manynovel Page 208
Page 208
The three-headed ancient chromatic dragon flapped its wings and flew away, disappearing into the horizon.
That farewell on the ruins of the polar bunker heralded the end of the old order.
Watching the three-headed chromatic dragon disappear into the horizon, Tamarand flew to Casalos's side: "Are we just going to let them go like that? Klaus is a voter of Tiamat, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
“No.” Casalos shook his head. “Our goal is to purge the evil dragons of Faerûn, not to wage a risky war of attrition against the three dragon overlords in the North. Klaus is a chosen one of Tiamat, but the Desert Doom and the White Dragon will ignore the Dragon Queen; their presence will only destabilize the Church of Tiamat. Our army has just fought a major battle and needs rest. And…”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the metal dragons present. "Now, we know who one of the enemy's flags belongs to. That's enough."
This brief standoff ended in a way no dragon had anticipated. But Casalos's objective had been achieved. Klaus had successfully positioned himself as Tiamat's representative in Faerûn before all the metal dragons and "forcibly" subdued the two dominant chromatic dragons. This laid a solid foundation for his future seizure of supreme power within the inevitably re-established Church of Tiamat.
With the support of two heavyweight allies, Amuris and Elvia Tullis, it will be difficult for other color dragon lords who have been bribed by Tiamat to challenge his position.
That farewell amidst the ruins of the polar bunker heralded the end of the old order. You sing of yourself, you have plum blossoms, you are in the forest, are you gone...?
One month later, the war entered its second phase: mopping up.
Casaloz issued new orders targeting all confirmed chromatic dragon lairs in the area from Damara to Imbutu that had not participated in the Battle of the Arctic Bunker, and the clearing operation was immediately launched.
The objective is to locate all confirmed chromatic dragon lairs in the area from Damara to Imbutu. This is no longer a test or standoff, but a brutal war.
Led by Tamarand, Hevilan, and Vorasega respectively, the gold, silver, and bronze dragonflights formed three unparalleled aerial strike forces. They reigned supreme over the land as the most powerful dragons.
The golden dragon's breath vaporized the evil dragon's lair along with the mountains; the silver dragon's chill froze the black dragon in the swamp into an eternal sculpture; the bronze dragon's lightning wove a web of death in the sky, from which no flying creature could escape.
The young atheros were responsible for clearing the ground. They fought alongside the paladins of Damara, wiping out the kobold and lizardman tribes that served the chromatic dragons. Battles usually ended in a matter of breaths. The divine blessing of the Platinum Knights elevated these dragons' fighting prowess to a whole new level.
In just two weeks, dozens of chromatic dragon families that had inhabited the region for centuries, stretching from the Ice Belt to the Paravel River, were uprooted. Their lairs were destroyed, their treasuries emptied, and all their wealth was used as the initial capital for the construction of the Temple of Bahamut.
After the war, the site for the temple was chosen on a vast plain at the confluence of the Ice River, the Thorn River, and the Pailowell River in Damara. The terrain was open and the waterways were convenient, making it an ideal location for establishing the holy site.
The construction work was fully undertaken by the Dragon Vein Engineering Team, which Casaloz had transferred from the Deepwater Territory.
At the heart of the temple is not a man-made structure, but a "Gem Tree" bestowed by Bahamut himself. The tree's trunk is made of pure platinum, its branches of mithril, and each leaf a perfectly cut gem. After being planted, it grew at a visible rate, its sacred aura spreading outwards, purifying the land and calming the elements restless from war.
Surrounding the sacred tree, towering "steel dragon pillars" rise from the ground, piercing the clouds. The main structures are cast from refined gold and solid steel, their surfaces covered with a special alloy capable of absorbing and transforming elemental energy. The interiors of these dragon pillars are not traditional multi-story structures, but rather vast, hollow, three-dimensional spaces.
The lowest level connects to the ground, where magnificent halls, prayer rooms, and libraries will be built for believers of flightless humanoid races, such as the humans of Damara and dwarves, to conduct religious activities.
The middle level is connected to the lower level by a huge spiral ramp and elevator platform. It is filled with platforms of all sizes and cave-like dwellings, which were prepared for Bahamut's dragonborn, half-dragons and other humanoid believers with the ability to fly.
The highest level of the Dragon's Nest Pillars surpasses the height of all the surrounding mountains; this is the true space for the dragons. Massive platforms extend from the pillars, connected by chain bridges and wind tunnels, forming a three-dimensional network of dragon nests. Here, each metal dragon will have its own independent habitat.
