Cassius was just preparing to tear through space and head to Isdalia to discuss the southern campaign when the translucent panel slowly unfurled before him once more.
[Your battle has shocked the world and made the Cinder Empire the focal point of the Feanso Continent. Your Faction Renown has increased to: Level V.]
[Due to the effects of Imperial Domain, you may select one Legendary Faction Trait to redeem.]
"This is..."
Cassius gazed at the list of traits on the panel, faint greed flickering in his pale-gold slitted pupils.
Bureaucracy, Realm of Gold, Magic Tide, Slaughterer, Evil Empire...
These traits were all special abilities that could be granted to retainers across the entire faction. Some enhanced administrative efficiency, some amassed wealth, and others could even amplify regional magical activity.
Yet Cassius's eyes were drawn at once to one far more exceptional choice, and he selected it without hesitation.
[You have selected the Special Faction Trait—Sovereign-Bestowed Divinity.]
[Sovereign-Bestowed Divinity]
[Description: You can bestow a portion of your authority upon your retainers, granting them certain special privileges within the territory of your Imperial Domain.]
[Note: Exclusive trait of Imperial Domain.]
Throughout the war against the Abyssal demons, Cassius had noticed a critical flaw within the Empire—its domestic defenses were far too weak.
Under the existing tech tree, driven primarily by the players' progression, the Empire's military possessed overwhelming destructive capability but lacked sufficient defense, making it essentially a glass cannon.
The Abyss could dispatch high-ranking demons to infiltrate imperial cities, wreaking havoc and slaughtering citizens with impunity, while the Empire had few effective countermeasures.
Cassius could not remain within the Empire's borders at all times. If he provoked enemies at the level of demigods or true deities in the future, he could easily flee, but the Empire could not run away.
This was, after all, a world of near-limitless individual might.
Powerhouses on the tier of primal spellcasters, demon lords, abominations, or elemental sovereigns were fully capable of destroying more than half the Empire on their own, uprooting his very foundations.
Yet this so-called Sovereign-Bestowed Divinity allowed him to temporarily grant portions of his authority to his retainers, conferring vastly enhanced defensive capabilities upon them.
If the Empire were compared to a website, this effectively granted him the ability to assign administrators.
"This kind of power..."
Cassius rubbed his horn-covered chin and tucked his wings against his sides, falling deep into thought.
At this moment, a familiar concept sprang to his mind: an earthly divine kingdom.
It was simply too similar. Gods residing in their divine realms often granted authority to their angels and clerics, allowing them to govern on their behalf.
Sovereign-Bestowed Divinity achieved that exact same result. The only difference was that divine realms were typically forged by deities, exalted high in the heavens, and situated in the Outer Planes.
Cassius's "divine kingdom," however, could exist within the Material Plane, right here upon mortal soil.
The last time the red dragon had heard that phrase had been from the lips of Jerlazax, the Lord of Vengeance—the demon lord's final, raving madness before death.
"How could an entity capable of establishing an earthly divine kingdom possibly exist!"
That was how he had roared it.
"An earthly divine kingdom..."
With that thought, Cassius repeated the phrase under his breath, mulling it over as a faint light shimmered in his pale-gold pupils.
***
In the Cinder Empire, at the heart of Isdalia, tens of thousands of people jostled together, crowding around the Grand Altar.
Among them were imperial soldiers returning triumphant from the battlefield, commoners coming to witness the spectacle, and nearby merchants seizing the business opportunity.
All of them had gathered for the exact same grand event—the Cinder Empire's investiture ceremony.
According to imperial tradition, such ceremonies were held only in the wake of major campaigns. The Cinder Emperor would personally confer honors and rewards upon those who had rendered outstanding service to the Empire, granting them formidable strength, extended lifespans, and supreme glory.
In the eyes of the populace, this ceremony was far more important than any holiday. Participating in an investiture ceremony was the dream of nearly every citizen of the Empire.
For the Cinder Emperor, it was also an ideal opportunity to harvest faith, foster imperial cohesion, and strengthen their sense of identity.
As such, the imperial authorities actively encouraged it. Over the past few days, posters promoting the ceremony had been plastered throughout the Empire, and numerous factories had even granted their workers time off.
A full day before the ceremony began, the crowd had already packed Emperor Square to the brim, with some even bringing their own bedding and tents to camp on the spot.
Naturally, the patrolling peace officers quickly spotted them and ordered them to pack everything away.
