The forty-sixth afternoon blazed over Kael El's western plains, a violet-gold sky choked by ash as the battlefield—350 km from his major city—roared with chaos. The 5,406-square-kilometer empire trembled, its eighteen territories—forest, plains, mesa, desert, swamp, jungle, tundra, crypt, molten wastes, and steel flats—braced for the storm. The city's 110 buildings stood resolute, Mist Core walls pulsing as 1,768,000 subjects fueled the war—50,000 reinforcements surged west, steel clashing. Kael stood at the heart of the fray, the Stormforged Blade slick with ash, EX: Dragonflame Reaver a molten beacon, Stormhide Armor dented but defiant. His flirty smirk cut through the haze, a cool dominance radiating as he flexed EX: Iron Bastion, defense surging—Dorn emerged from the ash, and Kael met him head-on.
Day 46, afternoon. Dorn's mine—time to crack him. His dark eyes burned with unwavering confidence, pride a wildfire beneath his chill exterior. One-point-seven million souls, 5,406 sq. km, and a Champion Lord's might—100,000 of Dorn's 300,000 lay dead, but the ash lord stood tall. Kael's 1.45 million with reinforcements roared—Drayce's glaives bled ash, Tora's fists shattered stone, Veyna's wolves tore through.
The battlefield stretched six kilometers, ash cloaks and golems a gray tempest against Kael's steel tide—Dorn's 200,000 pressed, SSS: Ash Lord summoning five more golems, towering hulks of charred stone. Kael's forces fought—dragons torched, lightning cracked—ash swirled thick, blinding.
Dorn stepped forth, Level 55, 60,000 stats pulsing—a gaunt figure in ash-gray robes, eyes glowing ember-red, a massive ash-forged scythe in hand. "Kael, you're ash beneath me!" His SSS: Ash Lord flared—golems roared, ash storm intensifying—visibility dropped to meters, cloaks vanishing into gray.
Kael laughed, blades raised—EX: Tempest Maelstrom spun, sandstorm clashing ash—15,000 damage parted the haze, revealing Dorn. He charged—EX: Stormwing Prime blurred him forward—Dorn's scythe swung, ash trailing—Kael dodged, earth splitting—EX: Magma Fury roared, molten arc slashing—50,000 damage seared Dorn's robe, ash sizzling—Dorn grunted, scythe spinning back—Kael parried with the Stormforged Blade, steel screaming—sparks flew, ash swirling.
Dorn's golems stomped—Drayce's line buckled, glaive slashing—a fist crashed, fifty dead—War Surge flared, his 400,000 pushing—golem chest split, ash pouring—he rolled, blood dripping. Tora tackled one—fist met stone, cracks webbing—she roared, punching—golem fell, crushing 2,000—another kicked, she skidded, grinning. Veyna's wolves flanked—arrows pierced golems, 5,000 cloaks down—dragons torched, ash parting—125,000 dead total.
Kael danced with Dorn—EX: Steel Tempest spun, 60,000 damage slashing—Dorn's scythe blocked, ash absorbing—counter swung, grazing Kael's pauldron—Stormhide Armor cracked, EX: Nosferatu Prime healed—crimson flared. Dorn smirked—ash golems charged—Kael rolled, EX: Volcanic Tsunami surging—10,000 damage melted one's legs, ash flooding—two swung, fists crashing—Kael dodged, earth erupting—EX: Thunder Barrage blasted, forty lances—40,000 damage cracked golems, cloaks shredding.
Dorn thrust his scythe—ash blade extended, slicing—Kael ducked, wind howling—EX: Vitality Reaper pulsed, stealing 10,000 health—Dorn staggered, scythe slowing—Kael thrust the reaver—Dorn twisted, ash deflecting—50,000 damage grazed, robe burning—Dorn roared, ash storm thickening—golems rallied, fists pounding—Kael's line lost 5,000, ash cloaking.
Drayce slashed—golem arm fell, 7,000 cloaks down—fist grazed, ribs cracking—he roared, holding. Tora smashed—two golems crumbled, 5,000 scattered—blood streaked her fists, she laughed. Veyna's arrows pierced—golem core split, 8,000 dropped—wolves tore, ash thinning—150,000 dead, Dorn's tide faltering.
Kael grinned—EX: Glacial Roar erupted, sonic blast slamming—20,000 damage rocked Dorn, ash parting—he stumbled, scythe planting—Kael leapt—EX: Forest Reaper flared, vines piercing—20,000 damage snared Dorn's legs, ash bleeding—Dorn hacked free, scythe slashing—Kael parried, sparks flying—golem fist swung—Kael rolled, earth shaking—EX: Seismic Rupture split ground—5,000 damage cracked golems, Dorn cursing.
Dorn's eyes flared—ash storm surged, golems roaring—Kael's smirk held—EX: Iron Bastion hardened, blades flashing—Dorn charged—scythe met reaver, ash clashing fire—Kael's arm strained, steel groaning—Dorn's strength pressed, 60,000 stats unyielding—Kael laughed, pushing back—war was his, and Dorn would break.
POV Shift: Lord Dorn
In the ash storm, Dorn's grip tightened—Level 55, 60,000 stats strained. His SSS: Ash Lord summoned three more golems—150,000 stood. "Kael's 52—tough. Zara's 67—I'll end him." Tight race—I'm the ash.
Tracker (Summarized)
Level/Rank: 52, Champion Lord (Mid Tier)
XP: 1,193,544,234/2,753,744,748
Stats: 141,034 (Str: 47,012, Spd: 47,012, Aura: 47,010)
Territory: Lv. 4, 5,406 sq. km, 145,000/250,000 resources
Population: 1,768,000
Powers: 10 EX Skills (Seismic Rupture, Steel Tempest, etc.)
Bloodlines: 7 + Devourer Blood (+17,534 stats)
Talents: SSS: 100% Drop Rate, EX: 10,000x Multiplier, 16 EX Talents—secret
Harem: 28 girls
Recent Gains: None (Mid-Battle)