Ember Dragon

“What an unexpected bonus”

Cassius put away the Hell Core, licked his lips, and looked pleased.

Just as Zariel expected, the greedy red dragon would not give up the Hell Core, which was right in its mouth.

But what she didn't expect was that Cassius also intended to participate in the bloody battle, a mess that others wanted to avoid, and even wanted it.

Now that the empire is stable, the five million Fallen Starmen under his command are lacking a training place where they can gain unlimited experience points - and Avernus is an excellent choice.

In that sinful land filled with blood and killing, players can completely ignore any negative impact, give full play to their imagination, and act without taboos.

After putting away the Hell Core, Cassius continued to look at the panel. More information was refreshed, making him feel excited.

[Under the attack of the Burning Empire, the Thracian Kingdom was destroyed, and the Hell Lord Zariel who coveted August was also killed by you.

The Empire's series of stunning feats have made the continent of Feanso tremble, and the Empire's reputation has spread throughout the multiverse. Your power reputation level has been raised to: VI]
[Due to the characteristics of [Empire Realm], you can choose to exchange for a legendary camp or below characteristics.]
Mind Control

You will have the ability to control the minds of others, and can control the minds of most weak-willed people in the Empire.

"There is no free will anymore, only my will." - Yuri, halfling psion

【Ubiquitous】

You can receive all information within the empire, and every shadow will become your eyes and ears.

"You have no secrets - because I'm everywhere!" - Clyde Frake, Shadow Wanderer
[Iron Blood Empire]

The fighting spirit of the imperial army will be increased by 10%. Your soldiers will become more cruel and bloodthirsty, and fearless of death, but they will also consume more resources.

Cassius browsed carefully and found that the characteristics of these legendary factions were extremely powerful, but the restrictions were also quite strict - most of them could only be used within the empire.

But for Cassius, who possessed god-like authority within the empire, the effects of these abilities were something he could achieve directly or indirectly, so it would be a waste to waste a characteristic for this purpose.

Just like last time, the [Divine Right] he chose effectively ensured the stability within the empire, preventing those spies and rebels from acting rashly.

Cassius continued to browse downwards, and more than twenty faction characteristics appeared on the panel one after another, including a mix of good and bad, from low-level to legendary.

These traits can grant special abilities to followers of all factions, some of which can increase wealth, some of which can change the environment, and even directly affect the souls of the people of the empire.

【Charisma】【Labor】【Magic Tide】【Cultural Fever】【Martial Law】【Massive Expropriation】【Law Supremacy】.
Finally, he fixed his eyes on one of the rather special camp characteristics, and after careful observation, he chose it without hesitation.

[You choose the legendary faction feature——[Empire Boundary Monument]]
[Imperial Boundary Monument]

Quality: Legend

Introduction: You can set up boundary markers within the Burning Empire as a mark of your territory.

Boundary monument effect:

1. The Empire Boundary Monument can release the power of law, and can gradually transform the surrounding territory into the [Imperial Territory] with itself as the center.

2. Any player belonging to the [Burning Empire] camp can choose the boundary monument as the resurrection point, and new players without a camp can also choose the boundary monument as the birth point.

3. Space tunnels will be connected between the imperial boundary monuments. The emperor and his imperial dependents who are allowed to do so will be able to ignore the plane barriers and travel freely between the boundary monuments.

(Note: This is an exclusive feature of [Imperial Domain].)
Before this, Cassius had only transformed important cities such as Istalia and Borean Castle into imperial territories. But after having the boundary marker, he no longer had to transform them himself and could just sit back and enjoy the results.

At the same time, the resurrection point and space shuttle capabilities of the boundary monument can also enable Cassius to have stronger control over newly occupied cities and colonies in other dimensions.

In the near future, the imperial people will even be able to use the power of boundary markers to expand their territory. Once they erect a boundary marker, thousands of troops will come to meet it.

Thinking of this, Cassius opened his mouth and revealed a ferocious smile. He clenched his claws suddenly, "With this feature, the entire empire will be under my control."

"boom--"

The ground shook, and along with the dust, a boundary marker slowly rose from the ground.

