Chapter 379: Empire
For a moment, the entire Anzeta Great Wasteland fell silent. Every being—mortals on the earth, monsters in the wilds, even the gods drifting in the skies—turned their gaze toward the newly crowned Dragon.
Kai Xiusu’s expression remained unchanged.
He felt the weight of the crown upon his head, sensed the countless eyes fixed upon him from every direction, and uttered his own declaration of Empire—calm, resolute, and final:
“I, Kai Xiusu Claudew Noirikexius, hereby proclaim—
The Empire of Ashen is born.”
The tone was not fiery, nor grandiose. Yet it carried an undeniable weight, a deep, solemn gravity that settled upon every soul present.
“Good… very good.”
“You’re even more cunning than I expected. I thought you’d be one of those obedient little pups.”
Tiamat’s twin vertical pupils locked onto the Red Dragon atop the Altar, her gaze seething with endless fury and greed. Slowly, she unfurled her vast, shadow-cloaking wings—so wide they nearly blotted out the sun.
A crushing wave of power descended upon Kai Xiusu, as if the very air had turned to stone. The oppressive Aura of Intimidation pressed down like a mountain, crushing his shoulders, threatening to force him to his knees.
But he was no longer the same man.
With every ounce of strength in his body, Kai Xiusu lifted his head. His淡 golden vertical pupils locked onto Tiamat’s burning eyes, unflinching.
“Flattering,” he said, gritting his teeth. The words scraped up from deep within his throat, raw and strained.
At that moment, the ancestral Red Dragon looked terrifying—inhumanly grotesque. His muscles rippled beneath his scales, veins bulging like cords of steel. Spines along his back stood rigid, like jagged shards of bone. Porous organs at his neck exhaled thick, rolling plumes of white smoke. His scales shimmered with waves like molten lava, pulsing with inner heat.
Then—suddenly—the Aura vanished.
Kai Xiusu exhaled, his body trembling with relief.
He had no fear of Tiamat.
If she attacked the newly crowned Red Dragon in such a public ceremony, it would only fuel resentment among the Five-Colored Dragons, shaking the faith in her divine authority. The Dragon Queen was far too shrewd to risk such a costly mistake.
Her true aim was to use the Coronation Ceremony as a stage—expanding her influence without spending a single drop of blood, spreading her legend across the realm like a whispered prayer.
But her plan had failed.
As the Aura faded, Tiamat’s phantom form high above retracted all its power. Her expression remained cold, detached.
“Kai Xiusu,” she said, voice like wind through dead trees, “you know what awaits those who oppose me.”
“Last Hope,” she added, “you will not follow that path.”
With that, the five dragons dissolved into thin air.
Kai Xiusu gave a slight, respectful nod toward the empty space where she had been.
“Understood, Your Majesty. I shall take your words to heart.”
He turned his gaze to the other side of the sky—where a white-gold Dragon stood, a faint smirk playing on its face.
“What a splendid performance.”
The ancient grudge between these two Dragon Gods spanned millennia. Their hatred was so deep it had birthed war—blood-soaked, world-shattering—known only as the Dragonfall War.
Bahamut turned to Kai Xiusu, his expression now grave.
“Indeed… Abyssal Aura.”
“You have the potential to become a Dragon King. Do not stray from your path.”
Then, in a voice only Kai Xiusu could hear, the words faded into silence.
The sky, once roiled with divine energy and unnatural omens, now cleared—blue, vast, and serene once more.
The tens of thousands gathered below stood in silence, eyes raised to the Altar, watching the new Emperor.
No one dared interfere in the affairs of the gods.
“Dragon Gods…” Kai Xiusu looked up at the endless azure sky, watching the white-gold Dragon vanish into the heavens. His expression was calm. The golden crown atop his head gleamed like a beacon.
He felt no reverence for these Dragon Gods—neither the noble ones nor the wicked. Whether good or evil, they were not his masters.
If he had any faith at all, it would be in himself.
At that moment, his Character Sheet—long absent—flared into existence before him.
A cascade of notifications flooded in. A crimson-gilded trophy materialized in the air.
[You have established your own Empire.
Achievement unlocked: Legendary Armor Class — Emperor]
【Emperor】
"Under the dominion of my Empire, the sun shall never set."
—Holy Emperor Faldran, Aragon I
Your Traits [Kingdom Domain] have evolved into Advanced Traits: [Empire Domain]
Charisma +5
Rule Proficiency +18
[Supremacy of Imperial Authority]:
Within your Empire, you hold absolute, godlike authority. Your will alone can transform any land into a Dead Magic Zone, trigger Arcane Surges, or permanently reshape climate and terrain.
[Imperial Solemnity]:
You possess a unique, unmatched status within your realm. All physical, mental, and spiritual control over you is nullified.
[Imperial Grace]:
You may bestow a fraction of your strength upon your subjects with negligible cost. Those who accept your grace become bound to you—physically, mentally, and spiritually—bolstering your soul’s fortitude.
“Roar—!”
Kai Xiusu threw his head back and let out a triumphant roar. An invisible wave of power surged through him, filling him with unshakable might.
Nightfall came.
The sun dipped low, painting the sky in fiery hues. The last golden rays kissed the Red Dragon’s scales, turning them into molten gold. The crown upon his head sparkled with a faint, radiant glow.
The crowd below stared upward, transfixed. Instinctively, they felt the Dragon before them had changed—now not just a ruler, but something far greater.
Some trembled. A few fell to their knees, shaking with fear.
Where once the Red Dragon had seemed to tower over mortals—unapproachable, supreme—now he radiated a presence that felt… divine.
That was the power of [Empire Domain].
“This strength…”
“Even if Tiamat descended in person, I would not fear her.”
Kai Xiusu smiled, savoring the absolute mastery coursing through him. The thrill of power, the certainty of dominion—this was what he had sought.
Originally, he’d planned to surprise the world with a Bloodline Gift.
But now… this new ability was even better.
He looked down upon the silent sea of people, his gaze sweeping over them with overwhelming height.
Perfect.
This was exactly as he’d planned.
The Red Dragon unfurled his vast wings, flaring them wide. A gale roared from his movements, lifting dust and debris into the air. With deliberate grace, he ascended—rising steadily, soaring hundreds of meters into the sky.
Night deepened.
The sun vanished completely. The world sank into twilight, the horizon painted in a dying orange glow.
Then—suddenly—the crowd erupted.
“Look! What’s that?!”
“Why is there light now?!”
“Impossible!”
“Is that…? Gods above!”
Tens of thousands turned their eyes skyward.
Half the heavens blazed with light. The dark sky had been stained a deep, burning orange.
The world had dawned again.
A second sun hung in the sky.
It was Kai Xiusu.
(End of Chapter)
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