Chapter 146: A Second Ascension
The harrowing ordeal had hit Kai Xiusu like a thunderclap, awakening in him an urgent hunger to strengthen himself. Perhaps it was the inherent laziness of the Dragon Bloodline, or perhaps the overconfidence bred by relentless victories—it had led him to grow complacent after his long slumber. He had forgotten this world was a minefield of peril, and in his arrogance, he had treated Ailezegai like his own private garden.
Red Dragon stared at his Character Sheet. Not only had the previous War granted him a massive surge of Experience Points, but Duke Brad had also handed him an even greater bounty. This time, Kai Xiusu made no effort to suppress the flow. Instead, he chose to absorb the power directly, converting it into tangible strength. As for the remaining two levels of XP—his mind was already set on a concrete plan.
[Your True Dragon Mage level-up to Level 9]
[Your True Dragon Mage level-up to Level 10]
[You gain an additional Metamagic Specialization. You choose: Enhanced Spell, Delayed Spell]
Though he ascended two levels in one go, the new spell slots were unexpectedly high-tier—only four in total. This was a recurring limitation for Sorcerers, even for a True Dragon Mage: potent, but few in number.
Still, his current spellcasting level had reached 13, allowing him to touch the seventh layer of the Weave of Magic—an elite status among spellcasters across all of Ailezegai.
[You gain Dragon Spells: Graceful as a Dragon, Greed Sack, Immortal Scales, Heaven’s Judgment Dragon Eye]
Graceful as a Dragon – 5th-level Transmutation
The dragon harnesses spatial mastery, transforming its massive form into a creature of astonishing agility. Dexterity increases steadily throughout the spell’s duration, peaking at a maximum of 30.
Greed Sack – 5th-level Evocation
This spell creates a bag-like Force Field trailing behind the dragon in flight. It allows the dragon to carry immense loads with no weight penalty—items within feel weightless—and enables the dragon to maintain its normal maximum speed.
Immortal Scales – 6th-level防护 and Transmutation
The dragon channels its life force, designating a specific scale as its "reverse scale"—its true weakness. Until that scale is shattered, the dragon is immune to one fatal blow. Once broken, the dragon gains a massive boost to Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity.
Heaven’s Judgment Dragon Eye – 7th-level Divination
A phantom dragon’s eye manifests and floats in the air, moving at the dragon’s will. The dragon can see through it normally and, with some probability, glimpse fragments of the past or future. The eye can withstand the same damage as the dragon itself. The dragon may even unleash its Breath Weapon through the eye—but doing so destroys it permanently.
“This is a Seventh Circle Spell…?”
Kai Xiusu felt a surge of exhilaration as the flood of spell knowledge settled in his mind. These spells were tailor-made for him—no surprise, given they were the private treasures of the dragonkind.
Though he now possessed a Seventh Circle spell, he hadn’t yet mastered it. He’d need more experimentation to fully command its power.
Now, it was time to take control of the Duchy of Lakanman, claim the spoils of war, and begin laying the groundwork for the conquest of the entire Anzeta Great Wasteland.
In the ruins of Lakanman Castle, Meizhuolashi and Alje staggered through the lingering Shadow Curse, emerging at last before the Red Dragon. Behind them stood Langli BaiTiao, and beside him, Yeno Lakanman—freed from his vampiric chains, now a true Vampire Offspring.
"Master," Alje knelt, his half-dragon face devoid of triumph, only quiet resignation. "It was my failure. I was controlled by the enemy—forcing you to intervene yourself."
Duke Brad was dead.
With him, the last vestige of Alje’s identity as a “Human Alje” had vanished. What remained was only Ashen Hollow’s Dragon’s Claws, the Crimson Scale Conqueror—half-dragon, half-loyalty.
Meizhuolashi stepped forward. "Master, what of the surviving vampires? One of them is a Stellarfallen."
As a Tiefling chieftain, Meizhuolashi despised vampires with every fiber of his being. But reason told him only the Red Dragon had the authority to decide their fate.
Kai Xiusu turned to Langli BaiTiao.
The man wore a tattered black robe, his skin deathly pale, his fangs sharp, his pupils flickering with a faint crimson glow. Having drunk the blood of the old vampire, he had become a true vampire—possessing terrifying regenerative abilities and the power to create his own Vampire Offspring.
When he felt the Red Dragon’s gaze, Langli BaiTiao flashed a sly, eager grin.
"Boss, I’m tough—I don’t die easy. If I can’t win, I just fade into mist and vanish."
Before the words even left his mouth, he dissolved into a thin wisp of fog.
He’d planned ahead—any threat from the faction leader could be escaped with a single breath.
Kai Xiusu: "..."
Langli BaiTiao instantly reformed, scratching his head sheepishly. "Just showing you my skills, boss!"
After a brief pause, Kai Xiusu realized the truth: these undead creatures, born of the night, were perfect for covert operations—assassinations, stealth missions, reconnaissance. They were ideal for special quests.
So the Red Dragon spoke:
"I want you to form a special vampire unit—dedicated to tasks that must remain hidden. As for the name…"
"Langbu! How about Langbu?" Langli BaiTiao blurted out excitedly.
"..."
The moment he saw the Red Dragon’s unamused stare and sensed the thickening silence, Langli BaiTiao’s grin faltered.
"Uh… well, you’re the boss. You decide."
"I just thought Langbu sounded cool. Or… how about Langli BaiTiao Fan Club?"
"Nocturne," Kai Xiusu said, his voice firm, unwavering. "A force that brings eternal sleep to enemies in the dark."
Langli BaiTiao snapped to attention, instantly flattered. "Perfect name, boss! How did you come up with such a brilliant idea?"
Kai Xiusu continued: "Choose suitable individuals to turn into Vampire Offspring. They’ll join Nocturne. As for your Blood Feasts—I’ll allocate a dedicated budget. Buying blood from the Infinite Resurrection’s Stellarfallen shouldn’t be hard."
"Keep these blood-drinkers in check. If I ever catch wind of a normal citizen being attacked by one of your kind—well, I won’t need to spell out your fate."
"Yes, yes, boss! I, Langli BaiTiao, will serve you faithfully! I’ll make Nocturne the most successful organization in Ashen Hollow!"
Hearing those words—especially “Budget Allocation”—Langli BaiTiao nodded vigorously, promising everything.
At last, he’d achieved his long-sought class leap—from a mere hired hand to a department head!
Yes, it had cost him dearly—earning the infamous nickname “Vampire’s Favorite” in the Forum—but the journey to Northwind Keep had been worth it. Langli BaiTiao’s heart swelled with emotion, a mix of tears and triumph.
Little did Kai Xiusu know—this Nocturne would one day become infamous across the land.
The Player who’d never feared death? Now, as an undead, he became even more reckless under Langli BaiTiao’s leadership. They embraced a brutal creed: "Eliminate every witness—perfect infiltration." And across the continent, they left behind a trail of blood and silence.
(End of Chapter)
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