"What a beautiful place!"
A gentle breeze fills the air, drifting across the silent land. Gustalon looks out at the terrain before him, a deep and genuine love welling up from within.
This is Gustalon's territory, located east of Soraya City, on the far eastern edge of the Moonveil Plains.
Three days ago, Orion awarded Gustalon this piece of land in front of everyone, and bestowed upon him a Legendary-level life essence.
By all rights, Gustalon's battle achievements alone did not merit receiving such a resource. But Gustalon was smart: he offered up all the extra Alpha-level resources he possessed, gathering enough battle achievements to secure it.
"Orion was right. There's no such thing as true freedom under the heavens," Gustalon murmured. "But here in my own territory, I can be absolutely free!"
Pursuing freedom has always been Gustalon's dream. In the past, he thought freedom was everywhere. Now he realizes that only the freedom you can hold in your hands is genuine.
Whoosh!
Overjoyed, Gustalon lets out a breath and scatters the red poisonous mushrooms and hawkweed grassseed he had been holding. At the same time he was granted this territory, Gustalon also received an assignment to plant seeds. It's exactly the kind of thing he enjoys doing.
"Maybe next year… or maybe it'll only take three months… and plants will start to grow here."
"This is my territory. I want to plant countless flowers here. When they bloom, I'll summon the breeze, carrying petals on the wind—carrying their sweet fragrance…"
...
Meanwhile, in the main plaza of Soraya City, all five major armies that Orion brought—except for the undead and small scorpions still stationed on the front lines—are gathered.
On the high platform flies the banner of the Stoneheart Horde. It bears the depiction of a giant's silhouette. Standing beneath it, Orion surveys the five armies.
Compared to when they first arrived in the Valkorath Realm, each army is down more than 30% of its original force. However, the remaining bloodline warriors are all battle-hardened elites, brimming with morale from their experiences on the field.
In the recent battles against the fungal creatures, many bloodline warriors jumped an entire rank, achieving significant growth.
"I know you've all gained a great deal and can't wait to share it with your families and friends," Orion says. "But I must remind everyone that the Horde's regulations are strict. Anything involving core secrets is off-limits in conversation."
"Now, let's go home and rotate in the next group of our people!"
Before tearing open a large teleportation scroll, Orion again cautions his soldiers.
...
Blackstone City is in a joyous mood. Spring rains have already fallen, and the Stoneheart Horde has safely passed another year. Whether in the inner city or the outer city, sunlit skies and lively spirits prevail.
People who spent the entire winter cooped up inside under curfew are now free to leave their homes and feel the warmth of spring.
In the military camp, Rendall, waiting for his unit to assemble for a hunting expedition, suddenly senses something.
"Follow the plan and wait for me outside the city. I'll be there shortly."
In the blink of an eye, Rendall hurries toward the Moonshadow Valley. By the time he arrives, Lilith, Lorelia, and Rayden are already there, all gathered around Orion and his group.
"Lord, you have returned!" Rendall calls, finally letting the worry in his heart melt away.
"Arch Elder!"
"Rendall, long time no see!"
"…!"
Before Orion can speak, Onyx, Earthshaker, Dirtclaw, and the others—who are well-acquainted with Rendall—come forward, greeting him all at once.
Their time in the Valkorath Realm was spent in constant battles, leaving little chance for relaxation. Now back in Blackstone City, seeing old friends fires them up. They can't wait to find someone they know and pour out their stories.
"You guys…" Rendall says wide-eyed, clearly astonished by the aura Onyx, Earthshaker, Dirtclaw, and the others are emitting.
Evidently, he is stunned by how powerful they've become. Even Gronthar, the weakest among them, has already reached mid-Alpha strength. More importantly, Rendall detects an entire group of unfamiliar Alpha-level fighters behind them.
Apart from the newly advanced Taran, Brontes, Steropes, Erythros, Thalion, and Torvald, Orion has brought back ten Alpha-level scorpion soldiers, to be stationed at Blackstone City and Stoneheart City for emergencies.
With more of the Horde's upper ranks rotating to the Valkorath Realm to gain experience, the Horde will inevitably face a shortage of capable leaders.
"Take three days off, then report to your respective camps!" Orion commands, then, ignoring Rendall and the others, slips an arm around Lilith's shoulder and heads toward the Horde Hall.
Inside the inner keep, in the main bedchamber, Orion and Lilith lie together in the aftermath of an intense lovemaking session. Orion's large hand caresses her belly with gentle strokes.
"You were really going for it just now. Weren't you worried about hurting the little one with those big movements?"
In fact, the moment Orion teleported to Moonshadow Valley, he sensed the child growing inside Lilith. It was something he could feel through his bloodline—a feeling entirely new and both close yet unfamiliar.
Upon seeing Lilith's rounded belly, Orion realized just how strong his emotions were. He was excited, but also nervous.
For an instant, he wanted to wrap Lilith in cotton wool, terrified she might catch some injury or illness. He'd never felt this way, even when Violet was pregnant.
"I can tell that this little one still has a long way to go before it's born," says Lilith, her cheeks still flushed from their lovemaking. She rests a hand on her belly as well, her eyes brimming with hope. "Honey, do you want a boy or a girl?"
Orion smiles faintly, without answering. In truth, the moment he sensed that bloodline, he already knew the child's gender.
"It's a boy. So I'm going to have a son?" Orion ponders silently. Without realizing it, he has developed another deep bond in this new world.
Outside, in the city's outer districts, roads crisscross and crowds bustle. While there aren't street vendors on every corner, there are plenty of playful younglings.
Giant children, succubus children, gnoll pups, troll youths, bearmen cubs, buffalofolk kids… this diverse mix of younglings creates a different kind of vibrant clamor in Blackstone City.