Chapter 61: Conquering the Capital
"What are the conditions?"
Liam asked instinctively. He hadn't expected King Abraham to agree so easily; in fact, if the King had, he would have suspected a trap.
"First, you are not to touch the Lord’s Heart of Blackwind City."
"Second, there will be no looting, pillaging, or slaughter once the city falls."
Liam raised an eyebrow. Neither condition seemed unreasonable. While he needed a Lord’s Heart, the one in Blackwind City was tethered to the Capital City’s core. If he took it, Abraham would likely hunt him down personally. Since his own power wasn't fully developed yet, the risk of a total fallout with the King was still too high.
A faint, knowing smile played across Liam's lips.
"If I take the city and walk away with nothing, wouldn't that look a bit... suspicious?"
He had already decided to agree, but in any negotiation, pushing a little further usually yielded better results.
"Frost Monarch, you truly are insatiable. It’s no wonder the princesses don't fully trust you."
Liam shrugged. "Anyone who knows me knows I’m a man of integrity. If the princesses doubt me, they simply don't know me well enough."
Arthur Thorne scoffed. "I’ve investigated your track record."
"Furthermore, Chief Wang has arrived in The Astral Kingdom. We know exactly what you did back in the Novice Village."
Liam wasn't surprised. Chief Wang was a mob; he would have respawned after being killed. Given his former status as a Village Chief, it wasn't shocking he had found a way to leave the starting zone.
"Oh? You’re actually recruiting small-fry like Chief Wang?"
Arthur offered a cryptic smile. "Men change, Liam. Don't underestimate him just because of the past."
"Is that so? He's moved up in the world then?"
"You'll find out the next time you see him."
"Playing coy, I see." Liam sighed, losing interest in the banter. "Let’s get back to business. I won't ask for much. I want a Gear Evolution Scroll."
He had considered asking for life-steal gear—specifically something with a percentage-based effect like the Bloodstained Necklace—but ultimately decided against it. In his eyes, the Purifying Jade Amulet was his top priority.
"That’s out of the question," Arthur said, shaking his head. "I can offer you a piece of Gold Grade gear."
"Do I look like I’m lacking gear?" Liam countered. "If I go through the willpower-draining effort of toppling Blackwind City just for a piece of Gold trash, I’d be a laughingstock."
"That is my final offer. If you refuse, I’ll have no choice but to... settle this through a spar."
Liam’s eyes narrowed, a playful yet dangerous glint in his gaze. "Fine by me. I was just wondering how much chaos it would cause in The Astral Kingdom if I killed you right here."
"Kill me? You think you have the ability?" Arthur sneered.
Liam’s smile widened. "Why don't we find out?"
Arthur stiffened. He couldn't tell where Liam's confidence was coming from. But the memory of Liam slaying Valerius Geryon and inflicting that persistent bleed on Tiana and the King gave him pause. More importantly, Liam bore the Divine Blessing of Eira, the Frost Goddess. If Eira descended and found Arthur had harmed her chosen, the consequences would be dire.
"Fine. A Gear Evolution Scroll it is."
"Pleasure doing business with you," Liam replied.
Arthur glared at him. "I hope you don't plan on pulling any stunts."
Liam waved him off dismissively. "Like I said, I'm an honest man. I wouldn't dream of it."
Arthur snorted, clearly not believing a word.
Once Arthur left, Liam allowed himself to smile. The rewards from this venture were stacking up. First, there was Tiana’s Blessing of the Gods: Prelude Scroll. Second, the deal with Arthur included another Blessing of the Gods and the Gear Evolution Scroll. Third, The Veiled Overseer’s quest to take the city offered yet another scroll of each.
Three Blessings of the Gods were within his reach.
Now, it was time to take Blackwind City and claim the low-hanging fruit.
Blackwind City.
Castellan Balthazar watched Liam marching toward Frostfall City from his vantage point. A weight lifted from his shoulders.
"I knew it. The bribe worked. We lost some treasures, but the city is safe, and now the higher-ups have to deal with the headache."
The old man behind him bowed. "A brilliant move, Castellan."
The words had barely left his mouth when a messenger burst through the doors.
"Bad news! Terrible news!"
Balthazar scowled. "Keep your composure. What could possibly be wrong? I’m doing perfectly fine."
"Sir! The Frost Monarch is here! He’s attacking the city again!"
Balthazar practically leaped out of his chair.
"What?! He’s back? I have no quarrel with him! Why isn't he fleecing the other Capital Cities? Why is he targeting me again?!"
Bitter as he was, he had to act. "Activate the City Defense Array!"
He recalled Liam being unable to crack the array previously. When the shield went up, the Frost Monarch had always backed off, just as he had at Frostfall City. Balthazar was convinced that the array would render Liam powerless.
He wasn't the only one who thought so. At this stage of the game, even with Liam’s insane damage output, breaking a Capital City’s defense through brute force would take ages.
