Spellcasting Gods

Therefore, the dragons in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire are either alien species or created by some powerful magical civilization that has been lost to history...

"Why aren't you speaking? Don't you want to make a deal with me? Don't you want the handsome looks and powerful strength of the Valyrians?" Seeing Zhang Cheng standing there silently for a long time, the dragon lowered its huge head and whispered enticingly.

Perhaps it looks so ferocious and terrifying, but its eyes, which flow like lava, reveal a glint of wisdom and cunning.

"I'm willing to make a deal with you!" Eric took a few steps forward, raised his head, and shouted at the dragon.

"You?" The dragon glanced at him contemptuously, its face full of disdain. "Foolish human, do you think anyone is qualified to make a deal with me? The fact that I didn't burn you to death just now is already a reward for your courage. Now get lost."

Filled with extreme anger and resentment, Eric took several deep breaths before obediently retreating to the corner.

He knew very well that he had no room for negotiation and could not possibly take any revenge on the mountain-sized dragon; doing so would be worse than committing suicide.

Zhang Cheng, who had been standing silently not far away, had witnessed everything that had just happened. Suddenly, he asked, "The Valyrians say you are the first dragon in the world. So I want to know where you came from? That crimson comet?"

"Oh? You're interested in my origins?" The dragon curled its lips into a playful smile.

“Of course! I’m not only interested in your origins, but also in the magical knowledge you’ve taught the Valyrians. I think it’s necessary to learn about your great and glorious past before making a deal, isn’t it?” Zhang Cheng bowed humbly.

"Hahahaha! Interesting! You're really interesting! You know what? For thousands of years, countless people have longed to gain power and wealth from me, but you are the first and only one to want to know my origins. I must say, you've successfully piqued my curiosity. Can you tell me what motivates you to want to know my origins?"

The dragon's deafening laughter echoed in the empty underground space. The bubbling magma, which had been bubbling, suddenly began to erupt rapidly and violently, as if controlled by an unknown force, turning everything into a blinding red.

Surprisingly, not a single drop of this powerful eruption hit the two people who were standing right next to it.

Perhaps in some people's eyes, this is just a coincidence, a stroke of luck, but in Zhang Cheng's eyes, it is a manifestation of precise control over mysterious energy, or more precisely, fire elemental energy.

Without a doubt, in addition to possessing intelligence and language abilities that its descendants lacked, Kronada also possessed exceptionally powerful magical abilities.

As for what this ability actually is, we'll have to wait and see...

Suppressing the questions that kept popping up in his mind, Zhang Chengqiang calmly smiled and replied, "My motivation is very simple: to acquire any power and knowledge that can enhance myself. However, I am a suspicious and arrogant person, so when I acquire knowledge and power, I also want to understand their nature, such as potential flaws and dangers."

The dragon gently nodded its enormous head: "Alright, I think I understand. You might not believe it, but I wasn't born in this world, nor did I come from that crimson comet in the sky, as you claim. In fact, I come from a completely unfamiliar place; that crimson comet is where all the dragons in my world lay their eggs."

"Laying eggs?! You mean..." Zhang Cheng's eyes lit up slightly, as if he had discovered something extraordinary.

"Yes! You guessed it, didn't you? That red comet is composed of completely pure energy crystals. Even the radiation it emits is enough to affect an entire world. In our understanding, it's a base for nurturing powerful offspring. Whenever it passes by my world, pregnant dragons fly up to lay their eggs, and then retrieve them to incubate them when it returns. Only in this way can the hatchlings be intelligent and strong enough..."

As Kronada spoke, he seemed to drift into some kind of memory, constantly treading on the scalding lava and turning around.

"I see! That's why the dragons hatched in this world are like wild beasts and have no magical abilities. When they were still eggs, they didn't absorb enough energy, so each one is like a mentally challenged or intellectually disabled person among humans, right?" Zhang Cheng squinted and said his inner guess.

He finally understood why Kuro Kerbal was far smarter and better able to understand and execute complex commands than the three dragons hatched by Daenerys.

