The twentieth dawn erupted over Kael El's domain, a fierce violet-gold sky bathing the citadel and its six territories in a triumphant glow. The central dragon nest thrummed east, its peaks now a fortress under Mara's hands, twenty tamed dragons circling overhead thanks to EX: Dragon Sovereign. One hundred forty thousand subjects surged—warriors clad in scale armor, mages wielding mana, and brawlers cracking knuckles. Kael stood atop the central nest's highest cliff, the Stormforged Blade in one hand, EX: Dragonflame Reaver blazing in the other, Stormhide Armor crackling. His flirty smirk gleamed, a cool dominance radiating from his relaxed stance as he eyed Draxis's final western nest, five miles out.
Day 20. Last nest, then it's all mine. His dark eyes burned with unwavering confidence, a quiet pride simmering beneath his chill exterior. One hundred forty thousand souls, six territories, and a dragon army—most lords would've stopped to revel. Kael? He thrived, his resilience a molten core. Draxis's reign ends today.
A sharp ding cut through the dragon roars, the system panel flaring up.
"Day 20: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 3. Population: 140,018 Subjects. Food Stock: 5 Days Remaining. Resource Yield: +20% (Lv. 3 Bonus)."
Kael's smirk widened, a playful edge slicing through the air. "Five days? Enough for a dragon feast." His calm under pressure was ironclad—victory was his grind, and he'd rigged the game. The Lord Map showed the western nest: fifteen dragons, one hundred fifty troops, and Draxis's second-in-command, a Level 21 lord named Klyve. Smaller fry, but juicy.
Veyna approached, her bow slung low. "Lord, scouts confirm—Klyve's at the western nest, Level 21, with a B-tier talent. Fifteen dragons, one-fifty grunts."
Kael winked. "Veyna, you're my eyes. B-tier's a snack—let's eat." He turned to the Summoning Altar, its Mana Crystal pulsing amid dragon bones. Eight summons left. Let's add range.
He pressed a hand to the crystal, voice smooth and teasing. "Alright, gorgeous, give me an archer."
The altar flared, and a nineteenth figure emerged—a lithe woman with a sleek bow and piercing eyes. She knelt, voice steady. "Lord Kael, I am Elyra. Perk: Precision Shot – +50% accuracy, critical strikes."
Kael's grin turned protective yet playful. "Elyra, huh? A sharpshooter's gold. Train with Veyna—pin 'em down." She rose with a nod, nocking an arrow, and the system blared.
"SSS Talent Triggered: 100% Drop Rate. Additional Summon: 1 Subject. EX Talent: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quantity Enhanced: 10,000 Subjects."
The nest trembled as 10,000 more figures materialized—archers, warriors, mages—swelling his ranks to 150,000. A man with "Dragon Snipe" aimed high, a woman with "Scale Crafter" hefted tools, and thousands roared allegiance. Kael laughed, a deep, carefree sound. One-fifty? This is my tide.
"Archers, with Elyra!" he barked, his cool dominance cutting through the chaos. "Warriors, with Nyra. Dragons, with me. Move!"
Twenty-five thousand marched west, Kael at the fore with his dragons diving low. The western nest loomed—peaks jagged, dragons roaring, Klyve in red scale armor atop a cliff, his B-tier talent, B: Scale Resilience (+15% durability), glowing faintly. Kael smirked, raising his reaver. "Elys, Rhea—burn it!"
Elys's lightning split the sky, frying two dragons. Rhea's whip torched another, flames spreading. Tora and Thryn smashed grounded beasts, Jace's traps snared troops, Seryn's blade reaped silently. Borv tanked fire, Korr's spear pierced scales, and Elyra's arrows downed a dragon mid-flight.
Kael charged Klyve, dragons at his back. "Nice glow," he teased, slashing with the reaver—molten fire cracked scales. Klyve swung a claw-gauntlet, but Kael dodged, mana surging, and thrust the lance—chest pierced, blood spilling.
"Ding! Lord Defeated – Klyve, Level 21. XP: 256,121 × 0.1 = 25,612 (1,306,212 with EX: EXP Nova). SSS Talent: 100% Drop Rate. Loot: B: Scale Resilience (+15% durability). EX Talent: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quality Enhanced: B: Scale Resilience upgraded to EX: Dragonscale Bastion (+1,500% durability)."
A toughened aura wrapped Kael, his frame sturdier. He smirked. Solid as steel now.
The nest fell—fifteen dragons tamed, seventy-five dead, seventy-five surrendered. Kael stood amidst the wreckage, relaxed yet commanding. "Mara, fortify. Gavrin, loot."
A final ding rang out.
"Territory Conquered: 7/10 for Lv. 4. XP Gained: 616,154 (41,077 + 575,077 from EX: EXP Nova). Level Up! Level 20 to Level 25. Stats Increased: +20."
Kael grinned, the violet sky thundering, dragons bowing. Draxis's turf is mine.
POV Shift: Elyra
She nocked an arrow, dragon blood on her bow, her Precision Shot steady. Her lord stood there, smirking, tougher than stone. One hundred fifty thousand, and he's unbreakable? She'd shot for petty bandits before, but Kael's cool confidence, that protective steel, hooked her. I'll aim for him. He's worth it.