Zairon returned to the Sovereign Capital with skies rumbling behind him—not from storm or rage, but from sheer spiritual pressure. As his boots touched the marble steps of the Sky Throne, commanders, generals, guild leaders, sect elders, and spirit beast tamers alike rushed to kneel before him.
Each face, familiar or new, bowed in silence—some in awe, others in fear.
He walked through them like a king through his legion, stopping only when his gaze pierced into each soul.
"You," he said, looking to General Kael, a man once hailed as unbeatable in beast warfare. "S-Rank. Stable progress. Good. You lead the beast-taming corps now."
"Yes, Sovereign!"
"You," to a guild mistress whose organization now spanned fifteen cities. "You've devoured every guild that resisted. Good. You're promoted to Commander of Influence."
"Gladly, Sovereign," she purred.
He turned to another group—those who stood silently, weakly, trembling. Their cultivation had stagnated. They'd grown too comfortable. He raised his hand slowly.
"You had five years."
"No—Sovereign—please—!"
They vanished. Not even screams lingered in the air. Just dust.
Zairon turned to the rest. "Let this be law. Those who obey me will live, thrive, ascend. And those who defy me... well—" he laughed, a low mad thing, rising louder, echoing into the clouds—"you already know what happens."
He stepped onto the central platform, raising a world map carved into spiritstone.
"All lands west of our territory—those 'noble' kingdoms, those sects clinging to outdated dogma—they will fall."
He slammed a palm on the map, and marks lit up—targets.
"Divide into three expeditionary armies. I will lead none of them. You will. Show the world what my legion is."
Cheers erupted.
"Guilds who submit will be spared. Cities that surrender will be blessed. And the rest—burn them. Flatten them. Turn their ashes into foundation for my new world."
His spirit beast—the colossal crimson-feathered Roc—shrieked above, its wings blacking out the sun.
Zairon smiled, arms outstretched to his people.
"We take the world next. But remember—this is just a start. After this? We knock on Raur's gate... and make them scream."
The ground trembled from the cries of the gathered legions.
"All hail the Mad Sovereign!"