Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 39: Final Preparations.

Huff! Huff! Huff!

Magnus gasped, plumes of gray-tinged sweat rising from his overheated body. His robes clung to him, damp and uncomfortable. He felt like a furnace, radiating heat.

"System," he croaked, his voice raspy, "how long was I out?"

-[Approximately eighteen hours.]

Eighteen hours! Magnus’s eyes widened in disbelief. He’d been unconscious for that long? Gripping the edge of his sweat-soaked bed, he hauled himself to his feet. The sheets were drenched, a testament to the intense experience he’d just endured.

He closed his eyes, recalling the events that had led to this state. After initiating contact with the Lord’s Seal, a powerful force had begun to tug at his very soul. It felt like the Seal was trying to consume him, taking bite after bite, slowly but relentlessly. He had endured the agonizing pain, pushing through until he thought he was finally about to merge with the Seal. But just as he felt the connection forming, a brilliant blue light engulfed him. His consciousness was ripped away, transported to a strange, timeless realm.

There, he witnessed the entire history of the Lancaster territory unfolding before him. He saw the land as it was in the beginning, a wild and untamed part of the Beastlands, teeming with monstrous creatures. Then, a powerful Awakened individual passed through, clearing a small area of beasts to create a temporary camp. This simple act was the genesis of the territory, the catalyst that began the formation of the Lord’s Seal.

Over time, more travelers stumbled upon the cleared area, using it as a resting point. Each group cleared a few more beasts, gradually expanding the safe zone. Eventually, a small band of people decided to make it their permanent home. The population slowly grew, attracting more settlers, and the territory began to take shape. All the while, Magnus observed the Lord’s Seal, a silent witness to the territory’s development, slowly coalescing and gaining power.

Finally, the Lord’s Seal fully formed, imbuing the area with a unique energy and officially establishing it as a territory. Magnus watched as the Seal passed from leader to leader, many of whom struggled to protect the fledgling settlement against the relentless onslaught of beasts from the surrounding wilderness. He witnessed the territory being razed and rebuilt time and time again, a cycle of destruction and renewal. The experience was emotionally draining, a relentless tide of hope and despair washing over him.

It felt like millennia had passed as he observed the territory’s turbulent history. He saw his father finally take control, bringing a period of stability and growth. Then, the leadership passed to him. Just as the vision reached the present day, his soul finally merged with the Lord’s Seal. A powerful surge of energy erupted, throwing him back into his physical body.

With a weary sigh, Magnus shook his head, pushing away the lingering images. He opened the door to his room and stepped out. His summon stood guard just outside.

"Lord Magnus!" The summon bowed deeply.

Magnus simply hummed in acknowledgement, too exhausted for words. He turned and headed towards the bathing area, waving his summon away when he tried to follow.

Entering the bathing chamber, he found the wooden tub already filled with water. His maids must have prepared it earlier in the morning. The water had cooled considerably, which was precisely what he needed. Without hesitation, he stepped into the tub, the cool water a welcome relief against his burning skin. He closed his eyes, sinking deeper into the water, letting the soothing coolness relax his aching muscles.

After an hour of soaking, Magnus emerged from the tub, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. He dried himself with a soft cloth and found a fresh set of clothes laid out for him, another thoughtful gesture from his maids. He dressed quickly and returned to his room. Kelvin had followed his instructions, gathering his commanders who were now waiting for him.

"Lord Magnus," the group chorused, bowing in unison as he entered.

"Hmm," Magnus murmured, walking over to his bed and sitting down. He looked at his assembled commanders. "So, how are the preparations coming along?"

"Everything is ready, Lord Magnus," Kelvin replied. "The plan is finalized, and the men are ready for deployment."

"Good," Magnus said, a steely glint in his eyes. "Get them ready to move. We station our guards tonight."

A somber expression fell over the commanders’ faces. They knew what tonight would bring.

"At it, Lord Magnus," his commanders responded, turning to leave. Once they were gone, Magnus sighed and quickly contacted all his summons who were currently away from the territory, including Vorax. The little, ungrateful creature was initially hesitant, but a promised reward of Celestial Essence quickly swayed its decision.

