Chapter 263: Ascension and the Calling

Chapter 263: Ascension and the Calling

As space fluctuated violently, a massive, illusory red figure appeared at the original spot, then gradually solidified, ultimately taking the form of the red dragon once again.

Cassius surveyed the surroundings—now scorched earth, burning with Abyssal fire.

“Inferno Burst...”

“The power is indeed formidable.”

Though this battle had been relatively easy for him, part of that was due to the advantages of his abilities.

If the red dragon hadn’t intervened personally, this Balor Demon could have singlehandedly destroyed half of the Ember Kingdom. Currently, none of the kingdom’s high-ranking forces could have resisted this demon—not even Langpu could do more than barely hold him off. Such was the terrifying power of the Abyss.

If the Abyss were to send a truly powerful force to restrain him, then having the current Ember Kingdom forces fight against an Abyssal demon army—even if they somehow managed to win—would come at a grievous cost.

Luckily, he had managed to destroy Koman’s demon nest, developed over several years, in one blow. The demon army of over a thousand strong was also eradicated. At least for now, in the brief time before another Abyssal portal was established, they would be unable to regroup such a formidable force.

Cassius looked again at his panel, which had refreshed with several new notifications.

[You have slain 【Bagura Demon】, gained 1800 XP]

[You have slain 【Vrock Demon】, gained 2300 XP]

[You have slain 【Seducer Demon】, gained 5000 XP]

[You have slain 【Berserker Demon】.]

[You have slain 【The Reborn Balor Demon - Koman (Challenge Level: 18)】, gained 20000 XP]

“Three years gone, and finally enough experience to level up.”

Cassius sighed.

As a unique entity, beyond just gaining XP through kills, he could also accumulate strange energies during his slumbers. After three years of constant accumulation, and now the victory over the demon army, he finally could ascend to a new tier.

[You have chosen to advance 【True Dragon Sorcerer】 to Level 13]

[Due to innate dragon spellcasting, your current caster level is: 18]

But Level 13 was more of a transitional stage for professionals and did not bring any significant qualitative change—only a few additional spells could be gained. Cassius could only hope the Fate God would let him draw some decent spells from his legacy.

Fortunately, his luck wasn’t bad this time.

[You have gained additional Dragon Spells: 【Labyrinth of Thought】, 【Treasure Ward】]

【Labyrinth of Thought】 (Mind of the Labyrinth)

8th Circle Enchantment Spell [Mind-Affecting]

Duration: Until Expended

Your eyes narrow, black, foul-smelling energy floats above your head, absorbing light and siphoning scattered thoughts.

You twist your mind into a magical labyrinth that confounds unwary spellcasters. If an enemy tries to cast a mind-affecting spell or use a mind-affecting ability on you, the labyrinthine structure of your thoughts will bewilder them.

“Labyrinth of Thought.”

Cassius looked slightly pleased.

He had always lacked control-type spells, often relying on 【Tiamat’s Terrifying Illusion】 during battle to restrain enemies.

But that power didn’t come without cost. Although the power didn’t stem directly from Tiamat’s gift, the more he used this deity-related magic, the stronger his bond with Tiamat grew invisibly. Eventually, it might even forcefully bind him to the chariot of the Queen of Chromatic Dragons, which was a fate Cassius wanted to avoid at all costs.

Now that he’d gained the dragon’s psychic spell from his legacy, and it was even at the eighth circle, it filled a major gap in his abilities, allowing him more freedom in battle.

【Treasure Ward】

4th Circle Abjuration

This spell acts upon a continuous pile of treasure. If any item is taken from the pile, the one carrying it will feel nauseous and vomit, unless their body is robust enough to resist it.

Any creature wishing to steal from the pile must abandon the items they’ve taken, or else the effects intensify, and they will be immobilized. Note: every 10 gold coins worth of treasure counts as an individual “item.”

“Chicken ribs—tasteless, but a waste to throw away.”

“But better than nothing, I suppose.”

That was Cassius’s evaluation of 【Treasure Ward】.

This spell was clearly a dragon’s creation, vividly showcasing a dragon’s avarice and stinginess. They even designed a spell specifically to protect their treasure.

However, to Cassius, it seemed more like the neurotic product of a dragon’s anxiety over treasure—after all, anyone capable of stealing from him would hardly be affected by this spell, and any weaker beings that might have tried would likely be caught by the vigilant wyverns or tiefling guards long before they even glimpsed his hoard.

It might only be effective against those niche thieves adept at stealth but physically frail.

The vast stream of information from the two spells flooded into Cassius’s mind, but he was already familiar with this sensation.

With a caster level as high as 18, he could easily grasp everything related to eighth-circle spells; after all, his Will had already reached the ninth layer of touching the Weave.

Cassius finally opened his eyes, refocusing his attention on the surroundings that lay in disarray.

The demons had left little in the way of bodies. Upon their deaths, their chaotic essence had returned to the Abyss, their energy transforming into new demons.

As for the demon nest, under the Balor Demon’s final Inferno Burst, it had been reduced to scorched earth. Half the mountain peak had been obliterated by the terrifying explosion. The charred caves were still filled with Abyssal fire, and the path leading deeper into the cave had been buried under collapsed stone.

“So where did Koman’s power originate from?”

Cassius narrowed his pale golden eyes, staring into the ruined cave, puzzlement clear in his gaze.

“He was merely a young Frost Giant; there’s no way he could’ve grown so much in just three years on his own.”

“And the former Cassius, a dragon without the protection of his mother, could never have reached the level of ‘Flame of the Mountains’ that shook the Northern Lands in just ten short years—a blink for a dragon—without external aid.”

“There must be an Abyssal Lord behind them.”

That was what Cassius thought.

He slightly opened his jaw, exhaling a scorching breath. The flames melted and pierced through the piled-up rocks, revealing the dark, deep passageway.

Suddenly, the fringed ears of the red dragon twitched, and the bony ridges on his forehead creased slightly.

He seemed to hear something.

A calling.

Yes, a calling.

It was not transmitted through physical means, but rather, it resonated on a higher spiritual level, connecting to his consciousness. It made Cassius wary, instinctively fortifying his mental defenses.

Yet the deep voice still came from the void, omnipresent.

“Come.”

“You will come here and embrace the Abyss.”

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