[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-439":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},1161976,1504,"Chapter 439: The Pact of Cassius","ember-dragon-chapter-439",439,"\u003Cp>Chapter 439: The Pact of Cassius\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interface of Summer Night Autumn Rain lit up instantly, and lines of brand-new quest information appeared before her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Complete the Class Advancement Quest—[Trial of the Tower of Blighted Flame]]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Quest Description: Following the empire’s secret order, you overcame countless hardships and trials, finally reaching the Tower of Blighted Flame atop Mount Balas. There, you proved your loyalty to the Emperor.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Congratulations! You have passed all the trials. You will become the proxy of the Ember Emperor, the pact-bearer of the Red Dragon, and enjoy supreme honor.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Quest Reward: 3600xp]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Faction Sub-Class Advancement Item: [The Pact of Cassius]]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the pact bestowed upon me by His Majesty Cassius—only thirteen exist in total.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you are fortunate to receive three of them—though this is well deserved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His Majesty Cassius once said that anyone loyal to him and the empire is worthy of basking in his glory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only thirteen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s breathing grew heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was well-known that Crimson Scaled Conquerors and Dragon-Oath Paladins, as faction sub-classes of the Ember Empire, had strict advancement conditions but no significant limit on their numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, hundreds of Crimson Scaled Conquerors and Dragon-Oath Paladins existed among the player base, typically top-tier forces in guilds or professional solo players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But according to this mysterious NPC’s claim...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were only thirteen spots for Dragon Pact Sorcerers! This was absolutely invaluable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rarity made it precious beyond words, promising higher status within the player community.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha waved her hand gently, and scrolls materialized before the three players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take care of these. They are your proof as Dragon Pact Sorcerers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, Misha closed her eyes, seemingly engaging in some kind of mental communication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three players focused their attention on the scrolls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scrolls were crafted from sturdy beast hide, with intricate and exquisite patterns that glowed faintly with firelight, emanating powerful magical energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon closer inspection, the patterns exuded draconic might, as if a colossal, majestic dragon with golden eyes was gazing at them through the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The Pact of Cassius]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quality: Rare\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Type: Special Quest Item\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Item Description: The \"Ember Emperor\" Cassius grows ever stronger, and his former vassals are no longer enough to satisfy his burgeoning ambitions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Red Dragon forged his excess power into scrolls, searching within the empire for gifted and loyal individuals to act as his proxies wielding similar power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A pact? No, this is grace!—The Ember Emperor, Cassius\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Compared to this, what’s a mere purple-tier ring? That Royal Authority guy is so short-sighted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the information on her interface, Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn’t help but think so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two players also looked delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Art Is Explosion,\" a Sorcerer player nurtured by the prestigious guild [Cult of the Machine God], naturally recognized the scroll’s immense value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, \"Dragon-Loving Wind,\" although eccentric, was also a top-tier Sorcerer player and the strongest among [Dragon Enthusiast Society]’s hundreds of obsessed members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, his excitement was palpable—mostly due to the chance to meet Cassius, the dragon himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Touching Lord Cassius’s tail,\" an act tantamount to treason and deserving of execution, was a lifelong goal for many members of the [Dragon Enthusiast Society].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Cassius, hehe...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tail...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragon-Loving Wind chuckled foolishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summer Night Autumn Rain and Art Is Explosion felt a chill, instinctively stepping away from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha opened her eyes and smiled. \"His Majesty has agreed to your request. I will accompany you to Isthalia to meet His Majesty Cassius.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed genuinely happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Misha’s heart, Cassius was not only her revered lord but also a mentor figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His Majesty is in Isthalia?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summer Night Autumn Rain was surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Isthalia was currently the most populated and prosperous city for players. She had even rented a house there at great expense to live permanently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she had never glimpsed the Emperor’s majestic figure there. Logically, a thirty-meter-long Red Dragon should be quite conspicuous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Within the empire, His Majesty Cassius is everywhere—whenever he wishes to be.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misha spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She extended her delicate hand once more, her hair flying backward as flames encircled her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an intense burst of firelight, a massive spatial rift appeared before them, resembling the gaping maw of a menacing dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Flame Dimensional Gate]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of Cassius’s unique creations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A special spell combining evocation and conjuration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as a Dragon Pact Sorcerer bound to Cassius, Misha had naturally inherited this power—and wielded it with proficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing her excitement, she hurriedly adjusted her attire and instructed, \"Follow me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Amazing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The players exclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three trial-completing players followed Misha into the flame-encased spatial rift, traversing thousands of miles—to the \"Eternal City\" of Isthalia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing through the deep temporal passageway, another flame-wreathed rift appeared before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene before them brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoa—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a beautiful place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isthalia has such spots? I thought it was all factories.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The players gasped in amazement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight before them was nothing short of miraculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Layered terraced gardens brimming with exotic flowers and clear streams cascading downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marble pillars stood in neat rows, while a grand altar loomed majestically in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar altar and beautiful gardens were elevated high above the ground, surrounded by a cerulean sky—like the mythical \"Hanging Gardens.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this vantage point, the entirety of Isthalia stretched below them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interwoven roads, speeding steam trains, bustling pedestrians, and imperial guards patrolling the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the city’s edge, factories belched thick black smoke, while sporadic explosions echoed from distant shooting ranges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this towering platform nearly a hundred meters high, landmarks such as the Imperial Council Hall, the Grand Arena, and the Ember Armory were clearly visible, even the distant city walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the magnificent scene, Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn’t help but sigh:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Truly spectacular.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, this is it... the Grand Altar of Isthalia.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had often looked up at this towering altar while living in the city, she never imagined one day she would ascend it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two players were equally captivated by the stunning scenery. Dragon-Loving Wind had even taken screenshots to post on the forums.\u003C\u002Fp>",1014,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","f15ef65561319c05791d6c27302897979f4675b0edeacf2b01dbc09d220f3596","ember-dragon-chapter-322","ember-dragon-chapter-321",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]