Ashen Dragon

Cassius, seeing this, flapped his wings, raising a scorching whirlwind filled with ashes, and soared into the sky, confronting the Fire Giant Pasha from a distance.

Behind him, clouds of steam billowed, blinding lightning flickered through them, and rain-like flames descended.

A nearly tangible Dragon's Might spread outward, oppressing all beings and radiating around the Red Dragon for nearly a kilometer, causing all creatures within this domain to feel a profound sense of reverence and awe.

Fire Giant and Red Dragon.

The two confronted each other from a distance, creating an impressively grand scene.

Cassius' pale golden eyes narrowed slightly as he scrutinized the Fire Giant from afar.

"So, this is the Pasha…"

"One of the strongest under the Sultan in the Fire Giant Kingdom."

This guy was nearly ten meters tall, with a robust build—his strength was certainly not insignificant—but next to Cassius, it didn't seem like much at all.

As a direct servant of the Great Sultan, standing at the pinnacle of the Fire Giant Kingdom, it was no surprise that he was adorned in gleaming gold and extravagantly armed.

Even the bracelet on his wrist could barely reach the legendary rank, and the brass curved sword he wielded was a top-tier legendary weapon.

What caught Cassius' attention the most was the layered mithral rings around the Fire Giant's neck, etched with ancient and mysterious flame patterns.

He even sensed a divine-like aura emanating from them!

"Just a servant with such wealth—how enviable. No wonder the ancient kingdom has such profound foundations."

Cassius couldn't help but lament.

However, deep within his pale golden pupils, a glint of undisguised greed shone.

Ishmael Enver glared angrily at the distant dragon, his rugged scarlet face filled with fury.

But in his flame-filled eyes, there was a trace of apprehension.

"Ancient Red Dragon..."

"Damn, how did that fool Hamid stir up something so troublesome!"

The Great Sultan was busy fending off the offensive from the so-called "Prince of the Holy Flame" and paid no heed to the so-called "Soul Devouring Dragon."

But for the sake of stability in the rear, he still sent Ishmael to handle it. As a direct servant of the Sultan, the Pasha had happily accepted the mission.

Yet Ishmael never expected that what appeared in Black Iron City would be a being of Primordial Dragon level!

Even he wasn't entirely confident in defeating a Primordial Dragon.

Much less a Red Dragon!

At that moment, the Red Dragon high in the sky spoke.

"Heh, Pasha..."

"Your Great Sultan surely lacks manners, sending only a lowly servant to greet me?"

"I had thought—he would personally come to apologize to me."

Cassius grinned, his tone dripping with blatant contempt.

The Fire Giant Pasha's face instantly twisted, his eyes blazing with fire.

"Red Dragon!"

"You have gone too far!"

He let out an earth-shattering roar of anger.

As one of the six Pashas at the top of the Fire Giant Kingdom, for thousands of years, being a direct servant of the Great Sultan had always been his pride.

But this dragon dared to insult the Great Sultan right in front of him, demeaning the status of the Pasha!

Ishmael raised his curved sword, pointing the blade at the Red Dragon in the sky.

"Red Dragon, are you provoking the Great Sultan and declaring war against the Fire Giant Empire?"

"Declare war?"

Cassius pretended to question.

"Wasn't it your Fire Giant officials who insulted and provoked me first? I'm merely retaliating to defend the Empire's honor."

"Besides..."

Cassius paused, then let out a cold laugh.

"Didn't your Great Sultan just get stabbed by the Prince of the Holy Flame? I suppose he's lying in the City of Brass recovering, too busy to fight me."

"You—"

Ishmael was speechless, feeling a bit flustered. He wanted to retort.

But the Red Dragon high in the sky flapped his wings, causing a scorching storm that tore through the heavens and approached.

He no longer wished to speak and instead wanted to taste what this so-called "Pasha" was like.

The sound of tearing cloth rang out, followed by a piercing shriek.

"Whoosh—"

In just a few breaths, the Red Dragon had traversed several hundred meters, arriving above the Fire Giant.

Thunderclouds followed closely, bringing dazzling lightning.

"Boom!"

"Boom! Boom!"

The thunder roared.

Thick lightning bolts as wide as bowls struck down suddenly, lighting up the surroundings and aiming straight for the Fire Giant's head.

"Lightning?"

"How can this be, it's clearly a Red Dragon..."

Ishmael frowned, watching the sky warily, raising his left hand holding the leather shield studded with metal rivets.

This shield, made from the thick hide of an ancient dragon beast—called the Ancient Beast Shield, also a legendary rank equipment with extremely high magic resistance.

The magical patterns on the Fire Giant's body flickered, and a Flame Shield appeared above his head, forming a large dome to ward off the terrifying lightning strike.

"Sizzle—Boom!"

The electric light flickered, the Flame Shield sparkled, energies collided repeatedly, creating a fierce explosion.

The lightning bolts broke through the barrier, leaving scorch marks on the shield.

But the Fire Giant remained unscathed, even having the energy to roar at the sky.

"Feeble attacks!"

"Red Dragon! You cannot defeat the Great Sultan's warrior!"

Ishmael struck the shield with the hilt of his sword, letting out a battle cry, while the flame patterns on his body shimmered.

"We Fire Giants are the natural rulers of the Fire Elemental Plane!"

"And always will be!"

The Fire Giant Pasha's eyes emitted a blinding light.

This was the innate spell of the Fire Giant nobles—Fireworks Storm!

Where his gaze landed, the space around the Red Dragon stirred, soon forming a terrifying tornado.

The wind carried flames, ashes, and smoke, resembling a monstrous beast eager to incinerate everything it engulfed.

This spell was as daunting as a scourge, easily capable of destroying a human village, and even turning a mortal city to ruins.

Yet, in the midst of this terrifying storm, Cassius remained unmoved. He leisurely flapped his wings, even feeling a bit amused.

"Foolish Fire Giant..."

"You dare to use such a spell against a noble Red Dragon?"

"Utterly delusional!"

The Red Dragon let out a soft whistle, slightly opening his mouth, and the raging flames began to be drawn into it, forming a vortex of fire and smoke in the sky.

As he greedily absorbed, the Dragon Crystal in his chest grew brighter, and the cracks in his neck gradually emitted a fiery glow.

"This, this is..."

Ishmael looked up at the sky, his expression serious.

He had somewhat lost his mind earlier, forgetting that it was a Red Dragon! A Red Dragon with fire resistance equal to that of a Fire Giant!

The last wisp of flame was drawn into the Red Dragon's mouth.

Cassius flapped his wings, looking down at the Fire Giant Pasha on the ground with his pale golden eyes, a sinister smile appearing on his face.

The Dragon Crystal in his chest shone like the sun, radiant flames and steam spewed from the pores on his body, as if containing the power to obliterate everything.

"He..."

"He absorbed my spell!"

Ishmael looked up at the Red Dragon in the sky, his hand holding the shield trembling slightly, the flames and smoke above his head flickering.

A sudden feeling of intense unease surged within him.

It was the scent of danger!

The Red Dragon opened his enormous maw once more, endless light seeping through the gaps between his teeth.

"Boom—"