"1,005... I already have 250, that means I need to create at least 755 troops... What are the current sections?" He asked.
{MS: Footsoldiers: 100. Archers: 150.}
"Okay... Time to make a significant difference." A spark of ambition ignited in his gaze.
"Create 500 Footsoldiers and 255 archers."
Instantly, the system screen pulsed red:
{MS: Insufficient resources.}
Kyle slapped his forehead, a frustrated groan escaping his lips.
"Right, BS used them all... What are my current resources?"
{BS: Each resource type has a total amount of 5,000.}
"What the...? What am I going to do with 5,000 resources?" Kyle exclaimed.
"Show me the flag!"
WHOOSH!
The air shimmered, and a magnificent golden flag materialized before him. It was more than just cloth; it felt imbued with a nascent authority. Emblazoned upon it was a fierce wolf, its teeth bared in a silent snarl. The polished golden pole gleamed in the sunlight reflecting in his room. This was the banner of Celestia.
"I wasn't planning on this path so soon, but it's time to begin my conquest." His gaze hardened.
"I'll start with the surrounding villages... But first, let's send a message of submission to Neville, Gavania, and Skyborne. If they refuse to yield to Celestia, then it's war."
He stood up, and strode towards a nearby drawer crafted from polished darkwood, retrieving a crisp scroll made of treated animal hide and a pot of rich, black ink.
Returning to the sofa, he sat down, the weight of his decision settling in.
"Let's begin."
He muttered, dipping the feather quill into the ink. The tip scratched against the parchment as he began to pen his demands, each word carefully chosen to convey both power and utter arrogance.
_____
[One hour later.]
"I can't believe that took me an hour!"
He cussed under his breath, staring at the completed scroll on the table.
"Now, how do I send these three messages of submission?"
He pondered aloud.
{MS: Host can purchase a military messenger to deliver each message. One messenger per use.}
"Oh? That's convenient... How much?"
{MS: Cost: 1,000 Ms coins per messenger.}
{MS: Remaining Ms coins: 5,000.}
"Hmm... Okay, buy three."
{MS: Purchase complete. Ms coins deducted.}
Kyle watched, fascinated, as three glowing orbs of light materialized before him, hovering in the air like captured starlight.
WHOOSH!!
The lights intensified and then elongated, transforming into three majestic white eagles. Their plumage shone with an inner luminescence, and their powerful wings gently flapped, stirring the air in the room.
"Okay... This is good."
He picked up the three scrolls, each bearing the seal of Celestia – a stylized wolf's head, which he just created.
"Deliver these to the rulers of the three kingdoms."
The eagles each took a scroll in their talons, their sharp claws securing the precious cargo. Yet, they remained rooted to the spot.
Kyle frowned in confusion.
"Hey, why aren't they moving?"
{Host is currently within his dimension.}
"Oh!"
He snapped his fingers, and a shimmering doorway appeared in the room, with a wave of his hand, the door opened.
The three eagles immediately turned as one and soared through the open doorway, their white forms disappearing from sight.
"Impressive." Kyle murmured, the efficiency and power of the system still a source of wonder.
He closed the door behind them, and returned to the sofa and sat down.
"Can anything stop them? Can they be killed?"
{MS: Nothing can impede the messengers. Their sole purpose is to deliver their message.}
The system's assurance was absolute.
Kyle nodded, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He leaned back against the cushion.
"Now, we wait for their reply... With the tone of my message, they'll almost certainly choose war. And that's precisely what I need. Attacking the enemies of these three kingdoms and claiming their cities, towns, and villages won't paint me as a mere mercenary, but as a formidable king intent on expansion by any means necessary."
He envisioned his forces marching across the land, his banner leading the way, and a predatory smile spread across his face.
{BS: Host... Lady Lucy is currently searching frantically for Lady Mariana.}
Kyle glanced at Mariana, who continued to sleep soundly on the large bed. Her breathing was even, but he could still sense the potent energy radiating from her, a raw, untamed power that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
"I'll deal with her later." He pushed the thought aside.
"What about Gabriela? Why can't I give her an elemental stone?"
{Gabriela is a rare breed of demon, possessing the blood of the Naga. She can only be given one of the divine elemental stones.}
The system's explanation shed light on her unique nature, while Kyle nodded in mild horror.
'The Naga were ancient, powerful demons, their bloodline known for carrying potent magical properties, and are extremely dangerous forces, was that the reason for her family assassination?' He thought, and asked:
"And which one is that?"
{The Poison Stone.}
"That? I've heard of it. Wait, it's real?"
Legends of divine elemental stones. Stones of immense power, were whispered throughout the land, often dismissed as mere folklore... But now...
{Yes, Host. There are four divine elemental stones: Light, Darkness, Lightning, and Poison.}
{These are the rarest of stones and can only be found on the Isles of Paradise.}
'If I could obtain and absorb those four... My power would skyrocket!'
The thought sent a thrill of anticipation through him.
'Rumors say a single divine elemental stone can increase an Awakener's rank by fifty! Absorbing four would make me a true powerhouse, a Rank 300 Awakener! That's the pinnacle for an Awakener. A Rank 100 is already considered godlike, let alone a Rank 300... They are the true rulers, shaping the very destiny of the Golden Continent.'
Kyle relaxed further into the sofa, his mind now occupied with the grander scope of his ambitions.
"My mission is to conquer the entire Golden Continent, and that will undoubtedly shift the balance of power... Will the Immortal Council interfere?" He mused aloud.
"The Immortal Council, a secretive body of ancient and powerful beings from the three kingdoms, was said to maintain the fragile peace across the continent. Their intervention could shatter my plans before they even truly began.'
He sighed deeply:
"They've largely distanced themselves from the mortal world, content to observe from their realms, but will they remain idle as a new power rises?"
He sighed again, the weight of his aspirations settling upon him.
"I need to become stronger! Rank 105 isn't enough. I need to reach the peak, to stand among the legends."
He turned his gaze back to Mariana, her peaceful slumber a stark contrast to the turmoil in his thoughts.
"If she truly is related to me, then we will both have our revenge on that monster!"
A shadow crossed his face, a flicker of the pain and rage that still simmered beneath the surface.
"If the immortals were as benevolent as they claim, they would have intervened and stopped the massacre of our family! But they sat idly by, aloof in their divine seats, and watched as that monster hunted us down one at a time... If my father hadn't hidden me, sacrificing himself to ensure my escape, I would have been killed alongside them!"
"You bastard." He muttered, his eyes hardening.
"I remember you. I will have my revenge." A chilling grin spread across his lips.
"The Demon Lord summoned you, twisted you into his instrument of destruction, so I'll start with him."