"I'm ready, Your Majesty!"
"For the Cinder Empire!"
"Dedicate your heart to the Empire!"
All three players immediately placed their right fists over their hearts in a textbook imperial "Salute of Loyalty," seizing the chance to profess their allegiance to the sovereign before them.
After all, this had always been the Empire's "political correctness." There was even a well-known imperial joke on the forums:
When in doubt, just scream "Loyalty!" and call it a day.
Cassius smiled without a word. Still reeling from the breathtaking spectacle from earlier, the players felt their hearts thumping violently against their ribs.
Xiaye Qiuyu's mind raced.
*This is... the main storyline!*
*Advancing to Dragon-Pact Sorcerer is almost certainly tied to the main plot!*
*According to forum analysts, the main storyline of the first version, Northland Winds, revolves around the rise of the Empire.*
*And judging from the intel faction leader Cassius just dropped, the second version's main plot... could it be calamity and strife?*
*Maybe it involves the renowned Fadlan Empire to the south, or perhaps an invasion of ancient demons.*
*Either way... Dragon-Pact Sorcerers are bound to play a crucial role.*
*Awesome!*
*Taking this advancement quest was definitely the right call!*
Xiaye Qiuyu felt thrilled.
Little did she know that Cassius was merely speaking in riddles and baking pies in the sky.
Knowing Xiaye Qiuyu was close with Mantou, he had deliberately leaked a few forward-looking teasers.
Once these hints made their way into Mantou's video content, they would attract even more players to the Cinder Empire faction.
"Since you're all ready," Cassius said, his calm voice cutting through their wandering thoughts. "Let the ritual begin."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Misha nodded solemnly and stepped forward, fire welling in her golden eyes.
Back when she became a Dragon-Pact Sorcerer, the advancement ceremony had been rather crude.
Now, through the refinements of the Empire's many wizards and sorcerers, a mature advancement procedure had been developed, though it had yet to be put into practice.
"Praise be to the supreme Cinder Emperor, the noble and magnificent true dragon, Cassius..."
"He is the wrath of the mountains, the incarnation of victory and glory, the protector of commerce and trade, and the sole sovereign of the Cinder Empire..."
Flames leaped from the young girl's hands. As she chanted the Draconic incantation intertwined with her patron's name, the words dissolved into her magic, and faint, golden slit pupils materialized in the empty air.
Accompanied by her chanting, the three pact scrolls slowly drifted upward to hover in midair.
*The patron pact ritual the Ministry of Magic dug up from ancient texts actually works,* Cassius thought to himself.
He casually extended a hand and raised his gaze slightly. Behind him, a phantom silhouette tens of meters tall abruptly manifested.
It was the manifestation of Cassius's true form. The red dragon looked down upon the three players with pale-golden slit pupils and slowly parted his colossal jaws.
"ROAAAR—!"
A long, resonant roar echoed across Isdalia.
Instantly, the entire city erupted. Cries of awe, cheers, and prayers flooded every street, square, and building within its borders.
"Th-This is His Majesty!"
"It's His Majesty Cassius's voice!"
"Praise the great red dragon! Praise the Cinder Emperor!"
"May His Majesty Cassius protect my husband who went south to reclaim the wastelands, that he may return alive..."
Regardless of race or status—whether pedestrians on the streets, laborers at work, or soldiers on the firing range—everyone snapped their heads up in unison, gazing in fervent adoration toward the Grand Altar of Isdalia at the heart of the city.
"Is this the majesty of an Emperor?"
"God, the entire city is cheering."
"This advancement quest... they really went all out. It's truly worthy of being the Empire's only caster prestige class."
The three players were also swept up in the fervent atmosphere, their hearts racing with excitement. Ailong Rufeng looked positively infatuated, nearly drooling as he stared at the red dragon phantom.
"Hehehe, Lord Cassius's true form..."
"The tail..."
Cassius caught the player's questionable gaze, his mouth twitching slightly. Nevertheless, he proceeded with the ritual.
The black-haired, golden-eyed man rose slowly from the throne. Across the chest of the red dragon phantom behind him, a blinding brilliance flared outward, illuminating every direction.
In an instant, it was as if a second sun had appeared atop the Grand Altar of Isdalia.
"I, Cassius Claubau Norixius..."
"In the name of the Cinder Emperor, bestow upon you my power, granting you leave to become my servants and proxies..."
Prompted by Misha, the three players dropped directly to their knees.
To them, after all, this was merely advancing a game cutscene; they harbored no psychological reservations.
Xiaye Qiuyu dropped onto one knee, lowering her gaze beneath the overwhelming pressure.
New notifications refreshed across her interface:
[You have unlocked the advanced class path: Warlock – Dragon Patron]
[You will forge a pact with a rare lineage among dragons: a dragon variant.]
[These mighty beings look down upon mortal creatures, unsatisfied with their innate draconic gifts and eternally pursuing boundless ambition. In return, they will grant you the power of dragons.]
[Notice: Once the pact is sealed, your faction cannot be changed! Your character will be subject to the patron's influence and even control!]
[Do you agree to sign the pact? Yes / No]
"Yes."
Xiaye Qiuyu made her choice without the slightest hesitation.
*What's so bad about being a servant?*
*For a class this overpowered, what does a little dignity matter?*
*Countless people would kill for the chance to be His Majesty Cassius's dog and wouldn't even make the waiting list!*
*Whoosh—!*
The magical runes upon the pacts blazed brightly.
The red dragon's tremendous power descended from above, remodeling the players' blood vessels into magic-rich fundus vessels and gradually transforming their hearts into scalding, vibrant Hearts of the Dragon.
Fiery auras flickered across all three players as white steam smelling of brimstone puffed outward. Within the haze, their bodies underwent drastic transformations.
Xiaye Qiuyu's dark-golden slit pupils gleamed softly. Faint traces of scales formed at her temples, the dragon horns atop her head grew longer and sleeker, and even her fingers became sharper.
Intricate crimson markings spread across her back and nape.
At the corners of her eyes blossomed the radiant hues of flowing flame.
"This is..." Xiaye Qiuyu murmured, slowly opening her eyes.
[You have acquired traits: Draconic Spell, Heart of the Dragon]
[Draconic Spell: Your red dragon patron has expanded your spell repertoire. You may receive your patron's boons to learn ancient draconic spells.]
[Heart of the Dragon: Your patron's power has reshaped your heart. You now possess a magical heart and fundus vessels akin to a true dragon's; your Constitution and elemental affinity have been substantially increased.]
Charisma: 15 → 17
Constitution: 11 → 13
These were precious attribute points!
As players, if one disregarded external means and relied solely on leveling up, they could only allocate two attribute points every four levels.
"This is ridiculously strong..." Xiaye Qiuyu couldn't help but marvel.
Chapter 437