Dragon Oath Paladin

Northwind Keep, Council Hall. Cassius sprawled across the massive iron throne, looking down at Fried kneeling on the floor. His voice carried a faint trace of languor. "Fried, you are one of the seven Knight Commanders of the Lionheart Knights. Why choose to betray the Principality of Bosque and submit to me?" "Look at me, Fried." "To live. To gain greater power." "And... to decide my own fate." After a moment's hesitation, Fried answered truthfully. Gathering his courage, he raised his head and looked directly into the red dragon's golden slit pupils. Even a brief silence set his heart hammering against his ribs, his back drenched in sweat. At last, the red dragon spoke again. "Very good. You didn't lie. Otherwise, I would have burned you to cinders." "The Kingdom of Cinders needs ambitious men. As for loyalty... heh, that is hardly an issue for me." Cassius slowly rose, bringing his head closer to inspect him with care. [Based on your strength, you can observe the following information] Black Lion Knight — Fried Basic Capabilities: Level 10 Lionheart Knight Challenge Rating: 10 (5,900 XP) Evaluation: The lowest of the seven Knight Commanders of the Principality of Bosque's Lionheart Knights. Highly skilled in sword-and-shield combat, having risen to Knight Commander on the merit of outstanding combat performance. *He truly is one of the seven Knight Commanders. Though lacking in loyalty, his raw capability is undeniable.* A level ten Lionheart Knight would rank among the high-tier forces even within the Kingdom of Cinders, only a step below the top echelon like Trump and Duoluo. However, his current state would not last. The Lionheart Knight was a faction subclass derived from the Oath of the Crown paladin. The moment he surrendered to the red dragon and abandoned the duke he served, he broke the Lionheart Knight's sacred oath—to honor one's word. Without loyalty, oaths and laws became meaningless. Within mere days, the shattered sacred oath would strip him of his Lionheart Knight abilities, draining his oath spells entirely and reducing him to an Oathbreaker like Mezrolash. Fried's transformation was an urgent matter. Bestowing a Bloodline Boon upon such a high-level vassal was a virtually guaranteed success, with little risk of failure. Furthermore, according to Cassius's experiments, combining his Bloodline Boon with an existing class could generate a faction subclass unique to the Kingdom of Cinders. Such subclasses could even be granted to players, binding them into diehard loyalists of the realm. The Lionheart Knights were remarkably well-rounded, capable of excelling in pitched battles and sudden skirmishes alike. Duoluo had long advocated for an army of this kind to screen the line infantry, and even the red dragon had coveted them for quite some time. Cassius exhaled a plume of sulfurous breath, anticipation stirring within him. "Fried, this is your own choice. You will become the vassal of a true dragon. Remember: you will sever all ties with your past entirely." "Are you prepared?" "Yes, Master," Fried answered without hesitation. After enduring a battle against such overwhelming disparity in power, he understood a simple truth—those who defied this red dragon met no good end. If he wanted to keep his life, he had no other choice. "Then let us begin." Cassius narrowed his eyes, radiating an immense, almost tangible draconic aura that temporarily dulled Fried's perception of the outside world. A single drop of scalding blood hung suspended in midair. *Bloodline Boon.* In his design, this new class would not require a dragon-blooded creature to function, and taking player preferences into account, the draconic transformation would not be as extreme as that of the Redscale Conquerors. Even so, the power of dragon blood was not something an ordinary creature could endure lightly. One player who purchased a Dragon Blood Potion had the misfortune of failing the Constitution check, bursting on the spot. The blood surged into Fried's mouth. Raging elemental energy plunged down his throat and into his body, steadily spreading through every limb. "Ah—!" Fried let out agonized groans as his body underwent violent convulsions. His muscles swelled with dense power, scales erupted across his cheeks and neck, and his eyes shifted into golden vertical slits. Sulfurous white vapor vented from his pores, and faint sparks sputtered from his mouth and nose. "Ugh... aah!" Thick smoke shrouded Fried's frame. Only his unending wails and a vague silhouette remained visible. The silhouette struggled, thrashed, and curled inside the smog. Before long, a man bearing draconic traits emerged from the swirling fumes—Fried as he was now. Setting aside the conspicuous scales, his appearance had not changed drastically, but his inner essence had undergone a complete metamorphosis. Such was dragon blood: capable of imparting the very essence of magic to a living creature. Fried fell prostrate on the ground, struggling to open his eyes. Feeling the crushing aura of the red dragon before him and the absolute suppression wired directly into his bloodline, a single thought consumed him: submit. He finally understood why the red dragon cared nothing for loyalty. The crude, instinctive subjugation of bloodline ran far deeper than any so-called chivalric virtue. For an instant, Fried felt a fleeting pang of regret at having bound himself to an even more terrifying master, but the thought flickered and vanished in an instant. Things had gone too far; regrets were meaningless now. He was once one of the seven Knight Commanders of the Lionheart Knights, bearing the title of Black Lion Knight. Now, Fried had only one identity—a dragon vassal, a traitor who had surrendered to the Kingdom of Cinders. He knew there was no turning back; his only option was to cling tightly to the kingdom's coattails. If his identity came to light, Archduke Leo would hunt him down relentlessly, sparing no cost to claim his life. Fried stretched his limbs, speaking in a voice still strained with unfamiliarity: "Master... thank you for your boon. I can feel it... this power is immense." "Very good." Cassius gazed at Fried, who now bore the dragon bloodline, and glanced at his interface with satisfaction. He could sense Fried's thoughts and that passing moment of regret, but it didn't matter. The iron bond of the Bloodline Boon was enough to extinguish any hint of dissent. Besides, Fried was now inextricably strapped to the war chariot of the Kingdom of Cinders. [Faction Advanced Subclass construction complete.] Class Advancement Requirements: Join the Kingdom of Cinders faction. Become a vassal of the faction leader, Lord of Cinders Cassius. Possess at least 3 levels in the Paladin class, with martial weapon proficiency in shields, swords, and related arms. Possess a sufficient degree of draconic bloodline. [Please name your faction subclass—] Cassius glanced at Fried, who knelt on the floor in contemplation. [Named: Dragon Oath Paladin]