Chapter 800: The Hunt for the King (Patreon)

Sorry for the delay, guys. I honestly thought I’d already posted it, but I’d accidentally left it in drafts lol.

It was originally going to be two chapters, but I ended up combining them into one longer chapter to make chapter 800 feel a little more special.

***

It was already morning, but Luke was still lying in bed, staring at the ceiling while Charlie slept soundly beside him. After the night they’d had, she didn’t look like she’d be waking up anytime soon.

Luke, on the other hand, couldn’t shut his brain off. He went over the past few days in Rosemark’s capital, looking for anything he might have missed. The strangest part was that no one had asked about the ship. Not directly.

They’re smart. They pretend not to care about the things they want to know most.

Eventually, Charlie woke up and stretched, still wearing her fluffy nightgown.

“Good morning, Master Luke.”

“Morning, Charlie.”

She leaned over and kissed his forehead. “You were very... intense last night.”

“In my defense, you seemed to be enjoying yourself.”

Charlie looked away, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks.

“I’m not complaining. It’s just... it’s been so long since we were together like that. I could tell how much you wanted me.” She hesitated before adding, “And I liked it.”

Luke stared at her for a beat, then his gaze dropped to her lips. He sat up, his hands settling on her shoulders.

“Charlie... can we...?”

She barely had time to nod before he pulled her close, and the rest of the morning disappeared behind closed curtains.

Hours later, they returned to the Flying Dutchman and set off for home. The ship sailed through the sky much like a vessel crossing the sea, its sails carrying it forward through the air. After the trip to Farmarug, Luke had managed to convince it to accept another upgrade. The [Speed Pennants] he used in Sunken Realms now worked on the Dutchman as well, sending a steady wind into its sails and pushing it even faster.

Luke spent three days back in his kingdom before heading to Nyvma. The delay was deliberate. What he had planned for the city wouldn’t require soldiers, and Baron Edrien already had a role to play. There was no need to arrange a meeting. Luke simply showed up at the baron’s estate and was shown in at once.

“My servant will bring tea shortly, Your Majesty,” the baron said.

Luke stood by the office window, looking out over the estate. “I don’t need tea.”

“Of course. Of course.” The baron shifted in his chair, visibly uncomfortable. “Then... what brings you here? I heard you were traveling to the royal capital.”

“And now I’m back.”

“Impressive. Most men couldn’t have made that trip so quickly.”

Luke glanced over at him. “I heard some of the reports about the Battle of Nyvma were a little off.”

Edrien stayed quiet.

“One of them even made it sound like I was working for you.” Luke turned to face him. “Any idea how that happened?”

“Your Majesty, I—”

Luke reached inside his cloak, and Edrien stopped talking. He pulled out a folded document and held it out to him.

“I don’t care who wrote the report,” he said. “I care what the next one says.”

Edrien swallowed.

Luke held out the document. “This is for you, Baron.”

He took the paper and began reading. His eyes went straight to the Rosemark seal stamped at the bottom.

“Long story short,” Luke said, “this is authorization from the royal family. Rosemark’s nobles are now allowed to trade with my kingdom.”

Edrien kept staring at the seal, clearly impressed.

“And there’s this.” Luke handed him another document.

“Expansion plans...?”

“A proposal for a new road. It’ll cut through the forest and connect to the main road.”

The baron looked up. “I don’t understand, Your Majesty.”

“I’m putting a lot of money into this. It’ll create jobs, bring money into the region, and help me too. I want your help making it happen.”

“But the forest is dangerous.”

“Not anymore. This will be the Moonlight Kingdom’s first official deal in this region. And with what I’m paying you, I doubt you’ll lose much sleep over the rest.”

Luke left the estate with what he wanted. Edrien had agreed the moment he saw how much gold was involved. Little Rheera had been right when she said humans loved gold and jewels. The baron loved them a little too much. He was corrupt and had his hands in a few illegal schemes, though nothing major, mostly smuggling wine, paintings, animal pelts, and other goods. The usual crimes of rich men with enough money to call it business.

“Nyvma...”

Luke unfolded the map he had received from the royal family. Officially, the region wasn’t even part of Rosemark. The kingdom’s border ended at Veyra, while Nyvma lay beyond it in territory where Rosemark had only recently appointed a noble representative. Before that, the city had been under the jurisdiction of the local Adventurers’ Guild. A road would bring trade, and trade would give him a foothold in Nyvma. As long as everyone made money, nobody would complain.

While Luke’s golem left Baron Edrien’s estate, Luke was already elsewhere in Nyvma disguised as James Baumann. As James, he had reddish-brown hair, freckles, and features different enough to pass for another man entirely. Even someone who knew what the king looked like would be unlikely to recognize him. Luke had made the disguise himself, using [Botanical Transmutation] to give mud a skinlike texture and [Tactile Telekinesis] to hold it in place over his face. A final use of [Transmutation] let him reshape the material and match his skin tone until James Baumann had a face of his own.

