Chapter 18: The Path to Dominion

Ral stood before the jagged cliffs overlooking the Abyss, the cold winds sweeping across the Shattered Plains where his forces had secured a foothold. The vastness of the Abyss stretched before him, a seemingly endless realm of darkness and hidden power. His Void Conquest System hummed in the back of his mind, a constant reminder of both his progress and the challenges ahead. Despite his victories in the Abyss, Ral knew that this realm was far from conquered. Beneath the surface, there were factions of immense power—ancient beings and unknown forces that even his system had yet to fully identify.

The most recent battle had been hard-fought, his elite soldiers proving their worth yet again, but it had also revealed the true scale of the Abyss. He was no fool—he understood that to dominate the Abyss entirely would take more than just brute force. He needed to outmaneuver these ancient powers, to find ways to weaken them before launching a full invasion. But more than that, he needed resources, and the Abyss, despite its size, was not the ideal place to gather what he required. At least not yet.

The familiar pulse of his Void Conquest System suddenly cut through his thoughts.

[New Objective: Expand Conquest to Secondary Realm. Establish planetary stronghold. Recommended course of action: Conquer new realm beyond the Abyss to gather resources and unlock higher-tier abilities.]

Ral's brow furrowed as he processed the information. A secondary realm? His system had only hinted at such possibilities before, and now it was giving him a clear directive. He needed more than the chaotic power of the Abyss. If he was to gain the strength necessary to face the ancient forces lurking deeper in this realm, he needed to claim a planet of his own—an entire world that would provide him with the resources and strategic advantage necessary for his eventual return.

The message continued.

[Conquest of new realm required for access to advanced Void Conquest features. Unlock: Dominion Forge.]

The name caught his attention—Dominion Forge. It was new, unfamiliar, yet filled with promise. His system had never mentioned it before, but its importance was clear. This Forge, whatever it was, seemed to be the key to elevating his power to new heights. If he could establish a foothold on another planet or realm, the Forge would become his.

He was intrigued, and more than that, the notion of having a planetary stronghold outside the Abyss appealed to him. It would allow him to gather resources, troops, and knowledge away from the constant dangers of this twisted place. The Abyss was crawling with hidden powers, factions that were already ancient when the rest of the multiverse was young. Here, any major push into deeper territories would risk waking beings of immense strength, and Ral wasn't yet ready for that.

"I need more information," he murmured, turning away from the overlook and walking back toward his war tent. The cold wind still howled behind him, but his mind was already focusing on the task ahead.

Inside the war tent, Tyros waited, his armor still bearing the scars from their most recent battle. His expression was as sharp and cold as always, though there was a faint flicker of curiosity in his eyes as Ral entered.

"My lord," Tyros greeted with a low bow. "What news?"

Ral wasted no time. "The Void Conquest System has given me a new directive. We need to conquer a new realm—another planet. It's the only way to unlock the next tier of power, something called the Dominion Forge."

Tyros's eyes widened slightly, though he quickly regained his composure. "A new realm? Beyond the Abyss?"

Ral nodded. "We can't afford to linger here for too long. The Abyss is… dangerous. Too many unknowns. Too many forces we're not yet prepared to deal with. But the system has shown me another path—a safer one, for now."

Tyros considered this for a moment, his gaze drifting to the map spread across the central table. "Where would we find such a realm? The Abyss is already vast beyond comprehension."

"The system has given me coordinates," Ral said, his voice firm. "I need to understand the multiverse better. There are worlds beyond the Abyss, planets ripe for conquest. And once we conquer one, the Forge will be ours."

Tyros's expression hardened. "Then we need to move quickly. If the Abyss senses that we're retreating, we could draw unwanted attention from the factions here."

Ral's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Retreat? No. We'll maintain our foothold here, continue to strengthen our presence in the Shattered Plains. But our focus will shift, for now, to the new planet. It will be a stepping stone to greater power."

Tyros nodded, understanding his lord's intent. "I'll prepare the scouts and gather information on the nearby realms. If we're leaving the Abyss, we need to know exactly what we're getting into."

Ral dismissed him with a wave of his hand, already deep in thought. He could feel the weight of the decision ahead, but the promise of power spurred him on. He needed to conquer this new realm, to gather its resources, and unlock the Dominion Forge. The Abyss could wait—for now.

A New FrontierDays passed as Ral's scouts gathered what information they could about the realms beyond the Abyss. The Void Conquest System had given him coordinates, but little else. It seemed even the system required more data before providing a complete picture. During this time, Ral reviewed the reports from the scouts, compiling everything he could find about this mysterious new realm.

The realm in question was located on the outer edge of the Abyss, a place where the fabric of the multiverse stretched thin. It was a planet of considerable size, rich in natural resources, and ruled by a series of warring factions, none of which held total dominance. This was perfect—weak, fractured governments that could easily be divided and conquered.

But there was more. The scouts reported the presence of arcane technology on the planet, ancient devices powered by long-forgotten magic. These remnants of the past could serve as valuable tools, both for his conquest and for unlocking the Dominion Forge once he claimed the planet.

Ral stood over the map of the planet, tracing his fingers along the lines that represented the various factions. From what the reports indicated, there were at least three major powers on the planet, each vying for control of the largest city on its surface—Vaelthorn. The city was said to be a nexus of power, where the remnants of the ancient arcane technology lay dormant. It would be Ral's first target.

Tyros returned to the war tent after completing preparations, his expression calm but focused. "The scouts have confirmed the initial reports. The planet is fractured, its people locked in a never-ending struggle for dominance. The factions there are powerful, but divided. It would be the perfect time to strike."

Ral nodded, already calculating his next steps. "We'll make our move soon. Have the soldiers prepare for departure. We'll strike swiftly—our first move will be to sow discord among the factions, weaken them from within, then crush them when they least expect it."

Tyros saluted sharply. "As you command, my lord."

The Call to ConquestBefore long, Ral's forces were ready. The journey to the new realm had been meticulously planned, and the Void Conquest System continued to provide Ral with tactical insight. The more he understood about this planet, the more certain he became that this was the right course of action. The Abyss was a place of lurking dangers, filled with ancient powers waiting to awaken. But by conquering this planet first, Ral would gain the strength he needed to return to the Abyss on his own terms.

As the final preparations were made, Ral stood at the head of his forces, his elite soldiers flanking him. The Void Conquest System buzzed in his mind, prompting him with final instructions.

[Objective: Conquer the realm. Establish planetary stronghold. Unlock: Dominion Forge.]

Ral's eyes gleamed with anticipation. This planet would fall before him, just as the Abyss had begun to bend to his will. But the Dominion Forge—that was the key. With it, he would produce machines that would make his current forces look like toys. He would create war automatons of unrivaled power, capable of leveling entire cities in minutes.

Soon, he would claim his first world. And once he did, nothing would stand in his way.

Ral gave the signal, and his army surged forward, the conquest of a new realm beginning in earnest.