Iron Dragon's Advancement Journey

Page 63

　Every structure has its limitations, and the size and weight of a dragon far exceed the flight limits that a flapping wing structure can support. Other dragons haven't discovered this, mainly because the dragon's flight carrying capacity is simply too high, allowing it to take flight in almost any configuration.

　Their innate ability to fly means that when other dragons in Faerûn, like Casalos, flap their wings while gripping heavy loads and feel the loss of lift, they often simply assume they're nearing their weight limit. After all, they lack another perspective to investigate the root cause.

Chapter 192

　However, the dragon's innate magical abilities can also easily "solve" this problem from another perspective.

　Since I can't grab it anymore, I can just use a Wind Wing to improve my flying ability; or to be more direct, wouldn't it be better to just stuff the thing into my belly? Or, I could cast a levitation spell on the item and then drag it along... Magic has a million ways to solve problems, but none of them will make the dragon realize that it is flying incorrectly.

　Perhaps the dragon gods knew, but they remained silent; perhaps the dragons who initially established the dragon civilization in the Dragon Age also knew, but this knowledge, like other secrets of the Dragon Empire, was buried in the dust of history, and no dragon knew it anymore.

　Casalos was fortunate to retain the unique perspective he gained from his past life, allowing him to discover a clue. However, he was frustrated because he was neither an aerodynamics expert nor a master of arcane magic. Therefore, he passed the problem on to Isis, a young girl he had found on the grasslands, as an arcane subject to study. Isis could see the warp and weft of the magic network with the naked eye, and with Casalos's unique guidance, it was quite normal for her to achieve some results.

　Isis's initial conclusion is that dragon flight is both magical and scientific—this science does not refer to the kind of science that cults of science treat as inviolable truth the temporary conclusions reached in the process of human society's scientific exploration toward truth, but rather to the scientific methodology and epistemology that follow basic logic.

　The reason why dragons are said to fly is because the power that allows them to soar comes from magic; and the reason why it is said to be scientific is because every factor in dragon flight, from the structure supporting the flight to the source of lift, is traceable, rather than a mysterious black box that can be glossed over with a simple "it's magic".

　First, the lift generated by the dragon's flight comes from the unique ability (Ex) of the scales on the upper and lower parts of its wing membrane.

　Through observation of three living specimens—Cassaloz, Shacales, and Bellamy—as well as several other dragon carcasses brought back by Casaloz, Isis discovered that the dragon magic flowing through the scales on the upper and lower surfaces of the dragon wings constituted different "spell structures." These spell structures did not rely on manipulating the warp and weft of the magic network; rather, they directly affected the fundamental magical properties inherent in all things in Faerûn. Their effects were similar, both acting on the air flowing over the wing surfaces, but with opposite results: the upper wing surface caused turbulence, while the lower wing surface rectified the airflow.

　When air flows over the dragon's outstretched wings, the airflow separated by the leading edge of the wings onto the upper wing surface is actively disturbed by the scales it touches, forming a highly adhesive vortex; conversely, the airflow flowing over the lower wing surface is organized and guided into a smoother laminar flow that flows backward.

　Thus, the dragon's wings became something similar to the wings of a fixed-wing aircraft, generating much greater lift than flapping wings... All of this is contingent on air flowing over the wing surface and having sufficient speed. In other words, either the dragon itself has to start running forward, or there has to be enough headwind for the dragon to take off like a fixed-wing aircraft.

　Therefore, the skeletal and muscular structure of dragon wings differs significantly from that of superficially similar birds. The muscle groups that pull the dragon wings downwards do not connect to the developed pectoral muscles around the collarbone like birds, but rather connect from under the wings to the sides of the dragon's chest cavity, then wrap around the entire lower half of the chest cavity, in order to more efficiently transfer the lift generated by the wings to the entire body's center of gravity.

　Strangely, however, dragons couldn't reach takeoff speed. Perhaps this is why dragons exhibited bird-like flapping-wing takeoff behavior. Unfortunately, the flapping action wasn't, as the dragon intuitively imagined, of using the wing membrane to catch air and create a downwash for recoil, but rather of allowing air to flow over the wing surface.

　In addition, flapping wings are the only source of power for dragons to fly forward in the sky.

