The morning after the diplomatic dinner, Alex stood watching the training grounds where his Aurora regulars drilled alongside a contingent of Frostbane berserkers. The scene should have been encouraging - his plan was working. But the numbers in his alliance interface told a different story.
<<< FACTION RELATIONS UPDATE >>
<<< Verdant Weald: 72/100 (-3) >>
<<< Iron Citadel: 63/100 (-2) >>
<<< Frostbane Clan: 48/100 (+3) >>
<<< Celestial Dragon Alliance: 52/100 (-3) >>
<<< Sunstone Theocracy: 32/100 (-3) >>
"We're losing them," Alex murmured to Elysia, who stood beside him. "Every hour we don't march on the Ashfall lands, their confidence in us erodes."
"Patience is a luxury we don't have, but recklessness will destroy us faster," Elysia replied, her gaze distant as she monitored the World-Eater's progress. "The weapon is now 88% complete. Magus Kael's forces have established anti-air defenses around the construction site. A direct assault would be catastrophic."
The strategic dilemma was pure RTS hell: attack now with unprepared allies and risk annihilation, or wait for proper coordination and watch the alliance crumble.
His thoughts were interrupted by Lyraena's arrival. The Archdruid looked troubled, her usual serene composure cracked. "Alex, we need to talk. Privately."
In his strategy chamber, she didn't bother with pleasantries. "The Sunstone Theocracy is making separate overtures to the Celestial Alliance. They're discussing a 'faith-based coalition' - one that explicitly excludes 'heretical powers.'"
Alex felt a cold knot form in his stomach. "Do they understand the World-Eater threatens them too?"
"They believe their god will protect them," Lyraena said, her voice heavy with frustration. "Faith makes men foolish, and frightened men cling to faith like drowning men to driftwood."
Before Alex could respond, a frantic mental alert from Nyx pierced his thoughts.
<<< My King! Emergency at the southern border! Sunstone priests are attempting to 'cleanse' one of our supply convoys - they've surrounded Sylph! >>
Alex's blood ran cold. "Lyra, with me! Elara, get a sniper position! Now!"
He didn't wait for formal teleportation. Drawing on his pantheon bond, he simply moved, the world blurring around him as he crossed the distance in heartbeats.
The scene at the border was worse than he'd imagined. A dozen Sunstone zealots in golden armor had Sylph pinned against her own supply wagon, their holy symbols raised as they chanted purification rites. The Blossom Sage was on her knees, her flowers wilting, her skin paling as their faith-based magic counteracted her life energy.
"Stand down!" Alex's voice cracked like thunder, infused with divine authority that made the very air tremble.
The lead priest, a man with fanatical eyes, barely glanced at him. "The unclean must be purified! This abomination of nature cannot be allowed to taint holy ground!"
Alex saw red. In that moment, he wasn't a diplomat or a strategist. He was a man watching someone hurt a person he loved.
He didn't summon a weapon. He didn't call on his goddesses. He simply reached out with his will and pushed.
The divine energy that flowed from him wasn't violent, but absolute. It didn't strike the priests - it simply rewrote the rules around them. Their holy symbols dimmed. Their chanting faltered. The very concept of their magic became... irrelevant.
"Your faith cannot cleanse what was never unclean," Alex said, his voice dangerously quiet. He helped Sylph to her feet, holding her close as she trembled. "Harm one of mine again, and I will demonstrate why I'm called God-King."
The priests stumbled back, their certainty shattered. But as they retreated, Alex knew the diplomatic damage was done.
That evening, the fallout began.
<<< OFFICIAL PROTEST FROM SUNSTONE THEOCRACY >>
<<< Charges: Heretical magic use, assault on holy clergy >>
<<< Demand: Full sovereignty over all 'faith-based matters' within alliance territory >>
Worse, the other factions began distancing themselves. The Frostbane canceled joint training exercises. The Celestial Alliance requested "clarification" on the limits of Alex's authority.
Sitting alone in his chambers long after midnight, Alex stared at the strategic map, the glowing red icon of the World-Eater seeming to mock him. 10 DAYS REMAINING.
He'd been so focused on the big picture that he'd missed the small cracks - and now the foundation was crumbling.
A soft presence behind him announced Elysia's arrival. "You cannot control everything, my King."
"I have to," he whispered, the weight of it all pressing down on him. "If I fail, everyone dies. Not just us - them too. Even those fool priests."
Elysia moved behind him, her hands beginning to massage his tense shoulders. "You carry the world alone. But you don't have to."
One by one, his other goddesses entered, drawn by his distress through their bonds. They didn't speak of strategy or politics. They simply came to him, offering comfort in their own ways.
Lyra stood guard at the door, her protective presence a silent promise.
Elara perched on the windowsill,keeping watch over the night.
Terra knelt and placed her hands on the floor,grounding the room with steady earth energy.
Sylph began growing night-blooming flowers that filled the air with calming scent.
It was Vespera who finally broke the solemn mood. "Enough of this gloom," she purred, slinking forward. "Our King needs reminding of why he fights."
What followed wasn't like their previous unions - fierce and passionate. This was slower, more tender. Each goddess came to him not for power or pleasure, but to give comfort, to rebuild his strength, to remind him of what mattered.
With Nyx, he found mental quiet, her wisdom soothing his racing thoughts.
With Glacia,he found cool clarity, her icy touch washing away the heat of frustration.
With Lumina,he found hope, her light pushing back the shadows of doubt.
When only Elysia remained, she didn't join him physically. Instead, she created a projection of the starry sky above them. "Look," she whispered. "Every light you see is a world that could be. Every possibility waiting to be born. This isn't just about survival, Alex. It's about what comes after."
As dawn approached, a new alert appeared - but not the one he expected.
<<< PRIVATE MESSAGE FROM ARCHDRUID LYRAENA >>
<<< Meet me at the world-tree grove. I have proof of who's really undermining the alliance. >>
Alex arrived to find Lyraena waiting beneath the largest of the ancient trees. She looked exhausted but determined.
"It wasn't the Sunstone Theocracy that started this," she said without preamble. "It was the Celestial Dragon Alliance."
She showed him recordings captured by her forest spirits - Elder Ming's disciples whispering to Sunstone priests, planting fears about Alex's "unnatural" powers. Feeding the Frostbane's suspicions. All while appearing neutral.
"Why?" Alex asked, stunned.
"Because they want what you have," she said softly. "They've been studying divine energy for centuries. They believe if they can force you to reveal your full power against the World-Eater, they can copy it. They're willing to risk everything for that knowledge."
The betrayal should have angered him. Instead, Alex felt a strange calm. Finally, he could see the real board.
"Thank you," he said, taking Lyraena's hand. "You risked everything to bring me this."
Her emerald eyes met his, and in them he saw the same determination he felt in his own goddesses. "I told you, Alex. I choose your side."
As he returned to the citadel, Alex didn't feel the crushing weight anymore. The alliance was fractured, time was running out, and he had traitors in his midst.
But he also had allies who believed in him. Lovers who would die for him. And now, finally, he could see the path forward.
The game wasn't about keeping everyone happy. It was about knowing who to trust when everything fell apart.
And Alex Reed had always played his best game when the odds were impossible.