Ember Dragon

Chapter 52 Tieflings (Part Six)

Suddenly, a child's scream came from the camp entrance.

The Tieflings quickly turned to look.

"Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo..."

Several strong, powerful ogres, chanting rhythmically, carried thick logs as they walked into the camp, with the Tiefling guards at the entrance not daring to stop them.

"Form up—"

Then, a formation of over thirty half-dragon hobgoblins appeared at the entrance of the "Ruined Home," marching in an orderly line, preparing to station themselves in the camp.

Hundreds of dragon-blooded kobolds followed closely behind. They were natural diggers and builders and would become the main force in constructing this town.

"Roar—"

An ancestral dragon roared wildly in the sky, burning any invading yetis to ashes with its flames.

"My god, ogres have become our allies."

"Those kobolds better not steal our stuff..."

"Is that a dragon?"

"We're going to work alongside these monsters from now on."

The Tiefling refugees had mixed feelings toward the strange "reinforcements" arriving to support them, some joyful, some fearful, others anxious or surprised.

But one thing was certain

—They couldn't stop these monsters from entering.

Faced with such a grand scene, even the always composed Medrolash couldn't help but be stunned, and he said:

"My lord, this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision."

"This… was also part of your plan, wasn't it?"

Cassius looked down at his arriving followers and exhaled a breath of sulfurous heat:

"I told you long ago, you have no bargaining power."

Medrolash shook his head with a bitter smile:

"My lord, you truly don't seem like a typical red dragon. If it weren't for your immense strength, I'd almost suspect… you're a green dragon who enjoys manipulating situations."

Cassius simply said, "That's why you're alive, standing here, and not turned to ash for speaking such words."

"Thank you for your extraordinary mercy."

Realizing he had overstepped, Medrolash quickly nodded in apology.

Cassius didn't mind, merely saying, "Take me to your cavern. I'm interested in certain things inside."

"Yes, my lord."

This time, Medrolash said nothing further, silently leading the way.

Deep within the camp's cavern, Cassius finally saw what he was looking for.

—An ancient teleportation array.

Purple runes appeared on the rock walls, their patterns chaotic yet exuding a sense of order that reached into the soul.

This was what players in past lives called a "respawn point," which countless mages had studied yet couldn't determine how these formations, devoid of magical energy fluctuations, brought forth the "Falling Stars."

And the ancient teleportation array in the "Ruined Home" was the initial spawn point for players.

Medrolash said, "My lord, forgive our ignorance. Even the most learned among us cannot discern the purpose of these ancient runes."

Cassius said, "You'll understand in due time.

"Guard this place well. No one must discover or damage it."

Medrolash replied solemnly, "I will obey your command."

Cassius seemed to remember something and asked, "That contract, is it still in your possession?"

The contract in question was the pact Duke Lackman signed with a dark entity, exchanging a thousand lives to create vampires.

Medrolash had risked his life to retrieve it during his investigation of a disappearance case, which led to the slaughter of his entire family.

At this question, Medrolash nodded heavily, recalling the horrors of that tragedy.

It was more than a contract; it was evidence of a crime.

Evidence stained in blood.

Cassius spoke in a tone that brooked no refusal, "In three days, bring the contract to the Ember Nest."

The Tiefling paladin then turned to take his leave, going to coordinate the Tieflings in building the town.

Cassius narrowed his eyes, inspecting Medrolash's information.

The paladin's "Divine Sense" detected the red dragon's scrutiny, but he pretended nothing was amiss, showing no reaction.

[Target category: [Follower]. You can discern the following information.]

[Oathbreaker Sword - Medrolash]

Category: Medium humanoid (Tiefling), Lawful Neutral

AC: 17 (City Guard Armor)

Speed: 40 feet on ground

Strength — 19

Dexterity — 16

Constitution — 15

Intelligence — 12

Wisdom — 14

Charisma — 17

Class Level: Paladin - Oathbreaker Level 11

Martial Weapons: Longsword, Greatsword, Heavy Crossbow

Simple Weapons: Dagger, Light Crossbow

Skills Proficiencies: Warfare +7, Hunting +6, Insight +6, Athletics +6, Knowledge (Religion) +4, Command +4, Leadership +4, Survival +4, Stealth +2

Perception: Passive Perception 17

Languages: Common, Infernal

Abilities: Holy Smite, Divine Sense, Aura of Protection, Aura of Courage, Oathbreaker Channel Divinity: Dreadful Aspect, Oathbreaker Channel Divinity: Control Undead

Feats: Alertness, Cleave, Defensive Duelist, Great Weapon Master, Heavy Armor Proficiency

Combat Equipment: Bloodstained Greatsword, Standard City Guard Armor, Paladin's Cloak, Tiefling Ring

Oathbreaker Spells

Level 3: Hellish Rebuke, Inflict Wounds

Level 5: Crown of Madness, Darkness

Level 9: Animate Dead, Bestow Curse

Challenge Level: 10 (5900xp)

Evaluation: When the crimson curtain falls, the paladin shatters all his oaths, embarking on a final rebellion.

"Of all the Ember Nest followers, perhaps only Langpu surpasses him."

This was Cassius's assessment.

In his view, Medrolash's stalemate with the giant yeti was purely because he was new to the Oathbreaker path, unfamiliar with his abilities.

Once he mastered his spells and abilities, slaying the giant yeti would be no problem.

Paladins were also a popular class in past lives, balancing melee and magic, often nicknamed "Holy Daddy."

Although the strength of [Oathbreaker] didn't rival popular classes like [Oath of Vengeance] or [Oath of Conquest], it was still formidable.

"What I need are players..."

Cassius looked forward to these beings known as the "Fourth Calamity," a terrifying force if used well.

And the first wave of beta players would appear at the ancient teleportation array in the "Ruined Home." Many would go on to become legendary figures.

Cassius took to the skies, overlooking the still-crude "Ruined Home."

Ogres planted logs into the ground as pillars, setting up the framework of the buildings, while kobolds scurried about, hammering and fitting parts together. Meanwhile, some Tieflings stood by awkwardly, unsure how to help.

Further away, hobgoblins had begun laying roads to connect the area to the Giant's Valley, though progress was slow due to the snow.

The future Baator City would rise here, buildings springing up, becoming a hub for the Falling Stars—the players' first "main city."