Chapter 78: The Shard of Dominion
The seventy-second dawn painted Kael El’s Ashen Empire in hues of molten gold, the 10,906 square kilometers of his Territory Level 5 dominion basking in the afterglow of victory. The capital city, now 225 buildings strong, rose with bone steel spires and golden turrets that caught the light like a crown atop the earth. Two million, six hundred eighty-eight thousand subjects filled the streets, their cheers a rolling thunder as Kael stood atop the Lord’s Estate balcony, Stormforged Blade raised high, EX: Dragonflame Reaver casting a fiery shimmer across the crowd. Stormhide Armor hung on a rack beside him, its scars a testament to Vex’s fall. His flirty smirk danced across his lips, a cool dominance radiating as he soaked in the adulation, EX: Gold Dominion threading golden veins through the stone beneath his feet.
Day 72. Vex’s iron’s ash, my gold’s the flame. His dark eyes gleamed with unwavering confidence, pride a molten core beneath his chill exterior. Two-point-seven million souls, 10,906 square kilometers, Territory Level 5’s my forge—next one’s gonna feel the heat. The Nexus hummed faintly in the air, its voice a distant echo: "Kael’s 70, gold ascends!" He winked at the sky, letting the crowd’s roar wash over him.
"Day 72: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 5 – Commanding Lord. Territory Size: 10,906 sq. km. Population: 2,688,000 Subjects. Food Stock: 28 Days. Resource Yield: +100% (Lv. 5 Bonus) + 100% (SSS: Resource Lord). Resources: 930,000/1,000,000 for Lv. 5 Completion – Excess Banked: 0. Summon Limit: 20/Day. Territory Lv. 6 Conditions: Reach Level 105, Continental Empire (500+ buildings) [225/500], Defeat 100,000-stat Entity [Not Met], 5,000,000 Resources [930,000/5M], 250,000 Gold/Month [145,000/250,000], Army of 10,000 Elite [2,000/10,000], Build World Wonder [Not Met]."
"Lord Nexus Leaderboard: 1. Kael El (70), 2. Myra (64), 3. Lyra (63), 4. Gavrin (61), 5. Sylth (60), 6. Elynn (59), 7. Jorr (57), 8. Kalia (56), 9. Zane (55), 10. Taryn (54)."
Kael’s grin widened as he leaned on the balcony rail, the crowd chanting his name in a rhythm that pulsed like a heartbeat. "Level 70, first place—nobody’s touching that yet," he murmured, voice low and teasing, as if daring the Nexus itself to prove him wrong. He spun the Stormforged Blade lazily in his hand, its edge catching the sun, and stepped back inside where his inner circle waited.
The Lord’s Estate hall glowed with golden light, tables laden with roasted meats, fruits, and barrels of spiced wine looted from Vex’s stores. Lena stood by a map table, her sharp eyes tracing resource lines, while Thora hefted a hammer onto her shoulder, gold dust streaking her grin. Veyna lounged against a pillar, bow unstrung but arrows within reach, her wolves gnawing bones in the corner. Drayce polished his glaive near the hearth, and the rest of Kael’s harem—Elys, Lyra, Rhea, Fyra, and more—mingled with laughter and clinking goblets. Twenty-eight voices filled the air, a symphony of loyalty and fire.
Kael raised his goblet, voice cutting through the din. "To Vex’s ashes and our gold! Two-point-seven million strong, 10,906 square kilometers—nobody’s breaking us." The hall erupted in cheers, goblets clashing, and he took a long sip, savoring the burn of victory.
Lena approached, her tone measured but warm. "Lord, resources are at 930,000—Vex’s loot pushed us close to the million. Gold’s steady at 145,000 a month, but the forges need direction. Buildings hit 225 this morning. Where next?"
Kael set the goblet down, winking at her. "Lena, my goldmine, you’re too practical for a party. Push to 230 by tomorrow, 250 by week’s end. Bank that million, then we stack for five. Myra’s out there, 64 and scheming—let’s make her blink first." He tapped the map, finger landing on the eastern border, 1,300 kilometers out. "Veyna’s wolves caught her scent, 60,000 strong. She’s no Vex, but she’s no fool either."
Lena nodded, scribbling notes. "Taxes are stretching the outer villages, though. We can hit 230, but 250 might need more than gold ore swaps. The people—"
"—love me," Kael cut in, grin sharpening. "They cheered out there, Lena. They’ll give what I ask because I deliver. Vex’s head’s on a pike, metaphorically speaking. Squeeze ’em a little harder, but throw a festival after—bread and blood, keeps ’em happy."