　Without flapping its wings, it can't take off; without flapping its wings, it can't move forward; flapping its wings also reduces lift... The dragon takes flight amidst this contradictory interplay of forces, which explains why the Wind Elemental Lord mocked it, saying, "Is this even considered flying?" Presumably, the Wind Elemental Lord understood the role wind plays in the dragon's flight.

　121. Leading the trend

　No matter how much theoretical research there is, it must eventually come down to application. Isis figured out the basic principles of dragon flight a few years ago, but that was just the beginning. How to fly is the key.

　With the basic principle established, the answer becomes clear: by smoothly spreading its wings like Casalos is now, without flapping them, the dragon can generate maximum lift during flight. Lift is the most essential element of flight; with sufficient lift, it can fly however it wants!

　What? The dragon can't reach takeoff speed? Without flapping its wings, it has no forward momentum to convert drag into lift. Even if it takes off, it's constantly consuming its initial speed to convert into altitude. Once the speed drops below the threshold, it can only land, which can only be described as "a beautiful crash".

　That's right, but what's the point of your innate magical abilities, Dragon?

　The magical effects that dragon wings are born with—according to the Faerûn tradition, this actually belongs to Exotic abilities (Ex) rather than magic or magic-like abilities in the narrow sense—the dragon wings' Exotic abilities more than enough to solve the biggest problem of dragon flight, gaining lift, with extremely high redundancy. Can the problem of propelling forward even be called a problem?

　The dragon's original flight speed was already so "slow". Summoning a gust of wind, creating a propulsive force field, or even spitting some flames backward would be much better than flapping its wings and losing a lot of lift. At worst, it could turn its head under its belly from time to time and spray breath behind it to act as an extremely low-frequency pulse rocket engine. That would make it fly much faster than flapping its wings.

　It's easier said than done.

　Flying is a dragon's gift and instinct. Dragons have soared over the continent of Faerûn for countless years, and the behavior of flapping their wings is deeply ingrained in every cell of their bodies, every element, and every strand of their soul. The concentration required for a dragon to maintain flight without flapping its wings is even more demanding than the concentration required for casting spells.

　Loaded flight was Casalos's way of correcting its potentially erroneous flapping wing maneuver. It had practiced fixed-wing flight for nearly three years, yet it could only perform this type of flight in the absolutely safe, narrow area of ​​the Dragon Territory's underground rift, maintaining a highly focused state. Because during its attempts, no matter how hard it tried to control its flapping instinct, the slightest mistake would cause it to instinctively flap its wings, leading to a crash—it was carrying a load almost twice its own weight, and the power gained from flapping wings couldn't compensate for the massive instantaneous loss of lift. Unfortunately, the rift only allowed a few hundred meters of flight altitude, making it difficult to correct its course even if it reacted later and regained lift through a dive acceleration.

　Ultimately, it attempts to use conditioned reflexes developed through training to override its instincts and make itself fly better.

　Of course, whether it's due to Casaroz being in its developmental stage, the primal power, or the hidden effects of the Dragon Treasury, it's proven that excessive physical training yields additional benefits. Like other weight-bearing training, weighted flight is an excellent way to improve Casaroz. The difference is that ground-based weight-bearing training improves its physical fitness, while flight improves its dragon magic.

　Clad in heavy gear, Casalos flew faster and faster, transitioning from level flight to circling and turning, then diving and climbing, followed by rolls and barrel rolls, and then various combat maneuvers with random prefixes such as high and low yo-yos and Immelmans. Interspersed throughout were a few aerobatic maneuvers created purely for performance, such as the Frolov Chakra Kvoch bells. The shrill sound of its wings cutting through the air echoed in the narrow underground space, weaving together a soaring and passionate symphony in the reflected echoes.

　The dog-headed men abandoned their work, brandishing hammers, wrenches, shovels, and pickaxes, and climbed to the tops of stone pillars or mushroom-shaped rooftops, cheering, singing, and dancing incomprehensible dances. The deafening soundscape, reflected and amplified, created a powerful and chaotic atmosphere.

Chapter 193

　They converged into a stream, surged through the passage into the large cavity where Gravesend was located, and more kobolds joined them.

　The usually sociable goblins joined in the chanting, followed by the gray drow...

　In fact, even the kobolds themselves didn't know why they did it; they simply resonated with the roar of the dragons flying. The kobolds sincerely sang praises to their dragon lord, while other races and groups had their own reasons.

