, at the Red Scale Guardhouse.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t try to trick me, or I¡¯ll definitely bust your head.¡±


    ¡°Hah, who beats whom is still up in the air.¡±


    ¡°Hissss¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Damn, don¡¯t let your stinky lizard bite me! I said I¡¯m sorry, okay?¡±


    ¡­


    Northwest District of Northwind Castle, at the Red Scale Guardhouse.


    This was a rather large building located at the edge of the city, newly built after the Ashen Kingdom took over Northwind Castle. It was still under construction, with powerful ogre workers bustling inside, but its basic framework was already complete.


    The building stood over twenty meters high, making it seem quite imposing for this era. It used the most advanced structure, with statues of knights riding wyverns at the entrance, and the doors bore the emblem unique to the Ashen Kingdom¡ªa golden vertical pupil surrounded by flames.


    At the very top of the building was an exceptionally flat and open platform, painted with neat marker symbols, where many wyverns were perched.


    This was the Red Scale Guardhouse, headquarters of the Red Scale Conqueror, where wyvern knights returning from patrol would rest, waiting for the next mission assignment.


    Mantou had originally been a member of the patrol team, but disliked the arduous patrol tasks and found the rewards lackluster, so he returned to the city to comfortably serve as sheriff. Only Singo remained in the patrol team, now promoted to squad leader, becoming the highest-ranking Red Scale Conqueror under Alger.


    Mantou parked his wyvern at the entrance and entered the hall with Swashbuckler, who had been hiding in the shadows.


    ¡°Yo, Xin Dog, long time no see.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too slow.¡±


    In the distance, Singo appeared quite excited.


    Singo patted Mantou¡¯s shoulder and said eagerly: ¡°Mantou, stop slacking off in the city. There¡¯s only one month left of the beta test. This is our golden opportunity to leapfrog ahead. When the game officially launches, we¡¯ll be far ahead of the rest.¡±


    Mantou seemed confused: ¡°What tasks could be left at this point? Isn¡¯t the beta version in its final phase?


    ¡°Other than the crazies from the Mechanical God Cult still climbing their tech tree, which I can¡¯t make heads or tails of, most players are probably doing daily quests¡­¡±


    Recently, Mantou¡¯s videos hadn¡¯t stirred much excitement, mainly consisting of patrol diaries within the city. The last popular video was ¡°Exploring Rackman Castle¡±¡ªparticularly the thirty seconds between Swashbuckler and the old vampire, which earned him thousands of comments, also making Swashbuckler hold a grudge.


    Singo gave Mantou a disdainful glance.


    ¡°Small-minded people, incapable of understanding grand ambitions. Same goes for those people, their understanding of the game is pitiful.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me, what¡¯s there to do?¡±


    As Singo summoned a panel, he replied: ¡°I¡¯ve always told you to join the Red Scale Patrol Team.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just about the rewards; it¡¯s also about obtaining the latest information.¡±


    ¡°If not for me, you wouldn¡¯t know about this final month¡¯s main quest in advance.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°You found another main quest?¡±


    ¡°What main quest?¡±


    An elegant female voice came from behind.


    ¡ªIt was Summer Night Autumn Rain, with Natural War Maniac following closely. They had both responded to Singo¡¯s call, putting aside their tasks to come here.


    Singo said calmly: ¡°See for yourselves. I triggered it during my patrol at Stormy Ridge.¡±


    A transparent open information screen appeared before them.


    [Main Quest: Frost Calamity]


    [Every few decades, the Frost Giants from the ¡°Icebound Forbidden Land¡± at Vaar Glacier blow their horns and start a rapid march from their icy home, accompanied by howling blizzards. Wherever they go, towns and villages turn into snow-covered ruins, and the unlucky souls on their path are left as plundered corpses.]


    [This horrifying scene is known as the ¡°Frost Calamity¡± by the natives of the North. Now, the Frost Calamity is rising again, but this time the Frost Giants have a clearer target¡ªthe Ashen Kingdom. They intend to plunder everything here and reclaim their ancestors¡¯ glory. Anyone standing in their way will be crushed mercilessly.]


    [Heroes, use your swords and shields to withstand the blizzard and stop this Frost Calamity!]


    ¡°Frost Giants¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain furrowed her eyebrows slightly, seeming to recall something unpleasant, and after a moment¡¯s thought, she asked:


    ¡°Are they similar to the Hill Giants we fought before?¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head and chuckled: ¡°That¡¯d be great. Even the Hill Giant was a treasure, its toenails could be turned into potions.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain: ¡°¡­¡±


    That was exactly why she didn¡¯t want to remember it.


    Singo answered calmly: ¡°That¡¯s right. I used my position to specially review related books. These monsters belong to the giant category, but the Frost Giants are of a much higher sequential rank than Hill Giants.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, they most likely possess frost-related spell abilities.¡±


    Mantou stroked his chin: ¡°That could be tricky¡­ Our Red Dragon Bloodline doesn¡¯t have high resistance to cold.¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Singo nodded: ¡°That¡¯s why for this mission, we must prepare thoroughly in advance.¡±

 Chapter 175 - 102 The Skirmish of Jin Ya

    Chapter 175: Chapter 102 The Skirmish of Jin Ya


    North of Stormy Ridge, in the Castnail Hills.


    A troop of more than a thousand Kobolds was slowly progressing along the hills, looking like a swarm of ants from afar. They were the transport team of the Ashen Kingdom.


    ¡°Hurry up, get that gold moved. This is a direct order from Lord Ramp.¡±


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    Jin Ya wielded a leather whip, sharply cracking it against the ground as he commanded the Kobolds at the entrance of the mine.


    As retainers left on Stormy Ridge, the Kobolds were still responsible for the mining and transport work. Day and night, they diligently hauled gold out of the mines, working with surprising tenacity. The reason was that those with excellent performance would be granted the Dragon Vein Elixir, transforming them into the legendary winged Kobolds¡ª¡±Urd.¡±


    ...


    With the deepening effect of the Dragon Vein Blessing, Jin Ya could now even transform Dragon Vein Kobolds himself, bestowing the Bloodline Gift.


    Currently, Jin Ya¡¯s appearance increasingly resembled an actual dragon. Although he still stood on two legs, his body stretched over four meters long from head to tail. His head resembled that of a drake, and a row of bone spikes ran down his back. However, the gold tooth in his mouth looked quite diminutive due to his inflated size.


    Seeing a Kobold stumble and fall, Jin Ya roared in anger.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°Move faster, you brats. Don¡¯t you want to grow wings?¡±


    Now, even Jin Ya¡¯s roar sounded less like a dog¡¯s bark and more like an infant dragon¡¯s roar.


    The fallen Kobold struggled to get up and picked up the scattered gold ore, grumbling under his breath.


    ¡°Tch, just because he got lucky, acting all high and mighty.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s just an Urd. One day, I¡¯ll also¡­¡±


    This Kobold was named Black Tooth, named after his yellowish-black teeth. Kobolds loved this kind of naming convention.


    Though grumbling, Black Tooth still picked up the ore in his basket, shook himself off, and hurriedly tried to catch up with the troop.


    ¡°Wait for me¡ª¡±


    But the troop had already moved far ahead, and Black Tooth couldn¡¯t catch up right away.


    A chilling gust of wind suddenly swept in from behind, making the cold-fearing Kobold shiver.


    ¡°Hiss¡ª¡±


    ¡°Great Red Dragon above, it¡¯s so cold at this time of year¡­¡±


    The cold intensified, spreading from behind him, slowing Black Tooth¡¯s movements and covering his scales with a thin layer of frost.


    Just as Black Tooth was about to call for help, a massive shadow enveloped him.


    He slowly lifted his head, and an expression of extreme terror appeared on his ugly face.


    ¡°This, this is¡­¡±


    A Frost Giant, over six meters tall, wearing a bull horn helmet and clad in rough armor made of beast hide and bones, was looming over him, wielding a battle axe.


    The Frost Giant grinned menacingly.


    ¡°Ugly little creature¡­¡±


    ¡°Crushing you underfoot will feel satisfying.¡±


    Black Tooth quickly tried to run, but the cold had already stiffened his movements. He looked up in terror as the fur-wrapped foot got larger in his vision.


    ¡°Splat!¡±


    The sound of flesh and bones being crushed was heard, and Black Tooth was squashed into a meat patty.


    The Frost Giant nonchalantly scraped his foot along the ground, looking impatient.


    ¡°Why are there so many of these little creatures along the way? They have nothing worth looting.¡±


    Behind him stood forty more Frost Giants. They were scouts from the Everfrost Tribe, sent by Clan Leader Kasa to gather information around Stormy Ridge.


    ¡°Teman, don¡¯t forget the clan leader¡¯s task.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste time on these insignificant weaklings.¡±


    This Frost Giant¡¯s voice was deep; he was the leader of this scouting party. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This Frost Giant was different, being taller by half a head compared to his companions. He wore a suit made of scales and held a long bone pickaxe in his hand, with a Long Fang Pendant hanging on his chest.


    The Frost Giants made their clothes from beast hide and bones, carved items from bones and fangs, and repurposed the armor and weapons of smaller enemies¡ªfor instance, sewing multiple shields together for armor or attaching sword blades to wooden shafts to make spears. Most of the Frost Giants¡¯ equipment was this kind of jumbled assortment.


    But for them, the best trophies came from dragon-slaying battles. The great Frost Giant leaders wore armor made of dragon scales and wielded weapons made of dragon bones¡ªthis Frost Giant leader was no exception.


    His name was Baya Everfrost, Kasa¡¯s brother and captain of the Frost Giant hunting party. He had also participated in the battle to kill a White Dragon.


    The Frost Giant named Teman pointed forward and said:


    ¡°Captain Baya, these Kobolds are not insignificant. Look ahead, that¡¯s clearly a formation.¡±


    ¡°We can pry their mouths open to gather information about the vicinity. After all, it¡¯s been decades since we Frost Giants last marched south en masse.¡±


    Baya responded coldly, ¡°You make a good point. Then¡­ crush them.¡±


    The cold wind howled, and the ground rumbled.


    Several Frost Giants charged forward on Dragon Tundras, appearing like moving mountains, crushing hundreds of Kobolds beneath them.


    Baya led the charge with a cold face, killing more than ten Kobolds with a single swing of his pickaxe. Those dog-headed creatures, barely reaching his knees at their tallest, were laughably helpless in his presence.


    ¡°Enemy attack!¡±


    ¡°Heavens, what is that?¡±


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s the Frost Giants!¡±


    ¡°The Frost Giants are attacking! Frost Calamity is here!¡±


    The Kobolds let out wails and cries like distressed dogs, fleeing in all directions.


    The dragon blood coursing through their veins made them fierce and brave, but only against human militias. Against the overwhelming strength of the Frost Giants, all resistance was futile.


    In the dire situation, Jin Ya flapped his wings and took to the sky. He was visibly panicked but still instinctively tried to stabilize the situation:


    ¡°Brats, hold the line!¡±


    ¡°These are just some dumb humans!¡±


    ¡°You must endure until the Kingdom¡¯s reinforcements arrive!¡±


    Baya was drawn by this familiar voice. He looked up into the sky, squinting his eyes with a gleam of excitement in his icy blue pupils.


    ¡°Is this¡­ a drake?¡±


    The Frost Giant licked his lips.


    Baya didn¡¯t recognize it as a Kobold but mistook it for a malformed drake and was thrilled by the discovery.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect such an unexpected prize. This dragon blood must taste excellent, likely different from that of a White Dragon.¡±


    ¡°It will become my finest trophy!¡±


    Baya leaped off his Dragon Tundra, picked up a rock from the ground, and hurled it into the sky.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The rock traced an arc in the air, but Jin Ya, reacting swiftly, dodged it.


    However, he had no time to prepare for what came next. Baya gripped his bone pickaxe tightly, leaped over ten meters high, and yanked the winged Kobold down from the sky with the pickaxe¡¯s head.


    ¡°Dragon, I will strip your hide!¡±


    The Frost Giant roared excitedly, clutching Jin Ya¡¯s wing with his right hand.

 Chapter 176 - 103 Frost Giants and Retainers

    Chapter 176: Chapter 103 Frost Giants and Retainers


    Jin Ya also realized the critical situation and quickly opened his mouth.


    ¡°Fireball Spell¡±


    Jin Ya was not a trivial figure in the Ashen Kingdom. As a kobold magician for many years, he had already been able to fully harness the magic in his bloodline, even able to easily cast a Third Tier spell like the Fireball Spell.


    A blazing fireball spewed from Jin Ya¡¯s mouth, directly hitting the unprepared frost giant¡¯s face.


    With the sizzling sound of flesh and skin being scorched, half of the frost giant¡¯s face was burned black, horrific wounds appearing on his skin. In the agony, he loosened his grip, allowing Jin Ya, hooked by the bone pickaxe, to break free.


    ¡°So hot¡­¡±


    ...


    Baya first covered his face, then roared to the sky, his face full of burn marks brimming with battle intent.


    The frost giant saw the scars on his body and the trophies he stripped from the enemies as symbols of strength and value. Jin Ya¡¯s attack not only did not scare him, but it also excited Baya¡¯s fighting spirit.


    ¡°Dragon, I will kill you!¡±


    ¡°Come down and fight me!¡±


    He recklessly threw stones into the sky, hoping to strike Jin Ya down.


    Jin Ya dodged in mid-air, grumbling:


    ¡°What a damned lunatic.¡±


    He spat out another fireball toward the ground, but this time the frost giant was prepared and blocked it with a bone shield.


    ¡°Crawl, your flames are weak and feeble!¡±


    ¡°Come! Fight me in close combat!¡±


    The frost giant leaped high again, trying to repeat the trick, hooking Jin Ya from the air down to the ground for a battle.


    But this time, Jin Ya was also prepared. He deftly flapped his wings, dodging the bone pickaxe while reaching the frost giant¡¯s back.


    ¡°Burning Hands¡±


    The winged kobold extended his claws, a cone of flame spouting from the center of his palm, burning the frost giant¡¯s unprotected back, leaving a large charred area.


    The frost giant dropped to the ground in pain, rolling several times to relieve the force but quickly got up again.


    ¡°Your attack is nothing but a scratch!¡±


    The tenacious and valiant frost giant still roared on the ground, brewing his next attack.


    For them, fighting was an everyday affair. Frost giants often wrestled with the giant beasts on the ice fields; such injuries were nothing to them.


    While Jin Ya seized this precious breath of air, he looked toward the chaotic battlefield. The cold wind became increasingly fierce as the frost giants effortlessly crushed the kobolds, even capturing a few cowardly ones alive.


    In the face of the absolute size and strength of the frost giants, this was not even considered an equal battle, merely a one-sided game.


    ¡°When those frost giants surround me, it won¡¯t be easy for me to escape either.¡±


    ¡°With only over a thousand pups here, given the current situation, the best option is to abandon them and hurry to inform the master about the frost giants¡¯ southward invasion.¡±


    Jin Ya had been leading the kobolds in the mine for several months, having little contact with the Ashen Kingdom during this period. He did not know the changes in the outside world, but he knew the terror of the frost giants.


    These guys averaged six meters tall and were born as fierce and tough warriors. Their battles could even cause avalanches on the White Summit Peaks. Even the dozens of frost giants present here were enough to completely destroy a city, far beyond what these kobolds could contend with.


    Thinking of this, Jin Ya roared and flapped his wings to ascend into the sky¡ªhe did not want to continue entangling with Baya.


    ¡°Stupid giant! I am not a dragon, just a kobold under the command of the great red dragon!¡±


    ¡°The strength you are so proud of is nothing in front of my master!¡±


    ¡°Remember, when my master descends, all you frost giants will turn to ashes!¡±


    After finishing his harsh words, Jin Ya spread his wings and left the battlefield, soaring over the hills¡ªthis is the advantage of being able to fly.


    Can¡¯t beat him, but can¡¯t I outrun him?


    The frost giants on the ground could only rage impotently, throwing giant stones, but Jin Ya had already flown so high that even the formidable strength of the frost giants could not reach him.


    Baya touched the wound on his face, his expression fierce.


    ¡°He, he is not a dragon?¡±


    ¡°Just a mere kobold!¡±


    The frost giant warrior gnashed his teeth¡ªhe was not even this angry when he was first injured.


    If these scars were caused by a red dragon, it would undoubtedly be a symbol of honor. But being caused by a weak kobold would only make Baya a laughingstock among his tribe.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    ¡°I must kill it.¡±


    ¡°And the dragon behind it¡­¡±


    Baya stared intently at the small black dot in the distance, filled with hatred, the scars on his face particularly prominent.


    As he spoke, he casually stomped, crushing another fleeing kobold into a pulp without even giving it a chance to wail.


    The wilderness was already littered with corpses, disfigured kobold bodies everywhere, the howling wind often covering them with a thin layer of frost.


    The frost giants, on the other hand, were unscathed, swiftly clearing the battlefield. They would only take the large chunks of gold, completely ignoring the kobolds¡¯ small gear and trinkets.


    Similar scenes were unfolding all over the Stormy Ridge¡ªthe goblin strongholds were trampled by the giants, kobold mines were crushed, and the half-orc hunting grounds were destroyed.


    These frost giants moved quickly in several small teams, plundering and destroying everything in their path.


    Because the Ashen Kingdom had shifted its defense focus to the south, the Stormy Ridge in the north had almost no regular army, just those disregarded monster kin with no resistance against the powerful frost giants, making their invasion of the Stormy Ridge a crushing defeat.


    In fact, Cassius had deliberately left an opening, letting the frost giants eliminate these rapidly reproducing monsters to control the monster population in the Stormy Ridge.


    Keep in mind that kobolds and goblins in the Stormy Ridge had become uncountable without human control. If left to reproduce freely, they could likely overrun the entire Stormy Ridge.


    The goblin chieftain Dolores had once said: ¡°These creatures reproducing like beasts, I don¡¯t even consider them my kin.¡±


    The upper echelons of the Ashen Kingdom had already planned to classify kobolds and goblins within the Kingdom based on the concentration of dragon blood, delineating them into dragon vein and ordinary species.


    The dragon vein individuals would become Ashen citizens, while the ordinary ones would remain monsters, with a planned strategy for their control and cleansing. Most of the ordinary monsters, given their high reproductive rate, would become disposable resources for the kingdom¡¯s development¡ªsuch as miners, porters, or frontline cannon fodder.


    Originally, the elite forces of the Ashen Nest, like bipedal wyverns and Chimeras, were mainly concentrated around the Rock Fortress, yet unaffected by the frost giants¡¯ invasion.


    At the moment, having already received the kingdom¡¯s message, they were on high alert in front of the Rock Fortress.


    S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 177 - 104 The Battle of Dragon Valley

    Chapter 177: Chapter 104 The Battle of Dragon Valley


    Dragon Valley, in front of Rock Fortress.


    The dragon-blooded monsters stood ready, letting out low growls.


    The bipedal wyverns flew in dense formations in the sky, wings overlapping wings, like thick, dark clouds, blocking the sunlight.


    The wildland dragons roared loudly, stomping on the ground with reckless abandon. Three chimeras stood at the edge of the cliff, their three heads roaring in unison.


    The dragon vein goblins and lizardfolk stationed at the fortress stood silently, awaiting the enemy¡¯s arrival.


    Though the most elite troops had long been dispatched to the south, the retainers remaining in Dragon Valley were still the core strength of the former Ashen Nest, many of whom were veterans of the Triel war who had not yet followed the Red Dragon to the south.


    ...


    During Cassius¡¯s absence, Dolores¡¯s trusted subordinate¡ªthe great goblin Derol¡ªhad become the temporary overseer of Dragon Valley.


    He had attained the position Dolores had long coveted, but sadly, the center of the Ashen Kingdom had already shifted to Northwind Castle, making Dragon Valley now more of a frontier stronghold and primary troop source.


    ¡°Whoo¡ª¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A cold wind howled, surging into the valley.


    Derol sneezed, his expression growing more solemn.


    ¡°Just as Lord Dolores had said, they would come with the cold wind¡­¡±


    ¡°Frost Giants¡­¡±


    The great goblin stood at the highest point of Rock Fortress, gazing into the distance, where he saw many enormous figures appear on the horizon¡ªit was the main force of Frost Giants.


    Hundreds of frost giants, either riding large tundra dragons or running on the ground, charged towards the valley, accompanied by clouds of steam.


    The rapid march of the giants caused the ground to tremble violently.


    As the temporary overseer of Dragon Valley, Derol was young and inexperienced, and he did not provide any unnecessary pre-battle motivation. He merely raised the spear engraved with the Ashen emblem, mimicking Dolores¡¯s remembered stance, and shouted loudly:


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Fight for the great Red Dragon!¡±


    The monsters below erupted in thunderous cheers and jubilation, their excitement lingering.


    ¡°Roar, roar¡ª¡±


    Having survived that battle, their reverence for the Red Dragon was nearly divine, especially since the Ashen Kingdom had also filled their bellies.


    These frost giants were indeed powerful, but the dragon-blooded retainers only felt an exhilarating thrill facing such a formidable enemy¡ªafter all, they were the minions of the evil dragons.


    In the midst of the Frost Giant formation, Baya also swung his dragonbone pickaxe, letting out a battle roar.


    ¡°Take down this fortress!¡±


    ¡°Let them witness the Frost Calamity!¡±


    The frost giants charged forward with the cold wind.


    However, they first fell into the traps dug by the kobolds, who were indeed master trap-makers. Several frost giants, caught unawares, stumbled into specially crafted deep pits and were pierced by sharp spears.


    Even a giant tundra dragon was tripped by steel cables, toppling with a heavy wail, crushing its rider and two frost giants beneath its weight.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    At Derol¡¯s command to ¡°open fire,¡± the artillery on Rock Fortress roared, echoing through the valley.


    Shells rained down on the frost giants, with shrapnel flying and dust scattering, killing several unlucky giants on the spot.


    Baya was somewhat taken aback by the quick casualties but continued to shout angrily:


    ¡°These small tricks are useless against us!¡±


    ¡°Charge up and crush them!¡±


    Despite losing several members, the frost giants showed no signs of retreat.


    ¡°Hiss¡ª¡±


    Accompanied by noisy screeches, the ¡°clouds¡± in the sky descended; hundreds of bipedal wyverns dived chaotically, spitting scorching flames, biting with sharp teeth, or striking with barbed, poisonous tails.


    The frost giants, after the initial losses, immediately counterattacked.


    They were natural enemies of the dragon-like creatures and had great experience hunting these flying lizards.


    The frost giants hurled massive stones into the sky, knocking down the erratically flying wyverns, then grabbed and wrestled them to the ground in vicious combat.


    These frost giants were larger and stronger than the wyverns, often ripping the wyverns to shreds once they were dragged to the ground.


    ¡°Annoying bugs!¡±


    Baya leapt up high again, hooking another wyvern with his dragonbone pickaxe.


    The frost giant warrior used his weight advantage to drag it to the ground, pinning it beneath his massive body, and then, with a single hand, tore its slender neck apart.


    ¡°Rip¡ª¡±


    Blood and flesh splattered across Baya¡¯s scarred face, making him grin with satisfaction as he prepared to charge at another target.


    However, right after the wyverns initiated their attack, Dragon Valley¡¯s ground forces immediately followed suit, seizing the opportunity of the giants and wyverns entangled in combat to launch their assault.


    ¡°Advance!¡±


    Derol shouted the command.


    Feeling exceptionally excited, his hand holding the saber trembled slightly. He had once been a member of the line infantry legion, following Dolores in participating in that volley drill and the Triel battle. Now it was finally his turn to command the legion.


    The Goblin Infantry Brigade marched in unison to the beat of the half-goat people¡¯s drums.


    The frost giants occasionally hurled stones, crushing a few goblins, but the rear troops quickly filled the gaps.


    When the goblin corps reached within fifty paces of the frost giants, close enough to smell the stench on the giants and feel their breath, Derol finally gave another command, just like Dolores had done before.


    His heart pounded, whether from excitement or nervousness.


    ¡°Ready¡ª¡±


    The goblins, following their training, raised their rifles, creating a series of clattering sounds.


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    The goblins squeezed their triggers.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The rifles roared, with blue smoke rising slowly from the muzzles, the scent of gunpowder filling the air.


    And just not far from the formation, several frost giants first leaned forward, then collapsed to the ground with a loud crash, raising clouds of dust.


    These giant targets were much easier to hit than ordinary ones, often being pierced by several blooming bullets that deformed and expanded upon contact, burrowing into the frost giants¡¯ bodies and wreaking havoc, easily ending their lives.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    ¡°It hurts!¡±


    The frost giants even struggled on the ground, their faces twisted in agony, holding a combat stance, unable to comprehend how they had died so easily.


    Baya was also shocked by the effect of the volley, dropping the mangled wyvern in his hand. Staring at the distant infantry legion, he wore an extremely grim expression:


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    ¡°How can these little things so easily kill our warriors¡­¡±


    He knew that the Everfrost Tribe had only just over five hundred adult frost giants in total, and each warrior was a valuable asset. If he caused too much loss, he would be held accountable, even though he was the clan leader¡¯s brother.

 Chapter 178 - 103 Bayas Evacuation

    Chapter 178: Chapter 103 Baya¡¯s Evacuation


    ¡°Slaughter these little creatures, avenge our clan!¡±


    Seeing the Great Goblins loading their ammunition, Baya finally reacted, waving his Dragonbone Pickaxe, preparing to charge the line infantry¡¯s formation.


    Seeing their leader being so brave, the Frost Giants quickly followed, swinging their weapons and charged fiercely.


    However, the front-row Great Goblins fell back to the rear, and the rear Great Goblins advanced to the front, performing another volley.


    This was the volley firing method designed by the Iron Madman for these Goblin Infantry Brigades. Due to the increased firing rate of the muskets, the three rows of soldiers could essentially maintain a continuous onslaught of firepower.


    At the same time, several Chimeras swept across the sky, spitting lines of flames on the path of the Frost Giant charge, covering the infantry formation.


    ...


    For a moment, the Frost Giants could not get close and were forced to endure the attack passively.


    ¡°Ready, fire!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    With another deafening gunshot, several more Frost Giants fell.


    Thanks to the Dragon Scale Armor, Baya was unharmed except for a few stray bullets in his arm.


    The Frost Giants looked around¡ªthe most valiant warriors who charged with him had mostly fallen, and the remaining ones were cautious, no longer daring to advance.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    Baya¡¯s eyes were bloodshot with rage, the veins on his burn-scarred forehead throbbing.


    ¡°How dare you oppose the great Frost Giant warriors! I will smear your blood on myself!¡±


    It could only be said that he lived up to being a Frost Giant warrior who had once hunted dragons.


    Baya roared, relying on his entire body¡¯s Dragon Scale Armor, holding a leather shield in one hand and a Dragonbone Pickaxe in the other, charging through the barrage and tearing the Goblin Army¡¯s formation apart.


    The Dragonbone Pickaxe swung, easily piercing through the front-row Great Goblins¡¯ bodies, its white bone surface stained with blood.


    This unparalleled Frost Giant warrior rampaged through the formation. In just a few breaths, the Goblin Infantry Brigade lost dozens of soldiers.


    ¡°Stupid giant! How dare you challenge the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    Derol shouted, riding a Land Dragon Beast and charging forward, catching the frenzied Frost Giant off guard and knocking him to the ground.


    But Baya, an experienced Frost Giant warrior, rolled on the ground and found an opportunity to slip under the Land Dragon Beast, using his sharp Dragonbone Pickaxe to disembowel it.


    ¡°Tear!¡±


    The thick skin of the Land Dragon split open, and rich fat and mixed internal organs spilled uncontrollably.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Land Dragon Beast let out a heavy wail and slowly toppled, causing the ground to tremble, and Derol fell to the ground as well.


    ¡°Chimera Lord, save me!¡±


    Seeing the Frost Giant approaching, Derol hurriedly called for reinforcements.


    The Chimera was the oldest existence in Dragon Valley and the entire kingdom. Although its retainers often called it a ¡°beast,¡± even the Goblin Chieftain Dolores had to show respect to it, let alone Derol.


    Seeing that the one calling for help was Derol, who had flattered him many times, the Chimera finally swooped down from the sky, pouncing on the Frost Giant¡¯s back, grabbing hold with its claws, and the dragon head spewed out flames.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The fierce flames scorched the Frost Giant¡¯s already severely burned back, making it even more scorched.


    At this moment, Baya no longer looked like a Frost Giant but more like an obsidian subspecies of a Stone Giant.


    However, the Chimera did not expect such a reaction from its reckless attack.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±


    Baya screamed in pain but maintained a heightened battle sense. He grabbed the Chimera¡¯s forelimb with one hand, yanking it off his back.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The ground trembled again.


    The huge body of the Chimera was thrown to the ground, rolling several times before struggling to get up.


    ¡°Come!¡±


    ¡°Chimera, your fur will be my new cloak!¡±


    However, the Frost Giant gave it no chance to breathe, he leaped and pounced on the Chimera, using his powerful arms to lock its lion head¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    But the Chimera had more than one head. Its dragon head fiercely bit the giant¡¯s arm, spewing hot flames again, but the Frost Giant held on tightly.


    The ground was dusty and constantly shaking. The giant and the triple-headed Chimera, equally gigantic, wrestled and fought each other.


    The other two female Chimeras wanted to help but, without the Dragon Blood¡¯s blessing, they couldn¡¯t compete in this battle due to their size and strength.


    As for Baya, in terms of strength and combat skills, he held absolute dominance, progressively pushing the Chimera into a corner. The Chimera¡¯s only effective counter was its flame.


    Baya took advantage of the Chimera¡¯s exhaustion, grabbed its dragon head from behind, tightly wrapping his arm around it, intending to strangle it and break its neck, just like his brother ¡°Bone Breaker.¡±


    ¡°Ha ha, I¡¯ve got you!¡±


    The Chimera struggled desperately against the Frost Giant¡¯s strangle, scratching with its claws, ramming with its goat head, and biting with its lion head, to no avail.


    ¡°Steady your aim¡­¡±


    Fortunately, their actions were at a stalemate, giving Derol a chance to find his target. Holding his breath, he aimed his spear at the Frost Giant¡¯s body and pulled the trigger¡ª


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The bullet drilled into the Frost Giant¡¯s body, causing him to howl in pain and slightly loosen his grip, allowing the tightly locked Chimera to break free.


    ¡°Howl¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Chimera breathed heavily, flapping its wings and quickly soaring into the sky, not wanting to engage in a death match with this fearless Frost Giant any longer. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Frost Giant slowly got up from the ground, provocatively watching the fleeing Chimera, hammered his chest, and let out a battle cry.


    ¡°Coward! Continue to fight with me!¡±


    He walked back to the Frost Giant¡¯s formation from the front lines, and no one dared to provoke this mad Frost Giant warrior during this time.


    At this moment, however, a horn sounded from afar.


    ¡°Wooo¡ª¡ª¡±


    The sound was like a howling cold wind but much heavier.


    Baya instantly recognized the familiar sound, the military signal of the Everfrost Tribe. It was the Clan Leader Kasa Everfrost summoning all units to return.


    He looked at the fortress as solid as a rock, at the courageous fallen Frost Giant warriors all around, his face darkened.


    ¡°Damn, lost so many warriors for nothing here.¡±


    Teman stepped forward to dissuade him. ¡°Captain, Clan Leader Kasa said, when the horn sounds, we must gather immediately. Besides¡­¡±


    His tone paused.


    ¡°Our clansmen have shed too much blood outside this barren valley with little gain.¡±


    Baya¡¯s face changed dramatically. He squinted at Teman, finally sighed, and said, ¡°Retreat, let¡¯s go find Kasa.¡±

 Chapter 179 - 104 Kasas Ambition

    Chapter 179: Chapter 104 Kasa¡¯s Ambition


    Stormy Ridge, temporary camp of the Frost Giants.


    This place used to be a verdant forest, but the Frost Giants had chopped down all the trees, and the howling cold wind brought heavy snow.


    Rough tents made of Dragon Beast bones and fur were set up on the snow, with the spoils of war piled beside them: food, fur, armor, and weapons taken from nearby areas.


    The Frost Giant Sacrificers of the tribe prayed to the deity, casting ancient spells to create frozen lands, which not only made the environment comfortable for the Frost Giants but also prevented enemy incursions.


    The Frost Giants used these frozen lands as bases to raid and plunder all nearby communities.


    Kasa stood on the top of the slope with his double-bladed axe, overlooking the wounded Baya.


    ...


    ¡°Baya, where are your men?¡±


    ¡°And why did you return empty-handed, without any spoils?¡±


    Baya bowed his head, gritting his teeth as he spoke: ¡°Clan Leader, we encountered a tough enemy, there was¡­¡±


    He hesitated for a moment before choosing to speak the truth.


    ¡°Twenty-six warriors were heroically killed in battle.¡±


    Baya looked ferocious as he said this and quickly added.


    ¡°But rest assured, I will avenge them and flatten that fortress. Just give me fifty more warriors, and I guarantee¡ª¡±


    Kasa frowned, angrily looking at Baya as he rudely interrupted:


    ¡°Twenty-six clansmen? You lost these many for a mere fortress? Remember, sixty years ago, your father destroyed all of Nitri City and plundered centuries of treasures, with only eleven casualties!¡±


    Baya whispered in defense: ¡°That was no ordinary fortress, there was a real dragon behind them.¡±


    Kasa coldly interrupted him again, not giving him any chance to defend himself: ¡°The most important quality of a seasoned captain is patience, which you clearly lack. You¡¯ll give your position to¡­ Teman.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see such rash behavior from you again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Clan Leader.¡±


    Baya wanted to argue but swallowed his words when he saw the unwavering look in Kasa¡¯s eyes.


    Kasa gave a signal, and the overjoyed Teman took a step forward, with the Clan Leader marking his forehead with two red streaks¡ªthe emblem of a Frost Giant leader for identifying them during war.


    Kasa returned to the tent, where a huge cowhide map was spread out, filled with crude markings.


    Several Frost Giant Sacrificers sat around, mostly vigorous in their prime, while the old and frail Elder Nur chose to stay behind at the Vaar Glacier with the elderly and weak.


    ¡°Will, can you sense the exact location of the Eternal Frost Horn now?¡±


    The young Frost Giant Sacrificer nodded slightly.


    ¡°Clan Leader, we can¡¯t pinpoint it exactly, but we can estimate a general area.¡±


    He pointed to the ancient map and marked out an area south of the Stormy Ridge with his staff.


    ¡°However, according to the former Clan Leader¡¯s map, there is only one human city within this range¡ªNorthwind Castle.¡±


    ¡°Good, very good.¡±


    ¡°Capture that city, reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn, and we shall restore the glory of the ancestors in our hands.¡±


    Upon hearing the positive response from the Sacrificer, Kasa¡¯s eyes lit up.


    But he quickly thought of something and frowned, asking another question.


    ¡°Based on your knowledge, is there a dragon on this Stormy Ridge?¡±


    The Everfrost Tribe, blocked by the towering Korhka Mountains to the south, required a great deal of time and effort for each journey, leaving them clueless about recent southern affairs, still relying on ancestral information.


    The Sacrificer answered truthfully: ¡°There¡¯s no such record.¡±


    ¡°However, Clan Leader, pardon me for saying this, our information is sixty years outdated. For these weak mortals, sixty years is many generations, and the situation in the North may have drastically changed from before.¡±


    ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Kasa rubbed his chin, squinting his eyes.


    But soon his gaze filled with ambition again: ¡°Regardless of how those tiny humans change, they are destined to be destroyed by our great giant race.¡±


    ¡°And a dragon that was unheard of sixty years ago, likely still in its youth? It was nothing, only adding to my illustrious achievements with another dragon-slaying feat.¡±


    ¡°Once we reclaim the Eternal Frost Horn, I will turn the entire North into a frozen land, leading the Frost Giants to rule the ancestral territories once more!¡±


    ¡°Under the mighty power of Everfrost, all resistance is utterly futile.¡±


    ¡­


    Northwind Castle, Council Hall.


    Cassius sat on the throne, reviewing the latest reports from his subordinates.


    ¡°They¡¯ve reached Rock Fortress? That was fast.¡±


    Dailenna responded seriously: ¡°The Frost Giants¡¯ rapid marches in the North are well-known. They often form small squads of several giants, accompanied by the cold wind, performing quick raids, moving faster than any human troops in the North¡¯s history.¡±


    ¡°Currently, both Barto City and Sgurr Town have suffered small-scale Frost Giant attacks, but thankfully with minimal damage. Rock Fortress faced the main force of the Frost Giants but still held.¡±


    ¡°According to intelligence from the Red Scale Patrol Team, it seems they¡¯ve given up on raiding Stormy Ridge, intending to gather their forces and march southwards, likely aiming for¡ªthe Eternal Frost Horn.¡±


    ¡°Based on research from the Tower of the Great Sage, Lord Ramp suspects that the horn¡¯s rune power can resonate with the Frost Giant bloodline, providing a locator-like effect, but this magical effect is too high-level to be nullified temporarily.¡±


    Cassius got up from the throne, shaking his body and slowly spreading his wings.


    ¡°No need to nullify it. Their march south fits my plan nicely. I don¡¯t like running around putting out fires and losing the initiative.¡±


    ¡°However¡­ this charade should come to an end.¡±


    ¡°Inform all the Kingdom¡¯s troops to block the Frost Giants north of Triel¡¯s Throat, lest they cause too much disruption in the south¡¯s normal production.¡±


    ¡°The age of the Giant Empire is long over, and these scavengers of ancestral heritage should go back to their graves.¡±


    Dailenna hesitated for a moment and then continued.


    ¡°Master, there¡¯s one more thing.¡±


    ¡°The Boske Duchy has sent an envoy, claiming to assist the Ashen Kingdom against the Frost Calamity. What do you think¡­¡±


    Cassius showed a bit of interest.


    ¡°Oh, is that so?¡±


    ¡°Quickly invite this ¡®kind-hearted¡¯ envoy in. I want to see what medicine the old lion has in his gourd.¡±


    The golden pupils of the Red Dragon glittered with a hint of playful light.

 Chapter 180 - 180: 107. A Special Diplomatic Mission

    Chapter 180: 107. A Special Diplomatic Mission


    The Boske Duchy did not merely send an envoy; they dispatched an entire high-status diplomatic mission, which included historians, bards, and court mages.


    Leading the group was Count Trischka, who was skilled in diplomacy and had frequently represented the Holy Fadlan Federation.


    His title was merely honorary without any actual fiefs. It was both a testament to his outstanding diplomatic achievements and a symbol of the Boske Duchy¡¯s emphasis on foreign diplomacy.


    Escorted into the hall by the guards, the handsome Count Trischka wore a luxurious ceremonial suit and bowed deeply, exuding a pleasant and courteous manner that showcased centuries of Northern nobility etiquette.


    ¡°Greetings, esteemed King of Ashen.¡±


    ¡°I bring you greetings from Duke Leo.¡±


    ...


    Cassius still lay sprawled on the steel throne, looking down upon the envoy without immediately responding.


    The air in the room suddenly became still.


    The guards inside the hall clutched their spears tightly.


    Despite appearing calm and composed, the slight tremble of Trischka¡¯s hands and his inability to meet Cassius¡¯s gaze betrayed his inner tension.


    The other members of the diplomatic mission were in no better condition.


    Despite their mental preparation, the aged historian Morr, at over fifty, turned pale and broke into a cold sweat upon facing the twenty-meter-long giant dragon, almost fainting, and barely managed to stay upright with the help of an attendant.


    Yelena, the famous female bard known as the ¡°Flower of Stratholme¡± who could perform flawlessly at gatherings of thousands, was now so frightened that her beautiful face was drained of color, and she inadvertently let out a scream.


    Cassius found it somewhat amusing.


    The Red Dragon narrowed his eyes and finally spoke, breaking the oppressive silence.


    ¡°Envoys from Boske, I would very much like to extend my greetings to you out of courtesy.¡± he said slowly.


    ¡°But your Duke has just recently organized an assassination attempt against me. How should I be convinced that you are not another group of assassins with ill intentions?¡±


    This statement immediately made the hearts of the diplomatic mission jump to their throats, pounding heavily.


    Faced with such a dangerous question, Trischka¡¯s forehead broke into a cold sweat, but this scenario was within their anticipations.


    He adhered to the prepared response, striving to maintain a calm tone, and answered:


    ¡°Esteemed King of Ashen, our Boske Duchy did not participate in that action and were not even aware of it. It was solely the decision of the Principality of Norton.


    ¡°And you should know very well that they have already received their due punishment.¡±


    ¡°As for those Lionheart Knights, they have long been expelled from Boske¡¯s ranks, acting on their own. We had no authority over them¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡±


    Before Trischka could finish, Cassius interrupted him.


    ¡°Envoy from Boske, you do not need to feign ignorance before me. Everyone here understands very well what has happened, and I am also aware of your Duke¡¯s little schemes.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s mouth curled into a sinister smile, with the scales around his eye sockets raising slightly, sending chills down the spines of the members of the diplomatic mission.


    ¡°However, this time, I do welcome you becoming so-called ¡®observers¡¯ because only when you truly see the disparity in strength will you refrain from causing trouble behind my back.¡±


    He exhaled a breath imbued with the scent of sulfur.


    ¡°After all¡­ flies can be easily crushed, but it is quite annoying to let them buzz incessantly around one¡¯s ears.¡±


    Hearing Cassius¡¯s remark, Trischka felt a wave of indignation but dared not show it.


    After hesitating for a moment, he mustered the courage to speak unyieldingly,


    ¡°Lord Cassius, I acknowledge your immense strength, incomparable even if thousands like me were to gather.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    He slowly raised his head, fighting his instinctive fear, and met the Red Dragon¡¯s golden eyes with trembling determination.


    ¡°Are you not being somewhat arrogant?¡±


    As soon as these words left his mouth, the other members of the diplomatic mission were stricken with fear, terrified that the Red Dragon would erupt in fury and turn them all to ashes with a single breath.


    Contrary to their expectations, Cassius did not become enraged. Instead, he gazed at Trischka¡¯s eyes with a keen interest.


    ¡°Why, do you say so?¡±


    Hearing the Red Dragon¡¯s question, Trischka feigned calmness and continued:


    ¡°To be frank, Anzeta is ultimately a remote region, a desert in terms of wealth, culture, and strength.¡±


    ¡°Over the past decade or so, I have traveled to the Empire of Fadlan in the South and the Free Trade Federation in the West. I have seen lands flowing with honey and milk, the Emperor¡¯s vast treasures, and Sun Warriors akin to demigods. Such prosperity is beyond the imagination of Northerners.¡±


    Hearing this, Cassius finally understood the envoy¡¯s ulterior motive¡ªto divert danger southward, exploiting the Red Dragon¡¯s inherent greed to lead this formidable force elsewhere.


    ¡°It¡¯s a clever idea. But with my current strength, heading south would likely result in conflict with numerous important figures.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    The Red Dragon narrowed his eyes but did not respond, saying instead in a detached tone,


    ¡°I am tired of the Boske people¡¯s flowery words. I will arrange for you to witness this battle from Trischka¡¯s gullet.¡±


    ¡°Record everything carefully and report back to your Duke.¡±


    ¡°So he will refrain from petty tricks.¡±


    With that, Cassius summoned his Goblin Guards to escort the diplomatic mission out of the Council Hall.


    Morr, Yelena, and the others could no longer bear the overwhelming pressure within the hall. Hearing Cassius¡¯s command, they felt as if they had been granted a reprieve.


    They let out long sighs of relief, glad they no longer had to worry about becoming a Red Dragon¡¯s meal due to his capriciousness.


    Count Trischka, however, remained deep in thought.


    The members of the diplomatic mission had already reached the outside of the hall.


    Old Scholar Morr took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow and couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°Trischka, you were too reckless this time!¡±


    ¡°Had we angered that Red Dragon, we all would have perished here!¡±


    Yelena, her arms crossed, added with lingering fear, ¡°That scene was terrifying, like an executioner¡¯s guillotine ready to drop at any moment.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank the Gods we survived unscathed this time.¡±


    Trischka, however, frowned and stared worriedly at the tightly shut metal doors behind him.


    ¡°If he were so easily provoked, it would only mean he was an ordinary Red Dragon, prone to uncontrollable rage, pillaging, and greed.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°While such unchecked recklessness may flourish temporarily, such entities are ultimately short-lived and will eventually be eliminated by the important figures who maintain order.¡±


    ¡°Yet he did not.¡±


    ¡°I believe he is not a typical, scholarly Red Dragon of cruel brutality but a more cunning and terrifying existence.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ he truly has the potential to completely unsettle the ruling of the North.¡±

 Chapter 181 - 181: 108 Chapter: Alternating Hot and Cold

    Chapter 181: 108 Chapter: Alternating Hot and Cold


    Stormy Ridge, north of the Triel Throat.


    This region, once ravaged by fiery flames, was now met with endless cold winds.


    ¡°In the name of Soleim¡­¡±


    ¡°You are the ancestor of all Frost Giants, grant our enemies eternal slumber¡­¡±


    ¡°The blizzard is your roaring breath, transform into the cold and fight alongside us, let the enemies fall into eternal shivers!¡±


    The Frost Giant Sacrificers chanted ancient incantations in unison, and the mysterious runes covering their bodies lit up.


    ...


    Eternal Frost Descends


    In the sky, clusters of frigid mist surged and roiled, spreading and sweeping across the once serene land to create a terrifying blizzard.


    This was the power of Eternal Frost passed down through generations of the Frost Giant tribe, even without the aid of relics. If they possessed the Eternal Frost Horn, the blizzard would become even more dreadful, possibly engulfing the entire Stormy Ridge.


    The blizzard advanced rapidly southward, with hundreds of Frost Giants marching swiftly within it, wind howls mingling with war cries and rugged chants.


    ¡°We are the biting frost, the roiling ice mist.¡±


    ¡°The fierce cold wind, the icy resentful spirits, the eternal howl.¡±


    ¡°Humans tremble before us, even giant dragons bow to the cold wind.¡±


    ¡°We come from ancient times, following the glory of the past, letting the white storm sweep across the land once more.¡±


    ¡°We are¡ªthe Endless Frost Calamity!¡±


    The Clan Leader of the Everfrost Tribe, Frost Giant Warrior Kasa Everfrost, donned menacing armor crafted from White Dragon Scales and smeared his face with war-symbolizing black paint. Mounted on the mightiest Dragon Tundra, he raised a heavy double-bladed axe with one arm.


    ¡°For the Everfrost Tribe!¡±


    ¡°Reclaim the relic, rekindle the ancestral glory!¡±


    Sunlight was nearly obscured, the wasteland roughly painted frost-white by their advance, and in the snow-blurred horizon, the giant¡¯s army moved south like a towering ice wall.


    This catastrophic scene made the earth tremble and all beings in the wasteland shiver.


    The howling wind proclaimed to the beings of Anzeta¡ª


    Frost Calamity had descended!


    ¡­


    Outside the Triel Throat.


    The Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army stood prepared.


    Ogre Heavy Armor Soldiers clutched their giant shields tightly, Goblin Infantry held spears in formation, and bipedal wyverns flapped their wings densely at low altitude. The Dragon Tundras, serving as war fortresses, snorted heavily.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    ¡°These blasted things again.¡±


    Staring at the invading blizzard, a dragon vein goblin, who feared the cold, spat in disdain, seemingly recalling some unpleasant past.


    This was the first time the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army had encountered such formidable foes. Compared to the frost giant army arriving with cold winds, the human forces in the Triel Conference seemed insignificant.


    Yet this also fueled their fervor to face strong adversaries¡ªthat was the battle lust granted by their flowing Red Dragon bloodline.


    Ramp gazed at the approaching blizzard, a grave expression on his face.


    ¡°Such a quality spell¡­¡±


    ¡°The casting method isn¡¯t arcane; it seems more like divine art, almost at the ninth tier level. Quite a troublesome opponent.¡±


    The Ogre Archmage assessed.


    But confronted with this terrifying sight, Ramp showed no fear and adjusted his gold-framed glasses calmly, analyzing meticulously.


    Dolores, waiting impatiently on the side, said to him: ¡°Ramp, do you have the means to deal with this so-called Frost Calamity?


    ¡°Just glaring at it won¡¯t calm the blizzard.¡±


    Ramp glanced sideways at him, his tone still indifferent and slightly sarcastic:


    ¡°Pointless hurrying doesn¡¯t solve anything.¡±


    ¡°Captain Dolores, are you scared, after almost being killed by a human with a hint of Frost Giant blood?¡±


    Dolores gritted his teeth in anger, exhaling smoke. That incident had brought him much shame, and Ramp¡¯s untimely reminder intensified his fury.


    ¡°Ramp, I warn you! Do not disrupt military morale!¡±


    ¡°I merely respond truthfully.¡±


    Ramp curled his mouth, a sinister smile appearing on his ugly face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the sole ability to resolve a spell of this caliber, but we have our trump card¡ªour master.¡±


    ¡­


    The transformed Cassius stood silently atop the mountain, overlooking the advancing Frost Giants and the accompanying terrifying blizzard heading southward.


    ¡°You think you¡¯re the only ones who can influence the weather?¡±


    ¡°Frost Giants¡­¡±


    Cassius murmured.


    He revealed the ring on his finger, the Eye of the Storm King, which he had grown increasingly adept at wielding, now glowing with a breathtaking light.


    It was a spell reaching the eighth tier of the Magic Web¡ª


    Weather Control


    With intense mana fluctuations, the climate within a span of several kilometers underwent dramatic changes.


    Temperatures rose significantly, ground moisture rapidly evaporated, the air turned hot and moist, and vast clouds of steam ascended.


    This surging warm current collided with the cold wind pushing southward, triggering an imminent fierce reaction.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    With a rush of sound, a vast band of mist stretching over a thousand meters formed at the junction, snowflakes and hail soared instantly melting into billowing steam, and heavy warm winds thwarted the invasion of the blizzard.


    The two contrasting forces clashed, countered, and eroded each other, stabilizing the surrounding temperature to normal, creating an area filled with puddles and shrouded in mist.


    Before the armies clashed, a spell war had already begun.


    Cassius squinted his eyes, controlling the Eye of the Storm King with his will, combating the northern blizzard.


    ¡°The quality of this spell is indeed high, weather control can¡¯t completely take over.¡±


    ¡°The Everfrost Tribe¡¯s spellcasters are quite formidable.¡±


    ¡°Seems like it¡¯s impossible to wield a natural disaster like in the Triel Conference.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even Cassius was astonished by the resilience of the blizzard, the power of the Everfrost Rune being on par with his Eighth Tier Spell.


    In the snowstorm, the Frost Giant Sacrificers wore grave expressions, encountering such a situation for the first time, feeling somewhat bewildered.


    ¡°In the name of Soleim.¡±


    ¡°The power of Eternal Frost has been¡­ obstructed.¡±


    The Frost Giants¡¯ rapid snow marches usually swept away all before them, rampantly roaming the North.


    But for the first time, these Frost Giants met an equal adversary worthy of their attention.


    In the ¡°Observation Group¡± at the rear of the Ashen Camp, Trischka noticed the changing weather nearby, observing the confrontation between the blizzard and the warm winds in the distance, feeling a sense of incredulity.


    ¡°This level of spell duel, how could it appear in a magical wasteland like Anzeta¡­¡±


    ¡°Neither Frost Giants nor Red Dragons should be here.¡±


    Trischka thought privately.

 Chapter 182 - 109: Winters Roar

    Chapter 182: Chapter 109: Winter¡¯s Roar


    Staring at the steam cloud in front of him, and the gradually receding blizzard, Kasa did not halt his charge.


    He still rode his Tundra Drake, charging forward without hesitation.


    Even though the absence of the blizzard¡¯s cover and the surrounding heated air made him somewhat uncomfortable, Kasa had absolute confidence in his own strength. He was confident that with his dual-bladed axe, he could slice any enemy before him in two¡ªafter all, he was ¡°Bone Breaker¡± Kasa Everfrost.


    ¡°Warriors of the Everfrost Tribe!¡±


    ¡°Charge with me, fight for the glory of our ancestors!¡±


    Seeing their leader so relentless, the Frost Giant warriors immediately became excited, brandishing their weapons and following him in the charge.


    ...


    On the vast wasteland, hundreds of Frost Giants swept forward, raising rolling dust clouds and causing the earth to tremble.


    Meanwhile, in the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s ranks, Dolores, filled with unvented rage, shouted loudly:


    ¡°Fire! Fire!¡±


    ¡°Blast these ignorant giants to death!¡±


    ¡°Let them taste our cannon fire!¡±


    The new cannons developed by the Mechanical Cult were neatly lined up, each cannon manned by a number of well-trained Goblin soldiers, and each cannon emplacement had a technical player from the Mechanical Cult as a guide, although the Iron Madman was not among them.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    The intense cannon fire roared, its deafening thunder shaking the air.


    Raindrops of cannonballs poured down the path of the Frost Giants¡¯ charge, blasting out one blackened crater after another, the unfortunate Frost Giants hit by the cannonballs being blown into a bloody mess.


    However, the Frost Giants¡¯ formation was not dense, and the wasteland was too vast, so the bombardment did not cause much damage, not even delaying the advance of these brave and fearless Frost Giant warriors.


    It should be known that the first Frost Giants following the chieftain into battle were absolute elite warriors; the timid had no qualification to participate.


    The Wyverns dived from the sky, dropping magic incendiary vials tied to their claws, spewing out scorching flames that turned the battlefield into a sea of fire.


    For a moment, the battlefield was filled with smoke and firelight.


    ¡°Warriors, follow my steps!¡±


    ¡°The great Soleim is watching over us!¡±


    Kasa, braving the cannon fire and flames, continued to charge forward without hesitation.


    A cannonball landed above Kasa¡¯s head, but he casually swung his dual-bladed axe, throwing it out of his hand.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The heavy dual-bladed axe spun in the air, slicing through the air and becoming almost a blur, cutting the about-to-explode cannonball in half. The smooth sections were sealed with frost, and the halved cannonball clanked to the ground.


    But this was not the end; the battle-axe continued to fly wildly in the air, its silhouette flashing like an iron curtain, turning the explosive cannonballs into cold iron blocks.


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±


    The dual-bladed axe then precisely spun back into the hands of the Frost Giant, who gripped it firmly.


    Kasa laughed heartily: Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Did you see?¡±


    ¡°These toys are worthless, nothing to fear at all!¡±


    ¡°The enemy knows their strength is insufficient to fight us, so they resort to these petty tricks!¡±


    The Frost Giants, witnessing this scene, immediately let out a triumphant cheer, and any fear they had of the cannon fire dissipated completely.


    He was like the battle flag of the Frost Giants, leading the warriors and inspiring their bravery and fearlessness.


    It should be known that the frost-covered dual-bladed axe was not an ordinary weapon.


    Legend had it that the weapon of Soleim, the god of the Frost Giants, was a snow-white dual-bladed axe. Wielded, it would turn the entire world into a white winter. The one in Kasa¡¯s hand was a replica of the Soleim Battle Axe, an ancient creation passed down through generations of chieftains in the Everfrost Tribe as the ¡°Raging Winter¡¯s Howl.¡±


    Dolores also noticed this scene, frowning as he watched Kasa. Although he considered himself skilled with the battle-axe, he could not achieve such mastery.


    ¡°What a formidable foe¡­¡±


    ¡°Line infantry, prepare to advance.¡±


    The Goblin Chieftain gave the order.


    In the current large-scale warfare, Dolores still preferred using the line infantry tactic of ¡°volley fire,¡± as it had repeatedly been proven effective in battle.


    Accompanied by the Half-Goat People playing stirring music and rhythmic drumbeats, the Goblin Infantry Brigade began to advance.


    The ¡°step, step, step¡± of their marching was uniform, exerting great pressure on the enemy.


    When they were about a hundred meters from the Frost Giant forces, the newest long guns fired in unison, the smoke filling the air, and the blooming bullets hitting many unprepared Frost Giants.


    With the ground shaking and painful roars, more than a dozen Frost Giants fell to the ground.


    Kasa, an exceptionally skilled warrior, immediately discerned that the approaching enemies were dangerous, sensing the magical aura emanating from their gun barrels.


    ¡°Is this the army that gave Baya such a hard time?¡±


    The Frost Giant narrowed his eyes, gripping his frost-white dual-bladed axe, his muscles tensed, and he grinned grimly.


    ¡°They look¡ªrather weak!¡±


    Before finishing his words, the ground rumbled and slightly indented as Kasa¡¯s muscles released powerful strength. He raised the ¡°Raging Winter¡¯s Howl¡± with both hands and leaped high in a standard jumping slash posture, almost as if flying.


    This leap covered nearly a hundred meters.


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°He¡­ he¡¯s flying over here!¡±


    Looking up at the increasingly large Frost Giant in their field of view, the advancing Goblin Infantry scrambled in disarray.


    They hastily fired into the sky, but were unable to hit a high-speed moving target, and even if they did, the bullets would be blocked by the impenetrable White Dragon Scale Armor.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Kasa landed with a crash, cutting several Goblins to pieces at once and cracking the ground beneath them.


    As ¡°Raging Winter¡¯s Howl¡± struck the ground, several-meter-tall gigantic ice cones erupted along the cracks, easily flinging the Goblins into the air and even piercing them through.


    This tore apart the Goblins¡¯ tight formation.


    ¡°Before you stands the Everfrost Tribe¡¯s greatest warrior in two hundred years¡ªBone Breaker Kasa Everfrost!¡±


    ¡°Remember this name! For it will be your last glory!¡±


    Kasa barged into the line infantry¡¯s formation, wielding his dual-bladed axe and cutting more than a dozen Goblin soldiers in two who were unable to evade in time.


    As the axe blade effortlessly ripped through their bodies, the severed remains were as cold and stiff as glaciers.


    ¡°Before my strength, your struggles and escape are futile!¡±


    ¡°Haha, witness the wrath of winter!¡±


    Kasa roared to the sky, almost single-handedly slaughtering the entire brigade and reinvigorating the Frost Giants who had just suffered heavy losses.


    In just a few breaths, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s precious Goblin Infantry Brigade suffered a loss of over a hundred men, leaving the Goblin Chieftain Dolores heartbroken.


    ¡°We must find a way to eliminate this Frost Giant leader.¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, this war is impossible to win!¡±


    Dolores bit down hard, gripping his Bloodfire Battle Axe tightly, thinking this.

 Chapter 183 - 110 Fierce Battle

    Chapter 183: Chapter 110 Fierce Battle


    Kasa rampaged through the ranks, and Dolores actually stepped down personally to stand before him.


    As a retainer with dragon blood flowing through his veins, this Dragon Vein Great Goblin stood a full four meters tall, his muscle-bound body covered in scales, making him appear as a giant before regular soldiers.


    But in front of the robust Frost Giant Kasa, the Great Goblin¡¯s head reached barely to the Frost Giant¡¯s waist. The stark contrast made Dolores look more like a small dwarf.


    Faced with such a formidable opponent, Dolores showed no fear and yelled sharply:


    ¡°Stupid Giant, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡±


    He then leapt up suddenly, raising the Bloodfire Battle Axe above his head and swung it straight down towards the Frost Giant¡¯s head.


    ...


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    The crisp sound of metal striking metal rang out.


    The Bloodfire Battle Axe and Winter¡¯s Roar clashed, sending out dazzling sparks.


    Dolores had used all his strength, pouring every ounce of his energy into this strike, but Kasa merely lifted his battle axe with one arm, easily blocking the attack with the flat side of the axe.


    ¡°Such a weak and feeble attack¡ªhow dare you fight me!¡±


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    Kasa¡¯s thick arm muscles bulged as he exerted force, flinging Dolores back more than ten meters.


    Dolores rolled several times on the ground, feeling his arms go numb from the tremendous impact, rendering his whole body weak.


    ¡°What terrifying strength.¡±


    He used his battle axe to support himself, gritting his teeth as he climbed up from the ground.


    However, he heard the whistling sound of the wind and the roar of the Giant above his head.


    ¡°Die, you worthless weakling!¡±


    Kasa wouldn¡¯t give his enemy any chance to recover. He executed a massive leaping chop, with Winter¡¯s Roar carrying unstoppable force, accompanied by a howling gale, chopping straight towards Dolores¡¯s head.


    ¡ªIf this blow landed, Dolores¡¯s scale-covered sturdy body would definitely be split in two like paper.


    Dolores stared at the approaching axe blade, his pupils widening, only managing to say two words:


    ¡°Save me!¡±


    Just as the battle axe was about to land, an invisible force wall appeared in front of Dolores.


    It was the Force Wall Technique.


    The battle axe, carrying enormous power, struck the force wall, producing a rumbling noise that caused ripples in the nearby space.


    Ramp stood nearby, raising his Magic Wand with his left hand, clutching the ¡°Bennett¡¯s Wisdom¡± glowing with spell radiance at his chest with his right hand, his expression calm.


    ¡°Oh? A spell?¡±


    ¡°Haha, people who rely on external spells are too weak to be my opponents!¡±


    Kasa grinned ferociously.


    He leapt over the force wall with ease, directly stepping behind Dolores.


    ¡°Dolores, stall that Frost Giant!¡±


    Ramp didn¡¯t hesitate to activate dozens of magic items all over his body, the spell radiance interweaving. One carefully prepared spell after another was released, infusing into the Dragon Vein Great Goblin.


    Enlarge Spell, Acceleration Spell, Shield Spell, Protective Energy Damage, Bear¡¯s Resilience, Bull¡¯s Strength, Cat¡¯s Grace.


    In just a few breaths, the Dragon Vein Great Goblin¡¯s form expanded to nearly eight meters tall, almost equal to the Frost Giant before him.


    His body was enveloped under multiple layers of magical shields, the power of magic covering him entirely, significantly boosting all his attributes.


    Dolores panted heavily, feeling the surging strength within his body. He excitedly roared: Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Damn it, Ramp, why didn¡¯t you use these earlier?¡±


    ¡°Stall him?¡±


    ¡°I feel like I can take him down now!¡±


    Dolores let out a furious roar and rushed towards Kasa, swinging the Bloodfire Battle Axe, now like a hand axe, aiming it fiercely at the Frost Giant¡¯s massive head.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    The sound of clashing metal rang out again.


    The battle axe was once again blocked by Winter¡¯s Roar, but this time Kasa needed both arms to handle it, and even then, he was slightly at a disadvantage in the stalemate.


    Taking advantage of the deadlock, Ramp unleashed several scorching fireballs at the Frost Giant.


    Advanced Fireball Spell


    After years of modification, Ramp¡¯s elevated fireball spell had reached the fifth tier level. Not only did it gather the flames more powerfully than ordinary spells, but it also combined spell abilities to track and seek out targets within a certain range.


    However, Kasa merely tilted his head slightly, effortlessly dodging the precise strike of the fireballs.


    Yet his evasion caused his grip to slacken just a bit.


    Dolores seized the opportunity, slashing horizontally with force, the Bloodfire Battle Axe slicing through the air straight towards the Frost Giant¡¯s head.


    And Ramp¡¯s spell followed suit.


    Slow Spell


    The space around the Frost Giant distorted, making his movements incredibly slow.


    Kasa quickly dodged backward, but under the spell¡¯s influence, he could not move entirely out of the way, the axe¡¯s blade cutting into his skin.


    A narrow gash appeared on the right side of his cheek, with cold, dark blue blood trickling down.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I bled.¡±


    ¡°Even though it was spell-enhanced, it was¡­ interesting.¡±


    Kasa wiped the blood off his cheek haphazardly, his rugged face showing a sinister smile, his pupils full of fervent desire for battle.


    ¡°I will kill you all!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Kill the enemies!¡±


    ¡°For Everfrost!¡±


    As Dolores, Ramp, and the Frost Giant Chieftain fought fiercely, both sides¡¯ armies also engaged in a brutal struggle.


    The Great Goblins poured bullets and shells madly at the Frost Giants, while the Frost Giants raised their beast bone shields, braving the dense fire as they charged forward. Once these massive beings broke into the ranks, they could easily crush dozens of soldiers.


    But several Frost Giants fell on their way, their bodies covered in a dense array of bullet holes and shrapnel.


    Ogre Heavy Armor Soldiers held the front lines of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s formation. Though significantly shorter than their northern cousins, their bodies were fatter and sturdier, barely holding off the waves of Frost Giant cavalry charges.


    Wildland Dragons clashed with Dragon Tundras, producing thunderous sounds. These mighty creatures finally met equals, but the Wildland Dragons affected by the Dragon Vein were often larger and could overpower their northern counterparts.


    Chimeras, Wyverns, and other aerial units swooped repeatedly, turning the battlefield into a boiling sea of flames, using the intense blaze to stall the Frost Giants¡¯ advance.


    But they couldn¡¯t avoid being struck down by the Frost Giants¡¯ thrown boulders or pulled from the sky by the leaping giants. Once on the ground, they were essentially sentenced to death.


    In fact, a female Chimera was pinned to the ground by Baya. The Frost Giant Warrior, mimicking his brother, snapped the Chimera¡¯s three spines with his bare hands, earning cheers from the Frost Giant warriors.


    ¡°Baya!¡±


    ¡°Our warrior!¡±


    ¡°You are the little Bone Breaker!¡±


    Soon, the smoke and scent of blood permeated the battlefield. Great Goblins, Ogres, Wyverns, and even Frost Giant corpses covered the wasteland. This cruel, evenly matched battle turned the weathered wilderness once again into a slaughterhouse.

 Chapter 184 - 110: The War of the Players

    Chapter 184: Chapter 110: The War of the Players


    As an important force of the Ashen Kingdom, the players naturally participated in this battle.


    But now there were only a thousand beta testers, which was not enough to influence the overall situation of the war.


    The players¡¯ strength seemed to rise quickly, but that was just an exception¡ªelite players like Singo, Mantou, and Charlotte, who had reached the fourth level and touched the upper limit, were very few, with only a little over a hundred among all the beta testers.


    Most players were stuck at level 2 and couldn¡¯t progress any further, which was the norm.


    In this hardcore ¡°game,¡± the monsters available for leveling up, like Savage Boars and Hill Giants, were nearly impossible for regular players to defeat. They could only silently complete daily tasks and be the workers of Erezer.


    This war with the ¡°Frost Calamity¡± was on an even more exaggerated level.


    ...


    According to the player panel, the average challenge level of an adult Frost Giant reached level 8, which was almost equivalent to a mini-boss. And there were three hundred such Frost Giants in this war. Even the elite troops of the Ashen Kingdom required dozens of average casualties to kill one Frost Giant.


    Therefore, this quest was only issued to the elite players who had reached level four.


    As for the others?


    They should just stay in the city and work behind the scenes, contributing their strength. Letting them enter such a battlefield was purely sending them to their doom; the gameplay experience would be terrible.


    However, there were still noobs who followed the steps of the professional players into this chaotic battlefield.


    ¡°Damn, how come there are so many question mark-level bosses?¡±


    ¡°The number of elite monsters is too high.¡±


    ¡°These don¡¯t seem to be bosses, just the mobs in this instance!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You¡ªcall these mobs?¡±


    Before the words were even finished, there was a ¡°plop¡± sound. The player who questioned with his soul was smashed into minced meat by a Frost Giant with a club, turning to black screen at light speed before he even had a chance to react.


    ¡°Such weak little things.¡±


    The Frost Giant scratched his head in confusion and continued running forward.


    But soon he was pounced on by a dozen or so Bipedal Wyverns from the sky. After struggling to tear apart four of them, he was finally pierced through by a poisonous tail stinger and his heartbeat stopped, losing his life.


    ¡°Let these foolish giants from the primitive era witness the power of Magic Technology!¡±


    Steel Torrent summoned upgraded armor, the [Watcher] model armor was now larger, reaching a standing height of six meters, almost like a mobile suit.


    The armor¡¯s left arm held an Energy Force Field Shield to block the rocks thrown by the giants, while the right hand¡¯s magic ballista kept firing Arcane Missiles, suppressing several Frost Giants at the front with powerful firepower.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this day for a long time!¡±


    ¡°Give me your heart!¡±


    A player named ¡°Tata Kai,¡± a Mechanic Mage, activated the ¡°Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear¡± modified by Transformation Spell runes, quickly firing anchor hooks, flying directly to the back of a Frost Giant¡¯s neck, and slashing it with a knife.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    The skin on the back of the neck was sliced open, blood flowing out.


    However, this Frost Giant did not die instantly as Tata Kai had imagined. Instead, it subconsciously slapped its neck, squashing him into meat paste.


    ¡°Weird little thing¡­¡±


    The Frost Giant looked at the human-shaped bloodstain on its hand, mumbling in confusion.


    This Frost Giant was much larger than his kin, standing at eleven meters tall. In his tribe, he was known as ¡°Big Guy, Kuba.¡± His close-combat ability was second only to the clan leader, Kasa, so it was no wonder Tata Kai targeted this super-sized giant.


    ¡°Hahaha, did you come to the wrong set?¡±


    ¡°Let me teach him a lesson!¡±


    Steel Torrent laughed loudly from the cockpit.


    He piloted his armor, shooting several Arcane Missiles from the right arm, hitting the head of the Frost Giant multiple times.


    ¡°Annoying iron lump! I¡¯m going to smash you!¡±


    The thick-skinned Kuba charged forward despite the missile bombardment.


    The Frost Giant raised his massive bone rod high.


    ¡°Damn¡­¡±


    Looking up at the gigantic figure about to envelop him, Steel Torrent felt a sense of impending danger. He raised his left arm and activated the highest level of the Force Field Shield.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    With a crisp sound, the Force Field Shield shattered like fragile glass under a single blow from the bone rod.


    Steel Torrent¡¯s armor was deeply dented by the blow, and with an explosion, it turned into a heap of scrap metal. The pilot himself had long been smashed into mince, merging with his beloved armor.


    ¡°The guild leader got one-shotted again!¡±


    ¡°What kind of damage is this?¡±


    ¡°Even heavy spenders like Steel Torrent got one-shotted, which tank can withstand that thing?¡±


    The ground battle was intense, but the aerial battle was much easier as they only needed to dodge the giant¡¯s throws.


    Singo and Mantou, riding on the backs of wyverns, swooped across the battlefield from above.


    Mantou looked at the fierce battle below, especially noticing the instant-killed Steel Torrent, and couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue, ¡°What¡¯s with this Frost Giant¡¯s toughness? It took dozens of Arcane Missiles and one-shotted him with a single hit.¡±


    Singo nodded, ¡°The difficulty of this war quest is too high. Even us fourth-level players struggle to make a difference. Let¡¯s find some small fry to deal with, and stay away from those bosses.¡±


    He pointed at Kasa on the ground.


    ¡°Especially¡ªthat one.¡±


    The battle between Kasa and Dolores was still raging fiercely. Within tens of meters around them, no living creature remained, and the ground was ruined by the aftershocks of their fight. Each clash of their battle axes produced powerful ripples.


    The player ¡°Big Blade¡± from the [Royalty] guild, a Red Scale Conqueror, wanted to try his luck. He aimed at Kasa, preparing to shoot an arrow.


    However, before he could release the bowstring, the Frost Giant Chieftain on the ground sensed it all with his beast-like instincts. Seizing the moment when Dolores paused, he hurled a rock into the sky.


    ¡°Weakling!¡±


    ¡°Who gave you the guts to interfere in this battle!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The rock, like a cannonball, shot straight up into the sky, piercing through Big Blade and his dragon, causing them both to fall to the ground.


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but swallow, muttering, ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re right.¡±


    In their view, the information of the [Bone Breaker-Kasa] was marked with question marks indicating extreme danger. If their clearance was high enough, they might see ¡°Challenge Level 16¡± above the Frost Giant¡¯s head.


    Singo observed the battlefield and finally noticed a lone Frost Giant far from the central battlefield, with an ordinary challenge level of 8.


    ¡°That¡¯s the one, Mantou.¡±


    ¡°Same old tactic. One of us controls and feigns attack, while the other deals damage!¡±


    ¡°Alright, just don¡¯t steal my kill later¡ª¡±


    ¡°You have to beat it first!¡±


    At the edge of the battlefield, two Bipedal Wyverns swooped down rapidly from the sky.

 Chapter 185 - 111: Raging Winter Falls (Part 1)

    Chapter 185: Chapter 111: Raging Winter Falls (Part 1)


    ¡°Frost Calamity descends!¡±


    ¡°Long live the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    The battle grew ever more chaotic, with the armies of the Ashen Kingdom and the Frost Giants locked in fierce combat. It was like a continuation of that ancient war between dragons and giants from tens of thousands of years ago. The Ashen Kin, who bore the Red Dragon bloodline, and the Frost Giants, who perpetuated the Giant bloodline, fought savagely, unleashing the brutal power deep within their veins.


    ¡°It is time to end this.¡±


    Cassius stood atop the mountain, overlooking the brutal battle below.


    This human noble, often overlooked by the giants, was enveloped by a shimmering, fragmented magical aura. His figure rapidly expanded, ultimately transforming into a colossal form twenty meters long¡ªa Red Dragon.


    ...


    Cassius did not rush into the fray. The surging and chaotic power of sorcery roiled within him, and dozens of spells prepared long ago activated instantly under the influence of metamagic¡ªHeaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye, Agile as a Dragon, Energy Scales, Undying Offender, Protective Energy Damage, Enhanced Attributes, Advanced Shield Spell¡­


    Accompanied by powerful magical fluctuations, dazzling spell radiance interwove on the surface of the Red Dragon, erupting with astonishing strength.


    This was the spellcasting ability of a True Dragon Sorcerer, and coupled with the Red Dragon¡¯s own ample magical equipment, it rendered his entire body¡¯s spell strength to an exaggerated level.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    A long dragon¡¯s roar echoed from the mountaintop.


    Both the Ashen Kin and the Frost Giants looked up in unison.


    Yet their emotions varied; some were thrilled and elated, as if witnessing the descent of a deity, while others were anxious and terrified.


    Even the usually reckless Baya stood dumbfounded:


    ¡°How could Anzeta have such a thing? This has only been sixty years¡­¡±


    The Frost Giant Sacrificer prayed continuously: ¡°Soleim above, is this really a dragon from the Third Era?¡±


    The Red Dragon hovered atop the mountain, slowly flapping its wings. Between its crown-like, swept-back horns hung an ethereal golden vertical pupil, seemingly capable of seeing through everything, striking fear into the hearts of any intelligent being.


    The massive and muscular body was covered with golden-red scales, surrounded by energy shards like fragments of stars, and even adorned with a layer of electrical light. Various strange and dazzling energies entwined around his body.


    With each flap of his wings, the air crackled with lightning and thundered with flames, as if he controlled the very weather, followed by billowing clouds of steam.


    ¡°Arrogant Frost Giants.¡±


    ¡°Not only will you lose the glory of your ancestors, but you will also forfeit¡ªeverything of your future!¡±


    After making his final declaration, Cassius soared across the sky. Contrary to the common perception of Red Dragons as strong but unwieldy, this Red Dragon possessed both immense strength and terrifying speed.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The air was abruptly torn apart, emitting a piercing screech. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The massive twenty-meter-long body transformed into a colossal afterimage that dived downward, slicing through the sky like a crimson scalpel. Before the Frost Giants could recover from their shock, the Red Dragon crashed into their ranks.


    Cassius rampaged through as if there were no one in his way. Any giant about to come into contact with his body was instantly consumed by thunder and flames.


    His form often turned into surging thunder and fire, resembling a moving catastrophe.


    The Frost Giants threw spears, axes, and even poisoned arrows with all their might. These methods, particularly effective in hunting White Dragons, were futile against Cassius, almost all intercepted by his layers of spells.


    During the Red Dragon¡¯s incursion, almost every breath was accompanied by the death of several Frost Giant warriors.


    Such one-sided slaughter was unimaginable for the Frost Giants, who were used to crushing their enemies.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    Another crisp clash.


    Dolores¡¯s Bloodfire Battle Axe shattered directly. He could barely defend against Kasa¡¯s axe strikes, nearly getting his head chopped off.


    But instead of being dejected, he laughed triumphantly: ¡°Hahaha! You foolish brute, I told you that our master wouldn¡¯t leave any of you alive!¡±


    ¡°Even if you somehow manage to kill me, your Frost Giants will still face extermination!¡±


    Kasa gripped his Raging Winter¡¯s Howl tightly, looking towards the distant battlefield and at the Red Dragon, which seemed like a god of death among the Frost Giant ranks.


    Unexpectedly, instead of showing fear, anxiety, or despair, the face of the Frost Giant was filled with a surging fighting spirit.


    He grinned menacingly, lifting the Raging Winter¡¯s Howl and even licking the blood trickling from his mouth.


    ¡°So the time has finally come¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you know¡ª¡±


    ¡°Besides Bone Breaker, I have another nickname?¡±


    Dolores, particularly wary of Kasa¡¯s unusual behavior, couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Son of Winter!¡±


    The Frost Giant rubbed the Raging Winter¡¯s Howl in his hand, forcefully peeling off the bloodstained metal shell, revealing its purest essence¡ªa battle axe formed entirely from ice crystals, brimming with unimaginable magical power.


    Soleim, the Frost Giants¡¯ and Winter God, had vanished along with Annan after the fall of the Giant Empire. But before falling into deep slumber, the protective Soleim divided a minuscule portion of his divine power into hundreds of parts, bestowing them on his surviving descendants. What Kasa held was one of these¡ªa weapon containing pure Eternal Frost Power.


    A gleam appeared in his eyes, radiating a bone-chilling cold, surrounded by a layer of divine cold aura.


    Kasa gripped the Raging Winter¡¯s Howl, appearing as a demigod incarnate.


    The blood for the Frost Giants was cold, but their fighting spirit burned hot. He roared towards the sky.


    ¡°Red Dragon, your flashy sorcery won¡¯t scare the mighty Frost Giant warriors!¡±


    ¡°In the name of Soleim, the Winter God and Father of the Frost Giants, I will grant you eternal death!¡±


    ¡°Your strong body will be frozen into ice and then shattered into pieces!¡±


    ¡°Your skull will become the most eye-catching trophy in my hall of honor!¡±


    With his roar, the cold wind danced, a fierce blizzard once again swept in, lifting him into the air.


    Several other Frost Giant Sacrificers hastily chanted ancient spells, bestowing him with various powerful blessing spells, making the howling cold wind even more intense.


    The cold wind howled in the air, carrying the urgency of an ancient call from the wild. The sound seemed anxious.


    ¡°Did you hear that?¡±


    ¡°Father God knows your name, your days are numbered, Red Dragon!¡±


    Kasa triumphantly made a gesture of listening, laughing heartily, and flew skyward amid the blizzard.


    As a genuine Frost Giant, possibly even a Chosen One of the Winter God, his mastery over the cold far surpassed that of a half-baked practitioner like Oliver.


    The blizzard swirling around him concealed hidden dangers, containing many ice cones filled with high concentrations of Eternal Frost Power. Even if Cassius took a direct hit, it would certainly not be a pleasant experience.

 Chapter 186 - 112: Raging Winters Fall (Part 2)

    Chapter 186: Chapter 112: Raging Winter¡¯s Fall (Part 2)


    Cassius watched the frost giant flying toward him with fierce momentum, his heart filled with joy.


    This was a great opportunity for him to come into contact with divine-level power. Deities were strictly limited in the Prime Material World, but powerful gods could always exert influence on the mortal realm through various means.


    ¡ª¡ªBut a tribal deity like Soleim, who had been sleeping for tens of thousands of years, was different. The only retaliation he needed to worry about came from the gradually declining giant race, which did not even include the benevolent Cloud Giants and Storm Giants.


    In his previous life, he had heard of a frost giant rising abruptly in Anzeta, showcasing unimaginable frost power, seemingly related to a deity. However, most players had left Anzeta at that time and paid little attention to the subsequent situation. Therefore, he could now confirm that the frost giant before him was indeed Kasa.


    Thus, Cassius had been waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity for Kasa to reveal his trump card.


    The red dragon let out a roar, suddenly flapping its wings to create distance.


    ...


    ¡°Is it just the power left behind by a guy buried in a grave? Is this the source of your courage?¡±


    Under the influence of Agile as a Dragon, his wing membranes were covered with the power of a spell, distorting space at the moment of flapping, instantly throwing Kasa dozens of meters away.


    As the battle progressed, the effects of the spell continued to strengthen, the red dragon¡¯s agility attribute had reached a terrifying 24 points, comparable to the legendary Wanderers of divine dragons. But even more terrifying was this speed appearing in a giant dragon!


    The frost giant maneuvered through the blizzard, it couldn¡¯t even be called flying, merely ¡°lifting.¡± This speed was difficult for even a clumsy ordinary red dragon to catch up with, let alone Cassius.


    Thinking of this, Kasa could only roar towards the sky, hoping to arouse the red dragon¡¯s anger.


    ¡°Fight me head-on!¡±


    ¡°Is the red dragon also a coward relying on spells?¡±


    ¡°What about your race¡¯s proud close combat?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s speed was enough to circle the frost giant several times, still leaving him out of reach. However, out of caution, he always maintained an appropriate distance from the frost giant and launched timely attacks.


    ¡°Son of Winter! You are a joke in the sky, this is not the domain of you clumsy giants.¡±


    ¡°Since you want a direct confrontation¡ª¡ª¡±


    Cassius taunted.


    The red dragon rolled in midair and then faced the frost giant directly, indeed responding to Kasa¡¯s call for a direct confrontation.


    However, what Kasa awaited was not the anticipated melee combat that would allow him to slay the dragon.


    A bright light appeared in Cassius¡¯s chest, his core veins fully powered, continuously pumping elemental fire energy into him.


    He grinned, revealing a ferocious smile, hot energy accumulating in his throat. With his strength enhancement, it had been a long time since he unleashed his full power breath.


    ¡°Then, as you wish!¡±


    With the red dragon¡¯s words, the colossal energy poured out.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    A scorching white pillar of fire erupted from his mouth, instantly evaporating the surrounding air, as if tearing open a blazing rift in the sky.


    The terrifying pillar of fire tore through the blizzard, heading straight for the frost giant¡¯s head.


    Kasa crossed the Rigorous Winter¡¯s Battle Cry in front of him as a shield.


    The seemingly fragile ice crystal double-bladed axe, which appeared to shatter at a touch, now acted like a black hole devouring flames, absorbing all the colossal Supreme Flame Breath energy, leaving only a few barely noticeable water droplets.


    ¡°Red dragon, your fire is powerful.¡±


    ¡°But it cannot melt the ice of the Father God!¡±


    Kasa swung his battle axe, sending out three meters-long ice blades.


    These ice blades contained a trace of the Winter God¡¯s power. Any creature struck by them would gradually slow down and ultimately fall into an eternal cold slumber.


    However, at this moment, Cassius, whose agility attribute had further increased, merely spread his wings slightly, allowing his massive body to navigate the narrow space less than ten meters wide, dodging the attack.


    ¡°Frost giant, you¡¯re too slow!¡±


    Cassius taunted.


    And this was his genuine thought. As the power of time and space entwined more tightly, Kasa¡¯s actions appeared in slow motion to him.


    During this time, he had been deliberately guiding the frost giant, always keeping a distance, but never completely shaking him off.


    The red dragon¡¯s agility attribute was about to reach 30 points, which also meant the spell duration was almost over.


    ¡°The process is going smoothly.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to end this.¡±


    Cassius thought.


    Unbeknownst to Kasa, he continued roaring exuberantly:


    ¡°Red dragon, such spells cannot last long!¡±


    ¡°You want to toy with me? You¡¯ll pay for your arrogance!¡±


    The frost giant swung Rigorous Winter¡¯s Howl, the range of cold air suddenly expanded, enveloping the red dragon. The power of the Winter God caused everything to settle, and slowing down one¡¯s movements was no exception.


    He gripped his battle axe tightly, his expression excited and fervent, just waiting for the red dragon¡¯s spell to expire, and for him to rush forward, using Soleim¡¯s divine power to chop him down.


    But Kasa didn¡¯t notice the trace of excitement that flashed in his opponent¡¯s eyes.


    Cassius suddenly slowed his actions, no longer distancing himself from the frost giant, but slowly turning to face him.


    Kasa felt an ominous premonition in his heart. In this dire situation, this cunning red dragon must have a reliance.


    He had fallen into a trap!


    Indeed, that was the case.


    ¡°Winter is about to come to an end.¡±


    Cassius said. This was the area he had long designated¡ªthe frost giant¡¯s burial ground.


    [Kingdom Domain, Forbidden]


    An invisible aura spread out, controlling the surrounding elements. All magic energy became like his subjects, even the Magic Web fell under his control.


    Suddenly, the surging magic energy around fell silent.


    It should be known that divine power also has a magical essence.


    Cassius had long realized that the power of this Kingdom Domain had a peculiar repulsion to divine power. He relied on this ability to erase the mental imprint Tiamat left on him through illusions. Since it was effective against the Mother of Evil Dragons, it was even more certain to work against a trace of divine power left by Soleim from tens of thousands of years ago.


    ¡°This, this¡­¡±


    With Kasa¡¯s incredulous gaze, the ice crystal battle axe began to melt like ordinary ice. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The cold wind circling the frost giant dissipated instantly.


    He fell clumsily from nearly a hundred meters in the air, rolling several times before barely cushioning the fall, relying on his strong constitution to endure.


    The frost giant looked up shakily, gazing at the divine-like red dragon.


    He reached for the battle axe, only to find that the ice crystals symbolizing divine power were already in the red dragon¡¯s claws, controlled by him.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, all over¡­¡±


    Kasa bowed his head, murmuring in despair.

 Chapter 187 - 187: 113. Raging Winter Falls (3)

    Chapter 187: 113. Raging Winter Falls (3)


    Kasa Everfrost closed his eyes.


    He could even feel the brightness before him through his eyelids¡ªit was the light of fire.


    [Extremely Effective Flame Breath]


    The flames poured down like a torrential flood, engulfing Kasa and turning the once bare-handed, dragon-slaying, mighty Frost Giant Warrior to ashes.


    Only the remnants of his White Dragon Scale Armor were left, barely recognizable to any who knew his former appearance.


    In the Kingdom Domain, all spell abilities of Cassius were greatly enhanced. That breath just now was comparable to a Legendary Spell, instantly reducing the physically mighty Frost Giant, capable of battling Elder White Dragons, to dust.


    ...


    ¡°This domain, it¡¯s almost like¡­ my Divine Realm.¡±


    Cassius gently flapped his wings, sighing.


    He gazed at the ice crystal in his hand, within which contained a trace of divine power.


    Though it was very thin, the supreme essence of the cold law it held was unmistakable.


    It was a pity, really. This power was incompatible with Cassius, even entirely repulsive. If he were to recklessly attempt to use it, the consequences could be irreversible.


    Cassius carefully placed the ice crystal into his Dimensional Bag.


    The panel refreshed with several new messages.


    [You have slain the Son of Winter, Kasa, gaining 18000 EXP]


    [Kasa was meant to lead his tribe to greatness, to gather faith and awaken their Father God, but he was slain by you. You have received the enmity of a deity and acquired the negative status: Frost Giant¡¯s Foe]


    ¡°Such a petty deity,¡± Cassius remarked.


    He had no intention to provoke a deity lightly, but the Everfrost Tribe¡¯s expansion and the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s order were fundamentally at odds.


    Since conflict was inevitable, he might as well offend this Frost Giant deity thoroughly, ensuring his faith dwindled evermore, consigning him to eternal slumber, never to awaken.


    Cassius¡¯s expression turned sinister.


    ¡°But first, let¡¯s focus on gaining more strength.¡±


    ¡°With enough power, what could even a deity¡¯s avatar do?¡±


    [You choose to advance True Dragon Sorcerer to level 11]


    [You may select an additional Metamagic feat]


    [You have gained the Metamagic feat: Distant Spell]


    With the surge of sorcery, a magician can significantly increase the range and scope of their spells. As a Dragon Sorcerer, Cassius¡¯s ranged spell effects were even more formidable.


    What came next was the spell drawing phase that Cassius most dreaded.


    [You have gained additional spells: Burning Stone Haze, Aerial Maneuver Technique]


    [Burning Stone Haze]


    Seventh Tier Spell, Shaping Energy


    Like a mobile volcano, blistering embers surround you and then shoot outwards, blasting the enemy with hundreds of tiny, scalding volcanic rocks and releasing dense volcanic ash, causing blindness and suffocation.


    [Aerial Maneuver Technique]


    Fourth Tier Spell, Transformation


    This spell grants perfect aerial maneuverability, allowing the caster to perform sudden stops, sharp turns, rolls, and other high-mobility actions while in flight. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius let out a deep breath.


    One potent Seventh Tier Shaping Spell and one Fourth Tier Transformation Spell with unexpected combat applications.


    Though not a fundamental upgrade, they both significantly enhanced his capabilities.


    For instance, Burning Stone Haze could be combined with Weather Control to create the effect of a massive volcanic eruption, and Aerial Maneuver Technique, when paired with Agile as a Dragon, could even achieve acute angle turns.


    ¡°Since Kasa is dead¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to clean up the aftermath properly.¡±


    A sinister smile appeared on Cassius¡¯s dragon face.


    He cast the spell ¡°Bag of Greed¡± to collect Kasa¡¯s ashes and remaining gear, flaunting them proudly behind himself.


    ¡­


    North of the Triel range.


    The Frost Giants and the retainers of the Ashen Kingdom simultaneously stopped fighting.


    This wasn¡¯t due to a love for peace but rather out of trust in their respective leaders. Once one of them returned, this war would end completely, with no further miracles.


    Baya anxiously gazed at the sky, muttering:


    ¡°He¡¯ll come back, Kasa¡­¡±


    ¡°He was chosen by Lord Soleim, it¡¯s impossible that¡ª¡±


    Before Baya could finish his sentence, everyone instantly felt a scorching heat approaching. The sound of wings flapping grew closer, and the massive Red Dragon became increasingly visible. Hanging beneath him was a tattered White Dragon Scale Armor, and by some unknown means, it also carried ashes.


    Suddenly, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s forces erupted in cheers.


    ¡°Oh oh! The master burned him to ashes!¡±


    ¡°Indeed, this is the master¡¯s might!¡±


    ¡°Fight for the great Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°What did I say? The King of Ashen could not lose!¡±


    In stark contrast, the Frost Giants sank into sorrow and despair.


    ¡°Impossible, impossible¡­¡±


    ¡°He was the chosen of Lord Soleim¡­¡±


    Baya¡¯s face turned wooden, and he kept shaking his head, mumbling.


    Cassius¡¯s golden eyes swept over the battlefield from above as he arrogantly proclaimed:


    ¡°Frost Giants, your leader has been reduced to ashes by me!¡±


    ¡°Now, I give you two choices.¡±


    ¡°Become the servile slaves of the Ashen Kingdom¡­¡±


    ¡°Or¡ªdeath!¡±


    The Frost Giants had varied expressions. Some gritted their teeth, unyielding, their eyes filled with hatred for their enemy, while others seemed shaken to their core.


    These Frost Giants were inherently Neutral Evil; in their view, strength was everything. Kasa had subdued them with his immense power, and this Red Dragon before them¡ªhad burned Kasa alive.


    Suddenly, Baya raised the Dragonbone Pickaxe, his eyes bloodshot as he shouted:


    ¡°This Red Dragon is deceiving us!¡±


    ¡°Kasa is the chosen of Lord Soleim, he¡¯s not dead yet!¡±


    ¡°This Red Dragon is at the end of its strength. Warriors of the Everfrost Tribe, charge with me!¡±


    Without hesitation, Baya rushed forward, his fearless stance strongly reminiscent of the late Kasa, stirring many Frost Giants. Over thirty Frost Giant Warriors responded to the call.


    These Frost Giants were mostly Kasa¡¯s hunting party comrades, considered elite, and followed Baya¡¯s lead, charging towards the Red Dragon like knights tilting at windmills.


    ¡°Thank you for your sacrifice.


    ¡°It allows me¡­ to practice.¡±


    The Red Dragon watched the reactions of the Frost Giants with interest, blistering embers surrounding him.


    [Burning Stone Haze]


    Hundreds of tiny, scalding volcanic rocks were hurled at the charging Frost Giants, followed by a mass of volcanic ash, engulfing all thirty Frost Giants.


    The sounds of coughing, wails, and roars filled the air.


    These Frost Giants, once dubbed ¡°Scourge,¡± now struggled helplessly in the torrent, powerless.

 Chapter 188 - 114 Battle of Glaciers Demise (1)

    Chapter 188: Chapter 114 Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise (1)


    ¡°By Soleim above¡­¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t even get close, just¡ª¡±


    ¡°How can we possibly defeat such an enemy.¡±


    As the wasteland turned into a Purgatory overflowing with magma, the remaining hundred Frost Giants all looked terrified, fearing to be spotted by this terrible Red Dragon.


    The Ogre Heavy Armor Soldiers surrounded them, enclosing the Frost Giants completely. Three or four Ogres struggled to tightly bind the Frost Giants with ropes as thick as a human wrist, eventually transporting them to the South.


    ¡°These Frost Giants will become useful expendables of the Empire.¡±


    ...


    ¡°They are not allowed to have offspring, not allowed to have faith, and will be kept in dark dungeons during idle times.¡±


    ¡°We will use them to build city walls, fortify defenses, reduced to the victims of hard labor and whipping, and their blood¡ªwill all become my property.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    Towards these beings who called themselves the Frost Calamity and caused countless bloodsheds, Cassius felt no compassion. He didn¡¯t even feel morally guilty for striking them down, he was solely focused on squeezing out all their value.


    ¡°Yes, as you will.¡±


    Ramp spoke with exhilaration.


    He, too, had little sympathy for these close kin, more so excited as a Mage to study this ¡°Eternal Frost Power.¡±


    Dolores reported on the side:


    ¡°Master, I have inquired thoroughly about the situation at the Vaar Glacier. Those Giants were quite easy to make talk.¡±


    ¡°Apart from the 300 Frost Giant warriors invading the South, there are about a hundred elderly and weak ones, as well as dozens of warriors stationed there. During their leave, it¡¯s the High Priest of the Everfrost Tribe, the oldest Elder, Nur Everfrost, who handles the various matters.¡±


    ¡°The High Priest huh¡­¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Cassius said calmly.


    If he wanted to destroy the Everfrost Tribe, he had to eliminate this so-called sacrificial priest, shattering their faith.


    Since they had already provoked Soleim, arousing the enmity of that slumbering deity, why not go further and slaughter what¡¯s left of this deity¡¯s believers in Anzeta, transforming the entire tribe into the Empire¡¯s slaves, leaving him with no faith to speak of.


    After the fall of the Giant Empire, the traces of Giants walking upon the earth grew increasingly rare. The Storm Giants and Cloud Giants mostly left the Prime Material Plane, serving other Lawful deities, Heavenly Creatures, or even benevolent Metal Dragons, while robber races like the Frost Giants vanished through successive wars, eventually driven to the Northern edge of the world. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Give me their location, I will bring them¡­a disaster they will never forget.¡±


    ¡°As you will.¡±


    ¡­


    Vaar Glacier.


    Inside the massive, crude ice fortress of the Frost Giants.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, everything will be over.¡±


    ¡°My prophecy wasn¡¯t wrong. The destined Scourge is coming, he¡¯s about to destroy everything, enslave my tribe¡­¡±


    Nur put down the Ice Orb of True Knowledge in his hand, trembling as he stood. The warriors on both sides hurried to assist but were pushed away by the aged sacrificer.


    He mumbled to himself as if in a sudden frenzy.


    ¡°No, no, maybe there is still a chance.¡±


    ¡°Quickly, call all the young warriors of the tribe here.¡±


    The few Frost Giant warriors were puzzled by Nur¡¯s panic but obeyed his command, summoning the young warriors.


    Dozens of Frost Giant warriors gathered beneath the great glacier.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Elder Nur?¡±


    ¡°Why summon us?¡±


    ¡°Chieftain Kasa hasn¡¯t returned yet, it¡¯s only been a few days, the sacred southern expedition is still ongoing.¡±


    The young and exuberant Frost Giant warriors were confused, whispering among themselves until the frail and weathered Elder Nur appeared.


    ¡°Kasa¡¯s campaign is over. They encountered the destined Scourge and¡­the entire army was annihilated.¡±


    His words were low and hoarse, yet particularly clear.


    These words set off a storm among the Frost Giants, unable to suppress their excitement.


    Although they were left at Vaar Glacier as totem warriors defending the Holy Land, they yearned for southern raids, believing Kasa would make southern humans tremble with fear.


    But in merely a few days, 300 Frost Giant warriors, all annihilated?


    This was not just inconceivable, it outright defied the Everfrost Tribe¡¯s centuries-old norms!


    ¡°Elder Nur, your spell must have gone awry!¡±


    ¡°Gone awry? You¡¯re insane!¡±


    ¡°Kasa could wrestle Dragons bare-handed. With his strength, it¡¯s impossible for a bunch of humans to defeat him!¡±


    ¡°Elder Nur, we are the Frost Calamity!¡±


    The elderly Frost Giant sacrificer sighed helplessly, sorrow apparent in his eyes.


    He, too, once believed the ¡°destined Scourge¡± of the prophecy referred to themselves, that the Frost Giants would sweep away everything in the North like a calamity, rebuilding their nation through brutality. But now it seemed they were merely victims of the calamity.


    Nur¡¯s right hand trembled as he used his wooden staff to draw a small circle on the ice surface. A cold wind blew in¡ªimmediately, a terrifying Red Dragon appeared in the reflection, with dozens of Frost Giants struggling in lava beneath it. The Frost Giants scrambled to extend their hands, in a pitiful state, their flesh about to be melted by the blazing magma, revealing stark white bones.


    Nur stopped appropriately, his tone immensely oppressive.


    ¡°Do you¡­see clearly?¡±


    The Frost Giants fell silent at once.


    If not for seeing this brutal magic effect firsthand, they would never have guessed that Chieftain Kasa¡¯s army could be cornered and fall to such a fate.


    ¡°We are the Everfrost Tribe¡¯s last line of defense, everyone.¡±


    ¡°Evacuate all the women and children, this is our fight.¡±


    ¡°Elder, I¡­¡±


    A young Frost Giant wanted to speak but was silenced by Nur¡¯s cold gaze.


    The young Frost Giants¡¯ expressions were repressed, filled with countless questions they could not voice, only obediently following orders, darting about the glacier.


    Only Kasa¡¯s young son, Keman Everfrost, was brought over under Nur¡¯s command.


    This Frost Giant was just 30 years old, still in his youthful stage, barely four meters tall, a mere child before Nur.


    But Keman was not innocent, his eyes were already filled with hatred, the Frost Giant¡¯s usual sentiment towards the loss of loved ones.


    ¡°I will kill that Dragon to avenge my father. Elder Nur, let me join this battle! I am Kasa¡¯s son, I am not afraid of death!¡±


    Nur caressed his head, speaking softly:


    ¡°I, too, am near death¡­¡±


    ¡°But you are different. You bear the blood of the Chosen One, you are our last hope.¡±


    ¡°Child, escape, go South, go to the Ancytica Mountains, continue our tribe, let the name Everfrost¡­strike fear again in the future.¡±


    The aged Frost Giant sacrificer¡¯s hands trembled as he placed a transformation ring, glowing with Aurora, onto Keman¡¯s finger.

 Chapter 189 - 115 Battle of Glaciers Demise (II)

    Chapter 189: Chapter 115 Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise (II)


    Sunlight pierced through the clouds, the cold wind whimpering.


    The glacier, covered in frost and snow, shimmered with a piercing light.


    This was the Vaar Glacier, known as the ¡°Icebound Forbidden Land¡± to the world, the area where the Frost Giants had survived for millennia, guarding it generation after generation for the Everfrost Tribe.


    The Frost Giants built crude fortresses on the Vaar Glacier, carving out the icy mountains.


    They were cruel, destructive plunderers who tamed the massive Dragon Tundras, Hundred-legged Beasts, and Frost Bugs. In the peak moments of the Everfrost Tribe thousands of years ago, they even tamed a White Dragon, using these genuine evil dragons to guard their fortifications.


    But today, the Everfrost Tribe was about to face its most terrifying disaster.


    ...


    All the young warriors of the tribe picked up their weapons, standing ready.


    Some Frost Giant warriors even trembled with nervousness, the expectations of countless ancestors weighing on their shoulders. This would be the battle of life and death to decide the survival of their tribe.


    ¡°It will succeed.¡±


    ¡°Chieftain Kasa has already fought it; that Red Dragon couldn¡¯t possibly be unharmed.¡±


    ¡°That Red Dragon must be severely injured.¡±


    ¡°We have nearly a hundred Frost Giant warriors here!¡±


    The young Frost Giants encouraged each other. Having seen that magic image, they understood the peril of this battle but still hoped for a miracle to occur.


    Nur stood at the highest point of the glacier, his eyes slightly squinted, a tranquil expression on his face, feeling the rush of the wind, almost as if he were about to fall into a deep sleep.


    Suddenly, the Frost Giant Sacrificer opened his eyes, a sharp gleam emerging from his cloudy blue pupils.


    ¡°The time has come.¡±


    ¡°He¡­ is coming.¡±


    Nearby, the young and robust Frost Giant warrior, who was serving him, quickly swung a bone rod, beating the war drum, shouting loudly:


    ¡°Warriors of the Everfrost Tribe! Be ready!¡±


    ¡°The giant dragon is coming, and we must slay it!¡±


    Hearing his words, with the thumping of drums, the Frost Giant warriors collectively looked towards the sky, praying to spot the Red Dragon¡¯s trail in advance.


    However, they did not know that Cassius never traveled in such inefficient ways.


    ¡ª He preferred spells.


    ¡°Look quickly!¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    The alarmed cries of the Frost Giants rang out.


    Waves of ripples emerged in the space before the glacier, gradually distorting, deforming, and folding. The flame portal, incongruous with the surrounding cold air, slowly opened on the vast glacier, causing white mist to rise in swathes nearby.


    First, a hideous head poked out, followed by a strong body, and finally, a long tail tip.


    The Red Dragon had finally descended upon the Vaar Glacier.


    ¡°The coordinates you provided were very accurate.¡±


    Cassius surveyed the assembled Frost Giants around him, armed with a variety of weapons, finally locking his gaze on the elderly Frost Giant Sacrificer.


    Nur spoke in a hoarse voice:


    ¡°You have finally come, destined scourge.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Old Frost Giant, you know me?¡±


    A gleam of interest shone in the golden pupils of the Red Dragon.


    Nur tried to keep his tone calm, speaking in a low voice: ¡°Of course I know you; this is the trial given to us by Soleim, the great Father of the Frost Giants.¡±


    He looked towards the Red Dragon, a determined gleam in his eyes.


    ¡°This is also an indispensable part of restoring the glory of the Frost Giants and reviving the splendor of the Everfrost Tribe.¡±


    Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope rekindled in the eyes of the Frost Giant warriors. As guardians of the Holy Land, most were devout followers of Soleim. Their gaze towards the Red Dragon was filled with hatred and battle spirit. Upon hearing the Red Dragon referred to as a ¡°Deity¡¯s trial,¡± they felt even more invigorated.


    Cassius¡¯s gaze abruptly turned cold.


    ¡°Did your so-called deity tell you¡ª¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°That the Everfrost Tribe is about to be annihilated?¡±


    The Red Dragon spread his wings, soaring nearly a hundred meters high.


    Koh, the leader of the Frost Giant warriors, also raised his weapon, shouting loudly: ¡°Fight! This reptile won¡¯t scare the warriors of Everfrost!¡±


    ¡°Lord Soleim is watching us. The survival of the Everfrost Tribe throughout millennia comes down to this moment!¡±


    The long horn sounded.


    The Frost Giants constantly hurled spears, stones, and even ice cones at the Red Dragon in the sky.


    Elite archers also drew their nearly five-meter-long beast bone giant bows, shooting giant arrows as thick as a bowl, aiming straight for the Red Dragon¡¯s heart.


    For millennia, the Frost Giants living on the Vaar Glacier had hunted countless White Dragons in this manner. However, these attacks had no effect on Cassius. Layers of shields, glowing with spell radiance, easily deflected the attacks.


    Cassius looked down at them condescendingly, mocking ruthlessly.


    ¡°Is this your resistance?¡±


    ¡°Such a joke¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon spewed out a torrent of flames from his mouth. Wherever his breath reached, it turned into purgatory. Ice and snow rapidly melted under the high temperature, and rolling white fog enveloped the glacier.


    Frost Giant hunters blew bone whistles.


    A sharp sound arose.


    The glacier rumbled, shaking off fragments of ice shards.


    A massive beast, resembling a centipede, burst out from beneath the ice and snow amidst the steaming fog, its body covered in frost, while purgatory flame surged within. Wing-like fins spread out behind its head, and serrated fangs wiggled along its giant maw.


    Cassius glanced at it, his expression unchanged.


    ¡°Hundred-legged Beast¡­¡±


    It was the Hundred-legged Beast, one of the most terrifying hunters in the polar regions. Their bodies housed magic organs generating heat like a furnace to withstand the cold, possessing dual resistance to both ice and fire.


    Frost Giant hunters searched for their eggs in the frigid wastelands, taming them from larvae to adult, using them to guard their icy fortresses.


    And now, they were finally put to use.


    The ground shook violently, like an earthquake. Several huge cracks appeared on the ice surface. As many as eleven Hundred-legged Beasts broke through the ice, attacking the Red Dragon, rising like giant pillars in a spectacular scene.


    ¡°So, this is your last resort?¡±


    ¡°Just a dozen bugs?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone was indifferent as he suddenly flapped his wings.


    The air crackled continuously with a fierce sound as blinding lightning surrounded him, striking the reckless Hundred-legged Beasts charging at him. That was the Remnant of the Storm!


    The Red Dragon swung his sharp claws. Instantly, a flashing claw-shaped force field appeared midair not far away, slicing several Hundred-legged Beasts in half with a single strike.


    In an instant, most of the Hundred-legged Beasts, which the Frost Giants had painstakingly nurtured with immense resources, were decimated. The remaining ones, too, hurriedly tunneled back into the glacier, not daring to show themselves recklessly again.


    The Frost Giants continued their assault, but Cassius¡¯s speed was just too fast. Flying in the air, most stones, spears, and even arrows missed their mark. Even those that did hit couldn¡¯t penetrate the layers of defense.


    This remained a highly unequal battle. They were helpless on the ground, while the Red Dragon could breathe fire, scorching the Frost Giants, making them wail in agony.

 Chapter 190 - 116 Battle of Glaciers Demise (III)

    Chapter 190: Chapter 116 Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise (III)


    ¡°Elder Nur, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°Soleim, why would Lord Soleim impose such a trial on us?¡±


    Seeing the Frost Giant warriors helpless against the Red Dragon, Koh¡¯s expression was anxious as he sought advice from the sheltered Elder Nur.


    ¡°Do not worry, you all hold him off.¡±


    The elderly Frost Giant sacrificer gritted his teeth, his voice trembling, as if making a firm decision.


    ¡°I will make him experience the power of Raging Winter¡ª¡±


    ...


    ¡°Even if it costs my life!¡±


    At this moment, he seemed not like a 300-year-old Frost Giant elder nearing the end of his life, but like a middle-aged sacrificer from centuries ago, ambitious and hopeful to lead his tribe to revival.


    He muttered words under his breath, as if in prayer.


    ¡°O exalted Father of the Frost Giants Soleim¡­¡±


    ¡°I will unleash Your boundless power and bring Raging Winter upon the enemies of our tribe, and this, this is the best sacrifice for Your blood offering.¡±


    ¡°A Red Dragon.¡±


    The cold wind howled as if cheering for him.


    The old Frost Giant decisively crushed the ice crystal in his hand.


    He closed his eyes tightly. The runes covering his skin flickered continuously, and the wooden staff in his hand swiftly grew white ice crystals. A bone-chilling power radiated from him to the surroundings.


    In the sky, Cassius also felt this familiar ripple and looked toward its source.


    ¡°Eternal Frost Power?¡±


    ¡°So that ¡®Winter War Axe¡¯ wasn¡¯t the only one, the rest¡­ are waiting for me here.¡±


    Cassius immediately swung his wings and changed direction, diving directly toward the old sacrificer preparing his spell.


    [Agile as a Dragon] [Aerial Maneuver Technique] instantly enhanced him.


    This gave the Red Dragon a terrifying boost in speed, making his figure almost invisible, appearing as a red blur to the Frost Giants.


    Koh hastily and anxiously shouted.


    ¡°Stop him! At all costs!¡±


    The Frost Giant warriors leaped from the ice cliff, charging straight at the speeding Red Dragon, clearly ready to lay down their lives.


    However, they couldn¡¯t halt him in the slightest; the enormous body of the Red Dragon, already at high speed, collided without hesitation, carrying terrifying kinetic energy. The nearly eight-meter-tall body of the Frost Giant was flung away, blood splattering and turning into a shredded mess in the air. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    An impassioned Frost Giant hunter threw a beast-capturing net meant for catching giant beasts, but it was ripped apart by the Scratch Technique. With three claw marks appearing in the air, the net didn¡¯t even have a chance to touch the Red Dragon.


    Several more Frost Giant warriors perished in succession.


    Finally, Koh himself took the front line, raising his shield to block, banging it with a bone rod, letting out a powerful roar.


    ¡°Red Dragon! You can kill me, but you¡¯ll never destroy the Everfrost Tribe!¡±


    ¡°Lord Soleim is watching me!¡±


    The scorching flame instantly penetrated the shield and effortlessly killed Koh behind it.


    ¡°So¡­ this is faith?¡±


    ¡°These Frost Giants must not be left alive, not a single one of them.¡±


    Watching these Frost Giant warriors rushing to their deaths, Cassius¡¯s scaly brows knit together as he thought secretly.


    However, their deaths were not in vain.


    The elderly Frost Giant sacrificer finally opened his eyes, his murky blue pupils emitting a heart-stopping cold light.


    A white domain enveloped the Frost Giants, giving Cassius a peculiar sense of sluggishness.


    ¡ªThe extreme cold meant stillness, not only putting life into eternal sleep but even bringing time and space to a standstill. Due to the eruption of this Eternal Frost Power, even time itself tended toward stagnation!


    Slowly, he raised the ice-crusted staff.


    ¡°Soleim¡¯s Domain of Frost Blades!¡±


    Blade-like ice crystals filled the surroundings, each one exuding a freezing aura, expanding rapidly from him, soon filling the space within several meters and causing everything within hundreds of meters to move incredibly slow.


    Nur trembled all over, intending to freeze both himself and the Red Dragon!


    However, he overlooked one thing¡ªthis Red Dragon was a magician.


    The protective magic covering Cassius¡¯s body couldn¡¯t fully resist the time-freezing ice blades, but it could temporarily fend off the pervasive cold, giving him enough time to cast an instantaneous spell.


    ¡°This is the correct use of Eternal Frost Power¡ª¡±


    ¡°Resisting head-on won¡¯t work, but avoiding the sharp edge is possible, thanks to Dragon¡¯s Spells.¡±


    [Egg of Sanctuary]


    An egg-shaped magical field immediately enveloped the Red Dragon.


    He struggled to break through the frosty space, teleporting himself into a temporary other-dimensional space created by the Egg of Sanctuary.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    Nur tried to wave his staff to stop it, but he too was in the extremely cold domain, unable to move, only able to watch the Red Dragon disappear.


    His thoughts also became increasingly sluggish.


    ¡°It¡¯s over¡­¡±


    ¡°Truly¡­ the extinction of the tribe¡­¡±


    This was Nur¡¯s last thought.


    The ice crystals in his hand continued to spread, rapidly filling the entire space, turning it into a world of complete ice.


    As time passed, the elderly Frost Giant sacrificer was sealed in a huge ice crystal, his face frozen in despair and regret, poised to wave his staff as if he would come to life in the next second, but motionless, as if paused.


    Affected by the cold, the Frost Giants finally began to move slowly again. They were in chaos, their eyes filled with panic as they looked at the old sacrificer.


    ¡°What in Soleim¡¯s name happened?¡±


    ¡°Elder Nur is dead!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, where did that Red Dragon go?¡±


    ¡°Not good, he¡­ he seems to be coming back.¡±


    As spatial ripples emerged, a portal appeared in the void, and the Red Dragon¡¯s head emerged once more.


    ¡°This Egg of Sanctuary truly lives up to its name, the other-dimensional space feels just like a dragon egg, so cramped it¡¯s suffocating.¡±


    ¡°But this spell is terrifying, almost sealed off space itself. Even after stopping the spell, the nearby space is still so hard to break, like it¡¯s frozen.¡±


    Cassius, his heart skimming with relief, looked solemnly at the old sacrificer trapped in the ice crystal.


    ¡°Soleim¡¯s followers¡­..¡±


    ¡°No Frost Giant here shall remain, not one.¡±


    He thought again.


    The ones left to guard the Holy Land were mostly loyal followers of Soleim, the targets Cassius needed to eliminate completely. Yes, he would bring these giants total destruction, not leaving a single one alive.


    The Red Dragon flapped his wings, rising high into the sky, his fierce gaze fixated on the remaining Frost Giants below.


    He hovered in the air, looking down at the surviving Frost Giants with a sinister grin on his face.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long, I haven¡¯t used this spell yet¡­ you should feel honored, as my first batch of experimenters.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­¡±


    ¡°Storm of Vengeance!¡±


    A stirring surge of spell energy rose, and the Eye of the Storm King on the Red Dragon¡¯s chest suddenly gleamed brightly.

 Chapter 191 - 117 Battle of Glaciers Demise (IV)

    Chapter 191: Chapter 117 Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise (IV)


    The Frost Giants had not given up yet. Apart from his own divine power, Nur had one last trick up his sleeve, a technique meant for taking down all enemies alongside them¡ªSoleim¡¯s Incarnation of Winter.


    Those Frost Giants, faces full of despair, showed a glimmer of resolve in their eyes.


    ¡°Our enemies can kill our bodies, but they cannot kill winter¡­¡±


    ¡°My father Soleim will bring eternal slumber to our enemies on the glacier stained with the blue blood of Frost Giants.¡±


    More than thirty Frost Giant warriors, adorned with Everfrost Runes, broke off some ice cones from the glacier and, without hesitation, stabbed them into their chests. They chanted an ancient and lengthy hymn, or rather, a curse¡ªharboring the deepest hatred for the enemies who destroyed their tribe.


    As the dark blue blood seeped through cracks into the ground, the glacier, bathed in brilliance, rumbled and quaked violently once again.


    ...


    ¡°Everfrost¡¯s foe¡ª¡±


    A roar echoed through the clouds.


    A thirty-plus-meter-tall giant composed of blade-like ice crystals rose from the glacier, standing imposingly on the vast icy expanse. Its features bore a faint resemblance to Kasa, who had fallen under the Red Dragon, but the smooth facets of the ice reflected the varied expressions of the Frost Giant warriors. The giant held an Ice Crystal Double-Bladed Axe, its face filled with the rage of winter, embodying the last will of the Everfrost Tribe.


    Facing the charging Ice Crystal Giant, Cassius merely fluttered his wings in the air and continued casting his spell.


    ¡°Faith¡­ is truly a terrifying thing.¡±


    ¡°It can turn a group of dying Frost Giants into this monstrosity.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ I wonder if you can withstand my spell?¡±


    As Cassius spoke these words, the clear, cloudless sky suddenly resounded with thunder, shaking the entire Vaar Glacier.


    As the Eye of the Storm King on his chest gleamed with dazzling light, an unimaginable spell fluctuation arose. The Magic Web surged like a turbulent ocean, waves crashing violently. Countless complex magic structures embedded themselves together, interlocking and influencing each other, ultimately forming this intricate Ninth Tier Spell¡ªthe **Storm of Vengeance**.


    Yet Cassius¡¯s greed did not end there.


    He not only wanted to kill the Ice Crystal Giant before him but also to obliterate all traces of the Frost Giants¡¯ existence in this icy field, erasing their civilization entirely.


    Thus, the Red Dragon Sorcerer drew upon a wilder and more chaotic sorcery power. The ferocious tide of magic gushed without restraint, amplifying the spell¡¯s range and power twofold.


    **Metamagic: Distant Spell**


    **Metamagic: Enhanced Spell**


    Once this process began, it was like opening Pandora¡¯s box, never to be closed again. Cassius could no longer control the spell¡¯s progression, allowing it to pour forth uncontrollably, barely able to protect himself amidst it, remembering¡ªthis was a Ninth Tier Spell!


    The present Storm of Vengeance was potent enough to destroy a nation, a spell of nation-destroying magnitude!


    Cassius watched the distant Ice Crystal Giant, grinning menacingly.


    ¡°To force me to use this power indeed befits your standing.¡±


    ¡°Frost Giants, let me see if your final strength can withstand my scourge!¡±


    Overhead, a swirling storm of thundering clouds began to form, centered on the Red Dragon and spreading over several kilometers around.


    The dark clouds billowed turbulently, filled with flashes of lightning and howling winds. Only Cassius at the center stood like a lonely island amidst the storm, barely maintaining stability in the wild surge of magic.


    The terrifying storm clouds spread and proliferated almost madly, like a monstrous, devouring beast about to swallow everything on the glacier.


    Blocking out the sunlight, it turned the polar summer into a nightfall-like darkness.


    ¡°Everfrost¡¯s foe, I will kill you!¡±


    ¡°I will flay your skin and crush your flesh!¡±


    The giant roared up to the heavens. It lacked much reason, driven by the instinct of revenge alone, a product of the last hatred of these Frost Giants combined with a shred of Soleim¡¯s divinity. If the ancient giant deity were at the peak of his power, with hundreds of devoted Frost Giants sacrificing together under his gaze, it possibly could have been called a God Scourge.


    But now, it was only fit to be called a monster.


    In Anzeta, a region with sparse magical energy, under the sacrifices of dozens of Frost Giants and the influence of a barely perceptible sliver of divine power, this ¡°Soleim¡¯s Incarnation of Winter¡± had barely reached the legendary level of life.


    The thirty-plus-meter tall Ice Crystal Giant swung its great axe, its enormous footsteps shaking the ground as it charged towards the Red Dragon with clear intent.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    Under the covering clouds, thundering roars echoed like war drums through the sky.


    The powerful thunderwave, potent enough to kill a mortal with its sheer force, repeatedly struck the Ice Crystal Giant¡¯s body, causing countless cracks to appear and tiny ice shards to crumble off its solid form.


    ¡°Futile struggle!¡±


    The giant roared again, though its voice had grown slightly weaker.


    Next, a rain of strong acid fell from the storm clouds. The eerie green magical acid drops pitted the giant¡¯s icy body like ravenous insects, boring deep holes into its smooth surface and sending up plumes of steam and mist.


    ¡°Despair! You are insignificant before the Raging Winter!¡±


    The giant¡¯s voice weakened further, but its stance did not falter as it raised its double-bladed axe high, nearly touching the stormy clouds, ready to strike down in fury.


    ¡°Crack¡ª!¡±


    Thunder roared first.


    In the next moment, six raging bolts of lightning, each as thick as a bowl, converged like divine retribution, striking the giant¡¯s axe head-on.


    The blinding light illuminated the area for hundreds of meters around the giant, its entire icy form reflecting the thunder¡¯s glow.


    The Ice Crystal Double-Bladed Axe was vaporized by the lightning, taking the giant¡¯s right arm with it. The massive, ten-plus-meter-long arm crashed to the ground, shattering into ice chunks with a tremendous noise.


    ¡°No¡ªyou can¡¯t kill me!¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I am the Incarnation of Winter!¡±


    The giant roared once more, but its voice had grown even weaker.


    Unyielding still, despite losing its right arm and half of its shoulder, it picked up an ice cone from the ground with its left arm and charged the Red Dragon with it as a weapon.


    Hail poured down from the storm clouds, pelting the giant continuously. Though these similar attacks caused it little harm, they riddled its body with numerous pits, transforming what had been a nearly flawless Ice Crystal Giant into something more twisted.

 Chapter 192 - 118: Battle of Glaciers Demise (5)

    Chapter 192: Chapter 118: Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise (5)


    The giant continued to charge forward. Even with a broken arm, he still used his remaining hand to snap off an ice cone as a weapon, attacking the red dragon relentlessly.


    Cassius just flapped his wings, hovering in place.


    ¡°What a peculiar thing¡­¡±


    ¡°I wonder how long it can last?¡±


    He didn¡¯t think about leaving the center of the storm. On one hand, the storm of vengeance was no longer within his control, even entering it himself would be incredibly dangerous.


    On the other, he had immense confidence in the power of this masterpiece he had crafted with his own hands. He didn¡¯t believe the giant could stand before him alive.


    ...


    The storm of vengeance had already surged for more than ten rounds. The fierce winds and icy rain ravaged the area beneath the thunderclouds.


    The giant¡¯s figure grew more slender, several sizes smaller than at the start, as if stripped layer by layer, revealing its fragile structure within.


    Its movements became increasingly sluggish, struggling within the storm, yet it remained undaunted, charging toward Cassius.


    ¡°Everfrost¡­foe!¡±


    ¡°I will never¡­spare you¡­¡±


    The voice, like a boat tossing in a stormy sea, grew weaker, yet it remained steadfast, a testament to the unyielding will of the Everfrost Holy Land¡¯s guardians before their death.


    However, with the surge of spells, the storm of vengeance did not cease. Instead, it grew increasingly violent. White, blue, and purple lightning continuously tore through the black sky, their immense strength descending upon the ice field, ruthlessly destroying everything on the ground.


    Black mist churned, thunderclouds billowed, and from the dense darkness shone an irresistible radiance, illuminating the snow and ice. It was the most terrifying thunder.


    But the giant on the ground seemed oblivious, now only a few hundred meters from the red dragon, brandishing a sharp ice cone as it charged.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Thunder rumbled again, earth-shattering.


    Dozens of blinding flashes of lightning struck simultaneously, forming a giant claw in the sky that tore through the dark clouds. This furious power gathered and finally struck the unsuspecting ice crystal giant¡¯s head.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    Blinding endless lightning enveloped the massive body, illuminating the surroundings like daylight, with white smoke rising in billows.


    Across the vast Vaar Glacier, nearly all living beings could hear the piercing wail and the crackling of lightning.


    When the lightning subsided and the white smoke dissipated, the ice crystal giant was seen shattered, nearly at the end of this strange form of life.


    Its head was half gone, looking grotesque.


    Its massive left arm was broken, fallen to the ground.


    Its hip was also half split, its right leg missing from the hip down, and its left calf was split in two, with only the left thigh still movable.


    Maintaining this form had already exhausted all its strength. The ice crystal giant¡¯s entire body was covered in cracks, as if it could shatter at any moment, turning into scattered ice pieces.


    Yet that half mouth still twitched slightly.


    ¡°Everfrost¡­ foe¡­¡±


    The barely human-like ice crystal giant, using its only left thigh to scrape the ground, its torso writhing, presented a grotesque posture on the ground, like a crawling worm. Though exceedingly slow, it did indeed move toward the red dragon.


    The red dragon watched silently, observing the giant crawling closer.


    Each meter forward ground its body further against the ground, leaving behind fragments of ice.


    As it crawled, its path was strewn with ice shards.


    The giant on the ground barely touched the red dragon¡¯s claw with its left shoulder, laboriously lifting its head, its half mouth twitching slightly.


    ¡°Caught¡­you¡­¡±


    ¡°Ever¡­frost¡¯s¡­¡±


    Before it could finish saying ¡°foe,¡± a cracking sound interrupted. The ice crystal giant could no longer hold together its cracked form, shattering completely. This body, even though heavily damaged, nearly twenty meters long, turned into a small ice mountain, standing silently on the ice surface of Vaar Glacier.


    Cassius casually picked up an ice crystal, holding it in his claws, feeling the instinctively loathed coldness.


    ¡°A magical creature driven purely by hatred, devoid of wisdom, yet it could reach a legendary level of life.¡±


    ¡°Such a strange thing, let¡¯s have Ramp study it thoroughly when we get back.¡±


    ¡°Maybe this thing¡­ could become a sharp axe in my hands.¡±


    Cassius glanced around, quietly admiring the scourge he had created.


    Though the ice crystal giant was dead, the terrifying storm of vengeance continued unabated. With the surge of spells, it would keep expanding until the natural laws balanced it, quelling this destructive force. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Endless gales and icy rain scoured everything under the thunderclouds, countless lightning bolts crashed down, shattering ice mountains one after another.


    The frost giants¡¯ snow fortresses were split by lightning, collapsing with a roar, their thousand-year-old holy land buried under shattered ice. The records and deeds of former giants would sink into the earth, forever frozen in hundred-meter-deep ice.


    The frost giants¡¯ hunting grounds were eroded by acid rain, becoming unrecognizable; their coarse horns, bone spears, and shields turned into the land¡¯s nutrients.


    Even the ice valleys, where the frost giants depended on for survival, were buried under collapsing glaciers with each thunderous roar, all traces of the frost giants¡¯ lives ¡ª crafted fur, leftover bones, and even children¡¯s ice sculptures ¡ª would be sealed in ice, known to none.


    The Everfrost Tribe, lingering since ancient wars nearly ten thousand years ago, growing weaker over time, was finally destroyed by a red dragon.


    Kobal Everfrost¡¯s tribe rose because they killed a red dragon, and ended because they provoked one, a small divine joke spanning millennia.


    ¡°The scourge of frost is over¡­¡±


    ¡°Because I brought disaster to the ¡®scourge of frost.''¡±


    Cassius glanced around, finding humor in the devastation, thinking it almost a paradox.


    He slightly raised his head as new information refreshed on his panel.


    [You have slain the Incarnation of Winter from Soleim (Challenge Level: 20)], gaining 25000xp]


    [You have annihilated the racial faction, the Everfrost Tribe]


    [Special achievement obtained, Destroyer of Frost Giants]


    Achievement, Destroyer of Frost Giants


    ¡°Frost giants are the easiest things to kill. Without the annoying spells of storm giants or cloud giants, you can easily slaughter them in close combat, even a trashy white dragon. The only downside is their meat tastes like ice chunks, fresh out of a frozen cave, truly unpalatable. ¡ª Ancient Red Dragon, Kabalia Halls¡±


    Acquired trait: Frost Giant Slayer


    Strength +2


    Proficiencies: Intimidation +3


    As the destroyer of the frost giant tribe, your renown is enough to make them tremble, and your damage to the race, frost giants, becomes more significant, with an inherent intimidation effect.


    Meanwhile, your experience destroying Everfrost has made you stronger, your confidence altering reality, granting you some resistance to cold.

 Chapter 193 - 119 Battle of Glaciers Demise (End)

    Chapter 193: Chapter 119 Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise (End)


    ¡°Blessed Amanata¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s simply¡­ a Scourge.¡±


    In the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s temporary camp, Count Trischka was dumbfounded.


    ¡°The Everfrost Tribe was just¡­ annihilated. From now on, there will be no more Frost Calamity.¡±


    Trischka couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself.


    He gazed at the distant half of Vaar Glacier covered by sun-blocking clouds, listening to the roaring thunder. Even his voice, usually steady, trembled.


    ...


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another thunderclap resounded. Though nearly thirty kilometers away, people could still feel the terror of the Storm of Vengeance. The powerful spell¡¯s fluctuations even brushed against their faces.


    Old scholar Morr took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his brow, murmuring quietly:


    ¡°This, this is also a good thing.¡±


    ¡°We originally thought this Frost Calamity would kill or injure countless people again, but now the Dragon Lord of the Ashen Kingdom has solved even its root cause.¡±


    Yelena also wiped her pale face, reluctantly agreeing:


    ¡°Yes, the Frost Calamity is resolved. With the help of that Red Dragon, our Boske Duchy didn¡¯t even need to expend manpower or resources. Truly a win-win.¡±


    But Trischka continued to gaze at the sky in silence, a gloomy shadow crossing his face. After a long pause, he spoke slowly.


    ¡°Ninth Tier Spell.¡±


    ¡°At least a Ninth Tier Spell, possibly higher.¡±


    He turned to look at Morr, his expression extremely grave, and asked in a deep voice: ¡°Morr, do you understand what this means?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    Morr¡¯s forehead started to sweat again.


    Trischka¡¯s tone grew even heavier, and his voice quickened slightly:


    ¡°It means that Red Dragon could easily destroy our cities, even our entire nation. Remember, that¡¯s a Ninth Tier Spell!¡±


    ¡°I once personally witnessed a legendary court mage of the Fadlan Kingdom cast a Ninth Tier Spell. Meteors fell from the sky, and within mere breaths, the rebellion of tens of thousands was quelled. The unknown spell cast by this Red Dragon is even more terrifying.¡±


    By the end, his voice trembled.


    Trischka sighed lightly, lowering his eyes, but the image of the storm just moments ago remained vivid, lingering in his mind.


    Duke Leo had originally sent him to investigate, negotiate the various powers, and secure the greatest interests for the Boske Duchy in this war.


    In the best-case scenario, the Ashen Kingdom and the Everfrost Tribe would become embroiled in a bitter struggle, reaching a stalemate. Then the Boske Duchy could, under the guise of ¡°ally,¡± weaken the Ashen Kingdom and seize the opportunity to eradicate both powerful factions, maintaining order in the North to the greatest extent. At worst, they could significantly damage the Ashen Kingdom, preventing it from venturing south. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But both he and Duke Leo gravely underestimated the Red Dragon¡¯s power.


    They never imagined that this Red Dragon would end the battle within days, eradicating the Everfrost Tribe¡ªthe Frost Calamity that plagued the Northern Kingdom for nearly a millennium¡ªand even pursuing them to their ancestral home in Vaar Glacier, exterminating the Frost Giants.


    ¡°We¡¯ve lost the initiative. The Ashen Kingdom has become an unmanageable behemoth. We must report this news to His Grace immediately. Our Boske Duchy can¡¯t afford to lose.¡±


    ¡°Unless external forces intervene, we¡¯ll have to wait for the North to be devoured by the Red Dragon.¡±


    Trischka thought to himself.


    His throat turned sour, wanting to speak but finding himself unable.


    ¡°Military advisors, the war is over. Do any of you have insights to share?¡±


    A stranger¡¯s voice interrupted Trischka¡¯s thoughts.


    Everyone turned their heads to find the tiefling commander of the Ashen Kingdom¡ªMezulash.


    This Oathbreaker Paladin was a key concern within the Boske Duchy and highly dangerous. He was widely known for his Control Undead ability and was labeled the ¡°Hand of the Wicked Spirit¡± by Northerners, reputedly sacrificing hundreds of living people daily to turn them into undead.


    However, Trischka was skeptical of such exaggerated rumors. At least, the ¡°Hand of the Wicked Spirit¡± appeared courteous and refined, far from the hateful villain the stories painted, although his pure black eyes did chill anyone who met his gaze.


    Trischka bowed slightly, responding politely:


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius is awe-inspiring. A total, crushing victory. What more can we, insignificant figures, say?¡±


    ¡°My meager words can only offer congratulations to the Ashen Kingdom for its complete victory. The Frost Calamity, which threatened the North for nearly a millennium, is resolved. The entire Anzeta will celebrate, and I, on behalf of His Grace, extend our highest respect.¡±


    Mezulash smiled and shook his head, saying:


    ¡°You should know what my master wants to hear isn¡¯t this.¡±


    Trischka¡¯s expression froze. A futile smile flashed across his face.


    ¡°I will report the situation here truthfully to His Grace. From now on, we should cease all covert actions against the Ashen Kingdom and accept your reparation treaties, only hoping you maintain basic peace¡­¡±


    Listening to Trischka¡¯s plea, Mezulash nodded in satisfaction.


    Finally, he spoke again, his face showing a devilish smile.


    ¡°My respected master thinks similarly. He hopes we can reach a consensus and does not wish to engage in meaningless conflicts.¡±


    ¡°I hope you understand. The Ashen Kingdom does not recklessly plunder or neglect production. For now, at least until we¡¯ve integrated the remnants of the Rackman Duchy and the Principality of Norton, we have no intention of initiating a full-scale war.¡±


    The tiefling¡¯s tone paused, a threatening meaning glimmering in his black eyes.


    ¡°Of course, if any country wants to try, we wouldn¡¯t mind becoming a bit greedier.¡±


    Trischka exhaled deeply, a forced smile appearing on his pale face, extending his hand.


    ¡°Of course, peace is the consensus of all orderly nations. Our Boske is no exception.¡±


    Two hands, of different colors, clasped together.


    ¡­


    ¡°The ¡®Frost Calamity¡¯ paled in comparison to the true Scourge. The Raging Winter, lasting millennia, was of no consequence to Him. That day, the terrible Storm of Vengeance swept across all of Vaar Glacier, eradicating the Frost Giants¡¯ civilization that had endured for thousands of years. The surviving Frost Giants became slaves of the Empire.¡±


    ¡°He once again demonstrated Scourge-like prowess to all of Anzeta. With the effortless destruction of the Everfrost Tribe, the ¡®Frost Calamity¡¯ was no more, replaced by the more terrifying ¡®Dragon Scourge.¡¯ The entire North shuddered under His wings.¡±


    ¡°Some scholars believe that the ¡®Battle of Raging Winter¡¯s Fall¡¯ objectively eliminated the millennia-old Frost Calamity troubling the North. While there is some positive significance to this, I maintain that occasional good deeds by the wicked should not earn them the title of hero, as it disrespects countless justice-minded individuals who sacrificed heroically.


    ¡°Though the ¡®Frost Calamity¡¯ brought great disaster to the Northern People, the evil dragon¡¯s rule shattered the sacred order of the North and ruthlessly destroyed Anzeta¡¯s justice, inflicting a deeper, broader catastrophe.¡±


    ¡ªThe **Chronicles of Anzeta: Battle of Raging Winter¡¯s Fall** by Duke Luton

 Chapter 194 - 120: Clearing the Battlefield

    Chapter 194: Chapter 120: Clearing the Battlefield


    As the war ended and the Frost Giant tribe was annihilated, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army swiftly cleaned up the battlefield littered with debris, casually scavenging for loot and transporting the Frost Giant slaves back to Northwind Castle.


    The players, on the other hand, recklessly rummaged through the smoky battlefield, having a great time looting bodies.


    ¡°Wow, great stuff! The Frost Giant¡¯s eyeball is mine!¡±


    ¡°Can this finger be used to make Giant Elixir¡­¡±


    ¡°Such a big bone rod, how much soup can we make from this¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you guys think that the Giant¡¯s¡­ could be some kind of super tonic? We should cut off a couple to take back. Hey, maybe they¡¯ll be useful in a future update. Damn, this thing is heavy. Come help me carry it. My strength attribute is too low; I can¡¯t lift it.¡±


    ...


    ¡°You¡¯re disgusting; keep that thing away from me!¡±


    ¡°Come on, use your head. When the game opens up, there¡¯ll be perverts aplenty wanting this. It¡¯ll sell out for sure, and even make an excellent exhibit!¡±


    The players, like a flock of vultures, plundered the broken battlefield without hesitation, even terrifying the ogres known for their cannibalistic habits.


    An ogre known as ¡°Bighead¡± watched the ravenous players, sneering.


    ¡°Hmph, a bunch of barbarians.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°We civilized ogres clean these things up properly when we eat our elders at home. They don¡¯t even bother.¡±


    Bighead tore off a piece of meat from the Frost Giant¡¯s arm, looked around to ensure no one was watching, and then stuffed the meat into his mouth, chewing with great satisfaction.


    ¡°Bighead, you¡¯re eating humanoid meats again!¡±


    A familiar voice rang in Bighead¡¯s ears.


    He was so scared that he dropped the meat from his mouth, trembling as he looked around, but he couldn¡¯t find Ramp¡¯s towering figure.


    As he breathed a sigh of relief, a magic field shaped like a wooden stick appeared above his head.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    ¡°The boss is getting more unpredictable.¡±


    Bighead, in pain, threw the meat he had just picked up and rubbed the bump on his head, feeling aggrieved.


    In the central tent on the battlefield, Ramp felt the spell being triggered, and a contented smile spread across his face.


    ¡°Hmph, that¡¯s the fate of those who don¡¯t follow orders.¡±


    This was Ramp¡¯s self-created Second Tier Spell ¡°Ramp¡¯s Ogre Discipline Magic.¡± It detected when an ogre violated the set rules, alerted Ramp, and automatically created a magic wooden stick to knock the disobedient ogre unconscious.


    Ramp was quite proud of this. He firmly believed that he would eventually cultivate the ogres into a wise and civilized race. At that time, ogres would become the symbol of wisdom and strength on this continent, second only to red dragons as the most perfect race.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Bighead¡¯s wail rang out once more.


    Ramp¡¯s face darkened, his arm trembling slightly.


    ¡°Ouch! Why is it happening again!¡±


    The familiar voice echoed again.


    Ramp¡¯s face was shrouded in a thick layer of gloom, his ugly face dark as dripping water.


    The ogre mage picked up the club from the ground, veins bulging on his arms, and stormed out of the tent.


    ¡°Bighead! Do you have a death wish!¡±


    ¡­


    Mantou and Singo landed on the ground, leading their wyvern as they scavenged for loot. They grabbed some Frost Giant eyeballs and fingers as materials, but they had no interest in the gigantic, crude weapons and armor.


    Mantou complained: ¡°I feel like we haven¡¯t even gotten started, and these Frost Giants are already down. We¡¯ve just been watching the main boss¡¯s battle CG.¡±


    Singo asked: ¡°So how many Frost Giants did you kill?¡±


    Mantou awkwardly touched his nose: ¡°Didn¡¯t I successfully restrain one?¡±


    ¡°Noob.¡±


    Singo harshly assessed before continuing: ¡°The officials really didn¡¯t balance this right. The main storyline¡¯s challenge was set too high, so players didn¡¯t get much of a chance to participate. Only high-level professional players like me managed to kill one or two Frost Giants for some insignificant achievements.¡±


    Mantou, already used to this blatant showboating, ignored the topic and asked, ¡°What should we do next? With just a few days left in the late beta period, my experience has overflowed a lot. Just waiting for the server to open and unlock the level cap so I can level up like crazy.¡±


    Singo was about to answer when someone patted him on the shoulder from behind.


    ¡°Singo!¡±


    He turned around to see a shiny bald head¡ªit was Natural War Maniac.


    The seasoned barbarian player was covered in Frost Giant blood, with a string of Frost Giant fingers hanging around his neck, smiling broadly.


    ¡°Guys, I just had an awesome fight. I cast Enlarge Spell and Acceleration Spell and charged right in, jumped on the Frost Giant from behind, and put it in a chokehold¡ª¡±


    His excitement growing, Natural War Maniac enthusiastically struck a pose.


    ¡°With a crack, I choked the Frost Giant to death. It was a thrilling battle!¡±


    ¡°And there was this one Frost Giant trying to ambush me from behind, but I turned and slashed it¡­¡±


    Mantou listened to Natural War Maniac¡¯s excited recount, thinking about being pelted and chased by the Frost Giants, and a shameful sweat broke out.


    Indeed, people¡¯s joys and sorrows do not connect.


    ¡°There you all are!¡±


    A crisp female voice called out¡ªit was Summer Night Autumn Rain.


    Unlike the others, she hadn¡¯t picked up any weird stuff like Frost Giant eyeballs or fingers. Instead, she recorded a few Everfrost Runes to see if they might trigger something later.


    ¡°I had a decent haul this time. Flame spells are very effective against Frost Giants.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s body was surrounded by the smell of gunpowder, and red scales faintly surfaced on her face, signs that she had just used a spell with her dragon bloodline. Rumor had it she had joined a flame spellcaster player group called the ¡°Five Fireball Cult,¡± whose members were all fanatical fireball technique enthusiasts, ready to go crazy hurling fireballs once the server opened.


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head in annoyance: ¡°Autumn Rain¡¯s fighting style is getting more violent. While I¡¯m grappling with the Frost Giant, she nearly roasted me with her flame spell.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain blushed and defended herself: ¡°Well, you didn¡¯t get burned to death, did you?¡±


    The professional squad, once jokingly called the ¡°Black Slave Team,¡± was gathered together once again.


    Mantou was the first to propose: ¡°Since it¡¯s the end of the beta, and there are only a few days left before the server shuts down, and we¡¯re all here, why don¡¯t we team up and explore the Kalka Mountains to see if we can get lucky and find a divine artifact?¡±


    Singo rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and agreed: ¡°Sure.¡±


    Natural War Maniac wiped his shiny bald head and grinned: ¡°No problem.¡±

 Chapter 195 - 121 Encounter

    Chapter 195: Chapter 121 Encounter


    Summer Night Autumn Rain, having exhausted all his spell slots in the previous battle, chose to return with the main team for a long rest, leaving only the trio to venture into the depths of the Kalka Mountains.


    This mountainous region, located north of Stormy Ridge, was rarely visited by humans and was filled with countless legendary tales. Stories about giant evil snowmen that sucked out brains, the wailing Polar Night Demon Tower, and the ghostly shadows on the snow were widely spread across the Northern Countries.


    ¡°Hoo¡ª¡±


    The cold wind howled past, coating the rocks with white frost and bringing a chill to the valley.


    ¡°Damn, this¡­ this place is freezing.¡±


    Mantou shivered, exhaling white puffs of breath from his nostrils.


    ...


    ¡°Serves you right for not preparing in advance.¡±


    Xin Dog took out a blue potion and tossed it casually to Mantou. It was a potion for cold resistance, made from magical herbs that grew underground, quite a rare potion.


    Mantou pulled the cork out and gulped it down. It felt like a furnace had been ignited inside him, warming him up immediately.


    ¡°Feels good.¡±


    ¡°Good job, Xin Dog.¡±


    Mantou, feeling cozy, gave Xin Dog a thumbs-up.


    ¡°This is great stuff!¡±


    The Heavenly Berserker, being a Barbarian with a robust constitution, wasn¡¯t too bothered by the cold but still drank his prepared potion. Warm steam rose from his body, and two white plumes puffed from his nostrils, making him feel invigorated.


    ¡°Hoo-hoo¡ª¡±


    Another sharp sound pierced the air.


    ¡°Stay alert, that might not just be the wind. Prepare for combat!¡±


    Xin Dog noticed something amiss and cautioned everyone sharply.


    The sound wasn¡¯t just the wind whistling through the valley; it carried a mournful, wailing tone, similar to the howling of wolves.


    The cliffs on both sides of the valley flickered with strange, colorful shadows, accompanied by rustling noises.


    Natural War Maniac quickly turned his head, but the place where the noise came from was empty, showing only dark rocks.


    ¡°Looks like we have incoming enemies, trying to be sneaky.¡±


    Xin Dog drew his bow, fired an arrow at the rock, and it exploded upon impact, creating a blaze of fire.


    The creatures hiding behind the rock were startled by the fire and scattered, revealing themselves.


    The standing creatures were about two meters tall, their backs covered in fur and hunched. Their heads resembled those of hyenas, with disheveled yellow teeth and blood-red triangular eyes.


    The blood-red eyes stared intently at the people in the valley, growling deeply from their throats, wishing to tear them apart and devour them.


    These monsters preferred eating intelligent beings alive, letting their prey witness their own consumption, relishing the terrified screams before death. Humans made up a significant part of their diet.


    ¡°Gnolls?¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xin Dog immediately recognized these creatures. He had killed many in the mines but felt something was off.


    Gnolls preferred warm and humid environments, often appearing in warm plains or underground areas, rarely in such cold mountains. Moreover, their appearance differed from regular gnolls¡ªtheir skin had red-brown and black fur, with some spots becoming bald, growing sparse white scales.


    All three players instantly thought of the Dragonblood Goblins from the Ashen Kingdom.


    ¡°Interesting, could it be White Dragon Bloodline?¡±


    ¡°No wonder they can withstand the cold.¡±


    ¡°We should catch a few alive if we can.¡±


    Xin Dog became intrigued, observing the gnolls with growing excitement¡ªthis was a rare special breed, and sending them to the Tower of the Great Sage could fetch a considerable amount of gold and contribution.


    The battle commenced immediately.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    The Dragon Vein Gnolls howled toward the sky, their cries sounding eerily like sobbing.


    These creatures leaped off the cliffs toward the group, snarling and drooling foul-smelling saliva.


    ¡°Go, go, go! War Maniac Bro, Mantou, you hold them off.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, Xin Dog, why don¡¯t you go handle these disgusting things yourself?¡±


    Despite his complaints, Mantou advanced with his Silver Sword to engage the enemy.


    The Heavenly Berserker, eager for a fight, roared skyward, stomped fiercely to activate his frenzy, and charged at the gnolls with bloodshot eyes.


    ¡°Aaargh¡ª¡±


    ¡°Battle, yes!¡±


    The Heavenly Berserker swung his Great Axe horizontally, decapitating a gnoll and making the others retreat in fear.


    Mantou seized the opportunity to rush in, performing actions like tides, his sword movements were incredibly swift, effortlessly slashing open the gnolls¡¯ chests and spilling their organs.


    Xin Dog, even more dramatic, drew his Hunting Longbow and marked the gnolls with a purple Hunter¡¯s Mark.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The arrow pierced through the air, striking one gnoll¡¯s heart and emerging from the other side, its sharp head bloodied. The power of the Hunter¡¯s Mark continued tearing the wound, causing additional damage, ensuring the gnoll¡¯s death.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill too quickly!¡±


    ¡°Leave some for capturing alive!¡±


    After shooting another gnoll dead, Xin Dog reminded the others.


    Against these fourth-level professional gamers, whose true power far surpassed their stats, ordinary gnolls with a touch of White Dragon Bloodline were no match, becoming mere tools for the gamers to farm experience and loot.


    But quantity could make up for the lack of quality.


    Mantou and the Heavenly Berserker fought on the frontlines, but the gnolls around them instead of decreasing, multiplied rapidly, with growing howls echoing from afar.


    ¡°Damn, how many of these dog things are there¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s endless, totally endless.¡±


    Standing in the valley, Xin Dog grew serious, glancing around as hundreds of hyena-like ugly heads peered from the cliffs, their numerous blood-red eyes making his scalp tingle.


    ¡°Uh-oh¡ªwe might have stumbled into their lair.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    More and more gnolls swarmed, forming a mottled wave of stench threatening to engulf them.


    Even the largest gnoll took a deep breath and exhaled a chilling breath¡ªa freezing breath, similar to that of a White Dragon!


    Mantou, startled, rolled several times on the ground to barely avoid it. The spot where he had stood was now coated in thick frost.


    Having earlier underestimated their enemy, Mantou and the Heavenly Berserker launched attacks from opposite sides, placing them far apart, and Xin Dog was further away at the valley¡¯s end with no chance of providing support.


    Mantou glanced at the diverging paths within the valley and, struck with a sudden idea, shouted: ¡°Let¡¯s split up and escape!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    So, with Mantou and the Heavenly Berserker going left and right and Xin Dog moving backward, the three of them raced off in different directions.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    The greedy but not-so-intelligent gnolls hesitated, unsure whom to chase first. They stood there howling for a while before finally splitting into three groups at their leader¡¯s command and pursuing in various directions.

 Chapter 196 - 122: Igloo Girl

    Chapter 196: Chapter 122: Igloo Girl


    The howls of the gnolls behind him continued intermittently, mournful and piercing, causing immense fear.


    Mantou sped up along the deep path in the valley, shaking off the pursuers behind him, and reached an open area, finally escaping, breathless and alive.


    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really strange, where did so many gnolls come from, and they¡¯re all mutants.¡±


    Mantou looked up and saw a delicate wooden cabin suddenly appear on the mountainside of the snow peak. The roof made of log rolls was covered with thick snow, and warm firelight glowed from the window.


    ¡°Where is this?¡±


    ...


    Mantou curiously approached.


    He knew that encountering such a wooden cabin in this uninhabited deep mountain definitely meant something peculiar, but for players, it was impossible not to investigate this kind of place.


    ¡°Never mind! Let¡¯s just go in and see!¡±


    Mantou gritted his teeth, making up his mind.


    With a light creak, Mantou gently pushed open the wooden door and entered the cabin.


    The interior was quite cozy, with soft fur sofas, exquisite woven carpets, and the crackling sound of wood burning in the fireplace.


    On the table were delicacies like milk, bread, fruits, and silver spoons. There were even exquisite ornaments, starkly contrasting with the barren snow mountain outside.


    ¡°How can there be such a place in these mountains¡­¡±


    Mantou muttered to himself, observing everywhere but finding nothing unusual.


    ¡°A guest from afar, it¡¯s impolite to come uninvited¡ª¡±


    A clear and beautiful female voice rang out.


    Mantou hurriedly turned around, only to see a girl of about seventeen or eighteen push open the wooden door and enter the main room.


    She had her hair tied in a neat ponytail, holding a steaming cup of tea in her slender hands, with a playful smile on her kind face.


    She placed the hot tea on the table and slyly winked at Mantou.


    ¡°It¡¯s very cold outside, please have some hot tea to warm your stomach first.¡±


    ¡°By the way, my name is Valena, the daughter of the owner of this cabin.¡±


    Mantou felt somewhat flattered, staring blankly at the girl¡¯s beautiful big eyes, nodding repeatedly, and drinking the hot tea. Fortunately, his Red Dragon Bloodline made him immune to heat.


    ¡°Ah, thank you.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m Mantou.¡±


    He hastily placed the tea on the table, answering.


    ¡°Your name is quite¡­ unique.¡±


    Valena smiled sweetly at Mantou until his already somewhat red dragon cheeks turned crimson, even producing steam from his skin¡¯s surface.


    After several failed online relationships, Mantou considered himself rock-solid, not having felt his heart race in a long time¡ª¡±Mom, I¡¯m in love!¡± He didn¡¯t expect to be so unsettled by a beautiful NPC in ¡°Erezer.¡±


    Mantou thought to himself: ¡°Mantou, that¡¯s just a virtual character! How can you be mesmerized by fake beauty! It¡¯s an NPC!¡±


    Valena¡¯s face intentionally showed a puzzled expression.


    ¡°Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?¡±


    ¡°Ah, no, I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Mantou stammered awkwardly.


    Valena burst out laughing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous.¡±


    Her big eyes still looked directly at Mantou.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be nervous. It¡¯s rare for anyone to visit here, and you are the only guest in recent years. I have been looking forward to your arrival for a long time.¡±


    A hint of apology appeared on Valena¡¯s delicate face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to trouble you, but I¡¯ve grown up in this cabin and have never been outside. I can only learn about the outside world through passing travelers.¡±


    ¡°So¡ªcould you tell me about the outside world? Just for a while, okay?¡±


    The girl¡¯s earnest tone made Mantou feel unable to refuse and he couldn¡¯t help but touch his nose.


    ¡°Ah, ah¡­ Of course.¡±


    Mantou was initially a bit nervous, speaking haltingly, but as he drank the tea, his words flowed more smoothly, and a dazed expression appeared on his face.


    ¡°We call this the Kalka Mountains, and south of here is Stormy Ridge, a beautiful place inhabited by ogres, goblins, kobolds, and other residents. Further south is the North, where humans like you have built beautiful cities and work diligently¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh? Cities?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yes, cities, a wonderful place with many, many people living there¡­¡±


    The firewood in the fireplace burned quietly as Mantou and the girl sat on the soft fur sofa, talking all night long.


    As they talked, the girl began relying on Mantou, leaning against him with a look full of admiration and longing.


    ¡°The world you described is truly beautiful¡­¡±


    Mantou¡¯s cheeks burned, not knowing what to do, so he stiffly sat there and changed the subject.


    ¡°Valena, why do you always stay here?¡±


    The girl raised her head, unhesitatingly looking into his eyes: ¡°My father is here, and I want to stay with him.¡±


    ¡°Valena, staying here must be very lonely¡­¡±


    Mantou tenderly stroked the girl¡¯s head, and Valena obediently nestled in his arms.


    ¡°Have another sip of tea, Brother Mantou. Drink it all, then you can tell me the next story.¡±


    The girl murmured softly in his arms.


    Mantou subconsciously complied, picked up the cup, and wanted to drink the tea in one gulp.


    ¡°Mantou! You¡¯ve been hit by an illusion technique!¡±


    ¡°Open your eyes and show me!¡±


    A familiar voice rang out, it was Singo, breaking the rare moment of warmth.


    Mantou woke up as if from a dream, suddenly alert, and threw the glass cup in his hand to the ground, the remaining tea spilling all over.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Mantou was so scared that he collapsed to the ground, retreating on all fours.


    Looking around, he realized this was not a cozy cabin but a cold metallic chamber, even with bloodstains remaining.


    What he held in his arms was indeed a ¡°girl¡± in human form, but it was just part of a monster, stitched onto a twisted, writhing mass of flesh.


    The massive, twisted body was like a faulty creation made of various pieces of flesh. Sparse white scales covered its body but left large patches of exposed flesh, its head with greasy hair hanging down, making it look disgusting and ugly.


    On its back were bat-like wing bones, but the wing membrane was tattered and decayed like a corroded piece of cloth.


    What had been steaming tea on the ground now was an unknown liquid, emitting a mist.


    ¡°Valena¡± seemed unaware of her true form being discovered. The multi-lobed mouth, like a cracked flesh seam, filled with rows of sharp teeth writhing, lips twitching slightly:


    ¡°Big brother, drink it quickly¡­¡±


    ¡°Then you can¡­ continue telling me stories¡­¡±

 Chapter 197 - 123: Fleeing the Famine

    Chapter 197: Chapter 123: Fleeing the Famine


    The monster was still wriggling towards Mantou, and the twisted human form stitched on it reached out an arm towards him:


    ¡°Why¡­ aren¡¯t you talking¡­¡±


    ¡°I still want to¡­ hear a story¡­¡±


    ¡°Valena is so lonely here by herself¡­¡±


    Mantou¡¯s expression was filled not only with fear but also with the heartbreak of another romance gone wrong. It was already bad enough to discover that online love was a fraud in reality, but to be deceived by an illusion in a game world too! S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Indeed, humans are visual creatures, and Mantou was no exception.


    ...


    ¡°Monster, give me back my heartfelt love!¡±


    ¡°Give me back Miss Valena!¡±


    In a fit of rage and sorrow, Mantou drew his Silver Sword from his waist and slashed fiercely at the monster.


    Not far away, Xin Dog also bent his bow and released an arrow that could pierce armor.


    ¡°Clang! Clang!¡±


    With two crisp sounds, sparks flew as both the sword blade and the arrow were deflected by the monster¡¯s tough, thick skin and extremely hard scales, causing no damage at all. The flesh continued to wriggle, and a tentacle covered in slime reached out and wrapped around the Silver Sword, swallowing it whole.


    ¡°Why¡­ do you¡­ hurt me?¡±


    ¡°Mantou¡­ Brother¡­¡±


    ¡°Why does everyone¡­ do this?¡±


    The human-shaped mass of flesh wriggled, changing its voice from a soft, sweet female tone to a low growl, and finally into a cacophony of mixed, shrill voices that sent shivers down Mantou¡¯s spine.


    The mass of flesh squirmed and quivered, transforming into various twisted shapes on the spot.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll just¡­ keep you here forever!¡±


    Xin Dog, seeing that their attacks were ineffective, immediately shouted to Mantou: ¡°Run! Run fast!¡±


    ¡°This thing isn¡¯t something we can defeat!¡±


    ¡°How was I supposed to know¡ª¡±


    Mantou, on the verge of tears, quickly followed Xin Dog, running away in a panic.


    Xin Dog said gravely, ¡°This so-called cabin and girl were all illusions. Luckily, I bought a Potion of True Sight in advance, which lets me see through illusions. Otherwise, you would have died here for sure!¡±


    ¡°That cup of tea was definitely problematic. If you had drunk it, you would have become a slave here completely.¡±


    Mantou looked back at the potion on the ground with lingering fear, then looked around. What he saw were cold metal walls covered in blotchy blood stains, the huge claw marks of unknown creatures, and chaotic, bizarre symbols.


    A moment later, the long-silent monster moved again.


    ¡°Why¡ª¡±


    A chilling, overlapping voice echoed.


    The roar seemed to be produced by many organs vibrating together. In it, Mantou could hear a girl¡¯s call, a frost wolf¡¯s howl, a giant¡¯s bellow, and even the anger-filled roar of a White Dragon. It made both Mantou and Xin Dog shiver in terror, temporarily paralyzing them with fear.


    ¡°That¡¯s Dragon¡¯s Might!¡±


    ¡°This monster is likely of the Dragon Bloodline!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, dragons in this world have such unique tastes. They must be really starving to go after something like this.¡±


    The familiar sense of oppression made Xin Dog¡¯s alarm bells ring.


    But Xin Dog quickly snapped out of it, shaking off the abnormal state. He looked up at the monster, which was closing in and waving its tentacles, then glanced at the terrified Mantou. In an instant, he thought of a solution.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Another dragon roar echoed.


    But this time, it was Xin Dog¡¯s Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge.


    Facing a roar born from Cassius¡¯s strength and possessing a higher essence of Dragon¡¯s Might, the horrifying stitched beast was temporarily stunned, and the flesh tentacles aiming at the two of them momentarily froze in mid-air.


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    Xin Dog slapped the terrified Mantou awake.


    ¡°I can¡¯t hold it for long. The monster is waking up soon. Run!¡±


    Mantou, clutching his slapped-red face, gritted his teeth and took off, fleeing with Xin Dog.


    ¡°Xin Dog, you damn well had a personal vendetta.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I just wake you up? You were nearly making out with that stitched-together mess. Embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°You¡ª¡±


    Mantou¡¯s face darkened instantly, so much so that it could drip water. He wondered whether he should kill Xin Dog to ensure he didn¡¯t leak the shameful incident that could lead to his social death.


    If the scene just now was recorded and posted on a forum, he would lose face and likely become the subject of a classic video like ¡°Swashbuckler and the Old Vampire¡¯s Unspeakable Thirty Seconds,¡± attracting countless viewers.


    ¡°Brother¡ª¡±


    ¡°Come back and stay with me!¡±


    That ¡°sweet¡± voice made Mantou¡¯s hair stand on end and his scalp tingle.


    The monster behind them wriggled closer, its entire body of scales trembling. Luckily, its three-meter-tall body was too large and twisted to move quickly in the narrow passage, with the flesh scraping against the walls.


    This allowed them to widen the distance and escape through a hidden door, narrowly avoiding Valena¡¯s pursuit.


    ¡°Come back!¡±


    At the last moment of their escape, Valena opened her horrifyingly wide mouth, with blood strands linking her jaws. From deep within her throat, a terrifying icy breath erupted. The freezing air instantly condensed the surrounding mist into ice, and even the door they passed through was covered in a thick layer of frost.


    ¡°Phew, phew¡­¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog, you should have just let me die in that false paradise¡­¡±


    Mantou muttered softly as he seemed to savor the previous tenderness but immediately turned sullen when recalling that creature¡¯s true form.


    ¡°What in the world is that thing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your dear Miss Valena.¡±


    Xin Dog taunted in a deliberately saccharine tone.


    ¡°Shut up¡ª¡±


    Mantou¡¯s face turned beet-red, looking utterly dejected. Still reeling from his dashed fantasy of companionship with a beautiful girl, he could hardly come to terms with the reality that the ¡°beauty¡± was a monster stitched from corpse parts.


    Xin Dog rolled his eyes at him in disdain: ¡°You spineless fool, no wonder you¡¯re single.¡±


    ¡°That last breath attack was terrifying. If it hit us, we¡¯d be frozen solid. From what I know, that must be the Bloodline of the White Dragon from the five-colored dragons. White Dragons are known to inhabit the Anzeta Great Wilderness.¡±


    He then observed their surroundings, rubbing his chin thoughtfully: ¡°As for this place, it should be the legendary Polar Night Demon Tower. It¡¯s at least a hundred years old. Supposedly, it contains terrifying beings, with very few survivors ever escaping it.¡±


    Mantou suddenly remembered something and asked: ¡°By the way, where¡¯s War Maniac Bro?¡±


    Xin Dog shook his head: ¡°No idea. We lost him when we encountered those Gnolls. But War Maniac Bro is mentally strong and once crushed a Succubus with sheer will in a previous game. He wouldn¡¯t make such an elementary mistake like you.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s face turned red with frustration, but he was speechless.


    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    Xin Dog patted him on the shoulder and said solemnly: ¡°Mantou, I advise you to take care of yourself.¡±

 Chapter 198 - 124 Valenas Diary

    Chapter 198: Chapter 124 Valena¡¯s Diary


    ¡°Look here, Mantou!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s probably a hidden room here!¡±


    Singo found a concealed door and easily pried off the old lock.


    Mantou complained, ¡°As a warrior, it¡¯s impressive enough that you have perception, but you even developed handy skills?¡±


    Singo replied righteously, ¡°A skilled professional must be versatile. Isn¡¯t that exactly for situations like this? Think about it, if it weren¡¯t for my handy skills, we¡¯d be trapped here.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    ...


    Mantou remained disdainful and was skeptical about the previously mysteriously missing Gold Coin.


    ¡°Enough, no more talking. Let¡¯s move before that monster catches up.¡±


    Singo opened the concealed door and crawled into the narrow tunnel first, followed closely by Mantou. The tunnel echoed with constant shuffling sounds until they finally reached a pitch-black hidden room.


    Singo skillfully took out a spare Glowing Stone to light up the area. The scene before them opened up.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    To their surprise, the hidden room was not that small; it was more than spacious enough for the two of them. The floor was covered with a thick layer of dust, and cobwebs filled the corners, clearly indicating it had been abandoned for years.


    The room was quite well furnished, with a bed, blankets, and a desk all present. On the desk were a few quill pens and yellowing sheets of paper. The walls even had innocent-looking doodles, giving it quite a homely feel.


    Mantou looked at the doodles on the wall.


    Those drawings were rather simple but colorful, depicting a warm family consisting of a man, a woman, and a little girl against the backdrop of a dark tower, some humans in black robes, and terrifying giant dragons.


    The chaotic strokes indicated the little girl¡¯s fear towards those entities.


    ¡°A child¡¯s bedroom.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unimaginable that someone would live in a place like this.¡±


    Mantou sighed.


    ¡°Mantou! Look what I found!¡±


    Singo opened a drawer in the small desk and seemed to have discovered something incredible.


    ¡°What is it? Let me see.¡±


    Mantou leaned in to look and saw a simple diary. It seemed to have been carefully preserved, though time had left some pages decaying and a few roughly torn out. The cover bore prominent letters¡ª¡±Valena¡¯s Diary.¡±


    ¡°Valena¡¯s Diary¡­¡±


    Mantou¡¯s expression instantly became complex, as if a terrible suspicion had arisen in his mind, making him silent while he carefully turned the pages.


    The handwriting inside was clumsy and childish, full of innocence. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°January 3rd, Mom told me to start this, my first diary entry. Dad, as usual, told me to stay silent. Otherwise, those bad people from the Dragon Shaman Cult outside would capture me, and the terrifying Dragon would devour me in one bite. I have always obeyed.¡±


    ¡°January 4th, I stayed in the room quietly. Dad said I was very obedient.¡±


    ¡°January 5th, still in the room. Today, I found a cute animal. Dad said it was a spider. I invited it to eat black bread with me.¡±


    ¡°January 6th, Mom brought me a book called Beautiful Bird. It told the story of a bird family. I liked it very much.¡±


    ¡°January 7th, I read the book in the room. A cute rat accompanied me. I named it Tete as a reward for keeping me company. I let it gnaw on a page.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°February 15th, Dad hasn¡¯t visited for a long time. This time, when he came to see me, I was very happy. He said he would soon defeat the bad people and rescue Mom and me from this tower. We would be together forever like in the stories.¡±


    ¡°February 16th, Dad told me many things. He said he would take me to see the outside world. I was very happy.¡±


    ¡°February 17th, stayed in the room.¡±


    ¡°February 18th, stayed in the room. Food ran out. I¡¯m so hungry.¡±


    ¡°February 22nd, I ate Tete, but I was very sad.¡±


    ¡°February 23rd, Mom finally came back. She brought food but cried a lot. She said she was chosen to be a ¡®sacrifice¡¯ and might never come back. I hugged her tightly for a long time.¡±


    ¡°February 24th, Dad hasn¡¯t been back for a long time.¡±


    ¡°March 17th, Mom celebrated my twelfth birthday. I was very happy. I asked her why Dad hadn¡¯t come back, but she didn¡¯t answer. I saw she was a little sad.¡±


    ¡°July 16th, I really want to see the outside world. I want a friend.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°December 27th, Mom hasn¡¯t been back for seven days. I¡¯m very scared.¡±


    ¡°December 30th, Dad has been gone for a long time, ten months if my watch is right. He finally came back today, but he said Mom was dead. I cried.¡±


    ¡°January 20th, Dad said Mom¡¯s death was worth it, that it was great. I didn¡¯t understand what he was saying, but I was very scared. He seemed like a different person. He used to love Mom.¡±


    ¡°January 21st, stayed in the room trembling.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°September 12th, Dad told me he had defeated the bad people. I asked if we could leave here, but he didn¡¯t answer.¡±


    ¡°September 13th, I was taken out of the room, but Dad still wouldn¡¯t let me leave the tower. I was very angry. To me, this tower was like the prison described in the books, very restrictive.¡±


    ¡°September 14th, a girl named Mary was brought to the tower. She was about my age and very scared. I hoped we could become friends.¡±


    ¡°September 15th, stayed in the tower, but I secretly came back here. This place made me feel very safe. Here, I could remember my old Dad when he still loved me and Mom.¡±


    ¡°September 16th, there were strange noises in the tower, but Dad wouldn¡¯t tell me what they were. Mary was also very scared.¡±


    ¡°October 1st, the noise grew louder. I was very scared.¡±


    ¡°September 16th, Dad was really different from before. I missed Mom and cried for a long time.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the date, Dad told me not to resist. His original words were ¡®to welcome the noble evolution with joy.¡¯ I didn¡¯t understand what he meant, but he scared me more and more.¡±


    ¡°Dad was completely different from before. He would never treat me like this before, never. I was so scared.¡±


    ¡°Mary said Dad was a bad man.¡±


    ¡°Dad wouldn¡¯t let me see Mary. He said she did something wrong and needed to be punished. He said I would see her later.¡±


    ¡°Dad said everything was for my good. If I behaved, I could leave. I thought so too.¡±


    ¡°I would behave.¡±


    ¡°First day, scales grew on me, it hurt a lot.¡±


    ¡°Second day, more scales grew.¡±


    ¡°Third day, spikes grew on my back, it still hurt a lot. But Dad was very happy. He said I was almost successful. Seeing Dad happy made me happy too.¡±


    ¡°Fourth day, I felt like I was becoming a bad person. Dad fed me some meat. He said it was edible, but it felt wrong. My nose became very sensitive, and I seemed to smell¡­ Mary.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Eleventh day, still no changes today. Dad said he was disappointed in me and called me an inferior species, saying I had let him down. I cried a lot. I didn¡¯t know what I did wrong.¡±


    ¡°Twelfth day, Dad said he found a new method.¡±


    ¡°Fourteenth day, Dad replaced my hand with a new one. Though I got used to it, it still hurt a lot. But he told me not to cry, so I held back. I couldn¡¯t make Dad angry anymore.¡±


    ¡°Fifteenth day, I felt a bit odd.¡±


    ¡­


    The following pages were roughly torn out.


    Mantou read it all in one go and couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath.

 Chapter 199 - 124 Polar Night Demon Tower

    Chapter 199: Chapter 124 Polar Night Demon Tower


    ¡°Damn it, beasts!¡±


    ¡°The ¡®father¡¯ in that diary deserves to be executed by dismemberment! And what about the officials? They¡¯re not acting like humans at all, stuffing such perverted plots into the story!¡±


    Mantou was indignant, pounding the table fiercely.


    His eyes betrayed a rare determination. He was resolute in his decision to eliminate that monster and bring peace to Valena, who remained in a state of extreme pain, neither alive nor dead, her will uncontrollable.


    ¡°I will put you to rest, Valena.¡±


    He gently closed the diary and carefully placed it back in its original spot, resolving not to touch it again. It was the last trace of Valena¡¯s humanity and her most cherished possession.


    ...


    ¡°Mantou, you¡¯re still thinking too simplistically.¡±


    Singo frowned and softly said, ¡°We need to be careful. This tower isn¡¯t just home to that poor Miss Valena wandering about; there¡¯s also her ¡®father.¡¯ This guy can transform people into terrifying monsters; he¡¯s not someone to be trifled with.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, War Maniac is missing, which means our team¡¯s combat ability is reduced. With our current strength, escaping this place would be lucky, let alone trying to slay monsters for the people.¡±


    Mantou frowned, ¡°Then what should we do, wait here to die?¡±


    ¡°The server is shutting down soon anyway, and we¡¯ve already maxed out our experience. Losing a bit doesn¡¯t matter. Worst-case scenario, you give me a rune gunpowder bomb, and I¡¯ll trade myself for the tower¡¯s boss.¡±


    Singo was a bit surprised.


    ¡°How did you know I had a rune gunpowder bomb?¡±


    Mantou chuckled, ¡°We all see you hanging around that Mechanical God Cult factory all the time. Who would¡¯ve thought the famous pro gamer would suck up to Crazy Brother like that?¡±


    Singo defended, ¡°Do you even understand what it means to prioritize gaming skills? Acquiring gear through reasonable means, got it?¡±


    ¡°I totally get it.¡±


    ¡°Stop bullshitting. That boss is a high-level Mage.¡±


    The two left the secret room while talking and continued to explore the hidden tower.


    As they entered the passageway, they heard rustling sounds, like gnolls breathing.


    ¡°Sniff, sniff.¡±


    ¡°I smell blood.¡±


    ¡°Where, where?¡±


    ¡°Got new prey, the master will be pleased.¡±


    The deep, hoarse voices conversed.


    Singo immediately pressed Mantou down, silently nocking an arrow, slowly drawing the bowstring, and holding his breath, aiming at the corner of the passage.


    As expected, an ugly gnoll head with saliva dripping from the mouth and sparse white scales appeared.


    Singo instantly locked onto it, and a purple Hunter¡¯s Mark appeared on the gnoll¡¯s forehead. An arrow then broke the air, easily piercing its skull.


    ¡°Howl¡ª¡ª¡±


    The gnoll only managed to let out a howl before collapsing backward.


    Several more gnolls stood behind it. They felt no fear; instead, their murky eyes flashed with a frenzied light as they charged at the two, brandishing their claws and emitting foul-smelling breaths.


    Mantou raised his sword, aiming for their weak points in the fur, and stabbed through the neck of the foremost gnoll. Then he kicked the gnoll¡¯s corpse down and used the momentum to cut down another gnoll.


    Within a few breaths, the patrol team of seven gnolls was annihilated.


    ¡°Huff, huff, it¡¯s those gnolls again.¡±


    Mantou kicked a corpse on the ground, panting heavily.


    Singo rubbed his chin and said, ¡°As I thought, the source of these gnolls is here, the Polar Night Demon Tower. However, these creatures¡¯ Dragonification levels are quite low, far from those transformed monsters; otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have defeated them so easily.¡±


    Singo took a few steps forward, noticing the bones scattered along the corridor. He quickly gave a warning.


    ¡°Not good, let¡¯s go! There are probably many monsters in this tower.¡±


    However, the dying gnolls¡¯ howls had already caused a resonance, stirring the tower¡¯s monsters. Countless sounds of varying pitches and painful wails echoed, and the entire Polar Night Demon Tower seemed to tremble.


    Mantou turned to look behind him.


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    His voice trembled.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Savage Dragonified monsters surged like a flood, gnolls, centaurs, goblins, lizardfolk, and even humans, all transformed into twisted half-dragon forms. But these monsters looked far less natural than the Dragon Vein creatures of the Ashen Kingdom.


    ¡ª¡ªSparse white scales covered their bodies, tumors and warts protruded everywhere, some even grew extra limbs and heads, and their mouths drooled corrosive saliva. Most of them had frenzied eyes, clearly having lost their sanity long ago.


    Singo summarized:


    ¡°My guess was right, this place is essentially a¡ª¡ªlaboratory.¡±


    ¡°We were lured here on purpose.¡±


    ¡°The controller behind this Polar Night Demon Tower is probably that Mage!¡±


    Mantou listened intently when a Half-Dragon Goblin crawled over from behind, pouncing on Mantou and biting at his neck with sharp teeth. Luckily, Mantou wore plate armor, which the goblin couldn¡¯t penetrate in time. He took the chance to decapitate it with his sword.


    But even with its head pierced, the headless, frenzied Dragon Vein Goblin continued to attack wildly, one claw gripping the plate armor and the other clawing Mantou¡¯s arm, leaving bloody marks. It took several breaths for it to stop moving.


    ¡°Damn it! This monster is so crazy! Won¡¯t let go even after dying?¡±


    ¡°Stop fighting them and run!¡±


    Singo and Mantou sprinted along the bone-ridden corridor, finally reaching the end, where they faced a massive iron door.


    Mantou urged, ¡°Hurry and unlock it, Xin Dog!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush me, you try it if you can¡ª¡ª¡±


    But Singo was also struggling; the door lock wasn¡¯t the simplest type, and he wasn¡¯t proficient in the thief occupation, far from Handy level.


    The Dragonified centaurs were almost upon them.


    Unlike regular centaurs, these creatures, affected by the White Dragon Bloodline, had lower bodies resembling terrifying lizards instead of horses. Their tails drooped behind them, and the surface of their scales was covered in sticky fluids. Their upper bodies looked like life-drained corpses, gaunt and frail.


    Suddenly, the iron door swung open.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    A battle axe swung through the doorway, cutting a Dragonified centaur behind Mantou in half.


    The severed lizard body twitched and crawled chaotically on the ground, like a headless fly, before finally dying out. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mantou and Singo seized the chance to dart through the iron door, using their bodies to slam it shut.


    They glanced at the familiar face in front of them and were overjoyed.


    ¡°War Maniac Bro!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you guys for ages. These monsters are tough to kill.¡±


    Natural War Maniac grinned, rubbing his smooth head.


    The trio, separated earlier in a Dragonified gnoll chase, finally reunited.

 Chapter 200 - 125 Soul-Devouring Pot

    Chapter 200: Chapter 125 Soul-Devouring Pot


    The cold wind howled, and sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, casting a blinding glow over the white ice field.


    The mountains rose and fell in dramatic waves, shrouded in layers of shadow. Within their depths stood a pitch-black high tower, its sharp spires like straight claws reaching toward the sky, as if about to tear through the heavens, evoking a deep sense of dread.


    This was the Polar Night Demon Tower.


    At this moment, Mantou and his two companions were at the very bottom of the Demon Tower.


    The Natural War Maniac led them into the depths of a secret chamber and activated a mechanism.


    ¡°I fought my way here and found this thing.¡±


    ...


    It was a strange jug. The rim was adorned with a ferocious dragon head, and from the jug came countless wails and moans, as if numerous souls were trapped inside, struggling in agony, accompanied by a deeply concealed laughter.


    Singo carefully observed the jug, seemingly trying to discern its secrets.


    ¡°This thing feels familiar¡­¡±


    Mantou stepped forward and said, ¡°This is clearly some kind of magic artifact. It might even be a Soul-Refining Banner or something. You guys stand back; I¡¯ll take it and study it.¡±


    Singo suddenly remembered something and hurriedly stopped him: ¡°Wait¡ª¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    By then, Mantou had already placed his hands on the jug and turned his head to look at Singo in confusion.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong, why are you so nervous?¡±


    But in the next moment, his eyes rolled back, then transformed into eerie vertical pupils, filled with a fanatical glow.


    A spectral figure emerged from the jug and rushed into Mantou¡¯s nose and mouth.


    Soul-Devouring Pot


    This was the infamous Sixth-Tier Necromancy Spell. The Magic Pot served as a vessel for souls. Once someone touched the jug, the souls within would possess the individual, seizing control of their body and trapping their soul within the vessel. The possessed soul could perceive the environment through its own senses but was unable to move or take any action.


    ¡°Mantou¡± looked down, touching his body, his claws caressing every scale and muscle of the half-dragon, an expression of utter enchantment appearing on his face.


    ¡°Ah, what a beautifully exquisite body.¡±


    ¡°Perfect, with no side effects¡ªa flawless fusion of the Red Dragon¡¯s flame and strength. In nearly a century of experimentation, I¡¯ve never had such a perfect specimen. Thankfully, I left a sliver of my soul here, just in case of these despicable thieves.¡±


    Singo asked coldly: ¡°You¡¯re not him. Who are you?¡±


    The Natural War Maniac gripped his battle axe tightly, his arms trembling with bulging veins, ready to enter a frenzy at any moment.


    They both knew Mantou had likely been possessed by a boss.


    But at this moment, ¡°Mantou¡± was engrossed in his new vessel, oblivious to them, marveling as though he were reciting poetry: ¡°What immense strength. If my guess is correct, this body¡¯s owner¡ªthis Red Dragon¡ªis an even greater creation. It¡¯s utterly fascinating.¡±


    Only then did he notice the two people in front of him.


    Although still Mantou¡¯s face, the red vertical pupils fixed on the two of them made their hairs stand on end.


    ¡°Ah, two more valuable specimens. Today is truly a bountiful day.¡±


    The entity occupying Mantou¡¯s body slightly bowed, politely.


    ¡°Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am a wizard, an artist, and a follower of dragons. You may call me by the name I had as a mortal¡ªVagnard.


    ¡°We should be spending a lot of time together from now on.¡±


    Vagnard smiled, a chilling smile that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine.


    Dragon Fan Black Wizard Vagnard, once a mortal captured by the Dragon Shaman Cult, had gone completely mad after witnessing his wife being eaten as a sacrifice.


    He pursued dragon strength at any cost, turned his own daughter into a monster, and kept countless dragonified monsters in the tower, even a genuine White Dragon.


    Unlike the Dragon Shaman Cult, which worshipped evil dragons as deities, Vagnard revered only the dragons¡¯ power. For this power, he created powerful spells to trap giant dragons and did not hesitate to experiment recklessly on his beloved daughter, treating her as a lowly specimen.


    ¡°Oh? Wait, my dear experiment is questioning me?¡±


    ¡°Did not expect someone with Red Dragon blood to speak like this.¡±


    Vagnard brought the jug closer to his ear, attentively listening.


    Mantou¡¯s soul inside was furiously cursing, calling him a beast who experimented on his own daughter.


    As a player, Mantou, whose body had been taken, felt anger but not fear, knowing he could revive. At worst, he would lose some experience points and start again.


    ¡°You beast! How could you do this to your own daughter, you should be¡­¡±


    Hearing Mantou¡¯s curses, Vagnard laughed lightly.


    ¡°You mean my daughter?¡±


    ¡°I loved her dearly. I poured the best of everything into her, but her lowly heritage disappointed me.¡±


    ¡°She refused to accept the great evolution, and I had no choice but to replace her arms, her torso, her legs¡­ with the finest dragonified organs.


    ¡°Look at those scales, that surging dragon blood, those powerful muscles. Is this not far stronger than her fragile original form? She is now my most pleasing work, more perfect than all my previous creations.¡±


    As he spoke, Vagnard¡¯s tone grew more obsessive.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    Seizing Vagnard¡¯s moment of distraction, Singo launched a surprise attack, marking Vagnard¡¯s head with the Hunter¡¯s Mark, followed by a swift arrow.


    But a pitch-black spell force field appeared around Vagnard, effortlessly reducing the arrow to dust.


    ¡°This is your companion¡¯s body.¡±


    ¡°If my soul division dissipates, his body will also die. Your companion will be eternally trapped in the Magic Pot.¡±


    The Natural War Maniac roared in fury, charging up with a fierce slash of his battle axe.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t care about the original host¡¯s life? How interesting.¡±


    Vagnard¡¯s eyes gleamed playfully, injected with fear energy, turning them into vacant, deep black holes.


    Heart-Capturing Gaze


    Black light flickered.


    The Natural War Maniac, having met his gaze, fell into a deep sleep, lying on the cold ground.


    Singo was also struck by the spell before he could react.


    A needle with an inbuilt trigger jabbed into his neck, abruptly waking him from the induced slumber.


    It was a device he had specially commissioned from the Mechanical God Cult, designed to wake him automatically if it detected he had fallen into unconsciousness.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°What an interesting little thing.¡±


    Vagnard grinned, his eyes flashing with scarlet spell radiance again.


    Domination of Humans


    His lips moved silently, but the command was issued. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Singo instantly felt a powerful spiritual force taking control of him, offering no room for resistance.


    Even though this was merely a sliver of the Black Wizard¡¯s soul, the immense mental strength accumulated over a century was as deep as an abyss, leaving the novice player powerless to fight back.

 Chapter 201 - 126 The Red Dragons Gaze

    Chapter 201: Chapter 126 The Red Dragon¡¯s Gaze


    Chains of mind control flew out from Vagnard, binding Singo¡¯s soul tightly.


    His eyes were hollow and lifeless, with an eerie dark red glow replacing the light in his pupils. His movements were as stiff as a marionette¡¯s, entranced.


    Vagnard chuckled softly, issuing commands with his will.


    ¡°Come here¡±


    Just a simple command, but the overwhelming mental force poured through the chains into Singo¡¯s brain. His body moved unconsciously, walking lightly to Vagnard¡¯s side.


    He stroked Singo¡¯s scaly arm, marveling:


    ...


    ¡°Truly¡­ an artistic creation.¡±


    ¡°The perfect blend of scales and muscle¡ªI¡¯ve only seen this on actual giant dragons. How have I never created such a masterpiece?¡±


    ¡°Move him over here¡±


    Vagnard effortlessly gave the command.


    Singo, like a puppet, followed the order, lifting the unconscious War Maniac and bringing him back to Vagnard.


    Vagnard led them forward, with the Soul-Devouring Pot containing Mantou¡¯s soul floating beside them. Heavy iron doors swung open automatically as they approached, bringing them to a platform adorned with dragon scales.


    Complex gravity spell runes caused the platform to ascend layer by layer.


    At each level, grotesque monsters felt the tremors and erupted into a cacophony of roars, shaking and crashing against their cages. But Vagnard paid them no mind; to him, they were insignificant failures.


    Finally, they reached the highest level of the Black Tower, Vagnard¡¯s most cherished laboratory¡ªthe Land of the Demon Dragon.


    Everywhere lay broken scales, dismembered limbs, and the floor was almost entirely covered in thick blood. Blood-splattered instruments, shattered syringes, and sharp implements were scattered about.


    Vagnard took a deep breath, as if savoring the rich scent of blood in the air.


    ¡°Secure him¡±


    Singo, under control, strapped the War Maniac to a metal table.


    Vagnard meticulously examined the War Maniac¡¯s robust frame. His fervent eyes seemed to penetrate scales and skin to see every intricate structure, even the blood vessels coursing with thick blood.


    ¡°Indeed¡­¡±


    ¡°It is the Red Dragon¡¯s power. The purest Dragon Blood flows through this humanoid creature.¡±


    ¡°Why do they not experience rejection? I have experimented dozens of times, and even the hardy body of a Frost Giant could not endure White Dragon blood; it would just disintegrate entirely. How could this most volatile, most repellent Red Dragon Bloodline be any different?¡±


    ¡°And these organs¡ªdragon heads perfectly fused with human bodies. Even my greatest creation, Valena, was just a stitched product. They naturally transform¡­¡±


    Reluctantly, Vagnard tore his gaze from the War Maniac and looked into the distance.


    His eyes pierced through the cold, thick metal walls, the layers of mountains, and the vast Stormy Ridge, focusing on the enormous Red Dragon in its lair, a fervent light glinting in them.


    ¡°Cassius Klaubow Norixius, a mutant Red Dragon who rose abruptly within a decade. You must harbor many secrets.¡±


    ¡°You interest me more and more.¡±


    ¡­


    In Northwind Castle¡¯s Council Hall.


    Cassius was experimenting with spells when the Heavenly Calamity Dragon Eye floating beside him suddenly reacted.


    Broken snippets of scenes appeared in his vision¡ªplayers battling gnolls, a mysterious and dangerous tower, eerie stitched monsters, finally freezing on a pair of fanatical eyes.


    ¡ª This was the unique ability of the Heavenly Calamity Dragon Eye, ¡°Past Eye Sight¡±.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Cassius immediately recognized the Mantou he had been watching closely. But those eyes were definitely not a player¡¯s, and ¡°Mantou¡¯s¡± eyes sparkled with layers of high-tier magical aurora.


    ¡°Black Tower, monsters, spells¡­¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s Vagnard. He even possesses players and dares to blatantly spy on me!¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What a reckless madman.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s mouth curved into a cold smile.


    In his previous life, Vagnard was notorious, especially for turning his own daughter into a monster and conducting numerous inhumane experiments in secret, inciting the collective wrath of players.


    The players united, ultimately sacrificing countless lives to blow this ¡°Dragon Fan Black Wizard¡± to pieces.


    Being targeted by this lunatic was extremely troublesome, and Vagnard, being not only a senior mage but also adept in maneuvering against dragons, was something Cassius did not fear but preferred to avoid entangling with.


    Once offended, it must be eradicated root and branch.


    He wouldn¡¯t gamble on the consequences of letting a high-rank mage run free.


    Cassius exhaled a puff of sulfurous smoke and decided to teach him a lesson first, before settling other scores.


    ¡°Heh, since you like to spy¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then let you enjoy it!¡±


    The Red Dragon raised his head slightly, meeting the gaze from hundreds of miles away, a sinister smile on his face, golden pupils gleaming with a breathtaking magical aurora.


    Since he was already affiliated with the Dragon Queen, he could afford to be a bit more unrestrained.


    Sixth Tier Spell¡ª


    ¡°Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion¡±


    The illusion traversed the Stormy Ridge, pierced through layers of mountains, and instantly appeared before Vagnard in the tower, presenting itself to his eyes.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    With a thunderous dragon¡¯s roar, a nightmare-like amalgamation appeared before Vagnard. Colossal dragon limbs supported a monstrous dragon body, five writhing necks and heads sprouting from it, each corresponding to a color dragon.


    The five-headed evil dragon spread its wings, obscuring the sky, and looked down at Vagnard with an unspeakable terror in its gaze.


    ¡°Tiamat, it¡¯s Tiamat!¡±


    ¡°Five-Colored Dragon Queen, Evil Dragon Queen, Tiamat!¡±


    Vagnard trembled all over, exclaiming in shock.


    The trembling of his body stemmed not just from fear but also from excitement and agitation.


    ¡°How¡­ magnificent¡­¡±


    Vagnard¡¯s face flushed red, his speech even slurred.


    He had pursued the power of dragons for centuries, and the legendary Evil Dragon Queen, progenitor of all colored dragons, Tiamat, was undoubtedly the pinnacle of that power, the illusionary light of his life.


    Being a mere shard of his soul, he naturally couldn¡¯t discern the illusion¡¯s reality. In extreme fear and excitement, he instinctively regarded this ¡°Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion¡± as a True God¡¯s descent.


    Yet, with his intellect, how could he not guess that this was due to peeking at the Red Dragon?


    The five-colored evil dragons in the sky looked down coldly at the earth. Fire, ice, acid, lightning, and poison spewed from the five hideous heads, delivering the god of evil dragons¡¯ punishment.


    ¡°To witness Tiamat¡¯s magnificent form and feel this unparalleled power in person, my existence has no regrets.¡±


    ¡°You are indeed special¡­¡±


    ¡°Red Dragon.¡±


    Vagnard murmured, looking up to the sky.


    The next moment, the dazzling breaths frenziedly washed over his soul, effortlessly obliterating this wisp of soul fragment completely.


    Yet, the soul fragment, with its dying strength, cast a spell sending a faint stream of information to the main body.

 Chapter 202 - 127: The Awakened Player

    Chapter 202: Chapter 127: The Awakened Player


    ¡°Where the hell am I?¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t I subjected to a control spell?¡±


    Xin Dog suddenly jolted awake. He first checked his body and, finding no injuries, then looked around the surroundings.


    What he saw was a wrecked experiment site, strewn with chunks of flesh and remains. The floor was covered in thick blood, even submerging his ankles.


    In front of him was a heavy metallic bed, stained with blood, where Natural War Maniac was firmly fixed.


    He then looked warily beside him.


    ...


    The body belonging to Mantou was already lying in the pool of blood, silent like a dead corpse.


    Xin Dog felt a bit puzzled again. The mage who had possessed Mantou had easily dealt with the three of them and was in his own lair without encountering any enemies. How could he have suddenly disappeared?


    ¡°Did that ¡®Vagnard¡¯ vanish?¡±


    ¡°Did the spell terminate, or is there some other reason?¡±


    A blurred figure seemed to float out of the Soul-Devouring Pot and enter the body.


    Xin Dog gasped,


    ¡°Mantou?¡±


    The body belonging to Mantou first had fingers that slightly twitched, then opened its eyes. Supporting itself with its arms, it struggled to sit up in the pool of blood.


    ¡°This place is so disgusting. Why is it so sticky?¡±


    Mantou complained with a look of disdain.


    However, when he lifted his head, he saw Xin Dog drawing a bowstring with an armor-piercing arrow aimed at his forehead.


    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s me, Mantou!¡±


    Xin Dog was unmoved, his tone icy,


    ¡°How can I be sure you are Mantou and not something else? You have to pass my test first, or I¡¯ll shoot you with one arrow.¡±


    Mantou cursed in frustration, ¡°Xin Dog, are you crazy? What kind of NPC has the same charismatic style as me?¡±


    But the sharp arrowhead pressed against his forehead, making Mantou break into a cold sweat.


    Mantou raised his hands in a French salute, on the verge of tears.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll answer.¡±


    Xin Dog looked down at him coldly and said, ¡°What¡¯s Mantou¡¯s most-viewed video?¡±


    ¡°¡®Swashbuckler and the Old Vampire¡¯s Unspeakable Thirty Seconds.¡¯


    ¡°How many times has Mantou failed at online dating?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, three times.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the name of Mantou¡¯s mount?¡±


    ¡°Noodle.¡±


    ¡°How many gold coins has Mantou stolen from me?¡±


    ¡°Fifteen, when you were asleep¡ªwait, damn it, Xin Dog, you¡¯re tricking me!¡±


    Mantou jumped up in shock, suddenly realizing the so-called ¡°test¡± was just Xin Dog¡¯s trap.


    ¡°Very good, you passed the test, Mantou.¡±


    ¡°But about those stolen gold coins¡­¡±


    Xin Dog spoke slowly, with a cold smile on his face, still holding the drawn bow aimed at Mantou¡¯s forehead. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I¡¯ll work for you to pay it back, alright? Please, stop this.¡±


    Seeing the situation was bad, Mantou pleaded earnestly.


    Xin Dog finally put away his weapon and seriously asked, ¡°What was it like in the pot? Do you know what happened just now?¡±


    Mantou thought for a moment and then said, ¡°It felt very strange. I could perceive the environment from inside the container but couldn¡¯t move at all. I had to watch helplessly as he used my body to control you. But it was kind of satisfying, like I was personally bullying you, haha.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Xin Dog ignored his personal feelings and continued, ¡°What did he say? Why did he disappear?¡±


    Mantou was suddenly enraged, ¡°That guy is a beast. Not only did he use Miss Valena as a test subject, but he also wanted to use us all as his samples. Fortunately, he suddenly vanished without a trace.¡±


    Xin Dog rubbed his chin, feeling puzzled.


    ¡°Are you saying he just vanished?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t he say anything before he left?¡±


    Mantou scratched his head and thought for a moment, then said hesitantly, ¡°The perception from inside the pot wasn¡¯t very clear, and I was busy talking, but¡­ I think I heard him mention our faction leader¡¯s name.¡±


    ¡°Cassius.¡±


    Xin Dog¡¯s eyes brightened with excitement, ¡°So Vagnard is indeed a boss related to the main quest. Tasks related to that Red Dragon are significant. We might be in luck this time again.¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog, hurry and save War Maniac Bro first.¡±


    ¡°If War Maniac Bro dies, it¡¯s all your fault.¡±


    Only then did Xin Dog remember that Natural War Maniac was still tied to the metallic bed. He quickly walked up and used thief tools to pry open the metal shackles on his hands, then injected a stimulant into Natural War Maniac¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Ugh¡ª¡±


    ¡°Where are we? Wasn¡¯t I in a battle?¡±


    Natural War Maniac opened his eyes and struggled to get up from the metallic bed, looking confused. Instinctively, he reached for his battle axe at his waist, but found it empty.


    Seeing him awake, Mantou hurried over to help.


    Natural War Maniac looked at Mantou¡¯s familiar face, and his face instantly flushed with anger, still immersed in the previous fight.


    His veins bulged as he swung a fist, roaring in rage,


    ¡°Monster! Get off Mantou!¡±


    The barbarian, with 18 points of strength, hit Mantou¡¯s face with a fist the size of a fist.


    ¡°Bam!¡±


    A dull thud was heard, and Mantou¡¯s face immediately deformed dramatically, his face turning a mix of red, purple, and green.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but scream in pain.


    He was seeing stars and almost lost consciousness again.


    Natural War Maniac wanted to land another punch but was quickly stopped by Xin Dog.


    ¡°Why are you stopping me, Xin Dog? I¡¯m going to kill that beast!¡±


    ¡°Fight! Thrill!¡±


    ¡°Haa¡ª¡±


    Mantou finally regained his senses. Holding his rapidly swelling face, he said quickly in a high-pitched voice, ¡°War Maniac Bro, hold on!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me! It¡¯s really me, Mantou!¡±


    He pointed to his face, crying out.


    Xin Dog also explained, ¡°The boss just possessed Mantou. You were under a spell and fell asleep. Be careful not to kill Mantou by mistake.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Natural War Maniac quickly dropped his fist, touched his shiny bald head, and blushed slightly.


    ¡°Uh, sorry, Mantou. I mistook you for the boss. Are you okay? I¡¯ll compensate you with a healing potion back in town later.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m okay.¡±


    Mantou wanted to cry, but his face was already as swollen as a steamed bun.


    Xin Dog, somewhat gloating, said, ¡°War Maniac, don¡¯t worry about Mantou, as long as he¡¯s not dead. We happened to stumble into a hidden dungeon, so let¡¯s explore it properly.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Hidden dungeon?¡±


    ¡°There must be some powerful enemies then.¡±


    Natural War Maniac¡¯s eyes were suddenly filled with battle spirit, the excitement unique to professional gamers on his face. He was, after all, a man who had single-handedly fought the Star Leviathan!


    Mantou was still rubbing his injured face, letting out a miserable wail,


    ¡°My handsome face¡ª¡±

 Chapter 203 - 128: Five-headed dragon monster

    Chapter 203: Chapter 128: Five-headed dragon monster


    Singo took out the flashlight and kept moving forward. Cold iron doors appeared in front of him. From behind some of them came eerie roars, painful howls, and even the sound of claws scraping against steel.


    ¡°There must be quite a few monsters here, let¡¯s pick a quieter one and go in to take a look.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The Natural War Maniac found the door with the least movement and cautiously unlocked it before pushing it open.


    Mantou followed closely behind, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.


    This laboratory felt like a forsaken corner of the world, filled with the scent of blood and death. There was hardly any light, only the weak candle flame on Mantou flickering, illuminating the small area around them. The cold gleam of the experimental instruments made everyone shudder.


    ...


    Mantou raised the torch and whispered,


    ¡°I think I heard¡­ breathing.¡±


    The Natural War Maniac gripped the battle axe tighter and stepped forward, listening closely. Sure enough, he heard faint airflow.


    He looked into the depths of the dark laboratory, as if something there was rising and falling.


    ¡°Get ready for battle.¡±


    But it seemed something here had detected their presence. A row of dragon-head torches suddenly ignited, casting a haunting blue light that illuminated the entire laboratory. A colossal figure in the shadows revealed its true form.


    ¡ªA nearly six-meter-long body, with five lizard-like grotesque heads stitched onto a body that seemed to be pieced together from different creatures, with even the stitches visible.


    That skeletal, almost skin-and-bone body was covered with sparse white scales, revealing large patches of wrinkled skin.


    In front of it were shattered bones and chunks of flesh, blood-stained surgical knives, silver needles, and saws, emitting a foul odor.


    The monster¡¯s limbs were tightly bound to a metal platform, rusted iron shackles making it unable to move or break free. Each of its heads had its eyes closed, and its enormous body rose and fell, clearly in a state of deep sleep.


    ¡°Wha¡­ What the hell is this?¡±


    Mantou was pale with fright, the physiological disgust brought on by the monster was one thing, but the white scales evoked some unpleasant memories for him.


    ¡°Look at this.¡±


    Singo stepped forward and discovered a small plaque with inscriptions in front of the metal bed.


    ¡°Number 66: [Five-Headed Dragon Monster]¡±


    ¡°This work is dedicated to the great Five-Colored Dragon Queen.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, this is a failed creation. The filthy bloodline has not been purified by the noble Dragon Blood. It lacks intelligence and doesn¡¯t even deserve to be called a Dragon species. Tiamat, forgive my blasphemy for creating this wretched imitation¡ªVagnard, December 1, Third Era 1387¡±


    Mantou patted his chest, still feeling frightened: ¡°It¡¯s another one of that old man¡¯s monsters. Luckily, it¡¯s still bound up, doesn¡¯t seem to have any¡­ illusion techniques or anything like that.¡±


    Singo sneered, ¡°Ha ha.¡±


    The Natural War Maniac was puzzled, rubbing his bald head: ¡°Did you guys encounter any illusory realm before? Why don¡¯t I know about it?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡ª¡±


    Before Singo could speak, Mantou dashed forward, covering his mouth with his hand, and forced out a smile,


    ¡°No, no, nothing happened at all.¡±


    However, he was too anxious and stepped on a scattered surgical knife, making a crisp clanging sound.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Roar¡­¡±


    A low, raspy growl rose, not loud but extremely grating, as if resonating with the air.


    Mantou turned pale at once, cold sweat dripping down his face as he turned around.


    He saw the monster¡¯s ten eyes open simultaneously, the elongated necks writhing uneasily. The skull-like gaunt heads were full of greed, with thick saliva dripping from their mouths.


    Since its creation, it had been abandoned by Vagnard, and had not eaten for who knows how many years. The ¡°humans¡± before it were undoubtedly a feast, making it drool with anticipation.


    Mantou stammered, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s trapped here. There¡¯s no way it can get out.¡±


    But before he finished speaking, the shackles began to make creaking noises, with the metal platform shaking violently along with the monster¡¯s body.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    A crisp sound rang out.


    The five-headed dragon monster¡¯s desire to eat had become uncontrollable. It struggled continuously, its skeletal frame bursting with unimaginable strength, actually breaking those rusty metal shackles.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The five heads shook themselves, and the monster raised its heads, letting out an angry roar.


    Immediately, five greedy, fiery gazes turned to Mantou and the others, with corrosive spittle dripping to the ground, creating holes in the surface.


    Singo glared at the monster, gritting his teeth, ¡°Mantou, I should have let War Maniac beat you to death earlier!¡±


    Mantou, crying without tears, retreated: ¡°How was I supposed to know it would wake up so easily? This thing has terrible sleep quality!¡±


    ¡°Get out of the way, let me handle it!¡±


    The Natural War Maniac unhesitatingly stood in front, gripping his battle axe and confronting the monster head-on. But without Summer Night Autumn Rain and lacking spells to boost them, even he could not single-handedly take on such a terrifying creature.


    [Five-Headed Dragon Monster]


    Challenge Level: 8 (3600 XP)


    ¡°Damn, this is tricky.¡±


    Singo spat, quickly took off the hunting longbow from his back, drew it, and aimed at the five-headed dragon monster. A purple Hunter¡¯s Mark appeared on the monster.


    ¡°Hrah¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Natural War Maniac let out a war cry, stomping the ground.


    His eyes turned red, steam rose from his body, and he entered a frenzied state, charging at the five-headed dragon monster with his battle axe.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The dragon monster roared hoarsely, its eyes gleaming with joy at the food delivered to its doorstep. It didn¡¯t expect these ¡°small fry¡± to rush forward unafraid of death.


    ¡°Frenzied Strike!¡±


    The Natural War Maniac leaped high with his battle axe, aiming for one of the dragon monster¡¯s necks.


    ¡°Clang!¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sparks flew as the axe struck the scales exactly.


    The Berserker¡¯s strength, even through the scales, made the dragon monster feel intense pain, its flesh battered.


    The five-headed dragon monster roared, twisting its massive body. Two of its heads on the side extended, occupying the warrior¡¯s view, launching a bite attack from above.


    If those sharp fangs pierced flesh, even the tough-skinned, thick-skinned Natural War Maniac would be impaled and killed instantly.


    Singo, observing from afar, shouted,


    ¡°Mantou!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming, War Maniac Bro!¡±


    Mantou seized the moment, charging from the side, stabbing his sword into the exposed skin of the five-headed dragon monster.


    ¡°Actions Like Tides!¡±


    He activated the warrior¡¯s ability, moving with incredible speed, making his arm nearly a blur as he slashed multiple times, carving bloody wounds on the monster.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    It howled in pain, raising its heads to the sky.


    But the dragon monster had five heads, and soon three heads targeted Mantou, sending giant claws stomping repeatedly.


    Despite using Actions Like Tides, Mantou struggled to avoid the relentless attacks, dodging and weaving like a grasshopper, utterly unable to retaliate.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    And the Natural War Maniac received special attention, taking a direct hit from the mighty tail, sent flying several meters. He rolled over a dozen times on the ground before crashing heavily into the wall.

 Chapter 204 - 129: Battle in the Tower

    Chapter 204: Chapter 129: Battle in the Tower


    Natural War Maniac had already crawled up from the ground, waving his battle axe, roaring as he charged at the five-headed dragon monster.


    ¡°Ugly beast!¡±


    ¡°Your War Maniac grandpa is here!¡±


    He hacked away at a menacing head that came at him and slashed at the long neck, but once again, another head slammed him away.


    Mantou scrambled to roll left, avoiding the monster¡¯s bloodthirsty jaws, but still screamed as the splattering goo burned him.


    ¡°This thing¡¯s head is definitely stitched-on from a bipedal wyvern. I¡¯m way too familiar with this corrosive stuff.¡±


    ...


    Dodging another heavy stomp, he turned to the distant Xin Dog and couldn¡¯t help but curse:


    ¡°Damn, do something!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fighting for my life here with War Maniac Bro, Xin Dog, stop slacking off!¡±


    Xin Dog observed the chaotic battle from afar, Mantou and Natural War Maniac were completely suppressed by the five-headed dragon monster, and he couldn¡¯t find the perfect moment to strike.


    This five-headed dragon monster had thick skin and scales; arrows wouldn¡¯t cause enough damage unless they hit vital spots.


    ¡°Without spellcasters, dealing with such a monster is really tough.¡±


    Xin Dog waited for a moment, seeing the monster¡¯s five heads lift up simultaneously, exposing their vulnerable throats, his eyes lit up.


    He immediately shouted:


    ¡°Mantou, now!¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Give me a Dragon¡¯s Roar!¡±


    Xin Dog had already used up his Dragon¡¯s Roar charges for the day and was in recovery. But as a fellow Red Scale Conqueror, Mantou could also unleash a Dragon¡¯s Roar, though its effect was much weaker without the resonance from a wyvern mount.


    ¡°Damn, you¡¯re giving commands now.¡±


    ¡°You think this is Pok¨¦mon or what?¡±


    Mantou grumbled internally but didn¡¯t dare pause. Instinctively, he opened his mouth wide and activated the skill instantly.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    With the activation of Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge, a thunderous roar erupted from Mantou¡¯s throat.


    That sound was akin to the roar of a red dragon, and the resulting force from Cassius¡¯s strength made the five-headed dragon monster feel an immense bloodline pressure, freezing it in place with its heads held high.


    Xin Dog pulled out a gleaming black arrow from his quiver, etched with crack-like patterns.


    He drew his hunting longbow fully, aiming with just his right eye, and released the string within a single breath.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡ª¡±


    The arrow¡¯s head split the air with a piercing whistle.


    That special arrow suddenly split into three mid-air, dispersing in different directions to pierce the throats of three heads of the dragon monster.


    The arrows tore through the thinner, unscaled skin of the throats, directly puncturing the filthy blood vessels and embedding deep into the grotesque heads.


    The Hunter¡¯s Mark glowed faintly, with the spell¡¯s power continuously tearing the already severe wounds, thoroughly shredding flesh and bone.


    Blood sprayed out.


    Three blood falls appeared in mid-air.


    The three grotesque heads of the dragon monster struggled in mid-air, flailing back and forth before hanging limp.


    Though this five-headed dragon monster was a stitched-together creature, each head had its own will, but their nerves had long been linked by Vagnard¡¯s spell, and pain was shared.


    With three heads hit by the splitting arrows, the remaining two felt intense pain and immediately let out agonized howls.


    ¡°Aaargh¡ª¡ª¡±


    Then, a horrifying scene unfolded: the remaining two heads bit off the dead ones, opened their mouths to a grotesque extent, and with a gulp, swallowed one of their own dead heads whole, even wanting to eat the next one.


    The monster¡¯s consciousness had been replaced by a greedy desire to feed, rendering it irrational, enough to consume ¡°itself¡± as food¡ªbut clearly, this did provide valuable energy.


    Xin Dog wanted to shoot another arrow while the monster fed, aiming to kill it in one shot, but his hand found an empty quiver.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but curse aloud.


    His seemingly ample arrows were exhausted mid-battle!


    Mantou and Natural War Maniac came charging from the sides, but the monster¡¯s thick tail swept them away, sending them both flying.


    The twin-headed dragon monster swallowed a mouthful of blood with a gulp, then lifted its head, locking its eyes on Xin Dog afar, a cunning gleam in its murky eyes¡ªit possessed a beast¡¯s primal wisdom.


    The monster slightly opened its mouth, and cold air emerged from its throat.


    Xin Dog recognized the scene, recalling something, and urgently warned:


    ¡°It¡¯s frost breath!¡±


    The two heads of the monster simultaneously spewed forth frost-white breath, which covered everything in frost, even forming solid ice.


    Being hit by such a frost breath would likely turn one into an ice sculpture, losing life, and wasting the hard-earned dungeon opportunity!


    ¡°Run!¡±


    Without hesitation, Xin Dog said.


    Frost chased him like a spreading road at visible speed.


    Mantou and Natural War Maniac saw this and quickly got up, following Xin Dog¡¯s footsteps out the door¡ªthey weren¡¯t in good shape either, running out of means, so they could only flee.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The dragon monster¡¯s two heads raised and roared, clawing at the door, smashing the surrounding walls with its massive body.


    ¡°We have to shake it off!¡±


    ¡°Or we¡¯ll be frozen and eaten eventually!¡±


    Mantou shouted anxiously, feeling his back chilling already.


    The monster¡¯s claws and fangs swung in the air, barely missing the desperate Mantou several times.


    Xin Dog saw the long hallway ahead, noticing a huge hole, over ten meters high, in a distant wall.


    Different from the surrounding laboratories, this passage seemed to lead to the tower¡¯s core, to Vagnard¡¯s largest experiment lab.


    Xin Dog gritted his teeth and said:


    ¡°Let¡¯s bet! We go straight in!¡±


    Mantou narrowly dodged the frost breath, shouting hurriedly, ¡°Okay, your call, don¡¯t screw us over!¡±


    ¡°Three, two, one.¡±


    ¡°Go!¡±


    At the moment they reached the passage, the three made a sharp turn, avoiding the monster¡¯s claws, and slipped into the dark, deep hole.


    The monster instinctively wanted to pursue but froze at the entrance, seeing something frightening, retreated.


    It stayed clinging at the entrance, growling threats at the players inside.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Panting, Mantou bent over, still taunting outside: ¡°Ugly thing!¡±


    ¡°Come in if you¡¯ve got the guts!¡±


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    The twin-headed dragon monster outside roared angrily with a furious face but remained fearful, not daring to step into the passage.

 Chapter 205 - 130: The Bound White Dragon

    Chapter 205: Chapter 130: The Bound White Dragon


    Mantou looked at the furious double-headed dragon monster outside the cave entrance and showed a sly smile, not caring if the monster could understand Common Tongue.


    ¡°Hehe, I love seeing you this mad, yet unable to touch me.¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to eat me?¡±


    But Singo ignored the monster directly. He frowned slightly and said to the Natural War Maniac beside him,


    ¡°War Maniac, do you feel it? That monster¡­ it¡¯s afraid.¡±


    ¡°In the current situation, we can call it borrowing power to do evil. We are the fox, so where¡¯s the tiger behind us?¡±


    ...


    The Natural War Maniac nodded solemnly and hesitated,


    ¡°You¡¯re saying¡­ there might be an even more terrifying existence in this tunnel, one that even this dragon monster wouldn¡¯t dare to approach.


    That¡¯s definitely not something we can defeat.¡±


    Singo gazed into the deep tunnel and revealed an extremely excited smile, ¡°However, extreme risks often come with extreme rewards. We¡¯ve come this far, dare to take the gamble?¡±


    The Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head and laughed, ¡°Couldn¡¯t ask for more.¡±


    ¡°Mantou, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Mantou, who was still verbally attacking the double-headed dragon monster, snapped back to reality with an ¡°Oh¡± and followed along.


    The tunnel was still made of black metal, reflecting a cold glow under the flickering candlelight, impossible for ordinary creatures to break through.


    Yet the three saw deep claw marks all over the metallic walls, each several meters long, with dense indentations where teeth had bitten in, and even places where entire sections of the wall had been dented several feet deep, leaving craters nearly five meters in diameter.


    The floor was scattered with dried blood and broken white scales.


    It¡¯s hard to imagine what kind of monstrous battle occurred here.


    Singo walked ahead, turned his head, and spoke in a trembling, excited voice.


    ¡°Guys, if I¡¯m not mistaken, there might be a dragon locked up in here!¡±


    ¡°Hiss¡ª¡±


    Mantou gasped.


    He said nothing more and ran back to gather the scattered scales, counted them meticulously, then returned joyously, full of glee from the harvest.


    ¡°Why are you all looking at me?¡±


    ¡°These are rare materials, fallen off a dragon! If you don¡¯t want them, plenty of people will. I¡¯ll sell them to that bunch of idiots for magic coins; I¡¯ll make a fortune.¡±


    Singo sighed, face-palming lightly.


    ¡°Alright¡­¡±


    ¡°Now we need to discuss a strategy. Just based on us little four-level critters, how do we face¡ªa dragon?¡±


    The air turned silent.


    Mantou stammered, ¡°How about¡­ we just head back?¡±


    After all, since the beta test, players had only one reference point for dragons¡ªRed Dragon Cassius.


    This familiar leader¡¯s performance during the Triel Conference could only be described as ¡°exaggerated.¡± His catastrophic fire tornado easily incinerated an army of tens of thousands. Videos of that war were even posted online, with bullet comments reading ¡°Budget on fire¡± flooding the screen. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And in the recently concluded ¡°Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise,¡± this Red Dragon showed overwhelming power again, creating a black storm that covered half of the Vaar Glacier and almost single-handedly destroyed the Frost Giant Tribe.


    Low-level professionals like them were merely insignificant digits in the face of such beings.


    However, the Natural War Maniac laughed heartily, ¡°We¡¯re already here; even if it means death, we¡¯ve got to witness it.¡±


    Singo turned to look at Mantou and taunted, ¡°If you¡¯re scared, feel free to head home.¡±


    Mantou knew this was provocation, but still snorted, ¡°Let¡¯s go, whoever doesn¡¯t dare is a coward.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The three walked deeper inside.


    The further they went, the more they felt an invisible pressure.


    That pressure was unavoidable, the very essence of Dragon Vein Magic from deep in their bloodline, causing a shudder from the soul.


    Dragon.


    Only a True Dragon could exert such a degree of suppression on lower beings.


    As if feeling the group¡¯s approach, a repressed growl echoed down the tunnel. The sound was hoarse, seemingly from deep within the throat, carrying an indescribable chill that sent goosebumps all over.


    Singo broke into a cold sweat, but still managed to maintain his composure.


    ¡°Keep moving.¡±


    ¡°It should be right ahead.¡±


    They entered a spacious opening, and the scene before them suddenly expanded.


    Mantou¡¯s eyes widened, and he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    ¡°It¡¯s really¡­¡±


    ¡°A dragon.¡±


    In the broad hall that spanned several hundred meters, a white dragon was coiled in the center.


    Its entire body was covered in shimmering white scales. Its enormous body, nearly fifteen meters long, was exceptionally robust, with a short neck and a thick tail.


    The dragon¡¯s head had smooth contours, featuring a small, sharp beak-like nose, a pronounced jawline, a crown supported by backward-curving spines, scaly cheeks, spiky rags, and several teeth sticking out when its mouth was closed.


    ¡ªThis was a typical White Dragon, the weakest of the five-colored dragons, but still a creature that countless mortals looked up to, capable of bringing disaster to an entire northern town.


    At this moment, however, the White Dragon looked extremely pitiful. It was lying on a complex array and tightly bound by numerous ethereal magic chains, unable to move an inch. Dozens of needle tubes pierced through the gaps in its scales and deeply embedded in various parts of its body, continuously drawing its precious dragon blood into instruments.


    The immense dragon¡¯s body was riddled with scars. Hundreds of scales on its side were torn off, the flesh underneath roughly gouged out, leaving several deep pits bleeding crimson blood.


    The ground was littered with all kinds of experimental instruments¡ªknives, needles, bone saws¡ªall clearly tested on this White Dragon.


    But even under such torture, the White Dragon retained incredible vitality. Although in a state of slumber, its heart¡¯s deep thumping echoed in the hall, and the chilling breath emitted from its long breaths numbed their scalps.


    Mantou tiptoed closer carefully, spotting a metal plate standing in front of the White Dragon.


    Unlike the others they had seen before, this metal plate had vicious bite marks, mottled bloodstains, and broken cracks. Though patched up, it was still placed there.


    Number 1: [White Dragon ¡°Tiniya¡±]


    ¡°She¡¯s so beautiful¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m enamored with her slumbering form, even more with her frenzied struggle. Without the spell¡¯s restraint, those claws and fangs would surely tear me to pieces.¡±


    ¡°Ah, she¡¯s the most perfect specimen, leading me to the path of great evolution, a White Dragon with a trace of ancestral lineage. ¡ªVagnard, January 1, 1346, Third Era¡±

 Chapter 206 - 206: 131. Vagnard

    Chapter 206: 131. Vagnard


    Mantou, learning from last time¡¯s lesson, quietly retreated and whispered:


    ¡°What should we do?¡±


    Singo rubbed his chin, analyzing the situation.


    ¡°It seems¡­ this White Dragon is trapped by Vagnard and used as an experimental subject. The monsters we¡¯ve seen earlier probably all stem from this White Dragon¡¯s bloodline, you could even say they¡¯re its offspring.¡±


    The Natural War Maniac pointed to the transparent container connected by hundreds of pipes and said:


    ¡°That should be the Dragon¡¯s True Blood.¡±


    ...


    It¡¯s important to know that for native dragons, only their Dragon¡¯s True Blood can create Dragon Vein Creatures. It¡¯s a precious product that they condense all their magical energy to transport through their unique blood vessels.


    But Vagnard inserted nearly a hundred pipes into the base blood vessels, greedily draining the True Blood from this White Dragon.


    Singo stared intently at the sleeping White Dragon, suddenly grinning. He turned to Mantou beside him and said, ¡°Mantou, interested in¡­ destroying that old beast¡¯s century-old collection, or even releasing this White Dragon to cause trouble for that bastard who¡¯s using his own daughter for experiments?¡±


    Mantou, already excited about it, eagerly replied, ¡°Absolutely!¡±


    ¡°Here you go!¡±


    Singo rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a few round metallic balls and handing them to Mantou, then turned to the Natural War Maniac and said:


    ¡°War Maniac Bro, smash that blood vat for me!¡±


    ¡°On it!¡±


    The Natural War Maniac wielded his battle axe with all his might and struck the transparent container.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The container was fortified with magic runes, far more robust than ordinary glass. But under the Barbarian¡¯s repeated blows, first, tiny white dots appeared on the container¡¯s side, then turned into radiating cracks, which grew larger and larger until the container shattered completely, and the magic-element-infused Dragon Blood gushed out.


    Singo hurriedly stepped forward and filled several pre-prepared bottles with the Dragon Blood, then allowed the precious True Blood to overflow onto the ground.


    The Natural War Maniac continued smashing those hair-raising experimental instruments, using pure strength to turn those meticulously tuned devices into a wreck.


    The slumbering White Dragon was finally awakened by the commotion caused by the players.


    It opened its eyes and slowly struggled to rise. The magical chains binding it shook violently, and the pipes inserted into its body swayed along. The magic circle beneath it flickered with intense spell radiance, but ultimately, it tied the White Dragon down again, forcing it to lie back down.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The White Dragon¡¯s struggle ended in failure once more as it turned its head.


    Its vertical pupils fixated on the players before it, revealing a long-suppressed frenzy in its eyes.


    Mantou was startled by those icy eyes and instinctively raised his hand in a mock military salute, reciting hastily, ¡°Don¡¯t eat me, Brother Dragon, no, Sister.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a Dragonborn, just here to smash some stuff and annoy that old pervert. We¡¯re on the same side.¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The White Dragon didn¡¯t respond, only letting out a raging roar. Its enormous body struggled again, its scales almost standing on end.


    But its gaze wasn¡¯t on the players; it was staring at a spot behind them¡ªa carved, sinister dragon-head altar.


    Singo realized the roar wasn¡¯t aimed at the players but something behind them.


    He quickly led the group to hide aside, peeking out carefully¡ª


    They saw ripples in the space, followed by a pair of menacing claws tearing the space open, creating jagged cracks.


    A man emerged from the dark void.


    He wore a black robe, his face shrouded in some kind of fog, and there was a rusty medal on his chest, embossed with flames burning on a dragon claw, surrounded by eyeballs.


    The man, or rather Vagnard, let out a sinister laugh.


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m back.¡±


    ¡°Long time no see, my dear ¡®Sleeping Beauty¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    The White Dragon¡¯s vertical pupils were filled with fury. If looks could kill, it would have devoured the distant robed man whole. The White Dragon let out suppressed, rasping growls, its enormous body struggling violently, thrashing and constantly clashing against its restraints, ignoring the deep bloody marks left behind.


    The robed man didn¡¯t care, saying indulgently:


    ¡°Haha, all these years, you still love to throw tantrums.¡±


    He chuckled softly and raised his hand slightly.


    The [Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle] beneath the White Dragon emitted shocking magical aurora, countless new chains rose from the ground, wrapping around the White Dragon¡¯s bruised and battered body. The magical chains were solid like never before, tangling tighter and tighter, almost wrapping the White Dragon entirely.


    The White Dragon¡¯s scales were crushed, even its bones creaked under the pressure.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Its head drooped, neck weakly pressed against the ground, and a mournful cry echoed from its throat.


    Vagnard calmly walked forward, gently stroking the small, sharp beak-like protrusion on the White Dragon¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Tiniya, my most precious specimen, are you finally willing to surrender willingly?¡±


    At that moment, the White Dragon, which had just been on the verge of death, suddenly erupted, straining its neck to its fullest and opening its jaws wide to bite the robed man.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    However, it bit down with all its might and snapped at the empty air, the collision of its interlocking teeth producing a crisp ¡°clack.¡±


    The White Dragon¡¯s mouth was left with only a cloud of blurry mist.


    And Vagnard had already reappeared dozens of meters away.


    He laughed manically, clapping his hands repeatedly and trembling with excitement:


    ¡°Haha, hahaha!¡±


    ¡°Excellent! That¡¯s right. This is the dragon I adore. I love watching you struggle desperately, it¡¯s¡ªso beautiful! Just like when that Red Dragon devoured Catherine over a century ago, that scene etched deeply in my mind, unparalleled by any artwork, unforgettable forever.¡±


    ¡°Come on, use all your strength to tear me apart! It would be best if you could devour me alive!¡±


    ¡°I will cheer, revel in ecstasy for it!¡±


    Vagnard spread his arms wide toward the White Dragon, like a zealot in a pilgrimage, while the White Dragon continued smashing against the magic circle¡¯s restraints, eyes brimming with immense hatred, relentlessly trying to attack Vagnard.


    The scene looked rather bizarre.


    Mantou, hiding in the shadows, couldn¡¯t help but feel a shiver down his spine, thinking: ¡°This guy¡­ is a pure madman!¡±


    As if sensing something, Vagnard¡¯s tone paused.


    ¡°But before we enjoy some happy moments, let¡¯s deal with the little rats that have broken in.¡±


    ¡°Such naughty little beings, messing up my home.¡±


    The voice had a hint of gritted teeth.

 Chapter 207 - 132 Dragon Shifting

    Chapter 207: Chapter 132 Dragon Shifting


    Vagnard¡¯s eyes turned into a black corridor lined with teeth. His gaze was like an abyss, drawing people into a bottomless chasm.


    It was the same sixth-tier spell that had instantly killed the Natural War Maniac.


    [Heart-Capturing Gaze]


    Mantou recognized this spell and, afraid someone might fall for it again, hurriedly shouted:


    ¡°Get away! Don¡¯t look him in the eye!¡±


    The three players quickly and without hesitation dodged in different directions, not giving Vagnard any chance to cast the spell.


    ...


    ¡°Oh? It seems you¡¯ve met my soul division.¡±


    Vagnard seemed a bit surprised, then nonchalantly tapped the Dragon Shaman Cult emblem on his chest.


    As his knuckles lightly tapped it, flickering ethereal waves spread out rapidly like ripples, leaving nowhere to hide.


    The ethereal light eventually formed a massive emblem on the ground, resembling a single eye, enveloping everyone within.


    [Mark of Fear]


    It was yet another sixth-tier spell!


    The three caught within the spell¡¯s range immediately fell into an extreme state of terror, as if seeing something unimaginably horrifying. Their bodies, which had been fleeing in panic, froze in place, trembling uncontrollably.


    ¡°Come out, my faithful hounds. Bring these guys to me.¡±


    ¡°I smell dragon blood.¡±


    Vagnard snapped his fingers.


    Under the spell¡¯s influence, several iron cages around them suddenly opened, and from the darkness came a cacophony of barks, mixed with the imposing tones of a dragon¡¯s roar.


    Several dragonized hound demons, about five to six meters long, darted out of the darkness. Drool hung from their mouths, their tongues lolled to the side, and their jagged teeth were as sharp as knives. Their triangular eyes glowed with a wildness and uncontrollable power.


    Their bodies were solid and muscular, their skin covered with sparse scales stained with blood, exuding a nauseating stench.


    ¡°My dear pets haven¡¯t eaten in such a long time.¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯ll have to wait until I¡¯m done studying them. Only then will I reward them with the leftover scraps. Such good specimens mustn¡¯t be wasted.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Vagnard, ignoring the sticky fluid covering their bodies, affectionately stroked the ferocious creatures. Leaning close to one dragonized hound demon¡¯s ear, he whispered in fluent Draconic:


    ¡°Capture them alive.¡±


    ¡°Aroo¡ªhowl!¡±


    The dragonized hound demons let out excitable howls.


    Receiving their orders, they went wild, flashing their teeth, drooling, their fur and scales standing on end. Their blood-red eyes focused on the three players, who had just managed to break free from their panic, and chased them relentlessly.


    Vagnard remained behind, ¡°kindly¡± reminding them:


    ¡°Make sure the specimens stay alive. Missing an arm or a leg is normal, though.¡±


    ¡°Go.¡±


    Hearing his words, the dragonized hound demons grew even more excited, charging forward with feral yelps, as if they intended to tear everything to pieces.


    Mantou ran desperately, but two legs were no match for four. A hound demon sprang like a spring, leaping over fifty meters and pinning him to the ground. Its foul breath, mixed with thick drool, sprayed onto his face, making his scalp tingle.


    ¡°Damn, what the hell is this thing?¡±


    On the other side, Singo dodged left and right, rolling repeatedly and narrowly avoiding the hound demon¡¯s attacks.


    But soon, two more hound demons surrounded him from different directions, forcing him to stay still, fearing they might rip off his limbs if he tried to resist.


    ¡°Arrrgh¡ª¡±


    The Natural War Maniac let out a furious shout, forcefully prying apart the massive claws of the hound demon.


    But the hound demon simply snorted, its taut muscles bulging slightly. The sheer weight of several tons pressed down, instantly pinning the Natural War Maniac to the ground, leaving him no room to resist.


    The dragonized hound demons carried the players back to Vagnard from different directions, looking fiercely satisfied.


    Vagnard scrutinized the players before him.


    ¡°Excellent, very good.¡±


    ¡°The information from my soul division was correct. So, it really is the Red Dragon¡¯s bloodline. It indeed is different!¡±


    He stared into Mantou¡¯s eyes, speaking each word clearly:


    ¡°Tell me, what happened to my soul division I left here before it died?¡±


    Mantou, however, kept his eyes closed, refusing to look at him.


    ¡°Now¡¯s the time!¡±


    Singo shouted from a distance.


    In one hand, he pulled the pin of a shock grenade he had prepared in advance. The strong vibration and flash of light disoriented even the hound demons.


    Singo seized the opportunity to break free of the hound demon¡¯s restraints, throwing a syringe filled with Dragon¡¯s True Blood like a dart directly at Mantou.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The sharp needle pierced the skin, injecting the liquid into his body. The blood containing a sliver of Ancestral Dragon power merged with his veins, fusing with the original Red Dragon bloodline, causing an intense reaction.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    Mantou threw his head back, letting out an enraged roar.


    Perhaps due to the player¡¯s digitized body, perhaps due to Cassius¡¯s unique Bloodline Gift, the previously incompatible Red Dragon and White Dragon bloodlines didn¡¯t reject each other. Instead, they blended together, their draconic essence rapidly evolving, generating immense power.


    Dozens of messages refreshed on Mantou¡¯s interface.


    [You have accepted the special item [Diluted Ancestral Dragon True Blood]]


    [Your [Dragon Bloodline] has been enhanced]


    [You have gained a bloodline transcendence effect]


    [You have gained the special ability: [Dragon Shifting]]


    [At the cost of your life, you can transform into a [Young Dragon Form], lasting three minutes]


    [Note: When you respawn, you will revert to your original form and need to consume life again to unlock this form]


    Mantou¡¯s entire body underwent a dramatic transformation. The immense bloodline power wantonly altered his physique, his once upright body shifting to move on all fours. A tail extended from his coccyx, the bones in his back protruding until they pierced through the skin, forming fresh, bloody wing membranes.


    At this moment, consuming all his vitality and undergoing a bloodline transcendence, he became an actual young dragon.


    The dragonified Mantou let out an immature roar, thinking to himself: ¡°Damn, I¡¯m invincible now!¡±


    The newly transformed young dragon twisted its body. The overwhelming draconic power allowed him to easily escape from the confused hound demon¡¯s grasp.


    ¡°Rua!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve become a dragon!¡±


    ¡°Die, you old bastard who experimented on your own daughter!¡±


    The young dragon Mantou clumsily flapped his wings, aggressively charging at the black-robed mage with claws bared.


    Vagnard merely lifted his head slightly. As if seeing a priceless treasure, he remained rooted in place, forgetting to dodge.


    ¡°Finally found it¡­¡±


    ¡°Such a perfect masterpiece¡­¡±


    ¡°I must have it.¡±


    He stared vacantly at the charging Mantou, muttering to himself. His tone was filled with extreme obsession and fervor, enough to send chills down one¡¯s spine.

 Chapter 208 - 133: Self-Destruction

    Chapter 208: Chapter 133: Self-Destruction


    Just as Mantou was about to pounce on him, Vagnard still didn¡¯t react. He even started to chuckle.


    ¡°Hahaha, hahaha!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve finally found the perfect experimental subject!¡±


    That nearly inhuman face, covered in white scales, emerged from beneath the hood, looking especially horrifying.


    Vagnard gently lifted his hand. A faint red Spell Radiance flashed in his murky eyes, and that power was transmitted through his fingertips to the target.


    [Mind Remote Control]


    ...


    The dragonling that Mantou had transformed into was controlled by that powerful telekinesis, coming to a halt in midair.


    Though it temporarily possessed the Red Dragon¡¯s strength, after all, it was just a young dragon, about the size of a horse. It didn¡¯t have the power to resist this mighty spell and could only struggle and twist in the air, continuously spewing flames and filthy curses from its throat.


    ¡°Old beast, when I get out, I¡¯m going to sew your mouth to your **!¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I ******!¡±


    Vagnard gave no response to this, acting as if he hadn¡¯t heard. He simply stared obsessively at that dragon body.


    His focus wasn¡¯t on Mantou, but on the body that had perfectly absorbed the dragon bloodline, which intoxicated him immensely.


    ¡°From my awakening up to now, it has been over a hundred years, with 36,714 experiments.¡±


    ¡°Never has there been such a perfect product.¡±


    ¡°This is the will of the world. It, it will grant me the greatest evolution!¡±


    Vagnard¡¯s voice trembled, like a zealot witnessing a miracle. His gaze at Mantou grew greedier, as if he wanted to suck out its marrow and devour it alive.


    ¡°Come on, child, resist.¡±


    ¡°Look at this fascinating strength, like a true giant dragon.¡±


    ¡°I will discover your secrets and turn you into nourishment for my great evolution.¡±


    Mantou noticed Vagnard¡¯s gaze and felt his hair stand on end. At that moment, he finally understood Swashbuckler¡¯s feeling of being ¡°targeted¡± by a pure old pervert.


    Singo reminded from afar: ¡°Mantou! Don¡¯t forget what I gave you!¡±


    Only then did Mantou remember that he had the rune gunpowder bomb!


    Just as Vagnard thought victory was in his grasp, standing unguarded in front of him.


    Such a good opportunity, how could he miss it!


    Mantou gritted his teeth, fumbled out the rune gunpowder bomb in mid-air, and screamed hysterically:


    ¡°Damn it, I can¡¯t take it anymore. I¡¯ll blow up with you, beast!¡±


    ¡°Rua! Activate backup hidden energy!¡±


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    Vagnard immediately sensed danger, but before he could stop it, Mantou triggered the bomb, causing a direct explosion.


    A few oddly shaped metal balls were instantly triggered, their engraved runes flashing brilliantly.


    With a deafening sound, a massive fireball formed in mid-air. The intense explosion engulfed Mantou, Vagnard, the Hound Demon, and others in hot flames. The resulting dust cloud shrouded most of the laboratory.


    The smoke slowly dispersed.


    A huge pit had been blown open in the ground. If not for the sufficiently thick floor designed to trap dragons, the explosion might have pierced the tower, causing the ground to collapse to the level below.


    The young dragon Mantou had transformed into was blown to pieces, lying in the ruins.


    The Hound Demon behind him was also turned into a heap of charred meat by the powerful bomb.


    But the black-robed man still stood in place, even standing on air. An orb-shaped shield surrounded him, flashing with Magical Aura.


    That was the classic permanent spell combination of a High Rank Archmage, [Trigger Spell] chained to [Orthluck Elastic Sphere], effectively granting them an extra life, making them difficult to harm with ordinary ambush tactics.


    ¡°As expected of a mage boss, it¡¯s not so simple, huh¡­¡±


    Singo murmured as he stared at the unharmed mage.


    But at this moment, Vagnard¡¯s hideous and ugly face didn¡¯t show any relief from escaping an ambush. Instead, it twisted in anger, his eyes blood red, veins bulging on his forehead, nearly losing his sanity.


    ¡°Damn, damn it!¡±


    ¡°Why do you resist! I need a living experimental subject!¡±


    ¡°I will find his secrets!¡±


    ¡°No, no, there¡¯s still a chance. He still has companions. As long as I capture them alive¡ª¡±


    Vagnard hurriedly turned his head, intending to cast a spell to seize the two.


    Only to see the two players holding rune gunpowder bombs that had already been activated and were beeping in their arms.


    Singo grinned ferociously at Vagnard, not forgetting to mock:


    ¡°Does it feel good to be bombed, old beast!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re inviting you to a fireworks show!¡±


    Vagnard extended a finger, releasing a green ray, shouting anxiously:


    ¡°Stop it!¡±


    That was the Sixth Tier spell [Disintegrate], capable of disassembling inanimate matter. If the ray touched the rune gunpowder bombs, they would instantly disintegrate into mere fragments.


    But his spell was a step too late.


    The moment that green ray was released, the two had already transformed into brilliant fireballs, along with the explosion of the rune gunpowder bombs, turning to ashes and giving Vagnard no chance. They even destroyed the surrounding experimental equipment.


    ¡°Damn, damn it all.¡±


    ¡°I, I will find a more perfect sample!¡±


    Vagnard slumped to the ground, his body trembling under the black robe, as if he had fallen into madness.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    At this moment, a roar came from the distance. The White Dragon struggled violently, and the chains entwining its body loosened slightly.


    The successive self-detonations of the three players had destroyed part of the [Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle] on the ground, giving the White Dragon a bit of a chance to escape. Imprisoned for a hundred years, it couldn¡¯t wait to seize this precious opportunity, struggling with all its strength to shake this dreadful Array.


    Vagnard¡¯s face was ashen, his expression incomparably hideous, wildly pounding the ground with dull thudding sounds.


    ¡°Tiniya, even you¡­ you want to resist me?¡±


    ¡°Why, why are you all unwilling to sacrifice for my great evolution!¡±


    ¡°Catherine was like this, Valena was like this, those intruders were like this, and even you are the same!¡±


    After venting wildly, Vagnard¡¯s expression gradually turned indifferent. He slowly climbed up from the ground, coldly watching the White Dragon struggling like a trapped beast.


    ¡°It seems, I have to give you a little punishment.¡±


    The black-robed mage lightly raised his hand, and countless hideous, scaled and distorted limbs rose from the ground.


    ¡°Howl¡ª¡ª¡±


    The cold wind howled through the Kalka Mountains, snowflakes falling.


    Snow covered the undulating mountains.


    In the deepest part of those mountains, inside the black tower known as the ¡°Polar Night Demon Tower,¡± a terrifying roar once again resounded, incessantly echoing. If noticed by a passerby, it would undoubtedly give rise to countless terrifying legends.

 Chapter 209 - 134 Checking the Gains

    Chapter 209: Chapter 134 Checking the Gains


    A few hours later, as tiny particles of light gathered, the three were resurrected together in Northwind Castle.


    This ancient teleportation circle was heavily guarded, with Mezulash assigning the most elite and reliable Tiefling soldiers to its protection. They were well aware of these ¡°Starfallen¡¯s¡± miraculous abilities, including their ¡°resurrection.¡± As long as the players didn¡¯t break any rules, the soldiers would turn a blind eye.


    As experienced ¡°public servants,¡± Mantou and Singo were already familiar with the soldiers guarding the respawn point.


    ¡°Yo, Kailon, you¡¯re on duty today?¡±


    The Tiefling guard called ¡°Kailon¡± nodded politely in response.


    ¡°All good, another normal day, no strange Starfallen.¡± Kailon thought to himself.


    ...


    He was relieved to encounter normal players. You never knew what you might see here¡ªlast time, a player walked out of the array in broad daylight completely naked, indifferent to the Tiefling¡¯s lack of ¡°Holy Light¡± as they paraded their unclothed body. It was an eyesore!


    Whenever he recalled that scene, his hand holding the spear would tremble slightly.


    If not for the rules, he would¡¯ve loved to stab that indecent fellow to death.


    Yet again, light particles gathered within the circle, forming an unconstrained, shamelessly naked body in midair. It symbolized humanity¡¯s primal pursuit of freedom, contorting the Tiefling guard¡¯s expression into a grimace.


    The player still had the familiar ID¡ª[Wings of Freedom], a figure revered by many beta testers as Holy Light Bro.


    Due to the special nature of the Druid¡¯s wild form, Holy Light Bro often charged into the front lines of various battles as a giant bear. Death was a routine matter for him, which led to his one-sided acquaintance with the guards stationed there.


    ¡°I heard the NPCs here are highly intelligent, forming good relationships with them might be beneficial,¡± he thought.


    Thus, the stark-naked Holy Light Bro ¡°amicably¡± waved at the guard.


    ¡°Yo, it¡¯s you again. Long time no see.¡±


    Kailon¡¯s face immediately darkened, and his expression twisted with gritted teeth. To him, this was a blatant provocation, in the literal sense.


    ¡°Restrain, must not stab him to death.¡±


    ¡°But this Starfallen, he truly deserved to die¡ª¡± The Tiefling guard thought as he gripped his spear so tightly his hands trembled, watching Holy Light Bro scratch his head in confusion from a distance.


    ¡­..


    Mantou and the others couldn¡¯t wait to return to their temporary base and start tallying their spoils.


    Due to death penalties, Mantou, who had accumulated less experience, dropped directly to level three, while Singo and Natural War Maniac barely managed to stay at level four.


    But these penalties didn¡¯t bother them much.


    After all, they were professional gamers participating in high-level battles, far superior to most average players who just coasted along.


    At the moment, Mantou¡¯s backpack was already filled with precious White Dragon Scales. His panel showed the trait [Thin Ancestral Dragon Bloodline], with his base attributes significantly boosted, and he even gained the unprecedented [Dragon Shifting] ability.


    He had also received a hidden quest reward.


    Hidden Quest: [Explore the Polar Night Demon Tower]


    Investigate the truth behind the Polar Night Demon Tower (1/1)


    This tower, located deep within the Kalka Mountains, was one of the haunting legends of the North. Many adventurers sought its treasures, but they all became fodder for the tower¡¯s monsters, sometimes transformed into half-human, half-dragon creatures that roamed the tower, wailing miserably.


    Reward: 1000xp


    Passive Trait: [Black Tower Explorer]


    Proficient Skills: Insight +1, Investigation +1, Perception +1 Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mantou was elated, his face full of harvest joy.


    ¡°Whoa, we¡¯ve hit the jackpot this time!¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his shiny bald head: ¡°Ha, it wasn¡¯t a wasted death, especially for Mantou, who made a killing.¡±


    Singo suddenly reminded, ¡°Hasn¡¯t it been a while since you updated your video?¡±


    ¡°Ah, update?¡±


    ¡°I almost forgot¡ªI¡¯ve been so busy gaming. The last update was¡­ a month ago?¡±


    Mantou smacked his forehead and chuckled awkwardly.


    He could already imagine the barrage of comments like ¡°Lock Mantou in a small black room¡± and ¡°Send razor blades¡± from his fans, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.


    What was wrong with that?


    He was just a creator who wanted to game freely!


    Singo patted his shoulder and said calmly, ¡°This dungeon run is great material, you can show off your new ability.¡±


    Mantou asked in surprise, ¡°Do it now? You don¡¯t want to hog the dungeon resources?¡±


    Singo said helplessly, ¡°I have some self-awareness; this dungeon¡¯s difficulty is beyond us. The NPC intelligence in this game is ridiculously high, almost like real life. We got lucky this time, but next time, if that Mage is prepared with all his high-level spells, we¡¯ll be easily taken out.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll edit it tonight.¡±


    Mantou scratched his head, speaking nonchalantly.


    He then realized that the hand patting his shoulder remained there, squeezing harder and causing pain.


    Singo murmured, ¡°Do you remember those fifteen Gold Coins?¡±


    ¡°Come on, no hitting below the belt!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back!¡±


    ¡­


    After going bankrupt to pay off his debt, tearfully pawning all his Dragon Scales to Singo, Mantou finally escaped the clutches and stayed up late to edit the video.


    He uploaded the video at three in the morning, giving it a clickbait title.


    Mysterious Black Tower Howls at Night, Who¡¯s the Culprit? Beastly Mage Transforming His Own Daughter, Is It a Twist of Humanity or Moral Decay?¡ªAll in ¡°Elzegai Diary, Issue 8: Explore the Polar Night Demon Tower.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s previous video had amassed a lot of views, attracting nearly 100,000 curious players on top of his old fans. Though he hadn¡¯t updated in a while, the moment he released the video, fans and intrigued newcomers immediately clicked on it.


    ¡°The truly missing person returns!¡±


    ¡°Mantou finally resurrected?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a month! Do you know how long I¡¯ve been waiting?¡±


    ¡°People, calm down. Let me clarify: Mantou isn¡¯t dead, he was just locked in a small black room and tortured by me. I just let him out after having my fill, just so you know.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, the previous guy is such a weirdo.¡±


    ¡°Mantou is dead, burn paper if necessary, call his soul for small matters, dig up his grave for big ones, if you see him again, he must be resurrected.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s mischievous face appeared on the screen once more.


    ¡°Welcome to the long-awaited ¡®Elzegai Diary,¡¯ Issue 8, I¡¯m Mantou.¡±

 Chapter 210 - 135 Erezer Diary

    Chapter 210: Chapter 135 Erezer Diary


    ¡°Ahaha, everyone, long time no see! I¡¯ve been busy gathering material to give you all better videos, so I haven¡¯t updated in a while. Sorry to keep you waiting.¡±


    Mantou had an awkward smile on his face in the video.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you! Dog author, take this!¡±


    ¡°Even though it¡¯s a bit outdated, I still have to say this: the king of heaven covers the tiger, Mantou¡¯s charisma is five!¡±


    ¡°The blades have already been sent, please sign for them.¡±


    ¡°Why did I see you riding a wyvern and slacking off in someone else¡¯s video every day?¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    Then Mantou immediately got into character, his tone becoming generous and passionate, somewhat like a storyteller slamming the table: ¡°Mysterious Black Tower hears howls in the night. Who is behind the scenes causing trouble? A mage transforms his own daughter; is it a twist of humanity or a loss of morality?¡±


    ¡°Are you playing awkward?¡±


    The camera switched to Mantou¡¯s first-person perspective.


    The video was edited by Mantou from his personal experiences, with post-production voiceovers added. It was mainly a casual chat and banter.


    The content started with their encounter with the dragonified gnolls. The three-man team displayed their individual skills, cooperating to kill several monsters. However, overwhelmed by the gnolls calling for reinforcements and sheer numbers, they had to flee in a panic, accompanied by Mantou¡¯s rising and falling voice-over.


    ¡°Watch closely here. I fought three gnolls alone, cut down two with one sword, and scared off another with my strong presence, saving Xin Dog from danger once again. I stood with my sword, surrounded by dozens of gnolls that dared not approach me. This must be the demeanor of a master from martial arts novels¡­ But the enemy numbers were overwhelming, and my teammates couldn¡¯t keep up with my pace. Even with my strength, I had no choice but to make a strategic retreat.¡±


    The bullet comments were full of roasts.


    ¡°Adding extra stuff secretly, huh?¡±


    ¡°What about Autumn Rain? If she¡¯s not there, I¡¯ll unfollow.¡±


    ¡°What kind of master stands with a sword and gasps for breath?¡±


    The scene changed to Mantou meeting the snow house girl. She kindly offered Mantou a cup of hot tea, but the scene of Mantou being tricked was secretly deleted by someone. The image switched, and the girl revealed her disguise, turning into a terrifying monster. Special post-editing techniques were used here, overlapping the hideous dragonified monster and the clean girl, switching back and forth between the cold metal chamber and the cozy wooden house.


    In the end, Mantou and Singo luckily escaped from the monster¡¯s clutches, finding a hidden room and discovering Valena¡¯s Diary. It detailed how Valena went from an innocent girl with beautiful dreams of the future to being transformed step-by-step, ultimately becoming a fully dragonified monster.


    ¡°When I turned to the last page of the diary, I was already horrified. We then realized Valena was real, and the monsters were real too. Who would have thought that the so-called ¡®daddy¡¯ in the diary actually transformed his own daughter into a monster!¡±


    At this point, Mantou¡¯s tone also held a suppressed anger.


    The bullet comments surged into a frenzy.


    ¡°Beast!¡±


    ¡°This guy even laid hands on his own daughter. Worse than an animal!¡±


    ¡°Chilling! Did Valena eat Mary?¡±


    ¡°So painful¡ªmy dear Valena!¡±


    ¡°Who wants to team up for this dungeon! I want to chop this boss into pieces!¡±


    Next, the two encountered a second wave of dragonified monsters, and joined forces with Natural War Maniac. Mantou¡¯s itchy hands triggered the Soul-Devouring Pot, getting possessed by Vagnard¡¯s soul division, and the three were easily wiped out.


    ¡°Is this boss¡¯s duplicate that strong?¡±


    ¡°Damn, Archmage!¡±


    However, the next scene unfolded from Mantou¡¯s blurry view within the pot, giving the audience a fresh experience. Mantou also took this chance to share his various guesses, specifically mentioning Cassius.


    The mysterious disappearance of the soul division, the trio awoke, and met the imprisoned White Dragon at the top of the tower. Then they battled Vagnard¡¯s true form, the scene cutting off abruptly with Mantou¡¯s intense explosion.


    ¡°Explode! Blow him up hard!¡±


    ¡°Blow that bastard to pieces!¡±


    Eventually, Mantou¡¯s mischievous face reappeared on the screen. He specifically recorded the rewards for triggering the hidden task, the exclusive trait he obtained, and the much-envied Dragon Shifting ability. He even showcased his inventory full of White Dragon Scales.


    Although those scales no longer belonged to him, at least he could show off to the audience.


    ¡°Suck!¡±


    ¡°Suck Mantou dry!¡±


    ¡°Seeing Mantou get loot feels worse than me getting nothing!¡±


    This flaunting overflowed on the screen, creating a wave of envy in the bullet comments.


    At the end of the video, Mantou said: ¡°That¡¯s all for this video. Everyone, do you want to avenge Valena? Want to gain the cool Dragon Shifting ability? Want to grab lots of White Dragon materials? Want to learn high-level spells? Go to the Polar Night Demon Tower, I left everything there!¡±


    ¡°Playing awkward again?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, I must go and see!¡±


    ¡°When is the official release? I really want to play¡­¡±


    ¡°No way, has anyone not played Elzegai yet?¡±


    This video once again broke boundaries.


    Valena¡¯s cries of ¡°big brother¡± were mentioned on many platforms, becoming an object of pity, while Vagnard was nailed to the internet¡¯s pillar of shame, despised by millions. This breakthrough further boosted Elzegai¡¯s popularity, with over five million public test reservations.


    Players were more pragmatic, focusing on the new dungeon¡ªthe Polar Night Demon Tower.


    Located in the depths of the mountains, the Black Tower.


    A captured White Dragon, a mysterious mage.


    And¡ªextremely generous rewards.


    The rewards Mantou received were incredibly generous, not only a hidden task and rare materials but also the game-changing Dragon Shifting ability, causing intense envy. Even large guilds were green with jealousy, and had started organizing manpower to raid the dungeon.


    Rumor had it that the Royalty Guild¡¯s tyrant had gathered a hundred players, determined to obtain a share of Dragon Blood.


    After all, it¡¯s a dragon, even the smallest hatchling is far beyond the reach of an ordinary player. What¡¯s more, this ability might have future advancements, possibly even becoming an adult Red Dragon!¡±


    And Cassius, being mentioned multiple times by Vagnard, sparked intense discussions among story enthusiasts and combat fans. The buzz around this famous faction boss rose again, with debates like ¡°Cassius vs. Void Whale: Who is stronger?¡± appearing on forums.

 Chapter 211 - 136 Magic Coin

    Chapter 211: Chapter 136 Magic Coin


    ¡°`html


    Inside the Polar Night Demon Tower.


    The walls were still cold and bloodstained, the corridors dark and deep, and seven humans were sneaking along the walls.


    ¡ª¡ªThey were the members of the Magic Coin guild, led by Charlotte.


    They were exploring according to the route in Mantou¡¯s video.


    Charlotte held a map custom-made by Mantou, staring at the simplistic drawings with a grim expression.


    ...


    ¡°Is Mantou ripping me off? This thing cost me fifteen gold coins?¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Magic Coin set up the ¡°Magic Affairs Office¡± in Northwind Castle, showing none of the typical spellcaster arrogance. They used their magical abilities to accept commissions of all kinds, from divination spells to find lost cats for local grannies, to talking with the dead to track down murderers and exterminating local threats, making a sizable fortune in the process.


    Charlotte, the guild leader, had earned the nickname ¡°Bighead,¡± although he was unaware of it. He was known for paying three times the market price for magic scrolls, which made vendors hike prices whenever he shopped. His lavish spending habits had become well known.


    Mantou, naturally, took advantage of this by selling him a specially drawn map for fifteen gold coins¡ªa ¡°bargain¡±¡ªand then ran off gleefully to pay his debts. It had taken Mantou only five minutes to draw.


    Vice President ¡°Bright Moon¡± looked at the rather abstract map, pondered for a moment, and said:


    ¡°This should be the Death Corridor mentioned on the forums. It¡¯s said that dragonified monsters are released when invaders are detected, and many have met their end here.¡±


    Charlotte frowned and said, ¡°This dungeon is too difficult. Swarms of dragonified monsters, an overleveled mage boss. It doesn¡¯t seem intended for our beta players. Let¡¯s try to grab some rewards and dying once or twice shouldn¡¯t matter.¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch peeked out from the side, brimming with confidence:


    ¡°Guild leader, trust in the power of teamwork. We will defeat the evil mage!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Hearing the Sky Flying Witch, Charlotte felt not reassured but even more uneasy.


    The Sky Flying Witch had a legendary experience and was famous on the forums, not for her skills but for her incredible luck. Due to the dungeon¡¯s high difficulty, Charlotte only brought members at the fourth level, including the Sky Flying Witch.


    How had she reached the fourth level?


    During the Triel Conference¡¯s war, she triggered a Wild Magic Surge, summoning three Fireballs that evaporated an army of hundreds on the spot, earning her the title ¡°Lucky Dog Warrior.¡±


    In the Frost Giants War, she again triggered a Wild Magic Surge, instant-casting Chain Lightning, which turned five Frost Giants to char. This made her the most experienced player in the guild overnight. The experience from that one blast was enough to level her up to six.


    Given her impressive achievements, why didn¡¯t Charlotte trust her?


    Simply put, Wild Sorcerer was a pure gambler profession.


    The effects of Wild Magic Surges were mostly negative, often wiping out teammates. The most viral forum video on this was ¡°Wild Sorcerer¡¯s Charismatic Moments,¡± where a Wild Sorcerer triggered a surge that cast Fireball under his feet, nearly wrecking a perfectly winnable boss fight and leaving teammates wailing.


    They say, ¡°Mages ruin three generations, wild sorcerers ruin a lifetime.¡±


    Charlotte hadn¡¯t planned on bringing the Sky Flying Witch, but her endless pleas and the guild¡¯s lack of immediate combat power had forced him to grit his teeth and include her in the raid.


    After much thought, he patted her shoulder, speaking earnestly:


    ¡°Just¡­ stay steady and try not to go wild.¡±


    ¡°Yes, guild leader.¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch nodded obediently.


    Beside them, Bright Moon softly reminded, ¡°Guild leader, I¡¯ve activated Owl¡¯s Wisdom. I can sense the slightest movements. We need to speed up; the monsters are almost here.¡±


    Charlotte ordered, ¡°Don¡¯t waste time here. Let¡¯s go invisible. Windbell?¡±


    The female player with the ID ¡°Windbell¡± took out pre-made Invisibility Potions and distributed them. She was the Magic Coin¡¯s go-to magical pharmacist, practically the guild¡¯s logistical deity.


    ¡°Howl¡ª¡±


    With a thunderous roar, the iron cage at the end of the corridor slowly opened.


    Countless dragonified monsters surged out from the darkness, eager to pounce.


    A mix of gnolls, centaurs, goblins, lizardfolk, and even human-modified monsters snorted the air, emitting a sticky, fishy odor. Their bloodshot eyes were filled with madness, their patchy scales and heaving bodies oozing smelly liquid as the scent of blood hung in the air.


    As incomplete dragon vein creatures, their sense of smell was extraordinarily keen.


    Detecting the scent, the monsters charged straight toward the wizard players.


    ¡°Oh no, they¡¯ve spotted us!¡±


    ¡°We have to fight our way through!¡±


    Charlotte gritted his teeth, waved his magic wand, and searing magical light flashed.


    Agnasa¡¯s Fire-Breathing Technique


    Surging linear flames spread from where his wand pointed, engulfing the path and setting many monsters ablaze. Being White Dragon descendants, they had little resistance to fire.


    Fengyun and the others also started casting spells furiously, and a dazzling array of magical lights interweaved.


    Searing Ray, Ray of Sickness, Dragon¡¯s Breath, Blazing Magic Orb, Mayuf¡¯s Strong Acid Arrow¡ªall these spells poured onto the monsters. Cloud Mist Technique obscured their vision, and Greasy Spell made their movements clumsy. The wizard players showed significant prowess in battle.


    But the number of monsters was simply overwhelming.


    Even if the front-line monsters were hit by flames or slipped on the Greasy Spell, those in the back climbed over their ¡°companions''¡± bodies, surging forward without hesitation like an endless tide.


    ¡°Guild leader, we can¡¯t hold on! There are too many monsters!¡±


    Fengyun whacked a dragonified terror wolf unconscious with a thump from his magic wand, shouting to Charlotte.


    Charlotte¡¯s brows furrowed. They hadn¡¯t gained anything from this raid yet, and they had spent so much without even breaking even. Were they going to fail here?


    ¡°Guild leader, let me do this!¡±


    A robust shout came from the Sky Flying Witch, who suddenly stood in front of Charlotte.


    At that moment, she felt like the hero meant to save the entire guild.


    She stood there, wrapped in surging and chaotic magical waves, which even made the monsters tremble. In reality, she had no idea what spell she would cast next, relying entirely on random luck and spontaneous casting.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 212 - 137 The Insane Dungeon

    Chapter 212: Chapter 137 The Insane Dungeon


    In an instant, the vast magic power poured out, the frenzied tide of sorcery altered the surrounding space.


    [Gravity Reversal]


    The space completely reversed with a single point as the center.


    The monsters rushing forward suddenly stopped in their tracks, then astonishingly began to fall upwards.


    It was important to note that this Polar Night Demon Tower was nearly a hundred meters tall, and even this lowest level was over ten meters in height.


    Only the sound of muffled thuds could be heard as those monsters smashed onto the ceiling, splattering blood and flesh everywhere, with the monsters at the top being crushed into a bloody pulp by the weight of the others.


    ...


    As the magic power subsided and disappeared, the monsters that had fallen to the top once again plummeted down.


    The muffled sound resounded again, accompanied by the screams of the dragonified monsters. Those who had been fortunate enough to have something beneath them now found themselves at the bottom, crushed by the weight of the others.


    Thus, the hundred-odd dragonified monsters standing in front of everyone were wiped out in an instant.


    [Your spell released an untamed magical surge]


    [Points 87-88, you released [Gravity Reversal]]


    The Sky Flying Witch had no idea what the wild surge had done, nor did she understand the so-called [Gravity Reversal] spell, but she clearly knew they had won this battle.


    So she just wiped the sweat from her forehead, her face jubilant, patting her chest and letting out a long breath.


    ¡°Phew, it¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m skillful.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Beside her, Charlotte was dumbfounded by the earth-shattering scene.


    He remained silent for a long time before slowly uttering two words while giving a thumbs-up.


    ¡°Awesome.¡±


    Charlotte showed a complex expression of relief mixed with a wry smile.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you be the guild leader instead¡­¡±


    He had spent a year diligently practicing magic with unwavering faith, acquiring magic scrolls from scratch, gradually mastering various low-tier spells, and using a dazzling array of spell combinations against monsters, only to be instantly killed by the ¡°Lucky Dog War God¡± triggering a wild surge.


    Charlotte suddenly felt like he had worked hard for a year, happily heading home with ten thousand dollars, only to find out a relative¡¯s child had won a five million dollar lottery prize.


    He was on the verge of breaking down.


    ¡°Guild leader, I have no idea what happened either, I wiped them all out with one move.¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch stuck out her tongue, scratching her head embarrassedly, with the innocence of a magical girl, entirely devoid of the crazed demeanor from earlier when she had blocked Charlotte and slaughtered all the monsters on the field.


    ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s keep exploring.¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It¡¯s thanks to the witch; otherwise, we¡¯d have been wiped out at the entrance.¡±


    Charlotte sighed softly, his stiff smile failing to mask the deep fatigue within him.


    Everyone carefully stepped over the monster corpses scattered everywhere, some of which were still trying to launch sneak attacks but were quickly dispatched by Charlotte.


    ¡°Not fully dead, huh? Let me fix that!¡±


    He shot a precise Scorching Ray at their heads, even smashing skulls with his magic wand as if venting some kind of anger, causing Fengyun to break out in a cold sweat at the sight.


    The members of the Magic Coin Guild checked in at Valena¡¯s hut, then headed to the top level of the Polar Night Demon Tower.


    ¡°If we make it to the tower top, it¡¯ll be a huge profit.¡±


    ¡°Gotta haul in those quest items!¡±


    Fengyun said excitedly.


    He had not anticipated such a smooth run so far, with the Sky Flying Witch triggering a high-level spell and successfully navigating the most dangerous Death Corridor without any losses.


    However, just as they set foot on the Gravity Platform, black claws tore through the space.


    From the menacing space rift, a black-robed Vagnard stepped out.


    ¡°You pesky rats!¡±


    His voice was filled with gritted teeth, having rarely felt this kind of ¡°annoyance¡± since sinking into madness.


    After Mantou¡¯s group had invaded, what was regarded by most as the ¡°Life Forbidden Zone¡± had seen frequent visits from these players. Initially, he was quite delighted and intrigued by these peculiar humans, intending to capture a few as samples.


    But now, with this being the thirteenth group, their relentless incursions had left him no time to conduct even a single experiment, completely disrupting all his plans.


    Moreover, he discovered that those self-proclaimed ¡°players¡±, known as ¡°Starfallen¡± by the Northerners, seemed capable of infinite resurrection. Upon death, their bodies and equipment would entirely vanish within half an hour, dispersing into scattered light points like being hit by a Disintegrate spell, a process Vagnard couldn¡¯t prevent or trace.


    Even when he had extracted blood and flesh, or severed limbs from players, those substances would mysteriously disappear half an hour after the players¡¯ deaths. Even imprisoning their souls couldn¡¯t stop them from respawning through their data panels.


    Fengyun exclaimed, ¡°What the heck, why is the boss not following the script?¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he supposed to wait for us in the Land of the Demon Dragon? Why did he come directly to us?¡±


    Charlotte gritted his teeth, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, fight! Kill this bastard!¡±


    Seven spellcasters unleashed spells in succession, strong acid, flame, and ice cones, bombarding Vagnard.


    But a thin, invisible black membrane covered the surface of his black robe, absorbing the spells like pebbles cast into the sea without causing any reaction.


    ¡°Using such meaningless spells¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you taunting me? Taunting the great Dragon Fan Black Wizard?¡±


    A sinister smile appeared on Vagnard¡¯s face.


    [Finger of Death]


    Another Sixth Tier spell!


    A sphere of pitch-black negative energy shot from his fingertip, striking Charlotte instantly.


    The Shield Spell surrounding Charlotte was as fragile as paper before this powerful spell, offering no resistance. The black energy greedily seeped into Charlotte¡¯s body, consuming his vitality in an instant, turning him into a visibly emaciated corpse.


    This was absolute rank suppression. The mage apprentices from the Magic Coin Guild had no chance against an archmage like Vagnard.


    Fengyun screamed, ¡°Witch, it¡¯s your turn!¡±


    After witnessing Charlotte¡¯s gruesome death, the Sky Flying Witch, her hands trembling, clutched her magic wand and cast the lowest tier Fire Arrow spell.


    As if responding to her call, the turbulent and wild tide of sorcery surged again, stirring up a magical storm.


    ¡°Oh? A magical surge?¡±


    A playful glint appeared in Vagnard¡¯s eyes.


    But in the next moment, with a ¡°bang¡±, a potted flower appeared on the ground, and the Sky Flying Witch vanished.


    [41-42, you become a potted plant until the start of your next turn. While transformed, you are incapacitated and vulnerable to all damage.]


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Not only did her teammates stay silent this time, but even Vagnard burst into laughter.


    ¡°Are you trying to taunt me?¡±

 Chapter 213 - 138 Cassiuss Summons

    Chapter 213: Chapter 138 Cassius¡¯s Summons


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play with you anymore.¡±


    Vagnard finally lost his patience and gently raised his hand.


    [Death Cloud Spell]


    The yellow-green poisonous gas billowed forward. The players tried to disperse it with the Wind Making Spell, but the gas was too deadly. Just a slight touch made their skin rot away.


    And when the yellow-green poison enveloped them, even players enveloped in Protective Magic instantly became tattered corpses under the corrosive gas.


    The potted plant that the ¡°Sky Flying Witch¡± had transformed into withered the moment it touched the Death Cloud Spell.


    ...


    The [Magic Coin] guild was completely annihilated.


    The difference between mages lay in their spellcasting abilities, and this time it was an absolute difference. Even the simplest Magic Missile, in the hands of an Archmage and a Mage Apprentice, was worlds apart. In game terms, it was a difference in spellcasting ability.


    ¡ªA Legendary Mage¡¯s Magic Missile could even bring down giant dragons, while a Mage Apprentice¡¯s missile might not even kill a well-trained Goblin.


    The players were utterly defeated, yet Vagnard did not leave. Instead, he stood quietly in place with great caution, like a truly rational mage, far from the madness the rumors suggested.


    Half an hour passed, and he still waited.


    The broken bodies made slight crackling sounds, first turning into tiny particles of light and then disappearing.


    Vagnard¡¯s eyes glowed with a ghostly blue aurora, a solemn expression on his face. ¡°My Divination Spells saw nothing, only a void. This kind of teleportation didn¡¯t even cause the slightest spatial ripple, as if¡­¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t belong to this world.¡±


    ¡°These people calling themselves players must have an unimaginable existence behind them¡­¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Vagnard¡¯s voice was hoarse, his body suddenly trembling. A cold wind inexplicably blew through the tower, making his black robe flutter fiercely.


    ¡°Haha¡­¡±


    ¡°Hahahahaha! Once I truly grasp the power of the giant dragon and obtain that kind of frenzied strength, I will root you all out!¡±


    ¡°Then, none of you will escape¡­¡±


    His eyes were filled with extreme fanaticism, and even his ugly face trembled with excitement.


    ¡­


    In the Council Hall of Northwind Castle.


    The Red Dragon lay sprawling on the massive steel throne, its body rising and falling with each breath, occasionally exhaling sulfurous hot air.


    The steel beneath it had become somewhat reddened from the unconscious transmission of internal heat. A common person sitting there might be roasted alive. White smoke permeated the entire Council Hall, and bubbling lava was about to emerge from beneath, as if Purgatory had descended upon the world.


    However, Cassius activated the [Kingdom Domain], and an invisible force field enveloped the entire hall, calming the violently fluctuating Magic Web. The restless fire elements instantly subsided, the scorching air gradually cooled, and the hall restored to its original state, leaving only blackened, solidified lava.


    ¡°Phew, almost lost control of my strength again.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t keep sleeping in this city. Who knows how long it will take for my palace to be completed.¡±


    Cassius slowly opened his eyes, a look of relief appearing in his golden pupils.


    He did not want to turn Northwind Castle into a molten Purgatory while he slept. After all, it had become the political and economic center of the Ashen Kingdom. Its sudden destruction would significantly weaken the nation, causing substantial harm.


    The Magic Mirror beside him flickered with aurora but was suppressed by the domain¡¯s power: it was Ramp requesting a connection.


    Cassius casually lifted the domain in that area, and the ogre¡¯s ugly face reappeared in the magic image.


    Ramp looked respectful, with a hint of seriousness on his face.


    ¡°My esteemed master.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I have issued the investigation task according to your instructions. Over the past few days, the Starfallen have explored the Polar Night Demon Tower multiple times, bringing back ample information for the Kingdom: the tower¡¯s location, defense details, exploration routes, and even Vagnard¡¯s specific spells. I have compiled them all, ready to present to you immediately.¡±


    ¡°By the way, your decision to recruit these fearless Starfallen was extremely wise. If we had sent regular adventurers to uncover such forbidden grounds, the bounty could have exceeded a thousand gold coins. Yet, you sent hundreds to their deaths, costing the Kingdom only a trivial ¡®Faction Contribution.''¡±


    In his report, Ramp did not forget to offer some flattery.


    Hearing this, Cassius¡¯s lazy eyes showed a hint of seriousness.


    ¡°Come to the hall and report in person. It¡¯s about time we took action.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Faced with the Red Dragon¡¯s command, Ramp unhesitatingly activated a Teleportation Spell. Accompanied by spatial ripples, he appeared in the Council Hall through a Dimension Door.


    Cassius had deliberately lifted the Kingdom Domain, allowing the ogre mage to enter.


    Half-kneeling before the Red Dragon, Ramp couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Master, your power is unimaginably strong. In my humble perception, this space seems as solid as steel. Ordinary spatial magic can¡¯t penetrate it. I struggled to even create a palm-sized opening.¡±


    Cassius didn¡¯t respond but carefully appraised Ramp.


    The ogre mage¡¯s physique remained the same, but his Dragon Vein traits were even more prominent.


    In the past, he wore a patchwork cloak made of various magical robes. Now Ramp had fused them into a single, almost floor-length crimson robe, glowing with a splendid magical aura, making it look quite advanced.


    The most eye-catching detail was Ramp¡¯s accessories.


    A necklace of nine ghastly white skulls hung around his neck, enough to make an ordinary person shudder, causing the corners of the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth to twitch slightly, feeling a sense of deja vu.


    ¡°Did this thing come from the Flowing Sand River¡­¡±


    Cassius thought with slight speechlessness.


    He opened the panel, displaying names like [Schroeder¡¯s Wisdom], [Raul¡¯s Wisdom], [Wadra¡¯s Wisdom] on the skulls, most of which were rare or uncommon quality.


    Connecting this to Ramp¡¯s earlier thorough report, Cassius naturally guessed the origins of these skulls.


    Sure enough, before the Red Dragon could inquire, Ramp began explaining proactively.


    ¡°Master, after interrogating those mages, I found them truly devious and treacherous. I couldn¡¯t stand it, so I killed them.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, their brains are not clever enough to create such perfect works. Even when combined, they don¡¯t offer the significant boost I achieved the first time. Only Schroeder¡¯s skull has substantial effectiveness.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s tone even carried a hint of disappointment; after all, such things weren¡¯t easy to produce.

 Chapter 214 - 139 Ramps Report

    Chapter 214: Chapter 139 Ramp¡¯s Report


    Cassius said, ¡°Show me the intelligence you have gathered.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp pulled out a stack of prepared documents from his bosom.


    ¡°According to our knowledge, this so-called Polar Night Demon Tower has multiple defenses and is filled with Dragonified monsters, including humans, goblins, centaurs¡­ But there is one monster that requires special attention. The Starfallen have named it ¡®Valena.¡¯ It has the ability to create illusions and the White Dragon¡¯s Frost Breath and seems to be stitched together from the limbs of various creatures.¡±


    ¡°And on the top floor of the tower, there is even imprisoned¡­¡±


    His voice faltered momentarily before continuing.


    ...


    ¡°A White Dragon with special bloodlines.¡±


    Ramp cautiously lifted his head to secretly observe the Red Dragon¡¯s expression. Seeing his expression unchanged, he felt relieved and continued his report.


    Cassius was already well aware of this news; the forum could show players¡¯ posts, so he had a basic understanding of the situation.


    ¡°According to the Starfallen¡¯s intelligence, this ¡®Dragon Fan Black Wizard¡¯ is proficient in necromancy and spells.¡±


    ¡°His repertoire includes Seventh Tier Spells such as [Finger of Death], Sixth Tier Spells such as [Disintegrate], [Heart-Capturing Gaze], [Mark of Fear], and Fifth Tier Spells like [Domination of Humans] and [Death Cloud Spell], all extremely dangerous magic. Of course, it also includes known Eighth Tier Spells like [Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle], though there is no evidence yet of his ability to cast Ninth Tier Spells.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s expression became even graver as he flipped to another page of the report.


    ¡°According to the strength standards you provided, the Military Intelligence Analysis Department of the Ashen Kingdom rates him at around level 15, a Kingdom-level powerhouse, a bona fide high-rank Archmage.¡±


    Finally, Ramp respectfully presented the report to Cassius.


    ¡°This is all the intelligence we have at the moment. Vagnard has already set up a constant Death Cloud Spell and protective magic similar to an Arcane Lock at the entrance to the Polar Night Demon Tower, completely sealing off the passage to the tower. No ordinary being can get through. Moreover, he should now be aware of the kingdom¡¯s involvement, making him much more vigilant. It will be extremely difficult for the Starfallen to extract any more information.¡±


    ¡°I am very satisfied; you¡¯ve done well.¡±


    Cassius said flatly.


    The Red Dragon looked at Ramp, a sudden hint of savagery in his voice, ¡°Ramp, would you like to obtain another Archmage¡¯s head?¡±


    The Dragon Vein Ogre Mage¡¯s expression immediately turned fanatic. Normally, he maintained extreme rationality because of his identity as a mage and his position as the kingdom¡¯s Prime Minister, always poised and composed. But at this moment, that unique, fiery battle spirit of the Red Dragon surged through his veins.


    This was a Kingdom-level Archmage, a guest of honor for any force in the South!


    ¡°Master, I would love nothing more.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait¡ªto tear that lunatic who dared to insult the great dragon to shreds with you!¡±


    Ramp responded excitedly, half-kneeling on the ground.


    The Red Dragon slowly stood up, shaking its body and stretching its wings.


    ¡°Then go and make your preparations. Vagnard¡¯s spell list is already here. As a mage, you should know what to do.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡­


    Soon, a large, muscular human appeared in the hall, standing nearly two meters tall, holding a large magic wand, with a full beard on his face. He looked less like a clever and wise mage and more like a highway robber.


    ¡ª¡ªThis was Ramp¡¯s human form, still distinctive, but at least enough to be barely considered human compared to before.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Cassius was silent for a moment before asking,


    ¡°Is this the shape-shifting spell you spent months modifying?¡±


    The human-transformed Ramp scratched his head sheepishly and said, ¡°Master, I also think this form is a bit too small and fragile. But wasn¡¯t the goal to disguise more like a human? This is the best I could manage. If you think it¡¯s inappropriate, I can try to be a bit stronger.¡±


    Cassius sighed inwardly, wondering if that is what he meant.


    But considering the Ogre¡¯s unique sense of aesthetics, which found female Hill Giants more beautiful than the Elf Queen, he decided to let it slide.


    The Red Dragon raised its head slightly, its entire body pulsating with elemental energy. A blinding light flashed in its golden slit-pupils, and then a pair of floating, ethereal eyes appeared before him, containing boundless elemental power and occasionally showing visions of the past and future¡ª¡ªthat was the [Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye].


    The Dragon Sorcerer could use this Dragon¡¯s Eye to release breaths, and the Red Dragon gathered all its strength to store an Extremely Effective Flame Breath within it. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ramp, infiltrate the tower and, at all costs, hold Vagnard. This Dragon¡¯s Eye will follow you and provide the effect of a Divination Spell.¡±


    ¡°And I will strike at the most critical moment.¡±


    Cassius did not want to risk himself lightly. After all, the tower still contained the [Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle], an Eighth Tier Spell that could affect him. But he also would not allow this so-called ¡°Dragon Fan Black Wizard¡± to jump around under his nose.


    If he was not mistaken, that divided soul had already conveyed the message before it died.


    Which meant Vagnard definitely knew of his existence.


    Below, Ramp was full of excitement, snorting puffs of thick smoke from his nose as he knelt again.


    ¡°Master, I will bring back Vagnard¡¯s head.¡±


    Cassius said indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too early. That is a genuine Archmage. Be extremely cautious and prepare thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    In Cassius¡¯s eyes, Ramp¡¯s occupational level was level 11. Nearly half of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s spell resources served him, enabling the naturally gifted Ogre to progress rapidly and already learn Sixth Tier Spells.


    Moreover, coupled with high-level magic equipment, especially [Bennett¡¯s Wisdom] and the Dragon Vein Ogre¡¯s own abilities, his challenge level had surged to an astounding level 13, comparable to a young Red Dragon.


    As an elder-level presence of the Ashen Kingdom and a trusted retainer of the Red Dragon, Cassius had great faith in him, which was why Ramp was chosen for this mission.


    In truth, even with thorough preparation and knowledge, Ramp would struggle to single-handedly defeat such a bona fide Archmage, especially in the latter¡¯s stronghold, the Polar Night Demon Tower. This is where the Red Dragon¡¯s subsequent support would come in.


    This time Cassius had deployed his elite forces, determined to win.


    Regarding that tower¡¯s top floor, the so-called ¡°White Dragon with a trace of Ancestral Dragon Bloodline,¡± he was very much interested.

 Chapter 215 - 140: Battle Inside the Tower

    Chapter 215: Chapter 140: Battle Inside the Tower


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    A space rift appeared inside the Polar Night Tower, precisely entering what was known as the ¡°Death Corridor.¡±


    Ramp, already prepared, watched the poisonous death clouds that had lingered in the corridor for a long time without dispersing and grinned. The small skeleton pendant on his chest emitted a spell radiance.


    It was just a Second Tier Spell, but it was perfectly suited for this¡ª


    ¡°Dissipate Smoke¡±


    It caused natural or magical smoke to quickly disperse within the casting area.


    ...


    A gentle breeze swept past, and the dangerous, lethal death clouds quickly dissipated entirely. Ramp¡¯s view cleared up immediately.


    The heavy iron cage at the end of the passage slowly opened, and countless monsters grabbed the cold bars with their claws, shaking them eagerly, desperate to be released and tear the plump enemy not far away to shreds.


    However, Ramp simply raised his magic wand lightly, and a yellow-gray radiance representing stone flickered.


    ¡°Stone Wall Spell¡±


    With a rumbling sound, the ground trembled, and a thick wall of rock suddenly rose, blocking all the monsters on one side of the passage.


    Those frenzied, dragonified monsters were still relentless, swarming forward, pressing against the wall and attempting to climb over using their companions¡¯ bodies as stepping stones, trying to leverage their numbers to crush this stone wall.


    But Ramp wouldn¡¯t give them the chance. He raised his wand again.


    ¡°Greasy Spell¡±


    A large amount of sticky grease appeared on the ground, soaking the bodies of many dragonified monsters. It caused them to lose friction among themselves. The creatures standing on others slipped and fell, causing chaos at the base of the stone wall as monsters tumbled and crowded together.


    But the situation wasn¡¯t over yet. Ramp¡¯s fleshy face broke into a menacing grin.


    ¡°Mindless beasts¡­¡±


    ¡°And you think you can eat me?¡±


    His wand flashed with scorching flame radiance, bursting forth with powerful elemental energy.


    It was a Fourth Tier Spell¡ª


    ¡°Fire Wall Spell¡±


    A blazing wall of fire suddenly rose, pressed tightly against the rock wall, and its scorching flames engulfed hundreds of dragonified monsters completely.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    The monsters immediately burst into flames, their grease-covered bodies fueling the already ferocious blaze. Even those who escaped the fire wall found their oil-soaked bodies still ablaze, producing sizzling sounds and emitting heart-wrenching howls from deep within their throats as they writhed and struggled in the flames.


    Ramp, seizing the timing perfectly, ceased casting spells with ease.


    The stone wall slowly descended, and the ground in the passage was now strewn with charred corpses.


    Ramp inhaled the scent of roasted meat that filled the air, a greedy expression coming over his face as he licked his lips, drooling slightly. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But ultimately, the ogre mage who had held a high position for many years resisted his primal urges.


    He wiped his mouth and said venomously:


    ¡°Damn it, if it weren¡¯t for the master¡¯s task, you¡¯d all be nothing but bones.¡±


    ¡°Such a waste of food.¡±


    Ramp hurried down the passage, grumbling under his breath.


    The heavy metal door in front of him was firmly locked with an ¡°Arcane Lock,¡± shrouded in a black membrane of light.


    Yet, Ramp, ever prepared, confidently tapped the door with his luminescent magic wand.


    ¡°Knocking Technique¡±


    With a light ¡°bang,¡± the membrane shattered into countless tiny fragments and disappeared.


    The metal door also opened with a roar.


    Ramp stepped inside.


    At that moment, a blurry image appeared in the ¡°Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye¡± floating beside him.


    A man cloaked in black robes appeared in the vision, walking slowly toward Ramp¡ªit was the future image predicted by the Dragon Eye.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s finally happening?¡±


    ¡°The so-called ¡®Dragon Fan Black Wizard.''¡±


    A look of eager anticipation spread across Ramp¡¯s brutish face as sweat seeped from the hand gripping his wand, ready to cast spells at any moment.


    Sure enough, black, menacing claws tore through space, and a space rift appeared in front of Ramp.


    Vagnard, dressed in black robes, stepped out from within.


    ¡°You are different from those annoying flies of the past.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ are strong¡­¡±


    ¡°And do not have that inexplicable sense of drifting.¡±


    His raspy voice echoed in the corridor, like a lingering ghost.


    Vagnard suddenly lifted his head, deeply gazing at Ramp, a chilling smile gradually appearing on his face.


    ¡°You will make an excellent test subject, won¡¯t you?¡±


    Ramp wasn¡¯t a weak human; cannibalism was a daily habit for him, and his enemy experiments were countless. Therefore, as an ogre mage in human form, he felt no fear¡ªin fact, he felt a kindred spirit.


    He sneered and raised his wand:


    ¡°Heh, let¡¯s see if you have the skill. I think your head would make a fine addition to my collection.¡±


    Vagnard did not get angry, merely continued to gaze at Ramp, his eyes filling with hollow negative energy.


    Instantly, his eyes turned into a black corridor lined with teeth; his gaze was like a deep abyss, drawing people into an endless void.


    ¡°Heart-Capturing Gaze¡±


    Not only had the Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye given a premonition, but Ramp had also prepared his spells long ago.


    He created a mirror-like area of dim light in front of his eyes, moving with his sight but not obstructing his vision.


    It was a Second Tier Spell designed specifically to defend against gaze attacks¡ª


    ¡°Gaze Screen¡±


    Vagnard¡¯s ¡°Heart-Capturing Gaze¡± was repelled by the mirrored surface, reflecting back into his eyes. It was blocked by the black membrane of light surrounding him, but it caused his body to stiffen momentarily.


    Even his own Sixth Tier Spell was not easily bearable.


    And it was in that fleeting moment, Ramp couldn¡¯t wait any longer.


    He waved his wand with all his might, his eyes seemingly ablaze, launching scorching fireballs at Vagnard with each motion.


    Ramp knew very well that Vagnard had the ¡°Trigger Spell¡± and ¡°Orthluck Elastic Sphere,¡± effectively giving him extra lives, but his goal was to break Vagnard¡¯s ¡°Resurrection Armor,¡± creating a better chance for Cassius to strike afterward.


    However, Vagnard¡¯s stiffness lasted only a moment before his eyes regained clarity.


    With a slight movement, an invisible force field surrounded him, encircling him within half a meter. The terrifying fireballs did not even touch his body but were annihilated as they approached.


    ¡ªThat was the ¡°Antimagic Field¡±


    ¡°A guy covered in armor, I see you are not a maniac¡­¡±


    ¡°But a coward.¡±


    Ramp sneered sarcastically, summoning another scorching fireball and hurling it. After years of training, his ¡°Fireball Technique¡± had become a specialized spell, and with the elemental affinity of his Red Dragon Bloodline, its power even rivaled some Fifth Tier level shaping spells.


    With Vagnard¡¯s experience, how could he not see that Ramp had studied his spell list in advance?


    In a mage¡¯s battle, this was a significant difference.


    When mages of the same level knew each other¡¯s spell lists, the battle could even become one-sided.


    Vagnard¡¯s face showed an amused smile:


    ¡°Ha, I see. Though you are not one of those beings, you are with them¡ªyou are also one of those hiding behind the scenes.¡±


    ¡°Foolish creature, do you think seeing a tiny tip of the iceberg¡ªqualifies you to be my enemy?¡±

 Chapter 216 - 141: The Arrival of the Red Dragon

    Chapter 216: Chapter 141: The Arrival of the Red Dragon


    Vagnard took a step forward, teleporting to Ramp¡¯s front in an instant, bypassing the mirror-like barrier, and gently tapping the medal on his chest.


    A powerful spiritual force instantly enveloped Ramp.


    [Domination of Humans]


    But under that force, Ramp¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He showed no reaction, even swinging his Magic Wand to cast a Fireball Technique.


    Faced with the incoming fireball, Vagnard summoned a black Energy Shield, once again extinguishing the fireball completely. The voice of Vagnard from behind the black veil first sounded somewhat surprised, then it became excited.


    ¡°I understand now.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Ha ha ha ha, you aren¡¯t human. So, you aren¡¯t human after all!¡±


    Ramp¡¯s disguise was merely a ploy to waste Vagnard¡¯s spell slots, knowing that [Domination of Humans] was frequently used by him.


    Seeing his true identity exposed, the ogre mage roared angrily, instantly tearing apart his disguise and revealing his grotesque true form.


    Suddenly, the corridor darkened, and the massive shadow nearly covered Vagnard.


    A six-meter-tall Dragon Vein Ogre stood in the dim tunnel, its massive and solid body covered with dragon scales. Sharp bone spurs protruded from its knees, elbows, and back. Even tiny, bone-white horns had sprouted from its forehead, and the snout of its ugly face jutted forward unnaturally.


    ¡°After being bound for so long, I can finally unleash it. Let me kill you!¡±


    Ramp looked down at Vagnard condescendingly, spewing out two plumes of thick, sulfurous smoke from his nostrils. The Magic Wand in his hand glowed with intertwined scorching and emerald yellow flames, smashing down towards Vagnard¡¯s head¡ªthat was [Magic-infused Weapon] and [Emerald Flame Sword].


    For some reason, Vagnard gazed dumbfoundedly at Ramp, not making any effort to dodge.


    The magical flames¡¯ spell struck him on the head harshly. [Trigger Spell] linked with [Orthluck Elastic Sphere], and a glowing spherical Force Field appeared instantaneously, repelling Ramp¡¯s Magic Wand and shielding Vagnard within.


    Ramp was bounced back by the counterforce, his massive body crashing to the ground with a thunderous noise.


    But Vagnard remained fixated on him, as if he were admiring a fine piece of art, muttering under his breath, ¡°I finally found it. I found the perfect creation.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He then trembled all over, covered his face, and laughed maniacally.


    ¡°Ha ha ha ha, it¡¯s not some intangible, elusive thing. It is, indeed, a perfect creation.¡±


    ¡°You must not be one of those so-called ¡®players,¡¯ right?¡±


    The Dragon Vein Ogre Ramp, seeing the greed and desire in Vagnard¡¯s eyes instead of fear, felt an indescribable, nameless fury surge within him.


    Ramp gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Turns out you¡¯re just a madman¡­¡±


    But Vagnard was inside the Force Field Orb. Without a spell like Disintegrate, it was difficult to break through, even Ramp couldn¡¯t do anything to him for the moment.


    After a while, Vagnard finally made another move.


    He casually dispelled the [Orthluck Elastic Sphere] around him, and surprisingly, he staggered directly towards Ramp.


    Ramp couldn¡¯t help but glance at the nearby Catastrophic Dragon Eye, only to see himself immobilized by a spell. He hurriedly waved his Magic Wand, attempting to use a Counterspell in advance, but Vagnard gave him no chance, releasing a purple spell beam with a slight hand motion.


    [Hold Monster]


    The spell¡¯s intensity was extremely high, and as the beam hit Ramp, it spread across his entire body, forming a flashing light membrane. The Dragon Vein Ogre¡¯s massive frame froze in place, maintaining the posture of attempting to cast a spell.


    Vagnard strolled forward slowly, laughing wildly, his mouth nearly splitting to his ears.


    He hovered beside the ogre, whispering softly:


    ¡°My precious experimental subject, did you think I only had spells to control humans?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve conducted thousands of dragonification experiments. As the ¡®Dragon Fan Black Wizard,¡¯ I¡¯m best at controlling monsters like you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Crack¡­ crack¡­¡±


    A faint cracking sound emerged.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    A tinge of surprise flashed across Vagnard¡¯s face.


    The light membrane around Ramp shattered suddenly, and a skull on his body automatically released [Dispel Magic] upon detecting that his body was under control.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    Free from the binding, the Dragon Vein Ogre roared, spewing out several scorching fireballs. The erratic fireballs came from various directions, aiming to incinerate the nearby, unprepared Vagnard into charcoal. At the same time, the ogre¡¯s Magic Wand struck forward, targeting Vagnard¡¯s head.


    Facing this sudden, overwhelming assault, Vagnard disappeared from the spot unhurriedly, leaving behind a silver-white mist.


    From a distance, he grinned at Ramp, lifting his hand lightly.


    [Draconic Binding]


    Countless chains, shaped like giant dragon limbs, rose from the ground.


    That was a Seventh Tier spell. Dispel Magic and Spell Nullification Barrier were useless against it.


    Unexpectedly, Ramp¡¯s Magic Wand, as if premeditated, redirected towards Vagnard, and his necklace, [Bennett¡¯s Wisdom], emitted a faint purple spell beam.


    [Hold Monster]


    But this time, it was Ramp who cast the spell.


    And just as the beam was unleashed, Ramp was restrained by [Draconic Binding], bound tightly in place, unable to move. The chain-like appendages, resembling giant dragon limbs, writhed greedily over his massive body, seemingly absorbing the Dragon Vein Ogre¡¯s dragon blood to sustain themselves.


    However, Ramp¡¯s Hold Monster spell also struck Vagnard, freezing him in place.


    But at the last moment before he was immobilized, the Black Wizard¡¯s eyes still showed a disdainful, provocative look, as if saying, ¡°What can you do to me?¡±


    One needed to know that Hold Monster required sustained spell concentration. As long as Ramp couldn¡¯t maintain his focus on the spell, its effect would soon diminish.


    But [Draconic Binding], being a spell specially crafted by Vagnard to target Dragon Vein Monsters, behaved like a living organism, continuously draining dragon blood from the target to sustain itself.


    From this ¡°Dragon Fan Black Wizard¡¯s¡± perspective, this mutual exchange of blood clearly placed him at a significant advantage, smug old Vagnard thought.


    In this brief moment, the light membrane of the immobilization spell on Vagnard, which required no concentration to maintain, was already showing cracks and was about to break, freeing him from the spell¡¯s control.


    But Vagnard did not know that, just before being bound, Ramp¡¯s face had also shown a dark smile of a plan coming to fruition.


    He still had [Catastrophic Dragon Eye]!


    Vagnard had only thought that the floating eye was a divination spell cast by Ramp, which he could handle when binding the ogre.


    But he never imagined that the true owner of the [Catastrophic Dragon Eye] was Cassius, far away, observing everything through the eye.


    And Cassius had been waiting for this moment!


    Instantly, blazing light erupted from the pair of invisible eyes hovering in the air, releasing the immense elemental power stored within!


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    A pillar of blazing white fire surged out, rushing towards Vagnard¡¯s momentarily immobilized head!


    [Enhanced Flame Breath]


    At the same time, a giant claw covered in red scales tore through the space, creating a nearly ten-meter-long spatial rift with flaming edges.


    Cassius¡¯s massive, menacing dragon head emerged from it.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±

 Chapter 217 - 142: Fierce Battle Inside the Tower

    Chapter 217: Chapter 142: Fierce Battle Inside the Tower


    At the moment when the pillar of fire was about to strike Vagnard¡¯s head, the light film of the Binding Spell on his body finally shattered, but the breath was already too close to dodge.


    Several Protective Spells were triggered simultaneously, layers of black mist enveloping his body, but still unable to stop the extreme heat of the light flame.


    The pillar of fire pierced through the paper-thin spell shield instantly, like a hot knife through butter. Although Vagnard tried to tilt his head, the pillar of fire still engulfed his hooded head, along with his neck and most of his shoulder, in an instant.


    However, this was not the end.


    Cassius was not the kind of boss from a story who would neglect to finish the job. Facing such an archmage who had been lurking for a hundred years, he had to seize the opportunity to exterminate him completely, leaving no room for escape.


    The massive red dragon eagerly opened its huge, bloody mouth, with a glow emanating from its chest. In the depths of its throat, terrifying white-hot flames, like a miniature sun, illuminated the entire dark tower as if it were broad daylight. Then it poured out the accumulated, torrential energy.


    ...


    [Supreme Flame Breath] S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A thicker, more brilliant pillar of fire spouted out, engulfing Vagnard¡¯s torso entirely.


    Two pillars of fire crossed, continuously scouring the broken body.


    Even at this extent, Cassius was still not at ease, continually spewing flames as if he wanted to burn everything to ashes.


    The flesh that had undergone multiple dragon blood modifications quickly carbonized under this extreme unnatural heat, eventually turning into a brownish salt pillar that scattered on the ground like an ordinary grain of desert sand.


    ¡°Whew, could it really be over¡­¡±


    ¡°Vagnard.¡±


    Only then did the red dragon slowly close its jaws. Due to the recent overload of energy output, its scales became scalding hot, and smoke with traces of sulfur odor emanated from between its teeth.


    Still, its eyes remained fixed on the pile of salt, not daring to relax.


    He would not gamble that this century-old archmage had no final trump card. He could only pay attention to every detail to prevent any unexpected situations.


    ¡°Absolutely must not let him escape.¡±


    After a brief thought, Cassius flapped his wings and landed in front of the pile of salt, stomping on it savagely multiple times.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The ground shook, dust flew up, resembling the act of grinding bones to ashes.


    Meanwhile, the red dragon did not forget to abruptly swing its claws, using the Scratch Technique to create a powerful claw-shaped magical force field, severing the hideous limb chains and rescuing Ramp, who was trapped in the Dragon Vein Binding.


    The Dragon Vein Ogre broke free and, seeing the scene before him filled with fire and ash, became excited.


    He clumsily knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face as he said, ¡°Master, that so-called ¡®Dragon Fan Black Wizard¡¯ is indeed not worth mentioning before your great power¡­¡±


    The red dragon remained unmoved, speaking solemnly, ¡°Ramp, don¡¯t be too happy yet. Watch these salt grains carefully.¡±


    ¡°I think¡­ things are not so simple.¡±


    Ramp quickly regained composure and hurriedly responded with cupped hands, ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The tower fell silent.


    The Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye showed chaotic images.


    As expected, in the eerily silent environment, a bizarre laughter echoed.


    At first, the laughter was as subtle as the sound of wind blowing through the sand, like a ghostly whisper, but then it grew louder until it turned into a maniacal laugh.


    Cassius suddenly looked up.


    ¡ª¡ªThey saw fine sand made of melted flesh floating in the air, eventually forming a twisted, ghostly face, which was Vagnard.


    The ghostly face opened its mouth to an eerie degree, revealing a chilling smile.


    ¡°I know you, Cassius Klaubow Norixius, Tiamat¡¯s child¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, you really came!¡±


    ¡°You will be the most wonderful material for my grand evolution!¡±


    Cassius was not flustered by this, merely looking on indifferently, murmuring,


    ¡°A method of soul transfer?¡±


    ¡°Tch, Vagnard indeed had a backup plan.¡±


    Standing beside him, Ramp roared in anger, summoning a blazing fireball to scatter the fine sand once again.


    But Cassius merely shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, Ramp. His original soul should have escaped already; that face is just an illusion controlled by spiritual power.¡±


    Ramp knelt before the red dragon again, sweating profusely, ¡°It is my fault, my neglect allowed him to escape.¡±


    ¡°If, if I could find the recorded Sixth Tier Spell [Soul Cage], I could definitely kill Vagnard completely.¡±


    His tone was sullen and seemed full of resentment.


    The red dragon did not respond, casually picking up some salt grains with the Mage¡¯s Hand.


    ¡°It indeed has a strong dragon blood smell, even after being melted, I can still sense the magical essence within. This should be his original body, not some random flesh golem.¡±


    He pondered for a moment, then asked seemingly unintentionally,


    ¡°Ramp, what kind of body do you think he would seize?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone paused, then he let out a cold laugh.


    ¡°And I, this ¡®most perfect experimental product¡¯ personally arriving, do you think someone like Vagnard would willingly abandon all his experimental results and escape easily?¡±


    Ramp barely needed to think before understanding Cassius¡¯s meaning.


    ¡°He is a total madman. He would endure deadly spells with his own body for the so-called ¡®art pieces,¡¯ so your personal arrival, with his blasphemous and crazed mind, he definitely wouldn¡¯t escape easily. He probably plans to trap us.¡±


    ¡°And his body¡­¡±


    ¡°He once said that his most perfect ¡®work¡¯ is the so-called ¡®Valena,¡¯ or rather, the monster transformed from his own daughter, Valena. A body with familial ties is the most suitable for a wandering soul to seize; it is said that old specters who have lost their nature often do this.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly, firmly saying,


    ¡°Find him and destroy everything.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡­


    In a corner on the first floor of the Polar Night Demon Tower, at the location of the ¡°Snowy Cabin.¡±


    Here it was cold and deep, the walls stained with blood, yet there were traces of cleaning.


    Piles of neatly arranged bones were scattered in the corner¡ªan old habit of Valena¡¯s. Trapped in a secret chamber since childhood, she always kept things tidy and waited obediently for her family to return.


    This place was an illusion constructed from Valena¡¯s last semblance of hope, but it had been transformed into a deadly trap by Vagnard.


    Any uninvited guests who entered would fall into the hands of the monstrous Valena, who would subject them to inhuman experiments, with the luckier ones ending up as food for the monster.


    At this moment, a familiar guest had entered.


    ¡ª¡ªIt was none other than Vagnard¡¯s wandering soul.

 Chapter 218 - 143: Seizing the Body

    Chapter 218: Chapter 143: Seizing the Body


    Inside the snow house illusion, the girl was still tidying up the room.


    She carefully picked up the broken teacup on the floor, muttering softly, ¡°These guests are so rude, breaking the cup and then leaving, giving me a huge mess to clean up.¡±


    The fire in the fireplace remained warm.


    But this was just the beautified result of the illusory realm; the real scene was terrifying. A writhing monster was extending its ghastly limbs, picking up the shattered bone fragments and placing them in the corner of the wall.


    Valena sat on a wooden chair, flipping through a yellowing book with utter boredom.


    Resting her chin in her hand, the girl couldn¡¯t help but complain softly, ¡°When can I finally leave, Daddy? You promised me.¡±


    ...


    She had been here so long that she couldn¡¯t even remember how long it had been.


    In the remnants of her memory, after being rescued from the secret chamber, she was brought to this wooden house, living a monotonous life day after day, year after year.


    The books said that when a person lives for many years, they will gradually age.


    But the girl found that her appearance seemed forever frozen at eighteen, without even the slightest change.


    And Valena also felt that her memory was incomplete. She had always been suspicious but didn¡¯t dare to think deeply.


    It was as if an invisible shackle bound her thoughts, preventing her from pondering those things.


    Some things¡­


    Since she couldn¡¯t figure them out, it was better not to think about them.


    Continuing to entertain guests in the snow house and listening to their stories every day, was like indirectly experiencing the outside world.


    That¡¯s what Valena always told herself.


    Suddenly, a raspy and all too familiar male voice interrupted her musings.


    ¡°Valena, my dear little girl, look who has come back?¡±


    Hearing the familiar voice, Valena¡¯s actions stopped immediately. She turned around in disbelief.


    ¡°Ah, Daddy!¡±


    ¡°You really came back!¡±


    The girl leaped up from the wooden chair, eagerly throwing herself into the man¡¯s arms, her big, watery eyes even glistening with tears.


    Vagnard gently stroked Valena¡¯s head, lowering his voice as he softly said, ¡°Yes, Daddy finished the matters outside and rushed back to see you.¡±


    Valena, as if afraid the man would escape, tightly hugged him.


    Tears streamed down her cheeks as she said in a low voice, ¡°Daddy, you lied to me. You haven¡¯t been back for a long time. You told me to treat the guests well, but they all bully me, hate me, and even insult me. They don¡¯t want to play with me.¡±


    The girl looked up, choking back sobs as she asked, ¡°They all say that I am¡­ a monster.¡±


    ¡°Daddy, am I really a monster?¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Vagnard kept the gentle smile on his face, shaking his head as he said, ¡°No, you are not a monster. You are the most precious treasure I hold in my lap, nobler than any of them.¡±


    ¡°But, but¡­¡±


    He reached out to wipe the tears from Valena¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Valena, remember, you will always be my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think about those sad things. Do you know why I came back this time?¡±


    Valena confusedly shook her head.


    Vagnard took the girl¡¯s slender hand, bending down and whispering in her ear:


    ¡°I¡¯m here to fulfill my promise, to take you to see the outside world. Daddy is never a liar.¡±


    Valena was instantly overjoyed.


    She had never thought that this man, so cold in her memories, this father who had cruelly abandoned her here for who knew how many years, would say such things.


    The girl smiled with satisfaction, wiping away the remaining tears on her face, and nodded vigorously.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The man took the girl¡¯s hand, leading her to push open the door of the illusory realm¡ª


    The remnants of Valena¡¯s consciousness only felt a blinding light flash by, making her involuntarily close her eyes.


    ¡°So bright, is this the outside world?¡±


    ¡°It seems¡­ a bit different from what I imagined.¡±


    There was no so-called new world, still the dark and deep Demon Tower, cold metal cages.


    The twisted monster stitched together from different body parts struggled constantly, flesh writhing on its body, its sparsely-scaled skin rising bizarrely as if something was trying to break out.


    In the end, Vagnard¡¯s human form emerged from the stitcher beast, his skin smooth and white like a newborn, yet faintly showing traces of scales.


    His waist was still connected by flesh to the stitched together body, replacing the faceless girl who had once been there, becoming part of this horrific monster.


    And also the final controller of this monster¡¯s chaotic consciousness.


    Yet from the depths of that ghastly mass of flesh came a faint, desperate, choking female voice.


    ¡°Daddy, you lied to me¡­¡±


    ¡°You lied to me again¡­¡±


    The voice grew weaker, finally disappearing completely, drowned in the sticky friction of blood and flesh.


    ¡°Valena¡­¡±


    A tear fell from Vagnard¡¯s eye.


    But his expression was filled with overwhelming ecstasy, his mouth almost splitting to his ears, already sinking into complete madness, this body attached to the stitcher beast trembling constantly.


    ¡°I, I once told you, I will never fail again¡­ Daddy, Daddy did it all for you.¡±


    ¡°I will bring you¡ªtogether we will complete this evolution! We will become greater than the Dragon God!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    ¡­


    At the other end of the tower, the Red Dragon¡¯s fringed ears twitched slightly.


    Due to the sharp senses of giant dragons, Vagnard¡¯s crazed laughter also reached his ears.


    ¡°Ha, so it¡¯s the so-called snow house, it¡¯s already too late.¡±


    ¡°He seized Valena¡¯s body.¡±


    Valena¡¯s snow house had no definite location, connected by a portal to another space. Even Cassius couldn¡¯t find its exact position, only waiting for Vagnard to reveal himself.


    Ramp felt the increasingly eerie aura within the tower, speaking in a grave tone, ¡°Master, should we follow?¡±


    ¡°No, if I¡¯m not mistaken, he¡¯s probably heading to the top floor of the tower.¡±


    Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye had already vanished after releasing its breath.


    Cassius closed his eyes, relying on the vast power of the surge of spells to create another seventh-tier spell slot.


    When he opened his eyes again, those golden pupils were already gleaming with astonishing spell radiance. Immediately, an invisible dragon¡¯s eye appeared, floating beside him.


    [Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye]


    He used the ability of [Foresight].


    Those profound dragon¡¯s eyes broke through the constraints of time, directly seeing future visions.


    At the topmost floor of the tower, the twisted stitcher beast was writhing, approaching the trapped White Dragon.


    The White Dragon seemed to see something extremely terrifying, letting out an agitated, fearful growl, trembling all over. Its massive body struggled with all its might, but unfortunately, it was ensnared by the unyielding magic chains. All struggles were futile, unable to move at all.


    Cassius¡¯s expression grew grim.


    ¡°Vagnard wants to devour that White Dragon. We must stop him.¡±

 Chapter 219 - 144: Rescuing the White Dragon

    Chapter 219: Chapter 144: Rescuing the White Dragon


    Ramp said, ¡°Master, according to the information provided by those Starfallen, if we want to reach the top floor, we should start from the gravity device¡­¡±


    Cassius shook his head and said, ¡°There¡¯s no time.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to break through this tower.¡±


    Before he could finish speaking, Cassius suddenly flapped his wings and flew straight up.


    With ¡°Agile as a Dragon¡± enhancing him, his wing movements left afterimages, and his speed became terrifyingly fast.


    The Red Dragon raised its head high, and a pillar of extremely high-temperature fire shot out from its gaping maw, instantly melting the several-feet-thick metal floor and easily creating a several-meters-wide hole. Scalding molten iron dripped continuously from its edges, but Cassius didn¡¯t care at all.


    ...


    In just a moment, the pillar of fire even penetrated the ceiling of the next floor, aiming for higher places.


    ¡°Braving the Fiery Pits¡±


    Cassius transformed directly into blazing fire, passing through the holes created by the fire pillar, penetrating several floors in succession.


    Any monster or device in his path was instantly turned to ashes by the flames or pulverized by his massive, accelerated body, unable to stop him for even a moment. One dragonified monster failed to dodge and was crushed into meat paste by his body.


    The twenty-eight-story Polar Night Demon Tower was like a toy in Cassius¡¯s eyes now.


    Ramp was dumbfounded by this but couldn¡¯t keep up, only managing to maintain protective magic while casting Flight Magic, climbing layer by layer. By the time he reached the twelfth floor, he was already panting heavily.


    Meanwhile, Cassius had already arrived at the top floor.


    All of this took only a few tens of seconds.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A blazing white pillar of fire pierced through the metal floor.


    Immediately afterward, the fire pillar transformed into dancing flames, finally solidifying into a massive Red Dragon.


    ¡°Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye¡± could only glimpse a corner of the future. When Cassius reached the top floor, the originally fated future was disrupted, the image becoming temporarily blurred and starting to recalculate.


    The White Dragon imprisoned on the top floor was awakened by the commotion, struggling to open its eyes.


    Cassius scrutinized the White Dragon in front of him.


    She had a scaled face, spiked wattles, and some teeth protruding when her mouth was closed, with a crown of backward-curving spikes on her head¡ªshe was a typical White Dragon. With the Red Dragon¡¯s current appreciation for all species, she could even be considered a young and beautiful White Dragon.


    From her relatively pure white scales and not yet fully proportioned body, it was clear she was still in her youth, around a hundred years old.


    But what surprised Cassius was her size; she had already reached fifteen meters¡ªcommon for Red Dragons but extraordinary for White Dragons, a size only ancient or elderly White Dragons attained.


    The White Dragon, often considered the shame of the five-colored dragons, already had the great honor of being compared to a Red Dragon of the same stage.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, so this is the bloodline of the Ancestral Dragon?¡±


    Cassius marveled in his heart.


    Facing this much stronger ¡°kin,¡± the White Dragon Tiniya hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and let out a pleading whimper.


    White Dragons living in the mountains sometimes conflicted with nearby Red Dragons, but White Dragons were wise enough to avoid stronger Red Dragons. Red Dragons often saw White Dragons as unworthy opponents and were happy to let them slip out of sight (and mind), understanding the Red Dragons¡¯ status.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you speak? (Draconic)¡±


    Cassius was puzzled. Although White Dragons were mocked as ¡°white beasts,¡± they had the intelligence of at least a seven or eight-year-old child by their youth. Was her brain damaged by Vagnard?


    He didn¡¯t know that mastering Draconic for everyday communication was challenging for White Dragons under normal circumstances. Some White Dragons couldn¡¯t fully grasp it until they were elderly. This White Dragon, imprisoned in the tower from her youth with no external communication, was no exception.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    Tiniya nodded, letting out a light roar.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    It seemed she couldn¡¯t speak but could at least understand.


    Since normal communication was possible, the remaining matters would be easier to handle.


    The Red Dragon spread his wings and stepped up to her.


    ¡°Do you know Vagnard?¡±


    At the mention of this familiar name, Tiniya¡¯s dragon face immediately turned ferocious, her scales standing up, even baring her fangs instinctively¡ªa mix of extreme fear and hatred.


    Although White Dragons weren¡¯t pillars of wisdom, they had excellent memories, especially of events they directly witnessed or experienced. They remembered any slight or failure and were known for their malicious vendettas against offending creatures or groups. The White Dragon in front of him was no exception.


    The Red Dragon casually displayed the previous images from ¡°Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye¡± to scare her a bit.


    ¡°This is what I saw¡ªyour future.¡±


    ¡°A hopeless future.¡±


    In the images, the White Dragon was reduced to the monster¡¯s sustenance, being mercilessly devoured.


    Tiniya¡¯s eyes filled with terror, her wings shrinking, her whole body trembling because she could feel it was real, soon to happen to her.


    Cassius looked down at the White Dragon¡¯s beast-like vertical pupils¡ªfrom them, he saw a longing for freedom, an endless fear of the mage, and immense hatred, which was enough.


    ¡°But the future is not set in stone, White Dragon.¡±


    ¡°Submit to me, and I will save you and¡­ kill Vagnard.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Tiniya¡¯s eyes first showed confusion, then hesitation, and finally, a low hum came from her throat.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    Due to the Dragon Binding Array, she couldn¡¯t move too freely, only turning her head slightly to expose her vulnerable neck, indicating complete submission. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though White Dragons were hardly the epitome of dignity among the True Dragons, this one contained Ancestral bloodline pride. Even confined in the tower for nearly a century, she hadn¡¯t fully submitted to the torturous ¡°human,¡± continuously struggling in vain.


    But now, faced with the threat of death and the choice to submit to a nobler Red Dragon, submission became a necessary means of survival.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve made the right choice.¡±


    Cassius smiled slightly.


    The Red Dragon waved his claws, a flickering claw-shaped spell force field appeared, starting to destroy the surrounding environment of the spell.


    ¡°Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Array¡± had been studied for months by spellcasters across the kingdom. Though they hadn¡¯t fully understood its principles, disrupting its order was far simpler than restoring it.


    A month ago, Ramp, along with court mages who defected to the Ashen Kingdom, had already discussed methods to destroy the array¡¯s spell nodes. Cassius was well aware of this.


    ¡°Huff, huff, Master, I¡¯m late.¡±


    Ramp panted as he struggled out of the hole.


    Seeing the scene before him, he immediately understood what was happening, hurriedly rushing forward to wave his magic wand, summoning scorching fireballs to destroy the dragon scales and dragon blood serving as the array¡¯s nodes, striving to dismantle the array¡¯s structure.

 Chapter 220 - 145 Arriving at the Tower Top

    Chapter 220: Chapter 145 Arriving at the Tower Top


    As the constructs were destroyed one by one, the Magic Web around them fell into extreme disorder, the Eighth Tier Spell¡¯s order was disrupted, releasing energy that continuously impacted the surrounding environment.


    The dragons¡¯ phantom limbs waved in the void, sinister dragon heads emerged from the walls, and even dragon blood gushed from the ground, throwing the surroundings into chaos.


    But ultimately, with sorrowful dragon roars, they managed to break the array together.


    The chains tightly wrapped around the White Dragon suddenly disappeared.


    The White Dragon¡¯s body, bound for a century, was freed for the first time.


    Tiniya flapped her wings, feeling the long-lost freedom in her body, and let out a heartfelt, joyous long howl.


    ...


    ¡°Oooooo¡ªoooo¡ª¡±


    Next, the liberated White Dragon bowed her head to Cassius.


    As one of the five-colored evil dragons, the White Dragon naturally did not have the trait of ¡°gratitude,¡± but more of respect and submission to a powerful kindred.


    Even though the White Dragon was liberated, Cassius¡¯s heart did not relax at all.


    When he entered the top floor, he felt a strong spell power imprisoning the space¡ªDimensional Lock, which forbade all teleportation spells. The Red Dragon had no intention of leaving immediately. He wanted to take advantage of the moment when the enemy knew nothing about him to catch him off guard and completely eliminate that ¡°Dragon Fan Black Wizard.¡±


    Otherwise, allowing an Archmage to lurk in the shadows, collecting all information, and preparing fully would become an even more troublesome problem.


    Indeed, the nearby suspended [Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye] once again presented a scene.


    A twisted stitcher beast appeared on the top floor, bearing the face of Vagnard.


    ¡°Get ready¡­¡±


    ¡°Vagnard, he is coming.¡±


    Cassius calmly reminded.


    The nearby Ramp and Tiniya immediately became alert.


    Sure enough, the Dimensional Lock slightly loosened.


    First, a White Dragon limb stretched out from the void, then an unknown monster¡¯s head followed, and behind it, a human torso.


    Finally, the terrifying monster tore through space and appeared before them.


    The monster was massive, nearly five meters tall, its torso made of various bizarre creatures stitched together, with the main material being the White Dragon.


    But eerily, they were all in places they shouldn¡¯t be, the White Dragon¡¯s wings appeared on its legs, human hands randomly stitched on the surface of the skin, and a sinister dragon head protruded from where the chest should have been.


    In this twisted form, the monster had an otherworldly horror.


    Vagnard¡¯s upper body emerged from the top of the monster, retaining his previous appearance, with flesh connected at the waist, but his entire body covered in white scales.


    ¡°Ooooo¡­¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing such an eerie sight and the parts of her kin¡¯s body, Tiniya took a few steps back, instinctively hiding behind Cassius, letting out trembling low growls.


    At this moment, the White Dragon¡¯s fear of Vagnard even surpassed her hatred. After experiencing a century of torment, she felt such a lethal aura from this human for the first time.


    ¡°My ¡®Sleeping Beauty,¡¯ you actually broke free?¡±


    Surprise flashed in Vagnard¡¯s eyes, but then turned into a cold sneer.


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter, hehe, you cannot escape the fate of being devoured by me.¡±


    He turned to Cassius, showing a strange smile, ¡°As for you, Cassius Klaubow Noricus.¡±


    ¡°We finally meet officially.¡±


    ¡°You are really impolite, intruding into my territory, destroying my original body, and taking my experiment.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ your body will be the best compensation for me. I want to taste what Tiamat¡¯s pet is like, hahaha!¡±


    Vagnard¡¯s laughter echoed inside the tower, deafening, bringing a terrifying feeling of helplessness, ordinary mortals could even be scared to death by these eerie sound waves.


    Cassius did not answer, but silently and quickly used his Metamagic abilities to cast several protective spells in succession.


    [Undying Offender], [Protective Energy Damage], [Energy Scales]¡­


    Several shields, like countless stars, appeared on his body, combined with the effect of [Gilded Scales], boosting his protective capability to a fearsome extent,


    Ordinary attacks could not penetrate his heavy shields, let alone touch those inherently resistant scales.


    And the meticulously designed [Agile as a Dragon] reached its peak at this moment, granting Cassius a terrifying speed of up to 30 points.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    With an angry roar, the Red Dragon folded his wings, flying at an incredible speed that was hard to observe with the naked eye. He turned into a red afterimage, causing violent sonic booms in the tower.


    Carrying dazzling lightning, the Red Dragon seized the opportunity, darting like an arrow toward the monster¡¯s torso, while spitting scorching flames from his mouth.


    The stitcher beast¡¯s surface was instantly covered with a black energy shield, which was easily penetrated by the lightning and flames.


    Several White Dragon claws, wings, and tails attacked the Red Dragon, each part carrying eerie black energy that could devour dragon blood and turn it into its own, simultaneously eroding the dragon¡¯s spirit.


    But with [Aerial Maneuver Technique], Cassius only needed to flap his wings and sharply turn, leaving only an afterimage in place, letting those limbs miss their target.


    The Red Dragon over the monster¡¯s head poured out a scorching pillar of fire, intending to obliterate Vagnard¡¯s body in one go.


    [Extremely Effective Flame Breath]


    However, as a mage who had studied dragons for a century, Vagnard was not unprepared.


    His twisted limbs waved in the air, an invisible ring with strong spell fluctuations enveloped his body.


    [Breath Concealment Aura]


    The spell¡¯s power strangely allowed his body to dodge aside suddenly, evading the terrifying breath, leaving only a string of scorched marks on his skin.


    It was a spell specifically targeting dragons, granting a reflective dodge ability against breath attacks.


    But it was not over yet, Vagnard¡¯s remaining human body gently stroked the dragon¡¯s head in front of him, his whole body emitting a fine magical aura.


    [Advanced Dragon Avoidance]


    Dragon Avoidance is a well-known Seventh Tier Spell, preventing the target from being sensed by dragons.


    But after a century of research, Vagnard went a step further and developed a spell specifically against dragons, preventing all their senses. With these spells, he hunted White Dragons on the ice field, turning these genuine five-colored dragons into his experiments and materials.


    Cassius felt the space in front of him empty immediately, Vagnard disappeared without a trace. The Red Dragon¡¯s keen vision, sense of smell, and even instinct could no longer sense his presence.


    He could only rely on [Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye] to determine the position of the imminent attack.

 Chapter 221 - 146 Dragon Fans Lock

    Chapter 221: Chapter 146 Dragon Fan¡¯s Lock


    Cassius squinted his eyes, linking his consciousness to the Dragon¡¯s Eye.


    Instantly, he saw the White Dragon¡¯s head protrude from the void, spewing out Frost Breath.


    ¡°To the left.¡±


    He breathed flames in that direction in advance, then swung his claws, creating a flickering claw-shaped force field.


    As the White Dragon¡¯s head emerged, it was scorched black by the flames, immediately followed by three deep scratches from the Scratch Technique, causing blood to splatter.


    The Red Dragon then flapped its wings, pouncing forward like a ghost, attempting to seize the opponent¡¯s body. However, the monster vanished into the void again, leaving him grasping at air.


    ...


    Vagnard¡¯s detached voice echoed within the tower.


    ¡°Red Dragon, do you know why I call myself the Dragon Fan Black Wizard?¡±


    However, Cassius did not respond meaninglessly.


    He was concentrating all his energy into his lungs, preparing for a full-force breath to kill Vagnard the next time he showed himself.


    Seeing no response, Vagnard was not annoyed. He continued talking to himself. The unpredictable voice made it difficult for Cassius to pinpoint his location.


    ¡°I once succumbed to fate, no longer wanting to resist, merely maintaining a semblance of safety under the giant dragons¡¯ shadow. Haha, what a¡­ joke.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ the Red Dragon we served suddenly went mad! It breathed fire, killing everyone at the Dragon Shaman Cult¡¯s ritual, and swallowed Catherine whole before my eyes. I barely escaped with Spell.¡±


    ¡°After escaping, I frantically collected ancient secrets and even ventured to relics from thousands of years ago. Finally, I discovered¡­ what is called the Dragon Fan¡¯s Lock from a tome from the previous epoch.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s expression suddenly tensed.


    Dragon Fan¡¯s Lock.


    That was rumored to be the device that ended the giant dragons¡¯ rule.


    Over ten thousand years ago, before the giants¡¯ rule and the elves¡¯ war, dragons ruled all lesser races at will. Elves particularly resented the dragons¡¯ oppression and sought ways to free themselves from their yoke.


    After years of secret research in the frigid North and debates over cost and risk, the elves crafted the Dragon Fan¡¯s Lock, the permanent masterpiece of elven high magic and one of the most powerful spells.


    The Dragon Fan¡¯s Lock drove all dragons into a frenzy, causing havoc within their territories, slaughtering their offspring and servants, leaving only destruction in their wake, which was a major factor in the end of the giant dragons¡¯ rule.


    This ¡°Dragon Fan¡± erupted once every few decades or centuries, seemingly linked to the power of the ¡°Regicide Star¡± in the sky.


    ¡°You dare to use such forbidden power! Aren¡¯t you afraid of the Dragon Gods¡¯ wrath?¡±


    The Red Dragon gritted his teeth immediately.


    Because the situation had become uncontrollable, Dragon Fan¡¯s Lock, a deity-level spell, would bring disaster if even a bit contaminated.


    He finally understood why Vagnard had become so deranged. Researching such forbidden power and retaining any sanity was already considered lucky.


    However, Vagnard¡¯s voice continued.


    ¡°You¡¯re afraid, Cassius. Haha, starting and ending everything with the Red Dragon isn¡¯t a bad idea.¡±


    ¡°Dragons, greedy and lazy creatures with innate immense strength, fangs and claws that easily tear apart mortals, flames that can destroy cities effortlessly, and even possess unfathomable spellcasting ability.¡±


    ¡°Being Tiamat¡¯s favored one, you are even more so, Red Dragon. I have watched you since you were a wyrmling. I witnessed you grow into this colossal being in just ten years. Some of your methods are beyond my understanding.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ why?¡±


    The voice suddenly rose eight octaves, becoming fervent.


    ¡°Why do you get to change my fate at will?¡±


    ¡°Why should I willingly become your slave just because I was captured by the Dragon Shaman Cult?¡±


    ¡°They all say I¡¯m mad, but I know I¡¯m not. I spent a century of effort, even sacrificing my own daughter, to match up with you, or even¡­ surpass you and become greater than the Dragon Gods.¡±


    In the end, Vagnard¡¯s voice turned into maniacal laughter, overlapping with a Dragon¡¯s Roar and countless agonized wails.


    The powerful mana fluctuation made the ground tremble.


    Within the thirty levels of the Polar Night Demon Tower, monster roars echoed, their bodies filled with Dragon Veins¡¯ blood and grisly limbs transported up by an invisible force field, eventually merging into the void monster¡¯s body.


    With a booming sound, the tower¡¯s spire abruptly bloomed like a flower, revealing an endless dark night sky.


    This was Vagnard¡¯s Ninth Tier Spell¡ª


    [Regicide Star Phantom]


    In the night sky appeared a red comet like a malicious eye¡ªthe illusion of the Regicide Star.


    It seemed to sense Vagnard¡¯s call, becoming more solid and faintly flickered with red light, seemingly looking down on the giant dragons on earth with contempt.


    Vagnard had only invoked one ten-thousandth of the Dragon Fan¡¯s Lock¡¯s power, yet it gave Cassius immense pressure. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, the tower¡¯s top looked like an altar.


    Under the moonlight, the monster finally revealed his true form.


    He was no longer his former self but a combination of more Dragonified monster limbs¡ªa twisted creature with five white dragon heads atop, hundreds of limbs extending, six pairs of wings flanking, supporting the massive body, and twelve long tails like outreaching vines.


    And Vagnard¡¯s human head was embedded in the chest, giving an eerie sense of harmony.


    It turned out the five-headed dragon monster was just a failed material. This was his final experiment¡ªhimself.


    This twisted creature was modeled after Tiamat, consuming a century, countless lives, including five genuine White Dragons, and the power of the entire Polar Night Demon Tower to create.


    ¡°What a pity, with that White Dragon, I could have had six heads, surpassing Tiamat.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s fine. Now¡­ I have you.¡±


    All dragon and human heads spoke in unison, the layered voices echoing again. Six pairs of eyes fixated on Cassius, filled with endless fervor as if veiled by a faint red mist.


    ¡°Come, immerse yourself in the Dragon Fan with me!¡±


    Reason quickly vanished, leaving only a desire to destroy everything else.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The dragon heads roared madly in unison.


    Cassius tried to avoid looking at the glittering, increasingly solid red star in the night sky.


    But the frenzy power that spanned tens of millennia still influenced his mind, making him more reckless and irritable.


    He exerted all his strength to build a mental barrier, maintaining his sanity.


    ¡°The spell is not yet complete. Once that phantom fully materializes, I will also fall into the Dragon Fan. I must kill Vagnard completely before the spell is completed.¡±


    ¡°And during this time¡­¡±


    ¡°I must not be harmed.¡±


    From his inherited memory, he knew that under the influence of Dragon Fan, if a dragon was injured in battle, it would fall into a frenzy, madly attacking until either it or its enemy was dead.


    Thinking of this, Cassius flapped his wings and soared high into the sky, gazing down at the colossal monster occupying most of the tower top.

 Chapter 222 - 147: The End of the Battle

    Chapter 222: Chapter 147: The End of the Battle


    ¡°Look, what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Holy crap!¡±


    The members of the Royal Guild, who were hurrying on their way, all looked up. In the pitch-black night sky, red stars flickered.


    The Polar Night Demon Tower, their destination, was shaking violently. The top of the tower burst open and transformed into a broad platform.


    The familiar Red Dragon flapped its wings, ascending into the sky to confront the enormously twisted monster that occupied most of the tower top.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡ª¡±


    ...


    A gigantic roar echoed from the top of the tower, resounding through the sky.


    It made the mountains tremble and the ground quake. The birds and beasts, startled from their sleep, fled in panic, leaving the onlookers on the ground feeling lost and bewildered.


    ¡°Is this a CGI cutscene in the storyline?¡±


    ¡°Is the official event showing us a boss fight?¡±


    ¡°Holy shit, this is massive.¡±


    ¡°So after all our preparations, are we still going to enter the dungeon?¡±


    ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s just stop here and watch. We might have arrived too late. This¡­ this battle is definitely beyond our capabilities.¡±


    The leader of the Royal Guild, Tyrant, looked up at the roaring Red Dragon and the monstrous creature that waved countless limbs on the ground, muttering to himself.


    ¡­


    Cassius hovered high in the sky, spreading his wings as the Eye of the Storm King on his chest emitted a blinding light.


    Eighth Tier Spell¡ª¡ª


    Weather Control


    As he slowly flapped his wings, rolling clouds surged like tides, gradually shrouding the night sky and barely concealing the Regicide Star Phantom in the sky.


    But a faint red glow still seeped through the clouds.


    Cassius knew his spell would not last long. Once that phantom solidified, even a thousand layers of clouds couldn¡¯t block the higher-dimensional light of the Regicide Star Phantom.


    He had to kill Vagnard immediately!


    Fortunately, the being before him had already lost its sanity, reduced to a monster driven purely by instinct.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Endless lightning brewed within, and several bolts, as thick as bowls, struck down from the clouds, piercing the night like glaring spears to fiercely hit the twisted monster, blackening its body and severing several protruding claws.


    The monster wailed in agony, stretching its neck to bite frenziedly towards the sky and continuously spew out Frost Breath.


    But these attacks were effortlessly dodged by the Red Dragon.


    He moved like a red shadow, weaving through the clouds amidst the lightning.


    Cassius focused intently, channeling all his energy to his lungs through his internal blood vessels, preparing to unleash a fatal Breath. A faint glow emanated from the scales on his chest, hinting at the flames within.


    However, just as he concentrated on his Breath, a sudden attack came.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    A White Dragon¡¯s head abruptly jutted out from the clouds, snapping at Cassius. Its vertical pupils were filled with frenzy ¡ª It was Tiniya!


    This White Dragon was clearly uncontrollably trapped in Dragon Fan, in a berserk state where friend and foe couldn¡¯t be discerned, driven solely by the purest desire for destruction.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    In his energy-gathering state, Cassius couldn¡¯t dodge and had to brace against the attack.


    Cassius hadn¡¯t anticipated Tiniya¡¯s frenzy. A regular bite wouldn¡¯t have fazed him.


    But once wounded, even Cassius couldn¡¯t guarantee he wouldn¡¯t lose his sanity and become a berserk monster.


    He instinctively activated Gilded Scales, making his entire body¡¯s scales as hard as mithril in an instant.


