Chapter 588: Carved Skin Dragon
"But good fortune didn’t last. The Five-Colored Dragon Queen and her Evil Followers still set their sights on me. Yet I did not know—far greater calamity awaited me."
"One day, the sky was darkened by the chaotic wings of a chromatic tyrant. Blood turned the earth red. My allies, my wife, my child—falling one after another before my eyes. The Evil Dragons sought to massacre the city, and I could only despair, helplessly watch it unfold."
"Then, a voice echoed in my ears. Black mud surged from the ground. Chaotic, wild—but immensely powerful—force enveloped me. That voice told me: Accept this strength, and you shall avenge them. Stop the Five-Colored Dragon’s ravage."
Beatrice stared at the Kin whose face betrayed uncontrollable fury and sorrow. Her voice was low, heavy with weight. "So... you chose to accept it?"
Titus grimaced, not answering directly. He continued.
"The Abyssal fire consumed my enemies utterly. But I knew—I was already stained with sin. Not long would pass before I became no different from the very things I once despised. I knew now that I had no right to meet my family, no right to return to my friends, no right to stand before King Bahamut. My body seemed whole, yet within me burned the most evil, chaotic Abyssal Flame."
Swish—
Another surge of black flame erupted from behind the Gold Dragon’s back. Titus groaned in pain, yet he forced it down, speaking with strained effort.
"So I exiled myself to the Stellar Realm. I sealed my body in a place where time stood still. I do not know how long it was. Until one day—after eons, the seal weakened. Yet I did not return to my former world. Instead, I came to Ailezegai, a strange material plane, seeking a new path."
Beatrice’s face was filled with sorrow and pity. She believed every word. The despair radiating from Titus’s tale struck deep. The image of annihilation he painted—of a world ending—played again and again in her mind.
By all logic, how could a noble, righteous Gold Dragon willingly seek Abyssal power? Yet Titus’s story made perfect sense.
He had no choice. He sacrificed himself to save his kin. Though he wielded Abyssal power, his actions were never evil.
Titus—no, Kai Xiusu—raised his head, meeting Beatrice’s gaze with a sigh.
"Beatrice, I have laid bare all to you. If you fear for the safety of the Eternal Order Realm, you may cast me out at any time. I will leave willingly. I wish to join the Carved Skin Organization only to find a way to suppress this Abyssal power. If it grows worse, I will end my own life. No need for you to do it."
His voice was firm, low. The golden pupils in his eyes glowed with quiet resolve.
Beatrice heard it—the truth. When that moment came, he would not hesitate to die. To purge the world of evil, even at the cost of his own life.
This was the dignity of a good dragon—Bahamut’s heir. Pure, unyielding, untainted. Even in death, he would remain like a gemstone, flawless.
But she never imagined—this Gold Dragon before her was not a Gold Dragon at all.
It was a Red Dragon, disguised.
She hesitated. Words trembled on her lips. Then, finally, she spoke.
"Wait, Titus. Perhaps I can help. Your deeds and character are worthy of the Carved Skin. The Runes of Eternal Order may suppress your affliction. But your Abyssal power still poses a threat to the Realm. As Guardian of Landis’s Scale, I cannot allow you near the Monastery. You may only train in the Unforgiven Valley."
"Thank you, Beatrice. To be accepted by you—despite this cursed body—I am already satisfied."
Titus rose slowly. The gills along his jawline fluttered. On his dignified dragon face, gratitude shimmered. His voice was sincere, solemn.
Perfect, Kai Xiusu thought, grinning inwardly. I’ve got him. The Carved Skin Dragon’s heritage is mine—soon, I’ll claim it.
Though Kai Xiusu already possessed the powerful trait Demon Slayer, Karex’s chaotic will still lingered within his true form—dangerous, unstable. But the Carved Skin Dragon path, a monk-like advancement focused on pure order, would strengthen his willpower, enhance his resistance, and complete his flaws.
He was eager—but he showed nothing. Only calm observation, as he studied the exquisite carvings on the wall.
Suddenly, Titus let out a soft, pained hum. He strained to suppress the pain and hunger raging within, clinging desperately to reason.
"Bea Tris, if I ever lose control—kill me. Do not hold back."
His voice was ragged, broken. Veins bulged across his body.
Beatrice froze, stunned. What was she to do? Should she really end this noble, heroic Kin?
Only when the storm within subsided did the Gold Dragon gasp for breath, weak and weary, offering a faint, apologetic smile.
"Forgive me, Beatrice. I... embarrassed you."
Beatrice’s expression hardened. Her voice was urgent.
"No time to waste, Titus. I will begin the ritual now."
She didn’t see the faint, triumphant gleam in Titus’s eyes.
Perfect. Just give me your heritage. The sooner, the better, Kai Xiusu thought.
Beatrice spread her vast dragon wings. From the half-plane, she drew forth the ritual materials. Space rippled as silver-blue chisels—gleaming with metallic luster—appeared, hovering around her.
Mithril. A rare, immensely hard metal, rich in magical resonance. Only found deep beneath the earth, where monsters dwell.
She extended a claw, gripping the chisel. Her gaze fell upon Titus’s massive form.
"The strength of the Carved Skin Dragon comes from runes carved into our scales—runes that grant supernatural power. Only a chisel forged from the purest Mithril can etch into the scales of a Gold Dragon."
But she did not know—far beyond the material nexus of the Eternal Order Realm, in the Anzeta Great Wasteland, atop Dragonblood Mountain, a Red Dragon—colossal, hill-sized—exhaled a sulfurous white smoke and ordered, “Lanpu, prepare one hundred jin of Mithril.”
At that moment, Kai Xiusu used his willpower to control not just his own form, but multiple dragons separated by thousands of miles—across the Aetheric Void. Every word spoken by Beatrice was etched into his mind.