　The soaring songs echoing through the underground cavities have become a spectacle in the Darklands' Dragon Territory. Even the snake-people, who frequently harass the territory of Newgrid City, will lay down their weapons and retreat a distance at this time, waiting for the inexplicable "ritual" to end before resuming their battle. In the past, the ruthless snake-people would not have let go of such a perfect opportunity for their enemy to abandon their defenses. However, after several attempts that resulted in heavy losses due to massive bombardment by a heavily armored dragon, they gradually learned their lesson.

　Anyway, we've been fighting those bald, gray dwarfs with legs for centuries, and neither of us can really win. The gray dwarfs are willing to take a break every now and then, so why not?

　Little did they know, their serpent-man "empire" was now on Casalos's target list, and the fact that they hadn't been dealt with yet was simply because the time wasn't right. If they survived the cataclysmic event, they would be fortunate enough to become a new vassal state of Casalos, and their empire would become a new territory of the Underdark's dragon domain.

　The completion of the high-difficulty maneuvers meant that Casalos was close to achieving the first stage of its flight objective—using conditioned reflexes to override instincts—and was about to enter a new training phase. This was precisely why it was willing to share the flight manual with Shaving Tooth, The Thinker, and the entire Guardian Dragon's small group. The reason it didn't fly like this outside was, of course, to ensure it had more trump cards up its sleeve.

　The difficulty of this flight mode lies in overcoming the dragon's instincts rather than technical barriers. As long as other dragons are reasonably intelligent, they can learn the secret through magic by watching Casalos fly a few times, especially learner dragons like Grommash Hellscream who are good at learning. Fixed-wing flight cannot be a secret kept to oneself; the later it is revealed, the more powerful it will be.

　Once the time is right, bringing Shaving Tooth into Isis's research team and then conducting the next phase of dragon flight research will not be something that is so easy to crack.

　In terms of flight skills, Casalos is destined to always remain at the top level among the Faerûnosaurus.

　122. Health

　After a warm-up flight with added weight, take advantage of the dragon's magical power for two rounds of ranged spell and spell-like target practice. Land on the solid gravel runway, run a lap around the rift without removing your gear, and then follow up with basic physical strength training and melee combat skills practice.

　After completing the entire training session, dusk had fallen on the surface. Casalos took a shower under the lava waterfall to wash away the grime accumulated in the crevices of his scales—a mixture of sedimented elements and secretions—to prevent the growth of anything strange. He enjoyed a mineral-meat feast prepared by the kobolds, then leisurely boarded the Iron Dawn to return to the enclosed dock built in Desera Harbor on the surface. He then transformed into an ordinary young man from the grasslands and entered this increasingly prosperous port city.

　“I hate human form,” Casalos muttered to himself.

　Walking along the bustling street, bathed in the brilliant lights of the setting sun, it nervously pulled its cloth robe tighter, warily watching every pedestrian who approached within a few meters of it. Compared to its increasingly robust dragon body and the thick scales of its carved skin enhanced by flames, its fragile human form made it feel utterly insecure.

　Its recent warrior persona was alright; the heavy magical armor, the bulging muscles and thick bones, and the massive two-handed sword it wielded offered some solace to its fragile heart. But now, in its thin, unprotected clothing, with its paper-thin skin, slender frame, and weak limbs, it felt as if anyone on the street could suddenly pull out a dagger and kill it, even though that was highly unlikely.

　Casalos had only walked two blocks when he encountered three patrols of goblins led by kobolds with dragon veins. These patrols roamed every corner of the city, alerting any unfamiliar faces or unusual movements. Although Casalos was a stranger, he had deliberately left a distinctive scent to mark himself as a member of the underground dragon lords, and the kobolds responded with friendly greetings upon smelling the scent. However, for other strangers, they were not so easily dealt with, especially those with ill intentions.

　Violent acts such as street murders and robberies, common in cities of Faerûn, are strictly forbidden in Desera. Once discovered, the goblin guards will kill the perpetrators on the spot, without exception. Of course, Faerûn is a land of might, and the laws of most cities are essentially worthless to most high-level professionals. In their eyes, Desera is no different; it wasn't uncommon for people to break the law with force in the past.