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m here to help you!¡±


    It was Ramp, who had been maintaining invisibility since the beginning. As he was not fully a dragon, the Regicide Star had less effect on him.


    At this moment, he raised his Magic Wand, aiming at the Red Dragon.


    White Dragon¡¯s initial bite hit the hardened gilded scales, causing its mouth to recoil from the invisible Shield.


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    Several sharp teeth flew out with blood, scattering through the air.


    Cassius finally gathered all his energy, with flames flickering in his chest.


    At this critical moment, he could no longer care about the safety of his new retainer, he summoned several bolts of lightning, striking the mindless White Dragon and knocking it out of the sky.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The White Dragon fell to the ground, belly-up with trembling limbs, charred until it resembled a Black Dragon, but still breathing, though temporarily immobile.


    The monster, meanwhile, moved its dozens of menacing limbs towards the Red Dragon, all five heads roaring in unison.


    The Red Dragon utilized the magician¡¯s metamagic ability, casting a Sixth Tier Spell instantaneously.


    He concentrated all his vitality, selecting a specific scale on his chest as his Reverse Scale, making it glow softly.


    Undying Reverse Scale


    He aimed to use this ability to ensure his invulnerability and deliver the final blow to the monster.


    Cassius spread his wings and dived from the sky like an arrow.


    Under the effect of Weak Dragon, his body turned into a red blur again.


    The monster¡¯s claws and Breath attacked repeatedly, with thick red mist spreading around.


    But with the Aerial Maneuver Technique, the Red Dragon weaved, turned, and stopped abruptly amidst the storm-like assaults, moving like a ghostly charm through the attacks.


    Finally, Cassius slightly opened his jaws, with a blinding glow gathering deep in his throat.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    In an instant, a blazing white pillar of fire shot through several attacking limbs of the monster.


    He arrived at the monster¡¯s chest ¡ª where Vagnard¡¯s main body was located.


    As if sensing the Red Dragon¡¯s arrival, Vagnard¡¯s frantic eyes showed a hint of a smile, his right eye emitting a strange red beam.


    This was his final resort, an Eighth Tier triggered spell he left for himself before falling into Dragon Fan.


    Calamity Ray


    This ray, infused with a fragment of the Regicide Star¡¯s energy, could completely destroy a dragon¡¯s brain.


    However, Cassius foresaw this attack with the Foresight ability of the Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye, without hesitation he let his Reverse Scale intercept it.


    As the red beam made contact, the scale quickly shattered, and the film of vitality light enshrouded him, rendering the Red Dragon almost invincible.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    Cassius charged through the beam, fully extending his jaws and unleashing his Breath with all his might.


    This Breath released all of Cassius¡¯s energy, along with the elemental ores he had taken from the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s treasury, nearly constituting the most devastating Breath of his life.


    Due to the extreme temperature, the flame had turned nearly pure white.


    The blazing white pillar of fire instantly engulfed Vagnard¡¯s human head, piercing through the monster¡¯s massive body.


    Ultimately, the Breath created a massive, charred hole through its chest, penetrating front to back.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The monster thrashed violently but to no avail.


    With its core lifeless, the stitched-together heads, limbs, and wings all drooped powerlessly, and the monstrous, twisted body collapsed with a quake-like tremor.


    With the sound of metal breaking, the Polar Night Demon Tower slowly crumbled, turning into ruins.


    Cassius looked down from the sky, finally descending onto the monster¡¯s corpse, standing on the monstrous dragon head and roaring skyward.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The clouds dispersed, revealing the night sky once more.


    The Regicide Star Phantom in the night sky lost its magical guidance, gradually becoming illusory and eventually dissipating.


    All creatures affected by the spell and thrown into Dragon Fan slowly regained their sanity, their eyes gradually clearing.

 Chapter 223 - 148 Master of Dragons

    Chapter 223: Chapter 148 Master of Dragons


    ¡°Aoo¡­¡±


    In the distance, amidst the crumbling ruins, there came a weak roar.


    That was the young White Dragon, Tiniya.


    She was buried under the collapsed buildings, feeling pain all over her body. Her simple mind was unusually muddled, only remembering seeing a terrifying red star. Then, like falling into a dream, she only had some fragmented images left.


    The White Dragon, charred black all over but extraordinarily resilient, struggled to push aside the debris and dragged her scarred body out of the ruins.


    Her head, covered in tiny rocks, emerged as her eyes slowly opened.


    ...


    Her vertical pupils suddenly enlarged, and her jaw slightly dropped.


    At this moment, Tiniya saw a sight she would never forget in her entire life.


    ¡ª¡ªThe Red Dragon was standing on the colossal body of a monstrous beast, as large as mountains. He spread his wide wings and roared with overwhelming authority.


    The nearly twenty-meter-long muscular dragon body was covered with bright, armor-like, hard scales. The large, swept-back horns on his head resembled a crown, and the air was filled with the smell of sulfur.


    The monster beneath his feet emitted a familiar scent. It was her nemesis for a hundred years, Vagnard, who she had wanted to kill countless times.


    ¡°So big, so strong.¡±


    Tiniya thought excitedly.


    Her simple brain couldn¡¯t hold too many words, so these were the only ones she could think of.


    From birth, possessing a special bloodline, she had been the most powerful presence in her tribe. Her nestmates even starved to death because they couldn¡¯t snatch food from her mouth, leaving her as the sole hatchling. Even when her mother was killed and she was imprisoned in the Polar Night Demon Tower, Tiniya always held onto her instinctual pride, never bowing to these humble humans.


    But now, for the first time, the White Dragon saw an existence that she could truly look up to.


    The joy of her enemy being killed, the admiration for strength, and an indescribable emotion filled the young White Dragon¡¯s heart, making her heart pound and her short tail begin to sway.


    ¡°Is this White Dragon awake too¡­¡±


    Cassius also noticed the awakened White Dragon.


    The Red Dragon felt slightly relieved since she was the first genuine True Dragon retainer under his command, even though she was a bit of a ¡°white beast,¡± but at least she possessed a noble ancestral dragon bloodline.


    If she had been struck dead by his own lightning, it would have been a real shame.


    ¡°Although she almost got me killed, she is still a True Dragon.¡±


    Thinking of this, Cassius let out a low whistle. A golden beam of vitality descended from the sky, showering the White Dragon¡¯s scarred body and rapidly healing her wounds.


    [ Dragon¡¯s Breath ]


    However, this White Dragon had endured hundreds of years of bloodletting, flesh extraction, and experimentation by Vagnard, leaving her body extremely weak. If it was an ordinary White Dragon, she would have long met Tiamat by now. This spell could only barely heal her external wounds.


    ¡°Aoo!¡±


    Tiniya felt the gradually recovering vitality in her body and let out a joyful hum.


    She pulled her entire body out of the rubble, joyfully approaching Cassius. She bowed down, pressing her head against the ground in submission, exposing her vulnerable neck.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Cassius watched the White Dragon¡¯s wagging tail, suddenly a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over him, like when he saw the family dog as a child.


    But he still tried to maintain a dignified posture and said to the White Dragon:


    ¡°Cassius Klaubow Norixius, your future master, remember this name.¡±


    Tiniya lifted her head slightly, nervously uttering the first Draconic words she had learned.


    ¡°Mas¡­ter¡­¡±


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    Cassius was quite pleased with this.


    Due to the magical nature of True Dragons, their mutual submission was contractual, forming effects similar to the classic Seventh Tier spell [Dragonkin Oath].


    This proved that the White Dragon¡¯s submission was genuine and heartfelt.


    Hearing the response, Tiniya was overwhelmingly happy.


    ¡°Master!¡±


    She repeated the somewhat unfamiliar Draconic word.


    The White Dragon eagerly approached, licking the Red Dragon¡¯s claws and rubbing her scaly face against his sturdy foreleg, seemingly expressing affection. Her tail kept wagging.


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but pull back his foreleg, a strange feeling rising in his heart.


    ¡°Could it be¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°This White Dragon is in heat?¡±


    Having no time for these trivial matters, Cassius looked at the interface, which had long since refreshed with many messages. He had been focused on the tense battle from start to finish, without paying attention.


    Now he could finally browse the refreshed interface messages.


    [ Achievement Unlocked: Master of Dragons ]


    [Master of Dragons]


    ¡°Dragons are usually proud creatures. To become their master, you may need to spend hundreds of years raising one from an egg. Even the weakest White Dragon often turns on those who naively and arrogantly think themselves as ¡®masters.¡¯ Unless you possess far stronger power than the dragon, never attempt to make a dragon submit.


    However, sometimes a stronger dragon becomes the master of other dragons, which often happens among the evil five-colored dragons. ¡ª¡ª Aloisius, Dragon Scholar¡±


    Unlocked Passive Trait:


    [Thin Ancestral Dragon Bloodline]


    [You trace back the bloodline of over ten thousand years ago, feeling the remnants of ancient giant dragons.


    Your body will grow larger, your breath will become more deadly, and your form will approach those ancient and mighty ancestor giant dragons. Your retainers will also share in this great honor, gaining further evolution.]


    Cassius felt powerful seeds of strength enter his body, flowing through the burning blood vessels of dragon blood, eager to grow and be released.


    He closed his eyes slightly, countless visions of the past appearing in his mind.


    Those mountain-sized, various-shaped giant dragons roared, spreading their thousand-meter-wide, sky-covering wings. It was hard to imagine such immense life forms once existed in the world.


    Farther away, there were endless colorful metallic disks, symbols of the Nine-Faced Dragon God Ao.


    In the dragon heritage passed down through generations, God Ao chose to focus his will, not only to live in an elemental world but also to bestow the mortal bloodline with the life and soul of elements themselves. To harbor the terrifying power of the living elements, Ao had to use tremendous strength and resilience to shape the mortal bloodline.


    Thus, he created the most powerful mortal creatures: dragons. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was also the origin of the original ancestor dragons, some of whom were on par with deities, including the now-famous Dragon Queen Tiamat and the Platinum Dragon King Bahamut.


    Cassius¡¯s body trembled slightly, finally feeling the weight of this power.


    ¡°This is the ancestral dragon¡­¡±


    ¡°So why has it come to this?¡±


    Today¡¯s dragons had thin bloodlines, weakened countless times, yet they remained immensely powerful, holding a significant place in various realms. This made Cassius think of the ancient glory of dragonkin rule.

 Chapter 224 - 149: Promotion and Magic Withering

    Chapter 224: Chapter 149: Promotion and Magic Withering


    ¡°Such enviable power.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but marvel. In front of the illusions of those Ancestral Dragons, even Tiamat¡¯s terrifying form seemed to be lacking something.


    But he speculated that the Dragon Queen probably did not look the same in ancient times. How could the deity of the giant dragons who ruled the world be just an ordinary weak divine power?


    However, this was just his speculation.


    Cassius looked at the panel again, which had refreshed with many more lines of information.


    [You have killed the [Dragon Fan Black Wizard ¨C Vagnard (Challenge Level: 16)] and earned 15000xp]


    ...


    [You have killed the [White Dragon Centaur]¡­]


    [You have killed the [White Dragon Gnoll]¡­]


    ¡­


    [You have killed the [Vagnard¡¯s Dragon-Mania Spawn (Challenge Level: 19)] and earned 22000xp]


    This destruction of the Polar Night Demon Tower awarded him a huge amount of experience, totaling fifty thousand. Adding the twenty thousand experience from killing [Soleim¡¯s Incarnation of Winter] a while ago, he had enough to level up again with some surplus. Most of this experience was derived from Vagnard and the monsters he transformed into, while those dragonified creatures killed along the way also accumulated a lot of experience.


    If Cassius were an ordinary player template, without the level cap, this experience would be enough to push him straight to Level 15.


    [You have chosen to level up [True Dragon Sorcerer] to Level 12]


    [With innate spellcasting of the dragonkin, your current casting level is: 15]


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but lick his lips in anticipation, sulfur-smelling smoke puffing out of his nostrils.


    Reaching a casting level of fifteen was a new milestone for a True Dragon Sorcerer. It meant he could now cast Eighth Tier spells without external assistance.


    Exploring the eighth layer of the Magic Web was a level that countless mages couldn¡¯t attain even in a lifetime.


    [Gained additional Dragon¡¯s Spell [Magic Withering]]


    [Magic Withering]


    Eighth Tier Enchantment


    [The dragon shoots an antimagic ray from one raised claw. The dragon must make a touch attack to hit a target creature. If successful, the ray dispels all effects caused by spells, spell-like abilities, or magical items on the target. Additionally, magical items carried by the target become permanently demagicked unless they succeed in a Will save.]


    Cassius¡¯s breathing became rapid.


    Antimagic, removal of magical effects, and demagicking of magical items.


    ¡°This is¡­ the dragonkin version of Mordenkainen¡¯s Disjunction?¡±


    [Mordenkainen¡¯s Disjunction] was a famous spell in his past life. Once, a daring mage player snuck into a deity¡¯s church and disjoined a holy chalice into an ordinary cup, triggering the deity¡¯s curse ¡°as desired.¡±


    He was chased and killed by the church¡¯s legendary guardians over a hundred times, before signing a slave contract to work for three hundred years just to survive.


    And this spell was extremely powerful for Cassius as well.


    [Spell Nullification Barrier] only blocked spells of the Fifth Tier or lower. It had long fallen behind his combat level advancements.


    His current opponents were Frost Giant Chieftains and Vagnard, beings nearly at the Legendary Level. They had countless means above the Sixth Tier, and [Magic Withering] undoubtedly gave his antimagic abilities a qualitative leap.


    If he had Magic Withering before, there wouldn¡¯t have been a need to collect intelligence and meticulously plan with Ramp; he could have just flat-out dismantled the Polar Night Demon Tower.


    [Gained additional Dragon¡¯s Spell [All-Knowing Eye]]


    [All-Knowing Eye]


    Fourth Tier Divination, Transmutation


    [The dragon¡¯s eyes flash briefly with bright light, opening its mind to every object nearby. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    You gain immense vision, allowing you to see everything clearly in the surrounding area and become immune to blindness effects.


    Furthermore, if you have target vision, you can cast the Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp Effect on any invisible creature or object nearby, though doing so ends the All-Knowing Eye immediately.]


    ¡°A very interesting spell, a combination of divination and transmutation. Though the spell rank is not high, the effect is obvious.¡±


    This was Cassius¡¯s assessment.


    Though the Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye was good, being a Seventh Tier spell, it could only be cast twice a day given his casting level. The All-Knowing Eye compensated for this shortfall, proving effective in situations where ¡°using a sledgehammer to crack a nut¡± wasn¡¯t necessary, conserving his already scarce spell slots.


    As information refreshed, the vast spell knowledge flowed into Cassius¡¯s mind, causing his brain, just recovered from resisting the Dragon Mania, to ache slightly.


    Although he had already cast Eighth and even Ninth Tier spells using the Eye of the Storm King in the past, that was with external aid. He was more like an indirect, foolproof operator using the Eye as a medium to cast spells. Now, he needed to rely solely on his own will to control the Eighth Tier spells, a world of difference between the two.


    It had only been a few months since he first mastered Seventh Tier spells. His ascent was simply rocket-like.


    And as a Dragon Sorcerer, the number of spells he memorized far exceeded that of ordinary sorcerers.


    Ordinary sorcerers specialized in a few spells, more like magical artillery, needing only their confidence to influence and cast spells. Mages humorously referred to them as ¡°barbarians with magic wands,¡± but this required expertise and understanding to support the spells.


    Simply put.


    Cassius¡¯s intelligence wasn¡¯t quite up to the task.


    Thankfully, at Level 12, he had the opportunity to enhance his attributes every four levels.


    [Your occupational level has increased to 12. You can choose to upgrade 2 points of normal attributes, 1 point of special attributes (for attributes above 20), or an additional feat.]


    [Choose to increase intelligence to 16]


    With the influx of invisible power to his mind, Cassius immediately felt clear-headed. His memory, analytical ability, and logical thinking improved substantially; his intelligence finally leaped to¡ªclose to the level of Ramp from seven years ago, though it sounded a bit strange.


    His headache eased slightly.


    Cassius carefully browsed the [Magic Withering] in his mind. This Eighth Tier Dragon¡¯s Spell was similar to the Spell Nullification Barrier but much more complex by an order of magnitude.


    He expected it to take several months to fully master the spell.


    After all, Red Dragons were considered magical creatures, and if he didn¡¯t master the spell properly and ended up disjoining himself with an antimagic ray, it would absolutely become a joke to be widely spread among Metal Dragons, one that could make Bahamut laugh out loud.


    ¡°Finally, it¡¯s over.¡±


    The Red Dragon finished digesting the basic spell knowledge, regained his senses, and slowly opened his eyes.


    He was stunned to find¡ªTiniya had already licked his forepaw clean, the long claws shining with a luster, the rough tongue almost polishing the surface to a patina.


    ¡°Roar roar¡«¡±


    The White Dragon looked up at him innocently, her tongue slightly sticking out, tail wagging, eyes full of eagerness.


    Cassius: ¡°¡­¡±


    It seemed that wild White Dragons indeed lacked manners and needed a thorough makeover!

 Chapter 225 - 150 Tiniyas Wind Making Spell

    Chapter 225: Chapter 150 Tiniya¡¯s Wind Making Spell


    Northwind Castle, inside the Council Hall.


    ¡°Your Majesty, that is the current situation.¡±


    ¡°Forgive my incompetence¡­¡±


    ¡°Lord Ramp said he neither had the ability nor the authority to restrain Lady Tiniya, so he could only confine her here temporarily and wait for your return to make a decision.¡±


    The Tiefling Guard Captain, Damacus, stood before the Red Dragon, head bowed, and reported respectfully.


    Cassius looked at the White Dragon rummaging through the hall and making a complete mess, his face darkening slightly as he began to suspect that this White Dragon¡¯s ancestral lineage came from some kind of dog called a husky.


    ...


    He had only been away for two days experimenting with spells, and no one in Northwind Castle could restrain Tiniya. Those Great Goblins and Tiefling Guards were entirely dismissed by the White Dragon. Even Ramp was exasperated by this and could only use the Force Wall Technique to confine this troublesome creature in the hall.


    After all, to this White Dragon with a thin ancestral bloodline, these little creatures were just tasty ¡°meat.¡± Only other dragons could be seen as equals.


    Fortunately, the constraints of the Dictator¡¯s Rule were in place. Otherwise, she might have curiously eaten some humans for a snack.


    ¡°Tiniya, stop that at once.¡±


    Hearing the familiar voice and sensing the anger in Cassius¡¯s tone, the White Dragon immediately quieted down, obediently sitting on the ground, looking entirely different from her previous tantrum-manifesting self.


    ¡°Is this how you behave when I¡¯m away?¡±


    ¡°Where is your dignity as a dragon?¡±


    ¡°Master¡­¡±


    Tiniya cautiously retracted her wings, lowered her head, and whimpered as if begging for forgiveness.


    Cassius looked around at the scattered scrolls and shattered bookshelves, his anger rising, and proceeded to pin down the white giant dragon for a furious beating.


    ¡°For defying the rules! For tearing apart the place!¡±


    Even though she possessed an ancestral dragon bloodline and was older, the gap between a Red Dragon and a White Dragon was too vast. Moreover, Cassius was a variant dragon with a highly traced bloodline, far larger than other Red Dragons of the same age.


    Thus, to the White Dragon, his strength was crushing.


    Not only was his body several sizes bigger, but the Red Dragon¡¯s thick limbs and tail were nearly twice as large as this lean White Dragon.


    ¡°Whack! Whack! Whack!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Red Dragon used its left paw to pin her neck to the ground, while the right paw continuously slapped her, producing loud, crisp sounds.


    ¡°Aow¡ª¡±


    Tiniya lay on the ground, unable to move, and could only howl, her tail held high, yet she dared not and could not fight back.


    Having been confined in the tower for a century, her combat ability was mediocre, but her endurance of pain was maxed out. After howling a few times, Tiniya found that it wasn¡¯t as painful as anticipated and even became somewhat accustomed to it.


    Her simple, single-threaded mind started to ponder things other than pain.


    ¡°So big, so strong.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s normal to be beaten by such a powerful dragon.¡±


    Tiniya slightly turned her head, watching the muscular arm that firmly pinned her down, then closed her eyes, thinking to herself.


    ¡°It seems a good beating is necessary. White Dragons, these beasts, only respond to force, like wild dogs.¡±


    Just as Cassius was embracing this dog-training philosophy to vent his frustration, he suddenly noticed something strange about this female dragon¡¯s expression.


    Contrary to his expectation, her face, which he deemed passable in dragon aesthetics, did not show pain and regret.


    Instead, it bore some kind of¡­dark satisfaction?


    Cassius: ¡°¡­¡±


    Could this White Dragon have awakened some peculiar attribute?


    The Red Dragon released his paw, stepped back a few paces, and gazed at the perverted White Dragon with shock.


    Tiniya still seemed immersed in the one-sided beating, her body pressed to the floor, tail raised, moaning softly without feeling the expected pain.


    So she opened her eyes in surprise, meeting Cassius¡¯s gaze directly.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    This White Dragon had been beaten black and blue; the ground was even littered with broken teeth and scales. Cassius certainly hadn¡¯t held back, using sixty to seventy percent of his strength.


    ¡°Oww~¡±


    Yet she still wagged her tail ingratiatingly, her eyes even showing¡­a strong sense of anticipation.


    Cassius¡¯s furious ¡°lesson¡± caused the ground to tremble slightly. The uninformed residents of Northwind Castle thought an earthquake had occurred, stirring up chaos in the city until the Tiefling City Guard arrived to barely calm the situation.


    ¡°Owooo¡­¡±


    Tiniya lowered her head, gently rubbing her body as if to apologize proactively.


    Cassius sighed with a grim face, struggling to maintain his sternness as he gave orders:


    ¡°Clean this mess up.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t let me find you destroying anything again, understand?¡±


    Facing this perverted White Dragon, he hardly had a better way to manage her.


    Was she loyal as a retainer?


    Beyond doubt, as the Dragonkin Oath of the Magic Web never lied, but she was also quite a nuisance.


    One must know, according to the dragonkin legacy, White Dragons scorn interactions with others of their kind, except for the opposite sex. They inclined towards physical pleasures and often mated solely for the joy of it. And this particular White Dragon¡ªseemed to have found a unique pleasure.


    Carefully, she opened her jaws a little, breathed out gentle breezes that swept the debris on the ground.


    ¡°Aow¡ª¡±


    She raised her head proudly, emitting a triumphant hum as if seeking praise.


    Cassius felt the slight ripples in the Magic Web within his domain and was immediately astonished.


    ¡°Is this¡­the Wind Making Spell?¡±


    ¡°This smarty White Dragon can even cast spells?¡±


    It¡¯s known that older White Dragons share similar intelligence with humans and typically gain the lowest casting level only at adulthood. Before then, they¡¯d barely manage a Cloud Mist Technique, yet this White Dragon could already perform a Wind Making Spell, a spell that¡¯s a lofty Second Tier.


    Cassius opened the retainer panel to check.


    [White Dragon with extremely thin ancestral lineage ¨C Tiniya]


    [Challenge Level: 10]


    [Dragonkin Innate Casting Level: 5]


    This meant she could learn Third Tier spells.


    This level of innate spellcasting, for an ordinary White Dragon, was only achievable at old age. Tiniya, however, had reached it at a youthful stage, indicating extraordinary talent.


    Even White Dragons, known for their shameful intelligence as ¡°white beasts,¡± could cast spells, no wonder Mages referred to Magicians as ¡°barbarians with magic wands.¡±


    Dragonkin¡¯s innate spellcasting is equivalent to Magician Levels, with spell release entirely reliant on their ¡°deep thinking¡± power, impacting the Magic Web through sheer confidence.


    ¡°Truly the bloodline of the Ancestral Dragon.


    ¡°Even the so-called extremely thin bloodline brings a qualitative enhancement.¡±


    Thinking this, Cassius casually summoned a Magic Mirror to contact Ramp, who was researching in the Mage Tower.

 Chapter 226 - 151: Steel Palace

    Chapter 226: Chapter 151: Steel Palace


    As the magical aura flickered, Ramp¡¯s ugly face appeared once again on the mirror, filled with the joy of a bountiful harvest.


    ¡°Master, you have arrived just in time.¡±


    ¡°This time, we have looted the Polar Night Demon Tower¡¯s inventory and found over a hundred spell scrolls among the ruins, including one Ninth Tier spell, two Eighth Tier spells, three Seventh Tier spells, five Sixth Tier spells, and eleven Fifth Tier spells, most of which are necromancy and enchantment spells. As for the lower-tier spells, they are too numerous to count.


    Ramp took a piece of parchment handed over by a subordinate, put on gold-framed glasses, and continued reading:


    ¡°The sole Ninth Tier spell is the ¡®Regicide Star Phantom¡¯ cast by Vagnard before his death, sealed in the tower¡¯s underground with various vicious necromancy spells. It took us dozens of casualties to retrieve it. For such a significant item, I dare not make a decision on my own and have re-sealed it as a forbidden artifact in accordance with your instructions, preparing to send it to your treasury.¡±


    ¡°Additionally, we found hundreds of Dragon Vein experimental subjects and a vast amount of research data in the tower. I must say, Vagnard had a profound understanding of Dragon Veins. I have worked tirelessly day and night these past few days to summarize portions of this confidential material and seal it into the kingdom¡¯s archives.¡±


    ...


    ¡°The kingdom¡¯s spellcasters are still conducting further research on it, which is expected to take three to five years to fully digest these research findings.¡±


    ¡°This quarter, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s social order has gradually stabilized, the economy has steadily recovered, and various taxes have reached fifty-two thousand¡­¡±


    The ogre mage adjusted his glasses and continued excitedly, his words pouring out in a torrent.


    ¡°Moreover, we have already developed¡­¡±


    As Cassius listened, he was almost about to yawn. Despite his intelligence reaching 16, being bombarded with so much information at once still made him a bit irritable. As a naturally lazy red dragon, he was more accustomed to being a hands-off ruler, leaving the kingdom¡¯s affairs to his subordinates. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So, he immediately interrupted Ramp.


    ¡°Summarize all of this and present it to me as a written report in a couple of days. Don¡¯t waste my time here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±


    Seemingly aware of the red dragon¡¯s impatience, Ramp quickly shut his mouth and respectfully responded.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t summon you here for these trivial matters¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    A head poked out from beside the red dragon¡ªTiniya was curiously looking at the image in the magic mirror.


    Seeing the white dragon¡¯s head, Ramp¡¯s face froze for a moment, immediately understanding the red dragon¡¯s intent in summoning him.


    This white dragon had indeed caused him quite some trouble. As a noble True Dragon, even Ramp, the loyal retainer of the red dragon, dared not easily provoke her. But as the kingdom¡¯s regent minister, he couldn¡¯t stand idly by while she damaged buildings. In the end, he had no choice but to use the Force Wall Technique to confine her.


    Ramp¡¯s mind raced, instantly thinking of several scenarios, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.


    After weighing his options, Ramp sincerely admitted his mistake:


    ¡°Master, I am truly incompetent, unable to properly accommodate Lady Tiniya, so I could only confine her with spells. If you find it inappropriate, I can¡­¡±


    Cassius frowned, interrupting him once again:


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to hold you accountable.¡±


    ¡°Then what do you mean¡­¡±


    Ramp took out a golden silk handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    Cassius signaled to Tiniya beside him, and the white dragon immediately caught on, blowing a smug breath of wind.


    ¡°Tiniya has innate spellcasting abilities. I hope you can teach her some practical spells, such as the Shape-shifting Spell and Invisibility Spell. Also, it would be best if you could teach her¡­ the most basic etiquette of the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Ramp¡¯s expression froze.


    After a long silence, he finally forced a strained smile, his forehead drenched with sweat.


    ¡°Lady Tiniya is very talented, but¡­¡±


    For the past decade, the Dragon Vein Ogre Mage had exhausted himself trying to reform the ¡°Smarty¡± ogres in his tribe, and it took a lot of effort to see some improvement. Now, he faced an even more stubborn and powerful white dragon, who couldn¡¯t be beaten or scolded, making him feel suffocated.


    ¡°I will do my best.¡±


    Seeing the red dragon¡¯s uncompromising gaze, Ramp put on a smile worse than crying.


    ¡°I will gather the kingdom¡¯s spellcasters periodically, utilizing the kingdom¡¯s entire strength to train Lady Tiniya, ensuring we live up to your expectations.¡±


    After a moment of thought, Ramp finally thought of a way to share the responsibility, unhesitatingly passing this troublesome task to all the kingdom¡¯s spellcasters. After all, he couldn¡¯t suffer alone.


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly.


    Meanwhile, Tiniya looked at the magical image curiously, not understanding any of this.


    Cassius seemed to recall something and asked Ramp, ¡°By the way, is my palace construction complete?¡±


    He naturally referred to the ¡°Steel Dragonwing Palace¡± on the outskirts of town. The red dragon felt the need to hibernate to digest the power of his Ancestral Dragon Bloodline. Hibernating in Northwind Castle was dangerous, as it might inadvertently turn half the city into volcanic magma fields.


    Ramp replied, ¡°We consumed a large amount of faction contribution, dispatched more than three hundred Starfallen, and deployed twenty-seven Frost Giant slaves. They worked day and night, and aside from some additional decorations, the palace is essentially complete. But for some reason, the Starfallen have recently been very eager to accept tasks.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself, naturally, it¡¯s because the server is about to close, and these players want to make the most of their last chance.


    ¡°Good, I understand.¡±


    ¡°Master, I will go prepare the report now.¡±


    Ramp respectfully took his leave. Once the red dragon left the screen, he cut off the magical image.


    Cassius then walked out of the hall and took to the sky, flying towards the outskirts, with the white dragon following closely behind.


    The brand-new ¡°Steel Dragonwing Palace¡± finally appeared before him.


    Constructed against a mountain, the palace was incredibly majestic and magnificent.


    The main hall of the palace stood nearly thirty meters high, housing a massive steel throne. The side halls were similarly grand, resembling broad dragon wings.


    Relying on the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s abundant resources, the immense strength of Frost Giant slaves, and the diverse methods of the players, such a palace was built in just a few months.


    Cassius even saw several tower cranes made by the Mechanical God Cult, momentarily making him think he had returned to his original world.


    However, for Cassius, the palace was just a facade. His true nest was in a warm cave dug into the mountain, with enough space to accommodate his hibernation.


    But beside him, Tiniya waved her wings, revealing fear on her face.


    Because she sensed a familiar spell fluctuation¡ªthat of Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Array, a powerful Eighth Tier spell that had bound her for a hundred years.


    This undoubtedly stirred deep-seated fear within Tiniya.


    The unused array from ¡°Grey Hawk¡± was quietly placed in the left side hall.


    Cassius finally revealed his true purpose for this visit. He grabbed the white dragon by the neck, ignoring her struggles, and brought her to the array.


    The red dragon pressed her head against the array, smiling menacingly:


    ¡°Cause trouble again, and I¡¯ll lock you up for another hundred years.¡±


    ¡°Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡ª¡±


    Tiniya flailed her wings wildly, letting out a panicked scream.

 Chapter 227 - 152: Arrangements from All Parties

    Chapter 227: Chapter 152: Arrangements from All Parties


    Inside the Steel Dragonwing Palace, Cassius lay sprawled on the throne, exhaling a breath of sulfur-laden heat.


    ¡°By now, the players should be leaving soon.¡±


    ¡°When the game officially opens, it will be four years from now.¡±


    All the facilities that were originally in the Council Hall were moved here intact.


    Especially the incredibly rich collections in the Red Dragon Treasury, which were being continuously transported to the deepest part of the cavern by immensely powerful Frost Giant slaves under strict surveillance. Even so, it took several days to complete. Those poor slaves were even blindfolded, only able to follow the overseers¡¯ instructions to move the treasures.


    Tens of thousands of gold coins were piled like mountains, adorned with crystal-clear gems and crystals of various colors. Over a hundred magic equipment pieces gleamed brightly, scattered all around were vast amounts of elemental ores, and even the extremely rare Ninth Tier Spell Scrolls were hidden among the treasures¡ªthis was the Red Dragon¡¯s treasure trove.


    ...


    All the entrances to the cavern had been sealed off with rocks created by spells, and the only accessible point was locked with a High Rank Arcane Lock. The entrance was further protected by dozens of hidden guardian inscriptions, and outside the main gate were over a hundred fully armed Great Goblin guards, capable of killing any unwelcome guest. The Red Dragon even somewhat hoped for adventurers to come, as it might increase his inventory.


    Ramp originally wanted to name the structure ¡°Dragon King¡¯s Treasure Mountain,¡± but for certain reasons, Cassius changed it.


    As the most greedy of dragons, the Red Dragon was quite proud of this.


    Sometimes he would take out some gold coins from the treasury to eat, increasing the gold element in his body, and thereby enriching his gilded scales. Tiniya, a fellow dragon, could never understand this and often questioned her existence as a dragon, wondering how any dragon could be extravagant enough to swallow precious gold coins.


    At the palace gate, Tiefling guards patrolled back and forth, and there were even bipedal wyverns perched on the watchtowers outside the palace. Any intruder without permission would be torn to pieces.


    At this moment, Cassius was reviewing the report presented by Ramp.


    Having integrated the lands originally belonging to the Rackman and Norton Duchies, along with the previously held Stormy Ridge and newly occupied glacier regions, the total area now covered nearly two hundred thousand square kilometers. But these areas were mostly sparsely populated; even counting the Dragon Vein Descendants, there were only about four hundred thousand citizens.


    Given the medieval level of productivity, the Ashen Kingdom was already struggling to manage this vast territory. Population census, tax collection, and other administrative tasks were proceeding in an orderly manner, but it was estimated to take several more years to fully establish.


    Ramp had learned a lot of advanced management knowledge from the players, but how to adapt it to local conditions remained a challenge.


    Due to the vast territories and reliance on war, the Rackman Duchy¡¯s princes and great nobles owned large heritable lands. They forced the poor to perform labor, forming the so-called ¡°serfdom,¡± and established economic and legal systems based on labor-driven manors. This was not unique; almost all Northern Countries¡¯ duchies adopted this seemingly backward system, at least ensuring their noble private armies¡¯ fighting power, benefiting from the conflicts.


    However, this was clearly unsuitable for the current Ashen Kingdom. After all, most of the former nobles had been slaughtered by the enraged Tieflings, and even the thousands of serfs on the Rackman family¡¯s manor were declared free. The Red Dragon was more inclined to establish a centralized empire.


    ¡°Hah¡ª¡±


    Looking at these tedious data, Cassius could not help but yawn.


    Fortunately, he did not need to be overly distracted by these matters, only needing to give general directions and act as a figurehead. The real headaches fell to the ruling ministers, whose days would become even tougher during the players¡¯ absence.


    Just at this moment, a Tiefling guard reported at the door.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Lord Mezulash has arrived.¡±


    ¡°Let him in.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The heavy palace doors slowly opened, and Mezulash walked in with steady steps, calmly kneeling before Cassius.


    ¡°How did the task I assigned you go?¡±


    ¡°I have successfully completed the handover with that player. As per your instructions, I found some humans of clear background who had suffered oppression from the Rackman Duchy as the candidates for the ¡®Nocturne¡¯ unit. They will become the kingdom¡¯s sharpest daggers in the night.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Cassius had decided to entrust the leadership of the ¡°Nocturne¡± to Mezulash. This was partly because the Tiefling tribes were already tied to the kingdom¡¯s chariot, making betrayal impossible.


    It was also because Mezulash was always decisive in killing and had the power to control undead, making him not averse to dealing with such shady activities.


    After all, players were too uncontrollable, especially notorious ones like Swashbuckler. It was better to let him be a mascot. Assassination and raid missions were fine, but the truly secret matters could never be entrusted to them.


    But Cassius did not know the story behind this ¡°successful¡± handover. Swashbuckler had howled and even challenged Mezulash to a duel, ending up beaten black and blue before conceding defeat. The gathered players watched gleefully, clapping and cheering.


    ¡°The task of collecting intelligence on the various duchies should be put on the agenda. After the training is completed, you will dispatch these vampires to the Northern Countries. As the kingdom¡¯s realm expands, we cannot rely solely on the intelligence of those serpentfolk.¡±


    Cassius paused and then continued:


    ¡°Four years, within four years, I want to see detailed intelligence on all countries.¡±


    ¡°As for the additional funding, I¡¯ll write an order for you. You can go to the ruling ministers for it.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Mezulash responded respectfully.


    His expression was calm, showing neither joy nor dismay, simply following orders.


    For a Tiefling, this assignment undoubtedly expanded his power. Cassius¡¯s plans for ¡°Nocturne¡± were not limited to external targets. This would give Mezulash leverage over other factions but also attract suspicion and hostility.


    But this was insignificant, as the kingdom¡¯s power structure was extremely simple, built on extreme individual might. As long as he clung firmly to the Red Dragon¡¯s massive pillar-like leg, any trouble could be easily resolved.


    Mezulash was well aware of this and often led by example.


    Recently, the kingdom had been booming with various matters following closely. As soon as Mezulash left, the Tiefling guards at the door reported again.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Lord Frederick from the Hall of Dragon Oath requests an audience.¡±


    ¡°So many things are happening lately that there¡¯s no time to rest.¡±


    Cassius opened his eyes, which had just begun to close, and slowly lifted his head, exhaling a cloud of gray smoke with some impatience.


    But the Red Dragon still said:


    ¡°Let him in.¡±

 Chapter 228 - 153 Grand Clothing Celebration

    Chapter 228: Chapter 153 Grand Clothing Celebration


    The square of Northwind Castle was already bustling with activity.


    ¡°The best red wine from Northwind Castle!¡±


    ¡°Frost Wolf Fur Coat, a luxurious decoration for the northern nobility.¡±


    ¡°Rackman Fine Steel Greatsword, the former most beloved weapon of the ruler of Northwind Castle! Now selling with tears in my eyes, only 180 gold coins!¡±


    ¡°Looking for teammates to play after the server opens, no Wild Sorcerers! No Wild Sorcerers!¡±


    ¡°Guild recruiting! Magic Coin, the fantasy world for all mage master enthusiasts.¡±


    ...


    Players gathered as if celebrating a festival, shouting incessantly. They wore garish outfits, or even no clothes at all, and celebrated loudly on the square, striking some indecent poses.


    Even those residents who were accustomed to the chaos of Starfallen quickly shut their doors and windows, fearing their children would be corrupted by this group of crazies.


    However, many city folks who smelled business opportunities set up stalls in the square, ready to rip off this group of inexplicably excited players.


    Mantou sat on the back of a bipedal wyvern, overlooking the singing and dancing players, feeling a mix of emotions.


    ¡°Sigh, the beta test is finally ending. I feel a bit reluctant.¡±


    ¡°What are you getting so emotional about? We¡¯ll be back in a month.¡±


    Singo took a sip of wine and couldn¡¯t help but mutter.


    Mantou retorted, ¡°What do you know? I¡¯m reluctant to part with Noodle. I¡¯ll be back in a month, but according to the official announcement, four years will pass in Airez by then.¡±


    He stroked the long neck of the wyvern and muttered:


    ¡°Noodle, Noodle, in these four years, you must behave and wait for me. Don¡¯t go looking for other knights. Such disgraceful behavior is called a Minotaur in my hometown, and it¡¯s a very serious crime¡­¡±


    ¡°Awoooo¡ª¡±


    The bipedal wyvern let out a cheerful howl, obviously not understanding what he was saying.


    Singo heard Mantou¡¯s words and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, nearly spitting out his drink upon seeing Mantou¡¯s serious expression.


    Only then did Mantou notice the finely packaged cocktail in his hand, his eyes widened with disbelief.


    ¡°What the¡­ are you crazy? Have you been possessed too?¡±


    ¡°Why are you making a fuss?¡±


    Singo glanced disdainfully and continued savoring his drink.


    Mantou, enumerating like a treasure, said:


    ¡°This is the famous ¡®Fire Witch¡¯s Kiss¡¯ from the Sleeping Mermaid Tavern, reputed to be the most expensive drink. Just one bottle costs twenty gold coins and is said to provide the stimulating sensation of being tangled with a succubus, yet it offers no enhancement at all.


    ¡°Someone like you, who only cares about increasing strength, buying something purely for enjoyment!¡±


    He drew his sword and pointed it at Singo, righteously questioning:


    ¡°Speak! Who are you? Where is the real Xin Dog?¡±


    Singo sneered and said, ¡°Stop acting crazy. This is a rare item personally given to me by Alger to reward my contribution to the Red Scale Conqueror.¡±


    ¡°How about it, want a sip?¡±


    Mantou¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, his face turning extremely obsequious.


    ¡°Xin Dog¡­ no, Father Xin, I¡¯ll just have a taste.¡±


    ¡°Alright, look at you, so unpromising. Let me call War Maniac and Autumn Rain, and we¡¯ll find a tavern to drink until the server closes.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, if you don¡¯t let me drink, be careful, I¡¯ll report you for drunk driving.¡±


    The two of them landed on the ground, skillfully dismounting the wyvern.


    ¡°Hey, you guys are here.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain and Natural War Maniac had been waiting here for a long time, even Swashbuckler, who had been beaten black and blue, was there.


    Mantou was a bit puzzled, ¡°Brother Lang, you have insider info. Where did the Mechanical God Cult people go? I haven¡¯t seen any of them.¡±


    He didn¡¯t ask about Swashbuckler¡¯s injuries; after all, wasn¡¯t it normal for this guy to get beaten?


    Swashbuckler¡¯s face was recovering at a visible speed, making one marvel at the powerful regenerative ability of vampire constitution. A gloating smile appeared on that pallid face.


    ¡°You mean the Steel Torrent¡ª¡±


    ¡°Heh, they¡¯re busy with handovers. The Mechanical God Cult¡¯s food processing plants, military manufacturing plants, and other projects are all getting top-level attention from the kingdom. Since last month, they¡¯ve been busy training the natives in their factories and handing over various tasks. They aren¡¯t allowed to leave until they complete their tasks.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re probably still working overtime, explaining the operation steps of the equipment to the natives.¡±


    ¡°Truly a ruthless bunch.¡±


    Sweat broke out on Mantou¡¯s forehead.


    He could hardly imagine enduring a month of high-intensity work. It seemed the people of the Mechanical God Cult were true maniacs deserving of such a grueling job.


    ¡°Moreover, Steel Torrent was found by the prosecutors to have embezzled public funds to create personal armor. Now he¡¯s in a huge debt. If he doesn¡¯t work harder, he might even lose his guild leader position.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain mercilessly added.


    Mantou sighed and thought to himself:


    ¡°This might be the price of showing off.¡±


    But thinking about Steel Torrent laughing wildly in his armor, it all felt natural and well-deserved.


    ¡°Hey, look at that event, why are there so many people?¡±


    Natural War Maniac, looking at the crowd gathered in the distance, patted his bald head, feeling curious.


    ¡°Not sure, maybe it¡¯s some server closure benefits?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look.¡±


    Mantou and the others got interested and immediately went to check it out.


    Relying on his tall and strong body, Natural War Maniac pushed through the crowd and finally saw that there were several beautiful serpentfolk women. Behind them were hundreds of exquisitely decorated metal boxes.


    ¡°Lord Cassius, in gratitude for your significant contributions to the kingdom, has taken out precious treasures from his treasury to generously reward the brave warriors.¡±


    ¡°You should know, Lord Cassius¡¯s grace is rare. First come, first served.¡±


    ¡°We only charge¡­ a small, insignificant fee in gold coins.¡±


    The serpentfolk¡¯s seductive voices made people¡¯s minds go numb, but what excited them more were the metal boxes behind them.


    A panel appeared on the boxes.


    Special Item: [Cassius¡¯s Treasure]


    Chance to obtain [Common] to [Rare] level magic equipment.


    (Note: Each box costs 5 gold coins)


    ¡°What the¡­ isn¡¯t this just a gacha?¡±


    ¡°Is there a guaranteed drop?¡±


    ¡°Today, I¡¯ll show you what a Europe King is!¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t hold it, I¡¯m ready for a ten-draw!¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The players were initially attracted by the beautiful serpentfolk. Upon seeing the information on those boxes, they caused an even bigger uproar.


    Some players, well-versed in gacha games, had hands trembling slightly, their brains struggling to control those sinful hands itching to draw the loot.


    This gacha mechanism was the root of all evil. Various game companies used this to rake in massive profits, leaving countless players gutted, yet it remained ever-popular, with a continuous influx of eager participants.


    Whether the players lost money or not, the house never did.


    This was a carefully prepared setup by Cassius for the players. These beta players simply had too much money. If this continued, how would they work hard after the server opened?


    This was a final harvest, a farewell swipe of the sickle on the players before the server closed.


    It should be known that [Rare] level magic equipment required at least a hundred gold coins. At this stage, only large guilds or professional gamers could afford it.


    But a ¡°treasure¡± costing only 5 gold coins was different. Players with some savings could afford it, and selling assets might even buy them several.


    And just like that, there was a chance to obtain those [Rare] pieces of equipment that major guilds coveted. For some gambling-prone players, it was simply irresistible!


    What if¡­


    What if one of them was the lucky one?


    This was the thought in the minds of countless watching players.

 Chapter 229 - 154: Cassius Treasure (Part 1)

    Chapter 229: Chapter 154: Cassius¡¯ Treasure (Part 1)


    ¡°Come on, come on! The official welfare event is here!¡±


    ¡°I heard there¡¯s a chance to get divine gear!¡±


    ¡°That good?¡±


    ¡°Oh man, I¡¯ve been hoarding a bunch of gold coins now that the server is about to close, this is my chance to get some good equipment!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go too, I¡¯ll go too!¡±


    The news of ¡°Cassius¡¯s Treasure¡± spread like wildfire through the city, from one to ten, and then from ten to a hundred, finally drawing over a thousand beta testers. Crowds of people thronged the store, forming dozens of layers inside and out.


    ...


    Little did they know, far away in the palace dozens of miles away, Cassius lay sprawled out, observing the players¡¯ reactions through a magic mirror, a sinister smile on his face.


    ¡°The charm of a lottery lies in its simplicity and unpredictability. By purchasing the treasure and waiting for the draw, one hopes that their fate can change overnight in an unpredictable way.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, this time-tested tactic of reaping from gullible players really never fails.¡±


    ¡°No matter what, I won¡¯t lose out.¡±


    ¡°Awo?¡±


    Tiniya tilted her head, letting out a puzzled howl. She didn¡¯t understand and thought these humans were idiots.


    All the equipment Cassius put in the boxes was worth roughly three thousand gold coins, mostly junk picked from Rakman Kingdom¡¯s inventory and some spoils left by poor adventurers. He put these items in boxes priced at five gold coins each, allowing him to reap a profit of over a hundred percent.


    A thousand fiery gazes were focused on the exquisitely decorated metal boxes, inscribed with the majestic emblem of the Red Dragon, impervious to all forms of magical peeking.


    ¡°Nocturne Psalm¡± watched the boxes from the crowd, as if seeing piles of gold coins, licking his lips: ¡°If I could steal some divine gear, wouldn¡¯t I hit the jackpot?¡±


    But then he saw the bipedal wyverns patrolling the sky, and the Tiefling City Guard, armed to the teeth, and quickly extinguished his sneaky thoughts.


    ¡°What a pity.¡±


    Nocturne Psalm, driven by a thief¡¯s instinct, subconsciously reached into the pocket of the player next to him. However, he forgot that this was the central area of Northwind Castle, where theft was prohibited.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Damn! Who blew that up?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that my pouch? Good job blowing it up!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the Black Beast, hahaha, he thought he was outside, crazy!¡±


    The long toll of the bell rang, and the slender Miss Serpentfolk clapped her hands, a dazzling smile on her face.


    ¡°It¡¯s starting, please line up orderly to purchase.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take one!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go first, single draw for the miracle!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t push me, I was here first!¡±


    The players surged forward, making the shop impossibly crowded.


    Only the Natural War Maniac, using his strength and sturdy build, managed to squeeze to the front, pulling out five gold coins.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    Green light shone from the box¡¯s seams.


    ¡°It¡¯s out! It¡¯s out!¡±


    The players shouted anxiously.


    With a crisp sound, a pair of rough boots appeared in front of everyone.


    [Boots of Leaping]


    Quality: Uncommon


    Item Description: Boots sewn from pegasus skin, increasing your running speed by fifteen percent and allowing you to jump three times farther than usual.


    ¡°Listen, kid, leaping high is a man¡¯s romance!¡± ¡ª Wolf Fang Club Orc Tribe Chief, Galag.


    ¡°Wow¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Good stuff!¡±


    ¡°The drop rate is this good? Got lucky on the first try, how generous.¡±


    ¡°I want one too, let me try!¡±


    The onlookers were envious, eager to try it themselves. Although the boots were just green gear, for melee occupations they were not inferior to some blue gear, and even green gear far exceeded the value of five gold coins.


    ¡°Sir, would you like to buy more?¡±


    ¡°No, no.¡± The Natural War Maniac smiled, shaking his polished bald head.


    As a barbarian, his need for equipment was low, and getting a piece that suited him so well was already a big win.


    Players began purchasing enthusiastically, and as more equipment appeared, the sound of the ¡°clink-clink¡± of magical aura rang out continuously.


    This was also deliberately set up by Cassius, borrowing tactics from some old-world game companies to give players the ultimate experience when getting items, thus making them addicted to opening boxes.


    These boxes could even be reused, minimizing costs to the extreme.


    In just a few minutes, the players had purchased over a hundred boxes, showcasing their various methods: washing their faces, praying to gods, and even initiating mystic sacrifices.


    ¡°One more!¡±


    ¡°My turn, draw the card!¡±


    ¡°Amitabha, Burning with divine power, no matter who you are, let me get the loot! Faith power, faith power is burning!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to trade my brother¡¯s ten years of being single for this pull!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to sacrifice ten years of Black Beast¡¯s life.¡±


    However, the luck of this batch of players didn¡¯t seem great; most of what they got was common junk, with only a dozen uncommon items, and no rare equipment at all.


    Complaints and curses rose in the crowd, as players, pretending to show off rare drops, mocked the low drop rates.


    ¡°The damn developers! I worked hard to save up gold coins, and all I got was a crude iron dagger?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky, I got an adventurer¡¯s underwear¡­¡±


    ¡°Refunds!¡±


    ¡°I sold all my gear for boxes, only to get a duplicate helmet, who understands my pain.¡±


    ¡°What kind of b drop rate is this?¡±


    ¡°Sigh, I only got an uncommon wand, what a scam for rare equipment.¡±


    ¡°Odog, take my spear! Still showing off here? While we¡¯ve all lost everything, you¡¯re just lucky, now shove off.¡±


    Since so few players were getting good gear, those watching hesitated, wondering if they should gamble their hard-earned savings.


    Cassius silently watched from his palace, thinking to himself:


    ¡°These people are so unlucky, I didn¡¯t rig anything, but if this doesn¡¯t sell well, I¡¯ll be at a huge loss. Should I intervene?¡±


    ¡°No wait, it seems¡­ the next box contains rare equipment, I should just wait and enjoy the show.¡±


    ¡°Oh? It¡¯s him?¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The ID of the next player drew Cassius¡¯s attention¡ªit was ¡°Charlotte¡±.


    The president of the Magic Coin Guild, head of the Magic Affairs Office, and famously gullible individual, known as ¡°Charlotte the Lifter,¡± meaning his actions could stir up the market, raising prices and creating miracles like a thirty percent increase in average market price within a day.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take ten boxes!¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s bold move left many poor players speechless.


    ¡°Damn, he¡¯s really Charlotte the Lifter, such big spending.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a ten-draw before.¡±


    ¡°I get it, it¡¯s probably the first time in a month he¡¯s buying something at the original price.¡±

 Chapter 230 - 155 Cassiuss Treasure (Part 2)

    Chapter 230: Chapter 155 Cassius¡¯s Treasure (Part 2)


    To this rare big client, the snake woman offered a dazzling smile that made one¡¯s whole body tingle, and said softly,


    ¡°Alright, dear customer.¡±


    She was about to order the strong ogres to move the chests over when she heard Charlotte¡¯s voice.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want the chests you¡¯re giving. Can I choose them myself?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    The snake woman showed a puzzled expression, but still politely replied, ¡°No problem, but there really shouldn¡¯t be any difference.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Big difference!¡±


    Charlotte adjusted his glasses in a pretentious manner and said confidently, ¡°Heh, according to the official storyline, since it¡¯s ¡®Cassius¡¯s Gift¡¯, there¡¯s bound to be some good stuff hidden inside.¡±


    ¡°But considering the sneaky nature of the developers, do you think they¡¯d let you easily pick out the good stuff? What if the people in front have already picked out all the good items? How would they deal with the remaining junk?¡±


    Charlotte pointed to the chests, his eyes reflecting a confident light. He said loudly,


    ¡°So these chests are definitely designed to first scam you for a wave of gold coins to recover the cost, and then let you get the goods. But they didn¡¯t expect me to go for the jugular!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, look closely in a moment to see what it means to achieve greatness against all odds!¡±


    The onlookers, hearing Charlotte¡¯s rational argument, began to believe him.


    ¡°Oh my God, as expected of the president of a major guild, he¡¯s really got some skills.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense, I¡¯ll follow his lead and buy it later.¡±


    ¡°What a big shot, he understands the mechanics. No wonder no one drew anything good before.¡±


    However, Cassius, watching everything in the royal palace, felt quite amused: ¡°You must be overthinking it. I didn¡¯t set up any rigged mechanics; you normally buy and get the item.¡±


    ¡°My dear divine gear, where are you?¡±


    Charlotte went to the back of the shop, browsing through the identical-looking chests, pretending to think deeply for a moment, and finally picked out one carefully. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Heh, looks like the first blue gear is about to appear.¡±


    Under the expectant eyes of the crowd, Charlotte opened the chest grandly, and a white light shone.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡ª¡±


    [Ogre¡¯s Beast Hide Clothing]


    Quality: None


    Item Description: A rough garment made from worg hide, worn by an ogre for several years, exuding a foul odor that might be useful for driving away annoying neighbors.


    The numerous expectant glances converged on the fly-covered beast hide, and the crowd instantly fell silent, with even a few scattered boos.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s eyes widened, full of disbelief.


    Turning to the skeptical crowd around him, he intentionally coughed a few times and explained, ¡°Even I can¡¯t guess right every time. You should know that getting good items is a rare event. Besides, I still have nine more chests. Just watch and see!¡±


    He picked and chose again, selected a chest that looked pleasing to the eye.


    Once more, the chest was opened.


    The crowd craned their necks to look.


    [Rackham Noble¡¯s Whip]


    Quality: None


    A whip found in the basement of an old castle, silently recounting the Rackham family¡¯s atrocities against the people.


    Charlotte¡¯s face instantly darkened, noticing the crowd¡¯s schadenfreude-filled gazes, he forced a pale smile.


    ¡°Ahem, ahem, this time it¡¯s also an accident. I still have eight more chests.¡±


    Eight chests were opened in quick succession.


    [Great Goblin¡¯s Stinky Shoes], [Kobold Merchant¡¯s Green Bandana], [Lizardfolk¡¯s Aged Bone Staff], [Orc¡¯s Underpants]¡­


    ¡°How is this possible¡ª¡ª¡±


    Charlotte stood there in a daze, feeling as if he was about to spit out old blood.


    He unexpectedly drew eight pieces of equipment that were nothing but garbage, even beggars on the streets of Northwind Castle wouldn¡¯t want these, and he spent a total of fifty gold coins!


    The onlookers were dumbfounded, whispering among themselves, marveling at his awful luck.


    ¡°You¡¯re a genuine African chieftain.¡±


    Someone even bluntly stated, causing the crowd to burst into laughter.


    Being mocked by hundreds of people present, the always vain Charlotte blushed with anger and couldn¡¯t help but argue, ¡°What do you know? I¡¯m collecting data, using this method to calculate the official drop rates and find the loopholes. Now I¡¯ve achieved my goal and will soon get some good items.¡±


    The crowd listened to his elaborate explanation and were actually fooled by him.


    But soon someone realized something was off and deliberately shouted loudly, ¡°Then show us some good items to prove it!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡±


    ¡°Buy another one and show us!¡±


    The excited onlookers stirred up the commotion.


    Charlotte¡¯s face turned red, breathing heavily. He clenched his teeth and finally made a decision.


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    He slammed the table and poured out fifty gold coins from his backpack, slapping them on the table, and shouted, ¡°Bring me ten more!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already found the loophole in the draw. Since single draws don¡¯t guarantee anything, I¡¯ll go for ten consecutive draws!¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a lot of money!¡±


    ¡°As expected of him.¡±


    And so, ten specially selected chests were moved over by the ogres and opened simultaneously at Charlotte¡¯s command. The spectacle left many players clicking their tongues in awe.


    ¡°From ancient times till now, countless mage masters, I don¡¯t know how many of you became gods, but I¡¯m praying to you; please let me get some good items!¡±


    Charlotte groaned silently in his heart.


    But immediately afterwards, the unimaginable happened; ten white lights appeared in unison, reflecting off Charlotte¡¯s glasses, making his expression lifeless and ghostly pale.


    Underpants, jackets, headbands, cloaks, these white gears could form a luxurious beggar¡¯s outfit.


    ¡°How¡­ is this possible? How could there not be a single good item, not even a green gear?¡±


    His legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, muttering to himself,


    ¡°My entire year¡¯s savings¡­..¡±


    The gorgeous snake woman approached Charlotte kindly, helping him up and ¡°kindly¡± reminding him, ¡°Dear customer, if you still want to buy, we also offer loan services.¡±


    ¡°Considering your significant contribution, the annual interest rate is only five percent.¡±


    ¡°Son of a¡­..¡±


    Charlotte, seated on the ground, was so furious he almost passed out.


    The onlookers sighed in sympathy, laughed at his misfortune, or were relieved.


    ¡°Lucky I didn¡¯t buy any, this thing is a scam.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what treasure? Looks more like a junkyard. He bought twenty and still got all trash.¡±


    ¡°As expected of Charlotte, this time he risked himself. We will remember your contribution.¡±


    Cassius watched this scene with some anxiety: ¡°Is this event I¡¯ve prepared for so long going to fall through?¡±


    ¡°He has terrible luck. Even with random selection, he shouldn¡¯t draw nothing from twenty chests!¡±


    He wanted to personally intervene and smack him, telling him to just open them normally to get the items.


    He had even held back this time, as even scamming players required sustainable development, a long-term strategy.


    If he scared players away at the first attempt, what would happen to their enthusiasm in the future?


    So Cassius had ensured player satisfaction, even placing a dozen good rare items inside, to attract more players once the game officially launched.


    At that time, those veteran beta players would brag on forums, ¡°I got blue gear for just five gold coins back then!¡± and the new players would be envious and eager to try.


    In this way, a never-ending stream of players would willingly jump into the pit.


    But Charlotte¡¯s awful luck was beyond his expectation, making him question everything.


    Next, several players tried their luck but were misled by Charlotte, randomly picking from the inventory, and all ended up with white lights.


    ¡°This is a total scam.¡±


    ¡°A lesson paid in blood, don¡¯t buy.¡±


    The ¡®Sky Flying Witch¡¯ looked at the beautifully decorated chests, feeling tempted. She loved collecting quirky items and brewing them into unsettling potions.


    Squeezing the gold coins in her hand and hesitating for a moment, she decided to buy one.


    ¡°You have to try everything once, and I¡¯ll treat it as a closing event. Even if I don¡¯t get anything, I can comfort the president. He¡¯s a bit pitiful.¡±


    She didn¡¯t have high hopes, just wanted to join the fun.


    At the front, the snake woman asked, ¡°Dear customer, would you like to choose the chest yourself like they did?¡±


    Sky Flying Witch giggled and waved her hand, ¡°No, I¡¯m just here for fun. Pick one for me.¡±


    ¡°Here, exactly five gold coins.¡±


    Although it was just five gold coins, she still felt a bit pained, her eyes lingering reluctantly on the coins.


    The snake woman laughed gently and took the coins, instructing the ogres to bring a chest over.


    Thus, the chest originally meant for Charlotte was brought in front of Sky Flying Witch.


    She casually opened the chest.


    ¡°Clatter¡ª¡ª¡±


    A crisp sound rang out, a dazzling blue light emerged from the gap.


    A luxurious wand with seven prismatic crystals embedded in it lay quietly in the chest, emitting a rich magical aura.


    [Wand of Wonder]


    Quality: Rare


    Item Description: This wand has 7 charges. While holding it, you can make a target cast a spell. The target can be a creature, an object, or a point in space.


    The spell effect will be random, including [Slow Spell], [Stinking Cloud Spell], and other spell effects, such as ¡°turn the skin bright blue¡± and ¡°shoot a stream of gems.¡±


    ¡°Surprised? Unexpected? This is magic, endless wonder and change!¡± ¨C Archmage Trinade upon studying the Sea of Chaos.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Sky Flying Witch¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock.


    The crowd was silent for a moment before it erupted in excitement. They had expected a joke, not for someone to actually get a good item!


    ¡°Oh my God, she got something!¡±


    ¡°A rare item! It¡¯s a rare item! And it¡¯s the most valuable wand, worth at least a thousand gold coins!¡±


    ¡°A European who got lucky!¡±


    ¡°Luck can¡¯t change destiny, nor can spending!¡±


    In the distance, the heartbroken Charlotte was also attracted by the commotion. He looked over, half-dead, and saw the rare gear in front of Sky Flying Witch. It seemed to be the chest he was supposed to open.


    ¡°Oh, merciless heavens, why me!¡±


    Charlotte felt as if he was spitting out old blood, wishing he could lie on the ground and end his life.


    Sky Flying Witch, feeling the burning gazes from the crowd, seemed rather embarrassed.


    Quickly spotting Charlotte in the distance, she happily waved at him, wanting to share the good news with the president who had brought her along to level up.


    ¡°President! Over here, I got something!¡±


    ¡°Please stop calling me president¡­..¡±


    ¡°Call me chieftain now, you despicable European. There is now a sad barrier between you and us Africans. Farewell, no, goodbye forever.¡±


    Charlotte slumped to the ground, feeling utterly drained.


    He could only slowly close his eyes, already unconscious, almost about to pass away.

 Chapter 231 - 157: Cassius Treasure (Part 2)

    Chapter 231: Chapter 157: Cassius¡¯ Treasure (Part 2)


    The serpentfolk woman walked over, smiling: ¡°Dear customer, you must be favored by the God of Fate. Do you want to try another one?¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch hesitated, clutching her magic wand nervously.


    She jiggled her money bag and found she had exactly five gold coins left.


    As a mage player, the consumption of various scrolls and spell materials was astronomical, and she didn¡¯t often take on tasks from the Magic Affairs Office. As a result, even with the backing of a big guild like the Magic Coin, it was hard for her to save up money.


    ¡°I seem to always have good luck.¡±


    ¡°Maybe¡­ I¡¯ll really get another rare item?¡±


    ...


    Finally, she bit her lip gently and said: ¡°Alright, give me another one.¡±


    The attendant was about to have the ogre fetch a box, but then the Sky Flying Witch whispered: ¡°This time¡­ can I choose it myself?¡±


    She wanted to restore her guild leader¡¯s dignity and prove that Charlotte¡¯s method was right!


    The serpentfolk woman patiently replied: ¡°As you wish.¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch browsed the shelves, picking and choosing, then shyly smiled and pointed to a chest.


    ¡°This one?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Her hands trembled slightly as she handed the gold coins to the serpentfolk.


    As she handed over the money, the Sky Flying Witch even felt a little regret. After all, getting one item was already incredible luck. Seeking more felt greedy, and the expectant stares from those around her made her uncomfortable.


    Meanwhile, Charlotte watched everything silently from afar. He skillfully lit a magic cigarette, held it in his mouth, and smiled wryly: ¡°Sigh, why go to such lengths¡­¡±


    Slowly, the metal box was opened.


    Hundreds of eyes focused on the chest, and everyone held their breaths.


    ¡°Could there be another rare item?¡±


    ¡°No way, someone can¡¯t get two in a row!¡±


    With a clatter, a blinding blue light shone through the opening.


    ¡°Whoa¡ª¡±


    The watching players gasped in unison.


    It was a double hit!


    A cloak adorned with white feathers lay quietly in the chest.


    [Feathered Cloak]


    Quality: Rare


    Item Description: While wearing this cloak, you can speak its command phrase, ¡°Fly like a bird!¡± Doing so will cause the cloak to transform into a pair of bird-like wings on your back. The wings will shed magic feathers during flight until they all fall out, ending the flight.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m an angel? No, just an old man who loves traveling!¡±¡ªAlbert, the Traveling Mage temporarily residing on Heavenly Mountain.


    Even the onlookers were stunned. At first, there was silence, then a huge uproar.


    ¡°What the heck? A single draw got a miracle?¡±


    ¡°Are miracles for sale at your place?¡±


    ¡°Sss sss sss!¡±


    ¡°Let me get a rub, I¡¯m about to try my luck too!¡±


    They looked at the Sky Flying Witch with not just envy but also profound respect.


    This wasn¡¯t just good luck; it was like divine favor!


    In their eyes at that moment, the Sky Flying Witch seemed to be surrounded by halos, with the big golden words ¡°Europe King¡± shining above her head.


    Even Cassius, observing from behind the scenes, was taken aback, as he hadn¡¯t placed many good items in those chests. Even the rare equipment had been meticulously selected from his collection as the least valuable. Yet this player had drawn two rare items in a row.


    ¡°How is this possible¡­¡±


    Charlotte watched the scene, dazed, and the cigarette fell from his mouth.


    In a flashback in his mind, he saw himself boast confidently, only to draw twenty times in a row without anything good, eventually collapsing and spitting blood. This image played over and over, as if in a black-and-white film.


    The Sky Flying Witch, unaware of what was happening to Charlotte, excitedly approached him, holding the newly acquired cloak.


    ¡°Guild Leader, look!¡±


    ¡°I proved it, you were right after all, choosing it yourself has a higher chance!¡±


    Her words were like the last straw that broke the camel¡¯s back, shattering Charlotte¡¯s last defenses and breaking his heart into pieces.


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°Guild Leader, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Wake up!¡±


    Youths have a knack for instant sleep.


    Charlotte couldn¡¯t hear anyone¡¯s words anymore. Everything around him seemed like a silent black-and-white film, torturing him with the scenes of his twenty failed draws.


    ¡­


    ¡°Single draw, miracle hit!¡±


    ¡°Who says there¡¯s no Europe King in this world!¡±


    ¡°All-in!¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the kid who cries every day, where¡¯s the gambler who loses every day? Brothers, charge!¡±


    ¡°Put all your money in, all-in!¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Sky Flying Witch¡¯s ¡°miraculous double hit¡± ignited excitement among the players to open more chests.


    Many players followed her example, rubbing their hands eagerly for an all-in spree, racing to stuff their gold coins into Cassius¡¯ purse in the hopes of being the next lucky one.


    During this, players who drew equipment appeared one after another, and every time a blue glow emerged, it made the crowd envious and encouraged more people to join in.


    Amid the guild members¡¯ cheers, the Tyrant stroked his chin.


    ¡°How about a hundred draws at once?¡±


    ¡°But these chests are limited edition.¡±


    ¡°Wait, Guild Leader, don¡¯t act rashly. Let¡¯s observe a bit more before making a decision.¡±


    Even large guilds quietly participated in the draw event, though they didn¡¯t invest too much.


    Initially, the Tyrant, the guild leader of [Royalty], wanted to spend a fortune to buy a hundred chests as guild property, but was stopped by the vice guild leader, Fengyun, who suggested observing others¡¯ drop rates before deciding.


    After observing and calculating through hundreds of draws, Fengyun concluded that the chests were a big trap; the more you bought, the more you¡¯d lose. It was more profitable to buy equipment from others.


    After all, those casual players didn¡¯t understand the value of high-end gear. Knocking them out with gold coins was a gain and could even recruit them into the guild.


    In the end, to the disappointment of many, the Tyrant only bought ten chests for fun and got a green gear helmet, breaking even.


    Cassius noticed the forum had become extremely lively.


    ¡°Epic Event! Huge Draw on Server Shutdown!¡±


    ¡°Does anyone really get items in this game?¡±


    ¡°Sky Flying Witch¡¯s Miracle, Two Single Draws Yield Miracles!¡±


    ¡°About the Rare Greatsword I Drew Casually from a Chest¡­¡±


    ¡°So Annoying, As a Scenery-Seeking Casual Player, How Did I End Up with a Rare Battle Axe? I Can¡¯t Even Lift It.¡±


    Players who drew rare equipment boasted on the forums, sparking envy among the unlucky ones.


    ¡°Eat well, trying to extend your life by drawing cards, huh?¡±


    ¡°European dog eat my spear!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stop myself¡ª¡±


    ¡°Content causing severe discomfort, reported.¡±


    ¡°[Royalty] Guild Buying Rare Equipment at High Prices, Please Contact via Office.¡±


    The unlucky players beat their chests and lamented why they weren¡¯t the lucky ones. They comforted themselves that it was just a fluke and resolved to be the next lucky draw and flaunt it on the forums outrageously.


    ¡°Haha, indeed, players¡¯ desire to compete is endless.¡±


    ¡°Come on, give me your money¡ª¡±


    In the grand royal palace, Cassius enthusiastically browsed the forum, wearing a sinister grin, his wings trembling slightly.


    Tiny Cowardly Tiniya curled up next to him, thinking she had done something to anger the mighty red dragon again.


    However, the thought of being pinned to the cold palace floor and ravaged filled her with a strange sense of excitement, making her scales stand on end.


    ¡°Roar?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Cassius finally noticed Tiniya¡¯s excited expression.


    He looked at the white dragon as if she were an idiot, his mouth twitching slightly, thinking that this silly dragon might be completely ruined, beyond saving.

 Chapter 232 - 158: The Disappearance of the Players

    Chapter 232: Chapter 158: The Disappearance of the Players


    ¡°¡®Cassius¡¯s Treasure,¡¯ did you all buy it?¡±


    Mantou eagerly looked at everyone, seemingly trying to find fellow unlucky comrades.


    He spent all the money he got from selling Dragon Scales on the treasure chest, drawing seven times in a row, but ended up with nothing but some adventurer¡¯s intimate underwear.


    Natural War Maniac stroked his bald head and chuckled: ¡°I got pretty lucky, pulled something quite useful from a green gear.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain also beamed: ¡°I got a Fireball Staff, and I only did it once.¡±


    Mantou was on the verge of tears: ¡°Why is everyone so lucky? Am I the only one who¡¯s unlucky?¡±


    ...


    But Singo shook his head.


    Mantou was overjoyed, his face lit up.


    He thought he had found a fellow unlucky comrade and eagerly asked: ¡°Haha, you¡¯re unlucky too, right?¡±


    However, Singo replied disdainfully: ¡°I didn¡¯t buy anything at all.¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Just watching the fun. Isn¡¯t this event just the officials trying to milk us players? Probably want to control the Gold Coin in the closed beta to prevent too much gap when the official server opens.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t believe someone would be dumb enough to put their savings into this. Really think they¡¯re that lucky? They¡¯d be better off spending their money directly.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s smile instantly froze on his face after hearing this.


    He patted his chest, barely comforting himself: ¡°Lucky me, I¡¯m not the most miserable; there are those who did a twenty-draw and got a pile of garbage.¡±


    ¡°Charlotte, my dear brother¡­¡±


    He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and smiled in relief.


    In the distance, Charlotte lay on the ground as if turned into a black-and-white photo. Members of the Magic Coin guild surrounded him, pouring all sorts of Magic Potions like ¡°Mental Elixir¡± and ¡°Frenzy Potion¡± into him, hoping their dear leader could recover from his tragic ordeal.


    Charlotte¡¯s ¡°twenty-draw white light¡± had already spread, becoming a hot topic on the forums and a spirit consolation for countless unlucky players.


    It was referred to alongside the single-draw double yellow egg feat of another guild member, Sky Flying Witch, as the ¡°black and white twin terrors¡± or the ¡°Europe Africa duo.¡±


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°The server closes in three hours, want to taste some twenty gold coin wine?¡±


    Singo pulled out an exquisitely packaged wine bottle, deliberately shaking it so the tempting liquid glistened on the bottle¡¯s wall.


    A Bipedal Wyvern also descended beside them, its slender neck nuzzling the knight¡¯s body affectionately.


    Mantou was instantly pumped.


    ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s drink till we drop!¡±


    Swashbuckler hooked his arm around Mantou¡¯s shoulder, grinning mischievously:


    ¡°Let¡¯s go together!¡±


    ¡°Rogue Beast, do you belong here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the last day, don¡¯t be so stingy, right?¡±


    ¡°Ouch~¡±


    ¡°Damn, why is your lizard biting me again? Is he targeting me?¡±


    ¡­


    In the Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    Cassius sat cross-legged on the cold throne, closely watching the panel and keeping an eye on the Magic Images from all over the kingdom.


    On the panel, the countdown ticked by, second by second.


    ¡°10, 9, 8,¡­¡±


    ¡°2, 1,¡­¡±


    ¡°0.¡±


    The numbers finally reached zero.


    With no warning, the tavern¡¯s clamor halted, the square¡¯s revelry ceased.


    Whether in the wilderness, mechanical factories, deep mountains, or even in the bloodied maw of a lion scorpion, all players¡¯ bodies transformed into minute, shimmering light particles in an instant and vanished as if they had never existed.


    Despite there being only a thousand or so players, Northwind Castle felt less lively without them. Many local residents had gotten used to the crazy bunch and found their disappearance unsettling, especially in places like Barto City and Sgurr Town, where the players had started out.


    The tavern owner, who had just finished mixing a fine batch of wine, stood stunned staring at the empty space, unable to speak for a long while before blurting out: ¡°Who will pay for this now?¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­how do I control the magic circuits disconnect, and which indicator light should I check?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t get to say yet¡ª¡±


    The factory apprentices witnessed their mentor disappear before their eyes and stood bewildered before the vast and complex machines.


    ¡°Rawr?¡±


    Playing with its prey, the lion scorpion, who had just swallowed a human whole, felt its mouth go empty and let out a frustrated and furious low growl, unable to comprehend what was happening with its small brain.


    In the Steel Palace, Cassius asked the Magic Mirror:


    ¡°Any signs of anomalies?¡±


    The face of Ramp, appearing on the mirror, responded gravely: ¡°Still¡­nothing.¡±


    ¡°We experimented with twelve players, set up control groups, and monitored over a hundred players using spells but found no clues.¡±


    ¡°Logically, such a large-scale teleportation, regardless of the method used, should leave traces in the Magic Web, even if it were divine intervention. But these ¡®Starfallen¡¯ seemed to vanish into thin air without any magical fluctuation or teleportation spell residue.¡±


    Cassius remained calm: ¡°Understood, you can set this aside for now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master. I need to help manage the remnants of the Mechanical God Cult. We still lack truly intelligent spellcasters in the kingdom. I¡¯m worried the personnel sent won¡¯t handle it correctly, causing losses.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    As Cassius cut the connection, the mirror dimmed, and Ramp¡¯s image vanished.


    ¡°Still no result. What kind of power lies behind this so-called ¡®game system¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Maybe only by reaching the domain of deities can we glimpse the secrets behind this fog¡­¡±


    Cassius muttered to himself, staring at the [Server Temporarily Closed] sign on the panel.


    The Red Dragon had also given considerable attention to this ¡°server closure¡± event, mobilizing nearly all spellcasters in the Ashen Kingdom for research, but still came up empty-handed. This only indicated that the power behind it was too high, even beyond Ramp, a High Rank Mage¡¯s comprehension.


    ¡°Hmph¡­¡±


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfurous smoke, flames emerging from his mouth, turning the palace into a fiery furnace. Fortunately, this was a brand new palace, or another disaster would have ensued.


    ¡°The ancestral bloodline within me is almost uncontrollable. If not digested soon, there might be a volcanic eruption. I must enter slumber within a month.¡±


    At this moment, a Tiefling Guard inconveniently knocked on the door to report.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    His hand was burnt red by the hot iron door, causing him to cry out in pain, but he endured it and reported:


    ¡°Your Majesty, Frederick of the Hall of Dragon Oath seeks an audience, bringing with him twelve humans.¡±


    ¡°Let them in.¡±


    Cassius responded calmly.


    He slightly waved his wings, and the strong force of his domain instantly soothed the Magic Web and calmed the raging fire elements. The surrounding hot air cooled down gradually.


    ¡°Looks like Frederick has chosen the first batch of people.¡±

 Chapter 233 - 159: Newborn (Part 1)

    Chapter 233: Chapter 159: Newborn (Part 1)


    ¡°Anthony, don¡¯t dawdle. This is your first audience with His Majesty. Make sure to seize this rare opportunity and leave a good impression on him.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I apologize, Lord Frederick.¡±


    The boy called ¡°Anthony¡± looked somewhat flustered and hurried to catch up with the group.


    He appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, with a rather delicate face. His slightly thin figure was clad in plain clothes.


    Just now, Anthony had been gazing up at the grand palace gates, tens of meters high, and only came to his senses when Frederick personally reminded him.


    ¡°No matter what, remember well the etiquette I taught you.¡±


    ...


    He paused for a moment.


    ¡°Also, His Majesty appreciates bravery. Just don¡¯t faint in the grand hall.¡±


    Frederick¡¯s eyes were clearly fixed on Anthony, making him break out in a cold sweat.


    Anthony nodded quickly in response, then silently walked along the road. He couldn¡¯t contain the anticipation and nervousness welling up in him, and his heart pounded hard.


    It was a full kilometer from the palace gates to the main hall. In training, this distance was nothing more than a trivial punishment, but to Anthony, it felt interminable, like he would never reach the end. He couldn¡¯t help but recall his own tragic past experiences leading up to his time joining the Hall of Dragon Oath.


    From the dark, narrow, filthy basement to the splendid, magnificent palace of the present.


    The dragon carvings on the door were lifelike, full of majesty, as if scrutinizing every visitor.


    The doors opened slowly, emitting a heavy sound.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ unbelievable.¡±


    Anthony couldn¡¯t help thinking this.


    The wyverns stationed on the stone pillars on either side of the road raised their heads in unison, letting out loud hisses, which made him even more anxious about soon meeting His Majesty the King.


    After all, this magnificent palace already surpassed the imagination of the impoverished Anthony. What kind of imposing presence would the legendary ¡°Infernal Calamity¡± and ¡°King of Ashen,¡± the Dragon Lord who single-handedly destroyed tens of thousands of troops, possess? Though he had observed from a distance before, he had never been so close, let alone had an audience.


    The remaining eleven boys were of similar age, their youthful faces still showing barely concealed nervousness and awe¡ªtogether with Anthony, the twelve of them were the first batch of ¡°Dragonsworn Holy Warrior¡± candidates selected by Frederick.


    They mostly came from innocent backgrounds and had received the kingdom¡¯s grace. After rounds of selection and tough training, they were now being brought before the Red Dragon to receive his blessings. As a former Black Lion Knight, Frederick was adept at this kind of work.


    Walking along the broad road, Frederick turned his head and gave a low directive:


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    The vast difference made Anthony feel as if he were dreaming a grand, tumultuous dream, but he knew he couldn¡¯t have imagined such a scene.


    Anthony¡¯s father was an ordinary peasant, or more precisely, a ¡°serf¡± bound to the manor, one of hundreds under Baron Soli¡¯s rule.


    His father was fortunate enough to find a wife, which allowed him to be born in the stables. Anthony originally didn¡¯t have a name, just a nickname that meant ¡°grain.¡±


    According to the normal trajectory of life, he too would become the lowest of serfs, rushing through life in toil and hunger¡ªjust like his grandfather, who starved to death early at the age of thirty.


    However, as Anthony grew up, the steward managing the manor was astonished to find that he did not look like an ordinary ¡°gray beast,¡± gaunt with hunger and filth, but instead showed a rather delicate appearance.


    Thus, for the cost of three bags of beans, the steward bought him from his father.


    According to that steward, Anthony was to ¡°go to the city and enjoy the company of the noble lords.¡± Whether it was for the precious grain, a true hope for a better life for his son, or perhaps there was no option to refuse, his father gladly accepted. At that time, he was only eight years old.


    The steward had him sent by carriage to the bustling Northwind Castle, to the luxurious Baron¡¯s Mansion.


    The young Anthony couldn¡¯t understand what it all meant.


    Thus, the nightmare began.


    Baron Soli cordially welcomed Anthony and then took him to the basement, where darkness was everywhere.


    This was the beginning.


    At last, the Baron shed his genteel noble mask, revealing his devilish nature.


    Anthony was confined in a dark, damp basement, daily praying for the guards of the Baron¡¯s Mansion to throw him some leftovers. He always yearned for freedom, to escape from this hellish suffering, but it never came true.


    He often hoped that the ¡°deity¡± in the manor church would save him, but there was never any divine response. After all, the deity who protected a devil like Baron Soli would hardly answer the pleas of a victim like him.


    Baron Soli often wore a clean white clerical robe and chatted merrily with the church¡¯s priests, yet the deity never descended any punishment.


    This situation continued from when Anthony was eight until he turned thirteen.


    Gradually, Anthony grew numb, even used to such a life.


    Until that day¡ªthe ground shook fiercely, and even he, confined to the basement, could hear the sounds of cannon fire.


    Finally, he was rescued from the basement by the Tiefling army of the Ashen Kingdom. In Anthony¡¯s eyes, despite their devil-like appearance, they were far better than the baron with a genteel facade and a devil within.


    Seeing the sunlight for the first time in five years, he was unaccustomed to it and had to shield his eyes with his hand, but the view through his fingers was something he would never forget¡ªa colossal Red Dragon standing on the city wall, extending its wide wings as if to cover the sky.


    The dragon slightly raised its head and let out a deafening roar that echoed through the clouds. The sound was like a death knell for the old order and a beginning for a new one.


    That scene was deeply etched in his mind, like a divine miracle.


    It gave him a new life.


    Later, as someone without any identity or status in the city, he was personally selected by Frederick from the Hall of Dragon Oath to become a Dragonsworn Holy Warrior candidate. Frederick even named him ¡°Anthony,¡± meaning ¡°Brave One.¡±


    Frederick bluntly told them that the great Red Dragon had changed their destiny, that the old order of the Northern Nobility had no place for them, and that their only option was to join the new order of the Ashen Kingdom, gain the power of the Oath of the Dragon, and become part of the grand scheme.


    For the first time in his life, when Anthony ate white bread, he swallowed the food with determination in his eyes.


    Thus, after enduring rigorous training and passing numerous stringent selections, he finally arrived at the Royal Palace, about to become a Dragonsworn Holy Warrior of ultimate glory and boundless strength. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 234 - 160: New Life (Part 2)

    Chapter 234: Chapter 160: New Life (Part 2)


    Unknowingly, the group had already reached the end of the road, and in front of them stood the steel-forged main hall.


    This palace was completely different from the usual style of the Northern Nobility. It lacked the so-called luxury of the nobles and was instead filled with a simple and straightforward aesthetic of violence, giving a strong sense of visual impact and oppression. It made mere mortals shiver before its doors, deeply feeling their own insignificance.


    Frederick turned to observe these carefully selected youths, only to find that Anthony seemed to be distracted again.


    ¡°Everyone, snap out of it.¡±


    ¡°What you are about to see is the one and only master of this land.¡±


    He actually had high hopes for this youth called ¡°Anthony.¡±


    ...


    Just seven months ago, under the attack of the Tiefling army, the entire Kaven family led by Earl Brandon was eradicated. When the Tieflings pursued Soli Kaven, the second son of Earl Brandon, this baron was found dead in the basement of the Baron¡¯s Mansion, his clothes in disarray.


    A sharp wooden spike was deeply lodged in his throat.


    Discovered alongside the corpse was a thirteen-year-old boy.


    He had a bare upper body, gripping a broken stick tightly, his body trembling with extreme tension. His delicate face was covered in blood, and his eyes showed a determination far beyond his years¡ªthat was the former Anthony.


    Frederick had to admit he had some personal feelings, giving extra attention to Anthony.


    Because the ¡°White Lion Knight¡± Tarik, who once treated him like a brother, had also killed the bestial headmaster this way and had taken him from the orphanage. That memory was so deeply engraved that he still remembered it, and Anthony¡¯s experience undoubtedly brought back those memories.


    Fortunately, Anthony did not disappoint him. Through relentless training, he became the best youth in the selection.


    ¡°But what does this have to do with me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ completing a task.¡±


    Frederick smiled faintly and thought this.


    With a heavy sound, the main hall¡¯s doors slowly opened to them.


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Frederick led the way in front while the youths carefully formed an orderly queue behind him.


    Frederick knelt before the steps and respectfully said, ¡°Master, I have followed your instructions and found candidates who meet the requirements and can accept the great gift. I hope you will be satisfied.¡±


    As he knelt, the youths behind him followed the prior instructions, kneeling uniformly and lowering their heads.


    Anthony¡¯s breathing was rapid, and he seemed to smell a hint of sulfur.


    The air inside the hall was much hotter than outside, causing sweat to drip down his forehead, but he maintained his kneeling posture without daring to move an inch.


    ¡°Not bad, raise your heads.¡±


    A voice filled with authority rang out from above, echoing in the spacious hall.


    Kneeling on the ground, Anthony slightly raised his head and carefully looked up, finally seeing again the towering figure deeply engraved in his memory¡ªthe massive and strong dragon body lazily coiled on the steel throne, with magma-like patterns flowing on its surface.


    On that ferocious dragon head, the golden vertical pupils were filled with majesty, and the backward-swept horns resembled a crown.


    That was an absolute symbol of strength, the entity that shattered the old order of the North and created the kingdom¡¯s order¡ªthe King of Ashen, Cassius.


    Anthony¡¯s heart pounded wildly. He had never been this close to such a powerful being. When he thought about having great strength and a position of supreme glory to completely overcome his humiliating past, his heart became fervent, filled with ambition and anticipation.


    The voice from above sounded again.


    ¡°What is your name?¡±


    Seemingly feeling the scrutinizing gaze from above, Anthony¡¯s heart started beating frantically, thinking excitedly, ¡°Is he calling me?¡±


    The humiliating experiences of the past planted deep seeds of inferiority in his heart, making it hard for him to believe he had caught this Monarch¡¯s attention.


    He quickly lowered his head and answered, ¡°Your Majesty, my name is Anthony.¡±


    ¡°Oh? You are Anthony?¡±


    There was a hint of surprise in Cassius¡¯s tone.


    He knew about Anthony¡¯s experiences, as this story had been used by the Kingdom¡¯s cultural propaganda department as a typical case of ¡°Northern Nobility¡¯s persecution of commoners and the Kingdom¡¯s order rescuing the commoners,¡± appearing in the pamphlets distributed to the Northern Countries, becoming an important tool for public opinion propaganda.


    But Anthony himself was apparently unaware of this.


    This youth was extremely overjoyed at the moment, even somewhat flattered, ¡°He actually knows me!¡±


    He never thought that someone as humble and lowly as himself, who was barely considered more than livestock under the old Northern order, could be remembered by this Monarch, and the other youths were even more envious of this.


    This was the benevolence of the superior to the inferior. When the gap in status and power was too great, every movement of the superior was viewed as the ultimate gift, but Cassius was already quite accustomed to this.


    If a few words could make his subordinates loyal, why not?


    After symbolically inquiring and praising a few words, Cassius yawned and ordered:


    ¡°Frederick, begin the ceremony.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Frederick stepped forward, faced the youths, and calmly recited the oath:


    ¡°Extinguish the enemy¡¯s fire of hope, enforce order with an iron fist, the Dragon Lord above all.¡±


    The youths loudly recited the oath.


    Anthony, in the midst of the group, was also overwhelmed, reciting the oath word by word while kneeling as he had rehearsed countless times in his heart:


    ¡°Extinguish the enemy¡¯s fire of hope, enforce order with an iron fist, the Dragon Lord above all!¡±


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    Feeling the power of the contract, Cassius said.


    The magma-like patterns on his body flowed, releasing one by one the glimmering fire seeds.


    Now owning the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, he no longer needed to use the primitive method of ¡°bloodletting¡± to bestow gifts. He only needed to expend a trivial amount of strength to release the bloodline sparks with a magical essence, which could grant mortals the ferocious Red Dragon Bloodline.


    Those flickering flames entered the bodies of the youths.


    They turned the mortal¡¯s blood into dragon blood filled with elemental power, coursing through their veins.


    Even though he was mentally prepared, at the moment of dragon blood transformation, Anthony still gritted his teeth, almost crushing them. He even heard his companions around him screaming in pain.


    Hot, it was unbearably hot!


    His body felt like it was submerged in magma, about to burst into flames.


    Anthony curled up on the ground in pain, rolling back and forth, his skin turning red and emitting scorching white smoke.


    In an instant, Anthony seemed to be back on that unforgettable afternoon. Before him once again appeared Baron Soli, and that man was reaching out his monstrous hand to his younger self.


    ¡°But¡­ I need this power!¡±


    ¡°Even if I become a monster, even if I become a follower of a giant dragon, at least I won¡¯t be treated as livestock to vent desires¡­¡±


    ¡°I want to be a real person!¡±


    He roared in his heart.


    This time, Anthony was not violated as in reality but spewed blazing fire, burning that despicable man to ashes.


    Under his skin appeared faint scales, and a series of spiny scales emerged on his back. His originally thin body greedily absorbed the surrounding energy, becoming stronger.


    When the smoke cleared, Anthony¡¯s appearance was still vaguely human, but with features characteristic of the Dragon Vein.


    The same happened to the remaining eleven youths.


    All twelve who received the gift successfully transformed into Dragonsworn Holy Warriors without exception.


    However, apart from Anthony, the others¡¯ minds could not withstand the impact of this immense power. They were unable to control their newly forged Dragon Vein bodies and temporarily fainted, unconscious.


    Only Anthony supported his body with a dragon-scaled arm, slowly rising, and half-kneeling again.


    His lips moved slightly.


    ¡°Dragon Lord¡­¡±


    At this moment, he was finally reborn, completely bidding farewell to the boy who once curled up in the dark corner. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 235 - 161 Harpist Alliance (1)

    Chapter 235: Chapter 161 Harpist Alliance (1)


    Looking at the twelve newly appointed Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights below, Cassius exhaled a puff of sulfur-smelling smoke and casually praised:


    ¡°Frederick, you have a good eye.¡±


    After all, as mortals, to accept the frenzied bloodline of a Red Dragon without bursting apart, they were undoubtedly among the best of the best, and the complete success of all twelve candidates far exceeded his expectations.


    Frederick bowed his head and responded calmly, ¡°It is my honor to receive your praise.¡±


    He was very clear that his only task was to find and nurture the Dragonsworn Holy Warriors for Cassius. As a former ¡°Black Lion Knight¡± who served the enemy and lacked the deep ties of benefit like Mezulash, even with absolute bloodline suppression, Cassius would never trust him with all the power of the Hall of Dragon Oath to become the direct controller.


    So Frederick was very sensible, even voluntarily surrendering his power to the kingdom, deliberately downplaying his influence, and focused wholeheartedly on training candidates.


    ...


    Cassius nodded slightly in satisfaction and then turned his gaze to Anthony.


    ¡°You will become the ¡®Twelve Dragon Guards¡¯ of the Hall of Dragon Oath.¡±


    ¡°Anthony, I appreciate you. Being able to maintain your sanity after transformation is a testament to your courage and willpower. As a reward, you will lead the Dragon Guard Knights and¡­ you can choose your own honorific title.¡±


    This young man, who had walked out of the basement, had now completely overcome his inner demons and became a staunch supporter of the kingdom¡¯s order. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Master, I would like to be ¡®Judgment,¡¯ to enforce the kingdom¡¯s order with an iron fist and to burn all enemies who attempt to disrupt it with flames.¡±


    He knelt on one knee, his expression filled with emotion, his eyes blazing like scorching flames.


    ¡°I permit it.¡±


    Cassius said calmly and then looked at Frederick.


    Frederick immediately understood, stepping forward respectfully, he said, ¡°Master, I am ready to take them to the Hall of Dragon Oath for their duties. We will not disturb you any further and will now take our leave.¡±


    The Red Dragon nodded slightly.


    Frederick then left with Anthony, each carrying two unconscious Dragonsworn Holy Knights, looking rather comical. Obeying their orders, the Tiefling attendants also entered the hall to assist in moving the unconscious.


    Cassius squinted his eyes, watching their departing backs with some amusement, thinking:


    ¡°Judgment¡­ quite an appetite.¡±


    These twelve young people, personally granted by Cassius, would become future leaders of the Hall of Dragon Oath, nurturing more Dragonsworn Holy Knights for the Ashen Kingdom.


    The seeds of the Red Dragon¡¯s bloodline within their bodies could also be used to transform Dragon Vein Descendants, granting mortals gifts proactively, though the effects were far less potent than those personally bestowed by Cassius, and the bloodline would be relatively thin after transformation.


    Given a few years, with them as the source, hundreds or thousands of Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights could be derived, becoming a significant force in the Ashen Kingdom.


    Compared to the Red Scale Conqueror, who operated primarily with reconnaissance and aerial strikes akin to aerial scouts, the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights were more like heavy infantry, capable of playing a larger role in frontal warfare.


    When a legion of Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights appeared on the battlefield, advancing like indestructible moving fortresses, with countless protective auras and flame auras intertwining, the scene would undoubtedly be a nightmare no enemy wished to face.


    Cassius studied spells for a while longer but finally couldn¡¯t resist the sleepiness in his heart.


    ¡°Now I can finally get some good sleep.¡±


    ¡°Notify Ramp to ensure the spell protections are in place. It¡¯s time for the next slumber.¡±


    Yawning again, magma-like ripples flowed over his body, the sulfur smell growing stronger.


    Suddenly, Cassius¡¯s expression froze, the scales above his golden eyes furrowing slightly.


    As a magician capable of impacting reality with his will, the Red Dragon clearly felt a subtle disturbance in the Magic Web, as if an invisible eye was spying on him, an unsettling feeling.


    ¡°Divination spell again?¡±


    ¡°Heh, truly¡­ reckless.¡±


    Cassius laughed in anger, feeling quite annoyed, with a strong impulse to burn the intruder disturbing his rest to ashes.


    Though the spell¡¯s influence was almost undetectable, the kingdom domain¡¯s authority allowed him to clearly perceive everything, even faintly trace the source of the spell¡ªto the deep mountain forests outside the royal palace, just a few miles away.


    A sinister smile appeared on the Red Dragon¡¯s face as his wings slowly spread open.


    ¡°Then let me personally see¡ªwho dares to disturb my dream?¡±


    ¡­


    In the Kaleb Forest outside the royal palace.


    Due to its close proximity to the Steel Dragonwing Palace and once serving as a gathering place for rebels, a hiding spot for Northern Nobility fleeing Northwind Castle, this forest had become the royal garden, frequently patrolled by wyverns and great goblins, searching for unidentified intruders.


    At this moment, rustling noises and low whispers could be heard in the forest.


    A pointed-ear female elf in a green cloak whispered softly, ¡°Richard, be careful, don¡¯t use the spell to scry anymore. According to the Alliance¡¯s intel, that¡¯s a high-tier spellcaster.¡±


    The man called ¡°Richard¡± turned around, patting the elf on the shoulder with a relaxed expression.


    You could see his ears were unusual, his features somewhat delicate, a clear sign of being a half-elf.


    ¡°Abis, you¡¯re being overly cautious, I know what I¡¯m doing.


    ¡°A magician is just a spellcaster barbarian. This spell scroll was crafted by Master Kavina, even the evil Red Robe Mages can¡¯t detect it, so a muscle-brained Red Dragon? Ha, needless to say.¡±


    He then focused on the spell scrying again.


    His name was Richard Siege, a renowned ranger within the Empire of Fadlan, blessed by a supreme fairy as the ¡°Fairy Wanderer,¡± and a veteran member of the Harpist Alliance.


    He accepted a mission from the Alliance, labeled ¡°extremely dangerous,¡± to investigate the rising evil force of the Ashen Kingdom in the North with the elf assassin, Abis.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I have a bad feeling. Trust me, it¡¯s an assassin¡¯s intuition.¡±


    Abis said, her expression serious.


    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±


    Richard turned again, alarm in his eyes.


    ¡°That Red Dragon¡­ seems to have found us.¡±


    Abir urged, ¡°Then what are you waiting for? Use your magic to get us out of here! Our mission is to gather intelligence, not dragon slaying!¡±


    Richard sighed with a wry smile, ¡°Sorry, maybe I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°Abir, don¡¯t you see? The Magic Web here is slowly being locked down, we¡­ might not get away.¡±


    ¡°Idiot! (in Elvish)¡±


    Abir gripped her dagger tightly, cursing through gritted teeth.

 Chapter 236 - 162: Harpist Alliance (II)

    Chapter 236: Chapter 162: Harpist Alliance (II)


    As a Fairy Wanderer, confronted with this gradually solidifying Magic Web, Richard, though unable to cast a spell, could still use the pseudo spell ability bestowed upon him by the Supreme Fairy.


    He slowly closed his eyes, using his awareness to feel the surrounding area.


    [Primordial Awareness]


    This ability allowed him to sense Strange Dragons, elements, Fiends, and undead creatures within several miles, making it a precious skill for traversing behind enemy lines.


    In his awareness, an incredibly massive energy entity was flying towards them at an astonishing speed, like a meteor with a clear target cutting across the horizon.


    ¡°How can it be this fast¡­¡±


    ...


    Richard slightly parted his lips, murmuring in disbelief.


    According to common knowledge, Red Dragons possessed the largest and strongest bodies among the five-colored dragons, yet they were also known to be the most sluggish.


    Their flight agility was far inferior to that of the skeletal Black Dragon or the slender Green Dragon. However, the speed of this Red Dragon far exceeded his understanding of the dragon species.


    Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. If he did not do something soon, that Red Dragon could descend from the sky and burn them to ashes.


    Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and grabbed Abir¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Abir, come with me!¡±


    [Earthwalker]


    Under the power of the Fairy, green light radiated from the two of them as they swiftly moved through the forest, like spirits of the wild, with branches and thorns instinctively making way for them.


    However, in Richard¡¯s [Primordial Awareness], that energy entity continued to approach at an eye-catching speed; he could even hear the whistling wind in the distant sky.


    ¡°At this rate, we¡¯ll definitely be caught!¡±


    Large beads of sweat rolled down Richard¡¯s forehead. He knew this was a trouble he had caused and he did not want to implicate his companion.


    ¡°There¡¯s no other way! Abir, take the intel back to the Alliance. I will distract the dragon.¡±


    [Concealment Spell]


    Drawing on the Fairy¡¯s miraculous power once again, Richard fashioned a disguise using fresh mud, soil, plants, and other natural materials. In just a few breaths, he transformed the Elf Assassin into a sapling.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Abir wanted to refuse, but she knew the importance of the mission. She held the map of the Ashen Kingdom that needed to be taken back to the South.


    This was the Harpist Alliance; their mission was to maintain balance in the world and disrupt many evil schemes, willing to sacrifice their lives if necessary.


    Yet the speed of the enemy¡¯s arrival far exceeded their expectations.


    The air emitted a piercing screech, and a scorching wind roared in.


    In the sky, a massive shadow enveloped Richard, the powerful pressure making his whole body tremble, and the fierce wind made him unsteady, but the Half-Elf stubbornly raised his head.


    ¡°Oh my god¡­¡±


    Richard suddenly realized that this new evil presence far exceeded the Alliance¡¯s expectations.


    This was simply the embodiment of the Scourge!


    The Red Dragon before him, nearly twenty meters long, was covered in gold and red scales flowing like magma, with white-hot embers encircling him. Every time he flapped his wings, the scorching wind carried the smell of sulfur to their faces.


    Thick smoke gradually spread, obscuring the sky, making the surrounding area seem like Purgatory.


    Cassius looked down at the Half-Elf on the ground, a slight rage flickering in his golden vertical pupils.


    ¡°Is it you¡­ disturbing my rest?¡±


    The fleeing Richard was horrified to realize that the Red Dragon said not ¡°you¡± but ¡°you all.¡±


    ¡°Ridiculous disguise.¡±


    The Red Dragon in midair slowly flapped its wings, and as volcanic ash spread, the Kingdom Domain suddenly descended. It was as if he had grasped the Deity¡¯s authority, extinguishing all spell energies around him.


    The Fairy power in Richard was ruthlessly obliterated.


    The disguise from the Supreme Fairy turned back into ordinary plants and soil, revealing the hidden Elf in front of the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Abir, run!¡±


    Richard shouted anxiously.


    But it was too late.


    The massive figure swooped to the ground, and even the agile Elf Assassin had no time to react before Abir¡¯s slender figure was tightly gripped by the dragon¡¯s enormous claws.


    The tall and slender Elf, under the gigantic dragon claws, appeared so small.


    Abir struggled and twisted, stabbing with her dagger fiercely, shouting, ¡°Evil dragon! Let me go!¡±


    Yet, against absolute strength, all struggles were futile.


    The dagger struck the hard scales of the Red Dragon, bouncing off without leaving a mark, only a few white spots.


    Cassius landed heavily, slightly lifting the claw that held the Elf, bringing it close to his head, revealing a sinister grin.


    ¡°Did you know? My kin love the taste of Elf maidens. This delicacy is even recorded in our traditions.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t have such a savage taste.¡±


    ¡°However, I am curious¡­¡±


    ¡°What could it possibly taste like?¡±


    Abir was immediately thrown into panic. Her body shivered as she felt the sulfurous breath of death approaching.


    She had imagined dying for justice so many times¡ªperhaps struck by arrows from bandits, dying gloriously in battle. But she had never thought she would become food for a Red Dragon, buried in someone else¡¯s stomach!


    ¡°Richard, escape quickly¡­¡±


    The past adventures with Richard flashed through Abir¡¯s mind like a phantom, and she couldn¡¯t help but turn her head to look at her close companion.


    ¡°Do not grieve for me.¡±


    Abir and Richard had shared many adventures. Their feelings for each other were mutual, but they had no time to express their love before this dramatic farewell.


    How cruel this was!


    ¡°No! Abir!¡±


    Richard roared in despair.


    Deprived of the Fairy power, he was helpless, watching as his companion was about to be devoured by the dragon.


    He picked up a rock from the ground and threw it, but it was a complete joke. The Red Dragon ignored him entirely, raising the claw holding the Elf.


    The rock hit the dragon¡¯s scales and fell to the ground, rolling away.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    Richard knelt, muttering to himself.


    His eyes brimming with despair, tears fell onto the soil. He could no longer bear to witness the impending, gruesome scene.


    The Half-Elf Ranger had never felt so powerless, not even when surrounded by Fiendish Red Robe Wizards or when breaking into a bandit¡¯s lair, he always believed he could break through.


    But now, the proud Fairy power was gone, and even his closest companion was about to leave him.


    Yet Richard found himself once again engulfed by the massive shadow.


    Was he also to be swallowed by the dragon?


    Fine¡­ he no longer had the will to live.


    Meeting inside the Red Dragon¡¯s belly¡ªhow¡¯s that for dark humor?


    Richard raised his gaze, his eyes hollow, to see the Red Dragon gripping the unconscious Elf, looking down at him with chilling coldness in its golden eyes. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Do you want her to live?¡±


    ¡°Tell me everything, and I might consider¡­ delaying this lunch for a moment.¡±

 Chapter 237 - 163 Harpist Alliance (3)

    Chapter 237: Chapter 163 Harpist Alliance (3)


    ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve already listed the Ashen Kingdom as an enemy force and have begun gathering intelligence, preparing to overthrow the so-called ¡®Dark Ruling¡¯?¡±


    In the main hall of the royal palace, the Red Dragon lay sprawled on the iron throne, unhappily exhaling a breath of sulfurous heat.


    ¡°So it¡¯s the Harpist Alliance, with noses as keen as dogs, truly a troublesome lot.¡±


    Cassius glanced at Richard on the ground and grinned.


    ¡°So¡­ what kind of price should I make you pay? My stomach is still quite empty.¡±


    ...


    Under the threat of the Dragon¡¯s Might and his companions¡¯ lives, Richard¡¯s spirit had long collapsed. He knelt on the ground, hair disheveled, completely lacking the high spirits of the ranger once favored by the highest fairies.


    ¡°I, I¡¯ve already told you everything.¡±


    His voice had become hoarse from extreme pain.


    Cassius slowly stood up and walked step by step toward Richard.


    An invisible, powerful Dragon¡¯s Might swept in, and this half-elf could even smell the sulfur in the air.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m joking with you?¡±


    ¡°The price you¡¯ve paid isn¡¯t even enough to save your pitiful elf lover.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s all, think about that wonderful scene, the elf wailing in my mouth, being severed, shredded by my sharp teeth¡­¡±


    His vertical pupils emitted an invisible glow, breaking through the last mental barrier of the half-elf with {Dread Tremors}.


    Richard¡¯s expression was scattered, his mindset nearly collapsed, as if he had already seen that unbearable scene.


    It was known that the Red Dragon¡¯s liking for elves was no rumor, but documented in detailed records. The Alliance¡¯s intelligence specifically highlighted this point in red ink.


    He repeatedly knocked his head against the hard floor, blood flowing down his cheeks from his forehead.


    ¡°Please, let her go. I¡¯m willing to pay any price, even if, even if you eat me.¡±


    Cassius walked back to the throne, saying coldly, ¡°You mean nothing to me.¡±


    He deliberately paused his tone.


    ¡°But I do need you to accomplish a few things. This is your only, insignificant value to me.¡±


    Richard¡¯s expression suddenly lit up as if grasping at a lifeline, showing a final glimmer of hope.


    ¡°Then¡­ what do you need me to do?¡±


    He was ready to face any greedy demands.


    Under the threat to his companion¡¯s life, Richard¡¯s mental defenses were completely shattered, reduced to a puppet who would do anything.


    Cassius articulated every word: ¡°I want you to return to the Harpist Alliance and become a double agent for the kingdom.¡±


    Richard¡¯s expression froze but then returned to normal.


    Perhaps he had anticipated this, or perhaps he had no room for resistance, and he could only answer weakly.


    ¡°Yes¡­ my lord.¡±


    Cassius nodded in satisfaction, then said, ¡°My spellcasters will provide you with magical communication equipment.¡±


    ¡°At a fixed time each month, you must report back the Alliance¡¯s intelligence to us; if we find the information inconsistent with reality, or if you fail to provide intelligence¡­¡±


    He paused again.


    A clear magic image appeared in the hall, showing a tall female elf bound in a cold iron cage, like a golden canary trapped in a birdcage.


    Her eyes were closed, her brows slightly furrowed, as if still immersed in the overwhelming defeat.


    ¡°You will never see her again.¡±


    Richard gazed long at that beautiful face, finally lowering his head, his lips trembling slightly, ¡°Abir¡­¡±


    ¡°My lord, I will.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, I will complete the mission.¡±


    The tiefling guards who had been waiting for some time bound his hands from behind, walking down the kingdom¡¯s passage, ready to escort him to Ramp¡¯s Mage Tower.


    He said nothing. From beginning to end, he did not struggle or resist, just weakly compliant.


    He turned to look far away, as if seeing that familiar face again.


    ¡°Abir, wait for me, I will rescue you.¡±


    This kind-hearted and uninhibited half-elf ranger, under the threat to his beloved¡¯s life, under the cruel oppression of the Red Dragon, had no choice but to become an Ashen Kingdom spy¡ªa person he had once despised, serving an evil force.


    Yet, this was the cold, hard reality.


    ¡­


    ¡°Another intelligence channel.¡± S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°The Harpist Alliance?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, meddlesome bunch, one day they¡¯ll pay the price.¡±


    ¡°However, that Silver Dragon seems to have some ties with them as well.¡±


    Cassius yawned out of sheer boredom, then connected to Ramp¡¯s magic mirror.


    ¡°Did you take over that ranger from the Harpist?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master. Everything went smoothly. Your wisdom left him with no room for resistance; he could only obediently become the kingdom¡¯s puppet.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s tone had a hint of excitement, obviously having just emerged from the lab.


    ¡°Moreover, he has an extraordinary power within him, one that is rumored to be from the highest fairies.¡±


    ¡°These ancient beings hidden in the Fairy Wilderness hold wondrous powers, and his sect master is at least legendary level or even higher, though it¡¯s difficult to directly interfere with the Prime Material Plane.¡±


    ¡°I think¡­ we might be able to steal this power.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Cassius showed little interest.


    These exceptionally powerful sect masters of the highest fairies who had their own domains in the Outer Planes mostly acknowledged only the good and their powers often leaned towards natural miracles, which didn¡¯t align with him. Even if he obtained it, it would be useless to him.


    Thus, Cassius only reminded:


    ¡°You can conduct some experiments, just ensure his survival. I don¡¯t want to see the spy sent to the Harpist Alliance turn into something bizarre or a corpse.¡±


    ¡°Of course, my master.¡±


    Having had a bucket of cold water thrown on him by Cassius, Ramp instantly calmed down, most of the excitement draining from his expression.


    He then remembered that this half-elf from the Harpist still carried a mission from the Red Dragon and wasn¡¯t like those captives he could experiment on as he wished.


    ¡°Glad you understand.¡±


    ¡°My next slumber is approaching. Ready the protective array as soon as possible. During my sleep, avoid causing trouble and ensure the kingdom¡¯s stable development.¡±


    Cassius instructed.


    The lava-like ripples on his body had grown more pronounced¡ªa sign of the bloodline seed erupting within, spilling fire elemental energy.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Ramp solemnly bowed and severed the magic image link.


    Cassius yawned again, casually glancing at the still lingering magic image beside him.


    ¡°Elves, huh¡­


    ¡°The elves of this era mostly come from the existing Elf Kingdom, perhaps I can inquire about an old acquaintance.¡±


    He recalled the perilous scene when he first entered this world. It felt like a long time ago, yet also as if it had just happened a moment ago.


    But he had undergone a tremendous transformation¡ªnot a young dragon fleeing in all directions, but a being that made the entire North tremble.

 Chapter 238 - 164 Harpist Alliance (4)

    Chapter 238: Chapter 164 Harpist Alliance (4)


    ¡°Where is this¡­¡±


    Abir slowly opened her eyes, feeling utterly exhausted and unable to focus.


    But she quickly became alert, remembering her last memory¡ªbeing held tightly in the claws of a terrible dragon and being choked unconscious.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Abir instinctively reached for her waist, but she couldn¡¯t feel the familiar dagger. Even the green cloak she had been wearing had disappeared, leaving only her undergarments.


    She sat on the ground, warily looking around. The surroundings were an unfamiliar palace, and everything in it seemed to be an enlarged version, so vast it was intimidating.


    ...


    Suddenly, a huge shadow covered her.


    ¡°Elf, you are awake.¡±


    She turned her head stiffly, seeing the enormous body and ferocious head of the Red Dragon.


    Abir was instantly terrified. The nightmare scene of the Red Dragon about to devour her was still vivid in her mind. But she still mustered the courage to clench her sweaty fists and stammered:


    ¡°Evil Dragon, wh-what do you want to do?¡±


    Cassius grinned slightly, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Abir¡¯s delicate body couldn¡¯t stop trembling. She suddenly thought of some rumors collected by the Harpist Alliance:


    In the descriptions of the Northern Nobility, this Red Dragon was both a tyrant and a lustful dragon. He would transform into a terrifying humanoid several meters tall, wantonly humiliating beautiful maidens, and then revert to his original form to swallow them whole.


    Abir was only in her thirties. For an elf, a long-lived race, she was undoubtedly in her prime.


    And such humiliation was far more terrifying than death!


    She had thought of dying heroically, but she absolutely didn¡¯t want to become a tool for the dragon¡¯s desires.


    Thinking of this, Abir clenched her silver teeth, speaking word by word:


    ¡°I¡­will not let you manipulate me!¡±


    Abir suddenly lunged towards the hard wall, trying to end her life this way.


    This was her last struggle and the only way out.


    However, in the face of overwhelming strength, even death became a luxury, something unattainable.


    The Red Dragon merely clenched its claws slightly, and a giant magical field constructed from shimmering mana grasped the elf tightly, imprisoning her in a cage, immovable.


    She didn¡¯t even have the space to struggle.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Evil Dragon, you¡¯ll get your retribution.¡±


    Abir¡¯s eyes were filled with despair. She lowered her eyelids, her amber eyes shut tightly, and crystal tears streamed from the corners.


    The elf girl dared not imagine what would come next, so she closed her eyes tightly, her shoulders trembling.


    In the darkness, Abir felt the sulfuric breath approaching her face.


    Could it be¡­


    Is this the end of everything?


    In her final moments, she thought of her grand ambitions when she left the Elf Kingdom, the solemn oath she made when joining the Harpist Alliance, her coincidental first encounter with Richard, their joint infiltration of the Red Robe Mage Tower for intelligence, and even the serene beauty of watching the sunrise in Cadwenel Forest¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m so unwilling, I want to experience more.¡±


    Abir thought.


    However, she didn¡¯t feel the expected pain.


    ¡°Elf, do you want to live?¡±


    The dragon¡¯s deep voice came, along with the scorching sulfuric breath.


    Abir didn¡¯t let out a sigh of relief because she knew that the Red Dragon probably had other plans for her.


    Maybe he coveted her body, or perhaps he wanted information on the Alliance. The former was easily attainable for the dragon before her, and the latter seemed more likely.


    She thought of the oath she made upon joining the Harpists:


    ¡°Expect no return, act only for justice.¡±


    The Harpist Alliance was a loosely organized group, yet it still harbored many crucial secrets.


    She could not let the Red Dragon learn any information about the Harpists, nor could she serve the forces of evil. This was Abir¡¯s sole thought, and she was prepared to lay down her life for it.


    ¡°I won¡¯t live a disgraceful life¡­¡±


    Hence, the elf girl gritted her teeth, closed her eyes tightly, and shut herself down completely.


    She was determined not to reveal any information, even if it meant being eaten alive!


    But the Red Dragon¡¯s next words threw her into a panic, breaking down all her defenses.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know Richard¡¯s whereabouts?¡±


    Abir suddenly opened her eyes, nervously exclaiming: ¡°You, what have you done to him?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s doing quite well, better than ever.¡±


    Cassius just sneered coldly and conjured a magic image in front of the elf, revealing the figure of the Half-Elf Ranger.


    ¡°Thank goodness, he¡¯s still alive¡­¡±


    Seeing that familiar face, Abir sighed in relief, feeling much more at ease.


    Then, the dragon¡¯s voice echoed in the image: ¡°I want you to return to the Harpist Alliance and become a double agent for the kingdom¡­¡±


    Abir¡¯s heart immediately sank again. She prayed in her heart: ¡°Richard, you wouldn¡¯t agree to this.¡±


    But the elf began to worry, fearing that the next image would be Richard being brutally killed for refusing the order, which made her emotions extremely conflicted.


    Before long, Richard¡¯s familiar voice resounded again.


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    ¡°Impossible¡­¡±


    Abir murmured to herself, her face full of disbelief.


    ¡°Evil Dragon, you must have bewitched him! Or this is all just a deceitful illusion!¡±


    Abir angrily looked at the Red Dragon, still unwilling to accept everything, attributing it to the enemy¡¯s lies.


    Richard, her companion, how could he betray the Harpist Alliance without hesitation and become someone who willingly served the dragon she despised most!


    Cassius looked down at the elf, his face bearing a mocking smile as he slowly approached her.


    ¡°Do you think I need to deceive you, little morsel?¡±


    ¡°I just want you to abandon those meaningless fantasies and step out of the ridiculous fairy tales.¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This is the stark reality. Your Harpists¡¯ so-called beliefs and oaths are fragile. For their own lives, people can easily sacrifice everything. Even behind your glorious Elven Deities lie countless mortal blood debts.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, have your self-proclaimed just Harpists ever pursued these past deeds?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡± Abir shook her head anxiously, hurriedly defending.


    However, under the repeated playback of the magic image and the dragon¡¯s deep voice, her defense seemed so powerless.


    The Red Dragon¡¯s head drew closer, its scorching breath making the elf break out in a sweat.


    ¡°So¡­tell me, elf.¡±


    ¡°Do you choose to survive or die?¡±

 Chapter 239 - 165: Harpist Alliance (V)

    Chapter 239: Chapter 165: Harpist Alliance (V)


    Faced with the scorching breath and the threat of death, Abir bit her silver teeth lightly. The declaration she made when joining the Harpist Alliance and Richard¡¯s submission flashed repeatedly in her mind.


    But undoubtedly, she wavered, no longer as resolute as she was just now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t make you reveal information about the Harpists.¡±


    ¡°Then, then what do you want?¡±


    The elf trembled as she spoke. She seemed to have anticipated the worst possible outcome.


    Cassius simply said in a flat tone, ¡°The ¡®Twilight Blade¡¯ Rhea, the half-elf paladin from Serinia, do you know her whereabouts?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Why are you asking about her?¡±


    At the mention of this name, Abir¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed. She never expected that the ¡®Twilight Blade,¡¯ who had stirred such a commotion within the kingdom, would have any connection to the Red Dragon in front of her.


    To be honest, Abir didn¡¯t have a good impression of this half-elf, although they even shared some kinship.


    Rhea was at the center of the power struggle between the Elf Queen and the Elder Council, causing significant turmoil in otherwise stable Serinia. Some conservative elf elders even called her a ¡°lowly mongrel¡± and ¡°a thief trying to steal power.¡±


    The reason was simple¡ªthe queen wanted to grant this trusted lieutenant, who had human blood, the supreme grace of the Elven Goddess, making her a powerful Blessed by Moonlight. This undoubtedly broke the sacred traditions of the High Elves, receiving fierce resistance from the Elder Council, and even led to signs of unrest.


    The elf¡¯s hesitation made Cassius a bit impatient.


    ¡°Do you think this is a request? You have no choice.¡±


    The Red Dragon grabbed the elf again with its claw, slowly increasing the pressure, making it hard for her to breathe.


    ¡°Wait¡­ I, I know.¡±


    Rhea¡¯s whereabouts weren¡¯t a secret, and Abir had long been dissatisfied with the unrest within Serinia. Under the pressure of survival, she chose to tell the truth.


    ¡°She¡¯s in Serinia, now a general under the king¡¯s command. That¡¯s all I know. Really, I haven¡¯t been back to my homeland for a long time, and this information is just hearsay from my fellow tribesmen.¡±


    Only then did the Red Dragon let go, carelessly tossing the bruised elf to the ground.


    This elf was still very young and weak, hard to get in touch with Serinia¡¯s secrets, so to him, her utility was not great. However, she might be a bargaining chip to threaten the Elf Kingdom.


    After all, after numerous Crown Wars in the previous era, the once continent-ruling elves had long entered a decline. For their sparse population, every one of their citizens was a valuable asset.


    ¡°Escort her back alive,¡± Cassius ordered casually.


    ¡°I¡­ survived,¡± Abir felt a bit incredulous. This Red Dragon really didn¡¯t covet anything; it simply asked for basic information.


    It seemed the intelligence provided by the Northern Nobility might not be accurate¡ªat least in the eyes of the elves, this Red Dragon was not that irredeemably cruel and evil.


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    But thinking of Richard¡¯s betrayal, she sighed heavily again, feeling deeply pained and conflicted, with nowhere to vent her complex emotions.


    The Tiefling guards escorted the elf back to the dark and damp cell, where it seemed she would spend a long time.


    ¡­


    ¡°That ¡®old acquaintance¡¯ might have already stepped into the legendary level,¡± Cassius muttered to himself.


    When they first met, the half-elf paladin had already reached Level Twenty, capable of slaying Red Dragons solo. At that time, he was just a young dragon, barely escaping under the paladin¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, utterly embarrassed.


    And now, he was about to rule the entire North, needing to plot against the South.


    Cassius still remembered the past humiliation. Although he was not fond of his dragon mother, the Red Dragon still wanted this half-elf, who had once driven him to flee, to pay a price. More importantly, she had something that the Red Dragon coveted.


    According to his memory, Rhea, after traveling through various countries and eradicating evil, gained fame as the ¡®Twilight Blade¡¯ on the continent, then took the final step to become a legendary paladin. Following that, she returned to the Elf Kingdom under the queen¡¯s decree, quelled the Elder Council¡¯s rebellion, and received the divine grace, becoming the Shenshen (God¡¯s favorite).


    In the future ¡®Dark Moon Cataclysm,¡¯ she would play an even more important role, being amusingly referred to by players as ¡®Elf Long Aotian.¡¯


    Thinking of this, Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfur-scented air.


    ¡°Tsk, the strength of the North is still too weak. If we don¡¯t successfully unify in four years, we¡¯ll struggle to withstand Anzeta¡¯s demon invasion, let alone touch the vast South.¡±


    Just then, a Tiefling guard reported at the door.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Lord Mezulash has arrived.¡±


    ¡°Let him in.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Mezulash walked into the hall familiarly, half-kneeling in front of the throne.


    ¡°I have followed your orders and instructed the ¡®Nocturne¡¯ unit to conduct a thorough investigation. We have found twelve Harpist Alliance spies within the territory. After interrogation, their so-called organization seems to take us seriously. More may infiltrate the kingdom for small-scale espionage in the future. What do you want to do with them?¡±


    ¡°Make them spill everything they know and imprison them. There¡¯s no need to break off completely with the Harpists yet.¡±


    Cassius sneered.


    ¡°When the kingdom¡¯s rule extends far enough, they will remove me from their so-called ¡®evil organization¡¯ list. They might even actively try to recruit us. These spies can then become bargaining chips for compensation in the future.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Understood, Master.¡±


    Cassius narrowed his eyes and continued, ¡°Mezulash, as you know, I am about to enter a years-long slumber. When I wake again, I hope to see a well-established intelligence network both inside and outside the kingdom, not the current ragtag group.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡±


    Mezulash replied calmly.


    Having escaped the desperation of being hunted, and having moved past the blood grudges from his kin, Mezulash now only wanted the burgeoning Ashen Kingdom, this ever-expanding monster, to thrive, and to secure more benefits for his kin within it.


    Tieflings held a special status in the Ashen Kingdom, present in City Defense Armies across different regions. These were considered decent positions.


    Because among the retainers in the Ashen Nest, their numbers were sufficient, and they were far more composed than the brutal goblins and ogres. However, this advantage also caused many retainers to harbor jealousy toward the Tieflings.


    The chaotic and undisciplined goblins and kobolds could only be stationed in desolate places like the Stormy Ridge, with some unlucky retainers even sent to guard the Ice Field. They had an intense longing for the lucrative post in the prosperous cities.


    ¡°You may leave.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    With that, Mezulash withdrew.

 Chapter 240 - 166 The Final Instructions

    Chapter 240: Chapter 166 The Final Instructions


    ¡°Finally, everything is arranged. Can I sleep now?¡±


    ¡°What else is there¡­¡±


    Cassius yawned again, trying to sort through the complicated matters in his head. But after all, he was a lazy, sleepy Red Dragon. As he thought more and more, he almost fell asleep again.


    But for Red Dragon Lords, who usually had a mind full of muscles and magma, Cassius absolutely belonged to the ¡°diligent¡± category. Even during the ancient dragon ruler period, he could be considered a wise monarch.


    Because as a seer of the future, he had a sense of urgency entirely different from other giant dragons.


    Most giant dragons slept until the skies darkened and years or even decades passed. When they woke up, the ministers around them had been replaced at least once, if not several times¡ªafter all, their lives were short, and most had died of old age during the long stretches of time.


    ...


    ¡°Boom!¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A puff of black smoke shot out from Cassius¡¯s nostrils, and he used his claw to hold up his huge, drooping head, trying to keep his eyes from closing.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I almost forgot about the demons.¡±The Red Dragon rubbed his sleepy eyes and muttered to himself.


    This was, after all, the main storyline of the previous life¡¯s ¡°Northern Wind and Cloud¡± version: Winter Rage.


    Under the leadership of the original ¡°Mountain¡¯s Wrathful Flame,¡± ¡°Demon Dragon¡± Cassius, tens of thousands of demons surged from the depths of the mountains, launching a large-scale invasion of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, wantonly slaughtering all life they encountered. The countries of the North would unite with players to resist the invasion of the abyssal demons.


    But with Cassius¡¯ modifications, the current North had already changed drastically. All countries were trembling under the Red Dragon¡¯s wings and vaguely appeared to be uniting.


    But one thing he was still certain of¡ªthe demon invasion was inevitable.


    That was why he planned to swiftly unify the North in four years. Only by uniting the Northern Kingdom, integrating most of Anzeta¡¯s strength, could they resist the endless hordes of abyssal demons.


    Thinking of this, Cassius ordered:


    ¡°Quickly, summon Alger.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s tone was impatient because now he was obsessed with sleeping early. Even his dragon instincts urged him.


    A spell expedited the delivery of Cassius¡¯ order.


    Soon, a loud eagle¡¯s screech came from outside the Royal Palace¡ªthat was Alger arriving on his Dragon Vein Giant Eagle.


    According to the etiquette set by the kingdom¡¯s ministers, they should land outside the Royal Palace, go through identity verification, reporting, and a series of steps before entering the main gate. They would then walk several miles on a broad road before finally arriving at the main hall where the Red Dragon resided.


    But Cassius clearly had no patience for ¡°showing authority¡± and directly urged:


    ¡°Come directly into the Royal Palace. Don¡¯t waste time outside.¡±


    Hearing the direct order from the Red Dragon, the Tiefling Guards on the city wall opened the gates one by one, and the Bipedal Wyverns on the stone pillars bowed their heads, no longer roaring and howling.


    And Alger flew into the Royal Palace without hindrance.


    In just a few breaths, Alger, riding the Giant Eagle, landed lightly in front of the main hall gate.


    Alger dismounted and said to the gate:


    ¡°Master, I have arrived.¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    The heavy metal doors adorned with ferocious dragon heads slowly opened.


    Alger steadily entered the hall, and the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle waited obediently outside, understanding his intentions.


    He kneeled on one knee at the steps and respectfully said:


    ¡°Forgive me, master, I am a bit late.¡±


    With the departure of the players, Alger¡¯s Red Scale Guard Station became much quieter.


    After all, the requirements to become a ¡°Red Scale Conqueror¡± were too high. So even until now, few native inhabitants had achieved it, making Alger almost a lone commander¡ªthough he once had nearly twenty players under his command.


    But after avenging his great enemy, his desire for power lessened, and he was quite content with the peace and quiet.


    ¡°Alger, how many Red Scale Conquerors are left in the guardhouse after the Starfallen departed?¡±


    Alger replied: ¡°Forgive me, master. Including myself, there are¡­ four of us.¡±


    Cassius shook his head and said: ¡°Not enough, far from enough.¡±


    ¡°The development of Red Scale Conquerors cannot rely solely on those Starfallen; you need to nurture more new blood.¡±


    Alger lowered his head with a wry smile: ¡°Master, the training for such cavalry is measured in years, and the requirements are very high with enormous costs. I will do my best.¡±


    Cassius said: ¡°I will provide you with sufficient funds, and with the kingdom¡¯s current scale, I cannot believe we can¡¯t find a hundred Wyvern Knights among hundreds of thousands of people.¡±


    Alger had to say: ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Cassius then asked: ¡°Has your recent patrol discovered anything?¡±


    Alger thought for a moment and responded: ¡°Recently, the activity of the Boske Duchy has decreased a lot. Half a year ago, their cavalry was still wandering near our borders; now they¡¯re almost absent. As for the other nations of the North, there¡¯s even less to say. It appears your power has intimidated them.¡±


    ¡°Good, just as I expected.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone paused.


    ¡°But you still have a tough task¡ªto patrol around the Ancytica Mountains and search for any traces of demons for me.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s voice carried an unyielding command.


    Alger hurriedly kneeled, accepting the command: ¡°Yes.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he cautiously reminded: ¡°But¡­ the kingdom does not border the Ancytica Mountains. We may have to pass through the Boske Duchy¡¯s territory, and I fear it may trigger unnecessary national disputes.¡±


    The Red Dragon answered calmly:


    ¡°I have already informed Ramp in advance; he will cooperate. I will have him grant you the use of the Dimension Door. After confirming the exact coordinates, you can use the spell to travel back and forth.¡±


    ¡°Even if the spell cannot work properly, the kingdom can request military passage from the Boske Duchy. They still owe us a lot; we can simply use some debts as collateral. You can rest assured on this point.¡±


    A fiery light gleamed in Cassius¡¯ golden eyes.


    ¡°But this mission is crucial, concerning the kingdom and the entire North¡¯s future. You must complete it successfully. Report any demon-related findings immediately to the kingdom¡¯s high command.¡±


    Hearing this, Alger understood the gravity of the situation and refrained from making unnecessary objections, which would only irritate the Red Dragon.


    He straightforwardly answered:


    ¡°Yes, master. I will accomplish the mission.¡±


    With a loud eagle¡¯s cry, Alger rode the Giant Eagle and departed.


    Watching the departing Giant Eagle Knight, Cassius couldn¡¯t help but yawn, exhaling a hot breath, and muttered to himself:


    ¡°Ah, finally, I can have a good sleep.¡±

 Chapter 241 - 167 The Slumbering Giant Dragons

    Chapter 241: Chapter 167 The Slumbering Giant Dragons


    Once everything was taken care of, Cassius dragged his dragon form alone into the cave, the warm cavern that nearly hollowed out the mountain would undoubtedly become his perfect lair.


    ¡°Finally¡­¡±


    Illuminated by the undying bright flame, the cave, surrounded by countless shimmering gold coins and treasures, saw the red dragon slowly lying on the ground, gradually curling up his massive body, his broad wings loosely folding to his sides.


    Hot white steam spread everywhere, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur.


    On the surface of his body, there were ripples flowing like magma, radiating an unimaginable high temperature.


    Once, the red dragon needed to sleep in a magma environment to obtain abundant fire elemental energy. Now, with the ancestral dragon bloodline, the red dragon itself became an inexhaustible energy source, using fire like the dragon statue¡¯s literal meaning, so hot that even his basic blood vessels couldn¡¯t contain the overflowing heat.


    ...


    All he needed to do was to release the power hidden in the bloodline seed¡ªthe light waves were just the energy overflowing from his body.


    ¡°Clink clank.¡±


    A faint clattering sound was heard.


    The red dragon¡¯s long, thick tail gently swept the ground, pushing away scattered gold coins, clearing out a large open space, allowing him to reserve more room.


    ¡°I hope when I wake up, there will be a surprise¡­..¡±


    Anticipation glowed in Cassius¡¯s golden eyes.


    He slowly closed his eyes, his breathing becoming longer, and the ripples on his body rhythmically moving with his breaths.


    Abundant fire elemental energy gradually gathered on the surface of his scales, forming a thick, almost solid light film that wrapped tightly around the red dragon¡¯s body.


    Thus, a rare spectacle appeared within the cave¡ªa giant ¡°cocoon¡± nearly thirty meters in diameter emerged. Unlike ordinary cocoons, its surface flowed with magma-like ripples, and what it encased was not a transforming larva but an evolving red dragon.


    Considering the species, it seemed more appropriate to call it a ¡°dragon egg.¡±


    This was a subconscious self-protection mechanism of Cassius; he wove a spell similar to the ¡°Egg of Sanctuary¡± with the excess energy flowing out. Any creature touching this light film would be incinerated by the extreme heat, protecting the red dragon during his vulnerable period from outside harm.


    Scalding magma emerged from the ground.


    Thus, Cassius fell into a deep sleep, with no knowledge of when he would awaken.


    ¡­


    At the cave entrance, within the Steel Dragonwing Palace. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hurry up!¡±


    ¡°You lazy fools.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s impatient shouting echoed.


    The tall Dragon Vein Ogre Mage was leading dozens of the kingdom¡¯s spellcasters, busily arranging the array.


    Various spells such as explosions, poisonous mist, acid rain, and even earth spikes were stuffed into it, turning the only passage into the cave into a trap-filled hazard, the graveyard that all adventurers avoided.


    Suddenly, Ramp grabbed a mage in the midst of casting and angrily scolded:


    ¡°Idiot! Who told you to put an ice cone here!¡±


    ¡°If someone really did invade, the first thing they¡¯d trigger would be the fire wall on the ground. Your damned ice cone would evaporate before it could hurt anyone!¡±


    The mage, trembling all over, replied with a sobbing tone: ¡°Lord Ramp, it¡ªit¡¯s my mistake.¡±


    The ogre then released him and turned to look at the constant protection array on the other side¡ªflashing runes appearing where columns and surfaces met, making it impossible for creatures to enter the column area without using magic, forcing them to the trap-laden path.


    But with his experienced eyes, Ramp immediately noticed something wrong and asked:


    ¡°Who set up this protection array?¡±


    A black-robed mage stepped out of the crowd, smiling flatteringly, confident that his array was set to perfection and expecting Ramp¡¯s praise.


    But no sooner had he stepped forward than he received a fierce scolding.


    ¡°Look again!¡±


    ¡°Idiot! You set the magic in the wrong direction! This keeps people from getting out, not from coming in!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Ramp.¡±


    The ogre¡¯s foul-smelling spittle sprayed on his face, but the black-robed mage could only grin and bear it, cold sweat dripping from his forehead¡ªafter all, Ramp¡¯s status in the kingdom was unquestionable, and his funding for magical experiments depended on this rough ogre.


    Ramp raised his magic wand, pointing to a dim formation on the wall, and roared:


    ¡°Who was responsible for this damned guardian inscription?¡±


    The hall fell silent, no one dared respond to the enraged Ramp.


    ¡°The materials for the guardian inscription are incense and diamond powder worth at least two hundred gold coins. Which idiot replaced the diamond powder with bone powder?¡±


    ¡°Even goblins with brains smaller than a seed couldn¡¯t come up with such a low-grade embezzlement trick. Do you really think I can¡¯t tell?¡±


    No sooner had Ramp spoken than a gust of hot wind swept through the hall.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡ª¡±


    The scorching air made even Ramp, with his red dragon bloodline, feel somewhat uncomfortable, while the tender-skinned human mages jumped around, getting almost peeled by the heat, hurriedly casting various protective spells.


    Yet the temperature in the hall continued to rise, within just a few breaths, reaching nearly forty degrees Celsius¡ªa temperature that Anzeta¡¯s natural environment could not achieve.


    Ramp¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, his expression grave as he said:


    ¡°It¡¯s the master. He has entered his slumber.¡±


    ¡°Previously, he had been suppressing the overwhelming energy within him, but now he can¡¯t control it and must release it.¡±


    Thinking of this, Ramp told the spellcasters:


    ¡°Everyone, leave now. This place is no longer suitable for you to stay in.¡±


    With a wave of his magic wand, a spatial rift leading to the Mage Tower appeared before them.


    The spellcasters, as if granted amnesty, rushed into the portal, fleeing this place that had turned into a purgatory.


    Among them, a grey-robed man let out a long sigh of relief, sneaking along¡ªhe was the mage who had cut corners, secretly rejoicing in his near escape.


    But the mage did not realize that his simple sigh was caught by Ramp¡¯s keen perception. A sinister grin appeared on the ogre¡¯s face, resolving to settle scores with him properly¡ªbut now was not the time.


    Once all the mages had left, Ramp flew out of the palace alone, the red dragon bloodline within him allowing him to remain here.


    He gazed at the sealed cave entrance, feeling the increasingly hot air on his skin. He seemed to imagine the spectacular scene inside the slumbering red dragon¡¯s cave, the immense and powerful might.


    ¡°May you grow stronger.¡±


    ¡°Until¡­ you surpass the gods.¡±


    The ogre muttered to himself, his ugly face filled with the fervor of a believer and an indescribable sincerity.

 Chapter 242 - 168 Three Years

    Chapter 242: Chapter 168 Three Years


    The snowstorm in Anzeta would howl every year, laying a white blanket over the land. The resilient people living in this ¡°Land of Eternal Winter,¡± having long moved from the warm South, had grown accustomed to the harsh winters for the sake of survival.


    Similarly, for the sake of the most basic survival, they gradually adapted to the rule of the Ashen Kingdom and adjusted to this new order.


    Time and again, ice and snow covered the ground, and then melted away.


    In the blink of an eye, three years had passed just like that.


    For the giant dragons, this was not a long time; it was merely an ordinary deep sleep, for it was not uncommon for them to sleep for decades or even a hundred years. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But this hibernation was of great significance to Cassius. He was about to undergo the greatest leap in his history.


    ...


    With faint snores, the Red Dragon¡¯s body rose and fell. The energy that overflowed from his surface had already been greedily absorbed, while the Ancestral Dragon Blood within him continued to release a more powerful and primal strength through basal blood vessels. This was the primeval power bestowed upon the first giant dragons by the Nine-Faced Dragon God Ao.


    During these three years, wrapped in that giant egg, the form of the Red Dragon was being transformed by this strength at a pace visible to the naked eye. When he fully awakened, he would be much closer to the Ancestral Dragon, which existed only in mythic epics, rather than an ordinary five-colored dragon of this era, weakened and shackled multiple times.


    The Dragon¡¯s Might of the Red Dragon also grew day by day. Even an occasional low rumble was enough to send birds and beasts fleeing in a panic from several miles away.


    Even the well-seasoned Tiefling Guards often found themselves struggling to breathe under the unintentional oppressive force, to the point that they developed mental issues and had to take turns standing guard.


    Even the Bipedal Wyverns perched on stone pillars often lay trembling on the stone surface, curling up like pitiful little chicks, devoid of the imposing might they showed when facing outsiders. After all, these descendants with diluted Dragon Veins felt the most primal suppression from deep within their bloodlines.


    In his slumber, Cassius often dreamed¡ªthese were actually the heritage from the Ancestral Dragon Blood. Spectacular scenes of Ancestral Dragons battling God Scourges and ancient giant beasts frequently appeared in his mind. Every time this happened, he would roll, growl, and roar as if he were part of the battlefield, releasing his strength uncontrollably.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co


    The True Dragon¡¯s influence on the environment continued to manifest.


    This time, however, as the Ancestral Dragon Blood transformed him, the range and destructiveness of his influence increased day by day.


    At first, the ground within the palace often oozed scorching lava, melting the hard steel into red-hot, molten iron with ease. The entire main hall became a suffocating sauna, even the heavy iron doors turning red-hot under the high temperatures, making it unbearable for the guards stationed at the entrance.


    And that was just the first year of the Red Dragon¡¯s slumber.


    In the second year, the hibernating King of Ashen¡¯s influence on the environment expanded further. The extreme heat gradually enveloped the entire palace. Then, one winter that should have been marked by bitterly cold winds, molten lava suddenly erupted from the ground outside the main hall like a volcanic eruption. The ground turned into dark black magma, and the sky was almost covered by pervasive ashes.


    The incident resulted in the deaths of twelve Tieflings, some burned to death, others suffocated in the ashes.


    And this was merely the result of the Red Dragon¡¯s unintentionally leaked power.


    After that incident, Mezulash abandoned the guarding duties around the main hall, relocating the Tieflings to the outermost perimeter of the palace and periodically dispatching Spellcasters to monitor the Magic Web surrounding the palace to prevent further incidents and unnecessary casualties.


    Fortunately, such a tragic event did not recur because, from the third year onward, the Red Dragon¡¯s influence on the environment was no longer destructive but transformed into a deeper impact on the broader climate system.


    Under Cassius¡¯s influence, not just the area surrounding the palace, even Northwind Castle, several miles away, became warmer, gradually becoming a sanctuary against Anzeta¡¯s harsh winters and even being referred to as ¡°Neverwinter City¡± by the uninformed Northerners.


    ¡ª¡ªMany destitute people would flock to Northwind Castle in winter, even if the guards blocked them, they would gather outside the city to bask in this scarce warmth.


    From the perspective of life, as well as individual strength, Cassius, after his hibernation, had surpassed the prime of his youth, and this had happened in just ten years, which was merely a nap for an ordinary giant dragon.


    And during these years, what changes had occurred in the vast territory of the Ashen Kingdom?


    On the surface, not much was apparent.


    After all, in the years while the Red Dragon slept, the Ashen Kingdom had ceased its former aggressive stance. Although there were still unavoidable frictions and conflicts, the kingdom did not engage in any wars with neighboring countries, developing steadily for several years. Some Northern Nobility had even begun to write political essays.


    They believed that this Red Dragon was content with the current situation and would sleep for decades or even centuries, allowing the North to return to long-term order and peace, and that the various countries could rest assured.


    But Duke Leo sneered at these claims. He would never believe that this greedy dragon would stop. Over the past few years, he quietly contacted the Northern Countries, hoping to form a closer ¡°Anti-Red Dragon Alliance.¡±


    However, despite his caution, his small actions were still inevitably discovered by the kingdom¡¯s intelligence agency. Mezulash quickly dispatched ¡°Nocturne¡± to counteract, sabotage, and disrupt these efforts, ensuring that the so-called alliance never materialized, remaining only a verbal agreement.


    In reality, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s dormancy had already made many duchies complacent. Not until the final emergency would their short-sighted rulers want to be tied to Boske¡¯s war chariot, provoking this fearsome behemoth.


    Within the kingdom, people¡¯s lives had undergone tremendous changes.


    The promulgation of the ¡°Kingdom Code¡± meant that every aspect of life was governed by law. The gaps in power became increasingly narrow, and those forces that hovered between black and white lost their foothold. People did not know whether this was better or worse, but they had no choice but to adapt to such a constrained life.


    The reform of the land system brought an end to the old serfdom. The collusion of the Northern Nobility and large landlords, attempting to rise against the Red Dragon during his slumber, saw this as their last chance.


    However, they met not with the kingdom¡¯s compromise, but with a premeditated and brutal suppression. Under Dolores¡¯s command, the lead bullets of the Great Goblin infantry tore apart the private soldiers nurtured for years, and the nobles¡¯ heads rolled, leaving the kingdom with only one voice.


    This so-called ¡°rebellion¡± ended quietly. Though it was widely criticized and condemned by the Northern Nobility, sparking a media frenzy with scholars calling it a ¡°bloody massacre¡± and a ¡°cruel slaughter,¡±


    It actually had little impact within the kingdom. That so-called resistance, laughably, was extinguished the moment it sparked.

 Chapter 243 - 169 The Era

    Chapter 243: Chapter 169 The Era


    In larger towns like Northwind Castle and Trolo City, people¡¯s lives underwent dramatic changes.


    Several factories left behind by the Mechanical God Cult constantly expanded under policy support, and magical steam machinery gradually became known to the people. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tall chimneys rose from the ground, far surpassing the low buildings of the past, emitting thick black smoke so much so that the kingdom¡¯s spellcasters often had to use the Wind Making Spell to disperse the haze above the city.


    The former serfs, after being liberated, many of them hurried from the countryside to the towns to become the low-level workers in some large factories. They endured the heaviest work and the bad environment of polluted air, but at least they did not have to worry about the most basic issue of hunger, nor worry about dying at home on some snowy night due to a lack of coal.


    The cheap, plentiful and filling mixtures made from potatoes, wheat, and other ingredients in the food factories became the first choice for many poor people to fill their stomachs.


    And those so-called ¡°luncheon meats¡± made from leftovers, starch, and additives also let many impoverished people taste meat for the first time. During festivals, families often gathered to open a precious can of luncheon meat and savor its rare delicious flavor.


    ...


    Due to the Magic Web¡¯s nature, the exhaust gases discharged from these machines were not as deadly as in the ¡°Industrial Revolution¡± of the previous world, and they could be regularly cleared with spells. Thus, the workers¡¯ conditions were much better than those short-lived wretches in the history of the previous world, although tiring, they were not entirely used up.


    Under the kingdom¡¯s rule, the thoughts of people from various classes differed greatly.


    The former Northern Nobility longed for the good treatment and elegant life of the past. They often gathered in dimly lit taverns to talk eloquently, commenting on current events, denouncing the moral decay of modern society, and venting their dissatisfaction with the kingdom, painting the former Rackman Duchy as a perfect utopia.


    They often started with, ¡°When Duke Rackman was in power,¡± or ¡°Back when my family was prosperous,¡± showing the demeanor of relics from a bygone era.


    Although they talked a big game, as soon as the Guard or Nocturne arrived, they scattered like birds and beasts. After a few nobles were thrown into prison on charges such as ¡°slander and defamation,¡± even such gatherings became rare.


    The old nobility, while complaining about the hard life now, had to rely on work to barely make ends meet.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co


    Ordinary citizens quickly adapted to this lifestyle. Under the kingdom¡¯s system, they found it easier to meet their basic needs and had more avenues for upward mobility. Various positions that were once noble privileges now became targets for ordinary people to strive for.


    In this new era, the biggest hope of a citizen of Northwind Castle was to pass an exam and become a clerk or tax officer, or at least to try to become a manager in a factory. Some people took a different path, relying on good physical condition to participate in the examinations for the Hall of Dragon Oath or Red Scale Guard Station.


    The liberated serfs were grateful. Although due to inertia, they still did not understand the meaning of freedom and were more used to obeying those so-called ¡°noble lords.¡± They had already subtly changed and gradually became loyal supporters of the kingdom¡¯s order because they could barely fill their stomachs.


    Of course, as a power transformed from the Ashen Nest, a significant part of the kingdom¡¯s ruling class was monster kin. They occupied special positions in the kingdom and despised the humans labeled as ¡°the conquered.¡±


    These retainers often followed the old ideas of the Stormy Ridge, believing that the weak only deserved to be humiliated by the strong.


    Despite the constraints of the kingdom domain, their brutal and violent nature could not be changed. Conflicts and even gruesome bloodshed between humans and monsters were not uncommon. Although these incidents would be settled by the City Guard Army, it often seemed more like a cover-up.


    Many residents felt uneasy about this situation, while the monsters were dissatisfied with being on an equal level with these frail humans.


    The Tieflings, positioned between ¡°monsters¡± and ¡°humans,¡± often acted as mediators.


    Ramp frequently felt overwhelmed by solving these racial conflicts. He handled several high-profile cases, sentencing many monsters that oppressed and harmed humans to death; but sometimes, he deliberately covered the truth or even murdered to silence.


    For instance, in the ¡°Bugbear Murder Case¡± that resulted in nearly ten deaths, Ramp enforced the law strictly, making an example by sending the Bugbear to the guillotine without hesitation.


    In the ¡°disappearance case of suburban beggars,¡± suspected to be caused by a Chimera, Ramp used a spell to cover up the truth, only giving the Chimera a symbolic punishment of house arrest.


    In his view, whether retainers or humans, they were just tools to make the kingdom stronger, a part of the great blueprint of the Red Dragon. His only standard for balance was the kingdom¡¯s highest interest. The concept of identity or empathy was insignificant to an ogre; as an archmage, he had long transcended his original identity.


    Ramp¡¯s policies and guidelines were mostly discussed with players during the beta test, refined and perfected by the kingdom¡¯s think tank, and then implemented.


    Among the thousands of beta testers, there were more than a dozen players with historical research experience and government work experience. Their thinking was notably advanced in the medieval North, even Ramp valued those players highly.


    In terms of military, with the departure of the players, the updating of military equipment abruptly stopped, but this also gave the kingdom¡¯s army enough time to drill and develop tactics around existing equipment.


    Tactics involving the joint operations of the Goblin Corps and bipedal wyverns, line soldiers, artillery, and cavalry were developed through exploration.


    Although most of these were still rudimentary, they already provided a crushing advantage over other contemporary Northlands forces.


    The book ¡°On War,¡± copied and presented by the players before they left, was treasured by the Goblin Warlord Dolores. He often had human clerks read to him during his free time and asked his top generals to ponder it. He even took the opportunity to learn many common language words from it.


    Overall, society still maintained basic stability.


    In these three years, regardless of how much hidden darkness or bloody history lay beneath the kingdom¡¯s new order, there was no doubt that this emerging country was still thriving. Even in the slumber of the Red Dragon, it had already turned into a behemoth capable of shaking the entire North alone.


    Just waiting for an opportunity to unleash this long-suppressed power completely.


    Borrowing a line from ¡°A Tale of Two Cities¡±: ¡°It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.¡±


    The wheels of time rolled on, and anything incompatible with the kingdom¡¯s order would be ruthlessly crushed, leaving only ruins.

 Chapter 244 - 170 Awakening (Part 1)

    Chapter 244: Chapter 170 Awakening (Part 1)


    ¡°Finally escaped.¡±


    Tiniya shook her frost-white wings, stretched her neck, and let out a joyful howl.


    ¡°Awooo~¡±


    As if remembering something, her vertical pupils flickered, and she gritted her teeth with sharp, cold breaths seeping through the gaps in her teeth.


    ¡°Hmph, those hateful humans, they dared to force me to learn etiquette. One day, one day I will freeze them all and eat them.¡±


    She tilted her head and instinctively looked toward the distant Royal Palace.


    ...


    ¡°But if I do that¡­ Master will definitely be angry.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s just a beating, that¡¯s fine, but if Master locks me in that ¡®cage¡¯ again¡­¡±


    Tiniya couldn¡¯t help but shiver, her whole body trembling, immediately dispelling her earlier thoughts.


    In fact, during these three years, this white dragon with a thin ancestral lineage had not caused any trouble; rather, she obediently learned various spells, etiquette, and even language.


    Unlike ordinary white dragons with degraded bloodlines, Tiniya¡¯s intelligence was actually comparable to an average human, though she was somewhat duller in certain aspects.


    And her learning speed amazed the Ogre Archmage. Ramp just dangled a ¡°Master favors educated retainers¡± incentive, and this white dragon pursued it with a frenzy.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co


    By now, Tiniya had already mastered simple communication in the common tongue, the basic etiquettes of the kingdom, and even learned a shape-shifting spell, making her a bona fide intellectual among the generally dim-witted white dragons.


    ¡°When will Master finally awaken?¡±


    Thinking of the unprecedentedly powerful Red Dragon, her true master, Tiniya¡¯s face turned a bit rosy.


    The white dragon sneaked closer, pressing her body against the outer wall of the Royal Palace¡ªbecause of the Red Dragon¡¯s slumber, the metal walls were often scorchingly hot, even enough to cook raw meat, and even the Tiefling Guards stationed around dared not touch it easily. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As a creature fond of the cold, which only ate frozen food, the white dragon had low heat resistance.


    The moment she touched the city wall, Tiniya¡¯s side sizzled with burning sounds, and her pure white scales became charred.


    ¡°Awooo~¡±


    Tiniya whimpered in pain but continued to rub against the wall undeterred.


    She felt the heat transmitted from the metal as if feeling the powerful, sturdy, and scorching body of the Red Dragon, feeling its frenzied and surging strength.


    ¡°Master¡­¡±


    At the thought, Tiniya¡¯s mouth dripped with dragon saliva, and even her tightly covered scales couldn¡¯t hide her infatuated and entranced expression.


    The Tiefling Guard initially wanted to check the source of the disturbance, as capturing an intruder was richly rewarding. However, seeing it was the white dragon, they retreated like they¡¯d seen a disaster star¡ªthis had happened many times already.


    In a way, there was no saving this white dragon.


    Suddenly, a strong gust of hot wind spread from the palace, and the ground trembled violently, creating fissures.


    ¡°Crack, crack¡­¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a loud roar, Tiniya snapped out of her daydream.


    Frightened, she flapped her wings, flying crookedly in the air, letting out panic-stricken howls:


    ¡°Awooo~~¡±


    The Tiefling Guards stationed near the palace were also terror-stricken, quickly retreating and evacuating, fearing to follow in the footsteps of their unfortunate predecessors who had perished in the palace.


    ¡°Gurgle, gurgle.¡±


    Scalding magma spewed from the ground fissures, turning the surroundings into black lava.


    ¡°No! Run!¡±


    ¡°We need to leave here immediately!¡±


    Ramp, the Tiefling Captain in charge of the recent palace security, turned pale instantly.


    The ground cracked, magma gushed, and ash filled the sky. The scene mirrored last year¡¯s calamity almost exactly, which he had witnessed from the palace walls as the Infernal Calamity devoured the unfortunate Tieflings within the palace.


    He had been powerless back then, only able to watch them die. Now, the disaster seemed to befall him.


    To Cassius, this was merely a trifling amount of power inadvertently leaked during his slumber, nothing noteworthy. Yet, this ¡°dust¡± of immensely powerful individual strength fell on mortals like a complete disaster, effortlessly claiming lives.


    ¡°Run! Cough, cough!¡±


    Ramp shouted, but the fine dust particles already clogged his nose and mouth, making him gasp for breath.


    He quickly followed previous training, covering his nose and mouth with his clothes, bending over to walk and trying to leave this infernal place as soon as possible, with the Tieflings close behind.


    However, with another ¡°crack,¡± the ground split again, and deep fissures filled with scorching magma blocked their escape routes.


    ¡°Cough, cough.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡±


    Staring at the sky thick with ash, Ramp murmured in despair.


    ¡°Dying from His Majesty¡¯s ¡®morning temper¡¯? That would be quite a joke.¡±


    Yet the ash nearly blocked half the sky, rendering sunlight invisible, and the ground flowed with magma, cracking around them, mercilessly cutting off their escape routes. The palace vicinity appeared as if it was the end of the world.


    Tiniya also struggled to fly through the volcanic ash and fog, covered in ash, almost turning into a ¡°black dragon.¡±


    Luckily, white dragons could fly and were far more resilient than mortals; although disheveled, she managed to flee without life-threatening danger.


    But the Tieflings weren¡¯t so fortunate; they faced a complete dead end.


    Just as Ramp was about to succumb to total despair.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a loud dragon¡¯s roar echoed, long and ancient.


    With the roar reverberating through the sky, an invisible domain rapidly expanded. As the wave reached, all agitated magical phenomena abruptly subsided.


    The ash blocking the sky visibly dispersed, the magma returned to the earth or cooled into solid lava, the scorching heat faded, and even the burning ground cooled down.


    In just a few breaths.


    The scene, once resembling an infernal calamity, returned to normal.


    ¡°I actually survived!¡±


    ¡°Huff, huff!¡±


    Ramp patted his chest, breathing heavily to calm his racing heart.


    He turned to look at the grand palace within the walls.


    ¡°His Majesty¡­ has awakened¡­¡±

 Chapter 245 - 171: Awakening (Part 2)

    Chapter 245: Chapter 171: Awakening (Part 2)


    ¡°I¡­ have finally awakened.¡±


    Cassius slowly opened his eyes, wisps of blue smoke rising from the corners of his mouth. He felt an unprecedented strength surging within his body and couldn¡¯t help but gently stretch his wings.


    ¡°Damn it, what time is it now?¡±


    The Red Dragon wasn¡¯t sure about the current time because he felt like he had experienced hundreds, even thousands, of years in a dream, enduring countless brutal battles and witnessing the decline of giant dragons from glory.


    But those memories, as vivid as if he had personally experienced them, grew hazy the moment he opened his eyes, shrouded in a mysterious, elusive veil.


    This even made him feel somewhat dizzy.


    ...


    ¡°It would be awful if several decades have passed.¡±


    Cassius looked around. The cave was now covered in lava, magma flowing everywhere. Even the gold coins had melted into streams, bearing no trace of time.


    He let out a light whistle, summoning the Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye, carefully scrutinizing his current self and observing the Kingdom Domain.


    Thankfully, in his vast vision, Northwind Castle was thriving, people bustling about the streets and squares. The kingdom had seen considerable changes, but clearly not spanning decades or even centuries. The transformation of his dragon body, however, was what astonished Cassius the most.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s form had undergone a tremendous change compared to before his slumber, making him feel somewhat unfamiliar even to himself.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co


    His dragon body had expanded to nearly thirty meters in length, a size typically attained only by ancient, even geriatric Red Dragons who had lived for at least five hundred years. Yet Cassius had achieved it in just ten years.


    His scales had turned a deeper red, with a glossy texture replaced by a smooth, non-reflective one. Only the edges revealed dark gold streaks, like gilded armor growing from within.


    His wings had become broader, the rear edge of the wing membrane coated in a blue-black metallic hue burning in the fire.


    His tail had grown thicker, the tip sprouting sharp bone spurs like a battering ram.


    But these were merely trivial details.


    The changes to the Red Dragon¡¯s head and chest were the most significant and thorough.


    His golden pupils had faded, his eyes now resembling molten lava spheres, emitting intense firelight.


    And not only did his menacing head bear two sweeping horns, but at the top, new spiral, demon-like long horns had also sprouted.


    At the center of the Red Dragon¡¯s chest, where numerous blood vessels converged, a red crystal formed from highly pure fire elements was deeply embedded in his body, its surface rippling like flowing magma. Radiating cracks appeared in the surrounding scales, glowing brightly with firelight.


    The energy contained within was so immense and concentrated that it constantly heated the surrounding body. This caused his chest, neck, and tail areas to grow two rows of vent-like organs, continuously expelling sulfur gas and releasing excess heat.


    If Cassius resembled a pure Red Dragon before his slumber, the awakened version of him was now a complete anomaly, clearly beyond the realm of normal five-colored dragons. If any dragon scholar were present, they would undoubtedly be amazed by his new form.


    ¡°This appearance resembles a true embodiment of the Scourge.¡±


    Cassius shook his still somewhat unfamiliar body, slowly stretching his wings, feeling the tidal surge of strength within, his lava sphere-like eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    ¡°Let me see precisely what this power entails¡­¡±


    [After your slumber, you have digested the ¡°thin Ancestral Dragon Bloodline,¡± resulting in the evolution of your body.]


    [Dragons are powerful magical creatures innately attuned to various supernatural phenomena, and Ao¡¯s most favored offspring are no exception. As a descendant of the Ancestral Dragon, you have gained ancient supernatural abilities.]


    [Your additional spellcasting level has increased: 3¡ú5]


    [Your racial casting level stacks with your sorcerer casting level, currently totaling: 17]


    At this level of spellcasting ability, Cassius could barely reach the Ninth Layer of the Magic Web, almost touching the surface of its core, while the path beyond led to forbidden domains.


    Cassius keenly felt this extraordinary enhancement.


    The Eighth Tier Spell [Magic Withering], which he once approached with utmost caution, could now be mastered completely and used as easily as moving an arm, rendering ordinary lower-tier spells utterly powerless against him.


    ¡°With this level of spellcasting ability, I should be able to dominate Anzeta.¡±


    The Red Dragon simply gazed at a massive stone pillar in the distance. With a slight shift in his will, the center of the pillar instantly melted and was pierced through, liquid magma flowing forth. Such a sorcerer¡¯s spell was executed as effortlessly as a blink, requiring no thought whatsoever.


    However, the information on the panel did not end. It continued to update.


    [Due to the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, you have gained the dragonkin¡¯s additional specialty ¨C [Primordial Breath Weapon]]


    [Primordial Breath Weapon]:


    Once daily, a dragon can harness the power of the Ancestral Bloodline, gathering all its energy into the Dragon Crystal, triggering a fission reaction within, releasing an unimaginable torrent of energy. After each Primordial Breath, residue will accumulate in the Dragon Crystal, potentially causing irreversible contamination to the body.


    Charging takes 125-375 seconds. The dragon must not have used a breath weapon in the past three hours. The energy expended in this attack will prevent the dragon from using the breath weapon for at least three days thereafter.


    ¡°What an incredibly powerful breath.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more appropriate to call it an ¡®atomic breath¡¯ rather than ¡®Primordial Breath,¡¯ though the side effects are quite severe.¡±


    Cassius didn¡¯t attempt the potentially body-damaging Primordial Breath but instead performed a regular breath.


    As he slowly opened his jaws, his complex machine-like body suddenly activated, funneling all energy through dense main vessels to the ¡®Dragon Crystal¡¯ embedded in his chest, where it began to converge. The semi-transparent crystal emitted a bright firelight.


    The two rows of vents flung open, releasing brilliant flares and white smoke.


    Finally, the highly dense energy was transported to the Red Dragon¡¯s throat, spewing out an intensely hot, incandescent white flame that instantly melted the rocks before him.


    Had the Red Dragon not closed his mouth in time, the flame would have penetrated the rock layer, destabilizing the entire cave structure.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, it¡¯s almost as powerful as my extremely effective spew before slumber.¡±


    ¡°Just a thin bloodline can achieve such an extent¡­ what were the ancient giant dragons like?¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    He felt his beating dragon heart like a high-speed, scorching engine, his vitality unparalleled, exponentially different from mortals.


    To put it simply, this Red Dragon had crossed the threshold that was incredibly challenging for mortals, reaching the life level commonly known as [Legendary].


    ¡°Security measures weren¡¯t bad.¡±


    With a slight flick of his wings, the dozens of spells arranged around the cave entrance vanished effortlessly. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He slowly paced out of the cave, entering the Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    Due to the disasters caused inadvertently during Cassius¡¯s slumber, the place was in ruins, with melted and resolidified steel scattered about, giving it a chaotic beauty. However, for the now larger Red Dragon, the Steel Palace felt somewhat narrow and cramped.


    The metal gate had long been destroyed, leaving only a misshapen, uneven entrance.


    The Red Dragon lowered his head slightly, crouched low, and tucked in his wings, barely squeezing through the entrance, exiting the once magnificent main hall.


    Cassius shook his body, stretched his neck, stood on his hind legs, and let out a series of relieved whistles, finally able to fully spread his broad wings without spatial constraints.


    He raised his head and gazed at the clear sky, squinting his eyes, with firelight flickering in the lava sphere-like pupils.


    ¡°I seem to smell¡­ a familiar scent.¡±

 Chapter 246 - 246: Character Card - Up to Volume 2, 164

    Chapter 246: Character Card ¨C Up to Volume 2, Chapter 164


    [King of Ashes, Cassius]


    Name: Cassius Claudius Norixius


    Category: Giant Dragon Type, Lawful Evil


    Race: Young Ancestral Red Dragon


    Ac: 25 (natural armor, gilded scales)


    Base Attributes:


    ...


    Strength¡ª33


    Agility¡ª12


    Constitution¡ª27


    Intelligence¡ª17


    Perception¡ª19


    Charisma¡ª29


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co


    Skill Proficiency: Ruling +18, Intimidation +13, Persuasion +12, Athletics +10, Deception +8, Stealth +6, Perception +8, Hunting +4, Arcana +4, Escape +4, Survival +4, Knowledge (Future) +4


    Damage Immunities: fire, lightning, cold (resistance)


    Senses: blindsight up to 20 ft., dark vision up to 80 ft., passive perception 19 (27 within the kingdom domain)


    Language: Common, Draconic, Ancient Giant Language (partial)


    Abilities: Primordial Breath, Kingdom Domain: Seal Exclusion, Kingdom Domain: Explosion, Remnant of the Storm, Power of the Everfrost Rune, Extremely Effective Flame Breath, Marked Flame Breath, Gilded Carapace, Bloodline Gift


    Feats and Traits: Primordial Breath Weapon, Kingdom Domain, Dragon¡¯s Spell, Army Breaker, Extremely Effective Breath Weapon, Marked Breath Weapon, Frost Giant Slayer, Gilded Scales, Combat Caster, Leader¡¯s Aura, Fugitive, Silver-Tongued, Hard Landing


    Combat Equipment: Ring of the Storm King, Eternal Frost Horn, Magic Nullification Amulet, Guardian¡¯s Staff, Dimension Door Necklace, Mana Regeneration Pearl, Cloak of Breathing, Bluefoot Dragon-snake Horn, Agile Mage Action Ring, Staff of Scorching, Amulet of Speaking with the Dead, Lava Sputterer, Ring of Blade Ward, Amulet of Silent Footsteps¡­


    Spells Equipped:


    Recharge Release: Storm of Vengeance, Kolba¡¯s Glacier Cage


    Once per week: Weather Control, Extreme Cold Ice Explosure Spell


    Thrice daily: Advanced Icicle Technique, Spell Nullification Barrier, Dimension Door, Speak with the Dead, Burning Hands, Searing Ray, Blade Ward, Oil on the Soles of the Feet


    Occupational Level: True Dragon Sorcerer 12


    Spellcasting Level: 17


    Spells:


    8th Level: Magic Withering


    7th Level: Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye, Burning Stone Haze


    6th Level: Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion, Undying Reverse Scale


    5th Level: Dragon¡¯s Breath, Agile as a Dragon, Bag of Greed, Flame Dimensional Gate


    4th Level: Braving the Fiery Pits, Shape-shifting Spell, Fire Wall Spell, All-Knowing Eye, Aerial Maneuver Technique


    3rd Level: Energy Scales, Blink Spell, Protective Energy Damage, Fireball Technique


    2nd Level: Egg of Sanctuary, Enhanced Attributes, Misty Step, Phantom Force, Invisibility Spell


    1st Level: Cloud Mist Technique, Charm Person, Magic Missile, Shield Spell, Thunderwave


    Cantrips: Dread Tremors, Mage¡¯s Hand, Minor Illusion, Act Before the Enemy, Magic Tricks, Text Transmission Spell, Witchcraft Arrow


    Innate Spell Ability:


    Once daily: Suggestion Spell


    Challenge Level: 21 (33,000xp)


    Assessment: This red dragon was referred to as the incarnation of fire, the master of scourge, and known among the Northern nobility as the ¡°Dragon of Tyranny,¡± ¡°Dragon of Lust,¡± and ¡°Dragon of Greed.¡±


    He once created a fire tornado that swept across the land, destroying an army of tens of thousands, and also annihilated the centuries-old Frost Giant tribe in an instant. In the Anzeta Great Wilderness, his name had already become a pure symbol of destruction and power, but this was not the end. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now, this red dragon called the ¡°King of Ashes¡± had slumbered for several years, with his terrifying kingdom flourishing. He had become known as the ¡°Benevolent Father¡± among his citizens. No one knew what astonishing changes had occurred during these years, and no one could guess what kind of terrifying power this red dragon would release.

 Chapter 247 - 172 Georges Encounter (1)

    Chapter 247: Chapter 172 George¡¯s Encounter (1)


    ¡°George! Don¡¯t daydream at your station, lunchtime is approaching!¡±


    The young man called ¡°George¡± felt a heavy pat on his shoulder, snapping him out of his reverie. He turned to see his colleague, Howard, holding a stack of this morning¡¯s **The Kingdom Morning News**.


    Howard smiled and said, ¡°Come on, see what¡¯s new today.¡±


    George nodded hastily and followed behind him, while many other workers also stood up from their stations, their faces lit with expectant smiles.


    For poor workers like them, buying a newspaper was a luxury they couldn¡¯t afford. **The Kingdom Morning News** was the most expensive newspaper in the country, accessible only to affluent citizens, costing several copper coins; nearly half a day¡¯s wage for George.


    This, of course, was Howard running an errand to buy newspapers for the factory supervisor.


    ...


    And as a reward, the workers got to listen with pleasure as the clerk read the news aloud.


    ¡°Hurry up!¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to come down and get it myself?¡±


    A rough, thick voice bellowed from upstairs.


    The workers¡¯ supervisor, the manager of this food factory, was a rather unique figure¡ªa three-meter-tall ogre named Bighead, said to be a confidant of Prime Minister Ramp. The whole factory revered him, although ¡°fear¡± played a much larger part.


    When George first arrived, this ogre supervisor had terrified him so much he nearly wet himself, petrified that he might be eaten in a fit of rage.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?????????????????.co


    But as time went on, he got used to it, even finding nothing strange about a three-meter ogre in the factory. Instead, it seemed like a matter of course.


    Lord Bighead enjoyed a life of indulgence, devouring large quantities of meat and fish all day long. Why would he want to eat George¡¯s scrawny body?


    George often thought this way.


    ¡°Sir, your newspaper for today.¡±


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Howard nodded and bowed, delivering the newspaper to the supervisor¡¯s office, only to be booted out.


    But there wasn¡¯t a hint of anger on his face; instead, he stood there eagerly, ear cocked, mimicking his colleagues who gathered in a cluster nearby.


    ¡°Stop crowding.¡±


    ¡°I was here first, and he¡¯s saving a spot for me.¡±


    George quickly squeezed in, securing a good position with Howard¡¯s help.


    Soon, the clerk¡¯s clear voice began reading from the office, and the workers perked up their ears.


    The **Kingdom Daily** was rich in content, from changes in domestic policies to strange news from various places. But their favorite was the humorous sections, often making them laugh so hard they¡¯d slap the ground with joy. This was one of the few entertainments in their stagnant lives, and listening to the newspaper was the highlight of their day.


    ¡°Captain Dolores conducted joint exercises in the suburbs¡­¡±


    ¡°The kingdom¡¯s economic growth has reached a new high¡­¡±


    ¡°Lord Ramp issued important instructions to further integrate Magic with industry¡­¡±


    Howard complained, ¡°Why is today¡¯s news so long? I wish those newspaper writers would cut down on boring stuff.¡±


    George whispered in caution, ¡°It¡¯s good enough to have something to listen to. Don¡¯t disturb the supervisor.¡±


    As expected, before he finished speaking, the ogre¡¯s impatient roar came from the office, ¡°Do you still want to listen? Make another noise and I¡¯ll throw you all out!¡±


    George shrank his neck in defiance and continued listening carefully.


    ¡°Yesterday, two citizens acted bravely, reporting spies from the Boske Duchy to the kingdom, earning personal commendation from Lord Ramp.¡±


    ¡°As a reward for their loyalty, they received fifty gold coins, a luxury home in the city center of Northwind Castle, and the chance to receive the valuable Dragon Vein Blessing. Fellow citizens, this newspaper solemnly reminds you that safeguarding the kingdom is everyone¡¯s responsibility!¡±


    Howard exclaimed, ¡°Look at these lucky ones. I¡¯ve heard those who get the Dragon Vein blessing can live over a hundred years; compared to that, gold coins and a house are nothing.¡±


    The workers chatted animatedly, their words filled with undisguised envy.


    ¡°Yeah, if only I could catch a spy.¡±


    ¡°If that was me, I wouldn¡¯t be working here. I¡¯d buy a shop with the gold coins and go into business!¡±


    ¡°Heh, stop daydreaming.¡±


    George didn¡¯t participate in this fanciful discussion; instead, he quietly noted the news to himself.


    Soon, the workers¡¯ favorite segment came, and they quickly tossed aside the previous topic, listening to the jokes with enormous excitement.


    ¡°A boy possessed by a devil went to the Rackman Family Church for exorcism.¡±


    ¡°The priest said, ¡®Accursed devil, get out of this child¡¯s body!''¡±


    ¡°The devil replied, ¡®It¡¯s you who should get out!''¡±


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    The workers burst into laughter, and even the ogre¡¯s coarse laugh echoed from the office. This was one of the rare moments when the workers could let loose.


    Howard was rolling with laughter, slapping the floor repeatedly.


    ¡°Those people in the Church sure are something! No wonder they were driven out!¡±


    But George was still savoring the earlier story and hadn¡¯t caught what the clerk had said, so he followed his colleagues¡¯ lead, laughing along to blend into the lively atmosphere.


    ¡­


    The workers toiled late into the night until the sky turned pitch black before they could clock out.


    George bade farewell to a few familiar colleagues and dragged his weary body alone down the street, where passersby had become sparse.


    ¡°Another day is over,¡± George licked his lips, as though tasting the remnants of the ¡°paste¡± he had eaten for dinner.


    He lived in the most unassuming basement in the city, a cramped space of only a few square meters, housing over ten people¡ªthis was all he could afford.


    George was among the tens of thousands of freed serfs who came to Northwind Castle three years ago, and he was still all alone.


    His mother had frozen to death in a bitter winter ten years ago, and his father had starved to death in a famine six years ago¡ªhe felt little sadness about it because such occurrences were common in the manor. He was merely an insignificant ¡°Gray Beast,¡± living a numbing life, constantly fearing for his survival.


    Now, having come to Northwind Castle, he witnessed many new things, filled his stomach, and harbored new hopes.


    Lord Bighead once said something profound, ¡°When you¡¯re full, you start thinking about women.¡±


    George agreed and took it to heart.


    He secretly peered at the houses along the road, the bright windows showing silhouettes of people sitting together and the tiny figures of children¡ªfamilies enjoying a delightful candle-lit dinner.


    George longed to have a home in Northwind Castle.


    But this remained nothing more than a thought.


    He knew full well that for someone earning meager wages like him, it was an impossible dream.


    S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 248 - 173 Georges Ordeal (2)

    Chapter 248: Chapter 173 George¡¯s Ordeal (2)


    George cast one last longing glance at the warm scene, then left the brightly lit street and turned into a dark, narrow alley¡ªthe only way to his residence.


    Suddenly, a mysterious voice halted him.


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    Cold sweat broke out on George¡¯s face as he remembered some terrifying rumors: It was said that in the kingdom¡¯s shadows, a ¡°black market¡± existed where Ogres and Great Goblin clansmen secretly gathered to sell human organs and flesh for consumption. This was absolutely illegal in normal circumstances.


    Was he running into one of those black market merchants?


    George wanted to run, but his feet felt like they were filled with lead. He could only stiffly turn his head and stammer, ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t catch me.¡±


    ...


    In a daze, he saw a robed figure not far away. It was hard to distinguish the person¡¯s gender; their build was similar to his, at least not an Ogre or a Great Goblin.


    George finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    The mysterious voice was quite gentle, merely asking, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m not a minion of the evil dragons. Are you a resident of Northwind Castle?¡±


    George scratched his head in confusion.


    ¡°I suppose so. I live here every day. You know the ¡®Giant Sage¡¯ food processing plant in the Southern District, right? I work there.¡±


    The mysterious person handed him a few silver coins and continued to ask, ¡°Then can you tell me more about the situation here?¡±


    George was both surprised and delighted, his face lighting up with joy. He did not expect such a windfall.


    He hurriedly stuffed the precious silver coins into his clothes, afraid the person in front of him might change their mind, and repeatedly said,


    ¡°Of course, of course.¡±


    These were silver coins, worth his wages for several months!


    If George could see through the robe, he would have been stunned by the exquisite features and elegant demeanor under the hood¡ªthis so-called mysterious person was actually Olivia, the young Silver Dragon Mage known as ¡°Silver Star¡± from Melwood, and an organizer of the Arcane Priory.


    Years had passed, and the Arcane Priory had grown, but she had never seen the Gold Dragon Anhel.


    Though quite saddened, the young Silver Dragon Mage could only surmise that the righteous Gold Dragon might have been captured or even killed.


    Olivia decided to first gather information and understand the situation in the city.


    ¡°Do you think your life is better or worse than before?¡±


    George chuckled awkwardly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I used to be a peasant on Lord Brad¡¯s estate. I never had enough to eat. My parents died early. A few years ago, our lord was overthrown. The kingdom¡¯s people said it was His Majesty Cassius who ¡®liberated¡¯ us, so I came to Northwind Castle.¡±


    At this point, George scratched his head in embarrassment.


    ¡°I guess it must be better now. I work at the food processing plant, and though I¡¯m exhausted every day, at least I get enough to eat. Last winter, not a single worker in the factory starved to death. That was rare on the estate.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ You¡¯re asking where the food comes from?¡±


    ¡°The kingdom¡¯s important figures created something using amazing magic. They call it ¡®energy filler,¡¯ but we usually call it ¡®paste.¡¯ It doesn¡¯t taste good, but it fills the belly. The first time I had a full meal was in the factory cafeteria.¡±


    He thought of something and added in a joking tone,


    ¡°A coworker who recently escaped from the estate had never seen so much food before. The first time he came here, he ate ten pounds of paste, nearly burst himself to death.¡±


    Olivia was somewhat astonished; this was quite different from what she had imagined.


    In her envisioned scenario, Northwind Castle should have been filled with the cries of suffering and discontent by now.


    With the greed and brutality of a Red Dragon, their ruling territories were generally subject to severe exploitation. And in the poems and novels of the Northern Nobility, the Ashen Kingdom was depicted as a demonic hell.


    Even Olivia had some preconceptions.


    As a Silver Dragon who lived long among humans in the North, Olivia was somewhat familiar with and critical of the harsh serfdom there.


    But as an outsider, and under the elders¡¯ admonitions, Olivia was not to meddle in human societies. She could only sympathize with those numerous ¡°gray beasts¡± and occasionally offer charity.


    She did not expect that this Red Dragon actually used valuable magical resources for production and even liberated serfs, which was unimaginable for Olivia.


    Bahamut above, that was a Red Dragon!


    As a racial enemy, Silver Dragons knew the terrifying five-colored dragons best.


    Unlike Silver Dragons, who were close to humanoid beings, Red Dragons despised everything and often treated humans and elves as snacks. Even those under their rule were considered emergency rations and cannon fodder.


    Olivia thought this ¡°King of Ashes¡± might not be entirely hopeless.


    But perhaps¡­


    He had bigger schemes?


    With this in mind, Olivia continued to probe for information.


    ¡°You mean His Majesty Cassius? I¡¯ve never seen him. I heard he¡¯s been sleeping recently, but I guess that¡¯s normal for a giant dragon. There are some other rumors, but it seems he hasn¡¯t eaten anyone. The rumor-mongers have been caught by Nocturne people.¡±


    George couldn¡¯t help but shrink his neck when mentioning Nocturne.


    ¡°We lowly workers aren¡¯t sure about the important figures¡¯ opinions. We mainly learn about His Majesty through the Kingdom Daily.¡± What does it say again?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it goes like this¡­ ¡®His Majesty Cassius is the great ¡°benevolent father¡± of the nation and its subjects. He broke the old order with his colossal strength, creating a new order for the Ashen Kingdom. With an iron hand, he established the strict and rigorous Kingdom Code, giving all citizens equal status before the law and fostering harmony between humans and retainers, preventing the noble lords from oppressing us.''¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    George almost recited it verbatim, fluently and rhythmically, as if delivering a line from a play.


    After all, the Kingdom Daily repeated these praises for the Red Dragon almost daily, and various propaganda channels incessantly sang his praises.


    George and his coworkers had heard those words so often that they could recite them by heart, almost reflexively.


    Olivia frowned slightly.


    It seemed that the Red Dragon¡¯s rule had become deeply entrenched in this land, making resistance difficult. If she wanted to oppose, she could hardly find suitable allies.


    ¡°How can it be¡­¡±


    Thinking of the missing Gold Dragon, Olivia felt a surge of righteous indignation: How could someone who harmed the righteous so cruelly be a qualified ruler?


    Yet, hearing George¡¯s sincere words, she was at a loss, unable to find anything to refute.


    Even a Silver Dragon had to admit that for these tragically born serfs, the Red Dragon¡¯s rule might have indeed improved their lives.


    After hesitating for a moment, Olivia couldn¡¯t help but ask,


    ¡°Isn¡¯t anyone resisting him?¡±

 Chapter 249 - 174 Georges Ordeal (Part 3)

    Chapter 249: Chapter 174 George¡¯s Ordeal (Part 3)


    Upon hearing this, George¡¯s face turned to panic. He lowered his voice and said cautiously, ¡°Of course, but most of those rebels¡­ no longer exist.¡±


    ¡°You should know the renowned ¡®Nocturne¡¯ force, right? It¡¯s the kingdom¡¯s most terrifying blade. Once they set their sights on someone, almost no one can escape.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that those former nobles¡­¡±


    He glanced around and made a throat-slitting gesture.


    Olivia couldn¡¯t help but snort coldly, ¡°It¡¯s truly a brutal and evil regime, persecuting rebels with the most ruthless means, revealing its bloody true nature at such times.¡±


    Perhaps because of Gold Dragon Anhel, or perhaps due to the Silver Dragon¡¯s inherent hostility towards the Red Dragon, Olivia harbored a bias against this country that even she wasn¡¯t fully aware of.


    ...


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    George responded in a low voice.


    But Olivia didn¡¯t notice that this cautious former serf was breathing rapidly, his voice trembling, and sweat was seeping from his forehead.


    George kept his head down, his mind flooded with numerous familiar slogans.


    Enticing with benefits.


    Concealing and deliberately hiding one¡¯s identity.


    Gathering information, deliberately guiding resistance against the kingdom.


    Isn¡¯t this the standard enemy spy described in ¡°The Kingdom Daily¡±? He also thought of those tempting rewards: fifty gold coins, a house in the city center, precious Dragon Vein Elixir¡­


    ¡°This is a spy!¡±


    His breathing became even more rapid, his heart pounding.


    In George¡¯s eyes, the person in front of him seemed like a pile of golden, walking gold coins, perhaps even a shortcut to completely change his destiny!


    His emotions grew increasingly agitated, breathing heavily, his eyes even became unfocused as he started dreaming about the beautiful life after earning the bounty.


    ¡°I will find a woman, have a child with her, and live together as a family in a beautiful house in Northwind Castle¡¯s center.¡±


    ¡°Then, then I¡¯ll use the gold coins to buy a brand-new shop, selling flowers inside, making money just by sitting there every day.¡±


    ¡°Our child, I¡¯ll send him to the best school, where the teacher will teach him to read and write. He might even become a respected clerk, or even one of those important figures managing the city¡­¡±


    ¡°By then, I¡¯ll visit my old coworkers; they¡¯ll surely look at me with envy and fawn over me. Howard can be irritating, but he¡¯s been good to me. I might give him a chance to work at my shop¡­¡±


    Olivia noticed his unusual behavior and asked in confusion:


    ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    George was suddenly jolted out of his beautiful daydream. He trembled all over, nervously replying:


    ¡°Ah, ah, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m fine.


    But Olivia merely assumed this human was afraid of the kingdom¡¯s power, fearful of being implicated, never realizing¡ªhe had already started seeing her as a pile of walking gold coins?


    Thinking this, she softly reassured:


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, this has nothing to do with you. I¡¯m just here to ask a few questions, relax. Those evil dragons¡¯ claws and fangs won¡¯t know a thing.¡±


    ¡°Phew, that¡¯s a relief.¡±


    George echoed her words, wiping the sweat off his forehead, pretending to be greatly relieved.


    In his heart, however, he was determined: ¡°I can¡¯t miss this chance to change my fate!¡±


    Olivia didn¡¯t care about the human¡¯s reaction, only feeling sympathy for these people living under Red Dragon¡¯s rule, anxious every day.


    She continued to ask, ¡°Are there any surviving rebels? Where would they be held?¡±


    George shook his head repeatedly, answering with feigned calmness, ¡°It¡¯s said that within the kingdom, there¡¯s a massive dungeon called ¡®Talmor.¡¯ All those who dare oppose the kingdom¡¯s order are imprisoned there, or sentenced to death.


    ¡°But no one knows where the dungeon is. No one has ever escaped from there. Perhaps only those high-ranking figures know, like Lord Ramp.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Olivia nodded slightly. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The human in front of her was merely a common worker, with no access to high-level information. What he knew was based on hearsay, but Olivia had gained a basic understanding of the country.


    Olivia turned to leave, gradually disappearing into the depths of the alley.


    ¡°Anhel, I will find what you left behind.¡±


    ¡°Your sacrifice will not be in vain.¡±


    She thought.


    Underneath her hood, Olivia¡¯s silver-blue eyes grew even more determined.


    This country was far from the evil she had imagined. At least, it couldn¡¯t be discerned from the surface, but a more terrifying monster lurked behind, already showing its menacing claws and fangs.


    The Ashen Kingdom was operating in an unprecedented manner, expanding rapidly. When that Red Dragon awakened from its slumber, it might bring even greater calamities to Anzeta.


    The Silver Dragon needed more information to fully understand the true nature of the hidden Red Dragon in the kingdom, to fulfill Anhel¡¯s last wish.


    Meanwhile, George also awkwardly turned and left.


    This not-so-skilled actor walked stiffly at first, too nervous to walk properly, but fortunately, his departure went unnoticed, without anything arousing suspicion.


    After walking a distance, George cautiously turned his head.


    ¡°Is he¡­ is he gone?¡±


    Seeing the mysterious figure had finally disappeared, he first jogged along the alley, then lost all reservations and broke into a full sprint.


    Eventually, he ran to the street, following steps he remembered from the newspaper, unlocked the reward notice on the roadside, and pressed his palm against the blood-red rune.


    Throughout the process, he trembled violently, with nervousness and excitement filled George¡¯s mind. He feared being discovered and silenced by the mysterious spy, yet eagerly anticipated the rich rewards.


    ¡°I found a spy!¡±


    George panted heavily.


    The rune seemed to glimmer faintly.


    With the sound of flapping wings, several bats flew overhead, and rats scurried about the ground.


    George felt his hair stand on end, his heart pounding with primal fear of death.


    Suddenly, a ghostly pale hand appeared silently on his shoulder, icy to the touch, as cold as a corpse. At the same time, a chilling voice came from behind.


    ¡°You said¡­ you found what?¡±


    George broke into a cold sweat, slowly turning around.


    When he saw the scene in front of him, his pupils dilated, and his eyelids twitched uncontrollably.


    Before him stood a pale-faced man, with a delicate appearance and a slender figure. His pupils were blood-red, and his slightly exposed fangs were exceptionally sharp.


    He wore a pure black tailcoat and a dark red cloak, with a blood-red crest of a dagger and a violin crossed on his chest¡ªthis was the legendary ¡°Nocturne,¡± the special forces that appeared only in the shadows, striking fear throughout the entire kingdom.


    George couldn¡¯t help swallowing, stammering:


    ¡°I-I found a spy.¡±

 Chapter 250 - 175 Escape

    Chapter 250: Chapter 175 Escape


    Midnight, the alley was shrouded in darkness, with only the dim streetlights casting a faint glow, illuminating the dried bloodstains on the walls.


    From the deeper shadows came rustling noises, hinting at the sounds of rats gnawing on scraps and the fluttering wings of bats.


    A thin mist spread throughout the alley.


    Olivia, dressed in a long robe, stopped in her tracks, standing still.


    ¡°Something¡­ feels off here.¡±


    She furrowed her brow, gripping the Magic Wand tightly in her hand.


    ...


    From the moment she entered the city, Olivia felt a strange force making the Magic Web in this area as sticky as mud, preventing her from easily casting spells.


    Spatial teleportation spells, in particular, were completely restrained; it was as if the space here was forged from steel.


    She knew this was a field similar to an Antimagic Field, but such a vast area left her deeply shocked and extremely wary, making her even more cautious.


    For a mage, being in such a field, any carelessness could lead to horrifying consequences.


    ¡°Could it be that the dragon¡¯s minions have already found me?¡±


    Olivia thought of the strange behavior of the humans just now, her expression suddenly changing dramatically.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    ¡°How could he be an accomplice of the dragon?¡±


    She gritted her teeth, muttering to herself.


    Olivia initially thought the human was merely terrified of the evil regime, but now, upon reflection, she noticed something odd.


    She finally realized why she felt something was strange yet couldn¡¯t pinpoint what¡ªit turned out that his expression contained not only tension but also barely concealed excitement and fanaticism.


    The Silver Dragon actually didn¡¯t care about human reactions, focusing only on the information she wanted, and this arrogance had led to her downfall!


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The sound of the wind howled, like the wails of an unknown beast or the mournful cries of ghosts.


    Without hesitation, Olivia pinched a pinch of Silver Powder and sprinkled it before her eyes, then whispered a spell.


    Although the Magic Web here was suppressed, casting lower-tier spells was still quite easy for her.


    [See Invisibility]


    [Dark Vision]


    A faint light emanated from her blue-gray pupils.


    In an instant, Olivia¡¯s vision became incredibly clear; she could see everything concealed in the darkness.


    ¡ªIn the shadows lurked more than a dozen pale vampires, with cruel smiles on their faces, some holding daggers, others drawing short bows, or dragging chains. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They closed in from all sides, climbing the walls like spiders, as if intent on devouring the robed intruder entirely.


    These ¡°Nocturne¡± beings were very patient, continually creating fearsome noises, slowly approaching with eerie postures; they excelled at breaking down their enemies¡¯ psyche, turning them into captives.


    ¡°Bad news, it¡¯s vampires.¡±


    ¡°Is this the so-called ¡®Nocturne¡¯? The smell of blood here is truly nauseating.¡±


    Olivia¡¯s expression grew grave as she immediately recognized these evil undead creatures.


    The vampires seemed to realize their presence had been detected, baring their fangs and attacking from the shadows.


    ¡°How dare you trespass in the Kingdom, Nocturne will grant you eternal rest!¡±


    ¡°Surrender, or you will never see tomorrow¡¯s sun¡­¡±


    ¡°We might consider sparing your life, outsider.¡±


    The vampires whispered hoarsely.


    ¡°How troublesome.¡±


    Olivia waved the Magic Wand, materializing a sphere of faintly glowing light that encased her entirely.


    [Wall of Good]


    This spell worked on one side of the wall, preventing evil creatures from moving.


    The vampires charging at her were frozen in place, unable to approach by even an inch, as if they had been cast with a Binding Spell. They could only glare at their tantalizingly close target.


    Olivia lightly tapped her Magic Wand, and a bitterly cold Ice Wall rose from the ground, entombing the trapped vampires.


    Encased in the Ice Wall, the vampires remained in their lunging postures, looking hideous and especially savage.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    From a distance, vampires shot arrows coated with deadly poison.


    Olivia¡¯s robe instantly shed its disguise, glowing with the light of Venus, the starlight imbued with Magical Power blocking all the arrows.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    However, one arrow exploded upon contact with the shield, blasting her several meters away until she crashed into a wall.


    Thankfully, Olivia was protected by multiple defense spells, including Protective Energy Damage and Mage Armor, preventing her from getting injured.


    Olivia leaned against the wall with a grave expression, hearing increasingly chaotic noises and seeing even more terrifying scenes:


    ¡ªThe Goblin Infantry Brigade marched in neat steps, ogres produced heavy footsteps, and bipedal wyverns roared as they dominated the sky.


    ¡°This can¡¯t go on.¡±


    ¡°If I don¡¯t leave now, even more enemies will come.¡±


    Olivia instinctively tried to use the Teleportation Spell to escape the perilous enemy encampment, but she felt the space was still as rigid as a steel wall; ordinary spells couldn¡¯t even budge it, even with all her effort.


    ¡°How could this be¡­¡±


    She gritted her teeth, sweat trickling down her forehead.


    Facing the endless onslaught of enemies, Olivia gripped her Magic Wand tightly, raising it high. The Demon Crystal at its tip glowed brilliantly.


    [Shining Net]


    Streams of light appeared on the ground, weaving amongst the vampires, gradually forming a complex, brilliant web of light.


    The vampires were ensnared, their daylight-fearing bodies igniting.


    Olivia gasped for breath, her face pale.


    In this Magic Web-suppressing field, casting even Fourth Tier Level spells had nearly exhausted all her energy.


    At that moment, a vampire used its ability to turn into a blood mist, bypassing all defenses, silently appearing behind Olivia, and viciously stabbing her unguarded back with a dagger.


    With a whistling sound, the dagger, coated with Necrotic Fog, ripped through her robe and pierced her body.


    ¡°Ugh¡ª¡±


    Olivia winced in pain, letting out a startled cry.


    As she was struck, a blinding light burst from her pupils, and a powerful sonic wave radiated from her, forcefully flinging the attacking vampire several meters away.


    A dense fog appeared where Olivia had just stood, and as the vampires surged in, they found the mist had no trace of her.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    At the alley¡¯s end, Olivia struggled to maintain her Invisibility Technique, fleeing towards the city outskirts.


    Blood continuously seeped from the wound on her back, staining her robe and dripping onto the ground, making the bloodstains appear as if they emerged from nowhere due to the Invisibility Technique.

 Chapter 251 - 251: 176 Chapter: Information

    Chapter 251: 176 Chapter: Information


    Very quickly, the news of a spy in the city was reported to the kingdom¡¯s high ranks, and the entire city instantly went into lockdown. The Tiefling guard units were urgently mobilized, appearing at all the major traffic routes in the city, while Bipedal Wyverns patrolled the skies, searching for suspicious individuals.


    Several more spellcasters were dispatched to various districts, searching for the intruder¡¯s whereabouts using divination spells.


    Ramp was very interested in this uninvited guest. According to ¡°Nocturne¡¯s¡± description, the opponent was quite a powerful spellcaster, at least capable of casting fourth-tier level spells.


    In one corner of the Southern District of Northwind Castle, a Goblin Infantry Troop patrolled past, but they did not notice the illusion before them, mistaking it for a natural part of the landscape.


    And behind that very illusion, Olivia was using spells to treat her wounds, calming the toxic fog of necrosis.


    Shape-shifting spells worked from the inside out and transforming into a human form was often the most vulnerable moment for a dragon. Many Silver Dragons in history were ambushed and killed while maintaining their human forms; Olivia did not want to become one of them.


    ...


    Tensely watching the patrolling units passing by, Olivia thought to herself.


    In the distance, the roar of a Bipedal Wyvern echoed through the sky. If this kept up, her position would be exposed.


    ¡°I must leave this city,¡±


    ¡°Any longer, and it might attract that Red Dragon,¡±


    Olivia¡¯s blue-gray pupils glowed with light, allowing her to see the entire surrounding area and make the most reasonable decisions.


    ¡°This bothersome Antimagic Field¡­¡±


    She casually complained.


    After a prolonged construction of a spell prototype, Olivia finally activated the advanced invisibility technique, turning completely transparent once again.


    However, just as she concealed herself and tried to pass through the gate to exit the city, the magical detection alarm suddenly went off, and the runes flickered continuously.


    The spellcaster assigned to guard the southern gate immediately shouted: ¡°Surround this place! There¡¯s an enemy casting spells here!¡±


    The Goblin Infantry Troops quickly surrounded the entrance, making it impossible to escape, while the mages cast detection spells to reveal the invisible Olivia.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Olivia gritted her teeth.


    She had to admit that the defenses here were far too tight, even catching her off guard.


    The Goblin Infantry Troops found their target and quickly fired, with dozens of bullets whizzing through the air. The Bipedal Wyvern in the sky also swooped down, hoping to claim the honor of capturing the intruder.


    The scene had become chaotic.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Olivia let out a roar that didn¡¯t match her human form.


    Finally, her entire body started to shimmer with fine magical aura. The figure cloaked in a robe suddenly expanded, and thick white smoke filled the air.


    Silvery, metallic scales, two smooth, shiny horns, and high crests standing atop her head, extending down her neck to the tip of her tail.


    When the smoke cleared, the slender girl was gone, replaced by a genuine Silver Dragon, one of the most formidable among the metal dragons, second only to the Gold Dragon.


    The Silver Dragon didn¡¯t hesitate to flap its wings, stirring up a gust of wind, ascending into the sky.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a dragon! That¡¯s a dragon!¡±


    ¡°Such a strong wind!¡±


    The Goblins below were blown off their feet by the gust, futilely shooting into the sky. Meanwhile, the descending Bipedal Wyverns were thrown into disarray, flying chaotically.


    Olivia spread her wings and soared, leaving behind the perilous city.


    On the city wall, Ramp gazed at the sky, watching the distant silver figure.


    ¡°A Silver Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Seems familiar somehow.¡±


    Ramp rubbed his chin, lost in thought.


    ¡­


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Dust flew up from the ground. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Olivia landed with a boom, reverting to her human form.


    In the territory of the Ashen Kingdom, the form of a Silver Dragon was too conspicuous. If it weren¡¯t absolutely necessary, she wouldn¡¯t have resorted to fleeing in her true form.


    ¡°To think I was discovered.¡±


    Olivia frowned. She hadn¡¯t expected the city to be so troublesome.


    She removed her hood, revealing her delicate face.


    Gazing at Northwind Castle miles away, Olivia couldn¡¯t help but tighten her grip on her magic wand, a serious look in her blue-gray eyes.


    ¡°What kind of country is the Ashen Kingdom, really?¡±


    ¡°Even the honest peasants would be bound to their war chariots, becoming accomplices to the evil dragons, and even willingly defend them,¡±


    ¡°Truly unbelievable,¡±


    Olivia couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    Just then, a distant golden light interrupted her thoughts. In the sky appeared a golden illusion, a fireball like the sun, detectible only by dragons.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Olivia¡¯s eyes widened at first, then her face lit up with joy, almost jumping in elation.


    ¡°It¡¯s the signal from Angel!¡±


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s still alive!¡±


    Over the years, Olivia often recalled the words the Gold Dragon once said to her. Those instructions had at times become a burden weighing heavily on her heart.


    But this familiar signal undoubtedly gave her some hope that perhaps this fellow kin¡­ was really still alive.


    But looking at the source of the signal, Olivia¡¯s expression suddenly froze.


    ¡ª¡ªIt was the Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    The lair of the ¡°King of Ashen,¡± rumored to be the most terrifying demon¡¯s lair, from which no one had ever returned alive.


    But why would the Gold Dragon¡¯s message appear there?


    Could it be that the slumber was just an excuse, that the Red Dragon was already gravely injured and could be killed at such a chance?


    Or perhaps, he had discovered a way to bind the Red Dragon and save the entire North?


    But all of this was merely Olivia¡¯s conjecture, and if anything went wrong and the Red Dragon awoke, she would face certain doom.


    Silver Dragons and Red Dragons were natural enemies.


    The fierce battle between these two species was intense and deadly, but Silver Dragons usually had the upper hand, often due to having companions to fend off the enemy together.


    This time, however, she might be fighting alone.


    Olivia stood still, slightly lowering her head, her slender hand gripping the magic wand tightly, her expression tinged with hesitation.


    Angel¡¯s radiant figure from before his departure seemed to reappear before her eyes, his resounding voice echoing in her ears once more.


    ¡°I will bring true justice and order to Anzeta and all of Erezer. This has always been my goal, even if it costs me my life.¡±


    ¡°¡­Olivia, when the time comes, I will leave a message here, telling you the intel I¡¯ve discovered about the Red Dragon at the cost of my life.¡±


    She seemed to have made up her mind, muttering to herself.


    ¡°I promised you I would complete all this.¡±


    ¡°I am not fighting alone.¡±


    In the end, Olivia raised her head, and in those beautiful blue-gray eyes shone an incredibly determined light, just like the Gold Dragon¡¯s when he bid her farewell all those years ago.

 Chapter 252 - 177 Olivia (I)

    Chapter 252: Chapter 177 Olivia (I)


    The Steel Dragonwing Palace was still as magnificent as ever. However, due to the Red Dragon¡¯s slumber, much of the steel in the subsidiary hall had gradually melted and flowed down, forming numerous pointed silver pillars. Rivers of solidified metal had also appeared on the ground.


    This place looked like a dense forest made of steel, exuding a primitive sense of power beyond its grandeur.


    ¡°So, this is the place¡­¡±


    ¡°The Red Dragon¡¯s palace.¡±


    Olivia concealed herself, holding her breath and hiding outside the palace.


    The closer she got to the palace, the stronger the oppressive feeling became. The overwhelming pressure made it difficult for her to breathe. Now, she could barely touch the fourth layer of the Magic Web.


    ...


    In addition, she sensed a threat deep within her bloodline.


    After all, Olivia was just a young Silver Dragon. Throughout this journey, she had wanted to give up numerous times but bit her teeth and persevered each time.


    ¡°I will definitely fulfill your request.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t sure if it was an illusion, but Olivia always had a vague premonition. She felt that the Gold Dragon wasn¡¯t dead yet, and Angel might be watching her, those characteristic golden pupils always so steadfast and gentle, albeit still with that air of haughty pretense.


    Memories could be beautified.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    Although Olivia hadn¡¯t met Angel many times nor talked much, his image had deeply rooted in her mind due to the responsibility she bore and some emotional influence, growing clearer over time.


    After all, it was a near-death trust that made it hard for her to forget.


    ¡°Hoo¡­¡±


    Olivia exhaled deeply, barely maintaining the Invisibility Spell and Breath-Concealment Spell on her body.


    The spells she could easily cast normally now drained her energy. Each time she constructed the spell prototype, it felt like attacking a fortress, and she could only break through the outermost barrier, casting these low-tier spells.


    Hesitating for a moment, she passed through the dilapidated gate and stepped completely into the palace.


    The moment she stepped on the floor, Olivia felt her hair stand on end, and the sense of danger in her heart intensified.


    ¡°What is in here?¡±


    But she bit her lip and, trembling, walked in the direction of the message.


    Suddenly, a familiar deep voice echoed.


    ¡°Olivia, over here.¡±


    ¡°Angel?¡±


    Olivia looked up in surprise, but found no one there.


    But she was certain that it was not an auditory hallucination caused by extreme tension; it was indeed the voice of the Gold Dragon¡ªa kind of voice transmission spell.


    She quickly found a delicate agate in a corner, engraved with a rune that recorded sound.


    ¡°As expected, it¡¯s here.¡±


    Olivia hurried along the path of the voice, running through narrow, broken corridors until she reached the empty palace hall.


    Thanks to a protective array, this area was one of the few places not destroyed by the scorching heat, retaining a simple and solemn architectural style. The carved dome was nearly twenty meters high, supported by several stone pillars.


    However, it felt too empty here, with almost no decorations and no daily-use items like chairs or long tables. The floor had patterns with a certain regularity.


    It looked like it was prepared for some kind of religious ceremony.


    ¡°What kind of secret is this hall hiding?¡±


    Olivia couldn¡¯t help but wonder.


    She cautiously walked into the hall, looking around, and found that the source of the message was in the center of the hall, seemingly a red dragon scale.


    Olivia couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled:


    ¡°What a large dragon scale. Could it be the scale of the ¡®King of Ashen¡¯?¡±


    ¡°How did Angel manage to get it?¡±


    The dragon scale suddenly emitted a faint magical aura, and a rather illusory magical image appeared above it.


    In Olivia¡¯s surprised gaze, the familiar figure of the young gold-eyed noble appeared in the magical image¡ªit was ¡°Young Gold Dragon¡± Angel.


    But he had a serious look, and his tone was particularly heavy.


    ¡°Olivia, this might be the last chance.¡±


    ¡°I have set up here¡­¡±


    ¡°Set up¡­¡±


    Just as Olivia was listening intently, the image suddenly became intermittent and then extinguished like a snuffed flame.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Seeing the message cut off.


    Olivia couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly, feeling anxious and developing a bad premonition.


    Had the clue ended here?


    Had she risked her life to come here only for this result?


    Suddenly, she started shaking uncontrollably, and an instinctual, primal fear rose from deep within her heart.


    Olivia felt darkness engulf her, covered by a gigantic shadow. She could smell a suffocating sulfur scent.


    What was that?


    She felt a desperate premonition in her heart.


    Olivia turned her head stiffly and had to slightly tilt her head to see the full view. The sight before her nearly made her collapse.


    ¡°By Bahamut¡­¡±


    She muttered to herself, her eyes wide with fear.


    There stood an enormous Red Dragon!


    As a racial enemy, Silver Dragons even included Red Dragon weaknesses in their legacy. Olivia thought she understood these powerful and evil five-colored dragons well.


    Although she had mentally prepared herself for encountering the unseen ¡°King of Ashen¡± before entering the palace.


    But she had never seen a Red Dragon like this!


    Even in the legacy, there were no records of such dragons.


    ¡ªThat ferocious head not only had two swept-back horns but also sprouted spiral, demon-like long horns at the top.


    The most striking thing was the red, fiery crystal embedded deep in the center of the dragon¡¯s chest, its surface rippling like flowing magma. The surrounding scales had radiating cracks, continually emitting a brilliant glow.


    The massive dragon¡¯s body was nearly thirty meters long¡ªalmost reaching the stage of an Elderly Dragon, or even an Ancient Dragon.


    Its eyes were like molten lava spheres, with blazing flames, looking down at her from above.


    Its wings were not fully spread, but the enormous shadow cast by them was enough to cover the nearby area.


    ¡°Impossible, such a creature¡­ could it be unrecorded.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s absolutely impossible for this to be a Red Dragon that appeared in the past hundred years!¡±


    Olivia¡¯s face turned pale, shaking her head.


    She finally understood why Angel had been so solemn back then.


    It was clearly an Elderly Red Dragon, perhaps even an Ancient Dragon!


    Despite despising the Red Dragon¡¯s irritable shortsightedness, even Silver Dragons had to acknowledge the Red Dragon¡¯s formidable combat skills. Such an age-stage Red Dragon was top-tier combat power in all of Airez, far beyond what a fledgling young Silver Dragon like Olivia could hope to contend with.


    But the massive Red Dragon¡¯s body blocked the only entrance completely, cutting off her last route of escape. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s mere speech sent scorching breath towards Olivia.


    The air seemed to twist, as if it were about to ignite.

 Chapter 253 - 178 Olivia (2)

    Chapter 253: Chapter 178 Olivia (2)


    Faced with this overwhelming oppression, Olivia¡¯s spells could no longer be maintained.


    Fragmented magical auras flickered around her, and her form suddenly expanded, transforming back into a Silver Dragon.


    However, this young Silver Dragon, over ten meters long and a giant among mortals, looked like a small kitten before the Red Dragon, not even reaching its chest.


    Olivia roared with all her might.


    ¡°Rawr¡­¡±


    ¡°Red, Red Dragon, you stand before the Silver Star, O, Olivia.¡±


    ...


    She declared with a wavering voice.


    The Silver Dragon barely maintained her composure, spreading her shiny silver wings and arching her back slightly, gazing at the Red Dragon with hostile eyes.


    But even as she tried her best to maintain her stance, her wings still trembled slightly. Her claws firmly gripped the ground, and the gleaming silver scales almost stood up.


    This bone-deep fear was almost impossible to hide.


    Facing this frightened-little-beast-like threat, Cassius spoke unhurriedly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, Silver Dragon.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we can talk about your trespass into my territory.¡±


    Despite her body still trembling, the Silver Dragon mustered the courage to say, ¡°T-This isn¡¯t even your territory! You¡¯re just a cruel invader.¡±


    Cassius slowly unfolded his wings, casting a massive shadow that enveloped the entire Silver Dragon. A smirk appeared on the ferocious heads of the four corners.


    ¡°Alright, Silver Dragon, then I¡¯ll first teach you¡ª¡±


    ¡°What basic courtesy is.¡±


    As the Red Dragon slowly advanced, a sense of despair crept into Olivia¡¯s heart.


    This kind of opponent was far beyond her capacity to resist.


    But the larger the dragon, the clumsier their body would become, and a nearly thirty-meter-long Red Dragon like this one was no exception.


    Maybe she could seize this flaw and find a final way out.


    ¡°Raa¡ª¡±


    Olivia let out a low roar, several scales on her chest lit up, and the silver glow became exceptionally dazzling¡ªthat was a spell inscription. Olivia wasn¡¯t a so-called ¡°Law-Addicted Dragon;¡± these were high-level runes drawn for her by her grandfather, her last means of survival.


    In an instant, several spells were cast upon her, enhancing her speed and defense qualitatively. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But it was not over yet.


    [Crown of Stars]


    Hundreds of radiant star points appeared, circling above the Silver Dragon¡¯s head and around her wings.


    Their starlight reflected off the silver scales, casting light all around, making her entire body shine resplendently.


    The Silver Dragon now looked somewhat divine, almost like those Heavenly creatures from the Heavenly Mountain. This so-called ¡°Silver Star¡± title wasn¡¯t unearned.


    The starlight then transformed into dazzling meteors, streaking through the air and striking towards the Red Dragon.


    Olivia seized the opportunity, flapping her wings and darting her body through the gap by the Red Dragon¡¯s side, moving at high speed.


    ¡ªShe didn¡¯t hope to inflict much damage on the Red Dragon, only to distract it long enough to make her escape.


    However, the Red Dragon merely raised a claw, firing a straight line from its sharp talon.


    [Magic Withering]


    The moment that seemingly insignificant beam made contact, the surrounding brilliant starlight dimmed and then completely vanished.


    Flying at high speed, Olivia was instantly terrified, suddenly remembering that the ¡°King of Ashen¡± before her had the ability to cast Ninth Tier Spells!


    But what surprised her even more came next.


    The nearly thirty-meter-long massive body moved without a shred of sluggishness, even more agile than her, like lightning, blocking her path like a wall.


    The Silver Dragon, flying at high speed, couldn¡¯t even change direction in time and almost crashed into the Red Dragon¡¯s chest.


    Cassius swiftly extended a giant claw, easily grasping the Silver Dragon¡¯s neck, lifting her like a kitten.


    ¡°Red Dragon! Let me go!¡±


    Olivia struggled fiercely, thrashing her claws wildly in the air, unable to escape the Red Dragon¡¯s grasp.


    The disparity in strength and size was absolute. Before this nearly thirty-meter-long gigantic Red Dragon, the young Silver Dragon was indeed quite akin to a kitten.


    The Red Dragon merely exerted a bit more force, flinging the Silver Dragon violently away.


    Under this immense force, Olivia flew dozens of meters, rolling several times on the ground before stopping, with scratches appearing on her smooth silver membranous wings.


    With great effort, Olivia propped up her forelimbs to stand again, but before she could react, the Red Dragon pounced like the wind.


    ¡°Silver Dragon, this is just a minor punishment.¡±


    With one arm, Cassius pinned the Silver Dragon to the ground, speaking calmly.


    [Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle]


    In the next moment, the runes on the ground suddenly lit up, and hundreds of chains emerged to tightly bind the young Silver Dragon, immobilizing her.


    ¡°Let me go!¡±


    ¡°I am a descendant of the Ancient Silver Dragon Osedro!¡±


    Olivia continually twisted her body, shouting hoarsely.


    She realized the difficulty of breaking free from this spell, noting that she might be trapped for a long time, so she brought up her grandfather.


    The Silver Dragon struggled with all her might, only causing the magic chains to glow, burning her body and leaving black marks on her silvery scales.


    Cassius gazed at the Silver Dragon trapped in the array, speaking unhurriedly, ¡°You can choose to stay here for hundreds or thousands of years, or¡­ submit to me.¡±


    In this almost hopeless situation, Olivia¡¯s heart was filled with fury and grievance. She shouted with all her strength, ¡°Red Dragon, you delude yourself!¡±


    ¡°For a noble Silver Dragon to submit to a bandit-like Red Dragon, to an evil archenemy, is the world¡¯s biggest joke!¡±


    ¡°Where is Angel? What did you do to him?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Cassius couldn¡¯t help but be somewhat amused.


    He didn¡¯t expect his ¡°disguise¡± to occupy the Silver Dragon¡¯s thoughts for so long and that she hadn¡¯t recognized the so-called ¡°Gold Dragon¡¯s¡± true nature.


    Thinking of this, Cassius let out a crazed villain-like laugh.


    ¡°Are all you Metal Dragons like this?¡±


    ¡°Silver Dragon, if you choose to resist to the end, your fate will be the same as that foolish Gold Dragon.¡±


    ¡°You¡ª¡±


    Olivia¡¯s eyes reddened, even glistening with tears.


    Hearing the Red Dragon¡¯s words, she seemed to see that familiar figure being crushed mercilessly by the Red Dragon, that perpetually determined face consumed by flames.


    ¡°Damn evil dragon!¡±


    She roared, tears streaming, ¡°I will never, ever surrender to the likes of you! Not even in death!¡±


    Cassius approached Olivia, bending down slightly with a taunting look, like examining prey, making the Silver Dragon feel a chill down her spine.


    ¡°Evil?¡±


    ¡°How could I be evil?¡±


    The Red Dragon grinned, a hint of mockery in his tone.


    The Silver Dragon glared at him, gnashing her teeth, ¡°Cassius! Your crimes are known throughout Anzeta, your infamy is known all over the North.¡±


    ¡°You raise a massive Monster Legion, invading and expanding at will, greedily claiming all lands as your own. You plunder wealth, occupy cities, enslave people, and cruelly persecute the kind-hearted¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t even catch her breath.


    ¡°If this isn¡¯t evil, then there¡¯s no evil left in the world!¡±


    It seemed she had embraced a determined stance. Olivia cursed fiercely, exhausting every word in her dictionary.


    However, Cassius merely shook his head lightly.


    ¡°That is only from your perspective. You are not Human, merely a bystander. Tsk tsk, this is the contradiction of you Silver Dragons, claiming to be close to Humans yet overly proud. You take on Human forms but cannot integrate into society, claiming to be close yet unable to view things objectively, more like treating them as¡­ your pets.¡±


    ¡°Do you think Humans are a single entity?¡±


    ¡°Nobles are Human, but so are citizens, merchants, and even serfs. I just chose to eliminate a small portion of tumors to save the majority.¡±


    ¡°To tens of thousands of serfs, I am their supreme Savior. I rescued them from a state of utter indignity, from being called ¡®Gray Beasts.¡¯


    ¡°To those suffering under Vampires, I am the righteous Arbitrator. I eradicated those bats sucking down on people¡¯s heads, exterminated the Rackman Family that oppressed people for centuries. They should only be grateful to me.¡±


    ¡°Believe it or not, to the majority, I¡¯ve brought a better life. I established a new Kingdom, freeing them from the stagnant old North order¡­¡±


    ¡°And yet you only care about the insignificant obstacles? Are they truly ¡®the justice of the majority?¡¯


    The Red Dragon gazed at her with a half-smile, concluding word by word:


    ¡°If my actions do not count as justice, then all the nobles of the North should be hanged on the gallows.¡±

 Chapter 254 - 179 Olivia (3)

    Chapter 254: Chapter 179 Olivia (3) S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You¡ª¡±


    Olivia was stunned. She wanted to refute, but couldn¡¯t find a reason.


    Even she had to admit that this Red Dragon¡¯s sophistry was quite clever; she couldn¡¯t find any flaws even after seriously thinking about it.


    After all, the liberation of serfs, the changes in the citizens¡¯ lives, and the city¡¯s wealth were all things she had witnessed firsthand. Even with her hostility and prejudice, Olivia could not ignore these facts.


    ¡°But, but¡­¡±


    ¡°You also cruelly killed those who pursued justice.¡±


    ...


    Stammering for a long time, Olivia bit her teeth and stubbornly squeezed out a few words.


    Hearing this young Silver Dragon¡¯s feeble argument, Cassius almost laughed out loud, only exhaling sulfur-scented hot air beside her.


    ¡°Silver Dragon, aren¡¯t you being a bit naive? They wanted to be heroes who slay dragons. Should I have just washed my neck and let them kill me?¡±


    ¡°Moreover, to go back to the previous question, what exactly is ¡®justice¡¯?¡±


    Olivia snorted coldly, deliberately turning her head to the side. ¡°In any case, it¡¯s not up to an evil dragon like you to define it. No matter how you argue, the bloodline of Tiamat will always betray the evil in your heart, and the light of Bahamut will never shine upon you.¡±


    Cassius ignored her and continued, ¡°The initiator of your so-called ¡®Knights of Justice,¡¯ Grey Hawk Schroeder, is the Chief Mage of the Rackham Family. He was once an accomplice who harmed thousands of tieflings and a trusted subordinate of the old Vampire.¡±


    ¡°That, that was just an exception!¡±


    ¡°Collaborating with Schroeder was a last resort. Among those who opposed you, there were also steadfast individuals like Anhel¡ª¡±


    Olivia couldn¡¯t help but argue.


    Cassius interrupted her and directly pressed, ¡°Then when tieflings were being slaughtered, when serfs were being wantonly exploited, and when people became blood slaves, where were they?¡±


    ¡°Why did those knights of justice you speak of not appear, and instead, it was I, the ¡®evil dragon,¡¯ who put an end to it all?¡±


    He paused, with a hint of mockery in his tone.


    ¡°As for the so-called Gold Dragon?¡±


    ¡°When you know the truth, you¡¯ll only feel like a complete joke.¡±


    Olivia didn¡¯t catch the hidden implication. She only felt the Red Dragon was mocking her with the Gold Dragon¡¯s death, making her feel insignificant and powerless, thereby forcing her to submit.


    Thinking of her companion of uncertain fate, tears welled up again in her eyes, and she cried out in a hoarse voice,


    ¡°Stop trying to smear dirt on others!¡±


    ¡°An evil dragon like you will never understand the justice in Anhel¡¯s heart!¡±


    ¡°You may ravage the world for a time, and you may twist words to silence me, but their brilliance will remain in the world forever!¡±


    Olivia¡¯s voice was choked with sobs and became hoarse; those blue-gray eyes were like rippling springs, with tears streaming down her smooth silver cheeks.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Cassius found Olivia¡¯s earnest ¡°defense¡± on behalf of his alias both amusing and frustrating, barely holding back laughter.


    He didn¡¯t expect that this fabricated character of the Gold Dragon had left such a deep impression on her, thanks to her idealized and embellished memories.


    Cassius originally intended to reveal his identity, completely shattering Olivia¡¯s psychological defenses, allowing him to exploit the opening to control her mentally.


    But seeing this young Silver Dragon being so persistent and deeply believing in the so-called ¡°Gold Dragon Anhel,¡± he suddenly changed his mind.


    ¡°Maybe I can extract more benefits from this foolish Silver Dragon.¡±


    Cassius rubbed his spiky chin, thinking to himself.


    Suddenly, Olivia¡¯s weak voice interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°What¡­ do you really want to do?¡±


    Cassius turned his head, carefully examining the Silver Dragon in front of him.


    Olivia¡¯s slender neck and delicate limbs were bound together by scorching hot shackles. Her streamlined silver dragon body was tightly bound by heavy magic chains, restraining her torso and sleek wings.


    The array, powerful enough to bind any giant dragon below the rank of Ancient Dragon, was an impenetrable prison for her.


    Many of Olivia¡¯s scales had been crushed and fallen off in silver fragments, and her body was covered with numerous wounds. Her posture appeared especially awkward under the constraints.


    This pampered young Silver Dragon had likely never experienced such pain. She lay on the ground with her eyes half-closed, letting out faint gasps, her body rising and falling slowly with her breath.


    Dragons¡¯ aesthetic sense was boundless. By now, Cassius could even find beauty in an Ogre, let alone these so-called Metal Dragons. By dragon standards, this well-proportioned young Silver Dragon was undoubtedly ¡°beautiful.¡±


    Cassius approached the Silver Dragon, slowly lowering his head, their eyes meeting, ignoring the fear and hostility in her gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind, Silver Dragon,¡±


    ¡°In consideration of Bahamut, I won¡¯t take your life. Although you haven¡¯t followed the manners of a guest, I will still treat you with courtesy. However, if you remain obstinate, I will have to ask you to stay here for a few hundred years.¡±


    Meanwhile, on the other side, White Dragon Tiniya, sensing her master¡¯s presence, eagerly rushed into the palace, only to witness an unforgettable scene¡ª


    An extraordinarily powerful Red Dragon appeared in the palace. Despite having a different appearance, Tiniya recognized him as her master, Cassius, through the contract link and the familiar sulfuric scent.


    Even this grand palace seemed a bit cramped under his nearly thirty-meter-long massive frame.


    At the Red Dragon¡¯s feet, a young Silver Dragon lay bound by the array on the ground, covered in wounds and hanging on to life, glaring at the Red Dragon with hatred¡ªclearly, this was Cassius¡¯s doing.


    ¡°Aar?¡±


    Tiniya let out a puzzled howl.


    Strangely enough.


    This dreadful array had been occupied by another dragon, which should have made her happy, knowing she wouldn¡¯t be captured by her master again.


    But watching the bruised and battered Silver Dragon weakly lying before Cassius, Tiniya felt a surge of jealousy rising in her heart.


    For a fleeting moment, she wished she could replace the Silver Dragon, enduring the master¡¯s bestowed pain herself, even if it meant being bound by the Dragon Binding Array once more.


    She finally understood her own longing.


    ¡°Damn wretched Silver Dragon, get away from the master!¡±


    ¡°Only I deserve to be personally whipped by him!¡±


    With this thought, White Dragon Tiniya¡¯s scales trembled with rage. She prepared herself as if facing a formidable enemy, glaring at the Silver Dragon with clenched teeth.

 Chapter 255 - 180: Olivia (IV)

    Chapter 255: Chapter 180: Olivia (IV)


    ¡°Tiniya?¡±


    Cassius turned his head, noticing the White Dragon entering the palace.


    Tiniya briskly ran over.


    She respectfully lowered her head to the Red Dragon and, following the courtly etiquette she had learned, softly said, ¡°Master, you have awakened. You have¡­ become even stronger.¡±


    Tiniya¡¯s slit pupils were full of worship and fanaticism.


    Cassius gazed at the White Dragon in front of him, nodding slightly in surprise.


    ...


    He didn¡¯t expect the task he had given to Ramp to be completed so well. This White Dragon, who could be called Smarty, had learned to speak and mastered the basic etiquette in just three years.


    Olivia, lying on the ground, barely opened her eyes. Seeing the approaching White Dragon, she weakly mocked:


    ¡°Tsk, you actually associate with the ¡®White Beast.¡¯ Truly, the five-colored dragons¡¯ stench attracts each other.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Tiniya was undoubtedly hit where it hurt. She spread her wings, arched her back, and growled from her throat.


    ¡°Awuuu¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Master, let me tear this damn Silver Dragon apart!¡±


    Just as Tiniya was about to leap forward, Cassius grabbed her by the nape and easily lifted her back.


    ¡°Tiniya, do not act rashly. This Silver Dragon is still of use to me.¡±


    ¡°But Master, why? This Silver Dragon has been disrespectful to you!


    ¡°Aw! Let me rip her apart!¡±


    Even while being held by the nape, this White Dragon flailed in mid-air, desperate to claw the Silver Dragon again and again until she was covered in wounds.


    Cassius was rather speechless. It seemed that despite the meticulous education, her nature hadn¡¯t changed much.


    As expected, the old method was still necessary.


    He casually tossed the White Dragon onto the ground and said coldly: ¡°Obey my orders.¡±


    Tiniya rolled across the ground several times before slowly getting up. She reluctantly stood behind the Red Dragon obediently, but her face already showed a hint of satisfaction.


    She still glared menacingly at the Silver Dragon¡ªif looks could kill, Olivia would have been slowly tortured to death several times already.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Olivia twisted her body again, her wings slightly unfurled, trying to break free from the array.


    But it was all in vain; it only added a few more scorched wounds to her body, without any benefit.


    Cassius looked down at her, his tone indifferent: ¡°Silver Dragon, stop struggling like a trapped beast. Unless your life level reaches the Ancient Dragon level, all resistance is futile. Submission is the only shortcut.¡±


    ¡°The Kingdom needs Senior Spellcasters like you. Rather than the meaningless eradication of evil, your spells can make greater contributions. Think about it. You¡¯ve already witnessed those mechanical factories. Spells can increase productivity, allowing citizens to fill their stomachs. This is the true justice in most people¡¯s hearts.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I care only for my own interests, but this title is important to you rigid Metal Dragons.¡±


    He let out a light, cold laugh.


    ¡°However, if you wish, perhaps you can stay here for another eight hundred years to escape.¡±


    Thinking of her own hundred-year imprisonment, Tiniya stood behind the Red Dragon, sneering proudly: ¡°Lowly Silver Dragon, this is the consequence of opposing the Master. You¡¯ll never get out again!¡±


    She had a rather smug demeanor, borrowing power to do evil.


    In the greedy absorption of the array, Olivia¡¯s vitality had already weakened to the extreme.


    But her gaze still flickered with determination, showing no sign of submission. No one knew what secretly supported this young Silver Dragon.


    ¡°Impos¡­sible¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re delusional¡­¡±


    Cassius seemed to expect this. He simply glanced at her and then turned to leave.


    He left only one sentence:


    ¡°Then let¡¯s wait and see.¡±


    [Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle] was the life-long masterpiece of the Dragon Fan Black Wizard, a vicious and ruthless spell that greedily absorbed a dragon¡¯s vitality and converted it into its own magic power, keeping the trapped dragon¡¯s life at the bare minimum but never completely killing it.


    Under the influence of this array, Olivia¡¯s body could not move, paralyzed entirely and closely adhered to the ground.


    All the Silver Dragon could do was think; her actions were entirely restrained by the array.


    Tears once again flowed from Olivia¡¯s eyes, down her silver cheeks, and dripped onto the ground.


    Olivia didn¡¯t know how she got to this point or what sustained her until now. Even she was surprised by her inexplicable resilience.


    But at this moment, she had already fallen into a desperate situation.


    It was all too late.


    Olivia couldn¡¯t help but think again of her debate with Cassius.


    She pondered over and over, wanting to find loopholes in his words, only to find that the Red Dragon might not have deceived her.


    His words were completely different from the education she had received growing up, yet they were logically sound, forming their own coherent system.


    From those words, the only thing she could feel was sincerity.


    Yes, sincerity.


    Even Olivia was surprised by this.


    That Red Dragon seemed to disdain deceit; he rarely propagated vague ideals or engaged in cunning sophistry. He didn¡¯t even sweet-talk but laid out the cold, hard reality.


    And it was just this that left Olivia speechless.


    ¡°Maybe¡­ he is right.¡±


    Olivia often had this thought, but she would quickly discard it.


    After all, she had witnessed the prosperity of Northwind Castle with her own eyes. She knew clearly the dark, bloody rule of Rackman and could even feel the rebirth of that serf, although she instinctively didn¡¯t want to admit it all.


    If things were really as Cassius said¡ª


    Then what was the death of Angel? A farce?


    What about her efforts to fulfill a dying wish? A baseless folly?


    Olivia knew that admitting to this would turn everything she persisted into nothing, and she herself would fall into the abyss of nihilism.


    The ¡°King of Ashen¡± was not as irredeemable as she had imagined.


    He seemed not to be the typical, muscle-brained brutal Red Dragon nor the greedy tyrant. He was even more rational than most of the Northern Nobility she had met. All his actions had reasonable explanations and sufficient motives.


    The only error was his identity as a Red Dragon, the head of the inherently evil five-colored dragons.


    ¡°No, he might be hiding an even bigger goal.¡±


    ¡°He might bring a catastrophe to the entire continent, and I must stop him.¡±


    Olivia instinctively wanted to shake her head, only to find her neck already tightly bound by chains, unable to move.


    ¡°But¡­ am I not just finding excuses for myself, with the most malicious speculations?¡±


    ¡°Angel, what should I do?¡±


    Olivia let out a bitter smile and slowly closed her weary eyes. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 256 - 181: Olivia (5)

    Chapter 256: Chapter 181: Olivia (5)


    The Steel Dragonwing Palace at night was always so tranquil. Since it was the Red Dragon¡¯s dwelling, almost all creatures dared not approach, even the most loyal retainers only dared to wander around the periphery.


    In this silence, the Silver Dragon could hear her faint breathing clearly.


    Only the soft moonlight poured down, filling her blue-gray pupils, reflecting a silvery glow on her smooth scales.


    Not knowing how many days and nights had passed, Olivia always felt she was in a state between dream and wakefulness. She was nearly in despair, but the stubborn will that remained always supported her, never letting her succumb.


    She also didn¡¯t know when she would succumb to the shackles of fate.


    But at least it wouldn¡¯t be now.


    ...


    Olivia had thought this countless times.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    The Silver Dragon strained to turn her head, easing the stiffness in her bones from lying on her side for so long. The shimmering magic chains mercilessly burned her skin, but that little bit of pain she could grit her teeth and endure, even getting somewhat used to it.


    Rustling sounds came from afar, surprising Olivia because it was not common.


    ¡°Could it be a guard bringing food?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s midnight, clearly not the time.¡± Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Olivia thought this.


    The slight noises continued in the hallway leading to the main hall.


    Under the Silver Dragon¡¯s astonished gaze, a blurry shadow appeared at the end of the corridor, seemingly a figure shrouded in mist.


    As the figure approached, she finally saw clearly¡ª


    Short black hair, glowing golden vertical pupils, a handsome young face, a noble robe trimmed in gold, and faintly visible pale golden scales. At this moment, he was strolling towards the Silver Dragon bound in chains.


    ¡°How could it be?¡±


    Olivia could hardly believe her eyes.


    Wasn¡¯t this the kin who had appeared in her dreams every night and day, giving her final instructions, the Gold Dragon Anhel?


    At that moment, many confusing thoughts flooded her mind.


    Olivia was truly happy for his survival, yet she also had many doubts. Why had she followed his guidance only to be trapped here? Why had he never appeared before?


    Could this Anhel be fake too?


    Was it all just a Red Dragon¡¯s plot?


    Olivia¡¯s eyes first filled with surprise, then tension and conflict, finally merging into a particularly complex emotion. She seemed to have a thousand words stuck in her throat but couldn¡¯t speak.


    Unexpectedly, he spoke first, breaking the brief silence.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Olivia.¡±


    The tone was deep, and those golden eyes were full of guilt.


    The moment he spoke, Olivia was convinced it was the real Anhel, feeling immense relief.


    When with this Gold Dragon, the Silver Dragon could always feel his charisma, even having her emotions affected. It was not something easily faked, although she didn¡¯t know it was due to literal ¡°extraordinary charm.¡±


    She was instantly overjoyed, as if she had found her final anchor.


    And after this moment of peace, Olivia finally couldn¡¯t maintain her composure, feeling immensely wronged for what she had experienced these days.


    Tears spilled from her blue-gray eyes, like overflowing autumn water cascading down her cheeks. With a sob, she poured out her long-repressed questions.


    ¡°Where have you been all this time?¡±


    ¡°Why did the Red Dragon say you were dead?¡±


    ¡°Why am I trapped here when I followed your guidance¡­¡±


    ¡°Why¡­¡±


    Maybe she was too emotional, and Olivia even became somewhat incoherent.


    Anhel, or rather Cassius, sighed deeply.


    ¡°Four years ago, this palace was not yet built; it was just a barren land. I found the only way to defeat the Red Dragon, this so-called Dragon Binding Array. It can bind dragons below the ancient level, imprisoning them forever.¡±


    ¡°So I set up the array here, afraid of failure and leaving a final message.¡±


    He gazed at the Silver Dragon, his tone growing heavier.


    ¡°But the cunning and power of the ¡®King of Ashen¡¯ far exceeded my expectations. He saw through my plan and cruelly killed all my retainers and the Knight of Justice who had come with me.¡±


    ¡°I should have also perished in that battle, but thanks to the blessing of the Ancient Gold Dragon Paralandak, I entered a semi-ethereal state, making the Red Dragon powerless against me, allowing me to survive by luck.¡±


    ¡°But in this state, it¡¯s difficult for me to intervene in the Material Plane. I can only appear before you in this form. The Red Dragon had no way to deal with me but used the array I left as a trap to lure you here, isolating my influence with that strange domain ability. Fortunately, his power ultimately waned, allowing me to reach you.¡±


    ¡°My reckless actions implicated you. I am sorry.¡±


    ¡°Anhel¡± apologized sincerely again.


    Olivia did not blame him, silently accepting everything, meeting his gaze. She recalled the unease when first entering the palace; perhaps that was his warning she didn¡¯t heed.


    At least now, both she and Anhel were still alive, narrowly escaping the terrible Red Dragon¡¯s claws. It was already a rare outcome.


    After pondering for a long time, Olivia spoke softly.


    ¡°Anhel, what should I do now?¡±


    Her eyes carried some confusion, but it was far better than the previous despair. At least Anhel¡¯s appearance gave her a final lifeline.


    ¡°Olivia, my current strength is insufficient to fight against the Red Dragon. He is far too powerful. Maybe¡­ I need more resources.¡±


    ¡°Money, spell scrolls, even aid from other metal dragons¡­¡±


    ¡°But no matter what, even if it costs everything, all my treasures, I will rescue you from here. This is my promise to you.¡±


    To Olivia, these words sounded exceptionally sincere.


    Anhel stepped forward, seemingly stroking the Silver Dragon¡¯s slender neck. But it was just a phantom, Olivia felt no physical touch.


    For some reason, she did not reject this breach of metal dragon manners in intimacy but felt immense comfort and a certain inner satisfaction. This promise was almost romantic in a dragon¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Scale of Oath.¡±


    Suddenly, Olivia recalled the epic tales told by the clan elders when she was a young dragon, stories still passed down today. She remembered the Silver Dragon in those stories guarding the cave for a thousand years for a mate, engraving the oath on the scales on its chest until becoming an ancient dragon, unwavering in commitment to the end. Those stories always deeply moved her.


    Among Silver Dragons, courtship was always a civilized and elegant matter, with many Silver Dragons remaining together for life.


    So, Olivia also chose to trust without hesitation, sharing everything she knew and possessed with ¡°Anhel,¡± hoping he could rescue her one day in the future¡­


    Perhaps to cater to her emotions, Anhel stayed in the palace for a long time.


    They discussed poetry, shared stories from across the continent, and exchanged knowledge of spells. With Olivia¡¯s richer spell knowledge, Anhel even jokingly called her ¡°teacher,¡± easing her taut nerves significantly.


    When the palace once again returned to silence, the Silver Dragon remained firmly bound to the ground, but the despair and confusion in her blue-gray eyes were gone, replaced by gentleness and determination.

 Chapter 257 - 182: Affairs

    Chapter 257: Chapter 182: Affairs


    ¡°In the mountain cave on the outskirts of Stratholme Fortress, at these exact coordinates, send someone to retrieve the treasure hidden by that silver dragon. There are exactly thirty thousand four hundred seventy-two gold coins, twelve kilograms worth of red and blue gemstone jewelry. The numbers must be accurate, and I will personally check them.¡±


    ¡°The Crown of Stars Ring is in the silver coffin at Trifa Church.¡±


    ¡°The Silver Dragon Scale Armor is under a stone brick in the corner of Fatri Hall.¡±


    ¡°The Two-Faced Flowery Words is on the bookshelf at the Witch Veil Tavern.¡±


    ¡°There are three hundred seventy-two spell scrolls in total, hidden behind the waterfall in the southern part of Agur Forest, where there is a concealed mage tower.¡±


    ¡°Here, the Castellani Ancient Castle, there is an observation array inside. The Old Silver Dragon of the Merlwood Family uses it to spy on the North. Go and destroy it.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Truly wealthy, as expected of the Silver Dragon Clan.¡±


    Cassius lounged on the iron throne, speaking the information he had extracted from the silver dragon.


    The Ogre Archmage, Ramp, stood before him, cautiously adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. He used a feathered pen, formed by mana, to swiftly jot down these valuable pieces of information on an illusory magic parchment.


    Poor silver dragon, thinking it had found a love as loyal as a romantic novel, poured out everything to someone disguised as a Gold Dragon, only to be met with the harsh reality of blatant deception.


    The persona I created had become more refined through Olivia¡¯s imagination, even becoming her pillar of hope, her last straw in desperate times.


    Cassius knew very well that when the truth came to light and this carefully crafted illusion shattered, the other party would be utterly devastated.


    And at that moment, it would be the perfect time for him to break down the mental defenses of this naive young silver dragon, ¡°conquering¡± her completely.


    ¡°Tsk-tsk, quite pitiful.¡±


    Thinking of this, Cassius even felt a touch of reluctance.


    After all, he shamelessly considered himself a ¡°good person with a moral bottom line,¡± if not a typical vicious red dragon¡ªthough his enemies clearly didn¡¯t think so and needed a stern correction.


    Despite these thoughts, Cassius didn¡¯t stop speaking. After all, what he thought and the benefits at stake were two different matters.


    After a moment of contemplation, he continued:


    ¡°The Star Realm Shard is in the wine cellar at the Murkwick City Rangers¡¯ Tavern, though it seems to be a hideout for the Harpist Alliance, so caution our people.¡±


    ¡°The Dimensional Amulet is also in the mage tower I mentioned earlier.¡±


    ¡°The Bard¡¯s Ansestre Harp is in the violin shop in Stratholme Fortress, show them this code.¡±


    ¡°The Scepter of Might is in a box on the thirteenth floor of the Kariana Tower.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    When he finally finished, beads of sweat had formed on Ramp¡¯s brow, as the information about various rare treasures had filled the parchment.


    It was evident Olivia had truly poured out her heart, divulging all the most cherished treasures of the dragons in one go.


    Ramp took out a golden silk handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his brow. With his intelligence, he had likely guessed what was happening, but he still pretended not to know anything.


    ¡°You have barely woken up and have already uncovered so many rare items. It¡¯s truly admirable.¡±


    ¡°How have the affairs of the kingdom been handled during my three-year slumber?¡±


    Ramp immediately perked up, taking out a pre-prepared magic crystal from his dimensional bag, skillfully projecting vast amounts of information from it.


    This reporting form, named ¡°PPT,¡± was simple and efficient, spreading widely within the Ashen Kingdom thanks to Ramp¡¯s deliberate promotion, becoming a distinctive feature of the kingdom¡¯s spellcasters.


    ¡°Master, in these three years, we conducted a comprehensive census of the population. Using the opportunity of suppressing rebellions, we uncovered all the hidden population of noble landlords. The kingdom now has a population of four hundred seventy thousand, including eighty thousand Dragon Vein Descendants, and three hundred ninety thousand of other humanoid beings.¡±


    ¡°Over these three years, following your instructions, we used serfs as cheap labor to vigorously develop the magical industry. Currently, the country has seventeen food processing plants, six munitions factories, and one daily necessities factory, accommodating nearly forty thousand workers, supplying food and military needs nationwide.


    ¡°Furthermore, in commerce and trade, we dispatched¡­¡±


    ¡°The kingdom¡¯s laws¡­¡±


    ¡°Regarding the rebellion incited by the remnants of the Northern Nobility¡­¡±


    Ramp spoke at length until Cassius yawned, prompting him to stop at the right moment, ending the magic image with ¡°These are your great achievements!¡±


    In fact, not just through Ramp¡¯s report, but also from his discussions with Olivia and his own observations, Cassius could see that the kingdom was thriving toward his expectations. Although he provided the overall direction, many details were carried out by Ramp, Mezulash, and other retainers.


    However, the report also highlighted numerous potential issues in the kingdom, the most notable being conflicts between races. Forcing formerly hostile or even predatory races to coexist harmoniously was already challenging enough for Ramp.


    Cassius praised.


    ¡°Well done, the kingdom has made headway on the grand blueprint, and your efforts have contributed.¡±


    Ramp, excited, half-knelt on the ground.


    Cassius continued to ask:


    ¡°Have you prepared the military merit system and the conferring ceremony I mentioned before my slumber?¡±


    Ramp swiftly presented the scroll and answered, ¡°Everything is ready. They have designed the specific steps of the ceremony. Please review it. All the kingdom¡¯s citizens will remember this glorious moment.¡±


    Similar to the Northern system, the titles of nobility in the Ashen Kingdom were also divided into levels such as Duke, Marquis, Earl, etc., each with several sub-levels. However, unlike the Northern system, these titles came without actual fiefdoms and could only be earned through merit.


    But these were not just ¡°nominal titles¡± or ¡°honorary titles.¡± In Cassius¡¯s plan, these titles were accompanied by corresponding benefits, most importantly related to the Dragon Vein levels of the titleholders.


    Those who gained merit could acquire more powerful Dragon Veins, advancing with each title promotion, and those at the pinnacle, such as Dukes and Marquises, could even receive the personal blessing of the Red Dragon, becoming bloodline descendants of the ancestors. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This would make the vast war machine of the Ashen Kingdom more formidable. Every member of this system, whether human or monster, would strive for more substantial power and longer life.


    Thus, the war chariot of the Ashen Kingdom would become more robust, with each citizen becoming a part of it, making Cassius¡¯s plans to crush the Northern Countries even more unshakeable.

 Chapter 258 - 183: Bestowal of Honors (1)

    Chapter 258: Chapter 183: Bestowal of Honors (1)


    Ashen Kingdom, Northwind Castle.


    In the distance, tall chimneys emitted thick smoke, causing the sky to appear somewhat hazy, but people were long used to it. The refurbished and leveled roads were bustling with cars and people coming and going. They either worked hard in some factory, handled paperwork for the Royal Palace, or were merchants trading here.


    In the fast-paced life of Northwind Castle, everyone had something to do.


    But today seemed somewhat unusual; many people stopped in their tracks, standing and listening attentively.


    ¡°Big event! Big event!¡±


    ¡°The ennobling ceremony is about to start!¡±


    ...


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius will be at the central square to bestow honors in person! Both humans and retainers are welcome to attend!¡±


    The newsboy waved the newspaper in his hand, trotting and shouting to the crowd with extra effort. After all, he would receive the official reward of three silver coins for completing this task.


    On the billboard next to the road, Tiefling Guards also tore down some of the old wanted posters and posted the latest flyers announcing the important message.


    Citizens gathered in front of the billboard, discussing.


    ¡°The ennobling ceremony?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, it¡¯s probably another one-man show by those retainers, nothing to do with us weak humans.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to see it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been here for two years, I still haven¡¯t seen the legendary His Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Heh, with this time, you might as well earn a few more silver coins.¡±


    ¡°At least we should join in the fun. Maybe if His Majesty gets happy, he might spill some gold coins from his claws for us? It¡¯s said he has millions of gold coins.¡±


    In the blink of an eye, the central square became extremely lively.


    After years of development and the migration and gathering of people, Northwind Castle now had sixty thousand permanent residents. At this moment, nearly a third of them gathered here, close to twenty thousand people crowded the square, making the originally spacious square packed to the brim.


    Regardless of occupation, merchant, worker, or sergeant, regardless of race, human, ogre, or Tiefling, these diverse residents of Northwind Castle all gathered here, like clusters of chaotic flowers, eager to witness this rare grand event.


    The Tiefling Guards held spears, standing close to each other, forming neat rows and cordoning off a vast empty space in the middle of the square.


    Here once stood a statue of the hero ancestor of the Rackman family, ¡°Duke Norman¡±. After the Kingdom took over, the original statue was smashed to pieces and replaced with a majestic statue of the Red Dragon.


    Now, the Red Dragon statue was moved in front of the city hall, and here was built a massive altar engraved with dragon wing patterns, surrounded by dozens of thick stone pillars.


    Those at the forefront were naturally the ogres, great goblins, and other Dragon Vein Clans. High-ranking ones among them, like Ramp, were specially arranged with seats, enjoying a leisurely watch of the grand event, while most humans were kept at the back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push in front of me, go away!¡±


    ¡°Bastard, you want to fight?¡±


    ¡°When does the ceremony start?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too stuffy here.¡±


    With so many people attending the ceremony, jostling and disputes were unavoidable, and complaints kept coming in. Even the well-trained Tiefling Guard Squad could barely maintain order.


    Suddenly, someone exclaimed.


    ¡°Look over there!¡±


    People quickly looked up, only to see the bipedal wyverns like billowing dark clouds, pressing down from afar, almost covering the sun. The chimeras flew on the wings of the formation like welcoming honor guards.


    The mighty thirty-meter-long Red Dragon in the formation slowly flapped its wings. Each flap sent scorching gusts of wind spreading thousands of meters, making the air in the city increasingly hot.


    A White Dragon followed behind the Red Dragon, flying step by step like the most loyal servant. Its striking color highlighted the dragon group.


    With the arrival of this magnificent formation, the previously noisy people unconsciously held their breath, and the square with over twenty thousand people fell silent.


    The dragon group approached, casting a shadow over a radius of miles, covering the crowd in the square.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Cassius landed thunderously on the top of the altar, stirring up gale-force winds.


    The ancestral wyverns and chimeras circled down and finally landed together on top of the stone pillars, while White Dragon Tiniya undoubtedly occupied the stone pillar closest to the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    They raised their heads in unison and let out a resonant roar.


    Cassius didn¡¯t say anything, merely stepped forward and slowly spread his enormous dragon wings, the dragon crystal on his chest pulsating with scorching light, seemingly containing endless strength.


    Immediately, centered on him, a powerful wave spread.


    An invisible pressure spread, causing all the mortals present to instinctively lower their heads, worshipping devoutly.


    ¡°King of Ashen!¡±


    ¡°King!¡±


    ¡°Great Red Dragon!¡±


    The Dragon Vein retainers raised their weapons, cheering like surging waves.


    With this series of crushing victories, Cassius¡¯s accumulated prestige grew stronger, becoming a spiritual belief for the retainers. Even after years of slumber, he could still stir their passion.


    But the humans had more complex feelings, mostly of awe. After all, they once existed as ¡°The Conquered¡± or even ¡°war trophies.¡± Though the Red Dragon had brought a better life for some, they still needed more time to adapt to such an identity change.


    For those rebels hidden in the dark, their feelings were even harder to express.


    Rumor had it that the Red Dragon fought a fierce battle with the Black Wizard and was severely injured, leading to his slumber. But now it seemed this was far from the truth, leaving those who harbored any hope speechless.


    ¡ªFor instance, the former baron, Pharaoh Trishde, hidden among the crowd.


    ¡°How is that possible, how could he be so powerful¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only been three years¡­¡±


    Pharaoh¡¯s voice trembled, and his knees went weak.


    As a former member of the Northern Nobility, he missed the past life immensely and had been living incognito in Northwind Castle for a long time. He secretly contacted the South and served as a spy for the Harpist Alliance.


    If the former Cassius¡¯s size, in his shallow understanding, was still an ¡°able to defeat¡± enemy, then now, the nearly thirty-meter-long Cassius, who had developed a special form, completely exceeded his comprehension, even making him feel deeply despairing.


    ¡°This is simply¡­invincible.¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pharaoh looked at the Red Dragon spreading its wings in the distance, muttering to himself uncontrollably.

 Chapter 259 - 184 Conferring Ranks (2)

    Chapter 259: Chapter 184 Conferring Ranks (2)


    ¡°Everyone, quiet!¡±


    The square fell silent once more.


    Cassius then began his brief speech.


    ¡°Regardless of background, race, or morality, as long as you contribute to the kingdom¡¯s development, you will become part of a grand blueprint and obtain great strength and long life.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted.


    ¡°Could humans also have such an opportunity?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Is it not a privilege exclusive to the Dragon Vein Descendants?¡±


    The murmurs made it clear that the growing tension between the Monster Kin and humans has been apparent in recent years.


    Indeed, as the main ruling class of the kingdom, the Monster Kin¡¯s privileges were immense. In the eyes of many Monster Kin, not having exterminated humans entirely was already a great mercy, let alone the so-called equality.


    They naturally reaped all the benefits in every aspect of the kingdom¡¯s operation. It was considered normal for humans to remain in subordinate positions.


    Cassius¡¯s so-called ¡°swearing-in ceremony¡± was not only to bestow greater power on his subordinates but also to make a political statement. Using his powerful influence, he aimed to bridge the gap between the Retainers and humans, making the Ashen Kingdom a truly diverse empire.


    Cassius pressed firmly on the altar.


    With a rumbling sound, hundreds of stone platforms appeared.


    Most striking were the three stone platforms at the top, intricately carved with fine patterns, just a few meters away from the Red Dragon.


    ¡ªThose were the positions of the Dukes of the kingdom.


    These positions symbolized longevity, immense power, and authority.


    Cassius first called out a familiar name.


    ¡°Ramp.¡±


    The Ogre Mage gladly flew to the stone platform and knelt down.


    As the kingdom¡¯s chief regent, Ramp¡¯s position was naturally undisputed.


    With the kingdom¡¯s flourishing development, Ramp¡¯s status had become increasingly solid and virtually unshakeable. It was better to get along with him than to offend him rashly.


    The Goblin Chieftain Dolores had already resigned himself. After numerous failures, his prestige among the strength-revering Retainers had drastically diminished, making it difficult to contend with Ramp.


    Now, he could only lie low, hiding his ambitious heart¡ªalthough the disdain in his eyes still showed involuntarily, and smoke billowed from his nostrils.


    ¡°Mezulash.¡±


    The Tiefling Oathbreaker strode boldly and leaped onto the stone platform with agility.


    This time, the noise and commotion below increased significantly.


    Besides the Tieflings, almost all other Retainers had strong opinions about Mezulash¡¯s special status. After all, he was in charge of both the Tiefling Guards and the ¡°Nocturne¡± unit, controlling both overt and covert defensive forces. In his tenure, he inevitably offended some Family Members.


    For example, the Bugbear clan¡¯s leader¡ªAli Suikul, this robust and heavily furred Bugbear, glared at the Tiefling on the platform, his hand gripping his Wolf Fang Club so tightly that his veins bulged and left dents on the club.


    In the widely discussed ¡°Bugbear Murder Case,¡± it was Mezulash who led the arrest of over a dozen murderous and plundering Bugbears, leaving Ali with a deep-seated grudge.


    But Mezulash on the platform did not mind.


    To him, it was just part of his job. As long as the Red Dragon still trusted him, no one could shake his position.


    ¡°Dolores.¡±


    The Goblin Chieftain eagerly climbed onto the stone platform and knelt down.


    He glanced intentionally or unintentionally at his subordinates below, smoke spewing from his nostrils, as if proclaiming his unshakable status.


    Despite some murmurs, the positions of the three Dukes were more or less as expected and were, without a doubt, predetermined.


    The subsequent allocation of Earls, Marquises, Viscounts, and even Barons was the real focus for the humans and Retainers present, as it was closely related to their own interests.


    The announcement of the Earls was not carried out by Cassius personally, but by Ramp reading from a list.


    Under the eager gazes of tens of thousands, the Ogre solemnly read out the names of the seven Marquises.


    ¡°Alger.¡±


    ¡°Chimera.¡±


    ¡°Jin Ya.¡±


    ¡°Stieg.¡±


    The Giant Eagle Knight circled and descended, the three heads of the Chimera howled in unison with joy, and the Dragonborn Kobolds flapped their wings wildly, eliciting noisy barking cheers from the Kobold youngsters below.


    Most of them were elders who had pledged allegiance since the Ashen Nest era, each representing a different faction within the kingdom, so there was little controversy.


    However, when the Ogre calmly said the name ¡°Dailenna,¡± the crowd erupted once more.


    ¡°Lady Dailenna has actually been selected!¡±


    ¡°This is truly a great joy!¡±


    ¡°Finally, a human is among the Marquises of the kingdom!¡±


    ¡°My god, humans can actually become Marquises!¡±


    The people cheered and rejoiced. Seeing Dailenna become a Marchioness, they saw a hopeful future, secretly wishing to be in her place someday.


    As the official in charge of the kingdom¡¯s diplomacy, Dailenna had concealed her Serpentfolk identity for the past three years, meticulously crafting a persona of ¡°a wise, intellectual, and gentle lady,¡± which garnered much support and admiration from humans, earning her the title ¡°Flower of Northwind Keep.¡±


    She even published an autobiography describing how she rose from a humble maid to the kingdom¡¯s diplomat, peppering it with fabrications to create many captivating stories. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With her intelligence, Dailenna had long noticed the Red Dragon¡¯s intent to include humans. So she had prepared fully in advance, making herself a prime example for this day, and she indeed succeeded.


    The beautiful and elegant lady waved to the crowd below, displaying a radiant and gentle smile as she walked, supported by guards, to the high platform symbolizing the Marquis¡¯s position, appearing as a figure of universal expectation.


    The Monster Kin, however, had a different reaction.


    The Great Goblins, Ogres, and Half-Orcs were red-faced with jealousy, panting wildly and spewing white smoke.


    ¡°How could such a weakling deserve to be a Marquis!¡±


    ¡°I want to challenge her!¡±


    ¡°Only the strong may stand above me!¡±


    ¡°Weaklings, get down!¡±


    Even after several years, the laws from Stormy Ridge were still deeply ingrained in their minds, where the strong ruling the weak seemed unmovable.


    These monsters aspiring for high positions kept issuing challenges and clamoring, but Dailenna on the platform ignored them, maintaining her smile.


    ¡°Foolish creatures, you still do not understand this¡ªthe master¡¯s will is the sole law of this kingdom.¡±


    Dailenna glanced at the ¡°furious¡± Monster Kin, her lips curling slightly, a trace of barely noticeable contempt in her eyes.

 Chapter 260 - 185: Conferment of Honor (3)

    Chapter 260: Chapter 185: Conferment of Honor (3)


    The monsters¡¯ protests gradually subsided under Cassius¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, eventually falling into silence.


    The seven Marquises were finally all in place, followed by twelve Earls. Most of them were leaders of various families, but due to their lesser seniority or weaker strength, they couldn¡¯t advance further.


    Another name was called out.


    ¡°Guillermo Hagen.¡±


    The robed human mage was taken aback with delight and quickly used flight magic to ascend to the altar.


    He was the second human to be awarded a title in this conferral ceremony. As an affiliate of the Kingdom¡¯s spellcasters and an aide to Ramp, he made significant contributions to spell research and adeptly used various new technologies, which eventually made Cassius select him as another fortunate recipient.


    ...


    ¡°Damn it, another human!¡±


    ¡°I want to crush them!¡±


    ¡°Damn, hairless monkeys.¡±


    The monsters gathered around the altar stirred restlessly again, furious about the positions being taken by humans.


    But this time, it only went as far as whispers, and no commotion ensued. After all, under Cassius¡¯s personal oversight, no one dared to show dissatisfaction with these decisions¡ªthey would be directly challenging the might of the Red Dragon.


    This was the fundamental difference between the Ashen Kingdom and ordinary nations.


    The rulers of other nations generally derived their power from the military or political systems.


    They needed to balance various interests and demands to gain the consensus of vested interest groups to achieve their goals.


    But in this Dragon-ruled country, the presence of the Red Dragon was strength itself. He was the source of all authority and the very foundation of the kingdom. This also accorded him an unparalleled, almost divine status within the kingdom.


    The conferral ceremony continued.


    Tens of thousands of humans and monsters present held their breath, eagerly anticipating their chance to climb onto the elevated platform that symbolized power and strength.


    Next were many Viscounts, numbering over forty. Most were commanders who had distinguished themselves in various wars. Anthony from the Dragon¡¯s Sanctuary Hall, nominally the current leader of the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights, also received such a title.


    However, nearly one-fifth of the recipients were humans. Most of them were public servants who had made significant contributions to the nation¡¯s legislation and production. Some were renowned scholars involved in compiling the Kingdom Code, others were veteran craftsmen who improved machinery, and there were also officer scribes who wrote articles in the Propaganda Department.


    If the previous titles felt unattainable to the people, these now seemed within reach and highly coveted.


    Take, for example, the ¡°craftsman representative,¡± Gilmore Sparrow, who was once an unremarkable blacksmith in an East City smithy. He discovered flaws in the rifle production line and improved them, suddenly becoming a so-called ¡°technician¡± and ultimately a lofty noble.


    At this moment, his face was red as he rubbed his hands and touched his bulbous nose, eagerly anticipating the imminent blessing.


    People admired the familiar faces with envy, muttering phrases like ¡°If it were me back then¡± and ¡°If given this opportunity, I could have done it too,¡± clearly setting these as their goals to strive for.


    Next came more than a hundred Barons.


    The ratio of humans to monsters was almost fifty-fifty.


    Many of the retainers who had joined the Ashen Nest early and contributed greatly, now leading small to mid-sized battalions, were awarded the position of Baron.


    On the human side, they selected outstanding individuals from various fields who had made significant contributions to the kingdom¡¯s development. There were supervisors running factories, caravan leaders, and even human commanders newly integrated into the military system¡­


    The monster kin watching the proceedings were once again in uproar, while the humans cheered with joy.


    Even the most disdainful Great Goblins had to admit that, in terms of development within the kingdom, humans were often more astute and capable than the monster kin, avoiding errors like the ¡°Ogre Food Quality Inspector¡± incident. Hence, despite deliberate suppression from some high-ranking officials, many human upstarts still managed to stand out, resulting in the current situation.


    Nearly two hundred noble titles were finally distributed.


    But Ramp¡¯s speech did not end.


    ¡°Everyone, you have greatly contributed to the kingdom and deserve this reward.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, there are also some citizens who have stepped forward to protect the kingdom¡¯s safety. The kingdom will not forget their deeds; they will be granted the special honor of ¡®First-Class Citizen.''¡±


    Instantly, the crowd was abuzz.


    ¡°What does this mean?¡±


    ¡°Will there be distinctions even among commoners?¡±


    The so-called ¡°First-Class Citizen¡± had never appeared in the history of the North. Nobles were always high above, completely separate from commoners.


    Under the guard of the Tiefling Guards, several plainly dressed humans walked out.


    They were the lucky ones who succeeded in reporting spies. Most of them were the most ordinary of people but had unexpectedly struck it rich by being chosen by the Red Dragon. The one who had reported the Silver Dragon, George, was even at the forefront.


    Looking at the restless crowd, George couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously. His heart pounded, his legs trembled from excessive nervousness, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.


    ¡°No, can¡¯t be nervous.¡±


    ¡°I-I have become an important figure! Look at those envious eyes.¡±


    George reminded himself, which finally allowed his trembling legs to move, barely keeping pace with the Tiefling Guards.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that George?¡±


    An acquaintance from the food factory recognized George and exclaimed out loud. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°He was a serf before!¡±


    ¡°Even someone like him can gain a title?¡±


    ¡°Damn! Such luck, why don¡¯t I get that kind of fortune.¡±


    Soon, the workers¡¯ chatter turned to envy, even jealousy.


    They had witnessed George transforming from the most humble, insignificant ¡°gray beast¡± into an important figure. Even his friend Howard couldn¡¯t help but curse under his breath at the overwhelming disparity.


    Meanwhile, some monsters discontentedly remarked, ¡°Such weak humans wouldn¡¯t have even been fit to make snacks before; they were only for us to kill for fun!¡±


    Amidst the crowd¡¯s discussions, he was stiffly escorted onto the lowest tier of the stone platform.


    Looking down at the diverse humans and monsters, listening to their chatter, clutching the gilded Medal of Honor, George felt like he was dreaming, afraid he might wake up and return to the old, crowded manor.


    ¡°Thank goodness¡­ this isn¡¯t a dream.¡±


    George took a deep breath, adjusting his overly excited emotions, and began to look forward to his bright future.


    As for the kingdom and His Majesty, he now had nothing but loyalty in his heart.

 Chapter 261 - 186: Commendation (4)

    Chapter 261: Chapter 186: Commendation (4)


    The titles of nobility in the Ashen Kingdom were not the traditional five ranks of the North, but rather an intricate eighteen-rank system borrowing that name.


    Each major title had three sub-levels, where even the most basic citizens were classified into first-class, second-class, or third-class citizens.


    For example, Ramp was the highest level, a first-class duke, and the Ashen crest on his chest had an additional dragon wing decoration, symbolizing the special favor of the Red Dragon.


    These titles were not associated with land, but determined one¡¯s status, benefits, and the blessing of the Dragon Vein within the kingdom. They were almost never hereditary, given based on merit and progression instead.


    This time, due to Cassius¡¯s political need to bridge the gap between humans and monsters, and for the sake of propaganda, the standards for bestowing titles were set relatively simple, even including a few humans.


    However, as the kingdom continued to expand, future title grants would inevitably become stricter, and the assessment of merits would be standardized, increasing the value of these titles.


    ...


    Under such standards, an ordinary human soldier would find reaching first-class citizenship the limit. Beyond that, the strength of a professional might be required.


    This setup aimed to turn the kingdom into an even more formidable war machine, playing a significant role in future full-scale wars in Anzeta and even conflicts with the southern countries.


    When the nearly fifty thousand players joined in, they too would integrate into this system, becoming a part of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s war machine, crushing all forces in their path as the kingdom expanded.


    ¡°Master, the blessing can begin now.¡±


    Ramp cautiously reminded.


    Cassius nodded slightly, but did not speak.


    Nowadays, mere unintentional releases of his Dragon¡¯s Might and years of accumulated authority could make tens of thousands of people bow to him.


    The Red Dragon needed no further explanation, and even a slight gesture from him would have countless people rushing to follow. Each of his actions would be meticulously interpreted by many.


    Just like this ceremony, many astute individuals had already noticed Cassius¡¯s intent to elevate humans.


    And they mostly knew that opposing it was futile.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon slightly raised his head, letting out a roar full of majesty, and spread his wide wings.


    Hot white smoke billowed from his gaping maw, colorful flames sprayed from the apertures on his neck and tail, and the Dragon Crystal in his chest radiated dazzling light. At that moment, he looked like a miniature sun, blinding nearly everyone present.


    [Bloodline Gift]


    Then, streaks of flowing flame containing terrifying energy flew from the top of the high platform, like shimmering threads, connecting to the bodies of the three dukes.


    The seeds representing the power of the Ancestral Dragons merged into the dukes¡¯ veins, gradually integrating into their bloodline. Because they had already been endowed with the Dragon Vein, the gift did not bring much physical transformation but resulted in the most profound elevation of their life essence.


    The blessing lasted nearly ten minutes.


    This change was fundamental, magical in nature, and the evolution would eventually manifest in their bodies.


    ¡°The effect is quite good.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly.


    In his vision, the challenge level of [Goblin Warlord, Dolores] had already leaped to level 12 and was still rising. [Oathbreaker Sword, Mezulash] had reached level 13, and [Great Sage-Ramp] had achieved an astonishing level 15.


    Once they fully absorbed this power, they would find it hard to meet an equal within the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Then, with a shift of Cassius¡¯s thoughts, an even more surprising event occurred¡ª


    With the crackling sound of flames, the threads of flowing flame that had merged into the three dukes¡¯ bodies split into several parts, connecting to the bodies of seven marquises. They further split again, merging into twelve earls.


    Those endowed with the Dragon Vein received the seeds of bloodline power, awaiting further evolution. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those who had never received the Dragon Vein underwent a drastic transformation, evolving into a higher life form amidst painful howls. For instance, the ¡°Flower of Northwind Keep,¡± Dailenna, grew spiral horns on her head, scales faintly appeared on her cheeks, and she let out occasional moans.


    And the human mage, Guillermo, Ramp¡¯s assistant, had curled up, wrapping himself in his magical robe, but dragon horns pierced through it.


    However, most of them retained their basic human forms, only showing some dragon features and possessing the essence of magic.


    Compared to the uncontrolled, violent, and intense nature of the original Red Dragon Bloodline gift, which used to be uncontrolled and wantonly vented, Cassius could now better control this bloodline power, taking into account the physical qualities of the recipients, stopping short of burning them alive.


    Hundreds of fiery threads, like a spectacular cascade descending layer upon layer, or a vast web of flaming spider silk, connected all the recipients, continuously pouring the grand power of the giant dragons into them.


    People gazed at the shimmering threads, watching the Red Dragon who shone like the sun.


    A word emerged simultaneously in their minds.


    ¡ª¡ªMiracle.


    Yes, a miracle.


    Compared to the king¡¯s conferment, this ceremony was more like blessings from a deity to its followers.


    Many of them had witnessed the complicated and lengthy conferring ceremonies of various northern dukes, yet the majesty and grandeur of those ceremonies combined did not even come close to one percent of this one. Cassius¡¯s position within the kingdom was also much closer to those exalted beings.


    He was not just an ordinary ruler, but an existence of greater symbolic meaning.


    Cassius did not need to interfere too much in national affairs. His mere existence deterred any threats from daring to attack this kingdom.


    In the crowd, Pharaoh Trisht covered his eyes from the blinding light.


    He collapsed to the ground in panic, trembling violently, his voice already tinged with sobs.


    ¡°How can there be¡­¡±


    ¡°Something like this, how could it possibly be defeated.¡±


    However, the Harpist Alliance infiltrator did not notice that among those attracted by his commotion, several had looks of extreme greed in their eyes.


    They all wanted to become the new ¡°George.¡±


    ¡°Catch him!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a spy!¡±


    Several people shouted in a frenzy, afraid that this easily captured prey might escape and they would lose the chance to become a ¡°first-class citizen.¡±


    The nearby crowd surged into another frenzy.

 Chapter 262 - 187 Demons Trail

    Chapter 262: Chapter 187 Demon¡¯s Trail


    The ceremony of conferring honors had concluded.


    Cassius did not hide the news; rather, he made a grand spectacle, fearing only that people might remain unaware.


    Paper leaflets fluttered like snowflakes, spreading the news of this grand event throughout Anzeta by way of the Bipedal Wyverns.


    The reactions were varied; the northern nobles were terrified, fearing that this newly awakened Red Dragon would unleash a disaster that could shake their rule and worried that such an unimaginable system might create terrifying war machines.


    However, many commoners harbored other thoughts. They fled to the Ashen Kingdom, hoping to seize power and seek the legendary longevity and strength of the dragons.


    But regardless, Cassius had achieved his purpose.


    ...


    He did not care that such actions might prompt the Northern Countries to prepare prematurely; what he cared about was sowing the seeds of war in people¡¯s hearts so that the new order¡¯s construction would be quicker after the war.


    Cassius sprawled on the Iron Throne, slightly stretching his wings, white steam billowing from the vents on his neck, his chest¡¯s still-smoldering Dragon Crystal quickly cooling down and gradually dimming.


    ¡°Three years, three years have passed already.¡±


    ¡°In just one more year, the great collapse of Holy Fadlan will occur, and fifty thousand beta players will descend upon Anzeta.¡±


    ¡°By then, I will establish a new order in the Anzeta Great Wilderness and unify the entire North.¡±


    Cassius muttered to himself as he gazed into the distance.


    ¡­


    In the Ancytica Mountains.


    Alger rode the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, flying rapidly out of the portal. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Another routine patrol mission, over the past three years he had patrolled this area many times, becoming intimately familiar with the surroundings of the portal.


    But the Ancytica Mountains were far vaster than he had imagined, even with such a long time spent, there were still many areas left unexplored, awaiting his discovery.


    Alger pulled a parchment scroll from the saddlebag beside the Giant Eagle. The scroll was inlaid with the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s emblem at both ends. When unfurled, it displayed a map made of magic particles, with various mountains and rivers vividly depicted and twinkling with tiny auras, while a special glowing dot marked Alger¡¯s current position.


    This was a special map prepared for Alger to record the areas he had explored, and more than half of the map had already been filled.


    In fact, this map was just a trial version. In the future, the kingdom would produce more perfected versions on a large scale, even creating collector¡¯s editions inlaid with gems, to be sold at high prices to players, but that was a story for another time.


    ¡°No signs of demons found in Area 327.¡±


    Alger gently tapped the area, a line automatically appearing to indicate the completion of exploration; over the past three years, he had explored hundreds of areas.


    ¡°Next is Area 328.¡±


    ¡°Eagle.¡±


    Alger patted the Giant Eagle¡¯s neck. The creature immediately understood, folding its wings and speeding through the mountains at a rapid pace.


    After undergoing the second Dragon Vein Blessing, Alger felt that both he and the Giant Eagle had experienced significant improvements in strength. The Giant Eagle¡¯s beak grew sharp teeth, gradually losing its avian appearance, evolving a head similar to that of a Sub-dragon, while Alger himself could even exhale scorching Flame Breath.


    In just a moment, the Giant Eagle soared past several peaks, arriving at Area 328 marked on the map.


    In the distance, the mountains resembled the jagged teeth of a giant dragon, rising and falling.


    Barren, desolate.


    This was Alger¡¯s only impression of the Ancytica Mountains.


    The highest peaks of these mountains reached over five thousand meters, separating the Anzeta Great Wilderness from the south and blocking the cold currents from the North. The endless range, covered in heavy snow all year round, only occasionally revealed black rocks in summer.


    No one would dare to cross this mountain range; even migrating birds chose not to pass through here. The strongest and most resilient warriors often entered through narrow mountain passes.


    If the Giant Eagle had not undergone the Dragon Vein Blessing, Alger would never have dared to venture into this Life Forbidden Zone recklessly.


    ¡°Whew¡ª¡±


    The northern wind howled, the bitter cold making Alger sneeze with a hint of sulfur.


    But his sharp, red-horned ears trembled slightly.


    Alger crouched low, whispering:


    ¡°Eagle, did you hear that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not just the wind¡­ there¡¯s something else.¡±


    Indeed, it was not just the wind; there were also piercing wails and heavy murmurs.


    He had finally found the demon¡¯s call.


    Though it might have been something else, during his explorations, Alger had already dispatched many monsters hidden in the deep mountains, including Gnolls in the mountain depths, huge monstrous snowmen hibernating in ice caves, and even Polar Dragon Beasts lurking in the snowfields.


    Alger spoke no more, relying on his keen hearing to locate the source of the sound, maneuvering the Giant Eagle purely with his body.


    He noticed the ¡°Seeking Demon¡± scroll on his side glowing faintly with a blood-red light.


    Maybe, he really had found it.


    Alger tightened his legs, steering the Giant Eagle into a dive.


    Sure enough, a few black shapes appeared in the distant sky, and Alger immediately chased after them.


    It was only when he flew within dozens of meters that he could clearly see¡ªtheir forms were a mix of vulture and humanoid features, with twisted beast bodies and a pair of foul-smelling, broad wings, emitting wailing screams akin to a woman¡¯s cry.


    Alger¡¯s expression grew serious, his brows furrowing slightly.


    ¡°Frosthorn.¡±


    From the kingdom¡¯s texts, he had learned about some basic demon races, for instance, these vulture-like creatures enjoyed devouring humanoids, often using deafening screams to shock their targets.


    The Giant Eagle flew higher; these Frosthorns, seemingly in a rush, had not yet noticed him.


    ¡°Follow them closely.¡±


    Alger silently instructed.


    The Giant Eagle maintained a steady speed, trailing high above.


    Eventually, the Frosthorns entered a massive cavern.


    As dust-like snowflakes drifted down, the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle landed at the cavern entrance. Despite the howling winds, Alger could clearly hear the whispers and sorrowful wails from deep within the cavern.


    ¡°This is it.¡±


    Alger drew the Everburning Greatsword from his back, gripping it tightly.


    Instantly, the blade ignited, illuminating the surrounding area, allowing him to barely see the path ahead.


    The demons bore the corruption and contagion of the Abyss itself. Their mere presence worsened the world. The cavern was filled with pits of filth and pus, emanating a perpetual stench.


    The scroll beside him flickered more intensely, blood-red light dancing wildly. Yet, Alger felt little joy at finding the mission¡¯s target. He knew all too well the terrifying nature of demons; a single misstep could spell his doom.


    Even the Giant Eagle trembled slightly, showing a hint of reluctance.

 Chapter 263 - 188 Exploration

    Chapter 263: Chapter 188 Exploration


    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, Eagle, we¡¯re just here to gather intelligence.¡±


    Alger gently stroked the giant eagle¡¯s head to calm it, then took out a few spell scrolls and cast ¡°Concealment,¡± ¡°Breath Interruption,¡± and ¡°Dark Vision¡± on both himself and the giant eagle.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    They entered the cave, which was covered in sticky filth.


    It wasn¡¯t narrow here; in fact, it was quite grand. The entrance alone had a diameter of nearly a hundred meters, like a deep giant mouth, hidden within the grandeur of the mountains and tucked away in the deepest part of the Ancytica Mountains, thus unknown to the world.


    Hundreds of years ago, this place was known as the ¡°Mouth of Ancytica,¡± but as time went on, the records gradually faded.


    ...


    After Alger and the giant eagle ventured inside, it took them a full half-hour to barely make it through the long passage and completely enter the depths of the cave.


    Inside the cave, the corrosive effects of the Abyss were even more evident. The walls were pocked with holes created by erosion, littered with twisted, misshapen corpses, and corners filled with poisonous spores. The epitome of chaos and darkness was vividly displayed here ¨C it was truly a demon¡¯s lair.


    And demons resided here, embodiments of chaos and evil ¨C or more accurately, sources of destruction crammed into large, grotesque bodies. They knew no pity, compassion, or mercy; they existed solely to destroy. As an extension of this chaos, the Abyss autonomously created demons with filth and slaughter.


    Notorious demon races like Bagulamo, Kasmo, and Frosthorn were all present. Some gnawed on disordered corpses on the ground, others fought and killed each other, and some even arranged the remains into bizarre shapes.


    At the deepest part of the cave, atop a throne made of dark, pocked rock, sat a giant with a huge frame.


    Even sitting down, this giant was nearly ten meters tall. Although it still resembled a giant, the ebony cracked skin, murky yellow tusks, and deep eyes flickering with Chaos Flame indicated it was a corrupted, almost demonic being.


    The Corrupt Giant seemed to notice something, grinning hideously as it slowly opened its cracked mouth.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°That Red Dragon¡¯s loyal dog?¡±


    The Corrupt Giant¡¯s mouth stretched to its ears, and a fire of endless rage suddenly appeared in its eyes. Its hideous face twisted in fury.


    ¡°But ¨C who allowed you to trespass into my domain!¡±


    ¡°I am no longer who I once was!¡±


    ¡°Even that Red Dragon will eventually have its neck snapped and be torn to pieces by me!¡±


    He became agitated, even starting to roar.


    The Corrupt Giant suddenly stood up from the stone throne, causing the ground to tremble and pieces of rubble to fall from the cave ceiling.


    The surrounding demons seemed to sense prey, closing in together and uttering frenzied growls.


    Alger¡¯s expression changed drastically as he leapt onto the giant eagle¡¯s back.


    ¡°Not good, we¡¯ve been discovered!


    ¡°Quick, let¡¯s get out of here!¡±


    Fortunately, the cave was spacious enough. With the aid of dark vision, Alger maneuvered skillfully in this space, dodging one demon attack after another. He entered the long passage, flying almost close to the ground the entire time.


    ¡°Eagle!¡±


    Relying on his superb riding skills and a decade-long partnership with his mount, Alger executed sharp turns, changes in direction, and even ground rolls within the passage.


    Behind them, toad-like demons spat corrosive liquid. Without even looking back, Alger managed to dodge the lethal attack using only his instinct for danger.


    The deep darkness spread rapidly behind him.


    Once caught by the Abyssal power, escape would be nearly impossible.


    ¡°Go!¡±


    Alger gritted his teeth and commanded.


    The giant eagle folded its wings tightly and sped across the ground.


    The exit was close, just tens of meters away, a distance they could cover in an instant.


    Finally, just as the Abyssal power corroded a few of the giant eagle¡¯s tail feathers and was about to engulf its body, Alger and the giant eagle flew out of the dreadful demon lair.


    Alger looked back at the cave, which resembled a giant maw, and panted with lingering fear.


    ¡°That was close.¡±


    ¡°We must get this information back as soon as possible.¡±


    A piercing eagle¡¯s cry echoed from the sky as the giant eagle spread its wings and soared high again.


    ¡­


    Back in the ¡°Mouth of Ancytica¡± or rather the demon¡¯s lair, the Corrupt Giant reached the deepest part of the cave.


    Everywhere was filled with complex runes and a foul air. A prism, flickering with eerie light, hovered in mid-air.


    With a frenzied look, the Corrupt Giant lowered its head and whispered to the prism.


    ¡°Lord Jezarslack, will this draw the Red Dragon here?¡±


    He wasn¡¯t talking to himself.


    A deep, chaotic voice, like a tremor from the depths of the earth, emanated from the prism.


    ¡°Yes, Keman, do you feel it? As long as you continue to accept the great power from the Abyss, your revenge will ultimately succeed.¡±


    ¡°Come, embrace my gift, and achieve the transcendence of your life!¡±


    This voice was laden with undisguised contempt.


    Dazzling black and yellow light burst from the prism. The Corrupt Giant spread its arms, embracing the eerie Abyssal power like a devout zealot. He howled in pain, as black exoskeleton armor formed on his body, and demonic horns sprouted from his head.


    When that power finally dissipated, the Corrupt Giant grinned hideously, his body trembling with extreme ecstasy.


    ¡°Revenge¡­¡±


    ¡°My revenge will ultimately succeed¡­¡±


    ¡°Cassius, just wait¡­ I¡¯ll tear your body to pieces, I¡¯ll raze your kingdom to the ground, and I¡¯ll slaughter all your people!¡±


    He covered his eyes, which were overflowing with black mist, and murmured incessantly.


    The giant¡¯s name was Keman Everfrost.


    He was once a member of the Everfrost Tribe, son of ¡°Bone Breaker¡± Kasa, and the last hope in Elder Nur¡¯s eyes.


    During the ¡°Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise,¡± the young Keman was hidden in the most concealed corner, watching helplessly as his entire tribe was annihilated by the dragon¡¯s catastrophic might, while he could only shiver in the dark.


    Later, Keman used a shape-shifting ring to hide among humans, following Elder Nur¡¯s dying instructions to head south to the Ancytica Mountains to seek out the legendary Frost Giant Demon Lord Koschech, to gain formidable power and avenge the Red Dragon.


    But he didn¡¯t find the giant lord; instead, he found a mysterious entity calling itself the ¡°Vengeful Demon¡± ¨C Jezarslack.


    It seemed like a joke by the God of Fate; he mistakenly took Cassius¡¯s script from the original world.


    This last Frost Giant made a pact with the demon, lurking in the mountains, silently accumulating strength. He gradually perfected the Abyssal portal, waiting for a chance to exact his vengeance on the Red Dragon. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 264 - 189 Kemans Revenge

    Chapter 264: Chapter 189 Keman¡¯s Revenge


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is¡­ there is a demon¡¯s lair there?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s interest was piqued instantly. He used his strong limbs to support his massive body and slowly stood up. The fire flickered in his lava-like pupils.


    In his memory, the demonic invasion in the Ancytica Mountains was originally brought by ¡°Kaes.¡± But the current timeline had already deviated, and the events that should have occurred had also changed.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Alger knelt on one knee on the ground, his head lowered, and answered steadily.


    ...


    He took out a Magic Scroll from his backpack, which contained images of bizarre creatures that looked like a mix between humans and vultures.


    ¡°Master, according to the compendium given by Lord Ramp, this is undoubtedly a Frosthorn. Additionally, I also discovered Bagulamo, Berserker Demons, and even a Fallen Giant that has been demonized.¡±


    Cassius stared at the images, rubbing the bony spur on his chin with his claw, his eyes slightly narrowed.


    ¡°It seems the Fallen Giant is the anomaly.¡±


    ¡°What is the exact location of this lair?¡±


    Alger immediately took out another Magic Scroll he carried with him and respectfully presented it.


    ¡°The southwest corner of Ancytica¡­ Very good.¡±


    Cassius took just one glance and then stopped looking at it.


    The Red Dragon slightly shook his body and stretched his wide wings. The gaps in his scales emitted the glow of magma, and the Dragon Crystal in his chest began to activate.


    ¡°Tell Ramp to prepare a gigantic Dimension Door for me.¡±


    A mesmerizing Flowing Flame flickered in Cassius¡¯s pupils. He even licked his lips, a sign of his restless battle spirit for the unknown enemy.


    ¡°After sleeping for so long¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to stretch my body.¡±


    ¡°Let me see with my own eyes the strength of the abyssal demons.¡±


    After undergoing the transformation of his ancestral bloodline, Cassius had absolute confidence in his own strength. Even if a Demon Lord personally descended to the Prime Material World, he was confident he could ensure his own safety, let alone a so-called demon¡¯s lair.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Alger and the Tiefling Guards hurried to Northwind Castle to prepare for the Red Dragon¡¯s expedition.


    ¡­


    In a dark and damp cave,


    The Fallen Giant stared at the image formed on the surface of the murky liquid. He fixated on the four-horned Red Dragon that appeared in the image, whispering softly:


    ¡°He, he has become stronger.¡±


    The deep voice of the Vengeful Demon echoed from the void.


    ¡°Keman, are you afraid?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you believe in the power of The Abyss? Have you¡­ forgotten your inner hatred?¡±


    There was a slight threat hidden in the voice.


    The image of the Everfrost Tribe being annihilated resurfaced in the giant¡¯s mind.


    Keman clenched his murky yellow teeth tightly, his face twisted and ferocious. As his massive body trembled, the last Frost Giant became furious once again.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s merely a bluff, I¡¯m far stronger than him!¡±


    ¡°I am the favored of The Abyss, the chosen of the supreme Vengeful Demon Jezarslack, who transcends the fear of death¡­ that is me.¡±


    ¡°Now churn, transcend, I will bring the most utter chaos upon him!¡±


    The hideous Fallen Giant roared to the sky, abyssal fire erupting in his eyes.


    ¡°Very good, Keman, continue like this¡­¡±


    ¡°You will get everything you desire.¡±


    Jezarslack¡¯s praise echoed in the void.


    Thrilled by the demon¡¯s commendation, the giant raised his spear that emitted black mist.


    ¡°I will have my vengeance! I will destroy everything he has!¡±


    The demons in the lair became restless, letting out disordered, chaotic cheer and howl. They shrieked their hatred of all existence until it became unbearable to themselves.


    ¡­ S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A piercing shriek resonated through the sky.


    In the clear, cloudless sky, a comet-like figure streaked past, trailing a long flaming tail and leaving contrails behind.


    ¡ª¡ªThat was Cassius.


    Accompanied by the howling wind, he landed directly atop the mountain, overlooking the deep cave that resembled a giant blood-red maw, listening to the howls emanating from within.


    ¡°This must be the place¡­¡±


    ¡°The former Mouth of Ancytica, now a demon¡¯s lair.¡±


    As a dwelling place for abyssal demons, this cave was undoubtedly perilous. The Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye floating beside the Red Dragon had already foreseen many future scenes, including corruptive blood, expanding darkness, chaotic twisted limbs, and arrays drawn with viscous liquid, turning the cave into something akin to an extension of The Abyss in the Prime Material Plane.


    Although Cassius was not afraid, these things indeed posed many troubles for him.


    ¡°Since there¡¯s so much filth, let¡¯s save some time.¡±


    With this thought, Cassius coldly chuckled.


    ¡°I wonder if these abyssal demons know¡­ how to smoke a rat out of its hole.¡±


    The Red Dragon slowly opened his jaws, and the energy coursed through his dense blood vessels to the Dragon Crystal embedded in his chest, gradually converging there. The surrounding cracks emitted an intense light, and the semi-transparent crystal stone burst with unimaginable brilliance, like a miniature sun.


    The pores on his neck and tail suddenly opened, emitting brilliant tails of flame and spewing out white smoke.


    Amid the smoke, the highly concentrated energy was transported to the depths of the Red Dragon¡¯s throat. Finally, accompanied by the sound of air igniting, a scorching, pure white pillar of fire was ejected, blasting directly into the mouth of the cave.

 Chapter 265 - 189 Kemans Revenge_2

    Chapter 265: Chapter 189 Keman¡¯s Revenge_2


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    In that instant, the cave lit up as bright as day.


    The demons lurking in the darkness, ready to ambush, were instantly turned to ash by the extreme heat of the flames.


    Anything standing in the path of this breath was mercilessly destroyed.


    The pillar of fire even melted through and bored into the rock, penetrating deep within.


    The demons let out piercing wails, flying and crawling frantically throughout the cave, trying to escape the terrifying breath.


    ...


    However, this was still not the end.


    Cassius spread his wings, maintaining his breath while casting a spell through sheer will.


    In that nearly solid aura of extraordinary charisma, the Magic Web trembled violently, stirring up a raging tide of sorcery.


    [Burning Stone Haze]


    Hundreds of small, scorching volcanic rocks fell from mid-air, accompanied by a deluge of volcanic ash smoke, all pouring into the cave.


    ¡°Taste the haze of the Prime Material Plane,¡±


    Cassius said.


    Ordinary demons needed to breathe. Their lungs were incredibly strong, highly resistant to external gases, including the Abyssal death vapors that could kill most Prime Material World creatures. Similarly, demons could breathe in any natural gases in the Prime Material World.


    But the volcanic smoke of Cassius was not just a simple natural gas; it was filled with ash debris containing terrifying heat.


    The volcanic ash would turn the demons¡¯ bodies into high-temperature furnaces, even melting their shells directly.


    Dozens of Frosthorn demons flew chaotically in the smoke, colliding with each other as their visibility was obscured, eventually suffocating to death after inhaling too much ash and falling.


    Hundreds of Coward Demons struggled on the ground, even fighting amongst themselves, ultimately unable to escape their doom.


    Some of the demons, upon death, turned into a puddle of black, tar-like pus.


    Some demons shed their skin, leaving exposed muscles and internal organs.


    Some demons collapsed, their flesh decayed instantly, leaving a nauseating stench. The bones remained, but crumbled at the slightest touch.


    Some demons became semi-transparent and vanished in a burst of electrical light, leaving their images imprinted on nearby walls.


    The death of demons often brought various unnatural phenomena. As beings created by The Abyss, born from the chaotic consciousness of the Abyss, they resembled an embodiment of disaster more than a mere ¡°species.¡±


    More demons fled the cave in unison, despite their chaotic and frenzied nature, they had a sense of self-preservation.


    Those terrifying demons were now wailing as they ran from the cave, covered in ash.


    This was exactly what Cassius wanted.


    A hint of amusement flashed in the red dragon¡¯s pale gold pupils.


    ¡°It seems these ¡®rats¡¯ are being forced out.¡±


    Cassius slowly closed his mouth. Due to the extreme heat, the surrounding air had long since warped, and heavy white smoke enveloped his jaws.


    He swung his giant claws forcefully, the muscles bulging on his scaly, strong arm.


    [Scratch Technique]


    A shimmering claw-shaped magical field appeared nearby, like a void claw, slicing several demons in half. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These resilient demons wailed and groaned on the ground, black blood oozing continuously, twisted worms crawling from their remains.


    Finally, those few demons turned to ash, leaving only the writhing worms.


    If a demon was killed on another plane, its physical body would ultimately return to The Abyss¡ªunless forcibly retained by magical means.


    No matter what happened to the demon¡¯s corpse, as long as it was killed outside The Abyss, its ¡°essence¡± would return to the primordial chaos of The Abyss, then be reformed into a new demon.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°Worms from the Abyss!¡±


    Cassius roared, his massive body of nearly thirty meters directly charging into the demon horde.


    ¡°Howl!¡±


    Several strong, melee-prone Berserker Demons let out piercing howls, charging from different directions, attempting to tear through the red dragon¡¯s scales with their disproportionately large claws.


    But under the absolute difference in strength, all struggles were futile.


    The red dragon moved like a rolling mountain, mercilessly crushing the approaching Berserker Demons into black-red pulp. Those large claws didn¡¯t even touch the red dragon¡¯s scales, being incinerated by flames instead.


    Even the demons who fled at the sound were reduced to ash by the lightning and flames surrounding the red dragon, sent back to the blood pools of The Abyss.


    Several Bagulamo Demons, gorilla-like in form, took a running leap at the red dragon, attempting a pummeling attack.


    But it was like charging into a wall. Cassius didn¡¯t even feel the attack while the arcing electricity made the Bagulamo Demons tremble all over.


    Finally, they fell to the ground and were crushed by the red dragon with ease.


    In an instant, hundreds of demons were easily killed by Cassius, making him feel somewhat bored.


    ¡°Is this all?¡±


    Cassius stood on the bloodstained ground, his wings slowly unfolding, covering the trembling demons.


    Suddenly, a vague, colossal humanoid figure emerged from the smoky cave entrance¡ªthat was the Fallen Giant.


    Abyssal fire burst from his eyes, his body covered in cracks exuding a dim yellowish glow.


    ¡°Cassius, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡±


    The giant roared, raising a black spear, breaking through the smoke and leaping high.


    This leap spanned nearly a hundred meters, the gleaming spearhead aimed directly at the red dragon¡¯s skull, seemingly ready to pierce it in the next moment.


    The giant swooped down like a falling meteor.


    Yet, under the enhancement of [Agile as a Dragon], the red dragon¡¯s speed and reflexes were at their peak, not to mention he had already foreseen the danger from behind.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    Cassius merely moved his wings slightly, causing a fierce gale, his massive dragon form turning into an afterimage, soaring hundreds of meters into the sky.


    In mid-air, Keman¡¯s expression changed dramatically. His attack missed entirely, yet the momentum of his fall was unstoppable.


    Immediately, the earth shook, raising a cloud of dust.


    When the dust settled, the Fallen Giant was knelt on the ground with a ferocious expression, the black spear deeply impaled into the cracked ground, penetrating several meters deep.


    The giant slowly rose, gripping the spear, muscles bulging on his arms.


    With a slight sound, he forcibly pulled the spear from the ground¡¯s depths.


    The Fallen Giant raised the black spear high, its tip aimed once more at Cassius in the sky.


    He lifted his head, letting out a heart-wrenching, throat-tearing howl. These words had brewed in his mind countless times, awaiting this moment for a full release.


    ¡°Cassius, tremble, for I have returned!¡±


    ¡°I will never forget the hatred, for the hatred¡ªis my Spear of Revenge. I¡¯ll tell you, every night of these three years, I fantasized about meeting you again. I will tear every inch of your body, strip every scale, plunder your treasure, destroy your kingdom, and kill all your people!¡±


    ¡°The shame you brought to me, I¡¯ll repay a hundred times over!¡±


    ¡°Remember, the giant who brings you all this despair is named Keman, the avenging Child of Chaos!¡±


    The Fallen Giant roared, venting his long-suppressed emotions recklessly, his massive, corrupt body trembling, muddy eyes burning with demonic fury.


    Yet the red dragon in the sky did not react as he had imagined with rage.


    On the contrary, Cassius calmly and slowly flapped his wings, pondering, trying to remember the identity of this giant.


    After thinking it through, he still couldn¡¯t recall how he had offended this demon giant or where this nemesis had come from.


    Thus, Cassius asked in an odd tone,


    ¡°So¡­who are you?¡±


    Compared to insults, ignoring was the greatest affront.


    Instantly, Keman felt a surge of corrupt blood rise to his throat, his fury nearly palpable.


    The enemy he had obsessed over day and night, didn¡¯t even know he existed as an avenger, and didn¡¯t care about his revenge at all!

 Chapter 266 - 190: Crush

    Chapter 266: Chapter 190: Crush


    Staring up at the giant dragon suspended in the sky, locking eyes with those contemptuous golden pupils, an irrepressible fury surged in Keman¡¯s heart.


    ¡°How dare you disregard me!¡±


    ¡°I am Keman, son of Kasa Everfrost, the last heir of the Everfrost Tribe, an avenger from the Abyss, and the giant who will bury you!¡±


    The Fallen Giant¡¯s eyes widened in rage as he roared towards the heavens.


    More and more cracks appeared on his massive and twisted body, leaking the dark yellow glow of the Abyss.


    ¡°Abyssal Fury!¡±


    ...


    With a roar that echoed through the clouds, Keman hurled the black spear with all his might, and the endless Abyssal Turbulence surged upward, straight toward the red dragon suspended in the sky.


    The turbulence contained surging chaotic energy, and the anguished wails of countless vengeful spirits, with struggling limbs faintly visible amidst the black mist.


    Cassius sneered coldly.


    ¡°So, a remnant of the Frost Giants.¡±


    ¡°It seems I didn¡¯t clean up thoroughly back then, failing to root out every last one.¡±


    As he spoke, Cassius had already spread his wings, turning with unimaginable speed as he darted through the high skies.


    Yet the black spear followed closely, tracing a graceful arc in the air, turning to barely keep up with the red dragon¡¯s flight.


    ¡°Oh, it even has seeking capabilities?¡±


    Somewhat surprised, Cassius tightened his wings slightly, increasing the distance between them by a hundred meters.


    On the ground, Keman exerted all his strength, his face contorted as he continuously channeled Abyssal Energy into the black spear.


    The Fallen Giant kept a relentless gaze on the red dragon streaking across the sky, and seeing the black shadow in hot pursuit, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh maniacally.


    ¡°Cassius! You wretched, fleeing worm!¡±


    ¡°The Spear of Revenge will pursue you until it pierces through your heart!¡±


    The demon¡¯s guttural voice echoed in Keman¡¯s mind, spurring him on even more.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it, come forth, drink from the breast of the Abyssal Mother, and pin your foe to the ground.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius did not reply; he merely slowed down, allowing the black spear to gradually catch up.


    Just as the spear, charged with Abyssal Energy, neared its target, Cassius suddenly expelled scattered flames, casting a spell with his will.


    [Braving the Fiery Pits]


    In the next moment, that massive body transformed into a vast sea of flames, forming a constantly burning curtain in the high sky.


    The black spear, engulfed with the power of the Abyss, shot through but found nothing but emptiness, its terrifying speed generating powerful inertia, causing it to continue forward, only gradually slowing down.


    As the spear nearly turned back, its speed significantly reduced, the flames behind it coalesced into a solid form once more, and the red dragon reappeared in the sky.


    Cassius used Force Field Magic to probe the Abyssal Turbulence, discovering that the space through which the turbulence passed turned chaotic and unpredictable, as if sinking into a deep layer of chaos.


    ¡°An interesting toy.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ the experiment ends here.¡±


    Cassius grinned viciously as he lightly pointed forward with a claw, a thin Antimagic Ray appearing suddenly.


    The instant the nondescript ray touched the black spear, the ancient runes covering the spear dimmed, and the Abyssal Turbulence surrounding it dissipated.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    With a crisp sound, the spear¡¯s surface was riddled with cracks, before shattering completely into scattered fragments.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    An anguished wail erupted from Keman on the ground.


    That ¡°Spear of Revenge¡± had been crafted over three years of continuous infusion of his vengeful emotions and endless Abyssal Energy, capable of locking onto his enemy¡¯s heart.


    Yet a single Eighth Tier Spell of Dispel Magic had obliterated the painstakingly forged spear in an instant.


    ¡°If this is all you rely on, then how dull.¡±


    Cassius extended his claws, effortlessly tearing the space like ripping paper, creating a flaming spatial rift in the air.


    ¡°Screech¡­¡±


    With a crisp sound, sharp claw tips appeared behind the Fallen Giant.


    The red dragon tore open the fragile space, revealing a hideous four-horned dragon head from the rift, followed by its long, thick neck, and finally its strong torso and broad dragon wings.


    Supporting his body with his powerful hind legs, Cassius rose upright, spreading his wings to cast an immense shadow, almost engulfing the giant beneath.


    Keman spun around abruptly, forced to tilt his head back.


    Before the nearly thirty-meter-long giant dragon, even the ten-meter-tall Keman, surpassing the limits of his Frost Giant Race, appeared as diminutive as a dwarf.


    Cassius grinned, revealing a grotesque smile.


    ¡°Got you.¡±


    The next instant, the red dragon crushed down with its massive body, like a scarlet mountain, pinning the Fallen Giant to the ground, his bulging, scale-covered muscular arms tightening, and his terrifying sharp claws firmly pressing down.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a thunderous crash, the ground cracked like a spiderweb, and the giant¡¯s body was crushed, half of his form sinking into the earth, spraying out black-red blood and unidentifiable internal organs from his mouth.


    This was the power of the sleeping red dragon, transcending mortal boundaries.


    ¡°You¡¯re not even close to your father.¡±


    ¡°At least he provided some decent challenge, but you¡ªyou¡¯re just an abomination force-fed by the Abyss. If your backer were the Frost Giant¡¯s furious monarch Koschech, I might have given you more attention.¡±


    Cassius mercilessly crushed the Fallen Giant, relishing in the sensation of flesh and bones shattering under his claws. He then slightly opened his jaws, with intense heat surging from his throat.


    ¡°So, farewell¡ªthe so-called Avenger.¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Revenge, I need more power¡­¡±


    Concurrently, the Fallen Giant howled, stretching a trembling arm towards the sky with his last bit of strength.


    ¡°Lord Jezarslak, I beg you¡­¡±


    Thick blood and chunks of flesh surged from his mouth, but he continued his plea unceasingly.


    ¡°This is the last time, and I will collect the payment.¡±


    The demon¡¯s cold response finally echoed from the void.


    As Cassius spewed forth scorching white flames, the Fallen Giant turned semi-transparent, with spatial vortices rapidly forming around him, until he vanished amidst a burst of electric sparks, leaving his fierce shadow imprinted on the nearby walls.


    Moments later, the gathered Abyssal Energy coalesced, and the giant¡¯s body reappeared at a distance.


    Cassius¡¯s breath hit nothing, merely scorching the ground and leaving several feet deep charred craters.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Now, this is interesting.¡±


    The red dragon slowly shut his smoke-wreathed mouth, a hint of surprise flashing in his pale golden eyes.

 Chapter 267 - 191 Barlow Flame Demons Body Incineration Explosion

    Chapter 267: Chapter 191 Barlow Flame Demon¡¯s Body Incineration Explosion


    ¡°Hahahaha! Red Dragon, I felt it. The Abyss is watching me. My revenge is about to succeed!¡±


    ¡°Ascend, transcend!¡±


    The Fallen Giant laughed wildly, though his appearance was quite miserable at the moment.


    His body trembled, blinding yellow light exploded from his eyes and ears. The cracks in his skin grew larger, revealing the eerie light from the Abyss and spreading out billowing black mist.


    A chaotic and magnificent power destroyed his body and then reshaped it.


    Finally, shrouded in black mist, the giant tore open his original skin and flesh, removed his complex internal organs, completely abandoned his former identity as a Frost Giant, and transformed himself into nourishment for the Abyss, then reconstructed a new body with the most chaotic Abyssal energy¡ª a demon.


    ...


    It was a pure demon.


    The giant, or rather the demon, unfolded meat wings from his back, sprouting horns on his head.


    His body surface was a bright red, like exposed flesh.


    He gently waved his arm, drawing a giant whip burning with chaotic flames from the void with his right hand, and from the chaos, took a storm longsword crackling with lightning with his left hand.


    ¡°Cassius, I will kill you.¡±


    The demon sneered, speaking word by word.


    His face showed endless hatred and fury.


    Just like the famous ¡°Ship of Theseus¡± paradox, after replacing all his body parts with Abyssal material, the former Keman might have completely vanished. The current existence was just a newly reborn demon with Keman¡¯s memories.


    The [Newborn Barlow Flame Demon ¨C Keman]


    Challenge Level: 18 (20000xp)


    Cassius watched the newly reborn demon in front of him.


    ¡°Barlow Flame Demon?¡±


    The Barlow Flame Demon was one of the most powerful demons in the Abyss, second only to those bizarre lords. They, as ancient and terrifying evil representatives, commanded the demon armies, being the pinnacle that every demon underling aspired to reach.


    The energy within the body of the Barlow Flame Demon in front of him was extremely unstable, like a bomb ready to explode at any moment, possibly a temporary form created by sacrificing life¡ª not as strong as a true Barlow Flame Demon in the Abyss.


    But even so, for Keman to be granted the temporary power of a Barlow Flame Demon by the existence behind him, it was no simple matter.


    It may even have been the act of a Demon Lord.


    This also made Cassius more cautious. The newly born Barlow Flame Demon didn¡¯t concern him much, but the Demon Lord manipulating everything behind the scenes, that ¡°Vengeful Demon,¡± was a mysterious and extremely dangerous existence to him.


    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡±


    ¡°Red Dragon, are you afraid?¡±


    The Barlow Flame Demon let out a roar, whipping out the flame whip, trying to wrap it around the neck of the Red Dragon.


    Under normal circumstances, once the flame whip hit its target, he could rely on his immense physical strength to pull the opponent toward his fiery body and attack at will.


    Unfortunately, he was not facing an ordinary person.


    Cassius easily grasped the flame whip, a curious expression on his face.


    ¡°Has the Abyssal Turbulence scrambled your brain?


    ¡°You actually dared to compete with a Red Dragon¡ª in flames and strength?¡±


    The Barlow Flame Demon gripped the whip tightly, trying to pull it out, but he exerted all his might, and the flame whip did not budge an inch.


    The other end remained firmly in the giant claw of the Red Dragon.


    The extremely dangerous blazing flame to ordinary people was nothing to Cassius. It wasn¡¯t even as strong as the aftermath of his sleep.


    ¡°Ridiculous tactics.¡±


    In contrast, Cassius suddenly exerted force.


    The Barlow Flame Demon, caught off guard, was forcibly dragged before the Red Dragon under that terrifying power.


    ¡°Cassius, you¡¯re courting death!¡±


    The Barlow Flame Demon roared in fury, swinging his storm longsword encased in lightning towards the neck of the Red Dragon.


    However, the Red Dragon¡¯s surface was covered with denser arcs of electricity, the lightning from the storm longsword was directly absorbed by his [Remnant of the Storm] body, instead summoning even stronger thunder.


    Suddenly, thunderbolts fell from the clear sky.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Barlow Flame Demon trembled, his body scorched.


    Cassius tightened his grip on the flame whip, violently throwing the Barlow Flame Demon into the air, then smashing him fiercely to the ground.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Is this what you call revenge?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. The Barlow Flame Demon before him commanded flames and lightning, abilities very similar to his own, but each one was weaker by far¡ª it was like a natural punching bag specifically crafted for him.


    Though speaking, Cassius¡¯s actions didn¡¯t stop for a moment.


    The Red Dragon¡¯s muscles tensed, repeatedly smashing the Barlow Flame Demon to the ground, even creating several humanoid pits in the earth.


    ¡°Enough!¡±


    The Barlow Flame Demon finally unwrapped the whip from his hand, freeing himself from the unending smashing.


    He struggled to get up from the ground, his eyes filled with uncontrollable anger.


    This was utter humiliation!


    His nemesis, that Red Dragon, was treating him like a plaything! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As one of the top demons in the Abyss, the Barlow Flame Demon had more than these abilities.


    Keman instinctively wanted to use Blasphemy, but considering the probability that the Red Dragon in front of him was a Chaotic Evil being, he gritted his teeth and refrained. He didn¡¯t want to be easily manipulated by the opponent again.


    ¡°I will bestow upon you the madness of the Abyss!¡±


    Thus, in the Barlow Flame Demon¡¯s eyes, the frenzied light of the Abyss burst forth, and he used his innate spell ability.


    [Soul Capture Technique]


    This spell contained the frenzied spirit of the Abyss. Those hit by it would have their perception halved, and there was a high probability they would fall into complete madness. It was a spell the Barlow Flame Demon used against overwhelmingly strong enemies.


    However, before he could release his innate spell ability, a flicker of illusion technique shone in Cassius¡¯s eyes first.


    [Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion]


    Instantly, a terrifying five-colored, five-headed giant dragon appeared before the Barlow Flame Demon, with earth-shaking roars and torrents of fire, frost, acid, and lightning pouring from its heads.


    ¡°No, this is impossible.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t summon a real deity!¡±


    The Barlow Flame Demon gritted his teeth. Although he saw through the illusion, those terrifying breaths had already materialized in his mind, creating various wounds on his twisted, massive body.


    When the illusion dissipated¡ª


    Cassius already stood in front of the Barlow Flame Demon.


    The dragon crystal on his chest shone with a dazzling light, white smoke hissed from his vent holes, and scorching, white-hot fire spat from his mouth.


    Yet this wasn¡¯t the end. The Red Dragon¡¯s jaw opened wider, flames sprouting two rows of blazing tails from his neck and tail, and the dragon crystal on his chest filled with the light of the flames, the white-hot pillar of fire extending further, with a faint blue hue at its outermost edge.


    It was Extremely Effective Flame Breath!


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    In just a few breaths, the pillar of fire pierced through the Barlow Flame Demon¡¯s chest, evaporating his beating wicked heart.


    Despite sharing a strong flame resistance, the Red Dragon¡¯s extremely effective breath had far exceeded what he could withstand.


    The Barlow Flame Demon gazed at the Red Dragon unwillingly, his eyes filled with hatred.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be this way.¡±


    His body shook violently, raising his arm slightly, trying to use the last of his life force to entangle his enemy, but his life was like a flickering candle, his body nearly spent.


    Cassius simply stepped back a few agile steps, then performed the Dragon¡¯s Spell [Egg of Sanctuary], creating a dragon egg-shaped other-dimensional space, disappearing from the Prime Material Plane in a flash of spell radiance.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°My revenge isn¡¯t over, come back!¡±


    The Barlow Flame Demon let out a heart-wrenching roar, his eyes filled with despair.


    The light from his mouth, nose, and eyes became extremely bright, flashing continuously until his entire body was covered, transforming his massive, hideous form into a ticking time bomb.


    The next moment, the death of the Barlow Flame Demon triggered an extremely terrifying explosion.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a deafening roar, the scorching heat annihilated everything around, regardless of demons, rocks, trees, or anything else, turning them to ash in this cataclysmic explosion. Half of the hillside was leveled, with Abyssal Fire blazing on the white ground.


    The powerful air currents spread for miles, causing the Ancytica Mountains to tremble and quiver.


    This was [Body Incineration Explosion], the grandest spectacle caused by the death of a Barlow Flame Demon, the most spectacular fireworks ignited by the life of a Great Demon.


    However, the grand fireworks lacked their most crucial audience. The target of revenge had the foresight to retreat early to an other-dimensional space that the explosion couldn¡¯t reach.

 Chapter 268 - 192: Promotion and Call

    Chapter 268: Chapter 192: Promotion and Call


    With the violent spatial fluctuations, a massive, phantom-like red figure appeared on the spot, gradually solidifying into the Red Dragon.


    Cassius surveyed the surroundings, which had turned white and were burning with the abyssal fire.


    ¡°Body Incineration Explosion¡­¡±


    ¡°The power is considerable.¡±


    Although this battle had been relatively easy for him, part of it was due to his abilities countering the opponent.


    If the Red Dragon had not personally intervened, this Barlow Flame Demon could have single-handedly destroyed half of the Ashen Kingdom. At present, even the higher-ups of the kingdom could not withstand this demon. Even Ramp could only barely hold on, highlighting the potent power from the Abyss.


    ...


    And when the Abyss sent out its true elite forces to restrain him, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s military would face a painful price even for a hard-won victory against the Abyssal Demon Legion.


    Thankfully, he had destroyed Keman¡¯s demon nest developed over several years in one fell swoop this time. The legion of thousands of demons had also perished, so at least within the short time the Abyssal Portal remained closed, they would find it difficult to amass such formidable power.


    Cassius looked at his panel again, refreshed with numerous new messages.


    [You killed the[Bagulamo], gained 1800xp] S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [You killed the[Frosthorn], gained 2300xp]


    [You killed the[Seducing Demon], gained 5000xp]


    [You killed the[Berserker Demon]¡­]


    ¡­


    [You killed the[Newly Born Barlow Flame Demon ¨C Keman (Challenge Level: 18)], gained 20000xp]


    ¡°Three years have passed, and I¡¯ve finally accumulated enough experience to level up.¡±


    Cassius sighed.


    As a special template, besides absorbing energy from killing enemies, he could also gradually accumulate that peculiar energy during his slumber. After three years of continuous accumulation and the victory over the demon legion, he could finally step onto a new tier.


    [You chose to upgrade[True Dragon Sorcerer]to level 13]


    [Due to dragonkin¡¯s innate spellcasting, your current spellcaster level is: 18]


    But level 13 was more like a transition phase for professionals, with no qualitative change, merely some additional spells. Cassius could only pray to the God of Fate for good spells from the inheritance.


    Fortunately, his luck was generally pretty good.


    [You acquired additional Dragon¡¯s Spells[Labyrinth of Thoughts][Treasure Ward]]


    Labyrinth of Thoughts (mind of the labyrinth)


    Eighth Tier Enchantment Spell [Mind-Affecting]


    Duration: Until expended


    Your eyes squinted into slits while the foul-smelling black energy floated above your head, absorbing light and scattered thoughts of others.


    You twisted your mind into a magical labyrinth, confusing unsuspecting spellcasters. If an enemy cast a mind-affecting spell or ability on you, your mind¡¯s labyrinthine structure would bewilder them.


    ¡°Labyrinth of Thoughts¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯s expression held a hint of surprise.


    He had always lacked control-type spells, often relying on[Tiamat¡¯s Terrifying Illusion]to restrain enemies during battles.


    But this was not without cost. Although this power did not come from Tiamat¡¯s blessing, the more he used this deity-related spell, the stronger the invisible bond with Tiamat became. Eventually, it might even forcibly tie him to the Five-Colored Dragon Queen¡¯s chariot, something Cassius absolutely did not want.


    Now, receiving the dragonkin¡¯s mind spell from the inheritance, and even at the eighth tier, he could say it filled a significant gap, allowing him to be more composed during battle.


    Treasure Ward (treasure ward)


    Fourth-Tier Protection System


    This spell acted on a pile of contiguous treasure. If any item was taken from the pile, the carrier would feel nauseous and vomit unless physically resilient enough to resist.


    The afflicted creature must abandon the taken item, or the effect would intensify and prevent them from moving. Note: Every 10 gold coins¡¯ worth of treasure is considered one ¡°item.¡±


    ¡°Chicken ribs, tasteless to eat, a pity to discard.¡±


    ¡°But better than nothing.¡±


    That was Cassius¡¯s assessment of[Treasure Ward].


    This spell clearly showcased the dragonkin¡¯s greed and stinginess, even designing a spell specifically to protect their treasure.


    However, to Cassius, this was more like the neurotic product of a dragon¡¯s over-worry for their hoard¡ªafter all, any being capable of stealing his treasure would unlikely be affected by this spell, while weaker beings would be captured by vigilant wyverns or Tiefling Guards before even seeing his vault.


    It might be effective against those frail, stealth-specialized thieves.


    The vast flow of information containing the two spells surged into Cassius¡¯s mind, but he was already well accustomed to this sensation.


    With a spellcaster level as high as 18, he could easily comprehend everything about the eighth-tier spells, given that his capacity to interface with the Magic Web had long reached the ninth layer.


    Cassius finally opened his eyes, refocusing his attention, observing the surroundings once more.


    Not much remained of the demons¡¯ bodies. After their death, their chaotic essence returned to the Abyss, and their essence would transform into new demons.


    And the former demon nest had turned into scorched earth under the Body Incineration Explosion of the dying Barlow Flame Demon. The terrifying blast had obliterated most of the mountain, the cavern¡¯s interior filled with burning abyssal fire, and the path leading to the cave¡¯s depths was blocked by collapsed rocks.


    ¡°So where did Keman¡¯s power come from?¡±


    Cassius gazed at the abandoned cave, squinting his eyes slightly, his pale-golden pupils reflecting puzzlement.


    ¡°He was just a juvenile Frost Giant, absolutely impossible to grow to such an extent within three years on his own.¡±


    ¡°And the former Cassius, as a young dragon without the mother dragon¡¯s protection, could not have grown into the ¡®Mountain¡¯s Wrathful Flame,¡¯ which made the North tremble in just a mere decade, which is just a blink for a dragon.¡±


    ¡°Behind them, there was likely an Abyssal Lord.¡±


    Cassius thought.


    He slightly opened his jaws, spewing fiery breath, the flames easily melting and piercing through the piled rocks, revealing the dark, deep tunnel again.


    Suddenly, the Red Dragon¡¯s fringed ears twitched, and the bony protrusions on his forehead furrowed slightly.


    He seemed to hear a certain¡­


    Calling.


    Yes, a calling.


    Not through material means, but from a higher spiritual dimension, influencing and connecting his consciousness, causing Cassius to be on high alert, subconsciously erecting his mind fortress.


    But the deep voice still penetrated the void, pervasive as ever.


    ¡°Come¡­¡±


    ¡°You will come here, embracing the Abyss.¡±

 Chapter 269 - 193: Stellar Prism

    Chapter 269: Chapter 193: Stellar Prism


    Ever since awakening from his slumber, Cassius hadn¡¯t felt this kind of threat for a long time. Even the newly born Barlow Flame Demon was just a minor nuisance in his eyes.


    And now, this call from the void made him feel a tremendous threat.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to uncover the truth behind all of this.¡±


    After pondering for a moment, Cassius thought to himself.


    If the other party truly had the ability to eliminate him, they could have taken action during the recent battle. There was no need to lure him here.


    Given the current strength of the Red Dragon, the only beings capable of preventing his escape were those Pseudogod-powered Demon Lords from the abyss. However, these beings were rejected by the Material World and could barely appear in the Prime Material Plane in their true forms.


    ...


    That entity behind the scenes definitely had some interest in the Red Dragon. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have trained him into a world boss in his previous life. He might be able to use this to his advantage, staging a ploy to seize the strength destined for ¡°Cassius¡± from the hands of that hidden entity.


    Thinking of this, Cassius folded his wings tightly against his body and cautiously entered the passage ahead.


    This place might still be spacious for many demons and fallen giants, but for Cassius, it was somewhat too narrow. Yet, it was the only path leading to the depths of the lair.


    Fortunately, his Dark Vision allowed him to see everything clearly. His pale golden pupils shimmered faintly in the dark.


    Eventually, he reached the deepest part of the cave.


    The cave was filled with filthy black and red bloodstains, writhing worms, and corrosive acid.


    But this wasn¡¯t all there was.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Surprisingly, a rare look of wonder appeared in the Red Dragon¡¯s eyes.


    A twenty-sided prism floated in the center of the cave. Each facet was inscribed with chaotic runes, emitting countless rays of dark yellow ghostly light.


    Black Chaos Mist surrounded it. Tiny particles moved erratically, emitting sharp, ear-piercing screeches, almost like a miniature abyss.


    ¡°Stellar Prism.¡±


    Cassius whispered the name.


    In his eyes, this twenty-sided prism was a portal to the star realm, though it was temporarily tainted by the demon¡¯s power.


    Star realm.


    A familiar name.


    A purely spiritual world, the silver void between all true planes.


    This place was endless and infinitely mysterious, yet extremely dangerous. The warships of the ¡°Stellar Pirates,¡± the Githyanki, often drifted along the silver streams, launching raids on various planes, but they were only a tiny part of the star realm.


    There were far larger and uglier things within¡ªStellar Behemoths, Stellar Whales, and floating islands formed from the corpses of dead Ancient Gods.


    Even the powerful and mysterious traveling mages considered this plane a transit point to be departed from swiftly.


    They often skipped the exploration step, preferring to use magical devices to accomplish this task. The most direct methods were through star conduits or color pools, which could propel a person from the Prime Material Plane directly to any of the Outer Planes.


    ¡°The star realm¡­¡±


    If not necessary, Cassius had no intention of entering the star realm at this stage. His current strength allowed him to gain a foothold there but not enough to cope with unknown threats.


    ¡°Come, this is your inevitable destiny¡­¡±


    ¡°Do not fear, do not hesitate, embrace it all¡­¡±


    The call from the Stellar Prism came again, this time stronger and almost tidal, relentlessly washing over the Red Dragon¡¯s mind.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t let this voice influence me.¡±


    The Red Dragon shook his head, his pupils flickering.


    Even greedy for strength, he couldn¡¯t afford to act recklessly.


    After a moment of contemplation, he summoned the [Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye], breathing a fierce fire to create a dragon-shaped incarnation out of flames.


    The mighty will of the Dragon Sorcerer twisted reality.


    The phantom Dragon¡¯s Eye was set in the incarnation¡¯s eyes, becoming its way of perceiving the external world, and a conduit for the Red Dragon to control these spell flames.


    ¡°Open.¡±


    With just a slight exertion of his will, the runes on each of the prism¡¯s facets emitted starlight, and the Stellar Gate slowly opened before him.


    Under his control, the fire elemental incarnation roared with a scorching hot wind then proceeded straight into the pathway.


    Through the [Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye], Cassius saw a rainbow-like tunnel of flowing light beyond the gate. It traversed an indiscernibly long distance, with the surroundings becoming increasingly blurry, until finally, it passed through the ultimate portal arriving in this deep void ¨C the star realm.


    ¡°So, this is the star realm¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯s flame incarnation stood on a pitch-black rock, murmuring to itself.


    In his previous life, he had been only a mercenary wandering the Material Plane, unaccustomed to interdimensional high-level missions. Only now did he witness such a magnificent sight.


    ¨CAll around was boundless void, silver currents flowing in the darkness, dotted with countless twinkling stars, which were not just sources of light but possibly portals to other planes or projections of some outer spaces.


    Huge floating islands drifted in the void, possibly the corpses of Stellar Behemoths or even remnants of forgotten Ancient Gods¡ªtheir origins lost in the dust of history, unknown.


    The familiar voice came once again, this time unmistakably clear. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°The flames of vengeance burn brightly¡­¡±


    ¡°Embrace the abyss¡­¡±


    ¡°Come¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯s incarnation floated in the direction of the voice.


    Weaving between one floating island and another, he finally found the source of the voice.


    On a floating island nearly ten thousand meters in diameter, a three-meter-tall humanoid creature was bound there. Its spread wings, formidable horns, and exposed red skin unmistakably indicated its identity¡ªa Barlow Flame Demon from the abyss.


    This demon had three pairs of wings on its back, but they were asymmetrical. Its twisted body was wrapped in heavy chains, its hands and feet nailed to the rocks, and a profusion of intricate and arcane magic runes surrounded them.


    The entire floating island seemed like a massive prison, designed solely to imprison the demon. Surrounding the floating island were floating rock fragments and kilometers-long cracks, evidence of a fierce battle.


    The demon before him wasn¡¯t as colossal as typical Flame Demons, looking almost emaciated, yet it constantly exuded an overwhelming sense of danger. Should the seal loosen even slightly, nearly tangible Chaos Abyssal Mist would leak out.


    The demon was suspended in mid-air with its head drooped.


    Suddenly, as if sensing Cassius¡¯s arrival, the Barlow Flame Demon lifted its head, its deep eyes burning with the fires of vengeance, and a sinister smile appeared at the corner of its mouth.


    ¡°The trajectory of destiny may vary, but its endpoint was already anchored, unchangeable.¡±


    ¡°This is both the decree of the world¡¯s rules and the ultimate choice of the Will of the Abyss.¡±


    ¡°Cassius, my perfect and destined contractor, you have finally arrived.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I am the Avenging Monarch¡ªJezarslack, an ancient Barlow Flame Demon, a former Abyssal Lord, and your future collaborator.¡±

 Chapter 270 - 194 Asadron

    Chapter 270: Chapter 194 Asadron


    ¡°Collaboration?¡±


    ¡°With a demon from the Abyss? Do you really think I am one of those Red Dragons with magma for brains?¡±


    Controlling the Incarnation of Flame, Cassius let out a cold laugh. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Be it a deity or a demon, they are merely part of the world¡¯s operating rules. I see no issue with that.¡±


    Jezarslack merely gazed at the incarnation, speaking as if reciting poetry: ¡°There is something I¡¯ve wanted to say to you for ten years.¡±


    The demon slightly lifted his head, the flames of vengeance in his eyes growing stronger.


    ...


    ¡°Cassius, your mother was killed by a half-elf, half-human bastard, and even you fled in disgrace. This is a total insult to the noble dignity of the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want revenge against them?¡±


    The voice was like a black hole, drawing others¡¯ thoughts into the Abyss.


    But Cassius only slightly spread his wings, speaking calmly: ¡°Do you think I lack that ability now?


    ¡°Revenge against humans? Hundreds of thousands are subjugated under my Dragon¡¯s Might, and millions across Anzeta tremble under my wings.¡±


    ¡°Whether I seek revenge or not is solely determined by me, not by a demon from the star realm, barely able to save itself.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0


    Jezarslack shook his head slightly, scoffing: ¡°Such harsh words, it hurts my feelings.¡±


    ¡°So it is, the trajectory of fate has changed. I wonder who intervened. You likely aren¡¯t the same you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, such a pity. I exhausted my efforts peering into the fate of the Prime Material World and painstakingly rehearsed my lines hundreds of times, only to end up useless.¡±


    Cassius watched that emaciated, hideous face closely, noticing the indifference.


    ¡°If bringing me here was only for this purpose, then the negotiation is over. Your illusory revenge is useless to me.¡±


    ¡°As for collaborating with you? That distorted Frost Giant must be the ultimate result of a demon collaborator, turned to ash, offering everything to the Abyss.¡±


    The demon met his gaze without concern.


    ¡°You mean Keman?¡±


    ¡°He was just a lowly expendable.¡±


    His voice was disdainful, describing it as if it were an ant to be crushed.


    ¡°And I am not one of those despicable devils who enjoy manipulating the fine print of contracts.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t that Frost Giant get what he wanted? In three short years, he gained strength comparable to a Barlow Flame Demon, enabling him to directly confront an enemy he could never have defeated. That in itself was a great honor. And all he sacrificed was a trivial bit of life.¡±


    ¡°To me, his only purpose was to bring you to the star realm.¡±


    The demon paused, excitement evident in his expression.


    ¡°But you are different, my perfect collaborator. You are the destined contractor, together we can become the new kings, creators of a new world.¡±


    Jezarslack¡¯s tone was incredibly fervent, seemingly sincere. Even Cassius could not discern any flaw in his emotions.


    Cassius¡¯s pupils flickered, his tone sarcastic.


    ¡°Worthy of the so-called ¡®Avenging Monarch,¡¯ speaking so grandly while treating contractors as pawns.¡±


    ¡°If I were to collaborate with you, what would I gain? Would I become as foolish as a Barlow Flame Demon?¡±


    Jezarslack did not care about the Red Dragon¡¯s mockery. Instead, he appeared exhilarated, a mysterious smile on his face.


    ¡°Of course not, my dear collaborator.¡±


    ¡°Have you heard of Asadron?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s expression froze, though he did not show it outwardly.


    In his past life, he had heard rumors about this name, supposedly a fearsome Red Dragon of unknown challenge level, called the ¡°Blasphemous Heart.¡± He lived in a mysterious area in the Sea of Stars known as the Infant Spirit Bastion, even worshiped by many cults as a deity.


    In his past life¡¯s 4.0 version, more than a dozen top players who broke the Level Twenty barrier accepted a mission together to that bastion but met with complete annihilation, creating a sensation on the forums.


    But the demon¡¯s deep eyes seemed to pierce through the Incarnation of Flame, seeing the Red Dragon¡¯s true form in the Prime Material World, noticing his abnormal expression.


    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve heard of him.¡±


    Jezarslack let out a low laugh.


    The heavy chains wrapped around the demon made a clinking noise, as he slowly lifted his emaciated arm, drawing the countless chaos fogs in the distance together, forming a massive curtain in the void.


    Cassius immediately grew vigilant, ready to sever his connection with the Incarnation of Flame at any moment.


    But the demon saw through him again, laughing:


    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, it¡¯s just a small demonstration.¡±


    Cassius immediately calmed down, building up mental barriers¡ªif this continued, he would be led by the nose by this cunning demon, eventually falling into the Abyss unknowingly.


    Controlling the Incarnation of Flame, he turned and looked at the chaos smoke screen in the sky.


    The chaos fog roiled, creating a bizarre tableau.


    The figure on it appeared roughly like an ancient Red Dragon at its peak, but with some conspicuous peculiar features.


    The Red Dragon had a demon-like face, a horrible scar on its chest shaped like a large winged humanoid¡ªa Barlow Flame Demon. Its eyes glowed like two burning flames, and tiny lights flickered between its claws and fangs.


    ¡°What a marvelous artwork, this is Asadron, a Red Dragon with limitless power and self-importance. When fatally struck, he summoned a Barlow Flame Demon, binding it to his chest as a second heart, thus obtaining near-immortal power.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I knew that poor demon, Soul Eater Emmet. He was powerful. I had considered consuming him but never thought he¡¯d end up screaming in Asadron¡¯s chest.¡±


    The demon explained excitedly and eagerly.


    ¡°Indeed, very powerful.¡±


    Cassius looked up at the terrifying demon Red Dragon, agreeing thoughtfully, but he was not enticed by its immense power.


    Instead, a strange thought arose in his mind: If this ¡°Vengeful Demon¡± in front of him were embedded in his chest, would he still be the one controlling this body?


    Or would it be akin to the famous ¡°Ship of Theseus¡± paradox, with his body infected by the Abyss and its parts replaced by chaotic energy, would the new demon creature still be him?


    Keman had already returned to the Abyss.


    Maybe the original Cassius in this world was long dead too.


    Dead in the deceitful words of this ¡°Avenging Monarch¡± Jezarslack.


    Believing he was avenging his mother, he had his mind twisted by the will of the Abyss, becoming part of the boundless chaos, sacrificing everything for the expansion of the Abyss.


    Seizing the moment while the demon was immersed in the vision, Cassius quietly opened the panel to spy on his information, the ¡°Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye¡± gleaming faintly.


    [Avenging Monarch ¨C Jezarslack]


    Status: Sealed


    Challenge Level: ???


    Suddenly, Cassius¡¯s pupils dilated.

