Cosmic Lord: The Error Awakens
Chapter 84: Shadows on the Crystal Veil

Chapter 84: Shadows on the Crystal Veil

The seventy-eighth dawn broke over Kael El’s Ashen Empire with a crisp, golden haze, the 10,906 square kilometers of his Territory Level 5 dominion thrumming with quiet resolve. The capital city stood at 255 buildings, bone steel and golden turrets piercing the sky as 2,688,000 subjects drove the empire’s pulse—forges roaring, fields yielding, streets buzzing with intent. Kael stood on the eastern outpost’s ramparts, 1,200 kilometers from his capital, Stormforged Blade in hand, its shard-pommel pulsing with a faint, insistent hum. EX: Dragonflame Reaver glowed at his hip, and Stormhide Armor hugged his frame, its scars glinting in the morning light. His flirty smirk danced across his lips, a cool dominance radiating as he flexed EX: Gold Dominion, golden veins threading the stone beneath his boots.

Day 78. Myra’s curse flopped, Lyra’s quiet—time to peek behind the veil. His dark eyes gleamed with unwavering confidence, pride a molten core beneath his chill exterior. Two-point-seven million souls, 10,906 square kilometers, Territory Level 5’s my spear—let’s poke their coalition. The Nexus crackled softly: "Kael’s 71, gold rises!" He smirked at the sky, voice low. Rise? I soar.

"Day 78: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 5 – Commanding Lord. Territory Size: 10,906 sq. km. Population: 2,688,000 Subjects. Food Stock: 22 Days. Resource Yield: +100% (Lv. 5 Bonus) + 100% (SSS: Resource Lord). Resources: 1,080,000/1,000,000 for Lv. 5 Completion – Excess Banked: 90,000. Summon Limit: 20/Day. Territory Lv. 6 Conditions: Reach Level 105, Continental Empire (500+ buildings) [255/500], Defeat 100,000-stat Entity [Not Met], 5,000,000 Resources [1,080,000/5M], 250,000 Gold/Month [160,000/250,000], Army of 10,000 Elite [2,500/10,000], Build World Wonder [Not Met]."

"Lord Nexus Leaderboard: 1. Kael El (71), 2. Myra (64), 3. Lyra (63), 4. Gavrin (61), 5. Sylth (60), 6. Elynn (59), 7. Jorr (57), 8. Kalia (56), 9. Zane (55), 10. Taryn (54)."

Kael leaned on the rampart, shard-pommel singing as he scanned the eastern plain. "Level 71, first place," he murmured, voice teasing but sharp. "Myra’s 64, Lyra’s 63—coalition’s real, and they’re spooked." Yesterday’s cursed gift still lingered in his mind—Myra’s desperation, his blood’s hunger swallowing it whole. He’d sent Veyna’s wolves to 1,500 kilometers east at dusk, her orders clear: "Stalk Myra’s towers, sniff out her game." Now, he waited, 1,200 kilometers out, Drayce’s 50,000 troops holding the line behind him.

Drayce approached, glaive over his shoulder, gold-clad elite gleaming in formation. "Lord, quiet so far—Lyra’s 1,300 kilometers east, licking wounds. Myra’s 1,500 out—Veyna’s wolves should hit her border by noon."

Kael spun the Stormforged Blade, shard’s song rising. "Quiet’s a lie, Drayce—Myra’s plotting, Lyra’s regrouping. Gavrin and Sylth are in it too—Korrin’s words, coalition’s scared I’ll hit 100. Veyna’ll peel their mask off." He winked, tapping the shard. "This thing’s itching for a fight—Empress’s ’Error’ wants blood."

Drayce grunted, hand on his glaive’s hilt. "Blood’s fine—let’s give it some. Myra’s curse means she’s rattled—push her now, she’ll crack."

Kael laughed, clapping his shoulder. "Push comes soon—eyes first. Thora’s back at the capital, Lena’s counting—hold here ’til Veyna’s back." He paused as a horn blared—sharp, urgent, from the east.

A scout sprinted up, breathless, gold armor dented. "Lord! Rogues—200 Level 25, 2,500 Stats, 5 kilometers out. Mixed banners—violet, crystal, shadow. Coalition scouts, hitting our patrols!"

Kael’s grin sharpened, predatory. "Mixed, huh? Lyra’s violet, Myra’s crystal, Sylth’s shadow—Gavrin’s too lazy for this. Drayce, 5,000 elite—crush ’em. I’m joining." He raised the blade, EX: Dragon Sovereign roaring as dragons circled overhead.

Drayce nodded, barking orders, 5,000 gold-clad elite surging forward with Kael at the lead. The plain stretched flat, dust kicking up as 200 rogues emerged—patchwork armor, violet cloaks, crystal blades, shadow veils. Level 25, 2,500 Stats each, a ragtag coalition probe. Kael charged, EX: Stormwing Prime blurring him in, Stormforged Blade slashing. The shard sang, a golden arc cutting three rogues down, 7,500 Stats gone, ash swirling.

