Chapter 11: The Rising Storm
With Zerathia conquered and its forces absorbed into his growing empire, Kael Atris stood victorious. However, the war was far from over. The other five warring nations of Varis Primus took notice of Valtheris' sudden rise in power. If Kael could conquer a formidable nation like Zerathia, what was stopping him from turning his eyes toward the rest of the world? Fear spread through the remaining rulers, and a temporary ceasefire between them was declared. Though they were bitter enemies, they all recognized the greater threat—Kael Atris.
Sensing the storm that was about to descend upon him, Kael continued to prepare for the inevitable clash. It was then that Castellion Arisium bestowed upon him another divine gift—another Divine Tree Seed and a powerful time dilation ability for his internal realm. Kael took the seed and planted it within his realm, watching as it immediately took root and grew to a towering 100 meters in height with a massive 200-meter canopy. Just like the first, it bore fruit that birthed 100 two-winged heavenly soldiers every day.
With the time dilation effect, what passed as one hour outside now equated to an entire week inside his internal realm. This newfound ability allowed him to develop his forces at an astronomical rate. Furthermore, Castellion Arisium expanded the boundaries of his internal realm to the size of a full solar system—containing one massive star, a dozen planets, and tens of moons. It was a realm fit for a god's dominion, and Kael Atris named it Solmara—the Divine War Domain.
The Divine Heart and Military Expansion
As if to solidify his status as a ruler destined to conquer, Castellion Arisium granted Kael a second heart—a celestial heart. This heart became the source of limitless mana and divine power, enabling Kael to create one four-winged heavenly soldier every single day. With such an advantage, his forces would soon be unstoppable.
Knowing that war was inevitable, Kael focused on expanding his military might. He poured his resources into building a fleet that would strike fear into the remaining nations. His forces grew from:
10 aircraft-carrier starships (each capable of carrying 50 fighter jets) to 50 aircraft-carrier starships.
40 destroyer-class starships to 200 destroyer-class starships.
30 cruiser-class starships to 150 cruiser-class starships.
These ships, manned by trained Valtherisian soldiers, were now ready to take on the might of Varis Primus. The armada was perfected with his growing number of two-winged and four-winged heavenly soldiers.
The Gathering Storm
For three months, the five remaining nations halted their disputes and prepared for war. Their leaders knew that if Kael was left unchecked, he would dominate them one by one. They bolstered their armies, increased their fortifications, and formed uneasy alliances, all with the singular goal of eliminating Kael Atris before he could expand further. The largest threat among them was Dravengarde, a military juggernaut with an army that could rival the rest of the world combined. But Kael was not afraid—he welcomed the challenge.
While the nations prepared, Kael also took advantage of the time dilation inside Solmara. His forces grew at an incomprehensible rate:
For the past three months, one four-winged heavenly soldier was created every single day.
Since time passed seven times faster in Solmara, this meant that in 91 days outside, a total of 15,288 four-winged soldiers were born within his realm.
For the two-winged soldiers born from the Divine Trees:
In Varthun's castle (outside realm): 100 soldiers per day × 91 days = 9,100 soldiers.
Inside Solmara's Divine Tree: 100 soldiers per day × 91 days × 7 (due to time dilation) = 1,528,800 soldiers.
Total count of Kael's heavenly army:
Old two-winged soldiers from before: 18,200
New two-winged soldiers from 3 months outside: 9,100
New two-winged soldiers from 3 months inside Solmara: 1,528,800
Grand Total of Two-Winged Soldiers: 1,556,100
Total Four-Winged Soldiers (including previous numbers): 15,288 + 50 = 15,338
This sheer overwhelming force was now Kael Atris' to command.
The Final Stand-Off
As the days passed, Kael knew that the war was drawing closer. His forces were now strong enough to rival the entire army of Varis Primus. He had built an empire that could no longer be ignored. The five remaining nations saw the writing on the wall. War was inevitable.
Kael summoned his generals, both human and divine, and laid out his battle plans. His fleet was prepared, his soldiers were trained, and his power had reached new heights. With his celestial heart and limitless mana, he could now maintain an army that could shake the heavens themselves. His ultimate goal was no longer just survival—it was total dominion.
The countdown to war had begun. The fate of Varis Primus would be decided in a battle unlike any other. And at its center stood Kael Atris, the Divine Conqueror.