Bael Pov.
It has been a day after me binding my soul to the Black Hole. Honestly that thing isn't even a Super Massive one, it could be a Ultra Omega Massive one.
Anyways, I had summoned a level 60 Dragon to send a message to Gemmera of my arrival. Yes, you heard it right, I used a level 60 Dragon capable of destroying cities in minutes as a messenger. The perks of being the Dragon OverLord I guess.
Speaking of Levels, I have noticed that the subconscious feeling of a limit on my powers before my evolution has completely disappeared. I guess that feeling was my Level 100 level cap, which got lifted as I completely integrated myself with the Tensura system.
My Guardians and all the npcs also got their level cap removed and has integrated with the Tensura system. All my Guardians have reached the level of demon Lord seeds with some being even more powerful in their own fields of power. Like Yama in his combat skills, he could be one of if not the strongest in pure martial arts.
He for example Got the Unique skill, Martial Arts. It granted enhanced stamina, perceptive senses, thought acceleration as a bonus. It also allowed him to temporarily power himself twice of his original power, giving himself an extra 30 minutes of powerup. During this period all injuries and low stamina and mana is recovered.
The only downside of this is that, all the previous injuries will return back and he will feel extra exhausted to the point he might pass out if it exceeds his capacity.
Regardless, It is a very useful ability to have.
Medusa also got a Unique skill called Grace of The Lord. Derived from her devotion towards me, It grants her powers similar to Luminas' does to her followers. She can now use holy magic along with a passive boost of her Magicules. It has a special move that allows her to gather all the faith from my followers to herself, giving her a very powerful PowerUp. But it all depends of the number and faith of the followers.
Just like that, all the rest of the Guardians got Unique skills tailored just for them. I think I can replicate and even evolve some of them into ultimates too with the help of Gabriel. The Grace of the Lord seems enticing enough.
The won't mind me using their skills right?
[They will readily give it to you if you ask. They won't mind. They might even feel honoured.]
'Yeah, I knew that.'
Anyways, the army is already assembled. The only thing needed is me. And a Dramatic Entrance...
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Walking outside the Castle I was meet with what could be said the most Imposing and Fear Inducing Army in the world. Not only that, their aura and their presence seemed to radiate a sense of mutated Elegance with Order and Discipline as they lines up infront of me.
They were dressed in black obsidian armour from head to toe with luminescent purple blue lines like lava streaking all over their bodies. Each had a unique streak for themselves. Their glowing eyes was of Indigo. Along with a height towering over 2meters, they numbered in a total of 50 thousand. Arranged in a neat rows and columns.
Although this is not the full extent of the imperial army which was 500k. They had been woken up for a show of dominance, nothing else. Each soldier held a strength of A rank. Making even this fraction of 50 thousand the strongest any small country has ever seen.
The Imperial Army is a limited resource, they are not like pop-spawns and were created using a World Item Army of End. But maybe now I could clone them using my Copy and Paste skill of Gabriel. Thoughts for later.
Speaking of, they were officially called Dragon Knights, due to them being Dragonkins.
In between the army was a large Chariot quadruple the size of any normal Chariot with a throne up above. It was to be pulled by an equally large group of Dragonic Horses with heights being almost 3 meters.
"...."
'When I said let's give them a show, I didn't mean that to this extent! Why is this chariot so gaudy and large? and what hell is wrong with using a normal imperial carriage!?'
[First Impression is always the most important.]
'But I am going there for the third time.'
[It doesn't matter. You need to solidify your hold onto them, to show that you are the dominant one.]
'...Yeah I know. And please don't phrase it such a way again.'
[Understood.]
"My Lord, Everything is ready. We can move out now." Medusa said as she along with Adrigal, Yama and Roku came forward from the army.
Other than a few guardians, I have yet to assign them proper tasks so I started with these. By assigning Yama and Roku as the Generals of this army while Adrigal will be my Guard with Medusa being my Minister during the 'negotiation'.
We have reached a point where I can worrylessly hand over the tasks of managing the Castle to someone else other than Medusa. It is not that I believe the others to be incompetent but because now that I have complete control over the whole continent and will be notified of any disturbances.
For now, Rhombus is incharge of managing the castle wgile the remaining Guardians will protect it.
