Starting With an SSS-Rank Goddess Summon!

Right now, Silas knew his core was strong... his Gold Core and his newly acquired spell scrolls made him a lethal powerhouse but he was still not as strong as he ultimately wanted to be before facing the global stage.

Giving the entire world a live high-definition show of their immediate territorial ecosystem, their combat tactics, and their local hunting grounds was really not a wise idea.

It risked exposing crucial data to corporate analysts watching the stream.

But then again... what real choice did he have? He couldn’t refuse without looking suspicious or cowardly in front of millions of live viewers.

Noticing a brief micro-second flash of reluctance in Vespera’s violet eyes, Sky leaned forward over the table, sweetening the deal with a high-value trade proposition.

"I understand that acting as a field guide for a rival army takes up your valuable time, Lord Vespera," Sky offered smoothly, his business acumen shining through. "So let’s make it a mutual exchange. If you let us hunt in your outer borders and guide my team long enough to secure today’s meat supply... I will open up my private storage vaults for direct trade. I am willing to trade rare, high-density alloy ingots that I acquired directly from the Central Lord City in the Sovereign Realm... materials you cannot mine in these outer basins. And not only that... I will also include refined spiritual catalysts and architectural resources that can only be found in the central continental zones."

Vespera let out a soft, delicate sigh, her shoulders dropping slightly as a resigned, graceful smile appeared on her lips.

"Why not?" Vespera agreed softly. "You need to show a good broadcast to your viewers, right? And those Central City alloys would do wonders for my forge. Alright then... let’s go. I’ll be your guide today."

She leaned forward slightly with her purple eyes locking onto his silver mask with a sharp uncompromising authority that reminded everyone watching that she was still a Lord.

"However... before we step foot into the woods, we need to establish a strict boundary rule," Vespera declared firmly. "From this moment until our official Lord War commences one week from now, you and your entire mobile army are strictly prohibited from coming anywhere near the actual borders of the Blessed Land. You remain here at this outer clearing. Is that understood?"

Sky nodded without a second of hesitation. "That is perfectly fair. I agree to those terms. We stay right here until war day."

Up above the mahogany table, the five hovering brass camera drones buzzed softly, transmitting the agreement live to the global network.

The stream chat overlaying Sky’s HUD instantly filled with a wave of disappointed sad emojis from viewers who had been desperately hoping for an immediate sneaky glimpse inside Vespera’s mysterious city:

[@GamerGod99: Aw man! No early tour of Blessed Land?! 😭]

[@SovereignWatcher: Makes sense, she’s protecting her domain secrets until the war starts!]

[@NoobMaster69: Vespera is so smart bro, don’t let Sky scout your walls early!]

[@PVP_Legend: Sad we gotta wait a whole week to see her place from the cameras, but respect the rules! 🛡️]

[@ValoriaFan: Fair trade! Central City alloys for a hunting tour is massive profit!]

[@StreamLover: She’s protecting her girls! Best Lord ever! ❤️]

While Sky read through his chat’s reactions, Silas was busy running complex architectural calculations inside his own mind.

’Not to mention,’ Silas thought pragmatically, his mind projecting blueprints over his mental map of the Keep, ’I also have to gather enough stone, timber, and iron over this next week to construct an entire new residential barracks complex for the seventy-two ladies I’m going to be receiving after I win this match.’

Despite Sky’s undefeated record and his massive mobile fortress, Silas felt remarkably rock-solidly confident in winning this upcoming Lord War.

’He might be a veteran Classic Lord with years of combat experience and a massive streaming bankroll...’ Silas thought, an inward confident smirk forming behind his female disguise’s lips. ’But does Lord Sky possess two SSS-Rank primordial divine beings living inside his bedroom?’

’I think not!’

Vespera pushed her chair back with her single right hand, standing up gracefully from the white tablecloth.

She looked down at Sky, who was also rising to his feet.

