The twelfth dawn blazed over Kael El's domain, a violent violet-gold sky casting jagged shadows across his two territories. The manor anchored the original settlement, linked by a fortified path to the western camp and now the eastern hill outpost, its walls rising under Mara's hands. Seventy thousand subjects thrummed—warriors drilling, trappers setting snares, and scouts mapping the final target. Kael stood atop the eastern camp's hill, the Stormforged Blade in one hand, the Iron Lance in the other, his Stormhide Armor crackling faintly. His flirty smirk held firm, a cool dominance radiating from his relaxed stance.
Day 12. Time to bag the third. His dark eyes gleamed with unwavering confidence, a quiet fire of pride burning beneath his chill exterior. Seventy thousand souls, two territories down—most lords would've stalled. Kael? He thrived, his resilience a steel core. One more, and I'm Lv. 3. Let's make it bloody.
A sharp ding sounded, the system panel flaring up.
"Day 12: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 2. Population: 70,010 Subjects. Food Stock: 2 Days Remaining. Resource Yield: +10% (Lv. 2 Bonus)."
Kael's smirk widened, a playful edge slicing through the tension. "Two days, huh? Better eat fast." His calm under pressure was unshakable—conquest was his game, and he played it like a pro. Veyna's scouts had pinned the last target: a northern stronghold, three hundred strong, led by a lord named Rynar—S-tier talent rumored. Perfect.
Jace approached, his leather satchel jingling with trap components. "Lord Kael, eastern camp's trapped—snares on all approaches. Ready to march." His Trap Weaver Perk gleamed in his sly grin.
Kael clapped his shoulder, winking. "Jace, you're my snare. Set 'em north—Rynar's next." Jace nodded, darting off, and Kael turned to the Summoning Altar. Six summons left. Let's prep.
He pressed a hand to the Mana Crystal, voice smooth and teasing. "Alright, gorgeous, give me a heavy hitter."
The altar flared, and an eleventh figure emerged—a burly woman with a massive warhammer slung over her shoulder. She knelt, voice deep. "Lord Kael, I am Tora. Perk: Hammer Crush – +50% blunt damage, armor break."
Kael's grin turned protective yet playful. "Tora, huh? A smasher's perfect. March with me—break some skulls." She rose with a nod, her hammer thudding, and he felt that bond snap tight. Another wrecking ball.
The system blared.
"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, heavies, mages—swelling his ranks to 80,000. A man with "Heavy Guard" hefted a shield, a woman with "Flame Caster" sparked embers, and dozens more roared allegiance. Kael laughed, a deep, carefree sound. Eighty thousand? This is my tide.
"Warriors, north!" he barked, his cool dominance cutting through the din. "Heavies, with Tora. Mages, with Elys. Move!"
He rallied his crew—Lira, Sylvi, Veyna, Mara, Elys, Zorin, Gavrin, Nyra, Jace, and Tora—by the gate. "Rynar's got three hundred and an S-tier talent—EXP boost, they say. We're taking it. Elys, blast the walls. Tora, smash 'em. Nyra, cut the lord. Jace, trap the rest."
They nodded, loyalty blazing. Kael twirled the Iron Lance, his tone flirty yet resolute. "Let's dance with a lord."
By midday, 20,000 warriors marched north, Kael at the fore. Veyna's scouts marked the stronghold—a stone keep, spiked walls, and Rynar, a wiry figure in dark armor, barking orders. Kael smirked, raising his blade. "Elys, Tora—go."
Elys's lightning split the wall, Tora's hammer crashed through the breach, and Jace's traps snapped on the flanks. Nyra blurred in, her blade slashing Rynar's guards. Kael charged, lance piercing one, blade slashing another, then faced Rynar. The lord sneered, a faint glow pulsing—S: EXP Surge (+50% XP gain).
"Big mistake," Kael said, grinning, and thrust. The lance caught Rynar's chest, blood spraying as he crumpled.
"Ding! Lord Defeated. XP: +500 (750 with Rynar's S-tier). SSS Talent: 100% Drop Rate. Loot: S: EXP Surge. EX Talent: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quality Enhanced: S: EXP Surge upgraded to EX: EXP Nova (+5,000% XP gain)."
Kael's grin turned wicked as the talent fused into him, a rush of power surging. Five thousand percent? This is my rocket.
The keep fell—two hundred dead, hundred surrendered. Kael stood amidst the chaos, his posture relaxed yet commanding. "Mara, fortify. Gavrin, loot."
A final ding rang out.
"Territory Conquered: 3/3 for Lv. 3. XP Gained: 15,750 (10,500 + 5,250 from EX: EXP Nova). Level Up! Level 9 to Level 12. Stats Increased: +12. Territory Level Up Available."
Kael smirked, the violet sky roaring. Lord's down. I'm up.
POV Shift: Tora
She hefted her hammer, bits of stone clinging to it, her Hammer Crush still ringing. Her lord stood there, smirking like death was a jest. Eighty thousand, and he kills a lord himself? She'd smashed for petty brutes before, but Kael's cool confidence, that protective steel, hooked her. I'll crush for him. He's worth it.