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Cassius spread his wings, soaring over the collapsing stone bridge.

But he wasn’t fleeing—he was flying directly toward the Storm Giant’s corpse.

The hurricane winds buffeted him wildly, arcs of lightning chasing him, each bolt striking down just behind, leaving blackened pits in the ruins.

The red dragon twisted and dodged through the turbulent air, flapping with all his might against the howling storm, wobbling yet pressing forward toward the storm’s center.

The closer he drew, the more violent the elemental forces became, with lightning sparking through every inch of air.

After several breaths, the red dragon was covered in wounds.

Though protected by several spells, the fierce elemental reactions had burned black marks into his scales.

His golden scales were pitted from the acid rain, arcs of electricity crackling over his body with every wingbeat.

Finally, he was within ten meters of the corpse.

“Boom!”

Another lightning bolt, thick as a bowl, struck Cassius before he could react.

【Spell Nullification Field】

An invisible barrier appeared, barely absorbing the bolt before shattering, saving him once more and leaving Cassius shaken.

He couldn’t waste any more time.

“Roar—”

The red dragon let out a hoarse, almost juvenile roar, straining with every sound.

Then, gathering all his strength, he beat his wings furiously, his powerful body forcing its way through the intensifying storm, finally drawing close to the Storm Giant’s corpse.

“I have to reach it!”

Cassius shouted.

By now, the thunder had formed a hellish cage around him, where even a small step could mean instant incineration.

He had no way back.

Ignoring the lightning closing in, Cassius focused on the Storm Giant’s eye.

That eye, amber-like in texture and surrounded by radiant lightning, held an unimaginable, terrifying power.

It wasn’t merely the corpse of a giant—it was a formidable magical relic!

This was the ultimate manifestation of the Storm Giant’s control over natural disasters, executing his final prophecy: total destruction.

This eye had unleashed the dreadful spell.

“Come to me!”

Cassius tensed his muscles, pouring all his strength into the effort.

As the lightning closed in, about to consume him, he tore the eye from the Storm Giant’s socket, clutching it tightly in his claw.

“Sizzle—Boom!”

Instantly, the Storm King Eye channeled surrounding lightning, creating a terrifying vortex of electrical energy in the Weave.

The red dragon’s entire body convulsed as his flesh began to vaporize.

Blinding blue lightning glowed between his claws, making his palms nearly transparent, even showing the bones beneath.

Yet he gripped it tightly, knowing that letting go could mean obliteration, reduced to ashes by the surrounding lightning.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Several breaths passed.

With his ragged breathing, the light in his claws gradually dimmed.

“Rumble...”

Suddenly, the oncoming lightning receded like a tide, and the rolling clouds above slowly dispersed in the wind.

The violent storm ricocheted off the cave walls, losing power, and finally settled.

Everything returned to darkness and silence.

But where once stood the grand tomb was now rubble, just another collapsed cavern, with no trace of the Giant Empire’s ancient glory.

“It’s over—”

Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfur-laden air.

Carefully, he opened his claw.

His scorched palm was riddled with burns, scales melted into ugly lumps, but the red dragon didn’t care—his eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation.

The amber-like “eye” lay quietly in his claw, like a beautiful gemstone fit for a noblewoman’s gown.

Only its faint blue glow hinted at the terrifying lightning and the storm that had so deeply shaken him.

[The ancient storm has yielded to your strength.]

[You have acquired the legendary equipment: 【Storm King’s Eye】]

【The Storm King’s Eye】

Quality: Legendary

Creator: Randta Hurricane Algates

Description: The legendary druid and Storm Giant elder Randta once observed the starry skies and deep oceans from his floating fortress, seeking traces and omens left by Annam. Though the Storm Giants could control the weather and change the fates of thousands in a moment, Randta knew that some matters remained beyond intervention.

So, Randta buried his lifetime collection underground, sealing this cataclysmic power within his eye, waiting silently for himself and the remnants of his empire to be forgotten. Naturally, if a rude intruder were to arrive, Randta would not hesitate to grant them utter destruction.

“An enraged Storm Giant will bring complete annihilation. This is my final prophecy.” —Randta

Effects:

【Storm of Vengeance】 - Charge Release

【Control Weather】 - Usable once per week

【Body of Storm’s Resonance】: Contact inflicts lightning damage, and after multiple hits, there’s a chance to summon lightning and gain partial lightning immunity.

【Storm of Vengeance (StormofVengeance)】

9th-level Conjuration Spell

A churning storm cloud spreads to a radius of 120 meters from a point you can see, filled with lightning, thunder, and howling winds. Creatures within may suffer prolonged deafness.

Depending on your control, the storm produces effects such as acid rain, hail, and intense lightning, cloaking the area in a severe storm. Strong winds disperse smoke and similar effects in the area.

【Control Weather】

8th-level Transmutation Spell

For the spell’s duration, you control the weather within a five-mile radius, freely altering precipitation, temperature, and wind. You can summon extreme weather like hail, thick fog, and blizzards, and the weather gradually returns to normal when the spell ends.

“This...”

“Only worthy of a legendary druid’s legacy.”

Cassius’s eyes widened, pupils dilating to reveal deep orange, flame-like irises.

Artifact.

That was Cassius’s only evaluation of this equipment.

With just the 【Storm King Eye】, his life-risking gamble had paid off. In his past life’s black market, it would’ve fetched a price in the billions.

【Storm of Vengeance】 was a prestigious 9th-level spell. Unleashing it could easily decide the outcome of an entire battle.

【Control Weather】 was another invaluable 8th-level spell, with an extensive range of uses.

Even the passive 【Body of Storm’s Resonance】 was a powerful tool in melee combat.

Clutching the blue gem tightly, Cassius feared dropping it, finally understanding Chimera’s frenzy when hoarding gold.

“Boom!”

Massive rocks fell from the ceiling, nearly hitting the red dragon before shattering into rubble on the ground.

Cassius looked up to find cracks spreading across the ceiling like a spiderweb.

“Not good, this underground world is about to collapse!”

“Time to get out!”

The red dragon flapped his wings, weaving around the falling rocks. Fortunately, his enhanced agility allowed him to move more nimbly than most red dragons.

Overjoyed with his new treasure yet aware of the danger, Cassius felt a mixture of pain and exhilaration.