《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 yer.


    He only remembered that he had taken a rich yer''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, nning to wake up and get back into the gaming pod.


    When he opened his eyes, he found himself in this strange ce, 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 ws, 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 ufortable.


    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 udius Norixius


    Temte: 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, wing, Tail Attack, Flight, Breath Attack (fire)


    Feats: None@@novelbin@@


    Challenge Level: 6 (2100 XP)


    Assessment: "The powerful ws and teeth of a Red Dragon are enough to be 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 be your lifelong nightmare."


    "I''ve transmigrated to Erezer?"


    "And I''ve be 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 ck technology, iming to create a real world for yers, with a global peak of tens of millions of simultaneous online yers.


    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 udius Norixius, the first world boss in "Erezer" version 1.0 - "Anzeta Tempest," an evil Red Dragon who signed a pact with abyssal demons.


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


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


    yers 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, yers exploring the star realm, cross-nar 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 their 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, arge Red Dragon pped 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 d 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 Pdin''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 mes, the intense heat distorting the air.


    "That''s ''Twilight de'' Rhea."


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


    Main Quest: [Winter Night''s Rage]


    [Ten years ago, the mother of Red Dragon Cassius udius Norixius was in by the wandering Half-Elf Pdin "Twilight de" 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, bing "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 Pdin, a decade before the yers'' arrival!


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


    Moreover, the renowned "Twilight de" 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 pped 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 ce, her ce of greed, a ce craved by every creature in Anzeta yet unknown to them.


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


    "Boom!"


    In an instant, surgingva 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 theva, melting their bodies until even their bones remained no more.


    Even though he had reacted in advance, theva 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 inva like an adult red dragon, theva 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 ttering sound.


    Among the gold mountainsy 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:


    im this gold, im 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 pdin.


    This sound also snapped Cassius out of his deep greed.


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


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


    Once his cheap mother was killed, the next target for this Oath of Vengeance pdin 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.@@novelbin@@


    No wonder this red dragon was targeted by this quasi-legendary pdin, 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 hisposure, forcing down his greed, digging through the gold mountain in front of him, checking for magical items that shimmered with an aura.


    "de Ring, reduces shing 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 me 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 shy 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 copse.


    "Time to go."


    The young dragon headed towards the entrance, but he seemed to be under a charm spell, frequently ncing 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 arge 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 disy 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.)


    "tter, tter..."


    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 exhaledfortably.


    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 their.


    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 mes, and various methods yet to be unleashed.


    "Boom!"


    The Red Dragonboriouslynded 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."


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


    But the Half-Elf Pdin did not reply, only slowly raising the Silver Sword in her hand, her eyes determined. Her silver armor, scorched and ckened, 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 de."


    "Soul of Vengeance!"


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


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


    Rhea began to fly, sprouting illusory ck 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 meleebat¡ª


    She charged forward with an unstoppable force!


    "Boom!"


    The impending sh 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 nce at the terrifying scene.


    "Supreme Holy sh!"


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


    The silver longsword, glowing with twilight radiance, simply shed 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 waspletely 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 ws 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 ck Rider, truly terrifying."


    "Run, run."


    Cassius couldn''t help but exim.


    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 yers 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 Pdin''s perception, a casual Evil-Crushing sh from a few hundred meters away could send his soul straight back to Tiamat.


    That was a Sub-Legendary Pdin.


    With innate Divine Sense, it was only normal.


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


    Unaware that the Half-Elf Pdin 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 ck 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,pletely 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 pped 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 Dragonmitted heinous crimes, Rhea was confident she could, just like today¡ª


    ¡ªuse her sharp and unmatched Silver Sword to y itpletely.


    This was the creed of the Avenging Pdin''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.@@novelbin@@

 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 pdin''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 rtively hidden cave, where he could somewhat rx.


    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 ising, escape, leave this ce, 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 dly epted 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 muscr, but were now transforming into a more streamlined and aesthetic form.


    The exaggerated muscr 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 forpleting certain tasks. Passive abilities like Metallic Scales and Fugitive would still be powerful even in thete game.


    But what puzzled Cassius was his temte.


    In his past life in "Elzegai," yer temtes and monster temtes werepletely different entities.


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


    The monster temte, 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 udius Norixius


    Temte: 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: me


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


    Languages: Draconic, Common


    Abilities: Biting, wing, tail attack, flight, me breath attack


    Traits: Metallic Scales, Fugitive


    Combat Equipment: Magic Nullification Amulet, Dexterous Mage''s Action Ring, Staff of Scorching, Dead Speak Amulet, Lava Ssher, de 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 be 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 ck 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, evenrger 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 disyed 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, wing


    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 ws.


    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 mes, 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 me 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 upation will be more challenging, but you will gain even greater power]


    Achievement obtained: [First Blood]


    "Wee to this colorful world."


    yer upation panel obtained@@novelbin@@


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


    Cassius was first stunned, then overjoyed.


    He recalled that in the previous game, yers had toplete the novice task of "killing a turkey" in the unknown space to unlock the yer upation 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 legacycks enhancement methods, relying more on innate spells and an insatiable greed for treasure.


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


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


    But Cassius could easilybine the terrifying talents of Dragonkin with the yer upations.

 Chapter 5 The Origin of Sorcery

    If it wereter 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 upations like time mages that mastered spatial and temporal powers in theter stages.


    However, the mage had one critical w 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 sessfully 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 contemting for a moment, Cassius made his choice.


    [Choose to advance the Warlock upation]


    [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 upational levels in sorcery.


    Ancient schrs 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, thistent 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 upation, Cassius only got cold data disyed, 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 prated 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''te 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 calcte 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 me power.]


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


    [Breath Weapon (Fire) has been enhanced]


    [Acquired additional Cantrip [Fire Arrow]]


    In Cassius''s golden vertical pupils, fierce mes 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 nes, with vast metallic city walls hundreds of meters high in the distance.@@novelbin@@


    An Ancient Red Dragon pped 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 me 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 insignificantpared 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 nketed 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 simr 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!"


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


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


    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 nced 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 ne battlefield..."


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


    In Erezer, even when the yers 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-ying," it was pure fantasy.


    Some top-tier yers 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-nar 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 ne deities, it was more practical to steadily increase his power and consider his future ns.


    "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 pped 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 monthster.


    Snowkes had begun to fall over the Bokara Forest.


    This foretold that the Anzeta teau 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, triangr 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 nked 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 theirst 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 thest 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,pletely 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 sttered, 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 itsrge 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.@@novelbin@@


    The Wolf King chewed on the most sulent organs, savoring this hard-earned, carefully nned 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.


    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 zing mes...


    "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 des, jutted out from its mouth. Beneath its thick hide wereyers of fat, covered by a tough exterior of hardened dirt umted 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 simr 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 beasty 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 beganzily munching on grass roots.


    "Ignis (Fire Arrow)!"


    A ming Arrow fell from above, scorching its hide.


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


    "Arooo..."


    The boar''s wail was pained and sorrowful, but itcked 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 significantlyrger, now measuring a full six meters from head to tail.


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


    His raised head had be 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 disproportionallyrge head and small body characteristic of a juvenile dragon.


    His proportions still appeared somewhatical.


    Cassius swallowed a piece of meat whole and then looked up at the panel.


    "Choose to level up the sorcerer ss."


    [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 metamagicbination.


    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]]@@novelbin@@


    [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 me 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 calcte 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 higheryer 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 outy a vast, deste teau 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 vastnd, mumbling to himself:


    "I am Cassius¡­"


    But histter 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 ck 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 Pr Night Demon Tower.


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


    An old, rusty badge on his chest depicted a zing me with eyes growing on dragon ws.


    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 assemge of disordered flesh.


    It was covered in many white scales, butrge 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 itsir."


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


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


    The manughed maniacally, his voice filled with fanaticism and obsession.


    "When that timees, 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 ce for storms, where hurricanes often raged.


    Spreading southward from here across a vast, undting 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 popted, 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 ce was a holynd 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 thinyers 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 snowkes in the air into water vapor.


    "Need to find a warm enough shelter."


    The Red Dragon thought.


    Previously, Cloud Summit Peak was a good ce. 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 in, it was no longer safe. There might be kingdom guards stationed at the cave entrance to prevent the evil dragon froming back.


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


    "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.


    Itbined 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 bodyzilyy 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 umted 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 Dragonnd with a thud.


    "Submit to me, or choose death."@@novelbin@@


    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 bes troublesome otherwise.


    If a twenty-meter-long adult Red Dragon had upied this ce, 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, w Attacks, me 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 mes while diving down and continuing the assault onnding.


    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, pping 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 me breath.


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


    It showed the beastcked knowledge andbat 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 mes 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 me breath to side-step the Chimera mid-air.


    The Chimera hastily pped its wings to change direction ¡ª but it was already toote.

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


    "Aah¡ª"


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


    Cassius unclenched his jaws, agilely dodged the iing strike, and gracefully pped 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 ws gripping the Chimera''s wings tightly.


    Panic-stricken, the Chimera lost its bnce, iling 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 ws 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 particrly miserable, with scars all over and its wings nearly broken.


    "Let me show you what true me 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 me breath.


    "Submit."@@novelbin@@


    "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, bing 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 brutalw 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 umted me breath to the ground less than a meter away.


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


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


    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 ce is mine¡ª


    "Cassius''ir."


    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 exceptionallyfortable.


    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 muchrger, 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 nce 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 dragonkinws, 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 nced 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 ughter.

 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 disy it before the Red Dragon.


    Cassius noticed this but didn''t care, even feeling a sense of aplishment 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 gildedyer 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 ce was far moreplicated 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 sshing 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 me resistance.


    "A strange ce."


    "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 ce 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 firstir 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!"@@novelbin@@


    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 ce. 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 ughterhouse." Cassius looked at the bloody mess and couldn''t help butin.


    Another pile of bonesy 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 rtively 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 rted 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,'' cing all me on the Tiefling tribe, dubbed the ''Devil''s Offspring,'' iming 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 usations of collusion with devils.]


    [The Tiefling Holy Warrior Mezsh, 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 yer''s main city. Seizing the city equated to gaining control over the yers. 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 nced at the Chimera''s battered wings, deducing itcked 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 hispanion 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 ttered 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 cing 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 fireballsrger than a boar''s head, easily turning a mammoth into roast meat.


    Ramp used this method to gather arge amount of food and consolidated themonly 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 themonnguage, 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 veryrge 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 shed 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 alreadyrge 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 thetter 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,pared 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 ising 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 whocks manners, and I will discipline him well. I hope you won''t stoop to his level."


    Considering that the sky was upied 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.@@novelbin@@


    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: m, 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.


    upational 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 be 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 n to cross-ss 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 be 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 contemtive 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 be my retainer?"


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


    He responded tteringly, "From the perspective of submitting to the strong, of course, I am willing to be 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 bing 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 me Breath. But not me, I have an eye for talent."


    Cassius couldn''t help but internallyment.


    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 keeppany 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 be 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 be 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 ording 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!"@@novelbin@@


    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 mymand, 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 ept this harsh demand for an ogre.


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


    "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 regrly 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, y monsters, rescue princesses, seize treasures, gain des, 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, bing 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 me.


    "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 awkwardlyughed, 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 Exin the Magic Web to Your Son"


    "Sean''s Adventure Log"


    "Bard''s Court Poetry Collection"


    "How to Be 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 sumbed to his own peculiar hobbies...


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


    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 be 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 exnations 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 dders.


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


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


    Behind the Great Goblin followed severalrge, muscr humanoid creatures¡ªthe bugbears, themander''s trusted aides.


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


    He was unmistakably male, with arge 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),wful evil


    Race: Great Goblin


    AC: 17 (half-te 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 catapultsunch giant stones, the Great Goblins march onto the battlefield, their boots thundering across thend. 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 be 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 yourmand."


    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:@@novelbin@@


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


    Cassius pondered briefly and decided to ept these goblins too. After all, his territory was still in its nascent stage; some goblins as cheapbor 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 himmand 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 yourmand."


    Upon hearing that they were epted 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 hadtched onto the sturdiest pir¡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''smand, 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 ced at higher terrain. Named "Rock Fortress" by the well-read Ramp.


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


    "Get to work, no cking 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''srge and fat body that one could even hear the wood creak as ifmenting for the half-ton weight it bore.


    "Heave ho!"


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


    As close rtives of Giants, Ogres had immense strength. Besides their greed andziness, they were excellentborers.


    And the Goblins, already ustomed to building camps, worked in groups of over four hundred, cooperating with the immensely strong Ogres. Under themand of the intelligent Ramp, with an intelligence score of 17, and the leadership of the Great Goblin, building a simple fortress was rtively 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 theirziness, they often ck 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 ck 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.


    Thergest among these Wyverns was over seven meters long, fierce and menacing,parable 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 Wyvernsnded, setting their front limbs on the ground, and pulled their wing membranes close to their bodies.


    They descended, roaring.


    Summoning the master of this ce.


    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 disying 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,nding before the Wyvern group.


    "Submit to me," Cassius said.


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


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


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


    A leadership challenge?


    An ancient tradition among dragonkin.


    The two would duel, and the victor would be 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 pped 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, w 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 rtives 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.


    "me Breath!"


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


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


    Its chest scales were charred ck, the skin and flesh underneath scorched by the intense mes, 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 mes raging through the air, another scorching stream of red mes descended from above, tracing the Wyvern''s flight path.


    The heat from the mes 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 mes temporarily stopped.


    Perhaps it was deliberate, or perhaps it was due to ack 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 andbativeness 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 pped 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 thunderp 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 bnce in its wings and descend uncontrobly.


    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.@@novelbin@@


    The Wyvern, unable to evade, was struck by the iing 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; asting 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, ck 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 thisst moment.


    But the Red Dragon extended a strong w, 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 waspletely lifeless.


    The more than ten Bipedal Wyverns that hade together were instantly terrified, quickly pping 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 udius 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 casuallymanded.


    "Yes, my mighty master, your power is unmatched." A Great Goblin, waiting by the side for orders, ttered 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 ovee 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 thumpnded on him.


    This time, the heavy-handed example proved to be very effective.


    Although this "chicken" was a bit toorge.


    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 itsir, and there was no treasure as the legends told; instead, there were broken bones everywhere. This ce 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 powerpels 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, pping his wings, and flew back into the Giant''s Mouth Cave.


    He looked down upon his retainers.


    With this soft roar, theboring 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 thatpelled it to submit willingly.


    This was the fearsome influence of the "Monster Lord."


    In the distant underground mines, Kobolds, as if summoned,id 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 snowkes 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 amodations, upying severalrge 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,ining 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 wasing.


    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 ck, 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 youe here? (Draconic)"@@novelbin@@


    Under the pressure from the dragon''s bloodline, the kobolds continued to kneel without daring to look up.


    After a long while, a slightlyrger 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 havee 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, enved 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 shed across the lead kobold''s face, and the other kobolds began to mor, 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 wasrger,rger 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 uncontrobly 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 ws, 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 amodate these retainers; otherwise, with hundreds of kobolds suddenlying 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),wful 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 topensate 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 grownrger 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 livingfortably. Perhaps it was an illusion, but even his rough, reddish-brown skin appeared to have smoothed.


    This,pounded 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 cavalrying along?"


    The so-called wolf cavalry referred to goblin soldiers riding worgs.


    Goblins and wolves had a unique affinity, bing 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 youmand."


    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 yer 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.@@novelbin@@


    He needed not only a strong body but also the mentality of a strong person, so as not to be aplete puppet to the so-called "system."


    With a p 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 particrly 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 me.


    "me Breath!"


    The Red Dragon, holding scorching mes in his mouth, suddenly emerged from the rolling mist. The breath engulfed one of the manticores, setting its fur and body aze, 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 zing mes consuming itpletely.


    The other manticore, seeing this, let out a bizarre shriek akin to humanughter, then pped its wings, preparing to flee the mist and me-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 p of his wings, he swept across the sky, swiftly overtaking the fleeing manticore.


    The Red Dragon showed no mercy, extending his powerful ws to grab the manticore flying in mid-air and m 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 particrly strange to any creature with normal aesthetic sense.


    "Crack"


    The Red Dragon exerted force with his ws, 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 yers. 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]


    [You killed the Scorpion-tailed Lion and gained 700xp]


    [upation 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 unupied 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 mes, 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 udius Norixius


    Temte: 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: me


    Senses: Blindsight 10 feet, Dark Vision 60 feet, Passive Perception 16


    Language: Draconic


    Actions: Bite, wing, Tail Attack, Fly, Enhanced Breath Attack (me)


    Special Abilities: Maximized Breath (me), Targeted Breath (me), 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, de 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, de Defense


    upational 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-ck armor, with eyes zing with the mes of Abyssal revenge.


    In just a short decade, his Challenge Level even surpassed the twentieth level mark, bing an undisputed world boss, a yer killer, and a newbie nightmare, causing countless professional gamers to meet their demise under his ws.


    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 yer.


    From version 1.0 to 4.0, from the Anzeta Demon Tide to the Dark Moon Catastrophe, nearly every main questline was rted 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. ording to some schrs, 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 spected 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 ckened 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, weing 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 sses, their oversized head making the tiny sses look extremelyical.


    Ramp deliberately pushed up his sses, 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 ovepped 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 ce 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 arge 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 ttering 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 red 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 ttering 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 andmanded 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 ounts, it described a monster that could devour everything, retained vague impressions of arge 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,boriously 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 The Barons Fury

    ```


    Late at night, at the Baron''s Mansion.


    "Wham!"


    A pair of pale hands mmed 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 ce.


    The man standing in front of the table was Hart, a robust middle-aged man who had once been a ve 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 exnation..."


    "I don''t want exnations, I want gold! Gleaming gold! Without gold, I can''t sustain the Baron''s Mansion or pay the troops, much lesspete with my dear brothers for power back home, stuck eating dirt in a ce even goblins avoid!"


    As Todd spoke, he grew more furious. In his rage, he kicked the man in front of him,pletely disregarding the so-called noble etiquette.


    Hart crawled up from the ground, not a trace ofint about being hit visible on his face. He merely said, "Sir, it really was sudden. Half of the mercenaries we brought along simply vanished."


    "ording to those mercenaries guarding the kobolds deep in the mine, theirrades 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 nce 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 humblemonerspare to you? You are the noble blood of the Northwind Eagle, a powerful spellcaster."


    Todd adjusted hispels 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''se to this, do you have any methods to remedy it?"


    "I need you to give me a satisfactory exnation."


    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?"


    Undermand, 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 te.


    "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 themand from the baron, he epted 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 hispels once again in front of the dressing mirror. He licked his lips unconsciously, revealing unusually sharp teeth.@@novelbin@@


    This too was a mark of the Rackman Family.


    ...


    "Is this the ce?"


    The Red Dragon stood atop a rather tall hill, staring at the seemingly bottomless mine in the distance, with a kobold clutched in his w.


    "Master, y-yes, this is the ce."


    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 ve traders who previously enved us. Their leader... I remember is called Hart."


    "Human ve 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 de oil to his sword: "The Baron gave the order. If we don''t dig out the gold, we are all dead."


    The barbarian Scar, d 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 ident 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, ording 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, andpensate 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 ce was no ce 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 withrge 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''te after them.@@novelbin@@


    "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 toply.


    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 des.


    Scar, following behind the serf team, clicked his tongue in amazement: "When ites to ve 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 couldpletely 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 bup 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 vitions..."


    "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 ve 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 promations 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 ising from the cave walls," Hart thought.


    He nced around the cave walls, but it was still pitch ck 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 be 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 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,ing back to his senses, he felt the cave was like arge steamer, with waves of hot airing 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 mes, 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 me Breath!"


    A pir of scorching me descended from the sky, with the inner me blindingly white and the outer me bright orange.


    "Boom!"


    With a loud explosion, the coiled monster let out a cry of pain.


    The zing mes distorted the air. The creature wriggled in the mes, trying to escape.


    The scales it prided itself on were immediately incinerated by the scorching mes, turning into charred ckness.


    "Despicable dragon!"


    "You are a shameful sneak attacker!"


    It struggled in the mes, shouting hoarsely.


    The terrifying breathsted 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 ws, 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, andrge chunks of flesh were charred ck.


    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.@@novelbin@@


    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 me 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, prating his skin and flowing through his body.


    His body was in immense pain, muscles twitching, and several scales were charred ck.


    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 urrence.

 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 eleration 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, physicalbat was not determined by these factors alone.


    He had confidence in defeating his opponent in closebat.


    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 meleebat andughed 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 t 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 yed right into the Red Dragon''s n. He instantly cast the spell to enhance his strength, his muscr 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 ws 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,unching itself like asso to encircle the Red Dragon with its massive body.


    It was strangle!


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake slowly tightened its muscles,pressing 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 sessfully constricted, the oue was decided.


    Seeing the situation, the Red Dragon relentlessly attacked the exposed, scorched skin of the Bluefoot Dragon-snake with its sharp ws, causing flesh and blood to stter.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake let out a pained hiss but did not stop tightening its coils.


    It knew releasing would mean defeat, while a sessful constriction would sap the Red Dragon''s strength.


    But Cassius''s attacks were not those of a barbarian; his sharp ws 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 seeded.


    The Red Dragon was tightly wrapped by the long, massive body, trapped like a beast in a snare, unable to escape.


    Even its ws 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.


    Thebat 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 y 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 sttered!


    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 mped its jaws firmly but also, with muscles bulging, its ws plunged into its body, wing 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..."


    Atst, 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.@@novelbin@@


    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,boriously pulling its ws 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 wasrgely 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.

 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 mes."


    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 theirst 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 shed in the kobold''s eyes.


    Once enved by humans, it now saw a chance for revenge.


    "I have my ns."


    The red dragon dismissively pped 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 mes, ws, 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 ws, 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 ve 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 be his own property.


    The kobold, watching his former ve 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 enve his kin. Your fate is sealed¡ªyou will be torn to pieces!"


    Upon hearing "torn to pieces," Hart copsed 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."@@novelbin@@


    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 me on the Baron.


    "How interesting."


    From what he knew, the Rackman Family''s old Duke was a vampire, his offspring often bing 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 mustpensate 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.


    Cassiusnded amidst the weing wyverns.


    This time, however, his wounds drew various spections 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 willplete the task and never disappoint you again."


    The Great Goblin eagerlyplied, cracking his whip to give instructions.


    A few sturdy Bugbears then stepped forward with a piece of animal hide, cing 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 sshed 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.


    "Ssh!"


    The red dragon leapt out of the magma.


    Magma sttered, 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 nts growing on the rocks.


    Cassius could recognize a few of them: spore mushrooms, algae green dust, and mad frogmen horns, all nts 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,monly 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 exhrating 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, bing 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,bining 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''sir, 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.


    Itsst departure from their 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 toote.


    "Got you."


    The Red Dragon descended from the sky, appearing out of nowhere, directly clutching the Bluefoot Dragon-snake with its powerful ws.


    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 mming 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 stter.


    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 upational level rises to Level 5]


    The dense list of spells appeared again, bringing immense joy to Cassius''s heart.@@novelbin@@


    Receiving rewards after an exhrating battle was the most satisfying thing ever.


    Upon reaching Level Five, the sorcerer upation 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 ne you''re on and appear in the Ethereal ne. When in the Ethereal ne, you can see and hear the original ne, but all things appear in ck and white. Other creatures can only affect or be affected by you if they are also in the Ethereal ne.


    [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, me, 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-handbat.


    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''tprehend them.


    After standing and thinking for a long time, he barely grasped the essence of these two spells and could cast them, albeit clumsily.


    Theplexity and difficulty of understanding eachyer 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 calcting and constructing models.


    Anyway, Cassius finally made another step forward, touching the thirdyer of the Magic Web.

 Chapter 27 Giants Tomb

    After the ritualpletion, 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 spectacr 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 ce?"


    Cassius felt a chill run down his spine, involuntarily exhaling a breath of sulfurden 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 ws 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 pirs 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 pirs.


    "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 shed, 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 pirs, 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 wereplete, 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 mutted body.


    The Bluefoot Dragon-snake''s strength was immense, making its flesh particrly chewy, with a tinge of electric numbness, a result of the special energy it contained as a magical monster.@@novelbin@@


    "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 pirs, 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-ck 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 ity in wait, motionless like a dead thing, a giant maw suddenly appeared, snatching it from the cave.


    Its soft, stic body struggled briefly before being crammed into a powerful, sharp maw.


    "Tastes like chicken, nice and crunchy."


    Cassius chewed on the tough meat,menting 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 ce.


    After killing the Bluefoot Dragon-snake, Cassius felt as if a mechanism had been triggered, some force brewing, likely to destroy this cepletely. 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 umted 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 disy 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 ws, 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, almostrge enough to amodate 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 des from top to bottom.


    Looking down from the stone bridge, illuminated by ever-burning azure mes, 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.@@novelbin@@


    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.


    "Thest 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 urred.


    The Giant''s single eye suddenly opened!


    That eye contained an endless storm, seemingly ring at the unscrupulous visitor!


    Unknown crystals around shed 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 ck 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 shing 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 session.


    "Buzz ¡ª¡ª"


    And this thunderous roar made Cassius'' ears ring incessantly, as if struck by a giant hammer, rendering him temporarily deaf.


    The ck 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 sess. 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 ne; 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 ne is the conduit connecting the Prime Material ne and the Inner nes, with the void of the Ethereal ne touching every part of the Prime Material ne like two parallel, contiguous surfaces where people can see thendscape of the adjacent ne.


    He was now at the edge of the ne.


    In an instant, everything before Cassius turned ck 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 ck 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, sting 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 copse 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 aplete ruin.


    And in Cassius'' eyes, the formerly grand tomb had turned into a ck and white graveyard of all beings.


    After avoiding this terrifying storm by using the Blink Spell to enter the Ethereal ne, Cassius felt lingering fear.


    If the Red Dragon had remained in ce 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 ne, to mend the breach in the ne''s barrier.


    Despite his desperate resistance, it was to no avail; Cassius was simply too weak to contend with the ne''s rules, and he had no choice but to submit.


    [Lost special status "Entering the Ether"]


    The Red Dragon reappeared in the original ce, instantly stunned.


    "Are you kidding me¡ª¡ª"


    Immediately, the elements became restless once again.


    Endless winds and ice rainshed at his body, and the shing electric arcs on the ground quickly gathered, reaching towards his limbs.


    In the rolling ck clouds above, terrifying thunder was once again umting, 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 copsing 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, pping 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 circted 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"@@novelbin@@


    The red dragon let out a slightly immature roar, almost a hoarse scream.


    Then, with all his might, he pped his wings, pushing his powerful body against the escting 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 himyer byyer. A single step could turn him into charcoal instantly.


    He had no way back.


    Cassius ignored the iing 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 cmities while alive, also fulfilling his final prophecy ¡ª the bringer of ultimate destruction.


    It was this eye that hadunched 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 w.


    "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 w, 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 w 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, bing calm.


    Everything returned to darkness and silence.


    The once majestic tomb had turned into a pile of rubble, indistinguishable from any copsed cavern, with no trace of the ancient Giant Empire''s glory.


    "It''s over¡ª"


    Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfurden air.


    He carefully opened his w.


    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"y quietly in his palm like a beautiful gem that could be set in any nobledy''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 powerparable 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 dly 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 umtions, 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 be 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 simr 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, me-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 dors on the ck 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 oue 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 closebat.


    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 copse!"


    "Run!"


    The red dragon pped 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 copsing.


    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 veryst moment before the rocks copsed, 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 waspletely 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.@@novelbin@@


    "Rest in peace."


    Cassius murmured softly, looking once more at the entrance covered in debris.


    He patted the ancient inscriptions on the stone pir at the entrance and turned away.


    The Red Dragon spread his ws, 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 d in thick te armor, with only their eyes visible.


    Their chests disyed 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 inbating wyverns, knowing not to confront these massive beasts head-on, aware of theirrge 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'' te 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 evenpleted.


    Even hitting one or two with rocks was just a matter of luck.


    Ramp adjusted the small sses 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 toe 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 eximed 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 regtion te armor were a pair of extremely calm eyes.


    Unlike others, his weapon was not ance 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 me Breath from its mouths.


    The Eagle Guards broke their formation, scattering to avoid the mes.


    But faced with the high-speed dive of the Chimera, three Eagle Guards couldn''t evade in time and were engulfed in mes, burning fiercely in the air before plummeting to the ground in agony.


    Seeing hisrades 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.@@novelbin@@


    It pped 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 techniquesbined 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 sttered 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 hispanion, 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 elerated, turning its dragon head to spew scorching me breath at the pursuing Eagle Guard.


    "Boom¡ª"


    mes roared in the air.


    But the Chimera''s neck was clearly not fully articting.


    Alger, controlling the Giant Eagle with one hand, slightly tilted to the side and dodged the me 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,gged for a moment.


    But since Alger had such keen perception, he noticed it.


    "Its left wing has an old injury!"


    Alger eximed 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 de sliced through the Chimera''s hindquarters.


    Facingrge 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 idental 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 session, 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 ws downward.


    But the Giant Eagle Knight had already moved to its side, spotting the next opening.


    "Downward sh!"


    Alger finished one sword strike and followed up with a side sh, precisely cutting through the Chimera''s downward-swinging w.


    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 sttered 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 pped 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 ying such arge 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 st.


    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 umting 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 ws 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 bnce, 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 inbat with the Wyverns, immediately dispersed, gradually surrounding and harassing the Chimera in formation.


    Arrows flew from all directions, with asionalnce 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.@@novelbin@@


    Seeing knights wearing heavy te 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 Guardse all the way to his home?


    Could it be that Ramp had been blinded by the "Grand n" 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 originallymanding 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 thest 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 toote.


    Cassius only slightly opened his jaw, the unique dragon basal vessels channeling me energy from his entire body into his lungs, those hot elements umting in his lungs and throat, making his chest glow faintly likeva¡ªthis was the precursor to the Red Dragon''s breath.


    "me Breath!"


    In an instant, a torrent of scorching me 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 mes swept through everything, the few in the forefront didn''t even have a chance to resist, their pupils reflecting the red glow of the mes before they were reduced to ashes.


    Butpared to many of theirpanions, they were even considered lucky, at least they died swiftly.


    And behind them, over a dozen Eagle Guards were also engulfed in intense mes, 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, pped its wings and ascended, overlooking the Eagle Guards being scorched by the mes.


    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, exhrated.


    Kobolds knelt down as if witnessing a deity, attesting to the overwhelming strength of their master.


    In just a moment, the tide hadpletely turned.


    Seeing dozens ofrades 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.


    Hemanded 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 arge amount of resources to train; thus, they were taught from a young age to maximize the preservation of their force.


    Cassius hovered in midair, pping his wings slowly.


    He watched the scattering Eagle Guards, a barely noticeable cruel smile forming on his face.


    "You''vee 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 me elements into his lungs again, high-temperature energy umting 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 mes poured out.


    "Targeted breath weapon!"


    This time, the Red Dragon''s breath wasn''t the wide-ranging me breath but several short, meball breaths.


    Each fireball aimed precisely at the fleeing Eagle Guards, carrying scorching energy to the targets.


    "Boom!"


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    The sounds of several ming 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 me spell.


    Watching onepanion 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 ourst charge."


    The giant eagle understood his words, letting out a low, mournful cry.


    They were not just knight and mount; they werepanions 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, bing a small ck 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,unching 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 ws 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 w.


    "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 nced 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 w 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 sh at the Red Dragon''s body with all his might.


    "ng¡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 ws, 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 bnced, preventing it from falling. Yet with each p 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 shing 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 ckened burn marks, with the chains even exuding mes.


    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 mes, 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 "w 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 manipted into bing 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 sh of magic aura urred, 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 ws.


    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 eximing.


    [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 te 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


    upational 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, shing Attack, Piercing Attack, Actions Like Tides, Recovery


    Feats: Vignce, Downward sh, Great Weapon Master, Heavy Armor Usage, Riding Expert, Flying Master


    Combat Equipment: Eagle Shriek Silver Sword, Northrun Castle Standard te 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)

    "me Breath Target!"


    Another several short bursts of breath were released, and several Eagle Guards fell to the ground as zing fireballs.


    The remaining few Eagle Guards, as Alger wished, fled this ce 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 dayster, the news of a "terrifying Red Dragon" at Stormy Ridge spread to many ces, and a wanted poster was also hung up at Northwind Castle, depicting a ferocious Red Dragon breathing mes from its mouth.


    Location: Stormy Ridge, Ashen Nest


    Target: Suspected young Red Dragon, codename "Flying me"


    Bounty: 5000 Gold Coins


    Adventurers, while chatting and boasting in taverns during their downtime, fantasized about bing the legendary Dragon yer. 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 im the bounty long ago!"


    Of course, this was all talk forter.


    ...


    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, ying andughing 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 zing mes, 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 te 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''sir."


    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..."@@novelbin@@


    "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,e!"


    "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 nking 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 hisposure, 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 andughed 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 ck cloth was removed, he saw an incredibly spacious cave before him. In the very center of the cave, a red dragony 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 dragonzily 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 seed, 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 mes 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 ughter 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 be an Undying Blood n 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 ughtered innocent beings, did you know they became sacrifices, pathetic materials for the Duke''s eternal life?"


    As Cassius finished speaking, images of roaring mes 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 nder, His Grace is clearly..."


    Alger copsed to the ground, murmuring and shaking his head, shadows clouding his eyes.


    After a long time, his eyes regained a hint of rity, his voice trembling, "Evil dragon!"


    "What did you do to me?"


    Cassius nced down indifferently at him and said, "Just a little trick to help you ept 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 calmlyy 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!"@@novelbin@@


    Years of loyalty education within the family had instilled in him the principle of absolute obedience, he was merely a de 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 apetent 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 wouldpletely copse.


    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 ck 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 inbat, it was still a versatile tool that maye 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.


    ording to Ramp''s statistics, a total of two wyverns, seven ogres, eighty-six goblins, and ny-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 ces to consume the poption drastically.


    But the loss of wyverns, which had significantbat 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,pared 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, hisir would bepletely 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 ispleted, the bloodline''s deep-seated dominance will make thempletely submit to you, and even their descendants will be 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 firstrge 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 regtions, Dolores donned her imposing leather armor, Jin Ya polished his scales, and even the wyverns roared softly,municating 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 imprable. They jostled, quarreled, and made a racket, even shing 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''rete, 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!"@@novelbin@@


    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.


    Althoughmon 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 andparable 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 sh with other tribes.


    This was the "ck 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, muscr 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 ept him.


    He instinctively nced at the lizardfolk shaman Koda ckscale beside him, an elderly, hunched lizardfolk with somewhat cloudy eyes and a ck 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 umted wealth of the ck 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 wille true."


    The Old Shaman watched the retainersing and going, speaking calmly.


    Unlike inherently evil races, these Lizardfolk were more like cold-blooded reptiles.


    Theycked traditional moral concepts, believing that good and evil were entirely foreign notions. They were truly neutral beings, only resorting to ughter when it was expedient and doing whatever it took to survive.


    And the struggle for territory continued.


    "Roar!"


    The twelve wyvernsnded with a roar, indomitable, upying thergest 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 imed 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 sses 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 ttering, his small, hunched figure even more pronounced against the three-meter-tall Ogre.


    Since offending Goblin Chieftain Doloresst 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 inmonnguage beside it, pointing at it, speaking in the gentlest tone he could muster:


    "Now, you follow me, sayrade."


    "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 beenrades 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 sh 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 youst 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.@@novelbin@@


    "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 ttery:


    "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,nding 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 "ck 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 homnd due to the monsters in the cave and fled to this ce. Your immense power has impressed us."


    "The ck Tooth tribe is willing to submit under your mighty wings, bing 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 ckscale


    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, w 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.


    upational 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), nt 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 ssified 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,cking 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 yers, 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 mored, astonished if they had even a bit of intelligence.


