[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-286":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1161902,1504,"Chapter 286: Strategy","ember-dragon-chapter-286",286,"\u003Cp>Chapter 286: Strategy\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Cassius was watching the video on the forums, sulfurous smoke curling from his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, all of it is footage from reality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It showcases key events that have influenced the situation in Anzeta.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius suddenly felt as though an unseen pair of eyes were watching and silently recording everything. Even with his near-peerless power, he couldn’t glimpse the existence behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued browsing the forums until he came across a new post from Singo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Launch Strategy: Erezaghe Beginner’s Guide\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are currently twelve available starting locations across Anzeta, including Strav Fort, Waltz City, and Arlanburg. However, I only recommend one and a half locations—Northwind Fortress as the one, and Baator City barely making up the half. Also, there’s only one faction worth choosing—the Ember Kingdom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In terms of class selection, the Ember Kingdom boasts overpowered classes like the Crimson Scale Conqueror and Dragon-Oath Paladin, which give players a head start over other classes. The sub-classes in other northern factions are lackluster, with only the Bosque Principality’s Lionheart Paladin offering some strength—but that’s a noble’s private army with extremely harsh advancement requirements, and its power can’t compare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Faction-wise, there’s no contest. The entire beta version revolved around the Ember Kingdom’s history. Nearly all the main storylines are tied to the kingdom. It features crushingly advanced technology and a top-tier faction leader in [Ember King - Cassius].\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Put it this way, even if you lose on the battlefield, you still get to watch a cutscene of the Red Dragon annihilating the opposition. I even suspect the developers are pushing this as the ’main protagonist faction.’\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For players who want rapid progression, start in Northwind Fortress—there are countless opportunities there. Whether you work in the factories to earn money or take a job at an agency, you can quickly accumulate startup capital. For adventurers who want to level up early, I recommend starting in Baator City. The hostile monsters in Storm Highlands offer plenty of experience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantou also posted his \"strategy guide.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But rather than a guide, it came across as a smug brag, dripping with Versailles-style humility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Crimson Scale Conqueror isn’t all that strong; it’s just nice to ride a wyvern and take in the sights.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? You mean the Sheriff perks? Just a few hundred faction points daily. Nothing much—barely enough for a Dragonblood Elixir or something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition to strategy posts, there were also lore analysis posts. At least half of them mentioned the \"Ember King,\" speculating that he was either the final boss or a developer-chosen protagonist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius browsed these posts, nodding slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. The expected results have been achieved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, it all depends on the public launch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For nearly a decade, Cassius had worked toward this moment. From subduing the tieflings to seizing Northwind Fortress and establishing the Ember Kingdom, his aim was to dominate the beta version’s main storyline [The Cleansing of Northwind Fortress]. This would cement his faction as the players’ primary choice, preparing to welcome even greater power in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Players weren’t just \"undead\" in their thousands; they represented a talent pool and technological system from another world. By the mid-to-late game, even real-world nations would have their forces involved, becoming the shadow backers of major guilds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, [Machine God Cult] later incorporated top scientists from various countries. They built massive floating fortresses, and their guild leader, [Iron Frenzy], was effectively reduced to a figurehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Cassius had achieved his goal. He had even compelled the mysterious \"system\" to set him as a central figure in the game’s lore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s time to make preparations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, Cassius activated a magical mirror to summon Langpu in Northwind Fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ogre mage’s ugly face appeared in the reflection once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, what are your orders?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Starfallers are arriving soon. Instruct all departments to make the necessary preparations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu agreed without hesitation, then hesitated briefly before adding, \"Master, the item you requested now has a preliminary design.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Designing this magical equipment had strained Langpu’s intellect. Supervised directly by Cassius, any errors would carry unimaginable consequences. The design had gone through more than thirty iterations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, the equipment’s details were classified as state secrets, meaning Langpu couldn’t delegate the task to the mages of the Magic Department. He had to complete the design himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final blueprint depicted a luxurious golden crown, perfectly fitted to Cassius’s head. Made of enchanted mithril, it was adorned with numerous priceless gemstones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Crown of the Supreme Dragon]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius glanced at it. Unable to decipher the three pages of intricate magical circuits, he nodded slightly to indicate his approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At least it looks the part.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weeks passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I got in! I secured a beta slot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a room filled with gaming pods, Ji Ming pumped his fists in the air with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having followed Mantou’s videos about \"Erezaghe\", Ji Ming had eagerly waited for a year. With single-minded determination and lightning-fast reflexes honed over thirteen years of singlehood, he snagged a beta slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those fifty thousand slots were gone in an instant, with millions left disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furious fans flooded forums, cursing the developers for not releasing more slots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Ming wasted no time unpacking the rune-engraved, magic-themed \"Erezaghe\" pod and setting it up in his room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snapped a photo to show off on the forums, sparking envy and resentment, before comfortably settling inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having studied Mantou’s videos, Ji Ming knew the game mechanics inside and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Please enter your nickname.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, Ji Ming chose his most frequently used gaming alias: \"Lonely as Snow,\" exuding a masterful vibe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing the game used facial recognition, he avoided reckless behavior—unlike the now-infamous \"Brother Holy Light.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Connecting to neural network...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Scanning your physical data...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Creating your character...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Character creation complete.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Lonely as Snow]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Note: Standard human stats average 10.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strength — 11\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agility — 10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constitution — 11\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intelligence — 10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perception — 10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charisma — 12\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow, nearly a maxed-out human. Way better than that Charisma 9 ogre Mantou,\" Ji Ming thought smugly.\u003C\u002Fp>",1005,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","3041c71c67e806834372af2e26090cf6c80923c66c4298610080c2f3247a7269","ember-dragon-chapter-287","ember-dragon-chapter-285",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]