Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points!

The knights stiffened, their hearts pounding as they gazed at the encroaching army—realizing, with growing dread, that similar forces were visible on the southern and western horizons. The capital was completely surrounded.

"Your walls may be strong, your soldiers brave, but we are countless. Your city will burn, your people will fall, and every stone you hold dear will be reduced to ash."

Jareth paused, his eyes narrowing.

"However, mercy is not beyond my grasp. Surrender now—lay down your arms, open your gates, and offer your head, and perhaps what remains of your precious city can be spared."

"Refuse…"

"...and there will be no vengeance to seek, no legacy to preserve. Only ruin."

The communication cut off with a sharp pulse.

The knights on the wall exchanged glances.

"Sound the horns!"

A deep blare echoed from the east, swiftly answered by the horns from the north, west, and south. The call to arms rippled through the capital, jolting the city from its dawn stillness into the chaos of impending war.

A knight fumbled with a small, polished magic orb, its surface flickering to life with a faint blue glow. Moments later, the stern face of Knight Captain Seraphine Va appeared within the orb’s shimmering light as she walked through the castle halls.

"Report. What do their forces look like on the east side?"

The knight holding the orb straightened, glancing beyond the walls before responding.

"Captain, the eastern front is heavily fortified. Rough estimates put them at over 8,000 strong. Their vanguard consists mostly of heavy infantry—shields, spears, heavily armored. Behind them, rows of archers, at least 1,500. We’ve counted around 300 mages, some with offensive sigils glowing already. They’ve deployed siege weapons—ten trebuchets, battering rams, and siege towers being pushed into position."

Seraphine’s jaw tightened.

"West side, report."

Another knight lifted his own orb, his face pale.

"The western front is similar, Captain. Approximately 6,000 infantry, lighter units mixed with cavalry—they’re preparing for a fast breach. Around 1,000 archers, 200 mages, and several smaller siege engines—ballistae and catapults. They’re moving quickly, likely trying to exploit weaker points in the wall."

Seraphine’s expression hardened. "North side?"

The northern knight’s voice came through.

"Captain, the north has the heaviest siege concentration. They’ve brought massive siege towers—at least fifteen, with reinforced battering rams. Around 7,000 troops, heavy infantry leading, supported by archers and around 500 mages. They’ve also got war beasts—large creatures, possibly enchanted."

Seraphine’s gaze darkened. "South side?"

The final orb flickered as the southern knight gave his report, sweat beading on his brow.

"The southern front… they’re holding about 5,000 troops, mostly light infantry, archers, and cavalry. Their formation is scattered, but it looks like they’re planning for fast strikes or possibly a flanking maneuver if we shift our focus elsewhere. Only a few siege weapons, but several mages with ritual circles—we suspect long-range magical bombardments."

Seraphine was silent for a heartbeat, absorbing the reports. The orb in her hand pulsed faintly, casting shadows across her stern face. Then she spoke, her voice like steel.

"Hold your positions. Reinforce any weak points immediately. We will not fall today."

She ended the connection, the orb dimming in the knight’s hands.

The echoes of hurried footsteps faded as Knight Captain Seraphine arrived at the towering double doors of the Strategy Room.

She pushed them open, the heavy wood groaning on its iron hinges.

Inside, Emperor Arkanos stood at the center, his gaze locked onto a vast map of the capital sprawled across the table. Candles flickered, casting shadows over the detailed layout of the capital and the surrounding siege formations marked with crimson tokens. Experience new stories on NovelBin.Côm

Flanking him were his summoned heroes—

Abaddon, the fallen angel, had a sinister grin on his face, eagerly anticipating the slaughter. Sylvana, the arc mage, looked awfully serious… perhaps the scenario brought back some intense memories. As for Ivan… well, he was wearing a lower face mask, but he was definitely excited to sever some heads—one could tell from that dead-set look in his crimson eyes, while his right hand twirled a dagger.

Seraphine’s eyes darted across the room, surprise flashing briefly before she calmed herself.

"Your Majesty," she greeted, then spoke, "Where are the remaining members of the court? The High Priestess and the Minister of Supply—shouldn’t they be here?"

Arkanos didn’t glance up.

"They are already performing their duties," he replied, tracing a finger along the map’s lines—fortifications, choke points, and hidden passages marked in faded ink.

