"Roar—"
The red dragon took a step forward and roared at the heavens, terrifying energy gathering within his colossal body.
Dazzling golden brilliance burst from the dragon crystal embedded in his chest, tearing an opening through the eternal night of the Silver Heaven. A scorching heatwave billowed outward in frenzy, reducing the surrounding celestial illusions to ash.
"Hypocrites who style yourselves champions of justice—" Spreading his expansive wings, he glared at Barachiel in the distance, unvarnished ferocity burning in pupils like molten magma. "Only the purest power can make you realize that a new era has arrived!"
*Boom!*
In an instant, accompanied by the concussive crack of rupturing air, extreme heat warped the surrounding space as a blinding-white pillar of fire erupted from the red dragon's cavernous maw, ripping through the pitch-black night in a flash.
This was no specialized breath weapon—merely a casual probe from Cassius.
Yet backed by an Elemental Master's energy explosion and the red dragon's own staggering Charisma, even the most ordinary fire breath possessed power far exceeding the full-strength breath of a great wyrm red dragon.
Cassius now stood at the pinnacle of the Material Plane; every gesture of his could summon a terrifying natural catastrophe.
Wherever the incandescent column of fire passed, the nocturnal canopy of the Silver Heaven was torn apart like paper, and the stars and angels condensed from celestial power were wiped out by the mere shockwaves.
"Watch out!"
Terrified by the incoming dragon breath, Walter gripped the heavy Solar round shield in his hand. Immediately, a barrier of light bearing the holy crest of the sunburst manifested before the group.
It was the Shield of the Sun!
"What a terrifying breath!" Titus flapped his wings and exerted all his strength, breathing a sea of dragonflame that formed a fiery shield across the sky—though its momentum was far inferior to his true body's.
It wasn't that Cassius intended to slack off, which could give him away; rather, this avatar simply lacked sufficient power, and he was operating on two threads simultaneously.
The combined defense of Walter and Titus was like flimsy paper before that brilliant white pillar of fire, pierced with effortless ease.
Barachiel brought his longsword across his chest, the glow of starlight gleaming in his dark purple eyes. "In every era, justice and order remain the eternal, immutable theme!"
Countless celestial energies from the surroundings surged toward him, gradually condensing into a massive, star-glittering shield set before him.
*Boom!*
In an instant, two entirely opposing powers collided, triggering a violent detonation. Starlight and firelight intertwined as powerful shockwaves rippled outward for hundreds of meters.
"Hahaha! Barachiel, you are an opponent worthy of a fight!" Cassius laughed wildly. Snapping shut jaws that still vented white smoke, he lashed his wings and shot into the sky.
The moment he took flight, he made use of Quicken Spell to layer over a dozen buff spells onto himself in rapid succession, brilliant auras of magic scintillating across the surface of his scales.
Then, his wings swept wide, and his massive fifty-meter frame patrolled the heavens at an inconceivable speed, turning into a blurred afterimage trailing flames.
"Tremble, hypocrites! Your demise shall mark the beginning of the collapse of the Feanso Continent's corrupt old order—and the inception of a new one!"
Accompanied by the piercing shriek of wing edges slicing through the air, the red dragon's wanton roar reverberated high above, making the entire space tremble.
Walter stared fixedly at the dragon in the sky, gritting his teeth. "How can he be so fast?"
He raised his golden holy sword, and several solar streams of golden-red fire pierced the night sky, raining down from above.
"Roar—"
"Spawn of Tiamat!"
Titus bellowed, sending several ninth-tier fire meteors hurtling across the night, aggressively descending upon the red dragon in the heavens.
In an instant, under the all-out assault of the two powerhouses, terrifying flames capable of obliterating towns crossed paths, hurtling rapidly toward the red dragon.
Cassius hovered high in the sky, looking down at the gold dragon with a sneer of disdain. "Did you not know that men once called me the Master of Flame?"
The red dragon threw his head back with a roar and opened his abyss-like maw wide.
*Dragon Absorption.*
A terrifying magical vortex formed inside his jaws like an all-devouring black hole, its tremendous gravitational pull distorting even the surrounding Weave.
In the blink of an eye, both the sacred flames of the sun summoned by Walter and the fiery meteors unleashed by the gold dragon were swallowed into the red dragon's mouth, converted into stored energy.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, Cassius licked his lips as though savoring more, remarking in an undertone, "Still a bit hungry..."
