The golden giant wasted no ti and imdiately issued a series of precise commands. Thousands of Xaos soldiers marched into the city with synchronized steps, their movents disciplined yet no longer oppressive.
To reassure the people, they removed their helts, revealing friendly smiles and approachable deanors. The ssage was clear: the people of the Strong Hamr Kingdom were now part of the Xaos Civilization, and the soldiers were honor-bound to protect.
No one obstructed their advance. Soon, the soldiers reached the city’s central square, where they began unloading a series of containers from their space rings. These containers were filled with cubes of monster at—powerful energy-rich sustenance—and others contained red pills designed to heal the sick and elderly, curing ailnts and restoring vitality.
The citizens of the Strong Hamr Kingdom were initially hesitant and nervous about this sudden change in their lives. But Torin’s reassurances had instilled trust, and at his signal, the civilians erged from their shelters.
Slowly, they began accepting the food and dicine being distributed. Awe and disbelief spread across the faces of the people as they tasted the cubes of at—the finest, most nourishing food they had ever eaten—and watched the red pills work miraculous changes in the weak and infirm.
---
Hours passed, and the atmosphere in the city shifted dramatically. A jubilant mood began to perate the streets. Children wandered wide-eyed, staring in awe at the towering Xaos soldiers while eagerly devouring cubes of monster at. Hundreds of Xaos dics moved through the crowds, using healing alchemy to treat the wounded and ill.
In the heart of the city, a massive structure was being erected—a communications tower forged with precision by Xaos engineers. Once operational, this tower would allow Overlord to monitor and guide every single person within the city, ensuring order and efficiency.
Torin observed these changes from a distance. A wide smile spread across his face as he saw everything proceeding smoothly. The sight of his people smiling and well-fed reaffird his belief that he had made the right decision. But his introspection was suddenly interrupted.
"BOOOOOOOM!"
A thunderous sound shattered the relative calm, jolting Torin out of his thoughts. His eyes widened as he turned toward the horizon and saw a gargantuan serpent erging from the sky. The creature, more than four hundred ters tall, was a vision of terror and majesty, its fiery body wreathed in lightning. Its imnse form cast a colossal shadow over the city, striking fear into the hearts of those who saw it.
"There is no need to worry, Torin," Vlad said calmly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "That is my champion."
Torin instinctively gripped his hamr and shield, ready to defend his people, but Vlad’s words gave him pause. He glanced incredulously at the Xaos King, barely able to comprehend what he was hearing.
The citizens of the city, too, noticed the serpent, their panic threatening to boil over. But before chaos could take hold, the Xaos soldiers moved to calm the crowds, their steady presence providing reassurance.
All eyes turned back to the serpent as it began to descend. To their astonishnt, the massive creature transford mid-air, shrinking down until it beca... a small yellow cat. The surreal transformation left everyone stunned, struggling to reconcile the two vastly different forms.
The yellow cat, his eyes calm and discerning, nodded softly to Grand Marshal Angius before turning its gaze to Torin. He descended gracefully from the sky, landing lightly on Vlad’s shoulder, his gaze never leaving the dwarf king.
"So, you’re the one who desires a battle of skill," the cat said, his voice clear and steady. "My na is Jormungandr, the Depravita of Gluttony and an Alchemy Master. I will be your opponent."
Torin stared at the yellow cat, still grappling with the fact that this small, unassuming creature was the sa serpent that had dominated the sky monts ago. But the absurdity of the situation faded quickly as his battle will surge. His eyes burned with determination as he stepped forward.
"Let’s see who can forge the best weapon!" Torin declared, his voice filled with conviction.
Jormungandr offered a small smile, clearly enjoying the dwarf’s indomitable spirit. "Very well. Show what you’ve got."
---
Five hours later, two kiloters outside the city, the contest was ready to begin. Torin and Jormungandr stood opposite each other.
Vlad had prepared the arena himself: a molten pool of lava to provide heat and energy and a flowing river, crafted with Xaos soldiers, to cool the weapons during forging. Earth mages had even constructed spectator stands around the area, allowing everyone to witness the duel.
The people of the Strong Hamr Kingdom gathered eagerly, their eyes gleaming with pride and excitent. Despite their newfound allegiance to the Xaos Kingdom, they still saw Torin as their leader, and their loyalty to him was unshakable. They cheered loudly, their voices carrying across the arena, fueling Torin’s determination.
Vlad stood in the center of the arena, a small smile playing on his lips as he observed the excitent of the crowd. He knew this contest would solidify the bond between the Strong Hamr’s people and the Xaos Kingdom. Rising into the air, he stood between the two challengers, waving his hand to summon two identical sets of materials.
"Each of you will receive the sa resources," Vlad announced, his voice carrying across the arena with effortless authority. "The task is simple: forge the best weapon you can within one hour. The better weapon will determine the winner."
He allowed his words to sink in before raising his hand and shouting, "Begin!"
The contest erupted into motion. Torin and Jormungandr imdiately set to work, each with their unique approach. The dwarf chose to forge a traditional sword, wielding his hamr with precision and strength as the rhythmic sound of tal eting tal echoed across the arena. He drew energy from the molten pool, shaping and refining the glowing steel with every strike.
Jormungandr, in contrast, relied on alchemy. The yellow cat conjured vibrant alchemical flas that danced with unnatural colors, lting rare ores with ticulous precision. The air around him shimred as he combined materials in ways that defied conventional understanding, his movents fluid and exact.
The crowd watched in rapt silence, their eyes darting between the two competitors. Every hamr strike, every spark of alchemical fire, seed to carry the weight of the contest itself.
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