Northern Clans warriors assembled on the training grounds—five hundred strong, axes gleaming. Warchief Kerra stood at front, arms crossed.
"Show us simple. Then we build complexity."
Velnar clicked forward, scorpion form, all eight eyes observing. *Watch. Learn. Adapt.*
Ten wooden wolves materialized from roots.
They moved in pack formation—coordinated, disciplined, unnervingly precise. Kerra's warriors attempted coordination, flanking maneuvers, synchronized strikes.
First hour: chaos. Humans too slow, wolves too fast, no synchronization.
Kerra: "Again! Northern Clans do not quit!"
By hour four: improvement. Sixty percent coordination rate—wolves attacked, warriors exploited openings.
*Acceptable progress. Tomorrow, we increase difficulty.*
***
The next day brought twenty constructs—wolves, bears, serpents. Mixed types, complex coordination required.
Brenn integrated Covenant archers. Tactic: Constructs flush enemies from cover, archers strike exposed targets.
Training dummies destroyed efficiently—construct pressure forced "enemy" movement, arrows finished them.
Success rate: seventy-five percent.
Brenn watched, satisfied. "This works. We can use this in real combat."
***
Third day: full simulation.
Fifty constructs versus 1,500 soldiers in mock battle.
Constructs played "enemy." Mission: Defend position against overwhelming force.
Result: Constructs held for twelve minutes before soldiers overwhelmed them. Ordinarily, fifty units versus 1,500 equaled ninety seconds maximum.
Velnar settled back, satisfied. *Energy management successful. I could sustain fifty for twenty minutes in real combat. Acceptable force multiplier.*
***
That same morning, seven envoy groups arrived simultaneously.
Lysara found Brenn in the war room. "Seven groups. One week. This isn't coincidence. Something's forcing decisions."
The envoys represented:
- Free Cities Alliance (Magistrate Selene, returning)
- Kingdom of Vendar (Lord Thalen, returning)
- Coastal Confederacy (Admiral Vex, first contact)
- Eastern Reach (Refugee Representative Kira, desperate)
- Ironcrest Principality (Duke Morvan, nervous)
- Western Highlands (General Torvak, assessing)
- Dominion "Observer" (Ambassador Vael Thorne, hostile)
Emergency council convened.
Brenn: "Dominion sent observer. That's threat, not diplomacy."
Lysara: "They're forcing neutral kingdoms to choose. 'Decide now or we decide for you.'"
Mira entered with reports. "Dominion mobilizing economically. Reports of trade embargoes, increased tariffs on neutral kingdom goods."
Draven studied the map. "Economic warfare. They can't beat us militarily right now, so they're choking supply lines."
Joran: "We need allies who control trade. Free Cities, Coastal Confederacy—both critical."
Strategy decided:
- Meet Free Cities first (solidify mercantile support)
- Expose Stonecross atrocity publicly (moral leverage)
- Offer economic incentives (premium trade prices, protection)
- Counter Dominion threats (demonstrate strength)
***
Draven called public hearing that afternoon—all envoys required to attend.
Central square filled. Thousands gathered.
Five Stonecross civilians brought forward. Ages eighteen to sixty, all bearing scars.
First witness—woman, thirty-four, named Elara—stepped forward.
"I was baker. Husband, two children. Dominion soldiers came three months ago. Said our village was 'experimental zone.' We didn't understand."
"They brought Soulsteel rods. Said it was 'routine census equipment.' Then they activated them."
She rolled up sleeve—circular scar on forearm, burn pattern matching control rod contact point.
"The rods... they tried to control us. Like beasts. Forced obedience. My husband resisted—they shocked him until he collapsed. My daughter... she's eight. They tested on her too."
Silence. Absolute. Even Dominion observer went pale.
"Warden Draven came. Broke the rods. Freed us. But my daughter still has nightmares. Wakes screaming about shackles."
She looked directly at Vendar envoy, then Coastal Confederacy admiral.
"You think this is just about beasts? Dominion enslaves everyone. We're human—they didn't care. If you ally with them, you're next."
***
Second witness—man, fifty-two, former blacksmith.
"I made horseshoes. Peaceful trade. Dominion came, said they needed 'test subjects' for new control technology. Took twenty of us."
"The shackles they use on beasts? Same ones they put on us. Said 'if resonance works on animals, should work on humans.' We weren't people. We were experiments."
He lifted shirt—massive scar across chest, Soulsteel burn pattern.
"This was 'calibration.' They wanted to see how much pain humans could endure before compliance. I watched three people die from resonance overload. Their hearts just... stopped."
***
Third witness—young woman, eighteen, orphan.
"They took my parents when I was fifteen. Didn't kill them. Worse. Put control collars on them. Made them fight each other for Dominion entertainment."
"My mother strangled my father while crying. Collar forced her. She couldn't stop. He died. She lived. Collar stayed on."
"Warden Draven found her. Removed collar. But she doesn't speak anymore. Just stares."
Tears streaming, but voice steady:
"This is Dominion. Not some distant evil. They're experimenting on humans. Testing how to enslave us all. And they'll perfect it. Unless you stop them."
***
Free Cities Magistrate Selene stood immediately. "Free Cities Alliance offers full economic and military support to Covenant. Effective immediately."
Vendar's Lord Thalen, face ashen: "I came skeptical. I leave allied. Vendar stands with Covenant. No kingdom is safe while Dominion exists."
Coastal Confederacy Admiral Vex slammed fist on table. "Naval blockade. Any Dominion ship in our waters gets sunk. We're in."
Eastern Reach Representative Kira: "We're already refugees from Dominion expansion. This confirms what we fled. Eastern Reach formally allies."
Western Highlands General Torvak, quiet: "Highlands will... consider. We need to discuss internally."