This boundary marker is twenty meters high, with a fine and smooth texture, just like carefully polished marble. It is covered with lifelike reliefs, including wyverns, white dragons, half-dragons and other clans, as well as scenes of the Burning Emperor defeating powerful enemies.

At the top of the boundary monument was the imperial emblem with vertical pupils and flames, and in the middle was a line of small characters engraved:
[Boundary Monument: August]

The first part is the place name written in the common language, and the second part is the spatial coordinates of the place.

After the boundary marker appeared, a tremendous pressure emanated, and the power of law continued to expand outward with the boundary marker as the center, gradually transforming the surrounding space into Cassius's [Imperial Territory].

"Very good, the next step is experience"

Feeling the familiar breath, Cassius nodded with satisfaction, and then turned his gaze back to his system panel.

After destroying the Thracian Kingdom and killing Zariel, Cassius's harvest was too rich, including achievements, rare items, faction characteristics, and experience.

At this moment, Cassius felt like an old farmer in autumn, with his ferocious dragon face full of joy of harvest.

[Killed [Lord of Avernus - Zariel (Challenge Level: 36)], and obtained 215000 XP]
[Your total occupation level increased to: 27]
[Your current occupation is: True Dragon Warlock 19/Blood Scale Berserker 3/Elemental Master 4/Carved Leather Dragon 1]
[Please select a career for this promotion]
Level 20 is the upper limit of the career level for all players. As long as you cross this threshold, even if you don’t have any other abilities, you can be respectfully called a "legend".

In his previous life, even though Cassius was a hardcore player of "Erezaigai", he only reached level 16, and at that time it was already version 3.0.

But even so, he can be regarded as the best among players. Only those "professional players" who truly regard games as their life can cross the threshold of level 20 and become true powerhouses in the multiverse.

And now, Cassius finally had the opportunity to truly step into this realm, which made him feel quite sad - even though he already possessed terrifying power no less than that of a demigod.

Needless to say, what choice to make.

[You choose to upgrade [True Dragon Warlock] to level 20]
[Due to the natural spellcasting of the dragon race and the innate authority of the elemental lord, your current caster level is: 31]
At the moment of choosing to be promoted, Cassius felt that his eyes suddenly opened up, and a feeling he had never experienced before surged into his heart.

Everything in front of him - the indestructible city walls, towering mountains, and rushing rivers - seemed like fragile soap bubbles that could be easily popped.

Then, a cold mechanical voice came to his ears.

[In the shadows behind the sharp red, the endless black, the brilliant yellow, the multiverse reveals its true power before you. Your mind revolves around a thousand arcane secrets written in forgotten words... but you can understand them.]
More importantly, something you have been looking for is now fully revealed to you:
Reality is a fragile thing, a collection of forces beyond common knowledge that only those who are qualified can access.]
"This is."

A faint light shone through Cassius' light golden pupils. In an instant, his gaze penetrated those illusory "bubbles" and saw the truth behind it all.

The world he lives in, and even the universe he lives in, is floating like a soap bubble in the ocean of chaos.

And in that chaos, Cassius could see countless tall and blurry figures. In front of them, the universe he lived in was so small.

Suddenly, a deep eye seemed to open in the figure in the distance and looked at Cassius from a distance.

[warn!]
[You are being watched by [G$v@qL*K9!], the emergency thought shielding system has been activated!]
In an instant, Cassius heard noisy whispers and sharp explosions in his ears.

Under the influence of that voice, he couldn't help but feel fear, madness and other emotions that should belong to mortals.

But now Cassius is an Azudai dragon, a divine life form that controls many origins. What on earth could make him feel so afraid?

[Thought shielding is complete, your true eye has ended, please stay rational]
The horrifying scene before his eyes instantly disappeared, and the scene returned to that of August City.

The noise in Cassius' ears disappeared instantly. He gasped for breath, bursts of hot steam came out of his nostrils, and his heart beat violently. It took him a long time to calm down.

"What on earth is this?"

Cassius knew very well that this was not something a warlock who had just been promoted to level 20 was qualified to see.

Or it could be that this is most likely the system, or more precisely, the being behind the system, who wants to take this opportunity to let Cassius see something.

Depth, depression and despair are the underlying colors there.

