Chapter 370: Scroll and Crown
After concluding their discussion on the disposition of the baron, Kai Xiusu suddenly snapped his fingers, a flicker of deep curiosity flashing across his face.
"Ah, Lanpu. Come, experience the new spell."
"Yes, Master."
The ogre instantly obeyed, standing perfectly still, his senses alert to every subtle shift in the Weave of Magic, afraid to even twitch a muscle.
Clack.
A crisp, clear sound rang out.
Before his eyes, space rippled like water. The Weave of Magic surged violently—then vanished in an instant, too fast to fully perceive. And in that same breath, the Red Dragon materialized directly behind him.
This was no Teleportation Spell. It was acceleration of time flow, pushing pure Speed to its absolute limit.
But the marvel wasn’t over.
Suddenly, Lanpu felt the very fabric of space and time around him begin to thicken, constricting. A suffocating pressure pressed in from all directions. Yet he forced himself to remain standing, suppressing the primal urge to fight, to flee, to move.
Eternal Stasis
For an endless moment, he felt trapped in an invisible, eternal prison. Time stretched into infinity. Everything around him froze—motionless, silent, still.
"No…"
"This… this feeling…"
One second. Two. How long had passed? Without reference points, time became meaningless. Despair crept into his heart.
Then—just as suddenly as it had come—the prison shattered.
The world snapped back into motion. Air flowed again. Sound returned. The ogre staggered slightly, gasping for breath.
"Whew… whew… whew…"
Lanpu stood frozen, eyes wide, mouth agape. He looked down at his own body in disbelief, then wheeled around, panting, muttering in awe:
"Was that… Time Stop?"
"Master… you…" His voice trembled. A strand of saliva escaped his lips.
Time Stop—the most practical, most legendary of the Nine-Ring Spells. Even many Legendary Mages could not master it. For a high-level mage obsessed with unraveling the mysteries of the Weave, it remained a distant dream.
And yet, here it was—literally—achieved.
Kai Xiusu watched the ogre’s enraptured expression with a faint smile.
"Thanks to those distant Dragon Slayers. One of them hailed from the Tower of Time. And that’s how I obtained their compensation."
The Red Dragon flicked a claw.
A scroll appeared before him—delicate, radiant, pulsing with iridescent veins that shimmered like ripples of time itself.
Lanpu was speechless. His heart hammered against his ribs. Trembling, he reached out with both hands, nearly dropping it in his excitement.
"This… this is…"
[Time Stop] Scroll, crafted by a Chrono Dragon.
The ogre collapsed to his knees, tears welling in his eyes. "Master… this… this is beyond priceless!"
Kai Xiusu merely said, "This is not a gift for you. It is to be entrusted to the Magic Ministry for research."
"Set it to Top Secret level. Only the most loyal spellcasters in the kingdom may access it."
"By my last hope, I expect to see your research findings within five years. Even if you cannot cast this Nine-Ring Spell, use it to expand our knowledge of time-based Arcane theory."
"Yes, Master."
For an ordinary dragon, such a relic would be buried deep in the nest, guarded fiercely, hidden from all eyes. But Kai Xiusu handed it over casually—himself—to be studied.
This was no mere gift.
This was recognition.
This was trust.
Tears welled again in Lanpu’s eyes. In silence, he vowed to dedicate everything—his life, his magic, his very soul—to the Red Dragon’s grand vision.
Kai Xiusu paid no mind to the ogre’s emotions. He continued:
"When the affairs of the Northern Regions are settled, it’s time for the second Award Ceremony. Many heroes have emerged from this war. Begin preparations."
"Yes, Master."
Lanpu lifted his head, grinning broadly.
"Though… should you not first inspect the item you requested to be custom-made?"
"Good."
"Heyo, heyo!"
"Careful!"
"This is the Emperor’s valued possession!"
A line of massive, muscular ogres shouldered a colossal metal crate, straining as they carried it into the royal palace. Lanpu led the way, his movements cautious and reverent.
"Your Majesty," the ogre tribesmen bowed deeply before the Red Dragon, then swiftly departed at Lanpu’s command.
The ogre mage knelt like a mountain of flesh, voice ecstatic:
"Master, this is the ultimate product of our all-out effort—crafted with the wisdom and resources of the entire kingdom. The Supreme True Dragon Crown."
"Only such a relic could befit your greatness."
As Lanpu spoke, the crate slowly creaked open—revealing a blinding glow.
Even Kai Xiusu leaned forward, curiosity piqued.
There, resting within, was a crown forged from Mithril—glistening golden throughout, adorned with fierce, serpentine dragon motifs. At the eyes of the carvings, radiant gemstones pulsed with shifting light.
[Supreme True Dragon Crown]
Quality: Rare
Creator: Lanpu
Description: Forged by the Chief Minister of the Kingdom of Ashen, Lanpu, in collaboration with over a hundred spellcasters from the Magic Ministry. Crafted over months, consuming nearly ten thousand gold coins. A masterpiece of unparalleled value.
“Do not hold back on funds! Every detail must be extravagant! This is the Emperor’s own request!” — Chief Minister Lanpu
Effects:
- [Unbreakable]: Crafted from Mithril, nearly impossible to damage in battle.
- [Size Alteration]: Enhanced by magic, the crown adapts to the wearer’s size and can reshape itself.
- [Catastrophe Alert]: Automatically triggers a warning if the wearer loses reason or falls into frenzy, awakening them instantly.
The "Rare" quality of this crown was built entirely on sheer wealth. But given that no Legendary-level spellcaster currently exists, crafting an item of this caliber was no small feat.
"Just Rare?" Kai Xiusu mused. "Still… not bad."
The Red Dragon raised a claw.
The crown floated upward, drifting toward his head.
With the spell in place, the Mithril crown seamlessly bonded to his horns, adhering directly to his scales—neither awkward nor out of place. Instead, it enhanced the dragon’s already terrifying visage, lending it an air of regal opulence and solemn majesty.
Kai Xiusu felt the magical runes within the crown continuously scanning the surrounding Weave of Magic, ready to react at a moment’s notice.
Lanpu beamed, eager to flatter: "Master, even your mighty form makes this crown seem… insignificant."
But Kai Xiusu was already thinking.
—Perhaps this crown could be made even greater.
Perhaps it could reach legendary status.
(End of Chapter)
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