The first wave were easy enough to butcher since Haki had room to move.

  He swung widely, making sure to cleave apart as many Kudamen as possible, something made easy by his three thousand points of Damage, and he watched with glee as their bones shattered and their flesh fell limply to the ground.

  His swings carried so much force that even those who weren’t hit directly were severely wounded as the Shockwaves from his blades caused their internal organs to burst and their bones to Splinter.

  The second wave then came and they trampled over the corpses of their kin to try and eviscerate Haki only for their extended arms to be diced up into the ever-growing mound of meat on the muddy ground.

  Haki swung his swords lazily and even that was enough to kill ten Kudaman at a time.

  One of them even managed to land a hit on him but the goat man was so weak that it didn’t even register on Haki’s stats.

  That Kudamen would go on to have its skull split in two as bloodlust, rage and hatred filled the air.

  Dhreen let out a wild Roar and, as the highest ranking Kudaman, sprinted towards Haki while raising his club.

  Haki lowered his swords as the beast came at him.

  At this point, he was covered in blood and draped with entrails.

  But… he felt no fear.

  If anything, he was getting bored.

  Dhreen may have been level 100 but his true abilities wouldn’t activate until Health was really low.

  Hali wanted a real fight.

  And the only one who could offer him one was now headless.

  There was the champion of the Moon Goddess but he had left without a trace.

  Haki wondered if that mysterious man would show up in the coming war.

  Of course, he would.

  And so would the armies of his homeland.

  Haki nodded to himself before squeezing his swords as Dhreen moved to strike him.

  He had momentarily thought about killing all of the Kudamen. Still, he at least wanted to try establishing cooperative relations so he firmly planted his swords in the ground, sending out a shockwave which Dhreen skilfully jumped over as hundreds of his kin had their legs broken by the force.

  Dhreen then, upon reaching Haki, swung his club to strike the young man who not only deflected the club with his hand, striking it to the side with the back of his hand, he punched the space below the Kudaman’s chin, dislocating his jaw which Dhreen immediately chewed back in place.

  Haki’s fists alone had the same damage as a legendary weapon at 100DMG thanks to his [Draconic Might]

  Additionally, his buffs were still active which meant his DPH was still at an incredible 2660 points of damage.

  If Haki hadn’t purposely missed, Dhreen wouldn’t have a head anymore.

  “Ready to talk now?”

  Dhreen looked like he was about to attack Haki again but the Kudaman glanced around him to see that the area around them had been reduced to a pond of gore.

  “You… you’re strong! But Dhreen cannot run away!”

  Haki could see the faintest hints of terror in the Kudaman's eyes so he softly smiled which made Dhreen flinch.

  “Why can’t we just stop fighting?”

  “Because!”

  “That’s not a reason!” Haki huffed making Dhreen stomp the ground.

  “Dhreen is weaker than you so… so he must die by your hands!”

  Haki clicked his tongue as he realized that the previous Emperors were right.

  The Kudamen were incredibly stubborn and bloodthirsty.

  Re-educating them would be a lot of work since they were still Slaves to their primal instincts so Haki needed to overwrite their rage with a stronger emotion.

  Fear.

  [Maranam’s Breath] was an ability that allowed him to draw from the power of death herself and up until this point, he had channelled it into his weapons but Haki wondered what would happen if he released it.

  So he did.

  Plumes of white smoke began to rise from his skin.

  The smoke rapidly spread through the den but, as a consequence of releasing it, he lost the DPH the ability had given him.

  But it was necessary to show the Kudamen that they stood no chance.

  Dhreen stepped back and just as he did, his fur began to shimmer and lose colour until it was white.

  He grew a little thinner and let out a quivering breath as he gained a new ability.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  [Death Touched] (-25% HP, + 25% DMG)

  Haki’s eyes widened a little.

  He had seemingly given a blessing of Death to Dhreen and his herd.

  *Hey. What do you think? Impressive, huh?* He asked Maranam but she didn’t respond.

  Haki let out a light-hearted scoff before finding a Boulder which he sat on.

  “Come.” He beckoned a visibly panicked Dhreen who slowly approached before kneeling and lowering his head.

  “Yes… yes, Massacre.” The Kudaman’s voice was considerably softer and shaky.

  *So this is the power of Death.* Haki thought before crossing his arms.

  “Don’t worry too much about the dead. When Mara decides to answer my call, she’ll bring them back.” He warmly smiled making the goat man raise his head.

  “We… we Kudamen live for combat and death, Massacre. You don’t have to trouble yourself with those who were weak and died.”

  “That may be true but I’m building an army and I need as many hands and hooves as I can get. Also, if you aid me in bringing about the age we have envisioned, you’ll all be able to fight in undeath for eternity.” Haki’s smile brightened because even he liked the idea.

  To exist in perpetual death would mean an endless possible purpose for all.

  And those who wanted to eternally rest could simply have their bodies completely destroyed.

  An age of the immortal dead.

  As for why Haki didn’t die himself to embody this new age, he simply wanted to see how far he could get while alive.

  Undeath also meant he’d be a servant of Maranam and he wanted to rule alongside her.

  Not as some puppet for her to wield.

  “I… I see.”

  “Yes. So will you join me on the coming death March?”

  Dhreen looked into Haki’s eyes with his own horizontal pupils.

  “Yes… yes. We will serve you with our whole bodies so that we never taste your scorn again, Massacre.”

  “Good. Now, gather your people. You will be returning with me to what will be our new home so pack all the necessities.”

  Dhreen nodded before slowly getting up while keeping his head low as if to display his subservience.

  He then made his way to the now-whitened Kudamen who cowered behind distant trees.

