Chapter 346: Orders and Achievements
The armies of the Ember Kingdom surged forward. Confronted with the imposing Dragonblood creatures, tens of thousands of allied forces surrendered their weapons with almost no hesitation.
Any noble officers who attempted resistance were eagerly torn to shreds by the fanatical followers.
Ultimately, they continued southward with their massive host of captives, heading straight for Stravsburg, the capital of the Duchy of Bosk and the nominal capital of the Northern United Kingdom.
Cassius lounged lazily beside a dirt slope. Not far away lay the unconscious silver dragon, guarded by blue and white dragons, while before him stood a triumphant Dolo.
The hobgoblin marshal knelt on one knee, his murky little eyes filled with excitement, puffs of white smoke occasionally escaping his nostrils.
"Report to Your Majesty."
"In this campaign, we killed over seventy-six thousand enemies, captured thirty-six thousand allied soldiers, and apprehended two hundred and seventeen Northern nobles, including Horace Bosk, the eldest son of Leo Bosk."
"Our casualties were only eight thousand seven hundred and sixty."
"However..."
Dolo paused as if recalling something, a sly glint flashing in his yellow eyes.
He lowered his head even further before continuing.
"However, compared to Your Majesty's glorious achievements, these paltry results seem utterly insignificant."
"You defeated the 'Silver Wings' Oszedro. The name of the King of Ember will spread across the entire Fianso continent and even the entire Material Plane."
Cassius glanced at him indifferently, then turned his head away.
"You've done well, but we must pick up the pace."
"Three months. I'll give you three months. Within that time, I expect to see a unified Northern region under the Ember Kingdom, at least in name."
Such a demand could be considered harsh.
Although Anzeta had a sparse population, its vast expanse stretched over a million square kilometers just within the former territory of the Northern United Kingdom.
Furthermore, the Northern nobility had ruled this land for a millennium, with deeply entrenched power structures that could not be easily eradicated.
But this was an imperial order.
Irrefutable, unquestionable.
Sweat immediately beaded on Dolo's forehead, but he forced an ugly smile.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Our military department will surely fulfill the task of fully conquering the Northlands. With the allied main force annihilated, local defenses are weak, and both the eastern and western armies are progressing smoothly."
"Carry on, but..."
Cassius looked at Dolo again, a trace of draconic majesty flashing in his pale golden eyes.
"I don't want to see a devastated North filled with wails and ruin. I want it to become part of the Ember Kingdom—a cradle for its development. Understand?"
Dolo wiped the sweat from his brow and hastily replied:
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
Dolo and the Ember Kingdom's forces then departed.
The red dragon paid no heed to the bickering and insults exchanged between the white and blue dragons beside him. He gave a few low-voiced commands before using [Sheltering Egg] to create a private extradimensional space for himself.
Cassius gazed calmly at his interface as lines of information scrolled across it. His eyes first landed on the golden trophy.
[Nation Destroyer]
"I have witnessed the demise of countless mortal nations. You shall be no different, destined to be annihilated by me—ancient red dragon, Fjorrdanov."
Achievement unlocked: [Nation Destroyer]
Strength +1, Charisma +1
Proficiencies: Intimidation +4, Leadership +4
You have destroyed a nation of millions. Your renown makes mortals tremble, your power astonishes the world, and you and your kingdom tread the path of conquest.
Cassius narrowed his eyes, and an invisible surge of intense energy acted directly upon his massive draconic form.
His body, nearly impervious even to ninth-ring spells, began to undergo a dramatic transformation.
"Roar!"
With low, guttural growls, the red dragon's tightly coiled muscles rippled and expanded, his scales stretching violently, white smoke seeping from their gaps.
Cassius felt intense pain coursing through his body, his muscles twisting like braided ropes, coalescing into a strength far surpassing his previous might.
"It's still continuing..."
The red dragon stretched his body, exhaling a hot, sulfuric breath with satisfaction.
The power continued to surge, altering the "aura" surrounding his body—the very influence he exerted upon the world.
Elemental energies swirled around him, flowing in sync with his every intent. The Weave itself rippled rhythmically in response.
The red dragon's Charisma surpassed the threshold of thirty.
Scholars had vague terms for this level of spellcaster: primal caster, true manipulator, spell usurper.
But one thing was certain—
He had transcended the mortal limits and reached an entirely new realm.
"Interesting."
Cassius flashed a sinister smile.
After undergoing this transformation, his spellcasting had fundamentally changed. He was no longer guiding or interfacing with the Weave—it was more akin to controlling reality itself. He even sensed faintly that he was surpassing the Weave, approaching its core essence.
After this transformation, Cassius retrieved a silver-white gemstone from his extradimensional space, gently clutching it in his claw.
[Fragmented Breath of Bahamut]
Quality: Artifact (Damaged)
Creator: Bahamut
Description: It is said that this gemstone was formed from the first breath Bahamut, the "Lord of the North Wind," exhaled at dawn. It contains a trace of divine power.
Eight hundred and seventy years ago, it was gifted to Oszedro, then a young dragon, and embedded in a platinum compass.
However, during the "Dual Dragon War" in Anzeta, which shocked the Material Plane, the platinum compass was destroyed, and the divine essence within the gemstone was eroded by chaotic flames, leaving only a sliver of residual divine power.
Effects:
[Holy Order]: The lingering light of Bahamut can reshape the world, aligning everything around this gemstone toward order and goodness.
[Breath of the North Wind]: You can unleash an icy breath that freezes your wicked enemies completely.
"A fine item, worth the great risk of battling that silver dragon."
Cassius held the silver-white gemstone, feeling the faint radiance it emitted, his mind clearer than ever.
After the battle, Bahamut's imprint had been eradicated, leaving the residual divine power of order as the perfect "calming agent."
He clearly felt the frantic throbbing of Karrikex's Heart in his chest subside, the heartbeat slowing, as if frozen by the orderly power of Bahamut's North Wind.
Cassius looked at his interface.
[Progress on absorbing [Karrikex's Heart]: 4.57%]
The previous battle, where he wielded chaotic breath, had significantly advanced the progress.
Now, the life-threatening countdown had finally paused, giving him a moment's respite.
However, Cassius knew this was not a permanent solution. To address the vengeance demon's curse, he needed to find more countermeasures.
This battle had yielded substantial gains, as his interface displayed a surge of experience points.
[Defeated [Ethereal Stalker - Grom Saxon (Challenge Rating: 17)], gained 18,000 XP]
[Defeated [Primordial Warrior - Lano Rageaxe (Challenge Rating: 18)], gained 20,000 XP]
[Defeated [Radiant Dragonslayer - Dexus Flaregold (Challenge Rating: 19)], gained 23,000 XP]
Despite this, he did not level up.
With the demanding template of an ancestral red dragon, the mysterious and specialized advanced sub-class, and a total class level of 17, the XP required for his next level as a [True Dragon Sorcerer] was staggering.
Even sacrificing most of a legendary adventuring party wasn't enough to advance a single level—perhaps only slaying Oszedro could suffice.
"This efficiency is simply too low."
"Maybe I need to find alternative channels for gaining experience beyond personal slaughter."
Cassius gazed at his template, pondering silently.
"Players."
He thought to himself.