The afternoon sun painted the sky in molten hues as Shin stood before the gates of his rising settlement, his gaze sweeping over the bustling town beyond. The scent of earth, fresh bread, and sweat mingled in the air, a living tapestry of ambition and survival. Orcs, humans, moon elves, and beastkin moved with purpose — a patchwork of races once divided, now united under a banner of necessity and the promise of power.
The dark elves, newly rescued and still carrying the weight of their past bondage, integrated carefully into this precarious harmony. Silver-haired warriors sparred with wolfkin and tigerkin under the watchful eyes of seasoned commanders, while dark elven artisans traded barbed words and finely crafted trinkets with human merchants. Tension still lingered in the air — the wary distrust of survivors clashing with newfound hope.
Liliana, cloaked in deep crimson, stood at Shin's side, a lazy smirk tugging at her lips as she watched a particularly bold moon elf female flirt openly with a wolfkin scout.
"I give them a week before the first interspecies scandal," she purred.
Shin chuckled, his sharp eyes never leaving the restless streets. "With my Lord Talent," he mused, "all births will be healthy. So let them play."
Ember, her crimson eyes gleaming beneath a hood of soot-dark leather, rode up alongside them. The Lava Empress looked both restless and eager, like a predator yearning for a hunt.
"My lord," she rumbled, "what are we looking to take from this trade village?"
Shin's expression darkened into something calculating. "This trip, our goal is to secure livestock, blueprints, ores… and slaves."
Seraphina, the arcane mage and ever-loyal voice of reason, frowned faintly from her saddle. "Is this to aid in the territory's strengthening, my lord?" she asked. "We'll need more resources and a way to bolster our defenses once the next stage of growth begins. It might also be wise to seek out mines for resource production."
"I intend to do just that," Shin confirmed. "A good vein of metal could decide the fate of our borders."
"Is there a particular ore you'd prefer to find first, my lord?" Seraphina pressed, her sapphire gaze steady.
Shin smirked, recalling the endless hours his parents forced him to memorize the names and qualities of rare metals — Orichalcum, Darksteel, Meteoric Iron, Lightranium, Moonstone, Uru, Mithril… each one a prize in its own right.
"Any will do," he said. "Half for the territory, half for trade. Power comes in coin as much as it does in strength."
With a decisive wave of his hand, Shin called for his three heroes and a small detachment of soldiers.
"Mount up," he ordered. "It's still afternoon. Let's see if fortune favors us with loot boxes on the road to the trade village."
They rode out, leaving behind the stone walls and rising towers of Shin's domain. Dust rose behind them as the road wound through stretches of ancient trees and sun-bleached plains. As they traveled, Shin summoned Aria.
"Aria, pull up the current territory status."
[Ding!]
["Here you go, host."]
A glowing panel flickered into view before him.
[Territory Upgrade Status: Requirements Not Met]
— City Wall constructed
— 2/4 Defense Towers operational
— 3/5 Buildings from Blueprints
— Population: 250/210
— Resources: Sufficient
He grunted in satisfaction. They were close.
By midday, the trade village emerged from the dust — a chaotic sprawl of mismatched architecture. Elven spires jutted toward the sky beside dwarven stone halls, and beastkin markets pressed against crude orc hovels. Stalls overflowed with enchanted blades, shimmering vials, and trinkets that hummed with barely restrained magic. The scent of spice, steel, and sweat clung to the air.
Shin dismounted, tossing his reins to a soldier. "Stay sharp," he muttered. "We're here for blueprints… and whatever else fate offers."
["The threads tighten, host,"] Aria's voice teased in his mind. ["Opportunity walks these streets — and temptation waits in shadow."]
Her words proved true soon enough. In a cramped, dust-laden shop run by a grizzled, one-eyed dwarf, Shin secured two valuable blueprints: one for a Barracks, the other for a Trading Post. Both essential.
"Not cheap," the dwarf grunted, counting out Shin's Lord Coins with greedy fingers. "But you've got the look of a lord on the rise. Remember old Borik when you start building cities."
Shin's smile was sharp. "If your prices stay fair."
Blueprints secured, the group continued toward the heart of the village — and there, Shin's gaze hardened.
A slave market.
Cages lined the central square, filled with men and women of every race. Some glared defiantly from behind rusted bars; others hung their heads, broken. Collars bit into their necks. Merchants bellowed, and buyers appraised flesh like livestock.
Liliana's lip curled. "Disgusting," she hissed.
Ember's eyes glowed hotter, though her voice was resigned. "This is All-Race," she murmured. "Coin trumps decency here."
Shin's gaze lingered on a cage filled with young beastkin — cat-eared girls, wolfkin children, and even a proud tigerkin woman who met his stare with unbroken amber eyes. His fists clenched.
["Another test,"] Aria whispered, ["but one you must navigate with care, my Sovereign. A ruler is measured not only by what he claims… but by whom he chooses to protect."]
Shin exhaled, his voice low and cold. "We're buying them."
Ember arched a brow. "Mercy, Shin? Or strategy?"
"A little of both."
Liliana's grin was sharp and wicked. "Leave it to me. No one cheats a succubus in matters of flesh."
As his companions moved to bargain, Shin continued through the market, his sharp eyes catching the huddled forms of dwarves and lizardmen — refugees of conquest and war. He bought them as well.
It was more than strategy. It was dominion.
By the time the sun hung low, he'd acquired the remaining supplies they sought — livestock, ores, a ranch blueprint, and freed dozens from chains.
And in the hidden veil beyond, the goddesses watched.
["His domain grows,"] Lilith murmured, her crimson eyes half-lidded in satisfaction. ["The pieces fall into place."]
["I tire of waiting,"] came Selene's cold voice, her silver gaze locked upon the mortal plane. ["Soon, I shall test his worth—in the old ways."]
"Patience," Aria chimed with a silken laugh. ["His hunger sharpens. And when next he claims, it will shake the heavens themselves."]
Then another voice joined them — low, ancient, and dripping with serpentine pride.
["His legend expands with every soul claimed and every chain broken,"] Tiamat murmured, the Dragon Mother's eyes gleaming. I cannot wait to see the man my sister and I chose to ascend to his rightful place. The old blood stirs, and his dominion shall eclipse even the gods."]
Back in the mortal world, as the last purchases were made and the captives gathered, Shin turned to his companions.
"We head home," he said quietly. "And then… we build."
The party gathered, leaving behind the blood-soaked market and its horrors. Above them, the sun blazed high, and in the veil beyond, the goddesses wove their plans tighter, their eyes fixed on the Dragon Sovereign rising.