Chapter 29:Making The Four Lords His Subject

A colossal serpent, her iridescent blue-green scales shimmer like liquid as she rises above them. Her body coils effortlessly, massive yet elegant, her golden eyes glowing with quiet menace. A frilled crest fans out from her head, water dripping from it as she regards them with amusement.

Thurn exhales, exasperated but cautious. He knows Veltha well—her pride is as deep as the swamp itself. He raises his arms slightly, a gesture of peace.

"Relax, Veltha. I'm not here to fight you," he says, his mandibles clicking lightly. "I came to introduce you to my new master—His Majesty Alix."

For a moment, there is silence. Then, Veltha's laughter echoes through the swamp, low and taunting.

"No way," she scoffs. "You? Bowing to another monster?" Her coils shift, sending ripples across the murky water.

"Is this your new way of toying with me, Thurn?" she snaps, her voice laced with anger. "You think this is funny?"

Thurn sighs, turning to Alix. "Your Majesty, I told you—she's very stubborn." His tone is resigned, but there's a flicker of something else—amusement, perhaps. Then, he adds, "What about making her suffer a little? Just don't overdo it."

Alix doesn't respond immediately. Instead, he turns his gaze to Grixx. The lizardman grins, sharp teeth glinting in the dim light.

Grixx steps forward without hesitation, rolling his shoulders as his muscles tense. There's no drawn-out exchange, no taunting words—just action. In the blink of an eye, his aura flares violently, distorting the air around him. The swamp trembles under the sudden surge of mana.

Then, he vanishes

A split second later, a deafening explosion erupts. The murky waters part violently as a shockwave tears through the marsh. The towering trees shatter like brittle twigs, their trunks sent flying. The creatures of the swamp screech in terror and scatter into the depths, their instincts screaming at them to flee.

Veltha barely has time to react before the full force of a Grixx's fist crashes into her.

A massive, clawed fist slams into her coiled body, the impact sending her colossal form hurtling through the swamp. Her scales, tough enough to withstand the strongest of attacks, crack under the sheer force. The serpent shrieks as her body crashes through the landscape, uprooting everything in her path.

She writhes, twisting to counterattack, but Grixx is relentless. He appears above her in a blur, his claws crackling with raw energy.

Another impact.

The ground erupts. Water, debris, and remnants of Veltha's ruined domain rain down in every direction.

Within moments, it's over.

The once-great marshland is unrecognizable—a battlefield of destruction. The trees are gone, the swamp reduced to a gaping crater. The water has been blasted away, leaving only broken earth behind.

And at the center of it all, Veltha kneels.

Her massive body is battered, coils trembling uncontrollably. Blood seeps from deep gashes along her scales, her crest shattered. She gasps for breath, golden eyes wide with something she has never felt before—true fear.

Her gaze flickers to Grixx. The lizardman merely cracks his neck, looking entirely unbothered, as if he hadn't just leveled an entire region.

Veltha's breath hitches.

Slowly, painfully, she shifts her gaze to Alix.

The crimson-eyed ruler stands before her, expression unreadable, his arms crossed in silent expectation.

Veltha shudders, swallowing her pride. Her broken body refuses to rise, but she forces herself to lower her head further, bowing deeply before him.

She rasps, her voice hoarse. "I… I surrender."

Alix watches her for a moment, then lets out a quiet hum of approval. Without a word, he flicks his fingers, and a shimmering vial appears in his hand. The golden liquid inside swirls with faint warmth—another medium-grade healing potion.

He steps forward, placing it in front of Veltha.

"Drink," he orders, his tone calm but absolute.

Veltha hesitates, her pride still resisting, but the pain wracking her body is undeniable. With a quiet hiss, she lowers her head and laps up the potion. Almost immediately, the wounds across her massive body begin to mend. The deep gashes close, her cracked scales repairing themselves. Strength slowly returns to her limbs.

She exhales, lowering her head further in submission.

Without wasting any more time, Alix turns, his eyes flickering with cold amusement. "Next, we move to Groth," he announces.

Thurn and Veltha exchange wary glances.

---

The air here is thick with heat, the sky hazy with rising embers. Blackened earth stretches for miles, rivers of molten lava snaking through jagged terrain. In the distance, a fortress of obsidian looms, its spires glowing faintly with the pulsing heat of the land itself.

At the heart of the Ash Plains, atop a cracked plateau surrounded by flowing lava, stands Groth.

His hunched form draped in layers of soot-stained robes. His gnarled staff, carved from obsidian, pulses with embers of dormant fire magic. Though his body is frail, his eyes burn with wisdom and raw power.

As Alix and his entourage approach, Groth's gaze flickers from Thurn to Veltha—both once proud lords now standing subdued beside their new ruler. The mighty Arachne Lord, silent and obedient. The Water Serpent, eyes downcast.

For a long moment, Groth says nothing.

Then, without hesitation, he kneels.

"I see," Groth murmurs, his voice like crackling embers. "No words are needed."

Thurn exhales, relieved that this time there will be no battle. Veltha, however, remains rigid, still processing how quickly Groth submitted.

Alix watches him, arms crossed. His eyes flicker with interest, but also mild disappointment. "That's it?" he muses. "No resistance?"

Groth chuckles, tapping his staff against the ground. The motion sends a soft ripple of heat through the air. "I am old, but not foolish. If those two have bowed… then I know resistance is meaningless." His gaze sharpens.

Grixx chuckles under his breath, tail flicking lazily. "Smart old man."

Alix raises an eyebrow, his voice sharp but tinged with approval. "Good. It seems you're not entirely blind, Groth." He pauses, considering the old monster's submission, his gaze thoughtful.

Grixx steps forward. "His Majesty, Alix, wants you to take an oath," he states simply, his voice low but firm.

Without a word, Groth kneels fully, his ancient body creaking under the weight of his years. "I, Groth, Master of Fire, swear my loyalty to you, Alix, ruler of all that stands before you," he says, his voice deep and gravelly like distant thunder. "From this day forth, my flames are yours to command."