 Chapter 271 - 195 Jezarslack

    Chapter 271: Chapter 195 Jezarslack


    ¡°`html


    Suddenly, Jezarslack turned his head, staring intently at the incarnation of the Red Dragon. His deep eyes exuded an endless coldness.


    ¡°What¡­ are you looking at?¡±


    The roaring wind howled in the void, chaotic fog spilled like rapids, and behind his thin body appeared a vast, twisted winged shadow.


    ¡°Destruction!¡±


    ¡°Chaos!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Revenge!¡±


    The resonating roars echoed from the void.


    That gaze seemed to pierce through the incarnation, traversing the passage between the Prime Material World and the star realm, making Cassius feel a coldness as if he had fallen into an ice cave¡ªtearing apart the veil of deceit, this was the true strength of a once demon lord. Even the simplest look was enough to drive mortals mad.


    Cassius fortified his mental barriers and said through gritted teeth, ¡°Just observing your strength, to see if you are worthy of cooperation with me.¡±


    The chaotic energy swirling around instantly dissipated, and the demon put on a gentle and refined appearance again, as if everything earlier was just Cassius¡¯s illusion.


    ¡°My dear collaborator, I am more than willing to share everything with you, but that will have to wait until after we sign the contract. It¡¯s rather impolite to peer into others without permission, even in the Abyss, it¡¯s a disgraceful act. I believe your beings from the Prime Material World wouldn¡¯t be so rude.¡±


    ¡°I can see you have many secrets hidden behind you as well¡­¡±


    ¡°But we have plenty of time in the future; we can exchange those secrets. It¡¯s the solid foundation of our cooperation, is it not?¡±


    Suspended in the air, Jezarslack nodded slightly, seemingly apologizing for his earlier rudeness, or perhaps challenging the Red Dragon before him.


    Far away in the Prime Material World, Cassius¡¯s body was slightly bristled, with white smoke continuously emitting from the pores in his scales.


    He had not felt such pressure in a long time.


    This ¡°Lord of Vengeance¡± and his unpredictable moods made it hard for Cassius to cope. Demons were such creatures; they might toast you one moment and murder your whole family the next for something trivial like ¡°not eating beef.¡±


    And the demon in front was warning him, warning him not to use that mysterious power behind him to spy on him.


    At the same time, he was subtly using this imposing manner to make Cassius unconsciously submit, thus taking control of the negotiation.


    Cassius had once liked to use such methods, but did not expect it to be used on himself this time.


    ¡°Dealing with a demon lord is really¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Troublesome.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius thought.


    Jezarslack spoke again, ¡°Have you considered? If you have any questions, feel free to ask. For an equal-status close collaborator, I will hold nothing back.¡±


    His tone was still sincere, almost overly humble.


    If it were an ordinary mortal, after being shocked by the previous scenes, faced with this sudden sincerity, they would most likely be flattered and fall into this demon¡¯s language trap. But Cassius did not relent a bit.


    Cassius pondered for a moment, then asked intensely once more.


    ¡°Jezarslack, I have witnessed your great might. But with such powerful strength, why do you need to cooperate with me? Is it merely because of so-called ¡®destiny¡¯?


    ¡°As far as I know, you demons are products of chaos and disorder, never yielding to so-called fated paths.¡±


    Jezarslack calmly shook his head with a smile.


    ¡°Ah, the stereotypes of mortals in the Prime Material Plane. Contrary to those foolish records, demons are the most in line with the world¡¯s developmental trajectory, more persistent at it than any human, giant dragon, or even deity.¡±


    The demon looked up at the void, but his deep eyes seemed to gaze into the Abyss.


    ¡°The world always moves from order to chaos; this is the destiny that runs through the universe. When the Abyss created most demons, it endowed them with traits best suited to spreading chaos and evil, along with the zeal for such actions.¡±


    ¡°Through the actions motivated purely by chaos, the Abyss can achieve its long-cherished goal¡ªthe destruction of all things, mortal or immortal, evolving again into a new universe, entirely detached from order and any intent.¡±


    Cassius pursued further, ¡°Then why should I help you destroy everything, including myself? I am not like Keman, who was blinded by revenge.¡±


    Jezarslack said, ¡°No, you can become the new king with me.¡±


    However, Cassius found another flaw in his words: ¡°Heh, then why not become the sole controller of the new universe yourself? Is it because you don¡¯t want to?¡±


    The demon laughed sneeringly again.


    ¡°Ah, still as sharp as ever, but I do like collaborating with smart beings. Working with fools is truly a torment.¡±


    ¡°If you had some basic knowledge of demonology, you would know that if a demon is killed outside of the Abyss, its essence will return to the primordial chaos of the Abyss.¡±


    ¡°Thousands of years ago, I tore open the Abyss passage, attempting to invade this Material Plane through the star realm, but I was discovered by a deity.¡±


    ¡°Knowing the trait of abyssal demons, he did not kill me thoroughly. Instead, he destroyed my body and imprisoned my ¡®essence¡¯ in this void of the star realm. Even if freed from the seal, I can¡¯t find a physical body to bear my strength, only able to wander in the endless void, until¡ªyour appearance, Cassius.¡±


    Only then did Cassius notice that the emaciated body was somewhat translucent, evidently formed by some will-carrying, pure chaotic energy, more akin to a soul than a body.


    The demon continued as if reciting a magnificent chapter.


    ¡°So¡­ have you considered? Bear my chaotic power, merge with me, and together we shall become destroyers of all things, the creators of a new world.¡±


    The tone grew deeper, as if from the Abyss itself, mesmerizing, intoxicating, and even maddening.


    But Cassius still withstood the invasion of this abyssal will, speaking each word firmly:


    ¡°No, still not enough.¡±


    ¡°Your offer isn¡¯t enough for me to risk becoming the enemy of gods and collaborate with you.¡±


    In his previous life, Cassius didn¡¯t even have a panel, yet he grew rapidly in just ten years to become a dragon nearly thirty meters long. That was not merely because of the Vengeful Demon¡¯s power; it could only prove one thing: Jezarslack definitely hid something else.


    ¡°Hahahahahahaha!¡±


    Suspended in mid-air, the demon¡¯s entire body trembled violently, suddenly bursting into an uncontrollable, frantic laugh.


    That eerie laughter echoed in the void of the star realm, causing numerous chaotics fogs to follow in tumult, transforming into various tragic scenes from the Abyss.


    Jezarslack lowered his head and said softly:


    ¡°As expected of a Red Dragon greedy to the extreme.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ you guessed right.¡±


    ¡°`

 Chapter 272 - 196 Karixs Body

    Chapter 272: Chapter 196 Karix¡¯s Body


    Jezarslack¡¯s tone was incomparably excited, almost manic, as he asked, ¡°Do you know why I dare to invade the Prime Material Plane in my true form?¡±


    Cassius did not answer.


    Clearly, the demon did not intend to let him respond, continuing without leaving any pause.


    ¡°What is sealed here¡­¡±


    ¡°Is far more than just me!¡±


    Jezarslack lifted his ethereal, gaunt arm once more, the demonic silhouette appearing again behind him.


    ...


    As the heavy chains clanked noisily, the complex runes emitted a dazzling light that continually scorched the demon¡¯s emaciated body, yet were unable to stop him from pouring out an immense chaotic power.


    The entire floating island began to violently tremble, cracks spreading across the towering mountains in the distance, eventually causing them to shatter and send debris and dust rolling into the air.


    When the dust settled, an unimaginably gigantic form was revealed under the void¡¯s curtain.


    ¡°How could this be¡­¡±


    Cassius stood frozen, murmuring to himself.


    His expression changed drastically, and even his true form¡¯s breathing became rapid.


    On the horizon of the floating island appeared a colossal dragon¡¯s body, as massive as a mountain¡ªa form he knew all too well, the shape of a Red Dragon.


    The ferocious dragon head was nearly a hundred meters long, its spine covered with bone spurs resembling undulating peaks. If the body buried deep within the floating island¡¯s rock were fully revealed, this Red Dragon would likely be over a kilometer long¡ªvastly exceeding Cassius¡¯s imagination of ¡°Red Dragon¡± and even the entire dragon species.


    This ancient Red Dragon still maintained the posture of struggling to break free from the floating island. Its giant claws stretched outward, forming the highest peak on the island, and even its cavernous maw, as vast as the Abyss, was exaggeratedly open toward the sky.


    But heavy chains firmly bound its sky-covering wings, and indestructible rocks tightly encased its body.


    That universe-shaking body had long ago lost its vitality; even its scales had grown dull. Its lake-like eyes were devoid of any ripples, like a pool of murky dead water. Only its chest emitted a faint pulsing glow.


    It turned out that the body of this Red Dragon was the true essence of the floating island.


    More accurately, this was a giant corpse of a deity floating in the star realm!


    Jezarslack gazed into the distance as if appreciating a spectacular view, his face showing irrepressible excitement and thrill.


    ¡°Praise the Master of Fire, the Invincible One, the World Cleanser¡ªKarix.¡±


    ¡°He symbolizes pure power and destruction, the Ancestral Dragon God of the Final Scourge, who periodically descends upon the Prime Material World to unleash unholy flames upon mankind.¡±


    Like reciting an epic opera, or a devout zealot, the demon¡¯s fervent and impassioned voice echoed in the void, lingering long after.


    Then, with a supremely confident expression, he turned to look at the now-transformed Red Dragon standing still.


    ¡°Tens of thousands of years ago, Karix descended upon the star realm, attempting to cleanse this material plane, and I took the opportunity to descend as well, aiming to implement the grand will of the Abyss.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, Karix overestimated his strength and underestimated the cunning of the gods; they designed a trap to seal him. Karix had to abandon his majestic body and escape with most of his divine power, eventually being exiled to the desolate Outer Planes¡ªChaotic Void Tunnel.¡±


    ¡°However, his body, imbued with nearly untarnished Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, was left here. The gods collaborated to conceal its existence, and it can only be accessed through the Stellar Prism¡¯s coordinates; even Bahamut and Tiamat were unaware.¡±


    ¡°Though tens of thousands of years have passed, and the divine powers have gradually dissipated in the star realm due to a vicious curse, there is still a thousandth of the Dragon Vein Power contained within, which is enough to make you the most terrifying dragon in the Prime Material Plane, at least on the Elzegai Continent.¡±


    Jezarslack stared intently into Cassius¡¯s eyes, as if looking at prey caught in a net, and spoke once more, his deep, magnetic voice dripping with insinuation.


    ¡°How about it, Cassius?¡±


    ¡°This is my utmost sincerity.¡±


    Cassius remained frozen, his mind racing, myriad thoughts swirling, while his true form in the material world exhaled hot white smoke, and his pale golden eyes quivered slightly.


    But he managed to suppress the deep-seated greed in his blood, forcing himself to calm down.


    Karix¡¯s original body was a treasure even Tiamat would covet, perhaps even the foundation for deification. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Would this ¡°Lord of Vengeance¡± really gift it to him freely, merely for the sake of cooperation?


    ¡°Every gift from fate is secretly marked with its price.¡±


    ¡°And a demon¡¯s gift hides an unending well of blood and chaos.¡±


    ¡°This decayed body isn¡¯t his sincerity; it¡¯s a thousand-year-old feast prepared by the demon for himself, with me as the perfect vessel.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    The Red Dragon refocused his gaze on the demon before him, scrutinizing that ¡°sincere¡± expression with a hint of resoluteness deep in his eyes.


    But he did not reveal it openly. Instead, he fully activated his [Silver-Tongued] ability, combined with his innate charisma that could twist reality, and feigned an excited, trembling demeanor with superb acting skill.


    Cassius stared intently at the colossal carcass, appearing as ravenous as a feral dog, his expression utterly greedy. ¡°Jezarslack, I¡­ I accept your sincerity. If I can possess this power, I am willing to merge with you.¡±


    ¡°How should we commence this so-called cooperation?¡±


    He feigned impatience, anxiously asking.


    Jezarslack finally broke into a satisfied smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious, my dear partner, I prepared the contract over a thousand three hundred years ago; you can easily give up this clumsy, ridiculous incarnation and come in your true form.¡±


    ¡°I have made considerable concessions, and that¡¯s the least you can do, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    In Jezarslack¡¯s deep eyes, Abyssal Turmoil swirled. The chaotic energy formed twisted symbols in the void, eventually manifesting as a dark yellow, ancient contract scroll, signed by Jezarslack with part of his true name obscured by mist.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Cassius responded straightforwardly.


    But his panel refreshed with dark red information.


    [You¡¯ve gained an advanced career path: [Pact Warlock ¨C Fiendish Sovereign]]


    [You have formed a pact with a fiend from the Lower Planes. These beings crave the corruption or destruction of all things, including you, ultimately.]


    [The Demon Lord who signed a contract with you will become your sect master, granting you power.]

 Chapter 273 - 197: Snatching Food from the Tigers Mouth

    Chapter 273: Chapter 197: Snatching Food from the Tiger¡¯s Mouth


    ¡°The demonic contract¡­¡±


    ¡°Expecting these chaotic extensions to abide by the order of a contract is truly laughable.¡±


    Cassius mocked in his heart, but he still put on a fa?ade of impatience, unabashedly displaying his greed for strength.


    The incarnation vanished from the void of the star realm, transforming into dwindling, withered flames, leaving only the Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye to monitor the situation. Cassius fully returned his will to his true form in the Prime Material Plane, in front of the Stellar Prism.


    ¡°The contract, I do not want to sign.¡±


    ¡°But this Karix¡¯s Body, I also do not want to give up.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Then let us gamble, seizing the moment before the seal is undone, to perform an act of snatching food from the tiger¡¯s mouth.¡±


    Cassius fixed his gaze on the Stellar Prism shining with eerie light, his eyes brimming with the excitement of a high-stakes gamble.


    At present, Jezarslack had definitely not undone the seal, at least not sufficiently to keep him trapped. Otherwise, the demon would not go to such lengths, using the precious God Corpse to entice him into signing the so-called ¡°cooperation contract.¡±


    But this Lord of Vengeance, sealed for ten thousand years, seemed to have become somewhat overconfident, prematurely revealing his trump card while forgetting that Cassius had the option to ¡°overturn the table.¡±


    ¡°Then let me witness it¡­¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°The so-called demonic wrath.¡±


    Cassius sneered coldly, thinking thus.


    With the Dragon Sorcerer¡¯s will distorting reality, the aura of mana and spatial fluctuations suddenly manifested. The spells like Undying Reverse Scale, Agile as a Dragon, Aerial Maneuver Technique, Energy Scales, and All-Knowing Eye, which could still have some effect in high-level battles, were cast upon his massive dragon body.


    Cassius tightened his wings, somewhat laboriously squeezing into the star-lit portal of the stellar pool.


    The Red Dragon passed through the rainbow-like tunnel of flowing light, traversing an immeasurable distance, arriving in this deep void of the star realm in his true form.


    A purely spiritual world, the silver void among all true planes.


    Yet, material beings could still exist here.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity I didn¡¯t find a Stellar Projection, otherwise, the risk could have been minimized.¡±


    Cassius lightly flapped his wings, quickly adapting to the near-weightless special environment of the star realm, and under the influence of Aerial Maneuver Technique, he grasped the flight techniques for roaming in the star realm.


    ¡°Cassius, you finally came¡­¡±


    ¡°My most perfect collaborator, sign the contract with me¡­¡±


    ¡°You will share with me the boundless source of strength, becoming the creator of a new world¡­¡±


    The demonic whispering, distant yet near, unpredictable, swirled around the ears of the Red Dragon, attempting to lure him into the deepest Abyss.


    Cassius flapped his wings vigorously, speeding through the void of the star realm like a scarlet comet, covering nearly a thousand meters in mere breaths. He could even see the floating island and the emaciated figure of the demon from afar.


    ¡°Come, sign the contract with me.¡±


    ¡°Rescue me, and you shall gain immortality!¡±


    Suspended in mid-air, Jezarslack, like a condemned man about to be pardoned, spoke with even more excitement.


    The contract formed by Abyssal Turbulence swirled in the void, like a living creature, welcoming the arrival of the contractor.


    Yet, Cassius was fortifying his mental barriers, resisting all demonic whispers.


    Instead of heading towards the demon as agreed, he flapped his wings to accelerate again, the Red Dragon¡¯s tail even emitting a trail of scarlet flames as he directly bypassed the sealed demon, rushing straight towards the distant, mountain-sized dragon corpse.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°Cassius! What are you doing? Have you forgotten our agreement?¡±


    The demon, known as the ¡°Lord of Vengeance,¡± suspended in mid-air, his body trembled violently, flames of vengeance burning fiercely in his deep-set eyes.


    The entire floating island trembled with thunderous roars, and a massive human face formed from the Chaos Mist appeared in the star realm void.


    ¡°Vengeance¡ª¡±


    ¡°Destruction¡ª¡±


    ¡°Chaos¡ª¡±


    The face roared and bellowed, as if it wanted to devour the Red Dragon passing through the void.


    Cassius folded his wings tighter to accelerate further, not forgetting to taunt.


    ¡°Who told you¡ªI was going to sign any so-called contract?¡±


    ¡°A demonic contract is, to me, even more laughable than a ¡®devil¡¯s conscience¡¯!¡±


    Ignoring the obstruction of the chaotic mist, he tore through the void like a meteor, shrouded in sulfurous smoke, landing with a crash on the chest of the dragon corpse.


    ¡°This is Karex, the World Cleanser.¡±


    Cassius exhaled deeply.


    This thousand-meter-long Red Dragon had been dead for tens of thousands of years, yet when Cassius stood before it, he still felt an incredible sense of pressure, stemming from bloodline, inheritance, and even essence. His wings trembled uncontrollably.


    Cassius¡¯s target was the heart.


    He could not take the entire carcass back to the Prime Material World.


    Although everything about the God Corpse could be considered invaluable, the most precious part of this dragon corpse was undoubtedly the heart, the organ with countless blood vessels supplying it with True Blood, still faintly trembling, containing one-thousandth of its pre-death bloodline power.


    The Heart of Karex.


    ¡°Cassius! You are courting death!¡±


    ¡°You have forsaken the great gift I offered, choosing ultimate destruction!¡±


    The grand chaotic silhouette surged from afar, the enraged Vengeful Demon unleashing the power leaking from his seal, venting his fury upon this ¡°betrayer.¡±


    Cassius knew¡ªhis time was running out.

 Chapter 274 - 197: Snatching Food from the Tigers Mouth_2

    Chapter 274: Chapter 197: Snatching Food from the Tiger¡¯s Mouth_2


    This demon had been sealed by the gods for ten thousand years, yet even so, the power of the Abyssal Lord was beyond his reach.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Dragon Crystal on Cassius¡¯s chest glowed with a dazzling light, white smoke spewed from the vents, and a scorching, white-hot pillar of flame shot from his mouth.


    Immediately after, two rows of brilliant flames emerged from his neck and tail; the Dragon Crystal on his chest was filled with the glow of flames, and the white-hot pillar of flame advanced further, its outer edges tinged with a slight blue hue.


    However, the high-temperature breath struck Karex¡¯s carcass but was deflected by the dark scales.


    Even a body dead for ten thousand years, having long lost its source of power, was constructed so strongly that ordinary flames could not easily destroy it.


    ...


    ¡°Truly terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Even an extremely effective spew feels like mere scratching.¡±


    Noticing the demonic shadow approaching from afar, Cassius gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind.


    Suddenly, the capillary vessels of the Red Dragon glowed slightly, even protruding through his body, revealing root-like formations on his skin.


    A continuous stream of energy was transferred to the Dragon Crystal. Brilliant, high-temperature white flames spewed from the vents in his neck and tail.


    Accompanied by intense fluctuations, the Dragon Crystal underwent a violent magic fission reaction, chaotic spots and arc-like lines appeared within, and the sparks erupted, crashing in his chest, making the Dragon Crystal incomparably luminous, like a miniature star in the universe.


    Intense gusts of wind emanated from the Red Dragon, spreading dust over the floating island. There was a brief calm in the void, then it unleashed a deafening explosion.


    In the next moment, blue-white flames shot out of Cassius¡¯s mouth.


    [Primordial Breath]


    An extremely high-temperature flame column streaked toward the carcass.


    This time, the breath finally cut through the dull scales, piercing the majestic dragon corpse, creating a massive crack.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    Cassius closed his mouth, panting, his body becoming somewhat translucent, exuding scorching white smoke, showing signs of near overload.


    Yet he did not relax nor did he have time to rest; he plunged into the crack without hesitation, using his sharp claws and fangs to continuously widen it.


    ¡°Sssh¡ª¡±


    Eventually, he tore apart the thick flesh at the front of the dragon carcass.


    The heart, glowing with flickering flames and still trembling slightly, was exposed to the air.


    This was the heart of Karex from ten thousand years ago, merely the heart itself had a diameter of nearly thirty meters, larger than most Red Dragons of this era.


    ¡°This is the Heart of Karex.¡±


    Cassius exhaled a puff of white smoke, fervor gleaming in his pale golden pupils.


    ¡°Cassius! You have betrayed my trust!¡±


    ¡°You shall suffer the wrath of the Abyssal Lord!¡±


    He turned around; the demonic shadow had arrived, its body formed of Chaos Mist, extending a hideous giant hand to capture the Red Dragon.


    [Agile as a Dragon] upon him, the incredibly agile Red Dragon evaded easily but still got tainted by the Chaotic Power, making his spells extremely unstable, causing his [All-Knowing Eye] to collapse directly under such infection.


    ¡°So this is the true power of the abyss¡­¡±


    ¡°I must leave quickly.¡±


    Cassius, feeling the chaos of the infection, thought with lingering fear.


    The Red Dragon dove directly into the chest cavity of the dragon carcass, evading the attacks of the demonic shadow while tearing apart the inactive blood vessels with his claws and using the Scratch Technique.


    Finally, the faintly glowing heart, containing the vast power of the Ancestral Dragon, lost its flesh and blood vessels, slowly detaching from the chest cavity.


    Seeing this, the Dragon Sorcerer wasted no time in warping reality with his will, casting another spell.


    [Bag of Greed] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A bag-shaped force field gradually formed behind him, allowing him to drag the enormously massive heart.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    Cassius flapped his wings vigorously, roaring as he astonishingly took flight, dragging the heart that was larger than his dragon body.


    Fortunately, the gravity in the star realm was almost negligible; otherwise, even with the Red Dragon¡¯s strength, it would have been impossible to bear such a heavy heart during flight.


    The Red Dragon flapped its wings with all its might, surprisingly managing to fly a hundred meters into the air while dragging the heart.


    ¡°Ignorant mortal!¡±


    ¡°You do not understand the consequences of angering an Abyssal Lord!¡±


    A black spear materialized in the hand of the demonic shadow, which he directly hurled at the Red Dragon in midair, difficult to evade.


    But at the moment when the Chaotic Power was about to make fatal contact with the Red Dragon, a scale on his body abruptly shattered, and a golden film wrapped around his entire body. It turned out to be the [Undying Offender] that forcibly blocked this fatal strike.


    Seizing this precious moment, Cassius ascended with all his might; he finally escaped the floating island completely, leaving the demonic shadow to roar powerlessly on the ground of the floating island.


    ¡°Farewell, no, goodbye forever¡ªJezarslack.¡±


    ¡°I will remember your selfless sacrifice.¡±


    Cassius panted heavily.


    The battered Red Dragon, dragging the ¡°Heart of Karex,¡± flew strenuously to the coordinates of the Stellar Prism, plummeting into the Star Realm Color Pond that led to the Prime Material Plane, and entered the luminous network of the star realm¡¯s conduits.


    With the brilliance of the stars, the Red Dragon vanished without a trace.


    ¡­


    In the star realm, on Karex¡¯s Floating Island.


    The grandiose demonic shadow completely dissipated, leaving only the emaciated demon suspended in midair.


    ¡°Indeed, the smartest fish often bite the final bait without hesitation.¡±


    The demon muttered.


    At this moment, Jezarslack was far from the fury he had displayed earlier; instead, he calmly raised his head.


    ¡°Heh, truly worthy of the greedy Red Dragon, it did surprise me a bit.¡±


    He gazed in the direction where the Red Dragon had vanished, as if staring into the endless chaos beyond the star realm, a strange and exceedingly sly smile appeared on his face.


    ¡°But¡­ I have not finished speaking yet. Stupid mortals said Karex actually had a mania, resulting in the endless gales in the frenzied void.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Aeons-long dream murmur of the Abyss?¡±


    ¡°Cassius, the mark of chaos will be deeply inscribed on every scale of yours, flowing in every one of your blood vessels. When you truly grow strong, that will be the time I harvest the fruits.¡±


    ¡°I initially intended to let you degenerate in the dream of power and ultimately complete all this seamlessly. Only you chose a more rugged, more self-sacrificing path.¡±


    The imprisoned demon stretched a slender arm toward the void of the star realm, as if grasping something, squeezing tightly, the chains clanking.


    ¡°This is the fate traversing the universe, you cannot escape it.¡±


    ¡°Giant dragons are ultimately ignorant mortals who do not understand the rules of the world; should I praise you for your cleverness or call you foolish?¡±


    The endless void remained empty, silver streams floated everywhere, occasionally an undefined light flickered, and lonely floating islands drifted. Whether they were beasts of the star realm or remnants of another deity was unclear.

 Chapter 275 - 198 Tiamats Greed

    Chapter 275: Chapter 198 Tiamat¡¯s Greed


    At the moment Cassius carried the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± into the Prime Material World, the flesh and blood on the heart rapidly decayed, eventually turning to ashes.


    For matter losing the source of immortality, time in the star realm was nearly at a standstill, but this was not without a price. Once taken out of the star realm, the time they had lost would be recalled.


    Eventually, the enormous heart, which had a diameter of twenty meters, gradually shrank until only a dimly glowing crystal remained¡ªthat was the remnant of Karex¡¯s immortal bloodline power within this body.


    Cassius carefully picked it up.


    [Heart of Karex]


    Exotic Item, Mythical


    ...


    Domain: Chaos, Destruction, Dragon, Evil, Fire (Rebirth)


    Effect: Unknown (Extremely Dangerous)


    Introduction: Karex the Void represents pure strength and destruction among dragons. There is debate that Karex was actually insane, resulting in the endless gale within the Void of Madness. Before being exiled to the Void of Madness, Karex periodically came to the Prime Material World to unleash the unholy fire of destruction upon the mortal realm.


    His body was sealed by the gods in the void of the star realm. His divine power dissipated over time, and that remnant ferocious bloodline gathered in his heart, quietly waiting for Karex¡¯s return.


    Cassius felt a vague unease. The moment he descended into the Prime Material World, he felt several gazes fixed on him.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    He hurriedly twisted reality with his will, creating a temporary other-dimensional space to hide the scorching energy crystal and the Stellar Prism, concealing their auras.


    At this moment, an inexplicable sense of oppression emanated from his mind, quickly spreading to the outside world.


    Cassius looked up at the sky, and his expression immediately became grave.


    ¡°It¡¯s Tiamat.¡±


    Indeed, with an invisible ripple, the colossal illusion of the five-colored, five-headed dragon appeared in the air, towering over Cassius, revealing a sinister smile.


    ¡°Child, you have grown stronger.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly, greeting with neither arrogance nor cowardice, ¡°Good day, Your Majesty Tiamat. My insignificant power is nothing before your great might.¡±


    The five-headed dragon seemed to be scrutinizing him carefully, or perhaps searching for something, with an endless greed in its eyes.


    ¡°However, the stronger the child, the more likely he is to become rebellious, especially a ¡®special¡¯ child like you.¡±


    ¡°I hope¡­ you are not like that.¡±


    Cassius folded his wings, putting on an earnest innocent look¡ªeven though this expression looked menacing and out of place on the face of a Red Dragon.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I have always strived for the grand cause of the five-colored dragons. How could I talk of rebellion?¡±


    The illusion of Tiamat continued to scrutinize the Red Dragon up and down, and the leading head once again bared its teeth in a smile.


    ¡°As a young dragon, your awareness is commendable. I have always sought ways to expand the power and influence of the five-colored dragonkin in the world.¡±


    But then her words stopped, and her tone suddenly became eerie.


    ¡°However¡­¡±


    ¡°The five heads spoke in unison, their overlapping resonant voices filled with tremendous pressure.


    The overwhelming pressure was released abruptly, and the fierce wind swept the earth, forcing Cassius to exert all his strength to stand upright, barely avoiding kneeling or collapsing.


    ¡°Why do I smell the scent of my foolish brother on you?¡±


    Tiamat said.


    This was the true nature of the Five-Colored Dragon Queen, the God of the Evil Dragons. The kindness she displayed earlier wasn¡¯t even a mask, but a mere toy to deceive the young dragon Cassius.


    Once her core interest was touched, she would tear off all disguises and reveal her greed and might without hesitation.


    Cassius strained to lift his head and stared at the five-headed giant dragon in the sky, displaying an innocent, justified expression.


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­ I don¡¯t understand what you are talking about.¡±


    The Red Dragon, as if unable to withstand the pressure, lowered his head and trembled as he explained,


    ¡°I am just a lucky descendant blessed by my ancestors, uncovering a bit of heritage from the great Dragon Bloodline. I don¡¯t understand the grudges among dragon gods or those ancient histories. I only wish to follow your footsteps and revive the supreme glory of our five-colored dragons.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve only been in this world for a mere ten years, not even as long as one of your naps. How could I know another great Dragon God, let alone your brother?¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, he lifted his head with effort, uttering each word with gritted teeth, ¡°Your Majesty Tiamat, there are not two suns in the sky, and no two masters among dragons.¡±


    ¡°In my heart¡ªthere is only you as the sun!¡±


    Tiamat gave him a deep look.


    Instantly, the suffocating pressure lessened by half, and the five-colored giant dragon¡¯s tone became gentle, as if nothing had ever happened before.


    ¡°Child, I hope your heart truly thinks this way.¡±


    ¡°I have seen too many promising young dragons who often oppose me for personal gain, even causing great disasters, which in the end, I must painfully eradicate.¡±


    ¡°Know that I regard every five-colored dragon as my own child. Even when I personally snap their necks, I feel immense sorrow and often find myself in tears.¡±


    ¡°I do not resent these rebellious children, but I deeply regret their actions. They could have been part of a magnificent grand plan, but instead, they chose a fate destined to be tragic.¡±


    Cassius nodded hurriedly, his eyes earnest as he replied, ¡°I follow your teachings, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Cassius, my child, remember, whatever I do is for the common good of the five-colored dragons.¡±


    ¡°Hope¡­ you don¡¯t walk down that opposite path.¡±


    Tiamat¡¯s illusion gave him a deep look again, as if searching for something, causing Cassius to hold his breath.


    Then, she vanished into the void, taking all the overwhelming pressure with her.


    ¡­


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯s heart pounded and his breath was extremely hasty.


    He used his scant knowledge of Mind Spells to construct dozens of mental barriers in his mind at once, giving himself some psychological comfort.


    ¡°I became too complacent after awakening and underestimated the deity¡¯s power.¡±


    ¡°This Tiamat¡¯s terrifying illusion must not be used casually. It¡¯s best to completely remove it from my mind.¡±


    Cassius thought.


    Just bringing back this ¡°Heart of Karex¡± for a few seconds had caused Tiamat to descend in person with her avatar, and even several dragon gods were watching from the shadows, making the situation extremely dangerous.


    Fortunately, he could barely consider himself Tiamat¡¯s ¡°kin¡± for now, tied to the scattered war chariot of the five-colored dragons, without fully touching the interests of this God of the Evil Dragons.

 Chapter 276 - 199 Bloodscaled Fury

    Chapter 276: Chapter 199 Bloodscaled Fury


    With the distortion of space, the Red Dragon also disappeared from its original location, diving into the temporarily created other-dimensional space known as the Egg of Sanctuary.


    Cassius nervously watched the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± and the ¡°Stellar Prism¡± within the space, his spiked forehead furrowing slightly.


    ¡°Other-dimensional space is only temporary, and it¡¯s hard to prevent these auras from leaking out. I¡¯m afraid only the Kingdom Domain can stop the deities from spying.¡±


    ¡°I must take them back to the Royal Palace.¡±


    With that thought, Cassius extended his claws and once again tore the space in front of him. Accompanied by a tearing sound, a flaming-edged space rift was created.


    The Red Dragon squeezed through the narrow gap and appeared in the main hall of the Steel Dragonwing Kingdom.


    ...


    ¡°Everyone¡ª¡±


    ¡°Leave here immediately.¡±


    The commanding voice filled with authority echoed, causing the Tiefling Guards at the door, the maids cleaning in the gardens, and even the Bipedal Wyvern perched on the stone pillar to hurriedly leave.


    After all, this was the command of the supreme, sole existence of this nation, leaving no room for refusal.


    Cassius exerted the power of the Kingdom Domain to its fullest extent until the structure of the Magic Web around him became as hard as diamond, making it possible to retrieve the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± and the ¡°Stellar Prism.¡±


    He heavily sealed the Stellar Prism and stored it in the deepest part of the Royal Palace¡¯s treasury.


    Then, he began to study the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± which he had narrowly seized from the star realm.


    Using Force Field Magic, Cassius suspended it in mid-air. It was a blurry, glowing red crystal, shaped like a miniature heart, with Dragon Blood seemingly flowing within, presenting chaotic ripples resembling the Purifying Flame spat by Karex.


    This unremarkable ¡°heart¡± contained an unimaginably vast amount of power.


    Cassius did not intend to let the Kingdom¡¯s spellcasters study the ¡°Heart of Karex,¡± knowing it was a mysterious artifact of a deity¡¯s level.


    Under the temptation of such power, Cassius trusted no one but himself.


    The Red Dragon experimentally spat high-temperature flames at it to observe its reaction, but the scorching energy was absorbed like a stone sinking into the sea, without causing even a ripple.


    ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the leftover power of the Dragon God.¡±


    ¡°This is a suppression in essence.¡±


    Only the Red Dragon¡¯s full-powered Primordial Breath might influence these crystals.


    He suddenly recalled the ¡°blood recognition¡± method often seen in novels.


    ¡°So¡­ how about Dragon Blood?¡±


    Cassius slightly lifted his scales and used his claw to cut his skin.


    Carefully extracting a drop of boiling Dragon Blood, he used Force Field Magic to keep it suspended in mid-air.


    The moment the Dragon Blood touched the ¡°Heart of Karex,¡± an uncontrollable magical reaction erupted that even the Kingdom Domain could not suppress. Smoke and sparks filled the air, and endless flames burst from the crystal.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The next moment, the extremely hot crystal directly pierced the wound in the Red Dragon¡¯s body, flowing into his throbbing main blood vessel towards his strong, beating heart.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Cassius let out a roar of pain.


    He rolled on the ground, causing the surrounding earth to tremble and crack.


    The guards around the palace were alarmed, thinking their monarch was summoning another terrifying scourge, and fled in panic.


    Cassius finally experienced the excruciating sensation that his retainers felt when receiving the Dragon Vein Blessing. As the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± entered his body, it was as if a red-hot iron ball had been placed in a bucket of water. His blood began to boil, even seeping out from the gaps between his scales.


    The Red Dragon suddenly opened his massive jaws and spat out a sea of raging flames, with fire also flickering within his pale golden eyes.


    An awe-inspiring vision appeared in his mind¡ªa thousand-meter-long Red Dragon tearing through the void, descending onto the Prime Material Plane and occupying the entire horizon.


    It opened its massive maw, spitting endless Purifying Flame, reducing everything on the ground¡ªbe it human cities, elven forest palaces, or anything else¡ªto the lowest form of ashes.


    ¡°No! It¡¯s the apocalypse!¡±


    ¡°Fire! Fire is everywhere!¡±


    ¡°We have nowhere to escape! This is the final judgment!¡±


    The air was filled with lamentations and desperate cries, mixed with the prayers of cultists with arms outstretched.


    But once Karex¡¯s purification was complete, the only sound left on earth was the crackling of flames, besides complete silence.


    The Red Dragon looked down upon the burning land, raised his head, and let out a long, primitive roar.


    ¡°Aow!¡±


    Meanwhile, Cassius roared again.


    The light from his main blood vessel shone through his skin and scales, while steam and eventually blinding light emitted from the vents on his neck and tail.


    This level of heat far surpassed what mortals could withstand. Even with the Red Dragon¡¯s resistance from bathing in magma, it was unbearably painful.


    In extreme pain, the Red Dragon fell into a frenzy, venting his anger on his surroundings¡ªhis claws left deep gouges on the metal floor, his thick tail shattered luxurious furniture, and his sharp teeth bit into everything in the palace, leaving charred craters below him.


    The once magnificent palace seemed fragile and on the verge of collapse under his ravages.


    Finally, Cassius stopped, panting heavily.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    By this time, the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± had fully melded with his heart, beating in sync with his body.


    Now, Cassius¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, saliva dripped from his mouth, and a bloody sheen covered his scales. Even his horns were chipped, with glowing red cracks spreading across his body, making him resemble the mad dragons recorded in the Dragon Fan.


    He regained a shred of his remaining rationality¡ªdespite still being quite mad, he was at least able to understand the refreshed information on the panel.


    [You have absorbed the ¡°Heart of Karex.¡± Due to your ancestral bloodline, your body, mind, and soul will undergo irreversible changes.] Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Your alignment has changed from Lawful Evil to Chaotic Evil.]


    [Due to Karex¡¯s strength, you have gained an additional sub-occupation: Bloodscaled Fury.]


    [Bloodscaled Fury]


    An enraged dragon is truly terrifying. A dragon venting its fury¡ªeyes bloodshot, mouth drooling, and scales covered with a bloody sheen¡ªis a rare, horrifying sight.


    They are solitary dragons, more akin to a destructive natural force. Their chaotic tendencies mean that no one can predict when the Bloodscale Frenzy might suddenly attack human settlements or outposts, leaving behind a crater of explosions.

 Chapter 277 - 200: Breath of Chaos

    Chapter 277: Chapter 200: Breath of Chaos


    ¡°Bloodscaled Fury¡­¡±


    ¡°This feels pretty good.¡±


    Cassius panted heavily, unable to resist licking his lips, his bloodshot eyes brimming with excitement and frenzy.


    However, the system¡¯s refresh continued.


    [Your absorption rate of the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± is at 0.83%]


    [Due to partial energy absorption, your ¡°Bloodscaled Fury¡± occupation will rise to level 3]


    ...


    [Gained additional feats: ¡°Powerful Attack,¡± ¡°Shockwave,¡± ¡°Wing Storm¡±]


    [Gained additional abilities: ¡°Fearsome Presence,¡± ¡°Draconic Fury,¡± ¡°Scales of Blood¡±]


    Fearsome Presence


    Seeing the Bloodscaled Fury would incite terror, with boiling rage stirring within it, invoking fear in all who behold it.


    Draconic Fury


    The Bloodscaled Fury¡¯s rage became even more terrifying. During frenzy, its strength and constitution values increased by an additional 2 points, and its will grew tougher, making control-type spells less effective on the Bloodscaled Fury.


    Scales of Blood


    The Bloodscaled Fury lived up to its name. During frenzy, a certain amount of blood seeped from around the scales, outlining them and enhancing the dragon¡¯s fearsome presence. More importantly, the blood supernaturally protected the dragon against spells and weapon damage.


    ¡°Such power¡­¡±


    Cassius raised his claw, observing the blood marks outside the scales, letting out a sinister roar.


    Not only did his muscles bulge like iron balls, but even the blood vessels in his neck bulged, like an enraged beast.


    After this painful transformation, Cassius¡¯s body had grown several sizes larger. Not only did his body length exceed thirty meters, but his limbs and torso also became more robust and powerful.


    Cassius let out an exhilarated howl.


    That sound carried boiling rage, inciting the most primal terror in all creatures. Flocks of birds took off from the mountains in panic, only to stiffen in paralyzing fear and drop one by one, plummeting straight to the ground.


    Even among the seasoned Tiefling Guards, some could not withstand this overwhelming pressure, fainting dead away¡ªsuch was the might of the Bloodscaled Fury.


    If he were to fight his former self now, his powerful melee abilities as the Bloodscaled Fury would undoubtedly leave his previous self covered in wounds, possibly even torn to pieces alive. Such was the terrifying power of the ancestor Red Dragon enhanced by Bloodscaled Fury.


    Yet this transformation continued, still unceasing.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The frenzied Red Dragon let out another roar.


    The cracks covering his body expanded further, revealing flickering flames.


    With the fierce beating of his heart, the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± within it suddenly released terrifying energy, causing the crystal on his chest to show cracks, through which countless dark red glows emitted.


    The light seemed to distort the world¡¯s rules, creating irregular trajectories in the air and forming eerie spinning patterns in his Dragon Crystal.


    Eventually, Cassius uncontrollably opened his massive maw, spewing dark red flames.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    As soon as the flames touched the surrounding objects, they shattered instantly, disintegrating into the tiniest dust particles, filling the air as Chaos Mist¡ªthese flames were indeed the ¡°Purifying Flame¡± Cassius had previously seen in the illusion.


    Meanwhile, as a terrible chaotic wave spread in the North and throughout Anzeta, all spellcasters could feel this distorted, frenzied influence and were profoundly shocked, causing a huge uproar.


    [Your absorption rate of the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± is at 1.02%]


    [You have absorbed part of the chaotic, destructive divine power from the ¡°Heart of Karex,¡± gaining a special ability: ¡°Breath of Chaos¡±]


    Breath of Chaos


    Karex¡¯s periodic arrival in the Prime Material World brings universal destruction. Cleanse the unclean with Purifying Flame. The natural process and cosmic evolution often lead to more disorder and chaos. Your breath will accelerate this process, bringing ultimate chaos to all things.


    When Cassius came to his senses and closed his mouth, the grand main hall was almost entirely reduced to white ash, with massive craters appearing around.


    Only the most fundamental material particles remained, along with a burning, chaotic sea of flames.


    Surrounded by flames, Cassius displayed a look of rapture, reluctantly sweeping a claw to extinguish them after a long while.


    ¡°Breath of Chaos.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s practically divine power.¡±


    In the Red Dragon¡¯s perception, before this chaotic Purifying Flame, nothing could resist; only the most thorough annihilation awaited.


    ¡°Master¡ª¡±


    Cassius turned his head to find the Ogre Mage rushing over from afar in a panic.


    Ramp descended heavily to the ground, panting heavily: ¡°Have you felt it, the Magic Web¡­¡±


    The Ogre hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he suddenly felt an instinctual fear, breaking out in cold sweat and covering his mouth involuntarily.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say¡ª¡±


    ¡°No one is allowed to come near here?¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s bloodshot eyes flashed dangerously.


    The powerful bloody aura expanded, suffocating the Ogre.


    Ramp felt close to death for the first time, witnessing his master¡¯s terrifying, suffocating form.


    He immediately knelt down, his large body trembling uncontrollably despite being over three meters high. His ugly face was filled with fear, barely maintaining sanity with sheer willpower.


    He stuttered, ¡°Master, I-I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°I was rude, I forgot your order.¡±


    Ramp held his breath until the oppressive aura lessened, allowing his heart to settle down, though he dared not relax at all.


    ¡°Never again.¡±


    Cassius said coldly.


    He allowed no one to spy on his power, not even the most trusted kin or subordinates.


    ¡°So¡­ what do you have to report?¡±


    Hearing this question, Ramp broke out in large beads of sweat, his heart pounding again. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He intended to report the Magic Web¡¯s anomaly, but now it was clear this anomaly was caused by his master, with its exact cause even becoming Cassius¡¯s forbidden secret.


    He obviously couldn¡¯t delve into this, lest he invite suspicion.


    Having held a high position for years, Ramp hadn¡¯t felt such fear in a long time.


    He finally realized¡ªhis master was a pureblood Red Dragon. Despite the peculiar changes, it was not something he could meddle with.


    Thinking fast, he carefully replied, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Rackman Castle¡¯s constraints seem to have loosened slightly.¡±


    ¡°Mortifael?¡±


    ¡°I was just looking for a chance¡­ to test this power.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s eyes gleamed with fighting spirit, even licking his lips in excitement. But he didn¡¯t notice¡ªthe sheer desire for destruction appeared deep in his pupils.

 Chapter 278 - 201 Dragon Shadow City

    Chapter 278: Chapter 201 Dragon Shadow City


    Dragon Shadow City lay in ruins, suspended above a vast abyss, with the chilling winds of the abyss eternally howling. The city was set upon a massive rock projection in the Gloomy Region, its walls and buildings overlooking a dreadful void.


    The city extended into an immense underground canyon. It was known as the Howling Abyss, with a depth plunging over seventeen miles downward.


    ¡°Whoo¡ª¡±


    A piercing shriek arose, with hurricane-level winds ruthlessly battering Dragon Shadow City, threatening to sweep away any creature daring to appear on the battlements of the abandoned city or attempt to fly across the chasm.


    Despite the ceaseless gales, the Howling Abyss was not devoid of dangerous creatures. Beck Wind Sprites and Void Binding Spirits reveled in the endless winds, while phantasmal Shadow Dragons and Undead Dragons often soared above the city they ruled.


    This place used to be a drow trading city, but it was conquered by the Shadows Dragon of the Jezreel Clan, who enslaved its populace.


    ...


    Over the ensuing centuries, these dragons gradually purged the drow population, twisting them into creatures of the shadows, and replaced them with their own draconic descendants. Meanwhile, the city itself was gradually pulled deeper into the Shadow Plane.


    And the supreme ruler here was Mortifael Jezreel, the fearsome Shadow Dragon known as the ¡°Voice of the Night¡±, the principal architect behind this eerie city.


    In a dark alley, a hooded man spoke:


    ¡°Daniel, have you heard? That old man is planning to act against the surface world again.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°According to our intel, he has found a passage to Anzeta.¡±


    ¡°Those Shadow Dragons, Shadow Stranglethorn Beasts, and Shadow Spirits have all been mobilized. It looks like something big is going to happen.¡±


    Dragon Shadow City was not solely controlled by Mortifael¡¯s forces; naturally, rebels also existed. Under the despotic rule of the Shadow Dragons, even the notoriously evil drow elves became pitiful victims, forming various underground rebellion groups.


    The largest faction was the Brotherhood, led by Human Feridon Lees and Drow Elf Daniel Berlance, with hundreds of participants. They had even succeeded in killing a newborn Shadow Dragon.


    Patrolling Shadow Shift Beasts moved through the streets, sniffing the air intently.


    The two men swiftly cast spells, making themselves disappear from the shadows and arriving at their secret gathering place.


    Feridon continued:


    ¡°Maybe we can seize power and assassinate that half-shadow dragon drow governor, that disgusting shadow half-breed.¡±


    ¡°But when Mortifael returns, it will all be in vain.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Both fell silent simultaneously.


    As leaders of the rebel army, no one understood Mortifael¡¯s power more than they did.


    Once, over a thousand Fadlan soldiers attacked Dragon Shadow City, but under the shroud of the black mist, they all transformed into Undead Shadows, becoming nourishment for Mortifael. In the boundless darkness of the Gloomy Region, that Shadow Dragon was nearly invincible.


    The rebel army¡¯s efforts were more like Mortifael¡¯s games of boredom. He would even intentionally let rebels escape to savor their deeper despair, to savor the absolute feeling of control, like a cat playing with rats.


    Feridon was often furious about this, yet powerless, sinking into deep despair.


    He dared not end his life, for any creature that perished on this land would be forcibly transformed into Undead Shadows, never to find peace for eternity.


    ¡°Is there really no one who can defeat him?¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°At least¡­ let¡¯s give it a try.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we can reach out to that Kingdom of Anzeta, and from within and without, kill Mortifael in the surface world.¡±


    Daniel chuckled bitterly, removed his hood, and shook his head, revealing the black pointed ears that symbolized the drow elves.


    ¡°Impossible.¡±


    ¡°I have read about the surface world in my family¡¯s records. Anzeta is the most desolate and remote place on the continent. In such a place¡ªhow could anyone possibly appear who could defeat Mortifael?¡±


    ¡°We can only pray for the deity¡¯s descent.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Feridon lapsed into silence once again.


    He had attempted countless resistances, but every time ended in failure. He even suspected Mortifael was using him as bait to lure out more rebels.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a prolonged roar echoed.


    Followed closely by the hissing of Shadow Dragons, the wailing of Undead Shadows, and the commotion within the city.


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°Could it be¡­ an enemy invasion?¡±


    Feridon and Daniel were both somewhat exhilarated.


    They hurriedly donned their robes, cautiously pushed open the door, and stepped onto the dark, decayed street.


    Indeed, the armies of Undead Shadows, Shadow Shift Beasts, and Shadow Stranglethorn Beasts were hastily mobilizing. Even the Shadow Dragons were flying chaotically in the sky.


    Feridon clicked his tongue:


    ¡°What on earth is happening? Something big enough to make them deploy so many troops!¡±


    ¡°Feridon¡­


    ¡°Look, look.¡±


    ¡°A dragon, it¡¯s a dragon.¡±


    Daniel¡¯s voice trembled slightly.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Feridon quickly turned his head, instinctively looking up at the sky.


    The sight that followed was one he would never forget¡ªa red dragon, far more massive than Mortifael, unfurled its wings high in the sky, as if it was engulfing the entire city. Endless gales blew in, but the dragon slowly moved its mighty wings within the hurricane, entirely unaffected.


    The dragon¡¯s body was incredibly solid, with no hint of transparency, clearly a true dragon rather than a transformed Shadow Dragon.


    He had four ferocious horns, and his body was exceptionally muscular.


    His chest bore web-like cracks, with a core of glowing flames at the center.


    Before this foreign dragon in the high sky, the evil Shadow Dragons and Shadow Shift Beasts seemed like wild dogs encountering a fierce beast, letting out instinctively fearful and ear-piercing howls, but the dragon remained unmoved.


    ¡°Mortifael, I have come for you.¡±


    The dragon revealed a sinister smile, his pupils filled with an uncontrollable desire for destruction.


    Instantly, the crystal at his chest emitted an incomparably dazzling light.


    It brought daylight to Dragon Shadow City, long shrouded in shadows, and rare brightness to the deeply buried Gloomy Region¡ªat this moment, he was like an unprecedented sun in the underground world, causing the shadow creatures hiding in the darkness to tremble with fear.


    The dragon slightly opened his mouth, unleashing an endless torrent of flames like the descent of the mythical Karex to the mortal world.


    It was the Breath of Chaos, also the Purifying Flame.


    It would burn everything to ashes, leaving only the purest chaos.

 Chapter 279 - 202 Mortifael

    Chapter 279: Chapter 202 Mortifael


    A vast sea of fire appeared before the Howling Abyss, dyeing the entire horizon an orange-red and illuminating the shadow dragons and shadow spirits to transparency.


    The shadow creatures emitted painful wails, their bodies twitching in the firelight, making ¡°sizzling¡± sounds. Mist continuously emanated from their bodies, rendering them even more ephemeral.


    In the blaze of the Purifying Wildfire, no shadow could escape.


    ¡°Mortifael¡ª¡±


    ¡°If you continue to cower like a turtle, I¡¯ll destroy everything you hold dear!¡±


    Cassius laughed maniacally, suddenly flapping his wings, transforming into a massive red figure, swiftly sweeping across the skies of Dragon Shadow City.


    ...


    Wherever the Red Dragon passed, Chaos Flame burned everywhere.


    As he flapped his wings, a wild, bloody hurricane swept through the city, further fueling the fire.


    Half of the city resembled an apocalyptic scene, with ancient buildings engulfed in flames, every house filled with sounds of miserable wails, curses, and desperate screams.


    Apart from humans, Drow Elves, and those pure shadow creatures, the main inhabitants of Dragon Shadow City were the Drow Elves with shadow dragon bloodline.


    These elves, straddling the line between shadow creatures and ordinary beings, were also known as ¡°Shadow Elves.¡± For centuries, they had submitted to the rule of the shadow dragons. They were proficient in shadow magic and were Mortifael¡¯s loyal subjects, often becoming accomplices in the shadow dragons¡¯ invasions of the surface world.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to die¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fire, it¡¯s coming!¡±


    ¡°Lord Mortifael, my supreme ancestor, save us!¡±


    ¡°Damn it! Nothing works! Any spell is useless!¡±


    ¡°By Rose¡­ is this punishment from the gods?¡±


    Under the influence of the Breath of Chaos, the surrounding shadow Magic Web was in chaos. Even the most basic spell prototypes would be instantly dismantled. They couldn¡¯t even cast shadow magic before being swallowed by the ever-spreading Purifying Wildfire.


    ¡­


    Watching the distant flames that devoured everything, Feridon couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    ¡°Hahahahaha! These shadow bastards, they should¡¯ve paid long ago!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s best if they all burn to death!¡±


    Feridon, once a well-known mercenary in the Gloomy Region, had lost his lover and children to undead shadows during one of Dragon Shadow City¡¯s expansions. Since then, his life¡¯s greatest goal had been to destroy Dragon Shadow City and kill that shadow dragon.


    His heart was filled with an unquenchable hatred for Mortifael.


    But Daniel gazed into the distance with a grave expression, muttering to himself, ¡°This dragon¡­ seems bent on destroying everything.¡±


    Feridon¡¯s smile froze on his face. The battle-hardened warrior quickly asked, ¡°Can¡¯t we use spells to leave? Like we usually do, you take me into the Shadow Plane.¡±


    Daniel shook his head nervously.


    ¡°You¡¯re not a spellcaster, so you might not sense it. The Magic Web here is already in chaos, like plunging into the Sea of Chaos. Even someone like me can¡¯t cast any spells.¡±


    Feridon¡¯s face turned pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead, either from the spreading heat or extreme anxiety.


    He asked with some effort, ¡°Can we make contact with that dragon? The enemy of our enemy is our friend, after all. We are also rebels¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a terrifying ripple spread out.


    The sky darkened instantly, and Feridon and Daniel looked up quickly.


    Feridon¡¯s face was filled with terror, as if recalling the night when everyone around him was turned into undead shadows.


    ¡°That is¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Mortifael. He¡¯s here.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Daniel murmured softly.


    ¡­


    Half the sky was transforming into the Nether Shadow Realm¡ªa place deep and silent, filled with monochrome black and white. Twisted, ghastly branches appeared in Dragon Shadow City, howling shadow spirits emerged in the alleys, the sky was shrouded in endless shadows like a black dome, and the distant black mountains were shrouded in mist.


    Dragon Shadow City, already perched on the edge between the Material Plane and the Shadow Realm, would frequently slip into the Nether Shadow Realm at night.


    For centuries, the shadow dragons had been driving the city towards the Shadow Plane with undead shadows. Now, Mortifael was nearly exhausting his power to bring his true domain into Dragon Shadow City.


    Over a thousand shadows rose into the sky, forming a giant vortex nearly a hundred meters in diameter above the city.


    With a long roar, the shadow dragon, covered in coal-black scales with wings of a translucent substance, appeared in the vortex.


    It was ¡°Voice of the Night¡± Mortifael, the shadow nightmare that had once terrified Cassius, and the supreme ruler of this city.


    ¡°Mortifael, you rat hiding in the shadows, you¡¯ve finally decided to show yourself.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t appear before me¡­¡±


    ¡°Your centuries of work will turn to ashes.¡±


    Cassius watched the shadow dragon from above with a condescending gaze.


    ¡ªThat once invincible being now appeared as a black, venomous bat, weak and frail before him.


    The shadow dragon¡¯s dim gray eyes seemed to burn with ghostly flames, filled with resentment, anger, and disbelief.


    The young Red Dragon, once powerless before him, had now grown into a thirty-meter-long monster, robust as those prideful ancient Red Dragons. Such a terrifying growth rate was unheard of even among the legendary dragon breeds.


    Mortifael let out a hoarse roar, ¡°How is this possible¡­¡±


    ¡°In just a few short years, how could you have attained such power! Even as Tiamat¡¯s chosen, such a blessing is impossible!¡±


    As an underappreciated Black Dragon, only slightly higher in status than the White Dragons, Mortifael had succumbed to the allure of power, choosing the embrace of the Nether Shadow Realm and being transformed into an eternal shadow dragon.


    Yet even so, it had taken him several centuries to reach his current level.


    He couldn¡¯t believe it, nor accept that this Red Dragon could surpass him in just a few short years, treating his centuries of accumulation as nothing.


    Cassius sneered, flapping his wings to create a gale sweeping across the land.


    ¡°My power doesn¡¯t come from that old thing.¡±


    ¡°Crushing a pitiful rat is more than enough.¡±


    Mortifael¡¯s gray eyes reignited with ghostly green flames, full of jealousy and malice. He let out a subdued roar:


    ¡°You will become the strongest shadow I control!¡±


    ¡°And I will use this to prove my power to Her Majesty the Dragon Queen, becoming Her new favorite!¡±


    In the next moment, the shadow dragon flapped its spirit-like translucent wings, raising its slender neck to the sky, emitting a piercing scream¡ªthat sound was like the painful wails of countless beings just before being turned into undead shadows, a concentrated fear of death.


    That sound seemed to come from ancient darkness, mixed with the agonizing wails of thousands of undead shadows. It contained the shadow dragon¡¯s boundless hatred for light and life, as well as endless greed.


    Unique Ninth Tier Spell of the shadow dragon.


    ¡ª[Mortifael¡¯s Shadow Descending Spell]


    The black dome in the sky even began to slowly descend.


    The shadowy mountains in the distance gradually closed in, resembling a prison cage trapping the world.


    Tens of thousands of shadow creatures wailed, surging like a tide, revealing their twisted forms of black mist.


    And Mortifael, transformed into a vast shadow, melded his body into the sky, controlling that dreadful domain in the darkness.

 Chapter 280 - 280: 203: Revenge and Destruction

    Chapter 280: 203: Revenge and Destruction


    Cassius looked up at the ever-lowering shadow canopy, his eyes filled with eager interest, with a hint of destructive desire once again flickering in the depths of his pupils.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, so nostalgic, this spell again.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ let¡¯s tear it apart.¡±


    A smile appeared on that grim dragon face.


    ¡°Reckless fool, you will become nourishment for the Nether Shadow Realm!¡±


    Mortifael¡¯s voice echoed through the sky of the Shadow Domain like a venomous curse, though it carried a subtle note of panic.


    ...


    Cassius suddenly flapped his wings, ascending almost vertically. Chaotic, disorderly light patterns appeared in the crystal on his chest.


    Before the colossal black canopy covering the city, in front of that soul-crushing tide of shadows¡ªeven the thirty-meter-long Red Dragon seemed tiny¡ªyet Cassius showed no fear. Instead, his entire body radiated fervor, and he even let out a joyous roar.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    Dark red flames spewed from his mouth, heading straight for the shadow canopy.


    The pitch-black canopy was torn apart!


    The moment the Chaos Flame touched the shadow, the canopy was instantly pierced, creating a massive red wound.


    Flames continued to burn fiercely at the edges of the gap, spreading relentlessly, with the undead shadows vanishing before even having the chance to wail.


    And the Red Dragon had already plunged into the thick black fog without hesitation, the chaotic light flames around him incinerating all approaching shadows into more chaotic particles.


    ¡°Mortifael, your hiding is meaningless!¡±


    ¡°My Breath of Chaos will purify everything!¡±


    Cassius roared, rampaging through the shadowy fog, creating one burning hole after another in the pitch-black canopy, making it look like a tattered black cloth.


    Meanwhile, the Shadow Dragon moved through his domain, seeking an opportunity.


    This Dragon Shadow Mage had fought countless battles over centuries, developing an exceptionally venomous combat system.


    When the dark canopy descended, the Shadow Walking Magic allowed Mortifael to move through the shadows unseen, appearing anywhere the shadows reached, and the Obsidian Eye let him perceive everything within the shadows. With Soul Cursing Shadow Magic, Shadow Curse Magic, Shadow Shaping Magic¡ªhe could simulate any spell he knew within his domain, transforming it into shadow magic.


    However, the Chaos Flame surrounding the Red Dragon threw him into complete disarray. These flames seemed alive, disrupting every spell he constructed, continuously devouring his shadow domain, making his hiding place ever smaller.


    As time passed, the shadow domain he had accumulated over a hundred years would eventually be entirely dissipated!


    ¡°Damn Divine Favored, damn flames!¡±


    Mortifael muttered darkly.


    Yet this sound, faint as it was, revealed a clue to Cassius.


    ¡°Rats in the shadows¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve caught you.¡±


    Cassius grinned, revealing a ferocious smile. He suddenly flapped his powerful wings, instantly covering hundreds of meters, diving straight into the hidden shadow.


    ¡°I will grant you the most thorough destruction! You should be honored!¡±


    ¡°Let me show you my new strength!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon let out a roar that shook the night. His eyes were bloodshot, his pupils filled with a desire for destruction.


    Large amounts of saliva and flame dripped from his gaping jaws, and boiling blood seeped through the gaps in his scales, giving them a bloody sheen.


    With his roar, the gloomy region around him and even the world aboveground trembled. Countless living creatures shivered in the face of this terrifying might, quivering under this frenzied will.


    Boiling rage¡ªthis was the Bloodscale Frenzy!


    ¡°Impossible¡­¡±


    The Shadow Dragon in the darkness felt an endless terror rise from the depths of his soul.


    For centuries, he had been a nightmare to all living beings, a harbinger of countless nightmares.


    But now, Mortifael tasted the long-forgotten flavor of fear, not only leaving him flustered but also bringing an incredible sense of defeat.


    That strong, terrifying, frenzied Red Dragon flapped his wings, stirring a supernatural wind laced with the stench of blood and blowing away the incorporeal shadow, revealing the Shadow Dragon hidden within.


    Shadow Walking Magic


    The Shadow Dragon hurriedly cast a spell, preparing to flee into the shadows. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, Cassius¡¯s speed was frighteningly fast, creating a piercing sonic boom in midair. The next moment, the Red Dragon appeared before the Shadow Dragon without warning.


    Gazing at the rapidly approaching Red Dragon, Mortifael gritted his teeth and cast a spell.


    Shadow Shaping Magic


    Endless shadows were summoned by him, forming a deep vortex before him to try to tear the Red Dragon apart.


    In the sky, pitch-black meteors appeared, hurling themselves at the Red Dragon in simulation of the Meteor Burst spell.


    Mortifael¡¯s eyes flashed with a deep light, casting multiple terrifying illusions successively.


    However, Cassius¡¯s expression grew even more savage. He opened his jaws wide, issuing a frenzied roar like a wild prehistoric beast. More blood seeped from his scales, forming a crimson veil that blocked all spells around him.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Dracon¡¯s Fury


    Under the Bloodscaled Fury¡¯s wrath, all illusions were easily shattered, the barriers of spells breaking like fragile walls under the Red Dragon¡¯s powerful body.


    ¡°No, such power¡­¡±


    ¡°How can he possess such power!¡±


    Mortifael¡¯s voice was laced with panic and fear, as well as endless jealousy and greed.


    To seek power, he had abandoned dragon dignity, collecting undead shadows at all costs, only to see his spells ruthlessly crushed by a young dragon barely decades old.


    This Shadow Dragon desire nothing more, he yearned to possess Cassius¡¯s strength, to replace him and become the Dragon Queen¡¯s favored one.


    ¡°This all should be mine!¡±


    Mortifael screeched in a piercing, overlapping wail.


    Shadow Curse Magic


    Black mist swirled around him, the shadows coalescing into hideous Shadow Dragons in midair, encircling the Red Dragon.


    They shrieked in unison, spitting torrent-like Shadow Breath.


    Yet despite his severely diminished reason, Cassius harbored the most frenzied Spell Breaking Core.


    He saw through the true form of the Shadow Dragon in an instant, flapping his wings violently, easily breaking through the countless strange shadow magic barriers, a red streak charging at the Shadow Dragon. His powerful arm with its iron-like bulging muscles gripped its slender neck.


    The Shadow Dragon struggled continuously, trying to dissolve into shadow and escape, but the Chaos Flame emanating from the Red Dragon¡¯s body nearly drove him to despair.


    ¡°I¡­ caught you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to tear, destroy, everything.¡±


    In the state of the Bloodscale Frenzy, his words came out almost crazed.


    Cassius gazed into the Shadow Dragon¡¯s gray eyes, his entire body enveloped in a turbulent white smoke, his pupils filled with the desire for destruction¡ªexactly like Karex in the illusion.

 Chapter 281 - 204: Slaughter

    Chapter 281: Chapter 204: Slaughter


    ¡°Screech¡ª¡±


    Along with Cassius¡¯s wanton roar, black blood splattered in mid-air, and one of the Shadow Dragon¡¯s wings was torn off, with its translucent soul-quality wing membrane gradually dissipating.


    ¡°Aaaah!¡±


    Mortifael let out a howl of extreme pain, his coal-like black body writhing and struggling.


    But against the absolute strength of the Bloodscaled Fury and the chaotic flames swirling around, his struggles were so pale and powerless.


    ¡°I will tear you to pieces!¡±


    ...


    Cassius laughed wildly, his pale gold eyes filled with red blood vessels. He was like a predator toying with his prey, licking the taste of blood, savoring the pleasure of slowly teasing and dismembering his prey.


    ¡°No, no, I am the Voice of the Night!¡±


    ¡°Seven hundred years of accumulation, consuming millions of lives, how could I lose to you!¡±


    In the extremity of the will to survive, the Shadow Dragon finally cast a spell.


    [Shadow Escape Technique]


    Accompanied by spatial fluctuation, Mortifael¡¯s body transformed into several clusters of black mist, slipping away from Cassius¡¯s claws.


    Immediately, several dozen Shadow Dragons appeared in mid-air, their wings nearly all damaged, constantly absorbing energy from the Shadow Domain and visibly recovering.


    The Shadow Dragons wailed again, like the cries of vengeful ghosts.


    [Hell Legion]


    The sky filled with hundreds of terrifying Hell Demons.


    They wielded their weapons and swarmed from all directions, charging toward the frenzied Red Dragon.


    This was a spell simulated through Shadow Matter using the abilities of the [Shadow Curse Spell].


    These spells had about eighty percent authenticity, making it impossible for ordinary people to discern the anomalies, and more insidiously, if someone saw through the Shadow Curse Spell¡¯s nature, they would be infiltrated by Shadow Energy, suffering additional mental trauma.


    However, the Bloodscaled Fury did not care whether the enemies in front were real or fake, he only wanted to tear them all apart.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Cassius roared in rage again.


    That massive and robust body rampaged through mid-air.


    He opened his blood-red mouth to bite, clawing with sharp talons, sweeping with his thick tail.


    In just a few breaths, blood glistened in the air, and the Red Dragon indulged in carnage among the Hell Legion, annihilating all those simulated demons, leaving not a single one behind.


    But Mortifael never intended to defeat the Red Dragon with those demons, only to stall this beast.


    His true form had already teleported several miles away to Dragon Shadow City, where he was struggling to sort out a spell prototype within the chaotic Shadow Magic Web, preparing to create an Otherworld Gate to leave this plane.


    ¡°Just stall for a moment, just stall for a moment longer¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, Cassius, I will return, the Voice of the Night is a patient hunter.¡±


    ¡°The night will completely engulf you, and then your body, the secrets behind you¡ªeverything will be mine.¡±


    Low murmurs echoed in the air.


    The Shadow Dragon continued to spew black mist, constructing black vortexes in the air, his gray, dim eyes filled with venom.


    But at this moment, a terrifying screech came from behind him.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Mortifael whipped his head around.


    He saw the Red Dragon roaring towards him like a shooting star, its speed terrifying, with a dark red tail flame trailing behind its wings.


    The Shadow Dragon¡¯s face showed panic, hastening the construction of the Otherworld Gate, but Cassius had already reached his side, letting out another frenzied roar.


    He was up close.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    Mortifael¡¯s howl sounded.


    The next moment, Cassius grabbed the Shadow Dragon¡¯s frail body, and together they plummeted rapidly from the sky, the Red Dragon¡¯s terrifying weight crashing to the ground.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    With the tremor of the earth, dust flew, and large swathes of buildings turned into ruins, the thunderous sound clearly heard by everyone in Dragon Shadow City.


    The fall created a powerful shockwave centered on the entangled dragons, shattering nearby building windows.


    The Shadow Dragon was pinned under Cassius, unable to move.


    The ethereal form of Mortifael, with its shadowy constitution, made him hard to be harmed by material, but with his supernatural attributes broken by the Scales of Blood and Chaos Flame, his body still suffered severe injuries.


    Just being in the Shadow Domain, the endless black mist poured from the sky, and his ravaged, mutilated body began to recover visibly.


    Usually, this terrifying domain could render him undying.


    But being in close proximity only made the frenzied Red Dragon happier, allowing him to vent his long-repressed bruteness and turning the Shadow Dragon into a hard-to-kill punching bag.


    Aaaah! Mortifael writhed and struggled, spewing black shadowy torrents from his mouth.


    But the next moment, the frenzied Red Dragon tore open his neck with sharp claws, stomping his nebulous head into the ground with a forceful press.


    Boom!


    The ground formed a deep pit, the head already torn off and crushed into a bloody pulp, resembling a glob of black slime.


    The dense mist continued to pour from the sky, mending the Shadow Dragon¡¯s broken body, his head rapidly reforming, but those gray eyes now filled with terror.


    Mortifael had never been this wretched.


    He wanted to struggle, to escape, but the chaotic power was omnipresent.


    Cassius gripped the Shadow Dragon¡¯s neck, lifting him single-handedly before smashing him into the ground again. Several houses crumbled under the Shadow Dragon¡¯s massive weight, laying to waste.


    No, no, if only I could escape¡­ Mortifael struggled to get up, desperately flapping his wings to ascend, trying to flee this hell.


    But just as the Shadow Dragon was about to leave the ground, the Red Dragon grinned maliciously, seizing his tail with immense force and yanking him back, immediately crushing his head again.


    Another thunderous boom.


    Repeatedly, the frenzied Red Dragon killed the Shadow Dragon time and time again.


    At this moment, Mortifael appeared to be¡ªnothing but a toy.


    With the battle of these two colossal beings, half of Dragon Shadow City was destroyed, turning former shops and taverns into utter ruins, countless city residents perished from the collateral damage of this crushing battle, yet Cassius cared nothing for any of it.


    Finally, the Bloodscaled Fury seemed to have grown bored.


    Crack! Cassius grabbed the Shadow Dragon¡¯s wings, forcefully breaking them, then tore the body open from the shoulders, exposing large swathes of shadowy internals. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mud-like translucent blood gushed from the Shadow Dragon¡¯s body.


    Roar¡ª The Red Dragon roared, chaotic light patterns overflowed from the dragon crystal on its chest, and the dark red Breath of Chaos spouted from the blood-filled mouth.


    The Chaos Flame rushed into the Shadow Dragon¡¯s open body, destroying the already still Heart of Shadows, simultaneously obliterating its evil essence and soul, turning it into basic, most chaotic shadow matter particles.

 Chapter 282 - 205: Slaughter of the City

    Chapter 282: Chapter 205: Slaughter of the City


    Amidst the howls of the Undead Shadows, the pitch-black sky rapidly dissipated, and the distant black peaks gradually vanished. The shadow creatures of the entire Dragon Shadow City¡ªthose Shadow Devourers, Shadow Shift Beasts, Shadow Spirits, and even the Shadow Dragon seemed to sense their master¡¯s death, all emitting cries of terror and panicked roars.


    After seven hundred years of domination in the Gloomy Region, the ¡°Voice of the Night,¡± Motifel, was utterly dead.


    Even the Goddess of the Night could not retrieve his soul under the complete annihilation by the Chaos Flame, leaving him to disintegrate into chaotic and disordered matter.


    ¡°ROAR¡ª¡ª¡±


    A fervent roar resounded once again.


    Cassius¡¯s massive mouth drooled large globs of saliva and flames, his face contorted with rage, his eyes still filled with blood veins, and the bloody outline still covering his body.


    ...


    ¡°Not enough, still not enough.¡±


    ¡°Slaughter¡­ Destruction¡­ Purification!¡±


    The Red Dragon suddenly flapped its wide wings, stirring a gale that swept through the city. The gigantic dragon body soared into the sky.


    He glanced down at the tens of thousands of living beings in Dragon Shadow City, grinning cruelly, with flames of destruction burning fiercely in the depths of his pupils, as if they would never extinguish.


    ¡­


    ¡°Look! The Shadow Domain is gone.¡±


    ¡°Motifel is dead!¡±


    Feridon looked at the rapidly retreating black sky, his expression agitated, almost incoherent.


    That Shadow Dragon had cast a shadow over his entire life, destroying all his happiness, the feeling of endless dark oppression suffocating him to this day.


    Now, the enemy was slain. Although it wasn¡¯t by his own hands, the joy he felt was indescribable, even bringing tears to his eyes.


    He patted Daniel on the shoulder, seemingly wanting him to celebrate this ¡°victory¡± together.


    But the Drow Elf¡¯s face remained serious, cold sweat even beading on his forehead.


    Feridon noticed his companion¡¯s unusual behavior and became somewhat puzzled.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Daniel? Motifel is dead. Isn¡¯t this worth celebrating?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy too soon, Feridon.¡±


    Daniel slowly lifted his head, gazing at the sky where the black mist was dissipating.


    ¡°I always feel¡­ This isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    Remembering the frenzied Red Dragon, anxiety gripped Feridon¡¯s heart.


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be¡­ The enemy¡¯s enemy is our friend. We just need to reveal our identity as part of the rebel army, and he shouldn¡¯t trouble us¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a fierce gale struck, making them unsteady on their feet. Feridon instinctively raised his arm in front of him.


    ¡°Fe¡­ Feridon, look up.¡±


    Daniel¡¯s voice trembled, pointing towards the sky with a shaking arm.


    Feridon slowly lifted his head, looking at where the Drow Elf was pointing, and his expression changed drastically.


    ¡°ROAR¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡ªThey saw the massive Red Dragon appearing in the sky again, its wide wings casting a gigantic shadow, its pale golden pupils filled with a desire for destruction, a cruel smile on its hideous dragon face.


    A powerful Dragon¡¯s Aura Field descended, suffocating every mortal in the city.


    The Dragon Crystal on its chest emitted a blinding light.


    The Red Dragon slowly opened its massive jaws.


    Dark red flames poured out like a waterfall, descending upon the city.


    The entire Dragon Shadow City burned, whether stone buildings or flesh and blood, anything touched by the Chaos Flame faced an inescapable end of destruction.


    This was Karex¡¯s Purifying Flame, a pure symbol of destruction and power.


    The dark red flames spread through the city at an unimaginable speed, turning half the city into a sea of fire in an instant.


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s burning!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s coming! I don¡¯t want to die!¡±


    The cries and screams of countless people echoed from the sea of fire, but the sounds were all extremely short-lived, disappearing almost the instant they were made, be they men, women, or children, humans, Drow Elves, or Dwarves. Any living being touched by the dark red flames disintegrated into pure chaos.


    Escape was useless; resistance was futile.


    Cassius flew above the city, flapping his wings, following the spreading flames like a herald of scourge, the embodiment of the Purifying Flame.


    Feridon looked at the approaching flames, climbed to the top of a building, and waved his arms desperately towards the sky.


    ¡°We are the rebel army!¡±


    ¡°Red Dragon sir, please stop! We also have a grudge against that Shadow Dragon!¡±


    Sweat streamed down his forehead as he shouted.


    The Drow Elf stiffly extended his hand, patting the human warrior¡¯s shoulder, his tone bleak: ¡°Stop, Feridon. This is useless.¡±


    Daniel looked despairingly at the giant dragon in the sky, murmuring to himself:


    ¡°I once heard a record in the ancient history of elves¡­¡±


    ¡°It was a symbol of destruction¡­¡±


    ¡°He is the purifier of the world¡­¡±


    But before he could finish, the blazing Chaos Flame had already spread here, engulfing the Drow Elf and the human alike.


    Cassius spread his wings, gliding through the sky, his expression filled with indifference, seemingly oblivious to the humans calling from the ground, or perhaps not caring at all.


    The living beings of Dragon Shadow City, whether good or evil, from whatever faction, were mere vessels for the Red Dragon¡¯s desire for destruction, parts of cold numbers.


    Ultimately, in the sound of crackling flames, Dragon Shadow City, with its history of over a thousand years, turned to ashes, not even fragments left behind.


    ¡°Crack¡­ crack¡­¡±


    The scorched ground still retained traces of the Chaos Flame. Those heavy ashes might be the only proof of this city¡¯s existence, and everything¡ªthe Drow Elves¡¯ trade prosperity, the dark oppression during the Shadow Dragon¡¯s rule, and the gathered strength of countless residents¡¯ resistance¡ªall vanished with the burning flames.


    ¡­


    Cassius finally broke free from the state of ¡°Bloodscale Frenzy.¡±


    On his savage dragon face, there was still the blood glow from post-slaughter destruction, his pale golden pupils filled with excitement.


    The notifications on his panel kept refreshing before his eyes.


    [You killed the ¡°Voice of the Night, Motifel (Challenge Level: 21),¡± gaining 33,000 xp]


    [You killed the ¡°Shadow Dragon,¡± gaining 10,000 xp]


    [You killed the ¡°Undying Shadows,¡± gaining 800 xp]


    [You killed the ¡°Shadow Spirit,¡± gaining¡­]


    ¡­


    [You killed the ¡°Drow Elf,¡± gaining 15 xp]


    [You killed the ¡°Human Merchant,¡± gaining 5 xp] S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just this city massacre alone had brought his experience points close to the threshold for the next level up.


    Gazing at those tantalizing numbers, a strange thought suddenly arose in Cassius¡¯s mind.


    ¡°If I kill all the creatures in the Prime Material World¡­ How powerful would I become?¡±


    ¡°Comparable to a deity?¡±


    ¡°Or¡­ surpassing the gods?¡±


    Once this thought appeared, it was like an unstoppable flood, flowing freely in his mind.


    Author¡¯s Note: There will be a twist later, don¡¯t abandon

 Chapter 283 - 206 Incarnate Ancient Dragon

    Chapter 283: Chapter 206 Incarnate Ancient Dragon


    ¡°Master, you¡­ finally returned.¡±


    In front of the portal to the Gloomy Region, Ramp waited cautiously.


    He lowered his head, his ugly nose keenly smelling the blood on the Red Dragon, but he didn¡¯t say a word.


    ¡°Mortifael¡ªthat rat in the gutter is dead.¡±


    Cassius spoke in a flat tone, as if he were stating the most ordinary matter.


    Ramp suddenly thought of Dragon Shadow City, which Mortifael ruled, a city with an advantageous location and thriving trade. Perhaps it could become a frontline stronghold for the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s advance into the Gloomy Region.


    ...


    But the Ogre Mage, observing the Red Dragon¡¯s expression, found that Cassius seemed unwilling to speak further, even appearing somewhat impatient, so he immediately abandoned his inquiry.


    ¡°Your great power is enough to make the gods tremble.¡±


    ¡°From now on, nothing can threaten Northwind Castle again.¡±


    Ramp knelt on the ground, respectfully flattering, his massive body resembling a mountain of flesh.


    But Cassius seemed somewhat distracted, merely nodded slightly, then flapped his wings and flew towards the Steel Dragonwing Palace in the suburbs of the city.


    It was a long time before the kneeling Ramp dared to lift his head, and after confirming that the Red Dragon¡¯s figure had disappeared, he took out a golden silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead.


    ¡°The master¡­ has become more powerful, but his personality has also changed.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.¡±


    The Ogre Mage looked up at the fiery twilight in the sky, anxiously muttering to himself.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, inside the Royal Palace.


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfurous smoke, his entire body surrounded by white smoke, even sparks flickering in his pupils, and hot flowing flames seeping through the gaps in his scales.


    He coldly watched the panel.


    [You killed [Lion Guard, Auckland], gained 1800XP]


    [You killed [Sword Guardian, Tyrande], gained 1600XP]


    [You killed [Human Soldier], gained 400XP]


    ¡­


    [You killed [Human Groom], gained 5XP]


    [You killed [Human Merchant], gained 1XP]


    On the way from Northwind Castle to the Royal Palace, he casually destroyed a human caravan coming from Stratholme Fortress for trade.


    This caravan was quite wealthy, guarded by several advanced professionals. They were more than sufficient to deal with roadside bandits, or even the snowmen in deep mountains, but it was all futile in the face of the Red Dragon.


    These unfortunate humans merely found themselves covered by a massive shadow, looked up in terror, and before they could even shout ¡°Danger!¡± or ¡°Alert!¡± the dark red searing fire descended from the sky like a divine punishment.


    The flames engulfed and annihilated them, leaving not a trace of struggle.


    No one would notice the disappearance of this caravan; it would probably just be a minor entry in a ledger.


    Yet this caravan had provided Cassius with the final bit of meager experience.


    After hesitating briefly between the ¡°Bloodscaled Fury¡± and ¡°True Dragon Sorcerer¡± professions, he made his final choice.


    [Your total occupational level reached 17]


    [You chose to advance [True Dragon Sorcerer] to level 14] S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Due to dragonkin¡¯s innate spellcasting, your current spellcasting level is: 19]


    [You are among the top sorcerers in this world, gaining an ability granted by your sorcery origin]


    In his memories from a previous life, this level of advancement was a new leap for all professionals. Sorcerers would gain abilities from their sorcery origin, becoming true advanced professionals, kingdom-level masters. This was why he ultimately chose to forego further advancing the Bloodscaled Fury.


    [You gained a sorcery origin ability: [Incarnate Ancient Dragon]]


    [Incarnate Ancient Dragon]


    [True Dragon Sorcerers often seek wisdom from older predecessors or trace those ancient beings their bloodline comes from. To better understand, they might even transform into ancient dragons themselves.


    You can choose to incarnate into one of the ordinary true dragons: five-colored dragons, metal dragons, or gem dragons, consuming a drop of True Dragon Blood for the transformation. While incarnated, you become an authentic ancient dragon, possessing all base attributes and spell-like abilities. However, these abilities are mainly for comprehension and can be used only briefly, gradually fading in battle.]


    ¡°A good ability.¡±


    Cassius commented.


    An ancient dragon was among the most powerful beings in the Material Plane. Even a brief experience would be highly beneficial, not to mention the ¡°short duration of use¡±?


    The challenge level of an ancient Red Dragon was 22, and an ancient Gold Dragon a terrifying 23. This strength allowed one to dominate in Erezer; even Cassius would find it hard to defeat an ancient Gold Dragon without using the Breath of Chaos.


    [You gained an extra Dragon¡¯s Spell: [Primal Hunter]]


    Primal Hunter


    2nd-level Transmutation


    Your muscles swell with ancestral power memories, tensing for rapid movement.


    This spell causes your body to recall your ancestors¡¯ strength, harking back to the era when they fought for survival. You gain a +5 performance bonus on Climb, Jump, and Swim checks.


    ¡°Useless thing.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s expression turned sour; such a spell was scarcely of any use to a dragon of his level.


    [You gained an extra Dragon¡¯s Spell: [Dragon¡¯s Justice]]


    Dragon¡¯s Justice


    6th-level Transmutation


    Bright yellow light emanates from your body, appearing as if you were covered in glowing spikes.


    You create a field of arcane force around yourself that deals retaliatory damage to those who attack you. While the spell is active, any creature attacking you with a weapon will suffer piercing damage from the force field.


    ¡°This one is still useful.¡±


    Cassius casually swayed his head, sparks escaping from the corners of his mouth, feeling the heat flow within.


    But he was still pondering that tempting thought just now.


    ¡°Kill all life forms in the Prime Material World.¡±


    ¡°Continue ruling the Ashen Kingdom¡­ or destroy this world in pursuit of supreme power.¡±


    ¡°This might truly be a kind of purification.¡±


    The Red Dragon pondered excitedly, the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± beating powerfully with his strong heart, supplying endless energy through his veins.


    He had never felt such abundant energy in his body, as if infinite vitality awaited his release.


    ¡°Power.¡±


    ¡°This is everything that exists in this world.¡±


    Cassius extended his claw, dark red flames spraying from his palm, then suddenly clenched it.


    At once, immense energy erupted, making hot winds sweep several miles around.


    He felt unprecedented power surging through his dragon body; even if a deity¡¯s incarnation descended, he was confident he could devour it with Chaos Flame¡ªthat felt more like boundless ambition.


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon bared his fangs in a menacing smile, his wings trembling uncontrollably, seeming to have made a choice.

 Chapter 284 - 207 Olivia

    Chapter 284: Chapter 207 Olivia


    At night, the Steel Dragonwing Palace was still so silent, not even a hint of life could be heard. Under the powerful Dragon¡¯s Might, even the chirping of insects failed to break the silence.


    Even though the Red Dragon had long since awakened, with no more unintentional scourges descending, the retainers still dared not approach this sacred place.


    ¡°It¡¯s the same time again.¡±


    ¡°This should be the sixty-seventh night¡­¡±


    Olivia slowly opened her eyes. Moonlight flowed into her blue-gray pupils and shone on her smooth scales, reflecting numerous light spots on the ground, like a scattering of sparkling silver coins.


    Two months¡ªthat length of time was particularly short for any kind of giant dragon, but for the Silver Dragon trapped in the Dragon Binding Array, that short span seemed infinitely prolonged, with every minute and second being sheer torment.


    ...


    Scorching chains greedily drained her vitality, constantly pricking her with pain, making it impossible for her to find rest.


    The Silver Dragon slightly fluttered her wings, and with a subtle rustling sound, the glossy wing membranes reflected the moonlight. The heavy chains, sensing the movement, continued to sear her body.


    But she merely gritted her silver teeth, emitting a barely audible groan.


    ¡°Mm¡­¡±


    Olivia endured the excruciating pain, struggling to turn over.


    Yet, all of this was not over. The Silver Dragon painfully lifted her head.


    The heavy chains tightly wound around her slender neck, intermittently flashing with scorching spell radiance, even hissing with sizzling sounds, causing her flesh to emit white smoke and form bloodstains.


    In the end, she clenched her teeth and raised her head, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, cherishing the rare moonlight. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And that could be considered finding comfort amidst suffering.


    Such a despair-inducing life, she had long gotten used to.


    She had gotten used to the occasional Bipedal Wyvern flying across the sky, gotten used to the apathetic vigilance of the Tiefling Guards, and gotten used to the unbearable heat inside the palace.


    She had also tried to send out information to the outside world, messaging the Bipedal Wyverns, communicating with the Tiefling Guards, hoping to sway these retainers of the King of Ashen, but all her attempts ended in failure. The Red Dragon¡¯s rule here was terrifyingly solid.


    Despite being in this silent hell forged of steel, the blue-gray pupils of the Silver Dragon still flickered with a faint light of determination.


    She was still quietly waiting for something.


    ¡°Anhel¡­¡±


    ¡°One day, he will come to rescue me, he made a promise to me.¡±


    Olivia thought to herself silently.


    In the story of the Scale of Oath told by her father, the Silver Dragon Dekstlethof had waited by the cave entrance for a thousand years, from a young dragon to an ancient dragon. Eventually, his unwavering love moved the Platinum Dragon God Bahamut.


    This deity used immense divine power to revive the female dragon, allowing him to reunite with his mate.


    And the King of Ashen was by no means an enemy who could be defeated in a day. Olivia had already prepared herself to be trapped here for hundreds, even thousands of years.


    Though the Red Dragon was immensely powerful, almost invincible, she steadfastly believed¡ª that mysterious, righteous Gold Dragon could save her from this demon¡¯s lair.


    Olivia also swore an oath, vowing never to submit to the King of Ashen, no matter the inhuman torment she might suffer, no matter the risk of facing death.


    ¡°This place is really boring¡­¡±


    ¡°If only he could visit me often.¡±


    A silly smile involuntarily appeared on Olivia¡¯s face, somehow lessening her pain.


    She recalled that equally silent night when Gold Dragon Anhel risked his life to break into the palace, sincerely apologized to her, made a heartfelt promise, and held an intimate conversation with her during their brief time together.


    Those sincere, earnest words still echoed in her mind, enduringly and endlessly.


    ¡°Olivia, right now, my strength is not enough to oppose this Red Dragon, he is simply too powerful. I¡­ might need more resources.¡±


    ¡°Money, spell scrolls, and even the assistance of other Metal Dragons¡­¡±


    ¡°But no matter what, even if I exhaust everything, spend all my treasures, I will save you from this place. That is my promise to you.¡±


    That sense of finding a glimmer of hope in despair, the feeling of grabbing the last straw, and the heart-stirring emotion evoked by a promise, she would never forget in her lifetime.


    However, Olivia also knew well that her so-called ¡°visits¡± were just unrealistic fantasies.


    She was currently in the palace of the King of Ashen, not some freely accessible hostel. Every infiltration by the Gold Dragon was a tremendous risk, and if discovered, could mean certain death.


    Olivia always prided herself on being a rational spell researcher, thinking herself born to study the essence of the world. She even set aside the pride of a dragon to find a legendary mage as a mentor.


    She never thought she would experience an adventure story like a roller-coaster journey or receive a fairy-tale-like beautiful love, but everything had happened naturally, despite the ups and downs and even the pain.


    ¡°How long do I have to wait here?¡±


    ¡°Anhel, don¡¯t let me down¡­¡±


    Olivia even fantasized in her mind about the scene of being rescued in the future.


    She believed it would be the most beautiful moment in the world, even surpassing any memory from her century-long life.


    ¡°We will study spells together, build a beautiful and cozy mage tower, have our own territory and city. By then, the Merlwood Family will be our solid support.¡±


    ¡°We will travel the multiverse, follow Lord Bahamut¡¯s steps, and fly together with those kind heavenly creatures in the Heavenly Mountain¡­¡±


    ¡°We will roam freely in Elysium, befriend Roc Feather Angels and powerful Lion-headed Emissaries, let the waters of the Sea God River purify our souls¡­¡±


    ¡°We will adventure in Jose Garden, witness those eternal battlefields and the heroes of glory¡­¡±


    ¡°We will wander in the Mechanical Realm, studying the most perfect order¡­¡±


    Countless beautiful imagined scenes flashed through Olivia¡¯s mind like a series of continuous illustrations, like the images in a revolving lantern, manifesting the embodiments of her heart¡¯s longings.


    Even the constant excruciating pain couldn¡¯t stop her from falling into a deep sleep, enjoying this momentary peace.


    She had been waiting here, awake, for several months.


    She was simply too tired.


    The Silver Dragon slowly closed her eyes. Her slender, graceful dragon body was already covered in wounds, but her mouth still held a serene smile, perhaps she was immersed in a delightful dream.


    But the deeply asleep Olivia didn¡¯t notice¡ª


    The filthy, foul-smelling black energy floated above her head, greedily sucking in the light and dissipating thoughts.


    ¡­

 Chapter 285 - 208 Reunion

    Chapter 285: Chapter 208 Reunion


    ¡°Hmm¡­ What happened?¡±


    Olivia slowly opened her eyes, her pupils shimmering faintly in the darkness.


    The elegantly poised Silver Dragon slightly stretched her wings, struggling to prop herself up with her limbs and rise from the ground. She felt as though her body no longer belonged to her.


    The surroundings were somewhat dim, with the light seemingly being absorbed by something, causing her pupils to dilate slightly.


    ¡°Huh? Wait, this is¡ª¡±


    Only then did Olivia fully awaken from her dream-like state. To her astonishment, she found that the restraints on her body had been removed!


    ...


    The heavy chains once embedded in her flesh had vanished, along with the binding, oppressive pain that had come with them.


    ¡°Olivia, I hope I¡¯m not too late.¡±


    A familiar voice came through.


    The Silver Dragon first felt incredulous, then turned around with immense joy to see the figure she had longed for day and night.


    Short black hair, glowing golden vertical pupils, a handsome young face, a noble robe with gold trim, and faint golden scales showing through¡ªthis was ¡°Angel,¡± the Young Gold Dragon who had made a promise to her.


    ¡°You, you¡­¡±


    The immense joy overwhelmed Olivia.


    She trembled slightly.


    For this reunion, Olivia had rehearsed countless lines in her heart.


    But when the moment truly came, perhaps because she was too emotional, all those words got stuck in her throat, and she didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment.


    Finally, she could only stammer out a few words.


    ¡°I¡­ am I¡­ really not dreaming?¡±


    ¡°Angel¡± didn¡¯t respond; he just looked at her with a smile, as if to say ¡°this is indeed reality.¡±


    Yes, the real touch, the real presence.


    Olivia suddenly felt a sting in her nose, her blue-gray eyes brimming with tears.


    However, when she lowered her head, she saw her body covered in wounds, not even bothering to wipe the tears falling from her eyes. She just swiped randomly with her claws and anxiously said: ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like this!¡±


    ¡°I look terribly pathetic in this state!¡±


    Before the words were even finished, fine particles of magical aura shimmered on her body. Her form rapidly shrank, finally transforming into a noble young woman with silver-white hair cascading down her shoulders.


    Yet, she did not look particularly graceful at the moment.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±


    Olivia threw herself into ¡°Angel¡¯s¡± arms, no longer able to contain her emotions. Tears flowed from her blue-gray eyes.


    Angel gently embraced her, letting her release her long-repressed feelings.


    Sobs echoed in the hall.


    After a long while, Olivia became aware of her overreaction. Reluctantly, she let go, gently pushing Angel away while gazing into his golden eyes.


    Having cried so hard, her words still carried a hint of a sob.


    ¡°Angel, how long has it been now?¡±


    ¡°Exactly ninety-eight days.¡±


    ¡°Angel,¡± or rather Cassius, responded.


    ¡°The King of Ashen mysteriously disappeared a few months ago, and I found a way to break the prohibition from an ancient ruin. So I came to find you immediately. How about it, not too late, right?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not.¡±


    Olivia gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and suddenly broke into a smile.


    ¡°You still remember that promise after all.¡±


    She whispered cautiously. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius walked up to her, leaning close to her cheek: ¡°I said, even if it costs me everything, even all my treasures, I will save you from here. That¡¯s my promise to you.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s leave together now. This is not a place to stay; no one knows when the King of Ashen might return.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Olivia nodded emphatically, her cheeks slightly flushed.


    Cassius took the girl¡¯s slender hand, summoned a portal, and led her toward the outside world.


    But the Silver Dragon girl, immersed in happiness and filled with beautiful expectations, did not realize that the so-called ¡°promise¡± was a complete deception from the very beginning.


    ¡­


    ¡°Is this the Witch Veil Tavern?¡±


    ¡°You once said this is your favorite tavern. Since it¡¯s already very late, let¡¯s rest here for now.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Olivia¡¯s face showed a faint, serene smile.


    Walking into the room on the tavern¡¯s second floor, the walls were adorned with candles like witch staffs, casting a flickering, somewhat dim light. The bed was covered with an intricately patterned silk blanket.


    The atmosphere seemed slightly ambiguous.


    The silver-haired girl¡¯s face blushed slightly. After all, she had never experienced such a situation.


    Silver Dragons did not reject love and considered it a beautiful and elegant matter, but most of Olivia¡¯s time had been spent researching spells, leaving her little time to think about such things carefully.


    She was at a bit of a loss.


    After a long period of hesitation and confusion, Olivia timidly asked:


    ¡°Should we go to sleep now?¡±


    ¡°Why¡­ don¡¯t we first discuss some spells, Olivia teacher?¡±


    Cassius teased, deliberately emphasizing the word ¡°teacher.¡±


    He took the girl¡¯s hand and, naturally, pulled her into his arms. Finally, the two sat on the soft, large bed together, their bodies melded as one.


    Olivia didn¡¯t resist, but her cheeks turned visibly red, almost steamy.


    The silver-haired girl tried to maintain her composure:


    ¡°Wha-what spell?¡±


    Cassius whispered into Olivia¡¯s ear: ¡°You are the ¡®Silver Star¡¯; naturally, we should discuss spells related to the stars.¡±


    Olivia felt weak all over, sweating lightly, but she nervously replied:


    ¡°Are you talking about¡­ the Crown of Stars?¡±


    ¡°Mmm¡ª¡±


    Before she could finish, her mouth was covered by soft lips.


    Olivia initially struggled instinctively, but as time passed and their fluids mingled, her eyes gradually became dazed, completely immersed in it.


    Cassius deftly removed the star-adorned long dress that wrapped around her body, revealing a vast expanse of fair skin and an impressive figure.


    The silver-haired girl¡¯s breathing grew increasingly rapid. The faint sounds of her gasping could be heard clearly within the room.


    ¡°Olivia teacher, let¡¯s first touch the spell prototype¡­¡±


    ¡°No, Angel¡­¡±


    ¡°Olivia teacher, I want to delve my consciousness into the Magic Web, touch its veins, and reach the weak spot at its summit.¡±


    ¡°Angel, don¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°If you do this, the Magic Web will, it¡¯s going to rupture!¡±


    ¡°Relax, Olivia, this is just a normal phenomenon during sorcery. Only the fools of Netheril engage in destructive behaviors towards it.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, I am not a mage and cannot construct those intricate prototypes. Instead, I channel all the extensions into the Source Sea, causing energy surges.¡±


    ¡°Angel, mmm¡­ is this the strength of the arcane? So powerful, so fulfilling¡­¡±


    ¡°No, Olivia, this is the Surge of Spells for us magicians, derived from the Sea of Chaos. Feel this deeply; it can bring us unparalleled strength and pleasure¡­¡±


    The two senior spellcasters were absorbed in their spell research. The tavern¡¯s lights flickered intensely before extinguishing completely, leaving the room in pitch darkness.


    Perhaps because of the astrological spell, the night stars twinkled clearly. Occasionally, a meteor streaked across the sky, trailing a reddish tail, either plunging straight or sweeping across, trembling and bringing moments of luminous turbulence to the night.


    Bright comets also passed among the stars, their milky white tails permeating the vast darkness, enveloping starlight. The night softly trembled as if gently singing a nocturnal hymn.

 Chapter 286 - 209 The Truth

    Chapter 286: Chapter 209 The Truth


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    The silver-haired girl barely covered her body with a blanket, but still exposed large patches of snow-white skin. The thin veil highlighted her graceful figure, everything was faintly visible.


    After several days of intense work, the spell research was finally complete. Olivia was on the brink of exhaustion. She had never imagined that researching a spell could be so exhausting, it almost felt like she had experienced a thrilling battle.


    But her research partner, ¡°Angel,¡± seemed full of energy, as if he would never tire.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡±


    Olivia turned to look at the side of the man¡¯s face, showing a playful and complaining expression.


    ...


    Despite the unexpected ordeal, she felt exceptionally at ease and satisfied. It meant that they could go through more experiences together, fulfilling all the visions she dreamed about, far happier than the scenes in the ¡°Scale of Oath.¡±


    The ¡°research partner¡± turned his head as well, a red light flashed through his golden pupils.


    Olivia suddenly shivered.


    She felt that the other party¡¯s eyes seemed to harbor a¡­ frenzy.


    ¡ªJust like the abyssal demons she had seen before or those pureblood red dragons that burned, looted, and murdered. Those eyes did not belong to a righteous and kind gold dragon.


    ¡°Is this an illusion?¡±


    Olivia furrowed her brows slightly, thinking to herself.


    ¡°Angel¡± smiled again, his eyes blazing as he looked at Olivia, ¡°We dragonkin are born magical creatures. It feels a bit restricted to always study spells in human form.¡±


    ¡°Teacher Olivia, why don¡¯t we¡­ conduct the research in our true forms?¡±


    Olivia buried her earlier doubts in her heart.


    She smiled and threw a pillow at the other party on the bed, pretending to be annoyed, ¡°This is a tavern. In such a small place, do you want to destroy it?¡±


    But she didn¡¯t expect ¡°Angel¡± to respond with a cold face and a soft voice:


    ¡°It is not narrow here, Olivia, it is enough for us to do anything.¡±


    ¡°Angel, what¡­ what are you talking about?¡±


    Olivia suddenly felt a chill rise from her heart.


    The silver-haired girl looked around in confusion. At some point, she had reverted to her silver dragon form.


    ¡ªThe cozy room, the soft bed, the flickering lights vanished like a bubble. In their place were lofty ceilings, cold walls, and thick steel pillars. She had never left this royal palace.


    And the black-haired, golden-eyed youth before her revealed his monstrous true form. As fine spell radiance flickered, a red dragon over thirty meters long, as vast as a small mountain, appeared before her, its unfolded wings completely enveloping her.


    The silver dragon stiffly raised her head, a foul-smelling black energy floated above her head, greedily sucking up light and dissipating thoughts.


    She recognized the spell.


    That was the incredibly malicious Eighth Tier spell¡ª[Labyrinth of Thoughts], capable of imprisoning the target¡¯s mind, creating a bewildering maze of illusions.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Impossible¡­¡±


    Olivia felt like she had fallen into an ice pit. She shook her head incessantly, unwilling to face it all.


    All those warm dreams and beautiful visions shattered, replaced by a more thorough and desperate destruction.


    Despairing tears welled up in the silver dragon¡¯s eyes. She summoned her last bit of courage, her voice hoarse as she asked:


    ¡°Where is Angel?¡±


    ¡°What have you done to him?¡±


    Cassius walked slowly to the silver dragon, lowered his head, and whispered in her ear:


    ¡°The Silver Coffin of Trifa Church, the corner of the Fatri Hall, the waterfall in the southern part of Agur Forest, and the bookshelf of Witch Veil Tavern¡­¡±


    Olivia was struck like a bolt of lightning, her face full of disbelief.


    These were the most private pieces of information she had whispered to Angel. No outsider could possibly know, yet the King of Ashen detailed them all.


    A terrifying thought arose in Olivia¡¯s mind, but she still refused to believe it.


    The red dragon blew out a puff of sulfur-scented white smoke, ¡°Olivia, I told you before, once you learn the truth, you will only feel like an utter joke.¡±


    ¡°There has never been an Angel you knew¡­ from beginning to end, there was only Cassius.¡±


    He looked at the silver dragon and said each word slowly.


    Olivia lay on the ground as she was exhausted. Her blue-gray eyes were filled with confusion.


    The only lifeline that had once supported her now turned into the sharpest dagger against her. What was she supposed to do?


    ¡°Why¡­¡±


    ¡°Why did you do this?¡±


    After a long silence, Olivia spoke softly.


    Her voice sounded like a feeble question, almost a cry of despair.


    But Cassius did not respond, only coldly saying, ¡°Come, we still have a long time.¡±


    ¡°We can take our time and enjoy it¡­¡±


    The silver dragon, imprisoned for months and further drained by days of study, was already on the verge of collapse. Moreover, the red dragon had absolute dominance in size and strength. She could only let him do as he wished without being able to resist at all.


    This time, the research was even more intense, like a storm. Scorching energy surged through her body, and dense smoke swirled around her.


    Cassius watched the slender neck of the silver dragon.


    He suddenly felt an even stronger desire in his heart, a desire not just for physical pleasure. He was eager to unleash this craving.


    ¡°Tear it apart! Destroy everything!¡±


    A raging voice seemed to echo within.


    Was that his inner voice?


    Cassius did not notice that his pale golden pupils were bloodshot, brimming with an endless desire for destruction. Viscous saliva drooled from his mouth, and sharp claws extended.


    Olivia suddenly felt an immense danger, a primal instinct warning her, a creature¡¯s fear of the most chaotic and unknown existence.


    She felt unprecedented terror.


    The silver dragon used her last bit of strength, struggling with her hands and feet, flapping her wings, but her claws only left shallow white marks on the scales.


    Cassius grasped her neck with his thick arms, pressing her entirely beneath him. The veins on his arm bulged gradually, and his grip grew tighter.


    In the face of death, the silver dragon desperately turned her head to bite his arm, but even her sharp teeth could not pierce the red dragon¡¯s outermost defense.


    For the silver dragon, it was a life-and-death struggle, but for Cassius, it was meaningless resistance, not even an itch.


    The silver dragon was already on her last breath.


    It seemed that everything was about to end.


    Olivia stubbornly looked at the red dragon. She gathered her last bit of courage and said with all her might.


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°This is the essence of you five-colored dragons, filthy offspring of Tiamat!¡±


    ¡°Right now, you are like a beast ruled by desire, a demon from the abyss! All living beings will come to loathe you! Such an existence as you will eventually be utterly destroyed by the gods!¡±


    Maybe sensing the end of her life, she almost pointed at his nose and cursed, disregarding everything.


    ¡°Abyssal demon¡­¡±


    Cassius muttered.


    ¡°Abyssal demon.¡±


    He repeated it, and the red dragon¡¯s massive body trembled slightly.


    Flames burned in his eyes, then extinguished. He stood still, as if struggling with an invisible enemy. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Endless roars echoed from the void, formless heat spread, the air filled with terrifying ripples, and even the ground shook violently.


    Eventually, everything gradually calmed. Cassius opened his eyes again, and the bloodshot veins faded.


    Under the immense pressure of the red dragon, no retainer dared say anything, not even his most trusted Ramp, but now the silver dragon¡¯s unintentional insult provided him the only reminder.


    It was an insignificant trigger, yet immensely valuable.


    Previously, Cassius had been walking in a fog, but this reminder finally cast a small ray of light, allowing him to break free using his own will without fully succumbing.


    Cassius finally realized it all.


    The red dragon¡¯s eyes gradually cleared as he grasped the revelation. His eyes showed shock and anger, not directed at Olivia.


    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s Jezarslack!¡±


    ¡°He must have tampered with the Heart of Karex! That divine destructive power and the abyssal consciousness even affected my mind!¡±


    Cassius thought uneasily.


    The rampant desire for destruction in his eyes faded.


    Recalling his recent experiences, he recklessly indulged, becoming a beast driven by desire, even harboring absurd thoughts of ¡°slaughtering the world.¡±


    Just a bit more, and he would have become an embodiment of destruction, perhaps even a substitute for Karex, an extension of the abyssal consciousness.


    At that point, he would be the enemy of the gods, losing his own will, something he would never want to see.


    Moreover, he could feel this terrible influence still lingering, waiting to seize any opportunity to take over his mind, turning him into a chaotic destroyer.


    Those frenzied blood veins still lurked beneath his skin, and the chaos flame remained within, corroding his reason, waiting for a moment to surface and plunge him into ultimate chaos.


    He needed to find some solutions.


    To address this problem, or rather¡­ this curse.


    Yes, a curse. To Cassius, it was like a curse similar to the Dragon Fan¡¯s Lock, capable of unconsciously affecting his mind¡ªa process difficult to interrupt.


    Now, this curse was yet to be lifted and could invade Cassius¡¯s mind at any moment, but now he could actively suppress it and seek a solution, rather than becoming a desire-driven beast.


    Thinking of this, he looked deeply at Olivia.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°I will reduce the restrictions of the Dragon Binding Array.¡±


    ¡°From now on, you can move freely within this palace.¡±


    Finally, under the terrorized gaze of Olivia, Cassius flapped his immense wings and turned to leave the palace.

 Chapter 287 - 210: Curse

    Chapter 287: Chapter 210: Curse


    Cassius lay sprawled in the palace, observing his chest with the ¡°All-Knowing Eye.¡± The ¡°Heart of Karex¡± pulsed rhythmically with his heartbeat, emitting a faint glow as it seemed to fully integrate with his body.


    He looked at the panel, and the number representing the fusion progress was still increasing, though the speed had significantly slowed.


    [Your absorption progress of the ¡°Heart of Karex¡±: 1.57%]


    Cassius¡¯s expression grew somber. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Deities did not possess completely free will; their divine roles influenced their personalities to some extent. Even the third Mistrala was affected by the remnants of the original Goddess of Magic, her character becoming entirely different. A mere mortal like the Red Dragon stood no chance.


    Facing an existence like Karex, whose status and bloodline far surpassed his own, it was almost inevitable that Cassius would be influenced.


    ...


    If he hadn¡¯t realized the changes in his own personality, he might have unwittingly become the incarnation of the Dragon God of Destruction.


    ¡°Jezarslack¡­¡±


    He muttered the name once more.


    Reflecting carefully on his experiences within the Stellar Prism, Cassius realized that the methods of this ¡°Vengeful Demon¡± far exceeded his imagination.


    At the moment when Karex¡¯s relic returned to the world, his desire for power had reached its peak. He had even risked his life to steal the heart, driven by sheer greed for strength.


    ¡°This is¡­ the influence of the Will of the Abyss.¡±


    ¡°Chaotic, frenzied, dominated by desire, willing to sacrifice anything.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but feel a little afraid.


    That Demon Lord had easily influenced his mind without his awareness. It seemed there was a reason the former ¡°Cassius¡± had been deceived.


    After all, that was a genuine newborn dragon. How could it possibly outplay an ancient Abyssal fox with tens of thousands of years of experience?


    Cassius looked at his panel, focusing on the sub-occupation of the ¡°Bloodscaled Fury.¡±


    This ¡°Barbarian¡± type among dragons was extremely compatible with the Red Dragon¡¯s traits and perfectly suited Karex¡¯s destructive power.


    Each time he entered the ¡°Bloodscale Frenzy¡± state, his heartbeat quickened drastically, a warm current surged within his body, and the fusion progress of the Heart of Karex sped up dramatically.


    Once, he had been addicted to the pleasure of rapid power growth and found the feeling of raw, bloody combat somewhat intoxicating.


    But now, his mood was extraordinarily heavy.


    ¡°Sure enough, another bait¡­¡±


    Cassius let out a bitter laugh.


    From the moment he killed Keman, he had fallen into the Vengeful Demon¡¯s trap. All the great strength he gained might become a poison leading to his downfall.


    He had once scoffed at Keman¡¯s obsession with revenge, but now he found himself on a similar path.


    The Red Dragon could still feel the chaotic and destructive power flowing through every vein, lying dormant in his strong draconic body, waiting for a chance to erupt and destroy everything.


    This was the curse shared by Karex, trapped in the Screaming Void, and Jezarslack, imprisoned in the star realm.


    Ordinary mortals had almost no resistance against such a level of curse.


    If left unchecked, this situation would only worsen. When Karex¡¯s blood flooded his torso, limbs, and even brain, the power of destruction would eventually consume him, turning him into a puppet controlled by the Will of the Abyss.


    Right now, he could barely maintain his sanity, but when that time came, mere ¡°willpower¡± would not be enough to control it.


    Cassius exhaled a sulfurous white smoke, lowering his gaze to his slightly rising and falling chest, seeming to see the amber-like blood crystal inside. He murmured to himself:


    ¡°Damn¡­ I must end this state as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°At any cost.¡±


    ¡­


    In a remote annex of the royal palace, the Silver Dragon lay limp on the ground, breathing weakly.


    The Dragon Binding Array¡¯s restraints had partially loosened. Although the outer restrictions she couldn¡¯t break still existed, at least she had free space to move.


    Reflecting on recent days¡¯ experiences, she felt extremely absurd and infinitely aggrieved.


    ¡°Why exactly¡­¡±


    Olivia¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion as she let out a bitter laugh.


    If that deception had never been revealed, she might not have felt this hopeless. At least, she would have had a sliver of illusory hope, barely lying to herself, indulging in a fabricated dream.


    But with the brutal reality laid bare before her, she could no longer deceive herself.


    The figure of the mighty King of Ashen gradually overlapped with that of the mysterious Gold Dragon Anhel, making her world seem more absurd, like a colossal joke from the God of Fate, driving her to the brink of sanity.


    Strangely though, she didn¡¯t feel the intense hatred she had expected towards the Red Dragon. Instead, she felt confusion and puzzlement, along with a very complex psychological dependence¡ªwhat in some worlds was referred to as Stockholm syndrome.


    Her attachment to ¡°Anhel,¡± the bitterness of being deceived, the confusion and despair for the future interwove, ultimately forming this complex state of mind in the Silver Dragon¡¯s consciousness.


    ¡°He could have killed me.¡±


    ¡°But his personality is as if¡­ he became a different dragon.¡±


    The image of the Red Dragon¡¯s frenzied, all-destroying gaze resurfaced in Olivia¡¯s mind.


    This was entirely different from the rational, brilliant ¡°King of Ashen¡± Cassius she remembered, let alone the kind and righteous Gold Dragon Anhel.


    ¡°Abyssal demons¡­¡±


    Olivia recalled the other party¡¯s repeated words.


    Yes, Abyssal demons.


    This chaotic, frenzied emotion, utterly dominated by desire, closely resembled that of the demons from the Abyss. Olivia had once visited Aphernas under the protection of an elder, witnessing the cruel and grand ¡°Blood War,¡± and those frenzied demons.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ he truly has some untold suffering.¡±


    ¡°Or even being cursed by some Abyssal demon.¡±


    Olivia couldn¡¯t help but murmur, her blue-gray eyes gleaming with faint light.


    After organizing her chaotic thoughts, Olivia suddenly sensed that the Red Dragon wasn¡¯t as irredeemable as she initially thought, even feeling somewhat involuntary.


    ¡°Maybe I can save him.¡±


    Olivia suddenly felt a strange sense of mission, believing that perhaps she could help him escape this chaotic, frenzied state, even guiding him towards righteousness and under the guidance of His Majesty Bahamut.


    This was not only redemption for the Red Dragon but also protection for all life on the Prime Material Plane.


    Turning such a powerful Red Dragon into an incarnation of the Abyss wouldn¡¯t just be a disaster for the Anzeta Great Wilderness; it would be a nightmare for all living beings and even a catastrophe for the entire Material Plane.

 Chapter 288 - 211 Summon and Experiment

    Chapter 288: Chapter 211 Summon and Experiment


    Ramp arrived at the palace gate, his ugly face showing an expression of ¡°apprehension,¡± as he whispered:


    ¡°Master, I am here.¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    The palace gates slowly opened.


    The ogre mage walked in slowly, bowing his corpulent body, nervously awaiting orders, large drops of sweat dripping from his forehead.


    The mages who worked under Ramp, suffering from constant mockery and abuse, would never imagine their leader could have such a disheveled moment. It was simply unimaginable for them.


    ...


    ¡°Ramp, you must have noticed my recent erratic state.¡±


    ¡°Master, this¡­¡±


    Ramp secretly looked up, and after noticing the absence of destructive light in Cassius¡¯s eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    But soon, he realized another important matter.


    The ogre hurriedly knelt before the Red Dragon, like a moving mountain of flesh.


    ¡°Master, you¡­ you have finally returned.¡±


    ¡°As your loyal retainer, it was a great failure on my part not to remind you timely back then. It is my fault! Please, punish me¡ª¡±


    His tone carried a crying sound, almost choking as he shouted, his ugly face twisted into a knot, making it hard for the Red Dragon to look at. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For this shrewd ogre mage, Cassius could hardly keep from laughing and crying.


    ¡°Enough, I called you here not to hear you wail.¡±


    Cassius interrupted with some helplessness.


    Ramp immediately stowed the awkward expression, took out a handkerchief to wipe his tears, and donned his gold-rimmed glasses, quietly serving nearby¡ªlike any rational, efficient senior mage would.


    However, Cassius still placed his trust in this loyal retainer.


    The Red Dragon ordered:


    ¡°I believe you have seen that frenzied state full of a desire for destruction, resembling the ¡®Dragon Fan¡¯ recorded in our texts. In fact, I have been influenced by a Demon Lord. I need you to mobilize the nation¡¯s resources to find methods to maintain rationality and isolate the Will of the Abyss, at any cost.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp respectfully replied with a bow.


    Cassius continued, ¡°By the way, one more thing.¡±


    ¡°I need you to create a durable piece of magical equipment capable of detecting when I enter a state of frenzy similar to the ¡®Dragon Fan¡¯ and alerting me in time so I can exit the frenzy state promptly.¡±


    ¡°As for the standard for detection¡­ use the disordered parameters of the surrounding Magic Web.¡±


    Ramp had already taken out a transparent notebook to start recording item by item.


    The ogre mage adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and respectfully said, ¡°Master, technically speaking, it is not difficult to create equipment that can detect the Magic Web.¡±


    He paused slightly.


    ¡°But the key is how to make it hard to destroy during your battles and emit a signal strong enough to wake you.¡±


    ¡°However, I will do my best not to disappoint your expectations.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly.


    At the Red Dragon¡¯s signal, Ramp turned and left.


    Though the tasks he received this time were few, they were not easy. The Magic Department of the Ashen Kingdom would be quite busy¡ªthose mages with heavy dark circles and thinning hair would once again work day and night for better spells, more gold coins, and higher status.


    ¡­


    Northwind Castle, outskirts of the city.


    Hundreds of people were attracted by the grand spectacle, gathering and discussing.


    ¡°What is this thing?¡±


    ¡°Is it a bull made of steel?¡±


    ¡°The people of the Department of Wondrous Machinery really know how to waste materials, laying high-quality steel on the ground. Tsk tsk, how many good swords could that make?¡±


    ¡°What a joke, what use could this thing have?¡±


    Surrounded by the Tiefling Guards, a man with a ruddy nose and dragon scales on his face swaggered forward in high spirits.


    The onlookers quickly stepped aside, afraid of offending this Dragonblood Noble.


    ¡°Who is this important figure? Look at the dragon scales on his face, truly enviable.¡±


    ¡°This is Gilmore.¡±


    ¡°The Noble Craftsman?¡±


    ¡°He is indeed a lucky lord.¡±


    Whispers came from the crowd.


    This noble was the so-called ¡°Craftsman Representative¡± Gilmore Sparrow, originally an unremarkable blacksmith in an eastern city forge, who became a Dragonblood Noble after discovering and improving a flaw in the rifle production line.


    His story was widely promoted as a classic ¡°Ashen Kingdom Dream,¡± making many in Northwind Castle envious and hopeful that they, too, could become nobility through their efforts one day.


    Seeing the arrival of this Viscount, the busy people immediately surrounded him.


    ¡°Viscount, this section of track has been laid completely.¡±


    ¡°The people blocking the way have been cleared.¡±


    ¡°The coal and water in the steam locomotive are ready, just waiting for your command to start the experiment at any time.¡±


    The project manager squeezed through the crowd, flattering the man standing at the front.


    Gilmore immediately became elated, took a sip of the brandy, his face flushed red, rubbing his hands together.


    ¡°Everyone has worked hard for so many days. It¡¯s time to see some results.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord!¡±


    The manager immediately stood at attention, even saluting.


    With the whistle blowing and the workers bustling about, the gigantic ¡°Iron Bull¡± finally began to operate.


    In the magic steam boiler, complex arrays released scorching flames, the burning process turning water into steam, which was then transmitted through pipes to the cylinder.


    As the valves controlling the steam field governing the steam¡¯s arrival reached the cylinder, the steam entered the main valve and throttle valve into the slide valve chamber, and alternately entered the left or right side of the cylinder under the control of the slide valve, driving the motion of the magical piston.


    ¡°Clang clang clang¡­¡±


    The piston moved violently, driving the steel ¡°limbs,¡± the wheels underneath began to turn, finally moving this heavy ¡°Iron Bull.¡±


    The crowd erupted, though some dissenting voices emerged.


    ¡°It¡¯s moving!¡±


    ¡°It actually moved!¡±


    ¡°This ¡®Iron Bull¡¯ can really run¡­¡±


    ¡°But at this slow speed, I might be better off riding a horse.¡±


    ¡°Yes, John¡¯s family¡¯s donkey cart next door is faster.¡±


    The steam locomotive continued to operate, the cooled steam directed into the condenser via pipes, and through cooling arrays, recondensed back into water. This process repeated continuously as the steam engine operated.


    ¡°Wooo¡ª¡±


    Accompanied by a long whistle, the waste gas produced by the burning coal was discharged through the top pipeline, and thick gray-black smoke filled the air, like the heavy breaths of this colossal machine.


    ¡°Excellent, it worked!¡±


    ¡°Finally met the targets!¡±


    ¡°It reached the destination!¡±


    When the steam locomotive reached the end, all the workers and managers, including Viscount Gilmore, cheered.


    Gilmore looked around at the chattering crowd with some disdain, thinking, ¡°These fools could never understand His Majesty¡¯s grand vision.¡±


    ¡°Originally, moving such a heavy object required at least a third-tier high-level spell, but now it only takes a few rudimentary arrays and some coal and water. Moreover, this is far from its limit.¡±


    ¡°When the railway is fully laid in the future, His Majesty¡¯s army can be dispatched to any part of the kingdom within a day, and so can the grain and goods.¡±

 Chapter 289 - 212 The Kingdoms Development

    Chapter 289: Chapter 212 The Kingdom¡¯s Development


    The technological development route of the Ashen Kingdom was exceptionally unique. It wasn¡¯t a matter of gradual exploration; it resembled more of ¡°painting by the numbers.¡± For instance, they directly created piston-type steam engines to ensure the normal operation of trains.


    The players of the Mechanical God Cult left behind a large number of blueprints and materials from another world before they departed.


    As a reward, they would receive initial shares of the railway group when they returned to Airez, and they also had a portion of the steam locomotive transport profits.


    The local researchers of the kingdom only needed to follow these blueprints, combining the ingenious designs with Airez¡¯s Magic reactions. It was akin to a magical version of the ¡°Industrial Revolution,¡± minus many of the convoluted pathways, and they could always make the correct choice each time.


    The success of the steam train experiment was only an insignificant part of the numerous achievements in Northwind Castle over the years. The changes there were evident.


    Chimneys sprang up one after another, causing thick smog to appear over the city.


    ...


    With the continuous development of industry, Northwind Castle already had close to fifty factories of various types, such as military and food factories, employing nearly twenty thousand workers. With strong policy support, all sorts of ¡°new gadgets¡± emerged endlessly. Some lucky individuals even became Nobles by virtue of their inventions.


    There were no longer any beggars starving to death on the streets. The Tiefling City Guard would unhesitatingly take them away to various labor-short factories, turning them into the most bottom-tier sweatshop workers who received just enough wages to barely keep themselves fed.


    Currently, most of these factories were built by the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s government. However, as profits grew, more and more wealthy merchants and Dragonblood Nobility grew eager to take a piece of the action, wanting to invest their assets into this increasingly prosperous business, although the kingdom had yet to provide specific channels for them.


    But with this trend intensifying and the demand for larger industrial scale, privatization was almost inevitable. Some Dragonblood Nobility had already gained so-called ¡°shares¡± through various connections. Even some shrewd, self-proclaimed smart merchants had set up private factories.


    Yet, they found themselves unable to compete with the official entities, leading to bankruptcy.


    The products manufactured by these factories could not only meet the city¡¯s needs, but they were also sold by Hart¡¯s kingdom trade caravans to other Northern Countries. Scarves, cotton clothes, and other daily items bearing the ¡°Flame and Dragon Claw¡± emblem had already appeared throughout Anzeta. They were becoming increasingly common in the lives of the Scania People, even becoming indispensable.


    The Boske Duchy even launched promotional slogans like ¡°Resist the Temptation of Evil Dragons¡± and ¡°Don¡¯t Let Monsters Deceive You Out of Your Gold¡± to impose various restrictions on the kingdom¡¯s items.


    But they couldn¡¯t stop the consumer enthusiasm of the populace, nor could they halt the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s deluge of products. The Boske Duchy couldn¡¯t completely prevent the endless flood of smugglers, despite employing every trick in the book. After all, in commercial competition, quality and affordability were the sharpest weapons.


    Even the Boske Duchy, whose government was so powerful and so stringent in its governance of its populace, couldn¡¯t fend off the sugar-coated artillery of the Ashen Kingdom. Any other fragmented duchies stood no chance. Even banding together, they weren¡¯t the kingdom¡¯s equal.


    The small, historically entrenched workshops within cities and family-based small-scale production units were all declaring bankruptcy. Many city residents found themselves consecutively unemployed, some even becoming street beggars. Even the Northern Nobility¡¯s gold Coin was being extracted in large amounts by the kingdom.


    The Dukes couldn¡¯t stop the outflow of gold or the economic collapse. They didn¡¯t understand the intricacies of it, so they let things take their natural course.


    Some families even volunteered to become agents for the kingdom, leading the charge to reap the benefits of product dumping, following suit to take a share of the profits.


    ¡­


    ¡°Lord George¡­ Lord George?¡±


    An anxious voice came from behind.


    George had been called several times but didn¡¯t respond until the other party called ¡°Lord George¡± a third time. He realized the so-called ¡°Lord¡± referred to him.


    ¡°Ah, so you were calling me.¡±


    ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    He turned around, smiling innocently, feeling a bit embarrassed as he scratched his head.


    From being a serf akin to an animal to becoming a First-Class Citizen now, although months had passed since the ennoblement, he was still somewhat unaccustomed. However, such a title also secretly delighted him. The sense of respect he now felt was unprecedented, and the satisfaction it brought was unimaginable to others.


    The person catching his breath didn¡¯t forget to salute, after all, as a mere ordinary worker, the status gap between him and a First-Class Citizen, second only to the Dragonblood Nobility, was as vast as the heavens.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    ¡°Forgive me for interrupting. I am Jack, a worker at the factory.¡±


    ¡°Viscount Bighead ordered that an urgent batch of orders had been dispatched from above. Everyone is needed back at work¡­ including you.¡±


    After saying this, Jack carefully glanced at George¡¯s expression. Only after noticing that his lordship¡¯s face showed no anger did he breathe a sigh of relief and wipe the sweat from his forehead.


    ¡°I got it. You may go.¡±


    George casually waved a hand in response.


    Seeing a cautious worker like Jack always made him think of his former self.


    George hadn¡¯t realized his dream of becoming a flower shop owner, finding a woman to marry. Instead, after meeting higher-level individuals and seeing more of the world, he understood that factories held a promising future, strongly supported by the kingdom¡¯s authorities¡ªprovided you weren¡¯t just another common sweatshop worker.


    Thus, George leveraged his privileges as a First-Class Citizen to become an honorable factory manager. His workplace was the same factory where he had previously worked, now commanding dozens of workers under his supervision.


    ¡°There sure has been a lot going on lately.¡±


    George leisurely returned to his spacious home, put on his kingdom-exclusive grey suit, tied a brown scarf from Kenya City, grabbed a black Gentleman¡¯s Cane, and donned a tidy hat.


    Rejuvenated, he stepped onto the street and hailed a passing carriage.


    Many envious glances were cast his way. To the ordinary citizens, this was the epitome of propriety.


    George entered the carriage and casually ordered:


    ¡°To the No. 4 Food Processing Plant.¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Alright, my lord, please hold on.¡±


    The coachman nodded in greeting and then drove the carriage swiftly through the streets.


    With careful planning, Northwind Castle¡¯s streets had become very spacious, wide enough for four carriages to ride side by side. It even had specially designed tracks for four-wheeled carriages, solely for wealthy individuals. It was said that these tracks would be converted into public steam locomotive tracks in the future, but nobody was certain.


    Accompanied by the sound of wheels grinding against the iron, the carriage quickly reached its destination¡ªthe No. 4 Food Processing Plant.


    With the driver¡¯s assistance, George gracefully stepped down from the carriage, once again beholding the familiar yet unfamiliar factory.


    Once merely a lowly worker here, he now held a vastly different status and position. He was now an esteemed ¡°First-Class Citizen,¡± with one foot in the circle of the elite class.

 Chapter 290 - 213: Changes and Conspiracies

    Chapter 290: Chapter 213: Changes and Conspiracies


    In the bustling factory, Howard wore a mysterious expression as he whispered to his nearby coworker:


    ¡°Have you heard? It seems like they are sending a new administrator.¡±


    ¡°Is Lord Bighead quitting?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. Ever since the last expansion, there are now hundreds of workers in the four factories. How can one Ogre handle it all? So, he requested several administrators from above to help manage us.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, really envious of these lords, sitting in the office every day, eating and drinking, and earning more than all of us combined.¡±


    The coworker named Chris couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    ...


    ¡°It¡¯s not something to envy. They¡¯re Dragonblood Nobility, after all. People like us, being able to have a meal is good enough. If it were in the Rackman Duchy, we might not even survive the winter.¡±


    ¡°I wonder what kind of personality the new lord has, if they can be a bit lenient¡­¡±


    Howard swiftly sealed the can¡¯s packaging and skillfully placed it on the assembly line, adding a casual comment as well.


    However, as he was busy, a familiar voice came from behind, and it seemed someone patted him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Howard, long time no see.¡±


    ¡°George¡ª¡±


    Howard quickly recognized it and turned around in surprise, blurting out the familiar name. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he was startled to find that his old friend had changed. The visitor wore a luxurious gray suit, tied with a woolen scarf that only wealthy people could afford, and even held an elegant gentleman¡¯s cane¡ªcompletely different from the silent, honest George he remembered.


    Although Howard had countless times fantasized what his future would be like if he were the lucky one, even boasted about the ¡°enviable George¡± in casual chats, using his friend as a topic to brag about, the cold, hard truth was right before his eyes¡ª


    They were already people from two different worlds.


    Howard¡¯s expression froze, his lips trembled slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help but lower his head.


    Soon, he added two words after the phrase he blurted out:


    ¡°Lord.¡±


    ¡°Lord George, it¡¯s indeed been a long time since we¡¯ve seen you.¡±


    The surrounding workers were also attracted by the ¡°returning in glory¡± George, casting either envious or jealous glances.


    George shivered momentarily, recognizing the difference brought by his change in status, but he still straightened his suit and followed Howard¡¯s shift in tone.


    His voice was loud, meant not only for Howard but also for the thirty-some workers in the workshop.


    ¡°But I¡¯m not here just to visit old friends this time.¡±


    ¡°The Kingdom official is recruiting factory administrators. I happened to have experience working here, so I volunteered to be the administrator here.¡±


    ¡°I am familiar with the factory work, and I can understand everyone¡¯s feelings. I hope that in the future, we can progress together efficiently and positively, striving for the Kingdom¡¯s glorious endeavor.¡±


    He had rehearsed this speech many times, yet it still sounded a bit awkward. Fortunately, it was not a big deal, as the workers¡¯ attention was focused.


    George paused his tone deliberately and coughed.


    ¡°Of course, as a former worker, I won¡¯t shortchange you. The performance bonuses specified in the regulations will be distributed as usual.¡±


    ¡°Clap clap clap!¡±


    ¡°Good!¡±


    Sparse applause broke out. George turned his head to see Howard clapping hard.


    Soon, all the workers in the workshop followed suit, applauding warmly, showing satisfaction with the new supervisor¡ªafter all, this newly transformed ¡°Lord George¡± could decide their paychecks.


    Howard quickly adapted to the change, shaking off the stiffness of a moment ago, even secretly delighted at the newfound connection.


    As George gazed at the familiar faces filled with obsequious smiles, mixed feelings surged within him, leaving him at a loss for words, so he could only smile and clap along.


    ¡­


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Duke Leo slammed his hand on the table, causing cracks in the solid birch tabletop.


    On the table was a white paper detailing the recent trade data of the Boske Duchy, showing an almost immeasurable outflow of gold.


    ¡°These greedy merchants should all be put on the gallows!¡±


    ¡°And those stupid commoners, do they know they are aiding the enemy? Every copper coin they spend ultimately ends up in the Red Dragon¡¯s coffers and funds the Monster Legion, becoming tools to destroy their homes!¡±


    Count Trischka sighed helplessly and said, ¡°Your Grace¡­ there are some things I must say.¡±


    ¡°The local cotton clothes are of average quality but are priced at seven times that of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s cotton clothes. Faced with such huge profits, those merchants would risk going to the gallows to smuggle and sell them. Moreover, we have long signed an agreement prohibiting direct attacks on Ashen Kingdom¡¯s merchant caravans.¡±


    ¡°I must remind you¡­ that the country ruled by the Red Dragon is no longer a typical monster¡¯s nest. Its vast influence has already permeated the entire Anzeta; their products, tools, and even culture have become an essential part of the North.¡±


    He pointed at the white paper on the table.


    ¡°Look, even these sheets of paper are their creation, yet you didn¡¯t notice.¡±


    ¡°This is the terrifying influence of the Ashen Kingdom. Unknowingly, they have silently invaded our lives and are changing everything in Anzeta.¡±


    Duke Leo¡¯s expression grew grimmer. He stroked his fluffy white beard, seemingly deep in thought.


    Trischka took out another document and spread it on the table.


    ¡°In April, we seized 1,245 smuggled items from the Ashen Kingdom. These smugglers tore off or concealed the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s crest and replaced it with the Boske Family¡¯s crest, claiming them to be ¡®century-old heritage¡¯ local products and marked them at extremely low prices, which incited a buying frenzy among the nobles.¡±


    Duke Leo frowned and asked, ¡°How did you discover them?¡±


    Trischka sighed helplessly, answering, ¡°Because the quality of these goods is too high. Domestically, there are no workshops of such scale and quality, so our discovery was almost a certainty.¡±


    ¡°And there are many similar activities in the market; we are already struggling to control it.¡±


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    Duke Leo gritted his teeth, his weathered face full of gloom.


    Since the ¡°Lionheart Alliance¡± over thirty years ago, the Duke had not felt such a crisis. But the appearance of Cassius changed it all, and he had never encountered an enemy like this.


    Moreover, even before any direct war or conflict happened, the simplest trade alone had left him defenseless and his country in a predicament.


    The shadow of the Red Dragon loomed over the entire Anzeta, and the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s influence spread throughout the North. He couldn¡¯t even imagine how terrifying it would be when this giant truly mobilized and went all out in war.

 Chapter 291 - 214 Preview

    Chapter 291: Chapter 214 Preview


    The room was filled with gaming pods.


    Mantou was sitting at his computer desk eating a takeaway meal, listlessly browsing a certain gaming platform.


    ¡°¡®Flashback 12,¡¯ ¡®The Walking Dead: Destiny,¡¯ ¡®Dwarf Sequence¡¯¡­¡±


    ¡°What the heck is all this? Enough material for another trash review video. Can I get some injury compensation, damn it?¡±


    Mantou bit into a chicken leg and couldn¡¯t help but say:


    ¡°When will ¡®Elzegai¡¯ officially launch? I¡¯m bored to death lately. Hey, I wonder how Noodle is doing. I miss riding on the back of a wyvern.¡±


    ...


    As he was chewing on his chicken, a game notification popped up in his ¡°special attention¡± list. It turned out to be an announcement from the mysterious ¡®Elzegai¡¯ official account.


    ¡°Elzegai¡± will officially enter open beta in three days! Version 1.0 [Northern Wind and Cloud] is about to launch!


    ¡°Hehehe, finally!¡±


    Mantou rubbed his hands together, wiped the oil from his mouth, and clicked on the link without hesitation.


    As soon as he clicked on the video, the screen was still dark; the video hadn¡¯t even loaded yet, but countless bullet comments had already taken over the screen.


    ¡°Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry!¡±


    ¡°Wuhuuu~¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting so painfully for you!¡±


    ¡°Do you know how I lived through this past year?¡±


    ¡°Closed beta veteran in tears, I¡¯ve been playing ¡®Elzegai¡¯ since I was little.¡±


    ¡°Odog, get lost! I still haven¡¯t grabbed a spot!¡±


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s not just me who¡¯s unlucky.¡±


    This time, ¡®Elzegai¡¯ opened a full fifty thousand spots for the open beta, but in less than three hours, these spots were snatched up by eager players. If it weren¡¯t for the game requiring ID verification, even the open beta slots would probably be sold at sky-high prices.


    Some players who didn¡¯t get a spot said on the forum: ¡°Being European is only the entry threshold for this game.¡±


    Mantou looked at the bullet comments of players lamenting and begging the officials to release more spots, and couldn¡¯t help but show a schadenfreude smile: ¡°Hehe, fortunately, I made my move decisively during the closed beta. This is what you call skill.¡±


    His ugly smug face was undisguised.


    As the soothing yet dynamic music intro started, the screen suddenly lit up. First, a deer munching on grass appeared in the center of the screen, followed by a sudden upward pull of the camera.


    A pack of wolves running across the ground, goblins hunting, and even hill giants wandering appeared successively. Dense forests, snow-covered barren lands, and rolling mountain ranges came into view, and the music gradually grew grander.


    ¡°Big production!¡±


    ¡°Big budget!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Stormy Ridge?¡±


    ¡°Hill Giant, the newbie killer, bringing tears to veterans once again.¡±


    ¡°Hill Giant: Do you like my big stick? Take this!¡±


    ¡°Whoa, is this in-game footage?¡±


    ¡°Veteran player promises, 100% real!¡±


    The narrator¡¯s voice also timely appeared: ¡°This is the Anzeta Great Wilderness, located in the northwest of the Elzegai West Continent, surrounded by the majestic Ancytica Mountains, and because of the year-round cold climate, it is known as the ¡®Land of Eternal Winter.¡¯


    ¡°Orcs, giants, goblins, and even giant dragons coexist on this vast, desolate land.¡±


    Mantou picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, stuffed it into his mouth, chewing with gusto, and still managed to speak with a mouthful of oil: ¡°This really complements my meal!¡±


    The narrator¡¯s tone suddenly paused.


    ¡°Like every place, this land also hides countless darkness, endless sins.¡±


    ¡°Oppression.¡±


    The scene shifted to show an emaciated serf shivering in the cold wind, being ruthlessly whipped by his master, and finally collapsing in the snow.


    ¡°Damn, this is so realistic.¡±


    ¡°Poor NPC.¡±


    ¡°Time for players to liberate them!¡±


    ¡°Rebel against the Northern tyranny, Anzeta belongs to the Kingdom!¡±


    As bullet comments kept flooding in, the somber voice of the narrator continued.


    ¡°Slaughter.¡±


    The scene flashed again. In a dark castle, several naked variants were tied to stone pillars, chanting eerie psalms. The mad Vampire Duke revealed a hideous smile, summoning a sky-high blood fog, draining countless humans to dried husks.


    ¡°This boss is creepy.¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha, isn¡¯t this that old pervert who molested rogue beasts?¡±


    ¡°Detailed molestation discussion.¡±


    ¡°Jumped up with excitement, seeing myself in the trailer, I¡¯m the best-looking dead husk.¡±


    ¡°With all that wrinkly skin, how can anyone tell what you look like?¡±


    Amidst the continuous torrent of bullet comments, the background music grew even heavier.


    ¡°Pillage.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The scene shifted again, a white snowstorm raged across the wilderness. Hundreds of Frost Giants moved southwards amid the howling wind and snow, causing the ground to quake.


    ¡°Chaos.¡±


    The scene suddenly darkened. In the deep, dark cavern, filthy bloodstains and severed limbs were scattered everywhere. Hideous demons gradually emerged from the darkness, letting out wild, discordant roars.


    And deep in the cavern, on a stone throne covered in twisted human faces, a Fallen Giant revealed a sinister smile.


    ¡°Is this a new boss preview?¡±


    ¡°Damn, looks like we¡¯re going to battle abyssal demons.¡±


    ¡°Finally, some new intel, veteran player in tears.¡±


    ¡°Abyssal demons?¡±


    Mantou mixed the pickles with rice and gulped it down, still keeping a close eye on the screen.


    Suddenly, the screen went black again, and the music suddenly grew intense.


    The voice-over became forceful.


    ¡°But new forces are rising, a new era is coming.¡±


    The screen brightened again, showing wyvern knights soaring in the sky, fiercely pursuing a group of giant eagle knights, with a heated aerial battle underway.


    Mantou¡¯s eyes widened, forgetting even to eat: ¡°Isn¡¯t that me? The officials really have a keen eye for talent!¡±


    ¡°You will change this world.¡±


    Players either cast dazzling spells, shot arrows, or transformed into brown bears, battling a variety of enemies. Among them were human armies, vampire variants, and dragonified monsters.


    Factories rose from the ground, steam trains puffed white smoke, mechas marched on the land, and cannons drew graceful arcs across the sky¡ªall changes brought to this world by the players.


    ¡°Or¡­ destroy it.¡±


    A long roar echoed from afar, and the music became overwhelmingly grandiose.


    A massive red dragon flapped its wings, bringing with it endless flames, slowly flying over, dyeing the entire horizon red. Countless scorched remains lay on the ground, and ashes danced in the air¡ªthis was the Scourge scene where Cassius destroyed tens of thousands of allied forces during the Triel battle.


    ¡°Elzegai¡ªNorthern Wind and Cloud.¡±


    Finally, the screen froze on the dragon breath flames from the red dragon, with golden letters spelling ¡°Elzegai¡± in the center, prompting a new wave of bullet comments.


    ¡°What a spectacle!¡±


    ¡°This dragon looks cool. Is it the final boss?¡±


    ¡°Whose barbecue joint is this?¡±


    ¡°Brother Kai¡¯s grand entrance at the end of the trailer!¡±


    ¡°Ashen Kingdom forever! Destroy the Northern tyranny, Anzeta belongs to the Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Hehehe, Lord Cassius, thinking¡­¡±


    Mantou finished his last bite of food, swallowing it hastily. He knew he would be busy from now on.

 Chapter 292 - 215 Strategy

    Chapter 292: Chapter 215 Strategy


    Meanwhile, Cassius also watched the videos on the forum, the smell of sulfur smoke swirling around his lips.


    ¡°Yes, they are all real-world footage.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s shown are mostly major events affecting the situation in Anzeta.¡±


    Cassius suddenly felt that a pair of eyes was watching silently from the void, recording everything, and even though his power had almost reached the peak of mortality, he still couldn¡¯t glimpse the presence behind it.


    He continued browsing the forum and discovered a new post by Singo.


    ¡°Opening Strategy: Erezer Beginner¡¯s Guide¡±


    ...


    ¡°There are twelve initial starting points to choose from, spread across Anzeta, including Stratholme Fortress, Valtz City, Yarlan Castle¡­ But I recommend only one and a half starting points¡ªNorthwind Castle is one, and Barto City barely counts as half. Moreover, there¡¯s only one recommended faction¡ªthe Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°From the perspective of occupational choices, the Ashen Kingdom has stand-out occupations like the Red Scale Conqueror and the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight, which give a head start over other occupations right from the beginning. Among the faction subclasses in the Northern Countries, only the Lionheart Holy Knight of the Boske Duchy shows some strength, but that¡¯s a private military force for the nobles. Its advancement requirements are extremely harsh, and its strength doesn¡¯t compare.¡±


    ¡°Factions-wise, it¡¯s even more distinctive. The entire beta version is practically the development history of the Ashen Kingdom, with almost all mainline plots related to the kingdom. It boasts crushing-level technology and has King of Ashen, Cassius, such a ceiling-level faction leader backing it up.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s put it this way¡ªeven if you lose on the battlefield, you still get to watch Red Dragons annihilate the other side in cutscenes. I even suspect this is the ¡®main protagonist faction¡¯ endorsed by the official developers.¡±


    ¡°For players who want to develop quickly, starting in Northwind Castle is best¡ªtons of opportunities there. Whether it¡¯s working in factories to earn money or taking office jobs, you can quickly amass startup funds. For the adventurously inclined who want to level up fast, Barto City is recommended. The hostile monsters in Stormy Ridge will help you quickly accumulate experience¡­¡±


    Meanwhile, Mantou also posted his ¡°strategy guide.¡±


    But unlike a strategy guide, it was full of a sense of superiority, radiating with an air of Versailles-style humility.


    ¡°The strength of the Red Scale Conqueror is average at best. It just has nice scenery, allowing you to ride wyverns everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Huh? The welfare of Sheriffs? Isn¡¯t it just a few hundred faction contributions daily? It doesn¡¯t help you get much¡ªmaybe a Dragon Blood Elixir at most.¡±


    Aside from these strategy posts, there were plot analysis threads, half of which mentioned the ¡°King of Ashen¡± and analyzed him as either the final boss or the protagonist dictated by the official storyline.


    Cassius browsed these posts, nodding slightly.


    ¡°Good, it¡¯s achieved the intended effect.¡±


    ¡°Next, it¡¯s all about the public beta.¡±


    For nearly the past decade, Cassius had a clear goal¡ªstep by step, subduing the Tieflings, seizing Northwind Castle, and establishing the Ashen Kingdom. All of this was to monopolize the main storyline of the beta version, Northwind Castle Foothold, making his faction the primary faction in players¡¯ minds and preparing to integrate more power in the future.


    Players didn¡¯t just represent thousands of ¡°Immortals¡±; they also brought talent reserves and technology systems from another world. In the mid to late game, many real-world national authorities even infiltrated, becoming the shadows behind the Noble Guilds.


    Take, for example, the Mechanical God Cult in later stages, featuring numerous top scientists from various countries. They built enormous floating fortresses, reducing even their leader, Steel Torrent, to a mere figurehead.


    Now, Cassius¡¯s goal was clearly achieved, as even the mysterious ¡°system¡± set him up as a key figure in the background.


    ¡°Time to make some preparations.¡±


    Thinking of this, Cassius opened the Magic Mirror, summoning Ramp in Northwind Castle.


    The Ogre Mage¡¯s ugly face appeared once again on the mirror.


    ¡°Master, what are your orders?¡±


    ¡°Starfallen is about to descend. Order all departments to prepare.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp responded without hesitation, then paused before continuing, ¡°Master, we have the preliminary design for the item you requested.¡±


    Designing this piece of magic equipment had driven Ramp to his limits, knowing it was personally supervised by Cassius. Any mistake was a heavy responsibility, and the design drafts had been iterated over thirty versions.


    Moreover, what gave Ramp more headaches was that the specifics of this equipment were classified as top-secret information in the kingdom, not to be shared even with the Magic Department mages. He had to complete the entirety of the design alone.


    The final design was a luxurious golden crown that perfectly fit Cassius¡¯s head, crafted from mithril and embedded with various precious gemstones.


    Supreme Dragon Crown


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Cassius glanced at it, unable to understand the three pages of complex magic circuits, but he nodded slightly, indicating his approval.


    ¡°At least it looks good.¡±


    ¡­


    Weeks passed.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Got it! The public beta slot!¡±


    In a room occupied by the gaming pod, Ji Ming raised his fists and cheered.


    He had been following Erezer through Mantou¡¯s videos, eagerly awaiting this day for a year. Finally, with the hand speed honed through thirteen years of single life, he snagged a slot for the public beta.


    Those 50,000 slots were snapped up in an instant once released.


    Nearly a million people anxiously waited, now left wailing and cursing the developers on the forum for not adding more slots.


    Impatiently, Ji Ming unpacked the magic-filled, rune-engraved Erezer gaming pod and set it up in his room.


    He took a photo to brag on the forum, attracting envious, jealous comments from countless forum members before lying comfortably inside.


    Having watched Mantou¡¯s videos, he was already familiar with the game¡¯s process.


    [Please enter your nickname.]


    After thinking for a moment, Ji Ming chose his most-used game nickname, ¡°Lonely as Snow,¡± which gave a masterly vibe.


    After watching the videos, he knew Erezer was a game that used facial recognition, so he had to be cautious. The fall of Holy Light Bro, who had completely lost his sense of shame, served as a reminder.


    [Connecting to the neural interface¡­]


    [Scanning your body data¡­]


    [Constructing your character¡­]


    [Character construction complete.]


    Lonely as Snow


    Note: Standard human attribute value is 10


    Strength¡ª11


    Agility¡ª10


    Constitution¡ª11 S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Intelligence¡ª10


    Perception¡ª10


    Charisma¡ª12


    ¡°Tsk tsk, a full-level human, much better than Ancient God Mantou¡¯s charisma of 9.¡±


    Ji Ming thought gleefully to himself.

 Chapter 293 - 216 A Newbies Day (Part one)

    Chapter 293: Chapter 216 A Newbie¡¯s Day (Part one)


    Lonely as Snow only felt a flash before his eyes, and a bustling, prosperous city appeared in front of him. Around him were hundreds of newbie players dressed in the same newbie uniform.


    ¡°This is so realistic¡­¡±


    ¡°So many people.¡±


    ¡°Is this Northwind Castle?¡±


    ¡°This city is so beautiful, the scenery lovers will adore it.¡±


    But as Lonely as Snow looked around at the surroundings, he felt something peculiar. Clearly, it was medieval architecture, yet smoke billowed in the distance, and the classic European buildings were interspersed with five or six-story office buildings.


    ...


    Even the Tiefling Guards held magic rifles in their hands, though they wore orthodox armor, giving off a distinct steampunk vibe.


    Bipedal Wyverns flew overhead in patrol, and Ogres and Great Goblins roamed the streets without anyone seeming to mind. The humans nearby turned a blind eye to them, a common sight that appeared bizarre to many newbie players.


    ¡°Damn, there are monsters!¡±


    ¡°Why are you freaking out? This is the uniqueness of Northwind Castle.¡±


    Lonely as Snow muttered to himself: ¡°So this is the Northwind Castle that S called the best newbie starting point. According to the guide, you first need to earn faction contribution, directly exchange it for a Dragon Blood Elixir at the start. The most cost-effective newbie job seems to be¡­ a miner.¡±


    He looked towards the square ahead, which was already crowded with newbie players.


    Out of fifty thousand players, nearly twenty thousand chose to start in Northwind Castle. The city¡¯s population had almost doubled, making the traffic congested.


    The bulletin board in the square was plastered with various advertisements, and someone was shouting messages over a loudspeaker.


    ¡°Guild recruiting newbie players. Must be online eight hours a day, hardworking and resilient players preferred.¡±


    ¡°Weapon manufacturing factory No. 3 recruiting workers, daily wage 100 faction contribution.¡±


    ¡°Newbie training program! Train an eligible Paladin tank.¡±


    ¡°Newbie set cheap sale! Only 100 copper coins!¡±


    ¡°New guild [Lord Cassius¡¯s Dogs] recruiting! XP will gather like-minded friends together!¡±


    ¡°Praise Ohm Messiah! Noble Guild [Mechanical God Cult] recruiting high-quality talents with top-tier benefits. Higher education preferred.¡±


    ¡°Our guild urgently needs talents in biology and genetics. Those with research achievements or SCI publications in these areas can directly enter guild management and be awarded the [Genist] position with top-tier benefits.¡±


    ¡°Royalty Unmatched! Top-tier Noble Guild [Royalty] recruiting newbies, professional gamers preferred, those with boxing or mixed martial arts experience in real life preferred.¡±


    Lonely as Snow felt overwhelmed as he looked around, muttering to himself: ¡°These people are so competitive even in a game. Do they even let casual players play¡­?¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, truly the powerful families.¡±


    He did not intend to join a guild.


    According to that ¡°S¡± guide, besides those top-tier guilds, guilds offered little help to casual players, with many claiming to be training newbies only to exploit them. The requirements of those powerful families were not something a casual player like him could meet.


    Lonely as Snow was very self-aware. Aside from being somewhat good-looking, he was average in all other aspects, with technical skills at most being average.


    He continued to follow the crowd forward until he saw the place he was looking for¡ª


    A fierce-looking Great Goblin sat there impatiently, with a wooden signboard in front of him.


    ¡°Bottomless Mine needs 50 miners, 20 copper coins per day.¡±


    ¡°This should be it.¡±


    Lonely as Snow muttered.


    Just as he was about to inquire, someone behind him pulled him back. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hey buddy, are you here to play the game, or are you letting the game play you? Are you really going to the mine to work as a black slave?¡±


    Lonely as Snow turned around and saw a fellow newbie player also dressed in a newbie cloth outfit. His nickname above his head shined, reading ¡°Europe King.¡±


    Lonely as Snow said: ¡°Mining is the most cost-effective job early on, according to S¡¯s guide.¡±


    ¡°S? Xin Dog!¡±


    Europe King widened his eyes.


    ¡°You believe that kind of guide? It¡¯s just to trick you newbies.¡±


    Lonely as Snow did not argue, but he asked doubtfully: ¡°Aren¡¯t you a Level One newbie too?¡±


    Europe King crossed his arms, full of confidence: ¡°I have inside information. My buddy was a beta tester, and I know all the tricks in this game very well.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you to believe me or not. Let¡¯s be friends.¡±


    Lonely as Snow hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.


    This player who claimed to have ¡°inside information¡± did not seem very reliable, but he was at least warm-hearted. Making friends wasn¡¯t a bad idea.


    Europe King directly led him to the most crowded place, where nearly a hundred people were packed together, including many high-level veteran players. They were red-faced and frenzied, muttering things like ¡°It¡¯s dropping¡± and ¡°Buddha bless,¡± arousing Lonely as Snow¡¯s curiosity.


    Europe King pointed into the distance, boasting: ¡°This is it.¡±


    Lonely as Snow looked in the direction of his finger and saw a large shop with a sign reading ¡°Dragon Gift House.¡± Inside, thousands of exquisitely decorated metal boxes were piled up.


    ¡°Cassius¡¯s Treasure?¡±


    Lonely as Snow couldn¡¯t help but frown, becoming even more skeptical of Europe King.


    He had read about this event in Singo¡¯s guide, where Singo had openly called it a ¡°newbie trap,¡± a ¡°pit for the foolish,¡± and a ¡°bankruptcy box,¡± giving it almost the lowest rating.


    Singo even added this line in the guide: ¡°Rather than spend gold coins on these boxes, you¡¯d be better off sending money directly to me, so at least you won¡¯t get addicted.¡±


    ¡°You know about this event?¡±


    Europe King said excitedly, almost dancing with joy.


    ¡°This is a treasure event, rumored to be only available at server launch. Many newbies don¡¯t know about it.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this thing notoriously scammy¡­ S even specifically mentioned it.¡±


    Lonely as Snow said speechlessly.


    ¡°Why do you care about Xin Dog? Everything he says is bullshit. He even claimed faction contribution was useless!¡±


    Europe King shook his head repeatedly, looking very knowledgeable: ¡°You don¡¯t understand, this is the launch phase!¡±


    ¡°Just think, even if the official developers are stingy, would they use low drop rates to scare away newbie players? This event is definitely pure newbie welfare! First, they give you a sweet date, then they smack you with two big sticks. Cassius¡¯s Treasure is that sweet date!¡±


    ¡°Do you have any proof?¡±


    ¡°Inside information, man! I¡¯m pouring my heart out here. If you don¡¯t believe me, just watch me get the goodies. Don¡¯t regret it later.¡±


    Europe King patted his chest, his words full of confidence.

 Chapter 294 - 217: A Newbies Day (Part 2)

    Chapter 294: Chapter 217: A Newbie¡¯s Day (Part 2)


    Looking at the sign in the distance labeled ¡°5 gold coins¡± at a high price, Lonely as Snow frowned again.


    ¡°Are you sure you can afford it?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t even have half a gold coin right now.¡±


    Europe King still pretended to strike a pose with his arms crossed, laughing: ¡°Do you think the official didn¡¯t anticipate that we¡¯d be broke? They¡¯ve already prepared a perfect process.¡±


    ¡°Haha, everything is within my calculations.¡±


    Lonely as Snow turned his head and saw that next to the shop was the ¡°Kingdom Bank.¡±


    ...


    At the entrance, there was a sign listing many packages, and there was also a Miss Serpentfolk receptionist smiling kindly, softly pitching to them.


    ¡°Brave warriors, do you aspire to receive the blessings of His Majesty Cassius, but worry about not having enough gold coins?¡±


    ¡°The Kingdom Bank will help you realize your dream.¡±


    ¡°For these dream-filled newcomers, our bank proudly presents the [Newcomer Dream Realization Fund], with no conditions attached. You can get 5 gold coins from the bank to buy treasures, repayable in twelve monthly installments with only a five percent monthly interest rate!¡±


    Europe King strode into the bank, ready to speak, but Lonely as Snow pulled him back.


    He turned back with a puzzled look.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy! Borrowing money to open chests right at the start, do you really want to become a Black Slave?¡±


    Lonely as Snow whispered.


    Europe King chuckled: ¡°You wouldn¡¯t think of it this way, in games like this, the earlier you get good equipment, the more profit you make, and the more resources you can seize. Later on, gold coins might even depreciate, so paying back then wouldn¡¯t be an issue. Combat power is the best way to make money!¡±


    ¡°Besides, even if I can¡¯t pay it back, I can just commit suicide and change the respawn point. The Ashen Kingdom¡¯s reach doesn¡¯t extend to other countries.¡±


    Lonely as Snow thought carefully and indeed couldn¡¯t find a flaw in his words.


    Europe King waved his hand grandly and said to Miss Serpentfolk receptionist with a broad smile: ¡°I¡¯ll take ten shares of the Dream Realization Fund!¡±


    Miss Serpentfolk receptionist¡¯s face instantly became much more enthusiastic, but she still gently reminded: ¡°Sir, the Dream Realization Fund is limited to four shares per person.¡±


    ¡°Then four shares it is!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll register it for you right away.¡±


    Soon, Europe King¡¯s name was recorded on a large magic scroll, and twenty gleaming gold coins appeared in his hand.


    As he walked out, Miss Serpentfolk receptionist bowed happily. Who knew what she was thinking.


    ¡°Welcome back anytime!¡±


    Europe King was extremely satisfied, smiling as he said to Lonely as Snow who was waiting outside: ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to try?¡±


    Lonely as Snow hesitated for a moment, finally gritting his teeth and saying: ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll take one share.¡±


    Europe King patted him on the shoulder: ¡°Why are young people so afraid to take risks! Go big or go home!¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t get anything because you bought too few, wouldn¡¯t that be borrowing money for nothing? That kind of uncertainty is too great!¡±


    Lonely as Snow shook his head.


    ¡°At least this way, I can afford to repay it.¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Soon, the two of them came out of the bank holding gold coins, Europe King in high spirits while Lonely as Snow looked uneasy, like he¡¯d committed a crime.


    A long line had already formed in front of the shop, so they had to wait obediently.


    Suddenly, a low, raspy voice spoke.


    ¡°You two are newcomers, aren¡¯t you¡­¡±


    They turned their heads at the same time and saw a man in robes, looking quite young, only in his twenties, but seeming weather-beaten, like some overworked programmer.


    And they couldn¡¯t see his nickname or level.


    ¡°Are you¡­ a closed beta veteran?¡±


    ¡°Or a senior mage?¡±


    The mysterious man nodded slightly and smiled:


    ¡°Hehe, newcomers thinking they can get lucky with chest openings, you¡¯ll regret it one day. I advise you, the water in these chests is too deep, you can¡¯t handle it.¡±


    This man was Charlotte, the famous guild master of the magic system¡¯s noble family [Magic Coin], already a level-five mage player.


    He had returned to this nightmarish place, not to gamble on chests, but to witness the diversity of life and dispel the heart demons that had plagued him for months¡ªcommonly known as watching for fun, or schadenfreude.


    Europe King scoffed: ¡°So what if you¡¯re a beta player? My good buddy is a beta player too.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I think this old guy just wants to mislead newbies so we don¡¯t get good gear.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t move, someone will cut in line.¡±


    Lonely as Snow whispered a reminder.


    But he also seemed to be pondering something.


    Charlotte watched their backs, the corners of his mouth couldn¡¯t help but curl up into an intriguing smile.


    ¡°Kekeke, poor newcomers, you have no idea, the despair is just beginning. Welcome to the hell of unlucky players like me.¡±


    ¡­


    In the queue, Lonely as Snow looked around and whispered:


    ¡°Was that guy just now a lunatic?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe he¡¯s too unlucky that he¡¯s mentally unstable. I heard that previous guild masters of noble mages almost fainted from bad luck. Anyway, it¡¯s none of our business.¡±


    Europe King said as he tiptoed to look inside the shop.


    The front of the line certainly showcased the diversity of life.


    Those who got good pulls were elated, those who didn¡¯t were crestfallen, each with their own expressions, but most ended up with a pile of junk.


    Lonely as Snow couldn¡¯t help but say:


    ¡°Damn, is this drop rate reliable? It seems kinda low.¡±


    Europe King tried to stay calm: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, those who didn¡¯t get anything are probably old players. We¡¯re still in the newcomer protection period.¡±


    But his slightly trembling hand holding the gold and the sweat on his brow betrayed Europe King¡¯s tension.


    ¡°Hmm, it does seem different than what was said¡­¡±


    ¡°No, must stay calm, it will be a good pull, I¡¯ve borrowed four chests!¡±


    Europe King gritted his teeth, finally convincing himself, eyes determined as he rejoined the queue.


    That was his confidence as Europe King!


    As those ahead of him left, either excited or resigned.


    Finally, it was his turn.


    Europe King took a deep breath, his voice low and firm: ¡°There was once a player named ¡®Sky Flying Witch¡¯ who created the miracle of a double gold pull in a single draw.¡±


    He pointed a single finger to the sky, striking a powerful pose.


    ¡°And today¡ªI will break that record and show you the so-called miracle grand slam!¡±


    The onlookers all focused their gaze on him.


    ¡°This dude¡¯s nickname is badass!¡±


    ¡°Damn, could this really be the Europe King himself?¡±


    ¡°If he really pulls a grand slam, I have to record it and flaunt it on the forums.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know what he¡¯s saying, but he looks super confident.¡±


    ¡°Where does a newbie get so much money, could this guy have taken out a loan?¡±


    Some players even smelled a business opportunity.


    ¡°Taking bets! Place your bets! Anyone think he¡¯ll get a good pull¡­¡±

 Chapter 295 - 218: A Newbies Day (Part 3)

    Chapter 295: Chapter 218: A Newbie¡¯s Day (Part 3)


    Under the gaze of the players, the Europe King silently closed his eyes, muttering under his breath as he prayed to every deity he could name, from the Jade Emperor to the Tathagata Buddha. Then he took a deep breath and slowly opened the box.


    The player running the bets anxiously stood on tip-toe.


    ¡°Shwish¡ª¡±


    A beam of white light emerged from the metal box.


    [Kobold¡¯s Leather Pants]


    Quality: None


    ...


    Description: Unlike stray dogs, kobolds have scales covering their skin, not fur, and they often shiver from the cold. Therefore, a kobold with leather pants made from beast fur tends to be quite smug. If you sniff closely, you might even detect a strange odor. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Sigh¡ª¡±


    ¡°Turns out he¡¯s still a Non-chief.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to see, just a pair of smelly leather pants.¡±


    Listening to the jeers around him, the Europe King¡¯s face turned red. He gritted his teeth and muttered, ¡°Just wait, I still have three more chances. I refuse to believe I won¡¯t get anything!¡±


    Amidst the crowd, a mage in a robe let out a sinister laugh.


    Charlotte stared at the Europe King from afar, her hooded eyes filled with endless darkness. She murmured, ¡°Hehe, poor child, this is just the beginning of hell.¡±


    ¡°Come on¡­ try again!¡±


    The Europe King panted heavily, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.


    Another beam of white light flashed.


    A foul stench wafted from the box, even attracting a few flies.


    [Kobold Butcher¡¯s Leather Mask]


    Quality: None


    Description: Kobolds are not a clean race, to say the least. In fact, they can be downright filthy. However, even they can¡¯t stand the stench of rotting meat. That¡¯s how a clever kobold butcher invented the leather mask. But this one looks like it hasn¡¯t been washed in quite some time.


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    It was as if the Europe King had been struck by lightning, standing rigid with a face that turned pale.


    ¡°Hahaha, this guy is having the worst luck.¡±


    ¡°Man, he must be the Kobold¡¯s God¡¯s retainer!¡±


    Even Charlotte in the crowd looked at him with a hint of pity in her eyes.


    The pungent stench, along with the players¡¯ merciless mocking, surrounded the Europe King.


    Instead of giving up, he became more determined, his breathing grew heavier, his face redder, and veins started to pop on his forehead.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a couple of failures, it means nothing!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way a Europe King can lose!¡±


    ¡°My turn, open the box!¡±


    The Europe King slammed the box and shouted fiercely.


    Another beam of white light emerged from the new metal box.


    [Failed to Hatch Kobold Egg]


    Quality: None


    Description: Kobolds often hatch their eggs in warm, dry caves. If the eggs fail to hatch, these nutrient-rich eggs become excellent provisions. They taste similar to chicken eggs but have a strong fishy odor. Luckily, they are plentiful and filling, although no decent chef would use them.


    ¡°Nothing again, nothing again!¡±


    The Europe King¡¯s face instantly turned ghastly pale. He trembled all over and even began to speak incoherently.


    ¡°This guy is really having a rough time¡­¡±


    ¡°A disastrous start.¡±


    ¡°Small bets keep you entertained, big bets harm your health, excessive gambling will ruin you!¡±


    Even the onlookers started to feel sorry for him.


    A newbie, opening boxes on loan, with such terrible luck.


    He seemed to have stacked all the negative buffs. If the last box yielded nothing, he¡¯d be facing a mountain of debt and starting from zero, with no chance to turn things around.


    ¡°This¡­ only one box left.¡±


    The Europe King panted, sweat dripping from his chin, but he lifted his head slightly, his eyes bloodshot and filled with fervor.


    ¡°Kids don¡¯t cry every day, gamblers don¡¯t always lose, just watch me turn the tide!¡±


    ¡°Open the box!¡±


    The Europe King roared, his powerful declaration, ¡°open the box,¡± filled with a do-or-die resolve.


    ¡°Shwish¡ª¡±


    Another beam of white light shone through the metal box¡¯s gap.


    [Kobold¡¯s Wooden Spear]


    Quality: None


    Description: As a species as common as weeds, kobolds often hunt in groups. The spear is their best weapon, though they tend to avoid larger beasts since this crudely made item can barely pierce fur.


    ¡°Boom.¡±


    The Europe King fell to his knees.


    He looked ghostly pale, his eyes hollow, as if his soul had been stripped away.


    ¡°How could this be¡­ how could this be¡­¡±


    ¡°I even had inside information¡­¡±


    Lonely as Snow gently patted the Europe King¡¯s shoulder, but his face wasn¡¯t much better, clouded with gloom.


    ¡°This guy not only sucks¡ª¡±


    ¡°But he also dragged me down with him¡ª¡±


    ¡°I should¡¯ve followed S Class¡¯s strategy.¡±


    Lonely as Snow appeared calm on the outside, but inside, he was devastated. Thinking about the five gold coins in debt he¡¯d start with, he was filled with regret.


    Lost confidence due to the absurdly low drop rate, Lonely as Snow stepped forward with a carefree attitude.


    ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m already here, might as well try my luck.¡±


    ¡°Maybe a blind cat will stumble upon a dead rat.¡±


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    Lonely as Snow casually opened the box.


    ¡°Shwish¡ª¡±


    ¡°Whoa, a drop!¡±


    ¡°The first piece of Blue Gear since the server opened!¡±


    ¡°This is the real Europe King!¡±


    The crowd roared in excitement, the kneeling Europe King turned his head in disbelief, and even Charlotte widened her eyes.


    An intense blue glow shone through the gap.


    Inside lay a luxurious and exquisite piece of armor, inscribed with complex runes and exuding an air of opulence.


    A flame-and-dragon emblem adorned the chest, clearly the handiwork of the Kingdom¡¯s Magic Department.


    [Kingdom¡¯s Fine Gold Armor]


    Quality: Rare


    Description: This armor is made of mithril, one of the hardest known substances. It consists of long straight iron bars riveted to a leather backing worn over padded layers. Flexible chain mail protects the joints. When you wear this armor, lower-tier magic and ordinary strikes will struggle to harm you.


    ¡°Whoa¡­¡±


    ¡°It actually dropped.¡±


    Lonely as Snow stood there, unsure of what to do next.


    Miss Serpentfolk smiled and stepped forward to remind him: ¡°You are truly a fortunate guest to receive such a gift; it seems his majesty is watching over you.¡±


    Lonely as Snow finally snapped back to reality, his face breaking into a joyful expression.


    ¡°Whoa! I got a drop!¡±


    Human joy and sorrow do not resonate with each other, and on the ground, the Europe King was tearfully despondent.


    ¡°I was supposed to be the Europe King¡­ the next drop should¡¯ve been mine¡­¡±

 Chapter 296 - 219: A Newbies Day (IV)

    Chapter 296: Chapter 219: A Newbie¡¯s Day (IV)


    Lonely as Snow, cheerful yet struggling, carried the Mithril Armor, with Europe King sulking beside him.


    But before he could leave the crowd, a group of high-level players, some in armor and some in robes, blocked his way.


    Lonely as Snow immediately knew that the people from the Noble Guild had come to see him personally.


    The leader politely extended his hand to Lonely as Snow.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Fengyun, the vice president of the Royalty Guild. Are you interested in making a deal?¡±


    As a newbie, Lonely as Snow didn¡¯t dare to be careless and hurriedly shook hands with him.


    ...


    ¡°What kind of deal?¡±


    He had already guessed the other party¡¯s purpose but still asked.


    With a slight smile, Fengyun pointed at the armor in his arms: ¡°I think you know why we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°This heavy armor requires at least 18 points of strength to wear. Such good equipment would actually be wasted in the hands of a newbie like you.¡±


    ¡°Instead of dragging around a useless golden burden, why not sell it? Our Royalty Guild is willing to offer 200 Gold Coins, which is enough for you to splurge at this stage.¡±


    Lonely as Snow suddenly remembered the words from Singo¡¯s strategy guide: ¡°Those grand guilds often use their monopoly status to bully newbies who don¡¯t understand market prices. If you have good equipment, never sell to them, especially to Royalty.¡±


    Thinking of this, Lonely as Snow resolutely said, ¡°I won¡¯t sell for that price.¡±


    Fengyun adjusted his glasses and laughed lightly, as if he had anticipated this: ¡°You must have read Singo¡¯s guide.¡±


    ¡°To be honest with you, apart from us at Royalty, other guilds can¡¯t afford this level of equipment. 300 Gold Coins is our limit. I advise you to take the deal, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Lonely as Snow hesitated for a moment but still gritted his teeth and said, ¡°No deal.¡±


    Fengyun¡¯s eyes showed a hint of impatience, but he maintained basic courtesy and smiled: ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll give you a special privilege to join our Royalty Guild exceptionally. We¡¯ll provide you with the best treatment, but the condition is¡ªthat armor must belong to the guild.¡±


    Europe King, standing by, looked tempted and mumbled, ¡°Can you include me too?¡±


    Lonely as Snow was extremely conflicted at this moment.


    This was an opportunity to join a grand guild, and once inside, he would be at the pinnacle of game resources.


    Even Singo, who held disdain for these major guilds, had to admit their unique aspects and powerful influence.


    But he caught a glimpse of the disdain in Fengyun¡¯s eyes, as if he had Lonely as Snow firmly in his grasp.


    A sudden surge of inexplicable anger rose within Lonely as Snow, a rebellion as a normal newbie.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He said each word clearly.


    Fengyun¡¯s face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth: ¡°We¡¯ll see. Let¡¯s see what you can achieve with armor you can¡¯t use.¡±


    With that, he led the Royalty Guild members away.


    Europe King anxiously said: ¡°Bro, are you crazy? It¡¯s hard enough to get some good gear, and you¡¯re picking a fight with a grand guild?¡±


    Lonely as Snow whispered: ¡°They looked down on me. What else could I do?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve really stirred up trouble. That¡¯s Royalty. If you offend them, they¡¯ll camp at the gate and kill you!¡±


    ¡°Should we seek another guild?¡±


    Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.


    ¡°Royalty isn¡¯t the only wealthy and powerful guild.¡±


    They turned around to see the robed, erratic mage player, with a slight smile that exuded an aura of a hermit.


    Lonely as Snow didn¡¯t dare to be careless and quickly asked: ¡°May I ask who you are?¡±


    The mage extended a hand, revealing a wand embedded with a crystal ball and an exquisite coin emblem.


    ¡°I am Charlotte, the president of Magic Coin.¡±


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re looking for a guild?¡±


    Lonely as Snow cautiously replied: ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t want a domineering guild that seizes members¡¯ property.¡±


    Charlotte smiled: ¡°Of course, our guild members are like-minded partners.¡±


    ¡°In that case, welcome to Magic Coin.¡±


    Europe King had already put on a flattering face, completely hiding his earlier conflict with Charlotte. He meekly asked: ¡°What about me? Can I join too?¡±


    Charlotte said: ¡°Of course, we love recruiting promising newbies.¡±


    The two newbie players cheered immediately. After all, Magic Coin was also a top-ranked guild, and their Magic Affairs Office in the city was particularly popular.


    But Charlotte looked at the two with a meaningful smile.


    First, he glanced at Lonely as Snow, thinking to himself:


    ¡°The guild is full of squishy mages, and we¡¯ve long needed a top tank.¡±


    ¡°Have this newbie advance as a paladin, cast a Shield Spell, and wear the Mithril Armor while standing there as the perfect tank!¡±


    ¡°Recruit him, so he can single-handedly absorb all the damage. Wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?¡±


    Then he looked at Europe King, his smile turning somewhat twisted.


    ¡°And this so-called ¡®Europe King,¡¯ haha, finally, someone in the guild is unluckier than I am!¡±


    Behind that smile was Charlotte¡¯s unresolved mental trauma and a somewhat psychopathic personality due to excessive card draws.


    The two were still immersed in the joy of joining the guild, unaware of Charlotte¡¯s oddity.


    ¡­


    In the Royal Palace, Cassius lay sprawled on the Iron Throne, browsing through a panel suspended in the air.


    ¡°A total of fifty thousand players, with more than thirty thousand choosing to be born in the Ashen Kingdom, and the remaining nearly twenty thousand evenly distributed throughout Anzeta.¡±


    ¡°It seems the promotional efforts weren¡¯t strong enough¡ª¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s okay. These players will soon come under my control. As long as you remain in the Anzeta Great Wilderness, you won¡¯t escape the Kingdom¡¯s influence.¡±


    ¡°The war to conquer¡­ no, to liberate the entire North, is about to begin.¡±


    Cassius lightly shook his wings, the scales shimmering, and his light golden eyes seemed to burn with flames.


    Recently, he had been recuperating in the palace, researching ways to break the curse and suppress his urge for destruction. It had been a long time since he¡¯d acted, but once the Anzeta war fully started, his battles would be inevitable.


    The voice of a Tiefling Guard came from the door.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Lord Mezulash requests an audience, saying he has important information to report.¡±


    ¡°Let him in.¡±


    Cassius ordered indifferently.


    It seemed that Nocturne had new information. The southern Duke Leo should also realize that the war was imminent.

 Chapter 297 - 220: Dragon Slayer

    Chapter 297: Chapter 220: Dragon Slayer


    As the heavy metal gates slowly opened, Mezulash strode into the hall and knelt on one knee before the steps, saying in a low voice:


    ¡°Master, Nocturne has obtained the latest intelligence.¡±


    ¡°The Boske Duchy has spent a fortune recruiting a legendary adventurer squad from the South¡ªthe Scarlet Blade. This squad is famous in the Empire of Fadlan with an extremely high task completion rate. They have killed thirteen giant dragons before, and even¡­¡±


    Mezulash paused for a moment, cautiously looking up and seeing that Cassius¡¯s expression remained unchanged before continuing:


    ¡°Including an ancient red dragon.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ...


    ¡°It seems that old lion is making a big effort.¡±


    Cassius rubbed his chin as he spoke.


    An ancient red dragon, a tremendously powerful and ferocious being, with a base challenge level of 20, was not an opponent to be underestimated, even for him. And any adventurer squad capable of slaying such a dragon was certainly no ordinary group.


    Cassius¡¯s interest was instantly piqued. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Do you have any additional information about this squad?¡±


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t have many personnel in the South, and our foundation there is still shallow. We could only gather the most basic, publicly available information.¡±


    The red dragon nodded slightly, indicating for him to continue.


    ¡°The squad has five members, all top-tier legend-grade professionals. They consist of a paladin, a barbarian, a mage, a wanderer, and a priest. Their team composition is very balanced.¡±


    The Tiefling crushed a crystal, and an image of a burly man in scarlet heavy armor appeared in mid-air.


    ¡°This is the leader of the Scarlet Blade, Paladin Dex Flamgold. He worships the god of law and the sun, Amanata. He once single-handedly killed an elder blue dragon. While we are not clear about his oaths, based on his past deeds, it¡¯s highly likely that he is a Black Rider with an oath of revenge.¡±


    Next, the image changed to that of a full-figured woman in white robes.


    ¡°This is Ingrid Garses, a legendary priest and an honorary bishop in the Amanata Church. Based on her faith, she can only be a priest of the light or order domain.¡±


    The previous image faded, and a tall man with crimson tattoos all over his nude upper body appeared.


    ¡°Rano, a legendary barbarian from the barbarian tribes of the Fadlan border. He once defeated an entire giant tribe in hand-to-hand combat.¡±


    ¡°As for the remaining two members, our spies in the South have yet to gather information. The mage¡¯s intelligence is very valuable and is said to be linked to the mysterious ¡®Tower of Time.¡¯ The wanderer is skilled at disguising and hiding and rarely appears in public.¡±


    Mezulash collected the shattered crystal fragments and placed them into his backpack, quietly waiting for the red dragon¡¯s orders.


    ¡°You did very well.¡±


    ¡°What a lavish team composition; how much did that old lion spend?¡±


    Cassius expressed some sentiments but couldn¡¯t resist asking.


    Mezulash answered without hesitation: ¡°According to our information, the base commission for the Scarlet Blade is sixty thousand gold coins, and to hire them to take on a formidable and noble entity like yourself, the price would double, conservatively reaching one hundred twenty thousand gold coins.¡±


    ¡°Based on our intelligence, this amounts to three years of the Boske Duchy¡¯s tax revenue. Coupled with the recent military spending, they must be nearly draining their treasury.¡±


    Cassius seemed very pleased with this answer.


    ¡°Such lavishness. Is the Boske Duchy prepared for a desperate, all-out fight?¡±


    The red dragon¡¯s lips curled into a smile.


    ¡°However, the Northern nobility may not share the same sentiment. They have tasted the sweetness of acting as middlemen; they might even sell us the gibbet around their necks.¡±


    ¡°War is such hard work; isn¡¯t exploiting their own country¡¯s people and acting as middlemen quite satisfying?¡±


    ¡°With Nocturne¡¯s covert intervention, the Northern countries will remain a scattered mess.¡±


    Mezulash immediately agreed: ¡°Master, many rebels in the North are no match for your kingdom; their order is as fragile as paper.¡±


    Cassius nodded again: ¡°Nevertheless, we should still be cautious of assistance from the South. The strength of the Empire of Fadlan far surpasses any force in the North. Anything they casually bring forth could influence the entire situation in Anzeta. The Anzeta Great Wilderness is still too small and remote.¡±


    ¡°Continue monitoring that legendary squad¡¯s movements and report any developments immediately.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Mezulash respectfully said before leaving under the watchful eyes of the Tiefling Guards.


    Cassius slowly closed his eyes, trying to relax his body and conduct some meditations recorded in ancient texts, an effective method to temporarily combat the chaos deep within his mind.


    But a Tiefling¡¯s voice outside the palace interrupted his meditation again.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Lord Ramp requests an audience.¡±


    ¡°Let him come in.¡±


    The red dragon impatiently opened his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the iron-forged gates, beyond the borders of the Ashen Kingdom, out of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, and across the vast Fianso Continent.


    ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s another tumultuous season.¡±


    ¡­


    Boske Duchy, Stratholme Fortress, inside the Ducal Mansion.


    Duke Leo paced anxiously back and forth.


    ¡°Trischka, when exactly will they arrive?¡±


    ¡°Our scouts have already spotted the Red Scale Conqueror near the border. Damn it! That red dragon has awakened, and he could invade the duchy at any moment, even destroy Stratholme on his own!¡±


    Unlike those Northern nobility lost in a delusion of peace, Leo Boske knew very well that no one in the North could stop Cassius now. The giant dragon could descend at any time to destroy everything, and he urgently needed external support, no matter the heavy cost.


    ¡°Your Grace, very soon. I¡¯m still trying to contact them.¡±


    Trischka showed a helpless expression as he kept adjusting a crimson emblem-like token.


    Suddenly, the space around them distorted, deformed, and even shattered without warning.


    Duke Leo instinctively gripped the sword at his waist, a conditioned reflex from years of combat.


    ¡°What is¡ª¡±


    The guards beside him reacted with similar tension, hastily drawing their spears.


    Soon, a dark spatial rift appeared in the ducal mansion¡¯s hall, and several figures emerged from it.


    The leading figure was a burly man clad in heavy scarlet armor, holding a shield inlaid with dragon scales in his left hand and a faintly glowing sword at his waist. His head was covered by a thick helmet, concealing his features¡ªthis was Dex Flamgold.


    Although Duke Leo frowned at these uninvited guests intruding into the ducal mansion without prior notification, he still courteously reminded them.


    ¡°Using teleportation spells to enter someone else¡¯s residence is hardly polite behavior.¡±


    Dex Flamgold ignored him, silently drawing the sword at his waist before saying: ¡°Northern etiquette means nothing to us. We are not here as guests; just tell me about that red dragon.¡±


    The barbarian Rano added impatiently: ¡°And shut your annoying mouth.¡±


    Duke Leo Boske was slightly stunned.


    It had been a long time since anyone had treated him so rudely.


    Leo Boske then realized that the others were legendary professionals from Fadlan while he was merely a duke within Anzeta.


    Northern etiquette held no binding force for them; they had come with only one aim¡ªcompleting their commission and obtaining gold coins.


    Trischka¡¯s face also showed a bitter smile as he helplessly shook his head.

 Chapter 298 - 221 Exchange

    Chapter 298: Chapter 221 Exchange


    ¡°You mean¡­ that is a Red Dragon at a young adult stage but with the size of an ancient Red Dragon, capable of casting Ninth Tier Spells?¡±


    Although his face was unseen, Dex¡¯s voice was full of skepticism.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising that Dex was so doubtful. This experienced dragon slayer had hunted over a dozen five-colored dragons, including three Red Dragons. His footprints had traversed the Fianso Continent, but he had never encountered such an exaggerated dragon.


    ¡°Kid, are you playing with us?¡±


    Beside him, Rano glared at Trischka, who had just read the information. He clenched the great axe in his hand, his tone menacing.


    Even the gentle-looking priestess Ingrid Garses lightly tapped the ground with her scepter, making a crisp sound.


    ...


    ¡°If your side, for any reason, provided information that doesn¡¯t match the facts, we will not complete the commission.¡±


    Their words were aggressive, clearly not wanting to waste time in this remote place.


    Under several focused gazes, Trischka¡¯s expression grew nervous. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his hands holding the paper slightly trembled. Yet he maintained basic composure and spoke with difficulty:


    ¡°The information provided by the Boske Duchy is absolutely accurate.¡±


    ¡°I dare to guarantee it with my honor, even swear before the statue of Amanata.¡±


    Duke Leo¡¯s face was grave, his tone firm and powerful.


    ¡°We also have evidence.¡±


    Trischka, as if recalling something, took out a magic crystal from his pocket and carefully held it¡ªit was the relic of ¡°Grey Hawk¡± Schroeder, the only precious image from the ¡°Triel Massacre.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a flicker of light, a somewhat blurry magic image appeared in mid-air.


    Everyone looked over simultaneously.


    Thick smoke covered the sky, and the fires were blazing furiously.


    The Red Dragon slowly flapped its wings in front of a hundred-meter-high fire tornado. Each wing beat made the fire tornado more intense and larger, the sea of flames trapping tens of thousands of troops in the Triel Valley.


    ¡°God, how can we fight such a being?¡±


    ¡°Flames! There are flames everywhere!¡±


    ¡°So hot¡­¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t breathe¡­¡±


    ¡°Impossible, this is impossible!¡±


    The image was filled with soldiers¡¯ agonized wails, rapid breaths, desperate cries for help, and Schroeder¡¯s seemingly crazed words.


    When the image ended, the members of ¡°Scarlet Blade¡± no longer looked arrogant or disdainful. Their expressions had become somber, even the hot-tempered barbarian Rano appeared deep in thought.


    The hall¡¯s atmosphere turned stagnant.


    Finally, the silent mage dressed in blue-black robes broke the tense silence.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, that should be the Eighth Tier Spell ¡®Weather Control,¡¯ and it has a stronger effect than usual. In normal circumstances, only Ancient Silver Dragons at the ancient stage can awaken such innate spells, yet this ¡®young¡¯ Red Dragon can cast it.¡±


    ¡°We generally refer to such beings as¡­ Variant Dragons.¡±


    ¡°I once heard my mentor speak of them, their greed is insatiable. They are no longer satisfied with the innate abilities of dragons and will pursue greater strength by any means. The most terrifying Variant Dragons can even create multiverse-level disasters.¡±


    Dex gazed into the distance and said in a deep voice, ¡°Klein, if our target this time is truly such a being, we need to make more preparations.¡±


    He then turned his head and glanced at Duke Leo, saying word by word:


    ¡°Also, for this commission¡­ the price must go up.¡±


    Under the Legendary Paladin¡¯s extraordinary charisma, his voice was irresistible.


    The Duke Leo¡¯s face instantly clouded with a heavy gloom, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.


    After all, his life was now dependent on others, and he had to lower his stance even if it meant facing unprecedented humiliation.


    Endure, he had to endure.


    This was for the legacy of the Boske Duchy, inherited over a thousand years.


    ¡­


    Ashen Kingdom, outskirts of Northwind Castle, Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    The Ogre Mage, like a mountain of flesh, half-knelt before the steps.


    ¡°Master, I truly admire your foresight.¡±


    ¡°The pawn you casually placed, the Half-Elf Ranger from the Harpist Alliance, has had such a significant impact.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s flattery had become more sophisticated, subtly striking the right notes, naturally making Cassius not feel repulsed.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°What important information?¡±


    Cassius was naturally curious about information that even Ramp valued so highly.


    The Ogre Archmage¡¯s face instantly switched from a fawning smile to seriousness. He said in a deep voice:


    ¡°According to Richard¡¯s information, the Harpist Alliance is currently forming connections. They¡¯ve contacted the Silver Dragon Clan Melwood to leverage their power against the Ashen Kingdom. The elder of the Melwood Clan, the Ancient Silver Dragon Osedro, seems to be awakening soon; he¡¯s been asleep for over thirty years.¡±


    ¡°Osedro¡­¡±


    Cassius repeated the name. He had heard it from Olivia, as it seemed to be her grandfather.


    ¡°Have they already noticed Olivia¡¯s disappearance?¡±


    ¡°But¡­ this was bound to happen sooner or later.¡±


    Silver Dragons usually formed loose family units or clans led by an elder. Elders provided advice, resolved disputes, and coordinated any collective activities. A Silver Dragon Clan might be spread across an entire continent, but individual Silver Dragons could go decades without direct contact with other clan members.


    Even if an Ancient Silver Dragon came personally, Cassius feared nothing.


    ¡°Continue, what else?¡±


    ¡°The Harpist Alliance also reached out to Duke Vabric Navarro of the Empire of Fadlan¡¯s northern defenses, the legendary mage Trafalgar of the Arcane Priory, the druid elder Sherzod Saba of the Ranger¡¯s Guild, and even some special beings on Heavenly Mountain.¡±


    ¡°Although they are not very committed, they might send some forces to aid the Northern Countries.¡±


    Ramp listed these factions as if reporting dishes.


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but marvel:


    ¡°Tsk, the Harpist Alliance truly lives up to its reputation as the notorious meddler of Airez. They¡¯ve found so many backers.¡±


    ¡°It truly gives a sense of being enemies with the world.¡±


    ¡°But now¡­ no one will stop me from uniting all of Anzeta, not even the deities.¡±


    He said softly, looking into the distance, his pale golden pupils seemingly burning with flames.

 Chapter 299 - 222 Commission

    Chapter 299: Chapter 222 Commission


    Three months later.


    Ashen Kingdom, Northwind Castle, Magic Affairs Office.


    ¡°Mage, you must save my husband. He, he has been missing in the labyrinth for three days! I am willing to give everything I have.¡±


    A plainly dressed woman knelt before Charlotte, clutching his pants tightly, crying with tears and snot streaming down her face.


    The task panel floated in front of him.


    [Labyrinth Exploration]


    ...


    [Task Description: The underground merchant Krus mysteriously disappeared in the cave. It was originally his smuggling shortcut, but a mistake triggered traps, transforming it into a terrifying labyrinth. There might be unknown monsters howling inside¡­]


    Reward: Five Gold Coins, Unknown Experience


    Charlotte scratched his head helplessly and said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll take this task.¡±


    The task reward was just five gold coins. If too many people were sent, the reward might not even cover the cost of the mission, but considering the experience, Charlotte still decided to take this task.


    It had now been three months since the server opened, and as a powerful family, Magic Coin had naturally attracted many new players. The guild¡¯s size rapidly expanded to over three hundred people. The most lacking resource was experience.


    Most newbie players were still in level two or three, significantly behind the beta testers, while Charlotte himself had already reached level six, so he wouldn¡¯t miss any chance to raise the levels of guild newbies, treating it as a form of training.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0


    ¡°Sir, thank you, thank you¡­¡±


    The woman knelt on the ground, her voice hoarse from crying.


    Charlotte quickly helped her up. As a player from modern society, he was still not used to this blatant hierarchical order.


    However, to the woman, this was equally unbelievable, as she was not a local of Northwind Castle.


    Spellcasters were held in high regard everywhere in the North. Even the nobles treated them as honored guests, and an ordinary person like her seeking help from a mage was an almost impossible task.


    But now, the long-term residents of Northwind Castle had become accustomed to the aid of these ¡°special¡± spellcasters. Sometimes, even finding lost cats and dogs could be entrusted to the Magic Affairs Office. Magic had become increasingly integrated into their lives, no longer as distant as it once was.


    Charlotte opened the panel and sent a mass message in the new ¡°guild group¡± feature on the forum.


    Charlotte: Come take a task! Experience task, not much gold, one beta tester to lead three newbies.


    Charlotte: Lonely as Snow, come over too.


    Lonely as Snow: ?


    Sky Flying Witch: Hehe, I¡¯ll lead this time! ©d(*¡ä¨Œ¡¯*)?


    The message had just been sent, and a beta tester immediately responded ¡ª the renowned Sky Flying Witch.


    Suddenly, the group fell silent.


    No newbie players dared to speak, fearing to be noticed by the Sky Flying Witch.


    Last time, this Wild Sorcerer had led six na?ve newbies on an exploration mission that should have gone smoothly, but thanks to her, it nearly ended in disaster.


    It was her Stinking Cloud Spell triggered by the magic tide that almost wiped out the whole team, and the video was still spreading among players in the forum¡¯s ¡°Wild Sorcerer Charisma Moments¡± thread.


    Sky Flying Witch: Oh dear, the group is so quiet? ¦²(¤Ã¡ã§¥¡ã;)¤Ã


    Lonely as Snow: Guild Leader, can I skip this one?


    Charlotte: No.


    Charlotte: Europe King will go with you, and Nine Millimeters, don¡¯t think of running away. You two have the lowest experience.


    Europe King: ?


    Nine Millimeters: ??


    Europe King: Guild Leader, sending us with the Witch Sister to do the task, are you sure it¡¯s not a death mission?


    Charlotte: Two level-two noobs, staying here is useless anyway. Might as well take a gamble. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be sent to the mines as black slaves.


    Lonely as Snow: What about me? I¡¯m already level four!


    Charlotte: I trust you. You are the team¡¯s strong tank, no, backbone.


    Sky Flying Witch: Alright then, let¡¯s get ready to go! (????)


    Lonely as Snow: ¡­


    Thus, under Charlotte¡¯s strict requirement, a four-person team was reluctantly assembled.


    The team had a Paladin, two negligible newbie mages, and a senior wild sorcerer, making it a very wild setup.


    Lonely as Snow stood fully armed at the door, clad in mithril heavy armor and holding a silver greatshield, looking like a humanoid armored vehicle. But passersby were not surprised, knowing that everything about the Starfallen was atypical. They even saw them wandering around naked before.


    Sigh.


    I feel like I¡¯ve been set up¡ª sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lonely as Snow under the helmet wore a face of despair.


    He originally entered this game to become a gallant hero battling various monsters. Now, he was on a one-way road to becoming a tank.


    As an Oath of the Crown Paladin meticulously trained by Magic Coin, he specialized in defensive combat. He could even use guiding divine power to force enemies into solo duels, allowing teammates to attack.


    When he reached level five, he unlocked the divine skill ¡°Protection Link¡±, which allowed him to share his teammates¡¯ damage. Coupled with his indestructible mithril heavy armor, regardless of his personal enjoyment, he was functionally indispensable to the team, explaining why Charlotte valued him so highly.


    Hello! You¡¯re here quite early!


    Don¡¯t worry, nothing will go wrong this time!


    The lively voice of Sky Flying Witch rang out. She skipped over and patted Lonely as Snow¡¯s shoulder, looking rather cheerful.


    Under the helmet, Lonely as Snow showed a helpless smile. The sweetheart-looking ¡°senior¡± player, dressed like a magical girl, appeared to him as a devil ¡ª a menace capable of wiping out the team with casual spellcasting.


    Hey, hey there!


    Moments later, two mages clad in rough robes hurried over, both wearing sullen expressions and mumbling incoherent words.


    They had both accumulated massive debts opening loot boxes and were finally taken in by Charlotte out of ¡°goodwill¡±. They were so busy repaying the debt they barely had time to fight monsters and level up, earning them the nickname ¡°Africa Duo¡± among guild members.


    Just like how the four heavenly kings always have a fifth, the Africa Duo also had a hidden member ¡ª their guild leader Charlotte. But they only discussed this privately to avoid hurting their leader¡¯s fragile ego.


    Now that everyone is here, let¡¯s head to the underground labyrinth!


    Sky Flying Witch¡¯s energetic voice made her presence clear.


    This time, I must show the newbies the reliability of their senior!


    She clenched her fists and silently vowed.


    This was her second time guiding newbies on a mission, and she couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes.


    Yes¡­


    Three rather weak answers echoed.

 Chapter 300 - 223 The Maze

    Chapter 300: Chapter 223 The Maze


    ¡°Here it is, right?¡±


    Lonely as Snow carefully examined the task map, repeatedly comparing it with the hidden cave in front of him.


    The Sky Flying Witch eagerly said,


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go in.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±


    Lonely as Snow interrupted in shock, first looking at the Sky Flying Witch in confusion.


    ...


    ¡°We¡¯ve got three spellcasters in our party, shouldn¡¯t we do some preparation?¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch dismissively said, ¡°I¡¯m already level six; I can crush everything with you guys following. Besides, I¡¯m a magician, not that many spells.¡±


    Lonely as Snow then turned to look at the two from Africa.


    The Europe King scratched his head, sheepishly said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, I¡¯m only level two. I only have a few spell slots and haven¡¯t learned any buff spells. Used up what I had outside, so in the maze, I¡¯d just be staring blankly.¡±


    ¡°Let me try.¡±


    Nine Millimeters stepped forward, touching Lonely as Snow¡¯s armor, causing an imperceptible spell wave.


    Instantly, Lonely as Snow¡¯s armor began to shine brightly.


    Zero Tier Cantrip ¨C Light Spell


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Lonely as Snow was silent for a moment, sighed inwardly, feeling even more bitter.


    All he could think of was a wild sorcerer charging through recklessly and a useless mage apprentice. What kind of top-tier teammates were these? ¡ª


    Lonely as Snow took a deep breath, mustered the courage, and entered the dark cave.


    Those three unreliable spellcasters followed closely behind.


    This place was originally where underground merchants stored smuggled goods. After triggering the ancient mechanism, the ground collapsed, and the maze sealed for centuries resurfaced. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking at the winding maze passage, Lonely as Snow whispered,


    ¡°Let¡¯s sneak in quietly, not making any loud noises¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s best to avoid combat and complete the task directly.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch responded.


    However, before Lonely as Snow finished speaking, the Europe King was already attracted by some scattered silver coins on the ground.


    ¡°Lots of money on the ground!¡±


    ¡°These silver coins must belong to that underground merchant. Follow them, and we can complete the task.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, and make a bit of extra cash¡­¡±


    The Europe King kept picking up the fallen silver coins and walked directly along the passage.


    ¡°Wait¡ªdon¡¯t go over there!¡±


    Lonely as Snow said anxiously.


    However, immersed in the dream of repaying his debts, the Europe King paid no attention and continued picking up coins happily, walking deeper into the maze.


    In the end, Lonely as Snow could only shake his head helplessly and followed him.


    ¡°You still need to tackle dungeons to make money.¡±


    ¡°One hundred and three coins.¡±


    ¡°One hundred and four coins.¡±


    ¡°One hundred and five coins¡ªhuh?¡±


    ¡°What is¡­¡±


    The Europe King suddenly caught a whiff of a foul stench, and sticky liquid dropped on his head, snapping him out of his money-collecting dream¡ªit seemed to be the saliva of an unknown beast.


    His legs trembled uncontrollably, turning pale as he looked up.


    A towering, muscular minotaur wielded a great axe, glaring down at him with eyes full of frenzy and cruelty.


    The Europe King let out a cry of surprise, almost incoherent.


    ¡°Holy cow! There¡¯s a, there¡¯s a monster!¡±


    ¡°Help me!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The minotaur roared angrily towards the sky, raising its great axe high, the blood-stained axe reeking as it came crashing down.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    There was a sound of metal clashing.


    At the last moment before the Europe King was about to be split in two, Lonely as Snow raised his giant shield, forcefully blocking the deadly blow.


    However, under the brute force of the minotaur, even with the shield, his hands went numb from the shock.


    ¡°What are you standing there for, run!¡±


    Lonely as Snow shouted quickly when he saw the Europe King frozen in fear.


    The Europe King finally reacted and sprinted off behind, wishing he had more legs.


    But the minotaur seemed to have set its eyes on the Europe King. Its wide eyes were full of frenzy. The minotaur¡¯s huge hooves kicked up dust as it charged towards the Europe King.


    Seeing that his stupid teammate was about to be rammed to death, Lonely as Snow had to stand up again.


    He raised his shield high, which began to shine brightly.


    Guiding Divine Power ¨C Defense Challenge


    Lonely as Snow initiated a challenge, forcing the minotaur to fight him.


    Instantly, it was as if an invisible chain bound the minotaur, making it unable to attack the terrified Europe King sprawled on the ground.


    ¡°Holy cow, that was close!¡±


    The Europe King patted his chest in lingering fear.


    Seeing the duck in its mouth fly away, the minotaur let out a wild roar.


    It turned its head and glared at the fully armored Lonely as Snow furiously. Its hooves scraped the ground again, ready to turn this human who repeatedly hindered it into minced meat.


    ¡°Moo¡ª¡±


    The minotaur lost its mind, charging like a war chariot.


    Seeing the unfavorable situation, Lonely as Snow could only shout for help.


    ¡°Sky Flying Witch, help me!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch, who had been waiting for a long time behind, casually waved her hand, summoning a massive fireball.


    Lonely as Snow¡¯s luck wasn¡¯t bad this time; there were no magical mishaps.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The scorching fireball landed directly on the charging minotaur¡¯s back, exploding and causing its skin to split. Its back turned black and even its fur caught fire.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    The minotaur¡¯s charge was interrupted, and it stood there pawing at its body, howling in agony.


    ¡°I am the Pure Love War God!¡±


    ¡°So¡ªMinotaur, die!¡±


    Taking advantage of its inability to fight back, Lonely as Snow leaped forward, smashing the giant shield into the minotaur¡¯s head.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The minotaur, caught off guard, saw stars and couldn¡¯t see clearly.


    Under attacks from all directions, the minotaur completely lost its mind, falling into blind fury, attacking aimlessly.


    The Europe King and Nine Millimeters, the two mage apprentices, also took the chance to attack but their spellcasting was clearly not very skilled.


    ¡°Ignis! (Fire Arrow)¡±


    Two small fire arrows shot out but missed completely.


    Instantly, the atmosphere became somewhat quiet, only the minotaur¡¯s roars filled the air.


    Lonely as Snow: ¡°¡­¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch: ¡°¡­¡±


    In the end, it was the Sky Flying Witch who personally finished off the minotaur.


    She puffed up her cheeks slightly, gathered strength for a few seconds, then spewed forth linear roaring flames, completely engulfing the minotaur.


    Agnasa¡¯s Fire-Breathing Technique


    The minotaur struggled in the flames and eventually fell, the maze filled with the scent of roasted beef.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, you still gotta rely on me.¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch clapped her hands easily and turned around cheerfully.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Lonely as Snow¡ªeh?¡±


    ¡°Baa~¡±


    Lonely as Snow had disappeared.


    In his place stood a particularly exhausted-looking sheep, bleating helplessly.


    The Sky Flying Witch stuck her tongue out apologetically.


    ¡°Sorry, but the effect will wear off in two minutes.¡±


    ¡°Baa¡­¡±

 Chapter 301 - 224 Shark Lizard Beast

    Chapter 301: Chapter 224 Shark Lizard Beast


    ¡°Everyone, be careful¡­¡±


    Lonely as Snow cautiously raised the giant shield and whispered.


    He now not only had to guard against the monsters in the maze but also his own troublesome teammates. Thinking of the recent incident where he was turned into a sheep, Lonely as Snow instinctively took a few steps back, increasing the distance between himself and the Sky Flying Witch.


    ¡°Oh my, it was just an accident.¡±


    ¡°No real harm was done, right?¡±


    Sky Flying Witch scratched her head embarrassedly and chuckled.


    ...


    Europe King and Nine Millimeters were timidly trailing at the back of the team, fearing something strange might jump out of the shadows and instantly kill these two novice Mage Apprentices.


    ¡°Watch me lead you to speed-run the mission.¡±


    Sky Flying Witch used a spell to light their way, rapidly advancing through the maze.


    It was clear she was trying to redeem herself and maintain the dignity of a ¡°senior.¡±


    Lonely as Snow furrowed his brows again; the Paladin¡¯s Divine Sense allowed him to notice subtle details.


    He turned to look at his teammates behind him.


    ¡°Have you noticed¡­¡±


    ¡°The ground nearby¡­is trembling.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Sky Flying Witch tilted her head in confusion.


    ¡°Crack, crack.¡±


    Before Lonely as Snow¡¯s words were even finished, with the rumbling sound of the earth, the surrounding soil and rocks trembled violently, and a huge mound suddenly rose up in front of him.


    He urgently shouted, sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Scatter! There¡¯s danger!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The mound exploded, sending dirt flying.


    Accompanied by a furious roar, an enormous black shadow leaped out from the ground.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The giant beast pounced down, the terrifying weight crashing down, causing the maze floor to tremble again, kicking up dust, and even knocking small stones off the cavern¡¯s ceiling.


    Fortunately, the four of them had dodged early. Lonely as Snow had to roll with all his might to avoid being crushed by the giant beast.


    But the airwave from that fatal leap alone pushed them several meters away, with some even falling to the ground.


    When the dust cleared, everyone finally saw the true face of the uninvited guest.


    ¡ª¡ªThe giant beast looked like a combination of a shark and a lizard, standing over four meters tall, like a small mountain. It was covered with thick armor, its surface still clinging to dirt, and its claws for digging were especially large and strong. This was the Shark Lizard Beast, the absolute ruler of the subterranean world.


    At this moment, its small, glowing eyes stared at them, and foul, sticky saliva dripped from the edge of its gaping maw. It seemed eager to swallow these trespassing humans.


    Lonely as Snow lay on the ground, looking up at the terrifying giant beast.


    [Shark Lizard Beast]


    Challenge Level: 5 (1800xp)


    ¡°Damn¡­what a high-level monster.¡±


    Sky Flying Witch boasted proudly next to him, ¡°You newbies just get scared easily. Back in the day, I could take down several level-eight Frost Giants with a single spell¡­¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Before she finished speaking, the Shark Lizard Beast leaped at them again with unstoppable force.


    Lonely Snow urgently raised the giant shield to block it, being the team¡¯s only tank, he knew his role well.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a loud crash, the heavy giant shield forcefully blocked the Shark Lizard Beast¡¯s attack, but Lonely as Snow was sent flying several meters away, rolling on the ground a dozen times.


    ¡°Big sister, focus will you!¡±


    He didn¡¯t forget to wail.


    The Shark Lizard Beast then opened its gaping maw, rushing toward Europe King, intending to swallow him whole.


    ¡°What a bunch of trash teammates!¡±


    Lonely as Snow hardened his heart, ignoring the tingling all over his body. He gritted his teeth, raised his shield, and cast Guiding Divine Power once more.


    [Guiding Divine Power: Defensive Challenge]


    With the white radiance, an ethereal chain connected the Shark Lizard Beast and Lonely as Snow, creating a battle arena; at this moment, they could only duel one-on-one.


    Looking at the approaching Shark Lizard Beast, which caused the ground to tremble, he gripped his shield tightly, murmuring,


    ¡°In the end, I have to bear it all¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold him, you guys focus on attacking!¡±


    Lonely as Snow shouted angrily.


    ¡°Witchcraft Arrow!¡±


    Nine Millimeters raised his magic wand, sending a crackling blue energy bolt shooting towards the Shark Lizard Beast, forming a continuous arc of electricity between him and the beast.


    However, the beast¡¯s thick hide didn¡¯t seem to care about the weak current.


    ¡°Rainbow Spray!¡±


    Europe King couldn¡¯t afford a magic wand, so he had to cast spells with his hands.


    A lot of dazzling rainbow light burst from his hands, only to hit the floor.


    ¡°Europe King! Aim properly, damn it!¡±


    Lonely as Snow barely parried the Shark Lizard Beast, still managing to curse.


    Europe King scratched his head and sheepishly murmured, ¡°My casting level is too low, not very skilled, sorry, sorry.¡±


    ¡°Watch me!¡±


    Sky Flying Witch confidently said.


    ¡°Fireball Technique!¡±


    As soon as she finished, a surge of chaotic magic swirled, butterflies and petals dancing in the air, but the expected fireball didn¡¯t appear.


    ¡°Eh? It¡¯s quite romantic.¡±


    Sky Flying Witch paused for a moment, then laughed.


    Lonely as Snow dodged the Shark Lizard Beast¡¯s claw again, but was sent flying several meters by its next headbutt, crashing against the maze wall and leaving a human-shaped indent.


    ¡°Romantic my ass, just focus on attacking¡ª¡ª¡±


    He wailed weakly from the dent.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Mithril Armor¡¯s protection, Lonely as Snow would have already been crushed to a pulp.


    ¡°Casting, casting!¡±


    Sky Flying Witch quickly came to her senses and hurriedly responded.


    She couldn¡¯t leave a ¡°unreliable¡± impression on these newbies, she was striving to become a dependable senior!


    With this thought, she gritted her teeth and stretched out her hands surrounded by electric arcs.


    ¡°Lightning Bolt!¡±


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    A thick lightning bolt instantly shot out from her outstretched hand, piercing through the Shark Lizard Beast.


    This time, her luck was extraordinary. Under the influence of Wild Magic, the lightning bolt¡¯s power was much greater than she expected.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    The Shark Lizard Beast let out a deep roar.


    Large charred areas appeared on its body, and the massive creature collapsed under the lightning¡¯s force, causing the ground to shake once more.


    ¡°Heh heh, it still has to be me to take care of things.¡±


    Sky Flying Witch smugly said.


    However, she ignored the fact that Lightning Bolt is a piercing attack, and on its path was not only the Shark Lizard Beast but also Lonely as Snow stuck in the wall.


    ¡°Witch Sister¡­you forgot about me.¡±


    A weak voice came from the front.


    ¡°No way, could it be¡ª¡ª¡±


    Sky Flying Witch seemed to guess what had happened. With a face full of guilt, she tiptoed forward.


    Lonely as Snow lay there, almost at death¡¯s door, with a tired look under his helmet.


    He was charred black all over, his hair under his helmet burned off completely, and tiny arcs of electricity danced around the Mithril Armor.


    Despite the Shark Lizard Beast blocking most of the damage and the Mithril Armor reducing the lightning¡¯s power, Lonely as Snow couldn¡¯t forget the despair of almost being turned to charcoal by his teammate¡¯s Lightning Bolt.


    ¡°Sigh, if only I had known this day would come¡­¡±


    Lonely as Snow stubbornly turned his head, a puff of green smoke coming out of his mouth.


    The once proud Paladin now looked like a barbeque casualty.


    He never should have joined this hopeless guild!

 Chapter 302 - 225: Uprising

    Chapter 302: Chapter 225: Uprising


    Carter Duchy, outskirts of Dena City.


    ¡°Snap¡ª¡±


    ¡°Get to work!¡±


    ¡°You lowly scum! Beasts!¡±


    The sound of a cracking whip, angry curses, and the sharp sound of miners striking ore intertwined.


    In the dimly lit mine, grimy miners labored desperately as the overseers swung their whips, overseeing the work of these unfortunate souls.


    ...


    Among the miners was one with the nickname ¡°Spark¡± above his head. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clearly, he was a player, or as the natives called them, a Starfallen.


    ¡°These damned creatures¡­¡±


    ¡°Sooner or later, I¡¯ll kill them. I have to find a way to get out of here.¡±


    He swung his pickaxe with all his might, but his gaze toward the overseers was particularly dangerous.


    Spark was a somewhat renowned player. Unlike those who preferred speed runs, he enjoyed experiencing the plot and discovering hidden secrets in the game.


    So he didn¡¯t choose the most common starting point of Northwind Castle. Instead, he chose the lesser-known capital of Carter Duchy¡ªDena City. He wanted to experience the unique charm of the North.


    However, Spark¡¯s luck was not so good.


    He had just descended into Dena City when he was captured by the city guards for not having any identification. He was then sold to slave traders by the colluding military commander and, after several twists and turns, ended up as a slave laborer in an underground mine, digging for a Northern Noble.


    Such things were all too common in the Northern Countries.


    Serfdom was deeply rooted in the Northern Countries, having lasted for centuries.


    In the eyes of the Northern Nobility, slaves were not of the same species as them. They were considered cheap consumables, lowly ¡°Gray Beasts,¡± and these collusions and slave trades were tacitly accepted by all parties. Even local sheriffs turned a blind eye to it.


    After all, those were just unidentified vagrants. Capturing them might even improve city security. How could it compare to the gold coins bribing the slave traders?


    Next to Spark was an unfamiliar slave laborer. His body was skinny and his skin dark, seemingly just captured. His mining actions were still inexperienced, frequently earning him whippings and curses from the overseers.


    Spark patted the slave¡¯s shoulder and whispered:


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    The slave stopped his work, wiped the sweat off his face with his coal-stained hands, and smiled sheepishly with his head lowered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a name. My previous master called me Firewood.¡±


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    ¡°Lazy beast, get back to work!¡±


    After only a brief rest, the overseer¡¯s whip came again.


    Firewood braced his body, trembling from the beating, adding a deep bleeding gash to his already scarred back.


    Despite the pain and humiliation, it seemed as if he was used to it. He kept silent and raised his pickaxe once more.


    But Spark was not whipped.


    His owner had specifically instructed to make good use of this rare strong slave and to maximize his value by extending his usage time.


    Spark lowered his voice and said to Firewood:


    ¡°Don¡¯t you hate how they treat you?¡±


    Firewood dared not stop his pickaxe for even a moment. Hearing such ¡°treasonous¡± words, he was too scared to speak. He hesitantly replied:


    ¡°No, of course not. They were sent by the noble masters.¡±


    Spark sighed helplessly:


    ¡°Just speak your mind. I won¡¯t tell the overseer.¡±


    Firewood recalled the companions who had been skinned and displayed for disobeying their masters, the dignified appearance of the noble masters, and the warnings of his elders.


    He instinctively trembled and shook his head repeatedly:


    ¡°N¡­not even a little.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re noble masters. Their homes have endless grain and gold. Who would dare hate them?¡±


    With Firewood¡¯s limited knowledge, that was all he could think of.


    Spark looked around cautiously, seeing no one paying attention, and continued to guide him:


    ¡°All this gold and silver we dig up, all the grain we produce, why do these things end up in the hands of the nobles? Are they naturally more noble than us?¡±


    ¡°Of c¡­course.¡±


    Firewood replied cautiously.


    To him, it was indeed a strange question. Nobles being superior to slaves was a principle beyond question.


    Even the priests in the manor said that slaves were scum made from mud, while nobles were creations of gods made from gold and spring water.


    Spark asked again:


    ¡°Then what about the overseers? Are they also more noble, which is why they can step on us?¡±


    ¡°I suppose. It¡¯s like that, right? The overseers were sent by the noble masters. If the nobles were made of gold, perhaps the overseers were made of silver?¡±


    Firewood pondered for a moment, answering uncertainly.


    He felt the person before him was very strange for asking such rebellious questions and even daring to doubt the Northern Nobility. However, Spark¡¯s words also planted a seed in Firewood¡¯s heart.


    ¡°What are you two talking about over there?¡±


    ¡°Who allowed you to talk? Get back to work!¡±


    The overseer¡¯s angry roar came from a distance, seemingly never-ceasing in their fury.


    Firewood quickly resumed swinging his pickaxe. Even if it made his hands numb, he did not dare to stop.


    But this time, Spark did not obey the order. Instead, he took a few steps forward and looked around at the other slave laborers.


    Those who had been laboring in the mine for a long time seemed to have some long-suppressed emotions in their eyes, and they simultaneously stopped working.


    In this eerie silence, even Firewood instinctively paused.


    ¡°Damn beasts, swine! Do you want to rebel?!¡±


    The overseer¡¯s face turned extremely ugly as his absolute authority was broken.


    In extreme anger, he even disregarded his master¡¯s orders and swung his whip at the most prominent Spark, hoping to use this tried-and-true method to make the slaves submit.


    ¡°Snap.¡±


    The whip was firmly caught in Spark¡¯s hand, causing his hand to bleed profusely.


    But Spark, without regard for his injured hand, wrapped the whip around his hand a few times and forcibly pulled it away.


    The overseer collapsed to the ground, looking up at Spark¡¯s fierce eyes, retreating in fear, mumbling, ¡°I was sent by Lord Earl. I was¡­¡±


    But several tens of slave laborers blocked his way. They pinned the overseer to the ground, rendering him unable to move.


    ¡°What are you doing!¡±


    ¡°Damn beasts, do you want to die! I was sent by Lord Earl¡ª¡±


    The overseer struggled and shouted on the ground, but the sheer number of slaves overwhelmed him. He couldn¡¯t break free.


    ¡°Damn person¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you, damn it!¡±


    Spark gave it his all, veins bulging in his arm.


    He fiercely swung the pickaxe down at the overseer, just as he had struck the ore numerous times.


    The force was so immense that the sharp pickaxe pierced through the fat and flesh, cracked open the tough bones, and turned his brain into mush.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Blood splattered, and brain matter flew.


    The overseer, full of bloated intestines, died with a stunned expression.


    He never imagined that he would be killed by the lowliest of slaves he despised the most.


    ¡°Good!¡±


    ¡°Nice kill!¡±


    ¡°Kill this beast!!¡±


    The surrounding slaves were instantly invigorated. They rushed forward to trample and tear at the body, venting their accumulated frustrations.


    But a sliver of fear lurked in their hearts. A dead overseer meant, just as he had said before dying, that the noble master would stop at nothing to hunt them down.


    However, they recalled Spark¡¯s promise and a flicker of hope rekindled in their hearts.


    This ¡°strong slave¡± had a special status in the mine. Over the past few days, he often told the slaves new and unheard-of stories, including those of toppling the old order and changing the world.


    Although it sounded like a fairy tale, they had no other choice.


    Spark held the overseer¡¯s bleeding head and turned to Firewood, revealing a satisfied smile.


    He said word by word:


    ¡°I told you, they were never more noble than us.¡±


    Firewood stood there in shock, his legs trembling. But in his heart, a weak flame began to burn.

 Chapter 303 - 226 Fire Seed

    Chapter 303: Chapter 226 Fire Seed


    ¡°What should we do next?¡±


    ¡°You decide. We all trust you.¡±


    Behind him, a previously silent slave laborer spoke up.


    His cheeks were sunken, and he was tall and gaunt. Dressed in tattered, filthy rags, his skin was pale from long periods without sunlight, with veins visible underneath.


    Due to the long-term dark environment, he had trachoma, making his eyes particularly murky, yet at this moment his gaze was inexplicably firm, even faintly glowing in the dark mine.


    This slave laborer was named Nick. He, too, was born a serf, but had once worked as an attendant student. His parents were trampled to death by the Earl¡¯s youngest son¡¯s horse, and he himself was sold into the mines. Deep in his heart, he harbored deep-seated hatred towards the Northern Nobility.


    ...


    He was also the earliest acceptor and propagator of new ideas among the slave laborers, and now he had become Spark¡¯s right-hand man, a crucial figure in this long-planned rebellion.


    Spark looked around, sweeping over the slave laborers¡¯ eyes¡ªsome bewildered, some angry, some fearful.


    ¡°Continue.¡±


    ¡°Continue with what?¡±


    Someone in the crowd asked in confusion.


    Spark replied resolutely: ¡°Continue to liberate the workers here, make them our strength, and also¡ªkill all the noble lackeys in the Valir Mines!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0


    He held up the overseer¡¯s head, lifting it high,


    ¡°We must show them who the true masters are here!¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    ¡°Kill them all!¡±


    A few slave laborers raised their arms and shouted, and soon more slave laborers were infected with this enthusiasm, joining the frenzied cheer.


    But Spark knew that only a few of his familiar people were truly trustworthy; the hearts of the others still harbored deeply ingrained fears. Under such oppression, they could easily become turncoats.


    It should be noted that the scale of this mine was much larger; they were merely in one of the subdivided pits. As the Earl¡¯s most treasured asset, the Valir Mines housed over a thousand slave laborers and nearly a hundred overseers, continuously extracting gold and silver for the greedy Earl, producing thousands of Gold Coins every year.


    And now, this place was his best source of soldiers.


    Following behind Spark, Firewood mustered the courage to ask weakly: ¡°But¡­ we have no weapons, no food, how could we¡­¡±


    Spark raised the overseer¡¯s head again, shaking it in the air, and smiled, showing his white teeth: ¡°But they have. We just need to rob¡ªno, reclaim what rightfully belongs to us.¡±


    The timid Firewood was so frightened by the bloody head that his legs went weak, and he swallowed nervously.


    Spark spoke loudly in the mine: ¡°Anyone with ideas, feel free to speak up! After all, many hands make light work.¡±


    He paused, his gaze turning sharp.


    ¡°But let me be clear, now that we¡¯ve killed the overseer, there¡¯s no turning back. Any thoughts of surrender are just dreams!¡±


    ¡°We could steal the Nobles¡¯ golden hoes! That way, they won¡¯t be able to farm!¡±


    ¡°Take away their piglets!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Spark smiled helplessly: ¡°Uh¡­ very creative ideas. Anyone else?¡±


    Nick proposed again:


    ¡°We should have a name.¡±


    ¡°Those damn Nobles call themselves righteous and just Knights. We should give ourselves a resounding name to spread across Anzeta.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Nick is right.¡±s


    ¡°But what should we call ourselves? We¡¯ve never read any books.¡±


    Everyone waited, with dozens of expectant eyes focused on Spark.


    And Spark, looking into the eyes of the slave laborers, seemed to see a multitude of flames¡ªseeds of fire buried deep within, ready to blaze brightly and perhaps change the world.


    After a moment of thought, he finally spoke:


    ¡°Fire Seed.¡±


    ¡°No matter what they call us, whether they smear us as Devils, Scum, or Beasts, we shall call ourselves Fire Seed. Our organization will have ranks of duties, but no different statuses. Everyone will address each other as ¡®comrade,¡¯ representing our shared aspirations.¡±


    Although they did not understand many of the words, the slave laborers could feel the passionate and generous spirit in the speech. They nodded in agreement enthusiastically.


    Spark threw the head to the ground, shouldered the bloodstained hoe, and was the first to walk out of the mine, beckoning others:


    ¡°Guns in hand, follow me.¡±


    ¡°Liberate the entire mine!¡±


    He wiped the fresh blood off his face randomly, his eyes full of excitement.


    As a plot enthusiast, Spark had never felt such immersive passion from any game before; he had always appeared as an observer.


    But now, he felt like a creator of history, living truly in this world, with every slave laborer around him being so real and vibrant.


    ¡°What are guns?¡±


    ¡°We only have hoes in our hands.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You¡¯ll understand when the time comes.¡±


    As the crowd surrounded him, Spark wiped the blood off his hoe and looked towards the light from outside the cave. In a barely audible voice, he said: S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary plot enthusiast¡­¡±


    ¡°How did I end up becoming a rebel leader out of nowhere?¡±


    ¡­


    Days later, the event known among the Northern Nobility as the ¡°Valir Uprising¡± occurred.


    A slave laborer killed their overseer and then incited over a thousand slave laborers in the Valir Mines to launch an unprecedented rebellion. They called themselves ¡°Fire Seed,¡± killing nearly a hundred overseers sent by the Earl, including an Honorary Baron.


    Soon after, pursued by Knights, the rebellious serfs fled into the deep mountains, becoming a violent band of brigands.


    According to the Earl of the Carter Duchy, the leading serf was possessed by the Devil and obtained strength by drinking human blood and eating human flesh. This evil force had to be exterminated, and the Nobles of the Northern Countries actively supported this effort, determined to eliminate the slave laborers bewitched by the Devil.


    ¡°The Devil¡¯s cult.¡±


    ¡°Man-eating monsters.¡±


    ¡°Roving hyenas.¡±


    These were the ¡°honorary titles¡± given to them by the Carter Duchy.


    It should be known that serfdom in the North was deeply rooted, lasting hundreds of years and almost engraved in everyone¡¯s bones.


    While there had been sporadic resistance, there hadn¡¯t been a serf uprising of this scale for decades. The emergence of such a trend filled the Northern Nobles with immense fear, determined to nip it in the bud at any cost.


    But the Northern Nobles underestimated the severity of the situation. The twenty thousand players born in the Northern Countries included many troublemakers as well as those who were recruited. Unlike the Ashen Kingdom, which had a military suppression capability, the Nobles of the North saw resistance organizations sprout like mushrooms after the rain.

 Chapter 304 - 227 Mechanical God Cult

    Chapter 304: Chapter 227 Mechanical God Cult


    ¡°Did those damn knights come to raid us again?¡±


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have to relocate our hideout.¡±


    In the dark and damp cave, the dim candlelight flickered, and Spark¡¯s expression was solemn.


    After several days of being hunted and blocked by the Carter Duchy¡¯s army, the slave laborers he brought out from the Valir Mines had suffered heavy casualties, with hundreds of them permanently left there.


    ¡°They¡­ were too powerful,¡± Nick said, lowering his head, his expression bleak.


    His friend from the mines had died in the battle. The army sent by the duchy was terrifyingly strong. Nearly a hundred slave laborers who stayed behind were slaughtered by the heavy armored knight known as ¡°Katte¡¯s Eagle.¡± The bloody scene was unforgettable to him.


    ...


    ¡°They were professionals.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t keep doing this. The gap between us and those with extraordinary strength is just too huge.¡±


    Spark spread out a sheepskin map and said this. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After several days of brutal battles, he had also become a Level One Warrior, but he had no equipment and was no match for the heavy armored knights sent by the Carter Duchy.


    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±


    Spark folded his hands, holding his chin, seemingly deep in thought.


    ¡°Maybe we can leverage external forces.¡±


    Nick gave a bitter smile: ¡°The Northern Countries have all issued ultimatums; they would love to tear us apart. Despite the internal conflicts of these countries, they unanimously oppose us runaway serfs.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the Northern Countries.¡±


    Nick was dumbfounded: ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    Spark grinned meaningfully:


    ¡°Since they slander us as devils and beasts, we might as well cooperate with another group of devils.¡±


    As a somewhat famous storyline player, Spark had contacts with many beta testers, and this became his network for finding a way out for ¡°Fire Seed¡± at this moment.


    He opened the panel and looked at the list for ¡°Steel Torrent,¡± the well-known leader of the Mechanical God Cult.


    ¡­


    Northwind Castle, Mechanical God Cult headquarters, ¡°Mars¡± Hall.


    The door bore a gear emblem full of technological sense.


    Inscribed on its base were the words: ¡°In the name of the sacred binary, loudly praise Omnissiah, glory to the God of Machines!¡±


    The players of the Mechanical God Cult took cosplay to the extreme.


    Steel Torrent was currently in the hall, reviewing documents, busy to the point of frenzy. Several ogre guards stood by his side¡ªnot so much protecting him as overseeing his work.


    Ever since he embezzled public funds to make a mecha last time, Lord Ramp had sent several trusted aides to constantly supervise him, preventing similar incidents from happening again. Even large-scale fund allocations had to be reported to the higher-ups.


    Steel Torrent felt like crying. As he said himself:


    ¡°I¡¯m not a guild leader; I¡¯m just a laborer.¡±


    Recently, the Mechanical God Cult had recruited quite a few genuinely valuable talents, assigning them high-level technical positions. They quickly advanced the tech tree, combining real-world technology with magical reactions to create semi-automatic firearms, grenade launchers, and even designing a Magic Tank.


    A new round of weapon iteration in the kingdom was foreseeable.


    Steel Torrent reviewed the next document.


    ¡°Project No. 127: Early Internet Architecture Based on the Magic Web¡ªRemote Magic Terminal Connection.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but gulp. Being the guild leader in such a talented guild often made him feel inferior.


    ¡°Holy crap, where did this big shot come from? Progressing this fast? Are we really going to start with sacred binary now?¡±


    Suddenly, a message popped up in Steel Torrent¡¯s system panel, making him temporarily put down the document.


    Spark: Crazy Brother, are you there?


    Spark: Interested in sponsoring some arms?


    Steel Torrent: ?


    Steel Torrent had heard of the ¡°Fire Seed¡± organization led by Spark.


    After all, the ¡°Valir Uprising¡± had been featured in the special section of the Kingdom Daily, becoming a much-discussed event in the country and even receiving high praise from the kingdom¡¯s officials, who referred to it as the ¡°Mine Rebellion.¡±


    Steel Torrent: Empty-handed wolf capture, huh?


    Spark: That¡¯s not fair! This is an investment in the future!


    Steel Torrent: I don¡¯t have that authority now. I was fined last time for making a mecha.


    Spark: Why don¡¯t you report it to your superiors? The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I¡¯m sure the kingdom¡¯s leaders would be happy to aid us.


    Steel Torrent: Alright.


    Steel Torrent suddenly realized this was a great opportunity to scam some funds. Maybe he could get enough to make another mecha.


    As for the arms support, they could just pack up some obsolete trash and send them over.


    With this in mind, he closed the chat interface and patted the ogre beside him, who looked somewhat drowsy.


    ¡°Fatty?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try any tricks, don¡¯t get close to me. I trained in Lord Ramp¡¯s accounting class, and you still owe the kingdom some funds.¡±


    The ogre called ¡°Fatty¡± opened his eyes, waved his hand impatiently, and said.


    ¡°I have something important to report to Lord Ramp.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Fatty grumbled, took out a crystal stone from his backpack, and skillfully activated it.


    Soon, Ramp¡¯s ugly and terrifying face appeared in the magic image.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Wanting to repay his debts quickly and get rid of the ogres¡¯ supervision, Steel Torrent immediately put on a fawning smile.


    ¡°Lord Ramp, the leader of the ¡®Fire Seed¡¯ organization from the Carter Duchy contacted me.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Ramp¡¯s voice was calm.


    He had long suspected that the rebellions were caused by the Starfallen and welcomed it.


    Steel Torrent continued to report: ¡°They hope to get some arms and supplies from the kingdom to resist the Northern Countries¡¯ pursuit. Could you¡­ approve some funds?¡±


    Ramp said indifferently: ¡°No need to approve new funds.¡±


    ¡°A few years ago, the army decommissioned a batch of smoothbore guns, which have been stored in the warehouse. Give them all to them. When the production line switches to semi-automatic rifles and the army¡¯s equipment is updated, those outdated firearms can be sold to them at a low price.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s tone paused, and his eyes showed a warning look.


    ¡°Besides, the kingdom¡¯s authorities naturally support these actions, so your Mechanical God Cult doesn¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, no problem. I¡¯ll talk to him now.¡±


    Seeing that Ramp had seen through his little trick, Steel Torrent immediately put on an ingratiating smile and repeatedly agreed.


    After the magic image cut off, he slumped back into the chair, exhausted.


    ¡°Being crushed by the bigwigs in the guild is one thing.¡±


    ¡°How can I also be crushed by the intelligence of NPCs in the game¡ª¡±


    Steel Torrent silently wailed in his heart.

 Chapter 305 - 228: Scout

    Chapter 305: Chapter 228: Scout


    Northwind Castle, Municipal Square.


    ¡°Citizens, please abide by the kingdom¡¯s order!¡±


    Mantou rode his Bipedal Wyvern, circling above the city repeatedly, shouting through a loudspeaker. He constantly drew either envious or awestruck gazes from the people below.


    As the number of players had skyrocketed, their antics became increasingly varied and inventive, even exploiting loopholes in the kingdom¡¯s laws for some tricky maneuvers. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the sheriff, Mantou¡¯s workload had become unprecedentedly heavy. The southwest urban district he was responsible for now had more than thirty thousand people, including nearly five thousand players.


    ¡°Hey! You over there, stop stripping in public!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Trying to run?¡±


    Mantou drove the Wyvern into a steep dive.


    The Bipedal Wyvern extended its sharp claws and grabbed a naked player who was attempting to disrupt public order from the ground.


    Mantou turned his body and, as expected, saw that familiar face.


    ¡°It¡¯s you again, Holy Light Bro. This is the third time this month you¡¯ve intentionally exposed yourself in public. Do you have anything to say in your defense?¡±


    Holy Light Bro, entirely naked, showcased his body curves in the air and calmly said:


    ¡°I am merely following the Way of Nature. Everyone is born naked, so why let crude creations cover our bodies? In my ideal world, everyone can be honest with each other¡­¡±


    Mantou forcibly suppressed his urge to retort, waving his hand dismissively.


    ¡°Enough!¡±


    ¡°Citizen, you have violated Article 23 of the Kingdom Public Order Punishment Law. Either pay a fine of five Gold Coins or spend seven days in jail, your choice.¡±


    Using only his legs to control the Wyvern, Mantou pulled out a small notebook and quill from his backpack and began to write.


    Holy Light Bro answered plainly as ever:


    ¡°I¡¯d rather spread the Way of Nature in jail and teach more people the beauty of freedom than pay for a fabricated crime.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re unbeatable.¡±


    After a long silence, Mantou finally muttered through clenched teeth.


    After delivering the composed Holy Light Bro to the kingdom¡¯s jail, Mantou resumed his patrol over the city.


    As the city¡¯s sheriff, he not only had to manage the citizens but also had to search for unidentified outsiders, wary of spies sent by the Northern Countries, the Harpist Alliance, and even the Empire of Fadlan.


    Surveying the bustling crowds below, Mantou let out a long sigh.


    ¡°So many things to handle lately¡ªreally annoying, dealing with these trivial matters everywhere. There¡¯s no reward, and it¡¯s a waste of time.¡±


    ¡°Awooo~~¡±


    His mount, Noodle, howled in agreement.


    This Bipedal Wyvern also fondly remembered the days of standing guard at the palace gates and lounging in its lair.


    ¡°Damn, the air seems to be getting worse, it¡¯s suffocating.¡±


    ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s keep executing the mission.¡±


    Mantou stroked Noodle¡¯s slender, smooth neck, continuing to use the aerial reconnaissance skill of the Red Scale Conqueror for patrolling the city skies. Icons appeared above everyone¡¯s heads on the ground, indicating their names, levels, and even factions.


    [Citizen]


    [Worker]


    [Scholar]


    [Tiefling Guard]


    [Wealthy Merchant]


    Mantou overlooked the city, his eyes growing numb at the dense clusters of names.


    ¡°With over thirty thousand people in this southwest district, catching spies is practically like finding a needle in a haystack. If I look at each one, I¡¯ll die of exhaustion.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what¡¯s that¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, an eye-catching red font in the crowd caught his attention.


    [Boske Duchy Scout (Challenge Level: 3)]


    The man dressed in ordinary clothes stood unnoticed in the crowd, just like any average citizen. No one in the chaotic Northwind Castle would suspect his identity, but unfortunately for him, he encountered the players who could see everything.


    Mantou became instantly excited, leaning forward slightly, almost snorting out white smoke from his nostrils.


    ¡°Speak of the devil, here comes Gold Coin and contribution!¡±


    ¡°Noodle, it¡¯s that man.¡±


    ¡°Awooo~¡±


    The Bipedal Wyvern nodded slightly, speeding up the flapping of its wings.


    The scout on the ground seemed to notice the Wyvern in the sky as well. He discreetly quickened his pace, trying to slip into a side alley under the cover of the crowd.


    However, Mantou in the air saw everything clearly.


    How could he let this duck delivered to his mouth fly away?


    ¡°Damn it.¡±


    The scout turned his head to look at the approaching large shadow, realizing he might have been exposed. He quickly took out some powder from his clothes, creating a dense smoke and causing quite a stir in the city.


    ¡°Cough cough, what¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Where did this weird fog come from?¡±


    ¡°Could it be an enemy invasion?¡±


    People began to speculate, unable to keep their eyes open from the smoke.


    Seeing the scout¡¯s footsteps quickening as he was about to completely blend into the crowd, Mantou gave a low command.


    ¡°We can¡¯t wait any longer, Noodle, Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    They collectively let out a soul-stirring dragon¡¯s roar.


    At the same time, the Bipedal Wyvern extended its wings, diving rapidly from mid-air.


    Under the influence of the dragon¡¯s roar, most people stood frozen in place or even collapsed on the spot. The scout¡¯s hope of escaping through the chaotic crowd was shattered.


    Even for a well-trained scout, the power of the dragon¡¯s roar caused him to stagger. He barely ran a few steps before crashing into a roadside stall.


    Mantou shouted loudly:


    ¡°Red Scale Conqueror on a mission! Bystanders step aside!¡±


    ¡°He is a scout sent by the enemy!¡±


    Two legs running couldn¡¯t possibly outrun two wings flying, especially under the effect of the dragon¡¯s roar.


    In just a few breaths, the Bipedal Wyvern swept over the scout, lifting him off the ground with its giant claws.


    ¡°Wahoo, take off!¡±


    Mantou rode the Wyvern, shouting in exhilaration. Not only had he caught the scout, but he also secured a hefty amount of Gold Coins and contributions.


    ¡°Damn dragon minion!¡±


    The scout struggled continuously in mid-air.


    However, the Wyvern¡¯s sharp claws embedded in his flesh held him firmly, making it impossible to break free.


    Within a few breaths, the Bipedal Wyvern had ascended to several hundred meters above the ground. The scout, calming down, took out a hidden sleeve arrow, aiming to pierce the Wyvern¡¯s wing and take the Wyvern Knight down with him before dying.


    ¡°Die, dragon minion!¡±


    The scout raised his right hand, aiming at the Wyvern¡¯s wing.


    However, the knight on the Wyvern¡¯s back was always watching the scout¡¯s moves.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    The moment the scout extended his hand, Mantou swiftly swung his longsword, chopping off the arm along with the sleeve arrow.


    Wiping his blood-stained sword, Mantou said calmly: ¡°Since you got caught, why not just surrender?¡±


    ¡°You still want to crash me? Forcing me to harm you, huh.¡±

 Chapter 306 - 229 Speculations

    Chapter 306: Chapter 229 Speculations


    The scout was caught by the Bipedal Wyvern, and his whole body was covered in scars. Blood continuously gushed from his severed arm, giving him a rather tragic appearance as blood splattered in the air.


    ¡°Damn it, bro, don¡¯t die on me. I still need you to claim my reward!¡±


    ¡°Noodle, full speed ahead!¡±


    Mantou was suddenly flustered, no longer maintaining his previously calm demeanor.


    However, the dying scout grinned and said in a grim tone, ¡°Evil Dragon Minions, I absolutely¡­ won¡¯t let your conspiracy succeed!¡±


    ¡°For the Boske Duchy!¡±


    ...


    ¡°For Duke Leo!¡±


    ¡°For the glory of the North!¡±


    The scout screamed with a hoarse voice.


    Even Mantou was startled by the seemingly insane scout and quickly tried to dissuade him:


    ¡°Damn it, bro, don¡¯t be impulsive. Life is so beautiful. It¡¯s not worth it to sacrifice your life for a backward feudal regime. Do you know this is just their brainwashing¡ª¡±


    He was afraid this hard-earned credit would turn into a dead loss.


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    However, the scout didn¡¯t give Mantou a chance for further arguments. He decisively bit into the Poison Sac he had prepared long ago and swallowed the deadly thick venom.


    Black-red blood spurted from his mouth, his body quickly turned pale, and his head drooped lifelessly.


    He died just like that.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Noodle called out in confusion and shook the still warm corpse with its claw. Its simple mind couldn¡¯t understand why someone would actively seek death.


    As for Mantou, he was on the verge of tears.


    ¡°My Gold Coins and contribution¡ª¡±


    ¡°Sigh, forget it. Let¡¯s take it to Nocturne over there. At least it counts as eliminating an enemy.¡±


    Mantou sighed again, lightly patting the neck of the Bipedal Wyvern.


    He arrived at Nocturne¡¯s headquarters in Rackman Castle and submitted the scout¡¯s remains. Now he could only receive a meager reward for killing the enemy.


    Although there were still three Gold Coins as a reward, the gap compared to the generous reward for capturing a spy alive was huge, leaving Mantou with a great sense of loss. He received the reward almost with a sorrowful expression.


    ¡°Failure is a constant throughout life.¡±


    ¡°My Gold Coins and contributions vanished with the dissipating life, never to return.¡±


    Mantou, sitting on the wyvern¡¯s back, said pretentiously.


    Right then, his system panel alerted him to a message from Singo.


    Singo: Red Scale Guard Station, come quickly.


    I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou: Ok


    The current Guardhouse was a full twenty meters tall, making it a landmark within the city in this era. Several statues of knights riding wyverns stood at the entrance, with a massive bust of Cassius at the center. The gate displayed the emblem unique to the Ashen Kingdom: a golden vertical pupil surrounded by flames.


    Hundreds of wyverns were perched on the building¡¯s roof, and numerous workers were busily moving about.


    Through years of meticulous cultivation by Alger, the Kingdom now had thirty-seven native Red Scale Conquerors, and with the addition of new players, there were nearly a hundred Wyvern Knights here, making it almost surpass the original Northwind Eagle Guards in scale and far surpass them in combat capability.


    ¡°This place is quite luxurious now.¡±


    ¡°But the smell of wyvern dung is too strong.¡±


    Mantou parked Noodle at the entrance and walked into the hall alone. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He found Singo lounging comfortably on a leather sofa in a private office.


    This guy had been living well recently, becoming the leader of the third regiment of the Red Scale Conquerors, managing over thirty Wyvern Knights, and receiving a large amount of Gold Coins and contributions every day.


    Mantou was envious. He often regretted not staying longer at the Guardhouse for further training.


    Singo picked up a wine glass filled with grape wine and gently swirled it.


    ¡°Long time no see, Mantou.¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap, I¡¯m very busy right now. Don¡¯t just sit there showing off your luxurious treatment, just get to the point,¡±


    Mantou said impatiently.


    Soon, Natural War Maniac and Summer Night Autumn Rain also arrived.


    The once-famed ¡°Black Slave Team¡± from the beta test finally reunited for the first time during the public test.


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head and instinctively looked around, ¡°This place is really nice.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain had a face full of black smudges, looking like she had just been pulled out of a coal mine.


    Recently, she had co-founded the ¡°Five Fireball Cult¡± guild with some friends, focusing on developing and applying various aspects of the Fireball Technique, attracting a large group of fireball technique enthusiasts. She had completely given up on maintaining her image.


    Seeing everyone had arrived, Singo finally spoke:


    ¡°You¡¯ve probably noticed lately, there have been a lot of spies from the North popping up in Northwind Castle, and the border is frequently seeing scouts from the Boske Duchy.¡±


    ¡°I just caught one, but he¡­ committed suicide.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s face instantly showed a bitter smile. Thinking about the Gold Coins that slipped through his fingers made him feel immense regret.


    Natural War Maniac chuckled, ¡°I also caught one recently, but I didn¡¯t control my strength well and accidentally killed him with one punch.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain shook her head wearily, ¡°I¡¯ve been experimenting with continuous Fireball Techniques, so I haven¡¯t paid much attention to that.¡±


    But when she mentioned the term ¡°fireball,¡± her eyes lit up with excitement, as if flames were burning in her pupils, making Mantou instinctively move a few steps back.


    Singo nodded slightly and said,


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly right.¡±


    ¡°The big one is coming.¡±


    Mantou immediately guessed Singo¡¯s intention, ¡°Are you saying¡ªwar? Are we going to war with the Boske Duchy?¡±


    Singo folded his hands, gently resting his chin on them.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just the Boske Duchy.¡±


    ¡°According to my information, Duke Leo is the nominal leader of the Northern United Kingdom. After the Lionheart Alliance, he holds the honorary title of ¡®Northern Monarch,¡¯ and the Boske Duchy is the largest country in the North. If the Kingdom goes to war with the Boske Duchy, it¡¯s almost equivalent to declaring war on the entire North.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, the situation extends far beyond that. While the Anzeta Great Wilderness is a remote and isolated place, a war of this scale will inevitably attract the involvement of southern forces like the Empire of Fadlan, the Harpist Alliance spread across the continent, the Free Trade Federation of Silvermoon Bay, and others, turning the situation unprecedentedly chaotic.¡±


    Mantou thought for a long time before spitting out a few words, ¡°That¡¯s really intense, huh?¡±


    ¡°So, if the Kingdom loses, what do we do? We¡¯re already tied to this ship.¡±


    Singo shook his head with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, defeat is impossible.¡±


    ¡°Although the southern forces are strong, their primary base isn¡¯t in Anzeta, so their support for the North will be extremely limited. Given my assessment¡­ the Kingdom¡¯s overall strength far surpasses that of the Northern countries, whether in terms of politics, economics, or military. We have a crushing advantage, not to mention the King of Ashen.¡±


    Finally, he gave his conclusion.


    ¡°Unless the official introduces some kind of deus ex machina scenario, there¡¯s no way we can lose. The Kingdom will surely unify the Anzeta Great Wilderness.¡±

 Chapter 307 - 230: The Second Lionheart Alliance

    Chapter 307: Chapter 230: The Second Lionheart Alliance S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Boske Duchy, Stratholme Fortress, Lion Hall.


    All the northern nobles gathered again in the grand hall, seated according to their titles and influence on either side of the luxurious long table.


    Seated at the head of the table was undoubtedly the initiator of this assembly, the honorific ruler of the Northern United Kingdom, and the current head of the Boske House¡ªDuke Leo Boske.


    The atmosphere was heavy, for this was no merry feast filled with songs and dances but a meeting that concerned the fate of the North and even the entire Anzeta, its significance surpassing that of the ¡°Lionheart Alliance¡± forty years ago.


    Finally, Duke Leo Boske¡¯s weighted voice broke the silence.


    ¡°Everyone, since none of you wish to speak, I shall be direct.¡±


    ...


    ¡°The North has reached a life-and-death juncture. Our thousands of years of Scania heritage could end here. The culprit behind all this is that greedy Red Dragon and his evil domain!¡±


    His words fell like an iron hammer, landing heavily on everyone¡¯s hearts.


    The hall erupted into an uproar instantly, with nobles exhibiting various expressions and whispers breaking out.


    Most of the nobles had an inkling of why Duke Leo had called them here, but they hadn¡¯t expected his tone to be so fierce, as if he was ready to stake everything, even to the extent of initiating a grand scale war.


    ¡°Your Grace, isn¡¯t this a bit too much?¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°The Red Dragon hasn¡¯t caused any trouble for five years now. We can continue appeasing him to strive for more prolonged peace¡­¡±


    ¡°Now might not be the best time.¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Kingdom is too powerful and wealthy. We might need more thorough preparations.¡±


    After a brief discussion, voices of dissent began to emerge.


    Duke Leo Boske slowly stood up, his profound gaze sweeping across every noble¡¯s face. His lush gray beard made him look like an old, cunning lion, imposing a considerable sense of pressure on the attendees.


    Once the hall fell silent again, he articulated each word clearly:


    ¡°I know some of you have taken the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s dirty Gold Coins, shamelessly becoming their agents in exploiting the Scania people, even willingly becoming the Red Dragon¡¯s dogs.¡±


    His tone paused deliberately, his piercing gaze like a sword slicing through the air and landing on a few individuals.


    Instantly, some nobles¡¯ breaths nearly halted, sweat oozing from their foreheads.


    With a signal from Duke Leo, fully armed soldiers, already prepared, swarmed in to seize several unsuspecting nobles.


    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t touch me! I¡¯m an Earl!¡±


    ¡°Your Grace, it wasn¡¯t me!¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t collaborated with the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s blatant slander, you¡¯re heeding malicious gossip!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just us, the Arle Family did it too! They must be the ones framing us!¡±


    Those nobles shouted, pleaded, even tried implicating other families.


    But with a glance from Duke Leo, the soldiers gagged their mouths with cloth and mercilessly dragged the panic-stricken nobles out of the hall.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    Soon, the sound of a blade falling on the executioner¡¯s block echoed from outside the hall.


    In fact, these nobles weren¡¯t the ones who had the most contact with the Ashen Kingdom. Their titles weren¡¯t very high, with the highest being an Earl from the Fano Duchy.


    Duke Leo¡¯s approach was clear¡ªusing an imported term from the Ashen Kingdom, it was ¡°kill the chicken to warn the monkey,¡± instilling fear in the remaining northern nobility to deter them from collaborating with the Ashen Kingdom.


    Simultaneously, every duchy had scapegoats to blame for collaborating with the Ashen Kingdom, allowing families with tarnished reputations to save face. Duke Leo had pre-negotiated with the most powerful dukes, who tacitly approved this punishment.


    This was not merely Duke Leo¡¯s personal decision but a result of the power struggles among several factions.


    The hall fell silent, so quiet that the drop of a pin could be heard.


    Standing in place, the execution of those few lives conferred Duke Leo with an unyielding authority, causing some minor noble representatives to shiver in fear.


    They suddenly remembered this Duke, dubbed the ¡°Northern Lion¡±, who once single-handedly subdued all the major duchies, reestablishing the Boske Duchy as the leader of the North. Despite remaining dormant for many years, Leo Boske was a genuinely formidable ruler.


    ¡°As the ruler of the Northern United Kingdom, though I feel great regret, I had no choice but to eliminate these pests.¡±


    ¡°I hope this becomes a lesson for you all.¡±


    He shifted his tone and continued, ¡°Perhaps others have made the same mistakes. However, with the imminent threat, I may temporarily forgive your transgressions. You might have merely sought small gains, forgetting the colossal risks beyond. But remember, that is no noble, but a greedy, brutal Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Do you all remember the Rackman Family?¡±


    ¡°No matter what they¡¯ve done, the Rackman Family has always been an essential part of the northern nobility. Their ancestors made great contributions to the Northern United Kingdom centuries ago, inherently bestowing them high status, an undeniable fact and our collective recognition.¡±


    ¡°But where are they now? Annihilated by that Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t even call the Ashen Kingdom a state, as it resembles a monstrous ¡®monster¡¯ more than anything. That ¡®monster¡¯ is filled with a terrifying, bloody ideology, aiming to impose the most stringent order on the world.¡±


    ¡°It cares not for your noble lineage or rightful heritage, only its own power growth. It can wantonly massacre nobles, allow serfs to trample upon us, even turn us into its nourishment. That would be a nightmare for all northern nobility!¡±


    ¡°In the past several years, no one consistently opposed the Ashen Kingdom like I have. Ignoring the difficulties and dangers won¡¯t solve the problem. Standing by idly won¡¯t solve the problem. Adopting an appeasement policy won¡¯t work either. What we need now is to take steps to resolve the problem. The longer we delay, the more difficult it becomes, and the greater the danger posed by the Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Remember: do not let present benefits blind you, or the fate of the Rackman Family will be yours! The thousand-year rule of northern nobility will be utterly terminated!¡±


    By the end of his impassioned speech, Duke Leo Boske was nearly exerting all his strength, every strand of his beard, and every hair on his head trembling.


    In the grand Lion Hall, whether out of compulsion or moved by his words, the nobles burst into prolonged applause, eerily reminiscent of the scene from nearly forty years ago during the ¡°Lionheart Alliance¡±.

 Chapter 308 - 231: Anti-Red Dragon Alliance

    Chapter 308: Chapter 231: Anti-Red Dragon Alliance


    When the applause gradually subsided, someone finally began to consider the actual problem of confronting the enemy.


    Under the covert instigation of the Duke of the Carter Family, Count Nal stood up from his seat and politely gave a slight bow.


    ¡°But¡­ Your Grace, how exactly are we supposed to deal with that Red Dragon?¡±


    ¡°It is said he has become even more terrifying than before, completely beyond what mortals can handle. Even the mighty Frost Giants of the Everfrost Tribe were destroyed by that Red Dragon as if by a great scourge, let alone us ordinary humans.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°Even the armies of Boske will be unable to withstand it.¡±


    ...


    ¡°The Allied Forces of yesteryear were all annihilated by that Red Dragon alone.¡±


    ¡°Alas, that¡¯s the King of Ashen.¡±


    ¡°We also wish to put forth our efforts against the forces of evil, but we fear that the painstakingly cultivated army will become cannon fodder.¡±


    Many nobles echoed these sentiments and engaged in fervent discussion.


    Count Nal was not only inquiring about the strategy but also probing the bottom line of the Boske Duchy, trying to see where their resolute confidence lay.


    Duke Leo showed no sign of panic, merely stroking his gray-white beard, straightening his chest, and laughing heartily.


    ¡°Ha ha, Count Nal, your question is excellent.¡±


    ¡°That Red Dragon may be powerful, but when facing an evil force of this scale and magnitude, our allies are far more than mere mortals¡ª¡±


    Duke Leo gave a signal, and Count Trischka, standing beside him, immediately understood and hastily stood up.


    ¡°With the intercession and mediation of the Harpist Alliance, we¡¯ve found many extraordinary beings who are very willing to provide us with assistance, helping us jointly uphold justice and order in the North.¡±


    He cleared his throat deliberately and spoke solemnly:


    ¡°Allow me to introduce to you, with great honor, the Elder of the southern Melwood Clan, revered as the ¡®Wings of Silver,¡¯ the esteemed and mighty Ancient Silver Dragon¡ªLord Osedro.¡±


    Count Trischka turned around and bowed slightly towards an empty space.


    Before countless eyes, the space there began to gradually distort.


    Soon after, a magnificently ornate silver portal appeared out of thin air in the hall, slowly opening with shining magic runes.


    ¡°It seems¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not too late.¡±


    A strange voice rang out.


    An elderly figure holding a magic wand stepped out from the portal.


    He appeared to be about seventy or eighty years old, his hair and beard immaculate white, and his deep eyes like the most pristine mercury, filled with a glimmer of wisdom.


    He wore a robe adorned with stars, and his magic wand was made of mithril, inlaid with a bizarre magic stone resembling the void of the star realm.


    Silver Dragons often used humanoid forms, usually appearing as kindly elderly humans or beautifully young Elves, spending most of their time in this form to more easily interact with humanoid creatures¡ªAncient Silver Dragon Osedro was clearly the former.


    As this elder appeared, the nobles present immediately erupted into a commotion, standing up to greet him.


    ¡°By the Gods, Duke Leo has invited a Silver Dragon!¡±


    ¡°An Ancient Silver Dragon at that!¡±


    ¡°Splendid!¡±


    ¡°We finally have hope of defeating that Red Dragon!¡±


    Seeing the elder stand calmly, Duke Leo quickly stood up, slightly bowed, and personally went forward to greet him.


    ¡°Lord Osedro, your timing couldn¡¯t be more perfect.¡±


    ¡°Please, have a seat.¡±


    Duke Leo directly escorted the Ancient Silver Dragon to the main seat, while he himself stood to the side. Osedro did not refuse and sat down directly.


    Silver Dragons were known to be the friendliest and most approachable of the giant dragons towards humans, even among the metal dragons. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, no matter how amiable the other party appeared, Duke Leo was not foolish enough to truly believe he was on equal footing with a dragon, whose pride was deeply ingrained and etched into their very bones.


    Osedro slowly began to speak:


    ¡°I am already aware of your situation.¡±


    ¡°Ha, the filthy progeny of Tiamat, you can even smell that sulfur scent from here.¡±


    As he spoke, a magic image appeared before everyone, a prized intelligence report on Cassius submitted by Trischka, casually reproduced by this Silver Dragon proficient in spells.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon was seen flapping its wings amidst a sea of fire, countless people wailing as they were burned to ashes.


    Witnessing such a scene, all the nobles present couldn¡¯t help but swallow.


    Osedro gently waved his hand, effortlessly dissipating the magic image: ¡°At least Grandmaster Level spellcasting ability, far beyond the size of his age stage, that Red Dragon is indeed a troublesome adversary, potentially becoming a multiverse-level scourge in the future.¡±


    He paused, a hint of undisguised pride in his eyes.


    ¡°Unfortunately for him, he has met me.¡±


    ¡°You only need to deal with those troublesome retainers, while I will confront the Red Dragon head-on.¡±


    ¡°Out of respect for Emperor Aiu, I might banish or even imprison this misguided creature, but if he crosses my bottom line¡­ I will show no mercy.¡±


    The elder¡¯s eyes narrowed, and a gleam flashed in his mercurial pupils.


    ¡°Will Olivia be in your hands?¡±


    ¡°If she is harmed in any way¡­ I will not forgive you, Red Dragon.¡±


    He did not speak further but thought this silently to himself.


    Duke Leo quickly led the applause, praising: ¡°Lord Osedro, your righteous act commands my admiration, and you will earn the highest respect of the entire North, indeed of all of Anzeta.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Osedro.¡±


    ¡°We will always remember your grace.¡±


    ¡°That Red Dragon is no match for you!¡±


    Listening to the flattering words of the assembly, Osedro nodded slightly, indifferent.


    Such words of excessive praise, he had heard countless times over his millennial life, to the point of numbness.


    Having witnessed countless dynastic cycles, he was no longer the enthusiastic young Silver Dragon rushing to dispense justice; now, he appeared more as a guardian of world order, an observer of the Material Plane¡¯s balance, and an Elder of the Silver Dragon Clan.


    Presently, he needed to maintain the order of the North and find the junior to whom he had entrusted high hopes.


    However, the arrival of the Ancient Silver Dragon did not mark the end of the council. Several more portals opened under the astonished eyes of the nobles, bringing the Divine Descendant Count from the Empire of Fadlan, Asmo from the Heavenly Mountain, the Druid Elder from the Mystic Woodland. Hundreds of superhuman beings of the justice faction gathered in the hall, rallying against their common enemy.


    Duke Leo had not yet called upon the ¡°Bloodstained Seam Blade¡± Legendary Adventurers, who would serve as his trump card in delivering a fatal blow to the Red Dragon.


    Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly fervent, Duke Leo raised his silver goblet high and shouted:


    ¡°For the Order of the North!¡±


    ¡°For fairness and justice!¡±


    Thus, amid the clinking of goblets and thunderous applause, a coalition was formed, spanning the entire Fianso Continent and composed of various races and forces¡ªhistorically known as the ¡°Anti-Red Dragon Alliance.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°That was the North¡¯s most hopeful moment. The Hero Leo Boske was full of valor, and righteous men from all over the world were resolute; they were confident in defeating that Red Dragon, yet they remained unaware¡ªthis was merely the beginning of the nightmare.¡±


    ¡ª ¡°Secret History of Anzeta: The Second Lionheart Alliance,¡± Duke Luton.

 Chapter 309 - 232 The Magur Incident (Part 1)

    Chapter 309: Chapter 232 The Magur Incident (Part 1)


    The vast wilderness, with undulating mountains, had a narrow road winding through it like a long snake.


    The Magur Trade Route.


    This was an ancient trade route, carved out by countless merchants over thousands of years. It used to be the vital link between the Rackman Duchy and the Boske Duchy, and the essential path for the flow of goods and materials. The road surface bore the marks of the passing years.


    ¡°Notify the front to move faster!¡±


    ¡°If we can¡¯t deliver the goods on time this time, the higher-ups will certainly hold us accountable.¡±


    The rough voice of a middle-aged man came from the most luxurious passenger carriage, which bore an emblem of flame and a vertical pupil.


    ...


    A caravan of hundreds of carts was hurrying along the ancient road, laden with goods from the Ashen Kingdom. Hundreds of fully armed Goblin Soldiers guarded the caravan on both sides¡ªthis was the ¡°Free Trade Caravan¡± led by Hart, representing the official large-scale trade caravan of the Ashen Kingdom.


    This caravan was notorious in the Northern countries, yet it attracted countless lower-class citizens. They dumped a massive amount of cheap goods, making the Scania People willingly hand over their gold and silver, having never seen such fine merchandise before.


    ¡°Whew¡ª¡±


    The cold wind howled past, lifting the carriage curtain.


    Inside the luxurious carriage, Count Hart couldn¡¯t help but exhale a breath of sulfur-flavored hot air. As a nobleman with scorching Dragon Blood in his veins, he despised this frigid, biting wind weather.


    ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s the Northern freak wind again.¡±


    ¡°When His Majesty unifies Anzeta, I must find a way to go south to do business. The weather here is absolutely dreadful.¡±


    Hart rubbed his scale-covered chin, muttering to himself.


    At the front of the caravan, Old John was leading the wagons along the road, his thin body shivering in the wind. He couldn¡¯t help but wrap himself tighter in his cotton coat, protecting his weathered old bones.


    ¡°King of Ashen, bless us¡­¡±


    ¡°Hopefully, everything goes smoothly this time as well.¡±


    Staring at the endless trade route, Old John mumbled under his breath.


    In the mouths of merchants, the kingdom¡¯s majesty seemed to have some divine power, capable of bestowing luck upon them. Otherwise, how could they have made a fortune in just a few years, pushing other Northern country merchants to the brink of despair?


    Over time, drivers like Old John got used to praying while traveling. It wasn¡¯t out of devout faith but just a habitual request for safety.


    Old John also came from a serf background.


    However, in his twenties, he was sold to a caravan as a traveling merchant¡¯s slave. Later, that caravan was captured by the kingdom¡¯s army, and the caravan leader was executed as a public display.


    But Old John was quite fortunate. Not only did he gain his freedom, but he also got a job as a driver because he was familiar with the trade routes.


    ¡°Old man, how much longer until we get there?¡±


    A girl¡¯s head suddenly poked out of the wagon, looking about eight or nine years old, with the kingdom¡¯s newly popular braids, appearing clever and mischievous.


    ¡°Misha, haven¡¯t I told you to stay put in the wagon?¡±


    John¡¯s face turned serious, gently tapping the girl¡¯s head with the short stick on his whip.


    ¡°Hmph, just forget it if you don¡¯t want to tell me.¡±


    The girl rubbed her head, angrily retreating into the wagon.


    She was originally a ¡°commodity¡± in the Northern noble¡¯s slave caravan, later rescued and adopted by John, who named her ¡°Misha.¡± Since Old John had no children, he treated the girl like his own granddaughter, using his meager salary to pay for her education.


    But Misha was always disobedient, sneaking into the caravan hidden among the goods, giving Old John quite a headache.


    Old John drove the horse while muttering:


    ¡°I have told you countless times; being a merchant is no child¡¯s play. Bandits and monsters on the road can claim your life!¡±


    ¡°With the kingdom¡¯s elite guarding us, do we still need to worry about safety? Hehe, since I¡¯m already here, let me see the sights and keep you company.¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    Old John let out a long sigh, shaking his head. This mischievous girl always left him feeling helpless yet inadvertently moved.


    He looked at the distant road, frowning slightly.


    ¡°Today¡¯s Magur Trade Route seems a bit strange¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s eerily quiet.¡±


    The experienced John noticed at once that something was wrong. Magur was considered one of the busiest trade routes in the North. Usually, other caravans would pass along this route, but today, they were alone.


    ¡°I hope it¡¯s just a coincidence.¡±


    Old John thought.


    He was but a lowly driver, without the authority to decide the caravan¡¯s actions. Everything had to follow Lord Hart¡¯s orders.


    After all, in the Anzeta Great Wilderness, apart from mindless beasts, no one would dare provoke the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s caravan, and beasts usually posed no threat.


    The horses in the caravan became restless, and Old John¡¯s brow furrowed tightly, his lips moving.


    ¡°Wait, is this¡­¡±


    The ground was trembling.


    A series of rapid, thunderous hoofbeats sounded.


    Old John hastily turned his head¡ª


    Countless cavalrymen were charging down from the top of the hill, galloping wildly across the land. The gleaming armor and glistening spear tips formed a steel torrent in the wilderness, with lion banners fluttering in the wind.


    ¡°For the Boske Duchy!¡±


    ¡°For the Northern Order!¡±


    Such cries echoed from afar.


    They were the Northern elite cavalry, the personal guards of the Boske Family!


    ¡°Enemy attack!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the Boske Duchy!¡±


    ¡°Who gave them the guts to do this? They¡¯re declaring war on the kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, this must have been premeditated!¡±


    The caravan erupted into chaos, with people shouting and cursing, making John¡¯s head spin.


    Old John turned to look at the wagon behind him. Despite his sweat-drenched face, he struggled to maintain calmness as he whispered to the wagon, ¡°Misha, promise me, don¡¯t come out.¡±


    ¡°Remember, no matter what happens, do not come out!¡±


    But before he could finish, he was roughly pulled away by a Goblin Soldier.


    After a brief moment of chaos, the caravan hastily prepared for battle under Hart¡¯s command, and as part of the caravan, Old John was also dragged to assist in the fighting.


    Hart personally came to the front lines, cursing at the approaching cavalry: ¡°Shoot them full of holes for me!¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The Goblin Soldiers raised their spears, firing a series of lead bullets, taking down dozens of Ironclad Cavalry in a flash.


    This had always been an invincible tactic, allowing them to dominate the North, but now it revealed unavoidable flaws.


    Because there were simply too many cavalrymen, and they were almost all Boske¡¯s elite, while the Goblins lacked cover. These cavalrymen charged without fear, quickly trampling over their fallen comrades to close in, piercing the Goblins¡¯ chests with spears and decapitating them with broadswords.


    But the Goblins switched to spears and bayonets, cutting down horse legs or piercing the knights on horseback.


    The cries of ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom¡± and ¡°For the Boske Duchy¡± echoed incessantly.


    The brutal slaughter had begun.


    The sound of gunfire, the noise of spear tips piercing flesh, hoofbeats, wails, and roars interwove on this battlefield, composing a blood-scented symphony. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 310 - 233 The Magur Incident (2)

    Chapter 310: Chapter 233 The Magur Incident (2)


    Misha trembled with fear on the carriage, but she mustered up her courage and quietly lifted the curtain, wanting to see what was happening outside.


    On this chaotic battlefield, the pungent smell of gunpowder filled the air. Soldiers from both countries were killing and grappling with each other, lives disappearing at any moment, as worthless as grass.


    Yet the scene that filled her with despair unfolded right before her eyes.


    Old John stood trembling in place with a spear in his hand, never having experienced such terrifying slaughter.


    Behind him were soldiers with murderous and bloodshot eyes.


    ¡°Old John¡ª¡±


    ...


    Misha anxiously poked her head out, wanting to warn him, but it was already too late.


    ¡°Sss¡ª¡±


    A blood-stained spear pierced through his chest, and crimson blood gushed from Old John¡¯s chest.


    In his final moments, Old John did not look at his killer but slowly turned his head towards the carriage where Misha was, using all his strength to put a finger to his lips in a ¡°silence¡± gesture.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    Misha couldn¡¯t help but cry out, her eyes reddening.


    But she quickly realized this could expose her, so she forcibly covered her mouth, trembling as she curled up in the carriage, letting tears stream freely down her cheeks.


    However, Old John¡¯s death was just a trivial matter on the battlefield, insignificant to both sides of the war.


    But the situation on the battlefield became increasingly clear. Surrounded by thousands of Ironclad Cavalry, fewer and fewer Goblin Soldiers remained standing. Without a complete unit, they could not withstand the cavalry¡¯s repeated charges.


    Surrounded by nearly ten times the number of enemies, even with the advantage of equipment and soldier quality, the kingdom¡¯s guard had no chance of turning the tide.


    All the guards around Hart were killed; he was now surrounded by nearly a hundred soldiers.


    He was covered in blood, letting out heart-wrenching roars, like a beast trapped by hunters.


    ¡°All of you, die!¡±


    ¡°You lowly humans!¡±


    ¡°I am a noble Dragonblood Earl of the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    Hart¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and the scales on his face slightly opened, emitting white smoke all over his body.


    ¡°You damn Evil Dragon Minion! Go! Avenge our comrades!¡±


    The Knight Commander shouted angrily.


    Several soldiers behind Hart tentatively thrust out their spears, but they were blocked as if striking iron, stopped by the hard scales on his back.


    ¡°Hahaha, useless!¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This is the strength bestowed upon me by His Majesty!¡±


    He laughed maniacally, using his sharp claws to tear apart the soldier in front of him and biting off another soldier¡¯s arm.


    He was like a killing machine, mercilessly reaping the lives of the soldiers.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    With a powerful Dragon¡¯s Roar, Hart¡¯s body trembled violently.


    His face twisted as he spewed out hot flames, turning the surrounding area into a sea of fire. Even the bravest soldiers retreated in panic, fearing being engulfed by the roaring flames.


    Hart single-handedly killed hundreds of elite soldiers, and all the Goblin Soldiers had long since perished, leaving him desperately alone.


    The Knight Commander shouted with bloodshot eyes, ¡°We must kill him! Avenge our comrades!¡±


    Eventually, several robed mages extended their Magic Wands together. As a strange cold wind descended, Hart¡¯s movements became slower, and a layer of ice gradually covered his face.


    Immediately afterward, several soldiers swarmed forward, and multiple spears pierced through Hart¡¯s still-warm heart simultaneously.


    And so, the Dragonblood Earl of the Ashen Kingdom, leader of the Free Trade Caravan, Hart, died, marking the end of this battle and the demise of this powerful caravan.


    ¡­


    At the top of this hill.


    Duke Leo, clad in armor, rode a tall black warhorse, looking down at the smoky, chaotic battlefield below, his eyes devoid of any joy of victory.


    ¡°Your Grace, all the enemies have been annihilated, totaling two hundred seventy-five dead.¡±


    With the urgent sound of hooves, the Knight Commander from the front lines came to report.


    Duke Leo frowned slightly and asked, ¡°And our losses?¡±


    The Knight Commander bowed his head, hesitated for a moment, and then said, ¡°We suffered a total of¡­ one thousand two hundred thirty-four casualties.¡±


    Duke Leo looked solemn, sighing, ¡°This was just a caravan¡¯s guard, not even the regular army of the Ashen Kingdom. And even when surrounded without preparation, they managed to inflict such a loss ratio¡­¡±


    ¡°A truly terrifying army.¡±


    Trischka added from beside him, ¡°And they¡¯re getting stronger. This is the best opportunity we have found.¡±


    ¡°If we let them develop for another ten years, the consequences would be unimaginable.¡±


    Duke Leo said calmly, ¡°As things stand, we have no retreat. Total war between the North and the Ashen Kingdom is imminent, and a conclusion between good and evil must be reached. And we¡ªwill definitely be the final victors.¡±


    Trischka looked at the sky, uncertainty and confusion in his eyes, but he still said,


    ¡°We will, Your Grace¡­ We will.¡±


    The caravan¡¯s carriages were still burning fiercely. During the battle, Hart ordered all the goods to be burned, leaving the enemy with no gains, but the mages of Boske had begun urgent firefighting.


    However, no one noticed a petite, thin girl slowly moving in the pile of corpses on this smoky, chaotic battlefield, quietly escaping this dreadful hell.


    ¡°Old John¡­¡±


    Hidden behind a rock, Misha wiped away her tears, biting her lip, her eyes full of hatred.


    The girl gripped the old whip in her hand tightly¡ªthat was something she risked her life to take from Old John¡¯s body, his final memento to her, everything else already turned to ashes by Boske soldiers.


    ¡°I will avenge you.¡±


    She thought.


    ¡­


    A few days later, the news of the Boske Duchy¡¯s attack on the ¡°Free Trade Caravan¡± spread across the North, causing widespread panic, but soon the events unfolded beyond their expectations.


    The Boske Duchy officially named the incident the ¡°Magur Campaign¡± and widely publicized this victory as the beginning of the end of evil.


    Immediately following, the Boske Duchy, along with the Carter Duchy, the Fano Duchy, and other northern countries jointly issued the ¡°Stratholme Fortress Accord,¡± announcing the formation of the ¡°Anti-Red Dragon Alliance¡± to the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness, and formally declaring war on the Ashen Kingdom.


    Anzeta was in an uproar, and the atmosphere everywhere grew tense.


    Almost everyone knew¡ª


    The sky over the Anzeta Great Wilderness was about to change.

 Chapter 311 - 234 Kingdom Reaction

    Chapter 311: Chapter 234 Kingdom Reaction


    Ashen Kingdom, Northwind Castle.


    The streets were bustling, humans and monsters hurried about more than usual. The cries of newsboys and the blaring of loudspeakers echoed within the city noisily.


    ¡°Extra! Extra! Boske Duchy ambushed the Free Trade Caravan on the Mal Valley Trade Route!¡±


    ¡°Extra! Extra! Boske Duchy, Fano Duchy, Carter Duchy, and others formally established the so-called ¡®Anti-Red Dragon Alliance¡¯!¡±


    ¡°The Alliance formally declared war on the Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Marshal Dolores issued a statement, declaring it a blatant insult to the Kingdom that must make the Northerners pay a deeply painful price!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Lord Ramp held a press conference and issued an instruction during the meeting: The actions of the Northern Countries, waging war without declaration, violate morality and seriously trample on the peace and order of Anzeta. Their ability and integrity are insufficient to govern this vast land; only His Majesty is qualified to serve as the supreme leader and actual ruler of Anzeta.¡±


    After the incident, officially termed the ¡°Magur Incident¡± by the kingdom, the citizens of the Ashen Kingdom were not like those of other countries, becoming panicked and fearful. Instead, the entire nation was engulfed in a frenzy and restless atmosphere.


    In the eyes of others, the onset of war meant disaster, death, and hunger, but to the Kingdom¡¯s citizens, war was a symbol of honor, a channel to acquire money and status, and more importantly, an invaluable opportunity to become Dragonblood Nobility¡ªgaining immense strength and extended life, considered a ladder to the sky.


    As for losing the war?


    They had never considered this possibility.


    Even if someone really raised doubts, it would only elicit a burst of laughter from those around, treating him as a coward.


    Years of invincibility, powerful military strength, and the presence of the Red Dragon instilled absolute confidence in the kingdom¡¯s citizens regarding war; victory was something easily within reach, the process of achieving it more important.


    To them, war was not merely bloody combat or a display of strength but a sacrificial ceremony to please the king, a baptism by blood.


    Yes, a sacrificial ceremony.


    Over the years, within the vast territories of the kingdom, the King of Ashen had replaced the War God Tempas once worshiped by the Scania People, becoming the embodiment of war, honor, and victory.


    The Ashen Kingdom¡¯s officials did not suppress the news of the ¡°Magur Incident.¡± Instead, they spread it lavishly.


    Thus, under strong official propaganda, the news spread throughout the kingdom within days, putting the entire nation into a state of preparedness. The army began urgent mobilizations, and thousands of Bipedal Wyverns flew out in full force, appearing around and above the cities.


    All the military factories across the kingdom operated at high speed, day and night. Even civilian factories were urgently modified to their production lines, and under the incentives of money and status, workers tirelessly produced the most advanced and brand-new weapons and equipment.


    The entrance to the military hall was crowded with assorted people, all there to enlist in the army.


    As a country of diverse races, the Ashen Kingdom had an especially rich pool of soldiers. Aside from the most common humans, Great Goblins, and Tieflings, recruits also included Ogres, Half-Orcs, Pureblood Serpentfolk, and even Half-Ogre Half-Humans. It was unknown who had made such great sacrifices for the kingdom¡¯s racial integration.


    Players were particularly enthusiastic about the large-scale warfare activities, and forums were filled with posts like ¡°Recruiting Teammates¡± and ¡°Looking for Battle Partners.¡±


    Players¡¯ figures appeared in every war-related department, like military factories and recruitment centers. Top guilds and professional gamers had received official notices from the kingdom, being classified into the special Starfallen unit under the direct command of Marshal Dolores.


    The entire kingdom ran in full operation, with everyone like gears fitted within it; this terrifying war machine was about to reveal its true strength to the world.


    ¡­


    No. 4 Food Processing Plant had now been converted into the Fourth Reserve Military Factory.


    The production line that originally produced canned food was urgently modified into a military ration processing line, though there wasn¡¯t much difference; only adjustments in preservation and usage were made.


    As the acting director here, George was naturally very busy, having not slept for nearly three days.


    Yes, acting director.


    Due to the onset of war, the original factory head, Bighead, had been urgently transferred because he was an Ogre with artillery experience; he might become a member of the Ogre Heavy Artillery Unit. As a result, George naturally stepped into the role of acting director, with a possible future promotion to the official head.


    But he didn¡¯t rejoice for long before plunging into the intense work.


    George looked tired, dark circles heavy around his eyes, but he still took notes with a pen, not forgetting to urge others.


    ¡°We¡¯ve only completed seventy percent of the standards set by the higher-ups. The progress is really too slow.¡±


    ¡°Eight thousand one hundred forty ration cans, one thousand seven hundred thirty-four luncheon meat cans, not one can be missing.¡±


    ¡°This is a death order from above. Everyone, get it together!¡±


    George walked up to the drowsy Howard and scolded loudly.


    Long hours of work had made George a bit irritable. He couldn¡¯t treat his former coworkers as kindly as before, only continuously pressuring them because it was the only way to ensure the completion of heavy tasks.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Howard suddenly opened his eyes, repeatedly apologizing.


    He numbly busied himself on the assembly line, sealing can after can. Through long-term repetitive labor, this had almost become a reflex.


    George patrolled the factory, watching the workers nervously; any slight slackness would immediately be noticed, yet this vigilance also tired him greatly.


    ¡°Am I going to spend my whole life in this factory?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sick of those smelly cans, those damn additives.¡±


    Sitting on a chair, George couldn¡¯t help but think to himself.


    He slowly raised his head, squinting his eyes, trying to rest for a moment. But he was soon jolted awake by the noise of the food mixer.


    In that chance moment, George saw a recruitment advertisement posted on the factory wall. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°War, the trial ground for men.¡±


    In the image, a Dragonblood Noble in armor held a longsword, looking valiantly into the distance, surrounded by enemy corpses.


    George hesitated internally, muttering to himself:


    ¡°War¡­¡±


    ¡°This is the fastest shortcut to climb up.¡±


    ¡°But this also means giving up my current position and betting my life.¡±


    He gazed at the promotional poster, closely observing the scales appearing on the Dragonblood Noble¡¯s face, finally gritting his teeth, seemingly making some sort of decision.


    ¡°I want to become a truly important figure.¡±

 Chapter 312 - 235: Announcement

    Chapter 312: Chapter 235: Announcement


    Northwind Castle Suburbs.


    The army of the Ashen Kingdom nearly occupied the entire wilderness.


    Many of them had grown red scales, sharp claws, dragon-like bone spurs, and some even had golden slit pupils in their eyes.


    Great Goblins, Tieflings, and Humans carried brand-new semi-automatic rifles, wearing finely-crafted chain mail; they were the kingdom¡¯s elite infantry, each one with sharp eyes, emanating a murderous aura.


    Ogre gunners pulled heavy cannons, the metal-glossed black cannon barrels were nearly six meters long, and the one-meter-wide muzzle looked like a giant devouring mouth.


    And such cannons, there were hundreds of them within the kingdom¡¯s forces.


    ...


    The Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights wore heavy plate armor, holding in their left hands giant shields inscribed with the Ashen crest, gripping sharp spears and great swords in their right hands, and Flame Aura constantly flickering around them caused their armors to shine brilliantly. Their mere presence made the surrounding temperature soar, the ground became scorching hot, and even the surrounding retainers dared not approach this phalanx easily.


    Kobolds, Goblins, serving as irregular troops, wore tattered clothes picked up from who knows where, often carrying an obsolete blunderbuss or smoothbore gun; those yellow little eyes brimming with excitement. Such irregular soldiers numbered in the tens of thousands, like a mottled wave in this military formation.


    And on the faraway hills, giant beasts, like small mountains, rose and fell. These Dragon Tundra creatures wore extremely heavy armor, exhaling thick white smoke, and thrumming deeply, like moving steel fortresses.


    In the sky, Bipedal Wyverns and Chimeras formed clouds, their disarrayed wings covered half the sky. Even these beasts were armed to the teeth, with crucial parts of many Wyverns shielded by thin yet strong metal armor, and incendiary bombs and explosives hanging from their claws.


    Nearly a hundred thousand creatures and humans gathered here.


    Normally, such a medley of races would cause chaos anywhere, even turning it into a brutal killing field.


    But at this moment, this army stood in orderly formations, producing little noise, and the vast wilderness echoed only with their heavy breathing, their attempts to restrain even these sounds.


    They were silently waiting.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    A long roar echoed from afar.


    Giant red figures appeared on the wilderness, shadows enveloping the ground beneath them.


    They all raised their heads simultaneously, breathing heavily, eyes filled with excitement and fanaticism, like zealots seeing a deity. And the Bipedal Wyverns landed on the ground in unison, lowering their heads.


    ¡ª¡ªThat was Cassius, the King of Ashen with wings shrouding Anzeta, bringing the Infernal Calamity of annihilation to enemies.


    In an unnoticed human phalanx, George looked up, tightly staring at the gigantic silhouette, his hands gripping the gun trembling slightly.


    Even though he had seen His Majesty before, no matter how many times he admired him, he was still filled with immense awe and deep admiration for his pure, oppressive strength. He greatly wished to become an ¡°important figure¡± who could receive His Majesty¡¯s personal favor.


    Amidst the dense chromatic Wyverns, a pure white giant dragon was particularly conspicuous, like a snowy peak among mountains.


    Tiniya also gazed at the sky, stretching her neck; her pale blue slit pupils filled with infatuation and worship.


    ¡°Cassius¡­ my master.¡±


    ¡°So strong.¡±


    She thought dazedly. This White Dragon didn¡¯t forget to slap a Bipedal Wyvern in a better spot away, claiming it for herself, leaving the Wyvern to whimper pitifully. But seeing it was the White Dragon, it had to leave grudgingly.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The earth shook, stones scattered, dust veiled the sky.


    A massive Red Dragon, over thirty meters long, landed with a thunderous crash atop the hill, making everything on the wilderness seem tiny and vulnerable in front of him.


    Cassius, from a high vantage point, reviewed his personal army, spreading his colossal wings that veiled the sky and began to speak slowly:


    ¡°Since they desire war, then I shall grant them war.¡±


    Before the words even faded, the entire wilderness erupted like a blazing inferno.


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°War! Make them pay with blood!¡±


    ¡°For the great Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Fight for His Majesty, Cassius!¡±


    ¡°For the grand blueprint of the Dragon Vein Empire!¡±


    Great Goblins raised their rifles, Ogres pounded their chests, humans cheered, and even the Bipedal Wyverns stretched their necks, letting out ear-piercing roars.


    Despite the military orders, some overly excited Great Goblins fired their rifles into the sky, and an absent-minded Ogre nearly launched a cannonball weighing hundreds of kilograms in excitement. Fortunately, it was stopped by nearby comrades, preventing a disaster.


    Years of countless victories and accumulated prestige made the Red Dragon¡¯s position in the retainers¡¯ hearts comparable to or even surpassing that of deities.


    He didn¡¯t need to do any extra mobilization, merely by appearing and saying a few words, the combat intent and morale of the army were already immeasurably heightened, reaching a peak no commander could bring.


    And the Red Dragon was clearly aware of this.


    Overlooking the army surging with battle intent, gazing across the vast territory, Cassius¡¯s vision seemed to expand to the entire Fianso Continent, even the whole Erezer World.


    ¡°It is time.¡±


    ¡°After nearly ten years of planning, now I can finally bring the entire North under my control.¡±


    ¡°However, once all this is completely over, my journey will truly begin: demons, devils, deities, ancient evil beings¡­ there are still many existences in this world that could threaten me.¡±


    Cassius breathed out a puff of sulfur-smelling white smoke, thinking to himself.


    The Red Dragon stepped forward, extending a monstrous claw, gradually clenching it tightly, as if grasping the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness in his palm.


    ¡°Crush them.¡±


    Cassius ordered calmly, as if stating a trivial matter.


    Instantly, the wilderness boiled again.


    Amid chaotic cheers and roars, countless red flags painted with slit pupils and flame crests fluttered wildly in the sulfur-scented wind.


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Awooo~~¡±


    ¡°Crush them completely, unify Anzeta!¡±


    ¡­


    In the Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    The Red Dragon was sharpening his claws with a Force Field Spell, making them sharper, though this small detail barely affected high-level combat, he did it to pass the time.


    Suddenly, a message from Ramp came, and Cassius lifted the prohibition with a thought, and Ramp¡¯s ugly face reappeared in the Magic Mirror.


    ¡°Master, unfamiliar guests are visiting Northwind Castle. They claim to be¡­ your allies.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°My allies, how peculiar.¡±


    ¡°I rather want to see who wishes to ally with an infamous evil dragon?¡±


    Cassius slowly raised his head, a glint of light flashing in his pale golden slit pupils.

 Chapter 313 - 236 The Allies of the Evil Dragons

    Chapter 313: Chapter 236 The Allies of the Evil Dragons


    Quickly, under the command of the Red Dragon, the so-called ¡°allies¡± were invited into the hall one after another.


    Cassius was very sure that he had never seen them before.


    Leading the group was a female noble who looked to be in her twenties. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, adorned with a silver headpiece, and she wore an opulent silk robe that bared a significant expanse of snowy white skin at her chest.


    She stepped over the threshold gracefully, holding a black silk fan that partially obscured her delicate face, though her eyes had a slight blue tinge, possibly due to makeup.


    But Cassius keenly noticed that the headpiece adorned faintly blue dragon horns, her smooth skin bore subtle traces of scales, even her eyelashes housed slit pupils, and the faint desert scent further confirmed his suspicion.


    He unhesitatingly asked:


    ...


    ¡°Blue Dragon?¡±


    The female noble looked up at the Red Dragon lounging on the throne, her mouth slightly agape, her eyes filled with shock and delight.


    She quickly covered her mouth with the fan, smiled coyly, and curtseyed with one hand lifting her skirt. ¡°Greetings, ¡®Dragon Prince¡¯ Your Highness. Your majestic presence¡­ is simply awe-inspiring.¡±


    ¡°But you guessed right, I am Christina Farias, a Blue Dragon from the Brendan Desert.¡±


    Christina nodded politely but couldn¡¯t help sneaking glances at the Red Dragon on the throne, her breathing growing increasingly rapid.


    ¡°By Tiamat, he is even more immense and robust than rumored.¡±


    ¡°And this is merely a young dragon.¡±


    Her heart brimming with excitement, she thought to herself.


    After the destruction of Dragon Shadow City, this dragon had gained a bit of fame on the Prime Material Plane. Many knew of this powerful Red Dragon in the barren Anzeta.


    It was said that his veins flowed with the Dragon Blood bestowed by Tiamat, and in his youth, he possessed a body comparable to an Ancient Dragon. Therefore, some dragon researchers called him ¡°Dragon Prince,¡± though some scholars questioned this.


    But upon seeing the Red Dragon in person, all of Christina¡¯s doubts were dispelled. Even though she had set her expectations high, the Red Dragon before her was still more formidable than she had imagined. The pressure emanating from his very bloodline couldn¡¯t be faked, and the thirty-meter-long, mountainous body was undeniable.


    ¡°Indeed, a gift from Her Majesty Tiamat¡­ he is to be my future husband.¡±


    ¡°Only such an existence is worthy of me.¡±


    Hardly concealing her admiration for his robust frame, Christina thought indulgently.


    Her visit to Anzeta this time wasn¡¯t merely to complete Her Majesty the Dragon Queen¡¯s mission but also to seek His reward.


    Maybe it was to reward the Farias Clan for their dedicated efforts over the years. Tiamat personally offered the bloodline of an Ancestral Dragon to them, granting the Blue Dragon Clan even more powerful descendants¡ªthe way to receive this gift was to send their finest young Blue Dragon to combine with the legendary ¡°Dragon Prince¡± and bear offspring enriched with divine blood.


    Upon receiving the oracle, the entire Farias Family was elated, for it was as if the sun had risen in the west. They had never expected the usually stingy Dragon Queen to bestow such a ¡°grace.¡±


    At the top of the hall, Cassius, however, was somewhat perplexed. He hadn¡¯t known that Tiamat had intended to reward him.


    ¡°Why is this Blue Dragon maid so dazed?¡±


    ¡°What is she here for anyway?¡±


    ¡°And who gave me that nickname, ¡®Dragon Prince¡¯? Just wait until I find out. What an awful title.¡±


    Cassius noted this in his heart, intending to settle the score properly when he went south in the future.


    However, judging by the situation, he roughly guessed Christina¡¯s purpose for this visit.


    All evil dragons held Tiamat in reverence, but unlike the often rebellious Red Dragons, Blue Dragons possessed a highly developed sense of order and were willing to acknowledge Her Supreme Sovereign status and follow most of Tiamat¡¯s reasonable commands.


    This Blue Dragon was likely Tiamat¡¯s ¡°sand¡± mixed into his territory.


    After pondering for a moment, Cassius slightly spread his wings and probed again:


    ¡°Did Her Majesty the Dragon Queen send you?¡±


    ¡°You guessed right again, but even without Her Majesty¡¯s order, I would be delighted to associate with such a powerful and incomparable giant dragon as you. I have long heard your name in the many songs and stories circulating in the world.¡±


    ¡°What songs?¡±


    ¡°That infernal bard¡¯s ¡®Song of Embers¡¯?¡±


    Cassius chuckled. That rumor-spreading bard had already been caught by ¡°Nocturne¡± and was spending his remaining days in the dungeon, though unfortunately, his absurd ditties had spread beyond the North.


    ¡°The views of mortals hold no significance to noble giant dragons, do they? Those coarse poems of bards can¡¯t even portray a tenth of your majestic splendor.¡±


    Christina responded with a smile.


    But Cassius merely stared at her impassively, not responding to her painstaking flattery.


    The polite small talk quickly ended, and Christina noticed his impatience, her expression also becoming serious.


    ¡°Prince Cassius, I come bearing a decree from Her Majesty the Dragon Queen.¡±


    ¡°I know, continue.¡±


    Cassius expected this and said calmly. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Christina glanced at him inadvertently, noting the Red Dragon¡¯s indifferent gaze, and marveled that the ¡°Dragon Prince¡± could somehow be so accustomed to a command from the Dragon Queen herself.


    ¡°Elder of the Melwood Clan, newly promoted Ancient Silver Dragon ¡®Wings of Silver¡¯ Osedro has arrived in the Anzeta Great Wilderness.¡±


    ¡°He is a meddlesome fellow, having thwarted Her Majesty the Dragon Queen¡¯s grand plans several times. Moreover, the old codger is a spell-hoarding oddball with spellcasting ability rivaling that of a Legendary Mage. So, please be wary.¡±


    ¡°Osedro, huh¡­¡±


    ¡°He came rather quickly.¡±


    Cassius had already received intelligence from the Harpist¡¯s side and was not too surprised. He simply stroked his chin, pondering quietly.


    After some thought, he asked again:


    ¡°So you are here just to inform me of this intelligence?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, Prince Cassius, I also bring the goodwill of the Farias Family. If that old Silver Dragon makes a move, this will be a battle between Metal Dragons and Chromatic Dragons for territory. We won¡¯t yield any inch of living space; this is the shared resolve of all Chromatic Dragons.¡±


    Cassius looked outside the palace, his gaze piercing through several hundred meters, indeed finding twelve human-formed Blue Dragons waiting quietly outside.


    They were mostly adult, prime Blue Dragons, and even an old Blue Dragon¡ªconsidered strong support in Anzeta. An attack by this dragon group could annihilate an ordinary duchy.


    The Red Dragon remained expressionless on the surface, yet inwardly he was sneering.


    ¡°Heh, as expected of Tiamat, subtly replacing the concept of ¡®the kingdom¡¯s territory¡¯ with ¡®the living space of all Chromatic Dragons,¡¯ and appearing magnanimous by sending so many loyal Blue Dragons of the Farias clan. This is all a ploy to plant His influence within my kingdom.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ does He think I¡¯ll easily permit it?¡±

 Chapter 314 - 237 The Request of the Silver Dragon

    Chapter 314: Chapter 237 The Request of the Silver Dragon


    Christina did not notice the coldness that flashed in the eyes of the red dragon and continued:


    ¡°Her Majesty the Dragon Queen said that you are her most favored offspring, she will ensure your smooth ruling of Anzeta and make you an important part of the great plan of the chromatic dragons.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself that he did not need her assurance to rule the North, but he still responded politely and indifferently:


    ¡°Please thank Her Majesty for her support, but it seems I do not lack these strengths.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Christina was momentarily speechless, she really didn¡¯t expect anyone to refuse aid that was handed to them, especially on the eve of a great war.


    ...


    Cassius continued: ¡°You don¡¯t need to become my assistance, just be a witness to history, an observer. My army and I will crush all enemies, including that ancient silver dragon that just awoke.¡±


    These words were calm and powerful, as if stating a trivial matter.


    Once again, Christina was shocked by this overwhelming confidence.


    She knew there was an ancient-level spell-hoarding silver dragon in the enemy¡¯s camp!


    Even the most arrogant ancient red dragon would not dare to say they had a hundred percent chance of winning, yet the red dragon before her seemed to have already captured victory, quietly awaiting the celebration feast.


    But she did not know that Cassius thought he could not allow those blue dragons to take a foothold in Anzeta. If this door were opened, a lot of Tiamat¡¯s followers would surely infiltrate.


    Moreover, in battles of his level, even adult and prime blue dragons would not play a significant role, they might even affect his judgment in battle.


    And in large-scale warfare, the powerful army of the Ashen Kingdom was already sufficient to crush the other side. Even if a dozen more blue dragons came, it would just be embellishment, having little impact on the war¡¯s overall situation.


    Christina couldn¡¯t help but say:


    ¡°Your confidence and strength amaze me.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ Her Majesty the Dragon Queen has another decree.¡±


    She began to speak hesitantly, her breathing became a bit rapid, and her cheeks turned somewhat flushed.


    ¡°What decree?¡±


    Christina transformed into a blue dragon over ten meters long, and under Cassius¡¯s puzzled gaze, she walked forward, leaning seductively against the red dragon¡¯s strong body, whispering softly in his ear:


    ¡°Your Highness Cassius, Her Majesty the Dragon Queen personally said, as a reward for the Fabrizio Family¡¯s many years of loyalty, you¡­ must sire the finest offspring with me.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s face suddenly became grim.


    ¡­


    After driving away the female blue dragon who had clung to his leg, crying loudly about ¡°Her Majesty the Dragon Queen¡¯s arrangement,¡± and wiping the saliva off his face, Cassius was so furious that he laughed, thinking to himself:


    ¡°Good job, Tiamat, what a Five-Colored Dragon Queen; truly experienced her shamelessness.¡±


    ¡°Get my bloodline, verify the Karex lineage, and simultaneously appease the blue dragon clan, even integrate her power into the Ashen Kingdom.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What a brilliant no-cost wolf deal.¡±


    Tiniya joyously swayed her tail to the side, spitting viciously: ¡°Hmph, that blue-skinned dragon must be up to no good. With her smell of dust all over her and that thing on her nose, how dare she think of coupling with our Master?¡±


    But with the red dragon present, she dared not utter the latter part of her thought, thinking ¡°only I am qualified.¡±


    Cassius glanced at the foolish white dragon, ignored her, and instead seriously pondered matters regarding Osedro; this information came quite timely.


    The absolute confidence before was only to show the blue dragon.


    Without utilizing the power of the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± within him, he felt some apprehension towards that ancient silver dragon, without absolute confidence in his heart.


    He knew the silver dragons were second only to gold dragons among the metal dragons, comparable to the red dragons in combat power, and an ancient-level silver dragon¡¯s base challenge level alone could reach level 23, not to mention the spellcasting abilities of a spell hoarder.


    ¡°Looks like¡­ I have to approach Olivia again.¡±


    Cassius thought this.


    After that accident, he still felt a tinge of guilt towards the pitiful silver dragon mage, though not much.


    He did not intend to deliberately dismiss this thought, perhaps it was a remnant of his humanity.


    ¡­


    Steel Dragonwing Palace, the Vice Hall.


    The silver dragon lay quietly on the ground, her wounds not yet healed.


    Fortunately, with Cassius¡¯s permission, she was free from the chains¡¯ restraint, able to move freely within the palace¡¯s small range, even enjoying the palace chefs¡¯ delicacies, and getting external information through the daily ¡°Kingdom Daily.¡±


    But at this moment, Olivia did not feel the leisure of recuperation, instead, her face was filled with worry.


    ¡°Is the war about to start¡­¡±


    The silver dragon gazed at the palace¡¯s tightly shut doors, her sight seemed to penetrate the palace, seeing the bloody, hell-like battlefield, rivers of flowing blood.


    After a field investigation, having browsed the kingdom¡¯s news, she knew the North would definitely not be the opponent of the kingdom, this war would likely be one-sided, even a massacre.


    Thinking of this, her heart trembled uncontrollably.


    Suddenly, Olivia felt a familiar oppressive aura.


    Accompanied by a thunderous sound, the tightly closed metal doors slowly opened, and the massive figure of the red dragon appeared at the door.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    Olivia looked up at those pale gold vertical pupils, subconsciously bit her lip, feeling a mixed and complicated mood, countless thoughts running through her mind. She had considered how to handle Cassius¡¯s arrival, but found herself powerless.


    How should she face this red dragon?


    As an enemy, or as¡­


    With the red dragon stepping inside, the surrounding air became tense, a mysterious heavy atmosphere filled the palace.


    Finally, Cassius broke the silence:


    ¡°Long time no see, Olivia.¡±


    ¡­


    Biting her lip, hesitating for a long time, Olivia finally mustered the courage, almost in a humble way, to plead:


    ¡°Cassius¡­ can, you stop?¡±


    ¡°Stop what?¡±


    Cassius bowed slightly, staring into the silver dragon¡¯s light blue eyes.


    Olivia lifted her head, sincerely meeting the red dragon¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°All of this, including the war.¡±


    ¡°Too many innocent lives have perished because of you, Cassius. Please stop now, okay? I know you are not a purely evil dragon, only influenced by certain things. I am willing to do everything I can to help you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Olivia, you are wrong.¡±


    Cassius mercilessly interrupted her words.


    ¡°It is not that I don¡¯t want to stop, but they are scared. Whether it is the Triel campaign or the Magur incident, it is the Northern nobility that launched the attacks, and I was merely forced to retaliate passively. Should I wash my neck clean and offer it for slaughter because I am a red dragon?¡±


    ¡°You have seen quite a few things here, haven¡¯t you understood yet?¡±


    ¡°As long as my kingdom exists, the serfs and citizens oppressed by the nobles will keep flocking here. It is not that I don¡¯t want to coexist with them peacefully, but the Northern nobility will not allow the existence of such a kingdom, fearing it will shake the foundation of their rule.¡±


    ¡°Whether I am righteous or evil doesn¡¯t really matter to them, as long as I permit the existence of serfdom, ensuring their power, even if I were an abyssal demon, they would cover for me in every way and even revere me as a wise ruler. The opposite is also true.¡±


    The red dragon grinned, revealing a fierce smile.


    ¡°In other words, right and wrong don¡¯t matter to them. What matters is that there isn¡¯t a ¡®freak¡¯ kingdom like the Ashen Kingdom weakening their rule.¡±

 Chapter 315 - 238 Invitation and Cooperation

    Chapter 315: Chapter 238 Invitation and Cooperation


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Olivia wanted to argue, but found herself at a loss for words.


    Because she realized once again that everything Cassius said was true. She too had been angered by the North¡¯s treatment of people as ¡°cattle,¡± but the elders in her clan only asked her to respect human customs and traditions, and not to interfere rashly.


    Over time, this oppression became natural and expected, and she herself had not even realized the terrifying inertia in her thinking.


    The Silver Dragon sank back into prolonged contemplation.


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    ...


    Cassius snapped his fingers crisply, drawing her attention.


    With his action, a series of dynamic magic images appeared in midair, depicting the mundane daily lives of the citizens of the Ashen Kingdom.


    Clerks organizing files in the archive room; guards patrolling the streets; workers laboring diligently on assembly lines; merchants loudly hawking their wares at the morning market; researchers conducting experiments in laboratories¡­


    They might have been exhausted, weary, even full of complaints, but one thing was certain: everyone was living their lives to the fullest, striving toward their desired goals, exuding a vibrant sense of renewal even Olivia could feel.


    As she watched these scenes and noted the Silver Dragon¡¯s somewhat perplexed expression, Cassius spoke again to guide her: sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This is the kingdom I built.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a simple binary of good and evil, but a real, complex society.¡±


    ¡°But here, those once considered ¡®gray beasts¡¯ can at least survive as ¡®humans.¡¯ They do not die in the cold wind for a bag of wheat, do not have to kneel before others like dogs to beg for food, nor do they have to sacrifice their children for a noble¡¯s order.¡±


    Another crisp snap of his fingers and the once-beautiful images suddenly changed: emaciated serfs trembling in the cold wind; boys sold to nobles huddled in the corners of basements; slaves driven to the frontline like livestock under the lash¡­


    These were not malicious distortions, but straightforward depictions of the dark side of the Northern Countries.


    Cassius knew that his rhetoric was highly appealing to the inherently kind Silver Dragon, especially a young Silver Dragon whose worldview was not yet fully formed.


    At least, on the surface, his country appeared noble and upright, hiding the ¡°man-eating¡± aspects in the shadows, manipulating invisible chains to reap benefits. A young Silver Dragon with little societal experience could hardly realize these things.


    Meanwhile, the Northern Nobility displayed their voracity so blatantly and unashamedly in their ¡°man-eating¡± that even Cassius, an evil dragon, thought they were too extreme.


    Sure enough, just as Cassius had anticipated.


    Olivia¡¯s eyelids drooped, her heart beginning to waver.


    ¡°Maybe¡­ this is the justice I¡¯ve been seeking?¡±


    ¡°Is this the order that truly aligns with human nature?¡±


    ¡°Then was everything I did before meaningless, even hindering the progress of history?¡±


    Fixing his gaze on the Silver Dragon¡¯s lake-like eyes, Cassius pressed his advantage:


    ¡°Olivia, as the highest ruler of the Ashen Kingdom, I sincerely invite you to join the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°When the Anzeta Great Wilderness is unified, I won¡¯t require you to become one of the ¡®Evil Dragon Kin.¡¯ You could even become a member of the Kingdom¡¯s council through legitimate means, giving a voice to the weak, helping the common people oppressed by the Northern Nobility, and achieving your aspirations more effectively.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s voice echoed in Olivia¡¯s ears, tempting her like a devil.


    [Smooth Talker]


    Under the influence of such extraordinary charm that could distort reality, the Silver Dragon was deeply enchanted, feeling helpless, caught in a swamp of hesitation and entanglement.


    In the past, she could rely on the shining image of ¡°Angel¡± to strengthen her resolve.


    But after that encounter, everything had come to light, and what she had insisted on dissolved into illusory bubbles.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Olivia bit her lip lightly, stammering, unsure of what to say.


    She had originally prepared herself for this opportunity to ¡°save¡± Cassius, to pull him into the camp of goodness and justice, and even to convert him to ¡°King of the Northwind¡± Bahamut.


    But reality proved that this was just her wishful thinking; she couldn¡¯t even convince herself.


    Throughout this conversation, Olivia had been firmly under Cassius¡¯ control, falling into a meticulously designed trap. Moreover, she felt an inexplicable dependence on the Red Dragon, which made it even harder for her to break free.


    Cassius approached her, offering a reason she couldn¡¯t refuse:


    ¡°The unification of the Anzeta Great Wilderness by the Ashen Kingdom is an inevitable historical trend. You, being as smart as you are, surely understand this. But you can use your power to speed up this process, allowing more innocents to avoid sacrifice, letting them live better lives under the kingdom¡¯s order.¡±


    As he spoke, reality twisted, and a hellish battlefield appeared before her eyes. The flowing rivers of blood, the mountains of corpses, and the agonized wails pained the Silver Dragon deeply¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to see such scenes, but this could very well be the near future.


    This image finally broke down her last psychological defense.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    Olivia¡¯s lips trembled, her blue-gray eyes filled with conflict.


    Finally, she looked up at Cassius with a complex expression, breathing a sigh of relief.


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    ¡°But you can¡¯t force me to kill anyone, and I will only follow orders that I perceive to be righteous.¡±


    For some reason, Olivia felt powerless before the Red Dragon. It seemed she was always at his mercy, unable to find a way to resist. The added condition was her last bit of obstinacy.


    Cassius displayed a delighted smile as two claws of different sizes and colors clasped together.


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°Then, happy collaboration.¡±


    ¡°Incidentally, there is an urgent mission concerning the kingdom¡¯s situation, and I believe you are the best candidate for this mission, indeed the only one.¡±


    Olivia instantly grew wary, frowning slightly.


    Her past experiences had taught her that whenever Cassius smiled, it was never a good sign.


    Sure enough, Cassius¡¯ calm voice echoed:


    ¡°Your grandfather, ¡®Wings of Silver¡¯ Osedro, has arrived in Anzeta. Unfortunately, he is blinded by false justice and has chosen to support the rebels of the North. He will stand in the way of my unification of the North, so¡­¡±


    ¡°Cassius! You¡ª¡±


    Olivia trembled with anger, a trace of sobbing in her voice.

 Chapter 316 - 239: Unexpected Collision

    Chapter 316: Chapter 239: Unexpected Collision


    The cold wind howled, sweeping up flurries of snow.


    The vast wilderness was gradually being covered in white, and under the veil of the blizzard, the distant mountains could only be seen in vague outlines.


    The Anzeta Great Wilderness, known as the ¡°Land of Extreme Cold,¡± had finally entered its long and brutal winter. During this time, every living creature on this barren land struggled desperately for survival.


    The climate of the North was always unpredictable, and soon the snowstorm dissipated, leaving only a blanket of frost.


    And there, on the snow-covered road, a thousand-strong army was struggling forward. They were wrapped in not-so-thick cotton clothes, resembling a black river in a white world, leaving a long trail on the thick snow.


    ¡°Hurry up! Keep up in the rear!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Make use of this good weather to press on!¡±


    Viscount Farouk Edson, riding a horse and waving a long whip, shouted loudly at his subordinates.


    He was also a noble under the Boske Duchy, and at Duke Leo¡¯s request, he led his family¡¯s private army to the battlefield.


    However, he hadn¡¯t brought many knights but rather a motley crew of serfs as cannon fodder. The knights were the foundation of their family, so how could they be easily wasted?


    Looking down at the thick snow under his feet, Viscount Farouk couldn¡¯t help but spit and complain:


    ¡°Damn weather.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what Duke Leo is thinking, starting a war at this time.¡±


    Starting a war at the onset of winter was a decision made by the Northern Nobility of the Anti-Red Dragon Alliance after much discussion.


    Many troops of the Ashen Kingdom bore the scorching Red Dragon Bloodline, and in Anzeta¡¯s cold climate, their vitality would be greatly reduced, possibly even causing casualties. The resilient Scania people seemed better able to endure the winter, which led Duke Leo to call this the ¡°Winter Offensive.¡±


    Noble armies from all over the North were mobilized, gathering at the borders of the Boske Duchy, Fano Duchy, and the Ashen Kingdom, ready to fight to the death against the evil Red Dragon realm. However, though these nobles claimed to give their all, how much effort they would actually put in was another matter.


    Like the Edson family, they sent their less favored second son with a ragtag army.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    Farouk looked up. There seemed to be a few blurry black dots in the sky.


    The escort knight beside him instantly turned pale. He seemed to recall some terrifying rumors.


    ¡°My Lord, it might be¡­ the Red Scale Conquerors.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible!¡±


    Farouk was instantly filled with fear, trembling all over. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He just wanted to get some war merits on the battlefield. Reaching the base and putting these cannon fodder on the frontline would be considered a success. Who would have thought he¡¯d encounter such danger!


    The infamous Red Scale Conquerors were well-known in the North. It was said they rode on wyverns and came with a dreadful Dragon¡¯s Roar, bringing fire and death to their enemies.


    The escort knight reminded him:


    ¡°My Lord, they seem to be just scouts.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that must be it. The Red Scale Conquerors are not targeting us.¡±


    Farouk wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced a smile.


    The small black dots indeed just passed overhead, only circling in the air. This made him breathe a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Whew, lucky.¡±


    ¡°As long as I deliver this cannon fodder to the frontline, my job is done¡­¡±


    ¡°Almost there.¡±


    Farouk mumbled to himself, with only his own voice audible, continuously praying to the gods in his heart.


    Through the pass ahead, they would soon reach their destination. By then, he could stay in the safest tent and completely relax.


    However, things often don¡¯t go as hoped.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    There was a piercing whistle from above.


    Farouk looked up in panic, eyes full of fear of the unknown. He saw metal balls falling from the sky.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s coming down!¡±


    ¡°Get out of the way, don¡¯t block me!¡±


    ¡°Do you want to die?¡±


    His ¡°army¡± descended into chaos. These cowardly people crowded and clamored, even causing a stampede. Who knew how many lives were lost in the chaotic crowd.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Suddenly, with a thunderous roar, the metal balls exploded mid-air.


    Clusters of flames fell from the sky, like a divine punishment of ¡°fire rain.¡±


    The fire reflected in Farouk¡¯s pupils, and he muttered:


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    After the metal balls hit the ground, the fire devoured everything.


    All around were cries and screams of people. The cotton clothes of those soldiers caught fire. Even those who escaped by luck had no more will to fight.


    This was the latest creation of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s armory¡ªincendiary bombs. Though extremely lethal, such inhumane methods were condemned by some scholars domestically.


    After a round of incendiary bomb bombing, the soldiers fled in all directions.


    Farouk was fortunate; he timely took off and discarded his burning clothes, surviving the ¡°fire rain¡± from the sky and fled towards the destination on his terrified horse.


    ¡°Damn¡­ Damn such an enemy.¡±


    ¡°I must get out of here!¡±


    However, just as he was about to pass through the pass, a mottled tide and countless pairs of murky eyes appeared before him, accompanied by a dog-like cacophony¡ªthat was the kobold army.


    ¡°Awooo~~¡±


    The largest kobold, with the highest degree of Dragonification, howled. He was the thirty-third child of Jin Ya, though, considering Jin Ya¡¯s promiscuity, his ranking might be even lower. However, he was obviously not very favored, being assigned as a leader in the Cannon Fodder Legion.


    ¡°They¡¯re just kobolds.¡±


    ¡°They can¡¯t catch up with me.¡±


    Facing the menacing kobolds, with a strong will to survive, Farouk yanked the reins and displayed riding skills he usually couldn¡¯t, making a sharp turn.


    But the kobolds behind him laughed grimly, raising their worn-out blunderbusses, licking the grease on the ammunition paper packets, and loading them in.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±


    With the chaotic gunfire, puffs of smoke rose from the gun barrels.


    These kobolds hadn¡¯t undergone much training, and the precision of these obsolete guns was lacking, often making the bullets fly everywhere.


    But there were enough of them. With dozens of blunderbusses firing simultaneously, they hit three or four shots from a hundred meters away, riddling Farouk¡¯s back with bullets and sending him tumbling off the horse, rolling over the ground several times.


    Until death, this Viscount couldn¡¯t understand why he was shot dead by a bunch of kobolds from a hundred meters away.


    ¡°I killed him!¡±


    One kobold said excitedly.


    ¡°Screw you, I killed him. I shot him in the heart!¡±


    Another kobold pushed him aside and cursed.


    Just like that, the two kobolds wrestled with each other, barking in anger.


    Finally, the tall and strong kobold leader stepped forward, lifted the two kobolds single-handedly, and grimly looked at them.


    ¡°Now, do you know who killed this human noble?¡±


    ¡°Of course¡­ it was you.¡±


    The two kobolds curled up and answered weakly.

 Chapter 317 - 240 Avton Battle (Part 1)

    Chapter 317: Chapter 240 Avton Battle (Part 1)


    The Avton Plains, the battlefield frontline.


    The weather was clear, not a cloud in the sky. From time to time, bipedal wyverns passed over the distant mountains, letting out prolonged roars.


    On the snow-covered wasteland stood various camps, with filthy slave soldiers building fortifications and transporting supplies. Armies from the Boske Duchy, the Fano Duchy, the Carter Duchy, and other Northern countries were also gathered here.


    A middle-aged noble, dressed in finely crafted armor, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. The emblem of a lion and crossed swords adorned his breastplate.


    ¡°The Edson Family hasn¡¯t arrived yet?¡±


    ¡°My lord, we haven¡¯t received any word from them. I¡¯m afraid that¡­¡±


    ...


    ¡°Damn it.¡±


    A dark cloud immediately shrouded his face, and he began to pace back and forth, muttering under his breath.


    ¡°The Edson Family, the Durant Family, the Rossa Family, the Wolf Family¡­¡±


    ¡°The promised seventy-thousand troops, and not even two-thirds are here. How am I supposed to hold off the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    His name was Roland Boske, and from his surname, one could see his noble lineage. He was the second son of Duke Leo, the Earl of the Boske Duchy, a general, and the commander of the Allied Forces¡¯ first line of defense.


    Duke Leo had sent his valued second son to the front lines to demonstrate his determination to fight the evil dragons to the end, as well as to silence the Northern nobility.


    The bipedal wyverns in the distant sky grew denser, like chaotic dark clouds, their myriad wings casting a shadow over the land.


    Roland watched them intently, his expression gravely serious. He instructed his adjutant standing nearby:


    ¡°We¡¯re out of time. The Ashen army is about to arrive.¡±


    ¡°Inform all divisions to prepare for battle. I don¡¯t aspire to achieve any great victories; our sole task is to hold them off, probe their weaknesses, and buy more time for my father¡ª.¡±


    Suddenly, the heavy sound of war drums rang out, cutting off his words.


    ¡°Boom, boom, boom¡­¡±


    Roland turned his head instinctively, seeing the distant ground and sky occupied by the Ashen army


    ;


    neat ranks of Great Goblins, powerful Ogres, mountain-like Armored Dragon Beasts, swarming black bipedal wyverns, and skyward-pointing cannons¡­ Such an army, even just on a routine march, exuded a feeling of utter despair.


    The rhythmic drumbeats continued without pause, causing the earth to tremble slightly, like the heavy steps of death itself.


    ¡°For Tampas¡¯s sake¡­¡±


    Roland couldn¡¯t help but utter a prayer.


    Though the weather was quite cold, sweat still beaded on his forehead.


    He had watched the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army through magical images before, but he hadn¡¯t thought them invincible. Yet, standing here in reality, Roland truly felt how terrifying this Scourge Legion was.


    ¡°This has to be a joke¡­¡±


    ¡°That, that¡¯s our enemy?¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°Is this some sort of death sentence?¡±


    The soldiers in the fortifications gazed at the distant army, murmuring amongst themselves, their voices tinged with tremors.


    They were private armies from various Northern countries, with mixed levels of training and quality; some were paid mercenaries, and some were even serf soldiers from estates, mixed in to bolster the numbers.


    Anyone with a sane mind could see the stark, despair-inducing disparity in strength.


    Listening to the murmurs, Roland furrowed his brow.


    ¡°This can¡¯t go on.¡±


    He knew that if this continued, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army wouldn¡¯t even need to arrive; his troops¡¯ morale would already be shattered, fleeing in all directions, failing the task his father assigned him.


    As a scion of the Boske Family, while enjoying great privileges, Roland also yearned to become the family¡¯s successor, even the nominal ruler of the North.


    Unfortunately, he was the second son.


    Unlike the hedonistic scions, Roland had worked tirelessly since childhood. He practiced riding skills diligently, studied tactical drills, and observed family affairs, all in the hopes of gaining Duke Leo¡¯s attention, to replace his elder brother and become the true heir of the family.


    But under the North¡¯s thousand-year-old ¡°glorious tradition,¡± his efforts seemed futile.


    This time, Duke Leo pinned his hopes on him, and Roland hoped to use this war to distinguish himself, at least to serve the duchy, and become a hero worthy of the family¡¯s epic.


    Thinking of this, Roland gritted his teeth.


    ¡°I have to step up.¡±


    He went to the front lines himself, drew his longsword, and raised it high.


    As an Earl and Duke Leo¡¯s son, Roland commanded considerable respect across the North. His bold gesture immediately caught the attention of the surrounding soldiers.


    ¡°Soldiers¡ª¡±


    His voice was heavy, yet resolute.


    ¡°You all see it too, the enemy is unexpectedly strong. This might be an unwinnable war. The enemy consists of terrible monsters, wyverns, ogres, great goblins¡­ They wield the mighty strength of the evil dragons, while we, are mere ordinary humans. Compared to them, our only advantage as the Scania People is our resilience.¡±


    Roland paused, his tone becoming fervent, even the war drums of the Ashen army serving as a backdrop to his speech.


    ¡°But remember this, beneath your feet, is the homeland of the Scania People, land that our ancestors have guarded for millennia.¡±


    ¡°I am a descendant of Boske. Nine centuries ago, my ancestor, the first ¡®Lionheart King¡¯ Roselle Boske, led your forefathers to this unfamiliar land of Anzeta. Here, we cultivated the wilderness, built cities, and created the glorious Scania civilization. Giants from the North and White Dragons never crushed us; we built walls with our blood, defending our homeland time and again.


    ¡°Nine centuries later, I, Roselle¡¯s descendant, Roland Boske, stand here with you. We face an even stronger, more cunning enemy, but I believe history will repeat itself¡­¡±


    Suddenly, the distant drumbeats ceased.


    Roland, in the middle of his fervent speech, was momentarily stunned, then continued: ¡°We will defend our¡ª¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But his voice was drowned out by a deeper voice, and the soldiers¡¯ gazes seemed to look past Roland, focusing on something further away. They even gasped in awe, as if witnessing a miracle.


    ¡°Damn bastards, no sense of honor.¡±


    Seeing his words ignored, Roland clenched his teeth and cursed under his breath. He turned around, then froze in place, dumbfounded.


    The Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army had halted, quietly stationed there. Above them, a massive magic image, hundreds of meters tall, loomed in the sky.


    In the image was a handsome young man, with black hair and golden eyes, exuding a nobility greater than any in Northern history.


    He smiled courteously, his deep, light-golden eyes drawing everyone in, even Roland Boske himself.


    ¡°Greetings to all from the North.¡±


    ¡°For our first meeting, I am Cassius. You may have heard of this name, the ultimate ruler of the Ashen Kingdom, and as you know, the ¡®King of Ashen¡¯.¡±

 Chapter 318 - 241 Avton Battle (Part 2)

    Chapter 318: Chapter 241 Avton Battle (Part 2)


    Suddenly, the military formation became a cacophony, disbelief filling the eyes of the people, their surroundings buzzing with heated discussions.


    ¡°He is that Red Dragon? The King of Ashen?¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°This¡­ this can¡¯t be an evil dragon; he is clearly a refined noble.¡±


    ¡°Could it be that Duke Leo deceived us?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s extraordinary charm was enough to distort reality, influencing even giant dragons unconsciously. Therefore, he could easily enthrall these inexperienced mortals even through a mere image.


    ...


    Under the scrutiny of tens of thousands of soldiers, Cassius began his performance:


    ¡°I believe you may have some misunderstandings about me, as per the Northern Nobility¡¯s propaganda, I am a bone-crunching evil dragon, a demon who defiles women, and an invader breaking peace and order.¡±


    ¡°But the truth is, it has always been the Northern Nobility who initiated wars every time, whether it was the Tri-Nation Alliance of the Triel Conference or the so-called Anti-Red Dragon Alliance. This is simply because they could not tolerate a kingdom that threatened their ruling foundation, a kingdom that overthrew the serfdom and hereditary nobility systems, the Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    Cassius paused, a hint of confusion in his tone, his expression exceptionally sincere.


    ¡°Soldiers, I sincerely want to know¡ªwhat are you fighting for?¡±


    ¡°Could it be that you truly believe in that laughable doctrine of Scania solidarity? The North is not your country, but Heaven for the nobles; they see you as ¡®Gray Beasts,¡¯ as lowly expendables.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, please reflect on your own hurried lives in the North; when have you ever received the proper regard from the nobles?¡±


    ¡°A scholar in the kingdom once said that the class is the only standard for dividing society. In the eyes of the Northern Nobility, you of humble origins have never been of the same species as them, how could you be considered their fellowmen?¡±


    ¡°When they whipped the serfs, violated children, killed slaves for fun, and tormented you for generations, they never remembered you were supposedly their kin.¡±


    Cassius did not speak with great passion; he just stated the facts calmly.


    But even with just that, countless soldiers began to think, their hearts wavering, and some even started to fully believe the Red Dragon¡¯s words.


    ¡°Is it really¡­ like this?¡±


    ¡°He seems to make some sense.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, those nobles would never share their wealth with us.¡±


    ¡°My daughter was snatched away by a noble¡­¡±


    Cassius continued to speak in a deep voice:


    ¡°In fact, you have no reason to fight for them or give your lives for them. Even your not raising swords against these nobles is already an enormous act of mercy and forgiveness.¡±


    ¡°And I, as King and in the name of King of Ashen, Cassius, promise that when the Ashen Kingdom rules this land, you will regain the basic dignity.¡±


    ¡°Hereditary serfdom will no longer exist, freedom and equality will become the main themes of society. Anyone can become wealthy through hard work and even strive to become a noble, as has been the reality in Northwind Castle these past few years.¡±


    Under the influence of extraordinary charm, Cassius¡¯s words sounded exceptionally sincere to the ears of the soldiers. However, mindful of the presence of the officers, they could only whisper softly, expressing their rudimentary assessments.


    ¡°People like us can also become nobles?¡±


    ¡°It actually sounds quite good.¡±


    ¡°Then why are we still fighting?¡±


    ¡°He is way more generous than those stingy nobles.¡±


    As the noise of discussions grew louder, Count Roland Boske finally realized the opponent¡¯s intention¡ªhe wanted to scatter the morale of the troops!


    And what chilled Roland to the bone the most was that even he couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by those words and unconsciously began to agree with them.


    However, even Cassius¡¯s words could not distort his identity; as a noble, Roland naturally perceived the malignity in these words.


    ¡°This is simply the Devil¡¯s whisper!¡±


    ¡°How dare they listen to such words!¡±


    ¡°If not for the guidance of our ancestors, these beasts wouldn¡¯t have what they have today!¡±


    Roland looked around at the hesitating soldiers, gritting his teeth in hatred, his eyes filled with loathing.


    ¡°This can¡¯t go on!¡±


    Thinking this, Roland rode his horse and barged through the military formation, his face twisted as he swung his long sword, beheading a common soldier who was speaking enthusiastically about the future and clutching the lifeless head aloft.


    ¡°Soldiers, you have been bewitched by the evil dragon!¡±


    ¡°And this is the fate of rebels!¡±


    ¡°Do you all see this?¡±


    Roland, holding up the bloodied head, rode through the formation.


    Those soldiers who had been whispering all fell silent instantly. They involuntarily shrank their necks, fear on their faces, but they still stared intently at Roland, suppressing a strange emotion in their eyes.


    Indeed, they had not yet reached that ¡°Utopia.¡±


    They were still under the rule of the Northern Nobility.


    Roland seemed to be losing his mind. He threw the head away, pointed his blood-stained sword at the image in the air, and rasped:


    ¡°Evil dragon! Do you see?¡±


    ¡°We Scania people are invincible and will never bow!¡±


    ¡°The glory of Roselle Boske will forever shine upon the North, we will rule here for a thousand years, ten thousand years!¡±


    But the expression of the ¡°King of Ashen¡± in the image remained unchanged; he was still indifferent, never even giving Roland a proper glance, completely ignoring him.


    Cassius looked down at the tens of thousands of soldiers and said straightforwardly:


    ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that you stand in the way of the kingdom¡¯s unification, but I am a Dragon who loves peace and dislikes slaughter.¡±


    ¡°I give you three hours, leave if you do not want to die.¡±


    ¡°Time is short¡­¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Immediately, the formation became noisy again.


    After all, there were tens of thousands here, with most of them being serfs and commoners, and less than ten thousand being the nobles¡¯ personal army. When the Northern Nobility¡¯s prestige was shattered, a rout was a natural consequence.


    These people, of humble origins and poorly educated, did not understand much of Cassius¡¯s words, but they understood the nobles¡¯ whips and exploitation because it was what they had personally experienced. More importantly¡ªthey wanted to live.


    ¡°I want to live.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s leave, get out of here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of those noble lords!¡±


    ¡°How could we possibly win against such enemies?¡±


    The soldiers began to scatter and flee, and the officers could not stop them.


    And the army of the Ashen Kingdom actually kept their promise. Even when someone fled in their direction no soldier moved to kill, as it was the direct order of the Red Dragon, and no one dared to disobey.


    Roland shouted hoarsely, chasing the fleeing soldiers on horseback:


    ¡°Come back! You beasts!¡±


    ¡°You will never repay the ancestors¡¯ kindness in this lifetime!¡±


    His eyes were bloodshot as he killed one deserter after another, but he was still unable to stop the massive rout. After all, this was the scale of tens of thousands.


    ¡°Could it be¡­ that I am to fail in such a manner?¡±


    ¡°To lose before engaging in battle?¡±


    ¡°These damned beasts, swine, all should go to Hell! I have been too merciful to them!¡±


    Roland, breathing heavily on his horse, his twisted face covered in blood¡ªnot his own, nor even the enemy¡¯s.


    ¡°My lord, my lord¡­ stop, we need to regroup the remaining troops.¡±


    His adjutant quickly grabbed him, whispering.

 Chapter 319 - 242 Avton Battle (Part 3)

    Chapter 319: Chapter 242 Avton Battle (Part 3)


    In just three short hours, the initial forty-thousand-strong ¡°First Defense Line¡± army was now reduced to just over ten thousand.


    They were mostly personal guards from various families in the North, tightly bound to the war chariots of the northern nobility, with many of them holding titles of knights.


    They knew that surrender would not bring them any benefits; in fact, their fate would be even more tragic, implicating their families as well.


    Among them were over three thousand Heavy Armored Cavalry from the Boske Duchy, nearly seven thousand elite Spear and Shield Soldiers, and more than two thousand archers.


    However, they suddenly realized that not only had the frontline crumbled, but the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s vanguard troops had already broken through the fragile defenses at the pass, infiltrating the duchy¡¯s interior from the flanks, appearing like ghosts behind them, completely surrounding the remnant force of ten thousand stubborn soldiers.


    This was no longer just a battlefield decision error, but a complete crushing in terms of speed, intelligence, tactics, and even the entire military system.


    ...


    ¡ªWhen the northern nobles were still indulging in the dream of defending the natural barriers, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s troops had already, through land and air coordination and the cooperation of the ¡°Nocturne¡± intelligence system, swiftly completed the encirclement of this army. They even used psychological warfare to cause the enemy¡¯s morale to collapse before the battle started.


    They intended to fight a war of annihilation.


    Looking at the menacing legions ahead, then turning around to see the eyes glowing eerily behind them,


    finally, Roland Boske fell into utter despair. He stared blankly into the distance, shaking his head continuously.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible,¡±


    ¡°Things shouldn¡¯t be like this,¡±


    ¡°I should have won a glorious victory, and then, leveraging this victory, defeated my brother to become the rightful heir of the Boske House¡­¡±


    In such a dire situation, he was already somewhat incoherent.


