The reconstruction period had begun and many of the peasantry and former families of the nobles who were executed were placed into work.
The surrounding land around the City of Diadel comprised of a network of little canals that watered the farmlands. The farmlands grew a variety of crops, mainly wheat.
Artemis had inquired with the local farmers about rice, a type of grain that could be served as a means of feeding more people.
The farmers, however, weren't aware of any 'rice' or grain that was similar to it.
Artemis knew about the importance of rice back on Earth, it was a staple of many cultures with large populations, it was healthy, easy to grow, and could be mass produced.
It could be eaten with almost anything, from meat to vegetables. It was the perfect food type in place of grain.
Artemis now needed to 'make' something similar to rice. To do so, he would need to gather plants with awkwardly similar genomes or DNA.
The nearest of which was corn. Corn was already being planted on one of the fields but it wasn't popular because of its high maintenance and high price which made it only affordable to the wealthy.
As King Wart stayed inside his castle with Pandora as his aide, Artemis set out to carry out 'His' duties outside the city although it was Artemis who was making things happen.
Artemis had all the edicts he had made named to King Wart so that it would appear that he was a wise and benevolent king to the people despite him being withdrawn from public life.
This would in turn increase his legitimacy, his popularity, and the loyalty of the soldiers.
The City Of Diadel was in need of more people, however. Despite having a population of around 120 thousand, Artemis wanted to expand the city. To do so, he would need to forcefully resettle the villages under the Fortress City's territory.
He was standing by the sides of one of the fields outside of the City of Diadel in front of the Southern section of the wall that was now being rebuilt. Many men were sent out to the mines to gather as much ore and stone as they could while others were turned into stonemasons, engineers, and craftsmen.
Those with enough skills were appointed as leaders. Artemis made sure to inspect each division of labor. Artemis was well aware of human nature, there would be times where some workers would be undisciplined or had human emotions that were detrimental to a working environment.
To counter this, Artemis had Reinhard, Jord, and Toby, his three most trusted aides, to enforce strict disciplinary measures and constant patrols.
Reinhard, Jord, and Toby were at first reluctant in following all of Artemis' orders. But ever since the executions, the Man in Black was surprisingly cool and collected.
He was seen as an inspiration to many, his attitude towards his work, his supposedly neverending stamina inspired many workers to work their best.
Also, the pay they were promised was more than what they were paid before.
A generous man of power and a wise king. The perfect combination.
While Artemis was dealing with matters outside of the castle, Wart and Pandora were resting inside their residence on the upper floors of the castle.
"Erik is... quite the vassal, huh?" Wart commented. He was standing by the window that faced the northern side of the City of Diadel.
"Have you always known about his abilities?" Pandora asked. She was sitting on one of the couches in Wart's room, sipping from a cup of tea provided to her by the maids.
"No... I stumbled upon him when he was wandering around the lake," Wart said. To be honest he remembers Erik isn't the first strange person to have met him at the lake as a few years ago a group of youngsters fell from the sky with an iron vehicle on his lake, he doesn't know where they are now but he bet they are currently having a good life. "He has done so much in just a few weeks. It frightens me,"
Hearing the Dwarf's words made Pandora couldn't help but smile.
"Yet, he still calls you his master," Pandora said.
"I'm just afraid that someday, he may renounce his allegiance and go against me. I am now a king, my life is in danger. I had no other choice but to accept this responsibility or else I would risk losing him. I don't want to be called a coward," Wart said.
"You are not a coward, you're more of an anxious person, Wart," Pandora said.
"Huh, how can you say so?" Wart asked.
Pandora stood from the couch and walked over to Wart's side and joined him in watching the sight that was below them.
"I am 400 years old, of course I would know," Pandora said.
"We are old huh?" Wart commented.
"Only from the perspective of the humans, but to Erik? I think he's far older than us," Pandora said. She also began to blush.
"You like him, don't you?" Wart asked.
Hearing his words, Pandora didn't change her expression as she continued to smile.
"I do, but I won't get my hopes up. From what I can see, he is a man who doesn't care about such silly feelings like love," Pandora said, saddened a bit.
Wart leaned over the window. Despite being a small Dwarf with his height being half of Pandora's, the window was still low enough for him to lean over it.
"After the dust settles, I plan on asking him if he could help me find my family," Wart said.
Pandora looked at Wart.
"I thought they died?" Pandora said.
"That's what I want to believe but maybe, just maybe, they're still out there, crying out for me," Wart said. A single tear fell from his right eye.
Pandora then gave him some pats on the back.
"Thanks to the both of you, I was given a new life and my friend's life was saved. I would gladly help you in searching for your wife," Pandora said.
"Thank you," Wart said.
A stiff silence took over as they watched their citizens from below.
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Down on the ground, Reinhard was doing a routine patrol by himself. His magic sword inside his scabbard, his enchanted armor brand was new thanks to Artemis paying the blacksmiths of giving them the metal and mages enchanting it, he felt proud.
His blue hair that he had pushed back now flowed freely against the wind. Despite being relaxed, he walked the streets with a poker face.