    Ogre Lamp''s eyes were filled with tears, moved by this gift. The kobolds, distantly rted 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."@@novelbin@@


    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 nned to bestow only on the best retainers, while thetter 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 t 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 Cassiusnded, 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 ws 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 waspletely 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 seeded, 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''smand, the retainers in the valley heaved a sigh of relief and stood up inrge 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 beenpletely 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 sses 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, disying 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 zing me 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 aplete 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 overinted 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 fallenrade''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 be the rightful chief steward of the Ashen Nest.


    Thinking of this, the corners of Dolores'' mouth lifted slightly.


    At that moment, a sudden change urred.


    "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 ws.


    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 epting 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 simr 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 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 ck 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 be long and sharp, transforming from humanoid hands into ws 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 vascr 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: m, Bite, Pound, w


    Special Abilities: Breath Weapon (Fire)


    Combat Equipment: Ring of Wisdom''s Study, Secret Technique Ring, Albert''s Mithril Bracelet


    upational 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 be 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 oue 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 uncontroble excitement and joy, along with the satisfaction of a mage sessfullypleting 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 topbat force of the Ashen Nest.


    Moreover, it was already a distant rtive 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 monsternded 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 uncontrobly.


    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, recing 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 bing extraneous appendages.


    "Roar..."


    After fully assimting 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 nowpletely 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 me breath had be even more terrifying, and its scaly armor had significantly enhanced its natural armor value. The des of the Giant Eagle Knights, which once could hurt it, now had little effect.@@novelbin@@


    "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 ce, 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 regr Ogre.


    However, as a creature more inclined towards legion warfare, he did not awaken me 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 lifespanparable 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.


    Dolorescked spell support, so having this level of enhancement was quitemendable.


    "Stieg."


    Cassius called out the next name.


    Thergest 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 thergest 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, bing extremely sparse and nowhere nearparable 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 mes.


    The wyvern had be 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."


    Cassiusmented expressionlessly.


    The Bipedal Wyvern spewed a jet of me into the sky, then jumped off the giant rock, raising its head proudly towards itspanions, proving it truly was a beast.


    At this moment, there was not much Dragon Blood left in the shallow pit.


    Only a thinyer 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 ame.


    Having witnessed several transformations, the blood had be a definitive symbol of power in their eyes.


    Although the transformation was painful, such pain was insignificantpared 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 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@@novelbin@@


    Traits: Pack Tactics, me Resistance


    Actions: Dagger, Sling, w Attack, Biting


    upational 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-levelbat 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, bing 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 sses had long been shattered during his transformation.


    He regrettably lowered his hand, secretly nning 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 n leaders were the first to cheer.


    The wyvern spewed scorching mes 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 unted 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 mor of the celebrations echoed within the valley, lingering endlessly.


    ...


    January.


    Feather-like snowkes 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 theing 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 arge amount of wealth to seek refuge. Just a weekter, the strange goblin warlord drowned in a cesspool due to an "ident," and naturally, his remnants fell under themand of the Dragon Vein Goblin Dolores.


    Dolores finally had the exceptional troops he had yearned for, rather than the weak and cowardlymon 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 moralpass, driven by curiosity and hedonism, a noisy race. But their pan flute performance, akin to bards, could produce certain magical effects, thus they were epted by Cassius.


    Despite the cold season, the Ashen Nest remained rtively warm.


    Partly because the Stormy Ridge wasn''t at the northernmost end of Anzeta, and the undting mountains blocked the invading cold wind, preserving a slight warmth in the valley.


    Especially in the Red Dragon''s abode, it was particrly warm.


    At that moment, within the Giant''s Mouth Cave, Cassius slowly opened his sleepy eyes, his massive body lying in the ce 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 ve trader Hart whom the Red Dragon had personally captured earlier.


    "Did you aplish the task I gave you?"


    "It was very sessful, 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 uracy.


    Hart, merely a craven ve trader, sumbed 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 topensate 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 yourpensation but I will also let you go back."


    Hart was stunned and subconsciously asked:


    "Back, back where?"


    "Sgurr Town. I might have somemon 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 yful glint in his golden vertical pupils.


    "No, he won''t."

 Chapter 44 Sgurr Town

    ```html


    Nighttime, the snow was nearing its end, with only a few scattered snowkes falling. The ground was covered in a thickyer 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 nearbynd 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 ce 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..."@@novelbin@@


    Mentioning this name, his face seemed to be covered with a shadow.


    Thest time he sent all his subordinates to the mines, they werepletely 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 ves. But a few dayster, even the Rackham Family''s elite Eagle Guards suffered heavy losses at the ce 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 their of the Red Dragon called "Flying me." 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 ce 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 hade 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 iming to be Hart. He wishes to see you."


    Hearing the familiar name, Todd pped 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 red up. Heughed 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 veryrge. 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 be 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,e."


    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 hase."


    ```

 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 manipting power in Northwind Castle and was exiled to the remote Sgurr Town.


    Rather than being granted a territory, it was more urate to say he was banished.


    This small town, adjacent to Stormy Ridge with a sparse poption, 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,peting with his brothers to gain his father''s attention.


    Thinking of this, Todd said ingratiatingly:


    "Thank you for your honesty, Lord Flying me. 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 andpensating 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 me."


    Baron Todd looked at Hart not far away, hatred for his betrayal deeply hidden in his eyes and almost uncontroble.


    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 thest 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 n, after the yers descended, even the Baron would be dispensable and be reced.


    The Red Dragon watched Baron Todd''s thin figure.


    This Baron did not be 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," bing Ascendant Vampires unafraid of sunlight, these variants would be sacrifices, turning into pools of blood.


    However, if a vampire allowed its variant to sip its own blood, the variant would also be 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 yers. Hundreds of people broke into the castle''s underground with a spree of explosions, solving the crisis.


    "Tsk tsk..."@@novelbin@@


    "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 ck 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 forcedbor.


    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 rm him overly; these monsters were his survival assets.


    After returning to the Baron''s Mansionst 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 disying 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 ck dots in the snowyndscape.


    "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-coveredndscape, rushing towards the caravan with mournful howls.


    "Snowmen!"


    Hart recognized these monsters at a nce.


    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 annihtion.


    He instinctively wanted to call for the caravan to flee, but then he noticed the "guards" removing the ck cloths draped over themselves.


    These "guards" were nearly two meters tall, with strong, muscr bodies, sharp tusks jutting from their mouths, murky yellow eyes filled withbat 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 identally scratching a long gash on his face with his ws.


    "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 asional sparse scales, sharpened ws 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 stilly 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.


    Cassiuszily 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"st time, the once defiant beast had be particrly docile, so much so that even Cassius felt a bit unustomed.


    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 bowedpliantly to show obedience.


    "Yes, master."


    It then let out a low growl and took off, pping 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 ced in theparatively warmer cave, wrapped inyers of animal skins and grass velvet, but these measures couldn''t stop their breaths from growing weaker, their eyelids fluttering before closing.


    "Mezsh, 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 "Mezsh" turned his head.


    His rugged face bore burn scars, and his tall body was d 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..."


    Mezsh interrupted her roughly, his voice growing intense:


    "Those pitchforks, those stakes, those zing 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''sckeys."


    Lerisa''s voice trembled, tinged with sobs, "They just don''t know the truth, but perhaps, maybe we could clear up the misunderstanding, exin to them..."


    "You should understand how humans see us, Child of the Devil."


    His cold, ck eyes seemed to pierce into her soul, and the sudden gravity in his voice silenced her.


    Mezsh continued,


    "One person is curiosity, two people are a conspiracy."


    He paused.


    "Three... people are a curse."


    "The moment they raise their des against us, urged on by hatred, there''s no room left for misunderstandings."


    Finishing his words, Mezsh ignored Lerisa''s sobs, silently wiping his bloodstained Silver Sword.


    The polished de reflected his weathered face.@@novelbin@@


    Horns curled like those of a ram, eyes pure ck without irises, sharp canine teeth, red skin, his appearance stillrgely human, but his Devil lineage was clearly marked.


    "Such a naive fool."


    Mezsh 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 Mezsh''s heart.


    Thus, he joined the City Guard Army, bing a pdin at a young age, taking the Oath of Redemption.


    Pdins of the Oath of Redemption face evil creatures, hoping to turn their enemies toward the light, resorting to violence only as ast 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.


    Mezsh 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 Mezsh 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 formerrades were ughtering his people, just like ughtering cattle and sheep.


    Crying in grief, Mezsh 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 idealspletely.


    "What a... naive fool."


    He repeated again.


    Suddenly, the urgent sound of horns came from outside the cave.


    Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh 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 session.


    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 uracy, unable to stop the Snowmen''s tidal charge.


    "It''s not working, Mezsh, 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 aplete disaster.


    "Follow me, charge out to meet them!"


    Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh 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 Mezsh, instantly filling him with a bone-chilling cold, almost freezing his entire body.


    "Damn monster..."


    But Mezsh 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 mes, making it desperately pat its body.


    "Die!"


    With a fierce shout, Mezsh 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 Mezsh.


    "Downward sh!"


    Using his downward momentum, Mezsh''s long sword cleaved into another Snowman''s shoulder.


    "Howl!"


    The Snowman howled in pain, itsrge 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, Mezsh, using this power, forcibly severed the Snowman''s entire left shoulder along with its arm.


    Blue blood sttered on the Tiefling''s face; his expression remained unchanged, his eyes unblinking.


    After consecutively ying two Snowmen, he surveyed the battlefield holding his sword, seeing Tieflings and Snowmen engaged in fiercebat, 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 Mezsh, 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"@@novelbin@@


    More and more Snowmen surrounded him, a dozen in total, surging from all directions to kill the Tiefling Holy Warrior first.


    Mezsh remained calm in the face of the approaching Snowmen, merely raising his long sword high.


    "Oathbreaker, Guiding Divine Power..."


    "Terror Manifestation!"


    The Oathbreaker Pdin 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 ce.


    To him, these Snowmen were now just sitting ducks.


    "Downward sh!"


    Mezsh''s sword sliced through the throats of several Snowmen, sending blood sttering everywhere.


    A few breathster, the dozen giant Snowmen fell backward, and no Snowman around him could stand.


    "Huff, huff, huff..."


    Mezsh 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'' onught, 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 undting mountains, sending shivers down everyone''s spine.


    "This is..."


    Mezsh 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 menbined, standing like a snow-covered hill in the snowfield.


    It hadrge, 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."


    Mezsh 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 hisrades 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.


    Itnded 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, Mezsh 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.


    The aura guarded his body, fending off the extreme cold''s magical invasion, allowing him to partially recover from the freezing state.


    "Infernal Rebuke!"


    Mezsh pointed out again, a ring of mes surrounding the Giant Yeti.


    However, this feeble me 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 st of cold air capable of freezing any warm-blooded creature into ice spewed from its mouth, covering arge conical area in front, extinguishing the infernal mes, and rushing toward the Tiefling Holy Warrior. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire


    Mezsh 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 andpletely 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 closebat with the small Tiefling.


    "If I take a direct hit¡ª¡ª"


    "I''ll die."


    Mezsh 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 ck 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 Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh 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 sh!"


    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.


    Mezsh''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 Mezsh.


    "This is bad!"


    Mezsh struggled fiercely, but under the absolute strength of the Giant Yeti, he couldn''t budge an inch.


    The monster''s gaping maw loomedrger 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, Mezsh raised his longsword, using hisst ounce of strength to fend off the Giant Yeti''s biting attempts.


    "ng¡ª¡ª"@@novelbin@@


    The longsword shed 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, Mezsh 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, Mezsh''s jet-ck eyes shone with determination.


    "To survive."


    His longsword gleamed with a scarlet glow, again shing at the Giant Yeti''s head.


    "Supreme Holy sh!"

 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 pdin.


    "Freezing Breath!"


    But Mezsh still pressed forward against the piercing cold wind, wielding his sword with both hands and shing down fiercely.


    The giant evil yeti tilted its head, and the longsword struck therge, coiled horns on its head, slowly cutting them. But the yeti resisted the de with great force, causing the horns to shake violently from side to side, making it difficult for Mezsh to concentrate his strength.


    The guardian aura around Mezsh flickered, barely holding off the invasion of the cold.


    The giant evil yeti''s severed arm continued to bleed, and Mezsh''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 urred.


    "Boom!"


    Several scorching fireballs struck the giant evil yeti''s back, charringrge patches of its fur and causing it to stagger.


    The power of the mes even prated 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 ze of fire.


    "Supreme me 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 me creature."


    Cassius folded his wings and descended to the ground, stepping right onto the remaining ashes of the carcass.


    Information refreshed on his panel.@@novelbin@@


    [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.


    Mezsh 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 muscr body was extraordinarily strong, covered in bright, metallic scales, and its mouth exuded a scorching sulfuric breath, as if a volcanoy 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 me," the one who had massacred the Eagle Guards.


    The enemy of my enemy is my friend.


    With that in mind, hemanded:


    "Lower your weapons."


    Although the Tiefling warriors were reluctant, they obeyed the order and dropped their weapons.


    Mezsh sheathed his longsword at his waist and bowed with difficulty.


    "Honorable ''Flying me,'' thank you for helping us eliminate our enemy. Once we settle down, we will give you amplepensation 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?"


    Mezsh''s expression didn''t change; he spoke calmly:


    "Those are merely nders 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."


    Mezsh 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."


    Mezsh 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 ess, 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 amodate 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 Mezsh''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 pdin, 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 be my retainers and help me seize it all."


    Mezsh 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 pdin''s code of redemption, trying to maintain his nature.


    But now, for survival, just to live, he had to make this choice.


    Be the retainer of an evil dragon, help him seize the city.


    "Yes... master."


    "The Tiefling tribe is willing to follow your will."


    Mezsh, the pdin who had once sworn to kneel only to deities, bent his knees and knelt down.

 Chapter 51 Tiefling (5)

    In the "House of Ruin," Mezsh 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 ce was not only for their daily meetings but also for announcing significant news.


    Mezsh first looked around, gazing at his kin''s thin, scarred, and tormented faces.


    "I... did nothing wrong."


    Mezsh 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 soposed, now spoke with fervor, his pitch-ck 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 me" Lord Cassius will be our master, providing us shelter and leading us to avenge those vampires and humans who persecuted us."


    "We will reim Northwind Castle, reim our former homnd."


    "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 rtives were massacred in that tragic event, had long made revenge their only reason to live. Now, the mes in their hearts were ignited by Mezsh''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 ce through peaceful means.


    For example, Lerisa.


    This young female Tiefling, full of shock and resentment, couldn''t help but step forward to persuade:


    "No, Mezsh, we must not be 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, Mezsh 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, Mezsh, you''re wrong..."


    "Those humans are under the duke''s maniption. 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 ces. But if we be 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,ke-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 urrence.


    Mezsh''s familiar pitch-ck eyes were cold and distant now, making her feel somewhat alien, even horrified.


    Before losing consciousness, she seemed to see Mezsh''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.


    Mezsh 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 dere to all the camp''s nsmen that the so-called "Peace Faction" had no ce 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 sttered on his face slowly flowed down, Mezsh thought to himself.@@novelbin@@


    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 ording to militaryw."


    Ignoring the bloodstains on his face, Mezsh coldly raised his blood-stained longsword.


    "Revenge!"


    He repeated.


    "Revenge! Revenge!"


    "Reim 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.


    Mezsh 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, wee 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."


    Mezsh 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 yfulness:


    "Since you are called Devil''s Offspring, how about naming it ''Barto City''?"


    Mezsh''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 theposed Mezsh 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 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 toe 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 yed 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 ss.


    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, cing 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 sses and thought this.


    Considering hisrge frame, standing over five meters tall, the cave felt rather cramped.


    He was contemting 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 addbels 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 exmation, 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 ck again, his thick arms slightly bulging, the veins under the dragon scales pulsating.


    "Crack."


    His newly received golden-framed sses snapped under the strain of the bulging veins.


    This stoked the mes 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''sir.


    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]]@@novelbin@@


    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 mes, 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 arge 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 g of ancient Tiamat, Cassius, as a dragon vein sorcerer, dug into his bloodline to gain spells far beyond what typical dragon vein sorcerer yers could, and acquired far more potent traits.


    Standard sorcerers knew only a handful of spells, casting them repeatedly, often bing akin to artillery units in a team. Mages, however, had ess 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 upational abilities of the dragon vein sorcerer were bing inadequate for his growing power.


    Traits like [Wings of the Dragon], [True Dragon Majesty], and [Dragonification] in the mid tote 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 anotheryer of dragon might?


    This showcased the importance of multissing and advanced upations.


    Yet many human upations didn''t suit a red dragon, such as warriors or pdins, which involved restrictions like weapons, equipment, and faith.


    Therefore, Cassius had not yet decided on developing other upations and could only hope to find hidden or advanced upations.

 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, unnaturalplexion 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 theirrades 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 bing even more powerful.


    Alger had thought of fasting, epting 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 apanied by shadows.


    When he executed the Tieflings, they didn''t disy 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 hispanion''s feathers.


    The Giant Eagle just watched him, lightly pping 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 be 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, themotion at the cell''s door broke his train of thought.


    Alger looked up and saw a few Bugbear Guards carrying iron chains approaching.


    "Human,e 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 ck cloth on Alger''s face was removed.


    It was still that familiar cave.


    The Red Dragon in front of him was even stronger andrger.


    "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 ufortable.


    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 aplish?"


    But Cassius wasn''t angry at all, he justughed and said, "I merely wanted you to meet an old friend."


    "Mezsh,e 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.


    Mezsh 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 de 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:


    "Mezsh, where''s the contract I asked you to bring?"


    "I brought it, my Lord."


    Mezsh took out a leather contract.


    The contract was covered with dense writing and, although it had lost its power because it waspleted, it still faintly emanated an aura of dark, evil magic.


    Cassius ordered:


    "Let him see it."


    Mezsh 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, copsing to the ground.


    His oath, his faith, his years of training and education, everything he pursued, all copsed in this moment.


    He had tirelessly trained inbat, harmonizing with the Giant Eagle, only to be an aplice 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 be 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 thisstyer 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 reyed 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 aplice.


    He was no avenger.@@novelbin@@


    Nor a warrior of justice.


    Just an ignorant pawn used by his enemy.


    A butcher who ughteredmoners.


    A wretch who didn''t even know himself.


    "I''m sorry..."


    His voice trembled.


    Whether this apology was for Mezsh or those dead Tieflings, he didn''t know.


    Mezsh''s pitch-ck eyes remained unmoved, standing with arms folded, coldly watching him.


    "Alger, it''s toote."


    "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."


    Mezsh 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 Pdin 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."


    Mezsh 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 in by an avenger."


    "You always take things for granted."


    "Just as you took for granted that the bloodstained Duke was a magnanimous good man, cing the me for your parents'' deaths on us, just as you took for granted the ughter of our settlements."


    Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh 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-calledpassion.


    "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."


    Continue reading on empire


    He mumbled to himself.


    The flowing blood seemed to clear his mind.


    Alger finally regained his calm from the extreme copse, 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''tpleted 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 paleplexion, always sporting two delicate mustaches, wearing silver-framed sses, his hair and eyes pitch ck, with an asional sh of crimson.


    He spoke slowly, with a heavy noble ent, 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 aplish it."


    "..."


    Alger fell silent.


    After a long silence, seemingly after deep contemtion, 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 de 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 be 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 disying the newly refreshed information.


    [The NPC faction you created, the Ashen Nest, has achieved a standard level ofprehensive 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 their of the Red Dragon, Flying me 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 subss]


    The so-called faction subsses are unique career branches avable to each faction.


    As a yer, one must have a certain level of faction contribution and meet specific upation 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 yers in the past joined Northwind Castle for this reason.


    Many faction subsses 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 nned to create the Ashen Nest''s exclusive subss based on the Northwind Eagle Guards.


    Alger would be the first experimental subject.


    In the future, he would be a kind of "upation mentor," enticing more yers to join the Ashen Nest.


    Discover hidden stories at empire


    [Note, granting a subss requires the target to be a retainer of your faction]


    [Target Alger is currently your retainer]


    [Preparing to construct the upation¡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."


    Cassiusmanded.


    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 temte. 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 sessfully 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 ake 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 regr bloodline gift.


    The beak grew sharp teeth, scales appeared under its feathers, its size increased significantly, and its wingspan extended close to ten meters, bing a hybrid of a Giant Eagle and Dragonhawk.@@novelbin@@


    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 ck-and-white images even in near blindness due to a special reflective membrane.


    Algery on the ground, awkwardly moving his arm. He felt his strength surpassing what it used to be.


    This two-meter-tall, muscr 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 be a dragon''s w and fangs..."


    "This feeling..."


    "Isn''t bad."


    Alger knelt on the floor, facing downward, contemting.


    "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-upation constructed sessfully.]


    [upation advancement requirements:]


    [Join the Ashen Nest faction.]


    [Be a retainer of the faction leader, the Red Dragon, Cassius.]


    [Possess a Basic Warrior upation level of at least level 3, with +4 proficiency in riding skill.]


    [Own arge orrger Dragon Vein creature as a mount and possess some degree of dragonkin bloodline.]


    [Please name your faction subss¡ª]


    Cassius gazed at the kneeling Alger, whose face was covered in crimson scales, appearing particrly sinister.


    [Name it: Red Scale Conqueror]

 Chapter 57 Red Scales (Conclusion)

    Faction subss constructionplete.


    [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 coulde from the kingdom''s army or adventurers seeking to y the dragon. When war broke out, they were terrible conquerors.


    To be a Red Scale Conqueror, one must have dragon blood, signifying their status as the most loyal ws and fangs of the Red Dragon. When they charged in groups, mes and ws 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 mes 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 bes 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 cannd 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 ws 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 w and bite attacks strengthened.


    You can breathe mes 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 subss 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 calcting how to profit from the future yers.


    In the 1.0 version, where the level cap was only 8, melee sses were still popr, and the powerful traits of the Red Scale Conqueror would undoubtedly attract countless hardcore yers.


    Moreover, some yers with peculiar tastes wouldn''t consider transforming into a Half-Dragon to be ugly; on the contrary, it was a symbol of charisma.@@novelbin@@


    After all, when the "Dragonborn" race emerged in the previous life, many strange videos popped up on certain ck-and-yellow websites, demonstrating the fervor and terror of these dragon-enthusiasts.


    And in times when Flight Magic and Gravity Magic had not yet be widespread, flying monsters were certainly nightmares for yers, as evidenced by the thousands of yers who were powerless against that Red Dragon boss.


    Explore stories on empire


    The flying mounts and aerial skills of the Red Scale Conqueror subss would undoubtedly drive yers 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 sess 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 seeded."


    "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 yers'' 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


    upational 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, me Breath, Commander''s Surprise Attack, shing Attack, Piercing Attack, Actions Like Tides, Recovery


    upational Traits: Born to Ride, Heaven Conqueror, Dragon''s Talons and Fangs


    Feats: Alert, Downward sh, 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 ws and fangs of the giant dragon. Reborn in the mes, 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 me.

 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 mes, 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 theva 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 incrediblyfortable.


    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 ce 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 particr, 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 capiries 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..."@@novelbin@@


    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 asional 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 exceedinglyzy.


    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''ziness 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 willst."


    "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 slowlyy 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 capiries, filling his every inch of flesh and blood.


    Cassius''s massive frame rose and fell with each breath...


    ...


    Northwind Castle.


    Rackman Castle cer.


    The surroundings were dimly lit and quiet, with the candles on the walls flickering.


    A man in his fiftiesy in a cold stone coffin.


    His face bore an unnatural pallor, with a delicately groomed mustache on his lips, and silver-framed sses perched on his nose.


    His hair was jet ck, and he wore a ck 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 cer.


    The murmuring whispers of bats and the pping 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 outpletely."


    "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 particr, had been deemed a useful tool. The duke even nned 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 Iplete 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 umted 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, whichy 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 amodate them all.


    The retainers had to expand outward.


    Now, the territory of the Ashen Nest epassed the entire Stormy Ridge. Many tribes were conquered and absorbed, and dozens of valleys and caves became the dwelling ces 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 be the "pasture" and "minefield" of the Ashen Nest.


    The great goblins had a long history of beast taming. Like some more civilized races, they usedborers such as cattle and horses to transport goods and weapons over long distances.


    Theymunicated 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 raisingrge herbivores like woolly mammoths, aurochs, and giant rhinos, providing ample meat for the retainers. They even began breedingnd dragons from the tundra, though there were only three so far.@@novelbin@@


    These enormous creatures would be 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 miningwork, 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 anyx 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, shes and conflicts between the lower-ranked goblins, kobolds, ogres, and others were countless. Such incidents urred almost daily, bing 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 ying dragons, recklessly ventured into the Ashen Nest.


    Ramp weed these uninvited and rude guests with what he considered warm hospitality¡ªturning their heads into nes and hanging them at the entrance as decoration.


    The Ogre Magemonlymented 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 imed 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 urred, 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 ck Dragon''s slumber would turn forests into swamps, and a Red Dragon''s slumber would turn everything intova.


    Cassius did just that, filling the cave withva.


    During this time, whenever the Red Dragon stirred or felt ufortable, 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 thickyer of dust.


    Cassius shook his enormous head and gently pped 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 nced at the massive ss mirror that had long been prepared in the underground pce, 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 resembleva spheres.


    His body was covered in bright, crimson scales that had turned a deeper red. The glossy patterns had been reced 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 be 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 andplex legacy in his mind. He was pleasantly surprised to find that his ability to ept and understand information had also improved.


    "Is this the Dragon''s Might?"


    ording to the information in the legacy, Cassius controlled his body to release an invisible field, known as the "Terrifying Presence" ability, ormonly 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 pce, 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 arebined. 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 fifthyer 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 andplex information poured into his mind.


    "Is this...?"


    [Some wise men insist that humans originally learned the arcane arts from dragons. If these ims 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 Schr


    [Requirements for the "True Dragon Sorcerer" ss: Sorcerer ss level above 5, Pureblood Giant Dragon]


    [You meet the ss requirements and possess the necessary legacy. Do you wish to advance?]


    "A hidden advancement ss!"


    Cassius''s heart was overjoyed. Indeed, just what he needed at the right time¡ª when the dragon vein sorcerer ss felt too insignificant, an advancement ss 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-upation: 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 ws solidifies before the dragon. By waving its ws 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 eggposed 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 ce 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 exhtion, it sweeps the space before it with intense, cone-shaped mes. As thest wisp of energy leaves its lips, its body bes part of this breath weapon, allowing it to traverse space and reconstitute its body anywhere within the breath weapon''s range.

 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 thickyer of dust.


    Cassius shook his enormous head and gently pped 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 nced at the massive ss mirror that had long been prepared in the underground pce, 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 resembleva spheres.


    His body was covered in bright, crimson scales that had turned a deeper red. The glossy patterns had been reced 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 be 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 andplex legacy in his mind. He was pleasantly surprised to find that his ability to ept and understand information had also improved.


    ¡°Is this the Dragon¡¯s Might?¡±


    ording to the information in the legacy, Cassius controlled his body to release an invisible field, known as the ¡°Terrifying Presence¡± ability, ormonly 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 pce, 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 arebined. 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 fifthyer 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 andplex information poured into his mind.


    ¡°Is this¡­?¡±


    [Some wise men insist that humans originally learned the arcane arts from dragons. If these ims 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 Schr


    [Requirements for the ¡°True Dragon Sorcerer¡± ss: Sorcerer ss level above 5, Pureblood Giant Dragon]


    [You meet the ss requirements and possess the necessary legacy. Do you wish to advance?]


    ¡°A hidden advancement ss!¡±


    Cassius¡¯s heart was overjoyed. Indeed, just what he needed at the right time¡ª when the dragon vein sorcerer ss felt too insignificant, an advancement ss 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-upation: 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 ws solidifies before the dragon. By waving its ws 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 eggposed 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 ce 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 exhtion, it sweeps the space before it with intense, cone-shaped mes. As thest wisp of energy leaves its lips, its body bes 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 apletely useless trick. But paired with the naturally powerful w strikes of dragons, it could be an effective long-range attack method, consuming no energy at all.


    ¡°Scratch Technique!¡±


    A flickering magical field vaguely in the shape of ws materialized in front of the Red Dragon. As he swung his ws forcefully, this magic energy was directed toward the distant stone pir.


    Instantly, stone fragments flew everywhere, and three deep gashes appeared on the pir. Following that, the fragile middle of the pir could no longer bear the weight of its upper part, copsing 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 essed the fourthyer of the Magic Web before.


    Moreover, ¡°Braving the Fiery Pits¡± was even moreplex than typical Fourth Tier Spells because it was a hybrid of spell and shaping energy.


    Transforming the body into mes and reconstructing it with fire was an extremely subtle form of shaping energy, while transporting oneself to any area covered by methrower Breath was simr to the spell form of Misty Step.


    ¡°Braving the Fiery Pits!¡±


    With the incantation in Draconic, Cassius took a deep breath and spewed out arge ze.


    As thest bit of energy left his mouth, his massive body merged directly into the raging mes, bing aplete incarnation of me.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 aplex 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, bing 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 aplete transformationpared 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 tforms for the wyverns to take off andnd.


    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 hugemotion 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 increasedpared to before his slumber, and most of them hadpleted the transformation, bing half-dragon monstrosities with scales, ws, 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.¡±


    Rampnded 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 arge 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 be 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 apany 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 ted:


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, master. Under your wings, we¡¯ve achieved these small sesses.¡±


    ¡°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 Fan 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 Valleyy 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 Bet, a young noble from Victoria Port. He had hired an elite mercenary group from various ces and hade here after months of preparation.


    ording to the information from Northwind Castle, that giant dragon had been asleep for a long time.


    ¡°Bet, 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,ughed.


    His name was Ivan, a seasoned warrior from the Empire of Fan. Having followed a thirty-member adventure group to y an adult Green Dragon, he always enjoyed the topic of dragon ying.


    Nearby, a Wanderer in a ck 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.


    Ivanughed 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 yer.¡±


    Bet 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 y 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 Bet.


    ¡°Shh¡ªquiet.¡±


    He pointed into the distance, where a patrol of Great Goblins was heading back.


    Bet 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°By Kanas¡­ this is a fortress.¡±


    Ivan couldn¡¯t help but exim.


    Though he had seen grander walls in the Empire, he never expected to find such defenses in a monster¡¯sir.


    ¡°No, this is indeed a fortress.¡±


    ¡°There must be humans coborating with them; otherwise, these monsters couldn¡¯t have such things.¡±


    Tristan, the usually taciturn Pdin, observed the armored Great Goblins, speaking thoughtful words, his brows furrowed.


    Bet, 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 contemting 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, Bet¡¯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 their¡­¡±


    ¡°Crack.¡±


    He stepped on the ground ahead, triggering intricate runes that suddenly glowed and sprayed mes.


    ¡°Not good, it¡¯s a guardian inscription!¡±


    ¡°Move away!¡±


    Bet 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 mes, but Ivan¡¯s extended foot had been charred ck, causing him to groan in pain.


    Facing this sudden turn of events, Bet 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 hadpleted its rune explosion, but Bet 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¡¯sir, why does it feel like a Mage Tower filled with spells everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Could it have predicted we would hide here?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±


    Bet¡¯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 ce 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 Bet¡¯s feelings at that moment.


    ¡°Retreat¡­¡±


    ¡°Retreat now, everyone.¡±


    ¡°The Red Dragon ising!¡±


    Bet shouted, waving his Magic Wand. He had no desire to die in this wilderness, bing 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.¡±


    Bet 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 behemothparable 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 pped its wings, as if it were the master of the storm.


    ¡°Damn Northerners¡­


    ¡°Your intelligence¡­¡±


    ¡°You call this a¡­ young dragon?¡±


    Bet 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 enteredbat mode.


    Pdin 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!¡±


    Bet chanted, and a massive invisible barrier appeared before them, ready to withstand the iing Breath, a solid defensive spell.


    Vincent silently took down the ck longbow from his back and drew a Dragon yer 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 de, muttering prayers.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    White-hot mes spewed from the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth, the terrifying heat warping the air¡ªit was me Breath.


    The zing fire roared towards the group, currently held back by thebined Force Wall Technique and Anti-Dragon Aura barriers.


    This seemed to be just a probe.


    But sweat broke out on Bet¡¯s forehead again; he felt his spell was close to failing.


    ¡°Such frightening me¡­¡±


    He thought silently.


    Ivan shouted, ¡°If this keeps up, we¡¯ll be burnt to ashes. Attack! Follow me, attack!¡±


    The seasoned warrior dodged the me 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 w.


    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 ck Dragon yer Arrow straight toward the Red Dragon¡¯s heart.


    This arrow was inscribed with spells to harm dragonkin, soaked in Dragon Blood, explicitly made for ying dragons.


    Braving the Fiery Pits!


    With thest bit of energy leaving its mouth, the Red Dragon¡¯s massive body turned into a raging inferno.


    The ck arrow shot through the mes, 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.@@novelbin@@


    Even the keen instincts of a thief couldn¡¯t locate the enemy.


    ¡°Alert!¡±


    ¡°Damn it, what is that?¡±


    In the next moment, the mes before the adventurers transformed rapidly, coalescing and forming into a colossal dragon shape.


    A thunderous roar echoed from within the mes.


    ¡°How dare you defy me!¡±


    The Red Dragon surged forward from within the mes!


    Its lightning-wrapped massive body smashed through the invisible Force Wall, making Bet 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 nketed thend, thunder roared down from the sky, striking the panicked adventurers with precision.


    ¡°Scatter, scatter!¡±


    Pdin 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 mes straight at their retreating teammate, the Wanderer Vincent.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The frail Wanderer copsed, his charred body blending with his ck cloak, clearly lifeless.


    Then, a thick bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the Pdin¡¯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, shing with lightning, stormed; the ground, chaotic with the mix of mes and thunder. The Red Dragon rampaged within the group, easily destroying the adventure team.


    Bet, 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 ying, but now it had be 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¡­¡±


    Bet 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 ughtering, pressing step by step, Bet 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 thisnd 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.¡± Bet found himself a grandiose excuse.


    As a mage, he naturally had numerous means of escape.


    Bet 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 Bet 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.


    Bet¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy, and he rushed toward the dimensional door.


    ¡°Great, finally, I can leave this damned ce¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 particrly sinister look.


    Bet 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.¡±


    Bet 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 sessfully in it. Unfortunately, they encountered Cassius.


    However, Cassius was not a genuine red dragon obsessed with killing. These adventurers kepting, 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, Bet 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 y 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 ces, obviously the result of the recent one-sided battle.


    His name was Eugene, and he came to write the epic of dragon yers.


    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 me-winged Dragon King, your ws can shred all enemies, your me 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 be your eternal servants, by your side always. To witness your grand body, even death is worth it.¡±


    ¡°This, this¡­¡±


    This series of ttering 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 urate!¡±


    As everyone thought they might be forgiven and began to feel fortunate, Dolores led the goblin corps, encircling them tightly.


    ¡°It justcked 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 ttery somewhat amusing.


    ¡°Take them all to the dungeon.¡±


    Red dragon casually instructed.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Dolores respectfully obeyed,manding 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 fallenrades were still warm.


    The ogre mage Ramp arrivedte, flying clumsily through the air beforending 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 ced it here deliberately. It is the only ce 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 session. When they try to escape through the back passage, they encounter an automatically triggered web spell trap inside, and then the boulders woulde 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 ne. 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 yful 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 stimnt 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 Nortnd, setting the stage for the Ashen Nest¡¯s uing 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 tirelesslypose popr 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 othersing 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 be Cassius¡¯s experience packs.


    Cassiuszily sprawled in the cave, ying with various magical items taken from Bet with great interest.


    That Dimension Door Ne in the Red Dragon¡¯s massive w 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,y 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 particrly precious among them; most were essential lifelines for ordinary adventurers, rated at most as ¡®rare¡¯ ording to the board¡¯s assessment.


    For instance, the Whisper Greatsword, which could be considered divine gear for early yers, 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 nted 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 w, gazing at his panel.


    ¡­


    [You killed the Human Archer Warrior and gained 1100 XP]


    [You killed the Church Pdin 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 upational 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 regr 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 upational 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 exnation 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 fifthyer of the magical web, allowing him to swiftly master the Fourth-Tier spell.


