Days later…
César had not continued his usual training.
An unusual silence had settled over the clan.
But they all understood: silence did not mean peace.
It was the herald of the coming storm.
César sat cross-legged, not meditating—processing the information brought by the scouts… and what he had seen with his own eyes.
The river was the key to his ambition. It was enormous. If he controlled it—especially in this era without proper means of transportation—his expansion would be unstoppable.
He had observed it from the hill: wide, steady, mana diluted within its current. Not as pure as the vein… but enough to sustain growth, rudimentary agriculture, and expansion.
More than enough.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes. An unusual gleam reflected in them.
Pure determination.
He stood and summoned a group of goblins, ordering them to gather his family.
The time had come.
…
The river did not roar as usual.
Its waters flowed with deceptive calm, as if the world itself were holding its breath. The current reflected the gray sky, fractured by dense clouds, and across its surface drifted leaves, branches… and omens.
César stood on the elevated bank, hands clasped behind his back. Around him, goblins murmured in low voices, restrained. No one laughed. No one argued.
They all understood this was no ordinary day.
It was the day the empire would decide whether it advanced…
or was extinguished.
'A river is not just water,' he thought. 'It is life, border, and road. Whoever controls it dictates the fate of the land it touches.'
The clan had grown too quickly.
The initial huts had become sturdy structures. Births increased. Mana crops demanded constant irrigation. The animals consumed more than the streams could provide.
The empire—still without a formal name—had reached its first true limit.
And to break through it, they had to seize this river.
"Here," César said at last, pointing toward the current, "the future begins… or everything we have built ends."
He was confident in victory—but pressure forged resolve.
No one answered.
But their eyes burned.
The Vanguard descended first, simple weapons in hand, advancing through reeds and mud. The Fangs spread along the flanks. The Core Guard remained behind, protecting Luna and Asia as they studied the terrain with mana-enhanced senses.
Then the water moved.
A wet sound.
A bubbling disturbance.
The first scream came too late.
A blue figure burst from the river, scales glistening under gray light, curved claws sinking into the flesh of the goblin at the front. Suctioned tendrils latched onto his arm and dragged him into the water.
"Contact!" a goblin roared.
The river exploded into motion.
Dozens of anthropomorphic creatures emerged—dark blue skin, lean but vigorous bodies, fin-like crests on their heads vibrating as they moved. Their large black eyes with yellow pupils held no fear.
They were murlocs.
They attacked in waves, from water and shore alike, using the terrain as a weapon. Claws slashed. Suckers immobilized. Teeth tore flesh.
"Formation!" César commanded from the rear.
He had taught them formations—nothing advanced, but far better than before.
The Vanguard absorbed the first impact, bodies hardened by brutal training. One fell into the water… another took his place without hesitation. The goblins pushed forward, forcing the murlocs onto open ground.
The fight was dirty.
The murlocs were fast but poorly coordinated. They retreated into the river, resurfaced elsewhere, struck from behind. Three goblins fell. Two did not rise again.
Then César advanced.
He wore no armor, relying only on his modest aura for protection.
Only his sword… and refined mana flowing with cold control.
The murloc leader emerged before him—larger, darker scales adorned with shells and bones.
He wielded a hardened coral spear.
Their eyes locked.
The clash was instant.
The spear sliced the air. César deflected it with minimal mana reinforcement—just enough to alter its path without wasting energy. He countered with a clean slash that split scales, not flesh.
The leader staggered back, surprised.
César gave him no room to breathe.
Every step calculated. Every use of mana precise. Not overwhelming… dominant.
The soldiers' aura kept the others at bay while César drove the leader toward the shore.
The final exchange was brief.
A reinforced strike to the chest hurled the murloc leader against a rock. He collapsed to his knees, gasping, blue blood mixing with the water.
On land, murlocs were weaker—but still physically superior to goblins.
But César was no ordinary goblin.
Simply opening his mana veins had strengthened his body. Combined with aura, he stood far above the murloc leader.
The battle stilled.
César did not hesitate. He had waited for this moment.
His ability activated instantly.
Mental control descended like an invisible net, invading the leader's mind, altering thoughts, planting loyalty. He did not shatter him.
He rewrote him.
Even so, the murlocs did not retreat immediately. They fought with greater fury, trying to save their leader while goblins struggled to contain them.
Then—
The murloc leader stood.
He raised his head and released a deep cry that resonated across the water.
The murlocs froze.
They understood.
Confused—but obedient—they withdrew.
The goblins hesitated, glancing at César for command.
He nodded.
They pulled back as well.
He had achieved his objective.
One by one, the murlocs retreated, watching in silence.
The leader lowered his spear.
"I have been defeated," he rasped. "The river… is yours."
He crawled forward and struck his forehead against the ground before César.
"We accept serving you. We will be your vassals."
A murmur spread among the goblins. Some began to celebrate.
The leader gestured and summoned another murloc, whispering instructions. Minutes later—
From behind the rocks emerged a lighter-scaled murloc with firm posture and intelligent eyes. Clearly not ordinary. A female, marked with tribal symbols.
"My daughter," the leader said. "A small gift for my lord."
César observed her silently. His expression did not change.
Inside—genuine surprise.
'I did not expect this…'
He smiled faintly, the expression looking far more terrifying than pleased.
He stepped closer, studying her from head to toe. The gesture unsettled her, but she steadied herself. She did not understand her father's choice—but she obeyed without hesitation.
César knew that since the Crystal-Monster system had not yet appeared, there was still room in this era for humanoid female variants among monster races.
Even so, encountering a female murloc surprised him.
'Interesting…'
"Marriage will seal the pact," the leader continued. "Water and land. Blood and mana."
César clicked his tongue softly, impressed.
He had not heavily altered the leader's personality—there had not been enough time. He had focused only on loyalty and the removal of betrayal.
Thus it was not surprising that—even under control—the leader still thought like a ruler.
Offering what he valued most.
Securing his people's future.
César had no reason to refuse.
"I accept your surrender—and your gift," he said calmly. "From now on, the river will be shared. It will remain your home… but you will share it under my rule."
The murloc bowed his head.
César looked around.
Goblins and murlocs alike knelt before him.
He smiled.
With control over one… he had gained many.
He had acquired a vassal people.
And the river—
now sang his name.