　A vengeful high-ranking paladin once committed mass murder within the city, then repelled a patrol's attempt to intercept him and escaped, leaving five goblin guards dead by his crossbow. Later, with permission, the kobolds formed a half-dragon team with an average level exceeding 15, and hunted this paladin across half the continent for six months, finally capturing him in Damara and publicly hanging him atop the gates of Desera Harbor. After that, no one dared to provoke him again.

　Beyond violent crimes, petty theft and other crimes that would go unpunished in other cities would land you in jail for at least a few years in Desera... The kobolds' prison is no easy place to stay. These seemingly loyal and honest kobolds are actually truly evil creatures, and torture and cruelty are in their nature. Whether they can survive a few years of imprisonment is a big question mark.

　Thanks to this group of strict law enforcement officers who love violence and have a high level of enforcement, it's normal for Desera to have better public security than Waterdeep, provided there are appropriate laws—that is, only within the city; who can manage the vast grasslands outside the city?

　In fact, Desera is currently a "designated cooperative city" of the Temple of the God of Justice. The followers of Tyr greatly admire this absolute order in city management, and have therefore sent many high-ranking clergy to Desera in hopes of learning from it. Unfortunately, due to the conflict between their ideologies of good and evil, the majority of their non-neutral followers are destined to be disappointed.

　The new name of Desera, the City of Cruelty, has begun to spread across the continent of Faerûn, and the Tyr's followers who settled in Desera earlier are gradually leaving. Casaloz doesn't care about any of this; besides, he rules Desera under the banner of the evil red dragon, so what does a little cruelty matter?

　Even if unexpected events occur that exceed the patrol team's capabilities, its current form is not without its strength. The form change only causes it to lose the inherent advantages of its dragon body; its warrior and mage class levels in human form remain undiminished. Compared to the Han Dynasty warrior form, it only lacks armor and weapons, making it a formidable force anywhere in Faerûn.

　Casalos's unique feelings were clearly a result of paranoia or PTSD; other dragons capable of transforming into humans wouldn't share these feelings. It knew this wasn't a minor issue; if left unchecked, it could worsen and even develop into a pathological mental illness. It was worth noting that when it first entered Waterdeep, while it disliked human form, its symptoms weren't this severe. Of course, the presence of Toona's soft, protective body in Waterdeep likely greatly alleviated its symptoms. Now, venturing alone into a completely unfamiliar city—Desera, though effectively Casalos's city—it had hardly ever been there, let alone in human form.

Chapter 194

　Wandering around alone—the feeling of acting alone is amplified a lot, but it can still clearly recognize that its situation is getting worse, otherwise it wouldn't need to travel through the heart of Faerûn as a fully armored warrior.

　A full set of magical heavy armor is extremely valuable equipment. Not only does it make you the center of attention wherever you go, it's also very inconvenient for various daily activities and gathering information. It's quite convenient for attracting monsters, though.

　Straight away from the bustling port, across two blocks and then through the city square, Casalos glanced at the red dragon statue of Sercitta, carved from rubies, standing in the center of the square, and smirked inwardly. This very dragon was currently imprisoned on the snowy mountain receiving the kind "tutelage" of Shacales and Bellamy; he believed it wouldn't be long before it was completely tamed and released to obediently serve as Tindor's puppet lord.

　According to intelligence from the Bards' Guild, the Harpists' Alliance has long disliked Desera and is preparing to launch a major operation in Tindor to overthrow the evil red dragon's oppressive and dictatorial rule over the grasslands, liberate the grassland people, and allow them to return to their original free nomadic life of sleeping in the open, often hungry and poorly clothed.

　Bards can serve as excellent informants, but they are not professional intelligence agents and cannot uncover the more detailed plans of the harpists. Perhaps by letting Cersita make a public appearance, they can catch a big fish.

　123. Street Scene

　Casalos didn't feel any conflict or hesitation while using his real body to build up the Harpist's reputation, and he was actually quite pleased with himself for using Cecita's alias to cause trouble for the Harpist. He didn't like the Harpist at all; it was an inherent factional conflict and a clash of values.

　However, constrained by the situation on the mainland, and with its rule over its territory under real threat from the Harpist, it still had to boost the Harpist's reputation. In its heart, it was actually resistant to this, but now it could ruthlessly trick the Harpist, as a form of solace for its own soul.

　Or... take it a step further?

