Advancement and News

Advancement and News

The translucent screen slowly unfolded.

[You killed a manticore and gained 700 XP.] [You killed a manticore and gained 700 XP.] [Class level increased to 4.]

Keosius could not help feeling a little excited. In the system of "Erezege," increasing one's strength was actually extremely difficult.

For ordinary professionals, every four levels was practically a qualitative transformation. It could greatly increase their strength and was considered a small leap in the early stages.

[Choose to increase Sorcerer level.] [You may choose to increase your attributes by 2 points.]

After a brief consideration, Keosius put all the attribute points into Charisma, improving his spellcasting ability.

The attribute points gained in the early stages could only enhance attributes below 20. A red dragon's innate Strength was too high to receive any bonus.

[Choose to increase Charisma to 18.] [You gained an extra feat—Combat Casting.]

Combat Casting (General Feat): When casting spells or using Spell-like Abilities while on the defensive, grappled, or restrained, gain a bonus to concentration.

[Due to Dragon Bloodline, you gained the dragon bonus feat—Maximize Breath Weapon.]

Maximize Breath Weapon: Once per day, a dragon could choose to unleash its breath weapon at maximum effect, with three times the power of its original breath weapon. It required 25–45 seconds of charging. The dragon must not have used its breath weapon within the previous hour, and the energy consumed by this attack would prevent it from using another breath attack for at least two hours afterward.

[Due to Dragon Bloodline, you gained the dragon bonus feat—Specific Targeting Breath Attack.]

Specific Targeting Breath Attack

Once per day, a dragon could designate specific targets for its breath attack instead of causing its usual blanket area effect. The dragon could also choose up to ten individual creatures and fire small, brief blasts from its breath weapon at them.

[Obtained additional 2nd-level spells: Misty Step, Phantom Force.]

Misty Step

2nd-level Conjuration Spell

You were briefly shrouded in silvery-white mist and teleported to an unoccupied location within 30 feet that you could see.

Phantom Force

2nd-level Illusion Spell

You designated a creature you could see within spell range and created an illusion rooted in its consciousness.

The target affected by the spell firmly believed the illusion was real and could even suffer direct damage from it.

For example, an illusion appearing as flames, an acid pool, or lava could burn the target.

[Obtained additional 1st-level spells: Hypnosis, Shield.]

Several spells appeared in Keosius's mind.

His spellcasting ability improved further, and the projection of his will into reality became more solid.

Keosius had no doubt that, relying solely on his spellcasting ability, he could now toy with his former wyrmling self.

The status panel unfolded before him again after a long absence.

Red Dragon—Keosius

Name: Keos Claude Norikesius

Template: NPC (9 years, 115 days, and 7 hours until server launch)

Type: Large Dragon, Lawful Neutral
Race: Young Red Dragon

AC: 22 (Natural Armor, Gilded Scales)
Base Attributes: Strength—23 Dexterity—12 Constitution—20 Intelligence—12 Wisdom—12 Charisma—18
Skill Proficiencies: Arcana +4, Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Intimidation +8, Stealth +6, Perception +8, Hunting +4, Escape +4, Knowledge (Future) +4
Damage Immunity: Fire

Senses: Blindsight 10 ft., Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages: Draconic

Actions: Bite, Claw, Tail Slap, Flight, Enhanced Breath Attack (Fire)

Special Abilities: Maximize Breath (Fire), Specific Targeting Breath (Fire), Gilded Shell, Bloodline Gift

Feats: Gilded Scales, Maximize Breath Weapon, Specific Targeting Breath Attack, Combat Casting, Exceptional Aura, Fugitive

Combat Equipment: Magic Immunity Amulet, Nimble Mage Action Ring, Blazing Staff, Speak with Dead Amulet, Lava Splatter, Blade Immunity Ring, Silent Steps Amulet, Owlbear Awareness Mask

Equipment Spells:

Once per day—Spell Invalidation Barrier, Speak with Dead, Grease Soles

Twice per day—Owlbear Awareness, Burning Hands

Three times per day—Scorching Ray, Blade Protection

Class Level: Sorcerer 4
Caster Level: 4
Spells:

Cantrips—Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, True Strike, Prestidigitation, Message
1st-level—Fog Cloud, Charm Human, Magic Missile, Shield, Thunder Wave, Wizardry Arrow
2nd-level—Enhance Ability, Misty Step, Phantom Force, Invisibility Spell, Scorching Ray

3rd-level—None
Challenge Rating: 11 (7,600 XP)

Evaluation: "A Red Dragon Sorcerer of extraordinary talent who continuously seeks power—how terrifying. Usually, dragon sorcerers are driven by desires stronger than wealth and power. They seek to master themselves and the power brewing within them. They spare no hardship in pursuit of mysterious, dangerous knowledge, personally approaching the most undisturbed things."

"Once the Challenge Rating reaches level ten or above, it gains a unique title."

So I count as a minor boss now, Keosius thought.

He still needed to keep improving his strength.

According to the rumors, after the Keosius of his previous life signed a contract with a demon, his entire body became covered in heavy red-black armor, and blazing abyssal flames of vengeance spouted from his eyes.

In just ten short years, its Challenge Rating had even broken through level twenty, making it an unquestionable world boss, a bane of players, and a nightmare for newcomers. Countless professional players had met their bitter end beneath its claws.

The current Keosius might have grown much stronger, but he was still far from that level of power.

"Where exactly is the rumored 'Demon of the Mountains'?"

"Deep within the Anstica Mountains?"

"Or in the northern Carpathian Mountains?"

Keosius did not know, but he was not yet prepared to seek it out.

He felt that his strength was insufficient. Besides, as an old player, he understood the nature of Abyssal Devils all too well.

From version 1.0 to version 4.0, from the Anzeta Magic Tide to the Darkmoon Cataclysm, practically every main storyline quest had involved an Abyssal Devil invasion.

They were purely Chaotic Evil beings, utterly without morality and impossible to predict. They devoted themselves to destroying and annihilating everything. According to the claims of certain scholars, they were manifestations of chaotic consciousness within the multiverse.

One moment, it might be drinking and laughing with you; the next, it could chop you into meat paste to go with its wine. Compared to demons, even the devils of Hell seemed so kind and amiable.

Therefore, he concluded that the Keosius of his previous life must have paid an unimaginable price.

"Still, I have to go and take a look eventually."

"Even if it really is a demon, I'll tear a chunk of flesh from it." Keosius muttered to himself.

Then he rose into the air from the top of the cliff.

The manticore's nest was still burning, though the flames were gradually weakening. The enormous nest had been reduced to charred remains.

Mixed within were heaps of blackened wreckage. It was already difficult to tell whether they had belonged to the manticores or to those poor victims.

I copied too much from the Three Treasures Book, so I added more original settings later...