    It wasn¡¯t until his adjutant reminded him that he barely snapped back to reality.


    ¡°Sir, what¡­ what should we do?¡±


    From afar came the overwhelming voice of the Red Dragon, filled with a sense of oppression. However, at this moment, the voice seemed to carry a trace of frivolity, which made Roland even more furious, yet he had no solution.


    ¡°Time is running out.¡±


    ¡°Ten.¡±


    ¡°Nine.¡±


    ¡°Sir, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°Damn that evil dragon! How dare he treat us this way! And those despicable beasts!¡±


    ¡°When the war is over, I will kill them all!¡±


    As the countdown approached its end, the pressure became increasingly heavier.


    Under this immense pressure, Roland had completely lost his sanity, resorting to cursing.


    Even within the army ranks, the elite private soldiers raised by the nobility, and even the officers who held knightly titles and were granted land, some could not withstand the pressure and fled the battlefield.


    Even the soldiers remaining in the trenches trembled, drenched in sweat, having lost the will to fight.


    On the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s side, the eyes of Goblin and Ogre troops were already gleaming with ferocity. They could not wait to tear the enemy apart, to relish the rare thrill of slaughter. More importantly, they sought to achieve military merit on the battlefield, aspiring to become noble Dragonblood Nobility.


    As for failure?


    That was never within their consideration. It could only be regarded as a cold joke, one that could be published in the humor column of the Kingdom Daily.


    ¡°Four.¡±


    ¡°Three.¡±


    ¡°Two.¡±


    ¡°One.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already given you a chance. It¡¯s just a pity that you didn¡¯t cherish it.¡±


    That voice was exceptionally calm, as if stating the most ordinary fact.


    ¡°So¡­ crush them.¡±


    Instantly, with the Red Dragon¡¯s final command, the entire wasteland seemed to boil.


    ¡°Crush them!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Fight for the great Red Dragon!¡±


    The War Drums of the Half-Goat People pounded rhythmically. The screeches of the wyverns were chaotic and harsh, while the war cries of the Goblin and Ogre troops were as fierce as blazing flames. The heavy sounds of cannon wheels rolling across the ground echoed.


    This chaotic mix of sounds, representing the kingdom¡¯s military might, resonated across the wasteland, causing the surrounded enemies to tremble with fear.


    In the rear Ogre Cannon Battalion, the Ogre Bighead, who served as the artillery commander, was about to issue the order to bombard the enemy camp when he was personally stopped by the Goblin Marshal Dolores.


    ¡°Hold on, there¡¯s no need to waste artillery shells here. If we end this too quickly, it won¡¯t be fun.¡±


    ¡°They haven¡¯t tasted blood in a long time.¡±


    Dolores looked at the seemingly sturdy human defenses in the distance, a sinister smile spreading across his face.


    In fact, Dolores had more than these considerations. He also wanted to keep these artillerymen as a trump card until the end, not giving the Northerners a chance to respond in advance.


    This so-called ¡°war¡± was more like a routine infantry drill. He hadn¡¯t even deployed the Drake Riders nor activated the Wyvern Legion, only sending those soldiers armed with semi-automatic rifles to charge forward.


    Roland stared intently at the advancing formidable troops, sweat pouring down his forehead in large drops, his face contorting with fear.


    ¡°Stop them!¡±


    ¡°Hurry, you fools, get to the front!¡±


    However, after multiple reminders from the adjutant, he finally calmed down, starting to think of corresponding tactical countermeasures based on the battle knowledge he had learned since childhood.


    Roland, with eyes full of gloom, watched the enemy closely, but he suddenly realized that they didn¡¯t launch a cavalry and spear and shield soldier charge as anticipated. Instead, they put their most vulnerable riflemen at the front to charge.


    This was undoubtedly a tactical contempt from the enemy, but it also gave Roland a valuable opportunity¡ªan opportunity to achieve results.


    As the commander of this war, he naturally studied the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army through magic images.


    Those long poles known as ¡°rifles¡± were powerful long-range weapons, but their drawback was that they required a long time to reload, leaving them unable to respond to an enemy charge during this interval.


    And he had three thousand of the finest Heavy Armored Cavalry under his command, enough to tear through these vulnerable riflemen.


    With that in mind, Roland skillfully mounted his horse, donning his helmet adorned with lion¡¯s mane.


    ¡°Summon all cavalry, prepare for a collective charge!¡±


    ¡°Have the archers cover us.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    The herald hurried to the cavalry position to convey the commander¡¯s orders, while the adjutant also donned his full body armor. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°How dare they underestimate me like this.¡±


    ¡°I will make them pay.¡±


    Roland gritted his teeth, unable to suppress a cold sneer.


    He knew that after losing most of his troops, this might be an unwinnable war.


    But he wanted to teach those who dared underestimate Roland Boske a lesson and make himself a figure worthy of being recorded in the family genealogy, even in the history of the North.


    ¡°The lion of the Boske House, even in death, will bite off your arm.¡±


    He lowered the heavy faceplate of his helmet, thinking fiercely to himself.

 Chapter 320 - 243 Avton Battle (Part 4)

    Chapter 320: Chapter 243 Avton Battle (Part 4)


    Marching in step with the tight drumbeats, George¡¯s hands gripping the rifle were drenched in sweat. His heart seemed to beat in sync with the drums, more from excitement than tension.


    This was his first time on the battlefield.


    He had resigned from his factory job, handed it over to his most trusted friend, Howard, and, leveraging his status as a first-class citizen, smoothly became an infantryman after training.


    In the training camp, George was always the most diligent, the one who endured the harshest trials due to his ambition to rise. Because of this, the Goblin Commander promoted him directly to the front-line troops.


    He was initially only fit for the reserve unit, responsible for battlefield cleanup duties.


    ¡°I will become a truly important figure.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Maybe¡­ today.¡±


    Keeping pace with the soldiers in front, George thought.


    The kingdom infantry now adopted a dense column formation for attacks rather than the traditional line formation, with a group of skirmishers as cover and vanguard.


    The column emphasized flexible attack impact, quickly breaking enemy lines and transforming into different formations rapidly, unlike the line formation, which prioritized defensive firepower but was slow to move.


    This tactic featuring columns and skirmishers wasn¡¯t originally devised by Kingdom Marshal Dolores. It was summarized and applied by him and the kingdom¡¯s advisors from ¡°Military Tactics from the Napoleonic Era,¡± left by players, and had yet to be truly tested on the battlefield.


    During the rapid march, George suddenly felt the ground tremble slightly.


    ¡°Is that¡ªcavalry?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but turn his head to look into the distance.


    A dull rumbling of hooves came closer, and soon the heavy armored cavalry charged towards their formation, like a steel torrent.


    Their armor gleamed under the sun, and the forest of lances glinted coldly. The Lionheart banners fluttered in the wind¡ªthis was the ironclad cavalry meticulously trained by the Boske family. Any traditional army would panic before such cavalry.


    But the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army was no ordinary force.


    With the drums beating faster, George quickened his pace, and the bugler beside him blew a piercing note.


    ¡°All units! Formation!¡±


    The herald¡¯s voice rang out, and flags were raised high.


    Numerous drills had ingrained the muscle memory deep into their bones. The well-trained infantrymen took only a few minutes to form several solid crossfire-forming squares, and George blended in with the soldiers in front.


    Being at the very front, George fixed his bayonet as per the drill guidelines, tasked with facing the cavalry¡¯s direct assault.


    These squares advanced slowly like moving bastions.


    Finally, the dense cavalry charged into the front of the formation. Gunfire erupted, the smell of gunpowder and blood filled the plains.


    One cavalryman after another fell, their agonized screams echoed. Their prized heavy armor was no match for the kingdom infantry¡¯s advanced semi-automatic rifles.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The gunfire crashed like waves, seemingly never-ending.


    The infantrymen only needed to pull the bolt lightly and were ready for the next shot. Precious cavalrymen fell one after another during the charge, their lives as insignificant as weeds.


    Amid the cavalry¡¯s encirclement, Roland¡¯s expression beneath his visor was one of utmost pain.


    ¡°Damnit¡­ why wasn¡¯t this tactic mentioned in the intel? How do they have such formations?¡±


    ¡°And those rifles, why aren¡¯t they reloading?¡±


    If it had been the original line formation, perhaps the cavalry could have ripped through it. But these solid squares, mutually protected, left large gaps in between.


    Charging any single square wouldn¡¯t just be difficult to break through, but would also invite a torrent of bullets from the other squares due to the crossfire formation.


    Roland had no solution, helplessly watching his meticulously trained cavalry fall like harvested wheat.


    The heavy armored cavalry attempted several more charges, but their usually unstoppable assaults, which once sent enemies fleeing in terror, crumbled like paper against the kingdom infantry armed with semi-automatic rifles.


    Under the guard¡¯s protection, Roland and his remaining heavy armored cavalry squeezed through the gaps between the squares. Now, only a third of them remained. Ahead lay the invincible Monster Legion; behind, the infantry squares that had caused them severe casualties.


    This was not what he had envisioned.


    In Roland¡¯s imagination, he should have led the ironclad cavalry charging into the monster horde, engaging in fierce combat.


    He would have dyed his armor red with enemy blood, piled the monster corpses high, and achieved a glorious death under the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s encirclement, becoming another legendary tale of the Boske Lionheart.


    But now, he was merely riding his horse forward, passively receiving a rain of bullets and suffering heavy losses.


    ¡°No, this is not the end I want.¡±


    ¡°This won¡¯t make my father proud of me.¡±


    With this thought, Roland¡¯s eyes turned red. He raised his lance and roared:


    ¡°Charge with me!¡±


    ¡°Tear through their formation!¡±


    ¡°Show these monsters the might of the Scania people!¡±


    Roland decided to target the infantry. He wanted to burn his last life to exchange for a grand finale.


    Around the square, the piled corpses were already half human-high. Fallen warhorses and heavy armored knights littered the ground, their blood staining the snow red, but Roland ignored everything.


    ¡°Charge!¡±


    Roland roared again.


    The remaining hundreds of cavalry seemed infected by his spirit, gathering around him and charging towards one of the squares.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    Gunfire howled, and bullets rained down. The front rows of soldiers fell instantly.


    They bore not only the frontal shots but also the crossfire from the flank squares, surviving by sheer luck amidst the storm of bullets.


    But Roland had thrown everything away, sacrificing the front-line cavalry as buffers, while riding through under his trusted aide¡¯s cover, finally reaching the square.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    Roland roared angrily.


    His black warhorse galloped valiantly, leaping over the cavalry corpses, charging into the square.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    One gunshot, a blood hole appeared in the horse¡¯s chest, and it collapsed before the square.


    Caught off guard, Roland tumbled heavily, rolling several times on the ground, losing his helmet in the process.


    Disheveled and grimacing, Roland drew his sword, struggling to get up from the ground.


    Goblin and Tiefling infantrymen fired at him, but Roland¡¯s heavy armor, a family heirloom worth thousands of gold coins, crafted by an Archmage, bore the spells ¡°Protection Arrow,¡± ¡°Brutal Strength,¡± ¡°Lion¡¯s Roar Technique,¡± ¡°Radiant Shield.¡±


    Generations of Boske generals had worn it in battle, marching through a rain of swords, spears, and arrows, leading soldiers to victory with the magnificent Lion¡¯s Roar.


    With its intricate magical patterns glowing, each bullet was blocked by the faint barrier, faint roars seeping through. In his disheveled fury, Roland indeed looked like the ¡°Boske Lionheart.¡±


    ¡°Fall to your death!¡±


    He surged forward, decapitating the Goblin in front, then turned to strike down a Tiefling attacking him from behind, his sword tracing a beautiful arc through the air.


    The steel gleamed, blood splattered.


    The battle techniques Roland had learned since childhood displayed to their fullest, embodying the heroic end he desired!


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    Dense gunfire roared, the bullets¡¯ power far surpassing arrows. Even the magical barrier dimmed with each impact.


    But Roland was now consumed by battle rage, laughing manically, pointing his longsword at the kingdom soldiers ahead, preparing for his final declaration.


    ¡°We Boske people never surrender!¡±


    ¡°Monsters, standing before you is the descendent of Roselle Boske¡ª¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Before he finished, Roland staggered forward, feeling a sharp pain in his back, like being struck by a heavy hammer, instantly sapping his strength.


    He bowed his head laboriously.


    Indeed, a massive blood hole gaped in his chest, piercing his armor.


    He was beyond saving.


    ¡°How¡­ is this possible?¡±


    Roland spat a mouthful of blood, murmuring in disbelief.


    At the moment he raised his sword, the force field barrier, already withstood over a hundred bullets, finally shattered into tiny magical particles, his armor disintegrating.


    And someone behind him fired the final shot.


    Expending his remaining strength, Roland turned around. He wanted to see who had killed this ¡°Boske Lionheart.¡±


    Was it a strong Goblin, a devilish Tiefling, or a brutal Ogre? No matter who, it would be said that a Boske noble died unyieldingly.


    But turning around, he found it was a somewhat frail human. The man¡¯s face flushed with excitement, his rifle smoking at the barrel.


    Moreover, Roland noticed a familiar mark on the man¡¯s neck¡ªthe mark of a serf. Once branded, it condemned him and his descendants to perpetual servitude.


    ¡°What a ¡­ joke ¡­¡±


    Roland¡¯s eyes widened as he fell, his limbs twitching a few times before going still. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even in death, his eyes remained open, staring at the sky, filled with confusion.


    Roland couldn¡¯t understand why he died at the hands of a wretched serf. It was a complete joke, destined to become dinner conversation for noble ladies.

 Chapter 321 - 244 Full-scale Advancement and the Situation in the North

    Chapter 321: Chapter 244 Full-scale Advancement and the Situation in the North


    ¡°It was me, I killed him!¡±


    George¡¯s hand, holding the gun, couldn¡¯t stop trembling, and the barrel was still slightly warm.


    It was said that this battle had received high attention from the kingdom¡¯s lords, even under the eyes of His Majesty himself, so naturally, no one dared to snatch this credit.


    The looks from the Great Goblins and Tieflings around George were filled with envy and even jealousy. Their eyes were red, full of regret, wishing they could devour the human alive.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    ¡°It was him.¡±


    ...


    ¡°That lucky bastard, just wait and see.¡±


    But this was only in their thoughts, otherwise, the whipping from the Supervising Officer would make them understand what absolute military discipline was.


    One should know that this was an Earl from the Boske Family, the commander of the Allied Forces. Such a significant achievement was enough to earn a title, and it was stolen by a mere human right in front of them.


    ¡°Hahaha, I¡­. I killed him.¡±


    George muttered to himself, a vision of rising through the ranks and becoming Dragonblood Nobility appearing in his mind. All the previous suffering and trials were insignificant compared to the sweetness of this success.


    As Roland Boske fell under his gun, the inferiority complex rooted in his heart as a serf dissipated.


    It seemed those self-important nobles were nothing special after all.


    Even the most powerful Boske nobility of the North couldn¡¯t withstand bullets; they were no different from him, a ¡°Gray Beast¡± of serf origin.


    Roland¡¯s death caused the complete collapse of Boske¡¯s heavy armored cavalry.


    All around were dense gunfire sounds, and the visible areas were filled with the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s troops, falling like swathes of cut grass.


    The spear and shield soldiers and crossbowmen were also nearly in collapse. The kingdom infantry and Kobold Legion attacked from front and back, with elite skirmishers even launching flanking strikes. The seemingly solid defenses were penetrated like a sieve, with pockets of kingdom soldiers feverishly charging everywhere within the lines.


    Moreover, they had lost their highest commander. Under the circumstance of being attacked from all sides, these elites from the Northern countries scattered like headless flies within the positions, any resistance being insignificant.


    Soon, this stubborn force was surrounded and completely annihilated by the kingdom¡¯s troops.


    The Avton battle thus ended, without any twists and turns. Most of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s losses came from friendly fire.


    Even the kingdom¡¯s soldiers didn¡¯t take this war seriously, some even found it underwhelming. Probably only the greatly fortunate George felt elated and proud.


    ¡­


    The war continued, and its progress was surprisingly swift.


    Following the decisions of the kingdom¡¯s General Staff and Marshal Dolores¡¯s orders, the kingdom¡¯s army was divided into three forces, launching fierce offensives in the west, east, and south directions.


    They were confident of crushing their opponents even when deploying separate forces, thus maximizing military efficiency.


    This was still tactical contempt, but they had the strength to back it up.


    In recent years, with the infiltration of the ¡°Nocturne¡± unit, the military situation of the Northern countries was completely exposed to the kingdom, clear as day.


    The kingdom¡¯s strategists had long drawn up various analysis reports, clearly pointing out that the millennium-old, seemingly massive Northern United Kingdom was like a frail giant baby in front of the kingdom, which had undergone the Magic Industrial Revolution. The only notable entity was the martial Boske Duchy in the south.


    Thus, the march horn was finally blown. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A mixed corps, primarily composed of two human reserve infantry divisions, Kobold cannon fodder battalions, and dozens of wyverns, advanced westward, tearing through a coalition defense line of about forty thousand soldiers on the flat Balash Plains of the Carter Duchy.


    They advanced like a dagger straight to the heart, with quick, deep penetration by infantry and air force, rapidly tearing through the old coalition, encircling and destroying them.


    A corps mainly composed of two Lizardfolk mixed infantry and cavalry divisions, Goblin cannon fodder battalions, nearly a hundred wyverns, and an Ogre cannon battalion moved eastward. Utilizing absolute firepower superiority, they tactically breached the coalition defenses along the river and mountainous terrain.


    Subsequently, following their plan, they discarded all supplies and penetrated the enemy territory lightly. Within days, they advanced to a depth of sixty kilometers into the Fano Duchy, quickly reaching the eastern border of Anzeta, and began encircling local garrisons.


    More terrifyingly, Cassius¡¯s speech recordings were dropped by wyverns across Anzeta, causing countless Northern Nobles to be anxious.


    Meanwhile, the ¡°Fire Seed¡± movement led by players erupted in various Northern countries, with great turmoil.


    These rebel forces were typically highly tenacious, led by innovative players, and possessed weapon support from the Ashen Kingdom. This forced the nobles to deploy large private military forces for suppression, dispersing substantial strength.


    The fall of the various Northern Duchies seemed only a matter of time.


    However, they still had one last hope¡ªthe Boske Duchy.


    There resided the brave ¡°Northern Lion,¡± Duke Leo, the Lionheart Knights with numerous glorious records, reinforcements from the Fianso Continent and across the Prime Material World, and even from the Outer Planes.


    They gathered the hopes and strengths of all people under the old Northern order, poised to destroy the main forces of the Ashen Kingdom and slay the Red Dragon plaguing the North.


    Of course, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s strategists were aware of this, a mutual understanding.


    Thus, over a hundred Red Scale Conquerors, one hundred fifty-three Dragonsworn Holy Warriors, a giant cannon battalion of over a thousand Ogres, the most elite tens of thousands of Great Goblins and Tiefling infantry, more than ten Chimeras, twenty heavy armored dragon beasts, over six hundred wyverns, nearly thirty thousand Dragon Vein Kobolds, and all forces of the Starfallen Legion, all assembled, forming a colossal kingdom main army, marching grandly toward the south.


    Their target was singular¡ªthe largest city within the Boske Duchy, the oldest city established by Scania during the great migration, and the nominal capital of the Northern United Kingdom for a millennium, ¡°Lion City¡± Stratholme Fortress.


    ¡­


    The Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army marched forward, the ground trembling, and birds fleeing.


    Everywhere was the sound of heavy breathing, the muffled sounds of wheels over snow, and the heavy footsteps of dragon beasts.


    Among them, Mezulash turned his head, giving the blond young man beside him a meaningful glance.


    ¡°Andrei, we are about to face your father, how do you feel?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    The blond young man responded calmly.


    Mezulash smiled and shook his head, whispering softly:


    ¡°Honestly, I still don¡¯t understand why, after living in Northwind Castle for a while, you chose to join the kingdom. You know, you are a Boske, Duke Leo¡¯s beloved son.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Andrei remained silent for a long time, then fixed his gaze firmly in the distance.


    ¡°For my oath, there are things more important in this world than power.¡±


    ¡°Besides, I didn¡¯t join the Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°After these few years, I have seen clearly that your kingdom is not a good thing. But¡­ it is at least better than the rotting Northern countries, decaying to the bone.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Mezulash laughed again, saying nothing more. This Tiefling leader seemed to have heard something quite amusing.


    This was a rotten world, and the kingdom undoubtedly won.

 Chapter 322 - 245: Before the Battle

    Chapter 322: Chapter 245: Before the Battle


    On the vast, flat snowy plains, two wide rivers converged, flowing slowly and nourishing the fertile black soil.


    It was now September. Though the weather had turned cold, the rivers had yet to freeze over, only carrying some drifting piles of ice.


    These were the Inaki River and the Olvir River. After the ancestors of the Scania People migrated to the Anzeta Great Wilderness, they built cities along these two rivers, eventually forming the Northern United Kingdom. Therefore, these rivers were also regarded as the ¡°Mother Rivers¡± of the entire Scania civilization.


    A rather strange legend was still circulating. It was said that tens of thousands of years ago, the Winter Goddess Olvir mated with a giant Stone Giant named ¡°Inaki,¡± and thus the Anzeta Great Wilderness, a ¡°Land of Eternal Winter¡± shrouded year-round by cold winds and filled with rocky mountains, was born. This was how these two rivers came to be named and their names continue to this day.


    However, this was merely the fantasy of ignorant mortals.


    To the south of the Okaglar Plains, the entire area was filled with the fortifications of the Allied Forces and bustling soldiers, some of whom were even players.


    ...


    As the soldiers busied themselves, a familiar voice once again rang out. The phantom of a man, with a noble aura and handsome face, appeared among the troops.


    ¡°In fact, you have no reason to fight for them, to give your lives for them¡­¡±


    ¡°And I, as King, in the name of King of Ashen, Cassius¡­¡±


    As that voice echoed, the soldiers involuntarily put down their work and focused on that ¡°speech.¡± This phantom and voice seemed to possess a kind of magic.


    ¡°Whoa, he¡¯s really handsome¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to defect.¡±


    ¡°So this is what Cassius looks like in human form? Love it, love it. This face is a work of art. The developers really understand us.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Duke Leo, you¡¯re a good man, but His Majesty Cassius is simply too tempting.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided! I¡¯ll surrender later!¡±


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve already become His Majesty Cassius¡¯s prisoner.¡±


    ¡°The Kingdom faction¡¯s players have it too good.¡±


    The voices of female players, and even some male players, rang out without much discretion.


    Hearing these treasonous words, the corners of Count Trischka¡¯s mouth twitched, but he had grown used to treating the words of these ¡°Starfallen¡± as mere wind.


    After a massive influx of players, the power-hungry Boske Duchy certainly noticed these ¡°unexpected factors.¡± Count Leo also began trying to absorb these undying ¡°Starfallen.¡± Now, the Allied Forces had more than five thousand of these beings.


    Despite the propaganda, nearly half of the players did not choose Northwind Castle as their birthplace.


    Trischka strode forward and pierced the Magic Crystal with a sword, causing the beguiling phantom to dissipate entirely. This was just one of many times he had done so, as those Wyverns often dropped these things.


    ¡°Do not listen to the evil dragon¡¯s seduction!¡±


    ¡°Anyone found with these crystals, death!¡±


    Trischka ruthlessly crushed the fragments beneath his foot, shouting loudly.


    ¡°No! My Lord Cassius!!¡±


    ¡°Ah, no more eye candy.¡±


    ¡°Happy times are always short-lived.¡±


    ¡°This NPC is so annoying. Can¡¯t he just go away?¡±


    ¡°Next time we see something like this, let¡¯s pick it up and hide it in the base to watch secretly, hehe.¡±


    The players¡¯ disappointed voices rose one after another, still with no regard for Trischka standing right beside them. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Immediately, veins bulged on Trischka¡¯s forehead as he exerted great effort to resist the urge to execute those few Starfallen.


    ¡°Never mind these rude individuals.¡±


    ¡°I should report to His Grace and discuss countermeasures.¡±


    With a solemn expression, he thought this.


    The Herald, who had fled the front lines in panic, arrived at full gallop with news that the eastern and western defense lines had completely collapsed. The Allied Forces, led by Roland, had been annihilated, and the situation was dire. They were the North¡¯s last hope.


    Fortunately, this time, their allies were unprecedentedly reliable.


    ¡­


    Inside the tent, the deep voice of Duke Leo echoed, particularly somber.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The Holy Fadlan Federation is experiencing a large-scale rebellion? That Count Vabric left without a word?¡±


    ¡°My lord¡­ it seems so.¡±


    ¡°Their spellcasters opened a portal and likely left Anzeta directly for the Empire of Fadlan. They won¡¯t return anytime soon.¡±


    ¡°Damn it! How could this happen!¡±


    Duke Leo slammed the table in anger but was powerless against it.


    It must be noted that the Divine Descendant Count himself was of Legendary Level strength. Added to the legion he brought from Fadlan, they were an indispensable force in the ¡°Anti-Red Dragon Alliance.¡±


    In his mind, their importance outweighed even the combined armies of the Northern Countries.


    Yet, with this rebellion, the Count left with his legion without a word, and the Allied Forces lost a crucial strength.


    Duke Leo stared intently at the parchment map on the table, clenched his fist, and said in a low voice.


    ¡°Fortunately¡­. we can still rely on the Silver Dragon Elder and Asmo from the Heavenly Mountain¡­¡±


    ¡°In the Battle of Stratholme Fortress, that Red Dragon will certainly come in person.¡±


    ¡°As long as we kill him, there will still be hope.¡±


    ¡°The millennia-old foundation of the North can be preserved.¡±


    Once the Duke had fully calmed, Count Trischka finally spoke up, ¡°Your Grace, I have intelligence to report.¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Duke Leo looked at him and asked wearily.


    ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s the situation at the front?¡±


    Trischka observed the Duke¡¯s expression, hesitated for a moment, and then replied softly. ¡°The situation at the front¡­ is very bad.¡±


    But Duke Leo, to everyone¡¯s surprise, did not become furious. He just continued to ask.


    ¡°How bad?¡±


    ¡°The Allied Forces led by Roland in the ¡®First Defense Line¡¯ were completely annihilated, and the defense lines of Carter Duchy and Fano Duchy were also entirely breached. This is all the information we know.¡±


    Duke Leo, as if expecting this outcome, merely nodded slightly. He felt no grief for the death of his second son.


    To him, offspring were just consumables.


    This was Leo Boske, the male leader who had once led the revival of the Boske Duchy, who was also a hero against the monster invasion, and a purely political creature. These traits were not contradictory.


    ¡°What a bunch of useless fools.¡±


    ¡°But at least they served one purpose by holding back some of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s forces. All their sacrifices were worth it.¡±


    Leo Boske looked down at the map on the table. He drew his sword from his waist and pointed at the Okaglar Plains in the center.


    ¡°The fate of the Northern United Kingdom, and even the entire Anzeta, hinges on the upcoming war.¡±


    ¡°You will achieve victory¡­¡±


    ¡°As always.¡±


    Trischka, standing beside him, echoed softly.


    But Duke Leo shook his head and said: ¡°The outcome of this war won¡¯t be determined by us but by those powerful beings.¡±


    He lifted the tent flap, looking out at the sky. Within the thick clouds, a power seemed to be gathering¡­

 Chapter 323 - 246: Cassiuss Preparations

    Chapter 323: Chapter 246: Cassius¡¯s Preparations


    ¡°Osedro.¡±


    Within the Steel Dragonwing Palace, Cassius uttered this name, while beside him stood Olivia, whose face was flushed with anger and embarrassment.


    Cassius lowered his head again, gazing into the blue-gray eyes of the Silver Dragon, and carelessly asked, S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Do you have any other information?¡±


    ¡°Such as¡­ your grandfather¡¯s high-tier spell list.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ...


    Olivia said viciously, almost grinding out the word through clenched teeth.


    This young Silver Dragon felt she was being played around again, falling for the cunning schemes of this Red Dragon, even the seemingly sincere invitation was part of the plot, merely to extract information from her.


    If she knew a bit more about the players¡¯ jargon, she might even call this ¡°pua.¡±


    ¡°Before I was born, he was already a renowned Ancient Silver Dragon, and for hundreds of years, no enemy has forced my grandfather to fight with all his might. I¡¯ve never seen him go all out either.¡±


    ¡°Even for you, it would be difficult to defeat him.¡±


    ¡°And even if I did know, I wouldn¡¯t tell you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the most important secret of a mage.¡±


    Olivia turned her head, avoiding direct eye contact, deliberately not looking at Cassius¡¯s deep, mesmerizing light-golden pupils.


    She felt an unprecedented strangeness, harboring both guilt toward her grandfather and confusion about her current identity.


    A lawful good Silver Dragon had become a member under the rule of her arch-nemesis, the Red Dragon, even helping him against her own family members.


    What exactly was she now?


    An accomplice of evil dragons, or a misguided person?


    Originally, Olivia had harbored the idea of ¡°saving¡± the Red Dragon, wishing to convert him to the ¡°Lord of the Northwind.¡± But now, she had instead been changed by him, gradually becoming someone she herself couldn¡¯t recognize.


    Without paying attention to the Silver Dragon¡¯s complex mental activity, Cassius¡¯s expression remained calm as he said blandly,


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then forget it.¡±


    ¡°Please leave, my future councilor.¡±


    Olivia hesitated for a long time, until her claws were almost entwined together, before stammering out,


    ¡°Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    The Silver Dragon raised her head slightly, gazing at him with a complex expression, and said in a low voice, ¡°Can I go with you this time?¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like something you would say. When you see the gruesome battlefield, don¡¯t cry out loud or attempt to rescue our enemies.¡±


    ¡°Let me go with you.¡±


    Olivia¡¯s eyes gradually grew resolute, and she repeated again.


    Cassius was quite surprised; in his impression, this ¡°particularly gullible¡± Silver Dragon seldom put forward her own demands so assertively.


    So he asked,


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°My grandfather, in his youth, was a dragon who eradicated evil relentlessly. Compared to a Silver Dragon, he was more like a stubborn Gold Dragon.¡±


    ¡°If you were really defeated by him, my presence might make him go easy on you. After all, you¡¯re not one of those utterly vicious evil dragons, though I don¡¯t fully agree with your governance.¡±


    Hearing her words, Cassius shook his head and chuckled.


    She truly did consider the well-being of her enemy. As expected of the Silver Dragon known as the ¡°Dragon Holy Mother.¡±


    Thinking of this, he asked playfully,


    ¡°Then, may I ask who you hope will win?¡±


    ¡°.¡±


    Olivia bit her lip, saying nothing.


    Her feelings toward this Red Dragon had grown increasingly complex, with resentment and embarrassment mingled with an inexplicable sense of dependence.


    And their relationship was just as complicated.


    Mutual arch-enemies?


    Ruling figure and subordinate?


    Swindler and the deceived?


    Or perhaps¡­


    She didn¡¯t know how to answer this sharp question.


    ¡°Heh, the goodwill of a Silver Dragon.¡±


    Cassius said no more, merely smiling nonchalantly.


    ¡­


    Inside the palace.


    ¡°Wings of Silver, Osedro.¡±


    Cassius repeated the name once more, flapping his wings and habitually exhaling a breath of sulfurous air.


    After obtaining more information about this Silver Dragon from Christina and Olivia, Cassius¡¯s expression grew somber.


    He knew that this was an ¡°elder¡± of a continent-spanning Silver Dragon Clan, a highly esteemed figure among hundreds of Silver Dragons.


    According to the information he had, Osedro was born a thousand years ago on Heavenly Mountain, growing to the stage of a young dragon under Bahamut¡¯s radiance and then started to travel across different planes. In his youth, he upheld justice far and wide, eradicating one evil force after another, including the Dragon Shaman Cult and the Red Robe Mage Association, earning the title ¡°Wings of Silver.¡±


    During this time, young Osedro grew increasingly fascinated by the ever-changing spells, befriending mages from various planes and rigorously researching the Magic Web. He established his Mage Tower in the Prime Material Plane and contracted a dragon mental illness known as Spellthirst Syndrome, although he didn¡¯t care much about it.


    In his old age, this Dragon Mage became more composed and wise. He became an elder of the Melwood Clan, coordinating any activities done collectively by the Silver Dragon Clan while also safeguarding the balance of the planes. He had often intervened in crises that affected the entire world, such as the demon tide.


    Now, having experienced many years of slumber, he had reached the age of a thousand, becoming an Ancient Silver Dragon. ¡°Wings of Silver¡± was but the humblest of his honors; merely the name Osedro was enough to send chills down the spines of any evil creatures on the Fianso Continent.


    The age of an Ancient Dragon.


    Legendary-level spellcasting ability.


    Rich cross-plane travel experience, and the prestigious reputation he had built during this time.


    And the powerful background of potentially being Bahamut¡¯s chosen, having grown up on Heavenly Mountain.


    Combining these factors, this Silver Dragon Mage could rightfully be called a Dragon Born Winner, standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid among giant dragons, far stronger and more well-founded than that Shadow Dragon Cassius previously encountered who barely survived on scraps from the Nether Shadow Realm.


    Thinking of this, Cassius¡¯s expression grew increasingly solemn, the scales above his eyes almost knotted with tension.


    ¡°A truly troublesome fellow.¡±


    Cassius had to admit that even for someone as overpowered as him, without using Karex¡¯s power, he had no absolute certainty of defeating this Dragon Born Winner.


    But the battle had yet to begin, and the outcome remained uncertain.


    Cassius turned towards his treasure vault, embedding one priceless magical item after another onto himself, including the mismatched Eternal Frost Rune Horn.


    The Red Dragon then dove into the kingdom¡¯s treasury, devouring massive amounts of magic ore imbued with immense elemental power, as well as consuming tons of mithril and adamantine. He swallowed several tons until the energy overflowed from his body, and a gold and silver coating appeared on his scales before he reluctantly stopped.


    The dragon body, transformed through ancestral bloodline modifications, was capable of bearing any form of magical power.


    Flames ignited in Cassius¡¯s pale-golden eyes; he adorned himself with years¡¯ worth of the kingdom¡¯s wealth, shrouding himself in an air of opulence.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see just how capable this Wings of Silver really is.¡±

 Chapter 324 - 247 The Beginning of the Battle

    Chapter 324: Chapter 247 The Beginning of the Battle


    ¡°Your Highness Cassius, let us go with you.¡±


    ¡°That old Silver Dragon is cunning and deceitful, capable of ambushing you with his apprentices and minions!¡±


    The Blue Dragon clung to Cassius¡¯s forepaw, pleading stubbornly.


    In the meantime, Christina didn¡¯t forget to turn her head and provocatively glance at the White Dragon scurrying behind Cassius.


    ¡°Rua!¡±


    ¡°Bitch Dragon, are you trying to provoke me? Do you think you¡¯re worthy to touch the master?¡±


    ...


    Tiniya arched her body like a frenzied cat, spreading her wings and growling angrily at the Blue Dragon.


    But this reaction was exactly what the Blue Dragon was hoping for.


    Christina sneered and said mercilessly,


    ¡°See, Your Highness should have reliable allies like us, not a stupid beast like the White Dragon who can¡¯t even control her basic emotions.¡±


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±


    The White Dragon let out a low growl from her throat, her expression becoming more ferocious.


    She yearned to tear the foul-mouthed Blue Dragon apart, but she couldn¡¯t find the words to retort.


    If she really charged forward¡ª


    That would only prove the Blue Dragon right.


    If that caused the master to reject or detest her, leading to her falling out of favor later on, it would be a huge loss.


    ¡°One day, I¡¯ll tear her mouth apart.¡±


    At this thought, Tiniya swallowed hard, silently holding her anger in her heart.


    With impatience, Cassius shook off the Blue Dragon, mercilessly throwing her to the ground:


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ve agreed. You can come along, for Her Majesty the Dragon Queen¡¯s sake.¡±


    ¡°But without my orders, you are not to act on your own.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Highness Cassius!¡±


    ¡°It is our honor to serve you.¡±


    Christina quickly got up from the ground, saying ecstatically.


    These days, she had used every trick, ignoring the Blue Dragon¡¯s dignity, and finally made the cold-shouldered Red Dragon relent a bit.


    But since she had found an opening¡­


    Could she push her advantage further?


    With this in mind, Christina¡¯s thoughts wandered, her eyes sparkling.


    With a seductive voice, she said,


    ¡°Since you have agreed to this, then Her Majesty¡¯s decree¡­¡±


    ¡°Get lost.¡±


    All she heard was Cassius¡¯s cold voice.


    Without hesitation, he spread his wings and flew away, leaving the Blue Dragon disconcerted in the wind.


    ¡°What a tactless fellow.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ I seem to smell rain, kind of like the stench on those Silver Dragons.¡±


    ¡°How strange, is it just my imagination?¡±


    Christina looked up at the scarlet figure flying swiftly like a comet across the sky. After a moment of gritting her teeth, she spread her wings and followed from a distance.


    Twelve more Blue Dragons appeared successively behind Christina, forming an imposing squad.


    ¡­


    The cold wind howled, and snowflakes drifted down.


    The Inaki and Olvir Rivers still flowed peacefully, snowflakes merging into their icy waters.


    The northern wind brought more snow to the Okaglar Plains, while soldiers on the river banks were still busy, digging trenches and building bunkers, nervously preparing for the upcoming battle.


    But the players paid little attention, some even hummed merrily, as if the fate of the Northland had nothing to do with them.


    Many players couldn¡¯t help but look up, quietly admiring the snowy landscape.


    ¡°What a beautiful snow scene¡­¡±


    ¡°Seeing this scenery, it¡¯s worth it even if the game¡¯s progression is slow.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Weird, I think I hear music.¡±


    ¡°And I feel like it¡¯s kind of familiar, like ¡®Empire of Angels¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Does this game have that BGM?¡±


    ¡°Also, do you feel the ground trembling?¡±


    ¡°Is it an earthquake?¡±


    ¡°No, look over there¡ª¡±


    With the players and soldiers¡¯ exclamations, a massive army appeared in the distance.


    Both the sky and the ground were occupied by the Ashes¡¯ army, the once snowy plain now swarmed with a patchwork flood.


    A swarm of Bipedal Wyverns approached like dense black clouds, their chaotic wings overshadowing half the sky.


    On the ground, gigantic armored Ground Dragon Beasts advanced slowly, each step causing the earth to tremble, akin to forming small mountain ranges on the plain.


    Great Goblins and Tieflings, armed with brand-new rifles, marched in unison. Behind them, the Ogres dragged heavy cannons, exhaling heavily but with eyes full of excitement.


    The Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights, carrying giant shields, gathered, surrounded by a scarlet aura that seemed ready to ignite the very air.


    Rhythmic drumming continued, and grand music played by the Half-Goat People military band resonated on the vast plains like the melody of destiny, intensifying the atmosphere before the impending battle.


    Separated by the two great rivers, the soldiers and Northern Nobles gazed at the formidable army in shock, some even fainting on the spot.


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    ¡°How could there be such an army?¡±


    ¡°This¡­ this isn¡¯t what the intel indicated.¡±


    ¡°How are we supposed to defeat such a force?¡±


    But the army gathered on the Okaglar Plains, comprising the absolute elite of the Northland, maintained their basic morale even under such overwhelming pressure, avoiding mass desertion.


    Among the fifty thousand soldiers here, most were private troops of various Northern Nobles, with some being Escort Knights who had served their lords for generations, sharing their fates and deeply entwined with the nobility¡¯s interests.


    Even in surrender, their fate wouldn¡¯t improve. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hence, the soldiers here were remarkably steadfast.


    Despite multiple rounds of ¡°Cassius speeches,¡± only a little over a hundred had defected or deserted. This was commendable, considering Roland¡¯s forces had seen two-thirds flee.


    Duke Leo looked at the distant enemy forces, raised his Great Sword, and roared with a lion¡¯s might,


    ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of savage, crude Monsters!¡±


    ¡°Soldiers, remember! We Scania people are invincible!¡±


    ¡°Moreover, we have even more powerful allies who will crush them!¡±


    With his words, the Divine Descendant Asmo from Heavenly Mountain brandished his Radiance Silver Sword.


    Cloud Giants, Pegasi, Feathered Serpents, Heavenly Giant Eagles, Roc Feather Angels, and Justice Envoys took to the sky over the southern shore, confronting the Bipedal Wyverns and Chimeras across the river.


    Stalwart Shield Envoys, Armored Guards, Sacred Lions, Elven Druids, and others filled the southern shoreline, lending an air of majesty to the ground troops.


    These reinforcements from Heavenly Mountain and the Druid Groves, though numbering only in the hundreds, were powerful and mysterious. Their individual strength surpassed even the Dragonblood Nobility of the Ashen Kingdom.


    The presence of these extraordinary reinforcements greatly boosted the morale of the Allied Forces¡¯ humans.


    ¡°For the Boske Duchy!¡± echoed across the southern shore.

 Chapter 325 - 248 Okaglar Battle (I)

    Chapter 325: Chapter 248 Okaglar Battle (I)


    However, the kingdom¡¯s army also refused to show weakness.


    The bipedal wyverns in the air let out loud screeches, and the great goblins and ogres roared in frenzy. For a moment, the entire snowy plains seemed to boil over.


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°For the King of Ashen!¡±


    ¡°I will tear you all to pieces!¡±


    ¡°Conquer the North! For the grand blueprint of the Red Dragon!¡±


    ...


    Such war cries echoed continuously across the desolate land.


    The alliance exerted its full strength, gathering ninety thousand elite human troops from the Northern United Kingdom, over five thousand Starfallen, and more than a thousand superhuman beings from all over Airez.


    The alliance announced they had summoned a force of five hundred thousand troops, determined to annihilate the evil power of the Ashen Kingdom.


    They occupied the southern bank of the river, constructing various defensive works and trench systems, with their defensive lines stretching for over a dozen miles.


    The kingdom, respecting their efforts, finally took the situation seriously and gathered its main military forces here. Various Dragon Vein Soldiers, the kingdom¡¯s superhumans, and elite Starfallen totaling nearly sixty thousand occupied the northern bank, resembling a fragmented flood.


    Though they might have been at a numerical disadvantage, their morale was undeniably higher, for their steel cannons and spears were no mere decorations.


    The two large armies faced each other across the river, with a total of over a hundred thousand troops occupying the snowy plains, like two mighty torrents about to clash and stir up unimaginable waves.


    Even the Olvir and Inaki Rivers, known as ¡°The Origin River¡± and ¡°River of the Giants,¡± with widths of several tens of meters, seemed like narrow channels between two gigantic beings amidst this impending battle.


    In the thousand-year history of the North, there had never been a war of such scale.


    According to scholar estimates, the entire Northern United Kingdom had a population of only 4 to 6 million, including the now-defunct Rackman Duchy.


    Excluding the original Rackman Duchy and considering the recent significant population outflow to Northwind Castle, this number would be even lower.


    Feudal states in the North were no match for the kingdom. Mobilizing these ninety thousand men already exhausted all their war potential.


    To maintain their rule, the northern nobility had wagered everything on this war. In the process of mobilizing troops and gathering food, tens of thousands of humans starved or were killed.


    The social contradictions in the North had reached unprecedented heights, with the nobility¡¯s exploitation of the serfs peaking as well. It was no wonder the ¡°Spark¡± movement had spread so rapidly.


    In contrast, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s basic production was hardly affected, with orderliness and rhythm still prevailing throughout the land. People only felt that the war brought many orders, allowing them to earn more gold coins, although they had to work harder.


    Even the historically famous ¡°Seven Nations War,¡± which nominally achieved the unification of the North, involved claimed participation of a million but in reality only about a hundred thousand, with each family contributing no more than ten thousand troops.


    This was a war Anzeta had never experienced before, deciding the ultimate fate of this land.


    The music on the northern bank continued majestically. The Half-Goat People played with all their might, and the melody infused with magical power exhilarated the monsters, who let out impassioned war cries.


    On the southern bank, angels from Heavenly Mountain strummed their harps and sang songs of glory and holiness, soothing the allied army¡¯s tense hearts.


    With the blaring of a high-pitched horn, the alliance crossbowmen drew their bows and shot dense volleys of arrows across the river.


    But the ogre shield bearers and armored ground dragon beasts stood at the front, blocking most of the arrows. Their giant shields and armor were soon covered with a dense forest of arrows.


    ¡°Hey ha, hey ha!¡±


    With the continuous rain of arrows, the ogres hoisted the massive bridge from the back of the land dragon beasts onto their shoulders, laboriously raising it upright. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They pushed the logs forward, forming a bridge across the river, connecting both banks.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A huge sound erupted, and the ground seemed to shake.


    Kingdom Bearman Druids raised their magic wands, soft green auroras glowing. Roots sprouted from the ends of the massive bridge, anchoring firmly into the ground on both sides of the river, stabilizing it.


    The trunk also widened and flattened, forming a proper bridge.


    Throughout this process, the allied army continued shooting arrows but did not advance to stop them.


    They were still unclear about the kingdom¡¯s tactics and had no means to prevent such a maneuver. They believed their best attack opportunity would arise when the kingdom¡¯s army crossed the river and charged.


    Duke Leo looked gravely at the army across the river, not showing much excitement, and calmly ordered:


    ¡°Send the Immortals up front, test their strength.¡±


    After large-scale rebellion from the serfs, players absorbed by the Boske Duchy became the new cannon fodder. Duke Leo ¡°enlightenedly¡± accepted these unknown entities.


    ¡°Their army has become stronger.¡±


    ¡°One must never estimate the Ashen Kingdom by conventional logic.¡±


    Trischka beside him worriedly said: ¡°Yes, Your Grace. That¡¯s what makes the Ashen Kingdom so terrifying.¡±


    ¡°For centuries, we in the North have remained largely unchanged, maintaining stability, but the kingdom is different. This monster continuously absorbs vitality from its surroundings, growing into such a colossal entity in just a few years. As the southern scholars would say¡­ they are constantly evolving.¡±


    Duke Leo said solemnly: ¡°They won¡¯t have a chance to continue because we will win this war.¡±


    ¡°Pass down the order, send the Immortals to the frontline and draw the enemy¡¯s fire.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    The herald quickly mounted his horse, raising the battle flag to transmit the order throughout the army.


    After all, leading an army of a hundred thousand was something even the battle-hardened Duke Leo had never commanded.


    ¡­


    ¡°This is the war of the Sword and Magic World that I desire.¡±


    ¡°This is the romance of the battlefield.¡±


    Looking at the distant monster legion, the player nicknamed ¡°Teutonic Knight,¡± dressed in plate armor, polished his Silver Sword until it gleamed.


    Facing the terrifying army of the Ashen Kingdom, there wasn¡¯t a trace of fear on his face, only eager excitement.


    Teutonic Knight was an experiential player. He entered ¡°Erezer¡± to experience the wars of a fantasy world, so he chose Stratholme Fortress instead of the heavily recommended Northwind Castle by many strategy guides, as it better matched his medieval fantasies.


    Now, he was the player leader of the alliance camp and had even been knighted by Duke Leo himself, earning the noble title of Honor Knight.


    ¡°Great, His Grace has assigned us to the frontline.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s fight those kingdom scum!¡±


    ¡°Chop off the head of that Red Dragon, charge with me!¡±


    The Teutonic Knight mounted his steed, raised his Silver Sword high, and excitedly pointed it toward the enemy army across the river.


    This was the kind of war he wanted¡ªfighting against players from the opposing faction. It was so exhilarating!


    Under the leadership of the Teutonic Knight, five thousand alliance players charged into the battlefield, becoming tools for both sides to probe each other¡¯s strength.

 Chapter 326 - 249 Okaglar Battle (II)

    Chapter 326: Chapter 249 Okaglar Battle (II)


    However, at the rear of the Kingdom Army formation, Marshal Dolores looked at the players charging recklessly into the fray and sneered, giving a faint command:


    ¡°Bombard them.¡±


    ¡°Fools who don¡¯t know their place.¡±


    The Kingdom Army had now fully absorbed Napoleon¡¯s strategies. The primary tactic could be summed up simply: ¡°First bombard with cannons, then charge with cavalry, and finally let the infantry mop up.¡±


    Artillery Corps Commander Bighead, after receiving the order, shouted loudly: ¡°Aim at the enemies on the other side, blow them to bits!¡±


    Immediately, the ogres who had undergone mathematical education began calculating parabolas, using their towering and robust bodies as cannon platforms, constantly adjusting the angles, while some seasoned artillerymen relied directly on their intuition.


    ...


    Two or three ogres operated a giant cannon together. Well-trained, they remained composed and orderly.


    Around the dark muzzle of the cannon were carvings resembling the gaping maw of a dragon, adding to its imposing and majestic presence.


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    ¡°Fire at will!¡±


    As Bighead raised the battle flag and roared.


    The giant cannons thundered like roaring storms, shaking the entire Okaglar snowfield.


    The fruits of years of research by the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s Ordnance Department¡ªthe Dragon¡¯s Roar Cannons, a fusion of magic craftsmanship and industrial mechanics, were finally showing their might on the Anzeta Great Wilderness for the first time.


    Shells, shimmering with metallic luster and weighing hundreds of pounds each, traced beautiful arcs in the sky.


    The shrill whistling sound pierced the sky.


    The Teutonic Knight, excitedly charging onto the bridge, raised his head, staring in astonishment at the shells descending from above, each larger than a person.


    He remained silent for a moment before muttering:


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    ¡°You call this medieval warfare?¡±


    Yet before he finished speaking, a black shell landed beside him, erupting with a terrifying explosion that blasted the Teutonic Knight several meters away.


    Blood and shrapnel splattered. His shredded flesh almost reached the other side, fulfilling his wish, albeit scarcely.


    The poor Teutonic Knight perished, never having experienced medieval warfare, killed by an aerial bombardment.


    ¡°Trisolarans brutally beating primitives, right?¡±


    ¡°What the hell is this?¡±


    ¡°Since when do they have cannons?¡±


    ¡°I report the Ashen Kingdom for cheating!¡±


    ¡°They are using hacks! How are we supposed to play this? I¡¯m defecting!¡±


    The players in the Allied Forces camp were scattered by the bombardment, wailing miserably. Almost every shell caused dozens of casualties.


    And under the relentless bombardment of the Kingdom¡¯s artillery, the players¡¯ charge seemed laughable.


    ¡°Gods above!¡±


    ¡°What is that weapon?¡±


    ¡°How did they come by such weapons? Is this divine punishment?¡±


    In the Allied Forces¡¯ formation, the soldiers discussed in fear.


    One giant crater after another appeared on the ground, the artillery fire leaving the formerly flat snowfield in ruins. The transformation of the environment had never been so fierce, and to the ordinary soldiers, even some minor nobles who had never seen such sights, it appeared to be divine retribution.


    Duke Leo stood solemnly, hand on his sword.


    ¡°I recognize that weapon, the cannon.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, but their power has become more frightening.¡± Trischka responded worriedly.


    ¡°But we do have ways to counter it.¡±


    The bombardment continued, with shells raining down, even reaching deep into the formation, causing considerable Allied Forces casualties. If the ogre artillerymen succeeded in calibration, these hundreds of pounds of shells would undoubtedly cause enormous losses to the densely packed Allied Forces.


    And under the cover of artillery fire, the Drake Riders and Red Scale Conquerors of the Ashen Kingdom launched their charge, crossing the river and preparing to hit the Allied Forces¡¯ lines.


    Bridges spanned the river.


    Under the command of the esteemed Asmo, numerous Heavenly Creatures ascended into the sky. The Justice Angels raised their Silver Swords, casting Translucent Barriers that miraculously blocked the terrifying shells, with golden ripples appearing in the sky.


    They even counterattacked, as the Roc Feather Angels flapped their wings, sending sacred feathers flying towards the enemies, piercing the hearts of the vile monsters.


    ¡°Do not fear!¡±


    ¡°Remember, we are on the side of justice!¡±


    ¡°Those monsters are just bluffing, mere facades!¡±


    Trischka rode through the formation, shouting loudly.


    The miraculous acts of the Heavenly Legion rekindled hope within the Allied Forces, boosting the soldiers¡¯ morale.


    Bipedal Wyverns and Chimeras roared, spewing torrents of fire towards the Allied Forces on the opposite shore. They engaged various Heavenly Creatures in aerial combat, a chaotic battlefield where the red and white torrents intermingled.


    In terms of numbers, the swarming Bipedal Wyverns and Chimeras, with their wings covering half the sky, undoubtedly had the advantage. However, these creatures from Heavenly Mountain, born under the Gods¡¯ radiance, possessed terrifying individual strength. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mantou and the Wyvern Noodle roared in unison, attempting to launch a Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge, aiming for airstrikes on the Allied Forces below, a move they had employed countless times.


    ¡°Noodle!¡±


    Yet just as they began their dive, before reaching the attack altitude, arrows imbued with Tracking Magic shot up, riddling them with holes. Glowing feathers attacked from all directions.


    ¡°Damn, I¡¯m going down!¡±


    ¡°What can I say?¡±


    Mantou, bristling like a porcupine, let out a long anguished howl, then plummeted to the ground with the Wyvern, blacking out to the respawn screen.


    With Mantou¡¯s fall, a familiar accelerated version of ¡°See You Again¡± suddenly played, despite its cliched use, providing decent video material.


    ¡°Mantou, out!¡±


    The accompanying Red Scale Conqueror shouted excitedly.


    The Ancestral Bipedal Wyvern spewed scorching flames, reducing a Roc Feather Angel to cinders.


    Yet the next moment, a Cloud Giant¡¯s fist smashed down from behind, and the Justice Envoy¡¯s Silver Sword pierced its hot, still-beating heart.


    ¡°Aargh¡ª¡±


    The harrowing wail echoed through the clouds, but this was only a corner of the aerial battlefield.


    Amidst the brilliant Magical Aura, blood, remains, shattered bodies, and charred feathers constantly fell from the sky, occasionally landing on unfortunate mortals below. The brutal aerial combat left ordinary soldiers on the ground trembling with fear.


    However, their warfare had only just begun.


    Ogre Shield Bearers and Underground Dragon Cavalry had already pushed across the river, their massive shields and armor withstanding the torrential rain of arrows, making the Kingdom¡¯s formation seem like an unyielding moving wall of steel.


    The Allied soldiers facing these monsters were like mere mortals in front of a mountain, easily crushed into pulp.


    ¡°Evil scum!¡±


    ¡°I am your unbreakable Shield! The wall of justice and order!¡±


    Fortunately, the towering, armored Stalwart Shield Envoy stepped forward to the frontline, his giant shield radiating holy light. He struggled to hold back the Kingdom¡¯s advancing forces.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The harsh sound of metal clashing, followed by a heavy thud.


    The Armored Guards wielded great swords over four meters long, managing to cleave through the ogres¡¯ giant shields, slicing through their dragon-scaled thick skin, downing the Ogre Shield Bearers with a single swing.


    ¡°Aargh¡ª¡±


    The massive ogre roared and fell with a crash.


    In warfare of this magnitude, mortal life was as insignificant as grass, with death occurring constantly, bodies piling in the trenches, and blood staining the white snowfield red.

 Chapter 327 - 250 Battle of Okaglar (III)

    Chapter 327: Chapter 250 Battle of Okaglar (III)


    Here in Erezer, there were all sorts of miraculous spells. These spells ranged from the smallest, such as cleaning and emitting weak light, to the largest, like flying and changing the world¡¯s environment permanently.


    In a certain sense, the level of magic in a country reflected its standard of living. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Anzeta Great Wilderness was remote, far from the center of magical academia. The Northern United Kingdom had always been outside the ¡°civilized world¡± for thousands of years, still in the early stages of a feudal society, just barely emerging from ignorance and barbarism. Without the intervention of the Ashen Kingdom and external forces, the Northern Nobility¡¯s rule might have continued for another thousand years.


    Despite their tenacity and bravery, these Scania People were like primitives in the face of the kingdom¡¯s military. Standing on the snowfields, they were adept at dealing with giant monsters like wyverns and frost giants, but could not match the systematically organized armies composed of these monsters, equipped with advanced tactics.


    On the ground, the kingdom¡¯s cavalry and infantry surged like waves, pounding the allied forces¡¯ defensive line in precise, tactical movements.


    In the sky, chimeras and bipedal wyverns had gained the upper hand through sheer numbers. Under the continuous influence of dragon blood, they charged fearlessly, roaring and surging forward, causing heavenly creatures to fall back, thereby securing aerial dominance over the battlefield.


    ...


    Corpses of wyverns and bodies of heavenly creatures fell continuously, and the sky at that moment resembled a bloody grinding wheel, discarding the lives lost in this brutal slaughter.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Shadows streaked across the sky, and metallic bombs and flames rained down, tearing through the ground forces¡¯ front lines.


    The kingdom¡¯s musket infantry and drake riders would then quickly concentrate their fire on the weak points created by the airstrikes, easily gaining advantages and occupying one key position after another.


    Under this kind of coordinated land-air tactic, even with the aid of heavenly creatures and the leadership of noble military commanders, the allied forces were clearly losing ground. Their defenses were collapsing inexorably, visible to any discerning eye¡ª for the kingdom had already secured nearly a hundred meters of frontline on the southern bank of the large river.


    As one of the senior commanders of the allied forces, Count Trischka naturally saw the allied forces¡¯ decline.


    He stood on high ground, his expression grim as he gazed into the distance, where more and more dragon beasts, great goblins, and ogres appeared on the southern riverbank.


    Their command had already become chaotic. Messengers and noble knights were flustered, unable to relay orders accurately.


    After all, they had never experienced a war on such a scale before. A hundred-thousand-strong army, a battle line stretching over ten miles, merely keeping the defensive line intact had taxed them to their limits.


    What¡¯s more, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s forces continued to break through weak points, ¡°wrapping dumplings¡± around many of the allied forces, isolating them and cutting off communication with the outside world.


    Additionally, the kingdom¡¯s elite squads conducted deep strikes, wandering and harassing within the lines, severely disrupting the allied forces¡¯ order.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°We cannot go on like this.¡±


    ¡°I must stand up.¡±


    Trischka recalled that moment years ago when, under countless gazes, Duke Leo placed his sword on Trischka¡¯s shoulder and bestowed upon him the title of count.


    That had been his life¡¯s glory and an act of kindness he could never forget.


    He had originally been the disregarded second son of a minor noble family but had unexpectedly gained the duke¡¯s favor, sent south to study and seen miracles that many Northerners could not witness in a lifetime. Yet, even so, what he could not forget was that fateful encounter that changed his destiny.


    Now he knew that even if the future held a grim death, he must stand up to repay the duke¡¯s kindness.


    Having traveled widely, Trischka knew that the northern system had many flaws. He had thought about learning from the South to improve the Northerners¡¯ lives.


    But in his mind, such changes should come gradually, led by northern nobles from the top down and never through conquest and invasion, nor at the cost of eliminating the nobility.


    With this in mind, Trischka donned his helmet, mounted his horse, unfurled the Boske Family¡¯s flag, and raised the Silver Sword inscribed with a lion¡¯s head high.


    ¡°For the Boske Duchy!¡±


    ¡°For the glory of the Scania People!¡±


    Hundreds of trusted aides followed the count, charging straight toward the kingdom¡¯s main assault direction, where others dared not tread.


    On that wilderness, bodies nearly covered the ground, and blood flowed like rivers, yet the count and his fearless aides charged unflinchingly ahead.


    ¡­


    The brutal slaughter continued on the front lines of the battlefield.


    Gunfire whistled, cannons boomed, and land dragon beasts roared with deep fury.


    ¡°Rah!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a roar and a dull thud, the Natural War Maniac leapt down, splitting the heavily armored skull of the Stalwart Shield Envoy with a single strike of his great axe.


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    ¡°Fighting, what a thrill!¡±


    The Natural War Maniac laughed wildly, his body drenched in enemy blood, white steam rising from his pores.


    Enhanced by the Enlarge Spell, he stood nearly five meters tall, like a small giant among the crowd.


    Wielding a three-meter-long, bloodstained great axe, coupled with his dragon-vein-enhanced muscles, he seemed less like a player and more like a boss that required collective effort to handle.


    Indeed, to the allied soldiers, the Natural War Maniac played precisely that role.


    A Level Seven Barbarian occupation, a body with high dragon vein concentration, combined with years of combat experience in immersive games allowed him to wreak havoc with his great axe within the allied forces¡¯ defenses, unafraid even when faced with over a dozen attackers.


    Suddenly, the urgent sound of hoofbeats approached.


    The Natural War Maniac casually tossed aside the broken body in his hand and slowly lifted his head.


    He saw heavily armored cavalry charging toward him, led by a figure of exceptional bearing.


    The Natural War Maniac wiped the blood off his face carelessly, revealing an excited smile.


    ¡ªA minor boss, with a high challenge level, worth thousands in faction contribution, might just get him the brand-new ¡°Title of Nobility.¡±


    This was his thought.


    Under the heavy helmet that revealed only his eyes, Trischka¡¯s expression was solemn. Sweat seeped through his hand gripping the long sword, but he urged his horse forward without hesitation.


    ¡ªAn evil, terrifying monster commander, worthy of his personal engagement and a duel of honor.


    Slaying him might delay the kingdom¡¯s advance slightly.


    This was Trischka¡¯s thought.

 Chapter 328 - 251 Okaglar Battle (IV)

    Chapter 328: Chapter 251 Okaglar Battle (IV)


    In the face of such a formidable small boss, even a Natural War Maniac dared not be complacent.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    The Natural War Maniac threw his head back and howled, letting out an enraged roar.


    Veins bulged all over his body, muscles rising like iron blocks beneath his skin. Dense steam white mist sprayed from his pores, and even his eyes turned blood-red. Extreme anger filled every inch of his being.


    [Path of the Berserker: Fury]


    ¡°Even such a monster¡ª¡±


    ...


    ¡°Can¡¯t withstand the charge of speeding cavalry.¡±


    Trischka fixed his gaze on the raging ¡°monster¡± in the distance, gripping his longsword even tighter.


    He bent slightly on horseback, accelerating the charge, extending his longsword forward in a thrusting posture. As his speed increased, invisible spell waves rose, making the sword hilt extend several meters like a lance.


    This was the weapon crafted specifically for him by a master of Magic Craftsmanship from the South, ¡ª[Knight¡¯s Sword of Glory], a masterpiece of cavalry art.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, pierce him¡­¡±


    ¡°Evil monster, in the name of Duke Leo, I grant you death!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    With a fierce shout, Trischka charged on his galloping warhorse, his sword aimed directly at the Natural War Maniac¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Swoosh!¡±


    But his sword struck air.


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    Trischka¡¯s expression changed dramatically. He quickly looked up.


    He saw the monster high in the air under the sunlight, wielding a great axe as it leaped down in a chop.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ªBoom!¡±


    First came the howling wind, then the sound of the axe blade cleaving through flesh, and finally hitting the ground.


    The warhorse remained standing, split in half, with blood splattering everywhere.


    But Trischka, relying on extreme reflexes, jumped off the horse just before the axe landed, rolling several times on the ground.


    Breathing heavily, Trischka knelt on one knee, supporting himself with his longsword, his expression heavy as he watched the ¡°monster¡± not far away and his poor, bisected warhorse.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    ¡°How can it be, a monster of this size, how can it be so agile?¡±


    The Natural War Maniac pulled the deeply embedded axe from the ground, turned around with a sinister smile: ¡°Missed?¡±


    ¡°War Maniac Bro, fighting the boss alone again?¡±


    ¡°A bald man indeed.¡±


    A nearby spectator, hammering the head of a sneaky enemy soldier behind him, couldn¡¯t resist making a joke.


    ¡°Get lost, don¡¯t bother me while I¡¯m fighting, or I¡¯ll take you down too. This small boss is valuable, can¡¯t let him escape.¡±


    The Natural War Maniac dismissively waved his hand, spat out a breath of hot air, and raised his axe to attack again.


    Trischka couldn¡¯t understand their conversation, nor those strange words, but he picked up the condescension in their tone and their unintended contempt, which didn¡¯t seem to be aimed at their enemy.


    In his terms, it was like ¡­ a bunch of nobles¡¯ children playing and hunting rabbits.


    They discussed whose archery was better, who hit more accurately, and which rabbit¡¯s fur was brighter, more suitable for making a hat.


    And he was the rabbit.


    At that moment, the youngest Earl of the North felt unprecedented humiliation. Anger blazed in his chest; he had never been treated this way, not even by powerful beings.


    ¡°Damn monster¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you understand¡ªwhat happens when you underestimate me!¡±


    He raised his longsword again, moving with nimble and agile steps towards that monster.


    Once again, the heavy great axe swung down. A mere graze could mean being cut in half, but Trischka, using his superb combat skills, controlled the distance so that the axe barely missed, and used the momentum after the axe passed to thrust his sword forward.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    Scales and blood flew as the sharp sword cut open the monster¡¯s chest, leaving a deep scar.


    Seeing he was wounded, the Natural War Maniac quickly retreated, creating distance, and with his momentum, swung his great axe into a whirlwind around him.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    The sound of metal clashing was heard.


    The great axe hit Trischka¡¯s body, but was blocked by the golden light membrane on his armor.


    Yet, the force carried by the great axe was too immense. As the golden light membrane shattered abruptly, Trischka was sent flying.


    However, the[Levitation Skill]on Trischka¡¯s boots allowed him to stabilize mid-air.


    Immediately after, he lightly tapped his toes, leaping down from mid-air, directly onto the still spinning Natural War Maniac¡¯s head.


    The edge of his longsword swiftly transformed, forming a standard cross shape.


    With a determined look, Trischka gripped the sword with both hands, aimed, and thrust downward.


    ¡°Swoosh!¡±


    The sharp cross-shaped sword pierced straight through the ¡°monster¡¯s¡± head, skewering through his skull and neck.


    With his last breath before blacking out, the Natural War Maniac muttered: ¡°Next time¡­ no more crippling blows¡­¡±


    Then, he collapsed with a crash.


    Yet again, it was language Trischka couldn¡¯t comprehend.


    Standing atop the ¡°monster¡¯s¡± massive body, Earl Trischka pulled out the blood-soaked sword, holding it high.


    The blade glinted coldly in the sunlight, and his tattered lion-headed cloak flapped behind him.


    ¡°Everyone, do you see?¡±


    ¡°The monsters of the Ashen Kingdom are flesh and blood too, they can die, they can be defeated!¡±


    ¡°Scania people, do not fear, this is our land to live on, and we can drive them out!¡±


    Suddenly, a blazing light beam shot toward him.


    Trischka, with his keen reflexes, tilted his head to dodge the attack, but the means of this attack felt familiar to him, as if he had seen it somewhere. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This kind of light beam¡­¡±


    ¡°How can it be? This, this is impossible!¡±


    At once, Trischka¡¯s expression changed dramatically, a dreadful guess forming in his heart.


    His face stiffened as he turned his head to look at the direction the beam came from.


    But reality turned out to be as fantastical as his worst fears. There, amid a cluster of monsters, stood that familiar figure with golden hair. He raised the Silver Sword, pointing at Trischka from afar, his expression equally resolute.


    ¡°Andrei?¡±


    ¡°You are the son of Duke Leo, the blood of the Boske House, Roselle¡¯s noble blood runs in your veins!¡±


    ¡°Andrei Boske! How can you appear there, how can you betray your bloodline?¡±


    Trischka¡¯s voice was full of disbelief.


    As a young man highly regarded by Duke Leo, he grew up alongside the third son of the Boske House, their relationship strong.


    They had both traveled the South, found common ground, and shared similar views on the political system of the North. But their reunion now happened on a brutal battlefield, as enemies.


    Indeed, Trischka secretly admired Andrei, often fantasized about possessing his status, and perhaps really doing reforms in the North, making it a more advanced and open country.


    But Andrei had easily given up everything Trischka yearned for¡ªpower, position, even bloodline, leaving Trischka bewildered.


    Andrei shook his head, speaking with an unparalleled calm: ¡°I am now just an ordinary citizen of the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°I do not fight for any ruler, I fight only for¡­ the people living in the North.¡±

 Chapter 329 - 252 Battle of Okaglar (V)

    Chapter 329: Chapter 252 Battle of Okaglar (V)


    Andrei suddenly leaped forward, swinging his sword down.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    Metal clashed, producing a crisp sound.


    Count Trischka held his sword horizontally to block, his arm trembling slightly. He said heavily, ¡°As the beloved son of a Duke, how can you betray him!¡±


    ¡°Even if you want to reform the North, you can¡¯t do it this way!¡±


    Andrei forcefully pushed away his opponent¡¯s sword and swiftly closed in to stab, moving with the agility of a gust of wind.


    ...


    ¡°Trischka¡­¡±


    He once again sliced through the opponent¡¯s sword with a ¡°snap¡± and raised his own sword high.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you see?¡±


    ¡°The North is rotten to the core! It¡¯s beyond saving!¡±


    Andrei shouted loudly.


    Sounds of swords clashing resounded continuously, as Andrei¡¯s sword slashed against Trischka¡¯s armor like a storm, leaving the latter covered in alarming wounds.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï


    ¡°Even so, it shouldn¡¯t be done this way!¡±


    Trischka gritted his teeth, barely fending off Andrei¡¯s fierce assault, unable to help but retort.


    Andrei remained silent, clenching his left hand.


    Soon after, the glow of Holy Oath Magic appeared on his body. With enhancements like [Bull¡¯s Strength], [Cat¡¯s Grace], and [Bear¡¯s Resilience], his power became stronger, his movements more agile, and even his physique more robust.


    Once again, he swung his longsword mercilessly downward in a diagonal slash.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    Trischka still held his sword to block, but this time the force shocked his hands numb. The power behind the swing exceeded Trischka¡¯s expectations, knocking him to the ground, and his longsword flew out of his hand.


    The [Knight¡¯s Sword of Glory] stuck in the blood-stained snow, glinting brilliantly under the sunlight.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    Trischka crawled on all fours, trying to retrieve his weapon.


    He knew that a knight without his blade would face a dire fate.


    But Andrei would never let him succeed so easily. With just a few steps, he rushed forward, blocking Trischka¡¯s path with his sword.


    Subsequently, a swifter, stormy flurry of sword strikes ensued.


    If earlier Trischka was struggling to cope, now he was struggling to survive.


    Using his instinct and reflexive combat skills, he barely avoided fatal blows time and again, a slight lapse would have spelled certain death.


    Andrei raised his Silver Sword and horizontally slashed towards Trischka¡¯s neck.


    Trischka quickly ducked, making the blade graze past his scalp.


    It was pure muscle memory because everything was happening too fast.


    However, midway through the swing, Andrei forcefully changed the sword¡¯s trajectory, turning the horizontal slash into a vertical chop.


    At the same time, the hand holding the sword glowed, and magic energy rapidly flowed into the Silver Sword¡ªactivating [Magic-infused Weapon].


    ¡°Swish!¡±


    The next instant, the glowing Silver Sword shattered Trischka¡¯s shoulder armor, deeply slicing into his shoulder.


    Trischka knelt, ignoring the blood gushing from his shoulder, struggling to lift his head and ask in a low voice, ¡°Why, Andrei¡­¡±


    ¡°Why would you rather bow to an evil dragon than trust your father¡­ than trust the Boske Duchy that gave you life and raised you?¡±


    His tone gradually shifted from somber to angry, even heart-wrenching.


    Andrei remained calm, speaking lightly:


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t figured it out, Trischka.¡±


    ¡°My father and the Northern Nobility that the Boske Duchy represents are the biggest cancer hanging over the Northern People, the leeches sucking the blood of everyone.¡±


    ¡°For thousands of years, the Nobles have greedily drawn the blood of the people without stopping for a moment. As long as they exist, so-called reforms and progress are impossible. After all¡­ who would oppose or deny their own existence?¡±


    He pressed harder, deepening the wound caused by the sword.


    ¡°And you?¡±


    He let out a cold chuckle.


    ¡°Ha, the esteemed Count Trischka, the political rising star among the Northern elite.¡±


    ¡°Even you haven¡¯t realized it, have you? You¡¯ve long ceased to be the ambitious young man you once were. You¡¯ve become part of the Northern Nobility, willing to do anything to protect your status¡ªeven if it means tearing families apart.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This so-called ¡®Massive Grain Requisition¡¯ must be your doing, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen it many times in the ¡°Kingdom Daily¡±. I must say, my father really values you, entrusting such a vital task related to the survival of the Northern Nobility and the exploitation of the people to you.¡±


    ¡°Compared to those thoroughly rotten elites, your only difference is your unrealistic fantasy of progress coexisting with noble rule.¡±


    ¡°But when that illusion is shattered by reality, you¡¯re no different from them.¡±


    Trischka shuddered in intense pain, suddenly spitting out a mouthful of scarlet blood.


    ¡°Poof!¡±


    ¡°But¡­ how is the evil dragon better than us? Can Nobles be greedier than dragons?¡±


    ¡°Everything you see now is just his hypocritical pretense. He only wants to seize the North!¡±


    ¡°Once we Northern Nobility are eradicated, that dragon will show his true face. His greed will devour everything here, including the ¡®people¡¯ you care about and protect!¡±


    Trischka refuted with blood in his mouth and his face contorted in anger.


    Andrei withdrew the glowing Silver Sword.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    With a whistling sound, Trischka¡¯s head was cleanly severed, and his headless, armored body fell forward.


    Even as his head rolled on the ground, still looking incredulous, his blood-stained handsome face reflected sheer disbelief.


    He never thought Andrei would kill him so easily.


    Without any mercy.


    Andrei looked down at the head lying on the ground, speaking softly: ¡°Trischka, I don¡¯t know what that dragon really is, but at least he¡¯s a more competent ruler than the Northern Nobility.¡±


    He gripped the Silver Sword tightly again: ¡°If one day in the future, the dragon truly reveals his ¡®true face,¡¯ I¡¯ll also risk my life to cut off his head.¡±


    Andrei¡¯s tone was resolute, his eyes filled with determination.


    In the distance, the Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head, full of frustration.


    ¡°Damn it! Is there no justice? I spent extra experience to get Quick Resurrection, and an NPC stole my kill.¡±


    ¡°No, I must make up for this, or it will be a huge loss!¡±


    With this thought, the Natural War Maniac turned his head, eyeing the Allied Soldiers and officers with an aggressive gaze, as if seeing a trove of contributions and gold coins.


    The Allied Soldiers suddenly felt their hair stand on end, as if being stared at by a fierce beast.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ah! A monster!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, what is this thing!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t come near me, ahhhhh!¡±


    The Barbarian¡¯s frenzied roar, the terrified screams of the Allied Soldiers, and the sound of flesh and bone being crushed intertwined, composing a new, bloody chapter.

 Chapter 330 - 253 Okaglar Battle (VI)

    Chapter 330: Chapter 253 Okaglar Battle (VI)


    In the grand scope of this war involving over a hundred thousand people, the death of a young earl was just an insignificant corner of the battlefield, barely causing a ripple.


    The Kingdom Army continued to advance, seemingly unstoppable. Order was gradually collapsing, and commands could no longer be relayed from the headquarters. Each family¡¯s private armies were fighting their own battles, willing to do anything to preserve their strength.


    In this chaotic situation, the most elite force of the Boske Duchy, the private army passed down through the family for centuries, finally emerged in full force.


    ¡°Lionheart Knights, advance!¡±


    ¡°Fight for Duke Leo! Fight for the Boske Duchy!¡±


    The Knight Commander of the Lionheart Knights, ¡°Golden Lion Knight¡± Maxi Stuart, held a shield in his left hand and a spear with the Boske flag in his right.


    ...


    The flag fluttered fiercely in the air. The battle cries of the Lionheart Knights roared like the roar of lions, resonating throughout the battlefield.


    ¡°Fight for Duke Leo!¡±


    ¡°Fight for the Boske Duchy!¡±


    One hundred and twenty members of the Lionheart Knights, led by six renowned Knight Commanders, formed a formation. Almost everyone in the group was a fourth level or above professional, and together they formed a powerful battle array that could unleash strength far beyond their combined individual might.


    The luxurious armor and dazzling shields of the Lionheart Knights quickly drew the enemy¡¯s attention, not just the Kingdom Army looking to claim the glory but also players hoping to loot their gear, their eyes red with greed.


    ¡°My God, these elite monsters are so cool!¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï


    ¡°Save me a set of armor!¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I want to strip them all¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the Lionheart Knights! Kill them, and we earn a title of nobility!¡±


    Maxi showed no fear, raising his Sword of Oath high and commanding loudly, ¡°Lionheart Knights, protect the link!¡±


    The Lionheart Knights simultaneously raised their Silver Swords, which emitted a brilliant light. As the Holy Oath Magic took effect, gleaming chains of light connected them. Each small group of twenty, led by a senior Knight Commander, linked together, with all groups ultimately connecting to the tip of Maxi¡¯s sword.


    In the end, these hundred-plus knights were tightly bound together, raising their heavy shields to form an indestructible, radiant fortress on the battlefield.


    They could attack and defend as one, covering each other and coordinating their efforts.


    Any damage taken by a member would be distributed across the entire knight order.


    Their attacks could also concentrate on a single member, displaying unimaginable power.


    This made the Lionheart Knights a moving fortress on the battlefield, capable of both staunch defense and devastating offense, known as the Northern ¡°Lion¡¯s Bastion.¡±


    ¡°Kill them all!¡±


    ¡°For the King of Ashes!¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    Amidst the gunfire, Great Goblins and Tiefling Infantry frenziedly poured bullets at them.


    However, the Lionheart Knights¡¯ silver greatshields rippled with magical energy, glowing brightly and blocking all the powerful bullets fired from the most advanced semi-automatic rifles.


    The Kingdom Army had never seen such a defense before.


    Ogre grenadiers threw grenades into the knight¡¯s formation, attempting to cause mass casualties from within.


    The players used all sorts of tactics, hurling spears, iron hammers, poison vials, incendiary vials, even the stinky trousers of kobolds and the excrement of wyverns¡ªanything that could cause damage was turned into a weapon.


    Of course, they justified their actions.


    War, after all, was diverse in methods.


    But the radiant shield also appeared above the legion, blocking the debris from all directions, foiling the players¡¯ plans.


    Truly the elite force of the Boske House, and under Maxi¡¯s leadership, the Lionheart Knights maintained their formation and advanced steadily. Their sharp spears pierced through any monsters or players obstructing their path.


    They miraculously stabilized the surrounding allied forces¡¯ front lines and even seemed to be pushing the enemy back.


    ¡°Goodness, such a hard tortoise shell!¡±


    ¡°How do we fight this? Does anyone have Sun, the Earth Traveler, to dig through?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the Wild Sorcerer? Come out and cast a Ninth Tier Spell for me!¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, don¡¯t! Who knows if her Ninth Tier Spell will hit friend or foe!¡±


    The players debated, helpless against the ¡°Lion¡¯s Fortress¡± before them, suggesting all sorts of bizarre solutions.


    The Kingdom¡¯s commanders also found the situation tricky; the heavy cannons of the ogres could break their defenses, but now both sides were entangled in close combat, risking unnecessary casualties from the massive shells.


    ¡°Let them witness the Way of Nature.¡±


    ¡°On it! Awoooo¡ª¡±


    The naked Holy Light Bro let out a roar.


    Under the effect of the Enlarge Spell, he awkwardly lay on the ground, transforming into a massive bear. He leaped from the high slope, pouncing toward the Lionheart Knights.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The Lionheart Knights raised their spears in unison.


    The giant bear, transformed from Holy Light Bro, was instantly pierced with dozens of holes.


    Then the Shape-shifting Spell wore off, and the naked Holy Light Bro, like a piece of meat on a skewer, slid down and lay on the Lionheart Knights¡¯ silver shields, his blood flowing down.


    ¡°Disgusting, dishonorable opponent.¡±


    Maxi disdainfully flicked the corpse off his spear and raised the flag.


    ¡°Break them!¡±


    ¡°We are invincible!¡±


    ¡°We are the descendants of lions!¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Lionheart Knights cheered and shouted, even singing the high-spirited ¡°Song of the Northern Lions¡± as if they had already triumphed.


    Faced with such resolute and powerful forces, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army seemed to have no answer.


    Suddenly, the air became hot and distorted, sparks danced in the sky. The Great Goblins, Tieflings, and even Ogres made way.


    Orderly, heavy footsteps echoed.


    Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights, clad in luxurious scarlet armor and glowing with Flame Aura, marched in formation. Under their heavy helmets, their golden, glimmering eyes were full of fervor.


    ¡°Rule with an iron fist¡ª¡±


    ¡°The Dragon Lord above all¡ª¡±


    ¡°For the King of Ashes!¡±


    At the very front, Anthony raised a flaming greatsword, his voice thundering. His face bristled with protruding scarlet dragon scales, making him look especially fierce.


    Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights!


    High above their formation, an illusory dragon shadow seemed to flap its wings, looking down arrogantly at the enemies below.

 Chapter 331 - 254 Battle of Okaglar (VII)

    Chapter 331: Chapter 254 Battle of Okaglar (VII)


    ¡°Paladin?¡±


    ¡°By Tampas above, how could something like that be called a paladin?¡±


    Maxi Stuart¡¯s expression turned solemn immediately, sweat oozing from his grip on the spear¡ªbecause he could see that their enemies were similar to them, and even in some sense, stronger than them.


    And soon, he spotted a familiar face within the crowd.


    ¡°Frederick?¡±


    ¡°You damn bastard! You really are scum from the orphanage! Son of a whore!¡±


    ...


    ¡°You were personally knighted as the ¡®Black Lion Knight¡¯ by Duke Leo. How dare you become a follower of the evil dragons, accepting such a noble title despite your lowly background!¡±


    Maxi roared.


    ¡°I will personally end you, traitor! Clean the ranks of the Lionheart Knights!¡±


    Frederick merely scoffed, replying coldly:


    ¡°I¡¯m no longer the so-called ¡®Black Lion Knight.¡¯ Now, I¡¯m an instructor of the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Palace, and whether you can end this traitor depends on whether your men can defeat my students.¡±


    This ¡°Golden Lion Knight¡± Maxi Stuart had never left a good impression on Frederick. Born into a noble family, Maxi often humiliated him and Tarik over their lineage, calling them ¡°children of a harlot.¡± Frederick had fantasized about killing this arrogant guy numerous times, and now was the perfect opportunity.


    ¡°Lowly?¡±


    ¡°You hypocritical northern nobles are the most despicable beasts of all!¡±


    Anthony shouted fiercely, pointing his burning sword at Maxi.


    The hypocritical attitude and genuine disdain for commoners reminded him of the years of Baron Soli.


    As the leader of the Oath of the Dragon¡¯s holy warriors, he needed to set an example.


    ¡°We are the devout followers of the great King of Ashen, blessed with immense power by His Majesty. These scraps of the North are nothing compared to the great Red Dragon and his grand vision!¡±


    ¡°Dragon¡¯s followers, hear my command!¡±


    ¡°Dragon Vein Connection!¡±


    Anthony raised his sword high, using his guiding dragon force to create Dragon Vein Shackles, connecting with other Dragonsworn Holy Warriors. Not only could they share the damage taken, but they could also inflict burns on the enemy.


    Scorching red chains emitted flames, making the battlefield almost unbearably hot.


    ¡°That¡¯s the power of the evil dragons. They are minions of the evil dragons!¡±


    ¡°But everyone, we are the servants of the deity, the followers of Lord Leo, an invincible legion of the North for thousands of years.¡±


    ¡°Throughout the glorious history of the Lionheart Knights, we have slain countless rampaging evil dragons, and now facing merely their followers, we shall not fear them one bit!¡±


    ¡°Charge!¡±


    Maxi and Anthony shouted almost simultaneously.


    And thus, two massive forces collided, with flames and radiance entangled, roars and wails resounding everywhere.


    Although it was a battle on a scale of only hundreds, as powerful professional legions meticulously trained by both sides, their impact was no less than a battle of thousands, and even surpassed in terms of destruction. Players couldn¡¯t even partake in it.


    ¡°Dragon!¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°That¡¯s a giant dragon! How¡¯s that possible!¡±


    ¡°Such ¡­ such frightfulness.¡±


    As the legions clashed, many Lionheart Knights instinctively trembled, unable to hold their weapons steady.


    In the depths of their minds, they seemed to see a terrifying illusion of a giant dragon, its gaping maw ready to devour them.


    That was the [Majesty of the Dragonkin]


    The Dragonsworn Holy Warriors in the formation guided dragon force to display terrifying majesty, making enemies fall into dread tremors.


    However, the battle-hardened Maxi was unfazed by illusions and Dragon¡¯s Might. He instead roared like a lion, deliberately reminding his Lionheart Knights.


    ¡°All of that is just fake!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, we are Lionheart Knights! Even if the evil dragon were to appear, we would still dare to face it bravely!¡±


    Thanks to Maxi¡¯s efforts, most of the Lionheart Knights snapped out of fear and rejoined the fight.


    The Dragonsworn Holy Warriors had only been established for a few years. Their battle experience and occupational levels were almost lower than those of the Lionheart Knights. Yet, thanks to the scorching Dragon Veins and the mighty abilities bestowed by Cassius, they were pressing the Lionheart Knights.


    [Fiery Spirit Light]


    The Dragonsworn Holy Warriors constantly emitted fiery spirit light when not in a depleted state. This light raised the surrounding temperature sharply, increasing flame damage, causing burn status to enemies, and giving their side an exhilarating effect.


    When enough Dragonsworn Holy Warriors radiated fiery spirit light simultaneously, they could even trigger volcanic eruptions.


    Now, with a hundred Dragonsworn Holy Warriors fighting side by side, their spirit light unleashed immense power.


    The surrounding air became scorching and distorted, as if they stood at the mouth of a volcano in the peak of summer. Even the snow on the wasteland melted completely, and steam rose constantly from the exposed dry ground, making the battlefield shrouded in mist, even more chaotic and disordered.


    The surging flames caused the Lionheart Knights to wail continuously, with even their silver shields turning red-hot and molten silver dripping down.


    ¡°It¡¯s so hot!¡±


    ¡°I can hardly hold on to my weapon. Damn it!¡±


    ¡°By Tampas above¡­ my shield is about to melt!¡±


    ¡°Is this the power of the evil dragons, the King of Ashen?¡±


    Maxi stood at the forefront of the formation, enduring the searing flames. With his robust constitution and superb combat skills, he repelled the enemies ahead again and again, but his body was drenched in sweat and increasingly fatigued.


    Even as powerful as the ¡°Golden Lion Knight,¡± a fourteenth-level national master rank professional, Maxi found it tough to sustain high-intensity combat in such high temperatures. As for the other Lionheart Knights, it was even more challenging.


    ¡°We can¡¯t go on like this, or we¡¯ll be burnt to death!¡±


    ¡°We need to counterattack and end this battle quickly!¡±


    Maxi clenched his teeth, knocking down another Dragonsworn Holy Warrior before raising the lion flag in his hand.


    ¡°Lion Spirit Guardian!¡±


    The ¡°Golden Lion Knight¡± roared with majestic fury.


    The Lionheart Knights¡¯ ultimate card was played. One hundred and twenty battle-hardened Lionheart Knights harnessed the power of the Holy Oath, united their loyalty and firm will to summon a radiant lion spirit body, launching the most ferocious and spirited attack on their enemies.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    With a roar that shook the wasteland, a colossal lion phantom, five meters tall at the shoulder, emerged from the tight formation of Lionheart Knights.


    It roared and growled vividly, its muscles tightly coiled, claws extending sharply, ready to pounce and tear the enemies apart in the next moment.


    This was the Boske Family¡¯s hallowed symbol for a thousand years and the embodiment of the Lionheart Knights¡¯ spirit and will!

 Chapter 332 - 255 Okaglar Battle (VIII)

    Chapter 332: Chapter 255 Okaglar Battle (VIII)


    Anthony lifted his head, gazing at the Lion Spirit Body, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of fear in his eyes; instead, they were full of contempt.


    ¡°Just a little cat¡­¡±


    ¡°How dare you rant in front of the King of Ashen¡¯s servant?¡±


    ¡°I will show you¡ªwhat true strength is! What the embodiment of destruction is!¡±


    Anthony laughed wildly, his face covered in dragon scales revealing intense excitement and exhilaration.


    It was his first time using this strength, a connection so direct and intimate with the Dragon Lord; how could he not be jubilant?


    ... S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Everyone, recite the oath with me!¡±


    ¡°Extinguish the fire of hope!¡±


    ¡°Enforce order with an iron fist!¡±


    ¡°The Dragon Lord above all!¡±


    Over a hundred Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights raised their longswords together, and the flames surrounding them gathered overhead, forming a fiery Red Dragon Illusion dozens of meters long.


    [Dragon Lord¡¯s Descent]


    Twelve or more Dragonsworn Holy Warriors recited the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Oath simultaneously, summoning a Red Dragon Illusion made of flames, capable of bearing Cassius¡¯s will.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon Illusion slowly flapped its wings, looking down at the Lion Spirit Body, letting out a prolonged roar of anger.


    Anthony looked up at the perfect incarnation in the sky, involuntarily half-kneeling on the ground.


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡±


    On his dragon-scaled face appeared the reverence and fanaticism of a zealot, and the other Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights were the same, except for Frederick, who barely maintained his sanity.


    What immense strength.


    What a perfect body.


    This was the only king of the Ashen Kingdom, the lord they served.


    Even if it was just a fake illusion of flames, as long as it was related to Its existence, it would possess the power to destroy everything.


    Facing the terrifying Red Dragon Illusion in the sky under that immense pressure, the Lion Spirit Body summoned by the Lionheart Knights let out a whimper, timidly retreating half a step.


    It was scared!


    It was terrified!


    Maxi sensed something bad; it meant the will of the Lionheart Knights was wavering.


    The more they believed, the stronger they became; the more determined, the more steadfast. This was the characteristic of all Holy Oath Magic. Because of this, those with higher charisma could often perform more grandiose Holy Oath Magic, as their confidence and will alone could bend reality and change the world.


    But now, most of the Lion Spirit Body¡¯s spirit came from Maxi himself and was becoming more and more illusory.


    But fanatical Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights were different; born lowly and having experienced tragic paths, their fate was changed by the appearance of the Ashen Kingdom. Even if the world was to be destroyed, they would steadfastly believe in the power of the Red Dragon.


    ¡°That¡¯s just a fire illusion!¡±


    ¡°We must believe¡ªthe Boske Lionheart is truly immortal and indestructible!¡±


    This ¡°Golden Lion Knight¡± Maxi urgently shouted, awakening those around him suppressed by the Dragon¡¯s Might, making the Lion Spirit Body slightly more solid.


    But the Red Dragon Illusion in the sky slowly descended, spreading its wide wings and spewing scorching flames from its massive mouth.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    In an instant, the Lion Spirit Body was engulfed in blazing flames. It continuously roared, wailed, and struggled but could not change the fact of being burned away.


    Ultimately, it gradually turned into scattered light particles, dispersing into the air.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    Maxi shook his head continuously, muttering.


    At this moment, his face was dim, his eyes vacant. With the destruction of the Lion Spirit Body, his spirit also took a massive hit.


    His mind felt like purgatory, with a sea of fire burning, threatening to incinerate his will, spirit, and even soul entirely, condemning him to eternal damnation.


    ¡°The Boske Lionheart should be immortal¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it¡­¡±


    Under extreme mental pressure, this ¡°Golden Lion Knight¡± Maxi Stuart completely lost his usual composure, incessantly shaking his head and murmuring.


    Maxi lifted his head, spread his arms, and laughed maniacally.


    ¡°Hahaha, they are deceiving me! These are all illusions!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t kill me! I am Maxi Stuart, the great leader of the Lionheart Knights!¡±


    The next moment, dazzling firelight reflected in his pupils.


    Maxi Stuart was swallowed by the scorching flames, his entire body starting to burn.


    His manic will was not strong enough to bend reality, and the existent flames wouldn¡¯t change even if he disbelieved.


    But ultimately, he was a high-level professional; his physical body was incredibly resilient, and even flames couldn¡¯t easily burn him to ashes.


    The onlookers saw a tall figure struggling and rolling in the flames.


    His entire body was ablaze, his skin charred and cracked, resembling a human-shaped monster made of coal. He kept letting out heart-wrenching wails, screams, shouting phrases like ¡°This isn¡¯t real!¡± ¡°All of this is an illusion!¡±


    Compared to the physically robust ¡°Golden Lion Knight,¡± other Lionheart Knights were far less fortunate. Many were incinerated by the flames in no time, reduced to ash, leaving only their exquisitely crafted gear, gradually melting into silver liquid.


    Soon, only black ashes covering the soil, flowing silver water, and still fiercely burning flames remained on the ground.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon Illusion raised its head in the sea of fire and howled at the sky.


    ¡°Long live the King of Ashen!¡±


    ¡°Great Red Dragon, immortal!¡±


    ¡°This is the mighty power granted by the Lord!¡±


    The Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights raised their arms in cheer, dancing around the sea of fire like zealots in a bizarre ritual.


    The elite private army of the Boske Duchy, with a legacy spanning a thousand years, a legion with countless glorious achievements in the North¡¯s history, a unit that defeated the Frost Giants¡¯ leader and slew a White Dragon¡ªthe Lionheart Knights, was utterly annihilated, with no survivors.


    Ironically, the person who now knew the Lionheart Knight¡¯s legacy best was likely Frederick, who had already become a Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight.


    The destruction of the Lionheart Knights signaled the complete collapse of the Allied Forces.


    The recent counterattack was merely an illusion caused by the formidable strength of the Lionheart Knights. Now, the collapse was the truest, most brutal reflection of the military power disparity on the battlefield.


    ¡°Destroy them! Fight for the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    Among the flood of Tiefling Infantry, Mezulash raised his Everburning Greatsword and said.


    In front of him, the Allied Forces¡¯ defense line was riddled with holes, utterly routed, with only the panicking backs of the fleeing soldiers visible.

 Chapter 333 - 256 Ice Barrier

    Chapter 333: Chapter 256 Ice Barrier


    ¡°No, my Lionheart Knights!¡±


    ¡°Damn Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    Duke Leo gazed at the distant sea of fire, his expression twisted with rage, completely losing his usual composure and calm.


    The Lionheart Knights, passed down through generations of the Boske Family, were the most powerful military force in the North. They were also a major reliance of the Boske Duchy in waging war and commanding other nations.


    With the destruction of this army, even if they won this war, the position of the Boske Duchy would not remain as stable as before.


    Originally, he dispatched the Lionheart Knights just to stabilize the defense line and delay the enemy¡¯s advance. But he didn¡¯t expect the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army to be so powerful. Even the Lionheart Knights, who were invincible and indestructible in defensive battles, couldn¡¯t resist the fiery march of the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights.


    ...


    ¡°They, they are coming!¡±


    ¡°This is not an enemy we can fight against!¡±


    ¡°Hurry, get out of here!¡±


    ¡°What should we do? There¡¯s fire everywhere!¡±


    He watched the retreating Allied Forces, the Ashen army approaching relentlessly, and the riddled ground.


    He listened to the whistling of guns and cannons, the fierce battle cries, and the chaotic wails.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï


    Duke Leo looked up at the densely white clouds in the sky and muttered softly:


    ¡°Lord Osedro¡­¡±


    He knew, with the Silver Dragon in the Clouds being so mysterious and powerful, it would surely hear his call, no matter how quiet his voice was.


    Sure enough, that deep voice resounded¡ªit was Osedro Melwood.


    ¡°This is a war among mortals. I won¡¯t intervene lightly. In my long life, I¡¯ve learned this lesson countless times.¡±


    ¡°That Red Dragon, the one that disrupts the order between dragons and humans, has not yet appeared.¡±


    Leo Boske¡¯s body trembled slightly. He slowly knelt on one knee, his bearded lips moving gently.


    ¡°Please¡­ take action, in the name of the highest ruler in the North.¡±


    ¡°Our country is at a critical juncture of life and death. The evil dragon has bestowed endless evil power upon its retainers. We mortals cannot resist it.¡±


    His posture nearly prostrated to the dust.


    This elderly duke felt powerless for the first time.


    In the face of these powerful beings, his army and country were like ants, even the natural environment was easily changeable.


    But as long as he could maintain his position and uphold the thousand-year rule of the Boske Family, no price was too high.


    ¡°Mortals, I have witnessed countless dynastic changes. Before my eyes, you can hide nothing. A man like you¡ªif not for preserving order and balance, I wouldn¡¯t bother to speak another word with you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you understand?¡±


    ¡°I have already done my utmost. The disparity between you and your enemies is far more than the power granted by that Red Dragon¡­¡±


    As the surrounding rout intensified, Duke Leo no longer cared about so-called noble dignity. He knelt on both knees, pressing his forehead tightly against the ground, melting a shallow pit in the snow.


    ¡°Lord Osedro¡­ I am also for the order of the North! I beg you, whether it¡¯s power or wealth, as long as you want, we can¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, I still like to meddle.¡±


    A long sigh came from the sky.


    Duke Leo immediately raised his head in relief, his face full of surprise and joy.


    The prolonged Draconic language echoed in the clouds, reverberating across the riddled ice field.


    The ground trembled incessantly, and the surrounding winds howled, causing everyone on the battlefield to shiver.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With the thunderous sound and a strong fluctuation of the Magic Web, an ice wall spanning several miles and reaching the clouds suddenly rose from the ground, enveloping nearly all Allied soldiers.


    This ice wall was not thick, less than an inch, yet it was extremely hard and exuded a bone-chilling cold. Even the ogre¡¯s artillery could not shatter it, and even the slightest touch would cause frostbite.


    [Advanced Ice Barrier]


    For a moment, all the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s forces were stopped by this spell. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn¡¯t break through the barrier.


    ¡°Damn, what is this thing?¡±


    ¡°We were about to annihilate the enemy¡¯s main force! And this damn thing shows up!¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the ogre artillery corps? Are they just eating and doing nothing?¡±


    ¡°Halt! Don¡¯t get frostbitten!¡±


    On two high slopes on the river bank at the rear of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s formation.


    Ogre Archmage Ramp looked at the distant pure and flawless ice barrier. He couldn¡¯t help but grip the toothpick-like magic wand in his hand tightly, his ugly face filled with solemnity.


    ¡°Such quality of spell¡­¡±


    ¡°This must be from a Legendary Mage. The Silver Dragon has taken action! Or perhaps they have other hidden spellcasters. This absolutely isn¡¯t something local Anzeta spellcasters could cast!¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ramp twirled his magic wand, pointing it towards the other side of the river.


    As he chanted the spell, a scorching fireball flew across, crashing directly into the ice barrier¡ªthat was the Advanced Fireball Spell repeatedly modified by Ramp.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Accompanied by a loud sound, the fireball only left scorch marks; the ice barrier remained unshaken.


    This was the power of high-tier spells cast by a Legendary Mage. Even the mighty Ashen army couldn¡¯t easily deal with it, and even Ramp was powerless against it.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    Giant metal shells smashed into the ice barrier, creating explosions in mid-air, causing the ground to shake. But the seemingly thin and fragile barrier still shimmered in the sunlight.


    Watching the intimidating explosions, Viscount Luton, standing among the Northern Nobility, felt a chill. He couldn¡¯t help but pat his chest, trying to steady his rapid breathing.


    ¡°Phew, thank goodness¡­¡±


    ¡°Luckily, we have Lord Osedro.¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army¡­ it¡¯s terrifying, truly a Scourge Legion.¡±


    Viscount Luton still felt lingering fear from the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s fierce assault.


    He had witnessed those celestial beings performing miracles falling from the sky, and had seen the once invincible Lionheart Knights in his mind turn to ashes.


    ¡ªIt seemed that everything standing before the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army would be utterly destroyed without exception.


    ¡°Thank goodness¡­¡±


    ¡°We have Lord Osedro.¡±


    He repeated his earlier words.


    Suddenly, a piercing shriek rang out, followed by a series of explosions, causing the wasteland to tremble again.


    ¡°Wait, what¡¯s that?¡±


    Viscount Luton¡¯s expression changed suddenly. He instinctively looked up, the terrifying premonition he had long anticipated yet still didn¡¯t want to believe surfacing in his heart.


    A blinding light appeared on the distant horizon, piercing the blue sky.


    Next, a blurred figure trailing brilliant flames streaked across the sky, leaving a long and dazzling red mark, seemingly splitting the entire sky in two.


    He fell like a meteor!


    The sky was brutally torn apart!


    As the scene grew more imposing, the Northern Nobility and Allied soldiers all looked up. In their terrified eyes, the figure grew larger.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s him! He¡¯s coming!¡±


    Viscount Luton couldn¡¯t help but scream, the nightmare that had haunted him for years re-emerging in his heart.


    ¡°Infernal Calamity!¡±


    He shouted the name loudly. His trembling legs instantly became wet, and yellowish pits appeared in the snow beneath his feet.

 Chapter 334 - 257 Red and Silver (I)

    Chapter 334: Chapter 257 Red and Silver (I)


    A series of sonic booms echoed, and thunderous roars resounded high up in the sky.


    ¡°Foolish Northerners!¡±


    ¡°Since you so recklessly ignite the flames of war¡ª¡±


    Cassius spread his broad wings and dove from the high heavens. The Dragon Crystal on his chest surged with scorching energy, radiating a dazzling light.


    ¡°Then I shall grant you the most complete destruction!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ...


    With his words, the air shattered with a sound, and from his blood-red maw erupted a fiery white pillar.


    The indestructible ice barrier first showed spiderweb-like cracks, then thick smoke billowed from it, followed by a crisp ¡°crash¡± as it shattered completely, breaking apart utterly.


    ¡°Long live the King of Ashen!¡±


    ¡°Long live the mighty Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°This is the divine power of our lord!¡±


    ¡°No, our lord has surpassed the gods! He is a greater existence!¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty! We are invincible!¡±


    The soldiers of the Ashen Kingdom erupted in fervor. Whether Tiefling, Great Goblin, or Ogre, they all raised their weapons and shouted in extreme excitement, as though witnessing their deity descend upon the world.


    The ogre artillery, in their ecstasy, fired off several more rounds, creating fireworks-like explosions in the air. The massive shells fell onto the deserted wasteland.


    Yet, the officer of the ogre artillery corps paid no attention to them because he was just as thrilled. The large ogre waved his military flag and jumped about, causing the ground beneath to strain under his weight.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon slowly flapped his wings in midair, releasing a prolonged roar that shook Anzeta.


    He said nothing more.


    He merely gazed down upon everything.


    With each roar resonating across the wilderness and with every wave of his wings generating immense winds, the climate behind him changed drastically.


    The temperature soared, the air grew restless, and fiery orange clouds spread rapidly across the horizon, tinting half the sky a blazing red.


    Mists rose from the river, and the ice chunks in the rapids melted instantly.


    [Weather Control]


    This was the realm of the Red Dragon.


    Wherever he appeared, the surrounding area would turn into a fiery inferno.


    Under the oppressive Dragon¡¯s Might, countless fearful eyes glanced upwards at the magnificent dragon.


    Though many ravaging dragons had appeared throughout the history of the North, most were White Dragons, and none had ever reached such a colossal size¡ª


    In any plane, dragons of this size were extraordinarily rare.


    Despite having witnessed it in magical images, facing this terrifying dragon in person still filled them with overwhelming shock and fear.


    The Northern Nobility couldn¡¯t even muster the will to oppose him.


    This Red Dragon seemed more like the overwhelming force of nature, akin to earthquakes, avalanches, or hurricanes, utterly indomitable by human strength.


    ¡°By Tampas, how could such a being exist?¡±


    ¡°How could this happen?¡±


    ¡°He, he has become even more powerful.¡±


    Viscount Luton mumbled in disbelief, a large wet patch forming on his silk pants. Under such pressure, no one noticed these little details.


    ¡°No¡­.¡±


    Even Duke Leo stood there as if carved from wood, glancing up slightly, his hand on the sword trembling uncontrollably.


    There was no need to draw the [Sword of Lion¡¯s Honor]¡ª


    Because it was utterly unnecessary.


    In front of such a dragon that reached the limits of the Prime Material World, any beings below the legendary level were mere ants, destined to be crushed by the dragon.


    Now, his only hope lay with a certain presence, and a small part upon his contingency plans.


    Duke Leo raised his head anxiously.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Another dragon roar sounded, but this time from the alliance.


    ¡°I come bearing the will of the Lord of the Northwind, I am the protector of dragon order¡­.¡±


    ¡°I am the guardian of world balance¡­.¡±


    ¡°The observer of material beings¡­.¡±


    Whispered words imbued with magic power echoed across the vast wilderness.


    Above the allied forces¡¯ formation.


    Underneath the azure sky, an immense Ancient Silver Dragon slowly flapped its wings, creating gusts that dispersed the rolling clouds, revealing its full form¡ª S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was ¡°Wings of Silver¡± Osedro.


    His massive frame extended thirty meters, his dragon head held high. His deep, bright eyes seemed to pierce through all of existence.


    The surrounding air seemed infected by his presence, even the Magic Web rippled solemnly.


    An aura no weaker than that of the Red Dragon instantly spread, only it was more orderly, inspiring awe rather than fear.


    Dragons, being inherently magical beings, emitted strong magical waves with their Dragon¡¯s Might.


    And dragons like Osedro, legendary Law-Addicted Dragons, had Dragon¡¯s Might so intense it felt almost tangible, each movement inspired reverence as if Mistrala¡¯s chosen had descended, difficult not to worship.


    Under the gazes of many on the battlefield, the Silver Dragon¡¯s form shimmered under the sunlight, like a silver mountain peak standing atop pure white clouds.


    Every move of the Ancient Silver Dragon brimmed with power and grace.


    With his flight, the biting cold wind howled, bringing icy snowflakes and a white frost mist, transforming half the sky into a white world, making the Allied Soldiers shiver compulsively.


    Indeed, it was still [Weather Control]


    This was the innate spell of Silver Dragons, which any Silver Dragon of a certain age could cast, and Osedro was no exception.


    In an instant, the entire scene split into a clear red and white dichotomy.


    One half was scorching and restless, filled with fiery clouds; the other half was chilling, with icy winds and snow mist.


    The confrontation between the Red Dragon and the Silver Dragon had not yet begun, still probing each other, but the environment had already been utterly transformed by their overwhelming presence, unable to return to normal for years.


    ¡°The gods¡ª


    ¡°Is this the Second Era all over again? Such a scale of battle.¡±


    Viscount Luton couldn¡¯t help but shiver, the freezing wind making him tremble all over, even his wet pants stiffened with cold.


    Leo Boske¡¯s face was also shadowed. His expression heavy, he looked skyward.


    ¡°Such monsters¡­.¡±


    His lips quivered as he mumbled to himself.


    Indeed, before such power, all his towering authority and noble status seemed meaningless, all his plots, efforts, and struggles made him a pathetic joke.


    These two dragons could easily destroy his kingdom, shattering the Boske Family¡¯s millennia-old foundation.


    What was laughably tragic was that, as the one most affected by the outcome of this war, as the leader tying his family and nation to this war¡¯s outcome¡ª


    Duke Leo¡¯s survival in this ¡°Red Dragon Scourge¡± didn¡¯t depend on himself but on whether the Silver Dragon, who looked down on him, could prevail.


    ¡°If¡­.¡±


    ¡°If there were no Red Dragon, the Northern ruling could last another thousand years!¡±


    ¡°How could such a monster exist in this world?¡±


    Even Duke Leo himself didn¡¯t notice, his expression grew increasingly ferocious, a deep-seated hatred simmering in his eyes.


    He recalled the Silver Dragon¡¯s disdainful words and his own humiliated stance.


    At this moment, Leo Boske wished for all extraordinary beings threatening his rule to vanish from this world, including that imposing, gleaming Silver Dragon.

 Chapter 335 - 258: Red and Silver (II)

    Chapter 335: Chapter 258: Red and Silver (II)


    Amidst violent spatial disturbances, several space portals appeared in the clouds behind Osedro.


    ¡°Elder, is it him?¡±


    ¡°Is that the dragon ravaging the North?¡±


    ¡°We will protect the peace here! In the name of Melwood!¡±


    Silver dragons emerged from the swirling mists, hovering behind the ancient silver dragon, letting out synchronized, majestic roars, rallying for their esteemed elder.


    Pairs of silver wings flapped, reflecting shimmering light in the air.


    ...


    Cloud giants and storm giants stood atop the clouds, utilizing their powerful spell-like abilities to control the surrounding climate, maintaining a realm of howling cold winds, preventing the red dragon¡¯s scorching influence from invading.


    ¡°¡®Dragon Prince¡¯ Your Highness, we, the Faria Clan, are here to assist you!¡±


    ¡°Roar! Shameless metal dragons!¡±


    ¡°Master, that silver-scaled dragon is so cocky! We need to teach him a lesson!¡±


    Behind the red dragon, thirteen ferocious blue dragons from the Faria Clan, led by Christina, arrived in succession, followed by the atavistic white dragon, Tiniya, with a physique comparable to ancient white dragons, soaring into the air.


    These five-colored evil dragons raised their heads, opening their bloodthirsty jaws, letting out imposing roars, their momentum no weaker than the silver dragons opposite them.


    Behind these five-colored dragons, hundreds or thousands of wyverns flapped their wings chaotically, emitting harsh, grating screeches.


    The red dragon and the silver dragon faced off at a distance, each backed by their respective families and controlled territories.


    This no longer seemed like a simple war between the Ashen Kingdom and the Northern United Kingdom; it was more like a miniature version of the ¡°Dragonfall War¡± between metal dragons and five-colored dragons.


    The two dragons, standing at the pinnacle of the material plane, stared at each other from afar, their gazes filled solely with each other¡¯s figures¡ªeverything else in such a high-level battle seemed meaningless, mere embellishments and accessories.


    ¡°So this is Osedro¡­¡±


    ¡°He did not disappoint me; a formidable enemy indeed.¡±


    Cassius flapped his wings, those pale golden slit-pupil eyes fixed on the massive silver dragon.


    [Wings of Silver ¨C Osedro]


    Challenge Level: 25 (75000xp)


    This was the most powerful foe he had faced head-on so far.


    This ancient silver dragon, over thirty meters long, had nearly reached the pinnacle of the silver dragon race, and even in close combat, which red dragons excelled in, he would not gain much advantage¡ªlet alone in spells.


    Careful observation revealed that nearly every scale of this silver dragon was inscribed with intricate magic runes, forming hundreds of spells on his body surface.


    This was the result of Osedro, as a ¡°Spell Hoarder,¡± spending millennia carving and accumulating, an activity that would be a mental disease for ordinary dragons, but this ancient silver dragon indulged in it.


    His claws were filled with magic rings, and his wrists were adorned with mithril and mithril bracelets.


    On the silver-scaled back and between the scales of his abdomen, there were sparkling gemstones, protecting the wearer¡¯s vital parts from fatal harm.


    The most eye-catching was the chest of the silver dragon.


    A metal disk, fixed to his chest by ribbons passing through his forelimbs, had twelve differently colored magic stones embedded around its edge, with its center inscribed with patterns of stars and nebulae¡ªthat was the holy emblem of Bahamut, the ¡°Lord of the Northwind.¡±


    ¡°Armed to the teeth¡± was an especially fitting description for this ancient silver dragon.


    Because he did achieve just that.


    A complex metal device called ¡°Dragon¡¯s Jaws¡± was worn in the silver dragon¡¯s mouth, with several silver teeth adorned with the ¡°Sharp Fang Technique¡± protruding outward, their tips glowing with auroras capable of piercing protective magics.


    In front of this ancient silver dragon, armed to the teeth and exuding grandeur, even Cassius, usually proud of his wealth, felt ashamed, deeply realizing his poverty with only a few pieces of legendary equipment.


    Above the clouds, Osedro¡¯s smooth, bright, plate-like face was also solemn.


    ¡°¡®Dragon Prince¡¯ Cassius¡­¡±


    He scrutinized the red dragon in the distance, his mercury-like eyes flashing with complex magic patterns, a trace of pure admiration for the dragon¡¯s strength involuntarily appearing.


    ¡ªEven as a silver dragon, the archenemy of red dragons, he had to admit that this red dragon stood out in his millennia-long life.


    The opposing red dragon, whose colossal body was akin to that of an ancient red dragon, was nearly as massive as his own. From its form, the red dragon¡¯s muscular physique seemed even stronger.


    The red dragon¡¯s body emanated an unimaginable vitality, with four sinister horns spiraling upward on its head, and the dragon crystal in its chest containing terrifying energy, its vague bloodline pressure reminiscent of ancestral dragons in dragonkin¡¯s heritage.


    However, being a young dragon, the red dragon seemed to possess only a few pieces of legendary-level equipment, which gave the ancient silver dragon an inexplicable sense of superiority, fulfilling the dragon¡¯s innate desire to compare wealth.


    He was somewhat poor.


    But that wasn¡¯t the main point.


    Osedro found it hard to believe that this was still a dragon in its youthful or even younger stages of life, but the facts were laid before him, and he could even feel the other party¡¯s scorching breath.


    ¡°Bahamut¡¯s oracle was not wrong; this is a variant dragon with infinite potential.¡±


    ¡°He must not fall into Tiamat¡¯s embrace!¡±


    ¡°Otherwise¡ªthat would be a complete disaster for all metal dragons and, indeed, for all creatures on the Prime Material Plane who follow goodness and order!¡±


    So thought the ancient silver dragon, his gaze becoming increasingly resolute, as if waves were surging in his mercury-like eyes.


    A loud reprimand, echoing like thunder, erupted from his mouth, making everyone present solemn.


    ¡°Brutal and barbaric red dragon!¡±


    ¡°Fate granted you immense strength, yet you fail to cherish it.¡±


    ¡°For your selfish gain and ambition, you disrupted countless years of order between humans and dragonkin, destabilizing the balance of the Prime Material Plane, endangering the peace and stability of Erezer.¡±


    ¡°Thus, in the name of the Lord of the Northwind¡ª¡±


    However, crisp applause cut off his impassioned speech, followed by calm words.


    ¡°Well said.¡±


    ¡°As expected of the renowned ¡®Wings of Silver,¡¯ Lord Osedro, your hypocrisy truly surpasses my imagination.¡±


    Cassius slightly opened his mouth, revealing a particularly malevolent smile.


    ¡°Then¡ªplease tell me, who started this war?¡±


    His tone became increasingly fervent, the influence of his ¡°Smooth Talker¡± ability, which could distort reality, coming into full play.


    ¡°Who despicably ambushed the kingdom¡¯s caravans? Who sent tens of thousands of troops to wander within the kingdom¡¯s borders under the excuse of establishing the first defense line?¡±


    ¡°Who plundered the people¡¯s resources, forcibly conscripted, and established a military alliance, single-handedly initiating this large-scale war?¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Under his barrage of questions, even Osedro was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to answer, while the humans on the ground began to question their existence, even doubting the justification for this war.


    But Cassius simply exhaled a breath of sulfuric air and continued:


    ¡°Lord Osedro, since you are unwilling to answer directly, let me answer for you¡ªI¡¯m referring to the Northern United Kingdom you support, more precisely¡ªthe Northern Nobility led by the Boske Family.¡±


    Osedro sneered disdainfully:


    ¡°Sophistry! Would you and your monster kingdom halt your expansion if the North hadn¡¯t initiated the attack? Are the destructive, nature-damaging weapons you manufacture solely for defense?¡±


    But after living for over a thousand years, the silver dragon¡¯s ability to endure crises and his thick skin were exemplary.


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but laugh; in this regard, this hypocritical silver dragon resembled him remarkably:


    ¡°Hahaha, of course not; after all, the North still has countless people oppressed by the nobles, waiting for the kingdom¡¯s arrival, hoping to regain their freedom and move towards a new, better world.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, a new world?¡±


    ¡°Lies! Your so-called new world means endless warfare, plains piled with corpses, and bloody conflicts?¡±


    The silver dragon let out a roar, and with his magic-imbued voice, countless images of the Ashen Kingdom crushing the allied forces and the ground filled with scars appeared in everyone¡¯s minds.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re wrong.¡±


    Cassius gently shook his head, the flame seemingly burning in his pale golden eyes.


    ¡°That is the price to pay for establishing a new order.¡±

 Chapter 336 - 260: Red and Silver (Part 3)

    Chapter 336: Chapter 260: Red and Silver (Part 3)


    ¡°No wonder you¡¯re a despicable offspring of Tiamat, you truly inherited Her gift of glib tongue and confusion of right and wrong!¡±


    ¡°In my long life, I have fought countless five-colored dragons, and eventually I realized one thing¡ª¡±


    Osedro stared at the Red Dragon, hostility growing more evident in his eyes. ¡°For a scion of Tiamat like you, any persuasion is just a waste of words.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Only the purest strength can make you submit! Make you realize your mistakes, and return to the righteous path of the Lord of the Northwind!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª


    Osedro let out another roar.


    ...


    He suddenly swung his bright silver broad wings, the surrounding gale became fiercer, and a storm of icy hail assaulted the Red Dragon.


    This was just a small test, but to mortals, it would be an apocalyptic disaster.


    Even the Lionheart Knights would be turned into ice sculptures in such a storm.


    ¡°Heh, you arrogant old fossil¡ª¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t win a debate so you¡¯re relying on force, huh?¡±


    Cassius sneered coldly, he roared and, without dodging, swung his wings in the air, creating a wave of scorching wind.


    With a slight flicker of the Dragon Crystal in his chest, the Red Dragon opened its mouth and sprayed a blazing pillar of fire, piercing through the storm of extreme cold and directly targeting the Silver Dragon.


    ¡°Savage Red Dragon! I will show you the power of the Arcane!¡±


    Osedro hovered in mid-air, the magic patterns on this Law-Addicted Dragon¡¯s body lit up like cracks, and those precious pieces of magic equipment began to shimmer as well.


    One spell after another was cast onto his bright silver dragon body: Eric¡¯s Protection Membrane, Nezran¡¯s Sapphire Screen, Elbraka¡¯s Green Jade Shield, various protective spells were cast in succession, making the smooth scales reflect brilliantly colorful spell radiance.


    This Ancient Silver Dragon looked like a giant neon ball, making the gathered mortals avert their eyes, and even the spectators exclaimed ¡°light pollution.¡±


    But this seemed to be the correct visual style for a powerful mage¡¯s battle.


    So was it for Cassius.


    Although he didn¡¯t have magic scrolls etched into his scales, spells like Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye, Dragon¡¯s Justice, and Agile as a Dragon were still cast by the Red Dragon using [Metamagic: Instant Casting]. Star-like light spots appeared on his body surface.


    A vast flow of sorcery surged around him, stirring stormy waves within the Magic Web.


    Though not as luxuriously dazzling, with the power of the Red Dragon itself, its momentum was not inferior in the slightest.


    Cassius spread his wings, swiftly diving down, spraying white-hot flames as he approached the Silver Dragon.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    But the Red Dragon¡¯s breath pierced through several spell shields; before it could touch the Silver Dragon¡¯s scales, it was blocked by the transparent ice barrier surrounding him.


    Under the flame¡¯s extreme heat, the ice sublimated into steam, dense white fog rose continuously from the ice barrier, but the breath couldn¡¯t break through it.


    However, Osedro wasn¡¯t just defending; he seized this opportunity to launch a counterattack.


    ¡°Diamond Stars!¡±


    Accompanied by a long incantation in Draconic, cold, white stars streaked across the sky like meteors, heading straight for the Red Dragon breathing fire.


    However, Cassius had already predicted the spell¡¯s arrival using Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye.


    With the terrifying speed granted by Agile as a Dragon, he turned into a blur with just a slight wing flap, flying hundreds of meters away.


    The stars pursued him but couldn¡¯t match the Red Dragon¡¯s frightening speed, eventually plummeting to the ground powerlessly.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Several fearsome ice mountains suddenly appeared on the ground. Had the Silver Dragon not controlled it intentionally, hundreds of Allied soldiers would have been frozen.


    ¡°How is this possible? Such speed!¡±


    Osedro¡¯s eyes fixed on the red figure, filled with disbelief.


    In his memory, Red Dragons, though strong in melee combat, due to their overly developed muscles, were usually clumsy and crude, easily toyed with by a high-rank spellcaster like him.


    The ¡°Dragon Prince¡± before him was astonishingly fast; standard spells couldn¡¯t easily hit him.


    But Osedro didn¡¯t lose heart. He raised the Mithril Staff embedded with a star realm-like magic stone, radiating brilliant spell light. Frost, gales, and radiance were cast in succession, various spell energies overflowed.


    While Cassius¡¯s body was enveloped in flames and lightning, fighting against the Ancient Silver Dragon¡¯s spells, he circled Osedro at high speed like a red blur, waiting for a chance to engage in close combat.


    The sky was filled with thick white mist, blanketing the wasteland and obscuring the vision of those below.


    People on the ground could only see vague figures appearing in the clouds, hearing the howl of the wind and the dragons¡¯ roars, and the crackling of lightning.


    The entire wasteland trembled.


    ¡°What kind of battle is this¡­¡±


    ¡°What kind of beings are these?¡±


    ¡°T-too terrifying, we must get out of here!¡±


    This was merely a test between the two sides, but the intensity rivaled the previous massive battle, leaving the people below watching in fear and disbelief at the towering ice mountains that had formed.


    The inhabitants of the North from the magical wasteland were witnessing such a grand battle for the first time, and the start of the fight was already beyond their imaginations.


    ¡°Is this the magic you¡¯re so proud of? Targeting your own allies?¡±


    Cassius taunted mercilessly.


    He roared towards the sky, sending hundreds of tiny, searing-hot volcanic rocks hurling at the Silver Dragon, along with clouds of volcanic ash pouring down.


    ¡°Such spells¡ªdare you flaunt them before me?¡±


    Osedro roared, the frost necklace on his chest emanating infinite cold, which instantly froze the volcanic rocks and ash, making them fall to the ground like hail.


    The Silver Dragon soared, opening his mouth to instinctively breathe fire in retaliation.


    But hidden within the volcanic ash was an inconspicuous energy ray, aimed directly at the Silver Dragon¡¯s back, Cassius¡¯s true killing move.


    It was Magic Withering!


    Even enhanced by sorcery metamagic, a ninth-tier level spell slot was used to cast an advanced Magic Withering!


    ¡°Great Disjunction?¡±


    Osedro¡¯s expression changed abruptly.


    Even with several warning spells and protective magic triggered, the big, cumbersome body of the Ancient Silver Dragon still couldn¡¯t fully evade, having to endure the spell with its body.


    The ray pierced several shields upon contact, creating a massive antimagic field that enveloped half his body.


    The magic patterns on hundreds of scales dimmed, even those precious rings and necklaces seemed covered in dust, some shattering directly into fine powder.


    Osedro¡¯s face turned grim.


    For a dragon, even an orderly good metal dragon, nothing could incite greater rage than the destruction of his treasures.


    Moreover, the Red Dragon had destroyed his meticulously crafted magic scales.


    ¡°No¡ªcunning Red Dragon!¡±


    Meanwhile, Cassius felt particularly pleased.


    A schadenfreude emotion spread in his heart. Now, perhaps this old Silver Dragon wasn¡¯t wealthier than him.

 Chapter 337 - 261 Red and Silver (4)

    Chapter 337: Chapter 261 Red and Silver (4)


    Osedro trembled with extreme anger, the scales on his face slightly flared open, making his dignified and solemn dragon face appear somewhat hideous.


    The massive silver dragon¡¯s body surface was half-dull like it was covered with dust, the other half shimmered with a brilliant aurora, as if forcibly adjusted into two different filters.


    ¡°Despicable evil dragon!¡±


    ¡°You need to pay for what you have done!¡±


    The ancient silver dragon roared again, filled with uncontrollable rage.


    Osedro stretched out his right claw with all his might. A complex array several meters long appeared in his palm. Heavy stones on the ground, broken trees, and even shattered corpses floated abruptly, making the surroundings look like the void of the star realm.


    ...


    The gravity within a hundred meters around was all controlled by this ancient silver dragon, an innate spellcasting ability of silver dragons.


    ¡°What have I done?¡±


    ¡°Was it giving the people a better life, launching a counterattack in this war, and shattering the eternal dream of the Northern Nobility¡¯s rule over Anzeta?¡±


    ¡°Or was it destroying your old miser¡¯s centuries-old collection, turning you into a half-pauper?¡±


    Cassius mocked mercilessly.


    The Red Dragon suddenly lifted his wings in mid-air. Relying on the powerful muscles attached to his wing bones, he created a strong wing storm above his body, directly counteracting the reversed gravity, allowing the massive dragon body to still hover in mid-air.


    In the face of Cassius¡¯s taunts, the silver dragon¡¯s voice was even more furious, his roar like thunder.


    ¡°Sophistry! You cannot anger me!¡±


    ¡°We, the Metal Dragon Clan, have spent countless efforts and paid countless costs to barely maintain the balance between mortals and dragons, preventing the tragedies of ancient times from recurring.¡±


    ¡°And you, dirty offspring of Tiamat, you have not used the power bestowed by Ao for good, but for destruction upon order!¡±


    The ancient silver dragon slightly opened his mouth, the scales on his cheeks shimmering brightly. From the massive mouth embedded with the ¡°Dragon¡¯s Jaws¡± spewed out a snow-white stream of extreme cold.


    However, the Red Dragon was not as Osedro had guessed, only floating in place to counteract gravity.


    Utilizing the aerial maneuver technique and the agility of a dragon, Cassius¡¯s flying skills reached their peak.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon flapped his wings in a peculiar and agile posture, flying freely in the anti-gravity environment. He turned into a red afterimage, swiftly flying around the ancient silver dragon. The white breath was always a step behind, unable even to catch his tail tip.


    As he circled, a strong whirlwind gradually formed. Combined with the flames surrounding the Red Dragon, it gradually formed a mighty fire tornado.


    ¡°Osedro! I think you have slept for centuries, and your brain has been muddled by sleep! Your leaky order is long outdated!¡±


    ¡°The old, decaying system of the North should be swept into the dustbin of history!¡±


    ¡°And you, hypocritical silver dragon, a so-called maintainer of order, in reality, an obstacle to historical progress, are the same!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The dragon¡¯s roar shook the wilderness again.


    The flames created by the Red Dragon intertwined with the ice and snow around the Silver Dragon, merging heat and cold, erupting into a cacophonous noise with steam continually rising.


    It was as if a giant pillar of cloud and fog had appeared on the wilderness, extending perpetually, with boiling steam, flying stones, chaotic flames, and shattered ice forming an extreme life forbidden zone.


    ¡°Retreat! Retreat immediately!¡±


    ¡°This is a battle we cannot participate in!¡±


    Facing such a situation, Marshal Dolores decisively ordered, and under the coordination of lower-level officers, the Kingdom Army retreated orderly to the rear.


    Goblins, Great Goblins, and Ogres raised their weapons high. Despite not being able to see the battle within the clouds, it did not stop them from cheering the Red Dragon on in this ¡°Battle of the Twin Dragons¡± from afar.


    The players, however, were much more chaotic. They fled in all directions freely and lazily, some even proactively approaching to watch. Even if caught up in it, they remained indifferent, shouting loudly regardless.


    ¡°The special effects are maxed out, such grandeur!¡±


    ¡°Damn, does this cutscene have damage?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m flying!¡±


    ¡°Wait, why am I on fire?¡±


    ¡°Look! That person got scorched!¡±


    The Allied Forces¡¯ soldiers and nobles were even more disorganized. As private troops from various families, their structure could only be described as ¡°chaotic.¡±


    Tens of thousands jostled to escape to the rear. Many stampede accidents occurred, and some were unfortunately caught by the whirlwind and lost their lives.


    Unlike the players, they weren¡¯t undying. If touched by this war, they would say goodbye to this world forever.


    ¡°What on earth is that thing?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, don¡¯t go near it!¡±


    ¡°Get out of the way!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s such a strong wind! I¡¯m gonna get blown away! Help¡ª¡±


    Viscount Luton also desperately fled, but trembling legs and wet trousers caused him to fall. He lay on the ground, shivering, looking back at the apocalyptic scene.


    ¡°By the Gods¡­ what kind of power is this?¡±


    ¡°How can humans fight against such beings?¡±


    Viscount Luton watched the battle that could shake Anzeta and muttered to himself.


    Suddenly, such a thought came to his mind: Such an epic battle shouldn¡¯t be buried in the tide of history, it should be recorded by someone.


    At the rear of the Allied Forces¡¯ formation, Duke Leo also quietly watched the battle.


    Amid the rolling white smoke, glimpses of scales and massive silhouettes of dragons occasionally appeared.


    The earth, like a newborn baby, cried again and again with rumbling sounds, making everyone feel¡ªit was trembling. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lightning, hurricanes, hail, and even meteors, rare in normal times, appeared in succession. Blurry stars appeared in the sky, causing hundreds of casualties even by leaking a bit of their remaining power.


    Duke Leo suddenly felt that his decades of scheming were a joke, even the death of his own son had not made him so disheartened.


    ¡°Dragons.¡±


    ¡°They can easily destroy everything.¡±


    ¡°Such creatures¡­ shouldn¡¯t exist in this world.¡±


    Leo Boske looked up at the dragon¡¯s silhouette high in the sky, his lips slightly moving as he muttered.


    He was the Duke of the Boske Duchy.


    And the nominal King of the Northern United Kingdom.


    He, Leo Boske, a noble by birth, was supposed to be the ruler of Anzeta, the one deciding the fate of the North¡ªnot those monsters in the sky.


    Suddenly, an unexpected yet natural deep voice rang in his mind.


    ¡°Do you¡­ want revenge?¡±

 Chapter 338 - 262: Bewitchment

    Chapter 338: Chapter 262: Bewitchment


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Leo shuddered suddenly and asked in his heart.


    He initially thought it was his inner voice but then sensed something was amiss and felt a chill¡ª that voice was clearly not under his control.


    ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°What matters is that Red Dragon. He killed your hopeful son, destroyed your invincible legions, and is about to annihilate the family and nation you hold dear.¡±


    ¡°You were supposed to be the natural ruler of the North, your name standing alongside King Roselle the Lionheart, carrying on the Boske Family¡¯s lineage for generations.¡±


    ...


    ¡°But now, that Red Dragon has destroyed all of this.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want revenge?¡±


    The low voice asked again, as if trying to lure him into the abyss.


    Fear surged in Leo¡¯s heart. He knew that in this world, many beings could invade minds¡ªHeart Snatching Demons, devils, demons, even some unknown extraterrestrial creatures.


    But no matter who it was, it was extremely dangerous for a mortal like him.


    He suddenly remembered a legend that had been circulating for some time: It was said that in the Ancytica Mountains, there was a demon who controlled revenge and could grant avengers great strength, helping them mutilate their enemies.


    The voice resounded again.


    ¡°I will grant you strength. I will help you kill that evil dragon. You will become the savior of Anzeta, the true, and only king of the North!¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Dragon¡¯s Roar echoed in the air, interrupting his thoughts.


    Leo looked up, only to see the massive Red Dragon soaring high, spewing forth a blazing sea of flame that distorted the air and dyed half the sky red, as if it wanted to burn the whole world down.


    The Ancient Silver Dragon cast a shimmering shield, struggling to resist the onslaught of flames.


    Indeed.


    Kill him.


    Such a monster should not exist in this world.


    Be it the temptation of a devil or the power of a demon, as long as it could eliminate the evil dragon that threatened the Boske Duchy and uphold the thousand-year rule of the family, sacrificing everything was worth it.


    Leo Boske lowered his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with long-suppressed hatred, as if making some resolution.


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    The voice let out a mocking laugh.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    Leo felt an overwhelming chaotic power surge into his heart, as if a giant hand were churning through his insides.


    But compared to the exhilaration of that power, that bit of pain was trivial.


    He had never felt so powerful, the strength within him so abundant.


    ¡°However¡­ I still need some preparation.¡±


    Leo took out a crystal-clear gem and whispered into it, ¡°The great Dragon Slaying Ritual is about to begin. Members of Scarlet Blade, you may ready yourselves.¡±


    The Duke¡¯s face lit up with an excited smile, a ghostly green light flashing deep in his pupils.


    ¡­


    ¡°You and your outdated order will be torn apart by me!¡±


    Cassius forcefully broke through layers of magical barriers, extending his sturdy claws, lunging towards the Ancient Silver Dragon in mid-air.


    However, just as he was about to touch those silver scales, the body of his opponent began to fade, yet that so-called ¡°illusion¡± had been casting spells moments ago.


    Suddenly alarmed, Cassius quickly turned his head.


    ¡°Simulacrum?¡±


    ¡°Arrogant brat! When I fought the ancient Red Dragon, you weren¡¯t even born yet!¡±


    A roar came from behind him, transparent scales appearing.


    The surrounding air vibrated, revealing the massive body of the Silver Dragon, which had suddenly appeared behind him, its foreclaws laden with spells like Bigby¡¯s Crushing Hand and Rockfist, striking down onto the Red Dragon¡¯s body.


    But just before that moment, Cassius¡¯s forelimb moved as quickly as a shadow.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    The claw, imbued with a Disenchanting Field, slashed rapidly at the Silver Dragon¡¯s claw, leaving five long scratches on the once flawless, silver membrane of its wings.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The powerful thrust of the Ninth Tier Spell sent Cassius flying backward.


    Fragments of red scales shattered and fell from the sky.


    With another thunderous crash, Cassius¡¯s huge body smashed into the mountain, raising clouds of dust, deeply embedding into the rocks, causing the entire slope to collapse.


    But soon, the dust settled, and the enormous silhouette of the Red Dragon reappeared.


    ¡°Tricky old fellow.¡±


    Cassius nonchalantly shook his body. As golden flames burned, his wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his pale golden eyes locked onto the Silver Dragon in the sky.


    ¡°A thousand-year-old dragon, still playing such petty tricks?¡±


    ¡°Come, face me head-on!¡±


    Cassius roared to the sky, shouting provocatively.


    Even though he had lost half of his magic equipment, the tricks of this Ancient Silver Dragon were still terrifyingly numerous, and his combat experience was incredibly vast.


    A millennium of experience was no joke; the endless spells made Cassius feel thoroughly unprepared. A slight carelessness could land him in one of the Silver Dragon¡¯s traps, followed by a barrage of spells.


    ¡°Savage brute!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you what true order is!¡±


    Osedro flapped his wings in mid-air, but his left wing had become tattered, and his body flickered, covered in wounds, looking somewhat battered.


    Though he spoke lightly, the face of the Ancient Silver Dragon was grim at that moment, his mercury-like eyes filled with dread.


    Osedro became more convinced¡ªthis Red Dragon had the potential to become an Ancestral Dragon, possibly even going further.


    The magical essence of this Red Dragon was extraordinarily high; common spells had no effect on him, not even leaving marks on his tough scales. Only spells of the Seventh Tier or higher barely worked.


    His vitality was incredibly robust, even sustaining a Ninth Tier Spell head-on, he would heal at an astonishing rate. It was as if a magic reactor lay within his fearsome dragon body, with inexhaustible energy.


    In the eyes of the Ancient Silver Dragon, the only area this Red Dragon slightly lacked was spellcasting ability.


    But even so, with extraordinary charm, excessively high bloodline essence, and Dragon¡¯s Spells from ancient heritage, his spellcasting ability was akin to that of a Legendary Sorcerer.


    The ¡°Magic Withering,¡± similar to the Great Disjunction spell, had caused him considerable trouble.


    The mist had gradually dissipated in the prolonged battle, under the gaze of tens of thousands on the battlefield, the Red and the Silver dragons once again stood off against each other from afar.


    The battlefield had altered its appearance, no longer showing traces of the once flat wasteland.


    The onlookers were instantly left dumbfounded.


    The pockmarked ground featured meteors, scorched and re-solidified lava, slowly flowing magma, and gradually melting icebergs¡ªall stunning sights intermixed.

 Chapter 339 - 339: 263: Brawling

    Chapter 339: 263: Brawling


    ¡°Order?¡±


    ¡°The new order will be established by me!¡±


    Cassius roared towards the sky, his whole body bulging with veins, muscles protruding like iron blocks. His wings suddenly flapped, and the massive body shot up into the sky like an arrow off a bowstring.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The ground where the Red Dragon had previously been standing suddenly cracked, forming a dense web of fissures and a massive pit dozens of meters wide.


    Invisible air currents instantly spread out from the center of the pit, sweeping across the entire wasteland. The gale, mixed with sand and gravel, was so strong that mortals hundreds of meters away couldn¡¯t open their eyes.


    ...


    The Red Dragon folded his wings tightly against his body, forming an aerodynamic streamlined shape.


    He rapidly ascended, sparks flying from the friction on his scales. Flames spewed from the pores on his neck and tail, and he trailed a brilliant fiery tail behind him, like a meteor rising in reverse, reaching hundreds of meters in altitude in the span of a single breath.


    Cassius was surrounded by flames, lightning, and ashes. As his speed increased, turbulent streams of spell energy formed around his body.


    The massive dragon body tore through the air, causing sonic booms one after another, heading straight for the Ancient Silver Dragon high in the sky.


    Osedro¡¯s expression became grave; he could see the fearsome power behind this attack.


    The Ancient Silver Dragon raised the Star Realm Scepter in his claw and chanted ancient draconic words filled with endless magic power. Countless silver stars surrounded him. They interconnected and spun rapidly, forming a densely packed network sphere with a diameter of hundreds of meters, shining with dazzling brilliance.


    But this wasn¡¯t the end. The outer layer of the network was covered by smooth, transparent, extremely cold ice crystals. These smooth surfaces emitted coldness and reflected dazzling spell radiance, finally forming a giant, orderly polyhedron.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Cassius¡¯s attack struck it directly, unable to break through.


    The scorching pillar of fire hit the smooth surface and was directly reflected, causing a new magma pit to appear on the unfortunate ground below.


    This indestructible protective magic absorbed and reflected all surrounding energy, shielding the Ancient Silver Dragon within.


    Seeing Cassius repeatedly fail, Osedro looked smug.


    ¡°Red Dragon, your attacks are weak and powerless!¡±


    But Osedro had forgotten one thing¡ªhe hadn¡¯t sealed the space.


    With the inertia of thousands of years, Silver Dragons tended to lean more towards energy output-type spells of the transmutation school. Very few Magicians understood the mysteries of space.


    Moreover, Magicians couldn¡¯t decide their spell tables, which is why they were scornfully called ¡°the Barbarians among spellcasters.¡± But he didn¡¯t know that Cassius was no ordinary Magician.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    But Cassius only gave a grim smile and directly tore the space with his claw, creating a portal with flaming edges that led straight inside the protective magic.


    ¡°Not good!¡±


    Osedro¡¯s expression changed dramatically. He hurried to perform a spell counter, but the Red Dragon¡¯s speed was too fast.


    A fierce fluctuation in space followed by a fleeting shadow, even difficult for the Silver Dragon¡¯s True Knowledge-enhanced eyes to perceive. The Red Dragon had already leaped onto his back, gripping his wings tightly with strong forepaws.


    ¡°Got you, you annoying old geezer!¡±


    Cassius shouted fiercely, using all his strength to lock the Silver Dragon tightly. His massive, fiery jaws bit down on Osedro¡¯s neck.


    But being a Law-Addicted Dragon, in the extreme danger, Osedro¡¯s chain trigger magic activated automatically. Layers of light membranes appeared on his body, resisting the sharp teeth of the Red Dragon.


    However, how could ordinary spells withstand the strength of a Red Dragon?


    The layers of light membranes only held out for a few seconds before the sharp teeth pierced them like thin paper, directly biting into the scales. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Silver scales shattered and scattered in the air, shining brilliantly under the sunlight.


    Red dragon blood sprayed out as well.


    ¡°Aow¡ª¡±


    The high-pitched roar of the Silver Dragon drew the attention of all beings on the battlefield. Whether human, Tiefling, or those giant dragons, they looked up incredulously at the sky, watching the two colossal beings wrestling with each other, filled with tremendous unease at this ancient-seeming battle¡ªnow clearly dominated by the Red Dragon.


    But the strength of an Ancient Silver Dragon was not to be underestimated; his combat experience was far richer than Cassius¡¯s.


    Osedro struggled wildly in the air, constantly twisting and turning. Several transformation and protective spells reinforced his massive silver dragon body. Ice cones, force fields, hurricanes, and other bizarre counterattacks fired from his body, finally flinging Cassius off his back, freeing the Silver Dragon from the muscular arms.


    But the Silver Dragon had no time to breathe. He had just broken free and hadn¡¯t yet cast a spell when the Red Dragon attacked with an unimaginable speed.


    The two giant dragons wrestled and fell, crashing into and shattering the ice mountains below with a thunderous sound.


    In close quarters, Osedro seemed to sense something amiss.


    A scent.


    This Red Dragon¡¯s body carried the scent of rainwater.


    He knew it all too well; it was a scent exclusive to Silver Dragons, like the freshness after a rainstorm.


    And before he and his clan arrived, there was only one Silver Dragon in the Anzeta Great Wilderness¡ªhis particularly cherished granddaughter, ¡°Silver Star¡± Olivia.


    Osedro¡¯s expression changed dramatically. He abandoned all mage decorum and lunged at the Red Dragon, shouting loudly:


    ¡°Red Dragon! You carry the scent of a Silver Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Where is Olivia?¡±


    ¡°What did you do to her?!¡±


    In extreme fury, the Ancient Silver Dragon¡¯s aura surged violently. His whole body bulged with veins, and even his strength increased beyond usual, faintly suppressing the Red Dragon.


    After thousands of years, upon entering the Ancient Dragon Stage, Osedro¡¯s emotions had grown increasingly indifferent. He no longer roved about upholding justice as in his youth; he was even somewhat indifferent to the life and death of mortals.


    But his family was his last treasure and a responsibility he had to bear as an Elder.


    ¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡±


    ¡°Old geezer, don¡¯t you know? Your precious granddaughter is now a proud citizen of the kingdom!¡±


    Cassius laughed wildly, mercilessly using his immense strength to slap the Silver Dragon¡¯s enraged face to the side again and then slashed deep gashes into the Silver Dragon¡¯s body with his claws.


    Osedro ignored the wounds on his face. He spread his broad, silver wings wide like flashing boards, and charged at the Red Dragon, enraged.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡±


    ¡°I taught Olivia myself. She is kind by nature, with a heart of justice. How could she succumb to an evil dragon drenched in blood like you?!¡±


    Cassius crashed head-on into him, forcibly resisting the massive body of the Silver Dragon, clawing and tearing at the silver scales.


    ¡°Old geezer, this just proves your ways are outdated! They don¡¯t make sense anymore!¡±


    ¡°Even your own granddaughter doesn¡¯t believe in your so-called ¡®order,¡¯ and you expect this to balance the world?!¡±


    ¡°What a joke!¡±

 Chapter 340 - 264 Breath of Bahamut (Part 1)

    Chapter 340: Chapter 264 Breath of Bahamut (Part 1)


    Just as Cassius prepared to engage in another bout of close combat, a shimmer of magical aura flickered around the Silver Dragon¡¯s massive body. Its colossal frame gradually became translucent and then reappeared at the top of the clouds, miles away.


    Cassius looked up at him from afar and taunted, ¡°Old man, are you afraid?¡±


    ¡°Using a Teleportation Spell at such a distance violates the sacred duel traditions of the dragonkin. Are you conceding defeat?¡±


    ¡°To deal with an evil dragon like you, why follow the rules?¡±


    Osedro let out a high-pitched roar. The metal disc on his chest slowly rotated, with a delicate pointer pointing to a sapphire crystal stone.


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    ...


    ¡°What is that? Heaven?¡±


    ¡°How could such a magnificent structure appear out of nowhere?¡±


    People looked up at the sky, exclaiming in awe one after another.


    Because a more exaggerated scene unfolded: an icy northern wind howled in, gathering around the Silver Dragon. Tiny bits of frost gradually solidified and accumulated, constructing a hundreds-of-meters-tall silver-shining fortress on the clouds, completely enveloping him.


    All space, energy, and matter were entirely sealed by this fortress of absolute order.


    [Platinum Fortress of Bahamut]


    The speed of this Red Dragon far exceeded his expectations, and the power of its Breath could pierce his defenses. Facing such an opponent, a single misstep could lead to a deadly situation, and for a mage like him, close combat was not the ideal way.


    Therefore, he had to adopt the most secure and conservative strategy.


    Osedro planned to gradually wear down his opponent¡¯s energy in this indestructible fortress, ultimately relying on his spells to achieve victory.


    By then, he could seal his opponent and guide this Red Dragon with Ancestral Dragon potential onto the right path, ending the endless war and suffering on this land.


    ¡°Damn tortoise shell¡­¡±


    Glaring at the silver fortress sealing the space, Cassius gritted his teeth, a flicker of flame escaping from the corner of his mouth.


    It was indeed the spellcasting ability of a legendary mage, and this Ancient Law-loving Silver Dragon, with over a thousand years of wisdom, was beyond his means to contend with. The metal disc on its chest likely had the attributes of a pseudogod divine artifact.


    If he allowed him to cast spells within those layers of protection, he would be at an absolute disadvantage, running for his life.


    ¡°Perhaps I need to anger this old man, making him take the offense.¡±


    ¡°Or even¡­ make him desperate enough to fight me to the death.¡±


    Thinking this, Cassius cracked a sinister grin, his tone dripping with mockery:


    ¡°Osedro, do you want to know where your beloved granddaughter is?¡±


    ¡°Evil dragon! What did you do?¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Ancient Silver Dragon roared, summoning thousands of sharp ice cones that rained down on the Red Dragon below like a storm.


    The Red Dragon on the ground didn¡¯t dodge. He spread his wings and merely controlled the flames around him to form a wall, melting all the incoming ice cones.


    ¡°Old man, have you ever heard of the ¡®Song of Embers¡¯?¡±


    Cassius asked meaningfully.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Osedro¡¯s heart sank as a horrific thought struck him.


    As a mage, the Silver Dragon had certainly researched his opponent beforehand, but he had dismissed the so-called ¡®Song of Embers¡¯ as mere human fantasy. After all, Red Dragons were just man-eaters, not that depraved.


    Cassius licked his lips with a deliberate gesture, his smile becoming even more menacing: ¡°That young Silver Dragon tasted quite nice in all aspects.¡±


    To the Silver Dragon, that smile was absolutely terrifying.


    ¡°No, impossible!¡±


    At once, Osedro felt as if struck by lightning, his face showing utter despair.


    The charisma of this Red Dragon was so high it could warp reality. Even using spells, he could hardly discern the truth of his words. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though Red Dragons and Silver Dragons were natural enemies, they were all offspring of Ao, all noble True Dragons. Cannibalizing each other was as unforgivable as cannibalism among humans.


    Even the most chaotic evil Red Dragons rarely had cases of dragon-eating. Those notorious for such acts were infamous vile dragons in the Multiverse, some even disowned by Tiamat.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Ancient Silver Dragon howled towards the sky, his furious roar echoing across the plains, whipping up a fierce blizzard mixed with his rage.


    The Silver Fortress dissipated into the wind.


    Osedro spread his wide silver wings, slowly taking to the sky. His enormous silver body glimmered in the sunlight, dazzling the onlookers below.


    The Ancient Silver Dragon¡¯s eyes widened, his mercury-like pupils spewing endless anger:


    ¡°Cassius, I made a grave mistake¡­¡±


    ¡°For a hopeless, deeply sinful dragon like you, I should not have held any expectation, nor any desire to reform you!¡±


    ¡°Even the slightest indulgence towards you, out of kinship, would be an insult to all the righteous who died by your hand, and a disrespect to the world¡¯s order!¡±


    ¡°You are unworthy of being called a True Dragon. You are a disgraceful, pitiful monster, an error that must be eradicated!¡±


    Osedro coldly gazed down at the ground, the metal disc on his chest rotating slightly, magical runes lighting up with a gleam of light escaping from the gaps.


    Finally, the pointer stopped at the silver-white gem.


    This was the relic personally bestowed by Bahamut, a divine artifact he received when leaving the Heavenly Mountain, vowing to use it only against the most wicked and irredeemable enemies¡ªthe silver-white ¡°Wind of Bahamut.¡±


    ¡°Cassius, the beings of this land have suffered enough.¡±


    ¡°Therefore, I will end it all, once and for all.¡±


    The Silver Dragon slightly opened his mouth, a milky-white glow appearing deep in his throat.


    [Breath of Bahamut]


    In a flash, a burst of holy light was unleashed, the northern wind rose, and it seemed as though a sacred hymn echoed among the clouds. The imposing presence made everyone present want to prostrate in worship.


    ¡°Is that¡­ the Breath of Bahamut?¡±


    ¡°No good! Grandfather is going for the kill! Cassius can¡¯t withstand it!¡±


    Olivia, watching anxiously from afar, her expression changed drastically. She screamed piercingly as she flew into the sky in her Silver Dragon form, trying to stop the fatal duel.


    ¡°No¡ªstop! Grandfather!¡±


    Olivia¡¯s voice was filled with anxiety and urgency, and she was even on the verge of tears.


    Meanwhile, Blue Dragon Christina roared, flapping her wings to give chase: ¡°Damn Metal Dragon, don¡¯t you dare interfere with His Highness¡¯s battle!¡±


    However, their impact on the ongoing intense battle was minimal. These two young dragons, each over ten meters long, seemed like hatchlings compared to the two titans.


    At this moment, the two giant dragons had eyes only for each other, and any distraction could lead to irreversible outcomes.


    ¡°This is Bahamut¡¯s power! Old man, bring it on!¡±


    ¡°This befits the title of ¡®Wings of Silver!''¡±


    Cassius gazed up at the sky, laughing excitedly as he too opened his jaws wide.


    Flames surged through the veins of the Red Dragon, even showing through his skin, forming root-like patterns on his body.


    The continuously flowing energy was channeled into the Dragon Crystal, with brilliant, high-temperature white flames jetting out from the orifices on his neck and tail.


    Amidst the terrifying undulations, magical fission reactions erupted violently within the Dragon Crystal, random sparks and arcs appearing inside, clashing against its confines. The Dragon Crystal became intensely radiant, making him look like a miniature sun on the ground.


    Fierce heat waves spread out from the Red Dragon, incinerating everything within a hundred-meter radius into ashes¡ªbe it humans, stones, or trees.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A deafening explosion echoed.


    [Primordial Breath]


    In the next instant, blue-white flames spewed from the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth, the extreme heat instantly vaporizing the surrounding air.


    At the same time, a stream of pure white containing divine light cascaded down from the Ancient Silver Dragon¡¯s mouth, emitting intense cold that could freeze space itself.

 Chapter 341 - 265 Breath of Bahamut (Part 2)

    Chapter 341: Chapter 265 Breath of Bahamut (Part 2)


    After undergoing magic fission, the Flame Breath burst forth like a torrential storm, a glaring blue pillar of fire shooting straight into the sky, with the outer flames a terrifying blue and the inner flames a blinding white.


    Where the flames reached, the air was searingly distorted, as if even time was twisted in this extremely hot flame.


    And the Silver Dragon¡¯s Breath, woven from icy, stormy, and radiant magical powers of various attributes, ultimately formed a pillar brimming with holy order and immense energy.


    The pristine, flawless white Breath descended from the heavens, resembling a divine punishment personally cast by Bahamut.


    The two Breaths approached each other rapidly over a distance of a thousand meters, about to collide.


    The wasteland was eerily silent for a moment as if stunned by the terrifying magical reaction.


    ...


    Subsequently, the two drastically different forces finally collided, resulting in a violent magical explosion, a massive mushroom cloud blossoming in the sky.


    Next, dazzling light tore through the smoke, instantly illuminating the entire sky, which became extraordinarily bright, as if a second sun had risen.


    The light was so blinding that people couldn¡¯t look directly at it.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    The booming sound echoed through Anzeta, causing everyone nearby to experience ringing ears and even a bout of dizziness.


    As the light spread, a massive wave of energy began to radiate outward from the center of the explosion. Like an invisible tidal wave, it swept forth at an astounding speed, destroying everything in its path.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡ª¡±


    The original camps instantly disintegrated under the energy wave¡¯s impact, turning into ruins. Trees were uprooted, with branches and leaves flying. The soil and stones on the ground were lifted, creating colossal whirlwinds of dust and debris.


    If both armies had not already retreated several miles away, they might have been obliterated or even wiped out entirely by this energy.


    Over a hundred onlookers, who didn¡¯t mind making trouble, were swallowed by the aftermath.


    ¡°Help¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh gods, is this divine punishment?¡±


    ¡°Get down! Everyone get down! Do not approach!¡±


    But even so, many people were still knocked down or blown away by the tsunami-like wave. Those still standing struggled exceptionally hard, clinging desperately to anything they could find to maintain their balance, like grasping at the last straw of hope.


    And Leo Boske, under the heavy protection of his guards, hid behind a small mound, lying on the ground in a rather embarrassing posture, gazing up at the magical catastrophe in the sky.


    ¡°Look, they can easily destroy everything you care about.¡±


    That deep voice rang out once more.


    The hatred in his eyes grew more intense, and he muttered continuously, ¡°These monsters¡­ These threats to the duchy¡­¡±


    ¡°Must be eradicated completely! Kill¡­ kill them!¡±


    Even he didn¡¯t realize that a twisted vortex appeared in his pupils.


    After the violent explosion caused by the first collision, Osedro¡¯s ¡°Breath of Bahamut¡± and Cassius¡¯s ¡°Primordial Breath¡± continued to clash, gradually reaching a stalemate.


    The scorching blue and white flames collided fiercely with the ice, radiance, and storm in the air. The flames blurred under the onslaught of ice, while the ice hissed under the fiery onslaught.


    Freezing, melting, and evaporation occurred continuously, producing rolling white mist.


    The two forces continuously dissolved and resisted each other, creating a spectacular scene on the wasteland.


    The surrounding air became chaotic due to the force impact, with air currents spinning rapidly to form whirlwinds. The temperature on the wasteland fluctuated drastically, sometimes frost-covered, sometimes steaming hot.


    In the eyes of the observing creatures, the Silver Dragon and the Red Dragon stood their ground, one to the left and one to the right, one in the sky and one on the ground, facing off with their fearsome Breaths, neither willing to back down.


    Olivia and Christina were blown away by the aftermath of the collision, crashing simultaneously into a massive iceberg.


    A blue and a silver young female dragon tangled together.


    ¡°No¡ªGrandfather!¡±


    ¡°Stop! I¡¯m still alive!¡±


    Olivia quickly broke free from the Blue Dragon¡¯s grasp, flapping her wings, trying to take off again.


    However, Christina grabbed the Silver Dragon¡¯s hind leg, screaming loudly, ¡°Shameless Silver Dragon!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t let you interfere with this sacred duel!¡±


    Repeatedly blocked, Olivia became somewhat angry. She swung her claw, producing a force field orb the size of a head, directly knocking the Blue Dragon to the ground.


    ¡°Get out of the way! I¡¯m saving Cassius!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Bahamut¡¯s power, do you want him to die?¡±


    Olivia flew into the air, battling the chaotic storm and energy torrents, using an amplifying spell to cry out loudly, ¡°Grandfather! Stop!¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I¡¯m not dead! I haven¡¯t been eaten! Cassius isn¡¯t an irredeemable villain!¡±


    The Icefall-spitting Osedro finally noticed Olivia¡¯s presence. He was slightly startled, and the uncontrollable rage in his heart gradually dissipated.


    But even Osedro couldn¡¯t fully control the power of ¡°Breath of Bahamut.¡±


    This Breath contained a wisp of the Lord of the Northwind¡¯s divine power, once released, it couldn¡¯t be easily stopped until the evil was completely destroyed.


    Moreover, the Red Dragon continuously released the dreadful fission breath. Once stopped, Osedro would have to endure the Primordial Breath of the opponent, a cost he couldn¡¯t bear.


    ¡°Stop, Grandfather!¡±


    Olivia still cried urgently.


    But before their immense power, the ten-meter-long Silver Dragon appeared so small.


    The terrible magical reaction continued while the two powerful, highly essential forces kept colliding and confronting each other, continuously altering the wasteland¡¯s entire environment.


    The current leader of the Melwood Clan, a robust adult male Silver Dragon ¨C Leonard looked up at the young Silver Dragon in the sky, shouting loudly:


    ¡°Olivia! Come back! This isn¡¯t a battle you can partake in!¡±


    Leonard looked up at the heavily injured Osedro, then towards the Red Dragon in the distance, surrounded by flames, fully focusing on the Breath, a glint of determination and resolve crossing his vertical pupils.


    ¡°Clan members, that evil dragon cannot move anymore!¡±


    ¡°But, tradition¡­¡±


    The Silver Dragons in the clan were somewhat hesitant.


    Leonard urgently said, ¡°Elder Osedro is the Melwood Guardian! He cannot be wrong!¡±


    ¡°We must help the elder, justice and order will prevail in the end!¡±


    At his call, the Silver Dragons behind him flapped their wings and took to the sky.


    For the adaptable Silver Dragons, outnumbering the enemy was often not considered shameful. As the archenemies of the Red Dragons, Silver Dragons often summoned allies to defeat these ferocious, solitary foes.


    However, this time, the opponent wasn¡¯t fighting solo either.


    ¡°Shameless Silver Dragons!¡±


    ¡°You shall not step closer to His Highness! This is an insult to dragonkin¡¯s great tradition!¡±


    Christina roared angrily, leading twelve Blue Dragon guards to meet them.


    The Blue Dragons of the Farria Clan spewed clusters of lightning, engaging the Silver Dragons of the Melwood Clan, and the two long-feuding dragon flocks clashed once again.


    ¡°I am the master¡¯s most loyal servant!¡±


    Tiniya roared fiercely, the twenty-meter-long Atavistic White Dragon soared into the sky, plunging into the battling dragon flock, pinning an adult Silver Dragon to the ground.

 Chapter 342 - 266 The Dragons Rage

    Chapter 342: Chapter 266 The Dragon¡¯s Rage


    During the grandest battle, in the pure clash of dragon breaths, Cassius gradually fell into a disadvantage. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The breath of the silver dragon contained a trace of Bahamut¡¯s divine power, which was immensely sacred, absolute order, and the essence of the ¡°Lord of the Northwind.¡±


    This divine power of order inhibited the magical fission of the red dragon¡¯s primordial breath, making the blue-white high-temperature flame weaker, while the extreme cold further calmed the nearby space and time.


    The center of the collision gradually moved towards the ground, and the pure white breath got closer and closer to Cassius.


    If this momentum continued¡ª


    ...


    The red dragon might be enveloped in this Breath of Bahamut, have all his personality erased, and passively accept complete ¡°purification.¡±


    But no fear could be seen on Cassius¡¯ ferocious dragon face; instead, his pale golden pupils were full of excitement.


    His entire body trembled with excitement, and fiery light surged through the veins in his dragon body.


    ¡°Sizzle¡­¡±


    The sound of burning and exploding echoed, and a deep red like blood appeared in the dragon crystal on the red dragon¡¯s chest, while a blood-colored glow emerged under his hardened scales.


    Immediately, that red color quickly spread to his breath.


    It was the ultimate divine power representing chaos and destruction, the Purifying Flame of Karex.


    [Breath of Chaos]


    Cassius used all his strength to control his mind, refraining from killing for several days, just to free himself from the influence of the ¡°Heart of Karex.¡±


    But when the intense battle arrived, when he fell into a disadvantage in the clash of strength and faced a life-threatening situation, that tempting, immensely powerful strength still emerged involuntarily.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another explosion sounded, and the deep red flame of chaos disintegrated the order of the Breath of Bahamut, breaking the original balance.


    The pillar of fire directly shattered the white icefall and quickly pushed back.


    Osedro¡¯s expression changed drastically.


    Bloodshot appeared in Cassius¡¯ pale golden vertical pupils, a fevered smile spread from the corners of his mouth, and a blood-colored glow emerged on his body.


    The red dragon flapped his broad wings, stirring up a frenzied hurricane. He sprayed the scorching pillar of fire while his massive dragon body rose into the sky, slowly approaching the ancient silver dragon high above.


    Cassius stared up at the bewildered silver dragon, a thought surging in his mind.


    Kill him.


    Kill him, kill him.


    Then I will gain even greater power, and that ultimate pleasure.


    The dragon kin tangled in battle also noticed the change in the situation, and the blue dragons raised their heads and roared, cheering excitedly.


    ¡°Lord Cassius!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s about to win!¡±


    ¡°As expected of the ¡®Dragon Prince,¡¯ even an ancient silver dragon is no match for him!¡±


    ¡°Osedro should have died long ago!¡±


    ¡°Kill him! Tear that old guy apart!¡±


    Christina¡¯s eyes were full of admiration, and she fought even harder. She fiercely struck down the silver dragon in front of her with a single claw.


    ¡°No, no, no¡­¡±


    In mid-air, Olivia shook her head continuously, her eyes filled with tears as she muttered in despair.


    Facing the approaching red dragon that spewed the flame of chaos, she remembered that terrible look full of a desire for destruction and those unbearable memories.


    She knew what it meant.


    ¡ªCassius was on the verge of being dominated by power, becoming a beast of destruction.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Cassius continued to flap his wings, steadily approaching. At this moment, he was less than a hundred meters away from the ancient giant dragon.


    His burning heart beat violently.


    It seemed to be cheering for the impending hunt of a powerful prey.


    The burning chaos flame finally engulfed the white icefall entirely, turning the sky into a kingdom of flames.


    Hot sparks splashed onto Osedro¡¯s body, leaving spot-like scars on his massive silver dragon¡¯s body, emitting a scorched smell.


    The destructive and chaotic divine power disrupted the nearby Magic Web, creating turbulent sorcery flows, rendering all the spells of the Law-Addicted Dragon useless. He even found it difficult to maintain his position in the air.


    At this moment, the ancient silver dragon had become a pitiful sight, looking extremely miserable.


    His tattered silver wings flapped strenuously, the gaping holes emitting a shrill whistling sound.


    ¡°Howl¡ª¡±


    Osedro let out a high-pitched, sharp wail.


    The metallic disk on the ancient silver dragon¡¯s chest slowly rotated, floating in mid-air, emitting waves of holy light, like a shield, blocking in front of him, growing to a diameter of a hundred meters.


    However, the red dragon let out a frenzied roar, shrouded in chaotic flames, repeatedly smashing into the metallic disk.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    The chaotic flames burned on it, continuously eroding the remaining order divine power on the disk.


    Finally, with a crisp sound, spider-web-like cracks appeared in the center of the disk, and then it shattered, scattering into countless silver fragments.


    The silver-white gem representing divine grace, ¡°Wind of Bahamut,¡± also fell to the ground with the shattering of the disk.


    ¡°I will kill you!¡±


    Cassius roared furiously, breaking through the stubborn obstacle, charging straight toward Osedro, the deep red flame gathering in his throat once again.


    As Osedro approached his final moment, he grew calm.


    His mercury-like pupils reflected the charging red dragon without a ripple, followed by a deep sigh.


    The ancient silver dragon began to reflect on his life¡ªhe had lived for a thousand years, witnessed numerous changes, and even became hypocritical and decayed without realizing, ending his life with a grand, magnificent battle didn¡¯t seem too bad.


    Osedro thought.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop! Cassius! That isn¡¯t you!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be dominated by that power!¡±


    Olivia desperately flapped her wings, shouting hoarsely, trying to rush up and stop him.


    However, the violent hurricane generated by the collision of energies blew the ten-meter-long silver dragon around in the air, making her struggle uncontrollably.


    Even maintaining the most basic balance in the air became an issue for Olivia, let alone stopping the red dragon¡¯s onslaught.


    But her efforts were not in vain.


    The red dragon seemed to hear her call.


    In the brain of Cassius, almost filled with a desire for destruction, a glimpse of remaining rationality emerged¡ªnot all thanks to the silver dragon, but also a result of his months of searching for ways to maintain his will, constructing his own mental fortress.


    Olivia¡¯s call evidently triggered this automatic defense mechanism.


    ¡°This ancient silver dragon is Bahamut¡¯s chosen, an elder of Melwood.¡±


    ¡°Killing him would mean turning completely against Bahamut, against all the Metal Dragon Clan, cutting off his own retreat, and inevitably throwing himself into Tiamat¡¯s embrace.¡±


    The remaining rationality told him: not to kill Osedro.


    But the will of the ¡°Heart of Karex¡± repeatedly tried to invade his mind, invoking his bloodline¡¯s deep-seated desires for slaughter and destruction.


    ¡°Kill him!¡±


    ¡°I will gain supreme power!¡±


    The chaotic flame in the red dragon¡¯s mouth was about to burst forth, turning the ancient silver dragon into ashes.


    At the last moment, Cassius¡¯ gaze flickered slightly; he tilted his head slightly, and the deep red pillar of fire passed by the ancient silver dragon¡¯s heart, piercing through his left wing.


    ¡°Howl!¡±


    Osedro let out a desolate wail.


    His broad left wing was instantly burned to ashes, and the deep red chaotic flame continued to spread along the wing, relentlessly eroding his body.


    The massive ancient silver dragon fell powerlessly from the sky.


    This truncation of limbs, imbued with chaotic divine power, might take hundreds of years to gradually heal, unless a deity intervened personally; even Ninth Tier-level divine arts could hardly cure it.


    But Osedro at least survived, keeping his precious life.


    ¡°Elder¡ª¡±


    ¡°Uncle!¡±


    ¡°Hurry, go and save him!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get him out of here!¡±


    The silver dragons of Melwood rushed up anxiously, haphazardly flapping their silver wings, desperately protecting their respected elder.

 Chapter 343 - 267: Revenge

    Chapter 343: Chapter 267: Revenge


    In the high sky, surrounded by scorching wind.


    Cassius¡¯s pupils kept changing, sometimes clear pale gold, sometimes mottled blood red.


    ¡°Roar¡­ Roar¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon let out a series of agitated low growls. Blood light flickered on the scales of his body, and dark red Chaos Flame coiled around his massive dragon form.


    Cassius¡¯s will and the will of destruction continuously fought for control of his body. He struggled painfully in the abyss of strength and wrestled with the desires buried deep in his bloodline.


    ¡°Cassius, stop!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Don¡¯t let that power control you! That¡¯s not the real you!¡±


    Olivia shouted anxiously over and over.


    The Silver Dragon ignored the resistance, flapping her wings with all her might in the hurricane, trying to approach the struggling Red Dragon¡ªso much so that burn marks appeared on her slender silver body.


    ¡°Stop¡­ Stop¡­¡±


    ¡°Hurry¡­¡±


    Another blast of scorching wind howled past, blowing her several meters away. Olivia spread her wings, almost spitting out her words through clenched teeth.


    ¡­


    On the ground behind a hill, Leo Boske looked up, staring fixedly at the Red Dragon hovering in the air.


    ¡°Look¡­ This is your best chance for revenge. That Red Dragon is going mad. He won¡¯t notice you.¡±


    ¡°You will become the hero of the North. You will become the supreme ruler of Anzeta¡­¡±


    That deep voice echoed once again in Leo¡¯s mind.


    Indeed¡­


    Everything was the fault of that Red Dragon.


    It was the Red Dragon that put Boske¡¯s rule on the brink of collapse, destroyed his proud army, killed several of his offspring. It was also the Red Dragon that shook the thousand-year foundation of the Boske Family.


    Kill him.


    Kill this Red Dragon, and everything would be his.


    His Boske Family would rule the North forever, just like the sun and moon hanging eternally in the sky, a thousand years, ten thousand years, never descending.


    Duke Leo¡¯s pupils surged with endless hatred and the excitement of soon killing his nemesis.


    His lips moved slightly, and his beard trembled along with them.


    ¡°Quick, tell me.¡±


    ¡°I beg you, tell me, what¡­ What should I do?¡±


    The voice chuckled lightly in response: ¡°It¡¯s simple. Hatred is your weapon.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Leo clenched his teeth, trying his best to recall those anger-inducing and hateful memories, the hatred in his eyes growing thicker.


    He did not notice the increasing cracks on his strong body from which dark yellow Abyssal light was emerging.


    Soon, black smoke surged in Leo Boske¡¯s hand. These chaotic mists gradually condensed, finally forming a black short spear.


    The Spear of Revenge.


    This was the product of pure malice, extreme hatred, and Abyssal energy combined.


    ¡°Very good. Imagine your enemy¡¯s heart being pierced, and then throw it.¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The voice sounded joyful.


    ¡°Go¡­ Die!¡±


    ¡°Red Dragon!¡±


    Looking up at the Red Dragon high in the sky, Leo Boske¡¯s cracked face displayed a twisted, frenzied smile. He used all his strength to throw the short spear.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    Abyssal Turbulence surged upward, rushing straight towards the Red Dragon suspended in the sky.


    However, the Silver Dragon in mid-air noticed all of this.


    ¡°Is that Abyssal energy?¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    Olivia¡¯s eyes looked at the black short spear piercing through the air, then at the still struggling Red Dragon, her anxiety reaching its peak.


    She kept casting protective spells she knew, but none could stop the spear of revenge that carried chaotic power, not even a bit.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°I mustn¡¯t let him be completely infected by that power.¡±


    Olivia bit her silver teeth lightly, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.


    In an instant, the young Silver Dragon furiously swung her wings, placing herself in the trajectory of the black short spear, using her flesh and blood to protect Cassius.


    ¡°Aow¡ª¡±


    Olivia let out a sharp wail.


    The black spear mercilessly tore through the silver wings, continuing to fly towards the high sky.


    The Silver Dragon fell powerlessly from mid-air, with ghastly wounds on her wings, the edges still corroded by Abyssal dark smoke.


    The piercing wail finally awakened Cassius completely. Clarity returned to his pale golden vertical pupils.


    ¡°This is¡ª


    ¡°Jezarslack?¡±


    As the Red Dragon turned his head, his expression became extremely solemn¡ªhe immediately recognized the handiwork of the ¡°Vengeful Demon,¡± similar to what Keman had done before.


    Without hesitation, he spat out a deep green Antimagic Ray.


    However, this time the short spear contained little chaotic energy, seemingly only meant to trigger Cassius¡¯s desire for destruction, to plunge him into complete madness¡ªas a result, the Magic Withering easily dissolved the swiftly approaching Spear of Revenge.


    ¡°Despicable human!¡±


    ¡°How dare you borrow the power of the Abyss!¡±


    On the ground, the heavily injured Osedro barely got up, letting out a roar mixed with shock and anger.


    As a world balance maintainer, the Ancient Silver Dragon had long led the Merlwood Family on the front lines against the Abyss, so he was naturally familiar with this kind of power.


    Yet he never expected that this human noble from the remote North would become the Proxy for a demon.


    ¡°Elder, it¡¯s too dangerous here. Let¡¯s leave quickly!¡±


    ¡°Your injuries are too severe, you can¡¯t continue fighting!¡±


    Leonard and several Silver Dragons, dragging the gravely injured Osedro, instantly created an Otherworld Gate, preparing to leave here with him.


    ¡°Old man, this is your dear Northern ally, a human infected by the Abyss?¡±


    ¡°Is this the order you keep talking about?¡±


    Cassius looked down at the ground, his expression indifferent as he mocked.


    ¡°You win, Cassius.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Osedro gave him one last glance before saying no more. He simply transformed into a wretched human form and entered the portal with the younger Silver Dragons and retainers, leaving the Anzeta Great Wilderness where he had paid such a heavy price.


    The Red Dragon then ripped through space, appearing before Leo Boske. His broad wings cast a massive shadow, completely engulfing the standing human noble.


    Humans are so tiny in front of such a colossal being.


    Leo Boske¡¯s face turned pale as he looked up at the vast dragon form. His eyes were filled with resentment and despair, and his cracked head shook incessantly.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡±


    ¡°I was supposed to kill you, becoming the supreme ruler of the North¡ª¡±


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    Before he finished speaking, a burst of exploding air resounded, and flames completely engulfed him, turning the place where he stood into a raging sea of fire.


    Cassius sighed: ¡°Foolish human, another one ensnared by the Vengeful Demon.¡±


    ¡°However¡­ it seems things aren¡¯t that simple.¡±


    Suddenly, a blurred figure emerged from the sea of flames, accompanied by a low laugh.


    ¡°We meet again, Cassius.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, a grand Abyssal Lord from ten thousand years ago, imprisoned by the Gods in the star realm, now parasitizing a mortal¡¯s body. How pathetic.¡±


    Cassius watched that blurred figure as if facing a great enemy, not forgetting to mock.


    ¡°Cassius, we¡¯ll meet again very soon.¡±


    ¡°No matter how you struggle, you can¡¯t escape the fate prescribed by the universe¡­¡±


    The flame continued to crackle, the demon¡¯s whispers echoing within.


    Yet the blurred figure vanished with a burst of electricity, leaving only a ghastly human-shaped imprint on the nearby stone wall.

 Chapter 344 - 268 Scarlet Blade (I)

    Chapter 344: Chapter 268 Scarlet Blade (I)


    Beside an unremarkable hill on the battlefield, a severely injured Silver Dragon lay dying on the ground.


    Olivia¡¯s eyes were tightly shut, emitting painful groans and muffled screams.


    Her slender body, over ten meters long, was curled up in a ball, with Chaos Fog spreading from the wounds on her wings to all parts of her body, continuously eroding her flesh.


    Suddenly, a silver radiance fell, dispersing the Abyssal Energy. Then, beams of golden light descended, causing the wounds to slowly heal, new flesh growing.


    Cassius held the ¡°Wind of Bahamut¡± in his claws and cast the Dragon¡¯s Breath spell, silently standing beside the Silver Dragon.


    After a moment of silence, he finally spoke:


    ...


    ¡°Why did you do this?¡±


    Olivia struggled to open her eyes, her blue-gray eyes filled with stubbornness: ¡°I once swore in my heart, I would save you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not like you¡­ a liar.¡±


    Her words were intermittent, yet extraordinarily firm.


    ¡°Naive, overconfident, self-styled savior, you possess all the stubborn traits, or rather, virtues of your Silver Dragon race.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ it¡¯s rather adorably foolish.¡±


    Staring intently at the young Silver Dragon, who had been miserably deceived by him but had come to his aid in a critical moment, Cassius¡¯s expression was complex.


    His pale golden vertical pupils flickered slightly, uncertain about what he was thinking.


    Olivia¡¯s eyelids trembled. She slightly bent her neck, trying to raise her head to see the Red Dragon¡¯s expression, but in the end, she fell weakly back onto the ground.


    ¡°So¡­ is it all over?¡±


    ¡°It will be over soon.¡±


    Cassius answered calmly.


    As if satisfied with the answer, Olivia¡¯s eyelids finally couldn¡¯t hold up any longer, quivering a few times before slowly closing.


    Olivia fell into a deep coma, her battered body slightly rising and falling with her breaths, she was too exhausted.


    The Red Dragon once again spread his wings, an unwittingly feral grin crossing his face.


    ¡°But¡­ before that, we need to catch a few rats hiding in the shadows first.¡±


    ¡­


    At a crevice in the Prime Material World, inside an Other-Dimensional Space temporarily created by spellcasters.


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡±


    ¡°Look carefully! That Red Dragon is the one who defeated the formidable ¡®Wings of Silver¡¯ Osedro!¡±


    ¡°Tens of thousands of gold coins are not worth the cost of our lives, not to mention our dear employer has been taken by an abyssal demon!¡±


    An anxious female voice rang out.


    Speaking was a woman in a white robe, her body full and curvaceous, Ingrid Garses, the Legendary Light Priestess of the ¡°Scarlet Blade.¡±


    Dex Flamgold tightened his grip on the Great Sword in his hand, his eyes blazing as he spoke in a deep voice:


    ¡°He indeed defeated Osedro, but that doesn¡¯t mean he still has that strength now!¡±


    ¡°That Red Dragon has gone through such an intense battle, he¡¯s likely running on fumes now. This is our best chance to slay a dragon!¡±


    ¡°Think about it, this is a dragon that defeated Osedro, who is reputedly Tiamat¡¯s ¡®Dragon Prince¡¯!¡±


    ¡°Once we chop off his head, our names will go down in history, the renown of the Scarlet Blade will spread across the Fianso Continent, and even the entire multiverse! We will become heroes of the righteous, with Emperor Amanata himself extending an olive branch to us!¡±


    Dex¡¯s voice grew increasingly urgent, increasingly excited, as if he had already envisioned that glorious and beautiful future.


    The members of Scarlet Blade gazed through the magic image, seeing the Red Dragon indeed covered in wounds, his body listless, seemingly no longer possessing his earlier intimidating presence.


    A tall man, his upper body bare and covered with scarlet tattoos, picked up his battle axe, snorting steam from his nostrils¡ªthat was the Legendary Barbarian, Rano.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll follow your lead!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a big Red Dragon, I can still slay him!¡±


    Ingrid frowned, still feeling uneasy, and questioned again: ¡°Even if we succeed in slaying the dragon, how do we escape untouched? There are thousands of Dragon Vein Descendants here!¡±


    Dex said proudly, ¡°We have a Legendary Spellcaster here.¡±


    Dressed in a blue-black robe, Klein gently caressed the Crystal Ball of True Knowledge in his hand, speaking softly, ¡°Among the Red Dragon¡¯s retainers, none can cast Ninth Tier Spells. If I want to escape, they can¡¯t stop me.¡±


    ¡°They can¡¯t catch shadows either.¡±


    A shadow gradually rose, transforming into a lean human figure dressed in black¡ªthat was the Legendary Ranger, Nether Tracker Grom Desley, the most mysterious member of Scarlet Blade.


    Dex surveyed the team, then turned to the hesitant Ingrid: ¡°How about it?¡±


    ¡°Take a gamble with us.¡±


    ¡°This Red Dragon has sown endless evil and war, and now is the best chance to slay him!¡±


    The eyes of this Vengeance Knight glinted with a faint light.


    Though he chased after profit as a mercenary, he also remembered his oath, never letting any evildoer go, especially when it could bring him fame and fortune?


    ¡°You crazy gamblers.¡±


    Ingrid was silent for a long time before she spat out a line.


    Suddenly, the Priestess¡¯s eyes widened, her face turned pale, and her voice trembled slightly.


    ¡°You, you look there.¡±


    ¡°He¡­ he seems to have found us!¡±


    Ingrid extended a trembling finger, pointing to the magic image behind Dex. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Red Dragon was grinning ferociously, his pale golden vertical pupils seeming to penetrate the space barrier, meeting her gaze from afar.


    Ingrid was utterly convinced.


    That was the gaze of a hunter watching its prey.


    Dex frowned, crossing his arms, somewhat displeased, and said: ¡°Ingrid, are you overthinking?¡±


    Grom also chuckled and added, ¡°We are in an Other-Dimensional Space created by Klein. Even a Legendary Spellcaster would find it very difficult to perceive our presence, let alone find our trail.¡±


    Next, sudden changes occurred.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    A deafening roar sounded, followed by the ripping of fabric.


    The members of Scarlet Blade, not expecting the sudden upheaval, appeared somewhat flustered, but their extensive experience as Legendary Professionals quickly had them ready for battle, prepared to face the formidable enemy.


    Ingrid raised her scepter, releasing dazzling radiance; Dex grew wings, transforming into an Avenging Angel surrounded by Aurora; Rano roared loudly, becoming a Primal Warrior with runes flowing all over his body; Grom shrouded himself in strands of supernatural shadows.


    The group looked up, inhaling sharply.


    The Red Dragon tore through the world¡¯s barrier with his claws, creating a massive, ragged rift at the top of this Other-Dimensional Space.


    His enormous dragon head pushed through, looking down on them, pale golden vertical pupils seemingly ablaze with fire.


    ¡°Hello there¡­¡±


    ¡°Long time, Dragon Slayers.¡±

 Chapter 345 - 269 Scarlet Blade (II)

    Chapter 345: Chapter 269 Scarlet Blade (II)


    The air within the other-dimensional space became warped, and a blazing light emerged from the throat of the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Quick! Scatter!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Dragon Breath!¡±


    Dex shouted angrily.


    The members of the ¡°Scarlet Blade¡± each employed their skills, some taking to the air with wings, others slipping into the shadows, or using spatial teleportation, all scattering in different directions.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ...


    Raging flames poured down, turning the area into a sea of fire, melting all their preparations in the intense heat.


    Cassius, wreathed in flames, used his massive body to repeatedly ram the space, using his sharp teeth to tear apart the barrier separating this place from the Prime Material World.


    ¡°With such laughable methods, you dare to dream of dragon slaying?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen too many of you overconfident fools!¡±


    ¡°But in the end, their fate has always been the same¡ªreduced to ashes!¡±


    Amid the Red Dragon¡¯s roar, the surrounding space trembled, on the verge of collapse.


    Then, with continuous impacts, the void developed dense, web-like cracks. With a crisp sound, the space completely disintegrated¡ªeven Klein¡¯s utmost effort couldn¡¯t maintain it.


    They were exposed in mid-air of the Prime Material Plane, falling to the ground, appearing amidst the chaotic battlefield.


    ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t be afraid!¡±


    ¡°After such an intense battle, he lacks much strength!¡±


    Dex Flamgold spread his wings in mid-air, raising his golden longsword high, revealing the Sun Wheel Holy Emblem etched on the hilt, and shouted forcefully.


    ¡°Evil Dragon! In the name of Amanata, the Lord of Eternal Radiance¡ªI will grant you a final end!¡±


    Instantly, a beam of sunlight descended from the sky, landing on the Red Dragon.


    This was the Avenger Paladin¡¯s guiding divine power: Oath of Enmity!


    Dex guided the Sun God¡¯s power, making the enemy fall into the fear of order and justice, a move particularly effective against fiends and undead creatures. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bathed in the radiant light, the Red Dragon in the high sky shone brightly, but he continued to flap his expansive wings.


    Klein also cast a spell, summoning thick spectral chains in the air, tightly binding the massive body of the Red Dragon.


    ¡°The Avenger Paladin¡­ such familiar methods.¡±


    Cassius looked with interest in his vertical pupils.


    The Red Dragon exerted a little force, and the light covering him immediately dimmed significantly. The chains also shook continuously, emitting ¡°clink¡± sounds.


    ¡°Quick! Kill him while there¡¯s a chance!¡±


    ¡°His strength is too great; my guiding divine power and Klein¡¯s spell won¡¯t last long!¡±


    Dex called out anxiously.


    The companions of the ¡°Scarlet Blade¡± already understood.


    ¡°Mass Slaughter of Enemies!¡±


    Gromera raised his hand crossbow, shooting a bolt shrouded in black mist¡ªthat was the Dragon Slayer Arrow.


    Simultaneously, Ingrid, with an expression of devotion, raised her scepter, releasing dazzling light from the sun emblem at its tip.


    ¡°Holy Flame Strike!¡±


    A vertical column of divine flame descended from a part of Heaven.


    ¡°Blade of Catastrophe!¡±


    Klein also raised his magic wand, pointing towards the Red Dragon in the sky, creating a plane crack shaped like a sword, several feet long.


    The arrow wrapped in black mist sped through the air, enlarging into a giant arrow as thick as an arm. The holy flame descended from above, and the catastrophic blade cut through space.


    Three legendary-level attacks came from different directions, but their sole target was the Red Dragon in the sky.


    If it had been an ordinary giant dragon, even if it were of the ancient level, it would have been severely injured by such a concentrated attack¡ªunfortunately for them, they faced Cassius.


    Dragons were inherently resistant to magic, making it difficult for ordinary spells to harm them, and this dragon¡¯s essence was terrifyingly high.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon reared its head and roared, spreading its wings abruptly to break free from all restraints.


    Whether it was the Sun God¡¯s radiance, the spell¡¯s chains, or mental disruption, they all vanished the moment he unleashed his power.


    [Magic Withering]


    Antimagic rays shot out in all directions, creating massive spherical antimagic fields. Ingrid¡¯s divine flame was extinguished, and Klein¡¯s spatial blade was swallowed.


    The Dragon Slayer Arrow, aimed directly at the heart, was caught lightly in the dragon¡¯s claw.


    With the enhancement of numerous Dragon¡¯s Spells, his strength, speed, and reactions had reached frightening levels.


    ¡°A Dragon Slayer Arrow? An amusing toy.¡±


    Cassius sneered, sensing the dragon-slaying magic embedded in the arrow. Were it to pierce his heart, even he would suffer significant injury.


    Truly, Leo Boske had pulled out all the stops. This was indeed a formidable adventurer team, capable of contending with, and even killing, ancient-level dragons.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡±


    ¡°That was¡­¡±


    Grom looked skyward in disbelief, inadvertently locking eyes with the Red Dragon, whose golden pupils were as deep as the Abyss, seemingly glimmering with a hint of a smile.


    Immediately, the ranger felt an almost tangible pressure assaulting him from all directions, freezing time and space.


    Such was a charisma powerful enough to twist reality.


    Grom¡¯s mind stagnated, he held his breath, standing stunned in place.


    Knowing full well, this was a critical combat error. As a Legendary Ranger, he certainly understood the gravity of the situation, which soon became evident.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    A huge arrow, as thick as an arm, pierced through the air, penetrating his chest, pinning him to the ground.


    ¡°Pfft¡­¡±


    Grom lowered his head slowly, spitting a mouthful of blood, only to realize the arrow that had pierced him was the very Dragon Slayer Arrow he had just shot.


    ¡°Grom!¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s expression changed dramatically. She raised her scepter in panic, trying to cast a barrier spell.


    But the next moment, the arrow erupted in intense flames, engulfing the slender Grom completely.


    Amid a brief cry of agony and the sound of burning, only a vague human-shaped pile of ashes remained on the ground.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let me go, let me leave here! I want to go to the Nether Shadow Realm!¡±


    Grom¡¯s soul turned into a jet-black shadow, trying to flee.


    Yet the crimson flames followed, burning the shadow into nothingness, with more shrill cries echoing in the air.


    The Legendary Ranger, Nether Tracker Grom Duarte, was dead, so thoroughly that even True Resurrection couldn¡¯t save him.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    ¡°Dragon slaying is nothing but a joke¡­¡±


    Ingrid shook her head lightly, her beautiful golden eyes filled with terror. Her ample body, wrapped in white robes, trembled.


    She had never encountered such a terrifying opponent before.


    Everything had happened too fast, within just a few breaths, their team had already suffered casualties, with the battle just beginning.

 Chapter 346 - 270 Scarlet Blade (III)

    Chapter 346: Chapter 270 Scarlet Blade (III)


    ¡°I¡¯m going to cut off your head!¡±


    ¡°Waaaargh¡ª¡ª¡±


    Rano roared, his eyes bloodshot, veins bulging all over his body.


    The barbarian suddenly swelled to nearly ten meters tall, his muscles carved like marble, exuding a primal beauty.


    The tattoos of the giant bear on his back, the lion on his chest, and the leopard on his legs seemed to come to life, roaring in unison. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was the legendary form of the Berserker, the ¡°Primal Warrior,¡± embodying the power of the wilderness.


    ...


    Rano had lost his family as a child, his parents slaughtered by an enemy tribe, and he exacted revenge, annihilating them. He wandered the wilderness until he met Derek Flamgold.


    Every member of the ¡°Scarlet Blade¡± was like family to him.


    And now, Grom was dead, and he felt the pain of loss once more.


    ¡°Primal Path: Revenge¡±


    Rano leapt high with a heavy great axe, white smoke billowing from him, soaring hundreds of meters into the air.


    The years of understanding within the ¡°Scarlet Blade¡± manifested as High-Level Acceleration Spell, Steel and Iron Bones, Sanctuary Spell, Dragon Force Spell, Breath-Concealment Spell, and other spells blessed him in an instant.


    The strong and perfect giant body, with layers of spell shields, shimmered with various magical glows.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    Rano swung his great axe at the Red Dragon with all his might, the power of the wilderness cascading down.


    The roars of bears, tigers, and the howls of wolves erupted, the phantoms of wilderness spirits rushing at the Red Dragon with the falling axe, embodying the primal paths of Rano.


    ¡°So many random things¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Are you opening a zoo?¡±


    Cassius growled, spreading his broad wings.


    The imposing aura of the Ancestral Dragon was no longer restrained, the tangible Dragon¡¯s Might overflowing.


    Instantly, the eyes of all the wilderness spirits filled with terror, whimpering before dissipating.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡ª¡±


    The sound of metal clashing boomed.


    Cassius swung his claws, easily swatting the great axe and the barbarian behind it hundreds of meters away.


    Cracks appeared on the great axe inscribed with wilderness runes, shattering into flying fragments of metal¡ªthis was an exotic treasure Rano had obtained from the Fairy Wilderness!


    As a legendary Primal Warrior, Rano¡¯s strength had reached the pinnacle of mortals, likely 27 points in stats, immense by any measure.


    But Cassius¡¯s strength was 34.


    Coupled with the difference in size, their strength differed by tens of times.


    This was the pure power of the Atavistic Red Dragon, no additional techniques involved.


    This berserker who had wrestled Hill Giants and strangled a Green Dragon, in front of Cassius, was like a chicken, easily ravaged, powerless to resist.


    ¡°Rano!¡±


    Dex flapped his wings to sneak attack from behind, trying to protect his teammate.


    But a scorching gust blasted him, throwing him off balance, and a vast shadow passed over.


    In a blink, the Red Dragon disappeared, the sound of sonic booms rapidly ascending above Rano.


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    Deske cried out in despair, reaching out helplessly.


    Rano plummeted face-up, but he felt no fear, only anger at their clash.


    The Primal Warrior¡¯s constitution was robust; even falling from hundreds of meters would only break a few bones, especially with spell protection.


    ¡°Damn, next time I¡¯ll cut off his head.¡±


    Rano grit his teeth in resolve.


    Suddenly, darkness engulfed him, his expression changed.


    The massive shadow of the Red Dragon loomed above, its broad wings eclipsing the sun.


    Cassius looked down, a sinister grin on his face.


    ¡°Human.¡±


    ¡°You know nothing¡­ of power.¡±


    The Red Dragon effortlessly seized Rano¡¯s body, climbing higher.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°Red Dragon! Let me go! I will kill you!¡±


    The nearly ten-meter-tall Primal Warrior¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, struggling in midair.


    But against the Red Dragon¡¯s might, his struggles were futile, helplessly soaring to thousands of meters.


    Then Cassius folded his wings, diving down, dragging Rano¡¯s strong frame, tail blazing.


    Man and dragon accelerated in free fall.


    ¡°Aaarrrgh¡ª¡ª¡±


    Screams and the sound of air tearing mixed.


    At the terrifying speed, Rano¡¯s back rubbed against the air, creating extreme heat. His tough skin ignited, glowing, charring, disintegrating.


    Finally, they crashed into the ground like a meteorite.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    The deafening explosion echoed.


    Dust billowed, wind swirling, sweeping the wasteland.


    As the smoke cleared, a colossal crater a hundred meters wide, with web-like cracks, appeared.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    At the crater¡¯s center, the Red Dragon stood majestically, wings spread, roaring long and mightily.


    And beneath his enormous right claw lay a smoldering, unrecognizable mass of flesh, sizzling and crackling¡ªthe once Primal Warrior, the legendary barbarian, Rano.


    He was dead.


    Even with a constitution of 24 points, Rano couldn¡¯t survive this cataclysmic display.


    Cassius, unsatisfied, looked at the remaining ¡°Dragon Slayers,¡± nodding politely, extending three claws, and lightly shaking them.


    The three members of the ¡°Scarlet Blade¡± felt their hair stand on end.


    This wasn¡¯t a battle between an evil dragon and dragon slayers; it was like a top predator toying with helpless prey, and they were the prey.


    They understood the Red Dragon¡¯s message¡ª¡±Three left.¡±


    ¡°How could this be¡­¡±


    ¡°We were supposed to be heroes¡­¡±


    Dex stared at Rano¡¯s broken, charred body, eyes full of despair.


    He never imagined that after a titanic battle with ¡°Wings of Silver¡± Osedro, the Red Dragon would still possess such terrifying power.


    This ¡°Dragon Prince¡± could even locate their hideout, catching them one by one like mice, toying with them, then killing them.


    This once ¡°Dragon Slayer¡± had never seen a dragon like this.

 Chapter 347 - 271 Scarlet Blade (4)

    Chapter 347: Chapter 271 Scarlet Blade (4)


    ¡°Counterattack¡­ we must counterattack, or our fate will only be death!¡±


    Deske Flamgold gritted his teeth and spoke to his only two remaining companions.


    However, Klein did not respond. In his blue eyes, an illusory clock was ticking. With each rhythmic turn of the hands, his expression grew more solemn, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.


    Ingrid seemed to have lost the will to fight. She clutched her scepter, standing aside, and whispered, ¡°No, we can¡¯t win.¡±


    ¡°Stop, Deske.¡±


    ¡°I beg you¡­¡±


    ...


    Immediately, Deske shook his head slightly, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes.


    Ingrid had only joined the ¡°Scarlet Blade¡± a year ago. Unlike them, adventurers born in the rough, this priestess was more like a hothouse flower, her battles mostly one-sided.


    ¡°I will not end like this!¡±


    ¡°Hunt¡­ sworn enemy!¡±


    In the end, Deske Flamgold, disregarding all else, flapped the wings on his back and flew towards the enemy.


    ¡°Evil-Crushing Slash!¡±


    He lifted his golden long sword, making a graceful arc in the air. With his movements, a crescent-shaped radiance sliced through the air, splitting the ground.


    This was the Paladin¡¯s all-out strike!


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    However, Cassius simply let out a light whistle. Energy scales, like stars, encircled him, completely blocking the slash.


    But Deske Flamgold did not lose heart.


    This Paladin, who had transformed into an Avenging Angel, spread his wings, swiftly gliding over the ground in a dive.


    Soon, he grit his teeth and flew over the red dragon, gripping his golden long sword tightly, his face twisted in a snarl.


    ¡°Evil dragon!¡±


    ¡°The great ¡®Dragon Slayer¡¯ Deske Flamgold will take your head!¡±


    But in front of the thirty-meter-long giant beast, the Avenging Paladin charging fearlessly seemed as small as Don Quixote charging at windmills.


    ¡°Spirit of Vengeance!¡±


    Deske shouted angrily, and the long sword, symbolizing his oath of vengeance, shone brightly.


    The illusory figures of Grom and Rano appeared around him. Souls born of the will of revenge were to launch an assault on this seemingly invincible enemy.


    However, in the next moment, Deske only felt a rush of hot wind. The enormous red figure dodged and appeared behind him.


    Whether he used Divine Power or the Spirit of Vengeance, all were crushed by the nearly tangible Dragon¡¯s Might.


    He hurriedly flapped his wings, trying to distance himself from the enemy, all while swinging his golden long sword¡ªbut it was all in vain; the enemy was simply too fast.


    The sky was the Avenging Angel¡¯s playground, but it was even more the domain of dragons.


    Gigantic, gruesome claws grabbed the Avenging Paladin out of thin air, like catching a fragile bird.


    ¡°Got you.¡±


    Cassius said indifferently.


    Deske used all his strength to raise his sword to stab the claw, trying desperately to make one last effort.


    But the red dragon only slightly tightened his grip, crushing Deske¡¯s armor, turning his body into a bloody pulp. Bloodshot eyes and thick blood spurted from his mouth.


    For the first time, Deske felt his life was held by the enemy, ready to be ended at any moment.


    In those eyes that once seemed unshakable, a rare terror appeared¡ªhe was scared, he wanted to live.


    ¡°Stop, stop.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I¡­ I don¡¯t want to die.¡±


    Cassius moved him closer, studying him with a half-smile, and asked softly, ¡°What reason do you have for me to spare your life?¡±


    ¡°After all, you are the ¡®great Dragon Slayer.¡¯ Since you chose this path, and since you cannot kill the giant dragon, it is only natural that you will be killed by the giant dragon.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±


    Deske¡¯s purple lips trembled slightly.


    He hadn¡¯t expected one sentence said to bolster morale would now become his death sentence.


    After thinking for a long time, he inadvertently saw the emblem on his sword hilt and finally thought of his last chance for survival.


    ¡°You can¡¯t kill me. I¡¯m the Chosen One. I am the messenger of Lord Amanata!¡±


    ¡°Hahahahaha!¡±


    Cassius suddenly burst into laughter, his wings shaking as he laughed, thumping the ground until it rumbled.


    ¡°Did you see that glowing Old Silver Dragon just now? Adorned with a Divine Artifact, that is the standard of a Chosen One.¡±


    ¡°But you, hehe, a pauper without a single piece of legendary equipment¡ªdare to call yourself the Chosen One?¡±


    ¡°Moreover¡­¡±


    He drew out his words, looking again at Deske in his claws, his pale gold pupils gleaming with malice, exuding a thick Dragon¡¯s Might.


    Instantly, Deske felt as if he was falling into an ice cave.


    Because he heard only one sentence.


    ¡°I hate being deceived.¡±


    Before the sound faded, scorching flames burst forth from the claws, enveloping Deske Flamgold.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°I still¡­ don¡¯t want to die.¡±


    Soon, accompanied by unyielding roars and wails of agony, his flesh burned away in the flames, turning into ashes that danced in the wind.


    All that was left in the red dragon¡¯s claws was a set of heavy, luxurious armor and a gleaming golden long sword.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°I misjudged. It is indeed legendary equipment, just of a lower tier with an additional magical disguise.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, truly cautious.¡±


    Casually shaking off the remaining ashes from his claws, Cassius picked through the equipment Deske left behind, a hint of unexpected joy in his tone.


    But without a doubt¡ªDeske Flamgold, the famous ¡®Dragon Slayer¡¯ and the captain of the Scarlet Blade in Fadlan, was now utterly dead.


    Slain by a dragon, which indeed is the fate of most dragon slayers.


    They either quit midway with wealth and glory, or march to the end on the path of self-destruction. The end of the dragon-slaying road never had heroes; only downfall and death awaited.


    ¡°Ca-captain¡­¡±


    Watching her captain, who had been with her day and night, die before her eyes, Ingrid couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth, uttering a shocked cry.


    But she was utterly helpless. The dragon exuded Dragon¡¯s Might like an Antimagic Field, making even her Divine Arts difficult to affect it, let alone regular spells.


    Klein¡¯s face was full of disbelief. The illusory clock in his eyes had shattered.


    That was the special ability of the time mage¡ª


    [Convergence of the Future] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He could see possible futures and guide one of them magically onto the surrounding events to ensure a specific outcome.


    Klein had long constructed a teleportation spell model, ready to leave here.


    But when he paid a great price to peer into his future, he found that in every possible future, if he activated the teleportation spell, the outcome would be particularly grim.


    What chilled him even more was¡ªhe couldn¡¯t see the red dragon¡¯s future.


    Klein tried to peek into fate, but the ¡®Dragon Prince¡¯ seemed to be shrouded in a layer of hazy silver mist.


    ¡°Overstepping!¡±


    Even his own mind was assaulted by some grand force, as if a terrifying giant dragon, a thousand meters long, was roaring and bellowing in his mind.


    ¡°No¡­ impossible.¡±


    Klein stood there, mumbling, his eyes streaming with tears of blood.

 Chapter 348 - 272 Scarlet Blade (5)

    Chapter 348: Chapter 272 Scarlet Blade (5)


    Finally, Cassius looked at Klein.


    He had just felt very uncomfortable, as if he was being watched by something. And now, he had finally found the source of that feeling.


    A mage rumored to be related to the Tower of Time.


    The Red Dragon gazed at the mage dressed in a blue-black robe, slightly lowering his head. Flames flickered in his pale golden pupils.


    ¡°You¡­ what are you doing?¡±


    Klein¡¯s expression was one of utter fear. He had never encountered an enemy that could render his proud abilities completely ineffective.


    ...


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t wait any longer. I need to leave here!¡±


    His usual calm and confident demeanor crumbled the moment he heard that voice.


    Klein raised his magic wand, muttering an incantation, and released a spell model he had long been constructing.


    With the intense fluctuation of the Magic Web, the intricate magic circuit appeared in midair, causing the surrounding space to warp in a rhythmic pattern, finally creating a ring-shaped portal.


    [Festan Tilos¡¯s Portal]


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    However, the next moment, the Red Dragon broke through the air, appearing in front of Klein. The flames spiraling around its wings destroyed the yet-to-be-stabilized portal.


    ¡°Did I allow you to leave?¡±


    Cassius swung his claw fiercely, aiming to grab the mage just as he had done before.


    Immediately before the Red Dragon could touch Klein, intense spatial fluctuations emerged around him once more.


    This spell triggered almost instantly, relocating Klein several meters away and continuously generating spatial fluctuations to help him break free from the Prime Material Plane.


    It was the renowned Ninth Tier Spell¡ª


    [Yrminsul¡¯s Escape]


    This was an improved trigger spell. When one of the preset conditions was met, it could automatically teleport the mage to a preset location.


    However, the Red Dragon¡¯s imposing presence emitted a nearly tangible Dragon¡¯s Might, constantly interfering with the teleportation spell¡¯s triggering.


    This forced Klein to split his attention to maintain the stability of the spell model.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    With a low roar, Cassius flapped his wings, instantly arriving in front of Klein, about to unleash an antimagic ray.


    In a panic, Klein took out a golden pocket watch from his bosom, gritting his teeth and pressing it.


    ¡°Ding.¡±


    Suddenly, the wind stopped, sand and stones hung motionless in the air, and even the rushing river ceased its flow.


    Everything seemed to come to a halt before him. Only the Red Dragon continued to move, albeit almost imperceptibly slowly.


    [Time Stop]


    The principle of this spell was not to stop time worldwide, but to control the time flow around oneself, making one¡¯s actions so fast they barely consumed any time.


    ¡°What a terrifying dragon.¡±


    Klein couldn¡¯t help but wipe the sweat from his forehead and put away the golden pocket watch.


    Facing such a formidable enemy, he dared not be careless and couldn¡¯t afford to waste this precious time, so he immediately raised his magic wand and began chanting a spell.


    The surrounding space twisted, and his figure became phantom-like.


    Klein intended to use the star realm¡¯s veins to travel to what he considered the safest place¡ªa special plane near all the Outer Planes, a completely neutral negotiation site, the Outlands.


    Meanwhile, in the Prime Material Plane, Cassius saw Klein instantly vanish from in front of him, with spatial fluctuations still lingering around.


    ¡°Time stop?¡±


    ¡°Damn mage.¡±


    The Red Dragon couldn¡¯t help but mutter angrily, a trace of irritation in his expression. He disliked the feeling he had just experienced.


    So he closed his eyes, and the power of the Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye allowed him to see a part of the past and a part of the impending future.


    Cassius couldn¡¯t understand the spatial coordinates of the spell, but that didn¡¯t hinder him from using the Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye to track Klein.


    ¡°I will catch you.¡±


    ¡°How can I let you escape when you¡¯re already within reach?¡±


    Cassius directly twisted reality with his will, brutally tearing space apart and chasing after him.


    This was the Magician¡¯s ¡°Power of Deep Thinking.¡± Unlike mages who were precise and logically rigorous, it was simple yet effective.


    ¡­


    The star realm.


    ¡°Phew¡­ what a terrifying dragon.¡±


    Klein sighed in relief beside the star realm color pond, once again exclaiming, silently grateful for escaping the Red Dragon¡¯s clutches.


    However, in the next moment, the surrounding space abruptly warped, and a dimension rift, engulfed in burning flames, appeared. The massive body of the Red Dragon emerged from it.


    Cassius looked down at him, spreading his broad wings, casting an enormous shadow over him.


    ¡°Annoying mage, don¡¯t you understand the most basic manners?¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Who¡ªallowed you to leave without permission?¡±


    Klein¡¯s complexion suddenly turned pale, and sweat the size of beans poured down his forehead.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    He collapsed to the ground, scrambling backward with all his limbs in a pathetic display.


    The legendary equipment [Chrono Pocket Watch] had exhausted its charges, and none of his methods worked against this dragon.


    Klein¡¯s life might be near its end.


    This mage from the Tower of Time never expected his life to end during a seemingly ordinary dragon-slaying mission in the remote North. He had glimpsed his future countless times but never foresaw such a tragic conclusion.


    The Red Dragon approached step by step, unhurried¡ªfor he was waiting for the arrival of certain beings.


    Just as Klein closed his eyes in despair, a tender voice sounded.


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, please show mercy.¡±


    The Red Dragon knew the being he was waiting for had arrived.


    A strange dragon walked out of the void, appearing behind Klein.


    Its shimmering gray scales clung tightly to its elegant form, with no discernible ridges, creating a smooth appearance. Its twin horns were small, unformed nubs.


    Most frightening was that, judging by this dragon¡¯s body proportions and development, it was still a whelp but possessed a colossal body over twenty meters long, unimaginable for any ordinary giant dragons.


    ¡°As expected¡­ a Chrono Dragon.¡±


    Cassius uttered the name.


    The Chrono Dragon, the most powerful legendary dragon breed, was also the force behind the Tower of Time.


    These graceful dragons commanded the power of time, able to manipulate the past, present, and future. They were the only truly immortal non-divine giant dragons.


    In the plot of the previous life, the Tower of Time was also a mysterious entity, wandering the river of time and often guiding history from the shadows.


    Even the players who knew them best were merely lower-level time mages, unable to access the secrets of the Tower of Time¡¯s higher tiers.


    ¡°You, you¡¯re here. Save me, get me out of here!¡±


    ¡°I knew it, I knew the Tower of Time wouldn¡¯t forget me!¡±


    Seeing the arrival of the Chrono Dragon, Klein clutched at the last straw to save his life, calling out urgently for help.


    However, the Chrono Dragon whelp ignored the human mage¡¯s pleas, instead nodding respectfully at the nearby Red Dragon, posing neither overly humble nor arrogant.


    ¡°So we meet again, or should I say¡­ for the first time, Your Majesty Cassius.¡±


    ¡°Tarrin Ackerman sends his regards and brings the goodwill of the Tower of Time.¡±

 Chapter 349 - 273: The Tower of Times Sincerity

    Chapter 349: Chapter 273: The Tower of Time¡¯s Sincerity


    ¡°`html


    Cassius took a few slow steps forward, a look of anger forming on his ferocious dragon face. Flames flickered in his pale golden pupils, and a whiff of sulfuric white smoke seeped from between his teeth.


    ¡°So¡­ this is how your Tower of Time shows goodwill?¡±


    ¡°You make a time mage into a so-called ¡®dragon slayer¡¯ and have him foolishly stand in front of me?¡±


    ¡°I deeply apologize, Your Majesty Cassius.¡±


    Facing the aggressive red dragon, Tarrin Ackerman remained respectful.


    ...


    The chrono dragon even bowed slightly, curving his graceful neck to show his regret.


    ¡°This was not our arrangement, but a twist of fate. On behalf of the Tower of Time, I apologize for Klein¡¯s rude offense.¡±


    ¡°The future won¡¯t change easily, and Klein still has a mission waiting for him in that future¡ªyou yourself are aware that you will not kill him.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he coldly gazed down at the human on the ground, his expression darkening.


    ¡°What if¡­ I say I must kill him?¡±


    Instantly, a palpable aura of immense dragon¡¯s might emanated, a bloody killing intent spreading, as if countless giant dragons were roaring in the void, freezing the entire space.


    ¡°Master, Master, save me!¡±


    ¡°He truly wants to kill me!¡±


    Klein was terrified out of his wits, writhing on the ground, crawling toward the feet of his backer.


    The chrono dragon quickly stepped forward to prevent the red dragon from doing anything rash: ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, there is no need to test us any further; we will surely make due compensation.¡±


    The dragon¡¯s might abruptly vanished, and the murderous aura dissipated, leaving Klein feeling a wave of relief. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A nasty smile curled at the corners of Cassius¡¯ mouth: ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°But I wish to see the sincerity of the Tower of Time. You must understand that the life of a legendary mage comes at a considerable price.¡±


    ¡°You will be satisfied.¡±


    Tarrin Ackerman replied gravely.


    The surrounding space-time abruptly twisted, as a delicate scroll and a crest engraved with a clock tower appeared before him¡ªboth items pulsed with iridescent veins as if time¡¯s tides flowed on their surfaces.


    ¡°This is the scroll for the Ninth Tier spell, Time Stop, personally written by an ancient chrono dragon, not some flawed human product.¡±


    ¡°And the other is the crest of the Tower of Time. When you focus your will on it, you will receive aid from a chrono dragon, along with any reasonable assistance the Tower of Time can provide.¡±


    ¡°Not enough, nowhere near enough.¡±


    ¡°A Ninth Tier spell and an empty promise aren¡¯t sufficient for a legendary mage¡¯s life.¡±


    Cassius glanced at the floating objects, gently shaking his head and speaking calmly.


    The chrono dragon seemed to have anticipated this. He extended his right claw, and an invisible force acted on Klein¡¯s body.


    Instantly, a golden pocket watch flew out from Klein¡¯s chest, and Klein hurriedly tried to grab it.


    ¡°No, my watch¡ª¡±


    But when he saw Cassius¡¯ threatening gaze, Klein reluctantly withdrew his hand, looking crestfallen and pained.


    ¡°It is yours.¡±


    Tarrin Ackerman said as such.


    Cassius controlled the golden watch with a force field spell, making it float in midair.


    ¡°Tick-tock, tick-tock¡­¡±


    Only to see the hands on it still moving rhythmically, making a crisp sound. The dial was covered in intricate magic circuits, flashing with those same iridescent veins of time flow.


    [You acquired legendary equipment ¡ª Chrono Pocket Watch]


    [Chrono Pocket Watch]


    Quality: Legendary


    Creator: Roarald Stefano


    Description: Ancient chrono dragon Roarald collected time-related items, from ordinary sundials and exquisite pocket watches to bizarre mechanical water clocks. Over long ages, he discarded and gathered them hundreds of times.


    These collectibles often lay quietly beside the dragon breathing chrono force. Over time, they gradually absorbed the power of time, becoming invaluable treasures.


    ¡°You say I abandoned my treasures? No, it¡¯s only that they eventually return to me. But this pocket watch, perhaps not. ¡ª Roarald Stefano¡±


    Effect:


    [Time Stop] ¨C Once per day


    [Eternal Stasis] ¨C Once per day


    [Breath of Chrono Force]: You possess a part of the strength of the chrono dragon, hard to be affected by time-related spells.


    [Time Stop]


    Ninth Tier Transformation Spell


    Accelerate your own time flow to make your movements nearly time-free, causing the surrounding environment to freeze during spell duration.


    [Eternal Stasis]


    Eighth Tier Transformation Spell


    Place a defenseless creature into a state of false death. Its surrounding time gets frozen, and all bodily functions stop, taking no damage in the process.


    Cassius nodded in satisfaction but, after pausing in thought, asked again: ¡°Is the Tower of Time that stingy?¡±


    ¡°Still not enough, far from enough.¡±


    ¡°If I kill that mage, this pocket watch still ends up with me. The Tower of Time wouldn¡¯t have paid any extra, would you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The chrono dragon seemed numb, not knowing what to say.


    He glanced up at Cassius, then glared daggers at Klein, finally speaking with resignation: ¡°Of course not¡­¡±


    ¡°Six hundred thousand gold coins will be delivered to your palace in ten days. We hope you can temporarily lift the antimagic field around that time.¡±


    Stowing away these precious items, Cassius nodded in satisfaction, also giving his wings a little shake.


    ¡°This is more like it. I see a bit of your sincerity. However¡­¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, we at the Tower of Time have a very busy schedule and some matters to attend to. We¡¯ll take our leave now. Goodbye!¡±


    Before he could finish, Tarrin Ackerman hurriedly finished his farewell, then left with Klein in a manner akin to fleeing.


    ¡°Tsk, I wasn¡¯t done speaking.¡±


    ¡°So, even a legendary chrono dragon is just a dragon, still retaining that miserly nature.¡±


    Cassius did not stop them, merely standing silently, gazing at the slightly distorted space from the teleportation spell.


    ¡°The future¡­¡±


    ¡°From the chrono dragon¡¯s behavior, my future doesn¡¯t seem so bad.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ is the so-called future truly unchangeable? If it is, why would I, the ¡®Fate Changer,¡¯ appear here?¡±


    His pale golden pupils flickered slightly, his thoughts unknown.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    After a moment, the red dragon let out a low roar, savagely tearing the space in front of him with claws and fangs, creating a portal burning with flames, then tucking in his wings and diving in.


    His realm awaited his return.


    Compared to the distant, hazy, and unknown future, Cassius was more concerned with the immediate and tangible benefits before him.

 Chapter 350 - 274: The Endgame

    Chapter 350: Chapter 274: The Endgame


    Ingrid Garses clutched the scepter, standing nervously on the battlefield. Her voluptuous body, wrapped in a pure white robe, trembled in the cold wind.


    ¡°Amanata above¡­¡±


    Ingrid called out softly to the deity¡¯s name, seeking a trace of solace.


    Surrounding her were four tall, golden-armored figures. These were the Spiritual Guards summoned by her Divine Arts, ¡°Devoted Guard,¡± capable of holding off thousands of troops. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, these guards could not bring her even a hint of safety, for Ingrid knew¡ªthe terrifying red dragon could return at any moment.


    Suddenly, as if sensing something, Ingrid¡¯s face turned to one of horror, and she instinctively looked up.


    ...


    The space around them began to violently distort.


    ¡°Riiiip¡ª¡±


    Two claws tore through space like parchment, creating a dreadful rift with flaming edges.


    Immediately, the enormous, grotesque head of the red dragon emerged, its pale golden pupils gazing down at her, with a faint and eerie smile.


    The almost tangible Dragon¡¯s Might filled the air, and the giant shadow blocked the sunlight that fell upon her, making Ingrid instinctively want to flee, yet the pressure kept her rooted to the spot.


    Cassius spread his wings, speaking:


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0


    ¡°Your companion survived by my hand, but¡­ he and his forces have paid a heavy price.¡±


    ¡°What price will you pay?¡±


    ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    Ingrid was momentarily speechless, finally responding hesitantly.


    ¡°I am an honorary bishop of the Fadlan Empire Church. The empire should¡­¡±


    This legendary priest did not fabricate a lie about being a ¡°Chosen One,¡± for she had personally witnessed how Deske Flamgold met his end through lies.


    Red dragons despised those who deceived them.


    Cassius asked, feigning surprise, ¡°Empire?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡±


    ¡°Your old emperor is dead, and the Fadlan Empire has shattered into hundreds of pieces. I fear your beloved deity is overwhelmed¡ªwho would care about an honorary bishop?¡±


    ¡°Wha¡­ what?¡±


    Ingrid felt as if struck by lightning. She stood there with her mouth agape, the Scepter of the Sun God nearly slipping from her grip.


    She had grown up in the capital of the Fadlan Empire, chosen as a priest for the Amanata Church at the age of eight for her exceptional affinity, and became a legendary priest and honorary bishop by twenty-five.


    Throughout her journey, the empire had always been a strong support, shielding her from the storms.


    Now, faced with an enemy that seemed invincible, the empire¡¯s protection was gone, and she was trapped on the brink of death.


    ¡°I, I don¡¯t want to provoke you.¡±


    ¡°Can you let me go?¡±


    Ingrid felt deeply wronged, her voice tinged with tears.


    She chose to speak the truth from her heart and directly plead for mercy.


    Cassius lowered his head, smiling lightly:


    ¡°I know you¡¯re the only one in this group who has retained their sanity, but that means little.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask again¡ªwhat price will you pay?¡±


    As the red dragon lowered his head, Ingrid felt the blazing air and the scent of sulfur waft over her.


    Perhaps in the next moment, this red dragon would open his maw and devour her.


    ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    At that moment, Ingrid thought of surrender.


    But she was already a legendary priest, and if she easily changed her faith and surrendered to a specific being, she might be punished by the gods.


    Cassius lifted his head again, speaking calmly:


    ¡°Thirty years¡ªI want you to stay in my realm for thirty years. Your Divine Arts can serve the Fadlan Empire, just as they can serve the Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    He paused, a smile of ambition spreading across his face.


    ¡°Besides, my realm does not reject any faith. Even Fadlan people and Amanata¡¯s followers can become citizens of the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ in the near future, you could openly return to your homeland, not as a prisoner, but as a bishop of the kingdom¡¯s church.¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Ingrid¡¯s expression changed dramatically as she understood Cassius¡¯s implication.


    That was the millennia-old Fadlan Empire, its magical power far exceeding Anzeta, yet the red dragon coveted such a colossal entity!


    But now, her life lay in his hands, and the chance for survival was fleeting.


    She bit her lip, her golden eyes filled with complex emotions, but she made her decision.


    ¡°Greetings¡­ Your Majesty Cassius.¡±


    Ingrid used her scepter for support, performing a standard bow for royalty.


    In that moment of bowing, guilt and regret flooded Ingrid¡¯s heart. She was a prodigious child of the empire¡¯s church, a lifelong priestess serving Amanata, yet she would now serve a kingdom ruled by giant dragons!


    But she repeatedly told herself¡ªAt least I¡¯m alive, right?


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°Ingrid, as a legendary Light Priest, you should know spells to control the weather, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Then let this sky brighten once more.¡±


    Cassius said.


    After this long battle, even he was somewhat weary; he did not want to cast the spell himself.


    ¡­


    After this protracted battle, the land had become devastated, losing its former appearance.


    The scarred wasteland was strewn with shattered debris, towering mounds of corpses, flowing rivers of blood, scorched and re-solidified lava, and melting ice mountains.


    The broad Inaki River and Olvir River were stained red with blood, with dismembered limbs occasionally floating on the surface.


    It was already dusk, and the sky was darkening.


    Even the twilight was gradually dissipating, merging into the night, while the biting cold wind continued to howl.


    ¡°Whooo¡­¡±


    The allied forces felt as bleak and hopeless as the world around them, filled with restless unease.


    An oppressive atmosphere pervaded the allied army, their ranks eerily silent, with none daring to look towards the distant red dragon.


    These Northern Nobles had witnessed the legendary ¡°King of Ashen¡± defeat the much-hoped Ancient Silver Dragon and kill the highly-paid legendary adventurers one after another.


    Even the ¡°hero¡± Duke Leo, who stepped forward, had vanished.


    ¡°I wander with the north wind¡­¡±


    From somewhere, a melancholic and sorrowful song echoed across the battlefield.


    It was the ¡°Song of the North,¡± said to have been passed down by the Scania people when they fled to Anzeta. Later, whenever white dragons or frost giants invaded, and people were displaced, the tenacious Northerners would sing this song.


    ¡°Snow covers my body, and my lover can¡¯t recognize my face¡­¡±


    Viscount Luton also hummed along, gazing at the ruined landscape with a sorrowful expression.


    He knew that the North, or rather the Northern United Kingdom, was on the brink of collapse.


    That enemy was insurmountable.


    They were not something mere humans could overcome.


    That red dragon was clearly the incarnation of a scourge, fate¡¯s punishment, the Gods¡¯ retribution for their decayed rule.


    Suddenly, Viscount Luton looked up at the sky, his mouth agape, and the Northern Nobles immersed in sorrow did the same.


    Because the sky had brightened.

 Chapter 351 - 275 The Fall of the North

    Chapter 351: Chapter 275 The Fall of the North


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    Viscount Luton muttered once more, his face illuminated.


    He saw beams of sunlight piercing through the gaps in the clouds. Initially, they were weak and gentle, but gradually they grew stronger and more brilliant until the golden light bathed the earth. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The clouds were also tinged with gold, then slowly dispersed with the wind.


    On the ground, a priestess raised her scepter high.


    [Holy Sun Burning Technique]


    ...


    This divine magic, originally used by the Empire of Fadlan to demonstrate grand miracles during rituals, was now employed in the service of a Red Dragon.


    As this magnificent scene unfolded, the mournful ballads echoing across the battlefield gradually ceased. The Northern Nobility, the Allied Soldiers, and even the people from Ashen Nest all raised their heads, eyes fixed on the sky.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The long roar sounded again, and the nearly tangible Dragon¡¯s Might spread out.


    In an instant, the wilderness fell silent.


    They saw the enormous Red Dragon, more than thirty meters long, flapping its wings in the sky, stirring up gales. Its metallic-red scales glistened brilliantly under the sunlight.


    Each time it flapped its wings, the surrounding air distorted and trembled from the intense heat, and even the sky seemed to bow to it.


    Luton gazed at the scene in the sky, instinctively shielding his eyes¡ªnot knowing whether it was because the light was too dazzling or because the presence above was too overwhelming to behold.


    His lips moved subtly, his whole body trembling.


    ¡°Again, it is like this¡­¡±


    ¡°No, it is different¡­¡±


    ¡°It has become even more powerful, far more terrifying than I remember.¡±


    Viscount Luton gently shook his head, his brows furrowed, whispering softly.


    As a witness of the Triel massacre, the scenes of that year had replayed countless times in Viscount Luton¡¯s mind, becoming an unshakable nightmare.


    And now, a new nightmare was about to be born.


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    ¡°Will he kill us?¡±


    ¡°I do not know.¡±


    ¡°Let us wait and see.¡±


    The remaining Northern Nobility and soldiers stood in a daze, even if their spears and swords fell from their hands, no one picked them up¡ªbecause it was unnecessary.


    Even with tens of thousands of soldiers, with fine weaponry and ample supplies, it was futile before this Red Dragon.


    Resistance was pointless.


    Who could stand against a scourge with a mere sword?


    People gazed at the scene in the sky for a long time, all with the same thought arising in their hearts.


    Cassius hovered high in the air, looking down at the trembling people below, faint light flickering in his pale gold pupils.


    His voice was not loud, yet it resounded across the wilderness, allowing everyone on the battlefield to hear clearly.


    ¡°The North has fallen¡­¡±


    ¡°Ashes will prevail.¡±


    His tone carried little fluctuation, more like a cold, indifferent proclamation.


    This was the obituary of the North¡¯s demise, and the declaration of the new order in the Ashen Kingdom.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Why has it come to this?¡±


    Viscount Luton collapsed to his knees with a thud, his head hanging in despair, letting out an uncontrollable wail as tears soaked the mud beneath him.


    Until now, he still could not believe all this nightmare was real.


    Born in Stratholme Fortress, Luton Siege had inherited a fief through his forebears¡¯ favor. He enjoyed studying the history of the North and often conversed with scholars from various regions, living an accustomed life among the upper echelons of Northern Nobility.


    Ten years, a mere ten years.


    The Red Dragon from the North had miraculously risen, establishing a formidable kingdom.


    Under the military edge of the Ashen Kingdom, his homeland was destroyed, and the Northern Nobility system he relied on was about to collapse.


    ¡°It is over¡­¡±


    ¡°The North is gone! The North is gone!¡±


    ¡°Gods¡­ Is this our punishment?¡±


    ¡°Doomsday, this is doomsday!¡±


    In the Allied Army, many Northern Nobles wore the same expression. Some collapsed to the ground, some turned pale, some were filled with disbelief, and some even went insane, crying and laughing.


    For a moment, cries and wails echoed through the Allied Army¡¯s ranks.


    They knew it was all over.


    The old order was to be overthrown and rebuilt.


    All that was outdated and rotten would be completely shattered, including themselves¡ª¡ªthe Northern Nobility that had ruled Anzeta for nearly a thousand years.


    Meanwhile, the Ashen Kingdom erupted in waves of cheers, as if they were powder kegs ignited, surging with fervor.


    Whether Goblins, Ogres, or Tieflings, they all raised their weapons in celebration. The wyverns roared proudly, and the Blue Dragons and White Dragons let out wild, ecstatic howls.


    ¡°Ashes will prevail!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Invincible in battle!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius! His Majesty!¡±


    Even the players were infected by the frenzied atmosphere, starting to wail loudly, though their lines seemed rather strange and peculiar.


    ¡°Kingdom scum, prepare to die!¡±


    ¡°For faction contribution and gold coins!¡±


    ¡°Lord Cassius is so handsome, I wish I could hug his tail¡­¡±


    In the crowd of excited players, Mantou held the bipedal wyvern, a mournful expression on his face as he lamented: ¡°I barely got any contribution, how did it end so quickly?¡±


    With an order from Marshal Dolores, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army advanced once more, marching in orderly steps, slowly approaching the Allied Army¡¯s position.


    The river trembled, and the earth quaked.


    But this time, they met no resistance.


    The Allied Army had completely lost the will to fight, merely waiting in silence for the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army to arrive, a sense of hopeless death shrouding their ranks.


    Until the Kingdom Army marched up to the Allied Army, finally, a Northern Noble went mad under the pressure, losing all reason, and charged at the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army alone.


    He shouted: ¡°You monsters! I am a noble of high blood¡­¡±


    But with the sound of dense gunfire, that mad noble was turned into a sieve, his corpse riddled with countless bullet holes.


    The Red Dragon still hovered over the sky, indifferent to the minor disturbances on the ground, his broad wings casting a massive shadow over the wilderness, his slit-pupiled eyes reflecting the battle-scarred, devastated battlefield.


    ¡°It is finally over.¡±


    ¡°The Anzeta Great Wilderness is mine.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    A golden trophy stood tall in his mind.


    [Nation Destroyer]


    ¡­


    ¡°It was a war of despair, the legendary ¡®Wings of Silver¡¯ fell to the ground, the heroes from Fadlan sacrificed, and the brave and fearless Leo Boske disappeared without a trace.¡±


    ¡°Even the Light of Heavenly Mountain could not withstand his wrath¡ª¡ªthe Northern Kingdom that ruled Anzeta for nearly a thousand years was declared extinct, and the Northerners fell under the dominion of the dragons, becoming slaves to its ambitions.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡±Secret History of Anzeta: Fall of the North¡± Duke Luton


    ¡­


    ¡°A flourishing era is about to arrive; this is another important milestone in the Empire¡¯s grand plan, and the invincible majesty has once again achieved a glorious victory¡­¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡±Imperial Archives¡¤Official History of the Northern United Kingdom¡± Luton Siege Citizen

 Chapter 352 - 276: Orders and Achievements

    Chapter 352: Chapter 276: Orders and Achievements


    The armies of the Ashen Kingdom swarmed, facing the dragon vein monsters with fierce eyes. Tens of thousands of the allied forces surrendered their weapons without a trace of hesitation.


    Even those noble officers who wished to resist were eagerly torn to shreds by the fanatical retainers.


    In the end, they continued southward with their massive army of captives, heading straight for the capital of the Boske Duchy, the nominal capital of the Northern United Kingdom ¡ª Stratholme Fortress.


    Cassius lazily sprawled by a hillside, with the unconscious Silver Dragon not far away, guarded by Blue and White Dragons. In front of him stood Dolores, brimming with satisfaction.


    The Great Goblin Marshal knelt on one knee, his murky eyes filled with excitement, intermittently puffing out white smoke from his nostrils.


    ¡°Reporting, Your Majesty.¡±


    ...


    ¡°In this battle, we killed over seventy-six thousand enemies and captured a total of thirty-six thousand allied soldiers, including two hundred and seventeen Northern Nobles. Among them is Horace Boske, the eldest son of Leo Boske.¡±


    ¡°Our own casualties were only eight thousand seven hundred sixty.¡±


    ¡°However¡­¡±


    Dolores paused as if recalling something, a sly gleam flashing in his murky yellow eyes.


    He bowed his head even lower before continuing to speak.


    ¡°But these meager accomplishments are insignificant compared to Your Majesty¡¯s glorious achievements.¡±


    ¡°You defeated Osedro, the ¡®Wings of Silver.¡¯ The Ashen King¡¯s renowned name will spread throughout the entire Fianso Continent and even the whole Prime Material World.¡±


    Cassius glanced at him nonchalantly before turning his head away.


    ¡°You have done well, but you must accelerate the progress.¡±


    ¡°Three months, I give you three months. Within three months, I want to see a unified North belonging to the Ashen Kingdom, at least nominally.¡±


    This demand could be considered harsh.


    Anzeta had a sparse population, but the land was vast and expansive. Just the northern United Kingdom¡¯s original territory spanned over a million square kilometers.


    Moreover, it had been ruled by the Northern Nobles for millennia, their influence deeply entrenched and difficult to eradicate quickly.


    But after all, it was the order of the Emperor.


    Undeniable, unquestionable.


    Cold sweat immediately broke out on Dolores¡¯ forehead, but he forced an ugly smile.


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty, our military department will certainly accomplish the task of fully conquering the North. The main forces of the allied armies have been completely annihilated, and the defenses everywhere are very weak. Both the eastern and western fronts are progressing smoothly¡­¡±


    ¡°Just do it well, but¡­¡±


    Cassius looked at Dolores again, a glint of dragon might in his pale golden eyes.


    ¡°I do not wish to see a desolate North filled with despair. I want it to become a part of the Ashen Kingdom, a fertile ground for the Kingdom¡¯s growth. Do you understand?¡±


    Dolores wiped the profuse sweat from his forehead and quickly responded:


    ¡°As you wish, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡­


    With that said, Dolores and the armies of the Ashen Kingdom departed.


    The Red Dragon paid no mind to the bickering Blue and White Dragons beside him. He gave a low command and used the Egg of Sanctuary to create a private other-dimensional space for himself.


    Cassius calmly watched his panel, where information was continually displayed. He first looked at that golden trophy.


    [Nation Destruction]


    ¡°I have witnessed the fall of countless mortal realms, and you are no different. You will be destroyed by me¡­¡ª¡ªAncient Red Dragon, Feyord Danoff¡±


    Traits gained: [Nation Destroyer]


    Strength +1, Charisma +1


    Proficiencies: Intimidation +4, Ruling +4


    You destroyed a nation of a million people. Your notorious name makes mortals tremble, your strength astonishes the world, and you and your kingdom walk the path of conquest.


    Cassius narrowed his eyes slightly, an intense, invisible fluctuation arising out of nowhere, affecting his massive dragon body directly.


    Even his body, difficult to break with Ninth Tier Spells, began to undergo a dramatic transformation.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    With a series of low growls, the Red Dragon¡¯s knotted muscles surged continuously. His surface scales were brutally stretched, and thick white smoke emitted from their gaps.


    Cassius felt extreme pain throughout his body. His muscles felt twisted like a thick rope, gathering strength far beyond what they had before.


    ¡°It continues¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon stretched his body, exhaling a breath of sulfur-scented heat with reluctance.


    The strength continued to spread and transform the ¡°aura¡± around his body, which meant his ability to influence the world. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The turbulent elemental energy surrounded his body, flowing with every movement of his will. The Magic Web also rippled rhythmically.


    The Red Dragon¡¯s Charisma broke the threshold of thirty.


    Scholars had a vague definition for this level of spellcasters and had given it several names: Root Caster, True Manipulator, Spell Usurper¡­


    But one thing was certain¡ª


    This had already transcended mortal limits and reached a new realm.


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Cassius revealed a sinister smile.


    After this transformation, his spellcasting fundamentally changed again, no longer just channeling and communicating with the Magic Web. It felt more like he was controlling reality; he even vaguely sensed a tendency to surpass the Magic Web and access its essence.


    After the transformation, Cassius took a silver-white gem from the space and gently held it in his claw.


    [Shattered Wind of Bahamut]


    Quality: Divine Artifact (Damaged)


    Creator: Bahamut


    Description: It is said that this gem was formed from the first breath Bahamut, the ¡°Lord of the Northwind,¡± exhaled at dawn, containing a very faint divine power.


    Eight hundred and seventy years ago, it was bestowed upon the young dragon Osedro and embedded in a platinum compass.


    But during the ¡°Battle of the Twin Dragons¡± that shocked the Prime Material World in Anzeta, the platinum compass was destroyed. The gem¡¯s divine power from Bahamut was eroded by the Chaos Flame, leaving only a remnant of Order Divine Power.


    Effects:


    [Holy Order]: Bahamut¡¯s afterglow can change the world. Everything around this gem gravitates towards order and goodness.


    [Northwind¡¯s Breath]: You can unleash a breath of extreme cold, completely freezing your evil enemies.


    ¡°A great treasure, worth the risk to battle that Silver Dragon.¡±


    Cassius held the silver-white gem, feeling the faint afterglow it emitted and felt unprecedented clarity in his mind.


    After that battle, Bahamut¡¯s imprint was removed, and the remaining Order Divine Power became his best ¡°tranquilizer.¡±


    He clearly felt the Heart of Karex in his chest no longer throbbed intensely but rather calmed as if influenced by this power of order, frozen by Bahamut¡¯s Northwind.


    Cassius looked at his panel.


    [Your absorption progress of [Heart of Karex]: 4.57%]


    The earlier battle with the Breath of Chaos had significantly advanced the progress.


    Now, the deathly countdown-like progress had finally paused, alleviating his tension.


    However, Cassius knew this was not a permanent solution. To deal with the curse of the Vengeful Demon, he needed to find more countermeasures.


    The spoils from this battle were extensive, and his panel flooded with experience information.


    [[Nether Tracker ¨C Grom Saxon (Challenge Level: 17)], gained 18000xp]


    [[Primal Warrior ¨C Rano Wrathaxe (Challenge Level: 18)], gained 20000xp]


    [[Glorious Dragonslayer ¨C Deske Flamgold (Challenge Level: 19)], gained 23000xp]


    However, he did not gain a level this time.


    The unreasonable template of the Atavistic Red Dragon, the mysterious and special advancement sub-occupation, and the Occupational Level of up to seventeen made gaining experience for his [True Dragon Sorcerer] occupation daunting.


    Thus, even sacrificing most of a legendary adventure group could not grant him even a single level; perhaps only Osedro¡¯s death could achieve that.


    ¡°The efficiency is too low.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, aside from personal slaughter, I need to find other ways to gain experience¡­¡±


    Cassius gazed at his template, silently contemplating.


    ¡°Players.¡±


    He thought.

 Chapter 353 - 277 Entering the City

    Chapter 353: Chapter 277 Entering the City


    Stratholme Fortress.


    The bustling city had fallen into silence. People tightly closed their doors and windows, quietly waiting for news from outside.


    Due to the prior ¡°Grand Conscription¡± by the Allied Forces, the streets were scattered with abandoned items and shattered furniture, with patches of bloodstains on the ground.


    ¡°Martial law in the entire city¡ª¡±


    ¡°Without orders, no one may leave the city!¡±


    The City Defense Army patrolled the streets repeatedly, vigilant against the invasion of external enemies.


    ...


    ¡°Anyone hiding strangers will be hanged!¡±


    Sometimes they would knock on someone¡¯s door, both to check for spies, and to collect some ¡°protecting the city¡± fees, of course.


    On Stratholme Fortress¡¯s tall, weathered city walls, the true commander of the City Guard Army, Count Galahad Ponte, stood on the tower, anxiously looking at the distant horizon.


    ¡°This war will decide everything.¡±


    ¡°The Allied Forces¡­ will ultimately triumph, just like in any disaster that the North has faced in history.¡±


    He always said that.


    Every moment of waiting was torture, and Galahad fervently hoped to see the messenger soldiers, to see the lion banner of the Boske Family fluttering.


    But he knew this war was far different from the previous ones, its scale, intensity, and duration possibly being unprecedented¡ªa conclusion in a few days seemed unlikely.


    The remaining eleven countries of the North had unprecedentedly gathered all their strength, forming an Allied Force of over a hundred thousand soldiers, jointly resisting this seemingly airborne, extraordinarily powerful enemy¡ªthe Ashen Kingdom.


    Even when facing the ¡°Frost Calamity¡± and the ¡°Dragon Calamity¡± from the North, the Northern Countries had never been so united in their enmity.


    That was because the nobles of every country knew: Frost Giants and White Dragons, at most, would bring plunder and death, and might even weaken other countries, giving them more benefits.


    But the Ashen Kingdom would treat them equally, hanging them on the gallows and destroying their livelihoods. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°No one can defeat a united Scania.¡±


    ¡°Not even that giant dragon.¡±


    Count Galahad murmured to himself.


    Suddenly, the heavy sounds of horse hooves and footsteps were heard, though not in a hurry.


    Instantly, officers, soldiers, and even commoner craftsmen on and around the tall walls looked towards the distant horizon, their hearts hanging in suspense.


    ¡°How is it possible?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only been thirteen days¡­ is the war already over?¡±


    Galahad¡¯s expression was grave. He stared intently at the horizon, his hand gripping his sword sweaty.


    The count harbored a terrible suspicion in his heart, but he was unwilling to believe it.


    After pondering for a moment, Galahad still ordered his adjutant beside him.


    ¡°Send a team of scouts to check the situation; remember¡­¡±


    But he stopped quickly¡ªbecause blurry figures appeared in the distance.


    Their yellow-black and brown uniforms were all too familiar to him; they were the uniforms of the Boske Family, not only effective camouflage but also symbolic of the lion¡¯s fur color.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Duchy¡¯s army!¡±


    ¡°They have returned in victory!¡±


    Seeing the returning duchy soldiers, cheers erupted from the tower, and the soldiers raised their weapons high.


    But Count Galahad rubbed his chin, lowering his head, still frowning deeply.


    ¡°How could this be¡­?¡±


    Something wasn¡¯t right.


    If it were such a great victory, the duchy¡¯s messengers would have brought the news back long ago, but he had not seen a single messenger to date.


    And in the vanguard of that army, there would have been fluttering lion banners, not the current lack of momentum.


    Suddenly, the cheers of the soldiers abruptly halted.


    The tower fell into a dead silence.


    Galahad unconsciously raised his head, only to see a swirling, shivering black cloud appearing on the horizon, covering the army below.


    No, it wasn¡¯t a black cloud.


    He wiped his eyes incredulously, his lips slightly trembling.


    ¡°W-Wyverns?¡±


    ¡°Could it be¡­ the Ashen Kingdom?¡±


    The bipedal wyverns and chimeras flew densely in the sky, their wings nearly touching, like clusters of dark clouds blocking the sunlight.


    And on the ground, behind the dejected captured soldiers, were the uniformly arranged Tieflings, Great Goblins, and the mountain-like Land Dragon Beasts.


    ¡°Gods above¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that our enemy?¡±


    ¡°The Allied Forces¡­ have they been captured?¡±


    The officers and soldiers finally came to their senses, exclaiming in fear and bewilderment at this incomprehensible enemy.


    With a roar, the dense bipedal wyverns suddenly dispersed in the sky, leaving a wide open space.


    The sky was instantly dyed orange-red.


    The Red Dragon slowly flapped its massive wings, appearing on the distant horizon.


    ¡°The North has fallen¡­¡±


    ¡°Ashes shall remain forever.¡±


    The calm, clear voice echoed across the wilderness, heard clearly by everyone inside and outside Stratholme Fortress.


    ¡°The North has fallen, Ashes shall remain forever!¡±


    On the ground, the Ogres and Tieflings also shouted fervently, welcoming the arrival of the Red Dragon.


    Players also shouted haphazardly, and some even ran naked on the plain, filling the surroundings with a sense of freedom.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°The North has fallen.¡±


    Count Galahad fell to his knees with a thud on the tower, despair evident in his eyes.


    He had thought of the worst outcome, but when the suffocating scene unfolded before him, he still felt his world crumble.


    Galahad Ponte was the count personally ennobled by Duke Leo before leaving the city.


    The Duke had solemnly promised that as long as he held Stratholme Fortress, he would be granted a true dukedom upon the Allied Forces¡¯ return, placing him among the top echelon of the Northern Nobility.


    But now, everything was over.


    Count Galahad¡¯s hand trembled slightly as he gripped his sword.


    ¡­


    Soon, with the sound of synchronized footsteps, the Kingdom¡¯s vanguard troops entered the city.


    The Great Goblins and Tiefling Infantry climbed the walls using ladders, quickly taking control of the entire city walls with almost no resistance.


    Additionally, they discovered a high-ranking Northern noble committing seppuku on the tower¡ªthough this was of little importance to them.


    The City Defense Army remaining inside Stratholme Fortress was not elite, more like a bunch of ruffians and strongmen.


    In front of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army and in the face of thousands of Allied captives, they had no will to resist at all. Some even waved white flags when the Kingdom¡¯s army was still hundreds of meters away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡±


    ¡°I surrender, I surrender!¡±


    The City Defense Army, who usually swaggered before the city¡¯s citizens, were now mostly kneeling and shivering, with some even wetting themselves in fear.


    Stratholme Fortress, this ancient and prosperous city with nearly a millennium of history, claimed to be the ¡°Lion City that never falls,¡± the capital of the Boske Duchy, had thus fallen to the Kingdom.

 Chapter 354 - 278: Public Trial

    Chapter 354: Chapter 278: Public Trial Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Stratholme Fortress had fallen.


    The forces of the Ashen Kingdom marched into the city, their steps in perfect synchrony, swiftly seizing the armory and the Ducal Mansion, smoothly taking control of the entire city.


    Stratholme Fortress, the largest city in the North, even under siege, was home to nearly seventy thousand people.


    ¡°Tampas above¡­¡±


    ¡°It has truly fallen¡­¡±


    ¡°I hope these monsters won¡¯t cause a massacre¡­¡±


    ...


    ¡°But, but those are retainers of evil dragons. Haven¡¯t you read the ¡®Book of Ashen¡¯?¡±


    ¡°God, who can save us now?¡±


    The townspeople shut their doors and windows tight, nervously staying inside, envying those who had already left, and speculating about the assurances of the giant dragons.


    The city seemed to be shrouded in a dark cloud, the oppressive sound of hushed whispers echoing within.


    Some curious players also began to ¡°explore¡± the city, rummaging through everything in sight, with one even ending up in the sewers before being arrested by the accompanying military governor.


    However, the well-trained tieflings quickly followed orders, knocking on doors house by house.


    ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t kill us!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t hurt them, I surrender!¡±


    ¡°By the kingdom¡¯s orders, please proceed to the assembly square.¡±


    There were not many bloody clashes during this period, though it did terrify several townspeople into fainting.


    Reluctantly, people were forced to leave their homes, anxious and praying they could survive the dragon¡¯s tyranny.


    ¡°What, what do they plan to do?¡±


    ¡°Are these devils going to eat us?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ no way, are they going to feed us to that Red Dragon?¡±


    Before their words fell silent, a tremor resounded through the city, causing people to look up in terror, all eyes fixed on a single point.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A massive red dragon descended from the sky, crushing the high city wall to pieces, causing countless stones to fall.


    The majestic wall, a sight to awe even the Frost Giants, looked like a paper sculpture before the Red Dragon, liable to collapse with the slightest neglect.


    Cassius cautiously climbed the tallest tower, opening his mouth to release a long roar that drowned out all the noise in the city.


    Countless fearful gazes looked up at this colossal existence.


    ¡°Humans, the North has fallen.¡±


    ¡°In the name of the King of Ashen, I declare that the centuries of oppression by the Northern Nobility upon you have ended.¡±


    ¡°Recognize the situation. The hundred-thousand-strong allied forces of the North have been annihilated, and the kingdom will bring you a new order, one free from the decadent and lavish ruling of the Northern Nobility.¡±


    ¡°Lastly¡­ the public trial is about to begin. Enjoy it.¡±


    With a gust of wind, Cassius flapped his broad wings and soared into the sky, then vanished amidst the warping space.


    The tower beneath him crumbled under its own weight, collapsing with a loud crash, leaving behind a heap of smoke and rubble.


    ¡°A public trial?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°My God, how could there be such a giant dragon.¡±


    The people exclaimed in shock.


    The townspeople, still reeling from the recent shock, clutched their chests and took deep breaths, their hearts filled with confusion.


    This giant dragon seemed unlike a brutal conqueror.


    One must understand, this was an era where ¡°soldiers passed like combs¡±. Even when the troops of the Boske House marched through their city, looting and coercion were inevitable. They were long accustomed to it.


    But the Tiefling army, as ¡°conquerors¡± entering the city, did nothing outrageous, maintaining remarkable order.


    So what were they planning?


    A sacrifice?


    The people of Stratholme Fortress had never heard of the term ¡°public trial¡±.


    And the words of the Red Dragon puzzled the townspeople, who had always regarded the Ashen Kingdom, influenced by the Boske House¡¯s propaganda, as a land of monsters.


    But soon, they would understand.


    ¡­


    Under the supervision of the Tieflings, people nervously gathered in the major squares, creating a cacophony of noise.


    ¡°What are they planning to do?¡±


    ¡°I hope we survive¡­¡±


    ¡°Keep your voice down, that ogre is watching you!¡±


    Under the escort of the Tiefling guards, Mezulash walked onto a high platform covered with a cloth and spoke in a solemn voice:


    ¡°The public trial is about to begin, please remain silent for now. It¡¯s not yet time for you to speak.¡±


    His voice was not loud, but it spread throughout the venue through several black boxes.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The surrounding Tiefling guards fired shots into the air, creating deafening bangs.


    The crowd instantly fell silent, the square holding ten thousand people descending into quiet.


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    Mezulash nodded slightly, signaling with a glance.


    The Tiefling guards on the sides of the platform immediately understood, pulling down the massive curtain covering it.


    Instantly, the crowd erupted again, their eyes widening in disbelief and letting out uncontrollable gasps.


    ¡°How is this possible!¡±


    ¡°I must be seeing things¡­¡±


    ¡°That, that is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Tampas above¡ªthat is Marquis Horace!¡±


    On the high stage stood several tall wooden frames, and a middle-aged man with blonde hair and blue eyes was bound tightly to them.


    He was bare-chested, his head hanging low, his body covered in blood, appearing extremely disheveled.


    It was the eldest son of Duke Leo, Marquis Horace Boske!


    No wonder the people were so shocked.


    The once untouchable, incredibly noble figure was now tied to a wooden frame like a prisoner, showing no sign of the noble lion blood running through his veins.


    Mezulash glanced at the crowd¡¯s reactions with a satisfied smile, taking out a prepared document from his pocket.


    ¡°Very well, as you can see, this is Leo Boske¡¯s eldest son, the former Marquis of the Boske Duchy¡ªHorace Boske.¡±


    ¡°He is a heinous war criminal, one of the main instigators of the war, the primary orchestrator of the ¡®Great Levy¡¯, and the perpetrator of countless atrocities.¡±


    ¡°And today, you will judge his crimes.¡±


    The crowd boiled over once again, their faces brimming with disbelief, even suspecting they were dreaming.


    Judgment?


    Decide the guilt of Horace Boske?


    Letting a bunch of commoners decide the actions of a former marquis was unthinkable before, almost shattering their worldviews.


    ¡°That is Marquis Hollen¡­¡±


    ¡°Who would dare judge him?¡±


    ¡°Indeed¡­¡±


    ¡°What if he¡¯s released later? Wouldn¡¯t the person who spoke be in trouble?¡±


    Amidst the murmurs, no one dared to try.


    The people had long been accustomed to the high-standing Northern Nobility. Even with the opportunity in front of them, they did not dare to challenge it easily.


    In the captive ranks below the stage, Viscount Luton looked at the marquis on the stage, then at the discussing crowd¡ªhe saw the insidious intent in what appeared to be a farce by the Ashen Kingdom.


    They intended to utterly destroy the Northern Nobility!


    Not only physically, but also mentally and culturally, uprooting the bloodline that had ruled the North for millennia!


    Viscount Luton¡¯s face turned pale, his purple lips trembling, his body starting to weaken.


    ¡°They¡­¡±


    ¡°They dare to do this¡­ this, this is to root us out¡­¡±

 Chapter 355 - 279: The Guillotine

    Chapter 355: Chapter 279: The Guillotine Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The noisy debates and whispers among the crowd continued, but under the centuries of accumulated prestige of the Boske Family, no one dared to step forward.


    Mezulash scanned the crowd below, their faces a mix of fear and panic, his pure black eyes narrowing slightly.


    ¡°Everyone, this is a public trial of the kingdom. You can exercise your power to the fullest; do not harbor any feelings of fear.¡±


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡±


    Suddenly, laughter came from the high platform.


    Hollen, who had remained silent, trembled as he lifted his head. His blood-streaked face displayed a wanton smile.


    ...


    ¡°Evil Dragon Kin, your schemes will never succeed.¡±


    ¡°Stratholme Fortress will always be the territory of the Boske Family¡­ The bloodline of the Lion will never submit!¡±


    ¡°I am Hollen Boske, first son of Duke Leo. Apart from my father, no one is qualified to judge me!¡±


    Hollen spat blood-stained saliva, cursing Mezulash, showing a reckless defiance.


    ¡°You¡¯re seeking death, right?¡±


    Mezulash wiped the blood from his face, his expression not showing the slightest anger, but rather a profound calm.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï


    ¡°You want to die resisting your enemies, becoming a hero remembered by all, just like in those epic tales.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, I won¡¯t allow you that satisfaction.¡±


    Mezulash shook his head lightly, walking slowly to stand beside Hollen.


    ¡°Let me tell you this¡ªyou will be judged by the people, nailed to the pillar of historical shame, becoming a laughingstock in your family¡¯s history, and the beginning of the Northern nobility¡¯s complete downfall.¡±


    The Tiefling¡¯s words were deep, like the whispers of a devil, echoing in his ears.


    Hollen struggled to lift his head, gritting his teeth as he glared at the Tiefling.


    ¡°You, you¡¯re delusional!¡±


    ¡°The steadfast Scania people won¡¯t believe your lies!¡±


    At that moment, a mocking smirk appeared on Mezulash¡¯s face.


    ¡°Is it really as you say?¡±


    The Tiefling turned, drawing the longsword from his waist, raising it high in the sunlight.


    ¡°I promise you, in the name of the Duke of the Ashen Kingdom, that anyone who participates in the trial and provides valid accusations will bear no responsibility afterward!¡±


    ¡°Furthermore¡­¡±


    His tone was impassioned as he abruptly paused.


    ¡°You will have the opportunity to receive a portion of this Hollen Boske, Marquis¡¯ wealth, according to kingdom laws.¡±


    The crowd immediately erupted again.


    That wealth belonged to the Northern Marquis, the first son of Duke Leo!


    The various estates and mines under Hollen¡¯s command were uncountable. The gold coins stored within the Marquis¡¯ mansion alone were unimaginable to the common people.


    In the face of such immense wealth, even noble power became negligible.


    In that crowded throng, many people were already eager, ready to take a chance.


    ¡°Despicable!¡±


    ¡°You, you¡¯re inciting a rebellion!¡±


    Tied to the wooden frame, Hollen let out a hoarse roar, but Mezulash did not even glance at him.


    ¡°Sir, sir!¡±


    ¡°I, I have crimes to accuse!¡±


    A trembling male voice suddenly spoke up.


    People turned their gaze towards it, seeing a simply dressed middle-aged man speaking.


    His rough hands twisted together, his face drenched in sweat from extreme nervousness, even his lips were pale, but the deep hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Luren¡­ Luren Pierce, a merchant from the east side of the city.¡±


    ¡°Please, speak.¡±


    Mezulash¡¯s face instantly showed joy, motioning for the man to speak.


    ¡°Hollen¡­ No, Hollen Boske, he took all the money and food from my shop in the name of the ¡®Great Levy¡¯ leading soldiers.¡±


    ¡°His knights also took my wife and daughter, accusing them of disrespecting nobles!¡±


    At first, Luren¡¯s words were stammering, but as he continued, his tone grew increasingly impassioned and angry.


    ¡°I thought they were imprisoned, so I went to all lengths to gather money for their ransom¡­¡±


    ¡°In the end, I found their bodies at the army camp outside the city. They had been tortured to death.¡±


    By the time he finished speaking, his voice was hoarse.


    Luren¡¯s eyes were filled with tears.


    Finally, it seemed he wanted to fully release his long-suppressed emotions. He grabbed a handful of dirty snow and mud from the ground and hurled it at Hollen on the high platform.


    ¡°Splat!¡±


    The dirty snow and mud covered Hollen¡¯s face, leaving him in a wretched state, completely devoid of the noble demeanor of the Northern nobility.


    ¡°Lies!¡±


    ¡°This is slander!¡±


    ¡°This scum has taken the gold coins of the evil dragons!¡±


    Hollen, his hair disheveled, cursed fiercely at Luren below, wishing he could kill him on the spot.


    As a Marquis, he had never suffered such humiliation!


    And in front of tens of thousands of people!


    Hollen did not realize: the nightmare had only just begun.


    The order in the Boske Duchy had always been superior to other northern countries, yet even so, many heinous acts occurred during the notorious ¡®Great Levy.¡¯


    After all, soldiers of this era never cared about reasoning.


    After listening to Luren¡¯s story, the crowd was moved, some even moved to tears, while many more had their anger ignited.


    More importantly, with Luren setting an example, they had nothing left to fear and could speak their minds freely.


    It was like a stone causing a thousand waves.


    ¡°I have crimes to accuse as well!¡±


    ¡°So do I!¡±


    ¡°His knights smashed my house!¡±


    ¡°They killed my mother!¡±


    ¡°They took our winter food, starving my son to death!¡±


    At that moment, justice and evil, dragons and nobles were no longer important.


    The people needed to vent.


    They were fervent and angry, accusing the Northern nobility of their crimes in this public trial, telling the stories they had once dared not speak.


    Trischka and Hollen were the two main figures responsible for the ¡®Great Levy.¡¯


    To impress the Duke, they often took the lead, personally leading soldiers to collect food and military fees.


    Now that Count Trischka was dead, Hollen Boske, Marquis, had become the sole outlet for people¡¯s hatred.


    The crowd was immersed in a fervor of rage. Mud, branches, and even stones were thrown onto the platform, striking Marquis Hollen.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°You scum¡­ Traitors¡­¡±


    ¡°Without the Boske Family¡­ How could you have survived until now?¡±


    But the crowd¡¯s shouts drowned out his feeble retort; no one cared what he had to say.


    At that moment, Hollen Boske was wretched beyond measure, tied to the wooden frame, his body covered in wounds and filth, his blood-streaked face contorted in a grimace, the so-called Lion¡¯s bloodline unrecognizable.


    In the eyes of the people, he was no different from those criminals.


    Finally, Mezulash raised his voice and declared:


    ¡°Upon public trial by the people of Stratholme, Hollen Boske has committed a series of crimes including murder, embezzlement, and robbery.¡±


    ¡°As an agent of the evil Northern regime, Hollen Boske¡¯s crimes are exceedingly severe, his attitude heinous, with multiple felonies, ultimately sentenced to¡­¡±


    Mezulash¡¯s tone purposely paused, wanting the crowd to feel more involved.


    ¡°Death! Death!¡±


    The enraged crowd roared.


    Until their voices merged into a tidal wave, only then did he utter the final two words:


    ¡°Death penalty.¡±


    The Tiefling guards stepped forward, uncovering the cloth from the guillotine, then escorting Hollen toward it.


    Hollen struggled continuously, roaring with rage, his face contorted.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    ¡°You scum, you have no right to judge me!¡±


    ¡°Traitors! You are all traitors!¡±


    But all this struggle and resistance were futile. Under the Tieflings¡¯ strong actions, the Marquis was still escorted to the guillotine.


    Even at the last moment, Hollen desperately lifted his head.


    ¡°I am Duke Leo¡¯s first¡ª¡±


    ¡°Click!¡±


    Before he could finish, there was a crisp sound.


    Followed by the sharp, blood-stained blade, blood splattering, and the crowd below erupting in joyous cheers.


    Guided by the kingdom¡¯s intent, the people of Stratholme personally shattered the Northern nobles¡¯ lofty status.


    ¡°Drip, drip¡­¡±


    The slanted, trapezoidal blade of the guillotine was raised again, crimson blood dripping from its edge, the sharp blade gleaming in the sunlight, blindingly bright.

 Chapter 356 - 280: Luton Diary

    Chapter 356: Chapter 280: Luton Diary


    However, the people¡¯s fury had not subsided. A single marquis¡¯ head could not satisfy their long-suppressed emotions. The revelry continued, and the rage kept pouring out.


    The crowd cheered and shouted.


    ¡°Execution! Execution!¡±


    The commoners were completely inflamed!


    Those once untouchable, high-ranking important figures, now their fates were in the hands of the people¡ªat least, so it seemed.


    ¡°Dwayne Sharaf, convicted of premeditated murder, inciting war, robbery¡­¡±


    ...


    ¡°Flory Carson, sentenced to¡­¡±


    ¡°Giovanni Wald, sentenced to death¡­¡±


    One familiar ¡°noble¡± name after another was read aloud by the Tiefling who replaced Mezulash.


    Nobles were dragged to the guillotine one by one, and each time the blade severed flesh, a cheer erupted from the crowd.


    Even the wooden platform had been stained red, with a slow-flowing river of blood trickling down, spreading to the people¡¯s feet.


    Viscount Luton was being held by Tiefling Guards in the prisoner ranks, shivering all over.


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    ¡°How could this happen?¡±


    ¡°Do they intend to kill all the Northern Nobility?¡±


    Viscount Luton trembled as he watched an elderly noble being placed on the guillotine up on the platform, his face turned pale.


    He knew that noble; it was Earl Yasjin Garrett, a famous general of the Boske Duchy, practically his uncle.


    The once formidable Earl Yasjin, who earned the respect of the nobles on the battlefield and from horseback, had been praised by Luton in a fervent celebratory poem¡ª¡±General¡¯s Triumphal Song.¡±


    But at this moment, this former general now awaited death like a lamb to the slaughter.


    ¡°Click!¡±


    With a crisp sound, the sharp blade fell again.


    Viscount Luton instinctively shrunk his neck, as if it was his own head being severed.


    Suddenly, he felt something warm splatter onto his neck.


    He instinctively touched it with his hand.


    It was blood.


    Fresh, warm blood.


    But it was far from over.


    ¡°Gloop, gloop¡­¡±


    The bloodied head rolled down from the platform, stopping not far in front of Viscount Luton, those desperate, unclosed eyes staring straight at him.


    ¡°L-Lord Akins¡­¡±


    Viscount Luton screamed in terror; he felt a wave of nausea rise in his throat, nearly retching.


    ¡°Urgh¡­¡±


    But just as he tried to bend over, a Tiefling Guard behind him rudely grabbed him, locking his hands tightly, forcing him to straighten up.


    ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about pulling any tricks!¡±


    ¡°Execution! Execution!¡± the voices roared again, shaking the sky.


    The cheers of the crowd, the shouts of the guards, and the sound of the guillotine falling intertwined, echoing around Luton.


    Viscount Luton felt the world spinning, his ears buzzing, piercing tinnitus followed by a deafening silence, and before his eyes, the world turned blood red.


    Those fervent, cheering people seemed like demons from The Abyss.


    ¡°Mad, mad¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve all gone mad.¡±


    Viscount Luton¡¯s face was pale, his eyes hollow and lifeless, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, and his lips trembling slightly.


    Scenes flashed through his mind like a moving lantern; grand banquets, orderly marching troops, elegant dances, exquisitely bound books¡­


    That was the life he was meant to have.


    The North was not supposed to be like this; it should¡¯ve been a paradise for nobles like him.


    What had become of this world?


    How dared these people rebel?


    Why had the once subservient commoners all gone mad?


    ¡°This world¡­ is beyond saving¡­¡±


    In his last moment of consciousness, Viscount Luton thought so.


    The Tiefling Guards¡¯ discussions began.


    ¡°He fainted from fear!¡±


    ¡°No surprise from Northern cowards!¡±


    ¡°Ha, I¡¯ve seen plenty of nobles like this. The last one was even worse, scared stiff into a fool.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, such a bunch of trash.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°This is like a dream!¡±


    ¡°Never thought the lives of those noble lords could be decided by us.¡±


    ¡°They, they actually compensated me! I got three gold coins!¡±


    ¡°I finally avenged my wife and daughter¡­¡±


    As they left the crowded grounds, people buzzed with conversation, their thin faces still alight with excitement.


    The public trial lasted from morning till evening, conducted in order of rank from highest to lowest.


    The capital, once the pride of the Northern Nobility, had now become their death warrant.


    These high-ranking nobles, to various degrees, had all oppressed the common people, or perhaps it was just habit for them. They never truly regarded the commoners as ¡°people¡± on an equal footing.


    When people¡¯s fury was ignited, severe retribution naturally followed.


    In one day, twenty-seven nobles lost their heads. The most prominent and most fervently discussed was Marquis Hollen, while the lowest ranked was still an Earl of the Boske Duchy.


    The massive fortunes they had claimed were moved out of their residences, large portions of which were distributed to the victims.


    The kingdom¡¯s divide-and-rule strategy had succeeded.


    This was an open conspiracy.


    An open conspiracy to divide commoners and nobles.


    After this public trial, those who participated and benefited were now firmly tied to the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s chariot of war.


    After all, their hands were now stained with the blood of Northern Nobility. Should the Northern Nobility ever regain power, the commoners would face the most brutal and bloody retribution.


    Therefore, the people had no choice but to accept the kingdom¡¯s rule passively.


    And the rule of the evil dragons didn¡¯t seem as brutal as the rumors¡ªat least not for the commoners.


    Aside from the nobles who were executed, some lower-ranked nobles, including Viscount Luton, escaped death. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They were temporarily imprisoned in the former Boske Duchy prison, waiting for their judgment.


    ¡­


    ¡°November 3rd, 1785 of the Third Era¡­ I will never forget this unforgettable day.¡±


    ¡°On that day, it felt like my entire world turned blood red.¡±


    ¡°I had never seen so many esteemed important figures die before my eyes. One day prior, they were my respected elders and esteemed mentors, but after that day, they had all become cold, headless corpses.¡±


    ¡°This was not so-called ¡®judgment,¡¯ but a brutal, savage massacre aimed at the Northern Nobility. The evil dragons and their kingdom shamefully incited our people, stirred their emotions¡ªturning them into true demons.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡±Diary of Luton Siege¡±

 Chapter 357 - 281 Escaping from Stratholme Fortress

    Chapter 357: Chapter 281 Escaping from Stratholme Fortress


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡±


    ¡°Huff, puff¡­¡±


    Viscount Luton awoke from the nightmare, suddenly bolting upright and gasping for air.


    He nervously touched his neck and only relaxed after confirming that it wasn¡¯t severed by a guillotine.


    But soon, Viscount Luton recalled that bloody memory, the head that could not find peace in death, and those fanatical faces.


    Instantly, he retched once more.


    ...


    ¡°Public trial¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve all gone mad, everyone¡¯s gone mad¡­¡±


    Viscount Luton kept shaking his head, muttering to himself.


    He looked around wearily, seeing the hard stone floor beneath him, cold iron bars to his left, and walls stained with grime and blood.


    He recognized this place.


    This was the dungeon of Stratholme Fortress, used to detain those who broke the law or street vagrants.


    No noble of the North had ever stayed here.


    But compared to his elders, Luton considered himself fortunate, at least he had kept his head.


    Thinking of this, he grew anxious once more.


    Could it be¡­ he too would be dragged to a so-called ¡°public trial¡±?


    Recalling that nightmarish scene again, Viscount Luton¡¯s heart pounded rapidly.


    He couldn¡¯t stop gasping for breath, shaking his head non-stop.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°I must leave this hellhole!¡±


    ¡°The North, the North has become a den of evil dragons! Everyone¡¯s gone mad!¡±


    Viscount Luton gritted his teeth and said.


    However, footsteps approached. He immediately covered his mouth, pretending to be unconscious, and squinted his eyes to observe secretly.


    In the flickering candlelight of the corridor, several spear-wielding Tiefling Guards patrolled by.


    After confirming the guards had left, Viscount Luton cautiously opened his eyes and cursed under his breath.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    ¡°So many patrols, how on earth am I supposed to get out?¡±


    Suddenly, the shadow in the corner seemed to move, and a low, unfamiliar voice emerged from it.


    ¡°Do you wish to escape?¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Luton grabbed at this lifeline, disregarding fear, worried only that the voice might vanish.


    After all, this might be his only hope of escaping.


    He had to survive!


    ¡°Quick, quick, take me out of here.¡±


    Viscount Luton urged anxiously.


    The shadow continued to sway, eventually coalescing into a man in a black robe, who courteously bowed to Luton.


    ¡°Viscount Luton Siege, I am a spy from the Holy Fadlan Federation. His Majesty Wilhelm believes that the Northern Nobility are the rightful rulers of Anzeta.¡±


    ¡°Well, of course.¡±


    ¡°But unfortunately, all the offspring of Duke Leo Boske have met unfortunate ends, and you seem to be his nephew.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Viscount Luton¡¯s eyes lit up.


    The black-robed man took Luton¡¯s hand, silently pulling him into the Shadow Plane, whispering in his ear:


    ¡°His Majesty Wilhelm will appoint you as the nominal Grand Duke of the North, to spread Anzeta¡¯s history in the South and draw attention to this evil dragon.¡±


    ¡°Good¡­ good, I agree.¡±


    ¡­ sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You may not know, but this Duke Luton embellished his experiences. His true identity¡­ is a male prostitute.¡±


    ¡°How could a mere idle viscount suddenly become the so-called ¡®Duke of the North¡¯?¡±


    ¡°In fact, Duke Luton was whoring in the Thrace Kingdom. His escape to the South was actually him working as His Majesty Wilhelm¡¯s male prostitute.¡±


    ¡ªAn anonymous historian in ¡°Fianso Secret Historical Records¡±


    ¡­


    Northwind Castle, Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    Cassius lazily lounged on the throne, indifferently watching the magic image in the distance, exhaling a breath of sulfur-laden air.


    ¡°Did you see that?¡±


    ¡°This is what they call a struggle.¡±


    ¡°We are not of the same species as those humans, so it¡¯s very likely they¡¯d be swayed by the Northern Nobility, sparking fierce resistance for the so-called ¡®common interests of the Scania People.''¡±


    ¡°And what we need to do is to divide them from within, separating these Northern Nobles from the commoners, conducting seemingly fair trials, and disguising the Kingdom as a just arbitrator, so they completely lose respect for the Northern Nobility.¡±


    ¡°In this way¡­ our rule will grow even more stable.¡±


    Ramp hurriedly knelt on one knee, adoration filling his expression: ¡°Master, your wisdom in governance leaves me in awe. Only under your guidance can the grand blueprint be achieved.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Tiniya tilted her head, confusion in her eyes.


    But she soon dismissed it all, excitedly moving forward, nuzzling the Red Dragon¡¯s tail with her neck.


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    ¡°Yowl¡ª¡±


    With a pitiful cry, the White Dragon was flung ten meters away by that thick tail, rolling several times on the ground before coming to a stop.


    But quickly, Tiniya bounced back up, energetically wagging her tail.


    Cassius glanced at her.


    It seemed that hoping for this daft White Dragon to become a competent lord was quite impossible.


    Ramp, however, had evidently mastered this path, needing no further instruction¡ªafter all, apart from praising the grand strength of the Red Dragon, the Kingdom Daily lauded Lord Ramp¡¯s foresight and dedication.


    Now Ramp even began paying attention to his image, disguising the string of skulls on his neck as a gold necklace.


    Cassius shook off the dust on his scales and casually asked:


    ¡°What do you have to report? Present it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp excitedly took out a magic crystal and donned his large gold-framed glasses.


    Instantly, a massive magic image spanning over ten meters materialized in the main hall, with several bright words at its top.


    [Five-Year Development Plan for the North]


    Beneath it was an extremely detailed map marking various cities, mineral veins, and estates, covering all the territories of the Northern Countries and the Ashen Kingdom.


    In the annotated areas, future goals were elaborately listed, such as: ¡°Build 15 food processing plants,¡± ¡°Mine at least three hundred thousand silver coins annually,¡± ¡°Construct a comprehensive railway network¡±¡­


    ¡°You¡¯ve undoubtedly achieved a great victory, and to bask in your glory is the immense honor of all living beings in the Anzeta Great Wilderness.¡±


    ¡°While you slumbered, we were already preparing this plan, encompassing all territories of Anzeta, and we hope you will offer your critique and guidance.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s voice was exceedingly excited, the ¡°gold necklace¡± on his thick neck trembling slightly.


    ¡°I am very pleased.¡±


    Cassius slightly nodded, smiling.


    Ten years had passed in the blink of an eye, and this ogre, a ¡°prime worker,¡± hadn¡¯t disappointed him, at least sparing him from trivial worries.

 Chapter 358 - 282: Conquer the North

    Chapter 358: Chapter 282: Conquer the North


    The main force of the Allied Forces had already been annihilated, and the majority of the Northern Countries¡¯ active combat strength was nearly exhausted. What remained could only be considered a cleanup.


    The noble lords of various cities fought desperately with their remaining private armies, but in the face of the Kingdom¡¯s offensive, it was futile; they couldn¡¯t even make a ripple.


    Across the vast territories of the Northern United Kingdom, two large mixed army corps led respectively by Count Acker and Count Jin Ya charged through, launching lightning-fast offensives towards the east and west.


    In less than two months, amid the whistling of artillery fire, the capitals of eight duchies, including the Carter Duchy, the Fano Duchy, the Otto Duchy, and the Sweny Duchy, fell one after another, and those military strongholds were absorbed into the Kingdom.


    Immediately after, they used these cities as bases to launch attacks in various directions.


    However, the Anzeta Great Wilderness was vast and sparsely populated, with numerous castles and manors belonging to knights and noble lords. Thus, even the Kingdom¡¯s army couldn¡¯t clear all of them in a short time.


    ...


    Hence, Marshal Dolores chose to unleash the massive army of the ¡°Starfallen,¡± allowing them to roam the Anzeta Great Wilderness and eliminate the remaining Northern noble forces.


    [Main Quest: Conquer the North]


    Quest Description: The Ashen Kingdom had wiped out most of the North¡¯s forces, but remnants of the Northern nobility still remained scattered across this vast wilderness.


    They continued to oppress the poor Anzeta people, perpetuating their millennia-old decaying rule. Therefore, loyal warriors of the Ashen Kingdom ¡ª eliminate them completely!


    Note: Do not harm the commoners!


    Quest Rewards: A large amount of Gold Coins, Faction Contribution, Prestige Points


    Special Title [Conqueror of the North]


    Contribution and Gold Coins needed no elaboration; [Prestige Points] were associated with the newly launched [Title of Nobility] system.


    With an unprecedentedly flashy title that could turn their nickname purple, allowing them to boast in front of new players, how could one not be tempted?


    Just these rewards alone were already quite generous.


    Moreover, they had the chance to loot the noble vaults, presenting a golden opportunity to accumulate Gold Coins.


    The quest description did not explicitly state, but they only said not to harm commoners, and did not say not to rob the nobles!


    Thus, the players¡¯ enthusiasm was ignited.


    They shouted all kinds of bizarre slogans and swarmed into the North like a plague of locusts, starting a grand-scale operation.


    ¡°To become the best of the best!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Time to plunder!¡±


    ¡°Siege battle! Siege battle!¡±


    ¡­


    Otto Duchy, Vichy City.


    This city was one of the major cities in the Duchy, especially famous for producing exquisite and luxurious fabrics, once known as the ¡°Cloth Capital of the North,¡± its textiles popular throughout the North.


    However, after suffering the onslaught of the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s products, all the artisans in the city went bankrupt, leading to a significant decline in the city¡¯s prosperity.


    And now, with the news of the Allied Forces¡¯ defeat and the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s invasion spreading throughout the city, the people were filled with anxiety.


    ¡°Oh my God¡­ I heard Oxar City has fallen.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more than that; our Duke has already been captured!¡±


    ¡°Do those Evil Dragon Kin eat people?¡±


    ¡°By the Gods, is this the end of the world?¡±


    Such conversations were common in the dimly lit taverns.


    Many city dwellers were feeling hopeless, believing the North¡¯s fate was sealed and hoping to surrender for better treatment, at least to prevent those monsters from rampaging within the city.


    The city¡¯s craftsman, Old White, took a sip of wine and drunkenly said, ¡°I say, we should just open the gates!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard from friends in the merchant caravans¡­ the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army doesn¡¯t harm commoners, only captures those noble lords.¡±


    ¡°Is¡­ is that true?¡±


    Someone asked, trembling.


    Old White, feigning mystery, leaned forward and whispered, ¡°Absolutely true.¡±


    But soon, he slumped back into his chair like a limp noodle, sighing, ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that those noble lords are unwilling to surrender, leaving us in fear for so long.¡±


    ¡°What¡­ what are you doing?¡±


    Suddenly, his voice turned panicked.


    Several soldiers barged into the tavern, rudely lifting Old White and dragging him outside.


    ¡°Come with us. You are suspected of colluding with the enemy!¡±


    The tavern fell into a silence.


    After a long while, the tavern owner bitterly smiled and poured some crystal-clear wine into the cup on the table.


    ¡°Everyone, we should avoid discussing such things.¡±


    ¡°Enjoy the wine¡­ while we are still alive.¡±


    Someone raised their glass and said.


    It was evident that this city¡¯s ruler, Count Alcott Suhl, had no intention of surrendering. Even if he had any prior inclination, that was now entirely gone.


    Because the news of that bloody ¡°public trial¡± had spread throughout the North, making countless Northern nobles feel uneasy and frightened.


    The Earl¡¯s Mansion was brightly lit.


    Count Alcott paced back and forth in the hall, hands behind his back, his expression exceptionally grim.


    ¡°Is there any news from the scouts?¡±


    ¡°Where are those Ashen Kingdom troops? How far are they from Vichy City?¡±


    He impatiently asked a barrage of questions.


    The Guard Captain, wearing plate armor, knelt before him, nervously reporting:


    ¡°No, there is no news, but it¡¯s said that several cities have already fallen, including your brother Count Dunsell¡¯s Burke Territory.¡±


    ¡°My lord, the Allied Forces have been completely defeated. The North¡¯s fate is sealed. Should we also¡­¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    Count Alcott strode forward and viciously slapped the Guard Captain, spitting in rage:


    ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know? You don¡¯t need to remind me!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that damned evil dragon giving us no way out! Do you know how many nobles they killed at Stratholme Fortress? One hundred and twenty-one! Including Duke Leo¡¯s eldest son!¡±


    ¡°They even created something called a ¡®public trial,¡¯ allowing those wretched commoners to decide our fate. It¡¯s a complete insult!¡±


    Count Alcott paused his tirade, gritting his teeth, ¡°They¡­ they aim to completely uproot the Northern nobility!¡±


    ¡°Damn it! I¡¯ve never seen such an evil giant dragon!¡±


    ¡°Other evil dragons at most plunder a bit and randomly kill hundreds, but this one¡­ it incites commoners to kill nobles! It¡¯s unheard of, even abyssal demons aren¡¯t this evil!¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ then, Lord Earl, what should we do?¡±


    The Guard Captain knelt on the ground, covering his reddened face, trembling as he spoke.


    ¡°We will defend Vichy City. The city defenses are still good; they won¡¯t break in easily. If the enemy does come attacking¡­¡±


    ¡°We will abandon the city and retreat.¡±


    Count Alcott narrowed his eyes, standing there with his hands behind his back, almost spatting the words through his teeth.


    ¡°Alyosha, pack up my treasures.¡±

 Chapter 359 - 283 Vampire Night Visit

    Chapter 359: Chapter 283 Vampire Night Visit


    The night was dark and the wind howled under the overcast sky.


    The northern wind continued to whimper.


    Upon the tall and solid castle walls, the soldiers patrolled restlessly, but they were unable to see everything hidden in the darkness.


    In the shadows beneath the walls, rustling sounds arose, followed by the glint of eerie blood-red eyes.


    Their skin was pallid, dressed in all-black tailcoats, bearing a blood-red crest of crossed daggers and violins on their chests¡ªthis was the ¡°Nocturne¡± unit in the shadows.


    However, the vampires present were all players.


    ...


    The player known as ¡°Wolf of the Dark Night¡± touched the castle wall and asked nervously:


    ¡°Brother Lang, this is a whole castle with tens of thousands of people inside. Are we really going to take it with just our small group?¡±


    ¡°Who told you we were going to attack the castle head-on?¡±


    Swashbuckler replied disdainfully, giving the head of the recently duped junior brother a hefty slap.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Swashbuckler shook his head, looking as if he hated iron for not being steel: ¡°Do you even understand what assassination is? We are vampires, the elegant assassins of the night. Sneaking into the city to kill a few nobles should be a piece of cake.¡±


    ¡°And another thing, don¡¯t call me Brother Lang, call me Boss. You¡¯re so clueless even after joining Nocturne.¡±


    ¡°Then Boss, isn¡¯t it still assassination if we get discovered?¡± Wolf of the Dark Night asked, clutching his head.


    Swashbuckler smiled and said: ¡°You idiot, of course, it doesn¡¯t count! If there are witnesses, how can you call it assassination?¡±


    ¡°According to Nocturne¡¯s doctrine, if our actions are discovered during a mission, we must immediately cease all activities.¡±


    Wolf of the Dark Night pointed upwards and whispered: ¡°Then we might not be assassinating, it seems we¡¯ve been noticed because of the noise we made.¡±


    Swashbuckler¡¯s smile froze on his face, and he quickly turned his head to look upwards.


    A soldier was looking down, meeting those crimson eyes head-on.


    The soldier shuddered in fear, letting out a startled cry: ¡°There¡¯s, there¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, a sharp black arrow pierced through his throat, tearing through his vocal cords, rendering him unable to make any sound.


    Swashbuckler lowered his hand crossbow, turned around, and showed a chilling smile: ¡°Well, now it¡¯s assassination again.¡±


    He patted Wolf of the Dark Night on the back and said earnestly:


    ¡°Little Wolf, you still lack experience in the missions. How can you make noise during an assassination?¡±


    ¡°But Boss, it was obviously you¡­


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Wolf of the Dark Night was about to retort but swallowed the latter half of his sentence upon seeing Swashbuckler¡¯s smiling face.


    Swashbuckler glanced at the twenty-some vampire players he had brought, lowered his voice, and said:


    ¡°I killed the sentry, the patrol will soon notice, so we must quickly sneak into the city.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡±


    The vampire players utilized the race¡¯s ¡°Spider Walk¡± ability, swiftly climbing the castle walls.


    However, their posture was far from elegant, looking like a group of human-shaped spiders with their rears stuck to the wall.


    Soon, the players reached the top of the wall, about to go over as planned.


    But then, a complication arose.


    ¡°George, wake up.¡±


    ¡°If the Guard Captain finds you, he will smack you hard, he¡¯s in a foul mood lately.¡±


    ¡°George?¡±


    A patrolling soldier with a lantern approached the figure lying on the ground.


    As of now, he hadn¡¯t realized it was a corpse, merely assuming it was a dozing sentry.


    Wolf of the Dark Night, clinging to the wall, whispered: ¡°Boss, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a witness too.¡±


    However, as the patrol soldier got closer, the scent of blood hit his nose. He finally sensed something was wrong.


    ¡°This is¡­George, what happened to you?¡±


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°Kill him.¡±


    Swashbuckler¡¯s voice was almost guttural.


    ¡°Roger that.¡±


    A vampire player nearby climbed over the wall and silently approached the patrol soldier from behind, swiftly slitting his throat.


    ¡°Snap.¡±


    The soldier collapsed, falling right by the sentry¡¯s side, the two bodies laying together.


    However, the patrol soldier¡¯s cry was quite conspicuous in the silent night, naturally drawing attention from the sentries in other towers.


    ¡°David, did you hear that?¡±


    ¡°It sounded like Stephen¡¯s voice.¡±


    ¡°Could it be an enemy?¡±


    ¡°Is there anything unusual? We need to check it out.¡±


    Amidst the noisy discussions, dozens of nearby soldiers started approaching the players¡¯ hiding spot.


    As a novice, Wolf of the Dark Night became flustered.


    He turned to Swashbuckler nervously: ¡°Boss, it seems like we have more and more witnesses. What should we do?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the mission supposed to be canceled if the assassination is discovered?¡±


    ¡°No, who told you we¡¯d been discovered?¡±


    ¡°Kill them all, and there will be no witnesses.¡±


    Swashbuckler gritted his teeth, eyeing the approaching soldiers.


    Wolf of the Dark Night immediately caught on, nodding repeatedly: ¡°Boss, you¡¯re absolutely right. Why didn¡¯t I think of that?¡±


    ¡°Eliminate all witnesses.¡±


    At Swashbuckler¡¯s command, the vampire players charged towards the soldiers.


    They swiftly moved through the shadows, firing arrows from their hand crossbows, killing soldiers before they could even react.


    ¡°David?¡±


    ¡°Watch out, it¡¯s arrows! Enemies!¡±


    The soldiers finally realized they were under attack.


    But it was too late by then; the vampires were already among them, hidden in the shadows.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    Wolf of the Dark Night panted, his hand trembling on his dagger.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    He closed his eyes and thrust the dagger into a soldier¡¯s right chest from behind, eliciting a groan.


    Yet the soldier didn¡¯t die.


    In the next moment, an arrow went through the soldier¡¯s throat.


    Swashbuckler, adeptly hiding in the shadows, casually slashed a soldier¡¯s throat before saying, somewhat exasperated: ¡°Damn it, a human¡¯s heart is on the left side.¡±


    Wolf of the Dark Night awkwardly smiled: ¡°Sorry, Boss. It¡¯s my first kill, not very practiced.¡±


    The vampire players used their racial advantage to patrol through the darkness, effortlessly dispatching one soldier after another. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Monsters! There are monsters in the dark!¡±


    ¡°What are those things?¡±


    ¡°Help me!¡±


    ¡°Oh, heavens, they¡¯re all dead!¡±


    Vampires roamed through the shadows, killing while the soldiers floundered in panic and disarray.


    They cried out and prayed in terror, but all their efforts were futile, only amplifying their fear and nightmares.


    Soon, the area filled with the stench of blood, and the castle walls were strewn with hundreds of bodies, with no soldiers left standing.


    ¡°Hell, now there are no more witnesses. Nosy bastards.¡±


    ¡°The infiltration mission is perfectly accomplished.¡±


    Standing among the corpses, Swashbuckler wiped the blood off his forehead with annoyance.


    ¡°Yeah, Boss¡­¡±


    ¡°It was a perfect infiltration.¡±


    Wolf of the Dark Night echoed from the side.


    He felt that something was off but couldn¡¯t pinpoint it, so he kept nodding in agreement.


    However, the noise from the massacre on the walls attracted the attention of the soldiers inside the castle, and now a squad was preparing to climb up and inspect the situation.


    ¡°Damn it, more work.¡±


    ¡°Kill them all.¡±


    Swashbuckler sighed, looking down at the approaching soldiers.

 Chapter 360 03-25 - 284 Night Raid on the Earls Mansion

    Chapter 360: Chapter 284 Night Raid on the Earl¡¯s Mansion


    ¡°`html


    The city was shrouded in darkness and silence, with occasional faint sounds echoing through the air.


    The scent of blood permeated the city walls, carried by the howling north wind into the city. Fortunately, most people were already asleep, though some were disturbed by nightmares.


    Hundreds of corpses had already piled up on the walls, with several individuals drained completely, reduced to withered skin and bones¡ªa clear work of the vampire players.


    Pooled blood slowly trickled down from the battlements, leaving large stains on the walls.


    Swashbuckler wiped his hands with a silk scarf, striking a pose as he said, ¡°What a hassle, why did they have to provoke us?¡±


    Wolf of the Dark Night whispered, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you caused the commotion, boss¡­¡±


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Another headshot rang out.


    Swashbuckler patted his shoulder again, saying with an air of seniority, ¡°Young people must be brave enough to take responsibility, you can¡¯t always think of shirking it and pushing it onto the seniors, that won¡¯t do.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The player nicknamed [Flying Mosquito] hurriedly reminded, ¡°Stop talking nonsense, we need to move quickly.¡±


    ¡°When the sun comes out, we¡¯ll be like rats hiding in the sewers again.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s go quickly then.¡±


    This was why the vampire template, despite its full strength, was not that popular among players¡ª[Sunlight Allergy].


    [Sunlight Allergy] was purely a debuff. Vampire players would catch fire upon contact with sunlight, turning to ash in less than a minute of exposure.


    As for Swashbuckler, being the primary vampire, he could withstand it for about two more minutes.


    However, as one of the leaders of Nocturne, he was relatively wealthy and could afford to exchange for spell scrolls that provided sunlight protection, allowing him to appear in various events during the day.


    Thus, within the player base of the Ashen Kingdom faction, compared to the highly favored Dragonborn and Semi-Dragon Form race templates, vampires had become a niche¡ªonly vampire enthusiasts would consider joining Nocturne.


    Of course, there were also newbies who were tricked into joining by Swashbuckler.


    Unlike ordinary players enthusiastically participating in various events, Nocturne players spent most of their daytime in lightless caves¡ªthey would mine, sometimes fight underground monsters like Phase Spiders and Subterranean Lizards, living in secrecy.


    Only at night could these vampire players freely exhibit the might of Nocturne, capturing criminals with bounty warrants.


    Now, Swashbuckler finally gathered these vampire players, seizing the chance to partake in a major battlefield mission.


    The vampires scaled the walls one after another, landing silently on the ground within the city, slipping into deep alley shadows, moving swiftly in the dark.


    Some clung to the walls, climbing like spiders.


    Swashbuckler flew close to the ground, his eyes glowing blood-red, with his dark red cloak billowing behind him, truly exuding the aura and presence of a noble vampire. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take Vichy City tonight!¡±


    ¡°Restoring the glory of the Blood Clan is our duty!¡±


    Swashbuckler proclaimed passionately.


    ¡°But boss, we¡¯re vampires, won¡¯t we be done for if we see daylight?¡±


    Wolf of the Dark Night, clinging to the nearby wall, scratched his head and asked in confusion.


    The boss aura Swashbuckler painstakingly crafted instantly dissipated, he seemed deflated.


    ¡°Quit your nonsense, just follow my command.¡±


    ¡°See that big house with the lights on and garden? That¡¯s the Count¡¯s Mansion, seems to be called Alcott Suhl.¡±


    ¡°The plan is simple; we charge in, assassinate the Earl, and that¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°Got it, boss.¡±


    ¡­


    Nightfall descended, and the moonlight poured down like flowing silver.


    The ancient stone walls of the Count¡¯s Mansion appeared solemn under the moon¡¯s baptism.


    The vampires stealthily infiltrated the mansion. Their figures flickered in the moonlight like wisps of smoke, blending perfectly with the surrounding darkness.


    Soldiers stood guard at the door but did not notice these entities effortlessly scaling the walls.


    ¡°Creak.¡±


    In the next moment, the synchronous sound was heard as the two soldiers standing guard had their necks snapped simultaneously.


    ¡°Boss, didn¡¯t we say only kill witnesses?¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t resist, got excited.¡±


    ¡°This stealth mission seems off, not like in the movies.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, did you get spotted or not?¡±


    The vampire players continued searching for the Earl.


    Their footsteps were light and swift, each one falling in silence, like a cat prowling in the dark.


    The vampires traversed corridors and courtyards, killing patrolling guards along the way, silently approaching the well-lit mansion hall.


    Suddenly, they heard footsteps again ahead¡ªapparently from a maid who cautiously opened the door, holding a silver tray of food scraps, her face weary.


    She muttered to herself, ¡°How strange¡­ Where did Lord Berner go?¡±


    ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s finish today¡¯s work quickly. There¡¯s almost no food left at home, Little Aige is likely still waiting for me.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, the situation in the city is getting worse.¡±


    In a shadowy corner of the mansion, several pairs of blood-red eyes gazed at the maid.


    ¡°Boss, do we kill her?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Forget it, let her go. The mission says not to kill commoners.¡±


    The maid felt an eerie chill in the air, a foreboding sense that made her hair stand on end.


    She looked around cautiously, dumping the food scraps from the silver tray into her cloth bag, then hurriedly lifted her skirt and walked away quickly.


    She didn¡¯t know she had just escaped death.


    Nor did she know what was about to happen.


    Under the bright lights, a tall, stout figure appeared through a luxurious glass window¡ªclearly, this was Count Alcott Suhl, the target the vampires were searching for.


    At this moment, the Count was cursing loudly, without any awareness of the imminent danger.


    ¡°Damn it, be careful, don¡¯t get my painting dirty!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a masterpiece by Master Avaro, worth hundreds of gold coins. You couldn¡¯t even pay for it with your head cut off!¡±


    ¡°And those gold coins are mine! Thirty-four thousand and seventy-three coins, not a single one missing. If I find any missing, I¡¯ll cut off your filthy hands!¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Alyosha? Why isn¡¯t he here yet?¡±


    In the brightly lit hall, the guard soldiers were busily moving the Count¡¯s treasures, seemingly emptying the entire mansion.


    Count Alcott had already hired a mysterious mage adept at teleportation spells, who would help him escape with his years¡¯ worth of accumulated wealth to the southern Empire of Fadlan.


    ¡°I¡¯ll surely leave this place and continue my noble life in the south.¡±


    Count Alcott gazed into the distance, contemplating.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 361 03-25 - 285 Assassin

    Chapter 361: Chapter 285 Assassin


    ¡°Over there, be careful not to knock over my crystal candlestick, that was personally crafted by Master Hesky.¡±


    Count Alcott said displeased.


    ¡°Yes, yes, my Lord.¡±


    The guard held the candlestick tremblingly, moving slowly, afraid of any collision.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    The crystal candlestick fell, shattering into pieces.


    The guard looked at the earl, his mouth involuntarily agape, filled with terror.


    ¡°M-my Lord.¡±


    ¡°You damn scum! Do you not understand what I¡¯m saying? That crystal candlestick was personally crafted by Master Hesky!¡±


    Count Alcott was immediately furious, even his beard curled up. He stormed forward in a rage, grabbing the guard by the chest and lifting him up.


    The guard, trembling all over, pointed behind Alcott.


    ¡°M-my Lord, behind you.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Count Alcott, still fuming, instinctively turned his head.


    ¡°Crash¡ª¡±


    Another clear sound rang out, but this time it was the sound of a glass window being shattered, with shards even hitting him.


    Several freakish-looking men in tuxedos barged in, their pale faces emanating a faint smell of blood, wearing eerie smiles.


    ¡°Who¡­ who are you? What do you want?¡±


    Count Alcott panicked instantly, his hand, which was still grabbing the guard, loosened, and his tall, fat body trembled slightly.


    The Swashbuckler shouted aggressively:


    ¡°This is a heist!¡±


    ¡°What a joke! I am Count Alcott Suhl!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re here for the count!¡±


    The Swashbuckler sneered, approaching step by step with a dagger in hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s an enemy!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Guards, come protect me!¡±


    ¡°Alyosha, where are you? Come out quickly!¡±


    Count Alcott was so terrified that he collapsed on the ground, crawling backward in a panic.


    But when he turned his head back, he was once again scared stiff.


    In just a moment, all the elite guards present were lying in pools of blood, not making a single sound.


    Beside their corpses, almost every one of them had a vampire standing next to them, one even tastefully licking blood off their blade.


    It seemed the vampires had long since infiltrated the mansion.


    All his guards were dead.


    At the doorway, a corpse wearing shiny plate armor lay, with poisoned arrows piercing his neck, arms, and head¡ªthat was Guard Captain Alyosha, his most formidable guard, who had also died unexpectedly at the hands of the vampires.


    ¡°Alyosha¡­¡±


    ¡°How could this be¡­¡±


    Count Alcott was dumbfounded, his mouth agape, muttering to himself.


    A moment later, he realized the gravity of the situation and scrambled to the floor in a panic, trembling as he begged for mercy.


    ¡°I-I am Count Orcas, don¡¯t kill me, I can give you land, titles, and money!¡±


    The Swashbuckler stared at him, tilting his head with a strange expression, asking:


    ¡°If we kill you, wouldn¡¯t all your money be ours? Besides, the heavenly soldiers of the kingdom are on their way, your promises of land and titles are worthless!¡±


    ¡°I have more money, I can give you more. This isn¡¯t all my savings, no, I¡­¡±


    Under the threat to his life, Count Alcott was so scared he became incoherent.


    But in the next moment, the Swashbuckler mercilessly raised the hand crossbow, revealing sharp fangs with a confident smile.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°We Nocturne leave no witnesses.¡±


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The poisoned arrow shot through the air but was blocked by a transparent membrane.


    It turned out that the amulet on Count Alcott¡¯s body had triggered, releasing protective magic to block the fatal blow.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m not dead!¡±


    Count Alcott felt his neck in disbelief, feeling a sense of relief, and staggered up, trying to flee.


    The Swashbuckler¡¯s expression turned grim.


    ¡°Damn it, I finally delivered a cool line, and you give me this?¡±


    ¡°Die!


    He casually reloaded the crossbow and fired another shot at the fleeing count¡¯s back.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    However, another invisible force field wall rose up, blocking the arrow once more.


    The Swashbuckler gritted his teeth, watching the count stumble away, his face contorting in anger.


    ¡°Dare to defy a gold medal killer.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, everyone get him, I refuse to believe he can survive!¡±


    ¡°Boss, let me!¡±


    With the Swashbuckler¡¯s command, vampires from all directions eagerly pounced on the target.


    In an instant, sharp daggers, poisoned arrows, and gleaming needles rained upon the earl.


    ¡°D-don¡¯t come any closer!¡±


    ¡°Aargh¡­¡±


    Count Alcott foamed at the mouth, his corpulent body crashing to the ground, veins turning purple, clearly lifeless.


    The Swashbuckler walked over to the corpse, his face darkened, kicking it while muttering to himself:


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have let me look cool for once before dying?¡±


    ¡°Boss, look here!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve hit the jackpot!¡±


    Wolf of the Dark Night¡¯s excited voice rang out.


    The Swashbuckler turned his head, immediately lighting up at the sight¡ªtens of thousands of gold coins piled on a carriage, along with various luxurious and valuable paintings, jewelry, and even sculptures.


    ¡°Damn, this fat pig was really rich!¡±


    However, the emblem on his chest suddenly lit up, and Mezulash, the overall head of Nocturne¡¯s voice, unexpectedly echoed in his ears.


    ¡°Seventy percent of the loot goes to the organization.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The Swashbuckler immediately fell silent.


    ¡­


    The next morning, the residents of Vichy City woke from their sleep, feeling the entire city permeated with the smell of blood.


    Following that, they were horrified to find¡ªthe soldiers on the city walls slaughtered completely, the earl¡¯s mansion littered with corpses and blood, even Count Alcott stripped and dead in the reception hall.


    The bloated corpse had a piece of paper humorously covering an important area.


    ¡°Grand Duke Oliver has been assassinated, perpetrated by ¡®Nocturne.''¡±


    People shuddered in fear.


    This couldn¡¯t be called an assassination, it was a thorough massacre.


    ¡°Oh gods¡­¡±


    ¡°Who could be behind this?¡±


    ¡°This is terrifying, it¡¯s like Hell!¡±


    The maid who escaped the massacre felt extremely fortunate for having survived.


    But city order wasn¡¯t thrown into chaos; instead, it became even more orderly because they found another sloppily written note, stuck on the face of Captain Alyosha¡¯s corpse¡ª


    ¡°Stay put and surrender to the kingdom, anyone causing trouble will die tonight.¡±


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, in the suburb of Vichy City.


    Charlotte and the members of [Magic Coin] waited in silence.


    However, there was still no sign of the treasure-laden convoy or the corpulent count at the end of the road.


    Staring at the empty road, Charlotte couldn¡¯t help but mutter: ¡°Damn it, this scum is unreliable, he clearly promised to meet at noon, why isn¡¯t he here yet?¡±


    Lonely as Snow couldn¡¯t help but retort: ¡°President, making deals like this and you talk about reliability?¡±


    Yes, Magic Coin had returned to their old trade.


    Double-crossing.


    The ¡°mysterious mage proficient in teleportation,¡± rumored to be the savior of many Northern Nobility, was actually Charlotte in disguise, deliberately spreading the news.


    To date, Magic Coin had devoured the fortunes of two barons, a viscount, and all their assets.


    Charlotte wagged a finger, speaking earnestly: ¡°You¡¯re mistaken, can player activities be called conning? This is called reasonable use of game resources.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s these people breaking their promises, they deserve to die for it!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Lonely as Snow fell silent again.


    Charlotte sighed: ¡°Let¡¯s go, this deal was probably intercepted, but no worries, we still have several other deals.¡±

 Chapter 362 03-25 - 286 Belonne Castle

    Chapter 362: Chapter 286 Belonne Castle


    Viscount Ferenc¡¯s Domain, Belonne Castle.


    Walls and towers of various sizes, along with a sturdy gate, formed a defensive structure atop the hill, overlooking the rushing river below.


    The outer moat and drawbridge blocked access to the castle, heavily guarded by the Viscount¡¯s soldiers, while the huge castle gate¡¯s portcullis protected the entrance to the Lord¡¯s estate.


    For thousands of years, the nobles of the North waged wars continuously over land, food, livestock, and population. The intensity of these wars led them to build more and bigger castles to defend their territories.


    Belonne Castle had been passed down through the generations of the Lotte family, and its current owner was Viscount Horace Lotte.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You mean¡­ even Vichy City has fallen? And in less than two days?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure this information is accurate?¡±


    ¡°Count Hocot is already dead, perished in his mansion.¡±


    Listening to the knight¡¯s report, Viscount Horace was dumbstruck, falling into a prolonged silence.


    Belonging to the same noble faction under the Otto Duchy, he knew very well how strong and tall the walls of Vichy City were. Compared to Vichy, Belonne Castle was practically a pile of stones.


    If such a formidable city could fall instantly before the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army, how long could a fortress like his hold out?


    After a long silence, Viscount Horace finally spoke: ¡°We must keep this quiet¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s best not to let those guys find out.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    Facing a supposedly invincible enemy, Viscount Horace could only act like an ostrich, burying his head in the sand and praying not to be noticed.


    After all, many such castles existed in the North. If the Ashen Kingdom had to clear them one by one, they surely wouldn¡¯t have the stamina.


    ¡°It is said a mage skilled in teleportation, willing to lend a hand to nobles, has recently appeared in the North. Perhaps we can use his power to leave Anzeta¡­¡±


    Viscount Horace thought this.


    What he did not know was that within the Ashen Kingdom existed a group of tireless, reckless Starfallen.


    He even didn¡¯t know that his so-called ¡°escape route¡± was a path filled with traps, sealed tightly long ago.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a roar came from the sky.


    Viscount Horace hurriedly looked up through the castle window, only to be stunned by the sight of several bipedal wyverns flying overhead, circling the castle.


    There seemed to be human silhouettes on the backs of those wyverns.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Red Scale Conquerors.¡±


    Knight Mithra¡¯s expression was grim, his tone heavy.


    Viscount Horace could feel the terrifying power in that roar, his voice trembling as he asked:


    ¡°Wh-what exactly is that?¡±


    Knight Mithra knelt on one knee, reciting softly: ¡°When the Dragon¡¯s Roar echoes from afar, the Red Scale Conquerors will ride gigantic, ferocious Dragon Vein Creatures, descending from the sky¡­¡±


    His tone paused before he continued.


    ¡°Bringing endless flames and complete death to their enemies.¡±


    These words had circulated in the North for years, reportedly stemming from an adventurer who narrowly escaped the Ashen Kingdom.


    Knight Mithra¡¯s face grew darker: ¡°Viscount, those are the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s most terrifying scouts, and we¡­ we have probably been targeted by them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, gods¡­¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Viscount Horace mumbled, staring at the small black dots in the sky.


    ¡­


    ¡°Wuhu, takeoff!¡±


    At this moment, the figures dubbed ¡°the most terrifying scouts¡± and ¡°knights bringing death¡± by Knight Mithra were cheering loudly in the sky, showing none of their supposed catastrophic demeanor.


    Even the bipedal wyverns were infected by the fervent atmosphere, letting out piercing screams before having their massive jaws clamped shut by the exasperated players.


    ¡°Finally found a somewhat decent castle, might make a good haul this time.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a rare find.¡±


    ¡°Man, that baron¡¯s rickety manor had nothing but a filled granary. His coin purse was cleaner than mine.¡±


    ¡°We had to open the granary and distribute the food to the serfs. Selling it was too much trouble.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s face was full of greed, wiping away drool from the corner of his mouth, he said viciously, ¡°This time, I¡¯m going to loot hard to avenge my previous shame!¡±


    ¡°I heard Rogue Beast raided an earl¡¯s mansion, snagging ten thousand gold coins¡¯ worth of goods. I feel worse than not earning any money myself seeing him profit.¡±


    Singo said calmly: ¡°Don¡¯t set your expectations too high. He got lucky that time, catching the earl while transferring assets and taking everything.¡±


    ¡°It was supposed to be a Magic Coin deal, but Swashbuckler intercepted it, enraging Charlotte so much she challenged him to a duel.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s mouth twitched slightly: ¡°With Charlotte¡¯s luck, even getting hit by a car when going out for groceries is normal.¡±


    ¡°But that castle looks pretty strong. Can just the few of us take it down?¡±


    Singo said: ¡°We have quite a few reinforcements.¡±


    ¡°Aoo~¡±


    He tightened his legs slightly, prompting his wyvern to let out a roar and descend in circles, landing on the ground below.


    Mantou also patted Noodle¡¯s neck, following closely to land on the ground behind the hill.


    ¡°So many people.¡±


    The area was bustling, with over a hundred players gathered.


    ¡°When are we starting the attack?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s Holy Light Bro again!¡±


    The players¡¯ outfits wildly contrasted with the environment, ranging from armored knights to pink dresses, and even a naked figure, shimmering with holy light over their robust body.


    There were also all sorts of siege devices pulled from various eras, mixing primitive catapults with magical cannons in a strange blend.


    ¡°Hello, you¡¯ve arrived!¡±


    Natural War Maniac waved his axe, rubbing his polished bald head with his free hand.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain waved back with a smile, creating dazzling firelight to signal them.


    Mantou skillfully dismounted from his bipedal wyvern, asking quietly: ¡°Man, so many people, too many wolves too little meat. How much do you think we¡¯ll get this time?¡±


    Natural War Maniac replied helplessly: ¡°I didn¡¯t invite them, they also have their eyes on this Viscount¡¯s castle.¡±


    Singo said: ¡°That¡¯s the current situation in the Northern Kingdom, players are storming castles everywhere, delay a bit and you¡¯ll get nothing.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain nodded in agreement: ¡°I heard Royalty¡¯s group has already captured thirteen cities; at this rate¡ªNorthland will be looted in under two months.¡±


    Mantou sighed: ¡°Ah, let¡¯s just get what we can then.¡±


    ¡°I want to loot!¡±


    ¡°Hand over the gold coins!¡±


    ¡°For covering up Lord Cassius¡¯s trail!¡±


    One by one, the bipedal wyverns carrying knights took to the sky again, while the players pushed forward their bizarre siege devices, shouting random slogans as they charged towards Belonne Castle in the distance.

 Chapter 363 - 287: Players Siege Battle

    Chapter 363: Chapter 287: Players¡¯ Siege Battle


    Viscount Horace stood atop the castle tower, staring at a trail of dark spots in the distance, his legs beginning to tremble.


    ¡°They¡¯re coming¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the army of the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡±


    Knight Mithra stood quietly by his side, hand on his sword, his expression resolute¡ªhe was prepared to die for the lord he served.


    ¡°Are we going to die¡­¡±


    ¡°Tampas above¡­¡±


    Inside the castle, the soldiers were also filled with fear, as the army of the Ashen Kingdom had become a presence that could stop children from crying at night and even a symbol of death in legends, said to be utterly invincible.


    In the distance, a grand and impassioned musical sound began, almost heralding the arrival of a terrible enemy.


    Little did they know, this was the doing of a bored player carrying a speaker, humming along and playing the BGM of ¡°Victory.¡±


    The air inside Belonne Castle became deathly silent, everyone holding their breath, quietly awaiting the enemy¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Have they finally come¡­¡±


    ¡°What will the legendary Evil Dragon Legion be like?¡±


    Knight Mithra muttered to himself, already picturing an incredibly suffocating scene in his mind¡ª


    Countless fierce dragonified Great Goblin and Ogres appeared on the horizon, letting out deafening battle cries that made the earth tremble and mountains quiver.


    This was not just his pure imagination but what those fleeing soldiers had described firsthand.


    However, the next scene far exceeded their expectations, making them feel¡ª


    A bit puzzled?


    They saw about a hundred people irregularly appear on the distant horizon.


    There was no formation, just a mindless charge, like a group of scattered headless flies.


    ¡°What in the world is this¡­¡±


    ¡°What kind of things are these?¡±


    Observing the distant enemies, the battle-seasoned Knight Mithra felt even more baffled.


    Normally, well-crafted standard armor was an important measure of an army¡¯s combat strength, yet the current enemies were dressed in a mishmash of styles, some even fighting fully naked.


    ¡°Is this a joke, this disorganized mess can defeat the Allied Forces?¡±


    ¡°Is this the famed Scourge Legion?¡±


    ¡°What the, they seem even worse than the city¡¯s guard.¡±


    The soldiers on the battlements also began to relax from their tension, even starting to chat.


    Belonne Castle housed nearly six hundred family soldiers, and according to military norms in the North, without a force three times this size, it would be tough to breach such a sturdy castle¡ªunless the enemy could fight a hundred men at once.


    But looking at these players¡¯ lazy demeanor, no one could link them to the invincible ¡°Evil Dragon Legion.¡±


    The only potential threat was the bipedal wyverns in the sky.


    ¡°WHAAAAA!¡±


    ¡°Attack the castle!¡±


    ¡°Northland scoundrels, meet your end!¡±


    At this moment, the music reached a climax, and the players began to shout and howl.


    The soldiers on the walls and towers raised their bows, aiming at the players on the ground.


    Knight Mithra also stepped to the front, coldly watching these ¡°rabble,¡± and shouted:


    ¡°Leave this place, outsiders!¡±


    ¡°This is the land of the Lotte Family!¡±


    ¡°Even with the help of the Evil Dragon Kin, you rabble¡ªcannot defeat the indestructible Belonne Castle!¡±


    In the group of players, a player nicknamed [Gustav] glared at the knight on the battlements, angrily saying:


    ¡°This NPC is so arrogant; we¡¯re at their doors, and they¡¯re still being stubborn.¡±


    ¡°Like to talk big, huh?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, fire a shot at him!¡±


    Gustav maneuvered the cannon beside him, calculated the angle, and began loading the shell¡ªhe was a member of the Mechanical God Cult, all too familiar with such devices.


    A thunderous roar shook the wasteland.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The black cannonball drew a beautiful arc in the air, heading straight for the battlements.


    ¡°I, Honor Knight Mithra, advise you all¡­¡±


    Just as Mithra was about to continue his valiant words, he heard a piercing whistle, and the next moment, a massive cannonball landed a few meters away from him, exploding instantly.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    Rolling smoke and dust erupted.


    Half the battlements collapsed, shattered stones everywhere, the entire castle seemed to tremble.


    Broken bodies littered the ground, charred remains of soldiers killed by the blast.


    However, Knight Mithra narrowly escaped with his life. Clad in plate armor and shielded by several others, he survived the explosion.


    ¡°Cough, cough.¡±


    Mithra crawled out of the rubble, looking at the devastation around him, feeling the severe pain all over his body, his face full of disbelief.


    ¡°What is this¡­¡±


    Mithra¡¯s heart sank to the bottom; he finally realized he was deceived by appearances and understood why the army of the Ashen Kingdom was ¡°invincible.¡±


    ¡°What is this thing?¡±


    ¡°How can it¡­ hit from such a distance?¡±


    ¡°Gods above, the army of the Ashen Kingdom is truly invincible.¡±


    Just a trial strike by the players had struck terror into all the soldiers within the castle, and the safe haven they relied on now felt anything but secure.


    ¡°Doo doo doo doo¡ª¡±


    The grand BGM resumed, this time it was the ¡°nuclear explosion anthem¡± of ¡°aLIEz.¡±


    ¡°Ahhhh¡ª¡±


    ¡°Brothers, prepare to charge!¡±


    ¡°Get fired up, get fired up!¡±


    The players cheered, competing to charge forward.


    Gustav, with a cigarette in his mouth, patted the overheated cannon barrel, muttering angrily: ¡°Damn it, I can¡¯t believe I missed.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t let them get close!¡±


    ¡°Kill them!¡±


    Mithra, enduring excruciating pain, raised his sword high and shouted.


    ¡°Quick! Quick!¡±


    ¡°Release the arrows!¡±


    Faced with the screaming charging players, the soldiers on the walls and towers hurriedly shot arrows and threw large stones from above.


    These tactics had always been effective in past defensive battles.


    But this time, they failed.


    Most players participating in the siege were veteran beta testers, with strength generally at Level Five and above. Typical attacks had no effect on them.


    For example, the well-known Martial Monk player [Mighty Heavenly Dragon]


    Using the high mobility of a Martial Monk, he dodged arrows pouring down from the walls, occasionally reflecting them back with his [Deflecting Projectile] ability.


    ¡°Wall Climbing!¡±


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon shouted fiercely, merely tapping his toes and effortlessly leaping several meters up the wall.


    ¡°Time to farm some mobs again!¡±


    Surrounded by a dozen elite armored warriors, he didn¡¯t panic; instead, he laughed and launched numerous Rushing Punches at those around him, each punch carrying a thread of qi force that penetrated their armor and entered the soldiers¡¯ bodies.


    ¡°Resonating Qi: Rushing Punch!¡±


    Next, Mighty Heavenly Dragon shook both hands, detonating all the qi force.


    ¡°Resonating Qi: Explosion!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a loud noise, the qi force within the soldiers¡¯ bodies suddenly exploded, causing nearly all of them to bleed from all seven orifices and fall back as bloodied corpses.


    A ring of smoke expanded, leaving Mighty Heavenly Dragon the only one standing, smiling and revealing his pearly whites.


    ¡°Haha, another good farm run, feeling great, feeling great.¡±


    Mithra watched the various displays of abilities by the players, a peculiar thought suddenly rising in his mind.


    They were not fighting.


    They were playing.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on .co

 Chapter 364 - 288 Chaotic Battlefield

    Chapter 364: Chapter 288 Chaotic Battlefield


    ¡°Prepare to launch!¡±


    A few players excitedly pulled out a massive catapult, but their ammunition wasn¡¯t stones, it was a living person.


    And that person was completely naked¡ªhe was the one widely respected by players as ¡°Holy Light Bro¡± from Wings of Freedom.


    The players watching from the side voiced their doubts:


    ¡°Are you sure this is okay? Won¡¯t he just crash and die?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°We had the Mechanical God Cult experts check it, no worries at all.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we already did the calculations. When Holy Light Bro shapeshifts into a bear, his thick skin and rugged body will just take a bit of damage at most.¡±


    The players operating the catapult confidently patted their chests and made bold statements.


    ¡°Activate!¡±


    They forcefully turned the catapult¡¯s winch, pulling the ropes to build up maximum strength in the long arm.


    The catapult¡¯s arm lowered on the long end while the counterweight end rose, like a beast ready to pounce.


    Holy Light Bro curled up naked in the bowl-like container, whispering:


    ¡°For freedom.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°For freedom!¡±


    The players operating the catapult and the spectators all cheered in unison, their excitement reaching a peak.


    And in the background, the BGM ¡°aLIEz¡± reached its climactic moment, with its stirring and passionate melody.


    With a roar, the players swiftly released the ropes; the counterweight dropped rapidly under gravity, while the long arm catapulted Holy Light Bro upwards with incredible speed.


    Reaching the highest point, he was thrown out at an astonishing speed.


    He was launched!


    Holy Light Bro described a beautiful parabolic arc in the sky, heading straight for the castle.


    The players all looked up, seeing the bright trace of Holy Light covering his crucial parts in the blue sky.


    ¡°Honey, come out and see God!¡±


    ¡°Look, a rainbow!¡±


    ¡°Damn, what a Holy Light meteor!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Holy Light Bro roared wildly, transforming into a huge and muscular owl bear at the highest point.


    ¡°Look! What is that?¡±


    ¡°Oh gods¡ªdon¡¯t tell me that¡¯s a flying owl bear?¡±


    ¡°Dammit, you¡¯ve got to be kidding!¡±


    ¡°It, it¡¯s coming down!¡±


    The soldiers on the castle¡¯s arrow tower looked up in terror, shadows cast over their faces.


    But it was too late; they could only watch as the owl bear descended from the sky, the shadow growing larger until it landed right on top of them.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The entire Belonne Castle trembled.


    Dust flew up and stones scattered everywhere.


    The tower collapsed instantly, crushing dozens of soldiers who couldn¡¯t dodge in time, with even more buried under the rubble.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    A dark figure burst out from the dust¡ªit was the owl bear Holy Light Bro had transformed into.


    The massive beast rampaged on the castle walls, smashing one soldier after another into bloody pulp with its brute strength, its claws sending several flying with one swipe.


    Just Holy Light Bro and Mighty Heavenly Dragon were enough to throw Belonne Castle¡¯s defenses into chaos.


    Several towers and arrow towers were destroyed in succession, causing hundreds of casualties.


    And this was just the beginning. Dozens of players followed up with charges, casting various spells and even hurling bombs into the castle, making the defending soldiers¡¯ lives miserable.


    They had never faced such unpredictable enemies before.


    ¡°Up there!¡±


    ¡°Take cover!¡±


    Escort Knight Gian Bend keenly noticed the aerial attack, shouting urgently.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Soon after, with a whoosh, several Bipedal Wyverns swooped down from the sky, spewing scorching flames and incinerating the soldiers on the wall.


    ¡°Fire! There¡¯s a fire!¡±


    ¡°Help!¡±


    The soldiers wailed, rolling on the wall, their bodies engulfed in flames.


    Gian decapitated a soldier with a swift strike, ending his suffering prematurely, his face grim: ¡°Everyone, be wary of attacks from above¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, a burly player jumped out from behind, smashing his skull with a hammer.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Eighty!¡±


    Brain matter splattered, blood and flesh flying everywhere.


    The Escort Knight, unable to react, had his skull shattered and fell straight to the ground.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lord Gian!¡±


    The guard soldiers roared in anger, rushing to attack the enemy.


    However, with one swing of his hammer, the player smashed another soldier¡¯s head into pulp. More players screamed and leapt onto the wall, pouncing on the terrified soldiers.


    ¡°Your daddy¡¯s here!¡±


    ¡°Hey hey hey!¡±


    ¡°I cower before bosses, but mow down hundreds with heavy blows!¡±


    Various flames, frost, and acid poured down upon the soldiers, and some even used kobold leather pants as weapons, much to the disgust of their fellow players.


    There was no order; no tactics.


    Even so, Belonne Castle¡¯s soldiers found it hard to withstand the assault.


    They were used to defending the city, shooting arrows and throwing things from high positions, making it tough for attackers to breach.


    But these players had all sorts of tricks¡ªsome fell from the sky, some teleported directly, and some even crawled up through tunnels, making defense seem impossible and demoralizing the soldiers.


    ¡°How could this be¡­¡±


    Knight Mithra glanced around the chaotic ¡°battlefield¡± feeling absurd.


    He and his soldiers fought bravely, constantly losing lives, but the enemy seemed to have no respect for this, only playing with more glee.


    A surge of uncontrollable rage rose within Mithra¡¯s heart.


    How dare these people treat war like this!


    Treat a noble knight like this!


    His noble knight education since childhood told him¡ªeven when facing an invincible enemy, one must charge bravely, bearing the family¡¯s honor unto death.


    The enemy would also honor such knights.


    But now, these soldiers from the Ashen Kingdom completely shattered his beliefs.


    They treated the battlefield like a playground, disregarding all tactics and acting wantonly. They didn¡¯t care about their enemies or even their own deaths.


    Chivalry meant nothing to them.


    Knight Mithra raised his longsword, his tone rising like a chorus opera, angrily scolding:


    ¡°Monsters, you monsters!¡±


    ¡°You people from the Ashen Kingdom, you wear human skins, but what hearts lie beneath? Oozing demon hearts, or burning dragon hearts!¡±


    Unbeknownst to him, Natural War Maniac had already set his sights on Mithra, eyes brimming with battle intent.


    ¡°Another mini-boss¡­¡±


    ¡°Tsk, with such good-looking gear, it must drop a lot of prestige points.¡±


    Natural War Maniac thought, licking the blood on his lips eagerly.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on .co

 Chapter 365 - 289 The Last Struggle

    Chapter 365: Chapter 289 The Last Struggle


    ¡°A true knight will never surrender to monsters like you!¡±


    Knight Mithra continued to shout, but he did not realize¡ªhis actions had already attracted several greedy eyes.


    ¡°Well said!¡±


    A sudden applause erupted on the battlefield, and Knight Mithra turned his head in shock.


    He saw a strong half-dragon, over two meters tall, with blood-red eyes and bulging muscles, leaping more than ten meters into the air while holding a great axe.


    ¡°Then come fight!¡±


    Natural War Maniac roared.


    After the lesson from being killed last time, he spent a fortune enchanting his axe and activating his berserker¡¯s [Brutal Strike] ability, determined to take down his enemy.


    This strike unleashed all his strength. The axe tore through the air, and even the blade was surrounded by a dark red aura.


    This was the Barbarian¡¯s ¡°Triple Axe.¡±


    More accurately, it was a single axe.


    ¡°Damn, War Maniac Bro got in first again.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over, this mini-boss is targeted by Natural War Maniac, no chance for us.¡±


    ¡°No doubt about it, a former professional player strikes fast.¡±


    Voices of disappointment rippled through the players, all feeling frustrated by not being able to claim the boss¡ªa foregone conclusion that the knight would be killed.


    ¡°You dare underestimate a knight!¡±


    Knight Mithra gritted his teeth, his expression a mix of anger and tension as he swung his longsword with all his might.


    This was the move he was most skilled with, honed through a lifetime of relentless, day-after-day, year-after-year training.


    He had decapitated many bandits and brigands with this very strike, earning the name ¡°Sharp Sword¡± Mithra across Viscount Ferenc¡¯s domain.


    ¡°Come, let me witness the strength of an Evil Dragon Kin!¡±


    ¡°This is a duel of destiny!¡±


    In an instant, countless thoughts flitted through Mithra¡¯s mind, his expression becoming ever more resolute.


    ¡°Dieeeeeeee¡ª¡ª!¡±


    Natural War Maniac also came down with unstoppable momentum from high above.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    The sound of the axe blade slicing through metal and flesh.


    Under that immense force from above, Knight Mithra was split in half, head to toe, along with his armor.


    He had not even realized his impending death when the axe cleaved his skull; his separated eyes still held a determined gaze.


    The bloodstained great axe¡¯s power did not stop, carving several feet deep into the hard stone bricks.


    [You killed an [Ordinary Noble Knight (Challenge Level: 2)] and gained 100xp]


    Natural War Maniac struggled to pull out his axe embedded in the ground, his face full of astonishment.


    The players also cried out.


    ¡°No wonder he¡¯s War Maniac Bro!¡±


    ¡°One-shot kill?¡±


    ¡°Looked tough, but that¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°I thought with such fancy armor it was at least magic equipment, turns out it¡¯s as thin as paper, totally all show.¡±


    ¡°Just this?¡±


    Natural War Maniac picked up a piece of armor from the ground, pressing it slightly to create a dent. Scratching his head, he started cursing.


    ¡°Using a big move on a small fry, what a waste.¡±


    ¡°I need to make up for it!¡±


    Natural War Maniac¡¯s eyes turned blood-red as he looked toward the soldiers.


    The soldiers immediately felt like they were being targeted by a predator, trembling all over.


    A furious roar echoed across the battlements.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    ¡°Help! Ugh¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Quick, retreat! Don¡¯t go near him!¡±


    Natural War Maniac charged into the crowd, entering a mode of unstoppable carnage.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain gracefully flew to the city walls. She was not armored, but wore the latest red dress from the ¡°Elegance Boutique¡± of Northwind Castle.


    The soldiers seemed to notice this ¡°soft persimmon,¡± avoiding the daunting Dragon Vein Monsters and surrounding Summer Night Autumn Rain.


    ¡°Ah, finally here.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain observed the approaching soldiers with a look of excitement, her golden pupils flickering with fire.


    She lightly extended her slender hand, and a dazzling fireball shot from her finger towards the soldiers, exploding into a blast of flames and a low boom.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a spellcaster!¡±


    ¡°Dodge!¡±


    Before they could react, the soldiers were all down, leaving only charred, burning corpses.


    But this was not the end. More Dragon Vein Sorcerer players appeared behind Summer Night Autumn Rain, also unleashing fireballs, bombarding the soldiers relentlessly.


    ¡°Hey! Once the fireball is out, you are all toast!¡±


    ¡°Fireball, invincible in the universe!¡±


    These Dragon Vein Sorcerer players cheered in excitement. They were part of the recently emerged [Five Fireball Cult].


    A player named ¡°Solitary Magic God¡± proposed on the forum that a team of five mages could kill anything instantly by casting fireballs together.


    Thus, this whimsical cult was born.


    ¡°Attack¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°The castle is ours!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    With the players¡¯ fierce onslaught, in just over ten minutes, the seemingly indestructible castle became riddled with holes, virtually a ruin.


    The defending officers and soldiers were nearly annihilated. Even those who survived had lost their will to fight, some becoming completely deranged.


    ¡°An owl bear, an owl bear is flying!¡±


    A despairing officer shouted.


    Then, he leaped off the top of the battlement. Unlike the players, without their constitution, he splattered into a mass of blood and flesh.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    A Bipedal Wyvern swooped over the castle again, this time someone leaped from it¡ªthat was Mantou.


    He rolled a few times on the ground, bypassing layers of defenses, and landed in the heart of the castle.


    These nobles still living in the feudal era had never considered how to prevent airborne infiltrations. To Mantou, this castle was wide open.


    ¡°Open up! Water meter check!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mantou shouted, kicking down the door.


    He was greeted by the sight of Viscount Horace, cowering in a corner, shivering all over.


    ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t kill me!¡±


    ¡°I beg you, sir, the Lotte Family will give you many things¡­¡±


    Viscount Horace groveled on the ground, begging piteously.


    ¡°Just kill.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a Lotte Family?¡±


    Mantou strode forward, thrusting his sword through the Viscount¡¯s chest.


    A translucent protective barrier appeared around Viscount Horace but was pierced directly by the sword, penetrating his body.


    ¡°I won¡¯t make the same mistake as Rogue Beast.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, his failed show-off video was leaked by a traitor.¡±


    ¡°This is Anti-Magic Oil, costs five gold coins for a small vial, very expensive.¡±


    Mantou pulled out the bloodstained sword, looking at his gaining contribution value on the panel, he said smugly.


    By now, the siege was wrapping up, the castle grounds filled with soldier corpses.


    Players roamed the castle, rummaging through everything, even pulling up bricks to check if there were any treasures hidden inside.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on .co

 Chapter 366 - 290 Royalty

    Chapter 366: Chapter 290 Royalty


    ¡°Prepare for the third round of bombardment!¡±


    The Tyrant shouted spiritedly.


    More than a dozen magic heavy cannons were arrayed on the battlefield, their dark muzzles pointing directly toward the sky.


    In front of them were the pockmarked, ruined city walls, and the frightened defenders and dust-covered knights.


    This was Cyril City, a key military stronghold in the Otto Duchy and the second most populous city in the country, now enveloped in the scent of gunpowder.