The construction of the entire holy land was an unprecedented and massive project, but for the Dragon Vein Engineering Team, which possessed advanced elven magical technology and experience in constructing astral mega-cities, everything proceeded in an orderly manner.
All eyes on the continent of Faerûn were focused on this rising holy land. They watched as the power of the chromatic dragons was wiped out with unprecedented efficiency, and as a magnificent complex of buildings, beyond the imagination of mortals, was born on the plains.
They were also discussing and speculating.
Why would such a young Atheros be favored by the Platinum Dragon God and become the commander of this war? Where did his mysterious and powerful army come from? And where will he lead the future of Faerûn?
2. That which the dragon does not know...
The Platinum Knights and their half-dragon allies are wiping out the remnants of the chromatic dragons across the lands of Damara, while the magnificent holy city of "Northwind's Nest" is rising at a visible pace at the confluence of three rivers. All the powers on the continent of Faerûn that are paying attention to this matter are in awe of this war, which was decreed by the gods and executed by the dragons.
Casaloz, the platinum tiara at the heart of this storm, has vanished without a trace.
He did not appear at the construction site in the Holy City to supervise the construction, nor did he personally lead his army to hunt down any of the fleeing evil dragons. In the eyes of the metal dragon leaders, he seemed to have handed everything over to his lieutenants and entered a period of rest similar to the slumber of dragons.
This naturally drew some criticism, but no one dared to openly question it. Casalos's prestige was at its zenith after the Arctic Bunker and the War of the Gods, and Bahamut's oracle was the most solid foundation of his power.
In fact, Casalos was indeed "asleep." He eagerly immersed his consciousness in his spiritual sea, beginning a new round of trials in the Dragon's Treasury. The deal he made with Bahamut had opened the door to a higher level of power, and he needed to immediately verify and transform these new possibilities.
Speculation has never ceased. How could a mere teenager like Athena surpass Bahamut's chosen ones, Tamarand, the crown prince of the Golden Dragon Court, to become the chief priest of the Platinum Dragon God in Faerûn?
Giving away the three largest forces of precious metal dragons on the continent of Faerûn—the Golden Dragon Court, the Claws of Justice, and the Bronze Dragon Knights of Imptu—almost entirely as a package to the newly escaped Bahamut as his followers was undoubtedly a significant achievement, enough to make any god take notice. But this was merely one of the bargaining chips in the deal, the price that was out in the open.
What truly determined his status was the secret agreement that took place in the time rift after Bahamut successfully devoured the Shimo face and broke free from his millennia-old prison.
Rewind to the moment Bahamut escaped from his prison. When the gold and silver dragons offered their faith and acknowledged that Shimo and Bahamut were one, the divine cage that had bound the platinum dragon god for tens of thousands of years crumbled from within. Then, before Bahamut teleported the dragons to the Dragon's Nest and began the divine war, time stood still for one dragon.
Casalos found himself separated from the Allied forces, placed in a pure white space devoid of any dimension. Here, time and space lost their meaning. An indescribable will descended, a will that was majestic, benevolent, and just, yet also carried an almost irrepressible yearning for something.
Nothing mortal can conceal its secrets before the true form of a deity. The gaze of the gods penetrates all lies and pretense, reaching the very essence of the soul. Casalos knew this well. (You chant, I chant, no time, you Lin is here, no one's here...)
The existence of the Dragon's Treasury was like an impenetrable fog, easily deceiving Bahamut's senses and preventing him from discovering Casarosz's true trump card. However, Casarosz's overly calm and almost egalitarian attitude when facing the gods, as well as the primordial power within him that had already been marked by the Miracle Light Kressa and was coveted even by the Dragon God, were all laid bare in Bahamut's eyes.
Just as Kressa had warned him, Bahamut was one of the dragon gods who coveted the primordial power within him.
"The light of miracles warned of our existence." Bahamut's voice resonated directly within Casalos's soul, no longer the grand declaration he made before the dragons, but a more direct and penetrating exchange of will. "Yet you still chose to stand before me, neither fleeing nor offering your allegiance. You are an interesting mortal, Casalos. Tell me, what is your reliance?"
Casalos could sense that the will wasn't scrutinizing his dragon body, but rather piercing through his scales and flesh, reaching straight to the dark core of energy. That yearning, pure and direct, devoid of any evil, was more chilling than the most malevolent curse.
“My reliance comes from you, the great Bahamut.” Casalos’s mind remained absolutely calm under the blessing of the pseudo-Laplace’s demon. “Or rather, it comes from you as you are now.”
"Oh?"
