https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-633-Gains-and-Wounds-of-the-Gold-Dragon/13677475/
Chapter 632: Reaction and Ascension
After the Battle of Northern Aether, the bulk of the Empire of Ashen’s forces advanced southward in full march, swiftly seizing control of the entire Northern Aether Plain. The former Northern Aether military units surrendered en masse—most were expelled, a minority of high-ranking officers arrested, and those who refused to submit were swiftly executed, left rotting in the wilderness.
One Divine Noble had feigned surrender, secretly rallying over a thousand loyal soldiers and even contacting Duke Walter’s loyalists in a final, desperate bid to resist. But their luck ran out. They met Misha, the Dragonfire Maiden, who was in charge of managing the captives. With a single, merciless blast of her BearBearDragon Flame, she reduced the noble and his entire force to ash—turning the battlefield into a grave fertilizer for the plain.
To stabilize the situation, Meizhuolashi Duke led the Imperial Guard into every major city of Northern Aether, swiftly securing critical strongholds: the City Governor’s Mansion, the Defense Hall, the Ammunition Depot—operations they now carried out with practiced precision.
In the days that followed, remnants of the old power staged scattered counterattacks. Underground gangs stirred beneath the surface, and noble personal armies launched sporadic uprisings. But against the relentless rain of bullets, these resistance efforts were like flickering embers—quickly extinguished. Any clan daring to rebel faced brutal annihilation.
The air reeked of blood and gunpowder, screams often echoing alongside gunfire. Citizens trembled in fear, hiding in their homes, too terrified to step outside. Yet soon, they realized something astonishing: the army—composed of monsters, Dragonborn, and devil-blooded warriors—had only targeted the old power structures. Civilians were left untouched, their homes and lives spared. The discipline was absolute.
Even the Peacekeepers and city guards proved far less brutal than feared. After days of purging, order returned, and life in the cities grew more stable than it had in years.
After repeated sweeps by the Imperial Guard, the rebellion was forced underground, hiding in the shadows of the cities. Within days, Imperial officials posted public notices: Report any rebel activity, and you will receive full citizenship, a generous sum of gold coins, and guaranteed safety.
When several citizens succeeded and were handsomely rewarded, a wave of anonymous reporting swept across Northern Aether’s cities. Hidden cells and secret networks were systematically unearthed and destroyed.
Gradually, people grew accustomed to the rifle-toting soldiers patrolling the streets, to the earth-shaking roar of the Iron Beasts, to the two-headed dragons circling the skies, and to the booming proclamations from the public speakers—celebrating the Emperor of the Ashen Flame—echoing through alleys and squares.
For the Empire’s officials and soldiers, managing conquered cities had become a well-oiled machine. Policies and operations were second nature, requiring only minor adjustments to fit local conditions.
Within just over ten days, the Empire’s leadership settled into rhythm. Society stabilized, and the region began to mirror the structure of the Empire of Ashen.
Yet the transformation of social order remained a long, arduous journey. Controlling the situation was only the first step. Countless tasks lay ahead—so many that even the most seasoned imperial administrators were overwhelmed.
The old Collins City was renamed Dragonhead City. The City of Saint Theo, once named after the Amanatara Church’s saint, was now called Golden Tooth City—honoring the ogre baron who died in the Abyssal War. The Imperial Army even began constructing a new defensive line along the border, facing off against the forces of the Thrace Kingdom.
When news of the Empire of Ashen’s conquest of Northern Aether spread, the entire world was stunned. No one had expected that, within a single month, the Duchy of Northern Aether would fall completely. The vast territory—nearly 700,000 square kilometers—had become a bridgehead for the Empire, enabling it to threaten its neighbors at will.
The world now knew of the Empire’s “Blitzkrieg Operation”—a name that had become infamous, leaving military experts across the continent speechless with awe.
The great powers of Feanso were shaken to their core. From the High Mountain Kingdom in the east, to the Free Trade Confederation in the west, to the Thrace Kingdom in the south, even distant Serrynia trembled with dread.
Then, images of the battle between the Red Dragon and Barachiel—projected across the realm—fueled even greater panic. The sheer might of the Red Dragon Emperor became a legend, a nightmare whispered in fear.
The Silver Moon Alliance, the Lute Players’ Alliance, the Arcane Hermitage—goodly factions across the continent—rushed to organize, forging alliances and preparing defenses. Even the churches of Amanata and Tyr grew tense, as if the ancient Dragon Cataclysm of ten thousand years ago were about to repeat itself.