    Fengyun waved his hand and said beside him, ¡°Guild Leader, let¡¯s hold for a moment. We need more captives; the workforce in our factories is currently in short supply.¡±


    ¡°Native workers are more efficient; hired players are too expensive and don¡¯t follow orders. Nowadays, new players are too shrewd; they won¡¯t come unless we raise wages.¡±


    The Tyrant thought for a moment, then said, ¡°You make a good point.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s have the spell and melee teams ready then. And tell those Wyvern Knights to hold back a bit, don¡¯t burn too many people.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Guild Leader.¡±


    Currently, the Royal Guild had grown to a large-scale guild with nearly a thousand members, a famous and powerful group. Almost all its members were level five or higher professionals, and those who weren¡¯t had notable talents.


    To compete for the Conquer the North quest, the Tyrant had urgently mobilized nearly six hundred members, bringing almost everyone except the necessary logistical personnel to the battlefield.


    This sizable squad of professionals had consecutively conquered thirteen cities, with the usual Northern City Defense Army unable to stop their overwhelming advance.


    Except for special entities like the Lionheart Knights, even the elite troops of the North had average soldiers equating to level one professionals. Level five professionals were enough to become noble knights or even generals in any Northern unit.


    A well-organized group of players with such strength was evidently formidable.


    ¡°Mages, cast a Group Encouragement Spell. Bards, apply Demon Fire on the enemy.¡±


    ¡°Warriors, raise your shields and advance. Remember, don¡¯t kill those who surrender. The guild will allocate gold coins based on the number of captives. There are extra rewards for capturing the Earl alive!¡±


    Fengyun shouted into a megaphone on the battlefield.


    ¡°For the Royalty!¡±


    ¡°Glory to the Royalty, heroes are immortal!¡±


    Two hundred players charged toward the distant city, with warriors and paladins leading the charge. Mages and magicians cast spells creating dazzling effects.


    Druids summoned various beasts, and bards cast spells with their melodic tunes.


    Spell radiance of various kinds intertwined beneath the city walls.


    Burning arrows, splashing acid, falling boulders, and even flying squirrels bombarded the walls.


    The commander on the walls roared, ¡°Do not fear, kill them! Fight for the Otto Duchy and defend the city!¡±


    ¡°They are mere flesh and blood!¡±


    ¡°Without those bizarre weapons, they may not be able to defeat us!¡±


    ¡°Load the heavy crossbows!¡±


    As a military stronghold, the walls had several heavy crossbows meant to defend against Frost Giants and White Dragons, now being used against these Starfallen.


    ¡°Sorcery of Wraithfire!¡±


    The bards played their instruments, with violet light from the violin strings outlining all enemies.


    Several senior mages of the Royal Guild raised their magic wands in unison.


    ¡°Slow Spell!¡±


    Instantly, the space on the walls was distorted, making the soldiers¡¯ actions slower than ever, like they were in slow motion.


    A Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight, enhanced with flight magic and acceleration spell, leaped onto the wall, slashing with a scarlet-flaming sword and decapitating the roaring commander.


    The soldiers watched in horror as their commander was killed but were powerless in the slowed space.


    ¡°Surrender and you won¡¯t be killed!¡±


    The Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight held the still-warm head aloft, shouting from the top of the tower.


    The soldiers looked up in despair at the advancing figures, knowing the battle was over¡ªit was all over.


    ¡­


    Soon, members of the Royal Guild captured the entire city, easily taking over the city hall, armory, and other vital locations.


    Count Julius Reginald, the city¡¯s lord, fled south with his wealth and a convoy of over a hundred people.


    However, the Royal Guild had several Red Scale Conquerors, and no matter how fast four-legged horses ran, they couldn¡¯t outrun flying wyverns.


    The count and his convoy were quickly spotted and wiped out by the Wyvern Knights, with Count Julius captured alive, screaming in the claws of a bipedal wyvern.


    ¡°Stay still, don¡¯t move.¡±


    ¡°Or you¡¯ll be killed.¡±


    Big Blade landed with a wyvern, lifting the count with one hand.


    Count Julius immediately fell silent, though his corpulent body continued to tremble instinctively.


    It was said these evil dragon kin ¡°killed nobles without hesitation,¡± even daring to behead a marquis, yet his life as a count had been spared.


    Could they finally have realized¡ªwithout nobles, they couldn¡¯t solidify their rule over the North, and now they sought to cooperate with him?


    A glimmer of hope flashed in Count Julius¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    ¡°Guild Leader, I¡¯ve captured him.¡±


    Big Blade casually tossed him to the ground.


    ¡°You insolent scum, once I regain my position, you¡¯ll be the first to die.¡±


    Count Julius thought venomously, his eyes narrowing.


    He struggled to get up, only to see a tall, valiant-looking man not far away, carrying a great sword and clad in exquisite, heavy armor.


    Upon seeing him, the man beamed with joy.


    ¡°He must be the leader of these evil dragon kin¡­¡±


    ¡°My life and fortune are in his hands now. To secure further cooperation, I must try to please him.¡±


    With this thought, Count Julius¡¯s face broke into a fawning smile.


    ¡°Honorable sir, I am Julius Reginald¡ª¡±


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, the Tyrant swung his great sword at the count.


    Immediately, brains splattered, fatty skin split open, and various internal organs spilled messily onto the ground.


    Even in death, Count Julius¡¯s face kept that fawning smile, but his eyes showed astonishment and disbelief.


    He never figured it out, even in death.


    The man before him had people capture him from miles away just to kill him personally¡ªit made no sense!


    The Tyrant, wiping his great sword, looked with distaste at the mess on the ground.


    ¡°Next time, just behead them directly.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Disgusting, clean this up.¡±


    He casually ordered his subordinates, then looked at his panel, his face lighting up again.


    [You killed the important figure of the Northern United Kingdom faction, Count Julius Reginald, gaining 120 prestige points]


    The entire guild had done everything to accumulate prestige points for him, aiming to qualify as Dragonblood Nobility.


    Fengyun smiled beside him, saying, ¡°Guild Leader, at this rate, by the end of the quest, you should meet at least the viscount prestige point requirement, maybe even reach for the earl.¡±


    ¡°Haha, let¡¯s move on to the next city. For a thousand years, who made history, right? Eight thousand miles away, aiming to be a marquis!¡±


    The Tyrant spread his arms, laughing heartily.


    Fengyun wiped the sweat from his forehead, secretly complaining, ¡°The whole guild supports you alone in gaining prestige points, where do you get all this grand ambition.¡±


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on .co

 Chapter 367 - 291: A Successful Uprising

    Chapter 367: Chapter 291: A Successful Uprising


    Charlotte waved her magic wand casually in the air, creating bursts of brilliant flames, while complaining aloud:


    ¡°Damn it, why didn¡¯t that Count Julius show up? Are the Northern nobles really so untrustworthy?¡±


    ¡°Chairman, according to our spy¡¯s information, Cyril City has already been taken by the Royalty¡¯s forces. That count didn¡¯t manage to escape.¡±


    Charlotte immediately jumped up angrily, cursing uncontrollably.


    ¡°Damn it, what a useless fool!¡±


    ¡°We gave him a chance, and he blew it!¡±


    ¡°We told him to escape right away but he insisted on waiting until the city was nearly captured. Why didn¡¯t he believe us? It just ended up being a gift to those Royalty idiots.¡±


    ¡°You are right, Chairman.¡±


    ¡°It still shows how wise and brilliant you are¡­¡±


    Europe King echoed beside her, clearly playing up to Charlotte, eager to repay his debts quickly.


    Lonely as Snow, meanwhile, covered his face, unwilling to look at Europe King¡¯s sycophancy, silently mocking in his heart: ¡°Even if he had escaped here, what would change?¡±


    ¡°It would just mean getting killed in a different place.¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s face darkened, gritting her teeth: ¡°Let¡¯s go! Off to the next fishing spot to set the net. This time, we must get ahead of the Royalty!¡±


    He pulled out a parchment scroll, with Flaming Ashes emblems at each end, inlaid with expensive jewels¡ªthis was the Kingdom¡¯s official Anzeta Map Collector¡¯s Edition.


    Internally, the kingdom¡¯s tech staff referred to it as ¡®the big spenders¡¯ special.¡¯


    As Charlotte unfurled it, a magical particle map image appeared on the scroll, displaying mountains, rivers, and cities clearly, with tiny sparkles of aurora scattered across it.


    ¡°Let me see¡­¡±


    ¡°The next target is Dena City, located in the western part of the Carter Duchy.¡±


    ¡°This time, nothing will go wrong. That Earl Dalton Rena has been so thoroughly deceived by me. I hear he¡¯s already packed his bags, ready to flee.¡±


    ¡°Chairman, it¡¯s bad news!¡±


    Suddenly, a crisp voice from the Sky Flying Witch came through the communicator, causing Charlotte to frown slightly, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.


    ¡°Dena City has been taken by the Fire Seed!¡±


    Charlotte fell silent for a long moment before finally squeezing out a few words through clenched teeth.


    ¡°God damn it¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Carter Duchy, inside Dena City.


    Ragged flags fluttered atop the city walls, with tattered serfs raising their steel spears and cheering loudly.


    ¡°Fire Seed! Fire Seed!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve really succeeded!¡±


    ¡°From now on, we are free! Those nobles are nothing!¡±


    ¡°Does this mean we can have our land and enough food?¡±


    Around them lay hundreds of soldiers in pools of blood, even the Earl had been decapitated.


    The Fire Seed members had discovered the Earl¡¯s attempt to flee, and they infiltrated the city to launch a surprise attack, catching the soldiers off guard.


    With the firearms assistance from the Ashen Kingdom, they killed the guard soldiers of Dena City and executed Earl Dalton Rena, who had oppressed them cruelly for years.


    ¡°We actually did it¡­¡±


    Spark stood akimbo, looking at the fanatical serfs whose eyes glowed with renewed hope, a smile appearing on his face.


    But soon, he frowned slightly, pulling his focus from the present victory to the distant future.


    ¡°So¡­ what now?¡±


    ¡°What do we do next?¡±


    Spark began to ponder.


    The Northern United Kingdom had entirely fallen, and the King of Ashen would not allow any threat to Anzeta¡¯s unity.


    Moreover, the Fire Seed didn¡¯t have the capability to produce military supplies independently. All their firearms came from kingdom¡¯s aid, and their army was a ragtag group of over two thousand serfs. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spark quickly realized a harsh truth: Fire Seed did not have the capability to rule Dena City.


    Neither their governance abilities nor their military strength were sufficient to maintain even a fragile regime.


    ¡°The Ashen Kingdom only sees us as tools to disrupt the North¡¯s rear.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ what will become of us once the North completely falls?¡±


    With that thought, Spark¡¯s expression grew solemn.


    Nick noticed his unusual demeanor and approached: ¡°Spark, is there something else? Haven¡¯t we already won?¡±


    Spark replied heavily: ¡°So, what happens next?¡±


    ¡°Nick, you should understand the current situation in the North.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Nick also lowered his head in thought, then said:


    ¡°After the Battle of Okaglar, the Northern United Kingdom is only a name. In the land of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, nothing can stop the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s march toward unification.¡±


    His tone froze, and his expression became serious.


    ¡°You mean¡­ the Ashen Kingdom might act against us?¡±


    Spark gave a bitter smile: ¡°Not might, but definitely, as long as we occupy Dena City, or even as long as we¡¯re in Anzeta, we won¡¯t avoid contact with the Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, our foundations are shallow; even our weapons and ammunition come from them.¡±


    ¡°What should we do then?¡±


    Nick remained silent for a long time before asking again.


    Spark shook his head, sighed helplessly: ¡°Let¡¯s take it one step at a time. I don¡¯t know what the future holds either.¡±


    Suddenly, a shout from Firewood came from the city wall.


    ¡°Commander¡ªthere¡¯s a group of people outside the city, claiming to be envoys from the Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°How many of them?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ there might be¡­ a lot of them.¡±


    Spark couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry at the same time. These serfs had such low levels of education, most couldn¡¯t even count to a hundred.


    ¡°The Ashen Kingdom people¡­ they arrived so quickly.¡±


    He mumbled involuntarily.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go up and take a look. I want to confirm their identity.¡±


    Spark reached the top of the city wall, and below it, he saw a disciplined formation of goblin infantry, about three hundred strong, their bayonet spears gleaming coldly.


    In that instant, he confirmed¡ªthey were indeed soldiers of the Ashen Kingdom.


    And even the most elite troops of the northern countries would need over five thousand soldiers to have a chance of encircling and destroying such a goblin infantry unit.


    Definitely not something his over two thousand ragtag serfs could achieve victory against.


    With that thought, Spark whispered, ¡°Let them in.¡±


    ¡°Hey, huh.¡±


    Serfs struggled to turn the wooden axles, and the heavy city gates slowly opened.


    But the goblin infantry still stood firm, making no rash move. They divided into two columns, opening a wide path.


    From a carriage behind them, a woman dressed in a purple gown gracefully stepped down, walking into the city under the guard of soldiers.


    Her elegant figure left the serfs on the city wall who had never seen anything alike stunned.


    ¡°Greetings to the Fire Seed members.¡±


    ¡°On behalf of the kingdom, I salute your bravery and fearlessness.¡±


    ¡°Besides¡­ nice to meet you, I am Dailenna, the Marchioness of Ashen Kingdom.¡±


    Dailenna¡¯s lips curved into a beautiful, affable smile.


    On the city wall, Spark couldn¡¯t help but take a sharp breath, his breathing quickened¡ªMarchioness?


    What a joke.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on .co

 Chapter 368 - 292 The Extinguished Fire Seed

    Chapter 368: Chapter 292 The Extinguished Fire Seed


    ¡°Yet another noble lord?¡±


    ¡°Huh? A marquis this time?¡±


    ¡°Which is higher, a marquis or the earl we killed?¡±


    ¡°She won¡¯t force us to mine too, right?¡±


    Upon hearing these words, the serfs immediately started to chatter, the surroundings quickly becoming noisy.


    Spark broke out in a cold sweat¡ªhe knew these elite Goblin Infantry could slaughter everyone here, and he didn¡¯t want his comrades, who had fought and bled with him, to die in vain.


    Sparking up his courage, he stepped forward.


    ¡°Marquis Dailenna, do you have something important you wish to discuss?¡±


    Dailenna replied, ¡°Of course, I bring goodwill from the kingdom. You¡¯ve done very well.¡±


    ¡°Goodwill?¡±


    Spark was momentarily perplexed.


    Dailenna covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, continuing, ¡°Yes, you are the vanguard against the decayed ruling of the North, even Lord Ramp has heard of you.¡±


    ¡°He mentioned you personally at a meeting and gave you verbal praise, highly commending your activities.¡±


    Spark was a bit confused, but still nervously asked, ¡°So¡­ what arrangements does the kingdom have for us?¡±


    Under the dual pressure of the elite army and the marquis¡¯s status, he unwittingly lowered himself.


    And this brought a hint of satisfaction to Dailenna¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°The kingdom has already made arrangements.¡±


    The main event was finally about to unfold!


    Spark held his breath.


    Seeming to sense his unease, Dailenna smiled and reassured him, ¡°Do not worry, the kingdom will not treat anyone harshly.¡±


    Dailenna took out a document from her bosom and spoke calmly, ¡°Brave Fire Seed warriors, you will gain citizenship of the kingdom and be assigned jobs in various city factories, enjoying stable and fulfilling work.¡±


    ¡°Will we have food to eat?¡±


    One serf timidly raised his hand to ask.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°In our Ashen Kingdom, everyone receives ample food. No one dies of hunger. It is not even an issue.¡±


    Dailenna responded lightly and nodded slightly towards the serf.


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°Even the freemen can¡¯t always get enough to eat!¡±


    ¡°No one starves? My god, does such a place really exist?¡±


    The serfs were once again in an uproar, for every person to be well-fed was an unbelievable scenario to them, something akin to paradise and dreams.


    ¡°Will we have clothes to wear?¡±


    ¡°Will we freeze to death in winter?¡±


    ¡°Will we not get beaten?¡±


    ¡°Will we have a place to live?¡±


    The serfs, like opening a floodgate, started asking questions one after another, imagining the ¡°good life¡± that would let them survive.


    These questions, which might seem basic or even laughable to modern people, were like Eden to them.


    ¡°The kingdom¡¯s clothes are of good quality and cheap.¡±


    ¡°The kingdom¡¯s spellcasters can ensure the city remains warm.¡±


    ¡°Deliberate harm is a violation of the law; even a duke cannot break the Kingdom Code.¡±


    Facing their questions, Dailenna did not show impatience, instead answering them one by one, making the serfs feel comforted.


    ¡°Perhaps words are not clear enough; let¡¯s have a more direct demonstration.¡±


    ¡°Snap.¡±


    She clapped her hands lightly, and the guards beside her immediately brought out a wooden box containing a Magic Crystal.


    Dailenna activated the crystal, and a semi-transparent image immediately appeared in the air. The serfs raised their heads in astonishment, exclaiming one after another.


    ¡ªIn the image, a worker with a serf brand on his neck was working on a production line. The surroundings were clean and tidy, contrasting starkly with their shabby and dirty huts. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And his work involved simply checking the quality of products and using a machine to stamp an approval label, looking quite effortless, seemingly requiring hardly any strength.


    ¡°Is this our future job?¡±


    ¡°Is this even considered working?¡±


    ¡°He eats so much but exerts so little energy?¡±


    The serfs exclaimed again. Since they could remember, they had been toiling like beasts of burden, pulling plows and mining stones. They had never seen such an easy ¡°job¡± before.


    Seeing their astonished faces, Dailenna continued to entice them, ¡°These are our kingdom¡¯s workers, enjoying generous treatment and only doing the easiest jobs.¡±


    Though she intentionally omitted the detail of ¡°at least fifteen hours a day.¡±


    ¡°This marquis is a good person!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, giving us such jobs.¡±


    ¡°Such good conditions.¡±


    ¡°She even answered me personally, not like those nobles in the North at all!¡±


    The serfs enthusiastically discussed, already having a favorable impression of the Marchioness Dailenna, not realizing or caring that this was a result of her deliberate guidance.


    ¡°I¡­ I want to be a worker of the kingdom.¡±


    Firewood stammered, his expression full of longing and admiration.


    Spark looked around, listening to the serfs¡¯ visions of the future, hearing them revert to calling someone ¡°lord¡± and feeling deep respect for this Marchioness Dailenna. He felt a pang of discomfort.


    ¡°The world shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡±


    Spark thought to himself.


    He had just led these serfs to break free from old, decayed shackles, but it seemed they were about to be chained again by invisible heavy chains.


    But did he have the right to stop the serfs from pursuing a ¡°better life?¡±


    Did he have the ability to lead people to establish a world without oppression in Anzeta?


    The answer was no.


    This was also a completely open plot.


    The members of Fire Seed would be scattered across various cities, becoming ordinary workers of the kingdom, and the name ¡°Fire Seed¡± would vanish with time.


    Fire Seed might have already been extinguished.


    After a long silence, Spark asked them, ¡°Everyone, is this what you all think?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Being able to eat our fill every day and not getting beaten is great.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s like a dream.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m tired of fighting and killing.¡±


    The serfs answered in unison, discussing their future lives and having no objections to the kingdom¡¯s arrangements.


    Dailenna kept that kind smile, nodding slightly towards Spark, as if in acknowledgement.


    ¡°Once these serfs are scattered across the North, my reputation among humans will rise even higher.¡±


    ¡°I must maintain this political image, posing as a representative of human interests within the kingdom to climb to a higher position.¡±


    This pureblood Serpentfolk, always disguised as a human, thought to himself.


    The serfs were completely swayed by the kingdom¡¯s propaganda. They gave up months of resistance to follow Marchioness Dailenna¡¯s instructions, cooperating with the Goblin Army to take over Dena City.


    Spark distanced himself from the excited crowd, silently pondering, lost in thought.


    The first to follow him, Nick, patted his shoulder and whispered.


    ¡°The South, there are still many oppressed people there. The slave system might not yet be abolished. We can rekindle the spark there.¡±


    Eventually, Spark clenched his fist, gazing at the distant horizon and said resolutely:


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go to the South.¡±


    ¡°The spark will never be extinguished.¡±


    However, he did not know that just now, Marquis Dailenna and Nick had a conversation, specifically telling those core members who were unwilling to give up the ¡°Fire Seed¡±¡ªto head to the South, to the Fadlan Region.


    There, they could freely pursue their ambitions and let the spark burn brightly.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on .co

 Chapter 369 - 293: Triumph Ceremony

    Chapter 369: Chapter 293: Triumph Ceremony


    ¡°Good news! The kingdom¡¯s army, led by Marshal Dolores, has achieved a great victory over the allied forces!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius defeated ¡®Wings of Silver¡¯ Osedro in a brilliant victory!¡±


    ¡°The kingdom¡¯s army is advancing on multiple fronts and is about to occupy the entire North!¡±


    ¡°Duke Leo, the supreme ruler of the North, colluded with a demon and then mysteriously disappeared ¡ª is it human nature twisted or morality degenerate?¡±


    The cries and shouts of the newsboys echoed through the streets of Northwind Castle.


    News of the kingdom¡¯s victory had long spread through Northwind Castle, but people were not surprised, for they saw victory as a given ¡ª more important was seizing the spoils of war.


    Every factory was ramping up production in response to the vast new markets and the consumption boom brought on by the war.


    The prosperity of the military industry stimulated the development of related sectors such as steel, manufacturing, and machinery, which in turn brought more job opportunities and economic growth. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Some astute merchants had already set off for northern cities, aiming to establish factories in the newly occupied cities and secure land in advance.


    Various war-related products were selling well, making some merchants rich ¡ª some had profited handsomely from war bonds before the war even started.


    This was what made the Ashen Kingdom so terrifying in the eyes of the Northern Nobility ¡ª war not only failed to weaken its national power but also brought temporary prosperity, even easing existing social conflicts.


    Compared to the North, which was in chaos due to levies, the kingdom was like a tireless war machine.


    At this moment, a grand triumphant ceremony was being held at the gates of Northwind Castle.


    ¡°They¡¯re back!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the kingdom¡¯s troops!¡±


    ¡°So impressive, I want to join the army too.¡±


    ¡°Is that Marshal Dolores? The legendary Jealous War ¡ª mmph, why are you covering my mouth?¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy? Daring to say that name? Be careful, the military department might come for you!¡±


    The infantry, composed mainly of humans, great goblins, and tieflings, formed neat battalions. They marched in unison to the beat of the drums, gradually approaching Northwind Castle.


    Dolores rode at the rear, mounted on a massive and powerful heavy armored land dragon beast.


    Suddenly, the crowd erupted with even greater excitement ¡ª for there, surrounded by mages and guards, was the Ogre Archmage Ramp, smiling and waving to the crowd as he hovered slowly in mid-air.


    ¡°Look! It¡¯s Lord Ramp! Lord Ramp has come to greet them personally!¡±


    ¡°He is the kingdom¡¯s Prime Minister!¡±


    ¡°Such a high honor, there are even two dukes.¡±


    Accompanied by the triumphant music played passionately by the half-goat people, Dolores and Ramp reunited under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of people.


    For some reason, Ramp felt a bit sentimental.


    When they first met, he was just a slightly smarter ogre, and Dolores was a down-and-out goblin chieftain with only goblins as subordinates. Ramp had always been a notch above him.


    But now, they stood at the pinnacle of power in the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness, capable of determining the fate of countless people with ease.


    Yet, his status still overshadowed Dolores¡¯s. As the first retainer to follow the Red Dragon, Ramp would always be the victor.


    Ramp thought this, but outwardly he maintained a polite demeanor and congratulated him.


    ¡°Congratulations, Marshal Dolores, on your triumphant return. It is truly a blessing for the entire kingdom.¡±


    ¡°No, no, it is my honor that Lord Ramp has personally come to greet me.¡±


    Marshal Dolores jumped down from the back of the land dragon beast, took a few steps forward to Ramp, and tightly grasped his large hand, a sinister smile appearing on his ugly face.


    Ramp nodded slightly, a fleeting gleam of amusement in his eyes.


    The ogre knew that Dolores had always harbored ambitions to replace him, and their retainers often had conflicts, leading to frequent open and covert struggles.


    But now, Dolores had buried these thoughts deep within.


    Holding high office for a long time, this great goblin marshal was no longer as openly emotional as ten years ago. He knew that showing a ¡°jealous, savage¡± image in front of the public was not good, and it would be even worse if it reached Cassius¡¯s ears.


    Thus, despite their hidden schemes, they maintained a facade of harmony and mutual understanding.


    ¡°Marshal Dolores, your military achievements have spread throughout the kingdom. His Majesty has praised you greatly,¡± Ramp said. ¡°Next, the kingdom will need your strength to stabilize the situation in the North.¡±


    Marshal Dolores solemnly nodded, his expression serious, and replied, ¡°I will do my utmost to serve the kingdom loyally.¡±


    With the return of the army, the celebrations in Northwind Castle reached their peak.


    ¡°For the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Victory! Victory!¡±


    ¡°Triumph!¡±


    The people poured into the streets, cheering and rejoicing in celebration of the victory, and Dolores and Ramp became the hot topic of discussion.


    However, behind this exuberance, there were also undercurrents unknown to the public ¡ª months had passed, and news of Osedro¡¯s escape and the allied forces¡¯ defeat had spread across the Fianso Continent.


    This secluded kingdom had now caught the attention of various forces across the continent, drawing countless gazes.


    In the enthusiastic crowd, a small figure struggled to squeeze through, raising her hands high ¡ª it was Misha.


    ¡°Lord Ramp! I want to see His Majesty!¡±


    Misha shouted with all her might.


    However, her voice was drowned out by the jubilant cheers, and her petite figure was swallowed up by the fervent crowd.


    Lord Ramp was the kingdom¡¯s Prime Minister, and countless people sought his favor.


    At such a grand event, no one would pay attention to an eight- or nine-year-old girl, let alone listen to what she had to say.


    ¡°My lord!¡±


    ¡°Lord Ramp! Look at me, Lord Ramp!¡±


    Amidst the crowd¡¯s adoration, Ramp hovered overhead, holding his magic wand, smiling benignly as he waved to the surrounding citizens.


    The tall and strong citizens used their physical advantage to push to the front, while the slender Misha was soon squeezed to the rear.


    The crowd in front of her was like a high wall, blocking her view and trapping her at the back.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t block me.¡±


    ¡°I need to see Lord Ramp!¡±


    Misha was so anxious that tears almost welled up in her eyes.


    This was her rare opportunity as a commoner to get close to Lord Ramp; if she missed it, she didn¡¯t know when the next chance would be.


    By then, her revenge would be out of the question.


    ¡°What¡­ should I do?¡±


    Misha lowered her eyes, biting her lip, her clenched fists trembling slightly.


    Finally, Misha seemed to make up her mind. She raised her head resolutely, tears glistening in her slightly reddened eyes.


    Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co

 Chapter 370 - 294: Mishas Determination

    Chapter 370: Chapter 294: Misha¡¯s Determination


    Several months ago, Old John¡¯s body was burnt to ashes by the soldiers.


    At that moment, the hatred and anger in Misha¡¯s heart surged like a flood, breaking the last bit of peace deep within her.


    It was as if a blazing fire ignited within her, wrapping tightly around her body, making her curl up in the corner, unable to extricate herself.


    And at that moment, she suddenly discovered that she had the ability to create and control flames. It seemed to be an innate talent, catalyzed by Old John¡¯s death.


    ¡°Snap¡­¡±


    Misha spread her palm, a flickering flame ignited in her hand.


    The flame was hot and bright, as if it was the embodiment of her inner self.


    ¡°Releasing this power, maybe then Lord Ramp will take notice.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps even garner the king¡¯s attention, and then¡­ exact revenge for Old John personally.¡±


    Her brown pupils also lit up with a fire, whether it was a reflection of the flame in her hand or a response to her changing emotions.


    Misha slowly raised her hand.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a loud burst, a fiery dragon shot out from her palm, darting straight towards the sky.


    The flame exploded in the sky, scattering fiery sparks everywhere.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a spell!¡±


    ¡°So hot! Get out of here!¡±


    Under this intense heat, the air began to slightly distort, and the surrounding crowd descended into chaos, fleeing in panic.


    ¡°It¡¯s an attack!¡±


    ¡°Protect Lord Ramp!¡±


    ¡°Damn! Who dares to charge the army formation?¡±


    The attendants with steel spears rushed into the panicked crowd, searching for the source of the spell, but only found a girl of about eight or nine years old.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to look, it¡¯s me.¡±


    Misha looked directly at the attendants without any concealment, spreading her hands to reveal the dancing flames in her palms.


    ¡°It¡¯s that girl!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s her!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the one who cast the spell! Catch her!¡±


    The Captain of the Guards quickly raised his long spear, shouting loudly, not wanting to be derelict in front of Prime Minister Ramp.


    The surrounding guards also nervously closed in, tightening the encirclement, preparing to capture the mysterious spellcaster.


    Suddenly, Ramp¡¯s voice rang out.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too tense, how could flames possibly harm me?¡±


    ¡°You, you said it.¡±


    The Captain of the Guards lowered his head nervously, responding promptly.


    Ramp descended slowly from mid-air, tapping the ground lightly with his magic wand, gazing down at the girl surrounded by the army.


    He observed carefully.


    She looked about eight or nine years old, small and thin, with some dirt on her smooth skin but no signs of dragonification.


    The girl trembled all over from extreme tension, yet still looked at him from afar, her eyes firm and defiant, unafraid of the tense situation.


    According to Ramp¡¯s estimation, the power of the spell just now had already reached the Third Tier level¡ªwhich meant she was likely born with the talent of a nearly Level Five magician!


    Suddenly, Ramp squinted slightly, showing an intrigued expression.


    ¡°A natural-born magician¡­¡±


    ¡°To have such spellcasting ability without experiencing the blessing, that¡¯s indeed rare.¡±


    ¡°She could become a force for the kingdom.¡±


    With this in mind, Ramp took a step forward, revealing a smile he thought to be especially kind, and said softly, ¡°Child, don¡¯t be so nervous. I am Ramp, the kingdom¡¯s Prime Minister.¡±


    ¡°Is there something you need?¡±


    However, Misha looked up, the ogre¡¯s massive figure looming over her, the grotesque face showing a bizarre smile, revealing long, curved tusks.


    She felt she could almost smell the overwhelming stench of blood.


    But in the end, supported by her will, she did not falter, though her body trembled like a leaf.


    Misha finally spoke timidly, ¡°Lord Ramp.¡±


    ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    She gritted her teeth and, after a moment of silence, finally made a decision, ¡°I want to see the king!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Lord Ramp, I want to see the king.¡±


    Misha requested again, her words weak but incredibly firm and sincere.


    Ramp slowly shook his head, tapping the ground with his magic wand once more, half turning away, ¡°There are countless people who seek an audience with the king. They seek wealth, power, strength, or simply wish to admire the king¡¯s grandeur.¡±


    He turned his head, lowering his voice.


    ¡°And you¡ªwhy do you seek the audience?¡±


    ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    Misha hesitated for a moment, then replied firmly, ¡°I want to avenge my grandfather. He sacrificed himself during the Magur incident.¡±


    Ramp responded indifferently, ¡°Then your wish should have been fulfilled. Just two months ago, Marshal Dolores led the Kingdom Army to annihilate the Northern Allied Forces, the kingdom already avenged you.¡±


    Misha shook her head vigorously, gritting her teeth, ¡°No, it isn¡¯t over yet. It was that damned Leo Boske who orchestrated the incident, he escaped by using a demon¡¯s power, and has yet to face judgment.¡±


    ¡°I want to kill him with my own hands.¡±


    Tears welled up in Misha¡¯s eyes, a flash of firelight glimmering in her pupils.


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    A glimmer of amusement appeared in Ramp¡¯s eyes. He casually waved his hand to the surrounding guards.


    ¡°Disperse. She¡¯s just a brave child, no need to be overly cautious around her.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°As you command.¡±


    The guards sensibly withdrew.


    Then, the massive ogre slowly squatted down, his formidable body like a mountain of flesh¡ªeven as he squatted, he was far taller than the girl in front of him.


    Ramp looked down into the girl¡¯s brown eyes and asked softly, ¡°Child, tell me, what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Misha, my name is Misha.¡±


    ¡°That¡­ is the name my grandfather John gave me.¡±


    Misha summoned all her courage, raising her head to meet the ogre¡¯s eyes. Her voice no longer trembled.


    Ramp stood up and said with a smile, ¡°Very well, Misha.¡±


    ¡°Come, I will take you to the Royal Palace. I believe the king will be eager to meet you.¡±


    The Ogre Archmage lightly raised his magic wand, an invisible force lifting both him and Misha, making them float in mid-air.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    Misha couldn¡¯t help but cry out in surprise but quickly suppressed her excitement, only occasionally glancing curiously at the ground.


    It all felt like a dream.


    The half-goat people beat their war drums again, playing heroic and stirring military music. The attendants quickly formed neat lines, once again clustering around Ramp to continue the procession.


    The triumphal ceremony continued, and the surrounding crowd buzzed with envy, wishing they could rush up and take her place, standing beside the ogre.


    ¡°Who is she? To be qualified to stay beside Lord Ramp?¡±


    ¡°What a lucky person.¡±


    ¡°So envious¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, to be favored by the Prime Minister, another important figure might be about to emerge.¡±


    Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co

 Chapter 371 - 295 Controversy and Audience

    Chapter 371: Chapter 295 Controversy and Audience


    Northwind Castle, Steel Dragonwing Palace. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius lay sprawled on the massive iron throne, not far in front of him stood Olivia with an angry expression.


    The Silver Dragon had already transformed into her human form, still retaining the appearance of a silver-haired young girl, dressed in a long gown adorned with sparkling stars.


    ¡°Cassius, why did you continue slaughtering those Northern Nobles? They had already surrendered, there was no need for pointless killing!¡±


    ¡°No, this was not a slaughter.¡±


    ¡°It was a judgment.¡±


    Cassius opened his eyes and spoke calmly. He lazily extended his claw, and immediately, a clear magic image appeared mid-air.


    ¡°Death penalty! Death penalty! Kill him!¡±


    In the image, a crowd of agitated people gathered in the square, raising their hands and shouting fervently.


    Cassius admired the scene and said with a smile, ¡°Do you see?¡±


    ¡°It was not I who killed them, but the angry Northern People who executed them, or rather¡­ the Northern Nobles who buried themselves¡ªa life for the life.¡±


    ¡°This is the price they had to pay, as well as the judgment to carry out justice and righteousness.¡±


    ¡°If it were not for the centuries of cruel oppression and brutal exploitation by the Northern Nobles, how could the people of the North hate them to such an extent that they would drag them to the guillotine?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Olivia furrowed her brows, momentarily speechless, not knowing how to refute.


    Because the judgment was indeed overseen by the Northern People, it did comply with their wishes, albeit the kingdom had deliberately incited emotions, but this was nevertheless an undeniable fact.


    For someone like Olivia, who leaned towards lawfulness and goodness, explaining the public trial with terms like ¡°manipulating hearts and stabilizing rule¡± was clearly inappropriate.


    However, grandiose words like ¡°righteous judgment and rebellion against oppression¡± seemed like a fitting reason, which coincidentally aligned with the benevolent mentality of the Metal Dragons.


    This was what Cassius thought to himself.


    Olivia shook her head and said in a low voice, ¡°Regardless, your methods are too extreme. I acknowledge the existence of oppression, but some of them clearly did not deserve death.¡±


    ¡°But this was still the choice of the people¡ªwasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Cassius continued to reply as such.


    Faced with the Red Dragon¡¯s grand pretension, slaughtering under the banner of ¡°justice,¡± Olivia was left speechless and could only grip her skirt in silent anger.


    Cassius slowly stood up, shaking his massive dragon body:


    ¡°Olivia, the process of unification is often cruel and violent; the old forces on the brink of extinction will make fierce resistance, and some bloodshed is inevitable.¡±


    ¡°But only in this way can long-lasting peace be brought about.¡±


    The Red Dragon turned to look at Olivia, a faint light flickering in his pale golden pupils.


    ¡°However, absolute violence cannot maintain long-term rule nor establish a new order. Therefore, goodness and order are also essential for the existence of a kingdom.¡±


    ¡°And this is why I invited you to join the kingdom, my Councillor Olivia.¡±


    Olivia quickly lowered her head, avoiding his deep, mesmerizing gaze, her lips pressed together slightly.


    ¡°I, I understand.¡±


    ¡°I will definitely fulfill my duties.¡±


    The skirt in her hand was crumpled and her forehead was dotted with sweat.


    Olivia had spent days preparing her arguments, readying herself for confrontation and even preparing mentally for angering her opponent.


    But when she truly faced this Red Dragon, she was still timid, unable to utter a single sentence from beginning to end.


    ¡°Once again, this guy has controlled me¡­¡±


    Olivia pursed her lips, thinking to herself.


    Suddenly, Cassius¡¯ voice interrupted her thoughts, ¡°By the way, Olivia, how are your injuries?¡±


    The silver-haired girl gently shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s fine, the spear wasn¡¯t aimed at me, I just got a bit of Abyssal Energy contamination.¡±


    Cassius smiled and said, ¡°Speaking of which, I must thank you for stepping up at that moment.¡±


    The words sounded particularly sincere.


    Faced with this unexpected gratitude, Olivia was momentarily taken aback.


    Immediately after, she stubbornly said, ¡°At that time, I stood in front of you not just to save you¡ªbut to prevent you from being infected by the Will of the Abyss, and bring greater harm to the creatures of the Prime Material Plane¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a delicate light of mana flickered on her body, and her form rapidly expanded back into the slender, graceful Silver Dragon, with wounds on her wings still spreading chaotic energy.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re injured, don¡¯t maintain the shape-shifting spell anymore, and don¡¯t foolishly think about seeking justice for those nobles.¡±


    ¡°Take good care of yourself.¡±


    Cassius¡¯ voice rang out again.


    Olivia felt a silver-white radiance descend upon her, soothing her wounds, a feeling she found quite familiar.


    ¡°Is this¡­¡±


    ¡°The power of His Majesty Bahamut?¡±


    ¡°Could it be, could Cassius have truly converted to the Lord of the Northwind?¡±


    Such thoughts flashed through Olivia¡¯s mind, and she closed her eyes slowly.


    The slender, beautiful silver dragon body breathed rhythmically, the wounds on her wings healing swiftly, and the chaotic energy being dispelled.


    ¡°So this is the divine power of order¡­¡±


    Cassius held the shimmering ¡°Wind of Bahamut¡± in his claw, gently waving his right paw.


    As the space distorted, a portal appeared before him, through which Olivia¡¯s dragon form was transported into the palace¡¯s side hall.


    By now, Cassius¡¯ control over the [Kingdom Domain] had reached its peak. If it were within the kingdom¡¯s territory, he had the confidence to defeat Osedro without any external aid.


    ¡­


    ¡°Master¡­¡±


    The voice came from the magic mirror in the hall.


    The ban on the Magic Web was lifted, and Ramp¡¯s ugly face appeared on the mirror¡¯s surface.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Master, I found a highly potential human girl in Northwind Castle. She is only nine years old and can already access the third level of the Magic Web. She likely possesses the talent to become a Legendary Sorcerer.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, she harbors a deep hatred for the Northern Nobles and has a strong sense of belonging to the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°What is her name?¡±


    Cassius was immediately intrigued.


    At merely nine years old, without any magical education, to intuitively cast a Third Tier Spell¡ªthis was a prodigy even on the entire Fianso Continent.


    ¡°Misha, her name is Misha.¡±


    Ramp quickly responded.


    ¡°Misha¡­¡±


    ¡°The name seems somewhat familiar.¡±


    Old memories of Cassius were stirred once more.


    The ¡°Fire Witch¡± Misha, who was sold as a slave to a certain noble Earl and subjected to inhumane abuse in the basement.


    Over time, she went completely mad but also awakened an unparalleled talent for Fire Magic.


    Misha burned alive hundreds of people, including the Earl, turning the entire city into a sea of flames, building the ¡°Tower of Sinful Fire¡± on the ashes, devoted to burning everything.


    When the players descended, Misha became the final boss of the [Mad Fire Witch] series of side quests and was eventually vanquished by the players. She died before turning seventeen but already had a Challenge Level of 16.


    ¡°Now this is interesting.¡±


    ¡°She indeed has a Legendary talent, perhaps with even higher future achievements, such a good seed cannot be missed.¡±


    Cassius rubbed his chin, thinking.


    ¡°Ramp, bring her to me immediately.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co

 Chapter 372 - 296 Dragon Pact Warlock (Part 1)

    Chapter 372: Chapter 296 Dragon Pact Warlock (Part 1)


    ¡°Here¡­¡±


    ¡°Is this the palace?¡±


    Misha cautiously surveyed her surroundings. Her gaze swept over the tall and majestic walls, the towering stone pillars, and finally rested on the magnificent steel palace in the distance.


    Old John had once told her that this palace was the residence of His Majesty Cassius, and it was filled with the treasures of the entire kingdom.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Seeing Ramp and Misha approach, the wyverns on the stone pillars raised their heads and let out a long cry. Meanwhile, the Tieflings guarding the gate bowed their heads in greeting.


    The Tiefling Guard Captain, Eckmon, stepped forward and respectfully said, ¡°Good day, Lord Ramp. His Majesty is awaiting you in the main hall.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Ramp nodded slightly in acknowledgment. He then tapped his magic wand lightly and descended to the ground with Misha, proceeding on foot.


    Ramp walked inside familiarly, speaking in a low voice, ¡°This is His Majesty Cassius¡¯s residence, the most sacred and inviolable place in the entire kingdom. Here, any flying or teleportation spell would be considered disrespectful.¡±


    ¡°Even for me, I must enter on foot as a sign of respect to His Majesty.¡±


    The ogre mage¡¯s large stature made it difficult for Misha to keep up, even though he deliberately slowed his pace, taking steps that were still two meters in length.


    Still, she panted as she replied, ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    However, once they fully entered, the sight before her was even more astonishing, causing Misha to pause in her tracks.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Despite some newly planted vegetation covering it, the ground was still littered with black, solidified magma, subtly undulating or forming broad mounds, some even maintaining a flowing appearance.


    Another wave of hot air, heavily laden with the scent of sulfur, hit her, making her feel as if she were at the crater of a volcano.


    Ramp stopped and exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Do you see? This is His Majesty¡¯s great power. Even an unintended leak of strength is unimaginable to mortals.¡±


    ¡°I will use a spell to protect you.¡±


    He was about to raise his magic wand when he noticed that Misha had closed her eyes, taking a deep breath of the scorching air, her entire body relaxing.


    ¡°There is no need, Lord Ramp.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your concern, but I feel¡­ wonderful right now, better than ever.¡±


    Misha slowly opened her eyes, her brown pupils flickering with flames, her delicate face full of excitement.


    For a magician extremely attuned to the fire element, entering the scorching environment created by a red dragon was like a fish taking to water, her entire being brimming with energy.


    ¡°That is even better.¡±


    A barely noticeable trace of surprise flashed across Ramp¡¯s face.


    To feel comfortable in such an extreme environment, Misha¡¯s talent must have exceeded expectations, even making Ramp feel a tinge of envy ¡ª he finally understood why some mages derogatorily called magicians ¡°barbarians.¡±


    On the way, Ramp continuously emphasized the supreme majesty of the red dragon to Misha, repeatedly reiterating the etiquette for the audience.


    They walked for several more minutes along the path before finally reaching the end, where they could see the entire splendid and majestic palace.


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    Although she had mentally prepared herself, Misha couldn¡¯t help but exclaim when she looked up.


    The Steel Dragonwing Palace was built into the mountainside, resembling the wide, spread wings of a dragon. The entire palace was forged from refined steel ¡ª adorned with hundreds of ferocious cracks created by the red dragon. Despite numerous repairs, these cracks couldn¡¯t be entirely concealed, showcasing a sense of primordial strength.


    Ramp bowed slightly and waited outside the palace, instructing in a low voice:


    ¡°Misha, this is the main hall of the palace, where His Majesty usually resides. Remember the etiquette I taught you.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, His Majesty wishes to see you alone.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Ramp. I will remember your teachings.¡±


    Misha nodded solemnly.


    During this time, she nervously looked back occasionally. Only after Ramp signaled her that everything was fine did she dare to continue walking forward.


    ¡°Though Lord Ramp is rather unattractive, he¡¯s a kind-hearted man ¡ª far better than those hypocritical nobles who deserve to be burned at the stake.¡±


    Misha thought to herself.


    ¡°I just wonder¡­ what will the legendary His Majesty be like?¡±


    Lost in thought, she raised her head and realized she had reached the heavy door, feeling a rush of apprehension. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She called out softly:


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­ I am here.¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Misha hurriedly covered her mouth, realizing she had forgotten the steps Ramp had taught her out of nervousness.


    But fortunately, nothing unexpected happened.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    With a rumbling sound, the massive door engraved with ferocious dragon heads slowly opened.


    Misha¡¯s legs began to tremble, but she tried her best to control her nervousness, keeping her head down and walking in step by step as instructed by Ramp, finally kneeling before the staircase.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I am Misha, here to seek an audience with you.¡±


    ¡°Do not be nervous. Rise.¡±


    The voice carried a hint of amusement, seemingly not as cold and ruthless as she had imagined.


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Misha stood up and cautiously raised her head, finally seeing the majestic figure on the throne.


    ¡ªThe huge red dragon¡¯s body was seated on the iron throne, the surface of its body flowing with magma-like ripples. Several horned projections on its head resembled a crown, with golden eyes flickering with fire.


    The red dragon¡¯s mere presence felt like the embodiment of the fire element.


    Strangely, despite her trembling fear, a stronger emotion overwhelmed it ¡ª a sense of kinship.


    Yes, a sense of kinship.


    More precisely, it was a sense of allegiance to a higher power of the same origin.


    Misha¡¯s brown pupils flickered with fire, feeling the fire elements within her responding to the call, jumping and seemingly cheering, bowing in submission to the red dragon.


    And Cassius was also studying the girl before him, his eyes showing a trace of curiosity.


    ¡°Misha.¡±


    ¡°The ¡®Fire Witch¡¯ who had slaughtered countless players in a previous life is now just a child.¡±


    ¡°How interesting.¡±


    In his eyes, the girl before him had nearly transcended the human category, almost a half-magic creature, every drop of her blood teeming with fire elements.


    This talent had a more appropriate name in her past life ¡ª ¡°Child of the Elements.¡±


    Misha hesitated, clutching the corner of her robe, unsure of what to say.


    But it was Cassius who spoke first, saying calmly, ¡°Ramp has reported your intentions to me. You wish to seek revenge on Leo Boske?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°That despicable person orchestrated the Magur incident and brutally murdered my grandfather. I must avenge him!¡±


    Misha hurriedly responded.


    When discussing this topic, her voice no longer trembled but instead became increasingly firm and resolute.


    Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co

 Chapter 373 - 297: Dragon Pact Warlock (Part 2)

    Chapter 373: Chapter 297: Dragon Pact Warlock (Part 2)


    Hearing this, Cassius slightly twisted his neck and asked, ¡°Then why do you think¡­ I would help you?¡±


    Misha answered seriously, ¡°Because you are a good person.¡±


    ¡°A good person?¡±


    ¡°Hahahahaha!¡±


    Cassius immediately laughed, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.


    But Misha¡¯s tone was clearly not joking.


    In the ten years since he came to this world, he had been called many names¡ªRed Dragon, Butcher, Tyrant, Destroyer, and even Deity, but no one had ever called him a ¡°good person.¡±


    The Red Dragon stood up, shook his broad wings, and looked at Misha with interest, continuing to ask, ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I might be someone like Leo Boske?¡±


    Misha was a little panicked but still answered, ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t be like that.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you are different from them.¡±


    ¡°How are you different?¡±


    Cassius continued to ask. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Misha thought for a moment before continuing, ¡°My grandpa, Old John, once told me that you are the best lord in all of Anzeta. Although you are a dragon, you¡¯re more of a good person than those nobles.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    The Red Dragon tilted his head.


    ¡°He often told me that under the rule of the Northern nobility, he couldn¡¯t get enough to eat and constantly worried about freezing or starving to death in winter. But in your territory, he was able to get enough to eat and had enough to feed me as well.¡±


    ¡°And also, if it weren¡¯t for you, I might have already become a slave to those nobles and wouldn¡¯t have been adopted by him.¡±


    Misha¡¯s words were simple and sincere.


    The Red Dragon nodded, his expression somewhat intriguing.


    Cassius actually didn¡¯t have much sympathy for the Northern People. He just thought that establishing such a new order would be more beneficial for him to seize power and develop his forces.


    And now, its benefits seemed to be showing up.


    Cassius took a few slow steps forward and said, ¡°Misha, I admire you a lot.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ what do you want? The power to kill Leo Boske?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°I want to kill him with my own hands.¡±


    Misha said forcefully, her brown eyes flickering with flames again.


    But the next question caught her off guard.


    Cassius looked at her with those pale gold pupils:


    ¡°Then¡­ what¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°After you have your revenge, what will you do?¡±


    ¡°I, I¡­¡±


    Misha was suddenly a little dazed.


    She was, after all, a child. Despite being clever and mature for her age, she hadn¡¯t seriously thought about her future life.


    Misha fell into deep thought, scenes from the past flashing through her mind like a revolving lantern.


    ¡ªBeing taught how to speak by Old John, playing in the streets and alleyways of Northwind Castle, going to temporary schools set up by the Kingdom, witnessing Old John¡¯s death in the Magur Incident, receiving help from Prime Minister Ramp, and finally meeting the King of Ashen.


    She began to wonder, if she had indeed been sold as a slave back then, what kind of experiences would she have had? Given her understanding of the nobles, it would probably have been extremely painful.


    Misha suddenly realized that the Red Dragon and his Kingdom had changed her life.


    If Old John were still alive, he would probably have had her make a living in the Kingdom as well.


    ¡°May His Majesty Cassius bless us for a smooth trade¡­¡±


    ¡°May His Majesty Cassius bless us in the war¡­¡±


    ¡°May His Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    Old John¡¯s murmuring voice seemed to appear in her mind, and the laughter of the uncles in the caravan echoed in her ears.


    She had once been abandoned, sold.


    And Old John was her only family, the Kingdom her only home.


    Thinking of this, Misha raised her head firmly and said in her immature voice, ¡°Your Majesty, I, I am willing to always be loyal to the Kingdom to repay your kindness.¡±


    ¡°Including Old John¡¯s share.¡±


    Misha added silently in her heart.


    ¡°Very well, Misha.¡±


    Cassius nodded again, spreading his wide wings, casting a vast shadow.


    ¡°I am not stingy about granting power to anyone loyal to the Kingdom, especially to a genius like you.¡±


    He ordered in a low voice, ¡°Close your eyes.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Misha obediently closed her eyes.


    The Red Dragon let out a light roar, his mouth filling with scorching white smoke.


    Brilliant flames erupted from the pores on his neck and tail, and the Dragon Crystal in his chest released an incredibly dazzling light, causing the air in the hall to become hot and distorted.


    For this rare legendary talent, Cassius naturally wanted to pour more power into her, creating a new faction subclass.


    [Bloodline Gift]


    A flow of terrifying energy, like a glowing thread, flowed into Misha¡¯s small body.


    The seed representing the power of the Ancestral Dragon flowed into Misha¡¯s blood vessels, gradually merging into her blood, bringing the most profound elevation of her life level.


    At the same time, it connected the Red Dragon¡¯s power with hers, forming a contract-like effect.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    Misha¡¯s face turned pale, her whole body sweating profusely, which was then evaporated instantly.


    Although she had the special constitution of a ¡°Child of the Elements,¡± she still found it somewhat overwhelming facing the Red Dragon¡¯s scorching flames.


    Cassius did not dragonify Misha. She was, after all, just a child, and her body and will were too fragile to withstand the pain brought by full dragonification.


    Besides, Cassius also wanted to make some changes for the new occupation.


    So he manifested the gifted power internally, transforming Misha¡¯s blood vessels into magic-infused arteries, turning her heart gradually into a hot, life-filled Dragon Heart.


    And with the transfer of power, a scarlet contract book gradually surfaced on Misha¡¯s back¡ªformed naturally by the Magic Web.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    Finally, those magic patterns suddenly lit up.


    With a sharp cry, Misha¡¯s whole body ignited in scorching flames, the power contained within her innate talent thoroughly unleashed under the stimulation of dragon blood, displaying the terrifying might of the former ¡°Fire Witch.¡±


    If not for Cassius¡¯ control and suppression, these flames might have spread hundreds or thousands of meters, enough to burn down a city.


    This gift lasted nearly thirty minutes, during which Misha fainted from the pain, lying helplessly on the ground, her clothes all burned to ashes.


    Misha¡¯s appearance was inevitably affected by the Red Dragon Bloodline.


    ¡ªHer originally brown eyes turned into dark golden vertical pupils, faint traces of scales appeared at her temples, and two small dragon horns the size of thumbs grew on her head.


    Complex scarlet patterns appeared on her back and neck.


    Fiery colors also appeared around her eyes.


    Despite the drastic change in essence, she still retained a generally human appearance, more so than those Half-Dragon Red Scale Conquerors by human standards.


    Cassius folded his wings and quietly watched the unconscious Misha.


    ¡°This feeling¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like forming some kind of pact.¡±


    [Faction Advanced Sub-occupation Construct Completed.]


    Occupation Advancement Requirements:


    Join the [Ashen Kingdom] faction and become a retainer of Faction Leader [King of Ashen, Cassius].


    Possess a certain degree of dragonkin bloodline, be at least Level 3 Magician or Pact Warlock, and have ordinary or higher fire elemental affinity.


    [Please name the Faction Sub-occupation¡ª]


    Cassius looked at the scarlet contract-like patterns on Misha, feeling the sensation of power granted through the pact.


    [Name it: [Dragon Pact Warlock]]


    Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co

 Chapter 374 - 298 Grand Dragon Sect Master

    Chapter 374: Chapter 298 Grand Dragon Sect Master


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Cassius narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his pale golden pupils.


    The scarlet markings on Misha¡¯s body flickered with flames again, gradually forming an illusory flame bond connecting to the Dragon Crystal on the Red Dragon¡¯s chest.


    Instantly, the sense of bloodline connection became even stronger, and the fire element flowed and exchanged within the bond.


    Cassius had already become the so-called ¡°Sect Master,¡± while Misha had become a contractual servant bound to him¡ªthis contract was not a verbal agreement but a fundamentally magical and coercive one.


    The Sect Master could directly bestow power upon the Contractor, and the Contractor¡¯s growth would also feedback to the Sect Master.


    ¡°A spell?¡±


    ¡°Can even these be granted?¡±


    What astonished Cassius even more was that he could transfer spells from his spell list to the Contractor, including those rare Dragon¡¯s Spells. However, this gift was temporary and could be retracted by the Sect Master at any time.


    Cassius pondered for a moment, then experimentally transmitted several spells such as [Scratch Technique], [Dread Tremors], and [Searing Ray].


    With the unseen waves, the unconscious Misha frowned slightly, new powers surging in her mind.


    [The Dragon Pact Warlock formed a contract with a rare group among giant dragons¡ªthe Variant Dragons.]


    [These powerful beings disdain the mundane, never satisfied with the innate talents of giant dragons, eternally pursuing endless ambition.]


    [Each Variant Dragon is unique, but they all possess power far beyond the mundane. Similar beings include: Demon Heart, Ashaduron; Death Dragon, Zogosa; King of Ashen, Cassius.]


    Faction Subclass Construct Complete:


    [Dragon Pact Warlock]


    [The slender woman conjured flames in her hand, and ancient incantations slowly merged into her spells as she muttered the name of her Sect Master, with golden vertical pupils vaguely appearing in the void.]


    Dragon Pact Warlocks of the Ashen Kingdom signed contracts with Variant Red Dragons. They possessed mysterious and powerful Dragon¡¯s Spells, all loyally serving the kingdom¡¯s sole master, the supremely authoritative¡ªKing of Ashen, Cassius.


    These powerful spellcasters aimed to spread their Sect Master¡¯s renown across the Multiverse.


    When Dragon Pact Warlocks recited their Sect Master¡¯s name, fierce flames would burn everything obstructing them to ashes, using flying embers to please their lord.]


    [In addition to the basic abilities of a Pact Warlock, the [Dragon Pact Warlock] gained additional traits]


    [At Level 1, they would gain the traits: [Dragon¡¯s Spell][Dragon Heart]]


    [Dragon¡¯s Spell: When you learn a Pact Warlock spell, your Red Dragon Sect Master expanded your learnable spell list. You can learn spells from the Warlock Spell List and also receive the Sect Master¡¯s gift to learn ancient Dragon¡¯s Spells.]


    [Dragon Heart: The Sect Master¡¯s power transformed your heart, giving you a magical heart and primary blood vessels similar to giant dragons, greatly enhancing your constitution and elemental affinity.]


    [At Level 3, your Otherworldly Sect Master would grant you a gift for your loyal service, giving you the trait: [Dragon Heart Pact Magic]]


    [Dragon Heart Pact Magic]:


    With the Sect Master¡¯s gift, you learned the spell to summon a magical pet and could cast it as a ritual.


    When you cast this spell, you could summon your Dragon Blood Magical Pet, which must belong to the Ashen Kingdom and have dragonkin bloodlines, such as: Bipedal Wyvern, Pseudo Dragon, Kobolds, Land Dragon Beasts, etc.


    [At Level 6, you would receive a power granted by your Red Dragon Sect Master: [Elemental Affinity]]


    You gradually displayed the traits of your Red Dragon Sect Master. You gained resistance to fire as determined by your Sect Master type, and spells of this element would deal additional damage.


    [At Level 9, you would receive a power granted by your Red Dragon Sect Master: [Dragon¡¯s Body]]


    [Dragon¡¯s Body]


    The Dragon Pact Warlock prayed to the Sect Master, communicating through mind and bloodline, gaining the ability to transform into a Red Dragon.


    The Dragon Pact Warlock¡¯s transformation followed the base Red Dragon template, able to transform into Young, Youth, or Adult stages at Occupational Levels 9, 14, and 20 respectively.


    [At Level 14, you would receive a power granted by your Red Dragon Sect Master: [Transdimensional Spit]]


    [Transdimensional Spit]


    The Dragon Pact Warlock¡¯s bond with the Sect Master was so profound that you could magically open a temporary channel to request assistance.


    The Sect Master could release breath through this temporary channel, even channeling their will into you, granting you the true power of the ¡°King of Ashen.¡±


    Cassius carefully reviewed this information.


    ¡°Sect Master and servant¡­ interesting.¡±


    True to the constitution of a Child of the Elements, the power of this pact slightly triggered the fire element within the Red Dragon. This was a dragon body flowing with Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, already terrifying in nature.


    And Misha finally awoke from her unconscious state but still felt weak, lying on the ground and murmuring, ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡±


    She struggled to raise her head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty, I am still too weak. Is this¡­ is this still insufficient to avenge Old John?¡±


    Cassius responded calmly, ¡°Misha, you have done very well. Embrace this power; it will not disappoint you. Additionally, Ramp will arrange a place for you to stay, right near this Royal Palace.¡±


    As Cassius spoke, the surrounding flames gradually solidified, forming a deep red luxurious robe that attached to Misha¡¯s petite body, making her feel extraordinarily warm.


    [Flame Spirit Robe]


    Quality: Rare


    Currently, Cassius could effortlessly create such level equipment by merely expending a bit of strength.


    ¡°Thank¡­ thank you for your gift.¡±


    Misha said, surprised and delighted, her eyes filled with fondness as she looked at the robe.


    Since Old John¡¯s death, Misha hadn¡¯t worn new clothes for a long time. For months, she had survived in the wilderness by foraging and hunting, barely getting by with a few Flame Spells until her living conditions improved upon returning to Northwind Castle.


    After signing the contract, she felt a rare sense of reliance¡ªdespite the vast difference between His Majesty and Old John.


    ¡°Go, rest well.¡±


    As Cassius¡¯s voice fell, a portal appeared before Misha, transporting her away.


    The Red Dragon quietly gazed at the spot where Misha had departed, her retainer¡¯s information floating before his eyes.


    [Dragon Pact Daughter¡ªMisha]


    Faction: Ashen Nest


    AC: 16 (Flame Spirit Robe)


    Strength¡ª6


    Agility¡ª9


    Constitution¡ª14 (Dragon Heart)


    Intelligence¡ª11 (Dragon¡¯s Spell)


    Perception¡ª16


    Charisma¡ª20 (Child of the Elements, Bloodline Pact)


    Combined Casting Level: 6


    Occupational Level: Dragon Pact Warlock¡ªAshen Sect Master 1st Level (incomplete transformation)/Warlock¡ªElemental Tide 5th Level


    Challenge Level: 6 (2100xp)


    One could say that Misha¡¯s starting point was a realm that most Warlocks and Mages could never reach in their lifetime, purely through Talent.


    Despite lacking any magical education and enduring extreme hardships in her past life, she still became the notorious ¡°Fire Witch.¡±


    In this life, under the vast wings of the Red Dragon, she would surely gain far greater power than in her past life, becoming a prominent figure in the kingdom. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even Cassius couldn¡¯t help but marvel.


    ¡°Such Talent¡­¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, Ramp might not be the kingdom¡¯s first legendary figure after all.¡±


    Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co

 Chapter 375 - 299: The Tower and the Earl

    Chapter 375: Chapter 299: The Tower and the Earl


    Cassius transported Misha to the guesthouse within Northwind Castle, where maids would serve her for dressing and bathing¡ªthough the maids might not necessarily be human; they could be Serpentfolk, Dragonborn, or even Half-Orcs.


    The Ashen Kingdom had now taken racial diversity to its extreme.


    ¡°Ramp, you may enter.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp, who had been waiting outside for a long time, finally walked through the door and respectfully knelt before the steps.


    ¡°Master, did the human I brought over please you this time?¡±


    ¡°Very much so, exceeding my expectations.¡±


    ¡°Stand up.¡±


    Commanded Cassius coolly.


    ¡°As long as you are pleased, Master, that is my greatest honor.¡±


    Ramp slowly stood, his ugly face beaming with a smile.


    ¡ªThe Ogre Archmage did not yet know that the title of the foremost spellcaster in the Ashen Kingdom was about to face a severe challenge, and that the ¡°challenger¡± was the human he had personally brought here.


    Cassius continued: ¡°I want the Magic Department to put their full effort into providing Misha with systematic magical education and to build a high tower for her around Northwind Castle. Let¡¯s call it¡­¡±


    His voice paused and, after a moment of hesitation, he chose to follow the original path of fate:


    ¡°The Tower of Sinful Fire.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master, I will do my utmost to complete the mission and not disappoint you.¡±


    Ramp quickly lowered his head and replied.


    He did not ask why because it did not matter. His only duty was to obey the Red Dragon¡¯s orders.


    Yet even Ramp, in his lowered eyes, a barely noticeable flicker of surprise passed by.


    The resources His Majesty was investing, even establishing a separate Mage Tower, suggested that this human girl brought back had far greater importance and value than he had imagined.


    Ramp tightened his grip on his magic wand, thinking this to himself.


    Cassius did not concern himself with Ramp¡¯s thoughts, instead slowly closing his eyes and casually asked:


    ¡°It¡¯s been almost two months already. What¡¯s the situation in the Northern Territory? Has everything been cleared up?¡±


    ¡°Reporting to Master, Marshal Dolores¡¯s strategy has been very successful, and the Starfallen¡¯s efficiency is indeed high. We have controlled nearly eighty percent of the territory in the North and are surrounding the remaining, stubbornly resisting forces.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s expression grew a bit curious.


    ¡°Oh? Are there still people daring to resist?¡±


    Ramp responded: ¡°It¡¯s Jacob Rosas, the Earl of the Sweno Duchy. He has gathered all the noble forces in the vicinity, attempting a counterattack on the kingdom, even capturing several cities.¡±


    ¡°However, the kingdom¡¯s army responded quickly. Marshal Dolores promptly mobilized, and they have now surrounded the remnants of the Northern Nobility forces. As you put it, they are ¡®a turtle in a jar.''¡±


    Cassius chewed on the name.


    ¡°Jacob Rosas, huh?¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Sealed memories were awakened once more.


    Jacob Rosas, the Earl of the Sweno Duchy, the most prestigious general, made significant contributions in fighting the demons and was revered by the Northern People as ¡°The Great Wall of the North.¡±


    He was also an important ally to the players in the previous life, forming a righteous alliance with them and triggering a series of side quests.


    Noticing Cassius¡¯s contemplation, Ramp immediately stepped forward and said: ¡°Master, does this human have any use to you?¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°If you need, I¡¯ll contact Dolores immediately to capture Jacob Rosas alive and bring him before you.¡±


    ¡°No, kill him.¡±


    Cassius shook his head, saying calmly.


    Although Jacob Rosas was a powerful Transcendent Warrior, he was nearly fifty and had little potential in Cassius¡¯s eyes.


    Moreover, he was a loyal supporter of the Northern Order, becoming the leader and even the spiritual symbol of the rebels¡ªhe needed to be utterly destroyed both physically and spiritually. Only then could it serve as a deterrent to the rebellious forces across Anzeta.


    Thus, Cassius added, ¡°Also, give him a humiliating death. Do not let him die with dignity.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will follow your orders.¡±


    Ramp quickly responded.


    Yet, almost without thinking, he added:


    ¡°Master, do you want me to have the people in the propaganda department smear his name, fabricating eye-catching stories¡ªportraying Jacob Rosas as a typical evildoer, engaging in all kinds of atrocities?¡±


    ¡°For instance, using those young boys¡¯ stories, we could attribute them to him.¡±


    ¡°This way, we can tarnish his reputation, smashing the last idol the Northern Nobility have created, cutting off their spiritual backbone completely.¡±


    ¡°When the supporters of the Northern Nobility lose their hero, they naturally lose the will to resist.¡±


    The Ogre grew more excited as he spoke, to the point where he was exhaling wisps of steam, truly making him seem like a ¡°benevolent good guy.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but laugh, thinking that this Ogre had indeed captured the essence of journalism.


    Moreover, he was self-taught.


    Nonetheless, he verbally praised: ¡°Very good, you¡¯ve thought this through thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead with your plan.¡±


    ¡°Completely extinguish their rebellion and tell them that history¡­ is written by the victors.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s face once again beamed with a flattering smile: ¡°Not at all, Master, you flatter me. This is merely a summary from your profound words.¡±


    ¡°Besides¡­ I¡¯ve only grasped a tiny bit of superficial knowledge from it, nowhere near comparable to your vast ocean of wisdom.¡±


    A dragon and an ogre exchanged smiles.


    And so, within these brief exchanges, the fate of Jacob Rosas, once the ¡°Great Wall of the North,¡± was decided unbeknownst to him.


    One couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the God of Fate¡¯s capriciousness.


    Jacob Rosas, once a heroic figure, had now become the leader of the rebellion.


    He was about to face annihilation, a public execution on the guillotine, and even after death, he would leave behind a notorious legacy, condemned for eternity.


    ¡­


    ¡°Jacob Rosas¡¯s death was a hero¡¯s elegy, a mournful roar, the melting of the last remaining snow in the North; he died standing with dignity¡ªdefinitely not as some people slander.¡±


    ¡ª¡±Secret History of Anzeta: The End of the North,¡± Duke of Luton


    ¡­


    ¡°Luton Siege had already fled south at that time and was not present, so how could he know Jacob Rosas wasn¡¯t stoned to death by enraged serfs during his surrender?¡±


    ¡°Considering Luton Siege¡¯s past experiences and Jacob Rosas¡¯s perverse penchant for minors: I have reason to suspect that during his youth, Luton Siege may have had some sordid relations with this earl.¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, why would he be so eager to defend Jacob Rosas?¡±


    ¡ª¡±Fianso Secret Historical Records,¡± an unnamed historian

 Chapter 376 - 300 Scroll and Crown

    Chapter 376: Chapter 300 Scroll and Crown


    After discussing the Earl¡¯s disposal, Cassius suddenly seemed to remember something, a strong sense of curiosity showing on his face.


    ¡°By the way, Ramp. Experience a new spell.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The ogre obeyed immediately, standing still, attentively monitoring the changes in the Magic Web around him, not daring to move a single step.


    ¡°Snap.¡±


    A crisp sound was heard.


    He saw the space before him ripple, and the Magic Web fluctuated violently but disappeared in an instant, quick to the point of being almost undetectable. The Red Dragon had already appeared behind him out of thin air.


    It wasn¡¯t a teleportation spell but an acceleration of the time flow, achieving the purest speed to the extreme.


    However, things didn¡¯t stop there.


    Ramp suddenly felt the surrounding space and time gradually freezing, a suffocating feeling coming from all directions. He still resisted the urge to struggle and stood in place.


    [Eternal Stasis]


    In an instant, he felt as if he was trapped in an eternal, invisible cage, time stretched infinitely, and everything around him fell into a complete standstill.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°This feeling¡­¡±


    Second by second passed ¡ª without reference, Ramp didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. A trace of despair even formed in his heart.


    The next moment, however, the invisible cage suddenly vanished, everything around began to function normally, the air flowed, and the ogre returned to normal conditions.


    ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­¡±


    Ramp couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth wide, first looking down at his body in disbelief, then gasping and looking around, muttering to himself: ¡°Is this¡­ Time Stop?¡±


    ¡°Master, you¡­¡±


    Ramp¡¯s voice trembled, saliva almost dripping from the corners of his mouth.


    It was known that Time Stop was one of the most practical and renowned Ninth Tier Spells, difficult even for many Legendary Mages to cast.


    For a mage eager to research spells and explore the mysteries of the Magic Web, Time Stop was also unattainable. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Moreover, this truly achieved the literal meaning of ¡°Time Stop.¡±


    Seeing the ogre¡¯s fascinated look, Cassius smiled and said: ¡°Thanks to those dragon slayers who came from far away, there was a mage among them from the Tower of Time ¡ª and that also got me compensation from the Tower of Time.¡±


    The Red Dragon lightly waved his claw, and a delicate scroll appeared in front of him, with iridescent veins flowing across it as if the tides of time shimmered on its surface.


    Ramp was stunned, his heart pounding, his hands trembling as he took the scroll, almost unable to hold it steady.


    ¡°This, this is¡­¡±


    ¡°A Time Stop scroll, crafted personally by a Chrono Dragon.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s massive body knelt on the ground, his eyes even welled up with tears of excitement: ¡°Master, this¡­ this is too precious.¡±


    Cassius merely said lightly: ¡°This is not a gift to you but for the Magic Department to research.¡±


    ¡°I want it classified as top secret, accessible only to the most loyal spellcasters of the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, I expect to see your research results within five years. Even if you can¡¯t cast this Ninth Tier spell, it should enrich the kingdom¡¯s knowledge of time-related spells.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp replied solemnly.


    For such a treasure, an ordinary dragon would surely hide it in the deepest part of their lair, not letting anyone know.


    Yet Cassius handed it over nonchalantly, allowing him to study it personally.


    What recognition!


    What trust!


    Instantly, Ramp¡¯s eyes filled with tears again, making a silent vow to dedicate everything to the Red Dragon¡¯s grand plan.


    Cassius didn¡¯t care about Ramp¡¯s thoughts, continuing to give orders:


    ¡°When the affairs of the North are entirely dealt with, it will be time for the second conferring ceremony. Many meritorious individuals emerged from this war; prepare for that.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp looked up, his face beaming with smiles.


    ¡°But should you first look at¡­ the thing you asked to be made?¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Heave-ho, heave-ho!¡±


    ¡°Be careful!¡±


    ¡°This is something His Majesty values!¡±


    Several strong ogres carried a massive metal box, laboriously walking into the royal palace, while Ramp carefully led the way.


    ¡°Greetings, Majesty.¡±


    The ogres paid their respects, kneeling to the Red Dragon, and, under Ramp¡¯s command, quickly left.


    The ogre archmage, like a mountain of flesh, knelt on the ground, excitedly saying: ¡°Master, this is the equipment we poured our all into creating for you, a product embodying the kingdom¡¯s wisdom and resources ¡ª the Supreme True Dragon Diadem.¡±


    ¡°Only such a treasure can match you.¡±


    As Ramp finished his words, the metal box slowly opened, bright light shining through.


    Even Cassius was somewhat curious ¡ª it was a diadem made of mithril, pure gold in color, carved with ferocious dragon patterns, and inlaid with sparkling gemstones at the dragon¡¯s eye.


    [Supreme True Dragon Diadem]


    Quality: Exotic


    Creator: Ramp


    Description: This is a treasure created by Ramp, the Prime Minister of the Ashen Kingdom, gathering over a hundred spellcasters from the Magic Department over several months, costing nearly a hundred thousand gold coins, and invaluable.


    ¡°Spare no expense! Everything must be done to the utmost luxury! This is something His Majesty personally requested!¡± ¡ª Ramp, Prime Minister


    Effects:


    [Indestructible]: This diadem is made of mithril, making it difficult to damage in battle.


    [Change Size]: Due to the attached spell, it can change with the wearer¡¯s size and shape.


    [Disaster Warning]: It automatically alerts and awakens the wearer when detecting frenzy or loss of sanity.


    This diadem¡¯s ¡°Exotic¡± quality was built entirely on money.


    However, considering no Legendary-level spellcaster is currently available, creating such quality magic equipment is not easy.


    ¡°Only Exotic-level¡­¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s quite good.¡±


    The Red Dragon slightly raised his claw, and the diadem floated above, resting on his head.


    Under the spell¡¯s influence, the mithril diadem conformed to the Red Dragon¡¯s horns, adhering directly to the dragon scales ¡ª not only did it not seem out of place, but it also added a touch of luxurious solemnity to Cassius¡¯s fierce and terrifying dragon head.


    He could feel the magical patterns within the diadem continuously detecting the surrounding Magic Web, ready to react at any moment.


    Ramp, in an excited state, quickly flattered: ¡°Master, this diadem seems so insignificant before your majestic presence¡­¡±


    Yet Cassius pondered.


    ¡ª Perhaps this diadem could become more advanced, even reaching a legendary level.

 Chapter 377 - 301 Coronation and Blue Dragon

    Chapter 377: Chapter 301 Coronation and Blue Dragon


    Ramp was still going on: ¡°Master, you unified Anzeta in just a few short years and eradicated the Frost Giants in the North. This is an achievement and feat that no one has been able to reach on this land for thousands of years.¡±


    His tone grew more and more enthusiastic and passionate.


    ¡°The title of ¡®King¡¯ like those in the North is no longer enough to describe your greatness¡­¡±


    At this point, Ramp deliberately paused slightly, bowing his head deeply, his eyes filled with admiration and respect.


    ¡°I believe you should gain the title of ¡®Emperor¡¯ and elevate the Ashen Kingdom to an Empire¡ªlike the former Holy Fadlan. This is the earnest wish of all your subjects.¡±


    ¡°An Empire¡­¡±


    Cassius fell into thought, his gaze flickering.


    Ramp continued to persuade in a low voice: ¡°You can hold the coronation ceremony while conferring honors, showcasing the power of the Ashen Kingdom to the whole of Anzeta and even the continent, to completely extinguish any resistance in the North.¡±


    ¡°Furthermore¡­ this ceremony can also make the entire Fianso continent realize our presence, letting them know Anzeta is no longer isolated and indifferent to worldly affairs.


    We can use this opportunity to participate in the division of the Fadlan Empire¡¯s legacy¡ªthe Divine Descendants of Fadlan are endlessly fighting among themselves, and we, who have always been isolated from the continent, can become their sought-after external ally.¡±


    Cassius slightly nodded, somewhat convinced by his words.


    Ramp was not wrong.


    The Ashen Kingdom, or rather the Empire, needed to show its fangs to the world.


    The current Ashen Kingdom had a vast territory of 2.7 million square kilometers and a population of over nine million.


    Though it was just a remote corner of the vast Fianso continent, it already counted as a recognized major power, especially since it had a ruling Dragon at the peak of strength in the Material Plane¡ªa terrifying Variant Dragon.


    Without much hesitation, Cassius said: ¡°If so, then go prepare.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°However¡­ I need a grand coronation ceremony, one that can spread the Empire¡¯s name across the continent.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    Ramp knelt on the ground, his face red with extreme excitement and joy. He quickly bowed and left.


    As the current Prime Minister of the kingdom, many affairs awaited Ramp¡¯s handling, and the most important was undoubtedly the freshly proposed coronation ceremony.


    ¡ªBut the kingdom¡¯s think tank had already prepared dozens of planning schemes before the war started, even arranging a more than 300-page, hundreds of thousands of characters long detailed planning document.


    Including everything from ceremony steps, etiquette, to various budget estimates, it had it all, nothing was left out.


    ¡­


    Once Ramp left, Cassius finally began to act on the thought he had just had.


    With a slight intention, he took off the crown.


    He also took out the silvery white gemstone¡ªnone other than [Wind of Bahamut]


    He had noticed earlier that Osedro¡¯s silver disc did not match with the gemstone, yet the ¡°Wind of Bahamut¡± forcefully elevated it to the level of a Divine Artifact.


    Under the control of Force Field Magic, the silver-white gemstone embedded into the crown¡¯s mithril base, slowly merging.


    The crown¡¯s surface shone with a silver brilliance.


    Though their levels did not match, this was the orderly and gentle power of Bahamut, enough to blend into anything.


    ¡°Wa¡ª¡±


    [Supreme True Dragon Diadem ¨C Sacred Radiance]


    Quality: Sub-artifact


    ¡°Tch, it truly is the Divine Power of the Lord of the Northwind, to forcibly enhance equipment to this level.¡±


    Cassius could not help but exclaim. He stretched his dragon body, placing the crown on his head, feeling that sense of orderly purification.


    Ultimately, he still took off the crown, taking out the silver gemstone and keeping it on his person.


    Cassius still had a coronation ceremony to attend¡ªeven though the Metal Dragon faction was already aware, he did not want to expose such a high-level treasure to everyone¡¯s sight.


    Suddenly, the voice of Tiefling Guard Captain Eckmon came from the communicator.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Lady Christina seeks an audience with you.¡±


    Cassius frowned, sighing out a breath of sulfurous hot air with some irritation.


    ¡°Why is it her again?¡±


    It was no wonder Cassius was so irritable.


    In recent months, that Blue Dragon had come at least ten times, each time turned away by the guards with the reason ¡°His Majesty is sleeping and recuperating,¡± leaving disappointed.


    Cassius casually ordered:


    ¡°Tell her I am still asleep.¡±


    Eckmon was silent for a moment, somewhat helplessly saying: ¡°Your Majesty, Lady Christina said she saw Lord Ramp and a human leave the royal palace.¡±


    ¡°Lady Christina requests to come in, and¡­ she is lying at the royal palace gate.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Cassius sighed.


    ¡°Alright, let her in then.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Soon, a soft female voice came from outside the door.


    ¡°Your Highness Cassius¡­¡±


    The doors slowly opened, and outside the hall stood Christina in human form.


    She was wearing a silk dress that highlighted her figure, almost impatiently striding into the hall.


    Christina lifted her skirt with one hand in greeting, her bright face showing a pitiful expression: ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, you finally agreed to see me.¡±


    Cassius lay sideways on the throne, not even glancing at her, just calmly saying: ¡°The task assigned by Her Majesty the Dragon Queen has been completed, is there anything else?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    Christina was momentarily at a loss for words but quickly reacted, smiling: ¡°Of course, I came to congratulate you.¡±


    ¡°You defeated the famed ¡®Wings of Silver¡¯ Osedro, destroyed the allied forces of the North, achieving such glorious victories¡ªI, as your faithful ally, of course, come to offer my congratulations.¡±


    Cassius remained indifferent as usual: ¡°You should have finished congratulating by now.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ Lady Christina, please leave now, I need to rest.¡±


    Christina¡¯s expression immediately changed, hurriedly waving her hands to explain: ¡°No, of course not, please let me stay a little longer.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Cassius tilted his head slightly.


    Christina¡¯s body shimmered with tiny flashes of Magical Aura, her form swelling dramatically, transforming into a young Blue Dragon more than ten meters long.


    The Blue Dragon gently swayed its thick tail, spreading its sky-blue wings, and the dragon face with a single horn on the nose ¡°chuckled¡±:


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, according to our five-colored dragons¡¯ tradition, after experiencing a thrilling battle, we often relax through a night of revelry.¡±


    ¡°Before you rest, why not have a delightful and exciting¡­¡±


    Immediately, the Blue Dragon stepped closer to the Red Dragon, deliberately twisting its deep blue body.


    ¡°What nonsense tradition.¡±


    Cassius had a strange expression.


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, ow¡ª¡±


    With a wave of Force Field Magic, the Blue Dragon suddenly flew out, rolling over ten times on the ground before stopping.


    Cassius intended to drive her out completely, but the sprawled Christina quickly got up, raising her claws in panic, forcing a smile.


    ¡°Wait! Your Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°That was just an accident. I truly brought a new mandate from Her Majesty the Dragon Queen this time!¡±


    ¡°Speak.¡±


    Christina said softly: ¡°Her Majesty the Dragon Queen said, please do not forget the previous agreement.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Cassius answered expressionlessly.


    The Red Dragon looked into the distance, a dim light flashing in his pale golden pupils, as if the majestic silhouette of the five-colored dragons appeared.


    ¡°A draconic hegemony¡­ I shall see who is truly being used in the end.¡±


    He thought to himself.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, Christina left the kingdom in disgrace again, her attempts having been fruitless. Her usually proud charm had no effect at all.


    The Blue Dragon attendant who had waited a long time comforted her:


    ¡°Miss, do not lose heart. At worst, let the clan find another male dragon with ancestral lineage for you. With the power of our Farria clan, we can still¡­¡±


    Christina shook her head like a rattle drum, her outer skin crackling with tiny sparks from the powerful static effect.


    She looked sorrowful, continuously slapping the ground to vent her frustration, grinding her teeth as she said:


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, this is a promise from Her Majesty the Dragon Queen herself, only he is worthy of me! Besides, where else can you find a dragon like His Highness Cassius? They are all just a bunch of worthless lizards!¡±

 Chapter 378 - 302: Siege and Song

    Chapter 378: Chapter 302: Siege and Song


    Fayol City was not a significant city, just a small border town in the Sveno Duchy, but it was the last city under the control of the Northern Kingdom.


    The North had already fallen completely.


    Count Jacob led his brave and fearless ¡°Scania Legion of Glory¡± in campaigns across the land, raising the banner of the Northern Kingdom, gathering exiled nobles and their private armies from various regions, expanding the legion to tens of thousands of men, and even recapturing several cities in succession.


    Supporters of the North, both openly and covertly, were immediately invigorated. They all believed that a miracle was about to happen, that the legendary hero would appear once more to lead them to a glorious victory.


    But they hadn¡¯t anticipated this to be the last flicker of life for the North.


    Marshal Dolores of the Ashen Kingdom mobilized forces from all across the land to launch an all-out assault on the so-called ¡°Legion of Glory.¡±


    It¡¯s said that for several days and nights, the sound of cannon fire never ceased, and even the ground had been shaved three feet lower, while Count Jacob and his army were forced to retreat bit by bit, suffering severe losses.


    In the end, Count Jacob led his last three thousand battered and exhausted men to Fayol City, withdrawing and hunkering down in what was the last city of the North.


    ¡­


    Sveno Duchy, Fayol City.


    The battle-scarred city walls, tattered flags, and dirt-covered soldiers.


    A land full of scars, whistling cold wind, and the Ashen Legion occupying the distant wilderness.


    Atop the cracked watchtower, Count Jacob stood with his sword as he solemnly gazed at the mottled waves in the distance, his expression unspeakably heavy.


    The ¡°Great Wall of the North¡± was clad in heavy armor, stained with blood and dust from the cannon fire, even peppered with small bullet holes and embedded with shrapnel.


    But he still stood tall, like a sturdy pine in the wind and snow.


    ¡°Is the North really going to perish?¡±


    He murmured to himself in a voice just loud enough to hear.


    Jacob Rosas¡¯ will was firm, he had gained fame in his youth, and his deeds were illustrious. He possessed almost all the qualities a warrior should have.


    But even he could not help doubting whether he could achieve victory when he saw the tide-like Ashen army surrounding Fayol City.


    Was such an army truly something humans could defeat?


    ¡°Lord Earl.¡±


    The adjutant¡¯s voice beside him interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°The Ashen Kingdom¡¯s troops are almost here. This time it¡¯s the main force led by Dolores, along with part of the Starfallen, totaling around twenty thousand men.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    The answer was exceptionally brief but resonant.


    The adjutant sighed almost imperceptibly and then asked quietly again:


    ¡°Lord Earl, what should we do next?¡±


    ¡°Hold our ground.¡±


    The response was still short and powerful.


    But this time, Count Jacob ascended to the top of the watchtower, looked around under the gaze of thousands of soldiers, and swept his gaze over their soot-covered faces.


    ¡°Soldiers, I have always considered you my children¡­¡±


    ¡°And now, I need to tell you¡ªnever give up.¡±


    ¡°We are the last hope of the North and the last bastion of the Scania people. We represent the tradition of the North for thousands of years, true order, and justice¡­¡±


    ¡°We may appear to be fighting alone, but we have countless allies. If we survive, the entire Anzeta will cheer for us. If we perish, the entire Fianso Continent will mourn.¡±


    Finally, Count Jacob raised his sword high.


    ¡°For the North.¡±


    The voice was not passionate, but every word was resolute.


    And the soldiers, tormented and battered, regained some strength from their fatigue and sorrow.


    After such a long war, facing an almost unbeatable foe, Jacob Rosas was not just their commander or their liege; he had become their spiritual pillar and even the embodiment of the Northern Knight¡¯s spirit.


    He was also the support for all soldiers to continue living.


    As long as Count Jacob did not fall, people would believe in the existence of miracles.


    Thus, the soldiers, with their hoarse throats, yelled with all their might.


    ¡°For the North! Victory!¡±


    ¡°Fight for the Earl!¡±


    Count Jacob¡¯s gaze swept over the soldiers¡¯ faces, and a dignified emotion surged in his heart. He took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth.


    ¡°I wander with the north wind¡­¡±


    ¡°White frost brings news of my death¡­¡±


    ¡°Snow covers my body, my beloved cannot recognize my face¡­¡±


    This was the Dirge of the North, but in his mouth, it sounded like a victory anthem.


    He sang the unyielding will of the Scania people and the firm resolve that this time they would die rather than surrender.


    ¡°But do not grieve for me, for I die on the glorious battlefield¡­¡±


    The soldiers were also moved and sang this familiar song with their hoarse, deep voices. The long, desolate song echoed across the wilderness, and the solemn atmosphere permeated the city walls.


    ¡°I wander with the north wind¡ª¡±


    ¡°White frost brings news of my death¡ª¡±


    The sudden voice was extremely loud.


    It easily overshadowed the soldiers¡¯ singing, enveloping the entire city. Everyone looked outside the city, and even Jacob turned his head in surprise.


    How was this possible?


    How could the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army sing this song?


    Jacob¡¯s psychological defenses were immediately breached, and a trace of despair emerged in his heart.


    Yes, all of the North, except for Fayol City, had already fallen. Those former Northerners who had become prisoners would know this song; it wasn¡¯t surprising.


    ¡ªHowever, they had no idea that it was an idle player who turned on the sound system, intending to hijack their background music and even planning to remix it into a DJ version.


    ¡°May Good Fortune Come to You, May Good Fortune Come!¡±


    ¡°May Good Fortune Bring Joy and Love!¡±


    The Song of the North¡¯s voice paused and then switched to the lively and festive ¡°Good Fortune Comes,¡± completely clashing with the original murderous atmosphere of the battlefield.


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    Count Jacob¡¯s carefully built emotions were shattered into a mess.


    He frowned, his expression incredibly grim, silently walking down from the watchtower and instructing the soldiers:


    ¡°They are about to attack. Make all necessary preparations.¡±


    Count Jacob did not need to say much more. After all, they had been fighting the Kingdom Army for many days, fully aware of the enemy¡¯s tactics.


    Sure enough, the cannon fire started.


    The wilderness began to tremble.


    An ear-piercing whistling sound tore through the sky.


    Count Jacob calmly shouted:


    ¡°It¡¯s a bombardment¡ªGet down!¡±


    Before he finished speaking, the soldiers spread out by reflex, lying behind fortifications, with some even going inside the city walls.


    They had experienced several rounds of bombardment, fully aware of the terrifying power of such weapons. Most of them were the survivors who had lived through the shelling.


    Without this instinct, one couldn¡¯t survive.


    But there was nothing they could do about it other than pray for Tampas¡¯ protection, hoping to survive the cannon fire by sheer luck.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    Hundreds of pounds of metal shells fell, blowing people to pieces, and the fragments alone were enough to pierce through flesh.


    Death¡¯s scythe continually harvested lives.


    But under the cruel torment of war, both commanders and soldiers had become somewhat numb, and death was taken for granted.


    They didn¡¯t scream or wail; they merely let out a short ¡°ah¡± in instinctive exclamation before being blown apart, but this sound was usually drowned out by the explosion.


    Flesh and rubble flew, and the city walls turned to ruins under the shelling. Even a few prominent watchtowers collapsed with a loud crash.

 Chapter 379 - 303: The Last Hero

    Chapter 379: Chapter 303: The Last Hero


    Count Jacob did not sit idly by. With the agility of a warrior and powerful dynamic vision, he weaved through the bombardment, evading shell after shell.


    However, he knew this was not the end.


    Count Jacob looked up into the distance, his eyes narrowing as if piercing through the billowing smoke.


    For months, through numerous bloody battles costing the lives of tens of thousands, he had thoroughly grasped the Ashen Legion¡¯s ¡°Triple Axe¡± tactics.


    First, bombard with cannons, then sweep with wyverns, and finally, mop up with infantry and cavalry ground forces.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Sure enough, a long dragon¡¯s roar sounded.


    A row of chaotic black shadows appeared on the horizon, rolling in like storm clouds, pressing toward Fayol City.


    Count Jacob roared:


    ¡°Wyverns! Be wary of the sky!¡±


    But before the soldiers could crawl out from the fortifications, the bipedal wyverns dove onto the city walls.


    Chaotic shadows danced, and scorching flames raged along the walls.


    Soldiers who failed to evade were set ablaze, struggling constantly, eventually turning into charred corpses.


    However, this was just one wave of the assault. After diving through the city, the wyverns ascended again, skillfully making a circuit, preparing to launch the next wave of attacks.


    ¡°Spread out! Spread out!¡±


    Count Jacob roared.


    The remaining 3,000 soldiers were his last reliance, the most loyal to him and the Northern United Kingdom.


    He had endured several such attacks, each one causing heavy losses to his forces.


    Yet despite this, Count Jacob was still at a loss.


    Any individual would be limited by factors such as background, education, and era. Jacob Rosas was already among the top generals in the North, but in the face of such a cross-era combined land and air assault, he still found no solution.


    All he could do was summarize methods to build fortifications and disperse his forces to minimize losses, but he had almost no strategies for a counterattack.


    And just these few rounds of shelling and wyvern raids had cost him another precious 500 soldiers.


    Count Jacob, full of rage with no outlet, reached out his hand.


    ¡°Give me a powerful bow.¡±


    A soldier immediately handed over a black giant bow more than two meters long.


    Count Jacob skillfully notched an arrow.


    His arm muscles bulged, veins popping out.


    Through sheer brute strength honed over countless battles, he fully drew the bow that even orcs struggled to pull.


    ¡°Monsters of the Ashen Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Be buried with my soldiers!¡±


    A piercing whistle tore through the air.


    ¡°Whiz¡ª¡ª¡±


    The sharp arrow directly pierced a wyvern and the knight on its back simultaneously. The wyvern flapped its wings weakly, wailing as it plummeted to the wilderness.


    It even caused several other wyverns behind it to collide, throwing them into disarray in the air.


    Count Jacob roared: ¡°Monsters! You will never defeat the Scania people!¡±


    ¡°Shoot them down!¡±


    ¡°Lord Earl!¡±


    But the sheer number of bipedal wyverns was too much. Despite the soldiers shooting arrows in retaliation,


    not everyone was as strong a warrior as Count Jacob. The number of wyverns they managed to shoot down was very few.


    More arrows fell limply halfway through the air, while the flames spewed by the bipedal wyverns were fatal to the archers.


    This was an unequal struggle.


    After several more rounds of diving and sweeping, the city walls were engulfed in raging flames, littered with corpses.


    Dolores looked at the distant city walls, glanced at the watch on his wrist, and coldly ordered:


    ¡°Inform the melee units to prepare for siege combat.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Marshal.¡±


    The subordinate Great Goblin commander quickly responded.


    ¡­


    Snowflakes fell, drifting down onto the city walls.


    Creating a grim atmosphere.


    The city walls were deathly silent.


    Count Jacob gazed at the advancing Ashen Kingdom army, like a thick wall in the distance. His eyes suddenly sharpened as if he had made a resolution.


    ¡°Even if I die¡­ I will die on the glorious battlefield! Prepare my mount!¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡­ attack the city with me!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The city gate slowly opened.


    Jacob Rosas held high a tattered banner, charging at the forefront on a white steed, followed by 500 knights.


    He wanted to die in a charge of glory.


    To become a part of the North¡¯s tragic epic, a venerable hero, eternally associating the name Jacob Rosas with valor and loyalty.


    The sound of hooves echoed.


    Facing the flood of the Kingdom Army, this cavalry force of fewer than 500 seemed like a trickle flowing into the ocean, pathetically feeble.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    Dense gunfire erupted.


    The knights following Count Jacob fell one after another. Only Jacob, clad in rare armor, remained charging, as if nothing could stop him.


    Soon, he was the only one left, charging alone on the battlefield.


    ¡°That is the enemy¡¯s commander!¡±


    ¡°Kill him, and we will be knighted!¡±


    The soldiers of the Ashen Kingdom roared excitedly, waving their blades and spears as they charged toward him.


    ¡°Damn, that boss has purple equipment!¡±


    ¡°Go for it! Kill him!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare steal my kill!¡±


    The players shouted excitedly, using various professional tactics, throwing spells, hidden weapons, and even miscellaneous objects at him recklessly.


    Facing the enemies surging like a tide, Count Jacob sneered coldly, roaring ferociously:


    ¡°You cannot defeat me!¡±


    ¡°You will never make a true Scania warrior surrender!¡±


    ¡°Maybe I will die here today, but my unyielding soul will wander this land. I will become¡ª¡ªyour lifelong nightmare!¡±


    ¡°Come, come¡ª¡ª¡±


    His voice suddenly halted, his gaze became a bit slow, and his eyes glowed red.


    Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Count Jacob dismounted like a marionette, raising his hands, even voluntarily removing his armor.


    Did he¡­ surrender?


    ¡°Forget everything else, grab the gear!¡±


    The players rushed forward, fearing the precious treasure would be taken, turning the scene chaotic.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A sudden gunshot rang out.


    A bloody hole appeared on Count Jacob¡¯s forehead.


    His expression suddenly twisted in pain.


    People quickly turned their heads, seeing a gaunt human holding a steel rifle, its barrel slightly smoking, and the hand holding it trembling¡ª¡ªon his neck was the mark of a serf.


    More gunshots followed along with overwhelming spells, drowning the Earl.


    Finally, his tenacious body, covered in wounds, slowly fell backward.


    And the players swarmed like dogs fighting over scraps, with Jacob Rosas¡¯ precious relics becoming the focus of their frenzy.


    ¡°Damn, the NPC stole the kill!¡±


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    ¡°Such damn luck.¡±


    ¡°Wait, quick, grab the gear!!¡±


    The last hero of the North died this way.


    ¡­


    A spatial ripple appeared, and the Ogre Archmage, holding a magic wand, appeared expressionlessly beside the Military Records Officer.


    ¡°Lord Ramp?!¡±


    ¡°What¡­ what are your orders?¡±


    Facing the sudden arrival of the distinguished visitor, the Military Records Officer spoke tremblingly, almost dropping his pen.


    ¡°Record my words.¡±


    ¡°In the year 1786 of the Third Era, Jacob Rosas, a remnant of the Northern United Kingdom, surrendered to the Kingdom but was beaten to death by enraged serfs during the process.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord!¡±


    ¡°I will record your words exactly. Every word you speak is the absolute truth.¡±


    Jacob Rosas was wrong about one thing¡ª¡ª


    History is always written by the victors.


    Not the mourners.

 Chapter 380 - 304: History Maker

    Chapter 380: Chapter 304: History Maker


    ¡°The Northern Kingdom has fallen! The final rebel, Jacob Rosas, died unexpectedly while surrendering his arms!¡±


    ¡°Extra! Extra! Lord Ramp declared the collapse of the North was a choice of history, of the people¡­¡±


    ¡°Marshal Dolores gave a congratulatory speech, praising the soldiers for their bravery, showcasing the might of the Ashen Kingdom, and the spirit of the Red Dragon¡¯s Kin¡­¡±


    The newsboys shouted on the streets, which were crowded with people.


    The war had ended.


    The Ashen Kingdom was celebrating nationwide with fervor.


    Despite this, work could not be stopped, and real rest did not exist.


    After the war, soldiers spent lavishly, squandering their spoils, leading to a surge in domestic demand. Orders flowed in like snowflakes¡ªall factories even started working overtime for large-scale production.


    This not only brought exhaustion but far higher pay than usual.


    Prosperity was everywhere.


    People were both suffering and rejoicing.


    But in the kingdom¡¯s propaganda department, the clerks were not happy; they were even somewhat neurotic.


    They originally handled only domestic propaganda. Now, they were responsible for the entire Anzeta and had to conduct high-intensity publicity in newly conquered areas.


    Task sheets and failed drafts had piled up into mountains.


    A player nicknamed ¡°Waking from a Beautiful Dream¡± was in the middle of this chaos, his hand trembling as he held a pen.


    ¡°The Fano Duchy¡¯s flyers¡­¡±


    ¡°The Sveno Duchy¡¯s slogans, and the war victory propaganda.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, sixty percent more, how the hell will I finish in a few days?¡±


    He slammed down the pen.


    Not doing it anymore!


    In reality, Waking from a Beautiful Dream was an ordinary journalism student. He loved reading historical books, and after graduation, he couldn¡¯t find a job. So, he fully immersed himself in the game world.


    He joined the propaganda department for faction contribution, becoming the kingdom¡¯s officer scribe. He finally felt the burden of work and had even become a senior official, managing over a hundred clerks.


    Though he received various benefits and could show off to new players, he still decided to quit the position.


    He was here to play a game, not to work.


    Suddenly, the familiar voice of Lord Ramp came from the magic communicator next to him.


    ¡°Come to my office.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    Waking from a Beautiful Dream instinctively replied.


    But then he quickly realized¡ªwasn¡¯t I going to resign? Why am I still so obedient?


    Fine! Just the opportunity to resign face-to-face.


    He thought.


    Soon, he swiftly made his way to the top floor, carefully knocking on Ramp¡¯s office door.


    ¡°Sir, I am here.¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    The heavy door slowly opened with a thunderous sound.


    Waking from a Beautiful Dream clutched his resignation letter and anxiously entered the overly spacious, palace-like office.


    ¡°Sir, I have been too exhausted recently and would like to¡ª¡±


    Ramp waved his hand, interrupting him.


    ¡°I have always seen the contribution and effort you have made for the kingdom. Remember, the kingdom never mistreats any diligent worker.¡±


    Waking from a Beautiful Dream hesitated for a moment but still decided: ¡°Sir, I¡­¡±


    His words were caught in his throat again.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that now. I have something important to discuss with you. I¡¯ve always been satisfied with your propaganda work, but those are straightforward tasks, not enough to showcase your talents.¡±


    ¡°Recently, I discovered some malicious individuals using fabricated histories to slander and attack the kingdom, severely tarnishing its reputation.¡±


    Ramp took a sip of water from the table and continued: ¡°So, I¡¯m preparing to establish a new department, the Historical Compilation Department.¡±


    ¡°The main work will be recording the kingdom¡¯s glorious history and documenting the realization of our grand vision.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Waking from a Beautiful Dream looked dispirited.


    Although he loved reading history books, he knew compiling history was a daunting task, no easier than his current work.


    But Ramp changed his tone: ¡°However¡­ I will have specialized historians handle the official record, and you Starfallen will not focus on that.¡±


    ¡°You will fabricate, no, compile small stories revealing the true nature of our enemies.¡±


    ¡°No matter how far-fetched the plots are, it¡¯s fine, as long as they attract attention and capture public interest¡ªjust like the snippets you write for the Kingdom Daily.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s voice was particularly calm, yet seemed to restrain a certain anger.


    Unofficial histories?


    Waking from a Beautiful Dream¡¯s eyes brightened instantly.


    This was right up his alley.


    Previously, his work was boring, mostly official articles, only finding some pleasure when writing snippets.


    Ramp¡¯s new offer allowed him to freely display his ¡°talent,¡± tear off false masks, and completely let loose.


    Official histories might not be true.


    But unofficial histories are certainly wild.


    He could write whatever he wanted, earning gold coins and faction contribution, while satisfying his twisted sense of humor.


    ¡°These are some samples from the South. You may use them as reference.¡±


    Illusory text images appeared in mid-air.


    [Heartbreaking! Why is the young girl weeping? Exposing the cruel deeds of the evil Red Dragon!]


    [Human-beast unions? Unveiling the highly debauched monster kingdom¡ªThe Famed Ashen Kingdom!]


    They were unsigned, but the kingdom¡¯s spies had added the author¡¯s name in red.


    [Luton Siege, former Viscount of the Northern United Kingdom, has fled to the Fadlan Region.]


    After viewing these images, Waking from a Beautiful Dream was filled with admiration.


    The enemy wasn¡¯t simple.


    In an era without the information explosion, they thought of such eye-catching titles.


    ¡°Luton Siege¡­¡±


    ¡°Quite a formidable opponent.¡±


    Waking from a Beautiful Dream murmured the name, eyes gleaming with excitement, ready for the challenge.


    ¡°But you are facing an opponent¡ªme, someone from the internet era!¡±


    The wheel of fate began to turn.


    Far away, Luton Siege did not know he had been targeted by a mad, unofficial history creator.


    ¡°Heh heh heh¡­¡±


    Waking from a Beautiful Dream laughed spitefully, a smile of anticipation on his face.


    Ramp wiped his gold-rimmed glasses and casually asked: ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t you have something to discuss?


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    ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    Waking from a Beautiful Dream¡¯s smile froze.


    He tightly clenched his resignation letter, awkwardly hiding it behind his back, sweat dripping from his forehead.


    ¡°Nothing, nothing, you must have misunderstood.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I promise to complete the task!¡±


    Waking from a Beautiful Dream nodded and bowed, abandoning any thought of resignation, before hastily leaving the office.


    ¡­


    In the lavish and spacious office, Ramp¡¯s face turned a bit grim.


    Those textual images reappeared in mid-air, this time with an added line that had previously been hidden.


    [Let a greedy, foolish ogre be prime minister? All they do is mindlessly stuff everything into their mouths!]


    [Exposing the absurd internal affairs of the Ashen Kingdom!]


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡±


    ¡°You foolhardy wretch, you will pay the price.¡±


    The Ogre Archmage clenched his fist, causing cracks to appear on the luxurious wooden desk. Veins bulged on his forehead, and a ferocious smile spread across his ugly face.

 Chapter 381 - 305 Coronation (I)

    Chapter 381: Chapter 305 Coronation (I)


    ¡°Breaking news! The coronation ceremony will begin in thirty-seven days!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty is about to be crowned Emperor!¡±


    ¡°The Prime Minister issued a statement declaring that the Ashen Kingdom has met all the conditions to be elevated to an Empire!¡±


    ¡°Marshal Dolores unconditionally supports His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    Such voices spread throughout Anzeta, whether in cities long controlled by the Ashen Kingdom or newly conquered territories.


    And on the vast Fianso Continent, people caught in conflict and war also learned this news¡ªin the far northern Anzeta Great Wilderness, a country ruled by a Red Dragon had overthrown the millennia-old Northern United Kingdom and established a new kingdom.


    That Red Dragon was named Cassius, called the King of Ashes, the Infernal Calamity, and the Dragon Prince. It was said to be a direct descendant of Tiamat, born with strength comparable to the Legendary.


    This news was surprising, but not enough to draw serious attention from people.


    The Anzeta Great Wilderness was a distant and remote place, blocked by the towering Ancytica Mountains. It was isolated and had very little interaction with other regions of the Fianso Continent.


    Most people only vaguely knew that beyond the mountains, in that cold wilderness, there seemed to be some countries.


    That was all; it had little relevance to them.


    But soon, new rumors began to spread: the Ancient Silver Dragon that had thwarted several global disasters, known as the ¡°Wings of Silver,¡± Osedro, went to the Anzeta Great Wilderness to battle the so-called ¡°King of Ashes.¡±


    It was said that in the ¡°Battle of the Twin Dragons,¡± these two immensely powerful dragons fought for days and nights, turning the entire Okaglar Wilderness into scorched earth.


    The battle ended with the Silver Dragon plummeting from the sky.


    Osedro reportedly fled in disgrace, severely wounded, to recuperate in its dragon lair for nearly a century.


    The Melwood Clan¡¯s Silver Dragons also remained silent, blocking all visitors and refusing to disclose any information. Their reaction only reinforced the rumor¡ªOsedro had indeed been defeated!


    It was only then that the people on the continent felt truly shocked.


    That was the renowned ¡°Wings of Silver,¡± Osedro, praised as Bahamut¡¯s Chosen One and the guardian of world balance!


    As a result, various forces began to closely monitor the northern, mysterious ¡°Red Dragon Kingdom,¡± considering it a potential ally or enemy.


    Amid the swamp of war, the three great Kingdoms¡ªCassandra, Thrace, and Seleucis¡ªvying for the legacy of the Holy Fadlan Federation also kept a watchful eye on it.


    A Red Dragon capable of defeating Osedro would be a significant advantage to any side, potentially tipping the scales of war.


    Among these three kingdoms, the Thrace Kingdom was particularly hostile to the ¡°King of Ashes¡±¡ªa geographical and historical inevitability.


    They occupied the northern territories of the Holy Fadlan Empire, seeing the Anzeta Great Wilderness as their secure backfield.


    But with the North completely fallen, an unrestrained invasion by the Ashen Kingdom from the south would leave them vulnerable to attack from both fronts.


    While guarding against northern invaders, the Thrace Kingdom also had to stabilize relations with the Ashen Kingdom. They were not ready to mobilize, facing significant risk at any moment.


    As all forces busied themselves with this news, another rumor quickly spread from the North across the continent.


    The King of Ashes was about to be crowned.


    This Red Dragon would become the de facto Emperor of Anzeta, the supreme ruler of these lands.


    ¡°Empire¡± referred to a sovereign ruling over vast and powerful territories, and the Anzeta Great Wilderness clearly couldn¡¯t satisfy his ambitions. The Red Dragon¡¯s intent was evident.


    Thus, the coronation ceremony became the focus of the entire continent.


    With the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s invitations flying out like snowflakes, envoys from various nations and forces rushed north, by teleportation, flying in the sky, or traveling by carriage.


    The once tranquil Anzeta Corridor suddenly buzzed with activity, even witnessing skirmishes between envoys from rival nations.


    This desolate area of the Anzeta Great Wilderness became one of the primary focuses of the entire Fianso Continent¡ªfor all this was due to the appearance of that Red Dragon.


    ¡­


    The cities in Anzeta no longer sufficed for the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s needs. They needed broader lands to hold a ceremony that would astonish the world.


    Why not choose the Steel Dragonwing Palace?


    Too many secrets were hidden there.


    The coronation ceremony would be held on the Great Plain Doyle¡ªthe heart of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, where several rivers converged, known as the ¡°Goddess of Ice and Snow¡¯s Blessing.¡±


    The plain housed several large cities, encompassing nearly all the core areas of the former Boske Duchy.


    The Kingdom¡¯s construction teams worked day and night, erecting various buildings needed for the coronation ceremony. Endless stone and timber were hauled to the site by robust Frost Giant slaves.


    Mages, Druids, and other spellcasters used spells like Stone Wall Spell and Wood Creation Spell to assist.


    In just a month, a grand altar appeared on the plain.


    The roads were also meticulously built, with sections of railroad even being laid.


    In fact, this was preparatory work for a new city¡ªRamp believed Northwind Castle, Stratholme Fortress, and other cities were inadequate for the future capital of Anzeta.


    The Ashen Kingdom, or rather the future Empire, needed a flatter, larger city capable of housing more industry and population, with a superior location, to become the absolute political, economic, and cultural center of the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    This new city under construction was the beginning of everything.


    It would continuously expand, encompassing nearby cities and growing into a vast industrial city.


    This coronation altar, this newly built city, was called¡ªIsdalia, meaning ¡°Land of Eternal Rule¡± or ¡°Immortal City¡± in Draconic.


    ¡­


    On the Great Plain Doyle, the Kingdom¡¯s retainers remained busy. Tall Frost Giant slaves with collars around their necks struggled under the weight of heavy logs, still plodding forward under the overseers¡¯ whips.


    Ramp held his magic wand atop a hill, gazing at the distant, soon-to-be-completed altar.


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    ¡°Your grand vision is gradually becoming a reality¡­¡±


    The ogre¡¯s lips trembled as he murmured, tears of excitement filling his eyes.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The bitter northern wind howled past, drowning out the ogre¡¯s panting and masking the distant wails of the Frost Giant slaves.

 Chapter 382 - 306: Coronation (Part 2)

    Chapter 382: Chapter 306: Coronation (Part 2)


    On the morning of March 1st, 1786, in the Third Era, the coronation ceremony was held as scheduled.


    The newly completed Isdalia venue was large enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people, who could watch the ceremony from different positions. However, the main roads and the altar at the center of the venue were guarded by Tiefling soldiers, preventing any unauthorized persons from entering.


    The night before the ceremony began, the place was already buzzing with noise.


    Over a hundred thousand people brought dry food, water, and even temporary bedding, flocking from all over Anzeta and even from various parts of Fianso. They arrived early to find suitable spots around Isdalia and slept on the grounds overnight.


    Among them were curious citizens of the kingdom, merchants from the South, bards, and even spies disguised as harpists.


    Of course, players didn¡¯t want to miss this ¡°large-scale event¡± either, carrying their folding chairs and rushing over that very night. Except for those players previously sentenced to forced labor for defecting to the North, almost every player arrived in Isdalia to witness this rare spectacle.


    Many summoned monsters¡¯ family members also occupied parts of the inner field according to the kingdom¡¯s official allocation.


    There were also envoys from various parts of Fianso, who, after delivering reports and greetings and presenting gifts, were arranged in different areas within the field.


    Among them were not only envoys from the three great kingdoms, Cassandra, Thrace, and Seleucis, but also special forces like the Tower of Time, Corrupted Swamp, and the Star and Moon Hills.


    Humans, elves, dwarves, dragonborn, halflings¡­


    Envoys from various races appeared in the venue, gathering together, making the place somewhat noisy.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    Immediately, roars of dragons echoed.


    The Farria family¡¯s blue dragon once again sent Christina, along with their esteemed elder blue dragon, Isami.


    Even the Merlwood Family sent a special envoy, the mighty silver dragon, Cruzre Merlwood, Olivia¡¯s uncle.


    ¡°How come there¡¯s a silver-scaled mongrel? That old guy still isn¡¯t satisfied, is he?¡±


    ¡°Blue dragon, that war is over! We come for peace among dragons!¡±


    ¡°Peace? You hypocrites aren¡¯t worthy of talking about peace!¡±


    The blue dragon and silver dragon immediately felt each other¡¯s presence, tensions rising within the venue, until Ramp personally arrived and an invisible dragon¡¯s might spread throughout, temporarily preventing a conflict. However, they continued to glare at each other with hostility.


    Similar incidents occurred sporadically. Due to the importance of the Ashen Kingdom, both evil and good-aligned forces gave it significant attention.


    ¡°Distinguished guests, please remain calm.¡±


    ¡°This is His Majesty Cassius¡¯s coronation ceremony; he wishes for no errors.¡±


    Ramp stood in front of the altar, slightly bowing, and using magic, his voice resonated throughout the entire venue.


    The once empty venue was now packed with people.


    Various Dragon Vein Clans, envoys from different countries, and spectators filled the seats, with beings from different forces, races, and alignments gathering here, awaiting the start of the coronation ceremony.


    In the originally quiet wasteland, a sudden strong wind blew, causing people to look outside hurriedly.


    ¡°Look quickly!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that? Bipedal wyverns!¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°By the gods¡­ why are there so many?¡±


    Thousands of bipedal wyverns took off from the surroundings of the venue, densely flying in the sky, producing a cacophony of roars.


    Their wings flapped closely together, chaotically casting large shadows over the plains, like a dark ring of clouds, surrounding the entire venue.


    Under Cassius¡¯s domain, the reproductive abilities of these bipedal wyverns had become astonishingly strong, reproducing massively in just ten years, reaching a scale of four digits.


    ¡ªTo support this enormous food demand, four factories produced feed, and a pasture covering half of Stormy Ridge continuously grazed bison.


    This time, for the grand coronation ceremony, these bipedal wyverns from Wyvern Valley were fully mobilized, showcasing their fierce appearance to the world for the first time.


    ¡°Bipedal wyverns?¡±


    ¡°Such a scale of a wyvern legion¡­¡±


    The envoy from the Thrace Kingdom¡ªDayev Marshall, looked up at the dark shadows in the sky, adjusted his silver-framed glasses, and his expression turned deeply worried.


    Bipedal wyverns weren¡¯t particularly troublesome enemies for the Thrace Kingdom, as merely their Arcane Legion could easily shoot them down.


    But thousands of wyverns were another matter entirely.


    Moreover, even this massive wyvern legion was just the surface, the more terrifying aspect lay beneath¡ªthe Ashen Kingdom¡¯s unparalleled supply system and military mobilization capabilities.


    ¡°Are they warning us?¡±


    ¡°Or¡­ extending an olive branch to our enemies?¡±


    Dayev couldn¡¯t help clenching his fists, bowing his head slightly, his expression extremely grave.


    Before he could emerge from his thoughts, loud bangs sounded on the wasteland, causing even the ground to tremble.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    Salutes fired, and huge flames appeared in the sky.


    Several more explosions occurred in the distance, and under the bombardment of dense artillery, a hill obstructing the city planning path was blasted apart, the ground leveled.


    The Ogre artillery corps arrived from afar, dragging heavy cannons along, panting heavily, the wheels grating against the road.

 Chapter 383 - 306: Coronation (Part 2)_2

    Chapter 383: Chapter 306: Coronation (Part 2)_2


    Finally, the Ogres, with their giant cannons, stood silently around the venue.


    The onlookers gasped in awe, but not in shock¡ªthe people of Anzeta had been through several artillery bombardments and were already accustomed to it.


    The South, however, was not like Anzeta¡¯s Magic Wilderness and was used to such large-scale long-range attacks. They were merely amazed by the immense destructive power¡ªand the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s extravagant use of cannonballs.


    They didn¡¯t know that these were special engineering shells designed by the Ash Technology Department, specifically for leveling mountains and flattening ground.


    Next, the Half-Goat People military band played a rousing, majestic symphony.


    This piece was a combination of many classic tunes provided by the players, supplemented with the North¡¯s traditional music heritage¡ªthe magical nature of the sound filled people¡¯s ears, almost making everyone feel a sense of awe.


    With the rhythm of the music and the crisp sound of drum beats, a phalanx of tens of thousands of medium humanoids such as Humans, Tieflings, and Great Goblins marched from the end of the road.


    They marched in orderly steps, forming neat rows, the bayonets and spears in their hands glinting coldly.


    ¡°They are Ashen infantry!¡±


    ¡°What an imposing sight!¡±


    Finally, the large phalanx stopped outside the venue, and several of the most elite squads, each consisting of a thousand soldiers, entered the venue. They marched quickly in formation, standing like walls on both sides of the wide road.


    Was this the end?


    It was not.


    ¡°Boom¡ªboom¡ª¡±


    Accompanied by a heavy rumble, the ground trembled once again.


    On the horizon in the distance, massive Land Dragon Beasts, clad in heavy armor like small mountains, appeared, occupying almost half of the ground.


    The Goblin Cavalry stood on the backs of these beasts, raising their spears and giant hammers, letting out fervent war cries¡ªDolores stood on the largest beast, covered in golden scales, raising the Bloodfire Battle Axe with one arm.


    The blood-stained axe blade gleamed in the sunlight.


    ¡°For the great plan of the Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°For the King of Ashen!¡±


    Someone shouted excitedly.


    Looking at the mottled torrent, the bards, merchants, envoys, and spies from various factions across Fianso for the first time directly felt the overwhelming military strength of the Ashen Kingdom.


    The envoys from opposing factions looked even more distressed.


    A shadow seemed to cover the face of Dayev from the Thrace Kingdom.


    ¡°How is this possible¡­¡±


    ¡°According to the kingdom¡¯s spies, this country was established just a decade ago¡­¡±


    ¡°Could it be¡­ they obtained the legacy of an ancient empire? Or even assistance from some powerful divine entity?¡±


    He muttered in disbelief, a horrifying conjecture forming in his mind. Dayev, who once served in the Holy Fadlan Federation, could not fathom how, without some external help, a newly established empire could possess such a strong military and logistical system.


    ¡°Ah, His Majesty Tiamat was right; this new empire will be an important support for the revival of the five-colored dragons.¡±


    The old Blue Dragon Isami¡¯s expression was excited, the deep indigo scales on his cheeks spreading, and his frilled ears quivering.


    ¡°And all the future wealth of this nation will belong to the Queen.¡±


    Christina was already immersed in the dream of being the empire¡¯s queen, resolutely determined, her eyes filled with greed.


    ¡°Such a nation, such an army¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, I just hope they won¡¯t bring another catastrophe to the continent.¡±


    The Silver Dragon Cruzre sighed deeply.


    The envoys from other factions also had varied expressions, but they were all shocked by the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s military strength, as it completely overturned all their speculations.


    In their assumptions, the Ashen Kingdom should have been a barbaric, primitive tribe¡ªa nation of Monster Kin relying on the power of the Red Dragon, tyrannically oppressing the people of Anzeta on this distant and remote land.


    But after experiencing this ¡°parade¡± opening ceremony, they were stunned to discover:


    They were wrong, and terribly so. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was indeed a young, vibrant empire, with different races and factions united under the rule of the giant dragons, converging into a formidable force.


    It had a powerful army, vast territories, a diverse array of races, and an unparalleled, sole ruler.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Their eardrums swelled, bodies trembling under the powerful oppression.


    In the North of Isdalia, the blue sky suddenly turned red, an enormous Red Dragon appeared on the horizon, slowly flapping its wide wings, bringing a roaring hot wind.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, the entire wasteland seemed to become hot, with even the air twisting and boiling.


    ¡°He, he¡¯s here!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°This is the majestic figure of His Majesty!¡±


    ¡°For the King of Ashen! No, for the Ashen Emperor!¡±


    People, after their initial instinctive fear and dread, quickly began to cheer loudly, forming wave after wave of enthusiastic applause¡ªregardless of whether it was sincere or feigned.


    ¡°I want to lick Lord Cassius¡¯ feet!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop me, I want to touch the tail!¡±


    ¡°Dragons!¡±


    ¡°You dragon fetishists, get a grip! But when will Lord Cassius turn into human form¡­ heehee¡­¡±


    The players were even more unconstrained, shouting all sorts of outrageous slogans, even as the guards glared at them.


    ¡°Heaven! Such a colossal body, no wonder he defeated the Wings of Silver!¡±


    ¡°Gods above¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s become even more powerful!¡±


    ¡°As expected of my destined mate, His Highness Cassius¡­.¡±


    The envoys from all factions also exclaimed in shock; a dragon of this magnitude was rare even across the entire Fianso Continent, let alone seeing one in person.


    Over the course of several months, Cassius had passively assimilated the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, his body size advancing further¡ªthis Red Dragon now reached a terrifying length of thirty-six meters.


    This was a size that only an ancient Red Dragon could barely achieve, completely surpassing the limits of an ordinary Red Dragon, yet Cassius was still in the early stages of growth and development.


    In a secluded corner of the crowd, a thin, weathered man looked towards the sky, his expression filled with deep despair.


    ¡°That guy has become stronger.¡±


    ¡°Abir¡­ how am I supposed to save you.¡±


    He was Richard, once a high-spirited Fairy Ranger, now a double agent for the Ashen Kingdom, this time sent by the Harpist Alliance to investigate the coronation ceremony.


    ¡°Whirr¡ªwhirr¡ª¡±


    The scorching wind roared past, making many people¡¯s skin feel hot.


    Cassius flapped his wings, slowly approaching Isdalia, finally landing at the beginning of the road with a thunderous sound.


    The noise within the venue instantly vanished in the face of an almost tangible oppressive force, causing the atmosphere to fall into silence.


    The guards on both sides of the road immediately stood upright, eyes forward, although the sweat droplets on their chins betrayed their nervousness and excitement.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon let out a low murmur, folding his wings close to his body.


    He walked on all fours along the broad road, heading step by step toward the altar, leaving footprints on the ground.


    Cassius looked down from above, his pale-golden eyes scanning the people on both sides of the road, sweeping over those faces filled with either excitement, fear, or dread.


    ¡°Thrace, Cassandra¡­


    ¡°Serinia, Silvermoon City, Free Trade Federation¡­¡±


    ¡°The major powers of the Fianso Continent have pretty much all arrived, quite a gathering.¡±


    Cassius¡¯ lips curled slightly, a barely noticeable smile appearing on his ferocious dragon face, as he thought to himself.

 Chapter 384 - 307 Coronation (3)

    Chapter 384: Chapter 307 Coronation (3)


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    In the quiet crowd, a tender voice suddenly rang out. It was unclear whether it was arranged by the kingdom¡¯s officials or a heartfelt call from a child who had received the kingdom¡¯s favor.


    But following this, the crowd once again erupted into rounds of enthusiastic cheers, among which there were quite a few arranged by the propaganda department.


    ¡°Emperor! Emperor!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius! Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°For the great plan of the Red Dragon!¡±


    And amidst such calls, the Red Dragon continued to walk slowly down the wide road.


    The guards standing on both sides of the road struck their spears to the ground, creating rhythmic sounds. The bipedal wyverns that had landed on the ground also stretched their necks, raising their heads high and letting out light cries.


    The ogres once again pushed the heavy cannons, creating brilliant, blossoming flames above the altar.


    Just like that, under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of onlookers, Cassius easily climbed the nearly thirty-meter-high altar in a few steps, arriving directly at the very top of Isdalia.


    Cassius looked around, his pale golden pupils surveying the multitudes below, and then he spoke:


    ¡°Everyone¡­¡±


    ¡°Welcome to the Anzeta Great Wilderness, welcome to my coronation ceremony.¡±


    As Cassius finished speaking, a black-haired, golden-eyed, handsome human noble appeared before him. His demeanor and actions were completely synchronized with the massive Red Dragon behind him ¡ª this was the human incarnation of Cassius.


    ¡°Oh my, His Majesty Cassius in human form! A rare sight indeed!¡±


    ¡°My dear husband!¡±


    ¡°Ahhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    This time, before the kingdom officials could react, the players erupted in even more fervent cheers, this time undoubtedly from the heart.


    ¡°The ceremony can begin now.¡±


    Ignoring the crowd¡¯s clamor, Cassius simply ordered calmly, and the person and dragon on the altar spoke simultaneously.


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    His retainers busied themselves.


    The Isdalia Grand Altar had seven layers, connected by orderly steps, forming a pyramid-like stone structure representing the kingdom¡¯s current hierarchical division.


    And at the very top of the Great Altar was a massive platform engraved with mysterious patterns, nearly ten meters higher than the previous layer ¡ª this was where Cassius stood.


    This platform represented the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s supreme royalty, or rather, the future imperial authority.


    Ramp, Dolores, and Mezulash, the three Grand Dukes, arrived at the front of the altar one by one, climbing step by step through the long stairs to the sixth layer of the Great Altar.


    Following the pre-arranged order, they stood silently, waiting for the next steps of the ceremony.


    Next came Alger, Jin Ya, Dailenna, and the other seven Marquises, followed by twenty-four Earls, over forty Viscounts, and over a hundred Barons.


    Even those First-Class Citizens who had made meritorious contributions were bestowed with this honor, standing in neat rows at the bottom layer of the Great Altar.


    ¡°Ooo¡ª¡±


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake Horn blew from beneath the altar.


    At this moment, the Isdalia Grand Altar was already bustling with people and banners fluttering.


    The citizens of the Ashen Kingdom looked up at those spirited Dragonblood Nobles, exclaiming repeatedly and feeling endless envy.


    People from various parts of Fianso pondered, for such architectural forms were not uncommon on the continent ¡ª most notably those of the original Holy Fadlan.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible¡­¡±


    ¡°Could it be¡­ the Pyramid of the Sun God?¡±


    ¡°No, definitely not, but this is so important. Even the slightest possibility is huge news! I must report back to His Majesty.¡±


    Dayev looked at the altar, shaking his head continuously, his face becoming extremely grim. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A hundred and fifty years ago, the great ¡°Sun King¡± Aragon the First built three pyramids in Thrace, Cassandra, and Seleucis, and in the capital of the Empire, he constructed the most magnificent Eternal Sun God Pyramid.


    On the holy day of the Amanata Church ¡ª the summer solstice, pyramids of the Sun God all over the world performed ceremonies simultaneously. Amanata bestowed the blessing of sunlight, allowing hundreds to achieve ¡°Ascension,¡± marking the beginning of the Holy Fadlan Federation.


    And now, the coronation ceremony of the Ashen Kingdom reminded him of that sacred ceremony a century ago.


    Although such thoughts were tantamount to blasphemy, Dayev couldn¡¯t help but link the two together and felt deeply worried.


    Unbeknownst to him, all of this was done deliberately by Cassius to attract the attention of other countries.


    Among the crowded throngs, the incessant noise of discussions and whispers continued to rise.


    ¡°The ceremony is about to begin.¡±


    ¡°Please maintain silence.¡±


    With the aid of special audio devices, Ramp¡¯s steady voice spread to every corner of the venue.


    At Ramp¡¯s announcement, under the immense might of the giant dragon on the high platform, the crowd of tens of thousands instantly quieted down, and people collectively looked up.


    Ramp extended his hand and produced a pre-prepared exquisite scroll out of thin air, unfolding it slowly.


    The Great Goblin stepped forward and read aloud:


    ¡°The great ¡®King of Ashen,¡¯ His Majesty Cassius, in just a few short years, unified Anzeta and eradicated the Frost Giant tribes of the North. With thunderous methods, he brought long-awaited peace and stability to the people of Anzeta ¡ª an achievement and great deed unprecedented in this land for a thousand years.¡±


    ¡°Therefore, the people of Anzeta unanimously believe that the title of ¡®King¡¯ is no longer sufficient to describe the greatness of His Majesty Cassius. He should be conferred a higher, nobler title ¡ª Emperor.¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius shall forever rule here, and the Ashen Kingdom shall be elevated to a greater nation ¡ª the Ashen Empire!¡±


    ¡°His Imperial Majesty! The Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor!¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Empire!¡±


    ¡°Long live the Emperor, long live the Empire!¡±


    As Ramp finished speaking, the crowd once again burst into cheers, and under the supervision of the Tiefling Guards, the cheers were more fervent than ever before.


    The people in the front row wept with joy, kneeling on the ground in disarray, some even fainting from excitement ¡ª whether this was genuine affection or the usual exaggerated script from the propaganda department was unknown.


    ¡°The kindness of His Majesty Cassius can never be repaid, not even in a thousand lifetimes!¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, we support you! It is you who granted us new life!¡±


    Representatives of various retainers, including humans, Tieflings, Great Goblins, and Ogres, squeezed out from the crowd, their expressions filled with immense pride and excitement.


    They collectively lifted a scroll made from stitched original cowhide, measuring several dozen meters, and slowly unfurled it on the road ¡ª the smooth surface covered with countless handprints, claw marks, and even hoof prints.


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, we sincerely ask you to be crowned Emperor! This is the wish of all subjects!¡±


    ¡°Yes! If you could be crowned, even at the cost of our lives¡­¡±


    ¡°You are our¡­¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Your Majesty, it is only through this way that we can somewhat repay your kindness¡­¡±


    The representatives knelt on the ground, on the laid-out scroll were written several large, bright characters ¡ª ¡°Petition for His Majesty Cassius to be crowned Emperor.¡±


    This petition, bearing the imprints of tens of thousands of retainers, demonstrated that the Emperor¡¯s coronation was not only a demand for national development but also the heartfelt desire of its people.


    It also served as evidence to the world that whether by legal reason or practical terms, this coronation was beyond reproach.


    Atop the high altar, Cassius overlooked the ¡°grand scene¡± below, trying his best to maintain a dignified posture.


    ¡°Awkward, isn¡¯t it? The propaganda department went too extravagant this time, but¡­¡±


    ¡°The effect seems to be quite good.¡±


    The Red Dragon, looking at the astonished, fearful, and bewildered faces of the foreign envoys, slightly twitched the corner of his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.


    It seemed that in terms of public opinion propaganda, these players were already far ahead of various regions of Fianso.

 Chapter 385 - 308: Coronation (Part 4)

    Chapter 385: Chapter 308: Coronation (Part 4)


    ¡°Carry it to the top of the altar!¡±


    ¡°Heave-ho! Heave-ho!¡±


    Accompanied by heavy breathing, eight strong Ogres struggled to carry a massive, heavy metal box, appearing at the end of the road.


    Step by step, they ascended the stairs, climbing to the top of the altar. With combined effort, they opened the box and then knelt down.


    Instantly, golden light burst forth from the box, prompting gasps from the admiring crowd. There lay the Crown, fully made of Mithril, inlaid with various exquisite gems, shimmering under the sunlight.


    That was the Supreme True Dragon Diadem.


    Suddenly, a question arose in the hearts of the onlookers. According to tradition, the emperor needed someone to crown him; even the ¡°Sun King¡± Aragon the First of the Holy Fadlan Federation was crowned by the Archbishop of the Amanata Church at that time.


    Who here had the qualification to crown this ¡°Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor¡± Cassius?


    Thinking of this ruler¡¯s nickname, ¡°Dragon Prince,¡± people immediately thought of a familiar name but dared not speak it out loud.


    At this moment, a huge shadow appeared in the sky over Isdalia, an unimaginable pressure filling everyone¡¯s hearts, causing instinctive fear.


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    ¡°That is¡­¡±


    People looked up to the deep sky, only to discover a nightmare-like figure enveloping the earth.


    It was a monstrous dragon body, with dragon wings like dark clouds, twisting and writhing five necks and five heads, and those terrifying vertical pupils focused on Cassius.


    This was merely Her projection on the Prime Material Plane, yet it made everyone present tremble.


    ¡°It¡¯s Her!¡±


    ¡°Tiamat.¡±


    Someone screamed out that name in terror.


    The crowd was in an uproar again; they hadn¡¯t expected Tiamat to favor the Red Dragon to such an extent, descending personally in projection form.


    ¡°Her Majesty the Dragon Queen! She has come in person!¡±


    Christina raised her head, gazing at the sky, her expression extremely excited.


    ¡°As expected¡­¡±


    Cassius looked up without hesitation, meeting Her gaze directly and thought this.


    He had anticipated this situation.


    With Tiamat¡¯s nature, once he crowned himself, She would definitely appear immediately. It seemed She bestowed Cassius with ¡°divine grace¡± while actually binding the Empire firmly to the chariot of the five-colored dragons.


    If Tiamat indeed crowned him, it would be tantamount to declaring allegiance, waging war against the Metal Dragons and other benevolent forces.


    Thinking of this, Cassius slightly bowed and tightened his wings to show respect to the deity.


    ¡°Good day, Your Majesty the Dragon Queen.¡±


    ¡°Cassius, you have done well.¡±


    All five heads of the Dragon Queen grinned menacingly, revealing a chilling smile.


    ¡°So well¡­ that you deserve my personal congratulations.¡±


    ¡°If there were more outstanding offspring like you, there would be no fear of the five-colored dragons¡¯ revival, and the ruling of giant dragons would once again grace the earth.¡±


    ¡°You praise me too highly.¡±


    Cassius replied with neither humility nor arrogance.


    He sighed inwardly. In a few words, Tiamat had turned the Ashen Kingdom, or rather the Empire, into the shared property of the five-colored dragons.


    So, he politely responded, ¡°My realm cannot compare to Your great achievement.¡±


    In his words, Cassius once again distinguished these two concepts.


    The projection of Tiamat in the sky showed no visible emotion, merely narrowing Her eyes slightly, and said, ¡°Cassius, you need a formal, grand coronation ceremony.¡±


    ¡°For instance, one personally conducted by a deity.¡±


    For this seemingly tempting suggestion, Cassius did not respond immediately. He merely nodded slightly, lowering his head in contemplation.


    In fact, he was waiting, waiting for a special guest to arrive. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The cold north wind suddenly howled.


    Tiamat¡¯s expression changed drastically.


    People looked up again, seeing the cyan glow of a midsummer sky flickering on the horizon. The long, slender, platinum dragon shadow also appeared in the sky.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ¡°Is it His Majesty Bahamut?¡±


    The Silver Dragons, Olivia and Cruzre, cried out in unison, their spirits lifted.


    Olivia was especially excited, even fantasizing about Cassius mending his ways and worshipping Bahamut after this.


    The Blue Dragons¡¯ expressions turned particularly complex.


    The onlookers were dumbfounded, some even numbed. They never imagined that the legendary ¡°Five-Colored Dragon Queen¡± and ¡°Platinum Dragon King¡± would appear simultaneously at this ceremony.


    But people from across Fianso deeply felt the importance of this giant dragon.


    ¡°Good day, Your Majesty Bahamut.¡±


    Even Evil Dragons often respected Bahamut¡¯s wisdom and strength, and Cassius was no exception.


    Tiamat roared angrily, ¡°Bahamut! Your Chosen One has been defeated by my offspring, how dare you appear here!¡±


    Bahamut spoke calmly, ¡°I rejoice at any powerful dragon who wishes to turn over a new leaf.¡±


    ¡°You are spouting nonsense!¡±


    Two immense divine forces clashed in the sky, creating turbulent waves that caused the wind and clouds to surge.


    Cassius gazed at the chaotic sky, his expression unperturbed.


    Months ago, when he erased Bahamut¡¯s presence from the gem, he sent a certain signal to the other party¡ªa kind of invitation.


    The other party understood and arrived as promised. Perhaps the Platinum Dragon King did not truly intend to co-opt Cassius but merely wanted to disgust Tiamat¡ªbut that was enough.


    The older and more powerful the dragon, the better it could perceive the true nature of these dragon gods. Very few of the oldest dragons followed them blindly.


    Cassius did not want to become Tiamat¡¯s pawn, nor did he want to be completely under the Dragon Queen¡¯s control. He preferred to oscillate between various factions, seeking the greatest benefit for his Empire.


    But due to Cassius¡¯ past victories over Silver Dragons and Tiamat¡¯s deliberate guidance, more and more people on the continent viewed him as Tiamat¡¯s Chosen One, even Her direct descendant.


    He did not want to see such a situation unfold.


    In the past, with insufficient strength, Cassius might have used Tiamat¡¯s influence to intimidate enemies.


    Now, with enough strength, that identity would only bring him more enemies and troubles.


    Not to mention a stingy deity like Tiamat, who rarely bestowed grace but instead used followers to achieve Her goals as much as possible.


    In the sky, clouds churned, lightning crackled. The mere projections of the two deities brought unimaginable intimidation.


    In the venue, Blue Dragons and Silver Dragons were also at each other¡¯s throats, muscles tensed, ready for battle.


    Amid this tense and chaotic atmosphere, Cassius finally broke the stalemate by speaking first.


    ¡°To be crowned under the witness of both Your Majesties¡ª¡±


    His tone paused slightly.


    Under the gaze of hundreds of thousands, the Red Dragon strode briskly to the metal box, reached out his claw without hesitation, and swiftly placed the diadem on his head.


    ¡°Is indeed my greatest honor.¡±


    At this moment, Cassius¡¯ voice was exceptionally steady.


    The presence of the two deities elevated the prestige of the Ashen Empire to new heights.


    In fact, before this coronation ceremony, Cassius had made up his mind. As the new emperor of the Ashen Empire, the supreme ruler, he needed no one to crown him¡ªnot even a deity.

 Chapter 386 - 309: Empire

    Chapter 386: Chapter 309: Empire


    For a moment, the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness fell silent. Whether it was the people and monsters on the ground or the deities in the sky, all eyes were on the newly crowned giant dragon.


    Cassius¡¯ expression did not change.


    He felt the sensation of the crown on his head, sensed the gazes from all directions, and issued his unique imperial declaration:


    ¡°I, Cassius Claudius Norixius, hereby proclaim¡ª¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Empire is established.¡±


    The tone was not passionate, yet it was full of strength, making everyone present feel the heavy weight of it.


    ¡°Good, very good¡­¡±


    ¡°You are even more cunning than I thought. I originally believed¡­ you would be an obedient child.¡±


    Tiamat stared intently at the Red Dragon on the altar with those vertical pupils, eyes filled with endless anger and greed. She slowly spread her wings, which covered the sky.


    Instantly, Cassius felt an overwhelming force descend. A shadow enveloped the land, and the nearly tangible pressure weighed down on his shoulders like a heavy mountain.


    But he was no longer the same as before.


    Cassius used all his strength to lift his head under the terrible pressure and gaze into Tiamat¡¯s greedy eyes with his light gold vertical pupils.


    ¡°You flatter me¡­¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty Tiamat.¡±


    With clenched teeth, Cassius forced these words from deep within his throat.


    At this moment, this atavistic Red Dragon looked extremely hideous and terrifying.


    His muscles bulged, veins popped, the spines on his back stood up, steam spewed from the pores on his neck, and his scales rippled with magma-like patterns.


    In the next moment, the pressure suddenly dissipated.


    Cassius also let out a sigh of relief.


    He had no fear of Tiamat.


    If Tiamat openly attacked the newly ascendant Red Dragon in such a setting, it would only make the five-colored dragons on the continent feel abandoned, causing her faith to wither¡ª the shrewd Dragon Queen would not do anything so unwise.


    Tiamat hoped to use Cassius¡¯ coronation to further expand her influence without paying any actual price, spreading the Dragon Queen¡¯s fame.


    But obviously, her plan to gain without loss had failed.


    As the pressure vanished, the phantom of Tiamat in the sky retracted all her power and said indifferently, ¡°Cassius, you should know the fate of those rebels who oppose me¡­¡±


    ¡°I hope you won¡¯t take that path.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, the five-headed dragon¡¯s form dissipated into the void.


    Cassius merely nodded slightly in the direction where the Dragon Queen had disappeared and said politely, ¡°I will heed Your teachings and take them to heart.¡±


    He then looked in the other direction in the sky and saw the Platinum Dragon with a slightly mocking smile on his face, ¡°What an entertaining show.¡±


    The enmity between these two Dragon Gods had lasted for millennia, growing profoundly deep. They used any means to stop each other, even causing the tragic ¡°War of Dragonfall.¡±


    Bahamut turned to look at Cassius, his expression becoming serious.


    ¡°Indeed, the aura of the Abyss¡­¡±


    ¡°You have the potential to become a Dragon King. Do not stray.¡±


    Leaving those words, which only Cassius could hear, the pale blue light sparkled again, and the phantom of the Platinum Dragon gradually faded¡ªthe once turbulent, portentous sky returned to its clear and open state.


    The tens of thousands present remained silent, quietly gazing up at the newly crowned Emperor on the altar. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    No one dared meddle in the conflicts of the Gods.


    ¡°Dragon God¡­¡±


    Cassius looked up at the azure sky, watching the departure of the Platinum Dragon. His expression was incredibly calm, and the golden crown on his head gleamed brightly.


    In his heart, he felt no affection for these Dragon Gods, whether good or evil dragons. He would not follow any of them.


    If he had to believe in something, it could only be himself.


    At that moment, a long-lost panel floated before him, several pieces of information refreshing in rapid succession, accompanied by the appearance of a crimson gold trophy.


    [You have established your own empire, earning the legendary achievement[Emperor]]


    [Emperor]


    ¡°The sun never sets over the Empire¡¯s territories.¡±


    ¡ªHoly Fadlan Emperor, Aragon the First


    Your trait[Kingdom Domain]has upgraded to an advanced trait: [Imperial Region]


    Charisma +5


    Ruling Proficiency +18


    [Supreme Imperial Power]: Within your empire, you enjoy unparalleled, deity-like authority. Your will can turn any area into a Dead Magic Domain, incite Sorcery chaos, permanently alter climates, and shape landscapes.


    [Emperor¡¯s Dominance]: Within the empire, you possess a unique status. You are immune to all forms of physical, mental, and even spiritual control.


    [Imperial Grace]: At a minimal cost, you can bestow your power on your vassals. Those who receive this grace will become dependent on you corporeally, mentally, and even spiritually, thereby strengthening your soul¡¯s intensity.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Cassius let out a satisfied roar, feeling an invisible great power acting on his body.


    It was already evening, and the sun was slowly setting.


    The last rays of the setting sun bathed the surface of the Red Dragon¡¯s scales in a faint golden glow, making the crown on his head shimmer with aurora.


    The people in the venue looked up at the top of the altar. For some reason, they instinctively felt that this Red Dragon had become more noble and majestic. Some even knelt tremblingly, shivering all over.


    If the previous Red Dragon gave people a sense of looking down on mortals and towering over all beings, the current Red Dragon made them feel one thing¡ªdivinity.


    This was the power of [Imperial Region].


    ¡°This power¡­¡±


    ¡°Even if Tiamat were to descend, I would not fear.¡±


    Cassius experienced that absolute control, his face involuntarily breaking into a smile, satisfied with his power.


    ¡°I originally planned to use Bloodline Gift to give them some ¡®surprises¡¯, but now, I may as well test this new ability.¡±


    He looked down at the quiet crowd in the venue, thinking this.


    This was part of Cassius¡¯ original plan.


    The Red Dragon spread his broad wings and flapped them. Accompanied by a howling wind, he slowly ascended to a hundred meters high.


    As time passed, the sun almost set completely, and the night curtain gradually descended, making the sky dark with only an orange-red horizon remaining where the sky met the ground.


    Suddenly, exclamations erupted in the venue.


    ¡°Look, what is that?¡±


    ¡°How can there be light at this time?¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡±


    ¡°That¡­ is that? Gods!¡±


    Tens of thousands in the venue simultaneously lifted their heads, seeing half the sky illuminated. The once pitch-black sky was dyed orange-red.


    It was bright.


    A second sun appeared in the sky.


    ¡ª It was Cassius.

 Chapter 387 - 310 Grace (Part 1)

    Chapter 387: Chapter 310 Grace (Part 1)


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Cassius slightly lowered his head and let out a roar that echoed across the wasteland, flapping his broad wings as he hovered high in the sky.


    ¡°No, it can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    ¡°Could it be¡­¡±


    The thought was extremely audacious.


    Dayev raised his head and couldn¡¯t help but shield his eyes with his hand. Through the gaps between his fingers, he barely saw the scene in the sky¡ª


    He saw the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth overflowing with scorching white smoke, brilliant flames bursting from the vents on its neck and tail. The dragon crystal on its chest radiated blinding light, and every scale on its body shimmered with the ripples of magma.


    At this moment, he was like a second sun rising in the sky, making it almost impossible for anyone present to keep their eyes open.


    Cassius¡¯s thunderous voice came from the sky, sounding like an oracle in people¡¯s ears.


    ¡°As the Emperor of the Ashen Empire, at this solemn moment¡­¡±


    ¡°I will confer blessings¡­¡±


    ¡°Remember, the empire will not mistreat any retainer who is loyal to and has contributed to the empire.¡±


    This time, not only the people in the venue, but even the retainers on the altar were extremely excited.


    Basking in this golden radiance, the humans and Monster Kin from the former Ashen Kingdom all started to breathe heavily, their faces flushed, and their hearts pounding.


    They knew what this meant.


    The last conferment ceremony had produced two hundred and thirty-seven Dragonblood Nobles, who had become the elites of the Ashen Kingdom at the time, shining in various fields across the nation and reaping unimaginable benefits.


    And this time, with the Coronation of the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon, the reborn Ashen Empire occupying all of Anzeta, and emissaries gathering from all over Fianso, the scale of the conferment was bound to be grander than before, and the number of those fortunate enough to receive blessings would undoubtedly be greater.


    Indeed, a dozen Half-Dragons in luxurious ceremonial robes, holding name registers, appeared on the altar. They were the heralds for this conferment.


    The conferment ceremony no longer required Ramp to worry because the now vast empire had become highly specialized, with every detail handled by designated personnel.


    ¡°By His Majesty Cassius¡¯s approval, Duke Dolores is promoted to a second-class duke.¡±


    Amid the enthusiastic cheers of the Great Goblins and Bugbears, Dolores, on the high platform, kneeled with excitement.


    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±


    Dolores displayed a tearful gratitude, his head lowered.


    However, deep within his eyes, there was a glow of ambition, his gaze inadvertently falling on Ramp beside him.


    ¡°Just a first-class duke by seniority¡­soon.¡±


    ¡°I will catch up to you soon.¡±


    Dolores thought as he kneeled on the ground.


    And the Half-Dragon attendant respectfully stepped forward to pin an imperial medal with a pair of Dragon Wings on Dolores.


    Ramp also seemed to sense the long-lost, provocative gaze, and a slight smile appeared on his lips¡ªhe had sensed the original sin of jealousy, the familiar formula, the familiar taste.


    One name after another, well-known within the nation, was read out by the heralds.


    ¡°Marquis Jin Ya is promoted to second-class marquis.¡±


    ¡°Marquis Dailenna is promoted to second-class marquis.¡±


    ¡°Marquess Alger is promoted to¡­¡±


    ¡°Marquess Xial¡­¡±


    One High-ranking Dragonblood Marquess after another waved to the crowd before turning to face Cassius, kneeling on the altar platform.


    However, these were still too far removed from ordinary citizens, and those who paid close attention to imperial politics could guess these conferrals.


    But then, finally, there was a blessing that leapfrogged several ranks.


    ¡°Viscount Anthony is promoted to marquis.¡±


    After the herald spoke, the crowd erupted with astonishment.


    ¡°What? Leapt two ranks!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a Judgment Knight of the Dragon Oath Sanctuary?¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, such a young marquis.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it is said he comes from a particularly humble origin, rescued from a noble¡¯s basement, amazingly lucky to catch the eye of His Majesty.¡±


    Under the gaze of the crowd, Anthony, filled with excitement, ascended the marble steps step by step, climbing two levels to finally reach the marquis platform.


    He kneeled before Cassius, tears streaming down his Semi-Dragon Form face.


    ¡°Thank Your Majesty¡­¡±


    A scorching tear fell on the altar.


    Anthony was a complete beneficiary of the imperial system.


    If not for the empire¡¯s rise, he might have spent his life as a noble¡¯s plaything, dying in a dark, sunless basement.


    But now, he possessed great strength, high status, and was a standout new star of the empire.


    Thinking of this, Anthony gritted his teeth and his resolve to die for the empire grew stronger, the power of the ¡°Oath of the Dragon¡± within him growing ever more potent.


    In fact, internally within the Empire, Anthony¡¯s leap to marquis was not unexpected¡ªat the level of marquis, one¡¯s personal power was secondary, as nearly every marquis represented a significant imperial faction, and as the Dragon Oath Sanctuary¡¯s representative, Anthony naturally had the qualifications to become a marquis.


    The previous title of viscount was due to his late joining of the kingdom, lacking seniority and notable achievements, making it hard to convince the public.


    However, after the unification war of Anzeta, his promotion to marquis was naturally deserved.


    ¡°Promote¡­¡±


    ¡°Promote Count Acker to marquis.¡±


    When the herald read this name, the top titles of duke and marquis were finally all bestowed.


    The empire still only had three great dukes, but the number of marquises had increased to twenty-four, expanded several times compared to before.


    ¡°Confer the title of Earl to Iron Madman.¡±


    ¡°Confer the title of Earl to Tian Xingjian.¡±


    ¡°Confer the title of Earl to Tyrant.¡±


    The herald read out three stylistically distinct names in succession, causing yet another uproar.


    They were all players, directly granted titles due to their faction prestige points reaching ten thousand, without any behind-the-scenes manipulation.


    ¡°Those Starfallen can directly become earls?¡±


    ¡°Those¡­ madmen.¡±


    Some were dissatisfied, but others remembered the players¡¯ reckless combat style and couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously.


    ¡°Guild Master!¡±


    ¡°Praise Ohm Messiah! Ring the bell three times!¡±


    ¡°Glory to Royalty, immortality to heroes!¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Aaaahhhh!¡±


    On the players¡¯ side, members of these powerful guilds began to cheer, knowing that the title of earl would grant them many privileges, helping them get ahead in resource competition.


    Meanwhile, Charlotte¡¯s face darkened as she mumbled:


    ¡°Damn it¡­ if it weren¡¯t for bad luck in monster hunting, I¡¯d be an earl too.¡±


    Amid the envious gaze of the imperial citizens, one native earl after another emerged, mostly promoted from first- and second-class viscounts, earning their titles through military merits.


    ¡°Joining the army is truly beneficial¡ª¡±


    ¡°Indeed, noble status, great strength, long life¡­ there¡¯s nothing much more worthwhile in this world.¡±


    In the venue, some people gazed at the unprecedented spectacle on the altar, muttering enviously, their faces full of jealousy and admiration.

 Chapter 388 - 311 Grace (Part 2)

    Chapter 388: Chapter 311 Grace (Part 2)


    One name after another was read aloud by the proclamation officer. Atop the high platform belonging to the Imperial Counts, nearly fifty people had already gathered.


    Those whose names were called were ecstatic, causing their families and supporting factions to celebrate. Meanwhile, those whose names were not called were beating their chests in frustration, feeling deeply resentful.


    The Half-Dragon proclamation officers cleared their throats and began reading the next list of names.


    ¡°Charlotte is appointed as Viscount.¡±


    ¡°Singo is appointed as Viscount.¡±


    ¡°Earnie Baines is appointed as Viscount.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    At the level of Viscounts, players had become more numerous, and familiar names began to appear, mostly members of major guilds or professional scattered players.


    Unlike the others, Charlotte, the president of [Magic Coin], forced a smile as she stepped onto the stage.


    ¡°My Count¡¯s position¡­¡±


    Charlotte sighed silently in her heart. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Half-Dragon proclamation officers continued to read the names on the list, summoning the people of the Empire to the altar. Eventually, the number of Viscounts expanded to over a hundred.


    Positions like Count and Viscount were still too distant for ordinary commoners, while the position of Baron offered a tantalizing opportunity to cross the social strata and enter the threshold of Dragonblood Nobility.


    Thus, many people held their breath, nervously praying to hear their names.


    ¡ªGeorge was one such person.


    He stood in the military formation below the stage, his hand holding the spear trembling slightly, his uniform soaked with sweat.


    Having experienced months of combat, he had become the sergeant of a small team. He had earned several Medals of Honor for killing enemy officers, yet he still felt uneasy.


    George muttered under his breath:


    ¡°May His Majesty Cassius bless me¡­¡±


    ¡°Please, you must make me a Dragonblood Noble¡­¡±


    ¡°Jokri Leyman is appointed as Baron.¡±


    ¡°Brinton Landry is appointed as Baron.¡±


    Amidst the murmur of the crowd, names continued to be read aloud, and George listened nervously.


    The Half-Dragon proclamation officer¡¯s voice echoed once again from above.


    ¡°George is appointed as Baron.¡±


    Suddenly, an overwhelming exhilaration surged through George, nearly causing him to faint. It took him several breaths to regain his composure.


    ¡°Is this really not a dream¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I am actually becoming a Dragonblood Noble!¡±


    His legs were trembling as he staggered onto the high platform under the guards¡¯ urging. When he knelt down, his eyes were already brimming with tears.


    The crowd burst into an uproar, with many gasping in astonishment.


    ¡°That, that is the mark of a serf!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s him again, the one favored by the God of Fate.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s becoming a Dragonblood Noble? How enviable!¡±


    ¡°That is Lord George. I worked with him before! Look at him now; he¡¯s Baron George now!¡±


    George¡¯s journey was considered quite legendary among the workers.


    The Ministry of Propaganda had molded him into the epitome of the ¡®Kingdom Dream,¡¯ and many viewed him as a role model, while others snubbed him as just a lucky individual, feeling disdainful.


    Regardless, he was about to become a Baron.


    George had crossed that threshold, soon to truly step into the prestigious echelons of the Empire and become an ¡°important figure.¡±


    ¡°From now on¡­¡±


    ¡°I am a Dragonblood Noble.¡±


    In the eyes of tens of thousands of onlookers, George sobbed tears of joy and exhilaration¡ªhe had tasted the sweet success of elevating his social standing through hard work.


    ¡°Praise His Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    George prayed in a low voice.


    Yes, he prayed.


    In his heart, the high and mighty Majesty was nothing short of a deity, one to whom George felt immense gratitude, even worship.


    In the old days of the North, as a serf, he had no hope and would have died in the cold winds, muddle-headedly.


    But with Cassius¡¯s arrival and the establishment of the Empire, he had been granted precious freedom and the chance to become a Dragonblood Noble, a figure capable of controlling his fate.


    As a profound beneficiary of the Empire¡¯s system, how could he not be grateful and devoted?


    After this ennobling, even if Cassius ordered him to his death, George would not hesitate.


    Everything he had was given by the Empire.


    His status, honor, and even his life.


    ¡°May His Majesty be immortal, and the Empire eternal.¡±


    When the last name was called, more than three hundred Barons appeared on the high platform. Most were brave and outstanding soldiers during the war¡ªthe very ones most envied by ordinary Empire citizens.


    Because it was so close, it seemed within grasp.


    This ennobling ceremony had finally ended.


    Or rather, it had only just begun.


    ¡°You may begin.¡±


    Cassius, hovering in the sky, slowly flapped his wings, looking down upon the kneeling subjects with his pale golden eyes.


    ¡°Roooar¡ª¡±


    With a prolonged roar, the Dragon Crystal on the Red Dragon¡¯s chest emitted an incredibly dazzling light, illuminating the entire sky.


    The intense light forced the tens of thousands of spectators to close their eyes.


    In an instant, the night over the Anzeta Great Wilderness turned as bright as day.


    [Imperial Grace]


    Clusters of Flowing Flame descended from the sky like meteors, falling onto the bodies of the subjects on the altar.


    The sky was adorned with hundreds of radiant tails, making the surrounding scene extraordinarily magnificent.


    Those subjects who had previously received the Bloodline Gift felt the searing blood flowing in their veins, quietly awaiting their second life transformation.


    The Ogre Archmage Ramp knelt motionless, eyes tightly shut, feeling his body being perfected.


    Soon, Ramp lifted his head, flames spouting from his golden eyes, filled with intense excitement¡ªhe felt the connection to a soul.


    ¡°Master¡­¡±


    Those who had never received the Dragon Vein blessing underwent a metamorphosis, screaming and roaring in agony, ascending to a higher form of life essence.


    ¡°This¡­ this is a gift¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve endured so many hardships, I must hold on!¡±


    George¡¯s thin body trembled violently as scales emerged under his skin on his back. Unable to hold back, he raised his head and roared.


    ¡°Raaah!¡±


    His bloodshot, engorged eyes were forcibly transformed into golden vertical pupils¡ªthe most distinct feature of Dragonblood Nobility, revered as ¡°Golden Eyes.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I am also a Dragonblood Noble now¡­¡±


    George, gazing at the scales growing on his hands, thought as he lost consciousness.


    On the altar, hundreds of loyal subjects underwent similar transformations, becoming true magic-infused Dragon Vein Creatures.


    The grand altar shimmered with Flowing Flame, as if covered with a robe woven from fire and light, no longer resembling a scene of the earthly world.


    The Red Dragon flapped its wings in the sky, showcasing its might and bestowing the Empire¡¯s Grace.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°That truly is an ascension ceremony¡­¡±


    Dayev, gazing up at the spectacular scene on the altar, looked particularly grim.

 Chapter 389 - 312 The End

    Chapter 389: Chapter 312 The End


    The envoys from the Fadlan region watched the ceremony intently, their expressions particularly solemn¡ªthis was all part of Cassius¡¯s plan.


    He deliberately built the altar in the shape of the ¡°Sun God Pyramid¡± and bestowed grace here to make them think of the ¡°Ascension Ritual¡± that took place one hundred and fifty years ago.


    Originally, he was going to perform the Bloodline Gift, but now he replaced it with the more significant Imperial Grace


    The people in the venue raised their heads, gazing at the sky bright as daylight, watching the brilliant flowing flames.


    ¡°Is this His Majesty¡¯s power?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s practically a miracle¡­¡±


    ¡°So beautiful.¡±


    On the majestic altar, a wave of powerful Dragon¡¯s Aura Field suddenly erupted, drawing everyone¡¯s attention.


    Even Cassius, high above, looked down, focusing on the altar¡¯s summit.


    ¡°Is this¡­¡±


    ¡°Legendary Level life essence.¡±


    Wreathing white smoke slowly dispersed, a massive black silhouette appeared on the altar.


    The Dragon Vein Ogre stood nearly ten meters tall, its mountains of flesh covered in scarlet scales, with several short, thick horns on its head, even disproportionate fleshy wings had grown from its back.


    The Ancestral Dragon¡¯s bloodline had surpassed that of the ogre, at this moment, Rump was more like an obese Red Dragon than an ogre.


    His life essence had broken through the bounds of mortal beings, reaching the Legendary Level.


    As the mage level increased, combining spells with an overwhelming physique, Rump¡¯s power would become even more terrifying.


    In Cassius¡¯s vision, Great Sage-Rump had reached a fearsome Challenge Level of 17, and his suffix also added a new term¡ªLegendary Creature S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°This Imperial Grace is indeed effective, finally, there¡¯s a Legendary Level retainer.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s face immediately showed joy.


    He then turned to the other two dukes. Mezulash was approaching the Legendary Level, while Dolores was slightly behind.


    ¡°Master, thank you for your grace.¡±


    Rump crawled on the altar, his ugly face barely containing extreme excitement.


    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°This¡­ such powerful strength.¡±


    ¡°Is this the Dragonblood Nobility?¡±


    Most of the Dragonblood Nobility who had received the grace awoke from unconsciousness; feeling the surging power within them, they knelt uniformly towards the Red Dragon.


    Invisible soul bonds appeared between them and the emperor, making their submission seem so natural.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Cassius let out a low roar, first circling in the sky, then landing with a boom at the altar¡¯s peak, finally spreading his broad wings.


    The surrounding sky darkened again, but flames still lingered in the air, the Red Dragon stood against the light, his massive silhouette outlined with a shining edge.


    ¡°Long live the Empire!¡±


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    A shout suddenly emerged from the crowd.


    Immediately, like an infection, the soldiers on watch cheered, the onlooking citizens cheered, and the Starfallen also cheered.


    However, among the crowded and fervent masses, there were quite a few different presences.


    ¡°Deity, Ascension Ritual¡­¡±


    ¡°I must report back to His Majesty Wilhelm! This Empire is very dangerous, far beyond some in the kingdom¡¯s imagination!¡±


    Dayev gazed at the Red Dragon on the altar, his expression extremely solemn.


    With horror, he discovered that even he himself¡ªa bard from the Thrace Kingdom, a confidant of His Majesty Wilhelm¡ªhad almost succumbed to the fervent atmosphere, shouting that ¡°long live the Empire¡± slogan.


    ¡°The Harpists want to overthrow such a nation with rebellion¡­ how is that even possible?¡±


    ¡°Abir, forgive me, maybe I am just rectifying some destined-to-fail mistakes.¡±


    Richard scanned the feverish faces around him, pulling his hood lower, and disappeared back into the crowd, vanishing without a trace.


    The envoy from the Kingdom of Cassandra¡ªFavaro Gregory¡ªwas deep in thought, recording something with a feather pen on a scroll.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I believe the Ashen Empire might become an important ally in defeating the Thrace Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°It is stronger than we imagined.¡±


    The cheers of the people were like waves, surging across the wilderness, wave upon wave.


    Tens of thousands of people heightened the atmosphere to its peak, their fervent slogans of ¡°Long live the Empire¡± ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius¡± echoing across the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Cassius stood at the altar¡¯s summit, overlooking the agitated crowd below, nodding slightly.


    ¡°Long live the Empire?¡±


    ¡°No, that is merely a vision of mortals, for dragons, ten thousand years is not an unreachable goal.¡±


    ¡°What I need is¡­ eternity.¡±


    The Red Dragon raised his head to the sky, thinking to himself.


    ¡­


    ¡°I will never forget that coronation ceremony, and the feeling of being drawn in and almost paralyzed in enchantment.¡±


    ¡°Since then, a certain unspeakable premonition took root in my heart¡ªperhaps this Empire will achieve grander feats than the Holy Fadlan.¡±


    ¡ªMemoir by Dayev Nelson


    ¡­


    On the night of March 2, 1786, in the Third Era, in Isdalia, the coronation ceremony came to an end.


    Historical records state:


    The Red Dragon was crowned, and the Ashen Empire was established.


    The news of this world-renowned event spread throughout the Fianso Continent within a few days, even shaking the entire Prime Material Plane.


    The Ashen Empire demonstrated formidable military strength and developed a unique military system unlike any other nation.


    The Five-Colored Dragon Queen Tiamat and the Platinum Dragon King Bahamut both projected themselves, personally witnessing the coronation of the King of Ashen.


    The Red Dragon bestowed grace upon his retainers, holding a ceremony similar to the ¡°Ascension Ritual,¡± creating several Legendary strong individuals.


    The news spread one after another.


    As expected by the Empire¡¯s higher-ups¡ªthe personal witnessing by two deities, grace similar to the Sun God¡¯s Ascension Ritual, gave the Southern forces a huge shock, and also made the name Ashen Empire resonate throughout the Fianso Continent.


    This was also one of Cassius¡¯s objectives.


    It was easy to foresee that after this coronation ceremony, the Empire would have greater influence and become pivotal on the Fianso Continent.


    Cassius also became more renowned.


    People seemed to notice: the relationship between this Red Dragon and Tiamat was not as close as rumored, with even considerable tension.


    And Cassius¡¯s distinctive, fierce appearance, Primordial Dragon level large physique, and a personality not as savage and brutal as typical Red Dragons, sparked great interest among dragon scholars.


    Thus, under the unceasing research of dragon scholars, the title ¡°Dragon Prince¡± was completely abolished, replaced by the more representative title ¡°Crimson Emperor.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°The ¡®Crimson Emperor¡¯ rose like a meteor, yet did not fall like a comet.¡±


    ¡ªDragon scholar, Ganse

 Chapter 390 - 313 Wojin Church

    Chapter 390: Chapter 313 Wojin Church


    Northwind Castle, Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    Selvin Montero looked around at the luxurious decorations, pushed his pince-nez with silver frames, bowed forward, and said with a smile:


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, I must say, you have excellent taste. I believe you will like what our Wojin Church has to offer.¡±


    ¡°We can bring you all the beautiful and luxurious goods in the world.¡±


    Selvin was wearing an exceedingly gaudy silk shirt, leather bracers and short boots, with various small tools tied with silk ribbons around the hem, and draped in a heavy, gilded red cloak¡ªhis entire body utilized bright and lavish design styles.


    This was the standard attire of Wojin Church¡¯s internal personnel. Their appearance was always so glamorous and ostentatious.


    Cassius, lying on the steel throne, slightly tilted his head and asked with a trace of contempt:


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Everything?¡±


    ¡°As long as you have enough gold coins.¡±


    Selvin pushed his glasses up his nose again and hurriedly added.


    Cassius was very clear about these people¡¯s nature¡ªthey worshiped the Goddess of Wealth, Wojin, and would stop at nothing for profit. When the stakes were high enough, they might even risk their lives.


    For such people, endless forgiveness would only make them push their luck. The right approach was to beat them with a stick and then give them a sweet date.


    Red Dragon opened his eyes, his pale golden pupils staring directly at the merchant, and a nearly tangible Dragon¡¯s Might spread out.


    ¡°So¡­you¡¯re questioning the empire¡¯s wealth? Or are you questioning my wealth?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    Selvin immediately panicked, cold sweat beading on his forehead, but he swiftly steadied his emotions and forced a flattering smile:


    ¡°Of course not, Your Majesty. Who would question an emperor¡¯s wealth? Especially when this emperor is also a great dragon.¡±


    ¡°A bishop once said, never judge a dragon¡¯s wealth with a mortal¡¯s mindset; just try your best to serve them well.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, in the eyes of our Wojin Church, you are definitely one of the most top-tier, most honorable clients.¡±


    No wonder he was a diplomat of Wojin Church. Selvin¡¯s response and eloquence were quite remarkable, with a rich arsenal of persuasive tactics.


    If Cassius were an ordinary Red Dragon, he might have indeed been pleased by their flattery.


    Selvin only felt his body lighten, and that invisible pressure suddenly vanished.


    Cassius smirked and mocked:


    ¡°Are all of you from Wojin Church this glib?¡±


    Selvin squeezed out another smile: ¡°Of course not, only when facing distinguished clients like you¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like hearing meaningless drivel.¡±


    Cassius interrupted impatiently.


    ¡°Yes, yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Selvin nodded repeatedly in agreement. He hastily pulled a golden silk handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the sweat from his forehead. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius supported his enormous body with all four limbs and rose slowly. His broad wings unfurled, almost enveloping the entire Wojin diplomatic mission.


    Red Dragon stared at the trembling group and asked: ¡°Then I¡¯ll be straightforward¡ªyou and your deity want to cooperate?¡±


    Selvin couldn¡¯t help but lower his head, adjusting his glasses with a trembling hand: ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, the empire¡¯s frequent commercial trades in Anzeta have drawn the Goddess¡¯s attention. The great Goddess Wojin has seen the immense potential of your empire.¡±


    ¡°Lady Wojin believes that commercial trade is the best way to prosperity. If we can increase economic circulation worldwide, it will further develop all civilizations and bring happiness to all intelligent beings in the world.¡±


    ¡°So¡­..the empire is an excellent partner for us.¡±


    After finishing his words, he cautiously glanced out of the corner of his eye, seeing that Red Dragon¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and finally let out a long breath.


    Cassius grinned.


    ¡°Free trade, indeed¡­¡±


    ¡°That is certainly a universal value. Our Ashen Empire has always followed such principles and encouraged all forms of free trade.¡±


    He said this.


    ¡°Your Majesty, your views are truly enlightened and perfectly align with our Wojin Church.¡±


    Selvin was immediately somewhat excited; he seemed to see the dawn of cooperation¡ªan opportunity that could bring enormous benefits to the church and to himself.


    Cassius, expression calm, asked again: ¡°So¡­what kind of cooperation do you propose?¡±


    Selvin became enthusiastic, speaking eagerly: ¡°Wojin¡¯s followers travel the world, assisting merchants in their trade activities.¡±


    ¡°We can establish Wojin Temples in the empire¡¯s cities for free, becoming local financing centers, currency exchange points, and depositories, helping you earn more wealth, filling your treasury even more, and allowing you to have¡­¡±


    ¡°Impossible.¡±


    Cassius coldly interrupted him.


    ¡°All financial and trade activities within the Ashen Empire must be controlled by the Imperial Bank and the Imperial Commerce Department, without any foreign interference.¡±


    Red Dragon sneered and took a few more steps forward, the sulfurous smoke almost spraying onto Selvin, making him shake like a sieve.


    Selvin realized he had gotten a bit carried away earlier.


    ¡°Ha, you think I don¡¯t know your tricks?¡±


    ¡°If this is the sincerity of Wojin Church¡¯s cooperation, then there¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡±


    ¡°This is contempt for the empire!¡±


    In the end, his voice was almost a dragon¡¯s roar, bringing dreadful pressure.


    The diplomats of Wojin Church could hardly stand, with some even fainting, and only the High Priest Selvin barely managing to stay conscious.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°Wait, I think there is still room for cooperation!¡±


    Selvin pleaded continuously.


    With his past life¡¯s experience, Cassius knew Wojin Church all too well.


    The Wojin Temples were spread across the continent. On the surface, Wojin Church appeared to disdain using rumors, monopolies, or hiring bandits to manipulate trade activities, openly criticizing such tactics.


    But privately, they required priests to use these tactics in the most covert ways.


    In the past life, many players were scammed by Wojin Church, even accruing heavy debts, leading thousands of affected players to form the ¡°Bankrupt Alliance¡± and wage war against Wojin Temples around the world.


    ¡°The bold discover wealth, the cautious keep wealth, and the timid waste wealth.¡±


    This was their creed.


    If Wojin Church were allowed to establish temples within the empire, it would be akin to handing the economic lifeline to a group of cunning speculators.


    And this was something Cassius would not allow¡ªhe needed absolute control over the empire, be it politically, economically, or culturally.


    And even in this cooperation, he needed to occupy an absolute leading position, reversing the situation to exploit Wojin Church¡¯s value.


    Selvin wiped the sweat from his face, shaken, and asked: ¡°Your Majesty, then you will decide everything¡­¡±


    ¡°I will strive to secure the best terms for you, to bring about a great and glorious collaboration.¡±


    Selvin¡¯s words trembled.


    ¡°Which idiot told me that Red Dragons are just muscleheads, only concerned with immediate gain?¡±


    He cursed inwardly, wishing he could strangle the person who drafted the previous plan.

 Chapter 391 - 391: 314 Great Cooperation

    Chapter 391: 314 Chapter Great Cooperation


    Cassius looked down at him.


    ¡°Do not let it happen again.¡±


    ¡°Remember, emissary of the Wojin Church, keep your cheap tricks to yourself. I am not one of those easily deceived human lords.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Selvin still responded with a hint of unease.


    Thus, Cassius easily took control of the conversation, guiding the future direction of this collaboration.


    ¡°The Empire has already drafted a comprehensive cooperation plan, ensuring mutual benefits for both parties.¡±


    Cassius said.


    However, he had already lost interest in the Wojin Church¡¯s emissary and felt a bit impatient¡ªgreedy merchants were incredibly boring.


    So, the Red Dragon lazily reclined on the Iron Throne again and gave Ramp a knowing look.


    Ramp immediately understood. He took out a thick stack of plans from his robes, along with a parchment contract.


    ¡°The Empire and the Wojin Church will cooperate on the basis of equality and friendship, adhering to the commercial principles of honesty, mutual benefit, and joint development¡­¡±


    Selvin listened for a long time, hearing nothing but useless jargon. His ears were almost calloused by the idleness, but in the end, he still found the key point in the lengthy discourse.


    ¡°The Empire possesses a large amount of goods for disposal, while the Wojin Church has temples spread across the Fianso Continent. The two sides are complementary, with a sufficient basis for cooperation and shared interests¡­¡±


    ¡°The Empire will join forces with the Wojin Church to establish the ¡®Imperial Southern Continent Company.¡¯ The Ashen Empire will supply the goods, while the Wojin Church will provide sales channels and trade transfer stations¡­¡±


    ¡°In this collaboration, the Wojin Church will receive a portion of the commission, but the Empire must retain dominance.¡±


    Selvin furrowed his brows and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°A trade company? You want to sell goods to the South?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Ramp nodded in reply.


    However, he had already discerned doubt from Selvin¡¯s eyes, though it was constrained by the presence of the Red Dragon.


    Selvin¡¯s doubts were understandable¡ªthe Anzeta Great Wilderness was remote and barren, plagued by perennial Magic decline, whereas the South was rich and vibrant, far more prosperous.


    How could Anzeta¡¯s goods be sold in the South?


    Ramp tapped the ground lightly with his Magic Wand, and amid a ripple of space, he pulled something from the void.


    Selvin adjusted his pince-nez and saw that it was a wool sweater¡ªit showed no signs of Enchantment, just ordinary wool knitwear, not even finely crafted.


    ¡°These ignorant Anzeta Barbarians¡­ could they truly see such a thing as a treasure?¡±


    This Wojin believer thought with some contempt, but due to the presence of the Red Dragon, he kept his inner disdain hidden.


    Ramp smiled and said, ¡°Please guess¡ªwhat is its price?¡±


    ¡°20 silver coins?¡±


    Selvin answered nonchalantly.


    As a Wojin believer, Selvin knew the prices of various commodities very well, confident he wouldn¡¯t be wrong.


    But Ramp merely shook his head.


    ¡°15 silver coins?¡±


    ¡°10 silver coins?¡±


    Selvin finally put away his inner contempt, eyes full of disbelief.


    Ten silver coins, this was already the wholesale price in the renowned textile city of the South, the lowest across Fianso Continent, any lower would mean a loss.


    But Ramp just raised five sturdy fingers, shaking them in the air.


    ¡°This, this can¡¯t be!¡±


    Selvin couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    Ramp calmly said:


    ¡°Nothing is impossible. The Empire¡¯s wool sweaters are priced at five silver coins, and there is still room for price reduction.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, with the Empire¡¯s current production capacity, if raw materials are sufficient, we can produce seven million pieces of such wool sweaters per year. After industrial construction is completed nationwide, this number is expected to increase tenfold.¡±


    ¡°How, how did you achieve this?¡±


    Selvin¡¯s face was full of shock.


    He knew very well that in the production of such wool sweaters, the most important aspect was not the wool, but the skilled artisans¡ªtheir livelihood came from weaving wool.


    But the Empire¡¯s goods were extraordinarily cheap, and production was so massive; he couldn¡¯t fathom how it was achieved.


    Magic?


    Impossible.


    The cost of Magic was much higher than hiring artisans.


    Even though Magic was prevalent in the South, familiar to the people, it couldn¡¯t serve the general public in this way.


    Even the most skilled artisans could only weave three or four wool sweaters a day.


    Could it be that the Ashen Empire had captured tens of thousands of craftsmen, forcing them to work day and night?


    This idea seemed absurd to Selvin.


    Ramp casually tossed the wool sweater to the ground and said steadily:


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know how the Empire achieved it.¡±


    ¡°You only need to help us sell these goods and earn money from it¡ªsomething the Wojin Church does best, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°O-Of course.¡±


    Selvin¡¯s eyes instantly filled with greed, as if he saw a mountain of Gold Coins.


    The profits here were enormous.


    If the Ashen Empire¡¯s goods were indeed so affordable, selling them to the South would surely cause a frenzy.


    And if Ramp¡¯s words were true, that the Empire¡¯s production capacity could reach such terrifying volumes, their wool sweaters flooding the market would surely cause the collapse of wool workshops across the continent¡ªbut at the same time, the annual trade would generate millions of Gold Coins in profit.


    So much Gold Coin, even a slip through the fingers would be enough to fill his coffers.


    ¡°Who is your overall supervisor?¡±


    Ramp¡¯s voice interrupted Selvin¡¯s fantasy of heaps of Gold Coins.


    ¡°I-It¡¯s me, sir.¡±


    Selvin¡¯s voice trembled, out of excitement and anticipation.


    Ramp waved dismissively and said disdainfully, ¡°I mean the overall supervisor of the Wojin Church, not this diplomatic mission; you¡­ are not qualified to sign the contract and decide the future direction of this cooperation.¡±


    ¡°I report, sir, it is Tiona Ludwig Holy Coin.¡±


    Selvin finally calmed down, realizing he was merely an emissary, not capable of making such grand decisions.


    He hadn¡¯t let the Gold Coins go to his head.


    The Wojin belief system across the Fianso Continent was a unified structure, led by an Archbishop known as the ¡°Holy Coin.¡±


    The current Holy Coin and divine representative Tiona Ludwig in the ¡°Golden Tower¡± temple, a grand cathedral overlooking the Free Trade Federation, strived to consolidate Wojin¡¯s beliefs.


    Ramp¡¯s hideous face displayed a confident smile. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Very well, go back and tell her that there¡¯s a business deal worth tens of millions of Gold Coins here, and see if she¡­ wants to sign it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Selvin suppressed his excitement, bowing with immense respect.


    This was the allure of gold.


    A great and infamous collaboration was about to begin, bringing a splendid free trade, yet leading to countless bankruptcies.


    ¡­


    After the Wojin Church¡¯s diplomatic mission hastily departed, a brief conversation ensued in the empty palace.


    ¡°Ramp, you understand my expectations.¡±


    ¡°Of course, master. These profit-oriented Wojin believers cannot be trusted; their greed is insatiable.¡±


    ¡°We only intend to leverage their influence in the South¡­¡±


    ¡°Once the company firmly secures its foothold in the South, we will oust them and replace all employees with our own people.¡±


    ¡°Good, you understand.¡±


    As the ogre berated the Wojin Church¡¯s greed, he didn¡¯t realize¡ªhe himself was the greediest, the stingiest of all, unwilling to let outsiders even sip the soup.

 Chapter 392 - 315 Competing Before the Throne

    Chapter 392: Chapter 315 Competing Before the Throne


    ¡°Your Majesty, envoys from the Kingdom of Cassandra seek an audience¡­ as do envoys from the Kingdom of Thrace; they too request an audience.¡±


    The voice of the Tiefling Guard Captain came through.


    ¡°They all came?¡±


    ¡°They sure are quick, not leaving me a moment¡¯s rest.¡±


    Cassius shook his wings, stretched his massive dragon body, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    The Kingdom of Cassandra was ruled by Audis Aragon, the eldest son of Aragon the First. He occupied the southeastern part of the Holy Fadlan Empire, owning vast territories including the Ataya Plains, Heris Basin, and Levin Great Forest.


    The region was flat and expansive, with a mild climate year-round and remarkably abundant resources, known as the ¡°Land Blessed by the Sun God.¡± It was also the heartland of the Holy Fadlan Empire.


    The former old emperor had used Cassandra as his base, continuously expanding his territories, ultimately creating the behemoth that was the Holy Fadlan.


    After the Great Collapse of Holy Fadlan, the vast body was split into three, with the Kingdom of Cassandra being the most powerful among them.


    Now, this war of the kings had been going on for several months. The Divine Descendant Legion of the Kingdom of Cassandra fought on two fronts but still firmly held the Holy City of the former Fadlan Empire¡ªcalled ¡°Sunshine City¡±¡ªTheodivacan and continued to occupy the Eternal Sun God Pyramid.


    Information about the Kingdom of Cassandra was projected for all present in the hall to see.


    Cassius casually asked:


    ¡°What do you think¡­ the people of the Kingdom of Cassandra are here to do? Speak freely, don¡¯t worry about my opinion.¡±


    ¡°Declare war!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re here to declare war on us!¡±


    Tiniya eagerly spoke out.


    The subjects in the hall felt a bit helpless. Even Ramp, her nominal ¡°teacher,¡± hung his head low and covered his ugly face with a hand.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s mouth twitched slightly.


    Tiniya seemed to think she had been recognized, quickly wiggling her tail and jumping up enthusiastically to answer: ¡°Master, you are so powerful; they surely can¡¯t stand you.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, those ministers told me that Cassandra is the wealthiest place in the South. They say that the soil there flows with gold. If we could take it over, hehehe¡ª¡±


    ¡°Aaargh¡ª¡±


    A scream interrupted her words.


    The Atavistic White Dragon was kicked out of the hall, rolling a dozen times before wobbling to her feet outside¡ªdizzy and disoriented.


    ¡°Alright, go play on the side.¡±


    Cassius said blandly, then added: ¡°Ramp, you are tasked with rigorously tutoring Tiniya in politics and history. I expect results within a year.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°I will¡­ not disappoint your high expectations.¡±


    Ramp nodded repeatedly, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying.


    It was Marshal Dolores who stepped forward, half-kneeling on the steps, and said in a deep voice: ¡°Your Majesty, I believe they are also here to seek cooperation.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Why do you think so?¡±


    ¡°The strategy of distant diplomacy and close combat.¡±


    Dolores pronounced each word deliberately, using terms he had learned from players.


    ¡°To completely occupy Sunshine City, the Kingdom of Cassandra is simultaneously fighting the Kingdom of Seleucis and the Kingdom of Thrace. Even though Cassandra is the strongest of the three, it faces enormous war pressure.¡±


    ¡°And our Empire is deep behind the lines of the Kingdom of Thrace, able to use the Anzeta Corridor at any time to launch a surprise attack from behind.¡±


    ¡°If the Empire joins the war, even if it doesn¡¯t severely deplete the Kingdom of Thrace, it will at least force them to hastily redeploy troops, diverting attention from the southern front and greatly relieving pressure on the Kingdom of Cassandra.¡±


    Dolores spoke with confidence and assurance, causing nods of approval from everyone in the hall, including the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°Do you think we should join the war?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Dolores lowered his head in thought, then slowly raised it with a firm tone and a look of ambition in his eyes.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I believe this is a rare opportunity presented by the Holy Fadlan Federation¡¯s split. The Empire should gather all its forces in the South, cooperating with the Kingdom of Cassandra to attack the Kingdom of Thrace from the front and back, striving to completely carve up the Thrace region.¡±


    ¡°If the South were to unify into an empire again¡­ it would be difficult for us to advance southward again, let alone achieve our grand plan to dominate the Fianso Continent.¡±


    The Red Dragon did not nod in agreement this time. Instead, he continued looking at everyone in the hall, signaling them to continue the discussion.


    The Ogre Ramp stepped forward calmly, similarly half-kneeling on the steps.


    ¡°Marshal Dolores, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a bit extreme?¡±


    ¡°The Empire has just unified Anzeta. The war and the nobles¡¯ exploitation have severely damaged production in the old Northern Countries. This is a critical time for rebuilding and development.¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t even fully absorbed our domestic territories, and you propose to throw all our strength into the South?¡±


    ¡°Even if the Empire were to conquer the Kingdom of Thrace, do you think we have the resources to manage it?¡±


    Ramp¡¯s words were sharp and relentless, directly questioning Dolores without sparing any room for maneuver¡ªhe had discerned Cassius¡¯s opinion from the latter¡¯s silence just now.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Dolores¡¯s face turned red, but years of high-ranking experience had taught him to control his anger.


    The Goblin Marshal snorted coldly and countered: ¡°Lord Ramp, by the time your five-year development plan is complete, the Kingdom of Cassandra will have long since destroyed the Kingdom of Thrace, and the Empire won¡¯t even get a drop of soup.¡±


    Ramp mocked: ¡°You think the Kingdom of Thrace will be destroyed in three years? You think the Divine Descendant Nobles under Wilhelm are useless?¡±


    Seeing he was losing the debate, Dolores resorted to learned rhetoric from his human strategist subordinates.


    ¡°Hmph, it seems you¡¯re the one scared by their reputation. Are you underestimating the Empire¡¯s strength? Or are you questioning the might of His Majesty?¡±


    Ramp merely sneered and said leisurely, ¡°Impressive, Marshal Dolores, you¡¯ve started using the humans¡¯ usual tactics¡­¡±


    ¡°Ramp, it seems you¡¯re the one who has learned to be timid like those humans!¡±


    ¡°Courage without wisdom is recklessness. On this point, you might not even match Miss Tiniya outside.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s voice rang out.


    Ramp and Dolores immediately quieted down and returned to their original positions.


    Dolores, however, still shot glances of anger from the corner of his eye, while Ramp seemed quite pleased, half-closing his eyes with a serene look, showing no signs of having just been in a heated argument.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end the pointless debate and invite the envoy from the Kingdom of Cassandra.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    The subjects responded in unison. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 393 - 316: Kingdom of Cassandra

    Chapter 393: Chapter 316: Kingdom of Cassandra


    ¡°Kingdom of Cassandra, huh¡­¡±


    ¡°The southern situation still hasn¡¯t changed. If the Empire doesn¡¯t intervene, it will likely follow the original history.¡±


    Cassius sat firmly on the Iron Throne, thinking. At this moment, he slightly squinted his eyes, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Cassandra Kingdom¡¯s envoy, while recalling memories of his past life.


    After all, he possessed memories of his previous life; he was familiar with Airez¡¯s background and the general process of the Holy Fadlan¡¯s Great Dismantling.


    Now, it was only in the first phase of the Great Dismantling¡ªthe ¡°Three Emperors¡¯ War.¡±


    The so-called ¡°Three Emperors¡± referred to Wilhelm of the Thrace Kingdom, Audis of the Cassandra Kingdom, and Felipe of the Seleucis Kingdom.


    Aragon the First had said ten years ago, ¡°Theodivacan is the most magnificent gem in the Empire¡¯s crown. Possessing it symbolizes possessing imperial power.¡±


    Thus, the heirs of these three emperors engaged in a protracted, near-fanatical war over Theodivacan, the ¡°City of Sunrise.¡±


    They all claimed to be the sole heir of the late Emperor, the future Emperor of Holy Fadlan.


    After years of war, Theodivacan was turned into ruins, with millions perishing; this former ¡°City of Sunrise¡± became a blood-soaked millstone.


    After the ¡°War of the Bloody Sunset,¡± the three great kingdoms were exhausted and unable to control their territories. The Divine Descendant Nobles within their realms led troops to declare independence, establishing numerous new states on the former lands of the Holy Fadlan Empire.


    This was the second, and longest, phase of the Holy Fadlan¡¯s Great Dismantling¡ªKings¡¯ Strife.


    It was during this period that Tiamat¡¯s giant dragon autocracy occurred.


    ¡°Kings¡¯ Strife¡­¡±


    Cassius thought.


    Now, the three great kingdoms, which had inherited almost all the legacy of the Holy Fadlan Empire, were still too powerful. Each king controlled a Divine Descendant Legion composed of dozens of legendary warriors¡ªthe legacy of the ¡°Sun Legion.¡±


    If the Empire were to attack recklessly, it would definitely provoke a desperate counterattack from the Thrace Kingdom.


    By that time, it would benefit the already most dominant Cassandra Kingdom, giving them the chance to unify Fadlan.


    This was something Cassius absolutely did not want to see.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, at this stage, diplomatic threats, extortion, and deception should be the main methods to extract as much tangible benefit from the three great kingdoms as possible.¡±


    ¡°At least¡­ seize the Cartapa Hills south of the Anzeta Corridor, securing a foothold for continental expansion.¡±


    Cassius slowly opened his eyes, greed gleaming in his light golden pupils.


    Voices of the Tiefling Guards came from outside the door.


    ¡°Your Majesty, the envoy from the Cassandra Kingdom is outside the palace.¡±


    ¡°Let them in.¡±


    Accompanied by a rumbling sound, the heavy palace doors slowly opened.


    The envoy group, guided by attendants, entered the palace. Their number was quite large, with over a hundred people, including guards, officials, and scholars. They also brought along heavy, ornate golden silk wood boxes.


    The leader appeared to be in his thirties, wearing a bright long coat ensemble, draped in a yellow, red, and orange golden silk robe, with a sunrise-shaped headpiece¡ªstandard attire for an Amanata Priest.


    Obviously, the Cassandra Kingdom valued this mission highly, not only wanting to befriend the Ashen Empire but also hinting that ¡°they¡± were the legitimate heirs of Fadlan.


    The leading priest stepped forward, bowing deeply and said,


    ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡±


    He paused but then continued smoothly, ¡°Emperor.¡±


    ¡°I am the envoy of the Cassandra Kingdom, Naven Bassarius. His Majesty Audis sent me to extend his greetings and congratulate you on unifying the Anzeta Great Wilderness and being crowned Emperor of the Ashen Empire.¡±


    ¡°This is a humble gift, representing His Majesty Audis¡¯ personal friendship.¡±


    Naven raised his hand, and several robust warriors immediately brought the boxes over and opened the gilded lids one by one.


    Instantly, golden light filled the palace, the boxes filled with gold and jewels.


    Cassius smiled and praised,


    ¡°As expected of the king ruling ¡®The Land Bestowed by the Sun God,¡¯ truly wealthy.¡±


    ¡°Naven, thank His Majesty Audis for his gift. Please tell him, I am very willing to be friends with such a generous human.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Of course, Your Majesty.¡±


    Naven bowed again, his expression unperturbed.


    Several tall and strong Ogres entered the hall, carrying the heavy boxes on their shoulders, removing them all.


    Cassius continued,


    ¡°However¡­ a monarch as ambitious as His Majesty Audis probably didn¡¯t just bring personal friendship, did he?¡±


    ¡°Does the Cassandra Kingdom¡ªto say nothing of you all¡ªhave any requests of the Empire?¡±


    Instantly, Naven¡¯s face showed joy. He quickly folded his hands and replied, ¡°Your Imperial Majesty, your wisdom is astonishing.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, His Majesty Audis hopes to cooperate with the Empire. He even wishes to form a secret pact with you, becoming close allies.¡±


    ¡°Allies?¡±


    ¡°But as far as I know, the Empire has never had any dealings with the Cassandra Kingdom, no vested interests. So how could we talk about an alliance?¡±


    Cassius asked in a casual tone.


    Naven steadied his expression and solemnly said, ¡°The Ashen Empire and the Cassandra Kingdom have a common enemy.¡±


    ¡°What enemy?¡±


    Cassius feigned ignorance.


    Naven hesitated for a moment, then firmly uttered the name,


    ¡°The Thrace Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°You must be well aware that if the Ashen Empire wants to expand southward, the Thrace Kingdom is the biggest obstacle in your way.¡±


    ¡°But if you cooperate with us¡­ we can jointly crush the Thrace Kingdom.¡±


    Cassius neither agreed nor disagreed; he just smiled and said, ¡°Those who understand me know well that I have always been a peace-loving ruler, putting my people first, so¡­¡±


    He paused.


    Naven internally scoffed at this rhetoric.


    A peace-loving Red Dragon who had just destroyed a kingdom?


    What a joke.


    Though he thought this, he didn¡¯t show it, still anxiously listening to the following words.


    Cassius looked down at Naven with his golden eyes and said softly, ¡°If we were to cooperate¡ªwhat would my Ashen Empire gain?¡±


    ¡°Two-thirds of Thrace¡¯s territory.¡±


    ¡°I promise on behalf of His Majesty Audis that all lands north of the Radiant Mountains can belong to the Ashen Empire. The Cassandra Kingdom only needs the southern part of Thrace.¡±


    Naven seemed prepared, answering fluently.


    Moreover, his words sounded very tempting, making Dolores, who was eavesdropping in the hall, breathe a bit faster.


    But Cassius knew Audis¡¯ true intentions.


    In the south of the Radiant Mountains, in the Thrace Kingdom¡¯s capital, the City of Sunrise, Augustus, lay a Sun God Pyramid.


    Legend has it that the new emperor will possess all the pyramids and, on the summer solstice, conduct sacred priestly ceremonies in all the pyramids simultaneously.


    By then, the Sun God shall bestow endless power, and the newborn Divine Descendants will once again bring glory and brilliance to Holy Fadlan.


    Audis probably was not aiming to befriend the Ashen Empire but thought that¡ªin front of the Cassandra Kingdom, or rather the Second Fadlan Empire holding the ¡°Sun God¡± ritual, the Ashen Empire would be insignificant.


    The lost territories were only temporarily stored, to be reclaimed anytime, perhaps even effortlessly wiping out the Ashen Empire.

 Chapter 394 - 317 Persuasion

    Chapter 394: Chapter 317 Persuasion


    Immediately, the hall fell into silence.


    Naven, though his head was bowed, had a face full of confidence.


    Giant dragons, regardless of their uniqueness, were fundamentally greedy; it was an unchanging trait of their nature.


    And he believed¡ªthere was no dragon that could resist the offer made by the Kingdom of Cassandra: millions of square kilometers of territory and piles of gold coins, a temptation that could drive any human ruler mad, let alone a greedy dragon.


    So he just waited quietly, waiting for the ¡°Crimson Emperor¡± before him to agree, waiting to bring the good news of strong support back to His Majesty.


    Sure enough, Cassius¡¯s voice echoed in the empty hall, but that voice made Naven¡¯s expression freeze.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I cannot agree to your request; thank His Majesty Audis for his kind intentions on my behalf.¡±


    Naven stepped forward, speaking urgently: ¡°Your Majesty, why?¡±


    ¡°This is a great opportunity! By cooperating with our Kingdom of Cassandra, you won¡¯t just gain millions of gold coins; your empire would also gain innumerable benefits, and you could even expand your territory to the South¡­¡±


    ¡°I have said, I have always been a ruler who loves peace and prioritizes his people.¡±


    Cassius wore an enigmatic smile as he slowly explained:


    ¡°My country has just recovered from war; my people have only just been liberated from the oppression of the Northern nobility. For the Empire right now, the most important task is to rest and recuperate, not to wage wars everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Go back and tell your His Majesty Audis, convey my blessing; I hope he can soon regain his homeland and restore the glory of the Holy Fadlan.¡±


    ¡°As for me¡­ I am merely a ruler who desires peaceful development.¡±


    Impossible?


    Naven¡¯s pupils constricted sharply, his face full of disbelief.


    He simply could not imagine that a greedy red dragon would abandon interests within its grasp.


    Could it be that Naven had incredibly good fortune, encountering a dragon diligent in governance and prioritizing its people?


    What a joke!


    Who would have thought that these words could describe a red dragon?


    He would sooner believe the sun would rise from the west at His Majesty Amanata¡¯s leisure than that a red dragon would abandon easy gains¡ªespecially for the absurd reason of ¡°prioritizing its people¡±!


    Maybe¡­ the offer was just not enough.


    They needed to add more money.


    Thinking this, Naven gritted his teeth and said resolutely: ¡°As long as you take action, His Majesty Audis is willing to donate another five million gold coins to the Empire and share a vast amount of magical knowledge!¡±


    Indeed, the red dragon seemed to waver.


    ¡°I see the sincerity of His Majesty Audis; worthy of being the eldest son.¡±


    Naven¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy.


    This was a necessary expense.


    Five million gold coins still lay within the expected costs, making a successful report back to His Majesty barely acceptable.


    But then Cassius¡¯s tone paused.


    ¡°However¡­ this concerns the livelihood of the imperial people and requires careful consideration.¡±


    ¡°But Your Majesty¡­¡±


    Naven tried to persuade again.


    However, Cassius¡¯s expression turned cold, interrupting him: ¡°That¡¯s enough; do not test my patience, and do not try to guide my decisions.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Then we shall take our leave for now, not to disturb your rest. May Amanata protect you.¡±


    Naven replied begrudgingly, bowing.


    ¡°Is it possible¡­¡±


    ¡°Could this red dragon really care so much about his people?¡±


    Naven sighed helplessly, thinking this to himself.


    Yet he did not know that his prior guess was indeed correct.


    It was just that Naven had grossly underestimated the red dragon¡¯s greed.


    Cassius did not entirely dismiss the Thrace Kingdom, but he had even greater greed.


    He coveted not merely the millions of gold coins, nor just two-thirds of the Thrace Kingdom.


    He aimed for the entire Empire of Fadlan, even the whole Fianso continent, and possibly the entire Airezegai world.


    Allowing the Kingdom of Cassandra to gain an advantage in the War of the Three Emperors did not align with his plans, nor did it match his ambition to annex the entire Empire of Fadlan.


    Soon, under the escort and supervision of Tiefling soldiers, the diplomatic mission from the Kingdom of Cassandra left in a hurry.


    They came with boxes of financial offers, but left empty-handed and full of disappointment.


    Within the royal palace, Cassius did not rest but instead smiled broadly.


    ¡°The people of Cassandra have left.¡±


    ¡°Come in¡­ guests from the Thrace Kingdom.¡±


    Thrace Kingdom¡¯s secret envoy, Dayev Marshall, nervously entered the palace¡¯s inner chamber under the ogre¡¯s watch.


    It turned out that just as the Cassandra Kingdom¡¯s emissaries arrived, he followed soon after to the palace gates but was invited to wait in the side hall.


    At this moment, his expression was particularly grim.


    And just moments ago, he overheard the Cassandra Kingdom¡¯s attempt to ally with the Ashen Empire to invade the Thrace Kingdom, which would spell geopolitical disaster for Thrace. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Moreover, the Cassandra Empire had offered extremely tempting conditions that made Dayev tremble with anxiety.


    Fortunately, this emperor had not agreed.


    But Dayev did not let his guard down; he certainly did not believe the ¡°prioritizing his people¡± rhetoric.


    This ¡°Crimson Emperor¡± rejecting the offer could only mean one thing¡ªthe Ashen Empire wished to gain some form of profit from the Thrace Kingdom.


    Thinking of this, Dayev took a deep breath and approached the steps with a certain resolve, bowing in greeting.


    ¡°Good day, Your Majesty Cassius.¡±


    Cassius did not engage in small talk but gazed down at him with those pale golden eyes.


    ¡°You heard everything the Cassandra Kingdom emissaries said just now¡­ didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Sweat immediately dotted Dayev¡¯s forehead; he replied in a low voice: ¡°I am but an emissary from the South; how could I dare eavesdrop on your conversation?¡±


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡±


    Cassius sneered.


    ¡°No need to worry, I let you hear those things on purpose¡ªif I wish it.¡±


    But Dayev did not relax; instead, he grew even more nervous.


    For he knew the real test was only beginning.


    ¡°So¡­ give me a reason.¡±


    Sure enough, Cassius spoke again, as if an invisible weight pressed down on his shoulders, nearly making him suffocate.


    ¡°A reason not to attack Thrace.¡±


    ¡°Five million gold coins, vast magical knowledge, seizing two-thirds of the Thrace Kingdom¡¯s territory; this is the offer made by the Cassandra Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°And what can you offer me?¡±


    Under the shadow of the dragon, Dayev trembled, raising his head to see the endless greed in those deep, pale golden eyes.

 Chapter 395 - 318 Thrace Kingdom

    Chapter 395: Chapter 318 Thrace Kingdom


    ¡°We, we¡­¡±


    Dayev bit his lip, his expression grave.


    He had been sent by Wilhelm, mainly tasked with gathering intelligence on the Ashen Empire, without much diplomatic power or the authority to make such promises.


    But from the conversation just now, he understood the great crisis the Thrace Kingdom was facing.


    This rising Red Dragon, this new empire, was far more terrifying than he had anticipated.


    And if they allied with the Kingdom of Cassandra, forming a pincer attack on the Thrace Kingdom, the consequences would be unthinkable, even risking nation destruction!


    This must not happen!


    In the end, he made up his mind, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes, and he gritted his teeth as he responded: ¡°Your Majesty, our Thrace Kingdom is willing to offer the same amount of Gold Coins and provide some magical resources.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°And what about two-thirds of your territory?¡± Cassius asked nonchalantly.


    Dayev decisively refused: ¡°Absolutely not, Your Majesty, the Thrace Kingdom will not abandon any of its land.¡±


    ¡°I believe you also understand, such harsh conditions are something His Majesty Wilhelm would never agree to, and you need not propose it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true.¡±


    Cassius grinned once more.


    If you¡¯re going to take the roof off, you might as well allow a skylight.


    Human nature usually prefers compromise; such negotiation tactics are timeless.


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, why should we give up the benefits before us if you can¡¯t provide equivalent conditions?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, you are actually being deceived by the Cassandra people.¡±


    Dayev spoke steadily and firmly.


    ¡°In their rhetoric, the Thrace Kingdom seems like a lamb to be slaughtered, easily facing destruction¡ªhowever, reality is far from that.¡±


    ¡°I admit, your empire is quite powerful, but just showing this much is not enough to defeat Thrace.¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Wilhelm has sixteen Divine Dukes comparable to legends, hundreds of Sun Warriors who have undergone ascension.¡±


    ¡°They followed the old emperor to conquer the North and South, even reaching the Nine Layers of Hell, the Abyss, the Gray Wilderness, and many other planes, achieving great merits and spreading the glory of Holy Fadlan throughout the multiverse.¡±


    ¡°If we fight to the death, your empire will definitely suffer great losses. At that moment, the Cassandra people will just gloat; they have always been so despicable.¡±


    Cassius squinted his eyes slightly.


    ¡°What you say seems to make some sense.¡±


    ¡°But¡­this is still not enough to convince me, merely based on your empty words.¡±


    ¡­


    Suddenly, the atmosphere froze.


    Dayev believed he had already stated all the pros and cons and had done his best.


    If he still couldn¡¯t persuade this Red Dragon, the only thing awaiting the Thrace Kingdom would be war.


    He lowered his head, silent, and spoke heavily: ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, isn¡¯t there really any room for negotiation?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    ¡°This is really troublesome. I¡¯ve always said I am a monarch who loves peace, but I don¡¯t see the sincerity of your Thrace Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°How about this, let¡¯s each take a step back. I need only your Two Million Gold Coins, but you must cede the Cartapa Hills south of Ancytica. How about that?¡±


    This, this¡­¡±


    Dayev¡¯s expression turned solemn as he bowed his head in thought.


    The Cartapa Hills, though large in area, were insignificant compared to Thrace¡¯s vast territory.


    Moreover, the region was not rich, overrun by all sorts of beasts and monsters, and could be considered a wilderness within Thrace¡¯s borders managed by no one. The Thrace Kingdom had included it only to communicate with Anzeta.


    If it could create a peaceful front-line situation, even if it only delayed things a little¡ªceding the Cartapa Hills would be worth it.


    But on the other hand, Wilhelm had not granted him the authority to sign a treaty or cede land, and if the Ashen Empire obtained this land, it would make the Thrace¡¯s Northern border even more precarious.


    For a moment, Dayev was caught in a dilemma.


    He hesitated for a long time before saying solemnly: Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, personally¡­I am willing to agree to this condition.¡±


    ¡°But this agreement involves the kingdom¡¯s territory, and it¡¯s of great importance. I still need to return and consult with His Majesty Wilhelm.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Cassius displayed a mocking smile.


    ¡°Tell Wilhelm he can choose to gain my friendship, or he can choose to face a sudden attack for interests.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­Your Majesty Cassius.¡±


    Dayev answered with relief.


    ¡°What a greedy, cunning Red Dragon¡­¡±


    Dayev thought to himself.


    In any case, he had temporarily stabilized the Ashen Empire, deceived the Red Dragon before him, and made the southern war for the kingdom go more smoothly.


    Next, he only needed to persuade His Majesty Wilhelm to make some insignificant ¡°sacrifices.¡±


    However, Dayev did not know that all he could hear were just tactics of Red Dragon diplomacy¡ªCassius merely aimed to intimidate these two great kingdoms without paying any price, gaining benefits by maneuvering between them.


    It¡¯s commonly known as ¡°getting something for nothing.¡±


    ¡­


    Tiniya stared at the departing Dayev, her eyes wide, mouth agape: ¡°Master, you, you just made him hand over Two Million Gold Coins like that? He won¡¯t renege, will he?¡±


    Cassius looked into the distance, smiling slightly.


    ¡°Wait and see, Tiniya.¡±


    ¡°Soon, you will see an official diplomatic mission, a magical contract, and carriages filled with gold coming from the South.¡±


    Tiniya fancifully imagined, her mouth nearly watering.


    ¡°Two Million Gold Coins¡­¡±


    ¡°Master, let me see it when the time comes, okay? I¡¯ve never seen so much money!¡±


    The White Dragon jumped up happily, rubbing against the leg of the Red Dragon again, full of flattery, incessantly wagging its thick, short tail.


    ¡°Awo¡ª¡ª¡±


    A loud slap.


    Tiniya squatted on the ground, covering her reddened face with her paws, weakly asking: ¡°Master, you just said a few words, how are they willing to hand over so much Gold Coins?¡±


    Cassius gently clenched his paw, and an illusory triangular scale appeared in midair.


    The triangular scale was balanced, with each end holding a weight, one side with a larger weight, the other two with smaller ones.


    ¡°This is the current situation.¡±


    ¡°The strength of the Three Great Kingdoms is balanced, and this war will last a long time in a stalemate, with each side wanting to break the deadlock.¡±


    ¡°It only takes¡­ a little external force to intervene.¡±


    Cassius snapped his fingers.


    ¡°Pop!¡±


    A new small weight was added to one side of the scale, immediately tipping the entire triangular scale toward the side with the additional weight.


    ¡°This is the role the empire plays, an external force enough to disrupt the situation.¡±


    ¡°But for now, I don¡¯t want any side to win, so I will just watch coldly.¡±


    Tiniya nodded, half-understanding, her eyes full of eagerness:


    ¡°I think I get it, so just by talking like Master, we can earn Two Million Gold Coins?¡±


    ¡­


    The officials in the royal palace fell silent again.


    Cassius looked up at the sky, watching the slowly setting sun.


    Strangely, it was only midday, yet the outside scene looked like dusk.


    ¡°As expected¡­just as I thought, the temporal sequence of the sun is out of order. Amanata, the god of law and sun, revered as the protector of law and guardian of time, can no longer maintain his stability and is about to fall into slumber¡­¡±


    ¡°An era of chaos is about to begin.¡±


    In the twilight, Cassius¡¯s eyes shone brightly.

 Chapter 396 - 319: The Destruction of Holy Fadlan

    Chapter 396: Chapter 319: The Destruction of Holy Fadlan


    ¡°Your Majesty, why¡­ why is this happening? The cycle of sunrise and sunset is an eternal law of the world. How could it change so easily?¡±


    ¡°It is truly unbelievable.¡±


    Ramp also gazed at the sky, his expression grave.


    As an Archmage, the ogre could sense the disturbances in the Magic Web and the changes in the laws more acutely.


    Just a moment ago, he felt the elements around him become extremely unstable, rising and falling like tides. Subsequently, all magic related to light and heat experienced a certain degree of attenuation.


    ¡°No, the laws you perceive are not eternal, and even deities¡­ will have their days of decline.¡±


    ¡°Do not worry.¡±


    ¡°This situation will not last too long.¡±


    ¡°When He falls into a deep sleep, everything will return to normal. The sun will rise as usual, though it might be a bit dimmer.¡±


    Cassius spoke thus.


    In Erezer, the sun was not a star but an embodiment of authority, a projection of laws¡ªfor instance, Sigil City had no similar celestial body, yet still experienced direct lighting changes every day.


    On some Prime Material Planes, the ¡°sun¡± was even inhabited by elemental creatures.


    Amanata was the deity wielding the authority of the sun. Once his Divine Power and mind encountered problems, the ¡°sun¡± on the Prime Material Plane would also undergo corresponding changes.


    However, the laws of the world were ultimately stable. Even deities were bound by their divine offices, making it challenging to alter them.


    According to his memory, this ¡°sun sequence disaster¡± would end after seven days.


    ¡°Amanata.¡±


    ¡°Truly a terrifying power.¡±


    Cassius looked up at the celestial body that was about to set completely, leaving only its red edges, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    ¡°Empire of Fadlan¡­¡±


    ¡°I must obtain all their heritage, discover the secret left by the old emperor¡ªsuch a treasure is invaluable for ascension.¡±


    Cassius thought so.


    His past life¡¯s memories were reawakened once more.


    In his previous life, the true cause of ¡°Sun Emperor¡± Aragon the First¡¯s death was deliberately concealed by the Three Great Kingdoms, buried in history.


    The usually antagonistic Three Great Kingdoms had united in this matter, almost all the informed were slaughtered, and relevant historical records were burned completely.


    Yet, years later, players still unearthed the hidden secret and speculated several different versions of the answer.


    One hundred and fifty years ago, Aragon the First used a mysterious item to conduct that widely-known sacrificial ritual. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On that day, the sun was exceptionally scorching.


    This earned him Amanata¡¯s favor. He received the Sun God¡¯s blessing, turning hundreds of his vassals into divine descendants and forming the so-called ¡°Sun Legion¡±.


    Aragon the First himself also received Amanata¡¯s personal bestowal.


    He transformed into an immortal ¡°Son of the Sun¡±, almost a demigod.


    Aragon the First led the Sun Legion to wage war in the north and south, successively conquering the northern barbarian Kingdom of Gunther, the southern Kingdom of Lotito, and the western Kingdom of Manasseh, driving the High Elves back into the forest.


    Twenity years passed.


    He established the Empire that spanned the Fianso Continent¡ªthe Holy Fadlan Federation.


    Aragon the First had achieved feats unprecedented by his ancestors.


    Yet his ambition did not cease.


    This emperor even led his armies to fight devils, demons, and even the Celestial Race on planes such as the Gray Wilderness, Myriad Abyss Plains, and Scorching Flame Hell, establishing several fortresses in the star realm as relay stations.


    A century of rapid development.


    The world was bowing before the Empire.


    The Holy Fadlan Federation¡¯s glory had spread throughout the multiverse, and all Imperial People were immensely proud, confident, and arrogant as never before.


    However, during this century, Aragon the First¡¯s ambition grew ever larger. He was no longer content with the position of emperor. He conceived an even bolder, nearly blasphemous idea:


    He wanted to replace Amanata and become a true deity.


    Hence, he built the Eternal Sun God Pyramid and conducted a grand sacrificial ritual once again, praying for Amanata¡¯s descent.


    But this time, Aragon the First found an ancient, blasphemous Second Tier spell¡ªAscension Spell¡ªfrom a timeworn relic, and he even used a mysterious method to shield the world¡¯s perception of this spell.


    When Amanata descended, Aragon the First unleashed the spell, turning the Eternal Pyramid meant for the ritual into a cage to imprison the deity.


    The incarnation of the Sun God roared.


    The entire pyramid trembled.


    The authority of the world shifted.


    In an instant, Aragon the First obtained the coveted divine office of the Sun God, but he did not gain the Divine Power needed to control the authority of the sun.


    Endless light and heat surged.


    Like a volcano about to erupt.


    In the next moment, the erupting sun turned Aragon the First to ashes.


    This obstinate, ambitious emperor indeed fulfilled his wish, becoming a real Sun God.


    But it lasted only a moment.


    After this farce, Amanata reclaimed his divine seat, though the experience left him gravely wounded and exceedingly weak, rendering the Sun God Power extremely unstable, disrupting the sequence of sunrise and sunset.


    At this moment, he had only one choice¡ªto soon fall into a deep sleep for centuries of recovery.


    But before slipping into complete slumber, Amanata, furious at the desecration by mortals, withdrew his favor from Holy Fadlan.


    The holy sunlight no longer bathed Fadlan, and those so-called ¡°divine descendants¡± within the Empire were gradually losing their strength.


    After desecrating the deity, the Empire lost its protection, doomed by mortal ambition and ignorance.


    The sun grew dim.


    The Fianso Continent was engulfed in war.


    The vast Holy Fadlan Federation crumbled suddenly.


    Tiamat, abyssal demons, Hell demons¡ªvarious powerful factions took the opportunity to invade the Prime Material Plane, launching a chaotic and tumultuous New Era amidst the Empire¡¯s glory and brilliance.


    ¡­


    The sun had set, a lingering dusk remaining on the horizon, and the night became dark and somber.


    Cassius seemed to hear the wails, lamentations, and the trembling of the battlefield from the South, in the midst of flames of war.


    In the early years of the war, the afterglow of Fadlan had not yet dissipated, and the Three Great Kingdoms inheriting the Empire¡¯s legacy were still at their peak.


    Over hundreds of Legendary Divine Descendants, thousands of Sun Warriors, and nearly a million mortal soldiers fought in chaos in the central Fianso Continent, battling under darkened skies and cracked earth, nearly turning the region into a blood-soaked wasteland.


    The Holy Fadlan Federation¡¯s remnants were being trampled and destroyed recklessly by its successors.


    Cassius half-closed his eyes, the golden vertical pupils glimmering as he slowly extended his claw, emitting a scorching ray from his palm.


    ¡°It is truly a merciless era.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ it suits me well.¡±


    ¡°The glory of Holy Fadlan has faded, a new dawn is about to rise¡­ the old king is dead, and the new king shall ascend.¡±

 Chapter 397 - 320: Visiting Again

    Chapter 397: Chapter 320: Visiting Again


    A month later, in Isdalia. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With the labor of tens of thousands of hardworking players, ogre and frost giant slaves, the prototype of this central city had already emerged, though still quite rudimentary.


    The Isdalia Grand Coliseum, the Imperial Bank, the Imperial Senate Hall, and the Imperial City Hall had long had their blueprints designed, foundations laid, and even some facades constructed.


    This was the empire¡¯s largest ¡°construction site.¡±


    People bustled to and fro, and the place was lively. Many civil engineering players wearing white hard hats carried red buckets.


    ¡°Move aside! Move aside!¡±


    ¡°Imperial Guards on duty!¡±


    ¡°Clear the way! Disobey and be executed!¡±


    The stern shout of the guard captain echoed from a distance, and the people on the road quickly made way, not daring to delay even for a moment.


    The imperial citizens aside, even the usually arrogant and crazy Starfallen hurried to avoid them.


    ¡°These NPCs are so overbearing¡ª¡±


    ¡°I really want to see what¡¯s in that carriage.¡±


    ¡°Can we rob them?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the Imperial Royal Guard. Collision means death. Don¡¯t blame me for not warning you, you¡¯ll lose all the experience you¡¯ve painstakingly gained, and you¡¯ll have nowhere to cry!¡±


    ¡°Just focus on grinding, don¡¯t mess with them or entertain any foolish thoughts.¡±


    ¡°Your master here, step by step, became a viscount of the empire with his exquisite grinding skills.¡±


    A civil engineering veteran, whose ID was ¡°Bucket Runner,¡± wearing a white hard hat, whispered to a newbie holding a bucket beside him.


    At the beginning, indeed, some new players had attempted to collide with the guards, but those troublemakers were quickly turned into sieves by the accurate shots of semi-automatic rifles.


    On the wide road, a grand diplomatic mission of dozens of carriages passed by, guarded by thousands of imperial soldiers. It was the diplomatic mission from the Thrace Kingdom.


    The contents of those carriages were enough to make anyone drool; those chests were filled with gold, the promised two million gold coins from the Thrace Kingdom as a ¡°gift.¡±


    Dayev sat in the carriage, gazing at the scenery rushing past the window. He looked quite amazed and said to the person next to him,


    ¡°A month ago.¡±


    ¡°Just a month ago, this place was a flat wilderness. And now, a city has already taken shape.¡±


    ¡°Sir, you should understand what this signifies.¡±


    Next to Dayev was a man dressed in luxurious robes, holding a scepter, appearing to be in his fifties, currently deep in thought.


    He was Sachsie Bari, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Thrace Kingdom, personally here to negotiate the peace treaty.


    ¡°Extremely high administrative efficiency, terrifying war potential,¡±


    Sachsie assessed succinctly.


    He frowned slightly and asked Dayev, ¡°This time they invited us to meet in Isdalia, does that mean the emperor won¡¯t be present?¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡±


    Dayev responded.


    ¡°From what I know, the Crimson Emperor usually only grants audiences at the Steel Dragonwing Palace. Aside from that, he rarely appears elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°But recently, there have been some anomalies. It seems the Crimson Emperor wants to inspect his territory and has already visited many regions within the Ashen Empire. We don¡¯t know where he will be now.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, that¡¯s two million gold coins.¡±


    ¡°I thought any dragon would drool and come to meet us, monitoring the entire process without missing a single gold coin.¡±


    Sachsie said indifferently.


    Dayev immediately felt a bit nervous, placing his finger to his lips in a gesture for silence.


    ¡°It¡¯s said that the emperor has spies everywhere. He knows everything happening within the empire. Let¡¯s not make any rash comments.¡±


    ¡°Heh,¡±


    ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve been scared out of your wits by that Red Dragon.¡±


    Sachsie glanced at Dayev, then closed his eyes to rest, saying no more.


    Although he disdained Dayev¡¯s cautiousness, risking avoidance was indeed crucial for a competent diplomat.


    The roads of Isdalia were wide and smooth, guarded by the Imperial Royal Guard. The diplomatic mission traveled swiftly and soon reached their destination¡ªthe Isdalia Grand Altar.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please disembark.¡±


    Here, the members of the diplomatic mission were requested to disembark and proceed on foot, while the gold-laden carriages were left in place.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ¡°Please proceed from the other side.¡±


    The road where the Red Dragon ascended to the throne had been cordoned off, with its claw prints clearly visible. Every few meters, a guard with a rifle stood watch on either side.


    This road leading to the altar was called ¡°The Path of the Dragon¡¯s Glory¡± by the empire¡¯s officials, representing the emperor¡¯s glorious coronation, and no one was allowed to tread on it again.


    As soon as Dayev stepped forward, he felt a familiar strength descend upon him, making him tremble instinctually.


    ¡°This oppressive feeling¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s His Majesty. He is here.¡±


    He whispered a reminder.


    Sachsie finally put away the last bit of contempt in his heart, his expression becoming extremely solemn.


    As a former Holy Fadlan Minister and now Thrace¡¯s Chief Diplomat, he was also an Archmage, familiar with various magical creatures, including dragons.


    Yet, such dragon¡¯s might, he had never seen in his life.


    Upon entering the hall, the emissaries finally beheld the grand presence of the Crimson Emperor.


    At this moment, he was lying lazily to one side of the hall, his immense 30-meter-long form rising and falling with his breaths like a small mountain.


    But the emissaries dared not relax in the slightest, unconsciously holding their breath and lowering their heads.


    Sachsie also gasped.


    At that moment, he was finally convinced¡ªthe peace treaty between the Thrace Kingdom and the Ashen Empire must be concluded without delay and was absolutely necessary.


    Dragons had always been favored on battlefields.


    And Red Dragons were often called war machines.


    A Red Dragon like this could definitely bring an overwhelming change to the southern battlefields, likely matching the strength of over a dozen Legendary Scion Warriors.


    The Tiefling Guard Captain knelt on one knee and loudly reported, ¡°Your Majesty, the emissary mission from the Thrace Kingdom has arrived.¡±


    Cassius slowly lifted his head, his pale golden eyes gazing at the members of the diplomatic mission.


    Instantly, the powerful pressure made everyone¡¯s hearts tremble, almost knocking them off their feet.


    After a long pause, Dayev, trembling, stood up, bowed, and said, ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, we have come bearing the sincerity of the Thrace Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°This is Lord Sachsie, the Chief Diplomat of Thrace.¡±


    Under the reminder, Sachsie finally snapped out of his extreme tension and instinctive fear, but he quickly realized his lapse.


    He took a step forward, respectfully bowed, and barely maintained his composure, ensuring he didn¡¯t lose his poise.


    ¡°Sachsie Bari, at your service, Your Majesty.¡±

 Chapter 398 - 321: Negotiation and Miracle

    Chapter 398: Chapter 321: Negotiation and Miracle


    Cassius nodded slightly in acknowledgment.


    But his gaze went beyond the envoy, looking at the dozens of boxes of gold behind him.


    The strong ogres were struggling to carry the boxes, transporting them to a steam locomotive waiting nearby¡ªthese new transport tools were already being used in many places.


    Even the ogres, sensing the heavy weight inside the boxes, vaguely guessed that they were filled with gold, but the presence of the Red Dragon quashed any delusions.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s two million gold coins. It seems your sincerity exceeds my expectations.¡±


    Sachsie pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead, then bowed again with his scepter raised.


    ¡°Of course, His Majesty values your empire greatly. He hopes we can achieve a peaceful and friendly relationship, which is why he sent me here.¡±


    ¡°This is the sincerity of the Kingdom of Thrace and the sincerity given by His Majesty Wilhelm.¡±


    Before he finished speaking, Sachsie took out a parchment scroll from the inner lining of his robe and slowly unfurled it.


    On it were lines of common language words infused with magical power, essentially stating that the Kingdom of Thrace and the Ashen Empire agreed to a peace treaty, not to invade each other within a year.


    However, Cassius¡¯ eyes darkened, and the Dragon¡¯s Might around him spread tangibly.


    ¡°Falsifying a contract isn¡¯t a wise move, is it?¡±


    ¡°As a descendant of Aragon the First, do you lack even the most basic integrity?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, what do you mean¡­¡±


    Sachsie¡¯s hands trembled like chaff, sweat continuously trickling down.


    He silently cursed their clever king, who thought of such a method to preserve the kingdom¡¯s territory.


    ¡°Where is the Cartapa Hills that I wanted?¡±


    Cassius asked straightforwardly.


    Sachsie reluctantly straightened his body and replied, ¡°Your Majesty, the Cartapa region is too barren and desolate to match this great contract. Perhaps we can compensate in another way¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡±


    Cassius said coldly.


    ¡°Do you think I care about the land?¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Empire cannot be choked by any country.¡±


    ¡°If the Kingdom of Thrace is unwilling to give up the Cartapa region, I would rather form a military alliance with the Kingdom of Cassandra and take this land from you!¡±


    Cassius paused for a moment. He slowly rose from his seat in the hall, exposing a menacing smile.


    ¡°At that time¡­ you will lose more than just the Cartapa region, but two-thirds of the territory north of the Radiant Mountains.¡±


    ¡°Your, Your Majesty, please calm down!¡±


    The hurricane formed by Dragon¡¯s Might surged, knocking Sachsie backward. The contract in his hand dimmed instantly and turned to ashes.


    ¡°You misunderstood. This is not the final contract, only one of the proposals from the Kingdom of Thrace!¡±


    He fumbled to take out another parchment scroll from his bosom, raised it high, and hastily unfurled it.


    This time, the contract clearly stated:


    ¡°The Kingdom of Thrace grants the Cartapa region to the Ashen Empire.¡±


    ¡°Signed by: Wilhelm Aragon¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, this is the true contract from our Kingdom of Thrace!¡±


    It turned out that Wilhelm and the ministers of the Kingdom of Thrace did not value the barren Cartapa region but were also reluctant to give it up easily.


    This would damage the kingdom¡¯s dignity and increase the threat from the Ashen Empire.


    Therefore, they drafted different contracts for Sachsie to argue, striving to keep the kingdom¡¯s territory and continue controlling the vital passage to the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Now, seeing no hope of convincing them, Sachsie finally took out the final contract.


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­ What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Not much.¡±


    Cassius let out a cold laugh. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°As expected of the former Fadlan people, arrogance seeped into their bones. Do they really think the empire wouldn¡¯t dare to go to war with them?¡±


    Sachsie quickly defended, ¡°Of course not, Your Majesty. We always uphold the principles of peace and integrity towards you and¡­¡±


    ¡°Heh, do you really think I¡¯m unaware of the situation in the south?¡±


    Cassius interrupted him again, taking steps forward.


    ¡°I heard that your frontline situation is quite poor. Your army retreated hundreds of kilometers north under the attack of General Tamur of the Kingdom of Cassandra, losing several cities in succession, and even your capital is threatened.¡±


    ¡°In that case¡­¡±


    A massive shadow engulfed Sachsie.


    ¡°Thrace is already in such a miserable state. Who gave you the courage to bargain with me?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Sachsie¡¯s lips quivered.


    After a long time, he struggled to get up, tidied his clothes, and cautiously asked, ¡°Then, what other requirements do you have?¡±


    Cassius replied calmly:


    ¡°However, you are indeed quite fortunate. Although I am dissatisfied with your arrogance, I also do not want the Kingdom of Cassandra to win.¡±


    ¡°You should thank me. My requirements may even benefit you.¡±


    Sachsie, somewhat puzzled, could only keep silent and wait.


    Finally, Cassius¡¯ voice echoed.


    ¡°Besides the ownership of the Cartapa region as required in the contract, you also need to purchase weapons from the empire.¡±


    ¡°Once the transaction is completed, I will naturally sign this contract.¡±


    Just as he finished speaking, the contract flew from Sachsie¡¯s hand and landed before the Red Dragon.


    Then, under the escort of the Tiefling Guards, Sachsie and his diplomatic mission were led out of the hall.


    ¡°Please come this way. His Majesty has made arrangements.¡±


    Strangely enough, the guards stationed at the altar lined up and left.


    Walking along, Sachsie was still deeply intimidated by the power and aggressiveness of the Red Dragon.


    But he was somewhat puzzled, turning to Dayev beside him and asking, ¡°Why did he let us purchase weapons?¡±


    ¡°I thought¡ªthis Majesty would directly demand gold coins.¡±


    Dayev was silent for a moment before tentatively replying:


    ¡°Maybe¡­¡±


    ¡°He truly hopes we will win?¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook violently.


    A rumbling hum came from the earth, and dust rolled in, followed by a long Dragon¡¯s Roar from the sky.


    Sachsie instinctively turned his head, only to see that the spot where the Isdalia Grand Altar once stood was enveloped in dust and sand, but a massive shadow appeared within the dust.


    As the dust slowly cleared, a more unbelievable scene unfolded before them¡ª


    The ground in the distance suddenly rose nearly a hundred meters, forming a high mountain platform, lifting the entire grand altar into the air so that anyone in Isdalia could look up and see the pyramid.


    Cassius stood at the top of the altar, looking down at the earth indifferently, as if he had just done something trivial.


    It was like a miracle.


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Long live the Empire!¡±


    ¡°This is the power of His Majesty!¡±


    ¡°What the heck? Can this faction leader actually hammer out a wonder with bare hands?¡±


    Humans, monsters, and players in the city of Isdalia looked up at the ¡°Aerial Altar¡± in wonder, shouting in exclamation.


    Sachsie stared blankly at the spectacular sight, his expression dazed.


    As a mage, he naturally understood that creating such a large-scale environmental effect was at least a ninth-tier spell¡ªyet, the Emperor had performed it so effortlessly, with hardly any expenditure.


    This was the ultimate power of an individual.


    ¡°Praise Amanata above¡­¡±


    ¡°Thankfully, we signed the peace treaty¡­¡±


    After a long silence, Sachsie patted his chest in relief, grateful that he had not acted recklessly.

 Chapter 399 - 322 Arms Dealer

    Chapter 399: Chapter 322 Arms Dealer


    The diplomatic mission eventually recovered from their shock.


    After all, they still had a task to complete.


    Guided by the Tiefling Guards, Sachsie and his group boarded the rather novel steam locomotive, arriving at a clearing on the outskirts of Isdalia.


    The air was thick with the scent of gunpowder. There were few buildings here, only dozens of humanoid targets riddled with bullet holes.


    Sachsie furrowed his brow.


    He had expected to see the arrogant Imperial army displaying their armor and weapons, but that was not the case.


    ¡°Are you sure this is the place?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    ¡°This is indeed your destination.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you must be the clients from the Thrace Kingdom.¡±


    Sachsie turned his head and saw a Half-Dragon, dressed in an odd combination of black and dark green attire, walking briskly towards them, waving cheerfully¡ªhe had several long wooden boxes slung over his back.


    ¡°Hello, hello.¡±


    ¡°I am the Empire¡¯s munitions sales specialist, you can call me Battlefield Wheelchair Man.¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man grinned widely, gripping Sachsie¡¯s hand tightly.


    Aside from the peculiar name and outfit, the enthusiastic energy was rather baffling to Sachsie, even making him suspect some kind of trickery.


    So, he maintained the image of Thrace Kingdom¡¯s chief diplomat with a particularly serious expression.


    ¡°You must know that the Thrace Kingdom is currently engaged in a large-scale war.¡±


    ¡°We need to purchase a batch of weapons.¡±


    ¡°I hope your products will not disappoint me.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course, please come this way.¡±


    ¡°I will give you a detailed introduction to the Empire¡¯s munitions. All the samples are here, and I guarantee they won¡¯t let you down.¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man enthusiastically escorted them to the shooting range, where he took down the wooden boxes from his back.


    ¡°Are these it?¡±


    Sachsie furrowed his brow again.


    From his experience, the most commonly used equipment by soldiers on large battlefields were spears, bows, and armor, with elite units having magical runes applied to these arms.


    These wooden boxes did not seem capable of containing such equipment.


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man eagerly opened one of the wooden boxes, taking out an exquisitely crafted ¡°long stick,¡± handling it skillfully in his hands.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Sachsie recognized this type of weapon. He had seen similar ones with the Tiefling Guards.


    However, he was not clear on its use and did not sense any magical aura.


    How could such a thing¡­


    ¡­be used to kill enemies?


    Seemingly sensing the doubt in Sachsie¡¯s eyes, Battlefield Wheelchair Man patted the gun in his hand confidently:


    ¡°This is the latest model developed by our Empire¡¯s munitions research¡ªthe ¡®Enemy¡¯s Bane-III Model (Export Version).''¡±


    ¡°It is the pinnacle of our Empire¡¯s firearm craftsmanship, a premium among smoothbore guns.¡±


    In fact, Battlefield Wheelchair Man was lying here.


    The leaders of the Mechanical God Cult had already advanced their research to the level of World War II, producing replicas of M1 Garand, Simonov, Mauser 98K, and various other firearms.


    They had even made models of Battlefield Wheelchair Man¡¯s coveted Type Two Submachine Gun.


    However, the ¡°Enemy¡¯s Bane¡± smoothbore gun was already a product that had been completely phased out by the military and was several generations behind the current standard long guns.


    Most of them were left to gather dust in the armory, only fit for use by Goblin Militia and Kobolds.


    Sachsie closely observed the so-called ¡°smoothbore gun,¡± trying to find any magic circuits on it, but found nothing.


    ¡°How¡­ is it used?¡±


    Sachsie couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°It¡¯s very simple and straightforward. I¡¯ll demonstrate it for you.¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man replied with excitement.


    He took some ammunition wrapped in oilcloth from his camouflage pocket and skillfully loaded it through the muzzle.


    Then, Battlefield Wheelchair Man raised the gun to shoulder level, aimed at the target, and quickly pulled the trigger.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Gunfire roared and smoke billowed.


    The lead bullet from the ammunition pierced through the myriad of holes on the target, knocking it down.


    ¡°Such power¡­¡±


    ¡°How is this possible?¡±


    Sachsie¡¯s expression was one of astonishment.


    He felt a sudden and intense magical reaction when the firearm discharged, and its power was on par with certain Third Tier Spells.


    Seeing Sachsie¡¯s shock, Battlefield Wheelchair Man grinned, exposing his sharp, white teeth, and continued his enthusiastic pitch:


    ¡°Compared to the previous ¡®Enemy¡¯s Bane-II Model,¡¯ its overall performance has greatly improved.¡±


    ¡°This ¡®Enemy¡¯s Bane-III Model (Export Version)¡¯ has seen qualitative changes in accuracy and range, with a significantly reduced chance of barrel burst and a highly appealing design.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simply indispensable for home defense, battlefield killing, and highway robbery¡­.¡±


    As Battlefield Wheelchair Man continued his sales pitch, Sachsie lowered his head in thought.


    Although the power of this weapon was decent, it was nothing compared to the former Holy Fadlan.


    At the height of the Empire, the Divine Descendant Nobles¡¯ ¡°Sun Wheel Bow¡± fired arrows with power comparable to high-tier spells of the Eighth or Ninth Tier.


    Yet an ordinary person could not string such a gilded bow.


    However, this so-called ¡°Enemy¡¯s Bane¡± could be used with equal potency by even the weakest woman, child, or elderly person, as long as they were not intellectually deficient.


    But such a magical weapon would undoubtedly be expensive.


    The Emperor likely intended to extort a hefty sum of gold coins from them under the guise of ¡°trade,¡± while claiming to ¡°support Thrace Kingdom¡± and squeezing them mercilessly.


    Sachsie sighed, already preparing to beg for forgiveness from His Majesty Wilhelm upon his return.


    ¡°Original price 199 silver coins, now only 99 silver coins!¡±


    ¡°If you order more than 50,000 units at once, you can enjoy a 15% discount!¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man continued his enthusiastic spiel, just getting to the sales price.


    ¡°As expected, it costs ninety-nine gold¡­¡±


    Sachsie sighed, then abruptly raised his head, his pupils dilating, mouth opening involuntarily.


    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±


    ¡°What did you say the price was?¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man was a bit puzzled, but repeated, ¡°The unit price is 99 silver coins, and you can enjoy a 15% discount on orders over 50,000 units.¡±


    ¡°This, this¡­¡±


    Sachsie¡¯s voice trembled as he repeatedly confirmed whether he had heard correctly.


    Not because the price was too expensive.


    But because it was too cheap.


    So cheap it seemed unbelievable.


    One ¡°Enemy¡¯s Bane¡± was priced at only 99 silver coins. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That meant: they just needed to gather some insignificant ordinary people, give them minimal training, and spend less than 100,000 gold coins to raise an army of 100,000 infantrymen.


    Given the population and finances of Thrace Kingdom, raising tens of thousands of such an army was more than feasible.


    Though it would hardly inflict significant damage on the enemy¡¯s legendary strength, it would be more than enough to deal with regular troops and slow down the Cassandra Kingdom¡¯s advance.


    ¡°This could change the course of the war!¡±


    ¡°I must report to His Majesty immediately!¡±


    Sachsie shouted in his mind.


    However, Sachsie did not know that although he believed he had found a great bargain, he had inadvertently led the Thrace Kingdom straight into a meticulously crafted trap by the Empire.

 Chapter 400 - 323 Military Industrial Group

    Chapter 400: Chapter 323 Military Industrial Group


    The battlefield wheelchair man saw the other party wavering, quickly put on a flattering smile, stepped forward, and opened another black, exquisitely crafted wooden box.


    ¡°Please take a look at this.¡±


    Sachsie leaned forward curiously.


    Inside lay a rifle similar to the ¡°Enemy¡¯s Bane.¡±


    However, this rifle looked far more attractive than the one just displayed, with exquisite gilded engravings on the gun body and a cowhide-wrapped wooden stock.


    The battlefield wheelchair man enthusiastically introduced:


    ¡°A distinguished gentleman like you certainly can¡¯t use the same equipment as those cannon fodder.¡±


    ¡°So, the Empire specially launched this ¡®Enemy¡¯s Bane-III Model (Collector¡¯s Edition).''¡±


    ¡°This product uses precious golden silk nanmu as the stock, hand-carved with gilded casing by Master Daimo, wrapped in natural cowhide. It will give you the ultimate luxurious experience, making every trigger pull smooth and satisfying.¡±


    The battlefield wheelchair man placed the rifle in his hand, solemnly reciting the advertisement slogan:


    ¡°The Tulip in the flames of war, the intimate companion on the battlefield, the symbol of a man¡¯s status and position, the reflection of noble temperament¡ªEnemy¡¯s Bane Collector¡¯s Edition, you deserve it.¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Before Sachsie could ask, the battlefield wheelchair man quickly responded:


    ¡°Since you are a new customer, I¡¯ll give you a special offer: original price thirty gold coins, current price only twenty-one gold coins.¡±


    Having said that, he placed the rifle back in the box and stuffed it into Sachsie¡¯s arms.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll buy it.¡±


    Sachsie took out a money pouch filled with gold coins from his robe and threw it directly to the other party.


    As the chief diplomat of the Thrace Kingdom, this amount of money was nothing to him, and he was also interested in studying the Empire¡¯s weapons.


    ¡°You are indeed generous!¡±


    ¡°No wonder you¡¯re an important figure from the South!¡±


    The battlefield wheelchair man quickly accepted the pouch, feeling its heavy weight and listening to the crisp sound of gold coins, beaming with joy at once.


    Orders for regular firearms were tasks assigned by the Empire, but those so-called ¡°collector¡¯s editions¡± were his private deals, from which he received commissions for each one sold. No wonder he was so excited.


    ¡°These Thrace people really are suckers!¡±


    Thinking of this, the battlefield wheelchair man once again put on a flattering smile and approached: ¡°Gentlemen, would you be interested in learning about the ¡®Royal Exclusive Edition¡¯ of the ¡®Enemy¡¯s Bane¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Handcrafted by masters within the church, the gun body made of pure gold and inlaid with magic diamonds. It¡¯s said that even His Majesty Cassius¡¯s treasure trove has one of the same model, currently priced at only nine thousand¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Sachsie, after all, had some rationality and hadn¡¯t forgotten his mission: ¡°Do you have other types of weapons?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    ¡°The Empire¡¯s armory will surely be an eye-opener for you.¡±


    The battlefield wheelchair man replied with a smile, waving to the distance: ¡°You, bring those ¡®Thunder Hammers¡¯ over here!¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Heave ho!¡±


    An ogre from the heavy artillery battalion came walking slowly from a distance, carrying a black iron cannon, and dropped it on the ground.


    The ogre scratched his head and casually patted the metal cannon¡¯s body, producing a clang.


    ¡°Here you go, an Earth Cannon, I mean, Thunder Hammer.¡±


    The battlefield wheelchair man¡¯s smile became somewhat strained, but he quickly adjusted and introduced without changing his expression:


    ¡°You¡¯ve come to the right place, the Imperial Arsenal has also launched the most advanced, most powerful product¡ªthe ¡°Thunder Hammer-III Model (For External Sale).¡±


    ¡°With this weapon, we have conquered city after city, securing Anzeta.¡±


    The battlefield wheelchair man waved his hand with high spirits, appearing somewhat heroic.


    He turned and said to the ogre:


    ¡°You, demonstrate for this gentleman.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The ogre stood still, looking down at him, making the surrounding air somewhat heavy.


    The battlefield wheelchair man forced a smile, pulled out a few silver coins from his pocket, walked forward, and slipped them into the ogre¡¯s thick hand.


    Only then did the ogre nod in satisfaction, turned, and started loading the earth cannon.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A deafening explosion was followed by billowing smoke.


    A solid metal cannonball traced a beautiful arc in the air and landed in the distant, war-torn cannon range.


    Dust and rubble flew in the distance, creating a deep pit on the ground.


    ¡°This is¡­.¡±


    Sachsie once again gaped.


    This power was comparable to the Arcane Legion¡¯s usual long-range attacks, equivalent to the destructive force of third or fourth-tier spells.


    It was no wonder.


    No wonder the Ashen Empire¡¯s army could so easily overthrow the North.


    With such weaponry, it was tantamount to adding a Caster Legion to their army, far surpassing the Northern Barbarians, who were still in the Magic Wilderness, in long-range attacks.


    Thinking of this, Sachsie asked:


    ¡°This, how much does this weapon cost?¡±


    In his memory, the former elven empire also had similar weapons, often engraved with magic runes, and extraordinarily expensive.


    Such weapons were vital for siege and defense battles, perfect for fending off attacks in the battle for Sunshine City, far more important than the rifles shown earlier.


    The battlefield wheelchair man simply laughed heartily.


    ¡°Only thirty gold coins.¡±


    ¡°If you buy more than a thousand units at once, we can offer a 15% discount.¡±


    ¡°Of course, we also have a collector¡¯s edition of the ¡®Thunder Hammer,¡¯ with a gilded shell that brings you an unparalleled experience, whether you keep it in your mansion or take it to the battlefield¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Sachsie fell silent again, his lips trembling slightly, unable to speak.


    What had become of this world?


    Did he remember incorrectly?


    When exactly did magical creations become so cheap?


    ¡°This must be reported to His Majesty.¡±


    ¡°With the front lines in a tight spot, these weapons would greatly impact the war.¡±


    Sachsie stood there, calculating in his mind.


    The battlefield wheelchair man observed Sachsie¡¯s reaction, unable to contain his excitement and joy¡ªhe felt he was about to complete an unprecedentedly large order. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­


    Days later, the Empire received an unprecedentedly large order from the Thrace Kingdom, so enormous that even Ramp was amazed, marveling at the wealth of the South.


    One million Enemy¡¯s Bane-III Model rifles, twelve thousand Thunder Hammer-II Model cannons.


    Countless ammunition and cannonballs.


    Totaling over one million four hundred thousand gold coins.


    This order not only cleared out the outdated junk in the Imperial armory but also restarted twenty-two defunct production lines, creating thousands of new jobs.


    One million four hundred thousand gold coins!


    This massive profit shook the entire nation.


    The next day, the Claudeau United Military Industrial Conglomerate was established in Isdalia.


    With the Imperial Mansion as its headquarters, controlled mainly by the Emperor himself, it received technical and financial support from the Military Department and the Department of Technology, mainly responsible for manufacturing arms and coordinating sales with the Imperial Southern Continent Company.


    Those with titles of nobility had priority in purchasing shares of the conglomerate.


    For a time, driven by official kingdom propaganda and enormous profit, the Dragonblood Nobility eagerly invested, set off a buying frenzy.


    They invested their war bounties in it, sweeping the already scarce shares of the conglomerate off the market, becoming shareholders of the Claudeau Military Industrial Group.


    The influx of large sums of money led to the rapid establishment of military factories across the Empire, expanding the military-industrial base, gradually becoming an industry to which tens of thousands of people owed their livelihoods.


    In just a few days, under the mysterious hand of the Empire, a colossal interest group had begun to take shape, revealing its ferocious face.

 Chapter 401 - 324 The Emperors Inspection

    Chapter 401: Chapter 324 The Emperor¡¯s Inspection


    ¡°Next is¡­ Antonio City in the Katte Kingdom.¡±


    Cassius spread his wings, gliding over the land and cities below.


    The people on the ground cheered¡ªa mixture of genuine enthusiasm or the sight of the menacing Imperial Guards.


    In the past nearly three months, the Emperor had inspected most of the Ashen Empire. Everywhere he went, there were drums and constant cheers.


    ¡°Long live the Empire!¡±


    ¡°Long live His Imperial Majesty!¡±


    Such cries were incessant.


    Of course, there were also some insolent ¡°assassins¡± attempting to become Dragon Slayers. Naturally, most of them were burned to ashes before they even got close.


    People called them lunatics.


    After all, one might understand assassinating an emperor, but who would attempt to assassinate a ¡°Dragon Emperor¡±?


    In fact, within this imperial domain, even if a deity descended in person, they probably couldn¡¯t kill this Red Dragon.


    As the inspection progressed, more and more incredible legends spread from people¡¯s mouths and were quickly confirmed.


    In the cold Eternal Frozen City, His Imperial Majesty summoned mountain ranges hundreds of meters high, shielding the city from the northerly winds and making it much warmer.


    In the treacherous High Mountain Stronghold, His Imperial Majesty leveled the uneven hills, creating vast flatlands out of thin air, allowing local factories to be built.


    In villages plagued by Shark Lizard Beasts, His Imperial Majesty had a lavish barbecue feast¡­


    These legends gradually spread throughout the empire.


    As the once conquered people, having endured the tales of the Northern Nobility¡¯s Song of Embers, the citizens¡¯ hearts were filled with fear of this emperor and unease about imperial rule.


    But as life gradually improved, their hearts began to swell with feelings of ¡°awe and worship.¡±


    It was known that the Northern Nobility¡¯s ¡°inspections¡± left people suffering, as various extravagant expenses were loaded onto the local populace. Yet, the Emperor¡¯s inspections were the complete opposite.


    Some said His Imperial Majesty was not conquering, but liberating and saving.


    With blood and fire. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In fact, Cassius¡¯s inspection was aimed at converting his territory into [Imperial Region]


    And the miraculous feats of moving mountains and filling seas were simply him testing his newly acquired abilities, while also inadvertently creating a better natural environment for the empire¡¯s industrial development.


    Originally, Cassius intended to take advantage of the inspection, leveraging his familiarity with the plot to clear out the various side quests, dungeons, and bosses in the Anzeta Great Wilderness, thus reaching a new level.


    However, Cassius was already a legendary dragon, ordinary creatures couldn¡¯t provide him any advancement.


    For instance, the side quest in the High Mountain Stronghold, [Ogre in the Cave], whose final boss was a mutated Terrifying Claw Monster [Shadow Torturer] with a challenge level of 13¡ªit was a nightmare for new players in his past life.


    But it only gave Cassius a measly 500 experience points.


    Moreover, the emergence of a new system altered Cassius¡¯s original plan, making him decide to throw all these ¡°experience packs¡± to the players.


    [Your faction, the [Ashen Empire], has reached the level¡ª[Aurichalcum]]


    [Faction System [Experience Shop] unlocked]


    [Players belonging to your faction can spend experience to learn skills and abilities within the faction.]


    In Cassius¡¯s memory, this system only appeared in some major factions in his previous life, where players could spend experience to learn faction abilities, rapidly enhancing their own strengths.


    Riding Skill, Swordsmanship, Craftsmanship, and even some spells could all be learned through the Experience Shop.


    And this widened the gap between professional gamers and ordinary players, as regular players often couldn¡¯t even gather enough experience to level up, let alone have any surplus.


    Many top players became literal ¡°Hexagonal Warriors.¡±


    Thinking of this, he immediately communicated with Ramp through mental connection.


    Even separated by thousands of miles, the soul link of [Imperial Grace] still allowed the Red Dragon¡¯s vassals to communicate with him anywhere within the empire.


    ¡°Master, do you¡­ have any orders?¡±


    Ramp¡¯s voice sounded somewhat lifeless, an exhaustion from the heart.


    Before Cassius could speak, Ramp¡¯s dispirited voice came from the other end.


    ¡°Master, the Imperial Senate Hall has been completed. The Imperial Mansion, Isdalia Grand Coliseum, and others are still under construction, which will take another three months¡­¡±


    ¡°The Claudeau United Military Industrial Conglomerate and the Imperial Southern Continent Company have been established, initial profit distribution is complete. We¡¯ve connected with those from the Wojin Church and sent out some commercial spies¡­¡±


    ¡°Earl Gilmore Sparrow has created a steam press coin minting machine, established the template for ¡®Dragon Coins,¡¯ but needs your approval¡­¡±


    ¡°Additionally, the war situation in the Fadlan Region has changed as well¡­¡±


    Ramp¡¯s words flowed endlessly.


    In recent months, he not only oversaw the city construction in Isdalia but also handled industrial planning across regions and took charge of the founding of various empire capital companies.


    Just three days ago, he received a new task¡ªto integrate the Imperial Bank and centralize coin minting authority under the empire¡¯s control.


    He needed to abolish the chaotic currency system of the North and enforce the new currency called ¡°Dragon Coins,¡± also requiring the Thrace Kingdom¡¯s orders to be settled with the new currency.


    Even as a legendary creature with mental and physical endurance far exceeding mortals, the high-intensity work left Ramp somewhat dispirited.


    He hadn¡¯t slept for several days.


    The empire was simply too vast now.


    Over three million square kilometers of land, more than six million people, the original kingdom¡¯s administrative system was hard to manage.


    And his great His Imperial Majesty, at this crucial stage of the empire¡¯s beginnings, had acted for several months as usual¡ªa hands-off manager.


    Cassius didn¡¯t consider this laziness.


    Yes, he believed in specializing in one¡¯s craft, thinking he wasn¡¯t good at handling minor administrative matters, so why not delegate them to capable subordinates?


    ¡°By the way, Master, there¡¯s also the issue of managing the newly arrived Starfallen. Recently, there were sixty-five thousand four hundred¡­¡±


    Listening to Ramp¡¯s report, Cassius¡¯s mouth twitched¡ªhe expected many imperial affairs but not this many.


    It was indeed a country full of vitality and immense activity, with everything within developing rapidly and becoming vastly different, tearing apart age-old traditions relentlessly.


    After listening to matters for over ten minutes, Cassius yawned a bit out of boredom and interrupted:


    ¡°Ramp¡­ I¡¯m here to assign you a new task.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The Municipal Hall, documents piled like mountains.


    And at the other end of the mental link, the enormous Dragon Vein Ogre wanted to cry but had no tears.


    He roared silently in his heart: ¡°It¡¯s all worth it, all for the master¡¯s grand blueprint!¡±


    Ramp suddenly thought of a spell called [Simulacrum], a Seventh Tier spell that could create multiple versions of himself. Wouldn¡¯t that make his work more efficient?

 Chapter 402 - 325: Experience Shop

    Chapter 402: Chapter 325: Experience Shop


    ¡°Experience Shop?¡±


    ¡°What is this thing?¡±


    ¡°You can exchange experience for¡­ skill proficiencies, combat techniques, and even spells?¡±


    In the square of Northwind Castle, players crowded around the notice board of the Ashen Kingdom, creating a cacophony of arguments.


    ¡°Who the hell brought a wyvern here?¡±


    ¡°Seriously, what is this?¡±


    ¡°Mantou, you thief, stop pushing me!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, this is cheating! Get to the back of the line!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean cheating? As a sheriff, it¡¯s my duty to disperse the crowd to prevent accidents. It¡¯s called being responsible.¡±


    ¡°Let me see, let me see.¡±


    Mantou, pulling Noodle behind him, pushed through the crowd, using the massive body of his bipedal wyvern to clear a path in front of the notice board.


    ¡°Experience Shop¡­¡±


    ¡°It looks like something.¡±


    Mantou rubbed his chin in thought, but was immediately lifted by a burly man from behind.


    ¡°Don¡¯t block the way!¡±


    ¡°Damn¡­¡±


    ¡°Nice job!¡±


    The crowd cheered.


    The level cap for the public beta was Level 8, with most ordinary players still below Level 4. Some casual newbies hadn¡¯t even reached Level 2.


    But among the top main players from powerful families and professional solo players, many were already approaching this threshold.


    And with no clue when the next major update would come, excess experience points were sure to accumulate.


    Currently, the Experience Shop was open at locations such as the Tower of the Great Sage, the Red Scale Guard Station, the Imperial Military Training Camp, the Wilderness Shooting Range, and the Lizardfolk Wilderness Hunting Grounds.


    There, players could learn proficient skills in spells, riding, military techniques, hunting, ruling, and a variety of combat skills. They could even browse some materials in the Kingdom¡¯s Grand Library.


    However, accessing the Experience Shop required an unconditional prerequisite: being a subject of the empire and possessing some dragonkin blood.


    ¡°With this new system, Xin Dog will definitely come out with a guide.¡±


    Mantou opened the forum. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sure enough, there were several guides already.


    As soon as Mantou learned of this news, Singo had already visited all the open Experience Shop locations and quickly compiled a guide. His efficiency was astonishing.


    ¡°Experience Shop Guide (Novice Edition)¡±


    ¡°In ¡®Erezer,¡¯ increasing your level is certainly important, but for newcomers in the early stages, using the Experience Shop to redeem abilities might help you develop faster.¡±


    ¡°Even if you level up to a Level 4 warrior with higher base attributes and skills, without combat techniques, it¡¯s still hard to fully utilize your strength.¡±


    ¡°And the proficient skills like swordsmanship, riding, and athletics at the Imperial Military Training Camp can be very effective. When matched properly, you only need about a thousand experience to gain more benefits than just leveling up.¡±


    ¡°Additionally, if you¡¯re a casual player, I recommend directly learning a craft at places like the Northwind Castle Technical Institute.


    Whether it¡¯s craftsmanship, armor smithing, or potion making, you¡¯ll earn a decent income, enough to live a fairly prosperous life.¡±


    Seeing this, Mantou nodded.


    Although the guy might have a few screws loose, he¡¯s quite professional in the field of game guides, and at least trustworthy.


    However, these posts were mainly aimed at novice and casual players.


    For a seasoned player like Mantou, who held the advanced occupation of Red Scale Conqueror and had even consumed a Dragon Blood Elixir, the information wasn¡¯t very useful.


    So he continued scrolling down and found new posts.


    ¡°Experience Shop Guide (Advanced Edition)¡±


    ¡°With the current version cap at Level 8, any player even slightly professional should already be at the top. By the way, I already have 4,500 excess experience.¡±


    Mantou secretly spat.


    ¡°Damn it, writing a guide just to show off. No hope for him.¡±


    He turned back and looked nervously at his level panel.


    Level 7 (28,800/34,000xp)


    ¡°That¡¯s not right¡­¡±


    ¡°Where did he get so much experience?¡±


    Mantou thought he had already worked hard enough to earn experience.


    In the previous war, riding his bipedal wyvern, he had raided many Northern Countries, making countless dive attacks and killing an estimated few hundred northern soldiers.


    Just three days ago, he had accepted a bandit extermination task, burning a bandit hideout hidden in the forest to the ground ¨C though he had pocketed all the looted goods for himself.


    ¡°Dammit, it must be the viscount¡¯s privileges.¡±


    Mantou thought angrily.


    He had also attended the grand coronation ceremony, which was like a special effects extravaganza, but only received the title of baron, still overshadowed by Singo.


    He had also enjoyed faction contributions, gold coin salaries, and even spent most of his savings to buy Claudeau Armaments stock, which gave him substantial dividends every month.


    Mantou continued browsing the guide.


    ¡°Based on the interval from the last closed beta, the next major version update might occur in about a year ¨C making this the best time to widen the gap between us and others.¡±


    ¡°¡®Erezer¡¯ now has 110,000 players, and this number is still growing. To secure the best resources, we must widen the gap with other players.¡±


    ¡°Never save your experience; don¡¯t wait for the next version update because experience will depreciate.¡±


    ¡°Five thousand experience during the closed beta was astronomical, but now it¡¯s just a few side quests.¡±


    ¡°Experience, use it if you got it; the sooner you use it, the sooner you reap the benefits.¡±


    ¡°Next, I¡¯ll list the Experience Shop exchange recommendations for major occupations.¡±


    ¡°By the way, the newly built Tower of Sinful Fire offers the faction subclass Dragon Pact Warlock, which is a very powerful magic system profession. But its job change task is extremely harsh, so weigh the pros and cons before considering.¡±


    ¡°Red Scale Conqueror recommends exchanging for riding, spearmanship, scouting, and archery proficiencies. Try to stack riding above 10 for excellent personal experience¡­.¡±


    ¡°Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight recommends exchanging for swordsmanship, shield techniques, military techniques, and athletics proficiencies.¡±


    ¡°Additionally, I suggest everyone buy an emperor¡¯s portrait to hang at home. The first thing you should do every morning is salute the portrait and shout ¡®loyalty¡¯ ¨C supposedly, high faith boosts Dragon Oath Spells.¡±


    ¡°You have to admit, Xin Dog¡¯s guides are packed with useful information.¡±


    Mantou carefully read the guide.


    He noted down key points related to the Red Scale Conqueror and patted Noodle¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Noodle, let¡¯s go!¡±


    The bipedal wyvern obediently bent down, allowing Mantou to leap onto its back.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°Noodle¡± let out a raspy roar, flapping its wings, and amidst the envious gazes of novice players, soared mightily toward the Red Scale Guard Station with Mantou.

 Chapter 403 - 326: Tax Collection Exchange

    Chapter 403: Chapter 326: Tax Collection Exchange


    Arriving above the Red Scale Guard Station, the logistics personnel below raised red and yellow flags to signal, transmitting instructions to the wyverns in the sky.


    Mantou immediately read the instruction. He patted Noodle¡¯s side neck and whispered:


    ¡°Stop at Dragon Spot Thirteen.¡±


    ¡°Roar~¡±


    Noodle let out a low roar, circled a few times above the guard station, and then precisely stopped within the yellow-marked frame on the platform.


    The surrounding logistics personnel immediately gathered, wiping the wyvern¡¯s scales, fastening chains, and filling the feeding trough with the wyvern¡¯s favorite blood paste feed.


    The wyvern did not resist, simply stretching its body and enjoying their service.


    With the empire¡¯s development and increased funds, the Red Scale Guard Station also developed a complete logistics system, ensuring that the wyverns stayed in their best condition.


    ¡°Thank you, everyone.¡±


    Mantou greeted them and then dismounted eagerly, walking down the stairs.


    As he walked, he accidentally bumped into a player¡ªwho turned out to be Singo, dressed in a viscount¡¯s attire.


    ¡°Why are you in such a hurry?¡±


    Mantou looked at Singo¡¯s luxurious viscount-exclusive robes, and with a face full of envy, he replied, ¡°I¡¯m going to exchange abilities.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I just see your guide saying that professional gamers should spend their experience points early to exchange abilities and enhance their strength?¡±


    Singo glanced at him and said indifferently, ¡°That guide was for top professional gamers. Are you one?¡±


    Mantou gritted his teeth and replied, ¡°I think I am.¡±


    Singo browsed through his panel and mocked him calmly, ¡°No way, is there really someone who hasn¡¯t even reached the level cap and is stuck at Level Seven?¡±


    ¡°If you haven¡¯t even hit the level cap, where do you get excess experience points from?¡±


    Mantou stubbornly replied, ¡°Do you know what it means to be prepared in advance?¡±


    ¡°Never mind that. Just tell me where the experience shop at the guard station is.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s with Marquess Alger. You have to go to his office and find him. There¡¯s already a long line of dozens of people.¡±


    ¡°Damn.¡±


    Mantou continued down the stairs and soon arrived at the door of the captain¡¯s office on the third floor of the guard station.


    Sure enough, there was already a long queue, with practically all the Red Scale Conqueror players he recognized.


    So he had no choice but to obediently line up.


    Fortunately, each person took only a few minutes to exchange abilities, so Mantou waited for only half an hour before he was at the office door.


    He cautiously pushed the door open and entered the spacious, luxurious office.


    Marquess Alger, the chief commander of the Red Scale Conquerors, stood not far away. He still had the form of a half-dragon half-human, with longer horns on his forehead and denser scales on his body.


    The luxurious robes he wore and the dragon-head medal on his chest made Mantou envious¡ªthat was the emblem of a marquis of the empire, a symbol of noble status.


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle lay nearby, not chained in any way, lazily chewing on precious magic ore, curiously tilting its head to look at the newly arrived player.


    Mantou looked at the top of Alger¡¯s head.


    [Chief of the Red Scale Conquerors ¨C Alger]


    Faction: Ashen Empire


    Challenge Level: ???


    He couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Even after reaching Level Seven, he still couldn¡¯t see the challenge level of this ¡°First Red Scale Conqueror.¡±


    Thinking of this, Mantou said flatteringly, ¡°Boss Alger, I¡¯m here to exchange abilities.¡±


    He hesitated for a moment, then asked:


    ¡°Uh¡­Boss Alger, for the sake of me being one of your first two students, could you give me a small discount?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Alger replied coldly.


    As a true native, he actually couldn¡¯t see any panels, merely following orders from above to stand here and attend to players for these so-called ¡°ability exchanges.¡±


    Each time an exchange was completed, Alger would sense a strange energy flowing into his body, but he couldn¡¯t control it himself, only passively accept it.


    So the so-called ¡°discount¡± was out of the question.


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Mantou awkwardly scratched his head and opened the [Experience Shop] panel.


    [Alger Yorman¡¯s Experience Shop]


    Proficiencies: Riding Skill +18, Military +14, Scouting +12, Hunting +11, Athletics +10, Survival +10


    Special Abilities: Commander¡¯s Surprise Attack, Dive Attack, Aerial Quick Stop, Swift Turn, Actions Like Tides, Recovery


    ¡°Wow, there¡¯s so much?¡±


    Mantou felt a burst of joy.


    But upon seeing the experience points required for those abilities, he immediately felt a bit disheartened.


    To increase the [Riding Skill] proficiency to 18 required a whopping 9000xp, almost a third of all the experience points he had earned so far.


    Exchanging for an ability like [Commander¡¯s Surprise Attack] required even more, over ten thousand experience points.


    ¡°Can¡¯t afford it, can¡¯t afford it at all.¡±


    Ultimately, Mantou chose to spend 3000xp to raise his [Riding Skill] proficiency to Level Fourteen.


    After pressing the [Confirm Exchange] button.


    Mantou¡¯s experience bar dropped significantly.


    And between him and Alger, a special bond was formed through the mutual bloodline of the Red Dragon.


    Alger¡¯s memories and skills related to ¡°Riding Skill¡± were transmitted into Mantou¡¯s body.


    His proficiencies soared.


    At that moment, Mantou felt as if he had been training in riding since childhood, spending countless days and nights with his mount, and had been riding the eagle¡¯s back for decades.


    His body even developed some muscle memory.


    When Mantou came back to his senses, his panel had dramatically changed.


    [Riding Skill +14]


    ¡°This is truly amazing.¡±


    Mantou clicked his tongue, fascinated by this new experience.


    Alger also closed his eyes slightly, feeling the strange energy flowing into his body, making him even stronger.


    ¡°Starfallers¡­¡±


    ¡°Such peculiar folks.¡±


    Even though he was accustomed to the Starfallers¡¯ unusual behavior, Alger was still quite surprised by this strange power infusion.


    However, they did not know that half of the experience Mantou spent was taken as ¡°tax¡± and given to the faction leader¡ªnone other than the emperor of the Ashen Empire, Red Dragon Cassius.


    ¡­


    [You have gained 150xp]


    [You have gained 300xp]


    [You have gained 200xp]


    [You have gained 400xp]


    [You have gained 1900xp]


    ¡­


    Cassius browsed through the constantly refreshing panel information, watching the flood of experience points and feeling quite pleased with this farming behavior.


    ¡°So the experience is transmitted through the [Imperial Grace] bond.¡±


    ¡°As expected of the players.¡±


    ¡°In just a little time, they¡¯ve brought tens of thousands of experience points. At this rate, I¡¯ll break through Level 18 soon.¡±


    ¡°Leveling up while lying down is so much more enjoyable than going through the effort to kill enemies.¡±


    Cassius grinned, revealing a sinister smile¡ªhis expression brimming with the joy of a bountiful harvest.


    From now on, these players would all become nourishment for his power growth.


    He lightly flapped his wings, hovering above Antonio City.


    ¡°Long live the empire!¡±


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    The people in the city erupted in cheers, celebrating the arrival of their emperor, looking forward to a bright future.

 Chapter 404 - 327: Promotion and Dragons Absorption

    Chapter 404: Chapter 327: Promotion and Dragon¡¯s Absorption


    The blistering breath of the Red Dragon brought a rare warm breeze to Antonio City, allowing people to feel warmth that had been long lost.


    ¡°That is truly not a legend!¡±


    ¡°He, he really can bring us warmth. We don¡¯t have to worry about surviving this winter!¡±


    ¡°Praise His Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    The public sentiment in the Anzeta Great Wilderness had undergone an earth-shaking transformation, and the image of the Red Dragon in people¡¯s minds grew more majestic.


    Under the empire¡¯s industrialized production and the emperor¡¯s transformation of nature, people no longer had to worry about how to survive the cold winter or how to fill their stomachs. They could even look forward to a better future through the propaganda newspapers.


    Such things were previously unimaginable.


    It turned out that the previous propaganda of the Northern Nobility was vulnerable in the face of tangible benefits.


    The emperor still patrolled his imperial territories. He appeared above the cities like the sun high in the sky, bringing miraculous visions to his subjects.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, Cassius spread his wings and soared across the sky, letting out a delighted roar, casting a shadow over the vast wilderness.


    The panel information kept refreshing, albeit much more slowly.


    As Cassius had anticipated, in the few days after the Experience Shop was launched, his experience points increased explosively, but afterward, the growth would slow down.


    [You have gained 1500xp]


    [You have gained 1500xp]


    [You have gained 1300xp]


    [You have gained 1200xp]


    ¡­


    Now, ordinary experience points had become almost negligible to him.


    Each ¡°1500xp¡± on the panel required the combined 1500xp from dozens or even hundreds of players.


    Fortunately, the player base was now large enough, and accumulating enough quantity could result in qualitative changes.


    A stream could also merge into an ocean.


    In the days since the Experience Shop opened, the 110,000 existing players in the Anzeta Great Wilderness enthusiastically exchanged, bringing Cassius a total of over 13 million ordinary experience points.


    This was an astronomical number beyond the imagination of any player.


    But when converted to Cassius¡¯s panel, it equated to 130,000 experience points.


    This was the consumption rate of the Atavistic Red Dragon template.


    Even though it had been cut down so much, these experience points were still more than enough, allowing the Red Dragon to cross the threshold to the next occupational level.


    This significantly surpassed what he earned from annihilating the team of Legendary Dragon Slayers.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Amidst a deep rumble, Cassius plummeted from mid-air, landing with a thunderous impact that raised clouds of dust and cracked the ground beneath his feet.


    ¡°Doing it yourself will never be as convenient as reaping the benefits from others,¡± he mused.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, it¡¯s great to be the boss and have 110,000 players supporting me, a dragon.¡±


    Gazing at the continuously refreshing experience points on his panel, Cassius¡¯s face broke into an irrepressible grin.


    The expression was as greedy as that of any pure-bred Red Dragon collecting gold coins.


    Next, another unremarkable experience notification appeared.


    [You have gained 1200xp]


    This time, however, the message did not get lost in the flood of experience gains. Since it exceeded a threshold, it brought a qualitative change for Cassius.


    [Your total occupational level has increased to 18]


    [Your current occupations are: True Dragon Sorcerer 14 / Bloodscaled Fury 3]


    [You can choose to advance your current occupation: True Dragon Sorcerer or Bloodscaled Fury]


    In terms of strength enhancement, Bloodscaled Fury was undoubtedly the more sensible choice.


    For occupations, every four levels represented a dividing line. Advancing Bloodscaled Fury to the fourth level could potentially elevate Cassius¡¯s melee combat abilities to a new height.


    But this improvement was hardly necessary for Cassius now.


    Moreover, this occupation was one of the traps that Gelrazax had set for him. It could possibly destabilize the Heart of Karex, pushing him toward the chaotic faction.


    At present, under the dual effects of Emperor¡¯s Dominance and Holy Order, the Force of Order pervaded the space around him, completely suppressing the chaotic power within the Heart of Karex.


    Yet that scorching heart still beat and surged within Cassius¡¯s chest.


    The burning blood of the Ancestral Dragon still flowed through his veins.


    This was a curse brewed by the Abyss and the Mad Dragon God¡ªit was not so easily eradicated.


    Cassius could feel that it was merely lying dormant under the pressure of order, not wholly resolved.


    Should the Imperial Region loosen its grip or Wind of Bahamut shatter, the chaotic, maddened, frenzied will could very well resurge and reclaim dominance over his body.


    This was something Cassius was determined never to see happen.


    Therefore, until the curse was entirely lifted, he would not take any risks of losing control, nor would he covet that frenzied power.


    Level 15, though still a transitional level for the sorcerer occupation, could nonetheless bring him a new Dragon¡¯s Spell and this was the value of the True Dragon Sorcerer spellbook.


    This was a tangible enhancement of strength, importantly risk-free and without any adverse effects¡ªonly needing a bit of favor from the Goddess of Fate.


    Thus, Cassius made his choice without hesitation.


    [You chose to advance True Dragon Sorcerer to level 15]


    [Due to the innate spellcasting of dragonkin, your current spellcasting level is: 20]


    At this level of spellcasting, he had already reached the highest tiers of the Magic Web.


    They sought deeper, more concealed things beneath the surface of the Magic Web and aimed to master the use of the Magic Web, making spellcasting more intuitive.


    Cassius now felt as if he had ¡°touched the ceiling.¡±


    It was said that in ancient times, the Magic Web had not been merely nine layers, but nearly boundless, with people recklessly drawing unlimited power from it until their folly destroyed everything.


    The current Magic Web was sealed off by the deities.


    The former arcanists were imprisoned, confined within the nine-layer Magic Web, thus forming what was generally understood as mages.


    However, investigating the origin and transformation of the Magic Web was not what a sorcerer like Cassius, whose mind was filled with power, sought.


    Now the Red Dragon only felt that his control over spells and influence on the Magic Web had grown stronger, making him quite exhilarated, with sparks even flitting in the corners of his eyes.


    Soon, however, Cassius held his breath, waiting quietly, silently praying to himself. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, his pale gold pupils lit up.


    [You have gained the ninth-tier Dragon¡¯s Spell¡ªDragon¡¯s Absorption]


    [Dragon¡¯s Absorption]


    Ninth-tier defense, transmutation spell


    As innate magic creatures, every breath of giant dragons greedily absorbed the surrounding energy, converting it into fuel for their breath¡ªdragon sorcerers further refined this talent, turning it into a complex Dragon¡¯s Spell.


    You open your mouth, creating an energy vortex that absorbs any ranged spell aimed at you, and you can use the absorbed energy to cast your own spells.


    (Note: This absorption has a certain threshold)


    ¡°Dragon¡¯s Absorption¡­¡±


    ¡°An interesting spell, somewhat similar to the Mana Absorption from my previous life, but much more powerful.¡±


    Cassius stared at his panel, nodding in satisfaction, even his long and sturdy tail swaying slightly.


    This was his first ninth-tier spell earned from his own efforts.


    Not reliant on any magic equipment.


    ¡°I, Cassius, have achieved my current strength all because of my extraordinary talent¡­¡±


    ¡°System panel, level up!¡±

 Chapter 405 - 328 Bewildering Valley

    Chapter 405: Chapter 328 Bewildering Valley


    ¡°I have a feeling today¡¯s luck is particularly good. Could it be I¡¯ll draw a second Ninth Tier Spell?¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius stared intently at the panel about to refresh, his golden eyes full of greed and anticipation.


    What kind of spell would he get?


    He held his breath once more.


    Finally, under the eager anticipation of the Red Dragon, new information appeared on the panel. But as soon as Cassius saw the first line, his dragon face darkened.


    [You have obtained a First Tier Dragon¡¯s Spell¡ª[Dragon Saliva Spell]]


    [Dragon Saliva Spell (dragon spit)]


    First Tier Transmutation Spell


    A dragon activating this spell could spit out drops similar to its breath weapon: Red Dragons spit out spherical flames, Blue Dragons spit out spherical lightning, Green Dragons spit out spherical gas, and so on.


    These drops, known as ¡°Dragon Saliva,¡± could be used as precious magic materials and could be thrown to produce effects similar to the dragon¡¯s breath.


    The glaring ¡°First Tier¡± words made Cassius deeply feel the world¡¯s malice and great insult.


    Just by looking at the spell¡¯s description, he could guess it was another True Dragon Sorcerer, obsessed with wealth, who didn¡¯t hesitate to turn their saliva into magic equipment, exchanging everything for gold coins.


    The True Dragon Sorcerer¡¯s [Dragon¡¯s Spell] had many similar spells. They typically used various strange methods to make money, hoard money, or even rob money¡ªperfectly embodying a dragon¡¯s greed for treasure.


    To these spells, the native giant dragons might give high praise, but Cassius had only one low assessment:


    Polluting the card pool.


    Purely polluting the card pool.


    As the Emperor of the Ashen Empire, owning the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness and being a major shareholder in enterprises such as [Claudeau Military Industrial Group], [Imperial Southern Continent Trading Company], and [Ashen Textile Company], Cassius¡¯s daily gold coin income was in the tens of thousands.


    One could say: given Cassius¡¯s current wealth, picking up a gold coin from the ground was a waste of time for him.


    Let alone wasting time crafting so-called ¡°Dragon Saliva.¡±


    The application of a First Tier Spell.


    This spell, just obtained, was still as easy as pie for Cassius.


    Cassius disdainfully activated the spell, injecting a wisp of breath¡¯s energy into it, and spit out several fiery red, smooth beads.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    He threw them out, causing fierce explosions in the distance. Since his breath was far stronger than an average Red Dragon¡¯s, these beads also released the power of Third or Fourth Tier Spells.


    ¡°Not very useful.¡±


    Looking at the craters in the distance, Cassius said impatiently.


    At his legendary or above level, Third and Fourth Tier mid-to-lower tier spells were like scratching an itch, even when cast at higher tiers, with no significant improvement.


    ¡°Haha, I better try the second spell.¡±


    Cassius shook his head resignedly, slowly closed his eyes, and began to focus.


    Ninth Tier Level defensive, transmutation spells, even for a sorcerer casting them with charisma, were quite complex.


    Fortunately, Cassius¡¯s casting level reached 20, with charisma exceeding 32 points, reaching a new level beyond mortal beings. His comprehensive spellcasting ability surpassed most legendary sorcerers.


    In just a few breaths, Cassius comprehended [Dragon¡¯s Absorption] entirely and unleashed the powerful impact on reality.


    ¡°Then¡­¡±


    ¡°Try full power?¡±


    Cassius slowly opened his jaws.


    With his breath, a current of energy formed in his gaping maw, growing more intense under the spell¡¯s influence.


    Finally, a mighty vortex of energy appeared deep in the Red Dragon¡¯s throat, like a bottomless abyss, greedily absorbing all surrounding spell energies.


    A gale blew fiercely.


    Everything around howled.


    Plants wilted as their life was drained, soil cracked as moisture was sucked away, insects leaped and became husks, and even the fire elements lingering in the explosion craters were absorbed¡­


    Everything around became frail.


    All spell energy gathered in Cassius¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Gulp¡­¡±


    A swallowing sound echoed as Cassius converted it all into his own energy, then opened his mouth and released it again.


    Blinding light burst from his throat.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The absorbed energy turned into fireballs, causing wildfire to spread, ashes everywhere, and a dozen-meter-wide charred crater to form on the ground.


    And this was merely the effect of absorbing ordinary energy nearby.


    If his [Dragon¡¯s Absorption] could absorb high-tier spells, the resulting power would be even more terrifying.


    But these were secondary, more importantly¡ªthis was a new counter-spell means for Cassius. It also allowed him to replenish his energy and launch counterattacks.


    Though few enemies could drain Cassius, who had the heart of an Ancestral Dragon, this didn¡¯t stop him from becoming a perpetual motion machine in prolonged battles through [Dragon¡¯s Absorption], adding more trump cards to his arsenal.


    ¡°A very practical spell.¡±


    Cassius looked around at the devastation, finally easing his resentment over drawing a First Tier Spell.


    The Red Dragon shook his head.


    ¡°Tsk, got so caught up experimenting with spells, I almost forgot today¡¯s task.¡±


    He glanced into the distance, using [All-Knowing Eye] and [Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye]. His sight pierced through layers of mountains, reaching dozens of miles away.


    ¡°It should be here¡­¡±


    ¡°Bewildering Valley.¡±


    Between two towering, treacherous peaks lay a deep, quiet valley, draped in dense black forest and a thin veil of mist.


    A sudden wind blew past, bringing no rustling leaves but eerie wails.


    Bewildering Valley.


    This place was known as a forbidden zone for the living, with no one returning alive.


    Rumor had it that illusions often appeared in the valley, showing people their deepest desires, leading countless obsessed adventurers to enter, only to get lost within, never to emerge.


    Only when the north wind howled did the wandering souls within feel the outside world¡¯s presence, thus letting out low howls.


    With time, no one dared approach there, and local residents often used it to scare their children, keeping them from wandering out.


    No one knew what lay within the valley.


    But Cassius, with memories of his past life, knew very well¡ªa Lich resided in the Bewildering Valley.


    It was one of the hidden bosses of the disaster-laden North in his past life. This Lich, dormant for hundreds of years, nearly unleashed an Undead Scourge sweeping the Carter Duchy and the entire North, but was stopped by players at the brink of success.

 Chapter 406 - 329 Soul Chanter

    Chapter 406: Chapter 329 Soul Chanter


    ¡°The Soul Chanter¡­¡±


    ¡°Orestes.¡±


    Cassius recited the name.


    The trees in Bewildering Valley were tall and twisted, their branches and leaves blocking out the sky, as if eternally shrouded in a dense shadow.


    In the depths of this gloomy forest lay a hidden ancient castle built from black stones¡ªSoulcry Castle.


    The master of the castle was a lich named Orestes.


    Centuries ago, this place wasn¡¯t called Bewildering Valley, nor was there a so-called Black Forest; there was only a Mage Tower, and Orestes was once a respected mage on this land.


    In the magical wilderness of the North, mages held esteemed positions. A great archmage with rare talent like Orestes was highly revered; people built him a tall castle, and the surrounding nobles presented him with thousands of slaves, allowing him to live a life of extreme luxury, viewing mortals as mere grass¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After indulging in such a hedonistic lifestyle for nearly a century, Orestes realized¡ª he was dying.


    According to the rules of the world, mages were still mere mortals.


    Even with mysterious powers, death shadowed them closely but¡­ it was not unavoidable.


    Thus, Orestes spared no cost in pursuing the means to achieve eternal life. He found hidden rituals in ancient tombs, made a deal with the Lord of Bones, Milco, and sacrificed thousands of slaves within his castle and domain.


    In the end, Orestes used the ritual to imprison his soul in a Life Box, drank a shape-shifting potion mixed with poison and the blood of sacrifices, drawing his soul into the Life Box while his body revived as a lich.


    He died.


    Or perhaps he achieved eternal life.


    He existed in the world in a new form.


    The once flourishing garden turned into a grim Black Forest, the once luxurious castle became the decayed and dark Soulcry Castle, and the once ambitious mage turned into an undying lich.


    But Orestes was not satisfied; a lich¡¯s soul was still trapped in the Life Box¡ª he sought true immortality.


    So, he began to incessantly draw arrays, creating countless skeletons and undead, preparing to sacrifice the entire Carter Duchy¡¯s souls to achieve his eternity.


    This was the hidden quest in the North from the past life¡ª[¡°The Soul Chanter in Bewildering Valley¡±]


    The quest process was somewhat tedious, first having players accept the [¡°Haunted Basement¡±] task from a household in Antonio City, finding traces of ghosts, then following their trail to the underground world, discovering remnants of a sacrificial array.


    Next, they went to the Northern Library, searching through tens of thousands of books to find the array¡¯s origin, learning Orestes¡¯s true name as [¡°The Soul Chanter¡±] and following historical records to find knowledgeable individuals.


    Then, players searched from taverns, bureaus, and adventurer associations step-by-step, ultimately finding an old beggar knowledgeable of history, though he had long gone mad.


    The old beggar made all kinds of trouble for the players, making them complete a series of difficult and odd tasks such as [¡°Fetch fresh chimera dung¡±], [¡°Take the dirtiest tooth from a hill giant¡±], and [¡°Snatch food from an ogre¡¯s mouth¡±].


    ¨C This was actually a test of the players¡¯ strength and credibility.


    The old beggar had suffered too much and seen too many people lose their lives to the valley¡¯s taboos. He wanted to kill the lich but didn¡¯t want innocent lives sacrificed.


    Only when all tasks were completed did the old beggar provide valuable clues, guiding the players to an ancient tomb.


    There, they found traces of the tomb, broke through layers of traps, endured endless attacks from terrifying undead, and found the lich¡¯s Life Box deep within the tomb.


    Finally, the players went to the last quest location¡ªwithin Bewildering Valley, to completely destroy the lich¡¯s plot.


    The [¡°The Soul Chanter in Bewildering Valley¡±] quest series required players to complete hundreds of difficult stages, spending months to follow a long storyline, and finding hundreds of various clues and task items.


    In the past life, players affectionately called this quest series [¡°The Malice of the Dog Planner¡±], [¡°King of Toilet-Unclogging Tasks¡±], and [¡°A Hidden Quest Even a Dog Wouldn¡¯t Do¡±].


    It was not until the 2.0 stage of [¡°Kings¡¯ Strife¡±] that players finally cleared this quest line under the leadership of a player with both stamina and strength¡ª that player was Singo.


    Even Singo had to invite fifty professional gamers, with their group¡¯s average level reaching Eleven.


    Only then did they barely manage to kill the lich and split the generous quest rewards, almost obtaining a wand that could be deemed a divine artifact¡ªthis showed the difficulty and exasperation of the quest.


    But Cassius was different from the players.


    He was well aware of the storyline, had absolute control over the surrounding area, and possessed enough power to crush the lich.


    He was determined to get the lich, confident but hesitant about how to deal with it.


    [¡°Orestes isn¡¯t just some spell-chasing madman, he¡¯s a cowardly, extremely self-serving person afraid of death, with unmatched magical talent being the only difference.¡± ]


    [¡°Greedy yet fearful, such a person is best controlled.¡±]


    [ ¡°Perhaps¡­ I can make him work for me.¡±]


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, flickers of firelight within his light golden pupils, but he then shook his head as if remembering something, chuckling softly.


    [¡°Come to think of it, Anzeta indeed has had its share of disasters, clearly a remote place, yet it¡¯s full of talent.¡±]


    [¡°Dragons, devils, demons, shadows, giants, vampires¡­¡±]


    [¡°And even a lich.¡±]


    This wasn¡¯t just Cassius¡¯s personal thought; in the past life, players often joked about it, with the forums even having sayings like [¡°The Simple Folk of the North, the Talented Anzeta¡±] .


    Even by version 4.0, high-level players across the star realm often dug something new out of the Anzeta beginner area.


    But this was understandable, as Anzeta Great Wilderness had gone through ruling by dragons, giants, and elves, once having had a glorious civilization.


    It had been completely destroyed by endless wars, the once grand and magnificent structures collapsing, even the local Magic Web becoming fragile, turning it into a magic wilderness not blessed by Mistrala¡ª however, it hid many relics of ancient civilizations.


    Currently, the Empire had a specialized archaeological team, including many players engaged in related professions. This team was jokingly called [¡°Magical Tomb Raiders¡±] by players on the forums.


    They excavated all over Anzeta Great Wilderness, searching for lost secrets buried underground, bringing more knowledge and treasures to the Ashen Empire.


    Cassius turned, seeing hundreds of miles away an ancient tomb through the Heavenly Calamity Dragon¡¯s Eye and All-Knowing Eye¡ª it was once Priest Milco¡¯s resting place, also where the Lich¡¯s Life Box was stored.


    Mortals searching for that relic in the vast wilderness was like finding a needle in a haystack, but Cassius was the emperor of the Ashen Empire, wielding supreme authority within the empire.


    [¡°Orestes¡­¡±]


    [¡°Are you ready to welcome my arrival?¡±]


    Cassius bared his teeth, revealing a ferocious smile. The lich, a nightmare in mortals¡¯ eyes, seemed like a duck about to be caught and devoured in his mouth, afraid it might escape.

 Chapter 407 - 330 Lichs Diary (I)

    Chapter 407: Chapter 330 Lich¡¯s Diary (I)


    Bewildering Valley, Soulcry Castle.


    Aside from the low murmurs of wandering souls, there was also a faint scratching sound¡ª a pen was scribbling furiously in a book, yet no one held it.


    Upon closer inspection, one would notice that the pen was made from a human finger bone, and the book was bound in sheets of smooth skin.


    The pen was dipped in fresh blood, and each stroke, each character it wrote was in a bright red hue, gradually darkening into deep crimson as the blood dried.


    ¡°New Calendar 1786, September 12th, clear. Today, I harvested thirteen fresh souls, but among those who intruded into Bewildering Valley, seven or eight appeared to be soul-less, which is very strange.¡±


    ¡°Recently, these kinds of beings have been appearing more frequently, they seem to be called¡­ Starfallen.¡±


    ¡°The disturbances are increasing. That Red Dragon has unified Anzeta. I need to be more cautious, absolutely must not let it discover me. The spell formations in Antonio City have all been cleared away.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ I should activate the Stealth Array to hide this place, but the soul reserves are running low¡ª if the Life Box isn¡¯t sacrificed to for a long time, I will turn into a Half-Lich, let alone the pursuit of stable immortality.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to consider slumber.¡±


    ¡°Wait, it seems someone has intruded into the Death Tomb¡­¡±


    The pen made of finger bone suddenly halted.


    The pages bound in human skin slowly closed, and on the cover, a sewn elderly face resembled Orestes¡¯s visage in life, with several blood-red words carved on the forehead¡ª ¡°The Great, Immortal Orestes¡¯s Journal¡±.


    In the dim and cold secret chamber, viscera, flesh, and bones were scattered everywhere, with blood spreading and solidifying on the ground.


    On those black bone racks were placed various potions, scrolls, numerous spellbooks, several wands, and even a couple of magic wands.


    Liches collected spells and magical items; they loved to hoard anything related to ¡°immortality,¡± their lifelong pursuit.


    ¡°Someone dared to intrude into my tomb at this moment¡­¡±


    ¡°That is not a good thing.¡±


    Amidst the flickering dust and blood mist, the owner of Soulcry Castle, the master of Bewildering Valley¡ª Orestes, finally appeared.


    A lich¡¯s appearance was a gaunt human form, skeletal and emaciated with rotting flesh clinging to the bones.


    Their eyes had long decayed, leaving only tiny points of light and necromantic mist swirling in the hollow sockets.


    He wore the red, bejeweled robes of his previous life, but time had rendered the once magnificent attire tattered and decayed¡ª though he himself was apparently oblivious to this.


    Liches pursued strength at any cost, unless it involved them directly, they showed no interest in the affairs of living creatures.


    They often devised plans stretching over years, decades, or even centuries to achieve maximum outcomes, as they had freed themselves from death¡¯s shadow.


    Orestes was no different. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although he cared little about the mortal realm, the recent commotion in Anzeta was too significant, affecting even him¡ª he had even considered sinking Bewildering Valley into the earth to avoid possible intrusions.


    Orestes extended his skeletal arm, took the crystal skull from the rack, and spoke in a chilling tone:


    ¡°Just who could it be¡­¡±


    ¡°Let me see, which poor fool is seeking their own death this time.¡±


    The Life Box was where a lich¡¯s soul resided.


    Without destroying the Life Box, no one could kill a lich.


    When a lich¡¯s body was destroyed, its will and mind would be drawn out of the lifeless corpse.


    Days later, a new body for the lich would form from the shimmering dust emanating from the Life Box.


    Since damage to the Life Box could cause a lich to face permanent death, they often concealed the box in highly guarded and well-hidden locations¡ª and Orestes had chosen the Death Worshipper¡¯s Tomb.


    It was once the resting place of Bishop Milco, teeming with countless high-ranking undead creatures and hundreds of traps and high-tier enchantment formations laid by Orestes himself.


    Orestes felt particularly confident about the safety of the Life Box. Even a legendary mage arriving in person could not easily obtain it.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah~~¡±


    The soul within the crystal skull wailed, and a necromantic fog formed a magic image at the skullcap.


    ¡°Is it you?¡±


    ¡°Ignorant mortal.¡±


    The image showed a human noble in lavish robes. Besides his strikingly handsome looks, he seemed no different from those adventurers who had perished in the tomb.


    Yet, for some reason, upon seeing this man, Orestes felt a sudden unease¡ª despite having an empty chest void of a heart.


    ¡°Why is this happening¡­¡±


    ¡°No, this threat needs to be eliminated.¡±


    Orestes gently stroked the crystal skull, and necromantic black mist spread from his palm.


    Far away in the Death Worshipper¡¯s Tomb, stone gargoyles with wings stirred, shedding stone flakes from their skin¡ª these were gargoyles, predators that enjoyed torturing their prey, responsible for countless deaths of intruders.


    But the man in the image suddenly smiled, and his pale golden eyes displayed a deep gaze, as if piercing through space.


    ¡°Did he see me?¡±


    Orestes suddenly had this thought.


    For a spellcaster of his level, intuition was often strikingly accurate, sometimes better than precise calculations.


    Luckily, that feeling vanished as quickly as it came.


    The man in the image seemed to shift his gaze, focusing on his enemy before him.


    Not only the gargoyles, but countless foul-smelling ghouls emerged from the Tomb¡¯s coffers and corners, and hideous specters floated in the air, rushing towards the distant human.


    ¡°Ooooo¡­¡±


    More rustling noises arose, interspersed with wails, scraping sounds, and footsteps¡­


    The Death Armor lifted its coffin lid, gripped the rusty great sword, and issued a low battle cry from within the armor¡¯s gaps.


    A bodacious predator crawled out from a pile of decomposing corpses, its face a twisted mask of frenzy and terror.


    The heavy stone doors slowly shut.


    Even light from Heavenly Mountain had difficulty penetrating underground.


    In the narrow burial chamber, hundreds of various undead creatures surged from all directions, surrounding the lone adventurer. The thick death aura filled the chamber¡ª it seemed like an inescapable doom.


    Even a bishop of the Amanata Church would not dare claim they could leave such peril unscathed.


    Hundreds and thousands of adventurers had intruded over the centuries, but all met their demise here, becoming food for this devouring tomb.


    The chamber rarely saw living beings inside.


    These undead creatures, ravenous to the core, would even devour each other.


    Sensing the intrusion from outside, their greed and hunger for the living became uncontrollable, eager to devour this fresh soul completely.


    ¡°That¡¯s it¡­¡±


    ¡°Kill him, kill him.¡±


    ¡°Strip his skin and flesh, crush his bones, devour his soul¡­¡±


    Orestes¡¯s deep voice echoed.


    Anyone daring to enter the tomb and attempting to claim his immortality faced his most venomous curse.


    He relished seeing the terrified, despairing faces of these people, the ultimate homage to his undying life.


    Yet, the man in the image gave a dismissive smirk.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, so many¡­¡±


    He meticulously adjusted the collar of his fine robe, then slowly raised his right hand.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±

 Chapter 408 - 331: Lichs Diary (Part 2)

    Chapter 408: Chapter 331: Lich¡¯s Diary (Part 2)


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    There was a thunderous explosion as the air shattered.


    Extremely intense flames poured out from the man¡¯s palm, turning the originally dark tomb chamber into a raging sea of fire. Everything in the chamber was illuminated by the dazzling light of the flames.


    The light from the fire rendered the man¡¯s face exceptionally clear, and the lich could even see a mocking smile on that handsome face.


    The air twisted, and sparks flew.


    Tongues of fire danced wildly.


    ¡°Aah¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, no¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Human! How dare you¡ª¡ª¡±


    The tomb chamber was filled with chaos.


    Those undead creatures, which were terrifying to the common eye, wailed, screamed, and roared. They scattered in all directions, trying to escape the sea of fire.


    But no matter how they struggled, they still couldn¡¯t escape the ravaging tongues of flame and were mercilessly consumed by the fire.


    The fire lasted for three minutes.


    Hundreds of undead creatures were completely eradicated, leaving only clusters of smoldering embers burning on the tomb¡¯s floor, still spreading in some places.


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    The man snapped his fingers, and the flames instantly extinguished.


    In just a few minutes, the once ¡°lively¡± tomb chamber was empty.


    Only blackened marks covered the walls and coffins, and a thin layer of ash coated the floor, with wisps of smoke from the dissipated undead lingering everywhere.


    ¡°Such a number of undead.¡±


    ¡°I wonder how much ¡®material¡¯ was consumed over the years?¡±


    The man sighed softly. He raised his hand, and a breeze blew, dispersing the ashes and revealing a clear path before him.


    He continued to walk deeper into the tomb chamber.


    Behind him, the tongues of fire squirmed like living creatures, finally flowing into the cracks in the tomb chamber walls. They destroyed the hidden pale skulls in the secret compartments¡ªvicious magic artifacts that could turn human remains into undead creatures.


    This ¡°man-eating tomb chamber,¡± which had harmed countless individuals over the centuries, finally met its complete end at this moment.


    In Soulcry Castle, the ghostly flames in the lich¡¯s eye sockets flickered.


    ¡°Magician¡­¡±


    The bone pen beside him continued writing furiously.


    ¡°This level of flame control, it¡¯s highly likely to be a legendary sorcerer. Too strange, how could Anzeta, this magic wilderness, produce such a human?¡±


    ¡°The situation is getting worse and worse. Perhaps I really should hasten to slumber, to avoid a few centuries¡ªafter dealing with this intruder.¡±


    Orestes¡¯ ghostly flames flickered in his eye sockets as decayed mists emitted.


    He gently caressed his skull with his withered hand, speaking in a cold tone, ¡°So what if it¡¯s a legendary sorcerer?¡±


    ¡°Just a mortal.¡±


    ¡°They still can¡¯t escape the fate of death, can¡¯t evade the final resting place¡ªthis is the despicable nature of mortals. They can never compare to an immortal being like me.¡±


    ¡°You will become my last prey before my slumber.¡±


    The lich stared intently at the man in the image with hollow eyes as he spoke.


    Orestes¡¯ confidence was not baseless. He had long anticipated the situation of a spellcaster intruding and had prepared everything in the tomb a century in advance.


    Even against a legendary spellcaster, the lich had confidence that they would suffer severe losses.


    The heavy stone door slowly opened.


    Ahead lay a dark, seemingly endless corridor, like a giant maw waiting to devour, with occasional howling winds.


    ¡°Death Corridor.¡±


    Cassius looked at the corridor with some emotion.


    In his previous life, it was known as the ¡°Death Corridor,¡± the most disgusting checkpoint in this dungeon, filled with countless traps and necromantic formations in an intricate, interconnected manner.


    Even the professional gamer team led by Singo had experienced numerous complete wipeouts before passing through this corridor to reach the next tomb chamber.


    ¡°How nostalgic.¡±


    Cassius did not hesitate and walked straight in.


    Meanwhile, several miles away in Soulcry Castle, a certain lich watched everything, eagerly anticipating the human intruding into the tomb to be torn to shreds.


    ¡°Click!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±


    ¡°Whoosh!¡±


    Amidst the series of chaotic sounds, hundreds of mechanisms and traps in the Death Corridor were triggered successively.


    Arrows coated with bone-corroding poison flew through the air; steel spikes capable of piercing flesh extended from the walls; miasma that could cause total decay enveloped the surroundings; pools of acid on the ground could reduce a human to bones¡­


    And this was just the beginning.


    Spells were the most lethal in this corridor.


    Death formations, marks of fear, and soul-capturing formations painted on the ceiling and walls could snatch away the lives of passersby in an instant.


    Yet Cassius walked forward leisurely, unperturbed, not affected in the slightest.


    Arrows, steel spikes, and toxic liquid were all blocked by an invisible barrier before they could reach his body, unable to harm him at all.


    The {Death Formation} on the walls suddenly lit up, unleashing endless death fog from the formation while wailing ghosts trapped within tried to steal the intruder¡¯s life.


    But Cassius merely waved his hand, erasing the formation.


    The {Resurrection of the Dead} spell on the ceiling awakened hundreds of bones and remnants in the corridor into undead skeletons and zombies.


    They roared and lunged at Cassius, only to be burned to ashes once again by the flames.


    ¡°So noisy.¡±


    ¡°Why does this lich love piling monsters so much? He should have designed Dark Souls Twelve in my previous life.¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Cassius stomped his foot, and all the mechanisms, traps, and formations around him dimmed instantly, eventually shattering.


    The entire Death Corridor fell silent at once, all the noise abruptly ended.


    This corridor, once known as the ¡°most disgusting checkpoint in history¡± that no one had ever passed through in centuries, was finally completely destroyed by someone. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Death Corridor was supposed to torment players for days on end, causing countless deaths and injuries to dozens of top professional gamers. Yet, Cassius, this ¡°cheating¡± character, cleared it effortlessly.


    Cassius continued walking forward.


    The Death Corridor, built along an underground cave, stretched several kilometers long.


    Statues of men, women, and children depicting various stages of death and decay lined the walls of the inner hall, with dozens of tomb chambers on both sides, constantly spewing undead creatures¡ªbut none of these were his targets.


    His destination was the deepest part of the ancient tomb, the resting place of Milco¡¯s Elder of Misfortune¡ªthe Chamber of Demise.


    ¡°How¡­ how is this possible?¡±


    ¡°How is he doing it so easily?¡±


    In Soulcry Castle, the lich¡¯s voice no longer remained as indifferent as before, as if nothing mattered to him. It now held a touch of urgency, perhaps even a hint of losing sanity.


    Liches cared little for the affairs of living creatures¡ªunless it pertained to themselves.


    No wonder Orestes was so distraught. After passing through the Death Corridor, that mysterious and dangerous man was not far from his life box.


    The life box was Orestes¡¯ most treasured possession and the greatest secret of a lich¡¯s immortality.


    ¡°No, it can¡¯t be.¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t find my life box.¡±


    ¡°I have many arrangements in the next tomb chamber. Even if he truly is a legendary sorcerer, he won¡¯t come out of those spells unscathed.¡±


    ¡°Even if he withstands all the spells¡­ he won¡¯t find my life box. Moreover¡­ I have the perfect last resort at the place where my life box is hidden.¡±


    ¡°These short-lived mortals, their lives as fragile as ants, how could they possibly compare to the centuries of preparation I, an immortal, have put in?¡±

 Chapter 409 - 332 Lichs Diary (3)

    Chapter 409: Chapter 332 Lich¡¯s Diary (3)


    If one were to open Orestes¡¯s journal, they would discover the source of his confidence¡ªa true sanctuary of living beings in the next tomb chamber. Even a Legendary One could not easily break in.


    ¡°New Calendar, 1407, December, clear.¡±


    ¡°It has been two years since I transformed into the great Immortal. I have broken free from the shackles of death, and everything is so wonderfully different.¡±


    ¡°But¡­.. there are still hidden dangers.¡±


    ¡°I needed a better way to protect my Life Box, so I bought thirty-five female elves from the black market, cursed them, and turned them into banshees¡ª¡±


    ¡°I watched them struggle, wail, their flesh rot, their minds decay until they died and were transformed into undead monsters. In the end, twenty-seven of them succeeded.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ they were truly fascinating undead creatures. They could no longer feel joy, only the misery of life, yet still, they longed for the beauty they had as living beings.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, my experiment was a success. I placed the remaining twenty-seven banshees into a bottle, where they would be eternally imprisoned, never ceasing their woeful wails¡ªthat is the Banshee¡¯s Wail Vial.¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Heh heh, from now on, no one can leave here alive.¡±


    Banshee¡¯s Howl¡ª


    This was known among mages as one of the most terrifying Ninth Tier Spells. The howl it emitted generated extremely strong negative energy, capable of tearing apart a person¡¯s soul.


    And Orestes solidified this Ninth Tier Spell, placing it in the deepest tomb chamber to protect his precious Life Box.


    Orestes stared at the image on the crystal skull, eyes glued to the man about to enter the next tomb chamber, his voice rasping, ¡°Feel death¡­ you overestimating mortal.¡±


    ¡°Heh heh heh¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°This is the Chamber of Demise then.¡±


    ¡°In my previous life, I had only heard of its name. I didn¡¯t expect to actually enter it now.¡±


    Cassius wiped the dust off the stone door, gazing at the revealed emblem of the skeletal saint, unable to suppress his admiration.


    In their previous lives, the players had barely made it through the torment of the Death Corridor, thinking they could finally taste the sweet fruit of victory.


    But as soon as they pushed open the stone door, they were met with the Ninth Tier Spell Banshee¡¯s Howl¡ªonce again, the players faced total annihilation.


    Until someone thought of using soulless constructs to destroy the Banshee¡¯s Wail Vial, allowing the players to enter the chamber.


    ¡°An interesting thing.¡±


    Cassius squinted his eyes slightly. With the power of the Heavenly Calamity Dragon Eye, his vision pierced through the stone door, seeing the crystal bottle and the twenty-seven imprisoned banshees inside.


    That was a piece of legendary equipment. As long as any living being approached, the banshees in the bottle would unleash the Banshee¡¯s Howl, tearing the souls of their enemies apart.


    So, he lightly placed his hand on the stone door.


    ¡°Yes, just like that, just like that¡­¡±


    ¡°Foolish ignorant mortal¡­¡±


    ¡°Push open this door to death and embrace your demise!¡±


    The lich watched the magic image, urging impatiently, wishing he could teleport himself there to open the door.


    Unexpectedly, the man flexed his fingers slightly, and a claw-shaped force field appeared in the chamber out of thin air, directly grabbing the crystal bottle containing the banshees.


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°What is he doing?!¡±


    ¡°Impossible! How did he discover it!¡±


    The lich roared madly in his heart.


    But in the next instant, something even more terrifying happened¡ª


    The claw-shaped force field tore through the air, creating a spatial rift, and the bottle disappeared.


    It was stolen!


    The trap he had meticulously designed over decades was stolen!


    The lich¡¯s withered hands trembled slightly, the ghost fire in his eye sockets flickering wildly. He knew the situation had become dire.


    Orestes picked up a bone staff from the rack, preparing to cast a teleportation spell directly to the Chamber of Demise.


    But he suddenly realized¡ªthe space around the chamber seemed isolated.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I cast spells!¡±


    The lich fell into complete madness.


    Dense necromantic mist emanated from his skull, and the ghost fire in his eyes burned furiously.


    Even with his full strength, Orestes could not enter, he could only watch helplessly as the man stepped into the place where his Life Box was hidden.


    ¡°No, he won¡¯t discover my Life Box¡­¡±


    ¡°My scheme cannot be wrong.¡±


    ¡°Besides, besides I have my final arrangements, this human will never think of this! He will surely die!¡±


    Orestes gritted his teeth.


    His bravado was not unfounded. Actually, the lich had anticipated such the worst scenarios and had made thorough preparations.


    In the Chamber of Demise was a Sub-Legendary Level magic wand, an enticing bait that would make adventurers think they had found the ¡°final reward¡± and leave the chamber.


    His Life Box was hidden in a scarcely noticeable secret room, whose entrance only revealed by unlocking a sequence of paintings on the wall.


    More importantly, his secret room was guarded by three Eye Demons¡ªhe had sacrificed numerous souls to summon these creatures, and their two-hundred-year tenure was about to end, with them returning to the otherworld.


    The lich had thought that he wouldn¡¯t have the opportunity to use these final safeguards within these two hundred years, but unexpected events occurred today.


    These mutated strange creatures, driven by greed and hatred, were every spellcaster¡¯s nightmare. Their large eyes could emit antimagic fields, and cause petrification, hypnosis, and charm.


    Orestes believed that anyone, in such a confined space, targeted by the ambush of three Eye Demons would meet a tragic end.


    In the Chamber of Demise.


    Within the heavy stone coffin, the body of the Elder of Misfortune had already turned to bone, like an incarnation of Milco.


    On the walls, there were paintings of men, women, and children, depicting different stages of death and decay.


    Cassius picked up the magic wand from the altar and waved it casually, releasing dark green energy.


    ¡°Interesting¡­¡±


    ¡°A wand capable of releasing Eighth Tier Spells, this must be the ¡®divine artifact¡¯ from my previous life.¡±


    This was the Sub-Legendary Level Withering Staff, able to release the Eighth Tier Wither Spell, which drained an enemy¡¯s life energy, causing their body to wither.


    ¡°And these paintings¡­¡±


    Cassius chuckled lightly, snapping his fingers, causing the paintings to fall in sequence.


    Accompanied by a rumbling sound, a secret door appeared in the corner, leading to the darkest of secret rooms.


    ¡°So, it was found after all¡­¡±


    ¡°Does this human know something, could it be the remnants¡­¡±


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter¡­ Mortal, witnessing the Life Box of an Immortal will be your last honor, you will die amidst the Eye Demons¡¯ laughter!¡±


    The lich¡¯s body trembled violently, and his withered face showed a tense expression. Despite his mad words, they revealed how much he valued his Life Box.


    It was the source of a lich¡¯s immortality!


    Cassius proceeded step by step down the stairs, entering the secret room.


    Finally, under the flickering lights, he saw the lich¡¯s Life Box¡ªit was just a small jewelry box, surrounded by densely engraved forbidden runes.


    ¡°Finally here.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ what is that?¡±


    The spherical bodies were floating, their large, bloodshot eyes wide open above gaping mouths, while smaller eyestalks twisted and turned, searching for enemies.


    Three Eye Demons emerged from the shadows, laughing wildly. Their three main eyes created antimagic fields, attacking from different directions.


    ¡°Intruder!¡±


    ¡°Die!¡±


    ¡°Eat you!¡±


    As expected, the man¡¯s body seemed affected by the antimagic field, flickering with a magical aura.


    The lich watched intensely, muttering a low prayer: ¡°Yes, yes, Eye Demons, destroy this magician¡¯s protective magics, tear him to pieces!¡±


    He didn¡¯t know that¡ªit wasn¡¯t a protective magic, but a Fourth Tier complete shape-shifting spell.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A thunderous crash resounded.


    The surrounding stones shattered, the walls collapsed, and a cloud of dust rose abruptly, as if something was rapidly expanding within the dust.


    ¡°Crack, crack¡­¡±


    As the smoke cleared, chaos lay all around. The secret room had completely caved in, and the gloating smiles on the Eye Demons¡¯ faces vanished, replaced by endless terror.


    The Chamber of Demise seemed so small in the presence of the massive Red Dragon.


    Its towering back smashed through the ceiling, creating cracks in the rock, while its expansive wings, even when tightly folded, brushed against the chamber¡¯s walls on both sides.


    The dragon¡¯s body took up most of the chamber.


    This was no exaggeration; this was reality.


    The Red Dragon lowered its head, exposing a menacing grin. Its shadow engulfed the trembling Eye Demons completely.


    ¡°I heard¡­ you want to eat me?¡±

 Chapter 410 - 333 Lichs Diary (4)

    Chapter 410: Chapter 333 Lich¡¯s Diary (4)


    ¡°G-Great Dragon, mighty dragon¡­ we meant no offense to you!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, it was the Lich, it was him who deceived us!¡±


    The three beholders begged for mercy one after another, their tentacle-like eye stalks trembling.


    Beholders looked down upon other creatures, including other beholders. Each beholder believed that their existence was the epitome of their race, and that all others differing from them were the shame of their kind.


    But they valued their lives dearly.


    In the face of absolute power, these beholders knew that to keep their lives, they had to make some concessions and set aside their pride.


    The beholder with a tumor in the center floated forward, a fawning expression on its grotesque face: ¡°Great dragon, I am the humble beholder Augy.¡±


    ¡°Your stature is so magnificent, a dragon like you must have much treasure. I would be willing to serve you for free, as the guardian of your lair, killing all who covet your wealth.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Just now¡ªweren¡¯t you the one who said you wanted to eat me?¡±


    Cassius extended his arm, clasping the beholder in his claw and gently toying with it like a ball.


    The beholder¡¯s globular body trembled violently, but it dared not resist.


    Its face was full of terror as it wailed and pleaded: ¡°I, I didn¡¯t know! It was the Lich! The Lich commanded it all!¡±


    Cassius rubbed his chin with his other free claw, speaking calmly: ¡°Sounds somewhat reasonable.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Great Dragon!¡±


    ¡°It was all the Lich¡¯s fault! Spare my life, and I¡¯ll take you to settle the score with him!¡±


    The beholder was dizzy from being spun around, but still, he clung to it like a last straw, speaking with a frantic tone.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone paused.


    ¡°You are too ugly.¡±


    The red dragon suddenly exerted force, tightening his claw, unleashing a terrifying power.


    Flesh splattered, and the eyeball fell.


    The disrespectful beholder was crushed alive, turning into a particularly sticky, filthy mass of fragments.


    ¡°Disgusting thing.¡±


    Cassius disdainfully shook his claw, igniting a flame on his body, burning away all the remaining flesh and mucus cleanly.


    ¡°Augy just died like that!¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be like this, this dragon will kill me too!¡±


    Another beholder shrieked, releasing black smoke from its huge, bulging eye and spewing dark green mucus from its mouth. Then it flew into the smoke, trying to escape under its cover.


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    ¡°Do you think¡ªyou can escape like that?¡±


    An invisible wave spread, dispersing the black smoke enveloping the tomb in an instant, revealing the fleeing beholder.


    Blazing Fire Arrows shot out.


    ¡°Aargh~~¡±


    With a wail, the flames pierced through the beholder¡¯s body, then exploded violently.


    The beholder fell helplessly to the ground, turning into charred ashes.


    This was just the lowest level of trick, but in the hands of a red dragon like Cassius, it was enough to easily kill a beholder.


    Cassius turned his head, his pale golden pupils fixating on the sole remaining beholder, he smiled and said: ¡°You¡¯re the last one.¡±


    The beholder shivered.


    ¡°Great dragon, I, I¡­¡±


    ¡°I know spells.¡±


    ¡°And, and¡­ I¡¯m not ugly!¡±


    The beholder said in a trembling voice, as if to prove the point, it used a shape-shifting spell to turn into a young maiden¡ªthough still with a single eye.


    Cassius observed this beholder¡ªindeed, compared to the other two, its skin was smoother, the eye less cloudy, at least ¡°pleasant-looking¡± for a beholder.


    Indeed, it showed the ability to bend and stretch.


    This was quite a talent among beholders.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Cassius was silent for a moment, then asked: ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Great dragon, I am called Kuz.¡±


    Though it had transformed into a one-eyed maiden, its voice was still so grating and piercing, like the sound of metal scraping together. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Turn back and follow me.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ master.¡±


    Thus, the three beholders were completely annihilated.


    These strange creatures, prepared by the Lich to deal with human adventurers, were helpless before the mightier red dragon.


    Who could have imagined that the ¡°intruder¡± would be a nearly forty-meter-long red dragon?


    Even the Lich would not have guessed such an unthinkable, rare event.


    Kuz reverted to its beholder form, floating nervously behind the red dragon, appearing utterly timid, a far cry from its earlier fierce demeanor upon emerging from the inner chamber.


    Kuz obsequiously said:


    ¡°Master, th-that is the Lich¡¯s Life Box¡­¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Within Soulcry Castle, the Lich stared fixedly at the Life Box in the magic image, his withered face brimming with despair.


    ¡°Those damned beholders.¡±


    ¡°And him¡­ he turned out to be a dragon! How did a dragon get in here!¡±


    ¡°How could this be! The meticulous preparations I made for centuries for immortality¡­ destroyed by a damned dragon!¡±


    Suddenly, he recalled that earlier feeling of being ¡°discovered,¡± and a dreadful suspicion rose in his heart¡ª


    In recent years, there had been much commotion, to the point even he had heard about it, the one who had unified the Anzeta Great Wilderness, the ¡°Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor,¡± was also a red dragon!


    ¡°I¡¯ve been hidden well all this time, how would he have noticed me¡­ no, it¡¯s a coincidence, it must be a coincidence!¡±


    The Lich pressed his skinless, decaying head close to the crystal skull, staring intently at his Life Box, the ghostly fire in his eye sockets flickering.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible¡­¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be him¡­¡±


    Suddenly, cracks appeared on the crystal skull, growing denser.


    ¡°Crack¡­ crack!¡±


    The Lich instinctively stepped back a few paces, clutching his magic wand with his withered hand.


    In the nearly shattered magic image, the enormous red dragon raised its head, the deep golden pupils gleaming with amusement.


    ¡°I see you.¡±


    Orestes felt an overwhelming pressure spanning time and space, causing this once-proud Lich to feel the urge to submit.


    In the next moment, accompanied by the crisp sound of shattering, the exquisite crystal skull broke into a pile of fragments.


    ¡°This is impossible!¡±


    ¡°No, no, no¡­¡±


    Orestes backed away again, bumping into jars full of viscera and flesh behind him. His thin, decayed body fell to the ground.


    Blood and viscera spilled everywhere.


    The Lich used his wand to stand up, staggering to find spellcasting materials, preparing for a fight.


    And that bone pen continued to scribble on the diary, but this time it only wrote a short sentence, in an exceptionally hurried script.


    ¡°He saw me!¡±

 Chapter 411 - 334 Life Box

    Chapter 411: Chapter 334 Life Box


    ¡°An ogre¡¯s finger, a hydra lizard¡¯s scale, a snowman¡¯s heart¡­¡±


    ¡°Soul devouring grass¡­¡±


    ¡°A banshee¡¯s feather¡­¡±


    The lich muttered under his breath as he frantically rummaged through boxes and drawers.


    Several bloody hands floated in the air, waving and searching for the necessary spellcasting materials as if they were alive.


    The entire Soulcry Castle came alive, with wandering specters, armored death guards, flying skulls, and putrid zombies searching everywhere for him.


    Now Orestes was utterly certain¡ªthe dragon had found him!


    An ancient Red Dragon-level existence was about to descend upon Soulcry Castle; even more terrifying was the red dragon clutching his Life Box in its grasp. He had to be fully prepared to face this!


    The lich had naturally considered the extreme circumstance of his Life Box being stolen.


    He had memorized many sinister spells, such as the Spectral Curse Spell and Death Reclaim, mostly to curse the thief of his Life Box and retrieve it.


    ¡°There¡¯s still a chance, there¡¯s still a chance, this isn¡¯t a death sentence¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a greedy red dragon.¡±


    ¡°Dragons, these creatures are the greediest. Perhaps, perhaps I just need to offer a trivial gold coin to ransom my Life Box.¡±


    He murmured to himself.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the entire Soulcry Castle shook violently. Bottles and jars fell from the shelves, and even the lich had difficulty standing steadily.


    Tiny stones and chandeliers fell from the ceiling.


    ¡°What, what is happening?¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Impossible!¡±


    ¡°The whole Soulcry Castle is filled with forbidden spells, and I¡¯ve set up hundreds of protective magics. How could anyone get in!¡±


    He felt the fluctuations in space.


    The lich became furious, his voice hoarse as he roared and bellowed, making the bloody severed hands tremble in fear, afraid they would be devoured by their master.


    Suddenly, the undead creatures all froze, standing in place.


    ¡°You useless creatures!¡±


    ¡°This, this is¡­¡±


    Orestes cursed and turned around, his emaciated body also freezing in place, trembling all over.


    The red dragon easily tore through space, arrogantly ripping apart countless forbidden spells, and appeared openly in the hall of Soulcry Castle. It occupied most of the space in the hall, crushing countless specimens, potions, and equipment.


    Vicious spells automatically triggered; twisted faces, blurry ghostly figures, and thick black mist attacked from all directions, but the red dragon merely waved its wings lightly.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°Aaaah¡ª¡±


    ¡°Woooo¡ª¡±


    The unseen force field flickered, and all the curses around dissipated amid wails and screams.


    The red dragon looked down upon the lich, holding an unremarkable wooden box in its claw.


    ¡ªThat was Orestes¡¯ Life Box, his source of immortality, binding his soul to the Material Plane, and the only way to completely destroy him.


    Cassius grinned, revealing a sinister smile. With his pale gold pupils, he looked down upon him.


    ¡°Orestes¡­¡±


    ¡°Finally, we meet.¡±


    ¡°You seem to enjoy watching from the shadows?¡±


    Orestes, holding his magic wand, looked up, forcing a smile on his withered, decaying face.


    ¡°You¡­ you actually know me; it is truly my honor.¡±


    ¡°Your Imperial Majesty, I think there must be some misunderstanding between us. That tomb was merely a place for me to store my Life Box; those traps and eye demons were to guard against ignorant mortals. Someone as great as you surely wouldn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Cassius interrupted.


    ¡°Lich, there never was any misunderstanding; I came here for this very reason.¡±


    He toyed with the Life Box in his hand, every motion making Orestes¡¯ heart quake¡ªany slight mistake, and his soul would be utterly destroyed. All his centuries of accumulation would become a joke.


    The lich trembled with fear. He could feel his soul quivering within the Life Box: ¡°Your Majesty, you¡­ what do you want?¡±


    ¡°There has been no animosity between us, so you must need something.¡±


    ¡°Whether it¡¯s gold coins, spells, or my experimental results, I am willing to give everything, as long as you show mercy and return my Life Box to me¡­¡±


    He spoke cautiously.


    Cassius lightly shook his head, smiling as he said: ¡°This is not for you to decide.¡±


    ¡°Whether there was animosity or not is irrelevant.¡±


    ¡°In fact, your very existence is irrational and needs to be eradicated in my view. I don¡¯t allow any uncontrolled strength within the Ashen Empire¡ªespecially when this strength could threaten the Empire¡¯s safety and unleash a tide of undead.¡±


    Orestes lowered his head, responding: ¡°Your Majesty, you are¡­ being overly harsh. I settled in Anzeta centuries ago, and I don¡¯t merely represent myself; I also represent the will of the Lord of Bones.¡±


    The lich rubbed his magic wand, revealing the pale skull emblem upon it, with particularly deep eye sockets.


    That wand bore a shred of divinity: Milco¡¯s Rod of Catastrophe


    He was communicating with the Lord of Bones, seeking the deity who turned him into a lich for protection against the terrifying dragon before him.


    ¡°Orestes¡­¡±


    The pale skull began to twist¡­


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡±


    ¡°Even deities cannot extend their reach into the Ashen Empire.¡±


    Cassius sneered, unleashing the power of the Imperial Region, severing the connection between the wand and Milco, leaving Orestes in utter despair.


    Within the Ashen Empire, the emperor possessed almost divine power, enough to sever Milco¡¯s divine essence.


    ¡°Lich, cease your futile struggles; I offer you only two choices.¡±


    The red dragon raised its claw. Under the lich¡¯s exceedingly tense and anxious gaze, he slowly lifted the Life Box.


    ¡°Choose to submit to me, obey the Ashen Empire, and dedicate everything you have¡ªincluding yourself.¡±


    ¡°Or¡­¡±


    He exerted a bit of force, his sharp claws contacted the wooden exterior of the Life Box, seemingly ready to pierce it.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    The lich couldn¡¯t help but cry out, collapsing to the ground, feeling an extreme terror of his soul¡ªa terror of facing death.


    Since becoming a lich, Orestes had not felt such fear in centuries.


    He could vividly feel¡ªthe red dragon truly dared to destroy his Life Box!


    He truly might die!


    Once that sharp claw pierced through, the lich¡¯s soul would be destroyed, ending his centuries-old existence.


    Fortunately, the red dragon paused just before piercing the Life Box.


    Cassius glanced dismissively at the fallen lich, continuing.


    ¡°Or choose utter annihilation.¡±

 Chapter 412 - 335: Subduing the Lich

    Chapter 412: Chapter 335: Subduing the Lich


    The lich knelt on the ground, ghostly flames flickering in its eye sockets. That emaciated body covered in a decayed robe trembled violently.


    ¡°Your Majesty, but I¡­¡±


    ¡°No buts.¡±


    Cassius interrupted him again, applying slight pressure with his claw.


    The wooden box began to deform slightly, making a ¡°creak¡± sound that sent a shiver through the lich¡¯s mind and caused its body to tremble even more.


    ¡°Submit, or die. You have no other choice.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I would be glad to kill you.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s indifferent voice echoed in the devastated hall, and with each word, the atmosphere grew heavier.


    ¡°Think about it. Your decayed soul, sustained for centuries by necromantic sorcery¡ªimagine the emotions in that instant as I destroy it. What a hideous sight it would be.¡±


    The red dragon suddenly tightened his unoccupied left claw.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    With a crisp sound, one crystal lamp after another shattered in Soulcry Castle. The imprisoned wraiths within cried as they fled.


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°I, I¡¯ll submit!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡±


    The lich¡¯s body shrunk back sharply, appearing somewhat comical. He truly believed his life box had been crushed¡ªthere was no sign of the composure he had shown not long ago, confident of victory.


    Those who pursue immortality fear death the most.


    The last time Orestes felt such terror was three hundred years ago, when he discovered he was about to die of old age.


    During that period, he spared no effort to seek ways to extend his life, ultimately finding a method to transform himself into a lich from Elder of Misfortune Milco¡¯s tomb.


    He succeeded.


    To live eternally, he abandoned life and embraced the path of undeath, becoming a lich.


    But this was not true eternity. A lich¡¯s life box is their greatest weakness. Once it is destroyed, the lich¡¯s decaying soul would perish along with it¡ªan ever-present fear for Orestes.


    Therefore, for centuries, he exhausted almost all his efforts to protect his life box and continuously collected souls to fulfill Milco¡¯s task.


    But now, everything had been destroyed.


    The Dragon Emperor who ruled the North, with overwhelming strength, effortlessly annihilated everything he held dear, clutching his most cherished life in his claw.


    The lich knelt on the ground, curled into a ball, muttering incessantly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to die, I don¡¯t want to die, I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡±


    ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡±


    All past memories surfaced within his soul: his proud days as a mage, the debauched times spent in the castle, the fear when he realized his impending death, and his cautious life after becoming a lich¡­


    To him¡ª


    Existence was meaning.


    Being alive was everything.


    If he couldn¡¯t exist in the world, then nothing held any significance.


    In pursuit of immortality, he could turn beautiful and kind elves into banshees, could sacrifice his most loyal servants to the evil god, and even abandon his body entirely to embrace the undying form of a lich.


    Given this¡­


    Then¡­ to submit to a giant dragon, to offer everything to it, didn¡¯t seem like an unacceptable choice.


    In the face of existence, freedom was trivial¡ªat least to the lich Orestes.


    He raised his head, the hollow sockets still flickering with eerie green flames, full of endless pleading. He lifted the [Scepter of Bones of Milco] high, offering it like a devout follower presenting a gift to a deity.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I am willing to submit to you.¡±


    ¡°As long as¡­ you let me continue to live in this world, I am willing to offer Bewildering Valley, Soulcry Castle, everything to you.¡±


    Cassius showed a smile, stepping forward, slightly spreading his wings, casting a vast shadow that engulfed the entire lich.


    ¡°Very good, Orestes.¡±


    ¡°You have made the right choice.¡±


    The scepter floated up, landing in Cassius¡¯s claw.


    In comparison to the red dragon¡¯s massive body, the scepter looked almost like a toothpick.


    It was the so-called ¡°Divine Artifact¡± nearly obtained by players in a previous life. After the players killed the lich, Milco¡¯s skeletal hand reached out from the void to reclaim the scepter.


    But now, Anzeta was part of Cassius¡¯s empire. Even a deity couldn¡¯t easily touch it.


    He carefully examined the scepter, observing its entirely pale structure composed of vertebrae segments.


    At the top of the scepter was the skull, representing Milco¡¯s holy emblem, the skullcap hollowed out with a pitch-black negative energy magic stone embedded in it.


    [Scepter of Bones of Milco]


    Quality: Legendary


    Creator: Feroz Bradford


    ¡°Acknowledge me, fear me. My embrace extends to all, patient yet reliable. Death will always find you. My hand is everywhere¡ªno door I cannot enter, no guard can impede me. ¡ªLord of Bones, Milco¡±


    Effects:


    [Undead Scourge][Summon High-order Undead]


    [Undead Scourge]


    9th-level Necromancy


    Releases powerful necromantic energy, raising all nearby skeletons to serve under your command.


    [Summon High-order Undead]


    8th-level Necromancy


    A higher version of necromantic summoning, capable of creating shadows, soulbinders, wraiths, revenants, and other various undead creatures.


    Cassius toyed with the scepter. He didn¡¯t understand necromancy, yet he could feel the surging negative energy within¡ªit was indeed highly valuable.


    ¡°Orestes, I see your sincerity.¡±


    The lich breathed a sigh of relief, cautiously asking, ¡°Then, Your Majesty¡­ since I have become your subject¡­¡±


    ¡°What about my life box?¡±


    Cassius glanced at him, chuckling lightly, ¡°Since you are offering everything to me, doesn¡¯t ¡®everything¡¯ include your life box?¡±


    ¡°Or are you¡­¡±


    His voice suddenly turned icy.


    ¡°Trying to breach our contract?¡±


    The lich, terrified, immediately prostrated himself, repeatedly declaring, ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding! Your Majesty! I absolutely didn¡¯t mean that!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you should feel honored. Without me, your laughable tomb would eventually be breached, and your life box would be destroyed.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, I have placed your life box in an absolutely safe place, under my personal control. No one can destroy it¡ª¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius intentionally slowed down his speech.


    ¡°Unless you defy my orders, provoking me to act personally.¡±


    The threat in his words was glaringly obvious, but the lich dared not show any resistance.


    Orestes could only force a sycophantic smile on his sunken face, responding accordingly:


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Your kindness¡­ I will never forget.¡±


    Being unearthed, having his life box taken, and getting beaten to his lair, only to end up expressing gratitude¡ªthe ¡°victim¡± being an exceedingly evil lich.


    ¡ªOne can only say this is indeed a magical world.

 Chapter 413 - 336: Resurrecting the Corpse

    Chapter 413: Chapter 336: Resurrecting the Corpse


    Northwind Castle Suburbs.


    Inside the Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    Cassius sat upright on the Steel Throne, beneath him were the three great Dukes: Ramp, Dolores, and Mezulash.


    Currently, most of the Empire¡¯s upper echelon were working in Isdalia. This time, they had received Cassius¡¯s urgent summons, prompting their emergency teleportation from Isdalia.


    Cassius scanned the surroundings, then asked:


    ¡°Everyone, you should have a general understanding of the situation by now. What do you all think about this Lich?¡±


    Mezulash furrowed his brow and said in a deep voice, ¡°Your Majesty, with all due respect, such ancient and evil undead creatures are untrustworthy.¡±


    Being a former Paladin, he understood that Liches were irredeemable beings.


