As Luke re-entered Malefic Vale, his senses were immediately overwhelmed by the stark contrast between the VR helmet and the VR cabinet. The immersive quality of the cabinet was unparalleled, as though he had stepped into another reality altogether. His body tingled as if the dark magic of the Vale itself coursed through his veins. The air was thick with an oppressive yet exhilarating energy.

The ground beneath his feet felt solid and textured—obsidian stone that seemed to hum faintly with power. A faint breeze stirred his hair, carrying with it the scent of brimstone. Every sound was richer, more layered: the distant crackle of Shadow Spires, the murmur of whispers from unseen courtiers, and a faint, haunting melody that echoed through the Vale—it was all so vividly alive.

Luke flexed his fingers, marveling at the responsiveness of his body. The weight of his armor, the cool hilt of his sword, even the act of breathing felt more tangible than ever. His crimson eyes swept the terrain, catching subtle details—the shifting shadows, the faint shimmer of corruption, and the rhythmic pulse of the Hall of Deception’s infernal glow.

“It’s like stepping into a lucid dream,” he murmured, his voice resonating deeply in the dense air.

After marveling at the sensation, Luke noticed several new structures scattered across the Vale. Just as he prepared to investigate, Seloria emerged from the Hall of Deception. Upon seeing Luke, she immediately dropped to one knee in reverence.

“Lord Luke, you’ve returned,” she said, her voice filled with respect.

Luke turned to her, his expression calm. “I have.” His gaze shifted back to the Vale as he gestured toward the new structures. “Where are the others?”

Seloria rose gracefully, gesturing toward the Hall of Deception. “They await you in the council hall, my lord.”

Luke nodded, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the unfamiliar additions to his territory. “And these new structures—where did they come from?”

Seloria inclined her head. “Please follow me, my lord. We will explain everything that has transpired during your… nap.”

Luke paused as the system chimed in his mind, signaling a flood of notifications. He scanned the first one and smirked as he read the world notification, taking pride in the recognition it brought. Moving through the others, he noticed something peculiar: the system had selected Infernal Magistrate One, Two, and Three as stewards in his absence.

He chuckled softly, finding humor in the system’s choice. “The system has quite the sense of humor,” he mused to himself before turning back to Seloria.

“Let’s head to the council hall,” Luke said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I’m eager to hear what you all have accomplished in my absence.”

Within the council hall, Luke’s return was met with immediate attention. The council members and the three Infernal Magistrates stood as he entered, their gazes fixed on their lord. Luke smirked as he strode to his throne, his presence commanding. Once seated, he gestured for the others. “Have a seat.”

They complied silently, taking their places around the table. Luke’s crimson eyes scanned the room before locking onto Infernal Magistrates One, Two, and Three. He leaned forward slightly, his tone sharp yet curious. “I’ve been told you three have been running my territory as stewards in my absence. Care to elaborate?”

Infernal Magistrate One stood, his demeanor calm and composed. “My lord, the council members appointed me to handle administrative duties while you were asleep. To ensure efficiency, I delegated specific responsibilities to my fellow magistrates. Each of us focused on different aspects of the territory’s needs.”

Luke’s gaze shifted to his council members, a sharp look crossing his features. They flinched under his scrutiny, bracing for what they expected to be reprimand—only to gape in shock as he raised his hands and began to clap.

“You’ve done well,” Luke declared, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I see I wasn’t penalized for missing two days of mandatory daily quests. For that, I thank you all for the care you’ve shown to our humble hamlet.”

The council members exchanged surprised glances, unsure how Luke knew about the penalties. Infernal Magistrates One, Two, and Three, however, weren’t fazed—they assumed the system had informed him directly.

Luke leaned back in his throne, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Seloria gave me a brief synopsis of the new structures outside,” he said before turning to Infernal Magistrate One. “Now, tell me more.”

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Luke inclined his head. “Before you begin, Magistrate, let me ask—do the council members have anything else to report?”

The council members exchanged looks before Karyss spoke up. “The stewards already know everything, my lord. There’s nothing more to add.”

Luke nodded in acknowledgment. “Good,” he said simply. His crimson eyes flicked to the glowing interface of his system as he opened the daily quest panel.

The system displayed two categories: Mandatory Quests and Optional Quests.

Luke began with the Mandatory Quests:

Spread the Web

Objective: Use the Pillar of Lust to expand influence and subjugate nearby territories.

Convert at least 10% of a neutral territory to Incubi control.

Deploy 2 units of Whisper Brokers or Corruption Spreaders.

Reward: +25 Influence Points, +20 Gold, +5% Loyalty in controlled territories.

Optional Quests

These tasks provide additional growth or bonuses but are not essential for daily survival.

Charm Offensive

Objective: Use the Pillar of Lust to weaken enemy loyalty in a contested area.

