The forty-seventh noon blazed over Kael El's empire, a violet-gold shimmer stretching across 6,906 square kilometers—nineteen territories of forest, plains, mesa, desert, swamp, jungle, tundra, crypt, molten wastes, steel flats, and ash plains trembling under a distant rumble. The major city pulsed, 115 buildings fortified with Mist Core walls, forges roaring as 1,838,000 subjects sharpened steel and ash-forged blades. Kael stood atop the Lord's Estate, the Stormforged Blade in hand, EX: Dragonflame Reaver glowing faintly, Stormhide Armor etched with ash scars. His flirty smirk gleamed, a cool dominance radiating as he flexed EX: Ash Dominion, gray wisps curling—Torva's bone tide loomed 800 km west, and Kael's blood hummed for war.
Day 47, midday. Torva's rattling—let's snap him. His dark eyes burned with unwavering confidence, pride a wildfire beneath his chill exterior. One-point-eight million souls, 6,906 sq. km, and a Champion Lord's might—Dorn's ash was his, and Torva's bones would follow. Zara's 67—Torva's 61 falls today.
The Nexus pinged, system panel flaring.
"Day 47: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 4 – Champion Lord. Territory Size: 6,906 sq. km. Population: 1,838,000 Subjects. Food Stock: 12 Days. Resource Yield: +75% (Lv. 4 Bonus). Resources: 155,000/250,000 for Lv. 4 Completion. Summon Limit: 15/Day. Territory Lv. 5 Conditions: Reach Level 90, Sprawling Kingdom (200+ buildings) [115/200], Defeat 50,000-stat Beast/Lord [Pending], 1,000,000 Resources [155,000/1M], 50,000 Gold/Month [7,000/50,000], Army of 2,000 Elite [Met]."
"Lord Nexus Leaderboard: 1. Zara (67), 2. Torva (61), 3. Rynne (60), 4. Vex (58), 5. Myra (57), 6. Lyra (55), 7. Kael El (55), 8. Gavrin (52), 9. Sylth (51), 10. Elynn (50)."
Kael's smirk sharpened, a teasing edge glinting. "Torva's second—61's bold. Seventh's my step—second's next." Nexus chatter flared: "Torva's bones march—Kael's ash holds,""Zara's gold's a wall—67's untouchable." His talents stayed veiled—summons whispered, but the multiplier was his storm.
Veyna burst in, bow taut, eyes sharp. "Lord, Torva's 700 km west—350,000 strong, bone-wreathed, moving fast. Scouts saw undead—skeletons, marrow golems, tireless. He'll hit by dusk."
Kael leaned forward, winking. "Veyna, you're my huntress—350,000's a feast. Marrow golems? Wolves and ash'll chew 'em." He stood, voice a playful growl. "Drayce, frontline. Thora, arm 'em. Lena, walls to 120 by dusk. Torva's got bones—I've got fire."
Lena unrolled a map, tracing lines. "Lord, Torva's lands are 2,000 sq. km—bone fields, dead hills. His SSS: Bone Lord raises undead—endless, brittle but relentless. He's after Rynne, but we're in his path."
Kael tapped the map, grinning. "Lena, you're my steel—350,000's a dare. Rynne's busy—Torva's mine." He triggered EX: Dragon Sovereign, dragons snarling—15 summons flared, ash golems and frost wolves rising. "Halfway—crush him."
By afternoon, Kael's forces marched—1.45 million strong, a tide of steel and ash stretching west, 400 km from the city. The horizon darkened—Torva's 350,000 loomed, bone banners clattering, marrow golems lumbering like skeletal titans, each step cracking earth. Kael stood at the vanguard, blades raised—EX: Verdant Tyrant pulsed, vines coiling. "Girls, Torva's here—second rank, 350,000 bone-clad. Let's break 'em."
The clash erupted—Drayce's glaives met bone cloaks, steel flashing—War Surge roared, his 400,000 surging with +50% attack. A marrow golem swung, bone fist shattering ground—Drayce dodged, glaive slashing—ivory dust sprayed, the golem's arm cracking. Cloaks swarmed—his blade spun, skulls rolling—12,000 fell, bones piling.
Tora roared, fists hammering—a golem loomed, claw crashing—she caught it, muscles bulging, and twisted—bone snapped, dust bursting. Another charged—her punch split its ribs, fragments flying—6,000 cloaks scattered, her laugh ringing. "More!" she bellowed, fists a tempest.
Veyna's wolves darted, frost fangs biting—a golem stomped—she notched, arrow piercing its skull—cracks spread, bones crumbling. Dragons dove, fire and ice raining—18,000 cloaks shattered, dust swirling. Her bow sang, arrows felling ranks—her flank pushed, golems faltering.
Kael watched, blades humming—Elys's lightning cracked, frying 8,000—bolts danced, bones splintering. Lyra's violet blasts tore gaps, 9,000 vaporized—purple flared. Rhea and Fyra torched lines, Jace's traps snared, Seryn reaped, Borv held—Zyra and Zane sliced—60,000 dead in hours, bones carpeting the plains.
Torva's voice rasped from the haze, Level 61, 12,316 stats pulsing—SSS: Bone Lord thickened the air, skeletons rising. "Kael, you're dust!" A marrow golem charged—Kael blurred with EX: Stormwing Prime, dodging—earth split. He countered with EX: Ash Reaper, ash blade searing—50,000 damage cracked its chest, bones scattering—Torva's laugh echoed, unseen.
Kael grinned, ash on his smirk. "Torva, hide in your graveyard—today's your tomb." He raised his blades—war was his forge, and he'd hammer Torva flat.
POV Shift: Lord Torva
In the bone storm, Torva smirked—Level 61, 12,316 stats sharp. His SSS: Bone Lord summoned golems—290,000 held. "Kael's 55—reckless. Zara's 67—I'll bury him." Tight race—I'm the end.
Tracker (Summarized)
Level/Rank: 55, Champion Lord (Mid Tier)
XP: 1,011,345,495 / 281,508,540
Base Stats: 7,640 (Str: 2,546, Spd: 2,547, Aura: 2,547)
Actual Combat Strength: Commanding Lord Mid-Tier (~25,001–50,000 equivalent via skills/summons)
Territory: Lv. 4, 6,906 sq. km, 155,000 / 250,000 resources
Population: 1,838,000
Powers: 11 EX Skills (Seismic Rupture, Ash Reaper, etc.)
Bloodlines: 8 + Devourer Blood (+500 stats)
Talents: SSS: 100% Drop Rate, EX: 10,000x Multiplier, 17 EX Talents—secret
Harem: 28 girls
Recent Gains: None (Mid-Battle)