Ascension Ritual (VII)

"Roar--"

Fragments of magical light flickered on the Dragon Vein Sorcerer's body, which rapidly expanded.

White smoke immediately filled the surroundings, and the smell of sulfur and saltpeter even overpowered the heavy stench of blood, making one feel as if they were in a volcano. As the smoke dissipated, an eighteen-meter-long Red Dragon suddenly appeared in this Underdark.

Duke Brad stopped chasing the Lang Li Bai Tiao and looked at the Red Dragon, his scarlet eyes filled with rage.

"It really was you."

"Damn crawler"

"Why, why do you keep stopping me!"

For the first time, the Vampire duke set aside his arrogance and took the situation seriously. He knew that the enemy before him was a genuine dragon!

In the Prime Material Plane, no one dares to underestimate a dragon, especially Red Dragon known as the darling of Tiamat and the leader of the Chromatic Dragon.

Keosius remained silent, only exhaling a Fire Breath.

"Boom!"

The blazing flames flew toward the Vampire.

Duke Brad dodged and weaved through the air like a nimble bat.

Under his control, Alger charged toward the Red Dragon, his eyes vacant, roaring as he swung the Eternally Burning Greatsword at his current master.

"Dominate Person?"

Keosius recognized the spell at a glance.

"Roar--"

The Red Dragon let out a deep roar, an invisible majesty emanating from its massive body, and the suppression of its bloodline made Alger's body and even soul tremble.

[Leader Aura]

In an instant, Alger's eyes regained their clarity.

Ignoring the somewhat bewildered Alger, Keosius flapped his wings, let out a terrifying dragon roar, and charged forward with unstoppable force.

"Damn crawler."

As the Red Dragon drew ever closer, Duke Brad gritted his teeth, his bloodshot eyes blazing with uncontrollable fury.

"I will show you what death is!"

For centuries, no one had been able to stop him like this. And he had been preparing for this ascension for two centuries.

Duke Brad raised his arms with all his might, and the darkness seemed to let out a series of mournful howls. Countless dark, eroded tentacles rose from the ground, and the sky was filled with a scarlet blood mist. Thousands of bats gathered like rolling dark clouds, surging forward one after another, and a sea of blood surged forth.

The Vampire's power, accumulated over a century, erupted completely, turning almost everything in sight into a sea of blood and Hell.

At this moment, he is the king of this place!

However, the Red Dragon's scales suddenly turned a dazzling golden-red, and energy fragments floated around its body like thousands of tiny satellites. Meanwhile, flickering lightning crackled and hissed around its body.

Just as the Red Dragon plunged into the tide of blood mist, shadows, and bats, a blinding light burst forth, dispelling the encroaching darkness.

Bats fell from the sky in droves, turning into charred remains by the leaping lightning; shadows were easily dissipated by fragments of energy; and the blood mist was evaporated before it even got close.

"I never intentionally tried to stop you."

"But you're blocking my way, old bat."

The Red Dragon spewed forth a sea of flames, burning everything in its path to ashes, and the flames surged toward the Vampire.

Even dragons eventually come to an end!

"And I am the eternal monarch!"

Duke Brad's pale face grew increasingly ferocious, and his personality became even more twisted after absorbing the Original Sin Power.

You should worship him!

The raging sea of blood, like a giant crimson curtain, blocked the Vampire's path and held back the oncoming flames. The blood tide surged and rolled toward the Red Dragon.

"A petty trick that can only scare ordinary people."

"Who gave you the confidence to attack a dragon using such despicable means?"

Without hesitation, Keosius charged headlong into the sea of blood.

He slightly opened his jaw, and his powerful Base Blood Vessels transported the flame energy from his whole body to his lungs. The blazing flame elements accumulated in his lungs and throat, making his chest glow faintly like lava, with the gaps in his scales reflecting the faint light of fire.

The scent of sulfur and saltpeter grew stronger, and his massive dragon body resembled a volcano about to erupt.

[Maximized Flame Breath]

"Boom!"

A column of incandescent, scorching fire erupted from the Red Dragon, instantly piercing through the sea of blood before it.

With a sizzling sound, the viscous blood evaporated completely before it even got close to the flames. In an instant, the flames consumed everything, and blood mist filled the air.

Keosius tilted his head slightly, controlling the pillar of fire to strike the Vampire.

For the first time, a flicker of panic flashed in Duke Brad's crimson eyes.

Such terrifying flames, once directly contacted, would likely be difficult for even Vampire, who possess Undead Essence and cannot be easily killed, to recover from.

But Duke Brad still grinned savagely and roared wildly, "It's no use, you reptile."

"I am everywhere, I am immortal!"

Instantly, the Vampire transformed into a cloud of blood mist, merging himself into the rolling sea of blood, preventing Keosius from attacking his true form.

"Annoying guy."

"Since you're so good at running away, don't blame me for killing your whole family."

"Keosius thought to himself."

Without hesitation, he turned around and began attacking the naked Vampire Spawn bound to the stone pillars, who were powerless to fight back.

In an instant, the Vampire Spawn, bound to the stone pillar and unable to move, was engulfed by incandescent flames. When the flames left, only the molten rock remained, emitting thick steam and flowing with red lava.

Even the chains binding the Vampire melted into molten iron that glowed red and flowed slowly.

This once again proves that the "immortality" of Vampire Spawn is not as powerful as they boast, but has clear limits.

The Duke's second son, a symbol of rage, Eitri Lakman, was thus utterly destroyed.

He was a powerful Fighter who was supposed to provide "power" for Duke Brad's ascension, but before he could even let out a wail or struggle, he was reduced to ashes in the extreme flames.

"No--"

"I, my child..."

Duke Brad coalesced into human form in the air, emitting a mournful cry, nearly losing his mind.

Through years of self-hypnosis, the Duke Brad genuinely "loves" these children. This love is such that only by completely absorbing these offspring can he ensure their lives are fully fulfilled and without regrets.

The demise of Aitley.

This also means that his ascension failed.

Seeing the Red Dragon turn its head again, about to destroy the symbol of pride, its most beloved daughter, Alexia, with flames.

Duke Brad could no longer bear it. His scarlet eyes were filled with raging fury as he rode an endless cloud of blood mist and charged down at the Red Dragon from the sky.

"Crawler, I'll kill you!"

I need to take a day off, I'll make it up tomorrow. I bumped my head tonight and I'm still a little dizzy.