    ¡°Shape-shifting Spell.¡±


    The magical web stirred at his words andmand, 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 me. His sharp fangs made him look like a little troublemaker.


    Yet his gaze held an unexinable haughtiness, giving off an oppressive aura.


    ¡°If I show up like this, I¡¯d be utterly disgraced.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t let yers see this form, or I¡¯ll be a regr on certain peculiar websites¡­¡±


    Resolving firmly, Cassius decided never to let yers 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 stic surgery from his past life.


    Atst, a young man with ck hair and golden eyes, exuding stability and handsomeness, appeared in the mirror.


    He looked about twenty, wearing a dark red, gold-edged,vishly decorated toga. His high nose bridge and golden eyes hinted at his noble status. Although slightly arrogant, he emanated elegance andposure, making him hard to refuse.


    ¡°Now this is more like it.¡±


    Cassius nodded in satisfaction.


    He nced 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 morefortable; 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 me Dragon ¨C Cassius]


    Name: Cassius udius Norixius


    Temte: 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@@novelbin@@


    Languages: Common, Draconic


    Capabilities: Remnant of the Storm, Maximized Breath (me), Targeted Breath (me), 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 Ne, Agile Mage¡¯s Action Ring, Staff of Scorching, Talk to the Deceased Amulet, Lava Spouter, de 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, de Guard, Oil on the soles of the feet


    upational 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 me streaks across the sky, beware of his arrival.

 Chapter 66: 67 Beta Test (I)

    Chapter 66: Chapter 67 Beta Test (I)


    [Beta testing was about to begin, retrieving data¡­]


    [Data retrievalplete, beta testing duration: 365 days]


    [Countdown to beta start: 3 days]@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Beta testing.¡±


    ¡°Finally, it¡¯sing.¡±


    Cassius watched the information on his panel, expectantly spewing a mouthful of me.


    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 ount.


    Furthermore, ¡°Erezer¡± was initially not well-known at all. The developers didn¡¯t do anymercial 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 avable. yers 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 yers uncovering Duke Brad¡¯s conspiracy, and the Tieflings returning to Northwind Castle under Mezsh¡¯s leadership.


    This was also the reason Cassius deliberately took in the Tieflings.


    In Cassius¡¯s view, Mezsh was a thorough utilitarian, very much to Cassius¡¯s liking. In the previous life, after the yers 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 yers enter will the time on both sides synchronize, and Erezer¡¯s time flow is four times faster than Earth¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°When yers 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 yers already legendary, fully geared waiting for dragon ying, wouldn¡¯t that be awkward?


    [Retrieving data¡­ Data retrievalplete]


    [Unlocking yer interaction temte]


    Obviously, this was the temte for interacting andmunicating with yers. Though now, with no yers yet, the functions couldn¡¯t be used, Cassius could issue quests, sell goods, teach skills, grant upations, and even adjust favorability towards yers.


    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 temte]


    [Unlocking yer forum]


    ¡°This thing is open to me too?¡±


    Cassius was a bit surprised; the yer forum was for yers tomunicate and entertain in the past life.


    yers 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 upation builds and equipment selection.


    In the forum, you could watch for fun, or step out to be 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 yers toe.¡±


    ¡°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 yers.


    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 yers¡¯ rebellious psychology.


    The first entry of yers would definitely cause a lot of unpleasantness. Cassius knew this group ofwless guys too well. After all, in his previous life, he was like that too, poking here, shing 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-anding 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 thetest 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 Simtor¡­


    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 gamey 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 ying games¡ªfantasy.


    Everyone wanted to be a hero saving the world.


    So he didn¡¯t hesitate to ce an order, happily receiving a brand new gaming pod and an ount bnce of -8000.


    ¡°Ah, can¡¯t customize the face?¡±


    ¡°Turns out it¡¯s a face-scanning mechanism. This will turn away many face-customization-loving yers.¡±


    ¡°Maybe even some yers who like to use gender-bender ounts 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 constructionplete]


    [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 dutifullyined.


    [Confirming your birthce¡­ Confirmationplete!]


    [Beta starting location, coordinates 17834.4524.455, Barto City]


    [Preparing for arrival¡­]


    [Hello, wee to Erezer!]

 Chapter 67: 68: Beta Testing (Part 2)

    Chapter 67: Chapter 68: Beta Testing (Part 2)


    Barto City, yer spawn point.


    In five years, this once barrennd had undergone tremendous change, bing a bustling small town.@@novelbin@@


    Now, Barto City spanned several square kilometers, with over five hundred inhabitants. Shops, taverns, cksmiths, 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 ce.


    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 Mezsh¡¯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.¡±


    Mezsh 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 sh 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 dy 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 yers had already gathered.


    They had all sorts of nicknames floating above their heads. ¡°Just Eating Mantou¡± seemed quite normalpared 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 ssmates 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 avable~¡±


    ¡°WTF, is that Cereal Bro?¡±


    ¡°Get lost, I aspire to be an Archmage, don¡¯t distract me with beauty.¡±


    ¡°Heathen, taste my sword!¡±


    The yers 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 yers.


    ¡°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 yer 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 yers.


    ¡°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 yer 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 yers¡¯ 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 exined quietly.


    A yer 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?¡±


    Swashbucklerughed 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 yers¡¯ words.¡±


    Mantou looked gleefully at ¡°Swashbuckler¡± and continued exining.


    He knew that guy, a famous fully immersive risky yer. His notable act was stealing chickens from vigers 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 Mezsh without even turning.


    However, the next moment, another stone hit his armor, making a clear ¡°ng.¡±


    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 usuallyposed Mezsh seemed a bit flustered.


    Mezsh 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 thest of his strength, said, ¡°Though I die¡­ I remain¡­ Swashbuckler!¡±


    Finishing his lines, he then satisfactorily passed away.


    However, instead of being intimidated by Mezsh¡¯s strict enforcement, the yers burst intoughter.


    ¡°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.¡±


    Mantouughed 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 figuresughing and joking without any respect, were filled with fury.


    But Mezsh, watching theughing crowd, crossed his arms thoughtfully.


    ¡°It seems these¡­ Starfallen cannot be judged bymon 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 yers, Mezsh stepped forward and raised his bloody Great Sword.


    ¡°Silence!¡±


    But the yers seemed to rebel even more, bing 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 orter, we¡¯ll take you down.¡±


    ¡°That gear looks awesome, is it avable in the store?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s so cocky, I love it.¡±


    Mezsh 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 themand of the Red Dragon, a Tiefling Warrior. You can call me Mezsh. By my master¡¯s order, I havee to wee you.¡±


    ¡°However, neither Barto City nor the entire Ashen Nest wees 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¡­¡±


    Mezsh tried to be as stirring as possible, but most yers 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¡­]


    [Loadingplete!]


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


    [Oathbreaker Sword, Mezsh]


    Faction: [Ashen Nest ¨C Barto City]


    Basic Ability: ???


    Challenge Level: ???


    Favorability: -5 (Mild Dislike)


    ¡°ording to official data, information only fails to show when the Challenge Level difference is five levels apart from the yer¡¯s level. Is this Newbie Vige 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.


    Mezsh swept his gaze over the crowd with a warning look, then continued, ¡°You can ept tasks. Barto City will give you corresponding rewards.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, please wait a moment.¡±


    His tone suddenly paused.


    ¡°Captain, we found it,¡± Damacus reporteding forward.


    Several strong Tiefling Guards carried a new corpse full of arrows out of the cave and ced it next to the original one¡ªthe same ¡°Swashbuckler.¡±


    Only this time, he didn¡¯t even have time to say his lines before dying.


    Mezsh already knew from Cassius that yers would revive, and he also knew that yer revivals were limited.


    In ¡°Erezer,¡± yers 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 yer 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, Mezsh¡¯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 yers suddenly fell silent, like a group of primary school students caught by the ss 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,¡± Mezsh¡¯s words carried extra weight.


    Mezsh started introducing various information ording to the instructions of the Red Dragon.


    ¡°The cksmith 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 ept quests from the bulletin board in the square and collect rewards at the Adventurers¡¯ Guild in Barto City¡­¡±


    ording to Mezsh¡¯s description, the yers roughly understood the situation in Barto City.


    And after the tasks were released, corresponding task data appeared on the yers¡¯ 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,monly 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 yers 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 poption and thin foundation, and the buildings were still very simplistic.


    And the most crucial problem was theck ofbor force. The assistance from Ashen Nest somewhat alleviated this issue, but it was not an immediate solution.


    With the addition of hundreds of yers, the various aspects of Barto City could rapidly develop, especially since they had a workforce unafraid of death and tireless.


    The yers 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 humannguage.¡±


    ¡°Ogres, Goblins, Wyverns and that¡­ uh, Tiefling. I feel like our Newbie Vige 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¡¯sir?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Standing high, Mezsh 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 Mezsh 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 yers 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 yers 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 yers 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 be 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 yers had reached level one within four days, and Mantou was no exception.


    There were twelve basic profession branches for yers to choose from in ¡°Elzegai World¡±: Warrior, Barbarian, Bard, Priest, Druid, Martial Monk, Pdin, 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 des.


    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 toment, 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 hisputer to start editing his video.


    From Mantou¡¯s perspective, after this beta test, ¡°Elzegai World¡± would definitely explode in poprity due to its high quality. He needed to seize this opportunity to ride the first wave of traffic and be a pioneer among gaming enthusiasts.


    Several hourster, 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 yed 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 y it for a year.¡±


    ¡°Alright, without further ado, let¡¯s get into our live gamey session.¡±


    ¡°ssic nonsense opening.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t he survive without talking nonsense?¡±


    Before the game even started, there were already numerousments, 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 butugh.¡±


    ¡°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 aboutter 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 perfectedic effect.


    ¡°Hahaha, the Rogue Beast finally got hiseuppance!¡±


    ¡°Wow, is the AI this advanced?¡±


    ¡°This is a bit scary.¡±


    ¡°Makes me want to y 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 be a ck ve in the game!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all for today¡¯s gamey. 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 yer forum and a certain site. Stay tuned.¡±


    The video caused a huge sensation among immersive game yers soon after its release, reaching a million views and topping the daily gaming chart. It also drew more yers¡¯ attention to ¡°Elzegai World.¡±


    ¡­


    Cassius browsed through the posts on the yer forum, which were all over the ce, 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 yers, camping the respawn point, interfering with normal gamey, demanding a 1000 gold coinpensation.¡±


    But most of the replies were sarcastic: ¡°More officials, please¡± ¡°Not so heroic, Rogue Beast?¡± ¡°Compensate you with 1000 deaths.¡±


    At this moment, Cassius identally 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 ck ve, a veteran immersive game yer and professional solo yer.


    Not only was he highly skilled, but he also wrote great strategies, serving as an undying beacon for many solo neer yers.


    The main content of his strategy summarized ways for beginners toplete missions and offered an evaluation of cost-effectiveness, emphasizing four golden rules for epting 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!¡±@@novelbin@@


    From a yer¡¯s perspective, Xin Dog¡¯s strategy was absolutely correct.


    Compared to gold coins and equipment, which had inherent value and wide cirction, 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 circted.


    You had to use it to buy things, right?


    If it couldn¡¯t buy anything, its value would drop to zero, and currently, yers had no way to use faction contribution.


    If Cassius wanted to fleece the yers and perform his ¡°something for nothing¡± act, he had to make the yers 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, reced by a noble youth with ck hair, golden eyes, and d in a crimson robe in the cave.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just have to engage with the yers 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 yers cheered loudly.


    Suddenly, the boar¡¯s drowsy, sleepy eyes turned blood-red, it exhaled a foul, stinking breath, and the muscles under its thickyer 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 red 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 yers¡¯ feet.


    Mantou, though not one of the top yers, 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 butin, but the boar¡¯s next charge was alreadying 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 thinyer 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 yers approaching together.


    He recognized these three; they were famous professional yers in the full-immersion gaming circle.


    There was the hardcore strategy expert ¡°Xin Dog,¡± the highly popr female professional yer with over a million fans ¡°Summer Night Autumn Rain,¡± and ¡°Natural War Maniac,¡± a top yer known for dominating virtual gamepetitions for ten years and capable of defeating all opponents.


    Their current roles were warrior, priest, and barbarian¡ªa veryplementary team of three.


    In their presence, Mantou felt somewhat insignificant. Though he also considered himself a professional yer and had tens of thousands of followers, he couldn¡¯tpare 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 youst 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¡± yer, taking up a full te of tasks and working day and night, would need nearly ten days to umte 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Though the game was still in its beta phase, wealthy yers 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 wouldter 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 brickying 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 exined.


    ¡°Geez, what kind of invitation costs this much? This could buy several sets of equipment,¡± Mantou couldn¡¯t help butin.


    Xin Dog said bluntly, ¡°This is the difference between you and top professional yers. Ten Gold Coins might seem important early on, but in the mid tote 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 hecks 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 mes, 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.¡±


    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. mes 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 eximed.


    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 yers couldn¡¯t even gather a basic set of equipment and would lose to therge goose raised by the Tiefling aunt next door. Yet Singo had umted such a stash.


    ¡°Look more, practice more, grind more.¡±


    Singo simply replied calmly.


    Mantou finally understood what set these top-tier yers apart; in this respect, he had to concede¡ªhe couldn¡¯tpete with their show-off skills.


    After applying oil to weapons and armor, cing 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 ming 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 anyfort.


    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 ce.¡±


    ¡°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 mes igniting, hundreds of intricately dragon-headed oilmps 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 zing fires on both sides,


    and at the end of the road stood a man.


    He had ck hair and golden eyes, with delicate features. Dark gold pupils reflected the zing mes, 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, eximing, ¡°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.@@novelbin@@


    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, Mezsh. 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 ming 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 fromnds unknown, I did not invite you here to listen to such nonsense.¡±


    [You have been given a quest by the yer 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 simr to those of regr merchants: various iron swords, leather armor, potions, raw materials, and food. There was a wide variety, but nothing seemed particrly 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 ss 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 yer like Singo, saving up that amount was difficult; only wealthy,rge guilds could afford to buy one or two pieces.


    These high-priced items weren¡¯t meant for individual yers like Singo. They were ced by Cassius to specifically targetrge 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 yers, squeezing them first for Gold Coins with invitation letters, and then forbor with faction contribution restrictions.


    As for buying gear?


    yers 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 regr payments. After all, Cassius wasn¡¯t a devil, just a in Red Dragon, eager to fulfill every yer¡¯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 disyed only a few, each priced in faction contribution points!


    Singo fixated on those item descriptions.


    ¡°Dragon Blood Elixir, unlocks the sub-upation quest for Dragon Vein Sorcerer, priced at 4500 faction contributions.¡±


    ¡°This is¡­ Scarlet Scale, unlocks the advanced warrior upation 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


    upation 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 mes and total death to their enemies.


    Mantou gritted his teeth, eyes filled with unprecedented determination: ¡°No one stop me, I¡¯m bing a Dragon Knight!¡±


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 Chapter 73: 4: The Advancing Player

    Chapter 73: Chapter 4: The Advancing yer


    Suddenly, Cassius spoke, shattering Mantou¡¯s fantasy of diving with a wyvern.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, 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 mes 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 sh 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 upation, Red Scale Conqueror, is definitely the strongest in the early stages, bar none.¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head, ¡°I also want to y with the Dragon Bloodline, it feels really powerful.¡±


    Xin Dog agreed, ¡°Yeah, just having natural armor can set you apart from regr yers, 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 bing a Wyvern Knight, leaving no room for other thoughts¡ªbeing a knight was a man¡¯s ultimate dream!


    Xin Dog cast a disdainful nce 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 exined, ¡°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 topete 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 eximed, ¡°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 timees, 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 Dogughed 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¡¯te 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.¡±


    ¡°p!¡±


    Xin Dog pped his hands with a smile.


    ¡°No objections, then let¡¯s get grinding! We¡¯ll pull ahead from the other yers, 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 za to get quests, as many faction contributions as possible. Also, look into the Tiefling investigation quests, do them simultaneously.¡±


    Mantou, wearing simple cloth clothes, copsed 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 dayster, the story of the ¡°ck ve Team¡± spread through the city.


    These were four famous professional gamers, oddly wearing only the most basic newbie cloth clothes. Some yers suspected they had been robbed and were heavily in debt.


    These ¡°gods¡± epted any task, from bricying, 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 ¡°ck ve Team.¡±


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    In a dark mine, Mantou wiped his sweat, sneezing for some unknown reason.


    ¡°ck ve Team¡­¡±


    ¡°I will be 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 loungedzily in the cave, using Ramp¡¯s magic mirror to observe the diligent yers 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 be much taller and thicker, several uniquely styled buildings had sprung up, and the city had gained some vitality due to theings and goings of the yers.


    ¡°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 gamingmunity. Once they discovered the uses of faction contributions, the entire yer 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 umte them. Soon, those big guilds would also beginpeting for contribution tasks.


    By then, Cassius¡¯s mission of reaping benefits with no effort would be a grand sess.


    And after that, he would introduce another heavy dose¡ªthe faction position system. By using faction contributions, yers 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 yers to relish the thrill of power would also let Cassius enjoy the pleasure of having freebor. It was a win-win policy.


    He believed the yers 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 be increasingly seasoned,manding over ten thousand goblin creatures and bing 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.@@novelbin@@


    Serpentfolk always plotted to rece and dominate other races, eventually dering themselves gods.


    And pureblood serpentfolk were the lowest in serpentfolk society. Their appearance was very simr 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 civilizednds 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 nned to coborate 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 vignce 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 sses again and was holding several magic scrolls.


    ¡°Master, I also believe Ashen Nest needs a war. ording 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,rge-scale war consumption, our food supply can no longer fill these creatures¡¯ bellies.¡±


    Ramp deliberately adjusted his gold-rimmed sses 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 haveplete control over their lords. These humans dy, 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 hisrge red nose. He seemed to already imagine the enemy¡¯s blood smeared on his ws.


    ¡°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 theing 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 zing mes.


    ¡°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.


    yers 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 ¡°ck ve Team¡± by other yers 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 doingbor for eighteen days now. The title ¡®ck ve Team¡¯ is already famous on the yer 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 particrly 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 bing a professional gamer is not an easy one.¡±


    Mantou watched Xin Dog, who remained enthusiastic even after eighteen days ofbor, and thought to himself, ¡°This guy is aplete monster.¡± The cheerful Natural War Maniac beside him was also not to be underestimated.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain tidied his hair, which had be 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 mmed 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 alreadypleted 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. Butter, 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 disyed ¡°[Task Completed]¡± with 500 faction contributions added to their ounts.


    After nearly a month of ying, most yers had developed a sense of recognition and belonging to Barto City. There was even a support group for Mezsh on the yer forum.


    Summer Night Autumn Rain sighed, ¡°Mezsh 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 coteral. 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 ofbor finally exploded. He charged at Xin Dog, trying to strip off his newbie set and turn him into the next ¡°Holy Light Bro,¡±pletely 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¡¯te 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 udius Norixius.¡±


    ¡°Holy crap,e look at this! I found important information!¡±


    The four of them hurried over. Xin Dog, ignoring his image,y on the ground, butt raised, carefully examining.


    ¡°Cassius¡­¡±


    ¡°This name sounds familiar.¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his now shiny bald head.


    After eighteen days ofbor, 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 disyed 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 bing 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 yers to work on faction contributions, snatch tasks from those guilds, and dy 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 ve 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,ing 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, wee 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 popr in the gametely, working as a ve with a few pro yers.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, I know right.¡±


    ¡°ck ve Team, Blood Sweat Squad.¡±


    ¡°Where did you guys get the beta qualifications? I want to y 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 ofments.


    ¡°Summer Night Autumn Rain! My wife!¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, clearly my wife.¡±


    ¡°War Maniac Bro¡¯s hair is still so lush.¡±


    ¡°Caught a wild Xin Dog!¡±


    yers also started discussing the [Mysterious Invitation]:


    ¡°Damn, this Eight Hook invitation is so expensive? It could outfit several squads.¡±


    ¡°Howe I didn¡¯t see this special item?¡±


    ¡°Cloud yers not familiar with the game might not get what ten gold coins mean. For context, a normal yer 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 yers even more. The invitation summoned a me 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 upation 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 me, Red Dragon Cassius!


    Instantly, thement section exploded, and both cloud yers 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 gamingmunity, however, focused on the impact of these revtions on the game, especially the appearance of the [Red Scale Conqueror], which caused a massive uproar among yers.


    ¡°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,rge dragon vein creature mount, plus exclusive traits, this advanced upation 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. Pdin? Never heard of it!¡±


    Theter video showed Mantou¡¯s woeful eighteen days: mining, brick-lugging, wall-fixing, dust-busting. He faced ogre overseers¡¯ insults, goblin officers¡¯mands, chases by phase spiders in the mines, and was mocked by fellow yers¡­


    ¡°Feels like the American 18th century¡­¡±


    ¡°I now get why they¡¯re called the ck ve 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 be 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 ve Labor Blood and Tears History¡ªsoared in views like a rocket, quickly hitting the day¡¯s hot trends. This helped many beta yers learn about Cassius, this crucial NPC of the Ashen Nest faction. Now, his status among yers was significantly important.


    What¡¯s more widely known was his astonishing charisma, breaking beyond the gaming circles.@@novelbin@@


    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 yers chat and joke around, but soon he saw a familiar name¡ªSingo.


    This guy posted several guides in a row, even while being a ve 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 upation [Red Scale Conqueror]¡±


    ¡°Why no one should choose the Mage in the current version¡±


    But his posts¡¯ment sections were a mess, with yers 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 innocentlymented: ¡°You guys should hurry and do quests, go toote, and you won¡¯t get them. Even if you kill me, I won¡¯t drop faction contributions.¡±


    This only fueled the yers¡¯ rage.


    ¡°Damn, this guy really deserves to die¡ª¡±


    ¡°Xin Dog, prepare to die!¡±


    ¡°I dere that Xin Dog and Rogue Beast are now the two beasts!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t nder 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 yermunity. The 10 limited-edition [Mysterious Invitations] in the trading post were already sold out.


    The big guilds all dered 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 yers 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 yers shouting these slogans appeared in the mines, beside the city walls, on rooftops, and even beside dung heaps.


    Even Mezsh was struck by the yers¡¯ 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 yers to manage yers, 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 amodations. Their only sry 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 yers 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 ¡°ck ve 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 sry for low-level positions is: 100 faction contributions]


    [You can earn additional faction contributions throughmissions.]


    Mantou pointed at the prompt on the panel and said, ¡°This system is awesome, you get a base sry 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 rmend 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 yermunity.¡±


    ¡°As for tax officers, you earn contributionmissions 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 ssic 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 shed a sinister smile: ¡°Heh, then I¡¯ll be a tax officer. I¡¯ll make the yers 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 yers.


    [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 reallypetent,¡± Mantou sighed.


    The armor was refined iron armor, hard to purchase for yers. 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 mes¡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 ted, all previous gloom vanished, and even his gaze towards the yers working hard had a hint of arrogance.


    The yers 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 yer just out from the mines eximed: ¡°Wow, that¡¯s the ck ve Team?¡±


    Mantou heard this and immediately widened his eyes, raising his sword to point at the yer, shouting ording 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 outughing, almost spewing mes, 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 yers understand the importance of striving for faction contributions so Cassius could reap the benefits.


    ¡°Heh heh¡­¡±


    Cassius let out an insidiousugh.


    After most yers met the faction contribution requirements, he nned 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 yers 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, yers had even expanded to other regions of the Anzeta Great Wilderness. Some yers already nned to head to the headquarters of Ashen Nest, the most dangerous and wealthiest ce in adventurer¡¯s eyes¡ªDragon Valley.


    In these five years, a crude road had already beenid between Dragon Valley and Barto City, called the ¡°Bumpy Road¡± by the goblins. It made it easier for monster kin toe for support.


    And now, a group of yers was marching along the Bumpy Road.


    They all came from ater 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 yers.


    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 yers still sticking to the mage profession. Most had turned into warlocks.


    At this moment, five yers, all elite members at level three, hade here.


    ¡°President, are you sure we can get spells here?¡±


    The female yer ID¡¯d as ¡°Sky Flying Witch¡± asked.


    She was a wild sorcerer, although a warlock profession, she was one of the sub-upations 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?¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 thest hope for mage yers.


    ¡°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 spectacr.¡±


    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 yers.¡±


    ¡°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 yers 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¡¯te over!¡±


    Theplex rune array beneath his foot lit up instantly, and a surge of magic washed over him. Mingyue saw mes reflected in his eyes.


    ¡°Oh¡­shit.¡±


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    With the sound of mes burning the air, Mingyue was engulfed by the guardian inscription¡¯s st, turning into a charred corpse, losing his first and precious life.


    Although Charlotte didn¡¯t step into the rune array, his face was still ckened by the st.


    ¡°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 themotion. 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.¡± Charlottemanded.


    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 andughed.


    ¡°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 Magended 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 sses. 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 nced 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 upation, 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 be 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 bnce 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¡¯lle 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 sses, 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 sses, thinking to himself.


    ¡­


    That night, a hot topic appeared on the yer forum.


    ¡°Mage yers 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 thete game!¡±


    ¡°Sorcerers be turrets in thete 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 upation,moners can¡¯t y.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not thatmoners can¡¯t afford to y as mages, it¡¯s that sorcerers are more cost-effective.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s form a group and do contribution tasks, everyone bing 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 ss 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 yers began tough 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 yers to replenish their energy, as certified by many upation strategy yers.


    The yers then deliberately shouted louder, ¡°You must have stolen someone¡¯s stuff again!¡±


    Swashbuckler widened his eyes and said, ¡°How can you nder 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 iprehensible words, like ¡°Mage Hand Sleight,¡± ¡°Trickster Thief Profession,¡± ¡°Thieves¡¯ Tools Proficiency,¡± causing everyone to burst intoughter.


    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 yers 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 aborer, 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 toe 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!¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 nder someone¡¯s innocence without any proof¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha, there¡¯s even a video on the forum, you can go check it yourself!¡± said a yer 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 yer 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]¡±


    Thements below were filled with joy


    ¡°First time liking Mantou this much.¡±


    ¡°Support Mantou!¡±


    ¡°There are still good Mantous in the world!¡±


    ¡°Noughing, just arrest him straight away!¡±


    As Swashbuckler scrolled through thements, his face gradually turned red and he gnashed his teeth:


    ¡°Hmph, damn Mantou¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Swashbuckler stumbled upon Singo¡¯s strategy post, introducing the homnd 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 yer 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 pointter.¡±


    While the yers 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 onunch and got carried away, too many yers in the beginning, but it will focus on the protagonistter!)

 Chapter 81: 12 Arcane Priory (I)

    Chapter 81: Chapter 12 Arcane Priory (I)


    ¡°The yers 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, yers¡¯ traces have been appearing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impressive¡­¡±


    Cassius browsed the yer forums and Ramp¡¯s Magic Mirror, silently marveling.


    Yes, besides the Swashbuckler, some yers 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 yers 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 dayster¡±


    ¡°Location: Stratholme Fortress¡±


    ¡°Teleport Coordinates: 1345.8375.527¡±


    The Arcane Priory, a famed wizard organization inter years, was founded by the renowned legendary Archmage Trafalgar.


    Members gathered regrly 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,e 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,nding 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 regrly 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, pping 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 yers dry. Trulymendable.


    ¡°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 upied 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 n 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 ck-haired, golden-eyed, noble young aristocrat, this time without any draconic features.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 eptable?¡±


    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 rtively normal. A noble spellcaster with a constructed creature guardian should be quite normal.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master.¡±


    Ramp cast the Shape-shifting Spell again, this time sessfully 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 Ne 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 contemted for a moment before saying, ¡°Hmm¡­ call me ¡®Tulip.''¡±


    ¡°Wee to the Arcane Priory, Lord Tulip.¡±


    ¡°Seeker.¡±


    ¡°Wee 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¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°It should be here.¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 ck hair and golden eyes,bined with his extraordinary charisma, drew much attention, particrly from the women.


    The noblewoman with the alias ¡°Tulip¡± couldn¡¯t help but remark to herpanion:


    ¡°What a charming fellow. Perhaps only someone like him deserves me, not those buffoons.¡±


    ¡°And¡­ hees 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, beautifuldy.¡±


    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 ying 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 Fan Empire¡¯s pce 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 nced around and saw no high-level professionals, mostly noble offspring with some magic knowledge.


    The strongest among them was a man with the alias ¡°ck Hawk,¡± whose mage upational 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 me.''¡±


    ¡°Lord Remnant me, wee 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 be ustomed 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 arge 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 eyshes 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 n ¡°Melwood¡± being a significant force in Anzeta¡¯s fight against the demon scourge inter 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)]


    upational 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 yers.


    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 Fan Court Magic Academy; how could I not understand these things!¡±


    ¡°Hmph, it¡¯sughable.¡±


    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 seemspetition among mages is quite fierce.¡± Cassius observed the red-faced mages and mused to himself.@@novelbin@@


    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 aboutplex 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 schrs; 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 yer 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 yers willingly handed over their scarce gold coins to him in exchange for so-called ¡°Divine Gear.¡±


    A mage code-named ¡°Gold Digger¡± first ced a matte ck 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 urate, Cassius dered straightforwardly: ¡°300 gold coins.¡±


    ¡°Grey Hawk¡± nced 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 ck robe and ced 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: eleration 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 avish 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 difort, 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 ie of a baronial territory, with which he could already indulge invish 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.¡±


    The seller ¡°ck Rock¡± inexplicably wiped a cold sweat, and except for the woman with unclear intentions earlier, no one made an offer.


    ¡°ck Rock¡± even specifically nced at the wealthy Cassius, but thetter merely smiled without speaking.


    He looked at ¡°Venus.¡± Was it his imagination, or were her cheeks slightly reddened? Nheless, 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 umting 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 disying a medal at the chest, showing an eagle and a sword.


    ¡°I hope you store them well in your vault¡­¡±


    ¡°When the timees¡ª¡±


    ¡°I wille 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 ce¡­¡±


    ¡°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.@@novelbin@@


    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 tobine and eradicate the evil on thisnd, attacking Ashen Nest.¡±


    ¡°However¡­ the allied forces stillck 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 viiny. 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 ws and mes can disce 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.¡±


    ¡°p, p, p!¡±


    In the spacious hall, apuse rang out.


    ¡ªIt came from Cassius.


    ¡°Well said, Lord Grey Hawk, this Red Dragon indeed threatens the peace and order of Anzeta. In my homnd, there is a saying: with great poweres 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,pletely forgetting the earlier displeasure, and stepped forward to tter:


    ¡°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.¡±


    Apuse 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 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 me and Grey Hawk had a cordial and friendly conversation, during which both sides fully exchanged opinions and enhanced mutual understanding. Lord Remnant me 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 rted 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 asionally 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 homnd, there¡¯s a saying: A day apart feels like three years. Your beauty makes me¡­¡±


    Hearing the ttery, Olivia¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly but she quickly regained herposure and interrupted:


    ¡°Lord Remnant me, don¡¯t try to distract me with these flowery words. I didn¡¯te 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 n¡¯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 w in her shape-shifting spell but didn¡¯t expect him to know so much about her, including her real name and n, 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?¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 me.''¡±


    He then changed his tone, adding a hint of yfulness.


    ¡°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 me 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 ws from my perspective, Remnant me, or should I say, Lord Gold Dragon.¡±


    Combining Remnant me¡¯s rebuke of ck Hawk when mentioning gold and silver dragons, his upromising attitude toward evil forces, and the ¡°idental¡± revealing of golden scales,


    this Silver Dragon Mage naturally concluded that she had uncovered Lord Remnant me¡¯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 negativebels.


    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 hisrge 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 morefortable. 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 particrly interested in the eleration 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 yers, the sess 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


    Singo, Mantou, Natural War Maniac, and Summer Night Autumn Rain gathered once again in the za. They had shed their nickname ¡°ck ve Team¡± and even caused resentment among some yers.


    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, ie tax, and guild tax, many of which were adopted.


    These rmendations significantly increased Barto City¡¯s financial revenue, earning him a substantial share and the morous nickname ¡°Xin Papi.¡±


    Particrly the guild tax, which required guilds to pay a higher proportion of taxes on their collective ie. 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 za. 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 n, 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 nonchnt, ¡°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 bing a dragon vein sorcerer. However, I find the half-dragon temte too ugly, so I¡¯ve switched to bing a Level Three sorcerer.¡±


    Singo scoffed, ¡°Ha, aesthetics mean nothingpared 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, ¡°Howe you weren¡¯t afraid of heights when you were smashing people¡¯s motherships with your battleship cleaver?¡±


    Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head,ughed, 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¡¯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 zing mes.


    ¡°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 ck 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 yers to obtain it.


    [Confirm using [Mysterious Invitation]!]


    Again, it was the familiar me 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 thenterns 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 youpleted 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 temte 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 mes, adds additional stackable me 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 epted 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 amission on additional tax revenue they collect.¡±


    ¡°Here, for you, aspensation for the gear I sold youst time. Including the favorability points debt.¡±


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±


    With a crisp sound, he tossed the [Ring of mes] 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 mes was practically divine gear for warriors in the early stages, adding brainless me damage, usable in both close and long-rangebat.


    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 de under mymand. Bing 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 ck ve shed through his mind like a revolvingntern, making his determination to be a Red Scale Conqueror even stronger.


    Cassius took out two scarlet-colored scales.


    ¡°Then go and prove your capability to me!¡±


    ¡°I hope you canst 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 maye at any time, whether it be the Kingdom¡¯s army or adventurers attempting to y the dragon. When wares, 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 mes andplete 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 seed, while Mantou and Singo needed toplete 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 seed?¡±


    ¡°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, thest 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 w, 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 eximed 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 shed 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 be a Flying Knight in such a short time.


    Nevertheless, after scrutinizing them, he found nothing exceptional, not even in strengthpared to monsters.


    ¡°Very well, I hope you can¡­ survive.¡±


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    The two yers 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    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, pping 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 identally fall to your death, then you¡¯ll just be 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 seeded. 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 pped 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 ofssos 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 thergest 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 thesso, urately looping it around the neck of a four-meter-long,rge 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 pped 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 pping, itsrge body elerating, 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 shes, 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 exim:


    ¡°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 hissso 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, iling 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 thesso 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 yers 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 bnce with just their legs, avoiding falling off.


    By now, the wyvern had be impatient, flying a hundred meters high and circling, trying to throw off the human on its back to their death.


    But Singo stayedposed, 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]


    Singonded 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 be a knight?¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 be Wyvern Knights in a short time.¡±


    ¡°Truly¡­ unbelievable.¡±


    His years of training experience were utterly shattered.


    These wyverns were much more vtile 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)


    Thest 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 bing 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 humaning again, let out a strained screech and pped 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 thesso 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 thesso and easily mounted its back.


    Were it not for the scales protecting its neck, blood might have been drawn by thesso.


    ¡°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 itsst 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 tosso 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 seeded.


    He tried to pet the wyvern¡¯s head, and this time it didn¡¯t bite or screech, instead, ity still, disying 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 Dognded nearby on his wyvern.


    He had already tamed his wyvern by the second day. ording to him, he used draconguage learned from the kobolds tomunicate 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¡¯te 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¡¯vepleted the trial. Can we advance now?¡±


    Mantou, feeling the wyvern¡¯s neck, eximed: ¡°Red Scale Conqueror, activate!¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You two are truly¡­ unexpected.¡±


    Usually quiet, Alger couldn¡¯t help but marvel at this rare talent, which defiedmon sense.


    ¡°Eagle!¡±


    Alger softly called out.


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle, with a wingspan nearing ten meters, cast arge shadow as it descended from the sky, drawing envious nces from the two.


    Alger skillfully mounted the Dragon Vein Giant Eagle without needing tomand it as it spread its wings and took off.


    He said without looking back:


    ¡°Follow me. I will take you to meet the master andplete the advancement ceremony.¡±


    Xin Dog followed closely on his wyvern.