The receptionist greeted him with a professional smile.

“How may I help you?”

“I’d like to hire the Emerald Cloaks.”

Before long, he was sitting across from an Emerald Cloaks representative. Luke mentioned the baron’s authorization and worked out the details. Once everything was settled, he left Nyvma and returned to his kingdom.

A lot had changed in the month since the Battle of Farmarug. New stone buildings now stood among the wooden houses, paths cut through the settlement, work areas had been marked off, and small shops and stalls were beginning to appear. The place no longer looked like a temporary camp of tents surrounding an empty castle. It was becoming a real settlement.

The dwarves had been essential to that transformation, and some had even become citizens of the Moonlight Kingdom. As Luke walked through the streets, people stopped what they were doing to greet him. He acknowledged them with brief nods until he reached a training ground where a large group was practicing with bows.

The instructor raised one hand.

“Ready!”

Bowstrings drew tight.

“Loose!”

Arrows sliced through the air and struck the targets ahead.

“Excellent!”

The humans were learning how to use their classes properly, while those with little talent for combat focused on developing their Professions instead. Luke’s strategy was straightforward: make everyone stronger.

Leveling their Professions gave citizens useful attributes. They became stronger, tougher, and faster. If a beast ever attacked, even someone with only a low-level combat class could rely on attributes earned through their Profession to survive or help bring the creature down. The stronger they became, the easier it was to level their classes.

“Lord Moon, I have updates.”

Luke turned to see Kren approaching. He no longer looked like a humanoid rat. His body was almost entirely human now, though he still had his rat ears and tail.

“I gained another class skill,” Kren reported.

He had become a Dark Lord’s Warrior and undergone a race evolution. Since then, he had dedicated himself to protecting the forest, leading a squad of ratfolk against lesser beasts and other threats. He’d taken to the spear quickly and was already becoming dangerous with it.

After hearing his report, Luke entered the castle. The throne room, home to the Kingdom Core, had changed as well. It had a carpet now, actual furniture, and a few decorations. During their stay in the capital, Teresa and Caleb had purchased furnishings for the castle along with tools and equipment for the settlement.

The interior was still nowhere near finished, but at least it no longer felt so empty that every footstep echoed forever. Luke approached the Core and checked its status.

Kingdom CoreMonarch: Luke MoonKingdom Name: Moonlight Level: 12Citizens: 1833/2000Soul Energy: 23,776/70,000

Skills: [Dark Lord’s Army], [Citizenship Card], [Sovereign’s Gaze], [Domain Mana], [Kingdom’s Calling], [Safe Domain], [Kingdom Bond], [Core Soul Reservoir], [Crown Vigilance], [Verdant Domain], [Hands of the Kingdom], [Granted Profession], [Sovereign Expansion], [Experience Tribute], [Delegated Authority], [Dark Lord’s March], [Crown Roads], [Kingdom Nobility], [Core Assimilation], [Dark Lord’s Hunters]

One hundred and sixty-seven.

“If everything goes well, you’ll hit level thirteen this week.”

More than two thousand people were already eating his food and sleeping on his land, but apparently that wasn’t good enough for the Core. Luke had gathered survivors who had lost their homes during the orc attacks on nearby villages, but for the Core to officially recognize them, he still needed to provide housing and fully integrate them into the kingdom. Once he did, the level would rise.

Not long now.

The [Kingdom Core]’s new ability was also extremely useful.

[Dark Lord’s Hunters]: Members of the Dark Lord’s Army receive twice the experience bonus granted by [Dark Lord’s March] when defeating enemies within the Kingdom’s zone of influence. This effect turns the Dark Lord’s territory into a hunting ground for his soldiers, rewarding the elimination of invaders, hostile creatures, and enemy forces within his domain.

That explained why the goblins and ratfolk were leveling so quickly. As the Core’s influence expanded, new sections of the forest became part of its territory, and the soldiers wasted no time hunting anything hostile inside it.

Every Dark Lord skill the Core gives me seems built around war. Attack together, defend the kingdom, kill anything hostile inside our territory.

Luke planned to squeeze every advantage he could out of the Core.

That evening, he ate dinner in the room that served as both his office and his plant laboratory. The tree growing there was much larger than when he’d left, and as he ate, Mivi and Kren delivered the latest reports.

“With the new wave of refugees, we have three thousand one hundred and twenty-three people living in the kingdom,” Mivi said.

“Not bad.”

How many new skills is that going to unlock for the Core?

“We’re still a long way from Rosemark’s millions,” Luke said, lifting his wineglass. “But we have to start somewhere.”

