[: 3rd POV :]
A few days later, beneath the unified skies of Terria, the Grand Hall was once again filled.
Fifteen thrones stood in a crescent formation, each carved from materials that symbolised their ruler’s domain.
Obsidian flas coiled around Demon King Xerath’s seat.
Ancient erald vines wrapped around Elf Empress Caelira’s throne.
Lightning crackled faintly along the edges of Azure Emperor Zephyron’s armrest.
Phoenix Force Ignivara’s throne radiated low waves of heat that never burned.
Above them all, elevated upon a final platform, stood the sixteenth throne.
Daniel’s throne.
The chamber humd with restrained energy.
Unlike their previous gathering, this was no ceremonial audience.
This was about strategy, one where Daniel had inford them beforehand.
One by one, the rulers had arrived.
Demon King Xerath leaned back lazily, crimson eyes half-lidded.
Beast King Kaelgor rested his massive arms on his knees, his fingers tapping rhythmically against stone.
Dragon Empress Sylthara’s gaze shimred with interest.
Dwarf King Thrain muttered to himself, beard braids clinking with rune-inscribed tal rings.
Spirit Empress Sylvene floated slightly above her seat.
Elf Empress Caelira remained poised and silent.
Human Empress lira sat upright, regal and calm, though a mother’s concern hid behind her composure.
Golden King Aurelius Solvain glead with dignified brilliance.
Summoner Emperor Eldric Vaelor flipped through hovering arcane sigils.
Holiness King Seraphion Hale radiated restrained sanctity.
Beauty Queen Lilith smiled faintly, as though this were entertainnt.
Azure Emperor Zephyron cracked his neck once.
Phoenix Force Ignivara’s fiery aura pulsed softly.
Void King Noctyrr Malphas appeared almost half-phased from reality.
Sir Galahad Vortan, the Indomitable Knight, stood rigid even while seated.
Eventually, the massive doors opened, the mont Daniel entered and every conversation ceased instantly.
He did not rush.
Each step echoed across the chamber, not heavily, but decisively.
All rulers rose.
All but lira bowed.
Daniel ascended to his throne and sat.
The air shifted.
"Thank you for gathering,"
Daniel began calmly. His voice carried easily without force.
"I will be direct."
Several rulers straightened.
"We are preparing for our first external conquest."
The words settled like a stone dropped into still water.
A ripple.
Xerath was the first to smirk.
"Finally," the Demon King murmured.
"I was beginning to think we’d grow soft."
Kaelgor grunted in approval.
But not all expressions were pleased.
Holiness King Seraphion folded his hands.
"Your Majesty... may we know the target before we voice support?"
Daniel gestured lightly.
The air above the center of the chamber distorted.
A three-dinsional projection unfolded, a rotting world suspended in space.
Murmurs spread instantly.
The planet rotated slowly.
Purple-green clouds churned unnaturally.
Veins of darkness cracked across continents.
Black spires rose from the crust like diseased thorns.
Mana readings flickered erratically along its surface.
"That..." Dwarf King Thrain muttered, squinting.
"That’s definitely doesn’t look so good."
"It isn’t," Daniel replied.
Mika’s voice manifested gently throughout the chamber.
"This world is designated Virexia Minor. Mid-tier classification prior to corruption. Estimated population: 4.2 billion sapient lifeforms across multiple dominant species."
The rulers listened intently.
"Current condition: severe mana contamination. Atmospheric toxicity at forty-three percent saturation. Core integrity weakening."
Azure Emperor Zephyron frowned.
"Cause?"
"Factional interference," Mika answered.
The projection zood inward, revealing sprawling industrial complexes embedded in continents.
Mana pipelines pulsed black, siphoning energy downward into subterranean vaults.
"They are controlled by a minor parasitic organisation known as the Black ridians."
The na caused a few raised brows.
Void King Noctyrr’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"What an ominous group na ," he said quietly.
"I bet they operate in fringe sectors."
"Correct," Mika continued.
"They avoid pantheon territories and major alliances"
"Their thod is gradual corruption. They install economic dependencies, manipulate the elites, introduce mana-enhancing technologies with hidden siphoning functions."
Beauty Queen Lilith let out a soft laugh.
"Ah... subtle villains. I almost admire the branding."
Seraphion frowned.
Daniel spoke calmly.
"They drain a planet’s mana and resources over decades. When the world nears collapse, they withdraw. The planet is left weakened, but not destroyed."
"And no one intervenes?" Caelira asked.
"Because they stay below notice thresholds," Mika replied.
"Their operations are deliberately restrained to avoid triggering major justice factions."
Dragon Empress Sylthara’s eyes glead.
"So we would not be stepping into a pantheon’s backyard."
"Correct."
Golden King Aurelius leaned forward slightly.
"Your Majesty... what is your strategy?"
Daniel t his gaze.
"Three factors," he answered.
"First, liberation strengthens legitimacy. We do not appear as invaders. We remove a parasitic group."
"Second, the planet’s pre-corruption mana density was high. Integration would significantly increase Terria’s influence and law."
"Third, the Black ridians are part of a loose network of minor alliances. Removing one of their operational hubs will provoke reaction."
A small silence followed.
"There it is," Xerath grinned.
"The real reason."
Kaelgor’s tail thumped once. "You want escalation."
Daniel did not deny it.
"If we strike too small, no one notices. If we strike too large, major factions intervene."
