Chapter 439: The Pact of Cassius
The interface of Summer Night Autumn Rain lit up instantly, and lines of brand-new quest information appeared before her eyes.
[Complete the Class Advancement Quest—[Trial of the Tower of Blighted Flame]]
[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.]
[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.]
[Quest Reward: 3600xp]
[Faction Sub-Class Advancement Item: [The Pact of Cassius]]
"This is the pact bestowed upon me by His Majesty Cassius—only thirteen exist in total."
"And you are fortunate to receive three of them—though this is well deserved."
"His Majesty Cassius once said that anyone loyal to him and the empire is worthy of basking in his glory."
Only thirteen!
Everyone's breathing grew heavier.
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.
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.
But according to this mysterious NPC's claim…
There were only thirteen spots for Dragon Pact Sorcerers! This was absolutely invaluable!
The rarity made it precious beyond words, promising higher status within the player community.
Misha waved her hand gently, and scrolls materialized before the three players.
"Take care of these. They are your proof as Dragon Pact Sorcerers."
With those words, Misha closed her eyes, seemingly engaging in some kind of mental communication.
The three players focused their attention on the scrolls.
The scrolls were crafted from sturdy beast hide, with intricate and exquisite patterns that glowed faintly with firelight, emanating powerful magical energy.
Upon closer inspection, the patterns exuded draconic might, as if a colossal, majestic dragon with golden eyes was gazing at them through the void.
[The Pact of Cassius]
Quality: Rare
Type: Special Quest Item
Item Description: The "Ember Emperor" Cassius grows ever stronger, and his former vassals are no longer enough to satisfy his burgeoning ambitions.
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.
"A pact? No, this is grace!—The Ember Emperor, Cassius"
"Compared to this, what's a mere purple-tier ring? That Royal Authority guy is so short-sighted."
Looking at the information on her interface, Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn't help but think so.
The other two players also looked delighted.
"Art Is Explosion," a Sorcerer player nurtured by the prestigious guild [Cult of the Machine God], naturally recognized the scroll's immense value.
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.
At this moment, his excitement was palpable—mostly due to the chance to meet Cassius, the dragon himself.
"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].
"Lord Cassius, hehe…"
"Tail…"
Dragon-Loving Wind chuckled foolishly.
Summer Night Autumn Rain and Art Is Explosion felt a chill, instinctively stepping away from him.
"Alright."
Misha opened her eyes and smiled. "His Majesty has agreed to your request. I will accompany you to Isthalia to meet His Majesty Cassius."
She seemed genuinely happy.
In Misha's heart, Cassius was not only her revered lord but also a mentor figure.
"His Majesty is in Isthalia?"
Summer Night Autumn Rain was surprised.
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.
But she had never glimpsed the Emperor's majestic figure there. Logically, a thirty-meter-long Red Dragon should be quite conspicuous.
"Within the empire, His Majesty Cassius is everywhere—whenever he wishes to be."
Misha spoke calmly.
She extended her delicate hand once more, her hair flying backward as flames encircled her.
"Boom—"
With an intense burst of firelight, a massive spatial rift appeared before them, resembling the gaping maw of a menacing dragon.
[Flame Dimensional Gate]
This was one of Cassius's unique creations.
A special spell combining evocation and conjuration.
Now, as a Dragon Pact Sorcerer bound to Cassius, Misha had naturally inherited this power—and wielded it with proficiency.
Suppressing her excitement, she hurriedly adjusted her attire and instructed, "Follow me."
"Amazing."
The players exclaimed.
The three trial-completing players followed Misha into the flame-encased spatial rift, traversing thousands of miles—to the "Eternal City" of Isthalia.
Passing through the deep temporal passageway, another flame-wreathed rift appeared before them.
The scene before them brightened.
"Whoa—"
"What a beautiful place."
"Isthalia has such spots? I thought it was all factories."
The players gasped in amazement.
The sight before them was nothing short of miraculous.
Layered terraced gardens brimming with exotic flowers and clear streams cascading downward.
Marble pillars stood in neat rows, while a grand altar loomed majestically in the distance.
The familiar altar and beautiful gardens were elevated high above the ground, surrounded by a cerulean sky—like the mythical "Hanging Gardens."
From this vantage point, the entirety of Isthalia stretched below them.
Interwoven roads, speeding steam trains, bustling pedestrians, and imperial guards patrolling the streets.
On the city's edge, factories belched thick black smoke, while sporadic explosions echoed from distant shooting ranges.
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.
Gazing at the magnificent scene, Summer Night Autumn Rain couldn't help but sigh:
"Truly spectacular."
"So, this is it… the Grand Altar of Isthalia."
Though she had often looked up at this towering altar while living in the city, she never imagined one day she would ascend it.
The other two players were equally captivated by the stunning scenery. Dragon-Loving Wind had even taken screenshots to post on the forums.