Mathew was drawing a ritual on the ground from the expected direction of the battle. His small stockpile of mana cores would be drained from this battle, but if it made winning easier, he didn’t care.

As he was in the middle of his eighth ritual with Cherry’s help, one of the scouts came rushing over yelling. “They’re here!”

Mathew looked up and nodded, “Everyone battle positions. Nobody fires a single attack unless they do first. Remember, we don’t want to kill anyone unless we have to.”

People took up positions. Those with ranged attacks were tucked behind stone walls or next to trusted battle buddies with shields. All of the Golem Guardians were upfront. A show of force. Mathew had to admit, if he was on the other side and saw them he would be worried.

Even if they were only Level 30 in terms of strength, they looked far stronger. With the two elites standing behind their respective units, it should make anyone hesitate before charging forward.

Mathew took his position just behind the Guardians. This way he could see the action as it happened if it happened that is. Agnox was on his right side with Jeffery on the right of Agnox. Cherry was back with the other healers and support units.

Both Whis and Wispy were floating above Mathew, bobbing in the air. Mathew only summoned two Elementals. Both lightning. One was already imbued within his robes. The other was on Cherry. Just in case she needed help dodging ranged attacks.

The waiting was the worst part. Minutes ticked by before the crunch of branches could be heard by his stat-boosted senses.

Mathew heard the giant group of people and elves as they marched forward. Once they were almost a hundred yards away, they stopped. He couldn’t see the entire group, but he counted almost fifty soldiers. “Damn it. Either that scout heard the numbers wrong, or they brought extra once he got away to be extra safe.”

“Hold!” Mathew shouted. Worried some idiot would try something stupid. [Doozkora’s Rod] was in his hands. A [Mana Shield] spell was ready to be used at a moment's notice.

A voice from the enemy group shouted. “I request a parley with your leader!”

Everyone looked at Mathew. Their eyes waiting to see what he would do.

“Why the hell would they want a parley? It’s probably a trap…”

“Why should I? You are just wanting to bring me out as part of a trap!” Mathew shouted in response.

“You are Level 58. If you were worried anyone here could kill you that easily, you wouldn’t have come! Plus, I have a way to make a simple agreement to show I will keep my word.” A man on a horse strode forward.

He was average-looking at best. His black hair was pulled back and just shorter than shoulder length. Mathew spotted some gray in the beard on the man's face, placing him in his late forties, maybe fifties. He was wearing very regal clothes. A red cloak and purple vestiges. On his hip was a longsword that didn’t have a full sheath. Allowing Mathew to see the green blade poking out.

“My name is King Keith Green and I have a power that allows anything you and I sign to be kept true. I have the backing of a powerful being known as The Judicator. He is no God, but he is as powerful as one. Before The System took over I was a Judge. As such, The System and The Judicator have blessed me with powers to uphold the truth!”

Mathew furrowed his brow. He had two hands he could play here. The name Keith Green sounded familiar. Familiar enough that he believed the man was a judge or some position in the legal world.

Yet, there was something that was off about all of this. “Does he not know I can do something similar? Is he testing me?”

“How do I know you are telling the truth still that you have this power?” Mathew asked. “You could still be lying. Anyone can make up a story.”

Keith scoffed, he was looking directly at Mathew. Even with the distance between them, Mathew could hear him clearly. “Please. You might be a summoner and make your own laws, but a judge’s duty is to make laws. What were you before you took over? A little league baseball coach? You think you can lead better than someone with a proper royal title given by The System itself?”

Mathew shook his head. “You have no idea what you are saying, Keith. Fine, I’ll talk, but no contract. A piece of advice I live by is I sign nothing without my lawyer reading it first.”

In the back of Mathew’s mind, there was a whisper of a thought, “If I did enter a contract with him, I bet I could easily make him mine. Work for me. I would be that much stronger.” The thought left as soon as Mathew had it.

“Wise words,” Keith said as he dismounted his horse and walked forward.

