Chapter 65: Awakening (Part Six)

  In the near future, those adventurers who believe they escaped with their lives will spread tales of the red dragon’s power across the Northern Lands, building momentum for the as of Ember and attrag the attention of various Aa races. It will also spark widespread discussion in human cities like Northwind Fortress.

  And under Cassius’s orders, that bard will tirelessly pose ae popur verses glorifying the red dragon’s might, spreading them across the North.

  —After all, the bard himself had requested this; Cassius would see to it he got exactly what he wished for.

  Cassius wasn’t afraid of anyone seeking him out. He had grown exceedingly fident in his power; here in the barren Northern Aa Wastend, he could act almost urainedly.

  Of the twenty-member party, half of the high-level professionals had turned into Cassius’s experience points.

  Cassius y zily in the cave, amusedly examining the magical items stripped from Be.

  The 【Dimensional Door Pendant】 looked ner than a tiny ring on Cassius’s massive cw, just barely fitting his thick fihe 【Shield Cloak】 appeared no more than a handkerchief, while the hollow 【Engraved Wooden Staff】 resembled nothing more than a toothpick.

  In a nearby chest y hundreds more pieces of equipment, glowing with magical light.

  There were swords, shields, staffs, and amulets of every variety, some still stained with blood.

  To Cassius, none of the items seemed particurly valuable; most were lifelines for ordinary adventurers, items he could only rate as "rare" at best on his status s.

  For example, the 【Whisper Greatsword】 might be sidered a divine piece for early pyers, but to the red dragon, it was nothing but a tri.

  These were items Langpu had accumuted over the years from adventurers, with only a few left for his own research, the rest sent to Cassius.

  This crafty ogre had even spread stories about the "Ember reasure," and circuted several false maps through mert caravans to lure adveo their deaths. It was no wonder he’d mao build a mage tower.

  "Tsk, greed beyond measure, just like a snake swallowing an elephant."

  Cassius set down the equipment and examined his status s.

  [You killed 【Human Archer】, gaining 1100 xp]

  [You killed 【Church Padin】, gaining 2900 xp]

  [You killed 【Shadow Guild Thief】, gaining 2900 xp]

  [You killed 【Blood Dissolution Warriaining 3900 xp]

  [Your css level has increased to level 7]

  [Choose to advarue Dragon Sorcerer】 level]

  Cassius held his breath, watg the s.

  Unlike regur sorcerers who choose spells freely, the True Dragon Sorcerer’s dragon spells are drawn randomly from one’s bloodline, with a great deal of luvolved.

  Cassius had never sidered himself particurly lucky.

  [You delve into your bloodline, unc are knowledge from a dragons, gaining the additional dragon spell 【Terrifying Tremor】]

  "A zero-level trip, indug fear in enemies and l their resistaon Fear."

  Cassius sighed; while not a powerful spell, it was still useful.

  Fortunately, due to his css advantage, he could choose a level-four spell from his sorcerer’s spell list.

  [You gaihe level-four spell 【Polymorph】]

  This renowned spell could transform visible creatures into a new form, though the form could not exceed the caster’s trol or power.

  Cassius sehe entment spell in his mind and cast it.

  With his ability to tap into the fifth yer of the magic web, level-four spells were swiftly mastered.

  "Polymorph."

  The magic web shifted at his and, gathering and bending to his will. A delicate magical glow enveloped him, shrinking his massive, menag body until he assumed a human shape.

  Yet the spell adapted to the caster’s nature, so naturally, Cassius transformed into… a young boy.

  Cassius regarded his new form, a bit gloomy.

  In the mirror, he saw a boy around twelve or thirteen, with delicate features, golden eyes, fiery red hair, and sharp fangs, looking like a mischievous brat.

  But his gaze held a strange, haughty presence.

  "Going out like this would be humiliating."

  "I absolutely must not let the pyers see this form, or I’ll end up on some peculiar websites…"

  Determined, Cassius vowed to avoid revealing this form to pyers.

  He recast the spell, adjusting his appearahe soft magical glow flickered over him, shifting his features, ging his coloratiohening his form, and even modifying his face—a transformation akin to the pstic surgery sorcery of his previous world.

  Finally, a striking young man with bck hair and golden eyes, exuding a calm aura, appeared in the mirror.

  He looked around twenty, dressed in a dark red suit with gold trim. His noble features and golden eyes veyed a sense of nobility, with a faint air ance softened by elegand posure.

  "Now that’s more like it."

  Cassius nodded approvingly.

  He checked his status s.

  【Sorcerer Cassius (Human Form)】

  Challeing: 8 (3900 xp)

  "In this form, my physical strength and spellcasting are restricted, parable to a high-level human sorcerer."

  In his human form, Cassius frowhen dispelled the spell.

  His body expanded rapidly, his massive red dragon form reappearing in the cave.

  "It feels better to be in my true form; being bound by this body is unfortable."

  Cassius exhaled, releasing a bst of hot air in satisfa.

  He examined his status s, which had transformed signifitly since his st slumber.

  【Fme Dragon - Cassius】

  Name: Cassius Cudious Norrixius

  Tempte: NPC (271 days and five hours until opea)

  Type: Gargantuan Dragon, Lawful Evil

  Race: Young Adult Red Dragon

  AC: 24 (Natural Armilded Scales)

  Base Attributes:

  Strength—26

  Dexterity—12

  stitution—23

  Intelligence—14

  Wisdom—13

  Charisma—24

  Skill Proficies: Persuasion +12, Deception +8, Leadership +8, Stealth +6, Perception +8, Hunting +4, Ara +4, Evasion +4, Knowledge (Future) +4

  Damage Immunities: Fire, Lightning

  Senses: Blindsight 10 ft, Darkvision 60 ft, Passive Perception 16

  Languages: on, Draic

  Abilities: Resonant Storm Body, Potent Breath (Fire), Targeted Breath (Fire), Gilded Scales, Bloodline Blessing

  Feats: Gilded Scales, Potent Breath on, Targeted Breath on, Battle Casting, anding Presence, Escape Artist, Silver Tongue

  bat Equipment: Storm King's Eye, Amulet of Magiullification, Dimensional Door Pendant, Ring of Agile Casting, Searing Staff, Amulet of Speak with Dead, Lava Spray, Bde Parry Ring, Silent Steps Amulet.

  Equipped Spells:

  Rechargeable: Vengeaorm

  Once per week: trol Weather

  Once per day: Magiullification Field, Dimensional Door, Speak with Dead, Burning Hands, Scorg Ray, Bde Ward, Grease

  Css Level: True Dragon Sorcerer 7

  Caster Level: 10

  Spells:

  Level 4: Immotion, Polymorph

  Level 3: Energy Scales, Blink, Prote from Energy, Fireball

  Level 2: Shelter of the Egg, Enhance Ability, Misty Step, Shadow Bde, Invisibility

  Level 1: Fog Cloud, Charm Person, Magic Missile, Shield, Thunderwave

  trips: Terrifying Tremor, Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Thaumaturgy, Prestidigitation, Message

  Spell-like Abilities:

  Once per day: Suggestion

  Challeing: 15 (13000 xp)

  Evaluation: Whereak across the sky, beware his arrival.

  Don’t worry, there won’t be much of him in human form.

  FAL