However, every array had a core—an "eye." If the core was destroyed, the shield would collapse. Liam knew exactly where the core of Blackwind City’s array was hidden.
Less than a minute later...
Another messenger scrambled into the manor.
Balthazar glanced at him. "Well? Has he left?"
The man collapsed to his knees, his voice trembling. "The City Defense Array has been destroyed! He’s tearing through the streets toward the manor!"
"And for some reason, the City Guards have vanished! All the commanders have disappeared!"
"What?!!" Balthazar shrieked. "The commanders are gone? Are they trying to kill me? Is this a mutiny?!"
Balthazar rushed out of the manor only to see the Frost Monarch approaching, bow in hand. Anyone who tried to stand in his way was ruthlessly cut down. The streets were eerily empty of the usual guard presence.
"Damn them all! They’re trying to get me killed!"
Balthazar cursed and bolted in the opposite direction. As a Castellan, he had some combat prowess, but he had no desire to test himself against the man who had slaughtered nine of House Volkov’s Silver Grade generals. If he slipped up, he was dead.
Besides, with the guards and commanders missing, he didn't have to take the fall alone. He could dump the blame on the Grand Marshal. Survival was the only priority.
Liam didn't bother chasing the fleeing Castellan. His goal was the city itself.
Outside the walls, players watched in disbelief as Liam breached the gates.
"Blackwind City has fallen to the Frost Monarch!!"
"How is he doing this? This is a Capital City!"
"Surely there’s some hidden power in the manor that can stop him? They can’t just let him take it."
As the players speculated, a notification rang out across the world.
[Server-Wide Broadcast: Congratulations to player Frost Monarch for being the first to conquer a Capital City. Rewards: AP +1,000, Divine-Tier Gear +1.]
The world fell silent.
"Congratulations? Did I hear that right? He just sacked a Capital City, and instead of a hundred-thousand-man army being sent to kill him, he gets a reward?"
"Wait, is this a secret mechanic? If we attack Capital Cities, do we get rewards too?"
"I give up. Are we even playing the same game?"
Liam was equally stunned. In his past life, no player had ever conquered a Capital City. Realm Wars usually involved NPCs fighting NPCs—like the clash between The Astral Kingdom and The Demon's Den. Players had been support units, never the vanguard capable of soloing a capital.
The 1,000 AP was astronomical, but his focus was on the Divine-Tier Gear. Up until now, his only Divine item was the Tome of Mortality.
He checked the new arrival.
[The God-Slayer Registry]
Grade: Divine-Tier
Requirement: Exclusive to Frost Monarch. Soulbound (Cannot be dropped, stolen, gifted, or traded).
Effect: You may harvest the souls of defeated non-player units and record them in the Registry. Once recorded, the soul is restored to its peak strength and becomes absolutely loyal to you.
Capacity: 0 / 365 (Note: Recorded units cannot be changed. If a recorded unit is permanently destroyed, the slot is not reclaimed.)
Durability: Indestructible.
Liam sucked in a sharp breath, his hands trembling with excitement. This was a game-changer.
Then, a pang of regret hit him. If he had possessed this before killing Eira, the Frost Goddess, he could have had a literal deity as a bodyguard. Eira wasn't just some minor incense deity; she was an ascended goddess of true power.
But there was no use dwelling on the past. If he could kill one goddess, he could harvest others in the future. For now, he looked around. Not even King Abraham was worthy of a slot in this registry.
Arthur Thorne materialized beside him. "Here is the Gear Evolution Scroll. The King is lifting the restriction. You can leave now."
"Just walk out?" Liam asked.
"This is a Warp Talisman. It will teleport you out of Blackwind City."
Liam took the talisman but didn't move. "To be honest, I don't really trust you."
He grinned. "I'll leave as soon as the King officially lifts the ban."
"Frost Monarch, the King has a reputation to maintain," Arthur snapped, his voice cold. "Don't push your luck. The talisman is your best way out."
Liam raised an eyebrow, thinking of the Insurgents in the Blackwind Range. "Tell you what. Throw in one more Lord’s Heart, and I’m gone."
Arthur’s face darkened. "You are the most greedy man I have ever met."
"I'm not greedy. You just haven't met enough people."
Arthur tossed him a basic Lord’s Heart. It was the lowest grade possible, but the Insurgents hadn't specified the quality.
"Fine."
Liam pocketed the heart and turned to leave. Outside the city, players were hovering, tempted to rush in and loot the broken capital. But fear held them back. The Astral Kingdom was still a powerhouse, and nobody wanted to be on the receiving end of their retribution once the dust settled.
However, others weren't so hesitant. As Liam departed, the Night-Walkers struck. A true battle erupted within the streets of Blackwind City.
Liam didn't look back. He had his rewards. He pushed forward, heading straight for the Blackwind Range.
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