    ¡°Wyvern, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The wyvern seemed excited for what was toe, raising its head and letting out a long screech before pping its wings to follow.


    This was the argument Xin Dog used to make the wyvern submit: bing a Red Scale Conqueror would allow it to receive a precious bloodline gift and gain strengthparable 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 pped 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.


    Theirmotion 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 seeded?¡±


    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 elegantlynded astride his wyvern, while Mantougged 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?¡±


    ¡°ording to the information I have, dragons can even alter their surrounding environment.¡±


    Mantou clicked his tongue in admiration: ¡°If this bes a boss, it¡¯d definitely be a world boss, killing a whole lot of people.¡±


    Mantou had no idea that his guess was urate.


    They continued along the narrow rock tunnel.


    Soon, the path ahead opened up, and the two saw the master of this ce¡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 ava-like glow. The two swept-back, thick, bone-white horns on the head looked like a crown.


    The Red Dragony in the center of the cave, its enormous mountainous body rising and falling with each breath. White smoke asionally 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 exim: ¡°Holy¡­¡±


    After a long pause, with his limited vocabry, 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 havepleted 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 des, and from now on, you will shed this weak, powerless human shell and be the most loyal ws 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 ws and fangs of the Ashen Nest, regardless of good or evil, right or wrong, using your mes to conquer everything for your master?¡±


    ¡°Do you swear to be Red Scale Conquerors?¡±


    The task information on the panel refreshed.


    [Do you ept the faction sub-upation (Red Scale Conqueror)? If yes, please follow the ritual.]


    [Note: Once you select the faction sub-upation, 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 ubow, Noricus, with unwavering devotion, to be the vanguard of the king, burning enemies to ashes, conquering all.¡±


    The two yers 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 yers.


    The dragon blood touched their fragile flesh, instantly making a sizzling sound, even emitting white smoke.


    ¡°Ah!¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 temte (Half-Red Dragon)]


    [Note: This race temte is permanent and will be used upon revival.]


    [Your attributes have significantly increased, and you have gained natural armor, me breath, and other half-red dragon abilities¡­]


    Blindfolded and still undergoing transformation, Mantou watched the information refresh on the panel, feeling an exhrating 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 framerger.


    In its flesh, new capiries formed, and its blood emitted scorching elemental power.


    Furthermore, an even more unknown transformation was unfolding¡­


    [Data conversion in progress¡­]


    [Data conversionplete!]


    [Verifying parameters¡­]


    [Parameters verified!]


    [Detected bipedal wyvern ¡°Noodle¡± as your special subss mount. It will be considered part of the yer¡¯s upation 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 upation¡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 havepleted the advanced task [Red Scale Path]]


    [You have advanced to the Warrior¡¯s Ashen Nest faction subss [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 mes 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 be much stronger, and his senses like vision and hearing had be sharper.


    ¡°I am so damn strong¡ª¡±


    Mantou looked down at his hands, covered in scales and tipped with sharp ws, 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 ept it!@@novelbin@@


    Xin Dog cast a gloating nce at him before exining, ¡°Actually, charisma isn¡¯t just about appearance. Do you really think those magicians cast spells with their looks?¡±


    ¡°ording 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 y 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 sce.


    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 rtionship between man and dragon had be 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 be 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 ckened by the mes. Though the Red Dragon bloodline made him immune to such fire, he fell intoplete 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 za.


    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, thennding with a crash, dust rising in the za.


    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 yer names!¡±


    ¡°Damn! It¡¯s Mantou and Xin Dog. They¡¯ve advanced sessfully! Red Scale Conquerors!¡±


    ¡°Why do they look like Dragonkin?¡±


    ¡°So cool!¡±


    ¡°Damn, seeing their sess hurts more than my own failure.¡±


    Summer Night Autumn Rain and Natural War Maniac had waited long and came up to congratte 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 ws.


    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 subss, 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 Be a Qualified Dragon Knight?¡± sparked a hot discussion on the yer forum.


    It specifically mentioned buying Xin Dog¡¯s exclusive ¡°Wyvern Lasso¡± and ¡°Sedative Hormones¡± as keys to sess, 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: ¡°Wee 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 arge 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 woond camps or shanties.


    They hunted, foraged, and piged 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, thezy 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 unusuallyrge 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@@novelbin@@


    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 outter.¡±


    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 rmended 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 yers stuck at Levels One or Two.


    Watching the Hill Giant charge down the slope with arge tree in hand, Singo remained unfazed: ¡°War Maniac Bro, you and Autumn Rain keep it busy here. Mantou and I willunch 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 thisrger-than-life foe, he felt no fear. After all, he had once in even interster 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 yers 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 therge 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 ame.


    ¡°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 upation 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.


    [Erge 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 ordingly, making him almost asrge as the Hill Giant.


    Feeling the heightened perspective, Natural War Maniacughed 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 grownrger 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 therge 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 zing fire, directly striking the Hill Giant¡¯s massive body while it was immobile.


    The Hill Giant¡¯s right shoulder was scorched ck, causing it to open its foul-smelling giant mouth in a painful wail, its grip on the tree loosening slightly.


    This slight rxation 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 armpletely.


    The massive right arm tumbled to the ground.


    Warm, sticky blood sttered 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 bing 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 closebat.


    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 erged 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 n.


    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,plex 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-longnce 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, thence plunged into the Hill Giant¡¯s massive iput.


    Under the powerful momentum of the Wyvern Knight¡¯s dive, the immense force transferred to thence tip, even covered in scarlet Dragon Spirit Light.


    In an instant, blood sttered.


    Thence 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 copsing to the ground.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Mantou gracefully let go of thence.@@novelbin@@


    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 in the [Greedy Hill Giant], gaining 1800xp]


    [Your upational level has increased to the Fourth Level]


    Mantou¡¯s heart raced with excitement, and he dered, ¡°The wine is still warm, and I¡¯ve already taken the enemy general¡¯s head.¡±


    He circled a few times in the air beforending.


    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 curiouslynded 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 exined, ¡°I stayed in the Dragon Valley of Ashen Nest for three days. Unlike Mantou, who only focuses onpleting 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 ce 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 y 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 Pdin 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 urate, we¡¯re facing a war?¡±


    The vice leader, ¡°Fengyun,¡± responded, ¡°Yes, ording 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 rmend 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, cing us back on the same starting line as everyone else. The advantage we hold would bepletely 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. Their 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 upy Barto City, we could still run things locally.¡±


    Fengyun agreed, ¡°That¡¯s what I think too.¡±


    Tyrant turned to the elite warrior yer ¡°Big de,¡± asking, ¡°How many contribution points do you have? When can you get the Red Scale Conqueror?¡±


    Big de 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 nning 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,pelling 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.


    Arge crowd of yers had gathered in the hillside area. The Tiefling residents were also present, along with the Tiefling Guards led by Mezsh.


    In the sky, a massive shadow appeared, casting many into darkness.@@novelbin@@


    Next, the red figure descended thunderously,nding 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 muscr, 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 shing 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, ughter 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 me.¡±


    ¡°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!¡±


    Mezsh 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.


    yers also joined the fervor, adding cries of ¡°For Dragon Mother!¡± ¡°For experience!¡± ¡°For the Subus!¡± 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¡¯tst a few minutes.¡±


    Fengyun murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I know one thing.¡±


    ¡°This war¡­ we shouldn¡¯t lose.¡±


    yer panels refreshed with information.


    [Main Mission: The Beginning of War]


    [Led by the ¡°me Wing Dragon¡± Cassius, the expansion of Ashen Nest has rmed 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 uing war.]

 Chapter 95: 25. The Barons Banquet

    Chapter 95: 25. The Baron¡¯s Banquet


    Sgurr Town.


    At the Baron¡¯s Mansion.


    Todd Rackman sped 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 uncontrobly.


    The attendant simply said, ¡°You must make a choice. You can choose to be a faithful servant of the evil dragons, or be¡­ 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 damnedpdog!¡±


    Perhaps alert to the sounds of war, Hart had recently be 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 ve 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 be so arrogant that hepletely 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 himpletely.¡±


    Baron Todd pondered for a moment, slowly lowering his sped 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 mes flickered.


    The long table wasden 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,ughing 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,ughed 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 ws 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 uncontroble 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 aplete 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, copsing to the ground.


    Hart kicked the unconscious vampire variant on the ground,ughing 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.¡±


    Heughed, ¡°Poor Baron Todd, thinking he had set a trap for me, only to be 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!@@novelbin@@


    The vice president Bright Moon, guild members Heavenly Fire, Mage of Love, Kabaleba, and many other renowned mage yers were there.


    Even the maid serving the meal was disguised by the Sky Flying Witch.


    These yers mastered advanced techniques learned in the New Era, ttering and serving Baron Todd, quickly bing 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 yers eyeing his head.


    Charlotteughed wildly, hands on hips, ¡°Haha,pleting 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


    ¡°ng! ng! ng!¡±


    The saying goes, hoist the bellows with a whoosh, snatch the hammer with a ng. At this moment, a yer with the ID ¡°Steel Torrent¡± was frantically cksmithing with brute force, and a pile of processed iron pipes had already umted 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 upation but had hardly fought, only to have more strength.


    That brute force was only used for one thing: cksmithing.


    Yes, since entering the game, he had been tirelessly forging iron, and now he had be the youngest and strongest cksmith in Daimo cksmith Shop in Barto City.


    The Tiefling old cksmith Daimo, watching from the side, blew his beard and red: ¡°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 cksmith a disdainful nce, his hands never stopping.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t done my job properly. I¡¯vepleted 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 cksmith passionately, brimming with confidence.


    Daimo: ¡°¡­¡±


    Fortunately, he had seen plenty of these things these days. No matter what these so-called ¡°yers¡± 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 cksmith shop when two seemingly normal yers 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 ¡°yers¡± 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, simr incidents became more frequent, and Old Daimo grew numb, hitting thieves unconscious with a hammer expressionlessly, like a seasoned farmer harvesting wheat.


    Butter, he noticed the positive side of these yers, 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 cksmith apprentices.


    ¡°Got it! Got it!¡±


    ¡°I did it!¡±


    Steel Torrent¡¯s excited shout interrupted Old Daimo¡¯s thoughts.@@novelbin@@


    Just as he was about to step forward for a look, a dozen cksmith apprentice yers swarmed ahead,pletely 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 Daimoy 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 cksmith 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-rted upations in the early game.


    Luckily, they found that the reactions of reality might appear in magical form in Anzeta, so these Mechanical God Cult yers pioneered a new way to cksmith¡ªcksmithing.


    Now, Daimo cksmith Shop was filled with various items, iron pipes, crude springs, taps and dies, simplethes, 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 yers were busy and happy in the cksmith shop.


    ¡°One part nitre, two parts sulfur, three parts charcoal. The equipment isn¡¯t perfect, but we¡¯ll use the old method to make ck 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 shotguny 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 identally 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 ce with medieval-level productivity, naturally filled with difficulties.


    ¡°Is it a sess?¡±


    ¡°Quick, try it out.¡±


    Steel Torrent carefully picked up the makeshift gun andboriously 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 nd.


    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 yers celebrating, dancing around a bizarre-looking, ragged iron tube.


    Next to them, a straw dummy was in pieces, ck 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 upation: 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 pped his hand away:¡±Step aside, you creep.¡±


    Nearby, the yer with the ID ¡°Electromaic st¡± 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 thoseme 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 Sessful!]


    [You have sessfully 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 cksmiths. 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,forting:¡±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 intoughter.


    Steel Torrent red 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 upation: 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 aplex system to be decoded and utilized in their spells and inventions, using various tools to channel their arcane power.]


    [Detected that your current upation is: Barbarian]


    [Do you wish to change upations?]


    [Note: After changing upations, 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¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I confirm the change!¡±


    [Your current upation 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 upations 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 upation description, Steel Torrent was thrilled.


    ¡°The Mechanical God Cult¡¯s spring has arrived!¡±


    ¡°In the future, whether it¡¯s nes, 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 yers in the cksmith shop, his expression slightly surprised.


    ¡°Mechanical God Cult?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the guild that appeared after the server opened? Howe it already has a prototype and even unlocked Mechanic Mage early.¡±


    The Mechanical God Cult was one of the most powerful yer guilds inter 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 yer base in ¡°Erezer¡± grewrger, this early-start guild attracted top talents from around the world, including cutting-edge scientists in various fields, which made theter 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 bing the Red Dragon¡¯sckey¡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 mes 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 que 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 yer, hurried forward to exin: ¡°This is thetest 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 uracy 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¡¯ck 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 woulde 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 copsed 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 topare, 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 rtively abundant.¡±


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    Hearing this number, Dolores was not surprised.


    After all, expecting such battlefield weapons to be produced as easily asmon 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 dayster, 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 theing 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 yers from the Mechanical God Cult had yed 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.


    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, d in te 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 ording 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 powerparison, the Boske Duchy is obviously far superior to thebined 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 upied the southern part of the Anzeta Wastnd as the nominal controllers of the United Kingdom.


    However, their rtionship 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 particr 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 mostmon soldiers in the army are the conscriptedborers. 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,cking personal freedom and without the right to im 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 morend 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 ie from their ownnds, 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 experiencepels them to convert their existing wealth into better weapons and armor to survive and achieve more inbat.


    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 extensivebat 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 aprehensive 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 sessfully 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 entuated 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. Whye to my secluded Ashen Nest?¡±


    Dailenna instinctively shed a ttering 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 inly?¡±


    ¡°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 nced at her, and a faint Magical Aura shed 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 wee 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 ve. 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?¡±


    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 hade 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¡± ¡°Wee 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 arge 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 ce was lined with rusty iron cages, often stained with dried ck 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 ce?¡±


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 ughter¡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¡±


    ¡°ng! ng! ng!¡±


    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 ves immediately fell silent, trembling as if faced with a natural enemy.


    ¡°What disgusting creatures.¡±


    A cold female voice sounded.


    A noblewoman in an borate 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 ufortable. 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 be 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 waspletely 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¡­¡±


    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 ves, 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 youe 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. Ie 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 be the sustenance for my further transformation into true immortality.¡±


    ¡°So¡­¡±


    ¡°Tremble, fear, respect!¡±


    ¡°When I rule thisnd, 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 themon 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 ce; his body visibly emaciated, his once rosy skin turned deathly pale, and the light of life in his eyes gradually faded, reced 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 ves.


    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 temte Vampire Variant]


    [Note: This transformation is irreversible]


    [You have acquired the trait Born from Death: Most victims of vampire attacks be 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 bes 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 temte is awesome,bined with my Trickster upation¡­ ¡±


    ¡°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.@@novelbin@@


    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 thating, 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 ves 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 ves, shaking his head in exasperation.


    Suddenly, a hoarse voice broke the silence.


    ¡°Neer, you should escape. Once the Duke wakes up, you won¡¯t be able to.¡±


    ¡°At least now you can still enjoy ying the cat-and-mouse game, stealing a moment of freedom, pretty amusing, right?¡±


    The Swashbuckler nced 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 ves 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 ve 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, bing mindless blood ves. 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 ys 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 be 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¡¯sir 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 neers, 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 nonchnt face of the Swashbuckler.


    This vampire variant was unlike any he had ever seen. Others, upon bing 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 bing 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 youing 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 ck, 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 hisst 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 te 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 particr Northwind Eagle Guard unit was the sixth regiment, reorganized from Alger¡¯s previous remnants.


    Their currentmander was named Nelly, the only femalemander among the six Northwind Eagle Guard regiments and a former trusted subordinate of Alger.


    Nelly, dressed in thick te armor and holding themander¡¯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 ce was a heart demon for her. Themander 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 formerrades from the sixth regiment, who lived and died together, were buried in the dragonme inferno.


    Thinking of this, Nelly clenched her teeth and secretly swore.


    ¡°I will avenge you, Commander.¡±


    ¡°And myrades.¡±


    ¡°I swear, even if it costs my life, we will tten 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 ce 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 therge-scale war.


    ¡°Commander, it seems there¡¯s something ahead!¡±


    The leading Eagle Guard reported.


    Nelly peered into the distance, seeing over tenrge wyvernsing aggressively, led by a rare Dragon Vein Giant Eagle.


    On the backs of those dragons were knights d 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 shed 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 shed 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 dragonme. 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 oldrade 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 de igniting with a zing me like a beacon in the sky.


    He shouted, ¡°Red Scale Conquerors, destroy them with me!¡±


    The dozen or so yers behind him burst out in an array of cheers.


    ¡°Charge, charge, charge!¡±


    ¡°Light it up!¡±


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°For faction contribution!¡±


    ¡°Damn, airbat is this intense!¡±


    Facing therger and fewer wyvern knights, Nelly¡¯s Northwind Eagle Guards instinctively chose arge circle formation, aiming to utilize the giant eagles¡¯ maneuverability and the Eagle Guards¡¯ numerical superiority to encircle and annihte 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¡¯smand.


    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 yers erupted in excitement.


    ¡°Amazing!¡±


    ¡°Singo got the first kill!¡±


    ¡°My contribution value!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not satisfied!¡±


    Beside him, Mantou eximed 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,e 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 ofbat experience, she knew that shooting urately in mid-air severely diminished uracy, 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,manding 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    Another arrow flew.


    Feathers fluttered in the air.


    A tumbling Eagle Guard fell with a wail.


    Singo lowered his longbow, ncing 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 yers, the Eagle Guards finally approached a suitable distance and began to retaliate.


    Unfortunately, their archery uracy during high-speed flight was worrisome, and even if they hit, the soft and powerless arrows couldn¡¯t prate the tough scales on the Wyvern¡¯s bodies.


    On the contrary, the yers 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 yer with the ID ¡°Big de¡± cheered.


    His strength was as high as 17 points, earning him the nickname Strong Brother among yers. 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 iing arrow.


    ¡°This can¡¯t go on.¡±


    She made a quick decision, raised her Eagle Howl Longsword, andmanded loudly: ¡°Northwind Eagle Guards, listen! Close in on the enemy, form a circr 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 circr formations where three to four Eagle Guards surrounded one Red Scale Conqueror. They nned 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 formermander.


    ¡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 nce.@@novelbin@@


    But in his days with the yers, 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 kic and potential energy were mutually transformed to flexibly respond to different aerialbat situations for maximumbat 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 kic 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 coordinatebat, 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 zing Everburning Greatsword cleanly beheaded the Giant Eagle, and the Eagle Guard on its back plummeted down, wailing.


    Alger ascended once more. His speed appeared rtively 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,manding: ¡°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 alwaysgged behind by a step.


    ¡°Eagle.¡±


    Alger whispered.


    The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle instantly understood and once again dived from high altitude.


    Feathers flurried, blood sttered, 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 ythings, manipted 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 sumbing to despair after that heart-wrenching battle, carried the will of her fallenrades, training tirelessly, diving, and shing repeatedly. She underwent extraordinary trials to finally be the first femalemander 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 Eaglepanion¡¯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 andunching 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 ming 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 shed through her mind¡ªthe evil monster before her, Half-Dragon Half-Person, was in fact her once-admiredmander.


    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¡±


    mes 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,pletely 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 yers 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 bes chaotic brawling.


    What?


    You dare to harass from behind?


    The yers 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 Guardspletely 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 yers¡¯ 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-meternce tightly, his expression was extremely excited.


    Thence 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 Ie!¡±


    Mantouughed maniacally, diving down on his wyvern.


    Just as hisnce 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¡¯szy voice answered, ¡°I¡¯m an archer, aren¡¯t I? If I don¡¯tnd finishing blows, what¡¯s the point? I had him targeted long ago. me yournce 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 hadpletely devolved into a massacre.@@novelbin@@


    Alger no longer paid attention to the chaotic fight. He had been with these yers 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 yers 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 gs 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 arge number ofborers, 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, vignce 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 thebined poption 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¡¯vee, as expected.¡±


    ¡°Anzeta, it has been decades since we¡¯ve seen a war of this scale¡­¡±


    ¡°I must report back to the master immediately.¡±


    Algermanded 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, disying 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 arge-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.


    ¡°ording 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 forrge-scale troop movements.¡±


    ¡°And here¡ª¡±


    She spread out a sheepskin map, her slender finger pointing to a spot¡ª a wide, t valley, nked 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 noment and merely looked calmly over his retainers below.


    Ramp adjusted his gold-rimmed sses 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 be 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 me and strength to utterly destroy them! Crush their pathetic courage and bring them blood and death!¡±


    This time, his promation 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, ring 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!¡±


    Doloresughed 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°We do need to take the initiative.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Dolores¡¯s face lit up with joy, casting a provocative nce 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 ws and fangs.


    ¡­


    In the Northern Allied Forces¡¯ camp, a hand wearing a white glove pped 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, d 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-inw of Duke Brad Rackman,mander 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 intoughter again.


    The spokesperson was Andrei Boske, the third son of the ¡°Northern Lion¡± Boske House, and a young and promising Pdinmitted 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 andughed, ¡°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 ns 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 thousandborers 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 letmoners be cannon fodder? This does not conform to the spirit of knighthood, which values bravery andpassion.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    Everyoneughed 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 hisughter and exined,@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Hmm¡­ They are all volunteers, if they die bravely in battle, the Duchy willpensate their families handsomely.¡±


    ¡°Whether they have families and whether thepensation 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 localndlords, 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 nces around him and lowered his head in silence.


    Robert pointed to the map and continued toy out his tactical arrangements.


    The Rackman Family¡¯s direct army, the ¡°w of the Male Eagle,¡± numbering over eight thousand, would hold the central position, making a frontal attack once theborers 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 nks upon entering Stormy Ridge.


    Private armies of various noble lords, totaling over four thousand, would be interspersed within the allied forces, following themanders¡¯ 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 ¡°me Wing Dragon¡± often reached the North.


    In those poems, the Red Dragon was described as a beloved of Tiamat, an incarnation of the Infernal me Devil, a master of endless mes, the prophesied destroyer of the Northern Kingdom, capable of burning everything.


    Robert sneered.


    ¡°Ha, the so-called ¡®me 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 hundredborers 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 ck 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 tes 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,y 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 exined proudly, ¡°This is a Dragon-ying 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¡ªcier 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-ying Ballista.¡±


    ¡°Now, our Rackman Duchy spent tens of thousands of gold coins to acquire these three Dragon-ying Ballistae and used hundreds of horses and over a thousandborers 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.


    ¡°me 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,ssos, and tripwires only resulted in dozens of deaths, but they caused the front units to move cautiously forward.


    After all, their principal job wasn¡¯tbat; before the war, they were just timidborers, even serfs without personal freedom.@@novelbin@@


    Themander 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 ss to be an honorary noble and themander 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 uncontroble 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!¡±


    Heshed 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 idents, at least they would not be stopped by a trap or two.


    Finally, the terrain opened up ahead, t and expansive, as they finally entered Triel Valley.


    ¡°We finally made it.¡±


    Joseph breathed a sigh of relief.


    Marching through theplex 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 utterlyck 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 ident, 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¡­ pleasee 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 t, expansive wastnd 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, morous 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 ughter 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 ying 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,ing 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 simr¡ªboth used the cannon fodder legion to pave the way and had elite troops follow.


    This winged kobolds and goblins legionprised 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, tworge-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 wed 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 zing ¡°fire men.¡±


    mes, blood, dust.


    There was no tactic on this battlefield, just pure and primitive ughter, 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 copse.

 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 specialmendation from the Duke, being grantednd, and bing a true noble.


    At the very least, he would bravely kill enemies in the presence of witnesses, fight to exhaustion, die heroically, and be 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 deste in.


    ¡°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 theirmander, 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 moreplete 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, wing 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 hisst 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 ughter.


    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, themander 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, ¡°Onlysted 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 ¡°w of the Male Eagle¡± formed tight phnxes 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 te-armored cavalry prepared to charge at any moment.


    In the sky, hundreds of Eagle Guards flew in orderly circles, constantly vignt of their surroundings.


    Behind the tent on the open ground, soldiers worked together to push heavy ballistae forward slowly.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 mes, 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 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 ¡°w of the Male Eagle¡± stood motionless, coldly watching the routed troops being ughtered. 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 shed 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 regr army. Now the only concern was that cunning Red Dragon.


    ¡°Advance! Bring the Dragon-ying Ballista!¡±


    Dozens of strong soldiers pushed the massive ballista, its wheels creaking.


    Over twenty thousand regr troops followed the ¡°w 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 dy 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 upied by a gigantic monster legion.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Severalnd dragon beasts, asrge as small mountains, walked, causing the ground to rumble. They were covered in massive iron armor tes, 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 muscr 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 particrly 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 ¡°w of the Male Eagle.¡±


    And in front of them were still hills of Goblins and Kobolds, but these troops were mostly all Dragon Veins, theirbat power not much inferior to ordinary human soldiers, with quite a few Kobold Spellcasters among them.


    A thousand yers 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 ying 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, thosend dragon beasts were like tiny rats.


    Robert gazed upward at the spectacr 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?@@novelbin@@


    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 misced 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, hurriedlymanding: ¡°Dragon-ying Ballista! Dragon-ying 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 ne. 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 possessrge-scale dragon-ying 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 mes.


    ¡°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 mes and disappeared, leaving only itsst 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, thest being ¡°cier 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 yed 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 yer, ¡°the Mass.¡±


    Under this majestic, soul-stirring melody, a horde of wing monsters charged at the humans, creating an ironic contrast.


    The Kobolds and Goblin Legion at the front swarmed in a frantic attack on the ¡°w 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 fallenrades, showing a fearless advance that arrows could not deter.


    Even when they reached the front of the Spear and Shield Soldiers, they were easily in by spears.


    However, under the cover of life-sacrificing Kobolds and Goblins, the three hundred-strong Goblin Infantry Brigade,posed 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 thickyer of smoke.


    Just from this volley, the front line of ¡°w of the Male Eagle¡± saw over two hundred Spear and Shield Soldiers dead or injured.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 ryed the signal to the front lines.


    The Winged Cavalry, d in heavy te armor, heldnces 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 t wastnd, 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 ws, reduced to a bloody pulp.


    Many more knights crashed into the enormous body, theirnces, even if they pierced the rough and thick skin of the beast, couldn¡¯t prate 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 de stained with old blood, was said to have required twelve Goblins toboriously 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-circr 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 de soaked in fresh blood still warm.


    ¡°Excellent¡­ just like this,¡±


    Blood sttered 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, ughtering cavalry around him, leaving severed limbs and broken bodies in his wake. The Winged Cavalry scattered, fleeing like huntedmbs from this terrifying figure.


    The Infantry Brigade, having reloaded,menced 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.@@novelbin@@


    Fortunately, after several rounds of volley, the Great Goblins¡¯ ammunition ran out, and they discarded their smoking guns, switching to sharp des.


    The Ogres and Lizardfolk charged in unison, shing violently with the main force of the allied army, the ¡°w 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 ughtering madly within the ranks, using ws and fangs or des to relentlessly expand their advantage.


    The Great Goblins hacked with knives, Lizardfolk hurled bone spears, and Ogres swungrge clubs while Kobold Magicians spewed mes.


    ¡°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 theirrades falling one after another under the monstrous onught 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 copse 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 themander of the Northwind Eagle Guards.


    ¡°Aiden, it¡¯s your turn to act. Stop them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡±


    Aiden epted 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 theirnces 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 aerialnces.


    After several charges, supported by the air assault, the rout of the ¡°w 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 theypleted 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 zing mes.


    They had been circling high above the clouds, waiting for the opportune moment. The moment the Northwind Eagle Guards rxed 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 Chargemenced collectively, apanied by imposing roars. Seventeen Ancestral Wyverns breathed torrents of searing mes, 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 sumbed to uncontroble fear, incapable of evading. When the Eagle Guards panicked and looked up, their vision was entirely engulfed by mes.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The mes raged wildly in the sky, the Giant Eagles ignited one by one, bing ming meteors crashing to the ground.


    Alger¡¯s timing was nearly wless. With just this one wave of the Dragon¡¯s Roar Charge, almost an entirepany 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 isted Eagle Guards.


    The Chimera¡¯s three heads roared in unison, pping their Dragon Wings as they, along with two female kindred, joined the fray.


    The aerial battlefield grew ever more tumultuous.


    mes, arrows, andnces 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 momentarypse 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)


    Themander of the allied forces, Count Robert, nervously watched the battle in the sky.


    The adjutant quietly suggested, ¡°My lord, should we use the Dragon-ying Ballista to support the Northwind Eagle Guards? Those wyverns shouldn¡¯t be able to withstand our bolts.¡±


    ¡°No, maintain vignce.¡±


    Robert¡¯s tone was somewhat grave.


    Although the Northwind Eagle Guards were his most important asset, his mind was gued 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-ying 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 be 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 shed and tangled in a chaotic melee.


    A Bugbear crushed the skull of a Spear and Shield Soldier with a Wolf Fang Club, brain matter sttering. 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,nces 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¡± Pdins 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 hade specifically to support the central army.


    ¡°Savage monster, we will grant you purification!¡±@@novelbin@@


    At Tarik¡¯smand, the Pdins surrounded Dolores.


    ¡°Guardian Chain!¡±


    The Pdins 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 shed against the Pdins¡¯ shields.


    With the radiant chains flickering, the force of each attack was divided into seven portions, allowing the Pdins to easily block and counterattack with their Silver Swords.


    Dolores attempted to break through in another direction, avoiding these troublesome Pdins.


    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 Pdins¡¯ defenses, while the Pdins used their numerical advantage tounch 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 Pdins flying.


    But the Pdins 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 Pdin¡¯s shield turned red-hot, his hands scorched ck, 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 isted Pdin tightly.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    Dolores and Acker seized the opportunity and charged.


    The surrounding Pdins tried to block with their shields, but it was toote.


    The Pdin 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 Pdins 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 Pdins became more cautious, multiple protective spells surrounding them, leaving Dolores temporarily finding no chance to attack.


    Panting heavily, Dolores red 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 Pdins¡¯ 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 ¡°w of the Male Eagle¡± was the most elite force of the Rakman Kingdom. After undergoing several attacks, they gradually adapted to the brutalbat against monsters.


    The soldiers loyal to the Duke, stimted by the consecutive deaths of theirrades, had blood-red eyes and stubbornly held the basic defensive line with their flesh and blood, leading to a stalemate for the time being.@@novelbin@@


    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 me to the allied soldiers.


    Death continuously unfolded.


    Blood flowed across the Triel Valley, nourishing the wild grass.


    This vast battlefield was like a ck hole, greedily devouring lives from both sides of the war.


    ¡­


    Due to Cassius¡¯s absolute distrust of the yers¡¯ discipline, he did not ce them in the most crucial frontal battlefield but instead positioned them on the nk.


    Thus, on the side of the Ashen Nest were one thousand yers led by Mezsh 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 nk was somewhat more rxed, 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 yers 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 yer with the ID ¡°Wings of Freedom.¡± By now, he had fully epted his nickname, Holy Light Bro, and ran naked at the front of the battlefield.


    Wings of Freedom¡¯s upation was the nature-embracing Earth Druid, fitting his character, and he was apanied by several owls, his animalpanions.


    ¡°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 yers 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 yers suffered heavy casualties.


    The worst off was Holy Light Bro in bear form; hisrge 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 thinyer 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 yers quicklyunched 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 ck shadow appeared among the yers¡¯ 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-upation of the Mechanic Mage. The piece Steel Torrent wore was the Guardian model, suitable for charging and front-linebat.


    ¡°Make way, let me through!¡±


    Steel Torrentughed 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 unt 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 iing arrows.


    Following Steel Torrent, the yers 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 mes, 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 Torrentughed 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 y.¡±


    ¡°I want to switch upations, 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 yers surged forward, swarming into the breach in the line.


    ¡°For the faction contribution!¡±


    ¡°For the Dragon Maid!¡±


    Sorcerersunched fiery fireballs, Druids summoned strange beasts, Bards yed 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 yers 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 yers, they had no choice but to retreat in panic.


    The Tieflings in the distance initially had their tactics nned out, but after seeing the yers rushing headlong, they suddenly didn¡¯t know what to do.


    ¡°Captain, what do we¡­¡±


    Damascus stepped forward and asked.


    Mezsh 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 be increasingly adept at exploiting the yers.


    ¡°Yes, Captain.¡±


    The Tieflings also charged through the breach made by the yers, but they still maintained a tight formation, attacking in a more orderly manner.


    The yers 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 sh!¡±


    A dazzling light descended from the sky, the sound of metal shing 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 Pdin standing with his sword.


    It was none other than Andrei Boske.


    ¡°You bastard,pensate me for myplete armor!¡±


    The Steel Torrent was furious at the guy who damaged his armor, rushed forward, and swung his left fist, with mes erupting from his arm.


    ¡°Taste my Thunder Combat Fist!¡±


    However, the Pdin was surrounded by Swift Radiance and easily dodged the powered-up strike, then swung his sword again.


    ¡°Supreme Holy sh!¡±


    Another dazzling light shed by.


    With a ¡°ng,¡± 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 Pdin.


    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 be 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 Pdin with his massive armor.


    But Andrei stepped aside, and magical aura sparkled on his sword de.


    [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 yers.


    ¡°Holy crap, there¡¯s a boss!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯sing over!¡±


    ¡°The guild master and deputy guild master were both insta-killed!¡±


    ¡°This Pdin is intense; he chopped down the mecha.¡±


    Natural War Maniac eximed at the Pdin ughtering yers 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 yers attacked were bizarre, and though he had Protection and Swift Radiance, he still couldn¡¯t dodge them all.


    It was important to note that yers 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 theirpanions, 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 yer 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 arrowing 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 iing 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 ce, unable to move.


    Fengyun, the vice president of Royal Guild, eximed excitedly: ¡°He¡¯s frozen, everyone don¡¯t act rashly, wait for our president toe and finish him off!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ming!¡±


    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 yer!¡±


    ¡°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.@@novelbin@@


    But where the Pdin 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 eleration 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 t.


    He pped his hands, satisfied at the sight of the tightly bound youth: ¡°Mission aplished, 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 Pdin, 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 yers on the battlefield.

 Chapter 116: 46: War (10)

    Chapter 116: Chapter 46: War (10)


    Unlike the aimless and tactless yers chasing the Allied Forces soldiers on the outskirts,


    the Tiefling army had already formed a tight offensive formation. Seizing the gap created by the yers, they charged like a razor-sharp de into the three thousand strong Allied Forces.


    Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh 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, sumbing to instinctual panic.


    ¡°No, stay away!¡±


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Run for your lives!¡±


    ¡°Devil, he¡¯s the embodiment of a devil!¡±


    Blood sshed onto his face, and Mezsh¡¯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.¡±


    Mezsh strode forward, swinging his blood-stained great sword and casting down scarlet red light¡ªthe Bloody Sacred sh 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, Mezsh 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 formerrades.


    ¡°No¡ª¡ª¡±


    ¡°Gods¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s truly a devil!¡±


    ¡°This devil resurrected them! He can control the undead!¡±


    Seeing their formerrades 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.


    Mezsh slowly lowered his blood-stained great sword.


    ¡°The effect isn¡¯t bad.¡±


    His pure ck 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, Mezsh was free from any psychological burden.


    Being an Evil Dragon¡¯s retainer, even this¡­


    didn¡¯t matter.


    Mezsh nced around, only to find even his ownpanions having a trace of fear deep in their eyes.


    But he pretended not to see it, calmly ordering: ¡°Continue advancing.¡±


    Under the onught led by the undead, the Tieflings soon chased the crying and fleeing Allied soldiers to the Boske Family¡¯smand post.


    Compared to amander, Andrei Boske seemed more like a front-line vanguard. After the battle started, he charged alone to the front lines, leaving all the heavymand 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 ughter.


    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 ughtered their way to their doorstep, far beyond their expectations.@@novelbin@@


    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 ord¡­¡±


    ¡°These are the Evil Dragon Kin.¡±


    The undead growled and advanced, while the Tieflings stood in formation holding their weapons.


    Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh 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 shing with madness.


    He uncontrobly fell from his horse, thrashing around on the ground.


    Mezsh 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, eximing in horror.


    But it wasn¡¯t over yet.


    Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh slightly nodded.


