Chapter 623: Chapter 623: The Descending Firmament
Chapter 623: The Descending Firmament
Cassius spread his wings, vast enough to blot out the sky, and looked down on all living beings below with his pale golden eyes.
Countless gazes—some reverent, some fearful—rose up to the towering dragon.
"Ammanata above..."
"O gods—"
"It’s His Majesty Cassius, it’s His Majesty Cassius! The war is about to end!"
After a brief silence, accompanied by a buzz of anxious voices, everyone gradually saw the true form of the Ember Emperor.
The fifty-meter-long red dragon, backlit by the sun, its massive form outlined in golden sunlight, the edges of its silhouette looking gilded.
The red dragon slowly flapped its wings, and with each beat, dragonfire poured out, waves of heat flooding the sky, painting half the heavens orange-red.
Most striking was the dragon crystal at its chest, blazing with dazzling light like a second sun, even outshining the real sun in the distance.
Ironically, in appearance, the Ember Emperor seemed even more worthy of being called an avatar of the Sun God than the angel-blooded of North Aether.
"Eternal Lord of Radiance, God of Blazing Gold, revered God of Law and Sun, please bless me to defeat my enemies..."
When he saw the Ember Emperor’s true form, Duke Walter’s heart sank completely. He let go of any lingering hope and prayed in silence.
Though not as exaggerated as earlier illusions, this red dragon was truly fifty meters long—no trickery at all.
A fifty-meter dragon—what did that even mean?
Even the ancient gold dragon he’d visited in Mercuria—the famous Gilded Sage, Crassus of the Gold Dragon Council, Clasu—was only a little over thirty meters. Compared to this red dragon, he looked small.
On the material plane, ancient dragons were already incredibly rare, sleeping for centuries and rarely seen. This monster was already far beyond even an ancient dragon.
This time, the enemy he was facing might be the most powerful dragon to appear on the continent of Feianso since the Third Age.
Walter looked up at the sky and exhaled deeply, his eyes shining with steely determination—he was ready to die.
"This, this..."
Staring at the distant red dragon, the archmage Zaran sucked in a sharp breath, then suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Just now, he’d instinctively used True Sight, only to be hit by an unimaginable shock. It was as if a phantom dragon had lunged at him, tearing his mind to shreds with fangs and claws.
"Mystra above! That red dragon is a spellcaster beyond legendary—he’s touched the source itself!"
Zaran screamed in his heart, then wiped the blood from his mouth with a trembling hand.
His legs shook so hard he could barely stand, feeling utterly helpless—this red dragon’s real strength far surpassed anything the City of Ten Thousand Spells had reported.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Cassius beat his wings and flew forward in a wave of burning wind, draconic might flooding the whole battlefield.
Right now, the red dragon was a walking cataclysm.
Under this apocalyptic pressure, the already battered coalition soldiers finally broke, dropping their weapons with a clatter.
"What the hell is that thing?!"
"Gods, that’s not something we can beat! Devils, explosions, dragons—people dying for no reason, fuck, I’ve had enough, I’m getting out of here!"
Coalition soldiers either fled for Collins City in a panic, collapsed to their knees, or even fainted on the spot—treating this brutal war as a nightmare.
And up in the sky, Cassius finally opened his jaws, his heavy voice booming out: "Ignorant humans, the outcome is obvious—coalition defeat is inevitable. Will you not give up this pointless resistance?
Are you really going to throw your lives away for a dead empire, for the selfish desires of a few angel-blooded nobles?
Face reality—Holy Fadlan is long dead, North Aether is finished. Surrender to the Ember Empire—it’s your only choice!"
His thunderous voice rolled across the ravaged battlefield, shaking every coalition soldier to their core.
Yeah, were they really supposed to die for some imaginary ’Fadlan’?
"Enough! Don’t listen to his lies—"
Suddenly, a booming, commanding voice sounded from the clouds above the coalition, as if handing down an unquestionable order.
[Sanctuary]
Instantly, holy choir music filled the air, miracles of light rained down on every coalition soldier, calming their hearts and restoring their minds.
This was the power of the Silver Heaven’s master—a single word could rally thousands.
In the distance, white clouds gathered to form a corridor in the sky. Surrounded by celestial elites clad in gleaming armor, weapons flashing, the Lord of Messengers, Balachiel, stepped forth.
The giant white-feathered wings on his shoulders slowly beat, the longsword in his hand crackling with lightning, pointing straight at the red dragon in the distance.
Balachiel said coldly, "Cassius, I’ve heard of you. You led your empire to repel the demons’ invasion and even killed an abyssal lord. That is truly impressive.
I once thought you might walk the right path, become a friend to Mount Celestia, but—turns out, you couldn’t overcome the chaos and evil of the red dragon, and chose to oppose order and justice."
"Chaos and evil?" Cassius sneered, then roared, "Messenger of Celestia, I’m a hero against the abyss, a protector of the multiverse! Who the hell are you to judge me?!"
Duke Walter finally lost it. He raised his sword and shouted in sorrow and rage, "Isn’t your invasion enough?!"
"ROAR—"
The ancient gold dragon Titus stepped up, beating his golden wings, and let out an angry roar at just the right moment: "Abomination, spawn of Tiamat’s blood! Wipe that evil grin off your face!"
But Cassius just smirked, speaking righteously: "A hundred years ago, Holy Fadlan conquered North Aether by force, bringing a century of peace and safety.
Now, Fadlan is dead. The current rulers can’t protect North Aether, so the stronger Ember Empire has the responsibility—and the right—to protect it!
