Chapter 38: Bloodline Gift (Part 1)
Cassius gazed down upon his minions, notig the unfamiliar faces from a er. Langpu had reported to him about this “Bg” lizardfolk tribe.
their sturdy physiques—far more suited for an army than the current goblins and kobolds—he spoke:
“Why have you e?”
The minions instinctively made way for them.
Lizardfolk chief Ack Longfang, visibly uneasy, stepped forward, with the old shaman following calmly behind.
Aelt, took a deep breath, and said, “We fled here after monsters overtook our caves, and your immense power has awed us.”
“The Bg tribe is willing to submit beh yhty wings, to serve as the most loyal of your minions, O Great Red Dragon.”
“This is the highest siy our tribe offer.”
“And we present it all to you.”
The lizardfolk shamaured with his staff, and several strong lizardfolk stepped forward, bearing heavy chests.
They opehe chests to reveal glittering gold.
The other minions couldn’t help but widen their eyes at the sight, though they quickly averted their gaze.
——This was treasure meant solely for the dragon, and any who dared to covet it would bear his wrath.
Even the normally greedy chimera averted its dragon head, stealing only brief gnces from the er of its eye.
From his high vantage point, Cassius’s expression remained unged, though his pupils reflected the gleam of gold.
His first i, however, was not the gold, but the old shaman standing behind the lizardfolk chief.
[Based on your power and the other’s state of “submission,” you observe the following information.]
【Lizardfolk Shaman】
Medium humanoid (lizardfolk), absolute ral.
Name: Koda Bckscale
AC: 13 (natural armor)
Speed: 30 ft, swim 30 ft.
Strength — 15
Dexterity — 10
stitution — 13
Intelligence — 12
Wisdom — 15
Charisma — 9
Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +4, Survival +6
Senses: Darkvision 30 ft, Passive Perception 14
Languages: Draic
As: Multiattack, Bite, Cw
Special Abilities:
Hold Breath: The lizardfolk hold its breath for 15 minutes.
Shapege: magically transform into a crocodile for up to 1 hour.
Css Level: Druid Level 5
Spells (Lizardfolk form only):
As a 5th-level caster, the lizardfolk shaman has prepared the following druid spells:
trips: Druidcraft, Produce Fme, Thorn Whip
Level 1: Entangle, Fog Cloud
Level 2: Heat Metal, Spike Growth
Level 3: jure Animals (reptiles only), Pnt Growth
Challeing: 5 (1800 XP)
Evaluation: “The lizardfolk shaman is a unique presehiribe, often wise and powerful, leading their people.”
“An unsolicited druid, is it?”
“Iing.”
Cassius thought.
“Shaman, are you a spellcaster?”
The old shaman took a step forward, bowing his head slightly, answering calmly, “Great Red Dragon, yht and wisdom humble me.”
“I have merely taken a few tentative steps oh of nature and learned some small tricks.”
With that, he raised his gaff and poio ay patch of ground.
“Entangle.”
The powers of nature respoo the shaman’s call, and a faint ripple shimmered in the Weave. Vines and weeds began to grow and iwine over the open ground.
Uhe are magic of sorcerers and wizards, druidic magic is cssified as divine, drawing upon the divine powers of nature to tap into the Weave.
Cassius, intrigued by this volunteer spellcaster, spoke directly: “Impressive. The gates of the Ember shall open to you.”
“Prove your loyalty to me.”
“Praise to you, Great Master.”
The lizardfolk retreated, returning to their dark er without engaging in disputes over territory with the other minions.
Cassius appreciated subordinates who kheir pce.
Lizardfolk were cold-blooded animals with absolute rality, g desires and viewing morality as aernal cept. Their only motive was survival—a principle that aligned well with Cassius’s owhods.
They would be excellent didates for managing human cities or even pyers iure, as they could maintain basic order without disrupting it for personal greed.
“Simple, useful tools.”
This was Cassius’s high praise for them.
Accepting the lizardfolk was merely a side he mai was about to begin.
Bloodline Gift.
Surveying his minions, who looked at him with expectation, fusion, or ay, Cassius finally spoke in a measured tone:
“I oold you that my minions must not accept weakness; I would grant you strength and long life.”
“Today is the day to fulfill that promise.”
“To the worthy among you, I shall bestow… the Dragon’s Bloodline!”
At once, his minioed into astonished murmurs; any with even a hint of uanding were awestruck.
Ogre Langpu’s eyes teared up with gratitude, while the kobolds, with some kinship tons, were astounded, and even the former dragon-worshiping lizardfolk marveled in disbelief.
“This… how is this possible?”
“That’s dragon blood!”
“The master’s generosity humbles me.”
Dragon blood was incredibly precious throughout Erezaghe.
Apart from natural procreatioowing a dragon bloodliypically required true dragon blood, each drop of which otent magical reservoir in the draic vascur system. Even willing dragons would suffer from exhaustion and weakness for days afterward.
No one could imagihat a true dragon would be so generous with such a gift.
Yet they didn’t realize that Cassius required only ordinary blood as the ritual’s catalyst; the remaining “Bloodline Gift” derived from an achievement-based special skill.
It ractically a cost-free transa.
The “Bloodline Gift” was divided into a potent active gift for select exceptional minions and a subtle passive gift for all within the Ember .
In the valley’s ter was a massive, three-meter-tall stoh a ft, spacious top.
A shallow iion y in the ter of the stone.
Cassius had instructed Langpu beforehand to issue an order forbidding anyone from approag the stone.
Initially, the minions had assumed it was Cassius’s designated nding spot, so no one dared disobey the and. But now, their gazes on that stone grew fervent, realizing this wasn’t a restricted zo a “pce of promised gifts.”
Goblins, kobolds, and even wyverheir breaths qui with anticipation.
