Chapter 121: Advancement and Terrifying Illusion
After fully adjusting, feeling the more surging power within his body, Cassius looked at the panel again, where countless notifications of earned experience points filled the screen.
[You killed [White Lion Knight - Tarik], gaining 2100xp]
[You killed [Northwind Eagle Guard Captain - Narilan], gaining 1800xp]
[You killed [Northwind Eagle Guard Captain - Atra], gaining 1800xp]
[You killed [Silver Hand - Ter], gaining 1200xp]
[You killed [Count Robert], gaining 1200xp]
…
[You killed [Supply Soldier], gaining 0.5xp]
[You killed [Supply Soldier], gaining 0.5xp]
[You killed [Peasant Auxiliary], gaining 0.25xp]
…
A total of over ten thousand lines of data refreshed.
At the forefront were the high-ranking generals in the allied forces, paladins, spellcasters, followed by various elite soldiers, and finally countless ordinary soldiers and laborers.
Due to Cassius's high life level, the experience provided by those too weak was negligible, but little by little, it accumulated to something significant.
"Whoa—so much?"
Cassius was somewhat surprised.
The amount of data in front of him far exceeded his expectations.
In the final panel statistics, Cassius gained over 63,000 experience. Even though the red dragon template made leveling up extremely difficult, this massive amount of experience was enough to let him level up four times in one go.
However, Cassius did not intend to do so.
Rashly accepting uncontrollable power is very risky.
Even the spellcasting abilities he mastered after his previous sleep, he had just barely digested and achieved basic control over.
[Select to increase [True Dragon Sorcerer] level]
[Your [True Dragon Sorcerer] level has increased to 8]
[You gained the additional dragon trait: [Hard Landing]]
[Hard Landing]
Prerequisites: Hover, Flip
If an injury or spell attack renders it unable to fly, an experienced dragon can take an emergency method to maintain its dignity. Dragons with this feat can always find the best way to minimize damage in any fall.
Cassius nodded slightly; at least this trait could be of some use in combat.
[You gained a special attribute point and can increase one of your own attributes by 1 (including beyond 20)]
[Choose to increase Charisma to 25]
A familiar feeling once again enveloped his body, soul, and spirit.
His influence on reality deepened further, making him feel like a master of the world, able to manipulate the Weave with a mere gesture.
It is said that when attributes like Charisma and Intelligence reach thirty, one can access the Source Sea through sheer will, reaching a new spellcasting realm far beyond mortal abilities, though no player had ever reached it in his previous life.
Cassius took a deep breath, sensing his connection to the world, while secretly praying for a useful spell.
Yet, he did not call upon any deity.
[Gained 5th-level dragon spell [Dragon's Vitality]]
[Dragon's Vitality]
5th-level Conjuration Spell
A golden ray shoots up from the ground beneath you, bathing you in a pillar of healing light with swirling yellow particles. This spell transforms arcane energy into pure dragon vitality, guiding it to repair the damage to your body.
Cassius immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
He had acquired a highly functional healing spell, which could indeed save his life when facing powerful enemies.
But the spell that followed made his face turn serious.
[Gained 6th-level dragon spell [Tiamat's Terrifying Illusion]]
[Tiamat's Terrifying Illusion]
6th-level Illusion Spell
The target creature sees an illusion of Tiamat, the Dragon Queen. Unless its will is extraordinarily strong, it will believe the illusion is real and that it is about to become her target in a barrage of multiple breath attacks.
Creatures believing this illusion will see fire, ice, acid, lightning, and poison flowing from "Tiamat's" mouth towards them. Only those with sufficiently strong mental resilience can withstand the sight without dying from fear. The illusion is so terrifying that even those with strong wills will suffer severe mental blows.
"Tiamat's Illusion..."
"Is this a coincidence? Or did the Five-colored Dragon Queen do this deliberately?"
Cassius pondered, his expression gradually freezing.
Although the Anzeta Wasteland is just a remote corner of Erezaghe, insignificant in the Prime Material Plane.
But as a red dragon rumored to be favored by the Dragon Queen, Cassius's performance may indeed have attracted the attention of that evil Dragon Queen. After all, the terrifying illusion had appeared in his mind shortly after he entered Erezaghe.
Now he commanded the Storm Highlands, and he was even about to take over the entire Lackman Duchy, barely meeting the threshold to be a lackey of the Dragon Queen.
"This spell is certainly powerful."
"But unless absolutely necessary, it's best not to use it recklessly."
He didn't believe that the true god depicted in the illusion wouldn't notice when he summoned it; this was simply nonsense.
Cassius didn't want to encounter the Dragon Queen prematurely while he was still relatively weak; that would only make him a complete pawn.
"Tiamat."
"Rather than a pawn, I'd rather be the rebellious 'son' that replaces her."
Cassius thought silently.
Of course, such blasphemous thoughts were best kept to himself; he would never speak them aloud.
The casting method of "Tiamat's Terrifying Illusion" appeared in Cassius's mind, with the menacing images of the Five-colored Dragon Queen seeming to watch everything, making him feel somewhat uneasy. Cassius tried to build a fortress within his memory, sealing it away for now, refraining from using it.
If he could refuse, he would even rather give up this 6th-level spell.
Even after sealing it, Cassius still felt somewhat unsettled, unable to rest peacefully.
"Langpu."
The red dragon called out to the magic mirror in the cave.
At his call, Langpu's ugly face appeared on the mirror, his expression humble and respectful.
After that dreadful disaster, he had gained a more direct understanding of the red dragon's power, and his reverence had deepened.
"Great Master, do you have any orders?"
Cassius commanded, "Find a vacant cave within the Storm Highlands and place a shrine to Her Majesty Tiamat inside. Have people regularly send a few gold coins as a gesture of respect."
He paused for a moment before adding a reminder:
"Additionally, make sure this place is far from Dragon Valley."
Langpu accepted the command with pleasure and replied respectfully, "Yes, Master."
The dragonborn ogre mage cut off the magical image and couldn't help but marvel, "The Master is truly generous and devout, offering precious gold coins to Her Majesty the Dragon Queen; no wonder he possesses such mighty power."
However, Cassius, considering the typical greed of dragons, planned to switch the gold coins to less noticeable copper coins later on—which had nothing to do with stinginess.