Humans, goblins, hobgoblins, kobolds, ogres, tieflings... Imperial citizens of countless races raised their heads, gazing up in heartfelt wonder at the altar that soared into the clouds.
"Hurry, find a good spot!"
"I'm so envious..."
"Yeah. Fighting on the battlefield and receiving His Majesty's blessing—if I could stand up there just once in my life, it would all be worth it."
"This must be what the Imperial Daily calls the Imperial Dream!"
"For His Majesty Cassius's sake, quit pushing forward, you damned ogre!"
"Out of the way, runt!"
"You creature raised by northern nobles, who are you calling a runt?"
As more and more imperial subjects gathered, the surrounding area grew increasingly clamorous, with friction and brawls breaking out constantly.
"Halt! Fighting is forbidden within the city!"
Peace officers mounted on wyverns circled overhead, maintaining basic order.
"Move it, move it!"
"This is a major event! If we're late, there won't be any spots left!"
"The boss will probably show his face. That seems to be the routine."
"Think we'll get a chance to pet Emperor Cassius's tail...?"
Before long, players arrived in droves as well, cramming the already packed square until it was utterly impassable.
Out of the three million players across the entire Empire, nearly ten percent had gathered here, with many more still on the way.
Clang—
A deep chime rang out. Imperial banners fluttered in midair, and a brass ensemble of satyrs struck up a rousing triumphal march.
Accompanied by ripples in space, an ogre brandishing a scepter appeared at the summit of the Grand Altar of Isdalia, looking down upon the hundreds of thousands of imperial subjects gathered below.
"It's the Prime Minister!"
"What a grand occasion! Every investiture is personally presided over by His Grace!"
"This is a ceremony of exceptional importance even to His Majesty!"
Hearing the clamor, Trump furrowed his brow and struck the ground firmly with his scepter.
Clang, clang.
"Silence!
"To ensure the smooth progression of the ceremony, please remain quiet and await His Majesty's arrival."
Aided by magic, Trump's crisp voice resounded across the square, echoing beside every citizen's ear and carrying throughout the city of Isdalia.
Instantly, the hundreds of thousands of attendees fell silent. Filled with anticipation and reverence, they turned their gazes to the sky. The plaza grew remarkably solemn, punctuated only by occasional murmurs of prayer.
At Trump's signal, the satyrs struck up majestic music once more. Powerful drumbeats and uplifting strings built anticipation for the arrival of an illustrious figure.
Roar—
A prolonged draconic roar rolled down from the high heavens. A crushing wind pressure descended onto everyone's shoulders as an immense crimson silhouette emerged from the clouds, descending slowly toward the top of the Grand Altar of Isdalia.
Measuring nearly fifty meters in length, the red dragon flapped his wings, whipping up roaring gales in midair.
In an instant, the winds swept away the clouds, leaving the sky spotless and clear.
Immediately after, the morning sun slowly peeked out behind him, casting brilliant rays of light as though hoisted up by that colossal draconic frame.
A shimmering halo coated the surface of his crimson scales, glittering radiantly with a sacred aura.
"Praise Cassius..."
"O great Red Dragon!"
"Your Majesty! The Emperor is like a red sun exalted high in the sky!"
"No, even the sun cannot match His Majesty's glorious splendor! This is the supreme status of His Majesty Cassius!"
On the ground, heedless of the glaring sunlight, the people gazed up at the sky with devout expressions, crying out in ceaseless awe and praise. Their frenzied eyes reflected the towering silhouette of the red dragon.
At this moment, all living beings sang of his glory—and even the usually wacky, carefree Starfallen were no exception.
"Emperor Cassius is invincible!"
"For the Cinder Empire!"
"His Majesty Cassius! Dragon among dragons! Male among males! Great dragon, demon lord, dragon of destruction...!"
"I want to touch His Majesty Cassius's tail!"
Swept up in the fanatical atmosphere, they also began shouting at the top of their lungs. While their phrasing was still somewhat bizarre, the imperial citizens beside them had long since grown accustomed to it.
Even though Cassius reined in his presence, an invisible Frightful Presence still settled over the city, tightening the chests of everyone within a hundred-li radius.
Even the citizens who were not attending the ceremony stopped whatever they were doing in unison, turning toward the Grand Altar of Isdalia at the center of the city, many falling to their knees in worship.
Boom!
