Cosmic Lord: The Error Awakens
Chapter 85: The Golden Colossus Rises

Chapter 85: The Golden Colossus Rises

The seventy-ninth dawn painted Kael El’s Ashen Empire in bold strokes of gold, the 10,906 square kilometers of his Territory Level 5 dominion shimmering with ambition. The capital city stood at 260 buildings, bone steel and golden turrets thrusting skyward as 2,688,000 subjects poured their sweat into the empire’s veins—forges blazing, fields bending, streets thrumming with purpose. Kael strode the Lord’s Estate courtyard, Stormforged Blade slung across his back, its shard-pommel humming with a steady pulse. EX: Dragonflame Reaver glowed at his hip, and Stormhide Armor clad him, its scars glinting in the morning sun. His flirty smirk danced across his lips, a cool dominance radiating as he flexed EX: Gold Dominion, golden veins threading the cobblestones beneath his boots.

Day 79. Myra’s hiding, Lyra’s silent—time to build something they can’t ignore. 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 anvil—let’s hammer out a legend. The Nexus hummed faintly: "Kael’s 72, gold ascends!" He winked at the sky, voice low. Ascend? I tower.

"Day 79: Post-Peace Period. Territory Level: 5 – Commanding Lord. Territory Size: 10,906 sq. km. Population: 2,688,000 Subjects. Food Stock: 21 Days. Resource Yield: +100% (Lv. 5 Bonus) + 100% (SSS: Resource Lord). Resources: 1,100,000/1,000,000 for Lv. 5 Completion – Excess Banked: 110,000. Summon Limit: 20/Day. Territory Lv. 6 Conditions: Reach Level 105, Continental Empire (500+ buildings) [260/500], Defeat 100,000-stat Entity [Not Met], 5,000,000 Resources [1,100,000/5M], 250,000 Gold/Month [165,000/250,000], Army of 10,000 Elite [2,500/10,000], Build World Wonder [Not Met]."

"Lord Nexus Leaderboard: 1. Kael El (72), 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 paused by the courtyard’s edge, staring at the open plaza where Thora had gathered her smiths—fifty burly figures hauling gold steel and bone slabs. "Level 72, first place," he murmured, voice teasing but firm. "Myra’s 64, 80,000 dug in—Lyra’s 63, licking wounds. Coalition’s watching—let’s give ’em a show." He’d called the council after Veyna’s report yesterday—Myra’s crystal towers glowing with Nexus energy, a defensive shell. Time to flex back.

Thora stomped over, hammer slung over her shoulder, gold dust streaking her grin. "Lord! Got something—been sketching since the shard sang. World Wonder—Golden Colossus. Hundred meters tall, gold steel and bone, Nexus-powered core. Boosts morale, doubles elite training—2,500 to 5,000 in a week. Needs 1,000,000 resources, though—big bite."

Kael’s grin widened, spinning the Stormforged Blade, shard humming louder. "Colossus, huh? Myra’s got towers, Lyra’s got chaos—I’ll take a giant. Million’s steep—Lena’s at 1,100,000, excess 110,000. You sure it’s worth it?"

Thora slammed her hammer into the ground, a clang echoing. "Worth it? It’s a beast, Lord—stands over the capital, screams your name. Myra’ll see it from 1,500 kilometers—Lyra too. Coalition’s scared of 72—make ’em piss themselves at this."

Kael laughed, deep and rolling, clapping her arm. "Piss themselves—love that. Alright, Thora—blueprint’s green. Break ground today, foundation by dusk. Lena!" He turned as she approached, map and ledgers in hand.

"Lord," Lena said, voice calm but sharp. "Buildings hit 263 this morning—forges are steady. Resources at 1,120,000, excess banked at 130,000. Gold’s at 170,000 monthly—taxes pushed it. Million for the Colossus dips us to 120,000—stockpile’s thin ’til next yield."

Kael leaned over the map, tapping the plaza. "Thin’s fine—1,120,000’s enough to start. Break it, Thora—Lena, redirect ore swaps, squeeze the outer villages. Push to 270 buildings by tomorrow, bank 150,000 after the dip. Myra’s 64, Lyra’s 63—Colossus says I’m 72 and untouchable."

Lena nodded, scribbling notes. "Villages’ll grumble—food’s at 21 days, taxes are tight. Festival might ease it—bread and blood, like you said."

"Smart," Kael said, winking. "Festival tomorrow—gold flows, bellies full. Thora, get cracking—Drayce, Veyna, with me." He strode to the plaza, shard singing as Thora’s smiths hauled the first slabs.

