The battlefield was silent, the echoes of the intense clashes fading into the distance. Xuian stood amidst the ruins of the Crestfall Domain, the scent of burnt mana lingering in the air. His body ached slightly from the prolonged battle, but his eyes gleamed with hunger for more.
Liriel stepped forward, her silver hair disheveled from the previous fight. "You don't get it, do you?" she said, her voice laced with frustration.
Xuian smirked. "You keep saying that. If you're so eager to educate me, go ahead."
Liriel clenched her fists. "The Heralds were just scouts. The Revenant Council will not take this insult lightly. You may have won this battle, but you've declared war on one of the strongest forces in the multiverse."
Xuian's grin widened. "Good. I was starting to get bored."
A Kingdom in Preparation
The Crestfall Domain had officially risen to Mid-Tier, granting Xuian access to new abilities and resources.
[System Notification]
Crestfall Domain has been fortified.
Defensive Barrier Activated: Strengthens against external invasions.
Dimensional Commerce Unlocked: Allows trade with other domains.
Summoning Pool Expanded: Stronger entities can now be recruited.
New Rank: Shadow Emperor
Xuian wasted no time. He called his lieutenants for an emergency meeting inside the domain's central spire.
Arvok, still reeking of spectral energy from his battle, crossed his arms. "We need to fortify our borders. If they return, they'll bring true warlords, not just scouts."
Lysara's frost-blue eyes flickered with thought. "We need information. Their Heralds are strong, but they're just pieces of a larger puzzle. We need to understand their hierarchy before we make our next move."
Karthos cracked his knuckles, his infernal aura still smoldering. "I don't care how many of them come. I say we start raiding their lower domains now."
Xuian leaned back in his seat, listening to their suggestions. "You're all right. But we need a bigger picture. If we want to conquer, we need to know where to strike."
He turned to Liriel. "You used to be part of their system. You know how they operate."
Liriel hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. I'll tell you what I know."
The Revenant Council's Structure
Liriel waved her hand, and an ethereal map of the Revenant Council's territory appeared in the air. The land was divided into four major factions, each ruled by an Overlord.
The Abyssal Monarch – Lord Varos: Controls the Shadow Legion. Specializes in stealth assassins and void manipulation.
The Undying Tyrant – Queen Morlith: Ruler of the Cursed Thrones. Commands armies of undead and soul-harvesters.
The Infernal Executioner – Grand Duke Solkra: A warlord obsessed with brute strength and fire magic.
The Hollow Prophet – Archseer Alzareth: A being of pure prophecy and mind control, influencing countless worlds from the shadows.
Liriel pointed at the center of the map, where a massive fortress loomed. "And at the heart of it all… the Revenant Sovereign himself, Lord Xelthar."
Xuian's eyes darkened with interest. "And what's his strength level?"
Liriel shook her head. "No one knows. He hasn't fought in over ten thousand years."
Karthos let out a low whistle. "So, we're dealing with gods now?"
Xuian tapped his fingers on the table. "No." His voice was calm, but firm. "We're dealing with competition."
Liriel sighed. "You're insane."
Xuian smirked. "Insane? No. I just refuse to kneel."
The First Strike
Xuian wasn't going to wait for the Revenant Council to make their move. He planned to strike first.
He turned to Arvok. "How soon can we send a scouting team into their territory?"
Arvok's ghostly form flickered. "Within the hour. But it's risky."
Xuian's grin deepened. "Risk is what makes life interesting."
Lysara stepped forward. "Then let's not send just scouts. Let's send hunters."
Xuian raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Lysara's cold smile sent a chill through the room. "I have a few specialists who excel at hunting high-value targets. Give me the order, and I'll send them straight to the Abyssal Monarch's domain."
Xuian's smile matched hers. "Do it."
Meanwhile, in the Revenant Council's Realm…
Deep within the Revenant Council's capital, a massive throne room sat in eerie silence. The air was heavy with power, and at the center of the chamber sat a figure draped in darkness—Lord Xelthar himself.
Before him, the three defeated Heralds knelt, their heads bowed.
Xelthar's voice was emotionless, yet it reverberated through the room. "You lost to a mere newborn emperor?"
The swordsman—the only one unscathed—spoke calmly. "He is not ordinary. He wields both Celestial and Abyssal power."
Xelthar's fingers tapped against his throne. "Interesting."
He turned his gaze to the shadows lurking in the chamber. "Then we shall see how far this 'Shadow Emperor' can go."
From the darkness, four figures emerged, their auras enough to make the air tremble. These were not scouts.
These were the Revenant Warlords.
Xelthar's voice was quiet, but absolute.
"Kill him."
End of Chapter 27