The thirty-fourth dawn blazed over Kael El's domain, a violet-gold storm igniting a 2,356-square-kilometer empire—sixteen territories woven into a chaotic tapestry of forest, plains, mesa, desert, swamp, jungle, tundra, and crypt. The citadel hummed with life, forges roaring under Thora's hammer, hunters stalking tundra prey, and 288,000 subjects thriving. Kael lounged on a throne of bloodstone and frost-iron, the Stormforged Blade propped beside him, EX: Dragonflame Reaver simmering, Stormhide Armor pulsing faintly. His flirty smirk gleamed, a cool dominance radiating as he flexed EX: Vitality Reaper, a faint crimson aura coiling—wounds from yesterday's sparring already gone.
Day 34. Resources climbing—Lv. 5's in reach. His dark eyes burned with unwavering confidence, a quiet pride simmering beneath his chill exterior. Two hundred eighty-eight thousand souls, 2,356 square kilometers, and a Champion Lord's might—peers at Level 50 scrambled with half his 75,234 stats; Kael's Devourer Blood pulsed with stolen power. They're sparks—I'm the blaze. Sixty-two grand to go.
A sharp ding rang out, the system panel flaring alongside the Lord Nexus, now aglow with a golden leaderboard.
"Day 34: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 4. Territory Size: 2,356 sq. km. Population: 288,000 Subjects. Food Stock: 2 Days Remaining. Resource Yield: +40% (Tactical Insight Bonus). Resources: 48,000/100,000 for Lv. 5. Summon Limit: 15/Day. Territory Lv. 5 Conditions: Conquer 15 territories [16/15], 100,000 resources [48,000/100,000], Reach Mighty Lord rank [Exceeded]."
"Cosmic Quest Unlocked: First Lord to Level 100 claims EX: Celestial Aegis (+100% all resistances, 50% damage reflection). Lord Leaderboard active in Nexus—top 10 visible."
Kael tapped the Nexus, the leaderboard shimmering:
Lord Zara – Level 58
Lord Vorr – Level 56
Lord Sylth – Level 55
Lord Kryn – Level 54
Lord Elynn – Level 53
Lord Torva – Level 52
Lord Rynne – Level 51
Lord Kael El – Level 50
Lord Vex – Level 50
Lord Myra – Level 49
His smirk sharpened, a playful edge glinting. "Eighth? Cute—I'll be first by sundown." He scanned EX: Celestial Aegis—a talent he lacked, promising invincibility. Multiplied for me? That's an error waiting to break. Nexus chatter exploded—lords cursing the quest, others plotting trades. Vorr's voice crackled: "Kael's at 50—too fast. Sylth, Kryn, meet me. We stop him."
Lena approached, map in hand. "Lord, hunters bagged ten mammoths—food's at four days. Forges hit 55,000 resources with Vorr's timber. Veyna's scouting a quarry south—could push us to 70,000 by tomorrow."
Kael leaned forward, winking. "Lena, you're my genius. Quarry's mine—send Veyna with wolves." He triggered EX: Arctic Packmaster, frost wolves howling in his mind—scouts wouldn't fail. "Nexus says they're teaming up—Vorr's scared. Thoughts?"
Mira joined, staff glowing. "They'll hit soon—three lords at 54-plus could field 500,000. We need Lv. 5's cap jump to 100."
Kael's grin turned flirty yet fierce. "Mira, they'll bleed before they touch me. Lena, prioritize quarries—Lv. 5 by Day 40. I'll summon tomorrow—stack the odds." He flexed EX: Crimson Overlord, imagining Vorr's troops as thralls. Allies? I'll turn their game.
He called his girls to the throne room, voice teasing. "Ladies, we're eighth—Zara's at 58. Cosmic Empress dropped a quest: first to 100 gets a shield I'll break the system with. Vorr's plotting—let's build and crush. Ideas?"
Thora's hammer sparked. "Forges can double output—quarry stone's key."
Veyna notched an arrow. "South's ripe—two days, 20,000 resources."
Lena traced the map. "Trade pelts for ore—hit 80,000 by Day 38."
Kael laughed, a deep rumble. "Perfect—Thora, hammer it. Veyna, hunt it. Lena, deal it. I'm climbing—watch me burn."
A faint cosmic hum lingered—the Empress's gaze, unseen but felt.
POV Shift: Lord Vorr
In a lava-crusted hall 800 km east, Vorr glared at the Nexus, Sylth and Kryn's holograms flickering. His Level 56 stats—40,000—paled next to Kael's rumored might. "He's 50, eighth, and growing—288,000 subjects? We're at 150,000 combined."
Sylth, Level 55, sneered. "His multiplier's a cheat—quests favor him."
Kryn, Level 54, nodded. "Day 40—we hit him pre-Lv. 5. Agreed?"
Vorr growled. "Agreed. Zara's ahead—Kael's the threat."
Tracker (Summarized)
Level/Rank: 50, Champion Lord (Mid Tier)
XP: 752,945,074/1,762,396,638 (Lv. 4 cap)
Stats: 75,234 (Str: 25,078, Spd: 25,078, Aura: 25,078)
Territory: Lv. 4, 2,356 sq. km, 16/15 territories, 55,000/100,000 resources
Population: 288,000
Powers: 7 EX Skills (Seismic Rupture, Volcanic Tsunami, Tempest Maelstrom, Abyssal Quagmire, Forest Reaper, Glacial Roar, Vitality Reaper)
Bloodlines: Forest Elf (+25% agility), Stone Giant (+50% durability), EX: Frostfang Sovereign (+5,000% cold resist, apex senses), EX: Nosferatu Prime (+5,000% regen, apex night vision), Devourer Blood (10% stat absorb, evolving, +1,734 stats)
Talents: SSS: 100% Drop Rate, EX: 10,000x Multiplier, 13 EX Talents (EXP Nova, Mana Ocean, Dragon Sovereign, etc.)
Harem: 28 girls (Lira to Lena)
Recent Gains: +7,000 Resources, +2 Days Food