" Then, Let us go."
---------
3rd Person.
In Gemmera, an atmosphere of anticipation was high in the air as a platoon of the Kingdom's prestigious knights lined up along with the king, his children, important nobles, Gowlard and Carlos gathered outside the Wall guarding the capital awaiting the arrival of the Dragon OverLord.
"So...when do you think they will be arriving?" Someone from the Noble's group whispered to his neighbour who answered.
"It might take a long time. I can't even see a silhouette yet. I am Starting to wonder if this is a joke or not." The noble who was being asked answered as he squinted for the umpteenth time trying to see any shadow or shape of an army approaching and as always finding just plains and forest and a small figure of a horse rider.
Sigh...wait....horse rider?...!!!
"Quick! Someone give me a telescope", he shouted as a soldier from the back rushed to bring a telescope which he held and looked at the spot again.
As he looked through the lens he saw a horse, or what looked like one because unlike the normal ones, it had horns, black charred obsidian scales covering the body as it huffed breathes of fire as it galloped fiercely towards them.
On top of it was a large figure, head to toe in full plate armour matching the horse's scales holding a flag on one hand and the reigns on the other. The flag had a peculiar design that he was so familiar with by now. It was the crest of the Dragon OverLord.
Head of a dragon with two pairs of Dragonic wings surrounding it on both sides, sewn in glimmering golden threads. The dragon in the flag seemed so alive that he felt that it might come to life that instance, and the threads, it was shining so much in the rays of the afternoon that it looked like it was sewn with pure gold and considering whose flag this belongs to, he will completely believe it to be the case.
{A/n If anyone has any image then feel free to post it here.}
Already noticing the commotion he made others too started to get their telescope and looked in his telescope's pointed direction and saw what he did. Some, like Carlos and Gowlard didn't need to use any telescope as they had already reached a level where such distances didn't hinder their visibility.
Carlos couldn't help but furrow his brow at the meaning behind this but regardless informed the George the king what he thought about this.
"Your Majesty, that figure might just be one of Lord Bael's servants. Let's not act hastily."
"That was exactly my thoughts Carlos. Gowlard." Agreed George as he lowered the telescope while hinting at Gowlard his message.
"No one will act without my commands first, of any did then I won't look who did it, only his head would fly! Am I understood!?"
Understanding the message Gowlard ordered.
To his order, an unison of "Yes Chief Commander" was said as some of the nobles also unconsciously joined in.
After a few minutes, the figure came closer and closer that they could now clearly see the person and the horse's galloping. Even before it reached them, they could clearly feel a hint of oppression the figure exuded.
As it finally reached them, the messenger tugged the reigns hard, making the horse rear for a while as it heavily stomped the ground, creating a minor tremor of the ground, making some of the people loose their balance for a moment.
It was now that the humans noticed how exaggeratedly big the horse was. It stood a head higher than the tallest man present here, which was Gowlard with a height of 206 cms. Even with him, the difference was too much.
And the man, who climbed down the horse by now was clearly taller than the horse as he easily surpassed it as the horse was below his shoulders. Making the man, no, monster a true giant. The humans had to lift their heads up to even glance his face, which was covered by his horned helmet, showing only his glowing obsidian eyes.
"I am a Servant of the Great One. Although I have no name, my kinds are reffered to as the Dragon Paladin. So you can call me as such, but I hardly believe we will cross paths again. I am here to inform you Humans that The Supreme Being has arrived."
The now identified Dragon Paladin spoke. But to his last sentence a look of confusion arose in the minds of the people of Gemmera. The confusion was so obvious that even the Paladin noticed it.
"Um..Sir Paladin. If I may not be rude, but I don't see Lord Bael anywhere?" Carlos stood forward as he cautiously asked the question brewing inside the rest of them.
"Why, here they come." The Paladin said as he and his ride parted as if to show something behind them. And as if on cue, a large Gate opened before them as slowly, the same horse emerged but now in a large quantity, ridden by their respective riders.
As the Dragon Paladins completely emerged from the Gate, they parted in two divisions, turning and walked away to make way for the now foot soldiers, the Dragon Knights, holding either a broad sword, a halberd or a double sided battle axe.
