Vahn's physical form coalesced on the Nuclear Dragon Sword right before Lilith. He wore a serene, satisfied smile, utterly unbothered by the immense mental exertion he had just undergone.

​"It is done, Lilith," Vahn announced. "We are returning. The Barbarians would soon be begging to become my subjects."

​Lilith could say nothing more. She simply stared at the forest below, trying to reconcile the terrifying nature of his power with his casual demeanor. She was secretly, profoundly impressed. To subdue an army of two thousand elite warriors without shedding a single drop of blood, by simply manipulating their subconscious fears and desires—this was the power of a true, frightening King.

​Hours later, when the sun shone brightly above the Royal Palace in the Misty Valley, Vahn and his wives stood on the main balcony, looking expectantly at the towering, obsidian gate.

​Vahn was flanked by Seraphina and Lilith, with little Eterna perched joyfully on the spectral shoulders of the Ghost King. The newly recruited royal guards, a mix of Exelcrest and Westlake clansmen, were puzzled by the wait.

​Seraphina, radiating warmth, finally asked, "What is this surprise, Husband? What are we waiting for?"

​Eterna, already sensing the shift in her father's power, bounced excitedly on the Ghost King's shoulders. "Papa has become more stronger!" she chimed.

​"Indeed," Vahn replied, his eyes fixed on the gate. "The first fruits of our journey are about to arrive."

​

​Then, after a tense moment, the massive, rune-etched gate of the Royal Palace opened automatically, revealing row after row of hulking Barbarians.

​The sight instantly alarmed the raw recruits of the Imperial Guard, who instinctively raised their rudimentary weapons, ready to fight the feared invaders.

​"STOP!" Vahn commanded, his voice carrying the full weight of his Imperial Aura. The recruits instantly froze, recognizing the terrifying authority.

​Leading the legion was the massive figure of the Barbarian Chieftain, Longus. He marched through the gate, his head bowed, the massive axe he wielded now lowered in submission. He stopped directly beneath the balcony.

​In a voice that was loud, deep, and utterly sincere, he swore eternal loyalty:

​"Hail, King Vahn Necrotis! The Spirits have spoken! The Barbarian Legions beg to become the loyal subjects of the Necrotic Dynasty! We swear eternal loyalty to you, My King!"

​The two thousand barbarians roared their pledge in unison, a sound of submission that reverberated across the valley. Vahn had conquered an entire army without firing a single shot.

Vahn stood tall on the stairs, observing the kneeling legion of two thousand Barbarians. He accepted their loyalty without ceremony, his Imperial Aura confirming their submission.

​"Rise," Vahn commanded.

​All of his original subjects were left completely awestruck. Their mouths went agape. A war had been averted, and a formidable army had been gained, all in one night.

​Ezekiel hurried to the base of the balcony, his jaw slack. "Your Majesty... how? How did you subdue an entire Barbarian legion so soon? They are immune to spiritual attacks!"

​Vahn gave a casual, dismissive shrug,

​"I have made them chase their dreams, Ezekiel. Now you should chase yours. You need to lead them to conquer all the Clans of Oslan." Vahn said with a cruel, knowing light in his eyes.

He didn't need to explain the complexities of the Dream Realm; the result was proof enough.

Vahn looked down at the newly submitted Chieftain Longus.

​"Longus! You and your legion are now the Heavy Vanguard of the Necrotic Dynasty's Imperial Guard," Vahn commanded. "Your training will commence immediately under the Ghost Commander. He knows battle and will hone your strength."

​Vahn then focused his attention on Ezekiel, his Chancellor.

​"Ezekiel, you will work with Longus. You will be the Political Architect and Logistics Head for the new Imperial Guard. While Longus focuses on making them invincible, you will focus on integrating our resources and ensuring their loyalty is absolute."

​"Your primary task is to lead the integrated Royal Guard—the Barbarians, the Exelcrest, and the Westlake forces—to conquer every remaining low-tier clan in Oslan within the next 10 days. Bring them back with their resources and their warriors. The time for hiding is over. The Dynasty expands now."

Ezekiel bowed respectfully, his mind racing with the audacity and scale of the King's command. Ten days to conquer an entire region was insane, but with the terrifying Barbarian legions now under command, it was suddenly feasible.

The integration of the Royal Guard began immediately. The Ghost King, now the Commander of the Royal Guard, proved to be a brutal and highly effective drill sergeant. His spectral legion moved through the ranks, forcing the Exelcrest, Westlake, and Barbarian recruits to instantly overcome their mutual hostilities and train as a unified unit.

