Chapter 442: Misha's Encounter
As the smoke dissipated, the three players had completed their ascension.
As players with "basic human panels," their transformation was far less dramatic than that of Misha, the "Child of the Elements."
Summer Night Autumn Rain, Art Is Explosion, and Dragon-Loving Wind now sported reddish-brown dragon horns on either side of their foreheads, while the edges of their ears developed ridges, transforming into "pointy ears."
Their eyes became fiery slit pupils, exuding draconic arrogance.
The contracts disintegrated and manifested as magical patterns on their skin, forming crimson-gold tattoos.
"So beautiful!"
"The aesthetic is top-notch!"
The two female players couldn't help but exclaim.
Meanwhile, Dragon-Loving Wind seemed disappointed, muttering to himself in a voice only he could hear:
"Where's my muscular half-dragon form? Why is this such a human-oriented ugly design…"
"My muscular half-dragon dream…"
"Going back to the guild like this, they'll laugh me to death. After all that effort, I didn't even get a dragon head…"
However, Summer Night Autumn Rain quickly regained her composure, maintaining her kneeling posture as she addressed the human-form Emperor:
"Thank you for Your Majesty's great benevolence!"
"We will be your most devout followers and loyal servants!"
"Your power is as deep as the abyss, your figure as grand as the mountains, your wisdom as vast as the stars, your grace as radiant as the sunlight…"
"Indeed."
As a professional player, Summer Night Autumn Rain knew how to maximize benefits, especially now that she was bound to the faction.
Flattering and demonstrating loyalty was always a safe bet.
The other two players hurriedly followed suit.
When it came to "loyalty," players from the information age were far superior to the natives.
According to Imperial statistics, players already made up 80% of the Propaganda Department. Their performance outshone the natives, pushing those with less imagination and thinner skin out of the competition.
Cassius nodded slightly.
"I hope you will not disappoint me or waste this power."
"Return now to the Tower of Blighted Flame and let the Empire's fire burn brighter."
He waved his hand lightly, creating ripples in space to transport the players back to Balas Volcano.
But an urgent voice called out.
"Your Majesty! Please wait—"
Dragon-Loving Wind cautiously raised his head, smiling ingratiatingly.
"Um… the great Emperor Cassius, before we leave, could we gaze upon your majestic form?"
"It would be the greatest honor of my life, my lifelong dream—"
By the end, he was even on the verge of tears, his sincerity palpable.
"Touching the tail would be even better," Dragon-Loving Wind thought to himself, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
However, Cassius remained expressionless. With a wave of his hand, golden-red flames enveloped the players, tearing open space and transporting them all to Balas Volcano.
"Swoosh—"
As they vanished, Dragon-Loving Wind's hand stretched from the spatial rift, his voice filled with sorrow:
"Your Majesty! Just one look—just one look!"
Noticing Cassius's odd expression, Misha quickly stepped forward to console him:
"Please, Your Majesty, don't be angry."
"He's likely just overly devout and momentarily lost his reason."
"I know."
Cassius replied curtly.
But upon closer inspection, one might notice his lips twitching slightly, betraying a hint of exasperation.
Devout?
Yeah, right!
As if Cassius hadn't seen the forums and didn't know what those [Dragon Enthusiast Guild] members were up to.
He was sure that if he transformed into his true form, that guy would risk life and limb to touch his tail.
No way he'd take that chance.
If such a scenario played out and ended up on the forums, the carefully crafted image of "mysterious and powerful faction leader" Cassius had painstakingly built would crumble instantly.
Once the players had left, Cassius's body shimmered with faint magical light as he expanded—finally returning to his immense and majestic Red Dragon form.
In human form, Cassius found it challenging to suppress his overwhelming aura; in his true form, it was utterly impossible.
"Being human is so confining. This draconic form is much better."
He stretched his colossal body and unfurled his broad wings, feeling immensely relieved.
Cassius had lived in the world of Erezaghe as a Red Dragon for over a decade. He was long accustomed to this form, finding the human shape alien and restrictive.
"Your Majesty…"
Misha gazed reverently at the Red Dragon coiled atop the altar.
Cassius thought of Misha's training in the Elemental Plane and asked casually:
"Misha, did you meet the Sultan of the Brass City?"
The Brass City was the most renowned region in the Elemental Plane of Fire and a popular destination for travelers from the Prime Material Plane.
The city was teeming with powerful Efreeti, many of whom regarded it as their home and capital. Even distant colonies pledged allegiance to the Grand Sultan who ruled the Brass City from his Burning Palace.
"Apologies, Your Majesty."
Misha shook her head slightly.
After a brief hesitation, she slowly continued:
"Those Efreeti were too arrogant."
"We first stayed in a city controlled by an Efreeti noble, known as a 'Malik,' and asked him for directions to the Brass City."
"But that Efreeti noble disdainfully called me a 'mongrel with human blood.' Worse yet…"
Misha's tone grew more agitated.
Recalling the experience, anger flared in her eyes, and her fiery red hair danced behind her.
"He insulted the great Ember Empire and Your Majesty as well."
"Oh?"
Cassius's expression turned intrigued.
"What did that Efreeti noble say?"
"He said, he said…"
Misha hesitated but finally gritted her teeth and said:
"He said you were a mindless beast, unworthy of comparison to the Efreeti. He even claimed your Empire was on the brink of collapse."
"So, during the banquet, I cut off that insolent Efreeti noble's finger and brought it back for you."
Misha produced a [Ring of the Efreeti Noble] from her pocket and presented it.
The golden ring shimmered with fiery light.
It was undoubtedly a rare piece of equipment.
Cassius accepted it, and Misha continued:
"Afterward, I was hunted by that Efreeti lord. Fleeing east and west, he sent fire dwarves, Efreeti, flame serpents, and even a fire elemental elder after me. But with your power, I defeated them all."
Misha's eyes lowered, her expression somber, as she apologized once more:
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I failed your mission and brought enemies upon the Empire."
"But… any citizen of the Empire would be outraged by such words."
Cassius's expression turned peculiar.
No wonder she grew so powerful so quickly; this was boss-tier behavior.
Storming into someone's banquet, cutting off a host's finger, and annihilating their pursuing forces? What a protagonist-level storyline.
The Red Dragon exhaled sulfur-scented heat, stretching his wings slightly. His pale golden slit pupils glimmered faintly.
"It's been a while since I stretched my legs."
"Haha, time for a visit to the Elemental Plane of Fire."