    ¡°Then I apologize.¡±


    The Tieflings tied up the kneeling nobles.


    Damascus stepped forward, cautiously reporting: ¡°Captain¡­ no, sir, the right nk of the Allied Forces haspletely copsed. The yers are chasing the remnants. Should we cooperate with Lord Ramp andunch an attack on the enemies¡¯ central army from the nk?¡±


    Mezsh shook his head: ¡°No, we retreat straight away.¡±


    Damascus was stunned: ¡°But sir, we¡­¡±


    Mezsh¡¯s pure ck 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 nk of the battlefield came to an abrupt halt with the surrender of the nobles, leaving only a few yers chasing down the routed soldiers. Meanwhile, on the front lines, the fierce battle between the two behemoths and the thousands ofbatants continued.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Chimera¡¯s three heads roared in unison.


    The dragon head spewed scorching mes, 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 sttering 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!¡±


    ¡°Herees my two thousand experience points!¡±


    First came the sound of metal shing, then the soft sound of piercing flesh.


    The six-meter-longnce impaled the unsuspecting Aiden, still in the motion of thrusting his spear, along with his Eagle Guard. Even the finest te armor couldn¡¯t withstand the terrifying force of thence diving from a hundred meters in the air.


    Aiden, captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards¡¯ first regiment, died at the hands of a yer.


    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 themand 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 contemted 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-ying 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, wing and biting, fighting with the allied forces in the distance, and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Scions of the Red Dragon¡¯s me, 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 bing 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 inbat 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 andnded with a crash.


    Despite his numerous conflicts with Dolores, he couldn¡¯t just let him die here; it would be hard to exin to his masterter.


    With this in mind, Ramp calmly adjusted his gold-framed sses 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 nt, 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 iing 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!¡±@@novelbin@@


    Ramp looked down at the Great Goblin with disdain, speaking in a t 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 mes 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 notpletely 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 themand, 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, themand 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 ce, 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 poweres 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¡¯st chance.¡±


    ¡°We must not let them recover!¡±


    The loud sound of the charging horn blew. At Robert¡¯smand, the Allied Soldiers continued to advance, reiming their former positions, but their progress was slow.


    The soldiers moved sluggishly, step by step, and even the warhorses let out exhausted neighs.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Soldiers, victory is within sight!¡±


    ¡°These monsters can¡¯t hold on much longer!¡±


    ¡°You will be 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 brutalbat, 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 militaryw.


    ¡­


    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 finallye 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 nce 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.¡±


    Mezsh 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 yers, 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,pletely sealing off thest 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)

    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-ying Ballista, the massive wheels on the ballista¡¯s base turning slowly with a grating metallic sound.


    Schroeder, the ¡°Grey Hawk,¡± also rode a ck horse, following beside Robert.


    ¡°This damned ce is getting hotter and hotter.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Robert wiped the sweat off his body andined.


    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 ordingly.¡±


    ¡°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, andbined 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 urate.


    ¡°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¡­¡±


    mes, endless mes.


    The distant horizon was dyed a vibrant orange-red, the skyline transforming into a zing, dancing line of fire, with billowing clouds of thick smoke rising, gradually obscuring thend.


    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 zing 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 me, 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 mes; he could even feel the scorching heat and the scent of sulfur in the air.


    Schroeder did not respond. He stood staring nkly 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 behindy an endless expanse of mes.


    To survive, it seemed they would need a miracle from the gods themselves, a miracle that had not urred in the thousands of years of the Third Era.


    In other words, this was a hopeless dead end.


    This was a me-engulfed purgatory!


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    Amidst the seething mes, Cassius let out a powerful, imposing roar.


    ¡°Ignorant humans¡­¡±


    ¡°I am the me, I am Death!¡±


    ¡°I shall bring you total annihtion¡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, mes, 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 pir 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 andrger.


    The Fire Tornado ravaged thend, 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 sh 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-ying Ballistae covered in heavy cloth, as if seeing thest straw of hope.


    If these great crossbows could kill the ¡°cier Wing¡± that terrorized the North a century ago, then they surely could work against this cmity-incarnate Red Dragon.


    His eyes gleamed with ferocity as he murmured to himself:


    ¡°Kill it, just kill it¡­¡±


    ¡°Prepare the Dragon-ying 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-ying 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,y 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 hade again.


    The licking tongues of me drew near, threatening to consume all.


    ¡°As long as this arrow hits¡­¡±


    ¡°It will all be over.¡±


    Robert aimed the Dragon-ying Ballista at the sky, nervously eyeing the approaching Red Dragon, sweat dripping from his chin. He held his breath, his heart pounding.


    Through the zing curtain of fire, he could see those golden, vertical pupils looking down at him.


    mes 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)


    Robert felt a deep sense of helplessness, followed by uncontroble anger.


    How dare this red dragon mock him like this!


    He suddenly loosened his grip, and the several-meter-long crossbow armunched 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 zing inferno, merging into the twisted, swirling fire tornado.


    [Braving the Fiery Pits]


    At this moment, the red dragon truly became the incarnation of me!


    The dragon-ying arrow that once killed ¡°cier Wing¡± passed through the fire without resistance, finally embedding powerlessly into the ground.


    ¡°Impossible, this is impossible!¡±


    Robert copsed 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 mes, his eyes reflecting the dazzling firelight, filled with utter despair.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    As the fire tornado approached, ravenous tongues of me rushed toward him.


    Those terrifying zes rotated at high speed, condensing, forming, finally transforming into the enormous dragon body¡ªthat of Cassius.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Who gave you the courage,¡±


    ¡°to oppose me with these pitiful toys?¡±


    Cassius crushed the few great crossbows under his ws, and the mes surrounding himpletely consumed the prostrate Robert.


    The youngest Earl of Rackman¡¯s Duchy,mander of the thirty thousand allied forces, turned to ashes in the zing fire without a singlest word.


    ¡°The final judgment is near!¡±


    ¡°You pitiful mortals will soon take your leave!¡±


    With billowing smoke and raging mes, 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 ws 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 mes.


    ¡°Help!¡±


    ¡°Stay away from me!¡±


    Faced with this monster akin to a scourge, the allied soldierspletely 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 zing 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 iled, aze, 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 mes, 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 pping his wings, surveying the burning, hellishndscape below.


    This ce, 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 be a carnival for mes, a forbidden zone for the living.


    Cassius meticulously fulfilled his pre-battle promise,nding 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 ssical works of court poets,vishly 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 Cmity¡­¡±


    Luton recalled a line from the holy scriptures: ¡°Sinners cast into purgatory, the mes will consume them.¡±


    ¡°Fire¡­ the incarnation of me, he is the incarnation of me!¡±


    ¡°By the gods¡­¡±


    The captured nobles stared nkly at the sight of tens of thousands of elite troops turning to ash, trembling all over. Many copsed 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 pped his enormous wings, detaching from the sea of mes, 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 disy of fireworks.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Cassius gazed down at them, his golden eyes still seemingly burning with recent mes.


    ¡­


    ¡°The allied forces never had a chance at victory; it was all like a grand y orchestrated by him for himself.¡±


    ¡°That day, mes 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 copse, 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: mes 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 annihted. 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 oue with bated breath.


    When the war ended, news of the total annihtion of the allied forces spread at an astonishing speed.


    And the rumor of ¡°Infernal Cmity¡± Cassius annihting the allied forces with mes 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,posed of the most elite forces of the three duchies, had beenpletely 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.¡±


    ¡°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 ws and prepared, were eager to go. After a few days of rest, they were impatient to charge southward, spreading the raging mes of war from the Triel Valley to the homnd of the Rackman Duchy.@@novelbin@@


    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 tenrge 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 arge 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, weed 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 and 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 ins. 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, morous roars rang out.


    ¡­


    As the North¡¯s situation was in upheaval, Cassius, the culprit of it all,y 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 wed 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 be somewhat fragile, almost unable to withstand it.


    ¡°Tsk, this vessel is still too fragile.¡±


    This cmity, 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.


    Thebination of the two, wind aiding the fire, formed the all-consuming fire tornado.


    But weather itself was a chaotic system with vast andplex 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 tion, 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 bes a meaningless numeral. In other words, you alone can easily annihte 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 ttened a demon army with an iron hammer. He imed he didn¡¯t even blink. Schrs attempted to challenge this academically, but none dared confront him directly.)


    Army Breaker, a terrifying ability.


    Not only did it prove effective in wars againstrge 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¡¯sbat power, but even so, he couldn¡¯t detect any trace of the system, which tempered his sense ofcency 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, Narn], gaining 1800 xp]


    [You killed [Captain of the Northwind Eagle Guards, A], 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, Pdins, and spellcasters, followed by various elite soldiers, and finally, countless ordinary soldiers andborers.


    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 temte 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 epting uncontroble 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 manipte 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 yer 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 be 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 ne, 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 rtively weak, as it would reduce him to a mere pawn.


    ¡°Tiamat¡­¡±


    ¡°Rather than being a pawn, I would prefer to be the ¡®renegade¡¯ who reces her.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    Of course, such sphemous 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.


    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?¡±


    Cassiusmanded: ¡°Find an empty cave within Stormy Ridge, and ce a shrine to Her Majesty Tiamat inside. Regrly send a few gold coins there as an offering.¡±


    After a moment of contemtion, he reminded specifically:@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Also, make sure this ce is far away from Dragon Valley.¡±


    Ramp dly epted 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 nned to rece the gold coins with less conspicuous copper coins¡ªa matter forter, 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. Allmunication 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 be somewhatx. 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 popce below.


    ¡°Will they ughter 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 martialw, 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 notunch 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 waterst 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 bing uncontroble, 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 andining citizens gathered below the city walls.


    ¡°I am so hungry¡­¡±


    ¡°Is Lord Earl going to give us relief?¡±


    ¡°Theseckeys 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 proiming.


    ¡°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 im 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 himy a more than two-meter-long metal smoothbore cannon, but it had no artillery mount. Instead, it was supported on the shoulders of arge 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¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 butnded 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 sttering 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 mored to escape.

 Chapter 124: 54th : Bombardment

    Chapter 124: 54th Chapter: Bombardment


    ¡°Pir, you motherfucker, you missed the shot!¡±


    ¡°Get out of here and stick to ying 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 recalcting and aiming again.


    The distance wasn¡¯t too far, and the terrain was particrly 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 ording to themand, casting a contemptuous nce 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¡¯snding point was exceptionally urate, clearly targeting that general.


    ¡­


    At the city gate of Trolo City.


    The pitch-ck metal shell plummeted from the heavens,nding precisely beside Count Dawson Vileir.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A deafening explosion ensued.


    Shrapnel flew in all directions, and dust filled the air.


    Count Dawson was sted from the city gate to the ground, bing a mangled, charred mess of flesh, mixed with fragments of his shattered ancestral armor.


    His adjutant and the City Defense Army nearby were also annihted.


    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¡¯sst 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 themotion in Trolo City, but the yers 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 urately?¡±


    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 thisplicated stuff. Once we have more resources, I¡¯ll personally make you a Type two submachine gun. Now, go y 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!¡±@@novelbin@@


    Unexpectedly, the Goblin Chieftain andmander 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 shed in his eyes. It was said that his master would personallye 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 gs 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¡¯mand, the most orderly of the Goblin and Lizardfolk troops were the first to enter the city, followed by the yers. 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 asionally 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 weing 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 wee 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, aplete 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鈥檚 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, bing 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 toe 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 uncontroble 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 za, which was once the most prosperous ce in Trolo City but was now filled with unspeakable terror.


    Whether they were former nobles, sergeants,moners, 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 assimted 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, pping its wings, and gradually descended.


    Cassius cast a gigantic shadow on the ground, almost covering everyone at one moment, then he thunderouslynded in the central za of Trolo City.


    The immense figure appeared in the za¡¯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.


    Therge horns sweeping back were like a majestic crown, and the golden pupils seemed to burn with zing mes.


    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 me.¡±


    ¡°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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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, andmoners. Yet no one dared to meet his gaze.


    Silence pervaded the za.


    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, wee 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 ughter, 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 urred 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 ughter. 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.¡±


    ¡°yers, I need to control more yers.¡±


    ¡°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 upied a city with a poption of tens of thousands, gaining the special achievement [Lord]]


    Achievement [Lord]


    ¡°This ce shall be 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 naturalws within your domain.


    (Note: All yers belonging to your faction who are within your territory must pass a stringent will check if they attempt to break thew; otherwise, they will be judged as deceased. Depending on your domain and number of subjects, you can currently enforce: 3ws)


    An invisible power enveloped Cassius.


    His charisma was further enhanced, reaching a terrifying 26 points¡ªalmostparable 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 yers.¡±


    yers 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 yers¡¯ actions, finally making them ustomed to and epting their roles asborers 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 yers, 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.¡±


    yers 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 yer with the ID ¡°Nocturne Psalm¡± sighed.


    Everyone turned their heads, looking at the person warily and distancing themselves.


    ¡°Nocturne Psalm¡± was a yer with the wanderer sub-upation [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 yers in the dark mines.


    His upation 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.


    ¡°ck Beast, go away!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯te into the city with us!¡±


    yers 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 yers 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 minutester, that yer sensed something amiss, touching his now empty finger, and eximed in shock.


    ¡°Wait¡­my ring is gone!¡±


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s the ck 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 yers grieved their losses, Nocturne Psalm had already picked theplex lock and sneaked into a luxurious mansion.


    ¡°Hehe, that poor ce Barto City had nothing good, with annoying sheriffs.


    ¡°Here, this is paradise for us thief yers!¡±


    The interior was adorned with exquisite decorations, many precious gold and silver jewels disyed in mahogany cabs.


    Nocturne Psalm eagerly rubbed his hands, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    ¡°This ne is worth fifteen gold coins, this bracelet eleven gold, this pendant twenty-one gold, these earrings six gold¡­¡±


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    ¡°Treasures, here Ie¡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!¡±@@novelbin@@


    His entire head exploded, like a shattered watermelon, leaving red and white pieces sttered on the ground.


    The next day, rumors circted that several headless bodies had been found in Viscount Burton¡¯s mansion, located in different ces, 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 yer forums.


    ¡°Solemn protest against targeting wanderer yers 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 mockingments, 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.¡±


    ¡°ck 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 yers, 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 yer posts, nodding slightly.


    This disy of killing one to warn a hundred seemed very sessful; these guys had started treating his rule as part of the system¡¯s rules. Once this opening was made, they would gradually ept stricter rules.


    It just needed to be done gradually; if squeezed too hard, pushing yers 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 ¡°w of the Male Eagle,¡± how could the Rackman Family resist the ws and fangs of those Dragon Vein Monsters, especially when faced with the terrifying Red Dragon, known as the Infernal Cmity?


    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 upation, as Trolo City couldn¡¯t organize even a decent resistance.


    With Count Dawson killed by a mysterious weapon, the humiliating white g 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 urred, 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 sawmoners 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 Cmity¡± Cassius, had be 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 militarymander, 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 hepletely conquered the Northern Kingdom, such inversions of truth were only to be expected.


    Once he devoured the remaining twelve countries, all the mor would dissipate, and he would be 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 amodate Cassius¡¯s massive dragon body.


    The Council Hall had once been the ce 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 pirs representing courage and authority.


    Now, this ce 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.@@novelbin@@


    Northwind Castle was left isted within these cities¡ªit was thest remaining city under Rackman Duchy¡¯s control.


    Dailenna fawningly said: ¡°Congrattions, 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 n, like thete Baron Todd.


    Speaking of Todd, the poor guy had already lost his mind after Ramp¡¯s endless tortures and various experiments, reduced to aplete 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 n¡± 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, simr to a sacrificial ceremony. This is the fabled ritual that supposedly allows vampires to evolve into ¡®truly immortal beings.¡¯


    ¡°When the ritual ispleted, 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 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 ces 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 inclothes 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 irregrities 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 yer 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 maniptor, 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 be 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 yers 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 orter. 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 nning for a whole century, and thousands have been forcibly sacrificed over these years.¡±


    The Swashbuckler was stunned and then asked:@@novelbin@@


    ¡°You mean¡­ that old vampire is trying something big?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°I suspect those city residentsbeled as traitors have been taken to the bunker to be made into Blood ves. 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 aplish his so-called great Ascension.¡±


    The Swashbuckler immediately felt eager: ¡°Looks like I have to be 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 shed 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 disyed 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 seed?¡±


    ¡°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 shed 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 mor and noise rose and fell, filling the air in all directions.


    ¡°For the Ashen Nest!¡±


    ¡°upy 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 andnds outside Northwind Castle were upied 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 snowkes.


    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 ves 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 apuse 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, ¡°Iugh towards the heavens with a heroic de, 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 disy.


    With the swish of a de, a head rolled, blood sttered, and many timid onlookers trembled in fear.


    Soon, whether guided intentionally or naturally, differing voices arose within the city.


    People quickly formted a terrifying suspicion¡ªthose ¡°traitors¡± who had been arrested might indeed have be so-called blood ves, 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 za, 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 militarymander, ostensibly the highest-ranking officer, Earl Brandon, surveyed the surroundings.


    In the za below the high tform, 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 dy time at all costs.¡±


    ¡°Once hepletes the great ritual, everything will be resolved.¡±


    ¡°We must extract thest 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 Cmity,¡¯ 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. Evenbined, 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 Cmity was just an excuse for the alliedmanders.


    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 be ves to these monsters, epting 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 ording 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 viting a beautiful young woman before cruelly devouring her. This was personally witnessed by knights of justice in hiding and is a true ount.¡±


    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 endureing 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 oue, but under the Earl¡¯s skillful persuasion, the conversation¡¯s stirring power soared even higher.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost time.¡±


    Brandon thought to himself.@@novelbin@@


    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 ws 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 mes, 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 tribtions of blood and fire. Our ancestors sacrificed their precious lives one after another, which is why this magnificent city stands steadfastly on thisnd 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¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 Gracepletes 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 ck 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 pping its wings.


    The red dragon stood with its back to the sunlight, surrounded by what seemed like a ring of mes. Under the influence of a spell, its massive shadow was cast farrger 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 Cmity¡± that annihted thirty thousand allied forces with fire.


    The soldiers¡¯ hands holding the spears trembled slightly before the spears ttered 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 n.¡±


    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.


    ¡°nder!¡±


    ¡°This is utter nder!¡±


    Cassius ignored them, merely projecting the images of blood ves 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 gs flying, mes will turn everything here to ash, including your parents,panions, and children, without exception.¡±


    ¡°Note ¨C¡±


    ¡°This is not a negotiation, but a notification.¡±


    The ck 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 particr 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 nned yers 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 za, 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 be 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 za. 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!¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Damn it, someone opened the gate!¡±


    ¡°Quick! Raise the drawbridge!¡±


    ¡°No, they areing 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 yer spies lurking in the city, gathered strength, and instigated a mutiny. They killed the unprepared City Guard Armymander 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 themander¡¯s chest, themander¡¯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 formerrades.


    ¡°Kill those Vampireckeys!¡±


    ¡°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 muscr arm holding the Wolf Fang Club, shattering and releasing biting cold, slowing the Ogre¡¯s movements.


    It was the Ice de Technique.


    The spellcasters loyal to the Rackman Family had also joined the battle.


    ¡°Charge!¡±


    ¡°Kill that monster, avenge ourrades!¡±


    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 session.


    Shortly after the Battle of Triel, the yers of Storm Arsenal developed more urate 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, mes, acid, radiance¡­


    The spellcasters rained spells down on the Descendants like a storm, and several Ogres fell in session, dying in various ways, but they showed no fear.


    In the simple minds of the Ogres, only battle and food mattered. Death was amon urrence 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 yers also joined the battlefield.


    In an instant, the dazzling Magical Aura also appeared on the Ashen Nest¡¯s side, and the yers¡¯ attack methods were even more varied.


    ¡°The enemy firepower is pretty intense¡ª¡±


    ¡°Pdins, push forward!¡±


    ¡°Cast an eleration Spell! With an eleration Spell, I¡¯m invincible, okay!¡±


    ¡°Priests, cast a Sanctuary Spell¡ª¡±


    The bare-chested Martial Monk yer ¡°Mighty Heavenly Dragon,¡± with an eleration 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 hade 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 session. The powerful strikes even dented their armor, leaving fist marks¡ªthis skilled Martial Monk yer had activated the mowing mode.


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    ¡°This time, I¡¯ve gone berserk!¡±


    Mighty Heavenly Dragon rampaged through the crowd, roaring triumphantly, his bald head sttered 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 Dragony on the ground, happily looking at the massive contribution and experience points refreshed on his panel, and his screen went ck.

 Chapter 132: 62: The Advancing Player

    Chapter 132: Chapter 62: The Advancing yer


    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 streetbat.


    ¡°It¡¯s my turn to have some fun!¡±


    ¡°Watch me replicate those maneuvers!¡±


    ¡°For every Martial Monk¡¯s dream!¡±


    Many Martial Monk yers 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 yers had found alternative, sneaky strategies.


    For example, Charlotte.


    His [Magic Coin] guild had unprecedentedly epted a Druid yer ¡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.


    [Erge 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 be 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.


    He was now a monster eight meters long and weighing over ten tons.


    Below, the City Guard¡¯s temporary westernmand, led by Baron Alta, was raising his sword high for a final charge.


    d 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.@@novelbin@@


    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, growingrger 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 fleshy 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 Erge 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 yer 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 yers were currently capped at Fourth Level, they were already starting to shine.


    ording 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 unitposed of Level One professionals was already considered elite.


    But a thousand professional yers, 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] wasunched, tens of thousands of yers flooded into Erezer, and they would make their mark on the entire world.


    Back to the present, with the yers¡¯ 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 ying 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 ns to sacrifice the souls and bodies of 1674 vampire variants to obtain a great ascension.


    When ck mist shrouds the moonlight and blood boils in the body, Duke Brad will transform into an immortal Vampire King! Once his ascension isplete, 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 Mezsh 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 nced 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 Mezsh 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 ce of the pureblood Serpentfolk spies. Thedy boss here had long been bought off by Gold Coins, willingly bing ackey 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 tant gathering ce for the Ashen Nest faction.


    A four-person team pushed the door open and entered, finding the tavern bustling with noise.


    The yers had gathered together.


    ¡°Bossdy, do you have ming 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 yer 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 nced disdainfully at the nearby Tyrant and scoffed.


    Singo lowered his voice and said to him, ¡°War Maniac Bro, don¡¯tpete with the Royalty in group tasks. Focus on the important NPC first.¡±


    ¡°Look over there.¡±


    He signaled with his eyes.


    Alger and Mezsh were sitting at a wooden table in the center of the tavern, with two sses of wine on the table.


    Although there had been quite a bit of friction before, now, to deal with theirmon enemy¡ªBrad Rackman, the two still sat down together to discuss strategies.


    Facing his archenemy, Alger looked particrly 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.¡±


    Mezsh nodded slightly, took a sip from his cup, and then said, ¡°A very simple and crude n, 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 himplete the Ascension Ritual, the consequences will be unimaginable.¡±


    Mezsh gave a lightugh. ¡°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.¡±


    Mezsh 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 yers in the tavern were all directed at him.


    Mezsh had be adept at controlling yers.


    ¡­


    Outside Rackman Castle, at Twilight Garden.


    This lush forest surrounded the ancient castle, isting 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 ws spiraling ominously.


    And deep within the forest, howls echoed back and forth, causing hearts to race.@@novelbin@@


    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?¡±


    Mezsh 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, Mesf, 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 ce 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 ce 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¡¯te 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


    Mezsh 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 gue 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 nts will grow at a supernatural speed. Vines and various undergrowth nts will quickly cover buildings and roads. After the withervine creatures kill or drive away all the residents, an entire vige can perish within days.¡±


    Mezsh swung his sword and severed a thornshing 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 de ignited with fierce mes, setting the withervine creature aze 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 yers began to disy 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,posed 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 mes, the scorching power of fire spread along the de to the withervine creature, igniting its arid, withered, and twisted body.


    With a grin, Mantou withdrew his sword:


    ¡°One strike each.¡±


    Singounched ming 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 mes spread out, directly incinerating over ten witherbeasts into charcoal.


    However, this was not thergest area-of-effect damage among the yers.


    The president of the Eternal Brilliance Guild and Light Priest yer 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 waspletely 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 im the lives of lostmoners and solitary adventurers, but facing bizarrely capable, explosions-loving yers, they were helpless.


    After all, the ancient evil forces had not taught them how tobat the Fourth Cmity.


    The yers hacked their way through the Death Forest and quickly reached Rackman Castle.


    The Twilight Garden behind them was now filled with thick smoke and mes, with withervine creatures burned to ruins everywhere.


    ¡­


    The sky seemed to be covered with a thin blood veil.


    Rackman Castle appeared decrepit and deste, as if ravaged by endless time. The castle, built from ck 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 surroundingnd into darkness, instilling fear and oppression.@@novelbin@@


    Mezsh 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 ofbat 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 mes.


    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 d in terrifying te 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 ce, 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 mes spread, devouring life at the slightest touch, turning the earth into a semnce of Hell.


    ¡°This ce¡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.


    Mezsh raised his blood-stained Great Sword high, his pitch-ck 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 yers unleashed various Radiance and me 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 be 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 bing 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 mes.


    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 be instinctual, as if cast from the same mold, though Alger¡¯s maneuvers were notably more aggressive, often featuring daring shes of brilliance.


    zing mes 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 te armor shattered, revealing cracked bones, with ghostly mes 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 sh!¡±


    Using the momentum of the rapid dive, the half-dragon knight shed 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 mes extinguished, its body turning into a mundane skeleton, with bones falling from the sky.


    Alger gracefullynded 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 ves howled in agony from iron cages.


    At the center of this underground world stood a massive stone tform, a hundred meters in diameter, inscribed with twisted, eerie runes, surrounded by bottomless abysses.


    Encircling the stone tform were seven tall stone pirs, each adorned with devilish carvings. Every pir had a vampire variant bound with iron chains soaked in blood.


    They resembled sinners of religious myth, bound naked to the pirs, 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 pirs, her ornate dress removed, exposing her pale, beautiful form.@@novelbin@@


    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 be the immortal monarch of the night!¡±


    ¡°He will be the eternal master of darkness!¡±


    ¡°Let our blood boil within His body, let us embrace the great Ascension!¡±


    The sound of bats¡¯ wings pping filled the air.


    Brad Rackman emerged from the tunnel¡¯s end, not taking the stairs but instead floating upward, slowly ascending to the stone tform.


    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, atst, 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 pirs, 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)


    ording 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 ritualmenced, 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 be the embodiment of Envy in that remote little ce, ultimately bing 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 rece 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 be 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 be a sacrifice without being able to resist, should be a most wonderful thing,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to it¡­¡±


    A gleam of expectation shed 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 ves, 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 ves all fell to the ground, licking the floor like devout zealots.


    The Swashbuckler also knelt down.


    To be 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 nce at the uninvited guest.


    The visitor had pale skin, scarlet eyes, and wore a luxurious ck 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 pping, 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 tform for the ritual.


    The bats dispersed, and the Swashbuckler¡¯s vision was no longer pitch ck. He immediately saw the variants bound to the stone pirs, 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, ying 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 be 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, simrly bound to the stone pir, 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 shing 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 Swashbucklerplied 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, oldmp!¡±


    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 rece Todd¡¯s identity doesn¡¯t seem enough to make me feel ¡®love¡¯ for it.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Duke Brad was aplete 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, rm bells were ringing in his head.


    ¡°Wait, what the heck is this old Biden nning 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 yer 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, be 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,pletely freeing himself from Duke Brad¡¯s control, bing a true vampire!


    ¡°You deceitful creature! You tricked me!¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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-soakedpel 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 ept. 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 Swashbucklerpletely 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. Heughed 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 p 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 be 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,pletely blocking his mouth.


    ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°Thest sacrifice.¡±


    Brad Rackman gently raised his hand, causing Swashbuckler to float midair, mming his back against a pir symbolizing ¡°Jealousy¡±.


    The blood-soaked iron chains wrapped around his body like a python,yer afteryer, leaving no chance for escape or struggle.


    The blood of the vampire derivatives flowed steadily.


    Gradually filling the eerie patterns on the stone tform, creating a massive blood array.


    Swashbuckler, unable to move, bound to the pir, thought to himself: ¡°This is probably it, this old freak is too strong, but at least I kept my dignity.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness no other yers saw this.¡±


    ¡°Or I¡¯d be theughingstock of the forums.¡±


    Swashbuckler secretly rejoiced.


    But what he didn¡¯t know was that yers had already been watching invisibly at the entrance for a long time, struggling to hold back theirughter, with Mantou¡¯s face even turning red.


    These elite yers were professional enough to remain silent, fearing they would be discovered by the boss.


    However, the yer 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 copse 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 yer 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 pirs were still chanting. As time went by, their voices gradually turned into wails.


    Blood gradually filled the patterns on the stone tform, 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 nned for centuries!


    Seeing that they were exposed, themander of the operation, Mezsh, 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 ughter of thousands of his people, ten years of hardship and wandering¡­


    Now, the final conclusion was finally approaching.


    ¡°Kill him!¡±


    Mezsh charged forward.


    At the entrance of the passage, the yers 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 yers, after a brief moment of panic, they steadfastly executed the prenned 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 tform where the vampire stood.


    Meanwhile, the bard yer ¡°Flying Guitar¡± yed 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, mes, and force fields created a dazzling disy of spell lights directed at the figure outlined by the violet glow within the mist.


    The martial monks, warriors, pdins, and barbarians among the melee yers charged into the mist, following the glow of the demonic fire tounch their attacks.


    Steel Torrent also summoned his newly built guardian mecha, frantically pouring bullets while raising a shield to charge at the vampire.


    Mezsh, leading the charge, already carried his blood-stained great sword to the front, excitement in his pure ck 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 mes 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 shing.


    Clearly, it was far from over.


    Suddenly, Duke Brad¡¯s raspy voice echoed in the dark underground world. The sound was erratic, seeming toe from everywhere.


    ¡°Foolish mortals.¡±


    ¡°Your attacks are utterlyughable.¡±


    ¡°For I am everywhere¡­¡±


    ¡°I once swept across thend 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 be 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 tform.


    At this moment, Brad Rackman had shed his luxurious attire and donned a robe of red and ck. He floated high above, his crimson-glowing eyes disdainfully and coldly look down on everyone on the tform.


    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 nowy 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 yed with the blood mist, hunting down the yers, effortlessly killing them and absorbing their blood, driving them to their wits¡¯ end.


    In just a few minutes, over a dozen yers met their end, all elite fighters.


    ¡°Damn, the guild leader got one-shot again!¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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.¡±


    Mesf swung his sword, dispersing the blood mist. ring at the vampire in the air, he muttered, ¡°No, he¡¯s absorbing power, getting stronger.¡±


    ¡°We must stop him.¡±


    Mezsh looked towards a dark corner, a peculiar light in his pure ck 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 eleration Spell on me!¡±


    The Tyrant shouted to Fengyun.


    But before he could finish, a ck tendril rose from the ground and wrapped around him tightly, turning his muscr 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 tform, bow drawn and arrow ready, aiming again at the Vampire, but ck tendrils rose from the ground and wrapped around him, dragging him into the endless Abyss below.


    The yers were desperately running, dodging the terrifying blood mist and tendrils, while Duke Brad leisurely paced back and forth in the center of the stone tform.


    ¡°I am the Lord of Darkness.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 dering the fate of the crowd.


    Countless bats and rats surged from the darkness, obeying themands of the Monarch of the Night, attacking them in waves. Some yers were gnawed to pieces by thousands of rats.


    ¡°Supreme Holy sh!¡±


    Mezsh 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.


    Mezsh stared intently, pointing the sword¡¯s tip at the Duke.


    ¡°I will kill you, Vampire.¡±


    His pitch-ck 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 yful smile.


    ¡°Oh? I remember you.¡±


    ¡°Leader of the Child of the Devil, pitiful scapegoat.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, your wailing and criessted 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 shing in his eyes.


    He enjoyed seeing the despair and pain in the eyes of these mortals. Clearly, Mezsh was just such a presence, and he would personally extinguish the Tiefling¡¯s hope for revenge.


    ¡°I will kill you.¡±


    ¡°Kill you¡­¡±


    Mezsh 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 Mezsh remained expressionless, paying no heed.


    The image of his family struggling in the mes 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 y your mortal enemy?¡±


    Duke Brad spread his hands nonchntly.


    Mezsh charged forward, swinging with all his might. The longsword, glowing with a scarlet hue, shed 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 sttered instantly.


    It even sprayed onto Mezsh¡¯s face.


    However, Duke Brad merely gripped the de 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 Mezsh¡¯s face.


    Yet, Mezsh showed none of it.


    The previous rage seemed only a facade.


    The Tiefling¡¯s expression instead became calm. His pitch-ck 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 Mezsh 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 ce, kicking his feet in a ridiculous manner.


    But Mezsh did not dare to rx in the slightest because he knew the mighty vampire before him could break free from the spell¡¯s restraint at any moment.


    ¡°Alger!¡±


    Mezsh 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 w of the evil dragons, the Red Scale Conqueror, born for revenge.


    He would y 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, prating 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¡­¡±


    ¡°Mezsh, is it over just like that?¡±


    Alger, riding his giant eagle,nded 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.¡±


    Mezsh 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, bing 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 pir 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 bing tall and strong¡ªhe had absorbed Traviv Rackman¡¯s constitution.


    Finally, the worst fear of Mezsh 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 waspletely 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,¡± bing 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 Mezsh, 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!¡±


    Mezsh 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 toote. A sensual Vampire Variant on the stone pir exploded, bing filthy, viscous blood.


    In dying moments, she moaned loudly: ¡°I will be satisfied in his eternal desire!¡±


    That was Lnnie Rackman, the Duke¡¯s second daughter, a symbol of lust.@@novelbin@@


    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 Lnnie 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 marite, of Duke Brad.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    Alger¡¯s eyes turned vacant as he swung his Everburning Greatsword towards Mezsh.


    Unarmed, Mezsh 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 tform.


    ¡°Struggle, tremble!¡±


    ¡°You can never escape your destined fate.¡±


    Under the Duke¡¯smand, Algerunched a stormy assault on Mezsh.


    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¡­¡±


    Mezsh 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 Mezsh 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 pir, his whole body smeared with Potion to iste his aura, peeking at the fierce battle on the stone tform.


    ¡°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 Mezsh 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 pirs. 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.


    ¡°ng.¡±


    The iron chain broke with a sound.


    Swashbuckler fell from the stone pir.


    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 eximed, ¡°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 eximed 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 umted 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 ck 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 tform, 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 Mezsh. This time, he had no escape and had to flee to the entrance passage, with the space to stand growing increasingly smaller.


    ¡°Rebellion,e 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 assimted the Vampire temte¡¯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 temte 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 me portal appeared out of thin air.


    A ck-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 bitte?¡±


    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 yearster, 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 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 ne, 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 me.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Scorching mes 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, rity returned to Alger¡¯s eyes.


    Cassius paid no attention to the still somewhat disoriented Alger. Instead, he pped 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, uncontroble 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 ck clouds, charging forward one after another, followed by a surging sea of blood.


    The vampire¡¯s umted 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 iing 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 mes, 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 mes. 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 me energy from his entire body to his lungs. The scorching fire elements umted 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 me Breath]


    ¡°Boom!¡±@@novelbin@@


    A blinding white-hot pir of fire spewed from the red dragon¡¯s mouth, instantly piercing through the blood sea in front of him.


    With a sizzling sound, the mes 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 pir of fire toward the vampire.


    For the first time, a hint of panic flickered in Duke Brad¡¯s scarlet eyes.


    Such terrifying mes, 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 me 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 pirs.


    In an instant, the vampire variants bound to the stone pirs were engulfed by the white-hot mes. When the mes 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, perishedpletely.


    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 mes.


    ¡°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 bepletely 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 mes¡ª¡ª


    Duke Brad could no longer bear it, his scarlet eyes filled with boundless fury as hemanded 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 mes mercilessly engulfed the vampire variant on the stone pir.