"I trust them to carry out their roles without needing to be summoned here."

Seraphine stepped forward with a stoic expression.

"I’ve gathered the remaining 700 knights at the barracks as you ordered, Sire. But… with forces pressing from all sides, I don’t see how they will be enough to repel such an overwhelming army."

She paused, then squared her shoulders.

"With respect, I believe we should concentrate our forces strategically."

She moved closer to the table, pointing at the northern and eastern walls on the map.

"Deploy the Level 75 knights to the northern front, where their heaviest siege towers are positioned. Their strength and endurance will be critical in holding the line against the battering rams and war beasts. Place the Level 70 knights on the eastern walls to withstand the brunt of the heavy infantry and maintain formation discipline under pressure."

"Meanwhile, we organize fast-response units—cavalry and elite skirmishers—led by the berserk knights. They can launch surprise raids against their siege equipment and disrupt their supply lines behind enemy lines. If we can cripple their logistics, their siege won’t last."

Silence settled for a heartbeat.

Arkanos finally looked up from the map, his emerald eyes gleaming. A faint, almost imperceptible smirk appeared on his face.

"A good plan, as expected of the knight captain," he acknowledged. "But I have something else in mind."

His lips curled into a smirk as he turned slightly, his gaze falling on Sylvana.

"But before we begin," he said, "I want the enemy to understand the blunder they’ve made. Sylvana."

The arc mage straightened from her position near the edge of the table, her eyes meeting his.

"Create a spell that will allow my voice to be heard throughout the capital… and beyond its walls. I would like to offer them a much-needed warning before we begin."

For a moment, Sylvana blinked, surprised—not by the request itself, but by the look of excitement in his gaze.

Arkanos was always composed, always cold. Sure, there were times he would smile a bit, but there was something different now—an eager look of anticipation, like a predator savoring the moment before a hunt began.

It was pure… primal and almost sinister.

That realization made her smile.

"Right away, Sire."

She raised her staff.

Arcane energy gathered swiftly, swirling around her like strands of green light. Symbols flared in the air, spinning faster. The temperature in the room dipped slightly, the air crackling with magical pressure.

A large sigil formed above the strategy table—an array of interlocking runes pulsing with light. The spell stabilized, humming softly like a heartbeat.

"It’s ready, Your Majesty," Sylvana said, stepping back with a slight bow.

Arkanos stepped forward and spoke—his voice amplified by the magic, sweeping through the halls of the castle, across the streets of the capital, and even beyond the towering city walls to the ears of both his soldiers and the encroaching enemy.

"To the fools who surround my city, I must commend you. It’s not every day one gets to witness such a bold display of stupidity."

His words echoed across the city, reaching trembling civilians and hardened soldiers alike.

"Hear me now."

"You believe your numbers grant you victory? You believe my walls will fall to your siege? You believe I will kneel?"

A pause. His smirk grew wider.

"Oh, how you insult me."

"Perhaps you all have forgotten who I am. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Arkanos Bloodbane, second son of Veltharion Bloodbane."

Yes, all his memories had clicked into place.

"Scourge of the Bloodbane Empire, for I shattered the chains of a dynasty that sought to control me, carving my own path from the ashes of their ambition."

"Ruin of the Verdant Lands, for I set fire to the forests that dared stand against my path, leaving nothing but echoes of defiance buried beneath ash and stone."

"Scorn of the High Council, because I defied their hollow decrees and broke the fragile balance they clung to, getting rid of them as I exposed their hypocrisy with every breath I took."

"Fallen Heir of Nature, once chosen by the spirits themselves—until I cast them aside for power greater than their whispers could ever grant."

"Betrayer of the Sacred Pact, for I shattered the ancient vows when they no longer served me, rewriting destiny with my own hand."

"Some called me a fool, others a tyrant. All I know is…"

"I was born an emperor and will die an emperor. I do not kneel. I do not beg. And I most certainly will not fall."

Across the enemy camps, soldiers stiffened, gripping their weapons tighter as his voice rolled over them like an invisible wave of dread.

"You’ve made a mistake coming here. And soon, you’ll understand the true meaning of regret."

Silence followed—brief but heavy.

"Now… let’s begin."