Chapter 60: Awakening (Part One)
With a low rumble, Cassius slowly opened his eyes, feeling a slight fogginess in his mind as a flood of information had poured in during his sleep, awaiting his processing.
"It seems I’ve been asleep for quite a while this time."
A thick yer of dust covered his scales.
Cassius shook his massive head, gently flexing his wings, and the long-unmoved bones made crisp sounds, sending ash swirling around him.
"I’ve grown even more imposing this time. Not bad."
He nodded approvingly at the giant gss mirror already prepared in the underground pace.
Perhaps due to deepening his bloodline power, Cassius noeared far more mature than a typical red dragon. His enormous body spanned fifteeers, nearly matg an adult red dragon’s proportions, with none of the young dragon's immaturity left.
The thick, curved horns atop his head had lengtheheir surfaces a yellowed bone-white. Small horended across his head, and the ones on his cheeks and jaw were more pronounced, making his rge head even more menag.
The golden color of his pupils had slightly faded—an age marker; it was said the oldest red dragons’ eyes looked like molten va.
His bright, crimson scales had darkened, with their glossy texture repced by a smooth, matte finish. Due to the metalliature of his scales, a hint of gold still rimmed the edges.
His wings had grown broader, with a faint blue frill along the trailing edge, akin to the blue fmes of burnial.
"Dragons’ intellect also grows with age."
After examining his appearance, Cassius began processing the vast, plex lega his mind and discovered, to his delight, that his capacity to absorb and prehend information had also improved.
"So this is ‘Dragon Fear’?"
Acc to the knowledge he ied, Cassius directed his body to emit an invisible aura—the so-called “Dread Presence,” or “Dragon Fear.”
Simply existing as a dragon could make animals flee in terror and shake the resolve of the stau warriors.
Unfortunately, in this underground pace, there were no other creatures around (and any that had been here would have perished from his dormant influence), so Cassius couldn’t yet test this fearsome aura on living beings.
Havied Dragon Fear, Cassius resumed s through the information in his mind.
This time, it was about spells.
Due to their innate magiature, all dragons develop i magical abilities as they mature.
At Cassius's adolest stage, he could exhibit his first signs of magical talent.
"This is the dragons’ innate magical power."
"Truly terrifying."
Cassius was astonished.
As he processed this legaotifications began to flood his panel.
[Dragons are powerful magical beings, naturally attuo numerous supernatural phenomena. As a red dragon, reag a certain age unlocks tent casting abilities within your bloodline.]
[You gain an additional casting level: 3.]
[Your racial spellcasting level is now bined with your sorcerer casting level, bringing your total casting level to: 9.]
Cassius's excitement surged.
"Finally, bined casting levels!"
"Now you’ll withe sorcerer-dragon’s rapid ast!"
Cassius felt his uanding of the world expand instantly, granting him access to the fifth yer of the Weave.
His e to the Weave deepened, allowing him to el magic with a mere thought, reag the Weave’s depths through sheer will.
However, notifications on the panel tio update.
More intricate knowledge flooded into his mind.
"Is this..."
[Some schors insist that humanity first learhe are arts frons. If true—and even the elves tend this in their honons likely retained secrets beyond mortal prehensios only a true dragon with awakened bloodline access.]
[Such dragons refer to themselves as ‘True Dragon Sorcerers,’ a title they use to distinguish themselves from the lesser draic sorcerers.]
Discussing spells with mortals is as pointless as discussing seasons with grasshoppers. —Sarimosk, A Gold Dragon.
[【True Dragon Sorcerer】 css requirements: Level 5 base sorcerer, pure-blooded dragon.]
[You meet the css requirements and possess the necessary legacy. Would you like to advance?]
"A hidden adva css!"
Cassius was eted; it was the perfect timing.
He’d been frustrated by the limitations of the draic sorcerer css, and here was an advanced css exclusive tons, which surely promised formidable power.
"firm."
Cassius chose to proceed without hesitation.
An intricate surge of are knowledge flooded his mind.
Indeed, if dragons, with their exceptional talents and loy, devoted themselves to study, their achievements would surpass any mortal’s.
[You have acquired the sorcerer advanced subcss: 【True Dragon Sorcerer】.]
[【Ability: Dragon Spells】: You gain access to unique spells known only tons. Sorcerers and wizards might learn these spells, but only if a dragon teaches them, and most are useless to mortals.]
[You have acquired dragon spells: 【Raking Cws】, 【Sheltering Egg】, 【Energy Scales】, 【Into the Fmes】.]
【Raking Cws】
Evocation trip
A flickering, cw-like magical force appears before the dragon, allowing it to el energy at the target with a g gesture.
【Sheltering Egg】
2nd-Level Transmutation Spell
When cast, a flickering, purple energy egg ehe dragon and disappears, transp it to a pocket dimension where it ot be harmed.
The dragon ’t see the material world or cast spells or attack from this pce but use spells ic items that affely itself.
【Energy Scales】
3rd-Level Transmutation Spell
The dragon’s natural defenses ma as a magical aura, causing its scales to shimmer with energy and form tless tiny orbiting fragments, like thousands of miniature satellites.
【Into the Fmes】
4th-Level Evocation and juration Spell
The dragon fills its lungs with swirling, searing energy. Then, with a powerful exhale, it unleashes a devastating e of fme.
As the final strand of energy leaves its mouth, the dragon bees oh the breath on, allowing it to traverse spad reassemble its body anywhere within the breath's range.
FAL
