The wind carried a strange scent that day — not ash, not blood… but change.
Kael sat atop a crumbling watchtower, watching the translucent framework of the Ashwood Barracks rise and shape itself. The Worker Souls moved in silence, stacking stone with uncanny precision.
Below, Veera sparred with the training dummy he had hastily carved out of scavenger bones and broken beams. Her spear danced like lightning. Efficient. Lethal.
This world really is built for war, Kael thought.
The system chimed again:
[BARRACKS CONSTRUCTION: 85% COMPLETE]
[ESTIMATED TIME]: 10 MINUTES
[OPTIONAL ADD-ON DETECTED]: TRAINING GROUNDS (PASSIVE EXP BOOST)
[COST]: STONE X10 | IRON X5
[RESOURCE STOCK]: STONE X10 | IRON X5
He accepted the add-on without hesitation.
"No one else dies untrained," he muttered.
That's when the sky dimmed. Clouds didn't move. Wind didn't blow.
Time… paused.
A golden line of text stretched across the sky, large enough to be seen by all who could read:
[SOVEREIGN ANNOUNCEMENT – REGIONAL CHANNEL OPENED][INCOMING TRANSMISSION FROM: SOVEREIGN VIREL OF THE CRIMSON VALE (RANK D)]
Kael's screen flickered — then stabilized into the image of a man seated on a throne of bone and silk. His face was pale, eyes lined with crimson paint. Around him stood half-armored guards with curved scimitars and glowing brands on their foreheads.
His voice oozed with entitlement.
"Greetings, fledgling Sovereigns of this newly integrated zone. I am Virel, ruler of the Crimson Vale, and I claim dominion over this entire region."
He leaned forward, eyes sharp.
"If you've survived your first incursion, congratulations. But understand — only one Sovereign will rise. The rest? Fuel for the strong."
A pause.
"Submit now, and I will grant you safety as vassals beneath my rule. Refuse, and I will raze your provinces to salt and cinder."
Veera's spear stabbed straight through the dummy's core.
"Overconfident fool," she muttered.
"Rank D doesn't mean invincible." (I agree)
Kael just smiled — slow, deliberate.
The system asked:
[RESPOND TO REGIONAL CHANNEL? (Y/N)]
Kael selected Yes.
His own image appeared — blood-smeared, battle-worn, with glowing blue light framing his body. The shattered skyline of Aetherion formed a fitting background.
He said nothing for a full five seconds.
Then, calmly:
"Step into my land, Virel.""And we'll see how far you can reach before begging for mercy"
[Transmission ended.]
[REPUTATION UPDATE: +10 AMONG INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGNS]
[REGIONAL AGGRESSION LEVEL]: INCREASED
[WARNING]: CRIMSON VALE SCOUTS INBOUND IN 24 HOURS
Later that night, the Barracks fully activated, humming with faint power.
New options opend in his interface:
[TRAIN BASIC MILITIA]
COST: WORKER SOUL X1 PER 5 UNITS
[HERO COMMAND SLOT UNLOCKED: VEERA ASSIGNED]
[UNLOCK UNIT PROGRESSION TREE? – REQUIRES RESEARCH HALL]
Kael hesitated — then used 1 remaining Worker Soul.
Within moments, five figures began to form outside the barracks — born of ash and soul fragments, shaped into humanoid warriors.
They were crude. Their weapons basic. But their eyes glowed with loyalty.
[UNIT CREATED]: ASHBOUND MILITIA X5
[TRAIT]: TERRITORIAL TENACITY (+25% DEF WHEN DEFENDING HOME LAND)
As Kael walked past them, Veera stood beside him.
"You really plan to stand against a Rank D Sovereign?"
"I don't plan to stand," Kael replied. "I plan to build."
He paused, staring at the silent, ruined temples in the distance.
"And anyone who tries to tear it down… won't be leaving alive."
The sigil above pulsed blood red.
War had begun — and Sovereign Kael had just declared himself a threat.
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[END OF CHAPTER 3]
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