Chapter 721: The Final Ascension
"Truly unexpected." Kai Xiusu pocketed the Heart of Hell, licking his lips with quiet delight.
Just as Zaril had anticipated, this greedy Red Dragon wouldn’t let go of such a juicy prize—right at the edge of its jaws.
But she hadn’t counted on Kai Xiusu’s own ambitions for the Blood War—an administrative nightmare most players fled from in terror. In fact, Kai Xiusu craved it.
With the Empire of Ashen now firmly stabilized internally, his five million Stellarfallen subordinates lacked only one thing: a limitless grinding ground for experience. And Avernus? Perfect.
In that land of blood and massacre, players could unleash their imaginations without fear of consequence—no moral limits, no hesitation.
After securing the Heart of Hell, Kai Xiusu turned his gaze back to his Character Sheet. New information flooded in, sending a thrill through him.
[With the Empire of Ashen’s relentless offensive, the Thrace Kingdom has been annihilated. The Hell Lord Zaril, who coveted August, lies dead. Your empire’s titanic feats have shaken the Feiansuo Continent to its core. Rumors of your might now echo across the Multiverse. Your Power and renown have risen to Level: Ⅵ]
[Due to the Traits of your 【Empire Domain】, you may now exchange for one Legendary Battalion or lower-tier Trait.]
【Mind Control】
You gain the ability to dominate the minds of others, controlling the willpower of most weak-willed individuals within your Empire.
"No more free will—only my will." — Half-Human Mind Sorcerer, Yuli
【Ubiquity】
You receive all information within the Empire. Every shadow becomes your ear, your eye.
"You have no secrets—because I am Ubiquity!" — Shadow Rogue, Clyde Freck
【Iron-Fisted Empire】
Combat will of the Imperial Army increases by 10%. Your soldiers grow more ruthless, fearless of death—but they also consume resources at a far higher rate.
Kai Xiusu studied the list carefully. Each Legendary Battalion Trait was devastatingly powerful—but came with harsh restrictions. Most could only be used within the Empire Domain.
Yet for Kai Xiusu, who wielded godlike authority within his own realm, the effects of these powers were already within his reach—either directly or through his influence. Spending a single Trait slot on such abilities felt wasteful.
Like last time, when he chose 【Imperial Grant of Divine Authority】, which had secured internal stability, keeping spies and rebels in check.
He scrolled further. Dozens of new Battalion Traits appeared—ranging from low-tier to Legendary, a chaotic mix of abilities.
These Traits granted unique powers to all followers within the Battalion: some boosted wealth, others altered the environment, and a few even directly influenced the spiritual soul of the Imperial people.
【Leader Charisma】, 【Forced Labor】, 【Magic Tide】, 【Cultural Frenzy】, 【Curfew Order】, 【Mass Conscription】, 【Rule of Law Above All】
Finally, his eyes settled on one particularly unique Trait. After a careful glance, he made his choice without hesitation.
[You have selected the Legendary Battalion Trait — 【Imperial Boundary Monument】]
【Imperial Boundary Monument】
Quality: Legendary
Description: You may place boundary markers within the Empire of Ashen, using them as permanent symbols of territorial sovereignty.
Monument Effects:
1. The Imperial Boundary Monument emits a Law Force, gradually transforming surrounding territory into a 【Empire Domain】 centered around itself.
2. Any player belonging to an 【Empire of Ashen】 Battalion may choose the monument as a respawn point. New players without a Battalion may also use it as a spawn point.
3. A network of spatial tunnels forms between all Boundary Monuments. The Emperor and authorized Imperial Favored may traverse between them freely, bypassing dimensional barriers.
(Note: This is a Unique Trait of the 【Empire Domain】.)
Previously, Kai Xiusu had manually converted key cities like Isdalia and Northwind Keep into Empire Domains. Now, with the Boundary Monument, he no longer needed to do the work himself—he could simply reap the rewards.
Moreover, the monument’s respawn and interdimensional travel functions gave him unparalleled control over newly conquered cities and alien colonies.
In the near future, Empire settlers might use these markers to expand their dominion—place a single monument, and thousands of troops would answer the call.
A fierce smile spread across Kai Xiusu’s face. He clenched his claws.
