The forty-first dawn bled crimson over Kael El's domain, a violet-gold storm raging above a 3,606-square-kilometer empire—seventeen territories fused into a chaotic sprawl of forest, plains, mesa, desert, swamp, jungle, tundra, crypt, and molten wastes. The small city roared with war, castle walls shimmering with Mist Core wards, 1,688,000 subjects clashing steel against steel in the southern expanse. Kael stood at the heart of the fray, the Stormforged Blade dripping blood, EX: Dragonflame Reaver blazing with molten fury, Stormhide Armor crackling under the strain of battle. His flirty smirk gleamed through the chaos, a cool dominance radiating as he flexed EX: Stormwing Prime, a blur of speed weaving through Kryn's iron ranks and Elynn's wind riders.
Day 41. Iron and wind—they'll snap today. His dark eyes burned with unwavering confidence, pride simmering beneath his chill exterior as he parried a steel mace and slashed a wind spear aside. One-point-six million souls, 3,606 sq. km, and a Champion Lord's might—Zara led at 64, but Kael's 109,034 stats and hidden EX: 10,000x Multiplier were his wildfire. They're bleeding—I'm thriving.
A sharp ding pierced the battlefield's roar, the system panel flaring amid the clash.
"Day 41: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 3 – Mighty Lord. Territory Size: 3,606 sq. km. Population: 1,688,000 Subjects. Food Stock: 13 Days. Resource Yield: +50% (Lv. 3 Bonus). Resources: 90,000/250,000 for Lv. 4. Summon Limit: 12/Day. Territory Lv. 4 Conditions: Reach Level 65, Major City (100+ buildings) [85/100], Conquer Rival Nation (10,000 stats) [Met], 250,000 Resources [90,000/250,000], 10,000 Gold/Month [3,500/10,000], Army of 500 Elite [Met]."
"Lord Nexus Leaderboard: 1. Zara (64), 2. Kryn (59), 3. Elynn (58), 4. Torva (58), 5. Rynne (57), 6. Vex (56), 7. Myra (55), 8. Kael El (51), 9. Dorn (53), 10. Lyra (52)."
Kael's smirk sharpened, a playful edge cutting through the blood and ash. "Zara's at 64—Kryn's still 59, Elynn 58. Eighth's my springboard." Nexus whispers crackled through the din: "Kael's holding—400,000's a wall,""Zara's hoarding—she'll hit 65 soon." His talents stayed veiled—summon rumors swirled, but the multiplier slept in shadow.
The battlefield stretched across the southern wastes, a 50-square-kilometer crucible of fire, steel, and wind. Kryn's 200,000 iron-clad troops formed a phalanx, shields locked under his SSS: Iron Will—morale unyielding, blades gleaming. Elynn's 200,000 wind riders swooped from above, violet feathers streaking as her SSS: Wind Dance tripled their speed, lances diving like thunderbolts. Kael's 1.6 million surged—a tide of glaives, fists, wolves, and dragons crashing against the invaders.
Kryn roared, mace swinging, his chestplate half-melted from yesterday's clash—65,000 stats blazing. "You're a glitch, Kael—iron breaks you!" Kael ducked, EX: Stormwing Prime blurring him left, and countered with EX: Magma Fury—a molten arc slashed, 50,000 damage searing Kryn's shoulder. Metal bubbled, flesh charred—Kryn staggered, mace crashing into the dirt, a crater blooming. Kael grinned, sidestepping a second swing—steel grazed his armor, sparks flying—and thrust the Stormforged Blade into Kryn's thigh. Blood sprayed, iron bent, and Kryn bellowed, retreating behind his shields.
Elynn dove, wind spear spinning—62,000 stats fueling a gale that tore earth. "You're grounded, Kael!" Her lance stabbed—Kael parried with the reaver, wind clashing fire, and unleashed EX: Thunder Barrage. Forty storm lances erupted, 40,000 damage shredding riders—violet feathers rained, screams swallowed by thunder. Elynn twisted midair, spear slashing—Kael caught it with EX: Forest Reaper, vines snapping the haft. She cursed, tumbling back, and Kael pressed—EX: Glacial Roar blasted, sonic waves cracking her armor, sending her skidding through ash.