Amidst the trembling earth and billowing dust, the red dragon landed heavily upon the very summit of the altar.
He folded his wings, lowered his head slightly, and swept his gaze across the multitudes below with his deep, pale-gold slitted pupils, nodding faintly.
Ignoring the players' outlandish remarks, Cassius was quite pleased with the reception. Following the conclusion of the defensive war against the Abyss, his prestige within the Empire had reached unprecedented heights.
His image as a god of victory and war had solidified even further in the hearts of the people, with the mantle of a "god of protection" added to his name.
Even though Cassius had yet to ascend to godhood, he could clearly sense the rich, profound faith overflowing from the hearts of the Empire's subjects.
It would not be long now.
Once he marched south to conquer Fadlan and claimed the legacy of that "Sun Emperor," Cassius was confident he could stand shoulder to shoulder with the gods.
With that thought, the red dragon spoke, his thunderous voice reverberating throughout the city and instilling reverence in all who heard it. Yet his words were surprisingly ordinary.
"Good morning, citizens of the Empire."
Hearing the Emperor's personal greeting, the imperial citizens at the foot of the altar erupted, their cheers swelling like a tidal wave.
"Good day, Your Majesty!"
"Long live Emperor Cassius!"
Yet as soon as Cassius spoke again, the cheers vanished abruptly, and the crowd listened with bated breath.
"I once said that the Empire would never tolerate the atrocities of demons, and I have fulfilled my promise, driving them entirely back into the Abyss.
"Throughout this time, our warriors on the battlefield showed no fear of death, using cannons and blades to slay demons and avenge our kin, while our people in the rear worked day and night, shipping a steady stream of munitions to the front lines...
"And you, citizens of the Empire, have all done splendidly! You endured this trial, and through blood and fire, you showed the will of our Empire to the Abyss and to the entire world!"
The moment Cassius's words fell, roars and cheers soared straight into the clouds, erupting like a volcano as if ready to pierce the heavens.
"Long live Emperor Cassius!"
"Long live the Empire!"
"For the Cinder Empire!"
Even spies from factions such as the Harpers, the Kingdom of Thrace, and the Kingdom of Cassander who were hiding in the crowd momentarily forgot their identities, raising their arms and shouting alongside the masses.
Enhanced by his extraordinary charisma, the Silver Tongue trait had become all the more terrifying. Every word and syllable Cassius uttered carried the potency of an archmage's spell.
It sent the blood pumping through the veins of the hundreds of thousands present, their hearts surging with such fervor that they longed to charge straight into the Abyss and slaughter every demon in sight.
Even after wave upon wave of earth-shattering roars, the crowd showed no signs of stopping, appearing as though they would never tire.
Only then did Cassius nod in satisfaction, raising a claw to signal for quiet.
"I also made another promise: the Empire will never mistreat the citizens who contribute to it.
"I have fulfilled that promise as well. To the warriors who fought to the death, the officials who served with devotion, and the researchers who laboured relentlessly, I granted great strength, long lives, and exalted status.
"And now, I shall permit you to become my vicars, allowing you to wield... the authority of the Empire on my behalf."
Hearing Cassius's declaration, the crowd was thrilled yet somewhat bewildered; they did not yet grasp the weight of these words, nor did they understand the true significance behind this "authority."
Yet the Empire's top brass were utterly shocked, breaking into a commotion.
Though they did not fully comprehend the "unique existence" governing Cassius, they all possessed a vague awareness that the Emperor wielded a power that granted him godlike status within the Empire's borders—that was the authority of the Empire.
Kneeling on the ground, Trump's eyes widened, and he could not help looking up at the red dragon nearby.
"Master, this..."
"Is this perhaps going a bit too far?"
Cassius, however, wore a self-assured expression. Grinning, he sent a low mental transmission to the ogre: "This is merely a fraction of my authority. The bond between myself and my vicars is just like that between Amaunator and the solars within his divine realm.
"Besides... Trump, as a wizard, are you truly not curious about such power?"
Trump pressed his head against the ground and answered hurriedly, "I wouldn't dare, Master. That belongs solely to you..."
Even so, Trump had to admit that for a spellcaster, the authority to control everything was undeniably enticing.
"There is no need to fear.
"I have no concerns. Your souls have long rested within my claws."
Cassius raised his head indifferently and instructed the scribes beside him, "Bring up the meritorious contributors of the Empire. They shall receive everything they deserve."
Chapter 552