Ashen Dragon-Chapter 1204 - 352: Deep Red Embers (Part 2)

But just at this moment, Kazuul revealed his immense and monstrous true form atop the altar—a terrifying ancient Red Dragon. He slowly waved his wings and rose into the sky under countless fearful and shocked gazes. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The earth boiled, and the surging, scorching magma erupted from the ground, sweeping up ashes and smoke into the sky, even obscuring the sun.

On that day, wails filled the lands, magma flowed, and the earth turned into scorched soil. Countless Seleucid people perished in this dreadful scourge, consumed by the scorching magma, reduced to charred remains.

This grand sacrifice!

Tiamat’s shadow appeared in the sky, greedily harvesting the souls and faith of the Seleucid people, descending violent and evil divine light, bestowing the pulsating "Heart of Evil Dragon."

Kazuul, without hesitation, swallowed the heart obtained by exchanging the souls and lives of hundreds of thousands of followers, letting out a long roar towards the sky. Amidst the wailings and rumblings, he evolved into a bona fide quasi-god existence.

From then on, outside Sunset City, there appeared a vast plain piled with lava and ashes, called "Death Wilderness" and "Embers Plain" by people. Kazuul also gained the reputation of "Deep Red Embers."

To this day, ash still lingers in the sky over the Embers Plain, and the sky remains gloomy and dark.

In southern Seleucid, the name Kazuul has become a symbol of flame, ash, and death, a taboo existence spoken of by people. Yet now, people witness the awakening of the taboo with their own eyes.

Raymond’s eyes were hollow as he laughed and cried, then murmured, "It’s finally here... Maybe I should have died in that disaster years ago. Nancy, Meg, perhaps we can reunite in Purgatory."

"The Day of Embers..."

The old man standing beside him gazed hopelessly at the spreading ashes, his face pale and body trembling, as if rooted to the ground.

The old man recalled a ballad from Sunset City and recited it with a trembling voice: "Before the Deep Red Embers, all beings equally perish..."

"Run away!"

"Damn it! That magma is about to spread here!"

"Boom!"

A muffled roar accompanied the sudden cracking of the ground in front of them, with a massive fissure spewing forth a torrent of magma, blocking their final escape route.

However, Raymond knew well that this made little difference, merely changing when death arrives.

He pointed to the sky with a bitter smile: "It’s useless, don’t struggle. That is the ’Deep Red Embers’ Kazuul, and now, all we can do—is pray to Amanata for the occurrence of a Miracle."

"Great Lord of Eternal Radiance! Hear our plea, grant us salvation—"

People clasped their hands together repeatedly, praying to the sky, hoping for a Miracle to descend, for the sun’s light to pierce through the ashes and smoke. But their only response was the howling gale and the earth’s rumblings.

Most dragons of ascension previously did not achieve occupational levels but were dragons with considerable age and strength. Some Dragon Priest, Paladin, and Dark Guard moved into the dragon of ascension advancement occupation upon reaching sufficient power levels. Members of holy advancement occupations described in this Chapter (Kronipus’ Cold Observer, Bahamut’s Holy Watcher, and Tiamat’s Desecration Destroyer) sometimes choose the holy ascension path to become more perfect servants of their gods.

Dragons of Ascension are proud and generally aloof. They view the journey along the path to holy ascension as a race and do not choose to share this path with others in the same process. On the other hand, they often possess followers and allies supporting their exploration, and they are more freely collaborating with lower-level dragons and non-dragon beings than with other dragons.

Life Dice: d12.

Requirements

To be eligible to become a dragon of ascension, a dragon must meet all of the following conditions.

Race: Any True Dragon.

Basic Attack Bonus: +30.

Specialties: Dragon Knowledge, Quick Healing, Strengthening, Increased Speed, Steel Will, Quick Reflex.

