Chapter 38: Bloodline Gift (1)
Kai Xiusu looked down from above, surveying his Follower cohort. His gaze settled on a new face tucked away in the shadows—Lanpu had reported on him earlier. This was undoubtedly the so-called Blackfang Lizardfolk tribe.
The Red Dragon observed their sturdy builds with keen interest. Compared to the current Goblin and Goblinoid forces, these Lizardfolk were far more promising for military use. “Why have you come?” he rumbled.
The Follower ranks instinctively parted, clearing a path.
Ake Changya, the Lizardfolk Chieftain, stepped forward with evident trepidation. Behind him, the Old Shaman stood calm and still.
Kneeling before the towering Red Dragon, Ake drew a deep breath and spoke with measured reverence:
“We fled our homeland due to the monsters within the cave. We escaped here, and your overwhelming strength has left us awestruck.
The Blackfang tribe offers submission beneath your vast wings, becoming your most loyal Follower, mighty Red Dragon.
And this—this is our greatest诚意.”
With a motion of his clawed hand, the Old Shaman pointed behind him. Several robust Lizardfolk emerged, heaving a heavy chest forward.
The lid was lifted. Gold—rich, gleaming, and abundant—spilled into view.
The Follower crowd gasped, eyes widening. But in an instant, they averted their gazes.
—This was the Red Dragon’s treasure alone. Any who dared to stare too long would feel the wrath of his fury.
Even the notoriously greedy Chimera turned its serpent head aside, refusing to meet the gold’s glare, stealing only fleeting glances with its sidelong eyes.
High above, Kai Xiusu remained expressionless. His vertical pupils reflected the golden light like twin mirrors.
But his attention did not fixate on the gold. Instead, it locked onto the Old Shaman standing behind the Chieftain.
> [Based on your own strength and the target’s state of Submission, you gain the following insight:]
>
> [Lizardfolk Shaman]
> Medium humanoid (Lizardfolk), Neutral
> Name: Koda Heilin
> Armor Class: 13 (Natural Armor)
> Speed: 30 ft., Swim 30 ft.
> Strength — 15 | Dexterity — 10 | Constitution — 13
> Intelligence — 12 | Wisdom — 15 | Charisma — 9
> Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +4, Survival +6
> Senses: Darkvision 30 ft., Passive Perception 14
> Languages: Draconic
>
> Actions:
> - Multiattack: Can make two attacks — one bite, one claw.
> - Bite: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Damage: 1d6 + 4 piercing.
> - Claw Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Damage: 1d6 + 4 slashing.
>
> Special Traits:
> - Hold Breath: Can hold breath for up to 15 minutes.
> - Shapechange: Can magically transform into a Crocodile for up to 1 hour.
>
> Class Level: Druid 5
>
> Spellcasting (Only in Lizardfolk form):
> As a 5th-level Spellcaster, Koda Heilin has prepared the following Druid spells:
> - Cantrips: Druidic Mischief, Ignite, Thorn Whip
> - 1st Level: Entangle, Misty Step
> - 2nd Level: Heat Metal, Thorn Whip
> - 3rd Level: Summon Monster (Reptiles only), Plant Growth
>
> Challenge Rating: 5 (1,800 XP)
>
> Assessment:
> The Lizardfolk Shaman is the most exceptional among their kind—wise, powerful, and naturally a leader of their people.
> A Druid… showing up on its own?
> Fascinating.
Kai Xiusu tilted his head slightly. “You… are a Spellcaster, Shaman?”
The Old Shaman stepped forward, bowing with quiet dignity. “Great Red Dragon, your strength and wisdom humble me.
I have only taken a shallow step along the Path of Nature. What little I know is but a minor trick.”
With a slow, deliberate motion, he raised his gnarled staff and pointed toward an empty patch of ground.
“Entangle.”
The earth responded. A ripple of the Weave of Magic shimmered faintly through the air. Instantly, thick vines and tangled weeds erupted from the soil, weaving together in a wild tangle.
Unlike the arcane fire of Sorcerers or the scholarly magic of Mages, Druidic magic was Divine. These spellcasters did not command the Weave alone—they channeled it through nature itself, drawing power from the living world.
Facing such an unexpected gift of a willing Spellcaster, Kai Xiusu spoke without hesitation:
“A fine spell, indeed. The gates of Ashen Hollow are now open to you.”
“Prove your loyalty to me.”
“Praise be to you, mighty Master,” murmured the Lizardfolk, retreating silently back into the dim corners of the cavern. They did not seek positions among the Familiars. They knew their place.
Kai Xiusu appreciated obedient subordinates.
Lizardfolk were absolute neutrals—cold-blooded, devoid of strong desires, perceiving good and evil as foreign concepts. They acted solely to survive. This aligned perfectly with Kai Xiusu’s own principles.
In the future, when managing human cities—or even controlling players—Lizardfolk would be ideal. They could maintain order without succumbing to personal greed.
Simple, reliable tools.
That was the highest assessment he granted them.
But the conquest of the Lizardfolk was merely a small aside. The true event of the day was yet to come.
Bloodline Gift.
Gazing down upon the Follower ranks—some eager, some bewildered, others trembling with uncertainty—Kai Xiusu finally spoke, his voice echoing through the cavern like thunder.
“I once told you: my Follower shall never remain weak. I will grant you strength beyond measure, and longevity beyond mortal dreams.”
“Today… is the day I fulfill that promise.”
“I shall bestow upon the worthy among you—Dragon Bloodline!”
A wave of stunned murmurs rippled through the crowd. Even the most dim-witted among them felt the weight of the moment.
Ogre Lanpu’s eyes welled with tears, overwhelmed by the gift. Goblinoids with even a hint of draconic blood stared in disbelief. Even the former Dragon-worshipping Lizardfolk were stunned, whispering in awe.
“This… this can’t be real!”
“Dragon Bloodline?!”
“The generosity of our Master is beyond comprehension.”
For Dragon Bloodline was among the rarest and most sacred gifts in all of Ailezegai.
Beyond mere breeding, a true Bloodline transfer required the use of a Dragon’s True Blood. Each drop was a dense reservoir of magical power—so potent that even a genuine dragon would suffer severe depletion after granting it, growing weak for days.
No one could imagine a stingy, self-preserving dragon making such a sacrifice.
But they did not know: Kai Xiusu needed only ordinary blood as the ritual catalyst. The actual Bloodline Gift came not from blood, but from the Armor Class Achievement—a Unique Ability unlocked through progression.
It was, in essence, a costless transaction.
And the Bloodline Gift came in two forms:
- Active Blessing — a potent, visible enhancement, reserved for the elite Follower.
- Passive Blessing — a subtle, widespread effect, granted across the entire Ashen Hollow.
The center of the valley held a monolith over three meters tall, its summit flat and wide. In its center lay a shallow pit.
Kai Xiusu had already instructed Lanpu to relay the order: No one was to approach the monolith.
At first, the Follower had assumed it was the Red Dragon’s landing site—so they obeyed, keeping their distance.
But now, their eyes burned with anticipation. That forbidden stone was no longer a taboo—it was the Promised Land of Blessings.
Goblins, Goblinoids, even the Two-Headed Dragon—every breath came faster, hearts pounding.
(End of Chapter)
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