Snow fell lightly over Stonehaven as Kael stood atop the highest tower, watching the gathering crowd below. Hundreds of faces looked up at him—scarred warriors, cloaked wanderers, desperate farmers. All of them drawn to the shadow of the Black Flame. All of them waiting for a new order.
Kael raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent.
"You have come from ruins, from broken towns, from betrayal and fear. But here, beneath this banner, you will find something new. Not a kingdom ruled by cowards. Not a temple filled with false gods. You will find purpose. Power. Dominion."
A murmur swept through the masses as his voice echoed through the fortress.
"You are no longer servants of the Velkar Empire. You are mine."
He stepped back, and Mira took his side. Her gaze swept across the crowd with a mixture of awe and worry.
"They believe in you," she said softly.
Kael's eyes did not leave the horizon.
"They should. Because I will reshape this continent, no matter how many must die to see it done."
Later that day, inside the war chamber, Rogan, Mira, and several new captains gathered around the map of the Astral Continent.
"The Vale of Thorns is watching," said Rogan. "Since Stonehaven fell, we've seen scouts from Ironridge and Durnholme. They're testing us."
Kael's finger hovered over a fortified town to the west.
"Then we take Durnholme. Quietly. We'll strike from the river and kill their leaders before they know we're inside."
Mira frowned.
"And Ironridge? They're heavily defended and have a Tier 5 lightning mage."
Kael's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Then we'll drown Ironridge in fire."
At his words, a wave of grim approval spread through the chamber.
But even as plans were drawn and routes mapped, Kael had another agenda.
That night, alone in the tower chamber that once belonged to Stonehaven's governor, he unrolled a scroll stolen from the Velkar archives. On it was a diagram of the Sword and Magic Tier System, along with legends of those who had reached Tier 9.
Names long buried. Heroes long dead.
And one single word beneath them all.
Ascension.
Kael studied it, his fingers tracing the ink.
Beyond Tier 9, they became gods. Eternal. Untouchable.
But he did not want eternity through faith alone. He wanted dominion through will. If that meant building temples in his name, so be it. If it meant carving his legend in blood and fire, it would be done.
He reached into the satchel at his side and drew out the crystal heart he had uncovered in the chapel. Its glow pulsed faintly, reacting to his thoughts.
The more they worship me, the stronger I become.
He whispered a spell, feeding his essence into it.
The room shimmered as ghostly red runes appeared around the crystal. Magic of belief, powered by faith.
But not faith in the divine.
Faith in Kael.
He closed his eyes.
Let the gods watch from their thrones. I will take what they hoard. And when the time comes, I will burn the heavens too.