Mathew walked passed the front line of Guardians. He heard Agnox start to move with him but held up a hand. Mathew whispered to him, “Stay back here. Something about this guy says he won’t fight. He isn’t strong with levels. Which means he might try to get me into a contract or something. I need you and Cherry to stay safe. I have no clue what he can do. If he can do something to my soul, you two need to be ready to go down as well. Remember what happened in the Beast Dungeon? You and Jeffery had to drag my unconscious body out.”

Agnox nodded once, understanding. Mathew strode forward, leaving his wisps behind as well. His [Robes of Eternal Dawn] flowed as he walked forward. He met Keith in the middle of the two armies. As he got closer, Mathew could feel a force emanating from the man.

It was a heavy feeling. Making Mathew almost not able to meet Keith’s eyes with his own. It was a social pressure, not a physical one. He could have bared it, but he wanted to show Keith he wasn’t to be underestimated. So, Mathew pushed out with his own Axiom of Resistance.

The Apprentice-ranked Axiom eliminated the pressure on Mathew as it protected him. Keith’s eyes widened as his own pressure was removed in response. “I see you have some power. Good, then we can talk as men.”

Mathew’s own force didn’t push down upon Keith. It wasn’t meant to do that. However, if he wanted to, Mathew knew he could use his Axiom of Cold to do something, possibly his Axiom of PIercing as well. But, he chose not to. Instead lifting his own Axiom away slowly. When he realized Keith wasn’t using his own anymore, Mathew stopped his own.

“So, what is it you wish to talk about?” Mathew asked.

“A simple discussion. I want that Dungeon. I have a quest you see to obtain more Hearth Crystals and Dungeon Cores. It was given to me by The System itself. Doing so allows me to gain more power, but also the power translates to the zone. More shops, increased mana regeneration, walls, and buildings made for crafting and combat training. In the future, I’ll even be able to purchase Teleportation gates once I complete more of the quest.”

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Mathew knew the quest he was talking about. It was the same one he had now. The Path to Sovereignty. “He must have picked the Baron choice. It is the closest to ‘King’ in terms of royalty.”

“So, I’m willing to make a proposal.” Keith pulled out a stack of papers and handed them to Mathew. “This is just a simple contract, nothing but a way to ensure I hold up my promises to you! All you will be doing is giving me the Blue Oaks Hearth Crystal and all Dungeons under your control. However, you still have ownership of your own zone and will be able to lead your people as you see fit. You will have to answer to me every now and then, but I promise I am a very passive leader. So long as you do good things, you and I will have no problems working together.”

“Holy fuck… This guy is doing the same trick I tried to use! This has to be the unluckiest person in the world. Even my bad luck can’t be compared to this.”

Mathew kept his facial expressions completely normal. Not giving a single clue as to what he was thinking “I see. So what if I were to capture new Dungeons or even Hearth Crystals?”

“They would become mine officially. Unofficially, all yours.” Keith smiled largely. Showing friendliness. Keith leaned in a bit closer and spoke more softly, “You wouldn’t want to fight over a silly little Novice Dungeon, would you? Think of the lives you save. You will be seen as a peacekeeper, not a warmonger. Come on, just sign the papers and we can walk away together. Being allies will give you more power here.”

Mathew was conflicted about how to settle this matter. Should he play along and overturn this situation back onto Keith as he showed he was a better contractor? Maybe simply killing him in front of everyone?

The idea of wrapping him up in chains and saying he was being punished or some other form of flair also came across his mind. However, all choices led to one thought. “This guy is weaker than me. I could enter the contract and bash his control with my own power and smash his soul like those have done to me”

Which made Mathew wonder. What was the reason Keith was there now? The self-proclaimed King knew Mathew was Level 58. He knew Mathew was their leader. Mathew still outnumbered them, even though it was barely a fifteen-man difference. That wasn’t even including the group that was hiding inside the Dungeon right now.

Mathew looked behind Keith. To the elves within the army. He saw ten that stood with their hands behind their backs. As if waiting for something. Mathew then looked at the people. He noticed a few of them were not looking in his direction.

