Chapter 519: If you do not join the Xaos Kingdom...
King Torin felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from the man before him. Vlad appeared so young—he couldn’t have been older than twenty-five years old—yet his presence was nothing short of divine.
This was a man capable of leveling mountains with a single beam of energy, defying gravity as if it were beneath him, and leading millions of elite soldiers who worshipped his very existence. If such power did not define a god, then what could?
Torin’s eyes were sharp, the weight of Vlad’s words pressing on his mind. It was clear that the Xaos King held the power to end the alien threat plaguing Ocenis. While the Strong Hammer Kingdom was formidable and had successfully repelled both demons and angels, expansion had proven exceedingly difficult.
The strength and numbers of their enemies were a constant reminder of the peril that lurked beyond their borders. If they joined the Xaos Kingdom, that danger could be eradicated, and peace might finally be within reach. What more could a leader wish for his people?
Yet, Torin was no fool. Peace and safety were goals he desired from the depths of his heart—something he would not hesitate to give his life to secure—but he would not trade his people’s freedom or morality to achieve them. A life as a slave was not worth even a single breath.
Questions swirled in the dwarf’s mind, but one rose above all others.
"What will you do if we refuse to join the Xaos Kingdom?" Torin asked, his voice steady despite the uncertainty in his heart.
The moment the words left his lips, Vlad’s eyes glowed with an intense, otherworldly light. A surge of overwhelming soul force erupted from him, washing over Torin and the assembled army of the Strong Hammer Kingdom.
Torin stood firm, his resilience unwavering, and those of the High Champion Tier managed to remain on their feet. But the rest of the soldiers faltered. For many, the world seemed to tilt and churn, nausea assaulting them as they struggled to withstand the crushing pressure.
It wasn’t a matter of bravery or willpower—their resolve was strong—but Vlad’s soul force belonged to a Sage Tier life form. The sheer weight of it was enough to overwhelm anyone below a certain threshold of power.
Ignoring the panicked soldiers, Vlad’s gaze remained fixed on Torin. His eyes blazed with an energy that radiated wrath and destruction. The soul force flooded the surrounding area, a suffocating tide that left no room for misunderstanding.
"I am not a tyrant or a despot," Vlad said, his voice harsh and cold, cutting through the tension like a blade. "I do not wish to sully my hands with human blood unless it is absolutely necessary. I will not force you to join my kingdom, but neither will I allow an unknown power to exist unchecked near my people."