"Since we’re going hunting for a two-hundred-man army," Vespera instructed smoothly, "you shouldn’t bring your entire army into the dense trees... It will cause too much spatial noise and scare off the high-tier game. Bring a select, compact squad of your best people with you today."

Sky nodded in agreement, resting his hand on his sword belt. "Good point. I’ll bring along a four-person strike team today."

He looked back toward his standing ranks, making a quick selection.

He decided to bring along the exact two female Heroes that he had pledged to transfer over to Vespera’s command if she won the Lord War, along with two elite female wind mages from his standing army.

This would give Vespera a chance to see her potential future subordinates in action, while also providing high-speed mobility for the hunt.

"Step forward!" Sky commanded, turning toward his ranks.

Four women immediately stepped out from the formation, marching up to the mahogany table and standing at attention in a neat line.

All four of them wore the dark mythril-reinforced tactical uniforms and heavy leather cloaks bearing the glowing iron emblem of ’The Unmovable Wall.’

Sky gestured proudly toward the first two women standing on the left.

"Allow me to introduce the two Heroes I promised to your terms," Sky announced clearly. "First is our silver-haired Demi-Human Vanguard."

The silver-haired Demi-Human girl who had been knocked completely unconscious by Tasmin’s reverse heel-kick earlier rubbed her sore jaw sheepishly with her sharp wolf ears twitching flat against her head as she offered Vespera a stiff, respectful bow.

"And second," Sky continued, gesturing to the woman beside her, "is my Demonic Caster Hero."

This second Hero was a striking and deeply intimidating figure.

She possessed pale, ashen skin, long crimson hair that flowed down her back, two polished obsidian-black demonic horns curving majestically from her temples, and a long spade-tipped spade tail that swished slowly behind her boots.

Her eyes burned with a deep molten gold light.

Sky let out a soft, regretful sigh beneath his mask as he looked at the horned woman.

"I must admit, Lord Vespera..." Sky shared quietly, his tone dropping with genuine frustration. "This particular Hero has faced a terrible amount of unfair discrimination among my standing troops. Because she is a demonic being, many of the traditional infantrymen fear her aura and refuse to bunk near her. Despite my orders, I haven’t been able to completely stop the backroom whispers and prejudice."

Vespera turned her deep violet eyes toward the horned demonic woman.

Her expression softened, radiating a profound unshakeable acceptance that caught the Hero completely off guard.

"You don’t ever have to worry about that again," Vespera promised her softly, her voice ringing with sincerity. "I promise you right here and now... if you come along with me to my territory after this war, you will never face a single shred of discrimination or prejudice again. You will be judged strictly by your loyalty and your strength, nothing else."

The demonic Hero blinked her molten gold eyes with her spade tail freezing in mid-air as she looked at Vespera in disbelief.

"My name is Morrighan," the demon introduced herself, her voice a deep and slightly echoing contralto that commanded the space around her.

She looked down at the mud beneath her boots with a bitter smile touching her dark lips.

"You speak kind words, Lord Vespera... but your land is literally called the ’Blessed Land.’ I am a creature born of abyssal demonic mana and dark brimstone. Blessed domains and demonic beings do not mix as your very core wards would likely reject my presence."

Vespera took two steps forward, closing the distance until she stood directly in front of the tall horned demoness.

She reached out with her single right hand, gently resting her palm against Morrighan’s mythril-clad shoulder.

"Let me tell you a secret about my territory, Morrighan," Vespera whispered warmly, her glowing purple eyes locking onto the demon’s gold gaze with undeniable conviction. "It doesn’t matter where you were born, what mana flows through your veins, or what horns sit upon your head. The very rules of my domain dictate one absolute truth: as long as you step foot inside the Blessed Land... you are blessed."

A profound breathless silence washed over the clearing.

Morrighan’s breath hitched in her throat and her molten gold eyes widened with her pale cheeks flushing a dark, burning violet as her heart hammered violently against her ribs.

To a creature who had been feared, hunted, and treated like a cursed pariah her entire existence, those words hit her soul like a tidal wave of pure salvation.

