https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-262-Self-Destructive-Inferno-of-the-Balor-Fire-Demon/13676552/
Chapter 263: Ascension and the Call
With a violent surge of spatial distortion, a massive, spectral crimson figure materialized from thin air. Gradually, it coalesced—solidifying into the form of Red Dragon.
Kai Xiusu scanned the desolate landscape around him: a wasteland of white ash, blazing with Abyssal Flame.
"Self-Destructive Inferno…"
"The power is impressive."
Though the battle had been relatively effortless for him, that was partly due to innate advantages—specific weaknesses in his opponent’s design. Had the Red Dragon not intervened directly, this Balor Fire Demon could have annihilated half the Kingdom of Ashen on its own. Even now, none of the kingdom’s top-tier forces could stand against it—Lanpu could only barely endure, and that was only through sheer will. This was the raw, terrifying might of the Abyss.
And when the depths sent one of their true high-ranking Strengths to bind him, even the Kingdom of Ashen’s army would have been forced to fight a brutal, costly victory against the Deep Abyss Demon legions.
But Kai Xiusu had just eradicated Koman’s demon nest after years of cultivation. Thousands of demons—once a fearsome army—were now reduced to ash. At least for the time being, while the Abyssal Portal remained sealed, the Demonic Legions would struggle to gather such a powerful force again.
Kai Xiusu turned back to his Character Sheet, where a cascade of new notifications scrolled through.
[You have slain Bagulam – 1,800 experience points]
[You have slain Frothmaw – 2,300 experience points]
[You have slain Miyu Demon – 5,000 experience points]
[You have slain Frenzied Warrior Demon.]
[You have slain Newborn Balor Fire Demon - Koman (Challenge Rating: 18) – 20,000 experience points]
"Three years… and finally enough experience points to level up."
Kai Xiusu exhaled, a rare note of satisfaction in his voice.
As a being with a unique template, he didn’t rely solely on killing enemies to grow. Even during Deep Sleep, he slowly accumulated that peculiar energy. After three years of relentless accumulation, combined with the annihilation of an entire demon legion, he had finally reached the threshold to ascend to a new tier.
[You have chosen to level up True Dragon Mage to Level 13]
[Due to Dragonborn Spellcasting, your current Spellcaster Level is: 18]
But Level 13 was more of a transitional step toward Professional status—no sudden leap in power. It only granted a few extra Spells. Kai Xiusu could only pray to the Fate Goddess to pull something worthwhile from his Heritage.
Fortunately, luck had never truly abandoned him.
[You have acquired two additional Dragon Spells: Mind of the Labyrinth, Treasure Ward]
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Mind of the Labyrinth (mind of the labyrinth)
8th-level Enchantment [Mind-Affecting]
Duration: Until expended
Your eyes narrow into slits. A thick, foul black energy swirls above your head, drinking in light and the stray thoughts of others. You twist your mind into a magical labyrinth—one that confuses any Spellcaster who lacks proper Perception. If an enemy attempts to cast a mind-affecting spell or ability upon you, your labyrinthine consciousness will disorient them.
“Mind of the Labyrinth,” Kai Xiusu murmured, a spark of surprise in his voice.
He had long lacked such control-oriented spells. In battle, he’d often relied on Tiamat’s Terrifying Illusion to hold enemies at bay. But that came at a price.
Though the power wasn’t directly granted by Tiamat, using spells tied to a Divine Being strengthened the invisible bond between him and the Five-Colored Dragon Queen. The more he used them, the tighter that thread grew—until, in the end, he might be forcibly dragged onto Tiamat’s War Chariot, a fate Kai Xiusu would never allow.
Now, with a Dragon-tier spell from his Heritage, an Eighth-Order Level enchantment, he’d finally filled a critical gap. It would grant him far greater command in combat—more finesse, more control.
---
Treasure Ward (treasure ward)
4th-level Abjuration
This spell affects a pile of continuous treasure. As soon as any item is removed from the stack, the thief will be overcome by nausea—unless their body is strong enough to resist.
A creature afflicted must drop the stolen item, or the effect intensifies and they become paralyzed. Note: Every 10 gold coins of treasure counts as one "item."
"Useless. Tastes like nothing, but you can’t just toss it aside."
"Still… better than nothing."
That was Kai Xiusu’s verdict on Treasure Ward.
It was clearly a Dragon-crafted spell—brimming with the classic Dragon obsession with wealth and possessiveness. Designed specifically to protect hoards, it was a perfect embodiment of their greedy, miserly nature.
But to Kai Xiusu, it felt more like a neurotic overreaction. Anyone capable of stealing from his vault would be strong enough to shrug off such a spell. Meanwhile, the weaklings it could affect wouldn’t even reach his treasure chamber before being caught by a Two-Headed Dragon or Tiefling Guard.
It would only matter to stealthy, weak thieves—those who could slip past defenses but not survive the consequences.
Still, two powerful spells flooded his mind. He was no stranger to such mental overload.
With a Spellcaster Level of 18, and his mind already touching the Ninth Layer of the Weave of Magic, absorbing Eighth-Level Spells was effortless.
Kai Xiusu finally opened his eyes, refocusing on the ruined surroundings.
The demons had left little behind. Upon death, their Chaos Essence returned to the Bottomless Abyss, and their essence would reform into new demons. But the past Demon Nest, shattered by the Balor Fire Demon’s final Self-Destructive Inferno, was now nothing but scorched earth.
Half the mountain had been erased by the cataclysmic explosion. The cave’s interior still burned with Abyssal Flame, and the passage leading deeper into the cavern had been buried beneath collapsed rock.
"So… where did Koman’s strength truly come from?" Kai Xiusu stared into the ruined cavern, his golden eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"He’s just a young Frost Giant. No way he could grow this powerful in just three years on his own."
"And the past Kai Xiusu, a dragonling abandoned by his mother, couldn’t possibly have matured into the Mountain Fury that shook the Northern Regions—not in ten years, not even close. That’s barely a blink for a dragon."
"Someone else is behind this."
A cold thought settled in his chest.
He slightly parted his jaws and unleashed a torrent of Fire Breath. The flames melted through the rubble, carving a path through the stone, revealing the dark, ancient passage once more.
Suddenly, the Red Dragon’s ear frills twitched. The bony spines on his brow creased slightly.
He heard it.
A call.
Not through sound. Not through air. But from a higher plane—something spiritual, penetrating his mind, reaching into his very soul.
Kai Xiusu’s instincts flared. Instinctively, he erected a mental fortress.
Yet the voice came—low, ancient, and inevitable—drifting from nowhere and everywhere.
"Come…"
"You will come here. Embrace the Abyss."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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