Chapter 236: Final Instructions
"At last, everything's settled. Can I finally go into Deep Sleep now?"
"What else was there...?"
Kai Xiusu yawned again, his mind swirling with a tangle of unfinished affairs. But as a Slothful Red Dragon, the pull of sleep was nearly irresistible. His eyelids drooped, and he nearly dozed off mid-thought.
Yet for a dragon lord, Kai Xiusu was remarkably diligent—far more so than the typical Red Dragon, whose minds were usually preoccupied with meat and magma. Even among the ancient Dragon Leadership of old, he would have been hailed as a wise and capable ruler.
For he, unlike most dragons, carried the burden of foresight. While others slumbered through centuries—waking only to find their ministers long dead, their courts reshuffled a dozen times over—Kai Xiusu knew what was coming. The future was not a mystery to him.
A sudden boom erupted from his nostrils as a plume of black smoke burst forth. With a claw, he caught the massive, sagging head of his Daitou, barely keeping it from tipping forward and closing his eyes.
"Ah, right. I almost forgot about the demons."
The Red Dragon rubbed his bleary eyes, muttering to himself.
This was no ordinary matter—it was the main quest from his past life: Frostfire Wrath, part of the original Northern Winds and Storms storyline. Under the leadership of the former "Mountain Fury," the "Dragon of Demons" Kai Xiusu, countless demons had poured forth from the depths of the mountains, unleashing a merciless invasion across the Anzeta Great Wasteland, slaughtering every living thing in their path. The nations of the Northern Regions had once united with players to resist the tide of the Deep Abyss Demons.
But under Kai Xiusu’s customized modifications, the current state of the Northern Regions was utterly transformed. The kingdoms now trembled beneath the shadow of the Red Dragon’s wing—united only in fear, their unity fragile, tentative.
Yet one truth remained absolute: the demon invasion was inevitable.
That was precisely why he had acted so swiftly four years ago, unifying the Northern Regions with such ruthless efficiency. Only by consolidating nearly all of Anzeta’s strength under a single crown could they stand against the endless, rising tide of abyssal horrors.
With that thought, Kai Xiusu barked out an order:
"Bring Alje to me—now."
His voice was sharp with impatience. His entire being yearned for sleep, every instinct of his dragon nature urging him to surrender to the embrace of slumber.
The command was instantly amplified through magic, racing through the royal network.
Moments later, a piercing eagle cry echoed from outside the palace walls—the unmistakable call of Alje riding his Dragonvein Eagle.
According to court protocol, Alje would have landed at the outer perimeter, undergone status verification, formal notification, and a long procession along the Wide Path before finally entering the main palace. But Kai Xiusu had no interest in theatrical displays of power.
"Enter the palace directly," he called out, his voice cutting through the air. "No time for ceremony."
At the Red Dragon’s command, the Tiefling guards at the city walls swung the gates wide. The Wyverns perched atop the stone pillars lowered their heads, their roars silenced.
Alje soared unimpeded through the open gates.
In just a few breaths, the giant eagle landed gracefully before the main palace doors. Alje dismounted with a practiced leap and bowed toward the entrance.
"Master, I am here."
"Enter."
The heavy metal door—etched with a grinning dragon’s head—creaked open slowly, creaking like the jaws of a beast.
Alje stepped inside with measured grace, his Dragonvein Eagle remaining patiently outside, waiting.
He half-kneeled at the base of the steps, head bowed.
"Forgive me, Master. I arrived a little late."
Since the Player’s departure, Alje’s Crimson Scale Garrison had grown quiet. Few could meet the exacting standards of becoming a Crimson Scale Conqueror. Even now, only four remained—including him. Once, he’d commanded nearly twenty players.
But after vengeance was fulfilled, ambition had faded. He preferred the quiet.
"Alje," Kai Xiusu asked, "how many Crimson Scale Conquerors remain in the garrison after Stellarfallen left?"
Alje replied, "Forgive my failure, Master. Only four of us remain—including myself."
Kai Xiusu shook his head. "Not enough. Not nearly enough."
"Development of the Crimson Scale Conquerors must not rely solely on those who came from Stellarfallen. You must train new strength. More recruits."
Alje let out a dry chuckle. "Master, forging such cavalry takes years. The requirements are extreme, the cost immense. I can only do my best."
Kai Xiusu’s golden eyes flared. "I will provide all the funds you need. And with the kingdom’s current scale, I swear—among hundreds of thousands, we can find a hundred Dragon Riders."
Alje nodded. "Yes, Master."
"Any recent patrol findings?" Kai Xiusu asked.
Alje paused, then answered: "The Bosk Duchy has been quiet lately. Half a year ago, their cavalry still roamed near our borders. Now, they’re barely seen. The other northern kingdoms? Even less so. It seems your might has kept them in check."
"Good," Kai Xiusu said, satisfied. "As expected."
He paused, then added, voice firm: "But you have one final task—patrol the Anstica Mountains region. Search for any traces of demons."
The command left no room for debate.
Alje dropped to one knee instantly. "Yes, Master."
After a moment’s hesitation, he cautiously added: "But... the Anstica Mountains don’t border our territory. To reach them, we’d have to pass through Bosk Duchy lands. I fear it might spark unnecessary conflict."
Kai Xiusu remained calm. "I’ve already informed Lanpu. He’ll cooperate. I’ll grant you access to a Dimensional Gate. Once the coordinates are confirmed, you can travel through spells at will."
"Even if the spell fails," he continued, "we can demand military passage rights from the Bosk Duchy. They still owe us a great debt. A pledge of repayment will suffice. You need not worry."
Fire burned in his golden eyes.
"But this mission is of utmost importance—your success will determine the fate of the kingdom, and perhaps the entire Northern Regions. Should you discover anything—any sign of demons—report it immediately to the Kingdom High Command."
Alje understood. This was no ordinary task. He held back any further questions—such delays would only irritate the Red Dragon.
He stood straight, voice clear and resolute.
"Yes, Master. I will complete it."
With a final cry, Alje mounted his giant eagle and soared into the sky.
Watching the eagle vanish into the distance, Kai Xiusu let out a long, deep yawn. A stream of molten heat escaped his nostrils, curling into the air.
"Tch. Finally... I can get some proper rest."
(End of Chapter)
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