Following the Elder Fire Elemental, the players crossed the magma pool via a narrow stone bridge and reached the very peak of Mount Baras.
Right before their eyes stood the reddish-brown tower, perched atop the volcano's summit.
Over thirty meters tall, its structure was composed of igneous rock forged from solidified lava flows, its surface possessed of a distinct sense of fluid motion.
Firelight leaked through the tower's windows and crevices, enwreathed in white steam and grey smoke.
Red-hot iron chains wrapped around the exterior as if binding some colossal monster, brimming with the aesthetic of sheer raw power.
To erect such a magnificent structure in an environment where magma ran rampant and living things were forbidden was clear proof of the tower master's terrifying strength.
"To think it's in a place like this..."
"It's so tall!"
"Was this built with magic?"
The players who had passed the trial chattered among themselves.
Xiaye Qiuyu looked up at the tower, her heart fluttering with excitement.
*This is it. The legendary Tower of Karmic Fire, the advancement site for the hidden class—Dragon-Pact Sorcerer.*
*I must succeed in advancing... Mmm, may His Majesty Cassius bless me.*
She prayed silently in her heart.
As a female player, she didn't care for the rugged, completely draconic appearance of the Redscale Conqueror, but was deeply captivated by the elegance and nobility of draconic bloodline sorcerers.
The delicate little horns flanking the head, the golden slit pupils, and the few scales framing the corners of the eyes like subtle cosmetic accents all struck just the right balance.
And Cassius the Cinder Emperor's human avatar happened to be the exact embodiment of her aesthetic tastes.
Dragons were born with transcendent charisma.
And humans, elves, or any creatures with draconic bloodlines were no exception.
Arriving before the tower entrance, the Elder Fire Elemental pressed a burning fist against the stone door and turned its head, rumbling in a low rasp: "Trial-goers...
"Master's... command... enter..."
*Rumble—*
Accompanied by a hiss of escaping gas, the massive stone door slowly ground open. Billowing plumes of steam and smoke rushed out, stinging everyone's eyes so badly they could hardly keep them open.
"Everyone, let's head in!"
"Time to advance!"
"Heh heh, our Wangquan Guild has three sorcerers who passed the trial this time. We're definitely in the bag."
"The Redscale Conqueror and dragon-blessed paladin are already crazy strong. With a trial this brutal, the Dragon-Pact Sorcerer is bound to be downright broken!"
"Right? It's the prestige of the very first caster prestige class!"
"Haha, I wonder what bonus the guild master will give me once I finish the advancement. It's gotta be a fat payout."
The players' voices buzzed with intense excitement as they began daydreaming about their bright futures.
Wangquan Guild was slightly different from other guilds. Not only was their guild master a top powerhouse in Elezerg, but he also wielded immense financial backing in real life.
That was why Wangquan's players fought far harder than those from other guilds and maintained strict organizational discipline, though the hierarchy within the guild was also much more pronounced.
To them, this wasn't just gaming—they were earning real cash!
Meanwhile, Xiaye Qiuyu kept quiet, watching her surroundings with utmost caution. The fate of that foolish player who had just gotten himself killed was a fresh lesson in front of them.
She had a faint feeling that things wouldn't be so simple.
To successfully advance into this hidden class, she definitely needed to earn the favor of that special female NPC!
*Maybe this isn't the final trial, and there's another elimination round waiting.*
Inside the Tower of Karmic Fire lay a cavernous hall, tinted entirely in reddish brown, with gruesome, bizarre monster heads mounted along the walls.
"Trial-goers..."
"This way..."
The Elder Fire Elemental led the way, guiding the players up a spiral staircase.
Since it hadn't been built very long ago, the tower's interior lacked much in the way of extra decor and felt rather spacious; the second and third floors were almost completely bare.
Yet flickering tongues of flame and sparks drifted everywhere, and certain floors even had fire elemental creatures acting as attendants.
"This place is pretty interesting."
"Yeah..."
"Is that a magma stone monster? You can tame those things? I gotta get me one!"
It walked without pausing, ascending several floors before finally leading the players to the top floor of the Tower of Karmic Fire.
Ahead lay a heavy stone door engraved with a lifelike depiction of a wyvern—along with the crest of flames and a slit pupil.
In the Cinder Empire, only official imperial institutions such as the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Council Hall were entitled to carve the Cinder emblem on their front gates.
"Arrived..."
"Enter..."
The Elder Fire Elemental guarded the entrance like an imposing door god, gazing coldly at the players.
Even through the thick door, one could feel the steamer-like heat radiating from the top floor.
Xiaye Qiuyu thought to herself, *This must be the top floor of the Tower of Karmic Fire, where that mysterious NPC resides.*
*And also... the final trial for the Dragon-Pact Sorcerer.*
With their destination right ahead, the players grew even more excited, their chatter swelling.
"It's coming, it's finally coming!"
"My totally badass hidden class is finally here!"
"Hehehe, I'm gonna flex so hard on the forums and make all the noobs bow down in awe!"
*Rumble—*
The Elder Fire Elemental shoved the door once more.
The final doors swung wide.
A blast of smoke and heat washed over them, filling the players' nostrils with the pungent stench of sulfur.
Once the haze cleared, the mysterious summit of the tower revealed its true form, and the players' eyes practically lit up.
"Whoa—!"
"This... this is..."
"Way too loaded!"
Inside the spacious room, exquisite statues flanked either side, representing the two forms of Cassius the Cinder Emperor: human and dragon.
On the left, the human statue wore ornate robes and a gentle smile, its features sculpted to near-perfection with subtle hints of red dragon traits, exuding an aura both noble and mysterious.
On the right, the dragon statue spread its broad wings and sat perched upon a towering throne, majestic and solemn, its draconic gaze looking down with a terrifying, overwhelming presence.
Every scale and every tooth of the dragon statue was meticulously carved, vivid and lifelike.
Facing each other from across the hall, two faces of the same being, the craftsmanship was remarkably intricate and the materials extravagantly opulent—even the golden eyes were inset with spheres of solid gold.
Hanging on the walls were more than a dozen magnificent, giant oil paintings, depicting stories widely renowned throughout the empire.
From left to right, they showed: the Beginning of the Cinder Nest, the Scourge that Destroyed the Legion, the Battle of the Glacier's Fall, the Battle of the Twin Dragons, the Coronation of the Cinder Emperor...
And in front of the two statues lay heaps of gold and silver treasures, pearls, and jewelry, alongside neatly arranged pieces of equipment shimmering with magical auras.
"So much money... There's gotta be over ten thousand gold coins here!"
"Holy crap, I've never seen so much gold in my life."
"Holy shit? Blue gear!"
"That's nothing, look at that ring! Ring of the Efreeti Noble! A Very Rare accessory!"
"Huh? Th-this is... purple gear!"
"And that one! Whip of the Elder Fire Elemental! That's a Very Rare weapon too!"
Gasps of wonder rippled through the players. Nearly blinded by the glitter of gold and gear, they felt like country bumpkins stepping into an emperor's palace.
By the end, some of their voices were thick with greed. These were Very Rare items, things that couldn't be bought for less than several thousand gold coins!
If they could just bring one back to the guild, it would cause an absolute sensation!
Yet Xiaye Qiuyu sensed that something was off. The room was drenched in a familiar aura of "loyalty"—almost as if it had been built by a devout zealot of Cassius.
Her delicate brows furrowed.
*Could it be... this room is the final trial?*
Chapter 431