"Nine thousand eight hundred contribution for the Crimson Scale. Leaving twenty thousand after spending that—not bad at all."
Mantou stared blankly. "Wait, wasn't it 10,780? Why is yours so much cheaper than mine?"
Singo said calmly, "Price is tied to favorability. Every point it drops increases the price by one percent. So..."
Mantou: "..."
Singo addressed Cassius, "Lord Cassius, I would also like to purchase a Crimson Scale."
Mantou quickly chimed in, "Me too!"
Cassius's golden eyes fixed upon them, and he spoke slowly: "These are the sharpest blades and vanguard among my forces. Becoming a Redscale Conqueror means you will have no other choice—you will fight for me and me alone."
"Are you... truly prepared?"
Mantou's gaze was resolute.
"I'm ready!"
The eighteen days of drudgery flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, cementing his determination to become a Redscale Conqueror.
Cassius produced two crimson scales.
"Then go and prove your worth to me!"
"I hope you can survive long enough to see it through."
As Cassius finished speaking, new notifications refreshed on their panels.
[Advanced Quest: Redscale Conqueror Unlocked.]
[Redscale Conquerors are a unique order of knights who pledge their loyalty to the master of Cinder Nest—the red dragon Cassius. As outriders, they patrol the red dragon's vast domain, scouting for incoming enemies, whether kingdom armies or would-be dragon slayers. And when war descends, they become terrifying conquerors.
When the dragon's roar echoes from afar, Redscale Conquerors descend from the skies mounted upon massive, brutal dragonblooded creatures, bringing endless flames and absolute death to their foes.]
[Quest 1: Travel to Dragon Valley and seek out the Redscale Conqueror Instructor, Alger.]
"Alger? Another unknown NPC."
"And we have to go to Dragon Valley. Did you read that post by Charlotte, the guild master of Magic Coin?"
"Yeah."
"When we get there, let's just go straight through the gate under the city wall. We don't want to get wiped out like they did."
The four left the mysterious cavern and temporarily parted ways. Tiansheng Zhankuang and Xiaye Qiuyu only needed to wait for their dragonblood boons to succeed, whereas Mantou and Singo had to complete a series of advanced quests.
The two followed the road built by the dragon's minions and arrived before Bedrock Fortress.
Hobgoblin guards stood atop the walls, crossbows aimed down at them. "Who goes there?"
Facing the hostile interrogation, Singo's expression remained unchanged. "We are vassals from the City of Baator, here to see Instructor Alger."
Hearing this, the hobgoblins opened the gate and let them through, though their expressions were laden with amusement as they chatted among themselves.
"Think those two will make it?"
"Care to make a bet? I'll wager a hundred copper coins."
"Bet my ass! Alger's Redscale Legion has been around for years, and to this day it's still just him. Do you think I'm stupid?"
"Haha, the unlucky bastard who took the test last time smashed into meat paste, and an ogre even stole a bite. Nobody's dared go near it since, let alone two humans."
Inside the valley, Singo and Mantou encountered monsters of every stripe: lizardfolk, hobgoblins, kobolds, and even satyrs. Asking for directions as they went, they finally located Alger's dwelling.
Curiously, whenever the creatures heard they were looking for Alger, gloating smirks spread across their faces.
"That should be it, right?"
Mantou pointed toward a crude cave.
"Something's off. A class trainer ought to be a big shot, so why is he living in such a dump?"
"Whatever. Let's head in and take a look first."
The two barged rashly into the cave.
Inside, a warrior was seated on a stone stool, honing a sword—except he did not look human at all.
The figure before them was over two meters tall, his entire frame packed with rock-hard muscle, his skin densely blanketed in crimson scales. His head was not humanoid either, but a fierce, draconic visage, dominated by prominent golden, reptilian slit pupils.
Behind his head, a crest of horny scales resembled a tangled mop of hair. The hand gripping the longsword was not entirely human either, resembling a dragon's sharp claw, yet far more dexterous.
"Who are you?"
He raised his head, his golden slit pupils locking onto the newcomers, his gaze exuding a chilling, dangerous aura.
[Redscale Conqueror - Alger]
[Faction: Cinder Nest]
[Basic Abilities: ?]
[Challenge Rating: ?]
"It's a fourth unknown NPC!" Mantou gasped in a whisper.
Singo calmly produced his token—the crimson scale.
"We come under Lord Cassius's orders to undertake the advanced quest for Redscale Conqueror."
A fleeting flicker of surprise passed through Alger's golden eyes.
He had assumed these were yet more overconfident trial-goers; he had seen countless over the years. But these two bore tokens, meaning they were likely the 'talented ones' his master had spoken of. That prompted him to take them a fraction more seriously.
Alger also wanted to see what sort of talent could turn them into aerial knights in such a short span of time.
Yet as his golden eyes scanned the pair up and down, he failed to detect anything extraordinary. In sheer physical strength, they fell short even of common monsters.
"Very well. I hope you can... survive."
"Follow me."
The two players obediently trailed behind Alger.
Mantou whispered, "Why did he say 'survive'? Could an advanced quest that cost this much actually be dangerous?"
Singo scoffed, "Don't rush. You'll find out soon enough."
They ventured deeper into the valley, passing several forks in the path.
"Roaaar—"
Before they even stepped inside, chaotic, unending roars echoed from within.
When they finally reached the mouth of a valley overflowing with heat and flame, the true spectacle revealed itself.
Towering rock faces were pocked with alcoves of all sizes. Countless wyverns roosted throughout the valley, beating their wings, whipping their long tails, and opening gaping maws that reeked of blood and rot.
Some wyverns rested perched in the alcoves, others wheeled and circled overhead, and a few even brawled together in a tangled frenzy, letting out a clamor of roars.
Alger crossed his arms and said coldly, "This is Wyvern Valley, where wyverns rear their young. I need you to find your own mounts here."
At the arrival of visitors, gleaming slit pupils in the dark shadows snapped toward them in unison.
Alger's red dragon bloodline was far more noble than that of the wyverns, commanding a good deal of their respect.
Toward Mantou and Singo, however, the wyverns showed no such deference. Thick drool even dripped from the jowls of several beasts, eager to devour these tender-skinned humans as dessert.
Gazing up at the multitude of wyverns, Mantou stood slack-jawed.
"Holy... shit..."
Chapter 87