Chapter 198: The Iron Utopia
Three years passed since the sky shattered. The Velkrath Capital evolved from a gritty industrial fortress into a sprawling Steampunk metropolis.
The thick dark smog of the early factories completely vanished. Nyssa harnessed pure clean Aetherion energy to power the entire empire.
Massive automated brass airships floated peacefully through the pristine blue sky. They carried tons of processed iron and heavy machinery across the continent.
WHOOSH.
The massive heavy propellers of a transport dreadnought hummed smoothly overhead. The moving shadows of the flying vessels danced across the clean cobblestone streets below.
Down in the bustling city center the new reality of our unified world thrived. Former human paladins stood deep inside the blazing hot dimensional foundries.
They willingly traded their rusted holy swords for heavy iron wrenches. They worked shoulder to shoulder with towering horned beastmen to forge new dreadnought plates.
There was no bitter racial hatred left in their hearts. The Forge provided them with endless food and perfect total security.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
Heavy hydraulic presses hammered rhythmic beats of endless progress. The loud mechanical sounds were the new heartbeat of humanity.
Outside the towering city walls the ancient tall elves embraced their new purpose. They permanently abandoned their isolationist pride.
They channeled their deep primordial nature magic directly into the scorched dirt of the human lands. Vibrant green crops erupted violently from the soil in mere short minutes.
The elves effortlessly grew enough endless food to easily feed the massive industrial population. Hunger was entirely eradicated from the spinning globe.
Deep underground Nyssa established the supreme global network. The brilliant Chief Architect connected the entire physical world.
RUMBLE.
A hyper speed Steampunk train shot rapidly through a massive Void Steel tunnel. The heavily pressurized locomotive connected the Beastman Continent directly to the human lands under the restored Azure Sea.
The cross continental journey took only a few short hours. The entire planet functioned exactly like a flawless ticking clockwork machine.
I sat comfortably at the head of a colossal obsidian table inside the Grand Hall of the Iron Estate. I wore my tailored dark military coat.
I was no longer a brutal warlord planning a desperate bloody siege. I was an unmatched emperor efficiently managing a massive global economy.
"The eastern human sectors report a massive surplus in raw iron ore," Prime Minister Hardsteel announced loudly. The veteran statesman stood respectfully at the side of the long black table. He pointed firmly to a glowing blue holographic map hovering over the polished stone.
"The former holy mining towns are overproducing. We need to rapidly reallocate the transport trains to prevent a massive stockpile bottleneck."
"Reroute the entire surplus directly to the southern shipyards," I commanded firmly. My deep baritone voice echoed effortlessly through the large room.
"We are aggressively doubling the production of the Aetherion airships. I want every single isolated human village seamlessly connected to the central grid by the end of the year."
"It shall be done Sovereign," Hardsteel bowed deeply. He tapped his heavy iron communication rune to relay the strict orders.
"There is one minor issue. A small faction of former human nobles in the northern snowlands requested permission to reinstate their traditional taxing laws. They want to collect extra gold from their local farmers."
I leaned back slowly in my high starmetal chair. My glowing red eyes narrowed dangerously. I did not need to launch a violent military strike to crush a pathetic rebellion anymore. I controlled the fundamental reality of the world.
"Deny their pathetic request," I stated coldly.
"Freeze their central Aetherion energy grid for exactly three days. Let them sit freezing in the dark snow. They will quickly remember that their fake noble bloodlines mean nothing in this modern era. The Forge provides the heat and the Forge can easily take it away."
Hardsteel smiled a grim knowing smile.
"A brilliant nonlethal solution Sovereign. They will submit completely by tomorrow evening."
The heavy wooden doors of the Grand Hall pushed slowly open. Kaelith walked silently gracefully into the room.
The deadly shadow elf possessed a glowing swollen stomach. The five royal heirs were growing incredibly strong inside their mothers.
Nyssa followed closely behind her. The Chief Architect wiped thick dark machine grease from her glowing green tattoos.
"You work entirely too much Master," Nyssa sighed loudly. She walked quickly to the table and grabbed a sweet red apple from a silver bowl.
"The global rail network is running flawlessly. The human continent is fully stabilized. You can afford to finally rest your highly evolved mind."
I reached out gently and pulled Kaelith close to my side. I rested my large heavy hand softly against her warm stomach. I clearly felt the powerful rapid heartbeat of my unborn child. The immense latent magic swirling inside her womb was completely terrifying.
"The Forge never rests," I replied warmly. I looked proudly at the two beautiful women.
"I am simply making sure this physical planet is entirely perfect for them. Our children will inherit a flawless ticking machine."
"They are growing incredibly restless," Kaelith whispered softly. Her bright silver eyes glowed with fierce maternal pride.
"Ramona nearly burned her entire bedroom down this early morning when her son kicked. The raw magical pressure they naturally exude is completely staggering. Nyssa believes they will be ready to enter the world very soon."
Nyssa nodded enthusiastically and bit into her red apple.
"My precise biological calculations indicate a simultaneous birth event. All five of them possess overlapping resonant frequencies. When one decides to come out the others will forcefully follow."
I smiled a jagged happy smile. I looked up proudly at the pristine glass ceiling of the palace. True global peace was a difficult highly complex machine to constantly maintain. But my loyal pack possessed the unmatched supreme power to keep the massive gears turning flawlessly.
THUMP-THUMP.
Another incredibly strong kick vibrated forcefully against my palm from inside Kaelith. The tiny shadow elf baby was eager to finally see the unified world I had violently built for her.
"Let them come," I whispered deeply.
"The empire is fully ready."