YM778.TV Chapter 320: Tomorrow, we establish the Undead Empire
The grand doors were wide open, granting her a clear view of Ruby, seated upon her throne, flanked by Maulclaw and Shadowfang.
The Death Spirit hovered nearby, awaiting her arrival. As Alex stepped inside, it dissipated into a wisp of black smoke.
"Alex! Maulclaw and Shadowfang have agreed. What do you have to say now?" Ruby exclaimed, her voice brimming with triumph.
Alex turned to Maulclaw, her expression unreadable. "Explain yourself. I find it hard to believe you\'d go along with Ruby\'s antics."
"Hey! I\'m not being unreasonable!" Ruby protested, but Alex ignored her.
Maulclaw, seemingly prepared for this line of questioning, launched into a detailed explanation, his deep voice echoing through the hall.
Alex listened patiently, her gaze fixed on him. Ruby interjected occasionally, her excitement palpable. Shadowfang, however, remained silent, his expression unreadable.
As Maulclaw concluded his explanation, Alex understood.
He had been upfront about his motives. He saw potential in Alex, a chance to elevate his people, much like Ruby\'s father had done centuries ago.
"You\'re surprisingly honest," Alex remarked, her tone neutral. She then turned to Shadowfang.
"And you? Don\'t give me the \'worried about other races\' excuse. We\'re all in the same boat here. Strength is the only guarantee of survival. I\'m a King level, just like you. We all face the same risks."
Shadowfang met her gaze, his demeanor surprisingly calm and collected. He had clearly matured since their last encounter.
"Change is inevitable if we want our people to thrive. The Arctic Tigerfolk\'s level cap is King level. We\'re not exactly a force to be reckoned with on this continent. Even without the Beastman Empire, there will always be another threat, another empire looking to expand its territory. As the weaker party, submission might be our best chance at survival."
"They\'re right, Alex. You saved my life. You\'ve helped us so much. Offering our race\'s Tear is the least we can do. Besides, most of the elders know and respect you," Ruby added, her voice softening.
Alex sighed, pulling a chair back and settling into it, crossing her legs.
"And what about the Beastman Empire? Aren\'t you worried about dragging me into that mess?"
Maulclaw and Shadowfang exchanged uneasy glances.
She was right. The Beastman Empire was a formidable force, even for the strongest Lord. Wouldn\'t this jeopardize her own safety?
"Didn\'t you say you took care of that? What\'s there to worry about?" Ruby countered.
"Rest assured, our submission is a collective decision. If the Beastman Empire targets us, we will handle it ourselves. We won\'t burden you with our problems," Maulclaw declared, his voice firm.
Alex, however, knew she couldn\'t simply abandon them. Even without their submission, her friendship with Ruby compelled her to protect them.
"That\'s easy for you to say," Alex scoffed, her resolve unwavering.
"I won\'t allow it. End of discussion."
Ruby\'s face fell. She had been so sure that bringing Maulclaw and Shadowfang would sway Alex\'s decision.
A white vortex shimmered into existence before her. She reached into it, retrieving a blue-white crystal, the Arctic Tigerfolk\'s Race\'s Tear.
It had formed within her after she became their ruler. It seemed they were intrinsically linked to the ruler, explaining why conquering a race and claiming their Race\'s Tear required defeating their leader.
"You\'re taking it, whether you like it or not!" Ruby slammed the crystal onto the table.
"Come on, let\'s go!"
She turned to leave, her anger palpable, Maulclaw and Shadowfang trailing behind her.
Alex, however, was faster. She teleported in front of them, blocking their path. The Race\'s Tear vanished from the table, reappearing in her hand.
"Alex, don\'t stop me! If you don\'t accept, we\'re through!" Ruby shouted, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Don\'t joke about something like that."
"I\'m not joking! Are you really going to deny me the chance to repay my debt?"
"You and the Arctic Tigerfolk are two separate entities. Don\'t conflate the two."
"I speak for the Arctic Tigerfolk!" Ruby stood her ground, her gaze unwavering.
Alex stared at her, her expression softening. She sighed, defeated.
"Fine. I accept."
Ruby, Maulclaw, and Shadowfang\'s faces lit up with relief and joy. But before they could celebrate, Alex held up a hand.
"On one condition. I won\'t interfere in any of your internal affairs or decisions. You\'re on your own. And vice versa."
She stepped aside, clutching the Race\'s Tear, and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Ruby called out.
Maulclaw and Shadowfang looked at her, confused. What more could she possibly want?
"What is it?" Alex asked, her brow furrowed.
"Absorb it. Now. Don\'t think I don\'t know what you\'re planning. You\'re going to stash it away and try to return it later, aren\'t you?"
Ruby might not have access to the system, but she had witnessed Alex absorbing a Race\'s Tear before.
Maulclaw chuckled, impressed by Ruby\'s newfound astuteness.
Alex didn\'t argue. She retrieved the Kingdom\'s Tear and channeled the Race\'s Tear into it.
She could see the determination in Ruby\'s eyes. This wasn\'t a joke.
As the last vestiges of the Race\'s Tear flowed into the Kingdom\'s Tear, Ruby felt a strange pull, a sense of confirmation. Alex hadn\'t lied.
"You can go. I\'m staying here," Ruby said, dismissing Maulclaw and Shadowfang with a wave of her hand. She, however, showed no intention of leaving. She bounded up the stairs, her earlier anger forgotten.
"Honestly..." Alex muttered under her breath. Ruby, despite her newfound responsibilities, was still a child at heart, her impulsiveness a constant source of exasperation.
She opened her system interface. The notification, bold and impossible to miss, brought a smile to her face.
[Kingdom\'s Tear Upgrade Progress: 100/100]
[Upgrade Kingdom\'s Tear to Empire\'s Tear?]
"Upgrade," Alex said, her voice flat, devoid of the excitement one might expect from such a momentous occasion.
She tapped the upgrade option.
A surge of energy pulsed through the Kingdom\'s Tear. The tiny black speck at its core expanded rapidly, consuming the entire crystal in an instant.
The once pristine, translucent crystal was now a swirling mass of obsidian, radiating an unsettling aura.
Its shape remained largely unchanged. A system notification popped up, as if eager to usher in this new era.
[Congratulations! You have successfully upgraded the Kingdom\'s Tear to the Empire\'s Tear. Establish Undead Empire now?]
Alex, however, selected "Cancel."
Experience had taught her that establishing an Empire would inevitably trigger a transformation, affecting both her palace and her city.
Such a momentous occasion, she decided, deserved a proper ceremony, one witnessed by all her undead and subjects.
After all, the establishment of an Empire was a significant milestone, the ultimate goal for any Lord.
There were no higher levels of territorial expansion beyond Empire. According to the system, an Empire was on par with an Emperor level powerhouse. The next step was Sovereign level.
Empire was the pinnacle of a Lord\'s domain, just as Sovereign level was likely the ceiling for most Lords.
No, most wouldn\'t even reach Sovereign level. Even Emperor level was a distant dream for many.
[Item: Undead Empire\'s Tear]
[Level: None]
[Effect: Establishes an Empire. Exclusive to undead.]
The description was frustratingly vague. All Alex could glean from it was that this Empire\'s Tear was a limited edition, a one-of-a-kind item, exclusive to the undead.
She tucked the Empire\'s Tear away and summoned the Death Spirit once more.
"Inform the six race kings and all undead of Commanding level and above. Cease all frontline operations and return to Undead City. Tomorrow, we establish the Undead Empire!"
"As you command, my queen!"