“You devoured Shimo,” Casalos pointed directly to the core, “which means you have inherited everything of Him. Shimo was a divine embodiment born from the ideas of the Ptalian Code, and His essence was ‘Supreme Goodness.’ Now, this ‘Supreme Goodness’ is no longer a quality you can choose, but the indelible cornerstone that constitutes your divine essence. You are imprisoned in goodness, Platinum Dragon God. This goodness is your greatest strength, and also your heaviest shackle.”
A brief silence fell over the pure white space. A hint of surprise flickered in Bahamut's will.
"Your understanding of divinity surpasses that of most mortals, even surpasses that of many immortals." Bahamut's voice rang out again, this time with undisguised desire. "You're right. I am bound by this. So let's speak frankly. I want the primordial power within you. According to my new 'rules,' I cannot take it by force, nor can I deceive you. Therefore, this is a deal. Name your terms, as long as I can fulfill them and it does not violate my very nature."
“Very well.” Casalos wasted no time. “I have three conditions.”
“First, my people, the Aetherian Dragons.” Casalos’s will was as firm as iron. “They were brought to the brink of extinction by the War of the Dragonfall, a war that began with you and Tiamat. In compensation, I need you to make an eternal oath in the name of the gods: as long as your faith continues in Faerûn, the Aetherian Dragons will receive your eternal protection, their bloodline unbroken, their lineage unbroken. This must be part of your divine duty.”
“A reasonable request for the continuation of the bloodline. I grant it.” Bahamut’s will did not waver in the slightest.
“Secondly, my authority,” Casalos continued. “Tamaland is your chosen one, but he represents the will of the Golden Dragons. I need to be your sole representative with supreme authority on the continent of Faerûn. All mortal organizations that believe in you, including the Golden Dragon Royal Court, the Claws of Justice, and all churches and knightly orders to be established in the future, must obey my commands. My orders have the highest priority, second only to your divine pronouncements. During wartime, I need absolute, unhindered command.”
This is an extremely audacious request, almost tantamount to seizing the gods' rule over the mortal realm.
“Your ambition is beyond your years,” Bahamut said, his voice tinged with scrutiny, “but so are your abilities. For the foundation of that power, I grant the same condition. You will be my platinum crown, the extension of my will on earth.”
“Third,” Casalos put forward the last and most crucial condition, “I need knowledge and authority. I need all the knowledge in your divine realm about planes, the nature of gods, and especially about combating the evil forces of the lower planes. At the same time, I need the authority to mobilize a portion of your celestial legions, as well as the right to exchange for the strategic resources I need from your divine realm’s treasury.”
"What you are asking for is almost an authority from God. Your appetite for mortal things is too great."
"What I face is an enemy far beyond mortal imagination. Tiamat is only one of them," Casalos replied. "Without the corresponding knowledge and power, I cannot win this war against the dragons. And you, the great Bahamut, surely do not wish to be defeated in your first encounter with your nemesis after just escaping from prison?"
The pure white space fell silent once more. In the end, Bahamut's will transformed into a long sigh.
"As you wish. The contract is established. Now, fulfill your promise and give me the 'seed' of that power."
Casalos no longer hesitated. His consciousness sank into the Dragon Treasury, where he found the node called "Primal Seed" on the lush tree of primordial power.
He mobilized the power within his body. Three full levels of "Blazing Flame" energy were instantly extracted, a sensation akin to having the most core part stripped away from the depths of his soul, leaving him with a brief period of weakness and emptiness. But this immense energy did not dissipate; instead, under his will, it was highly condensed and compressed.
A seed, seemingly composed of the purest chaos and darkness, slowly took shape before him. It had no luster, yet it seemed capable of devouring all concepts around it. Within it, there appeared to be an infinite cycle of a universe from birth to annihilation.
This is the "original seed".
The moment the seed appeared, the entire pure white space trembled. For the first time, Bahamut's divine, just, and benevolent will fluctuated violently. It was pure, undisguised ecstasy.
Casalos pushes the seed forward.
Bahamut's will immediately enveloped it, and the seed representing infinite possibilities silently merged into His divine essence. Casalos could even "hear" a satisfied sigh emanating from the very source of divinity, as if a traveler who had wandered for billions of years had finally found his home.
Transaction complete.
The pure white space began to dissipate, and Casalos's consciousness was about to return to his dragon body. Just then, a new stream of information surged into his mind from the depths of the Dragon Treasury.
Congratulations! You have bestowed a Primal Seed upon a tiny 'Primal Seed'.
