Chapter 53: The Nest and Advancement

Ember Nest.

“Quick, bring up the stones.”

“Lord Dolo said to make space for the catapults.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Captain, why did you hit me?”

“Idiot, you blocked the window!”

The goblins were still routinely building defensive structures, making the Rock Fortress even more impregnable.

Well-trained hobgoblins had taken their place as sentry guards, reducing the goblins’ standing in the nest even further, but these timid creatures only dared to feel resentful in silence.

“Open the gate, we need to get in.”

The lizardfolk called out from below the gate.

They were dragging massive carcasses on their sleds, with warm blood still dripping from them.

The newly arrived lizardfolk temporarily took on patrol and hunting duties.

The strong and skilled lizardfolk chieftain Ack had excellent hunting skills; he always managed to lead the lizardfolk in trapping and killing massive boars and mammoths. The old shaman stayed in the valley, using druid spells to heal the wounded.

The satyrs loved the strongest wines, the most fragrant spices, and the most dazzling dances.

Shortly after entering the Ember Nest, these bard-like creatures began celebrating wildly through the nights.

Until Langpu, annoyed by the noise, clubbed a dancing satyr to death and roasted him as satyr skewers, after which they quieted down, though they appeared somewhat despondent.

They used magical panpipes to play various melodies, causing enemies to fall into states of panic, charm, and more.

Meanwhile, the ogres had gathered in the depths of the valley once again as Langpu resumed his literacy classes.

This ogre mage had recently been doing quite well, as a caravan from Seg Town brought over twenty valuable magic scrolls.

—Among them were practical level-2 spells like 【Misty Step】, 【Rope Trick】, and 【Hold Person】, and even a level-3 spell like 【Stinking Cloud】.

This was a breakthrough for him, moving beyond just knowing Fireball as a mage.

Langpu treasured these scrolls, storing them carefully in the cave and arranging guards at the entrance, forbidding anyone to approach, and spent day and night immersed in learning spells.

“I need to build a mage tower.”

Langpu adjusted his newly acquired gold-rimmed glasses, thinking this to himself.

The cave was beginning to feel a bit cramped for his five-meter-tall body.

He considered constructing a mage tower like a proper mage, to store his scrolls and items, and to spread his name across the continent. He had even come up with a great name—

“The Mighty Sage.”

It conveyed both size and wisdom.

And if he could add tags like Ember Nest and Grand Vision, that would be perfect.

For now, though, the noisy complaints of the other ogres pulled Langpu back to reality.

“Boss, what’s up?”

Big Head poked his head out from the side, cheerfully saying:

“Why so silent? Are you going to share some food with us?”

“I want to eat green-skinned goblins!”

“I want canned little humans!”

Langpu’s face, covered in dragon scales, instantly darkened.

“Shut up!”

He clubbed Big Head on the skull, and the draconic force of the blow brought tears to Big Head’s eyes, leaving his forehead swollen and red.

“Bang!”

Big Head fell flat on his back.

“Everyone… understood?”

Langpu’s fierce face, covered in scales, broke into a kindly smile, baring rows of sharp teeth.

Ignoring the fainted Big Head, he pulled out a few exquisitely illustrated drawings made by the satyr artists, pointing at the goblin on the picture.

“Now, repeat after me—”

“Companion.”

With Big Head as an example, the ogres became much more obedient, following along and repeating:

“Com—pan—ion—”

Langpu finally nodded in satisfaction; these guys were making some progress at last.

But then, the ogres didn’t stop.

“Tasty!”

This was even more synchronized than before, carrying a rustic joy akin to a bountiful harvest.

Langpu’s expression darkened again, his thick arm bulging, veins popping beneath his dragon scales.

“Crack.”

His newly acquired gold-rimmed glasses cracked again under the strain of his veins.

This only fueled Langpu’s rage.

“Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!”

Wails filled the ogres’ cave.

.........

Giant’s Maw Cave.

Inside the red dragon’s lair.

Cassius shook himself off, inhaling the scent of sulfur and pumice surrounding him.

Every red dragon, before reaching adolescence, would exude intense energy from their bodies, which mixed with impurities in the air to create this odor.

“The hibernation period is approaching.”

Cassius thought this to himself.

The experience gained from the giant yeti remained unspent as he looked at his panel, initiating his level advancement.

[Choose to level up Sorcerer class]

[Your Sorcerer level has risen to Level 6]

[Gained additional level-3 spell: 【Fireball】]

The way to cast Fireball entered the red dragon’s mind; though a level-3 spell, Fireball was straightforwardly brutal—one word: boom.

As a red dragon naturally adept with fire, Cassius found it effortless to cast this spell.

After a few tries, he could summon fiery fireballs, casually hurling them at the ground.

“Boom!”

The fireball struck the stone surface, leaving a large scorch mark.

“No wonder sorcerer players in past lives formed the Fireball Cult; casting this feels so satisfying.”

Cassius couldn’t help but remark.

[Gained trait: 【Enhanced Elemental Affinity】]

[The ancient red dragon bloodline grants you searing power. When casting a spell that deals damage corresponding to your draconic bloodline type, you can use your charisma to enhance the spell.]

Although a true red flag-bearer of Tiamat, Cassius’s dragon bloodline sorcery provided him with far more spells than typical dragon-blood sorcerer players, and his traits were correspondingly stronger.

Ordinary sorcerers usually only knew a few spells, repeatedly casting them, often becoming like cannons in a team. Mages, however, had full spell access, allowing them to adjust their spells each day.

Thus, at higher levels, if their spell list was known, sorcerers of the same level found it challenging to contend with well-prepared mages.

To Cassius, his draconic sorcerer abilities were starting to fall behind his own power.

For example, mid- to late-stage dragon-blood sorcerer abilities like 【Dragon Wings】, 【True Dragon’s Majesty】, and 【Dragon Form】 were hardly enhancements for him, more like pointless embellishments.

Would he really need to grow four wings?

Or should a dragon turn into a dragon?

Or add another layer of dragon’s awe?

This was where multi-classing and advanced classes showed their importance.

However, many human classes weren’t suitable for a red dragon—like warrior or paladin, which had restrictions on weapons, equipment, and beliefs.

Thus, the red dragon hadn’t yet decided to branch into another class and could only hope to find hidden or advanced classes.