The wine in his glass wasn’t just any wine. The grapes came from his greenhouse, and his own citizens had made it. It was a product of his kingdom from start to finish.

“What about food? How are the crops doing?”

Kren gave a small smile. “Lord Moon, considering the ridiculous speed at which your plants grow, I seriously doubt anyone here is going to starve.”

Luke took another sip.

From three thousand to millions. Yeah. This is going to take a while.

For now, he only needed to reach ten thousand. He also needed to find the Teleportation Array.

“It’s been a month since you became half-human, Mivi. Two weeks for you, Kren. What do you think of it?”

Kren tilted his head. “I don’t understand, sir.”

“The change. You used to be humanoid rats. Now you have human bodies with rat features. What do you think of the transformation?”

“It’s like I always say during training. Even with this body, I’m just as agile. That hasn’t changed. But my bones feel stronger, and now I have a class.” Mivi closed one hand, studying her fingers. “If the others can do this too, it could change what our people are capable of.”

“I want to become as strong as Lady Angie,” Kren declared.

That was an ambitious goal.

“I meant the mental side of it,” Luke clarified. “And whether it’s changed the way other ratfolk treat you.”

Luke could have asked Mivi outright whether other ratfolk still found her attractive, but there was no reason to get that personal. He doubted Kren would have much trouble on that front. There were already reports of female ratfolk in heat attacking adventurers and trying to mate with them.

“I don’t care about that,” Mivi said. “I’m not interested in relationships. I never want to be weak enough to let my family suffer at the hands of orcs again.”

“Same for me,” Kren added.

Skills like [Nest Defender] probably strengthened that protective instinct, but Luke still needed to know what problems the evolution itself might cause. Once Dark Lord’s Warrior became available to the rest of the ratfolk, some might refuse it because they were afraid of losing their traditional appearance and becoming more human.

If these two approve of the change and keep getting stronger, they’ll be exactly what I need to convince the others when the time comes. They’ll form my defensive army alongside the spiders.

***

The next morning, Luke stood in the castle courtyard studying several maps while Bernard explained his plans for expanding the settlement.

“One main road cutting through the neighboring villages along this route would be more efficient,” the dwarf said, pointing at the map.

Once Luke and Angie approved the project, the trees along the route would be cleared. The dwarves had also found several mines inside the new borders and planned to start working them soon.

After Bernard left, Luke noticed two small figures quietly slipping out of the castle: Rheera and Kobi. Very few people knew the two orcs were hiding there.

They stopped to watch Ribbo, the goblin, spar with Kren. Mivi was practicing nearby, so Luke went over to correct her stance and teach her to use what she felt through her tail and fur together with her Perception.

“I want to train too,” Rheera declared, stopping in front of him.

“No. You don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re under my protection until I find your supporters.”

“So?”

“Because letting the person I’m supposed to protect get hurt in training would be incredibly stupid.” Luke looked down at her. “Also, you’re eight.”

“I need to start a rebellion in my kingdom.”

“Grow another six feet, put on some muscle, then start thinking about rebellions, shorty.”

“I’m not short!”

“My eyes disagree.”

Luke walked past her before the little orc could answer.

“What about you?” he asked Kobi. “Want to train too?”

“N-no.”

He’s a lot more reserved than most orcs I’ve met.

With the kingdom running smoothly, Luke decided to explore farther into the forest. Charlie, Angie, and Norn accompanied him, heading away from Rosemark and deeper into what people called the Free Lands. These were territories without kings, ruled instead by local lords, warlords, or wealthy merchants. Cities and villages dotted the region without any kingdom claiming them, and the orcs were fighting their war here too.

Dressed in simple clothes, Luke walked through a small town with Charlie and Angie. Nyvma had looked poor, but this place looked abandoned. There were no walls, only wooden buildings lining muddy streets. The people looked tired, filthy, and hungry. Some huddled around fires, and there weren’t enough soldiers to enforce anything resembling law. No one seemed interested in pretending otherwise.

People with nowhere to go.

“You want to know where the orcs are?” the tavernkeeper asked as he dried a mug. “Everywhere. They’re spread from here all the way to the North Road.”

Luke glanced around the tavern. “That’s a lot of refugees for a town this size.”

“If it isn’t orcs, it’s soldiers waving the banner of some shitty kingdom. They kill, they loot, then they say it was for some cause.”

Luke looked around the tavern again. This was one small town, and it was already overflowing with refugees.

Ten thousand might be easier than I thought.

“Where’s the fighting?”

The tavernkeeper glanced at the bow on Luke’s back. “You looking for work?”

“Maybe.”

“You’ll find plenty. The Trade Federation Army is hiring any mercenary crazy enough to sign up.”

Later, the group made camp in a quiet part of the forest.