It wasn't just due to magical modifications; the well water, rich in arcane energy, compensated for some of the lack of energy intake...

Chapter 0168 The Truth (Part )

“Heh, you’re quite clever, young human. That’s right, all the young dragons born in this world are crippled and incomplete. I don’t even consider them my kind or descendants. You know, that’s why I agreed to let the Valyrians tame the young dragons without hesitation.” Kronada said, swinging his strong tail, splashing molten lava everywhere.

It makes almost no attempt to hide its disdain for those crippled young dragons, while simultaneously displaying a strong sense of confidence and pride in its own power.

Zhang Cheng keenly noticed this and nodded slightly: "I completely agree! The dragons hatched by those Valyans are not worthy of being compared to you. However, I am very curious, since your world is so far away from here, how did you come to this world?"

Upon hearing this, Kronada immediately showed a frustrated expression, gritting her teeth and complaining, "Damn it! It's all Lothar's fault! He gave me a barrel of the finest Fiery Liquor, and after drinking it, I accidentally overslept. When I woke up, I mistook this world for my own and flew straight down. When I realized something was wrong and tried to go back, I suddenly realized that the comet had passed through this world much farther than my own, and I couldn't possibly fly that high."

"So you chose to stay and teach the Valyrians magic, trying to use their power to return to the comet, or perhaps to your world, right?" With the information he had just received, Zhang Cheng quickly understood the ins and outs of the matter.

As for what happens next, the Valyrians quickly grew stronger after acquiring magical knowledge, even exceeding the dragon's expectations. Eventually, when they believed they were powerful enough, they broke the contract, not only defeating their former teacher but also forcibly imprisoning him.

However, as the saying goes, there is no empire that lasts forever.

When the Valyrian civilization swept across the world and could find no worthy opponent, the Dragon King, as the ruler, began to become arrogant and yearned to go further and become a god walking among the earth.

Not to be outdone, the imprisoned dragon immediately set a trap—a trap that could destroy the glorious civilization it had created but which had spiraled out of control.

The arrogant Dragon King was clearly unaware of how dangerous it was to seize a power he didn't understand, and readily agreed to launch the entire plan.

The result was that Valyria was completely destroyed overnight, with only a very few survivors, among whom the Targaryen family was one of the best.

Ironically, the refugees who were defeated by the Valyrians and forced to flee to Westeros were eventually conquered by the Targaryen family, who inherited part of Valyrian civilization.

"Yes! I hoped that when the time was right, the Valyrians would build a huge portal for me. But these ungrateful bastards used tricks and schemes to seal me underground for thousands of years!"

As he uttered the last word, Kronada's voice was filled with rage, and even the surrounding magma seemed to be affected by its intense emotions, erupting violently once again.

Feeling the suffocating heatwave hitting him, Zhang Cheng calmly took two steps back and pointed to the red, crystalline meteorite emitting radiation on the ground, asking, "And what about this one? How did this end up in your hands?"

Kronada cautiously covered the meteorite with his claws, replying smugly, "Of course, it's to use the Valyrians! You have to understand, within any group, there will always be a small group of disgruntled or dissatisfied individuals. They are ambitious and yearn to leave through drastic means to gain power and status. I cast an illusion on a woman from a small family, making her believe that the entire Valyrian civilization was about to be destroyed. Then, not long after, she couldn't wait to see me, and I made a deal with her: bring this meteorite back to me."

"Could this woman just happen to have the surname Targaryen?" Zhang Cheng raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“I’m sorry, I can’t remember her name anymore. Anyway, she has neither outstanding magical talent nor much intelligence, so she’s not worth my attention. On the contrary, you possess a magical power that I’ve never seen before, which may help me break the seal. Now answer me, are you willing to make a deal with me?” Kronada lowered her head and stared at him with her two lava-like eyes, demanding an answer.

Without a doubt, answering "no" in this situation would be an incredibly stupid thing to do.

Zhang Cheng wasn't stupid, nor would he risk his life for the sake of so-called face or pride. Therefore, he nodded without hesitation: "Yes, I'm willing. But you must first tell me what force is binding you. Also, I'd like to know what reward I'll give you if I release you?"

