The red dragon's scorching breath brought a rare, warm breeze to Antonio City, allowing the people to feel a warmth they had not experienced in a long time.
"It really isn't just a legend!"
"He—he really can bring us warmth! We don't have to worry about surviving this winter!"
"Praise His Majesty Cassius..."
Public sentiment across the Great Anzetta Waste had undergone an earth-shattering shift, and the red dragon's image loomed ever more towering and magnificent in the hearts of the people.
Under the Empire's industrial production and the Emperor's reshaping of the natural world, the populace no longer had to agonize over surviving the frigid winter, nor did they have to fret over filling their bellies. Through the state newspapers, they could even envision and look forward to a brighter future.
In times past, such things had been unthinkable.
It was proof that the past propaganda of the Northland nobles collapsed like a house of cards before tangible, real benefits.
The Emperor continued his patrol across his imperial realm, hanging high in the sky like the sun above each city, bringing miraculous spectacles to his subjects.
...
Cassius soared through the heavens with wings outspread, letting out an exhilarating, low roar as he cast his shadow across the vast, bleak waste.
The notifications on his system panel continued to refresh, though at a noticeably slower pace.
Just as Cassius had anticipated, during the first few days following the launch of the Experience Shop, his XP gains had experienced an explosive surge; after that initial rush, it tapered off into a steady, continuous trickle.
[You gained 1,500 XP]
[You gained 1,500 XP]
[You gained 1,300 XP]
[You gained 1,200 XP]
...
By now, ordinary experience points had minimal effect on him.
Each "1,500 XP" notification on his panel required the pooling of 1,500 XP from dozens or even a hundred players.
Fortunately, the player base was now large enough that sheer quantity could induce a qualitative leap.
Even trickling streams could merge into a boundless sea.
Since the opening of the Experience Shop several days ago, the 110,000 players currently residing in the Great Anzetta Waste had eagerly redeemed abilities, generating over thirteen million ordinary experience points for Cassius.
To any player, this was an unimaginable, astronomical sum.
Yet once converted to Cassius's panel, it amounted to just 130,000 XP.
Such was the steep cost demanded by the Atavistic Red Dragon template.
Still, even after shrinking by such a magnitude, this experience was more than enough to carry the red dragon over the threshold of his next class level.
It far surpassed even the experience he had gained from annihilating the legendary dragon-slayer party.
Boom!
With a dull tremor, Cassius crashed down from midair onto the earth, throwing up billowing clouds of dust and rending several deep fissures in the ground beneath his feet.
"Why bother doing everything myself when harvesting the leeks is so much sweeter?"
"Tsk, tsk. Being the boss really is the life—having a hundred and ten thousand players providing for a single dragon."
Watching the experience notifications that continued to tick across his panel, an uncontrollable grin spread across Cassius's face.
His expression was as unabashedly greedy as that of any pureblood red dragon laying eyes on gold.
Right then, another inconspicuous experience notification popped up.
[You gained 1,200 XP]
This time, however, the message did not vanish beneath the swelling tide of XP gains. It had pushed him past the threshold, ushering in a qualitative transformation.
[Your total class level has increased to 18]
[Your current classes are: True Dragon Sorcerer 14 / Bloodscaled Fury 3]
[You may choose to advance your current class: True Dragon Sorcerer or Bloodscaled Fury]
From the perspective of raw combat prowess, Bloodscaled Fury was undoubtedly the superior choice.
In character classes, every four levels marked a major milestone. Raising Bloodscaled Fury to level four would likely elevate Cassius's melee prowess to an entirely new echelon.
Yet that degree of improvement was hardly essential for him now.
What was more, this class was one of the traps Jerlazax had set for him; leveling it could very well destabilize the Heart of Garyx and drag his alignment toward Chaos.
Now, under the dual effects of Imperial Preeminence and Sacred Order, the power of Order saturated the space around him, thoroughly suppressing the chaotic force inside the Heart of Garyx.
Yet that scalding heart still beat within Cassius's chest, pounding rhythmically.
The scorching blood of a progenitor dragon still coursed through his veins.
After all, this was a curse brewed by the Abyss and the mad dragon god together—how could it be eradicated so easily?
Cassius could sense it: held down by Order, it was merely lying dormant for the moment, far from truly resolved.
The moment the Imperial Domain faltered or the Wind of Bahamut shattered, that chaotic, raving, berserk will could very well stage a comeback, seizing dominance over his body once again.
That was the last thing Cassius wanted to see.
Therefore, until the curse was definitively eradicated, he refused to take any risk of losing control, nor would he succumb to the temptation of that frenzied power.
Level 15, though merely a transitional level for a sorcerer class, would nonetheless grant him a new Draconic Spell. Such was the true worth of the True Dragon Sorcerer spell list.
It offered an unmistakable, tangible increase in strength, and best of all, it was completely safe and risk-free, carrying no negative side effects—save for requiring a touch of favor from Lady Luck.
Without a second thought, Cassius made his choice.
[You have chosen to advance True Dragon Sorcerer to Level 15]
[Due to your innate draconic spellcasting, your current Caster Level is: 20]
At such a caster level, one had already reached the highest strata of the Weave.
Spellcasters of this caliber sought deeper truths veiled beneath the surface of the Weave, devoting themselves to mastering its underlying architecture so that the enactment of magic became second nature.
Right now, Cassius could feel a distinct sensation of having "hit the ceiling."
It was said that in ancient times, the Weave had not been confined to a mere nine tiers, but had stretched on almost boundlessly. Mortals had freely drawn upon its infinite power—until their reckless hubris brought about total devastation.
The modern Weave was sealed and regulated by the gods.
The arcanists of old had been imprisoned and bound within the nine tiers of the Weave, giving birth to what the world now recognized as wizards.
Yet probing lofty matters like the origins and shifts of the Weave was not something Cassius—a sorcerer whose mind was consumed purely by power—cared to pursue.
At this moment, the red dragon only felt that his command over magic and his sway over the Weave had grown distinctly stronger. The realization filled him with excitement, sparks sputtering at the corners of his eyes.
Soon enough, though, Cassius held his breath and waited in silence, offering a silent prayer to himself.
Suddenly, his pale-gold pupils lit up.
[You have acquired the 9th-circle Draconic Spell—Dragon Absorption]
Dragon Absorption
9th-Circle Abjuration / Evocation Spell
As innate magical creatures, dragons greedily inhale the ambient energy with every breath, converting it into fuel for their breath weapons. Dragon sorcerers have taken this racial talent one step further, weaving it into an intricate Draconic Spell.
You open your maw to create an energy vortex, absorbing any ranged spell targeted at you, and you can channel the absorbed energy to cast your own spells.
(Note: This absorption has a certain threshold.)
"Dragon Absorption..."
"What a fascinating spell. It's somewhat similar to Spell Absorption from my previous life, but far more potent."
Staring intently at his panel, Cassius gave a satisfied nod, his long, thick tail swishing gently.
This was the first 9th-circle spell he had obtained on his own merits.
Without relying on any magic item.
"That I, Cassius, have achieved my strength today is all through my peerless natural talent..."
"System panel—level up!"
Chapter 393