The monthly summon cards burned brighter each cycle, pulling elemental gods from forgotten realms. Vulcan led as Fire Sovereign, his forges eternal. But four more answered fate's call, each bringing power—and conflict.
First: Water Sovereign Nereia. Waves crashed into Shadow Gorge unbidden, flooding trade roads. A woman rose from foam—blue hair flowing oceans, trident gleaming. Peak Celestial Sovereign." Ling Chen bowed. "You quenched my drought aeons past, sharing river qi when gods sealed my seas. I bring Tidal Dominion—endless water for groves."
Conflict: Floods threatened Elowen's fields. Nereia and Elowen clashed—waves vs vines. Mortals watched tensely. I mediated: "Balance, not battle." They wove Tidal Groves—fruits juicier, trade exploding seafood-spirit hybrids.
Second: Earth Sovereign Gorath. Quakes split mines. A mountain giant emerged, stone skin rumbling. "You freed my core from void chains," he growled. Earthheart Shield—unbreakable walls. Conflict: Ironridge barons panicked over cave-ins. Gorath and Vulcan forged stone-steel hybrids. Mortals cheered stronger holds.
Third: Wind Sovereign Zephyrine. Storms tore caravans. Lithe women on gales descended, fans slicing air. "Your breath revived my dying winds." Gale Escorts—trade fleets untouchable. Conflict: Stormcoast sailors feared capsizing. Zephyrine raced Silver Drake, birthing storm-proof sails. Lu Din mapped wind routes eternally.
Fourth: Lightning Sovereign Raiden. Thunder cracked endless skies. The armoured man, crackling bolts, knelt: "You grounded my rampage, sharing the earth anchor." Stormcaller Arrays—academies are invincible. Conflict: Lian's students sparked wild. Raiden trained them, mortals wielding god-thunder.
Each arrival tested unity. Gods clashed egos; mortals mediated grit. Lu Din whispered, "Council binds them."
Near northern borders loomed the Frostveil Thunder Sect—arrogant cultivators hoarding lightning veins, raiding trade passes. Sect leader Elder Kai sneered at the envoys: "The taxless fool claims our mountains?"
Raiden raged, "My veins are stolen!"
I led a simple assault—no armies, just unity. Mortals first—academy grads weaving anti-thunder nets. Farmers blocked passes with a Gorath stone. Zephyrine scattered scouts. Nereia flooded defences. Elowen vine-gated shut.
Kai challenged Arena: "Face me, pretender!"
Eternal Sovereign's Fang hummed. I parried lightning palms effortlessly, mortal ingenuity dodging saint strikes. One slash—fate's edge severed his core. Sect elders knelt: "Mercy!"
"No blood," I said. "Join taxless. Teach academies."
Frostveil Thunder integrated seamlessly—lightning students training Lian's mortals. I claimed leadership naturally. Borders secured eternally.
Climax peaked on council night. Five Sovereigns gathered in the throne hall—Vulcan hammering table, Nereia rippling water, Gorath rumbling stone, Zephyrine gusting winds, and Raiden sparking arcs. Gods' bickered realms are old.
Mortals entered—Lian leading farmers, Old Wei with blacksmiths, and Stormcoast captains. "Enough," Lian said firmly. "Sovereign unites. We build together."
Gods silenced. I stood central: "Not my throne. Ours. Conflicts end. Realms shared."
They bowed in unison. The Elemental Council is born—Vulcan forges, Nereia waters, Gorath walls, Zephyrine winds, and Raiden storms. Mortals advised equally.
Yue Zhilan smiled: "Unity masters gods."
Lu Din marked maps: "Continents bloom now."
The system chimed epically.
"Ding! Five Sovereigns Bound. Frostveil Conquered. Elemental Council Formed. Rewards: Omni-Element Forge, Sect Integration x5, Cultivation Surge All Followers +1 Realm. New Title: Pantheon Unifier."
Dawn next, council waggons rolled—elemental gifts fuelling endless trade. Frostveil lightning-powered academies. Gods walked as mortals' equals, prejudices in dust.
Northern borders gleamed thunder-veined. The taxless realm commanded elements.
One man's summons didn't conquer. They served.
Pantheon knelt in loyalty. Mortals led the council.
The empire of elements bloomed—not by force, but by hands joined.
Unity summoned the gods home.