Drayce’s glaives spun, War Surge bellowing, 50 rogues shredded in a shockwave, steel splintering. Dragons dove, fire and ice raining, 70 vaporized, dust choking the air. Kael parried a crystal blade, EX: Vitality Reaper stealing 2,500 health, 5,000 damage melting the foe. He laughed, spinning EX: Ash Reaper—50,000 damage wiping 30, gold ash mixing with violet sparks. The last 47 fell under elite boots, skirmish over in minutes.

"Ding! XP Gained: 200 enemies (Lv. 25, 1,767,922 XP each) × 0.1 × 50 = 17,679,220 XP."

—Level Up! Level 71 to 72.

Kael felt the surge, EX: Gold Dominion flaring brighter, shard singing louder. "Level 72—coalition’s scraps don’t stop me." He sheathed the blade, clapping Drayce’s arm. "Loot?"

"Light," Drayce said, wiping his glaive. "5,000 resources, some cores—violet and crystal mix."

Kael nodded, turning back to the outpost as Veyna rode in by noon, wolves panting, her bow slung. "Lord," she said, dismounting, eyes sharp. "Myra’s at 1,500 kilometers—80,000 strong now, 60,000 Level 25, 2,500 Stats, 20,000 Level 45, 8,000 Stats. Crystal towers, ten of ’em, defensive—SSS: Crystal Lord’s weaving Nexus energy, glowing violet-gold. She’s scared, Kael—fortifying, not advancing."

Kael’s grin widened, stepping down to meet her. "80,000, huh? My 2.7 million laughs at that. Towers glowing like her curse—Empress’s tech?" He tapped the shard, its song matching her words. "She’s digging in ’cause I’m 72 now—Lyra’s 63, coalition’s shaky."

Veyna notched an arrow absently, nodding. "Shaky’s right—wolves smelled panic. Her troops drill hard, but eyes keep west—your way. That skirmish? Coalition’s testing, not her alone."

Kael laughed, deep and rolling. "Testing me ’til I break ’em. Good work, Veyna—rest the wolves, then back to 1,500 tomorrow. I want her sweating." He turned to Drayce. "Hold the line—Myra’s next poke’s getting a fist."

Back at the capital by dusk, Lena met him at the gates, map glowing. "Lord, buildings hit 258—forges pushed hard. Resources at 1,095,000 with the loot, excess banked at 105,000. Gold’s at 165,000 monthly—taxes bumped again."

Kael winked, dusting ash off his armor. "258’s solid—push to 260 by night, bank 120,000 by tomorrow. Myra’s 64, 80,000 dug in—Level 72 says she’s right to hide." He strode into the hall, harem waiting—Elys sparking, Rhea warming, Thora hammering.

Thora looked up, gold dust on her grin. "Heard you leveled, Lord—72’s got weight. Shard’s singing louder—tied to that blood?"

Kael dropped into a chair, blade across his lap, shard glinting. "Maybe—ate Myra’s curse, now this. Empress fought ’The Error’—my blood’s older, Veyna’s report says Myra’s tapping Nexus tricks. Pieces fit somewhere." He called the group, voice a teasing drawl. "Ladies, 2.7 million souls, 10,906 square kilometers, 1,095,000 resources, Level 72—Myra’s 64, 80,000 scared. Thoughts?"

Elys grinned, lightning dancing. "You’re a beast, Kael—she’s fortifying ’cause you’re unstoppable."

Rhea’s flames flickered, voice soft. "Unstoppable, but watch her—Nexus energy’s hers too. Your blood’s the edge."

Veyna leaned against the wall, arrow notched. "Edge or not, she’s cornered—80,000’s big, but not against us. Stalk her ’til she snaps."

Kael’s grin sharpened, predatory. "Stalk, snap, shatter—my style. Lena, squeeze harder—Thora, forge faster—Veyna, hunt deeper. Coalition’s trembling—I’ll bury it." He stood, blade humming, shard alive in his grip.

The night settled, forges thundering as gold steel clad 259, then 260 by midnight. Resources hit 1,100,000, excess banked at 110,000, gold steady at 165,000 monthly. Kael stood on the balcony, shard-pommel glowing, staring east where Myra hid. The Empress’s war, his blood’s power, coalition’s fear—threads tightening. He smirked into the dark. "Build your towers, Myra—I’m the one who climbs."

Lena joined him, map in hand. "260, Lord—strong. But coalitions don’t scare easy—your blood’s a wild card."

Kael winked, shard singing. "Wild’s how I win, Lena. Myra’s next card’s hers to lose."