Everything I’ve done is to establish a new order. My heart and deeds are as clear as a mirror—everything I do is justice!"
Cassius’s words rang out across the battlefield, leaving coalition soldiers, angel-blooded nobles, and even celestials stunned—some even wondered if he was right.
Duke Walter could only curse in his heart.
How could that red dragon be so shameless?!
He’d twisted his invasion into so-called "protection," and made it sound like the Ember Empire’s duty!
But while he kept running his mouth, Cassius narrowed his eyes, watching his two opponents—especially the Silver Heaven’s master, whose hovering draconic eye flickered.
[Fadlan’s Wing—Walter Graham (Challenge Level: 24)]
As the former ’Wing of Fadlan’, the noble Duke of Celestial Wings, Walter was no doubt a legendary powerhouse, on par with ancient dragons.
But to Cassius now, Walter was just an extra, and Titus was his own plant.
The only real threat was "Messenger" Balachiel.
But even among allies, Balachiel rarely showed his face—mysterious and unpredictable. Even Cassius’s gold dragon avatar could barely figure him out.
At this moment, Cassius finally saw through his strength.
[Messenger—Balachiel (Challenge Level: 30)]
"Now that’s... a worthy opponent."
Cassius couldn’t help but lick his lips, his golden slit pupils flashing with a strange light—the red dragon’s natural craving for a good fight.
After defeating Jezal Slak, Cassius hadn’t met a real challenge in ages—almost no one in the material world could stand against him.
But Balachiel was clearly an exception.
"Everyone, let’s go!"
Duke Walter raised his sword, snarling the order.
Titus threw back his head and roared, "Yeah, let’s go—make that evil dragon pay!"
The soldiers of both Ember Empire and coalition blew their horns, and the battle erupted again.
Cannons thundered, engines roared, battle cries echoed on and on—the once-quiet battlefield was chaos once more.
At the top of the battlefield, Cassius, Balachiel, Walter, and Titus faced off across hundreds of meters, the clashing auras making the very air scream.
That overwhelming holy light of justice stretched for thousands of meters, clashing with the red dragon’s terror and might.
It looked like a 1-vs-3, but really it was the Ember Emperor against the Lord of Lucia—Titus was a traitor, and Walter wasn’t much use.
Truth was, the proud and mighty Silver Heaven’s master thought the same.
With their minds utterly focused, Cassius and Balachiel saw only each other—pale golden slitted eyes against dark violet ones, like drawn swords.
"No wonder you’re the Silver Heaven’s master. You’re... something else," Cassius muttered.
In Cassius’s eyes, Balachiel’s whole body shone with the light of order.
That lightning-sparking sword, that star-studded robe, that silver horn at his belt—each was an avatar of the heavens, with the power of near-divinity.
The Celestial Seven had given Balachiel dominion over one layer of heaven. Even with the material world’s suppression, he could still tap some of heaven’s might.
Mount Celestia stood for order and justice—defying its essence was never easy.
But to a red dragon, those powers of law were just another delicious meal.
The thought made Cassius’s eyes gleam with hunger—he was already itching for a fight.
Over the coalition lines, Balachiel’s silver skin shone, his dark violet eyes sparkling with starlight, as he gazed coldly at the red dragon.
That was truly a powerful red dragon, shrouded in spell auras—among Bahamut’s own chosen, he would be a cut above.
And to wield such power in the material world, and still not be banished—almost unthinkable.
That’s what Balachiel thought.
But now that he’d probed his foe’s strength, his fighting spirit only grew. A dragon like that could never be allowed to run free!
But as the Silver Heaven’s master felt the material world’s suppression, he still couldn’t fully unleash his heavenly might.
High in the sky, Cassius let out a low laugh, mocking, "Three on one—so this is what you ’champions of justice’ do?"
Walter leaped forward, shouting, "Because champions of justice never stand alone!"
Titus flapped his wings and snapped, "No one cares about fair play when dealing with scum like you!"
Seeming to sense Cassius’s mocking look, Balachiel stepped forward and said gravely, "In the name of Mount Celestia, if I can’t lead you back to the right path, I will end you myself.
By this—let the world know the importance of justice and order, and that the eternal axiom still remains!"
For the first time, real anger flared in his dark violet eyes. He lifted the silver horn at his waist to his lips and blew.
"Hoooo—"
The long note rang out, and the angels began to sing. Inescapable order filled the sky, gradually coalescing and actually suppressing Cassius’s draconic might for a moment.
Instantly, the sky darkened as if night had fallen, blotting out the sun—only Cassius remained bathed in dragonfire.
At once, everyone looked up in shock.
In the eternal night, it wasn’t darkness, but a pleasant summer night—stars and silver moonlight filled the sky, and angels danced overhead.
In the distance rose the holy mountain, silver fortresses, and bays full of holy water.
"This is..."
Walter stared in amazement. He knew this place—this was Lucia’s beauty!
[Heavenly Vision]
At the call of Balachiel’s silver horn, the first layer of Mount Celestia—Silver Heaven Lucia—had descended onto the material plane!
Balachiel hooked the silver horn at his belt, gripped his lightning sword, and looked ahead indifferently, saying, "Cassius, I gave you a chance to repent. Now—you have no hope left."
Cassius showed no fear, just looked around at the breathtaking scene, feeling the force of heaven pressing down.
"So this is Mount Celestia... damn, what a sight..."
He grinned wide, baring all his sharp teeth, a savage smile spreading across his draconic face. Cassius roared, "Almost a shame—tearing it all to pieces!"