　It suddenly occurred to it: why not wait until these harpists who were planning to cause trouble in Dragon Territory are defeated, then create another alias that suits the harpists, and rescue a few idiots from "Cersita's" minions... This is a high-risk, high-reward endeavor, and it's only feasible if a detailed plan is devised to eliminate all possibilities of accidental exposure. There's no rush for now; let's wait until after the next round of trials and gather some trustworthy advisors to discuss it properly.

　Now it's better to explore the most dazzling gem in your own territory.

　"Cersita" Square is the landmark of Dessela, situated on high ground east of the port, offering a panoramic view of the constant flow of ships of all sizes entering and leaving the port area. At the center of the square stands a red dragon sculpture, its wings folded, crouching on a 20-meter-high stone pedestal. The rubies used in the sculpture alone weigh over 10 tons, and skilled kobold gemologists used vapor deposition to coat the entire statue with a dense layer of gold, reflecting a dazzling array of colors in the sunlight. The dragon's eyes, horns, teeth, and scales are all encased in gold; the sheer value of the material would drive any dragon mad.

　According to spies within the city, at least six dragons disguised as humanoids have infiltrated Deselane and are eyeing the statue. However, due to the city's military strength and the dragons' own behavior of planning actions in ten-year timeframes, they have not yet taken action. The dogs are fully prepared and are just waiting for these guys to walk into the trap so that Casalos can offer up a few new true dragon servants.

　Sersitta Square, in a sense, is a dragon trap.

　Given the nature of dragons, Casalos was naturally very concerned about the presence of a sculpture of another dragon in its city, even if that "other dragon" was merely its disguise and puppet, not to mention the sculpture's own high value. However, after the dogs erected even larger and more valuable sculptures for it in the snowy mountains and underground dragon territories, and considering the symbolic significance and practical additional function of the sculpture in Sersitta Square for its rule over the Tindor steppe, it gradually became more at ease.

　Now that Cecita herself has been taken to the snowy mountains to be kept, Casalos finds the sculpture even more pleasing to the eye.

　Without the lingering reservations, the red dragon sculpture is definitely a highlight that aligns with Casalos's aesthetic, making the other buildings in Desselasques seem rather uninteresting in comparison.

　Beyond the square lies the inner city of Desera, also known as the new city. Its overall planning and design were completed jointly by the kobolds and dwarves. The kobolds' architectural designs emphasize simplicity and practicality, while the dwarves prefer to build tall buildings with hard lines and sharp angles. The combination of the two gives Desera Port a wild and rugged atmosphere, much like the grasslands.

　Neatly arranged low-rise stone buildings, each over five meters tall and uniform in style, line both sides of a road wide enough for eight carriages to travel side by side. From afar, they create a strong visual impact on travelers arriving in Desera. Such tall buildings are rarely seen in cities of Faerûn. Even the towering Black Staff Tower, a landmark of the Glorious City, would be overshadowed in the inner city of Desera. Only the grand slave-owning palaces in the central cities of the underground Grey Dwarf cities offer a similar scene.

　However, the Desera complex is a "commoner's building" intended for all residents, while the upper district, built of obsidian, is even more insane.

　“What a magnificent city, how can anyone live here…” one of the two tourists who had just finished visiting the sculptures remarked as they passed by Casaloz.

　Upon hearing this, Casalos turned his gaze to the houses where people were going in and out, and grinned.

　Desera's houses are indeed unsuitable for habitation. Neither the dwarves nor the kobolds seemed to have considered the issue of lighting. The thick stone walls and ceilings exceeding five meters in height create a unique, spacious yet dark and enclosed space. While one might initially feel awe and awe within, prolonged exposure could easily transform into a sense of oppression, potentially leading to psychological problems. Furthermore, climbing just two floors would be exhausting, making daily life extremely inconvenient.

　The houses that Desera provides to its residents are of this type, made by hardworking dwarven craftsmen. They are sturdy, reliable, and inexpensive. As long as you have a stable job in Desera, you can buy such a house with a very low down payment, get a resident's certificate, and bring your whole family to live in the city permanently, officially becoming a part of the city. The price is that a tiny portion of your income for the rest of your life will be repaid to the housing center. How many people can resist such a temptation?

　So what if the house is a bit bigger, taller, and more spacious? They can just add a loft with wooden planks and divide it into a few rooms, turning what was originally a dwarf hut into a duplex. How could that stop the lower classes from pursuing and yearning for a peaceful and prosperous life?