“Trade Federation...” Angie murmured as she looked over Luke’s notes.

Information was easy to buy out here if you had the coin.

“They’re wealthy merchants who answer to no kingdom,” Luke explained. “They rule several free cities.”

The merchants had pooled their fortunes to fund a private army that protected their holdings and, more importantly, their grip on trade in the region.

“Is the Orc Lord in their territory?” Charlie asked.

“People around here don’t know much about orc hierarchy. They probably couldn’t tell an orc general from the Orc Lord.” Luke scanned his notes. “But according to the reports, a large orc army pushed through Solvar and Jungral before disappearing into the forest and attacking nearby towns.”

Based on what he had learned in Rosemark, it was almost certainly the same Orc Lord who had abandoned the coastal territory.

With Gurgal sending more ships, it makes sense that the Lord retreated farther inland.

Traveling through these lands would be even harder than crossing Rosemark. There were few official roads, and most of the signs that did exist had been knocked over by beasts, destroyed in conflicts, or simply swallowed by vegetation. Still, they now had a rough idea of where the major settlements were.

“Norn wants to devour orcs,” the spider said, clearly excited.

“And you will,” Luke replied.

They needed to get closer to the Trade Federation Army. If the Federation was fighting the Orc Lord’s troops, someone there would know where to look.

***

Merothur made his way through the palace corridors and entered the throne room. Night had fallen, and not a single torch burned in the vast hall. Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, leaving pale strips across the chamber while the rest lay in shadow.

The skulls of beasts slain by ancient Orc Kings covered the walls, some taken from creatures large enough to swallow an orc whole. They were trophies left by kings who had earned respect through strength and bloodshed.

Kutar followed a few steps behind him. The orc assassin remained silent as they crossed the hall. Near the throne, enemy orcs were chained to the pillars. Blood pooled across the floor, and fresh gouges marked the stone. Some of the prisoners were still conscious.

Merothur stopped before the throne. “My king, I've brought Kutar.”

Gurgal kept chewing. He held a bone in one hand and stripped the last scrap of meat from it with his teeth, then tossed it aside. The bone struck one of the chained orcs, who flinched but didn't dare make a sound.

“Go on,” Gurgal said.

Kutar stepped forward and dropped to one knee. “My king, Rokhan has left his coastal base.”

Gurgal said nothing. Kutar kept his head down and waited.

“One year, Kutar,” Gurgal said. “And you still have nothing.”

Heat spread through the hall, though none of the torches were lit.

“You told me you were close to finding Kobi and Rheera.”

“I was close, my king. We found some of their supporters. Took a few alive and got information out of them. We had everything we needed to track them down. I even had Ruax. But they got away.”

Gurgal rose from the throne and walked over to the Kingdom Core. The massive crystal floated a few feet above the floor, nearly as tall as an orc. He put a hand against it.

“Every day, I check this thing. They're both still alive. And it still answers to them.”

Gurgal could claim it whenever he wished and make his rule absolute, but the moment he did, the entire kingdom would know he didn't have the Orc Treasure.

“Your forces on the continent are doing well, my king. The larvae are feeding well on humans. The new orcs are being born with more of their minds intact.”

“With a whole continent to feed them,” Merothur said, “you'll become the greatest of the Orc Kings. Maybe even an Emperor.”

Gurgal didn't smile. “You speak of empires while my own throne still answers to two children.” He took his hand off the Kingdom Core. “Keep your assassins ahead of the armies. Keep searching.”

“Yes, my king.”

“The raids are over. Send in more of the fleet. Every army on that continent advances.”

Gurgal headed for the doors. “We're taking the whole continent.”

Merothur followed him. “And the human?”

“I haven't forgotten him.”

“He sent a message back with the survivors.”

“I know what he said.”

The enormous doors swung open onto a broad stone terrace overlooking the capital.

Thousands of orcs filled the palace grounds below. Beyond the walls, ranks of infantry and beast riders stretched across the fields alongside siege crews and armored commanders. War Generals stood among the commanders below.

Someone below spotted Gurgal.

“GURGAL!”

More voices joined in until thousands were chanting his name. Then the chant changed.

“KING! KING! KING!”

Gurgal raised a hand, and the army fell quiet.

“A human drove back part of my fleet. He sent the survivors back with a message. He said that continent already has an owner.”

Gurgal lowered his hand. “Then kill the owner.”

Weapons crashed against shields as thousands of orcs roared.

While they were still shouting, Gurgal crossed the terrace to his Strider Wyvern. The beast lowered itself, and he climbed onto its back.

“War Generals!” Gurgal called.

One War General stepped out of the ranks, then another, then several more.

“Go ahead of the armies. Find him.”

The Strider Wyvern spread its wings and launched from the terrace, carrying Gurgal over the War Generals below.

“Bring me his head.”

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