Special: Consume Treasure: To begin the process of holy ascension, a potential dragon of ascension must consume its treasure. The treasure must be worth at least 100,000 gold coins, but the dragon cannot choose to consume exactly 100,000 gold coins and leave the rest—it must consume the entire treasure. (This occupation is also most heartbreaking for giant dragons.)

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Dragons of Ascension do not gain proficiency with any weapons, armor, or shields.

Spiritual Light of Reverence (Awesome Aura)(Special): The dragon of ascension loses its innate fierce momentum, replacing it with a special aura of fear. The aura surrounds the dragon in any radius up to 30 feet times the dragon’s age category that the dragon chooses, and it is always active unless the dragon chooses to dismiss it. The dragon can choose to exclude its allies from the effects of its aura. Creatures within the aura must make a Will save (DC equal to the dragon’s fierce momentum DC plus 1/2 its dragon of ascension levels). Creatures failing the saving throw are shaken, while those succeeding are immune to the effects of the dragon’s aura for 24 hours. If the dragon attacks or charges, shaken creatures must attempt a second Will save (same DC) or become frightened.

When the dragon of ascension reaches Level 5, it can choose to alter its aura to inspire allies’ resolve and enemies’ fear. All allies within the aura radius receive a +4 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and checks. The dragon’s enemies must succeed in a Will saving throw, or they suffer a -4 penalty on attack rolls, saves, and checks.

When the dragon of ascension reaches Level 10, it gains a third aura option. Simply gazing at the dragon in awe causes affected creatures to become stunned if they fail their Will save. Like the fear aspect of the aura, the dragon can choose to exclude its allies from the effects of the aura.

All uses of the dragon’s Spiritual Light of Reverence are mind-affecting effects.

HP Increase (Special): At Level 2, and every two levels after that, the dragon of ascension gains 1 hp per Life Dice it possesses, including all its dragon Life Dice and those gained from occupational levels. This effect can never increase the dragon’s hp above the maximum determined by its Life Dice and Constitution bonus.

At Level 12, the dragon of ascension’s hp equals the maximum determined by its Life Dice and Constitution bonus.

Transformation Immunity (Transmutation Immunity)(Special): At Level 3, the dragon of ascension becomes immune to attacks that change its form, such as transmutation, petrification, and any other transformation attacks. Any transmutation-based powers or spells the dragon possesses work normally on itself.

Damage Reduction Enhancement (Supernatural): At Level 4, the dragon of ascension’s damage reduction can only be overcome by legendary weapons. At Level 8, the amount of the dragon’s damage reduction (the number before the slash) increases by 5. For example, an ancient Black Dragon/Level 8 dragon of ascension has 20/legendary damage reduction.

Life Guarding (Lifewarding)(Special): At Level 6, the dragon of ascension is no longer affected by attacks that cause energy drain, attribute drain, or attribute damage.

Deflection Bonus (Supernatural): At Level 7, the dragon of ascension’s Defense level gains a deflection bonus equal to its charisma bonus—if any.

Iron Ambition (Iron Mind)(Special): At Level 9, the dragon of ascension becomes immune to mind-affecting effects (charm, compulsion, phantasm, mind-affecting illusions, and morale effects).

Resistance to Fire (Special): At Level 11, the dragon of ascension gains 20 resistance to fire, if it does not already have fire immunity.

Magic Resistance (Special): At Level 11, the dragon of ascension’s magic resistance increases to 33.

Immortality (Special): The Level 12 dragon of ascension is effectively a quasi-god, no longer able to die from natural causes. It does not need to eat, sleep, or breathe. It is still possible to be killed in physical or magical combat, and it remains susceptible to death from massive amounts of damage.

Code of Conduct: The dragon of ascension must remain absolutely faithful to its camp’s principles, whatever they may be. If the dragon of ascension willingly violates its camp’s principles, it loses its Spiritual Light of Reverence (and does not regain its fierce momentum), and cannot advance further in the dragon of ascension levels. If the dragon atones for its violations, as circumstances permit, it can regain its Spiritual Light of Reverence and once again progress in the dragon of ascension advancement occupation.