"You do know that this city and its citizens are doomed?" A voice whispered to his ear.
Instinctively, Reinhard instantly pulls out his sword and looks around, only to see the empty streets without the trace of life.
He now noticed he was alone on the streets. He concentrated his mana into the sword which glows in a blue hue and looked around.
'Illusion magic?' Reinhard thought.
He then tried to walk out of the street but was stopped by a barrier.
"Shit, a type of barrier magic," Reinhard complained.
"Don't be so hasty, I'm only here for a little chat," A white cloaked figure with a bit of golden design in it, giving off a religious vibe appeared behind him, Reinhard turned around and there is no need an explanation for him as he already knew the design of the person's cloak.
Including an emblem of a Sun Rising in the horizon on his chest bearing the symbol of the famous…
Church of the Rising Sun.
It is a famous Church to the continent, another powerhouse religious faction beside the Theocracy.
The Church of the Rising Sun, a church worships one God by the name of Gleam, the God of the Sun.
The Church of the Rising Sun is also the main church first belonging to both the Empire and the Republic. This church preached human supremacy same as them and was not well-received in non-human territories. In fact, even some human kingdoms did not like it, such as most of the Kingdoms in the Great Isthmus region, example like the Kingdom of of Atira, Jermanian, the Dolasm State, and other nations in the Great Isthmus region which they were constantly trying to reduce the church's influence.
Reinhard, while hated the church, this didn't surprise him but the person in front of him.
"Griffin!" Reinhard jumped to the side with his magic sword held high.
Seeing the blue-headed action, the hooded figure laughed.
"Come on, old friend, don't call me by my codename, don't you remember my real name?" The figure asked who goes by the name of Griffin.
"The moment you join those damn religious bastards and sign your soul away, I already lost my old friend," Reinhard retorted.
"Tsk, fool," Griffin removed his hood and revealed his face. A young looking man with fair skin, pointy nose and long red hair, and a clear face like Reinhard.
"Don't worry, I only came here to give you a warning," He said while he rummaged through his cloak.
Reinhard was not going to fall into any tricks. He knew this man ever since he was a child, but that was before he joined the Church of the Rising Sun and surrendered his soul in exchange for power and youth.
Reinhard frowned at him and readied himself.
"Here," the man took out a scroll floating in mid air with his telekinesis magic.
"You're not fooling me," Reinhard said.
"It's just a normal scroll you dense knucklehead," The man said, chuckling because he sees Reinhard is the same as he knew.
"And besides, call me by my real name, it makes me sad that you don't call me by my name anymore," The man said.
"You don't deserve to be called by my friend's name," Reinhard said.
"Stubborn," The man moves his finger making the scroll throw on the ground.
"Read it, it's a warning from Lord Rism," He said.
Reinhard then reluctantly took the scroll and read its contents.
"An ultimatum?" Reinhard said.
"Yes, an ultimatum. He has the backing of both the Imperial Government and the Church of the Rising Sun and if you don't surrender, they'll send in an army of 120 thousand to destroy you," The man said.
Reinhard's hands trembled at the thought of 120 thousand imperial soldiers and mages laying siege to their city.
"But 120,000? Why that many, we only have less than 40,000 soldiers in the city," He said.
"Simple, the spies report to us that you have a Demigod with you, we couldn't feel his mana but we all know he uses an artifact ring that hides their mana flow. Moreover, he won't stand a chance against us."
"But the Church? Why you and the Church involve in this? The Church never involve to this political affairs. It seems there is something more you and the Church wants."
It doesn't make sense, the Churches never gets into those situations as it is not their problem.
"Hm, not surprise on you figure that out. However, it's none of your concerns. But I think I like to give you only one answer: We want the Elf."
"What about the elf?"
"I already told you I will give you only one answer, and it's a good thing your Demigod friend saved her, we will punish Lord Rism a bit for trying to execute her."
"What do you mean?"
"Nevermind that, It doesn't matter anymore as both armies will arrived in a few weeks time. Hope you and this small army in a now and new insignificant kingdom of yours could long last, or just to surrender already, it always helps for you little heretics, hehehe."
In terms of power, facing against the Church of the Rising Sun is like fighting against both of the Empire and Republic at the same time. It seems like there is no hope left for Reinhard as fighting against a powerhouse is impossible to beat, especially the Demigods will involve in this.
With the Church of the Rising Sun has a good relationship and connections with the Empire and the Republic, the Demigods in two countries is also the Demigods of the Church.
And Reinhard knew well the numbers of Demigods on the two countries are larger than he could thought.
While hope seems already lost, Reinhard was not out of hope just yet.
"I'm not afraid, and no, we won't surrender," Reinhard said.
"Huhhhhh? You aren't in a position to decide that and besides, you're not going to win, you, the city, and your Demigod friend don't even have the slightest chance against both the Empire and the Church!" The man said with a tone that gave you some joker vibes.
"I will relay this message to our King, but I'm warning you, if you stay here any longer, you'll be endangering your own life," Reinhard said.
The man then laughs even harder as if Reinhard told him a very funny joke.