"With this Trait, the entire Empire will be mine to command."
Boom—
The ground trembled. Dust rose as a towering boundary marker slowly emerged from the earth.
Twenty meters tall, its surface smooth and refined like polished marble, the monument was etched with lifelike relief sculptures—Wyverns, White Dragons, Half-Dragons, and scenes of the Emperor of the Ashen Flame vanquishing mighty foes.
At its apex stood a vertical pupil fused with the flame emblem of the Empire. Between them, a single line of text was carved:
【Boundary Marker: August】
The first part, written in the Common Tongue, named the location. The second contained its precise spatial coordinates.
As the monument rose, an overwhelming presence radiated outward. Law Force pulsed from its core, spreading across the land and gradually transforming the surrounding space into Kai Xiusu’s 【Empire Domain】.
"Excellent. Now, on to experience points."
Savoring the familiar energy, Kai Xiusu nodded in satisfaction, shifting his vision back to his System Panel.
After annihilating the Thrace Kingdom and slaying Zaril, his rewards were staggering—Armor Class Achievements, relics, Battalion Traits, and a massive influx of experience points.
Right now, Kai Xiusu felt like an old farmer in autumn, his fearsome Dragon face alight with the joy of harvest.
[Defeated Lord of Avernus — Zaril (Challenge Rating: 36) → Gained 215,000 experience points]
[Your total职业 Level Up to: 27]
[Current职业: True Dragon Mage 19 / Bloodscaled Fury 3 / Elemental Master 4 / Carved Skin Dragon 1]
[Choose one职业 to ascend this time]
Twenty levels—the absolute cap for any player. Cross it, and even without other abilities, you’d be hailed as a Legendary.
Kai Xiusu, past-life veteran of Ailezegai, had only reached Level 16 in his previous life—back when the game was still in Version 3.0. Even then, he’d been among the elite. Only true Professional Players, those who lived for the game, had broken the twenty-level barrier.
Now, finally, he stood on the brink of that threshold. The irony wasn’t lost on him—despite already possessing power rivaling that of a Semi-God.
The choice was obvious.
[You choose to elevate True Dragon Mage to Level 20]
[Due to Dragonborn Spellcasting and the Talents of the Elemental Lords, your current Spellcaster Level is: 31]
At the moment of Ascension, Kai Xiusu’s world opened up. A new, uncharted sensation flooded his mind.
The unbreakable city walls, the towering mountains, the rushing rivers—everything seemed as fragile as soap bubbles, easily pierced.
Then, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[After the sharp red, the endless black, the blazing yellow—the Shadow revealed the Multiverse’s true strength to you.
Your mind is now filled with countless arcane secrets, written in forgotten tongues… yet you understand them.]
More importantly, something long sought—now laid bare before him:
The Real World was a fragile construct. A convergence of power beyond common knowledge. Only those with the right to access it could touch it.
"This is…"
Kai Xiusu’s pale golden eyes flickered with a faint light. In an instant, his gaze pierced through the illusion—the ephemeral "soap bubbles"—and saw the truth beneath.
His world. His entire universe.
Floating like a soap bubble in the endless ocean of Chaos.
And in that Chaos, he saw countless towering, indistinct figures. Before them, his universe was insignificantly small.
Then—deep in the distance—a pair of eyes slowly opened.
And stared back at him.
[WARNING!]
[You have encountered the Stare of 【G$v@qLK9!】. Emergency Mind Shield System activated!]
Instantly, Kai Xiusu was overwhelmed by a cacophony of whispers and a piercing explosion of sound.
For the first time in his life, raw, primal fear and madness surged through him—emotions that should belong only to mortals.
But Kai Xiusu was no mortal. He was an Ancestral Dragon, a vessel of multiple Primordial Sources, a Semi-Divine Life Force.
What could possibly frighten him?
[Thought Shielding Complete. Your True Sight has ended. Maintain Reason.]
The terrifying vision vanished. The world snapped back into the familiar cityscape of August.
The noise in his ears vanished.
Kai Xiusu gasped, chest heaving, nostrils flaring as hot steam poured from his mouth. His heart hammered violently—only after long moments did he regain composure.
