The twenty-sixth dawn blazed over Kael El's domain, a fierce violet-gold sky bathing the citadel and its nine territories in a victorious glow. Vara's plains fortress stood fortified southwest, its stone walls now a stronghold under Mara's hands, while 200,000 subjects surged—warriors sharpening blades, mages weaving mana, and dragons roaring under EX: Dragon Sovereign. Kael stood atop the citadel's highest tower, the Stormforged Blade in one hand, EX: Dragonflame Reaver glowing at his hip, Stormhide Armor humming with power. His flirty smirk gleamed, a cool dominance radiating from his relaxed stance as he eyed the southeast horizon, where the last target loomed—a rocky mesa held by a Level 27 lord named Torv.
Day 26. Nine down—one seals Lv. 4. His dark eyes burned with unwavering confidence, a quiet pride simmering beneath his chill exterior. Two hundred thousand souls, nine territories, and a Mighty Lord's might—most would've stopped to revel. Kael? He thrived, his resilience a molten core. One more, and the game shifts.
A sharp ding cut through the morning roar, the system panel flaring up.
"Day 26: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 3. Population: 200,024 Subjects. Food Stock: 4 Days Remaining. Resource Yield: +20% (Lv. 3 Bonus)."
Kael's smirk widened, a playful edge slicing through the air. "Four days? Time to wrap this up." His calm under pressure was unshakable—conquest was his grind, and he'd stacked the odds. The Lord Map glowed: Torv's mesa—Level 27, three hundred troops, stone defenses, S-tier talent. Rock's tough—dragons are tougher.
Mira approached, her map marked, staff in hand. "Lord Kael, Lysa and I scouted the mesa—stone walls, three hundred grunts, Torv's got an S-tier talent, something big."
Kael clapped her shoulder, winking. "Mira, you're my brain. S-tier's spicy—let's crush it." He turned to the Summoning Altar, its Mana Crystal pulsing with Lv. 3 power. Two summons left. Let's add punch.
He pressed a hand to the crystal, voice smooth and teasing. "Alright, gorgeous, give me a tank."
The altar flared, and a twenty-fifth figure emerged—a towering man with a massive shield and a granite-like frame. He knelt, voice deep. "Lord Kael, I am Dorn. Perk: Iron Wall – +50% defense, taunt radius."
Kael's grin turned protective yet playful. "Dorn, huh? A rock's perfect. Hold with Borv—block everything." Dorn rose with a nod, shield thudding, 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 tower trembled as 10,000 more figures materialized—tanks, warriors, mages—swelling his ranks to 210,000. A woman with "Stone Guard" raised a shield, a man with "Mesa Breaker" cracked his fists, and thousands roared allegiance. Kael laughed, a deep, carefree sound. Two-ten? This is my tide.
"Tanks, with Dorn!" he barked, his cool dominance cutting through the chaos. "Warriors, with Tora. Dragons, with Korr. Move!"
By midday, Veyna returned with scouts. "Lord, Torv's mesa has high walls—three hundred troops, some with ballistae."
Kael twirled his reaver, grinning. "Veyna, you're my hawk. Ballistae? Dragons'll eat 'em." He rallied the crew—Lira, Sylvi, Veyna, Mara, Elys, Nyra, Tora, Lysa, Seryn, Borv, Vira, Rhea, Korr, Thryn, Elyra, Mira, Gorv, Zyra, Ryn, Lyra, Dorn—by the tower. "Torv's mesa is last—Level 27, three hundred troops, stone walls. Elys and Rhea burn, Tora and Gorv smash, Jace traps, Seryn ambushes, Borv and Dorn tank, Zyra flanks, Ryn and Lyra blast, dragons dive. I'm on Torv. Clear?"
Lyra's staff sparked. "Stone cracks—my blasts'll split it."
Kael winked. "Lyra, you're my thunder. Rock 'em." Fifty thousand marched southeast, Kael at the fore, dragons soaring. The mesa loomed—jagged cliffs, stone walls, Torv atop in dark armor, his S-tier S: Stone Sovereign (+50% earth control) rumbling the ground.
Kael smirked, raising his reaver. "Elys, Rhea—go!"
Elys's lightning shattered a wall section, rubble flying. Rhea's whip torched ballistae, flames spreading. Tora and Gorv smashed the gate, Jace's traps snared troops, Seryn reaped silently, Borv and Dorn soaked barrages, Zyra's speed cut lines, Ryn's arrows pierced, and Lyra's blasts leveled squads. Dragons rained fire, cracking stone.
Kael charged Torv, who summoned rock spikes. "You're gravel!" Torv roared. Kael dodged with EX: Stormrider's Reign, mana surging, and slashed—the reaver melted stone armor. He thrust the blade—chest pierced, blood pooling.
"Ding! Lord Defeated – Torv, Level 27. XP: 977,024 × 0.1 = 97,702 (4,982,802 with EX: EXP Nova, capped at 2,753,734 to Lv. 30 max). SSS Talent: 100% Drop Rate. Loot: S: Stone Sovereign (+50% earth control). EX Talent: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quality Enhanced: S: Stone Sovereign upgraded to EX: Earthshaper's Will (+5,000% earth control)."
The ground trembled under Kael's feet, bending to him. He smirked. Earth's mine now.
The mesa fell—two hundred dead, hundred surrendered. Kael stood atop the ruins, relaxed yet commanding. "Mara, fortify. Gavrin, loot."
A final ding rang out.
"Territory Conquered: 10/10 for Lv. 4. Territory Level Up! Lv. 3 to Lv. 4. Rewards: 15 Summons/Day, +25% Resource Yield, Level Cap to 50. XP Gained: 2,753,734 (Lv. 30 cap reached)."
Kael grinned, the violet sky thundering. Lv. 4's mine. Time to climb.
POV Shift: Dorn
He raised his shield, his Iron Wall unmoving, mesa dust on his boots. His lord stood there, smirking, the earth his plaything. Two hundred ten thousand, and he's a god already? Dorn had guarded petty chiefs before, but Kael's cool confidence, that protective steel, hooked him. I'll hold for him. He's worth it.