Chapter 14: The Dawn of Influence

The Forgotten Rift pulsed faintly as Xuian stepped through the dimensional gate, his figure emerging amidst the jagged spires. His spectral forces awaited his return, their postures stiff with attention. The Phantom Knight stepped forward, its greatsword glinting in the dim glow of the molten rivers.

"Master," the knight began, bowing slightly, "the Whispering Abyss reports increased activity from the Crimson Tribunal's scouts. It appears our earlier encounter has caught their attention."

Xuian's eyes narrowed. "Good. Let them come. I've just acquired tools that will turn them into ashes."

The Void Wolf Pup barked, circling Xuian's legs. He knelt, scratching behind its ears. "We've also secured a new dimension, one with significant potential for growth. But the Crimson Tribunal is a nuisance we can't ignore."

Strategizing the Defense

Xuian activated his system interface, analyzing the incoming reports from the Whispering Abyss.

[System Notification]

Crimson Tribunal Scout Parties Detected: Units: Low-level Specters and Flame Sentinels. Activity: Probing for dimensional weaknesses.

The report was clear: the Tribunal wasn't planning a full assault yet, but they were testing his defenses.

Xuian turned to the Phantom Knight. "Send out the Phantom Lurkers. Have them trail the Tribunal scouts and report back on their movements. If they attack, strike hard and fast—no survivors."

The knight bowed. "It shall be done."

Xuian crossed his arms, thinking aloud. "I'll need more units to defend the Whispering Abyss properly. The specters alone won't be enough if the Tribunal decides to escalate. Time to put the Twilight Expanse to good use."

Developing the Twilight Expanse

Xuian returned to the Twilight Expanse, its surreal landscape glowing softly under the twilight sky. The crystalline grass swayed in an unseen wind, and glowing orbs of Temporal Essence floated lazily in the air.

[System Notification]

Dimension Status: Twilight Expanse. Resources Available: Temporal Essence: 15. Crystalline Shards: 10. Units Available for Summoning: Chrono-Wraiths (A+ Rank).

"Chrono-Wraiths…" Xuian mused, examining the unit details.

[Unit: Chrono-Wraith]

Rank: A+ Traits: Temporal Manipulation, Stealth Mastery. Abilities: Time Lapse: Slows enemy movements by 30%. Echo Strike: Attacks leave aftereffects that deal additional damage.

"These will do nicely."

Xuian opened the summoning interface, channeling the Temporal Essence into the dimension's core. One by one, shadowy figures emerged from the crystalline ground, their forms sleek and shimmering like liquid time.

[System Notification]

Units Summoned: 5 Chrono-Wraiths.

The leader of the Chrono-Wraiths stepped forward, bowing its head. "Master, we are yours to command."

Xuian nodded. "You'll form the backbone of the Twilight Expanse's defenses. Any intruders will be eliminated without hesitation. Understood?"

"Yes, Master," the wraith replied, its voice echoing with a strange, otherworldly cadence.

The Crimson Tribunal's Probe

Back in the Whispering Abyss, the Phantom Lurkers had tracked the Tribunal scouts to a nearby rift. Xuian observed the situation through a spectral projection, his eyes narrowing as the scouts moved cautiously through his territory.

[System Notification]

Enemy Units Identified: 6 Flame Sentinels (B Rank). 12 Crimson Shades (C Rank). Threat Level: Moderate.

"They're looking for weaknesses," Xuian muttered, a dark grin spreading across his face. "Let's show them none exist."

He summoned the Void Wolf Pup, which wagged its tail eagerly. "Ready for some fun?"

The pup barked in excitement.

"Good. Let's make an example of them."

The Ambush

The Tribunal scouts were inspecting the Whispering Abyss's defenses when the Void Wolf Pup appeared, growling menacingly.

One of the Flame Sentinels stepped forward, raising its blazing spear. "A stray? Pathetic. Take it down."

The pup darted forward, dodging the spear with ease. It lunged at the nearest Crimson Shade, tearing through it in a burst of dark energy.

Before the scouts could react, the Phantom Lurkers emerged from the shadows, their spectral blades slicing through the ranks with ruthless efficiency.

[System Notification]

Enemy Units Defeated: 4 Crimson Shades. Remaining Units: 6 Flame Sentinels. 8 Crimson Shades.

The Flame Sentinels regrouped, forming a defensive line. "Stay together!" one of them shouted. "We're under attack!"

Xuian stepped out of the shadows, his Spectral Ember Cloak flaring to life. "Too late for that."

With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a wave of spectral energy that engulfed the Sentinels, their fiery forms flickering as the energy drained them.

The remaining Crimson Shades tried to retreat, but the Void Wolf Pup and the Phantom Lurkers gave them no chance.

[System Notification]

Enemy Units Eliminated: All.

Xuian surveyed the battlefield, his expression cold. "Send a message to the Tribunal: this territory is under my protection. If they come again, I'll repay their audacity tenfold."

The Phantom Knight appeared beside him, bowing. "Your will shall be done, Master."

Expanding the Empire

With the Tribunal scouts dealt with, Xuian turned his attention back to growth. The Twilight Expanse and Forgotten Rift were producing resources steadily, and the addition of Chrono-Wraiths had bolstered his forces significantly.

But it wasn't enough. To achieve his ultimate goal, Xuian needed more dimensions under his control—and more power to dominate his enemies.

He opened his system interface, scanning for nearby unclaimed dimensions.

[System Notification]

Potential Targets: Eternal Frost Domain: Resource-rich but heavily guarded. Obsidian Veil: High-risk, high-reward dimension with powerful artifacts.

Xuian smirked. "Eternal Frost Domain… sounds like a challenge. Let's see if its guardians can handle me."

End of Chapter 14