He was stealing the heritage of the Carved Skin Dragon.
And deep within the Unforgiven Valley of the Eternal Order Realm, Beatrice continued:
"Each Carved Skin Dragon bears unique runes—carved to suit their needs. But the original runes are consistent, differing only by faction. Evil Blue Dragons, green dragons—they often carve runes of Hell, Tyrant, Devil, even the face of the Dragon Queen, along with dark enchantments.
But in our Realm, the runes contain no specific image. Instead, they are inscribed in Dragon Tongue—symbols of the Cosmic Order. The original runes occupy only 5% of the scales. Over time, through vows and discipline, the dragon must grow to complete them. The most accomplished Carved Skin Dragon can cover up to 70% of their body.
This was my father’s reward, received from Landis himself. Keep it secret."
"Of course," Titus said, spreading his wings and bowing his head in submission. "Secrecy is the virtue every Gold Dragon must uphold."
Oh, I’ll keep it secret, Kai Xiusu chuckled inwardly. But telling myself? That’s perfectly fine.
"Very well. Begin."
Beatrice nodded. After days of trust, she had no doubt in Titus’s purity. A dragon who sealed himself away for a thousand years—out of guilt, to suppress evil—how could he possibly seek their heritage?
She closed her eyes, recalling the prime runes taught by her father. The Mithril chisel shot through the air, hovering above Titus’s chest.
Clang—
A crisp sound, like metal against metal. Under Beatrice’s control, the chisel sliced through the Gold Dragon’s chest with blinding speed, sparks flying.
Kai Xiusu felt it—the chisel piercing his scales. A complex, intricate pattern etched into his flesh.
It was the word Order, written in Dragon Tongue.
When the rune was complete, a faint light flared across his chest. A wave of immense power surged through him, pressing against his mind. He bit back a groan.
"Carving is not just scale-deep. It is mental discipline. The soul of the one being carved endures equal pain," Beatrice said. "But for you, Titus, this pain is nothing."
Clang, clang, clang.
The chisel danced through the air, carving rune after rune across the Gold Dragon’s body—head, neck, chest, abdomen, back, limbs, tail. Each stroke left behind a glowing, precise line.
Light flared along the grooves, making the patterns stand out like living art.
Kai Xiusu felt it—the fortress of order rising within him. Walls of law, of discipline, rising higher and higher, enclosing his body, his spirit, his soul.
This was the Carved Skin Dragon: a being who, through intricate carvings and lifelong cultivation, transcends flesh, mind, and spirit.
The ritual lasted for days. Even Beatrice, powerful as she was, needed effort to carve into the ancient Gold Dragon’s hardened scales—worn down by time.
By the end, the runes were continuous—flowing across Titus’s entire body.
"Truly... astonishing power," he whispered, awed by the rune energy pulsing through him, the clarity in his mind.
The ancient Gold Dragon now resembled the finest masterpiece in existence—its form radiating an aura of transcendent order.
"Titus," Beatrice said, gazing at the now-fully-carved dragon, "congratulations. You are now a Carved Skin Dragon. May you master this power. May you never fall into the Bottomless Abyss."
Several Days Later, in the Anzeta Great Wasteland, Kai Xiusu withdrew most of his willpower. Though the Eternal Order Realm’s avatar was merely a projection of his soul, it still drained him.
Clang—
The Red Dragon mimicked Beatrice’s movements, forcing the chisel into his own scales. But the task was far from easy.
Kai Xiusu’s true form bore Gilded Scales—their hardness rivaling Mithril itself.
To break through, he layered multiple enhancement spells onto the chisel, fused with his own raw strength. Even so, the carving was grueling. Progress lagged behind Beatrice by days.
"Too much defense isn’t always good," Kai Xiusu muttered, his claw trembling. "Carving runes on my own scales? It’s harder than fighting."
Clang.
With a final, desperate effort, the Red Dragon completed the last rune.
Instantly, the fortress of order erupted beyond his body and mind. The intricate carvings flared with radiant light.
> [You have completed the Skincarving Ritual. Acquired Advanced Career Path: 【Carved Skin Dragon】]
To qualify as a Carved Skin Dragon, a dragon must meet all the following conditions:
- Race: Any dragon
- Alignment: Any Lawful
- Natural Armor Bonus: +20
- Base Bonus: Willpower +12
> [You meet all requirements for 【Carved Skin Dragon】. Confirm acceptance of this advancement?]
> [Confirm.]
Kai Xiusu accepted without hesitation. The heritage stolen from the Gold Dragon would only strengthen his body and spirit.
This was too good to pass up.
> [You gain additional advancement: 【Carved Skin Dragon】]
The Carved Skin Dragon is a member of a mysterious order composed of dragons and half-dragons. Their name comes from the runes carved into their scales—symbols that grant them supernatural protection.
The Eternal Order Realm is one of the oldest and most renowned Carved Skin organizations. Six centuries ago, Primordial Golden Dragon Fernant slew an Abyssal Lord of the Lower Realms using only melee combat—his entire body covered in runes.
> [You gain special ability: 【Spell Resistance】]
> As a Carved Skin Dragon, the runes on your scales grant you supernatural resistance to spells, spell-like effects, and all other supernatural powers.
> [You gain special ability: 【Toxin Resistance】]
> You repel all toxins. Even if toxins enter your body, the runes expel them instantly.
> [You gain additional specialization: 【Iron Will】 and 【Suppress Weakness】]
> Iron Will: Through years of discipline, you have forged an unbreakable fortress within your mind, carved from ancient symbols. Even the most chaotic demons cannot easily corrupt your soul. Your willpower is as steel—unyielding. You gain advantage on all checks against Chaos and Fear.
(End of Chapter)
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