  Haki wasn’t sure how many he had killed but, as Dhreen gathered them near the blood pond, he counted one thousand Kudamen.

  He assumed there’d have been more but their constant fighting and fatalities probably kept their population low.

  This could be dealt with but Haki didn’t have the time to wait for the next generation to grow with peace and prosperity in mind.

  Since their numbers were low, he’d have to arm them to the teeth to keep them alive.

  A distant female Kudaman knelt near the puddle of corpse flesh while cradling an instant, her bare teats were covered in dry blood that must have been spilt before Haki arrived.

  The boy in her arms glared at Haki who knew that look all too well.

  The boy was Making a vow to himself.

  A Silent vow of revenge.

  Revenge on Haki and the world that birthed him to suffer such loss.

  Haki had made similar vows before but…

  It wasn’t enough to want change.

  One had to grasp at whatever straws of power they could and ascend to a point where they could command change and will it into existence.

  That’s where Haki stood.

  A true agent of the change he wanted to bring about.

  And was willing to give the Kudamen a chance at revenge.

  He planned on arming them after all.

  If they decided to revolt and succeeded, he wouldn’t hold it against them.

  If they could kill him, that is.

  Of course, he would deal with any mutinous acts swiftly and without mercy.

  The herd eventually gathered with what little they had.

  Apparently, they were also cannibals so they didn’t even bother hunting or planting crops, something which could be changed thanks to the Forest of Briars’ fertile soils.

  Dhreen knelt before Haki again.

  “They have all gathered, Massacre.”

  “Good. Let’s go. Hopefully, Mara has already started on the wall.”

  .

  ..

  Haki’s eyes narrowed as he, alongside Dhreen, Herald and Kutsunga who stood next to him, beheld a wall of vines that was at least twenty meters tall.

  A grand gateway led into the city and Haki couldn’t hide how impressed he was.

  But something was off.

  There was a slight rumble in the ground so he kept his guard raised as he led the Kudamen tribe into the city below to find that it was crawling with huge bugs that had pitch-black carapaces.

  They were the size of elephants and had pincers that were as long as swords.

  Even at a glance, their exoskeletons looked hard to pierce.

  These bugs, the fabled Moon Beetles, signified by their crescent-shaped horns, hauled material across the city, mostly in the form of debris and dirt that had fallen into it when Haki and Kalokaíri excavated it.

  “Are those…” Herald gasped.

  “Yep. You stay here and help the Kudamen get settled. They may have the southern half of the city.” Haki lazily walked ahead.

  “W-what if they don’t listen to me, my lord?” Herald shot a fearful glance at Dhreen who curiously beheld the city.

  “You’re my left hand, Herald. They wouldn’t dare bite. Right, Dhreen?”

  “Of course, lest the last of the Kudamen be massacred.”

  “A-and what of lord Kutsunga?”

  Haki turned back to his father who stood behind the knight and Kudamen with a weary expression.

  “Mmm… come on, father. Let’s go ask Mara what she’s been up to since we left.”

  Kutsunga looked at his son before lowering his eyes, seemingly in thought.

  He then stepped forward and followed his son to the city centre where they found Maranam sitting on the staircase to the Seat of the Supreme Dragon.

  At her side were the Dragon Warriors and Undead Knights.

  Half of her entourage was covered in dirt and dried-up blue blood.

  “And why didn’t you answer my call?” Haki plopped down next to her as she basked in the light of the sun which seemed to be paler in this city.

  [I was busy.] She smirked making Haki roll his eyes.

  “Yeah, yeah. I’m surprised your sisters didn’t interject again.”

  [ā??al is Mourning and Vā?kkai is keeping a close on us. I suspect they’ll start mobilizing soon.]

  “Mmm…” Haki’s eyes narrowed.

  “Soon your power will grow by several folds as the drums of war are struck. I will take Qaya and then Ardania.. then ascend the mount.”

  “Does your arrogance know no end?” Kutsunga winced from the bottom of the stairs.

  “Do you think me incapable, father?”

  “Oh… you wretched thing, I can see very well the destruction each of your hands is capable of but what of it? What legacy will you leave behind when the Ashes settle? I can die comfortably knowing that my name will be writ in glory but-“

  “Glory? Ha! The step of your Throne is mired in poverty and suffering. The people- your people spit on your name and the other houses see you as competition to be snuffed out, just like your firstborn.”

  Kutsunga’s eyes widened and instantly filled with malice.

  “You…” He took a deep breath and calmed himself, regaining an air that resembled that of a lord.

  “You have yet to answer my question. What then?”

  “Mara and I have made our plans clear. It would serve you well to listen when a Goddess speaks.”

  Kutsunga’s eyes hesitantly drifted to Maranam who turned her unnervingly cold gaze to the lord.

  “My Goddess, allow me to apologize for not introducing myself to you appropriately. My name is-“

  [I know who you are, son of Ardi and all you have ever been. So skip the formalities and say what is on your mind ]

  Kutsunga nodded while wringing his hands together.

  “Of course. I only seek clarity. What barred Pfumo from receiving your blessing in equal measure to… him?”

  [To be completely honest I lacked the… urgency that unsettles my heart right now. Before his death, he was but one of your many scions. Now there is only one. One who completed my reckless trial and shared his vision with me.]

  “I knew it! I knew you resurrected those fuckers on purpose!” Haki squinted at Maranam who simply gave his head a few pats, much to his annoyance.

  [He is the last of your line… unless you plan on siring more children.]

  Kutsunga’s eyes fell.

  “So there you have it. Explained in full and to answer your question, when the Ashes settle, I will sit on my Throne and behold the new age. Then I will rest knowing that, while I was alive, I did what I had the power to do. Something which I could have never dreamed of… before I met you.”