Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World - Chapter 206

Chapter 206: The end of the war
The black substance enveloping Falmer’s body began to harden and crystallize into scales that gleamed like obsidian gemstones, transforming his flesh into the hide of some twisted dragon. His face was frozen in a mixture of terror and rage, his sword raised stiffly as if he were a forgotten statue from a nightmare. Then, a low, otherworldly hum filled the room, a sound that wasn’t from a single voice, but the murmured chorus of a multitude, blending into one.

“The air… the Mana…” The creature that had once been Falmer inhaled deeply, its nostrils flaring as if savoring something long lost. Its eyes, now empty and bone-white, turned slowly to face Henry, Yngvi, and Leier. A guttural growl issued from its twisted mouth. “I smell… the disgusting stench of Solarius upon one of you.”

Henry’s eyes widened, his hand instinctively tightening on the hilt of his sword as he felt his mana pulse through his veins, ready to react. Beside him, Leier and Yngvi stood frozen, their faces pale, gripped by an almost primal fear, something they had never felt before.

The creature’s hollow eyes roamed over them, lingering on Henry. Its gaze seemed to pierce through his flesh and bones, probing deeper than mortal sight could reach. It inhaled again, a chilling, rasping sound, before a dark smile twisted across its face. “Those purple eyes… it’s you. I feel it. One of the insects who dared to hunt down my God. This Dragon Slave will tear out your heart and offer it to God”

It stepped forward, unsteady on its feet like a child learning to walk, as if the twisted form wasn’t ready to be accepted by Falmer’s vessel. Yet its focus on Henry was unwavering, its eyes gleaming with a dark hunger, already envisioning the rewards of offering a Solarius descendant’s heart. He would rise and not be recognized as solely a Slave.

Henry felt the tattoo of Caelum burn against his chest, pulsating with a chaotic intensity he had never felt before. An emotion that was not his own flooded his senses, revulsion, disgust, a hatred so profound it was almost beyond comprehension. Caelum’s spirit resonated within him, rejecting the creature’s presence as if it were a disease, something vile that defiled the very air.

Henry’s eyes flared, glowing with a fierce purple light. Without a word, he raised his hand, summoning the massive black sword into existence. The blade was dark and ancient, as if it had been forged in the deepest, most forsaken abysses of the world. This was The First Sword, Caelum.

The creature halted, its hollow white eyes widening in terror. It took an involuntary step back, its previous confidence crumbling as it stared at the weapon in Henry’s hands. “You… You have that cursed sword,” it whispered, the many voices now quivering with dread.

“Disgusting,” Henry spat, his words laced with the loathing that Caelum was sharing with him. This creature was nothing more than a parasite, a pest that needed to be purged.

The Dragon Slave seemed paralyzed,the sight of the Great Sword filled him with fear. “T-The cursed sword… how do you have it? How? How?” It kept muttering and stammering “My God said it was lost… that none would wield it again.”

Henry looked at the creature with pure disdain. Without another word, he swung Caelum in a clean arc. The black blade sliced through the air and beheaded the creature in a single, effortless stroke. The creature’s head fell to the ground, its wide, terrified eyes frozen in their last moment of fear. The sword it held shattered as well, as if its master’s death had also ended whatever dark magic sustained it.

As the creature’s decapitated body crumpled, words echoed – “We will come for you…Solarius” – Henry listened, but he didn’t care.

Caelum emitted a satisfied hum, softly glowing with a purple aura as it absorbed the last remnants of the creature’s dark energy. The black aura that had enveloped Falmer dissipated, leaving only the lifeless, human shell of the now-dead king of Luak. With its task complete, Caelum vanished, retreating back into its tattoo form on Henry’s chest.

Henry took a moment to look at Falmer’s severed head, then turned to Leier and Yngvi, who had finally regained control of their bodies.

“I am sorry, my king!” Leier said immediately, her voice tinged with shame as she lowered her head. “I… I don’t know what happened. It was as if the mana in my body froze, like it sensed some kind of predator and refused to move.”

“The hairless lass speaks the truth” Yngvi muttered, his eyes filled with embarrassment. Not a single spark of lightning surrounded his beloved war hammer, Skybreaker. “I… I was frozen, couldn’t move a muscle. I’m ashamed, descendant. It’s not that I didn’t want to fight, but… something in that beast made my blood turn to stone.”

Henry didn’t blame them. That creature was indeed strange. He walked over to Falmer’s severed head, picking it up by the hair, blood dripping slowly onto the floor. He inspected the fear still etched in the dead king’s eyes- “A king shouldn’t be scared even before death.” – Henry muttered, feeling that Falmer was indeed not fit to be a king. He had no characteristics of such regal position.

He turned to Leier and threw the severed head at her hands – “Do the same for this one. Take the head and display it in the square. I want every citizen to see it. Let them understand that this is only the beginning… the start of a true change.”

Leier picked it by the hair, before the blood smudged her clothes – “It will be done, my liege.” – she responded, maintaining the head a bit away.

Henry then walked out of the room, not wasting another second – “We still have work to do. Luther is waiting for us. I’ll dispatch the cavalry to reinforce him and send word to Olaro to mobilize the troops. It’s time to end this war and stabilize my rule.”