"You—" Seeing this, Titus scowled with fury, his golden draconic visage contorting with rage.
Walter swung his longsword as well, barking harshly, "Arrogant beast!"
Barachiel looked up at the red dragon in the sky and said coldly, "This is the Silver Heaven, the grave of the wicked. You shall not run rampant here!"
He raised the polished silver sword high. Lightning energy erupted across the blade's intricately carved patterns, crackling with dense electrical arcs.
Within the eternal night, rolling dark clouds churned, thunder and lightning flashing like giant serpents, laden with limitless murderous intent.
*Celestial Lightning.*
Barachiel channeled the boundless power of Mount Celestia into his longsword, and in an instant, a pillar of lightning shot into the heavens.
At once, the gathered thunder in the night sky poured down. A terrifying lightning bolt several meters in diameter crashed down toward the red dragon with august celestial might. The bolt tore through the night sky like an open wound across the dark expanse—it would not be an exaggeration to call it divine retribution descending from above.
*Boom!*
The thunderclap arrived a moment later, earth-shaking and deafening, knocking many coalition soldiers on the ground unconscious on the spot.
"Roar—"
Yet Cassius knew no fear. Throwing his head back, he roared again. His will warped reality, and a ferocious draconic maw alongside swirling spell vortexes materialized above his head to block the lightning.
*Dragon Reaving.*
*Bzzzt—*
Thunder detonated, but the terrifyingly potent lightning was actually reaved by Cassius's spell. Arcs of lightning surged over the red dragon's body, and the Eye of the Storm Sovereign flashed incessantly.
He had repeated the exact same feat, swallowing the lightning from Heaven on the spot!
"Lightning elemental energy, an orderly power akin to divine strength, mixed with a portion of Mount Celestia's origin..."
Cassius licked his lips, savoring the crackling electricity dancing in his mouth.
This bolt of lightning was extraordinarily potent—far more terrifying than what was contained within the Eye of the Storm Sovereign. Without spells to negate and devour it, even Cassius could not guarantee he would emerge unscathed taking such a strike head-on.
Barachiel showed a hint of surprise, yet his tone remained cold. "Greedy red dragon, since you enjoy devouring spells, then taste the wrath of Heaven!"
Mobilizing the authority of Mount Celestia to the fullest, he swung the lightning-crackling longsword, commanding the entire sky shrouded in eternal night.
At this moment, the Lord of the Silver Heaven finally unleashed his infinite might!
The previously pitch-black night was illuminated by the thunderous glare until it was bright as day. Countless lightning bolts descended from above, striking incessantly toward the red dragon as though the entire world were roaring in fury.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
With so many lightning strikes, even Cassius could not swallow them all.
Seeing this, the red dragon flapped his wings without hesitation. Aided by the terrifying speed granted by Draconic Agility, Haste, and Aerial Maneuverability, he turned into a crimson afterimage, weaving ghostlike through the continuous bombardment of lightning.
"Lord Barachiel, slay him!" Walter couldn't help gripping his sword and crying out in excitement.
Though unable to intervene in an offensive of this scale, merely witnessing that hateful dragon being besieged brought him immense satisfaction.
"As expected of the Lord of Lunia!" Titus praised with sincere admiration.
Meanwhile, using Titus's perspective, Cassius secretly observed Barachiel's actions, seeking a vulnerability.
Barachiel held the silver longsword aloft, blinding lightning wreathing his form. His voice rang out resolute and powerful: "Greedy red dragon, tremble before Heaven's wrath! You shall receive the end due to an invader—death!"
*Boom!*
Thunder rolled continuously, and the Celestial Lightning was relentless and virtually endless, forcing the red dragon to dodge and weave without a moment's respite.
Yet in the process, Cassius finally found the other's weakness.
Barachiel was manipulating the authority of Heaven to generate the lightning. As long as this domain of the Silver Heaven, Lunia, remained unbroken, he possessed an inexhaustible supply of energy—just like the Cinder Emperor within his Imperial Domain.
To change the tide, Cassius had to completely shatter this Silver Heaven and strip away Barachiel's home-field advantage.
With this thought, Cassius spread his wings. Atop his head, the Wind of Bahamut shone brilliantly, releasing silver-white light that formed a hemispherical barrier.
