[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-436":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},1161971,1504,"Chapter 436: Absolute Disloyalty","ember-dragon-chapter-436",436,"\u003Cp>Chapter 436: Absolute Disloyalty\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the equipment and treasures scattered at the scene, the players’ discussions grew increasingly heated, eventually devolving into arguments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we take just one item back, we’ll be rich!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at that—the Fire Lizard Claw Sword! That’s rare-tier gear!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m telling you, these items might be rewards prepared by the Tower Master!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This trial was so hard, and so many people died—it’s only fair they give us more rewards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But why do these things look like offerings or sacrificial items?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you know? This is what we call hidden benefits! The devs make it fit the game lore while giving us actual rewards disguised as offerings.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you don’t understand...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway, this Fire Genie Ring belongs to our [Royal Authority] guild! The first rare-tier item should only go to the strongest guild!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why does it always have to be Royal Authority?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because we had three people pass the trial! If you’re not happy, come fight us for it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From what I know, your Paladins are pretty strong, but your spellcasters aren’t anything special!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then come and see for yourself!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The players’ argument intensified, with some driven by greed, ready to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the players from [Royal Authority] were the most fervent. If they brought back top-tier gear, they could earn actual money!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guild’s wealthy leader, \"Overlord,\" had promised to reward anyone who secured the game’s first rare-tier item with tens of thousands of real money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the face of such profit, other tasks, reputation, and rules were all secondary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warlock from [Royal Authority] grabbed the [Fire Genie Noble’s Ring], clutching it tightly and stuffing a handful of gold coins into their bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You better think twice!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyone who tries to take our gear is declaring war on Royal Authority!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two other [Royal Authority] players stood guard, confronting several other players vying for the loot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what if you’re a big guild?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Royal Authority bullies everyone! This gear should belong to all of us!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere at the tower’s summit became increasingly tense, like a powder keg ready to ignite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fight over the game’s first rare-tier item was moments away from breaking out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Summer Night Autumn Rain quietly distanced herself from the quarrel, retreating to a corner of the tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So this is the final trial—a test of human greed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With that person’s personality, those blinded by immediate rewards are bound to meet a bad end.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, Royal Authority...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summer Night Autumn Rain chuckled softly, feeling smug at the thought of Royal Authority facing trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a guild with real-world corporate backing, Royal Authority had engaged in many monopolistic practices, creating hurdles for independent players like her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She watched the chaotic crowd, her golden eyes glimmering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the greedy players, there were still a few who remained rational.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the Mechanist Cult’s player [Art Is Explosion], the Magic Coin warlock [Bright Moon], and the independent warlock [Loves Eating Missiles].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there was the notorious player from [Dragon Enthusiasts], [Dragon-Lover Like the Wind], who stood before the dragon statue with an obsessive expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Summer Night Autumn Rain knew those people were all perverts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guild leader of [Dragon Enthusiasts], [Saphis], was infamous for posting disturbing dragon-themed images on the forums, earning the nickname \"Dragon Maniac.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summer Night Autumn Rain furrowed her brows, sensing that something was still missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Something’s not right...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The final trial won’t be as simple as resisting temptation. That would only eliminate fools like Royal Authority’s members.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She recalled the recruitment notice from Isthalia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Dragon Pact Sorcerers sign contracts with red dragons. They wield mysterious and powerful draconic magic and serve the sole ruler of the empire, the supreme Ember Emperor, Cassius.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Loyalty... absolute loyalty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summer Night Autumn Rain’s eyes lit up as she realized the key to the trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loyalty was the key!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Dragon Pact Sorcerer must be absolutely loyal to the emperor, serving him as if he were a god—this was the true final trial!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this realization, Summer Night Autumn Rain tidied her attire and hurried to the humanoid statue of Cassius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knelt before the statue, clasping her hands as if in prayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Cassius is too handsome!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can an in-game NPC perfectly match my ideal aesthetic?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although her posture seemed devout, her thoughts were borderline blasphemous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I get it now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Art Is Explosion] noticed Summer Night Autumn Rain’s puzzling behavior and, after thinking for a moment, followed her lead and began praying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several other warlocks glanced between the praying women and the fanatical [Dragon-Lover Like the Wind], their expressions perplexed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch, Cassius sure has a lot of female fans! I heard he even has a fan club in real life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And male fans too, apparently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That Dragon Enthusiast guild is full of perverts, always posting weird images on the forums.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have to admit, Cassius’s model is top-tier!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, best-looking character I’ve seen. Too bad he doesn’t show up often.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much do you think that statue would sell for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the players’ heads, the \"Daughter of Dragonfire\" Misha hovered midair, flames dancing around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her golden eyes burned brightly, but her gaze was cold and filled with killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to peer through the thick stone walls, observing the events inside the Tower of Blighted Flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These insolent fools...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How dare they touch the offerings I prepared for Lord Cassius? They’re courting death!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha clenched her delicate hand, flames erupting from her palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her mind, the players fighting over the gear were already sentenced to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They disrespect the emperor and are unworthy of becoming noble Dragon Pact Sorcerers—unworthy of living in the Ember Empire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was her conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze softened slightly when she looked at the humanoid statue of Cassius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before it, two women with dragon lineage knelt in prayer, just as she often did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They, too, had the golden eyes symbolizing a dragon’s bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sight made Misha feel a sense of kinship and view them as equals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Misha acted mature and decisive in her quest for revenge and loyalty to the emperor, she was still a teenage girl at heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep down, she yearned for companions she could get along with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Praying to the emperor amidst chaos proves they are worthy of becoming Dragon Pact Sorcerers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze shifted to the dragon statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, a man stood, not praying but exuding an intense, devout aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That expression... he looks like a zealot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha thought to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbeknownst to her, the \"zealot\" had thoughts far more blasphemous, enough to warrant a fiery execution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze wasn’t just devout; it was obsessive, as if he might start drooling\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that gaze, rather than being reverent, was more like an obsession—he was practically drooling!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha blinked softly, whispering, \"He also qualifies to become a Dragon Pact Sorcerer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These three Starfallers have passed the trial and proven their loyalty to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They all have what it takes to serve His Majesty as his agents—Dragon Pact Sorcerers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, Misha looked once more toward the tower’s peak, her brows slightly furrowed and hesitation flashing through her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because there was another group of Starfallers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had passed the trial, didn’t show greed for the sacrificial offerings, but neither did they demonstrate any loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief moment of contemplation, Misha finally made up her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a cold snort, the flames flickering within her beautiful golden pupils rippling like waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her silver teeth clenched, she softly uttered, \"Teacher Langpu once taught me—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Loyalty that is not absolute equals absolute disloyalty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1266,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","a9137583776e466627c12273248d5cc9be5007684d660242782566371230bf06","ember-dragon-chapter-437","ember-dragon-chapter-319",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]