    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, s, she was gone now.


    ¡°Let it end, all of this.¡±


    The air was twisted by the scorching mes, white smoke filled the surroundings.


    Cassius, still unsatiated, closed his mouth and nced 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 ck-red, his skin changed rapidly from pale to a near-gray hue, his fingers transformed into sharp ws, and a giant bat wing unfolded behind him¡ªan undying monster, the iplete form of an ascending vampire.


    In this moment, Duke Brad lost all previous nobility, naked like a beast, his bare chest showing an eerie ck 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 shing 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 w, grabbing the airborne, unprepared vampire, dragging him to the ground before mming 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 ttened 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,pletely nullifying any spell abilities.


    Despite being pinned under the Red Dragon¡¯s w, 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 umted 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 stillughed wildly; ¡°You can¡¯t kill me, worm! I am immortal!


    ¡°We can y 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 tform¡¯s ground copsed violently.


    ¡°Useless¡­¡±


    The vampire¡¯s words were cut off as he was crushed into a meat patty once more, blood and gray matter sttered 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 ava-like texture, and his throat glowed with a dazzling white light.


    [Extremely Effective me Breath]


    A pir of fire engulfed the vampire¡¯s hideous body.


    Yet Cassius did not stop.


    The scorching, terrifying white mes 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 producedyers 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¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I will¡­offer everything¡­to kill you.¡±


    Cassius felt a strong mana fluctuation from the bottom of the magma, his heart instantly rmed.


    ¡°Does he still have a trump card?¡±


    The Red Dragon quickly wed at the vampire from the magma, effortlessly pulling him out.


    The vampire¡¯s condition was particrly 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 ck 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 ck fog, pping his wings to chase after it.

 Chapter 144: 72 Voice of the Night (I)

    Chapter 144: Chapter 72 Voice of the Night (I)


    Cassius followed the ck mist as it flew through the castle.


    He saw the array in the iron cage flickering, countless blood ves howling as they exploded, turning into ghostly ck mist, rushing in a certain direction.


    ¡°These blood ves have all been sacrificed¡­¡±


    ¡°Their destination is probably the outside world.¡±


    Thinking of this, Cassius stopped chasing and instead pped 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 copse 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 ck canopy.


    The surrounding colors were tainted by the environment, dim as the universe, filled with monotonous ck and white, while tall ck mountains appeared in the distance.


    Over the Twilight Forest, countless clumps of shadowy material gathered together, forming a continuously rotating ck mist vortex.


    Cassius gazed at the ck 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 ne, was a dimyer connected and coexisting with the Prime Material World, a realm of darkness and power, sinister in nature, a deste bordend of the unknown.


    It was filled with amorphous, mist-like shadow creatures, empty and deste, devoid of any life.


    The ck 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, assimted 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 nar barrier by the ck 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 aplex, high-tier space distortion, only smoothing out the most superficial fluctuations.


    The red dragon opened its mouth, spewing out a scorching me Breath.


    The zing mes immediately set those shadow creatures aze, 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 dragonme, 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 entitying to the Prime Material ne 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.


    mes, lightning, and radiance intertwined and crisscrossed within the vortex, yet they could not stop the ck 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¡±


    Apanied by a deep roar, a dragon projection wrapped in ck mist floated out from the vortex, bing visibly more solid.


    The powerful existence in the Nether Shadow Realm, truly descending into the Prime Material ne, required some time.


    Its enormous body, over twenty meters long, was covered in lusterless ck 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, apanied 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, ck mist-like dragon saliva dripping.


    ¡°Soon, I¡¯ll be back in the Prime Material World again, and this feeling¡­ is really nice.¡±


    Cassius pped his wings with all his might, barely managing to hover in midair, facing the farrger 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 destion, 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 viges, even towns, into deste ces 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 nar-level disaster!@@novelbin@@


    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 [nar 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 deadnd.


    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 ck and silent, filled with monotonous ck and white. The trees¡¯ withered branches twisted grotesquely, the sky was shrouded in endless shadows like a ck dome, and the distant mountains remained a vague ck 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 ce to facilitate my arrival in the Material ne.¡±


    ¡°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 pped his wings, his expression rxed, 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 tock 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 ne, 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 schr, 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 ck 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 mes at the transforming, defenseless projection.


    However, the mes, 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 mes nonchntly, chuckling mockingly.


    Though the mes pierced his form, the projection continued to solidify, entirely unaffected by the ze.


    ¡°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 me 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 phantomposed of shadows.


    ¡°So this is a shadow creature?¡±


    ¡°mes, 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 toe 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-ck 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 disying the ck mist that was once Duke Brad.


    ¡°What a fearsome power¡­¡±


    ¡°Will I truly be trapped here, awaiting the Shadow Dragon¡¯s descent?¡±


    Cassius pped his wings, gazing at the slowly descending ck 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 nes, 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!¡±


    Mortifaelughed openly: ¡°The Dragon Queen¡¯s darling? Every red dragon ims 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, ept 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 ne 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 shing with intense magical aurora.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The illusion pierced through the ne¡¯s barrier, traversed the Prime Material ne, 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 ck 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 ck 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 multiyered illusory damage of fire, ice, and acid hitting his body, the power of the sixth-tier spell was insignificant to his soul, steeped in deste 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, bing despicable shadow creatures. Moreover, no dragon god emerged among them, and even the five-colored evil dragons scoffed at them.@@novelbin@@


    Gold dragons with a sense of justice would even actively seek out shadow dragons, gathering their kin to eradicate thempletely, 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 uncontroble anger, as if burning with ghostly shadow mes.


    ¡°Damn red dragon.¡±


    ¡°Damn Prime Material World.¡±


    This moment of hesitation allowed the repulsive force of the ne to act on the shadow dragon ipatible with the material ne, shattering his attempt to invade the Prime Material World.


    This time, he had already harvested thousands of shadow souls; centuries of nning 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 ne¡¯s barrier has been breached by those thousands of resentful spirits.¡±


    ¡°This ce 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 ne repent force forcibly expelled his descending projection from the Prime Material World, dragging it back to that lightless, gloomy ce¡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.


    ¡°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 mes. 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 inplete disarray. Traces of the Shadow Curse still lingered here, with broken branches and sttered mud emitting faint ck 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 be extremely fragile, almost on the verge of bing 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¡¯tpletely 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 ck 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 Fan, and be 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 be 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 be 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 y 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 bepletely 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-ss events.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself.


    This was one of the side quests in version 2.0 [Kings¡¯ Strife]. The Holy Fan Empire, also known as the Sun Empire, was the most expansive and most powerful nation on the central continent.@@novelbin@@


    Its emperor had received the blessing of the Sun God Amentana and created an armyparable to divine descendants using the divine artifact ¡°Wheel of Eternal Radiance.¡± This army was invincible, conquering vastnds for the empire, proiming, ¡°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 Copse of the Holy Fan,¡± marking the beginning of [Kings¡¯ Strife].


    Tiamat used a cult to control the southwestern Kingdom of Seleucis in the Fan 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.


    Perhaps it was theziness within the True Dragon bloodline, or the confidence brought by continuous victories, but after falling asleep, he had grown somewhatcent, 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 n 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][Dyed Spell]]


    Although he had risen two levels, the newly gained spell slots were too high and there were only four slots. This was a shoring 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 seventhyer 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 Cmity 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 spellsts, 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 arge number of items. The items in the Bag of Greed be 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 Cmity Dragon Eye]


    7th-tier Divination Spell


    [An incorporeal dragon eye appears and floats, moving ording 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 theplex spell information in his mind, Cassius was somewhat exhrated. 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, Mezsh 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 ipetence 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.


    Thest obsession of ¡°human Alger¡± had disappeared. What remained was merely the body of the loyal Red Scale Conqueror from Ashen Nest¡ªhalf-dragon Alger.


    Mezsh 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, Mezsh naturally despised everything rted to vampires, but rationality told him that only the Red Dragon could decide everything.


    Cassius looked at Swashbuckler.


    Swashbuckler wore a ck 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, bing a true vampire with terrifying regenerative abilities and could even create his own vampire variants.


    Seeing the Red Dragon¡¯s gaze, Swashbuckler immediately shed a ttering 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: ¡°¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 ttered: ¡°Great name, boss! How did youe 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 bes the most sessful 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 socialdder, 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 be infamous in the future.


    Once already unafraid of death, these yers 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 upied 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.@@novelbin@@


    Every gate of Northwind Castle was guarded by the Goblin Army, armed with muskets, enforcing martialw. No one dared to escape, for patrolsposed 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 copse spread throughout Anzeta.


    Though the Northern nobility had anticipated the duchy¡¯s fall, its swift demise left them stunned.


    ¡°Infernal Cmity¡± 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 rm, with everyone fearing for their safety.


    But soon, Bipedal Wyverns appeared across Anzeta, dropping leaflets like snowkes.


    It was an official promation¡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 ughtered and enved the local popce, creating horrifying atrocities and umting 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 udius Norixius, upheld justice and righteousness for the deceased, killed Brad Rackman, and brought the dark and decaying Rackman Duchy under his enlightened rule, officially dering the formation of the great Ashen Kingdom.


    After this promation came a series of bewildering additional uses.


    ¡°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. Theyck 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 mustpensate 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, ¡°me 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 p of his wings.


    Remember, even ¡°cier Wing¡± a century ago only destroyed a city and did not upy a duchy, let alone extort the entire Northern United Kingdom.


    Dragons ruling thend 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 ce, 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 mmed the flyer on the long table with a resounding ¡°p.¡±


    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 ept such humiliating terms!¡±


    ¡°Who does he think he is? Just a fire-breathing lizard! We Scania People have ughtered 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, mming the table: ¡°Yes! We must reim the Rackman Duchy¡¯snd! 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 tant 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 de¡¯ 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 de¡¯ 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 Fan 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 Fan. 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 unt 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 Cmity¡± 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, proiming 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 wouldmit 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 isplete nder!¡±


    ¡°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 nder.


    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 iming 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, thew-abiding Tieflings had be 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 helpedmit 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, Mezsh was not an extreme avenger but a pragmatic individual willing to do anything for the continuation of his race.@@novelbin@@


    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 reiming Northwind Castle, he chose to align with the previously unpopr doves advocating for peaceful coexistence with humans to bnce those hawks.


    Mezsh 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.¡±


    Mezsh murmured to himself as he watched everything.


    Those blue,ke-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.


    Mezsh 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 ce 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 bing the kingdom¡¯s main pir.


    ¡­


    ¡°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 sinct ¡°Dictator¡¯s Rule¡± after another.


    Though he could not enforce ¡°immediate death¡± upon vition among the original residents as he did with yers, he only subtly influenced them to follow subconsciously, and that was enough.


    Under Cassius¡¯s dictatorialws, 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 unpaidbor 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 ws¡± 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 themon people, and even faced trials. Those once-oppressed ves regained their freedom, and small boys were rescued from basements.


    yers too rushed into the city, eager to seize opportunities. The ¡°Mechanical God Cult¡± guild yers 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 imed to ept allmission tasks.


    Some thought these were merely Ashen Kingdom¡¯s attempts to win over people¡¯s hearts while secretly nning 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 toplete the criminal code?¡±


    ¡°Lord Cassius, if I may speak frankly, this task is too monumental. Topile aprehensive kingdom code¡­ this isn¡¯t something we canplete in just a few months.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Why?¡±


    ¡°The structure of the Ashen Kingdom is tooplex. We must consider the local productivity, social structure, and even the habits of different races and the use of spells. This is apletely new field for us, and without arge 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 regted by writtenw, 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°My Lord, I think this timeframe is still¡ª¡±


    ¡°I will provide you with all the textual materials umted over a century in Rackman Duchy and arge 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 yer¡¯s name was ¡°Clouds Light and Breeze Mild.¡± His expression at the moment was particrlyplex, a mix of joy and sorrow.


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    He was just an ordinarywyer, 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 yers who had reached the upation limit of level 4, ¡°Clouds Light and Breeze Mild¡± was just a level 1 ordinary yer who had never taken on abat mission, having only killed a chicken¡ªsimr to many ordinary yers.


    ¡°Clouds Light and Breeze Mild¡± originally intended to earn some contribution as a sorcerer but unexpectedly exposed his high professionalpetence by ident, and was assigned the task ofpiling 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¡± nced around at the various yers, most of themw students and even internwyers. 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, reced 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 yers need constant prompting to keep up the pace, lest they ck off. Otherwise, they might dy 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 couldplete it within three months. But by setting the deadline at one month, he could push them to race against time.


    yers always likedpromises. 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. Theption of the code was simr.


    ¡°The Dictator¡¯s Rule has limited influence on the native people; it cannot rece realws. The kingdom needs a genuine code that can transcend ages and races.¡±


    Cassius thought.


    The Red Dragony sprawling in the council hall. Its gigantic body made the hall, which could amodate 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, thend belongs to the empire!¡ªHoly Fan 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 mes 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 shing 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 ck-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, ustomed 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 copse. They also feared the mes 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 me.¡±


    ¡°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 thest Arcane Priory meeting, his generosity had caught many¡¯s attention. Spections about his identity were rife, with the most reasonable and widely epted one being: ¡°Remnant me¡± was an illegitimate noble child from the Southern Fan 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 herements 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°He actually ced the noble Northern aristocrats on equal footing with those peasants, those Gray Beasts. It¡¯s simply iprehensible!¡±


    ¡°This is aplete 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 wares, the Fano Duchy will fight to the death! We will never let ournd fall into monsters¡¯ hands!¡±


    Cassius listened to these impassioned derations, 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 ce 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 nced 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 helpplete 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 stillvishly 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 havee 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 disyed sympathetic and regretful expressions.


    Schroeder¡¯s voice gradually became hoarse.


    ¡°I once witnessed that Red Dragon destroy our allied forces, annihte our cities, while I stood powerless.¡±


    ¡°Now, this Red Dragon has destroyed the country I served, brutally oppressing my people, mercilessly ughtering 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 ording to my investigation, the Duke you served, Brad, was indeed a vampire, and the Ashen Kingdom hasn¡¯tmitted 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 nder! He is the true vampire, greedily draining the Northern Kingdom!¡±


    ¡°And who knows what atrocities this evil dragon maymit in the future? Today he ughters nobles, tomorrow he may devour entire cities, even the entire Northern human poption!¡±


    ¡°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 ughtered 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, mming their tables in unison.


    ¡°That evil dragon must pay the price!¡±


    ¡°The tyranny of the Ashen Kingdom wille 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 disy 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 amcking 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 ying 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 me.¡±


    The ck-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 ¡°ws¡± in the Shape-shifting Spell and the subsequent exchanges uncovered an unmistakable arrogance, leading him to suspect that Mr. ¡°Remnant me¡± 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 deste ces 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 thanplete 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 me¡± stood up, mming the table.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    He nced 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 me, 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 be 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 shing in his golden eyes.


    Their hands sped tightly together, pledging to join forces to vanquish the brutal Red Dragon that gued 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 themand 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 particrly absurd.


    Thus, the meeting ended with everyone in high spirits.@@novelbin@@


    People praised Lord ¡°Remnant me¡± for his righteousness and wished them sess 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 ce 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 ce. 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 Coboration_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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 herpanions were Silver Dragons of the same n.


    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 goodster.


    ¡­


    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 coborator.


    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, wee 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 cab.


    Cassius narrowed his eyes slightly, immediately bing 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 ck 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 Pr Night Demon Tower, and even turned his own daughter into a half-human, half-dragon monster, bing the so-called ¡°Dragon Fan ck 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 Pr 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 exined: ¡°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 disying the pride of a Gold Dragon.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you know. Human, I will cooperate with you, but don¡¯t think about ying any tricks.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Remnant Fire.¡±


    Schroeder took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Lord Remnant Fire, our n is this: You will return to your true form and engage the Red Dragon in directbat, 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 nce 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 mymand 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 bepletely 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 seed 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 nning revenge against the King of Ashen, Cassius. Please gather 20 yers 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 toin, 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!¡±


    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 monthter, 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 isplete.¡±


    ¡°Good, very good.¡±


    Schroeder revealed an expression of unconceble joy, already imagining the sess of his ns.


    ¡°Soon, I will kill that Red Dragon, be 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 yers 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 n, he impatiently waved his hand: ¡°Of course, go to Teman to retrieve them yourself¡­¡±


    Charlotte eximed 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 tter 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 mes opened.


    A young noble with ck 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 wastnd 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 yful glint shing 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 Fan, 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 y 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 dered 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, sess rests on this moment!¡±


    ¡°I believe the evil dragon¡¯s reign will end soon, and justice and order will prevail in the North!¡±


    ¡°p p p¡­¡±


    The spellcasters rose and apuded as though their great sess were already achieved.@@novelbin@@


    Charlotte watched Cassius¡¯s earnest expression and pped whilementing 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 apletely 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 toplete annihtion.


    Cassius nced 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 ce 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 immediatelye to our sor, 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 ourbined 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 n, his greatest foe, the terrifying Red Dragon known as the King of Ashen and Infernal Cmity.


    ¡°Begin your ¡®dragon ying¡¯ 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 t ground had nothing but wildflowers and weeds.


    This was the site Cassius had chosen to build a grand pce in the future, the ¡°safe casting ce¡± he had provided for Schroeder.


    In a month¡¯s time, he hadpletely transformed this ce 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 exined, ¡°This is a barrier of breath istion. 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 hisst chance to redeem himself.@@novelbin@@


    The twelve Grey Robe Mages cast sound istion spells, just in case.


    The parchment scroll radiated a dangerous aura, and itsplex 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 me can burn me to ashes.¡±


    ¡°I will control it, I will bind it, I will be the dragon!¡±


    The yers guided that magical power, drawingplex and eerie patterns on the ground. These patternsbined to form the powerful Eighth Tier Spell¡ª Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle.


    ¡°It¡¯s finally starting.¡±


    ¡°I will be a dragon-ying 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 ughtered.


    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 yers stood at the outer edge, handling the most basic spell controls.


    ¡°Buzz¡ª¡±


    As thest controller took their ce, theplex 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 andplex. 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 mes.


    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 Cmity, 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 yers, shouting maniacally.


    ¡°They, they are all spies too!¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°This was all a lie from the start!¡±


    Over twenty yers revealed their true identities as spies,unching 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 fullye 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 myst hope¡­ I want you dead! At any cost!¡±


    Schroeder, driven mad, as the primary controller, forcibly activated the iplete 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 hadpletely 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. Hisst resort was futile.


    He copsed 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 be 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 hezily flew over from the city,nding 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:


    ¡°Congrattions, 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 be 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 Bet 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 aplete process in ce. 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 topletely 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 be menialborers within the tower. Their lives, even their thoughts, are under my control. Any signs of trouble can be immediately eradicated, with no unusual situations urring.¡±


    ¡°As for the senior mage Bet 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 sessful, it posed significant risk, potentially bing an unstable factor within the Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°So, I made a unteral decision to kill him and turn him into a magical item. Master, please forgive me. This item was only justpleted, 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.


    Bet¡¯s Wisdom


    Quality: Rare


    Creator: Ramp


    Introduction: The Ogre Mage Ramp enjoyed a congenial conversation with the noble mage Bet from Victoria Port, appreciating his wisdom and considering him a close friend. Bet felt fortunate, thinking he would be freed by his ¡®friend,¡¯ only to meet Ramp¡¯s ughter¡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 Bet¡¯s dying scream: ¡°Ramp¡ªwhy did you kill me?¡±


    Effect: Intelligence +3


    Proficiencies: Arcane +4, Knowledge +4, Research +3


    You can store spells that Bet 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 Bet¡¯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 thest time it won¡¯t be excused.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Ramp knelt down in response.


    ¡°These mages are yours to handle. Extract their valuepletely.¡±


    ¡°I willplete 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.@@novelbin@@


    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, thepleted Vagnard¡¯s Dragon Binding Magic Circle remained in ce, 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, cing 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 Knightsy in concealment, quietly waiting.


    They were d in heavy armor, with breasttes 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 ck lion¡¯s mane around his neck, and the lion on his breastte looking more lifelike¡ªhe was Frederick Orbi, one of the original seven Knight Commanders of the Lionheart Knights, known as the ck Lion Knight.


    Now there were only six Knight Commanders. His childhood friend and brother-likerade, 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 prated 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 annihted here?¡±


    ¡°So you must always remain vignt about the surroundings. Rest assured, ording to the Duke¡¯s orders, if we encounter a life-threatening situation, whether or not the task ispleted, 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 Cmity¡± that had crushed thirty thousand from the Allied Forces,


    but he kept reminding himself to hold firm belief, trusting in his ability toplete the mission sessfully, 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 Pdins with Divine Sense could see these subtle radiant energies and react quickly, ensuring theirmunication 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¡­¡±


    ¡°Seeded?¡±


    Frederick¡¯s face lit up with excitement.


    Even the alwaysposed ck 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 sess! Quickly, go to support those heroes!¡±


    ¡°Yes, captain!¡±


    Under the effect of the invisibility screen, the Lionheart Knights advanced rapidly along the pre-nned route, camouged by both terrain and spells, towards the signal¡¯s origin¡ªthe dense forest.@@novelbin@@


    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 ce?¡±


    ¡°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, ¡°ughtering 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 woond, 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, cing 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 bing 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 be the ck 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 missionpletion, the Lionheart Knights retreated.


    Enclosed by an invisibility screen crafted by a court mage, distorting the iing 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 pping, 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 Cmity¡± 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 y 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 mes. 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 ¡°ck Lion Knight¡± raised his Sword of Oath,manding 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 imprable in defense and devastating in attack. Anymander 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 pping his wings as he observed the knights below.


    ¡°Is this the tortoise shell Dolores mentioned?¡±


    ¡°Interesting.¡±


    The Ashen Kingdom¡¯s forces hadpletely surrounded the area. Cassius had no worries the knights would escape; instead, he grew curious and wanted to study this special sub-ss of the Boske Family: the [Lionheart Knights].


    With this in mind, Cassius swung his ws towards the ground.


    [Scratch Technique]


    The barely discernable w-shaped Magical Field materialized before the Red Dragon, and with a casual wave of his w, this magical power was directed at the Lionheart Knights on the ground.


    Frederick looked at the gigantic w 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, prating 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°So, can you withstand the mes?¡±


    Cassius narrowed his eyes, gently opening his jaws.


    Fiery light surged from deep in his throat.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Immediately, scorching mes 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 Cmity¡± incinerating the allied forces with mes.


    But they didn¡¯t know this was just a controlled breath attack by Cassius.


    Facing these terrifying mes, 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!¡±


    Frederickmanded harshly.


    The Lionheart Knights maintained their giant shields to fend off the sky, a thinyer of light appearing outside the shields, resisting the continuous fire assault.


    ¡°Lion Spirit Guardian!¡±


    The ¡°ck 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 mes, even showing signs ofunching a counterattack.


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±


    ¡°We are the invincible Lionheart Knights!¡±


    Frederick shouted, inspiring hisrades 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, thebined 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 y 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 mes 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 mes.

 Chapter 161: 88: The Knights Submission

    Chapter 161: Chapter 88: The Knight¡¯s Submission


    ¡°Aaargh¡ª¡ª¡±


    With a heartrending wail, the lion waspletely consumed by the mes.


    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 me Breath cost him virtually nothing.


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡±


    The Breath started as a conical spread, then gradually condensed into a pir of fire.


    The mes 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 mes.


    Under the baptism of the white-hot fire pir, the giant shieldposed 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 mes, 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 Cmity,¡¯ truly a hellish sight¡­¡±


    He looked up at the blinding white mes descending from the sky like divine retribution, watching hisrades die in agony, their faces contorted in horror, hearing their anguished cries¡­


    The face of this ¡°ck Lion Knight¡± exhibited an inexplicable calm, perhaps thest 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 be one of the Lionheart Knights¡¯manders, 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 ravagednd, momentarily ceasing its furious mes.


    ¡°Those whost long under dragonme, I admire you.¡±@@novelbin@@


    His powerful voice echoed over thend.


    ¡°Submit to me, serve the Ashen Kingdom, and I will grant you great power and long life!¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, onlyplete death awaits you!¡±


    The remaining Lionheart Knights on the ground raised their heads, ring 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 be 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 hisst 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 be 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,nding precisely on those knights.


    The sound of burning bodies echoed, sparse mes flickered on the wastnd, wails continued, and the Lionheart Knights perished one by one.


    Soon, only thest Lionheart Knight remained¡ª¡±ck 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 tounch a fearless charge like hisrades, fulfilling hisst 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 ¡°ck Lion Knight¡± with a yful 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 tly,


    ¡°Surrender, or die.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Surrender.¡±


    Frederick gritted his teeth and bowed his head.


    Like a fateful decision, the once ¡°ck 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 thinyer 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.


    Cassiusy sprawled on the massive iron throne, looking down at Frederick who was kneeling on the ground. His voice was slightlynguid.


    ¡°Frederick, you are one of the seven great knightmanders 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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]


    [ck Lion Knight ¨C Frederick]


    Basic Ability: Tenth-Level Lionheart Knight


    Challenge Level: 10 (5900 xp)


    Assessment: Thest among the seven knightmanders of the Boske Duchy¡¯s Lionheart Knights, excellent in sword and shieldbat techniques, he became a knightmander through outstanding performance in battle.


    He was indeed one of the seven great knightmanders. Althoughcking loyalty, hisbat prowess was undeniable.


    A tenth-level Lionheart Knight would still be considered high-levelbat 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 subss derived from the [Oath of the Crown] Pdin. 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 andws 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 Mezsh¡¯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, ording to Cassius¡¯s experiments,bining his bloodline gift with existing upations could create unique faction subsses for the Ashen Kingdom, even bestowing these to yers to make them die-hard loyalists of the Ashen Kingdom.


    The Lionheart Knight Order possessedprehensive capabilities, ying 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 be a retainer of the True Dragon. Remember, you willpletely 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 hade 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 n, this new upation did not need to be paired with Dragon Vein creatures, also somewhat considering the yers¡¯ 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 yer, 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 aplete 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 knightmanders of the Lionheart Knights, known as the ¡°ck 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 unustomed, 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-upation Constructed Sessfully]


    upation Advancement Requirements:


    Join the [Ashen Kingdom] faction.


    Be a retainer of the faction leader [King of Ashen, Cassius].


    Have at least three levels of Holy Warrior upational level, proficient in military weapons like shields and swords.


    Possess a certain degree of dragon bloodline.


    [Please name your faction subss¡ª]


    Cassius nced 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 subss derived from the pdin, naturally requiring an oath like that of a pdin to wield holy oath magic.


    [Create an oath for the faction subss.]


    Cassius pondered for a moment, considering the specific conditions of the Ashen Kingdom, and created a new oath based on the Oath of Conquest.


    mes danced wildly in the air, forming lines of chaotic text¡ª


    [Dragon¡¯s Creed]


    Pdins who took the oath of Dragon¡¯s Creed would brand the creed onto their upper arms.


    Extinguish the me 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 youpleted the conquest, tolerate no dissent. Those who adhered to the kingdom¡¯s order would be favored and be 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 ubow Norixius was your sole master of blood, spirit, and even soul. You must unconditionally obey themands of the Red Dragon until the end of time, or face total annihtion.


    Cassiusmanded:


    ¡°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 be a Lionheart Knight.


    At that time, the energetic Duke Leo had just aplished the great feat of forming the Lionheart Alliance, proudly cing his sword on Frederick¡¯s shoulder, conferring upon him the supreme glory of the Lionheart Knight.


    But now, things had changed; he had be a retainer of an infamous dragon who made the North tremble in fear, soon to be the w of the Red Dragon in its conquest of the world.


    However, Frederick felt only a sense of irony and noplex 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 me of hope, enforce order with an iron fist, the Dragon Lord above all.¡±


    As the words formed from mes embedded themselves in his upper arm, they left behind charred marks glowing with fire.


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    The Red Dragon pressed its sharp w tip against Frederick¡¯s arm, piercing the skin before exerting any force. Blood seeped from where the w 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 subss waspleted.


    [Dragonsworn Holy Warrior]:


    [The Dragonsworn Holy Warriors were a special group of pdins who sought powerful strength, eternal life, or reveled in warfare and conquest, yearning for the baptism of blood and fire. Yet they all shared amon 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 pdin oaths, those who broke their oaths would not be Oathbreakers but would instead burn alive in both body and soul, dying in the most excruciating manner.


    When the Dragon¡¯s Roar echoed across thend, 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 pdins, [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 me, 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 me damage, ce 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 breathced with the scent of sulfur.


    ¡°Very impressive faction subss.¡±


    ¡°It also seems somewhat familiar.¡±


    Cassius pondered for a moment, thenmanded Frederick to use his newly obtained abilities.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Frederick obedientlyplied, releasing that power.


    [Guiding Dragon Force: Majesty of the Dragonkin]


    A familiar Dragon¡¯s Might emanated from him, though it was much weakerpared to the Red Dragon¡¯s.


    ¡°Continue.¡±


    [Guiding Dragon Force: Dragon Vein Connection]


    A scarlet spiritual chain coiled around him, radiating intense heat butcking other targets for connection.


    Cassius watched the disy 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 subss, 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¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Divine Arts?¡±


    Cassius thought.


    Yet deities still seemed too distant; he was presently more thrilled by the birth of another powerful faction subss, a new significant aid for the Ashen Kingdom.


    ¡°Frederick, Imand 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, dly epting 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 werepletely annihted. Even the ¡°ck 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.


    Cassiusy 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 exined:


    ¡°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 ce. To facilitate management, he confined the surrendering tribes here, establishing it as a nation, and renamed the chieftain ns to Norton.¡±


    ¡°However, over the past four hundred years, with the intentional assimtion by the Scania people, thenguage and customs of the Principality of Norton have be nearly indistinguishable from the northern countries. Even the surname Norton has long been epted 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 n 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 stilly 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 assimte its legacy and couldn¡¯t manage such a vast region.


    Moreover, the Holy Fan Empire, after this great rebellion, would have a few years of resurgence. Dering 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 Fan Federation.


    Meanwhile, Cassius currently had only a thousand yers under hismand, and these beta yers would temporarily disappear over the next four years.


    The time point Cassius envisioned for unifying the North was five yearster.


    Yes, five yearster.


    By then, the great copse of Holy Fan 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 yers would surge into Erezer, with Cassius confident to recruit at least ten thousand of them to serve him.


    This n, after numerous internal discussions within the Ashen Kingdom, was close to perfect.


    That would be the convergence of time, ce, and people.


    Cassius would then dere war on Boske Duchy and the northern countries, unifying the entire North with an overwhelming force, bing the lord of Anzeta, and bringing the [Northern Wind and Cloud] version¡¯s yers under his rule.


    Immediately after, the Ashen Kingdom, or rather, the Empire, could march south and participate in the Kings¡¯ Strife as disruptors, bing the greediest vulture preying on the remains of the Holy Fan Empire.


    This was his n 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 bing 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 ns had long been suppressed.


    Although their lives had be much more affluent after looting the nobles¡¯ wealth,pared 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.@@novelbin@@


    Suddenly, amotion 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 165: 92 Reactions from All Sides

    Chapter 165: Chapter 92 Reactions from All Sides


    ¡°Thetest 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 d 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 youngdy 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 uncontrobly, thinking how easy it was to deceive these naive noblewomen.@@novelbin@@


    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 theirst 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 otherplicated 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 thetest 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 quiteposed, 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, reiming 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 seed.¡±


    ¡°A pity, I shouldn¡¯t have sent the Lionheart Knights to assist.¡±


    ¡°Cassius ubow Norixius¡­¡±


    Duke Leo articted 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 uppletely wiped out.


    Fortunately, he had sent ¡°ck Lion Knight¡± Frederick, whose loyalty was questionable, and Duke Leo had long wanted to rece him.


    He turned to look at Count Trischka not far away.


    ¡°Trischka, any response from Holy Fan?¡±


    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 Pr Night Demon Tower, Dragon Fan Mage Vagnard, right.¡±


    Duke Leo shook his head and said: ¡°He¡¯s aplete 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 mmed the table and stood up abruptly. Even the usuallyposed 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 asrge as some of the more powerful counties. The entire region had only three cities, and three-quarters of its poption resided in Kenya City, a city built with the assistance of the Boske Duchy. The name meant ¡°ce of rise¡± in the Scanianguage, 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 yers 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 andughed excitedly.


    Having experienced manyrge-scale wars and seen the effectiveness of firearms, this war-savvy goblin had be 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 werepletely 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 themand 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, copsing to the ground, muttering continuously: ¡°What¡­ what powerful iron pipes.¡±


    ¡°Coward.¡±


    ¡°You will no longer be my personal guard.¡±


    Dolores nced 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! st them away!¡±


    Doloresughed heartily, savoring the delightful smell of gunpowder in the air, hisughter 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 disy before. The simultaneous cannon sts 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 ¡°assimtion¡± 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 copsed, 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 t 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, ughtering 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!¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 ming 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 mes, 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 Cmity?¡±


    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, wee 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,pletely 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!¡±


    Copsing on the ground, Gardel¡¯s voice was heavy with resignation.


    ¡°Lord Oliver, it¡¯s toote. 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 cor 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,ughing angrily: ¡°Maybe you can surrender, but do I have that chance?¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget the Rackham Family is already extinct, and most of the nobles in the Rackman Duchy have been ughtered. 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 hey on the ground.


    Yet he did not panic, instead a semnce 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 sttering 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,¡± bing theughingstock 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.


    ¡°Damn it, how could they break through so fast? Useless bastards.¡±


    Duke Oliver tossed Gardel¡¯s unseeing head aside, contemting 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 thest 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 wasvishly adorned, with flowers symbolizing the repose of the deceased nted 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 ce for each Duke.


    Hundreds of years of assimtion had made the Norton Family¡¯s burial customs almost identical to those of the Northern Nobility.


    ¡°This is the ce.¡±


    ¡°You may stand guard outside. Await my return.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    The trusted aides obeyed, guarding the entrance.


    Grand Duke Oliver approached thergest 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.


    ¡°ording 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 nking 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¡­


    ording toter investigations by court schrs, 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¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 arge horn ced 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 cier.


    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 imed 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 deste environment of the cial teau 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 naturallyrge 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 cier 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 cier at the northernmost tip of Anzeta, a ce called the Icebound Forbidden Land. Every now and then, they would raid the South with apanying blizzards. However, the interval wasn¡¯t fixed; it might be years, decades, or even centuries.


    Sixty years had passed since thest Frost Giants raided the South in the ¡°Frost Cmity.¡± That cmity 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 Cmity.¡±


    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 shed 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 ring 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 cial blue.


    At this moment, he was like the master of frosty cmities, even able to control ciers 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 wildughter.


    With hisughter, 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.


    ¡°This, this is.¡±


    Oliver¡¯s trusted aides were all stunned, rooted in ce, 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 nced at the ice sculptures, with not the slightest bit of remorse for his once-loyal subordinates, nodding with satisfaction instead.

 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 ck 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 copsed to the ground with weak breaths.


    [Dragon¡¯s Breath]


    Cassius lightly waved his w, 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¡­ ipetence¡­¡±


    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 dragonsbined 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 shed 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 me Breath]


    Far more concentrated than frost power, the gathered fire elements formed a zing white pir 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 mes 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,pletely igniting his rage.


    ¡°You¡¯re asking for death!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you sleep forever!¡±


    Oliver roared recklessly.@@novelbin@@


    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 mes, the mes 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 uncontroble power.


    ¡°Come, attack me!¡±


    ¡°Let me see your power!¡±


    The red dragon still sneered, slowly pping his wings amidst the storm, hovering midair through spatial power, with mes 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 mes!


    With Oliver¡¯s spell skills, he couldn¡¯t even discern the simplest me 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 w.


    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 w-shaped magical field appeared behind Oliver, easily shing 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 bnce and explodedpletely!


    ¡°I clearly hit¡ª¡±


    ¡°No¡ª¡±


    Cold light seeped from his mouth, nose, and eyes.


    Duke Oliver¡¯s inted 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 irregr extreme-cold crystals, like a cier 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,menting.

