News traveled at a snail’s pace in this empire, and I had yet to hear about the Beast Kingdom's declaration of war. If I had known that the mana shells, which were supposed to instill fear, had instead caused chaos, I might have not been so relaxed at the moment. Our carriage came to a halt in a forest that was just a day away from Vermillion City. “Master! I have done it!” Lily shrieked with uncharacteristic enthusiasm, raising her fist triumphantly in the air. I turned to look at the magic circle she had meticulously drawn on the ground. It was flawless—every line and symbol perfectly executed. She danced around the campfire, celebrating her achievement with uncontainable joy. Emmanuel and Theo watched their sister with a mix of admiration and envy, their expressions downcast as they clenched their fists in frustration. It had been several days of trying, yet they still struggled to complete their own magic circles, and the disappointment weighed heavily on them. “I will
As my words tumbled forth, my gaze lingered on Roland. Something was different about him. His usual lean physique seemed to have blossomed, his muscles rippling beneath his tunic like sculpted marble. A wave of curiosity washed over me."Roland," I began, my voice laced with intrigue, "have you been... augmenting your physique?"He met my gaze with a steady nod, a hint of a smile on his lips."Indeed, my lord," he confirmed, his voice a low rumble. "I've been incorporating some... additional training into my regimen.""You caught a turkey and those rabbits wearing those?" I exclaimed, gesturing towards his impressive frame. "Remarkable! I wouldn't have thought it possible."Roland chuckled, a deep, resonant sound. "I had to remove the weights from my feet for the hunt, my lord," he admitted, his honesty as unwavering as ever.Knowing Roland as I did, a man whose dedication to discipline was as unwavering as the north star, I knew he hadn't relied on any shortcuts or mystical enhance
Those eyes were unsettling, a swirling vortex of malice that sent shivers down my spine. If not for the flicker of excitement I saw in Roland's desperate plea, I would have crushed that monstrosity beneath my heel without a second thought. But Roland needed my help, and I wouldn't abandon him. "Alright, children," I began, my voice firm despite the lingering unease. "The first spell I'll teach you is a defensive one. Watch closely, I'll cast it slowly so you can see every detail."Instead of simply conjuring the magic, I decided to go the extra mile. I meticulously drew the intricate magic circle in the air, each line a precise power stroke. Then, I uttered the ancient chant, my voice resonating with the raw energy of the spell."This basic magic circle," I explained, my gaze sweeping over their eager faces, "is the bedrock of all magic. It's the foundation upon which every spell is built. By modifying it and adding your unique touch, you can shape it to cast any magic you de
"That blithering fool, the count! It's all his fault!" Richard's voice echoed with a fury that belied his normally placid demeanour. He slammed his fist on the polished mahogany desk, rattling the stacks of ledgers and contracts. "If that incompetent buffoon hadn't scoffed at the warnings about those monstrous creatures, they wouldn't have laid a finger on him, let alone left him in such a sorry state!"His face contorted with a mixture of anger and frustration. "Such a waste! I poured my resources into that fortress, envisioning a thriving branch of my business within its walls. A golden opportunity, snatched away by his arrogance!"He let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow and devoid of joy. "And now, it's all gone. Reduced to rubble, just like his reputation."Richard's gaze drifted towards the window, his eyes clouded with a sad weariness. Agnus, the city lord of Vermillion, had once been a pillar of strength and wisdom. But time, it seemed, had eroded his sharpness, leaving him
"The towers," Richard began, his voice heavy with the weight of responsibility, "they'll require a vast quantity of gemstones to function. As you're well aware, our empire's gemstone reserves are currently depleted, leaving us vulnerable."A sly grin spread across my face. "Perhaps I can help with that," I purred, leaning back in my chair. "My Ice Demon City possesses a plentiful supply of the finest gemstones. We'd be more than willing to sell them to you, at a fair price, of course."Richard sighed a weary sound that spoke volumes of his predicament. He knew he had no leverage in this negotiation. The threat of the monstrous horde loomed large, a constant reminder of the dire consequences of inaction."Young people these days," he muttered, shaking his head. "So shrewd."The weight of Vermillion City's defence rested heavily on his shoulders. Lord Agnus, their esteemed leader, was indisposed, leaving Richard, the second in command, to navigate this perilous situation. He couldn't af
“This is a worthwhile investment,” I murmured, the weight of 200,000 essences settling comfortably in my mind.I had purchased the skill from the shop, a hefty price tag for a single ability, but the description promised unparalleled power. If it lived up to its claims, the next beastmen invasion wouldn't even be a blip on my radar.A dark chuckle escaped my lips.The thought of those monstrous invaders, their bodies riddled with the power of the battlefield, swarming Vermillion City once more, filled me with excitement. Their high-level corpses would be a treasure trove, a veritable army of undead soldiers at my command.\ Such a concentration of powerful beings wouldn't be found within the confines of any dungeon. The prospect of wielding their might, of turning their ferocity against them, sent a thrill coursing through me. I couldn't wait for the carnage to begin.…The Merchants Association, their coffers overflowing with newfound prosperity, threw their full weight behind my vis
“Put them on,” the Young Lord commanded, his voice echoing with an authority that left no room for argument.Emmanuel and Theo, their hearts pounding in their chests, obeyed. The moment the heavy shirt, a garment seemingly woven from lead, was pulled over their simple robes, a crushing weight descended upon them. They stumbled, their knees buckling beneath the unexpected burden, and collapsed onto the cold stone floor.A shiver ran down their spines as they remembered the Young Lord's chilling instructions: to run, clad in this cumbersome weight, throughout the sprawling city."Is this even possible?" Emmanuel whispered, his voice barely audible."Roland," the Young Lord called, his gaze fixed on the two trembling figures."Yes, young lord," Roland, their uncle, responded, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to vibrate through the very air."Watch over them," the Young Lord continued, his tone brooking no dissent. "Ensure they complete five laps around the city today. And if they falt
Seeing this desperate assault, I barked out a command, my voice laced with steel. "Load the larger gemstones!"The soldiers, their faces grim but resolute, scrambled to obey. They heaved massive blocks of gemstone into the towers, their movements fueled by a mixture of fear and determination. As the gemstones settled into place, strange humming sounds emanated from the towers, their intricate symbols glowing with an eerie light. The blue orb of energy at the heart of each tower pulsed, then shifted, transforming into a menacing crimson."Now watch the real power of the tower," I muttered, a hint of grim satisfaction in my voice.With a loud roar, the tower unleashed a torrent of red energy. The crimson orb shot skyward, then shattered, raining down a barrage of searing beams that seemed to target every monster scaling the walls.The soldiers, who had braced themselves for a brutal hand-to-hand encounter, were stunned into silence by this sudden display of power. The hundreds of monst