"What… was that?"
He knew—this was far beyond the reach of a mere Level 20 Sorcerer.
Or rather… this wasn’t a phenomenon he should witness.
This was likely the System itself. More precisely, the Existence behind the System—testing him.
The air was thick with oppression, despair, eternal weight.
The joy of annihilating Thrace Kingdom, the pride in expanding his Empire—faded into insignificance.
Kai Xiusu had known this truth for a long time.
He had to grow stronger. At all costs.
Otherwise, even if he ruled the Material Plane, he’d still be a cricket trapped in a cage—forever unable to leap beyond.
He pushed the thoughts aside.
Ascension must continue. Only by becoming more powerful could he understand what he’d seen. Only then could he stand on equal footing with those arrogant, supreme beings.
"Continue Ascension."
Kai Xiusu finally regained full clarity. His gaze, cold and calm, fixed on his Character Sheet.
[Your True Dragon Mage career has reached its peak. You have traced your Ancient Dragon Bloodline, awakening the lost strength of a forgotten era. You know—this will restore the glory and honor of the Dragonkind.]
[You have gained the unique ability: Primordial Return]
【Primordial Return】
Effect: Unknown
In the age of Dragon Sovereignty, the sky, the earth, the seas—all were under the shadow of Dragon Wings. Ancestral Dragons held dominion over all the world’s primal forces. More accurately—they were the Avatars of those forces.
As a Pure-Blooded Great Dragon, you have awakened the Ancient Dragon Bloodline. By burning your own blood and igniting the fire within your genes, you now briefly gain the strength of a Third-Generation Ancestral Dragon.
"Fourth-Generation Ancestor Dragon form," Kai Xiusu murmured, stroking his chin. He sifted through memories of dragon lore.
The original dragons were far more powerful than the weakened True Dragons of today. According to the Golden Dragon Council, the tibia of a Third-Generation Ancestral Dragon—said to be descended from Orlando—was over a hundred meters long.
So the offspring of such beings—Fourth-Generation Ancestors—must have been monstrous. At least five hundred meters in length. A size that surpassed every known Life Force in the Material Plane during the Third Era.
Kai Xiusu even wondered: after using Primordial Return, would the Material Plane’s Willpower reject him? Would he be forcibly ejected into the Outer Planes?
[You have gained the unique ability: Ancestral Dragon Bloodline]
【Ancestral Dragon Bloodline】
Your blood now possesses the unique, immortal essence of the Ancestral Dragons. Your offspring and followers will undergo unpredictable transformations.
"Offspring?"
Kai Xiusu fell silent, a hint of resignation in his voice.
He was still a young adolescent in the eyes of an Ancestral Dragon. He had no children, no true mate.
But perhaps… it was time to consider it.
[You have traced the ancient bloodline of the Ancient Dragons and unlocked two Legendary Dragon Spells: Dragon's Vengeance Gaze and Dragon's Freedom]
Dragon's Vengeance Gaze
10th-Level Transmutation Spell
[The Dragon glares at its enemy. The target suffers the full fury of dragon wrath. Those with weak Constitution are utterly destroyed—reduced to a single cloud of dust.
To channel such power, an equal cost must be paid. When the target’s Life Force is too strong, the Dragon’s eyes bleed, and its skin convulses.]
"An advancement-level Death Finger."
Kai Xiusu stared at the spell’s description, unimpressed.
Stare and kill? Sounds powerful.
But he knew such “instant death” spells were often one-sided—useless against strong foes, but devastating against the weak.
Still, it was a Legendary Spell.
His only thought? Use it to silently eliminate hidden spellcasters from afar.
He lowered his head, scanning the next spell.
【Dragon's Freedom】
10th-Level Protection Spell
[Dragons have always pursued freedom. Their final hope is eternal, unbound flight across the sky. Thus, they forged this spell to deal with bothersome Arcane Scholars.
The target becomes immune to: entanglement, fear, control, imprisonment, paralysis, petrification, sleep, slowing, stunning, time stasis, and time distortion.]
At this, Kai Xiusu finally nodded in approval.
His ancestor had left behind something truly useful.
Clearly, this was one of them.
(End of Chapter)
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