Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points! - Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Farewell Under a Crimson Dawn
The dawn broke over the Bloodbane Empire’s capital with a fierce, crimson glow, as if the sky itself bled for the war to come.

The training grounds, once chaotic with preparations, now stood solemn—an iron-clad sea of knights in polished armor, their shields aligned like scales on a dragon’s back.

The air was sharp with the bite of early morning frost, mingling with the metallic tang of oiled steel and the faint musk of horseflesh.

Banners bearing the Bloodbane crest—a snarling black dragon on a crimson backdrop—snapped in the wind, their colors stark against the pale stone of the castle walls.

Today marked the final day—the eve of the Akerian campaign—and every soul in the courtyard felt the weight of it, a pressure that pressed against the chest, heavy as a warhammer.

At the heart of it all stood Arkanos, clad in black and gold armor that drank the dawn’s light, its intricate engravings of thorns and stars glinting only when he moved.

The weight of the plate was familiar—a second skin forged for conquest—yet it did little to steady the churn of his thoughts.

Three days of planning, and now the hour strikes.

His emerald gaze swept the ranks of knights—Kael’s grizzled scowl, Gareth’s restless energy, Seraphine’s rigid poise—and he felt the pulse of their loyalty, their fear, their fire.

He adjusted his gauntlet, the metal clinking softly, and turned toward the castle steps, where his family waited.

Illena, Sephira, Kaela, little Vael—and Mother, ever the enigma. They stood together, their presence a tether to something human amidst the empire’s machinations.

Illena, the Empress, stood tallest, her silver-green hair catching the dawn like spun moonlight, her black and gold gown mirroring his armor.

Her yellow eyes held his, steady yet searching, as if she could see the storm behind his calm.

She always does.

Arkanos stepped forward, his boots crunching on the gravel, and took her hands. Her fingers were warm despite the chill.

“Illena,” he said, his voice low, meant for her alone, “You and Kaela hold the court while I’m gone. Keep the nobles in line.”

A faint smirk tugged at his lips—a shared jest. She’d wrangle them.

Her lips curved into a soft smile that hid a thousand worries. “Always, my emperor,” she murmured, squeezing his hands. Then she leaned in, her lips brushing his cheek—a fleeting warmth.

“Return to us, Arkanos. To me. To our son.”

Gods, her voice could unravel him if he let it.

“Of course.” He replied calmly.

He nodded and stepped back, armor clicking as he turned to Sephira.

She stood with a hand on her hip, her emerald gown shimmering like a forest at dusk.

Her blonde curls bounced as she tilted her head, green eyes glinting with a look of mischief—and something deeper: pride, perhaps, or fear she’d never admit.

She’s carrying my child, yet she stands like she could lead the charge herself.

Arkanos knelt before her, armor groaning, and pressed a hand to her still-flat belly, his gauntlet cold against the silk.

“Little one…”

“I hope to meet you when I return. I’m sure you’ll be glad to meet me too,” he whispered, voice soft, almost reverent.

A chuckle escaped him, absurd in its tenderness.

Sephira’s laugh rang bright, cutting through the morning’s solemnity.

“You’re already charming them, my emperor,” she said, her rose-painted lips curving into a teasing grin. She cupped his face, fingers warm against his jaw, and kissed him—bold and unyielding, heedless of the knights’ glances.

“Come back victorious… For us.”

Arkanos rose, his smirk mirroring hers, and nodded.

He loved that intensity in her eyes.

She’d burn the world for him, if she could. He couldn’t fail her.

Kaela stood beside her, quieter, her sapphire gown flowing like a midnight river, her midnight-blue hair framing a face both serene and resolute.

Her blue eyes met his, and he saw the echo of their greenhouse talk—her desire for a child, her bold vulnerability.

She’s stronger than she knows.

He took her hand, his gauntlet dwarfing her delicate fingers, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles—a courtly gesture that felt oddly intimate.

“Kaela… Watch the court with Illena. You’re my eyes, remember?”

Her cheeks flushed, a soft pink that made her eyes even brighter.

“I will, my emperor,” she said, voice steady despite the tremor in her hand. She hesitated, then stepped closer, her lips brushing his cheek—a shy echo of Illena’s farewell.

“Be safe, Arkanos.”

Her softness is a blade in its own right.

He squeezed her hand, a silent promise, and stepped back, his gaze lingering on her determined smile.

Little Vael, nestled in Illena’s arms, had silver hair that glinted like a crown and red eyes wide with innocent wonder.

Too young to know what war meant.

Arkanos leaned down, armor creaking, and pressed a kiss to his son’s forehead. The boy’s skin was warm against his lips.

“Grow strong, little dragon. Make sure to listen to your mother,” he whispered, his voice thick with something he couldn’t name.

Vael gurgled, his tiny hand swiping at the gauntlet, and Arkanos laughed—a sound that felt foreign in his throat.

Illena’s eyes softened as she adjusted Vael’s blanket, a silent vow to keep him safe.

Mother—Lady Selene Bloodbane—stood apart, her silver hair shimmering like a storm cloud, golden eyes glinting with pride and mischief.

The Emerald Ring on Arkanos’ finger pulsed faintly—her prison and her power, a relic of her own making.

She stepped forward, her emerald gown trailing like a comet’s tail, and cupped his face, her hands cool and steady.

“My son… you carry your father’s blood, our fire. Crush the Akerians. Claim your destiny.”

Her lips curved into a wicked smile, and she tapped the ring. “I’ll be watching, as always.”

She gently faded into particles of light, receding inti the ring.

Arkanos turned to face them all—Illena, Sephira, Kaela, Vael, their faces etched with hope and fear.

His chest tightened—a rare pang he couldn’t afford to indulge.

He was their emperor. Their shield. He couldn’t falter.

He raised his voice, letting it carry across the courtyard, firm and unyielding.

“Farewell, my family. I’ll return with victory.”

Illena’s golden eyes glistened, but she lifted her chin, regal as ever. “Farewell, my love.”

Sephira’s grin was fierce, her hand resting on her belly as she called out,

“Bring us their banners, Arkanos!”