At the far edges of the village, the change reached its peak. A massive wall began to rise, its surface crafted of pristine white quartz interlaced with veins of radiant gold.
It ascended majestically, encircling the city and glimmering in the sunlight.
In mere moments, it was done. An entire city now stood—no longer a ruined village, but a fortress.
At its pinnacle, a golden barrier pulsed into existence, forming a dome that encased the entire territory, casting a protective golden glow over the land.
Suddenly, a chime echoed in Alister’s mind, and the system’s voice rang out.
⫷『Territory establishment complete!』⫸
⫷『Within your territory, you are absolute.』⫸
Alister’s golden eyes gleamed with intensity as he absorbed the weight of those words… Absolute…
The system continued, delivering its next message:
⫷『Currently, the player possesses only two fragments of the Overlord’s Broken Crown. Due to this, the following abilities have been granted:』⫸
⫷『1. Absolute Restoration: You may restore any part of your territory to its ideal state, including structures, resources, or the environment. The Prestige Points cost will vary depending on the scale of restoration.』⫸
⫷『2. Absolute Territory Awareness: You have omniscient awareness within your territory. You can monitor all activities, identify intruders, and oversee the wellbeing of your people in real time.』⫸
Alister felt the surge of knowledge enter his mind, granting him awareness of every corner of his newly established domain.
He could feel his Ether flowing through the walls, the structures, and even the ground.
His lips curled into a faint smile.
“Absolute, huh?” he murmured, the golden glow of his horns and eyes fading softly as his ether slowly settled down.
He clenched his fist, the diamond-shaped Restria embedded in his hand shimmering faintly.
“So this is what it means to be an Overlord,” he said. “It’s remarkable… But this sensation… It feels awfully familiar.”
He chuckled, “Obviously, this must have been my bloodline ability in the past…”
Another set of notifications appeared.
⫷『Current territory capacity 789/2,000.』⫸
⫷『To expand the territory, the player will need more Prestige Points.』⫸
⫷『Current Prestige Point balance: 56,700.』⫸
⫷『Next Upgrade requirment: 126,000.』⫸
⫷『Note: The abilities granted by the crown can only be used within your territory.』⫸
⫷『Quest Complete: Establish Your Territory!』⫸
⫷『Congratulations, player!』⫸
⫷『You have obtained a piece of an Overlord’s Broken Crown.』⫸
Suddenly, another part of Alister’s black horns broke apart to reveal a golden layer underneath.
⫷『Level Up! You have reached Level 72!』⫸
He clenched his fists, feeling his new power coursing through him, every fiber of his being elevated to new heights.
⫷『You have unlocked a new Territory Ability: Absolute Order.』⫸
⫷『Ability Description: Within your territory, none can disobey your orders, whether they be resident, intruder, or inanimate object. Your will is law, and all within your domain must adhere to it.』⫸
⫷『Update available. Proceed? Y/N』⫸
Alister’s golden eyes narrowed thoughtfully before he responded. “Proceed.”
⫷『Processing… The system will go temporarily offline. Abilities will remain unaffected.』⫸
The glow of the system faded, leaving Alister in silence. He exhaled deeply, allowing himself a moment to acknowledge the tranquility of his achievement. With nothing immediate to occupy his attention, his gaze shifted to his surroundings.
He was in a grand throne room, a space that radiated both power… and elegance.
The floor was polished white quartz, so smooth it reflected the faint golden light coming from above.
Massive columns, crafted from the same pristine quartz with veins of glowing gold, lined the hall, stretching up to a high, arched ceiling with beautiful carvings of dragons in flight.
The walls were lined with banners bearing the sigil of a golden dragon, their fabric rippling faintly despite the still air.
Chandeliers of glowing crystals hung above, casting warm, golden light across the room.
Along the sides, suits of armor—crafted to resemble ancient dragon warriors—stood at attention, each gripping a massive halberd.
Behind him, an elevated set of stairs made of white quartz, edged with golden linings, led to a magnificent throne.
The throne itself was a masterpiece: its frame glimmered with polished quartz, and golden etchings lined its surface, depicting scenes of dragons soaring, roaring, and reigning over vast lands.
Alister smiled as his gaze settled on it. “It’s practically calling out to me,” he said.
He began to ascend the stairs slowly, each step echoing softly through the vast chamber.
His golden Ether flickered faintly around him, his presence as commanding as the throne itself.
As he neared the top, the massive double doors to the throne room creaked open, the sound echoing through the hall. Alister paused mid-step, turning his head slightly.
His generals stepped inside, their figures bathed by the golden light spilling in from the hallway beyond.
Leading them was Cinder, her crimson eyes sharp and her stride confident.
Beside her, Yu’Keto walked in his humanoid combat form, his gaze immediately fixed on their lord.
They all froze at the sight before them.
Their Overlord, Alister Hazenworth, ascending the steps to his throne with this… air of royalty… dominance.
Once at the top, Alister turned gracefully, his gaze sweeping over his generals.
With measured pace, he lowered himself onto the throne. His tail rested lazily against the left armrest, while he crossed his legs.
A ruler in command.
He rested his face lightly against his right fist, which sat atop the right armrest, his golden eyes glinting with satisfaction.
The room fell silent, his generals watching in admiration. This moment was not just a statement of power; it was a declaration that their Overlord had truly risen.
As Alister sat on his throne, his generals, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the moment, dropped to their knees. Their voices echoed through the throne room as they spoke.
“We greet our Overlord.”
Alister gazed at them with a faint smile, his golden eyes glowing softly.
“Rise.”
They obeyed immediately, standing with pride.
“Yes, my Lord,” they said.
Alister gestured around the throne room with a casual wave of his claw. “Take a look around the castle. Decide on which rooms you’d like to stay in. Make yourselves at home. This place is as much yours as it is mine.”
Their eyes widened slightly at his words, and they all bowed again, expressing their gratitude.
“Thank you, my Lord.”
Alister’s gaze shifted to Terra. “Terra, step forward. I have a task for you.”
Terra adjusted her glasses, a small smile gracing her lips as she stepped forward confidently.
“It is my pleasure to serve you, my Lord.”
Alister nodded, then extended one claw. Ether crackled around it, encasing his hand in a brilliant golden glow.
With his other hand, he turned his palm upward and, with a swift motion, sliced it open. His blood began to flow freely, shimmering faintly with a golden hue.
Willing a pristine white quartz bowl into existence with a flick of his hand, he let his blood flow into it until the bowl was filled.
The golden liquid glimmered as though alive, radiating his golden Ether.
With a wave of his finger, the bowl hovered toward Terra. As it floated, Alister spoke.
“Take this to all the dragon kin. Let them drink. This is my way of welcoming them into my family. Claiming them as mine with my blood.”