The next six months were filled with both challenges and triumphs, as Roman continued shaping the kingdom into his vision of strength and dominance. With each passing day, the power he held became more absolute, and his enemies found themselves with fewer ways to resist.
The first major issue came in the form of a food crisis. A long drought affected key agricultural regions, leading to reduced crop yields and concerns about potential famine. Merchant guilds, seeing an opportunity, began hoarding grain to drive up prices. Some nobles secretly funded this manipulation, hoping to cause unrest in the capital and weaken Roman's authority.
Roman responded swiftly. He used his growing intelligence network to locate hidden grain reserves and seized them under emergency royal decree. He also deployed system soldiers disguised as laborers to help increase irrigation and reinforce critical farmland. Within two months, the worst of the crisis had been averted, and Roman's reputation soared as the people saw him directly involved in securing their survival.
The second major event was an assassination attempt. Though Roman had been careful, the surviving noble factions had not given up entirely. One evening, as he reviewed reports in his private chambers, an assassin managed to infiltrate the palace. The attempt failed, as Roman's personal system guards detected the threat and neutralized the attacker before he got close.
However, the incident made Roman realize that while he had secured control over the capital, his own safety could never be taken for granted. In response, he expanded the Night Watch, ensuring they had more eyes within the noble estates and among palace staff. Additionally, he promoted one of his most trusted system soldiers to lead his personal guard, ensuring that only the most loyal warriors would protect him.
The third significant event was a failed coup attempt in a border city. A group of nobles who had lost power attempted to rally local militia forces and mercenaries to seize control of a strategically important trade hub. Roman's response was swift and brutal. Before they could establish control, system soldiers, including several elite Aura Swordsmen, launched a preemptive strike. The city was secured within days, and the ringleaders were publicly executed.
At the same time, Roman used the incident as an opportunity to further dismantle noble-controlled military forces, integrating more royal soldiers into city garrisons and reinforcing his direct rule over local governance.
The military continued to grow. Over the six months, the steady arrival of system troops brought his total force to a staggering number, with several rising in rank due to their battlefield experience. By now, he had a formidable number of elite soldiers under his command, including several who had reached the rank of 3-star Aura Swordsmen.
His political power had also solidified. The council, once filled with defiant noble factions, now largely consisted of those loyal to him or too weak to challenge his authority. Prime Minister Veranthor, once a formidable opponent, had become a mere figurehead, unable to oppose Roman's decisions in any meaningful way.
On the international front, tensions with neighboring countries continued to escalate. One nation, seeing the internal struggles within the kingdom, attempted to test Roman's resolve by sending raiding parties across the border. Roman responded not with diplomacy but with force—dispatching elite system troops to launch a counteroffensive. The enemy raiders were crushed, and the remnants sent back with a clear message: any further aggression would be met with overwhelming retaliation.
As the six-month period came to an end, Roman stood at the peak of his power. The capital was under his complete control, the economy was stabilizing, the military had grown into an elite force, and his enemies had been either eliminated or rendered powerless.
Standing in the war room, gazing at the map of the continent, Roman allowed himself a rare smirk. His internal enemies had been dealt with. Now, it was time to turn his attention outward. The era of war was about to begin.
Note. -
After six months of continuous troop arrivals, battles, and promotions, Roman's total system troops had grown significantly. Here is the breakdown of his forces:
Total System Troops:
Total Soldiers: 12,500
Aura Swordsmen Breakdown:
3-Star Aura Swordsmen: 5
2-Star Aura Swordsmen: 18
1-Star Aura Swordsmen: 65
Troop Deployment & Structure:
Royal Palace Guard: 2,500 (Including all high-ranking Aura Swordsmen for personal protection)
Night Watch (Assassination & Intelligence Unit): 1,000
Capital City Guard (Integrated with existing forces): 4,000
Border Defense & Strategic Garrisons: 5,000
After a year of careful planning, strategic assassinations, and continuous reinforcements from the system, Roman now held almost 50% of the nation's total military power. The kingdom's standing army originally numbered around 80,000, with noble factions controlling the majority. However, after months of consolidating his forces, Roman's 12,500 elite system soldiers had become the dominant military force in the kingdom. But the quality, loyalty and power is top notch.
Roman now commanded an elite force, giving him absolute control over the kingdom's security and military power. With the capital secured and internal threats eliminated, he was ready to expand his influence beyond his borders.