He gestured at Virexia Minor.
"This is calibrated."
Summoner Emperor Eldric adjusted floating sigils.
"Estimated power?"
"Divine-Lord Tier," Mika answered. "No any further than that"
Thrain stroked his beard.
"So it’s manageable."
Holiness King Seraphion spoke carefully. "Your Majesty... liberation is noble. But we must consider optics"
"If we invade under the banner of salvation, will the inhabitants accept us?"
Daniel nodded slightly.
"We do not conquer by annihilation."
He looked across the chamber.
"We dismantle the ridian infrastructure. We expose their siphoning. We offer integration terms."
Beauty Queen Lilith smiled lazily.
"And if they refuse?"
Daniel’s eyes sharpened faintly.
"Then we rule."
A brief pause.
Sir Galahad Vortan nodded once.
"Decisive."
But dissent erged.
Elf Empress Caelira folded her hands. "There is risk. Removing a corruption hub could unify minor alliances against us."
Azure Emperor Zephyron added,
"A chain reaction of retaliation."
Phoenix Force Ignivara’s flas flickered.
"Which may not be entirely undesirable."
lira finally spoke.
Her voice was calm, but firm.
"My son... escalation invites attention."
The chamber quieted.
Daniel t her gaze respectfully.
"Yes."
"And are we ready?" she asked.
A political question.
Not maternal.
Daniel leaned back slightly.
"Terria’s mana density has increased multiple tis since unification"
"Our core stabilisation is complete"
"Military mobilisation capacity has multipled by more than ten tis."
He looked at each ruler.
"But strength unused is wasted."
Demon King Xerath laughed softly.
"Spoken like a conqueror."
Seraphion remained thoughtful.
"If we proceed, we must draft a unified declaration. Not rely an invasion order."
Golden King Aurelius nodded.
"Agreed. We fra it as anti-corruption intervention."
Lilith chuckled.
"Ah, propaganda. I can assist."
Kaelgor snorted.
"You an manipulation."
"Semantics," she replied sweetly.
The chamber relaxed slightly.
Thrain leaned forward.
"Logistics?"
Eldric responded, "Summoner gates can anchor a vanguard strike team. Controlled insertion."
Void King Noctyrr added quietly,
"I can destabilise their siphoning arrays remotely."
Zephyron cracked his knuckles.
"And if they counterattack?"
Xerath’s grin widened.
"Then we stretch our legs."
A faint tension surfaced.
Not fear.
Anticipation.
But Seraphion raised one more concern.
"Your Majesty... if we remove the Black ridians from this world, another faction may attempt to claim it before integration stabilises."
Daniel nodded.
"Which is why we do not rely liberate."
He stood.
The projection expanded, showing territorial vectors surrounding Virexia Minor.
"We invade. We dismantle. And we imdiately anchor Terrian Law."
The rulers felt the implication.
Full integration.
No half-asures.
Caelira exhaled slowly.
"This is not a test conquest."
"No," Daniel replied. "It is a declaration."
A brief silence followed.
Then unexpectedly, Thrain cleared his throat.
"One more matter."
All eyes turned to him.
"If this is liberation," the dwarf said gruffly, "I expect trade rights to the planet’s mineral belts after stabilisation."
Laughter erupted lightly across the chamber.
Even Daniel allowed a faint smile.
"Negotiations will follow victory," he said calmly.
Lilith leaned toward Aurelius and whispered loudly enough for all to hear, "See? Politics."
Aurelius coughed politely.
lira watched her son carefully.
"You’ve decided," she said softly.
Daniel t her eyes.
"Yes."
The tension that had lingered since the eting began finally settled into clarity.
One by one, the rulers gave their stance.
Xerath — approval.
Kaelgor — approval.
Sylthara — eager approval.
Thrain — conditional approval with trade clauses.
Sylvene — cautious approval.
Caelira — strategic approval.
lira — solemn approval.
Aurelius — diplomatic approval.
Eldric — logistical approval.
Seraphion — ethical approval.
Lilith — amused approval.
Zephyron — enthusiastic approval.
Ignivara — fiery approval.
Noctyrr — silent approval.
Galahad — resolute approval.
Fifteen voices and a united.
Daniel rose fully from his throne.
"Then it is settled."
The projection of Virexia Minor brightened slightly, as if sensing its fate.
"We begin preparation imdiately. Phase one, intelligence infiltration"
"Phase two, severance of ridian siphoning arrays"
"Phase three, planetary stabilisation and law integration."
His gaze hardened.
"If the Black ridians respond..."
A faint smile curved his lips.
"...we will be ready."
The rulers felt it.
This was not rely conquest.
It was the opening move in sothing larger.
Not pantheons.
Not gods.
But the reshaping of minor powers.
Political shockwaves.
Alliance recalculations.
The first ripple in a wider pond.
As the eting adjourned, Xerath stretched lazily.
"Well," he muttered, "this should be entertaining."
Lilith laughed softly.
"Let’s hope they scream in an aesthetically pleasing manner."
Seraphion sighed.
Thrain muttered about supply lines.
lira remained seated a mont longer, watching Daniel.
When the chamber emptied, Daniel stood alone briefly.
Above him, Virexia Minor rotated slowly.
The Black ridians believed themselves unnoticed.
They were wrong.
And across the silent expanse of space, the first piece had been placed.
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