The Kingmaker System

Chapter 726 - 725. Death And Decay (2)

The battle had already ended.

At least, it should have.

The ruined woodland bore enough scars to testify to that fact. Black flames still clung stubbornly to shattered trunks while deep trenches carved by Serathil’s strikes stretched throughout the battlefield. The earth had been overturned so thoroughly that it no longer resembled a forest floor but the aftermath of some ancient catastrophe.

Zale stood amidst the destruction with remarkably little to show for it. Apart from a few tears in his clothing and traces of soot staining the sleeves of his robe, he appeared almost untouched. Serathil’s segmented body slowly wound itself around his arm once more, the silver scales clicking softly against one another as though settling into a comfortable resting position after the hunt.

Across from him, however, Jabran looked considerably worse.

The dark elf remained kneeling amongst the debris, one hand pressed against the ground to keep himself upright. Black blood dripped steadily from several wounds crossing his torso and shoulder while the dead mana surrounding him struggled to repair the damage. The regeneration that had once appeared so troublesome now looked sluggish and unstable, unable to keep pace with the injuries Serathil had inflicted.

For several moments neither spoke.

There was little left to say.

The outcome had become obvious long before the final exchange. Both of them simply lacked the desire to be the first to acknowledge it aloud.

Eventually Jabran let out a rough laugh before coughing violently, spraying black blood onto the ruined ground.

"You think your victory over me will help your side win?" Jabran spoke, "Your Dragon will lose everything that he’s built."

Zale tilted his head to one side, "What makes you so sure about it?"

Jabran wiped the blood from his chin and mouth as he looked at Zale, his hollow eyes seemed to have the faint red spark.

"Because this time, our King will take over this world."

Zale almost rolled his eyes and then looked around.

"Even if you kill me it won’t make a difference, everything has already decided. It’s Doomsday for this world." Jabran kept speaking while Zale couldn’t help but notice something strange.

The mana balance in the air seemed to be fluctuating, Zale couldn’t help but feel the dread rise in the pit of his stomach.

"Master... Hurry." He muttered and heard the chuckling from the dark mage.

Zale turned looking at the man who looked derisively at him, "You think your Dragon could come here?"

The mage spat and then smirked, "He has no way of coming here in time. Before he even knows what our plan is, it’ll be too late."

Zale watched him laugh with blank eyes for a moment before Serathil vibrated and then lashed out like a serpent. The laughter was cut off in the next second. The black blood splashed over the tree trunks followed by the dull sound of a thud as the dark mage’s head rolled on the darkened ground.

Serathil returned to Zale’s arm and he glanced at the moonless sky, hoping Ocean would arrive soon.

The forest welcomed him with silence.

Not the peaceful silence of nature, nor the tranquil stillness that often accompanied the ancient woods surrounding Yggdrasil. This was a silence born from absence. A silence that spread wherever the Dominus walked.

His black robes drifted softly around him as he moved through the woodland at an unhurried pace. There was no urgency in his steps. No concern. No caution. He walked as though the entire island already belonged to him and everything upon it merely existed on borrowed time.

The moment his foot touched the earth, the grass beneath it blackened.

The vibrant green blades withered instantly, their color draining away as though years had passed within a heartbeat. Cracks spread across them and moments later they crumbled into fine grey ash that scattered upon the wind.

The corruption continued spreading outward from the footprints he left behind.

Wildflowers drooped.

Shrubs collapsed inward.

The roots hidden beneath the earth shriveled as dead mana seeped through the soil like poison through veins.

The forest itself seemed to recoil from his existence.

Birds nesting high within the branches suddenly abandoned their perches and took flight. Their cries echoed briefly through the woodland before abruptly cutting off. Small lifeless bodies began falling from the canopy one after another, striking the ground with dull thuds.

The Dominus did not spare them a glance.

His crimson eyes remained fixed upon the distant silhouette of Yggdrasil visible through the trees.

A faint smile touched his lips.

The air around him had already begun changing.

Pure mana naturally saturated Edrisyl. It flowed through every corner of the island, nurturing life and maintaining the balance Yggdrasil had upheld for countless centuries. Ordinarily, simply breathing upon this land filled one’s body with warmth and vitality.

Not anymore.

The mana drifting through the air near the Dominus gradually darkened.

What had once resembled faint streams of luminous energy slowly transformed into wisps of black mist. The corruption spread quietly, almost imperceptibly, swallowing the surrounding mana and twisting it into something foul.

The farther he walked, the thicker the dark mist became.

It coiled around the trunks of trees.

It seeped through the undergrowth.

It gathered amongst the branches overhead like storm clouds trapped beneath the canopy.

The Dominus extended a hand toward a nearby branch as he continued walking.

His pale fingers were long and elegant, almost aristocratic in appearance. They looked entirely unsuited for destruction.

A single emerald leaf brushed against his fingertips.

The reaction was immediate.

The vibrant green surface darkened from the point of contact outward. Veins blackened. The leaf curled inward as though consumed by an invisible flame before crumbling apart completely.

Grey ash drifted from between his fingers.

The Dominus watched the remnants scatter upon the wind and smiled.

"There it is."

His voice was barely above a whisper, satisfaction lingered within it.

For years, his predecessors had struggled.

For years, generations of the dark forces had hidden beneath Edrisyl, poisoning roots and spreading corruption little by little while avoiding discovery. The work had required patience. Planning. Sacrifice.

Now, for the first time in centuries, they were witnessing the fruits of those efforts.

The island was weakening.

Yggdrasil was weakening.

And most importantly, the World Tree had finally begun noticing.

The Dominus lowered his hand and continued forward.

As he passed another tree, the bark cracked apart without him even touching it. The once mighty trunk groaned loudly before collapsing sideways. The leaves disintegrated before they even reached the ground.