Drayce's glaive carved a bloody arc—War Surge flared, his 500,000-strong frontline smashing shields, steel shattering. A soldier lunged—Drayce sidestepped, glaive piercing chest, ribs crunching as blood pooled. Tora roared beside him, fists a whirlwind—two iron-clad foes charged; she grabbed one's helm, crushing it, brain splattering, and punched the other's chest, ribs caving with a wet snap. Veyna's frost wolves leapt, jaws tearing thighs—riders fell, trampled. Dragons dove, fire raining—hundreds burned, flesh melting into the wastes.
Kael danced through the chaos, a storm of blades—EX: Vitality Reaper pulsed, stealing 10,000 health from a dozen riders, their screams fueling him. He spun, EX: Volcanic Tsunami surging—a lava wave crashed, 10,000 damage torching 5,000 troops, iron glowing red as they sank. Kryn rallied, shields locking—Kael charged, EX: Seismic Rupture splitting earth—5,000 damage, fissures swallowing hundreds, steel clattering into the dark.
Elynn rallied her riders, wind spiraling—50,000 dove, lances gleaming. Kael met them with EX: Tempest Maelstrom, a sandstorm roaring—15,000 damage blinded and shredded, riders crashing in heaps. Elynn thrust again—Kael dodged, vines from EX: Verdant Tyrant binding her legs. She slashed free, panting, and Kael grinned, blood streaking his face. "Elynn, Kryn—your tide's breaking."
The battlefield shifted—150,000 dead across both sides, Kael's 1.5 million holding firm. Kryn's 150,000 tightened ranks, Elynn's 100,000 circled above. Kael called his girls mid-fray, voice a teasing roar. "Ladies, 400,000's down to 250,000—Kryn's bleeding, Elynn's flailing. Push 'em!"
Thora smashed through a shield wall—her hammer crushed a helm, skull pulping, and swung wide, ribs shattering three more. "Lord, they're brittle—let's end it!" Veyna loosed arrows, wolves tearing flanks—riders fell, throats ripped. "Flank's open—dragons now!" Elys's lightning cracked, frying dozens—violet arcs danced, steel melting. Lyra's blasts tore lines, purple rending iron—hundreds crumpled.
Kael laughed, a deep rumble shaking the wastes. "Thora, smash 'em. Veyna, flank 'em. Elys, Lyra—burn 'em. This war's mine—Zara's watching." He flexed EX: Crimson Overlord, crimson aura flaring—vampire thralls rose from the dead, clawing at Kryn's ranks, chaos swelling.
Night fell—250,000 foes remained, Kael's tide relentless. He stood amidst ash, relaxed yet commanding, reaver dripping. "Day one's ours—day two, they break."
POV Shift: Lord Elynn
Elynn clutched her cracked spear, wind riders halved—Level 58 fading, 100,000 left. "Kael's a storm—Kryn, we're bleeding out!" Her SSS: Wind Dance kept speed, but his fire and vines cut deep. Zara's 64—I'll outfly him yet.
Tracker (Summarized)
Level/Rank: 51, Champion Lord (Mid Tier)
XP: 1,009,451,564/2,202,995,798
Stats: 109,034 (Str: 36,345, Spd: 36,345, Aura: 36,344)
Territory: Lv. 3, 3,606 sq. km, 90,000/250,000 resources
Population: 1,688,000
Powers: 9 EX Skills (Seismic Rupture, Magma Fury, etc.)
Bloodlines: 6 + Devourer Blood (+10,534 stats)
Talents: SSS: 100% Drop Rate, EX: 10,000x Multiplier, 15 EX Talents—secret
Harem: 28 girls
Recent Gains: +5,000 Resources, +5 Buildings