For him, what Reinhard said was a funny joke.
"Me? In danger? You gotta be joking, not even your strongest mages can go against me, not even that little Demigod friend you had." He said.
Reinhard then shrugged and put away his sword.
"Huh? Why are you putting away your sword? Are you that confident that I might not attack?" The man asked.
"No, it's just that I don't need it," Reinhard said with a calm tone, as if he didn't really heard everything his old friend's threats the whole time.
"What are you on abou—" All of the sudden, the man then sensed a being behind him. Without a second thought, he leaped into the air before two energy blades could impale him.
"The heck!?!!" The man couldn't help but feel shocked as he then landed to Reinhard's right.
"Your laugh is annoying," The man in black appeared, wielding his Two Crucible Swords
"I-impossible, {World Isolating Dome} was considered 11th tier, you couldn't have possibly get thro—" In a blink of an eye, the man in black dashed towards him and punched him in the gut before he could react, pushing him to the ground with a large surprise look on his face.
The reason is that {World Isolating Dome} is something that not even Demigods could easily break in.
This Tier Magic version can create a space that is separate from reality. It prevented entry through all conventional means as well as any attempts to teleport out of it, including anyone communicating from anyone outside the dome. Unlike those ones with the Wild magic from the Dragon lords version of this spell, nothing could get through the barrier itself on whatever means. Outsiders who are not inside the barrier cannot enter it. The dome is also effective against surveillance-type magics or magic items.
Furthermore, to be able to enter the barrier meant that someone is possessed a World Item, but this time no one could enter the barrier even they have a World Item because the person like Griffin, who is a member of the Church also posses a World Item preventing anyone who wield World Items could get in.
"So, you only intended on spooking him earlier?" Back to the scene, Reinhard said as the man fell to the ground, the dome fading slowly before them.
"Quite," The man in black said.
As the barrier around them fell apart, the man was immediately surrounded by tens of mages and dozens of soldiers, all between <C–> to <B> ranks.
"Tsk," The man then flew in the air before he got attacked by mages or knights.
Artemis had no intention of chasing after him. Artemis sensed him before he could cast his Dome due to his high concentration of magic.
He followed him as he glided through the streets and when he cast the Dome to trap Reinhard from reality, Artemis was the only person that managed to enter while the soldiers and mages with him could not.
Possibly because he had no magic at all for the barrier to deflect.
Another interesting information is that the {World Isolating Dome} was also essentially a magic deflector that could block every magic in the outside world. Since almost 99% of the people in the world had a certain amount of magic inside them, the barrier would push them away if they have a magic in them, even a very tiny trace or with a very large amount won't enter.
It is also the ONLY drawbacks the spell has. A way to enter the dome without the use of World Items and such.
But since Artemis did not have any magic in the first place, the barrier did not have anything to deflect, and thus, he slipped through like a walk in the park and listened to their conversation before appearing behind the man.
"Fools, the Imperial army and the Forces of the Church of the Rising Sun Lord Rism was given will arrive here in a few weeks, I'm warning you because they have a very powerful Demigod leading them, and it's not just any ordinary Demigod, the legend himself." The man warned, by the time he mention the Demigod, he said it like he highly worships the person a lot.
Artemis tilted his head.
"Name of this Demigod?" His eyes glowed red. Seeing this, the man then suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
"Lincoln, Pope Lincoln," The man said before disappearing.
"Lincoln?" The mages murmured to themselves.
"Who is this Lincoln?" Artemis asked.
One of the mages stepped forward and answered.
"Lincoln is a Sainthood Demigod and the Pope of the Church of the Rising Sun himself. He is also a Collaborator of the leaders of the Empire and the Republic. He is one of the three most strongest Demigods among the Continent, he has enough power to blow away seven to nine entire large cities at once and he is one step ahead to become Apotheosis level in his 900 years of life, he is also considered to be the most oldest Demigods live today."
Artemis then smiled and looked up into the sky.
"Interesting,"
Artemis then turned to Reinhard.
"Bring that scroll to his majesty. I also want you to call a meeting with the soldiers before dusk," Artemis ordered.
"Yes, milord," Reinhard knelt before Artemis before running away with the scroll.
"All of you, return to your posts," Artemis said.
"Yes, sir," Everyone then parted ways and the street was reopened to the public.
Artemis returned to the fields. He was not really taking the impending invasion too seriously, yet.
Since he knew that they had time to prepare. A medieval army with city destruction Airships and Magic vs a rowdy bunch of knights was surely not going to end well for the rowdy bunch.
But Artemis knew that reinforcements would soon come but it was a gamble.
He could sense his Drones nearby but not too many of them. It was likely that Caitlyn had managed to pinpoint his position and was sending out the Mobile Task Force, either Omega-8, Gamma-14, Tau-7, or maybe Alpha-0… wait no, Alpha-0 is totally overkill in his situation.
With that thought out of the way, Artemis then realized his machines have started to step on the Western Region, their next stage of World Domination is about to begin.
"Hm, we'll enter the global stage in a few weeks," Artemis said.