The tiny seeds, united as one, become fertile soil for each other, and have already sprouted tiny shoots. They are poised to become a towering tree providing shelter and support in the future.
Therefore, the gates of the Dragon's Treasury have opened even more doors for you...
The moment his consciousness returned, Casalos found himself still among the metallic dragons, as if only a fleeting instant had passed. Bahamut's divine light was enveloping all the dragons, about to teleport them to the Dragon's Lair.
Nothing has changed, yet everything is completely different.
Casalos obtained the status, power, and promises he desired. These were powerful tools for winning the war and realizing his ultimate plan. But only he knew that the true gains from this deal with the gods were not these external things.
"The Primal Species..." He silently pondered the word; Bahamut clearly fit the definition. Then, what did "becoming one, mutually enriching each other" mean?
He put that question aside for the time being. Now, he needed to explore what exactly the "more" the Dragon's Treasury had opened up for him was.
3. Upper-level compartment
Deep within the Dragon's Treasury, Casaloz's consciousness hovered in that familiar void hall. The final notification after the transaction was completed echoed in its mind: The gates of the Dragon's Treasury have opened even more doors for you…
This is the true reward it seeks by risking a direct confrontation with the gods. Bahamut's promise is a powerful tool, but its own evolution is the only foundation for a traveler to establish itself on this strange continent.
With this expectation, it skillfully focused its consciousness on the location of Archbishop Artanis, who was in charge of the maintenance area. However, the small, desolate floating island in the astral galaxy that it had envisioned did not appear.
The sight before it momentarily lost its senses.
The backdrop remains the vast and boundless astral plane, profound and eternal. But the Milky Way, which was originally the background, has now transformed into a true "silver sea." It is an ocean composed of pure, liquid starlight, gently undulating, with each tide bringing forth the birth and death of billions of stars. In the flickering light and shadow, one can almost see the birth and demise of countless worlds.
The once desolate floating island has vanished without a trace. In its place stands a colossal mountain whose boundaries are imperceptible. Its base is submerged in a silver sea, while its main body soars into the "depths" of the astral plane, gradually disappearing into the light mist of a higher dimension, its full form impossible to discern. It is like an independent and complete plane, its grandeur surpassing mortal imagination.
A colossal complex, crafted entirely of gold and imbued with the beauty of harmony and order, sits at the confluence of this colossal mountain and the silver sea. Its grand yet elegant style is filled with expansive spaces and soaring spires designed for the dragons' movements, every detail flowing with the beauty of sacred geometry. The entire complex is not static; rather, it shifts its position within specific areas of the mountain peak with the ebb and flow of the silver sea, as if possessing a life of its own, undergoing a kind of eternal breath.
"Tsk... This sense of déjà vu is too strong." Casalos's consciousness looked around. "It's like they just moved the first level of Paradise Mountain over here."
It certainly recognized where it was. Or rather, what the prototype of this place was. The Garden of Bahamut, the true reflection of the first level of Heavenly Mountain.
It must be said that Casalos really likes this new maintenance area. Regardless of its inner grumbling about the gods' ways, Bahamut's aesthetic sense is absolutely impeccable. As the ultimate embodiment of order and goodness, His divine reflection certainly wouldn't disappoint an iron dragon aligned with the Order.
What caused this change? Most likely, it's because the first Primal Seed was given to Bahamut. Or perhaps the Dragon Vault materialized Casalos's inner thoughts the moment he glimpsed Bahamut's Garden. Who can say for sure? In any case, the Maintenance Area has always been a place of capriciousness, offering no real environmental benefits beyond providing some solace to Casalos. [The rest of the text appears to be nonsensical and unrelated to the main topic.]
The truly meaningful change lies in the embodiment of Casalos's self-enhancement path—the "talent tree"—and the brand-new training dungeons.
It turned its attention away from the magnificent environment and opened its own attribute panel.
It noticed the change immediately. Outside the original complex, three-dimensional talent tree that had been integrated into one by the primordial power, a new "jungle" had "grown" out of thin air.
Based on Casalos's own understanding, the Dragon Vault system has always presented its advancement path to it in this way. Each new talent tree signifies that it has acquired a completely new, advanceable dragon-specific class. The location of the talent trees and the way they are connected reveal the inherent relationship between that advancement path and other paths.
The new talent tree forest sits atop the original three-dimensional talent tree that unified the Leathercraft Dragon, Elemental Master, Bloodscale Berserker, and Divinely Gifted classes. This means that these new advancement options occupy a higher tier.