Seeing that the tiny human before him did not refuse, Kronada immediately showed a satisfied expression, and swung its tail to lash out at the huge dragon crystal slab standing in the very center.

"That's it! The Valyrian Dragon King, based on the blood magic knowledge I provided, created an incredibly powerful spell. He infused this spell into the stone tablet; if I move more than twenty meters away from it, I will immediately fall into a state of extreme weakness, becoming more and more likely to die the further away I am. Your task is to find a way to destroy it. Remember, fire and pure physical attacks are useless."

"Oh? Isn't it a stone tablet that records the magic of the Valyans?" Zhang Cheng's expression suddenly became a little strange.

"That's right! It records some magical knowledge, but its main purpose is to bind me, understand? Stop talking nonsense and get moving. Don't even think about going anywhere before you destroy it."

The words had barely left his mouth!

Without warning, Kronada sneezed, and a burst of scorching flame shot out from his nostrils, landing just inches from Zhang Cheng, the threat unmistakable.

"Could you please move aside? I need some time to conduct a full inspection of the stone tablet!" Zhang Cheng was not intimidated by the other party. He even took two steps forward, pushed aside the dragon's wings, and stood alone in front of the huge dragon crystal stone tablet.

He was well aware that although he seemed to be in a very dangerous situation, he was actually quite safe, at least until he lost his usefulness.

As for how to get out of this predicament, there's no rush. Especially since the red crystalline meteorite is right next to us, we should try to get our hands on it.

And so, a human, less than 1.85 meters tall, stood next to a dragon as large as a small mountain and began to study the black stone tablet with great concentration.

Hiding in the distance, Eric clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with naked jealousy and envy. How he wished he were the one making the deal with the dragon...

Chapter 0169 Breaking the Shackles

The massive stone tablet is a slightly transparent black, with countless white spiderweb-like patterns inside. Whenever it is struck by an external force, these patterns will suddenly release a faint white light, then absorb all the power and reflect it back to the person who exerted the force in another form.

Simply put, it has strong physical protection. Although the limits are uncertain, there is no doubt that without the addition of powerful machinery, it is impossible to destroy the internal structure with muscle power alone, even for a giant dragon as large as a small mountain.

As for the immunity to fire, it comes from the dark red, blood-like substance inside the stone tablet.

To be precise, that is the form of Valyrian blood after it has coagulated.

Zhang Cheng had studied the blood of "Mother of Dragons" Daenerys and knew that Valyrian blood contained a substance very similar to dragon blood, which granted them incredible fire resistance.

Similarly, if you mix a large amount of blood into other materials, such as soil, steel, or something else, you can obtain considerable fire resistance.

Moreover, the blood inside the Dragon Crystal Slab is not just blood itself, but also exudes a chilling aura of death, likely imprisoning a large number of dead souls in addition to the blood.

After figuring this out, Zhang Cheng's face immediately showed an expression of utter astonishment. He then turned around and asked, "You gave the Valyrians your own blood?"

Kronada nodded slightly and replied, "Yes! In order to grant the Valyrians a certain magical talent, I selected ten people and modified them with dragon blood. Only four survived by sheer luck. Those who gained power then united and slaughtered all the males in their tribe, ensuring that their magical talent wouldn't disappear over time only through inbreeding among their offspring. So, is this seal related to my blood?"

“Of course there’s a connection! Good heavens! I really don’t know how to describe it! Don’t you understand that doing this means you’re inextricably linked to the Valyrians, as if they were your descendants? See that solidified red inside the stele? Thousands of Valyrians performed a cruel and bloody sacrifice, cursing you with their blood and souls. As long as their souls aren’t released, you’ll never leave.” Zhang Cheng explained as he silently approached the meteorite.

"Damn it! These ungrateful traitors! I gave them power! I taught them knowledge! And in the end they curse me with death?!" Kronada roared in fury.

