Ashen Dragon

Then, these terrifying red giant dragons would descend upon the city, selecting young boys and girls from houses like choosing a tender roast, tossing them directly into their mouths, chewing on flesh and bones with a crunch.

As they flapped their wings away, the once prosperous city had turned into burning ruins, smoke billowing everywhere, filled with cries and screams of despair.

Moreover, the older the Red Dragons, the more intense they became, committing even more insane and barbaric acts.

Adrian had long grown accustomed to the atrocities of the Red Dragons, feeling numb, and his subordinates thus refused to journey to the Ashen Empire, rather die than become dragon fodder.

In Adrian's mind, that emperor was no more than a red dragon, a horrifying beast—no matter how many complex titles preceded his name, it could not change this fact.

But now, Adrian saw in this young man's eyes a genuinely profound admiration and reverence, even momentarily suspecting it was the result of mind control.

However, as they stepped out of the building, a parade of red-robed followers approached, their expressions fervent, singing bold and passionate songs.

"His Majesty is like the sun above, we are like seeds upon the ground, endless light shining on earth, growing strong to become sprouts—"

"Amanata above..."

Adrian and Rolf were stunned, faces full of disbelief.

Sevin explained with accustomed ease: "These are followers of the Ashes Empire Sect, who worship His Majesty Cassius as a divine entity walking the earth, holding parades every few days to spread his fame."

Adrian looked to the sky at the armored wyvern knights patrolling along their routes, unable to restrain himself from asking: "Oh God, how did you tame these beasts, making them as docile as steeds, carrying humans through the sky…"

"Beasts?"

Sevin shook his head, speaking with some seriousness: "No no no, they are official citizens of the Ashen Empire, with their own commissions and stipends, many among them are old soldiers with distinguished war records."

"Do you see that building over there? That's the Red Scale Guard Station, where all bipedal wyverns must uniformly take off and land at the Dragon Landing Square."

The wyverns on the platform flapped their wings, rising and falling, yet appeared orderly, rarely colliding, operating almost seamlessly like a perfect clock.

And on the post beside the platform, an ogre lay lazily, holding a loudspeaker, loudly directing the wyverns in their take-offs and landings.

"This..."

Witnessing these bizarre scenes, Adrian felt overwhelmed, unable to spare time for marvel.

The nearby Sevin waved his hand, gently saying: "Let's hurry, Sir Adrian, His Majesty Cassius's time is worth more than any gold coin, you must cherish it."

...

Soon they reached their destination—the Isdalia Grand Altar.

"We've arrived, this is the Isdalia Grand Altar, the sacred place of the Ashen Emperor's enthronement," Sevin said.

Seen here, this stone mountain, or more accurately, stone pillar, rose from the earth, piercing through the clouds, directly into the sky, even tilting your head back cannot reveal its end.

Around it hovered several massive bipedal wyverns and over a hundred fully armed, stern-faced Tiefling soldiers.

"Amanata above…..."

Seeing this magnificent and splendid scene, Adrian and Rolf couldn't help but utter a sincere gasp, instinctively offering prayers.

But their prayers to the Sun God quickly drew the attention of the guards, wyverns snarled, Tiefling guards gave sharp looks, raised their spears, pointing at the trio. This version was sourced from MVL^EMPYR.

"Who are you exactly, and why are you nearing the Holy Land?"

Both Adrian and Rolf grew somewhat tense, but Sevin with a smile raised his hand: "Sir, they have the token of audience, personally requested by His Majesty."

"Token."

The Tiefling guard extended his hand.

Adrian calmly drew from his bosom the token engraved with a vertical eye-flame emblem, handing it over.

After inspecting the token briefly, the Tiefling guard opened a path, coldly saying: "You may proceed."

Sevin, full of excitement, trembling in his legs, was about to follow when the guards barred him with spears: "Sorry, you haven't been invited."

Sevin, his face stricken with grief, looked up, waving distantly to the pair, shouting excitedly: "Sir Adrian, give my regards to His Majesty! Please don't drive me away, I have the right to stay here!"

Watching Sevin, both crying and laughing, seeming mad, Adrian felt not only tense and anxious but also somewhat expectant.

Why would that emperor be revered to the point of being regarded as divine? In his decades of life, he's only seen such qualities in Elder Aragon the First, the old emperor of Fadlan.

Even if he was a red dragon, Adrian couldn't resist wanting to glimpse the true visage.

"Who knows... what kind of demeanor the emperor will have," he murmured, motioning to the mage behind him.

"Rolf, let's go."

"Sir, please stay vigilant, do not become complacent, falling into someone's intricately designed trap," Rolf whispered.

Adrian chuckled lightly: "I'm nothing more than a destitute noble who has lost his territory, what scheme could the emperor have against me?"

"Moreover, we are on someone else's ground, come what may—the worst is but death."

Near the Sword Bay Region, there are several well-known cities such as Waterdeep, Elturel, and Neverwinter. Waterdeep is built on the Elf Empire Ilfaen's capital—old site Eren Vier, with numerous divine temples, Miracle Temple is the grandest Magic Goddess Temple in the game, featuring a magnificent tower adorned with various artworks and magic decorations, boasting a luxurious Baroque style, while Neverwinter leans towards Gothic-style architecture, having formed from the earliest human settlement Aegostor which developed over a century. The main city, Bod Gate, is the largest and most prosperous trade city-state in the Sword Bay Region, a melting pot for everyone from nobles to commoners and thieves, called "breeding ground of conspirators" by adventurers. The city's name comes from a hero, Bodlan from Gray Harbor, who explored on the continent beyond Sword Sea, brought wealth back to Gray Harbor, and led a team to establish the city. Bod Gate is split into noble Upper City and commoner Lower District based on residents' status, surrounded by Outer City scattered around Chenyi Mountain, and the gate distinguishing Upper City from Lower District is named Bod Gate, also serves as the city's namesake, commemorating its founder Bodlan. Currently, Bod Gate is ruled by a council of four dukes, one of whom leads the council, if the vote is tied, great duke Elder Ravenclaw makes the decision. The Upper City's law enforcement is handled by the elite police group Watch, while other areas are managed by the mercenary corps named Flaming Fist, whose leader is also Duke Elder Ravenclaw, and the corps headquarters is located in Bodlan Sea Tower, the strongest fortress against sea invasions for Bod Gate. Like a crescent encircling Bod Gate is its economic lifeline—Gray Harbor, where hundreds of merchant ships enter and exit daily, bringing gold coins but also greed and sin. The Upper City, located on higher ground, consists of Castle District, Temple District, Manoburn District, and Wide Alley District, packed with religious buildings. Miracle Hall and Supreme Miracle House are the church centers of God of Craft Gund in Bod Gate, Miracle Hall showcases Gund's great inventions, Supreme Miracle House also doubles as a workshop. Lower District buildings are primarily stone houses, divided into six districts: Sea Tower District, Blonrich District, Steep District, Crowded Side District, East Road District, and Branpton District. The middle class typically resides close to the Upper City's aristocracy in Blonrich District, while East Road District near Stone Lizard Gate connecting Outer City District is relatively more diverse.