Chapter 18: Leveling Up and News
A translucent light screen gradually unfolded.
[You killed ăManticoreă, gaining 700 XP]
[You killed ăManticoreă, gaining 700 XP]
[Class level increased to Level 4]
Cassius couldnât help but feel excited; in the system of ăErezagheă, leveling up was actually quite difficult.
For most Professionals, every four levels marked a transformation, allowing for a substantial power boost, practically a minor leap in the early game.
[Choose to level up Sorcerer class]
[You may allocate 2 points to your attributes]
After some thought, Cassius allocated both points to Charisma, enhancing his casting ability.
The attribute points earned early on could only enhance stats below 20, and since the red dragonâs natural Strength was too high, it couldnât be boosted further.
[Choose to increase Charisma to 18]
[You gained an additional feat - ăCombat Castingă]
ăCombat Castingă (General Feat)
When casting spells or using spell-like abilities in defensive, grappled, or restrained states, you gain a concentration bonus.
[Due to dragon bloodline, you gained an additional dragon feat - ăMaximized Breath Weaponă]
ăMaximized Breath Weaponă
Once per day, the dragon can release a fully maximized breath attack, dealing triple the damage of a normal breath attack, requiring 25â45 seconds to charge. Within the prior hour, the dragon must not have used a breath attack, and the energy expended in this attack will prevent further breath attacks for at least two hours.
[Due to dragon bloodline, you gained an additional dragon feat - ăTargeted Breath Weaponă]
ăTargeted Breath Attackă
Once per day, the dragon can specify a precise target for its breath attack, rather than applying the usual area-of-effect spread. The dragon can also select up to ten individual creatures to target with short, focused bursts from its breath weapon.
[Gained additional 2nd-level spells ăStep of Illusionă and ăPhantom Mightă]
ăStep of Illusionă
2nd-level Conjuration Spell
You become briefly shrouded in silvery mist, teleporting to an unoccupied space you can see within 30 feet.
ăPhantom Mightă
2nd-level Illusion Spell
You designate a creature within casting range that you can see, creating an illusion rooted in its consciousness.
The affected creature believes in the illusionâs reality and even suffers direct harm from it.
For example, an illusion of fire, an acid pool, or magma can burn the target.
[Gained additional 1st-level spells ăHypnotic Gazeă and ăShield Spellă]
Several spells appeared in Cassiusâs mind.
His spellcasting ability improved further, and his presence in the material world grew more pronounced.
Cassius had no doubt that his current casting abilities alone could easily toy with his previous young dragon self.
The interface he hadnât seen in a while unfolded before him.
ăRed Dragon - Cassiusă
Name: Cassius Claudious Norrixius
Template: NPC (9 years, 115 days, and 7 hours until server launch)
Category: Large Dragon, Lawful Neutral
Race: Young Red Dragon
AC: 22 (Natural Armor, Gilded Scales)
Base Attributes:
Strength â 23
Dexterity â 12
Constitution â 20
Intelligence â 12
Wisdom â 12
Charisma â 18
Skill Proficiencies: Arcana +4, Deception +4, Persuasion +4, Leadership +8, Stealth +6, Perception +8, Hunting +4, Evasion +4, Knowledge (Future) +4
Damage Immunities: Fire
Senses: Blindsight 10 feet, Darkvision 60 feet, Passive Perception 16
Language: Draconic
Actions: Bite, Claw, Tail Attack, Flight, Enhanced Breath Attack (Fire)
Special Abilities: Maximized Breath (Fire), Targeted Breath (Fire), Gilded Carapace, Bloodline Boon
Feats: Gilded Scales, Maximized Breath Weapon, Targeted Breath Weapon, Combat Casting, Exceptional Aura, Evasive
Battle Equipment: Magic Nullifying Amulet, Swift Mageâs Action Ring, Blazing Staff, Soul Amulet, Lava Spreader, Blade Resistance Ring, Silent Step Amulet, Owl-Beast Perception Mask.
Equipped Spells:
Once Daily â Anti-Magic Field, Speak with Dead, Grease Spell
Twice Daily â Owlbeast Perception, Burning Hands
Thrice Daily â Scorching Ray, Blade Ward
Class Level: Sorcerer 4
Caster Level: 4
Spells:
Cantrips â Mage Hand, Minor Illusion, Precognition, Arcane Trick, Message
1st Level â Fog Cloud, Charm Person, Magic Missile, Shield Spell, Thunderwave, Witch Bolt
2nd Level â Enhance Ability, Step of Illusion, Phantom Might, Invisibility, Scorching Ray
3rd Level â None
Challenge Rating: 11 (7,600 XP)
Assessment: âA red dragon sorcerer with a rare talent who tirelessly pursues powerâhow terrifying. Typically, dragon sorcerers are driven by a desire surpassing even wealth and power. They strive to master both their inner power and that which stirs within them, seeking out mysterious, perilous knowledge and firsthand experiences with the untouched.â
âWhen a Challenge Rating exceeds level ten, they gain a unique title.â
âSo, Iâm already a minor boss,â Cassius thought to himself.
Power must continue to grow.
In legends, Cassius of a previous life signed a contract with a demon, encased in heavy red-black armor, with eyes blazing with vengeful fire from the Abyss.
In a mere ten years, his Challenge Rating even broke past level 20, becoming an indisputable world boss, playerâs bane, and a nightmare for novices, leaving countless Professional players defeated under his claws.
Yet, the current Cassius, while seemingly much stronger, was still far from that level of power.
âWhere exactly is the rumored âDemon of the Mountainsâ?â
âIn the depths of the Anstica Mountains?â
âOr in the northern Carba Mountains?â
Cassius didnât know, but he wasnât ready to look yet.
He knew he wasnât strong enough, and as a seasoned player, he understood the nature of Abyssal demons all too well.
From Version 1.0 to Version 4.0, from the Anzeta Demon Tide to the Dark Moon Cataclysm, practically every main quest involved an Abyssal demon invasion.
They were pure chaotic evil, devoid of morality and utterly unpredictable. They were dedicated to destruction, and in some scholarsâ accounts, the chaotic consciousness of the multiverse itself.
One moment, it might drink with you, and the next, it would turn you into minced meat as an appetizer. Compared to demons, even devils from Hell seemed cordial.
He deduced that the Cassius of a past life must have paid an unimaginable price.
âBut eventually, Iâll go and take a look.â
âEven if itâs truly a demon, Iâll tear a piece of flesh off it.â Cassius muttered to himself.
With that, he took off from the cliff.
The manticoreâs nest continued to burn, the flames gradually dwindling, leaving the massive nest charred.
Mixed within were piles of scorched remains, nearly indistinguishable as either the manticoresâ or the unfortunate victimsâ.