The walls of Riverpark Stronghold grew taller and thicker with every passing week. New stone blocks, hauled in by steam-powered cranes, rose steadily under the summer sun. Ric stood on the scaffolding of the southern wall, sweat running down his back as he helped secure a massive timber support. The air smelled of fresh mortar, hot iron, and the distant smoke from the forges.They needed to keep improving and making more provision for security.“These walls will laugh at catapults,” Morgana said, driving a spike into place with one powerful swing of her hammer. Her muscular arms glistened with sweat, her voluptuous figure moving with raw strength as she worked beside the masons.Her seductive figure doesn't look like one that can do any hard work but her strength can never be underestimated, even the militia respect her to the extent that they even began to worship her.Lady Yan walked the completed sections below, her ledger open despite the dust and noise. “The new outer ring will

The coalition’s shadow stretched longer with every passing week. Lord Varen had not wasted a single day licking his wounds after his humiliating defeat. Scouts and messengers from allied villages brought grim tidings: nearly two thousand men were now gathering under his banner, bolstered by hardened mercenaries and a handful of disgraced imperial officers seeking redemption or revenge. They called themselves the Border Restoration League, painting Ric as a dangerous rebel who hoarded forbidden weapons and openly defied the Emperor’s divine mandate.Ric stood alone on the highest tower of the southern wall as the sun crested the horizon, the cold wind snapping at his cloak. Below, Riverpark Stronghold sprawled like a living thing, proof of sweat, blood, and stubborn hope. Fresh stone gleamed along the expanded walls. In the river district, steam barges groaned under heavy loads while workers shouted and laughed. From the training fields came the sharp bark of Morgana’s officers and t

The walls of Riverpark Stronghold had transitioned from a desperate project into something bordering on legendary.New outer rings of stone and timber rose in layered defenses, braced by heavy iron brackets fresh from the blast furnaces, their ramparts bristling with cannons at every strategic angle. Below, deep trenches and spiked barricades sliced across the southern approaches. Even now, steam-powered cranes groaned under the weight of massive ashlar blocks, lifting them into place as crews worked by torchlight long after the sun dipped below the horizon. The air was a thick, industrial soup of wet mortar, hot iron, and the acrid bite of coal smoke from the valley forges.Ric stood on the high tower walkway, the evening wind snapping at his cloak. Beside him stood his wives, their shared silence heavy with the weight of what was coming. On the drill fields below, the militia moved through their paces, tight pike walls shifting in lockstep to shield the cannon batteries while cros

Varen and his coalition forces had gathered in the southern region of the Norway Route.Dressed in his imposing robes, Varen stood at the front with the bearing of a ruler. His sharp eyes swept across the assembled army with cold indifference.Nearly two thousand men stood before him. Some had willingly joined the coalition, while others had been forced into service. They all knew of Varen's humiliating defeat at Ric's hands, and they understood that this campaign was nothing more than his attempt to reclaim his pride.Varen wasn't concerned about their loyalty. As long as the Empire stood behind him, none of them would dare rebel. Whether they liked it or not, they could only obey.His eyes narrowed as he recalled how an insignificant conscript had transformed an abandoned settlement into a formidable fortress.Even the Emperor had begun asking questions. Strange weapons and sophisticated machines had appeared within the empire—technology even Varen had never seen before.He had orig

The Militia finally returned to the outpost, where thunderous cheers and jubilant celebrations welcomed them like heroes returning from conquest.Ric smiled as he held Morgana's hand while they stepped off the steam-powered transport.A faint blush lingered on Morgana's face. The memories of the previous night refused to leave her mind. It had opened an entirely new world to her, one she had never imagined. Every now and then, she stole a glance at Ric, unable to believe that someone as fearless as she was could suddenly become so shy.Before long, Yan and Kathleen approached them.Their faces were filled with excitement, having already received news of the Militia's overwhelming victory.Yan calmly surveyed the surroundings. With her keen perception, she noticed every subtle detail before her gaze finally settled on Morgana.A knowing smile appeared on her lips as she observed the subtle changes in her friend, but she wisely chose not to say a word.Meanwhile, Kathleen's attention im