Chapter 29: The First Grind
The twenty-ninth dawn blazed over Kael El's domain, a fierce violet-gold sky igniting the citadel and its twelve territories with a relentless glow. Korran's desert stronghold shimmered west, its glassed dunes now a fortified bastion under Mara's iron hand, while 230,000 subjects churned—warriors hammering sand-forged steel, mages weaving storm runes, and dragons dominating the skies under EX: Dragon Sovereign. Kael stood atop the citadel's storm-wreathed spire, the Stormforged Blade in one hand, EX: Dragonflame Reaver blazing, Stormhide Armor humming with power. His flirty smirk gleamed, a cool dominance radiating as he unleashed EX: Tempest Maelstrom, a swirling sandstorm tearing across the plains, shredding a training dummy into dust.
Day 29. Lv. 4's cap's close—time to grind for 5. His dark eyes burned with unwavering confidence, a quiet pride simmering beneath his chill exterior. Two hundred thirty thousand souls, twelve territories, and a Mighty Lord's might—his peers languished at Level 35 with a fraction of his 7,500 stats; Kael was a titan at Level 39, skills warping the world. They're worms—I'm the tempest. Territory Lv. 5's next.
A sharp ding pierced the morning roar, the system panel flaring up.
"Day 29: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 4. Population: 230,027 Subjects. Food Stock: 1 Day Remaining. Resource Yield: +25% (Lv. 4 Bonus). Summon Limit: 15/Day. Territory Lv. 5 Conditions: Conquer 15 nearby territories [12/15], 100,000 resources [23,750/100,000], Reach Mighty Lord rank [Met]."
Kael's smirk widened, a playful edge cutting through the tension. "One day of food? I'll hunt a feast." His calm under pressure was unshakable—Lv. 4's cap at 50 loomed, and Lv. 5 demanded a grind: three more territories, 76,250 resources. Close to the cap, huh? Let's stack it.
Gavrin hustled over, ledger stuffed. "Lord Kael, desert loot's in—fifty sandstones, twenty hides, dune claws. Resources at 25,000."
Kael clapped his shoulder, winking. "Gavrin, you're my vault. Forge the hides—armor up." Gavrin nodded, scribbling, and Kael turned to the Summoning Altar, its Mana Crystal pulsing with Lv. 4 fury. Twelve summons left. Let's add muscle.
He pressed a hand to the crystal, voice smooth and teasing. "Alright, gorgeous, give me a berserker."
The altar flared, and a twenty-eighth figure emerged—a hulking woman with a double-headed axe, scars crisscrossing her arms. She knelt, voice a growl. "Lord Kael, I am Ragna. Perk: Frenzy Strike – +50% attack speed, bleed damage."
Kael's grin turned protective yet playful. "Ragna, huh? A beast's gold. Rage with Gorv—tear 'em apart." She rose with a nod, axe gleaming, and the system blared.
"SSS Talent Triggered: 100% Drop Rate. Additional Summon: 1 Subject. EX Talent: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quantity Enhanced: 10,000 Subjects."