From that moment on, the Empire of Ashen was no longer a distant outsider, a mere background figure. It had stepped onto the stage of the Feiansuo Continent, becoming a pivotal force in the continent’s shifting balance of power—and a key player in its growing chaos.
Now that the Empire had entered the arena, who could say how many more battles would rage across this vast, boundless land? How many families would be shattered, how many lives lost in the coming storms?
One thing was certain: with the Empire of Ashen’s arrival, the fate of the continent would grow more unpredictable, more turbulent than ever.
And as the object of countless eyes—human, dwarf, elf, dragon, even deity—Kai Xiusu lounged lazily in a cave deep within Northern Aether, grinning as he stared at his Character Sheet.
> [You have slain a Heaven's Sovereign. Achievement unlocked: 【Saint Slayer】]
> 【Saint Slayer】
> In the dawn of creation, when the multiverse still trembled from its birth, seven blessed martyrs—sacrificing themselves for Order and Goodness—emerged in radiant, unique forms in the heavens.
> These seven, or their successors, formed the Celestial Seven Flames Council. Commissioned by the heavens themselves, they serve as eternal rulers of the Seven Heavens. To slay one is to invoke an eternal curse.
>
> “To kill a Sovereign of Heaven? Forgive me, but merely thinking such a thing is already a sin. Only the most evil of devils, the most brutal of demons, would dare imagine it.”
> — The Heavenly Sacred Scroll, by Outer Plane Researcher Estelran.
> Passive Ability Acquired: 【Holy Slayer】
> +1 Constitution, +1 Charisma
>
> With utter contempt for Order and Goodness, you have slain a celestial sovereign. You have consumed a fragment of Heavenly Essence and caught the attention of the World Will.
>
> You gain the additional Traits: 【Despise the Sacred Body】 and 【Song of the Holy Slayer】
> 【Despise the Sacred Body】
> From now on, you gain resistance to all divine powers originating from Heaven’s Mountain. You are immune to influence by celestial willpower.
> 【Song of the Holy Slayer】
> Spend mental energy to summon the lament of a fallen celestial sovereign. Lawful Good-aligned creatures within range will be affected—your attacks deal increased damage against them.
The obsidian trophy glowed faintly, its light seeping into the massive form of the Red Dragon, infusing it with reality-warping power.
Kai Xiusu narrowed his eyes, relaxed, letting the invisible force reshape his body.
He was no stranger to stat increases—far from it. He welcomed them, even relished them.
> [Constitution: 35 → 36]
> [Charisma: 37 → 38]
A surge of heat spread through his body. His muscles tightened, his flesh hardened. White smoke poured from the porous organs along his neck and tail. His Constitution soared once more.
Meanwhile, the boost to Charisma dramatically increased his mental energy reserves, allowing his willpower to delve deeper into the Weave of Magic—reaching the very pinnacle of the Ninth Layer.
From now on, even the most complex Nine-Ring Spells were merely a thought away.
But Kai Xiusu’s gains went far beyond that. For the past ten days, he had been quietly recovering. The experience points from killing Walter and Barachiel, combined with the shares taken from the Empire’s Battalion Players, were more than enough to level up again.
Gazing at his Character Sheet, a look of eager anticipation returned to his face. This Ascension had been long awaited—his Life Tier had reached a level beyond mortal comprehension, and each level required an astronomical number of experience points.
> [Slain 【Messenger Sovereign - Barachiel (Challenge Rating: 31)】 → 185,000 experience points]
> [Your total职业 Level Up to: 26]
> [Current职业: True Dragon Mage 18 / Bloodscaled Fury 3 / Elemental Master 4 / Carved Skin Dragon 1]
In gaming terms, Kai Xiusu was now a true “Generalist” among dragons—mastering nearly every possible advancement, yet still lacking a single class at its maximum level.
So he chose to focus on his main path, pushing his Spellcasting Ability to a level capable of matching even the strongest opponents.
> [You choose to increase True Dragon Mage to level 19]
> [Due to Dragonborn Spellcasting and the Talents of the Elemental Lords, your current Spellcaster Level: 30]
Familiar power surged through him. His willpower roamed freely through the Weave of Magic, as if he were the avatar of the world himself—every gesture capable of shifting reality.
But this was not the end.