 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 be a Dragon Sanctuary Holy Knight. He was now diligently studying in the Hall of Dragon Oath, though it was unclear if he would seed.


    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 thatsted 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 n and even receiving the surname ¡°Everfrost¡± from the Frost Giant god Soleim.@@novelbin@@


    When the war ended, both sides were paralyzed. Even in his old age, Kobal was still alive. Knowing that his n 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 snowkes falling from the sky to freeze your enemies.


    [Kolba¡¯s cier Prison]


    9th Level Shaping Magic


    A nearly hundred-meter-high cier 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 be 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 n.¡±


    ¡°A truly powerful legendary equipment, but unfortunately, there are too many limitations, and it doesn¡¯t suit my Red Dragon form.¡±


    Cassiusmented 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¡¯tpatible 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 n near the Vaar cier. 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 thest page, her brow furrowing slightly.


    ¡°When the horn is blown again, the Frost Giants from the extreme north will stop at nothing to reim 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 Cmity.¡±


    Dailenna cautiously lifted her eyes, and seeing that the Red Dragon did not interrupt, she continued.


    ¡°The Everfrost n, estimated to have over three hundred Frost Giants, hails from the ¡®Icebound Forbidden Land¡¯ of the Vaar cier at the northernmost end of Anzeta.¡±


    ¡°These Frost Giant ns periodically invade the south along with blizzards. The timing is uncertain, and the Northerners refer to such invasions as ¡®Frost Cmities.''¡±


    ¡°It has been over sixty years since thest Frost Cmity. 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 cmity firsthand; viges 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 shed 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 cmity for all enemies, never a victim of any disaster.¡±


    ¡°Notify the retainers and prepare for battle. I want to collect arge 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 cier covered in white frost and snow sparkled with a chilling light.


    This ce, known to the world as the ¡°Icebound Forbidden Land,¡± was the Vaar cier, the survival ground of the Frost Giants for millennia.


    Within the crevices of the cier, beds made of solid ice could be found, scattered with clothes made of animal skins, bone spears, and rough stone des¡ªmarking the gathering ce of the Everfrost Tribe.


    The cial 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 fewnd 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-ded axe, feeling the resonance in his blood, and roared excitedly.


    He was tall and strong, standing over eight meters high, with cier-blue skin marked with scars. His whitish beard resembled a pool of frost and snow, and he wore strands of frost and ice pirs 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 hadunched thirteen major invasions into the south, known as the ¡°Frost Cmities,¡± 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 cier quickly, and Kasa had originally nned 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 ce.


    Even the usually reckless Kasa restrained his excitement at this moment, tentatively asking:


    ¡°Elder Nur, is it time?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°We will reim 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 tomunicate 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-ded axe trembling. The tribe¡¯s centuries-old wish was about to be fulfilled by him; he would be the most sessful chieftain in a thousand years.


    ¡°Excellent, Elder Nur!¡±


    ¡°I will gather all the tribespeople andunch a war against the humans in the south, reiming 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.¡±


    Kasaughed heartily, casually shouldering his double-ded 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 Cmity¡¯ by the southerners. Even dragons would have their necks snapped by my own hands.¡±


    There was a sh of confident gleam in his eyes.


    ¡°We bring disaster to others; no one dares to provoke us!¡±


    ¡°Hope so.¡±


    Nur remained nomittal, 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 sessfulrge-scale raid by the Frost Giants could result in looted goods thatsted decades, a valuable opportunity for the Frost Giants growing on barren ciers, and a symbol of the achievements of sessive chieftains.


    ¡°Reim the Eternal Frost Horn!¡±


    ¡°Kill all the southern humans! Rob them all!¡±


    Standing at the cier¡¯s summit, Kasa raised his double-ded 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.


    Piging 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 reim 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-ded 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 cier covered in white frost and snow sparkled with a chilling light.


    This ce, known to the world as the ¡°Icebound Forbidden Land,¡± was the Vaar cier, the survival ground of the Frost Giants for millennia.


    Within the crevices of the cier, beds made of solid ice could be found, scattered with clothes made of animal skins, bone spears, and rough stone des¡ªmarking the gathering ce of the Everfrost Tribe.


    The cial 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 fewnd 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-ded axe, feeling the resonance in his blood, and roared excitedly.


    He was tall and strong, standing over eight meters high, with cier-blue skin marked with scars. His whitish beard resembled a pool of frost and snow, and he wore strands of frost and ice pirs 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 hadunched thirteen major invasions into the south, known as the ¡°Frost Cmities,¡± 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 cier quickly, and Kasa had originally nned 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 ce.


    Even the usually reckless Kasa restrained his excitement at this moment, tentatively asking:


    ¡°Elder Nur, is it time?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°We will reim 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 tomunicate 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-ded axe trembling. The tribe¡¯s centuries-old wish was about to be fulfilled by him; he would be the most sessful chieftain in a thousand years.


    ¡°Excellent, Elder Nur!¡±


    ¡°I will gather all the tribespeople andunch a war against the humans in the south, reiming 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.¡±


    Kasaughed heartily, casually shouldering his double-ded axe, confidently said:@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Elder Nur, you¡¯re worrying too much.¡±


    ¡°For us, no scourge could exist. Let¡¯s be real, we Frost Giants are called the ¡®Frost Cmity¡¯ by the southerners. Even dragons would have their necks snapped by my own hands.¡±


    There was a sh of confident gleam in his eyes.


    ¡°We bring disaster to others; no one dares to provoke us!¡±


    ¡°Hope so.¡±


    Nur remained nomittal, 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 sessfulrge-scale raid by the Frost Giants could result in looted goods thatsted decades, a valuable opportunity for the Frost Giants growing on barren ciers, and a symbol of the achievements of sessive chieftains.


    ¡°Reim the Eternal Frost Horn!¡±


    ¡°Kill all the southern humans! Rob them all!¡±


    Standing at the cier¡¯s summit, Kasa raised his double-ded 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.


    Piging 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 reim 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-ded axe, and made a silent vow.

 Chapter 173: 100: The Duke and the Player

    Chapter 173: Chapter 100: The Duke and the yer


    A weekter.


    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 hisposure like this. The bad news ofte was too much, making even the usually calm duke find it hard to ept.


    The Principality of Norton had been swiftly annihted 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 Cmity¡± started to stir once more. Signs of Frost Giants¡¯ advancement had appeared near the Vaar cier.


    ¡°Your Grace, Your Grace!¡±


    The adjutant rushed in hurriedly, bringing thetest 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 Cmity.¡±


    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. ording 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°That¡¯s not right¡­ This is different from the recorded Frost Cmities.


    ¡°ording to records, during the Frost Cmities 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.¡±


    ¡°ording to domestic schrs¡¯ 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 Cmity from the north, with the Frost Giants and the giant dragons tangled up amongst themselves, too preupied 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, ttering: ¡°You are wise, my Lord, that is exactly what I was thinking.¡±


    Duke Leo¡¯s expression slightly softened, finally revealing a hint of rxation: ¡°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 ording to records. The oue of their sh 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 annihte the Ashen Kingdom, then we can aid the Ashen Kingdom in resisting the Frost Giants, exhausting their remaining strength to fend off the cmity for us. Once the Frost Giants retreat, we can slowly settle ounts with the Ashen Kingdom. If the Ashen Kingdom prevails, during thex period after their battle with the Frost Giants, we canunch 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 ubow 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 dered 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 yers daring to break thew in the city. Mantou now considered the original residents as his primary targets. For instance, the notorious ¡°ck 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 be eerily quiet, with few special cases urring, 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? Howe 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 yournguage. 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 unting 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 Cmity!


    Seeing that the neer 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 poprity on the forums, where curious onlookers often checked in, pushing the thread¡¯s count to over ten thousandments, making it andmark within the forum.


    Swashbuckler sneered: ¡°Humph, I think you¡¯re just jealous of my higher position and strength. My Vampire temte 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, ring at Swashbuckler with bared teeth and a low growl.


    Swashbuckler was so frightened that he stepped back a few steps and hastily said:


    ¡°Don¡¯te 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¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 ratherrge 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 alreadyplete.


    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 mes.


    At the very top of the building was an exceptionally t and open tform, 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 rewardsckluster, so he returned to the city tofortably serve as sheriff. Only Singo remained in the patrol team, now promoted to squad leader, bing 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 cking 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 officiallyunches, 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 yers are probably doing daily quests¡­¡±


    Recently, Mantou¡¯s videos hadn¡¯t stirred much excitement, mainly consisting of patrol diaries within the city. Thest popr video was ¡°Exploring Rackman Castle¡±¡ªparticrly the thirty seconds between Swashbuckler and the old vampire, which earned him thousands ofments, also making Swashbuckler hold a grudge.


    Singo gave Mantou a disdainful nce.


    ¡°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 thetest 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 toe 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 Cmity]


    [Every few decades, the Frost Giants from the ¡°Icebound Forbidden Land¡± at Vaar cier blow their horns and start a rapid march from their icy home, apanied by howling blizzards. Wherever they go, towns and viges 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 Cmity¡± by the natives of the North. Now, the Frost Cmity is rising again, but this time the Frost Giants have a clearer target¡ªthe Ashen Kingdom. They intend to plunder everything here and reim 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 Cmity!]


    ¡°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 simr 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 rted 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-rted 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 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 hemanded 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 inted 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 ck Tooth, named after his yellowish-ck teeth. Kobolds loved this kind of naming convention.


    Though grumbling, ck 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 ck 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 ck Tooth¡¯s movements and covering his scales with a thinyer of frost.


    Just as ck 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 d 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.¡±


    ck Tooth quickly tried to run, but the cold had already stiffened his movements. He looked up in terror as the fur-wrapped foot gotrger in his vision.


    ¡°St!¡±


    The sound of flesh and bones being crushed was heard, and ck Tooth was squashed into a meat patty.


    The Frost Giant nonchntly 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 n Leader Kasa to gather information around Stormy Ridge.


    ¡°Teman, don¡¯t forget the n 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.


    This Frost Giant was different, being taller by half a headpared to hispanions. 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 des 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-ying 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 Giantsst 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, wereughably helpless in his presence.


    ¡°Enemy attack!¡±


    ¡°Heavens, what is that?¡±


    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s the Frost Giants!¡±


    ¡°The Frost Giants are attacking! Frost Cmity is here!¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 pped 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 be 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 zing 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 ck, 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 mes are weak and feeble!¡±


    ¡°Come! Fight me in closebat!¡±


    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 pped his wings, dodging the bone pickaxe while reaching the frost giant¡¯s back.


    ¡°Burning Hands¡±


    The winged kobold extended his ws, a cone of me spouting from the center of his palm, burning the frost giant¡¯s unprotected back, leaving arge 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 avnches on the White Summit Peaks. Even the dozens of frost giants present here were enough topletely destroy a city, far beyond what these kobolds could contend with.


    Thinking of this, Jin Ya roared and pped 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 themand 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?¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 aughingstock among his tribe.


    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±


    ¡°I must kill it.¡±


    ¡°And the dragon behind it¡­¡±


    Baya stared intently at the small ck dot in the distance, filled with hatred, the scars on his face particrly 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 thinyer of frost.


    The frost giants, on the other hand, were unscathed, swiftly clearing the battlefield. They would only take therge chunks of gold,pletely ignoring the kobolds¡¯ small gear and trinkets.


    Simr 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 regr 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 poption in the Stormy Ridge.


    Keep in mind that kobolds and goblins in the Stormy Ridge had be 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 nned to ssify 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 be Ashen citizens, while the ordinary ones would remain monsters, with a nned strategy for their control and cleansing. Most of the ordinary monsters, given their high reproductive rate, would be 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 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 ovepping wings, like thick, dark clouds, blocking the sunlight.


    The wilnd 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 be 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 woulde 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 ridingrge tundra dragons or running on the ground, charged towards the valley, apanied 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 jubtion, 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 exhrating 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 Cmity!¡±


    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¡¯smand 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¡±


    Apanied by noisy screeches, the ¡°clouds¡± in the sky descended; hundreds of bipedal wyverns dived chaotically, spitting scorching mes, 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 viciousbat.


    These frost giants wererger 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 sttered 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 inbat tounch their assault.


    ¡°Advance!¡±


    Derol shouted themand.


    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 tomand the legion.


    The Goblin Infantry Brigade marched in unison to the beat of the half-goat people¡¯s drums.


    The frost giants asionally 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 anothermand, 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 ttering 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 copsed 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 abat stance, unable toprehend 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¡­¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 ountable, even though he was the n leader¡¯s brother.

 Chapter 178: 103 Bayas Evacuation

    Chapter 178: Chapter 103 Baya¡¯s Evacuation


    ¡°ughter these little creatures, avenge our n!¡±


    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 onught of firepower.


    At the same time, several Chimeras swept across the sky, spitting lines of mes 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 uncontrobly.


    ¡°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 ttered him many times, the Chimera finally swooped down from the sky, pouncing on the Frost Giant¡¯s back, grabbing hold with its ws, and the dragon head spewed out mes.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The fierce mes 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 mes 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¡¯tpete in this battle due to their size and strength.


    As for Baya, in terms of strength andbat skills, he held absolute dominance, progressively pushing the Chimera into a corner. The Chimera¡¯s only effective counter was its me.


    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 ws, 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, pping 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 n 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, n Leader Kasa said, when the horn sounds, we must gather immediately. Besides¡­¡±


    His tone paused.


    ¡°Our nsmen 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 ce 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 frozennds, which not only made the environmentfortable for the Frost Giants but also prevented enemy incursions.


    The Frost Giants used these frozennds as bases to raid and plunder all nearbymunities.


    Kasa stood on the top of the slope with his double-ded 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: ¡°n 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 tten that fortress. Just give me fifty more warriors, and I guarantee¡ª¡±


    Kasa frowned, angrily looking at Baya as he rudely interrupted:


    ¡°Twenty-six nsmen? 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 clearlyck. You¡¯ll give your position to¡­ Teman.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see such rash behavior from you again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, n 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 n 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 cier 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.


    ¡°n 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, ording to the former n Leader¡¯s map, there is only one human city within this range¡ªNorthwind Castle.¡±


    ¡°Good, very good.¡±


    ¡°Capture that city, reim 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, n 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-ying feat.¡±


    ¡°Once we reim the Eternal Frost Horn, I will turn the entire North into a frozennd, 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 thetest 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, apanied 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.¡±


    ¡°ording 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 n nicely. I don¡¯t like running around putting out fires and losing the initiative.¡±


    ¡°However¡­ this charade shoulde 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, iming to assist the Ashen Kingdom against the Frost Cmity. 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 yful light.

 Chapter 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 Fan 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 stilly 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 andposed, 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 wlessly 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 wee you bing so-called ¡®observers¡¯ because only when you truly see the disparity in strength will you refrain from causing trouble behind my back.¡±@@novelbin@@


    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, iparable 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 be 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 Fan in the South and the Free Trade Federation in the West. I have seennds 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¡¯smand, they felt as if they had been granted a reprieve.


    They let out long sighs of relief, d they no longer had to worry about bing 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 Schr Morr took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow and couldn¡¯t help butin, ¡°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 uncontroble rage, piging, 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, schrly Red Dragon of cruel brutality but a more cunning and terrifying existence.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ he truly has the potential topletely unsettle the ruling of the North.¡±

 Chapter 181: 108 : 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 mes, 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 serenend 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 be 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.¡±


    ¡°Wee from ancient times, following the glory of the past, letting the white storm sweep across thend once more.¡±


    ¡°We are¡ªthe Endless Frost Cmity!¡±


    The n 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 ck paint. Mounted on the mightiest Dragon Tundra, he raised a heavy double-ded axe with one arm.


    ¡°For the Everfrost Tribe!¡±


    ¡°Reim the relic, rekindle the ancestral glory!¡±


    Sunlight was nearly obscured, the wastnd 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 wastnd shiver.


    The howling wind proimed to the beings of Anzeta¡ª


    Frost Cmity had descended!@@novelbin@@


    ¡­


    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 pped their wings densely at low altitude. The Dragon Tundras, serving as war fortresses, snorted heavily.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±


    ¡°These sted 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 sses 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 Cmity?


    ¡°Just ring at it won¡¯t calm the blizzard.¡±


    Ramp nced 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 apanying 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, snowkes and hail soared instantly melting into billowing steam, and heavy warm winds thwarted the invasion of the blizzard.


    The two contrasting forces shed, countered, and eroded each other, stabilizing the surrounding temperature to normal, creating an area filled with puddles and shrouded in mist.


    Before the armies shed, a spell war had already begun.


    Cassius squinted his eyes, controlling the Eye of the Storm King with his will,bating the northern blizzard.


    ¡°The quality of this spell is indeed high, weather control can¡¯tpletely 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 wastnd 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 ufortable, Kasa had absolute confidence in his own strength. He was confident that with his dual-ded 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 wastnd, 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!¡±


    ¡°st 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 emcement had a technical yer 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, sting out one ckened 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 wastnd was too vast, so the bombardment did not cause much damage, not even dying 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 ws, spewing out scorching mes 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 mes, continued to charge forward without hesitation.


    A cannonballnded above Kasa¡¯s head, but he casually swung his dual-ded axe, throwing it out of his hand.


    ¡°Swish¡ª¡±


    The heavy dual-ded axe spun in the air, slicing through the air and bing almost a blur, cutting the about-to-explode cannonball in half. The smooth sections were sealed with frost, and the halved cannonball nked to the ground.


    But this was not the end; the battle-axe continued to fly wildly in the air, its silhouette shing like an iron curtain, turning the explosive cannonballs into cold iron blocks.


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±


    The dual-ded axe then precisely spun back into the hands of the Frost Giant, who gripped it firmly.


    Kasaughed 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 dissipatedpletely.


    He was like the battle g of the Frost Giants, leading the warriors and inspiring their bravery and fearlessness.


    It should be known that the frost-covered dual-ded 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-ded 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 currentrge-scale warfare, Dolores still preferred using the line infantry tactic of ¡°volley fire,¡± as it had repeatedly been proven effective in battle.


    Apanied by the Half-Goat People ying 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-ded 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 sh 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 increasinglyrge 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 imprable White Dragon Scale Armor.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Kasanded 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 yourst glory!¡±


    Kasa barged into the line infantry¡¯s formation, wielding his dual-ded axe and cutting more than a dozen Goblin soldiers in two who were unable to evade in time.@@novelbin@@


    As the axe de effortlessly ripped through their bodies, the severed remains were as cold and stiff as ciers.


    ¡°Before my strength, your struggles and escape are futile!¡±


    ¡°Haha, witness the wrath of winter!¡±


    Kasa roared to the sky, almost single-handedly ughtering 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 regr 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.


    ¡°ng!¡±


    The crisp sound of metal striking metal rang out.


    The Bloodfire Battle Axe and Winter¡¯s Roar shed, 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 t side of the axe.


    ¡°Such a weak and feeble attack¡ªhow dare you fight me!¡±


    ¡°ng¡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, apanied by a howling gale, chopping straight towards Dolores¡¯s head.


    ¡ªIf this blownded, Dolores¡¯s scale-covered sturdy body would definitely be split in two like paper.


    Dolores stared at the approaching axe de, his pupils widening, only managing to say two words:


    ¡°Save me!¡±


    Just as the battle axe was about tond, 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 ¡°Bet¡¯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.


    Erge Spell, eleration 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 multipleyers 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:@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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.


    ¡°ng¡ª¡±


    The sound of shing 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 mes more powerfully than ordinary spells, but it alsobined 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 cken just a bit.


    Dolores seized the opportunity, shing 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 de 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.


    Wilnd Dragons shed with Dragon Tundras, producing thunderous sounds. These mighty creatures finally met equals, but the Wilnd Dragons affected by the Dragon Vein were oftenrger and could overpower their northern counterparts.


    Chimeras, Wyverns, and other aerial units swooped repeatedly, turning the battlefield into a boiling sea of mes, using the intense ze 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 wastnd. This cruel, evenly matched battle turned the weathered wilderness once again into a ughterhouse.

 Chapter 184: 110: The War of the Players

    Chapter 184: Chapter 110: The War of the yers


    As an important force of the Ashen Kingdom, the yers 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 yers¡¯ strength seemed to rise quickly, but that was just an exception¡ªelite yers 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 yers were stuck at level 2 and couldn¡¯t progress any further, which was the norm.


    In this hardcore ¡°game,¡± the monsters avable for leveling up, like Savage Boars and Hill Giants, were nearly impossible for regr yers to defeat. They could only silentlyplete daily tasks and be the workers of Erezer.


    This war with the ¡°Frost Cmity¡± was on an even more exaggerated level.


    ording to the yer 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 yers 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 gamey experience would be terrible.


    However, there were still noobs who followed the steps of the professional yers into this chaotic battlefield.


    ¡°Damn, howe 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 yer who questioned with his soul was smashed into minced meat by a Frost Giant with a club, turning to ck 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 nowrger, 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 yer 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 shing 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 pped 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 muchrger than his kin, standing at eleven meters tall. In his tribe, he was known as ¡°Big Guy, Kuba.¡± His closebat ability was second only to the n leader, Kasa, so it was no wonder Tata Kai targeted this super-sized giant.


    ¡°Hahaha, did youe to the wrong set?¡±


    ¡°Let me teach him a lesson!¡±


    Steel Torrentughed 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 ss 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?¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 yers 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 sh of their battle axes produced powerful ripples.


    The yer ¡°Big de¡± 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 de 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 killter¡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 Cmity 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 fiercebat. 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 Cmity Dragon Eye, Agile as a Dragon, Energy Scales, Undying Offender, Protective Energy Damage, Enhanced Attributes, Advanced Shield Spell¡­


    Apanied 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 ted, 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 pping 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 muscr body was covered with golden-red scales, surrounded by energy shards like fragments of stars, and even adorned with ayer of electrical light. Various strange and dazzling energies entwined around his body.


    With each p of his wings, the air crackled with lightning and thundered with mes, as if he controlled the very weather, followed by billowing clouds of steam.


    ¡°Arrogant Frost Giants.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Not only will you lose the glory of your ancestors, but you will also forfeit¡ªeverything of your future!¡±


    After making his final deration, Cassius soared across the sky. Contrary to themon 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 toe into contact with his body was instantly consumed by thunder and mes.


    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, particrly effective in hunting White Dragons, were futile against Cassius, almost all intercepted by hisyers of spells.


    During the Red Dragon¡¯s incursion, almost every breath was apanied by the death of several Frost Giant warriors.


    Such one-sided ughter was unimaginable for the Frost Giants, who were used to crushing their enemies.


    ¡°ng¡ª¡±


    Another crisp sh.


    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, heughed 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 finallye¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you know¡ª¡±


    ¡°Besides Bone Breaker, I have another nickname?¡±


    Dolores, particrly 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 ayer 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 shy 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 be 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,ughing 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 toe 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 rted to a deity. However, most yers 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 pping 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 pping, 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,parable 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 closebat?¡±


    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 andunched 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 meleebat that would allow him to y 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 umting 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 pir of fire erupted from his mouth, instantly evaporating the surrounding air, as if tearing open a zing rift in the sky.


    The terrifying pir 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-ded axe, which appeared to shatter at a touch, now acted like a ck hole devouring mes, absorbing all the colossal Supreme me 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 des.


    These ice des 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 neverpletely 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 cannotst 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 shed 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 toe 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.


    He reached for the battle axe, only to find that the ice crystals symbolizing divine power were already in the red dragon¡¯s ws, controlled by him.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, all over¡­¡±


    Kasa bowed his head, murmuring in despair.

 Chapter 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 me Breath]


    The mes poured down like a torrential flood, engulfing Kasa and turning the once bare-handed, dragon-ying, 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 wasparable 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 pped 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 coldw it held was unmistakable.


    It was a pity, really. This power was ipatible with Cassius, even entirely repulsive. If he were to recklessly attempt to use it, the consequences could be irreversible.


    Cassius carefully ced the ice crystal into his Dimensional Bag.


    The panel refreshed with several new messages.


    [You have in 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 in 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]@@novelbin@@


    [Burning Stone Haze]


    Seventh Tier Spell, Shaping Energy


    Like a mobile volcano, blistering embers surround you and then shoot outwards, sting 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 unexpectedbat applications.


    Though not a fundamental upgrade, they both significantly enhanced his capabilities.


    For instance, Burning Stone Haze could bebined 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, unting 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 endpletely, with no further miracles.


    Baya anxiously gazed at the sky, muttering:


    ¡°He¡¯lle 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 pping 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 proimed:


    ¡°Frost Giants, your leader has been reduced to ashes by me!¡±


    ¡°Now, I give you two choices.¡±


    ¡°Be the servile ves 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 thete Kasa, stirring many Frost Giants. Over thirty Frost Giant Warriors responded to the call.


    These Frost Giants were mostly Kasa¡¯s hunting partyrades, 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 cier¡¯s Demise (1)


    ¡°By Soleim above¡­¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t even get close, just¡ª¡±


    ¡°How can we possibly defeat such an enemy.¡±


    As the wastnd 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 Giantspletely. 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 be 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 hardbor and whipping, and their blood¡ªwill all be my property.¡±


    Cassius¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    Towards these beings who called themselves the Frost Cmity and caused countless bloodsheds, Cassius felt nopassion. 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 exhration.


    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 cier. 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 ughter what¡¯s left of this deity¡¯s believers in Anzeta, transforming the entire tribe into the Empire¡¯s ves, 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 ne, serving other Lawful deities, Heavenly Creatures, or even benevolent Metal Dragons, while robber races like the Frost Giants vanished through sessive 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 cier.


    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 ising, he¡¯s about to destroy everything, enve 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 hismand, summoning the young warriors.


    Dozens of Frost Giant warriors gathered beneath the great cier.


    ¡°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 annihted.¡±


    His words were low and hoarse, yet particrly clear.


    These words set off a storm among the Frost Giants, unable to suppress their excitement.


    Although they were left at Vaar cier 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 annihted?


    This was not just inconceivable, it outright defied the Everfrost Tribe¡¯s centuries-old norms!@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 Cmity!¡±


    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 cmity, rebuilding their nation through brutality. But now it seemed they were merely victims of the cmity.


    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 inva beneath it. The Frost Giants scrambled to extend their hands, in a pitiful state, their flesh about to be melted by the zing 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¡¯sst 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 cier.


    Only Kasa¡¯s young son, Keman Everfrost, was brought over under Nur¡¯smand.


    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 ourst 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 ced a transformation ring, glowing with Aurora, onto Keman¡¯s finger.

 Chapter 189: 115 Battle of Glaciers Demise (II)

    Chapter 189: Chapter 115 Battle of cier¡¯s Demise (II)


    Sunlight pierced through the clouds, the cold wind whimpering.


    The cier, covered in frost and snow, shimmered with a piercing light.


    This was the Vaar cier, 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 cier, 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 seed.¡±


    ¡°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 ur.


    Nur stood at the highest point of the cier, 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 hase.¡±


    ¡°He¡­ ising.¡±


    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 ising, and we must y 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 rmed cries of the Frost Giants rang out.


    Waves of ripples emerged in the space before the cier, gradually distorting, deforming, and folding. The me portal, incongruous with the surrounding cold air, slowly opened on the vast cier, 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 cier.


    ¡°The coordinates you provided were very urate.¡±


    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 finallye, 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 annihted?¡±


    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 millenniaes 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 cier 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 mes 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 cier.


    Frost Giant hunters blew bone whistles.


    A sharp sound arose.


    The cier 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 me surged within. Wing-like fins spread out behind its head, and serrated fangs wiggled along its giant maw.


    Cassius nced at it, his expression unchanged.


    ¡°Hundred-legged Beast¡­¡±


    It was the Hundred-legged Beast, one of the most terrifying hunters in the pr 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 wastnds, taming them fromrvae 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 pirs in a spectacr scene.


    ¡°So, this is yourst resort?¡±


    ¡°Just a dozen bugs?¡±


    Cassius¡¯s tone was indifferent as he suddenly pped 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 ws. Instantly, a shing w-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 cier, 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 prate theyers 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 cier¡¯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 toy 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 kic energy. The nearly eight-meter-tall body of the Frost Giant was flung away, blood sttering and turning into a shredded mess in the air.


    An impassioned Frost Giant hunter threw a beast-capturing meant for catching giant beasts, but it was ripped apart by the Scratch Technique. With three w marks appearing in the air, the didn¡¯t even have a chance to touch the Red Dragon.


    Several more Frost Giant warriors perished in session.


    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 me instantly prated 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!@@novelbin@@


    Slowly, he raised the ice-crusted staff.


    ¡°Soleim¡¯s Domain of Frost des!¡±


    de-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 des, 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¡¯sst thought.


    The ice crystals in his hand continued to spread, rapidly filling the entire space, turning it into a world ofplete 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 woulde 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 being 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 eliminatepletely. Yes, he would bring these giants total destruction, not leaving a single one alive.


    The Red Dragon pped 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 cier¡¯s Demise (IV)


    The Frost Giants had not given up yet. Apart from his own divine power, Nur had onest 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 cier 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 cier 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 cier, bathed in brilliance, rumbled and quaked violently once again.


    ¡°Everfrost¡¯s foe¡ª¡±


    A roar echoed through the clouds.


    A thirty-plus-meter-tall giantposed of de-like ice crystals rose from the cier, standing imposingly on the vast icy expanse. Its features bore a faint resemnce 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-ded Axe, its face filled with the rage of winter, embodying thest 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 cier.


    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. Countlessplex 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 uncontrobly, 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 shes of lightning and howling winds. Only Cassius at the center stood like a lonely ind 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 cier.


    Blocking out the sunlight, it turned the pr summer into a nightfall-like darkness.


    ¡°Everfrost¡¯s foe, I will kill you!¡±


    ¡°I will y your skin and crush your flesh!¡±


    The giant roared up to the heavens. Itcked much reason, driven by the instinct of revenge alone, a product of thest hatred of these Frost Giantsbined 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.@@novelbin@@


    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-ded 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-ded 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 simr attacks caused it little harm, they riddled its body with numerous pits, transforming what had been a nearly wless Ice Crystal Giant into something more twisted.

 Chapter 192: 118: Battle of Glaciers Demise (5)

    Chapter 192: Chapter 118: Battle of cier¡¯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 pped his wings, hovering in ce.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°What a peculiar thing¡­¡±


    ¡°I wonder how long it canst?¡±


    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 strippedyer byyer, 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 ck sky, their immense strength descending upon the ice field, ruthlessly destroying everything on the ground.


    ck 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 shes of lightning struck simultaneously, forming a giant w 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 cier, 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 w with its left shoulder,boriously 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, shatteringpletely. This body, even though heavily damaged, nearly twenty meters long, turned into a small ice mountain, standing silently on the ice surface of Vaar cier.


    Cassius casually picked up an ice crystal, holding it in his ws, 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 be a sharp axe in my hands.¡±


    Cassius nced 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 naturalws bnced 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, copsing with a roar, their thousand-year-old holynd 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, bing unrecognizable; their coarse horns, bone spears, and shields turned into thend¡¯s nutrients.


    Even the ice valleys, where the frost giants depended on for survival, were buried under copsing ciers 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 nced 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 in the Incarnation of Winter from Soleim (Challenge Level: 20)], gaining 25000xp]


    [You have annihted 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 ughter them in closebat, even a trashy white dragon. The only downside is their meat tastes like ice chunks, fresh out of a frozen cave, truly unptable. ¡ª Ancient Red Dragon, Kabalia Halls¡±


    Acquired trait: Frost Giant yer


    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, bes 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 cier¡¯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¡­ annihted. From now on, there will be no more Frost Cmity.¡±


    Trischka couldn¡¯t help but mutter to himself.


    He gazed at the distant half of Vaar cier covered by sun-blocking clouds, listening to the roaring thunder. Even his voice, usually steady, trembled.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Another thunderp 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 schr 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 Cmity 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 Cmity 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 Fan 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 be 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 Cmity that gued the Northern Kingdom for nearly a millennium¡ªand even pursuing them to their ancestral home in Vaar cier, exterminating the Frost Giants.


    ¡°We¡¯ve lost the initiative. The Ashen Kingdom has be 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 tieflingmander of the Ashen Kingdom¡ªMezsh.


    This Oathbreaker Pdin was a key concern within the Boske Duchy and highly dangerous. He was widely known for his Control Undead ability and wasbeled 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 viin the stories painted, although his pure ck 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 congrattions to the Ashen Kingdom for itsplete victory. The Frost Cmity, 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.¡±


    Mezsh smiled and shook his head, saying:


    ¡°You should know what my master wants to hear isn¡¯t this.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Trischka¡¯s expression froze. A futile smile shed 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 ept your reparation treaties, only hoping you maintain basic peace¡­¡±


    Listening to Trischka¡¯s plea, Mezsh nodded in satisfaction.


    Finally, he spoke again, his face showing a devilish smile.


    ¡°My respected master thinks simrly. 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 ck eyes.


    ¡°Of course, if any country wants to try, we wouldn¡¯t mind bing 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, sped together.


    ¡­


    ¡°The ¡®Frost Cmity¡¯ paled inparison to the true Scourge. The Raging Winter,sting millennia, was of no consequence to Him. That day, the terrible Storm of Vengeance swept across all of Vaar cier, eradicating the Frost Giants¡¯ civilization that had endured for thousands of years. The surviving Frost Giants became ves of the Empire.¡±


    ¡°He once again demonstrated Scourge-like prowess to all of Anzeta. With the effortless destruction of the Everfrost Tribe, the ¡®Frost Cmity¡¯ was no more, reced by the more terrifying ¡®Dragon Scourge.¡¯ The entire North shuddered under His wings.¡±


    ¡°Some schrs believe that the ¡®Battle of Raging Winter¡¯s Fall¡¯ objectively eliminated the millennia-old Frost Cmity troubling the North. While there is some positive significance to this, I maintain that asional 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 Cmity¡¯ 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 annihted, the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s army swiftly cleaned up the battlefield littered with debris, casually scavenging for loot and transporting the Frost Giant ves back to Northwind Castle.


    The yers, 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 yers, 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 yers, 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.¡±


    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 vited 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 be 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 thickyer of gloom, his ugly face dark as dripping water.@@novelbin@@


    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 Singonded 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.


    Mantouined: ¡°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 sessfully restrain one?¡±


    ¡°Noob.¡±


    Singo harshly assessed before continuing: ¡°The officials really didn¡¯t bnce this right. The main storyline¡¯s challenge was set too high, so yers didn¡¯t get much of a chance to participate. Only high-level professional yers like me managed to kill one or two Frost Giants for some insignificant achievements.¡±


    Mantou, already used to this tant showboating, ignored the topic and asked, ¡°What should we do next? With just a few days left in thete 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 yer 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 Erge Spell and eleration 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 shed 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 somethingter.


    ¡°I had a decent haul this time. me 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 me spellcaster yer 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 me 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 ¡°ck ve 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 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 gnollse 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 yers, it was impossible not to investigate this kind of ce.


    ¡°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 firece.


    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 ce in these mountains¡­¡±


    Mantou muttered to himself, observing everywhere but finding nothing unusual.


    ¡°A guest from afar, it¡¯s impolite toe 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 yful smile on her kind face.


    She ced 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 ttered, staring nkly 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 ced 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 rtionships, 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 outughing.


    ¡°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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 ce 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 ce with many, many people living there¡­¡±


    The firewood in the firece 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 subconsciouslyplied, 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 ss cup in his hand to the ground, the remaining tea spilling all over.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Mantou was so scared that he copsed 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 leftrge 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!


    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 shed fiercely at the monster.


    Not far away, Xin Dog also bent his bow and released an arrow that could pierce armor.


    ¡°ng! ng!¡±


    With two crisp sounds, sparks flew as both the sword de 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 be a ve herepletely.¡±


    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 w marks of unknown creatures, and chaotic, bizarre symbols.


    A momentter, the long-silent monster moved again.


    ¡°Why¡ª¡±


    A chilling, ovepping 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 rm 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 nced 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 pped the terrified Mantou awake.


