Chapter 467: The Treaty
Thus, the negotiation concluded.
The Fire elemental Kingdom and the Ember Empire signed the Treaty of Imperial Amity and Exchange.
The respective rulers—Fire elemental Sultan and the Ember Emperor Cassius—swore an oath before the essence of the fire elemental plane, forging the contract.
1. The Fire elemental Kingdom will provide the Ember Empire with 25 wishes annually for a minimum of 10 years.
2. The Fire elemental Kingdom will pay five million gold denars in elemental ore to purchase a large stock of military arms.
3. The Fire elemental Kingdom will relinquish control of Cast Iron City and Black Iron City and cease any interference with Brass Bastion.
Furious, the Sultan caused his projection to explode, leaving a massive crater a hundred meters in diameter, while his true body continued recovering within his Charcoal Palace.
Fire elemental Pasha Ismail hung his head low and led his soldiers back to Brass City.
As was the custom for defeated Pashas, what awaited him were the Sultan's punishments and challenges from ambitious fire elemental warriors.
Despite the strict control of information by fire elemental officials, news of the battle spread like wildfire, causing widespread panic among their ranks.
Within mere days, the Battle of the Scorching Plains had spread throughout the Fire elemental Kingdom, even reaching the ranks of the Holy Flame Rebellion.
According to the rumors, the Red Dragon Emperor from the Material Plane had bitten off Pasha Ismail's head. The Pasha only survived thanks to the Sultan's intervention and revival.
After secret negotiations—rumored to have cost the Sultan a hundred wishes per year—a ceasefire was finally achieved.
Cassius' name spread throughout the inner planes.
Residents of the planes of Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, Positive Energy, and Negative Energy all learned of this dragon, especially remembering the fearsome title of the "Soul-Devouring Dragon."
Outskirts of Black Iron City, Scorching Plains.
The land was scarred and broken, with deep fissures and craters filled with molten lava, occasionally erupting with bursts of flame.
"Roar—"
The red dragon let out a long roar, spread his wings, and extended his left claw.
Flames representing the plane's essence surged toward him, forming a complex magic circle in his palm.
[Summon Elemental Colossus]
A vortex of fire swirled in midair, and a massive creature over ten meters tall crawled out, letting out a low growl before kneeling obediently before Cassius.
Its body was composed entirely of fire and molten rock, with every inch containing destructive fire elemental energy capable of reducing mortal cities to ashes.
[Fire Elemental Colossus]
Challenge Rating: 16
"Not bad."
Cassius observed the towering creature in the distance and nodded with satisfaction. With a casual wave of his claw, the colossus vanished.
He lowered his gaze and focused on the red flames flickering in his palm.
This was a tiny fragment of the power representing the essence of the fire elemental plane.
After several days of experimentation, he had already mastered the power that originally belonged to Pasha Ismail—or more accurately, to the Fire elemental Sultan.
He even sensed the essence of this power—it was akin to pseudo-divine influence over the elemental plane.
The elemental lords didn't rule their respective planes or the creatures within them. The authority they wielded was symbolic, falling just short of true divine power.
The Sultan's plan likely involved bringing the entire fire elemental plane under the rule of the fire elementals, elevating his authority to encompass the entire plane.
This concept was strikingly similar to Cassius' domain.
The six Pashas served as vessels for the Sultan's power and were carefully nurtured sacrifices for his ascension to godhood. One of them had now been consumed by Cassius.
Even if Cassius hadn't "devoured" the Pasha, the Flame Primordial with true divine power would never have allowed anyone to covet his authority.
To maintain balance among the powers, the Burning War would continue for a long time.
There would be no true winner in this game—except perhaps opportunistic outsiders like Cassius, who thrived in chaos.
Cassius grinned, feeling the power resembling the plane's essence coursing through him.
"What a delightful surprise. With this power, I could even consider myself an elemental noble."
"Fascinating."
The flames in his claw shifted continuously, transforming into birds, fish, and dragons flapping their wings.
With this new power, Cassius' control over fire had reached terrifying levels.
As a red dragon, he already possessed a fire elemental core, often classified by scholars as a semi-elemental being. With the Pasha's power added, he could now be considered a native of the fire elemental plane.
[Elemental Command]
As an elemental master, you can attempt to control elemental beings of the same type. Targets must succeed on a will save or be completely under your command.
Cassius' mind stirred, and his pale golden eyes gleamed.
Instantly, the firebirds in the orange sky fell under his control, forming various formations.
Lava-dwelling fire spirits leapt out one by one, lining up in orderly ranks as if acknowledging Cassius as their natural ruler.
"What a lovely place. If I had a secure domain here, I might consider sleeping for centuries."
"But unfortunately, I signed a contract with the Sultan, and I must leave the fire elemental plane within ten days."
"In that case, I might as well meet this so-called Holy Flame Prince before leaving."
With that thought, Cassius flapped his wings, stirring up an ash-laden whirlwind as his massive dragon body soared into the sky.
"Roar—"
With another long roar, Cassius flapped his wings again, his crimson silhouette cutting through the orange sky as he flew into the distance.
Soldiers and freedmen on the city walls watched the streak of fire across the horizon and cried out in awe.
"Look!"
"It's Emperor Cassius!"
"It's true—His Majesty is leaving the fire elemental plane!"
"Great Red Dragon..."
Feelings of loss and reluctance filled the air on the city walls.
Many soldiers and freedmen knelt in the direction of the departing dragon, murmuring prayers.
Within Black Iron City, Serkan, who was overseeing repairs to the city's defenses, raised his head and pounded his fist against his chest in a gesture of loyalty.
His eyes were filled with determination and emotion.
"Emperor Cassius..."
"I won't let you down. I'll be a competent colonial governor and establish a strong foothold for the empire here in the fire elemental plane, awaiting your return."
"When that time comes, you will be the true master of the fire elemental plane."