Transmigrated with my corruption system

"It is time for war!" Kaelgor muttered, leader of House Iron Revenants. Once the greatest clan in Tempest.

But with the emergence of Thunderblade, that was no longer the case. As the thought crossed his mind, his eyes tilted slowly toward where Thunderblade stood.

Behind the man, rows of D-rank powerhouses stood bearing the Thunderstorm crest, causing Kaelgor to gulp audibly.

With this many D-rank beings under his command, it was easy to see why Thunderblade had become the strongest leader to ever rule Tempest City.

Behind Kaelgor, four of the eight surviving clan leaders who had joined Thunderblade’s return stood ready.

Thousands upon thousands of their combined armies stretched out before them, now looking to him as their leader.

Exhaling sharply, Kaelgor turned his attention back to the massive force as his voice rang out.

"We, the coalition of clans, have never been stronger. More unified." He paused, his lips twitching slightly as he remembered Thunderblade’s threat to kill them all if they refused to join him. "More... determined!"

He swallowed before continuing. "While the Greysons are now weaker than ever, left scattered and disarrayed after the Red Streaks Clan’s attack!"

His gaze hardened, his voice growing ruthless. "A few hundred of them hide under the shadow of a little boy who dares declare himself monarch over us. Joined by a handful of pathetic clan leaders. While tens of thousands of us rise up against them."

***

"Their coalition thinks they are strong because of their vast numbers," Ulric muttered, his gaze piercing through the thousands of figures formed by the armies of the houses now under him.

"But they will shatter before our strength, our devotion... our vengeance!" he yelled. "Those who declare war on us have only one outcome. Just as we laid waste to the Red Streaks Clan, so shall we do to them."

He paused, a devious smile stretching across his lips.

"We will drench the ground with their blood and fill the air with their screams. Leaving no one behind!"

As the last word left his lips, a deafening silence fell. Ulric reached out his hand.

Instantly, a screeching sound similar to a blood wraith echoed, followed by a resplendent crimson sheen racing toward his arm.

The weapon landed in his palm with a mini sonic blast. Ulric raised the Blood Scythe high. The army below him erupted into cheers and war chants.

He slowly descended from the lord’s residence as Aelira and the others rushed toward him.

"Are you sure about this?" Aelira muttered. An emotion foreign to her clouded her face. For the first time in a long while, she truly cared for someone. Seeing him about to rush into battle while insisting on facing the strongest clan leaders alone filled her with a tinge of worry.

The others didn’t seem to share her concern as deeply.

Lyra walked up to him, her hand reaching out to pinch his waist as she chided teasingly, "Try not to show off too much." She huffed, but knowing him well enough, she doubted he would hold back.

Amber rushed forward and clutched his waist, breathing into his ear, "Be...careful"

A few meters away, Aelira sensed two figures concealed in the shadows. The emblems on their stealth suits made her gasp slightly, especially when they smiled toward Ulric in quiet assurance.

Seeing all of this, multiple questions raced through her mind. But one overshadowed the rest: Just how much faith did they have in him? Were they simply blinded by affection, or was his strength truly beyond her imagination?

Torn between the two possibilities, Aelira harrumphed and clenched the massive hammer holstered on her shoulders tightly.

"I’ll stand beside you," she declared, same as all the clan leaders under him.

Seeing them show concern for him in their own ways couldn’t help but make Ulric smile slightly. He nodded toward them in acknowledgment.

Their concern was endearing. But his confidence in his own strength was absolute.

With that thought in mind, he walked forward to the entrance of the Greyson residence. The clan leaders followed behind him, only for their eyes to suddenly widen.

They watched as he dropped into a lotus position on the ground and entered a state of meditation, as if this were just another ordinary day.

***

"We will end this burst of arrogance, erase their lineage, and set an example for generations to come!" Kaelgor continued.

Then he yelled the final command. "Charge onward!"

Instantly, battle cries tore from the army below. They moved in coordinated ranks, marching across the empty streets of Tempest City. The ground trembled violently under their synchronized steps, boosting their confidence through sheer force of numbers.

When they neared the Greyson Residence, they suddenly halted at Kaelgor’s order. His eyes narrowed at the sight ahead.

What was the meaning of this? he growled inwardly.

The black-robed youth sat alone at the front gate of the Greyson residence, as if he had been waiting for them.

It seemed he wasn’t as smart as Kaelgor had given him credit for. Otherwise, he would have hidden behind the army he had rallied.

But it was too late for regrets. Besides, this made their invasion far easier, at least on the surface.

Forming a set of rehearsed hand incantations, Kaelgor motioned for the rest of the clan leaders to surround the black-robed figure.

As they rushed forward, they were even more surprised when none of the clan leaders who had pledged loyalty to House Greyson moved to stop them.

Their confidence soared. Kaelgor yelled at the black-robed youth, who sat with the scythe resting across his palms.

"Lay down your weapon! You are surrounded!" He spat harshly under his breath. "This way, we’ll make your death a lot less painful."

Exhaling softly, Ulric rose to his feet slowly. The other clan leaders took a cautious step back, afraid it was a trap. It was all going too smoothly. A little too smoothly.

Seeing them flinch at such a simple gesture, Ulric sighed in disappointment. It was just as he had feared. There was no equal left for him in Tempest.

As the thought settled, his disappointment hardened into indifference. He breathed calmly:

"All I’m surrounded by is fear... and dead bodies."

Not giving them a chance to retort, Ulric lifted one foot and tapped it down with nearly half his strength.

Instantly, a shockwave erupted. The ground cracked into fissures, sending all the D-rank beings around him flying backward.

When they regained their footing, the confidence had been wiped clean from Kaelgor’s eyes.

"This... how?" One casual gesture and he had sent a group of the strongest D-ranks flying as if they meant nothing. What kind of power was required to do that?

First Thunderblade, and now him. Was their strength shit compared to these two monsters?

Watching their worldview shatter, Ulric sighed quietly. He clenched the scythe tightly in his palms. Too bad they had realized the error of their ways far too late.

Just as he was about to flick the weapon and reap their lives, a boisterous laughter rumbled from deep within the enemy ranks.

"Hahahaha! I was not wrong about you. The blood of great warriors burns within you!" Thunderblade chuckled, his laughter growing louder with every second.

The sky above darkened rapidly as if responding to his command. Thunder rumbled while flashes of lightning cut across the clouds.

It was almost as if his emotions had merged with the surroundings themselves.

Ulric’s brows furrowed at first, he was growing tired of being underestimated simply because of his young age.

But as he watched the phenomenon unfold, arcs of lightning spreading across the blue-robed figure with every passing second and a far more potent aura radiating from him than the rest of the D-ranks behind him.

Ulric smiled. Something was different about this one. He seemed strong. Absurdly strong.

He chuckled faintly. "Haha, I hope you don’t break easily."

Hearing the youth’s words, Thunderblade’s laughter grew even more unhinged.

"Your fight is with me... boy!"

Which only fueled Ulric’s own laughter until he broke into full maniacal laughter.

The rest of both armies stared awkwardly, watching the two figures laugh as if they were long-lost friends.

When the laughter finally eased, Thunderblade’s purple eyes narrowed dangerously. He spread his arms wide, leaving his body open for attack.

"Show me what you’ve got. Let me see if you’re truly worthy of being monarch."

Ulric looked at the figure, an exhilarating smile spreading across his face. Perhaps this one was worthy of a glimpse of his true power.

Letting go of the scythe, he spread his arms as well.

His voice echoing across the battlefield as he summoned his power:

"O, Darkness... Become My Blade Once More."