[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-403":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},1161920,1504,"Chapter 403: The Lich’s Diary (Part 4)","ember-dragon-chapter-403",403,"\u003Cp>Chapter 403: The Lich’s Diary (Part 4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"G-Great Dragon, mighty dragon... we meant no offense to you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, yes! It was the lich—it was all his manipulation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three beholders pleaded in succession, their tentacle-like eyestalks trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beholders looked down on all other beings, even their own kind. Each believed itself to be the pinnacle of its species, while others were nothing but shameful deviations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they valued their own lives immensely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with such an overwhelming power gap, the beholders knew that survival required humility and compromise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The center beholder, covered in lumps, floated forward with a sycophantic grin on its grotesque face. \"Mighty dragon, I am the lowly beholder Augu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your presence is so majestic. A dragon as powerful as you must have an enormous hoard of treasures. I’m willing to serve you unconditionally, guarding your lair and killing anyone who dares covet your wealth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn’t you just say you were going to eat me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius extended his arm, grabbing the beholder in his claw and gently toying with it like a ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spherical body of the beholder trembled violently, but it dared not resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its face was filled with fear as it wailed and pleaded, \"I-I didn’t know! It was the lich! It was all under his orders!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius rubbed his chin with his other claw and said calmly, \"That does sound plausible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, mighty dragon!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s all the lich’s fault! Spare me, and I’ll help you take revenge on him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beholder, dizzy from being spun around, clung desperately to this last shred of hope, speaking in an agitated tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius’s tone suddenly shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re too ugly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dragon clenched its claw tightly, releasing an overwhelming force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flesh exploded, and the beholder’s eye popped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrogant beholder was crushed into a sticky, filthy pile of flesh and gore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Disgusting creature.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius shook off his claw in disdain. Flames ignited on his scales, incinerating the remaining bits of flesh and blood until they were completely clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Augu’s dead just like that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can’t let this happen—I’ll be next!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the remaining beholders let out a shriek, releasing black smoke from its giant, bulging eye and spitting dark green mucus from its mouth as it flew into the smoke, attempting to flee under its cover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think you can escape?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An invisible wave spread out, dispersing the smoke instantly and revealing the fleeing beholder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scorching arrow of flame shot through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aargh~~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beholder wailed as the fire pierced its body, followed by a sudden explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature fell to the ground, its entire body reduced to charred ashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had only taken a minor spell—one of Cassius’s lesser tricks—to easily kill a beholder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius turned his head and locked his golden gaze on the last remaining beholder, smiling as he said, \"Looks like you’re the only one left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beholder trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mighty dragon, I-I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know spells!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And... and I’m not ugly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its voice quivered as it tried to prove its worth. It even cast a polymorph spell to transform itself into a young maiden—although it still had a single large eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius examined the beholder carefully. Indeed, compared to the other two, its skin was smoother, and its eye wasn’t as cloudy. Among beholders, it could be considered... \"attractive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It certainly knew when to adapt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the world of beholders, this one could be considered a talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cassius remained silent for a moment before asking, \"What’s your name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, mighty dragon, my name is Kuz.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite taking the form of a young girl, its voice remained grating and harsh, like metal scraping against metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Change back and follow me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, all three beholders met their demise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These aberrations, prepared by the lich to deal with human adventurers, were no match for the far stronger red dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would’ve thought that the \"intruder\" would be a 40-meter-long red dragon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even a lich could predict such an improbable event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuz reverted to its beholder form, nervously floating behind the red dragon with a subservient demeanor, a stark contrast to its earlier arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It tried to curry favor, saying, \"Master, th-that’s the lich’s phylactery...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Soul-Cry Fortress, the lich stared at the magical image of the phylactery, his withered face filled with despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn those beholders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And him—he’s a dragon! How did a dragon get in here?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could this happen? Centuries of meticulous preparation for my immortality... ruined by a damn dragon!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he recalled that unsettling sensation from earlier and felt a terrifying suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infamous \"Ember Emperor,\" who had unified the Anzeta Wasteland, was also a red dragon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve hidden myself so well. How could he have noticed me? No, this must be a coincidence—it has to be!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich pressed his decayed, fleshless head against the crystal skull, his ghostly flames flickering in and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... it’s impossible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It can’t be him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cracks began to form across the surface of the crystal skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crack... crack!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich instinctively staggered back, gripping his staff tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the rapidly shattering image, the colossal red dragon lifted its head, its deep golden eyes filled with amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest felt an immense pressure surge through time and space, forcing even a proud lich like him into submission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, with a crisp \"shatter,\" the intricate crystal skull broke into countless fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This can’t be!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, no, no...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest stumbled backward, knocking over jars of entrails and flesh. His frail, decaying body collapsed onto the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood and viscera spilled across the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich struggled to stand, using his staff for support as he stumbled around, searching for spell components and preparing for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the bone pen continued scribbling furiously in the diary, this time leaving behind a single, hastily written sentence:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He saw me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",980,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","2a27b6ab9312ca120155147cca6fc373a1d3b59e15d7d9624dc30c4b0e0757d1","ember-dragon-chapter-404","ember-dragon-chapter-402",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]