Chapter 322: Vassalage
Umbra snapped his head up, the eyes beneath his hood flickering with a manic,
desperate brilliance.
"Submission! We volunteer for submission!"
His voice was saturated with urgency, the frequency vibrating with the frantic
rhythm of a cornered beast.
"Magnificent Sovereign! We are prepared to serve as your most loyal thralls! If
you authorize our integration, we shall surrender every variable of our
existence to your design!"
The Grinning Mask immediately joined the chorus of groveling.
"Affirmative! We petition for vassalage!" "We are kindred spirits—literally! We
share the skeletal Vocation!" "Observe! My internal framework is also composed
of calcium!"
As he spoke, the Grinning Mask's paper-thin body unraveled, exposing the
simulated bone structure beneath.
"Though our bones lack your divine luster, we are still of the same logic! We
are family! A synchronized resonance!"
The Crimson-Dress Child scrambled to her knees, her dark eyes shimmering with a
predatory hope. "Lord Sovereign! Our species—the Anomalies—was birthed for the
singular purpose of liquidation! If you accept our pledge, we shall become the
sharpest blades in your tactical inventory!"
The Fog of a Thousand Faces and the Shrouded One added their own discordant
voices, shrieking their loyalty to the sky.
They weren't foolish. They possessed enough tactical awareness to know that
against an existence of this tier, resistance was a statistical zero.
Furthermore, they perceived a familiar aura radiating from the Imperial host.
The scent of Death. The resonance of absolute Rules.
These Undead were, fundamentally, their higher-order kin. They were entities
that had transcended the biological limitations of conventional life. If that
was the case, why not submit? If it ensured the persistence of their cores,
dignity was a discarded parameter.
Kaito sat upon his throne, watching the five Tier 3 horrors perform their
frantic "Flattery Protocol." His soulfire flickered with a touch of amusement.
These 'pests' possess a high efficiency in identifying the winning side.
However...
Kaito's gaze shifted, locking onto the kneeling Chief Lyra Frost.
Compared to these anomalies, I am significantly more interested in the stance of
the Federation—the ones who initiated the petition.
He raised a bony hand, pointing directly at Lyra.
"You. Manifest before me."
The command wasn't loud, yet it carried an atmospheric weight that brooked zero
deviation.
Lyra's frame went rigid. She knew this was the terminal junction of her
life-cycle. Her choice would determine the persistence or liquidation of the
human species.
She drew a long breath, forcing her stabilized limbs to push her up. Her legs
were vibrating, but she marched toward the obsidian staircase, one measured step
at a time. With every pace, the Pressure intensified, yet she did not stall.
Finally, Lyra reached the base of the stairs. She looked up at Kaito, the
soulfire in his sockets inducing a terror she had no data to counter.
"Supreme Sovereign," she whispered. Every syllable was clear, a strike of iron
against stone. "I am Lyra Frost, Chief of the Federal Night Watchmen."
"In the name of the Human Federation, I offer our highest honors and our
absolute submission."
Lyra dropped to one knee, bowing her head. It was the first time in her
existence she had knelt to another entity. But she felt zero hesitation. She
knew this was the only extraction route left for her world.
Kaito observed the woman at the foot of his dais.
"Chief of the Federation?"
He rose from his throne and began a slow descent. With every step he took toward
the earth, the pressure on Lyra's frame eased, as if he were manually adjusting
the gravity. Finally, Kaito stood directly before her. He looked down with a
clinical detachment.
"Lift your gaze."
Lyra gritted her teeth, slowly raising her head. Her eyes held a flicker of
biological resentment, but it was overshadowed by a vast, unyielding resolve.
Kaito watched her for several seconds.
Then, he reached into his robes and produced a small crystal vial. Within, a
verdant green liquid shimmered with a light that felt like the pulse of a star.
"Take custody of this item."
Kaito casually tossed the vial. Lyra caught it with an instinctive reflex.
"Identify...?"
"Emerald's Respite," Kaito stated.
"It possesses the Authority to restore all structural damage, including the
necrotic cells within your core. Consume it, and your biological parameters will
return to their prime state."
Lyra's eyes widened. She could feel the overwhelming life-force radiating
through the glass. "This... the value of such a relic is unquantifiable..."
