The sixty-fifth dawn shimmered with a triumphant gold over Kael El's Ashen Empire, the 10,906 square kilometers of his Territory Level 5 dominion gleaming with strength. The capital city stood at 190 buildings, bone steel and golden turrets piercing the sky as 2,688,000 subjects forged ahead. Kael lounged in the Lord's Estate, Stormforged Blade resting against a golden throne, EX: Dragonflame Reaver casting a warm glow, Stormhide Armor polished beside him. His flirty smirk played across his lips, a cool dominance radiating as he flexed EX: Gold Dominion, golden veins threading the walls. Rynne's shadow was dust, and Kael burned to raise his empire to unassailable heights, eyeing Vex's looming challenge.
Day 65. Rynne's gone, my gold's eternal. His dark eyes blazed with unwavering confidence, pride a molten core beneath his chill exterior. Two-point-seven million souls, 10,906 square kilometers, Territory Level 5's my fortress—Vex's 64's next to test me. The Nexus sang: "Kael's 68, gold reigns!" "Vex's 64, iron stirs!" He winked at the air. Stir all you want, I'm unshakable.
"Day 65: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 5 – Commanding Lord. Territory Size: 10,906 sq. km. Population: 2,688,000 Subjects. Food Stock: 25 Days. Resource Yield: +100% (Lv. 5 Bonus) + 100% (SSS: Resource Lord) + 0.5x (R18 Boost, 3 Days Left). Resources: 755,000/1,000,000 for Lv. 5 Completion – Excess Banked: 0. Summon Limit: 20/Day. Territory Lv. 6 Conditions: Reach Level 105, Continental Empire (500+ buildings) [190/500], Defeat 100,000-stat Entity [Not Met], 5,000,000 Resources [755,000/5M], 250,000 Gold/Month [105,000/250,000], Army of 10,000 Elite [2,000/10,000], Build World Wonder [Not Met]."
"Lord Nexus Leaderboard: 1. Kael El (68), 2. Vex (64), 3. Myra (63), 4. Lyra (62), 5. Gavrin (60), 6. Sylth (59), 7. Elynn (58), 8. Jorr (56), 9. Kalia (55), 10. Zane (54)."
Kael's grin widened, a teasing glint sparking. "Level 68 keeps me first, Vex's 64 climbs to second. Iron bends to my gold." His talents stayed cloaked, EX: 10,000x Multiplier humming, Total Stats at 13,467 in Champion Lord Low Tier (10,000–25,000).
Lena glided in, her map glowing with golden lines. "Lord, resources hit 755,000 with the R18 boost and Rynne's loot, gold's at 105,000 monthly. Buildings at 190—ten shy of 200 for Level 6's foundation."
Kael leaned forward, winking. "Lena, my goldmine, hit 200 by tomorrow, bank 245,000 more to the million. Vex's sniffing, let's tower over him." He tapped the Nexus, trading 25,000 gold ore for 15,000 Mist Cores, lords watching his moves.
Thora stomped up, hammer slung over her shoulder, gold dust on her grin. "Forges are roaring, Lord. Hit 195 by dusk, 200 by dawn. Gold steel's stacking, spires climbing."
Kael clapped her arm, smirking. "Thora, my forge, 200 by dawn, 210 by week's end. Build me a golden aegis." He turned, voice a low rumble. "Drayce, Veyna, scout east. Rynne's ashes settle, I want Vex's scent."
Drayce nodded, glaive sharp. "Lord, army's 2.2 million, 400 gold-clad elite ready. Scouts push 800 kilometers east, Vex's iron's 1,200 kilometers off."
Veyna strung her bow, eyes narrowing. "Vex's east, Level 64, 9,800 Total Stats, SSS: Iron Lord forging 50,000, 1,200 kilometers off. Wolves smell steel."
Kael's laugh rolled deep. "Nine-k's bold, his iron won't scratch me. Two days, we hit 200 buildings, then I meet him." He triggered EX: Gold Reaper, a golden blade humming, Total Stats at 13,467 a promise.
He called his girls, voice a teasing drawl. "Ladies, 10,906 square kilometers, 2.7 million souls, 755,000 resources, Level 68. Vex's 64, 50,000 stirring. I'm stacking, hit me."
Lena traced the map, precise. "Gold to 130,000 monthly, tax harder, trade cores for steel. Buildings to 210 by week's end."
Thora grinned, hammer sparking. "195 tonight, 200 by dawn, gold wards next. Forges'll thunder."
Veyna smirked, arrow notched. "Scouts push 900 kilometers east, track Vex's iron. Wolves'll growl."
Kael's grin sharpened, predatory. "Lena, squeeze 'em. Thora, raise 'em. Veyna, hunt 'em. Vex's iron rusts, I don't." He stood, EX: Bone Dominion raising golden bone spires, ash and gold melding.
The city churned, forges blazing as gold steel clad 191, 192, 193 buildings by mid-morning. Tax collectors swarmed, gold ticking to 110,000 monthly. Veyna's scouts darted 900 kilometers east, reports flowing: "Vex's 50,000 swell to 60,000, 1,200 kilometers off." Kael kicked a golden shard, smirking. "Swell all you want, I'll crush it."
By dusk, 195 buildings stood, gold turrets spiking higher, siege walls thickening. Gold hit 115,000 monthly, Lena's traders swapping 5,000 Mist Cores for 10 days' food, stockpiles growing. Kael strode the lines, EX: Gold Dominion threading wealth into defenses, Total Stats at 13,467 a bulwark against Vex's 9,800. "Close to 200, then his turn."
The Nexus pinged: "Kael's 68, gold towers!" "Vex's 64, iron sharpens!" Kael chuckled, spinning the Stormforged Blade. "Sharpen all you like, I'm the edge."
POV Shift: Lord Vex
Vex's iron fortress rumbled, Level 64, 9,800 Total Stats gleaming. SSS: Iron Lord forged his 60,000, 1,200 kilometers west of Kael. "Kael's 68, Territory Level 5, 2.7 million strong. He's a blaze, I'm a hammer." Steel glinted, his axe cold.