Ashen Dragon

Chapter 56 Red Scales (Part 3)

Cassius stared at the panel displaying the newly refreshed information.

[The NPC faction you created, the Ashen Nest, has achieved a standard level of comprehensive strength]

[The Ashen Nest has gained some fame within the Anzeta Great Wilderness. It is located in Giant Valley, with its territory covering half of Stormy Ridge. Rumor has it that it is the lair of the Red Dragon, Flying Flame Cassius, the graveyard of the Northwind Eagle Guards.

Countless ferocious monsters, including Ogres, Wyverns, and Chimeras, gather here to serve their wicked lord, ready to unleash an insatiable desire for expansion...]

[You can create a special faction subclass]

The so-called faction subclasses are unique career branches available to each faction.

As a player, one must have a certain level of faction contribution and meet specific occupation requirements to advance.

For example, the Rackman Family's Northwind Eagle Guards require absolute loyalty to the family and proficiency in "riding a Giant Eagle." Many players in the past joined Northwind Castle for this reason.

Many faction subclasses are incredibly powerful, such as the Boske Family's Lionheart Knight, the Corrupted Druid of the Gloomy Marsh, and the Time Soul Magician of the Tower of Time.

Cassius specifically subdued Alger because of this unit's exceptional mobility, making them excellent scouts and aerial forces.

He planned to create the Ashen Nest's exclusive subclass based on the Northwind Eagle Guards.

Alger would be the first experimental subject.

In the future, he would become a kind of "occupation mentor," enticing more players to join the Ashen Nest.

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[Note, granting a subclass requires the target to be a retainer of your faction]

[Target Alger is currently your retainer]

[Preparing to construct the occupation—]

In the wide and enclosed cave, Alger and his Giant Eagle sat in a deep pit as per Cassius's instructions.

"Close your eyes."

Cassius commanded.

Now a retainer, Alger obediently shut his eyes.

The Giant Eagle, however, shook its feathers restlessly, but Alger forcibly covered its eyes.

"Begin."

The Red Dragon nodded slightly.

He sliced open his palm, letting a drop of scorching dragon blood trickle out.

"Bloodline Gift."

"Semi-Dragon Form—"

Cassius chanted in his mind.

This was a more potent bloodline gift that could grant humanoid creatures a semi-dragon template. This dragonkin bloodline could even be passed down to offspring.

For humanoid creatures, only those with highly trained and incredibly strong bodies—such as the warrior before him—could successfully endure this trial.

The blood, like an extension of his limb, slowly rose and merged into Alger's mouth.

"Ugh..."

Alger let out a suppressed groan.

Yet, the resolute warrior gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out.

As the hot blood infused with raging elements flowed down his throat, Alger's skin turned red, emitting wisps of white smoke. Sweat poured from his forehead.

His stomach churned as if filled with a lake of magma.

"Ugrah—"

Alger tightly shut his eyes, gritting his teeth to stifle any scream, his brows knitted in pain.

His body involuntarily bent over, curling up on the ground.

The dragon blood brutally seeped into his veins, pumped to every part of his body by his violently beating heart.

Alger's skin turned dark red, releasing intense steam and appearing anything but human.

"Aaaah—"

He could no longer hold back and howled to the sky.

This agony was worse than a thousand cuts, as if his entire being, including his bones, was being ground up and reshaped.

Beneath his skin, the bones at his elbows, knees, and spine pushed out violently, even piercing through the skin to form sharp bone spurs. As the skin split open, scales rigidly pushed themselves out.

His body grew to nearly two meters tall.

His flesh was roughly altered by chaotic elemental power, rapidly growing numerous small yet tough ducts specific to dragons, used for channeling elements.

His face underwent the most horrifying transformation.

The scales stretched the skin taut, the bones around his mouth jutted forward to form upper and lower jaws. The gums produced numerous sharp teeth, his eyes rolled back to show whites before transforming into reptilian slits, his head forcibly reshaped into a dragon-like form.

The transformation for the Giant Eagle beside him was much simpler:

It was just a regular bloodline gift.

The beak grew sharp teeth, scales appeared under its feathers, its size increased significantly, and its wingspan extended close to ten meters, becoming a hybrid of a Giant Eagle and Dragonhawk.

When the pervasive steam dissipated, Alger opened his eyes again to reveal golden slit pupils.

His appearance was now more dragonborn than human.

"This is..."

He found his field of vision vastly expanded, able to see black-and-white images even in near blindness due to a special reflective membrane.

Alger lay on the ground, awkwardly moving his arm. He felt his strength surpassing what it used to be.

This two-meter-tall, muscular body not only brimmed with strength but also contained fiery magical power.

Strength was indeed the most intoxicating thing.

No matter the pain, it was worth it.

With strength, he could atone for everything he had done.

Alger clumsily got up from the ground, kneeling before Cassius.

Now, he was not just kneeling symbolically but felt an oppressive force deep in his blood, making rebellion impossible. His willpower alone could hardly restrain this instinct.

"To become a dragon's claw and fangs..."

"This feeling..."

"Isn't bad."

Alger knelt on the floor, facing downward, contemplating.

"Master, thank you for the strength you bestowed."

"I will use it on the battlefield to terrify your enemies."

His words carried immense sincerity.

Cassius sensed Alger's thoughts but simply said:

"Get used to this body. I need you to—train a new army for me."

The panel's information refreshed again.

[Faction Advanced Sub-occupation constructed successfully.]

[Occupation advancement requirements:]

[Join the Ashen Nest faction.]

[Become a retainer of the faction leader, the Red Dragon, Cassius.]

[Possess a Basic Warrior occupation level of at least level 3, with +4 proficiency in riding skill.]

[Own a large or larger Dragon Vein creature as a mount and possess some degree of dragonkin bloodline.]

[Please name your faction subclass—]

Cassius gazed at the kneeling Alger, whose face was covered in crimson scales, appearing particularly sinister.

[Name it: Red Scale Conqueror]