Chapter 88: The Path of the Crimson Scaled (Part One)

  "The Crimson Scale costs 9,800 tribution points. After spending that, I still have 20,000 left—not bad."

  Mantou was a bit stunned: "Isn't it 10,780? Why is yours so much cheaper than mine?"

  Singo said bndly, "The price is reted to favorability. For every point your favor decreases, the pricreases by 1%. So..."

  Mantou: ...

  Singo said to Cassius, "Lord Cassius, I also want to purchase the 【Crimson Scale】."

  Mantou followed closely, "Me too."

  Cassius gazed at them with his golden eyes and slowly said, "This is the sharpest bde in my arsenal. Being a Crimson Scaled queror means you have no other choice—you only fight for me."

  "Are you—truly prepared?"

  Mantou's eyes were resolute.

  "I am ready!"

  The memories of his 18 days of hardship repyed in his mind like a revolving ntern, strengthening his determination to bee a Crimson Scaled queror.

  Cassius took out two crimson scales.

  "Then go prove your capabilities to me!"

  "I hope you survive until then."

  As Cassius finished speaking, information refreshed on their interfaces.

  [Advanced Quest: 【Crimson Scaled queror】 has been activated.]

  [Crimson Scaled querors are a special group of knights loyal to the master of the Ember he red dragon Cassius. They patrol the vast territories of the red dragon as rangers, scouting for ehat may e at any time—perhaps the kingdom's armies or adventurers seeking to sy the dragon. When war es, they bee terrifying querors.

  When the dragon's roar echoes from afar, the Crimson Scaled querors ride massive and ferocious draic creatures, desding from the skies t endless fmes and utter destru to their enemies.]

  [Quest 1: Go ton Valley and find 【Crimson Scaled queror Instructer. 】]

  "Alger? Another unknown NPC."

  "And we have to go ton Valley. Did you read that post by Charlotte, the leader of the Magic guild?"

  "Yeah."

  "Let's ght through the gate uhe city wall ter, so we don't get wiped out like they did."

  The four left the mysterious cavern and temporarily parted ways. Born Battle Maniad Summer Night Autumn Rain only o wait for the Draic Blood Blessing, while Mantou and Singo o plete a series of advanced quests.

  The two of them followed the path built by the minions and arrived at the Rock Fortress.

  Hobgoblin guards stood atop the city wall, aiming their crossbows at them, and questioned, "Who are you?"

  Fag the aggressive interrogation, Singo remained unfazed: "We are minions from Baator City, here to find Instructer."

  Hearing this, the hobgoblins opehe gate to let them in, but their expressions were rather mog as they chatted among themselves.

  "Think these two will make it?"

  "Wan? I'll put down a hundred copper s."

  "Bet my foot! Alger's Crimson Scaled Legion has been going for years, and he's still the only member. Do I look stupid?"

  "Haha, the st unlucky guy who went for the test ended up smashed ft, even had a bite taken out of him by an ogre. No one dares to go now, let alohese two humans."

  Singo and Mantou entered various monsters in the valley—lizardfolk, hobgoblins, kobolds, and even satyrs. Asking for dires as they went, they finally found Alger's dwelling.

  But for some reason, when these creatures heard they were looking fer, a look of schadenfreude appeared on their faces.

  "That's the pce, right?"

  Mantou poio a simple cave.

  "Something's off. A css instructor should at least be a big shot—why is he living in such poor ditions?"

  "Never mind, let's go in and take a look first."

  The two rashly ehe cave.

  They saw a warrior sitting on a stone bench sharpening his sword—but he didn't appear human.

  The figure before them was over two meters tall, with a muscur and sturdy build. His skin was covered with dense crimson scales, and his head wasn't humanoid but resembled a fierce dragon's head. His goldeiliaical pupils were particurly striking.

  Behind his head, a -like structure made of keratinous scales resembled a messy tuft of hair. His hands gripping the longsword weren't purely human hands but more like dragon cws, yet even mile.

  "Who are you?"

  He looked up, his goldeical pupils fixing on the newers, his gaze filled with a chilling sense of danger.

  【Crimson Scaled querer】

  Fa: 【Ember 】

  Basic Abilities: ?

  Challenge Level: ?

  "This is the fourth unknown NPC!"

  Mantou whispered in surprise.

  Singo calmly took out his token—the crimson scale.

  "We are here under Lord Cassius's orders to uake the Crimson Scaled queror advanced quest."

  A fleeting look of surprise fshed in Alger's golden eyes.

  He had thought they were just more overfident trial seekers; he'd seen many over the years. But these two carried tokens—they must be the "gifted ohe master mentiohis made him take them a bit more seriously.

  Alger also wao see what kind of talent could make them bee flying knights in such a short time.

  However, his golden eyes sed the two from head to toe but didn't find anythiraordinary. In terms of strength, they were even inferior to some of the monsters.

  "Very well. I hope you survive."

  "Follow me."

  The two pyers obediently followed behind Alger.

  Mantou whispered, "Why did he say he hopes we survive? Could this expensive advanced quest actually be dangerous?"

  Singo said disdainfully, "Don't worry; you'll find out soon enough."

  They gradually ventured deeper into the valley, passing several forks.

  "Roar—"

  Before they eveered, they heard chaotid tinuous roars eg inside.

  They finally arrived at a valley filled with fire a. Only then did they see its true nature.

  O cliff walls were numerous pits and caves of various sizes, where many wyverns resided. They fpped their wings, swung their long tails, and opeheir foul-smelling, gaping jaws.

  Some wyverns perched on the cliffs resting, others hovered in mid-air, and a few were eveling with each other, emitting noisy roars.

  Alger crossed his arms and said coldly, "This is Wyvern Valley, where wyverns raise their young. I need you to find your own mounts here."

  Upon seeing newers, the glowiical pupils in the shadows immediately focused on them.

  The red dragon bloodline in Alger was far han that of the wyverns, so they held him in high regard.

  But towards Mantou and Singo, the wyverns were unceremonious. Some even drooled thick saliva from the ers of their mouths, eager to make these two tender-skinned humans their dessert.

  Mantou looked up at the numerous wyverns, utterly stunned.

  "Oh... my... gosh..."

  FAL