Strolling through Velora's capital, Ash and the two women couldn't help but marvel at how different it was. Like Solace and Voss, the kingdom was unranked, yet it stretched out with a wealth and grandeur Solace had never approached.
White marble streets were lit by floating crystal lanterns glowing a gentle azure, canals of liquid starlight flowed beneath ivy-draped bridges, and markets shimmered with preservation arrays that kept fruit perfectly fresh.
The people wore flowing robes, and every corner had musicians playing harps strung with threads of pure mana. It was beautiful, prosperous, and blissfully unaware of the change soon to come.
Vaeloria's dark eyes swept the crowds with open fascination and growing unease.
'Just how long was I locked away? Nothing even looks the same…'
It hit her all at once—no pointed ears, no scaled skin, no wings folded neatly against backs, no twitching tails... Not a single race she recognized.
Only humans. Everywhere.
'By the primordials... what happened to everything else?'
She was still reeling when Nia's voice sliced through her thoughts.
"What's your rank, Ashy?"
She couldn't read him anymore, and it was driving her up the wall.
Ash just shrugged, as if talking about the weather.
"A-rank. Nothing too major."
"Nothing major?!" Nia squeaked. "That's stronger than Mother and Father put together—and they're older than dust!"
Vaeloria's lip twitched. If those two were ancient, then she was practically a fossil.
Ash shook his head, amused.
"Alright, enough sightseeing. Let's go take this kingdom for ourselves. We can explore more later."
"What's the plan?" Vaeloria asked, tails swaying with predatory interest.
Ash's smirk could have cut glass. "Well, since this is about to become our home base, I'll try the nice way first. Give them a chance to kneel politely."
Then his eyes flashed,
"But if they'd rather, do it the fun way… I've been itching for a real fight since Draven."
After a short while, the trio arrived at the gates of Velora Palace—its walls gleaming moon-white, streaked with living silver, and flanked by two guards clad in rune-forged armor that glimmered like flowing starlight.
Ash's eyes lit up with a flash of gold-pink.
[Name: Gavren Torvath – Captain of the Outer Guard] [Rank: Late B – Existence Level 1,847]
[Name: Lirien Vozt – First Blade of the Gate] [Rank: Peak B – Existence Level 2,312]
"Halt! State your name and purpose!" Gavren barked, leveling a halberd crackling with lightning runes. Lirien's twin swords mirrored the threat, but Ash's easy smile never wavered.
The instant hostility fixed on him, both weapons burst into shimmering dust that drifted across the marble like dying fireflies.
Tilting his head, his tone light and teasing, he said, "Uhh, didn't your parents teach you anything? It's bad manners to point those at your future king."
At that, the guards moved to strike—but before the thought could fully take shape, they crumpled to the ground.
CRACK.
CRACK.
The sound of their cores shattering rang out like gunfire, and both men collapsed, ranks dropping to early E before they even hit the stone.
Nia's breath hitched, golden eyes wide, her heart pounding for reasons far from fear. Watching Ash's display of power lit a spark inside her.
'I can't slack off… If Ashy doesn't need protecting anymore, then I'll stand beside him as his equal. I have to get stronger,' she thought, eyes narrowing with resolve.
The two women trailed after Ash through the gates, and he smiled at the look on her face. This was exactly what he wanted. He could crush this kingdom in an instant, but right now, he just wanted to stretch his legs.
All the while, he made it clear to Nia that he was truly powerful now. He didn't need her protection—just her presence. Arrogant and lustful as he might be, one thing he'd never accept was his women being "housewives."
No, he neither needed nor wanted that.
Spending time together was great, but he didn't want them clinging to him every moment. He wanted them to have their own adventures, their own paths, while still having a peaceful home to return to.
Right now, he had to make a statement—not just to Nia, but to the lofty sovereign as well.
Because while Vaeloria knew he was a monster, she didn't truly understand yet. He needed them both to see he could stand alone, no matter what. With that in mind, he smirked and said,
"Ladies, don't move a muscle. Just sit back and enjoy the show."
As he spoke, the trio walked into the palace of Velora, passing the crumpled guards and anyone foolish enough to harbor hostile thoughts toward Ash. He didn't so much as glance at the small fry; his brand handled them effortlessly in the background.
With nothing more than a flicker of intent, hundreds of cultivators—B-rank and below—felt their cores shatter, their bodies collapsing onto the marble floor in absolute silence, stripped back to mere mortals.
Ash never slowed.
Today, Velora would discover its new king.
And tomorrow… maybe the world would too.