The eleventh dawn spilled over Kael El's domain, a fierce violet-gold glow igniting the newly conquered western camp. The manor loomed back at the heart of his original settlement, linked by a dirt path to this ramshackle outpost now under Mara's fortification. Sixty thousand subjects buzzed—warriors patrolling, crafters reinforcing, and scouts mapping the next target. Kael stood atop a crude watchtower in the captured territory, the Stormforged Blade in one hand, the Iron Lance in the other, his flirty smirk as unshaken as ever.
Day 11. One down, two to go. His dark eyes gleamed with unwavering confidence, a cool dominance radiating from his relaxed stance. Sixty thousand souls, two territories, and a taste of conquest—most lords would've paused to gloat. Kael? He thrived, his resilience a steady fire. I'm not here to sit. I'm here to take.
A sharp ding sounded, the system panel flaring up with a flood of updates.
"Day 11: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 2. Population: 60,009 Subjects. Food Stock: 3 Days Remaining. Resource Yield: +10% (Lv. 2 Bonus). XP Recalculation Initiated: Total XP Earned – 15,000 (10,000 from Day 8, 5,000 from Day 10)."
Kael's smirk widened, a playful edge cutting through the morning air. "Finally catching up, huh?" His calm under pressure held firm—EXP was just another resource, and he'd milk it dry. The system scrolled through his gains.
"Level Progression: Starting Level 1 (0 XP). Territory Cap: Level 30 (Mighty Lord)."
Level 2: 1,000 XP (Total: 1,000/15,000) Level 3: 1,250 XP (Total: 2,250/15,000) Level 4: 1,562 XP (Total: 3,812/15,000) Level 5: 1,953 XP (Total: 5,765/15,000) Level 6: 2,441 XP (Total: 8,206/15,000) Level 7: 3,051 XP (Total: 11,257/15,000) Level 8: 3,814 XP (Total: 15,071/15,000) Excess XP: 15,071 – 15,000 = 71 XP retained.
"Level Up! Initiate Lord (Low Tier) – Level 1 to Level 7 (Mid-Tier). Stats Increased: +4 per level (Levels 2-7). Total Stats Gained: +24."
Power surged through him, his muscles tightening, his senses sharpening. Kael twirled the lance, grinning. Level 7, 54 stats. Mid-tier Initiate Lord. Not bad for a week. His Territory Lv. 2 capped him at 30, but he'd hit that soon enough. Three territories, 10,000 resources—then I'm Mighty.
Nyra approached, her raven hair glinting, her blade still blood-streaked from yesterday. "Lord Kael, the camp's secure—fifty surrendered, now ours. Mara's walls are up." Her Blade Dancer Perk hummed, her agility a quiet threat.
Kael leapt down, landing with a casual thud, and winked. "Nyra, you're my shadow. Keep 'em in line—we're marching again." She nodded, a flicker of loyalty in her eyes, and he turned to the Summoning Altar, relocated to the new camp. Seven summons left. Let's roll the dice.
He pressed a hand to the Mana Crystal, voice smooth and teasing. "Alright, gorgeous, give me a wild card."
The altar flared, and a tenth figure emerged—a wiry man with a leather satchel and a glint of mischief in his eyes. He knelt, voice sly. "Lord Kael, I am Jace. Perk: Trap Weaver – +50% trap damage, stealth deployment."
Kael's grin turned protective yet playful. "Jace, huh? A trickster's gold. Set traps around the camp—trip up the next fools." Jace rose with a nod, already eyeing the perimeter, and Kael felt that bond lock in. Perfect for ambushes.
The system blared, its tone sharp.
"SSS Talent Triggered: 100% Drop Rate. Additional Summon: 1 Subject. EX Talent Triggered: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quantity Enhanced: 10,000 Subjects."
The camp shuddered as 10,000 more figures materialized—warriors, trappers, scouts—swelling his ranks to 70,000. A woman with "Spear Thrower" tested a javelin, a man with "Stealth Scout" vanished into shadow, and dozens more roared their allegiance. Kael laughed, a deep, carefree sound. Seventy thousand? This is my legion.
"Warriors, gear up!" he barked, his cool dominance cutting through the din. "Trappers, with Jace. Scouts, with Veyna. Move!"
He rallied his crew—Lira, Sylvi, Veyna, Mara, Elys, Zorin, Gavrin, Nyra, and Jace—by the gate. "Second target's east—bigger camp, two hundred strong. Same play: Elys blasts, Nyra cuts, Jace traps. We roll in hard."
They nodded, loyalty blazing. Kael twirled the Iron Lance, his tone flirty yet resolute. "Let's take what's ours."
By noon, 15,000 warriors marched east, Kael at the fore. Veyna's scouts marked the target—a fortified hill camp, wooden walls, and a petty lord barking orders. Kael smirked, raising his blade. "Elys, light it up. Jace, trap the flanks."
Elys's staff flared, lightning splitting the wall in two. Jace's trappers darted ahead, laying snares that snapped shut on fleeing guards. Nyra blurred in, her blade a whirlwind—five down in a breath. Kael charged, lance piercing one, blade slashing another, blood spraying as he grinned. Like butter.
"Ding! Enemy Defeated. XP: +50. SSS Talent: 100% Drop Rate. Loot: Leather Armor. EX Talent: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quality Enhanced: Leather Armor upgraded to Stormhide Armor."
A sleek, crackling chestpiece landed in his hands. Kael slipped it on, lightning dancing across it. Fancy.
The camp fell fast—hundred dead, hundred surrendered. Kael stood amidst the wreckage, his posture relaxed yet commanding. "Mara, fortify. Gavrin, loot."
A final ding rang out.
"Territory Conquered: 2/3 for Lv. 3. XP Gained: 10,000. Level Up! Level 7 to Level 9. Stats Increased: +8."
Kael smirked, the violet sky blazing. Two down. One to go.
POV Shift: Jace
He rigged a snare, its wires humming with his boosted Trap Weaver. His lord stood there, smirking like conquest was a jest. Seventy thousand, and he's still front-line? Jace had trapped for petty thieves before, but Kael's cool confidence, that protective steel, hooked him. I'll snare the world for him. He's worth it.