"That's right! They not only cursed you, but they also took special precautions against the curse. Take this huge stone tablet, for example. First, it's not a single, complete piece; it's pieced together from countless palm-sized dragon crystals, each enchanted with a special material I don't recognize, capable of withstanding immense impact. Second, the large amount of Valyrian blood ensures the tablet won't melt under the dragonfire. Finally, and most importantly, it constantly drains your energy. In other words, without replenishment, the longer you're imprisoned, the weaker you'll feel. However, the Valyrians clearly didn't expect you to obtain a meteorite radiating intense energy radiation..."

In order to provoke the dragon's wrath and cause it to lose control of its emotions, Zhang Cheng began to consciously steer the conversation.

Clearly, based on their previous conversation, he discovered a fatal weakness in the other party: excessive arrogance.

Thousands of years ago, it was this arrogance that led to Cronada's defeat and imprisonment by the Valyrians, yet it has learned nothing from it and still does not realize how cunning and dangerous the humans standing before it are.

"Then tell me! Do you have a way to break it?" The dragon, completely unaware of the various subtle movements, stood up, swaying its massive body, and impatiently questioned.

“I can give it a try. But before that, you need to tell me what magical knowledge you’ve imparted to the Valyrians so that I can be better prepared.” With that, Zhang Cheng raised his head and looked directly into the dragon’s eyes.

Kronada was also staring at him, and after a full minute, she curled her lips into a slightly sarcastic threat: "Don't think I don't understand what you're planning, but it doesn't matter, I don't care. Remember, if you can't meet my demands in the end, you should know what the consequences will be."

Zhang Cheng chuckled and shrugged, "Hehe, I know perfectly well. Now, please get started quickly, because I can't last long in this scorching heat. If I die, it will be difficult for you to find someone else to help you. In the outside world, magic has long become a legendary thing, and there are very few people who possess magical power. I assure you, none of them can compare to me."

"Hmph!" Kronada exhaled a ball of golden flame from his nostrils to express his disdain, and did not continue to entangle himself with the matter.

About two or three minutes later, it began to talk about fire and blood magic.

The latter, in particular, is absolutely terrifying.

As the name suggests, blood magic is a spell that uses blood ties, sacrifices, and torture of the living to gain supernatural power.

Not only must the caster be powerful, but they must also ensure that their mind is not corrupted by darkness, otherwise the backlash of blood magic is no joke.

However, blood magic is also extremely powerful, the most typical example being the shadow assassins summoned by the Red Witch Melisandre.

In addition, Valyrian dragon lords can also temporarily gain the full power of a dragon by sacrificing a single dragon, including incredible muscles, vitality, fire breath, and even the ability to transform into a dragon.

As for fire magic, it is nothing more than transforming mysterious energy into the form of fire. Dalaran has studied this aspect in greater depth than the dragons.

Zhang Cheng's only gain was figuring out how to use the energy of the A Song of Ice and Fire world more effectively and quickly to shape spell forms.

This means that he has finally broken free from the shackles that restricted his power and can now freely cast any known spell.

Of course, as a beginner, he still needs a little time to practice before he can apply this in actual combat.

Perhaps due to her intense focus, Kronada failed to notice the tiny human before her. In less than ten minutes, she had exhausted all the arcane energy stored within her body, and then frantically drew energy from the red meteorite to replenish it.

Before long, the energy within Zhang Cheng's body increased several times over, and his hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, began to emit a faint white light and a chilling aura...

Chapter 0170 Inducement

energy!

Endless energy!

Perhaps because the energy stored in his body had been in a semi-dry state since he came into this world, Zhang Cheng immediately felt like a giant sponge when the restrictions were lifted, frantically absorbing energy far exceeding several times that before.

Although these energies are far less pure than the arcane energy provided by the well water, they are far more active, especially in their influence on the elements, which is far more powerful than any known energy.

This means that using this energy to unleash spells like fire and frost will be more than twice as powerful, but spells like polymorph, blink, and arcane missiles will be much less powerful, or even result in serious errors.

Feeling the abundant energy flowing through his veins, he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and not to act rashly.

After all, breaking free of the shackles does not mean that one can defeat the giant dragon that is as big as a small mountain.