After 3 days of intensive organization and training, Ascalon and Golka returned with a second wave of recruits, eager for the resources promised by the "King of the Misty Valley."

With the logistics minimally secured, Ezekiel set off.

Ezekiel, flanked by Chieftain Longus and a fearsome contingent of five hundred Barbarian shock troopers, approached the domain of the Serpent Clan, a notorious group known for their poison arts and territorial aggression.

This was not an Extermination Mission. This was conquest by intimidation. Ezekiel had been ordered to maintain minimal bloodshed.

Ezekiel and Longus halted their army just outside the Serpent Clan's main fortifications, a valley guarded by spiked barricades.

Ezekiel didn't bother with negotiation. He gave a single command to Longus. The Barbarian Chieftain simply stepped forward and unleashed a terrifying Bloodline Roar, a massive spiritual shockwave that instantly shattered the main barricades.

Then, at Ezekiel's signal, the Ghost King's spectral aura was manifested over the Barbarian ranks, projecting the image of two thousand vengeful, ghostly warriors standing behind the massive Barbarians.

The Serpent Clan leader, Drakon, emerged, shaking with fear and outrage. His poison arts were useless against the spectral threat, and the physical power of the Barbarians was overwhelming.

Ezekiel stepped forward, radiating the cold authority of his Chancellor status.

"I am Ezekiel, Chancellor of the Necrotic Dynasty. I bring you a choice: Submission or Oblivion," Ezekiel declared coldly. "Your petty poisons are useless against the power of my King. We conquered the Barbarian Hordes in a single night. Do you think your Serpent Clan is any different?"

He displayed a small, shimmering Pill of Cultivation Advancement. "Submit now, and your clan receives the Imperial Arts and resources that will make you strong. Resist, and tomorrow the only thing left of the Serpent Clan will be ghosts."

Drakon, the Serpent Clan leader, looked at the overwhelming, supernatural display of force: an army of giants and ghosts led by a youth who now wielded power beyond Oslan's comprehension. His resistance crumbled immediately.

Drakon knelt before Ezekiel. "The Serpent Clan submits to King Vahn Necrotis!"

The conquest was swift and bloodless. Ezekiel had secured his first independent clan, bringing their resources and their warriors under the Dynasty's banner in less than an hour.

He immediately dispatched a messenger to the next nearest clan: the Rock Fist Tribe with the same chilling ultimatum.

The 10-day conquest had just begun.

---

While Ezekiel launched the swift conquest of Oslan, Vahn didn't stay idle. He established his own Blacksmith Hall within the Royal Palace. The weapons from the Divine Treasury were sufficient for their immediate needs, but Vahn aimed to hone his skills and prepare sufficient amounts for the Dynasty's grand future.

​Using his Ninefold Heavenly Flame, he melted the hardest ores from the treasury, purifying them to perfection. He then shaped the purified molten metal into various initial crafts: longswords, greatswords, and spears.

​Vahn's expertise grew with every swing of the hammer and every successful fusion.

​After crafting hundreds of Sky Grade Weapons, his practical skills triggered an upgrade, advancing him to Saint Grade Craftsman.

​After three days of crafting complex Saint Grade Weapons, he ascended once more, achieving Heaven Grade Craftsman.

​His ultimate goal was to integrate complex magical functions using the power of Runes and Array Inscription, a secondary skill granted by the Grandmaster Craftsman title, aiming to create weapons that surpassed anything known on this continent.

​

​Vahn's first Heaven Grade Weapon was for Lilith. It was finely crafted: a lethal, sleek black dagger that seemed to absorb the very light around it.

​It possessed many formidable capabilities:

​• Flying Command: The dagger could fly with the master's mental command.

​• AOE Strike: It could clone itself into multiple shadow daggers for a wide-area strike.

​• Invisibility: It possessed unparalleled stealth akin to true invisibility. Applicable for strongest Spirit Sense out there.

​Lilith, Seraphina, and Eterna were all present during its creation, witnessing the final inscription on the Heaven grade darkness dagger.

​Eterna looked slightly frightened by the profound, dark power emanating from the dagger.

​Lilith, however, felt an inescapable pull from the weapon, a deep resonance as if the dagger was a fragment of her own soul, forged only for her.

"This is Hecate. I have made it only for you, Lilith," he handed it to her with a warm smile.

She didn't reject.

The gift of such a powerful, personalized weapon confirmed Vahn's trust and commitment to her

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