"I issued the item; therefore, you will consume it," Kaito interrupted.
"I have no interest in negotiating with a terminal unit." "Drink. Then we shall
discuss the terms of the contract."
Lyra bit her lip. She perceived this as a release of "Goodwill." Though she
couldn't parse the Sovereign's motives, he clearly didn't intend for her
immediate liquidation. She uncorked the vial and downed the fluid in a single
gulp.
The effect was a biological explosion.
Saturated life-force flooded her frame. Dead cells were re-animated. Ruptured
meridians were stitched shut. Within seconds, Lyra felt a surge of Od that
surpassed even her pre-battle peak. She looked at her hands—the skin was
radiant, the scars of a decade of combat having been completely erased.
"A... a Grand Miracle..." she whispered.
Kaito returned to the summit of the stairs and sat back upon his throne.
"Now, we shall facilitate a proper dialogue."
"First, I must offer a formal apology for the lack of decorum."
Lyra blinked. Apology? Why would a God offer an apology to an ant?
"According to Imperial Protocol," Kaito continued, "the annexation of a Plane
requires the deployment of the Seven Armies' main hosts."
"However, for this expedition, I have only requisitioned seven hundred recruits.
It was a logistical oversight—a slight to your world's status."
Lyra nearly experienced a system-crash.
Seven hundred... RECRUITS?
The entities that had frozen her world in fear were mere "Newbies"?
What manner of apocalypse was the main host? And the "Seven Armies"...
She recalled Bochi's babbling. The Skeleton Kings, the Death Knights, the
Vampires, the Liches, the Bone Withers, the Aegis Giants, and the Shadow Guards.
It was all literal data. It was all true.
If these were the "Low-Tier" units, the power-rating of the Generals was
statistically terrifying. Lyra felt her world-view crumbling into ash.
Kaito noted her shock, his soulfire flickering. "Still, despite their recruit
status, they should suffice to clear the 'Pests' from this coordinate."
Kaito paused, leaning forward. "Now, state your win-condition."
"What does the Human Federation desire?"
Lyra took a deep breath, stabilizing her logic circuits. "Supreme Sovereign,"
she said, her voice heavy with reverence. "The Federation has but a singular
petition."
"Provide us with your Shadow. Allow our species to persist beneath the
Evernight, shielded from the Scourge."
"In exchange, the Federation surrenders everything."
Kaito was silent for five seconds. "Everything?"
"Affirmative," Lyra bowed her head. "Resources. Technology. Territory. Even...
our autonomy. As long as the heart of humanity continues to beat, any tax is
acceptable."
Kaito watched her, his soulfire pulsing with an accelerated rhythm. She is
honest. I prefer dealing with units that do not utilize complex deceptions.
Kaito raised a hand.
"The contract is accepted."
"From this cycle forward, the Human Federation is a Vassal Race of the Evernight
Empire."
"The Empire shall liquidate all non-compliant Anomalies in this coordinate and
ensure the biological security of the human subjects. In exchange, the
Federation shall provide all requested data and resources and maintain
unconditional obedience to Imperial Directives."
"The specific logistics will be finalized between the State Army and your
representatives."
Lyra snapped her head up. "You... you approve?"
"I stated that I favor honest units."
Lyra's eyes grew damp. She never imagined the destiny of her race would be
determined by the simple preference of a skeleton. But it didn't matter.
Survival was achieved.
"We thank you for your iron mercy, Great Sovereign."
Lyra performed a deep, final kowtow. "The Federation shall never forget the
Providence bestowed this night."
Kaito waved a dismissive hand. "Cease the formal declarations. They lack
informational value."
"Lead me to your High Council. There are structural details that require a
direct dialogue."
Lyra nodded once. "As you command, my Lord."
She turned to lead the way, but paused after a few steps.
"My Lord... the Anomalies?"
She looked toward the five Tier 3 horrors still flattened against the asphalt.
Kaito spared them a single, cold glance.
"The Empire does not reject order-following species," Kaito stated. "But all
units with a history of 'Non-Ordered Behavior' require training."
"They shall be processed by the State Army for entry into the Re-education
Demonstration Zone."
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you