Ashen Dragon

Cassius looked deep into the secluded valley, where scratches and cracks were everywhere, stained with patches of blood, resembling a dilapidated prison where chilly winds blew intermittently, clashing with the peaceful and orderly environment of the Eternal Order Realm.

On the rocky walls on both sides, densely packed runes were still engraved, but these symbols gave off an intense oppressive feeling, like a cage.

At the same time, a strong oppressive force descended, causing Cassius to feel a heaviness on his shoulders, even maintaining flight by flapping his wings became somewhat strenuous, let alone casting spells. Beatrice, however, was unaffected and continued to fly ahead gracefully.

Cassius looked around and couldn't help but sigh, "Ah, I didn't expect such a place within the seemingly peaceful and beautiful Eternal Order Realm, almost like a screaming tunnel, is this your prison?"

"This is the Valley of Unforgiveness, the only place in the Eternal Order Realm untouched by sunlight," Beatrice's voice remained cold, clear even against the howling wind and wails.

"In a sense, you are right. This is where my father—Ferdinand imprisons those who have committed heinous crimes, or should I say, criminals." She gently flapped her wings, landing on a protruding cliff before folding her wings behind her.

"Criminals?"

Cassius unconsciously bowed his head, a helpless bitter smile appearing on his face, even the whiskers near his mouth trembling slightly. "Criminals, it's been a long time since I heard this familiar term, perhaps... you are right."

Beatrice gave him a meaningful glance and didn't say much, just walked into a cave by the cliff.

In the profound depths of the cave, pieces of Night Stone illuminated the path ahead, the rocky walls on either side still covered with complex runes, emitting a certain oppressive power.

Cassius looked at those extremely oppressive patterns, similar to iron bars, and quietly asked, "Is this the Dead Magic Domain?"

Beatrice, tightening her wings behind her, continued to walk ahead without turning her head, "Yes, my father used exquisite rune carvings to create vast Dead Magic Domains and Good and Evil Barriers. This is the confinement he meticulously crafted, specially designed to imprison those cunning wizards."

Cassius, feeling the power suppressing his innate magic from all directions, chuckled lightly, "Such extravagant measures, you really think highly of me."

"Merely necessary precautions for a suspicious outsider. The power of the runes allows me to see through the essence of everything. Although you are shrouded in mist, I can feel—that you are much more powerful than you appear."

"Thanks for the compliment, although I'd rather not accept such praise in your prison."

"That is not a compliment, Titus. Until your purpose and stance are clear, your greater power only signifies a greater threat to the Eternal Order Realm."

Cassius twitched his claws under the heavy pressure, using it as an opportunity to express his doubts.

"It doesn't make sense. If I truly had the strength to break through the Eternal Order Realm, I would have confronted you directly and not have followed you here. Lady Beatrice, you are being overly cautious."

"It's just a necessary precaution." Beatrice neither agreed nor disagreed, simply shook her head and continued walking deeper into the cave.

"Here we are, follow me."

"Boom—"

Accompanied by a resounding sound, the heavy stone door in front slowly opened, the patterns on its surface flickering with bursts of light, clearly filled with many supernatural effects.

Eventually, they entered the cave one after another, the sight that met them was a spherical chamber, its walls almost completely covered with complex runes, and—a floating black gemstone in the center.

A stronger pressure descended, and upon seeing that black gemstone, Cassius even felt the urge to spill everything.

High-level Truth Magic Ball.

In such an environment, even an ancient Red Dragon could not utilize half its power, yet Beatrice was completely unaffected.

Beatrice turned around, her scrutinizing gaze fixed on Cassius, now incarnated as an Ancient Gold Dragon, and spoke again.

"This is my father's interrogation room, even the Ancient Blue Dragon would find it hard to escape. This chamber blocks all sounds, spying, and even prophecies, fitting your description of a 'secretive place',"

"Of course."

The Ancient Gold Dragon's gaze was intense as it stepped forward, pressing, "Then—please tell me, what are you concealing? What exactly is your purpose?"

"Can you give me a moment, please? At least for now, I am still your guest, not an enemy." Cassius was well-prepared for this, closing his eyes, seemingly recalling the past, yet also hesitating.

Suddenly, a somber and lost demeanor enveloped him. The air around him began to solidify, even his golden scales dimmed considerably.

After a long silence, he finally opened his eyes and slowly extended his left front paw.

"Ssst..."

The sound of burning Flame arose, a mottled black and red Flame suddenly emerged in the palm of his hand.

"Chaos Flame? How dare you seek such power; it will drag you into The Abyss!" Beatrice's voice trembled, her expression changing dramatically as she stared intently at the seemingly inconsequential flame in Titus's hand.

A barely noticeable smirk appeared in Cassius's eyes; indeed, by throwing out a shocking fact—like The Abyss, the other party would overlook all other disguises.

"Boom!"

Instantly, runes on the walls flickered urgently, unleashing forces of Order. Hundreds of silver-white chains surged from all around, seemingly to imprison this evil, chaotic power.

But the crazed, tangled tongues of flame, like tentacles reaching out from The Abyss, danced wildly in the air, stubbornly resisting the power of the runes. A rolling black mist filled the chamber, and the stench of blood emerged.

Cassius clenched his paw, forcibly controlling the ball of flame, yet flames still leaked out, even scorching his own scales.

"I did not seek the power of The Abyss, but rather...I had no choice." Cassius's body trembled, his face showing pain.

He forcefully suppressed the frantic flame, raised his head, and weakly smiled: "Beatrice, would you be willing to listen to a long-sealed... sinner's story?"

Beatrice's gaze intensified, yet she hesitantly nodded.

She felt that the Gold Dragon in front of her wasn't conspiring with The Abyss, but was forcefully suppressing that chaotic power she deeply loathed. It must be… due to some unspeakable secret; she could even feel his sadness.

Such an Ancient Gold Dragon must have a painful past.

Thus, Cassius lay tiredly in the chamber, his voice hoarse and deep. "Long ago...perhaps three thousand years? Maybe four thousand?

At that time, I was a mature dragon, wanting to maintain the world's justice and order with my own strength, so I gathered many of my kind and established a large and close Alliance...

For some reason, even before Titus spoke much, pity, regret, and sadness welled up in her heart and lingered long.

Following Cassius's words, she felt as if she could see an ambitious Gold Dragon wanting to change the world, much like her father—Ferdinand. She could envision hundreds of Gold Dragons soaring in the sky, patrolling everywhere, rooting out evil from all places.

Beatrice did not know that this was Cassius's Smooth Talker Trait in full effect, along with a charisma of 36 points.

If it were a [Deception][Persuasion] check in a game, Cassius's charisma and skill modifiers could easily reach +20, even the willful Ancient Gold Dragon Carver would be influenced unknowingly.

"My comrades raced across the land and soared in the sky, whether it was the evil Red Dragon slaughtering villages, Giants pillaging cities, Devils tricking Mortals out of their souls, or Liches harvesting souls... none could escape our justice..."

Cassius's words continued, eloquently conveying a grand, particularly fitting tale for the values of a Gold Dragon.

And under the influence of Smooth Talker, this female Ancient Gold Dragon, who had lived in the Eternal Order Realm uninformed of worldly affairs, became engrossed and completely believed his words.