Charm 3 enemy units or reduce enemy faction morale by 5%.

Reward: +5 Subjugated Units, +10% Influence in the targeted area.

Enchanted Feasts

Objective: Use enchanted food from the Harvest Pit to boost unit morale and health.

Distribute enchanted food to at least 10 units or workers.

Reward: +10% Troop Morale, +5% Worker Efficiency.

Veil of Shadows

Objective: Use the Shadow Spire to scout and reveal enemy movement.

Reveal hidden resources or enemy activities within a 2-mile radius.

Reward: +1 Hidden Resource Revealed, +5% Defensive Preparation.

Whispers in the Dark

Objective: Assign Whisper Brokers through the Hall of Deception for sabotage missions.

Disrupt one enemy production cycle or steal 10 resources.

Reward: +5 Espionage Points, +10 Stolen Resources (random type).

Luke turned to Seloria. “The daily quest for today is to use the Pillar of Lust to expand influence and subjugate nearby territories. Convert at least 10% of a neutral territory to Incubi control. Deploy two units of Whisper Brokers or Corruption Spreaders. Ensure it is done.

“We won’t focus on optional quests yet. Once the mandatory quest is finished, we’ll revisit the other objectives. The rest of you are dismissed,” Luke added.

The council members left the hall, leaving only Luke and the three Infernal Magistrates. He addressed them. “You may now explain the new structures and report anything else of significance.”

The Magistrates nodded, and Magistrate Two rose to speak. “My Lord, I oversee matters relating to the town center. It appeared on the day you entered your slumber. Everyone was occupied completing the mandatory daily quest and finishing the main quest. After we were appointed as stewards, we noticed the town center was left uninvestigated, so I went to assess it.”

“I met the succubus administrator, who explained that our town center was at Level 1—the Foundation Stage. Automatically built features included small housing, a marketplace, and an administration tent. A few buildings we could unlock, and construct were the training grounds, herbal garden, and water well. At Level 1, we were able to recruit three single units: a farmer, an administrator, and a youth. To upgrade to Level 2, we had to reach Humble Hamlet status.”

Luke raised his hand. “The territory is currently at Level 2. How was this achieved?”

Infernal Magistrate One answered, “It was not our doing, my Lord. It was due to your efforts and the contributions of everyone in the territory. Completing the main quest likely granted a hidden reward that elevated us to Level 2: Humble Hamlet.”

Luke nodded and gestured for Magistrate Two to continue. “At first, we didn’t realize we had met the requirements to upgrade. It was an oversight on the administrative succubus’s part. However, once this was noted, we rectified the situation immediately. The upgrade required 500 woods, 300 stone, and 200 gold, as well as reaching the population milestone of 20 single units and having both the marketplace and administration tent operational.”

“With the upgrade to Level 2, new structures were added: family housing, a communal nursery, and charm-focused training grounds. Additionally, we unlocked options to construct a Tavern, a Basic Trade Post, and the House of Bliss.”

Magistrate Two sat down, concluding his report.

Infernal Magistrate One stood next and began, “I oversee the overall administrative efforts of the Vale. I realized that the Obsidian Nexus had reverted to its original state, only offering Tier 1 units. I allocated 50 Soul Energy and 50 gold to upgrade it, unlocking access to Tier 2 units. The process took an hour to complete. After the upgrade, I recruited a Dominion Enforcer—a unit that enforces Incubi control through fear and authority. Its abilities temporarily reduce unrest and prevent rebellion in corrupted territories.”

Magistrate One took a deep breath before continuing. “Additionally, I unlocked and constructed the training grounds at a cost of 20 Soul Energy and 15 gold. From completing the mandatory quest, we earned 20 Soul Energy and 15 gold, which helped offset the expenditure. The next step in our plan was to unlock and construct the Tavern, but this has not been accomplished due to low resources.”

He then sat down, concluding his report. Luke tilted his head slightly at the mention of low resources.

Finally, Infernal Magistrate Three rose to speak. “My Lord, my role has been to draft the laws and governance systems of our territory. I have created three initial laws for your approval:

Resource Allocation: Prioritize corruption-spreading structures, military readiness, and defensive fortifications.

Territorial Stability: Newly acquired regions must be stabilized within three cycles. Failure to meet this standard will result in punitive measures.

Espionage Mandate: Whisper Brokers will continuously monitor internal unrest and external threats, reporting directly to the Magistrates and the council.”

Magistrate Three sat down, signaling the end of his report.

Luke rose from his throne, his crimson eyes fixed on the Infernal Magistrates. He paced slowly, the silence stretching with every measured step. Stopping in the center of the hall, he glanced at each Magistrate in turn, his expression unreadable.

“I can see you all accomplished quite a bit in my absence. Not bad,” Luke said, his tone slow and deliberate. “However…”