　Ultimately, on the perilous continent of Faerûn, all living beings struggle to survive, adrift and uncertain. A city that can shelter people from most disasters and dangers and allow them to live well is enough to attract a large number of residents to settle there. Now, the permanent population of Desera has exceeded 100,000, equal to the total population of the original Tindor Plains.

　Even many homeless adventurers, after arriving in Desera, are attracted by the city's atmosphere or its developed service industry, and choose to temporarily put aside their adventurous life, settle down here permanently, get a resident's certificate, or settle down for a long time, or wait until they retire in the future to settle down.

　The two people passing Casalos were dressed as adventurers. It watched as the two men who had just been criticizing each other were pulled into a dimly lit, colorful house by two stylishly dressed drow streetwalkers, shook its head, and continued on its way to its destination.

　The two adventurers will soon have an unforgettable experience... Dracera's service industry is a legal business that strictly abides by laws and regulations. Although it was a drow who took the two adventurers away, they don't need to worry about their lives. They only need to worry about whether their wallets are fat enough and whether they have enough energy.

　124. Performance

　Continuing east along Dragon Avenue after crossing the square, you'll come to the second iconic building of Desailly.

Chapter 195

　The Dragon Arena – it seems that every major city in Faerûn must have a dragon avenue, but only Dzaila's dragons truly live up to their name, because this avenue, and indeed the entire city, was built by kobolds for dragons, so having a dragon arena makes perfect sense.

　Viewed from above, the Dragon Arena is roughly hexagonal in shape, with a circular, tiered seating area enclosing a large, sunken open arena within a forty-meter-high, thick stone wall. Like all the major cities of Faerûn, it's a place for its inhabitants to unleash their inner violence. However, dragons actually fight here—yes, it's Bellamy and Shakales. These two evil dragons, posing as servants of Sersita, often come to the arena in their spare time to torment wild beasts for amusement. The audience is thrilled by the pure bloodshed and violence, and driven mad by the dragons' majestic presence.

　For this reason alone, the Dragon Arena of Desera can be called the best in Faerûn. Moreover, the scale of the Dragon Arena is among the top in the entire continent of Faerûn. In comparison, even the Colosseum of Deepwater City and Deepskull Harbor and the Arena of Neverwinter are far inferior.

　The Dragon Arena is also the only designated venue for resolving conflicts within the city of Desera. While weaponry is strictly prohibited throughout Desera, the arena is an exception. Residents and travelers with irreconcilable feuds can apply for free entry to the arena to settle their scores through force, witnessed by a full audience…

　Outside the west gate of the arena, which faces the main plaza, a dense crowd had already formed, waiting to pass through the guards' checks to enter and watch today's special program. Casalos walked straight into the crowd, showed an insignia to the goblin guards maintaining order, and then entered through a fast passage with only a few scattered people. Guided by a formally dressed attendant, he ascended to a private VIP box located above the main stage.

　Inside the private room, two drow maids, well-trained by the green dragon, were already waiting. Their attire, while maintaining the drow's inherent revealing style, had also become somewhat "modern." With one hand holding an exquisite fruit platter and wine, and the other stroking her lower abdomen, she seductively walked up to Casalos and removed its outer garment, leading it to sit on the large, soft sofa, her fingertips teasingly tracing its neck.

　Casalos frowned and pushed the two away. The latter, realizing the situation, stopped overstepping his bounds and instead began to professionally arrange the small props in the room.

　A level 3 mage and a level 2 rogue, hmm, very professional.

　The private booth is the highest-class seat in the Dragon Arena. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view of every corner of the central arena area, and there are also several crystal balls that provide close-up live coverage of the arena from different angles.

　The open-air seating area of ​​the arena was now packed with a huge crowd. Some held up banners or signs displaying magical projections, some waved glowing crystal wands, and some shouted excitedly, waiting for the protagonist of the day to appear. The arena seating area was not usually like this. Those who came to vent their violence were not so reserved. They were much more frenzied, tearing off their shirts and roaring to urge the start of the next good show.

　Today is a special day, and the program in the arena is quite different from usual. Even the magical barrier that should always surround the arena has not been raised.

