Ashen Dragon-Chapter 352 - 276: Orders and Achievements

Chapter 352: Chapter 276: Orders and Achievements

The armies of the Ashen Kingdom swarmed, facing the dragon vein monsters with fierce eyes. Tens of thousands of the allied forces surrendered their weapons without a trace of hesitation.

Even those noble officers who wished to resist were eagerly torn to shreds by the fanatical retainers.

In the end, they continued southward with their massive army of captives, heading straight for the capital of the Boske Duchy, the nominal capital of the Northern United Kingdom — Stratholme Fortress.

Cassius lazily sprawled by a hillside, with the unconscious Silver Dragon not far away, guarded by Blue and White Dragons. In front of him stood Dolores, brimming with satisfaction.

The Great Goblin Marshal knelt on one knee, his murky eyes filled with excitement, intermittently puffing out white smoke from his nostrils.

“Reporting, Your Majesty.”

...

“In this battle, we killed over seventy-six thousand enemies and captured a total of thirty-six thousand allied soldiers, including two hundred and seventeen Northern Nobles. Among them is Horace Boske, the eldest son of Leo Boske.”

“Our own casualties were only eight thousand seven hundred sixty.”

“However…”

Dolores paused as if recalling something, a sly gleam flashing in his murky yellow eyes.

He bowed his head even lower before continuing to speak.

“But these meager accomplishments are insignificant compared to Your Majesty’s glorious achievements.”

“You defeated Osedro, the ‘Wings of Silver.’ The Ashen King’s renowned name will spread throughout the entire Fianso Continent and even the whole Prime Material World.”

Cassius glanced at him nonchalantly before turning his head away.

“You have done well, but you must accelerate the progress.”

“Three months, I give you three months. Within three months, I want to see a unified North belonging to the Ashen Kingdom, at least nominally.”

This demand could be considered harsh.

Anzeta had a sparse population, but the land was vast and expansive. Just the northern United Kingdom’s original territory spanned over a million square kilometers.

Moreover, it had been ruled by the Northern Nobles for millennia, their influence deeply entrenched and difficult to eradicate quickly.

But after all, it was the order of the Emperor.

Undeniable, unquestionable.

Cold sweat immediately broke out on Dolores’ forehead, but he forced an ugly smile.

“Yes, Your Majesty, our military department will certainly accomplish the task of fully conquering the North. The main forces of the allied armies have been completely annihilated, and the defenses everywhere are very weak. Both the eastern and western fronts are progressing smoothly…”

“Just do it well, but…”

Cassius looked at Dolores again, a glint of dragon might in his pale golden eyes.

“I do not wish to see a desolate North filled with despair. I want it to become a part of the Ashen Kingdom, a fertile ground for the Kingdom’s growth. Do you understand?”

Dolores wiped the profuse sweat from his forehead and quickly responded:

“As you wish, Your Majesty.”

…

With that said, Dolores and the armies of the Ashen Kingdom departed.

The Red Dragon paid no mind to the bickering Blue and White Dragons beside him. He gave a low command and used the Egg of Sanctuary to create a private other-dimensional space for himself.

Cassius calmly watched his panel, where information was continually displayed. He first looked at that golden trophy.

[Nation Destruction]

“I have witnessed the fall of countless mortal realms, and you are no different. You will be destroyed by me…——Ancient Red Dragon, Feyord Danoff”

Traits gained: [Nation Destroyer]

Strength +1, Charisma +1

Proficiencies: Intimidation +4, Ruling +4

You destroyed a nation of a million people. Your notorious name makes mortals tremble, your strength astonishes the world, and you and your kingdom walk the path of conquest.

Cassius narrowed his eyes slightly, an intense, invisible fluctuation arising out of nowhere, affecting his massive dragon body directly.

Even his body, difficult to break with Ninth Tier Spells, began to undergo a dramatic transformation.

“Roar…”

With a series of low growls, the Red Dragon’s knotted muscles surged continuously. His surface scales were brutally stretched, and thick white smoke emitted from their gaps.

Cassius felt extreme pain throughout his body. His muscles felt twisted like a thick rope, gathering strength far beyond what they had before.

“It continues…”

The Red Dragon stretched his body, exhaling a breath of sulfur-scented heat with reluctance.

The strength continued to spread and transform the “aura” around his body, which meant his ability to influence the world.

The turbulent elemental energy surrounded his body, flowing with every movement of his will. The Magic Web also rippled rhythmically.

The Red Dragon’s Charisma broke the threshold of thirty.

Scholars had a vague definition for this level of spellcasters and had given it several names: Root Caster, True Manipulator, Spell Usurper…

But one thing was certain—

This had already transcended mortal limits and reached a new realm.

“Interesting.”

Cassius revealed a sinister smile.

After this transformation, his spellcasting fundamentally changed again, no longer just channeling and communicating with the Magic Web. It felt more like he was controlling reality; he even vaguely sensed a tendency to surpass the Magic Web and access its essence.

After the transformation, Cassius took a silver-white gem from the space and gently held it in his claw.

[Shattered Wind of Bahamut]

Quality: Divine Artifact (Damaged)

Creator: Bahamut

Description: It is said that this gem was formed from the first breath Bahamut, the “Lord of the Northwind,” exhaled at dawn, containing a very faint divine power.

Eight hundred and seventy years ago, it was bestowed upon the young dragon Osedro and embedded in a platinum compass.

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But during the “Battle of the Twin Dragons” that shocked the Prime Material World in Anzeta, the platinum compass was destroyed. The gem’s divine power from Bahamut was eroded by the Chaos Flame, leaving only a remnant of Order Divine Power.

Effects:

[Holy Order]: Bahamut’s afterglow can change the world. Everything around this gem gravitates towards order and goodness.

[Northwind’s Breath]: You can unleash a breath of extreme cold, completely freezing your evil enemies.

“A great treasure, worth the risk to battle that Silver Dragon.”

Cassius held the silver-white gem, feeling the faint afterglow it emitted and felt unprecedented clarity in his mind.

After that battle, Bahamut’s imprint was removed, and the remaining Order Divine Power became his best “tranquilizer.”

He clearly felt the Heart of Karex in his chest no longer throbbed intensely but rather calmed as if influenced by this power of order, frozen by Bahamut’s Northwind.

Cassius looked at his panel.

[Your absorption progress of [Heart of Karex]: 4.57%]

The earlier battle with the Breath of Chaos had significantly advanced the progress.

Now, the deathly countdown-like progress had finally paused, alleviating his tension.

However, Cassius knew this was not a permanent solution. To deal with the curse of the Vengeful Demon, he needed to find more countermeasures.

The spoils from this battle were extensive, and his panel flooded with experience information.

[[Nether Tracker – Grom Saxon (Challenge Level: 17)], gained 18000xp]

[[Primal Warrior – Rano Wrathaxe (Challenge Level: 18)], gained 20000xp]

[[Glorious Dragonslayer – Deske Flamgold (Challenge Level: 19)], gained 23000xp]

However, he did not gain a level this time.

The unreasonable template of the Atavistic Red Dragon, the mysterious and special advancement sub-occupation, and the Occupational Level of up to seventeen made gaining experience for his [True Dragon Sorcerer] occupation daunting.

Thus, even sacrificing most of a legendary adventure group could not grant him even a single level; perhaps only Osedro’s death could achieve that.

“The efficiency is too low.”

“Maybe, aside from personal slaughter, I need to find other ways to gain experience…”

Cassius gazed at his template, silently contemplating.

“Players.”

He thought.