Chapter 10: The Conquest of Zerathia
Kael Atris stood at the heart of his grand war council, overlooking the vast industrial complexes of Varthun. The conquest of Zerathia had long been on his mind, and now, with the resources and strength he had gathered, it was time to strike. His forces were unrivaled, his mana reserves vast, and his divine soldiers ready for battle.
The Construction of the Armada
Kael, utilizing the vast mana reserves he had accumulated from his battles and his Divine Tree, ordered the immediate construction of ten aircraft carrier starships, each capable of carrying 50 fighter jets. These titanic vessels, forged with celestial metals and infused with divine energy, would serve as the backbone of his aerial fleet.
Accompanying the carriers were 40 destroyer-class starships and 30 cruiser-class starships, each armed with devastating energy cannons capable of reducing fortified enemy positions to rubble. The ships were outfitted with Valtheris' finest pilots and soldiers, trained meticulously in the newly established military academies.
At the heart of this mighty armada stood Kael Atris himself, leading an elite force of ten four-winged heavenly soldiers and 10,000 two-winged soldiers. These divine warriors, birthed from the Kael's Divine Tree, were relentless in battle, their celestial blades able to cut through mortal armor as if slicing air.
The War Begins
With the Valtherisian armada assembled, Kael gave the order to move. The colossal fleet soared into the darkened sky, a divine storm of destruction moving towards Zerathia. The nation had long been a plague upon Valtheris, its warriors known for their brutal raids and merciless slaughter. Now, justice would be delivered.
As they crossed into enemy airspace, Kael stood at the bridge of his command carrier, his gaze piercing the horizon. "Unleash hell."
At his command, squadrons of fighter jets launched, streaking through the sky like celestial arrows. The first wave of attacks saw air-to-ground missiles rain down upon enemy encampments, obliterating watchtowers, barracks, and supply depots in blinding explosions.
The destroyers and cruisers followed suit, their massive cannons unleashing unrelenting bombardments upon Zerathian fortresses. Entire cities trembled, and enemy garrisons were annihilated before they could even mount a defense.
The Heavenly Onslaught
As the ground forces of Zerathia scrambled in confusion, Kael's divine soldiers descended upon them like reapers from the heavens.
The two-winged soldiers crashed into the enemy lines, their celestial steel carving through mortal flesh with terrifying efficiency. Their divine presence alone sowed fear into the hearts of the Zerathian warriors, many of whom fled before even raising their weapons.
The four-winged soldiers, Kael's elite, spearheaded the assault, each capable of taking on a thousand enemy soldiers alone. Spears of light and golden halberds danced through the battlefield, cutting down Zerathian generals and commanders with surgical precision.
Kael Atris himself waded into the battlefield, his black-gold armor radiating an aura of absolute dominance. His blade, infused with the power of Castellion Arisium, severed souls as easily as flesh. But his true weapon was his ability to absorb the essence of the fallen.
A God Ascending
As each enemy fell, Kael absorbed their essence into his core, his power growing with every slain foe. He could feel the limitless mana surging through his veins, the very fabric of his being expanding.
He absorbed hundreds. Then thousands. Then tens of thousands.
His body was no longer that of a mere king; he was transcending into something far beyond mortal comprehension. With each essence he consumed, his power multiplied. As the battle raged on, Kael's level skyrocketed, reaching level 50 in an instant.
The Fall of Gor'Mokar
With the Zerathian armies broken and their strongholds crumbling, Kael's armada turned its full force towards the capital—Gor'Mokar.
The mighty walls of the capital stood tall, boasting centuries of fortification. But against Kael's forces, they shattered like glass. The combined assault of bombardments, divine soldiers, and fighter jet raids turned the once-impenetrable city into a burning ruin.
At the heart of the city, Warlord Gorvak the Beast-King made his last stand.
Submission of a Warlord
Gorvak was a towering figure, clad in battle-worn armor, his beast-like features twisting with rage and desperation. He wielded a colossal axe, cutting down Valtherisian soldiers in a desperate bid to escape.
But Kael descended upon him like a god of war.
The battle between them was brief—Gorvak was powerful, but Kael Atris was unstoppable.
With a single motion, Kael marked Gorvak with the Slave Insignia, binding the warlord's will to his own. Gorvak fell to his knees, his body trembling under the weight of Kael's power. His spirit was utterly broken.
"You are mine now," Kael declared.
With their leader enslaved, the remaining Zerathian forces had no choice but to submit. Kael branded every soldier with the Slave Insignia, ensuring their complete loyalty.
A New Order
With Zerathia under his rule, Kael knew his army was still incomplete. He poured a portion of his newfound mana into forging 30 more four-winged soldiers, bringing his total to 50 elite celestial warriors.
Zerathia, once a land of brutal warlords, now bowed before the divine might of Kael Atris. With two of the seven nations under his control, the path to conquering all of Varis Primus had begun.
The Dawn of the God-King
As Kael stood atop the ruins of Gor'Mokar, he gazed upon his newly acquired kingdom. He had started as a mere ruler of a broken nation, but now, he was something greater.
He was not just a king. He was a conqueror. A god among mortals.
And this was only the beginning.