    ¡°I can¡¯t hold it for long. The monster is waking up soon. Run!¡±


    Mantou, clutching his pped-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 be the subject of a ssic 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 toorge 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 thest 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 thickyer 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 sharine tone.


    ¡°Shut up¡ª¡±


    Mantou¡¯s face turned beet-red, looking utterly dejected. Still reeling from his dashed fantasy ofpanionship with a beautiful girl, he could hardlye 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.¡±


    ¡°Thatst 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 ce, it should be the legendary Pr 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 Subus 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¡±@@novelbin@@


    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.@@novelbin@@


    Mantouined, ¡°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-ck 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 thickyer of dust, and cobwebs filled the corners, clearly indicating it had been abandoned for years.


    The room was quite well furnished, with a bed, nkets, 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 ck 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 ce 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 becameplex, 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 ck 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 apanied me. I named it Tete as a reward for keeping mepany. 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 nevere 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¡¯te 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 be friends.¡±


    ¡°September 15th, stayed in the tower, but I secretly came back here. This ce 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 wee the noble evolution with joy.¡¯ I didn¡¯t understand what he meant, but he scared me more and more.¡±


    ¡°Dad waspletely 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 herter.¡±


    ¡°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 sessful. Seeing Dad happy made me happy too.¡±


    ¡°Fourth day, I felt like I was bing 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 reced 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 Pr 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 uncontroble.


    ¡°I will put you to rest, Valena.¡±


    He gently closed the diary and carefully ced it back in its original spot, resolving not to touch it again. It was thest 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¡¯sbat ability is reduced. With our current strength, escaping this ce would be lucky, let alone trying to y 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 copsing backward.


    Several more gnolls stood behind it. They felt no fear; instead, their murky eyes shed with a frenzied light as they charged at the two, brandishing their ws 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 annihted.


    ¡°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 Pr 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 Pr 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 ce is essentially a¡ªboratory.¡±


    ¡°We were lured here on purpose.¡±


    ¡°The controller behind this Pr 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 te armor, which the goblin couldn¡¯t prate 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 w gripping the te armor and the other wing 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 upation, far from Handy level.


    The Dragonified centaurs were almost upon them.


    Unlike regr 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 m it shut.


    They nced 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 inyers of shadow. Within their depths stood a pitch-ck high tower, its sharp spires like straight ws reaching toward the sky, as if about to tear through the heavens, evoking a deep sense of dread.


    This was the Pr Night Demon Tower.


    At this moment, Mantou and his twopanions 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, apanied by a deeply concealedughter.


    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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    Singo suddenly remembered something and hurriedly stopped him: ¡°Wait¡ª¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    By then, Mantou had already ced 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 ws 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 wless fusion of the Red Dragon¡¯s me 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 upying 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 ck Wizard Vagnard, once a mortal captured by the Dragon Shaman Cult, had gonepletely 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 yer, 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, Vagnardughed 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 ept the great evolution, and I had no choice but to rece 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, Singounched a surprise attack, marking Vagnard¡¯s head with the Hunter¡¯s Mark, followed by a swift arrow.


    But a pitch-ck spell force field appeared around Vagnard, effortlessly reducing the arrow to dust.


    ¡°This is yourpanion¡¯s body.¡±


    ¡°If my soul division dissipates, his body will also die. Yourpanion will be eternally trapped in the Magic Pot.¡±


    The Natural War Maniac roared in fury, charging up with a fierce sh of his battle axe.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t care about the original host¡¯s life? How interesting.¡±


    Vagnard¡¯s eyes gleamed yfully, injected with fear energy, turning them into vacant, deep ck holes.


    Heart-Capturing Gaze


    ck 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 speciallymissioned 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 shing with scarlet spell radiance again.


    Domination of Humans


    His lips moved silently, but themand 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 ck Wizard¡¯s soul, the immense mental strength umted over a century was as deep as an abyss, leaving the novice yer 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 recing the light in his pupils. His movements were as stiff as a marite¡¯s, entranced.


    Vagnard chuckled softly, issuingmands with his will.


    ¡°Come here¡±


    Just a simplemand, 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 themand.


    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 tform adorned with dragon scales.


    Complex gravity spell runes caused the tform to ascendyer byyer.


    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 ck Tower, Vagnard¡¯s most cherishedboratory¡ªthe Land of the Demon Dragon.


    Everywherey broken scales, dismembered limbs, and the floor was almost entirely covered in thick blood. Blood-sttered 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 prate 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 vtile, 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, theyers of mountains, and the vast Stormy Ridge, focusing on the enormous Red Dragon in itsir, a fervent light glinting in them.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Cassius ubow 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 Cmity Dragon Eye floating beside him suddenly reacted.


    Broken snippets of scenes appeared in his vision¡ªyers 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 Cmity Dragon Eye, ¡°Past Eye Sight¡±.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    Cassius immediately recognized the Mantou he had been watching closely. But those eyes were definitely not a yer¡¯s, and ¡°Mantou¡¯s¡± eyes sparkled withyers of high-tier magical aurora.


    ¡°ck Tower, monsters, spells¡­¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s Vagnard. He even possesses yers and dares to tantly 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 yers.


    The yers united, ultimately sacrificing countless lives to blow this ¡°Dragon Fan ck 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 throughyers 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, eximing 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 fragmentpletely.


    Yet, the soul fragment, with its dying strength, cast a spell sending a faint stream of information to the main body.

 Chapter 203: 128: Five-headed dragon monster

    Chapter 203: Chapter 128: Five-headed dragon monster


    Singo took out the shlight 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 ws 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.@@novelbin@@


    Thisboratory 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 me 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 darkboratory, 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 entireboratory. 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, revealingrge 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 tform, 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 que 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. Itcks intelligence and doesn¡¯t even deserve to be called a Dragon species. Tiamat, forgive my sphemy 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 nging 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 tform shaking violently along with the monster¡¯s body.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    A crisp sound rang out.


    The five-headed dragon monster¡¯s desire to eat had be uncontroble. 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 red 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 andcking 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.


    ¡°ng!¡±


    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, upying the warrior¡¯s view,unching 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¡¯ming, 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 shed 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 ws 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 shed at the long neck, but once again, another head mmed him away.


    Mantou scrambled to roll left, avoiding the monster¡¯s bloodthirsty jaws, but still screamed as the sttering 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 cking off!¡±


    Xin Dog observed the chaotic battle from afar, Mantou and Natural War Maniac werepletely 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 givingmands 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 ce with its heads held high.


    Xin Dog pulled out a gleaming ck 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.@@novelbin@@


    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, iling 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 reced 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, wing 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 ws 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 surroundingboratories, this passage seemed to lead to the tower¡¯s core, to Vagnard¡¯srgest experimentb.


    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 ws, 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 yers 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 oftene with extreme rewards. We¡¯vee this far, dare to take the gamble?¡±


    The Natural War Maniac rubbed his bald head andughed, ¡°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 ck metal, reflecting a cold glow under the flickering candlelight, impossible for ordinary creatures to break through.


    Yet the three saw deep w marks all over the metallic walls, each several meters long, with dense indentations where teeth had bitten in, and even ces where entire sections of the wall had been dented several feet deep, leaving craters nearly five meters in diameter.@@novelbin@@


    The floor was scattered with dried blood and broken white scales.


    It¡¯s hard to imagine what kind of monstrous battle urred 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, yers 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 bulletments reading ¡°Budget on fire¡± flooding the screen.


    And in the recently concluded ¡°Battle of cier¡¯s Demise,¡± this Red Dragon showed overwhelming power again, creating a ck storm that covered half of the Vaar cier 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 Maniacughed 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 hisposure.


    ¡°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 exim.


    ¡°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 aplex 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 te standing in front of the White Dragon.


    Unlike the others they had seen before, this metal te had vicious bite marks, mottled bloodstains, and broken cracks. Though patched up, it was still ced 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 ws 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 207: 132 Dragon Shifting

    Chapter 207: Chapter 132 Dragon Shifting


    Vagnard¡¯s eyes turned into a ck 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 yers 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 nonchntly 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 ce, trembling uncontrobly.


    ¡°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 triangr eyes glowed with a wildness and uncontroble power.


    Their bodies were solid and muscr, 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, shing their teeth, drooling, their fur and scales standing on end. Their blood-red eyes focused on the three yers, 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 ws 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 yers back to Vagnard from different directions, looking fiercely satisfied.


    Vagnard scrutinized the yers 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 sh 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 yer¡¯s digitized body, perhaps due to Cassius¡¯s unique Bloodline Gift, the previously ipatible 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 epted 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],sting 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 cyx, 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 be a dragon!¡±


    ¡°Die, you old bastard who experimented on your own daughter!¡±


    The young dragon Mantou clumsily pped his wings, aggressively charging at the ck-robed mage with ws bared.


    Vagnard merely lifted his head slightly. As if seeing a priceless treasure, he remained rooted in ce, 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 shed 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,ing 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 mes 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!¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 shing 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 mes. The resulting dust cloud shrouded most of theboratory.


    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 copse 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 ck-robed man still stood in ce, even standing on air. An orb-shaped shield surrounded him, shing with Magical Aura.


    That was the ssic permanent spellbination of a High Rank Archmage, [Trigger Spell] chained to [Orthluck stic 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 haspanions. 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 yers 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 toote.


    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 ck 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 sessive self-detonations of the three yers 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 iparably 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 ck-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, snowkes falling.


    Snow covered the undting mountains.


    In the deepest part of those mountains, inside the ck tower known as the ¡°Pr 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 hourster, as tiny particles of light gathered, the three were resurrected together in Northwind Castle.


    This ancient teleportation circle was heavily guarded, with Mezsh 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 yers 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?¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 yers. You never knew what you might see herest time, a yer walked out of the array in broad daylightpletely naked, indifferent to the Tiefling¡¯sck 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 yer 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 rtionships 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 tant 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 umted 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 yers 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 Pr Night Demon Tower]


    Investigate the truth behind the Pr 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: [ck Tower Explorer]


    Proficient Skills: Insight +1, Investigation +1, Perception +1


    Mantou was ted, 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. Thest update was¡­ a month ago?¡±


    Mantou smacked his forehead and chuckled awkwardly.


    He could already imagine the barrage ofments like ¡°Lock Mantou in a small ck room¡± and ¡°Send razor des¡± 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 nonchntly.


    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 upte to edit the video.


    He uploaded the video at three in the morning, giving it a clickbait title.


    Mysterious ck 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 Pr Night Demon Tower.¡±


    Mantou¡¯s previous video had amassed a lot of views, attracting nearly 100,000 curious yers on top of his old fans. Though he hadn¡¯t updated in a while, the moment he released the video, fans and intrigued neers 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 rify: Mantou isn¡¯t dead, he was just locked in a small ck 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.


    ¡°Wee 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 des have already been sent, please sign for them.¡±


    ¡°Why did I see you riding a wyvern and cking off in someone else¡¯s video every day?¡±<div>


    Then Mantou immediately got into character, his tone bing generous and passionate, somewhat like a storyteller mming the table: ¡°Mysterious ck 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 ying 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 disyed 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, apanied 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 bulletments 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, ovepping 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 bing a fully dragonified monster.


    ¡°When I turned to thest 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 bulletments surged into a frenzy.


    ¡°Beast!¡±


    ¡°This guy evenid 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 unting overflowed on the screen, creating a wave of envy in the bulletments.


    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 Pr Night Demon Tower, I left everything there!¡±


    ¡°ying awkward again?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, I must go and see!¡±


    ¡°When is the official release? I really want to y¡­¡±


    ¡°No way, has anyone not yed Elzegai yet?¡±


    This video once again broke boundaries.@@novelbin@@


    Valena¡¯s cries of ¡°big brother¡± were mentioned on many tforms, bing an object of pity, while Vagnard was nailed to the inte¡¯s pir of shame, despised by millions. This breakthrough further boosted Elzegai¡¯s poprity, with over five million public test reservations.


    yers were more pragmatic, focusing on the new dungeon¡ªthe Pr Night Demon Tower.


    Located in the depths of the mountains, the ck 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. Evenrge 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 yers, 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 yer. What¡¯s more, this ability might have future advancements, possibly even bing an adult Red Dragon!¡±


    And Cassius, being mentioned multiple times by Vagnard, sparked intense discussions among story enthusiasts andbat 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 Pr 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 ording to the route in Mantou¡¯s video.


    Charlotte held a map custom-made by Mantou, staring at the simplistic drawings with a grim expression.<div>


    ¡°Is Mantou ripping me off? This thing cost me fifteen gold coins?¡±


    Magic Coin set up the ¡°Magic Affairs Office¡± in Northwind Castle, showing none of the typical spellcaster arrogance. They used their magical abilities to eptmissions 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. Hisvish spending habits had be 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 yers. 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 yer in the guild overnight. The experience from that one st 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.@@novelbin@@


    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 nned on bringing the Sky Flying Witch, but her endless pleas and the guild¡¯sck of immediatebat 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 yer 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 iplete dragon vein creatures, their sense of smell was extraordinarily keen.


    Detecting the scent, the monsters charged straight toward the wizard yers.


    ¡°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 shed.


    Agnasa¡¯s Fire-Breathing Technique


    Surging linear mes spread from where his wand pointed, engulfing the path and setting many monsters aze. 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, zing 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 yers showed significant prowess in battle.


    But the number of monsters was simply overwhelming.


    Even if the front-line monsters were hit by mes or slipped on the Greasy Spell, those in the back climbed over their panions''¡± 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 spacepletely reversed with a single point as the center.


    The monsters rushing forward suddenly stopped in their tracks, then astonishingly began to fall upwards.@@novelbin@@


    It was important to note that this Pr 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, sttering blood and flesh everywhere, with the monsters at the top being crushed into a bloody pulp by the weight of the others.<div>


    As the magic power subsided and disappeared, the monsters that had fallen to the top once again plummeted down.


    The muffled sound resounded again, apanied 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 jubnt, 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 aplex 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 spellbinations 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 dors, only to find out a rtive¡¯s child had won a five million dor 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 ughtered all the monsters on the field.


    ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s keep exploring.¡±


    ¡°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 tounch 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 Pr 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 sessfully navigating the most dangerous Death Corridor without any losses.


    However, just as they set foot on the Gravity tform, ck ws tore through the space.


    From the menacing space rift, a ck-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 yers. 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,pletely disrupting all his ns.


    Moreover, he discovered that those self-proimed ¡°yers¡±, 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 yers, those substances would mysteriously disappear half an hour after the yers¡¯ deaths. Even imprisoning their souls couldn¡¯t stop them from respawning through their data panels.


    Fengyun eximed, ¡°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 hee directly to us?¡±


    Charlotte gritted his teeth, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, fight! Kill this bastard!¡±


    Seven spellcasters unleashed spells in session, strong acid, me, and ice cones, bombarding Vagnard.


    But a thin, invisible ck membrane covered the surface of his ck 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 ck Wizard?¡±


    A sinister smile appeared on Vagnard¡¯s face.


    [Finger of Death]


    Another Sixth Tier spell!


    A sphere of pitch-ck 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 ck 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 yful 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 be a potted nt 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 intoughter.


    ¡°Are you trying to taunt me?¡±

 Chapter 213: 138 Cassiuss Summons

    Chapter 213: Chapter 138 Cassius¡¯s Summons


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time to y with you anymore.¡±


    Vagnard finally lost his patience and gently raised his hand.


    [Death Cloud Spell]


    The yellow-green poisonous gas billowed forward. The yers 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 yers enveloped in Protective Magic instantly became tattered corpses under the corrosive gas.


    The potted nt that the ¡°Sky Flying Witch¡± had transformed into withered the moment it touched the Death Cloud Spell.<div>


    The [Magic Coin] guild waspletely annihted.


    The difference between magesy 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 yers were utterly defeated, yet Vagnard did not leave. Instead, he stood quietly in ce 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 yers must have an unimaginable existence behind them¡­¡±


    Vagnard¡¯s voice was hoarse, his body suddenly trembling. A cold wind inexplicably blew through the tower, making his ck 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 Dragony sprawling on the massive steel throne, its body rising and falling with each breath, asionally exhaling sulfurous hot air.


    The steel beneath it had be somewhat reddened from the unconscious transmission of internal heat. Amon person sitting there might be roasted alive. White smoke permeated the entire Council Hall, and bubblingva 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 ckened, solidifiedva.


    ¡°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 pce to bepleted.¡±


    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 be 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°My esteemed master.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I have issued the investigation task ording to your instructions. Over the past few days, the Starfallen have explored the Pr 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 havepiled 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 regr 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 ttery.


    Hearing this, Cassius¡¯szy 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¡¯smand, Ramp unhesitatingly activated a Teleportation Spell. Apanied 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 exim, ¡°Master, your power is unimaginably strong. In my humble perception, this space seems as solid as steel. Ordinary spatial magic can¡¯t prate 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 essories.


    A ne 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 thinge from the Flowing Sand River¡­¡±


    Cassius thought with slight speechlessness.


    He opened the panel, disying names like [Schroeder¡¯s Wisdom], [Raul¡¯s Wisdom], [Wadra¡¯s Wisdom] on the skulls, most of which were rare or umon 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 exining 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 whenbined, 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.


    ¡°ording to our knowledge, this so-called Pr 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.<div>


    ¡°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 yers¡¯ posts, so he had a basic understanding of the situation.


    ¡°ording to the Starfallen¡¯s intelligence, this ¡®Dragon Fan ck 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.


    ¡°ording 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 simr to an Arcane Lock at the entrance to the Pr Night Demon Tower,pletely 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 vignt. It will be extremely difficult for the Starfallen to extract any more information.¡±


    ¡°I am very satisfied; you¡¯ve done well.¡±


    Cassius said tly.


    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 andposed. 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, arge, muscr human appeared in the hall, standing nearly two meters tall, holding arge 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 humanpared 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 shed in its golden slit-pupils, and then a pair of floating, ethereal eyes appeared before him, containing boundless elemental power and asionally showing visions of the past and future¡ª¡ªthat was the [Heaven¡¯s Cmity 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 me Breath within it.


    ¡°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 ck 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.¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 upational 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 [Bet¡¯s Wisdom] and the Dragon Vein Ogre¡¯s own abilities, his challenge level had surged to an astounding level 13,parable 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 thetter¡¯s stronghold, the Pr Night Demon Tower. This is where the Red Dragon¡¯s subsequent support woulde 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 Pr 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.<div>


    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 ws, 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 theirpanions¡¯ 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¡±


    Arge 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 shed with scorching me radiance, bursting forth with powerful elemental energy.


    It was a Fourth Tier Spell¡ª


    ¡°Fire Wall Spell¡±


    A zing wall of fire suddenly rose, pressed tightly against the rock wall, and its scorching mes engulfed hundreds of dragonified monsterspletely.


    ¡°Awooo¡ª¡±


    The monsters immediately burst into mes, their grease-covered bodies fueling the already ferocious ze. Even those who escaped the fire wall found their oil-soaked bodies still aze, producing sizzling sounds and emitting heart-wrenching howls from deep within their throats as they writhed and struggled in the mes.


    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 expressioning over his face as he licked his lips, drooling slightly.


    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 ck 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 Cmity Dragon Eye¡± floating beside him.


    A man cloaked in ck 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 ck 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, ck, menacing ws tore through space, and a space rift appeared in front of Ramp.


    Vagnard, dressed in ck 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 ck 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 Cmity 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@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Gaze Screen¡±


    Vagnard¡¯s ¡°Heart-Capturing Gaze¡± was repelled by the mirrored surface, reflecting back into his eyes. It was blocked by the ck 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 aze,unching scorching fireballs at Vagnard with each motion.


    Ramp knew very well that Vagnard had the ¡°Trigger Spell¡± and ¡°Orthluck stic 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 stiffnesssted only a moment before his eyes regained rity.


    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 annihted 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 be 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 be 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 iing fireball, Vagnard summoned a ck Energy Shield, once again extinguishing the fireballpletely. The voice of Vagnard from behind the ck veil first sounded somewhat surprised, then it became excited.


    ¡°I understand now.¡±<div>


    ¡°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 mes, smashing down towards Vagnard¡¯s head¡ªthat was [Magic-infused Weapon] and [Emerald me Sword].


    For some reason, Vagnard gazed dumbfoundedly at Ramp, not making any effort to dodge.


    The magical mes¡¯ spell struck him on the head harshly. [Trigger Spell] linked with [Orthluck stic 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.¡±


    He then trembled all over, covered his face, andughed 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 ¡®yers,¡¯ 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 stic Sphere] around him, and surprisingly, he staggered directly towards Ramp.


    Ramp couldn¡¯t help but nce 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]@@novelbin@@


    The spell¡¯s intensity was extremely high, and as the beam hit Ramp, it spread across his entire body, forming a shing light membrane. The Dragon Vein Ogre¡¯s massive frame froze in ce, maintaining the posture of attempting to cast a spell.


    Vagnard strolled forward slowly,ughing 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 ck Wizard,¡¯ I¡¯m best at controlling monsters like you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Crack¡­ crack¡­¡±


    A faint cracking sound emerged.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    A tinge of surprise shed 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 ne, [Bet¡¯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 ce, 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 ce.


    But at thest moment before he was immobilized, the ck 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 ck Wizard¡¯s¡± perspective, this mutual exchange of blood clearly ced 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 ning 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, zing light erupted from the pair of invisible eyes hovering in the air, releasing the immense elemental power stored within!


    ¡°Boom¡ª¡±


    A pir of zing white fire surged out, rushing towards Vagnard¡¯s momentarily immobilized head!


    [Enhanced me Breath]


    At the same time, a giant w covered in red scales tore through the space, creating a nearly ten-meter-long spatial rift with ming 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 pir 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,yers of ck mist enveloping his body, but still unable to stop the extreme heat of the light me.


    The pir of fire pierced through the paper-thin spell shield instantly, like a hot knife through butter. Although Vagnard tried to tilt his head, the pir 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 himpletely, 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 mes, like a miniature sun, illuminated the entire dark tower as if it were broad daylight. Then it poured out the umted, torrential energy.<div>


    [Supreme me Breath]


    A thicker, more brilliant pir of fire spouted out, engulfing Vagnard¡¯s torso entirely.


    Two pirs of fire crossed, continuously scouring the broken body.


    Even at this extent, Cassius was still not at ease, continually spewing mes 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 pir 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 rx.


    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 pped his wings andnded 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 ws, using the Scratch Technique to create a powerful w-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 ck 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 regainedposure and hurriedly responded with cupped hands, ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The tower fell silent.


    The Heaven¡¯s Cmity Dragon Eye showed chaotic images.


    As expected, in the eerily silent environment, a bizarreughter echoed.


    At first, theughter 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 maniacalugh.


    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 ubow 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 n.¡±


    Standing beside him, Ramp roared in anger, summoning a zing 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 Vagnardpletely.¡±


    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 coldugh.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 sphemous and crazed mind, he definitely wouldn¡¯t escape easily. He probably ns 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 Pr 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 ce was an illusion constructed from Valena¡¯sst semnce 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 firece 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 cing 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 butin softly, ¡°When can I finally leave, Daddy? You promised me.¡±<div>


    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 iplete. 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 hase 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 y 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?¡±


    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 myp, 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 sh 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, recing the faceless girl who had once been there, bing 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 disappearingpletely, 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 intoplete 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 willplete this evolution! We will be 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 crazedughter also reached his ears.


    ¡°Ha, so it¡¯s the so-called snow house, it¡¯s already toote.¡±


    ¡°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 Cmity 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 Cmity 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.@@novelbin@@


    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, ording 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 pped 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 pir 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.<div>


    In just a moment, the pir of fire even prated the ceiling of the next floor, aiming for higher ces.


    ¡°Braving the Fiery Pits¡±


    Cassius transformed directly into zing fire, passing through the holes created by the fire pir, prating several floors in session.


    Any monster or device in his path was instantly turned to ashes by the mes or pulverized by his massive, elerated 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 Pr 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, climbingyer byyer. 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 zing white pir of fire pierced through the metal floor.


    Immediately afterward, the fire pir transformed into dancing mes, finally solidifying into a massive Red Dragon.


    ¡°Heaven¡¯s Cmity Dragon Eye¡± could only glimpse a corner of the future. When Cassius reached the top floor, the originally fated future was disrupted, the image bing temporarily blurred and starting to recalcte.


    The White Dragon imprisoned on the top floor was awakened by themotion, 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 rtively 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 metersmon 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 beingpared 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 everydaymunication 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 externalmunication, was no exception.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    Tiniya nodded, letting out a light roar.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    It seemed she couldn¡¯t speak but could at least understand.


    Since normalmunication 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 pirs 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 disyed the previous images from ¡°Heaven¡¯s Cmity 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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, indicatingplete submission.


    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 ws, a flickering w-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¡¯mte.¡±


    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 pped her wings, feeling the long-lost freedom in her body, and let out a heartfelt, joyous long howl.<div>


    ¡°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 rx 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 andpletely eliminate that ¡°Dragon Fan ck Wizard.¡±


    Otherwise, allowing an Archmage to lurk in the shadows, collecting all information, and preparing fully would be an even more troublesome problem.


    Indeed, the nearby suspended [Heaven¡¯s Cmity 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 ising.¡±


    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 ces 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¡­¡±


    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 shed 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 ubow 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 bestpensation for me. I want to taste what Tiamat¡¯s pet is like, hahaha!¡±


    Vagnard¡¯sughter 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 session.


    [Undying Offender], [Protective Energy Damage], [Energy Scales]¡­


    Several shields, like countless stars, appeared on his body,bined with the effect of [Gilded Scales], boosting his protective capability to a fearsome extent,


    Ordinary attacks could not prate 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.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 mes from his mouth.


    The stitcher beast¡¯s surface was instantly covered with a ck energy shield, which was easily prated by the lightning and mes.


    Several White Dragon ws, wings, and tails attacked the Red Dragon, each part carrying eerie ck 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 p his wings and sharply turn, leaving only an afterimage in ce, letting those limbs miss their target.


    The Red Dragon over the monster¡¯s head poured out a scorching pir of fire, intending to obliterate Vagnard¡¯s body in one go.


    [Extremely Effective me 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 Cmity 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 mes in that direction in advance, then swung his ws, creating a flickering w-shaped force field.


    As the White Dragon¡¯s head emerged, it was scorched ck by the mes, immediately followed by three deep scratches from the Scratch Technique, causing blood to stter.


    The Red Dragon then pped 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.<div>


    Vagnard¡¯s detached voice echoed within the tower.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Red Dragon, do you know why I call myself the Dragon Fan ck 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 sumbed to fate, no longer wanting to resist, merely maintaining a semnce 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 particrly 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, ughtering 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 be uncontroble, Dragon Fan¡¯s Lock, a deity-level spell, would bring disaster if even a bit contaminated.


    He finally understood why Vagnard had be 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 andzy creatures with innate immense strength, fangs and ws that easily tear apart mortals, mes 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, bing fervent.


    ¡°Why do you get to change my fate at will?¡±


    ¡°Why should I willingly be your ve 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 be greater than the Dragon Gods.¡±


    In the end, Vagnard¡¯s voice turned into maniacalughter, ovepping with a Dragon¡¯s Roar and countless agonized wails.


    The powerful mana fluctuation made the ground tremble.


    Within the thirty levels of the Pr 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 redet like a malicious eye¡ªthe illusion of the Regicide Star.


    It seemed to sense Vagnard¡¯s call, bing 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.


    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 abination of more Dragonified monster limbs¡ªa twisted creature with five white dragon heads atop, hundreds of limbs extending, six pairs of wings nking, 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 Pr 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, theyered 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 yetplete. Once that phantom fully materializes, I will also fall into the Dragon Fan. I must kill Vagnardpletely before the spell ispleted.¡±


    ¡°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 pped his wings and soared high into the sky, gazing down at the colossal monster upying 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-ck night sky, red stars flickered.


    The Pr Night Demon Tower, their destination, was shaking violently. The top of the tower burst open and transformed into a broad tform.


    The familiar Red Dragon pped its wings, ascending into the sky to confront the enormously twisted monster that upied most of the tower top.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡ª¡ª¡±<div>


    ...


    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?¡±@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 toote. 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 pped 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 notst long. Once that phantom solidified, even a thousandyers 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 ring spears to fiercely hit the twisted monster, ckening its body and severing several protruding ws.


    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 mes 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 uncontrobly 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 regr bite wouldn¡¯t have fazed him.


    But once wounded, even Cassius couldn¡¯t guarantee he wouldn¡¯t lose his sanity and be 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.


    ¡°Roar!¡±


    Several sharp teeth flew out with blood, scattering through the air.


    Cassius finally gathered all his energy, with mes 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 ck 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 ws 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 zing white pir 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.


    Cmity Ray


    This ray, infused with a fragment of the Regicide Star¡¯s energy, couldpletely destroy a dragon¡¯s brain.


    However, Cassius foresaw this attack with the Foresight ability of the Heaven¡¯s Cmity 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 me had turned nearly pure white.


    The zing white pir 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, prating 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 copsed with a quake-like tremor.


    With the sound of metal breaking, the Pr 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 bing 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 copsed 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 ck 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.<div>


    ...


    Her vertical pupils suddenly erged, 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, asrge as mountains. He spread his wide wings and roared with overwhelming authority.


    The nearly twenty-meter-long muscr dragon body was covered with bright, armor-like, hard scales. Therge, 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 Pr 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 hismand, 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!¡±@@novelbin@@


    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 ubow 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 simr to the ssic 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 ws 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 be 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 bes the master of other dragons, which often happens among the evil five-colored dragons. ¡ª¡ª Aloisius, Dragon Schr¡±


    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 growrger, your breath will be 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.


    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 tinum Dragon King Bahamut.


    Cassius¡¯s body trembled slightly, finally feeling the weight of this power.


    ¡°This is the ancestral dragon¡­¡±


    ¡°So why has ite to this?¡±


    Today¡¯s dragons had thin bloodlines, weakened countless times, yet they remained immensely powerful, holding a significant ce 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 becking something.


    But he spected 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 spection.


    Cassius looked at the panel again, which had refreshed with many more lines of information.


    [You have killed the [Dragon Fan ck Wizard ¨C Vagnard (Challenge Level: 16)] and earned 15000xp]<div>


    ...


    [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 Pr 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 umted a lot of experience.


    If Cassius were an ordinary yer temte, 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 eighthyer 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 w. The dragon must make a touch attack to hit a target creature. If sessful, the ray dispels all effects caused by spells, spell-like abilities, or magical items on the target. Additionally, magical items carried by the target be permanently demagicked unless they seed 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 yer 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 ve 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 hisbat 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 n with Ramp; he could have just t-out dismantled the Pr Night Demon Tower.


    [Gained additional Dragon¡¯s Spell [All-Knowing Eye]]@@novelbin@@


    [All-Knowing Eye]


    Fourth Tier Divination, Transmutation


    [The dragon¡¯s eyes sh briefly with bright light, opening its mind to every object nearby.


    You gain immense vision, allowing you to see everything clearly in the surrounding area and be 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, abination of divination and transmutation. Though the spell rank is not high, the effect is obvious.¡±


    This was Cassius¡¯s assessment.


    Though the Heaven¡¯s Cmity Dragon Eye was good, being a Seventh Tier spell, it could only be cast twice a day given his casting level. The All-Knowing Eyepensated 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 upational 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 simr to the Spell Nullification Barrier but much moreplex 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 be a joke to be widely spread among Metal Dragons, one that could make Bahamutugh 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 ws 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 indeedcked 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 ipetence¡­¡±


    ¡°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 aplete 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.<div>


    ...


    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 ce. 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 ce!¡±


    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, farrger 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 asrge as this lean White Dragon.


    ¡°Whack! Whack! Whack!¡±


    The Red Dragon used its left paw to pin her neck to the ground, while the right paw continuously pped her, producing loud, crisp sounds.


    ¡°Aow¡ª¡±


    Tiniyay 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, herbat 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 ustomed 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 muscr arm that firmly pinned her down, then closed her eyes, thinking to herself.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 ck 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 urred, 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, ording 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 particr 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 simr 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 Pce


    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 Pr 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 sses, 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 ordance 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.¡±<div>


    ...


    ¡°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 sses 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 naturallyzy red dragon, he was more ustomed to being a hands-off ruler, leaving the kingdom¡¯s affairs to his subordinates.


    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 ipetent, unable to properly amodate 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 ountable.¡±


    ¡°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 upromising gaze, Ramp put on a smile worse than crying.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°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 pce constructionplete?¡±


    He naturally referred to the ¡°Steel Dragonwing Pce¡± 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 arge amount of faction contribution, dispatched more than three hundred Starfallen, and deployed twenty-seven Frost Giant ves. They worked day and night, and aside from some additional decorations, the pce is essentiallyplete. But for some reason, the Starfallen have recently been very eager to ept tasks.¡±


    Cassius thought to himself, naturally, it¡¯s because the server is about to close, and these yers want to make the most of theirst 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 Pce¡± finally appeared before him.


    Constructed against a mountain, the pce was incredibly majestic and magnificent.


    The main hall of the pce stood nearly thirty meters high, housing a massive steel throne. The side halls were simrly grand, resembling broad dragon wings.


    Relying on the Ashen Kingdom¡¯s abundant resources, the immense strength of Frost Giant ves, and the diverse methods of the yers, such a pce 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 pce was just a facade. His true nest was in a warm cave dug into the mountain, with enough space to amodate 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 ced 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 iled 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 Pce, Cassiusy sprawled on the throne, exhaling a breath of sulfurden heat.


    ¡°By now, the yers 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 ves under strict surveince. Even so, it took several days toplete. Those poor ves 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.<div>


    ...


    All the entrances to the cavern had been sealed off with rocks created by spells, and the only essible 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 unwee guest. The Red Dragon even somewhat hoped for adventurers toe, 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 pce gate, Tiefling guards patrolled back and forth, and there were even bipedal wyverns perched on the watchtowers outside the pce. Any intruder without permission would be torn to pieces.


    At this moment, Cassius was reviewing the report presented by Ramp.


    Having integrated thends originally belonging to the Rackman and Norton Duchies, along with the previously held Stormy Ridge and newly upied cier regions, the total area now covered nearly two hundred thousand square kilometers. But these areas were mostly sparsely popted; 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. Poption 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 yers, 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 ownedrge heritablends. They forced the poor to performbor, forming the so-called ¡°serfdom,¡± and established economic and legal systems based onbor-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 ughtered by the enraged Tieflings, and even the thousands of serfs on the Rackman family¡¯s manor were dered 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 be even tougher during the yers¡¯ absence.


    Just at this moment, a Tiefling guard reported at the door.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Lord Mezsh has arrived.¡±


    ¡°Let him in.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The heavy pce doors slowly opened, and Mezsh walked in with steady steps, calmly kneeling before Cassius.


    ¡°How did the task I assigned you go?¡±


    ¡°I have sessfullypleted the handover with that yer. 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 be the kingdom¡¯s sharpest daggers in the night.¡±


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Cassius had decided to entrust the leadership of the ¡°Nocturne¡± to Mezsh. This was partly because the Tiefling tribes were already tied to the kingdom¡¯s chariot, making betrayal impossible.


    It was also because Mezsh was always decisive in killing and had the power to control undead, making him not averse to dealing with such shady activities.


    After all, yers were too uncontroble, 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 ¡°sessful¡± handover. Swashbuckler had howled and even challenged Mezsh to a duel, ending up beaten ck and blue before conceding defeat. The gathered yers watched gleefully, pping and cheering.


    ¡°The task of collecting intelligence on the various duchies should be put on the agenda. After the training ispleted, 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.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Mezsh 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 ns for ¡°Nocturne¡± were not limited to external targets. This would give Mezsh 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 pir-like leg, any trouble could be easily resolved.


    Mezsh was well aware of this and often led by example.


    Recently, the kingdom had been booming with various matters following closely. As soon as Mezsh left, the Tiefling guards at the door reported again.@@novelbin@@


    ¡°Your Majesty, Lord Frederick from the Hall of Dragon Oath requests an audience.¡±


    ¡°So many things are happeningtely 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.¡±


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