Ironcrest Duke Morvan, sweating: "We... Dominion controls our ore exports. We can't... I'm sorry."
Dominion Observer Ambassador Thorne stood, face red. "These are lies! Covenant propaganda! We never—"
Elara: "THEN EXPLAIN MY DAUGHTER'S SCARS!"
Thorne had no answer. Stormed out.
***
Negotiations moved quickly.
Magistrate Selene in council chambers: "We control forty percent of Theia's merchant guilds. We redirect trade through Covenant-friendly routes, Dominion loses twenty-five percent revenue immediately."
Lysara: "And you want?"
"Premium prices for goods. Ten percent above market rate. Protection guarantees—military escorts for caravans."
"Done."
***
Admiral Vex: "We blockade Dominion ports. Their overseas trade collapses. But we need payment—naval operations expensive."
Draven: "How much?"
"Fifty thousand gold coins upfront. Ten thousand monthly maintenance."
Joran winced. "That's... significant."
Lysara: "But cutting Dominion's maritime trade? Worth ten times that."
Draven: "Agreed. Draft formal treaty."
***
Lord Thalen: "Vendar produces sixty percent of eastern grain. We've been selling to Dominion at fixed prices—kept artificially low."
"We'll redirect to Covenant. Market rate, no manipulation. But Dominion will retaliate—probably invade our farmlands."
Draven: "Then we station 2,000 troops at your border. Dominion attacks Vendar, they attack Covenant."
Thalen: "You'd risk war over grain?"
"We'd risk war over sovereignty. Yours and ours."
"...Deal. Vendar's grain is yours."
***
Dorn's intelligence report arrived two days later.
Dominion army—10,000 troops—marched to Ironcrest border.
Dominion General to Duke Morvan: "You will publicly ally with Dominion. Or we seize your mines."
Morvan had no choice. Small kingdom, 2,000 soldiers versus 10,000 Dominion.
Public declaration followed: "Ironcrest Principality stands with Dominion Empire. We denounce Covenant aggression."
Draven received report, slammed fist on table. "They're hostages, not allies."
Lysara: "Functionally same. Dominion gets Soulsteel ore monopoly maintained."
***
Dominion declared 200% tariffs on any kingdom trading with Covenant.
Western Highlands responded: "We remain neutral. Will trade with both sides at standard rates."
Dominion: "Then 200% tariffs apply. Pay up, or military 'inspections' disrupt your caravans."
Several small kingdoms buckled—stopped trading with Covenant, feared Dominion military.
***
Worse: Dominion mints released debased coins—silver coins with thirty percent less actual silver. Flooded markets.
Joran discovered the manipulation. "They're devaluing currency. Economic sabotage."
Draven: "Create Covenant Standard Coin. Verified weight, purity. Free Cities validate."
Joran: "Already working on it."
Within three days, Covenant Standard Coin established:
- Gold coin: 10 grams pure gold
- Silver coin: 25 grams pure silver
- Copper coin: 50 grams pure copper
Free Cities guilds validated. Black market adopted immediately—trusted weight over Dominion manipulation.
***
Joran's workshop, late evening.
Problem: Dominion controlled Soulsteel ore via Ironcrest. Covenant couldn't produce Soulsteel weapons without imports.
Solution research: "Forged Bloom uses memory ore plus resonance steel. Both domestically available. Can we weaponize it?"
Tests on proto-harmonic parts salvaged from battle:
- Forged Bloom blade cut through Soulsteel frame
- Resonance disruption shattered proto-harmonic cores
- Durability comparable
Breakthrough.
"We don't need Soulsteel. Forged Bloom is viable alternative. Different properties—Soulsteel controls, Forged Bloom disrupts. We're anti-Soulsteel."
Thea: "Production rate?"
"Same as Soulsteel, maybe faster. Memory ore deposits in Ashen Hollow alone could supply 10,000 weapons."
***
War council, next morning.
Draven: "We announce this publicly?"
Joran: "Absolutely. Dominion's Soulsteel monopoly just became worthless. Their entire military doctrine based on control tech. We have disruption tech. Levels playing field."
Lysara: "More than levels. It gives us edge. They spent centuries perfecting Soulsteel. We built counter in weeks."
Brenn: "Start production. 10,000 Forged Bloom weapons. Equip entire Covenant army."
***
Public demonstration that afternoon.
Draven held Forged Bloom sword. Soulsteel armor placed on stand.
Sword cut through armor.
Crowd erupted.
"Dominion claims monopoly on advanced weaponry. They're wrong. We don't need their ore. We don't need their permission. We forge our own future."
Dominion Observer—still in city, humiliated again—left immediately.
His report to Emperor: "Covenant has Soulsteel alternative. Our monopoly broken. Recommend immediate military action."
***
Notes:
Velnar Integration: 3 days training; 75% coordination achieved; 50 constructs equal 800+ soldiers; tactical doctrine established.
Diplomatic Victory: 4 kingdoms allied (Free Cities, Vendar, Coastal, Eastern Reach); Western Highlands considering; Ironcrest coerced by Dominion.
Stonecross Testimony: Human enslavement exposed; graphic evidence presented; Dominion credibility destroyed; moral high ground secured.
Economic Warfare:
- Covenant gains: Stable supply, naval blockade (30% Dominion maritime trade cut), grain security (60% eastern supply)
- Dominion loses: 25% trade revenue, overseas trade, grain access
- Currency: Covenant Standard trusted, Dominion debased coins rejected
Technological Breakthrough: Forged Bloom weaponry; anti-Soulsteel properties; 10,000 weapon production; Dominion monopoly shattered.
Troop Deployments: 2,000 Covenant to Vendar border; 10,000 Dominion threatening Ironcrest.
💖 Enjoying the story?
👉 Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/sa2quasar