> [Upon reaching level 19 in this职业, you gain 2 Legendary Attribute Points (can boost attributes above 20). You may assign them to any one attribute of your choice.]
In the Ascension System of Ailezegai, level 19 was the final opportunity to increase Attribute Points. After this, only the Final Trait remained. This choice was irreplaceable.
Kai Xiusu licked his lips, a fierce grin spreading across his face. His eyes locked onto the Character Sheet—already made up.
> [You choose to increase: Charisma]
> [Charisma: 38 → 40]
Cosmic energy, the sacred words of creation, the edicts of the world surged within the Red Dragon. He let out a low, primal roar—a sound that seemed to shake the fabric of existence.
The thrill of power was intoxicating.
> "Roar——"
In an instant, the entire world resonated with him. His spirit reached the farthest edge of the Weave of Magic, where he glimpsed the Primordial Magic Essence—and claimed it.
Even his true name—Kai Xiusu Claudew Noirikexius—was etched into the Primordial Sea. The Weave trembled. Every legendary spellcaster across the world felt a shiver, hearing the echoing cry of a dragon that had broken through the veil.
At last, Kai Xiusu had shattered the nine layers. He had stepped into the realm that even the greatest mages could only dream of—yet he had reached it in mere moments.
Had the ancient scholars who spent centuries mastering spells known this, they would have been consumed by envy.
> [Your Charisma boosted to 40. Trait unlocked: 【Transcendent Spellcaster】]
Now, Kai Xiusu’s ability to inflict damage on the material world was unparalleled. He had earned the right to cast Legendary Spells of the Ninth Circle and beyond.
> "Boom!"
A thought, and the cave erupted in a torrent of Dragon Flame, hollowing out the mountain from within. No spell was cast—only willpower. Yet the destruction rivaled a 7th-level spell.
Even his roar carried the essence of magic—capable of shattering stone, splitting mountains. One could say: every action of his could trigger a cataclysm, capable of wiping out mortal kingdoms.
Even without the power of his Ancestral Dragon bloodline or his mighty body, Kai Xiusu was now among the top-tier beings of the material realm—worthy of being seated as a guest of honor at every king’s court, courted by rulers across the world.
Staring at the constantly refreshing data on his Character Sheet, Kai Xiusu’s gaze burned hotter than a volcano about to erupt.
He already possessed such spellcasting power. What would happen if he drew a Legendary Dragon Spell from the Thunder Era?
> [You trace the ancient bloodline of the Ancient Dragon. Acquired Dragon Spells: 【Blood of Fire】, 【Phantom Thief】, 【Mass Dragon Allies】]
> 【Blood of Fire】
> 5th-level Transmutation Spell
> The most powerful Red Dragons are said to bring disaster even in death—because their blood is like magma. When you are attacked, your Dragon Blood inflicts continuous Energy Damage on nearby creatures and permanently alters the terrain.
> 【Phantom Thief】
> 7th-level Enchantment Spell
> Dragons often spy on the treasures of their kin, leading to deception and cunning. You create an invisible force—an ethereal dragon claw that automatically steals from others.
> 【Mass Dragon Allies】
> 9th-level Enchantment Spell
> Dragon battles often involve clan conflicts and territorial wars. The side with more dragons usually wins. You spend a massive amount of money to summon five mature, non-elder dragons as temporary allies, bound to your command.
Kai Xiusu stared at the three spells, his face darkening. He nearly snarled, nostrils flaring as sulfur-scented white smoke poured from his mouth.
To him, these spells weren’t just useless—they were laughably inadequate.
Blood of Fire?
Now, in the material realm, only a handful of beings could draw blood from him. And even if they could, he didn’t need such crude methods to destroy a mortal entity. A single thought—his Irate Fire Element would do the rest.
Phantom Thief?
As Emperor of an empire spanning millions of square kilometers, ruler of a vast industrial machine—did he need to steal? The daily dividends from Claudew Military Industry Group far surpassed any theft.
And Mass Dragon Allies?
What use would five mature Five-Colored Dragons be to him? Use them to threaten Tiamat?
The Queen of the Five-Colored Dragons wouldn’t care if a few of her adult dragons died—she wouldn’t even blink, not even for her most beloved Red Dragon.
> “Goddess of Fate… one day, I’ll drag you back into this cave and torture you—if you truly exist.”
Kai Xiusu growled under his breath. Then, with a stretch, he unfurled his colossal dragon body, shifting into a more comfortable lying position.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