　As dusk fell, the magical light suddenly blazed up, focusing on the center of the arena. Then, a square stone platform slowly rose, and in the shimmering reflection of the shimmering light, a dark-skinned, white-haired girl, draped in a light silk dress, appeared, dancing and chanting a lively opening song. The entire arena erupted in cheers.

　Seeing Isis's gaze directed in his direction, Casalos glanced at the close-up image in the crystal ball and pursed his lips: It's only because of the lighting and distance that this little girl is covered up; otherwise, everyone would have seen everything about her. The enthusiastic grassland people are happy to show off their beauty, and the Iron Dragon has no concept of this, except that some of its past life's thinking still slightly influences Casalos, making it instinctively feel that this isn't quite right. But, especially in human form, it quite enjoys looking at her.

　Zhuoer briefly switched the floor-to-ceiling windows to double-view mode, allowing a glimpse of the room from the outside. The latter was pleased to see the figures inside, and their singing became much more cheerful.

　To better promote Desera Port to the continent of Faerûn, Xiao Nizi's team recently planned a continental tour, with the first performance kicking off today. To put it bluntly, everyone crowding into the arena today is a fan of Isis. They're here to see Isis's concert, not for a bloody gladiatorial contest.

　For a long time, Casalos had been too busy to see his little girl perform live. This time, however, he couldn't resist her persistent pleading and reluctantly agreed to be there to see her off. Entering Dracera in dragon form was inappropriate; it would cause a lot of unnecessary trouble and undermine Cersita's rule. Besides, he would be wandering alone in the humanoid society of the heart of Faerûn for a long time to come, so it was good for him to adapt to human form beforehand and improve his psychological symptoms. Therefore, he chose to enter his city in this form at this time.

　Casalos didn't consider himself to have any artistic talent, nor could he tell whether Isis's performance was good or bad; he just thought it was pleasing to the eye. The young girl's performance style leaned towards singing and dancing, and judging from his vague memories of his past life, her skill level was probably quite good. Add to that some magical special effects that she herself released on the spot, and even in his past life, with its industrialized entertainment industry, she would have been a top star. It was only natural that she could attract a large number of loyal fans in Faerûn, where public entertainment was lacking.

　However, Isis's approach of trivializing magic seems to have displeased the Church of the Goddess of Magic. A priest from Azus in Deseraine has repeatedly warned Isis, and it's unclear when this might escalate into a conflict. Casalos's opinion is to ignore this. Regardless of whether the god of magic, Azus, and the goddess of magic will be unhappy with the trivialization of magic, the relationship between the gods and their followers will soon undergo a fundamental change. At that point, not only will the churches acting in the gods' name be struggling, but even the gods themselves will be preoccupied with their own problems.

　Using magic or even divine performances to please the masses is a trivial matter, but it might even become a model for various organizations and churches to emulate because it is efficient at making money and attracting a large number of believers. It all depends on whether those sorcerers and priests can swallow their pride for the sake of their truth and deities.

　That would be so interesting.

　125. Peeping at the Dragon God

　The year of turmoil is still some time away, but just as the dragon's view of time is incomprehensible to mortals, the gods' view of time is also difficult for dragons to understand and comprehend; a few years may be but a moment.

　But as an ordinary dragon living in the Material Plane, Casalos should still plan its own life according to the Material Plane's timeline. Besides making ample preparations for the widespread catastrophe of the Year of Turmoil, before the true moment arrives when the outer gods are banished to the mortal realm, it must at least accomplish a few major tasks to ensure it can ascend to the wider and freer stage of Faerûn after the Year of Turmoil—just as brilliantly as Isis is on that stage now…

　The performance concluded perfectly amidst magical fireworks that illuminated the entire city, signifying that Desera's tour in Faerûn had just begun. The young Iron Dragon returned to its underground lair to continue its growth, nurtured by blood and souls amidst endless carnage.

　Casalos sometimes couldn't help but think that if the Dragon Vault could provide some kind of blood sacrifice or soul refining method, then by relying on the killing in its training dungeons, it could surely give birth to a god of slaughter or something.

　Unfortunately, fantasy is just fantasy. Even the layering of blazing flames cannot be inherited, let alone using the Dragon Treasury to cheat and steal Melkor's divine office. The creator of the Dragon Treasury doesn't seem to care much about divine power, and the Dragon God who also works there has an ambiguous attitude towards the divine power of the Kingdom and the Heavens. Perhaps it's not a source of power that is compatible with dragons.