    Dolores countered, ¡°He could become a military asset for the Empire, just what we need to fill our gap in Necromancy.¡±


    Ramp added, ¡°But His Majesty holds the Lich¡¯s Life Box. These old monsters have lived for hundreds of years, their memories filled with lost knowledge and terrifying secrets. They are veritable treasure troves.¡±


    ¡°We can drain him bit by bit¡­¡±


    The Ogre Mage licked his lips, a hint of infinite greed in his tone.


    ¡°Well said.¡±


    ¡°However¡­ let me first demonstrate his usefulness to you.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly.


    At his command, a team of Tiefling Soldiers carried a stone coffin into the room, struggling to open the lid.


    ¡°This is¡­ Count Hart.¡±


    Inside the stone coffin lay a tall and sturdy Half-Dragon, with a ghastly wound on his chest. His specially treated skin was deathly pale¡ªclearly, he had long since lost his life.


    In the Magur Incident, the head of the Free Trade Caravan, Hart, was besieged by the Allied Forces. He was first frozen by a spell, then stabbed to death by countless spears.


    However, Duke Leo was astonished to find that the body of this Dragonblood Earl was so resilient that it could not be burned by flame.


    Thus, the soldiers of the Allied Forces took Hart¡¯s body back to Stratholme Fortress, hoping the Northern Nobility could uncover the secrets of the Dragon Vein from him.


    Unfortunately, before they could commence their research, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army breached Stratholme Fortress and seized the corpse.


    After their victory in the war, Hart was officially hailed as a ¡°hero who sacrificed for the liberation of the North¡± by the Empire, and was granted the honorary title of Marquis. His statue and remains were displayed in the Empire¡¯s memorial hall.


    Now, however, this body infused with Dragon Blood had been brought here.


    What Cassius intended was self-evident¡ªthis was a Count he had personally ennobled; letting him die in vain was a waste.


    ¡°Bring in Orestes.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    The Lich walked into the hall, trembling, and knelt before the Red Dragon¡ªgiven that his Life Box was in someone else¡¯s hands, this Lich¡¯s aura had weakened considerably.


    ¡°Your Majesty, no, my noble master, I have come at your command.¡±


    ¡°Transform him.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master. But what type of undead creature do you desire to resurrect him as?¡±


    ¡°The highest level, with autonomous consciousness.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    A look of difficulty appeared on Orestes¡¯s withered face.


    Cassius lightly raised his claw, and the Scepter of Bones from Milco fell out of thin air before the Lich.


    ¡°I lend it to you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your grace, master.¡±


    Orestes waved the Scepter of Bones, pointing it at Hart¡¯s corpse. Dark energy surged within the black magic stone.


    ¡°Evil undead born of mortal dark desires and immense vanity¡­¡±


    ¡°Corpse Demon, heed my call¡­¡±


    [Summon High-order Undead]


    When death stills a man¡¯s heart, extinguishing his life breath, his soul can return in an undying form, attaching to his own remains, waging eternal war on the living.


    That is a Corpse Demon.


    They would obey any dark entity that transformed them into undead creatures, retaining their autonomy while pledging allegiance to their new master.


    Ever tireless, Corpse Demons would pursue their goals with unwavering focus. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ramp suddenly spoke coldly from the side, ¡°Lich, are you transforming your servant? Remember, who is the true master here!¡±


    Orestes immediately froze. Only then did he realize that centuries of habit had nearly caused him to make a monumental mistake.


    This was not about transforming undead for himself!


    It was for His Majesty!


    He quickly bowed his head low to Cassius, ¡°Of course, Your Majesty Cassius, you are this Corpse Demon¡¯s undeniable master.¡±


    ¡°Master, please bestow your will, to complete this final step.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s indomitable will descended.


    It completed the final summoning.


    Necromantic mist enveloped the Half-Dragon¡¯s body.


    Like embers, negative energy spread from the heart throughout the entire corpse, piercing through flesh, clothing, and armor, transforming the body into a vessel capable of housing the undying soul.


    Hart felt himself submerged in a dark void for a long time. Scenes of countless spears stabbing him and flames burning his body surged in his mind¡ªthey were the images he had seen before death, his final memories.


    He seemed to hear a distant, magnificent summoning.


    ¡°Hart¡ª¡±


    It was the Dragon Lord¡¯s voice.


    The voice of the one who had granted him new life, changed his fate, and endowed him with a noble bloodline.


    ¡°His Majesty needs me¡­¡±


    ¡°I must return.¡±


    Finally, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze dark and flickering.


    ¡°I¡­ am alive again?¡±


    Hart slowly rose, looking with some confusion at his cold body. But he quickly understood everything¡ªHis Majesty had brought him back to life, granting him new existence.


    Corpse Demons retained their memories and were driven by the self-awareness they had in life. Whether this newly risen Corpse Demon possessed false memories, becoming a wholly different undead monster from its original self, or was a continuation of the living person it had been, was a matter of much debate.


    He gradually adapted to the form of an undead creature and climbed out of the coffin, half-kneeling before the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡±


    The voice of the Corpse Demon was hoarse and low, devoid of emotional fluctuation.


    But Cassius could feel the loyalty emanating from deep within its soul, a mix of the Dragon Vein Descendant¡¯s submission and the undead creature¡¯s obedience to its Summoner.


    ¡°Welcome back to the Empire.¡±


    ¡°Marquis Hart.¡±


    Cassius gazed down at the newly resurrected Corpse Demon, speaking calmly.


    In the future blueprint of the Empire, undead creatures were also a key piece. These beings were extremely cheap cannon fodder, recyclable labor, and could be exceptionally effective in the Gloomy Region.


    However, Hart¡¯s resurrection was merely the beginning.


    For now, Cassius had an even greedier, bolder idea for utilizing this Lich.

 Chapter 414 - 337: Tearing the Earth

    Chapter 414: Chapter 337: Tearing the Earth


    ¡°Orestes, follow me.¡±


    ¡°Bring along Marquis Hart as well.¡±


    Cassius waved his wings, effortlessly tearing the space in front of him to create a massive rift, motioning for the lich to follow him before stepping inside.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Orestes followed behind, responding timidly in a low voice.


    However, when he saw the red dragon¡¯s menacing smile, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that things were about to take a turn for the worse¡ªevery time this ¡°master¡± smiled, it always meant some cruel oppression was about to begin.


    But the lich¡¯s life box was in the dragon¡¯s hands, so he had no choice but to obey, following closely into the rift.


    Hart, holding a long knife, also stepped inside with Orestes, eyes full of caution as he looked at the lich.


    ¡­


    ¡°This should be the place.¡±


    Cassius surveyed the surroundings, pressing his claws into the ground to make sure it was solid.


    The sun was about to set, its golden rays casting a warm glow on the land. Surrounding them was a flat, expansive wasteland, with tall mountains, wide valleys, and sturdy stone fortresses in the distance.


    Bipedal wyverns soared through the sky, and lizardfolk rode land dragon beasts across the wasteland, herding yaks toward the pastures.


    This was Stormy Ridge.


    The starting place of the red dragon, once the center of the Ashen Nest.


    But now, this barren wasteland had become the empire¡¯s borderland, merely a breeding ground for bipedal wyverns and land dragon beasts, and a pasture for yaks and horned sheep.


    The former ¡°Giant¡¯s Mouth Cave,¡± now the ¡°Dragon¡¯s Cave,¡± had been abandoned since Cassius moved to the royal palace. It had been transformed into something resembling an altar, with a golden plaque reading ¡°Former Residence of His Majesty Cassius¡± hanging outside, guarded by a dozen or so struggling great goblins.


    Every morning and evening, hundreds, even thousands of monsters would come here to kneel at the entrance, throwing in copper coins and praying for the emperor¡¯s blessing¡ªto become honored dragonblood nobility with purer bloodlines in the future.


    ¡°Such nostalgia¡­¡±


    ¡°More than a decade has flown by.¡±


    Looking at the vastly changed wasteland, Cassius couldn¡¯t help but feel a torrent of emotions.


    Orestes and Hart, the two undying ones, stood quietly beside him. The lich, catching a glimpse of the red dragon¡¯s nostalgic expression, quickly lowered his head, not daring to make a sound.


    But hearing Cassius¡¯s casual sigh, the lich felt a shock in his heart.


    More than a decade!


    This amount of time was just a blink for a lich or a dragon.


    But judging from the tone of the red dragon¡¯s words, it seemed he had reached this level in just over a decade!


    Realizing this, Orestes silently congratulated himself on his choice. No ordinary red dragon could grow this powerful in such a short span.


    This time, he had likely found a backer with unimaginable potential, possibly even reaching the level of a deity.


    Soon, Cassius¡¯s words interrupted the lich¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°However¡­ I¡¯m not here to revisit old haunts but to reclaim what is mine.¡±


    ¡°Time to get down to business.¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The red dragon lifted his head and roared, flapping his broad wings as he slowly rose into the air.


    Under his control, the immense power of the Imperial Region descended onto the wasteland, causing the Magic Web for hundreds of miles around to tremble.


    ¡°This is¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°What, what is he planning?¡±


    The lich lifted his head in terror; as a necromancer comparable to a Ninth Tier spellcaster, he could also sense the formidable and terrifying power.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Accompanied by a heavy rumbling sound, the ground quaked, mountains shook, and almost the entire wasteland began to tremble violently.


    The bipedal wyverns cried out, flapping their wings in fear as they flew chaotically into the sky; the yaks scattered uncontrollably, trying to flee the dangerous area; even the land dragon beasts clumsily ran away, emitting panicked grunts¡­


    The ground, the mountains, the rivers¡­


    The entirety of Stormy Ridge, no, the entire world seemed to be shaking.


    ¡°This level of fluctuation¡­ has surpassed the Ninth Tier.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s a legendary spell! He can cast legendary spells! That was the power only possessed in the Naiser Era!¡±


    Orestes felt once again immensely fortunate; for someone who could wield such power, destroying him would be a trivial matter.


    ¡°His Majesty, has he become this powerful already¡­¡±


    Hart also murmured to himself.


    Following this, under the astonished and shocked gaze of the lich and the corpse demon¡ª¡ª


    The ground was torn asunder.


    A gaping chasm like a giant mouth appeared on the flat wasteland.


    On either side were neatly cut cliffs, and looking down, there was an abyss of darkness. Occasionally, falling rocks took a long time to hit the bottom.


    Within this chasm, a massive underground cavern had formed. The soil and rocks were shaped by some force, making the cavern¡¯s interior look like a man-made hall.


    ¡°Alright, follow me inside.¡±


    Despite creating such a shocking spectacle, Cassius spoke casually as if it were a trivial matter.


    The red dragon flapped his wings and slowly descended into the cavern, while the lich, staring in shock for a moment, followed closely on a cloud of negative energy, bringing Hart along.


    ¡°This place is¡­¡±


    The lich was once again rendered speechless.


    On the cavern floor, scattered everywhere, were enormous, ancient bones¡ªhe recognized them as the remains of bluefoot dragon-snakes.


    All around were heaps of various items: broken giant statues, fragments of grand structures, indistinct inscriptions, torn books, and all sorts of ancient, broken weapons¡­


    It was clear that these had once been buried under soil and rock, now brought back into the light. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yes, this was the resting place of Storm Giant Elder Randta, the once-buried tomb containing the legacy of the Giant Empire, now forcibly unearthed by the red dragon.


    Even someone as wise as Randta had not anticipated such greed from this unexpected intruder.


    Not only had he stolen his ¡°eye,¡± but he was now mercilessly plundering everything Randta had collected throughout his life, including the relics of the Giant Empire.


    ¡°Randta¡­ did you miss me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m back.¡±


    Cassius grinned, his pale golden pupils brimming with endless greed.


    The Eye of the Storm King, which he had risked his life to obtain, still accompanied him today¡ªit was a crucial piece of equipment that had enabled his ascent. Now, revisiting this place, he intended to ¡°thank¡± the elder properly.


    However, his way of showing gratitude was to put all of the elder¡¯s collections to good use.


    The lich, eyeing the scattered bones not far away, tightened his grip on his scepter¡ªsomething didn¡¯t feel right.


    No way¡­ was he going to make me resurrect all these big guys?

 Chapter 415 - 338 Undead Scourge

    Chapter 415: Chapter 338 Undead Scourge


    The truth proved that the more one feared something happening, the more likely it was to happen.


    Soon, Cassius¡¯s command came.


    ¡°Orestes, transform all the Bluefoot Dragon-snakes here into undead skeletons.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The lich remained silent for a moment before stammering, ¡°Master, but such a consumption is too great, I¡­¡±


    Although the Scepter of Milco had the ability to cast Ninth Tier Spells like Undead Scourge, the transformation of undead still required the spellcaster to expend their own strength.


    And to transform creatures as massive as the Bluefoot Dragon-snakes into undead skeletons would consume an enormous amount.


    There were over a hundred Bluefoot Dragon-snake skeletons here!


    If all the Bluefoot Dragon-snakes present were to be transformed into undead creatures, it would be enough to create a terrifying Skeleton Legion, but it would also consume one-third of the soul power he had accumulated over hundreds of years.


    Even more pitifully, transformed undead usually provided soul feedback to the necromancer who summoned them.


    Yet the undead transformed by the lich¡ªtheir master could solely be Cassius, while he himself was no more than a medium for summoning, practically a sacrificial offering, with no control or extraction rights over these undead.


    ¡°There are no buts.¡±


    ¡°Or do you intend to defy my orders?¡±


    Cassius lowered his head to gaze at the lich, an invisible Dragon¡¯s Might descending, with a clear threat in his pale golden eyes.


    Next to him, Hart also drew his long knife and placed it against the lich¡¯s neck, ¡°Lich! Do you dare defy His Majesty¡¯s orders?¡±


    ¡°Quickly, perform the transformation for His Majesty!¡±


    In the past, a mere newly-born Corpse Demon would never have been taken seriously by the lich.


    But now, under the terrifying pressure of the Red Dragon, Orestes could only tremble, utterly helpless, even recalling the scene where the Red Dragon tore the ground open moments ago, feeling horrified by it.


    He desperately tried to convince himself internally, ¡°It¡¯s just a little bit of soul power¡­ Maybe serving this Red Dragon will bring me more strength later.¡±


    Hart scolded again, ¡°Hurry up! Do you want His Majesty to wait for you?¡±


    Orestes finally lowered his head and rasped, ¡°Of course not, master, I was just thinking about how to transform the most perfect undead skeletons for you¡­ to live up to your great expectations.¡±


    The Red Dragon laughed, ¡°Heh, that¡¯s more like it. Go ahead then.¡±


    ¡°This is merely a necessary cost.¡±


    ¡°This amount of soul power is nothing.¡±


    Comforting himself in silence, the lich raised the Scepter of Milco with a tragic expression.


    This scepter, originally intended to cause an Undead Scourge in Anzeta and fulfill Milco¡¯s soul sacrifice task, was now used by the lich to create an undead legion for the Red Dragon.


    With a sorrowful face, Orestes chanted, ¡°Long-buried bones, I call upon your return¡­¡±


    Undead Scourge


    The eerie glow on the Scepter of Bones flickered, releasing an immensely powerful necromantic energy.


    ¡°Creak, creak¡­¡±


    A faint sound emerged.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake skeletons on the ground began to tremble continuously, with scattered bones gradually piecing and gathering together as a mist of necromantic energy enshrouded them, connecting the bones.


    ¡°Rustle, rustle¡­¡±


    The sound of bones rubbing against each other and the rocks could be heard.


    The skeletons assembled into dragon-snakes started moving like they did in life, wriggling forward, their dozens of skeletal feet quickly paddling along.


    In the end, all the hundred-plus Bluefoot Dragon-snake skeletons were transformed into undead skeletons, these dozens-meter-long behemoths roamed the ground and walls like living creatures, coiling together clumsily from time to time.


    ¡°I am your master!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    When Cassius¡¯s will descended, over a hundred skeleton dragon-snakes bowed their heads to the Red Dragon, letting out hoarse roars, creating a rather grand scene.


    Unlike the intelligent Corpse Demons, skeleton dragon-snakes were purely undead servants driven by the most basic instincts.


    These creatures, originally created by giants specifically to combat dragons, were now weapons under the command of a Red Dragon, which was quite ironic.


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­ The transformation is complete.¡±


    The lich¡¯s voice sounded particularly dejected, the ghostly flames in his eye sockets dimmed a bit.


    Evidently, a considerable amount of soul energy had been drained from him to transform these undead skeletons.


    ¡°My soul!¡±


    The lich silently cried out in his heart.


    ¡°You did well.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, it¡¯s a pity that the legendary Storm Giant turned into dust. Otherwise, I could have resurrected him for labor.¡±


    Cassius sighed regretfully.


    Randta had stored all his power in the Eye of the Storm King during his lifetime, and once the equipment was seized, the body turned to dust due to the loss of power.


    The elder Storm Giant from thousands of years ago probably hadn¡¯t expected that such a move would save him from being dragged out of the grave for labor.


    Listening to Cassius¡¯s words, Orestes felt a cold shiver run down his spine.


    Transforming a legendary Storm Giant! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Who knew how drained his soul power would have been! Thank goodness it didn¡¯t leave a full corpse!


    The lich breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.


    Watching the skeleton dragon-snakes, Cassius looked quite pleased.


    These skeleton dragon-snakes were immensely useful, not only as excellent fighters but also for mining and transporting supplies¡ªthey were a vital foundation for his conquest of the Gloomy Region.


    Although these undead skeletons couldn¡¯t appear in daylight, the Gloomy Region never had daylight.


    ¡°Marquis Hart.¡±


    ¡°Present, Your Majesty.¡±


    Cassius lightly waved his claw, pulling a bone whip from the tip of a skeleton dragon-snake¡¯s tail and tossing it in front of the Corpse Demon.


    ¡°I grant you control over these skeleton dragon-snakes. They will form your undead legion, aiding the Empire¡¯s conquest of the Gloomy Region.¡±


    ¡°Lately¡­those Drow Elves have been quite unruly.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for Your Majesty¡¯s grace!¡±


    Hart immediately knelt, respectfully receiving it, his bloodless face gleaming with joy and ambition.


    Aside from being obedient to their master, Corpse Demons harbored deep-seated hatred for the living and a thirst for slaughter, and war¡ªwas the perfect outlet for it.


    ¡°Go ahead, I have already made arrangements.¡±


    Cassius casually opened a portal to Rackman Castle and the Twilight Garden.


    There lay the portal to Dragon Shadow City, a place once belonging to Mortifael but now completely occupied by him, though still a desolate ruin, with only part of the Empire¡¯s forces stationed there.


    Besides Hart, several generals from the Empire¡¯s Military Department, and even numerous players, were sent there, all meticulously planning for the war.


    The Gloomy Region had few unified nations, consisting mostly of city-states, families, and villages, with various races and forces intertwined, allowing the Empire to expand in the underground world.


    Yet, the Empire did not intend to fully occupy this chaotic place but sought to establish a foothold, creating a few reliable bases in the darkness.


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°I will show the Gloomy Region¡¯s mongrels¡­the strength of the Empire.¡±


    Hart, wielding the bone whip, steered the dragon-snake skeletons through the portal, his long-stopped, perforated heart thrumming with excitement.


    Reviving from death was already an unexpected joy, let alone commanding a fierce army to wage wars everywhere.


    ¡°He¡¯s going to conquer the Gloomy Region?¡±


    ¡°This is a perfect opportunity! The battlefield¡¯s countless vengeful spirits can replenish my lost soul power!¡±


    Orestes thought to himself.


    He approached, his decayed head fawningly smiling, ¡°Master, I too can accompany Marquis Hart to the Gloomy Region, serving the Empire faithfully there. I believe my necromancy skills can significantly aid the Empire¡¯s conquest of the Gloomy Region¡­¡±


    ¡°Orestes, this is only the first batch of undead you need to transform.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, it would be a waste to send you to the Gloomy Region. I have other plans for you.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­Master.¡±


    The lich¡¯s smile instantly froze, his bony hand holding the Scepter of Bones trembling slightly.


    The situation seemed to be getting worse, beyond his expectations.


    And what did ¡°first batch¡± mean?


    Did it imply he had to convert many more undead that weren¡¯t his?


    Though liches harbored few emotions of the living, for the first time, the ghostly flames in Orestes¡¯s hollow eye sockets showed a sense of fatigue called ¡°heart-weary.¡±

 Chapter 416 - 339: The Empires Skeleton Legion

    Chapter 416: Chapter 339: The Empire¡¯s Skeleton Legion


    Accompanied by ripples in the space, the portal opened on the devastated plain.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The north wind howled.


    Wild grass bowed with the wind.


    This was the site of the former Battle of Okaglar. On the flat ground, there were still craters from shelling and trenches dug by engineers, all remnants of the brutal war that had taken place here.


    It buried tens of thousands of soldiers from the Northern Kingdom. However, over the months, most had been washed away by rain and eroded by insects and bacteria, gradually rotting and eventually being buried under thick soil, turning into deep underground fertilizer.


    Night fell. All around was silent; only the sound of the wind and insects could be heard.


    The lich, with its ghostly eyes flickering, gazed around at the desolate spirits wandering the wasteland, savoring the scent of death in the air.


    Coming to such a ¡°paradise,¡± he should have felt ecstatic.


    The soldiers¡¯ bones were excellent materials for transforming the undead. Otherwise, how could there be an adage, ¡°The battlefield is the necromancer¡¯s heaven¡±?


    War always brings endless slaughter and death, and these are the soil from which the undead creatures are bred.


    He could raise an immortal legion here.


    However, today was different; the lich was not transforming the undead for himself but working for the Empire. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thinking about this, staring at the nearly 100,000 bones underground, Orestes felt a chill run up his spine, though liches had no skin, exposing a yellowing skull.


    ¡°These, these¡±


    ¡°Are they all to be transformed into undead?¡±


    ¡°You guessed right, this is only the second batch, but I will help you accomplish all this.¡± Cassius answered lightly.


    The unintentional smile on his lips made the lich shiver.


    This was only the second batch?


    Would there be a third, fourth, fifth in the future, or even more ¡­


    But after all, his life box was in the other¡¯s hands. Lich Orestes had no choice but to obey orders to save his own life.


    Orestes gritted his teeth, comforting himself: ¡°It¡¯s just tens of thousands of ordinary undead skeletons¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­¡±


    ¡°Moreover, there¡¯s the master¡¯s help.¡±


    Though the lich spoke like this, his exposed jaw already began to tremble.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake, being a monster over a dozen meters long, required considerable strength to transform, but for the lich, transforming ordinary soldiers¡¯ bones was exceedingly easy.


    But even so, aggregating piece by piece, accumulating into a tower¡ª the number of Northern Kingdom soldiers¡¯ remains here was nearly sixty thousand!


    To transform them all into undead skeletons would be a colossal project¡ª even with Milco¡¯s Scepter of Bones in hand.


    Under Cassius¡¯s relentless gaze, the lich still trembled as he raised his scepter and chanted softly: ¡°Bones long sealed, existences wandering in void, I summon your return¡­¡±


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    The necromantic gemstone at the scepter¡¯s tip suddenly emitted a spherical dark green force field that covered the vast wasteland.


    Beside him, Cassius lightly flapped his wings, and the power of the ¡°Imperial Region¡± descended abruptly.


    The surrounding Magic Web instantly became extremely active, propelling the spell¡¯s casting. The necromantic force field expanded several times, covering the broad abandoned battlefield.


    [Undead Scourge]


    ¡°Creak, creak¡­¡±


    The deeply buried bones began to tremble and wriggle, making slight cracking sounds.


    Wandering souls on the wasteland began to howl, cry, and wail yet were dragged back underground by an invisible force.


    The lich¡¯s skeletal hand holding the scepter trembled even more violently.


    However, Orestes had underestimated the energy of these tens of thousands of bones and Cassius¡¯s ¡°assistance.¡±


    He had never felt he possessed such great strength, which could unleash an undead scourge across Anzeta.


    Seventy thousand undead bones at his command.


    If Cassius had not captured him, he might have completed Milco¡¯s sacrificial task by now and set out on the path to true immortality.


    ¡°Return in an undying form, become mine¡­


    In an instant, Orestes was somewhat intoxicated, forgetting his plight and considering himself the true master of these undead.


    Yet the next moment, an invisible pressure descended. The lich felt an extreme danger approaching, and his soul fire flickered.


    This was a fatal mistake!


    He snapped to attention, hastily revising his incantation:


    No, it¡¯s the great Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor¡ªLord Cassius¡¯s eternal servants! Serving the Ashen Empire until the world¡¯s end!¡±


    The surrounding pressure suddenly dissipated, and the lich breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that if he hadn¡¯t corrected himself, his life box would surely have been crushed.


    Instantly, the ground began to tremble slightly, and the bones buried in the dirt began to move, producing the ¡°creak¡± sound of bone joints rubbing together.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The first bony hand broke the surface.


    Next, more bony hands broke through, as though an eerie, pale, flower field of bones was blooming on the wasteland.


    The skeletons of Northern Kingdom soldiers and generals crawled out from the soil, staggeringly standing, often still clad in tattered and decayed military uniforms, holding broken swords and knives in their bony hands.


    However, many of these skeletons were incomplete, missing limbs and heads, some even with only half their bodies left or embedded with shrapnel in their ribs.


    One particularly tall general¡¯s skeleton still wearing traces of noble clothing had a significant bullet hole in its skull.


    This was indeed common; according to imperial statistics, one-third of Allied Forces casualties were from shelling, another third from gunfire.


    These poor Northerners, slaughtered without mercy by the Ashen Empire¡¯s guns and cannons in life, had to be dragged from the earth by the lich after death to toil for the Empire.


    Undead skeletons occupied the wilderness, forming a vast skeletal flood. The seventy thousand Northern Allied Forces who once fell here had now become the Empire¡¯s immortal legion.


    Orestes struggled to use his scepter for support, the ghost fire in his eyes dimming several notches, and his figure more hunched.


    The lich forced a smile, nodding and bowing: ¡°Master, this is your and the Empire¡¯s immortal legion.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly but then turned his head, looking down at him with those pale-golden eyes: ¡°You just now¡­ seemed to say these were your servants?¡±


    ¡°No, no!¡±


    ¡°You misheard!¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not wrong, I misspoke!¡±


    The Lich bowed lower, apologizing profusely, almost incoherently.


    ¡°I hope so.¡±


    Cassius turned away, slowly flapping his wings, rising into the air, and looking down upon the undead legion in the moonlight.


    ¡°Orestes.¡±


    ¡°So far, you¡¯ve done well. I hope you continue to do so.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, our empire will not mistreat anyone who contributes to it¡ªwhether you¡¯re an undying lich or a cruel ghost, I will treat you all the same.¡±


    ¡°Th-Thank you, Master.¡±


    The lich knelt, bowing low.


    Hearing Cassius¡¯s words of praise, he felt strangely flattered¡ªas he had previously been trembling about whether he could keep his life.


    ¡°Now, come with me to the next site for undead transformation.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Orestes was on the verge of tears. This once merciless lich finally deeply experienced the feeling of being exploited.

 Chapter 417 - 340 Undead Research Institute

    Chapter 417: Chapter 340 Undead Research Institute


    ¡°On September 14, 1786 of the New Calendar, I transformed seventy thousand skeletons on the Okaglar Plains for His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    ¡°On September 16, 1786 of the New Calendar, I transformed the bodies of two hundred frost giants on Stormy Ridge for His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    ¡°On September 16, 1786, I transformed six thousand skeletons on the plains for His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    ¡°On September 18, 1786, for His Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Within Soulcry Castle, the bone pen continued to scribble in ¡°The Great, Immortal Orestes¡¯ Diary.¡±


    Orestes had the habit of keeping a diary. He had linked the bone pen to his own soul, making it a living undead creature that could constantly feel and record the lich¡¯s moods.


    ¡°Imperial Special Operations Team, move in!¡±


    ¡°All undead inside, don¡¯t move! Or you¡¯ll be obliterated!¡±


    Suddenly, a team of Tieflings armed with specialized necromancy weapons broke down the door and stormed into the defenseless Soulcry Castle.


    The bone pen immediately stopped writing, hopping up onto a shelf, while the human skin diary closed itself slowly.


    Mages dispatched from the Department of Magic inspected the arrays and traps within Soulcry Castle and disabled them. Although Kai Xu¡¯s intrusion had already rendered most spells ineffective, there were still some hidden remnants in the castle¡¯s corners that were hard to detect.


    After the Tiefling Guards confirmed there was no danger, officials from the Imperial Engineering Department, most of whom were human, entered.


    They walked through the entire Soulcry Castle, pointing at everything.


    ¡°These head decorations are too gruesome; they¡¯re bad for the Empire¡¯s image.¡±


    ¡°And this human skin chair is too evil. What would the Starfallen think if they saw it? Change it!¡±


    ¡°The Prime Minister personally said that this place should showcase the splendor of the Empire! Don¡¯t let the lich¡¯s disgusting aesthetics pollute it!¡±


    Meanwhile, the imperial construction team stood ready at the entrance. These ogre and bugbear workers pushed various large construction machines, while frost giant slave laborers carried heavy rebar and cement materials.


    After the construction of Isdalia, the Imperial Construction Team¡¯s skills had become increasingly proficient. Even without the help of players, they could complete tasks very well¡ªespecially with the large equipment provided by the Mechanical God Cult.


    Without a doubt, this centuries-old Soulcry Castle was about to undergo a dramatic transformation.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A heavy iron ball fell from the crane, smashing the stone gate adorned with a skeleton crest to pieces.


    ¡°Watch it! Don¡¯t hit the load-bearing walls!¡±


    ¡­


    Within the Empire, on the Avton Plains.


    Orestes, who was preparing to transform undead creatures, suddenly felt a shiver, his face turning grim.


    Through the soul link, he saw some peculiar scenes happening in Soulcry Castle¡ªfor instance, a giant iron ball smashing through walls.


    But those were scenes from several days ago.


    After thinking for a moment, he cautiously inquired: ¡°Master, about my Soulcry Castle¡­¡±


    ¡°Your Soulcry Castle?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you dedicate the Bewildering Valley and Soulcry Castle to the Empire?¡±


    Kai Xu ¡°confusedly¡± questioned.


    The lich repeatedly nodded, not daring to show any negligence: ¡°Of course, of course, everything in Bewildering Valley belongs to the Empire.¡±


    ¡°I was just wondering if changes are being made to the Empire¡¯s Soulcry Castle?¡±


    ¡°After all, it¡¯ll also serve as my workplace.¡±


    Kai Xu glanced at him and coldly said, ¡°It is now a public place of the Empire, with its arrangement handled by the Empire¡¯s specialists. You don¡¯t need to worry about it; just focus on transforming undead creatures for me.¡±


    ¡°As for the changes to Soulcry Castle, you¡¯ll know in due time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Orestes nodded again.


    After days of relentless exploitation, the lich, who once possessed vast soul energy and a legendary level, had become dispirited and feeble.


    The ghost fire in his eye sockets was now as faint as a flickering flame, and his entire body no longer emitted the thick aura of death¡ªit was restrained to conserve energy, trying to maintain his existence and avoid being downgraded to a half-lich.


    Kai Xu spoke calmly:


    ¡°Orestes, you have made significant contributions to the Empire recently; I¡¯ve taken note of them. This batch from Avton will be the last.¡±


    ¡°In two days, you¡¯ll be able to return to work in Bewildering Valley.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    The lich, trembling, knelt down, almost moved to tears.


    In recent days, Orestes had transformed more than a hundred thousand undead creatures, nearly exhausting the soul energy he had accumulated over centuries, keeping only a small amount to sustain his existence.


    It would finally be over!


    At least he could return to Bewildering Valley and no longer experience the constant fear of being close to the Emperor¡¯s mood swings.


    Kai Xu spoke again: ¡°However¡­ it seems your soul energy is running low.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll allow you to keep five hundred undead creatures for yourself during this transformation.¡±


    ¡°Th-thank you, Master!¡±


    After days of indoctrination and subtle control, he was on the verge of carving the command ¡°The undead belong only to His Majesty¡± into his soul.


    Keeping the undead he transformed should have been a given.


    Yet at this moment, the lich felt overwhelmingly excited and incredulous.


    Excited because he hadn¡¯t tasted the sweet sensation of soul feedback and controlling the undead for days.


    Incredulous because this greedy, stingy red dragon master actually allowed him to own undead creatures!


    ¡°Master, is this¡­ is this true?¡±


    Orestes¡¯s withered hand gripping the scepter trembled slightly; he even thought he might have heard wrong and was overwhelmed by the favor given.


    ¡°This is a special case.¡±


    ¡°I said the Empire would not mistreat any being that makes a contribution.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Now, begin your work.¡±


    The lich nodded, excitedly raising his scepter and chanting fluently.


    Another ten thousand skeletons emerged from the ground, awakened by him, forming a vast undead skeleton legion¡ªthis time, five hundred of them belonged to the lich himself.


    ¡°Excellent¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s up to standard.¡±


    Kai Xu observed the undead skeletons, nodding slightly.


    At Bewildering Valley, there were already a hundred thousand undead skeletons. Under the Empire¡¯s powerful military might, they didn¡¯t need to be used as an army.


    These undead skeletons could be employed for mining, transporting, and exploring missions in underground and dark areas without light¡ªextremely cheap low-end labor that could be used without concern as expendable materials.


    When the players¡¯ technology reached a certain level, they could even use these undead skeletons to generate electricity.


    ¡°And Orestes.¡±


    ¡°This valuable lich couldn¡¯t be wasted¡ªof course, he must properly serve the players, undergoing sustainable exploitation.¡±


    A menacing smile appeared on Kai Xu¡¯s face again.


    Under his plan, these undead creatures could integrate perfectly into the Empire¡¯s system, just as the lich would.


    ¡­


    After completing his work, the lich finally received Kai Xu¡¯s verbal permission to return to Bewildering Valley.


    But Orestes stood stupefied in front of the brand-new ¡°Soulcry Castle,¡± staring at the familiar yet strange building.


    It was no longer that old, gloomy castle. The original interior filled with severed limbs and spattered blood had disappeared.


    Replaced by cold metal doors, clean and smooth walls, and the Empire¡¯s unique, simple, grand industrial style permeating everywhere.


    Even at night, it was brightly lit by new electric lights.


    The metal sign at the entrance stood out prominently.


    ¡ª¡ªUndead Research Institute.


    ¡°Where is my Soulcry Castle¡­¡±


    Orestes murmured, gazing at the words on the metal sign.

 Chapter 418 - 341 Players Undead Minion (Part 1)

    Chapter 418: Chapter 341 Player¡¯s Undead Minion (Part 1)


    The lich entered the familiar yet foreign Soulcry Castle, immediately greeted by human researchers wearing white coats and masks.


    ¡°Hello, I am Maggsy Qulin, a researcher from the Imperial Magic Department.¡±


    ¡°You must be Director Orestes as mentioned by the higher-ups. Please follow me. I¡¯ll show you around the new office environment.¡±


    Maggsy slightly bowed, respectfully extending his hand.


    He was long accustomed to this. After all, in the Ashen Empire¡¯s melting pot of races, having a superior of any creature, even a lich, was not strange.


    ¡°Uh¡­ hello.¡±


    Orestes was stunned for a moment before reacting to shake hands with the human. Since he had transformed into a lich, it had been centuries since a human dared to stand before him without fear, estimating nearly three hundred years.


    Hearing the human¡¯s words, the lich felt inexplicably absurd.


    Clearly, this was Orestes¡¯ residence for three hundred years, every corner was exceedingly familiar to him.


    Yet now, he needed a stranger to guide him through what used to be his Soulcry Castle.


    But this was obviously the ¡°master¡¯s¡± arrangement, and he had no way to refuse.


    ¡°Where is my Soullight Chandelier?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Director Orestes, that conflicted with the Empire¡¯s style. We have dealt with those souls and replaced them with the latest electric lights.¡±


    ¡°This, this is the Howling Corridor?¡±


    ¡°Exposing undead creatures in the open was too risky. We have reinforced this area.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ what about the Death Slaughterhouse?¡±


    ¡°The Empire¡¯s experts said that such biological experiments need to be conducted in a clean, sterile environment. We have equipped it with advanced facilities to dissect human bodies, helping us understand the mysteries of undead creatures.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Seeming to notice the lich¡¯s silence, Maggsy asked with some concern.


    ¡°Director Orestes, are you¡­ okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, continue.¡±


    ¡°Ahead is your office, transformed from the former Soulcry Castle hall, now the highest standard office at the Undead Research Institute.¡±


    ¡°The higher-ups specifically instructed that although you are an undead creature, you have given your all for the Empire¡¯s development. You are our entire institute¡¯s role model.¡±


    ¡°Clap, clap, clap!¡±


    Over a dozen researchers in white coats walked out from various rooms, their enthusiastic applause echoing throughout the institute.


    ¡°This is Director Orestes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard so much about you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said he¡¯s converted over a hundred thousand undead creatures for the Empire, truly a model for our kind.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, to dedicate everything to the Empire with a body hundreds of years old, no wonder he was personally appointed by His Majesty.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard His Majesty established this institute specifically because of Director Orestes. We should all be grateful to him.¡±


    ¡°Clap, clap, clap!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Surrounded by everyone, Orestes felt increasingly bewildered and deeply sensed the uniqueness of the Ashen Empire.


    These humans were not only unafraid of him but also admired him?


    Maggsy pushed open the door for him, revealing that the once blood-splattered hall filled with bones and remains was gone.


    In its place was a bright and clean office hall with a simple and clear layout, appearing before the lich.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Orestes once again fell into deep silence, the soul fire in his eye sockets flickering.


    Suddenly, there was a ¡°bang! bang!¡± sound from a metal cabinet not far away, as if something inside was struggling.


    The lich seemed to guess what it was, slowly approaching and opening the polished metal cabinet.


    The bone pen was locked inside the display case, bound by chains, but it kept jumping and struggling.


    Meanwhile, the human skin diary was locked in another display case, its face-cover hidden by a new cover stamped with the Empire¡¯s emblem.


    ¡°This, this¡­¡±


    Maggsy¡¯s eyes held a hint of apology: ¡°The gentlemen from the engineering department said these things harmed the Empire¡¯s dignity, so we packaged them for you. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop touching them.¡±


    The lich sighed deeply, releasing the bone pen and human skin diary from their confines.


    If this were the past, facing humans who had provoked him, he might have turned the entire family, even the whole town, into undead.


    But now, the lich was under the roof and had to bow.


    ¡°Alright, Director Orestes.¡±


    ¡°By the way, I also brought you the latest edict from His Majesty. This might be your main task from now on. Please take a look personally.¡±


    Maggsy carefully took out the Emperor¡¯s Edict from his chest pocket.


    Orestes leaned in, browsing the golden scroll. The soul fire in his eye sockets trembled violently, and his back hunched a bit more.


    ¡°Director Orestes?¡±


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°You can rest for a few days. His Majesty said this task hasn¡¯t started yet.¡±


    On the desk, the recently released bone pen was still scribbling away.


    ¡°October 3, 1786, I then realized this Soulcry Castle, or rather the Undead Research Institute, no longer belonged to me.¡±


    ¡­


    Isdalia, Ashen Emperor Square.


    The place was bustling with people coming and going.


    The Empire¡¯s new steam locomotive operated on the tracks, belching thick smoke, while people were already used to these ¡°iron carriages.¡±


    As the Empire¡¯s key construction center, Isdalia attracted residents from across Anzeta.


    With various tasks issued like snowflakes, nearly forty thousand players had gathered here. With abundant tasks and development opportunities, this place was called the ¡°holy land for rapid growth¡± by strategy masters on forums.


    At the Starmeteor Notice Board, Tiefling Guards tore down the old posters about the Experience Shop and replaced them with new ones.


    ¡°The Empire¡¯s new announcement!¡±


    ¡°Hey? Come and see! This event looks interesting!¡±


    Players called one another over, and soon a swarm of players gathered, crowding around the notice board.


    ¡°What¡¯s the new money-grabbing event? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s the return of Long Aotian¡¯s Treasure? If I buy it again I¡¯ll be a dog!¡±


    ¡°Are you talking about the box-opening? Cassius¡¯ Treasure? That thing was quite generous. I got a green gear for five gold coins, and buying it would cost at least fifty gold coins.¡±


    ¡°Sealion can die!¡±


    ¡°Look closely! This time it¡¯s not box-opening. It¡¯s a new undead minion!¡±


    ¡°Undead minion?¡±


    ¡°What the heck is that? Sounds interesting!¡±


    Every notice board change represented the latest opportunity. The experienced players immediately flocked over, and this news spread like wildfire on the forums. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Within minutes, nearly ten thousand players had gathered at Ashen Emperor Square.

 Chapter 419 - 342: Players Undead Minion (II)

    Chapter 419: Chapter 342: Player¡¯s Undead Minion (II)


    ¡°Oh? Is this the new event?¡±


    Upon getting the news, Singo immediately rode his bipedal wyvern and rushed over.


    ¡°Let¡¯s land here.¡±


    ¡°Tch, still a step too late. Why didn¡¯t the official side give any advance notice?¡±


    His wyvern flapped its wings, slowly spiraling down and eventually landing near the dragon-landing ground in the Ashen Emperor Square.


    Lately, traffic control in Isdalia had become increasingly strict, with Tiefling guards from the City Management Bureau constantly patrolling the streets.


    Even though Singo was an Imperial Viscount, he would still receive a ticket for improperly parking his bipedal wyvern.


    It¡¯s said that Prime Minister Ramp led by example, personally paying a fine once¡ªsince then, no Dragonblood Nobility dared to disobey traffic rules, not even the fiercest and most brutal ogres obeyed.


    ¡°However¡­ there¡¯s no need to squeeze in with these people.¡±


    Singo pulled out an exquisite telescope inlaid with gold filigree from his backpack and looked toward a distant notice board.


    This equipment, ¡°Eye of the Wyvern,¡± was specially provided for the Red Scale Conquerors by the Guardhouse. It used optical principles to clearly see distant objects and also included an Omniscient Magic spell to detect magic fluctuations.


    Using the ¡°Eye of the Wyvern,¡± Singo was able to read the distant notice, though related images had already started circulating in the forums.


    New location for the Ashen Empire faction event¡ª


    [The Undead Research Institute will officially open on October 11, 1786, New Calendar!]


    [Introduction: In the Kolmi Mountains in the western Carter Kingdom, there is a horrifying Bewildering Valley. Desperate howls often emanate from there, and it¡¯s said that all who enter the Bewildering Valley will get lost and become eternal wraiths¡­]


    [According to texts left by long-gone bards, a terrifying lich resides in this valley. Known as the ¡°Soul Chanter,¡± it is a nightmare for all the living, a shepherd of specters, and an emissary of Milco¡­]


    ¡°Wait, this description¡­¡±


    ¡°Why does it sound like a horror dungeon?¡±


    Singo frowned slightly. He had exchanged experience points for the ¡°Empire¡¯s Necromancy Encyclopedia¡± and learned about liches, a type of undead creature¡ªeach lich was a cunning, insane Immortal.


    At the same time, they were powerful spellcasters comparable to legendary necromancers, not entities current players could contend with.


    ¡°Are we supposed to defeat the lich?¡±


    He voiced his doubt.


    The tone of the notice then shifted to the familiar ¡°loyal¡± style that players knew.


    [But now, under the invincible glory of His Majesty Cassius, the Anzeta Great Wilderness has already been ruled by the great Ashen Empire. The lich, impressed by His Majesty¡¯s strength and quality, willingly became a loyal vassal of the Empire!]


    [Bewildering Valley, once a forbidden zone for the living, has now been rejuvenated and transformed into the Empire¡¯s ¡°Undead Research Institute,¡± dedicated to helping all undead creatures contribute to the Empire¡¯s development!]


    Event Manager: Soul Chanter ¨C Orestes


    Event Details:


    Players, please bring as complete corpses and skeletons as possible to the ¡°Undead Research Institute¡± and seek out the manager, ¡°Soul Eternally Mourner ¨C Orestes.¡±


    Present corpses and skeletons to the institute, and by consuming a certain amount of experience and gold coins at the lich, you will receive a special item, the ¡°Undead Minion Rental Contract.¡±


    (Note: This item is permanently effective. You will have three chances daily to summon the converted undead minion, each time for fifteen minutes.)


    (The strength of the undead minion depends on the strength and type of the converted corpse.)


    ¡°This is¡­ a permanent servant?¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Singo¡¯s pupils shrank as he instantly realized the significance of this event¡ªit meant he could bring back the bosses he had killed before and convert them into his minions!


    And the ¡°Undead Minion Rental Contract¡± had permanent validity, with up to three summoning opportunities per day!


    ¡°The official event this time¡­ is simply too generous!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    It¡¯s important to know that at the current stage, even necromancer players could only create the lowest level skeletons.


    Moreover, without the divine artifact ¡°Scepter of Bones from Milco,¡± the undead creatures they created quickly reverted back to ordinary skeletons, which were useless to high-level players like him!


    But the ¡°Undead Minion Rental Contract¡± was entirely different. He could even convert former bosses into minions!


    ¡°The ¡®corpse summoning stream¡¯ might emerge soon!¡±


    ¡°I must seize the opportunity immediately, or the remains of those bosses will be snatched away by the numerically superior noble guilds!¡±


    Singo¡¯s eyes gleamed, and he swiftly unfastened the latch in front, adeptly mounting his bipedal wyvern.


    ¡°Wyvern, set off at once!¡±


    ¡°Aoo~~¡±


    The bipedal wyvern let out a roar, flapping its wings and heading southwest towards the outskirts of the city¡ªSingo had once cleared out a bandit hideout there alone.


    Inside, there was a half-giant chieftain boss with a height of thirteen feet and a challenge level as high as level nine. Singo had poisoned and killed him, and now the body could be of use.


    Meanwhile, he sent this information to the remaining three members in the group chat.


    Singo: Go grab the corpses!


    I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou: ?


    I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou: Have you lost it?


    Natural War Maniac: Mantou, look at the forums, this is the latest event.


    Natural War Maniac: It¡¯s said that the guild leaders of those noble guilds have gone crazy. Each of them has led hundreds of people, fighting for control over the Frost Giants¡¯ battlegrounds. The scene is, tsk tsk.


    Natural War Maniac: [Screenshot]


    I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou: Is there really such a thing?


    Summer Night Autumn Rain: I¡¯m speechless¡­ All the bosses I¡¯ve killed have been burned to ashes (T?T)


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The bipedal wyvern let out a long cry, then circled down to land beside a barely noticeable cave on a hill.


    Singo moved quickly and soon reached the bandits¡¯ hideout.


    ¡°Great!¡±


    ¡°This place hasn¡¯t been found yet!¡±


    He didn¡¯t mind at all as he wrapped up the half-giant chieftain¡¯s corpse, which was buzzing with flies and emitting a strong stench of decay.


    After several days of fermentation, the half-giant¡¯s corpse, with its giant bloodline, had already swollen and rotted, becoming a complete ¡°Giant¡¯s View.¡±


    But Singo didn¡¯t care. He was even a bit excited as he finished ¡°packing¡± and shouted loudly:


    ¡°Wyvern, to Carter Duchy!¡±


    ¡°Aoo?¡±


    Even the bipedal wyvern, which had a preference for carrion, tilted its head in confusion and used its forelimbs to cover its nose.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Just take the body, we need to hurry.¡±


    ¡°Aoo¡­¡±


    Under its master¡¯s orders, the wyvern reluctantly picked up the corpse, whose stench couldn¡¯t be masked even by the fabric wrapping, and flew into the distance.


    Luckily, the ancestral wyvern had considerable strength and speed.


    Soon, they crossed a large part of Anzeta and arrived at the Bewildering Valley in the western Carter Duchy¡ªthe location of the ¡°Undead Research Institute.¡±


    ¡°Phew, we got here not too late.¡±


    Riding on the wyvern¡¯s back, Singo wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    He saw a dozen people already queuing at the institute¡¯s entrance, each dragging a corpse or skeleton, and some even carrying a coffin.

 Chapter 420 - 343 Players Undead Minion (Part 3)

    Chapter 420: Chapter 343 Player¡¯s Undead Minion (Part 3)


    ¡°Awooo~~¡±


    The wyvern circled and landed, while Singo dragged the corpse of the half-giant with one hand.


    He immediately saw the two people at the end of the line: they wore red and black tuxedos, their skin deathly pale, and one of them carried a wooden coffin on his back.


    Their identity was obvious¡ªmembers of ¡°Nocturne,¡± vampire players.


    So, Singo tentatively asked.


    ¡°Rogue Beast?¡±


    ¡°Yo? Isn¡¯t this Xin Dog?¡±


    The man turned around, revealing a familiar cheeky face that made one want to punch him.


    Indeed, this was one of the leaders of the Nocturne Troop, famous for his outrageous antics, Swashbuckler.


    And the poor newbie carrying the coffin beside him was lured into Nocturne by him, the Wolf of the Dark Night. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Tsk, you guys are fast, huh?¡±


    ¡°Same to you.¡±


    Swashbuckler poked his head out, eyeing the massive corpse bag Singo was dragging with drool almost dripping from his mouth.


    Human corpses could only be turned into ordinary zombies, but this thing could undoubtedly be converted into a ¡°Giant Zombie¡± type monster. Summoning it would be imposing, to say the least.


    Swashbuckler said enviously, ¡°Damn, where did you get such a big guy, and it¡¯s fresh!¡±


    Singo replied blandly, ¡°Just luck, cleared out a bandit hideout, and there happened to be a half-giant boss inside.¡±


    ¡°Damn Europeans!¡±


    ¡°You really hit the jackpot!¡±


    Swashbuckler grumbled bitterly.


    Singo raised an eyebrow, looking at the coffin behind the Wolf of the Dark Night: ¡°Don¡¯t just talk about me, you guys seem to have gotten a lot too.¡±


    The coffin was over two meters long, packed with so many bones it must have weighed hundreds of kilograms, pressing down on the Wolf of the Dark Night until he was drenched in sweat.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Swashbuckler puffed out his chest, proudly patting the coffin, nearly making the Wolf of the Dark Night stumble.


    ¡°We are the noble Blood Clan, aristocrats of the night, born undying monarchs. Gathering some corpses and bones is child¡¯s play for us!¡±


    ¡°See this?¡±


    ¡°In this coffin lie the ancestors of Leo Boske for three generations; there¡¯s got to be some powerful warriors among them!¡±


    Hearing this, even Singo couldn¡¯t help but break into a cold sweat.


    This guy is a real beast!


    Not only did he wipe out the whole family, but he also dug up their ancestors to use as minions.


    However, he soon felt a little annoyed¡ªsuch a good idea, and he didn¡¯t think of it?


    The burial goods in those Northern Nobility family tombs had long been looted, but the bones inside were still there; who knows how many transcendents could be among them.


    But then, the barbarian player carrying the stone coffin at the front of the line turned his head and angrily shouted, ¡°Damn, no wonder the Boske Family tomb was empty, you stole everything, you beast!¡±


    Swashbuckler folded his arms and smiled cheekily, ¡°Stole? Nocturne doesn¡¯t steal; we just use our abilities! If I didn¡¯t take those bones, wouldn¡¯t they have just gone to you, you petty thief?¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°Just because you raided the Boske grave doesn¡¯t mean anything, I¡¯ve brought the ancestors of the Norton Family for eight generations! The bloodline of the Frost Giants might not be inferior to your Northern Lions!¡±


    The burly man snorted and turned away with the stone coffin, no longer speaking to Swashbuckler.


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    ¡°I just want to say¡ªall of you here are trash, clueless about the true power of a mage master.¡±


    The newcomer was a tall, slender man in an elegant suit, who tipped his hat courteously.


    He had a handsome face, with a towering nose bridge framed by exquisite silver glasses, and a perverted smile that utterly contrasted with his appearance.


    The nickname on his head was ¡°Rain City.¡±


    Instantly, the players started whispering among themselves.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Rain City?¡±


    ¡°That pervert really came¡­¡±


    ¡°What a beast¡­¡±


    ¡°Typical of him!¡±


    This ¡°Rain City¡± was also quite famous on the forum. He had taken a quest to help a Tiefling girl find her parents, only to discover they had died in an accident.


    So, he shamelessly brought their corpses back to complete the quest and claim the reward, even reviving her parents as zombies in front of the girl. The outcome was predictable.


    He even posted on the forum afterward.


    ¡°I reunited the child with her parents, why isn¡¯t she happy?¡±


    ¡°Sigh, trying to be a good guy is really hard.¡±


    After that post, players unanimously considered him a top-tier pervert.


    ¡°This time, I¡¯ve gathered the combined power of the Boske, Rackman, and N¨®vel of the Northern, turning all their ancestors into undead minions; I¡¯ll surely restore the glory of necromancers!¡±


    Rain City raised his magic wand, and three skeletons appeared in mid-air, orbiting around him, silencing all the players present.


    ¡°Still just a grave robber?¡±


    Swashbuckler shouted, ¡°Damn, playing Pok¨¦mon now?¡±


    After a long pause, Singo softly clapped his hands, sighing, ¡°Truly, the world is full of heroes like fish in a river!¡±


    He had thought his actions of poisoning people and stealing corpses were beastly enough, but compared to these guys, he was just a minor villain.


    Finally, the masked player at the front of the line carrying a big bag of corpses said slowly, ¡°Hehe, I just want to find a wife.¡±


    The nickname over his head was ¡°Undead Knight.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The people present fell silent once more.


    ¡°Bro, be a human¡­¡±


    Even the usually outrageous Swashbuckler couldn¡¯t help but sigh and wave his hand.


    Suddenly, the iron gate of the ¡°Undead Research Institute¡± slowly opened, and the queue instantly became restless.


    ¡°Look! The door¡¯s open!¡±


    ¡°Good, good, I can¡¯t wait to see what my future undead minions will look like!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m so excited¡ª¡±


    ¡°Crap, keep away from me, pervert.¡±


    ¡°Once these Boske ancestors are converted, Nocturne will be unstoppable!¡±


    A human in a white lab coat stepped out, the researcher Maxi, followed by two corpse demons.


    He smiled warmly, bowing to the players, and said enthusiastically, ¡°Thank you, Starfallen, for coming to the Undead Research Institute. Please queue up in an orderly fashion; Supervisor Orestes will transform your undead.¡±


    The ¡°Undead Knight¡± at the front of the line, filled with excitement, was ready to enter with his corpse bag but was stopped by Maxi.


    The two tall corpse demons behind him took a step forward menacingly, letting out low growls as they prepared to raise their great axes.


    ¡°Entry fee, five Gold Coins.¡±


    The researcher stretched out his hand, maintaining a smiling expression, but to the players, it seemed increasingly creepy.


    This guy is a smiling tiger!


    Everyone inhaled sharply.

 Chapter 421 - 344 The Players Undead Minions (End)

    Chapter 421: Chapter 344 The Players¡¯ Undead Minions (End)


    Seeing the players ahead looking distressed, Singo couldn¡¯t help but laugh to himself.


    ¡°Fortunately, I came prepared.¡±


    He patted his side where a bulging moneybag hung, which contained over a thousand gold coins¡ªas a Dragonblood Viscount with dividends from a military-industrial group, this was naturally within his reach.


    Among the dozens in the queue, a few had to leave dejectedly due to lack of funds, significantly advancing his place in line.


    At the front of the queue, the Undead Knight reluctantly handed over the money and quickly walked into the Undead Research Institute carrying a corpse bag on his back.


    Maxi collected the gold coins and nodded slightly to the waiting players outside, ¡°Everyone, please be patient and wait outside for a while.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the efficiency of Supervisor Orestes is quite high.¡±


    In no time, the Undead Knight came out gleefully with an Undead Minion Rental Contract. Humming a tune, he summoned a beautiful long-haired ghost under the expectant gazes of the crowd.


    ¡°Whoa, that was fast!¡±


    ¡°That Undead Minion¡­ it¡¯s not bad-looking either.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a buddy?¡±


    ¡°Envious¡ªwhy didn¡¯t I think of summoning a wife?¡±


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re an animal too!¡±


    ¡°This is supposed to be a combat partner!¡±


    Next, the renowned Necromancer player Rain City promptly paid his gold coins and hurried into the institute.


    Within just a few minutes, the next conversion was complete.


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡±


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    Rain City adjusted his silver-framed glasses and tipped his hat as he stepped out of the institute.


    Behind him followed three imposing, uniquely shaped Undead Skeletons, which were the founders from the Three Noble Families of the North.


    One wielding a sharp sword, one holding a spear aloft, and the third swinging a heavy hammer.


    These three were ancestors Rain City had dug up from their coffins. After careful selection, these ancestors had been famous warriors and paladins in their lifetimes; even in death, they boasted a challenge level of six, practically equivalent to three mini-bosses.


    And with the Necromancer¡¯s amplification spells, their combined combat effectiveness skyrocketed.


    The onlooking players were green with envy.


    ¡°When will it be my turn?¡±


    ¡°So cool¡­¡±


    ¡°I want to have an Undead Minion too!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided, starting today, I¡¯ll switch to the summoning class!¡±


    Singo, watching the distant Rain City, looked quite serious: ¡°His lineup is quite formidable in this version, a worthy opponent.¡±


    Several players entered successively.


    ¡°Oh dear¡­¡±


    ¡°Who hasn¡¯t had their turn yet?¡±


    Swashbuckler soon passed by, showing off with a line of undead ancestors from Boske, holding an Undead Minion Rental Contract.


    ¡°You¡¯re using your three daily summoning opportunities just to show off here?¡±


    Singo shook his head and chuckled.


    Finally, it was his turn.


    Without hesitation, Singo handed five gold coins to Maxi at the door and, under Maxi¡¯s friendly smile, he dragged a half-giant¡¯s rotting, fly-infested corpse into the institute.


    ¡°So this is the Undead Research Institute?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s somewhat different from what I imagined.¡±


    In Singo¡¯s imagination, this should have been a zone filled with skeletons and webs¡ªa necromantic forbidden zone, but it turned out to really look like a research institute.


    Rows of neat electric lights, clean and tidy corridors, and clear direction signs on the walls all testified to this.


    Even the bloodstains and muck left by the corpse he dragged were automatically removed by cleaning spells embedded in the corridor walls.


    Singo looked at the heavy iron door at the end of the corridor, and the skull emblem on it finally gave him a sense of death.


    ¡°Let me see this so-called ¡®Soul Eternally Mourner¡¯ then.¡±


    He thought.


    Singo placed his hand on the skull, and the heavy iron door slowly opened.


    ¡°Lord Orestes, I¡¯ve come for an undead conversion.¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    The voice was deep and hoarse.


    Yet Singo keenly sensed a heavy fatigue in it¡ªas if from a corporate drone working overtime.


    Was he mistaken?


    That should be the legendary Lich!


    The master of undead creatures! An immortal, cunning, and cruel being with endless secrets!


    Singo couldn¡¯t help but look up, the name floating above the Lich¡¯s head was particularly striking.


    Soul Chanter-Orestes


    Faction: Ashen Empire


    Affiliation: Undead Research Institute


    Challenge Level: ???


    The Lich was sitting at a plain desk, draped in tattered robes, the soul fire in its eye sockets dim. What was intimidating, however, was the Scepter of Bones on the nearby shelf.


    In its withered hand, it held a bone pen, continuously writing on documents on the desk.


    Singo found it difficult to describe this demeanor. It was just like¡ªa working-class Lich, with no imposing aura anywhere, giving off a sense of perfunctory.


    Orestes put down the pen and impatiently urged: ¡°Do you want the conversion or not? Hurry up.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Singo quickly snapped out of his thoughts, stepped forward, opened the shop panel, and rapidly browsed.


    The Lich¡¯s Rental Store


    Basic prices:


    Skeleton: 5 gold, 350 experience


    Mummy: 5 gold, 350 experience


    Specter: 20 gold, 950 experience


    Corpse Demon: 100 gold, 1550 experience


    Soulbinders: 100 gold, 1550 experience


    Undead Skeleton: 100 gold, 1550 experience


    ¡­


    Death Knight: 12500 gold, 75000 experience


    Lich: ??? unknown conditions


    [Please present the item you wish to convert.]


    The options for Death Knight and Lich obviously weren¡¯t meant for current players.


    So he skipped those options directly. Since he had brought a complete corpse, the Corpse Demon, which could turn the deceased into a zombie, was the best option.


    ¡°Lord Orestes, I want to convert into a Corpse Demon.¡±


    He unzipped the heavy corpse bag, revealing the rotting, stinking half-giant inside.


    The Lich glanced at it and said flatly, ¡°A professional half-giant, extra charge needed.¡±


    A new transaction window popped up immediately.


    [Soul Eternally Mourner-Orestes offers you a new trade.]


    Half-Giant Zombie Leader: 800 gold, 5500 experience


    [Do you agree to the transaction? Yes/No]


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Even Singo felt the pinch.


    This amount of gold and experience would almost wipe out his savings from the last few months; even he needed to think it over.


    ¡°Hurry up.¡±


    Orestes urged impatiently.


    The temptation of a power boost made Singo grit his teeth and make a decision. He clicked on the [Confirm] option on the panel and handed over the bulging moneybag¡ª


    ¡°My Lord, please proceed with the conversion.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Orestes removed the Scepter of Bones, expertly pointing it at the half-giant¡¯s bloated, decaying corpse.


    Instantly, low growls echoed.


    The negative energy gray mist enveloped the entire body, and its dark eyes began to gleam eerily. Finally, it stood up slowly.


    A nearly three-meter-tall Corpse Demon, covered in foul, decaying flesh, still appeared mighty as it had been in its life.


    Half-Giant Zombie Leader


    Challenge Level: 7 (3100xp)


    Orestes pulled out a blank scroll from a drawer and continued writing on it, then casually threw it to Singo.


    ¡°Done.¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire.¡±


    He spoke the classic phrase, but coming from the Lich, it sounded eerie.


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire.¡±


    Singo also hammered his chest with his right hand in response.


    Inwardly, he mused: ¡°A Lich loyal to the Empire, how unusual.¡±


    However, his focus soon shifted back to his freshly converted Corpse Demon, a joyful look appearing on his face.


    ¡°Great¡­ a real boss-class minion!¡±


    Singo left with the scroll, and the half-giant zombie leader remained under the control of the Undead Research Institute.


    After all, players were merely renting, and ownership belonged to the Empire officially, more precisely to the Emperor himself, or rather, to the Dragon.


    ¡°How much longer must these days last¡­¡±


    Orestes watched as the door slowly closed, letting out a deep sigh.


    Converting undead creatures was truly arduous work.


    Yet, each time he converted undead creatures for these ¡°Starfallen,¡± he felt a purer form of soul energy surge into his body, allowing him to sustain his life box.


    Perhaps, he could reach true immortality this way.


    ¡°Tsk¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank my master for this.¡±


    The exhausted Lich mused, but footsteps once again echoed from outside¡ªthe next player for the undead conversion was arriving.


    At this moment, hundreds of players were already queuing up outside the Undead Research Institute.


    What Orestes did not know was that to control the Lich¡¯s power, Cassius had siphoned off ninety percent of the experience he gained.


    Soon, the news about the Undead Research Institute spread across the forum, those boss-like top-tier minions making many players envious.


    Thus began a vigorous ¡°Corpse Hunting Movement¡± known as the ¡°Great Excavation Campaign¡± within the Empire.


    Tens of thousands of players roamed the Empire, digging graves, searching ruins, and even exhuming the corpses of fallen foes, much to the amazement of the natives.


    The bones of a senior warrior could fetch hundreds of gold coins on the black market, and many penniless people even dug up their ancestors¡¯ graves to sell to players.


    At the same time, coffin making, corpse preservation, and other specialized industries boomed, giving rise to several ¡°emerging enterprises.¡±


    Throughout the Empire, rumors spread that ¡°Starfallen liked old bones¡± and ¡°they prefer ancient skeletons.¡±

 Chapter 422 - 345 Farming Skeleton

    Chapter 422: Chapter 345 Farming Skeleton


    [You received experience from retainer ¡°Soul Eternally Mourner ¨C Orestes¡±]


    [You gained 1500xp]


    [You gained 1300xp] S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [You gained 1200xp]


    ¡­


    Inside the Steel Dragonwing Palace, Cassius, who was sitting on the throne, nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the information refreshing on his panel.


    Recently, Silver Dragon Olivia moved to Isdalia in the Imperial Center. She said she wanted to fulfill her duties as a council member and make the Ashen Empire a fairer, more peaceful nation.


    White Dragon Tiniya was dragged off for an intense study of history and politics. She wasn¡¯t allowed to return until she completed her learning goals.


    Blue Dragon Christina seemed to have disappeared recently, and after that coronation ceremony, the Faria Family¡¯s attitude towards the Ashen Empire became complicated.


    After the coronation ceremony ended and internal and external troubles were resolved, the Ashen Empire completed the unification of the Anzeta Great Wilderness. The life of Cassius, the ¡°Ashen Emperor,¡± became exceptionally dull¡ª


    Every day, it was eating, sleeping, researching spells, and then quietly watching his experience points skyrocketing on his panel and the gold coins piling up in his treasury.


    What a boring life.


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    ¡°The players¡¯ enthusiasm was even higher than I imagined. In just a few weeks, they produced over fifty thousand experience points again.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, it was worth it for me to personally capture that lich. The results are indeed impressive.¡±


    ¡°By the way, as for Matra, who knows¡­¡±


    Before Cassius could finish, a magic communication request appeared in the hall: ¡°Your Majesty, our experiment was very successful. These undead creatures can be used as farmers.¡±


    The excited voice of the empire¡¯s agriculture official, Aliph Levi, came through.


    Cassius turned his head and looked at a mirror on the wall. It showed a vast, flat field, the black soil so rich it almost seemed to ooze.


    This was the Matra Great Plain, which used to be covered by year-round, unmelted snow, once abandoned as ¡°barren lands¡± by the northern nobility.


    After the red dragon altered the climate and melted the snow, it became the largest and most fertile farming area in all of Anzeta¡ªthe Matra Great Farmland.


    The arable land area of this plain reached 43 million hectares. Its flat terrain and fertile soil meant that, with proper development, it was enough to support the entire empire¡¯s grain supply.


    ¡°Aargh¡­.¡±


    A low sound echoed across the plain.


    On the land, rows of skeletons walked rigidly through the fields, swinging their hoes hard. They were farming?


    Yes, they were indeed farming.


    These skeletons had no self-awareness but could be controlled to perform basic actions.


    Further out in the fields, there were hundreds of skeletons sowing seeds under the agricultural official¡¯s guidance.


    Anzeta itself was a sparsely populated area, with barely ten million people scattered across nearly three million square kilometers.


    The empire didn¡¯t lack land; it lacked population.


    Under Ramp¡¯s plans and calls, factories in various cities were hiring workers, and it seemed wasteful to allocate part of the precious, scarce human resources as agricultural labor.


    However, industrial development required sufficient non-agricultural population and plenty of grain as support. Besides, the empire had yet to develop large-scale agricultural machinery.


    So, Ramp proposed the creation of a new imperial institution called the ¡°Department of Agriculture Affairs.¡±


    ¡°Agriculture Officials¡± were mostly druids familiar with the Way of Nature, nearly all of them players, each leading hundreds of cheap skeletons to perform large-scale, centralized farming at night.


    During the day, most of these skeletons stayed on standby in coffins or mined underground.


    The department also collaborated with the empire¡¯s Department of Technology, where ¡°genists¡± from the Mechanical God Cult were responsible for cultivating improved seeds and researching higher-yielding and more adaptable crops.


    Meanwhile, druids could use druid spells, employing various unnatural growth spells to make the crops grow more vigorously.


    One player, nicknamed ¡°I Don¡¯t Eat Jin Kela,¡± even found a novel approach by buying and stockpiling human waste from various cities to set up a ¡°Jinkela Organic Fertilizer Company.¡±


    Additionally, he collaborated with the Department of Agriculture Affairs and became a wealthy player within weeks.


    This might be some innate talent flowing in their veins; the players progressed quite quickly in farming.


    It was estimated that after this harvest, the Matra Great Farmland¡¯s grain would be able to supply the entire country.


    It was foreseeable that once the ¡°Skeleton Agriculture System¡± was fully formed, the empire wouldn¡¯t lack food for quite some time.


    Cassius stared at the endless farmland, seemingly already seeing the golden wheat fields about to grow.


    Yet, his gaze also wandered towards the distant cities, where people were sweating profusely before massive, monstrous machinery, like parts clinging to those steel beasts.


    ¡°Heh, heh¡­.¡±


    ¡°Farming, huh¡­ You should be thanking me. At least you get to eat your fill, right?¡±


    The red dragon couldn¡¯t help but yawn. He felt a bit drowsy; perhaps his next slumber was approaching.


    ¡­


    Night was falling, the stars twinkled.


    On the vast Matra Great Farmland, a druid was driving hundreds of skeletons working diligently in the fields.


    Above his head was the famous nickname ¡°Wings of Freedom¡±¡ªknown to players as ¡°Holy Light Bro.¡±


    Holy Light Bro wiped the sweat from his brow, still revealing his strong body, certain parts covered by blinding holy light, like a star in the night.


    He looked off into the distance, showing a rough, honest smile.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    ¡°What a beautiful wilderness. I can feel the breath of nature¡ª¡±


    He sighed: ¡°It¡¯s a pity that people are so ignorant. They don¡¯t understand the beauty of the Way of Nature and instead cover beautiful bodies with coarse fabrics.¡±


    Holy Light Bro patted the skeleton in front of him.


    ¡°You guys are truly wonderful. Though you are dead, you stand naked and meet me sincerely.¡±


    ¡°Praise freedom!¡±


    Holy Light Bro lay down, transforming into a brown bear.


    His body emitted a glowing green natural power, allowing the seeds sown to accumulate more life energy.


    ¡°Aargh¡­.¡±


    The skeletons let out suppressed growls, still swinging their hoes tirelessly, seemingly never feeling fatigue.


    In fact, Holy Light Bro was completely talking nonsense. Undead creatures and druids were born in conflict. Druids, following the Way of Nature, abhor these existences that defy death.


    But the players didn¡¯t care at all. He was just finding a way to satisfy his perverted desires.

 Chapter 423 - 346 The Castle on the Wilderness

    Chapter 423: Chapter 346 The Castle on the Wilderness


    Cartapa Hills.


    A group of unwelcome guests arrived here.


    The Imperial Vanguard led by Earl Jesse Swann, a Great Goblin general under Marshal Dolores who had made significant contributions in the Anzeta Unification War, marched south.


    They passed through the narrow Anzeta Corridor, trekked across the vast Ancytica Mountains, and arrived at the Cartapa Hills.


    The Thrace Kingdom kept their promise by withdrawing all their troops from Cartapa, but they also demolished the only outpost there, Glen Southern Castle.


    The Imperial Vanguard now faced a desolate, monster- and beast-ridden hill.


    They needed to establish a forward base in this wasteland in preparation for the future southward invasion of the Ashen Empire.


    This task sounded extraordinarily difficult.


    However, the Empire was already fully prepared for this, having even planned the city¡¯s construction site long beforehand.


    On the first day upon arriving in Cartapa, under Earl Jesse¡¯s command, the vanguard reached the target location on the map.


    They burned and cut down large swaths of forest, set up tents, erected wooden fences, and established a makeshift camp.


    On the second day, the accompanying mages began setting beacons and drawing arrays in the camp.


    From the third day to the twenty-first day, the infantry legion composed of Tieflings, Great Goblins, and Humans swept across dozens of miles, turning all beasts and monsters into mincemeat and using the obtained meat to supply the troops.


    On the twenty-second day, the Imperial Magic Department finally established a permanent portal to the Cartapa region, allowing a continuous influx of manpower and supplies.


    On the twenty-seventh day, Earl Jesse led the infantry legion and the Wyvern Legion in an assault on the Orc tribe to the southwest, annihilating them completely.


    On the thirty-eighth day, the Imperial Engineering Department dispatched dozens of Civil Engineering Department players, led by the Bucket Runner, to assist the vanguard in constructing the new city.


    Tahan City, meaning ¡°Conquer the South¡± in Draconic, gradually took shape from scratch.


    Now, on the seventy-third day since the vanguard arrived in Cartapa, the skeleton of Tahan City was already built. Players, Ogres, and Frost Giants from the Empire were busily transporting materials everywhere.


    Large engineering machinery manufactured by the Mechanical God Cult was dismantled into parts, transported through the portal, and then reassembled.


    Bucket Runner, wearing a white safety helmet, folded his arms and directed the construction teams.


    ¡°Frost Giant over there, no slacking off!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, get energized! Rookies over there, it¡¯s time to chisel!¡±


    ¡°Ogre! How many times have I told you not to eat the concrete? What¡¯s so tasty about it?¡±


    After a year of construction in the City of Isdalia, these construction teams had gained rich experience, becoming veteran civil engineers.


    Earl Jesse stood on the already half-built city wall, the Great Goblin gazing into the distant hills with his yellow eyes. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Cunning Humans¡­¡±


    ¡°Do they think that destroying the original city and releasing monsters will stop the Empire¡¯s advance? Heh, they¡¯re too naive.¡±


    ¡°The South will ultimately become the Empire¡¯s territory.¡±


    He gripped the handgun in his hand tightly, speaking each word deliberately¡ªthe exquisite and compact weapon was the latest ¡°handgun¡± released by the Ashen Armory, a convenient and portable weapon he was particularly fond of.


    ¡°Lord Earl! We have found a Hill Giant nest to the southeast.¡±


    ¡°There are¡­ about one hundred and thirty Hill Giants there.¡±


    Suddently, a Red Scale Conqueror, riding a Bipedal Wyvern, spiraled down from the sky, respectfully reporting.


    It was the largest Hill Giant tribe in Cartapa, notorious for devouring almost everything around it.


    Jesse immediately displayed a smile, exhaling a puff of white smoke, revealing a mouthful of yellowed sharp teeth, and the scales on his forehead slightly bulging.


    ¡°Excellent.¡±


    He raised his handgun high, aiming at the sky.


    ¡°Let these crude creatures witness¡ª


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°¡ªthe power of the Empire!¡±


    The gunshot echoed, drawing the attention of everyone within Tahan City¡ªexcept for the construction workers who were too busy to look.


    Standing atop the city wall, Jesse scanned his surroundings, raised his hand high, and fired several more shots.


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire! For His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire!¡±


    ¡°For His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Conquest! Conquest! For the Empire¡¯s grand blueprint!¡±


    The monsters and Humans within the city raised their arms and shouted, celebrating the impending victory¡ªexcept for the players who were still diligently working.


    In the Empire, it was a tradition to celebrate before the battle, because they knew that under the emperor¡¯s dragon wings, any battle would be easily won, sweeping away all resistance.


    Thus, under Earl Jesse¡¯s mobilization, Tahan City¡¯s army set out mightily.


    Meanwhile, the Hill Giant tribe still lay in slumber.


    These simple-minded, muscular Giants lay idly in the wilderness, dressed in unprocessed animal hides, crudely tied with hair and tendons.


    Beads of sweat from the Hill Giants dripped onto the putrid beast hides, emitting a strong odor, surrounded by leftover bones and meat scraps.


    The chief of the Hill Giants, named ¡°Bone Rod,¡± wielded the thigh bone of the previous chief as a weapon, being the tallest and fattest of the tribe.


    ¡°Hoo¡­¡±


    Bone Rod snored heavily, kicking away a nearby Giant and rolling over in his sleep.


    Suddenly, a piercing whistle sounded.


    His experience told him that this was unusual in the monotonous life of the Hill Giants, where the only excitement was searching for food.


    ¡°Uh¡­ huh?¡±


    Bone Rod slowly opened his eyes, lying on his back and facing the sky.


    ¡°Is this edible?¡±


    The Hill Giant thought, not dodging but instinctively opening his mouth wide.


    In his view was a metallic ball growing larger.


    Then came the explosion of flames.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Bone Rod¡¯s enormous and fat head exploded, brain fragments flying everywhere.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    The Hill Giants awoke, roaring in fury, only to find their rudimentary camp engulfed in flames.


    In the sky, Red Scale Conquerors on Bipedal Wyverns flew by, dropping bombs and spewing searing flames at them.


    ¡°Tiny bugs!¡±


    ¡°They are in the air!¡±


    The Hill Giants furiously hurled rocks into the sky, but they couldn¡¯t reach the high-flying Bipedal Wyverns.


    The Red Scale Conquerors had become precise in their distance control, making it nearly impossible to harm them through ordinary means.


    As the Hill Giants raged helplessly, gunshots rang out again, and several Giants fell to the ground with a thud.


    The Hill Giants turned their heads in surprise.


    A dull, rumbling sound.


    The ground was trembling.


    There was Jesse, riding a Land Dragon Beast, drawing a long sword from his waist. Behind him was the Empire¡¯s Drake Riders, who charged like moving mountains towards the Hill Giants.


    ¡°For the Empire!¡±


    ¡°Kill them all!¡±


    ¡°This land belongs to His Majesty Cassius! No one else is allowed to claim it!¡±

 Chapter 424 - 347 The Destruction of the Tribe

    Chapter 424: Chapter 347 The Destruction of the Tribe


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Land Dragon Beasts let out a deep roar and charged directly into the burning camp.


    These Hill Giants were far taller than ordinary humanoids, but they still appeared powerless against the charge of these mountain-sized Dragon Beasts.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°It hurts!¡±


    These crude giants were trampled underfoot and smashed into pulp, letting out screams and wails.


    ¡°Who¡­ are you?¡±


    ¡°Why, invade, tribe?¡±


    The hunched-over, staff-wielding Hill Giant Elder was both shocked and angry. They had lived beast-like lives for millennia, only concerned with eating and reproducing, but possessed basic intelligence.


    The Hill Giant Elders, usually the wise ones among them, knew a few basic common language words and asked this question.


    They had lived in Cartapa for many years.


    The Hill Giants already knew the horror of the humans from the South and never took the initiative to attack, only greedily devouring the nearby creatures.


    Although they never developed their own culture, they tried to mimic the behaviors of the creatures they ate.


    However, it was mere mimicry; they didn¡¯t even consider whether their size suited such actions¡ªonce, a tribe of Hill Giants collectively imitated elves and lived in trees, causing the entire forest to collapse under their weight.


    But this time, a new enemy appeared, breaking their age-old traditions and leaving the Hill Giants bewildered.


    The Goblin Earl stood up on the back of the Land Dragon Beast, overlooking the nearby Hill Giants, and laughed wildly: ¡°Who are we? You ask who we are?¡±


    ¡°We are the expeditionary army of the Empire!¡±


    ¡°We bring total death and destruction here! Simply because you are pests breeding on Imperial territory!¡±


    Jesse originally intended to throw a spear to kill the Hill Giant Elder, but after a moment¡¯s thought, he grinned viciously and pulled out the handgun from his waist, swiftly aiming it.


    ¡°Ignorant fool, taste the wisdom of the Empire¡­¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    With a gunshot, a blood hole suddenly appeared in the Hill Giant Elder¡¯s forehead, and its massive body fell with a thud.


    ¡°Hahahahaha!¡±


    ¡°What a treasure!¡±


    Jesse blew the thin smoke from the gun barrel and lovingly placed it back in his waist. He felt immense satisfaction every time he fired.


    Having experienced the war against the ¡°Everfrost¡± tribe, the Imperial army had learned much about slaughtering giants.


    They cooperated in groups of two or three, encircling and dividing the battlefield, launching attacks from different directions, always managing to shoot these clumsy giants before they even realized where the enemy was.


    Gunfire, the sound of Land Dragon Beast claws, the Hill Giants¡¯ wails, and the Imperial soldiers¡¯ shouts filled the battlefield.


    The scent of blood and gunpowder permeated the wilderness.


    Against the well-trained Imperial infantry and rifle cavalry, these wild, disorganized Hill Giants stood no chance¡ªeven with their enormous size and strength.


    The Goblin Adjutant, also riding on the back of a Land Dragon Beast, crushed a Hill Giant lying on the ground and shouted from afar to Jesse: ¡°Lord Earl, there seem to be some young ones in the cave!¡±


    Jesse¡¯s face instantly turned cold, and he said harshly: ¡°Leave none alive, kill them all.¡±


    These Hill Giants¡¯ so-called young ones were much taller than ordinary people, with the shortest being at least two meters tall. They huddled in the depths of the cave, trembling with fear.


    Under Jesse¡¯s orders, the goblins threw bundles of firewood into the cave. Several Bipedal Wyverns landed on the ground, blocking the entrance and simultaneously breathing flames into the cave.


    Instantly, the firewood ignited, and flames and thick smoke surged into the cave¡¯s depths. The Hill Giant offspring couldn¡¯t stand the smoke and fire, wailing as they tried to escape the cave.


    But before they could step outside, the Goblin Infantry, waiting at the cave entrance, pulled the triggers of their rifles in unison, producing deafening sounds.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±


    The cave entrance was piled high with charred corpses, unrecognizable in form, with some riddled with bullet holes.


    ¡°Lord, it appears the surrounding Hill Giants all came from here. We¡¯ve cleared this place entirely.¡±


    ¡°Excellent, these damned creatures dared to attack our hunting party and even ate a Great Goblin. This is their deserved fate.¡±


    Jesse crossed his arms, inhaling the scent of gunpowder in the air and savoring the beauty of war.


    The Empire classified Hill Giants as pests, unfit to become citizens, a conclusion reached by the Imperial leaders.


    Unlike their Lawful Evil kin¡ªthe Frost Giants¡ªthe Hill Giants were purely Chaotic Evil monsters with extremely low intelligence.


    Additionally, there was a hidden, ¡°unsuitable for outsiders¡± factor: the Hill Giants closely resembled Ogres in both appearance, habits, and bloodline.


    In the complex giant societal structure, Ogres were at the bottom, naturally inclined to do anything to please a giant.


    Although the Empire¡¯s Ogres had achieved significant intelligence, freeing themselves from giant control, they nonetheless didn¡¯t want a competing race encroaching on their ecological niche.


    Moreover, the Empire¡¯s think tank assessed that transforming these Hill Giants into ¡°valuable Imperial citizens¡± would cost far more than the benefits.


    Considering all these factors, while Frost Giants could still become the Empire¡¯s slave race, Hill Giants deserved only to be eradicated as pests.


    Jesse took a few steps forward, stepping on the enormous head of a Hill Giant and casually kicking it away.


    ¡°Bart, any movements from the Kingdom of Thrace?¡ªsince they burnt their old castle.¡±


    ¡°Lord Earl, in the past two days, the Red Scale Conqueror spotted scout units from the Kingdom of Thrace on the border, but based on our observations, they were merely some inconsequential ragtag troops.¡±


    ¡°Their elite Divine Descendants have all been deployed to the South to resist the Kingdom of Cassandra¡¯s offensive.¡±


    Jesse frowned slightly, feeling quite displeased: ¡°Arrogance! These Thrace people dare to send scouts?¡±


    ¡°Looks like they still don¡¯t understand the might of the Empire!¡±


    The Goblin Earl pulled out the handgun from his waist, feeling its cold texture in his hand, and looked into the distance.


    ¡°If not for His Majesty Cassius¡¯s concern for the well-being of the citizens, our Ashen Empire¡¯s army would have long since marched in and taken the so-called ¡®City of Sunrise¡¯ Augustus!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already good that we haven¡¯t caused trouble; who gave them the courage to test us?¡±


    The Goblin Earl squinted his eyes slightly, turned his head to the South, and coldly asked: ¡°How far is the area where those scouts are stationed from our current position?¡±


    ¡°Very close, just sixty miles southeast.¡±


    Jesse fired several shots to the South and commanded loudly: ¡°Everyone, we move out immediately, let these Thrace people¡­ face reality and understand the power of the Empire!¡±


    ¡°For the Empire!¡±


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 Chapter 425 - 348: Kono Demonstration

    Chapter 425: Chapter 348: Kono Demonstration


    The southernmost tip of the Cartapa Region.


    Riverfield Valley.


    A troop of several hundred soldiers was stationed here, poised and ready.


    They wielded weapons such as swords and spears, dressed in light leather armor, with the winged sun emblem of the Thrace Kingdom on their chests.


    ¡°Captain, should we continue to guard this place?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is the order left by Count Vabric before heading south. That northern empire is a threat to the Thrace Kingdom; we mustn¡¯t let them seize the opportunity to invade our lands.¡±


    The man called ¡°Captain¡± wore finely crafted iron armor, holding a brightly polished Silver Sword, and replied with a determined tone.


    His name was Piotr McGrath, the captain of this scout troop, and a warrior of supernatural level.


    Unfortunately, his experience was still limited, and he had not yet undergone the Sun Sacrifice Ritual.


    This was the heritage left by Holy Fadlan. With his skill, he could already become a general in one of the Northern Duchies of Anzeta.


    Vabric was the Divine Descendant Count stationed at the northernmost part of the Thrace Kingdom. As the war around the Holy City intensified, he received orders to head south, leaving behind only some trusted troops.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    The lieutenant¡¯s tone was a bit hesitant.


    ¡°According to the kingdom¡¯s signed treaty, we are close to the border region here, and will soon step into the empire¡¯s territory. Won¡¯t this cause some conflict?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Piotr shook his head while sharpening his sword, speaking dismissively. ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of barbarians from a desolate land.¡±


    ¡°They haven¡¯t even glimpsed the glory of the once Holy Fadlan, and they dare to call themselves an ¡¯empire.¡¯ It¡¯s laughable.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    The adjutant nodded in agreement.


    That was the Holy Empire.


    Whether it¡¯s the Thrace, Cassandra, or Seleucis people, they all fondly remembered the glory of Fadlan and believed they were the true successors of the empire.


    This was the unique pride of the Fadlan people. After all, for the past century, the Holy Fadlan had dominated the entire Fianso Continent. Whether dwarfs, elves, giants, or fiends, all bowed before the empire¡¯s glorious light.


    Thinking of the century-long splendor of Holy Fadlan, even the poorest or most destitute people would proudly puff out their chests.


    Piotr picked up the brightly polished longsword, making it gleam in the sunlight.


    ¡°Moreover, they¡¯ve only set foot in Cartapa for a little over a month. They probably can¡¯t even establish themselves here.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, this isn¡¯t the barren Anzeta. Terrifying monsters and magic beasts are everywhere. Building a city here is no simple task.¡±


    The adjutant still seemed worried. ¡°But recently, there¡¯s been a lot of commotion in the north¡­¡±


    ¡°Thump, thump¡­¡±


    A heavy thudding sound came from the north.


    The ground trembled, even the horses among the troops neighed in fear.


    Piotr also frowned, turning to look north. ¡°Could it be¡­¡±


    ¡°How is this possible?¡±


    He murmured to himself, his expression shocked.


    Hundreds of wyverns were flapping their wings chaotically, letting out noisy roars. Their wings collided in the air, flying in like a thick, dark cloud from the distance.


    On the ground, dozens of Land Dragon Beasts, like moving hills, appeared on the horizon. Cannons were mounted on their sides, and Goblin Cavalry rode on their backs.


    ¡°Long live the Empire!¡±


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    The cavalry and infantry of the Imperial Vanguard Legion roared loudly, their voices resounding through the sky.


    A thunderous shout came from the battle formation, like a sudden clap of thunder.


    ¡°Arrogant Thrace people¡­¡±


    ¡°You have crossed the line!¡±


    ¡°Now, this is the territory of the Ashen Empire, the land of the great Emperor Cassius!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°If you dare take another step north, you will be invading the empire¡¯s territory and will face the relentless strikes of the Imperial Legion!¡±


    Jesse, riding on the largest of the Land Dragon Beasts, used a magic amplifier provided by the empire, letting his words echo across the wilderness.


    ¡°How could such a military force appear in this remote wilderness¡­¡±


    Piotr gazed at the Imperial Vanguard Legion in the distance, full of disbelief¡ªthe strength of this ¡°empire¡± from the north far exceeded his expectations.


    With the power and might displayed by this army, only the kingdom¡¯s Divine Descendant Legion, Arcane Legion, or Iron Colossus Legion might be able to defeat them.


    Ordinary troops like theirs had almost no chance of victory.


    From Piotr¡¯s past experience, the Northern Nobility¡¯s armies in Anzeta were simply weak. A thousand-man unit didn¡¯t even have many professionals.


    Dealing with them didn¡¯t require deploying such a high-level force.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡±


    Piotr suddenly realized something, cold sweat forming on his forehead.


    He had just carelessly sent people north to freely gather intelligence, but they hadn¡¯t returned yet¡ªcould it be¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Captain, save me!¡±


    A voice with a sobbing tone came.


    Sure enough, the missing soldier appeared in the imperial ranks, bound hand and foot by the Goblin Infantry, tied in the front.


    Jesse spoke again.


    ¡°If anyone dares to step into the empire¡¯s territory without permission¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Goblin paused, slowly raising an exquisite handgun, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A gunshot echoed, and the soldier fell to the ground, no longer alive.


    ¡°Wait, let¡¯s talk¡ª¡ª¡±


    Piotr¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, his face filled with disbelief, and his extended hand froze in mid-air.


    The Goblin really killed him?


    How dared he publicly execute a soldier of the Thrace Kingdom!


    This was blatant humiliation!


    Glancing coldly at the soldier lying on the ground, Jesse continued, ¡°This is his fate!¡±


    ¡°Have you all heard clearly?¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The Goblin Earl fired several shots into the air, and the surroundings fell silent.


    The lieutenant whispered, ¡°Captain, what should we do¡­¡±


    Piotr looked at the formidable Imperial Legion from the north, stayed silent for a long time, and finally ordered with gritted teeth, ¡°Go, leave this place immediately! Avoid unnecessary casualties.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t come to the border area anymore. The Thrace Kingdom now¡­can¡¯t afford to anger such an empire.¡±


    ¡°Move!¡±


    The panicked Thrace soldiers, leading their horses, carrying supplies, moved southward, almost fleeing in a rout.


    Jesse stood on the Land Dragon Beast¡¯s back, watching the retreating troops with expressionless eyes slightly narrowed.


    ¡°The Cartapa Region is the primary stronghold for the empire¡¯s future southward advance.¡±


    ¡°We must ensure¡­absolute control over it.¡±


    One important reason for the Ashen Empire to seize Cartapa was that it could break the Thrace Kingdom¡¯s blockade¡ªheading southwest led to the Free Trade Federation around Silvermoon Bay, and eastward led to the High Mountain Kingdom of the dwarfs.


    When the Ashen Empire consolidated the strength of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, it would truly step into the continent through Cartapa, becoming an important force in Fianso¡¯s grand chessboard.

 Chapter 426 - 349 Battle of the Holy City (Part 1)

    Chapter 426: Chapter 349 Battle of the Holy City (Part 1)


    The Central Plains of Fianso, outside the former capital of the Holy Fadlan Federation, Theodivacan.


    A hundred-meter-high white city wall stood tall on the earth, stretching endlessly for miles, magnificent and grand, its time-weathered walls engraved with enormous golden sun holy emblems.


    Yet even such a towering city wall could not obscure the ¡°Eternal Sun God¡¯s Tower¡± within the city, nor could it shield the spire that soared into the clouds.


    It was a massive three-tiered pentagonal spire, piercing the sky to a height surpassing the ground level by sixty-eight stories, with a golden hemispherical top¡ªallowing observers from anywhere on the Central Plains to look up and admire the sun disk of Amanata.


    Once, on every summer solstice, the sun disk atop the tower would emit boundless radiance, bringing inner peace and bodily warmth to everyone in the city.


    This was Sunshine City, Theodivacan.


    Any traveler or merchant who came here would be astounded by its grandeur and submit to the unparalleled power of the Holy Fadlan.


    Even though the ¡°Eternal Sun God¡¯s Tower¡± was now dim and the once-mighty Holy Fadlan Federation had disintegrated, people could still feel the lost splendor and glory through the holy city.


    The ground outside the city was riddled with holes.


    Smoke lingered everywhere.


    Dried bloodstains, piled corpses, even remnants of divine descendants with wings on their backs.


    Such scenes were common on this devastated battlefield; even the city walls were riddled with craters and cracks¡ªfor the Three Great Kingdoms had waged dozens of wars around this city.


    And atop the heavy white city wall, Cassandra¡¯s banners stood tall, with warriors clad in heavy golden armor raising their weapons high and shouting in unison.


    There were also spellcasters in bright and luxurious robes with sun embroidery. They held their magic wands, the mana gems on them glowing, creating a golden radiant shield outside the wall.


    Great crossbows of gold aimed outside the city, with Cassandra soldiers straining to load them with sizzling, burning giant arrows.


    Cheers erupted continuously.


    ¡°Praise the Sun!¡±


    ¡°For the Kingdom of Cassandra!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Audis is the true emperor, kill those rebels!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s those rebels who caused us to lose the great Sun God¡¯s blessing! Only by eliminating them can His Majesty Audis welcome the return of the gods!¡±


    On the wall, a towering man dressed in golden armor and wearing a heavy bull horn helmet, his eyes glowing with fiery light, raised a long knife with one arm, and roared loudly.


    He was Ely Gianvito Velasquez, the Divine Duke of the Kingdom of Cassandra, a beloved general of Aragon the First¡ªone of the earliest legendary warriors to receive the Sun God¡¯s blessing.


    Feared for his ferocity, he had followed the old emperor to battles south and north, and had personally slain a Barlow Flame Demon.


    ¡°Marshal Ely!¡±


    ¡°Victory!¡±


    ¡°Fight for His Majesty Audis! Fight to restore Holy Fadlan!¡±


    With Duke Ely¡¯s words, the soldiers of the Kingdom of Cassandra burst into a jubilant roar, their morale soaring.


    The divine descendants of the Kingdom of Cassandra mainly had towering statures, fair skin, and perfect physiques, like flawless statues clad in heavy armor.


    They received the Sun God¡¯s blessing, gaining strength similar to the celestial descendants from the upper planes of Heaven, and were thus often referred to as ¡°Titan Divine Descendants.¡±


    ¡ªAnd their king, Audis Aragon, was the same.


    ¡°Silence!¡±


    ¡°This is outright rebellion!¡±


    Outside the city, high in the sky, a female warrior with enormous radiant wings and wielding a great sword brimming with explosive divine power raised her sword single-handedly, pointing at Ely on the city wall from above.


    ¡°Ely! You are the true rebels! The culprits causing His Majesty¡¯s departure!¡±


    ¡°You have forsaken your faith!¡±


    Her eyes also glowed with fiery light, with a sun holy emblem in the center of her helmet and wing-shaped decorations on the sides.


    Every flap of her radiant wings emitted sparks.


    This angelic female warrior was named Tirena Sta Angel, also a divine duke who had received the Sun God¡¯s blessing, becoming a legendary paladin.


    Like the others, she received the Sun God¡¯s blessing, gaining strength similar to that of the Aetherial Deity Tribe, and was thus referred to as an ¡°Angel Divine Descendant.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªAnd their king, Wilhelm Aragon, was the same.


    Behind Tirena, hundreds of light-armored warriors with wings flew in the sky outside the holy city, almost covering the sky.


    Yet their wings were far less magnificent than Tirena¡¯s.


    Tirena flapped her wings, raised her great sword brimming with explosive divine power, and shouted fervently.


    ¡°Cassandra people, you are too arrogant and ignorant!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, reclaim the holy city!¡±


    ¡°Restore the glory of Fadlan, reclaim Theodivacan!¡±


    She shouted thus, her gilded wings fluttering down, making the scene even more sacred.


    ¡°Restore the glory of Fadlan, reclaim Theodivacan!¡±


    Whether in the sky were the Divine Descendant Legion or on the ground were the soldiers of Thrace, all shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens, even overpowering the opposition.


    And on the ground, there were legions not only composed of mortals but also divine descendant aids from the Kingdom of Seleucis¡ªthey had received powers akin to those of the celestial race Gai-dein Tribe, some with horse heads and human bodies, some with deer heads and human bodies, and some with dragon heads and human bodies.


    Amanata sometimes manifested or demonstrated his favor or displeasure through beings like emerald dragons, sapphire dragons, steel dragons, sun hawks, brown dogs, milky-white cats, snow-white wolves, and pure-white stallions.


    The divine descendants of the Kingdom of Seleucis often obtained the powers of these superhuman beings, thus growing heads different from mortals and were called ¡°Divine Favored Descendants.¡±


    ¡ªAnd their king, Iloti Aragon, was the same.


    It was said that His Majesty had a dragon head and a human body.


    Banners of each kingdom flew simultaneously on this battlefield, all bearing sun holy emblems but each presenting different versions.


    The Holy Emblem of the Kingdom of Cassandra was the sun with crossed swords and shields, the Holy Emblem of the Kingdom of Thrace was the sun with outspread wings, and the Holy Emblem of the Kingdom of Seleucis was the sun with a side-facing dragon head.


    ¡°The holy city¡­ will belong solely to Cassandra.¡±


    ¡°Once His Majesty Audis reconquers Thrace and Seleucis, the glory of the Federation will shine again, and His Majesty Aragon can rest in peace.¡±


    Ely squinted his eyes slightly, looking at the allied forces occupying the ground and sky not far away, and said softly.


    Thinking of this, he swung his long knife vigorously, shouting loudly, ¡°Soldiers of the Kingdom of Cassandra, swear to defend the holy city!¡±


    ¡°Swear to kill the rebels!¡±


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Immediately, a crescent-shaped blade of light shot up to the sky, carrying terrifying heat and flames, heading straight for Tirena in the sky.


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    ¡°Swear to kill the rebels! Defend the holy city!¡±


    The generals on the wall shouted in unison.


    At the same time, giant arrows were shot from the top of the city wall, like a torrential downpour attacking the allied forces outside the city.


    Spellcasters of the Cassandra Arcane Legion also raised their magic wands simultaneously, casting radiance, flames, lightning, and even hurricanes from the city walls.


    The offensive of the Kingdom of Cassandra rivaled a scourge.


    War was on the brink of eruption.


    And this was already the umpteenth battle for the holy city.

 Chapter 427 - 350 Holy City Battle (Part 2)

    Chapter 427: Chapter 350 Holy City Battle (Part 2)


    However, the Allied Forces outside the city were not to be outdone; they had long anticipated an attack from Cassandra¡¯s army.


    After all, this had happened countless times before. The walls of the Holy City were riddled with scars, and they had even scaled the walls, only to be repelled by Cassandra¡¯s soldiers.


    Thrace Kingdom¡¯s Arcane Legion raised their Magic Wands, and a series of golden Shields, identical to those on the walls, were suddenly erected to fend off the descending attacks.


    In the end, both sides were offspring of the Empire, their tactics barely differed.


    But even these Sun Shields could not stop everything; when the golden arrows shot by the Great Crossbow pierced through the Shields, soldiers were still struck down one after another. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Death occurred incessantly on this land, almost never ceasing.


    ¡°Ely, you seek death!¡±


    Tierna glared angrily, spreading her wings. She gripped her sword¡¯s hilt tightly, unleashing the explosive Divine Power from the Great Sword.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The energies from the same source collided in the sky, creating a deafening explosion.


    The scorching Shockwave spread rapidly, and everyone present felt a wave of hot wind assaulting them.


    ¡°Tierna, it seems you¡¯ve completely forgotten¡ª¡ªhow to respect your seniors!¡±


    Ely leapt from the wall, ascending rapidly to several hundred meters in the air. His blade shone brightly in the sky.


    Then, he slashed downward.


    A terrifying torrent of energy descended from the high altitude, Ely¡¯s Fury even stirred a tempest.


    ¡°For rebels like you of the Empire, there is no respect owed at all!¡±


    Tierna remained unafraid, raising her Great Sword once more and releasing explosive Divine Power into the sky.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another grand explosion erupted.


    Several Angel Divine Descendants fell from midair, turning into burning meteors.


    Meanwhile, Ely, using the cover of the flames, charged forward, slashing at Tierna¡¯s slender neck.


    However, Tierna flapped her wings and abruptly ascended dozens of meters, releasing a beam of light down at Ely.


    Ely horizontally blocked with his long blade, intercepting the terrifyingly hot beam, retreating while fighting.


    As a Titan Divine Descendant, Ely also had the ability to hover in the air, but he was far less agile than the Angel Divine Descendants.


    Tierna, on the other hand, hovered and darted in the air, continuously circling Ely, attempting to find the warrior¡¯s weakness.


    ¡°Marshal Ely!¡±


    ¡°Swear to defend the Holy City!¡±


    Titan Divine Descendant warriors leapt from the city towers to support Ely, yet many were pierced by the scattered Light Arrows.


    Thus, they clashed with the warriors of the Angel God Race, angels continuously fell from the sky, and Titan Divine Descendants perished on their charge paths.


    Explosions and flames were everywhere.


    Beams of light descended from the sky, effortlessly melting solid rock.


    Under the ravages of both armies, the desolated land bore deep cracks and gigantic craters once more.


    Ely landed on the ground, confronting Tierna from a distance, issuing a fierce battle cry.


    ¡°Tierna!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Aragon once said that holding the Holy City symbolizes owning the throne!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Audis is the true Emperor! The Wilhelm you serve is nothing but a greedy, selfish man who refuses to relinquish power!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Audis is the true Emperor!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    The Titan Divine Descendants cheered, hammering the ground with great hammers, creating tremendous, earth-shaking sounds.


    This was the strength of Divine Descendant Nobles; they had once been the pillars of the Empire of Fadlan and were now the trumps of the Three Great Kingdoms.


    Each Divine Descendant possessed strength comparable to a Transcendent, and the most powerful Divine Dukes could reach the pinnacle of Legend.


    Witnessing the battle between Divine Descendants, other mortal armies hurriedly stepped aside.


    It was a cataclysmic battle.


    Mortals could hardly participate.


    Light beams from Angel Divine Descendants and earth quakes from Titan Divine Descendants could easily claim mortal lives.


    This was a hallmark of the former Holy Fadlan Federation¡¯s military system¡ªan extremely formidable Divine Descendant Legion serving as the army¡¯s elite force, capable of combating the Celestial Race and demons, while the mortal infantry languished in filth.


    Only the Arcane Legion could barely be called strong.


    When the Divine Descendants gradually lost their strength, the Kingdoms that split from Holy Fadlan struggled to maintain control over their territories.


    The Holy Fadlan Federation had once used Amanata¡¯s power to expand their territory across numerous planes, but without the sunlight¡¯s radiance, they couldn¡¯t even safeguard their homeland.


    ¡°You are distorting His Majesty¡¯s words!¡±


    ¡°Holy City is closest to our Thrace Kingdom, yet you Cassandras shamelessly occupy it!¡±


    ¡°You rebels will never truly own it!¡±


    Tierna once more flapped her wings, her slender, fair arm easily wielding the three-meter-long Great Sword, releasing explosive beams of light again.


    The Angel Divine Descendants behind her also flapped their wings, releasing streams of fire.


    Behind them, thousands of mortal soldiers, under the urging of their Military Governors, steadily advanced towards Theodivacan, the supply-laden wagons emitting a dull rumble.


    Ely sneered, single-handedly cleaving the light beam, then looked towards the massed mortal troops behind them, laughing heartily.


    ¡°Hahahahaha!¡±


    ¡°Have all Thrace¡¯s Divine Descendants perished? You¡¯ve sent these mortals to their deaths!¡±


    ¡°Wilhelm must be at his wit¡¯s end! Can such frail beings stand against us Cassandras?¡±


    But this time, the mortal soldiers behind the Thrace Angel Divine Descendants were not merely spectators. They uncovered the tarps on their wagons, revealing black metal cannons.


    ¡ª¡ªIt was the Ashen Empire¡¯s Thunder Hammer!


    Tierna directed her Great Sword at the Holy City.


    ¡°Destroy them! Fire!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    Amidst thunderous sounds and smoke billowing from the cannon muzzles, shells traced graceful arcs through the air, landing in Cassandra¡¯s fortifications.


    Though these cannons were outdated products discarded by the Empire, lacking the new-style Blooming Bullets, they still used solid shells.


    Yet, even so, shells crashing into crowds still caused significant casualties. Even some Titan Divine Descendants were caught off guard and injured.


    Although not as powerful as the spells of the Arcane Legion, their strength lay in their numbers.


    Thrace Kingdom had purchased a staggering 35,000 Thunder Hammer-II model cannons, bringing thousands to this battlefield alone.


    To maximize their effectiveness, Wilhelm had gathered over 70,000 mortal troops¡ªan all-out effort for the Northern Countries, but nothing significant for Thrace Kingdom.


    Watching the cannon shells rain down like a storm, Ely casually extended his hand¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Thud!¡±


    A dull sound.


    The shell was caught in Ely¡¯s hand, glowing red hot and emitting white smoke.


    ¡°Sss¡­ crack!¡±


    He exerted force with his hand, crushing the shell.


    ¡°These things¡­¡±


    ¡°They pack a punch, allowing mortals to harm Divine Descendants, and their numbers are plentiful.¡±


    Gazing at the distant black cannon muzzles, Ely¡¯s expression turned solemn.


    Even the Sun God Crossbow on the walls required well-trained veterans to operate efficiently; they were expensive and few in number.


    Looking at those mortal troops, Ely noticed they wielded peculiar short sticks, shooting high-speed projectiles far more powerful than ordinary arrows.


    ¡°What are those weapons¡­?¡±


    Ely¡¯s expression grew more serious, his once-contemptuous gaze towards the mortals turned into astonishment.

 Chapter 428 - 428: 351. The Kings Surprise (4k)

    Chapter 428: 351. The King¡¯s Surprise (4k)


    Faced with the Thrace army¡¯s dense artillery bombardment relying on sheer numbers of cannons, the Kingdom of Cassandra was caught off guard, suffering significant losses.


    After all, each mage was exceptionally precious, and spells couldn¡¯t be squandered like cannonballs; they required communication with the Magic Web and consumed the mage¡¯s mental energy to cast.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    The artillery fire still roared.


    The Therest positions were shrouded in smoke, and everywhere


    on the towering city walls appeared craters from the bombardment, and cannonballs fell into the crowd, smashing the unprepared Cassandra soldiers into paste; even some titan demigods were gravely injured as a result.


    ¡°Dodge! Dodge!¡±


    ¡°Spread out! Don¡¯t gather together!¡±


    ¡°How can there be so many iron balls?¡±


    ¡°Where did they get so many spellcasters?¡±


    ¡°No, those are not spellcasters!¡±


    The Cassandra soldiers were both shocked and angry, helpless against the attack from hundreds of meters away, even the noble commanders were flustered.


    The titan demigods tried to rely on their large and strong bodies to charge forward and smash the devices that fired the cannonballs.


    But the angel demigods in the air were not to be underestimated; they flapped their wings, firing clusters of explosive energy, which fell on the charging paths of the titan demigods, and more cannonballs fell from the sky.


    This made it impossible for the Cassandra kingdom¡¯s divine descendant legion to advance even an inch into the Therest positions, with even some ten or so casualties.


    Each divine descendant was a valuable asset to the kingdom, powerful transcendent beings created through the Sun God¡¯s sacrificial rituals and were the nation¡¯s backbone.


    ¡°Damn it.¡±


    ¡°Slash¡ª¡±


    Ely slashed out with his sword, slicing dozens of cannonballs in mid-air into fragments, but it caused even more ignited fragments to fall like raindrops, making the soldiers around him wail in agony.


    ¡°Stergen! Make them stop!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your turn to act!¡±


    Ely roared loudly, the booming sound spreading across the battlefield, reaching the towering city walls hundreds of meters away.


    Outside the tower on the white city walls, several soldiers stood guard.


    A man dressed in a deep red robe was resting with his eyes closed, a meticulously engraved mithril staff floated in mid-air, slowly rotating and emitting waves of light patterns.


    ¡°It came so quickly¡­¡±


    ¡°Has it already come to this¡­¡±


    Hearing the booming sound, the man slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of deep blue pupils with array patterns slowly rotating within them.


    He was Stergen Megan. Despite his middle-aged appearance, he was over seventy years old and an esteemed grandmaster of the Cassandra Arcane Legion, a powerful spellcaster who had long reached the legendary level.


    However, at this moment, a hint of surprise flashed in Stergen¡¯s eyes.


    For it was too soon.


    In this protracted war, the legendary spellcasters of both sides rarely appeared, simply waiting within their armies, acting only at critical moments, as if it had been prearranged.


    They would only act at key moments in battle and could instantly change the tide of the war.


    Why hadn¡¯t they taken the initiative first?


    Spells required preparation.


    As high-ranking spellcasters, during large-scale battles, the second move often had the advantage over the first, as it allowed for a more strategic and cost-effective response to the opponent¡¯s spells, aiming for greater results.


    But the battlefield situation could change in an instant. If seizing the opportunity could inflict irreparable damage on the enemy, taking the initiative wasn¡¯t a bad choice either.


    Stergen¡¯s eyes glinted slightly.


    With his actions, an invisible bird formed purely of elements flapped its wings, flying high into the sky.


    Instantly, a bird¡¯s-eye view of the battlefield appeared in his eyes, and the paths of the cannonballs shrank his pupils slightly.


    ¡°Spells?¡±


    ¡°No, more like mechanical marvels.¡±


    ¡°But there wasn¡¯t much spell fluctuation; purely relying on natural magic reactions¡­ interesting thought.¡±


    But when Stergen saw further, seeing the thousands of black cannons gleaming with metallic luster, he immediately frowned.


    ¡°How can there be so many?¡±


    ¡°This can¡¯t be something the Thrace Kingdom produced in a short time; could it be¡ªthey found an ancient relic?¡±


    ¡°Slash¡ª¡±


    A force field orb rapidly rose from the Thrace Kingdom¡¯s formation, directly tearing apart the scouting bird.


    This was no surprise.


    The Therest spellcasters had acted.


    Stergen grasped the floating mithril staff in mid-air, his expression even more solemn.


    ¡°No wonder Ely would be so anxious.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ if they think these inferior constructs can defeat Cassandra, they are delusional!¡±


    A gleam flashed in Stergen¡¯s eyes.


    With spatial ripples accompanying his action, he instantly disappeared from the tower, appearing out of thin air in the high sky outside the city walls.


    Stergen raised the mithril staff in his hand, and the hollowed-out patterns emitted waves of light. With the intense fluctuation of the magic web, a complex spell prototype gradually formed in the sky.


    Finally, a barrier composed purely of force appeared, covering almost half the sky, blocking all the cannonballs and flowing flames outside.


    Immediately afterward, waves of distortion twisted the space, and these cannonballs were controlled by some invisible force, deviating off course or even reflecting back into the Thrace formations. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Stop it!¡±


    ¡°They are coming back!¡±


    ¡°Quick, stop the bombardment! Their spellcasters have acted!¡±


    Chaos engulfed the Thrace positions, and their offensive suddenly ceased, except for the angel demigods who continued to unleash their power, attempting to break it from the outside.


    This was the power of a legendary mage: a single move could turn the tide¡ªthat was a spell combining [Advanced Force Wall Technique] and [Force Field Deflection].

 Chapter 429 - 351 The Kings Surprise (4k)_2

    Chapter 429: Chapter 351 The King¡¯s Surprise (4k)_2


    Although it was not a Ninth Tier Spell, due to the characteristics of its spell combination and its exaggerated scale, the mental exhaustion it caused was no less than that of a Ninth Tier.


    Any physical attack would have difficulty breaking through ¡ª even lethal cannonballs.


    ¡°Long live the Kingdom of Cassandra!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Master Stergen!¡±


    ¡°As expected of the Grand Master of the Arcane Legion!¡±


    Cheerful shouts came from the high walls of Theodivacan, and the soldiers felt a sense of safety and excitement due to the indestructible barrier.


    But Stergen, who was the focus of everyone¡¯s attention, showed no joy. Instead, he gripped his staff tightly, his expression particularly serious.


    ¡°Gaius Hurst¡­¡±


    He slowly uttered the name.


    That was the Legendary Spellcaster serving the Thrace Kingdom, and he was also Stergen¡¯s former classmate.


    The two had once been close confidants, both serving the Holy Fadlan Empire, yet now they could only meet on the blood-stained battlefield because of their respective loyalties.


    Stergen knew that his old friend would definitely make a move.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    A piercing whistle rang out.


    Bright green streaks of light fell from the sky, heading straight for the force field wall below.


    ¡°Meteor Burst?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s Disintegrate!¡±


    The force field wall could block most attacks and spell effects, reaching even the Ethereal Plane, but it could be destroyed by Disintegrate.


    This was the contest between mages.


    Only by knowing one¡¯s own spells and those of the enemy in detail, understanding the countering relationships between spells, could one maximize their effectiveness.


    The ¡°meteors¡± hit the barrier.


    In the instant the two spells came into contact, the invisible force field wall disintegrated, creating gaps that eventually shattered completely.


    Following that, bright red meteors fell from the sky ¡ª these were the real Meteor Bursts!


    At this moment, Stergen no longer had time to rebuild the defense.


    And using [Time Stop] was clearly not worthwhile; for him, Meteor Burst was not a fatal spell, and he had countless ways to dodge it.


    But for the mortal soldiers, it was a complete scourge.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The meteors exploded the moment they hit the ground and the walls, creating massive explosions. Raging tongues of flame devoured everything around.


    The lives of over a thousand mortal soldiers of Cassandra vanished in that splendid yet horrifying moment, accompanied by the simultaneous sound of explosions.


    The lives of mortals were as insignificant as grass in this war.


    ¡°Fire! It¡¯s all fire!¡±


    ¡°It hurts!¡±


    ¡°No, stay away!¡±


    ¡°Help me! I¡¯m burning!¡±


    The walls were engulfed in flames, and the previously spirited Cassandra soldiers were mercilessly incinerated by the spell.


    ¡°Gaius, stop!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fight for the rebels any longer!¡±


    Stergen gritted his teeth, raising his mithril staff high again, causing a twisted space to appear at its tip.


    [Mana Absorption]


    Instantly, the scorching energy from the Meteor Bursts around was drawn in, stored within the twisted space, transforming into energy for Stergen¡¯s next spell.


    He stepped forward, releasing the stored energy in a massive beam of light, shooting toward the distant Thrace Army.


    [Sunflame Burst]


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A charred mark appeared on the ground, and the pillar of fire instantly swallowed countless mortals, turning them into ashes.


    ¡°Arcane Legion!¡±


    ¡°Support Master Stergen!¡±


    Meanwhile, both sides¡¯ Arcane Legions simultaneously cast spells, filling the battlefield with dazzling radiance, blazing flames, crackling electricity, and icy hail, as various elemental energies clashed wildly.


    ¡°For the Thrace Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°For the Cassandra Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°Kill the rebels, reclaim the Holy City, and restore Fadlan¡¯s glory!¡±


    ¡°Defend the Holy City! Revive Fadlan!¡±


    ¡°We are the true Fadlan! Only His Majesty Audis can revive the former glory!¡±


    ¡°Praise the Sun God Amanata! Punish the Cassandra rebels!¡±


    The Titan Divine Descendants and Angel Divine Descendants occupied the ground and the sky respectively, shouting their slogans, battling unceasingly in the wilderness, clashing fiercely.


    The mortal troops of Thrace continued to reload ammunition, bombarding the towering white walls and turning multiple towers into ruins ¡ª regardless of the Sun God¡¯s Holy Emblem also present on the walls.


    The Spellcasters and Divine Descendant Legion unleashed their full power, fully engaging in the battleground that had witnessed countless bloodshed, where mortal lives were as insignificant as grass.


    This was the feature of the Fadlan military system.


    Because they relied on divine favor to rise, the upper echelons and lower tier forces of the army were extremely disconnected. Mortals often became mere expendables, while only the Divine Descendants and Spellcasters could determine the course of the war.


    And with the advent of Thrace¡¯s cannons, the lives of Cassandra¡¯s soldiers became even cheaper ¡ª these unfortunate mortals not only had to dodge spell strikes and the aftermath of Divine Descendants¡¯ battles but also had to constantly be on guard against cannonballs from the sky.


    For the two great kingdoms at that time, losing tens of thousands or even breaking the hundred thousand mark in casualties in a single battle was quite common. A battlefield with Divine Descendants, Legendary Spellcasters, and cannons was a complete meat grinder.


    The brutal battle lasted two days and nights.


    The land became pocked with craters, the Holy City¡¯s walls were studded with cannonballs, the ground of the wilderness was leveled by several feet, and the flowing blood stained the soil red.


    After paying a heavy price and leaving thousands of corpses in front of the walls, the Kingdom of Cassandra, with its superior strength, finally defended the ¡°Sunshine City¡± Theodivacan.


    But there was no victor in this battle. Both Cassandra and Thrace paid the price of tens of thousands of casualties, including dozens of noble Divine Descendants each.


    ¡­


    The center of Theodivacan.


    Sunshine Palace.


    Everywhere there were crumbling walls, but the bas-reliefs and walls revealed the palace¡¯s former grand magnificence and extravagance.


    This was once the residence of ¡°Sun Emperor¡± Aragon the First, who built a grand palace complex here through multiple large-scale constructions, which had once amazed and garnered praise from beings of Heaven.


    But as the flames of war reached Theodivacan, this palace changed hands several times, becoming the dilapidated state it was in.


    However, the main hall of Sunshine Palace ¡ª Hadrian¡¯s Palace, had been restored multiple times by the Kingdom of Cassandra, regaining much of its former splendor and opulence.


    And the King of Cassandra, who claimed to be the rightful heir of Fadlan, Audis Aragon, lived here for a long time.


    In the depths of the palace, on the enormous and exquisite golden throne, sat a man in luxurious heavy armor, holding a golden scepter.


    He was exceptionally tall, nearly two meters even while seated on the throne. His appearance and stature were like those of a master¡¯s sculpture, with skin as flawless as marble, showing not a single blemish.


    Behind him was a halo emitting sunlight, and his pupils bore a sun pattern, a trait derived from the divine blood of Supreme Heaven ¡ª this was Audis Aragon.


    As the eldest son of Aragon the First, he was over a hundred and ten years old and had received several blessings from the Sun God. Amanata had granted him strength rivaling Supreme Heaven, and he was thus known as ¡°the man closest to the Sun Emperor¡±.


    At that moment, Audis sat in his predecessor¡¯s place, holding the golden scepter that symbolized ultimate power, listening to the reports of his subjects below the steps.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, that¡¯s the situation.¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Stergen extended his staff, and a magic image appeared in the palace ¡ª showing hollow metal capable of firing iron balls and short rods that shot projectiles.


    ¡°These blasphemous creations allow mortals to harm noble Divine Descendants, causing us significant trouble.¡±


    ¡°To my knowledge, the Holy Fadlan Empire¡¯s army does not possess such relics. Therefore, I suspect they found these weapons in some ancient ruins.¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    At that moment, Naven Bassarius, who was standing by the sides of the hall, suddenly cried out.


    Audis turned his head.


    ¡°Naven, do you have any insights?¡±


    Naven stepped out from the ranks of ministers, hurriedly bowed his head, and reported:


    ¡°Your Majesty, I have seen similar things in the Ashen Empire! These seem to be their primary armaments!¡±


    Audis leaned slightly forward, his golden pupils contracted, a barely noticeable trace of surprise flashing through them.


    ¡°Are you saying¡­ the Ashen Empire in the Anzeta Great Wilderness?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Although there are subtle differences in appearance and structure, it is clear that Thrace¡¯s weapons came from the Ashen Empire.¡±


    Naven Bassarius replied with conviction.

 Chapter 430 - 352: Navens Persuasion

    Chapter 430: Chapter 352: Naven¡¯s Persuasion


    Hearing this, Audis sneered, his flawless hand suddenly slapping the armrest of the golden throne.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Is that so-called ¡®Emperor¡¯ of Anzeta joking?¡±


    ¡°He actually provided weapons to the Kingdom of Thrace! Doesn¡¯t he know that the Kingdom of Thrace is his natural enemy by geography!¡±


    ¡°And¡­ more importantly, he dared to refuse my friendship! Such a valuable opportunity, as a noble Divine Descendant, I have shown great respect, and he dares to refuse!¡±


    Audis¡¯s tone grew increasingly angry, the majestic and oppressive voice echoing through the empty hall.


    ¡°Foolish Red Dragon!¡±


    With his outburst, golden flames seemed to burn in his eyes, and even the sky darkened, with rumbling thunder announcing the impending storm.


    This was a manifestation of the Supreme Heaven¡¯s power. As proud descendants of the Gods, their emotional fluctuations could affect the surrounding environment, sometimes turning into extraordinary weather phenomena that would trouble mortal beings nearby.


    Feeling the wrath of their King, the ministers of the Kingdom of Cassandra became anxious, hastily advising him.


    ¡°Please, calm your anger, Majesty!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just an evil dragon from a remote region, not worthy of your ire.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, as the future Emperor of Fadlan, destined to rule all of Fianso, he is not worth your consideration¡­¡±


    His Majesty Audis was proud.


    Even immensely arrogant.


    This was known throughout the Kingdom of Cassandra and the entire Fianso Continent.


    As a noble Divine Descendant and the eldest son of Aragon the First, Audis was the focus of adoration and worship. He considered himself the natural ruler of Fadlan and looked down upon all mortal beings.


    Since childhood, no one had ever dared to refuse him.


    But that ¡°Crimson Emperor¡± who dared to refuse left a deep impression on him by slighting his honor.


    Audis¡¯s anger simmered for days, casting a persistent gloom over the Holy City.


    Among the three kings, the eldest son, Audis, was acknowledged as the strongest, but he lacked Wilhelm¡¯s wisdom and Iloti¡¯s rationality.


    Naven Bessalius was deeply concerned; he knew that letting pure emotion dictate foreign policy would lead to failure. Now, the Kingdom of Cassandra was following this path.


    For the sake of the legend, ¡°Whosoever holds the Holy City shall gain the throne,¡± His Majesty Audis exerted all his strength to seize the Holy City, even at the cost of warring simultaneously with Thrace and Seleucis.


    This had drained the Kingdom of Cassandra¡¯s power, narrowing the gap between it and the other two nations.


    Naven harbored a bold and almost treasonous idea.


    The Holy City was no longer an inheritance.


    It was a wound.


    A wound causing the Kingdom of Cassandra to bleed continuously.


    And Audis¡¯ primary concern wasn¡¯t the Kingdom of Cassandra¡¯s interest, but his own pride, which was absurd.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ another method should be used to guide His Majesty, to the right path.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±


    Naven stepped forward, body slightly bowed.


    ¡°As the eldest son of the great ¡®Sun Emperor,¡¯ you are recognized throughout Fianso as the most noble being on this land, without question.¡±


    ¡°But that so-called ¡®Ashen Emperor¡¯ is just a simple-minded, four-limbed Red Dragon. He does not care about your status, nor does he understand how precious your friendship is.¡±


    Audis¡¯s expression slightly softened, the flames in his pupils subsiding, and even the gloom in the sky dissipated.


    Naven continued respectfully:


    ¡°The Red Dragon lacks your foresight. In his greedy and short-sighted eyes, there is only one thing¡ªGold Coin.¡±


    ¡°And Wilhelm certainly used enough Gold Coin to bribe that Red Dragon and gain his support.¡±


    Audis grumbled, ¡°Didn¡¯t I also bring him treasures?¡±


    Naven quickly replied, ¡°You know that Wilhelm is called ¡®The Deceiver,¡¯ enjoying causing trouble in the shadows.¡±


    ¡°Surely, he shamelessly bribed with more Gold Coin to make that foolish Red Dragon refuse you.¡±


    Audis then nodded appreciatively, commenting, ¡°Ha, crafty rogue and short-sighted Red Dragon.¡±


    Naven, agreeing with Audis¡¯s thoughts, immediately chimed in, ¡°Indeed, they together are not worth even a thousandth of you.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But what?¡±


    Naven raised his head, his tone earnest.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I request to be sent again to the Ashen Empire.¡±


    Audis¡¯s face darkened immediately, ¡°Why? Their so-called ¡¯empire¡¯ just insulted me, and you want me to send you to be humiliated?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, please hear me out.¡±


    ¡°Since the Red Dragon can aid Thrace, his natural enemy, for Gold Coin, surely he can also aid us for more Gold Coin.¡±


    ¡°Please let me try again, not just for myself, but for the future of the Kingdom of Cassandra, and more importantly¡ªfor you to restore Holy Fadlan and become a great emperor like your father.¡±


    Hearing this, Audis¡¯s pupils narrowed.


    He was somewhat swayed.


    Compared to becoming an emperor, what were a bit of anger and humiliation?


    When he had the power of Aragon the First, any force before him would collapse, and the so-called ¡®Ashen Empire¡¯ could be destroyed with a flip of his hand.


    Audis¡¯s tone finally softened, his back leaning on the throne:


    ¡°Naven Bessalius, I will give you one last chance.¡±


    ¡°My minimum requirement is to secure those weapons that can be used by mortals. I hope¡­ you will not disappoint me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Naven bowed deeply, finally feeling a sense of relief.


    Having witnessed the coronation ceremony, he profoundly understood¡ªthe Ashen Empire was not a peripheral force; it could significantly impact the continent¡¯s dynamics, even affecting Cassandra¡¯s future.


    He needed to strive for a military alliance with the Ashen Empire, at least to prevent it from leaning towards Thrace.


    ¡­


    The meeting ended, and the ministers withdrew.


    Under Audis¡¯s harsh commands of ¡°Get out!¡± and ¡°To hell with you all!¡±, even the guards and maids placed within the palace were driven away.


    The vast palace immediately became empty, with only Audis Aragon left alone.


    Audis sat on the golden throne, covering his face with his hands, his expression a mix of shock and anger, his perfect body trembling.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    ¡°I can feel it¡­ my strength, my life are draining! They are draining!¡±


    Audis muttered continuously.


    Through the gaps in his pale fingers, Audis¡¯s face was no longer flawless, a faint crack appeared on the side of his cheek.


    Audis feared neither the abyssal demons nor the Hell Demon, but he feared a mere crack.


    This was his greatest fear¡ªlosing his current status and more so, returning to being a mortal.


    ¡°This means¡­ I will age and even die¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn, I am a Divine Descendant!¡±


    He cried out.


    Immediately, Audis, as if grabbing a lifeline, muttered softly to himself:


    ¡°Yes¡­ as long as the ritual is performed, everything will be fine, and I will remain immortal¡­¡±


    He looked down at his smooth hands, as if expecting cracks to appear on them too.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time, I must unify Holy Fadlan quickly, become the true Fadlan Emperor, only then will I receive Amanata¡¯s blessing once more.¡±


    ¡°As long as¡­ I become the true emperor.¡±


    Audis clutched the golden scepter symbolizing supreme authority and said this.

 Chapter 431 - 353: City Observations

    Chapter 431: Chapter 353: City Observations


    On the morning of the second day, Naven Bassarius once again embarked on the long journey to visit the Ashen Empire.


    Due to the intensifying war, the long border between the Kingdom of Cassandra and the Kingdom of Thrace was alight with flames of war, making this mission particularly arduous.


    As for why they didn¡¯t use a Teleportation Spell?


    After multiple attempts, it seemed as though the space within the Ashen Empire was bound by a restrictive layer, difficult to penetrate.


    Because of the war, the Kingdom of Thrace was filled with interference spells, and there were even cases where mages were torn to pieces by spatial rifts during teleportation attempts.


    Due to Audis¡¯ pride, he could not proceed in a grand manner with a diplomatic mission as he did last time; he could only travel secretly, accompanied by two personal guards.


    Inside the carriage, Naven felt uneasy.


    ¡°I hope this time I can succeed.¡±


    ¡°If I can secure the Ashen Empire¡¯s assistance, perhaps¡­ His Majesty Audis can truly unify Holy Fadlan, restoring the glory of the empire.¡±


    He turned his head and looked back at the increasingly distant Holy City, gazing up at the towering Eternal Sun God Tower, thinking this in his heart.


    The carriage sped along the road.


    After passing a post station, it was replaced with a mule renowned for its exceptional endurance.


    He also donned plain cloth clothes, disguising himself as an ordinary traveling merchant.


    Over the coming month, Naven would pass through the northeastern Dwarven Kingdom, traverse the long Mier Valley, and reach the Cartapa Hills area now governed by the empire.


    Then, he would head north into the Anzeta Corridor, towards the distant and remote Anzeta Great Wilderness ¡ª the heartland of the Ashen Kingdom.


    ¡­


    A month later, in the central part of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, on the outskirts of the City of Isdalia.


    Naven led the mule, slowly removing his hood.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°How is this possible.¡±


    He gazed at the majestic cluster of buildings in the distance, stared at the towering, thick chimneys, and watched the plumes of smoke rising from the city. He couldn¡¯t help but rub his eyes. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Was he dreaming?


    Naven was not merely astonished by the scale of the city. In terms of sheer size, he was confident that no city could compare to Sunshine City, Theodivacan.


    What he found unbelievable was the empire¡¯s construction speed.


    Considering that only a few months had passed since his last visit, when Isdalia was merely in its nascent stages.


    Yet now, it was more magnificent than many of Cassandra¡¯s century-old cities, comparable even to those of the former Holy Fadlan.


    He rubbed his eyes again.


    It wasn¡¯t until he saw people walking in the distance that he confirmed that this newly built city was no illusion, but genuinely there.


    ¡°By Amanata¡­¡±


    ¡°This young and unfamiliar empire is even more terrifying than I imagined.¡±


    Naven couldn¡¯t help but pray silently, feeling somewhat apprehensive about everything.


    He didn¡¯t know how the Ashen Empire accomplished this, nor did he know why they had such formidable mobilization and construction capabilities, but he knew one thing ¡ª the Kingdom of Cassandra had to take this seriously.


    Of course, Naven didn¡¯t know that the Ashen Empire now had nearly 200,000 high-quality laborers who didn¡¯t tire or fear death.


    Though they caused quite a bit of chaos, they indeed brought a qualitative leap in the empire¡¯s productivity.


    Nowadays, building houses from ashes had become an inevitable way for newcomers to earn Gold Coins and faction contribution when they first entered the game, considered the ¡°novice guide mission¡± unique to the Ashen Empire. Newcomers were also given a fond nickname ¡ª laborers.


    The Imperial Parliament Hall, Ashen Armory, Isdalia Grand Coliseum, Imperial Bank Building, and other iconic constructions were mostly built through the combined efforts of players and the imperial construction teams.


    In the distance, a line of Tiefling Guards in neat formation marched by, each holding a new type of bayonet rifle.


    ¡°As expected, it¡¯s that kind of weapon.¡±


    ¡°A standard short staff, very similar to those held by the Thrace Army.¡±


    Naven thought as he looked at the firearms in the Tieflings¡¯ hands.


    But as he watched the Tiefling Guards drawing closer, approaching him.


    ¡°I should first observe the situation in the city and then carry out the task given by His Majesty.¡±


    ¡°If they have indeed allied with Thrace¡­¡±


    Naven put on his hood, lowered his head, and led the mule quietly, praying the Tieflings wouldn¡¯t notice his difference.


    ¡°Halt.¡±


    The Tiefling Guard Captain said.


    Naven quickly tightened his hood, trying to pass by nonchalantly.


    But the bayonets of the Tiefling Guards flashed coldly, crossing to block his way.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m just a passing merchant. If you¡­¡±


    Naven tried to reach for money to bribe them.


    But the Tiefling Guard Captain took out a parchment with gold-embossed writing.


    ¡°You are Lord Naven Bassarius, correct.¡±


    ¡°Please come with me. The great Ashen Emperor has long foreseen the arrival of a Cassandra envoy, and His Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Naven was shocked.


    He had come on this mission secretly, without informing any outsider, yet this emperor already knew.


    Could it be true as the rumors within the Ashen Empire claimed, that he possessed the power to know all and foresee the future?


    ¡°Please come with me.¡±


    The Tiefling urged again.


    Filled with immense unease, Naven led the mule and entered the city under the escort of the Tiefling patrol.


    The city was bustling with pedestrians in a hurry, and many players dressed in bizarre costumes.


    A group of fully armed soldiers.


    A mule.


    An inconspicuous merchant.


    Such a combination indeed looked odd.


    Naven walked along, observing the varied styles of buildings on both sides of the road.


    But seeing that the Imperial Army was carrying out official duties, most passersby only took a few more glances before minding their own business again, as interfering with official duties was considered a grave crime.


    ¡°What¡¯s that NPC doing?¡±


    ¡°No idea. To be caught by the Imperial Army, he must be someone important.¡±


    ¡°Could he be a spy from the South?¡±


    ¡°The last time, they caught a northern remnant. I heard he died soon after being captured.¡±


    ¡°Could there be a hidden quest?¡±


    ¡°Never mind, it doesn¡¯t concern us. Better to spend the time moving more bricks; earning Gold Coins isn¡¯t easy these days, and it seems all mining tasks are replaced by skeletons.¡±


    The players talked casually but did not dare approach. Nonetheless, their words made Naven blush with embarrassment.


    Suddenly, the sound of a whistle caught his attention.


    ¡°Toot¡ªToot¡ª¡±


    ¡°Northwind Castle Station, next stop¡ªImperial Seventh Armory.¡±


    ¡°Passengers, please disembark first, no crowding, queue up to board.¡±


    In Naven¡¯s astonished gaze, a ¡°beast¡± of steel rolled in on the tracks, spewing puffs of gray-white smoke from its pipes.


    But the people waiting on the roadside were already used to it, merely yawning and waiting for the passengers to disembark, then queuing up at the conductor¡¯s call.


    ¡°Citizens! Please maintain order!¡±


    From time to time, Sheriffs on wyverns swept across the sky, but people remained unperturbed, only whispering to each other.


    Some players even discussed topics like ¡°that bastard fined me fifty Copper Coins last time¡± or ¡°here¡¯s that son of a bitch again.¡±


    On the street, a few ogres in oversized tailcoats approached, their belly buttons straining against their shirts so much the buttons were ready to burst.


    The leading one held a Gentleman¡¯s Cane and wore silver-rimmed glasses, looking quite ¡°noble.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Lord Bighead?¡±


    ¡°Good day, Lord Bigheaded Viscount.¡±


    ¡°Wish you a great appetite today.¡±


    People greeted with utmost respect, some even ingratiated themselves, and the ogre nodded in response.


    There were many such scenes.


    ¡°This city¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too strange. It¡¯s unlike any place I have been before.¡±


    Naven Bassarius, looking around at the bizarre surroundings, couldn¡¯t help but think this.

 Chapter 432 - 432 354 Audience Again

    ?Chapter 432: Chapter 354: Audience Again Chapter 432: Chapter 354: Audience Again Continuing to walk towards the center of the city, he arrived before the Isdalia Grand Altar.


    The ground rose high, forming a cliff, lifting the entire altar into the sky, much like the fabled Sky Garden.


    Naven noticed this building from a great distance, which made him think he was hallucinating¡ªto witness such a sight seemed impossible in reality.


    But as he truly beheld the altar, he understood¡ªit was the work of a spell. Surely, a mightily powerful caster had made the earth rise and the ground elevate.


    ¡°A miracle of a building, special weapons, legendary level casters¡­ These are not possessions of a mere fledgling nation.¡±


    ¡°Could it be they possess the entire heritage of an ancient empire?¡±


    Or perhaps¡­ behind them stands a deity as powerful as His Majesty Amanata?¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Empire¡­ How many secrets do they conceal? Their ambitions surely extend beyond Anzeta.¡±


    Naven looked up at the towering cliff, deeply anxious about Cassandra¡¯s future.


    Suddenly, a Tiefling¡¯s voice interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°Lord Naven, it¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°Please, ascend alone to the audience.


    The Tiefling Guard Captain extended his hand, gesturing ¡°please.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Naven, with an increasingly anxious heart, ascended the spiral stairs carved into the smooth cliff wall.


    The altar was high; it took him nearly twenty minutes to reach the top.


    Fortunately, Naven was himself a near-extraordinary priest. Bathed in sunlight, his constitution was much superior to that of an average person, preventing him from becoming winded.


    ¡°We meet again, Naven.¡±


    A familiar voice came from the top of the altar.


    Naven hurriedly looked up in nervousness, but instead of the anticipated Red Dragon, he saw a young nobleman with black hair and golden eyes.


    The man wore a luxurious scarlet robe with gold threading and an opulent gem-encrusted crown. His face was strikingly handsome, and his pale golden eyes were so profoundly deep that they invoked a desire to worship.


    He reclined on the throne with a casual demeanor, but his every move emanated an oppressive air. Such a demeanor was like the authority of a deity, one that could not be concealed.


    ¡ªThis was Cassius in human form.


    ¡°He, he looked even more noble than Lord Audis.¡±


    ¡°More like¡­ a god.¡±


    Naven¡¯s heart suddenly birthed a particularly audacious, almost outrageous thought. If he voiced this before His Majesty Audis, it could very well warrant death.


    Naven Bassarius shivered.


    He recovered from his shock and astonishment, realizing the true identity of this ¡°young nobleman¡± in the distance.


    Thinking of this, Naven immediately bent deeply, bowing: ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty Cassius. Apologies for my earlier rudeness.¡±


    ¡°But allow me to explain briefly ¨C your empire astounds me, and your valor leaves me in awe, which led to my making such a lowly mistake.¡±


    Cassius casually conjured small flames in his hand, then looked at him and said indifferently: ¡°Say no more, I do not care about these things.¡±


    He chuckled lightly, his tone quite playful: ¡°Congratulations to your Majesty Audis, once again holding the Holy City, securing the symbols of Holy Fadlan¡¯s imperial power.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your concern.¡±


    Naven said: ¡°Your Majesty, I bring with me¡­ from His Majesty Audis¡­¡±


    ¡°I know why you¡¯re here.¡±


    Cassius interrupted him.


    Flames in his hand formed glowing red beads and then disappeared.


    ¡°I have said, I am a ruler who loves peace, and now is the empire¡¯s period of development. At least within this year, the Ashen Empire will remain neutral and will not partake in the kingdoms¡¯ war of Fadlan.¡±


    Hearing this, Naven sighed in relief.


    The Ashen Emperor himself uttered these words.


    Absolutely genuine.


    This meant that the Ashen Empire was not a military ally of the Thrace Kingdom!


    The worst-case scenario he feared had not yet come to pass!


    Thinking this, Naven resolved to attempt once more: ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, His Majesty Audis said that as long as you can form an alliance with us, he is willing to¡­¡±


    ¡°This matter is not up for discussion.¡±


    Cassius interrupted once more.


    He looked at Naven below the steps, asking strangely: ¡°Do you think¡ªI am a dragon so easily bribed with gold?¡±


    Naven instantly sweated, hastily lowering his head and responding: ¡°Of, of course not, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°I traveled from the Anzeta Corridor, witnessing many things. Your subjects praise your wisdom and foresight.¡±


    This was not mere flattery but what he saw and heard with his own eyes and ears. Naven, posing as a traveling merchant, noticed this while passing through various cities.


    After the Ashen Emperor¡¯s legendary mythical ¡°national tour,¡± the Ministry of Propaganda greatly extolled and shamelessly embellished, even publishing a popular story ¡°The Grace of His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    People spread the word, and the emperor¡¯s image indeed grew more magnificent within the country. Farmers, merchants, and citizens all felt his blessings. His image was almost becoming synonymous with the empire.


    ¡°The emperor¡¯s position is quite clear.¡±


    ¡°It seems¡­ I will disappoint His Majesty Audis; it appears I cannot make the empire our ally.¡±


    Seeing Cassius¡¯s steadfast stance, Naven sighed deeply in his heart, burying this thought within.


    But this time, he still had another important task to accomplish.


    Naven took a deep breath, tentatively glancing at the man on the throne.


    Observing his unchanged expression, he lowered his head, speaking again: ¡°Your Majesty, we have one more matter, uncertain if it is appropriate to mention.¡±


    ¡°Speak.¡±


    ¡°During our battles with the Thrace Army¡­ we discovered weapons similar to those from the Ashen Empire.¡±


    ¡°So¡ªyou suspect the Ashen Empire is aiding Thrace?¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The voice carried a hint of anger.


    This questioning made Naven¡¯s scalp tingle.


    He hastily waved his hand, fearfully explaining: ¡°No, not like that, only His Majesty Audis is curious and wishes to know about those weapons¡­¡±


    ¡°Heh, you guessed correctly, those weapons are from the Ashen Empire.¡±


    This answer left Naven taken aback, stunned in place.


    But Cassius continued: ¡°But this is by no means aid, merely the most ordinary trade.¡±


    ¡°They paid gold, the empire provided weapons, it¡¯s that simple.¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Naven was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Such unique weapons could indeed be sold? And sold to potential enemies?


    ¡°Your Kingdom of Cassandra appears to have no right to interfere with the trade relations between the empire and the Thrace Kingdom?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Naven responded sincerely.


    ¡°Our Ashen Empire has always advocated free trade.¡±


    ¡°With enough gold, you could obtain such weapons, even ones more advanced than those sold to the Thrace Kingdom.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s lips curved into an undetectable smile, but Naven, bowing respectfully and trembling with excitement, did not notice.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty!¡±


    Naven responded with immense excitement.


    He harbored the thought¡ªperhaps, this visit could change the course of the war!


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 433 - 433 355 Arms Race (Part 1)

    ?Chapter 433: Chapter 355: Arms Race (Part 1) Chapter 433: Chapter 355: Arms Race (Part 1) In his human form, Cassius waved his hand casually.


    Accompanied by the fluctuation of the Magic Web, the solid space, which even the Legendary Mage Airez found hard to breach, was torn open, revealing a portal.


    Sitting on the throne, Cassius smiled and said,


    ¡°Extend my greetings to His Majesty Audis. Although the Empire stays neutral in the war, I support him as the rightful heir of Fadlan.¡±


    ¡°Go now, as long as you pay enough gold coins, you will receive what you desire.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty!¡±


    Naven, visibly emotional, bowed repeatedly in gratitude before stepping into the portal.


    This emperor was quite fond of Cassandra!


    He even expressed his support personally!


    Having received greetings from the emperor, Naven Bassarius thought joyfully to himself, though he didn¡¯t know¡ª


    ¡ªCassius only had a favorable impression of the Kingdom of Cassandra¡¯s affluent treasury and its acceptance of Fadlan¡¯s heritage.


    Outside the portal, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Naven arrive, he beamed, first giving a standard Fadlan bow, then warmly greeted him.


    ¡°You must be Lord Naven, right? I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the Battlefield Wheelchair Man, the product consultant for this transaction. Please follow me.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, not at all, it¡¯s my duty. Here at the Klaubow Group, we always treat our customers as¡­ um, VIPs.¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man¡¯s smile twitched slightly.


    Naven felt somewhat overwhelmed by the man¡¯s enthusiasm but still nodded continuously, showing his politeness.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man had received intelligence days earlier, knowing that this plainly dressed man was indeed Naven Bassarius, the secret envoy of the Kingdom of Cassandra.


    This was indeed a rare big catch!


    Or rather, an important client!


    Since his successful sales pitch to the Kingdom of Thrace, earning a substantial commission, it seemed he had opened a whole new world, from which there was no turning back.


    Now, he was the top product consultant at Klaubow Armament Group, leading in performance and continuing as the sales champion for multiple terms, aspiring toward the position of sales manager.


    ¡°Erezer¡± was so real and rich in detail.


    Combat and adventure were not the only ways to play. Every player could find a suitable role.


    As for the Battlefield Wheelchair Man, since he had no talent for the battlefield, he chose the professional path!


    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±


    Loud bangs echoed from afar, but the people around were accustomed to it. The Battlefield Wheelchair Man also led the way calmly, though Naven appeared quite curious, looking around.


    This was located on the outskirts of Isdalia, where the distant Great Altar stood on a cliff.


    The air was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder, and in the distance, there were rows of human-shaped targets and targets on an open field, with dense craters from artillery shells on the ground farther away.


    On the wide road, teams of Great Goblins marched with guns.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man explained, ¡°This is the Imperial Army¡¯s shooting range, not just a training ground for infantry but also our Klaubow Group¡¯s testing site for new products.¡±


    ¡°This way, please. I¡¯ll take you to the special product testing area.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Naven looked thoughtfully at the Great Goblins training in the distance.


    The weapons in their hands seemed quite different from those of Thrace Kingdom¡¯s soldiers.


    However, he didn¡¯t dwell on it too much and followed the Battlefield Wheelchair Man up a side path to another area.


    ¡°Here we are.¡±


    ¡°Clap! Clap!¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man clapped his hands.


    ¡°Show our new client the group¡¯s products!¡±


    In response, a team of Great Goblins carrying wooden boxes immediately walked up, followed by several Ogres hauling cannons.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man turned back, his eyes burning as he looked at Naven, ¡°Lord Naven, what kind of products are you looking to purchase this time after traveling such a long distance?¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, the quality of Klaubow Group¡¯s products is unmatched on the entire Fianso Continent. They¡¯ll certainly meet your needs.¡±


    Naven pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I trust the quality of your weapons.¡±


    ¡°After all¡­ the weapons you sold to Thrace Kingdom caused quite some losses for our Kingdom of Cassandra.¡±


    ¡°I need weapons that can arm ordinary men, at least to the extent that they can match the Thrace Army¡¯s weaponry. Can you provide them?¡±


    ¡°Oh my!¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man clapped his hands exaggeratedly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve come at just the right time!¡±


    He gave a meaningful look, and the Great Goblins opened the wooden boxes to reveal oil-painted spears.


    Naven immediately leaned in.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man seized the opportunity and quickly said, ¡°You might not know this, but the firearms the Thrace Kingdom received were the Enemy¡¯s Bane-III Model. Our military has long since discarded them, and the production line is about to stop making those outdated products.¡±


    ¡°To put it bluntly, those are just the junk we had lying around in our warehouses.¡±


    ¡°But the ones in front of you are different¡­¡±


    He leaned in mysteriously and whispered, ¡°This is our latest product¡ªWyvern Flame Type-I, the new king of the battlefield!¡±


    He took out a spear from the box, skillfully loaded it with ammunition, and aimed it at a distant target.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The sound of gunfire echoed, and a hole appeared in the forehead of the human-shaped target.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man didn¡¯t even look at the target, just elegantly turned around, patted the spear in his hand, and began introducing it enthusiastically.


    ¡°This is the Empire¡¯s most advanced infantry weapon, an innovative new series product¡ªthe Wyvern Flame Type-I.¡±


    ¡°Compared to the previous series, this product creatively uses smokeless ammunition, significantly improving range, accuracy, and power. It has received high praise within the Imperial Army.¡±


    ¡°Even the five-star general, no, the Imperial Marshal Dolores had this to say: ¡®If a soldier doesn¡¯t have a Wyvern Flame Type-I in his hands, then he¡¯s not a qualified Imperial Warrior.''¡±


    ¡°This, this is¡­¡±


    Hearing this, Naven first felt a shock, then a wave of joy surged within him.


    It turned out the Thrace Kingdom only got the worst, poorest quality weapons!


    But he could bring back the most advanced, highly acclaimed gear from the Ashen Empire to the Kingdom of Cassandra, giving them a weapon advantage over Thrace!


    One must know that the current Kingdom of Cassandra¡¯s army was on par with the allied forces of Thrace and Seleucis, evenly matched. Any minor change could tip the balance of power.


    This could even turn the tide of the war!


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man¡¯s words continued, and Naven, suppressing his inner joy, listened intently to every word¡ªthough much of it was just fluff and meaningless verbiage.


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 434 - 434 356 Arms Race (Part 2)

    ?Chapter 434: Chapter 356: Arms Race (Part 2) Chapter 434: Chapter 356: Arms Race (Part 2) ¡°Clang!¡±


    Another crisp sound echoed.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man patted the cannon on the Ogre¡¯s shoulder, brimming with excitement, and said, ¡°And here we have our Klaubow Group¡¯s heavyweight product, the Thunder Hammer IV!¡±


    Naven¡¯s pupils contracted once more.


    This was the so-called ¡°cannon¡±! This weapon played a significant role in the sixteenth Holy City War, even wounding several Titan Divine Descendants!


    And now, for enough gold coins, Cassandra could also possess such a weapon! They could use it to strike down the Angel Divine Descendants from the other side!


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man caressed the cannon fondly and continued, ¡°This smoothbore cannon¡¯s barrel is made of special alloy, effectively cooling down to prevent barrel explosions.¡±


    ¡°And this new-type shell is even more remarkable. This is a blooming bullet carefully developed by the Imperial Arsenal. It contains gunpowder that explodes upon impact, maximizing enemy casualties.¡±


    ¡°Come, show this customer.¡±


    The Ogre artilleryman accepted the Battlefield Wheelchair Man¡¯s silver coin, then placed the cannon on the ground. He calculatingly set the angle and immediately loaded the shell.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The shell described a beautiful arc in the air.


    It exploded several hundred meters away, scattering shrapnel like a blooming flower¡ª true to its name, the blooming bullet.


    Naven looked towards the distance, visibly amazed.


    In terms of sheer destructive power, it was not inferior to a third-tier Fireball Technique. Moreover, in range and impact area, it was notably overwhelming.


    Noticing the expression on the other¡¯s face, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man felt assured.


    He put his hands on his hips and exclaimed proudly, ¡°This is the Hammer of the Imperial, the absolute weapon on the battlefield, the unparalleled choice for igniting large-scale wars!¡±


    Naven eagerly asked, ¡°These rifles and cannons¡­ How much gold coins do they cost?¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man, however, played coy first, smiling as he asked, ¡°Do you know how much Thrace Kingdom spent on their arms purchase?¡±


    Naven shook his head.


    ¡°Their rifles were priced at 99 silver coins each, and each cannon at 30 gold coins.¡±


    Naven¡¯s eyes widened with astonishment.


    So cheap?


    The price of this cannon was even less than a Fireball Scroll.


    ¡°Precisely. Our Klaubow Group¡¯s products are always cost-effective, striving to bring the best experience to our customers.¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man continued, ¡°The two products I introduced to you have far superior performance and appearance compared to those sold to Thrace, so we have increased the price slightly¡ªwhich should be reasonable.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Naven nodded, prepared to spend a substantial amount.


    ¡°However, out of goodwill between His Majesty Cassius and His Majesty Audis, we can offer you a friendship price¡­¡±


    ¡°Each Wyvern Flame Type-I costs 128 silver coins and each Thunder Hammer IV costs 39 gold coins.¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man clutched his chest, pretending to endure the pain of parting with them.


    ¡°This is almost cost price, our acceptable minimum. How does that sound?¡±


    Before Naven could respond, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man sighed heavily.


    ¡°Sigh¡ª¡±


    ¡°In this war, although His Majesty Cassius remains neutral, he has a great liking for the Kingdom of Cassandra and has always believed that His Majesty Audis is the true heir of Fadlan.¡±


    ¡°In that light, out of respect for His Majesty Audis, we are willing to do business at a loss and offer you an unprecedented discount!¡±


    ¡°If you place an order of over sixty thousand rifles and over seven thousand cannons, we will give you a 20% discount!¡±


    Watching the Battlefield Wheelchair Man¡¯s exaggerated performance, Naven¡¯s face slightly twitched.


    But deep down, he was quite pleased. He could finally contribute more significantly to the Kingdom of Cassandra!


    ¡°Alright, I will return immediately to discuss with Lord Audis and give you a definitive number as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡±


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man¡¯s face beamed with joy.


    But after a moment of thought, he took out an exquisitely carved gold coin¡ªon the front was a lifelike, majestic dragon¡¯s head, and on the back was the Ashen Emblem with vertical pupils and flames.


    This was the latest gold coin issued by the Imperial Bank, already widely circulating within the Empire, officially named Ginnar. Due to its unique appearance, it was also called ¡°Golden Dragonhead¡± or ¡°Emperor¡¯s Money.¡±


    ¡°Lord Naven, I forgot to mention, our Klaubow Group only accepts Ginnar for payments. You will need to purchase an equivalent amount of Ginnar at the Imperial Bank before trading.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the reminder, I will keep that in mind.¡±


    Naven nodded, not overly concerned.


    He had observed carefully that this gold coin did not weigh much less, which he regarded as the Empire¡¯s way to profit from minting coins.


    The Battlefield Wheelchair Man took out a delicate wooden box and leaned in closer.


    ¡°By the way, are you interested in seeing this collector¡¯s edition handgun¡­?¡±


    ¡°Many Imperial generals carry it personally, and even Marshal Dolores is quite fond of it¡­¡±


    Thus, in a friendly atmosphere, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man successfully made another sale.


    Days later, the Cassandra diplomatic mission headed north once more.


    The Klaubow Group received an order from the Kingdom of Cassandra, surpassing the previous one from Thrace Kingdom, causing another nationwide sensation. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Four hundred thousand Wyvern Flame Type-I rifles and thirty-six thousand Thunder Hammer IV cannons.


    Countless ammunition and shells.


    A total exceeding two million gold coins.


    And the Battlefield Wheelchair Man once again became the sales champion of the month, basking in glory.


    However, some questioned whether his success was due to his special relationship with the Iron Madman, which always afforded him such precious opportunities.


    In the vast Fadlan Territory to the south, the war between Cassandra and Thrace intensified further.


    With the Ashen Empire selling arms to both sides, Cassandra and Thrace recruited numerous commoners into their armies, providing quick and simple training and equipping them with guns and ammunition bought from the Empire.


    The flames of war spread from the Holy City to every inch of the bordering lands between the two countries.


    All across the vast territories of Holy Fadlan, smoke and gunfire filled the air, as people once proudly part of the same Empire now slaughtered each other.


    With the Ashen Empire¡¯s secret support, this cruel game of war seemed to take on a new form.


    A new era was dawning.


    ¡­


    ¡°Those guns and cannons are the sources of disaster. We keep purchasing more powerful and expensive military supplies, only to find our land increasingly devastated beneath us.¡±


    ¡°The former citizens of Fadlan killed each other, yet no one emerged victorious. Their blood nourished the monsters of the North, making them stronger, until¡ª their wings covered the entire continent.¡±


    ¡ª¡±Aftertalk¡± Naven Bassarius


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 435 - 435 357 Cassiuss Contemplation

    ?Chapter 435: Chapter 357 Cassius¡¯s Contemplation Chapter 435: Chapter 357 Cassius¡¯s Contemplation The top of the Isdalia Grand Altar.


    ¡°¡­will discuss with Lord Audis and give you a definite number as soon as possible.¡±


    In the center of the image was Naven Bassarius.


    Cassius sat on the highest throne, smiling as he watched the image sent by the Klaubow Armament Group, nodding repeatedly. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Very well done.¡±


    Ramp said excitedly, ¡°Master, the Empire¡¯s weapons will be sold across the entire Fianso Continent. As long as this war continues, it will bring us an endless stream of gold coins.¡±


    However, a clear female voice chimed in, ¡°But¡­ if we sell all our weapons to them, those kingdoms will also become stronger.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just take it directly?¡±


    The speaker was a girl who looked about sixteen or seventeen, with a slender and graceful figure. Her hair and eyelashes were as snow-white as frost¡ªthis was White Dragon Tiniya.


    Nowadays, she had learned the Shape-shifting Spell and could temporarily take on human form, although she wasn¡¯t very proficient yet.


    Cassius sighed and gave a meaningful look.


    Ramp immediately broke into a cold sweat and hastily explained, ¡°Miss Tiniya, you may not know this, but according to those Starfallen in the Department of Technology, the weapons we sell are fifty to a hundred years behind the Empire¡¯s current armaments.¡±


    ¡°Furthermore, we are the only ones on the entire continent with complete production lines and a full industrial system.¡±


    ¡°If they go to war with us, their supply of weapons and ammunition would be immediately cut off. By then¡­ their outdated armaments will be nothing but scrap metal.¡±


    ¡°And what we get are real gold coins that can be used for the rapid development of the Empire.¡±


    After explaining everything, Ramp took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.


    ¡°Um¡­ oh, I understand now.¡±


    Tiniya nodded, somewhat comprehending, and then stared blankly at Cassius.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Hearing Ramp¡¯s words, Cassius became somewhat curious about these players¡¯ plans, so he casually asked, ¡°How many products does the Klaubow Armament Group plan to launch?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, please wait a moment.¡±


    Ramp thought for a moment, then extended his Magic Wand and conjured a new magic image in the air, displaying various 3D models of guns and cannons.


    As an Archmage with an intelligence of 22, Ramp¡¯s mental capacity far surpassed that of ordinary people. It was said that his large head was like a library.


    ¡°The ¡®Breaker of Enemies¡¯ series of rifles has already launched three generations, primarily targeting the low-end retail market.¡±


    ¡°The ¡®Wyvern Flame¡¯ series of rifles has one generation on sale. The remaining four generations have all been developed and sample products have been made, mainly for mass dumping to the Three Great Kingdoms.¡±


    ¡°The ¡®Arbitrator¡¯ series of cannons hasn¡¯t been released yet. They¡¯re planning to launch five generations within two years¡­¡±


    ¡°The ¡®Venom Dame¡¯ series of rifles hasn¡¯t been released yet. They¡¯re planning to launch three generations within a year¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve really figured it out.¡±


    As Cassius browsed through the array of firearms in the magic image, he couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and laugh.


    After Ramp¡¯s explanation, he understood the players¡¯ strategy.


    They planned to release various ¡°new products,¡± each generation slightly stronger than the last, with prices increasing accordingly.


    Even the ammunition wasn¡¯t interchangeable. With each update, new ammunition and facilities would have to be imported from the Ashen Empire.


    Another swipe of the sickle.


    But that wasn¡¯t the end.


    The Kingdom of Thrace, the Kingdom of Cassandra, and the Kingdom of Seleucis were already using any means necessary to outdo each other. They would inevitably purchase more advanced equipment, forming a ¡°military arms race¡± controlled solely by the group.


    The fiercer the war, the better the Empire¡¯s armaments would sell.


    These seemingly cheap weapons.


    Were actually gold-eating beasts.


    When the Ashen Empire invaded the south and formally declared war on the Three Great Kingdoms, they could simply cut off their ammunition supply and blockade them, greatly weakening their military strength.


    Such large-scale production would also put the Empire¡¯s heavy industry on the fast track, enhancing its military production capabilities and aligning perfectly with Ramp¡¯s meticulously planned ¡°Three-Year Plan.¡±


    On the other hand, due to the unique settlement method of the Klaubow Armament Group, the Three Great Kingdoms would purchase large quantities of the ¡°Ginnar¡± issued by the Imperial Bank.


    These coins would circulate widely across the Fianso Continent, gradually giving the Ashen Empire economic control in this chaotic situation, and even slowly establishing an international monetary trade system centered on the Empire¡¯s ¡°Ginnar.¡±


    Perhaps some ¡°perceptive individuals¡± in Holy Fadlan would see through the Empire¡¯s intentions, but they wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything about it.


    The reason was simple: the Kingdom of Thrace had already purchased armaments. So, would the Kingdom of Cassandra and the Kingdom of Seleucis do the same?


    If not, they might find themselves at a disadvantage in this war, or even face defeat. If they did buy, it would only affect their domestic economy and send money to the northern Empire.


    This was an overt strategy.


    There was still a year and a half until the next version update.


    At that time, players¡¯ spawn points would appear all over the Fianso Continent, and Version 2.0 ¡°Kings¡¯ Strife¡± would officially begin.


    What the Empire needed to do was develop its industries and technology as much as possible, using this precious opportunity to widen the gap and prepare for the all-out war spreading across the Fianso Continent.


    Thinking of this, Cassius furrowed his brow.


    ¡°Wait, it seems like something¡¯s still missing¡­¡±


    ¡°Winter¡¯s Wrath.¡±


    Cassius once again thought of the main storyline quest where he was supposed to be the final boss.


    With the Abyssal forces led by the demonified Red Dragon invading the North, this was the main storyline quest in the previous life version of ¡°Northern Wind and Cloud,¡± marking the beginning of the demonic cataclysm that swept through Airez.


    He closed his eyes, summoning memories of his past life.


    ¡°Jezarslack¡¯s Abyssal Nest has already been destroyed by me, and all of Anzeta is within my Imperial Region. He will only retreat deeper into the mountains to gather more strength.¡±


    ¡°The lich who would originally trade with the demons and take the opportunity to unleash the Undead Scourge has also been subdued by me, becoming a diligent worker for the Empire.¡±


    Cassius suddenly felt a bit sentimental.


    ¡°With the Ashen Empire gradually developing and me growing ever stronger, the trajectory of this world¡¯s fate has shifted significantly.¡±


    ¡°This version¡¯s main storyline is no longer the Demon Tide but rather¡­ the Dragon Disaster.¡±


    As he pondered, Cassius suddenly felt something moving on his leg.


    He slowly opened his eyes.


    He saw Tiniya hugging his leg tightly, her eyes full of infatuation, and her drool stained his luxurious robes¡ªdespite shapeshifting into a white-haired girl, Tiniya¡¯s behavior hadn¡¯t changed much.


    Standing nearby, Ramp was drenched in sweat, not daring to speak and even contemplating leaving immediately.


    Tiniya looked up at him with her big icy-blue eyes, seemingly lost in her own world.


    Their eyes met.


    The air seemed to grow heavy.


    ¡°Master, you¡¯re awake?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Cassius looked down at Tiniya, a hint of irritation on his face.


    Tiniya stammered, ¡°Um¡­ I was thinking, Master, do you want to eat first, bathe first, or¡­¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Ouch¡ª¡±


    With a loud cry, the white-haired girl was sent flying dozens of meters, falling from the hundred-meter-high platform of the Isdalia Grand Altar.


    She immediately transformed, her petite body expanding into a white dragon over ten meters long, flapping chaotically in midair until she clung to the cliff, barely stabilizing herself.


    The white dragon muttered in midair, ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    ¡°I was following the script, so why doesn¡¯t the master want to have eggs with me?¡±


    ¡°And I was here first, why does he prefer that wretched silver skin and that ugly blue skin¡­?¡±


    Meanwhile, on the Isdalia Grand Altar, Cassius¡¯s face darkened slightly.


    ¡°Ramp, is this your education?¡±


    ¡°Is this how you taught her?¡±


    ¡°Misunderstanding, Master, this is absolutely not what we taught her! Miss Tiniya read those novels written by the Starfallen!¡±


    ¡°What Miss Tiniya said is from the book ¡®The Red Dragonfolk Won¡¯t Fall in Love with a Half-elf¡¯ published by the Propaganda Department¡¯s Starfallen!¡±


    Ramp immediately broke out in cold sweat, feeling a thousand grievances in his heart but unable to speak them.


    He had browsed through that book, although he had little interest in it and even found it somewhat annoying, his extraordinary intelligence had almost memorized it word for word.


    The book was very popular in Anzeta as a piece of ¡°imperial race integration¡± propaganda literature. Not only the Starfallen but also many natives bought it, bringing considerable revenue to the Empire¡¯s Propaganda Department.


    Ramp secretly vowed that one day, he would capture all those Starfallen who wrote such melodramatic romance stories.


    He couldn¡¯t let these things pollute the soil of the Empire!


    He certainly couldn¡¯t let it affect Miss Tiniya!


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 436 - 436 358 Trialists of the Tower of Everflame

    ?Chapter 436: Chapter 358: Trialists of the Tower of Everflame Chapter 436: Chapter 358: Trialists of the Tower of Everflame Anzeta Great Wilderness, Balash Volcano.


    This place, located in the eastern part of the Empire, was the most active fire element region in all of Anzeta¡ªbecause it housed a frequently erupting active volcano.


    Every few years, the Balash Volcano erupted, spewing a massive amount of rocks, volcanic ash, and floatstone, with lava flowing like rivers. The surrounding residents called this the ¡°Rage of the Fire God.¡±


    No one dared, nor could anyone, live here. The Red Dragon once considered making this place its home, but abandoned the idea due to the needs of developing retainers.


    The primary inhabitants here were fire-elemented monsters: steam magic bats, fire lizards, magma stone monsters, and even fire elemental creatures from the Inner Plane.


    But now, at the summit of Balash Volcano stood a high tower forged from lava. This was the residence of Misha the Sorceress, known as the ¡°Dragon Fire¡¯s Daughter.¡±


    The Tower of Everflame.


    The hellfire that burned the souls of sinners.


    It also signified Misha¡¯s determination for revenge against Leo Boske.


    At the top floor of this tower, the air was distorted, filled with white smoke. Wisps of flame slithered like snakes, and in the center sat a girl, cross-legged.


    She appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen, yet her features were already strikingly beautiful. Pointed ears adorned her cheeks, and a pair of reddish-brown horns sprouted from her forehead, while her hair flowed like flames.


    This was the current Misha.


    As an ¡°Ifrit¡±¡ªa fire elemental descendant, her appearance was tied to the energy within her.


    And after receiving the flame power bestowed by Cassius, her growth accelerated significantly, making her appear far more mature than her peers now.


    Suddenly, clusters of flame gathered, forming a vague humanoid shape.


    ¡°Misha¡­ Master¡­¡±


    ¡°Outside¡­ Humans¡­¡±


    This was an Elder Fire Element, encountered by Misha during her trial in the Fire Elemental Plane.


    Originally, this Elder Fire Element intended to devour Misha, but after a fierce battle, it whimpered and begged for mercy, eventually signing a pact to become Misha¡¯s servant.


    Misha slowly opened her eyes, golden pupils flickering with firelight.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you¡­¡±


    ¡°Not to disturb me during this time?¡±


    Her voice grew more intense, transforming into a dragon¡¯s roar by the end, scaring the Elder Fire Element into trembling fear, sparks flying off its body.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Elder Fire Element burst into flowing flame, repeatedly begging for mercy before fleeing in disarray under Misha¡¯s furious gaze.


    ¡°Please forgive my disrespect¡­¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    Misha clasped her hands together, murmuring under her breath.


    Statues of Cassius¡¯s dragon form and human form adorned the tower, offering precious gold and jewels.


    During this time, Misha first searched and eradicated the remnants of the Northern Nobility, then ventured alone to the Fire Elemental Plane for trials. She was no longer the plucky girl she once was.


    She now resembled a true ¡°Ifrit.¡±


    Fire elemental descendants were often characterized by a distinct personality¡ªfiercely independent on one hand, yet arrogant and challenging to serve on the other.


    But when fire elemental descendants genuinely worshipped a deity (usually fire-related), they displayed the fervor of devout followers and sincere believers.


    In her past life, Misha became deranged and bloodthirsty due to her tragic experiences, vowing to burn all humans alive.


    In this life, Misha¡¯s love and hatred were clearly defined. She showed no mercy towards the remnants of the North, exterminating them completely, but she was genuinely devoted and fervent towards the Emperor who bestowed her new life, considered a loyal follower.


    Misha¡¯s anger towards the Elder Fire Element was due to it interrupting her understanding of Cassius¡¯s gifted power.


    If someone with enough strength were present, they would notice the following information¡ª


    [Dragon Fire¡¯s Daughter ¨C Misha]


    Challenge Level: 14 (11500xp)


    Yes, under the dual influence of her innate talent awakening and Cassius¡¯s power gift, Misha¡¯s strength increased exponentially within just a year. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In terms of personal strength, this eleven-year-old sorceress had already joined the top ranks of the Empire.


    Misha extended her delicate hand, and threads of flame gathered, gradually forming a magic image of hundreds of players.


    ¡°Starfallen, huh¡­¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius personally instructed me to select strong ones among them, to honorably become Dragon Pact Sorcerers.¡±


    Watching those players look around curiously, Misha¡¯s elegant brows furrowed slightly.


    ¡°Such people¡­ Do they really deserve to become kin to His Majesty Cassius, and receive that supreme gift?¡±


    One must know that Dragon Pact Sorcerers differed from Red Scale Conquerors, requiring not only bloodline modifications but also Cassius¡¯s personal infusion of power.


    Even as the mistress of the Tower of Everflame, Misha only received thirteen pacts.


    Given that these pacts concerned Cassius¡¯s power, she cherished them greatly, intending to find only the finest retainers for the Emperor, and had yet to issue one.


    Indeed, Ifrits were also perfectionists to some extent.


    ¡°Since the Starfallen don¡¯t experience true death, maybe¡­ They need a real trial.¡±


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    Misha snapped her fingers crisply.


    The surrounding flames flowed again, coalescing into a vague humanoid shape¡ªit was the Elder Fire Element that had fled earlier.


    ¡°Afal, come with me.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ Master¡­¡±


    ¡­


    The outskirts of Balash Volcano.


    ¡°Forming a team to complete the Dragon Pact Sorcerer quest!¡±


    ¡°No Wild Sorcerers allowed!¡±


    ¡°Need a bottle of Heat Resistance Potion!¡±


    ¡°Whoa, this place is interesting, quite like a real volcano.¡±


    Hundreds of players eagerly gathered here, the area bustling with noise.


    Black-gray lava and volcanic ash were everywhere, the air filled with the pungent scent of sulfur, and white gas emitted from rock crevices.


    In the distance, lava flowed slowly, emitting faint firelight and bubbling sounds.


    ¡°Amazing.¡±


    ¡°Hiss¡ªso hot!¡±


    The players, many of whom had never seen such scenes, were fascinated. Some even daringly put their hands in the lava, only to scream in pain.


    These were sorceress players who had come after seeing the Empire¡¯s announcement, all aiming to obtain the legendary advanced hidden occupation¡ªDragon Pact Sorcerers.


    This kind of grand event was something that Summer Night Autumn Rain, a professional dragon vein sorcerer gamer, couldn¡¯t miss.


    As a member of the ¡°Five Fireball Cult,¡± she particularly longed for an occupation that allowed her to freely cast powerful fire spells.


    After all, who wouldn¡¯t want to cast a dozen fireballs in a row?


    Summer Night Autumn Rain raised her head and quietly gazed at the Lava Tower in the distance.


    ¡°So this is the Tower of Everflame?¡±


    ¡°No matter what, I will become a Dragon Pact Sorcerer.¡±


    She smiled slightly, her golden eyes showing a determined fervor.


    ¡ªSeeking Monthly Tickets¡ª


    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 437 - 437 359 Mishas Trial (I)

    ?Chapter 437: Chapter 359 Misha¡¯s Trial (I) Chapter 437: Chapter 359 Misha¡¯s Trial (I) ¡°It¡¯s pretty lively here.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain looked around. In this small open space, there were nearly 300 players, most of whom were spellcasters with an average level of six.


    Isdalia¡¯s notice board clearly stated that Dragon Pact Warlocks required a magician level of five or above.


    Of course, many high-end adventure teams from prestigious guilds came with well-equipped and well-coordinated teams to help their magicians complete their job transition.


    Renowned guilds like Royalty, Sword Pavilion, Mechanical God Cult, and Magic Coin all sent their elite teams, determined to secure a spot for Dragon Pact Warlock.


    The players¡¯ chatter was quite loud, and those elite teams started preparing tactics.


    Of course, most of them were just shooting the breeze.


    ¡°The guild leader said that there are very few spots for this advanced occupation. We at Royalty must secure one!¡±


    ¡°This is the only magic system advanced occupation officially available now. Its strength is definitely not to be underestimated.¡±


    ¡°Crazy Brother already said we must get the spot this time. One of the big shots in the guild needs a high-temperature furnace over 1000 degrees Celsius, and they¡¯re counting on you guys to become human heaters.¡±


    ¡°Man, the big shots in our guild are getting more outrageous. Last time, that Genist asked if I was interested in joining a species hybridization experiment. I asked what the job was, and he said as a test subject¡­¡±


    ¡°Reforging the glory of the mage master is our duty!¡±


    ¡°No, isn¡¯t this a warlock? Only mages are called mage masters, right? Whatever, they¡¯re all magic system professions, close enough!¡±


    ¡°The Witch Sister didn¡¯t come this time? What? She said she prefers being a Wild Sorcerer? What the hell¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°But¡­ I¡¯m not without teammates.¡±


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡ª¡±


    A roar came from the sky.


    ¡°What the hell?¡±


    ¡°There are wyverns here too?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s that dude Mantou!¡±


    ¡°He fined me fifty copper coins last time and even confined me for two days!¡±


    ¡°Why is he everywhere? Damn!¡±


    Two bipedal wyverns flapped their wings in the sky, roaring loudly as they slowly circled downwards.


    The players on the ground dispersed instantly. The two bipedal wyverns landed one after the other, kicking up dust.


    ¡°Cough, cough!¡±


    ¡°Such a show-off!¡±


    Amidst the players¡¯ complaints, Mantou and Singo jumped off the wyverns¡¯ backs, making a grand entrance amidst the rolling dust.


    Mantou, full of confidence, said:


    ¡°The strongest always make a grand entrance last!¡±


    ¡°Autumn Rain, we¡¯re here!¡±


    ¡°Hmph, with our occupation foursome gathered, a small advanced task is nothing¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­where¡¯s War Maniac Bro?¡±


    Only then did everyone notice a burly man on the wyvern¡¯s back¡ªit was the top barbarian player, Natural War Maniac.


    However, his condition wasn¡¯t great at the moment.


    Natural War Maniac had his eyes tightly shut, hugging the wyvern¡¯s back with his strong arms, squeezing it so hard that the wyvern let out a painful cry.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Black Slave Team?¡±


    ¡°Why is one of them with his eyes closed?¡±


    ¡°Young people have good stamina¡ªthey fall asleep as soon as they get on the plane.¡±


    The ¡°strong¡± aura that Mantou and Singo had just built up vanished instantly, and even the onlookers couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    Mantou scratched his head, laughing awkwardly.


    ¡°Uh¡­ haha.¡±


    ¡°Looks like War Maniac Bro is a bit dragon-sick, folks. Give him a moment.¡±


    Mantou walked up, taking the opportunity to pat Natural War Maniac¡¯s shiny bald head.


    ¡°War Maniac Bro?¡±


    ¡°Wake up, we¡¯re here, and everyone is watching.¡±


    Natural War Maniac finally opened his eyes, jumping off the wyvern¡¯s back with a slight wobble. He rubbed his already gleaming bald head, embarrassed: ¡°Sorry, everyone, old problem.¡±


    Even Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn¡¯t help but twitch her mouth, saying helplessly: ¡°War Maniac Bro, maybe next time we shouldn¡¯t take wyverns. Taking the train and then hiking works too.¡±


    The four of them were finally complete in the truest sense.


    Mantou folded his arms again, forcefully trying to muster up his earlier momentum, reciting his pre-prepared lines.


    ¡°Hmph, with our occupation foursome gathered, a small advanced task is nothing!¡±


    But as the saying goes: ¡°The momentum is strong at first, then it fades, and finally, it dissipates.¡±


    By now, Mantou had lost his fire, far less imposing than before, even drawing bursts of laughter from the watching players.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    ¡°Who asked you?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the charisma 9 Mantou?¡±


    ¡°Mantou, stop showing off here and go edit your videos.¡±


    Singo patted Mantou¡¯s shoulder, sighing: ¡°Let¡¯s stop embarrassing ourselves. Of all the show-offs I¡¯ve led, you are the worst.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain said helplessly:


    ¡°Alright, enough joking around. Let¡¯s get serious.¡±


    Hearing this, Natural War Maniac also came forward.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain took out a map and said to the other three: ¡°I made some extensive preparations this time and got insider information from some people in the Magic Department.¡±


    She pointed to the huge fissure in the distance.


    White smoke billowed everywhere inside, and the ground was covered with lava, along with flowing rivers of fiery red magma.


    Bubbles continually formed, releasing gases, making it seem like the air was about to ignite.


    This was the only entrance to the Tower of Everflame¡ªthe Lava Cave, which also marked the beginning of the trial.


    ¡°First stage, the Burning Pathway.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s magma everywhere inside, with extremely high temperatures, and toxic volcanic gases. Those without at least 7% Red Dragon bloodline won¡¯t make it through. You¡¯ll need Heat Resistance Potions and Breath-Concealment Potions.¡±


    However, Summer Night Autumn Rain looked at the three, seeing their Red Dragon Transformation features, and chuckled, shaking her head.


    ¡°Well, this shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem for you guys.¡±


    ¡°Next are the monsters¡­¡±


    ¡°Steam Magic Bats, small bats that can spit high-temperature breath, creating boiling rain, and they explode upon death.¡±


    ¡°Magma Stone Monsters, large elemental magic beasts, incredibly strong, and can throw big chunks of burning sulfur blocks.¡±


    ¡°Fire Lizards, which can spew burning mucus, similar to small wyverns without wings.¡±


    ¡°Fire elements, looking like burning flames¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain elaborated in detail while the other three listened attentively.


    But chilling screams and the sounds of roasting explosions came from afar. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What the hell¡ª¡±


    ¡°What a hellhole! It¡¯s scorching hot!¡±


    ¡°My clothes are on fire!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t breathe! The air here is toxic!¡±


    You should know that not all players had detailed intel. Most scattered players were winging it, hoping to get lucky.


    Hearing the players¡¯ wails, Summer Night Autumn Rain said joyfully: ¡°Let¡¯s go. Looks like some people have gone ahead to scout the way for us.¡±


    ¡°The sound of flames burning¡­ Is truly beautiful.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain smiled charmingly.


    But this smile made Mantou feel a bit chilled.


    Mantou wiped the sweat off his forehead, thinking secretly: ¡°Sure enough, top-tier professionals have some unknown quirks.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, I knew it¡ªAutumn Rain seems like a gentle girl on the surface, but in reality, she¡¯s a deeply hidden badass.¡±


    ¡°War Maniac Bro loses himself in battle, and Singo is purely a nutcase.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, it seems I¡¯m the only normal one in the team.¡±


    Mantou sighed deeply, casually applying Oil of Precision to his sword, and followed them with his sword in hand.


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    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 438 - 438 360 Mishas Trial (Part 2)

    ?Chapter 438: Chapter 360 Misha¡¯s Trial (Part 2) Chapter 438: Chapter 360 Misha¡¯s Trial (Part 2) ¡°This is too difficult¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m about to black out, I¡¯m about to black out!¡±


    ¡°Damn it! Don¡¯t splash that lava on me!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m done!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m burning too!¡±


    Ideals were beautiful, reality was harsh; with a series of wails, the rogue players charging at the forefront were almost all dead.


    Most of them didn¡¯t have a high concentration of Red Dragon Blood, which was not enough to withstand the high temperature or breathe the scorching, toxic volcanic gases.


    To put it plainly, they were ruthlessly eliminated before the trial even properly started.


    The magma in the cave flowed slowly, with only small paths made of lava available for passage.


    Many players fell into it, their bodies turning completely charred with a sizzling sound, finally swallowed up as if they had never been there.


    ¡°Is the first level this hard?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m out, I¡¯m out.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    ¡°This trial is probably prepared for those elites again, let¡¯s bail.¡±


    ¡°The official devs are truly inhuman, setting such a strict level requirement. Let¡¯s go complain on the forum.¡±


    ¡°Oh heavens, why are you so unfair to me?¡±


    ¡°Is it that the officials want to cut off the path for us commoners?¡±


    Many players observing from outside the cave, knowing they had no chance of passing the trial, didn¡¯t want to waste their experience and revival opportunities. So, they called their friends and headed back, calling it a ¡°strategic retreat.¡±


    At this moment, the only ones remaining in the cave were old players who had been there since the beta phase, or elite members carefully cultivated by powerful guilds.


    And their ways of crossing the Burning Pathway were varied, showcasing their various magical abilities.


    ¡°Awooo!¡±


    Mantou and Singo rode on the back of a bipedal wyvern, letting it cling to the cave walls and walk, completely ignoring the magma and heat below.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain applied heat-resistant and breath-concealment potion to themselves, carefully walking through the cave.


    ¡°Watch me!¡±


    And Natural War Maniac was particularly confident. Not only was he unafraid of the high temperature and heat, he also made a big leap, crossing several blocks of lava and moving nearly ten meters in distance.


    Players from the Mechanical God Cult were even more outrageous.


    The leading player raised their arm and shouted, and the remaining players took out small imitation mechanical clocks, ringing them continuously.


    ¡°Praise the God of Machines! Ring the big bell four times!¡±


    ¡°Come forth¡ªFireproof!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    They raised their hands, and a piece of Arcane Armor capable of carrying multiple people descended from the sky.


    Its body was made of high-temperature-resistant materials, with gem-like nodes on its fists that could emit lightning, and a force field shield covering its surface to protect against flame damage.


    The sorcerer from the Mechanical God Cult, who was ready for advanced tasks, sat in the heart of the armor, protected by layers of shell.


    It was a petite female player with short-medium hair and black-framed glasses¡ªher nickname was ¡°Art is Explosion.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, who can defeat us with the Fireproof?¡±


    ¡°Church Guards, charge!¡±


    This specially made Fireproof armor rammed into the cave like a bull, with its thrusters emitting beams of light.


    ¡°As expected of the Mechanical God Cult.¡±


    ¡°They really have money¡­¡±


    Mantou looked at the massive armor and couldn¡¯t help but feel envious.


    Since the Klaubow Armament Group was established, these Mechanical God Cult members had become increasingly wealthy, reaching a level ordinary players found hard to match.


    After all, as those responsible for the empire¡¯s military technology, they often held important positions in the armament group.


    It was said that for this advanced task, the president of the Mechanical God Cult, Steel Torrent, had spent three thousand gold coins to create the Fireproof armor.


    The Royalty guild was no less impressive.


    ¡°Royalty Glory!¡±


    ¡°Heroic Immortality!¡±


    ¡°The Dragon Pact Warlock spot belongs to our Royalty!¡±


    Their Paladins raised their shields, releasing a protective aura that could resist flames. Mages waved their magic wands, creating gusts of wind to dispel the surrounding volcanic gases.


    Protected by the shields, two dragon vein sorcerers extended their arms, controlling the flames around them.


    ¡°Advance! Advance!¡±


    With various luxurious equipment and the efforts of advanced professionals, they almost formed a moving fortress, capable of blocking any external threat.


    ¡°Oh man¡­¡±


    Lonely as Snow watched the impressive scene of the two major guilds and couldn¡¯t help but comment.


    ¡°President, we are also a powerful guild, should we just let this pass? Look at them, tsk.¡±


    Charlotte looked indifferent and let out a cold hum: ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s just showmanship. The final outcome is yet to be determined.¡±


    ¡°We, Magic Coin, are determined to secure this advanced Magic System occupation!¡±


    ¡°As the president of a powerful guild, I¡¯ve come to assist personally. Isn¡¯t that prestigious enough?¡±


    Indeed, there was no need.


    ¡ªThis wasn¡¯t because Charlotte had recently splurged on a wave of loot boxes, spending all her savings.


    Charlotte and the mages and magicians of Magic Coin raised their wands in unison.


    [Flight Magic]


    The members of Magic Coin all took to the air, hovering in the middle of the cave, even Lonely as Snow in his heavy armor.


    ¡°Watch me.¡±


    ¡°This is something I traded a lot of experience for from Ramp.¡±


    Charlotte waved her magic wand again, reciting an obscure spell, and the demon crystal at the tip of her wand emitted a purple glow.


    [Niezan Amethyst Aura]


    Instantly, a crystal-like purple glow surrounded them, temporarily making them immune to toxins and disease.


    ¡°Bright Moon, it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    Charlotte reminded.


    Magic Coin¡¯s vice president, Bright Moon, immediately understood. She raised her carved wooden staff, letting it shimmer.


    [Shield Flame Damage]


    A semi-transparent membrane appeared around them, able to absorb a certain amount of flame and protect everyone as they crossed the Burning Pathway.


    Several mages then cast shield spells, spirit armor, and other protective magic.


    This was the foundation of Magic Coin.


    Aside from their unlucky president, this guild housed the ¡°Magic Affairs Office,¡± boasting over a dozen powerful spellcasters at the level 8 cap.


    Lonely as Snow felt a strong sense of security seeing the layers of auras around him and nodded with satisfaction: ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡±


    He then muttered softly: ¡°Good thing the Witch Sister isn¡¯t here¡­¡±


    Yes, the pillar of Magic Coin, the famous Lucky Dog Warrior Sky Flying Witch, was not present.


    Charlotte and the others had investigated the trial¡¯s circumstances in advance, understanding that the slightest mistake could result in complete annihilation. So, even though Sky Flying Witch had begged, Charlotte was adamant about not bringing her along. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, out of these three hundred players, only over eighty players successfully entered the trial, while more than two hundred players were eliminated.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain also cast flight magic on herself, hovering mid-air.


    She looked towards the depths of the cave illuminated by the flames, her eyebrows furrowing slightly¡ªshe seemed to have noticed something active within the magma.


    ¡°Look over there.¡±


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    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 439 - 439 361 Mishas Trial (Part 3)

    ?Chapter 439: Chapter 361 Misha¡¯s Trial (Part 3) Chapter 439: Chapter 361 Misha¡¯s Trial (Part 3) ¡°Heh heh heh¡­¡±


    A hoarse voice came from the top of the rock wall.


    Pairs of small glimmering eyes suddenly appeared, with red-brown skin almost blending into the lava, like rocks hanging from the cave ceiling.


    Sharp hissing and clicking sounds arose, and scorching steam sprayed out from the cracks in those ¡°rocks¡±¡ªthose were Steam Magic Bats.


    ¡°It¡¯s Steam Magic Bats!¡±


    A player shouted loudly.


    Immediately, the bats hanging from the cave ceiling flapped their wings, swarming toward the players like a tidal wave, bringing with them scorching steam.


    ¡°Damn, so many?¡±


    The player holding the bow was dumbfounded.


    Before he had time to react, dozens of bats swarmed over him, wrapping him up and tearing him apart in the end.


    When the bats dispersed, the remains of the player were roasted by the steam.


    Other scattered players received the same treatment, with the bats hiding in the cracks of the cave, seemingly omnipresent.


    Moreover, these Steam Magic Bats had the pseudo-spell ability of [Blur Technique], with deadly steam and a blur of white mist spreading throughout the cave, making it impossible for the players to see their surroundings clearly.


    ¡°Spellcasters! Dissipate the smoke!¡±


    ¡°Visibility here is getting lower and lower!¡±


    Singo navigated his Bipedal Wyvern nimbly along the rock wall.


    As he moved, he drew his longbow fully, and shot out an arrow imbued with magic energy, piercing through several Steam Magic Bats in quick succession.


    And if any bat approached, it was mercilessly torn apart by the claws and fangs of the Wyvern beneath him.


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    Mantou commanded his Bipedal Wyvern ¡°Noodle¡± to beat its wings, dispelling the surrounding smoke while charging into the swarm of bats, slashing continuously with his longsword.


    ¡°Roar~~¡±


    Noodle roared and struck several bats with one swipe of its claws.


    But the Steam Magic Bats spewed out boiling steam, burning Noodle and Mantou to a charred state.


    Even with a high concentration of Red Dragon Blood, they couldn¡¯t completely resist the high-temperature magical steam.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain floated and weaved through the bat swarm, surrounded by Force Field Orbs that continuously knocked down the incoming bats.


    ¡°Wind Making Spell!¡±


    Charlotte and the players with the Magic Coins simultaneously waved their Magic Wands, and a gust of wind swept forward, blowing away the smoke and revealing the grotesque forms of the bats.


    The players from the Mechanical God Cult shouted: ¡°Good chance, charge forward!¡±


    ¡°Push the lever, activate the pistons and pumps!¡±


    ¡°Start the engine, ignite the turbine, inject life!¡±


    Push the lever to the top.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    With the roar of the air, the jet pack behind burst into flames, accelerating the Arcane Armor.


    This nearly five-meter-tall, weighing tens of tons, red-painted heavy armor charged into the bat swarm like a massive hammer.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    First came the sound of a crash, followed by a series of explosions.


    The entire cave shook, rocks fell from the ceiling, and dozens of bats were smashed against the front armor, exploding into fragments of flames and magma.


    ¡°Steel, protect us!¡±


    ¡°With Fireproof on, I¡¯m invincible!¡±


    The players in the Arcane Armor cheered in unison, pushing the lever again, and diving into the next battle.


    ¡°Gurgle gurgle¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a dull sound rang out, and bubbles continued to rise from the lava. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The fighting players¡¯ attention was immediately drawn to it, as most of the Steam Magic Bats had already been wiped out.


    ¡°Splash!¡±


    A huge creature emerged from the lava.


    Lava splattered around, melting pits into the rocks.


    The monster was made up of chunks of rock, with burning sulfur between its limbs and torso connections, a web-like crack in its chest with a bright fire at the center, and eyes like molten lava balls.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    It spewed white smoke, surrounded by toxic volcanic gases, with lava dripping from its mouth.


    This was a Magma Stone Monster, a creature born from magma and rock, a pure fire elemental creature that could only survive in this extreme heat.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    With its roar, more Magma Stone Monsters emerged from the lava, more than a dozen in total.


    In their usual state, they looked like any ordinary rock, but facing these ¡°intruders,¡± they finally revealed their most terrifying form.


    ¡°Intruders¡­ die!¡±


    The Magma Stone Monster hurled burning sulfur at a Paladin from the Royalty Guild, who hurriedly used his shield to block.


    ¡°Bang! Boom!¡±


    The sulfur block exploded instantly, blasting the expensive shield away and knocking down several people behind him.


    The surviving Steam Magic Bats seized the opportunity, swarming forward, spewing hot steam.


    The same scene played out throughout the cave, even mechanical God¡¯s Fireproof armor lost an arm.


    The burning sulfur blocks flew wildly around the cave, narrowly missing Mantou, who only barely dodged thanks to a Bipedal Wyvern¡¯s extreme jump.


    ¡°The chest!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s their core!¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain calmly reminded.


    These Magma Stone Monsters drew their power from fire, absorbing the energy of magma over years, making them enormous and frighteningly strong.


    Their weakness was the lava core in their chest, which was their source of life.


    As for why Summer Night Autumn Rain didn¡¯t mention it earlier¡ªnaturally, to eliminate more competitors and avoid having anyone contest her later.


    The major guild players also knew this information, sharing the same thought, wanting to progress while reducing the number of their competitors.


    Thus, the uninformed scattered players became unfortunate casualties.


    But the effect was indeed significant.


    In just a few minutes, more than twenty players turned to charred remains, leaving only about fifty players in the cave.


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    Natural War Maniac suddenly hurled his Great Axe, slicing through the sulfur block in mid-air, and then embedding it in the chest of the Magma Stone Monster.


    The axe blade sank deep into the rock, splitting the lava core in half.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Magma Stone Monster roared to the sky, then disintegrated entirely, collapsing into rocks and sulfur chunks.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    Singo released the bowstring, shooting an arrow directly into the center of another Magma Stone Monster¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The arrowhead flickered a few times before exploding.


    Another Magma Stone Monster disintegrated, falling into the lava with a roar.


    ¡°Get ready to clear the stage!¡±


    ¡°Reduce these stone lumps back to their original form!¡±


    Seeing this, the other players naturally did the same, exterminating the Magma Stone Monsters, with the Mechanical God¡¯s Fireproof even unleashing a Force Field Beam, destroying several stone monsters in a row.


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    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 440 - 440 362 Mishas Trial (4)

    ?Chapter 440: Chapter 362 Misha¡¯s Trial (4) Chapter 440: Chapter 362 Misha¡¯s Trial (4) ¡°Huff, huff¡­ Is that it?¡±


    ¡°This is supposed to be the hardest trial?¡±


    Mantou sat on the back of the Bipedal Wyvern, propping the longsword on his shoulder, panting heavily.


    If you ignored the fact that he was charred all over, looking like a piece of burnt meat pie, the pose was still pretty cool.


    ¡°You¡¯re almost a burnt Mantou, and you¡¯re still trying to be cool.¡±


    Singo also clung to the wall riding a Bipedal Wyvern, mercilessly mocking him.


    ¡°Scars are a man¡¯s badge of honor.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re burnt.¡±


    ¡°Flames are the marks of battle.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re burnt.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ damn it¡­¡±


    Around them lay scattered rocks and the remains of Steam Magic Bats.


    Thanks to the efforts of dozens of top players, the monsters in the cave had mostly been cleared out.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain sighed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush to celebrate. Even if we bribed someone in the Magic Department, we only got intel on the first stage, the Burning Pathway.¡±


    ¡°Because the rest of the trial¡­ is entirely decided by that ¡®Dragon Fire Maiden¡¯ Misha herself. Even they don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Hiss¡ª¡±


    Everyone gasped.


    The first trial was already this difficult, with monsters stacked to an absurd degree, eliminating over two hundred players.


    The following stages¡ªhow twisted would they be?


    But they had come this far.


    They could only grit their teeth and keep moving forward.


    The Mechanical God Cult members charged through, blazing a trail with their Fireproof armors.


    Mantou and Singo rode on the wyverns, flanking Summer Night Autumn Rain, keeping an eye out for monster attacks.


    The players from Magical Coin advanced with auras of mana flickering around them, empowered by various spells.


    They followed the Burning Pathway, exploring as they went. After navigating through various traps and monsters, they finally reached the surface, arriving at the volcano¡¯s summit.


    Ahead was the crater¡¯s searing Lava Pool, and in the distance stood the Tower of Everflame.


    Mantou turned around, grinning and patting the wyvern¡¯s head.


    ¡°Is this the final stage?¡±


    ¡°Is this it? Just a few hundred steam bats flying around and some rock monsters jumping out of the lava?¡±


    ¡°At most, a few self-detonations and toss a couple of Bouncing Bombs¡ªnothing to worry about!¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His words seemed relaxed, but his teeth were gritted.


    Mantou¡¯s entire body was now charred, without a single spot of white, seemingly changing his ethnicity.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s expression was exceptionally grave, those golden eyes reflecting the flames.


    Singo didn¡¯t hold back either: ¡°Burnt Mantou, look behind you before you talk.¡±


    Mantou turned around, looking up at the sky, muttering.


    ¡°Holy¡­ crap¡­¡±


    The same phrase appeared in the mouths of other professional gamers, though some used a more vulgar variant, ¡°Holy sh*t.¡±


    The lava in the crater moved slowly, the air distorted by the heat, emitting waves of toxic volcanic gas.


    Burning flowing flames appeared on the lava¡¯s surface, mixing with thick white and black smoke as they flowed, swirled, and gathered, forming Fire Tornadoes above the Lava Pool.


    ¡°Trialists¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡­.¡±


    ¡°Serve¡­. Misha¡­. Master¡­.¡±


    With a howling sound, the flames and smoke gradually took shape.


    Standing nearly ten meters tall, an indistinct humanoid figure emerged from the Lava Pool, gazing down upon the group with ¡°eyes¡± formed of Lava Spheres.


    What looked like a giant head made of steam and flame, with a flickering tongue of fire.


    The surrounding air constantly twisted and blurred, emitting explosive sounds and the acrid smell of sulfur.


    The final roar was produced by the crackling of flames.


    ¡°You are¡ªdoomed!¡±


    [Elder Fire Element]


    Challenge Level: 13 (10000xp)


    Mantou, dumbfounded, whispered, ¡°This thing¡­ is your advanced task?¡±


    ¡°You call this an advanced task?¡±


    ¡°Damn, if we could beat this, would we even need to change classes?¡±


    ¡°Trial!¡±


    Elder Fire Element spewed smoke, its arms transforming into Flame Whips, whipping directly at the group.


    ¡°Whack!¡±


    The Paladin from the Royalty guild had his expensive shield struck, leaving a charred crack, and the player behind it was split into two burning halves.


    ¡°Damn, instant kill?¡±


    ¡°Are you kidding?¡±


    ¡°That was rare quality green gear!¡±


    Elder Fire Element¡¯s whip swung in the air, crackling, gathering strength.


    ¡°Test!¡±


    ¡°Whack! Whack! Whack!¡±


    The sound of ripping air was heard again, this time the target being the Fireproof armors.


    The powerful Flame Whip struck the armor repeatedly, causing the flame shield to dim.


    Finally, with a ¡°crash,¡±


    the flame shield shattered, and the Flame Whip struck the deformed metal shell solidly.


    Half of its body, along with the driver inside, was sliced off.


    In Erezer, the temperature of flames generally depended on the spellcaster¡¯s level and the type of monster.


    Usually, a low-level mage¡¯s Fireball Technique might only reach a few hundred degrees, while a senior mage¡¯s Flamestorm could reach thousands of degrees.


    ¡ªAnd Elder Fire Element¡¯s Flame Whip was clearly the latter.


    Under this level of suppression, even the specially prepared high-temperature resistant metal was shattered by a few strikes.


    ¡°Holy crap, we can¡¯t hold out!¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Everyone! Prepare to initiate the final plan!¡±


    In the cockpit, the player from the Mechanical God Cult raised his arm and pressed the red button beside him.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The warlock player, ¡®Art is Explosion,¡¯ located at the heart of the armor, was ejected from the seat, slicing through a protective membrane around him.


    The driver pushed the lever to the bottom and pressed another button marked with a danger symbol, ¡°!¡±.


    The group raised their arms, expressions fanatical.


    ¡°Machine God, protect us! From this decaying prison of flesh!¡±


    The Fireproof armor¡¯s thrusters behind it suddenly spewed fire, propelling the Arcane Armor rapidly toward Elder Fire Element.


    ¡°Beep, beep, beep.¡±


    The metal sphere at the armor¡¯s core kept flashing red.


    ¡°Whack!¡±


    Elder Fire Element glared furiously, another Flame Whip whipping forward.


    The armor was smashed to pieces, several drivers killed, but it kept flying¡ªit finally reached Elder Fire Element¡¯s blazing surroundings.


    ¡°Sorry, Crazy Brother, initiate the hidden auxiliary power!¡±


    ¡°Beep, beep beep.¡±


    The sound became more rapid.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Arcane Armor suddenly exploded, metal fragments, components, and the drivers¡¯ broken limbs flying everywhere.


    Taking Elder Fire Element¡¯s flame resistance into account, they poured all the armor¡¯s energy reserves into releasing spherical lightning.


    ¡°Weak!¡±


    ¡°Insects!¡±


    Elder Fire Element roared up into the sky, bellowing in rage.


    Flashes of blinding electricity encircled its massive elemental body, continually crackling with ¡°zzz¡± sounds.


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    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 441 - 441 363 Elder Fire Element

    ?Chapter 441: Chapter 363 Elder Fire Element Chapter 441: Chapter 363 Elder Fire Element Blinding arcs of electricity coursed over the immense body of the Elder Fire Element, making it roar in fury.


    ¡°You all¡ªburn to death!¡±


    The current reacted with the oxygen around the Elder Fire Element, creating a pale blue gas that emitted a pungent stench of ozone.


    At the intersections of the Elemental Plane, battles often broke out between fire and lightning elements.


    The final self-detonation of the Arcane Armor from the Fireproof had indeed had a significant effect, slowing the massive body of the Elder Fire Element considerably. Every movement it made now crackled with electric discharges.


    The spellcasters of the Royal Guild quickly gathered together.


    Facing such a powerful enemy, there was no time to worry about any competitive relationships; a misstep could lead to their complete annihilation here.


    ¡°Good opportunity, he can¡¯t move for now!¡±


    ¡°Quick!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare cast a fireball!¡±


    ¡°Hurry up! Cast spells that inflict cold damage! And control spells!¡±


    Charlotte raised her magic wand, chanting a spell. The Demon Crystal at the wand¡¯s tip emitted pale red ripples.


    [Slow Spell]


    Immediately, the force field fluctuations surrounded the Elder Fire Element, making its movements even slower, almost like slow motion.


    Seizing the moment, Summer Night Autumn Rain clasped her arms together, crossing her hands, and unleashed brilliant lightning from her fingertips.


    [Lightning Bolt]


    The lightning bolt shot towards the chest of the Elder Fire Element, only to be blocked by its abundant fire energy.


    Seeing this, Bright Moon, Fengyun, and other mages also pointed their magic wands at the enemy, releasing torrents of freezing ice cones and icefalls.


    [Ice Explosion]


    [Ice Storm]


    [Freezing Ray]


    [Snilow¡¯s Snowball Swarm]


    ¡­


    The spellcasters present simultaneously cast spells, unleashing a dozen spells of cold damage at once.


    The scene was spectacular as their magical auras intertwined.


    Ice finally began to spread over the body of the Elder Fire Element, freezing while continuously melting, releasing white steam.


    But under the combined effort of over a dozen people, its body gradually froze.


    The dozens of players on the scene worked together, pouring various spells, skills, and potions onto the Elder Fire Element, a fight reminiscent of ¡°Thirty men besieging Lu Bu.¡±


    Meanwhile, Singo had long been riding a wyvern high in the sky, diving rapidly while drawing his Hunter¡¯s Longbow.


    The ¡°Hunter¡¯s Mark¡± appeared above the Elder Fire Element¡¯s head, dealing additional damage.


    Meanwhile, Mantou, already charred all over, was also ready, diving from above with a lance tipped with freezing spiritual medicine.


    ¡°Whizz¡ª¡±


    The arrow tore through the air, its icy tip deeply embedding into the chest of the Elder Fire Element, erupting into sharp ice cones within its chest cavity.


    That was the [Ice Cone Arrow], a special weapon crafted by the Frost Giants, specifically for targeting fire elemental monsters.


    Even within the Empire, it was extremely rare and could only be crafted by commissioning the Magic Department to send Frost Giant slaves.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Elder Fire Element roared in pain, its massive form writhing. The lava pool surged turbulently, sending burning rocks crashing down, killing several unfortunate players.


    ¡°A flash of cold light, then the spear strikes like a dragon!¡±


    ¡°Die, you old thief!¡±


    Mantou shouted, diving from behind the Elder Fire Element and thrusting his spear into its colossal chest with tremendous force.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    ¡°Haha, all the experience is mine!¡±


    Mantou jubilantly cheered but soon felt something was off.


    Despite thrusting his spear, he received no experience notification.


    ¡°What the¡­?¡±


    ¡°Is there a second phase?¡±


    Mantou broke into a cold sweat, feeling a sense of foreboding.


    The Elder Fire Element slowly turned its head, its molten eyes filled with boundless rage, locking onto Mantou.


    ¡°Burn¡ª¡±


    ¡°Everything!¡±


    A thunderous roar echoed.


    The colossal body of the Elder Fire Element began to glow dangerously like a massive explosive device.


    Mantou¡¯s charred face flickered in the glow, and he could only utter a stunned exclamation:


    ¡°Holy crap¡­is it about to explode?¡±


    He was then swallowed by the fire.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A devastating explosion!


    The lava pool churned violently.


    The volcano itself seemed to tremble.


    The Elder Fire Element¡¯s body swelled and exploded, releasing immense flames and shedding all the ice cones, frost, and even the force fields.


    Mantou and his wyvern were engulfed in the explosion, turning into a blackened mass and were hurled dozens of meters away, crashing to the ground.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    Shattering into fragments of charred coal. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Mantou!¡±


    ¡°Mantou¡¯s really burnt!¡±


    ¡°Wow, it flew so far! Is this a crash landing?¡±


    The players looked at the charred remains in the air, exclaiming in surprise.


    However, the Elder Fire Element had now gone completely berserk, revealing its true form. Intense flames soared towards the sky.


    It raised its arm high, and chaotic fire rain fell from the sky, descending upon everyone.


    Even a single drop of those highly concentrated fire elements could incinerate a person completely, causing many players to catch fire.


    The leader of the Royal Guild yelled: ¡°Watch out, don¡¯t let the flames touch you!¡±


    ¡°Where are the mages? Cast Protective Energy Damage on us!¡±


    ¡°The mages have all burned to death!¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°Paladins, step up! It¡¯s charging at us!¡±


    The Elder Fire Element hovered in mid-air, surging flames and swirling smoke charging into the crowd.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another massive explosion.


    Even the high-ranking paladins of the Royal couldn¡¯t withstand the flaming fist, being smashed into pulp and turned into fuel for the fire.


    ¡°This monster¡¯s damage is too high, control it first!¡±


    Someone shouted.


    Charlotte rolled to dodge the flowing flames, gritting her teeth as she pulled out an expensive spell scroll.


    ¡°Going all out!¡±


    ¡°Monster Immobilization Spell!¡±


    A red beam shot out, seemingly hitting the body of the Elder Fire Element, but it had no effect.


    The Elder Fire Element turned, its eyes erupting with flames and boundless anger.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    ¡°Dammit, it¡¯s immune to even such high-level spells! What rotten luck!¡±


    Charlotte realized the danger and staggered backward, frantically triggering the protective magic on her mage robe.


    Burning blocks of sulfur fell.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another violent explosion.


    Charlotte fell to the ground, her shield shattered, and the back of her mage robe scorched black.


    ¡°Damn, my rare equipment!¡±


    Charlotte, battered and bruised, wanted to cry but had no tears. The furious Elder Fire Element spat out scorching flames again.


    ¡°Is it targeting me?¡±


    He rolled on the ground, using Misty Step to teleport dozens of meters away, barely avoiding the attack.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain hovered in mid-air, dodging the flames while absorbing the surrounding fire elemental energy.


    As a dragon vein sorcerer with the red dragon bloodline, her fire resistance was significantly higher than that of ordinary people.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain looked towards the enraged Elder Fire Element in the distance, her golden eyes flickering with firelight.


    ¡°Are we really supposed to kill this monster?¡±


    ¡°Most of the top players belong to the red dragon bloodline, and the sorcerers participating in the trial mainly focus on fire magic¡­¡±


    ¡°It seems a bit harsh to have us kill such a high-level fire elemental monster.¡±


    She glanced at the charred remains of Mantou on the ground and blinked.


    ¡°I understand!¡±


    ¡°So¡­¡±


    ¡°The Mechanical God Cult is wasting their efforts. The core content of the trial should be survival.¡±


    ¡°According to the occupational background, dragon pact warlocks, as servants and aides to the emperor of the crimson dragon, need to possess the ability to survive in high-temperature environments!¡±


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    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 442 - 442 364 Mysterious Female Voice

    ?Chapter 442: Chapter 364: Mysterious Female Voice Chapter 442: Chapter 364: Mysterious Female Voice At this moment, the Elder Fire Element had already gone on a killing spree.


    Its massive flaming body rolled over the crowd, engulfing the fleeing players and turning them into fuel.


    ¡°Holy crap, run!¡±


    ¡°This thing can¡¯t be killed!¡±


    ¡°You die if you touch it. Such strong AOE! Isn¡¯t this trial a bit over the top?¡±


    The Elder Fire Element was a complete incarnation of flame, born to burn everything. It tried to turn all creatures and objects in the Prime Material Plane to ashes ¡ª it was in its nature.


    Previously controlled by Misha, the Elder Fire Element had suppressed its strength. Now, it could finally release it to its fullest.


    On Balash Volcano, flowing flames and surging magma were everywhere, resembling a volcanic eruption.


    Facing this monster with a challenge level as high as 13, and also immune to fire, the players were at a loss.


    In this version of Northern Wind and Cloud, the top players were mostly affiliated with the Ashen Empire faction, and their techniques were predominantly fire-related.


    Moreover, magicians were mainly dragon vein sorcerers, so it went without saying.


    But Summer Night Autumn Rain had already grasped the trial¡¯s intent.


    She exhausted all her spell slots, casting Flight Magic, Protective Energy Damage, Acceleration Spell, and many other spells on herself.


    ¡°I must survive to qualify for the spot!¡±


    She thought to herself.


    ¡°Ahhh¡ª¡±


    A familiar, high-pitched battle cry sounded.


    From the distant volcanic rock top, Natural War Maniac, with battle axe in hand and eyes blood-red, jumped down.


    ¡°Kill you!¡±


    Natural War Maniac shouted fiercely, swinging his great axe and slashing at the head of the Elder Fire Element.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A dull sound echoed as the Elder Fire Element¡¯s rock-like fist sent both Natural War Maniac and his axe flying dozens of meters.


    He fell directly into the lava pool, splashing up scalding ¡°water.¡±


    As a large magical creature, the Elder Fire Element¡¯s strength reached 25 points, making it impossible for ordinary mortals to compete against.


    What¡¯s more, deep within the volcanic environment, the Elder Fire Element enjoyed a home-field advantage.


    Now, the fully unleashed Elder Fire Element was a bane to players, having already eliminated more than fifty of them.


    Only about twenty players remained alive, weaving through the sea of fire.


    Some used the Magic Rope Spell to hide in other-dimensional spaces, some maneuvered with Misty Step, and others used Invisibility techniques to survive in the crevices, all to evade the Elder Fire Element¡¯s attacks.


    The battle had now turned into a game of ¡°hide and seek.¡±


    The players, fully understanding the situation, employed their techniques, making the cumbersome Elder Fire Element spin in circles, enraging it.


    The female magician player from the Mechanical God Cult, ¡°Art is Explosion,¡± was particularly outrageous.


    ¡°Come on up!¡±


    She dodged in the air using an ejected flying seat, occasionally dropping a bomb that released lightning at the Elder Fire Element.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Zzz¡ª¡±


    Another electromagnetic explosion went off.


    The Elder Fire Element finally could not bear it any longer. It pounded the ground with both fists, letting out an angry roar.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    ¡°Humans! Burn!¡±


    Its massive body flashed red again, greedily drawing from the lava pool, preparing for the next explosion.


    This time, it aimed to turn all the humans to ashes!


    Burn them all to death!


    Suddenly, a cold female voice resonated, echoing in the bustling lava pool, causing the surroundings to fall silent instantly.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations to those who remain. You¡¯ve passed the trial. Welcome to the Tower of Everflame.¡±


    The surviving players were instantly overjoyed, with even their lucky surviving team members cheering wildly.


    ¡°We passed!¡±


    ¡°Got the spot!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, the only magic system profession in this version, I¡¯m invincible!¡±


    ¡°Roar, restore the sorcerer¡¯s glory!¡±


    The Elder Fire Element glared hatefully at the celebrating players, especially at the one throwing bombs from the sky, growling in frustration.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Its rage uncontrollably burst forth, pounding the ground and causing it to tremble.


    As a fire elemental creature, it was hard for it to calm down without venting all its energy and anger.


    ¡°But¡­ Master¡­ Huff¡­ They¡­¡±


    ¡°These¡­ trialists¡­¡±


    The Elder Fire Element panted heavily, with black smoke and white ash constantly rising from its head.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Afal, do you intend to defy my order?¡±


    The female voice carried a hint of anger.


    ¡°No, Master¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, accompanied by pained pleas for mercy, the Elder Fire Element clutched its chest. The towering elemental body, over ten meters high, suddenly dimmed and rapidly shrank.


    In the end, the Elder Fire Element, called ¡°Afal,¡± transformed into a three or four-meter-tall blurry humanoid flame ¡ª just like any ordinary fire element.


    Its body flickered and trembled, lacking any of the terrifying menace of its previous rage.


    ¡°Lead them.¡± The female voice commanded flatly.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    The Elder Fire Element¡¯s voice was weakened, seemingly from losing its long-held strength.


    This time, it finally had no complaints. It cautiously glanced at the players, then began patiently leading the way.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain exclaimed in amazement: ¡°To make this Elder Fire Element so submissive¡­¡±


    ¡°It seems that the NPC for this advanced task is not ordinary and should be taken seriously.¡±


    Some players even ran behind the Elder Fire Element, provocatively saying: ¡°Weren¡¯t you tough? Weren¡¯t you going to burn us all?¡±


    ¡°Come on? Burn me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so scared!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The Elder Fire Element¡¯s flames trembled, evidently infuriated.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn¡¯t help but remind him: ¡°Don¡¯t push it, what if things go wrong?¡±


    ¡°What are you afraid of? There¡¯s game mechanics in place.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve passed so many trials, would we be eliminated over such a small matter?¡±


    The player dismissively waved his hand, confidently speaking, even turning his back to the Elder Fire Element.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain sighed, facepalming, unable to look directly.


    ¡°Come on?¡±


    ¡°Burn me, little flame?¡±


    The Elder Fire Element started to pant, with white smoke rising from its body ¡ª commonly known as red heat.


    As a noble of the Fire Elemental Plane, serving as a servant to a terrifying sorcerer was one thing, but enduring the humiliation of mortals was too much!


    The cold female voice spoke again, with a tone of disdain.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t understand the most basic etiquette, you¡¯re unworthy of becoming a noble Dragon Pact Warlock.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The player couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°It means¡­ you¡¯ve been eliminated, Afal!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Wait, buddy¡­¡±


    The player making faces was instantly dumbfounded, standing there in a daze, unsure of what to do.


    The next moment, he screamed and started running.


    ¡°Obey¡­ the order!¡±


    ¡°Death!¡±


    The Elder Fire Element¡¯s long-suppressed rage finally burst forth.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    With all its might, it swung its burning fist and smashed the player¡¯s head to pieces.


    The charred head rolled a few times on the ground before coming to a stop.


    It seemed the Elder Fire Element had been planning this attack for a while.


    Yes, even with its power controlled, the Elder Fire Element could easily kill a player.


    After all of this, it angrily glared at the surrounding players, suggesting they avoid such a fate.


    ¡°Holy crap?¡±


    ¡°He just killed him?¡±


    ¡°That guy was asking for trouble ¡ª he made it all the way to the end and then just jumped.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s like finishing the exam and tearing up the answer sheet!¡±


    Some players were gloating, some were relieved, but all were shocked at the trial¡¯s unpredictability.


    But Airez was just like that; all the ¡°NPCs¡± had high intelligence and unique behavior logic, never confined to a fixed program.


    And that was its charm.


    ¡°It seems this task NPC is very picky ¡ª probably a haughty perfectionist who can¡¯t tolerate flaws.¡±


    ¡°Next¡­ we need to be careful.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain pondered, rubbing her chin, her eyes flickering slightly as she lowered her head.


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    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 443 - 443 365 Loyalty Is Not Absolute

    ?Chapter 443: Chapter 365: Loyalty Is Not Absolute Chapter 443: Chapter 365: Loyalty Is Not Absolute The players followed the Elder Fire Element across the narrow rocky bridge over the lava pool, arriving at the peak of Balash Volcano.


    The reddish-brown tower stood prominently at the volcano¡¯s summit.


    The tower was over thirty meters tall, its body made of igneous rock formed from solidified lava, with a surface that had a flowing feel.


    Light emanated from the windows and crevices of the tower, accompanied by white steam and gray smoke swirling around.


    Red chains coiled around the tower¡¯s exterior, as if binding some massive beast, exuding a sense of powerful beauty.


    To build such a magnificent structure in an environment filled with lava and devoid of life was a testament to the terrifying strength of the tower¡¯s master.


    ¡°To have it in such a place¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so tall!¡±


    ¡°Was this built using magic?¡±


    The players who had passed the trial discussed animatedly.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain looked up at the tower, feeling somewhat excited.


    ¡°This is it, the legendary Tower of Everflame, the place to advance the hidden occupation¡ª¡ªDragon Pact Warlock.¡±


    ¡°I must succeed in advancing¡­ Oh, may His Majesty Cassius bless me.¡±


    She prayed silently in her heart.


    As a female player, she didn¡¯t like the rough, fully dragonified look of the Red Scale Conqueror, but was deeply enchanted by the elegance and nobility of the dragon vein sorcerer.


    The delicate small horns on either side of the head, the golden vertical pupils, and the few scales that decorated the eye corners as if they were makeup, all seemed just right.


    And the humanoid form of ¡°Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor¡± Cassius happened to hit her aesthetic point perfectly.


    Dragons, by nature, had an extraordinary charm.


    And those with a bloodline connection to dragons, be it humans, elves, or any other beings, were no exception.


    Reaching the entrance of the tower, the Elder Fire Element placed his burning fist on the stone door, turned his head, and said in a low voice: ¡°Trialists¡­


    ¡°The master¡­ commands¡­ enter¡­¡±


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    With the sound of gas escaping, the tall stone door slowly opened, steam and smoke billowing forth, making it hard for the players to keep their eyes open.


    ¡°Everyone, quickly go inside.¡±


    ¡°Advancement, here we come!¡±


    ¡°Heh heh, this time our Royalty guild has three magicians who passed the trial; it will surely be foolproof.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°The strength of the Red Scale Conqueror and the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight is already quite high. This Dragon Pact Warlock trial is so abnormal; its strength must be heaven-defying as well!¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the face value of the first magic system advancement occupation!¡±


    ¡°Haha, I wonder what rewards I¡¯ll get from the guild leader after advancing this time. It will surely be worth a lot of money.¡±


    The players¡¯ voices were extremely excited as they began to imagine a bright future.


    The Royalty guild was slightly different from other guilds. Their guild leader was not only a formidable player in ¡°Erezer¡± but also exceptionally wealthy in real life.


    This was why Royalty¡¯s players were far more driven than those from other guilds, willing to follow commands unanimously, and with a more noticeable disparity in levels within the guild.


    They were not just playing a game; they were making money!


    Summer Night Autumn Rain remained silent, cautiously observing the surroundings. The lesson from a player who courted death was right before her eyes.


    She had a faint feeling that things were not so simple.


    To successfully advance to the hidden occupation, gaining favor from that special female NPC was essential!


    ¡°Maybe this isn¡¯t the final trial, and there will be another elimination round.¡±


    Inside the Tower of Everflame was a spacious hall, its reddish-brown walls adorned with grotesque monster heads.


    ¡°Trialists¡­¡±


    ¡°This way¡­¡±


    The Elder Fire Element led the way, guiding the players up the spiral staircase.


    Since the tower had been built recently, its interior lacked much extra decoration, appearing somewhat empty. The second and third floors were almost entirely vacant.


    Nonetheless, flames flickered everywhere, with sparks flying, and on certain floors, fire elemental creatures served as attendants.


    ¡°This place is fascinating.¡±


    ¡°It really is¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that a Magma Stone Monster? Can it be tamed? I want one too!¡±


    Without pause, they ascended several levels, eventually reaching the top floor of the Tower of Everflame.


    A heavy stone door stood before them, engraved with lifelike images of bipedal wyverns¡ªa symbol along with the fire and vertical pupil emblem.


    In the Ashen Empire, only the palace, the Imperial Senate Hall, and other official institutions were qualified to carve the Ashen Emblem on their main gates.


    ¡°Arrived¡­¡±


    ¡°Enter¡­¡±


    The Elder Fire Element stood guard at the door like an imposing gatekeeper, watching the players coldly.


    Even through the thick door, people could feel the top floor¡¯s steam-like heat.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain thought: ¡°This should be the top floor of the Tower of Everflame, the mysterious NPC¡¯s residence.¡±


    ¡°And also¡­ the final trial for the Dragon Pact Warlock.¡±


    As they neared their destination, the players grew increasingly excited, their discussions becoming more animated.


    ¡°It¡¯s happening, it¡¯s happening!¡±


    ¡°My awesome hidden occupation is coming!¡±


    ¡°Heh heh heh, I¡¯ll boast about this on the forum and make those newbies admire us!¡±


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Elder Fire Element pushed the door again.


    The final door opened.


    Steam and heat surged forth, the smell of sulfur stinging the players¡¯ noses.


    As the smoke cleared, the mysterious tower top was revealed, and all the players¡¯ eyes lit up.


    ¡°Whoa¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°This, this is¡­¡±


    ¡°So wealthy!¡±


    In the spacious room, exquisite statues were placed on either side, portraying the Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor Cassius in both human and dragon forms.


    The human statue on the left wore a royal robe and had a smiling face, nearly perfect in appearance, with slight features of a red dragon, exuding an air of nobility and mystery.


    The dragon statue on the right spread its broad wings, seated on a tall throne, looking majestic and solemn. Its dragon eyes looked down with an overwhelming pressure.


    Every scale and tooth of the dragon statue was meticulously carved, lifelike in detail.


    The two statues faced each other, two sides of the same coin, with intricate carving and luxurious materials¡ªeven the golden eyes were inlaid with solid gold balls.


    The walls displayed several large, exquisite oil paintings, most depicting well-known stories from within the empire.


    From left to right, they were: ¡°The Beginning of the Ashen Nest,¡± ¡°The Scourge that Destroyed the Legion,¡± ¡°Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise,¡± ¡°Battle of the Twin Dragons,¡± and ¡°The Coronation of the Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor¡±¡­


    In front of the two statues, piles of various treasures, pearls, and jewelry were neatly arranged, with magical equipment sparkling in their glow.


    ¡°So much money¡­ There must be tens of thousands of gold coins here!¡±


    ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve never seen so many gold coins in my life.¡±


    ¡°What? Blue gear!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nothing, look at that ring! The ring of the Nobility of the Fire Giants! An exotic level accessory!¡±


    ¡°What? This is¡­ purple gear!¡±


    ¡°And that! The Whip of the Elder of the Fire Element! Also an exotic level weapon!¡±


    The players exclaimed repeatedly, almost blinded by the gold and equipment, feeling like they were Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden.


    Some players¡¯ voices became filled with greed in the end¡ªthese were exotic-level equipment pieces worth thousands of gold coins!


    Bringing one back to the guild would certainly make a significant impact!


    But Summer Night Autumn Rain thought things were amiss. The room was filled with a familiar aura of ¡°loyalty¡±¡ª¡ªit felt like the work of Cassius¡¯s devout followers.


    She frowned slightly.


    Could it be¡­ This room is the final trial?


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    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

 Chapter 444 - 444 366 Absolutely Disloyal

    ?Chapter 444: Chapter 366: Absolutely Disloyal Chapter 444: Chapter 366: Absolutely Disloyal The discussion among the players surrounding the equipment and treasures on site grew increasingly intense, evolving into arguments.


    ¡°If we could take even one of these things back, we¡¯d be rich, wouldn¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡±


    ¡°Look at that, the Fire Lizard Claw Sword, it¡¯s of rare level too!¡±


    ¡°I think these items might be the rewards the Tower Master prepared for us!¡±


    ¡°This trial was so hard, so many people died, it¡¯s not too much to ask for a lot of rewards.¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t these look like offerings or sacrificial items?¡±


    ¡°What do you know? This is what you¡¯d call hidden benefits from the officials! They need to stick to the game lore while rewarding us, so they have to put the rewards in the form of offerings.¡±


    ¡°And you don¡¯t even know¡­¡±


    ¡°Anyway, this Fire Giant¡¯s Ring belongs to our Royal Guild! The first rare item can only belong to the strongest guild!¡±


    ¡°Why should it go to your Royal Guild again?¡±


    ¡°Because we have three people who passed the trial! If you don¡¯t like it, come and take it!¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°As far as I know, your Paladin is quite strong, but your Spellcasters aren¡¯t that good!¡±


    ¡°Then come and try!¡±


    The arguments among the players escalated, and some people¡¯s eyes turned red with greed as they prepared to fight for the items.


    Among them, the members of the Royal Guild were the most fanatic. Taking high-level equipment back could earn them real money!


    If they could get the first rare item in the game, their guild leader, the wealthy ¡°Tyrant,¡± would even reward them with tens of thousands of dollars!


    In the face of such immense profit, other tasks, reputation, and rules meant nothing.


    The Royal Guild¡¯s Magician picked up the Fire Giant¡¯s Ring, clutching it tightly in his hand, and also stuffed his backpack with several gold coins.


    ¡°You better think this through!¡±


    ¡°If you take our equipment here, you¡¯re declaring war on the Royal Guild!¡±


    The other two players from the Royal Guild stood guard in front, facing off against several players who wanted to grab the gear.


    ¡°Just because you¡¯re from a powerful family?¡±


    ¡°Your Royal Guild is too much! These items belong to everyone!¡±


    Instantly, the atmosphere at the top of the tower became highly charged.


    A battle among the players over this first rare item in the game could break out at any moment.


    Meanwhile, Summer Night Autumn Rain quietly distanced herself from the arguing crowd, moving to a corner at the top of the tower.


    ¡°This is the final trial¡ªa test of human greed.¡±


    ¡°Knowing that person¡¯s character, these guys blinded by immediate profits are likely in for a bad end.¡±


    ¡°Heh, the people from the Royal Guild¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain chuckled lightly, feeling quite pleased at the thought of the Royal Guild getting a setback.


    The Royal Guild, empowered by real-world financial backing, had conducted many monopolistic operations, causing considerable obstacles for scattered individual players like her.


    She observed the bustling crowd, her beautiful eyes glowing faintly.


    Besides those fighting for equipment, there were still many players who remained rational.


    For instance, the female player from the Mechanical God Cult, ¡°Art is Explosion¡±; the Magician from Magic Coin, ¡°Bright Moon¡±; and the professional Magician player, ¡°Missile Eater¡±¡­


    Meanwhile, the Magician from the notorious Dragon Enthusiasts Club, ¡°Loving the Dragon Like the Wind,¡± stood before the dragon-shaped statue, looking extremely fanatical.


    But Summer Night Autumn Rain knew that these guys were all freaks.


    The guild leader, ¡°Safis,¡± was infamous for posting eye-gouging dragon-related porn on forums and was known as the ¡°Dragon Fanatic.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain frowned slightly; she felt that something was still missing.


    ¡°No, this is still not right¡­¡±


    ¡°The final trial isn¡¯t just about resisting temptation. This way, it would only eliminate those idiots from the Royal Guild.¡±


    She recalled the recruitment notice from Isdalia.


    ¡°The Dragon Pact Warlocks made pacts with Red Dragons¡­ They possess the mysterious and powerful Dragon¡¯s Spell, and they all serve the sole ruler of the empire with supreme authority¡ªHis Majesty Cassius of the Ashen Empire.¡±


    ¡°Serve¡­ loyalty!¡±


    ¡°I understand now!¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s eyes lit up as she grasped the key to the problem.


    The key was loyalty!


    The Dragon Pact Warlock must be absolutely loyal to the Emperor, treating him as if he were a deity¡ªand that was the final trial!


    With that realization, Summer Night Autumn Rain quickly adjusted her clothing and hurried to the human-shaped statue of Cassius.


    She knelt before the statue, clasping her hands together as if in prayer.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Lord Cassius is truly handsome!¡±


    ¡°How can an NPC in a game completely match my aesthetic tastes!¡±


    Although Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s posture appeared devout, her thoughts were somewhat impudent.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Art is Explosion¡± also noticed Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s perplexing actions. After thinking for a while, she also went up to pray.


    The few Magician players looked at the two praying female players, then looked at the infatuated ¡°Loving the Dragon Like the Wind,¡± their expressions rather odd.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, Cassius has a lot of female fans! Apparently, he even has a support group in real life.¡±


    ¡°There are male fans too, aren¡¯t there?¡±


    ¡°The members of the Dragon Enthusiasts Club are all perverts! They post those ridiculous pictures on the forums every day!¡±


    ¡°You have to admit, Boss Cassius¡¯s modeling is top-notch!¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s the best-looking one I¡¯ve seen. Too bad he doesn¡¯t appear often¡­¡±


    ¡°How much gold could this statue sell for¡­¡±


    ¡­


    At the top of the tower where the players couldn¡¯t see, the ¡°Dragon Fire Maiden¡± Misha hovered in the air, surrounded by swirling flames.


    Her golden eyes were still blazing, but her gaze was particularly stern, even carrying a hint of killing intent.


    Her eyes seemed to pierce through the thick stone walls, seeing the scenes within the Tower of Everflame.


    ¡°These vulgar wretches¡­¡±


    ¡°How dare they touch the sacrifices I prepared for His Majesty Cassius? They¡¯re courting death!¡±


    Misha clenched her delicate hands, causing a fierce blaze to erupt from her palms.


    The players fighting over the equipment had already been sentenced to death in her mind. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°They don¡¯t even respect His Majesty; they are unworthy to be noble Dragon Pact Warlocks! They don¡¯t even deserve to live in the Ashen Empire¡­¡±


    Misha declared.


    She then looked at the human-shaped statue, her expression softening slightly.


    Two women possessing dragon veins were kneeling and praying before the statue of His Majesty Cassius¡ªjust as she usually did.


    Moreover, they had golden eyes, signaling the dragon veins.


    This made Misha feel a sense of kinship and regard them as equals.


    For the sake of her own revenge and to better assist His Majesty in managing the Tower of Everflame, Misha always acted mature and composed, decisive and ruthless.


    But despite her experiences and early maturity, Misha was still, at heart, a teenage girl.


    She still longed to find ¡°subordinates¡± or ¡°companions¡± with whom she could get along.


    ¡°In such chaos, they still pray to His Majesty. They are qualified to become Dragon Pact Warlocks,¡± she concluded.


    She looked toward the dragon-shaped statue.


    The man stood before the statue, not making a prayer gesture, but his expression was exceptionally devout.


    ¡°That look in his eyes¡­ He¡¯s like one of those zealots,¡± Misha thought to herself.


    But he didn¡¯t know that the thoughts of this ¡°zealot¡± were much more impudent, enough to be burned at the stake.


    And that look, more than devout, was obsessive, almost drooling!


    Misha blinked and whispered, ¡°He is also qualified to become a Dragon Pact Warlock.¡±


    ¡°These three Starfallers have passed the trial and proven their loyalty to me.¡±


    ¡°They are all qualified to become proxies for His Majesty¡ªthe Dragon Pact Warlocks.¡±


    After saying this, Misha looked at the top of the tower again, her brows furrowing slightly as hesitation filled her eyes.


    Because there was another group of Starfallers.


    They passed the trial, remained untempted by the sacrificial items, but didn¡¯t show their loyalty either.


    After a moment of thought, Misha finally made up her mind.


    ¡°Hmph¡­¡±


    She snorted coldly, her beautiful golden eyes flickering with fiery light, sending ripples through the air.


    She parted her lips slightly and uttered, ¡°Teacher Ramp once taught me¡­¡±


    ¡°Loyalty that is not absolute, is absolutely disloyal!¡±


    ¡ªSeeking Monthly Ticket¡ª

 Chapter 445 - 445 367 Arrival and Massacre

    ?Chapter 445: Chapter 367: Arrival and Massacre Chapter 445: Chapter 367: Arrival and Massacre Back at the top of the tower, the conflict gradually escalated to a boiling point as players from various factions confronted each other in the center. The atmosphere became increasingly tense.


    ¡°The treasure should belong to those who deserve it! This Purple Equipment Ring should be ours, the Royalty!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡±


    ¡°It was clearly us from the Sword Pavilion who entered first! Whoever finds it first owns it!¡±


    ¡°Do you want to fight? Think about it carefully! This is the Tower of Everflame, the territory of a special NPC!¡±


    ¡°If you break the rules in the tower and attack us first, think about the consequences!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, Royalty players really have no shame! You¡¯ll see!¡±


    The players from Royalty huddled together, their eyes filled with greed as they stared at the ring tightly grasped in their hands.


    ¡°We struck it rich this time¡­¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha, I didn¡¯t expect such a pleasant surprise.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the guild master will be thrilled! Maybe we¡¯ll get a huge reward¡­¡±


    This is the first piece of Purple Equipment in the entire game!


    Once they brought this ring back to the guild, their vain and ambitious guild master, the Tyrant, would definitely be ecstatic.


    In his joy, he might even reward them with hundreds of thousands of dollars!


    This wasn¡¯t just a game anymore.


    It was about life.


    But blinded by greed, they didn¡¯t notice¡ªthe air around them had become more scorching, and not just metaphorically.


    ¡°Swoosh¡­¡±


    A subtle sound of crackling.


    Ashes and sparks danced in the air, with flowing flames weaving like threads, causing the surrounding air to distort.


    Immediately after, a clear female voice filled with fury broke the players¡¯ daydreams.


    ¡°Impudent¡ª¡±


    ¡°Thieves! Fools! How dare you steal a sacrifice meant for His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    The players turned around in terror to see fierce tongues of fire tearing through space, and a young girl wrapped in a scarlet Spirit Robe suddenly appeared in mid-air.


    This mysterious girl didn¡¯t look very old, but her eyes and brows radiated a fiery beauty.


    Her slender finger pointed at the players.


    ¡°Stealing a sacrifice, desecrating His Imperial Majesty¡¯s honor¡ª¡±


    ¡°You are not fit to become noble Dragon Pact Warlocks nor honored citizens of the Empire!¡±


    Her beautiful golden eyes were filled with anger, ripples flickering.


    The present players clearly saw the display above the girl¡¯s head and instantly broke out in a cold sweat.


    [Dragon Fire¡¯s Daughter-Misha]


    Faction: Ashen Empire


    Occupation: Dragon Pact Warlock?


    Challenge Level: ???


    ¡°What a beautiful NPC!¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s eyes lit up¡ªthis was the ideal template she had been chasing!


    ¡°Oh my¡­¡±


    The player from Royalty, who had been smug just a moment ago, now felt impending doom. His hand, clutching the Ring of Nobility of the Fire Giants, trembled.


    His teeth chattered as he urged urgently.


    ¡°Hurry¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here with the equipment, now!¡±


    ¡°Run¡ª¡±


    ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be tempted with equipment right in front of us?¡±


    ¡°Damn, the officials are just trolling us!¡±


    ¡°We have to file a complaint!¡±


    ¡°After all these trials, and now this! It¡¯s all Royalty¡¯s fault!¡±


    The players wailed and howled.


    The players who seized the equipment immediately used various methods, some turning invisible, some teleporting, some stealthily dashing.


    Like mice seeing a cat, they madly fled toward the tower¡¯s exit.


    ¡°A laughable struggle.¡±


    Misha let out a cold laugh, a hint of frost flickering in her golden eyes.


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    She snapped her fingers, a crisp sound echoed.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    Immediately following the sound of the air bursting, a blazing, extremely hot Fire Wall appeared at the door, blocking the players¡¯ escape route.


    That was the Fourth Tier Spell, the Fire Wall Spell.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re blocked!¡±


    ¡°Oh no, we¡¯re dead!¡±


    ¡°The damage is too high!¡±


    Black silhouettes appeared in the Fire Wall¡ªthose were the invisible players, struggling in the sea of flames, ultimately burning to ashes.


    A touch would kill instantly.


    The remaining players, seeing the Fire Wall, dared not approach and kept their distance, huddling in the corners.


    But it was all in vain.


    With a stern look, Misha spread her palm.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    Brilliant flames burst forth from her palm, scorching rays shot out, striking the chests of a dozen players in rapid succession.


    [Searing Ray]


    Enhanced by both ¡°Child of the Elements¡± and ¡°Dragon Heart,¡± this First-Tier Searing Ray became extremely hot, reaching temperatures of over a thousand degrees, effortlessly piercing through the players¡¯ chests.


    ¡°Wow, what kind of damage is this?¡±


    ¡°Is this the Searing Ray?¡±


    ¡°Is this the same spell we call the ¡®Magnifying Glass Ant Killers¡¯ with low damage?¡±


    ¡°Regret¡­ this Dragon Pact Warlock is way too strong.¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Misha¡¯s combat style was extremely flamboyant; with every move, she released dazzling flames, easily incinerating one player after another.


    At this moment, she was the Controller of Flames, the Creator of Scourges.


    The dazzling combat scenes made Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s eyes shine brightly, her entire body trembling with excitement.


    Power and aesthetics combined.


    And she could set things on fire!


    She was undoubtedly in the right place; this was the occupation she wanted!


    Thinking of this, Summer Night Autumn Rain continued to watch the battle intently.


    The Royalty guild player still tightly clutched the ring in his hand, unwilling to let go¡ªit was a ticket to a massive reward!


    He glanced around and gritted his teeth, saying: ¡°Let¡¯s take a chance! This is the first piece of Purple Equipment in the entire server, it¡¯s worth dying for!¡±


    ¡°Cover me!¡±


    The remaining Royalty players nodded repeatedly, releasing various smoke screens and Shields.


    He then pulled out a precious Teleportation Spell scroll from his pocket, and directly tore it, activating the spell in the simplest and most brutal way.


    A spatial portal appeared, and the Royalty player laughed wildly: ¡°I¡¯m not playing with you anymore! I¡¯m leaving!¡±


    Flaming Arrows rained down from above, but the player managed to escape the Tower of Everflame at the last moment.


    ¡°Stealing from His Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°None of you will escape.¡±


    Misha¡¯s cold voice pierced through the smoke and barriers, echoing throughout the entire Tower of Everflame.


    ¡°Wait, I didn¡¯t steal anything?¡±


    ¡°I had the intention but not the action?¡±


    ¡°Big shot, stop hitting! I was wrong!¡±


    The players¡¯ pleas were in vain.


    The next moment, a massive, scorching Fireball tore through the smoke, occupying the players¡¯ vision, reflecting flames in their eyes and on their faces.


    ¡°This is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Holy¡­¡±


    ¡°You call this a Fireball Technique?¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With the players¡¯ horrified exclamations and the deafening explosion, the flames from the blast instantly engulfed all the players who had stolen the sacrifice. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Fireball Technique]


    Yet under Misha¡¯s precise control, the terrifying explosion did not harm any innocent players.


    This was the ultimate trial, a massacre for those who dared to desecrate the Emperor.


    ¡°This is the Fireball Technique!¡±


    ¡°Amazing!¡±


    Seeing this, Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement and fervor, tears welling up and almost streaming down her cheeks.


    Because this Fireball Technique¡ªit was exactly like the scene in her dreams!


    She was determined to become a Dragon Pact Warlock!


    Misha then looked beyond the tower, through the spatial rift, she saw the fleeing Royalty player, her golden eyes still smoldering with anger.


    ¡°Despicable thief¡­¡±


    ¡°That was a treasure I obtained from the Nobility of the Fire Giants, specially for His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t escape.¡±


    Misha snorted coldly.


    Flames burned in mid-air, tearing a layered rift in space, and the girl stepped into it.


    ¡ª¡ªMonthly Ticket, please¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 446 - 446 368 You Are Not Loyal Enough

    ?Chapter 446: Chapter 368: You Are Not Loyal Enough! Chapter 446: Chapter 368: You Are Not Loyal Enough! ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn, that NPC was really scary just now. That¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen such exaggerated flame damage.¡±


    ¡°She looked like a girl of fifteen or sixteen, but she almost wiped out all the elite players who passed the trial!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But, thank goodness¡­¡±


    The player from the [Royalty] guild pulled out the ring clenched in his palm, blew on it, and wiped it clean. His eyes were red, filled with excitement and elation.


    ¡°Got my precious.¡±


    ¡°Heh heh, the first piece of purple equipment in the whole server, I¡¯m gonna be rich now!¡±


    ¡°I wonder how much our guild leader, Tyrant, will spend this time. Maybe I can live without worrying about food and clothes!¡±


    He was already lost in pleasant daydreams, unable to extricate himself.


    After all, the [Royalty] guild had such precedents.


    During the beta, Tyrant once spent a hundred thousand dollars to buy a full set of rare equipment from a member.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, he felt a wave of scorching heat from behind, and his clothes caught fire.


    ¡°No, no way¡­¡±


    A bad feeling rose in his heart.


    He trembled as he turned around, and his expression immediately turned grim.


    He saw that a red-haired, golden-eyed girl crossed through space, floating mid-air, looking down at him. Her flame-like long hair danced wildly in the air.


    Flames swirled around her, ashes fluttered in the air.


    Her gaze was unmistakable.


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius said¡­¡±


    ¡°Theft is strictly prohibited within the empire.¡±


    The player mumbled in disbelief, ¡°How can this NPC have such a wide range of activity¡­¡±


    ¡°She, she should be the boss of the Tower of Everflame! How can she appear here!¡±


    But for the money he was about to get, the [Royalty] player went all out.


    He clutched the ring tightly, his eyes bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, and argued without hesitation:


    ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer!¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t stealing at all!¡±


    ¡°Can what players do be called stealing? Where¡¯s your administrator? I want to file a complaint for consumer deception!¡±


    Misha coldly looked down at him, the flames around her growing more intense, almost forming a vortex.


    Her lips moved slightly.


    ¡°Unforgivable sin.¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The next moment, ferocious flames surged out like a giant devouring serpent, completely consuming the player.


    When the flames dissipated, a small pile of ashes appeared on the ground, blown into the air by a light breeze, leaving only a shiny golden ring¡ªprecisely the [Ring of the Nobility of the Fire Giants].


    ¡°Hmph, clueless fool.¡±


    ¡°Such greedy and ignorant individuals, no better than the Northern Nobility, dreaming of becoming a Dragon Pact Warlock? Keep dreaming!¡±


    Misha gestured, and the precious ring was enveloped in flames, flying into her palm.


    The girl extended her hand again, tearing space apart with flames, reappearing within the Tower of Everflame.


    Misha, holding the ring, softly said, ¡°The sinner has been duly punished.¡±


    ¡°Take this as a warning.¡±


    ¡°Furthermore¡­ I am Misha, a Contract Sorcerer under the great His Majesty Cassius, and his proxy in the Tower of Everflame.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡±


    ¡°We will definitely comply with orders!¡±


    Seeing the plight of the thieves, the remaining players quickly responded.


    But they were also relieved.


    ¡°Indeed, there¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch. That was a trap!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, good thing I didn¡¯t go for the equipment.¡±


    ¡°More like you couldn¡¯t get it.¡±


    ¡°Wow, Dragon Pact Warlocks are so strong, this damage is absurd.¡±


    ¡°Heh heh, I knew something was off. Good thing I didn¡¯t lose my head just now. I¡¯m about to advance!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, such a powerful occupation is soon going to be ours!¡±


    The players began to imagine a bright future. Such a powerful occupation could help them soar directly, right?


    Under the expectant gazes of everyone, Misha looked around and then spoke again.


    ¡°As you can see, Dragon Pact Warlocks possess great strength, but all of this comes from the supreme His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    ¡°Every Dragon Pact Warlock is his proxy and servant, fortunate to receive the blessings of the great Red Dragon.¡±


    Flames ignited at her fingertips.


    ¡°For us, the most important thing is absolute loyalty.¡±


    Among the players, Summer Night Autumn Rain smiled with joy.


    She guessed right!


    Indeed, as a contractor, loyalty was a must! And this was also characteristic of occupations in the Ashen Empire series.


    For instance, there were detailed data collected about the Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights, showing that ¡°Cassius Fan Club¡± members did more damage than regular players.


    Misha¡¯s speech continued, she raised her slender hand, seemingly pointing to everyone.


    ¡°So¡­¡±


    The players eagerly waited.


    ¡°You are all eliminated, except for those three.¡±


    The players were struck as if by lightning, looking at each other, finding only [Summer Night Autumn Rain], [Art is Explosion], and [Loving the Dragon Like the Wind] had golden flames above their heads.


    They started shouting.


    ¡°Why!¡±


    ¡°Why!¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t fair! Do it again!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t participate in the theft! I passed the trial!¡±


    ¡°Yes, why aren¡¯t we allowed to pass! We didn¡¯t do anything wrong!¡±


    ¡°What about those three, do they have special privileges?¡±


    The remaining dozen players clamored, they had worked hard to pass the trial, thinking they were about to succeed, only to hear such terrible news.


    They naturally felt indignant and unfairly treated.


    Misha, however, emotionlessly asked, ¡°Are you sure you did nothing wrong?¡±


    ¡°Not being loyal enough to His Majesty Cassius is your mistake.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    The players were stunned.


    But Misha seriously continued, ¡°In the chaos just now, only these three Starfallen paid respect to His Majesty¡¯s statue without being distracted.¡±


    ¡°And you, though not participating in theft, merely stood by and watched.¡±


    ¡°You even refused to kneel before His Majesty Cassius¡¯s statue!¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    What a load of crap!


    Misha¡¯s ¡°soul interrogation¡± left them speechless.


    The eliminated players felt indignant and unfair, being eliminated because of ¡°not being loyal enough¡±!


    Some were especially regretful, holding their chests, feeling heartache.


    Just now, they watched as Summer Night Autumn Rain and the other two kneeled before Cassius¡¯s statue, thinking it was merely fan club fanaticism.


    If they had kneeled too, wouldn¡¯t they have advanced?


    But¡­


    Maybe there¡¯s still a chance?


    Thinking this, they decided to try one more time.


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    Immediately, a few players simultaneously slid and kneeled before Cassius¡¯s statue, wailing in desperate voices, creating a rather comical scene.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, don¡¯t eliminate me! I¡¯m very loyal!¡±


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°His Imperial Majesty is our eternal sun!¡±


    The other players, stunned for a moment, also hurriedly followed suit, fearing they were late in kneeling this time.


    ¡°For the great Red Dragon¡¯s blueprint!¡±


    ¡°We can never repay His Majesty Cassius¡¯s kindness!¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor above!¡±


    But their actions did not move the Dragon Pact Warlock.


    Misha shook her head, feeling these people were disgraceful, further desecrating His Majesty Cassius.


    ¡°Leave this place.¡±


    ¡°I see no loyalty in your eyes, only greed and desire for power. You¡­ are unworthy of being Dragon Pact Warlocks.¡±


    Misha coldly said, flames igniting in her hand again.


    ¡°Get out.¡±


    Under the threat of flames, the players reluctantly and tearfully left.


    ¡°And you¡­ come with me.¡±


    ¡°Your loyalty has passed my test. I will take you to see His Majesty.¡±


    Immediately, the remaining three players became extremely excited.


    Not only could they successfully advance, but they also had the chance to meet Cassius.


    In the current Ashen Empire, this was an extremely valuable opportunity!


    In the old beta, players could meet Cassius by exchanging a few Gold Coins for a [Mysterious Invitation], seeing him as a mysterious merchant.


    But now, the ever-greater Emperor lived in the Steel Dragonwing Palace all year round, difficult to meet even with countless Gold Coins.

 Chapter 447 - 447 369 Cassiuss Pact

    ?Chapter 447: Chapter 369: Cassius¡¯s Pact Chapter 447: Chapter 369: Cassius¡¯s Pact Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s interface suddenly brightened up, and lines of brand-new task information appeared before her eyes.


    [Completed Occupation Advanced Task¡ª[Trialists of the Tower of Everflame]]


    [Task Description: Following the Empire¡¯s secret decree, you have gone through numerous hardships and tests, finally reaching the top of the Tower of Everflame on Balash Volcano, and proving your loyalty to the Emperor at the tower¡¯s summit.]


    [Congratulations, you have passed all tests and will become the Ashen Empire¡¯s Proxy, the Red Dragon¡¯s Contractor, enjoying supreme honor.]


    [Task Reward: 3600xp]


    [Faction Sub-class Advanced Item: [Cassius¡¯s Pact]]


    ¡°This is the pact His Majesty Cassius bestowed upon me, and there are only thirteen in total.¡±


    ¡°And you¡­ are very lucky to have obtained three of them, but this is well-deserved.¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius once said that any being loyal to him and loyal to the Empire has the right to bathe in his glory.¡±


    Only thirteen!


    Everyone¡¯s breathing became more rapid.


    It is known that the Red Scale Conqueror and Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight, as Faction Sub-classes of the Ashen Empire, have rigorous advancement conditions but are not strictly limited in number.


    Currently, there are already hundreds of Red Scale Conquerors and Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knights among the player population; they are generally the top forces of various guilds or professional-level solo players.


    According to this mysterious NPC.


    The position of the Dragon Pact Warlock has only thirteen slots! This is absolutely priceless!


    Scarcity increases value, and this is not just an empty phrase. It also means they can achieve a higher standing among the player community.


    Misha gently waved her hand, and several scrolls floated before the three of them.


    ¡°Take good care of these. This is proof of your status as Dragon Pact Warlocks.¡±


    After saying this, Misha closed her eyes, seemingly engaging in some kind of mental communication.


    The three players focused their gazes on the scrolls.


    The scrolls were made of thick animal hides, their patterns and designs complex and exquisite, each stroke emitting faint flames and generating strong magic energy.


    Upon closer inspection, those patterns contained Dragon¡¯s Might, as if a colossal, majestic dragon was looming in the empty space before them with golden eyes quietly gazing at them across time and space.


    [Cassius¡¯s Pact]


    Quality: Rare


    Type: Special Task Item


    Item Description: ¡°The Ashen Emperor¡± Cassius is becoming increasingly powerful, and his former retainers are no longer sufficient to satisfy his growing ambitions.


    Therefore, the Red Dragon forged his surplus strength into scrolls, searching within the empire for talented and loyal individuals, hoping to create proxies capable of wielding similar power.


    ¡°Pact? No, this is grace! ¡ª¡ªThe Ashen Emperor, Cassius¡±


    ¡°Compared to this¡­ what does a mere purple equipment ring amount to? That guy from Royalty is really short-sighted.¡±


    Looking at the information on the interface, Summer Night Autumn Rain could not help but think this.


    The other two players also showed delighted expressions.


    ¡°Art is Explosion¡± was originally a sorcerer player cultivated by the ¡°Mechanical God Cult,¡± first among powerful families. She naturally understood the heavy significance of this scroll.


    And ¡°Loving the Dragon Like the Wind,¡± though eccentric, was also a top-level sorcerer player, the strongest among the hundreds of peculiar members of the ¡°Dragon Enthusiasts Club.¡±


    However, he was extremely excited at the moment, because he had the chance to see Cassius himself.


    ¡°To touch Lord Cassius¡¯s tail,¡± a behavior considered audacious enough to land one on the guillotine, was the lifelong goal of many members of the ¡°Dragon Enthusiasts Club.¡±


    ¡°Lord Cassius, hehehe¡­¡±


    ¡°Tail¡­¡±


    Loving the Dragon Like the Wind laughed foolishly.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain and Art is Explosion, standing beside him, felt a wave of chill and couldn¡¯t help but move a few steps away.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Misha opened her eyes and smiled: ¡°His Majesty has agreed to your request. I will accompany you to Isdalia to meet His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    Obviously, she was very happy.


    In Misha¡¯s mind, Cassius was not only her revered Sect Master but also like an elder.


    ¡°His Majesty is actually in Isdalia?¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain was quite surprised.


    After all, Isdalia was currently the most populous and prosperous city among players. Even she had spent a fortune renting a house in the city to live in it long-term.


    But she had never seen the emperor¡¯s majestic figure there. Logically, a thirty-meter-long Red Dragon should be very conspicuous.


    ¡°Within the Empire, His Majesty Cassius is omnipresent¡ªwhenever he wishes.¡±


    Misha said calmly.


    She reached out her delicate hand again, her hair suddenly flying back, flames swirling around her.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    With a fierce burst of fire, a massive spatial rift appeared before them, like a fierce dragon¡¯s maw ready to devour.


    [Flame Dimensional Gate]


    This was once Cassius¡¯s unique creation.


    A special spell combining Shaping Energy and Spells.


    And now, as the Dragon Pact Warlock who had signed a pact with Cassius, Misha naturally obtained this power too¡ªand used it with considerable proficiency. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suppressing her inner excitement, she hastily straightened her clothes and then instructed: ¡°Follow me.¡±


    ¡°So powerful.¡±


    The players exclaimed.


    The three trial-passing players followed Misha into the burning-edged spatial rift, traversing thousands of miles of space to arrive at the ¡°Immortal City¡± of Isdalia.


    After crossing the deep spac-time tunnel, a flame-wreathed rift reappeared before them.


    They felt their vision brighten up.


    ¡°Wow¡ª¡±


    ¡°What a beautiful place.¡±


    ¡°Who knew Isdalia had such a place! I thought it was all factories.¡±


    The players gasped in amazement.


    The sight before them was nothing short of miraculous.


    Tiered, staircase-like gardens filled with exotic plants, with clear streams trickling down.


    Rows of marble columns stood neatly aligned, and the nearby altar was grand and majestic.


    The familiar altar and gorgeous garden were elevated high into the sky by the raised ground, surrounded by the azure sky as if it were the legendary ¡°Sky Garden.¡±


    From here, one could overlook the entire City of Isdalia.


    Interwoven roads, speeding steam trains, bustling pedestrians, and patrolling Imperial Army troops on the streets.


    Thick black smoke billowed from factories on the outskirts of the city, and sporadic explosions could still be seen from the distant firing range.


    At this nearly hundred-meter-high platform, the unique landmark buildings like the Imperial Senate Hall, Grand Colosseum, and Ashen Armory were all within view, even the distant city walls were visible.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain looked at this magnificent scene and couldn¡¯t help but sigh:


    ¡°What a grand sight.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ this is it, the Isdalia Grand Altar.¡±


    While living in this city, she had often gazed up at that towering altar, never imagining that one day she could come up here in person.


    The other two players were also captivated by this magnificent and beautiful scene, and Loving the Dragon Like the Wind even took screenshots and posted them on the forums.


    ¡ª¡ªSeeking Monthly Tickets¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 448 - 448 370 Plot of the Ashen Empires Emperor

    ?Chapter 448: Chapter 370: Plot of the Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor Chapter 448: Chapter 370: Plot of the Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor ¡°Long time no see, Misha.¡±


    A deep male voice echoed from the top of the altar.


    Misha¡¯s eyes sparkled, golden pupils flickering with flames, and her delicate face showed extreme excitement.


    ¡°It is Your Majesty!¡±


    She called out joyfully in a soft voice.


    However, Misha still suppressed the excitement and joy in her heart, descended from mid-air, and followed the empire¡¯s etiquette by slightly bowing her head and stepping onto the stairs one by one.


    Finally, she was about to enter the main storyline!


    Next was the audience with the emperor to advance to Dragon Pact Warlock!


    Summer Night Autumn Rain thought this to herself.


    The three players quickly turned around and followed closely behind Misha.


    But they still couldn¡¯t help but look up curiously.


    At the end of the long staircase, at the very top of the altar, was a tall throne carved with dragon patterns.


    On the throne, a man was dressed in a scarlet robe, wearing a Mithril Crown inlaid with gems, with a handsome face and deep pale golden vertical pupils.


    He casually sat on the throne, resting his chin on his hand, the unintentional release of his aura making people instinctively want to kneel in worship.


    This was Cassius in human form.


    At the moment he appeared before everyone, it seemed as if the whole world focused there, and everything revolved around him.


    As if a deity had descended to the mortal realm.


    Misha was stunned for a moment.


    Even the players were shocked by this presence, standing rooted in place.


    Under the dual effects of ¡°Extraordinary Charm¡± and ¡°Supreme Imperial Power,¡± Cassius¡¯s influence reached such an extent.


    ¡°Additionally¡­ welcome, you future Dragon Pact Warlocks of the empire who passed the Starfallen Trial.¡±


    Cassius smiled.


    He retracted his overwhelming aura, nodded slightly as he looked at the players who had passed the trial.


    Cassius originally thought there would be thirteen passers, but he didn¡¯t expect Misha¡¯s trial to be so harsh that only three passed.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain, Art is Explosion, Loving the Dragon Like the Wind¡ªnames that rang out well in their past life.


    The first two need no mention, both were top-tier magician players. However, the last one left Cassius speechless.


    This ¡°Loving the Dragon Like the Wind,¡± although quite strong, was chiefly known for another matter.


    ¡°Your Majesty has grown stronger again!¡±


    Misha¡¯s heart pounded, lowering her head, not daring to look directly at Cassius¡¯s face, but her heart was filled with joy.


    Since traveling to the Fire Elemental Plane for training, she hadn¡¯t seen His Majesty for a long time, not even attending the grand coronation ceremony¡ªwhich made her quite disheartened at that time.


    But now, she finally had the opportunity for another audience.


    ¡°So handsome¡­¡±


    ¡°How can there be such perfect modeling, and the aura is just¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain muttered, just recovering from being ¡°mind-controlled,¡± cautiously sneaking glances with her peripheral vision.


    ¡°Great!¡±


    ¡°With the high-temperature flame of the Dragon Pact Warlock, finally can help the guild¡¯s elite smelt aluminum mecha!¡±


    Art is Explosion was full of excitement.


    Although Loving the Dragon Like the Wind was somewhat excited, he also felt inexplicable disappointment.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t it the dragon form?¡±


    ¡°Damn, I really want to touch Lord Cassius¡¯s tail.¡±


    Cassius looked at what appeared to be the fifteen- or sixteen-year-old Misha, seeing the ¡°Challenge Level: 14¡± above her head, feeling somewhat impressed.


    As expected of a boss in her previous life, this talent was terrifying.


    In just one year, her power had skyrocketed like a rocket. Cassius had even heard outrageous rumors circulating in the Elemental Plane about the ¡°Dragon Fire Maiden.¡±


    In those rumors, Misha was the child of the ¡°Ashen Emperor¡± Cassius and a noble of the Fire Giants.


    Thinking of this, Cassius chuckled and said:


    ¡°Misha, your progress is impressive and¡­ somewhat beyond my expectations. In just one year, you have reached this level.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, this is all thanks to your grace,¡±


    Misha answered respectfully, despite her excitement after hearing Cassius¡¯s praise, lowering her head in response.


    Hearing this dialogue, the three players were stunned.


    What?


    One year!


    That meant¡ªMisha became a Dragon Pact Warlock in a shorter time than they had become magicians in ¡°Erezera¡±!


    And in just this one year, Misha had become a boss-level existence capable of wiping out dozens of elite players and taming the Elder Fire Element!


    This Faction Subclass¡­


    How strong must it be?


    What they didn¡¯t know was that in this one year, the Ashen Empire¡¯s resource investment in Misha was massive, and various Fire Elemental Demon Crystals, spell scrolls, and spiritual medicine were poured into her like they cost nothing.


    Doesn¡¯t that startle you?


    Looking at the various expressions of the three players, Cassius¡¯s lips curved into a smile.


    He spoke solemnly, saying the prepared lines:


    ¡°Starfallen, you have completed the trial of the Tower of Everflame, proving your strength and loyalty to me.¡±


    ¡°Therefore, I grant you¡­ the power of the True Dragon.¡±


    Cassius nonchalantly raised his hand.


    ¡°Like this.¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Suddenly, raging tongues of fire, an endless sea of flames, falling meteors, and even scorching celestial bodies appeared before them, creating scenes of devastation in the sky.


    Armies were decimated.


    Cities were burned to ashes.


    Rivers dried up; the earth cracked open.


    The players present heard the deafening roar, the sound of collapsing buildings, and even the cries of the people.


    ¡°A dragon! It¡¯s a dragon!¡±


    Someone shouted loudly.


    And Cassius¡¯s voice, mixed with the noise, was especially clear:


    ¡°Scourge¡­¡±


    ¡°Revere all of this, for this is the power I, as the Emperor of the Ashen Empire, can bestow upon you. It can bring both destruction and rebirth.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But every power comes with its necessary price, and you need to restrain and control it.¡±


    Cassius clenched his fist.


    Everything came to an abrupt end.


    Those flames, those meteors vanished like illusory bubbles in an instant.


    The scorching celestial bodies dimmed and dissipated.


    The scenes of devastation seemed to have never existed, and the Isdalia Altar returned to its former solemnity and tranquility, with the sound of trickling water still audible.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    And the three players stood there, mouths agape, unable to speak.


    Could such a scene truly be achieved by individual power?


    On the throne, the man with black hair and golden eyes lowered his hand and said with a sigh:


    ¡°The sun sleeps, the stars fall, the moonlight fades, endless war burns on the Fianso Continent, bloodshed and slaughter will become the main theme of Erezera. This world is undergoing dramatic changes, and peace in the Ashen Empire will not last.¡±


    ¡°To face the impending catastrophes, the Ashen Empire needs more strong individuals to carry out my will, bringing this world back to true rational order.¡±


    Cassius looked at the three players.


    The pale golden pupils flickered with light.


    ¡°And you, Starfallen, are qualified to become my proxies, the foremost magicians of the empire, Dragon Pact Warlocks.¡±


    ¡°So¡ªare you ready?¡±


    ¡ªRequest for Monthly Tickets¡ª

 Chapter 449 - 449 371 The Promotion of the Dragon Pact

    ?Chapter 449: Chapter 371: The Promotion of the Dragon Pact Warlock Chapter 449: Chapter 371: The Promotion of the Dragon Pact Warlock ¡°I am ready, Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire!¡±


    ¡°Sacrifice my heart for the Empire!¡±


    The three players immediately placed their right fists over their hearts, performing a standard Empire ¡°Loyalty Salute,¡± seizing the opportunity to pledge their allegiance to the Emperor before them.


    After all, this had always been the Empire¡¯s ¡°politically correct¡± stance. There was even a well-known Empire joke on the forum:


    When you don¡¯t know what to do, just be ¡°loyal.¡±


    Cassius smiled without speaking, while the players¡¯ hearts were pounding in the wake of the grand scene they had just witnessed.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain had a thousand thoughts running through her mind.


    ¡°This is¡­ the main storyline!¡±


    ¡°The advancement of the Dragon Pact Warlock might be closely related to the main storyline!¡±


    ¡°According to the forum analysis, the main storyline of the first version, ¡®Northern Wind and Cloud,¡¯ is about the rise of the Empire.¡±


    ¡°And based on the intelligence revealed by Kai Xu, the faction leader, the main storyline of the second version¡ªcould it be disaster and conflict?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it is related to the renowned Empire of Fadlan in the South, or maybe it involves the invasion of ancient demons.¡±


    ¡°In any case¡­ the Dragon Pact Warlock is likely to play an important role in it.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Great!¡±


    ¡°This advanced task was definitely worth it!¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain felt a surge of joy in her heart.


    She was unaware that Cassius was just stringing them along and making grand promises.


    He knew that Summer Night Autumn Rain was very close to Mantou, so he intentionally released some ¡°forward-looking previews.¡±


    These words, as material entered into Mantou¡¯s videos, would also attract more players to join the Ashen Empire faction.


    ¡°Since you are all ready.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s begin the ritual.¡±


    Cassius¡¯ calm words interrupted the players¡¯ wild thoughts.


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Misha nodded solemnly and took a step forward, golden flames flickering in her eyes.


    When she had become a Dragon Pact Warlock, the promotion ritual was still quite simple.


    But now, after significant improvements by the Empire¡¯s many mages and warlocks, the Empire had developed a mature advancement process, though it had not yet been practiced.


    ¡°Praise to the supreme Ashen Emperor, the noble and great True Dragon Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°He is the fury from the mountains, the embodiment of victory and glory, the protector of commerce and trade, the sole ruler of the Ashen Empire¡­¡±


    Flames leaped from the girl¡¯s hands as she chanted the sect master¡¯s name, and the Draconic incantations merged slowly into her spell, with gold vertical pupils faintly appearing in the void.


    As she chanted, the three contracts slowly floated in the air.


    ¡°It¡¯s really effective, this sect master¡¯s contract ritual found by the Magic Department from ancient tomes.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    He casually extended his hand and slightly raised his eyes, and a gigantic shadow tens of meters high appeared behind him.


    That was the manifestation of Cassius¡¯ true form, the Red Dragon, who looked down at the three players with those pale gold vertical pupils and slowly opened its massive maw.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The long roar echoed through Isdalia.


    Instantly, the entire city was in an uproar, with exclamations, cheers, and prayers filling every street, square, and building.


    ¡°This¡­ this is His Majesty!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the voice of His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Praise the great Red Dragon! Praise the Ashen Emperor!¡±


    ¡°May His Majesty Cassius bless my husband, who is pioneering in the South, to return safely¡­¡±


    Regardless of race or status, whether they were pedestrians on the road, workers laboring, or soldiers at the shooting range, they all looked up in unison, gazing fanatically at the Isdalia Grand Altar in the city¡¯s center.


    ¡°Is this the majesty of the Emperor?¡±


    ¡°My god, the whole city is cheering.¡±


    ¡°This advanced task¡­ is too grand, worthy of the Empire¡¯s only magic system advanced career.¡±


    The three players were also infected by this passionate atmosphere, their hearts filled with excitement, and ¡°Loving the Dragon Like the Wind¡± even appeared crazed, almost drooling as he gazed at the Red Dragon¡¯s shadow.


    ¡°Hehehe, the true form of Lord Cassius.¡±


    ¡°The tail¡­¡±


    Cassius noticed the players¡¯ odd gazes, his mouth twitched slightly, but he continued the ritual nonetheless.


    The black-haired, golden-eyed man slowly stood from his throne, the chest of the Red Dragon¡¯s shadow behind him bursting with blinding light, illuminating all directions.


    Instantly, it seemed as if a second sun had appeared atop the Isdalia Grand Altar.


    ¡°I, Cassius Klaubow Norixius¡­¡±


    ¡°In the name of the Ashen Emperor, grant you my power, and allow you to become my servants and proxies¡­¡±


    Under Misha¡¯s prompt, the three players knelt down directly.


    After all, for them, this was just playing through the storyline in the game, without any psychological burden.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain knelt on one knee, her eyelids drooping under the immense pressure.


    Her interface refreshed with new information.


    [You have obtained an advanced career path: (Pact Warlock ¨C Grand Dragon Sect Master)]


    [You shall form a pact with the rare group among giant dragons¡ªVariant Dragons.]


    [These powerful beings disdain mortals, unsatisfied with the innate talents of giant dragons, eternally pursuing endless ambition, and they will endow you with dragon¡¯s power.]


    [Attention: Once the pact is signed, your faction cannot be changed! Your character will be influenced and possibly controlled by the sect master!]


    [Do you agree to sign the pact (Yes/No)]


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain made the choice without hesitation.


    Isn¡¯t it just becoming a servant?


    For a profession of this strength, what¡¯s the harm in abandoning a bit of dignity?


    So many people want the chance to serve His Majesty Cassius and can¡¯t even find an opportunity! In other words, they¡¯re not even in line to be considered!


    ¡°Shush¡ª¡±


    The magical patterns on the contract suddenly lit up.


    The immense power of the Red Dragon descended from the sky, transforming the players¡¯ blood vessels into arteries rich with magic.


    It gradually converted their hearts into scorching, vitality-filled Dragon Hearts.


    Flames of aurora sparkled all over the three players¡¯ bodies, emitting sulfur-smelling white steam, and their bodies underwent dramatic changes in the mist.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s dark gold vertical pupils glimmered faintly, and scales seemed to emerge faintly at her temples. Her dragon horns became even more elongated, and even her fingers grew increasingly sharp.


    Her back and neck bore intricate scarlet patterns.


    The corners of her eyes were tinged with the color of flowing flame.


    ¡°Is this¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain slowly opened her eyes.


    [You have obtained traits (Dragon¡¯s Spell) (Dragon Heart)]


    [ (Dragon¡¯s Spell): Your Red Dragon sect master has expanded your spell-learning range; you can receive the sect master¡¯s blessings and learn ancient Dragon Spells.]


    [ (Dragon Heart): The sect master¡¯s power has transformed your heart; you will have a magical heart and arteries akin to those of a giant dragon, greatly enhancing your constitution and elemental affinity.]


    {Charisma: 15¡ú17}


    {Constitution: 11¡ú13}


    You should know these are precious attribute points!


    As players, if they ignore other means and only rely on career leveling, they can only allocate two attribute points for every four levels they gain.


    ¡°This power level is insane¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn¡¯t help but marvel.


    ¡ªPlease vote for Monthly Tickets¡ª

 Chapter 450 - 450 372 Mishas Ordeal

    ?Chapter 450: Chapter 372 Misha¡¯s Ordeal Chapter 450: Chapter 372 Misha¡¯s Ordeal When the smoke cleared, the three players had already completed their ascension.


    As players with only a ¡°human basic panel,¡± their ascension wasn¡¯t as dramatic as the one experienced by Misha, who was a ¡°Child of the Elements.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain, Art is Explosion, and Loving the Dragon Like the Wind all grew reddish-brown dragon horns on either side of their foreheads, with fringes appearing on the edges of their ears, turning into ¡°pointed ears.¡±


    Their eyes turned into vertical pupils flickering with fire, exuding the pride of dragons.


    Those contracts dissolved entirely, manifesting as magical patterns on their skin, forming crimson gold traces.


    ¡°How beautiful!¡±


    ¡°The appearance is maxed out too!¡±


    The two female players couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    However, Loving the Dragon Like the Wind seemed a bit disheartened. He murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear:


    ¡°Where¡¯s the promised muscular Half-Dragon, why is it this ugly human-like form¡­¡±


    ¡°Boo hoo hoo, my muscular Half-Dragon¡­¡±


    ¡°Going back to the guild like this, they¡¯ll laugh at me to death. I went through all that trouble and didn¡¯t even get a dragon head¡­¡±


    However, Summer Night Autumn Rain was the first to react. She immediately maintained a kneeling position and addressed the emperor who had turned into a human:


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gracious favor!¡±


    ¡°We will become your most devout followers, your most loyal servants!¡±


    ¡°Your strength is as deep as the abyss and seas, your stature as majestic as mountains, your wisdom as vast as the stars, your kindness as radiant as the sunlight¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, indeed¡­¡±


    As a professional gamer, Summer Night Autumn Rain knew how to obtain the greatest benefits, especially since she had already bound herself to the faction.


    Flattering and showing loyalty was never wrong.


    The other two players quickly followed suit.


    In terms of ¡°loyalty,¡± players from the information age were far superior to the natives.


    According to the empire¡¯s official statistics, players made up eighty percent of the publicity department, outperforming the natives so much that they were on the verge of pushing out those whose minds weren¡¯t imaginative enough and faces thick enough.


    Cassius nodded slightly.


    ¡°I hope you won¡¯t waste my expectations and this power.¡± He uttered, ¡°Return to the Tower of Everflame, let the empire¡¯s fire burn even brighter.¡±


    He gently waved his hand, causing ripples in the space, preparing to teleport the players back to Balash Volcano.


    But an urgent voice called out.


    ¡°Your Majesty! Please wait¡ª¡±


    Loving the Dragon Like the Wind cautiously lifted his head, grinning obsequiously.


    ¡°Um¡­Great Majesty Cassius, before we leave, could we admire your magnificent figure!¡±


    ¡°It would be my greatest honor and lifelong wish¡ª¡±


    By the end, he was practically in tears, looking particularly sincere.


    ¡°It would be even better if I could touch the tail.¡±


    Loving the Dragon Like the Wind rubbed his hands in expectation, secretly adding in his mind.


    However, Cassius remained expressionless, merely waving his hand, and golden-red flames enveloped the players, directly tearing open space and teleporting them all to Balash Volcano.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    Before leaving, Loving the Dragon Like the Wind stretched out his hand from the spatial rift, his voice filled with sorrow: ¡°Your Majesty! Let me see it¡ªjust a glance!¡±


    Noticing Cassius¡¯s peculiar expression, Misha quickly stepped forward to console him: ¡°Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger.¡±


    ¡°He might have been¡­too devout, losing his sanity.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Cassius responded briefly.


    But if one observed closely, they would notice the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, revealing a somewhat helpless expression.


    Devout?


    I don¡¯t believe that for a second!


    Did they really think Cassius hadn¡¯t seen the forums and didn¡¯t know what kind of perverts those Dragon Enthusiasts Club members were?


    If he reverted to his true form, that guy would probably risk his life to touch his tail.


    He wouldn¡¯t dare bet on it.


    If that plot were to happen and be posted on the forums, the ¡°mysterious, powerful faction leader¡± image Cassius painstakingly built would collapse instantly.


    Once the players left, tiny glimmers of magical aura flickered on Cassius, and his figure suddenly expanded¡ªonly then did he revert to his huge, majestic Red Dragon form.


    When taking human form, Cassius found it difficult to suppress his grand presence, and even more so when he returned to his true form.


    ¡°Being in human form is so stifling, the dragon form is much more comfortable¡­¡±


    He stretched out his vast body and spread his wide wings, feeling a great sense of ease.


    Cassius had been living in the Elzegai World with the body of a Red Dragon for more than a decade, and he had long grown accustomed to this feeling. On the contrary, every time he transformed into human form, he felt strange and constrained.


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡±


    Misha looked up at the Red Dragon coiled atop the altar, her expression filled with utmost devotion.


    Cassius thought of Misha¡¯s trials on the Elemental Plane and casually asked: ¡°Misha, did you meet the Sultan of the City of Brass?¡±


    The City of Brass was the most famous region on the Fire Elemental Plane and the place travelers from the Prime Material Plane were most likely to visit.


    The city was filled with powerful Fire Giants, many of whom regarded it as their home and capital, swearing allegiance to the Great Sultan who ruled from the burning palace even in distant colonies.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty.¡±


    Misha shook her head slightly.


    After hesitating for a moment, she slowly said: ¡°Those Fire Giants were too arrogant¡­¡±


    ¡°We first stayed in a city controlled by a Fire Giant noble, known as a ¡®Malik,¡¯ and asked him for directions to the City of Brass.¡±


    ¡°But that Fire Giant noble disdainfully called me a ¡®mongrel with human blood,¡¯ and even worse¡­¡±


    Misha¡¯s tone grew increasingly agitated.


    Recalling the previous experience, her eyes reignited with flames of anger, and her scarlet hair began to sway.


    ¡°He also insulted the great Ashen Empire and¡­you.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Cassius showed an interested expression.


    ¡°What did that Fire Giant noble say?¡±


    ¡°He said, he said¡­¡±


    Misha hesitated but still gritted her teeth to say: ¡°He said you were a mindless beast, unworthy of comparison with Fire Giants, and even claimed your empire was on the brink of collapse¡­¡±


    ¡°So, at that banquet, I chopped off that disrespectful Fire Elemental noble¡¯s fingers and brought this item back to you.¡± Misha took out the [Fire Giant Noble¡¯s Ring] from her bosom and presented it.


    The golden ring flickered with firelight.


    Indeed, it was Exotic Level gear.


    Cassius accepted it, and Misha continued:


    ¡°Since then, that Fire Giant Lord put a bounty on me, forcing me to flee everywhere. He sent Fire Dwarves, Fire Giants, Flame Serpent Lizards, and even an Elder Fire Element after me, but relying on your strength, I defeated them all.¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Misha lowered her gaze, her expression somber, and apologized once more.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty, I failed your expectations. Not only did I not complete your task, but I also brought enemies to the empire.¡±


    ¡°But¡­any citizen of the empire hearing such words would be filled with righteous indignation.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s expression turned somewhat odd.


    As expected of the former boss, no wonder her power was rising so quickly.


    Goodness, she broke into someone else¡¯s banquet in a fit of rage, chopped off the city lord¡¯s fingers, and even wiped out the army they sent.


    What kind of protagonist plot is this?


    The Red Dragon spewed a breath of sulfurous heat, slightly stretching his wings, with a faint glow in his pale-gold vertical pupils.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve moved my body.¡±


    ¡°Heh heh, it¡¯s time to visit the Fire Elemental Plane.¡±

 Chapter 451 - 451 373 Fire Dwarf

    ?Chapter 451: Chapter 373 Fire Dwarf Chapter 451: Chapter 373 Fire Dwarf At the top of the Isdalia Grand Altar, Ramp held the scroll, nodding respectfully towards Cassius, and spoke deferentially.


    ¡°Your Majesty, the interdimensional portal to the Fire Elemental Plane has been completed.¡±


    ¡°You will be transported to the outskirts of Ironforge City, where the Empire¡¯s pathfinders have established a stronghold¡ªthe Ashen Empire Fire Elemental Plane Bureau.¡±


    Interdimensional Teleportation was a seventh-tier spell, capable of transporting up to eight beings to other planes with a margin of error ranging from 5 to 500 miles.


    The Ashen Empire had initially not mastered this cross-planar teleportation spell, but the Imperial Southern Continent Company negotiated with the court mages of the Thrace Kingdom, acquiring this spell scroll for a mere seventeen thousand Ginnar.


    Currently, Thrace was in the midst of widespread conflict, with extreme scarcity in military funds, while the Ashen Empire, which had grown savagely in the Magic Wilderness, was in dire need of high-tier magical resources.


    The two sides reached an agreement without hesitation.


    Money had its advantages.


    Ramp and the mages from the Magic Department had spent months studying and could now roughly replicate the spell, albeit with a significantly larger margin of error, up to a thousand miles.


    ¡°Master, your strength is so immense that I have no doubt you will return victoriously.¡±


    ¡°But to save you the trouble and effort, I have found a native guide from the Fire Elemental Plane for you.¡±


    ¡°The Empire¡¯s army has fended off the Fire Lizard plunderers sent by the Fire Giant spirits to invade our nation, indebting them to us.¡±


    ¡°Glen Cardoso!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time for you to fulfill your contract!¡±


    Ramp pulled out a magical contract, calling forth the name.


    The contract emitted a blazing light.


    ¡°Ramp, benefactor of the fire dwarfs¡­¡±


    ¡°Glen Cardoso, forger of Ironforge City, arrives as promised.¡±


    Instantly, a humanoid creature with flame-like hair and beard, and skin with a bronze metallic sheen, appeared.


    He stood no taller than four feet, stocky in build, wearing a brass skirt, carrying a finely-crafted iron warhammer, and had a bronze pouch slung over his back.


    ¡°A Fire Dwarf?¡±


    Cassius observed this small creature, recognizing its identity at a glance.


    They were dwarf-like beings born in the Fire Elemental Plane, usually master forgers, with a unique means of reproduction.


    The birth of a Fire Dwarf required another Fire Dwarf to personally cast their bronze shell, infusing it with the Flame of Life.


    Legend had it that the first Fire Dwarf was created when the God of Dwarfs accidentally infused a bronze sculpture with the Flame of Life, thus creating this dwarf-like species of Fire Elementals¡ªhence they were also aptly called ¡°Bronze Fire Spirits.¡±


    Due to the laborious forging process, the population of Fire Dwarfs was quite scarce.


    Glen Cardoso, having just adapted to the Material Plane, opened his eyes to see the massive Red Dragon coiled atop the altar, immediately causing him to collapse in fear.


    ¡°Moradin above¡­¡±


    ¡°No way¡­¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t an illusion! How¡­ how can there be such a dragon in the Material Plane! Larger than an Ancient Dragon!¡±


    He trembled, looking up at the Dragon¡¯s immense form, muttering to himself.


    ¡°Impertinence!¡±


    Ramp rebuked angrily.


    ¡°Do Fire Dwarfs show such disrespect? It is an immense honor for you to be here!¡±


    ¡°Standing before you is the sole ruler of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, the Breaker of the Wings of Silver, the Destroyer of Frost Giants, the Nemesis of Abyssal Demons¡­the supreme Ashen Emperor¡ªHis Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Fire Dwarf! Is this how you treat your savior?¡±


    Ramp¡¯s voice echoed like thunder across the altar, snapping Glen from his panic and shock.


    He could hardly believe it.


    The emperor of this Empire in the Prime Material Plane was a Red Dragon, larger than an Ancient Dragon!


    Fire Dwarfs engaged in volcanic activities and magma, searching for shining metals and gems, rarely heard news from the outside, and had never heard of the newly risen Ashen Empire.


    But the military power displayed by the Empire was undeniably real.


    Especially with such a ruler.


    Realizing this, Glen quickly turned around, deeply prostrating himself on the ground, first offering respectful greetings, then repeatedly apologizing.


    ¡°Glen Cardoso¡­ greets the great Ashen Emperor!¡±


    ¡°I apologize deeply, Your Majesty Cassius, I was just taken aback by your, um¡­¡±


    Glen wracked his bronze-forged brain, struggling to find the right words, finally uttering a few.


    ¡°Stunningly massive body.¡±


    The Fire Dwarf lay on the ground, resembling a burning bronze ball.


    ¡°Interesting little fellow.¡±


    Cassius watched with keen interest at this peculiar Fire Elemental creature, exhaling a breath of sulfuric heat.


    These Fire Dwarfs were exceptional forging masters, invaluable in his eyes, akin to walking treasure troves.


    ¡°Fire Dwarfs¡­ these beings created many renowned artifacts in their previous era, they might be useful to the Empire.¡±


    ¡°But for now, dealing with the Fire Giant spirits is the priority.¡±


    A year ago, he had sent Misha and the Empire¡¯s advance team to the Fire Elemental Plane.


    Their main aim was to trade with the Fire Giant spirits¡¯ kingdom for various flame-infused rare metals and ores¡ª as his food reserve for the next dormant phase.


    Yes, as food.


    As a Dragon species whose lineage was close to that of the Ancients, Cassius required multiple periods of dormancy to grow from adolescence to adulthood, consuming an immense amount of energy.


    Ordinary meat was negligible for the massive body of a Red Dragon, insufficient to meet his needs.


    Cassius pondered this, casually commending.


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°Since everything is prepared, let¡¯s proceed with the teleportation.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp hurriedly complied, then raised his Magic Wand, the twelve skulls on his neckpiece emitting a faint radiance.


    ¡°Magic Department personnel, prepare to construct the Grand Interdimensional Teleportation Spell Prototype for His Majesty!¡±


    Ramp commanded loudly.


    ¡°Group 1, received!¡±


    ¡°Group 2, received!¡±


    ¡°Group 3, received!¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Spellcasters at each level of the altar also raised their Magic Wands, releasing dazzling spell radiance.


    The chanting of incantations, the ripple of the Magic Web, and the compression of space filled the Isdalia Grand Altar.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    An enormous, extraordinarily complex spell prototype gradually formed, and a several dozen meters tall interdimensional portal emerged, appearing at the altar¡¯s summit.


    For a being of Cassius¡¯s hierarchy of life, a typical interdimensional teleportation spell was already ineffective, in other words, his ¡°life level exceeded the spell¡¯s maximum limit.¡±


    This interdimensional teleportation, led by the Archmage Ramp with an intelligence of 22, executed simultaneously by numerous Imperial Court Mages, was nearing the Ninth Tier.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The interdimensional portal slowly opened.


    Though unprecedented in scale, it was still somewhat narrow compared to Cassius¡¯s thirty-six-meter-long frame¡ªbut adequate enough.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ¡°Moradin above, could it be¡­ His Majesty intends to personally venture to the Fire Elemental Plane?¡±


    Glen stared, wide-eyed, at the several dozen meters tall portal.


    Soon after, he felt himself grasped, enveloped by a giant claw from above, plunged into darkness, immobilized.


    ¡°Then off we go, my guide.¡±


    The Dragon¡¯s voice, deep as thunder, echoed from the ¡°outside world.¡±


    ¡°No, no, Your Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±


    The Fire Dwarf called out desperately.


    But the Red Dragon paid no heed, slightly tightening his wings, and dove straight in with the Fire Dwarf in his grip.


    Cursed by a demon, Cassius had long been unable to unleash his full nature and engage in a thrilling battle.


    It was said that the Fire Elemental Plane housed many powerful creatures, he was keen to encounter them¡ªperhaps the Fire Giants in the City of Brass, or the Fire Elementals¡¯ Master deep within the plane.

 Chapter 452 - 452 374 The Fire Elemental Plane

    ?Chapter 452: Chapter 374 The Fire Elemental Plane Chapter 452: Chapter 374 The Fire Elemental Plane ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    In an instant, the world before Cassius turned black and white. Everything around fell silent, leaving only the narrow passageway.


    He had entered the Ethereal Plane.


    The Inner Plane was dominated by the laws of matter, while the various Elemental Planes were connected to the Prime Material World through the etheric passages.


    ¡°Back to the Ethereal Plane again¡­¡±


    Cassius gazed at the monochrome scenery around him, letting the spell¡¯s power drive him toward his destination.


    In the distance, the energy tide roiled violently, but the teleportation spell could pierce through it, landing straight at the destination.


    However, after a moment of contemplation, Cassius forcefully flapped his wings, stepping out of the ¡°safe zone¡± formed by the etheric passage.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The sound of tearing silk echoed, and the surrounding energy seemed to roar and howl.


    Meanwhile, the Fire Dwarf in his claw continued to wail.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Wait! Let me out first!¡±


    ¡°My lord, this is very dangerous! The frenzied elemental tide will tear us to shreds!¡±


    The Red Dragon chuckled, ¡°Heh, aren¡¯t I taking you home?¡±


    ¡°Relax, guide, I will ensure your safety.¡±


    The sound of air friction crackled.


    His massive dragon body continually broke through the spatial constraints, finally seeing the distant, fire-lit, endlessly hot, and dangerous world.


    As the Red Dragon gradually approached, the flame-laden fierce wind around him grew more intense.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    Explosions from energy collisions erupted around him, with the frenzied elemental tide surging like waves.


    The Inner Plane was a realm of natural energy and pure elements, in an extreme state and conditions.


    They were the building blocks of the cosmos, the primordial matter, and energy in its basic form.


    As a travel destination, the Inner Plane was remarkably hostile to beings from the Material Plane.


    Unprepared travelers seemed utterly helpless against this powerful force, and in the worst cases, they could be snuffed out like candles in a storm.


    However, as a Red Dragon with ancestral lineage, Cassius felt not fear but a profound sense of comfort.


    ¡°Is this the energy of the Fire Elemental Plane? Now, this is interesting!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Cassius let out a light whistle, with flames flickering in his golden slitted pupils.


    He suddenly tightened his wings, trailing a magnificent blaze behind him.


    The screeching sound of tearing air was heard.


    Next was the ¡°crash¡± of something breaking.


    The Red Dragon broke through the surging energy tide, plummeting straight from the sky like a scarlet meteor, forcibly breaking into the world of flames.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The scorching ground shattered, with sparks and ashes flying everywhere.


    The Red Dragon looked up at the sky, seeing nothing but endless red.


    His scarlet, searing dragon body appeared perfectly at home in this world, as if he¡¯d merged with it.


    This was a constantly burning plane, exuding the scent of scorched flesh and dreams turned to ash.


    This was the embodiment of flame¡ªthe Fire Elemental Plane.


    Everything in the Fire Elemental Plane glowed with fire.


    The ground was nothing but a gigantic, shifting, flattened flame plate; the air writhed in threads under the constant heat of flamestorms, and the most common liquid was magma rather than water.


    Oceans were formed of flowing fire, and mountains seeped magma.


    Widely found humans could not live here; it was the shared home of Fire Imps, Fire Dwarves, Fire Lizards, and Fire Giants.


    It was a crematorium for ill-prepared travelers, and even for well-prepared adventurers, it was not a comfortable place.


    The flames here needed no fuel or air to burn, consuming brought-in combustibles rapidly. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Flames dominated the Fire Elemental Plane, with only scant elements and other matter existing like islands amidst the dominant element or energy.


    ¡°Ah~~¡±


    Cassius let out a contented sigh, spreading his wings and shaking his body, gazing down at the Dragon Crystal on his chest.


    The surrounding flames constantly surged into it, making the crystal pulse with light.


    Even the ¡°ground¡± beneath his feet was composed of thick flames, ashes, and fragments.


    For mortals, this was a frightful Purgatory.


    But for Cassius, it could be considered a vacation paradise, with the surrounding fire elements resonating with him.


    ¡°What a wonderful place¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s face wore a menacing grin, seemingly reveling in it all.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    He loosened his right claw, letting the Fire Dwarf named Glen Cardoso fall to the ground, curling up into a ball.


    After a long while, Glen looked himself over and found that his bronze-cast body was undamaged. He breathed a long sigh of relief.


    ¡°By Moradin¡­¡±


    ¡°Crossing into the Elemental Plane with flesh and blood, what a madness, what a terrible experience!¡±


    But soon, Glen looked up at the Red Dragon with caution, ¡°Your Majesty, Cassius, to enter the Fire Elemental Plane this way, your strength far exceeds my imagination.¡±


    Returning to the Fire Elemental Plane, the Fire Dwarf¡¯s hair and beard burned even more vigorously.


    Cassius glanced at him and simply asked, ¡°Where are we now?¡±


    Glen looked around, pondering for a moment before answering, ¡°This is the Burning Wildlands, Your Majesty Cassius, it¡¯s the territory of the Fire Giants.¡±


    Hearing the name of the Fire Giants, Cassius¡¯ eyes flickered, but he quickly asked again.


    ¡°Where is the Empire¡¯s stronghold?¡±


    Glen answered in great detail, ¡°In our Fire Dwarves¡¯ Brass Fortress.¡±


    ¡°Your army has defended us against multiple invasions by the Fire Lizard plunderers, you are the benefactor of all Fire Dwarves.¡±


    ¡°Excellent, lead me there.¡±


    ¡°Wait, Your Majesty¡­.¡±


    Cassius gripped the Fire Dwarf again in his claw, flapping his wings to stir the heated gale and taking to the sky.


    Birds with wings of flame scattered in fear, letting out terrified cries.


    ¡°Is it this direction?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ Your Majesty, according to the common units of the Material Plane, it¡¯s about thirteen hundred miles to our Fire Dwarves¡¯ Brass Fortress.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°About an hour¡¯s flight.¡±


    Cassius flapped his wings again, his speed skyrocketing, piercing the sky with a deafening sonic boom.


    This was merely Cassius¡¯ cruising speed.


    As the Red Dragon was surrounded by an energy shield and the Fire Dwarf was a bronze-cast elemental creature, Glen did not lose consciousness.


    While flying, Cassius asked, ¡°Why are the Fire Giants sending armies to invade you?¡±


    In his past life memories, the Fire Dwarves and Fire Giants were arch-enemies, with many Fire Dwarves captured as slaves, forced to work endlessly.


    The Fire Dwarves were a race particularly committed to fulfilling their duties¡ªeven as slaves.


    Some Fire Dwarf slaves were even chosen to oversee their kin.


    The devotion to order was deeply ingrained in this race; they would rather wait for the contract to end or for the master to die than to actively rebel.


    And this was why Cassius found the Fire Dwarves particularly fascinating¡ªthey were born laborers!


    This aligned perfectly with the Ashen Empire.


    Upon hearing Cassius¡¯ question, Glen gritted his teeth, speaking with hatred, ¡°You may not know, long ago, the Fire Giants used to be our allies.¡±


    ¡°Together, we resisted the tyrannical rule of the Fire Elementals¡¯ Master.¡±


    ¡°We even helped build the Fire Giants¡¯ home¡ªthe City of Brass. It was our proudest masterpiece, an unparalleled marvel.¡±


    ¡°And the ¡®Ironforge City¡¯ that Lady Misha visited was built under my supervision.¡±


    ¡°But when we completed our work, those despicable Fire Giants betrayed us, even attempting to enslave us, fearing the city¡¯s secrets would leak¡­¡±


    Upon saying this, the Fire Dwarf¡¯s tone grew increasingly angry, and the flames on his body flared more intensely.


    Hearing this, the Red Dragon¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.


    ¡°Truly despicable.¡± He echoed.


    But internally, Cassius felt excited, forming numerous alternative plans.


    Easy to deceive.


    Dutiful.


    Extremely law-abiding, possessing a spirit of dedication, and skilled in labor.


    Simply perfect.


    Those Fire Giants were not despicable, rather sheerly wasteful! Trying to blatantly enslave, only to lose hearts and minds.


    The Ashen Empire was different.


    The Empire could pose as the most ¡°loyal¡± ally to the Fire Dwarves, ensuring no nominal enslavement.


    ¡°The Empire lacks loyal allies like you¡­,¡±


    Cassius sincerely remarked.


    ¡°Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty.¡±


    Glen didn¡¯t perceive the Red Dragon¡¯s malicious intent, thinking he was praising the Fire Dwarves¡¯ virtues, and bashfully scratched his head.


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 Chapter 453 - 453 375 Visiting the Brass Fortress

    ?Chapter 453: Chapter 375: Visiting the Brass Fortress Chapter 453: Chapter 375: Visiting the Brass Fortress ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Red Dragon flapped its wings high in the sky, smashing the meteorite in front of him with a casual swipe.


    Cassius narrowed his eyes slightly, asking nonchalantly, ¡°How do you Fire Dwarves live?¡±


    Hearing this question, Glen, who had been panicking moments before, immediately puffed out his chest with pride.


    ¡°Everyone has their role, Your Majesty Cassius.¡±


    ¡°Among the Fire Dwarves, our society on this plane is the most perfect. Unlike the brutality of the Fire Giants and the savagery of the Fire Lizards, every Fire Dwarf inherits their parents¡¯ occupation from birth and must fulfill this duty for life.¡±


    ¡°The Nobles of the Brass Short Skirt are responsible for ruling and defending against external enemies, the Merchants of the Bronze Short Skirt are responsible for trade and selling goods, and the Servants, Artisans, and Laborers of the Copper Short Skirt handle menial work.¡±


    ¡°Our lives are always orderly, and every fortress operates like a fine-tuned machine¡­¡±


    Glen¡¯s words were filled with pride.


    The Fire Dwarves were always diligent, and as a guide, Glen was no different, sharing everything he knew.


    ¡°Caste system¡­¡±


    Listening to the perfect society described by the Fire Dwarf, Cassius could only think of this word from his past life, and he glanced at him with a smile.


    ¡°So¡­ you count as a noble among the Fire Dwarves?¡±


    Glen once again puffed out his chest proudly, especially shaking his Brass Short Skirt forged from brass,


    ¡°Of course, Your Majesty, our Cardoso Family has been noble among the Fire Dwarves for four thousand years.¡±


    ¡°Seven hundred years ago, my father personally forged my body and infused me with the Flame of Life. Their memories of building Ironforge City and the City of Brass were also passed on to my mind.¡±


    A look of barely perceptible surprise flashed in the Red Dragon¡¯s pale golden pupils.


    Seven hundred years.


    This was no short period, even for a Dragon, which mortals called the ¡°Long-Lived Race.¡±


    A seven-hundred-year-old Dragon would be called an ¡°Elderly Dragon,¡± the last stage in a Dragon¡¯s life where it could still reproduce.


    Many five-colored dragons wouldn¡¯t even live to this age before being killed by the army or adventurers.


    And for Cassius, a mere twenty-something ¡°Young Dragon,¡± it seemed even longer.


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°Glen Cardoso, you are very fortunate.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ you will become a bridge for exchanges between the Empire and the Fire Dwarves¡¯ realm.¡±


    The Red Dragon looked down at the seemingly insignificant yet seven-hundred-year-old Fire Dwarf in his claw, his gaze finally showing some respect.


    Initially, he had only seen the Fire Elemental Plane as a place to plunder Fire Elemental Energy.


    But now, he realized, perhaps the Empire needed its own colony here.


    ¡°Hehe, thank you, Your Majesty.¡±


    Glen scratched his head, unaware of the full significance.


    He only found that this Majesty, though outwardly terrifying, was actually quite kind and appeared to have a good disposition towards the Fire Dwarves.


    ¡°We are almost there.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that place, the Fire Dwarves¡¯ Brass Fortress.¡±


    The Red Dragon tilted his strong wings slightly, preparing to swoop down.


    It was a large structure located primarily underground, with its protruding parts above ground made of shiny brass and basalt.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    Screams and howls came from the ground, followed by familiar explosions and the hissing of steam.


    In front of the Brass Fortress, Cassius saw tiny figures entangled together from high above while flames and steam covered the ground.


    He saw Fire Lizards wielding long halberds, tall and muscular Fire Giants, and Fire Drakes flapping their wings in mid-air.


    On the other side of the battlefield were Fire Dwarves wielding Copper Hammers and an imperial vanguard equipped with rifles and cannons.


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the Fire Giant Raiders! Those despicable and shameless creatures are attacking again!¡±


    Glen shouted excitedly.


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, a smile emerging in his golden pupils, and his menacing mouth slightly curved up.


    ¡°Is this the Fire Giant army?¡±


    ¡°It seems I¡¯ve come at the right time¡­¡±


    Tiny spell radiances rippled across the surface of his massive dragon form. With a flap of his wings, his speed increased further.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    A deafening sonic boom echoed.


    With the sound of a torn ribbon, the Red Dragon broke through the sky of the Fire Elemental Plane.


    In the orange-red sky, a long explosion cloud seemed to split the sky in two.


    ¡­


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A shell fell from the sky, smashing a Fire Lizard¡¯s head flat.


    ¡°Ssss~~¡±


    This was the mournful cry in the language of the Fire Tribe.


    The Fire Lizard¡¯s snake-like lower body twitched a few times and then stopped moving. The burning fibers covering its body slowly extinguished.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    The long halberd in its hand fell to the ground.


    However, not far away, a Fire Giant simply folded his arms and looked on coldly. He then drew a scimitar from his waist and raised it high.


    ¡°Despicable creatures from the Material Plane!¡±


    ¡°Surrender the half-human called Misha! We might spare your lives!¡±


    ¡°And Fire Dwarves! If you harbor these people any longer, we will shatter your Brass Fortress!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    His response was scalding hot metal shells, a dense barrage of shells covered the location of the Fire Giant, forcing him to hastily dodge.


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames, these damnable creatures from the Material Plane!¡±


    ¡°Destroy them!¡±


    The Fire Giant raised his scimitar with his left hand and swung his whip with his right, cursing loudly, with fierce flames burning in his eyes.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    The Fire Drakes and Fire Lizards began another charge.


    And within the defensive fortifications in front of the Brass Fortress, the Empire¡¯s vanguard was equally agitated, led by a Half-Dragon.


    His name was Selcan Wood, who had joined during the Ashen Kingdom era, distinguished himself multiple times on the North battlefield, and was now a proud Imperial Viscount¡ªalso the main person in charge of the Vanguard Forces in the Fire Elemental Plane.


    He had volunteered for this, coming to the most dangerous battlefield in the Fire Elemental Plane, only to encounter unprecedented setbacks.


    In this extreme environment, the forces sent this time were the most elite Half-Dragons!


    Selcan spat angrily, cursing: S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of these damn Fire Elemental creatures!¡±


    His Half-Dragon Adjutant nodded in agreement and echoed:


    ¡°By the great Cassius, explosions can¡¯t even hurt them¡ªour shells have to hit them directly to have any effect.¡±


    Selcan kicked the fortifications in front of him, cursing angrily:


    ¡°When I get back, I¡¯ll report to the Imperial Magic Department to send some mages specializing in ice and water elements to wipe out these creatures!¡±


    Nearby, a Fire Dwarf repairing a brass fortification shrank his neck at this comment.


    After all, they were also elemental creatures.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a sharp whistle came from the sky.


    The Half-Dragon Adjutant turned around, looking up and discovered the spectacular phenomenon in the sky.


    Instantly, he had a bold guess, and this guess was about to be confirmed.


    ¡°Captain, Captain!


    ¡°Look quickly¡ª¡±


    Selcan turned his head in confusion, only to find his Adjutant already kneeling on the ground, his expression fanatical.


    What puzzled him even more was that the Fire Dwarves repairing the fortifications were wide-eyed, muttering ¡°By Moradin.¡±


    Thus, he looked up at the sky.


    ¡°Thump.¡±


    Selcan also knelt down, murmuring to himself.


    ¡°By Cassius¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon streaked through the sky like a meteor, crashing straight into the Fire Giant army¡¯s formation.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With a violent tremor in the Fire Elemental Plane, ashes filled the sky, and flames soared into the air.

 Chapter 454 - 454 376 A Feast on the Battlefield

    ?Chapter 454: Chapter 376: A Feast on the Battlefield Chapter 454: Chapter 376: A Feast on the Battlefield ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The smoke cleared, revealing a massive Red Dragon nearly forty meters long on the battlefield, issuing a furious roar.


    The ground made of ashes and rock was smashed into a giant pit with a diameter of a hundred meters, deeply sunken.


    Within the pit were the crushed remains of hundreds of Fire Lizards and Fire Drakes.


    Terrified, the Fire Lizards dropped their spears and lances, slithering away in all directions.


    The Fire Drakes, equally panic-stricken, flapped their wings frantically, flying erratically in the air.


    ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s a dragon!¡±


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames, why is there a Red Dragon here?¡±


    ¡°Quick! Run! This is a damn ancient Red Dragon!¡±


    The leading Fire Giant exclaimed, leaping onto a Fire Drake and urging it non-stop.


    Dragonkin were scarce in the Fire Elemental Plane, despite the favorable climate for Red Dragons here.


    Many Red Dragons had attempted to establish fortresses in this place, but even they found it hard to prevent their treasures from melting, forcing them to relocate either to Hell or return to the Material Plane.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you¡ªwho want to kill my retainers?¡±


    Cassius roared to the sky, spreading his broad wings, unleashing the overwhelming Dragon¡¯s Might of an Ancestral Dragon.


    Instantly, many Fire Drakes fainted on the spot, tumbling down from the sky.


    These creatures with diluted dragon blood had no resistance before a being whose lineage was far superior.


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Quick¡­run!¡±


    ¡°This is an enemy we cannot defeat, everyone retreat!¡±


    The Fire Giant also felt his body tremble, but lacking the Dragon Vein, he could barely maintain flight.


    The remaining officers of the Fire Giants and hundreds of Fire Lizard Plunderers fled towards ¡°Ironforge City.¡±


    Then, something even more despairing happened to them.


    The colossal Red Dragon didn¡¯t pursue them, only slowly opening its enormous maw.


    What it expelled was not the familiar Flame Breath¡ªbut ice.


    [Extreme Cold Ice Explosure Spell]


    Intensely cold frost cascaded like a waterfall, nearly engulfing half the army.


    This type of ice shaping spell was highly ineffective in the Fire Elemental Plane, but Cassius forcibly cast it with the power of the ¡°Eternal Frost Horn,¡± metamagic effects, and extraordinary charisma.


    For life forms native to this place, it was lethal.


    Their scorching Flames of Life were instantly frozen and extinguished.


    By the time the surrounding intense fire element melted the frost, those fire elemental creatures had long lost their lives.


    ¡°This¡­how is this possible?¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s a Red Dragon!¡±


    The Fire Giant officer stood in a daze, his expression vacant; he had never seen a dragon like this.


    ¡°Quick, hurry! We must report this to Lord Emir!¡±


    He turned his head, increasing his flying speed, trailing wisps of smoke behind him.


    Soon, the space gradually twisted, and a portal appeared before him.


    Fire Giants were combatant warriors and high-ranking elemental creatures, naturally endowed with powerful spellcasting abilities, possessing innate spells like extraplanar teleportation, Fire Ignition Spell, Fireworks Spell, and more.


    But at this moment, it was too late to cast spells.


    Roaring flames appeared behind the Fire Giant, promptly coalescing into the gigantic body of the dragon.


    The forming portal shattered abruptly, evaporating into nothingness.


    Despair adorned the Fire Giant¡¯s face. He conjured flames in his hand, but they were utterly ineffective against the Red Dragon, even flowing directly into the crystalline core of his chest.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t kill me!¡±


    ¡°I am a Fire Giant!¡±


    ¡°Sizzle¡ªBoom!¡±


    Blinding lightning storms surrounded Cassius, suddenly expanding and engulfing the entire Fire Giant army.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°Help¡ª¡±


    The Fire Giants, who had earlier blustered about, were concentrated by the frenzied lightning, turning into unchecked primordial fire.


    ¡°Run quickly!¡±


    ¡°Lord Izal is dead!¡±


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames, flee!¡±


    But their words sounded like the crackling of burning to Cassius.


    The Fire Giant¡¯s troops continued to flee, utterly disregarding everything in this near-massacre battle.


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    Cassius flapped his wings, hovering in mid-air, pinching the flame with his claw tips.


    This was the essence of the Fire Giant.


    Nearly all elemental creatures possessed such a core¡ªthis Flame of Life.


    ¡°It looks quite delicious.¡±


    The Red Dragon opened his enormous maw, swallowing the Flame of Life and instantly feeling the surge of energy filling him.


    Cassius¡¯s eyes lit up. These fire elemental creatures¡¯ flames seemed like excellent food for him.


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames!¡±


    ¡°Lord Izal, he, he was eaten by him!¡±


    ¡°Izal was eaten!¡±


    The remaining Fire Giants and Fire Lizards screamed in terror.


    In the Fire Elemental Plane, there were indeed cases of elemental creatures devouring each other, but a noble Fire Giant being ¡°eaten¡± was exceedingly rare.


    Cassius let out a pleased roar and unleashed the Ninth Tier Spell, [Dragon¡¯s Absorption].


    Immediately, a black hole-like vortex appeared in the Red Dragon¡¯s gaping maw, greedily drawing in all surrounding energy.


    The Flames of Life from the Fire Lizards and Fire Drakes that Cassius had previously killed were sucked into his maw.


    Witnessing this scene, the Fire Giants and Fire Lizards fled with even greater desperation, ready to risk their lives.


    ¡°This, this¡­¡±


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames, they¡¯ve all been eaten!¡±


    ¡°Help¡ª I don¡¯t want to be eaten by this Red Dragon!¡±


    However, while feasting, Cassius didn¡¯t forget about them, waving his sharp claws from a distance.


    [Scratch Technique]


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Ashes flew.


    A claw-shaped force field appeared suddenly, slicing hundreds of Fire Lizards into pieces.


    The ground seemed to be plowed, with claw marks several dozen meters long and a few feet deep, scattered with the broken bodies of the Fire Lizards.


    ¡°Quickly, go!¡±


    ¡°Let these Fire Lizards buy us some time!¡±


    And those Fire Giant leaders took advantage of their ability to fly as smoke to escape, continuing towards Ironforge City.


    But Cassius wouldn¡¯t let go of such a delectable meal at hand.


    The Red Dragon ruthlessly tore through space, appearing behind the Fire Giants with dazzling flames accompanying him.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be eaten!¡±


    The Fire Giants wailed, but it was to no avail.


    The Red Dragon¡¯s spell vortex in his maw drew in the Fire Giants with immense force, rendering their desperate struggles ineffective.


    Amid a few screams, the last members of this army vanished. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For them, it was a hopeless battle; the battlefield was like a slaughterhouse, and the Red Dragon was a masterful butcher.


    There was no hope.


    All attacks were useless and even fueled the enemy, while they themselves could be easily destroyed.


    But for the Red Dragon, it was an effortless feast; his enemies were mere food.


    ¡°If I eat five hundred Fire Giants¡­ I might gather enough energy for my next advancement.¡±


    Cassius felt the slight fullness of energy in his belly, showing a contented smile.


    Since his bloodline advancement, he hadn¡¯t felt this ¡°full¡± in a long time.


    The battlefield before the Brass Fortress lay in ruins, the army sent by the Fire Giants completely annihilated.


    Only the massive Red Dragon stood on the ground of ashes and scorched earth, spreading his wide wings.


    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Victory to the Ashen Emperor!¡±


    In the distance, many soldiers of the Imperial Vanguard knelt on the scorching ground, ignoring their burned knees.


    They raised their rifles, cheering madly, their eyes filled with fanaticism and worship.


    This was their emperor, the symbol of victory, the embodiment of strength.


    This Dragon Emperor, as always, mercilessly destroyed their enemies, just like any other war before.


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    Tears of excitement streamed down Selcan¡¯s face, instantly evaporated by the high temperature.


    He never thought that after being sent to this remote and dangerous battlefield¡ªhe would see the Ashen Emperor and even receive his personal aid.


    But Glen and a group of Fire Dwarfs stared blankly at the Red Dragon¡¯s figure, their Bronze Hammers and Bronze Spears clanking to the ground, no one daring to pick them up.


    ¡°He, he ate those Fire Giants.¡±


    ¡°So, do you think¡­ His Majesty is full now?¡±


    Glen stammered, his legs trembling¡ªthe scene of the Red Dragon ravenously devouring the army now deeply imprinted in his brass-crafted mind.


    Those were Fire Giants!


    The Fire Elemental Plane¡¯s most powerful and proud creatures, possessing vast territories and enslaving many Fire Dwarfs and Fire Lizards.


    But they had become the Red Dragon¡¯s snack, without even a chance to resist.


    This Fire Dwarf noble had just believed that His Majesty Cassius was a different kind of Red Dragon, a benevolent ruler.


    But now, it seemed he had been somewhat naive.


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 Chapter 455 - 455 377 The Dwarfs Brass Fortress

    ?Chapter 455: Chapter 377: The Dwarf¡¯s Brass Fortress Chapter 455: Chapter 377: The Dwarf¡¯s Brass Fortress Cassius slowly moved his wings, stirring up a blistering gale. In just a few breaths, he arrived over the Brass Fortress.


    From his lofty vantage point, he gazed down at the Empire¡¯s army and the Fire Dwarves, his pale gold vertical pupils burning with flames.


    Selcan finally reacted. He hurried to the front of the Red Dragon, kneeling on the scorching ground, and exclaimed excitedly,


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°I truly never expected that you¡­ you would personally descend here!¡±


    The adjutant also stammered reverently, ¡°This is the highest honor for the entire Fire Elemental Plane vanguard!¡±


    It was no wonder they were so overwhelmed.


    Although they were all Dragonblood Nobility of the Empire, they could only admire the majestic figure of the Red Dragon from a distance on the battlefield. The conferment ceremony had been their closest encounter with the Emperor.


    But now, the Emperor had personally come to their battleground. There was even a possibility of close contact and conversation.


    This was something many Dragonblood Nobility could only dream of!


    To say that even being the Emperor¡¯s dog wouldn¡¯t qualify was not mere empty talk but a reality.


    Cassius looked at the Half-Dragon kneeling on the ground, suddenly remembering that he had seen this person at the conferment ceremony and had granted him the title of Viscount¡ªhis name seemed to be Selcan.


    Now, Cassius¡¯s memory was excellent, with an intelligence of 17 making his mind clearer than that of most mages.


    So, he spoke, ¡°You are Selcan Wood, Viscount of the Ashen Empire.¡±


    The Emperor remembered me!


    He even remembered my name! S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Kneeling on the ground, Selcan felt a rush of emotion, a mixture of excitement and a sense of being honored beyond measure.


    Not everyone qualified to gain the Emperor¡¯s attention!


    The Red Dragon in the sky surveyed the scene, his gaze taking in the soldiers before speaking again.


    ¡°You are all excellent! I am proud of you.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s voice was loud and firm, resonating across the expansive Fire Elemental Plane, seemingly able to disperse the rolling heat waves across this scorched land.


    ¡°Daring to come to such a dangerous place as the Fire Elemental Plane, you have not only shown your courage and determination, but you have also demonstrated your loyalty and commitment to the Empire.¡±


    ¡°The Empire needs warriors like you! Your presence is the Empire¡¯s most valuable asset.¡±


    Cassius moved his wings again, descending slowly from the sky, stirring up clouds of dust.


    ¡°On this challenging land, you will write a glorious chapter for the Empire with your swords and your strength.¡±


    ¡°Remember, no matter what difficulties and challenges you face, the Empire will stand with you, welcoming every dawn and victory together!¡±


    ¡°Stand up, my warriors.¡±


    The eyes of the thousand elite Imperial Vanguard soldiers around were filled with fervent and unwavering strength as they listened.


    Selcan was the first to rise from the ground. He drew the Imperial Silver Sword from his waist and raised it high, shouting loudly.


    ¡°Fight for the Empire!¡±


    ¡°Fight for His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Long live the Empire, and long live the invincible His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    The soldiers¡¯ cheers and shouts echoed unceasingly, like waves crashing tirelessly against the burning plains.


    Their faces were full of fanaticism and excitement, with even a glimmer of something called ¡°faith¡± in their eyes.


    Glen watched the cheering soldiers, feeling a mix of surprise and a trace of fear in his heart.


    ¡°Moradin above¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡­ are just like those fanatic Fire Giant warriors and their Sultan.¡±


    As a race that ardently followed order and tradition, there were rarely such warriors among the Fire Dwarves.


    Cassius, on the other hand, looked down at the Empire¡¯s soldiers on the ground, observing their fervent faces with a hint of a smile.


    ¡°With the expansion of the Empire, the people¡¯s faith in me grows day by day.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ ascending to godhood is no longer a distant dream but a likely future.¡±


    He thought.


    ¡­


    As temporary military allies, the Fire Dwarves were anxious about Cassius¡¯s arrival.


    They were both pleased with the arrival of powerful reinforcements and worried that this mighty dragon might do something terrifying.


    But after some discussion, they decided to welcome this ruler from the Material Plane. Many Fire Dwarf nobles gathered at the Brass Fortress entrance to greet him.


    Under the watchful eyes of the Imperial soldiers, Glen stood before the Red Dragon, trying to remain calm. He managed a smile and extended his hand.


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, please follow me.¡±


    ¡°On behalf of all Fire Dwarves, I welcome you to the Brass Fortress. It is our great honor.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly, his scales shimmering with a faint magical aura.


    [Shape-shifting Spell]


    The massive dragon body suddenly shrank, eventually transforming into a young man with black hair and golden eyes, dressed in a splendid robe.


    Leading the way, Fire Dwarf Glen, with Selcan and the other Imperial officers respectfully following.


    Cassius casually asked, ¡°Selcan, how did you come to enter the Brass Fortress?¡±


    Selcan quickly answered, ¡°Half a year ago, Lady Misha took action, and Emir of Ironforge City issued a warrant against us.¡±


    ¡°So, we fled to the territory of the Fire Dwarves, who have a blood feud with the Fire Giants.¡±


    ¡°At that time, we discovered that the Fire Giant¡¯s Fire Lizard Raider Troops were attacking the Brass Fortress and helped them¡­¡±


    Cassius praised, ¡°You did very well.¡±


    ¡°Entering unexplored lands requires the help of the local residents. The southern vanguard needs to learn from you.¡±


    Glen turned his head and respectfully said, ¡°Your Majesty, here is the entrance to the Brass Fortress.¡±


    Ahead was a brass-constructed building, shaped like a dome on the ground, appearing particularly solid.


    Its heavy and shiny brass shell was covered with scratches and marks from spell attacks, evidence of numerous assaults.


    Glen¡¯s proud voice came, ¡°Our Fire Dwarves¡¯ skills are always the finest¡ªeven the Fire Giants cannot break through the fortress we built.¡±


    But the entrance was only six feet high, spacious for the Fire Dwarves but quite narrow for Cassius and the Imperial soldiers.


    Glen was the first to enter.


    Cassius, however, took one step, piercing through space, and arrived directly inside the fortress.


    Selcan crouched down and squeezed through with difficulty.


    ¡°This place is quite expansive, truly worthy of a fortress built by the Fire Dwarves over a thousand years.¡±


    Cassius looked around, somewhat surprised by the surroundings.


    The Brass Fortress did not appear remarkable from the ground, even looking somewhat small, but its interior was another world.


    The underground portion was vast, a giant cavern with spiral roads constantly extending downward.


    From the ground at the bottom to the rocky ceiling above, the height must be nearly a hundred meters.


    Moreover, looking forward, there seemed to be no end in sight. Everywhere was filled with finely crafted Fire Dwarf buildings.


    Cassius estimated that the Brass Fortress¡¯s area was at least the size of cities like Northwind Castle and Stratholme Fortress in the North.


    Exquisite houses made of clay or metal, lifelike copper statues.


    The rock walls on both sides were full of mines of various sizes.


    Everywhere were Fire Dwarf miners carrying copper hammers and ores.


    They moved back and forth between the mines and roads, working tirelessly and busily.


    ¡°Clang! Clang!¡±


    ¡°Heave-ho! Heave-ho!¡±


    Crisp hammering sounds mingled with breathless grunts.


    In those houses, Fire Dwarf blacksmiths swung copper hammers, hammering heavily on anvils, creating sparks.


    At the fortress¡¯s center, a hundred-meter-tall giant copper statue of a dwarf stood towering.


    The statue¡¯s expression was solemn and dignified, holding a colossal hammer against the ceiling, as if supporting the vast underground world.


    That was the guardian deity of the dwarves, the Fire Dwarves¡¯ original smith¡ªMoradin.


    In the distance, tall brass palaces stood, likely homes of the Fire Dwarf nobility.


    This was not just a fortress.


    This was a Fire Dwarf city! It was the culmination of their civilization!

 Chapter 456 - 456 378 Sharins Respect

    ?Chapter 456: Chapter 378 Sharin¡¯s Respect Chapter 456: Chapter 378 Sharin¡¯s Respect ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, please wait for a moment.¡±


    ¡°The supreme ruler of the Brass Fortress, who is also my father, will come to meet you.¡±


    After leading Cassius and his entourage to a finely crafted bronze palace, Glen said this.


    Selcan stepped forward, glanced around, then nervously approached and whispered:


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡±


    ¡°We have only stayed in the outskirts of the Brass Fortress before, but there is no doubt that this city holds great value.¡±


    ¡°It could easily become the empire¡¯s stronghold in the Fire Elemental Plane. Now that you¡¯re here, along with thousands of imperial soldiers, we might as well¡­¡±


    The heart of the Half-Dragon beat rapidly, his eyes filled with ambition.


    For the empire¡¯s military, expanding territory was everything; it was only natural to have such thoughts.


    But Cassius gently shook his head.


    ¡°No, Selcan.¡±


    ¡°The most precious wealth here is not this Brass Fortress but the Fire Dwarves within it.¡±


    ¡°The empire has no roots in the Fire Elemental Plane; we need an entrenched native race as an ally.¡±


    He glanced at Selcan beside him and continued.


    ¡°And haven¡¯t you read the empire¡¯s issue of the ¡®Colonial Theory¡¯? Control over a race isn¡¯t achieved merely through force.¡±


    ¡°I was dull-witted, Your Majesty.¡±


    A flash of disappointment crossed Selcan¡¯s eyes as he lowered his head, carefully contemplating Cassius¡¯ words.


    He ordinarily didn¡¯t have the privilege of meeting the emperor, and now that he had such a precious opportunity, he was naturally making the most of every second.


    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°They have arrived.¡±


    His adjutant reminded him from the side.


    In the distance, a group of Fire Dwarves dressed in brass short skirts approached, with the leader wearing a petite crown and holding a copper scepter.


    The leading Fire Dwarf saw Cassius and, after a single glance, bowed deeply.


    ¡°Sharin Cardoso, at your service, great Majesty Cassius. Glen has explained your purpose to me.¡±


    ¡°Pleased to meet you, esteemed lord of the Brass Fortress.¡±


    Cassius nodded in greeting, scrutinizing this Fire Dwarf noble, a hint of seriousness flickering in his pale golden pupils.


    This Fire Dwarf noble was far from being as weak and rustic as he appeared.


    As the owner of the Brass Fortress, the Fire Dwarf noble was at least several thousand years old, likely tracing his lineage back to ancient mythological times.


    ¡°Must be taken seriously.¡±


    ¡°Fire Dwarves¡­ would make a good ¡®ally.¡¯ Controlling them would greatly benefit the empire.¡±


    Cassius thought this.


    While Sharin also discreetly observed the human-shaped dragon in front of him.


    What made the Fire Dwarf somewhat fearful was that even in human form, this dragon exuded an unconcealable Dragon¡¯s Might.


    It reminded him of the Ancestral Dragons who had dominated the world and stirred the multiverse ages ago.


    ¡°Must be treated with caution; perhaps¡­ his arrival concerns the fate of the Brass Fortress.¡±


    Sharin thought this.


    He silently thanked himself for opposing the majority years ago and accepting those Dragon Vein warriors from the Material Plane.


    Otherwise, it could very well be them facing the dragon¡¯s wrath instead of the Fire Giants now.


    Thinking this, Sharin was the first to speak, his copper-cast face filled with a smile.


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, you have once again helped us repel the Fire Giants¡¯ invasion. I don¡¯t know how to thank you?¡±


    He extended his hand, bowing and making a ¡°please¡± gesture.


    ¡°How about this: We will hold a grand feast in the palace to thank you for your help, celebrate your arrival, and show you our Fire Dwarves¡¯ hospitality.¡±


    ¡°Additionally, we have prepared tens of thousands of gold coins to repay your kindness.¡±


    Sharin assumed a particularly humble stance; he had likely dealt with many Red Dragons and knew their tendencies for vanity and greed.


    Regardless of how unique a dragon may seem, they could not escape their nature. The Fire Dwarf noble believed that this approach would satisfy the Dragon Emperor.


    However, the reply he received was unexpected, making his pupils shimmer. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°No need for that right now.¡±


    Cassius lightly shook his head, smiling as he spoke.


    ¡°The enemy of my enemy is my friend. You Fire Dwarves and the Fire Giants are mortal enemies, and my retainers are also targeted by the Fire Giants.¡±


    ¡°Thus, it seems¡­ the empire and the Fire Dwarves should be natural allies.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, with a formidable enemy before us, we should eliminate the Fire Giants obstructing us before considering a feast and rewards, shouldn¡¯t we?¡±


    Sharin was momentarily stunned.


    This dragon was neither greedy for gold nor fame?


    After a moment of thought, the Fire Dwarf noble hurriedly agreed: ¡°You are right.¡±


    But Cassius continued, his eyes blazing with fire that sent chills down the spines of the Fire Dwarves.


    ¡°Besides¡­ my feast is not in your Brass Fortress but in that Ironforge City.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ understand.¡±


    The Fire Dwarf swallowed hard.


    Cassius reassured him: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lord Sharin; my anger is directed solely at the Fire Giants who insulted me, not at you Fire Dwarves.¡±


    ¡°Now, I just want to know about that ¡®Ironforge City.¡¯ I heard it was built under your supervision.¡±


    Sharin nodded solemnly and replied: ¡°Long ago, when the Fire Giants were still our allies, we helped them build many cities¡­¡±


    ¡°The City of Brass is the greatest masterpiece of us Fire Dwarves, but as for the so-called Ironforge City, heh.¡±


    He shook his head with a light chuckle before continuing: ¡°Just a shabby imitation, filled with flaws in my view.¡±


    ¡°Those Fire Giants are nothing but a bunch of thieves who kidnapped our people and occupied our works, but the finest craftsmanship will always be in the hands of the Fire Dwarves!¡±


    Sharin gripped his scepter tightly and spoke firmly.


    Cassius smiled. He had long recognized this characteristic in the Fire Dwarves¡ªwhen reminded of their past glory, they would proudly puff out their chests.


    And he could potentially use this to control the Fire Dwarves of the Brass Fortress.


    He wouldn¡¯t use crude methods like ¡°enslavement¡± but would opt for more voluntary labor.


    At the side, Glen quietly added: ¡°The Fire Giant recently assumed the position of ¡®Emir¡¯¡ªthat is, the City Lord of Ironforge City.¡±


    ¡°And the last celebration feast was ruined by Lord Misha, so he will likely host a new banquet soon¡­¡±


    The implication was clear.


    The Fire Giant noble would undoubtedly be present at the upcoming banquet, providing an excellent opportunity.


    Cassius chuckled lightly.


    ¡°Very well, I believe I have found my ¡®feast.¡¯


    The Fire Dwarves present simultaneously swallowed hard. If not for the flames on their heads, they might have broken out in a cold sweat.


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 Chapter 457 - 457 379 Emirs Banquet

    ?Chapter 457: Chapter 379 Emir¡¯s Banquet Chapter 457: Chapter 379 Emir¡¯s Banquet The Burning Wildlands, Ironforge City.


    This city sat atop an iron hemisphere spanning several miles in radius, presenting a mottled appearance, with rivers of flowing flame surrounding it.


    Outside the brass gates, enormous and terrifying multi-headed Flame Serpent Lizards and Flame Pythons patrolled.


    The low, hissing sounds of ¡°Sss sss¡± echoed through the rivers of flame, and, perpetually famished, they would devour any unauthorized intruders.


    Within the city, there were fountains of fire, burning palaces, and mansions made of charcoal.


    This city was considered a marvel, though it was merely a poor imitation of the legendary ¡°City of Brass.¡±


    According to the Fire Dwarfs, it wasn¡¯t even one ten-thousandth as magnificent as that City of Brass.


    Though there might have been some exaggeration, it was a testament to the greatness of the legendary City of Brass and the superb craftsmanship of the Fire Dwarfs. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Praise the Great Sultan!¡±


    ¡°Praise the Lord of Flames!¡±


    And at this moment, in the tallest building made of brass in the city¡¯s center, melodious flute music continued to play, accompanied by enthusiastic cheering and shouting.


    This was a particularly grand banquet, with all the Fire Giants from the city gathered to celebrate the arrival of the newly appointed ¡°Emir.¡±


    The Great Sultan was a Fire Giant of extraordinary power and strength, assisted by various Chieftains, Governors, and Emir Nobility. His direct servants were six exceptionally formidable Pashas.


    This banquet¡¯s protagonist was named Hamid Abdul, a nobility of the Fire Giants of lofty lineage, who was the Emir sent by the Great Sultan to take over Ironforge City.


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames!¡±


    ¡°This is truly a grand event! Ironforge City hasn¡¯t been this lively in centuries!¡±


    ¡°Let us welcome the new Emir of Ironforge City¡ªthe noble Hamid!¡±


    ¡°Hamid!¡±


    The Fire Giants cheered loudly.