The divine power of Order temporarily held off the barrage of thunder, granting the red dragon a rare moment to catch his breath.
Sensing the surging lightning energy filling his body, Cassius looked down at Barachiel with a savage grin. "This lightning wasn't half bad... So I'll return it all to you!"
The red dragon beat his wings violently, whipping up an overwhelmingly powerful storm churning with endless lightning.
Yet that was not the end. Cassius opened his mouth and exhaled a dark-red Breath of Chaos, mingling dragonflame imbued with chaotic essence into the storm.
Lightning and fire clashed ceaselessly, dancing wildly in the terrifying tempest to forge an all-destroying might.
At this moment, this was no longer a mere Storm of Vengeance, but a Storm of Ruin meticulously developed by Cassius—its power had long broken through the shackles of the ninth tier!
Barachiel looked up, a flicker of surprise appearing in his usually tranquil eyes, followed by irrepressible fury.
"Red dragon, it seems I underestimated you after all—you dare to touch the primal essence of Chaos! Do you not understand its true nature?!"
Faced with the Storm of Ruin churning with lightning and fire, even Barachiel had to proceed with caution. Fortunately, within this domain of the Silver Heaven, he wielded virtually limitless power.
Barachiel flapped his wings and once more blew the bright silver horn. A clarion blast rang out as star-like silver-white brilliance poured forth.
*Barrier of Order.*
The silvery brilliance enveloped them, gradually forming regular polygonal walls that built an indestructible silver citadel radiating the aura of Order in the sky.
This citadel was a projection of Barachiel's dwelling on Mount Celestia, capable of repelling any chaotic force.
*Whoosh—*
Wind howled, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and sparks flew. Beneath the terrifying storm, all things were laid waste, yet the Barrier of Order stood utterly unyielding, the silver-white radiance rippling across its surface continually negating the external onslaught.
Just then, Barachiel's expression shifted drastically as he realized something was amiss.
Lowering his horn, he said urgently, "Not good! His target isn't us—it's my celestial domain!"
Yet by now, it was too late to reverse. Seeing that his objective had been exposed, Cassius cast aside all restraint.
"Remember this—
No one can stop the advance of the Empire, and no one can block my path!"
Accompanied by the red dragon's wildly arrogant roar, the Storm of Ruin expanded dramatically, swiftly sweeping across the heavens as the magical reactions within grew increasingly violent.
The abilities of his two casting classes—True Dragon Sorcerer and Elemental Master—and the power of the bloodline of Garyx within him were unleashed in their entirety.
Gales howled, ruthlessly uprooting the shimmering flowers and flora of the Silver Heaven domain.
Dark red chaotic dragonflame engulfed the stars and moon scattered across the sky, causing the soaring angels to perish with shrill cries and completely annihilating the distant phantoms of temples and fortresses.
Terrifying thunder crashed down in unison, blasting apart the dense ground formed of the primal force of Order and the majestic holy mountain, tearing the eternal night into shreds.
All was being destroyed; all was crumbling. The entire world created by Barachiel wailed in anguish, the ripples even echoing into the true Mount Celestia in the Outer Planes.
The soldiers on the ground raised their heads once more. The eternal night that had blanketed the sky had shattered! The miraculous manifestation of the Silver Heaven had collapsed!
Under the upward gazes of countless mortals, that astoundingly colossal red dragon swept his massive claws, violently tearing the celestial canopy open to let the sunlight flood down once more.
"None shall stand in my way!"
Cassius roared fiercely. "If the Hells bar my way, I shall shatter them and cast them into the Abyss; if Mount Celestia opposes me, I shall bring down the holy mountain and cast Heaven down to earth!"
A storm of thunder and fire dominated the sky. Within the silver barrier, the faces of Barachiel, Walter, and Titus were grim and ashen.
The imperial soldiers prostrated themselves in worship, awe-struck by the Cinder Emperor's tremendous might. Even many coalition soldiers threw down their weapons and knelt, muttering fervent prayers.
—For the sight of the red dragon tearing open the night sky and restoring the light looked all too much like their imagined avatar of Amaunator.
And high on the wall, Archmage Zalan gazed up at the magnificent spectacle, despair gleaming in his eyes. "Ye gods... Just what kind of entity are we fighting against?"
Chapter 620