Death followed him like a loyal servant.

Life fled from him instinctively.

Even the forest seemed incapable of enduring his presence.

Yet the Dominus appeared completely unbothered by the devastation unfolding around him. If anything, the sight seemed to improve his mood.

His gaze remained fixed upon the colossal tree towering in the distance.

Yggdrasil still stood proudly against the horizon looking ancient and magnificent. The Life-giving tree but, Dominus knew better.

He could feel the sickness spreading through its roots. He could feel the corruption devouring it from within. He could feel the fear hidden deep beneath its vast life force and that realization caused his smile to widen further.

"Not much longer now."

The words drifted quietly into the dead forest around him.

No birds answered, no insects chirped, no leaves rustled.

Only the dark mist continued gathering around his figure as he walked leisurely toward the heart of Edrisyl, leaving behind a trail of death, decay and silence in his wake.

Back in Sestia’s town of Oasis, Ocean stood amidst the rain as the thunder clapped above him occassionally.

The countless monsters that had once flooded the battlefield now lay scattered throughout the ruined streets and shattered buildings. Some had been torn apart by sheer force, others reduced to little more than mud and black sludge beneath the relentless downpour. The water flowing through the broken roads carried fragments of dead mana away with it, the purification infused within the rain continuously eroding whatever corruption remained behind.

Across from him, the Domina was breathing heavily.

The book clutched within her hands had become considerably thinner than when the battle began. Page after page had been torn free and sacrificed. Page after page had become monsters, curses and abominations, only to be destroyed by the dragon standing before her.

Her fingers tightened around the soaked cover.

She was exhausted.

Her mana reserves had fallen dangerously low long ago and maintaining the battle had become increasingly difficult with every passing minute.

Yet the person standing opposite her appeared exactly the same as when they had first met.

There was no labored breathing, no visible exhaustion, no signs of mana depletion.

Ocean simply stood there beneath the rain with his hands tucked inside his sleeves, looking more like someone taking an evening stroll than someone who had just spent hours dismantling an army of monsters.

The sight irritated her- no, it unsettled her.

The amount of mana he had expended throughout the battle should have been absurd. Even ancient dragons possessed limits. Every spell consumed energy. Every action had a cost.

Yet Ocean continued fighting as though those rules simply did not apply to him.

For a brief moment, she found herself wondering whether he was truly an ordinary dragon at all.

The thought passed quickly, as it no longer mattered.

Regardless of how much strength he possessed, she had achieved what she needed.

A smile slowly spread across her face.

"You know," she said, breaking the silence between them, "for someone so powerful, you really wasted your time."

Ocean blinked and the Domina’s smile widened.

"You spent hours protecting these people. Protecting your little town. Protecting this kingdom." Her voice carried unmistakable amusement now. "And yet none of it matters."

Ocean remained silent as the Domina laughed softly.

"The people you cherish will be gone soon."

Her eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"Your precious Oasis. This kingdom. Everyone you’ve been trying so desperately to protect."

The rain continued falling between them.

"You failed."

Ocean tilted his head slightly, the gesture was so casual that it almost annoyed her more than outright mockery.

"And how do you know that?" he asked.

The Domina frowned slightly as Ocean’s expression remained calm.

"You’ve seen the future?" He asked.

The question caused her smile to return immediately.

"Yes."

There was no hesitation in her answer, no doubt, just the certainty.

"The future has already been decided."

The rain struck against the soaked battlefield while the Domina slowly lifted her chin.

"I’ve seen the world that comes after this." Pride entered her voice.

"A world that has already submitted itself before its new King."

For several moments, Ocean simply looked at her.

Then he nodded, just once, as though acknowledging a piece of information that wasn’t particularly surprising.

"I see."

The Domina’s brows furrowed slightly, that wasn’t the reaction she had expected.

Ocean glanced briefly toward the darkening horizon before looking back at her.

"Then I suppose it’s about time."

Her expression stiffened.

"Time for what?"

Ocean’s gaze settled upon her.

The calmness that had accompanied him throughout the battle remained, but something about it felt different now. His eyes that were earlier like clear waters under sunlight were suddenly glowing dangerously.

"Your side has been preparing for this for years."

The rain continued falling around them.

"You’ve taken enough time."

The Domina’s smile gradually disappeared. Ocean’s eyes never left hers.

"All the preparations should be finished by now, shouldn’t they?"

The words struck her harder than any attack had.

For the first time during their confrontation, genuine surprise appeared on her face.

Ocean continued speaking as though discussing the weather.

"You and your Dominus have been buying time this entire evening."

His voice remained calm, matter-of-fact.

"You never expected to win."

The Domina’s pupils contracted as Ocean slowly pulled one hand from his sleeve.

"Your objective was to keep me here."

The rain splashed against his shoulders as he rolled his neck slightly. A series of quiet cracks echoed from his muscles. Then he clenched his hand into a fist before unclenching and he ran his fingers through his drenched aqua blue hair pushing them off of his face.

The air around him seemed to grow heavier.

"You succeeded."

The Domina stared at him.

For some reason, the realization that he already knew made her feel profoundly uncomfortable.

Ocean exhaled slowly.

The relaxed smile that had lingered on his face throughout the battle vanished completely so did the easygoing attitude, the amused indifference, the playful remarks. All of it had disappeared and what remained was something infinitely more dangerous.

The Dragon’s glowing blue eyes fixed themselves upon her.

For the first time that day, the Domina felt as though she was no longer standing before a pleasant young man.

She was standing before a dragon.

A real one.

Ocean lowered his hand.

"Good."

The single word sent a chill crawling down her spine.

Because despite saying it, he did not sound worried.

He sounded relieved.

As though he had finally confirmed something he had been waiting to hear all along.