By noon, the courtyard roared—hammers pounding, gold steel slabs stacking into a foundation ten meters wide. Kael watched, blade over his shoulder, as Thora barked orders, her hammer shaping a bone-steel base. "Core goes here," she shouted, pointing. "Nexus energy—shard’s song’ll wake it."

Kael tapped the shard, its hum matching the clang. "Empress’s ’Error’ likes a fight—Colossus’ll sing back. My blood ate Myra’s curse—wonder if this ties in." He grinned, turning to Drayce and Veyna, who’d joined him.

Drayce hefted his glaive, eyes on the growing structure. "Big target, Lord—Myra’s 80,000, Lyra’s 60,000—coalition might hit it before it’s up."

Kael smirked, spinning the blade. "Let ’em try—2.7 million says they won’t reach it. Veyna, wolves report?"

Veyna strung her bow, voice sharp. "Wolves hit 1,500 kilometers at dawn—Myra’s still at 80,000, towers glowing brighter. No move west—yet. Lyra’s quiet, 1,300 east—coalition’s stalling, Lord."

"Stalling’s fear," Kael said, stepping closer to the foundation. "Myra’s 64, Lyra’s 63—72’s a wall they can’t climb. Colossus’ll bury ’em." He clapped Thora’s shoulder as she set a gold slab. "How long?"

"Foundation by dusk," Thora grunted, hammer swinging. "Frame by tomorrow, core in three days—million’s gone then. Full build’s a week—stands at 270 buildings."

Kael nodded, shard humming louder. "Week’s perfect—Lena, festival preps?" He turned as she approached, map glowing.

"Set for tomorrow, Lord," she said, voice steady. "Buildings at 265 by midday—forges doubled shifts. Resources at 1,130,000, excess 140,000—Colossus’ll drop us to 130,000 tonight. Gold’s at 170,000—festival’s 20,000, bread and games."

"Drop’s worth it," Kael said, winking. "265’s strong—push to 270 by dusk, bank 150,000 after. Myra’s coalition’s watching—Colossus says I don’t blink." He paced the plaza, shard alive in his grip, its song weaving with the forge’s rhythm.

The harem gathered, voices cutting through the din—Elys sparking, Rhea warming, Veyna pacing with her wolves. Kael waved them over, voice a teasing drawl. "Ladies, 2.7 million souls, 10,906 square kilometers, 1,130,000 resources, Level 72—Colossus rises, million’s the price. Myra’s 64, 80,000 scared—thoughts?"

Elys grinned, lightning dancing. "Giant’s a flex, Kael—Myra’ll choke seeing it. Worth every resource."

Rhea’s flames flickered, voice soft. "Worth it, but risky—stockpile’s low ’til yield. Your blood’s the real wonder—Colossus just shows it."

Veyna notched an arrow, smirking. "Shows it loud—80,000 won’t dare move. Wolves’ll watch—coalition’s next play’s coming."

Kael’s grin sharpened, predatory. "Flex, show, watch—my game. Lena, squeeze ’em—Thora, raise it—Veyna, stalk ’em. Coalition’s trembling—I’ll crush it under this." He tapped the foundation, gold steel warm under his hand.

The day rolled on, forges thundering as 266, 267, 268 buildings rose, the Colossus’s base taking shape—twenty meters wide, ten high by afternoon. Resources dipped to 1,110,000 as 20,000 went to festival preps, excess banked at 120,000. Kael stood amid the chaos, shard singing, watching smiths haul bone slabs. The Empress’s war—’The Error twists dominion’—echoed in his mind. My blood, her shard, now this. He smirked, spinning the blade. "Twist all you want—I’m the one building."

By dusk, 270 buildings stood, the Colossus’s foundation complete—thirty meters wide, fifteen high, gold steel gleaming. Resources hit 800,000, the million swallowed, excess gone, gold steady at 170,000 monthly. Lena joined him, map in hand. "270, Lord—Colossus ate it all. Stockpile’s tight—yield’s in three days."

Kael winked, shard glowing. "Tight’s fine—2.7 million’s got my back. Myra’s 64, Lyra’s 63—72 and a giant say they’re done." He turned to Thora, hammer still swinging. "Frame tomorrow?"

"Aye," she grunted, gold dust flying. "Frame’s up, then the core—week’s end, it stands."

Kael laughed, stepping back as the plaza glowed with torchlight. "Stand it will—coalition’s got a new shadow to fear."