    A burly Fire Giant appeared in the brass hall, surrounded by throngs of attendants.


    ¡°Praise to the noble and mighty Hamid Abdul!¡±


    Someone shouted.


    This Fire Giant noble was significantly taller than ordinary Fire Giants, standing over five meters high.


    This massive giant had skin as red as fire, eyes like burning coals, a pair of short black horns on his head, and smoke swirling upward from his body.


    His lava-red skin was covered by robes made of exquisite silk and satin, also adorned with golden rings, chains, and rings.


    A closer look would reveal¡ªa piece of his finger was missing, concealed by an exaggerated golden finger guard.


    Hamid looked around and then spoke in a deep and powerful tone:


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames, welcome to my inauguration banquet!¡±


    ¡°I have come here representing the will of the great Sultan to rule Ironforge City, to strengthen the Kingdom of the Fire Giants!¡±


    The Fire Giants poured scalding hot wine, raising brass goblets exuding white smoke, and declared loudly.


    ¡°Everyone, let us drink to our hearts¡¯ content tonight!¡±


    ¡°I will form a powerful army! You will join me in conquests, plundering those contemptible enemies, ensuring Ironforge City gains more serfs and wealth!¡±


    ¡°Praise Lord Hamid!¡±


    ¡°You are the rightful Emir, the great Sultan¡¯s vicar!¡±


    Amid the loud cheers, the Fire Giant nobles lifted their heads high and drained their goblets of fine wine, exhaling smoky breath.


    The Fire Giants considered all other beings either adversaries or potential serfs.


    They often raided the Material Plane and Elemental Plane, capturing slaves to bring back to their homes in the Fire Elemental Plane.


    And Hamid¡¯s words evidently struck a chord with the Fire Giants, even prompting them to burst into song.


    ¡°We are the masters of the Fire Elemental Plane! We are powerful mythical creatures!¡±


    ¡°Pillage! Plunder!¡±


    ¡°Contemptible races shall prostrate before us, becoming our slaves!¡±


    They drank the fine wine on the table, consumed the charred bread and roasted meat, and frivolously tossed the looted gold and jewels around.


    Hamid, his face filled with excitement, thought to himself that this was precisely what he desired.


    However, at the last banquet, he encountered unexpected circumstances, having a finger cut off by a human half-breed from the Material Plane.


    ¡°Damn half-breed¡­¡±


    ¡°Daring to anger a great Fire Giant noble, I will make you experience true Hell¡­¡±


    Thinking of this, the Fire Elemental noble rubbed his golden finger guard fiercely, his face grim, as the image of that human writhing in torment vividly surfaced in his mind.


    The Fire Giants were hypocritical and devious, ruthless and merciless. They pursued petty revenge tirelessly on those who offended them¡ªHamid being no exception.


    Yet he had not succeeded thus far.


    ¡°Humph, today is my day of joy. I won¡¯t think about that pitiful half-breed human for now¡­¡±


    Hamid casually tore off a piece of the Fire Drake¡¯s thigh and stuffed it into his mouth, voraciously chewing and swallowing, joining in the feast.


    Though they, as elemental essences, did not need to eat, they did not reject the indulgence of a charred delicacy.


    But amidst the lively atmosphere, an untimely voice interrupted.


    ¡°Lord Emir.¡±


    ¡°But how did I hear¡­that you just had a finger chopped off by a human girl?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, esteemed ¡®Finger Cutter¡¯ Hamid?¡±


    Instantly, a deathly silence fell around.


    The Fire Giants present were so frightened that their spoons and plates clattered onto the table.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The Fire Giant noble slammed his hand on the table, causing cracks to appear.


    ¡°Who!¡±


    ¡°Who is speaking!¡±


    Hamid¡¯s lava-red face immediately turned black as charcoal, thick smoke gushed from his mouth and nose, and an uncontrollable fire surged from the top of his head.


    For these words struck him where it hurt!


    The Fire Giants were an extremely warlike race, and he, being a noble and the newly appointed Emir of Ironforge City¡ªhad had a finger cut off by a human in public!


    This was an immense humiliation!


    That insulting nickname ¡°Finger Cutter¡± had also recently spread secretly among the Fire Giants.


    If this continued, his dignity as an Emir would be lost!


    Thinking of this, the Fire Giant noble let out a furious roar:


    ¡°Despicable wretch!¡±


    ¡°Where is the courage the Lord of Flames bestowed upon you? You dare to speak, but lack the courage to admit it?¡±


    Hamid¡¯s oppressing gaze swept over the gathered Fire Giants.


    They lowered their heads in tension, exchanging glances but not one dared to stand forward to face the wrath of the Emir.


    ¡°Humph.¡±


    Hamid snorted coldly.


    ¡°If you dare not admit, so be it! Cowardly and craven, hiding your head¡ª the Lord of Flames will punish you!¡±


    Seeing the Fire Giants¡¯ silence, he paced back and forth in the hall and continued: ¡°You think I dare not revenge that human half-breed?¡±


    ¡°You are all wrong!¡±


    ¡°It was all intentional! Simply burning that human half-breed would be too easy; I want her to experience the utmost despair!¡±


    Hamid grew more excited and his tone more fervent as he spoke.


    ¡°I will make that human half-breed watch as I destroy her laughable kingdom; burn her homeland to ashes; trample down the lord she serves¡­¡±


    ¡°Clap! Clap! Clap!¡±


    The clear sound of applause interrupted Hamid¡¯s words.


    Then, that familiar voice re-emerged, dripping with unabashed sarcasm.


    ¡°Well said.¡±


    ¡°You narrate that daydream wonderfully, esteemed ¡®Finger Cutter¡¯ Lord Hamid.¡±

 Chapter 458 - 458 380 The Red Dragons Dinner

    ?Chapter 458: Chapter 380: The Red Dragon¡¯s Dinner Chapter 458: Chapter 380: The Red Dragon¡¯s Dinner Hearing the title ¡°Finger Cutter,¡± the fire giant Hamid¡¯s veins bulged and his eyes seemed to ignite, smoke curling from his body.


    He pulled out the gold-inlaid scimitar from his waist again, its tip glinting coldly as he pointed it towards the source of the voice.


    ¡°Finally, I have caught you!¡±


    ¡°What are your intentions? How dare you insult a noble fire giant, an emir sent by the great Sultan to govern you!¡±


    ¡°Are you questioning the rule of the great Sultan, the guidance of the Lord of Flames?¡±


    Hamid was fabricating a crime.


    He wanted to let this ignorant fellow see his power.


    He was establishing his authority!


    One must know that the fire giants practiced tyranny, and the noble fire giants who served as pasha and emir represented the Sultan¡¯s will.


    There was a chasm-like status gap between the noble fire giants and the commoners.


    The guests at the banquet quickly made way, only to see that the direction of the scimitar¡¯s tip was an unremarkable ordinary fire giant wearing a headscarf.


    ¡°What is your name?¡±


    Hamid questioned, a cruel smile appearing on his face.


    However, the fire giant raised his head, staring directly at the extraordinarily tall noble fire giant, a mocking smile appearing on his face.


    ¡°Heh heh, that¡¯s not important.¡±


    ¡°Dear Lord Hamid, do you recognize this?¡±


    Under the curious gazes of the fire giants, he calmly took out a ring from his pocket.


    A bright gold ring, its surface glowing with a flame aura.


    ¡°Hiss¡ª¡±


    ¡°This actually is¡­¡±


    ¡°How, how is this possible?¡±


    All the fire giants present who saw the ring looked panicked and gasped, including the noble fire giant Hamid.


    The reason was simple¡ªthis was the ring Hamid had lost, the ring worn on the finger cut off by a human!


    ¡°You¡­ who are you really?¡±


    ¡°How did you get in!¡±


    ¡°Why is this ring in your hands!¡±


    Hamid concealed his fleeting surprise, feigning strength, and loudly questioned.


    His mind was a bit chaotic already. In his view, this ¡°fire giant¡± in front of him was definitely not pretending!


    ¡°Of course, through a secret passage. The fire dwarves who built this city hate you to the core.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, you fire giants pride yourselves on being the most civilized and intelligent race in the Plane of Fire elements.¡±


    ¡°But it seems you¡¯re not much better, not even as capable as my ogre subordinates.¡±


    ¡°Who I am¡ª¡±


    The ¡°fire giant¡¯s¡± body flashed with tiny auroras of mana, seemingly on the verge of violent changes.


    ¡°Arrogant fool, you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Just as Hamid was about to retort, he found the figure in front of him rapidly expanding, forcing him to look up.


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames¡­¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°How is this possible¡­¡±


    Under the shadow, the noble fire giant muttered to himself.


    A massive Red Dragon abruptly appeared, its towering back smashing the glass chandelier on the ceiling, its wide wings enveloping half the hall.


    Cassius slightly lowered his head, using his golden pupils to look down at the noble fire giant beneath him, a grim smile appearing on his dragon face.


    ¡°It is already so obvious, can¡¯t you guess?¡±


    He then finished the latter half of his sentence and continued mockingly:


    ¡°I am the ruler of the nation you seek to destroy, the lord you wish to trample underfoot, dear Lord Hamid.¡±


    The noble fire giant trembled all over, muttering incessantly: ¡°Ancestral dragon¡­ no, he is even bigger than an ancient Red Dragon.¡±


    ¡°Damned, how can such a being exist in the Material Plane? This type of Red Dragon should be accompanying Tiamat in the Barto Hell!¡±


    Hamid raised his head, his scarlet face turning somewhat pale, a forced smile appearing on it.


    ¡°Great Dragon, I think¡­ there might be some misunderstanding between us.¡±


    ¡°Your retainers misunderstood¡­¡±


    He explained weakly.


    Cassius, however, lowered his head, staring at the nervous face of the fire giant, and let out a sneer.


    ¡°Misunderstanding?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t find any misunderstanding.¡±


    With a voice ever so deep and powerful, the Red Dragon¡¯s tone shifted from light-hearted to angry.


    ¡°Proud and ignorant fire giant, I did not see a misunderstanding; I saw you insulting me, chasing my retainers, besieging my army¡­¡±


    ¡°I wanted to give you a final chance to atone, but you humiliated me, tried to destroy my nation, and even sought to trample me underfoot!¡±


    By now, his voice thundered like a mighty storm, echoing resoundingly within the Brass Palace.


    ¡°I come bearing the Empire¡¯s goodwill, seeking cooperation between both sides, and you¡ªunswervingly chose to become my enemy!¡±


    ¡°Therefore, I will make you and your people pay the price!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The dragon¡¯s roar reverberated through the city.


    The overwhelming Dragon¡¯s Might filled out, making all living beings in the city feel soul-crushing oppression.


    Whether it was the laboring fire dwarves, the fire lizards, fire giant slaves, or the fire giant overseers wielding whips, all felt a wave of panic.


    ¡°Run!¡±


    ¡°Protect Lord Emir!¡±


    ¡°That is an enemy we cannot fight!¡±


    The fire giants in the hall panicked and fled in all directions.


    The fire giants were a race of fierce warriors, but when faced with such a colossal Red Dragon, even the bravest fire giant warrior would lose their courage and flee.


    The fire giants soared into the sky, their lower bodies transforming into a mass of gray smoke and embers.


    And as the most powerful of them all, Hamid desperately flew at the forefront, still calling out.


    ¡°Guards! Quickly cover me!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t let him catch up!¡±


    His speed was exceptionally swift, once again showcasing the powerful spellcasting abilities of the nobility.


    Cassius was not in a hurry to enjoy this meal. He leisurely stretched his wings before opening his mouth.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    At once, a surging vortex of magic appeared in his mouth, a powerful force filling the palace¡ªthat was still [Dragon¡¯s Absorption].


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°Such strong suction!¡±


    ¡°Lord Emir, I can¡¯t withstand it! Save me!¡±


    The fire giant guards who were covering the rear tried their best to fly but were still sucked into the magic vortex like a black hole.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    ¡°For the great Sultan!¡±


    ¡°Lord of Flames, damn reptile, die!¡±


    Realizing they couldn¡¯t escape, the fire giant guards roared in anger, launching a counterattack in their final moments.


    Scimitars swung, arrows shot, and scalding flames attacked.


    However, none of this had any effect on the immense and terrifying Red Dragon, not even enough to tickle him.


    ¡°Hiss¡ª¡±


    With the sound of the air splitting.


    Cassius spat out blazing flames, engulfing all the fire giants.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°How can I be burned by flames¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to disapp¡­¡±


    Being incarnations of elemental essence, the fire giants were not afraid of ordinary flames.


    But as an Ancestral Dragon, Cassius¡¯ breath possessed a higher magical nature, capable of absorbing the ¡°essence¡± of fire giants and making it his own.


    In just a few breaths, the flames still burned vigorously, burning even more fiercely, while the fire giants had already disappeared.


    Even their weapons melted, dripping onto the ground.


    ¡°Hiss¡ª¡±


    Cassius reabsorbed the flames, feeling the fullness of energy within him, he licked his lips in satisfaction.


    ¡°Just the fire giants alone contained so much energy¡­¡±


    ¡°So, what about this so-called noble¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s pale golden pupils focused on the fleeing noble fire giant, showing a glint of greed.


    He harbored no mercy for these fire giants who were enemies and enslavers of all races.


    The enslaver became enslaved.


    The exploiter was devoured.


    This was in accordance with the natural order.


    What¡¯s more, recalling certain intelligence from his previous life and confirming the situation of the ¡°great Sultan,¡± Caius felt even more justified.


    ¡°Cur, cursed¡­¡±


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames, they were all eaten!¡±


    ¡°He really dares to do this!¡±


    Meanwhile, Hamid was desperately flying, hearing the wails of the fire giant guards behind him, feeling unparalleled fear.

 Chapter 459 - 459 381 Hamids Escape

    ?Chapter 459: Chapter 381: Hamid¡¯s Escape Chapter 459: Chapter 381: Hamid¡¯s Escape ¡°Hurry up!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t block my way!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, that giant dragon is catching up!¡±


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames¡­¡±


    ¡°How dare he devour a Giant Spirit! Is he not afraid of the Great Sultan¡¯s wrath?¡±


    The Fire Giants crowded out from the grand doors of the Brass Palace, screaming and pushing, frantically escaping this land of death.


    Due to their flight, thick smoke and embers billowed from their backs.


    ¡°Quickly! Close the doors and trap that Red Dragon inside, don¡¯t let him out!¡±


    Hamid commanded loudly while flying.


    The Fire Lizard slaves stationed at the entrance, their bodies entangled in heavy iron chains, exerted all their strength to turn the wheel.


    ¡°Squeak¡­¡±


    With a piercing metal scraping sound, the brass doors slowly shut.


    The Fire Giants cast spells in succession, using Arcane Locks to seal the door, attempting to temporarily trap the terrifying giant dragon.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The sound of metal clashing echoed, the brass doors bulged with scratch marks, but did not break.


    The Fire Giants heaved a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Thank goodness¡­¡±


    ¡°For now, he can¡¯t get out, we can take this chance¡­¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The next moment, the massive Red Dragon burst through the thick walls, surging out of the palace amid rolling smoke and embers.


    The structure behind him crumbled.


    Cassius spread his wings, pouncing towards the panicked Fire Giants, roaring, ¡°Since you¡¯ve chosen to be my enemies¡ª¡±


    ¡°You shall pay the price! And that price is your lives!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s out!¡±


    ¡°Run!¡±


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°What kind of flames are these?¡±


    The Red Dragon exhaled fierce flames, turning the surroundings into a sea of fire, nearly engulfing all the Giants within its range.


    Perhaps it was karma.


    The Fire Giants, who enjoyed pillaging the Material and Elemental Planes, using fire to cleanse the earthly homes, finally experienced the sensation of ¡°being burned.¡±


    Dragonflame wreathed the Fire Giants¡¯ entire bodies, disintegrating their forms in an instant and devouring their fire essences.


    This was the Dragonflame of the Ancestral Dragon, still possessing all the properties of flame yet elevated by magical essence.


    Hamid continued to fly, trailing smoke behind him.


    The sacrifices of the fellow Fire Giant nobility bought him significant time, allowing him to fly several hundred meters away.


    Hamid occasionally glanced back, shaking his head in disbelief, muttering.


    ¡°Impossible¡­¡±


    ¡°What kind of flames are these¡­¡±


    Even from several hundred meters away, he still felt the terror of the flames.


    As the flames drew near, he felt like his internal magic was being evaporated, gradually losing control.


    Hamid genuinely felt that transcendent power, the overwhelmingly destructive fire instilling deep fear within him.


    Such unreachable flames, he had only seen on the Great Sultan of the Fire Giants in the City of Brass and that Elemental Prince in the Final Burning Temple.


    ¡°I must¡­ leave here.¡±


    ¡°I, I must return to the City of Brass and report to the Great Sultan!¡±


    The noble Fire Giant said tremblingly, while swinging a scimitar to open a portal before him.


    ¡°Ashes¡ª¡±


    Cassius rampaged through Ironforge City, demolishing buildings with ease, leaving ruins in his wake.


    The Red Dragon spread its wings; wherever it went, flames raged, consuming the panicked Fire Giants entirely.


    Facing the thirty-meter-long Atavistic Red Dragon, these usually arrogant Fire Giants were reduced to their former victims¡¯ state.


    Like sacrificial lambs, they had no resistance, continuously praying for divine salvation.


    In mere breaths, dozens of Fire Giants reverted to fire essence forms, absorbed by the Red Dragon.


    While enjoying the feast, Cassius also activated the Supreme True Dragon Diadem on his head, better known as the Wind of Bahamut.


    He encircled his fierce head with the Divine Power of Order, preventing himself from falling into a frenzy and losing his sanity.


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡±


    ¡°A portal?¡±


    Cassius sensed the spatial fluctuations in the distance, narrowing his eyes and curling his lips.


    He extended a claw, pointing in the distance, a jet of greenish-black spell light shooting forth.


    [Magic Withering]


    ¡°Hurry, hurry¡­¡±


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames, as long as I return to the City of Brass, the Great Sultan will protect me. He will surely kill this giant dragon¡­¡±


    Hamid urgently watched the forming portal, chanting desperately.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The greenish-black light struck, instantly disintegrating the portal, returning the space to calm.


    ¡°No, no no¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still a chance¡­¡±


    The noble Fire Giant shook his head frantically; his rough face twisted in dread.


    Seeing his spell fail, he continued flying forward without looking back, trailing thick ash behind him.


    ¡°Trying to escape?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve chosen your destined end!¡±


    Cassius¡¯s roar thundered like lightning.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon fiercely flapped its wings, stirring a scorching wind strong enough to topple buildings, covering a hundred meters in an instant.


    Hamid dared not look back, flying desperately, already sensing the sulfurous breath and the approaching gale.


    At last, he reached the city gates.


    ¡°Lord Hamid?¡±


    ¡°That is¡ª¡±


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames!¡±


    The guarding Fire Giant soldiers first gazed in astonishment at the fleeing Hamid, then were terrified by the giant dragon pursuing him.


    ¡°Get out of the way!¡±


    ¡°Release the Fire Hydra Lizard to block him!¡±


    Hamid commanded angrily.


    In the Fire Giants¡¯ hasty actions, the massive gate of the city wall opened with a roar, releasing a gigantic and terrifying monster.


    That was the Fire Hydra Lizard, with a colossal body over a dozen meters long and five heads atop multiple snakelike necks.


    It was said to be a monster born from the blood of a slain Lernaean Dragon God by the Evil Dragon Queen Tiamat¡ªforever cursed by the hatred of the Fallen God to remain ravenous.


    The released Fire Hydra Lizard was extremely excited, lifting all five heads to the sky, bellowing loudly.


    It was ready for a great feast.


    ¡°Roar~~¡±


    But soon it sensed a terrifying presence approaching rapidly, along with the roaring sound of the air.


    The Fire Hydra Lizard¡¯s ten eyes filled with confusion.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The next moment, Cassius swept by at low altitude, his far larger body crushing it mercilessly.


    Flesh and blood flew, and all that remained where the Fire Hydra Lizard once stood were a few feet, its flesh completely smashed to pulp.


    This incredibly terrifying monster to mortals was like a paper doll before the Red Dragon.


    A lizard¡¯s head rolled to the ground, its eyes filled with bewilderment.


    ¡°Lord of Flames protect¡­¡±


    ¡°I hope that insatiable fool can delay a bit longer.¡±


    The noble Fire Giant prayed silently while continuing to fly frantically.


    But contrary to his wishes, the gale followed him closely, and a massive shadow appeared on the ground ahead.


    Hamid felt a darkness before him, followed by an overwhelming force taking control of his entire body.


    The Fire Giant slowly raised his head, trembling, the flame atop it flickering, and his terrified face contorting.


    ¡°M-Master, I think there¡¯s some misunderstanding¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon had firmly grasped the noble Fire Giant, a smile on his terrifying dragon face.


    ¡°Esteemed ¡®Finger Cutter¡¯ Hamid, give me a reason not to kill you?¡±


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 Chapter 460 - 460 382 Wish Magic of the Giant Spirits

    ?Chapter 460: Chapter 382 Wish Magic of the Giant Spirits Chapter 460: Chapter 382 Wish Magic of the Giant Spirits Upon hearing Cassius¡¯s question, Hamid, held in the giant claw, trembled all over and called out in a shaky voice:


    ¡°You, you can¡¯t kill me!¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°I am an Emir appointed by the Great Sultan of the City of Brass! If you kill me¡­ you will be declaring war against the entire Empire of the Fire Giants!¡±


    The nobility of the Fire Giants tried to muster up some courage, but the fear in his eyes was still unmistakable.


    Cassius immediately laughed out loud.


    ¡°Ha ha¡­¡±


    ¡°In a situation like this, do you really think your Great Sultan would bother with a little Emir like you?¡±


    His words were filled with confidence, as if he had completely mastered the situation, showing no fear of the Sultan.


    The reason he had specifically chosen to come to the Fire Elemental Plane at this moment was to recall the famous event from his previous life¡ªthe Burning War.


    The Great Sultan of the City of Brass was indeed immensely powerful.


    He stood at the peak of legend, close to possessing pseudogod power. He had allied with the Great Devils of Hell and relied on the evil Fire Elemental Master, Prince of Evil Fire, Imix.


    Under his brutal tyranny, fire giants wielding scimitars had plundered numerous planes, enslaving many races, and established a vast empire that spanned the Fire Elemental Plane, even defeating the expeditionary army from Fadlan.


    But the glory of the Fire Giants was not immortal.


    The true master behind the Fire Elemental Plane, the Master of Fire, Kasus, who possessed divine power, would not allow the Prince of Evil Fire to fully control the Fire Elemental Plane and covet His divine throne. Thus, He sent the Pure Flames to cleanse all.


    Since the year 1768 of the Third Era, the benevolent Lord of the Fire Elementals, Prince of the Holy Flame, Zaman Roul, had launched an uprising, uniting many fire dwarves, elemental apostles, and extraterrestrial races enslaved by the Fire Giants.


    They formed an organization called the ¡°Holy Flame¡± and engaged in an endless battle with the evil Fire Elemental Prince, Imix.


    The war continued, and the flames of vengeance and rebellion spread across the Fire Elemental Plane, while the Sultan dared not easily leave the City of Brass.


    ¡°Or perhaps¡­ would he declare war on me for your sake? Risking offending a powerful Red Dragon?¡±


    Upon hearing this, the Fire Giant noble¡¯s face turned pale, and a hint of despair appeared in his coal-like eyes.


    Because the Red Dragon was right.


    As a prodigal noble, becoming an Emir governing a city was only because of the tense war at the front lines, with the powerful Fire Giants being deployed to participate in the war.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    Something occurred to Cassius, and his face suddenly showed an interested expression.


    ¡°Now that I¡¯ve captured you, if I release you¡ªdo I get three wishes?¡±


    As the natural rulers of the Elemental Plane, giant spirits not only had formidable physiques and spellcasting abilities but also gained the power of ¡°wishing¡± from the essence of the Inner Plane.


    This is why Fire Giants were also called ¡°Fire Mythical Creatures¡± by people.


    The power to grant wishes had become legendary among mortals, and only the noble class of giants could do this. They could grant one to three wishes to a non-giant living being.


    But there were invisible limits to wish magic, and exceeding this limit would result in disastrous forms.


    Therefore, in the previous life, Fire Giants were also called ¡°Wishing Machines¡± by players, and under normal circumstances had to be summoned with God-Praying Candles, carrying significant risks.


    ¡°Yes, my Lord!¡±


    ¡°I, I can also offer you a wish!¡±


    Like grasping at the last straw, Hamid hurriedly responded, fearing the Red Dragon would devour him whole.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    His tone hesitated slightly.


    ¡°Great Dragon, my power is too weak. With each contract, I can only grant a single wish to another being.¡±


    ¡°Whether you desire gold and silver treasures or fine wine and delicacies, I can procure them for you.¡±


    The Fire Giant noble displayed an ingratiating smile on his bright red face, discarding any semblance of noble dignity in the face of death.


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    ¡°And don¡¯t you think I lack gold, silver, jewels, or fine wine and delicacies?¡±


    The Fire Giant was on the verge of tears.


    ¡°Of, of course not.¡±


    ¡°Great Dragon, I was presumptuous.¡±


    The fleeting curiosity passed, and Cassius felt somewhat bored.


    A single wish might be incredibly precious for mortals, a chance to change destiny, but for a Red Dragon, it was just so-so.


    Wish magic typically worked by simulating any spell in the world.


    If the aim couldn¡¯t be achieved through simulated spells, the wish might fail, requiring a significant price, often manifesting in bizarre ways.


    ¡°How about¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ this wish?¡±


    After a moment of thought, Cassius made up his mind¡ªwith so many Fire Giants here, wishing opportunities abounded.


    ¡°Tell me, where will the Vengeful Demon Jezarslack descend?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°Great Dragon, perhaps you should reconsider¡­¡±


    The Fire Giant noble¡¯s smile froze, and scorching sweat trickled down his forehead.


    Abyssal Demons.


    Extremely chaotic and evil beings.


    Anyone of sound mind would avoid involving themselves with such creatures.


    And the demon targeted by this menacing dragon was likely a powerful and insane Demon Lord.


    But at the utterance of the Red Dragon¡¯s words, the power of the Laws of the Inner Plane surged forth, urging him to make a wish.


    And Cassius¡¯s relentless gaze bore into him, the invisible Dragon¡¯s Might overflowing, leaving no room for negotiation.


    If facing mortals, he might have a chance to twist their wishes or deceive the laws.


    But this dragon was watching intently, and his life hung by a thread.


    ¡°Lord of Flames¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­let me survive this.¡±


    Hamid silently prayed, his expression looking worse than crying. Finally, he clasped his hands together and reluctantly began his wish.


    ¡°I wish to see where Jezarslack will descend?¡±


    A powerful force surged.


    The Fire Giant noble¡¯s turban fluttered in the wind, and the golden earrings swayed slightly.


    The miracle of the wish happened.


    Reality was twisted by the wish, and a high-level divination spell was formed by that force, cast in a wondrous manner.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    An enormous magic image appeared in mid-air.


    The background showed undulating mountain ranges and dark rocks, with a particularly majestic peak over a kilometer high at the center of the scene.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ¡°Mount Thierry?¡±


    Cassius instantly recognized it as the main peak of the Ancytica Mountains, known to the Northerners as the ¡°King of the Snowy Mountains,¡± Mount Thierry.


    Soon, the blue sky suddenly darkened.


    A massive black claw tore through the sky, creating an abyssal vortex hundreds of meters wide, from which countless bizarre and grotesque demons poured forth.


    They surged like a tide, their ugly forms occluding the day, plunging the land into darkness.


    ¡°Cassius¡ª¡±


    ¡°Welcome the fate of the end¡ª¡±


    The hoarse, deep voice sounded, and Cassius immediately recognized it as the Vengeful Demon Jezarslack.


    ¡°Sss¡­ shh¡­¡±


    It appeared as though the projected image was affected by some power, and chaotic images like flying mosquitoes appeared on the screen before it abruptly cut off.


    ¡°Oh? Quite persistent, choosing to invade the Anzeta Great Wilderness again, huh¡­¡±


    ¡°It seems this body of mine is quite attractive to him.¡±


    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s a prophecy for two years later. In that case, I¡¯ll end it all in Anzeta¡­¡±


    Cassius gazed at the orange-red sky of the Fire Elemental Plane, the flames flickering in his pale gold pupils.

 Chapter 461 - 461 483 Soul Devouring Dragon

    ?Chapter 461: Chapter 483: Soul Devouring Dragon Chapter 461: Chapter 483: Soul Devouring Dragon ¡°Th-thank you¡­¡±


    ¡°Great Dragon, can you let me go?¡±


    The fire giant noble asked humbly, wearing a smile more wretched than crying on his flushed face.


    Having just witnessed that horrifying scene, he only wanted to leave here as quickly as possible, escape this terrifying dragon, and avoid any more entanglements.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Cassius answered calmly.


    The Red Dragon released his massive claw, freeing the trapped fire giant noble.


    ¡°Thank you for your mercy¡­¡±


    ¡°G-goodbye, Great Dragon.¡±


    Hamid breathed a sigh of relief.


    The fire giant noble flew desperately in the sky, sparks shooting from his lower body.


    ¡°Lord of Flames, bless me¡­¡±


    ¡°Never returning to this damned Ironforge City, such a terrifying dragon there¡­¡±


    Hamid muttered to himself, his face full of relief after the ordeal.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    A scorching gale roared past.


    A bad feeling suddenly arose in Hamid¡¯s heart. He turned his head stiffly.


    ¡°N-no way¡­¡±


    He saw the enormous Red Dragon flapping its wings, catching up in just a few breaths. He could even feel its sulfurous breath.


    ¡°I have forgiven your first sin¡ªhunting my retainers.¡±


    ¡°But a sin is a sin. Now it is time for your second sin, insulting me face to face.¡±


    The Red Dragon waved its claw mid-air, and a shimmering force field imprisoned the despaired fire giant once again. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was just an experiment for Cassius.


    In another life, players had suggested on forums to trap a fire giant, release it, and trap it again¡ªcould they possibly get unlimited wishes?


    ¡°However¡­ Can you grant me a second wish as compensation?¡±


    Damn it!


    Greedy reptile!


    Hamid roared and shouted inwardly, but he was helpless.


    Not to mention resisting, he had no chance to struggle.


    The fire giant noble, who burned and pillaged at will and could destroy a village in a fit of pique, now tasted the plight of a victim himself.


    Though he cursed the Red Dragon a thousand times in his heart, Hamid still struggled to look up and plead: ¡°Great Dragon, please let me go!¡±


    ¡°I have no intention of deceiving you. Wish magic is extremely precious even for giant spirits. I can only cast it every few years¡­¡±


    As expected, there was no way to cheat.


    Had I known, I would have tried ¡°grant me three more wishes¡± instead, though it might still fail, it would be worth a shot.


    Cassius shook his head and sighed helplessly.


    ¡°Sigh, unwilling to compensate yet wanting to live. You put me in a tough spot.¡±


    ¡°Great Dragon, I can give you all I own, everything in the city¡­¡±


    The fire giant cried out anxiously.


    But Cassius ignored him and continued speaking:


    ¡°Enough, I¡¯ll broaden the terms. Grant me a wish you can fulfill now.¡±


    ¡°What wish?¡±


    ¡°I want an elemental core from a fire giant noble.¡±


    ¡°That¡­no¡ª¡±


    Hamid¡¯s face turned furious and fearful. He shouted one last line before being engulfed by dragonflame.


    The raging flames devoured his body, dissolving the outer shell and leaving only the elemental core, flickering like a flame in his chest.


    It contained abundant fire elemental energy and the quintessential power of the Inner Plane.


    Emir Hamid Abdul, dispatched by the Sultan of Ironforge City, bearer of noble bloodline¡ªceased to exist.


    His soul might have returned to the embrace of the Master of Fire, but his body undoubtedly entered the Red Dragon¡¯s belly.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Cassius raised his head high, letting out a long roar.


    He felt the flowing energy inside him, spitting out blistering fire, declaring his arrival to the entire Fire Elemental Plane.


    ¡°Lord of Flames¡­¡±


    ¡°He really dared¡­¡±


    ¡°He, he ate an Emir!¡±


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames, Master Hamid, like a lamb to the slaughter!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s no ordinary dragon, it devoured a fire giant noble, it¡¯s a Soul Devouring Dragon!¡±


    The fire imps in the magma, the fire dwarves in the caves, the remaining fire giants of Ironforge City¡ªall gazed up at the colossal Red Dragon, exclaiming in shock.


    The death of an Emir was significant but not earth-shattering.


    But a fearsome dragon from the Prime Material Plane who toyed with and devoured a fire giant noble¡ª


    That was extraordinary.


    Word of this spread rapidly across the Burning Wildlands.


    Within days, nearby inhabitants had all heard the story:


    A Red Dragon, larger than even an Ancient Dragon, descended upon Ironforge City.


    It single-handedly destroyed half the city, killed over a hundred fire giants, and devoured a noble fire giant Emir.


    The name ¡°Soul Devouring Dragon¡± began to spread, becoming a nightmare for fire giants in the area.


    Few knew this Red Dragon¡¯s origin, leading to much speculation.


    Some said it was an emperor from the Prime Material Plane; others claimed it was a descendant of Tiamat; some even said it was a helper summoned by fire dwarves¡­


    ¡­


    Scorched Plains, Brass Fortress.


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t arrived yet?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, be patient. He has accepted the invitation¡­¡±


    In the exquisite Brass Palace, fire dwarves gathered anxiously, their expressions unusually somber.


    The table was laden with fine wine and delicacies, piled high with gleaming gold and gems, clearly prepared for a grand banquet.


    Yet none dared touch the enticing feast; the invited Imperial officers and soldiers stood in place.


    ¡°My apologies¡­¡±


    A rich voice resonated.


    The fire dwarves, Imperial officers, and soldiers all turned toward the door, their eyes focused.


    They saw Cassius, in human form, standing at the palace entrance, his handsome face adorned with a courteous smile.


    ¡°Handled some trifles, sorry to keep you all waiting.¡±


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Invincible!¡±


    ¡°Great Red Dragon, devourer of giants!¡±


    The Imperial officers and soldiers erupted in fanatical cheers, wave after wave of enthusiastic shouts.


    Sharin, surrounded by fire dwarves, stepped forward respectfully:


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, congratulations on another great victory. The entire Burning Wasteland witnessed your might.¡±


    Cassius nodded in acknowledgment and replied calmly: ¡°Thank you for the gracious invitation, Lord Sharin.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, please come inside. We have prepared the finest wines and delicacies for you.¡±


    Sharin bowed slightly, welcoming the human-form dragon into the palace.


    Deep within his eyes lay an unprecedented tension and solemnity¡ªthis feast might decide the fate of the Brass Fortress and the lives of his thousands of fire dwarves.

 Chapter 462 - 462 384 Celebration Banquet

    ?Chapter 462: Chapter 384 Celebration Banquet Chapter 462: Chapter 384 Celebration Banquet Inside the Brass Palace, the Fire Dwarves played brass instruments, and the Empire¡¯s officers and soldiers drank freely. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Great Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Invincible!¡±


    An air of festivity seemed to permeate every corner, mingling with the fragrant aroma of fine wine and the savory scent of roasted meat. Fire Dwarves and Imperial soldiers sang and danced, celebrating the defeat of their common enemy¡ªthe Fire Giants.


    Meanwhile, Fire Dwarf Nobility Sharin accompanied Cassius, raised his glass, and whispered:


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, you destroyed half of Ironforge City and killed Emir the Fire Giant. Your strength indeed leaves me in awe.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Sharin hesitated for a moment, showing a bitter smile before continuing: ¡°You did so well, you might attract the attention of the Sultan of the Fire Giants.¡±


    Cassius also raised his glass, took a sip, and responded with a smile: ¡°Lord Sharin, I do not fear him.¡±


    ¡°As long as the Sultan does not act personally, no one can defeat me.¡±


    ¡°That Prince of the Holy Flame is still wandering the land. The Sultan would not risk being killed to oppose me over a mere Emir.¡±


    ¡°Since you mentioned it, let me be direct¡­¡±


    Cassius put down his glass and looked down at the Fire Dwarf with those pale golden pupils, his gaze meaningful: ¡°The real danger is to you and your Brass Fortress.¡±


    Sharin¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, and the flames on his head dimmed a bit.


    ¡°The Emir sent by the Sultan of the Fire Giants is dead, which damages his dignity. But there¡¯s no way for him to retaliate against me.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ who will become the outlet for the Sultan¡¯s wrath?¡±


    ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    Sharin¡¯s hand holding the scepter trembled slightly, his tone hesitant.


    ¡°The Brass Fortress.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone was particularly certain.


    ¡°You see, the Empire¡¯s army is stationed at the Brass Fortress, and we have fought together against the forces sent by the Fire Giants.¡±


    ¡°The Empire can withdraw from the Fire Elemental Plane at any time, but you cannot. The Brass Fortress cannot move, and the Fire Dwarves cannot leave their homeland.¡±


    ¡°Lord Sharin, I truly do not wish to see the Fire Dwarves enslaved, so I specially came to warn you.¡±


    ¡°I only regret not killing all those Fire Giants back then, so that the news wouldn¡¯t have reached that Sultan¡¯s ears.¡±


    Cassius gazed into the Fire Dwarf¡¯s eyes, gently shook his head, and sighed ¡°sorrowfully.¡±


    With the augmentation of extraordinary charm and the smooth-talker, every word he said seemed so credible.


    ¡°This, this¡­¡±


    Sharin¡¯s brass-forged body trembled slightly, and he seemed to see the future image of the fortress being breached, and the Fire Dwarves enslaved and whipped.


    In truth, Sharin had vaguely suspected this possibility, but hearing it personally from the other party still left him terrified.


    In fact, within the Fire Elemental Plane, the number of Fire Dwarves enslaved by the Fire Giants far exceeded those who were free.


    But Cassius asked a seemingly unrelated question.


    ¡°Lord Sharin, a thousand years ago, how many Fire Dwarves were in the Brass Fortress?¡±


    Sharin seemed puzzled, but after thinking for a moment, he answered truthfully: ¡°About¡­ four thousand.¡±


    The process of forging limited the population growth rate, so Fire Dwarves were quite rare, and the number here was considered a lot.


    Cassius continued to ask:


    ¡°And now? How many Fire Dwarves are in the Brass Fortress now?¡±


    ¡°Three thousand seven hundred and forty-one.¡±


    Sharin replied without hesitation.


    Cassius feigned confusion: ¡°You Fire Dwarves have long lifespans. In the past thousand years, haven¡¯t you had any new births?¡±


    ¡°Of course we have, but¡­¡±


    Sharin¡¯s face showed bitterness as he continued: ¡°The Fire Giants regularly send plunderer troops to abduct my people.¡±


    Cassius stated the brutal fact in a calm tone: ¡°So¡­ Lord Sharin.¡±


    ¡°The only reason the Fire Giants allow the Brass Fortress to exist is because you can provide them with Fire Dwarf slaves.¡±


    Sharin couldn¡¯t help but retort: ¡°The Fire Giants once tried to enslave our entire race, but they failed!¡±


    ¡°Because once enslaved, you were no longer willing to forge new population, correct?¡±


    Cassius took another sip of wine and continued: ¡°They abandoned the enslavement plan because they wanted a continuous supply of slaves.¡±


    He gave a light chuckle.


    ¡°Lord Sharin, do you know about a plant in the Material Plane called chives? Human farmers would harvest them each time they grew, ensuring a continuous supply of food¡­¡±


    The Fire Dwarf Nobility¡¯s beard trembled continuously. He was unwilling to believe it, but what the other party stated was impossibly close to reality.


    ¡°And now¡­¡±


    ¡°Under the Sultan¡¯s fury, do you think they would still permit the Brass Fortress to exist?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s voice struck like lightning, each word hitting Sharin¡¯s heart and breaking down his psychological defenses.


    Sharin remained silent for a long time before finally murmuring.


    ¡°What shall we do then, Your Majesty Cassius?¡±


    A barely perceptible smile appeared on Cassius¡¯s face. He knew he had achieved his goal.


    Once the Fire Dwarf Nobility was convinced, everything else would follow naturally.


    ¡°The Ashen Empire.¡±


    Cassius mentioned the name nonchalantly.


    ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    The Fire Dwarf immediately fell into deep thought, his expression hesitant, but he ultimately raised his head, gritting his teeth.


    Sharin watched Cassius intently, speaking cautiously: ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­ then thank you for your good intentions, Your Majesty Cassius.¡±


    ¡°However, allow me to refuse. The Fire Dwarves will not become anyone¡¯s retainers or slaves. This was true thousands of years ago, and it remains true thousands of years from now.¡±


    As he finished, the flames on his head wavered and trembled, but his tone was firm.


    Fire Dwarves were known for their stubbornness, rarely would anyone change their decisions.


    ¡°Clap!¡±


    ¡°How dare you!¡±


    Hearing these words, Selcan, the Half-Red Dragon, slammed the table and shouted angrily.


    ¡°His Majesty grants the Fire Dwarves such a precious opportunity, yet you still do not appreciate it!¡±


    ¡°To refuse His Majesty Cassius is to make an enemy of us!¡±


    At once, the Empire¡¯s officers and soldiers in the hall stood up, wielding their rifles and aiming them at the Fire Dwarves, faces filled with hostility.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Fire Dwarves will never be slaves!¡±


    The Fire Dwarves¡¯ expressions also grew angry as they picked up copper hammers and iron shields from the ground, facing off against the Imperial soldiers.


    The air in the hall seemed filled with the scent of gunpowder; in such a situation, a small spark could cause an explosion.


    But Cassius waved his hand, his tone calm as he ordered: ¡°What are you all doing? Lower your guns.¡±


    Hearing the emperor¡¯s order, the officers and soldiers of the Empire quickly lowered their weapons.


    He casually patted the shoulder of the Fire Dwarf Nobility and said with a smile: ¡°Lord Sharin, I think you misunderstood.¡±


    ¡°What I mean is¡­ we, the Ashen Empire, can become steadfast allies of the Fire Dwarf city-states.¡±

 Chapter 463 - 463 385 The Alliance of the Fire Dwarves

    ?Chapter 463: Chapter 385 The Alliance of the Fire Dwarves Chapter 463: Chapter 385 The Alliance of the Fire Dwarves ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, what is this¡­¡±


    Sharin¡¯s eyes were full of confusion, his bronze face brimming with disbelief.


    This Fire Dwarf noble had hesitated for a long time before deciding to refuse. He had originally prepared to face the wrath of the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon. Unexpectedly, there was still a turning point.


    Cassius just gave a slight nod.


    ¡°Yes, an ally.¡±


    ¡°An equal cooperative relationship, mutually beneficial alliance.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, Sir Sharin, the Empire will not be like the Fire Giants, speaking without honoring their word. I can even sign a contract with you.¡±


    ¡°Can you be more specific?¡±


    Sharin asked cautiously, his face full of surprise.


    An equal relationship ally.


    A mutually beneficial cooperation.


    He couldn¡¯t believe it¡ªthis was a condition that an arrogant dragon, and an emperor at that, could propose.


    Cassius responded in a calm tone: ¡°The Empire would dispatch troops to help you resist the invasion of the Fire Giants.¡±


    ¡°At the same time, we would sell you advanced weapons and various imperial goods, exempting all taxes.¡±


    ¡°However, as a basic condition for cooperation, you must allow the Empire¡¯s troops to station in the Brass Fortress and pay a certain military fee.¡±


    ¡°You also need to allow imperial merchants to summon and hire Fire Dwarves for forging items, but rest assured, they will pay sufficient ginnar.¡±


    ¡°We would need an Ashen Empire concession area within the Brass Fortress and establish an embassy responsible for handling various affairs between the Empire and the Brass Fortress.¡±


    Cassius waved his hand lightly, flames gathered in mid-air, forming a magical contract, the terms of which were exceptionally clear and almost exactly as he had previously stated.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, are these the only terms?¡±


    Sharin asked in confusion, still somewhat disbelieving.


    The reason was simple¡ª


    In his view, this was a completely equal treaty! The Fire Dwarves would even gain more!


    Opening up trade for goods, paying for protection, allowing the Empire to hire, establishing a concession and an embassy¡­


    These, though novel to him, were entirely normal matters.


    No forced labor for the Fire Dwarves, and more importantly, no infringement on the Fire Dwarf nobility¡¯s authority, completely non-interfering with his rule.


    Could it be¡ªthis seemingly ferocious Dragon Emperor is truly a peace-loving monarch? S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At least in his current view, this treaty posed no issues and only brought benefits to the Fire Dwarves.


    Thinking about this, Sharin bowed his head, speaking gratefully and slightly guiltily:


    ¡°Sorry, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°I misunderstood you just now, thinking you wanted to enslave us! Thank you for your magnanimity.¡±


    ¡°I must say, you¡­ are the most tolerant and benevolent sovereign I have ever seen.¡±


    Sharin picked up his scepter, signaling the Fire Dwarves behind him to come forward, then solemnly said:


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, if this is so, the Fire Dwarves of the Brass Fortress are willing to become loyal allies of the Empire.¡±


    ¡°We will wield the copper hammer and use the unique skills of the Fire Dwarves to craft the finest items for you and your people.¡±


    ¡°Dong, Dong, Dong!¡±


    The Fire Dwarves behind him struck their shields with copper hammers in unison, producing crisp sounds.


    They cheered, the flames on their heads blazing fiercely, making the air in the hall even hotter.


    After this conversation, the banquet continued, lasting until the next morning. Excited Fire Dwarves drank fine wine, becoming incredibly intoxicated, boasting with the Empire¡¯s soldiers.


    Thus began the cooperation between the Ashen Empire and the Fire Dwarves.


    ¡­


    Fire Elemental Plane, Burning Wildlands.


    Cassius transformed into his enormous dragon form, lying on the dark brown basalt hill, gazing at the orange-red sky.


    The fire elemental energy within him kept gathering, and the Dragon Crystal on his chest shimmered faintly.


    The Half-Red Dragonfolk Selcan came to the Red Dragon¡¯s side, half-kneeling.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I have arrived.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly, praising: ¡°You did well, without a trace of feigned performance.¡±


    This was his plan.


    Playing both good and bad cop, to make the Fire Dwarves accept their treaty.


    But Selcan, hesitating for a moment, couldn¡¯t help but say:


    ¡°But¡­ Your Majesty, I still do not understand, the conditions you gave those Fire Dwarves are too favorable.¡±


    ¡°They, a mere few thousand people, occupying a small fortress, why should they be equal allies with the Empire?¡±


    Cassius merely laughed and asked: ¡°Have you read that Empire-official book, *Colonial Theory*?¡±


    Selcan¡¯s face reddened slightly, but he responded truthfully: ¡°Sorry, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ haven¡¯t had the time to read it yet.¡±


    Cassius continued: ¡°If we and the Brass Fortress were matched in strength, then this indeed would be an equal treaty, military interconnection, mutual tax exemptions¡­¡±


    He paused, smiling, exhaling a breath of sulfurous smoke.


    ¡°But when the strength between the two sides of a treaty is vastly different, so-called equal treaties are just a joke.¡±


    ¡°By granting the Empire the right to station troops, they lose their territory; granting the Empire trade rights, they lose control of their economic lifeline; granting the Empire the right to hire Fire Dwarves, the Fire Dwarves will become slaves to the Empire¡¯s capital¡­¡±


    ¡°And these Fire Dwarf nobles will become faithful puppets of the Empire.¡±


    ¡°This concept is termed ¡®neocolonialism by Empire scholars. It is far more advanced than direct enslavement. The Brass Fortress will become the Empire¡¯s first stronghold in the Fire Elemental Plane.¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Selcan bowed his head in deep thought, savoring the Emperor¡¯s words.


    On the surface, the treaty granted equal rights to both parties. However, due to the underdevelopment of the Fire Dwarves, they were unable to achieve the rights stipulated in the treaty equally with the Empire. Through the treaty, the entire Brass Fortress would be open to the Empire.


    Cassius stretched his body, slowly standing up from the basalt hill, spreading his broad wings.


    ¡°Go, Selcan, if you wish to become the Empire¡¯s Governor in the Fire Elemental Plane, study more on this matter.¡±


    Hearing Cassius¡¯s words, Selcan was greatly encouraged and hurriedly knelt and bowed.


    ¡°Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty!¡±


    Governor of the Colony, another relatively unfamiliar term.


    Because the Ashen Empire adopted a hierarchical management system in the Anzeta Great Wilderness, local officials did not have significant autonomy.


    And now, Selcan had a new goal¡ªto manage the Fire Elemental Plane for His Majesty Cassius!


    The Red Dragon nodded slightly, then flapped his wide wings vigorously, stirring up a storm filled with ashes and sparks on the Burning Wasteland, his massive dragon form soaring into the sky.


    Subduing thousands of Fire Dwarves was just a minor affair for him. The realm of the Fire Giants, spanning planes, was truly worthy of his attention.


    ¡ªRequest Monthly Ticket¡ª

 Chapter 464 - 464 386 Black Iron City

    ?Chapter 464: Chapter 386 Black Iron City Chapter 464: Chapter 386 Black Iron City Acacia Indomitable Highlands.


    On this plateau, flames sprouted like wild grasses, magma flowed through surface fissures, and high-temperature steam clouds roiled across the land.


    This was a death zone for beings of the Material Plane, yet it was a paradise for the native fire elementals.


    However, within a certain region of the Acacia Indomitable Highlands lay a city of considerable size, Black Iron City.


    Within the city, the scorching Temple of Atonement that worshipped the Prince of Evil Fire, Imix, as a deity, and the temple of the Lord of Flames, Kasus, both indicated the city¡¯s true rulers¡ªthe Fire Giants.


    ¡°Lord of Flames above¡­.¡±


    ¡°Imix¡­.¡±


    ¡°How could there be such a massive dragon? When did we provoke such a monster?¡±


    At this moment, the Fire Giant officers and soldiers standing on the Black Iron City walls gazed into the distance, their expressions particularly grave, even tinged with a hint of terror.


    On the distant horizon, a blurry shadow flapped its wings in the scorching air, stirring up waves of ash.


    ¡°Soul Devouring Dragon.¡±


    A heavy voice echoed, followed by steady, powerful footsteps.


    The soldiers on the city wall parted, and a tall, sturdy Fire Giant emerged from the crowd, standing imposingly.


    He was the Emir of this Black Iron City¡ªMachei Galan.


    Unlike the pampered noble scions like Hamid, this Emir was a seasoned warrior, freshly returned from the front lines.


    He had once been a proud Kapukulu, one of the Sultan¡¯s elite guards.


    He wore a gilded, intricately patterned face-guard helmet with a leather neck guard and a large feather¡ªplucked from a phoenix¡ªadorned his helm¡¯s crest.


    In his hand, he held a crescent-shaped scimitar of Shesher, razor-sharp and constantly shimmering with spell radiance.


    Upon hearing Machei¡¯s words, the Fire Giants on the city walls descended into a panic, their voices buzzing in chaos.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s real!¡±


    ¡°That is the Soul Devouring Dragon! It exists!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that terrifying dragon devoured thirteen Emirs and thousands of Fire Giants! It is the Prince of the Holy Flame sent to punish us!¡±


    ¡°Silence¡ª¡±


    Machei¡¯s face turned stern as he struck his bronze shield with his scimitar, producing a clear, ringing sound.


    The Fire Giant soldiers instantly fell silent, attentively listening to their Emir¡¯s speech.


    ¡°Lord of Flames, you cowardly lambs! Frightened by a mere dragon!¡±


    ¡°As far as I know, that dragon is merely allied with the scum Fire Dwarves, who sneaked into the city by underhanded means, wrecked half of Ironforge City, and killed that fool, Hamid.¡±


    ¡°The so-called Soul Devouring Dragon is nothing but exaggeration! It is not an invincible enemy.¡±


    Machei raised his scimitar high, its bright silver blade gleaming in the firelight.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    He swung the scimitar fiercely, the crescent blade slicing through the air and leaving a brilliant flare of light.


    ¡°We are the noble Fire Giants! The natural rulers of the Fire Elemental Plane! We have always been the ones pillaging and destroying others, instilling fear in other beings!¡±


    ¡°None have ever had the right to make us feel fear!¡±


    Machei pointed his scimitar toward the distant, blurry shadow.


    ¡°Comrades¡ªfor the Great Sultan, hold Black Iron City, and slay that skyborne wyrm!¡±


    The Fire Giants, inherently fervent warriors and supremely arrogant, were soon brimming with battle ardor under Machei¡¯s exhortation.


    ¡°For the Sultan!¡±


    ¡°Hold Black Iron City!¡±


    ¡°No one can defeat us Fire Giants in the Fire Elemental Plane!¡±


    The Fire Giants on the city walls labored to turn the winches, loading giant black metal arrows into the ballistae, aiming high into the sky.


    Below the city walls, the Fire Giants released the giant beasts from their cages. The beasts exhaled clouds of scalding steam, roaring lowly.


    Machei gave a slight gesture, summoning a colossal Fire Drake clad in bronze armor to his side.


    ¡°Fight for the Great Sultan!¡±


    Roared the Fire Giant noble as he leapt onto the drake, followed by over a hundred similar Fire Giant cavalrymen.


    However, unlike Machei, most of these soldiers wore only uniforms of flame wool or silk, wielding bronze spears nearly ten meters long and carrying leather-covered, riveted shields.


    In the vast Kingdom of the Fire Giants, Ironforge City was but a frontier outpost¡ªyet this Black Iron City was considered a critical military bastion.


    Farther away, the Red Dragon flapped its wings again, stirring up waves of heat filled with ash and embers. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, amusement glinting in his pale golden vertical pupils.


    ¡°Interesting¡­.¡±


    ¡°Magic ballistae, elemental behemoths, Fire Giant cavalry, even the Empire¡¯s current elite troops would struggle against these Fire Giant forces.¡±


    ¡°And these aren¡¯t even their elite, merely the city garrison. A terrifying display of strength.¡±


    ¡°But unfortunately for them¡­ they encountered me.¡±


    Cassius flapped his wings powerfully once more, the massive dragon soaring into the sky. He then raised his head high, letting out a roar.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Thunder rumbled overhead.


    The steam clouds in the sky rapidly gathered, and incongruous bolts of lightning appeared amidst the rolling black clouds.


    Driven by a tremendous force, the dense clouds spread quickly, soon covering the sky over Ironforge City.


    A colossal figure weaved and circled within the clouds.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    Bolt after bolt of lightning crashed down, instantly killing several Fire Giants on the city walls, leaving behind only a wisp of primordial flame.


    ¡°It¡¯s thunder!¡±


    ¡°Quick! Take cover!¡±


    ¡°Lord of Flames¡­ what is that?¡±


    ¡°Damn it, shoot that dragon down!¡±


    The Fire Giant soldiers, momentarily in disarray under the threat of death, hurriedly aimed their ballistae at the sky.


    A series of fearsome giant arrows trailed fiery tails as they shot into the clouds but failed to hit their mark.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The thunder roared, and a suffocating pressure, like an invisible giant stone, settled over the Fire Giants¡¯ hearts.


    On the ground, the giant beasts they had just released trembled violently, their chains clinking and clanking.


    These normally ferocious monsters now whimpered like newborns, retreating back into their cages in terror.


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    More bolts of lightning struck down.


    The colossal shadow loomed within the clouds, instilling a primal fear in every being present, including the Fire Giant Emir.


    ¡°Howl~~¡±


    The Fire Drake beneath the Fire Giant noble trembled, and its companions had mostly fainted, crashing to the ground.


    ¡°Hold on, my old friend¡­.¡±


    ¡°It is only a Red Dragon, Aklia. We have faced down an Ancient Gold Dragon together before; this is nothing.¡±


    Machei gently stroked the Fire Drake¡¯s neck, whispering.


    But as he raised his head to look at the looming figure in the clouds and the lightning-filled clouds, his expression turned dark and heavy.


    ¡°How could this be¡­.¡±


    ¡°Lord of Flames, it¡¯s clearly a Red Dragon¡­.¡±


    This battle-hardened Fire Giant noble gripped the Sultan-bestowed scimitar of Shesher tightly, his entire body tense.

 Chapter 465 - 465 387 The City-Destroying Giant Dragons

    ?Chapter 465: Chapter 387: The City-Destroying Giant Dragons Chapter 465: Chapter 387: The City-Destroying Giant Dragons ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another bolt of lightning struck down, turning three or four Fire Giant soldiers on the metal city wall into flames.


    ¡°Lord of Flames¡­¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    As the natural rulers of the Fire Elemental Plane and the elite among elemental creatures, the Fire Giants were few in number.


    In the vast kingdom ruled by the Fire Giant Sultan, there were only about a hundred thousand Fire Giants, and over a thousand Maliks¡ªthis was the nobility of the Fire Giants.


    And within this kingdom, there were enormous numbers of slaves, including native species like Fire Dwarves and Fire Lizards, as well as otherworldly species such as humans and orcs.


    Therefore, for the kingdom of the Fire Giants, every Fire Giant who could be called a ¡°citizen¡± was incredibly precious.


    Seeing his subordinates die one after another, Machei¡¯s expression turned into one of shock. He pointed his scimitar toward the sky.


    ¡°Red Dragon! We never provoked you! Why are you targeting us Fire Giants like this?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of the Great Sultan¡¯s wrath?¡±


    From within the clouds, those massive wings appeared now and then, with pale golden pupils like two twinkling stars.


    ¡°Fire Giants¡ª¡±


    ¡°Blame your Emir¡ªHamid Abdul, whom the Great Sultan sent!¡±


    ¡°He hunted my retainers, killed my soldiers, and even insulted me and my empire to my face!¡±


    ¡°If Hamid indeed represents the will of the Great Sultan as he claimed, then your kingdom of the Fire Giants is declaring war on the Ashen Empire!¡±


    The thunderous voice echoed over Black Iron City, making every Fire Giant tremble in their hearts.


    ¡°Hamid!¡±


    ¡°That damned fool!¡±


    Machei cursed bitterly, his whole body trembling with rage.


    In his mind, Hamid had already been thrown into the Infinite Fire Hell countless times and subjected to countless severe punishments.


    His stupidity and arrogance were one thing.


    But to have brought such a terrifying enemy upon the Fire Giants!


    But regardless, he couldn¡¯t let the Great Sultan be humiliated, nor could he allow the Fire Giants¡¯ reputation to be tarnished!


    Thinking of this, the Fire Giant noble raised his scimitar again and said loudly: ¡°Red Dragon, there is still room for reconciliation between us!¡±


    ¡°As long as you surrender now, I am willing to petition the Great Sultan to negotiate peace with your empire!¡±


    ¡°You?¡±


    First came a sonic boom, followed by the massive black shadow descending from the sky, crashing onto the metal city wall.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Lord of Flames! Help! It¡¯s, it¡¯s coming down!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the Soul Devouring Dragon!¡±


    The grating sound of metal could be heard as the wall deeply caved in, with iron scraps and fragments flying everywhere.


    The Red Dragon walked along the wall as if strolling, crushing any Fire Giant soldier standing in its way with its enormous dragon body.


    Its thick giant tail, like a heavy hammer, needed just a light flick to send dozens of Fire Giant soldiers flying away, screaming.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lord of Flames, what is this power!¡±


    Its massive claws casually swung out, with the shimmering claw-shaped force fields dancing chaotically along the wall.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    The grating sound of metal echoed again, with several Fire Giant soldiers, along with their copper shields, being cut in half.


    Deep claw marks were left on the wall, looking like horrific wounds.


    This was the strength of the Red Dragon; they were called ¡°war machines¡± for a reason.


    And as a Red Dragon with cheats, Cassius¡¯ strength, combined with his ancient dragon size and various spell abilities, was even more exaggerated.


    Cassius slowly opened his mouth, with the dragon crystal in his chest flickering with fiery light, spewing out an extremely scorching Dragon Breath, imbued with higher magical essence.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The dragon flame engulfed the vicinity, devouring the fleeing Fire Giants, and even the black iron-built city wall started to melt, with black ironwater dripping down.


    ¡°Quick! Now¡¯s the time!¡±


    ¡°Shoot him dead!¡±


    ¡°Aim for the dragon¡¯s chest! Aim for his heart!¡±


    Machei waved his scimitar, shouting anxiously.


    From his military experience, the heavy ballista was the best way to deal with such gigantic creatures.


    They might be immensely powerful, capable of crushing everything, but they were often slow-moving, only making them a sitting target.


    ¡°Hurry! Follow the Emir¡¯s order!¡±


    ¡°Do you still want to live? If we don¡¯t kill this dragon, we¡¯ll be the ones to die!¡±


    On the metal city wall, staring at the steadily approaching Red Dragon, casually killing as it advanced, the Fire Giant officer howled, urging his men on.


    Several Fire Giant soldiers loaded giant arrows, turning the winch with all their might while aiming the ballista.


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    ¡°Kill him!¡±


    The ballista, enhanced with Fire Elemental magic, released a terrifying energy, with surging flames overflowing from it. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The nearly three-meter-long giant arrow, imbued with this devastating power, trailed flames as it shot through the air.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The Fire Giants¡¯ ballista, meticulously crafted by Fire Dwarves, was indeed capable of slaying an adult Red Dragon.


    All the Fire Giants present held their breath.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    A blast of air struck, making the metal city wall cave in again as the gigantic Red Dragon stomped on the wall, ascending into the sky at an incredible speed.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°How is this possible?¡±


    The Fire Giants exclaimed in shock, nervously raising their heads.


    In just a few breaths, the Red Dragon had ascended a hundred meters.


    In the high sky, Cassius spread his wings, radiant flames bursting out from behind him, and his dragon form turned into a scarlet blur.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another torrential blast of air erupted.


    The Red Dragon dived down, crashing onto the ground, crushing the Fire Giant soldiers and several ballistas into smithereens.


    Sporadic arrows and spears flew, but before those weapons could touch his body, they were deflected by the invisible energy scales, bouncing away.


    Smoke filled the air on the city wall, revealing the massive form of the Red Dragon emerging gradually.


    The Fire Giants, abandoning their usual arrogance, started praying to the Lord of Flames and retreated continuously, fearing being devoured by the terrifying Red Dragon.


    Even their scimitars fell to the ground, making a crisp clanging sound.


    ¡°Fire Giants¡­¡±


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t recognized your place.¡±


    With a calm tone, Cassius said: ¡°I told you, with your status¡­ you are not qualified to negotiate with me!¡±


    ¡°Die!¡±


    ¡°For the Great Sultan!¡±


    Suddenly, heart-wrenching war cries came from behind the Red Dragon.


    Machei charged down on a Fire Drake, fiercely swinging his scimitar at the Red Dragon¡¯s thick neck.


    Cassius turned his head with an indifferent expression.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    The ear-piercing clash of metal resounded.


    The scimitar struck the hard red scales, shattering in midair into fragments.


    Machei¡¯s arm went numb from the impact, his face contorted in disbelief.


    This was the scimitar bestowed by the Great Sultan himself! Its strength was comparable to rare equipment!


    He didn¡¯t know that Cassius¡¯ scales were literally ¡°forged with gold coins.¡±


    Over the years, the Red Dragon had swallowed tens of thousands of gold coins, and the traits of his gilded scales had reached their peak, with each scale harder than rare armor.


    With an indifferent gaze, Cassius looked at the Fire Giant noble in midair and softly said:


    ¡°Where does your confidence come from?¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s giant claw broke through the air, dragging the precious mutated Fire Drake straight into the Other-Dimensional Space¡¯s ¡°Egg of Sanctuary.¡±


    Desperately trying to escape the Red Dragon¡¯s claws, Machei¡¯s lower body turned into smoke and ashes.


    Yet, in a flash, he was caught by the Red Dragon, unable to move at all.


    Machei struggled with all his might, roaring hoarsely: ¡°If you kill me, the Great Sultan won¡¯t spare you! I am his personal guard! A noble Kapukulu!¡±


    With some regret, Cassius shook his head and sighed softly.


    ¡°Well, I wanted to ask if you could grant me three wishes with one wish, to satisfy my long-standing curiosity¡­¡±


    ¡°But it seems it has to be shelved for now.¡±


    Surging dragonflame climbed along his arm, closing in and engulfing the robust Fire Giant noble.

 Chapter 466 - 466 388 Dragon Roar

    ?Chapter 466: Chapter 388 Dragon Roar Chapter 466: Chapter 388 Dragon Roar ¡°God, Machei Emil was eaten too!¡±


    ¡°No, it can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    ¡°He was the noble Kapukulu, the Sultan¡¯s trusted aide!¡±


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames, the rumors were true! That is a Soul Devouring Dragon!¡±


    ¡°That, that is the apostle sent by the Lord of Flames to punish the gravest of sinners, he is here to reprimand us!¡±


    Seeing Machei being swallowed whole by Dragonflame almost without a struggle, the Fire Giants on the city wall cried out in terror, completely losing their courage.


    The brave and battle-hardened Emil was ¡°eaten,¡± and the Fire Drake Cavalry Legion was annihilated before meeting the enemy, with the magic ballistae being ineffective¡ªthe unfolding events far exceeded the Fire Giants¡¯ imagination.


    Fire Giants were indeed a fervent and combative race, capable of being valiant and fearless on the battlefield, but they were not fools rushing towards their death.


    Facing such a situation, almost all the Fire Giants made the same choice¡ª


    Run!


    Leave here immediately!


    Leave this place occupied by the terrifying ¡°Soul Devouring Dragon.¡±


    ¡°Run quickly!¡±


    ¡°That dragon is the embodiment of sin!¡±


    ¡°Head to the City of Brass! We must survive to report this to the Great Sultan!¡±


    The Fire Giants abandoned their silk battle robes, dropping their bloodied brass armor.


    They transformed their lower bodies into gray smoke and ashes, flying desperately, with many already starting to cast teleportation spells.


    As the rulers of this city, there were only over five hundred Fire Giants in Black Iron City.


    But within the city, there were nearly forty thousand slaves of various races from different planes, almost all captured by the Fire Giants.


    The Fire Lizards, Fire Dwarfs, Fire Imps, even human and giant slaves within the city raised their heads in unison, their scorching chains clinking.


    ¡°That is¡­¡±


    ¡°By the Gods, it¡¯s the Fire Giants!¡±


    ¡°They are running away! The dragon is devouring the Giants!¡±


    These slaves, who used to toil endlessly under the Fire Giants¡¯ fiery whips, lashed and scorched daily,


    faced these mighty elemental beings, knowing they were no match.


    Over time, some slaves even began to regard the Fire Giants as invincible deities, branding submission into their hearts.


    But at this moment, their worldview shattered.


    ¡°So these Giants are not invincible!¡±


    ¡°They can run too!¡±


    ¡°They can die too!¡±


    Those once arrogant and domineering Fire Giants now fled like lambs being hunted by wolves, in complete disarray.


    No trace of their dignity and pride as the ¡°higher race of fire elements¡± was left.


    The enormous Red Dragon ascended the city wall, treading on the brass spire, unfurling its vast wings, and let out a triumphant roar.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°Fire Giants! You will pay for your arrogance!¡±


    ¡°You consider yourselves the masters of the Fire Elemental Plane, the darlings of the flame, your long-standing impunity has made you forget how to revere a giant dragon!¡±


    Cassius roared his hastily concocted lines with impressive fury, eagerly opening his gigantic, fiery maw.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The sound ripped through the air, and a torrent of raging flames spewed out, rapidly expanding, occupying half the sky in an instant.


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames!¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    Those Fire Giants fled frantically but could not escape the searing tongues of flame behind them.


    These Giants, who had burned countless homes, now tasted the agony of being incinerated, meeting their end enfolded in Dragonflame.


    Cassius flapped his wings vigorously, unleashing a scorching whirlwind that formed a terrifying wing storm, sweeping all around.


    A sea of fire flooded the sky.


    Buildings and structures on the ground were lifted by the dreadful gusts, with slaves cowering in corners in terror.


    Rocks, gravel, ashes, and metal debris swirled in the air.


    The Fire Giants floating in the sky struggled and wailed, exerting their utmost effort, but still, they were dragged back by the overwhelming strength.


    ¡°Such powerful strength!¡±


    ¡°This storm¡­¡±


    ¡°No, no, I am a Fire Giant!¡±


    The corners of the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth curled into a sinister smile as he opened his enormous blood-spewing maw again.


    The sweeping firestorm consumed the Fire Giants once more, and a black hole-like magical vortex appeared in his mouth, absorbing the precious elemental essences into his body.


    ¡°This trip to the Fire Elemental Plane was worth it, I¡¯ve already gathered seventy to eighty percent of the energy needed for my next slumber.¡±


    Cassius licked his slightly heated lips as he said this.


    His goal was far beyond just plundering energy.


    Just a few dozen days ago, ¡°Prince of the Holy Flame¡± Zaman Roul led the Elemental Apostles through a secret tunnel excavated by the Fire Dwarfs, launching a surprise attack on the City of Brass, liberating tens of thousands of slaves within. The Great Sultan, in a fury, nearly mobilized all his forces to suppress the rebellion.


    The Great Sultan prayed to the ¡°Prince of Evil Fire¡± Imister, gaining the full support of this malevolent Fire Elementals¡¯ Master.


    However, Zaman Roul was undaunted, repeatedly attacking the cities of the Fire Giants, freeing long-oppressed slaves from their heavy chains.


    An array of enslaved Fire Dwarfs, Fire Lizards, Fire Imps, Elemental Apostles, and humans were ignited by the unquenchable holy fire, joining the ranks of this benevolent Elemental Prince. Even the Gold Dragon of Heaven, Blaze Celestial Servant, and Star Envoy were moved by his righteousness and resilience, coming to aid under the Gods of Good¡¯s tacit approval. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The holy flame illuminated the Fire Elemental Plane.


    The Kingdom of the Fire Giants under the Great Sultan seemed to be teetering.


    But Cassius knew that under the manipulation of the mighty Lord of Fire, Kasus, this war between good and evil would never end, and neither Zaman nor Imister would emerge victorious¡ªjust like the eternal flame of Kasus.


    This was a golden opportunity.


    Under normal circumstances, he would not remotely match the Great Sultan of the Fire Giants, who seemed to possess pseudogod power.


    But under the threat of the Prince of the Holy Flame, the Great Sultan dared not act rashly or even step out of the City of Brass.


    Cassius entering the Fire Elemental Plane at this critical juncture of the burning war aimed to share the spoils in the Fire Giants¡¯ chaotic kingdom following the most grand uprising led by the Prince of the Holy Flame.


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    ¡°The deaths of two Emirs and the disappearance of hundreds of Fire Giants, I suppose even the Great Sultan in the City of Brass cannot remain idle¡­¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let the storm grow even fiercer!¡±


    Cassius squinted slightly, his golden pupils flickering with flames.


    With that in mind, the Red Dragon lightly tapped the city wall, soaring into the air. He gazed down at the devastated city, slowly flapping his enormous wings and letting out a soft roar that echoed through Black Iron City.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Immediately, all the hardworking slaves in the city looked up, with Fire Dwarfs, Fire Lizards, and even Half-Orcs among them.


    Each pair of eyes, whether blazing with fire, coal-black, or murky yellow, focused on the giant dragon in the sky, reflecting the firelight in their diverse-colored pupils.


    ¡°I, Emperor Cassius of the Ashen Empire, hereby solemnly declare!¡±


    ¡°Submit to the Empire, and I shall bestow upon you the eternal status of Freemen!¡±

 Chapter 467 - 467 339 Submission and Pasha

    ?Chapter 467: Chapter 339: Submission and Pasha Chapter 467: Chapter 339: Submission and Pasha ¡°His Majesty killed the Fire Giant!¡±


    ¡°My god¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true, the Fire Giant was not only killed but also devoured by His Majesty!¡±


    ¡°He is far stronger than those Fire Giants! He is the true master we should pledge our loyalty to!¡±


    A large Fire Lizard elder with a thick snake tail exclaimed in shock.


    These slaves had been enslaved in the Black Iron City by the Fire Giants for who knows how long. Even the Fire Lizards were raised as a slave race, enslaved for generations. They could trace their lineage back dozens of generations, all as slaves to the Fire Giants.


    Even if they were freed, they still had an image of an omnipotent ¡®master¡¯ in their hearts.


    That was the deep-seated chain implanted by the Fire Giants over a thousand years to prevent rebellion, one deeply rooted in their flesh and bones, not easily broken.


    Establishing a new idol was easier than smashing the old one.


    Similarly, transferring faith was easier than completely destroying it.


    When the Fire Giants, whom they regarded as omnipotent deities, were easily crushed and even devoured by a more powerful and grand being, their obedience and reverence naturally transferred to Cassius.


    The slaves¡¯ confused and frightened discussions started.


    ¡°He¡¯s granted us the status of freemen!¡±


    ¡°Truly a merciful majesty!¡±


    ¡°Indeed!¡±


    They expressed in their respective languages.


    Their eyes, diverse in color, were full of flattery for their superior and worship for the strong.


    Although Cassius had announced their status as freemen, most of them still followed the old habits, replacing the Fire Giants with this Dragon Emperor as their new master.


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Long live the Ashen Empire!¡±


    The Fire Lizard elder raised his arms and shouted.


    His common tongue was not very fluent, stumbling and mixed with some Fire Tribe language, but it sounded extraordinarily pious.


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    The Fire Lizard knelt down, lowering his lizard-like head to the scorching ground, his thick snake body writhing in excitement.


    Many other slaves of different races, as if triggered by some bodily instinct, knelt down in unison, touching their foreheads to the scorching ground, murmuring their master¡¯s name.


    The heavy chains around their necks and the metal shackles on their feet clinked and clanged.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk¡­¡±


    ¡°These Fire Giants know quite a bit about enslaving.¡±


    Cassius flapped his wings high in the sky, looking down at the slaves with his pale gold pupils, his face expressionless.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    He descended slowly from the sky, landing on the ground, stirring up ashes and dust.


    Ignoring the kneeling slaves, Cassius waved his claws, tearing the space apart with flames, creating a giant spatial rift.


    Over a thousand officers and soldiers of the Imperial Fire Elemental Plane Vanguard advanced through the portal in neat steps, holding rifles, and lined up before Cassius upon their commander¡¯s orders.


    Everyone was extremely excited; they were being inspected personally by His Majesty! What an honor!


    Many imperial soldiers would never get such a precious opportunity! Yet they were lined up before their emperor!


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    On the commander¡¯s order, the soldiers raised their guns in salute.


    The kneeling Fire Lizards and Fire Dwarves shook with fear, thinking they were about to come to harm.


    Selcan half-kneeled in front of the Red Dragon, placing his right hand on his left chest in a standard ¡°loyalty¡± salute.


    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°The Empire¡¯s Fourth Vanguard, at your command.¡±


    ¡°Selcan, I need you to take full control of this city, including these¡­¡±


    Cassius glanced at the nervous slaves kneeling, then continued, ¡°freemen.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°First Battalion! Take over the Southeast District!¡±


    ¡°Second Battalion! Take over¡­


    The officers began issuing commands according to military regulations.


    Meanwhile, Selcan looked at the nervous slaves with a sinister grin.


    ¡°Lead the way, please.¡±


    With the slaves guiding them, the imperial soldiers quickly took over the entire city, encountering some hidden Fire Giants along the way.


    However, during this process, they also encountered remnants of the Fire Giants hidden within the city, but the imperial soldiers, having long understood these elemental creatures¡¯ weaknesses, easily crushed the sporadic resistance.


    Nonetheless, the unique habits of the Fire Elemental Plane still made them a bit uncomfortable¡ªfor example, the flame fountains in the Emir¡¯s residence and the ¡®trifles¡¯ collected by the Fire Giants that could incinerate mortals to ashes. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius returned to the city walls, observing the swirls of steam clouds in the orange sky, and the descending ash rain. His pale gold pupils shimmered with light, and sulfur-smelling smoke wafted from his nostrils.


    He seemed somewhat exhilarated.


    ¡°A peculiar phenomenon¡­¡±


    ¡°Finally, it¡¯s coming¡­ the true emissary of the Sultan of the Fire Giants. Even if the Sultan himself can¡¯t come, at least a Pasha must be sent.¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    First came a heavy rumble, followed by the ear-piercing sound of air bursting.


    Then, the rivers of magma surged, the wildfires on the wasteland blazed even more fiercely and wildly, the scorching white steam spread over the ground, and there were threadlike flowy flames in the air.


    The rivers of magma cascaded off cliffs, forming a vast and spectacular fire waterfall. This liquid flame broke through an area, creating a natural whirlpool and agitating the surrounding elements.


    In the sky, an even more magnificent flame vortex with a diameter of hundreds of meters appeared, like a lion¡¯s open maw, causing nearby rocks to fly and ashes to swirl, almost engulfing everything around it.


    ¡°That is¡­¡±


    ¡°The Flaming Lion!¡±


    The elderly Fire Lizard elder gazed at the spectacle trembling violently, the deep-seated fear ingrained in his bloodline resurfacing uncontrollably.


    ¡°Oh Lord of Flames¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a Pasha! A noble Pasha is arriving!¡±


    The Fire Lizard elder couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    He had only seen a Pasha¡¯s mighty presence once in his childhood, nearly a century ago, and it remained etched in his memory.


    ¡°Noble?¡±


    ¡°In His Majesty¡¯s presence, no one can be called noble. Mind your words.¡±


    Selcan reminded sternly, arms crossed.


    ¡°Yes, yes¡­ sir.¡±


    The Fire Lizard elder quickly apologized.


    In the sky, the phenomenon continued as a hand emerged from the center of the flame vortex, followed by a strong body¡ªthat was a Fire Giant!


    This unfamiliar Fire Giant was far taller than ordinary Fire Giants, almost like a different species. The ten-meter-tall giant had an exceptionally robust physique, his skin crimson tinged with purple, with complex flame patterns all over.


    His angry, round eyes radiated fiery light like two blazing stars, with a pair of black, curved horns on his head. Thick smoke billowed from his body.


    The rough skin of the Fire Giant was covered in fine robes of silk and satin, adorned with gold bracelets and rings, the most eye-catching being the mithril ring around his neck that shimmered with radiant colors.


    That was a rare treasure granted by the Sultan of the Fire Giants himself, a symbol of status¡ªit signified he was a noble Pasha, one of the six direct servants of the Sultan of the Fire Giants.


    Only the most powerful Fire Giants were entitled to such an honor, becoming the Sultan¡¯s trusted aides.


    ¡°Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°You have crossed the line!¡±


    ¡°The Fire Elemental Plane is the domain of the Sultan. It is a land of honor for the Fire Giants. You will not be allowed to unleash chaos here!¡±


    The angry roar echoed across the scorched wasteland.


    Cassius looked at the distant raging Fire Giant, his pupils narrowing, showing a keen interest on his dragon face.


    ¡°Just one of the Pashas has such power already¡­¡±


    [Ishmael Enver Pasha]


    Challenge Level: 24 (65,000xp)

 Chapter 468 - 468 389 Fury

    ?Chapter 468: Chapter 389: Fury Chapter 468: Chapter 389: Fury Cassius, seeing this, flapped his wings, raising a scorching whirlwind filled with ashes, and soared into the sky, confronting the Fire Giant Pasha from a distance.


    Behind him, clouds of steam billowed, blinding lightning flickered through them, and rain-like flames descended.


    A nearly tangible Dragon¡¯s Might spread outward, oppressing all beings and radiating around the Red Dragon for nearly a kilometer, causing all creatures within this domain to feel a profound sense of reverence and awe.


    Fire Giant and Red Dragon.


    The two confronted each other from a distance, creating an impressively grand scene.


    Cassius¡¯ pale golden eyes narrowed slightly as he scrutinized the Fire Giant from afar.


    ¡°So, this is the Pasha¡­¡±


    ¡°One of the strongest under the Sultan in the Fire Giant Kingdom.¡±


    This guy was nearly ten meters tall, with a robust build¡ªhis strength was certainly not insignificant¡ªbut next to Cassius, it didn¡¯t seem like much at all.


    As a direct servant of the Great Sultan, standing at the pinnacle of the Fire Giant Kingdom, it was no surprise that he was adorned in gleaming gold and extravagantly armed.


    Even the bracelet on his wrist could barely reach the legendary rank, and the brass curved sword he wielded was a top-tier legendary weapon.


    What caught Cassius¡¯ attention the most was the layered mithral rings around the Fire Giant¡¯s neck, etched with ancient and mysterious flame patterns.


    He even sensed a divine-like aura emanating from them!


    ¡°Just a servant with such wealth¡ªhow enviable. No wonder the ancient kingdom has such profound foundations.¡±


    Cassius couldn¡¯t help but lament.


    However, deep within his pale golden pupils, a glint of undisguised greed shone.


    Ishmael Enver glared angrily at the distant dragon, his rugged scarlet face filled with fury.


    But in his flame-filled eyes, there was a trace of apprehension.


    ¡°Ancient Red Dragon¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn, how did that fool Hamid stir up something so troublesome!¡±


    The Great Sultan was busy fending off the offensive from the so-called ¡°Prince of the Holy Flame¡± and paid no heed to the so-called ¡°Soul Devouring Dragon.¡±


    But for the sake of stability in the rear, he still sent Ishmael to handle it. As a direct servant of the Sultan, the Pasha had happily accepted the mission.


    Yet Ishmael never expected that what appeared in Black Iron City would be a being of Primordial Dragon level!


    Even he wasn¡¯t entirely confident in defeating a Primordial Dragon.


    Much less a Red Dragon!


    At that moment, the Red Dragon high in the sky spoke.


    ¡°Heh, Pasha¡­¡±


    ¡°Your Great Sultan surely lacks manners, sending only a lowly servant to greet me?¡±


    ¡°I had thought¡ªhe would personally come to apologize to me.¡±


    Cassius grinned, his tone dripping with blatant contempt.


    The Fire Giant Pasha¡¯s face instantly twisted, his eyes blazing with fire.


    ¡°Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°You have gone too far!¡±


    He let out an earth-shattering roar of anger.


    As one of the six Pashas at the top of the Fire Giant Kingdom, for thousands of years, being a direct servant of the Great Sultan had always been his pride.


    But this dragon dared to insult the Great Sultan right in front of him, demeaning the status of the Pasha!


    Ishmael raised his curved sword, pointing the blade at the Red Dragon in the sky.


    ¡°Red Dragon, are you provoking the Great Sultan and declaring war against the Fire Giant Empire?¡±


    ¡°Declare war?¡±


    Cassius pretended to question.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your Fire Giant officials who insulted and provoked me first? I¡¯m merely retaliating to defend the Empire¡¯s honor.¡±


    ¡°Besides¡­¡±


    Cassius paused, then let out a cold laugh.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t your Great Sultan just get stabbed by the Prince of the Holy Flame? I suppose he¡¯s lying in the City of Brass recovering, too busy to fight me.¡±


    ¡°You¡ª¡±


    Ishmael was speechless, feeling a bit flustered. He wanted to retort.


    But the Red Dragon high in the sky flapped his wings, causing a scorching storm that tore through the heavens and approached.


    He no longer wished to speak and instead wanted to taste what this so-called ¡°Pasha¡± was like.


    The sound of tearing cloth rang out, followed by a piercing shriek.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    In just a few breaths, the Red Dragon had traversed several hundred meters, arriving above the Fire Giant.


    Thunderclouds followed closely, bringing dazzling lightning.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    The thunder roared.


    Thick lightning bolts as wide as bowls struck down suddenly, lighting up the surroundings and aiming straight for the Fire Giant¡¯s head.


    ¡°Lightning?¡±


    ¡°How can this be, it¡¯s clearly a Red Dragon¡­¡±


    Ishmael frowned, watching the sky warily, raising his left hand holding the leather shield studded with metal rivets.


    This shield, made from the thick hide of an ancient dragon beast¡ªcalled the Ancient Beast Shield, also a legendary rank equipment with extremely high magic resistance.


    The magical patterns on the Fire Giant¡¯s body flickered, and a Flame Shield appeared above his head, forming a large dome to ward off the terrifying lightning strike.


    ¡°Sizzle¡ªBoom!¡±


    The electric light flickered, the Flame Shield sparkled, energies collided repeatedly, creating a fierce explosion.


    The lightning bolts broke through the barrier, leaving scorch marks on the shield.


    But the Fire Giant remained unscathed, even having the energy to roar at the sky.


    ¡°Feeble attacks!¡±


    ¡°Red Dragon! You cannot defeat the Great Sultan¡¯s warrior!¡±


    Ishmael struck the shield with the hilt of his sword, letting out a battle cry, while the flame patterns on his body shimmered.


    ¡°We Fire Giants are the natural rulers of the Fire Elemental Plane!¡±


    ¡°And always will be!¡±


    The Fire Giant Pasha¡¯s eyes emitted a blinding light.


    This was the innate spell of the Fire Giant nobles¡ªFireworks Storm!


    Where his gaze landed, the space around the Red Dragon stirred, soon forming a terrifying tornado.


    The wind carried flames, ashes, and smoke, resembling a monstrous beast eager to incinerate everything it engulfed.


    This spell was as daunting as a scourge, easily capable of destroying a human village, and even turning a mortal city to ruins.


    Yet, in the midst of this terrifying storm, Cassius remained unmoved. He leisurely flapped his wings, even feeling a bit amused.


    ¡°Foolish Fire Giant¡­¡±


    ¡°You dare to use such a spell against a noble Red Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Utterly delusional!¡±


    The Red Dragon let out a soft whistle, slightly opening his mouth, and the raging flames began to be drawn into it, forming a vortex of fire and smoke in the sky.


    As he greedily absorbed, the Dragon Crystal in his chest grew brighter, and the cracks in his neck gradually emitted a fiery glow.


    ¡°This, this is¡­¡±


    Ishmael looked up at the sky, his expression serious. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had somewhat lost his mind earlier, forgetting that it was a Red Dragon! A Red Dragon with fire resistance equal to that of a Fire Giant!


    The last wisp of flame was drawn into the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth.


    Cassius flapped his wings, looking down at the Fire Giant Pasha on the ground with his pale golden eyes, a sinister smile appearing on his face.


    The Dragon Crystal in his chest shone like the sun, radiant flames and steam spewed from the pores on his body, as if containing the power to obliterate everything.


    ¡°He¡­¡±


    ¡°He absorbed my spell!¡±


    Ishmael looked up at the Red Dragon in the sky, his hand holding the shield trembling slightly, the flames and smoke above his head flickering.


    A sudden feeling of intense unease surged within him.


    It was the scent of danger!


    The Red Dragon opened his enormous maw once more, endless light seeping through the gaps between his teeth.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±

 Chapter 469 - 469 390 Intense Battle

    ?Chapter 469: Chapter 390 Intense Battle Chapter 469: Chapter 390 Intense Battle The sound of air bursting.


    A pillar of blue-white flames spewed from the red dragon¡¯s maw, descending like heavenly punishment, straight towards the Fire Giant Pasha.


    The terrifying temperature distorted the surrounding space, even the Fire Elemental Plane couldn¡¯t withstand it.


    [Primordial Flame Breath]


    ¡°Lord of Flames¡­¡±


    The light from the flames turned his face pale, and he couldn¡¯t help but pray, then he raised his shield with all his strength.


    To be hit by such a breath¡ª


    Would mean death!


    Even if Ismail was a fire elemental spirit, he was unable to withstand such a high-level energy.


    The ring and necklace on his body glowed simultaneously, several protective spells were activated in succession, and layers of spell hemispheres appeared above the Fire Giant.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Energy collided, causing an explosion.


    Flames burst forth, and frantic waves of elemental energy surged around.


    However, the stalemate only lasted a few seconds; the next moment, the blue-white pillar of flames pierced through several layers of spell defense, striking directly at the giant¡¯s shield.


    ¡°Red Dragon¡ª¡±


    Ismail raised the shield, muscles bulging in his arms, astonishingly withstanding the pillar of fire.


    But his entire body was oppressed by the powerful force, causing the ground to crack and reveal flowing magma.


    While blocking the breath, the Fire Giant moved along the ground, looking for a chance to counterattack.


    However, an inconspicuous dark green light flashed by.


    The Fire Giant didn¡¯t notice¡ªhigh above, Cassius had just extended a clawed finger, aiming at him.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The dark green beam hit the shield, releasing a ball of disintegration magic field.


    The [Ancient Beast Shield] instantly dimmed, cracks appeared on it, then it shattered, turning into a puddle of dust.


    ¡°This is¡ª¡±


    ¡°No good, Great Disjunction!¡±


    Ismail¡¯s expression changed abruptly, but with his rich combat experience, he reacted immediately as the disjunction field made contact with his other equipment.


    [Antimagic Field]


    The silver ring on his finger lit up, the antimagic field suddenly appeared, blocking the disjunction field.


    There was a 1% chance that the Great Disjunction could destroy antimagic fields and divine artifacts, but the Fire Giant wasn¡¯t that unlucky.


    For powerful warriors, protective magic equipment was standard.


    Ismail rolled forward, then pierced through space, appearing several hundred meters away.


    ¡°Dragon Sorcerer¡­¡±


    ¡°This is a bit tricky.¡±


    Ismail looked up at the dragon in the sky, his expression becoming increasingly serious.


    Just a regular red dragon was already a natural-born fighting machine.


    Their scorching breath, sharp teeth, and powerful tail were all formidable weapons, not to mention their innate spellcasting abilities.


    And a Red Dragon Sorcerer, besides the regular inherited spells, could learn even more unexpected spells, making it even more terrifying.


    Engaging in a long-range spell duel with a sorcerer who often acts as a ¡°cannon¡±¡ª


    Didn¡¯t seem like a good idea.


    But Cassius didn¡¯t give Ismail much time to think, soon turning his head towards him.


    The pillar of flames plowed through the ground, creating deep ravines, mercilessly sweeping towards the Fire Giant Pasha.


    At this point, he had already lost the legendary [Ancient Beast Shield] and could only flee in panic across the earth.


    ¡°No, this can¡¯t go on!¡±


    Rolling forward again to evade the sweeping flames, Ismail gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes.


    He had no other choice.


    The red dragon¡¯s breath was simply too terrifying, with various sorcerer tricks up its sleeve; continuing like this, he would only face defeat.


    Or even death!


    The Fire Giant Pasha roared angrily:


    ¡°Red Dragon, I intended to use the power granted by the Great Sultan to fight against the Prince of the Holy Flame!¡±


    ¡°But¡ªyou¡¯ve angered me!¡±


    Ismail howled towards the sky, the mithral ring on his neck constantly rotating, releasing some kind of powerful energy.


    The ground trembled.


    The surrounding flames danced.


    The entire Fire Elemental Plane seemed to be rejoicing, steam surging, flames flickering, and clusters of ash falling from the sky.


    They seemed to resonate with the Fire Giant Pasha in some strange way.


    The plane¡¯s natural rulers, each giant spirit had an inherent connection with their plane.


    And the strongest of the giant spirits could utilize this power.


    Cassius had no habit of waiting for others to transform; he continually spewed extremely cold icefalls, flickering lightning, and blazing white flame pillars.


    But these breaths were blocked by the Fire Elemental Plane¡¯s rule power, unable to penetrate the barrier of flames, ash, and steam.


    Of course, Cassius could use even more powerful abilities.


    But there was no need.


    He gazed at the roaring Fire Giant in the distance, a hint of interest gleaming in his pale golden pupils.


    ¡°So this is the Great Sultan¡¯s power¡­¡±


    ¡°Tsk, I was wondering, no wonder the system assigned him a challenge level of 24. Such a guy¡ªis indeed interesting.¡±


    Ismail¡¯s chants echoed across the ground.


    ¡°Lord of Flames, in the name of the Child of the Elemental Plane, I pray to you¡­¡±


    ¡°I pray you grant me¡­ the power to repel this intruder!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A pillar of fire shot into the sky!


    Amidst the dazzling firelight, enveloped in steam clouds, Ismail¡¯s body expanded rapidly, becoming increasingly colossal.


    Eventually, a giant nearly thirty meters tall stood on the magma-flowing, flame-covered earth, letting out a thunderous roar.


    ¡°Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°You have angered the enemy you should never provoke!¡±


    ¡°I, the noble Fire Giant Pasha Ismail, in the name of the Great Sultan, bestow upon you your end!¡±


    Ismail raised the brass curved sword high, glaring angrily at the distant red dragon.


    Flames coiled around his body like flowing silk, magma rippled underfoot, and the space around him fluctuated with his movements.


    The Fire Elemental Plane was the essence and embodiment of flames. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And as the essence of the fire element, priding himself as the ruler of the Fire Elemental Plane, the Fire Giant Pasha now temporarily grasped a trace of ¡°Plane Power.¡±


    ¡°Ismail.¡±


    ¡°Now you are worthy of me taking you a bit more seriously!¡±


    Cassius exhaled sulfuorous heat, gazing excitedly at the massive giant standing on the ground.


    He slowly flapped his wings and took to the sky once more.


    [Undying Reverse Scale]


    [Agile as a Dragon]


    [Immune to Energy Damage]


    [Advanced Energy Scales]


    ¡­


    The red dragon¡¯s body shimmered with intertwined magical auras, various enhancement spells covering every inch of his form.


    And now Cassius was even more expansive; not only did he possess his own dragon spells, but even the gaps between his scales were embedded with magical equipment offered by the Empire¡¯s citizens.


    His wing membranes were also adorned with various spells like [Orthluck Antidemons Barrier] and [Shining Patterns].


    ¡ªThis was something Cassius had learned from that ¡°Wings of Silver¡± Osedro.


    ¡°Damn reptile¡­¡±


    Ismail, feeling the abundant power within him, glared hatefully at the distant red dragon, wishing he could tear him apart alive.


    This was a power he could only use once in a century.


    He had originally intended to use this power to make a grand impact in the Burning War and build great achievements.


    But the sudden arrival of the red dragon ruined his plans, even threatening his life.


    ¡°Red Dragon! You are powerful!¡±


    ¡°But you can never defeat a noble Fire Giant Pasha within the Fire Elemental Plane!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Ismail roared loudly, stomping the ground until it cracked, and his massive body suddenly leaped hundreds of meters.


    The Fire Giant Pasha dragged ash and smoke behind him, swinging the curved sword with all his strength, charging alone towards the red dragon in the sky.


    The brass curved sword cut through the air, its surface covered with a burning glow.

 Chapter 470 - 470 391 Frenzy

    ?Chapter 470: Chapter 391: Frenzy Chapter 470: Chapter 391: Frenzy ¡°Red Dragon¡ª¡±


    ¡°You are an excellent sacrifice! I will present your head to the Great Sultan!¡±


    ¡°I will offer your body to the Supreme Lord of Flames!¡±


    The Fire Giant roared in the sky, its enormous body descending with rolling smoke, its eyes blazing with brilliant flames.


    The nearly thirty-meter-tall scarlet giant, descending with unstoppable force, swung the brass curved sword in a slashing motion.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The space in the Fire Elemental Plane was torn apart by this terrifying force, creating fire-tongue-like cracks.


    Cassius looked up at the Fire Giant in the sky, his Heavenly Calamity Dragon¡¯s Eye beside him glinting with light.


    The next moment, a piercing whistling sound rang out.


    Cassius flapped his wings at an imperceptible speed, his body turning into a scarlet shadow, leaving only a cone-shaped cloud mass in his original spot.


    With a swish, the Red Dragon¡¯s massive body suddenly vanished from its position.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°How could this be?¡±


    The Fire Giant, slashing down, pounced on empty air, his face twisted with extreme anger and shock.


    As the evil Lord of Fire Elementals, Imister had many Red Dragon followers who often collaborated with the Kingdom of the Fire Giants supported by him.


    As a Fire Giant Pasha, Ishmael sometimes even fought alongside these terrifying war machines¡ªthe Red Dragons.


    Though he admitted that these scarlet giant dragons matched his strength, he prided himself on being far superior in agility.


    But now, something unbelievable had happened¡ª


    ¡°Thud.¡±


    The sound of flesh being cut.


    Ishmael felt a gust of hot wind behind him, followed by intense pain.


    In that moment, Cassius had flown behind him, cutting his neck with sharp claws.


    Scalding, magma-like blood spilled.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    The Fire Giant, relying on a warrior¡¯s intuition, turned around and, with all his might, swung the brass curved sword at the Red Dragon¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The blade slashed through space again, carving a beautiful crescent arc in the air.


    Just as the blade was about to slice through scales, the Red Dragon flapped its wings, stirring up a gust and retreating nearly a hundred meters like a ghost.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The brass curved sword generated a terrifying half-moon shockwave, rapidly spreading far away, making the surrounding space extremely unstable, creating spiderweb-like cracks.


    But with various enhancements, Cassius¡¯s speed had reached a terrifying level.


    Not just the blade, even the slash couldn¡¯t touch him.


    Cassius soared into the sky again, a hundred meters high above, looking down at the enormous Fire Giant, grinning coldly.


    ¡°If that¡¯s all you¡¯ve got¡ª¡±


    ¡°The grace of your Great Sultan is merely so!¡±


    ¡°Coward!¡±


    ¡°Do you think evading will change your fate?¡±


    ¡°Red Dragon! Come fight me up close! Don¡¯t use your spell tricks or sweet talk!¡±


    He was insulting his faith!


    The Fire Giant wailed towards the sky, filled with resentment and hatred as he stared at the Red Dragon.


    Ishmael had been the strongest in his tribe since childhood. At fifty years old, he carved a bloody path on the battlefield and personally decapitated a Wind Colossus Emir.


    By the time he was eighty, he was already a famed warrior within his tribe.


    Even so, Ishmael had to survive cruel battles to stand out among the warriors from various Fire Giant tribes.


    Eventually, stained with blood, he knelt before the Great Sultan, becoming the Pasha with supreme glory.


    Thinking of this, he raised his brass curved sword, pointing the blade at the Red Dragon¡ªit was a provocation, a display of might.


    He wanted to prove his strength to this formidable enemy!


    Raging flames surrounded his enormous body. His eyes emitted intense firelight, followed by billowing smoke.


    At that moment, Ishmael seemed like the incarnation of the Fire Elemental Plane!


    ¡°Come, Red Dragon! Don¡¯t evade! Fight me head-on!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He understood these Red Dragons well.


    Warlike, irascible, arrogant, and proud.


    Whenever any creature issued a direct challenge to a Red Dragon, they believed it to be an insult and would use everything to destroy the ¡°ignorant insect.¡±


    But the Red Dragon wasn¡¯t angry, merely tilting its head curiously.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you reflect on why your spellcasting ability is so weak?¡±


    ¡°Or is it that you aren¡¯t trying hard enough!¡±


    Cassius grinned provocatively, sulfurous white smoke spurting from his nostrils.


    ¡°However¡ª¡±


    ¡°Dealing with an idiot like you doesn¡¯t require any schemes! A straightforward crush is enough!¡±


    ¡°Come! Show me the strength you are so proud of!¡±


    Flames surged into the sky, smoke and ash billowing.


    Cassius suddenly flapped his wings, stirring up a scorching gale, then dived down with unstoppable force¡ªstriking towards the Fire Giant Pasha.


    Ishmael braced himself, fearlessly charging forward, the Plane Power around him surging continuously.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    First, a blinding flash.


    Then, a series of mighty collisions, fissions, and explosions.


    Flames and smoke intertwined, steam and ash danced, the orange-red sky of the Fire Elemental Plane revealing burning-edged spatial holes.


    The Red Dragon and the Giant¡¯s towering bodies wrestled, concealed in the smoke and steam clouds, occasionally exposing a sinister scale or claw.


    With each collision, they stirred up a colossal, searing gust, incapacitating all nearby beings, even killing some instantly.


    The sky was riddled with holes.


    The ground quaked and groaned.


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames¡­¡±


    ¡°They, they are divine messengers punishing His people, they are harbingers of destruction!¡±


    ¡°O Lord¡­¡±


    ¡°What, what is that?¡±


    ¡°I have lived for eighty-seven years and never seen such a battle!¡±


    The slaves, initially curious, now trembled, afraid to lift their heads and watch the fight.


    It was too terrifying.


    They witnessed firsthand the blazing fallout from the Red Dragon and Giant¡¯s battle, incinerating dozens of unfortunate Fire Lizards in an instant.


    ¡°He will win, His Majesty Cassius will surely win!¡±


    Selcan looked up, his expression unwavering, nearly pious.


    Even the most ordinary Imperial Soldiers raised their heads, watching the sky battle with anticipation and tension.


    But their eyes held no doubt of Cassius¡¯s defeat¡ªthat was simply impossible.


    His Majesty never failed.


    It was always like this.


    Whether the opponent was a noble, a demon, a Silver Dragon, or a Fire Giant, His Majesty Cassius would always crush them and then lead them to a glorious future.


    This was not just the confidence built from long-term victories but also the result of the Empire¡¯s long-standing brainwashing propaganda.


    Many Imperial Soldiers¡¯ devotion to His Imperial Majesty was akin to the zealots of the Church, almost reaching a fanatical level.


    ¡°The Great Red Dragon never falls!!¡±


    ¡°Victory to His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, cheer up! His Majesty Cassius has taken action, everything is about to end!¡±


    The soldiers¡¯ cheers were drowned in the explosive blasts but continued unabated, surging like waves.

 Chapter 471 - 471 392 Beheading

    ?Chapter 471: Chapter 392: Beheading Chapter 471: Chapter 392: Beheading ¡°Shwoosh¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon dodged a slash from the curved sword, quickly changing direction and swinging its thick long tail fiercely at its opponent¡¯s face.


    The air was torn apart once more.


    And Cassius¡¯ tail, covered with bony spikes, struck the Fire Giant¡¯s face squarely, distorting his features.


    Scorching, magma-like blood sprayed everywhere.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    With a crisp sound, the Fire Giant was sent flying dozens of meters away, letting out a wretched howl.


    The Fire Giant was knocked out of the cloud formation, leaving only wisps of gray smoke around him.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    Cassius submerged himself in the smoke, panting softly as he thought to himself, ¡°A bit tricky, huh¡­¡±


    Several scratches had appeared on the Red Dragon¡¯s chest and back, shattering dozens of incredibly tough scales, and even leaving a sizable tear in the left wing membrane.


    The Fire Giant indeed deserved to be the natural ruler of the Fire Elemental Plane.


    After unleashing the power bestowed by the Great Sultan, this Fire Giant¡¯s body became almost equal in size to his, if not slightly larger.


    At the same time, the power of the Fire Elemental Plane granted Ishmael terrifying strength, allowing him to gain the upper hand in their duels of strength.


    Whenever Cassius clashed with the massive body of the Fire Giant, he could feel a repulsive force from the Fire Elemental Plane.


    Although he was also a True Dragon, who controlled the essence of Fire Magic, he was not a native of the Fire Elemental Plane.


    In other words, Cassius couldn¡¯t draw much power from the environment, while the Fire Giant could receive assistance from the plane.


    Pseudogod Power.


    He was once again certain of this.


    In Erezer, the gap between gods and mortals was surprisingly vast, nearly insurmountable. It was a difference in the level of life and the essence of power.


    No matter how powerful a mortal was, they were still just an individual in the vast universe.


    But gods were different, their power had the nature of ¡°Authority,¡± allowing them to leverage their divine power to wield forces several magnitudes greater than mortals.


    And the power that Ishmael displayed, though not as potent as true divine power, had similar attributes.


    ¡°So this is the reliance of the Great Sultan, huh¡­¡±


    Cassius squinted his eyes, staring through the smoke at the distant Fire Giant, his light golden pupils flashing with interest.


    ¡°Well then¡­¡±


    ¡°Let me see¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°How long you can fight me!¡±


    The Red Dragon raised his head and let out a roar of rage, then spread his wings and dived into the billowing smoke, disappearing from sight.


    ¡°Die! You sneaky bastard, I see you!¡±


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    Ishmael, relying on his warrior¡¯s intuition and the plane¡¯s senses, threw a short spear, but the Red Dragon sidestepped it at high speed.


    The spear nearly grazed the Red Dragon¡¯s underbelly, creating explosive sounds in the air.


    And Cassius soared into the air, then unexpectedly crashed into the Fire Giant from behind, with the gaping maw full of dagger-sized teeth biting down.


    ¡°Squish.¡±


    The sound of flesh being pierced.


    Followed closely by frantic roars and painful wails.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°You despicable worm! Shameless sneak!¡±


    Ishmael instinctively grabbed Cassius¡¯ head, struggling constantly to drag him over his shoulder.


    His other hand still clenched the brass curved sword and swung it backward, but the awkward posture made it hard to exert full force.


    The blade clanged against the hard scales, producing clear metallic sounds.


    How could the Red Dragon comply?


    Cassius bit down with all his strength, his sharp teeth deeply embedded in the flesh¡ª¡ªsome even broke off inside due to the Fire Giant¡¯s fierce struggle.


    His thick arms wrapped around the Fire Giant¡¯s shoulders, locking his arms, rendering them powerless.


    The Red Dragon¡¯s strong hind legs kicked, sharp claws directly plunged into the Fire Giant¡¯s flesh, making him bleed profusely.


    Cassius rarely had the chance to use such combat methods¡ª¡ªhis body was too massive.


    Most of the time, he fought creatures smaller than his claws.


    But this time, facing the nearly forty-meter-tall Fire Giant, Cassius could finally relish the thrill of combat.


    ¡°Aaargh¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let me go! You damned reptile!¡±


    Ishmael struggled fiercely to free his bound arms, letting out another furious roar.


    But Cassius¡¯ forelimb remained latched onto the Fire Giant¡¯s back, not loosening at all, his jaws biting ever tighter.


    As the ¡°Ruler¡± of the Fire Elemental Plane, the surrounding flames poured into the Fire Giant¡¯s body, healing his wounds at visible speed.


    As Cassius bit down, the Fire Giant¡¯s neck flesh regenerated, making for a peculiar scene.


    But soon, the Fire Giant felt a bone-chilling cold spreading from his nape.


    Panic gripped Ishmael¡¯s heart, a tension and unease like never before.


    What on earth is he doing?!


    In his past life, Cassius often wondered¡ª¡ªwhy didn¡¯t dragons use their breath after biting into foes?


    And now, he was ready to try this novel approach.


    It was a Ninth Tier Spell¡ª¡ª


    [Extreme Cold Ice Exposure Spell]


    Though cold spells were severely suppressed in the Fire Elemental Plane, at such close distance, Cassius didn¡¯t believe it wouldn¡¯t work.


    Extremely cold air blasted out, almost freezing the Fire Giant¡¯s back.


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re blaspheming the Lord of Flames!¡±


    Sparks erupted from Ishmael¡¯s eyes. He knew he had to give it his all!


    Otherwise, he might be frozen and possibly destroyed!


    ¡°Red Dragon! Get off me!¡±


    He roared, spreading his arms, muscles bulging, using all his might to drive the mithral ring embedded in his flesh.


    Calling upon the Great Sultan¡¯s gift¡ª¡ªmore accurately, the essence of the Elemental Plane itself.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Extremely hot flames surrounded him, shaking the space around.


    Scarlet ripples flashed repeatedly, piercing through the Red Dragon¡¯s body.


    A transparent scarlet sphere enveloped both the Fire Giant and the Red Dragon.


    Cassius felt a powerful repulsive force; every tooth and scale was being repelled and destroyed by this force.


    ¡°This power¡­ it¡¯s dangerous. If I stay in this affected space, the consequences will be dire!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon released his grip and claws without hesitation, letting out a low growl, and he swiftly ascended like a phantom.


    But the Fire Giant turned around, glaring at the Red Dragon in the air, fire pillars shooting from his eyes.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    The fire pillars shot towards the Red Dragon, and raging flames formed gigantic hands reaching for the airborne dragon from all directions.


    At this moment, Cassius had not yet flown out of the scarlet sphere¡¯s range!


    The flames representing the essence of the Elemental Plane entangled Cassius¡¯ body, clinging to his wings, significantly slowing his movements.


    And that was enough for Ishmael.


    With a triumphant roar, the enraged Fire Giant Pasha¡¯s face twisted into a smile, feeling like his great revenge was near.


    ¡°Red Dragon! I said you were strong, but¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°No one can defeat a Fire Giant Pasha in this plane! Your head is already mine!¡±


    ¡°You seem to know spells well, but have you seen this one?!¡±


    The Fire Giant Pasha couldn¡¯t wait to leap into the air, both hands gripping the brass curved sword tightly, its blade¡¯s patterns gleaming brightly.


    ¡°Shwoosh¡ª¡ª¡±


    This was Ishmael¡¯s final trump card.


    [Beheading Sword]


    Cassius¡¯ pupils shrank.


    The Beheading Sword, a weapon trait famous even in his previous life.


    Once this trait was activated, and the opponent couldn¡¯t move, any weapon with this trait could decapitate the enemy in one strike, ensuring instant death.


    And Ishmael¡¯s Beheading Sword was likely a gift from the Great Sultan, only quasi-gods with the [Immortality] trait could withstand it.


    Given the Red Dragon couldn¡¯t break free from the plane¡¯s power within five seconds, that time was enough for Ishmael to decapitate him.


    But thinking this, Cassius¡¯ lips curled into a slight smile, a hint of mockery in his eyes.


    ¡°This is your trump card, huh¡­¡±


    The Fire Giant was about to reach him, the dazzling blade getting closer and larger in Cassius¡¯ light golden pupils.


    But Cassius calmly watched, showing no panic of impending death.


    Ishmael noticed this but didn¡¯t think much of it, assuming the opponent was utterly desperate.


    ¡°Red Dragon! Your head is about to fall!¡±


    ¡°Remember my name¡ª¡ªthe great Fire Giant Pasha Ishmael Enver!¡±


    ¡°Die!¡±


    A thunderous roar, a space-ripping slash, an earth-scorching sea of flames. For any strong person, it would be a funeral worthy of respect.


    But he didn¡¯t notice among the chaotic sounds, was a crisp and subtle ¡°click.¡±


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    Next moment, a huge head fell from the air, still bearing an expression of extreme excitement and sheer joy.


    But it wasn¡¯t the Red Dragon¡¯s head, rather it was the Fire Giant Pasha¡¯s, who believed he was about to win.


    Cassius held the precious, blood-soaked brass curved sword, playing with it lightly and joyfully in his claws.


    The scalding blood showered the Red Dragon¡¯s face, almost blending with his scarlet scales, but Cassius bared his teeth, showing an exceptionally cruel smile.


    ¡°Thanks a lot, Ishmael Enver Pasha. I was worrying about how to kill you.¡±


    Cassius had many ways to kill Ishmael¡ª¡ªthe Breath of Chaos was one of them.


    But he chose the most reliable way.


    The process was simple; using the ancient time dragon¡¯s gifted pocket watch, he cast the Ninth Tier Spell [Time Stop], broke free from the fire elemental plane¡¯s restraint, and seized the brass curved sword.


    Then Cassius casually flew behind the Fire Giant, ready, and swung the sword at the moment time resumed.


    Beheading!


    The Red Dragon swung the sword. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The scene looked odd, but it worked, indeed decapitating the Fire Giant Pasha.


    Ishmael¡¯s planar power could block most spells, including the Dragon Sorcerer¡¯s Metamagic, but could not block powers of similar divine nature¡ª¡ªlike the runes inscribed by the Ancient Chrono Dragon.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    It seemed to sense the Pasha¡¯s fall, the Fire Elemental Plane let out a ¡°wail,¡± steam clouds gathered, and ashen rain fell in clusters.


    ¡°By the Lord of Flames¡­¡±


    ¡°Pasha¡­¡±


    ¡°Is dead.¡±


    The elemental creatures, trembling from the battle¡¯s grandeur, peeked out their heads in disbelief, looking up at the fallen Fire Giant Pasha.


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°The great Red Dragon is invincible!¡±


    The Empire¡¯s soldiers, already prepared for this, roared excitedly, and cheers erupted from the Ashen Empire¡¯s camp, reaching the sky.


    The giant body slowly fell, with ashes and flames scattering and dissipating, while the corpse turned into the purest and most essential Elemental Essence.


    ¡°What a treasure¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯ eyes brightened with greed in his light golden pupils, eagerly flapping his wings, diving towards the fallen Fire Giant Pasha¡¯s body.


    ¡°Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Cassius!¡±


    Thunderous voices suddenly sounded, echoing over the burning plains, with continuous reverberations.


    The voice was grand and distant, seemingly omnipresent, but filled with rage.


    ¡°I know you!¡±


    ¡°How dare you¡ª¡ªkill a Pasha in my realm!¡±


    Cassius¡¯ expression grew solemn.


    He knew the source of the voice, the true ruler of this realm, the peak existence of the Elemental Plane, a demigod-level monarch¡ª¡ªthe Sultan of the Fire Giants.

 Chapter 472 - 472 394 Resurrection and Plunder

    ?Chapter 472: Chapter 394: Resurrection and Plunder Chapter 472: Chapter 394: Resurrection and Plunder ¡°Stop¡ª¡ª¡±


    The roar of the Sultan of the Fire Giants shook the heavens and the earth, ashes and sparks swirling in the air, terrifying the Fire Elemental Plane¡¯s native residents.


    The Great Sultan, a name from legends, was the monarch who ruled this land for thousands of years.


    Like a deity.


    This was the position of the Sultan of the Fire Giants in their hearts.


    But Cassius did not care; instead, he sped up, tucked his wings, and dived down, constantly closing in on the remains of that Fire Giant.


    ¡°Damn, reckless Red Dragon!¡±


    Another angry shout.


    The flames and smoke in the air continuously flowed and rotated, finally converging to form a humanoid figure hundreds of meters tall.


    The scarlet giant stood on the earth, wearing a heavy crown, donning a golden silk robe, and holding the Giant Spirit Scepter symbolizing the kingdom¡¯s authority.


    Behind him was a billowing sea of fire, roaring clouds, and churning ashes.


    This was the mightiest ruler of the Fire Elemental Plane, the master of the City of Brass¡ª¡ªthe Great Sultan of the Fire Giants.


    Noble, powerful.


    These two words appeared in the minds of everyone present, causing their hearts to tremble.


    ¡°Lord of Flames¡­¡±


    However, they did not notice that the body was flickering, somewhat unreal.


    Seeing this awe-inspiring scene, Cassius did not slow down his actions at all; he merely let out a cold laugh and mercilessly mocked:


    ¡°Your Majesty the Great Sultan, do you think a mere projection can scare me away?¡±


    ¡°Do you really think you are a deity?¡±


    ¡°You¡ª¡ª¡±


    The scarlet giant, hundreds of meters tall, immediately glared angrily, his enormous face twisting.


    He dared to do this!


    Insult him face-to-face!


    Cassius¡¯ words undoubtedly hit his sore spot.


    Becoming a deity, this was his obsession for thousands of years, something he ardently desired but never achieved.


    Seizing the moment while the Great Sultan was stunned, Cassius flew near Ishmael¡¯s remains.


    The Red Dragon opened its mouth, a swirling vortex of spell magic appeared within, continuously absorbing everything around it. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Dragon¡¯s Absorption]


    Devouring Ishmael¡¯s essence face-to-face was undoubtedly a deeper provocation, so much so it could be called a direct affront.


    This was a Fire Giant Pasha, each one personally cultivated by the Sultan, the steadfast pillars of the Kingdom of the Fire Giants.


    They were also cherished carriers of power for the Sultan, essential to his own pseudogod power.


    ¡°How dare you¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Sultan let out another roar but did not dare hesitate, reaching towards Ishmael¡¯s remains.


    ¡°I wish Ishmael Enver to be resurrected!¡±


    The Sultan shouted.


    As his voice fell, an infinite radiance appeared on Ishmael¡¯s body, powerful forces surging and twisting reality continuously.


    The fire elements, ashes, and smoke that had detached from the Fire Giants seemed to reverse in time, flying back and gradually filling Ishmael¡¯s remains.


    According to the plane¡¯s rules, the mightiest Giant Spirits could have three Wish Spells, but they could only be used on non-Giant Spirit creatures.


    However, the Sultan¡¯s former power had already transcended the limits of plane rules.


    He twisted the agreement between the Elemental Plane and the Giants, making the Wish Spell work on Ishmael, reviving him with that miraculous power!


    ¡°Wish Magic?¡±


    Cassius slightly furrowed his scaly brow, the blinding light of the Wish Spell reflecting in his pale-gold pupils.


    But soon, the greed in his eyes overshadowed the light of the Wish Spell.


    ¡°That won¡¯t stop me!¡±


    The spell vortex in his mouth became even more turbulent, the suction force increasingly terrifying, gradually surpassing the apex of Ninth Tier Spells¡ª¡ªlike a black hole.


    [Metamagic: Enhanced Spell]


    Under that powerful suction force, Ishmael¡¯s body, which was about to be restored, became damaged again and started moving towards the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    ¡°Arrogant Red Dragon!¡±


    The Sultan raised the illusory scepter, waving it towards the orange sky of the Fire Elemental Plane.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Hundreds of flame chains soared into the sky, flying towards the Red Dragon high above, trying to bind it in place.


    But dark red flames surrounded Cassius, and the crown on his head emitted a white radiance.


    Chaos Flame!


    The Light of Bahamut¡¯s Order!


    The powers from two Dragon Gods were simultaneously released by Cassius, allowing him to maintain his sanity while resisting the pseudogod power¡¯s intrusion.


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s divine power!¡±


    ¡°And two different types of divine power! Just who is this¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Sultan¡¯s face darkened instantly; he had to wave the scepter fiercely, drawing arcs in the air repeatedly, releasing more power.


    Under the Sultan¡¯s influence, the entire Fire Elemental Plane seemed to tremble violently.


    Tens of thousands of flame chains surged towards Cassius from all directions, but were all blocked by the divine flame and white light.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±


    Under the effect of the Wish Spell, Ishmael was about to be resurrected.


    But at the last moment, Cassius lunged forward, biting off a major portion of the essence containing the Fire Elemental Plane¡¯s pure power.


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°You cannot do this!¡±


    The Sultan trembled with rage.


    If his true body were here, he could easily break through the barrier of remaining divine power and kill the Red Dragon.


    But here, it was just a projection of the Sultan; he could only watch everything happening helplessly.


    The foundation of power he had prepared for his deification, a Fire Giant Pasha cultivated over a thousand years¡ª¡ªwas thus bitten down by the Red Dragon.


    And Cassius, feeling the immense elemental power flood into his body, felt unparalleled comfort.


    The power was so vast and potent that he even felt ¡°overstuffed.¡±


    The powerful heart in his chest pounded, persistently pumping this energy to every part of his body.


    More importantly, he felt a sense of ¡°control¡± over this Fire Elemental Plane¡ª¡ªsimilar to the feeling he had when he first acquired [Kingdom Domain].


    The panel suddenly refreshed with a string of information.


    [You devoured the essence of Ishmael Enver, the Fire Giant Pasha!]


    [You obtained the pure power of the Fire Elemental Plane.]


    [You acquired the trait [Elemental Controller]; you gained a minute authority over the Fire Elemental Plane¡ªFire Elemental; your control over fire elementals stepped onto a new tier.]


    [The power, range, and control of your breath significantly improved.]


    [As a controller of elements, you automatically obtained most flame-related spells in the general spell list of magicians.]


    [You obtained [Meteor Burst][Summon Fire Elemental Behemoth][Sunflame Burst][Flamestorm][Delayed Blast Fireball][Fiery Purification][Fire Branding Technique]¡­]


    Vast magical knowledge flooded into Cassius¡¯ mind.


    ¡°This power is so immense. If I could devour all of Ishmael, could I advance even further?¡±


    In a state of extreme excitement, Cassius thought this.


    That greedy Red Dragon¡¯s mouth once again unleashed a spell vortex; he was trying to use Dragon¡¯s Absorption a second time¡ª¡ªhe wanted to absorb all of Ishmael¡¯s power!


    However, the light on that mutilated body grew increasingly bright, and the surrounding flames and ashes gathered even more.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Wish Spell finally completed.


    Ishmael appeared ¡°intact¡± in mid-air, the expression of astonishment still on his face.


    ¡°I, how did I die?¡±


    He touched his head, exclaiming incredulously.

 Chapter 473 - 473 395 The Great Sultans Negotiation

    ?Chapter 473: Chapter 395 The Great Sultan¡¯s Negotiation Chapter 473: Chapter 395 The Great Sultan¡¯s Negotiation Cassius¡¯s pale golden pupils revealed a trace of disappointment. He shook his head regretfully.


    Ishmael had been resurrected.


    Though he was fearless of the Great Sultan, he had no way to kill the Pasha right in front of him.


    Moreover, he was about to be overwhelmed by the Sultan¡¯s furious assault. Even if it was merely a projection, a demigod-level presence was not easy to deal with.


    Ishmael immediately spotted the Red Dragon watching menacingly from afar. He shook his head repeatedly, and his face showed sheer terror and unease.


    ¡°You, you¡ª¡±


    ¡°How can this be? I clearly beheaded you!¡±


    ¡°How dare you kill me!¡±


    The scene of his sudden death and his head falling to the ground was still fresh in his mind.


    But soon, Ishmael lowered his head, observing his now significantly shrunken body, realizing that most of his strength had drained away.


    ¡°You, what have you done to me?¡±


    His voice trembled.


    Even in death, he had never felt such fear; losing his strength now made him experience true terror.


    Strength, that was everything he relied on for survival.


    Only the most powerful Fire Giants were qualified to become the direct servants of the Sultan, the noble Pashas of the Fire Giants.


    Once he lost his strength, in the warlike race of Fire Giants, he would likely be replaced by those lower-ranking but rising Fire Giants.


    ¡°Ishmael!¡±


    ¡°You fool!¡±


    The Great Sultan interrupted angrily.


    Ishmael looked toward the projection of the Great Sultan in the distance. His expression instantly became filled with extreme dread and tension, and he directly knelt in that direction.


    ¡°My Lord!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I disappointed you! You¡­ even spent your strength to revive me.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But the Great Sultan didn¡¯t care about the Pasha who had lost most of his strength. Instead, he gazed at the Red Dragon, his eyes full of rage.


    If looks could kill, the Great Sultan would have skinned and disemboweled the Red Dragon a thousand times over.


    Cassius, however, paid no mind to the Sultan¡¯s gaze, merely licking his lips with relish and smiling.


    ¡°Great Sultan, I came to negotiate, let¡¯s cease fire for the time being.¡±


    ¡°Negotiate?!¡±


    The Fire Giant retorted in disbelief, his tone exceedingly furious.


    ¡°You invaded my land, seized my city, killed my people, and even slaughtered my servant!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve reached this point, and you still want to negotiate!¡±


    Cassius shook his head lightly and said nonchalantly, ¡°Great Sultan, that¡¯s merely from your perspective. From my viewpoint, it was your subordinates who pursued my retainers and insulted me right to my face.¡±


    ¡°My actions were simply self-defense.¡±


    Cassius remained fearless and confident.


    Reason wasn¡¯t important.


    Even with an absurd claim like ¡°self-defense in slaughtering the Fire Giant¡¯s city,¡± he could say it without blinking.


    In the interactions between beings of the evil faction, only one thing mattered¡ªstrength.


    If the Great Sultan himself were here, wielding the full power of his demigod strength, Cassius would absolutely be running for his life.


    If he couldn¡¯t escape, kneeling to beg for mercy wouldn¡¯t be out of the question.


    But now, how could a mere projection of the Great Sultan make waves before him?


    ¡°Self-defense, you say!¡±


    ¡°If I don¡¯t stop you, will you defend yourself all the way to the City of Brass?!¡±


    The Great Sultan¡¯s furious roar resounded across the Scorching Wasteland, stirring waves of hot air.


    But he soon calmed down, staring intently at the distant Red Dragon, his eyes filled with malice, pondering something.


    Things had come to this.


    Blind rage wouldn¡¯t change anything, it would only make him look incompetent.


    ¡°Cassius, I know you. The offspring of Tiamat, occupying the Anzeta Great Wilderness on the Material Plane, calling yourself the Ashen Emperor.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, you¡¯ve been making quite a name for yourself lately¡ª¡±


    ¡°But just like that, you come to the Fire Elemental Plane, invade my territory, are you not afraid of never leaving here?¡±


    ¡°Do you realize¡ªwho you have provoked?¡±


    There was naked threat in those words, and the Great Sultan made no effort to conceal his intention.


    Cassius nodded slightly and said flatteringly, ¡°Of course, I know who you are¡ªthe master of the City of Brass, the supreme ruler of the Fire Giant Kingdom, the overlord of the Fire Elemental Plane¡­¡±


    Ordinarily, the Great Sultan would take this as flattery.


    But this Red Dragon had just killed his servant right in front of him and absorbed his power. This was undoubtedly sarcastic.


    The Great Sultan¡¯s face grew more sullen.


    After Cassius finished reciting the long list of extravagant titles, he paused slightly.


    Then he continued:


    ¡°But if you could appear here in your true form, I would never dare set foot on the Fire Elemental Plane.¡±


    He gave the Great Sultan a mocking look and asked exaggeratedly:


    ¡°It must have been awful being speared through by Prince Zaman Roul¡¯s Holy Flame Longspear, right? Tsk, tsk, I heard you were pinned to your throne.¡±


    ¡°You greedy, arrogant Red Dragon!¡±


    The Great Sultan couldn¡¯t help but curse in anger.


    Cassius¡¯s words had hit a sore spot.


    Months ago, Zaman Roul had collaborated with Fire Dwarf rebels to infiltrate the City of Brass through a secret passage.


    That Prince of the Holy Flame snuck into his Charcoal Palace and threw a deadly spear, almost killing him on the spot!


    Ever since, the Great Sultan had been recovering from his injuries inside the City of Brass, not daring to step outside his palace.


    Within the city, security had reached unprecedented levels, with all pathways sealed and anyone entering any area subjected to stringent checks.


    Thinking of this, the Great Sultan glared venomously at the Red Dragon, hating him as he asked, ¡°Who sent you? What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Who sent me?¡±


    Cassius repeated the question, chuckling and shaking his head before continuing.


    ¡°That depends on your decision.¡±


    ¡°If you insist on being an enemy of the Ashen Empire, fighting to the death, then I¡¯m a vanguard sent by the Prince of the Holy Flame.¡±


    ¡°I will fly across your vast land, ravaging every city and stronghold of the Fire Giants, slaughtering them like death incarnate.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s words dripped with menace.


    But a barely discernible hint of panic appeared in the Sultan¡¯s expression.


    Because his words carried a feasible threat.


    The front lines were tense, with slave uprisings erupting in various cities, and the elite forces of the Fire Giants were dispatched to battle the followers of the Prince of the Holy Flame.


    Meanwhile, as the Sultan of the Fire Giants, he was gravely injured and convalescing in his palace.


    In such dire frontline conditions and a hollowed-out rear, no one could stop a Primordial Dragon-level, or even more terrifying, war machine.


    And the Prince of the Holy Flame would likely welcome such an ally.


    It was entirely possible that this creature could turn the Fire Giant Kingdom into chaos, giving the rebels the chance to overthrow the Fire Giants¡¯ rule.


    The Great Sultan pondered deeply, while Cassius continued.


    ¡°But if you cease hostilities with the Ashen Empire, dismiss these misunderstandings and frictions, express your apologies to me, and extend friendship to the Empire¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then all this will be just a misunderstanding. I will not interfere with your burning war, and I might even support you with military supplies within my capabilities.¡±


    Cassius raised his head, the ferocious dragon face bearing a calm smile.


    ¡°I always pursue peace and do not advocate the use of force; every conflict can be resolved through negotiation.¡±


    ¡°Do you agree¡­ is that right?¡±

 Chapter 474 - 474 396 Ceasefire

    ?Chapter 474: Chapter 396: Ceasefire Chapter 474: Chapter 396: Ceasefire The Great Sultan stared firmly at the Red Dragon and finally gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Cassius¡ªwhat exactly do you want?¡±


    Without a doubt, he was at an absolute disadvantage in this negotiation.


    And he had to admit, the Red Dragon had chosen its timing perfectly.


    The Kingdom of the Fire Giants was currently at a critical juncture, and any external intervention could result in irreparable consequences¡ªespecially when it came to a giant dragon.


    Cassius nodded slowly and smiled, ¡°Very well, Your Majesty, it seems you have acknowledged my second proposal.¡±


    The Red Dragon flapped its wings and sighed deeply but theatrically.


    ¡°Ah, couldn¡¯t we have done this earlier? I have always believed that matters resolved at the negotiating table hardly need escalate into conflicts.¡±


    He paused for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s a pity your subordinates don¡¯t understand this.¡±


    With the aid of the ¡°Smooth Talker¡± trait, his words seemed quite persuasive, although beings of Pseudogod Power like the Great Sultan were not swayed by extraordinary charisma.


    After hearing Cassius¡¯s words, the Great Sultan¡¯s eyes were burning with uncontrollable rage. He spoke in a low voice, ¡°Enough! Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Your pretentiousness makes me nauseous! State your terms and then get out of the Fire Elemental Plane!¡±


    Cassius felt more like laughing than angered by the insult.


    However, he didn¡¯t want to truly anger this Great Sultan as it would not be worth it to go all out against a being of Pseudogod Power.


    Thus, the Red Dragon nodded politely, then extended a single clawed toe.


    ¡°One hundred wishes per year. For someone ruling over thousands upon thousands of Fire Giant citizens and controlling most of the Fire Elemental Plane, this should be no problem.¡±


    ¡°Are you joking!¡±


    The Great Sultan was initially stunned, then enraged.


    In a fit of anger, he struck the phantom scepter onto the ground, causing massive pits to appear on the barren land while flaming cracks radiated outward from the scepter.


    The earth trembled with his fury, and firebirds took off in panic from the desolate plains.


    How dare he make such a demand!


    It should be known that not every Fire Giant possessed the power of Wish Magic; only those strong enough to gain the consciousness of the plane had such abilities, and even fewer had three wishes.


    He ruled over hundreds of thousands of Fire Giants, among whom only a few thousand were Malik, and there were only nine hundred Wish Magic abilities per year.


    Even so, this number was fearsome.


    The Wish Magic of the Fire Giants enabled them to win the support of Great Demon Lords and Elemental Princes, making them the primary rulers of the Elemental Plane and earning them the title of ¡°mythical creatures¡± among mortals.


    For the Fire Giant Great Sultan, these wishes were incredibly precious.


    This dragon dared to demand a hundred wishes straight off!


    And in return, offered so-called ¡°ceasefire¡± and ¡°non-interference in the war,¡± which cost him practically nothing.


    ¡°What a pipe dream!¡±


    ¡°The Fire Giant Empire would never agree to such an unreasonable condition. If you mean to anger me, then let¡¯s go to war!¡±


    Though furious, the Great Sultan remained rational. If the dragon truly entered this battle, he¡¯d have to sacrifice some vital assets.


    Cassius¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and there was not even a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He stroked his chin with a claw and thought:


    ¡°So it¡¯s really not feasible¡­¡±


    He did not actually want to go to war with the Fire Giant Empire. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Such a millennia-old kingdom, ruled by a Pseudogod Power being, would be too much for the nascent Ashen Empire to withstand.


    The terms he had just proposed were merely to seek greater benefits, using what humans called the ¡°door-in-the-face technique.¡±


    First, make an impossible demand, then make a comparatively easier demand, making it more likely for the other party to accept.


    With this in mind, Cassius said with a hint of ¡°regret,¡± ¡°Your Majesty, it seems I was indeed overstepping.¡±


    ¡°How about this: fifty wishes per year, plus I will provide you with a batch of armaments.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    After a long silence, the Great Sultan finally spoke again, ¡°Red Dragon, your greed surpasses even my imagination. Not even a Great Demon Lord would dare ask for a hundred wishes per year.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Your Majesty, I only have three conditions.¡±


    Cassius looked at the Great Sultan, his tone firm and forceful, ¡°First, provide the Ashen Empire with twenty-five wishes per year, for at least ten years.¡±


    ¡°Second, purchase armaments from the Klaubow Armament Group with a large amount of elemental ore, generating an equivalent income of five million Ginnars.¡±


    ¡°Third, make the cities of Brass Fortress, Ironforge City, and Black Iron City into concessions under the jurisdiction of the Ashen Empire.¡±


    ¡°And this is my final offer.¡±


    ¡°If you cannot agree to this, then it shows you have no intent for a ceasefire. I will support the Prince of the Holy Flame.¡±


    The Red Dragon¡¯s pale golden eyes flickered with firelight, reflecting the immense and towering figure of the Great Sultan.


    ¡°Impertinence!¡±


    ¡°Red Dragon! How dare you speak to my master in this manner!¡±


    Before the Great Sultan could respond, Ishmael stepped forward angrily, accusing Cassius.


    Yet Cassius paid him no mind.


    He awaited the Great Sultan¡¯s response, believing that the weakened Pasha no longer had the qualifications to participate in this negotiation.


    And the Great Sultan was still contemplating, weighing the pros and cons, considering whether to accept the terms.


    Ishmael glared at his foe, summoning legion after legion of Fire Giant Soldiers, drawing bows and aiming at the Red Dragon.


    Meanwhile, the empire¡¯s army stood behind Cassius, raising their firearms and silently aiming at the Fire Giant hundreds of meters away.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The already sweltering air grew tense, as if it were about to explode at any moment.


    ¡°Enough.¡±


    ¡°I accept your terms.¡±


    The Great Sultan¡¯s expression was grim as he spoke each word deliberately.


    At such a critical time, there was no need to provoke an Ancient Dragon for the sake of some lost power.


    Cassius immediately grinned and nodded toward the distant scarlet giant, revealing a look of extreme happiness, ¡°Excellent, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Sign this contract and the matter will be entirely settled. Old enmities will dissipate, and the Kingdom of the Fire Giants and the Ashen Empire will march toward a better future together.¡±


    The Red Dragon gently waved a claw, and the power of the elemental plane¡¯s authority he had just acquired descended. Flames formed one magical text after another in mid-air, each bearing traits of a contract.


    Witnessing this, Pasha Ismail trembled with fury yet dared not speak.


    This power rightfully belonged to him!


    ¡°Come, Your Majesty.¡±


    With a thought, Cassius manipulated the fiery contract to appear before the Great Sultan¡¯s projection.


    The scarlet giant extended a finger, instilling his will into the contract.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡ª¡±


    Scarlet auroras flickered, even causing the essence of the plane to tremble, bearing witness to the contract¡¯s establishment.


    The Great Sultan¡¯s expression was exceedingly dark, his voice tinged with bitterness, ¡°Throughout these long millennia, I¡¯ve encountered countless types of dragons, but you are the greediest giant dragon I have ever seen.¡±


    Cassius once again nodded in acknowledgment, smiling, ¡°Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty¡ªthis is merely the nature of a Red Dragon.¡±

 Chapter 475 - 475 397 Treaty

    ?Chapter 475: Chapter 397 Treaty Chapter 475: Chapter 397 Treaty The negotiation thus concluded.


    The Empire of the Fire Giants and the Ashen Empire signed an ¡°Empire Amity Treaty.¡±


    Represented by their respective monarchs¡ªSultan of the Fire Giants and the Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor Cassius¡ªthe two nations swore an oath to the essence of the Fire Elemental Plane to establish the contract.


    1. The Kingdom of the Fire Giants would provide twenty-five wishes to the Ashen Empire annually, for at least ten years.


    2. The Kingdom of the Fire Giants would pay five million Ginnar in elemental ore to the Ashen Empire to purchase a large amount of munitions.


    3. The Kingdom of the Fire Giants would cede control of Ironforge City and Black Iron City and cease harassment of the Brass Fortress.


    The Great Sultan, in his anger, caused his projection to explode, creating a crater with a diameter of a hundred meters at the scene, while his true form continued to convalesce in his Charcoal Palace.


    Meanwhile, the Fire Giant Pasha Ishmael, dejected, led his soldiers back to the City of Brass.


    As was customary for defeated Pashas, what awaited him would be the Sultan¡¯s punishment and the challenges of ambitious Fire Giant warriors.


    Despite the Fire Giant officials¡¯ strict control over the news, information about the battle still spread like wildfire, causing immense panic within the Fire Giant realm.


    In just a few days, the ¡°Battle of the Scorching Wasteland¡± had spread throughout the Kingdom of the Fire Giants, even reaching the Holy Flame insurgents.


    In these rumors, the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon from the Material Plane had bitten off Pasha Ishmael¡¯s head. It was only when the Sultan himself arrived that Ishmael was resurrected and escaped.


    And after unknown negotiations and countless sacrifices, the two sides finally ceased hostilities¡ªeven rumors spread that the Great Sultan had paid the price of a hundred wishes per year to send away this plague god.


    And Cassius¡¯ name also spread thoroughly across the Inner Plane.


    The residents of the planes of fire, wind, water, earth, positive energy, and negative energy all came to know the name of this great dragon, particularly remembering the dreadful moniker, ¡°Soul Devouring Dragon.¡±


    ¡­


    Outside Black Iron City, in the Scorching Wasteland.


    Once a battleground, the land was now riddled with deep scars and pits filled with flowing magma, occasionally erupting in clusters of flames.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon raised his head and let out a long howl, suddenly extending his wings and stretching out his left talon.


    The flames, symbolizing the essence of the plane, surged from all around, forming a complex array in his palm.


    [Summon Elemental Giant]


    A whirlpool of flame appeared in mid-air, from which emerged a colossal monster over ten meters tall. It let out a low growl and obediently knelt before Cassius.


    Its body was composed of flames and magma, each inch of its form brimming with fierce elemental energy capable of reducing a mortal city to ashes.


    [Fire Elemental Giant]


    Challenge Level: 16


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    Cassius gazed at the distant giant and nodded in satisfaction. With a casual wave of his claw, the giant vanished.


    He lowered his head and looked at the cluster of red flames in his talon.


    This represented an extremely small portion of the authority from the Fire Elemental Plane.


    After several days of experimentation, he could now skillfully control this power from Pasha Ishmael¡ªor more precisely, from the Great Sultan of the Fire Giants.


    He could even sense the essence of this power¡ªit was, in fact, the pseudogod power influencing the Elemental Plane.


    The Elemental Archons did not rule their respective planes and all the elements within them; the authority they gained was merely superficial and not true divine power, but only a hair¡¯s breadth away.


    And the Great Sultan¡¯s plan was likely to bring the entire Fire Elemental Plane under the rule of the Kingdom of the Fire Giants, elevating his ¡°authority¡± to encompass the entire plane.


    It bore a striking resemblance to Cassius¡¯ domain.


    And the six Pashas were undoubtedly just vessels for the Great Sultan¡¯s power, meticulously cultivated sacrifices for his apotheosis. He had not even managed to use them himself before Cassius devoured one.


    But even if Cassius had not ¡°devoured¡± this Pasha, the mighty Lord of Flames would not have allowed anyone to covet his authority.


    For the sake of maintaining balance, the Burning War would continue for a long time.


    This game would have no true winner; if there were to be one, it could only be an outsider like Cassius, fishing in troubled waters and reaping benefits.


    Cassius grinned, feeling the power near the essence of fire filling his body.


    ¡°What a delightful surprise¡­ absorbing this power, I might even count as elemental nobility.¡±


    ¡°How interesting.¡±


    The flames in his talon constantly changed shape, sometimes forming birds, sometimes fish, and sometimes giant dragons flapping their wings.


    After absorbing this power, Cassius¡¯ control over the flames had reached an extremely frightening level.


    Red Dragons, having an elemental core of fire within them, were often considered semi-elemental creatures by scholars. After obtaining the power of the Fire Giant Pasha, Cassius could, to some extent, be called an ¡°indigenous of the Fire Elemental Plane.¡±


    [Elemental Command]


    As an elemental controller, you could attempt to control elemental creatures of the same type as yourself. Unless the target passed a will save, it would be completely under your control.


    Cassius focused his mind, and the light in his pale-golden eyes flickered.


    Instantly, the firebirds in the orange sky came under his control, forming various formations.


    The Fire Imps in the magma leapt out one by one, standing in neat rows as if the Red Dragon were their born monarch.


    ¡°Tsk tsk, this is a great place. If I had a safe domain, I would even think of slumbering here.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that I signed a contract with the Sultan to leave the Fire Elemental Plane within ten days.¡±


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let me meet the Prince of the Holy Flame before I leave.¡±


    So thought Cassius.


    And so, the Red Dragon flapped his wings, stirring up a hurricane filled with ashes and sparks over the Scorching Wasteland, and his massive dragon form soared into the air.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    With another long roar, Cassius flapped his wings again, his dragon form becoming a scarlet shadow, slicing through the orange sky going towards the distance.


    On the city walls, the Imperial Soldiers and freemen gazed at the meteor-like figure, exclaiming in awe.


    ¡°Look there!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s true, His Majesty, he¡¯s leaving the Fire Elemental Plane!¡±


    ¡°Great Red Dragon¡­¡±


    A sense of loss and reluctance filled the city walls.


    Many soldiers and freemen kneeled in the direction of the departing Red Dragon, murmuring what seemed to be prayers.


    Inside Black Iron City, still directing the repair of the city¡¯s defenses, Selcan raised his head, looking into the distance, and struck his chest with his fist in a standard ¡°loyalty¡± salute.


    His eyes were full of determination and emotion.


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°I will not let your high hopes go unfulfilled. I will become a qualified Governor, establishing a solid foothold for the Empire in the Fire Elemental Plane, awaiting your next arrival.¡±


    ¡°By that time, you will be the master of the Fire Elemental Plane.¡±


    ¡ª¡ªRequest Monthly Ticket¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 476 - 476 398 Prince of the Holy Flame

    ?Chapter 476: Chapter 398 Prince of the Holy Flame Chapter 476: Chapter 398 Prince of the Holy Flame The Red Dragon spread its wings, its scarlet silhouette streaking across the sky like a comet amidst the howling wind.


    Cassius gazed down upon the fiery landscape below, where lava flowed endlessly.


    ¡°Finally arrived¡­.¡±


    ¡°Since I¡¯ve come to the Fire Elemental Plane, I must witness the legendary City of Brass and the¡­Burning War.¡±


    High-temperature steam clouds roiled over the flame-spewing land, with rivers of fire and lava traversing the deformed, hideous surface, sometimes cascading down cliffs to form enormous, majestic firefalls.


    This place was always bathed in radiance; the ground, air, buildings, and even some of the local inhabitants constantly emitted flames.


    But it was not the bright light that caused visual impairment, but rather the effect of heat and perpetually smoky atmosphere. The heat distorted the air, causing mirages at the edge of the observer¡¯s vision, hiding the true environment in the distance.


    Here lay the heart of the entire Fire Elemental Plane, the hottest, most dynamically reactive spot, known to the local inhabitants as the ¡°Heart of Flame.¡±


    And in the distance stood a magnificent city¡ªthis city perched atop a forty-mile-diameter brass hemisphere, hovering above a cracked obsidian continent at the center of the Fire Elemental Plane.


    Burning basalt steps and rivers of fire led into the heavily guarded city gates.


    Inside the city, vision was normal, and the plane¡¯s agonizing natural environment was subdued by the Great Sultan¡¯s will.


    This was the City of Brass, the home and capital of the Fire Giants. It was the most famous region on the Fire Elemental Plane and the place most likely to be visited by travelers from the Prime Material Plane.


    At the city¡¯s center stood the tallest tower and the largest flame fountain. It was also home to the Great Sultan¡¯s burning palace, from where he ruled all Fire Giants seated on a charcoal throne.


    It was said that within that palace were incredible wonders and immeasurable treasures plundered by the Fire Giants over thousands of years, but no one had ever successfully taken even a single gold coin from there, as any uninvited guests were reduced to ashes by the Great Sultan¡¯s wrath.


    At this moment, the City of Brass found itself in turmoil.


    On the city walls stood thousands of Fire Giant warriors clad in brass armor, wielding scimitars, spears, and manning great flaming crossbows, all in a state of high alert.


    Outside the city gates, a motley army of hundreds of thousands of Fire Lizard slaves, thousands of Fire Drakes, and dozens of multi-headed Fire Hydra Lizards were assembled.


    Additionally, legions of devils from Hell emerged from portals, and the Fire Element Elders, Magma Generals, and Duke of Smoke sent by the Prince of Evil Fire, Imister, were also arrayed before them.


    Scarlet giants over ten meters tall¡ªthe Pashas of the Fire Giants¡ªraised their scimitars, symbols of honor, and let out loud shouts.


    These evil fire elemental creatures roared and bellowed, ¡°For the Empire of the Fire Giant Spirits!¡± ¡°For the Great Sultan!¡± ¡°Sacrifice to the Lord of Flames!¡± their voices resounding through the sky.


    On the opposite side, on the cracked obsidian continent, stood the uprising army against the Fire Giants¡¯ rule¡ªthe Holy Flame Legion.


    Their ranks included emancipated slaves of various races such as Fire Dwarfs, humans, and elves, Blaze Angels and Armored Divine Servants from Heaven, and also Elemental Apostles and Elemental Nobles who followed good-aligned fire elemental masters.


    The most dazzling presence was atop the peak of the obsidian mountain¡ªthe legendary good-aligned fire elemental master, revered as the ¡°Prince of the Holy Flame,¡± ¡°Resurgence Ashes,¡± and ¡°The Eternal Flame of Rebellion,¡± Zaman Roul.


    This Elemental Archon was tall and mighty, standing over ten meters. His appearance resembled a spirited young elemental kin.


    His eyes emitted intense light, and his hair and beard burned fiercely.


    Zaman Roul stood proudly with his long spear, glaring angrily at the Fire Giants who enslaved the people of the Fire Elemental Plane.


    The spear¡¯s razor-sharp point glimmered in the firelight, with faint traces of blood that exuded a menacing aura of destruction.


    This was the legendary ¡°Holy Flame Longspear,¡± a divine artifact that pierced the Great Sultan¡¯s chest months ago.


    As the master of fire elementals, even though he inclined towards good alignment, Zaman Roul possessed all the hazardous traits of fire: frenzy, ferocity, and the ability to incinerate everything.


    His eyes were always filled with the flames of vengeance, seemingly never to be extinguished, reflecting his hatred for all evil beings, especially Imister, the Prince of Evil Fire.


    Zaman Roul and Imister¡¯s enmity had existed from Zaman¡¯s birth, for he was the offspring of Imix and Brescia Pell.


    Brescia Pell, known as the ¡°Eternal Flame Princess,¡± was a former master of the fire elementals but was assassinated millennia ago during the Chaos and Order War.


    Since then, Zaman Roul inherited his mother¡¯s will, striving to eliminate Imister and restore order and goodness to the Fire Elemental Plane.


    Decades ago, Kasus perceived Imister and the Great Sultan¡¯s schemes and granted Zaman more strength, igniting this massive Burning War.


    Allies of the good alignment gathered here. Beside Zaman Roul stood an ancient Gold Dragon from the Heavenly Mountain as an ally.


    Cassius flapped his wings, hovering a dozen miles above the City of Brass, utilizing the power of Heaven¡¯s Calamity Dragon Eye to observe everything.


    He saw the battlefield dotted with densely packed light clusters, each like a star.


    ¡°So, this is the ¡®Prince of the Holy Flame,¡¯ Zaman Roul¡­ Truly a good-aligned fire elemental archon.¡±


    ¡°What terrifying strength.¡±


    ¡°That body is like a moving volcano, filled with violent energy.¡±


    Cassius contemplated.


    [Prince of the Holy Flame ¨C Zaman Roul]


    Challenge Level: ??? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The fact that Cassius couldn¡¯t discern his overall power indicated that this good-aligned fire elemental archon had a Challenge Level beyond thirty, an absolute existence of pseudogod power.


    Even by mere sensation, the Red Dragon felt the extremely fierce and incredibly hot fire element, far surpassing the elemental power he controlled.


    On that obsidian slope, there were also powerful good-aligned beings such as an ancient Gold Dragon, Blaze Celestial Servants, and Supreme Heaven creatures, a few of which had strength close to Cassius¡¯.


    The Fire Giants¡¯ side was equally formidable, with Great Devils from Hell and elemental nobility under Imister¡¯s command.


    Cassius¡¯s expression grew solemn.


    The enemy was strong, and the Great Sultan¡¯s power was likely even greater than he imagined, though fortunately, the opponent was severely injured, and he himself wasn¡¯t in a do-or-die struggle.


    Gazing at both sides of the battle formation, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel.


    ¡°Tsk¡­ Such high-caliber forces deserve Kasus¡¯s handiwork. If the current Imperial Legion were thrown into this battlefield, it probably wouldn¡¯t even make a splash.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡ª¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, the Red Dragon felt several immensely dangerous gazes directed at him, accelerating his heartbeat and making his large heart thump violently.


    ¡°Quite dangerous¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve noticed me! No, not just him!¡±


    He sensed that the attention came not only from the obsidian peak but also from within the City of Brass itself.

 Chapter 477 - 477 399 Departure and New World

    ?Chapter 477: Chapter 399: Departure and New World Chapter 477: Chapter 399: Departure and New World At the summit of the Obsidian Mountain, Zaman Roul gazed into the distance, where the sky was distorted by scorching air and smoke.


    His eyes narrowed slightly, easily piercing through the mirage to see the reality thousands of meters away.


    ¡°A very powerful Red Dragon¡­¡±


    He clenched the Holy Flame Longspear in his hand, speaking in a heavy yet clangorous voice.


    ¡°An evil being, carrying the aura of Fire Giants, seems like a new enemy.¡±


    The Prince of the Holy Flame was not puzzled by the arrival of the Red Dragon.


    Imix was an evil Lord of Fire Elementals, whose followers included Fire Giants, Red Dragons, and spellcasters interested in all Fire Magic.


    In Zaman Roul¡¯s view, this Red Dragon was a disciple summoned by Imister, probably earning quite a lot of Gold Coins from the Fire Giant slave masters, thus being a formidable enemy that required extra attention in this burning war.


    But no matter how powerful the enemy, Zaman Roul would not be afraid, especially not a mere powerful Red Dragon.


    He had been planning this revenge for too long; for millennia, he had dreamed endlessly of killing Imister and his evil retainers, personally embedding this Holy Flame Longspear into their chests.


    And now, the Sultan of the Fire Giants was seriously injured, and victory seemed within reach.


    But the Ancient Gold Dragon, Galoslav Shokin, who stood by his side, hesitated for a moment before reminding him, ¡°Your Highness Zaman, this Red Dragon¡­ may not be our enemy.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Why?¡±


    Zaman turned his head, looking puzzled.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you have heard the rumors of the ¡®Soul Devouring Dragon¡¯ recently; the Red Dragon in the sky should be the one who killed Pasha Ishmael.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the irritable Prince of the Holy Flame felt a hint of joy, urgently asking:


    ¡°Haha, so he¡¯s here to help us? Is he also a righteous and benevolent hero discontent with the tyranny of the Fire Giants?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say so.¡±


    The Ancient Gold Dragon frowned slightly and chuckled bitterly.


    ¡°As far as I know, this Red Dragon once fought with my old friend Osedro and defeated him, yet he also rejected the invitation of Tiamat¡­¡±


    ¡°According to our internal perspective, it¡¯s hard to judge this Red Dragon on the single axis of ¡®Good¡¯ or ¡®Evil,¡¯ and we can only try to ally with him.¡±


    ¡°However, there are rumors that he has signed a secret treaty with the Sultan of the Fire Giants, and we are still unaware of its contents.¡±


    ¡°Is that so¡­¡±


    The joy on Zaman Roul¡¯s face flickered and disappeared, turning serious once more.


    He raised the Holy Flame Longspear with one hand, pointing its tip toward the City of Brass, speaking with firmness and resolve.


    ¡°No matter what evil enemy stands before me, I will slay him¡ªno one can stop the burning of the Holy Flame, and no one can prevent the Fire Elemental Plane from returning to the embrace of order and goodness!¡±


    ¡°Your Highness Zaman, I can already see the City of Brass being breached! Your dream will soon become reality!¡±


    The Ancient Gold Dragon nodded gently, speaking with excitement.


    Zaman Roul raised his spear high, shouting in the language of the Fire Tribe, composed of hissing and clicking sounds like burning flames.


    ¡°Holy Flame! My faithful people, for the justice and order of the entire Fire Elemental Plane, for the freedom and liberation of all elemental beings, conquer the City of Brass! Overthrow the tyranny of the Sultan of the Fire Giants!¡±


    ¡°Prince of the Holy Flame!¡±


    ¡°Overthrow the tyranny of the Fire Giants!¡±


    The cheers roared like tides, as the liberated slaves escorted their Lord of Fire Elementals towards the City of Brass.


    Meanwhile, the Fire Giants, Devils, and elemental nobility within the City of Brass were ready for battle.


    War was about to begin.


    ¡­


    High above, Cassius had already received the extraplanar teleportation coordinates sent by Ramp, about to teleport back to the Material Plane.


    ¡°I must leave here quickly.¡±


    ¡°The Prince of the Holy Flame should harbor little hostility towards me, and the other force from the City of Brass¡­ feels familiar.¡±


    A subtle smile curved upon Cassius¡¯s dragon face.


    He politely nodded in the direction of the City of Brass, calmly saying, ¡°Good day, Your Majesty the Sultan, we meet again.¡±


    ¡°Cassius¡ª¡±


    ¡°Leave here!¡±


    ¡°How dare you come to the City of Brass! Do you wish to break our treaty? Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you! That would mean facing the punishment of planar laws!¡±


    ¡°Get out of the Heart of Flame!!¡±


    The enraged voice echoed from afar, like thunder, reverberating across the Obsidian Continent.


    No wonder he was so anxious; the Prince of the Holy Flame was about to attack, and the sudden appearance of such a Red Dragon would undoubtedly affect the battle significantly.


    Cassius flapped his wings, feeling the spatial fluctuations around him.


    ¡°I always abide by treaties, cherish peace, and have never thought of meddling in your war with the Prince of the Holy Flame; this time, I just came to witness the legendary City of Brass and to bid you farewell.¡±


    ¡°Since you are so unwelcoming, I will now take my leave.¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Red Dragon grinned, nodding slightly.


    The next moment, a force breaking through space emerged, and an Otherworld Gate slowly opened before him, connecting to the aetheric conduit leading to the Anzeta Great Wilderness in the Material Plane.


    ¡°Then¡­ farewell, Your Majesty the Sultan.¡±


    Cassius entered the portal, the space gradually returning to normal, and even the gate disappeared without leaving a trace.


    ¡°Damn, greedy dragon!¡±


    The Sultan¡¯s furious roar echoed inside the City of Brass and even reached the battlefield outside the city.


    ¡°Haha, I have some fondness for this dragon, to make the Sultan of the Fire Giants so infuriated.¡±


    Zaman Roul laughed heartily.


    Suddenly, he noticed a wisp of unusual flame flying towards him, intriguing him, especially due to his strong control over elements.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The flame unfolded like an envelope, forming a line of common script in midair.


    ¡°To the honored Prince of the Holy Flame:


    Hello! For purchasing military supplies or discussing cooperation with the Empire, please head to the Brass Fortress. ¡ªCassius¡±


    ¡°Interesting fellow.¡±


    Zaman Roul squinted his eyes slightly, casually absorbing the flame words.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, inside the Brass Fortress.


    A Half-Dragon clad in standard fireproof suits was eloquently speaking in the Fire Dwarfs¡¯ palace; he was an envoy sent by the Ashen Empire.


    This nickname hovered above his head: [Turbocharged Engine Warrior]¡ªclearly, he was a player from the Mechanical God Cult.


    ¡°Lord Sharin, do you know why the Brass Fortress has such a sparse population? I believe it¡¯s primarily due to the reproductive issues of you Fire Dwarfs.¡±


    Sharin¡¯s mouth twitched: ¡°Your Excellency, this is a tradition from the God of Dwarfs¡­¡±


    The player waved his hand: ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about historical traditions. Without breaking historical inertia, where¡¯s the development and innovation? Where¡¯s the progress?¡±


    ¡­


    Sharin was at a loss for words.


    But the player continued to speak, ¡°Your forging efficiency is too low! It takes you years to create a new Fire Dwarf.¡±


    ¡°In my view, you should set up an assembly line for casting. The Imperial Department of Technology can provide you with technical support.¡±


    ¡°If the equipment conditions aren¡¯t enough, try direct lost-wax casting; you could produce an entire army of Clone Fire Dwarfs. Who says the Fire Dwarf race cannot be revived?¡±


    ¡°Alas! You have already abandoned the flesh body and begun initial mechanical ascension. What great conditions! And yet you¡¯ve ruined them!¡±


    [Turbocharged Engine Warrior] practically lamented the lack of progress, earnestly advising the Fire Dwarf Nobility.


    Sharin scratched his head: ¡°But according to our experience, the body must be crafted by Fire Dwarfs personally.¡±


    The player tapped his head: ¡°You thousand-year-old fossils, your thinking is too rigid. There are many loopholes in these provisions.¡±


    ¡°Does pushing a cast switch by hand count as personal crafting? Does pouring a mold count as personal crafting?¡±


    Sharin muttered: ¡°But this doesn¡¯t necessarily count¡­¡±


    The player smiled: ¡°If these don¡¯t count, then using a ¡®hammer¡¯ as a medium for forging, does that count as ¡®personal¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Trust me, give me three months, and with my ten years of experience in mechanical automation, I will help you design a fully automated fertility machine!¡±


    ¡°Moreover, since this place is already open, many leaders from our Mechanical God Cult are very interested in your Fire Dwarfs¡¯ form of existence. They will certainly help you solve these issues!¡±


    [Turbocharged Engine Warrior]said excitedly.


    Sharin swallowed, and under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Guards, slowly nodded in agreement.


    A new world was about to open up for the Fire Dwarfs.


    ¡ªRequest for Monthly Tickets¡ª

 Chapter 478 - 478 400 The Empires Situation

    ?Chapter 478: Chapter 400: The Empire¡¯s Situation Chapter 478: Chapter 400: The Empire¡¯s Situation On the Isdalia Grand Altar, hundreds of Imperial Court Mages gathered together, raising their Magic Wands in unison.


    Accompanied by intense vibrations, a massive spatial rift, hundreds of meters long, appeared at the top of the altar.


    A colossal and majestic red head emerged from it, followed by a thick neck, then broad wings and powerful forelimbs.


    The supreme Emperor of the Ashen Empire, the dragon ruling over the Anzeta Great Wilderness¡ªCassius Klaubow Norixius, arrived today at his loyal Isdalia.


    ¡°Aoooo¡ª¡±


    Cassius slowly closed his eyes, savoring the long-forgotten sensation of controlling everything within the Imperial Region, letting out a satisfied, soft roar.


    ¡°Master, welcome back.¡±


    Ramp stood on the penultimate level of the altar, respectfully welcoming the return of the Red Dragon.


    As the Imperial Prime Minister, he was the only one who could stand in this unique position to be the first to greet the Emperor.


    Behind him were Duke Mezulash and Duke Dolores, each leading the elite Imperial Army and the Tiefling Guards respectively.


    ¡°Welcome back, Your Majesty¡ª¡±


    The hundred or so Court Mages behind him echoed in unison.


    The soldiers on the altar half-knelt neatly, their rifles touching the ground with a crisp sound.


    ¡°Master¡ª¡±


    The White Dragon ran and flew from afar, but this time she didn¡¯t dare to approach too closely, excitedly lying on the ground, her thick tail wagging.


    Yet, the commotion from her nearly twenty-meter-long body caused the ground to tremble slightly.


    Cassius surveyed the surroundings, finally fixing his gaze on the Imperial Prime Minister, Ramp.


    ¡°Ramp, you should have received the news about the Empire¡¯s colony in the Fire Elemental Plane.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master. Congratulations on another great victory. I have already sent someone to record your deeds in the ¡®History of the Ashen Empire.¡¯


    The Ogre knelt on the ground, his tone becoming increasingly excited.


    ¡°You subdued the Fire Dwarves, defeated the Pasha of the Kingdom of the Fire Giants, and made the Sultan sign a treaty with us, bringing enormous benefits to the Empire. All citizens should remember your achievements and be grateful for your grace! I will immediately create a new monument¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s mouth twitched, unable to help but interrupt.


    With just a glance, Mezulash whispered something to Dolores.


    Under their orders, the surrounding soldiers, guards, and Court Mages withdrew in an orderly manner, leaving only a few high-ranking officials¡ªand the clueless Tiniya.


    ¡°Did you send manpower and supplies to the colony? The living conditions there are extremely harsh, and ordinary clothing and food will soon be scorched.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Master.¡±


    Ramp hurriedly responded.


    ¡°We have already dispatched an envoy team composed of players from the Mechanical God Cult to the Brass Fortress, bringing many high-temperature resistant supplies.¡±


    ¡°Additionally, the Department of Technology is also researching weapons, clothing, and food for the unique environment of the Fire Elemental Plane, expected to yield preliminary results in about a month, significantly reducing Spell costs; you needn¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius nodded slightly.


    ¡°The burning war is also a rare opportunity. I appointed Selcan as the Governor of the Fire Elemental Plane colony. Ensure he stabilizes his position and profits from the chaos.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, special weapons targeting elemental creatures should be prioritized, as this war will last a long time.¡±


    Ramp grinned, showing an ugly smile.


    ¡°You can rest assured, Your Majesty. The people in the armament group are the greediest; they have already tasted the sweetness of selling arms, with many having amassed great wealth. This has created an atmosphere where they will stop at nothing in pursuit of profit.¡±


    Ramp chuckled.


    ¡°In such an atmosphere, any opportunity to profit will see them swarm like hungry wolves, vying for every Gold Coin.¡±


    However, as if remembering something, he furrowed his brow and said, ¡°But, to cut costs, some have started concealing the number of workers, exploiting legal loopholes, and even evading taxes as per regulations¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯s expression turned slightly severe¡ªthese were the bloodthirsty monsters he had personally nurtured.


    They now began to reveal their hideous faces, showing them to the entire Fianso Continent.


    Though he didn¡¯t see individual strength as a catastrophic threat, viewing them instead as fierce dogs aiding in the Empire¡¯s expansion, he had to prevent these monsters from turning into parasitic vermin gnawing at the Empire¡¯s foundation.


    Evil dogs required discipline.


    They must not only taste flesh and blood but also feel the power of the stick, to ensure they remembered who their master was.


    ¡°It seems it¡¯s more than just a sprout already¡­¡±


    Cassius squinted his eyes slightly, thinking to himself.


    ¡°Ramp, have the Department of Legal Affairs work overtime to patch the loopholes, increase the penalties, and bring several typical offenders to trial as a warning to others, leaving no room for them to exploit any gaps.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Seeing the Emperor¡¯s serious attitude towards the matter, Ramp quickly bowed his head in agreement.


    Cassius continued, ¡°Remember the story I told you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Master, even a thousand-mile-long dike can collapse due to a small ant hole.¡±


    Cassius nodded in satisfaction and then turned to Mezulash, ¡°It seems the country has been too peaceful lately, leading some to lose control of their ambitions.¡±


    ¡°Let ¡®Nocturne¡¯ taste blood; they haven¡¯t enjoyed fresh blood in many days.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Mezulash¡¯s expression remained unchanged, simply responding with a crisp and forceful half-kneel.


    ¡°Alright, having just returned from the Fire Elemental Plane, I need to rest in the Royal Palace for a while.¡±


    ¡°Remember, during this time, no one is to disturb me.¡±


    Cassius yawned and casually tore the space in front of him with his claws, creating a massive flame portal, through which he returned to the long-separated Royal Palace.


    After several battles, he indeed needed to rest, and at the same time, he planned to assimilate the new strength he had gained.


    Meanwhile, within the Empire, an upheaval was about to unfold.


    ¡­


    A month later, the ¡®Imperial Corporation Law¡¯ was solemnly promulgated and applied retroactively, causing an immediate uproar within the country.


    Soon, several leading Dragonblood Nobility who had violated regulations were beheaded publicly, and some enterprises skirting the edges of the law received a ¡°cordial¡± visit from Nocturne.


    Even some ¡°clever¡± players had all their assets confiscated and were imprisoned for long-term labor reform.


    For a time, the Empire fell silent, and the trend of ¡°violating imperial laws for Gold Coins¡± was curbed, shifting to a wave of ¡°abandoning humanity for Gold Coins.¡±


    In the official eyes of the Empire, the latter was considered a normal phenomenon, while the former was unforgivable.


    Soon, some discovered that within Anzeta, they had to adhere to the law, no slavery, no tax evasion, no lethal exploitation, but in the South, things were different¡­


    Though they still had to pay taxes to the Empire, they had far more freedom in other unspeakable aspects.


    Thus, they began to connect with the ¡°priests selling their souls for Gold Coins¡± of the Wojin Church, and a grand expansion movement targeting external territories commenced.

 Chapter 479 - 479 401 Promotion

    ?Chapter 479: Chapter 401 Promotion Chapter 479: Chapter 401 Promotion Outskirts of Northwind Castle, Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    Cassius lay quietly on the ground, his massive dragon body rising and falling with each breath, sulfurous smoke filling the palace.


    The current Red Dragon, from head to tail, was nearly forty meters long, and even the exceptionally spacious palace felt a bit cramped for him now.


    ¡°Phew¡­¡±


    ¡°Finally about to level up. A moment of harvest.¡±


    Cassius yawned, exhaling a puff of sulfur-flavored smoke. He then used his strong limbs and tail to support himself on the ground, slowly getting up.


    The Red Dragon stared intently at the panel in front of him, a hint of joy gleaming in his pale golden pupils.


    [You have gained 200xp]


    [You have gained 100xp]


    [You have gained 900xp]


    ¡­.


    Since opening the Experience Shop and the Undead Research Institute, Cassius¡¯s experience points had been accumulating rapidly. Hundreds of thousands of players across the Empire were continuously contributing experience points to him.


    Although each contribution was small for him, the sheer volume and frequency made a difference.


    In addition, after devouring numerous Fire Giants in the Fire Elemental Plane, killing two Emirs, and even personally killing a Pasha.


    In just a few months, despite sitting on an ¡°experience black hole¡± like the Ancestral Dragon template, Cassius had still gathered enough experience for his next level up and was about to undergo another enhancement.


    [You have gained 900xp]


    [Your total occupational level has increased to 19]


    [Your current occupation is¡ªTrue Dragon Sorcerer 15/Bloodscaled Fury 3]


    Without hesitation, Cassius made his choice. Even without considering the curse factor, the True Dragon Sorcerer had a precious opportunity to enhance attributes at level 16.


    [You choose to upgrade [True Dragon Sorcerer] to level 16]


    [Due to the innate spellcasting of dragonkin, your current spellcasting level is: 21]


    [Upon reaching level 16 in this occupation, you gain 2 legendary attribute points (which can increase attributes above 20) and can increase any chosen attribute value.]


    Instantly, Cassius¡¯s breathing became somewhat rapid.


    During his battle with the Fire Giants, he had received several new achievements, such as [Devourer of Fire Giants][Notorious].


    But those [Bronze] level achievements were insignificant to him now, unable to even form a complete attribute point.


    At Cassius¡¯s current standing, even a single point of improvement was extremely difficult, almost reaching the semi-divine level.


    And now, he could finally advance again.


    [You choose to increase: charisma]


    [Charisma: 33¡ú35]


    Spellcasting level and output capacity both increased, the effect far exceeding his expectations.


    The surrounding Magic Web seemed to tremble, resonate, and cheer for the birth of a new high-level controller.


    For a moment, Cassius seemed to see the Elemental Oceans beyond the Crystal Sphere, the Material Planes like bubbles floating on the sea, and felt the magical sources far greater than the Magic Web.


    ¡°Primordial¡­¡±


    ¡°This universe is far grander than I imagined. This is another new realm.¡±


    Even in his past life, no player ever reached such an incredible single spellcasting attribute, such a high spellcasting level¡ªbut Cassius had done it.


    But soon, the greedy dragon snapped out of his distant and grand reverie, fixing his pale golden eyes on the panel, praying for the upcoming high-tier spell.


    The source of magic?


    The mysteries of the universe?


    He was not some mage exploring secrets, just a magic barbarian. These intangible things were far less important than spells in hand.


    [You have gained 9th tier Dragon¡¯s Spell¡ª[Dragon¡¯s Magic Reaving]]


    [Dragon¡¯s Magic Reaving (Dragon Reaving)]


    9th tier Protective Magic spell


    [Mages always mocked sorcerers with their dispelling magic, unaware that dragons had created this spell to kill pesky Titan sacrifices thousands of years ago. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This spell is similar to Greater Dispel Magic, allowing the caster to transfer the effects of dispelled or countered spells onto themselves, as if they had cast it.]


    ¡°Dispel Magic¡­¡±


    ¡°What a good start, drawing such a high-tier Protective Magic spell.¡±


    For dragons who did not lack energy output, most Transmutation spells were useless, and Necromancy spells were only useful for special dragonkin like Shadow Dragons.


    However, Protective, Conjuration, Transmutation, and Illusion spells were far more useful.


    At higher levels, in single spell battles, large-scale spells clashing like Tsunami against Meteor Burst were rare, as the cost-benefit ratio was extremely low.


    As a common joke from his past life went, the battles often went, ¡°I counter your spell, I dispel your counter, I counter your dispel,¡± a chain reaction of counteractions.


    Cassius was particularly pleased with this [Dragon¡¯s Magic Reaving].


    ¡°So, what about the second one¡­¡±


    [You have gained 7th tier Dragon¡¯s Spell¡ª[Dragon Shadow Simulacrum]]


    [Dragon Shadow Simulacrum (Dragon¡¯s Simulacrum)]


    7th tier Illusion spell


    [Consumes certain materials and experience to create a copy of a creature, with half the overall strength of the original, identical abilities, absolute obedience to you, and shared senses and memory.]


    ¡°Simulacrum!¡±


    Cassius¡¯s eyes widened with joy.


    If the God of Fate really existed and not within this Crystal Sphere, he was probably being personally favored today.


    Simulacrum was also an extremely versatile spell.


    It could create a copy with half the original¡¯s strength, identical abilities, and shared consciousness.


    He finally did not have to handle everything personally!


    ¡ªThough this Red Dragon was never very industrious. Unless Retainers couldn¡¯t handle it, he rarely intervened.


    A familiar sensation came, and immense spell knowledge flooded his mind.


    For Cassius at this moment, even learning a 9th tier spell took just a few breaths.


    First, Cassius created a Flame Strike and placed it before him, then extended his claw, causing magical aurora to flicker on it, casting the new 9th tier spell.


    [Dragon¡¯s Magic Reaving]


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    An invisible force appeared on the Flame Strike, causing it to dim and then dissipate entirely.


    And the magic orb reappeared in the Red Dragon¡¯s palm.


    ¡°So this is Reaving¡­¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s try Simulacrum.¡±


    Cassius waved a claw, tearing space and retrieving large amounts of gold coins and elemental ores from his treasury, effortlessly casting the spell.


    [Dragon Shadow Simulacrum]


    A ray of light shot forth, and instantly, a figure identical to Cassius appeared behind him¡ªthough the figure was much more ethereal, like a mirage.


    Gradually, Cassius felt his power ¡°transmitting¡± or more precisely ¡°copying¡± into this shadow.


    ¡°A copy of oneself¡­ a marvelous feeling.¡±


    The Red Dragon watched the figure solidifying, while simultaneously observing his original body through the clone¡¯s perspective.


    One consciousness shared between two bodies, even creating a duplicate¡ªthose Dragon Sorcerer ancestors could be considered the forerunners of the Mechanical God Cult¡¯s ¡°consciousness upload¡± concept.


    Cassius withdrew his consciousness, and the simulacrum reverted to a ¡°robotic¡± state, following orders without other actions.


    He did not complete the Simulacrum, only inputting a tenth of his original strength, which would dissipate in a few months.


    This was just an experiment.


    ¡°But this simulacrum shouldn¡¯t go to waste¡­ so let it head to the Ancytica Mountains to find the demons.¡±


    The Red Dragon simulacrum received the order, left the palace, and flapped its wings vigorously, flying towards the south, to the Ancytica Mountains.


    ¡ªThis greedy Red Dragon was even forcing labor upon his shadow.

 Chapter 480 - 480 402 Elemental Master (Large Chapter)

    ?Chapter 480: Chapter 402 Elemental Master (Large Chapter) Chapter 480: Chapter 402 Elemental Master (Large Chapter) However, the ascension in ranks was the least notable gain from his journey to the Fire Elemental Plane.


    Even if the Red Dragon did not kill those giants, the experience provided by the players would be enough for him to ascend within half a year. It was just a natural course.


    On this journey, his greatest gain was devouring the elemental power of pseudogod nature within Ishmael.


    According to Cassius¡¯ speculation, this was originally material the Sultan of the Fire Giants prepared for his own ascension, but Cassius accidentally ¡°enjoyed¡± it earlier.


    Becoming a god, a great and common goal.


    Such things were not uncommon in the wicked inclinations of Erezer¡¯s forces.


    For instance, that Githyanki ruler of the star realm, the powerful lich, Viraj 157th, devoured the strength and souls of higher-level Githyanki, using them as material for wish magic to pursue godhood.


    Most centurions and above of the Githyanki had their souls extracted, leaving only shells that followed Viraj¡¯s orders.


    In comparison, the Sultan of the Fire Giants, who only cultivated six loyal direct servants into material, could be considered a ¡°benevolent lord.¡±


    Even though it was only one of six strengths, it was the result of the Sultan¡¯s thousands of years of careful cultivation, far exceeding Cassius¡¯ expectations in power.


    If not for the uprising of the Prince of the Holy Flame, the Sultan would have definitely descended in his true form, fighting to the death.


    He also understood why the Sultan was so furious, almost losing his sanity.


    Over a month had passed since Cassius returned from the Fire Elemental Plane, and that strength still surged within his belly, not fully digested.


    A very strange sensation, as if a noble fire giant roared and resisted transformation within his belly.


    Unfortunately, the ancestral dragon¡¯s body also had an extremely high essence, confining that strength securely, making any struggle futile.


    ¡°Pseudogod power¡­¡±


    ¡°Tsk, it¡¯s almost like it has its own consciousness.¡±


    Along with a ¡°hissing¡± sound, the last bit of fire giant essence was digested and absorbed by the terrible magic of the ancestral dragon.


    The scarlet energy surged throughout the Red Dragon¡¯s body, returning to his heart through the basal veins, then being pumped throughout his body by the powerful heart.


    From the heart to the neck, head, forelimbs, wing hands, hind limbs, and even to the tail tip.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Red Dragon couldn¡¯t help but lift his head and howl at the sky.


    With his roar, streaks of flaming meteors fell from the sky, and huge flamestorms formed on the ground.


    Once these spells were cast, they would certainly cause a scene of devastation, but Cassius would not allow such a thing to happen.


    ¡°Flame, heed my command¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    But with just a murmur from Cassius, the violent, surging flames obeyed as docile sheep, all dissipating completely.


    This was the power of [Authority].


    As an Inner Plane forming the world¡¯s existence, the Fire Elemental Plane was almost the primal source, final destination, and essence of all flames. The elemental nobility were the holders of this authority. This power could be used not only in the Fire Elemental Plane but also extended to control flames in the Material Plane.


    It must be known that the true master of the Fire Elemental Plane, the Elemental Lord, Master of Fire, Everlasting Flame Kasus, was a deity of the strong divine power tier.


    Cassius¡¯ pale golden vertical pupils burned with scarlet flames, the raging tongues of fire wrapping his head.


    [You have fully digested an elemental pseudogod power.]


    [Having grasped the authority of the element, comprehended the natural forces of the universe, you have obtained a new occupation path¡ª[Elemental Master]]


    [To qualify as an Elemental Master, a dragon must meet the following conditions.]


    Race: Any True Dragon.


    Specialty: Any three supreme breath weapon specialties.


    Spell: Able to cast arcane spells.


    Special: Elemental Harmony: The dragon must have elemental or energy subtypes, such as wind, cold, earth, electricity, fire, or water.


    Breath Weapon: The dragon must have a breath weapon that deals energy damage.


    [You have met all the conditions, do you choose to advance to [Elemental Master]?]


    ¡°A new advanced occupation¡­¡±


    ¡°Elemental Master.¡±


    Cassius¡¯ eyes lit up, he really hadn¡¯t expected such a pleasant surprise after fully digesting the fire giant¡¯s strength.


    In his previous life, this was also a famous dragon occupation. Around Silvermoon Bay, there was a sub-dragon controlling water elements known to summon terrifying waves and whirlpools, like the master of the West Sea.


    This sub-dragon drove players who attempted to complete the Naga Kingdom¡¯s side quest to misery, leaving bloated corpses floating everywhere on the sea.


    Cassius continued browsing the information on the panel, deepening his understanding of this occupation.


    [Elemental Master ELEMENTAL MASTER]


    Dragons were beings composed of primordial elemental power. Two powerful forces reveled within their veins: the energy driving their breath weapon and the elemental essence forming their core being. Elemental Masters endeavored to achieve perfect, pure harmony with these two forces.


    Almost only True Dragons pursued the path of Elemental Master, as this occupation required a bond with elemental and energy forces. Some dragons had a few levels in other occupations before accepting this advanced class, typically Mage or Magician, but many other dragons did not.


    Elemental Masters were the most solitary and reclusive among dragons, dedicating their lives to communing with the universe¡¯s natural forces rather than interacting with beings they deemed lower life forms.

 Chapter 481 - 481 402

    ?Chapter 481: 402 Chapter 481: 402 Indeed, when collaborating with other creatures, they chose allies from the Elemental Plane and otherworldly beings, occasionally younger dragons of their own kind.


    ¡°Is this the advanced version of Elemental Warlock dragon¡­¡±


    Cassius stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then made his decision.


    Free occupational levels, why not take them!


    Moreover, he had already mastered a portion of elemental pseudogod power. If becoming an Elemental Master for ordinary dragons posed risks of unstable energy and bodily explosions, for Cassius, it would be a natural progression.


    [You chose to advance to an [Elemental Master].]


    [The [Fire Giant Pasha Essence] you devoured brought you a large amount of exclusive experience for Elemental Master, raising your [Elemental Master] level to 4.]


    Now, Cassius¡¯s occupational panel displayed three different occupations.


    Magician 16/Elemental Master 4/Bloodscale Frenzy 3


    Among players of his previous life, this was absolutely unique. Only a particular joker had once leveled up four different occupations to level one, but thereafter, he could no longer advance¡ªbalancing occupations required a price, as it meant dispersed strength.


    But for Cassius, this wasn¡¯t an issue¡ªbecause his other two occupations were ¡°given for free.¡±


    ¡°Well then, a Multi-Class User, huh.¡±


    Cassius exhaled a puff of sulfur-scented white smoke, unable to refrain from a bit of self-mockery.


    Perhaps he should seize the opportunity to collect all dragon-related occupational inheritances?


    The information on the panel continued to update.


    [Your Elemental Master level has increased to 1]


    [You have gained special abilities: [Elemental Familiarity] [Energy Attunement]]


    Elemental Familiarity: Elemental Masters gain additional attunement with the elemental type corresponding to their subspecies.


    As a dragon with a fire subspecies (including Red Dragons, Gold Dragons, Brass Dragons, and Hellfire Wyverns), they gain Fire Familiarity: If both the dragon and its enemies come into contact with flames or use items or spells with the Blaze or Flame Burst special abilities, the dragon gains significant control over them.


    Energy Attunement: Elemental Masters attune with the energy type that drives their breath weapon.


    Dragons with various energy breath weapons can choose an energy type¡ªfrom acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic¡ªto attune with, causing the dragon to enter an ¡°elemental control¡± state, enhancing their breath control.


    ¡°These are all ways to enhance energy output, just extra benefits for me.¡±


    ¡°However¡­ Free occupational levels, why not take them.¡±


    Cassius opened his mouth and breathed out a tiny flame, controlling it to dance in mid-air like a thread, forming various patterns, with firelight flickering across his entire body.


    This was the effect of [Energy Attunement], allowing the dragon to achieve an incredible level of breath control.


    Additionally, as a Red Dragon with equipment like the [Eye of the Storm King] and [Eternal Frost Horn], Cassius had a decent understanding of lightning and frost energies, even capable of breathing out lightning breath and attuning to lightning energy.


    Cassius¡¯s eyes shimmered, alternating between lightning, frost, and flames in his breath.


    The panel information continued to refresh.


    [Your Elemental Master level has increased to 2, you have gained special abilities: [Energy Substitution] [Summon Elemental]]


    Energy Substitution: Elemental Masters gain the ability to modify their spells with energy descriptors to use the dragon¡¯s attuned energy instead.


    The spells being altered operate normally in all aspects except for the damage type they deal.


    Summon Elemental: Beginning at level 2, once per day, Elemental Masters can use their breath weapon to summon a medium elemental corresponding to their elemental subspecies. The dragon breathes as usual, but an elemental appears afterward.


    If the dragon chooses, it can instead summon an adult Arrow Hawk (air or cold), a commoner Fire Lizard (fire), an adult Crush Turtle (water), or a commoner Stone Golem (earth).


    Energy Substitution, a truly intriguing ability.


    Cassius unleashed a [Witchcraft Arrow] imbued with lightning energy and promptly activated [Energy Substitution].


    In an instant, the lightning chain suddenly transformed into a flaming chain, igniting the rocks into charred blackness.


    This was the essence of energy substitution, altering the same spell into different energy manifestations, rendering it unpredictable to the enemy.


    As for [Summon Elemental], it was just a free summoning spell of little use to Cassius.


    Whenever he wished, he could even use a ¡°God-Praying Candle¡± obtained from negotiating with the Great Sultan to summon a noble Fire Giant capable of granting wishes.


    It¡¯s said that those Fire Giant nobility were terrified of fulfilling wishes for the Ashen Empire, fearing bad luck might lead them to be chosen, but didn¡¯t dare refuse.


    After all, the fearsome reputation of the ¡°Soul Devouring Dragon¡± was not baseless but built upon the lives of hundreds of Fire Giant civilians, two Emirs, and a Pasha.


    [Your Elemental Master level has increased to 4, you have gained special abilities: [Energy Focus] [Energy Burst]]


    Energy Focus: Elemental Masters study a specific elemental energy to profound depths, granting their breath unprecedented power.


    Energy Burst: Elemental Masters resonate with the elements in the environment, creating a harmful energy burst around themselves.


    ¡°Looks like this is the main event.¡±


    Cassius squinted his eyes, white steam puffing out from his nostrils.


    He felt some explosive power surging into his body, filling every inch of his blood vessels like potential elemental bombs.


    The previous [Elemental Master] traits were considered powerful to players and ordinary dragons but somewhat underwhelming for Cassius.


    However, the current [Energy Focus] and [Energy Burst] were genuinely formidable abilities for the Red Dragon.


    [Flame Dimension Door]


    The Red Dragon tore through space, leaving the suburbs of Northwind Castle, arriving directly at the Kalka Great Glacier in the northernmost part of Anzeta.


    The bitter wind howled, the biting cold cut deep, and the ice peaks reflected dazzling rays under the sunlight.


    This was once the residence of the ¡°Everfrost¡± tribe, but the Frost Giants who had lived here for nearly ten thousand years were exterminated by the Red Dragon. Their heritage was entirely looted, and the remaining tribespeople became the empire¡¯s slaves.


    In the ice cave, decayed bone rods and torn animal hides still lay, perhaps remnants of the Frost Giants¡¯ last traces of life.


    Of course, the shattered glaciers, collapsed ice peaks, and fragmented ice fields also bore witness to that earth-shattering battle, though mostly buried under snow.


    ¡°The Battle of Glacier¡¯s Demise.¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s been six years¡­¡±


    Cassius gazed at the war ruins, appearing somewhat pensive.


    Six years, merely a nap¡¯s time for ordinary giant dragons, but a span filled with many experiences for him.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    In the distance, a massive, serpent-like creature burst from the ice, devouring an icefield yak in a single gulp.


    With the Frost Giants no longer tending the land, and the empire ignoring this harsh region, hundred-legged beasts became the most terrifying predators here¡ªunless players took on an icefield hunt quest.


    Cassius observed the ice cave created by the hundred-legged beast and murmured,


    ¡°Let me test¡­ the new abilities of this Elemental Master.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Red Dragon effortlessly climbed to the top of the Great Glacier, spread his vast wings, and slightly parted his jaws.


    [Energy Attunement]


    The enormous dragon¡¯s body shimmered with the aurora of flames, causing the surrounding air to twist with heat, making this cold polar region its hottest center.


    The snow melted, the glacier liquefied.


    The glow on the Red Dragon intensified, as if he fused with the surrounding fire elements, making all the snowfields and glaciers reflect dazzlingly, plunging the world into silence.


    Then, even more scorching firelight suddenly erupted, engulfing everything around.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    [Energy Burst]


    The glacier instantly sublimated, shattered ice peaks collapsed, and the thick snow on the ground turned into scalding water.


    Steam, scalding white steam, spread wildly, covering everything within a ten-mile radius.


    When the smoke cleared, the Red Dragon hovered high in the air. No glaciers or snowy fields remained where he had been, only a vast water pit nearly a hundred meters in diameter, with the water still boiling inside.


    ¡°Now that¡¯s an explosion¡­¡±


    Cassius looked at the devastated Kalka Great Glacier, grinning, baring his sharp teeth in a satisfied smile.


    The power was just about what he expected.

 Chapter 482 - 482 403

    ?Chapter 482: 403 Chapter 482: 403 The Gloomy Region, Dragon Shadow City.


    This place was eternally shrouded in night, never knowing the day.


    Once ruled by the Shadow Dragon, the city hung precariously over an immense abyss, where the wind cutting through the chasm always screamed.


    The city bore the marks of scorching flames everywhere, heavy ash blanketed it all, and the broken walls and ruins quietly recorded the Red Dragon¡¯s ruthless razing, preserving the buried history.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The cold wind howled through the city¡¯s crevices with a piercing shriek, akin to the wailing of lost souls.


    But atop this wasteland, a new city had been built, its architecture simple yet grand, full of strength¡ªa clear hallmark of the Empire.


    Within this newly built city on the ruins, it was common to see Half-Dragons, Humans, and Great Goblin Soldiers coming and going, but the most prevalent were the mindless low-level undead skeletons.


    Even some small traders appeared within the city, selling lanterns, canes, and boots¡ªitems frequently needed in the Gloomy Region.


    ¡°Ssss¡­ sssss¡­¡±


    A spine-chilling sound.


    Outside the city, enormous skeletal Bluefoot Dragon-snakes slithered and crawled along the ground, tearing any intruders to pieces like a moat.


    On the new city wall, Hart stood silently, overlooking the bottomless Howling Abyss. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I once had a beating heart. I once could savor fine food and wine¡­¡±


    The Corpse Demon sighed.


    He possessed all of Hart¡¯s memories, obsessions, and even hatred from his previous life, yet he lost that living body and original emotions.


    The Corpse Demon, awakened by the obsessions and hatred of his previous life, was a fragmented soul sustaining his decaying corpse.


    Hart¡¯s lips trembled, and his two pitch-black eyeballs glimmered in the darkness.


    ¡°But¡­ this isn¡¯t so bad either, eternal and undying, killing one enemy after another, conquering the vast Gloomy Region for my master.¡±


    He was a new existence.


    Different from the original Hart, and unlike an ordinary Corpse Demon.


    Hart forced his pale lips into a grin, trying to show a smile, though it appeared extremely eerie to Pang Ren.


    ¡°Old¡­ General Hart.¡±


    A familiar voice called.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Hart turned his head and spoke calmly.


    ¡ªIt was his colleague, a living person, more precisely a Half-Dragon, also one of His Majesty¡¯s retainers.


    His name was Zaiko Granger, an elder member who joined the Empire back in the Ashen Nest days, now an Imperial Count, equal in rank with Hart.


    Interestingly, he was originally one of the slave traders and had once been under Hart¡¯s command.


    Due to his undead nature, Hart did not become the Governor of the Gloomy Region for the Empire; the cabinet ministers preferred a profitable Gloomy Region¡ªnot an undead wasteland.


    If Hart were alive, he would be furious, but the ¡°Hart¡± with a cold heart felt indifferent to all these.


    Behind the scenes, all he needed to do was lead the Immortal Legion into battle, obey orders, and slaughter bravely. As for the concerns of the rear personnel¡­


    Zaiko perused the documents, speaking in a low voice, ¡°Lady Ingrid is about to return to the surface; she has already dispelled the Shadow Curse of Dragon Shadow City for us.¡±


    ¡°Following the strategic plan, we will build near the Howling Abyss¡­¡±


    Ingrid.


    Hart, or rather the Corpse Demon, remembered this name.


    He had seen that woman, radiating a nauseating aura of Holy Light, and her hostile gaze made him quite uncomfortable.


    If Ingrid were not an envoy of the Empire, he would have gladly decapitated this priestess and hung her head atop the city walls.


    Thinking this, Hart abruptly interrupted.


    ¡°You know, Zaiko, I don¡¯t care about these things; I don¡¯t need you to tell me, nor do I want to know that damned priestess¡¯s whereabouts.¡±


    ¡°I only need you to tell me one thing¡ªwhere does His Majesty want me to conquer, where I can freely slaughter the living.¡±


    The Corpse Demon¡¯s pitch-black eyeballs glimmered faintly in the darkness, making the battle-hardened Zaiko feel a slight chill.


    ¡°Ha¡­¡±


    Zaiko¡¯s lips twitched slightly but he couldn¡¯t utter a word.


    Hart was, of course, brutal and selfish, but to the former slave traders of humble origins, Hart played the role of ¡°family¡± in their hearts.


    The Corpse Demon sneered self-mockingly, then spoke hoarsely, ¡°Hart has long been dead, at least the Hart you knew.¡±


    ¡°Now, the one in front of you is merely an undead monster craving to slaughter the living, born to serve His Majesty.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zaiko was silent for a long time before pulling out a document and slowly unfolding it:


    ¡°Near Dragon Shadow City, there¡¯s a place called ¡®Dark Wings,¡¯ governed by the Jezreel Clan, Shadows descendant Drow Elves of Mortifael.¡±


    Mortifael, of course, he had heard of this name.


    It was the legendary ¡°Nemesis of the Emperor,¡± wielding vast influence in the Gloomy Region, torn apart by His Majesty Cassius in the New Calendar 1785.


    ¡°After the fall of Dragon Shadow City, the Jezreel Clan, once under the Shadow Dragon¡¯s control, began rapid expansion, taking over the Shadow Dragon¡¯s forces and trade relations. Their scouts have even appeared around Dragon Shadow City.¡±


    ¡°This is undoubtedly a provocation to the Empire and an insult to His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    Zaiko closed the document solemnly.


    This was, in fact, a declaration of war¡ªalthough he knew the scout had been captured hundreds of miles away.


    The Ashen Empire merely wanted an excuse to showcase its presence in the Gloomy Region and to uproot Mortifael¡¯s descendants to prevent future troubles.


    Zaiko said, ¡°General Hart, you should know what to do.¡±


    The Corpse Demon merely turned his head, gazing at Zaiko with his pitch-black eyes, and asked nonchalantly, ¡°Can I slaughter the entire city?¡±


    Zaiko did not answer directly but instead introduced, ¡°Dark Wings is the main stronghold of the Shadows¡¯ descendant Drow. Sixty percent of its population are Shadows¡¯ descendants Drow.¡±


    He took a new letter stamped ¡°Top Secret¡± from his pocket and handed it to the Corpse Demon.


    Hart opened the envelope and immediately saw the words inside.


    [Special Decree]


    [Hereby approved to conduct a thorough purge of Shadows¡¯ descendant Drow. Ensure it is done cleanly. ¡ªPrime Minister Ramp]


    ¡°Good, I understand.¡±


    Hart¡¯s bloodless lips curved slightly, his pitch-black eyes bent into a strange arc.


    He drew the Scepter of Bones from his waist, ascended to the top of the city wall, and raised it high.


    In an instant, the hundreds of skeletal Bluefoot Dragon-snakes and tens of thousands of undead skeletons outside the city converged into a white torrent.


    The ancient bones scraped against each other, producing a crisp ¡°click-click¡± sound, sending shivers down spines.


    Hart leapt from the wall into the sea of bones, mounting the largest skeletal Bluefoot Dragon-snake, and swung the Scepter of Bones.


    ¡°Boom¡­¡±


    Hundreds of skeletal Bluefoot Dragon-snakes emerged together, slithering and roving over the land.


    The ground of the Gloomy Region trembled, as if even the black sky was crying out mournfully, with the white torrent standing out starkly against the dark earth.


    ¡°Come on, Immortal Legion¡­¡±


    ¡°Slay every living creature that dares stand in the way of the Empire¡¯s expansion.¡±


    Thus spoke the Corpse Demon.

 Chapter 483 - 483 404 Georges New Life

    ?Chapter 483: Chapter 404 George¡¯s New Life Chapter 483: Chapter 404 George¡¯s New Life At the top of the tower in the center of Dark Wings, Salena Jezlaide, the current clan leader of the Jezreel Clan, stared intently at the white torrent on the crystal ball, her expression incredibly grave. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Around the round table sat a dozen female Drow Elves with varied expressions. They were the elders of the Jezreel Clan and the true rulers of this city.


    Drow Elves have always held women in the highest regard, with male Drow often reduced to slaves for fulfilling desires.


    ¡°Courting¡± was considered the duty of the females, who chose their mates as one would select a domesticated animal and often changed them.


    However, at this moment, facing the imminent peril, these Drow Elves had no time to indulge in desires.


    ¡°By Rhos, what are those things?¡±


    Salena bit her lip and asked.


    Accompanying her words, a thin black mist spread within the tower.


    As a descendant of the Shadow Dragon, Salena not only had the pointed ears of a Drow Elf, but black scales often appeared on her face, and she also possessed the ability to cast shadow magic.


    ¡°According to the scouts we sent¡­ they¡¯re undead skeletons. They should be from Dragon Shadow City.¡±


    ¡°Could it be Mortifael? No, we confirmed long ago that he is completely dead.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t Dragon Shadow City already destroyed by that Red Dragon?¡±


    The Drow Elves discussed among themselves.


    But Salena said solemnly, ¡°It¡¯s the Ashen Empire¡ªthe legendary empire with the ¡®World-Incinerating Dragon¡¯ as its emperor.¡±


    ¡°That empire on the surface?¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°That Red Dragon¡­¡±


    ¡°Those greedy creatures live on the surface, why are they interfering in the Gloomy Region¡¯s affairs!¡±


    The Drow Elves suddenly fell into chaos; some were terrified, others furious or deeply resentful.


    ¡°Bluefoot Dragon-snake skeletons.¡±


    ¡°High-level corpse demons.¡±


    Salena watched the images on the crystal ball, her slender fingers trembling constantly.


    ¡°All of them are high-level undead creatures. An army like this is definitely not assembled temporarily. This can only mean one thing¡ª¡±


    By the end of her sentence, her throat trembled.


    ¡°They are targeting the Jezreel Clan, for whatever reason¡ªthey intend to utterly destroy us.¡±


    The tower fell into complete silence.


    ¡°Boom, boom¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a series of dull sounds came from the city walls, accompanied by the sound of bones grinding against each other, mixed with the wails and screams of Drow soldiers.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Dozens of massive dragon-snake skeletons smashed through the city walls, flooding into the city, followed by tens of thousands of undead skeletons.


    The dragon-snake skeletons even climbed up the black tower, coiling around it.


    A corpse demon stood on the enormous skull of a dragon-snake, overlooking the panicked Drow Elves and once again revealing a twisted smile.


    ¡°The hunt has begun.¡±


    ¡­


    Ashen Empire¡¯s capital, Isdalia.


    ¡°Dang¡ª¡±


    The loud and prolonged bell chimes echoed throughout the city, waking the sleeping people to begin a busy day.


    In a beautiful mansion in the inner city area, George slowly opened his eyes and yawned.


    He first washed up in front of the mirror, then put on his regular military uniform, and finally put on the bronze medal symbolizing his status as an ¡°Imperial Baron.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, it feels like a dream¡­ a true Dragonblood noble.¡±


    George adjusted his collar and looked at the golden vertical pupils symbolizing his ¡°noble bloodline¡± in the mirror, nodding in satisfaction.


    As a human blessed with magic, he was now closer to the essence of a True Dragon than those miscellaneous dragon beasts.


    However, unlike some of his extreme colleagues, George did not exchange for the more prominent Half-Dragon Potion¡ªhe still preferred his current self.


    George habitually went to the living room, clasped his hands in front of the Red Dragon statue placed atop the shrine, closed his eyes, and bowed deeply.


    ¡°Good morning, His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    ¡°May you bless me with victory in every battle and honor upon me.¡±


    George¡¯s prayer was exceptionally sincere, from the depths of his heart.


    Placing the Emperor¡¯s statue in the living room and conducting daily worship had become quite popular in the empire¡ªespecially in the military.


    Even the poorest reserve soldiers would hire the best blacksmith in the area to craft a small brass statue and place it in their rented room.


    ¡°Revere the Emperor, and He will bring you endless victories.¡±


    ¡°Praise the Emperor, and He will bring you eternal glory.¡±


    These two sayings had become so prevalent that their origins could no longer be traced, but many imperial officers and soldiers believed in them deeply.


    After finishing all this, George placed three ¡°Ginnars¡± in front of the statue¡ªit was said that this currency was personally designed by His Majesty.


    Only then did George drape the Imperial Army¡¯s coat over his shoulders, place the military hat on his head, and open the door.


    As he stepped out, he heard an enthusiastic greeting from afar.


    ¡°Good morning, Baron George.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Baron Grice.¡±


    George turned his head¡ªit was his current neighbor, Baron Grice Paride, another human soldier who earned honor in the North War.


    Their similar experiences and shared race naturally brought them close.


    The two Dragonblood Nobles, both dressed in military uniforms, greeted each other and then walked together to the station a hundred meters away.


    ¡°You¡¯re really early.¡±


    ¡°Heh, I heard Marshal Dolores has been strictly enforcing military discipline lately. Several negligent officers have already been dismissed. Better early than sorry.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, those guys at the court-martial know nothing about war; they¡¯re just good at wielding power internally.¡±


    On both sides of the road were similar-styled mansions with gardens.


    In the highly coveted Isdalia, owning such a house was undoubtedly a great honor.


    This was the inner city area of Isdalia. Only officers, officials, and big merchants were allowed to reside here. Many residents were Dragonblood Nobles.


    However, George was merely a minor baron, residing at the very edge of the inner city, separated from the outer city by just one wall.


    ¡°Toot¡ª¡±


    The steam locomotive slowly pulled into the station, spewing white smoke.


    This locomotive was different from ordinary ones; its sides were engraved with the emblem of rifles and cannons, and its interior was more luxurious.


    This was a military special train provided by the government, used only to transport officers and soldiers; no unauthorized personnel could enter.


    ¡°Good morning, Baron.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your contribution to the empire.¡±


    The inspector at the door glanced at the medals on their chests, nodded quickly, and then bowed slightly to invite them inside.


    ¡°Woo¡ªwoo¡ª¡±


    The train sped, producing a humming sound, with the whistle atop belching smoke.


    Outside the window, people came and went, including diligent workers, shouting newsboys, and those wandering Starfallen.


    The roadside was lined with various buildings, and in the distance stood massive factories, with chimneys billowing black smoke.


    George quietly sat by the window, watching the rapidly passing scenery, resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought.


    It was all changing too fast, faster than the shifting scenery outside.


    Just a few years ago, this place was a natural wilderness, and George himself was nothing but a humble, animal-like serf.


    Now, with time changing, a magnificent city had sprung up, and he had become a respected ¡°important figure.¡±


    ¡°It feels like a dream¡­¡±


    George couldn¡¯t help but sigh again.


    Looking at those buildings, his heart surged with passionate enthusiasm¡ªand a powerful urge to dedicate everything to this collective.


    Perhaps this was the ¡°imperial dream¡± described in the Isdalia Times.


    George thought.

 Chapter 484 - 484 405

    ?Chapter 484: 405 Chapter 484: 405 ¡°Woo¡ª¡ª¡±


    A cacophony of steam whistles, machine operations, and the sound of iron wheels turning on tracks filled his ears.


    On Isdalia¡¯s wide Wyvern Street, multiple tracks crisscrossed as steam locomotives weaved through, carrying a myriad of people to various destinations within the city.


    ¡°Extra, extra! Latest Imperial Daily! His Majesty Cassius visits the Fire Elemental Plane, expanding territories once again!¡±


    ¡°Klaubow Armament Group issues a statement, unconditionally supporting all special actions by the Empire¡¯s Taxation Department and harshly criticizing any tax evasion.¡±


    ¡°Hiring armed guards! Escort a merchant caravan to the Fadlan Region! Requirements¡­¡±


    ¡°Recruiting teammates for the latest Giant¡¯s Relic Replica, must be Fourth Level or above, with plenty of combat experience. No Wild Magicians! No Wild Magicians!¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Daimo Blacksmith Shop, heaven for adventurers, your top choice for crafting equipment¡ª¡±


    ¡°Citizens, please follow the rules!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius is watching your every move!¡±


    A bipedal wyvern carrying a knight flew low, its wings beating the air.


    Listening to the familiar, noisy sounds and watching the diverse crowd on the street, George, sitting by the window, couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°So¡­¡±


    ¡°They are the true ¡®Empire Dream.''¡±


    George then remembered why he chose to settle in Isdalia and why he felt proud of the city.


    The city was always full of vitality, filled with an impure, wild, and rough vigor.


    Whether it was the street vendors, the shouting newsboys, the hollering blacksmiths, or the odd Starfallen, they were all constantly climbing upward, using any means necessary¡ªjust like he once did.


    The North used to make him despair, with an insurmountable gap between nobles and commoners.


    This gap encompassed status, resources, perspectives, and military power, making nobles and slaves feel like they were from different species.


    No matter how hard he worked, the most he could get from a noble was a remark: ¡°This is a hardworking animal.¡±


    Under the Northern Order, everyone was tightly bound to their positions, unable to escape for a lifetime.


    Bearing the slave mark, George was born to be beneath everyone else, a fate he had to endure as a slave.


    Lowly as dirt, cheap as weeds.


    According to the priests in the church, the souls of slaves were like foul-smelling water, dirty ash turned into defective products, needing constant labor to purify themselves.


    To George, the Northern Kingdom was like a decayed¡­


    Remembering this, George couldn¡¯t help but shiver and muttered: ¡°Fortunately¡­ Fortunately, the North is gone.¡±


    George was unfortunate, being born a lowly slave.


    But he was also fortunate.


    Because unlike his ancestors for generations, unlike thousands of other slaves, he had a chance to change his fate.


    The Emperor arose like the sun, swiftly and powerfully defeating the millennia-old Northern United Kingdom.


    The Empire completely destroyed the Northern Order, dragging nobles to the guillotine and establishing a new order.


    George knew well the Ashen Empire was neither fair nor kind. It was a terrifying mechanical beast, consuming everyone into its enormous body.


    But it was also forgiving, offering everyone a chance to rise. If you served the Empire to the death, the Empire might give you something back¡ªas Ramp called it, ¡°social mobility.¡±


    And George was that lucky one, stumbling into fortune multiple times. First, he gained First-Class Citizen status by reporting a spy and then earned a barony through military merit.


    George¡¯s story even appeared in the ¡°Imperial Daily,¡± making him a role model for many low-born people striving for better lives.


    Thinking of this, George felt sentimental as he looked at the hurried crowds outside the window.


    But soon, Grace¡¯s voice interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°George, what are you looking at?¡±


    George turned his head: ¡°Nothing much, just looking at the scenery. Isdalia is developing faster and faster.¡±


    Grace smiled and said: ¡°The whole country¡¯s resources are centralized in Isdalia; how could it not change quickly?¡±


    ¡°You probably don¡¯t go out much. The area around Wyvern Street is nothing; the Emperor¡¯s Square area is the most bustling. Next time, I¡¯ll take you to see the newly completed Grand Colosseum. That¡¯s really spectacular.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it, but I¡¯m not too interested.¡±


    George smiled too, turning his head back and pointing out the window: ¡°After all¡­ once you¡¯ve seen it, no other buildings would seem impressive.¡±


    Grace looked in the direction George pointed and saw the Isdalia Grand Altar towering over the land, overlooking the city¡¯s inhabitants.


    Surrounded by wispy clouds, the magnificent white marble structure seemed almost otherworldly.


    Even from the farthest corners of Isdalia, raising one¡¯s head, one could see that white altar and remember His Imperial Majesty¡¯s radiance.


    Grace was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head with a smile: ¡°Of course, after all, that¡¯s the Holy Land where His Majesty Cassius was crowned Emperor.¡±


    ¡°I watched it rise to the sky with my own eyes, a sight¡­ unforgettable for life.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    George also sighed.


    ¡°I even participated in the altar¡¯s construction project, just two years ago. Back then, Isdalia was still a wilderness. Who could have imagined it would develop into the city it is today?¡±

 Chapter 485 - 485 405 Empire Age (Part 1)_2

    ?Chapter 485: Chapter 405 Empire Age (Part 1)_2 Chapter 485: Chapter 405 Empire Age (Part 1)_2 ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not talk about these things now. We don¡¯t know about those important figures who truly decide the fate of the Empire. Who can foresee what the future holds?¡±


    Grace nodded slightly, agreeing with George¡¯s statement. However, as if something had crossed his mind, he spoke again: ¡°By the way, have you heard about the new system from the Military Department?¡±


    ¡°Is it something called the ranking system?¡±


    George thought for a moment, recalling the news he had heard a few days ago, and continued: ¡°They say it¡¯s a hierarchy system tailored specifically for the military, independent of the title of nobility system.¡±


    ¡°As battalion commanders, we should be promoted to lieutenant colonel. It seems there will be concrete directives issued as well.¡±


    Grace waved his hand dismissively, his voice tinged with disdain: ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? It doesn¡¯t affect us who are already titled anyway.¡±


    He leaned in closer, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone: ¡°I¡¯m talking about ¡®military specialization¡¯ mentioned in Marshal Dolores¡¯s latest statement!¡±


    George was instantly intrigued.


    ¡°What¡¯s that? I haven¡¯t bought today¡¯s ¡®Imperial Military Report¡¯ yet.¡±


    Grace pulled out a crumpled paper from his uniform pocket, boasting: ¡°Even if you bought it, it wouldn¡¯t help. This news will be released in two days. I got this information early from a friend in the Propaganda Department.¡±


    ¡°You know the Empire has recently opened several colonies, right?¡±


    George nodded: ¡°Of course, there¡¯s the Brass Fortress in the Fire Elemental Plane, Dragon Shadow City in the Gloomy Region, and the Casper Hills in the South.¡±


    Grace said: ¡°You must understand that the environments of these three places are vastly different¡ªThe Fire Elemental Plane is as hot as Purgatory, the Gloomy Region is perpetually dark, and the Casper Hills have an environment most similar to Anzeta, perhaps even warmer.¡±


    George immediately understood: ¡°So, the so-called ¡®military specialization¡¯ is meant for this. The Empire is training forces specialized for specific battlefields to cope with the extreme environments.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Grace¡¯s expression was quite serious: ¡°This is a matter that will determine our future! Do you want to suffer in the Fire Elemental Plane or the Gloomy Region? Or do you want to seize military achievements in the South?¡±


    ¡°It indeed is a major matter¡­¡±


    George browsed the document in his hand, his expression somewhat grave.


    Indeed, the Empire¡¯s peace wouldn¡¯t last long. For this war-born behemoth, expansion was its instinct.


    And for individuals like George who served the Empire with claws and fangs, the most crucial thing was where to go in the future and whether they could distinguish themselves in battle.


    ¡°Military specialization¡­¡±


    However, the piercing sound of the steam whistle interrupted his contemplation.


    ¡°Woooooooo¡ª¡±


    ¡°[Imperial Third Military Training Base] station arrived. Please disembark in an orderly manner.¡±


    With the help of a simple loudspeaker, the conductor¡¯s voice spread throughout the carriage. Officers and soldiers began to disembark one after another.


    ¡°I¡¯m off, George.¡±


    ¡°Alright, see you later.¡±


    The two walked out of the train and headed to different areas of the military training base.


    George belonged to the Imperial Infantry, while Grace was part of the Artillery Regiment.


    In the War of Unification, Grace decisively opened fire, accurately striking the enemy¡¯s command post and killing a Count of the Northern Territory, emerging from among numerous Ogre artillerymen.


    ¡°Good day, Viscount Seth.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Walking into the infantry base, the variety of races was particularly noticeable: Great Goblins, Ogres, Humans, and Tieflings could often be seen.


    However, Great Goblins and Tieflings mostly held higher positions. They were generally elders who had joined during the Ashen Nest period, with dukes as their patrons.


    This was something George couldn¡¯t envy.


    However, with the Dragon Vein, racial conflicts had significantly diminished¡ªfor the people of the Imperial Army, Dragon Blood was the sole standard to gauge the nobility of bloodlines.


    In this military camp, Baron George¡¯s status could only be considered average.


    The highest commander of his unit was a Goblin Marquis who had always served beside Marshal Dolores as an elder.


    Seeing a Great Goblin rushing towards him, George quickly saluted and greeted¡ªthis was his direct superior, Arturo Redridge.


    Great Goblins often had names in this style.


    ¡°Good day, Count Arturo. You look well today.¡±


    ¡°George?¡±


    The tall Dragon Vein Goblin lowered his head, examining the Human in front of him.


    This George had originally been a reserve force who joined halfway. Due to his especially hard training, he was exceptionally promoted to a formal soldier and had repeatedly made meritorious contributions on the battlefield.


    Arturo saw some value in this Human.


    Great Goblins often held Humans in contempt, calling them ¡°upright walking lambs¡± and ¡°cowards.¡±


    But Arturo, being well-traveled, knew that Humans had far more potential than they imagined.


    From his experience, while Great Goblins were similar to his kin, they often turned out to be ruthless opportunists. Humans, on the other hand, were easier to control and manage.


    ¡°You¡¯re just in time. I¡¯m about to convene a military meeting. Follow me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Earl.¡±


    George quickly responded.


    He followed behind the Goblin Earl, ascending the spiral staircase within the base, soon reaching the second floor and entering the conference room.


    After half an hour of waiting, all the officers of the various regiments and battalions had arrived.


    Following the military system reform a few months ago, the Imperial Infantry used battalions as the basic tactical unit. Each battalion consisted of four to six companies, approximately three to six hundred people; three battalions formed a regiment; six regiments comprised a division.


    Divisions and higher ¡°Legions¡± served as strategic units, incorporating various combined arms nature, equipped with several infantry, cavalry, and artillery divisions.


    For instance, George¡¯s Seventh Legion included three infantry divisions, a heavy cavalry division of Dragon Beasts, and an artillery division primarily composed of Ogres. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    George was a battalion commander in the third regiment of the second infantry division of the Seventh Legion, commanding four hundred seventy-three people, most of whom were Humans.


    Arturo Redridge was the commander of the second infantry division.


    Inside the conference room, Count Arturo sat at the head, regimental commanders gathered around the long table, and battalion commanders like George stood on the periphery.


    Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Arturo spoke in a loud voice: ¡°Everyone, you¡¯ve all heard some rumors lately, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    A regimental commander timidly replied: ¡°Lord Arturo, are you referring to the ¡®military specialization¡¯ mentioned by Marshal Dolores?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The Great Goblin nodded slightly, stood up, and forcefully said: ¡°Since you are aware of the basics, I¡¯ll get straight to the point¡ªThe Empire¡¯s military is about to undergo a major reshuffle. Your days of idleness are over!¡±


    ¡°Marshal Dolores specifically instructed to establish a specialized, systematized force to handle the environment of each battlefield.¡±


    The Great Goblin waved his hand, and the magic crystal lit up, displaying the hellish scenes of the Fire Elemental Plane to everyone present.


    ¡°Soldiers with a high degree of Dragonification can voluntarily join the pioneering corps in the Fire Elemental Plane.¡±


    ¡°You will undergo special training, receive all kinds of heat-resistant equipment, and head to the most dangerous, harshest environment of the Fire Elemental Plane¡ªbut correspondingly, you can also gain substantial military achievements there!¡±


    ¡°Those who do not meet the requirements will be assigned to the Local Border Defense Legion to guard the borders.¡±


    ¡°The most elite troops will be integrated into the Imperial Continental Legion, contributing to the future conquest of the Fianso Continent.¡±


    Arturo slapped the table, speaking excitedly as the magic image displayed a vast continent, majestic cities, and even the Holy City of Holy Fadlan.


    The officers attending the meeting were astonished.


    Arturo¡¯s tone grew serious, his gaze blazing: ¡°Military advisors from above will be coming to assess us.¡±


    ¡°Whether to stay in the homeland and idle away, venture into the Gloomy Region or the Fire Elemental Plane, or go to the affluent Southern Continent, it¡¯s all up to your own choices!¡±


    George gazed at the image on the table in silence. His heart was already surging with emotions, and a faint light flickered in his golden eyes.


    ¡°Isdalia is nice, but¡ªI want to see a broader world and conquer the South for His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    His fists gradually clenched, his eyes growing more determined.


    In the conference room, many officers had varied expressions. Some even wished to try their luck in the Fire Elemental Plane.


    Monsters, Humans lived together, sharing a common faith and language, subject to the same imperial rule.


    They ventured into different planes, bringing firearms and cannons to every corner of the world, risking their lives for power and wealth, and constantly striving to climb higher.


    This was an era of fervor. This was¡ªthe Empire¡¯s era.


    ¡ªÇóÔÂƱ¡ª

 Chapter 486 - 486 406 Empire Age (Part 2)

    ?Chapter 486: Chapter 406 Empire Age (Part 2) Chapter 486: Chapter 406 Empire Age (Part 2) ¡°The wings are broader than the sky; the back is mightier than the earth; the tail is longer than the mountains¡­¡±


    ¡°All people worship together, the great Red Dragon from the heavens!¡±


    ¡°Flame is Your Majesty¡¯s robe, the sky is Your Majesty¡¯s curtain. The dark storm and rain follow Your Majesty¡¯s path. The earth suspends in space, filled with treasures and wonders¡­¡±


    ¡°How can we repay such grace? Your Majesty makes the mountain springs flow down and level the plains, and the timely rains nourish all places¡­¡±


    The bard sat on a wooden bench, deftly plucking the lute. He opened his mouth slightly, and the melodious music and singing reverberated.


    People surrounded the bard, their hands clasped together, eyes closed, singing with devout expressions.


    ¡ªThey sang the highly circulated ¡°Cassius¡¯s Hymn¡± within the empire, said to be composed by a fervent Dragonborn bard, the melody extraordinarily sacred.


    And the once-popular ¡°Song of Embers¡± had now become a banned song, even forbidden to be mentioned by the empire.


    This place was the busiest, most thriving area of Isdalia¡ªEmperor¡¯s Square.


    Centered around a vast plaza paved with cobblestones, the most iconic landmarks of Isdalia surrounded it¡ªthe Grand Colosseum, the Imperial Senate Hall, the Imperial Mansion¡­


    All buildings around the square stood with imposing grandeur.


    Fountains, gilded iron gates, and various splendid structures.


    And in the center of the square, an enormous Red Dragon statue towered solemnly. Its pale golden eyes gazed deeply and majestically, as if surveying everything around it.


    A few gilded fountains spouted clear water, producing a crisp splashing sound, melding with the melodious music.


    In this Emperor¡¯s Square, a bustling throng of diverse people gathered: Starfallen searching for quests, merchants hawking their goods, bards performing in the streets, and drunken citizens.


    The choir was merely one corner of this bustling square; their singing could not even drown out the hawking of merchants¡ªnor the clamor of drunkards in the taverns.


    ¡°Drink the strongest wine! Be the strongest man!¡±


    ¡°The best rye bread!¡±


    A tall, drunken man raised his cup, ¡°Red Scale Conquerors are the empire¡¯s mightiest legion! Once mounted on the wyverns, no one can defeat them! I will go to the guardhouse to participate in the selection!¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡±


    Another drunkard slumped over the wooden table, mumbling indistinctly:


    ¡°The Dragon, Dragon Pact Holy Knights are the strongest! Lord Anthony of the Dragon Oath Sanctuary once defeated three opponents alone, and he defeated the Lion Knight of the Boske House!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Another person slapped the table and stood up, looking disdainfully at the two drunkards, splashing wine on their faces.


    ¡°Shut the hell up, both of you!¡±


    ¡°With your pathetic state, you think you can become His Majesty¡¯s kin? You probably won¡¯t even pass the new recruit selection!¡±


    This was the empire¡¯s atmosphere.


    Confident, admiring strength, full of high talk, and with utmost reverence for His Majesty.


    Unlike the former Northern Kingdom¡¯s despairing hierarchy and lifeless social ambiance, the empire provided a pathway for upward mobility, igniting the vitality of its populace.


    Almost every imperial citizen had some dreams of becoming ¡°important figures.¡±


    A tall man in a gray cloak sat in the corner, laying aside the great sword behind him, sipping a bit of wine.


    ¡°Has Anzeta really turned out like this?¡±


    ¡°Truly¡­incredible.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The man looked quite young, only in his twenties, but his eyes showed a weariness that did not match his age. Even the hood could not hide his golden hair and light purple eyes.


    Golden hair and purple eyes, once a sign of noble bloodline in the North, representing the offspring of the ¡°Northern Lion¡± Boske Family.


    But now, with the times changed, this had become a symbol of sin and disgrace, even making people report them as Northern remnants.


    Yes, he was Andrei Boske, the second son of Duke Leo, the first noble to voluntarily betray the North.


    After the North was unified, Andrei did not stay in the army but chose to become an ordinary adventurer, taking on tasks to make a living.


    Andrei turned his head and looked at the increasingly fierce quarrel among the drunkards.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°I said¡ªyou lot, think you deserve to be His Majesty¡¯s kin, bah!¡±


    ¡°Bastard, you¡¯re no better than those cowardly Northern Nobles!¡±


    The verbal conflict quickly escalated into physical skirmishes, becoming more intense under the influence of alcohol¡ªthe drunkards were about to start a fight.


    ¡°No fighting in the city!¡±


    But before they could do anything, a sheriff riding a wyvern descended from the sky, happily accepting this easy contribution.


    The bipedal wyvern clawing one person with its left claw and two with its right, flying off to the nearby guardhouse.


    The serpentfolk attendant in the tavern skillfully cleaned up the overturned tables, chairs, and bottles, seemingly unsurprised by it all.


    Andrei was quite amazed by their efficiency, thinking about how it would have been in the former North¡­


    A hoarse male voice rang out, interrupting his thoughts.


    ¡°Little Andrei, long time no see.¡±


    Andrei looked up, seeing the familiar, wrinkled face, immediately stood up with pleasant surprise to greet him.


    ¡°You are¡ªMr. Guges?¡±


    The old man smoothed his tattered long robe, laughing heartily, ¡°Hahaha, little Andrei, the North has long since perished. We need not be so formal.¡±

 Chapter 487 - 487 406 Empire Age (Part 2)_2

    ?Chapter 487: Chapter 406 Empire Age (Part 2)_2 Chapter 487: Chapter 406 Empire Age (Part 2)_2 He sat down on the wooden chair, reached out to pour some wine, then lifted his glass.


    ¡°Come, sit, have a drink.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Andrei clinked glasses with Guges and then drank the sweet wine in one gulp.


    This Mr. Guges was a well-known scholar in the North, well-versed and knowledgeable. It was said that he remembered all the history of the North for a thousand years, earning him the title ¡°The Walking Stratholme Fortress Library.¡±


    He was also of noble origin, but after the ¡°Great Expropriation,¡± he became completely disillusioned with the corrupt rule of the Northern Kingdom and fled to Northwind Castle with his few possessions.


    Andrei¡¯s rebellion was also influenced by his persuasion.


    ¡°Little Andrei, go do what you think is right.¡±


    ¡°The North is beyond saving, rotting from top to bottom, with filthy pus seeping down to the bones.¡±


    ¡ª This was Guges¡¯ exact words.


    ¡°The people together worship, the great Red Dragon in the sky¡­¡±


    The Bard¡¯s singing came from outside the tavern.


    Andrei quietly gazed at the bustling Emperor¡¯s Square, then looked solemnly at the old man: ¡°Mr. Guges, you have lived in the Ashen Empire for several years now?¡±


    ¡°What do you think¡­ of this country?¡±


    Guges brought the glass to his lips again, his thick beard almost touching the liquid.


    Hearing Andrei¡¯s question, he shook his head and smiled, then lowered his voice and said: ¡°Just like its supreme ruler, a greedy, ever-unsatisfied giant beast.¡±


    ¡°But compared to the bugs of the North, it was hundreds, even thousands of years ahead, virtually a utopia.¡±


    Guges didn¡¯t forget to add.


    Andrei furrowed his brows slightly, as if in deep thought.


    He had studied the empire¡¯s system carefully. Aside from the supreme imperial power, the most frequent terms were ¡°freedom, equality¡± and such, ideals that were embraced throughout the empire.


    But he always felt something was off¡ªthis was not true equality.


    This country seemed to treat everyone as nutrient for its growth, allowing itself to proliferate and expand at an unimaginable speed.


    In simple terms¡ªthe empire oppressed everyone equally.


    ¡°Mr. Guges, there¡¯s something I still don¡¯t understand, why do they¡­¡±


    As they chatted, Guges had finished off an entire bottle of wine, and a slight tipsiness appeared on his wrinkled face.


    ¡°Now, it hasn¡¯t reached its own limits yet.¡±


    ¡°If one day, this empire is no longer as advanced as it is now, about to be eliminated by the tide of history, I would spare no effort to¡­¡±


    ¡°Mr. Guges¡­¡±


    Andrei cautiously looked around and covered Guges¡¯ mouth.


    Fortunately, the people around them only took it as a drunken babble and paid no attention.


    A smile appeared on Guges¡¯ face. He lay down on the wooden table and continued:


    ¡°Little Andrei, I, I¡¯ve found a direction, those Starfallens! They are undiscovered treasures, their brains hold knowledge that reveals the essence of society¡­¡±


    ¡°I, I¡¯ve put those things in the manuscript¡­¡±


    ¡­


    A year swiftly passed, the snow on the northern plains melted for a few months, and then reaccumulated with the biting cold wind.


    However, the lives of the people here had undergone an earth-shaking change.


    The Matra Great Farmland had developed at scale, and imperial agricultural officers led the Skeleton Legion to work through the nights, eventually even bringing in combine harvesters.


    The organic combination of spells, equipment, and labor brought unprecedented productivity advances.


    And so, after an unprecedented harvest in September, the merciless north wind didn¡¯t bring famine. People were able to buy food at normal prices, and at the very least, they could eat cheap canned food from the processing factories.


    According to imperial statistics, this was the first winter in a thousand years in Anzeta where almost no one starved to death.


    Due to the development of light industry in the empire, cheap and warm cotton clothes became standard for the people. They no longer had to huddle shivering around stoves; instead, they could put on coats and go to work.


    This was also the first winter in Anzeta where the number of people who froze to death was fewer than five hundred.


    Everything seemed so wonderful, but beneath the surface of this beauty, there was also much blood and tears.


    The most significant change was in the cities.


    One factory after another sprang up, forming cold, steel forests, and new buildings appeared within the cities, with large populations flowing into each city.


    They mostly became diligent workers, becoming cogs in the machine of urban industrial development, or rather¡ªfuel and consumables.


    Although the empire¡¯s regulations provided the most basic protections for workers, according to incomplete official statistics, there were still tens of thousands who died unnatural deaths¡ªthey mostly died in factories, but this information was hidden and couldn¡¯t be seen by the outside world.


    The empire¡¯s management of important cities like Isdalia and Northwind Castle was relatively strict, but in the remote cities of the former Northern Kingdom, the management was much weaker.


    What¡¯s more, the empire¡¯s regulations were not yet perfect at the time.


    Thus, various dark and chaotic phenomena festered and grew.


    After the empire had just conquered the North, Dragonblood Nobility and emerging merchants followed the official call to develop industry, investing in and building factories in various cities.


    And on the eve of the ¡°Imperial Labor Law¡± enactment, the various regulations were still incomplete.


    Due to the widespread use of steam engines and textile machines, work in the cotton mills was not only easy to learn but also required little physical strength. Thus, factory owners massively employed women, especially children.


    The main reason factory owners liked children was because of their weakness and docility, while adults often were not easily subdued. At the same time, child labor wages were very low, only one-third of an adult¡¯s.


    In order to maximize profit, machines ran non-stop for 24 hours, and workers had to work continuously day and night.


    They worked in shifts. In such conditions, industrial accidents became commonplace¡ªfingers being crushed by belts or limbs being smashed by gears happened regularly.


    But when workers sought compensation, facing the powerful and influential Dragonblood Nobility, they didn¡¯t even have the courage to file a complaint.


    These cheap consumer goods were produced in large quantities, most of which were sold to the Fadlan Region through the Imperial Southern Continent Company, but some were also sold domestically.


    But even just the small fraction was enough to crush the original market, causing the former handcraft workshops and handcraft factories in the North to declare bankruptcy one after another.


    Artisans with skills passed down through generations declared bankruptcy, their shops were bought up by factory owners, and they ultimately had to enter the factories themselves, becoming fuel for industrial development.


    With the dissolution of slavery, people were indeed free, but invisible chains gradually bound them.


    Where there was oppression, there was resistance.


    Amid the frenzy of industrial development, a small-scale uprising occurred in Rosstin City on the empire¡¯s northeastern border, where workers smashed machines and escaped outside the city.


    Soon after, several scattered acts of resistance followed, but they were all ruthlessly suppressed.


    At this point, the imperial officials finally realized the gravity of the situation. Prime Minister Ramp became furious, issuing a profound statement, ¡°Beware of Barbaric Development.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t angry out of sympathy for the workers, but because it was detrimental to the empire¡¯s development¡ªmore importantly, it violated Cassius¡¯ will. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thus, due to the tireless work of the Ministry of Justice, the ¡°Imperial Worker Law,¡± the ¡°Apprentice Health and Morality Law,¡± and other relevant laws and regulations were enacted one after another.


    The imperial judicial inspection teams patrolled various cities, sending many to prison, and even dragging to the guillotine those ¡°newly rich¡± whose excessive oppression led to riots.


    This incident, along with the previous enforcement of the ¡°Imperial Corporation Law,¡± was collectively referred to by the people as the ¡°Great Purge Movement,¡± etching in their hearts that the imperial laws were not to be desecrated.


    Perhaps it wasn¡¯t sacred, but the bright, blood-dripping guillotine proved it was not to be taken lightly.


    However, industries like spinning, ceramics, and leather processing were not the fastest-growing sectors in the empire. The industry that brought the greatest profit to the empire was only one¡ªmilitary industry!


    The ¡°Three Emperors¡¯ War¡± in the South became increasingly intense, with millions being crushed by the brutal battlefield. Divine Descendants, Legendary Mages, Constructed Golems, and other once-mighty Fadlan forces wreaked havoc across the continent.


    This was undoubtedly a disaster for the local populace.


    But the more chaotic it became, the better the empire¡¯s arms sold. The Imperial Southern Continent Company¡¯s business boomed, and the group behind it gained more profit.


    Eventually, people began to anticipate wars, hoping they would become more violent, even actively stirring up conflicts¡ªthis was what brought them more gold coins.


    A terrifying monster slowly grew strong on the nourishment of blood and fire.


    ¡ªRequest for Monthly Ticket¡ª

 Chapter 488 - 488 408 No Battle on the Southern Front

    ?Chapter 488: Chapter 408: No Battle on the Southern Front Chapter 488: Chapter 408: No Battle on the Southern Front The earth was riddled with wounds, craters everywhere from shell blasts, trenches dug by engineers etched deep scars across the land.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A shell landed next to the crowd, dust mingled with shrapnel flying, and several dirt-smudged bodies fell to the ground.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s shelling!¡±


    With a brief cry, all the soldiers instinctively dove into the trenches in an extremely short time.


    Those who hadn¡¯t developed this habit ¡ª were either new recruits pulled from various places or dead bodies charred by explosions.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    Sure enough, shells fell like raindrops, exploding around them again and again.


    Except for one unlucky guy hit in the back of the head, everyone else was almost unscathed.


    ¡°It¡¯s stopped!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°The shelling has stopped!¡±


    ¡°Damn Cassandra people, they all deserve to go to Hell!¡±


    Someone howled, clutching a leg severed by shrapnel, rolling in the trench.


    There were no doctors here, no means of disinfection, such severe injuries on the frontline battlefield essentially meant a death sentence.


    ¡°Poor Busa!¡±


    The old soldier sighed out of habit, though he was called ¡°old soldier,¡± he was only in his twenties ¡ª but it didn¡¯t stop those older than him from calling him ¡°old soldier.¡±


    The reason was simple: he had lived the longest on this battlefield, having stayed on this position for over five months.


    And during this time, his comrades had replaced one batch after another.


    Of course, the old soldier once had his own name ¡ª Bauer Stanton, but everyone was used to calling him the old soldier.


    ¡°It hurts!¡±


    ¡°Damn, this is what it feels like to have a leg severed, it hurts more than going to Hell!¡±


    ¡°Old soldier¡­¡±


    Busa lay on the ground wailing, looking at Bauer with eyes blurred by pain and tears, showing a complex look.


    Bauer could see the meaning in them ¡ª it was a plea.


    Busa didn¡¯t want to live anymore.


    All at once, the surrounding soldiers fell silent, their hesitant gazes focused on Bauer, as if waiting for his decision.


    ¡°Damn it.¡±


    Bauer spat.


    He skillfully chambered the rifle and stepped forward, pressing the barrel against Busa¡¯s temple.


    ¡°May you live forever in Amanata¡¯s Divine Realm.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A crisp gunshot, brain matter and blood splattering.


    Busa was a merchant, his whole family devout followers of Amanata. He rarely cursed, he was conscripted by Wilhelm¡¯s order three months ago.


    In the last few minutes of his life, he cursed wildly, saying all the dirty words he had ever known, and five seconds ago, a bullet ended his life.


    ¡°Busa was the longest surviving among the second batch of comrades, he did nothing wrong, just had bad luck.¡±


    Bauer thought.


    He turned around, his expression calm, but his hand holding the gun trembled slightly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, although they¡¯ve already shelled once, the battlefield changes in a blink, who can guess what will happen?¡±


    ¡°Just like¡­ this poor guy who had his leg severed by a shrapnel.¡±


    The remaining dozen or so soldiers continued moving forward, those seasoned in life and death didn¡¯t care, but the few new recruits were terrified to witness the death of their comrades they had only just met.


    Life was too cheap on this battlefield.


    For some reason, the surrounding air became stagnant, as if soaked in a bowl of thick blood.


    Soon, passing through the all too familiar trenches filled with corpses, the soldiers finally reached the safety zone.


    Suddenly, someone asked, ¡°Old soldier, got a smoke?¡±


    ¡°Get lost, I barely managed to get a few packs, not even enough for myself. If you want, go rummage through those corpses¡¯ pockets.¡±


    Bauer cursed with a grim face.


    He waved his hand, pulling out a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, holding it like a treasure.


    The surrounding soldiers immediately looked over with eager eyes.


    ¡°Whoa! Made in Imperial!¡±


    ¡°Old soldier, you¡¯ve got some good stuff hidden away!¡±


    The pack bore the symbol of a vertical pupil and flames, with the faint words ¡°Made in Imperial¡± printed on it.


    Bauer¡¯s rifle stock also had this mark.


    The soldiers didn¡¯t know where these things came from, nor did they care about their meaning ¡ª they only knew cigarettes with this mark were the best, the strongest.


    They knew: if Bauer didn¡¯t want to share the smoke, he wouldn¡¯t bring out this treasured item.


    The soldiers swarmed in, grinning, reaching out with rough hands, sweeping away the previous tense atmosphere.


    ¡°Get out, one each ¡ª for Busa¡¯s sake.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t got one!¡±


    ¡°Wait, me too!¡±


    ¡°Bullshit! What¡¯s that in your other hand? I just saw you take one!¡±


    When everyone finally dispersed, faces full of joy, Bauer looked down at the pack with only one cigarette left, his face showing heartache.


    ¡°These bastards.¡±


    He took out that last cigarette, shielding it from the wind with one hand, skillfully lighting it with the other, then putting it in his mouth.


    ¡°Hoo¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really Imperial made stuff, so strong, much better than those shoddy ones.¡±


    Bauer leaned against the dirt wall, exhaling thick smoke, murmuring softly.


    The refreshing sensation rushed to his head, temporarily lifting his thoughts from the battlefield, flying back to his distant hometown.


    He thought of Strong Town, a small town in the eastern Thrace Region, but so peaceful, so beautiful.

 Chapter 489 - 489 408 No War on the Southern Front_2

    ?Chapter 489: Chapter 408 No War on the Southern Front_2 Chapter 489: Chapter 408 No War on the Southern Front_2 At that time, Bauer was just an ordinary blacksmith apprentice. He had an agreement with Jenny, from the flower shop next door, that once he could manage the blacksmith shop by himself, they would get married.


    He remembered that night, Jenny¡¯s blushing face, her shy yet happy smile.


    This scene was especially warm, in his eyes even more beautiful than Heaven. He could even smell the wildflower fragrance from her.


    But in the next moment, explosions and smoke shattered this warm scene, making Bauer cry out.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±


    He continued to think further.


    The merciless war disrupted everything. Soon, the young men in town were all conscripted by Thrace Kingdom¡¯s officers, and Bauer was no exception.


    ¡°Jenny¡­¡±


    ¡°Is she okay now? I heard people say that Cassandra¡¯s cavalry have also entered the eastern part of the Kingdom¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybe, maybe¡­¡±


    Bauer couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    The air, filled with the smoke of gunpowder and fog, became hazy. He could taste the bitter taste of smoke on the tip of his tongue.


    Bauer didn¡¯t like the taste of smoke, but he liked smoking because it was one of the few methods to relieve stress on this battlefield.


    Every time he exhaled smoke, he would feel refreshed, and his tense brain would get a moment¡¯s rest.


    ¡°Damn it.¡±


    ¡°Damn¡­ war.¡±


    Bauer took a deep inhale and suddenly realized that war had infiltrated every aspect of his life, leaving no stone unturned.


    Even escaping reality, he couldn¡¯t escape the shadow cast by the war.


    With the progression of full-scale war, both armies appeared on each other¡¯s territories, where burning, killing, and looting were common occurrences¡ªBauer was just an ordinary soldier on the Southern Front.


    If there was anything that set him apart from other soldiers, it was that he had lived a bit longer.


    He couldn¡¯t change anything.


    ¡°Old soldier¡­¡±


    A timid voice came through.


    Bauer turned his head and saw a dirty, youthful face.


    He wore a uniform a few sizes too big for him, with sleeves rolled up and wrinkled at the wrists.


    That was Tommy, a new recruit, reportedly only sixteen years old, with such a distinctive baby face that everyone called him ¡°kid.¡±


    Bauer glanced at him.


    ¡°Kid, the smokes are all gone.¡±


    Tommy shook his head, his expression serious: ¡°No, I didn¡¯t come for this. I just have a question that has been bothering me, and I want to ask you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the question?¡±


    Bauer squinted his eyes, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said nonchalantly: ¡°I¡¯ve been on this battlefield the longest, feel free to ask anything. The more you know, the longer you¡¯ll survive.¡±


    ¡°Busa, that poor fellow, knew quite a lot, but just had terrible luck.¡±


    Tommy hesitated for a moment, then looked into Bauer¡¯s eyes and softly asked: ¡°Do you know¡­ why we are fighting this war?¡±


    Bauer¡¯s eyes widened immediately. He didn¡¯t expect Tommy to ask such a¡ªstrange question.


    Tommy continued: ¡°My father told me that the Holy Fadlan Federation was once united, whether Thrace People or Cassandra People, they were all proud Imperial Citizens.¡±


    ¡°But now, we are killing each other, why is that?¡±


    ¡°My father said that Audis betrayed the great Sun God and became an Angel Envoy of Hell. His Majesty Wilhelm is here to stop him.¡±


    The surrounding soldiers had already gathered, interested in their conversation. After all, there was little entertainment on the battlefield.


    Bauer didn¡¯t know.


    He didn¡¯t care about the cause of the war, nor did he care about its significance. He just wanted to survive, return to his town, and marry Jenny.


    Bauer initially wanted to shake his head to indicate that he did not know, but for some unknown reason, he suddenly remembered a ¡°joke¡± he had heard from an officer.


    So Bauer replied meaningfully: ¡°The old Emperor left a chair made of gold. His Majesty Wilhelm wants to sit on it, and that wicked demon Audis wants to sit on it too, so¡­¡±


    At the end of his words, he deliberately dragged his voice to sound mysterious.


    Tommy was stunned: ¡°That¡¯s the reason for the war? So many people dying, so many losing their homes, all for a chair?¡±


    ¡°So¡ªwhat does that have to do with us!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a joke! No matter how hard we fight, we¡¯re merely fighting for a chair for those higher-ups.¡±


    Bauer smoked until only a small finger-sized butt was left, then sighed with satisfaction.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    Realizing he was being ridiculed, Tommy¡¯s face turned red with anger. After a while, he finally squeezed out one word.


    ¡°Hahaha!


    ¡°He¡¯s really just a kid!¡±


    The soldiers burst into laughter. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Kid, try to stay alive. No matter what happens to the Sun God in the sky, being able to see tomorrow¡¯s sun is enough for me.¡±


    Bauer stretched, patted the dust off his uniform, and said this.


    He talked about war, but at this moment, what emerged in his mind was Jenny¡¯s blushing cheeks¡ªthe future he yearned for.


    In the distance, the crisp sound of gunfire, the rumble of cannons, still echoed continuously.


    At this moment, Bauer, Tommy, and the many soldiers laughing happily had no idea that their unit, being on the Southern Front and close to the Holy City, had been selected by General Miseael Benacerlaf as a reinforcement force.


    And they were about to head to the most brutal ¡°meat grinder¡± ¡ª the Holy City Battlefield.


    The lively people, who were laughing and joking, had no idea how many of them would return alive from there.

 Chapter 490 - 490 408 Southern Front No War _3

    ?Chapter 490: Chapter 408 Southern Front No War _3 Chapter 490: Chapter 408 Southern Front No War _3 ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Isdalia, Klaubow Armament Group Factory No. 13.


    Large machines hummed like a giant steel beast, constantly spewing smoke.


    On the assembly line, in front of the massive machine tools, hundreds of workers were completing their tasks: some inspecting, some sorting, others assembling.


    They worked like machines themselves, numbly performing extremely simple tasks without a moment¡¯s rest.


    ¡°Pay attention!¡±


    ¡°The defect rate of the last batch exceeded 8%!¡±


    ¡°You bunch of idiots, can¡¯t you even do such simple jobs? The higher-ups are very unhappy!¡±


    The overseer¡¯s angry voice echoed through the workshop, making all the workers feel extremely tense.


    ¡°Hold on a little longer¡­¡±


    ¡°Just half an hour more until the shift ends.¡±


    This is what Raj Pink thought.


    He was responsible for sorting parts; his job was simple, just classifying different components.


    But after six hours of continuous work, he felt dizzy just looking at those parts.


    ¡°What are you doing!¡±


    The worker next to him made a mistake, letting a defective part pass, which the sharp-eyed overseer noticed.


    The worker quickly apologized, ¡°Sorry, sir, I was daydreaming.¡±


    ¡°This better not happen again! If it does, half a month¡¯s salary will be deducted!¡±


    Hearing this, Raj quickly pulled himself together, forcing his eyelids open.


    He worked here just to make a living.


    Money.


    As the most developed city in Anzeta, the cost of living in Isdalia was high.


    And for a line worker like him, the salary was only enough to survive; buying a place to live in this city was out of the question. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The overseer said that the items they made would become exquisite weapons, sold to the South at the high price of one Ginnar each.


    One Ginnar!


    He knew that working diligently for a month just barely earned him one Ginnar, and this didn¡¯t cover everyday expenses.


    And the number of firearms passing through his hands monthly numbered in the thousands¡ªRaj often wondered where the money for those firearms went.


    He never found out.


    Perhaps it all ended up in the pockets of those Important Figures.


    The overseer had also impatiently explained to them: without investments from the Dragonblood Nobility to build factories and provide equipment, they wouldn¡¯t even have the opportunity to work in Isdalia, let alone get paid.


    Raj and his co-workers discussed it for a long time and agreed that the overseer made a good point.


    Raj¡¯s idol was also a Dragonblood Noble¡ªhis name was George.


    George¡¯s story had been published in the ¡°Imperial Daily,¡± beloved by many workers. Raj even spent money to buy that issue, cut it out, and pasted it in his dormitory.


    Baron George had come from a humble background, once a serf from the North. He had started as a lowly worker, climbing up step by step through hard work to become a Dragonblood Noble.


    That was the image Raj had for himself, and the image many workers in Isdalia aspired to.


    ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯ve met Lord George¡¯s former co-worker. His name is Howard, the overseer of the next factory.¡±


    ¡°I wonder if I¡¯ll ever get to meet Lord George¡­¡±


    This was what Raj thought.


    Suddenly, a harsh voice shattered his beautiful dream.


    ¡°Raj! You are daydreaming too!¡±


    ¡°Sure enough, thinking nonsense every day will lead to mistakes! Look, you put part number two in the part number three¡¯s section!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, sir, I¡­¡±


    Raj immediately broke into a cold sweat, his expression panicked, wanting to explain but not knowing where to start.


    The overseer merely glanced at him and then turned away, ¡°No need to explain. This is your second mistake this month. Prepare to receive half of your salary in Silvernar!¡±


    Raj was left standing there, his face pale, head hung low, quietly sorting parts.


    His dream was to buy a small house on the outskirts of Isdalia and open a flower shop inside it.


    But houses in Isdalia were not cheap, with even the outermost ones costing thousands of Ginnars.


    And Raj¡¯s salary was one Ginnar a month, with this month¡¯s salary still to be cut in half.


    When could he ever realize his dream?


    ¡ª¡ªPlease vote for the monthly ticket¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 491 - 491 409 Olivias Proposal

    ?Chapter 491: Chapter 409 Olivia¡¯s Proposal Chapter 491: Chapter 409 Olivia¡¯s Proposal ¡°According to the proposal by Earl Dwayne Drake, the Empire would continue to conduct in-depth research in various emerging military fields.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°We expect to invest 7.2 million Ginnars, focusing on large-scale elemental weapons, long-distance destructive weapons, and tracked armored combat vehicles¡­¡±


    ¡°I object!¡±


    A clear female voice echoed through the hall, causing everyone to turn their heads.


    It was the lady with silver hair and blue eyes who raised her slender hand and stood up from her seat.


    She wore a dignified and elegant long dress, her delicate and pretty face showing a trace of anger, and her blue-gray eyes were fearless.


    ¡ªThat was Olivia, now an Imperial Councillor.


    She pushed her silver-framed glasses up her nose and, flipping through the documents in her hand, continued aloud:


    ¡°According to the data from the Statistics Department, military spending already accounts for 20% of the entire Empire¡¯s budget. Such a scale of military expenditure is a huge burden on the Imperial people.¡±


    ¡°I not only oppose Duke Dolores¡¯s move to further increase military spending but also believe that the Empire should reduce military spending and invest more funds in education, healthcare, and poverty relief.¡±


    ¡°I have a new proposal here which details the measures the Empire should take in these areas and reallocates the budget.¡±


    The hall was immediately in an uproar, with everyone talking in whispers.


    ¡°It¡¯s that Councillor Olivia again! How dare she say such things?¡±


    ¡°This is touching the military¡¯s nerve.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, daring to openly refute Earl Dwayne¡¯s proposal, what courage.¡±


    ¡°Humans are just humans, wasting resources investing them in the weak, you might as well throw it into the river.¡±


    The expressions of the Imperial citizens in the hall varied, some sneering, some remaining silent, and others sighing in admiration.


    This hall was the renowned Imperial Senate Hall, the main venue for the Imperial Congress.


    The hall was mainly divided into two levels, with rows of neatly ordered red seats on each level, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people.


    The upper wall surfaces were decorated with colored glass and seven murals depicting the history of the Ashen Empire and showcasing the Emperor¡¯s achievements.


    In the center of the ceiling, there was a majestic dragon head carved, its pale golden vertical pupils overlooking everything in the Senate Hall, symbolizing the Emperor¡¯s supreme authority.


    The gold-yellow throne and canopy were located at the southern end, where the Emperor could sit at any time.


    In front of the throne was the Imperial Prime Minister¡¯s seat, a huge gold and red cushioned seat without a backrest filled with wool¡ªRamp sat there, with an expression as if watching a good show.


    ¡°Tsk tsk¡­¡±


    ¡°Seems like the military people are in for some bad luck, just right to teach some people who need it a lesson.¡±


    The corner of the Ogre¡¯s mouth slightly curved up, revealing a hint of a smile.


    If it were an ordinary person who raised an objection, Dolores would not let them end well¡ª but the identity of this Miss Olivia was too special.


    Silver Dragon.


    Had a close relationship with His Majesty.


    Lived in the auxiliary palace of the Steel Dragonwing Palace, theoretically able to directly escalate matters to His Majesty.


    After the institutional reform, the Empire adopted the ¡°bicameral system¡± consisting of the Lower House, formed by commoners, and the Upper House, composed of the Dragonblood Nobility, also known as the ¡°Dragonblood Council.¡±


    The Upper House consisted of over six hundred Dragonblood Nobles, possessing legislative and fiscal authority during the Imperial Congress.


    The Lower House mainly played a supplementary role in the Senate Hall, supervising the Upper House, assisting in legislation, and exercising ¡°delaying power¡± and ¡°questioning power¡± to amend or veto proposals.


    Though theoretically so, Lower House councillors rarely exercised their power in direct conflict with the Dragonblood Nobility, typically only providing trivial opinions.


    The actual power holders of this nation¡ªor rather, the class temporarily bestowed power by Cassius, were already very apparent.


    At this moment, the Imperial Senate Hall was in turmoil.


    The Upper House councillors¡ª the Dragonblood Nobles, attended the meeting in the high-level three-sided red bench, looking at Olivia with unfriendly eyes.


    ¡°Who is she?¡±


    ¡°Military matters do not concern them!¡±


    ¡°With just a human, she is fit to point fingers at Earl Dwayne¡¯s proposal? That was endorsed by Duke Dolores!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Earl Dwayne is the ostensible manager of the Klaubow Armament Group.¡±


    The Lower House councillors sat on the lower-level plain hall seats, many not daring to breathe too loudly, only whispering for fear of provoking the Duke.


    But many councillors from scholarly backgrounds expressed support for her.


    ¡°Who is she?¡±


    ¡°How reckless this lady is?¡±


    ¡°But I think she is right, the Empire¡¯s military investment is indeed somewhat excessive, even to the extent of exhausting the people.¡±


    But Olivia held the documents, standing in her place, staring straight at those Dragonblood Nobles with a burning gaze, without fear.


    ¡°As a councillor of the Empire¡¯s Lower House, I have the right to question Duke Dolores¡¯s proposal and even delay it¡­.¡±


    ¡°Impudent!¡±


    A Bugbear Earl slammed the table, glaring angrily at Olivia, who was speaking eloquently below the stage.


    ¡°This is a decision by Duke Dolores and six hundred Dragonblood Nobles, enjoying the highest authority under the Emperor¡¯s decree. Is it something you can question?¡±


    Olivia said calmly: ¡°But this follows the Empire¡¯s regulations.¡±


    Sitting in the ¡°Elder¡¯s¡± cushioned seat, Dolores was not angry, he just waved his hand, signaling Earl Dwayne to speak.


    Earl Dwayne immediately stood up, saying in a deep voice: ¡°Councillor Olivia, it seems you have never worked in the government, you must not understand how the Empire operates.¡±

 Chapter 492 - 492 409 Olivias Proposal_2

    ?Chapter 492: Chapter 409: Olivia¡¯s Proposal_2 Chapter 492: Chapter 409: Olivia¡¯s Proposal_2 ¡°Increasing investment in the military industry would not only hinder our finances, but also bring us hefty returns and create a plethora of job opportunities.¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you read the Empire¡¯s financial reports? The Klaubow Armament Group is a crucial pillar of the Empire¡¯s finances! Without continued military investment, where would the money come from for education, healthcare, and other fields?¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°That¡¯s sophistry.¡±


    Olivia retorted.


    ¡°The Empire¡¯s assets don¡¯t belong solely to the military; they are the result of the hard work of countless Imperial Citizens, who deserve to enjoy a corresponding reward!¡±


    ¡°If we keep funneling money into the military industry, those gold coins will only end up in the pockets of you Dragonblood Nobles!¡±


    A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.


    The Imperial Senate Hall instantly erupted. They never expected¡ªsomeone dared to publicly ¡°declare war¡± on the Dragonblood Nobility!


    Scholars and Citizens admired her courage, yet they sighed inwardly, lamenting for this woman as beautiful as Venus.


    Everyone knew that the Dragonblood Nobility were a colossal force in the Empire¡¯s political, military, and economic spheres.


    Offending them meant this woman would find it impossible to take a single step forward in the Empire and might even face deadly retribution.


    Earl Dwayne said, ¡°As far as I know, according to the Empire¡¯s regulations, the Lower House¡¯s power must be agreed upon by over sixty percent of the councillors to take effect.¡±


    Goblin Earl looked around, overlooking the councillors seated in the hall, and calmly said, ¡°Councillors, do you support Councillor Olivia¡¯s actions?¡±


    ¡°All who support, please raise your hands.¡±


    The hall fell into dead silence.


    The air seemed to freeze; those councillors who had loudly claimed to support her earlier now collectively held their tongues.


    They were no idealists either.


    No one wanted to risk offending the military for an unrealistic proposal by supporting an ordinary councillor with shallow roots.


    Olivia looked anxious, her left hand clenched her skirt, but she had no recourse.


    After all, the opposition was merely following the regulations.


    This was, in her view, the fundamental flaw of the Empire¡¯s system: true power lay in the hands of the Military Merit Aristocracy.


    And councillors like her seemed irrelevant.


    Dwayne¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but his lips curled into a disdainful smile. He put away the document in his hand: ¡°Since no one has any objections, then¡­.¡±


    ¡°I have an objection.¡±


    A calm voice came through.


    Dwayne looked toward the source of the voice, his expression instantly fascinating, even astonished.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you in the Military Department read my statement ¡®Beware the Savage Development¡¯?¡±


    ¡°The people of the Empire indeed hadn¡¯t received their due treatment. His Majesty Cassius once said, ¡®Expecting the horse to run without feeding it is unrealistic.¡¯


    ¡°At this rate, their labor efficiency and quality will both decline. Logically and morally, the Empire¡¯s officialdom should give them their deserving welfare benefits.¡±


    On the gold and red cushioned seat symbolizing administrative power, Imperial Prime Minister Ramp sat upright, an ugly smile on his face.


    ¡°Since this is your sentiment¡­¡±


    Dwayne lowered his head, his voice growing smaller, no longer as confident as before.


    That was the Imperial Prime Minister; in His Majesty Cassius¡¯ absence, he symbolized the highest authority.


    In other words, Ramp had veto power over proposals.


    ¡°The Prime Minister is right!¡±


    ¡°Duke Ramp is indeed magnanimous. I say the Empire¡¯s welfare benefits should have been improved long ago.¡±


    ¡°Right, the last worker uprising was caused by the military¡¯s harsh exploitation, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    With the Prime Minister¡¯s intervention, the hall livened up once more, with various factions getting involved.


    Previously silent councillors began to speak up enthusiastically, citing various arguments to support the Prime Minister¡¯s stance.


    But Dolores, seated among the Elders, looked incredibly grim, as though ink could drip from his face.


    At his behest, the generals of the military stood up urgently, striving to counter-argue.


    ¡°Was that event caused by the military?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re throwing mud! Those rioters were bribed by Northern Nobility! They incited this rebellion with the aim of overturning the Empire!¡±


    ¡°The current situation on the continent isn¡¯t optimistic. Without the development of the military, how could the Empire stand firm in the South?¡±


    ¡°But from a long-term development perspective, welfare and healthcare are indispensable!¡±


    The sides battled fiercely with words, the atmosphere in the Senate Hall growing ever more intense.


    ¡ªSoon, the matter itself was surpassed, gradually transforming into a political struggle, a contest between the military and the administrative management.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Olivia clutched her thick stack of documents, watching the incessant fighting. Her mouth opened, feeling somewhat helpless.


    ¡°No matter what, I will persist in fulfilling my responsibilities.¡±


    ¡°This country shouldn¡¯t be like this; it can become better.¡±


    Olivia pressed her lips together, secretly making up her mind.


    But she also felt deeply powerless, as if she couldn¡¯t change anything.


    Though the Empire¡¯s system claimed ¡°democracy and equality,¡± it was actually a tool for various interest groups to contend against each other.


    Councillors like her, without background or money, couldn¡¯t genuinely voice their opinions or change the Empire¡¯s policies.


    The Silver Dragon of justice and kindness detested such an atmosphere.


    Wait¡ª


    Background?


    Who was the most powerful backing in the Ashen Empire?


    The answer was undoubtedly clear.


    Olivia¡¯s blue-gray eyes immediately brightened, but soon they revealed hesitation and uncertainty.

 Chapter 493 - 493 409 Olivias Proposal_3

    ?Chapter 493: Chapter 409: Olivia¡¯s Proposal_3 Chapter 493: Chapter 409: Olivia¡¯s Proposal_3 Is this really okay?


    In the end, though, the Silver Dragon made up his mind, deciding to do everything in his power to complete this task¡ªeven if it seemed to damage his dignity.


    Olivia looked towards the direction of the distant palace and whispered, ¡°Maybe, I can talk to Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Northwind Castle Suburbs, Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    This palace, built along the mountain terrain and shaped like dragon wings, was still as magnificent and grand as ever.


    This was the residence of the legendary Ashen Emperor, Crimson Emperor, Infernal Calamity, Soul Devouring Dragon¡ªCassius Klaubow Noricus.


    In the minds of many imperial citizens, this palace where the Red Dragon resided was sacred, comparable to the Terrestrial God Kingdom.


    And to the vast populations of humans, elves, dwarves, and other intelligent beings on the Fianso Continent, this palace symbolized a treasure hoard of endless wealth.


    Yes, this emperor was quite famous on the continent.


    However, what made him known to everyone was not the fierce war achievements of defeating Osedro¡ªbut the Imperial merchandise.


    Goods marked with the dragon head and the words ¡°Made in Imperial¡± were known across the continent for being innovative, useful, and cost-effective, infiltrating all aspects of Fianso people¡¯s lives.


    On the cruel battlefield, soldiers shot at each other with Imperial-made firearms; on cold winter nights, peasants slept soundly in Imperial-made cotton clothes.


    People spread the word that this Crimson Emperor earned countless gold coins by selling guns, woolen sweaters, tobacco, and other products marked with ¡°Made in Imperial.¡±


    It¡¯s rumored that this Crimson Emperor excavated the mountain beside his palace and filled it with his one billion gold coins.


    Many adventurers covet this, but no one dared to attempt it¡ªthose who were brave mostly died within the imperial territory.


    Thus, in the stories that circulated the continent, this dragon, who possessed endless wealth, slept every day amidst mountains of gold.


    In reality, though, Cassius had hardly slept for long in the past year, instead becoming engrossed in spell research, digesting his own strength.


    In the main hall of the palace, the enormous red dragon lay prone on the ground, extending a claw where flames and lightning intertwined and clashed at the claw tip.


    But the lightning grew dimmer, eventually extinguishing within the flames.


    ¡°I knew it¡­what a pity, according to the traits of the Elemental Master, it¡¯s impossible to coordinate two elements simultaneously.¡±


    ¡°Do I really have to go to the Para-Elemental Plane of Lightning?¡±


    Cassius sighed regretfully, sulfurous smoke emitted from his mouth.


    Supporting himself on his strong forelimbs, the Red Dragon slowly rose from the ground, but his long, thick tail touched the wall behind him.


    ¡°It¡¯s really getting cramped. I should expand this place in a couple of days.¡±


    To Cassius now, the main hall of the palace seemed increasingly restrictive and narrow.


    The current Red Dragon, from head to tail, was over forty meters long, fitting the classification of a ¡°Super Giant Dragon Type.¡±


    This had already surpassed the physiological limits of most ordinary Red Dragons. Even those more than twelve hundred years old Ancient Dragons rarely reached such a size.


    What was even more terrifying was that for Cassius, this was not the end, merely the beginning: this Red Dragon continued to grow rapidly at the young dragon growth rate, and no one knew to what extent he would grow. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could it be an Ancestral Dragon?


    Even the Dragon Gods like Tiamat, Bahamut, and Sadiwo were closely watching.


    But their eyes could no longer penetrate the imperial domain to see everything. Within the Red Dragon¡¯s empire, even deities¡¯ eyes would be veiled.


    Suddenly, Cassius perceived a familiar scent of rainwater. He sensed the outside through the authority of the imperial domain¡ªonly to find a former resident appeared outside the palace.


    ¡°Olivia?¡±


    ¡°What a rare visitor.¡±


    ¡ª¡ªVote for Monthly Ticket¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 494 - 494 410 Cassius Persuasion

    ?Chapter 494: Chapter 410: Cassius¡¯ Persuasion Chapter 494: Chapter 410: Cassius¡¯ Persuasion ¡°Cassius¡­¡±


    In front of the tall and heavy iron door, Olivia gazed at the spectacular palace where she had lived for so long and called out softly.


    The guards stationed at the door recognized Olivia, who had once resided in the palace, so they did not stop her, but since they had not received an order, they also did not open the door.


    ¡°You should be able to hear me.¡±


    Olivia muttered softly.


    She had witnessed the ¡°authority¡± of the Red Dragon within the empire, which left her awe-struck, knowing that he must be aware of her arrival.


    Sure enough, a familiar voice appeared, resonating outside the royal palace.


    ¡°Let her in.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Accompanied by a dull sound, the heavy door slowly opened, and Olivia saw the scene inside the royal palace.


    ¡°The royal palace¡­¡±


    ¡°It has been a long time since I last came back.¡±


    Gazing at the familiar garden and palace, Olivia¡¯s blue-gray eyes shimmered with a faint light.


    In the past year, she had moved to Isdalia, disguised herself as a human, and through her own efforts, became a councillor of the kingdom.


    And this place was her ¡°prison.¡±


    Although she only stayed for a few months, a mere fleeting moment compared to her nearly hundred-year life, the experience was deeply ingrained in her memory.


    Yet, she did not feel unbearable to look back on it; instead, there was a sense of inexplicable intimacy, even nostalgia.


    Did her heart still harbor resentment and hatred?


    Perhaps.


    Even Olivia herself found it hard to say what kind of complex emotions these were, much less when she had to make a request to the Red Dragon soon.


    Thinking of this, Olivia couldn¡¯t help but hug the documents in her hands tighter and hurried her steps.


    Following the path to the main hall, the dragon-headed palace door also opened.


    What she saw was the Red Dragon coiled on the somewhat narrow throne, with backward-swept horns, broad wings, and pale golden vertical pupils. The enormous dragon¡¯s body almost took up half of the palace, an imposing sight.


    Strong, majestic, noble, and¡ªperfect.


    These words almost instinctively entered Olivia¡¯s mind, giving her a sense of seeing the platinum statue of Bahamut in the clan¡¯s dragon nest.


    Even more terrifying was that his length had reached forty meters, far surpassing the elders of the Melwood Clan.


    ¡°He has become more powerful.¡±


    Olivia thought.


    This also meant that the gap between her and him had widened, and although she didn¡¯t know why, she felt inexplicably crestfallen.


    It took Olivia a long time to come back to her senses, with complex emotions flickering in her blue-gray pupils.


    She opened her mouth, saying softly, ¡°Long time no see, Cassius.¡±


    ¡°Long time no see, Councillor Olivia. You¡¯ve been quite the stir in the empire¡¯s political scene lately.¡±


    Gray-white smoke wafted from Cassius¡¯s mouth as his expressionless dragon face showed a hint of a smile.


    Olivia looked slightly surprised: ¡°You know what I did?¡±


    Cassius replied, ¡°Of course, as a common councillor of the Lower House, you openly opposed the Duke of Dolores¡¯s proposal and sparked a conflict between the military and the government.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, your capabilities are indeed remarkable. Do you know what the people of the empire call you? The Flower of Justice.¡±


    He knew?


    She had thought that as the imperial emperor, he wouldn¡¯t care about such trivial matters, let alone a common proposal, but Cassius mentioned it accurately. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In some rumors within the empire, this His Majesty Cassius was said to be in constant slumber.


    Had he been secretly watching her all along?


    For some reason, Olivia felt a bit elated, and an imperceptible satisfaction appeared on her pretty face, making it blush slightly.


    Cassius tilted his head and asked, ¡°So¡­ you came to the royal palace just for this matter?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Olivia nodded lightly, but after hesitating for a moment, she continued, ¡°But that¡¯s not the only reason.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Then tell me about the proposal first.¡±


    Cassius lightly waved his claw, and the documents in Olivia¡¯s arms floated up, with flames projecting the text.


    Lines of elegant small characters hovered in mid-air, neatly arranged.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Olivia¡¯s eyes widened immediately, a look of surprise flashing in her pupils.


    Such delicate control of fire elements, molded at will; as a mage, she had never seen anything like it in her life.


    Even the legendary mage Trafalgar of the Arcane Priory did not possess such powerful elemental control.


    In a matter of moments, Cassius finished perusing the proposal.


    He shook his head with a smile and said, ¡°Not a bad proposal, but it¡¯s a bit too idealistic, making it difficult to put into practice.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Olivia felt a bit unconvinced.


    ¡°You must have read those scholars¡¯ ¡®social security theory,¡¯ right?¡±


    Cassius had also read this book by Guges Golov, a well-known scholar within the empire, which incorporated many modern social science theories brought by players.


    Olivia replied, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a good book with valuable insights.¡±


    Cassius said, ¡°He does have a point, but have you ever considered that such high welfare could send a wrong signal to people: that effort and lack thereof might be the same?¡±


    ¡°Over-application will lead to obvious drawbacks: one, it can lead to rent-seeking behavior, and two, it distorts market signals¡­¡±


    ¡°The empire is a rapidly developing nation; for it, production enthusiasm is crucial. Your unrealistic proposals will only dampen people¡¯s enthusiasm¡­¡±

 Chapter 495 - 495 410 Cassiuss Persuasion_2

    ?Chapter 495: Chapter 410 Cassius¡¯s Persuasion_2 Chapter 495: Chapter 410 Cassius¡¯s Persuasion_2 Cassius explained in great detail.


    In his eyes, compared to the hopeless White Dragon, this Silver Dragon from Melwood seemed more suitable to become a ruler.


    In Cassius¡¯s plan, with the expansion of territory and the increase of the races under his command, the Ashen Empire should not become an evil faction but rather a diverse empire that embraces all.


    Pure goodness or evil was insufficient to describe this complex nation.


    And the Silver Dragon was undoubtedly an excellent banner representing the ¡°Orderly Good¡± faction, which could significantly help improve the empire¡¯s image.


    At that time, maybe they could establish a two-party system: one playing the good cop, the other the bad cop, transforming this empire, built on slaughter and plunder, into a glorious and honorable ¡°Utopia.¡±


    For now, it seemed this Silver Dragon was quite easily deceived; at least, she couldn¡¯t perceive the empire¡¯s true nature. For instance, Guges, who wrote ¡°On Social Security,¡± seemed to have already seen through it.


    Olivia listened attentively, nodding repeatedly and occasionally using a spell to take notes.


    For some reason, she felt like she had returned to that night of discussion and exchange with ¡°Angel.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The figure of the knowledgeable Young Gold Dragon gradually overlapped in her mind with the imposing Red Dragon before her¡­.


    That was clearly just a false guise, yet it left a deep impression on her.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s about all for these questions.¡±


    Cassius yawned, gently shook his enormous wings, and exhaled a puff of sulfur-scented white smoke,


    ¡°Hmm, I got it. I¡¯ll make the necessary changes when I get back. I¡¯ll bring it to you another day.¡±


    Olivia nodded, picked up the documents scattered on the ground, and said earnestly,


    Cassius looked down at the silver-haired girl from above: ¡°Olivia, is there anything else you want to say?¡±


    Immediately, her gaze trembled.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Olivia clutched the documents in her hands tightly and tucked her silver hair behind her ear.


    She bowed her head in silence for a long time before slowly looking up, meeting the tepid golden eyes of the Red Dragon that were filled with an oppressive aura.


    ¡°Cassius, I think¡­ your empire shouldn¡¯t develop in this way.¡±


    Cassius was momentarily taken aback, then asked with interest: ¡°What do you mean by ¡®this way¡¯?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve always believed that you are not the kind of dragon who would trade others¡¯ lives for money.¡±


    Olivia locked eyes with Cassius, biting her lip slightly, her tone somewhat heavy.


    ¡°But my kin in the South told me that the Ashen Empire is massively dumping horrible weapons that can be used by common people onto the disintegrating Empire of Fadlan.¡±


    ¡°The mortals of Cassandra, Thrace, and the Kingdom of Seleucis are using weapons sold by the Ashen Empire to kill each other, causing terrible casualties. It is said that the entire Central Plains have been stained with blood, and the Holy City has turned into ruins.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see the empire thriving, but¡ª¡±


    Olivia bit her silver teeth lightly and paused in her speech.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see this development nourished and watered by the blood of the Fadlan People.¡±


    ¡°So, please stop, Cassius, make the empire stop selling those cruel and evil weapons. This is what I truly want to say.¡±


    Cassius immediately shook his head, laughing.


    This was indeed a textbook ¡°Silver Dragon statement.¡±


    After Olivia spoke, Cassius could almost guess what she was going to say next¡ªmuch like the last time she begged him to stop conquering the North.


    Despite her considerable experience, this Silver Dragon was still naive and full of fantasies, like most of her kin.


    She always thought words could change others, yet failed to realize she was the one being changed more deeply.


    Cassius did not respond directly, but under Olivia¡¯s gaze, he extended a claw.


    ¡°Shh¡ª¡ª¡±


    The invisible force field controlled a knife from the weapon rack, making it fly from a distance and hover before the Red Dragon, the blade gleaming with a cold light.


    Cassius asked with a smile: ¡°Do you think this knife is evil?¡±


    Olivia frowned slightly and gently shook her head.


    She sensed a familiar pattern; it seemed this Red Dragon was about to use smooth talk to persuade her again.


    ¡°Then, what if I told you this knife was owned by a brutal bandit who used it to kill over a hundred innocent commoners?¡±


    Olivia pondered for a moment, and then somewhat uncertainly replied: ¡°Then¡­ it would be evil?¡±


    Cassius shook his tail, denying: ¡°No, the knife itself is not wrong. It¡¯s always the person wielding the knife who is at fault.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Olivia fell silent once again.


    It seemed like¡­ what he said made a lot of sense.


    Cassius continued: ¡°Just like the war in the Empire of Fadlan¡ªyou got one thing wrong. It wasn¡¯t our selling of weapons that caused the war to break out, but rather the war broke out, leading us to sell weapons.¡±


    ¡°Even without my involvement, the three princes would still fight for the position of Fadlan Emperor, causing countless innocent civilian casualties.¡±


    Saying this, the Red Dragon sighed rather ¡°sincerely.¡±


    ¡°I deeply regret this, but since the war is inevitable, why not take the opportunity to earn some gold coins and improve the lives of the imperial citizens?¡±


    ¡°As you can see, over these years, the thriving military industry has brought numerous job opportunities and a substantial income to the empire. Countless imperial citizens have been saved from hunger because of the military industry¡¯s development.¡±


    ¡°As the emperor of the Ashen Empire, I am powerless to stop the war in Fadlan, but I do have the ability to address the subsistence of the imperial people.¡±

 Chapter 496 - 496 410 Cassius Persuasion_3

    ?Chapter 496: Chapter 410: Cassius¡¯ Persuasion_3 Chapter 496: Chapter 410: Cassius¡¯ Persuasion_3 Finally, Cassius concluded in a calm tone:


    ¡°So, weapons are innocent, it is the one pulling the trigger who is guilty. War is sinful, but selling weapons is a first-class good deed!¡±


    As he said this, Cassius remained placid and self-satisfied, quietly watching the word [Smooth Talker+1] appear on the panel.


    His face was already red, so no matter how much he lied, it couldn¡¯t get any redder.


    Moreover, to some extent, he didn¡¯t lie.


    Although the act of profiting massively from selling weapons to both sides of a conflict was forcefully spun as a benevolent act for the sake of the Empire¡¯s people.


    However, if one could see through the phenomena to the essence, they would discover the Empire¡¯s ¡°sinful¡± capital accumulation.


    Olivia fell into silence again, she pondered on how to identify the loopholes in the other¡¯s words, but couldn¡¯t come up with a strategy for the longest time.


    After a while, she managed to blurt out a sentence with a flushed face: ¡°You¡¯re sophistical.¡±


    But she seemed to have no other reason.


    This Red Dragon was always like this, easily countering her doubts every time, even convincing her.


    And she herself seemed to be gradually changing because of him¡­


    Cassius spread his claws in a somewhat ¡°helpless¡± manner and said: ¡°When the Empire¡¯s researchers first created these weapons, it was solely to guard against external enemies and to protect national security.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s sinful about that?¡±


    ¡°But¡­.¡±


    Olivia was at a loss for words, looking at Cassius¡¯s half-smiling eyes, she secretly vowed: ¡°I will persuade you.¡±


    Cassius slowly stood up from the throne, looking down at Olivia.


    ¡°Human wars are very complicated, they cannot be simply categorized as good or evil, and it is not something you Silver Dragons should be involved in.¡±


    ¡°I believe your Elders have also warned you not to meddle in human disputes.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    Olivia lowered her eyes and responded softly.


    Cassius¡¯s expression suddenly became a bit serious: ¡°There is indeed one matter that requires your help.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Olivia was somewhat curious.


    This Red Dragon always seemed omnipotent, even daring to refuse the invitation of deities, and now he needed her help?


    Cassius spoke in a heavy tone: ¡°A year from now, abyssal demons will invade the Anzeta Great Wilderness and launch a full-scale attack on the Empire, we hope to get the assistance of the Melwood Clan.¡±


    Actually, the Empire had the capability to independently handle the demon invasion, but for Cassius, this was a good opportunity to build bridges with the good alignment and improve the Empire¡¯s image.


    And Olivia, as a potential Imperial Councillor, could perhaps serve as that bridge. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Abyssal invasion?¡±


    Olivia¡¯s expression suddenly turned extremely grave.


    The last abyssal invasion occurred four hundred years ago, when the ¡°Undead Lord¡± Orcas led his undead and demon legions into the Prime Material Plane, causing a world-sweeping scourge, leaving the Fianso Continent in ruins.


    The Amanata Church, Moon God Church, Fadlan Kingdom, Silver Dragon Clan, Harpist Alliance, and other forces of the good alignment united, sacrificing countless lives of righteous people to end the catastrophe.


    Cassius paused for a moment: ¡°I just don¡¯t know¡­ about your grandfather?¡±


    Olivia knew that Cassius was referring to Osedro¡¯s defeat and severe injury, which was a shame for the entire Melwood.


    Moreover, in the eyes of many Silver Dragons, the reputation of Cassius, this Variant Dragon, was far from good.


    ¡°Although my grandfather is a bit stubborn, he will never go wrong in matters concerning world order.¡±


    Olivia responded seriously after a brief hesitation.


    ¡°If the situation is true, I will return to the Melwood Clan and have them reach out to various forces, providing necessary support to fight against the demons.¡±


    Cassius nodded slightly: ¡°Good, then I will await your good news.¡±


    To him, this was the best part of the good alignment.


    When facing truly evil enemies, he could enlist them as free combatants without much cost.


    Thus, pure goodness and evil were extremely unprofitable.


    The Empire could only gain the greatest benefit by continuously shifting and maneuvering on the blurred line between good and evil.


    Cassius knew this well.


    ¡ª¡ªPlease Vote Monthly¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 497 - 497 411 Empire Duel Tournament

    ?Chapter 497: Chapter 411: Empire Duel Tournament Chapter 497: Chapter 411: Empire Duel Tournament ¡°Cassius, please wait for my good news.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The silver dragon spread its wings and soared into the sky, its streamlined body particularly graceful, and its silver wings glistened faintly in the sunlight.


    ¡°Finally managed to bluff her.¡±


    ¡°Next, I¡¯ll wait for assistance from the good alignment. I believe that old fellow Osedro still has some good left in him.¡±


    Watching the departing silver dragon, Cassius nodded lightly, then glanced at the panel displaying new information again.


    [The overall strength level of the NPC faction [Ashen Empire] you created has reached: 3]


    [Unlocked new panel: Faction Activities]


    This did not come as a surprise to Cassius. A level 3 faction was already notable on the Fianso Continent.


    Keep in mind, the once-powerful Holy Fadlan was only a level 5 faction according to the system¡¯s evaluation.


    After a year of development, the empire had achieved significant progress in politics, economics, and even culture.


    The Matra Grand Farm was now fully operational, supplying food nationwide, the empire¡¯s military-industrial system was initially established and thriving, and the parliamentary system was gradually becoming a norm, with the political system becoming more complete.


    The advancements in productivity, the affluence of the people¡¯s lives, and the influence of the players brought about rapid social and cultural development, giving rise to numerous new trends of thought.


    A spirit of confidence and valor spread across the nation.


    In just a few short years, the once remote and barren land of the Anzeta Great Wilderness saw its people reach the peak of both material and spiritual prosperity.


    Despite the fact that this prosperity was built on the sweat of countless workers and the blood and tears of the southern people, it was all hidden beneath the empire¡¯s glamorous exterior.


    ¡°The faction activities are here too.¡±


    Cassius revealed a smile.


    Faction activities would allow him to secure a place on the player panel, fully integrating the empire¡¯s activities into the players¡¯ lives.


    After the 2.0 version launched, faction activities would attract more players, making the Ashen Empire the ¡°main faction¡± in the minds of more players.


    It¡¯s important to note that the next version would unlock many ancient teleportation circles¡ªalso known as ¡°respawn points.¡±


    Currently, the Ashen Empire could rely on its home-field advantage to attract almost all the players.


    But in the next version, that might not be the case: the Elf Kingdom of the Supreme Forest, the Free Trade Federation of Silvermoon Bay, the three great kingdoms of Fadlan in war, the Orc Tribes of the Rossa Desert, all would become extremely attractive starting points.


    Cassius reminisced about the various key moments in his memory.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s the Third Era, May 2, 1789, two months until the end of the Northern Wind and Cloud version, and the first server shutdown since the public beta.¡±


    ¡°So, let the Ashen Empire host the first large-scale server-wide official PvP event.¡±


    In Cassius¡¯ past life plan, the first large-scale server-wide PvP event was originally in the [Kings¡¯ Strife] version, hosted by dozens of powerful guilds combined.


    But now, this grand event would be moved up.


    This was Cassius¡¯ plan¡ªto organize a large-scale PvP event before the server shutdown, fully extracting the last bit of experience and gold coins from the players during the final moments of the [Northern Wind and Cloud] version.


    At the same time, this would affirm the Ashen Empire¡¯s status as the ¡°official faction,¡± attracting even more players in the future.


    Two years ago, Cassius personally proposed the ¡°Imperial Grand Colosseum¡± project, leading to the construction of this magnificent building in Isdalia, all for this day¡¯s arrival.


    About three months ago, Cassius had handed this task over to Ramp for preparation, and now everything was almost ready, just awaiting the official announcement.


    ¡°Everything is ready except for the final push.¡±


    Cassius once again summoned the panel, exhaling a thin stream of white smoke, the golden vertical pupils flashing with light.


    [Do you wish to release the large-scale faction activity to players?]


    [Yes.]


    [Please name this faction activity.]


    Cassius pondered for a moment, unable to think of an appealing name, and resorted to a perfunctory title using ¡°Empire¡±¡ªjust like when he named the Imperial Grand Colosseum.


    [Named as: [First Ashen Empire Gladiator Tournament]]


    [Faction activity released!]


    ¡­


    On the Third Era, May 3, 1789, nearly 400,000 ¡°Airez¡± players simultaneously received the faction activity notification.


    This announcement ignited everyone¡¯s enthusiasm.


    Players were thrilled!


    Suddenly, posts about the ¡°Empire Gladiator Tournament¡± flooded the forums, and soon almost everyone was discussing this upcoming grand event.


    ¡°Holy crap?¡±


    ¡°The rewards are so generous! There are even titles and costumes!¡±


    ¡°Is the official actually being generous for once?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m definitely participating!¡±


    ¡°I wanted to stay low-key, be a casual player, but now I have to reveal my top-tier mastery!¡±


    ¡°Yeah right, it¡¯s just a toy for the powerful families and professional bigshots; we commoners will just watch for fun.¡±


    ¡°Is this the final major event of this version?¡±


    The reason was simple: the rewards for this competition were exceptionally generous and unprecedented.


    For example, the player who won the individual championship not only would receive substantial gold coin and experience rewards but also would obtain the special [Dragonflame Champion] title and outfit.


    [Dragonflame Champion] would turn the player¡¯s nickname golden-red, while also providing a precious point of charisma.


    And the outfit was even more eye-catching, with a luxurious gold-plated exterior, intricate claw and fang carvings, a domineering wyvern-head shoulder guard, and even a pair of gently flapping flame wings on the back.


    It was a visual spectacle!

 Chapter 498 - 498 411 - Empire Duel Tournament_2

    ?Chapter 498: Chapter 411 ¨C Empire Duel Tournament_2 Chapter 498: Chapter 411 ¨C Empire Duel Tournament_2 It could be said that it completely fulfilled the fantasies of all the wealthy players.


    In fact, this was just an equipment casually crafted by Cassius using his immense control over the fire element, barely reaching rare quality.


    Cassius could produce seven or eight pieces of such equipment in a day, but to ensure its rarity, only one was released.


    The equipment prepared for the top four and top eight players, including spirit robes and armor, were mere by-products of Cassius¡¯s element experiments, originally meant to be discarded as trash.


    The equipment¡¯s effects weren¡¯t particularly strong, but their appearance was indeed top-notch.


    There were also revelations from supposed mid-level officials of the Empire who participated in the preparation for the competition.


    Indeed, this time, the competition was not only prepared by the Empire¡¯s officials but also involved various player guilds and clubs, who even issued a joint statement.


    ¡°The first Ashen Empire¡¯s Gladiator Tournament has officially begun! This is a grand event for players! This is Erezer¡¯s biggest stage!¡±


    ¡°Blades, fists, magic, beasts, you can use dazzling techniques and engage in exhilarating battles, bringing the ultimate visual and auditory experiences to this grand event!¡±


    ¡°Faction Leader [Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor ¨C Cassius] will personally attend the elimination rounds, witnessing your performances and granting lavish rewards and supreme glory to the ultimate winner!¡±


    Once the statement was issued, the players erupted with excitement again.


    In the past two years, Cassius rarely made public appearances, spending most of his time in the royal palace.


    In the players¡¯ minds, compared to ordinary NPCs, the emperor had become more like a ¡°background character,¡± an omnipotent figure in legend.


    Many Dragonsworn Holy Warrior players even used ¡°Cassius bless¡± as a catchphrase¡ªbecause, according to tests conducted by several top players, this did indeed increase the success rate of Holy Oath Magic.


    Every time Cassius appeared, veteran players knew¡ªa cutscene was about to start, and the Red Dragon, practically an exclusive cheat for the Ashen Empire faction, would mercilessly destroy the enemies upon each appearance.


    And to receive the emperor¡¯s personal recognition was akin to a ¡°mythical figure stepping into reality.¡±


    How could one not be excited?


    And members of special guilds like the ¡°Dragon Enthusiasts Club¡± and ¡°His Majesty Cassius¡¯s Support Club¡± were even more ecstatic, for reasons that went without saying.


    They were hungry for His Majesty¡¯s body!


    The [Empire Gladiator Tournament]¡¯s competition format was relatively simple and easy to understand. Due to time constraints and imminent server shutdown, there were no seasonal matches or point competitions.


    The competition types were divided into three: individual matches, team matches, and guild matches.


    Individual matches involved two players dueling in a designated arena, where surrendering or being killed meant defeat.


    Team matches featured classic four-member squads battling, with surrender or annihilation of one team considered a loss.


    Guild matches, with the largest number of participants, allowed up to fifty members per guild fighting in a designated battlefield. Similarly, surrender or annihilation signified a loss.


    Given the tight schedule, there were only two stages: the group stage and the elimination stage.


    In the group stage, registered players or teams were placed into different groups to compete against each other. Victories earned 3 points, draws 1 point, and losses 0 points. The top rankers in points advanced to the elimination stage.


    In the elimination stage, it was a brutal slaughter from the top hundred to the final battle, where the victors advanced, and the losers were eliminated¡ªuntil the ultimate winner was determined.


    This, also being the last major event before the end of the [Northern Wind and Cloud] version, had nearly all players coveting the champion¡¯s throne.


    Of course, some professional gamers and strategy masters received support from their fans, which led to various battle strength speculation posts on the forums.


    The most heatedly discussed thread was [Who Will Be the Individual Match Champion?], with thousands of replies and counting, featuring a complex mix of commenters.


    ¡°S surely will be the champion!¡±


    ¡°Enough with the dog fans, this is a professional league. He¡¯s just a scattered individual, with no resources, and his skills are just so-so, what storm could he stir?¡±


    ¡°I still favor the Tyrant. The Royal Guild is too wealthy.¡±


    ¡°Who could compare with the Mechanical God Cult in wealth? Who knows how advanced their tech tree is now? It¡¯s said their top players have even created power armor. They might throw out a canister that scares you to death!¡±


    ¡°Does Charlotte not qualify? A well-prepared mage¡¯s PvP strength is quite high, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s very unlucky.¡±


    ¡°My wife, Summer Night Autumn Rain, is number one in the world!¡±


    ¡°This is the gladiator tournament, not a beauty contest. Take your face fans elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, I have something to say. I think Swashbuckler has the strongest raw power and is most likely to win the championship.¡±


    ¡°Swashbuckler, log in with your main account.¡±


    ¡°Gross, Swashbuckler is using his subordinates¡¯ accounts to comment again.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    ¡°Setting aside personal character, the Northern Wind and Cloud is such a standout team that they also have a chance at the championship.¡±


    ¡°What about Mantou? Nobody mentioned Mantou?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re incompetent, just practice more.¡±


    ¡°Old Mantou should go back to updating his videos. He¡¯s not suited for this kind of event.¡±


    ¡°War Maniac Bro is invincible! He¡¯ll chop everyone down!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about the competition, I just want to touch His Majesty Cassius¡¯s tail, hehehe¡­ qwq His Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°What creature is this upstairs?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? It¡¯s those perverts who like posting lewd dragon pictures.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°In the original history, the first pvp event¡¯s champion was the president of the Royal Guild. I wonder what changes will occur now?¡±


    Browsing the heated forum, Cassius intentionally ignored a few weird comments and thought to himself.


    ¡­


    ¡°Xin Dog, I won¡¯t lose! The title of Dragonflame Champion is mine!¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the tavern, Mantou slammed the table and declared fiercely.


    Everyone around immediately looked at him with eyes as if watching a lunatic, making Mantou hunch his shoulders.


    ¡°Howl¡ª¡ª¡±


    Outside the tavern, Noodle, tied to the pillar, seemed to sense his master¡¯s agitation and let out a cry.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Xingou didn¡¯t even lift his head, merely flipping through the papers in his hands while giving a perfunctory response.


    Seeing that the other party didn¡¯t respond to his challenge, Mantou felt like he had punched cotton, feeling particularly frustrated.


    Mantou¡¯s grand ambitions deflated like air from a punctured balloon.


    He stepped forward and asked: ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Xingou continued flipping through the pages, answering casually: ¡°Researching opponents in advance, making complete preparations, but only looking at the stronger players.¡±


    Mantou curiously peered over and saw familiar names written on those papers: Charlotte, Tyrant, Steel Torrent, Mighty Heavenly Dragon, Rain City¡­


    Behind those names were detailed notes on their various occupational abilities, equipment attributes, weakness analysis, clearly the result of considerable effort.


    ¡°Wow, so detailed. Did you make this just now?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ve been collecting information on various players for the past two months. Didn¡¯t you receive any insider information? Oh right, you¡¯re not a mid-level official, so you don¡¯t have access.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Mantou fell silent.


    After a moment, he asked somewhat hopefully: ¡°What about me?¡±


    ¡°Did you collect my information too? Let me see! I didn¡¯t expect that as allies, living and working together, you would steal my intel, really¡­.¡±


    Xingou finally raised his head, giving him a strange look, and calmly said: ¡°I told you, I only collect valuable information.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    Mantou awkwardly laughed and turned his head: ¡°War Maniac Bro, you¡¯re participating too, right.¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his polished bald head and chuckled: ¡°Of course, this kind of event is my specialty; I might end up chopping down Xingou.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t hold back. If we meet, I¡¯ll split you in half.¡±


    Mantou glanced at the blood-stained great axe in his hand, then at his smiling face, and couldn¡¯t help but gulp.


    He spoke the most savage words with the most innocent smile; perhaps this was War Maniac Bro¡¯s unique charm.


    ¡°Autumn Rain Sister is still the most gentle¡ª¡ª¡±


    Mantou looked toward Summer Night Autumn Rain.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s exquisite face showed a gentle smile.


    But immediately, with the sound of the air tearing, violent flames erupted uncontrollably from those golden eyes.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Another bout of silence.


    Mantou felt his path in the competition might be getting rough.


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 Chapter 499 - 499 412 Preliminary Contest

    ?Chapter 499: Chapter 412: Preliminary Contest Chapter 499: Chapter 412: Preliminary Contest ¡°Make way, make way, if you¡¯re not signing up, don¡¯t block the way!¡±


    ¡°Maintain order, queue up for registration!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re entering the preselection too? No way, I thought you were a life-game player?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, just pretending to be weak¡ªthis time, I have to reveal my true identity.¡±


    ¡°Just experiencing it, who knows, maybe I¡¯ll get matched with a big shot. If I get matched with Autumn Rain, haha, even if I¡¯m burned to death, it¡¯s worth it!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°I just want to get matched with Rogue Beast and settle an old score.¡±


    In front of the Isdalia registration point, it was a sea of people, bustling with excitement, tens of thousands of players lining up in a long queue.


    The preselection registration was in full swing. The entry fee wasn¡¯t expensive, only fifty Silvernars and 100 experience points, affordable even for new players. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Currently, ¡°Erezer¡± had 400,000 players, and 100,000 of them eagerly participated in this event, bringing the Empire a revenue of 50,000 Ginnars and a million experience points.


    ¡°These Starfallen are really crazy.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t they just!¡±


    ¡°After all, the Starfallen can¡¯t die. Let them slaughter each other; we can just enjoy the show.¡±


    ¡°I heard that Dragonblood Nobility is participating this time.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Then I have to watch carefully! Let¡¯s see what these lunatics can do!¡±


    ¡°Haha, wonder if they¡¯ll be thrilling enough!¡±


    At the ¡°Blood and Fire¡± tavern beside the Isdalia Coliseum, a group of burly men looked at the distant queue, raised their mugs, and drank heartily.


    They were all gladiatorial enthusiasts of the Empire.


    The Empire released a large number of preselection and elimination round tickets, allowing non-player Imperial citizens to participate in this grand event.


    The Isdalia Grand Coliseum had always been hosting gladiatorial matches, and after years of development, it had gained a fixed audience.


    The gladiators were mainly composed of specially trained war prisoners and death row inmates. They wielded shields and short swords, battling in the arena, even fighting fierce beasts like lions and brown bears, to entertain the audience.


    For the Imperial people, watching gladiatorial matches was a ¡°noble¡± form of entertainment. After the North¡¯s unification war, many gladiators were former Northern Nobles and officers.


    Seeing the once arrogant and high-standing Nobles fighting for survival was a delight for many former low-status Imperial citizens from the old North.


    Some would even buy participation slots, signing life and death agreements, becoming so-called ¡°Free Gladiators.¡±


    And now, the tickets for this grand gladiatorial tournament also caused a frenzy among Empire¡¯s gladiatorial fans, with prices being speculated to sky-high.


    People knew the strength of these Starfallen well and eagerly anticipated their various tactics.


    The preselection itself was not held in the Isdalia Grand Coliseum but spread across 154 ordinary arenas throughout the Ashen Empire for seven days.


    A thousand players who passed the preselection would enter the final elimination round, showcasing their skills at the Isdalia Grand Coliseum, a dream opportunity for many players.


    In the crowded queue, a player who was almost at the registration desk trembled with excitement.


    ¡°From six in the morning until now, it¡¯s finally my turn¡­.¡±


    The nickname above the player¡¯s head was [Chaotic Life]. He was a warrior player, following the Champion Warrior path, and had consumed a Dragon Vein Elixir, though the concentration wasn¡¯t high.


    Chaotic Life was not a beta tester nor had he joined any Noble Club.


    But with the spirit of a Liver Emperor, eating three meals a day inside the gaming pod, doing dozens of tasks daily, he had grinded hard to reach the level cap for this version¡ªlevel 8.


    His dream was to stand out in the tournament and be noticed by those powerful families, becoming a true Professional Gamer.


    Have you seen the Hill Giant Canyon at two in the morning? Have you seen the Hazy Hills at four in the morning?


    Chaotic Life had seen it all! And he had grinded tasks there!


    He lowered his head, covering his eyes, trembling all over:


    ¡°Ha ha ha, after countless trials and battles, it¡¯s finally my moment to shine! All you experts, bring it on¡ª¡±


    ¡°What the heck is wrong with you?¡±


    Impatient voices came from behind, abruptly cutting Chaotic Life¡¯s heartfelt monologue short.


    ¡°Hurry up, don¡¯t block the way.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, there are thousands more people waiting, you¡¯re wasting everyone¡¯s time.¡±


    ¡°Hey buddy, have you been reading too many novels?¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Chaotic Life put down his hands from his face, adjusted his mood, and sheepishly walked forward.


    ¡°I want to sign up for the preselection.¡±


    He handed over fifty Silvernars and clicked on the panel¡¯s ¡°Agree to submit 100xp¡± button.


    The Empire¡¯s Serpentfolk receptionist still displayed a gentle smile as always, took the coins, quickly counted them, and retrieved a bronze medal from the counter.


    ¡°Okay, here¡¯s your tournament token, please keep it safe.¡±


    ¡°Contestant number 22054, please head to the First Competition Zone located in the southwestern suburbs of Isdalia for your match.¡±


    Chaotic Life received the bronze medal like a treasure, his earlier slight displeasure from being interrupted vanished, and he became excited again.


    ¡°It¡¯s the First Competition Zone!¡±


    ¡°22054, 22054, the more I say it, the better it sounds! I knew I was destined!¡±


    ¡°Move along.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve finished registering, why are you still blocking the way?¡±


    Impatient voices from the players behind him echoed again.


    This time, Chaotic Life didn¡¯t argue but turned and walked away, a determined glint in his eyes.

 Chapter 500 - 500 412 preliminaries_2

    ?Chapter 500: Chapter 412 preliminaries_2 Chapter 500: Chapter 412 preliminaries_2 ¡°Hmph, you all are witnessing the birth of a legend!¡±


    ¡°Thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west bank, never look down on a poor youth!¡±


    ¡°I had gone through unimaginable hardships, poured in countless sweat and energy.¡±


    ¡°And my professional legendary career, Chaotic Life, starts now, from this preliminary match!¡±


    ¡­


    On the way to the preliminary venue, several familiar players walked towards him.


    ¡°Whoa, isn¡¯t that the Emperor of Persistence?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, he has come as well!¡±


    ¡°Chaotic Life! The guy who grinded three days and nights non-stop and hospitalized himself!¡±


    Hearing their ¡°praises,¡± Chaotic Life remained silent, trying hard to maintain his stoic master demeanor. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he couldn¡¯t help himself and said, ¡°Oh? You guys are also here for the competition? Maybe we¡¯ll face off later.¡±


    If the opponents were them, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t need to exert much effort to enter the elimination round.


    Chaotic Life thus thought.


    The players shook their heads, the one at the front with the ID [AAA Building Materials King] said: ¡°We are all novice players from the Empire era, nowhere as dedicated as you. We won¡¯t embarrass ourselves.¡±


    Chaotic Life asked curiously: ¡°Then why are you going to the preliminary venue?¡±


    Building Materials King laughed heartily, saying, ¡°To watch! Today the First Competition Zone has a lot of celebrity players!¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­¡±


    His voice paused, his tone a bit subtle.


    ¡°Chaos, you¡¯re not competing today too, are you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Chaotic Life nodded, then said firmly, ¡°No matter what experts are on the other side, I just meet force with force and water with soil.¡±


    ¡°Ah, alright then, I wish you success in advancing.¡±


    Building Materials King scratched his head, watching Chaotic Life¡¯s imposing figure walk away, his face showing a look of pity.


    After the opponent walked away, the player next to him whispered, ¡°King, do you think the Emperor of Persistence can advance?¡±


    ¡°His dedication level is unmatched on the server, even though he started late, he should at least make it to the elimination round, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, otherwise, why would he be called the Emperor of Persistence? The last time I saw him was in the ancient ruins; he stayed there for a month.¡±


    ¡°Although a bit delusional, Chaos has strong actual strength.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Champion Warrior is a good occupation among warriors.¡±


    The players buzzed with conversation.


    Unexpectedly, Building Materials King shook his head regretfully and said firmly, ¡°He won¡¯t advance.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Even the Emperor of Persistence can¡¯t advance? That¡¯s absurd.¡±


    Building Materials King looked at the distant Grand Colosseum with a solemn expression and said, ¡°Chaos is indeed not weak, but what awaits him ahead¡­ is Hell!¡±


    A promotional flyer for the preliminary match floated down from the air, with words and pictures still extra clear.


    ¡°Empire¡¯s Glory, Heroes Compete! The First Competition Zone, officially open!¡±


    ¡°Today¡¯s star players: Steel Torrent, Mighty Heavenly Dragon, I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou¡­¡±


    ¡­


    The First Competition Zone was a circular theater consisting of three tiers of arcades, with outer walls up to thirty meters high, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people, giving a grand impression.


    This was a smaller-scaled replica of the Isdalia Grand Coliseum.


    At this moment, the venue was already abuzz, with rows upon rows of seats fully occupied. Players cheered loudly, with many Imperial natives also watching and shouting.


    Bells rang incessantly, and colorful fireworks bloomed in the sky above the venue.


    ¡°Flesh is weak, Mechanical Ascension!¡±


    ¡°Go, Crazy Brother! For Omnisiah!¡±


    ¡°Mighty Heavenly Dragon! The hope of Martial Monks, crush them all!¡±


    ¡°Will Mantou win? Mantou will definitely win, just don¡¯t lose in the first round!¡±


    Even just for the preliminaries, the atmosphere was this heated, with many celebrities among today¡¯s competitors, tickets had been resold at three times the original price.


    ¡°Is this a real match? So many people!¡±


    ¡°And this, is the start of my undefeated legend! The beginning of my career!¡±


    Looking at the cheering crowd, Chaotic Life felt a surge of emotions, secretly vowing in his heart: ¡°One day, I¡¯ll make them all shout my name, cheering for me!¡±


    He calmed himself a bit, applying ¡°Oil of Sharpness¡± and ¡°Oil of Precision¡± to his longsword.


    This relatively rare quality [Winter Sword] could inflict some cold damage, almost a divine artifact for commoners.


    Chaotic Life had found this equipment in a nobles¡¯ tomb, killing many undead to get it from a coffin.


    He looked at his wrist, where was a [Misty Bracelet], capable of casting the Second Tier Spell [Misty Step], a particularly strong item for warriors.


    Working as a slave for a whole month in a northern half-orc tribe, he finally found an opportunity, stealing it when the overseer was lax.


    Then, the [Bow of Flying Feathers] on his back was obtained by slaying several Anzeta Giant Eagles.


    ¡°All these were earned step by step, through countless hardships!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to show people the strength of a warrior!¡±


    As a warrior from the [Champion Warrior] branch, he focused on developing pure physical abilities, honing them to perfection, capable of executing continuous heavy strikes with ¡°Actions Like Tides.¡±


    Adding the cold damage from [Winter Sword] and the mobility from [Misty Bracelet], he believed no one could beat him.


    Chaotic Life¡¯s tactics were simple: use Misty Step to get close, then execute continuous heavy strikes to end the enemy.


    The simpler the tactic, the more effective it was.


    He had once used this method to kill a mage from the North like slicing through vegetables on the battlefield.


    Thinking of this, Chaotic Life¡¯s expression grew more confident, he slowly closed his eyes, recalling every moment of his journey in ¡°Erezer.¡±


    ¡°Number 22054, Chaotic Life.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°I seem to remember this name, isn¡¯t it the idiot who hospitalized himself from nonstop grinding?¡±


    ¡°Haha, when you say that, I remember too.¡±


    The announcer¡¯s voice echoed in the venue, and discussions rose among the audience.


    ¡°Is it finally my turn?¡±


    Chaotic Life finally opened his eyes slowly, a glint seemed to flash in his pupils.


    It was finally his turn, soon, those mockeries and curses would turn to dust under absolute strength.


    Suddenly, the arena erupted in a wave of cheers.


    ¡°He¡¯s here!¡±


    ¡°Whoa, so cool!¡±


    Chaotic Life was first stunned, then frowned slightly.


    Could it be they were cheering for me?


    No, I haven¡¯t even competed yet, my fame shouldn¡¯t have spread this wide yet.


    So¡­


    They were cheering for my opponent?


    Could my opponent this time be some famous professional gamer?


    Good, then let him be my first defeated enemy, the best starting point of my career! Let those pretentious guys witness true strength!


    Chaotic Life sneered and couldn¡¯t help but look towards the arena, at his soon-to-be defeated enemy.


    The next moment, his mouth fell open.


    ¡°What the hell¡­¡±


    ¡°Number 00003, Steel Torrent!¡±


    Immediately, the entire venue seemed to explode, boiling over, especially those Mechanical God Cult members who came to watch, their faces flushing with excitement.


    ¡°Crazy Brother!¡±


    ¡°Flesh is weak, Mechanical Ascension!¡±


    ¡°Ring the bell three times! Sing in unison, praise the God of Thousands Machines!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The ground of the arena trembled slightly, dust flying up.


    A tall and imposing humanoid armor stood on the ground, reflecting a metallic sheen, casting a huge shadow under the sunlight.


    The Arcane Lightning Elemental Cannon on its left arm emitted a blinding flash, while its Force Field Shield on the right arm was like a city wall.


    ¡°Hahahaha!¡±


    ¡°In the holy name of binary code¡ª¡ªthis time, the champion is ours, Mechanical God Cult!¡±


    The half-dragon, half-human Steel Torrent was in the transparent cockpit, waving to the crowd with a manic smile.


    As he pushed the joystick, smoke billowed from the back of the armor, roaring loudly.


    The poor Chaotic Life was still standing there, mouth wide open.


    After a long time, he finally snapped out of it, wailing without tears.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    The previous tactical plans, stamina allocation, and opponent analysis were all shattered at this moment by his opponent.


    That Gundam-like Arcane Armor exuded a sense of money and technology, entirely not in the same league as him.


    Chaotic Life let out a sorrowful wail: ¡°How the hell am I supposed to fight this¨C¡±

 Chapter 501 - 501 413 Disparate Battle

    ?Chapter 501: Chapter 413: Disparate Battle Chapter 501: Chapter 413: Disparate Battle The stands were filled with the enthusiastic cheers and shouts of the players.


    ¡°Crazy Brother, charge!¡±


    ¡°For the Ohm Messiah!¡±


    The name ¡°Steel Torrent¡± echoed throughout the battlefield, while the supporters of Chaotic Life were few and far between, limited to a small group of acquaintances.


    In the stands, Building Materials King was teary-eyed, whispering softly: ¡°Come on, Fleeting Life, you¡¯re the last hope for commoner players.¡±


    ¡°Emperor of Persistence, hang in there!¡±


    ¡°Brother Fleeting Life!¡±


    The little brothers behind Building Materials King also cheered softly.


    ¡°Players, please take your positions.¡±


    A pleasing voice from the commentator echoed above the arena.


    This commentator was also a popular player, known for her voice and looks among the player community. Her nickname was ¡°Red Maple.¡±


    ¡°You can see, the crowd is particularly excited.¡±


    ¡°No wonder, on the red side we have the president of the Mechanical God Cult, a well-known professional player ¨C Steel Torrent. As the first Mechanic Mage player, Steel Torrent¡¯s strength was immensely powerful. The Guardian Armor he created was a perfect piece of equipment, a flawless blend of technology and magic, featuring a Force Field Shield, Elemental Lightning Cannon¡­¡±


    ¡°Steel Torrent!¡±


    ¡°Flesh is weak, Mechanical Ascension!¡±


    The players in the stands erupted in another round of cheers.


    ¡°Haha, it seems Steel Torrent is very popular.¡±


    ¡°And our blue side player, Chaotic Life¡­¡±


    Red Maple faltered.


    She looked down at the almost blank sheet with just a few lines of information, organized her words for a moment, and continued, ¡°is also a Level Eight player.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s worth noting that Chaotic Life entered the game during the Northern War and has now reached the level cap. He is indeed a determined player, and his strength should not be underestimated.¡±


    ¡°Red Maple is so gentle.¡±


    ¡°This guy is unlucky, facing such a tough opponent right out of the gate.¡±


    This time, there were fewer voices.


    Hearing the commentator¡¯s words, the corner of Chaotic Life¡¯s mouth twitched.


    At this point, he could only grit his teeth and step onto the battlefield.


    Chaotic Life walked heavily to the arena, and with the ground trembling and the sounds of ¡°boom¡± ¡°boom,¡± Steel Torrent also stepped forward in his Arcane Armor.


    A large and a small figure.


    A six-meter-tall armor stood next to an ordinary human player, creating a stark contrast, with the armor¡¯s shadow almost completely covering Chaotic Life.


    Clearly, this was an unfair match.


    Chaotic Life tried to lift his head, staring intently at the professional god in the cockpit ¨C Steel Torrent, his hand gripping his sword trembling slightly.


    Calm down.


    Don¡¯t be afraid.


    Even a professional player was not unbeatable.


    No matter how massive the iron lump in front of him seemed, it would not be invincible; there must be a weakness. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chaotic Life, you are meant to become a professional player and claim the Dragonflame Champion title ¨C how can you fall in this small qualifier?!


    With this thought, the gaze Chaotic Life directed at Steel Torrent grew even more resolute, with various tactics and strategies forming in his mind.


    This massive opponent must have low mobility.


    As long as he used Misty Step to get close, the opponent wouldn¡¯t be able to react in time.


    Then, with a sliding tackle to get behind him and a series of heavy strikes with the longsword, he could directly kill the pilot and end this match completely.


    Start the professional journey with the highly renowned Mechanic Priest!


    Make a name for himself in one fell swoop! Achieve godhood instantly!


    That¡¯s it!


    Chaotic Life¡¯s hand gripping the longsword trembled even more, but this time it was due to nervousness and excitement.


    Steel Torrent, looking down at his opponent through the tempered glass of the cockpit, scratched his head, feeling a bit puzzled.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this guy acting weird? It¡¯s giving me the creeps.¡±


    ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s hurry up and clear the qualifier. There are still a lot of projects in the guild waiting for me to coordinate. The genist and forge master in the guild are arguing over the budget again, it¡¯s so tiring.¡±


    ¡°By the way¡ª¡±


    ¡°How could I lose with Gundam riding my face?¡±


    The crowd¡¯s enthusiasm remained high; cheers and shouts continued unabated.


    The commentator¡¯s voice resonated in the venue, particularly clear.


    ¡°Contestants, get ready.¡±


    ¡°Three, two¡­¡±


    ¡°One.¡±


    ¡°The match begins.¡±


    Before the referee¡¯s words even finished, Chaotic Life took several steps back, positioning himself at a relatively safe distance.


    He observed his opponent from afar, his expression firm, his mind racing.


    He must find the opponent¡¯s flaw and aim for a one-hit kill!


    He had only one chance!


    ¡°We can see that Chaotic Life is very cautious, he chose to first create some distance.¡±


    ¡°But the official data shows that his profession branch is Champion Warrior, which primarily uses close-range heavy strikes for output. He must have his own unique strategy.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Now we see Steel Torrent opting to use the Elemental Lightning Cannon directly! For a Mechanic Mage, this might be the optimal output range!¡±


    In the cockpit, Steel Torrent pushed the lever, mumbling: ¡°Let¡¯s speedrun this match, I heard they¡¯re about to start a fight between armor and synthetic beasts¡­¡±


    The muzzle on the left arm of the Guardian Armor emitted a dazzling thunderbolt, with electric arcs dancing across the armor¡¯s surface.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A column of lightning as thick as a bowl shot out, heading straight for Chaotic Life from afar.


    ¡°He can¡¯t move now!¡±


    ¡°Now is the time!¡±


    A sudden flash of brilliance appeared in Chaotic Life¡¯s eyes. He gripped his longsword tightly, and the sliver bracelet on his wrist gleamed with light.

 Chapter 502 - 502 413 Disparate Battle_2

    ?Chapter 502: Chapter 413: Disparate Battle_2 Chapter 502: Chapter 413: Disparate Battle_2 Misty Step!


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A column of blue and white lightning struck the original location of Chaotic Life, creating a huge crater. But the spot was already empty, with only a thin silver mist left behind.


    Meanwhile, Chaotic Life appeared out of nowhere behind the armor, holding a long sword.


    ¡°Whoa!¡±


    The crowd gasped in amazement.


    The commentator was also surprised, ¡°Unexpected!¡±


    ¡°As we can see, Chaotic Life used Misty Step to move into the blind spot of Steel Torrent! Could a miracle really happen?¡±


    Chaotic Life gripped the Winter Sword tightly and charged towards Steel Torrent, sliding as he went!


    Yes, just like that!


    Use the enhanced heavy strike on the armor!


    In a flash, Chaotic Life leaped high into the air and slashed towards the back of the Arcane Armor¡ªthe location of Steel Torrent¡¯s cockpit.


    The audience held their breath, astonished.


    Could a miracle really happen?


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    A crisp sound rang out.


    Chaotic Life was knocked back violently. The long sword flew out of his hand due to the immense recoil and embedded itself in the ground.


    It turned out that a solid force field shield had appeared on the back of the Arcane Armor!


    The Arcane Armor inside was completely unharmed.


    ¡°Impossible?¡±


    Chaotic Life lay on the ground, stunned.


    The commentator was also taken aback, ¡°Chaotic Life¡¯s backstab attempt has failed!¡±


    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought Steel Torrent had a force field shield on his back too! This kind of constant spell force field protection is extremely expensive; even a small piece costs hundreds of gold coins¡­¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Steel Torrent chuckled, turning his armor around slowly, ¡°After I got ambushed and lost my gear last time, I realized that having shields all over is the way to go!¡±


    ¡°I call this¡ªthe Turtle Shell Tactic!¡±


    Chaotic Life glared at the laughing Steel Torrent, cursing inwardly, ¡°This is pure pay-to-win!¡±


    He raised his hand in indignation, pointing at Steel Torrent, ¡°Referee, he¡¯s cheating!¡±


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡±


    Steel Torrent raised a fist larger than an iron pot, with thrusters on his elbow spewing flames, charging up a terrifying amount of power.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With one punch, the ground shook, and dust filled the air.


    When the dust settled, there was a huge crater on the ground. Chaotic Life lay in it, a bloody mess, clearly already dead.


    ¡°That was unexpected!¡±


    That was his last thought before the screen went black.


    ¡°Wealth is also a form of strength!¡±


    ¡°This is how we Mechanic Mages fight!¡±


    Steel Torrent wore a broad grin as his massive Arcane Mecha raised its fist, steam puffing out from its back.


    The commentator¡¯s tone was flat, ¡°It was a crushing victory, no doubt!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate¡ªSteel Torrent on winning this round!¡±


    ¡°Ohhhhh!¡±


    ¡°Crazy Brother is invincible!¡±


    ¡°Flesh is weak; Mechanical Ascension rules!¡±


    ¡°No way, is it over? Just one punch?¡±


    ¡­


    In the gaming pod, waiting to revive, Chaotic Life scrolled through forums to see if anyone mentioned him.


    Soon, he found a video, and his face darkened¡ª¡±Mechanic Mages are the future! Steel Torrent one-punches Level Eight Warrior.¡±


    And he, Chaotic Life, was the pitiful background character.


    [Wow, that damage.]


    [Crazy Brother is still a beast.]


    [What does this have to do with being a Mechanic Mage? It¡¯s pure gear crushing. Give me that much money, and I¡¯d do even better!]


    [The other guy didn¡¯t seem that weak either, just unlucky to face a giant like Steel Torrent.]


    [Isn¡¯t that the Emperor of Persistence?]


    [Indeed, just having the persistence to reach Level Eight is something I can¡¯t do.]


    Reading this, Chaotic Life¡¯s expression finally eased a bit.


    ¡°Exactly, I was just unlucky, losing to a player like Steel Torrent. It¡¯s a loss with honor.¡±


    ¡°What doesn¡¯t kill me makes me stronger! Those trials and setbacks will only make me tougher!¡±


    He clenched his fist, his eyes once more filled with determination.


    ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯m sorry, future opponents, but in the upcoming matches, I won¡¯t lose a single one!¡±


    Participants in the game received free ¡°Quick Resurrection¡± services, but the experience penalty for death couldn¡¯t be refunded.


    Fortunately, Chaotic Life had accumulated enough experience to remain at Level Eight, not dropping any levels.


    With the shutdown approaching, the schedule was tight. Chaotic Life¡¯s next match was soon.


    This time, he spent all his savings on a fine piece of armor at the Imperial Arsenal.


    This time, he was determined to win!


    ¡­


    An hour and a half later, in the First Competition Zone.


    ¡°Number 22054, Chaotic Life.¡±


    Amidst the audience¡¯s attention, the revived Chaotic Life appeared again, eyes brimming with confidence.


    He even waved to the audience, sparking a flurry of discussions.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the guy who was one-punched by Steel Torrent earlier?¡±


    ¡°What? He¡¯s the One Punch Warrior?¡±


    ¡°That guy had it rough. Wonder who his opponent is this time.¡±


    Listening to the mixed reactions, Chaotic Life clenched his fist, gritting his teeth, forcing a lighthearted smile.


    The earlier defeat was just an accident. Soon, he would showcase the true strength that would make everyone reevaluate him!


    This was just the start of his career!


    ¡°Number 00023, Mighty Heavenly Dragon.¡±


    The referee¡¯s voice echoed again, and the smile on Chaotic Life¡¯s face froze instantly.

 Chapter 503 - 503 413 Disparate Battle_3

    ?Chapter 503: 413 Chapter: Disparate Battle_3 Chapter 503: 413 Chapter: Disparate Battle_3 He raised his head and saw a bald monk nearly three meters tall with bulging muscles appear in the corridor opposite him.


    The monk grinned, revealing a mouthful of neat white teeth, and waved his arm, thicker than an average person¡¯s torso, towards the audience.


    His physique was like a perfect sculpture, with his head reflecting a blinding light.


    ¡°Mighty Heavenly Dragon! The god of monks!¡±


    ¡°Is this the president of the [Shaolin Temple] guild? The leader of the Eighteen Arhats?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s him!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that he took a high concentration of Dragon Blood Elixir, but instead of growing scales, he gained strength akin to a human-shaped giant dragon!¡±


    ¡°Truly terrifying!¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, that guy seems a bit unlucky; he¡¯s always running into such freaks.¡±


    The commentator introduced both parties¡¯ backgrounds, the referee gave the order, and the match began just like that.


    ¡°We can see that the Mighty Heavenly Dragon contestant has both terrifying strength and speed, reaching inhuman levels¡­¡±


    Wall Climbing!


    The bald monk suddenly stomped the ground, leaving two small pits in the floor.


    Amidst the flying dust, he leaped more than ten meters high, directly crossing the entire arena, his shiny bald head gleaming in the sunlight.


    ¡°What the¡­!¡±


    Chaotic Life looked up in disbelief, instinctively raising a hand to shield his eyes from the blinding glare.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Light Body Drop!


    Debris flew everywhere!


    The Mighty Heavenly Dragon landed beside Chaotic Life, entirely unscathed, without a trace of fall damage.


    Unarmed versus armed, without armor versus with armor, I have the advantage!


    Now, strengthened heavy strike!


    Chaotic Life swung his longsword, drawing a beautiful arc in the air, aiming directly at the opponent¡¯s sculpted body.


    ¡°Prajna Buddhas, Prajna Parama Bomb!¡±


    Intimidating Punch!


    The bald monk threw a punch, his massive fist carrying an overwhelming amount of True Qi, which all smashed towards Chaotic Life.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A powerful airflow surged forward, leaving a deep fist impression on Chaotic Life¡¯s breastplate.


    His armor shattered, and he was sent flying over ten meters, crashing to the ground, barely alive.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    Along with the shattered armor, it seemed that Chaotic Life¡¯s dream of becoming champion was also shattered.


    The Mighty Heavenly Dragon laughed heartily, revealing an equally dazzling set of big white teeth: ¡°Kid, a monk¡¯s fist is the strongest weapon!¡±


    ¡°Another crushing victory, let¡¯s congratulate the Mighty Heavenly Dragon on winning this match!¡±


    ¡°At the same time, we must also learn from Chaotic Life¡¯s¡­ uh, determination, the spirit of never giving up despite setbacks is something we should all admire.¡±


    ¡°What the¡­!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Before Chaotic Life could finish speaking, his screen went black again.


    The True Qi in his body exploded!


    The Mighty Heavenly Dragon scratched his bald head awkwardly, smiling apologetically: ¡°Hahaha, my strength has been increasing so rapidly lately, I still haven¡¯t fully mastered the use of True Qi¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Monks are the strongest occupation! The Mighty Heavenly Dragon killed a level eight armored warrior in one blow!¡±


    [Mighty Heavenly Dragon, this muscle freak, doesn¡¯t have much to do with us regular players.]


    [Yeah, there were plenty of such monsters among the beta testers.]


    [By the way, why is the background character this time that guy named Life Is Like a Dream again?]


    [What¡¯s with this luck, is he competing with Charlotte for the title of the unluckiest?]


    ¡°It¡¯s Chaotic Life!¡±


    Lying weakly in the gaming pod, Chaotic Life felt a mixture of sorrow and anger, unable to help but cry out.


    This defeat was not his fault.


    The enemy was too strong, the arena too raw, the equipment too poor. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How could a normal person handle a freak like Mighty Heavenly Dragon? It was only natural that he lost so utterly this time.


    Many players on the forum expressed deep sympathy for him.


    ¡°I still have¡­ one last match.¡±


    A glimmer of determination shone in Chaotic Life¡¯s eyes, he couldn¡¯t give up yet!


    Even if he couldn¡¯t advance, he had to leave this arena with a beautiful victory!


    He would make his name known in this arena!


    This was Chaotic Life¡¯s last chance to turn things around, his final gambit!


    People were gradually starting to notice him; if he performed well in this turnaround match, getting into a powerful family wouldn¡¯t be impossible!


    In the gaming pod, Chaotic Life clenched his fists again: ¡°No matter who I face this time, I can¡¯t afford to slack off.¡±


    ¡­


    An hour and a half later, still in the first competition zone.


    ¡°Number 00325, I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou.¡±


    Before the referee finished speaking, another burst of intense discussion erupted from the audience.


    ¡°It¡¯s Old Thief Mantou!¡±


    ¡°This Old Pigeon hasn¡¯t updated in two months, getting lost in catching players every day!¡±


    ¡°Someone, beat him back home! I want to see him update videos!¡±


    ¡°No worries, I have faith in Mantou; Mantou is so bad, he¡¯ll head home on his own without us worrying.¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha! Send him home, Old Mantou.¡±


    In the players¡¯ tunnel, Chaotic Life¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, and his expression became a bit joyous.


    Judging from the audience¡¯s words, his opponent today should be quite weak?


    Finally drew a soft persimmon!


    Chaotic Life was so engrossed in grinding tasks every day that he hadn¡¯t watched Mantou¡¯s videos, but he knew of this entertainment content creator.


    Great, if he¡¯s an entertainment content creator, how strong could he be? Most likely just a casual player, there¡¯s no way he could compare to someone like him, a Liver Emperor.


    If he couldn¡¯t beat the rich warrior or the muscle freak, could he not beat a small entertainment content creator?


    Finally, a chance to prove his strength!


    Chaotic Life¡¯s hand, gripping the sword, trembled again with excitement, this time he was really going to win!

 Chapter 504 - 504 413 Disparate Battle_4

    ?Chapter 504: 413 Chapter Disparate Battle_4 Chapter 504: 413 Chapter Disparate Battle_4 ¡­.


    Half a minute later, Chaotic Life gazed at the Bipedal Wyvern circling high in the sky, looking at the fierce shadow sweeping across the ground with a dazed expression.


    What in the world is happening?


    Why do players who work as hard as him always encounter these kinds of monsters?


    ¡°Judge, he¡¯s cheating.¡±


    ¡°This is a solo match, and even a wyvern can join? This is clearly outside help, right?¡±


    He pointed to the sky, his steadfast face looking slightly numb.


    The judge reminded him: ¡°The Bipedal Wyvern is a Contract Mount of the [Red Scale Conqueror] occupation. It¡¯s personal property owned by the player and meets the competition requirements.¡±


    Chaotic Life stood on the ground, looking at the wyvern hovering high above, feeling helpless.


    He had decent close-range skills, but he couldn¡¯t fly, right?


    Was he supposed to make a huge jump and cut down both the person and the dragon?


    And you¡¯re an entertainment streamer, yet you have the strongest advanced warrior occupation [Red Scale Conqueror]?


    From every perspective, he was beaten so thoroughly by the [Champion Warrior] that not even a trace was left.


    What happened to being an entertainment type YouTuber?


    This crowd gave him incorrect information!


    But the cruel reality didn¡¯t leave him time to be sad. He still had to figure out how to deal with this enemy from the sky.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    ¡°Noodle, let¡¯s go.¡±


    A hoarse dragon¡¯s roar came from the sky, followed by Mantou¡¯s excited shout and the sharp whistling of wings cutting through the air.


    Accompanied by battle shouts, Mantou¡¯s blood resonance with the wyvern generated a powerful pressure almost like a True Dragon¡¯s roar, seemingly with a Red Dragon¡¯s shadow behind him.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    Chaotic Life wasn¡¯t able to dodge. He was directly pierced through the chest by the lance.


    ¡°Uh¡­ another crushing victory. It seems Chaotic Life wasn¡¯t prepared to deal with aerial attacks¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou on winning this match.¡±


    ¡°Old Mantou won?¡±


    ¡°Holy shit?¡±


    ¡°Dude, you thought he was really bad? He just seems bad compared to those professional elites.¡±


    ¡°Use your brain, Dragonblood Baron of the Ashen Empire, Senior Sheriff, plus Red Scale Conqueror. How could he be bad?¡±


    ¡°No worries, this is just the preliminaries. Don¡¯t worry. Mantou the Old Thief will surely crash in the elimination rounds! He really is bad!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Mantou¡¯s die-hard fan. He can¡¯t win even one bit!¡±


    ¡°By the way, this guy called Life Is Like a Dream is really unlucky. Finally signed up for a competition, only fought in three matches, encountered 2.5 professional gamers, his luck could rival Charlotte¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What? (Perception) S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What do you mean by 2.5 professional gamers? Who are you hinting at? Can¡¯t be, it¡¯s not Mantou, right?¡±


    ¡°Haha, giving old Mantou 0.5 is already good enough.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not Life Is Like a Dream, it¡¯s Chaotic Life¡ª¡±


    Chaotic Life, lying on the ground, screamed in his heart, but as the blood flowed, it seemed all his strength was drained.


    You hack users, can you take it easy? Leave a way out for ordinary players?


    This was the last thought that flashed through his mind.


    Chaotic Life, dead.


    ¡­


    In the end, Chaotic Life got his wish and became famous among the player community.


    Riding on the popularity of the preliminaries, he became a well-known figure on the forums.


    Posts about him, rather than ones using him as a background, topped the forum¡¯s hot list, outshining star players like Summer Night Autumn Rain.


    Though the way he became famous might not be what he imagined.


    The title was:


    ¡°Preliminary Unbeatable Myth! Chaotic Life versus Three Professional Gamers!¡±


    Well, the deviation wasn¡¯t that much. They just replaced ¡°unbeatable¡± with ¡°unwinable.¡±


    ¡ª¡ªDaily updates of 6,000! Ask for monthly tickets!¡ª¡ª

 Chapter 505 - 505 414 Competition and the Brass Fortress

    ?Chapter 505: Chapter 414 Competition and the Brass Fortress Chapter 505: Chapter 414 Competition and the Brass Fortress ¡°Boom!¡±


    A pillar of fire shot up into the sky, flames ravaging the arena and reducing the player to ashes.


    A woman with golden vertical pupils and long dragon horns waved her hand gently, and the flames dissipated completely.


    She turned around, bowed slightly, and saluted the audience.


    The commentator¡¯s voice rang out passionately, ¡°Another exhilarating match, a crushing victory!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate Summer Night Autumn Rain on winning this match!¡±


    The audience erupted in thunderous cheers, with fanatical fans holding up light signs, shaking them incessantly.


    ¡°Autumn Rain wifey!¡±


    ¡°I love her so much!¡±


    ¡°Autumn Rain is amazing! Beautiful and fierce! Completely in love!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s my wife, of course, she¡¯s excellent.¡±


    ¡°Summer Night Autumn Rain is your wife? I¡¯m going yellow first, wake this guy up.¡±


    ¡°Damn it, she¡¯s clearly my wife!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Hello, dear audience, and players.¡±


    ¡°Today is the third day of the preliminaries, and everyone remains incredibly enthusiastic. The contestants in this round are exceptional, they are¡­¡±


    The commentators¡¯ voices echoed throughout the arena.


    The preliminaries were blazing hot, with many star players advancing undefeated, and numerous dark horses emerging from the crowd.


    Several famous moments were born among them:


    Nights of Rain City summoning the ¡°Undying Imperial Triad¡± to gang up on opponents, Natural War Maniac slicing a Full Level Paladin in half, shield and all, in one swing, Charlotte¡¯s textbook spell counterattack¡­.


    But with nearly 100,000 contestants, and 154 divisions hosting twelve days of competition,


    on average, each venue held fifty matches daily.


    Those who had advanced early were naturally preparing for the elimination rounds, and the data on professional players were skyrocketing on the black market.


    As a highly anticipated ¡°professional player,¡± Mantou worried about his weapon.


    Having won all three of his matches, he had advanced early and didn¡¯t need to worry about a spot in the elimination rounds.


    But during yesterday¡¯s second match, he was hit by a ¡°suicidal attack¡± from a Mechanic Mage player.


    The opponent rushed at him with a load of electromagnetic bombs, almost causing him to crash. Luckily, Noodle reacted quickly, turning in mid-air and escaping the explosion.