Up on the hovering camera drones, the live stream chat completely melted down into a puddle of hopeless romantic adoration.

Five specific comments instantly shot to the top of the overlay, echoing the collective feelings of millions of viewers.

[@SovereignWatcher: "AS LONG AS YOU ENTER BLESSED LAND, YOU ARE BLESSED!" 😭❤️]

[@GamerGod99: I AM LITERALLY CRYING RIGHT NOW! SHE IS AN ANGEL!]

[@AnimeFanatic: LORD VESPERA PLEASE MARRY ME! I WANT TO MARRY YOU!]

[@DarkKnight_00: I want to marry her too! She just cured that demon’s entire trauma in one sentence!]

[@ValoriaFan: TAKE ALL MY CREDITS! I AM WISHING FOR HER VICTORY!]

Sky cleared his throat loudly behind his mask, trying to break the heavy emotional atmosphere before his entire team defected on the spot.

He quickly gestured toward the remaining two women standing on the right end of the line.

"And these last two," Sky introduced briskly, "are Lyra and Gale, two of our highest-ranked Wind Mages from the standing vanguard. They will provide aerial reconnaissance and wind acceleration for today’s tracking."

Both wind mages bowed respectfully toward Vespera, holding their polished wooden focus wands at their sides.

"Pleasure to serve with you today, Lord Vespera," Lyra said politely.

With the introductions complete, Vespera turned away from the table and walked over to where the two massive Blessed Wolves were waiting.

She swung her body effortlessly up onto Valkyrie’s broad silver-furred back, adjusting her balance with her single arm.

She looked down at Thora, who was standing beside the wolf with her hammer resting on her shoulder.

"Thora," Vespera instructed smoothly, pointing her chin toward the second direwolf. "Hop off Valkyrie and go join Tasmin on Luna’s saddle for this run... We need to distribute the weight evenly for high-speed woodland tracking."

"You got it, my Lord!" Thora chirped cheerfully. The dwarf forge-mistress trotted over to Luna, easily scrambling up onto the massive wolf’s hindquarters right behind Tasmin, wrapping her muscular arms around the Shadow Commander’s waist.

Vespera turned her purple eyes back toward Sky’s four-woman hunting squad standing in the clearing.

Since Valkyrie now had an empty space on her saddle, Vespera offered a generous invitation.

"We have room for one more rider on my mount," Vespera offered warmly, looking over the four women.

She focused her gaze on the silver-haired Demi-Human girl first, thinking her wolf-kin heritage would make her comfortable with wolves. "Would you like to ride with me?"

The silver-haired Demi-Human vigorously shook her head, taking two frantic steps backward.

Her eyes darted terrified toward Tasmin sitting on the other wolf with her jaw still aching from the brutal reverse heel-kick that had knocked her out cold half an hour ago!

"N-No thank you, My Lord!" the Demi-Human stammered nervously, her wolf ears flattening against her skull. "I... my leg muscles need the exercise! I prefer running on foot today!"

Vespera blinked, then turned her inviting gaze toward the imposing demonic Hero. "What about you, Morrighan? Care to join me on Valkyrie?"

Morrighan’s pale face flushed a deep violet again.

The tall horned demoness looked at Vespera’s beautiful single-armed figure sitting atop the silver direwolf, suddenly feeling overwhelming shyness at the thought of wrapping her arms around the Lord’s waist on live television.

"I... I must decline as well, Lord Vespera," Morrighan refused softly, looking away as her spade tail swished nervously behind her legs. "My demonic armor is far too heavy and spiked... I fear my shoulder plates would damage your mount’s fine saddle leathers. I will run alongside Master Sky."

Vespera sweatdropped with a massive drop of sweaty embarrassment forming on the back of her head as she sat rejected by both Heroes.

’Are my social skills really that intimidating?’ Silas grumbled internally behind his disguise. ’I’m offering them a ride on a Blessed Wolf, not a trip to the executioner’s block!’