Chapter 3: Expanding the Shadows

Ral Zareth stood at the edge of the darkened valley, gazing over the ruins of yet another forgotten stronghold. The Abyss stretched endlessly before him, a broken realm filled with relics of ancient wars, lingering power, and those who had once believed themselves mighty. He had claimed small territories here and there, subjugating the weak, broken people who had fled to the Abyss for refuge. But these victories were trivial. They were not his real goals.

What he sought lay deeper, beyond the scattered ruins and feeble survivors. Power. Control. Dominion. His Void Conquest System had barely been tested so far, but he could feel its potential surging beneath his skin. The more he conquered, the more his power grew. The more he killed, the stronger his control over this realm became. And now, as he gazed into the distance, he knew it was time to expand.

[Points: 2,800]

The number hovered in his mind like a whisper. Each conquest, each kill, fed the system. But these were small gains, and Ral was not content with such meager returns. His system had shown him glimpses of its potential—armies, realms, even entire worlds that could bend to his will. But first, he needed more power. The Abyss was vast, and he had barely scratched its surface.

"Commander," one of his Void Legion soldiers spoke, his voice quiet but clear. The soldier knelt at Ral's side, awaiting instructions. "The scouts have returned from the northern pass. There is another settlement just beyond the ridge."

Ral didn't need to ask for details. His scouts were well trained, and their reports were always thorough. He knew that this was the next step in his conquest—another territory, another opportunity to feed the system and expand his control.

"Good," Ral said, his voice as cold as the air around them. "We move at dawn. Prepare the Legion."

The soldier rose and quickly relayed the order, and within moments, the Void Legion began its preparations. Ral watched them with satisfaction. His army was small now, but it was disciplined, loyal, and efficient. Every soldier had been handpicked, forged in the fires of his early conquests, and empowered by the dark energy of the Abyss. They moved in perfect unison, their armor gleaming faintly in the dim light of the cavernous sky.

As they prepared for the assault, Ral's mind returned to his Void Conquest System. It was a cheat system unlike any other—one that no one could detect, no matter how powerful or knowledgeable they were. The system was subtle, weaving itself into the very fabric of his soul, hiding from even the sharpest senses. It allowed him to grow without drawing unwanted attention. And it rewarded him for every life taken, every territory conquered.

But the real strength of the system lay in its ability to manifest the power of those he had defeated. With each conquest, the system offered him the chance to summon armies, creatures, and even the spirits of the dead to fight for him. He had barely tapped into this power, using only a fraction of what the system could offer. But soon, when the time was right, he would unleash it.

[Summon Army: 50,000 Points]

The option appeared briefly in his mind, a promise of future power. But for now, it was beyond his reach. He needed to amass more points, more conquests. And that meant the northern settlement was only the beginning.

Ral turned away from his soldiers and walked toward the edge of the valley. The air was cold, biting at his skin, but he barely noticed. His thoughts were already on the battle ahead. He had learned a great deal since his arrival in the Abyss, but there was still so much more to uncover. Mana, qi, bloodline powers—all of these systems of power existed here, tangled together in a chaotic web of conflict and rivalry. If he was to conquer them, he needed to master them all.

But for now, he would settle for subjugation. He would take this settlement, bend its inhabitants to his will, and then continue his march through the Abyss until nothing remained but the echo of his name.

The dawn came swiftly, casting a dim, reddish hue over the broken landscape. Ral and his Void Legion marched in perfect silence, their movements as precise as clockwork. The path to the northern settlement was rough, with jagged rocks and deep fissures crisscrossing the land. But the Legion moved without hesitation, their discipline unwavering.

As they neared the ridge, Ral paused, signaling for his soldiers to stop. He surveyed the settlement below, his eyes cold and calculating. It was larger than he had anticipated, with walls made of reinforced stone and guard towers positioned at strategic points along the perimeter. The inhabitants were clearly better prepared than the previous refugees he had encountered.

But that didn't matter. It wouldn't be enough.

He could see movement within the walls—soldiers patrolling, workers moving supplies, and a group of figures gathered near the central structure. They were discussing something, likely unaware that their doom was already approaching.

Ral's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation. There was mana in the air, faint but present. Whoever controlled this settlement had some knowledge of the arcane arts, but it was far from sophisticated. Still, it was more than the broken survivors he had crushed earlier. It would be interesting to see how they responded to his attack.

"Prepare the assault," Ral commanded, his voice low but firm.

The Void Legion moved into position, spreading out along the ridge to encircle the settlement. Ral himself took the lead, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his mind already focused on the battle to come.

"Commander," one of his soldiers spoke softly, "should we initiate the attack with the full Legion?"

Ral considered the question for a moment before shaking his head. "No. Send in the first squad. Let them test the defenses."

The soldier nodded and quickly relayed the order. Moments later, the first squad of the Void Legion descended into the valley, their dark armor blending into the shadows as they approached the settlement's walls.

Ral watched with cold satisfaction as the squad moved silently, efficiently. They reached the base of the wall without detection, their movements as smooth as shadows. And then, in a burst of coordinated violence, they struck.

The guards on the wall barely had time to react. The Void Legion soldiers moved with lethal precision, cutting down the defenders before they could raise the alarm. The settlement was caught completely off guard, its defenses crumbling within moments.

But Ral wasn't interested in watching the slaughter. His mind was already on the next step. This was a test—a test of his system, his strategy, and his ability to command. The first squad would weaken the settlement's defenses, but the real assault would come from the full force of his Legion.

He gave the signal, and the rest of the Void Legion surged forward, their dark forms descending into the valley like a wave of death.

The battle was over quickly.

Ral strode through the broken gates of the settlement, his blade still slick with blood. His Void Legion had crushed the defenders with ease, their superior training and discipline overwhelming the poorly organized resistance. The streets were littered with bodies, the air thick with the smell of death.

But Ral barely noticed. His mind was on the survivors—the few who had not fought, who had chosen to surrender rather than die. They were gathered in the central courtyard, huddled together in fear, their eyes wide as they watched him approach.

Ral's gaze swept over them, cold and indifferent. There were perhaps a few dozen of them, mostly civilians, though a few looked like they had once been soldiers. Broken, weak, useless.

Except for one.

A figure stood apart from the others, tall and broad-shouldered, his armor dented and bloodied from the battle. He was clearly the leader of the settlement, though now he looked more like a defeated beast than a commander. Still, there was something about him—something different. Ral could feel the faint pulse of mana around him, though it was weak, almost imperceptible.

"You are the leader," Ral said, his voice cold and commanding.

The man nodded, his eyes filled with defiance. "I am," he replied, his voice hoarse but steady. "And you are the Void Conqueror."

Ral smiled faintly. "So you've heard of me."

The man's expression hardened. "We've all heard of you. But you will not conquer this realm so easily. The Abyss is not a place for tyrants."

Ral's smile widened. "No, it's not a place for tyrants. It's a place for conquerors."

Without warning, Ral drew his blade, the dark energy of the Void Conquest System surging through him. The man barely had time to react before Ral's blade struck, cutting through his defenses with ease. The man fell to his knees, blood pouring from the wound in his chest.

[Kill confirmed: +500 points]

[Territory claimed: Northern Settlement]

Ral sheathed his blade, turning away from the dying man without a second glance. The survivors watched in silence, too terrified to move.

"This settlement is mine now," Ral said, his voice echoing through the courtyard. "You will serve me, or you will die."

The survivors hesitated for a moment before they slowly, fearfully knelt, bowing their heads in submission.

Ral's eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction. Another victory, another step closer to his ultimate goal. But this was only the beginning. There were more settlements, more territories to claim. And with each conquest,