Magnus sighed again, lying back on his bed. "Status," he murmured.

-----

-[Status]

Name: Magnus Lancaster

Age: 18

Health: 100% (Full Health)

Title: (Lucky Son of Arthur Lancaster)

Level: 6

Trial Status: (0/10)

Magic Affinity: Locked

Mana: 1,000

[EVOLUTION POINTS: 508,070]

[Attributes]

Strength: 1,000

Agility: 1,000

Defense: 1,000

Charm: 1,000

Endurance: 1,000

Luck: 100 [Max]

[Attribute Points: 4,233]

[Skills]

> General Skills:

10x Reward [SS], Akashic Insight [SS], Synthesis [SS], Summoning [SSS], Aegis of Mind [S], Whisper of the World [S]

> Combat Skills:

Unarmed Combat [Lvl 7/10], Archery [Lvl 3/10], Swordsmanship [Lvl 3/10], Blade Mastery [Lvl 8/10]

> Magic Skills:

None (Locked until Essence Awakening)

> Crafting Skills:

Apothecary [Lvl 7/10], Cooking [Lvl 7/10]

-----

Magnus stared at his status and sighed. "Territory Status," he muttered.

-----

[Territory Status]

Rank: Unranked

Trial Status: (0/10) --> Next Trial: 7 hours

Area: 35 Square Kilometers

Population: 43,000+

---[Army Strength]---

Total Troops: 1,250 [Weak]

Troop Morale: High

Training in Progress: 2,234

---[Resources]---

Mining, Hunting, Farming

---[Quest]---

Main: Evolve your territory into a holy land.

Side: Complete the territory’s first trial at at least Tier 3 difficulty.

-----

Magnus nodded, noting the improvements since he last checked. The number of new recruits had significantly increased; over two thousand individuals were now in training, compared to a mere twenty-five when he’d woken up. Morale had also risen from low to high. While the army’s overall strength was still listed as "weak," Magnus wasn’t concerned. He knew his summons added considerable power, but the system didn’t count them as part of the territory’s forces, classifying them as his personal troops. Therefore, the official assessment remained low, but the reality was quite different. Beyond these changes, the quests had also been updated.

Focusing on the new quest objectives, Magnus furrowed his brow. He knew the trials were categorized into five tiers of difficulty: Tier 1 (Basic), Tier 2 (Minor), Tier 3 (Major), Tier 4 (Grand), and Tier 5 (Apex). The higher the difficulty, the greater the rewards. Any lord aspiring to elevate their territory needed to aim for the highest possible tier in each trial. Magnus sighed; he’d been planning on attempting the highest difficulty from the start. "We’ll see how that goes," he murmured, closing his eyes to rest before the trial began. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

-----

Meanwhile, in a grand castle throne room adorned with opulent decorations and exquisite ornaments, a handsome young man dressed in golden robes sat upon a massive golden throne. He appeared bored, languidly sipping from a large, ornate skull that radiated a powerful aura, hinting at the immense power of the creature it once belonged to. The young man, however, treated it casually, as if its significance were lost on him.

Suddenly, the throne room doors swung open, and a messenger rushed in. The young man didn’t even glance at him. "Your Majesty, a message for you," the messenger announced, kneeling and raising a sealed letter above his head.

Without a word, the young man gestured, and the letter floated from the messenger’s hand into his own. He tore it open and read the contents. His eyes widened, the boredom vanishing, replaced by a sudden spark of interest. "Finally," he murmured, a smile spreading across his face. "It’s starting."

He sprang to his feet, the skull tumbling to the floor, its contents splashing across the polished surface. Unfazed by the mess, the young man transformed into a majestic bird, soaring through the open archway of the throne room. Once outside, he shifted again, becoming a massive dragon before rocketing into the distance with incredible speed, leaving the stunned messenger behind. The messenger sighed, looking at the spilled wine before turning to summon the servants to clean it up.

Similar scenes were unfolding across Aetherium. Powerful individuals were taking to the skies – a woman veiled in white and gold, riding a flying sword; a goblin perched atop a giant eagle; others soaring independently or mounted on various beasts and magical artifacts. All were converging on a single location: Magnus’s territory.