The new talent trees also present a contrasting posture, with only two trees. Their roots are connected to the two extremes of the original talent trees respectively. One grows on the "Divine Gifted Class" talent tree, which represents external power; the other grows on the integrated form of the three talents, "Skin Carving Dragon," "Elemental Master," and "Bloodscale Frenzy," which represent internal evolution.
Casalos first looked at the new talent tree connected to the "Divinely Gifted Class". Its branches seemed to be made of solidified faith power, and every leaf shimmered with divine radiance.
The higher status of divinely endowed professions is self-evident.
【The Investiture of the Gods: Dragon】
[Description: Although you know the source of divine power and therefore have always disliked divinely endowed professions, using them merely as a disguise, and have had little interest in divine power itself, you ultimately confronted the true form of the Dragon God and bestowed the Primal Seed upon a Primal Seed destined for godhood. Through the connection established by the Primal Seed, you have opened the path directly to godhood. Gather your faith, regulate your behavior, create your beliefs and spread them, and you will be able to forge your unique divine office, condense your divine essence, and ignite the fire of divinity. You will become the new Dragon God… if you truly wish.]
[Note: This talent tree is strongly correlated with the physical architecture of the Celestial Realm. Choosing this talent tree, whether you achieve divine power or godlike power through it, means you will be strongly bound to the Celestial Realm.]
[Warning: This talent tree has a strong correlation with the physical architecture of the celestial realm, which means it completely conflicts with the "Destined Ascension Dragon" talent tree. You can only choose to advance to either the "God-like Dragon" or "Destined Ascension Dragon" talent tree.]
Casaloz's consciousness hovered silently before the sacred giant tree, lost in deep thought.
It truly disliked divine power, for it understood its essence far better than any other being on the continent of Faerûn—it was a collection of beliefs, a manifestation of man-made, flawed rules. To become a god meant being bound by the expectations of believers and the definition of divine office, meaning surrendering a portion of one's will to the underlying rules of the entire crystal wall system.
But does this really mean "not being free"?
As an iron dragon of order, Casalos possessed a philosophical understanding far deeper than that of ordinary creatures. It was acutely aware that so-called "freedom" was always relative, and absolute freedom did not exist. A world without any rules would inevitably result in chaos and destruction, and in such a world, even the most powerful individual could perish due to the most insignificant accident.
"Freedom" is freedom within the framework of rules.
Becoming a god certainly comes with strict restrictions imposed by the rules of the realm and the heavens. But conversely, under these rules, a god is the freest and most powerful being. Rules are both constraints and armor. As long as one acts within the bounds of the rules, a god is immortal and omnipotent. The rules of the realm and the heavens will become its most powerful protection.
Casalos, from the moment of its birth, its soul, its dragon body, and its entire existence were already inextricably linked to the physical structure of the celestial realm. Choosing the path to godhood was not about putting on new shackles, but about climbing to the top of the food chain within the vast system it already inhabited.
This road represents the ultimate in order.
Its gaze then turned to another tree of talent that stood in opposition to it.
This tree is entirely different in form; it seems to be woven from flowing flesh, shifting elements, and invisible soul power, filled with an aura of the unknown and chaos. Its roots, deeply embedded in the foundation of its own growing power, represent a completely different path of inward exploration.
[The Dragon Destined for Metamorphosis]
[Description: Through in-depth exploration of your elemental composition, physical foundation, and dragon soul, and through the knowledge system acquired in trade with the Primal Species, you have gradually unraveled the mysteries, approaching the truth of the dragon bloodline. Now, you have the ability to determine the direction of the evolution of your life's trinity essence, becoming a 'Primal Species'. Choosing to advance in this talent tree means that your future development will be entirely under your own control—the path of evolution holds endless possibilities, and this is not an easy choice.]
[Note: This talent tree has begun to deviate from the physical framework of the Celestial Realm. Choosing this talent tree, regardless of what kind of being you become in the future—whether you degenerate into an insect or ascend to a higher form—means you will completely part ways with the Celestial Realm. Within the Celestial Realm's system, such beings have a unified name: Wild Gods.]
"Aragami..."
Casaloz's consciousness lingered longer before the chaotic giant tree.
This path is undoubtedly full of temptation. It promises true "freedom," an evolutionary path that breaks free from the rules of the world and is entirely under one's own control. This perfectly aligns with its own deep-seated yearning for independence and autonomy as a traveler.
But at what cost?
"Completely parting ways with the nation and the universe."
What does this mean? Casalos's mind raced. It meant it would become a "virus" throughout the entire crystal system, an "error code" that didn't conform to the world's underlying logic. Everything within the realm's celestial sphere would see it as an enemy.