Transmigrated with my corruption system

"T-this... power," Rysten mumbled, his eyes fluttering rapidly as a storm of thoughts swirled through his mind.

He had noticed the lord had grown considerably stronger... but this? This was something else entirely. Defeating a D-rank powerhouse as if he meant nothing?

It was inexplicable. Even though Thadeus wasn’t the strongest among them, the shock of the feat remained. High D-rank beings would usually struggle at least a little when killing lower D-rank powerhouses.

Not end them in a single move with zero chance of survival, the way Ulric had.

The gathered clan leaders shared Rysten’s shock. Their eyes stared blankly at the aftermath, still struggling to process what had just happened. One moment the youth had been at Thadeus’s throat. The next, the man was dead.

Even crazier was the aura that had exploded out of Ulric. They had all felt it pressing down on them overwhelmingly. Looking back, some gulped audibly, unsure if they would have fared any better in Thadeus’s place.

Just as they sank deeper into their thoughts, the sound of knees thudding against the floor echoed through the hall, followed by a shaky voice.

"I, Lila Vance of House Hillcrest, swear allegiance to the lord of House Greyson."

Her voice trembled slightly as she forced the words out.

She had witnessed the youth’s overwhelming power, far higher than she could have ever imagined. And for some reason, she could feel this was barely the tip of it. The true magnitude had to be monstrous.

Standing against him would only result in untold destruction.

Barely a moment after her words, more voices rang out, quickly filling the grand hall.

"I, Rowan Hale of House Brookfield, swear my allegiance to the lord of House Greyson."

"I, Marcus Drel of House Stoneford, also swear my allegiance to the lord of House Greyson."

"I, Alina Cross of House Riverden, hereby swear my allegiance to the lord of House Greyson."

"Tomas Reed of House Oakmere swears allegiance to the Greyson banner!"

"I, Nina Coren of House Elmstead, swear my allegiance to House Greyson."

Seeing the clan leaders bend the knee before him, Ulric smiled, his fists clenching softly.

People like them only respected strength. Now that he had displayed even a fraction of it, their reaction was to be expected.

Before he could sink further into his thoughts, his gaze faltered as he noticed one figure still standing.

Covered in golden-plated armor with a massive hammer holstered across her shoulders, Aelira.

Ulric watched as she walked toward him. She had gone to set her house in order before swearing allegiance. Now that she had returned, a faint smile curved his lips. He sighed quietly at the mischievous glint lighting up her eyes.

She approached the throne and opened her mouth to speak, but Ulric didn’t let her. He stretched out one hand, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her onto his lap.

The sudden move drew a surprised yelp from her. Her throat went dry as she tried to speak, but no words came out.

Hearing her heart thumping rapidly, Ulric smiled and pulled her closer.

Down below, the clan leaders stared with various expressions crossing their faces, but Ulric disregarded them all.

His voice rang out clearly across the grand hall. "You shall act according to my orders."

He remembered the words Rysten and the elders had passed on when he began this path of conquest.

He would not strip them of all their resources. Half would suffice.

As he relayed the orders, he saw relief ease across their faces. But he wasn’t finished.

"You shall rally your armies," he continued, pausing for a moment. "Once the battle begins... you shall join me in war."

He had been tempted to rush into battle alone and slay all who dared defy him. But as he grew stronger and fought more, killing the weak brought him no joy. That was why they were here.

He could already see the clan leaders’ eyes constricting violently as he expressed his desire to face the opposing leaders personally. They looked at him in a completely new light.

Besides worrying he might have bitten off more than he could chew, they were surprised. He wasn’t using them as mere meat shields. Every new word from his lips subverted their expectations further.

Not giving them time to dwell on their thoughts, Ulric waved his hand dismissively.

He was left alone with Aelira still sitting on his lap. If even this coalition couldn’t give him the challenge he craved, he sighed, his eyes drifting toward the sky. Perhaps he would need to find it elsewhere.

His hand reached for the pendant hanging loosely around his neck, the one Greyson had given him.

It was inevitable. His time in Tempest was drawing to an end. But before that...

Ulric exhaled, a sharp smile stretching across his face as he pulled Aelira closer. It was time for one final clash.

Elsewhere across the city, while Ulric prepared for the coming war...

Inside a massive chamber, rows of clan leaders who opposed his rise stood gathered.

Their enraged voices filled the room.

"I say we storm the Greyson Residence and end this spectacle once and for all!"

"Yeah, you’re right. What do we need an army for when facing a single youth who doesn’t know what he’s doing?!"

"What about the forces siding with him?"

"We shall destroy them as well!"

"No, you’re not entirely wrong, nor entirely right either. We formed this great army for a reason, so that when we eradicate the entire Greyson residence, it will set an example for anyone who dares rise against us and declare himself monarch. Total destruction!"

"But..."

Just as the voices intensified, the doors to the chamber swung open as a single figure stepped inside.

A moment of silence descended across the chamber as every clan leader’s gaze shifted to the intruding figure.

A blue-robed man with sharp purple eyes and a mysterious aura clinging to him stood calmly, hands clasped behind his back. He looked as though he were taking a casual stroll, completely ignoring the stares directed at him.