Instead, they were looking at the ground or at nothing. An empty gaze that he’s seen once before when he forced that woman into the contract that took over their own personal control. Yet, some of the other humans looked conflicted. As if they wanted to be anywhere but there.

One common thing between them all, none of them were looking at Keith or the elves.

He was missing something here. If Mathew was in the other position of Keith he wouldn’t have come here himself to try and parlay with the leader. He wouldn’t put his life at risk like this, not unless his own life was already at risk in a far worse situation. There was the fact that Keith could be an absolute moron, but Mathew didn’t get that from this guy.

“Tell me, King Keith,” Mathew whispered back. “How did you gain Elves as an ally? I thought they only existed in fantasy?”

“Oh, it was easy. We came to a mutual understanding of one another. They are powerful allies, and the reason we have been successful since the start of this new era for humanity.” Keith smiled. “They taught me a few tricks. If you want, I can introduce you to them. Give you power on par with my own. There is no reason for us to fight here Mathew McGonald. We can be allies and rule the world together. With you by my side, we can take over the rest of the state. Then North America. Before the end of the integration of The System, the entire world will belong to us. Power, Money, Women, Men, everything will be at your request. Just sign the dotted line, and you too can live in luxury.”

Mathew looked past Keith and made eye contact with one of the Elves. There was a smile behind those eyes. Compared to the humans that they were allied with it was easy to see what their roles were.

“They are afraid of the elves. They are not allies! They control the humans just like Keith is trying to do to me!”

Keith’s brow furrowed in confusion as a blue screen appeared in front of Mathew as he poked at it for a moment. Then his eyes went wide as another one appeared in front of him.

Mathew closed his eyes for a moment thinking over what he was about to say, “You seem to have made a mistake. I do want those things for the most part. However, there is one problem with that.”

The Summoner leaned forward and whispered in Keith’s ear, “You aren’t the one in charge really…are you? So you can’t be the one to promise me those things.”

Area Quest: Blue Oaks vs The Green Kingdom

You have officially declared war against The Green Kingdom. Defeat your enemy and claim their land as your own. Your choice of victory may change the rewards. Note: The Green Kingdom and its allies have received a similar quest and all its members are aware you were the one to declare war against them.

The Leader of The Green Kingdom: Baron Keith Green has been notified of your declaration.

Rewards:

Ownership of The Green Kingdom Hearth Crystal

50,000 UC

Cultivation Meditation Room Design Guide

Additional Rewards based on performance

“You idiot. Do you know what you just did!” Keith hissed.

Screens popped up in front of everyone. Except for two groups. The Guardians that stood behind Mathew, and the elves that finally had an expression other than boredom. They were confused now at everyone’s panic.

Mathew kept talking as people started to shout questions at the two fo them. “You see, if they were your ally, the elves would have received a notification. However, they aren’t are they? That means they control you. Dungeon Inhabitants can control zones and such, but humans would just constantly fight against them. Instead, the elves are enslaving humans and using you as a political puppet figure aren’t they? Do stop me if I am getting any details wrong here Keith.”

Keith drew his sword and took two steps back and started to shout. “I gave you a chance of a peaceful union, and this is what you do!” He looked toward the members of Blue Oaks. “Your leader just declared war against mine! He is bloodthirsty and wishes nothing but mutual destruction so he can rule over a pile of rubble!”

Mathew shook his head, “No. My people know what I want. I want to give them what they want. A trial where you are being judged for once, and now the elves too. You invaded our land. Broke our laws. All because you were too cowardly to obtain your own power. Instead, you suckle on the elves' teat. Or, should I say that you do so with an iron ball and chain around your leg?”

Keith pointed his sword at Mathew. “You just had to ruin my plans. Do you think I’m weak? I’ll show you the power they have given me, just to defeat you in case this deal didn’t go through! I DECLARE YOU ALL TO KNEEL BEFORE ME!”