The joy that Cassius felt in destroying the Thracian Kingdom and defeating Zariel was instantly diluted, and the pride and satisfaction he felt in watching the empire expand step by step also dimmed.

Cassius realized this a long time ago.

He must become strong, at all costs. Otherwise, even if he becomes the king of the material plane, he will be just a cricket trapped in a cage, unable to jump out for the rest of his life.

Soon, Cassius put aside the distracting thoughts in his mind.

Keep advancing. Only by becoming stronger can you understand everything in front of you and be qualified to be on an equal footing with those high-ranking beings.

"Keep on getting promoted."

Cassius finally regained his sanity and looked at his panel with calm and indifferent eyes.

[Your [True Dragon Warlock] profession has reached its peak. You have traced the bloodline of your ancestral dragons and gained the lost power of ancient times. You know - this will restore the glory and splendor of the dragon race.]
[You gain the special ability [Original Return]]
【Original Return】

Skill Effect: Unknown
In the era when giant dragons ruled the world, the sky, the earth, and the ocean, the shadow of dragon wings covered everything. The ancestral dragons once held all the original power. To be more precise, they were the embodiment of power.

As the best among pure-blooded dragons, you have successfully awakened the ancestral dragon bloodline in your body. After burning your own blood and igniting the fire hidden in your genes, you will briefly gain the power of the third-generation ancestral dragon.

"The form of the fourth generation ancestor dragon."

Cassius stroked his chin, thinking carefully, and sorting out his memories of the history of the dragon clan.

You have to know that the original dragon clan was much more powerful than the real dragons that have been weakened many times. According to the Golden Dragon Council, the size of the tibia came from the third-generation ancestor dragon Orlando, and the third-generation ancestor dragon could grow to more than a thousand meters long.

As their descendants, the size of the fourth generation of ancestor dragons is probably also unusual, with a body length of at least 500 meters - this is longer than all life forms that have appeared in the material plane in the Third Era.

Cassius even had reason to suspect that after using the ability of [Primal Return], he would be rejected by the will of the material plane and driven directly to the outer plane.

[You gain the special ability [Ancestor Dragon Bloodline]]
[Ancestor Dragon Bloodline]

Your blood will possess the immortality and uniqueness that belongs only to the ancestral dragons, and your descendants and dependents will undergo unpredictable changes.

"Heir?"

Cassius was silent for a moment, feeling a little helpless.

As a sub-ancestral red dragon still in his teenage years, Cassius is still young and has no offspring or even a real spouse.

But today, perhaps this issue should be put on the agenda.

[You traced back to the ancient ancestral dragon bloodline and obtained the legendary dragon spells [Dragon's Vengeance Gaze] and [Dragon's Freedom]]
Dragon's Vengeful Gaze
Ten-ring Transmutation Spells

[The dragon glares at the enemy, and the target of the spell will suffer the ultimate wrath of the dragon. Weaker targets will be completely destroyed and disintegrated, leaving only a wisp of smoke.]

Channeling such terrible energy comes at an equal cost, and when the target's vitality becomes too strong, the dragon's eyes bleed and its skin twitches.]
"Advanced Finger of Death."

Cassius looked at the information of this seemingly terrifying legendary spell with a lack of interest.

Whoever you glare at will die. It sounds like a very powerful spell.

But Cassius knew very well that this kind of spell with the nature of "instant death" often has the characteristics of "bullying the weak": it is difficult to be effective when attacking strong enemies, but it is extremely efficient when slaughtering weak ones.

However, it is a legendary spell after all, and the only use Cassius can think of is to use it to remotely kill those spellcasters hiding in the dark.

Then he lowered his head and looked at the next legendary spell.

Dragon's Freedom

Ten rings of protection spells

[Dragons always pursue freedom and hope to soar freely in the sky forever, so they created this spell to deal with those annoying arcanists.

The subject is immune to the following spells, effects, and spell-like abilities: entangle, fear, control, imprisonment, paralysis, petrification, hypnosis, slow, stun, time stagnation, and abnormal flow of time.]
Seeing this, Cassius nodded with satisfaction. His cheap ancestor did leave behind quite a few useful spells.

Apparently, this is one of them. (End of chapter)