    Though unscathed, Mantou¡¯s fairly rare ¡°Red Scale Standard Lance¡± was destroyed in the battle, causing him significant distress.


    So he sought out a player from the Mechanical God Cult to buy some equipment.


    ¡°You want to buy cold weapons?¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man¡¯s tone was surprised.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t a semi-automatic rifle be better? I have a rifle modeled after the M1 Garand, and even a Lightning Element launcher¡­¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand the romance of a lance charge!¡±


    Battlefield Wheelchair Man was disappointed but said, ¡°If it¡¯s cold weapons you¡¯re after, the Mechanical God Cult doesn¡¯t produce the highest quality.¡±


    ¡°By the way, if you¡¯re looking for cold weapons, I recommend a place called the Brass Fortress.¡±


    ¡°The fire dwarfs there make the best cold weapons, even producing rare-quality divine artifacts.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Hearing the word ¡°rare,¡± Mantou, who had never gotten anything good from loot boxes, brightened.


    ¡°Where is this Brass Fortress?¡±


    ¡°In the Fire Elemental Plane.¡±


    ¡­


    A day later.


    Fire Elemental Plane, Brass Fortress, outside the Imperial Office.


    ¡°So many people.¡±


    Mantou held his freshly obtained Fire Elemental Plane pass, looking at the crowded streets and bustling fire dwarfs with a joyful expression.


    In the center of the city, a giant, majestic statue of the God of Dwarfs stood tall. The small brass houses were exquisitely crafted, and the ¡°clang! clang!¡± of forging could be heard everywhere.


    In the distance, steam-billowing factories of new construction with a distinctive imperial style could be seen.


    Was this the place where divine artifacts were forged?


    It fit his imagination perfectly. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But all these fire dwarfs look exactly alike, as if they were cast from the same mold.¡±


    Mantou saw a blacksmith¡¯s shop ahead, with a sign that read ¡°Gino¡¯s Weapon Workshop.¡±


    The weapon racks displayed several exquisite pieces of equipment, among which were ¡°rare¡± quality weapons, including his favorite, spears.


    ¡°Let¡¯s check this place out first.¡±


    Mantou pushed open the door and walked into the blacksmith¡¯s shop. A fire dwarf appeared before him, causing his eyes to widen and his jaw to nearly drop.


    ¡°What the hell?¡±


    ¡°Anime?¡±


    No wonder he was so surprised.


    The fire dwarf in front of him didn¡¯t match the stereotype of a stout figure with a full beard, instead appearing adorable.


    Round face, big eyes, delicate features, petite and slender figure, wearing a brass-trimmed frilly dress, a brass butterfly bow on the back, and brass twin-tails.


    Seriously, you call this a dwarf?


    Wasn¡¯t the legendary fire spirit?


    This was more like a brass-clad loli!


    But soon, the loli fire dwarf spoke in a rough voice completely incongruent with her appearance, like flames crackling:


    ¡°You are¡­ a Starfallen?¡±


    Gino¡¯s expression instantly turned extremely angry.


    But the angry expression on this cute face made for a unique kind of furious embarrassment.


    ¡°You want to ask why I look like this, right?¡±


    Mantou stifled his laughter and nodded.


    Gino roared, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you Starfallens!¡±


    ¡°Some damned bastard, to fulfill his filthy desires, swapped the molds in the fire dwarf foundry, making me look like this! I don¡¯t have the strong physique of other fire dwarfs, nor their handsome beards, and I¡¯ve been mocked by other fire dwarfs since birth!¡±

 Chapter 506 - 506 414 Competition and Brass Fortress_2

    ?Chapter 506: Chapter 414 Competition and Brass Fortress_2 Chapter 506: Chapter 414 Competition and Brass Fortress_2 ¡°He also said I have the cutest appearance, that damned bastard, I really want to smash his head with a Copper Hammer!¡±


    ¡°By Moradin, because of you Starfallen, I have become the weakest, ugliest Fire Dwarf in nearly a hundred years!¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡­¡±


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    ¡°What are you laughing at!¡±


    A Fire Dwarf Loli with a gruff voice, the scene was just too funny.


    After venting, Gino crossed his thin arms and angrily asked: ¡°Starfallen, what do you want this time?¡±


    Mantou replied: ¡°My weapon is damaged, I need to craft a new lance.¡±


    Gino snorted coldly, turning his face away deliberately: ¡°Please go elsewhere; Starfallen are not welcome here, and I don¡¯t serve your kind.¡±


    Mantou didn¡¯t feel discriminated against, he still found it a bit funny.


    What kind of tsundere Fire Dwarf version is this?


    Great video material.


    Crafting weapons and making videos, it¡¯s perfect.


    Speaking of which, that 2D elder from the Mechanical God Cult is truly amazing, he actually replaced the mold and treated forging Fire Dwarves as making figurines.


    Thinking of this, Mantou put away his smile and said seriously: ¡°Even though we are both Starfallen, I am not him.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re blaming me for his mistakes, that¡¯s unfair to me; do you want people to say ¡®Gino is a petty Fire Dwarf¡¯?¡±


    Gino lowered his head, intertwining his fingers.


    After a long silence, he whispered: ¡°What you said¡­ makes some sense.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    Gino¡¯s voice was as soft as a mosquito¡¯s hum.


    Fire Dwarves are an honest race, they follow the rules, rarely lie, and often recognize their own mistakes.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay to make mistakes as long as you¡¯re brave enough to admit them and actively correct them.¡±


    Mantou said with a smile.


    He looked at the Loli Fire Dwarf, his tone becoming impassioned.


    ¡°Gino, since you were born this way and your appearance cannot be changed, why not make your inner self better?¡±


    ¡°Life is never determined by appearance.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s eyes shone brightly, and he earnestly patted the Loli Fire Dwarf on the shoulder.


    ¡°The beauty or ugliness of your appearance doesn¡¯t matter, the goodness or evilness of your mind is what¡¯s most important! Since you look like this, you need to work harder to change yourself!¡±


    He raised his hand, pointing into the distance with a powerful voice.


    ¡°I believe that as long as you work hard and treat people kindly, you can become a great Fire Dwarf even without a strong body!¡±


    ¡°I¡­you¡­¡±


    ¡°You, you¡¯re right!¡±


    Gino clenched his small fists, clearly moved, having never had such inspirational words before.


    If he weren¡¯t a fire elemental creature unable to shed tears, his eyes would have been brimming.


    ¡°Mr. Mantou, you¡¯re different from them, you¡¯re a good Starfallen.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll craft the best equipment for you right now! I want everyone to know that Gino can also become a great Fire Dwarf!¡±


    ¡°Great!¡±


    Mantou nodded with a smile.


    Excellent!


    It¡¯s perfect!


    Got the weapon crafted, plus some new video material, how awesome is that! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, he noticed the Fire Dwarf Loli tugging at his clothes, shyly saying: ¡°I think what you said is very meaningful.¡±


    ¡°Are you interested¡­ in meeting my friends? They would probably also be happy to craft equipment for you.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Mantou turned around, instantly stunned, seeing several insanely odd-looking Fire Dwarves approaching.


    Some looked like mechanical cats, some had faces like Korean plastic surgery results, others were molded into Ultraman, and there was even a Transformer.


    The variety was so vast, Mantou thought he had entered the wrong game.


    Who the hell did this!


    Too monstrous!


    And this guy¡¯s tastes are quite diverse.


    ¡°They are all victims of that bastard Starfallen, and because of their appearance, they can¡¯t fit into Fire Dwarf society.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s quite a wild approach¡­¡±


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but mutter, extending his hand.


    ¡°Hold on¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    The Loli Fire Dwarf, about to forge equipment, turned her head, curious.


    ¡°Are you interested in developing a new business, like offering tours for Starfallen and charging for photo ops or something?¡±


    ¡­


    Several days later, Mantou appeared in the First Competition Zone¡¯s audience stands, looking radiant in fresh new gear.


    Singo looked at his armor and the gleaming lance, surprised: ¡°Did you rob a bank?¡±


    ¡°What robbing a bank, this was made specially for me by my friends!¡±


    ¡°What kind of friends? They can forge rare-quality equipment? Even though it doesn¡¯t have many magic attachments, its base stats are high.¡±


    Mantou thought for a moment, then answered seriously: ¡°Loli, mechanical cat, Korean plastic surgery face, Transformer, Hatsune Miku¡­¡±


    Singo: ¡°¡­¡±


    Mantou laughed: ¡°Don¡¯t mind the details, we¡¯re here to watch the match, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there a match with War Maniac Bro today?¡±


    Singo calmly said: ¡°It¡¯s not just Natural War Maniac, there are a few professional players in today¡¯s final qualifying match; a good chance to see how they do.¡±


    ¡°What about Autumn Rain Sister?¡±


    ¡°She has too many fans in the audience; if she came, it¡¯d turn into a signing event. I¡¯ll send her the footage later.¡±


    ¡°Nice.¡±


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but give a thumbs up.


    Singo continued: ¡°It¡¯s a pity, it seems the professional gamers haven¡¯t shown their true capabilities yet.¡±


    ¡°There are too many qualifying participants, and professional players rarely meet one another, most of their fights are crushing wins, so you can¡¯t see much.¡±

 Chapter 507 - 507 414 Competition and the Brass Fortress_3

    ?Chapter 507: 414: Competition and the Brass Fortress_3 Chapter 507: 414: Competition and the Brass Fortress_3 ¡°Especially those professional mages, like Charlotte, who kept using the Fireball Technique. It¡¯s hard to figure out his magic chart.¡±


    Mantou crossed his arms and said leisurely: ¡°Xin Dog, you¡¯re too cautious. I never care about the opponent¡¯s situation.¡±


    ¡°When soldiers come, we block; when water comes, we cover with earth. The key is, don¡¯t fear anyone!¡±


    Singo glanced at him coldly and said: ¡°But when you get beaten up and have to pick up your teeth off the ground, don¡¯t come crying to the referee, regretting your actions.¡±


    The referee¡¯s voice rang out.


    ¡°Number 12533, Natural War Maniac.¡±


    ¡°Glory belongs to Natural War Maniac!¡±


    ¡°Natural War Maniac, chop down everything!¡±


    The audience instantly erupted in enthusiastic cheers.


    Natural War Maniac was also a veteran player, well-known in various games, and had his own fanbase in ¡°Erezer.¡±


    ¡°War Maniac Bro is here!¡±


    Mantou also looked excited.


    Compared to performing in the field and getting chased and blown up, he preferred watching others fight from the stands.


    ¡°Number 23335, Nocturne Psalm.¡±


    Hearing this name, the audience boiled over again, but this time it wasn¡¯t cheers; it was an uproar of anger.


    Those players who had been stolen from were furious, wishing they could go up and punish Nocturne Psalm themselves.


    ¡°What the hell? Black Beast!¡±


    ¡°Good, good, good!¡±


    ¡°From now on, I¡¯m a fan of War Maniac Bro!¡±


    ¡°War Maniac Bro, chop off that Black Beast¡¯s head full of bad ideas!¡±


    Soon, under the supervision of the referee, the shirtless Natural War Maniac and the black-robed Nocturne Psalm both stepped into the arena.


    From the stands, Singo said calmly: ¡°Now it gets interesting. I know Nocturne Psalm. Although he¡¯s a beast, he¡¯s quite strong in some aspects.¡±


    Mantou was a bit curious.


    ¡°So¡­ does War Maniac Bro have a chance of losing?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. Just watch; you¡¯ll see soon enough.¡±


    The referee¡¯s commanding voice echoed throughout the First Competition Zone¡¯s venue.


    ¡°The match begins!¡±


    Nocturne Psalm was an 8th-level wanderer player who chose the [Thief] path.


    In the previous two matches, he used the Cloud Mist Technique, leveraging his agility and sleight of hand proficiencies to run circles around his opponents, even stealing all of their gear.


    At this moment, Nocturne Psalm looked at the distant Natural War Maniac.


    ¡°This guy¡­ is troublesome.¡±


    ¡°But a big shot like him must have lots of good equipment.¡±


    ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s muddy the waters first and then fish in troubled waters!¡±


    He threw a smoke bomb forward, filling the field with smoke and obscuring the view.


    ¡°Damn Black Beast indeed!¡±


    ¡°Damn, can¡¯t see anything!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, typical Black Beast, even disrupting the match!¡±


    Suddenly, a roar came from within the smoke.


    ¡°Aaaahhhhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    A colossal wave of air, centered on Natural War Maniac, spread out, dissipating all the smoke and shaking off Nocturne Psalm, who had tried to grab him.


    Nocturne Psalm looked down at his empty hands, stunned: ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°He¡­ didn¡¯t bring any equipment!¡±


    ¡°He only has that axe!¡±


    ¡°No worries, I have other ways!¡±


    Smoke bombs, sonic bombs, interference arrows, poison bottles, and charm spell scrolls flew from Nocturne Psalm¡¯s robe, all aimed at Natural War Maniac.


    The sinister and malicious effects made people¡¯s scalps tingle.


    But he didn¡¯t expect that, as a high-level berserker, Natural War Maniac had the ¡°Selfless Fury¡± trait, making him nearly immune to all control methods during his frenzy.


    The enemy was nowhere to hide from his beast-like combat instincts!


    ¡°Die!¡±


    With blood-red eyes, Natural War Maniac raised his battle axe high, letting out a furious battle cry before swinging it down with vengeance.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Blood splattered, soaking the black robe, the tremendous force of the axe even cracked the ground.


    ¡°Fight, awesome!¡±


    In the stands, unprecedented cheers erupted, not just for the strength of Natural War Maniac, but also celebrating someone¡¯s gruesome death.


    sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 508 - 508 415 Guild Tournament

    ?Chapter 508: Chapter 415: Guild Tournament Chapter 508: Chapter 415: Guild Tournament Compared to individual matches, major guilds and clubs paid more attention to guild battles.


    Unlike individual matches where the rewards were more honorary, the prizes for guild battles were much more substantial.


    The victorious guild not only claimed the prestigious ¡°Champion Guild¡± title, but also received priority for various special missions. They might even be given imperial treatment.


    Due to the participant requirements, smaller guilds were not qualified to compete in the guild battle.


    As a result, the guild competition turned exceptionally brutal from the preliminary rounds, with only ten teams making it to the final showdown.


    In this grand event, the most eye-catching were undoubtedly the few powerful families¡ªRoyalty, Mechanical God Cult, Magic Coin, and Sword Pavilion.


    They were collectively referred to by forum players as the ¡°Four Great Nobles.¡±


    The first three were old guilds that had risen during the closed beta phase, each backed by real-world forces.


    Sword Pavilion, however, emerged during the open beta, attracting a large number of local players with its unique ¡°martial arts style¡± and shining brightly in the Northern War.


    Its guild leader, Tian Xingjian, was even granted the title of Earl due to his remarkable achievements.


    Any guild unfortunate enough to encounter these powerhouses was naturally doomed.


    To this day, the Four Great Nobles maintained a 100% win rate in the preliminary rounds, nearly every match a crushing victory.


    The earlier a guild started, the more advantage it had in resource competition, an indisputable truth. But there were also plenty of dark horses rising in the guild battles. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For example, the newly formed guild Rome Era led by the player Augustus, with a scale of over a thousand players, the majority of whom were elite Romans.


    It was said their initial guild name was ¡°Roman Empire,¡± which was changed after consultation with the Empire¡¯s officials.


    The red team in the ongoing guild battle was Rome Era.


    The commentator¡¯s voice sounded:


    ¡°The red team is the familiar guild¡ªRome Era. As we can see, they have perfectly recreated the image of the Roman Legion¡­¡±


    On the battlefield, Rome Era¡¯s players wore steel helmets adorned with red horse mane crests, red or white tunics, and sectional armor.


    They held short swords, spears, and rectangular shields emblazoned with eagle motifs, and wore military boots.


    The golden wreath-adorned eagle flag fluttered in the arena.


    ¡°Long live Rome! Long live Caesar!¡±


    ¡°Freedom, equality, law! Glory to Rome!¡±


    At the forefront of the formation, Augustus, the centurion, raised the eagle flag and shouted slogans.


    The players behind him held square shields, carrying heavy javelins, short swords, and spears, forming a neat three-row formation, looking quite imposing.


    They perfectly recreated the Roman phalanx, even applying it on the battlefield, an ultimate cosplay.


    Finishing with Rome Era, the commentator introduced the opposing team:


    ¡°The red team is Shushan Immortal Sect, whose motto is ¡®A thousand guests drunk on blossoms, a single sword chills fourteen provinces¡¯¡­¡±


    ¡°They are equally determined to win this match¡­¡±


    The style of Shushan Immortal Sect could be inferred from the name alone.


    Like Rome Era, Shushan Immortal Sect was also a cosplay-oriented guild, focusing on an Eastern cultivation style.


    It was another dark horse that rose during the open beta.


    However, due to the absence of the cultivator occupation in Erezer, its members were mostly magicians or mages.


    They cast Tansen Floating Disk Technique, advanced magical weapons, and Light Spell on their ¡°immortal swords¡± to present the effect of a Sword Immortal.


    Their white-haired, white-robed leader, Taoist Master Taiqing, gazed at the Roman phalanx across and smiled disdainfully: ¡°Hmph, Western barbarians are not worth fearing.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s slay them with our immortal swords!¡±


    ¡°Mighty leader!¡±


    ¡°What leader? Taoist Master Taiqing is the sect leader of our Shushan Immortal Sect! You should say ¡®mighty sect leader¡¯!¡±


    ¡°Mighty sect leader!¡±


    ¡°Our Shushan Immortal Sect will achieve a grand victory and seize the championship in one fell swoop!¡±


    ¡°A thousand guests drunk on blossoms, a single sword chills fourteen provinces!¡±


    Shushan Immortal Sect players stood on ¡°flying swords,¡± floating in the air, looking down at the Roman phalanx.


    Rome Era players were not to be outdone, holding square shields, looking up at their airborne enemies with fierce determination.


    The air was thick with tension, but the sight of a ¡°Sword Immortal¡± and the ¡°Roman Legion¡± clashing was bizarre.


    It felt like ¡°Guan Yu battling aliens.¡±


    ¡°Three.¡±


    ¡°Two.¡±


    ¡°One.¡±


    ¡°Begin!¡±


    With the referee¡¯s words, the battle erupted.


    ¡°Long live Rome!¡±


    ¡°Pierce these fragile foes!¡±


    The first row of the Rome Era phalanx advanced, charging with square shields, casting heavy javelins.


    Shushan Sword Sect players quickly cast protective magic, a series of aurora-shielded barriers appeared in the air, blocking the javelins.


    No, not magic, according to them it should be called ¡°Taoist Magic.¡±


    ¡°A mere trick!¡±


    Taoist Master Taiqing snorted coldly, reciting spell incantations pretentiously, casting Tansen Floating Disk Technique, Acceleration Spell, and advanced magical weapons.


    No, it should be called sword-control technique.


    Several gleaming flying swords descended from the sky, transforming into sword beams, slashing straight at Rome Era players.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Square shields were sliced open, and the Roman players behind were decapitated.

 Chapter 509 - 509 415 Guild Events_2

    ?Chapter 509: Chapter 415 Guild Events_2 Chapter 509: Chapter 415 Guild Events_2 ¡°Swish! Swish! Swish!¡±


    Sword after sword flew through the air, their lights crisscrossing, causing numerous casualties among the [Roman Era] players.


    But the players in the rear rows of the formation began throwing javelins, hitting many [Shushan Immortal Sect] players who hadn¡¯t fully mastered the Spell skills.


    Those players wailed as they fell from the sky, only to be easily killed by the [Roman Era] short-sword soldiers charging ahead.


    ¡­


    The fierce battle still continued.


    But [Shushan Immortal Sect] were not true Cultivators, but just a bunch of Mages and Magicians cosplay products. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Many players, unable to maintain their Levitation Skill due to low Levels, fell from the sky.


    The [Roman Era] players followed their pre-determined plan, charging and retreating in rows.


    Their strategy was simple, alternating rest and mutual cover, achieving notable results with minimal exhaustion.


    One by one, the ¡°Sword Immortals¡± fell from the sky, and [Shushan Immortal Sect] gradually began to lose.


    ¡°Heaven has forsaken me; it¡¯s not our fault!¡±


    Finally, with a cry from player [Taoist Master Taiqing], and the battle cries from the [Roman Era] players, this guild war came to an end.


    ¡°The winner of this match is¡ª[Roman Era]!¡±


    ¡°Long live Rome!¡±


    ¡°Elite Romans shed tears!¡±


    ¡°Oh oh oh oh oh!¡±


    In the audience, Mantou observed the intense battle below and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Weird, so damn weird!¡±


    ¡°These two guilds have such strange styles. When they fight, I feel like I¡¯m in a Stitcher Beast game.¡±


    Just returning from the player seats, Natural War Maniac wiped his bald head and chuckled, ¡°This is ¡®Erezer,¡¯ the game with the highest degree of freedom. It¡¯s normal for these people to do anything.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    Mantou nodded in agreement.


    This bunch of fanatics even managed to come up with something like the Fire Dwarf Loli. What can¡¯t they do?


    The most capable ones have to be the Mechanical God Cult people, who take cosplay to a spiritual level, truly practicing the ¡°Omniscient Quest¡± doctrine.


    Even the guild leader [Steel Torrent] didn¡¯t know how advanced the technology tree had climbed within the guild.


    It¡¯s said that someone saw blueprints for tanks, fighter jets, and even intercontinental missiles in the armory, which is rather outrageous.


    Thinking of this, Mantou curiously asked, ¡°Who do you think will win the championship?¡±


    ¡°Mechanical God Cult.¡±


    Singo and Natural War Maniac answered in unison.


    Mantou was somewhat surprised: ¡°Are you so sure? Even old noble guilds like Royalty have no chance?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely none.¡±


    Singo waved his hand, speaking firmly.


    ¡°Why? Royalty¡¯s players don¡¯t seem weak, and their wealthy guild leader offers real gold and silver as rewards.¡±


    Singo said mysteriously, ¡°Do you know who backs Mechanical God Cult?¡±


    Before Mantou could answer, he said, ¡°It¡¯s the Empire! You could even say it¡¯s His Imperial Majesty himself.¡±


    ¡°From what I know, Mechanical God Cult has access to the Empire¡¯s highest-level technology and secrets, and they have numerous privileges. Many high-ranking members of Mechanical God Cult hold key positions in the Imperial Department of Technology and the Military Department.¡±


    ¡°With such top-tier resources, Mechanical God Cult attracts top-tier talent, and many big shots from real life have been recruited by them.¡±


    Singo said calmly, ¡°To put it simply, Mechanical God Cult doesn¡¯t even have to give their all in this guild tournament.¡±


    ¡°They can just pull out a few things from their arsenal and effortlessly crush those so-called ¡®Powerful Families¡¯ to win the championship easily.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s impressive.¡±


    Mantou was shocked, having always seen the ¡°Four Great Nobles¡± as evenly matched on the forums.


    He didn¡¯t expect that in Singo¡¯s view, there would be such a big strength gap. Indeed, professional gamers had more information than regular players.


    ¡°Moreover, among the current powerful families, Royalty is shaky and struggling to maintain its position.¡±


    Natural War Maniac added with a smile.


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    Mantou was even more surprised, as Royalty had always been a strong contender with a large following on the forums.


    Natural War Maniac said, ¡°In the early game, when there weren¡¯t many players, their money-driven path, where the whole guild serves the wealthy, was somewhat effective.¡±


    ¡°But now, ¡®Erezer¡¯ has over 400,000 players, with those powerful families having guilds of over a thousand members.¡±


    ¡°At this point, Royalty¡¯s system shows its inefficiency, its individualistic tendencies, and unequal distribution, which are becoming apparent.¡±


    ¡°No matter how the wealthy guild leader throws money, there¡¯s little left when split among thousands. Now, Royalty is just a paper tiger held up by money, and its decline is inevitable.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Wow, this is the world of professional big shots?¡±


    Mantou nodded thoughtfully.


    Singo suddenly turned his head and said with a smile, ¡°The preliminary rounds are ending, with only a few guilds left, including Mechanical God Cult. It looks like there¡¯s some good drama coming up.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Is the next match starting so soon?¡±


    ¡°Red side, Roman Era.¡±


    As they spoke, the next match was about to start, with the red side being [Roman Era] again.


    Having just won a great victory, their morale was high.


    Their guild leader [Augustus] even directly applied to skip the halftime break.


    He wanted to ride the momentum of the previous victory, pushing forward to eliminate the next opponent and directly qualify for the knockout rounds.


    Moreover, the [Roman Era] players had taken some kind of Spiritual Medicine that boosted their fighting spirit, and they didn¡¯t want to waste its precious effects.


    ¡°Long live Rome!¡±


    ¡°Glory to Rome!¡±


    Augustus waved the eagle flag and stood at the forefront of the formation, his face glowing with enthusiasm.


    ¡°Blue side, Mechanical God Cult.¡±


    The referee¡¯s calm announcement echoed across the battlefield.


    Mechanical God Cult?


    Augustus¡¯ smile suddenly became a bit stiff, but he still tried to maintain his morale and said boldly:


    ¡°Brave Romans! Do not fear this seemingly powerful enemy. Remember how you, in my presence, swore to each other: never leave the battlefield unless victorious!¡±


    As an Elite Roman, even in death, he had to continue the cosplay!


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    Several tall armors appeared on the opposite side, advancing like a wall forged from steel.


    Behind the armored units, players pushed heavy cannons, their dark barrels exuding an intimidating vibe.


    Further back were the light-armored infantry, those Mechanical God Cult players wearing heavy protective suits, carrying machine guns and flamethrowers, their faces relaxed behind glass visors.


    When the two sides faced off, there seemed to be at least a thousand years of equipment gap.


    ¡°Damn it¡­.¡±


    ¡°Guild leader, how about we surrender? Losing to Mechanical God Cult doesn¡¯t seem too shameful.¡±


    Augustus gritted his teeth, planting the eagle flag into the ground.


    ¡°No, Romans never surrender! Even if we lose, we¡¯ll die in battle!¡±


    ¡°The match begins!¡±


    As soon as the referee¡¯s words fell, the Mechanical God Cult players loaded their cannons and fired directly.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The loud explosion shook the ground.


    A massive eruption occurred over the formation¡¯s sky, killing over a dozen [Roman Era] players in an instant with flying shrapnel and Flowing Flame.


    The specially made square shields could block arrows but couldn¡¯t stop bullets.


    Meanwhile, the front line of the Mechanical God Cult¡¯s Arcane Armors began to move forward rapidly, advancing like a group of steel beasts, crushing everything in their path.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Flesh is weak, mechanical ascension!¡±


    ¡°Ring the bell once! Move the lever, start the pistons and pumps¡­ Ring the bell twice! Press the button, ignite the engine, light the turbine, inject life¡­ Ring the bell three times! Sing together, praise the God of All Machines!¡±


    The battle had just started, but under the firepower of Mechanical God Cult, [Roman Era] had already lost more than half its members.


    It was impossible to fight.


    This was complete equipment crushing, akin to modern troops fighting primitives, or Trisolarans fighting Earthlings.


    ¡°Referee!¡±


    ¡°I, I want to surrender!¡±


    Amid the cannon¡¯s roar, Augustus suddenly shouted.


    From the audience, someone deliberately asked, ¡°Romans never surrender, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, how come they¡¯re giving in so quickly?¡±


    Augustus rebutted, ¡°This is a strategic retreat.¡±


    ¡°Comrades of Roman Era, don¡¯t be discouraged; we will return like lightning!¡±


    He murmured under his breath, ¡°Isn¡¯t Italy also Rome? Surrendering is perfectly normal¡­¡±


    It seemed that this [Augustus] wasn¡¯t a faithful fundamentalist.

 Chapter 510 - 510 416 The Opening Ceremony and the Arrival

    ?Chapter 510: Chapter 416: The Opening Ceremony and the Arrival of the Emperor Chapter 510: Chapter 416: The Opening Ceremony and the Arrival of the Emperor The preliminaries were still in full swing, with both individual and guild matches being fiercely contested, and the team matches were just as lively.


    Mantou, Singo, Natural War Maniac, and Summer Night Autumn Rain formed a four-man team, easily winning their matches, though the process was somewhat boring, not even providing a minute of video material.


    The opponents¡¯ hearts sank as soon as they saw the four professional players on the other side.


    Before Natural War Maniac could swing his great axe and charge up, they immediately conceded to the referee.


    This left Mantou feeling quite disappointed.


    I haven¡¯t even fired a shot yet, and you¡¯re already down?


    For these professional gamers, the preliminaries were exceptionally easy, with little pressure, and some mischief-loving players even displayed all kinds of flashy moves.


    For instance, Swashbuckler relied on the inhuman regenerative ability of his vampire, spreading his arms and letting the opponent hit him.


    During this, he didn¡¯t forget to taunt with phrases like ¡°Not hurting~,¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t eat?¡± ¡°Come on! Hit me to death!,¡± which drove the crowd to such fury that they wanted to rush down and beat him to death.


    His opponent was also driven to a mental breakdown by Swashbuckler¡¯s annoying gameplay, realizing the other side was still vigorous after slashing three hundred times, he had to admit defeat.


    Mantou watched several days of matches in a row, seizing the opportunity to compile the players¡¯ performances into highlight reels.


    He edited videos like ¡°Top 10 Epic Moments,¡± ¡°Top 10 Hilarious Moments,¡± riding the wave of the Imperial Tournament¡¯s popularity to rake in a wave of traffic.


    Mantou even shamelessly placed his own Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge, a one-shot kill video, at the end of the ¡°Top 10 Epic Moments,¡± complete with blood-pumping BGM.


    But the audience¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t as he¡¯d hoped, with the screen flooded with comments like ¡°Is that it?¡± ¡°Sneaking personal stuff?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel as good as the previous one.¡±


    This isn¡¯t right.


    It should be ¡°Mantou you¡¯re so cool,¡± right?


    Looking at the barrage of negative comments filling the screen, Mantou slumped in front of the computer, thoroughly disheartened.


    Finally tried to show off, why is the response so bad?


    No, this time was too blatant, next time I¡¯ll stealthily add personal footage to achieve the ¡°imperceptible¡± effect.


    Even so, Mantou¡¯s videos had a heated response on major video platforms, and the large-scale, diverse guild battles saw massive popularity spikes.


    The clash of magic and machinery, the duel of the Roman Army and ¡°Cultivators,¡± the skirmishes between the Undead Legion and Paladins, ignited a spark in many to join ¡°Erezer.¡±


    Can you really play like this?


    Is the freedom really that high?


    Wait, there¡¯s even a loli version of the Fire Dwarf?


    These were the thoughts of many casual viewers after watching the video, and so ¡°Erezer¡± topped the trending searches again, welcoming a new wave of enthusiasm.


    Where can I buy ¡°Erezer¡±?


    Even dominated the hot search list.


    Meanwhile, within the Empire, the official Imperial propaganda machine launched a massive publicity campaign, focusing the nation¡¯s attention on this grand tournament.


    Under this extensive promotion, everyone from Imperial officials, and ordinary citizens to soldiers and scholars, knew the name of this ¡°Imperial Duel Tournament.¡±


    The half-month-long preliminaries ended in a hurry, and the real highlight was upcoming¡ªthe true Imperial Gladiator Tournament, the elimination round to be held at the Isdalia Grand Coliseum.


    The Imperial Commerce Department released 100,000 tickets to the market, priced at 50 Silvernar.


    These tickets were sold out within half a day, and on the black market, a single ticket was even sold for an astronomical 5 Ginnar.


    The tournament¡¯s feverish popularity resulted from many combined factors: the Empire¡¯s martial spirit, the extensive official publicity, the influence of the Starfallen within the Empire¡­


    But the most direct and important reason was just one:


    The Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor, Lord of the Empire, the supreme ruler of the Anzeta Great Wilderness¡ªHis Majesty Cassius Klaubow Norixius, would personally attend the Isdalia Grand Coliseum.


    ¡­


    Isdalia Grand Coliseum, also known as the Imperial Coliseum, built between New Calendar 1783 and 1785 by tens of thousands of players and hundreds of Frost Giant slaves.


    The Coliseum was composed of a series of circular arcades, its outer circular wall reaching a height of sixty meters, divided into five levels, with the lower four levels having eighty arches per level, decorated with classical columns.


    The Grand Coliseum could accommodate about 150,000 spectators, with four tiers of seating.


    The higher your status, the higher your seat, the Dragonblood Nobility sat in the highest ¡°Glory Seats,¡± having a comprehensive view of the arena.


    Wealthy spectators could sit in the front rows to experience the brutal and intense gladiator matches up close, while ordinary spectators could only sit in the middle tiers.


    At the top was a specially made huge platform, upon which stood a dignified and luxurious golden seat¡ªthis was the throne prepared for the Emperor.


    In any Imperial building, this configuration was mandatory; though rarely used, it was to show the designer¡¯s loyalty.


    The designer of the Isdalia Grand Coliseum was also a Starfallen, rumored to be from a guild named [Roman Era]¡­


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about to start!¡±


    Inside the Grand Coliseum, the audience was bustling, the noise chaotic, cheers, discussions, and even shouting matches were incessant.


    Fan groups for star players had gathered, holding light boards and chanting slogans in unison.


    ¡°So many people!¡±


    S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 511 - 511 416 The Opening Ceremony and the Arrival

    ?Chapter 511: Chapter 416: The Opening Ceremony and the Arrival of the Emperor_2 Chapter 511: Chapter 416: The Opening Ceremony and the Arrival of the Emperor_2 ¡°What?! Is the arena this big?!¡±


    ¡°There must be tens of thousands of spectators. It¡¯s making me a bit nervous. How am I supposed to fight later?¡±


    ¡°S must be the champion!!¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog¡¯s obsessed fans are causing a ruckus! This year¡¯s champion is definitely my Crazy Brother!¡±


    Not only players, but also the natives of Anzeta gathered here. Humans, Great Goblins, Tieflings, Serpentfolk, and even Ogres filled the audience seats.


    They chattered among themselves, gathering in groups, though the tournament itself wasn¡¯t their primary concern.


    ¡°It¡¯s such a rare event.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. In the old Northern Kingdom, a medium-sized city would have only tens of thousands of people. Now, just this arena holds a hundred thousand.¡±


    ¡°The number of Starfallen in the Empire has grown. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a good or bad thing.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve helped me a lot but also caused many problems. They¡¯re always so erratic.¡±


    ¡°Do you think¡­ His Majesty will actually attend?¡±


    As soon as the words were spoken, shadows appeared in the sky. Wyverns flapped their wings, landing on the pillars of the arena, raising their heads and roaring.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    A portal suddenly opened, and the Imperial Prime Minister, Ogre Archmage Ramp, appeared in the sky above the arena, smiling.


    The crowd immediately erupted in commotion.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Prime Minister!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s here too!¡±


    Ramp cleared his throat, held his scepter horizontally, and his voice carried through the arena, ¡°Everyone, please be silent.¡±


    ¡°The first Imperial Gladiator Tournament is about to begin.¡±


    ¡°Regardless of your race, status, whether you¡¯re Human, Tiefling, or Ogre, as long as you are Imperial Citizens, you can fully enjoy the festivities brought by this event.¡±


    The arena was massive and filled with people, yet Ramp¡¯s words reached every ear accurately, like a gentle breeze.


    Ramp raised his scepter high, his tone becoming somewhat excited.


    ¡°This will be an unprecedented, unparalleled event, and more importantly, His Majesty will attend in person.¡±


    On the platform, the Half-Goat People¡¯s military band played an impassioned tune, while bards chanted softly.


    If you listened closely, you could discern it was the widely known ¡°Cassius¡¯s Hymn¡± of the Empire.


    Suddenly, a huge shadow was cast, covering many spectators.


    ¡°Look¡ª¡±


    ¡°That is¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s His Majesty¡¯s true form!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s truly His Majesty! Praise the Ashen Emperor!¡±


    ¡°Cassius above, it¡¯s enormous!¡±


    People raised their heads, their excitement palpable, their eyes fervent, as if seeing a deity in person. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Red Dragon, over forty meters long, spread its vast wings, circling above the Isdalia Grand Coliseum, displaying its majestic form.


    The Half-Goat People¡¯s music continued, drums beating rhythmically, and the Red Dragon descended slowly with the grand music.


    Finally, that colossal dragon body gradually turned ethereal, becoming a dignified specter, overlooking the crowd in the arena.


    A black-haired, golden-eyed man of near-divine appearance, accompanied by flames, gradually solidified, eventually appearing on the throne¡ªthat was the incarnation of Cassius.


    Due to the spatial constraints, Cassius had to take a smaller, human form. However, the crown and dragon horns on his head still affirmed his identity.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Lord of the Empire!¡±


    ¡°This¡­ this is the divine appearance of His Majesty!¡±


    In the stands, someone couldn¡¯t help but exclaim¡ªthe Imperial Citizens were quite familiar with Cassius¡¯s human form.


    For this human-like form, the citizens¡¯ reverence far surpassed fear, as Cassius rarely used this form for killing.


    Some even called him ¡°Merciful Lord¡± ¡°Noble Ruler¡± ¡°Avatar with Divine Demeanor¡±.


    They viewed this form as essentially Cassius, but with an independent identity.


    The players, however, were even crazier¡ªespecially in the audience, the [Cassius Support Group] started cheering fervently.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Cassius, the man among men, the epitome of masculinity, the ruler among men, the Lord of Men, the ultimate male ruler!¡±


    ¡°Master! God-King! Demon King! Overwhelming man! The immortal peak in the history of human game modeling!¡±


    Not far away, the notorious president of the [Dragon Enthusiasts Club] stood up, glaring angrily at the female-led support group.


    ¡°You heretics!¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°Cassius¡¯s true form is the most handsome! The dragon form is the real deal!¡±


    The members of the Dragon Enthusiasts Club stood up behind him, supporting their president, raising their hands, and shouting their slogans.


    ¡°Humans, ugh, I hate them the most! Dragon lovers are the best!¡±


    ¡°I want to touch His Majesty Cassius¡¯s tail!¡±


    ¡°You talk nonsense!¡±


    ¡°Cassius is obviously the man among men! The epitome of masculinity¡­¡±


    Seeing the two groups about to fight, the patrolling guards quickly arrived with guns, quelling the potential conflict.


    Other players quietly distanced themselves from them¡ªthese two groups seemed somewhat unhinged. It wouldn¡¯t be good to get involved in a real ¡°heretic war.¡±


    ¡°I want to touch His Majesty Cassius¡¯s tail!¡±


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    Maintaining one¡¯s dignity and image in an empire full of players was no small challenge.


    Listening to the odd calls from below, Cassius on the throne resisted the urge to throw down a fire meteor, maintaining a dignified posture.


    But the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, his face showing some discomfort.


    Hmm, I can¡¯t be impulsive.


    I can¡¯t ruin the image I¡¯ve built.


    These players should have been managed long ago.


    Thinking this, Cassius looked down at the bustling arena, speaking calmly:


    ¡°Silence.¡±


    As these words fell, it was as if an invisible decree descended, freezing the surrounding space.


    The air¡¯s medium was isolated, preventing any sound from being made. The two groups previously arguing found they couldn¡¯t make a sound even when cursing.


    In the arena packed with hundreds of thousands, there was a strange silence, where even a pin drop could be heard.


    People all looked up at the platform, their expressions extremely surprised.


    This was the supreme authority Cassius held in the [Imperial Region], akin to ¡°words becoming law.¡±


    Cassius, seeing the amazed players with their mouths agape but unable to produce a sound, slightly curled his lips in a barely noticeable smile.


    Now you can¡¯t speak, can you?


    This was the beauty of the Great Silencing Spell!


    For these somewhat manic players, only such forced measures could be effective.


    Otherwise, if someone shouted ¡°touch the tail¡± during his speech, the painstakingly built image would be shattered.


    Still, seeing the banner ¡°Cassius, the man among men¡± from afar, he felt a bit helpless.


    Tsk, this is the necessary price of exploiting players, an unavoidable cost.


    Cassius slowly stood up on the high platform, looking around the audience, observing the various expressions on their faces.


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    He opened his arms, smiling warmly: ¡°Hello, Imperial Citizens.¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Empire has gone from its initial desolation to its current thriving state. It could not have happened without your contribution. Every Imperial Citizen, everyone who has contributed to the Empire, I see as my children.¡±


    ¡°Now, I hope you can temporarily step away from your busy work and fully enjoy all of this hard-earned celebration.¡±


    ¡°I, Cassius, in the name of the Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor, solemnly declare¡ªthe Empire¡¯s First Gladiator Tournament has begun!¡±


    As he finished speaking, the invisible restriction lifted.


    The Half-Goat People military band continued playing their stirring music, the drums beating rhythmically.


    The arena erupted in a chorus of cannon fire, thunderous applause, and roaring cheers, echoing throughout the city of Isdalia.


    Crying out ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡± resounded incessantly, wave after wave, spreading across the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    The First Imperial Gladiator Tournament had begun!


    ¡­


    ¡°The arena laid the foundation for a complex political ceremony, a ceremony where the Emperor, through direct personal demeanor, shaped and manipulated public sentiment.¡±


    ¡°When you witness firsthand the Ashen Empire¡¯s people¡¯s love for the sport of gladiators, you understand why their army is invincible across the continent.¡±


    ¡ªFormer Scholar of the Empire of Fadlan, Nadia Denis

 Chapter 512 - 512 417 Intense Battle

    ?Chapter 512: Chapter 417: Intense Battle Chapter 512: Chapter 417: Intense Battle With a command from the emperor, the grand finals began, and the massive arena erupted, tens of thousands of people shouting wildly within it.


    Cassius casually sat on the throne, leaning on his right hand, overlooking the passionate crowd.


    ¡°After history was altered by magic, who will be the first champion?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m kind of looking forward to it.¡±


    In fact, Cassius was also quite curious about who would win the championship.


    In the original history, ¡°Erezer¡± didn¡¯t have so many players, and the president of Royalty, Tyrant, won the championship undoubtedly by spending a lot of money in real life.


    But the Empire¡¯s emergence brought revolutionary changes to the Northern Wind and Cloud version.


    The emergence of various faction subclasses, changes in quest lines, the rise of magical industries¡­


    The current situation in the Anzeta Great Wilderness had little relation to the history Cassius remembered.


    This was a brand new journey.


    Cassius didn¡¯t like predestined fate, it was too heavy and made him feel out of control.


    He enjoyed the feeling of changing destiny and even holding history in his own hands.


    Looking towards the players¡¯ seats below the stage, those who had stood out were already preparing for the upcoming battles, their fighting spirits high.


    Cassius turned his head and smiled at the white-haired girl beside him, asking casually, ¡°Tiniya, who do you think will win the championship?¡±


    Tiniya looked at the players disdainfully, muttering, ¡°Master, why didn¡¯t you let me participate? I could win the championship too.¡±


    She extended her hand and clenched it fiercely, ¡°These weaklings, I could crush them into meat patties with just one claw.¡±


    As she spoke, Tiniya¡¯s expression became obsessed, immersed in her own world.


    ¡°Then I could get the championship¡¯s gold coin and gain your favor, hehehe¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Cassius turned his head speechlessly, continuing to watch the competition.


    Expecting anything sensible from this white beast¡¯s dragon mouth was indeed a delusion.


    It was better to watch the competition.


    ¡°Flesh is weak, mechanical ascension! Crazy Brother is the champion!¡±


    ¡°S God is invincible!¡±


    ¡°The glory belongs to the Natural War Maniac!¡±


    ¡°Royalty¡¯s glory, heroes¡¯ immortality! The champion can only be from our Royalty!¡±


    The cheers of various star players¡¯ support groups rise and fall, starting a war of words over the championship¡¯s ownership.


    Under the Empire¡¯s official arrangements, the final 128 players began to draw lots to select their opponents and determine the order of appearance.


    This competition would proceed in seven rounds, adopting the most brutal elimination system; losing one match meant the end of their competition career.


    Therefore, the drawing of lots became quite important too.


    Players with bad luck could continuously draw strong opponents, being forced to reveal their trump cards early.


    ¡ªLike the famous ¡°Unlucky¡± Charlotte.


    Surrounded by numerous [Magic Coin] members, he looked at the copper plate in his hand that read ¡°Mighty Heavenly Dragon¡± and couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly.


    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m used to it.¡±


    Charlotte let out a long sigh.


    This cruel world was always so unfriendly to the unlucky ones.


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon was the president of [Shaolin Temple], renowned for his formidable physique, recognized as the strongest Martial Monk player at this stage.


    Facing such an opponent in the first round could only be said to align with his prediction of his own luck.


    The Martial Monk¡¯s agility was very high, especially for a high-ranking monk like Mighty Heavenly Dragon, making it very unfriendly for mages who feared close combat.


    Luckily, the opponent lacked counter-spell methods.


    It was still winnable.


    Charlotte took a deep breath, then looked at his battle order¡ªof course, the first match.


    ¡°This is really a headache. If all matches encounter strong enemies like this, it wouldn¡¯t be good if they figure out my spell rotation.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ no one can beat a well-prepared mage master!¡±


    The wand in his hand was entirely bright silver, with complex hollow patterns at the top, emitting a bright blue light.


    ¡ªIt was a Rare Level equipment, the [Battle Mage Wand].


    Its effect was simple but practical, allowing the holder¡¯s spells to have tracking and cover-penetration capabilities, finding targets in complex battlefields.


    Charlotte tightly gripped his wand, his expression somewhat serious.


    ¡°First to fight and facing a tough opponent. The reputation of Magic Coin rests on me!¡±


    ¡°President, go for it!¡±


    ¡°Keep that monk controlled to death!¡±


    ¡°Recasting the mage master¡¯s glory is our unwavering duty!¡±


    Magic Coin¡¯s members cheered one after another, rooting passionately for their president.


    As the president of one of the Four Great Nobles, Charlotte¡¯s strength was formidable.


    Moreover, for mages, financial strength was an important part of their power, and [Magic Coin]¡¯s financial resources were quite abundant. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the other side of the player seats, [Shaolin Temple]¡¯s players were also filled with excitement, their blood boiling.


    ¡°Brother Dragon, you are the strongest!¡±


    ¡°Abbot, how can a mere mage compete with our well-tempered bodies!¡±


    ¡°Weakling, that mage named Charlotte is a weakling! Use your fists to smash him apart!¡±


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon rubbed his shiny bald head, clasping his fists towards the players supporting him, ¡°I will do my best!¡±


    He grinned, revealing a set of neat and white teeth, ¡°Let them¡ªwitness the power of the Sanda Monk!¡±


    The commentator¡¯s passionate voice echoed throughout the arena.


    ¡°In this competition, with His Majesty Cassius personally present, I believe everyone will give their hundred percent to fight for the glorious championship position!¡±

 Chapter 513 - 513 417 Intense Showdown_2

    ?Chapter 513: Chapter 417 Intense Showdown_2 Chapter 513: Chapter 417 Intense Showdown_2 ¡°In this match, our contestants can unleash their full strength without any reservations¡ªbecause His Majesty personally set up a barrier in the arena, which nullifies all attacks that go beyond the field.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    An inquisitive player decided to test it out personally.


    He released a fireball towards the arena, but it seemed to hit an invisible barrier in mid-air, which instantly extinguished the fireball.


    This reckless player was quickly taken away by the Tiefling Guards.


    ¡°Whoa, that¡¯s advanced!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true!¡±


    ¡°Such a large Antimagic Field, that¡¯s insane!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I want to see some serious bombarding!¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius, seated on the throne, smiled silently. This was just a minor demonstration of the Imperial Region¡¯s capabilities, just a simple magic suppression.


    I can even silence you all!


    The announcer continued:


    ¡°Our first match is about to begin!¡±


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s reveal the contestants. On the Blue Side, contestant number 00023, Mighty Heavenly Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Mighty Heavenly Dragon!¡±


    ¡°The Martial Monk God! One-Punch Man!¡±


    The audience erupted into a wave of cheering.


    As a well-known Martial Monk contestant, Mighty Heavenly Dragon¡¯s decisive and power-packed style had attracted many fans.


    There were even video highlights of his fights on a certain video platform¡ª¡±One Punch Quells the Storm, No Deities Across the Four Seas,¡± with over a million views.


    The two-meter tall bald monk emerged from the contestant¡¯s tunnel, waving at the crowd with a radiant, confident smile.


    His muscular body was sculpted to perfection, and the gleam from his teeth and bald head was blinding to the spectators.


    ¡°Who turned on the light?¡±


    ¡°Whoa, that¡¯s one bright lightbulb!¡±


    ¡°This guy looks insanely strong, I pity his opponent. Who¡¯s the unlucky one who drew Mighty Heavenly in the first round?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I heard he one-punched everyone in the preliminaries without mercy.¡±


    ¡°On the Red Side, the contestant is¡ª¡±


    The announcer dragged out the announcement to build anticipation. When everyone¡¯s eyes were on the contestant tunnel, he revealed the answer.


    ¡°Number 00005, Charlotte!¡±


    At the end of the tunnel, a mage dressed in a light purple robe and holding a shiny silver Magic Wand appeared, with a serene expression.


    ¡°Whoa?¡±


    ¡°Truly an unlucky guy!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the guy who always gets nothing in twenty consecutive draws?¡±


    Hearing these exclamations, Charlotte¡¯s smile became a bit stiff, but he still bowed politely, greeting the audience.


    ¡°He¡¯s the president of one of the Four Great Nobles¡ªthe Magic Coin!¡±


    ¡°This is going to be good, a clash of the titans!¡±


    ¡°Holy smokes, look at his gear!¡±


    ¡°One, two, three¡­ nine pieces of Rare Equipment, even the ring on his finger is glowing blue. He¡¯s loaded!¡±


    ¡°As expected of a noble president, even selling me wouldn¡¯t buy me that much Divine Gear!¡±


    ¡°Reclaim the glory of the mage, it¡¯s our duty!¡±


    Listening to the various comments from the audience, Charlotte nodded in satisfaction.


    This was the stature a noble president should have!


    The announcer continued:¡±It seems the audience¡¯s spirits are high!¡±


    ¡°As expected for the finals, both sides are top players in their fields. On the Blue Side, we have the ¡®One-Punch Monk,¡¯ Mighty Heavenly Dragon. On the Red Side, we have the president of the top noble house Magic Coin, Charlotte.¡±


    ¡°So¡ªwho will win this match? Let¡¯s find out!¡±


    In the spacious arena, Charlotte and Mighty Heavenly Dragon faced each other from a distance.


    Whether it was the mage¡¯s silvery aura or the monk¡¯s towering, muscular frame, both exerted considerable psychological pressure on the other.


    Facing such formidable opponents, both were extremely serious, not letting their guard down for even a moment.


    ¡°Three, two, one¡­¡±


    ¡°Let the match begin!¡±


    At the referee¡¯s signal, the battle commenced.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A dull thud was heard as Mighty Heavenly Dragon¡¯s foot cracked the ground, sending dust flying, and he leaped into the air, leaving an afterimage.


    This was the Martial Monk¡¯s [Wall Climbing] ability, consuming the True Qi within to achieve high-speed movement.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The wind howled as the two-meter tall monk seemed to break through the air, so fast that even the audience had difficulty tracking him with their eyes.


    ¡°Prepare to die!¡±


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon let out a roar.


    The announcer¡¯s voice was filled with excitement:¡±We can see that Mighty Heavenly Dragon¡¯s approach is very aggressive; he wants to close the distance using Wall Climbing and deliver a fatal blow! So fast!¡±


    ¡°But as a mage, Charlotte is not without tricks!¡±


    Charlotte watched the airborne Mighty Heavenly Dragon, gently rubbing a ring on his hand.


    [Misty Step]


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The bald monk landed on the ground, creating a large crater, but the spot where the mage had stood was now just a thin veil of silvery-white smoke.


    Charlotte had reappeared dozens of meters away, raising his wand, the tip of which glowed with a blinding electric light.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    A Lightning Bolt ripped through the air, heading towards the monk.


    The lightning¡¯s speed exceeded human reaction times; even Mighty Heavenly Dragon found it difficult to evade.


    The monk¡¯s strong physique was instantly penetrated by the lightning, leaving charred marks, but he grinned, showing all his white teeth.


    But spells needed preparation.


    Spellcasting required time for incantation!


    ¡°An excellent defensive counterattack! We can see that after using Misty Step to create distance, Charlotte unleashed a Lightning Bolt to inflict damage!¡±


    ¡°But Mighty Heavenly Dragon¡¯s physique is so robust! He actually endured that strike!¡±

 Chapter 514 - 514 417 Intense Duel (3)

    ?Chapter 514: Chapter 417 Intense Duel (3) Chapter 514: Chapter 417 Intense Duel (3) As Charlotte released the Lightning Bolt, the Mighty Heavenly Dragon took the hit head-on and immediately stomped on the ground again, quickly approaching.


    Such speed!


    Charlotte was shocked. He had not yet cast his next spell, but the Martial Monk had already reached him, swinging his fist larger than a cauldron.


    A gust of wind hit.


    ¡°Tricks! How dare you show off in front of an expert! Mighty Heavenly Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡ª¡±


    A crisp sound echoed as Charlotte stood unmoved. A magical membrane appeared around him, blocking the powerful punch.


    It was Orthluck¡¯s Bouncing Shield!


    Instead, the bald monk was sent flying by the spell¡¯s force.


    Charlotte grinned, raising his Battle Mage Wand as it released a faint red light.


    It¡¯s now!


    The chance for the monk to avoid!


    [Human Binding Spell]


    A dim red beam shot out, heading straight for the monk.


    But the Mighty Heavenly Dragon roared, forcibly twisting his body in mid-air to dodge the attack through sheer control of his body.


    However, Charlotte rubbed another ring on his left hand, creating an invisible force field that enveloped the monk.


    [Slow Spell]


    The Mighty Heavenly Dragon¡¯s speed instantly slowed down drastically, his mid-air actions nearly frozen.


    The commentator¡¯s voice grew more excited: ¡°It¡¯s the Slow Spell! This is an area spell, the Mighty Heavenly Dragon cannot dodge it with his mobility advantage!¡±


    ¡°His attack this time is a bit reckless! Can Charlotte end the match?¡±


    Charlotte once again used Misty Step, moving behind the monk, raising his wand to deliver the final blow.


    At this moment, as the Mighty Heavenly Dragon was suspended in mid-air, the prayer beads around his neck released some sort of power.


    It¡¯s Antimagic!


    What appeared to be a decorative string of prayer beads actually concealed an antimagic magic orb!


    Even the bald monk with thick eyebrows and big eyes could deceive!


    The commentator said: ¡°It¡¯s Antimagic! The Mighty Heavenly Dragon has hidden an antimagic method and is looking for a chance to get close!¡±


    The Mighty Heavenly Dragon instantly broke free from the restraint, his muscles flexing all over.


    He turned and lunged at Charlotte, who seemed frozen in place from fear not far away, laughing out loud.


    ¡°Ha ha ha! You didn¡¯t expect this, did you? I¡¯ve got you now!¡±


    ¡°Mighty Heavenly Dragon! Revered Ksitigarbha, Bhakti Pema Hum!¡±


    With a rushing gust, he threw a punch, his cauldron-sized fist aiming straight at the mage¡¯s face!


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    The bald monk looked bewildered; he did not feel the expected flesh-to-flesh contact but instead hit thin air.


    And the ¡°Charlotte¡± standing there suddenly exploded.


    Chains covered with sharp fangs appeared out of nowhere, wrapping around his muscular body, pinning him to the spot.


    The commentator¡¯s voice sped up, growing even more excited: ¡°Oh my god! In a flash, the situation has reversed again!¡±


    ¡°Folks, you might have missed it, but just now, Charlotte moved into the blind spot of the Mighty Heavenly Dragon¡¯s vision, casting an Advanced Illusion and setting a Sharp Fang Trap within it.¡±


    ¡°And he then turned invisible, making the Mighty Heavenly Dragon believe that illusion was the real him!¡±


    ¡°Evidently, Charlotte¡¯s plan succeeded! The Mighty Heavenly Dragon is immobilized and can¡¯t move!¡±


    ¡°Will the match end here?¡±


    Charlotte then emerged from invisibility, with a relaxed smile on his face.


    He had long sensed something was wrong; how could the leader of a large guild lack antimagic means?


    This guy definitely tried to trick him!


    However, this bald monk¡¯s physique was too strong; ordinary spells wouldn¡¯t kill him in one hit.


    And once the immobilization effect of the Sharp Fang Trap wore off, the situation might reverse again.


    Without the protection of spells, with his frail constitution of 11 points, Charlotte couldn¡¯t withstand a punch from the bald monk.


    Master duels are like this¡ªthe situation changes rapidly, and opportunities vanish in an instant.


    Prolonging things invites trouble, there could be no holding back!


    Thinking this, Charlotte touched the mithril necklace on his chest that glowed with an icy blue light. This came from their guild¡¯s expedition to the Frost Giant ruins.


    Cold spells had a special effect on players with Red Dragon bloodlines. Though the Mighty Heavenly Dragon showed no Dragonborn traits, that inhuman muscle was essentially due to dragon blood.


    [Ice Cone Spell]


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    A giant ice cone appeared, stabbing at the immobilized monk nearby, piercing that muscular body.


    Blood splattered, icy light radiated.


    Fragments of ice fell.


    The Mighty Heavenly Dragon, pierced through the chest by the ice cone, finally couldn¡¯t hold on. As the cold spread, his half body turned into an ice block.


    Then, that muscular body collapsed with a thud, losing its vitality.


    The Mighty Heavenly Dragon, deceased.


    The commentator passionately announced the match¡¯s result: ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate Charlotte on winning this match!¡±


    ¡°Reforge the glory of the mage; it is our duty!¡±


    ¡°Guildmaster!¡±


    ¡°You mages really have dirty tricks!¡±


    In the audience, cheers surged like waves.


    And on the high platform throne, Cassius stroked his chin, nodding gently. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Not bad, it seems these players have gained some strength.¡±


    ¡°At least¡­they¡¯re stronger than players at this stage in the original history.¡±

 Chapter 515 - 515 418 Vampire vs Magician

    ?Chapter 515: Chapter 418 Vampire vs Magician Chapter 515: Chapter 418 Vampire vs Magician The elimination rounds were tightly scheduled. As soon as the Mighty Heavenly Dragon was carried off the stage, the next match started without delay.


    ¡°Oh? The next contestant is one everyone should be familiar with.¡±


    Upon hearing the announcer¡¯s voice, the players in the audience perked up with anticipation, focusing their eyes on the player tunnel.


    Could it be another star player? Maybe it¡¯s the one they¡¯re rooting for!


    ¡°Let¡¯s welcome the red-side contestant for this match, number 00038, Swashbuckler!¡±


    ¡°Boo¡ª¡ª¡±


    Immediately, a wave of boos surged from the audience, nearly drowning the entire venue.


    Swashbuckler was already notorious throughout the gaming world.


    At the end of the tunnel, a vampire dressed in a black outfit with dark red striped ¡°Nocturne¡± uniform appeared.


    His skin was deathly pale, his frame thin and gaunt, yet he exuded none of the nobility associated with the ¡°Blood Clan¡± in TV shows, giving off a sleazy vibe instead.


    ¡°Ptui! How unlucky!¡±


    ¡°I thought it was someone else, turns out it¡¯s the Rogue Beast.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rogue Beast, no matter who¡¯s on the other side, I¡¯ll be supporting them!¡±


    But Swashbuckler walked out with a confident stride, completely unbothered by the boos, even waving and smiling at the audience.


    ¡°Haha, you all are so enthusiastic. Thank you for your support!¡±


    ¡°Support your sister!¡±


    ¡°Get lost, Rogue Beast!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be happy if you dropped dead!¡±


    Curses continued to pour from the audience. If it weren¡¯t for the protective barrier, people might have thrown stones and rotten eggs at him.


    Swashbuckler¡¯s expression remained relaxed, he even gyrated his body and danced in the player tunnel.


    That black and red ¡°Nocturne¡± uniform looked like the outfit of a wannabe tough guy thanks to him.


    Years of antics had given him a face as thick as a city wall, fearless against a thousand angry fingers¡ªthough here, they were middle fingers.


    Hearing the waves of insults, the commentator awkwardly smiled. ¡°Haha, it seems that Swashbuckler is quite popular.¡±


    ¡°And in this match, his opponent is also a very popular player. Let¡¯s welcome the blue side contestant for this match, Summer Night Autumn Rain!¡±


    ¡°Oh oh oh oh oh!¡±


    ¡°Autumn Rain, I love you!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wave the flag for Autumn Rain!¡±


    Amid cheering, Summer Night Autumn Rain appeared at the end of the player tunnel.


    She wore an elegant robe, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders, and her golden eyes gleamed with firelight while flowing flames danced wildly around her.


    Immediately, the support group on stage swayed their glow signs in unison, and the audience erupted into a tsunami of cheers.


    ¡°Autumn Rain, burn that Rogue Beast!¡±


    The contrast was stark; the public support was overwhelmingly in favor of Summer Night Autumn Rain.


    The little brother from ¡°Nocturne,¡± Wolf of the Dark Night, tried to speak up for their leader.


    He weakly cheered, ¡°Brother Lang, go for it,¡± but was quickly silenced by the odd stares from those around him.


    From the high platform, Cassius watched the match with interest, his body leaning slightly forward.


    Dragon Pact Warlock.


    It was an advanced occupation he had recently made available to players, yet untested in actual combat.


    What kind of performance would it deliver?


    With the Elemental Controller trait, the Dragon Pact Warlock¡¯s spell list extended to include all Flame Spells.


    The power level was absolutely off the charts.


    Though the vampire template had impressive regenerative capabilities, it couldn¡¯t possibly compare to the overpowered advanced occupations.


    ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint me¡­¡±


    Looking at the two contestants in the arena, Cassius thought to himself.


    Amidst the overwhelming cheers of ¡°Go Summer Night Autumn Rain!¡± the referee gave the command.


    ¡°Let the match begin!¡±


    As soon as the referee finished speaking, Swashbuckler made his move!


    Against a formidable professional player, he knew he couldn¡¯t rely on his previous antics of ¡°standing still and taking hits.¡±


    That would lead to a quick defeat!


    He had to fully exploit his vampire advantages for a chance to win!


    Swashbuckler summoned the energy within him, exhaling puffs of black mist to create a dark veil.


    Darkness Spell!


    In this domain of darkness, light couldn¡¯t penetrate and non-magical light sources couldn¡¯t enter.


    But as a vampire, Swashbuckler naturally had night vision, allowing him to freely move within the darkness, waiting for a chance to attack.


    Hidden within the Darkness Spell was the necromantic mist of the Vampire¡¯s Touch, where even a slight contact would drain life energy.


    The black mist continued spreading; faint noises and Swashbuckler¡¯s sinister laughter emanated from the darkness.


    The commentator spoke gravely. ¡°Swashbuckler is creating a field advantage for himself, trying to maximize his vampire traits!¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s no reaction, the Darkness Spell will expand. But entering the darkness makes one vulnerable to Swashbuckler¡¯s ambush¡­¡±


    ¡°Rogue Beast is so cunning!¡±


    ¡°What a filthy playstyle. Rogue Beast is like a stuck piece of shit; you can¡¯t clean it off, and once you¡¯re in, it sticks to you.¡±


    ¡°Autumn Rain won¡¯t lose, will she?¡±


    ¡°There are ways. She could use ranged spells to clear the Darkness Spell, but that also risks getting ambushed by Rogue Beast¡­¡±


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Poisons-tipped darts shot out from the darkness in different directions, aiming straight for Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s face.


    However, thin, delicate flames swirled around her, forming a shimmering shield that blocked the darts.


    ¡°Darkness Spell, huh¡­¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain floated up, firelight flickering in her golden eyes. Her crimson robe billowed in midair.

 Chapter 516 - 516 418 Vampire vs Magician_2

    ?Chapter 516: Chapter 418: Vampire vs Magician_2 Chapter 516: Chapter 418: Vampire vs Magician_2 She extended her delicate hand, pointed towards the black mist, and softly chanted a spell.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    There was a sound of the air splitting, a blazing fireball appeared in the darkness, dissipating a large portion of the black mist and illuminating the surroundings.


    That was the Blazing Magic Orb!


    And the vampire was exposed in this light, his skin slightly burning.


    ¡°What the hell?¡±


    ¡°One get oiled!¡±


    Swashbuckler exclaimed, instantly flicking his cloak, flying low, escaping into the darkness.


    Run while the wind is tight!


    Even while running, he didn¡¯t forget to aim his hand crossbow concealed in his sleeve at the opponent, secretly shooting a few arrows.


    ¡°Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!¡±


    A few poisoned arrows came flying.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain dodged them swiftly, then lightly waved her arm, controlling the Blazing Magic Orb to roll at high speed.


    Thus, a strange scene appeared on the battlefield¡ªthe vampire was running in front, and a fireball was chasing behind.


    But as the vampire ran, his figure continued to flicker and change, flinging various poisons, darts, and even bombs.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain frowned slightly: ¡°I can¡¯t drag this out, Swashbuckler is too cunning.¡±


    Thinking this, she cast another spell.


    Fire Wall Spell!


    A wall of searing flames suddenly rose up, blocking Swashbuckler¡¯s escape route, almost causing him to crash into it.


    ¡°Oh shit¡ª¡±


    ¡°So hot!¡±


    Swashbuckler patted out the flames on his burning clothes, let out a strange cry, and then made an urgent turn.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain pointed skyward, the searing and frenzied magical energy burst out, gradually converging in the air.


    A giant, flame-entwined rock hovered in the sky.


    Meteorite Fall Technique!


    Swashbuckler looked up, immediately startled, almost jumping up: ¡°What the hell? Earth Bursting Star?¡±


    However, he had no time to think¡ªthe next attack was imminent.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain sliced downward with her hand, her fingertip pointing at Swashbuckler¡¯s location.


    Instantly, under her control, a Fire Meteorite fell from the rock formation, accompanied by a piercing whistle, heading straight for Swashbuckler.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The flames spread in all directions, explosions echoed through the sky, and a huge crater appeared on the ground, with thick smoke rolling.


    Amidst the smoke, chaotic shadows appeared, along with the faint sound of wings flapping.


    Swashbuckler had turned into dozens of Blood-Sucking Bats, escaping death from the horrific explosion.


    One of the bats even screeched angrily: ¡°What, are spells free?¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    But Summer Night Autumn Rain did not answer; her response was the continuous falling of meteors from the sky and one terrifying explosion after another.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The flames spread, engulfing several Blood-Sucking Bats.


    Even the bats couldn¡¯t survive the continuous explosions, soon only a few were left, dodging around desperately.


    Swashbuckler¡¯s proud regeneration ability was utterly worthless in the face of this horrifying, burning flame.


    The commentator spoke passionately: ¡°Swashbuckler is in a very passive position! In terms of energy output, the Trickster can¡¯t compare with the Dragon Pact Warlock.¡±


    ¡°With the blessing of the Dragon Heart, Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s relentless bombardment has no break; Swashbuckler must find a way to break the deadlock!¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    Scorching Rays shot out, a few more Blood-Sucking Bats screeched in agony, charred black, and fell from mid-air.


    The audience erupted in laughter.


    ¡°Running like a scaredy-cat, Rogue Beast.¡±


    ¡°Rogue Beast at its finest!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he just a punching bag?¡±


    However, in a corner unnoticed by the crowd, an invisible bat slipped quietly behind Summer Night Autumn Rain, controlling a cloud of blood mist.


    ¡°Look quickly, what is that?¡±


    Finally, someone with sharp eyes noticed the anomaly, the blood mist and bat gradually condensed into a thin figure¡ªthe vampire Swashbuckler.


    ¡°What the hell? A mini Rogue Beast?¡±


    Due to excessive blood loss, Swashbuckler was now less than a meter tall, looking like a pocket-sized doll.


    In a 1v1 duel, a Rogue focusing on ambush tactics was at a considerable disadvantage.


    In terms of long-range, he couldn¡¯t match the Mage or Magician; in close combat, he couldn¡¯t match the warrior or Martial Monk; his advantage was limited.


    Stealth?


    In such an open field, where could he hide?


    Or ambush?


    With only one opponent, who was staring at you, how could he redirect the opponent¡¯s attention?


    In the preliminary rounds, Swashbuckler could rely on the unique characteristics of the Vampire template and his level superiority to toy with his opponents.


    But in the elimination rounds, high-level players didn¡¯t lack offensive means and, as a Trickster, a branch of Wanderer, he could only do one thing¡ªkill!


    Come on, fight to the death!


    He gambled on the possibility that the Dragon Pact Warlock had weak close-combat abilities and could not resist his lethal ambush.


    ¡°Haha, come on!¡±


    ¡°So what if you¡¯re a professional? Didn¡¯t expect this, right? This is the route of my ambush!¡±


    ¡°Little Swashbuckler¡± held a Poisoned Dagger, wearing the same wild grin, he flew towards Summer Night Autumn Rain.


    The blade emitted an extremely cold necromantic energy, which would greedily drain the opponent upon contact with flesh.


    That was [Vampire¡¯s Touch]!


    Several more poisoned darts pierced the air, flying towards her.


    This was his final ambush!


    However, the flames around Summer Night Autumn Rain blocked the incoming darts once again.


    And the powerful body granted by the Dragon Heart gave her incredibly strong reflexes.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain suddenly turned around, her golden eyes blazing, locking onto Swashbuckler¡¯s blood-red eyes.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    And from her seemingly slender arm, an immense strength surged out, firmly grasping Swashbuckler¡¯s dagger-wielding hand.


    Swashbuckler¡¯s grin froze on his face; he struggled hard, trying to wield the dagger.


    ¡°Seems a bit troublesome¡­¡±


    ¡°No way, this strength¡ªaren¡¯t you supposed to be a Magician?¡±


    Swashbuckler¡¯s face was illuminated by the flames, even appearing scorched in places, his eyes reflecting the blinding light.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain slightly opened her delicate mouth, expelling the accumulated scorching flames.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    That was [Dragon¡¯s Breath]!


    When the flames dispersed, Swashbuckler had turned to ash.


    No matter how powerful a vampire¡¯s regenerative ability was, it couldn¡¯t reassemble the ashes flying in the air back into a human form.


    The audience instantly erupted like a tidal wave, the players were exceptionally excited.


    ¡°Well done!¡±


    ¡°As expected of my Autumn Rain wife!¡±


    ¡°Am I the only one who feels the Dragon Pact Warlock¡¯s strength is a bit overpowered?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s like spells are free to cast, each spell is incredibly powerful, and they even gain strength and constitution.¡±


    The commentator¡¯s voice was still passionate: ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate Summer Night Autumn Rain; she won this match with overwhelming bombardment!¡±


    ¡°And this is the result everyone expected, Swashbuckler, I mean Swashbuckler, despite using all his means, saw no hope of victory¡­¡±


    The commentator inadvertently revealed his bias.


    Meanwhile, among the top players, many professional gamers wore serious expressions, carefully analyzing the match.


    Generally, Magicians only use a few familiar spells, their spell repertoire can be figured out through a few battles, and then specific countermeasures can be prepared.


    But Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s combat defied this notion.


    The Dragon Pact Warlock¡¯s spell variety far exceeded their expectations, even a Mage player like Charlotte was dumbfounded.


    Maxed-out spell potency is one thing, but having so many spells?


    How were conventional Mages supposed to play?


    It¡¯s no exaggeration to say, in this match, Summer Night Autumn Rain performed like a mini-boss.


    On the throne of the high platform, Cassius listened to the players¡¯ discussions, thinking to himself: ¡°The advanced occupation I personally granted power to is, of course, overpowered.¡±


    ¡°Want to be the best among players? Want to have powerful strength? Then work hard for the Empire!¡±

 Chapter 517 - 517 419 Aerial Battle

    ?Chapter 517: Chapter 419 Aerial Battle Chapter 517: Chapter 419 Aerial Battle Three days had passed, and after sixty-four intense matches, the first round of the elimination tournament had come to an end under the watchful eyes of Emperor Cassius of the Ashen Empire.


    Half of the players advanced, while the other half faced a dismal exit.


    During these three days of elimination, players showcased their unique skills, creating numerous memorable moments:


    Swashbuckler was crushed, Mighty Heavenly Dragon was pierced through the heart by an Ice Cone, Rain City relied on the ¡°Three Noble Families¡± to achieve a surprising victory over the Vice President of Royalty, the Sky Flying Witch drew a Seventh Tier Fireball spell to instantly slay an opponent, Singo won an aerial battle against Big Blade, who was also a Red Scale Conqueror¡­


    Mantou also took this opportunity to amass a large amount of video footage, preparing to release it all at once after the tournament and rake in a huge amount of traffic.


    And his luck with the draw was unexpectedly good, facing a regular Paladin player and easily winning the match with the aerial advantage of his Wyvern Knight.


    In the players¡¯ seats, Mantou, who had successfully advanced, stood with his hands on his hips and sighed deeply: ¡°The world is bustling with heroes after all¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that just a minor effort would bring me to this level.¡±


    Singo, beside him, poured cold water without mercy: ¡°Of the top sixty-four, ninety percent are professional gamers.¡±


    He drew a few arrows from his quiver and smeared some unknown liquid on their tips.


    ¡°This time, it won¡¯t be about your luck, but about who is lucky enough to draw you; that would be the best draw for sure.¡±


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but retort: ¡°I am an entertainment host, on par with professionals!¡±


    Singo ignored him, instead looking toward the Tiefling staff member in the distance: ¡°Look, the next draw is about to start. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯re still that lucky.¡±


    Mantou puffed out his chest and pointed at his nose confidently: ¡°I have solid skills to rely on; I¡¯ll take on anyone who comes.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Heh, we¡¯ll see then.¡±


    Singo left these words and went to queue for the draw.


    Mantou, meanwhile, took out some finely crafted equipment from the Fire Dwarves and polished it until it gleamed, muttering softly: ¡°Maybe I can make it to the finals¡­¡±


    After a while, Singo returned with a bronze plaque, his expression somewhat odd, with a face that usually showed no emotion now looking like it was trying to hold back laughter.


    Mantou looked up curiously and asked: ¡°Who did you draw?¡±


    ¡°What? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡±


    Suddenly, Mantou seemed to think of a possibility, and his face stiffened instantly, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.


    ¡°Looks like¡­ my luck is still good.¡±


    As he spoke, Singo directly showed the bronze plaque, on which the words ¡°I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou¡± were clearly written.


    Mantou immediately sweated like rain, his face turning red as he struggled to say two words.


    ¡°Oh crap.¡±


    As teammates, Mantou knew Singo¡¯s strength all too well.


    This guy spent twenty-four hours a day in the gaming pod, held a high position at the Red Scale Guard Station, and ran around exploring ruins every day, practically gathering all the resources the map had to offer.


    Although Mantou called himself ¡°Xin Dog¡± every day and posted all kinds of critical comments on forums.


    Even he had to admit that Singo¡¯s dedication and skill were maxed out, with countless trump cards in his hand¡ªit was no exaggeration to call him the strongest scattered individual player.


    What?


    I¡¯m going to fight Xin Dog?


    For real¡­


    Although it sounded a bit embarrassing, this was indeed Mantou¡¯s inner thought at the moment; how was he supposed to fight?


    Both were [Red Scale Conquerors], Singo had his Riding Skill proficiency up to +19, and had learned various aerial combat techniques, standing shoulder to shoulder with professional mentor Alger.


    Mantou¡¯s Riding Skill was still hovering around +14, patrolling every day and capturing people for some experience and contributions.


    In terms of body attributes, Singo had explored dozens of ruins, drinking various Giant Elixirs and constitution-modifying potions until he was full, his strength reportedly reaching 19 points.


    Mantou, on the other hand, fooled around, shooting funny video footage, his attribute points all relying on free panel bonuses.


    The only thing that could barely match up was his equipment; Mantou had scammed several pieces of rare equipment from the Fire Dwarves, which at least on the surface could rival Singo¡¯s rare set.


    But in terms of items, the gap was even more exaggerated; Singo was known to be a complete collector.


    At this stage, any named special items were almost certainly in his possession, his methods endlessly variable.


    ¡°How the heck am I supposed to fight¡­ totally crushed by Xin Dog in every aspect.¡±


    The more Mantou thought, the more discouraged he became; he slumped on the couch in the players¡¯ lounge like a deflated bun, his eyes vacant.


    No, wait, he seemed to have a trump card too!


    Mantou sprang up from the couch like a carp, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, his gaze once again filled with passion.


    Isn¡¯t it just Xin Dog?


    Might as well give it my all, maybe I¡¯ll come out on top? Then wouldn¡¯t I have a shot at the championship?


    ¡°Number 00325, I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou.¡±


    The referee¡¯s voice echoed, and Mantou walked out from the players¡¯ tunnel with a determined look, waving to the audience.


    Hmph, this time I¡¯ll show everyone my true strength!


    With a mortal¡¯s body, I¡¯ll stand shoulder to shoulder with professionals, and then I¡¯ll cut my brilliant performance into a video highlight, gaining a huge wave of new female fans.


    The barrage will be filled with ¡°Brother Mantou is so handsome,¡± isn¡¯t that wonderful?


    As the most famous video blogger of the ¡°Erezer Channel,¡± Mantou had decent popularity, but not many loyal fans.


    Most players treated him as an electronic pet, watching his videos for fun, having them as their meal-time entertainment.


    ¡°It¡¯s Mantou the Old Thief!¡±


    ¡°Whoa? He made it to the top sixty-four too?¡±


    Boohoo, this is probably Mantou¡¯s last match, better cherish it while it lasts.¡±

 Chapter 518 - 518 419 Aerial Battle_2

    ?Chapter 518: Chapter 419 Aerial Battle_2 Chapter 518: Chapter 419 Aerial Battle_2 ¡°Old Pigeon, hurry back to edit the video! Also, don¡¯t sneak in your personal stuff!¡±


    ¡°King Tiger, Mantou¡¯s charisma: 5! Pagoda subdues river demon, Mantou is really awesome!¡±


    The audience¡¯s shouts erupted, but it wasn¡¯t the support Mantou had imagined.


    He couldn¡¯t help but lift his head and retort on the spot, ¡°It¡¯s charisma 9, hey, don¡¯t spread rumors!¡±


    However, the audience only became more unruly.


    ¡°He¡¯s agitated!¡±


    ¡°So agitated!¡±


    ¡°Mantou¡¯s getting red hot, someone pour some water on him to cool him down, or maybe get him some iced pear drink?¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re in a hurry, but hold on, say, who is Mantou¡¯s opponent¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    This wouldn¡¯t do, he couldn¡¯t let the chatter distract him; it was all just nonsense from trolls.


    Mantou walked forward with a pained expression, arriving at the designated spot.


    ¡°Number 00005, Xin Dog.¡±


    As the referee announced the Blue Side¡¯s name, the crowd went wild again.


    ¡°Holy crap, S-God?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, Mantou¡¯s definitely going back to video editing now!¡±


    ¡°Mantou: I¡¯m up against Singo?¡±


    ¡°S-God is great, no need for more words!¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog¡¯s fans, calm down, crushing noobs again, what a joke.¡±


    ¡°Wow, Xin Dog got lucky, we probably need someone later to snipe this jerk.¡±


    ¡°Damn, don¡¯t let this guy win the championship, Xin Dog¡¯s fanboys will be jumping everywhere.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    Singo was a highly controversial figure, revered as a deity by his supporters, who saw him as Erezer¡¯s guiding light, while his detractors loathed him, considering him a complete jerk.


    But one thing was clear to both sides: Singo was very strong.


    So no one expected much from this match; the real-time odds of Singo winning were as high as 23.00.


    Both competitors drew significant attention, and the commentators were especially enthusiastic about this highly anticipated match.


    ¡°On the Red Side, we have the famous blogger I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou, who has 500,000 followers on the platform, and his videos are extremely popular.¡±


    ¡°And on the Blue Side, we have the renowned strategy expert and professional player, Singo. In the last match, he just defeated the much-anticipated Big Blade player¡­¡±


    ¡°Interestingly, these two competitors are teammates from the same squad, both members of the Red Scale Conqueror.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a saying: ¡®Facing a pro isn¡¯t scary, being the weaker one is.¡¯ What kind of sparks will fly from this clash? Let¡¯s wait and see!¡±


    ¡°The match begins!¡±


    At the referee¡¯s command, both Red Scale Conquerors soared into the sky on their bipedal wyverns simultaneously.


    Mantou¡¯s strategy was simple: close combat!


    If it came to ranged fighting, he would absolutely lose to Singo, who had the Precision of Bow Fighting specialty, so he had to close in quickly, throwing wild punches like a novice fighter.


    ¡°Noodle, charge!¡±


    Mantou shouted fiercely, and his wyvern flapped its wings, lunging directly at Singo.


    ¡°Heh¡­ trying to get close to me?¡±


    Singo sneered, squeezing his legs tightly.


    The wyvern beneath him immediately understood, flapping its wings and quickly taking a higher position.


    Singo calmly drew a feathered arrow from the quiver on his back, nocking it to his bow.


    He pulled the finely crafted Hunter¡¯s Longbow until it formed a full moon, aiming at Mantou¡¯s head from a distance of over 100 meters.


    ¡°What the¡­?¡±


    Mantou noticed the ¡°Hunter¡¯s Mark¡± above his head.


    He was all too familiar with this thing; it not only had a tracking effect but also caused additional damage.


    If he got hit in the head, it would be fatal!


    With this in mind, Mantou hunched over slightly, gripping the reins tightly, and shouted:


    ¡°Noodle, turn right!¡±


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡ª¡±


    The gleaming arrow pierced the air, heading straight for Mantou.


    Noodle flapped one side¡¯s wings, rolling in mid-air, and the arrow narrowly missed, grazing its wing membrane.


    Just as Mantou thought he had dodged the attack¡ª


    ¡°Bang!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The arrowhead suddenly exploded, releasing a cloud of poisonous smoke that enveloped both Mantou and Noodle.


    ¡°That¡¯s so damn sneaky¡­¡±


    ¡°Cough, cough¡­ Noodle, fly out!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Noodle let out an angry roar, flapping his wings with all his might, finally breaking free from the thick smoke.


    But his actions became sluggish and weak.


    Mantou gritted his teeth, muttering, ¡°This won¡¯t work, we need to take the high ground to fight them¡­¡±


    ¡°Noodle, ascend!¡±


    Despite the poisonous interference, Noodle obeyed, vigorously flapping his wings.


    Although Mantou wasn¡¯t skilled with a bow, he did have some ranged options¡ªhe had bought a handgun from Battlefield Wheelchair Man.


    Mantou pulled out the gun from his waist pouch, quickly loaded it, aimed at the distant Singo, and pulled the trigger.


    Time to modernize, old man!


    Cold weapons might be romantic, but I want to win!


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    But the distance was too far.


    And Singo didn¡¯t stay at the high ground as Mantou imagined; instead, he began a diving glide, circling around Mantou at high speed.


    He was incredibly fast, almost like a scarlet wind, constantly rolling, turning, spiraling, as if performing an aerial stunt show.


    Even the naked eye struggled to track him, let alone aim and shoot accurately.


    In a fit of frustration from missing multiple shots, Mantou watched as Singo shot arrow after arrow while flying at high speed.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    A crisp metallic sound.


    The arrow hit Mantou¡¯s chest plate, nearly piercing through, but the armor was strong enough to save his life.


    However, deep cracks appeared on the ¡°rare¡± level chest plate.


    The spiral-shaped arrowhead could even destroy equipment!


    Mantou felt a pang of pain¡ªthis was rare-level armor, after all!

 Chapter 519 - 519 419 Aerial Battle_3

    ?Chapter 519: Chapter 419 Aerial Battle_3 Chapter 519: Chapter 419 Aerial Battle_3 A strange-looking arrow exploded in mid-air, causing a massive explosion that almost made Mantou fall off the wyvern¡¯s back.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another explosion created a mushroom cloud in midair, seemingly predicting Mantou¡¯s escape route, nearly engulfing both him and the dragon.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    Mantou couldn¡¯t help but shout, his face already charred black, and his equipment shattered.


    ¡°Some progress, but not much.¡±


    From a distance, Xin Dog stopped, shook his head with a smile, and a spark of battle excitement gleamed in his eyes.


    ¡°Ending it this way would be too boring.¡±


    He muttered, ¡°So let me see¡­ What do you rely on?¡±


    Xin Dog hovered in mid-air on his wyvern, drawing the long sword from his back and pointing it at Mantou from afar.


    The meaning was clear.


    ¡°A duel?¡±


    Initially, Mantou had almost no way to counter Xin Dog¡¯s annoying kite tactics.


    But since Xin Dog had given him this opportunity, he just might win!


    ¡°In that case¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for not being honorable! Noodle, let¡¯s go! Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge!¡±


    Mantou flashed a passionate smile, tightened his legs, leaned forward, and his body pressed against the wyvern¡¯s torso.


    His elbow gripped a nearly six-meter-long Silent Steel Spear, the sharp tip piercing the air with a whistling sound.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Noodle understood Mantou¡¯s intention and let out a roar.


    He immediately folded his wings, retracted his forelimbs, straightened his tail, and streamlined his body for wind-breaking, diving at high speed from the sky.


    After countless charges together, Mantou and Noodle¡¯s coordination was ingrained in their bones and instincts.


    They dove like a meteor towards Xin Dog in the distance.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    Xin Dog assumed a charging stance, guiding his wyvern into high-speed flight through the sky.


    In just a few breaths, the two closed from hundreds of meters apart, their wyverns roaring almost simultaneously.


    They seemed to feel each other¡¯s scorching breath.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Two nearly identical massive red dragon phantoms appeared behind the two Red Scale Conquerors, exuding endless majesty.


    The collision was imminent!


    The audience held their breath, watching this scene intently, and Cassius watched with great interest.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    A gleam flashed, and blood splashed.


    In a split second, Xin Dog¡¯s wyvern twisted its body in midair, dodging the spear thrust like a rolling wheel.


    When they were less than two meters apart, Xin Dog swung his long sword from below, severing Noodle¡¯s slender neck.


    Noodle¡¯s roar abruptly stopped, his massive body separating from his head, about to fall from midair.


    The outcome was decided.


    This was everyone¡¯s thought.


    In the Red Scale Conqueror duels, the death of either mount meant the end of the match.


    As the saying goes, ¡°Shoot the horse first.¡± Without a wyvern, the knight couldn¡¯t resist.


    Even the commentator said excitedly, ¡°The match is about to end! What a thrilling battle, let¡¯s congratulate Xin Dog in advance¡­ Wait, what is that?¡±


    A sudden change!


    On the headless wyvern¡¯s back, Mantou suddenly dropped the reins and leaped from the dragon saddle.


    ¡°If this can¡¯t secure victory, then¡ª¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be human anymore, Xin Dog!¡±


    Mantou¡¯s body surface sprouted red scales, two massive wings grew from his back, and a tail protruded.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    Mantou flapped his wings in midair, barely stabilizing his body, then pounced at Xin Dog with claws outstretched.


    The commentator¡¯s voice was especially surprised, ¡°Oh my god, Mantou has turned into a dragon!¡±


    ¡°This has never happened in any previous match! Is this Mantou¡¯s trump card?¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the high platform, Tiniya scratched her cheek irritably. This power felt familiar, but she couldn¡¯t place it¡­


    High above the arena, Xin Dog looked at the charging dragonling with a confident smile.


    ¡°So it was after all¡­.¡±


    ¡°Mantou, I guessed your trump card!¡±


    Xin Dog raised his right hand, revealing a long-hidden sleeve crossbow equipped with a sharp cross-shaped bolt on his wrist.


    It was a Dragon Slayer Arrow!


    This thing was absolutely contraband within the Empire, but he had acquired several through Southern Continent Company connections in the Thrace Region.


    Xin Dog aimed at the dragonling¡¯s chest and pulled the trigger without hesitation.


    ¡°Whizz¡ª¡±


    The cross-shaped bolt tore through the scales on Mantou¡¯s chest, piercing his heart.


    ¡°Ow~~¡±


    The dragonling Mantou had turned into let out a heart-wrenching wail, then fell to the ground.


    Xin Dog stood on the wyvern¡¯s back, staring down at the falling Mantou, and quietly said, ¡°Sorry Mantou, I deceived you. There¡¯s no such thing as friends in the arena.¡±


    ¡°Heh, I¡¯ve collected all your intel!¡±

 Chapter 520 - 520 420 Chainsaw Sword

    ?Chapter 520: Chapter 420 Chainsaw Sword Chapter 520: Chapter 420 Chainsaw Sword On the throne of the arena grandstand, Cassius nodded slightly, giving a positive evaluation, ¡°The ability to shift into a dragon¡­ Now this competition is worth watching.¡±


    Ramp also came over and took the opportunity to flatter, ¡°These Starfallen can possess such power thanks to your cultivation.¡±


    But Tiniya, still puzzled, scratched her head in silence for a moment before softly asking, ¡°Why did I smell my own scent from that Starfallen?¡±


    ¡°Could it be¡­ he¡¯s my blood relative?¡±


    Maybe from reading too many novels, Tiniya¡¯s clever mind had already imagined a story of ¡°a White Dragon falling in love with a human, finally giving birth to a half-blood child.¡±


    ¡°What a disgrace, to mingle with filthy humans, it completely lowers my status.¡±


    ¡°Should I¡­ silence that human, but he seems to be one of the Undying? What should I do¡­.¡±


    Tiniya rubbed her chin, seemingly seriously considering this matter, wanting to get rid of this ¡°blood relative.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Cassius was also very puzzled.


    How did this White Dragon¡¯s brain grow?


    Though her intelligence was nearly on par with an average human, her thought process was always so quirky.


    And Ramp, standing next to her, had already taken out a golden silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat dripping from his forehead, a embarrassed smile appearing on his ugly face.


    The meaning was clear: ¡°Your Majesty, believe me, it was not I who taught her to be like this!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    A huge noise sounded, like a wyvern screeching.


    Only to see Steel Torrent piloting the ¡°Guardian¡± armor, a terrifying weapon attached to its left arm.


    A heavy sword body, jagged teeth interlocked like a Tyrannosaurus, those teeth rotating with the high-speed operation of the steam engine, producing a harsh noise.


    That was a Chainsaw Sword!


    An extreme manifestation of violent beauty, one strike could shred any monster or ghost into pieces.


    Steel Torrent laughed wildly, shouting to his distant opponent, ¡°Hahahaha! Come! Taste my sword!¡±


    A hundred meters away, a paladin player stood, gasping for breath and supporting himself with his sword.


    He was tall and robust, wearing heavy mithril armor, holding a great sword and a giant shield, adorned with various rare equipment, exuding an aura of grandeur. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was the famous leader of the Noble Guild [Royalty], the Empire¡¯s Dragonblood Earl, Tyrant.


    No matter which game he entered, he always secured the undisputed first place with his immense financial resources, firmly occupying the top, making [Royalty]¡¯s name known throughout the server.


    But this time, in ¡°Erezer,¡± he hadn¡¯t managed to¡ªyet this only sparked his competitive spirit.


    He had to become the champion!


    At this moment, Tyrant looked rather disheveled, his face somewhat grim: ¡°Damn it¡­ Why is the Mechanical God Cult so strong!¡±


    ¡°The money I spent in Erezer is far more than theirs! Our Royalty must become the champion!¡±


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    From afar, Steel Torrent activated the thrusters on his back.


    He pulled the chainsaw sword in his hand, like a terrifying steel behemoth, charging toward Tyrant, trailing billowing smoke behind him.


    Unstoppable!


    Tyrant grit his teeth, raising the nearly two-meter-tall fine steel great shield in his hand, muscles tensed all over.


    That was the rare-quality [Imperial Guardian], which Tyrant had spent over ten thousand contributions to buy from the Empire¡¯s official store, boasting the [Indestructible] trait.


    But this wasn¡¯t over yet.


    Aegis Armor! Spirit Weapons!


    Magical aurora flashed, ghostly frosts covered Tyrant and his equipment, creating floating, spiritual weapons.


    And at this moment, Steel Torrent had already driven his mecha close, laughing maniacally as he raised the chainsaw sword.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    ¡°Clang! Clang! Clang!¡±


    Sparks flew, silver flakes scattered, a huge noise erupted, accompanied by the clear sound of metal clashing.


    The chainsaw sword¡¯s teeth rotated rapidly, effortlessly slicing through Tyrant¡¯s fine steel great shield.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡±


    Tyrant¡¯s expression was one of shock.


    Steel Torrent excitedly shouted, ¡°Who gave you the guts to confront me and my Guardian head-on!¡±


    ¡°Taste my chainsaw sword!¡±


    The jagged, sharp teeth spun even faster, the blade turning red-hot, steam rising from his arm.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    Accompanied by a huge noise, the fine steel great shield was split entirely, and the rapidly rotating chainsaw sword aimed at Tyrant himself.


    The floating spirit weapons slashed at Steel Torrent together, but they could only leave white scratches on the armor¡¯s surface.


    ¡°No, impossible! I spent so much money¡­.¡±


    Tyrant abandoned the expensive shield, fleeing in disarray, not forgetting to cast various protective and acceleration spells on himself.


    But how could two human legs outrun an armor equipped with thrusters?


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    With a loud noise, Steel Torrent surged ahead, reaching Tyrant.


    The ground cracked, dust filled the air.


    Facing an unarmed enemy, Steel Torrent grinned maliciously, raising the heavy chainsaw sword and swinging it down fiercely.


    The chainsaw sword traced a beautiful arc mid-air, its barbed sharp teeth spinning at high speed.


    ¡°Buzz¡ªBoom!¡±


    Flesh splattered, fragments flew everywhere.


    Several spell shields shattered instantly, the thick mithril armor torn apart.


    And Tyrant¡¯s body, reinforced by various rare potions and unnaturally strong, was brutally ripped in half.


    This intense combat thrilled the audience on the stands, making them cheer and applaud excitedly.


    ¡°Flesh is weak, mechanical ascension!¡±

 Chapter 521 - 521 420 Chainsaw Sword_2

    ?Chapter 521: Chapter 420 Chainsaw Sword_2 Chapter 521: Chapter 420 Chainsaw Sword_2 The commentator¡¯s voice also rose and fell: ¡°This is the ultimate display of violent aesthetics! Let us congratulate the Steel Torrent player on another victory!¡±


    The highly anticipated president of [Royalty], a professional gamer considered a strong contender for the championship¡ªTyrant, was ruthlessly eliminated in the top sixty-four match.


    And the Steel Torrent once again advanced to the top thirty-two with an unparalleled crushing stance.


    ¡­


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    With a series of explosions, the entire battlefield was engulfed in flames.


    The warrior from the combat master branch couldn¡¯t evade, being blasted into a charred corpse.


    The commentator shouted: ¡°It¡¯s a chain explosion! Let us congratulate the Charlotte player for winning this match!¡±


    Charlotte held a Magic Wand, her gaze calm, displaying a ¡°everything is under control¡± expression.


    ¡°Recasting the glory of the mage master is our duty!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°How boring, the match can already be declared over.¡±


    ¡°Thank you all for watching.¡±


    A tall, slender man in an elegant suit pushed his silver-framed glasses up his nose, leisurely straightened his lapel, and saluted the audience by doffing his hat.


    Behind him, black necromancy fog billowed, and three terrifying undead warriors let out hoarse roars.


    Vice President Bright Moon of the Magic Coin was trapped in the black fog.


    He bore numerous black wounds and had an extremely grave expression, his Mage Robe tattered.


    ¡°This level of undead creatures¡­¡±


    Suddenly, the nearly four-meter-tall Boske Zombie charged forward, shattering the shield around Bright Moon with a single slash.


    Rackman¡¯s Undead Knight, riding a skeletal Giant Eagle, screeched in mid-air, with arrows raining down from the sky.


    Notte¡¯s undead Skeleton then struck from behind, appearing like a Ghost Charm, stabbing a dagger into the Mage¡¯s back.


    ¡°Ugh¡ª¡±


    Bright Moon spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.


    Rain City turned around, looked at the corpse in the black fog, and clapped his hands with a smile.


    ¡°As expected of my meticulously trained ¡®Three Noble Families,¡¯ they ended the match thirty seconds faster than I anticipated.¡±


    ¡°Rain City player is really¡­quite confident.¡±


    ¡°This guy is really a pervert¡­¡±


    ¡°The configuration of this ¡®Three Noble Families¡¯ is too outrageous, a Paladin, a Giant Eagle Knight, and an assassin. He could participate in the team competition solo.¡±


    ¡°Bright Moon¡¯s loss is understandable¡­¡±


    ¡­ S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ahhhhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Natural War Maniac howled at the sky, his eyes bloodshot, muscles bulging, and his skin covered in protruding veins emitted white steam.


    This was the Berserker¡¯s [Frenzied Rage]!


    From a distance, Holy Light Bro, unwilling to be outdone, posed provocatively on the ground, transforming into a large owl bear, roaring in anger.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    Vines shot up from the ground like tentacles, wrapping around the Natural War Maniac, a power of the [Earth Fellowship] Druids.


    ¡°Ahhhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    However, the Natural War Maniac swung his Battle Axe, spinning several times, tearing apart all the branches and vines around him.


    Plant growth, Vine Magic, and other Druid Spells were utterly ineffective against this frenzied Berserker.


    He stomped on the ground, jumping over ten meters high, raising his blood-stained Great Axe and bringing it down with massive force.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The earth shook, and stones flew.


    The owl bear rolled aside to dodge, the power of that axe was terrifying, even splitting the ground with a deep gash.


    ¡°Swipe¡ª¡ª¡±


    Another axe swing came, and the transformed owl bear desperately dodged again.


    Compared to the hulking owl bear, the completely berserk Natural War Maniac seemed like the true beast.


    This time, Holy Light Bro wasn¡¯t so lucky; the spinning axe cut into his torso, slicing through his thick fur.


    ¡°Awww¡ª¡ª¡±


    The owl bear howled in pain, flipped over by the immense force, temporarily unable to run.


    But the Natural War Maniac wouldn¡¯t miss this rare opportunity. He leaped in front of the clumsy owl bear, gripping the Great Axe¡¯s long handle.


    ¡°Ahhhh¡ª¡ª¡±


    Another battle cry.


    His veins bulged all over, pulling the deeply embedded axe out of the owl bear¡¯s flesh with all his might, then swung it with full force towards the owl bear¡¯s head.


    ¡°Kill you!¡±


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    The sound of flesh and bone being torn apart echoed as the owl bear¡¯s massive head was cleanly chopped off.


    After Holy Light Bro¡¯s death, the huge, robust bear body transformed into a headless human corpse shrouded in Holy Light.


    The Natural War Maniac threw down the Great Axe, spread his arms, and unleashed another sky-piercing roar.


    ¡°Bravo!¡±


    ¡°War Maniac Bro is awesome!¡±


    ¡°Haha, glory to the Natural War Maniac!¡±


    ¡°I have always disliked that flasher, well done!¡±


    The audience burst into cheers like waves, some with personal grudges.


    ¡­


    ¡°Autumn Rain Sister, you¡¯re strong, but I won¡¯t give up!¡±


    ¡°Take this!¡±


    The Sky Flying Witch shouted crisply, waving her Wand of Wonder.


    The Wild Magician¡¯s trait was triggered again, chaotic Sorcery surged around her.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain watched the Sky Flying Witch intently, not daring to let her guard down.


    Even the Sky Flying Witch herself didn¡¯t know what kind of magic would appear. If a high-tier spell was summoned, she could end up in big trouble.


    Suddenly, a dense aura of death emerged from the Sky Flying Witch¡¯s wand, startling everyone present.


    Dangerous glowing lines in eerie green light appeared on the ground, gradually forming the shape of a skeleton.


    No way.


    Could it be the Death Decree?


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s face changed dramatically. She quickly cast the Flame Dimensional Gate to pull herself away from the Sky Flying Witch.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    A short gasp.


    The Sky Flying Witch fell to the ground, eyes dim, body stiff, breath ceased.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain and the entire audience were incredibly puzzled.


    It seemed like the Sky Flying Witch¡­died?


    If they could see the opponent¡¯s panel, it would show this information:


    [53-54, you cast the Death Formation centered on yourself.]


    Even the commentator was speechless, falling into silence.


    ¡°This was really an¡­uh, unexpected battle. Let us congratulate Summer Night Autumn Rain for winning this match.¡±


    ¡°Wait, it¡¯s over just like that?¡±


    ¡°So¡­the Sky Flying Witch killed herself?¡±


    ¡°It aligns with my expectations of a Wild Magician.¡±


    ¡°My goodness, you really can¡¯t pick a Wild Magician as a teammate. If this happens in a team match, wouldn¡¯t they just wipe the team?¡±


    ¡­


    Throughout the day, the Grand Colosseum hosted thirty-two thrilling, exhilarating matches.


    In the audience, discussions about the matches were particularly heated among the players.


    ¡°The Mechanical God Cult¡¯s player is unbelievably strong¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like a Gundam come to life, who can beat that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t expect that Guardian Armor to be this powerful after a few upgrades.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m going all-in on Steel Torrent.¡±


    ¡°I still think S-Deity will take the championship!¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Xin Dog follower. Your brother used all his tricks on Mantou. Steel Torrent crushed Tyrant¡­¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, S-Deity was clearly going easy. He could¡¯ve easily handled Mantou. The final duel was just for face-saving.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I just dislike Xin Dog¡¯s sneaky combat style. Always circling in the air, no entertainment value at all. Not like Crazy Brother, who always goes head-to-head.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a Mechanical God Cult follower too? Steel Torrent is just powerful because of the equipment. Without that armor, he couldn¡¯t even beat Mantou.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who can¡¯t beat Mantou!¡±


    ¡°Oh, hitting a nerve?¡±


    Besides Steel Torrent defeating Tyrant and Singo beating Mantou, Charlotte defeated Tian Xingjian, the president of Sword Pavilion, with chain explosions. Rain City, with the ¡°Three Noble Families,¡± eliminated Bright Moon.


    And the Sky Flying Witch eliminated herself¡­


    With only two days left before the servers shut down, only 32 players remained in the arena.


    At this stage, purely lucky players had long been eliminated; only full-level players remained.


    They were mostly top-notch experts in their fields, their various skills dazzling the audience.


    Soon, the champion would be revealed.


    In player power discussions, Steel Torrent and Singo were the hottest contenders.


    In the Empire¡¯s official championship odds leaderboard, Steel Torrent led with odds of 1.9, closely followed by Singo with odds of 3.5.


    Previously highly anticipated, with even better odds than Steel Torrent, Tyrant had regretfully left the stage.

 Chapter 522 - 522 421 The Final Battle

    ?Chapter 522: Chapter 421 The Final Battle Chapter 522: Chapter 421 The Final Battle ¡°S is amazing!¡±


    ¡°War Maniac Bro is going down!¡±


    ¡°Oh no, he¡¯s completely disadvantaged in the air. War Maniac Bro can¡¯t do anything!¡±


    ¡°No help for it, he¡¯s been countered by the occupation.¡±


    The audience burst into waves of cheers and discussions. This was the first match of the round of 32 elimination tournament.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    In the center of the arena, Natural War Maniac howled towards the sky. He was covered in blood, with countless arrows embedded in his strong body.


    His chest, arms, back, thighs¡ªnearly no part of him was unscathed, yet even so, this Berserker still glared angrily at his enemy high above.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    He used his last ounce of strength to hurl his Great Axe into the sky, but the Wyvern Knight merely ascended slightly to evade the attack.


    ¡°Clang¡ª¡±


    The Great Axe crashed to the ground, its blade deeply embedded in the earth.


    Yet another sharp arrow pierced the air, striking Natural War Maniac in the chest and piercing his fiercely beating heart.


    Natural War Maniac let out an unwilling roar, but ultimately fell backward.


    No help for it.


    In this match, Natural War Maniac had done his utmost. Unfortunately, his opponent was Xin Dog¡ªas a teammate, Xin Dog knew him too well.


    Throughout the match, Xin Dog¡¯s strategy was extremely cautious.


    He continuously hovered in the sky, draining Natural War Maniac¡¯s life with a barrage of arrows, kiting him to death.


    During that time, Natural War Maniac tried to attack, but Xin Dog¡¯s Riding Skill was too proficient, not giving him a single chance to get close.


    Xin Dog, riding on the back of his Bipedal Wyvern, looked down at the fallen Natural War Maniac and said softly, ¡°Sorry, War Maniac, but¡­ this is a competition.¡± Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The commentator said, ¡°Let¡¯s once again congratulate Xin Dog on winning this match!¡±


    ¡°S is invincible!¡±


    ¡°Who said S couldn¡¯t beat War Maniac?¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog is only good at this, just kiting from the sky, making the match boring.¡±


    ¡°So shameless.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, let Crazy Brother teach him a lesson later.¡±


    ¡°This is e-sports, it doesn¡¯t matter what strategy you use, winning within the rules is amazing, you bunch of¡­¡±


    For controversial players like this, sometimes the battles in the audience were more exciting than the matches on the field.


    ¡­


    Round of 16, fourth match.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain hovered in mid-air, golden eyes blazing.


    Fire Wall Spell!


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    With the sound of searing air, a scorching Fire Wall suddenly rose from the ground, blocking in front of her.


    Yet the massive armor charged through the Fire Wall, its surface covered by a spherical Force Field Shield, with exhaust flames from its thrusters.


    The Chainsaw Sword on its right arm spun at high speed, slashing down from the sky.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s eyes flashed, her robe swirling with Flowing Flame, her figure becoming ghostly.


    Flame Leap.


    A flame appeared dozens of meters away, gradually condensing into Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s form.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    Iron Madman¡¯s Chainsaw Sword missed, embedding into the ground and sending rubble flying.


    ¡°Oh? You dodged?¡±


    Iron Madman was somewhat surprised, but he didn¡¯t stop his attack. He turned the armor, extending his left arm.


    From the cannon barrel, terrifying energy gathered, bursting with dazzling lightning.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    A thick Lightning Bolt tore through the air, striking towards Summer Night Autumn Rain.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s expression changed, stretching out both hands to create a hemispherical Flame Shield.


    ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡­¡±


    Lightning and flames clashed, neutralizing each other, causing repeated explosions and spraying blinding electric arcs and sparks.


    Iron Madman¡¯s armor emitted searing steam from behind, the energy core inside flickering with light.


    He not only unleashed lightning but also activated the thrusters, rapidly charging towards Summer Night Autumn Rain.


    As a Dragon Pact Warlock, Summer Night Autumn Rain¡¯s spell strength was immense, but this time Iron Madman had spent hundreds of Gold Coins purchasing Energy Ores.


    And the Arcane Armor he had acquired cost over ten thousand Gold Coins, making it worthy of a New Era Rich Warrior.


    This was the suppression of wealth.


    ¡°Crack.¡±


    With a crisp sound, the Flame Shield could no longer bear the burden and shattered.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain tried to use Flame Leap again, but the sweeping Lightning Bolt pierced her body, causing electric arcs to dance around her.


    Suddenly, a dark shadow enveloped her¡ªit was Iron Madman, already close by, raising the Chainsaw Sword high.


    ¡°Forgive me.¡±


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate Iron Madman on winning this match!¡±


    ¡°So brutal, my Autumn Rain¡¯s gone, sob sob.¡±


    ¡°Crazy Brother is awesome!¡±


    ¡°Flesh is weak, mechanical ascension!¡±


    ¡°Crazy Brother¡¯s matches are so entertaining. Crush Xin Dog in the finals!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Xin Dog eliminated Natural War Maniac!¡±


    ¡°A duel between a Mage and a Magician! Vice President of Royal Authority Fengyun was defeated by Summer Night Autumn Rain!¡±


    ¡°Iron Madman crushed his opponent once again, aiming for the championship!¡±


    ¡°Charlotte used the Undead Dispel Scroll to eliminate Rain City, avenging Vice President Bright Moon!¡±


    ¡°Iron Madman continued his brutal performance, cleaving Summer Night Autumn Rain in half with his Chainsaw Sword, leaving fans heartbroken!¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog fired a Magic-Breaking Arrow, piercing Charlotte¡¯s heart, advancing to the semi-finals, the last Mage player falling!¡±


    As the elimination matches continued, the discussions on the forums grew more intense, reaching a fever pitch.


    Even players who couldn¡¯t participate could watch match videos on the forums instantly and even argue with fans of opposing players.


    The further it went, the fewer players were left on the competitors¡¯ bench.

 Chapter 523 - 523 421 The Final Battle_2

    ?Chapter 523: Chapter 421: The Final Battle_2 Chapter 523: Chapter 421: The Final Battle_2 The tournament had reached a stage where no one would surrender voluntarily; everyone fought until the last moment, making each match a life-and-death struggle.


    These professional players were showcasing their unique skills, dazzling the audience with their various tactics.


    Fans in the stands were glued to the action, and even the ticket-purchasing Imperial Citizens were shouting with excitement.


    Thanks to the empire¡¯s martial atmosphere, these Starfallers¡¯ deadly duels were wildly popular, and some even made a tidy sum selling Memory Stones that recorded the matches.


    ¡°The final match of the Empire¡¯s First Gladiator Tournament is about to begin!¡±


    ¡°The ultimate showdown!¡±


    ¡°The battle between the strongest powerful family and the strongest scattered individual!¡±


    In the end, only two competitors remained:


    The chairman of the Mechanical God Cult, manager of the Klaubow Armament Group, 8th-level Armored Division Mechanic Mage, Steel Torrent.


    And Erezer¡¯s most powerful scattered individual player, a forum strategy genius, 8th-level Red Scale Conqueror, Xin Dog.


    The final match would take place on the last day before the servers shut down, and after the award ceremony, players would collectively leave ¡°Erezer¡± to welcome a new era.


    Therefore, the final match could be said to be the focus of everyone¡¯s attention.


    Before the match, interviewed by reporters, Steel Torrent seemed relaxed, while Xin Dog continued his flamboyant style.


    Steel Torrent said, ¡°Heh, Xin Dog is very strong, I probably have a fifty percent winning chance.¡±


    Xin Dog replied, ¡°I think if there were a hundred chances, he¡¯d win fifty.¡±


    Immediately, the forums erupted in another storm, with Steel Torrent¡¯s fans and Xin Dog¡¯s fans passionately clashing in wave after wave of online fights.


    ¡­.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the match site.¡±


    ¡°Today, there will be only one match, and that¡¯s the final. I believe everyone has been eagerly awaiting it.¡±


    ¡°As for the competitors, I¡¯m sure their names are already well-known to you, and there¡¯s no need for me to elaborate.¡±


    ¡°Let us welcome the Red Side player¡ªSteel Torrent!¡±


    Steel Torrent appeared at the end of the players¡¯ corridor in his Arcane Armor, smiling and waving to the crowd in the stands.


    ¡°Crazy Brother!¡±


    ¡°Flesh is weak, Mechanical Ascension!¡±


    ¡°Praise the Ohm Messiah! Ring the bell three times!¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog was too arrogant in his pre-match speech, smash him for us!¡±


    The cheers from the stands were like a tsunami, even the Imperial Natives were shouting support for Steel Torrent.


    After all, his violent aesthetic of steel and blood resonated with the consistent style of the Ashen Empire, winning their favor.


    ¡°Dong¡ªDong¡ª¡±


    The members of the Mechanical God Cult really brought a large bell to the site, and its long, drawn-out toll echoed through the venue, becoming the backdrop for the audience¡¯s cheers.


    The commentator continued, ¡°Let us welcome the Blue Side player¡ªXin Dog!¡±


    The Wyvern Knight appeared in the sky above the venue, circling on his Bipedal Wyvern for a long time before slowly descending to the ground.


    Suddenly, the stands erupted in excitement, though this time it wasn¡¯t just cheers but also a lot of insults.


    ¡°God Xin is invincible!¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog must be the champion!¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Xin Dog caused a stir before the match, let¡¯s see how he performs.¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog must die!¡±


    Both sides stood in their designated areas, staring at each other.


    At the referee¡¯s signal, the match commenced.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    The thrusters on the back of Steel Torrent¡¯s armor erupted in a brilliant flare as the massive armor charged directly at Xin Dog.


    ¡°Wyvern, ascend!¡±


    Xin Dog calmly issued his command, and the Bipedal Wyvern flapped its wings vigorously, carrying the knight on its back to climb.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡ª¡±


    A barrel extended from Steel Torrent¡¯s left shoulder, launching a huge net towards the sky, aiming to trap the Bipedal Wyvern.


    Xin Dog leaned down, gripping the reins tightly, using his body to control the Bipedal Wyvern to make a sudden sharp turn, narrowly avoiding the electrified net.


    By this time, they had already reached nearly a hundred meters in the air.


    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡±


    ¡°I call this¡ªthe Bird Capture Strategy!¡±


    Steel Torrent smirked from within his protective barrier.


    Another large barrel slowly raised from his right shoulder, aimed at the sky, directing towards the Wyvern Knight¡¯s position.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    One after another, spheric Lightning Bolts shot into the sky, predicting the trajectory of the Wyvern Knight, forming arcs in mid-air.


    Xin Dog flew in continuous circles, ?diving, ?climbing, ?dogfighting,? and reversing his descent.


    This wasn¡¯t to show off his flashy flying skills, but to avoid the Lightning Bolts predicting his path.


    The Lightning Spheres exploded, their electric arcs creating a massive net covering the sky.


    Xin Dog maneuvered skillfully through the gaps in the lightning, occasionally nocking and firing arrows.


    But the thick Force Field Shield surrounding Steel Torrent provided solid protection; ordinary arrows couldn¡¯t penetrate it.


    ¡°This can¡¯t go on!¡±


    ¡°Everything he¡¯s doing is too targeted against me. At this rate, I could be trapped in mid-air.¡±


    ¡°Now¡­ there¡¯s only close combat left!¡±


    Xin Dog leaned his body forward, plunging the Bipedal Wyvern in a steep dive towards Steel Torrent.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Bipedal Wyvern let out a screech, and a massive Red Dragon phantom appeared behind it.


    Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge!


    Steel Torrent showed no fear, raising his right arm to fire a thick lightning beam.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    But the Bipedal Wyvern spread its wings, narrowly evading the attack mid-air.


    The lightning beam grazed its chest, leaving a scorched mark.


    Steel Torrent then swung his left fist.


    The massive fist, propelled by flames, roared towards the descending Bipedal Wyvern, which was now too close to dodge.

 Chapter 524 - 524 421 The Final Battle 3

    ?Chapter 524: Chapter 421 The Final Battle 3 Chapter 524: Chapter 421 The Final Battle 3 ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Aargh¡ª¡±


    Shattered teeth, splattering blood.


    There was a solid crash followed by a piercing howl, as an iron fist struck the Bipedal Wyvern¡¯s head, sending it flying.


    But Xin Dog had already jumped off the dragon¡¯s back, rolled on the ground a few times to cushion himself, and then threw several metal disks towards the Steel Torrent.


    He looked fanatically up at the Steel Torrent, licking the blood from the corner of his mouth.


    ¡°Did you really think you were the only one who made specific preparations?¡±


    ¡°I was ready too!¡±


    The metal disks accurately attached themselves to the joints and the core of the ¡°Guardian¡± armor, their surfaces flickering with red lights.


    ¡°Beep, beep, beep¡­¡±


    This was the [Magical Electromagnetic Pulse Device] developed by the Mechanical God Cult, designed specifically for such constructs, which Xin Dog had obtained through special means.


    The Steel Torrent¡¯s voice immediately quivered.


    ¡°This, this isn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°How can it be?¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The metal disks suddenly detonated, releasing blue spherical energy force fields.


    The tall ¡°Guardian¡± armor immediately collapsed to the ground, seemingly losing power, as the once bright energy core dimmed.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    The Steel Torrent cried out mournfully.


    The audience was in an uproar, stunned.


    ¡°Crazy Brother¡¯s armor is down!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over, he¡¯s going to lose. The Mechanic Mage has no close combat capabilities!¡±


    ¡°Is it really the end?¡±


    Xin Dog then approached the cockpit, sword in hand, staring at the Steel Torrent through the layer of tempered glass.


    First, he performed a sword flourish, then pointed the sword tip at the Steel Torrent, speaking slowly and deliberately: sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Crazy Brother, your proud armor has been destroyed. Do you admit defeat?¡±


    The Steel Torrent¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot, grinding his teeth: ¡°My painstakingly crafted new armor!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to reveal my final trump card, but¡ªXin Dog, you¡¯ve pushed me too far!¡±


    ¡°Our Mechanical God Cult has always advocated that flesh is weak and mechanical ascension is the goal, but until the technology reaches the standard¡­¡±


    Xin Dog¡¯s expression changed dramatically.


    As the Steel Torrent spoke, his body was also undergoing a drastic transformation, his muscles began to swell, and dark red armor-like dragon scales appeared on his skin¡¯s surface¡­


    ¡°A little modification to the body is perfectly normal!¡±


    Second heart, activate!


    Bone reinforcement organs, activate!


    Muscle enhancement organs, activate!


    Blood regeneration organs, activate!


    ¡­


    Dragon Vein Gene Gland, activate!


    Dragon Scale Exoskeleton Armor, activate!


    Finally, the nearly four-meter-tall Steel Torrent, covered in dark red armor, shattered the glass and stood amidst the wreckage.


    ¡°This is the perfect fusion of our Mechanical God Cult¡¯s genetic technology and mechanical science, a super warrior modified with Dragon Blood at its core. I was fortunate enough to become the first experimenter.¡±


    ¡°I originally wanted to name it ¡®Astarte¡¯ or ¡®Star Warrior,¡¯ but it was rejected by the Empire¡¯s officials.¡±


    The Steel Torrent casually picked up a chainsaw sword from the ground and pulled the cord, making the sharp teeth spin rapidly.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    ¡°So, Vitagis Dragon Scale Adept, present!¡±


    By now, Xin Dog had retreated several meters away, immediately feeling an extreme sense of danger that he had to take seriously!


    He drew his Hunter¡¯s Longbow and shot towards the Steel Torrent, but the arrows were easily deflected by the Dragon Scale Armor.


    ¡°Clang! Clang!¡±


    Against this Modified Warrior, even Explosive Arrows and Poison Arrows were of no use.


    The modified Steel Torrent¡¯s strength, agility, and nerve reflexes were far beyond ordinary humans. This was the crystallization of the Mechanical God Cult¡¯s Genists extracting giant dragon genes.


    ¡°It¡¯s useless; perish along with my Guardian Armor! Xin Dog!¡±


    The Steel Torrent made a huge leap, arriving before Xin Dog at an extreme speed. He raised the chainsaw sword high and chopped it down fiercely.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    Blood and flesh splattered, marking the end of the match, Xin Dog¡¯s first death since entering Erezer.


    The commentator¡¯s tone was particularly excited: ¡°It looks like the ultimate victor has been decided!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s congratulate the Steel Torrent for becoming the Empire¡¯s first Dragonflame Champion!¡±


    ¡°Damn? The bigshots of the Mechanical God Cult have made the can?¡±


    ¡°Steel Torrent is awesome!¡±


    ¡°Flesh is weak, mechanical ascension!¡±


    The audience erupted into cheers, the venue in a frenzy, as the final victor emerged after days of competition!

 Chapter 525 - 525 422 Destiny and Slumber

    ?Chapter 525: Chapter 422: Destiny and Slumber Chapter 525: Chapter 422: Destiny and Slumber ¡°Let¡¯s welcome the sole ruler of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, the Ashen Emperor¡ªHis Majesty Cassius, to present the awards to the champion!¡±


    Instantly, the eyes of the crowd refocused on the high platform. The entire Grand Colosseum, filled with 10,000 spectators, turned their gaze to the presence on the throne, holding their breath.


    The man wore a scarlet royal robe and a grand crown. His light golden pupils were infinitely profound, exuding an aura of control over everything.


    Compared to the colossal form of the Red Dragon, this young noble evoked more admiration than fear from the people.


    Like a deity.


    This word appeared simultaneously in the minds of the hundreds of thousands present, etching itself deeply into their memory.


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Long live the Emperor!¡±


    ¡°Cassius! The man among men, the prime of masculinity¡­¡±


    The people¡¯s eyes grew fervent as they shouted and cheered with all their might.


    Though the crowd echoed shouts, the players¡¯ lines always stood out as ¡°unique¡±. Fortunately, the empire¡¯s citizens and Cassius on the throne were used to this.


    Amidst the thunderous applause, Cassius smiled faintly, stood up from the throne, and first glanced around the arena, his gaze sweeping over the eager imperial citizens before settling on the victor in the center of the field.


    ¡°Steel Torrent, you emerged from 10,000 contestants, proving your valor to me.¡±


    ¡°The Ashen Empire does not neglect any capable and ambitious citizen, and you have earned the empire¡¯s recognition.¡±


    His voice was not loud, yet everyone present heard it clearly, each word distinctly comprehensible.


    The people held their breath, watching this scene with fervor, wishing it were themselves receiving such an honor.


    ¡°Congratulations, Dragonflame Champion.¡±


    Cassius said.


    Steel Torrent instantly understood, quickly kneeling on one knee and saying: ¡°Grateful for your majesty¡¯s grace, your kindness, for my entire life¡­¡±


    ¡°My achievement is insignificant, but you are the eternal leader of our nation and people¡­¡±


    Here, he even took out a small note from his pocket, glanced at it, and continued:


    ¡°To Cassius¡¯s warriors, students¡ªthe imperial people, it is our duty and honor to forever support his immortal legacy and to die for the empire¡­¡±


    Steel Torrent¡¯s tone was especially earnest, even somewhat sycophantic, wishing to speak a whole 10,000 characters worth of acceptance speech.


    Knowing this was a rare opportunity to increase the ¡°favorability¡± of the faction leader, something others desired but lacked.


    The audience of players, tieflings, great goblins, and ordinary humans were accustomed to this, even showing support.


    After all, loyalty was the highest form of ¡°political correctness¡± in the empire, not to be underestimated.


    ¡°Clap, clap, clap, clap!¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The applause was enthusiastic, echoing in the spacious arena for a long time.


    On the high platform, Ramp stroked his chin, nodding repeatedly in satisfaction, thinking the Starfallen truly knew the ropes and were worthy of cultivation.


    Even he hadn¡¯t prepared a speech, yet Steel Torrent noticed even such minor details.


    On the throne, Cassius¡¯s smile stiffened, his lips twitched imperceptibly.


    ¡°Well, well¡­¡±


    ¡°These players are getting more and more adept with their lines.¡±


    Although he did need to gather faith, this scene felt somewhat strange. Luckily, he was battle-hardened.


    No matter what, he must maintain his dignity!


    After hesitating for a moment, Cassius still increased Steel Torrent¡¯s favorability by 15 on the panel, while maintaining his expression.


    [Using faction leader authority.]


    [You will bestow the player Steel Torrent with the special faction title: Dragonflame Champion]


    Cassius raised his arm, pointing far into the distance at Steel Torrent across hundreds of meters.


    ¡°Steel Torrent, you will receive the unique grace of a champion.¡±


    A golden flame flew from his fingertip, arced through the sky, and finally merged into Steel Torrent¡¯s body.


    Instantly, the rapidly flowing golden flame covered his entire body, gradually concentrating into a magnificent armor, and then¡ª


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    With the sound of air bursting, two flaming wings suddenly spread out from his back, slowly flapping.


    The golden title text: Dragonflame Champion appeared above Steel Torrent¡¯s head.


    ¡°I am invincible now!¡±


    Steel Torrent looked down at his hands covered in gilded red armor, then at the wings on his back, his face brimming with pride.


    Enhanced combat power was secondary; the most important thing was¡ªthis outfit looked truly impressive!


    With this thought, Steel Torrent raised his chainsaw sword, flapped his flaming wings, and struck a dashing pose towards the audience.


    ¡°Whoa?¡±


    ¡°So cool?¡±


    ¡°The officials always skimp on rare equipment, but they¡¯re giving out such great stuff this time!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really envious! Who¡¯s with me to capture Crazy Brother?¡±


    ¡°No way I could beat him¡­¡±


    The players in the audience were immediately full of envy and jealousy, especially the tyrant of the Royal Guild, gritting his teeth in hatred.


    This was the grand event he had always dreamed of!


    On the throne, Cassius thought to himself that this was just something he had crafted in half an hour, using a single Breath¡¯s worth of energy.


    If he wanted, he could even mass-produce such outfits, a good method to reap benefits.


    And bestowing the special title was a unique privilege of faction leaders, requiring only a small quota to be consumed, nearly costless.


    ¡°Master, it¡¯s about time.¡±


    The attendant Ramp leaned in, whispering a reminder.

 Chapter 526 - 526 422 Destiny and Slumber_2

    ?Chapter 526: Chapter 422 Destiny and Slumber_2 Chapter 526: Chapter 422 Destiny and Slumber_2 ¡°I see, have you made the arrangements?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Master, we began preparations months ago upon receiving your intelligence.


    Specially trained candidates will replace the Starfallen, ensuring that their disappearance does not significantly impact society.¡±


    However¡­¡±


    Ramp¡¯s tone faltered.


    ¡°The Empire now has only a little over seven million people, including the elderly and infirm. The labor force of working age is less than five million.


    The Starfallen makes up 400,000 of them, and they never tire. They are highly productive, doing the work of three people each, crucial for the Empire¡¯s development.


    So¡­ if the Starfallen leave, the Empire¡¯s growth may slow down, the economy might slump, and a labor shortage crisis could emerge.¡±


    ¡°Do your best to adjust, give it a year, and tell the factory owners not to rush to expand production.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Cassius looked at the panel, which showed that there were still five minutes left until the second shutdown.


    That meant the 1.0 version of ¡®Erezer¡¯ [Northern Wind and Cloud] was about to end.


    And the players seemed to realize this and began to discuss it.


    ¡°Whoa? Look at the system, it looks like it¡¯s about to shut down!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, less than five minutes left.¡±


    ¡°I got so engrossed in the competition that I didn¡¯t notice there are only five minutes left until [Northern Wind and Cloud] ends!¡±


    ¡°What will the next version be like?¡±


    ¡°How long will time pass in the game by then? Will all our property be gone when we come back?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Regardless of how times change, I¡¯ll always be a loyal servant of His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    Singo hung his head, looking dejected and listless: ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t lose to Steel Torrent.¡±


    Cassius watched the numbers on the panel tick down and murmured, ¡°There really isn¡¯t much time left¡­¡±


    Before the eyes of everyone, Cassius soared into the air, transforming into his Red Dragon form. His enormous figure appeared in the sky above the venue.


    ¡°That is¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s His Majesty Cassius¡¯s true form!¡±


    The forty-meter-long Red Dragon spread its broad wings, nearly blocking out the sun, casting a vast shadow that enveloped thousands of people.


    Under the sunlight, its crimson scales glistened, somewhat dazzling to behold.


    Even knowing it was their faction leader, the unintentionally released Dragon¡¯s Might pressed down on everyone, making it hard to breathe¡ªa primal fear of a powerful being deep in their souls.


    Cassius looked down at the players with his golden vertical pupils, slowly flapping his wings, his voice booming like a great bell.


    ¡°When you return, chaos and disaster will once again fall upon the land. Prepare to face it. As long as you fight for the Empire, Anzeta¡¯s gates will always be open to you.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ Starfallen, until next time.¡±


    He blinked his eyes.


    The players in the audience burst into an uproar, their noisy discussions filling the venue.


    ¡°Whoa? The boss knows we¡¯re about to shut down?¡±


    ¡°You know how smart Erezer¡¯s NPCs are. I even got outsmarted once. After we disappeared for so long last time, they must have realized.¡±


    ¡°Is this foreshadowing the main storyline?¡±


    ¡°The game hasn¡¯t even shut down yet, and I¡¯m already looking forward to the next launch.¡±


    ¡°Damn company, hurry up and update. A day without Erezer feels like ants crawling in my heart.¡±


    ¡°The countdown has started!¡±


    someone exclaimed.


    The countdown on the panel counted down second by second.


    ¡°10, 9, 8¡­.¡±


    ¡°3, 2, 1¡­¡±


    ¡°0.¡±


    The digits hit zero.


    Without any warning, the commotion in the venue abruptly stopped at that moment.


    Whether it was the triumphant Iron Madman, the dejected Singo, Mantou who was filming material, or the tens of thousands of excitedly chatting ordinary players¡­


    They all turned into fine particles of light at that specific moment and then vanished, leaving no trace.


    The once-crowded audience seats now became empty, with large vacant spots in the arena that could accommodate tens of thousands. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the suburbs of Isdalia City, players who were commanding workers in construction disappeared, leaving only design blueprints behind.


    ¡°Where did the foreman go?¡±


    In the Mechanical God Cult Research Institute, a mechanical monk conducting an experiment in front of a large piece of equipment vanished, while a native assistant beside them continued recording data, seemingly prepared for this.


    ¡°The congruity of this experiment is high. What a pity the mentor has temporarily left.¡±


    In the Imperial Propaganda Building, players feverishly scribbling in front of mountains of manuscripts disappeared.


    Several bards walked up with troubled faces, picking up unfinished drafts on the floor, sighing deeply.


    ¡°They left us with seven months¡¯ worth of work, seven months!¡±


    In the Northern Ruins, a Terrifying Claw Monster noticed that the food it had just swallowed hadn¡¯t even started to be digested by its digestive acids suddenly vanished, scratching its head with its long, pointed claws in confusion.


    ¡°Aroo?¡±


    ¡­.


    Cassius flapped his wings and looked down at the somewhat empty audience seats, then took off into the air.


    ¡°It¡¯s finally over¡­¡±


    In his memory, at this time in his previous life, the players had just helped the Northern Countries defeat the demons, sharing drinks and celebrating all night with battlefield heroes like Count Jacob and Duke Leo.


    Many people in the North were still living under the oppressive rule of the Northern Nobility, enduring cold and hunger, suffering the same hardships as their ancestors for centuries.


    But now, the course of the world had completely changed. The Northern Countries were utterly destroyed, a new Empire rose from its remnants, and even the demons were preemptively expunged by Cassius, temporarily retreating.

 Chapter 527 - 527 422 Fate and Slumber_3

    ?Chapter 527: Chapter 422: Fate and Slumber_3 Chapter 527: Chapter 422: Fate and Slumber_3 But the Anzeta Great Wilderness was ultimately a remote region, with extremely limited influence on the mainland situation.


    Arms dealing, actual control of the Casper region, and balancing the strength of the three kingdoms was already the limit of what the Empire could achieve.


    When the Three Kings¡¯ Battle reached a stalemate, it would be the best time for the Ashen Empire to take the stage of Fianso in an entirely new posture.


    ¡°Soon, very soon.¡±


    The Red Dragon flapped its wings, stirring up a fierce hurricane as it continued to ascend. He did not seem to be in a hurry.


    The people of the City of Isdalia looked up at the giant dragon flying ever higher, putting their palms together in prayer, even prostrating in worship.


    That was the founder of the Empire, their Emperor, their¡ªDeity.


    Cassius flew higher and higher, reaching above the clouds.


    The Red Dragon flapped its wings, the strong hurricane easily dispersing the thick clouds, making the mist roll and drift away, revealing the full view of the land.


    Isdalia became a narrow place in his vision. He could see the Stormy Ridge covered in snow and ice in the north, the Matra Great Farmland, the Okaglar Plains to the south, and even the distant Ancytica Mountains¡­


    Cassius had not carefully overlooked the land like this for a long time. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The first time he overlooked this land, he was still a young dragon, worn out from running for his life, living in fear, and deeply worried about his future.


    But now, as the years flew by, he had become the sole ruler of his own Empire, the well-known ¡°Crimson Emperor¡± of the Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Cassius gazed at the land for a long time, then extended his massive claw as if to hold it in his grasp.


    ¡°Fate is not an unchanging, unalterable determined path.¡±


    ¡°It can also be influenced by me, even¡­ controlled.¡±


    Cassius muttered to himself.


    For some reason, he hated fatalism and enjoyed this feeling of changing everything.


    ¡­


    Three days later, in the suburbs of Northwind Castle.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The Red Dragon hovered above the Steel Dragonwing Palace, flapping its wings and letting out a long roar as the strength of the empire¡¯s authority spread out.


    The ground trembled continuously, producing a rumbling sound, the mountains suddenly rose, becoming more majestic.


    And the caves in the mountains became wider, with high-temperature lava flowing inside, emitting bursts of steam, making them more suitable for giant dragons to reside in.


    Afterward, the Red Dragon entered the cave, coiling its body surrounded by magma, slowly closing its eyes¡ªhe was about to begin his third slumber.


    This time, Cassius had greater control, the terrifying energy was thus stored in his mountain-sized dragon body, accompanying the rise and fall of his breathing, continuously flowing and circulating.


    ¡°It is your honor to serve His Majesty!¡±


    ¡°How many times has your spell prototype gone wrong? If it happens again, don¡¯t bother coming back!¡±


    Outside the cave, Ramp led hundreds of mages in casting protective magic, occasionally cursing loudly.


    But now Cassius could completely control the surrounding environment, possessing nearly divine authority, making such protections more formal than practical.


    Ramp looked at the sealed cave entrance, and for some reason, the scene of first seeing the Red Dragon a dozen years ago flashed in his mind.


    At that time, he was just an ogre with food on his mind, no different from other ogres except being a bit smarter.


    However, the appearance of the Red Dragon gave new meaning to his life, letting him know that this world was vast, and that the wilderness was not everything in the world.


    Thinking of this, Ramp clutched the magic wand in his hand tightly, bowing in that direction, and said softly: ¡°Master¡­¡±


    ¡°I promise you, when you awake, you will see an even stronger Empire.¡±

 Chapter 528 - 528 1 Empire

    ?Chapter 528: Chapter 1: Empire Chapter 528: Chapter 1: Empire Northwind Castle Suburbs, Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    Olivia stood outside the main gate, her expression rather elated, like a praised child.


    ¡°Cassius, I have already persuaded the elders of my clan. They have agreed to send personnel to give us¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, madam, His Majesty will not accept an audience now.¡±


    tiefling Guard Captain Eckmon extended his spear to block the familiar-looking woman.


    Eckmon had experienced one of the red dragon¡¯s slumbers and understood the dangers within.


    Just the ¡°morning temper¡± of His Majesty was enough to bring catastrophic consequences to mortal beings.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Olivia¡¯s brows immediately furrowed, revealing an unmistakable look of disappointment.


    To persuade the Silver Dragon Elders to help this former enemy, she had expended much effort in debate.


    Finally, the Great Elder Osedro, who was still recovering from injuries, personally spoke, and they accepted Olivia¡¯s request, deciding to send aid to the Ashen Empire.


    ¡°As long as we can defeat the demons, I am willing to ally with the Evil Dragon.¡±


    These were his original words.


    To this venerable Ancient Silver Dragon who cherished order, abyssal demons, creatures of pure chaos, were forever their enemies.


    While Olivia was deep in thought, a familiar voice came from behind her.


    ¡°Lady Olivia, His Majesty has already gone to sleep.¡±


    Olivia turned around to see the large figure, her expression somewhat surprised.


    ¡°Lord Ramp?¡±


    The Ogre Archmage slightly bowed and politely said, ¡°However, His Majesty had previously instructed me to thank you for all that you have done for the Empire.¡±


    Ramp extended his Magic Wand, and a portal to the Imperial Senate Hall appeared before Olivia.


    ¡°His Majesty believes your contributions have been significant enough, and he hopes you can join the Imperial Senate to discuss cooperation matters in detail.


    Furthermore, His Majesty has reviewed your latest proposal and expressed his approval, though some amendments are needed in the specific implementation.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    A hint of joy appeared on Olivia¡¯s face.


    The Imperial Senate was the true seat of power, with the authority to draft various policy bills.


    Entering the Senate meant truly becoming part of the high echelon of the Ashen Empire.


    Olivia believed her perseverance would bring a better future to this nation¡ªand also lead Cassius towards order and goodness.


    In reality, this was both Cassius¡¯ ¡°reward¡± to Olivia and his attempt to balance the influence of the evil faction at the top of the Empire.


    ¡°Lady Olivia, please follow me.¡±


    Ramp slightly bowed again, making a standard gesture of invitation¡ªthough such etiquette looked somewhat absurd on an Ogre.


    ¡°All right.¡±


    However, before stepping into the portal, Olivia turned back to gaze at the familiar palace.


    After hesitating for a moment, she softly asked, ¡°Will His Majesty Cassius sleep for a long time?¡±


    Olivia¡¯s concern was not unfounded; for mortals, a dragon¡¯s slumber might last their whole life.


    And for a ¡°special¡± dragon like Cassius, even the Silver Dragons were uncertain how long he would sleep.


    Ten years?


    Thirty years?


    Or fifty years?


    She did not know why she cared how long a ¡°foe¡± would sleep, but it was undoubtedly a significant question for the Silver Dragons.


    Ramp said in a deep voice, ¡°Lady Olivia, no need to worry. His Majesty mentioned he would wake up after a year.¡±


    ¡°So soon?¡±


    Olivia let out a breath of relief, her expression easing somewhat.


    Everything seemed to be progressing as she had hoped.


    The Silver Dragons were about to join the Empire¡¯s decision-making body, striving to bring order and goodness to this empire.


    She glanced back at the palace again, tucking her silvery hair behind her ear. For some reason, a hint of anticipation appeared in her blue-gray eyes.


    ¡°Cassius, sweet dreams.¡±


    Olivia murmured the words softly, then stepped through the portal to the Imperial Senate Hall.


    ¡­


    The cold wind blew across the Anzeta Great Wilderness, the northern snow was gradually melting, and a few more months had swiftly passed. It was now nearing March.


    In fact, during the initial period after the Starfallen departed, the Empire lost much of its developmental vigor.


    Without those tireless, mad individuals, many factories faced labor shortages, some goods became unsellable, and technological advancement slowed its pace.


    However, soon the Empire¡¯s Prime Minister introduced the ¡°Imperial Protection Act, ¡°Economic Stimulus Strategy,¡± and ¡°Foreign Trade Regulations,¡± along with various policies to improve workers¡¯ benefits, expand export channels, and seek broader markets for the Empire¡­


    The Ashen Empire was still a growing nation. The departure of the players had a limited impact, and the ongoing wars in the South continued to generate military orders incessantly.


    Even without the players¡¯ assistance, although the Empire¡¯s development slowed slightly, industrial expansion persisted, and the Imperial people visibly became more affluent.


    More and more Anzeta people left the countryside for the cities, chasing the so-called ¡°Imperial Dream,¡± hoping to become wealthy, noble Dragonblood citizens.


    For the Empire¡¯s numerous workers, the Starfallen¡¯s departure even led to better conditions¡ªthey at least wouldn¡¯t face employers daring to offer low wages arbitrarily.


    In terms of external expansion, the Ashen Empire achieved significant results as well.


    Earl Jesse Swann led the South Continent Vanguard and had completely secured the Cartapa region, establishing indestructible fortresses and firmly controlling this land.


    Not only that, Tahan City became a relay station for the Empire¡¯s South Continent group, with trade caravan settlements continually conducting commerce, making the city quite prosperous.


    They even extended their influence to the south, towards the Thrace Kingdom, establishing fortresses on the border between the Empire and Thrace, frequently sending scouts for reconnaissance.


    However, Thrace, troubled by southern conflicts, dared not voice their anger at the Empire¡¯s probing.


    The Empire¡¯s conquest within the Fire Elemental Plane also progressed smoothly.


    Count Selcan led the Fire Elemental Plane Imperial Legion and gained control of the fire giants¡¯ former cities of cast iron and black iron, commanding tens of thousands of fire elemental creatures: Fire Lizards, Fire Dwarves, Lava Dragons, and even Fire Giants, who all became citizens of the Empire.


    Furthermore, he achieved indirect colonization of the Brass Fortress.


    Though the Brass Fortress nominally remained the territory of the Fire Dwarves, it practically served as the Empire¡¯s outpost in the Fire Elemental Plane. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Most diligent Fire Dwarves worked for dragonblood nobles and merchants from the Empire under so-called ¡°free employment.¡±


    As the war between the Giant Spirit Empire and the Holy Flame Legion intensified, the Empire took advantage, selling arms to both sides and earning handsomely.


    They even occupied a city that the Holy Flame Legion had seized and later abandoned, renaming it ¡°New Northwind Fortress¡±¡ªCount Selcan was a true Northwind native.


    In the shadowy Gloomy Region, the Ashen Empire¡¯s wars had terrorized the Drow Elves, Dwarves, Marsh Bearmen, and Underground Gnomes, the original inhabitants of the underworld.


    The city of Dark Wings, held by the Shadow Dragon Descendant Zhuo¡¯er, was mercilessly destroyed by Count Hart and his skeletal army, who slaughtered all the Shadow Dragon Descendant Zhuo¡¯er within.


    The Empire¡¯s skeletal Bluefoot Dragon-snake army swept through the underworld like a torrent, causing great terror.


    Coupled with the legends of the ¡°World-Incinerating Dragon,¡± the destruction of Dragon Shadow City, and the death of Mortifir, the Ashen Empire naturally became an entity not to be provoked in the eyes of the underworld residents.


    Another Imperial Count, Zaiko, signed lenient treaties with the voluntarily allied Dwarves, offering generous treatment and spreading such news throughout the Gloomy Region.


    The Upper Gloomy Region, which was close to the surface, had extensive contact with surface races, involving trade, raids, and conquests.


    Soon, several neighboring city-states declared nominal allegiance to the Empire, including the Underground Gnomes of Secco Rock City, the Dwarves of Ho¡¯ansuo, and the Rat Men of the Underground Kingdom¡­


    Even the Drow Elves of Menzoberranzan sent emissaries seeking temporary peace with the Empire.


    These wicked and ambitious Drow Elves did not wish to rashly provoke an Empire with an Immortal Legion and a Red Dragon.


    Thus, through a combination of benevolence and intimidation, the Empire¡¯s Gloomy Region vanguard legion occupied a significant piece of land, growing into a rising power in the Upper Gloomy Region.


    Gradually, the name of the Ashen Empire spread not only across the Fianso Continent but throughout the entire world of Elzegai.


    Inhabitants of different regions perceived the Ashen Empire differently.


    It was the land of guns and cannons, a remote place where the Northwind howled, an empire teeming with monsters, the hated homeland of certain material plane locals¡­


    However, one point was universally acknowledged¡ªit was an empire ruled by mighty dragons.

 Chapter 529 - 529 2 Merchant

    ?Chapter 529: Chapter 2: Merchant Chapter 529: Chapter 2: Merchant A caravan headed north along the narrow Anzeta Corridor, bound for Romulo City in the southernmost part of the Empire¡¯s homeland.


    Leading the caravan was one of the renowned merchants of the Thrace Kingdom, a key figure of the Pearson Commerce Guild, and the chief officer of the guild¡¯s trade with the Empire¡ªJose Saracha.


    It was said that he had one-sixteenth elf blood, thus making him more handsome than the average person, and he looked much younger. Although he was over fifty, he still appeared to be in his thirties.


    At this moment, Jose looked at the seemingly endless narrow valley and impatiently tapped the ground with his cane, ¡°How much longer until we arrive?¡±


    ¡°Sir, once we leave the Anzeta Corridor, we will be in the Ashen Empire¡¯s homeland.¡±


    The guard answered.


    ¡°That¡¯s basic knowledge!¡±


    Jose was somewhat irritated.


    ¡°How long has this trade route been open, and you still aren¡¯t familiar with the surroundings!¡±


    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s our first time too¡­¡±


    The guard apologized profusely with a forced smile, causing Jose¡¯s anger to subside somewhat.


    In reality, there was a teleportation array in Tahan City in the Cartapa Region that led directly to Isdalia, but Jose had refused their assistance under the pretense of ¡°seeking business opportunities.¡±


    Of course, that was just an excuse. Besides being a guild officer, Jose had another identity¡ªthe eldest son of King Wilhelm, Prince Bowers¡¯ ¡°White Glove.¡±


    He used his connection with the prince to gain insider information for personal profit, amassing wealth for His Highness and handling tasks that could not be done openly.


    Although trade between Thrace Kingdom and the Ashen Empire had been frequent in recent years, the Thrace Kingdom was preoccupied with war, and most of the transactions were fully managed by the Imperial Southern Continent Company; they only needed to wait in the south to receive the goods.


    Moreover, the Ashen Empire had strict defenses and a comprehensive intelligence system, so the upper echelons of the Thrace Kingdom knew very little about the Ashen Empire.


    This time, Jose¡¯s mission to the Ashen Empire was to gather intelligence, including but not limited to mapping out layouts, exploring defensive positions, investigating military conditions, and stealing weapon blueprints¡­


    Of course, to better understand the situation, they also hired a guide from the Empire in Tahan City, named Hera Gati.


    This guide was extraordinarily beautiful, but Jose always felt that her pupils bore some resemblance to those of a reptile, giving him an inexplicable sense of danger¡­


    ¡°Mr. Jose, don¡¯t worry. We will reach Isdalia before nightfall, and we don¡¯t need to walk out of the Anzeta Corridor.¡±


    Hera came from behind and said softly.


    Jose asked suspiciously, ¡°Why?¡±


    Hera smiled and reached out, pointing ahead, ¡°There¡¯s the Anzeta Corridor Station. We¡¯ll take a steam locomotive to Isdalia.¡±


    ¡°Steam locomotive¡­¡±


    He had heard this term before; it was a unique means of transportation in the Empire and was said to be quite convenient.


    Looking in the direction she pointed, Jose saw a cleared area ahead, with metal tracks laid down extending to the end of the valley.


    The surfaces of those steel tracks were smooth and uniform, without hammer marks, dents, or cracks, clearly made of good-quality steel.


    ¡°Such good steel, just laid on the ground?¡±


    Jose was momentarily dumbfounded; even the former Empire of Fadlan would not be so extravagant.


    Hera explained with a smile, ¡°Mr. Jose, the Empire¡¯s steel production far exceeds your imagination. They use those gigantic furnaces to gather all the scrap steel and pig iron.¡±


    And¡­ all of this is His Majesty¡¯s property. In the Empire, no one would dare to steal.¡±


    Jose quickly adjusted his expression, pretending to be composed, ¡°I thought the Anzeta was just a remote and barren place, but it seems to be richer than I imagined.¡±


    However, compared to the former Holy Fadlan, this is still insignificant.¡±


    ¡°Hoo¡ª¡ª¡±


    Amid the roar of the steam whistle, a gigantic steel beast approached with billowing steam, halting in front of the caravan.


    Immediately, everyone present except Hera gaped in astonishment, including Jose.


    Some guards even thought there was an enemy attack, nervously raising their shields to protect the front.


    ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t worry, that is the Empire¡¯s steam locomotive.¡±


    Hera smiled and gestured with a ¡°please¡± motion before saying, ¡°Get on board, Mr. Jose.¡±


    No need to feel embarrassed; everyone reacts like this the first time they see it.¡±


    Jose quickly closed his mouth, managed a stiff smile, and retorted, ¡°Compared to Fadlan¡¯s steel guardians, this is equally insignificant.¡±


    I¡¯m just curious, do these steam trains serve ordinary citizens, or are they exclusive to the nobility? And what about our cargo?¡±


    Hera patiently answered, ¡°The steam locomotive is a blessing given to all citizens by His Majesty. For a negligible fee, anyone can use it; it¡¯s very convenient.¡±


    A poet once said that His Majesty used steel to pierce through mountains and plateaus, bringing people closer together.¡±


    She chuckled and continued, ¡°As for the cargo? You needn¡¯t worry. This steam locomotive can carry up to three hundred tons of goods.¡±


    These giant steel beasts, laden with cargo, roar between the north and south, transporting thousands of tons of goods each month, distributing the Empire¡¯s merchandise throughout Fianso.¡±


    Jose wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and whispered, ¡°Indeed, very convenient¡­¡±


    At this moment, however, he considered the Ashen Empire¡¯s military mobilization capabilities.


    It was known that not every place had a permanent teleportation array; such things were extremely expensive to create and maintain. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet these steam locomotives could transport hundreds of tons of goods, not to mention soldiers.


    This meant that with a single order from the Emperor, the entire Empire¡¯s army could swiftly concentrate in the south¡ªthat would be a disaster for the Thrace Kingdom.


    And these were obviously magic artifacts used for the commoner class! Even the former Holy Fadlan wouldn¡¯t do something so foolish.


    Jose thought to himself.


    After paying twenty-one Ginnar in fare, the nearly hundred-member caravan boarded the train, and their cargo was loaded into the freight cars.


    ¡°Hoo¡ª¡ª¡±


    With the sound of the steam whistle, accompanied by billowing gray smoke, the steam locomotive started again, speeding along the tracks toward the north.


    It was not slow, and it quickly passed through the Anzeta Corridor, truly entering the vast Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Jose looked at the scenery outside the window, secretly recording with the Memory Stone disguised as a medal on his chest, but with the train speeding along, the outside view rushed by, and he could only capture a limited portion.


    Suddenly, he squinted his eyes.


    ¡°Is that¡­ farmland?¡±


    In the distance were vast, flat fields stretching to the horizon, with neat furrows in the fertile soil.


    ¡°Compared to the Central Plains¡¯ farmland, this is hardly¡­¡±


    Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he stopped mid-sentence.


    Steel beasts with giant wheels moved through the fields, using their wide ¡°mouths¡± to plow the land and sow seeds.


    Billowing smoke also rose from the backs of those beasts, and this sight seemed utterly absurd to Jose.


    Magic.


    Absolutely magic artifacts.


    These Anzeta people, in this magic wilderness, were using precious magic artifacts for the most menial, base task of farming?


    What on earth is going on?


    You¡¯re using magic artifacts for this?


    Even in the former Holy Fadlan, spellcasters were of high status and wouldn¡¯t engage in such lowly work.


    Seeing the shock in Jose¡¯s eyes, Hera proactively spoke, ¡°Those are combined seeders, another blessing from His Majesty.¡±


    She gazed at the distant fields and sighed, ¡°Once, Anzeta was shrouded in hunger and cold, but now we¡¯ve overcome the struggle for basic sustenance.¡±


    This Lir Farmland is modest compared to the grand Matra Great Farmland to the north, which was once a desolate land.¡±


    Years ago, His Majesty Cassius wielded supreme power, causing the earth to rise and form towering mountains that blocked the cold winds from the north, warming the land and making boundless fertile black soil appear from the snow.¡±


    Now, seventy percent of the Empire¡¯s grain comes from the Matra Great Farmland.¡±


    As she spoke, Hera¡¯s tone became reverent, with her beautiful eyes filled with admiration and fervor.


    Hearing this, Jose¡¯s eyes showed immense shock, even a hint of disbelief.


    Alter the terrain?


    Create mountains?


    If what she said was true, even a legendary mage would struggle to achieve that; it would require spells above the ninth tier of the magic web.


    Without yet reaching the legendary capital of Isdalia, just this part of the journey had deeply shocked Jose, even causing some fear.


    Would such an Empire, brimming with ambition, be content with just the modest lands of Anzeta and Cartapa?

 Chapter 530 - 530 3 Experiences

    ?Chapter 530: Chapter 3: Experiences Chapter 530: Chapter 3: Experiences The steel beast raced across the vast wilderness, its steam pistons continuously working, producing a rhythmic dull thud.


    Hours flew by as Jose watched the changing scenery outside the window and listened to Hera recount the empire¡¯s history, filled with words like ¡°loyalty¡± and ¡°gratitude.¡±


    However, those overly embellished histories made Jose a bit irritated.


    This guy was beyond saving.


    She had already been bewitched by that Red Dragon, becoming the spiritual slave of that Evil Dragon Emperor.


    Jose thought to himself.


    ¡°Look! It¡¯s a city!¡±


    Soon, an eagle-eyed guard spotted the black city walls gradually emerging in the distance.


    Jose looked over, and the city was far grander and more formidable than he had imagined, giving an intangible sense of oppression, with wyverns seemingly patrolling the sky.


    ¡°This should be the so-called Isdalia, the capital of the Ashen Empire.¡±


    He thought to himself.


    It was far inferior to the Holy City of Theodivacan in the former Fadlan, which was true.


    Even the poorest and most humble citizen of Fadlan would proudly puff out their chest when thinking of that magnificent holy city¡ªbecause that was, indeed, the most glorious place human imagination could conceive.


    Unfortunately, after years of war, the once pristine holy city had become riddled with scars, with smoke wafting everywhere, and the corpses of soldiers from the Three Great Kingdoms filling the ditches outside the city, their blood forming flowing moats.


    The war in the south.


    Thinking of this, Jose felt a bit emotional, taking a deep sigh before commenting, ¡°It¡¯s a very good city, but as the capital of an empire, it still feels a bit¡­¡±


    Hera then pointed to the city walls and introduced, ¡°This is the largest fortress city in the south of the empire, Black Stone Fortress.¡±


    Jose¡¯s expression immediately stiffened. He stopped talking, merely observing the city as it drew closer silently.


    ¡°Black Stone Fortress Station, we have arrived.¡±


    The conductor¡¯s clear voice echoed within the carriage, seemingly amplified by some device.


    The train approached, stopping at the gate, while the empire¡¯s citizens, who had been waiting at the platform for a long time, poured into the compartments.


    Among the passengers were not only humans but also Great Goblins, Tieflings, Half-Orcs, and even Ogres, making the caravan guards a bit nervous.


    Humans and these monsters coexisted peacefully, sometimes even engaging in conversation, which amazed the well-traveled guards who had slain numerous monsters in the wild.


    ¡°Make way.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t block the aisle.¡±


    ¡°Baron, are you traveling to Isdalia as well?¡±


    The carriage quickly got noisy, but luckily Jose had booked a VIP cabin, and the large Ogres had their own special carriages.


    After a moment of surprise, Jose focused his attention on the Black Stone Fortress.


    Despite the tall city walls blocking much of the view, he could still see the clean, wide streets and the uniformly built brick houses through the city gate.


    It¡¯s truly a remarkable city, whether from a commercial or military perspective.


    As a merchant, he would definitely be willing to do business in such a beautiful city, and as a commander, those tall, solid walls with protruding towers would serve as crucial defenses against external enemies.


    If an ordinary city could be built like this, what would the imperial capital be like?


    Jose thought to himself.


    Looking at the people hastily entering the carriage, he suddenly asked, ¡°Why are so many people heading to Isdalia? What are they going there for?¡±


    Hera replied, ¡°Isdalia is the sacred coronation site of His Majesty and the center of the empire. It has the most jobs in the entire country with the highest wages.


    However, it is also an incredibly expensive place, and ordinary citizens find it difficult to afford a house in Isdalia. Even a basement can fetch hundreds of Ginnars at an exorbitant price.


    Therefore, some citizens choose to live in other cities and travel to Isdalia for work by steam locomotive every day.


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    Jose was a bit astonished. He had never seen such a novel way of life, living in one city and working in another.


    Hera gave a bitter smile and said helplessly, ¡°If I could afford a house in Isdalia, I wouldn¡¯t have to work as a guide in Tahan.¡±


    The steam locomotive raced on, passing several undulating mountain peaks and cities.


    ¡°Amanata above¡­¡±


    The guard sitting at the front widened his eyes and exclaimed uncontrollably.


    Jose couldn¡¯t help but look out the window. Despite having prepared himself mentally, he was still deeply shocked by the scene unfolding before him.


    ¡°Oh, gods¡­¡±


    He muttered to himself.


    In the distance were towering walls with no end in sight, a spectacular and uniquely styled block of buildings, and tall chimneys rising in the distance, emitting gray smoke.


    But most striking of all was the giant stone pillar in the center of the city, hundreds of meters high, supporting a magnificent white altar, surrounded by mist, as if the Divine Realm had descended upon the earth.


    ¡ªThat was the Isdalia Grand Altar.


    For some reason, Jose suddenly recalled himself at the age of six, worshipping the Holy City for the first time, looking up at the ¡°Eternal Sun God Tower.¡±


    And now, Isdalia gave him that same feeling.


    ¡°It truly is a¡­ miracle.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but voice his genuine thought.


    ¡°Yes, for us Anzeta people, that is a miracle.¡±


    Hera also looked up at the white altar in the sky with a devout expression, ¡°Mr. Jose, that is where His Majesty Cassius was crowned.


    No matter where you are in Isdalia, as long as you look up, you can see that sacred place.¡±


    ¡°Isdalia South Gate Station, we have arrived. Please remember His Majesty¡¯s grace and disembark in an orderly manner¡­


    ¡°Finally here.¡±


    ¡°Hurry up, do you want to be late and get your pay docked?¡±


    People on the train began to disembark one after another, and after calming down and taking several deep breaths, Jose also left the train with his caravan.


    He had the guards unload the goods from the car and gather their equipment. The group then made their way grandly into the city.


    The roads here were even wider than he had imagined. The main road¡¯s width was absurd, allowing a dozen carriages to travel side by side.


    The roads here were also cleaner and smoother than any he had ever seen. They seemed to be paved with some kind of black gravel, without any unevenness, making him marvel.


    Rail tracks were also laid on the sides of the roads, with small steam locomotives running on them, while city residents waited and moved about at the platforms.


    At a glance, one could see a variety of races: Humans, Tieflings, Great Goblins, Half-Orcs, Half-Goat People, Ogres¡­


    Regardless of the race, everyone was quite busy, moving hastily, and people seemed accustomed to everything, showing a natural familiarity with coexisting with different races.


    ¡°Citizens, please comply with the public security ordinances!¡±


    Knights riding bipedal wyverns patrolled in the air, while Tiefling Guards holding rifles marched in neat rows along the right side of the street.


    Their caravan was completely insignificant in this city.


    A towering Ogre approached, scaring a guard into raising his shield, sweating all over.


    ¡°You, what do you want?¡±


    The guard had encountered Ogres in the wilderness before, where his teammates were eaten alive. He knew well the ferocious nature of these monsters and was terrified of them.


    But the Ogre merely glanced at him disdainfully and snorted, ¡°Overreacting bumpkin, it¡¯s your first time in the imperial capital¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, foolish and weak human.¡±


    Another Ogre in a suit chimed in.


    The two Ogres left, grumbling, leaving the guard drenched in sweat. He thought he was about to be eaten.


    Could they really let him go like that?


    Seeing this, Jose couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Miss Hera, there was a question I¡¯ve been meaning to ask.


    How exactly do they suppress their nature? Those Ogres, wyverns, clearly the most brutal monsters¡­


    Yet now they can become like this and even follow orders?¡±


    Hera looked as if it were natural. She raised her head again and stared at the white altar in the sky.


    She clasped her hands and whispered, ¡°Of course it¡¯s His Majesty¡¯s doing. His wisdom is as deep as the ocean, enlightening these ignorant creatures, bringing them the light of civilization¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Jose fell silent.


    Before arriving in the empire, he had always thought this was a place ruled by an evil dragon, a living hell.


    People would be imprisoned in huge mines, wearing heavy shackles and toiling endlessly, continuously producing deadly firearms to satiate the Red Dragon¡¯s endless greed for wealth.


    But reality was far from his imagination. In this guide¡¯s words, the Dragon Emperor was described as a radiant and towering being, worshipped by countless imperial citizens.


    Looking at those grand yet uniquely styled buildings, Jose began to really doubt that the Red Dragon had any so-called ¡°divine power.¡±


    How else could he have transformed the desolate and barren Anzeta into this within just over a decade?


    ¡°All people worship together, the great Red Dragon in the sky!¡±


    ¡°How can we ever repay His Grace? His Majesty makes springs flow down from the mountains, refreshing all the lands¡­¡±


    ¡°His Majesty is like the sun in the sky, and we are like plants on the ground, endlessly bathed in light, growing strong and tall¡­¡±


    Suddenly, a melodious chant came from afar, echoing throughout the city.


    Jose frowned, ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Listening to the familiar melody, Hera said joyfully, ¡°It¡¯s ¡®Cassius¡¯s Hymn¡¯! What an auspicious tune!¡±


    ¡°Right, Mr. Jose, today is February 29th, and Coronation Day is almost here. It¡¯s an annual grand event.¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hera¡¯s tone was excited.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Listening to the song¡¯s refrain, ¡°How can we ever repay His Grace?¡± Jose once again became silent, even starting to doubt himself.


    If the people of this country were in such a fervent and confident state, then the danger level of the Ashen Empire was even higher.

 Chapter 531 - 531 4 The Factory

    ?Chapter 531: Chapter 4: The Factory Chapter 531: Chapter 4: The Factory ¡°That is the Isdalia Grand Coliseum, where gladiator matches are held regularly.¡±


    ¡°This is the Red Scale Guard Station, the headquarters of the Red Scale Conqueror Corps.¡±


    ¡°You mean that group? They are from the Imperial Army. It¡¯s said that demons have been appearing recently, so they¡¯re conducting very strict inspections in the city.¡±


    Jose and his group continued walking along the main road, listening to Hera¡¯s introductions about the things they saw along the way.


    ¡°Mr. Jose, up ahead is the headquarters building of the Klaubow Armament Group. That should be your destination¡­¡±


    ¡°Such a tall building.¡±


    Jose raised his head and saw a tall building with over a dozen floors in the distance, with ¡°Klaubow Armament Group¡± written prominently at the top.


    The entire building seemed to be made of special bricks and stones, with little additional decoration, exuding a distinctive imperial style. It was said to be supported by steel reinforcements.


    At the building¡¯s entrance, aside from the emblem of the Ashen Empire, there was also the group¡¯s logo of firearms, cannons, and dragon wings intertwined.


    The area was bustling with people, hurrying about. There were merchants from various places, tax officers holding documents, and many soldiers in military uniforms with handguns at their waists. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jose curiously walked into the building, while Hera stepped forward to speak quietly with the receptionist.


    Soon, a man in formal attire, with a steady gait, approached with a smile and extended his right hand warmly.


    ¡°You must be Mr. Jose, one of the principals of the Pearson Commerce Guild. I¡¯ve heard so much about you.


    I am Ruvain Craig, a senior salesman of the group, specifically responsible for receiving distinguished guests like you.¡±


    Being a smooth-talking businessman, Jose immediately reacted, putting on a polite smile and extending his hand for a handshake.


    ¡°You flatter me. I am just an ordinary member of the Pearson Commerce Guild, entrusted temporarily to represent the guild.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. The Pearson Commerce Guild is the most powerful guild in Thrace and one of our major clients.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I must trouble you, Mr. Ruvain.¡±


    Ruvain led Jose and his group into the building for a tour, seizing the opportunity to promote the group¡¯s new product, the ¡°Wyvern Flame¡± series rifles.


    ¡°¡­This is an important milestone. It has undergone further optimization in materials and structure, significantly improving shooting accuracy and reliability.


    The second generation, while maintaining its original advantages, enhances soldiers¡¯ mobility and flexibility in combat by shortening the gun¡¯s length and reducing its weight, allowing it to quickly respond to various tactical needs in complex environments¡­¡±


    ¡°It sounds impressive.¡±


    Jose nodded slightly.


    ¡°The Pearson Commerce Guild is still concerned about the quality of these firearms. Money is a minor issue; the soldiers¡¯ lives are what matter most.¡±


    ¡°You make a valid point.¡±


    Jose stroked his beard and said nonchalantly, ¡°So¡­ seeing is believing.¡±


    Some things, you must see for yourself to know.¡±


    That was his goal.


    To steal the Empire¡¯s firearm technology, understand their military situation, and make the necessary preparations.


    Through this interaction, he had roughly determined that Ruvain was a greedy character motivated solely by profit.


    As long as enough money was offered, there might be something to uncover. As for that fervent believer Hera, he had given up trying to win her over.


    ¡°Mr. Jose, do you want to tour the group¡¯s firearm production process?


    No problem, I¡¯ll take you right now.¡±


    Before Jose could respond, Ruvain spoke decisively.


    ¡°Well, okay.¡±


    Jose was slightly stunned, then realized and nodded lightly.


    He initially thought he would need to go through a negotiation process, using interests to persuade the other side, which was quite typical for someone like him, navigating among the nobility as a ¡°White Glove.¡±


    But Jose never expected the other party to agree so directly, as if it was just a trivial matter.


    Could this be a trap?


    Despite his apprehension, Jose resolved to complete the task entrusted by the prince.


    He aimed to obtain blueprints of the firearms and, ideally, recruit a few skilled imperial craftsmen so that the Thrace Kingdom could produce such weapons.


    Ruvain took Jose and his group on a small steam locomotive within the city, heading to the southern part of the city.


    He introduced, ¡°This is the southern industrial district of Isdalia. This time, I¡¯ll take you to visit the Eleventh Armament Factory.¡±


    Jose gazed at the massive complex in the distance, with towering smokestacks emitting gray smoke, and couldn¡¯t help but marvel, ¡°It¡¯s truly magnificent.¡±


    ¡°So the firearms sold to the south are made here?¡±


    ¡°Of course, please follow me.¡±


    Ruvain walked ahead and spoke with the security at the gate before leading them smoothly through.


    Upon entering the factory, Jose was once again stunned by the scene.


    ¡°Clang! Clang!¡±


    The spacious workshop was filled with the roar of machines, bustling voices, and flying dust. Machines several meters high were neatly arranged.


    The workers were busy on assembly lines, their expressions numb and their actions almost reflexive. Each person was responsible for a specific part of the process, whether checking gun barrels, assembling parts, or installing components¡­


    ¡°Listen up! As long as you meet today¡¯s quota, you¡¯ll get a bonus!


    If I catch anyone slacking off¡­¡±


    The Earth Goblins Supervisor moved between the workshops, occasionally berating a worker in a rage.


    Jose widened his eyes and opened his mouth, thinking to himself:


    Machine.


    A massive machine.


    Not only the factory¡¯s equipment but also the living workers were just components for this massive machine¡¯s operation.


    Only now did he finally understand why Ruvain agreed so readily¡ªthere were no skilled craftsmen; those producing the firearms were not individuals but the entire factory.


    Ruvain spoke casually, ¡°The group¡¯s firearms go through multiple inspection processes to ensure quality. You have nothing to worry about.¡±


    Jose couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°If there are skilled blacksmiths, can they independently forge these firearms?¡±


    Ruvain replied, ¡°Perhaps they can, but relying solely on manual labor inevitably comes with errors, requiring extremely skilled blacksmiths to achieve it.


    Moreover, no matter how skilled you are, you can only produce a few rifles a day. The Empire¡¯s factory produces tens of thousands of firearms daily.¡±


    As he spoke, a sense of pride seeped into his tone.


    At this moment, it was no exaggeration to call the Ashen Empire the ¡°world¡¯s armory.¡± The rifles they produced were sold overseas and even changed the course of wars to some extent.


    Jose felt a sense of despair. If the Thrace Kingdom wanted to independently produce firearms, they would need to relocate the entire factory to the south.


    Moreover, according to Ruvain, they would also need a supporting industrial system to supply materials for firearm production¡ªthis would mean moving the entire imperial industrial district.


    Jose thought to himself, ¡°I¡¯ve traveled across the Fianso Continent, but I¡¯ve never seen a country like this¡­¡±


    This is simply¡­


    He pondered for a moment before finding the most suitable analogy.


    ¡°A massive machine designed for war and plundering wealth. That Emperor has turned living people into tools.¡±


    Jose¡¯s emotions were extremely complex.


    After touring the armament factory, he told Ruvain that he needed to consider further before deciding whether to order the firearms.


    Thus, Jose and his group were accommodated at a VIP hostel in the center of the imperial capital, and Hera, serving as their guide, took her leave.


    But before she left, she said meaningfully to Jose, ¡°Do not harbor any illusions. His Majesty Cassius¡¯ eyes see everything in the Empire.¡±


    However, Jose did not take her words seriously. In his eyes, this guide was merely a brainwashed victim of the Evil Dragon Emperor.


    At midnight, the sky was dark.


    A barely noticeable sound emerged in the room of the VIP hostel.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    Jose woke up from his sleep, sensing danger, his heart pounding. It seemed that a shadow had passed by the window.


    The guards at the door noticed nothing unusual.


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    He looked down, his expression turning fearful¡ªthe memory stone disguised as a medal had been shattered by a tiny silver needle.


    And beside him, there appeared a crumpled, blood-stained paper strip with the same words he had heard during the day:


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius¡¯ eyes see everything in the Empire.¡±


    Jose¡¯s face turned pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead: ¡°How, how did they know?¡±

 Chapter 532 - 532 5 Festivals

    ?Chapter 532: Chapter 5 Festivals Chapter 532: Chapter 5 Festivals Jose Saracha, the head of the Pearson Commerce Guild, came from the Thrace Kingdom and hurriedly left after purchasing a batch of armaments worth fifty thousand Ginnar.


    However, this was just a trivial matter for the bustling City of Isdalia, where tens of thousands of people came and went each day, hardly causing any ripples.


    At most, Ruvain¡¯s share increased a bit, and the Klaubow Armament Group received more orders.


    For the local residents, the more important event was the approaching festival, the most significant day in the entire Ashen empire ¡ª Coronation Day.


    On March 1st, 1786 of the Third Era, at noon, Cassius crowned himself at the altar, announcing the establishment of the Empire to the world.


    Over the years, with vigorous official propaganda, the Empire had established a series of festival customs that the citizens highly valued.


    Every March 1st, people would gather at Emperor¡¯s Square, surrounding the majestic Red Dragon Statue, collectively chanting the ¡°Cassius¡¯s Hymn.¡±


    Additionally, people often exchanged gifts, held feasts, and drank liberally in taverns, shouting praises like ¡°Long live His Majesty!¡± and ¡°Thank His Majesty!¡±


    The costly ¡°¡±Dragon¡¯s Gift¡±¡± was freely supplied during this time, paid for by the Empire.


    Moreover, on this day, all factories and offices were closed, allowing people to fully enjoy this time of revelry and showcase their loyalty to His Majesty.


    ¡°All people worship together, the great Red Dragon in heaven!¡±


    ¡°How can we repay such kindness?¡±


    The melodious singing echoed in the square, more passionate than during rehearsals the previous day, and everyone¡¯s face was filled with fervor.


    ¡°Long live the Empire!¡±


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°For the celebration of Coronation Day, everything is 40% off!¡±


    People from all walks of life gathered here, sitting on chairs beside taverns, raising their cups and even barrels of alcohol, drinking merrily together.


    ¡°Maintain order!¡±


    ¡°The Ogre over there! Put down the Half-Goat person!¡±


    However, the Tieflings of the security team continued to maintain order, patrolling with spears to prevent those large, drunken individuals from revealing their true nature and causing trouble.


    Humans, Orcs, Tieflings, Great Goblins, Lizardfolk, Ogres, Half-Goat people, Bipedal Wyverns¡­


    Regardless of race, status, or rank, as long as they were citizens of the Empire, they enjoyed this rare day of celebration, releasing the pressures of work.


    But there were some exceptions ¡ª such as the Empire¡¯s enemies.


    A ¡°human¡± clad in a gray robe silently watched the celebrating crowd from a corner, an endless resentment showing in his eyes.


    His previous name was Asher Carly, a northern noble with a noble bloodline that had been passed down for hundreds of years, living a privileged life.


    However, the arrival of the Red Dragon shattered all that. His family lost their heads in the ¡°great Judgment,¡± and he awaited death in a cell.


    It was then that Asher¡¯s intense hatred caught the eye of the ¡°Vengeful Demon,¡± and the Abyss opened a grotesque and terrifying door for him.


    Years later, he returned to the North, and beneath that human skin was the grotesque, deformed body of a demon.


    ¡°These damn humans¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve forgotten the ancestors¡¯ blessings so quickly and pledged loyalty to the evil dragons. They should be torn to pieces.¡±


    Asher gritted his teeth and said, willing to transform into a demon to fight against the evil dragons.


    But these despicable northern people had abandoned their faith in just a few years and pledged allegiance to that evil dragon!


    This was utterly unforgivable!


    Asher¡¯s mission was to incite hatred against the Red Dragon, disrupt the Empire¡¯s social order, and gather more nutrients for the growth of demons.


    Yet, among the tens of thousands of people in the square, not a single one showed the red glow representing hatred.


    Most even displayed a golden glow of loyalty and faith, blinding Asher¡¯s eyes.


    He let out a hoarse exclamation from his throat, ¡°This is impossible!¡±


    This was simply unbelievable!


    They were living under the brutal rule of the evil dragon; how could they feel no hatred?


    Even during the ruling of the Northern Kingdom, there were still many foolish rebels attempting to revolt.


    How could the people lack hatred under the rule of the evil dragon?


    This simply defied all logic!


    Asher lowered his head, muttering to himself, ¡°These despicable humans! How can I complete the task Lord Jezarslak has assigned this way?¡±


    ¡°The flame is His Majesty¡¯s robe, the sky is His Majesty¡¯s mantle, dark storms align with His Majesty¡¯s path¡­¡±


    ¡°How can we forget such kindness?¡±


    The melodious hymn drifted from afar, making Asher increasingly agitated.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    If he weren¡¯t in imperial territory, he might have shown his demon form and crushed those singing humans into pulp on the spot.


    ¡°No, I mustn¡¯t rush. There are hundreds of thousands of people in this city; there will surely be someone who hates the evil dragon¡­¡±


    ¡°If I find one, it might lead to a group that hates the evil dragon.¡±


    With this thought, he decided to wander around the square and try his luck.


    Asher roamed the square, moving between taverns, controlling his human guise to display an ¡°exuberant¡± expression.


    Amid the vast golden sea of loyalty, he finally spotted a white figure in a tavern corner ¡ª a human.


    White, representing neither hatred nor support.


    But in the vast golden light, this was already precious. To Asher, this human was at least worth trying to win over.


    ¡°It seems the evil dragon hasn¡¯t bewitched everyone; there are still some wise humans.¡±


    With this thought, Asher approached and said:


    ¡°Friend, are you feeling down?


    This is a nationwide celebration; why are you so disheartened?¡±


    The man was startled, straightened up, and said trembling, ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius! I¡¯m just troubled by some issues, not dissatisfaction with His Majesty.


    Are you¡­ from Nocturne?¡±


    It seemed like there was hope!


    Asher¡¯s eyes lit up immediately, smiling as he replied, ¡°Of course not. Relax, I¡¯m just a stranger.¡±


    The man finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Then, Asher continued to ask, ¡°Friend, what¡¯s your name? What¡¯s troubling you?¡±


    The man, looking dejected, raised his cup, tilted his head back, and drained the drink in one gulp.


    The liquid dribbled down from his lips, soaking his clothes. He nonchalantly wiped his mouth with his hand before saying, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m Raj, a worker at Factory Thirteen.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 533 - 533 6 Unexpected

    ?Chapter 533: Chapter 6: Unexpected Chapter 533: Chapter 6: Unexpected ¡°Why am I so down, you ask? Ha, the situation¡¯s been terrible lately. They, they¡¯re all a bunch of parasites!¡±


    Raj put down his glass, cursing under his breath.


    Asher continued to prompt, ¡°Oh? How so? From what I hear, hasn¡¯t the Empire been on the rise recently?¡±


    Raj burped, his emotions becoming more agitated, ¡°It¡¯s those Dragonblood Nobility making all the big bucks. What does it have to do with us workers?


    I work from dawn to dusk every day, handling hundreds of rifles, but even if those firearms make millions, all I get is a single Ginnar a month.


    Those Important Figures, on the other hand, just lounge on their sofas pretending to be busy and wind up with thousands of Ginnars in their accounts.¡±


    Raj¡¯s voice trembled, his agitation growing stronger.


    ¡°And those people from the Imperial Bank, they¡¯re a bunch of Vampires too! Half a year ago, I borrowed money from them to buy a house on the outskirts of Isdalia.¡±


    ¡°Now that I¡¯ve lost my job, not only are they sending people to collect the debt, but they also want to kick me out! That house cost me all my savings¡­¡±


    Asher chimed in sympathetically, ¡°That¡¯s really unfair.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re a worker at the munitions factory, right? Why did you lose your job?¡±


    Raj gave a bitter laugh and took another sip of his drink, ¡°The supervisor thought I was slacking off, often daydreaming. And with those Starfallen about to return, they kicked me out.¡±


    His tone turned furious again, beer foam spraying into the air.


    ¡°What right does he have to judge me? We toil away every day, but he just takes a few laps around and earns several times our wages. Why?!¡±


    Asher put on an indignant look, exclaiming, ¡°These people are just despicable!¡±


    ¡°Right!¡±


    ¡°Bankers, factory owners, overseers¡­ They are the parasites of the Empire!¡±


    Raj slammed his glass down on the table, venting his frustration, his face turning red.


    Seeing Raj¡¯s heightened emotions, Asher lowered his voice and asked tentatively, ¡°Have you ever thought about¡ªwhy you¡¯ve ended up in this situation?¡±


    Raj¡¯s face remained flushed as he shook his glass, ¡°It¡¯s that damned Yelson supervisor! He fired me over a tiny mistake¡­¡±


    Asher patted Raj¡¯s shoulder, pointing to the sky, his voice low and coercive, ¡°What I mean is, if the Empire¡¯s order is unfair, then the one who established it in the first place¡­¡±


    He stopped short, staring intently at Raj, waiting for his reaction.


    ¡°Of course¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, you mean¡­¡±


    Raj¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, shivering.


    Perhaps it was a survival instinct, but he suddenly sobered up from his drunken state, cold sweat beading on his forehead¡ªbecause he understood what Asher was implying.


    This ¡°Stranger¡± wanted to rebel against His Majesty Cassius!


    Although Raj usually scoffed at the propaganda department¡¯s fawning behavior and had little loyalty to His Majesty Cassius, even feeling some resentment,


    fear was deeply ingrained in his bones!


    After all, the rifles of the Imperial Army and the poisoned daggers of the Nocturne were no joke.


    ¡°Good thing I almost let it slip.¡±


    Raj felt a pang of fear, patting his chest and taking a long breath.


    Seeing Raj still fearful, Asher leaned in and whispered in his ear:


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Raj, speak your true thoughts. Think about who has put you in this kind of life¡­¡±


    But Raj had never been clearer. He nervously glanced at the ¡°Stranger¡± beside him, recalling the hazy moments earlier.


    Plain gray robes, an inexplicable conversation, guiding words¡­


    In the end, Raj reached a conclusion¡ªthere was a high possibility he was a spy!


    Raj¡¯s heart pounded not just from fear but intense excitement.


    In the ¡°Empire Dream¡± story published in the Kingdom Daily, his idol, Baron George, had risen to fame by reporting a spy, climbing step by step to become a high-ranking Dragonblood Noble.


    Having lost his job and being evicted from his house, could his life be making a complete turnaround?


    Reporting a spy meant at least a fifty-Ginnar reward. If crucial information was provided, there was a chance to become a First-Class Citizen, enjoying generous treatment.


    With that, he could pay off his debts, reclaim his house, and potentially become a factory supervisor, completely changing his life¡¯s trajectory.


    ¡°Maybe¡­ I¡¯ll become an Important Figure like Lord George too!¡±


    Raj thought to himself, looking at Asher with a mix of excitement and even fanaticism.


    That wasn¡¯t just any drinking buddy; it was a path to changing his fate!


    Asher also noticed Raj¡¯s shift in mood and felt smug, thinking Raj had been swayed and his hatred had been ignited.


    ¡°Come, Raj, don¡¯t be afraid. Say the name, the one responsible for your miserable fate¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about their revenge. I¡¯ll grant you great strength to take revenge on everyone who has wronged you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Raj nodded nervously, sweat streaming down his forehead, barely able to contain his excitement.


    Revenge¡­


    That rhetoric, he had seen it in Imperial announcements; it belonged to the abyssal demons!


    Recently, the Empire had been heavily focused on demon news, rewarding a Hunter hundreds of Ginnars for discovering a demon!


    Rumor had it the Hunter had opened a shop in Northwind Castle, thriving and living a carefree life.


    But with high rewards came high risks; these demons were extremely dangerous and could take one¡¯s life in an instant.


    At that thought, Raj¡¯s legs began to tremble, his expression stiffening, sweat even dripping from his nose.


    But Asher thought this human had been swayed by his offer and was just afraid of the Empire¡¯s retaliation.


    Asher said, ¡°Raj, don¡¯t be afraid. Think about it. I¡¯ll grant you endless wealth, unparalleled strength¡­¡±


    Just as he was about to continue his persuasion, a crisp sound interrupted him from behind.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    Suddenly, an Ogre, drunk as a skunk, smashed a glass mug over a Great Goblin¡¯s head.


    Glass shards flew everywhere, the Great Goblin¡¯s head bleeding as he clutched it, roaring in pain.


    ¡°Damn Ogre, what the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    The Ogre, holding the broken mug, slurred, ¡°Ugh¡­ Luke does whatever he wants! Red-skinned midget!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re asking for it!¡±


    The Great Goblin rushed in, grappling with the drunk Ogre, while other Goblins and Ogres faced off, some even drawing handguns from their waists.


    ¡°Stop fighting! Stop fighting!¡±


    ¡°The Security Team is here!¡±


    Seeing the escalating conflict, the tavern owner urgently called for help, and the Tiefling Security Team patrolling nearby responded quickly. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Silence!¡±


    ¡°No brawling in the city! And especially not on Coronation Day!¡±


    The Tiefling Security Team soldiers quickly flooded the tavern, pointing spears at the Ogres and Great Goblins and shouting a warning.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A gunshot rang out, leaving a hole in the ceiling. Faced with the dark gun barrels, the grappling Ogres and Great Goblins regained their senses.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to, I was just drunk.¡±


    The Ogre, releasing the Great Goblin pinned beneath him, wobbled to his feet, face flushed, raising his hands.


    The noisy tavern suddenly quieted down. The sheriff took out pen and paper, jotting down names and identities from both sides.


    At that moment, a drunken human staggered forward, tripping over a bottle and falling to the ground.


    ¡°Thud!¡±


    But sitting there, he pointed a trembling finger at the gray-robed figure sitting nearby, yelling hoarsely, ¡°Arrest him! He¡¯s a demon!¡±


    The tavern erupted in an uproar.

 Chapter 534 - 534 7 Demon

    ?Chapter 534: Chapter 7 Demon Chapter 534: Chapter 7 Demon ¡°What are you doing!¡±


    Asher¡¯s face first showed an expression of disbelief, followed by extreme distortion and anger. His body trembled uncontrollably.


    As a noble demon, he had been deceived by a lowly human!


    This was simply an insult!


    How did that human know his identity, and where did he get the courage to report him!


    How did that Red Dragon bewitch people¡¯s hearts to the extent that those dissatisfied with him were willing to risk their lives to help!


    ¡°You shameless, ungrateful peasants of the North, you should be slaughtered to the last one!¡±


    Human, I will make you understand the consequences of angering a demon!¡±


    Asher¡¯s face became more and more hideous and twisted, his body wrapped in a gray robe trembling violently.


    ¡°Screech¡ª¡±


    The human skin on his body was abruptly torn open, revealing black spikes, chitinous claw-like hands, and a hideous face full of fangs.


    Asher finally revealed his true form¡ªhe was a Seducing Demon!


    These demons were born from the souls of traitors. They conducted schemes and fraud everywhere, often luring their victims to their demise.


    Asher¡¯s body grew even larger, bursting the gray robe. His horned head smashed through the tavern¡¯s ceiling.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Suddenly, the tavern was filled with smoke and dust. Debris fell from the ceiling one after another. The crowd around them pushed and fled in panic, letting out screams.


    ¡°Run!¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°Pathetic humans, hahaha, feel fear! I will slaughter you all!¡±


    ¡°You know nothing of the power of The Abyss!¡±


    The Seducing Demon let out a terrifying laugh, waving its massive claws to slice the waist of anyone who didn¡¯t escape in time.


    The overwhelming abyssal power emanated from its massive, twisted body, causing a deep-seated fear in the souls of those present.


    The Tiefling Security Team¡¯s soldiers raised their spears, aiming at the massive black silhouette within the smoke as if facing a great enemy.


    Ogres and Great Goblins, who had been brawling moments ago, also wore solemn expressions. They drew handguns from their waists, continuously firing.


    ¡°Fire! Kill that demon!¡±


    ¡°Bam!¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The sound of gunfire rang out, and a rain of bullets poured onto the demon, only to be deflected by the Seducing Demon¡¯s thick shell, making a crisp sound.


    The Seducing Demon¡¯s body was incredibly strong, possessing the strength to destroy everything. If it weren¡¯t for the high-level magical restrictions within the city, it could cast despair-inducing illusions.


    They were powerful spellcasters and ruthless warriors, even the bravest hero would feel fear in their hearts when facing them.


    Asher stepped out from the smoke, sneering lowly: ¡°Are you tickling me?¡±


    ¡°Foolish mortals, how could you understand the greatness of The Abyss!¡±


    He gazed at Raj, who was trembling on the ground behind the soldiers, with boundless killing intent in his scarlet and murky eyes.


    ¡°Human, I¡¯m here to settle the score! As punishment for deceiving me, I will let you witness your body being torn to pieces!¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Shoot his eyes!¡±


    The Tiefling Sheriff raised the rifle in his hands and commanded loudly.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    In an instant, over a hundred bullets poured onto the Seducing Demon¡¯s head, even hitting its eyes, forcing it to retreat a few steps.


    Asher raised his claws to shield his face, while continuously advancing, letting out a hoarse roar.


    ¡°You ignorant mortals! I will utterly destroy all of you! Crush this Empire!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Seducing Demon charged into the crowd, waving its massive claws, slicing several Tiefling soldiers in half.


    But the surrounding Tieflings, Great Goblins, and Ogres did not back down. They formed a loose formation, continuously shooting at its weak points. Some even threw bombs, their long military training having ingrained this as second nature.


    Another Ogre held a table as a shield, blocking in front of him and shouting loudly: ¡°Big bug, Luke will smash you flat!¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The Seducing Demon slammed an Ogre aside, crushing several soldiers with its claws and charging straight towards Raj.


    ¡°Human¡ª¡±


    He had revealed his identity and failed in his task to overthrow the Empire¡¯s order from the shadows.


    Now, Asher only wanted to kill this damned human to vent his anger, then leave!


    ¡°No, don¡¯t kill me!¡±


    ¡°Help!¡±


    Raj looked at the hideous demon and backed away on all fours, but it was no use.


    The Seducing Demon¡¯s hideous claws grew larger and larger in Raj¡¯s eyes. He could even see the fresh blood on its sharp teeth and smell the pungent scent of blood.


    Was he going to die here?


    Unwillingness filled his heart.


    He hadn¡¯t obtained the Ginnar, hadn¡¯t paid off his debts, hadn¡¯t gained First-Class Citizen status¡­


    Thinking about becoming broken pieces of flesh, Raj closed his eyes in terror. His crotch was already wet.


    ¡°Demon!¡±


    ¡°How dare you cause trouble on Coronation Day! This is blasphemy against His Majesty!¡±


    A crisp female voice appeared, filled with endless anger.


    Raj didn¡¯t feel the expected pain, only extreme heat, so he carefully opened his eyes.


    Flames swirled, ashes flew, and Dragon¡¯s Might permeated the air.


    A girl with dragon horns on her forehead floated mid-air, her scarlet hair dancing wildly. Her golden vertical pupils burned with infinite fury.


    Looking at the girl, people felt as if they could see an enormous Red Dragon spreading its wings and roaring.


    It was the master of the Tower of Everflame, His Majesty Cassius¡¯s contractor, the ¡°Dragon Fire Maiden¡± of the Ashen Empire¡ªMisha!


    ¡°It¡¯s Lady Misha!¡±


    Raj exclaimed.


    As His Majesty¡¯s contractor, it was said this ¡°Dragon Fire Maiden¡± held a rank equal to a Duke. He had only seen figures of such stature in the Kingdom Daily.


    ¡°Those who blaspheme His Majesty shall be reduced to ashes!¡±


    Misha stretched out her delicate hand. Flames surged like silk threads, forming a scorching, violent whirlwind that attacked the demon.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The massive body of the Seducing Demon crashed heavily into the ruins, large scorched marks appearing on its surface as its exceptionally hard shell almost melted.


    Asher used his claws to support himself, standing up and staring at the girl not far away, filled with hatred in his scarlet eyes.


    As a powerful demon, he had been injured by a mortal!


    Abyssal light flickered across Asher¡¯s body as he gritted his teeth and said: ¡°You are that Red Dragon¡¯s retainer¡­¡±


    Misha did not respond, only gazing coldly at the demon, her hands crossed.


    Fire elements within a hundred meters gathered, creating a vast vortex of energy, forming a scorching, blinding fireball like the sun.


    It was Dragon¡¯s Breath!


    Asher sensed danger and swung his claws, leaping high in an attempt to kill the girl before the spell was fully released.


    Misha raised her head and pointed to the sky, releasing the terrible energy instantly.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A white Pillar of Fire tore through space, its extreme heat melting the demon¡¯s hard shell, destroying its abyssal-tough flesh, piercing its thick chest.


    Misha did not hesitate, raising her finger to control the Pillar of Fire, moving it upwards to split the demon¡¯s upper body in half.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    ¡°Mortals, you will never kill me! I¡¯ll be reborn in The Abyss, exacting revenge on that Red Dragon!¡±


    With a wretched scream, chaotic mist surged from the massive body¡¯s wounds.


    The Seducing Demon¡¯s eyes and ears burst with dazzling yellow light. Cracks appeared in his skin, a spectacular force destroyed his body.


    Just as that sinful soul prepared to return to The Abyss for rebirth in the Blood Pools, an orderly power blocked and annihilated it.


    That was the Imperial Region!


    Though the Red Dragon had slept for ages, his power still enveloped this land, preventing the arrival and departure of uninvited guests.


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    Misha watched the humanoid figure dissolve into ash, sneering: ¡°Abyssal scum, this is His Majesty¡¯s domain.¡±


    She turned around, clapped her hands lightly, and gazed at the trembling Raj with golden eyes: ¡°Alright, the trouble has been resolved.


    Please tell me¡ªwhat did it say to you?¡±


    Raj nodded vigorously, his wet trousers nearly dried by the scorching air around him.

 Chapter 535 - 535 8 The Future

    ?Chapter 535: Chapter 8 The Future Chapter 535: Chapter 8 The Future ¡°Lady Misha, I, I was originally drinking alone in the tavern¡­¡±


    In front of this ¡°important figure,¡± whom he had only seen in the **Kingdom Daily**, Raj was initially nervous and stuttered as he spoke.


    But soon, thinking of the bright future ahead, Raj spoke more smoothly, and his tone became increasingly indignant.


    ¡°¡­ This damned demon, it actually wanted to seduce me to betray His Majesty! Even if I were to die, I could never do such a disgraceful thing!


    At that time, I immediately reacted and, at the risk of my life, decided on the spot to report it to the security team without hesitation.


    Lady Misha, that¡¯s the general course of events.¡±


    Raj stood nervously in front of Misha, clutching the hem of his clothes and smiling ingratiatingly.


    Misha nodded slightly, showing a smile of approval.


    ¡°Very well, the Empire will not forget your loyalty nor neglect any citizen who makes a contribution at the risk of their life.


    The demon you exposed ranked quite high, and you¡¯re entitled to a reward of over two hundred Ginnar, the status of a First-Class Citizen, and you can collect your reward at the Empire¡¯s bounty office; you deserve it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lady Misha!¡±


    Raj instinctively straightened his back, his face radiating excitement and joy, unable to suppress his smile.


    Though he almost lost his life, he had bet right!


    That was two hundred Ginnar!


    Before being dismissed by Yelson, his supervisor, his salary was one Ginnar per month, often being docked pay for breaking regulations.


    Converted, two hundred Ginnar would require nearly twenty years of day and night toil in the factory! This was a significant fortune for him.


    With this money, he could pay off all his debts, buy a shop near Emperor¡¯s Square, and lead a leisurely life.


    The status of a First-Class Citizen was even better; aside from various subsidies, he would enjoy a higher social standing, leading in many aspects of life.


    That renowned ¡°Empire Dream¡± achiever, Baron George, joined the army as a First-Class Citizen.


    The days of wandering and gloom would soon be behind him, and now, before Raj, lay a superior status, ample money, and a bright future¡­


    His fate had truly changed!


    Excited tears streamed from Raj¡¯s eyes, running down his rugged face.


    He could already envision his former colleagues respectfully calling him ¡°Lord Raj,¡± and that supervisor Yelson fawning over him.


    If it weren¡¯t for Misha¡¯s presence, he would have knelt and kowtowed to the deceased Asher; this wasn¡¯t an abyssal demon but a benefactor bringing him a bright future!


    And His Majesty Cassius, who set up such a perfect bounty system, was indeed a great ruler! How foolish he had been to harbor grievances against His Majesty!


    Humans had always been a reality-driven species. As a beneficiary, if His Majesty could offer him a prosperous life, what reason was there not to be loyal?


    The bit of dissatisfaction caused by life¡¯s setbacks vanished instantly, and now Raj¡¯s heart held only one word¡ªloyalty.


    Raj bid farewell gratefully and hurriedly, almost scrambling, to the Empire¡¯s bounty office.


    A new life, a bright future beckoned him!


    Turning away from the reporter, Misha¡¯s expression grew grave once again.


    Though she could hear the embellishments and self-glorification in Raj¡¯s words, this was human nature, and the general course of events should be accurate.


    One thing was certain¡ªthe demon had infiltrated Isdalia and harmed Imperial citizens.


    ¡°Cough, cough!¡±


    ¡°By Cassius, that demon was truly terrifying! Even bullets couldn¡¯t kill it!¡±


    ¡°It hurts, my leg is pinned under the rubble.¡±


    ¡°Can someone help me?¡±


    ¡°Anna, Anna is dead! She was killed by the demon! God, I saw her cut in half with my own eyes!¡±


    Voices of people caught up in the disaster echoed through the tavern ruins¡ªcoughs from those inhaling the dust, the groans of the injured, and the wails of those who lost loved ones.


    To Raj, this might have been a divine moment to change his fate, a grace from His Majesty Cassius, but to those involved, it was a sheer calamity.


    White-robed rescue teams hurried in, collecting the dead bodies, performing restorative spells, and rescuing the injured.


    ¡°Irrelevant persons, clear the area immediately!¡±


    ¡°Do not crowd!¡±


    ¡°Imperial Army on duty! Please disperse at once!¡±


    The Imperial Army dispersed the onlookers, set up a cordon, examined the marks left by the demon, and collected the remnants.


    The previously clashing Tieflings and Ogres reconciled, reporting their respective regiments, jointly cleaning the battlefield, and reflecting on the recent encounter.


    The Tiefling captain of the security team approached Misha and said heavily, ¡°Apologies, Lady Misha, it¡¯s our negligence that we failed to stop the demon, making you intervene personally.¡±


    ¡°You did your best.¡±


    Misha looked at the tavern reduced to ruins and muttered to herself, ¡°These demons are becoming more rampant¡­


    It seems I must report this to the Prime Minister.¡±


    With that thought, Misha¡¯s golden pupils flickered slightly, and flames twined around her tall figure like silk threads.


    With the sound of burning air, the Magician vanished, leaving only drifting sparks in the wind.


    ¡­


    Imperial Senate Building, Battaglia Hall.


    This was the Prime Minister¡¯s office, luxuriously decorated, with carvings of giant dragons on the ceiling.


    Ogre Ramp stood by the window, looking out over the crowded buildings and the bustling streets through the stained-glass floor-to-ceiling window.


    He suddenly said, ¡°Come in, Misha, I know you are already here.¡±


    Misha cautiously pushed the door open, politely saying, ¡°Good day, Prime Minister, you are as wise as ever.¡±


    Though she now carried some arrogance, Misha held great respect for this mentor who first introduced her to His Majesty Cassius¡ªespecially since he was also the Empire¡¯s Prime Minister.


    ¡°I am here to report¡­¡±


    Ramp interrupted, ¡°I already know about it, a seducing demon infiltrated Isdalia and openly killed Imperial citizens in Emperor¡¯s Square.¡±


    Misha nodded, her expression grave, ¡°These demons are growing bolder, daring to infiltrate Isdalia, especially on a sacred day like Coronation Day.


    This is a blatant provocation against the Empire, against His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    As she spoke, Misha¡¯s tone grew angry, and fierce flames flickered in her golden eyes.


    Ramp said solemnly, ¡°Misha, spellcasters need to remain rational; never let anger cloud your judgment.¡±


    Misha realized her lapse, lowered her head, and said with some guilt:


    ¡°Apologies, I lost my composure.


    ¡°Following your guidance, Prime Minister.¡±


    Ramp nodded slightly, pacing the hall, once again looking out the window at the busy Imperial people, the steam locomotives roaring by with steaming engines, sounding loud whistles.


    He muttered to himself: S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Abyssal demons¡­ indeed a troublesome enemy, presenting a significant threat to the Empire.¡±


    In the past year alone, there had been over a dozen such demon attacks across the Empire, though this was the first in Isdalia.


    Most demon attacks were swiftly quelled by local armies, but several resulted in considerable casualties, with unlucky reporters killed on the spot.


    These attacks severely affected the Empire, gradually eroding the people¡¯s trust in the Empire and tainting its spirit.


    For a confident and martial Empire like the Ashen Empire, it had always been the one to pillage and attack other nations.


    The citizens of the Ashen Empire, they were the people of the great Red Dragon, warriors under its broad wings, meant to fight for a great cause¡ªnot to become victims.


    ¡°Do not worry, Misha.¡±


    Ramp¡¯s mouth twisted slightly into a smile, an ugly grin appearing on his face, his muddled yellow eyes gleaming with cruelty and confidence.


    ¡°The Empire¡¯s army is flourishing, the Starfallen are about to return, and more importantly¡­¡±


    The Ogre looked northward, noting a painting titled ¡°The Origin of the Ashen Nest¡± hung on the wall, observing the dragon and ogres in the image, his eyes again showing fervor and devotion, as if he saw that majestic figure.


    ¡°The great His Majesty Cassius is about to awaken! I can feel it, our master has become even stronger.¡±


    Misha¡¯s eyes lit up, her expression filled with immense joy.


    ¡°Is His Majesty Cassius about to awaken?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, the Empire will thoroughly exterminate those annoying demon flies and achieve complete victory, I swear¡ªthey will regret provoking the Ashen Empire!¡±


    The Ogre¡¯s face twisted into a grim smile, clutching his luxurious scepter tightly, making a creaking sound, oblivious to his previous statement on ¡°spellcasters needing to remain rational.¡±

 Chapter 536 - 536 9 Dragon Awakens

    ?Chapter 536: Chapter 9: Dragon Awakens Chapter 536: Chapter 9: Dragon Awakens The demon attack in Isdalia created quite a stir, but fortunately, the demon was dealt with in a very short time, causing minimal damage to the square.


    The celebration of Coronation Day continued, with people reveling in the streets, fully enjoying this rare day of festivity.


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Long live the great Red Dragon!¡±


    ¡°March south to Thrace, occupy Fadlan!¡±


    ¡°Southerners are all cowardly bastards! They don¡¯t deserve such good land!¡±


    Drunks waved the imperial flag in the streets, arm in arm, staggering along, cheering enthusiastically.


    They even turned the slogan ¡°Conquer the South¡± into a catchy little tune, singing it unevenly.


    These people were called ¡°Conquest Party members¡± by domestic scholars, the beneficiaries of the empire¡¯s expansion, most holding high status in the country, many from the military.


    The Conquest Party advocated for the conquest of the South, plundering resources, dumping goods, and accomplishing the grand blueprint of the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon¡¯s world rule, which was also the mainstream thought of the empire.


    Confidence, valor, and arrogance characterized their style of action.


    Compared to ordinary people, these guys were more extreme, with some proposing to turn all Southerners into imperial slaves to serve the noble imperial citizens.


    Some even suggested slaughtering all the Southerners, declaring that only imperial citizens deserved to enjoy this sacred and fertile land.


    Because of this, they were fiercely criticized by domestic scholars and publicly castigated by Councillor Olivia in the imperial assembly, with her words being quite harsh.


    Lady Olivia publicly pointed out: these Conquest Party members were ¡°remnants of the Northern Nobility¡± and ¡°the cancer of the empire.¡±


    Some extremists even mounted organized attacks on Councillor Olivia.


    But for some reason, though she appeared to be a frail woman, every attack on her ended in failure.


    In the streets, the Conquest Party members continued to sing loudly, their high spirits undiminished even by the roar of the steam locomotive.


    ¡°We must fiercely slap those filthy Southerners.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll peel the dirty skin off that cunning little guy and present it to His Majesty.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll burn their houses, occupy their land, and let the imperial flag fly over the ruins¡­¡±


    In that frenzied crowd, a Bugbear baron seemed to recall something and suddenly cursed loudly, spitting drunken saliva into the air.


    ¡°And those damn demons who dared to attack the Imperial Capital! Who gave them the guts!¡±


    ¡°Exactly, that tavern was destroyed by the demon! I used to frequent that place.¡±


    ¡°How dare they provoke the people of the great Red Dragon!¡±


    The surrounding crowd echoed, recounting the demon¡¯s deeds and angrily condemning the empire¡¯s ¡°weakness.¡±


    Suddenly, a Bugbear shouted: ¡°Prime Minister Ramp has already been tainted by human weakness, not only ignoring the South but also enduring this silently, which is an insult to His Majesty Cassius!


    Lord Dolores is the leader everyone looks up to, being particularly strong externally, often proposing to tear up treaties and send troops south. He is the true follower of the great blueprint!


    If you ask me, the empire should lead its army into The Abyss and completely annihilate the demons!¡±


    He climbed onto a high platform beside the square, raising his arm and shouting, with the surrounding Conquest Party members echoing, stirring up waves of enthusiasm.


    ¡°Conquer The Abyss!¡±


    ¡°Skin and gut those damned demons!¡±


    ¡°Annihilate the demons, destroy The Abyss! Blood sacrifice His Majesty!¡±


    Thousands of imperial citizens raised their arms, roaring, venting their hatred for the demons.


    The scene was quite lively, making onlookers feel passionate, but for the City of Isdalia, with its population of fifty thousand and covering over a hundred square kilometers, this was just an insignificant corner.


    ¡°Dong¡ª¡ª¡±


    The noon bell rang, and the impassioned melody of ¡°Cassius¡¯s Hymn¡± echoed.


    In the city, whether human, Great Goblin, Tiefling, Lizardfolk, or Ogre, they all seemed to have agreed to collectively look up at the Isdalia Grand Altar raised high in the sky.


    These diverse imperial citizens, some clasping their hands, some prostrating on the ground, some holding gold coins, were all praying.


    They might be praying for their husband who was dispatched to the Fire Elemental Plane to return safely, or for their factory at home to secure more orders, or for their caravan to reach its destination smoothly¡­


    Perhaps some people were not so devout, but under the subtle influence of imperial propaganda, it had become a habit.


    ¡°Dong¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Dong¡ª¡ª¡±


    As the third bell rang, the entire city, even the entire empire, erupted into jubilation.


    Just a few years ago, at this same time, His Majesty Cassius had personally crowned himself, establishing this vast multi-ethnic empire.


    ¡­


    In the suburbs of Northwind Castle, within the Steel Dragonwing Palace.


    Outside the magnificent palace, the towering mountain had become peculiar, large areas of black rock exposed, with magma flowing slowly through the valleys.


    Now, it looked more like a volcano.


    The air on the mountain became extraordinarily hot, with ashes and sparks scattered in the air, and occasional bursts of hot flamestorms carried by the north wind.


    The once lush woodland was reduced to a layer of thick ash and charcoal, with charred stumps protruding, and deer, birds, wild boar, and other forest creatures had long fled.


    sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 537 - 537 9 Dragon Awakens_2

    ?Chapter 537: Chapter 9: Dragon Awakens_2 Chapter 537: Chapter 9: Dragon Awakens_2 On the other hand, steam magic bats, firebirds, fire imps, and lava monsters from the Fire Elemental Plane occasionally appeared here.


    A year ago, His Majesty Cassius fell into slumber. This time, there was no scourge, but the environment on a larger scale gradually changed.


    At the beginning, the Guards stationed at the gate did not notice the abnormality, but soon they discovered¡ª the environment was gradually changing!


    Three months later, the temperature around the Royal Palace had reached a level unbearable for ordinary people, and the Tiefling Guards stationed at the gate of the palace were replaced by Half-Red Dragon Guards.


    Even now, even those retainers with high concentrations of Dragon Blood felt the heat increasingly unbearable.


    But for the sake of their belief, they still performed their duties faithfully at their respective posts¡ª such as Udo Deko.


    He was once a slave of the Sveno Duchy and also a gladiator used by the nobles for entertainment.


    After the Burning Ash Kingdom liberated him, Udo Deko resolutely joined the army and vowed lifelong loyalty to His Majesty Cassius.


    In that Northland War, he was like a frenzied beast, tearing a noble knight in half on his own, and thus earned Dolores¡¯ commendation.


    He exchanged his military merits for a Dragon Blood Elixir, drank it without hesitation, endured the excruciating pain, and became a Half-Red Dragon.


    Now, he finally came to the Steel Dragonwing Palace, guarding near the Red Dragon. For him, it was an immense honor.


    ¡°Did you hear? A demon attacked the imperial capital this time! And on the Coronation Day, no less!¡±


    ¡°So audacious!¡±


    ¡°Did the cabinet say anything about it?¡±


    At the entrance of the Steel Dragonwing Palace, numerous Half-Red Dragon Guards were indignant about this.


    But Udo still stood there with his gun, his expression cold and stern, guarding the gate like a statue.


    He calmly said, ¡°Those demons are just flies from The Abyss. Once His Majesty wakes up, they will be utterly obliterated.


    Their ridiculous actions are like moths to a flame, not worth mentioning.¡±


    Another Half-Red Dragon Guard sighed and said, ¡°But His Majesty has been asleep for a year now.


    You know how long giant dragons live, let alone an existence like His Majesty. It is possible to sleep for hundreds of years. I just worry¡­¡±


    Udo snorted coldly, disdainfully said, ¡°So what? As long as His Majesty does not wake up, I will keep standing here. Zac, you still don¡¯t understand¡­¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The ground trembled, and the mountains shook.


    Ashes and sparks danced wildly in mid-air, forming billows of dense smoke. The ground suddenly cracked, revealing several huge, fire-illuminated hideous fissures.


    The Half-Red Dragon Guards struggled to keep their balance and became somewhat frantic.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°Hurry, run!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a catastrophe! A catastrophe is coming! I heard from the former Tiefling Guard Captain that it¡¯s the residual power of the great Red Dragon.


    But to us mortals, it¡¯s a destructive disaster!¡±


    The Half-Red Dragon Guard Captain shouted fearfully.


    ¡°It¡¯s His Majesty! His Majesty is awakening!¡±


    Only Udo Deko looked towards the resting place of the Red Dragon; his dragonified face filled with joy and fanaticism.


    In an instant, the heavy smoke enveloped the land, covering the sky, making the surroundings filled with the scent of smoke and sulfur.


    Even Northwind Castle, dozens of miles away, was affected, and the residents inside the city looked towards the south in panic.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    One meteor after another, with brilliant fiery tails, streaked across the sky, tearing open one rift after another in the gray-black sky.


    The thick smoke on the mountains rolled, sparks and flowing flames danced within it, and a scorching whirlwind surged, eventually forming a tornado of fire and smoke connecting heaven and earth.


    Everything around, whether it was rubble, ashes, or scorched trees, was swept in, becoming fuel for the tornado.


    ¡°The Burning Dragon¡­¡±


    Udo raised his head, blankly staring at the magnificent scene sweeping across the world, his throat trembling, uttering that famous nickname.


    The Northern Nobility came up with this nickname to spread fear. How fitting¡ª a dragon that can burn even ashes.


    ¡°Udo, hurry up!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. You¡¯ll lose your life!¡±


    Another guard urged anxiously, but Udo seemed not to hear, still excitedly looking up at the sky.


    Stupendous.


    Such was the power of His Majesty, enough to destroy all mortals, burning everything standing in his way.


    Years ago, he personally witnessed the Red Dragon annihilate the seemingly invincible Northern Allied Forces, and his former nightmare¡ª that Count Angus who leashed him like a beast¡ª also turned to ashes.


    Since then, the Red Dragon had become his sole belief. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    At this moment, a distant roar echoed from the mountain, resounding through the heavens and earth.


    Immediately, an invisible force rapidly spread from the mountain at the center, filling a radius of a hundred miles, lifting ring-shaped dust clouds.


    ¡°Your, Your Majesty¡­¡±


    Instantly, all Half-Red Dragons paused, feeling the pressure from deep within their blood, and knelt in that direction.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A massive shadow violently broke the rock layers, flew out from the mountaintop, and plunged into the tornado of fire and smoke.


    At that moment, he seemed to be the center of the world.


    Immediately, the dense smoke in the sky swept towards him, and even the meteors about to fall to the ground turned into flowing flames, rushing towards that figure.


    All the ashes, sparks, flowing flames, and smoke gathered towards him, forming a massive vortex.


    Finally, the thick smoke dissipated, and the sky became pristine again.

 Chapter 538 - 538 9 Dragon Awakens_3

    ?Chapter 538: Chapter 9: Dragon Awakens_3 Chapter 538: Chapter 9: Dragon Awakens_3 The earth lay bare, riddled with scars.


    But soon, the ground rumbled and shifted, the magma-flowing fissures closing again, and the craters made by meteors were filled in.


    Under that all-encompassing force, the surrounding landscape gradually restored itself, as if the recent cataclysm had never occurred.


    A vast Red Dragon soared in the sky, its golden vertical pupils gazing down at the beings below. Its shimmering scales glinted brilliantly in the sunlight.


    Udo disregarded the dust, pressing his forehead against the ground, before lifting his head to gaze devoutly at the majestic figure of the Red Dragon.


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡±


    Udo couldn¡¯t help but call softly, his body trembling with an uncontrollable surge of ecstasy.


    He knew what this meant. It signified that the invincible His Majesty Cassius would once again lead them to victory, incinerating all enemies who dared stand before the Empire.


    At last¡­


    His Majesty Cassius had awakened.


    The sole ruler of the Anzeta Great Wilderness, the breaker of the Wings of Silver, the destroyer of the Frost Giants¡­


    The nemesis of abyssal demons, the Soul Devouring Dragon, the controller of guns and cannons, the supreme Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor¡ªHis Majesty Cassius, had awakened!


    ¡­


    At the Dragon Mountain Summit.


    ¡°Huff¡ª¡±


    Cassius slowly flapped his wings, landing thunderously at the mountaintop. He exhaled a breath of sulfur-scented smoke, observing his current form.


    ¡°Finally awake. This familiar feeling¡­ Dragons are indeed marvelous creatures. Each time I awaken, I feel reinvigorated with strength¡­¡±


    ¡°However, I seem to sense a repelling force.¡±


    Cassius tilted his head with a peculiar expression, snorting and expelling a burst of hot, white steam.


    ¡ªIt was the repelling force of the Material Plane.


    For the world, such terrifying beings were meant to reside outside the Material Plane: the star realm, the Etheral Realm, the Outer Planes, the Inner Plane¡­


    After a year of slumber, Cassius¡¯s body had grown several sizes larger, the muscles tighter, emanating an unparalleled sense of strength. Now, the Red Dragon measured approximately forty-five meters from head to tail¡ªfar beyond the typical limits of an ordinary Red Dragon.


    Due to the gradual dilution of Dragon Blood and the constraints of the Prime Material World¡¯s rules, even those ancient Red Dragons that lived over twelve hundred years rarely exceeded forty meters in length, but Cassius had already surpassed this by a significant margin.


    Among the four spiral horns on the Red Dragon¡¯s head, two had become especially thick and large, more like a dignified crown.


    Cassius¡¯s chin had also grown heftier and more pronounced, not quite to the level of the ¡°Deathwing¡¯s¡± iron chin of his past life, but rendering his visage extremely fierce.


    On that mountainous dragon body, the spines along the back not only featured the typical Red Dragon spikes but also glittering fire melting crystals.


    ¡°This energy¡­¡±


    In his slumber, Cassius was like a draconic black hole, greedily, even crazily, absorbing the surrounding energy before exhaling it¡ªevident from the changes in the surrounding environment.


    In this cycle of energy absorption and transformation, an increasing amount of pure fire element was stored within Cassius¡¯s body. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Moreover, not just the natural energy from the environment but also the elemental ore obtained through negotiations with the Empire of the Fire Giant Spirits¡ªwhich had enough energy to power a kingdom¡ªwas entirely consumed by him.


    The Dragon Crystal in his chest still flickered with firelight, and flames occasionally spurted from the gaps between the scales.


    At this moment, Cassius¡¯s body contained an enormous amount of terrifying energy, akin to a moving living volcano, even more dreadful than that.

 Chapter 539 - 539 10 Report

    ?Chapter 539: Chapter 10 Report Chapter 539: Chapter 10 Report ¡°Indeed, dragons are creatures that can become stronger even while sleeping; this time, after my slumber, my power has increased significantly.¡±


    Cassius observed his now more robust and menacing body.


    However, compared to the drastic transformation he underwent last time due to absorbing the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline, which made him almost unrecognizable, the appearance change this time was not as conspicuous.


    As the Red Dragon continued to digest the Ancestral Dragon Bloodline and naturally grow stronger, only he knew how powerful the gained strength was¡ªit was an all-around enhancement.


    He opened his own panel and, as expected, saw substantial changes.


    [As a True Dragon with Ancestral Lineage, you grew stronger during your sleep, chasing the mythological bloodline powers of the Barbaric Era to become more powerful.]


    [Strength: 34¡ú36]


    [Constitution: 30¡ú33] S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Intelligence: 17¡ú18]


    [Perception: 20¡ú22]


    [Charisma: 35¡ú36]


    [All dragons develop inherent magic abilities as they mature, while the oldest dragons can trace their power back to the spells created by the Nine-Faced Dragon God.]


    [You gained an additional 3 caster levels as a Magician.]


    [Your current casting level is: 24]


    Even the ancient Red Dragon, with its innate talent, had a casting level of only 19.


    And with Cassius¡¯s current arcane power, perhaps only Osedro, the anomaly among dragons, could compare.


    ¡°Hoo¡­¡±


    The Red Dragon took a deep breath, feeling the flow of the surrounding magic currents and controlling the finest elemental particles.


    Cassius had a newfound sensation: he no longer needed to fully rely on the magical heritage within his bloodline. Instead, he could create spells using his own arcane abilities.


    Unlike mages, who rigorously construct spell prototypes, magicians often create spells like masterful painters, using their innate talent to ¡°paint¡± on the Magic Web, presenting what they desired.


    At Cassius¡¯s current level, casting Ninth Tier Spells was routine, and if granted access to forbidden spells, he could manipulate elements that exceeded the ninth tier of the Magic Web.


    After feeling the changes in his body, Cassius noticed that the system¡¯s evaluation of his strength also changed.


    [Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor ¨C Cassius]


    Challenge Level: 28 (125000xp)


    Even the ancient Gold Dragons, typically the strongest among common dragons, had a Challenge Level of only 26. Now, Cassius could effortlessly defeat an ancient Gold Dragon.


    ¡°With such strength, I should be ranked highly even in the entire Fianso Continent.¡±


    Cassius stretched his neck, drawing his powerful scapular muscles backward, with his dragon wings almost lying flat on the ground, stretching the vigorous, life-filled body.


    ¡°Huff!¡±


    The Red Dragon snorted, releasing white-hot smoke from his nostrils¡ªthe discharge of excess heat from his body.


    He looked toward the mountainside of Dragon Mountain, where the once magnificent palace had been reduced to ruins by his ¡°wake-up temper,¡± with blackened remnants scattered everywhere.


    But this wasn¡¯t the first time; Cassius had long since gained experience dealing with it.


    ¡°Just as well, the old palace was a bit too narrow. I can take this opportunity to expand it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I used the Imperial Region¡¯s power¡­¡±


    Casually giving himself an excuse, he then concentrated fully, channeling all his strength.


    [Imperial Region: Modify Terrain]


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    The ground trembled once again.


    Dust filled the sky, and debris flew everywhere.


    But this time, it was not pure disaster. The ground gradually rose, stone pillars emerged slowly from the earth, gradually forming into the shape of a palace.


    Those stones and steel seemed to be sculpted by an invisible hand, forming walls, colonnades, domes, and even intricate frescoes.


    This was almost an exact replica of the former palace, but this brand-new palace was more spacious, grander, and truly achieved ¡°merging with the mountains.¡±


    ¡°Is, is that the palace?¡±


    ¡°Cassius above¡­¡±


    The soldiers guarding the entrance, gazing at the rising palace, were dumbfounded.


    They had long heard of the Red Dragon shaping mountains and bringing warmth to Anzeta, but seeing stones rise and build a palace exceeded their imagination.


    To them, it was nothing short of a divine miracle.


    But Cassius didn¡¯t care about that; in fact, he was glad to see his ability to gather more faith grow. This was the foundation of becoming a god.


    Suddenly, a spell message came from the ruins, and Cassius dispelled the barrier without much thought.


    With a clatter, a broken mirror slowly rose from the rubble, shedding fragments.


    A familiar voice trembled from the magic mirror, filled with undisguised excitement.


    ¡°Master¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve, you¡¯ve awakened!¡±


    A face of an Ogre appeared on the cracked mirror. Despite the shattered surface, his ugliness was unmistakable.


    Cassius nodded slightly, his tone calm as he commanded, ¡°Come to the palace. I need to know what happened during the past year.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp nodded repeatedly in agreement, then cut off the magic image connection.


    A few seconds later, the space in front of the Red Dragon rippled, and Ramp hurriedly stepped out from the portal, kneeling at the Red Dragon¡¯s feet.


    ¡°Master¡­¡±


    For some reason, Cassius felt that this Ogre lacked the vigor he once had.


    From that corpulent body emanated an aura of fatigue that even the luxurious mage robe could not hide, with dark circles forming under his murky small eyes.


    If Ogres had hair, this particular Dragon Vein Ogre Mage would surely be bald.

 Chapter 540 - 540 10 Report_2

    ?Chapter 540: Chapter 10 Report_2 Chapter 540: Chapter 10 Report_2 Was he overexploiting?


    But to say the least, the ogre he had personally groomed was indeed a useful retainer.


    Ramp gave a fawning smile and said, ¡°Master, you have grown stronger again.¡±


    The ogre cautiously lifted his head and fervently praised, ¡°There has never been a dragon like you in this world!


    Your physique is as majestic as the earth, your wings as vast as the sky, your tail as winding as the mountains¡­¡±


    ¡°Ramp, you should know I¡¯m not here to listen to these bard clich¨¦s.¡±


    Cassius interrupted him.


    ¡°Of course, Master.¡±


    You are still so humble, dedicated wholly to the empire¡­¡±


    The ogre scratched his head and chuckled, then took out a magic stone from a dimensional pocket in his mage robe.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡ª¡±


    Instantly, numerous magic images appeared in mid-air, with detailed text accompanied by rich graphics and tables.


    If this ogre applied for a job on Earth, he¡¯d likely receive an ¡°excellent at office software¡± assessment.


    Ramp put on gold-rimmed glasses, and the expression on his ugly face became serious and earnest.


    ¡°Master, after the Starfallen left, the empire¡¯s economic growth has slowed, and technological development has nearly stagnated¡­¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Cassius slightly nodded; this was what he had anticipated. After all, workers as cheap and useful as the players were indeed rare.


    ¡°However, the scale of the war in the South continues to expand, and our weapon orders are still exceeding supply. As you predicted, the military industry is still booming, with a monthly net profit reaching one million Ginnar¡­¡±


    ¡°But the expansion of the military-industrial complex has also given rise to various social issues, such as domestic violence incidents. Thus, I have taken the liberty to implement some special measures¡­¡±


    ¡°In terms of agriculture, the construction of the Matra Great Farmland has been essentially completed and can supply seventy percent of the nation¡¯s grain. And at the Stormy Ridge Yuan Cattle Ranch and Dragon Beast Ranch, high-quality breeds are being cultivated according to your directives¡­¡±


    ¡°Culturally, the Imperial Propaganda Department has followed your instructions, combining the manuscripts left by the Starfallen for further ideological education¡­¡±


    ¡°Additionally¡­¡±


    ¡°Page thirty-six¡­¡±


    ¡°On page eighty-seven, I have organized the proportions of various industries and their growth trends¡­¡±


    ¡°On page one hundred twenty-one, I have compiled conflicts among different races¡­¡±


    Ramp¡¯s presentation covered more than two hundred pages, encompassing various aspects of the empire¡¯s recent political, economic, cultural, and military developments.


    After all, what he needed to consider now was not the kingdom that only ruled parts of the northern regions, nor the monster nest that only controlled the Stormy Ridge. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The current Ashen Empire was a vast, complex, and diverse empire.


    It had a population of over eight million, with a total area of nearly four million square kilometers, spanning the Anzeta Great Wilderness, Cartapa Region, Gloomy Region, and even the Elemental Plane of Fire.


    Humans, Serpentfolk, Tieflings, Ogres, Great Goblins, Half-Orcs, Fire Dwarves, Gray Dwarves, Half-Goat People, Kobolds, Lizardfolk¡­


    According to official statistics, there were thirty-four intelligent races within the Ashen Empire¡¯s territory. If certain ¡°non-citizens¡± were included, the number would be even higher.


    And this vast expanse, with its numerous races and the impact of new technologies, made the empire¡¯s social structure more complex and changeable than any country that had ever existed in the world.


    As the Imperial Prime Minister, Ramp was undoubtedly inundated with responsibilities.


    However, Ramp¡¯s dull and monotonous report soon made the just-awakened Cassius yawn, feeling somewhat drowsy.


    Hot flames appeared from his mouth, and scalding gray smoke seeped through his teeth.


    It was indeed better to be a hands-off leader, throwing out a general idea and leaving the rest to capable subordinates.


    Cassius, observing the talkative and eloquent Ramp, suddenly asked curiously, ¡°Ramp, how do you manage to handle so many tasks simultaneously?¡±


    Ramp froze in place, seemingly recalling some unpleasant experience, and forced a smile.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I am only doing what I should do!¡±


    ¡°I bought a scroll of Multiple Illusion Technique from Thrace, allowing myself to split into multiple illusionary duplicates, so I can manage tasks simultaneously.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Cassius did not pay much attention.


    But Ramp did not tell him that these illusions and the main body had direct mental links, meaning the Ogre Mage had been maintaining multi-threaded operations for years.


    And half a year ago, under the immense work pressure, one of Ramp¡¯s illusions actually ¡°awoke.¡± It attempted to escape and planned to kill Ramp, almost bringing disaster to the Council Hall.


    ¡°In dealing with state affairs, you have always done well,¡± Cassius praised.


    The Red Dragon slowly stood up, gazing at Ramp with his golden eyes, and said solemnly:


    ¡°But¡­ have demons appeared?


    The time of the prophesied demon invasion is drawing near; the empire needs to handle this with utmost caution.¡±


    Ramp also nodded gravely, turning to the last page on the magic image:


    ¡°Master, your words were correct. Over the past year, demons have launched several small-scale attacks on the empire, resulting in hundreds of casualties.¡±


    ¡°The last attack occurred three days ago, precisely on your Coronation Day, when a seducing demon disguised as a human infiltrated Isdalia, attempting to corrupt Imperial citizens and incite rebellion.


    Fortunately, Miss Misha intervened in time and killed that demon.¡±

 Chapter 541 - 541 10 Report_3

    ?Chapter 541: Chapter 10 Report_3 Chapter 541: Chapter 10 Report_3 The Red Dragon¡¯s golden vertical pupils revealed a hint of coldness, sharp fangs showing at the corners of its mouth: ¡°Isdalia¡­


    Have those demons grown so audacious? How dare they launch an attack on my capital?¡±


    Ramp said solemnly, ¡°That¡¯s not all, six months ago, when I was giving a speech in the suburbs of Isdalia City, a Soul Eater Demon pierced my ear with an Abyss Arrow.¡±


    The Ogre pointed at his right ear, which indeed had a gruesome gap, with only half of the ear remaining.


    He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Master, I have kept this wound to remember the humiliation, to make those abyssal demons pay the price.


    But¡­ Master, only you can decide the Empire¡¯s course, so I have been waiting for your awakening.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cassius looked towards the South, seemingly seeing through the layers of mountain barriers, the abyssal portal located deep within the Ancytica Mountains.


    ¡°I will crush them.¡±


    Cassius said calmly.


    In his previous life, the demons also came from the South, provoking fierce resistance from all the Northern People. The Anzeta People paid a bloody price to finally achieve a tragic victory.


    But that Vengeful Demon never showed his face from start to finish. In the previous life¡¯s ¡°Ashen Remnants,¡± as Cassius was about to die, a giant black claw restrained him and disappeared with the Red Dragon from the Prime Material Plane.


    Cassius suspected that his previous life¡¯s Red Dragon was possessed by a Demon Lord, and this time, the demon¡¯s onslaught would be even more ferocious than before.


    However, Anzeta had undergone earth-shaking changes compared to the Northern United Kingdom; the Ashen Empire¡¯s military strength could be described as crushing.


    Ramp, as if remembering something, suddenly said, ¡°By the way, Master, the Lady Olivia you mentioned has already found aid from Melwood.


    When the demons descend, the Silver Dragons should send reinforcements to support the Empire. According to the treaty we signed, their envoy should be arriving soon.¡±


    ¡°Oh? An envoy?¡±


    Cassius had anticipated Melwood agreeing to cooperate long ago, but he was still somewhat curious.


    Who would that old Silver Dragon, whom he personally broke the wings of, send as an envoy?


    ¡­


    Isdalia, Gankalo Palace.


    This was the place where the Ashen Empire hosted foreign envoys, rarely lavishly decorated but still exuding a strong ¡°imperial atmosphere.¡±


    In the hall, Olivia was dressed in formal attire, her silver-gray beautiful eyes showing anxiety.


    She lowered her voice, advising, ¡°Aunt, your prejudice is too deep.


    Along the way, you must have seen many things, and you surely can see that the lives of the Anzeta People have improved a lot.¡±


    She hesitated for a moment before continuing, ¡°Cassius¡­ His Majesty, he may not be kind, but he is certainly not a heinous tyrant.¡±


    Next to Olivia was a plump noblewoman in a white dress, looking to be in her thirties, with a cascade of silver hair.


    Wisdom, intellect, beauty.


    This was the first impression she gave to everyone. In a nobles¡¯ banquet, she would undoubtedly receive countless gentlemen¡¯s invitations.


    This was Jennies of the Merlwood Family, the adult Silver Dragon known as the ¡°Korda Pearl.¡±


    However, at this moment, Jennies¡¯ beautiful face was full of indignation: ¡°Olivia, have you lost your mind?


    That Red Dragon destroyed a kingdom, massacred tens of thousands of humans, and gravely injured your grandfather, yet you still speak for him! You are a member of the Merlwood Family!¡±


    Olivia, however, lowered her gaze, weakly defending, ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that, I am doing this for Anzeta¡­¡±


    Jennies sighed, her tone softening slightly: ¡°Alright, little Olivia, I will consider what you have said.¡±

 Chapter 542 - 542 11 Jennies

    ?Chapter 542: Chapter 11 Jennies Chapter 542: Chapter 11 Jennies Jenny looked out of the window at the sky, watching the black smoke billowing from the chimneys of the industrial area with a grave expression.


    Her lips parted slightly, ¡°The Ashen Empire¡­¡±


    Traveling from the South, Jenny had seen everything in the Empire firsthand. She had felt a profound change in the lives of the Anzeta people¡ªsomething new and unprecedented.


    Undeniably, the lives of the Anzeta, once tormented by hunger and cold, had indeed improved significantly.


    Yet Jenny also noticed the dangers hidden behind these seemingly beautiful appearances¡ª


    War.


    This country was like a machine tailored for war, with everyone merely being parts of its vast mechanism.


    She had witnessed, in the South, the war brought about by firearms and cannons, which was the source of her vigilance toward the Empire.


    With the help of these terrifying weapons, even wars among mortals had become unspeakably brutal, akin to hell descending upon the world.


    Jenny could not imagine the disaster that would befall the entire Fianso if this war machine were to operate at full capacity.


    The forests, filled with the fragrance of flowers and chirping of birds, would be ruthlessly destroyed by artillery fire, and humans, elves, and halflings would be pierced by a hail of bullets; the land scarred and charred by bombardments¡­


    Moreover, Jenny, having lived among humans for centuries, could see that the Empire¡¯s system was deliberately designed by some hidden force¡ªthat force being the Ashen Emperor, Cassius.


    Toward that Emperor, Jenny harbored hidden hostility, believing that the Red Dragon was likely to become a global threat.


    That Red Dragon had severely wounded her father, destroyed a human kingdom, and created a colossal war machine.


    Although Osedro had already instructed her not to pursue those old grudges and to assist the Empire in fending off demonic invasions, Jenny found it difficult to dispel the resentment in her heart.


    The Melwood Clan were the guardians of Fianso¡¯s order; how could they sit idly by as an Empire, poised to disrupt peace and destroy order, grew stronger?


    ¡°Cassius, no matter how powerful you are, I will never give up¡­¡±


    She thought silently.


    Jenny crossed her arms in front of her, letting her silver hair cascade like a waterfall over her shoulders, a resolute gleam in her beautiful eyes.


    Even if her father did not support her, she would not give up.


    She intended not only to fend off the demonic invasion but also to gather intelligence on the Empire and find the Red Dragon¡¯s weaknesses, striving to eliminate this threat.


    Olivia was still too naive.


    This young Silver Dragon was blinded by the Empire¡¯s seemingly perfect facade, enchanted by the Red Dragon¡¯s words.


    But Jenny was confident that she would never make such a mistake.


    Suddenly, a rapid ringing sound broke the silence. Olivia took out the communicator from her pocket, her delicate face lighting up with joy at the message.


    ¡°Cassius has awakened!¡±


    She exclaimed excitedly.


    Olivia turned to Jenny, ¡°And¡­ Aunt, Lord Ramp said Cassius is very willing to meet with you.¡±


    ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, right now.¡±


    But Olivia seemed to remember something, a worried look flashing in her eyes, and after hesitating for a moment, she spoke softly:


    ¡°Aunt, I still hope you can let go of your prejudices, especially during the upcoming audience.¡±


    She looked into Jenny¡¯s similarly blue-gray eyes, her expression serious.


    ¡°No matter what you think of the Empire, it is unwise to clash with Cassius at this critical moment.


    Demons have always been Melwood¡¯s greatest enemy. For nearly a thousand years, Grandfather has been dedicated to keeping demons out of the Prime Material Plane; this is his¡­¡±


    ¡°I know that, of course.¡±


    Jenny sighed softly, cutting Olivia off.


    ¡°Olivia, you are still too naive. My perspective remains the same: The enemy of our enemy is not necessarily a friend. Fighting demons does not change the brutal nature of the Empire.


    Of course, I will complete the task Father entrusted to me, and I am not foolish enough to confront the Red Dragon directly at this moment.¡±


    ¡°Korda Pearl¡± Jenny.


    She also had another title widely known in the good alignment¡ª¡±Scales of Silver Light.¡±


    As the daughter of Osedro, she was acknowledged within the clan as the Silver Dragon most resembling the ¡°Wings of Silver¡± in character.


    Stubborn, loathing evil, and full of wisdom.


    Olivia knew she could not change her aunt¡¯s mind, so she nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    She led the way, preparing to head to the Imperial Senate Hall¡ªwhere there was a portal leading directly to Northwind Castle.


    Jenny watched Olivia¡¯s back, her brows furrowing slightly.


    Upon learning that Cassius had awakened, she sensed an anomaly in Olivia¡¯s emotions¡ªwas that¡­ joy?


    Could it be that she had truly succumbed to the Red Dragon?


    Most of the clan¡¯s elders had affirmed Olivia¡¯s position as an ¡°Imperial Councilor,¡± believing she could lead the Empire toward justice.


    But now, it seemed that might not be the case. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, Olivia was a young dragon her father had high hopes for.


    At only eighty years old, she had already become an Archmage and was likely to become the successor of the Melwood Clan in a thousand years.


    Young dragons were always prone to mistakes; Jenny hoped she had misjudged.


    ¡­


    Space rippled, and Olivia and Jenny appeared in the administrative hall of Northwind Castle.


    ¡°Good day, Lady Olivia.¡±


    ¡°Also¡­ You must be the envoy to see His Majesty. Please, follow me.¡±


    The Half-Dragon guard had been waiting for a long time. The captain stepped forward respectfully.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Jenny nodded slightly, showing a polite smile.


    But she noticed the evident Red Dragon traits in this guard¡ªfrilled ears, crimson scales, and a scent of sulfur.


    Her eyes instinctively showed hostility.


    Half-Red Dragon.


    At least in Fianso, these beings were mostly mercenaries from hell, retainers of evil dragons, or high-ranking members of Tiamat¡¯s church.


    Ordinary Red Dragons could not grant such a high concentration of dragon blood; those who received this ¡°gift¡± were usually the most devout followers of Tiamat.


    For centuries, Jenny had often fought against these fierce-looking beings, yet in Anzeta, she had to ally with them?


    This contrast was something she found difficult to accept.


    ¡°Father¡¯s instructions¡­¡±


    ¡°This is all for the mission¡­¡±


    Jenny followed the guards, telling herself inwardly.


    Olivia, having served as an Imperial Councilor for a year, was already accustomed to dealing with these ¡°evil races.¡±


    Before long, with the guards escorting them, they arrived at the foot of Dragon Mountain¡ªthe site of the Royal Palace.


    Jenny looked up at the mighty palace forged of steel and rock, integrated with the mountain, a grave expression on her face.


    At a glance, she could tell that this palace was not built by human hands but created directly by some spell-like ability.


    She also keenly noted that the palace¡¯s precision was extraordinary; even her father, a Legendary Mage, would have to expend considerable effort to complete it.


    ¡°Is this the residence of that Emperor?¡±


    ¡°It should be¡­ right here.¡±


    Olivia was also surprised; in just one year, the palace she had once lived in had changed so dramatically.


    Though it had not been completely altered externally, its scale had increased significantly, nearly occupying half of Dragon Mountain.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The heavy doors slowly opened, and Olivia and Jenny entered one after the other.


    After walking a long way, they finally reached the main hall of the palace, before them, hundreds of stone steps.


    ¡°We meet again¡­¡±


    ¡°He must have become even stronger.¡±


    For some reason, looking at the door engraved with majestic dragon heads, Olivia felt nervous.


    Compared to the image in her memory, the palace had grown in height and grandeur, but the familiar sulfuric scent still permeated the air.


    Olivia was certain that this was Cassius¡¯s residence.


    And Jenny also sensed the overwhelming pressure around them.


    Dragon¡¯s Might.


    And an incredibly powerful Dragon¡¯s Might that filled even an adult Silver Dragon like her with dread. Even her father could not achieve such an extent.


    Not even the previous Great Elder she had seen, the two-thousand-year-old Ancient Silver Dragon, had such profound Dragon¡¯s Might.


    This Red Dragon was more powerful than she had imagined.


    Thinking this, Jenny¡¯s vigilance intensified. She took a deep breath, cold sweat seeping from her fair skin, her silver-gray eyes filled with solemnity.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    The palace doors thundered open.

 Chapter 543 - 543 12 Respect

    ?Chapter 543: Chapter 12 Respect Chapter 543: Chapter 12 Respect Thick smoke rushed in, its suffocating odor filling the hall, and Jennies lifted her head, her pupils suddenly dilating.


    Her lips parted slightly, murmuring, ¡°That is¡­ the Ashen Emperor.¡±


    The smoke gradually cleared, revealing a massive figure at the end of the steps, atop the towering steel throne.


    There lay an enormous Red Dragon, lounging comfortably.


    By Bahamut!


    What a giant dragon it was!


    Jennies had never seen such a Red Dragon, its size surpassing even the grand Ancient Gold Dragon of her memories.


    Smoke intermittently puffed from between its scales, its vast dragon¡¯s body resembling a rolling volcano, seemingly ready to erupt with scalding lava at any moment.


    And that Dragon¡¯s Might was even more terrifying, causing the well-traveled Jennies to stand transfixed in place, trembling deep within her soul.


    An Ancient Red Dragon!


    No, it was more than just an Ancient Dragon! Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The metallic sheen of its scales, the crystal at its chest, and the unique horns all indicated this dragon was out of the ordinary.


    Reluctantly, she realized that from the moment she saw this Red Dragon, she felt an almost irresistible urge to bow down in worship.


    This reminded Jennies of the ancient clan legends¡ªthose dragons that ignited divine flames and ascended to immortality¡­


    At this moment, Cassius lowered his head to gaze at the arrivals, a smile flickering in his lava sphere-like golden eyes.


    ¡°Long time no see, Olivia. Ramp has told me of your deeds; it seems you completed my task well.¡±


    He paused, eyes burning as they focused on Jennies.


    ¡°And¡­ this unfamiliar guest, won¡¯t you introduce yourself?¡±


    Hearing Cassius¡¯s words, Olivia nodded nervously yet somewhat pleased.


    Jennies finally snapped out of her shock and panic.


    She brushed her silver hair behind her ear, forced a smile, then lowered her head, lifted her skirt, and performed a standard curtsy.


    Suppressing her turbulent emotions, Jennies spoke in a steady tone:


    ¡°Jennies, envoy of the Melwood Clan, greets His Majesty Cassius.¡±


    Olivia quietly added beside her, ¡°Jennies is my aunt, the most outstanding member of our generation, deeply trusted by our grandfather.


    This time, grandfather specifically sent her here; surely this shows Melwood¡¯s sincerity.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Cassius eyed Jennies¡¯s voluptuous form with interested eyes.


    ¡°How amusing, this is the daughter of that old fellow? No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity.¡±


    Jennies felt a wave of displeasure at Cassius¡¯s words.


    After a moment¡¯s thought, she spoke loudly, ¡°When Olivia returned, the elders within the clan were in heated debate, each holding their opinions. It was my father who overcame all opposition to make this cooperation possible.


    His Majesty Cassius, if I may speak frankly¡­¡±


    ¡°Aunt, that¡¯s enough¡­¡±


    Olivia tugged at Jennies¡¯s skirt, signaling her to soften her tone.


    She absolutely did not want the Melwood Clan to become an enemy of Cassius.


    After all, Olivia knew well that although Cassius could not be considered a pure evil dragon, his methods against enemies were crueler than even those dragons.


    The blood-stained guillotines scattered throughout the empire were the most direct proof.


    As a silver dragon recognized as most similar in temperament to the young Osedro, Jennies was not easily swayed.


    Ignoring Olivia¡¯s attempt to stop her, Jennies continued, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you show the most basic respect to future allies?¡±


    ¡°Respect?¡±


    Cassius slowly stood, his powerful back muscles lifting his wing bones upright, spreading his vast wings, casting a tremendous shadow.


    Immediately, an almost tangible Dragon¡¯s Might surged forth like a tidal wave, causing Jennies to tremble uncontrollably.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    A crisp sound echoed.


    Jennies looked up in terror to see a crystal ball glowing with spell energy floating in midair, its shimmering fragments falling to the ground.


    The Red Dragon glared coldly at Jennies, his voice heavy, ¡°Using a spell to detect weaknesses on an ally, is this the sincerity of the Melwood Clan?


    Clearly, you do not respect me.¡±


    ¡°This¡­ impossible!¡±


    ¡°How did you discover¡­¡±


    Jennies¡¯s face turned pale, her body limp, nearly collapsing to the floor.


    It was the Crystal Ball of Truth Inquiry she borrowed from Trafalgar, capable of detecting an enemy¡¯s weaknesses.


    Even a Legendary Mage would find it hard to discover its presence without profound divination spell knowledge.


    This Red Dragon was clearly a barbaric magician, how did he detect such a delicate spell?


    Cassius advanced step by step, exuding a tremendous aura, ¡°Indeed, you are that old fellow¡¯s daughter, arrogant, stubborn, and hypocritical¡­


    Did you never ask that old fellow about my spellcasting ability?¡±


    ¡°Swish!¡±


    Under immense pressure, Jennies could not even maintain her human form, and with a flicker of magical aura, her shape-shifting spell dissipated instantly.


    ¡°Roar¡­¡±


    A nearly twenty-meter-long Silver Dragon suddenly appeared in the hall, struggling desperately, letting out panicked whimpers.


    But in front of the forty-five-meter-long Red Dragon, this adult Silver Dragon appeared so small, even trembling like a helpless cub.


    Cassius did not move. Merely releasing that ancestral dragon¡¯s pressure, the Silver Dragon was pressed to the ground, unable even to lift her tail.


    ¡°No, not like this¡­¡±


    Jennies shook her head with effort, stammering.


    In her centuries-long dragon life, she had never faced such a terrifying opponent. In the past, powerful enemies, out of reverence for her father, rarely acted directly against her.


    Even the five-colored dragons avoided provoking an ancient silver dragon favored by Bahamut, often keeping a respectful distance.


    But now, for the first time, Jennies felt her life truly threatened, and her deeply buried pride dissolved completely.


    The Silver Dragon¡¯s heart pounded.


    Perhaps she really would die!


    And this time, not even her proud father, ¡°Wings of Silver¡± Osedro, could save her!


    Jennies used all her strength to lift her head, her vision already blurring, but she could still see that enormous figure, suddenly feeling an unprecedented emotion.


    At this moment, Cassius finally approached Jennies.


    He mercilessly pressed his massive left claw onto the Silver Dragon¡¯s back, coldly saying:


    ¡°Jennies, put away your ludicrous tricks.


    If you represent Melwood¡¯s will, the old fellow¡¯s will, then I can only see this as provocation, even¡ªwar.¡±


    At the last word, Cassius applied a little more pressure, crushing the Silver Dragon to the ground, causing her to groan.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, Cassius.¡±


    Olivia struggled to suppress her fear of the Dragon¡¯s Might, extending her hand in desperation.


    This all happened too suddenly, even she had not reacted.


    Olivia never expected her aunt to dare provoke Cassius to his face, even angering him!


    The worst-case scenario had unfolded. If not handled properly, the Melwood Clan could become an enemy to the empire.


    This would be a complete diplomatic disaster for the Melwood Clan, and even the whole Metal Dragon Tribe.


    ¡°Aunt¡­¡±


    Thinking of this, Olivia felt particularly weary, realizing she would have to clean up her aunt¡¯s independent ¡°sense of justice.¡±

 Chapter 544 - 544 13 Allies

    ?Chapter 544: Chapter 13 Allies Chapter 544: Chapter 13 Allies One year ago, Olivia would definitely have been flustered, but after her experience in the Imperial Senate Hall, she had discarded many unrealistic fantasies and had become much more pragmatic.


    She had discerned the hidden meaning in Cassius¡¯s words¡ªRed Dragon did not truly wish to declare war on the Melwood Clan but was offering an exit.


    Cassius had said, ¡°if Jennies¡¯s actions represent the will of the Melwood Clan¡± instead of ¡°Jennies¡¯s actions are the will of the Melwood Clan.¡±


    Olivia pondered for a moment, then lowered her head and said solemnly:


    ¡°Apologies, Cassius, I apologize on behalf of the Melwood Clan. The earlier incident was not the will of the clan; it¡¯s just that my aunt is¡­ somewhat stubborn and has some misunderstandings about you. Please forgive her.¡±


    Jennies, pinned under Cassius¡¯s claw, also realized this and quickly defended herself:


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, this was all my arbitrary decision; it has nothing to do with the Melwood Clan or my father. I am willing to take full responsibility¡­¡±


    Cassius, in a calm tone, said: ¡°Jennies, my patience has limits. This is the last chance. For Councillor Olivia¡¯s sake, do not let me find similar things happening again.


    As for bearing responsibility?


    Heh, if I killed you, that old Osedro would not sit idly by, and the Empire and the Melwood Clan would definitely go to war.


    Given that, I will only administer a minor punishment, hoping you remember this lesson and do not act foolishly again.¡±


    ¡°Hiss¡ª¡±


    Accompanied by the sound of flesh being seared, a mark imbued with flame appeared on the Silver Dragon¡¯s chest.


    Only then did Cassius release his front claw, retracting the immense pressure of the Ancestral Dragon, and turned around to return to his iron throne.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    Jennies felt her body lighten, and she gasped heavily, casting a grateful glance at Olivia.


    With the subtle spell radiance, the Silver Dragon reverted to the appearance of a noblewoman, though her clothing was disheveled, and a mark had appeared on her fair chest.


    Jennies lifted her head, looked up at the high-seated Red Dragon, then lowered her gaze: ¡°Apologies, Your Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°Mm¡­¡±


    She clutched her chest, letting out a muffled groan as the mark around it glowed with a fiery, searing pain that felt like it pierced her soul.


    Soon after, a chain of flame wrapped around her long neck, leaving seared scars on her fair skin.


    Cassius, now back on the throne, spoke nonchalantly: ¡°You have lost my trust, so I can only ensure smooth cooperation in this manner. Whenever I desire, the flame can turn your heart to cinders.


    Besides¡­ if you consider me an utterly depraved tyrant, declaring war on the Empire and playing these tricks will only make me find it laughable.¡±


    ¡°Mm¡­¡±


    Jennies nodded, gritting her teeth as she held her chest.


    Listening to his disdainful words, feeling that heart-piercing pain, she looked at the mark resembling a slave brand and the ugly scars on her neck.


    She should have felt humiliated.


    For any Silver Dragon, this was a naked humiliation: marks, scars, chains; it was like treating her as a pet.


    Yet the Red Dragon on the throne gave her an unprecedented feeling, suppressing any urge to resist and making her feel¡­ submissive, even willing to worship.


    This was terrifying, making Jennies feel a fear deep in her heart.


    This obviously was an evil Red Dragon.


    A tyrant.


    He was originally the existence she loathed the most.


    As the daughter of Wings of Silver, Jennies was highly likely to become the next Clan Leader of Melwood and had defeated countless evil forces. Why would she want to submit to such an existence?


    Bahamut above, why is this happening?


    ¡°Apologies, Your Majesty.¡±


    All kinds of complicated feelings tangled together, seemingly magical, forcing Jennies to repeat her earlier words once more.


    Olivia watched from the side, feeling the atmosphere becoming strange, so she took the initiative to remind: ¡°Cassius, since this matter is already past, let¡¯s discuss the terms of cooperation between the Empire and the clan.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The Red Dragon nodded slightly.


    Jennies finally regained some composure. She carefully took out the prepared documents and said cautiously:


    ¡°To help Anzeta Great Wilderness resist the invasion of abyssal demons, the Melwood Clan is willing to send three young Silver Dragons, twelve adult Silver Dragons, and impart various knowledge about dealing with demons.


    The Ashen Empire needs to pay a certain fee and cooperate with the Silver Dragons in their activities. Moreover, when Melwood is conducting exorcism actions in other regions, the Empire is obligated to assist.¡±


    Cassius was somewhat surprised: ¡°The old guy isn¡¯t too stingy this time, showing some sincerity.¡±


    Three young Silver Dragons and twelve adult Silver Dragons would form a considerable force even on the Fianso Continent.


    It seemed the determination of that ¡°Wings of Silver¡± to resist the demons was indeed genuine.


    In fact, Cassius was already confident in the Empire¡¯s ability to fend off the demons; assembling these Silver Dragons was merely a bonus¡ªmore importantly, it allowed an association with the metal dragon forces in the South.


    As for the second condition, that the Ashen Empire is obligated to assist Melwood in exorcising demons in various areas, Cassius did not oppose it either.


    His thinking was that if the Empire occupied the Fianso Continent, or even the entire world, resisting demon invasions anywhere would be an inherent duty, thus incurring no additional cost.


    This time, Jennies did not retort when Cassius mentioned ¡°the old guy¡± again; instead, she whispered:


    ¡°Your Majesty Cassius, Father has fought against demons for over a millennium and his resolve will never waver, you can absolutely rest assured¡­¡±


    After the recent incident, the Silver Dragon called ¡°Scales of Silver Light¡± had become much more obedient, no longer brimming with indignation as she had at the Gankalo Palace.


    ¡°Seems there¡¯s no issue¡­¡±


    Cassius casually perused the contract, then used the Authority of the Empire to check it before finally leaving his name on it.


    A few words enveloped by sparks surfaced on the contract. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Cassius Klaubow Noriccius]


    The Red Dragon bared his teeth, his lips curling into a ferocious smile.


    ¡°Then¡­ pleasant cooperation.¡±


    Jennies pursed her lips.


    Despite the somewhat convoluted process, she had completed the task entrusted by her father, facilitating cooperation between the Empire and Melwood.


    Now, Jennies had completely lost the thought of ¡°defeating the Red Dragon¡± and had no desire for resistance; she just wanted to end everything as soon as possible.


    With that in mind, she lowered her head respectfully and said: ¡°Pleasant cooperation, Your Majesty.¡±

 Chapter 545 - 545 14 The Meeting

    ?Chapter 545: Chapter 14: The Meeting Chapter 545: Chapter 14: The Meeting Imperial Senate Building, the Senate.


    This special room was located at the top of the building, equipped with a one-way magic mirror that provided a panoramic view of the entire Isdalia, monitoring every corner of the city.


    Compared to the Council Hall that could accommodate tens of thousands of people, the Senate was not very large, with only a round table and dozens of chairs.


    But only the true high-ranking officials of the empire could participate in it, formulating various domestic policies and guidelines.


    It could be said that the Senate was the real political center of the Ashen Empire, capable of deciding the empire¡¯s future fate.


    At this moment in the Senate, three great Dukes¡ªLord Ramp, Duke Dolores, and Duke Mezulash¡ªsat in the front row. Their importance as the ¡°Pillars of the Empire¡± need not be mentioned.


    Besides them, there were Jin Ya, the leader of the Kobold tribes; Guillermo, the Minister of the Department of Technology; Alger, the leader of the Red Scale Guard Station; Anthony, the Chief Knight of the Dragon Oath Sanctuary; Misha, the Dragon Pact Warlock of the Tower of Everflame¡­


    Those present here were at least of Marquis rank, all ¡°important figures¡± who could command wind and rain within the empire.


    ¡°Why has this Senate meeting been called so suddenly?¡±


    ¡°Yes, according to the usual practice, it should have been three days later.¡±


    ¡°Could it be something major?¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be¡­¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±


    Lord Ramp knocked the edge of the table with his wand, making a dull sound that instantly drew everyone¡¯s attention to him.


    ¡°Gentlemen¡ª¡±


    He cleared his throat.


    ¡°For the past year, the empire has become very conservative. I know many of you are dissatisfied. Now is the time to make a change.¡±


    ¡°His Majesty has awakened from his slumber, and this is why I have urgently gathered you all.¡±


    Immediately, everyone in the chamber held their breath, their eyes fixed on the empty, luxurious throne at the end of the round table.


    The diverse faces showed emotions of excitement, anticipation, and tension.


    Because Prime Minister Lord Ramp had just brought them news¡ªHis Majesty had awakened and would soon arrive at the Senate.


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    Under everyone¡¯s expectant gaze, the space in front of the throne began to fluctuate and distort.


    Cassius, dressed in a deep red royal robe and wearing a crown, appeared before them, followed closely by Olivia holding a contract scroll.


    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±


    Everyone in the Senate stood up in unison, bowing their heads towards the throne and placing their right fist over their heart in a standard loyalty salute.


    Olivia quickly stepped aside, avoiding the direction of the salute, and hurried back to her seat in the second row.


    Cassius naturally took a seat on the throne, pressing down with one hand, ¡°At ease, please be seated.¡±


    He was still not quite accustomed to his human form, always feeling constrained. If it weren¡¯t for the narrowness of the Senate, he would have preferred to transform into his Red Dragon form.


    Cassius rested his chin on his hand casually, speaking calmly, ¡°It has been a long time. I believe you all are more aware of the recent major events in the empire than I am, such as¡­¡±


    He deliberately paused for a moment.


    ¡°Abyssal demons.¡±


    Then, Cassius looked at everyone in the Senate, clearly inviting them to express their views and freely discuss.


    ¡°Clap!¡±


    Duke Dolores slammed the table and stood up immediately, white smoke spewing from his mouth as he angrily cursed, ¡°Those vermin from the Abyss have gone too far!¡±


    He turned to look at Lord Ramp, pointing to the wound on his ear, ¡°Your Majesty, look at the condition of Lord Ramp¡¯s ear.


    They dared to openly assassinate the Prime Minister of the empire! This is a naked insult to our empire!


    And yet, we have not retaliated. It¡¯s a disgrace! Do you know what the people of the empire are saying¡­¡±


    ¡°Those demons are too arrogant!¡±


    ¡°Yes, the city I govern has also seen demon attacks; they seem to be everywhere¡­¡±


    Immediately, the Senate was filled with indignation, with many expressing their dissatisfaction with the rampant demons and voicing their agreement with Duke Dolores.


    However, Lord Ramp did not show any embarrassment, sitting there leisurely.


    Although it appeared that Dolores was ¡°concerned¡± about Ramp¡¯s injury, he was actually accusing Ramp of weak policies to Cassius, trying to gain the support of others in the Senate.


    Misha frowned slightly and stood up, saying, ¡°The demons are indeed too rampant. It was I who killed that Seducing Demon in Isdalia, but¡­ counterattacking the Abyss is somewhat unrealistic.


    I have dealt with Hell Demons in the Fire Elemental Plane and learned a lot about the Abyss from them.


    According to traditional knowledge, the Abyss has 666 layers, filled with filth and blood. The demons there are endless, ruled by different Abyssal Lords in various layers.


    Unless we can occupy Pazunia, attacking the Abyss would be nothing but a waste, meaningless for the empire.¡±


    The faces of military senators like Dolores immediately turned a little grim, but those who were knowledgeable about the multiverse voiced their support.


    After all, they knew very well that the so-called ¡°counterattack the Abyss¡± was just an unrealistic slogan.


    Ramp nodded appreciatively. He tapped the floor with his wand and said, ¡°Our enemy is the so-called ¡®Vengeful Demon¡¯ Jezarslack, a lord of an unknown layer from ten thousand years ago.


    Currently, the situation is that the enemy is in the dark and we are in the light. It would be irrational to act rashly without intelligence. However¡­¡±


    The Ogre Archmage grinned, a smile appearing on his grotesque face.


    ¡°Now that His Majesty has awakened, we can fully unleash our potential to deal with those demons.


    Thanks to His Majesty¡¯s foresight, he used Divination to predict the demon invasion in advance, and I have been preparing for this.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Duke Dolores¡¯s face turned even more unsightly, while Ramp turned his eager gaze towards the emperor on the throne.


    ¡°Clap!¡±


    Cassius did not speak but snapped his fingers.


    A huge magic image appeared in midair, showing rolling mountain ranges, with towering snow peaks in the far distance.


    ¡°That¡¯s Mount Thierry!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been there.¡±


    Someone said, as Mount Thierry was the most famous peak in the Ancytica Mountains, known as the ¡°Spine of the North.¡±


    Suddenly, a black giant claw tore through the sky, creating an abyssal rift hundreds of meters in diameter.


    Countless grotesque and terrifying demons surged out like a tide, their ugly bodies even blocking the sky, casting chaotic shadows on the ground.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    The image cut off abruptly.


    Cassius¡¯s calm voice echoed in the Senate.


    ¡°According to the Divination, the abyssal demons will invade Anzeta on a large scale, and the invasion time¡­ is one month from now.¡±


    Saying this, Cassius casually picked up the Dragonhead Scepter draped over the throne and stood up, holding the scepter horizontally.


    Everyone immediately stood up as well. All eyes, filled with anticipation, tension, or joy, were fixed on the emperor.


    Among them were Half-Dragons gifted by the bloodline, Ogre Archmages, Goblin Warriors, Dragonsworn Holy Warriors, and Kobolds resembling upright Red Dragons¡­


    They were the empire¡¯s top combat forces, with almost each having a challenge level above the tenth.


    Cassius looked around, scanning everyone with a scrutinizing gaze, then slightly curled his lips and said in a deep voice:


    ¡°Gentlemen¡ª


    The new war has begun.¡±


    Under Lord Ramp¡¯s lead, everyone around the round table placed their right fist over their heart once more and said in unison, ¡°For the empire.¡±

 Chapter 546 - 546 15 Rekindling

    ?Chapter 546: Chapter 15 Rekindling Chapter 546: Chapter 15 Rekindling ¡°Extra! Extra! His Majesty Cassius has awakened!¡±


    ¡°Demons are about to invade Anzeta! Marshal Dolores issues a wartime mobilization!¡±


    ¡°Prime Minister Ramp makes an important directive: Demons are currently the greatest enemy of the Empire and must be thoroughly exterminated to maintain the Empire¡¯s order!¡±


    ¡°The invincible and supreme His Majesty Cassius is soon to hold a military parade on the outskirts of the City of Isdalia!¡±


    Newsboys ran through the streets, shouting their wares, occasionally stopping for well-dressed upper-class individuals who bought the latest issue of the Kingdom Daily.


    This issue of the Imperial Daily sold especially quickly because its cover featured a highly provocative image:


    Prime Minister Ramp, disregarding his injured ear, raised his scepter high, pointing it at a demon outside the frame while surrounded by a group of guards.


    The ogre looked enraged, waving its fist, and the scarlet flag of the Ashen Empire flapped behind it.


    Next to it, in bright red letters, was the word ¡°Revenge!¡±


    It was said that this image was created by a deeply moved court painter who risked their life to rush forward and capture this moment of the dutiful Prime Minister Ramp.


    Emperor¡¯s Square was abuzz, people crowded around the notice board, discussing the recent string of significant events in the Empire.


    ¡°Those pests from The Abyss are too arrogant!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they even dared to publicly assassinate Prime Minister Ramp!¡±


    ¡°War is about to be declared!¡±


    ¡°Great, my uncle died in a demon attack, and I can finally avenge him!¡±


    ¡°His Majesty has awakened, everything will return to normal! We¡¯ll definitely win!¡±


    Unlike the citizens of typical nations, the Imperial people felt little fear about the impending demon invasion; instead, they felt immense satisfaction and excitement.


    They had long been enraged by the demon attacks, and even six months ago, some had started chanting ¡°Retake The Abyss,¡± which garnered considerable support.


    Years of military victories had ingrained in the minds of the Imperial people one certainty¡ªthe Ashen Empire was invincible, and the great Emperor of the Crimson Dragon was omnipotent.


    This belief had been deeply etched into their minds, forming a psychological ¡°steel seal¡± impossible to erase.


    For ordinary countries, war meant high taxes, brutal battles, and declining livelihoods.


    But for the citizens living within the war machine of the Empire, war instead made businesses thrive, increased job opportunities, and provided fast tracks for advancement.


    It was an opportunity laden with risks, but the Imperial citizens never feared war; they even relished it.


    The Empire¡¯s ¡°Conquest Party members¡± even took to the streets with high spirits, singing the newly composed ¡°The Song of Exterminating Demons.¡±


    ¡°We will kill all those demons!¡±


    ¡°We will turn their filthy skins into insoles!¡±


    ¡°We will make ornaments out of their horns!¡±


    In fact, this song still had the same tune as the ¡°Song of Conquest of the South,¡± but the lyrics were changed from ¡°Southerners¡± to ¡°Demons.¡±


    ¡°We will let the Empire¡¯s flag fly above The Abyss¡­¡±


    ¡°Let the Flame evaporate the Blood Pools!¡±


    The singing continued, growing increasingly fervent, with the Conquest Party members singing with boundless enthusiasm, causing passersby to shy away.


    On the roadside, a refined middle-aged man turned his head, his eyes full of astonishment.


    ¡°Jennies, did you see that? The citizens of this country have such an attitude towards demons? Have they been brainwashed by that Emperor?¡±


    Jennies looked resigned and lowered her voice: ¡°This is the Ashen Empire, Adrowell.


    Moreover, refrain from making any comments about the Emperor, for as long as you are within the Empire, he can hear everything.¡±


    Saying this, Jennies instinctively covered her chest, feeling a faint pain from the Flame mark.


    ¡°Jennies, you are being overly cautious, that Red Dragon is not a deity¡­¡±


    Adrowell did not take Jennies¡¯ warning seriously, merely curiously looking around.


    But soon, he found himself unable to speak¡ªit turned out Jennies had cast a Silence Spell on him.


    This middle-aged man was named Adrowell Melwood, a mighty Silver Dragon in human form, and Jennies¡¯ cousin.


    He was also a formidable ally sent by the Melwood to assist this time, known across the Fianso Continent as the ¡°Guardian Scales.¡±


    This robust Silver Dragon had lived for over three hundred and eighty years and was about to enter his old age.


    He had been active on the frontline against demon invasions for many years, possessing immense strength, rivaling even most ancient Silver Dragons.


    ¡°We will make demons tremble at the sound of our names¡­¡±


    Conquest Party members¡¯ songs echoed through the streets, rallying the Imperial citizens who cursed the demons fervently.


    ¡°It¡¯s really¡­unbelievable.¡±


    Adrowell couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    In over three hundred years, he had traveled to numerous countries plagued by demon invasions, and the attitudes of people towards demons were generally of extreme fear, refusing to resist.


    Even the most warlike Empire of Fadlan had its common people showing some degree of terror towards demon attacks.


    But in the Ashen Empire, for the first time, he sensed these emotions¡ªjoy, anticipation, exhilaration¡ªfrom those about to face a demon invasion.


    Were they truly humanoid beings?


    Could it be that the citizens of this country were all Crimson Dragons disguised in human skin?


    Watching the fervent scenes in the city and listening to the discussions on how to kill demons, such doubts arose in Adrowell¡¯s heart.


    Jennies reminded him: ¡°Let¡¯s go, Adrowell, the parade is about to start.¡±


    Adrowell said: ¡°Seeing these fanatical citizens, I am curious to see¡ªwhat their army is like.¡±


    At that moment, however, Jennies seemed absent-minded and lost in thought.


    Since the notification mentioned the Emperor¡¯s presence at the parade, the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon should appear as well¡­


    For some reason, the enormous, awe-inspiring figure surfaced in her mind again.


    ¡­


    In a fine little building in Isdalia Inner City.


    George placed three Ginnar coins on the altar with the Red Dragon statue, clasping his hands together in a low prayer.


    ¡°In honor of the invincible Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°Please bless me with victory and honor in the demon war.¡±


    He then opened his eyes, turning to look at the Imperial Daily spread out on the table, his eyes full of determination.


    ¡°A new war, a new opportunity.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Whether I can become a senior officer in the conquest of the South and advance to a truly important figure depends on this battle.¡±


    George fixed the collar of his uniform in front of the mirror, pinned the Lieutenant Colonel¡¯s epaulet on his shoulder, and then straightened his military cap.


    Seeing his imposing and commanding reflection in the mirror, he finally opened the door.


    ¡°Whistle¡ª¡±


    The whistle sounded, signaling the departure of the train that would take these soldiers to the military exercise ground on the outskirts of the City of Isdalia.


    After the parade, they would be sent to southern Anzeta, to vital military strongholds like Black Stone Fortress, to confront the demon legion moving north from Ancytica on the front lines.


    The flames of war were about to reignite.

 Chapter 547 - 547 16 Parade

    ?Chapter 547: Chapter 16 Parade Chapter 547: Chapter 16 Parade March 27, 1790, of the Third Era, in the suburbs of the City of Isdalia, at the Plains Military Exercise Field.


    ¡°The parade is about to begin¡ª¡±


    ¡°Please stay within the designated spectator seats, do not enter the exercise area without authorization, or bear the consequences.¡±


    The voice of the Tiefling Guard Captain blared through the trumpet, and the Imperial Army had cleared a ten-mile radius of the area, leaving only the designated zones for the audience to stand.


    Tiefling Soldiers wielding rifles stood guard by the side of the field, aligned in neat rows to prevent anyone from intruding.


    Before the parade had even started, the venue was already abuzz with voices, as people discussed the impending war and eagerly anticipated the proceedings.


    ¡°What a vast field¡­¡±


    ¡°Will His Majesty really grace us with his presence?¡±


    People from all over the Empire and the world crowded along the sides of the venue, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the Emperor.


    This grand parade was related to the war against the demons and had been widely publicized by the officials, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators from all over.


    However, it was still somewhat less sensational than the coronation ceremony that once shocked Fianso.


    At the end of the exercise field was a high platform, temporarily conjured by spells, one might even call it a small hill¡ªthis was the ¡°throne¡± prepared for the Red Dragon.


    Suddenly, from a distance came a noisy roar, accompanied by the howling of the wind.


    ¡°Look, it¡¯s the Wyvern Legion!¡±


    ¡°Cassius above¡­¡±


    ¡°This is magnificent!¡±


    Some looked to the sky and saw hundreds, if not thousands of Wyverns crowding the horizon, their wings flapping in disorder like dense clouds, covering half the sky.


    Leading the way was an exceptionally large Bipedal Wyvern, its neck stretched out in a hoarse roar.


    ¡°Aoow¡ª¡±


    This Bipedal Wyvern was fifteen meters long from head to tail; had it not been for its distinctive two-legged feature, even a Dragon Scholar might have mistaken it for a true Red Dragon. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªThat was the leader of the Wyvern Legion, a kin of the Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor, with the status of a Marquis, Stieg.


    On the spectator seats at both sides of the venue, amidst the cramped crowd, Adrowell lifted his head and pushed up his glasses on his nose bridge, gazing with a serious expression at the Wyverns in the sky.


    ¡°Such bloodline concentration¡­ It¡¯s nearly on par with a True Dragon.


    This Bipedal Wyvern possesses strength rivaling that of a young Silver Dragon, perhaps even comparable to an adult one.¡±


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    ¡°Woo¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, the ground trembled, producing a muffled sound like the beat of war drums, accompanied by the familiar sound of a steam whistle.


    ¡°What is that¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the Terranean Dragon Beast Legion!¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not just the Land Dragon Beasts; there¡¯s something else! That¡¯s the sound of a steam whistle!¡±


    From the distant horizon emerged a dense, roiling cloud of steam, and, with the trembling of the earth, huge figures rose out from among it.


    First were several Land Dragon Beasts as large as hills, clad in thick Iron Armor, carrying Great Goblin Beast Tamers on their backs, emitting deep roars.


    ¡°I know it!¡±


    ¡°That Dragon Beast¡¯s name is Black Rock! It once crushed an entire Northern Knight Order!¡±


    These were powerful Dragon Beasts carefully nurtured on the Stormy Slope Ranch; each had been through the crucible of war and was equivalent to a small fortress.


    Yet this was just the beginning.


    Twelve ominous mechanical monsters blared forth from the steam, moving at speeds that defied their enormous size.


    These ¡°monsters¡± did not have limbs on their underside but instead high-speed treads.


    In front, there weren¡¯t heads, but rather heavy armor engraved with the Empire¡¯s crest, shining horns, and that thick, spine-chilling cannon muzzle.


    ¡°This, this is¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a Steam Tank!¡±


    ¡°Cassius above, aren¡¯t these things only supposed to exist on blueprints? The Imperial Department of Technology has actually built them already!¡±


    Imperial Citizens who subscribed to the ¡°Military¡± newspaper looked at those mechanical giants and exclaimed in awe.


    In fact, these Steam Tanks were not the works of players.


    The Imperial Department of Technology¡¯s Earl Gilmore Sparrow, drawing upon the knowledge of the Starfallen, personally designed and manufactured these steel beasts, equipped with battering rams and steam cannons.


    To commemorate the old Dragon Beast Gar, who died in the war in the North, this type of Steam Tank was named the ¡°Old Buddy¡± class.


    Officers in the Imperial Military generally believed that, compared to the slow-moving, food-consuming Terranean Dragon Beasts, these mechanical giants were more impactful and cost-effective.


    This was the Steam Tanks¡¯ first grand appearance before the vast Imperial People, providing an immense shock.


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    ¡°This, this is too extravagant!¡±


    ¡°Cassius above, even demons would be crushed by these Iron Lumps!¡±


    Wyverns crowded the sky, giant beasts occupied the land, gunfire and cannonade sounded in unison, and farther away, even more troops continued to arrive.


    ¡°Bahamut above¡­¡±


    Adrowell among the crowd watched all this with an increasingly solemn expression on his face.


    In terms of prestige alone, the Ashen Empire¡¯s army was already no less formidable than the once Holy Fadlan.


    He finally understood why Jennies placed such importance on this country, to the point of becoming panic-stricken, and why those Imperial masses were so excited


    ¡ªwith such an army, why worry about defeat?


    Beside him, Jennies silently looked up at the sky, her shoulders trembling slightly, anxiety reflected in her eyes as if she were waiting for something.


    She couldn¡¯t help but clutch at her chest.


    The parade had just begun, and the Empire¡¯s army had already demonstrated its imposing might; what about the Emperor?


    ¡°Heave-ho, heave-ho¡­¡±


    Accompanied by heavy panting, Ogre Gunners dragged heavy cannons into the military exercise field, then made adjustments, aiming the barrels at the sky.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    The cannons roared.


    The shells shot straight into the sky, then exploded high above, forming two neat rows of fiery clouds, turning half of the sky orange.


    Those were the Empire¡¯s signal shells, capable of creating an extraordinarily splendid blaze.


    The fiery clouds churned like tides, gradually forming a path made of flames and smoke.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    A thunderous roar came from the distance, and people¡¯s gazes collectively shifted, only to see an immense figure appearing on the horizon.


    The Red Dragon hung in the sky, its pale golden pupils looking down upon the earth.


    Accompanied by the gentle flapping of its broad wings, hurricanes wrapped in Flowing Flames surged on either side of its body, as all fire elements in the world seemed to stir and leap.


    ¡ªThe Ashen Empire¡¯s supreme ruler, Emperor Cassius, finally appeared at this parade!


    ¡°Cassius above¡­¡±


    ¡°Praise Cassius!¡±


    ¡°He, he¡¯s really here!¡±


    The Imperial People in the spectator stand looked up at the sky, at that figure, each different face filled with devotion and fervor.


    They brought their hands together, closed their eyes, and murmured prayers as if witnessing the descent of a god.


    ¡°Bahamut above, what exactly is this¡­¡±


    Adrowell, mixed in with the crowd, couldn¡¯t help but swallow his saliva; he had never imagined such a monumental Red Dragon.


    As an adult Silver Dragon, he was not even half the size of this Emperor, making him look like a mere fledgling by comparison.


    No wonder he could defeat his highly respected Uncle, such a giant dragon had already transcended the limits of ordinary dragons.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Meanwhile, Jennies still had her hands over her chest, seemingly yet to recover from the shock.


    She foolishly lifted her head, her heart pounding rapidly, as her blue-gray eyes reflected the blaze and¡ªthe towering figure of the giant dragon.

 Chapter 548 - 548 17 Announcement

    ?Chapter 548: Chapter 17 Announcement Chapter 548: Chapter 17 Announcement The Red Dragon flew along that sky-road made of flames and smoke, passing over the venue under the focused gaze of hundreds of thousands of eyes, before finally landing thunderously on the high platform.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The ground seemed to be struck by a heavy hammer, causing intense vibrations that sent dust swirling and stones flying.


    Despite the high platform being fifty meters tall, it still seemed particularly short beneath the massive body of the Red Dragon.


    Only when standing face-to-face with this giant dragon could one truly feel their own insignificance, experience the dragon¡¯s grandeur, and the overwhelming oppressive force it exuded, enough to leave one breathless.


    Many people were seeing His Majesty up close for the first time, their legs quivered, some even fainted outright.


    ¡°Cassius, Cassius above¡­¡±


    ¡°Is this His Imperial Majesty? Truly magnificent¡­¡±


    Their brains had already imagined the crushing force the dragon could inflict upon them, a pressure against which they often had no power to resist. If there were any players present, they would recognize this as the so-called ¡°fear of large objects¡±.


    However, compared to the hundreds of thousands of spectators on site, these fainting incidents were just minor episodes.


    Cassius stood on the platform, looking down at the crowd with his pale golden eyes, scanning over the distinct yet equally fervent faces.


    Whether they were humans, Tieflings, Great Goblins, Half-Dragons, or Ogres, there was not a trace of fear on their faces, only passion.


    Good.


    This was what he wanted.


    After surveying the crowd, the Red Dragon slowly began to speak, his voice as heavy as thunder, resonating from his throat and spreading across the plains.


    ¡°I trust you already know who the Empire¡¯s enemies are this time¡ª


    Demons.


    They come from The Abyss, known as the world¡¯s Destroyers, the embodiment of evil and chaos, bringers of terror¡­


    Hearing this¡ªare you afraid?¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°We will defeat the demons!¡±


    ¡°Drive those vermin back to The Abyss!¡±


    The Imperial People were instantly inflamed with passion, loudly condemning the demons, some even waving flags that read ¡°Kill the demons.¡±


    Adrowell sensed the people¡¯s rage and was increasingly amazed¡ªthey truly were not afraid!


    On the platform, Cassius nodded slightly and deliberately raised his voice as he continued, ¡°But¡ªthey¡¯ve picked the wrong adversary!


    They chose to make an enemy of the Ashen Empire. They attack our cities, assassinate our officials, and plot to disrupt the Empire¡¯s order.


    But¡ªsuch is but wishful thinking!


    Now, standing here, in the name of the Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor, I launch a holy crusade of revenge against the demons!


    I declare that the Ashen Empire is at war with The Abyss, and every Imperial Citizen has the duty to kill every demon they come across!


    The Empire will hold nothing back, we will fight to the end, we will slay demons in the wilderness, we will slay demons in the mountains, we will slay demons in the sky¡­¡±


    Cassius¡¯ stirring words echoed across the plains, even reaching the entire Anzeta Great Wilderness.


    Under the Red Dragon¡¯s almost divine, Extraordinary Charm, all present were infected by his speech, falling into intense hatred towards the demons.


    Even the Silver Dragon Adrowell, who was lurking in the crowd, felt his blood surge with excitement.


    ¡°Since demons bring fear to the world, then the Empire¡ªwill bring fear to the demons!¡±


    Finally, Cassius slowly rose to his feet, unfurled his immense wings, bared his sharp teeth, and a fierce smile appeared on his dragon face.


    ¡°Crush them!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire!¡±


    Dolores stood atop a Steam Tank, raising his arm to shout first, with the Goblin Infantry close behind.


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire!¡±


    ¡°For His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    Soon, cheers merged into one unbroken wave, sweeping through the venue like a tidal force. Whether commoners, soldiers, or officials, in this moment, they all had but one identity¡ªImperial Citizens.


    ¡°Long live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Emperor!¡±


    ¡°Loyalty! Loyalty!¡±


    ¡°Kill those demons!¡±


    The venue resounded like a tumultuous ocean, hundreds of thousands of Imperial People were frenzied, raising their arms high, eager to demonstrate their loyalty before their sovereign.


    Wyverns circling the sky gave out long cries, screaming with all their might; Dragon Beasts on the ground rhythmically thumped the earth, emitting plumes of searing smoke and dull roars.


    White Dragon Tiniya also flew into the sky, fanned away several Bipedal Wyverns, and took the closest position to the Red Dragon, emitting excited roars.


    ¡°Ao~~¡±


    At a distance, portals of various colors opened, from which legions from across the Empire emerged.


    ¡°For the great Ashen Empire!¡±


    ¡°Praise the Soul Devouring Dragon!¡±


    ¡°Hiss hiss hohoho! (Fire Tribe language, translated as: For the Empire)¡±


    Accompanied by a sky filled with ashes and sparks, legions composed of Elemental Creatures like Fire Lizards, Fire Drakes, and Fire Dwarves surged out of the portals.


    ¡°Children of Fire, liberated by His Majesty Cassius! It¡¯s time to repay the grace, to repay His Majesty!¡±


    ¡°Let the demons taste real flame!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire!¡±


    The Ashen Empire¡¯s Elemental Colonist Governor¡ªMarquis Selcan Wood, rode on the back of a Multi-headed Flame Snake Lizard, lifting a spear wrapped in flames high into the air.


    Then, he placed his fist over his heart, giving the Red Dragon atop the high platform a standard ¡°Loyalty Salute.¡±


    ¡°Oh offspring of the night¡­¡±


    Under the Lich¡¯s murmur, clumps of dark clouds suddenly appeared in the sky, casting immense shadows upon the ground.


    In the shadows, pitch-black, hole-like vortexes appeared on the ground¡ªthose were portals leading to the Gloomy Region.


    Next, massive Skeleton Bluefoot Dragon-serpents surged out, followed by an enormous Undead Legion, then armies of Grey Dwarves, Underworld Dwarves, and Drow Elves.


    The Ashen Empire¡¯s Governor of the Gloomy Region¡ªMarquis Hart, rode on the back of a Skeletal Wyvern.


    Raising that blood-stained, kill-laden heavy blade, his dark eyes gleamed with a cruel smirk.


    ¡°For His Imperial Majesty!¡±


    ¡°Wipe out those demons!¡±


    The former Honorary Bishop of the Amanata Church, now the Imperial Priest Ingrid, waved her scepter, tracing the shape of a door in mid-air.


    ¡°Otherworld Gate!¡±


    Another portal opened in the sky, this time leading to the Garden of Myriad Beasts, a place teeming with wild nature, from the Outer Planes.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    ¡°Awooo!¡±


    ¡°Legion of Myriad Beasts! Fight for the Empire!¡±


    The former Lizardfolk Chieftain, now Governor of the Empire¡¯s Garden of Myriad Beasts expeditionary army, Marquis Acker Longtooth, hoisted his spear high.


    Blackscale Shaman Koda, riding on the back of a polar bear, swung a deadwood scepter.


    Thousands of Lizardfolk soldiers followed close behind, and hundreds of Imperial Druids controlling various Beasts, bringing a surging Beast Tide along.


    Arrow Hawks, Griffins, Rhinoceroses, Beasts of Terror, Raptors, Frenzied Tigers, Petrifying Lizards, and other Beast swarmed out of the portals, startled by the Dragon¡¯s Might, and bowed in unison toward the direction of the Red Dragon.


    In the frenzied crowd, Adrowell watched the opening of one portal after another in stupefied amazement, as various creatures made their appearance at the gathering.


    What was he here for?


    Did such a country still need to seek aid from Melwood?


    Suddenly, Jenny next to him pointed to the sky, frowning as she said, ¡°Look there!¡±


    Yet another portal opened, and from it flew out massive, fierce Blue Dragons, led by a smaller, young female Blue Dragon¡ªit was the Blue Dragon of the Farria family.


    Jennies looked at the Blue Dragons in the sky, then gazed at the Red Dragon on the high platform for a long time, clenching her teeth and saying, ¡°No, we can¡¯t lose¡­ Let¡¯s go too! Melwood can¡¯t lose to them!¡±


    Adrowell inquired, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Swoosh¡ª¡±


    Jennies leaped up, transforming into a graceful Silver Dragon amidst the astonished gazes of the onlookers, flapping her wings as she flew toward Cassius.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Adrowell shook his head in resignation and transformed into his true form, a towering Silver Dragon, slapping his gleaming wings to take flight.


    At his command, ten more Silver Dragons rose one after another from among the crowd to surround the high platform.


    In the midst of the audience¡¯s gasps of astonishment, the previously empty military demonstration field became incredibly crowded, filled with Fire Lizards, Skeleton Dragon-Serpents, Fierce Tigers, Blue Dragons, and even Silver Dragons.


    Beings alive or Undead, good or evil, running or flying, all gathered at the venue, obeying the same leader, coming together to participate in the same war.


    For years, the Empire had gathered armies and power from various planes, all converging here, about to join the battle against the demons.


    Cassius stood on the high platform, overlooking the bustling gathering.


    For this battle, he had prepared for far too long, so much so that from the moment he entered this world, he had been locked in a relentless struggle with the demons trying to control his fate.


    The Red Dragon surveyed the assortment of beings below with a ferocious smile, murmuring to himself in a voice only he could hear: S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Jezarslack¡­


    Are you ready to face my revenge?¡±

 Chapter 549 - 549 18 Preview

    ?Chapter 549: Chapter 18 Preview Chapter 549: Chapter 18 Preview ¡°Ugh, so boring¡­.¡±


    ¡°Here I go again, tasting this garbage¡­..¡±


    In a room filled to the brim with gaming pods, Mantou, with his hand propping his cheek, lazily scrolled through the latest game rankings.


    The recently released ¡°Ghost Charm¡± had been tormenting him, giving him a numb scalp. Clipping and frame drops were the lesser issues; the constant restarts and black screens were enough to drive anyone insane, indeed a ¡°horror game¡± in more ways than one.


    ¡°I could have borne the darkness if I had not seen the light.¡±


    This was the true sentiment deep within Mantou¡¯s heart.


    Having experienced the lifelike sensations of ¡°Erezer,¡± Mantou found it increasingly difficult to force himself to play any other game.


    Thinking this, Mantou grabbed his bird¡¯s nest-like hair with his hand, feeling utterly distressed.


    ¡°Damn it! When is Erezer going to be up again? The damned official doesn¡¯t give any clear information!¡±


    It had been over three months since the servers were down, and during this time, Mantou had edited all his material into videos and posted them on major video websites.


    The video from the Empire Dueling Contest had gone viral again, this time reaching an unprecedented level of popularity!


    Especially the elements like the ¡°Roman Empire¡± and the ¡°Mechanical God Cult¡± in the video, which not only made domestic players ecstatic but also attracted widespread attention from players overseas.


    Mantou¡¯s commentary video ¡°Mechanical God Cult vs Roman Era¡± had reached a hundred million views on some platform.


    After witnessing the guild wars, players from all regions followed the trail and continued to watch Mantou¡¯s ¡°Elzegai Diary¡± videos.


    These videos brought them even greater shock, comparable to Columbus¡¯s discovery of a new continent, introducing them to a brand-new fantasy world.


    Could the freedom be this high?


    The intelligence level of the NPCs was indistinguishable from that of real people?


    Was the realism so profound that you could even do scientific research and invent things in the game?


    As a result, ¡°Erezer¡± caused a sensation worldwide, with tens of millions of players eagerly anticipating the next time Erezer would go live.


    ¡°Haaaah,¡± Mantou yawned, clicking on a game to give it a try.


    But suddenly, his phone started ¡°beeping¡± with notifications flooding in.


    ¡°@I¡¯m Going to Eat Mantou!!¡±


    ¡°Mantou, you old thief!¡±


    ¡°Quick, go check it out! The official has released a promo video!¡±


    ¡°Come quick! Come quick!¡±


    ¡°Damn? It¡¯s not just the Anzeta Great Wilderness this time, the Fianso Continent¡¯s map has been unlocked too!¡±


    Mantou burst into tears of joy, exiting the unknown game without hesitation and rushing to the official homepage.


    ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡±


    [Erezer: Version 2.0 ¨C Kings¡¯ Strife, about to launch!]


    [In this server opening, we will make available all regions of Fianso Continent: Kingdom of Cassandra, Thrace Kingdom, Kingdom of Seleucis, Silver Moon Bay Free Trade Confederation, Serenia Elven Kingdom, High Mountain Dwarf Kingdom¡­


    At the same time, we will unlock three hundred and fourteen Respawn Points, including:


    Sunrise City ¨C Augustus, Sunset City ¨C West, Dwarf King Capital ¨C Black Mountain Fortress, Elven Ancient City ¨C Seran, Sunshine City ¨C Teotihuacan, West Sea Gate ¨C Victoria Port¡­]


    Reading this, Mantou couldn¡¯t help but gape in amazement, his jaw almost dropping.


    ¡°Damn?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re opening so many new regions, this update is going to be earth-shattering!¡±


    During the closed beta and the [Northern Wind and Cloud] version, players had only explored the Anzeta Great Wilderness, following the footsteps of the empire¡¯s expansion, and already, it felt richly rewarding.


    ¡ªAfter all, this wasteland covered five or six million square kilometers, exceeding most countries in reality.


    And now, with the official opening of so many new areas, their scale was definitely larger than the Anzeta Great Wilderness, making this a true ¡°open-world exploration¡± game.


    Mantou rubbed his hands together excitedly, murmuring to himself.


    ¡°Even the message released in advance is this explosive, what will this trailer be like?¡±


    ¡°Come on!¡±


    With trembling fingers, he clicked the mouse, opening the [Watch Video] button.


    As soon as he clicked on the video, the familiar black screen appeared, filled with a dense barrage of comments, and this time it was not only in Chinese but also in various languages from around the world.


    ¡°Here it comes!¡±


    ¡°Wow, they finally released the trailer!¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Veteran beta players, to arms!¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy!¡±


    ¡°The damn official playing dead every day.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait any longer! Let me in! I want to play Erezer!¡±


    An ethereal female voice resonated, as if narrating a tragic epic, while the screen suddenly brightened.


    What appeared on the screen was a magnificent white wall, with towering high spires hundreds of meters tall, prosperity and beauty within the city, people¡¯s faces brimming with happy smiles.


    The Divine Descendant Legion, composed of titans and angels, was imposing, gathering beside the high tower.


    At the top of the high spire, on the glorious Sun Disk, appeared a towering figure wearing a crown, with wings on his back, in golden armor.


    He stood proud, resting the longsword in his hand on the ground.


    Around him, hundreds of arcanists in golden-red robes chanted spell incantations in low voices, the light from the Sun Disk growing ever more dazzling.


    Suddenly, the sun hanging in the sky released a blinding light, making the disk glow as if it were the Divine Realm.


    A golden majestic figure descended from the heavens, roaring angrily, with eyes filled with endless radiance that glared down at the people on the high tower.


    The background music also became sacred and grand with his appearance, like a hymn during prayer.


    ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡±


    ¡°Holy Fadlan shall stride towards eternity with me!¡±


    The music abruptly intensified, and a tremendous explosion engulfed everyone, as infinite light and heat surged in the sky.


    And the original sun faded in an instant, turning the whole sky into a dark red color like blood.


    ¡°BOOM¡ª¡±


    The hundreds of meters tall tower collapsed with a thunderous fall, slowly crashing to the ground, debris and Flowing Flame bursting towards the earth, people in the city panicked, fleeing desperately from the terrifying disaster.


    The land was scorched, houses destroyed, smoke and ash swept through the entire city.


    Amidst the cries of women and children and the wailing of men, that familiar voice-over appeared again.


    ¡°Aragon the First, in his foolish attempt to replace the Sun God, killed himself and brought destruction upon the Empire he had built.


    With the thunderous collapse of the Eternal Sun God Tower, the Holy Fardel Empire that had ruled the Fianso Continent for a hundred years declared its end.¡±


    ¡°Holy shit? Big move!¡±


    ¡°The start is this explosive?¡±


    ¡°So looking forward to it!¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he just fighting the Northern Allied Forces, and now he¡¯s heading straight for the Divine?¡±


    ¡°This must be Sunrise City ¨C Teotihuacan, I¡¯ve heard about it from the Thrace People who come to the Empire for business.¡±


    A desolate, mournful melody rose, giving people an inexplicable sense of desolation.


    The scene suddenly changed, it was still the Holy City, but now it was no longer its glorious past, turned into a broken mess with ruins everywhere.


    On that once-rich and fertile land, the earth was riddled with holes, bodies piled up like mountains, blood flowed in torrents, gathering into crimson rivers.


    The voice-over continued: ¡°On the remains of Holy Fadlan, the Three Great Kingdoms of Thrace, Cassandra, and Seleucis waged the Tri-Emperor Battle, stopping at nothing to seize the Empire¡¯s legacy, brewing countless tragedies on this land¡­


    The former Holy City was destroyed overnight, once brothers and sisters killing each other, it was a sorrowful era, an era filled with blood and death.¡±

 Chapter 550 - 550 19 Server Launch

    ?Chapter 550: Chapter 19: Server Launch Chapter 550: Chapter 19: Server Launch ¡°But this is also an age of strife, a turbulent era, an era where danger and opportunity coexist.¡±


    Suddenly, the music became passionate and rousing, and the scene shifted to a battlefield shrouded in gunsmoke.


    Artillery roared, countless human soldiers charged with guns, yet continuously fell in a hail of bullets.


    Titan Divine Descendants and Angel Divine Descendants slaughtered each other, the ground cracked, and the sky trembled as they created world-shaking disasters on earth.


    ¡°Cassandra, Thrace, and Seleucis, the Three Great Kingdoms, fought ceaselessly for the inheritance of the Empire.


    Meanwhile, their Divine Descendant Nobles harbored their own designs, fragmenting the once great Holy Fadlan across the continent into hundreds of smaller states.¡±


    ¡°Battle, awesome!¡±


    ¡°Holy shit, is that Shinra?¡±


    ¡°Following this storyline, the Empire is about to enter the scene!¡±


    The narrator¡¯s voice was powerful.


    ¡°With the fall of Holy Fadlan, strife arose across the vast Fianso Continent, wars raging without end.¡±


    The scene changed to the chilling windswept hills, where heavy armored Dwarf cavalry on Worgs wielding warhammers surged forth from the valleys.


    ¡°The Dwarven cavalry thundered across the hills.¡±


    In the dense forest, underneath the towering ancient trees, the Elves of Serinia wore silver armor, held longbows, their beautiful faces showing resolute determination.


    ¡°The Elf armies marshaled through the forests.¡±


    On the boundless wilderness, Orcs clad in fur cloaks let out frenzied war cries, their Worg mounts howling mournfully, stirring up clouds of dust.


    ¡°The Orc cavalry galloped across the plains¡­¡±


    ¡°So many new Races, wow!¡±


    ¡°Love it, love it!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop me, I¡¯m going to find myself an Elf wife!¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The scene shifted again, the cities familiar to the players appeared on screen, Wyvern Knights patrolled the skies, steam locomotives ran on the ground, and factories belched gray columns of smoke.


    The narrator continued: ¡°The Empire to the North is burgeoning, eyeing this world with hungry ambition.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Isdalia!¡±


    ¡°Damn, I can see the factory where I work¡­¡±


    ¡°That arena was built by our engineering department!¡±


    ¡°High profile!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire!¡±


    The scene shifted once more, with hundred-meter-long warships bearing sucker-laden tentacles appearing in the sky, casting huge shadows on the ground.


    Inside the fleshy interiors of those warships, humanoid creatures with octopus-like heads emerged, their pupil-less milky white eyes chilling to the bone.


    ¡°The vast and ancient Heart Snatching Demon Empire had long since fallen into ruin, becoming mere empty shadows of the past.


    And now, those who lurk in the shadows of bygone days seek to descend using the bodies of other beings.¡±


    ¡°Yikes¡ªso disgusting.¡±


    ¡°Damn, tentacle monsters!¡±


    ¡°Hehehe, I love tentacle monsters the most, especially when you put them together with dragons, it¡¯s even better¡­¡±


    ¡°The guy in front, you¡¯ve just exposed yourself! Aren¡¯t you Safis, the one who likes to post lewd pictures of dragons and tentacle monsters in the group?¡±


    ¡°Goddamn, it¡¯s fine to be niche but not perverse!¡±


    The scene shifted once again, with people wearing the badges of the Dragon Worship Cult appearing inside palaces, whispering their prayers.


    The person in the purple robe at the highest point, his expression fervent, put on the golden mask with five giant dragon heads, spread his arms, and invoked the name of Tiamat.


    ¡°The church of Tiamat continued to incite rebellion, becoming one of the many factions seeking power on this fractured land¡­


    They believe that one day the Immortal Queen will descend upon the land of the Prime Material Plane and dragons will rule the world once again.¡±


    ¡°The Dragon Queen!¡±


    ¡°She appeared at Emperor Kai¡¯s coronation!¡±


    ¡°It seems like touching Her Majesty the Dragon Queen¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s possible?¡±


    ¡°This update has way too much content, Airez¡¯s damn official team is really unbeatable!¡±


    In the range of undulating mountains, in front of towering snow-peaked mountains, a black claw tore through the heavens, creating a crack hundreds of meters in diameter.


    Countless bizarre and fierce demons surged out like a tidal wave, their ghastly wings blotting out the sun, casting swirling shadows upon the ground.


    ¡°Demons come from The Abyss, loathing everything in the world, spreading chaos and evil at will, attempting to plunge the entire universe into chaos.


    Their first target is the secluded Anzeta Great Wilderness, as well as its occupying force¡ªthe Ashen Empire.¡±


    ¡°Demons are invading?¡±


    ¡°This is definitely a main quest!¡±


    ¡°Defend the Empire!¡±


    ¡°Not cool, man. Why pick on someone strong? Everyone else goes for the easy targets, but you go straight for the Empire?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take them down!¡±


    Eventually, the scene arrived at the vast military exercise field in the suburbs of Isdalia City, with hundreds of thousands of spectators crowded along the sides, looking on eagerly.


    ¡°In this era filled with strife, the fate of the world will be rewritten by you, survival or extinction will be your choice!


    This is¡ª¡±


    The narrator¡¯s voice stretched out.


    Amidst the stirring martial music and the magnificent sound of war drums, Chimeras and Bipedal Wyverns obscured the sky, while Land Dragon Beasts and Steam Tanks occupied the ground.


    Artillery roared, and gunshots rang out in unison; Humans, Tieflings, Ogres, and other Family Members formed neat ranks, marching from afar with imposing momentum.


    But this was far from over.


    Portals opened, one after another, with Fire Lizards and Fire Drakes roaring, Fire Dwarfs swinging Warhammers, and the Elemental Legion arriving from the Fire Elemental Plane.


    Skeleton Dragon-Serpents slithered across the earth; Undead and Corpse Demons wandered under dark clouds; the Underdark Legion rushed from the underworld.


    Fierce tigers, polar bears, and griffins roared, sprinting under the command of Empire Druids, streaming from the Garden of Myriad Beasts.


    Real giant dragons also appeared at the venue, with White Dragons excitedly tilting their heads back in a long howl, Blue Dragons wildly dancing in mid-air, and Silver Dragons flapping their shimmering wings.


    ¡°It¡¯s lit!¡±


    ¡°This is the Empire!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Isdalia City military exercise field? Are they parading?¡±


    ¡°Seems like we¡¯ve never been part of this event!¡±


    Finally, the screen froze on a stage, showcasing a towering stature from a looking-up perspective, those broad wings hiding the sky and the earth.


    The Red Dragon in the picture slowly opened its mouth, and a voice heavy like thunder came out.


    ¡°If demons can bring fear to the world, then the Empire¡ªwill bring fear to the demons!


    Crush them!¡±


    The audience¡¯s cheers rose like a tidal wave; only then did the narrator resoundingly pronounce the last few words:


    ¡°Erezer¡ªKings¡¯ Strife!¡±


    The screen finally froze on the majestic figure of the Red Dragon with its wings spread, with the word ¡°Erezer¡± emerging in golden letters at the center of the image.


    ¡°For His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Empire! Damn those demons!¡±


    ¡°Heh heh, His Majesty Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°Loyalty!¡±


    ¡°So hyped!¡±


    ¡°Such a strong presence, Emperor Kai is truly the unbeatable Long Aotian. He was the one at the end of the last trailer, right?¡±


    ¡°I was thinking about choosing the Elf Kingdom, but this video changed my mind, Long Live the Empire! Long Live the Emperor!¡±


    ¡°I will never switch camps! All my belongings are in the Ashen Empire already!¡±


    Before the screen, Mantou was also struck hard by this heart-stirring scene, infected by the fervent atmosphere.


    His face was full of excitement, wishing he could immediately enter the game to fight for the Empire against the demons.


    ¡°Damn game developers, let me in already!¡±


    He muttered to himself.


    Just then, as if hearing Mantou¡¯s call, the ¡°Enter Game¡± button on the gaming pod really lit up.


    Mantou¡¯s eyes brightened instantly, and he squirmed into the gaming pod like an eel.


    ¡°Holy crap?¡±


    ¡°Erezer, activate!¡±

 Chapter 551 - 551 20 The Player

    ?Chapter 551: Chapter 20 The Player Chapter 551: Chapter 20 The Player ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    A blinding white light flashed by.


    When Mantou opened his eyes again, he found himself in the world of Erezer, experiencing that familiar sensation indistinguishable from reality.


    ¡°Awesome!¡±


    He looked around and suddenly realized¡ªhe was at the military parade featured in the teaser trailer!


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    Wyverns filled the sky, steam tanks rumbled, gunfire sounded in unison, and the Imperial Expeditionary Force from various realms stood ready for battle.


    Fire Drakes flapped their wings, Fire Lizards held spears high, Skeleton Dragon-Serpents slithered, and Beasts of Terror raised their heads in a thunderous roar¡­


    On either side of the drill ground, countless Imperial People were frenzied with excitement, their arms waving as they chanted, the waves of ¡°Long Live the Empire¡± and ¡°Long Live Cassius¡± reaching him in relentless succession.


    Among those who had arrived with Mantou were tens of thousands of players, including both veterans and many newcomers to the game.


    And to think this was just minutes after the servers went live, the number of players at the venue was still skyrocketing.


    Witnessing this incredible spectacle, they couldn¡¯t help but exclaim.


    ¡°Holy shit? It¡¯s exactly like in the promotional video!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so pumped up!¡±


    ¡°Long Live the Ashen Empire!¡±


    ¡°Ahhh¡ª¡±


    ¡°Long Live His Majesty Cassius, for the Empire!¡±


    The tunes of military music were stirring and spirited, and even Mantou was caught up in the fervent atmosphere. He raised his hands and shouted at the top of his lungs, ¡°For the Empire!¡±


    Meanwhile, far away, the Emperor of the Crimson Dragon stood atop a massive boulder, spreading his broad wings and gazing down at everything with his pale golden eyes.


    He seemed to notice the players appearing on the plains, casting a scrutinizing look at them.


    Then, that giant maw filled with sharp fangs slowly opened, emitting a clear and even voice.


    ¡°Welcome back, Starfallen.¡±


    Hearing the greeting from the camp leader, the players¡¯ emotions were reignited, even exploding, growing more intense.


    ¡°Long Live His Majesty Cassius!¡±


    ¡°Emperor Kai is invincible!¡±


    ¡°I want to touch His Majesty Cassius¡¯s¡­¡±


    Mantou looked up at the distant Red Dragon and, placing his fist over his heart, gave a perfect ¡°Loyalty Salute.¡±


    ¡°This sense of belonging is off the charts¡­¡±


    ¡°Howl~~¡±


    A familiar roar echoed from the sky, and Mantou immediately looked up in surprise, exclaiming, ¡°Noodle!¡±


    The Bipedal Wyvern raised its slender neck and let out a gratifying shriek, circling in the air before making a smooth landing.


    It grasped the earth with its feet and bowed its head obediently, lying down before Mantou.


    ¡°Long time no see, Noodle.¡±


    As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and this was true even for mounts.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been eating well, huh, put on a bit of weight.¡±


    Mantou affectionately stroked the Bipedal Wyvern¡¯s long neck, then grabbed the saddle¡¯s handle and leaped onto its back.


    ¡°Noodle, take off!¡±


    ¡°Howl¡ª¡±


    The Bipedal Wyvern leaped up, flapping its wings and ascending in a spiral, letting out a loud howl.


    Mantou gazed at the magnificent City of Isdalia in the distance, feeling a surge of emotions, as if his heart were filled with myriad valleys and ravines.


    Erezer, I¡¯m back!


    New players looked up at Mantou in the sky, pointing at his Bipedal Wyvern mount and exclaimed, ¡°What the heck, how can he ride a dragon?¡±


    Another new player said, ¡°I heard him say something, and that wyvern let him ride it, something like¡­ Noodle?¡±


    ¡°Huh? That¡¯s insane, there¡¯s a command for that?¡±


    ¡°Noodle¡ª¡±


    ¡°Noodle! Noodle!¡±


    ¡°Noodle! Why doesn¡¯t the command work?¡±


    For a moment, many new players began shouting at the top of their lungs, their eyes filled with hope as they looked up at the Bipedal Wyvern circling in the sky.


    A veteran player standing nearby cast a sideways glance at them, with a look as if he was watching fools: ¡°That¡¯s the freaking Red Scale Conqueror¡¯s mount!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s calling his mount by name, what are you yelling for?¡±


    ¡°Ow?¡±


    High above, the Bipedal Wyvern cocked its head to one side, gazing at the players on the ground with a puzzled growl.


    ¡°So realistic!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s even a sense of pain?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! You can actually pull down pants!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve waited a year, and I¡¯m finally playing Erezer! Don¡¯t stop me, I¡¯m not crazy!¡±


    On the ground, the number of players had already surpassed a hundred thousand in a mere few minutes, and it was still climbing.


    They roared like savages, and there were plenty who stripped naked and ran around chaotically.


    Originally solemn and majestic, the atmosphere at the venue suddenly became somewhat amiss, thankfully the parade had ended, and the Imperial People were already accustomed to the Starfallen¡¯s madness.


    In the stands, a little Tiefling girl curiously watched the Starfallen and tugged at her mother¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°Mommy, what are they doing?¡±


    The Tiefling mother covered her little Tiefling¡¯s eyes and whispered gently, ¡°Nina, don¡¯t pick up bad habits from those crazies.


    Remember, just be loyal to His Majesty and the Empire like your father who works in the Imperial Army, and don¡¯t follow these wrongful paths.¡±


    ¡­


    On the high platform, Cassius looked down at the venue, watching the players frolic on the wilderness with the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.


    ¡°There are so many players this time¡­¡±


    In Cassius¡¯s memory, even though ¡°Erezer¡± was a huge hit in version 2.0, there were only a few million players online at the start of the server.


    Even fewer had chosen the original map, the Anzeta Great Wilderness, as their spawn point since it was already fully explored by players.


    But under the influence of Cassius, most of the veteran players were tied to the chariot of the Empire.


    Unwilling to give up their original assets and status, they had no choice but to continue choosing the Empire as their spawn point.


    The new players, influenced by trailers and veteran players¡¯ guides, also became extremely interested in the Ashen Empire, the ¡°protagonist camp¡± of version 1.0.


    Cassius¡¯s gaze shone brightly as he watched the new players exhale a puff of sulfur-tinged white smoke.


    ¡°If the trend continues, the number of players joining the Empire will easily reach two million.¡±


    ¡°And the total number of players¡ª is likely to break through the ten-million mark.¡±


    It¡¯s worth noting that the Kings¡¯ Strife version opened over three hundred respawn points, and having one-fifth of the players choose the Empire was already a considerable number.


    This was far beyond Cassius¡¯s expectations.


    In the past world, most players chose the Fadlan countries, where the war was most intense, according to the guides; they divided into different camps and fought against each other.


    But now, the Ashen Empire had undoubtedly become the camp that attracted the most players and had the greatest impact on the player community.


    ¡°Two million players¡­


    While it can provide ample momentum for the development of the Empire, it¡¯s still a bit troublesome, and it¡¯ll likely cause quite a bit of chaos.¡±


    In the third census initiated months ago by Prime Minister Ramp, the total population of the Ashen Empire had reached 8.47 million.


    And now, two million players had surged in, amounting to one quarter of the Empire¡¯s total population!


    Such a large number of ¡°idle wanderers¡± would definitely have a huge impact on the society of the Empire, and the conflict between Starfallen and natives would intensify.


    The competition for jobs, the resistance of the natives, and the chaos in the social order were almost inevitable, and the series of social problems that would arise were equally severe.


    For the current state of the Empire, expansion was imminent, and Cassius urgently needed to find an outlet for the players to vent their excess energy.


    Demons were his first target.


    However, it was necessary to maintain the most basic order first so that they could better combat the demons.


    Thinking this, Cassius called out softly, ¡°Mezulash.¡±


    Soon, the overall Commander of the Imperial Army and head of the Imperial intelligence agency, as well as the leader of the Tiefling Tribe, appeared before the Red Dragon.


    He had held a high position for many years, controlling the Empire¡¯s internal and external secret services, eradicating enemies in the dark for the Empire


    Now, this Tiefling Holy Warrior¡¯s, who was the most low-profile of the Empire¡¯s three Dukes, hands were already stained with blood, and he had become even more silent and reticent, always silently completing the tasks given by the Red Dragon.


    At this moment, Mezulash kneeled on one knee and said respectfully, ¡°Master, what are your orders?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something you should be quite familiar with: manage these Starfallen who have just come from the Otherworld, and teach them the rules of the Empire.


    However, we have a few more Starfallen this time, approximately¡­ two million.¡±


    Mezulash raised his head, and even his usually impassive face showed a hint of shock he couldn¡¯t hide.


    He was accustomed to controlling and concealing his emotions, but the number this time was indeed staggering.


    How many?


    Two million?


    A quarter of the total population! And all of them are madmen who don¡¯t care about life or death! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In an instant, cold sweat streamed down the forehead of the Tiefling leader and dripped off his chin.


    Although Mezulash was filled with thoughts, he still responded in a deep voice, ¡°Yes, Master.¡±

 Chapter 552 - 552 21 Defense Line

    ?Chapter 552: Chapter 21 Defense Line Chapter 552: Chapter 21 Defense Line In the Imperial Senate, a tense military meeting was underway, discussing how to deal with the full-scale invasion of demons.


    Cassius sat on the throne with a serious expression.


    Ramp, Dolores, Mezulash, Alger, Anthony, and other elders sat in their respective places with gravity.


    Representing the Starfaller Group within the empire, the presidents of the powerful noble guilds were also allocated their seats.


    Allies of the Empire, such as Genexis and Christina, were also invited to join in discussing this war against the demons.


    Christina glanced at the Silver Dragon seated nearby and muttered softly, ¡°Do these silver-skinned crawlers even deserve to appear before His Majesty Cassius?


    Their elders haven¡¯t even grown wings yet¡­¡±


    Genexis and Adrowell immediately glared at the Blue Dragon, their eyes filled with indignation.


    ¡°Enough.¡±


    ¡°Bang.¡±


    Cassius tapped the tabletop gently with his finger, and the surroundings immediately quieted down as all eyes converged on him.


    Then, looking around calmly, he said, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the Empire did not invite you here to quarrel.


    Right now, our only common enemy is the abyssal demons.¡±


    Under Cassius¡¯s powerful aura, everyone in the hall fell silent, not daring to speak lightly.


    After a while, Ramp broke the silence, ¡°Lord Adrowell, as a warrior who has been active on the front lines against demons for many years, you must know quite a lot of information, right?¡±


    Adrowell nodded in response, his expression slightly easing as he stood up and said:


    ¡°His Majesty Cassius and esteemed members of the Empire, over the past few centuries, I have thwarted numerous demonic invasions and gained some experience.¡±


    Adrowell stretched out his hand, and a Magic Image appeared in mid-air, displaying the hideous faces of demons with piercing, howling sounds.


    Adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose, he continued, ¡°As we know, all creatures of the Prime Material Plane share common characteristics.


    Humans, giant dragons, griffins, Heart Snatching Demons, and Dwarves all need to eat. They reproduce in some basic physiological ways, but¡­ we do not share these traits with demons.


    Demons do not need to eat, and they usually derive special pleasure from swallowing living sacrifices¡­


    Their lungs are very robust, resistant to gases from the outside environment, including the deadly vapors of the Abyss that can kill most beings of the Prime Material Plane.


    In terms of other aspects of the life cycle, demons do not age; they do not die of any natural causes.


    They return to The Abyss¡¯s unformed parts, their essence becoming part of the plane¡¯s evil and chaos.


    ¡­


    Tiniya cocked her head, somewhat puzzled, and said, ¡°These guys are really dumb, aren¡¯t they? Don¡¯t they like to eat frozen cold meat or collect shiny gold coins?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Upon hearing this, the room once again fell into silence, though this time it seemed to be out of speechlessness.


    Adrowell pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please do not treat demons as any kind of ¡®creature¡¯ or speculate what they think.


    Their existence is more akin to¡­ a disaster with consciousness.¡±


    The scholars of our race believe that the Abyss desires to use creations to fold back more parts of the universe to its original moment of creation, and demons are such creations.


    Most importantly, the purpose of demons is to spread chaos and evil¡ªthe essence of the Abyss.¡±


    Ramp pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°How many demons typically participate in each invasion?¡±


    Adrowell answered solemnly, ¡°Endless.


    The Abyss is much deeper than the 666 levels we know of; its number of demons might exceed all creatures of the Prime Material Plane combined, hence these creatures can never be completely eradicated, only repelled.


    Although demons are endless, we can defend against their invasion by closing the demon Portals and eliminating those that come to the Prime Material Plane.¡±


    In this absolutely righteous act of combating demons, this middle-aged Silver Dragon generously shared details about demons¡¯ habits, weaknesses, and capabilities.


    Suddenly, the people in the hall burst into lively discussions, evaluating the information provided by Adrowell.


    ¡°Indeed, a troublesome existence.¡±


    ¡°We have never faced such an enemy before!¡±


    ¡°Wait, not fearing death, chaos, madness¡­ why do these descriptions sound familiar?¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it, it does seem familiar, could it be¡ª¡±


    A dozen curious or scrutinizing gazes turned towards those seated, making the few players feel like sitting on pins and needles.


    Iron Madman scratched his head, smiled awkwardly, and quickly declared his loyalty, ¡°I swear, we Starfallers are loyal to His Majesty Cassius!


    We absolutely have no connection to the Abyss, not even a half copper nar!¡±


    The discussion in the hall intensified, as people began actively discussing various tactics and strategies, from strengthening frontier patrols to using new weapons; from mobilizing civilians for defense to sending out players as the Cannon Fodder Legion¡­


    The military representative, Dolores, stood up slamming his hand onto the table, declaring boldly that he would lead the troops directly to the demons¡¯ lair to ensure they never set foot on the Empire¡¯s lands. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, with a somewhat mocking smile, Ramp asked, ¡°Lord Adrowell, what do you think is the most challenging aspect of dealing with demons?¡±


    Adrowell replied, ¡°The numbers, their sheer number is overwhelming, and they are nearly omnipresent; if they infiltrate the Empire, they would surely bring about a great disaster.¡±


    Ramp continued, ¡°And what would you say are the Empire¡¯s advantages?¡±

 Chapter 553 - 553 21 Defense Line_2

    ?Chapter 553: Chapter 21 Defense Line_2 Chapter 553: Chapter 21 Defense Line_2 Adrowell shook his head, ¡°I am new here and do not understand the military of the Empire.¡±


    Lord Ramp stood up, looked around, and said loudly, ¡°Firepower, demons can bring fear to the people, and His Majesty has told me¡­¡±


    He paused, turned to look at Cassius, a sycophantic smile appearing on that ugly face before continuing.


    ¡°Fear comes from insufficient firepower.¡±


    With a grand gesture, Lord Ramp summoned various Magic Images into the air, showing scenes of intense artillery fire, and vast wastelands covered by the glow of various explosions.


    When the smoke cleared, the ground was riddled with holes, a complete mess, with small hills shaved down several feet.


    Lord Ramp continued, ¡°In terms of individual strength, the Empire might not have many advantages, but when it comes to large-scale warfare¡ª we will absolutely not lose.


    When demons gather in large numbers, we can conduct saturating strikes, bombarding them with cannons, giving these demons a surprise.¡±


    ¡°Bang.¡±


    Lord Ramp struck the ground with his scepter, and a giant map of the Ashen Empire appeared in the air.


    On the vast territory of the Empire, a scarlet line suddenly appeared, stretching hundreds of miles, almost enveloping the entire southern part of the Empire.


    ¡°I believe some of you have also participated in its construction, just not understanding its purpose at the time.


    These defensive works are built from reinforced concrete, very sturdy, containing all sorts of cannons, trenches, fortresses, kitchens, hospitals, factories, etc.


    These passages crisscross, and larger works even include steam train tracks.


    This is all thanks to His Majesty¡¯s foresight; we began building this line of defense as soon as the Empire took possession of the entire North, which I call¡ª¡±


    ¡°The Magino Line?¡±


    Steel Torrent couldn¡¯t help but speak out.


    But sensing Lord Ramp¡¯s warning glance and seeing the prompt [Favorability Decreased], he immediately covered his mouth, wishing he could harshly slap himself.


    Why can¡¯t I keep my mouth shut? Why did I blurt it out?


    Lord Ramp then withdrew that murderous gaze and continued, ¡°Imperial¡¯s Wall.¡±


    Discussion heated up in the hall again, some people supported it, full of confidence in the Empire¡¯s resistance against demons, but others voiced deep skepticism.


    ¡°Is this the plan of the Prime Minister?¡±


    ¡°Can it defend successfully?¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s why some people were sent to the mines for a secret mission, they went to build the wall!¡±


    Dolores said somewhat mockingly, ¡°Lord Ramp, facing the enemy¡¯s assault, you actually chose to build a wall? How many resources of the Empire will this consume?


    Are we to cower behind walls like those human nations?¡±


    Lord Ramp calmly replied, ¡°Before the Imperial¡¯s Wall lies the flat and open Saviedra Great Plains, and that will become the burial ground for all demons.¡±


    The Ogre¡¯s tone was exceptionally harsh, his injured ear seeming to tremble slightly, the murderous intent in his eyes making Dolores flinch.


    Dolores then remembered, the person in front of him was not just any Prime Minister, but an Ogre, a Dragon Vein Ogre at that!


    A very brutal being, only often obscured by the workings of the Empire, maintaining rationality.


    Lord Ramp¡¯s expression softened, and he said with a smile, ¡°However¡­ Marshal Dolores.


    Now, the demons have not yet launched a full invasion, it¡¯s not yet time to use the Imperial¡¯s Wall, let these demons first experience the power of two million Starfallen.


    Your Majesty, please review this.¡±


    Lord Ramp turned again, looking towards Cassius on the throne, and with another tap of his scepter, a detailed tactical plan appeared in the air.


    Two million Starfallen, for the current state of the Empire, are quite a force to be reckoned with.


    Well, that¡¯s simple, just throw them to the South, right?


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Cassius said so.


    He slightly tilted his head, the faint golden pupils subtly twinkling.


    The Emperor¡¯s gaze seemed to traverse thousands of kilometers, seeing the darkness and chaos deep within the Anstika Group, carrying a hint of anticipation.


    ¡­


    Saviedra Plains, Blackstone Fortress Suburbs, within Leo Village.


    The village, which was quite lively, had now become desolate.


    ¡°Old White, are you really not leaving? The Empire¡¯s special task force is here specifically to evacuate the commoners.


    There are not many people left in the village already¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to persuade me,¡± you go if you want to, but this is my house, and I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±


    The man known as ¡°Old White¡± exhaled a puff of smoke as he spoke. He appeared to be in his fifties, his face marked by the ravages of time.


    His skin was dark, and his face bore deep grooves, the rough, calloused hands that held his cigarette weathered and tough.


    White had been a native of Leo Village since birth, and he was the village Hunter.


    The furthest White had ever traveled was to Lait Village, twenty miles away¡ªa not so pleasant experience.


    During the rule of the Northern Kingdom, he was the Hunter here, and during the rule of the Ashen Empire, he remained the Hunter¡ªonly his bow had been replaced by a civilian model ¡°Breaker of Enemies.¡±


    In recent years, most of the village¡¯s young people had run off to the cities¡ªincluding White¡¯s own son.


    And now, those who remained were urgently relocated by the dispatched Imperial forces, claiming that abyssal demons would soon invade.


    But White wasn¡¯t afraid. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was going to die soon anyway; at fifty-three, his age was already considered longevity among the Northerners.


    White just wanted to spend his last moments in the home he had lived in for nearly fifty years, especially since he had a good shotgun.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    I wonder what those demons even look like.


    Everyone¡¯s left, just me remaining.¡±


    White exhaled another ring of smoke, looking over the empty village, slowly closing his door.


    He held no particular ¡°loyalty¡± to the Ashen Empire, considering it had only been a few years, but he also bore no hatred¡ªat least it was better than his impression of the North.


    After the Empire took control here, taxes were significantly reduced.


    People no longer had to kneel before knights sent by the Duchy, nor worry about being randomly seized by some noble, reduced to the lowest serf.


    For this, White was rather grateful.


    However, White disliked the eerie quietness that had settled over the village; it seemed to him the Imperial people had concocted some sort of enchantment that drove the young people to eagerly rush to the cities.


    What White liked most, however, were the two ¡°new things¡± brought by the Empire¡ªcigarettes and shotguns.


    Cigarettes helped relieve his worries, bringing rare pleasure into his mundane life,


    yet they were quite pricey for White, costing a fine deer skin for just two packs from the city traders.


    Thus, he cherished each smoke, saving even the butts in a small box.


    The latter became White¡¯s essential tool for hunting. His old body could no longer draw a bow, but the introduction of shotguns rejuvenated his spirit.


    Thinking this, Old White brought out his shotgun, carefully wrapped in layers of fabric, and meticulously wiped down the barrel.


    ¡°These Imperial people say that the ¡®Starfallen¡¯ Immortals will be stationed in this village, but I¡¯ve never seen an undying person before.¡±


    ¡°Creak¡ª¡±


    The window slowly opened, and White looked outside, his ears perked up as they caught some noise.


    Then, he incredulously rubbed his eyes.


    He saw waves of dust rising from the end of the village road as hundreds of people charged forward.


    Most were dressed in simple tunics, and some were naked, sprinting wildly.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡±


    ¡°Ohhhhh!¡±


    ¡°Take off!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a village! Time to rummage! That¡¯s the essence of an RPG game!¡±


    ¡°Holy shit, cover up! The Holy Light¡¯s about to blind me!¡±


    ¡°What, no NPCs?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget our mission to kill demons; this is our battleground!¡±


    Old White rubbed his eyes again, feeling as if he were either going mad or his vision was extremely blurred.


    Is this what they call the undying warriors, the vanguard of the Empire¡ªthe Starfallen?

 Chapter 554 - 554 22 Flo

    ?Chapter 554: Chapter 22 Flo Chapter 554: Chapter 22 Flo ¡°Really just a bunch of carefree newbies¡­¡±


    Lonely as Snow lit a cigarette on the hill above the village, watching those frolicking new players and couldn¡¯t help sighing.


    Once, he too was an ambitious new player, but now, he had become a qualified tank.


    At this moment, Lonely as Snow, clad in thick Mithril Armor and wielding an absurdly large-caliber Steam Shotgun, made the ground sink with each step he took, resembling a humanoid tank.


    ¡°But this task probably won¡¯t be easy¡­¡±


    ¡°Taking so many green players to the frontline, it just looks like using lambs for slaughter, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Then, Lonely as Snow scratched his head and glanced at his panel.


    [Main Quest: Kill demons!]


    [Demons emerge from The Abyss, loathing all things in the universe, spreading chaos and evil, aiming to plunge the cosmos into chaos.


    The first target of these greedy and insane creatures is the newly risen nation on the Anzeta Great Wilderness¡ªthe Ashen Empire.


    For this cause, the ¡°Ashen Empire¡¯s Emperor,¡± Cassius, thunderously enraged, calls to arms, vowing to use all strength to eradicate the demons. Starfallen, you will come to the frontline, becoming the first line of defense against the demon invasion.


    Warriors, slay the demons!]


    Quest goal: Hold the position, kill the demons


    Quest rewards: According to the demons¡¯ strength, players will receive corresponding Faction Contribution and Gold Coin.


    Note:


    Coward Demons = 5 Faction Contribution, 25 Silvernar S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Kwase Demons = 20 Faction Contribution, 1 Gold Coin


    Bab Demons = 500 Faction Contribution, 20 Gold Coin


    Frosthorn Demons = 1500 contribution, 50 Gold Coin


    ¡­


    One Barlow Flame Demon = 125w Faction Contribution, 20w Gold Coin


    As usual, in the Empire style, all sorts of rewards are listed above, priced clearly.


    Seeing such rich rewards, Lonely as Snow¡¯s eyes lit up.


    ¡°Fuck? This much?


    If I could kill a Barlow Flame Demon, wouldn¡¯t I be instantly wealthy?¡±


    As he imagined this in his heart, he wiped the rough barrel of his Steam Shotgun and looked toward the nearby dense forest:


    ¡°Never mind, what does it matter if I¡¯m cannon fodder? As long as I can get contribution and money, it¡¯s all good!¡±


    In Leo Village, players were bustling about everywhere.


    However, they were not building defensive fortifications but ¡ª looting, or rather zero-cost shopping, the biggest joy for RPG players!


    ¡°It¡¯s a chest! Quick, open it to see!¡±


    ¡°What is it¡­ damn, a no-quality iron hoe, what¡¯s the use of this.¡±


    ¡°And this, the widow¡¯s personal clothes from the east end of the village, who would want this stuff!¡±


    ¡°What about in the cabinet?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ organic pulp, plus half a loaf of black bread, seriously, was it worth hiding this deeply?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s check the basement too, I refuse to believe I can¡¯t find anything good!¡±


    ¡°Smash that jar open! I have a feeling something¡¯s coming out!¡±


    ¡°This¡­ is it hidden equipment? No, dammit, it¡¯s a pickled cucumber!¡±


    In just a matter of minutes, the players had turned the whole village upside down. Every cabinet and cellar in the villagers¡¯ homes were opened; they were almost ready to tear up the floorboards to look underneath.


    Unfortunately, all they found in these villager homes were ordinary household items, even the slightly valuable items had long been taken by the villagers.


    This result hugely disappointed the players.


    ¡°Damn, isn¡¯t it logical to find Divine Artifacts used to slay demons in a villager¡¯s house?


    Or at least blast out a couple of hundred Gold Coins!¡±


    ¡°I told you, Erezer¡¯s main feature is realism, think about it, do your rural homes also store AK47s year-round?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I still suspect the developers left some hidden benefits, I¡¯m going to search one more time!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The door was kicked open.


    A novice clad in simple clothes, nicknamed [Riding the Wind], bellowed enthusiastically: ¡°Open up, room check!¡±


    ¡°Fuck?¡±


    He raised his hand in a French military salute.


    The old man, with a cigarette in his mouth, raised the hunting shotgun in his hands, his weather-beaten eyes showing a sharp look as if he would pull the trigger without hesitation.


    This was Old White¡¯s home!


    Whether it was the Starfallen, demons, or anything else, it wouldn¡¯t change this fact; anyone who dared to intrude had to be fought to the end!


    Seeing the dark muzzle of the gun, Riding the Wind stood still like a post, breaking into a cold sweat.


    This villager really had substantial integrity!


    He maintained the raised hand posture, forcing a stiff smile on his face, ¡°Fellow villager, it really is a misunderstanding!


    If I had known you were here, I wouldn¡¯t have dared to intrude.¡±


    Old White lifted the gun barrel slightly and spoke, ¡°Get out, tell them, nobody is allowed to barge into my house!


    Otherwise¡­ well, my bullets aren¡¯t very discerning!¡±


    ¡°Ah, then I won¡¯t disturb you further, I¡¯m off.¡±


    Riding the Wind chuckled and continued in agreement, then fled as if escaping.


    ¡°Bang.¡±


    The door was gently closed.


    Old White set down the gun, his hands actually trembling slightly, but during the confrontation, he hadn¡¯t shown any signs of fear.


    Even though he had mentally prepared himself, the opponent, after all, was the legendary ¡°Undying Warrior.¡±


    ¡°So this so-called Starfallen¡­ that¡¯s all, huh¡­¡±


    However, for some reason, more and more shadows gathered outside the door, making Old White uneasy, and he couldn¡¯t understand the dialogue between these Starfallen.


    ¡°Did they say there¡¯s an old man with a gun inside?¡±


    ¡°Could it be a hidden NPC? Who¡¯s going to make contact again?¡±


    ¡°Could this be an unassuming master, the kind who gives a Divine Sword for completing a task, the big shot of Newbie Village?¡±