What followed next was the largest chariot they have ever witnessed. It was so large that it unnervingly looked as if a small house was approaching. The ridiculous fact was the beings pulling it, a group of almost 3 meters tall Dragonic looking horses.
And on that chariot was an obsidian throne, where their guest was seated. His face as if unimpressed of their rather tatty display of military might in the face of his imperial one.
As the gate closed behind the chariot, they noticed the large number of the imperial army, if counted, they should be around 50 thousand. But they knew not to underestimate such a small number because even a single chariot pulling horse could be a significant threat to them, more than a dire-tiger pack would.
They also did not fail to notice the presence Bael was surrounded with. With the familiar Lady Adrigal by his side. He had another lady, whose beauty was on par if not exceeding Adrigal's. And on the other side were two males, one that looked like an Otherworlder and the other clearly a were-tiger or in simple terms, a demi-human.
All these people exuded an aura that only demon lords had. Not that they ever met one before Bael, but the deep seated fear and instincts of escaping the place was any proof, then they might as well think of the beings as demon lords.
Such was the thought of Gowlard as he leaned slightly near George, whispering.
"My Lord... please be cautious...they.."
"I know Gowlard. I know." Answered George as with a determined emotions, he stepped forward and spoke.
"I welcome you Once again, Lord Bael. To my humble Kingdom." With a smile that he found hard to keep before these terrifying beings.
Although out of the four, only the Otherworlder looking smiled as if he was expecting a fight while the demi-human looked impassive, what scared him the most was the two ladies. Especially that Unfamiliar one beside Lady Adrigal.
She had only a small polite smile on her face, but the feeling he had was of a predator eyeing its prey, ready to pounce at any
moment.
'What type monster is he!? To have such Demonic beings by his side.'
"I thank You George-dono. Please, do not be afraid, I am merely here to see if everything was fine on your side or if you need any of my help. I brought my imperial army to show any vultures lurking around that Gemmera is not to be messed with. I hope you don't mind." Bael said with a smile as he slowly climbed down the stairs of the chariot following behind him were the four beings.
'A pretense, just to show his might. And he thinks I don't know his true intentions. Or maybe he does, that's why he is deliberately being so simple and easy to read. He is mocking us. He knows that we know his true intentions and is still pretending not to know it just for his amusement. I knew beings like him would not have any kind intentions behind their acts.'
George thought, but his inner emotions didn't show in his face as he maintained his 'friendly' smile. Suddenly, as if struck by a thunderbolt, a realisation hit him.
The monster Infestation, Carlos' proposal of exploring the Death Lands, the war and then this. Was it...all planned? A shiver ran his back as he thought of the fact that maybe it was all an act all along. He, his people and the kingdom was a mere pawn in this being's schemes.
And as if knowing of his inner turmoil, the smile on Bael seemed even bigger in his mind. The illusion of a large shadow of Bael standing behind him slowly controlling his every action.
'Has...Carlos betrayed us?...No...I must not assume things, I will ask him later.'
"Please, Lord Bael, I have arranged a grand feast for your arrival in three days. I have even invited the neighbouring Kings for this. But I believe you have know that we will have a negotiation with whatever is left of Volen tomorrow?"
Said George as he thought in his mind.
'If my Kingdom is getting pulled in, I don't mind taking the others with me.'
"Indeed. And I must thank you for your hospitality King George."
"Why. It is nothing before the help that you have provided us. I have already arranged for your Imperial Army to sta-"
"Please, King George. It is best they stay here and guard the capital from any outside threats. Besides, having beings like them inside human residence will likely spoke the humans."
'The only threat here is you though...'
"I understand. Then I shall arrange for tents to be set up for them. And the necessary arrangements will be made."
"Hmn."
"Let's go then." George gestured as he walked forward, acting like a guide to Bael who walked parallel to him while the four beings followed like hawks behind them.
------
And so, just like that, the Kingdom of Gemmera had reached its end of independent Monarchy and will enter a new dawn of Prosperity, but Under the flag of the Dragon Empire.
It's name changed to Kuresia, named after the first dragon of Sumerian Mythology, Kur, representing the kingdom being the first one to come under the Dragon Empire.
But all these will be in the far future. For now, in the next chapter, we see the King swearing fealty to Bael and accepting the rule of Deudenia and more.