Chapter 56: Crimson Scales (3)
Kai Xiusu stared at the updated information on his Character Sheet.
[Your created Non-Player Character faction, Ashen Hollow, has reached the required strength standard.]
[Ashen Hollow has gained minor renown within the Anzeta Great Wasteland, situated in Giant's Vale, with territory spanning half of Storm Ridge. Rumors claim it is the Nest of the Red Dragon known as Flyflame, Kai Xiusu—a place where the Northwind Eagle Guard once fell. It is a haven for countless monstrous horrors: Ogres, Two-Headed Dragons, Chimeras, and other vile beasts, all bound to serve their evil overlord, who now prepares to unleash an endless tide of conquest.]
[You may now create a unique Faction Subclass.]
A Faction Subclass was a specialized职业 branch exclusive to each faction—unique paths only accessible to players who had earned sufficient faction standing and met specific class prerequisites.
For instance, joining the Northwind Eagle Guard under the Lakanman Family required absolute loyalty to the house, as well as proficiency in Riding Giant Eagle. In a past life, countless players had joined Northwind Keep solely for that honor.
Many such Subclasses were immensely powerful—such as the Lionheart Knights of the Bosk Family, the Corrupt Druids of the Dank Marshes, or the Chrono-Sorcerers of the Tower of Time.
Kai Xiusu had specifically captured Alje because of the man’s unmatched mobility—a crucial asset for scouting and aerial combat. He now planned to build Ashen Hollow’s own exclusive Subclass, using the Northwind Eagle Guard as its foundation.
And Alje would be the first test subject.
In the future, he would serve as a kind of Career Mentor, luring more players into Ashen Hollow through the promise of power.
[Note: Subclass creation requires the target to be a Faction Vassal.]
[Target Alje currently holds the status of Follower.]
[Initiating class construction—]
Deep within a vast, sealed cavern, Alje sat atop his Giant Eagle, positioned in a deep pit as instructed by Kai Xiusu.
“Close your eyes,” commanded the Red Dragon.
Alje, now a loyal Follower, obeyed without hesitation and shut his eyes.
The Giant Eagle, however, ruffled its feathers in protest—until Alje forcibly covered its eyes.
“Begin.”
The Red Dragon gave a slight nod.
With a swift motion, he sliced open his palm, letting a single drop of searing Dragon Blood spill into the air.
“Bloodline Gift.”
“Half-Dragon Transformation—”
Kai Xiusu whispered the incantation in his mind.
This was a far more potent Bloodline Blessing, capable of bestowing a half-dragon template upon a humanoid. Such a lineage could even be passed down to offspring.
But for a humanoid, only one who had undergone rigorous physical trials—someone truly exceptional, like the warrior before him—could survive the transformation.
The blood surged like an extension of his own body, rising slowly through the air, then descending into Alje’s mouth.
“Gah—” Alje groaned, a stifled cry.
Yet, with iron will, he clenched his teeth and refused to scream.
As the scorching Dragon Blood, infused with Frenzied Elemental Energy, poured down his throat, his skin flushed crimson. White steam rose from his body in waves, and sweat poured from his brow in torrents.
The blood churned violently in his stomach—like molten Magma beneath a volcano.
“Ah—!” Alje bit down hard, eyes clenched shut, forehead furrowed in agony. He still refused to cry out.
But his body bent forward involuntarily, curling into a tight ball on the ground.
The Dragon Blood forced its way into his veins, pumped by his heart with violent force.
His skin darkened to a deep red, emitting intense heat—steam hissing from every pore. He no longer resembled a human.
“AAAAAHHHH—!”
He could no longer hold back. A primal scream tore from his throat.
The pain was worse than a thousand blades carving through flesh—worse than being shattered to pieces and rebuilt anew.
Beneath his skin, joints at elbows, knees, and spine erupted outward, piercing through the flesh like jagged bone spikes.
And at the moment his skin split open, Scales burst forth—ripping the wounds wide, forcing them apart.
His body grew to nearly two meters in height.
His flesh was being violently reshaped by chaotic Elemental Power. Veins, thin and tough, sprouted across his form—dragon-specific conduits for channeling Elemental Energy.
His face was the most terrifying.
His skin split open as Scales burst forth, stretching and tearing. The jawbone pushed forward, forming a distinct upper and lower jaw. Rows of sharp, needle-like teeth erupted from his gums. His eyes first rolled back, then transformed—vertical pupils like a reptile’s, cold and piercing.
His entire skull was being twisted, remolded—almost into the shape of a dragon’s head.
Beside him, the Giant Eagle underwent a simpler transformation—just a standard Bloodline Gift.
Its beak sprouted sharp fangs. Beneath its feathers, scales formed, hard and metallic. Its body swelled in size, and its wingspan stretched to nearly ten meters—now a true dragon-eagle hybrid.
When the searing steam finally cleared, Alje opened his eyes.
They now glowed with golden vertical pupils.
His appearance was no longer human. He looked like a dragonborn—a creature of fire and fury.
“This… this is…” he whispered, dazed.
His vision had expanded—now he could see through the deepest darkness. The world before him was rendered in stark black and white, thanks to a special Reflective Membrane in his eyes.
Still lying on the ground, Alje awkwardly moved his arms, feeling the immense power thrumming through his limbs. His new two-meter frame brimmed not only with raw Strength, but with a blazing, magical energy—fiery magic that pulsed beneath his skin.
Strength.
That was the ultimate intoxication.
No matter the cost, no matter the pain—this was worth it.
With Strength, he could atone for all his past sins.
Slowly, unsteadily, Alje rose to his feet. Then, on trembling legs, he knelt before Kai Xiusu.
This was no longer just a formality. He felt a deep, instinctive Oppression—a primal pull from within his Bloodline, a force so powerful it crushed any thought of defiance. He could barely suppress the urge to submit, even with sheer will.
“Have I become the claw of a Dragon?”
“This feeling…”
“Not so bad, after all.”
He bowed his head to the ground, voice trembling with reverence.
“Master… thank you for bestowing this strength upon me.”
“I will wield it upon the battlefield—so that your enemies tremble at the mere mention of your name.”
His words were pure, unfiltered sincerity.
Kai Xiusu sensed Alje’s thoughts—but only nodded.
“Learn this body. I need you to help me forge a new army.”
The Character Sheet refreshed once more.
[Faction Subclass Advancement Complete.]
[Class Advancement Requirements:]
[Join the Ashen Hollow faction.]
[Become a Follower of faction leader Red Dragon – Kai Xiusu.]
[Reach at least Level 3 in the Basic Warrior class, with +4 Riding Proficiency Rank or higher.]
[Own a Dragonblood Creature of Large size or greater as a mount, and possess a measurable Dragon Bloodline.]
[Please name your Faction Subclass—]
Kai Xiusu looked down at Alje—now kneeling like a devout believer, his face now covered in crimson scales, glowing with a sinister, fiery hue.
He smiled.
[Name: Crimson Scale Conqueror]
(End of Chapter)
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