A Journey That Changed The World.

Archer woke up the next morning after spending a wild night with the beautiful Lucrezia, making love until they were both exhausted and covered in sweat. The blonde was out cold, smiling.

He couldn't help but chuckle before kissing her on the forehead, thinking. 'These women are something else. I'm lucky to have them in my life, but I need to get them all pregnant.'

Once that was done, he made sure the young woman was comfortable before leaving her alone. Afterward, he made his way to the bathroom to relax in the hot water. He got undressed and slipped inside the bath.

''At least I haven't got to fight constantly anymore,'' he muttered with a smile.

Five minutes later, he sent several Tressyms through portals that led to all different parts of Avidia so he could check on the ongoing construction. Following that, he laid back with closed eyes while using Mana Manipulation to see through the creatures.

Their vision flooded his mind: broad stone roads unfurling like ribbons across the rolling hills, laborers hammering cobblestones into place under the barked orders of overseers as the morning sun beamed down.

Dust clouds swirled as ox-drawn carts hauled granite and timber, the skeletal frames of new forts and rest stops stretching toward the horizon. In the heart of Avidia, the city thrummed with renewal.

Archer quickly noticed thousands of Homeguards and Legionnaires patrolling the roads and towns he could sense. ''Seems like things are going well,'' he muttered in fascination.

Scaffolding clung to half-built apartment districts, their stone facades rising tier by tier, etched with runes for strength and warmth. Masons slathered mortar, hoisting blocks into place, and sparks flew from enchanters embedding protective wards.

When seeing this, he couldn't help but smile as he thought. 'Looks like they're implementing the weather protection.'

Following this, the Tressyms swooped low, revealing bustling streets below, vendors hawking wares amid the clang of hammers, children darting past stacks of fresh lumber. Towers of glass and iron gleamed in the sunlight, their peaks piercing the clouds.

'Fianna is doing good running this part of the empire,' he mused when remembering the blonde's request a few weeks ago.

He decided to concentrate on his new lands and the pregnant women, thanks to being winter was in full swing. Just like he had planned, weeks passed by as they reinforced their defences all over Avidia.

The four islands encircling Draconia had been transformed into impregnable fortresses, their battlements bristling with cannons to repel any Alliance vessels daring to approach and attack his Mining Platforms or naval patrols.

Yet, he learned that some enemy ships had slipped through the Death Mist's lethal veil somehow, which bamboozled him, a puzzle that gnawed at his mind. Whenever they emerged, he or his women obliterated them without mercy.

Archer carved out moments between battles for Sia, Ella, and Mary, along with the others, who glowed with the joy of impending motherhood. The Elemental reveled in the experience, embracing it fully this time with a radiant pride that warmed the air around her.

Aisha made sure to ramp up recruitment for all the forces. This pleased him as people flocked to the legions, air force, and navy upon learning of the benefits. Mary and Aurelia, who were in command of all the undersea part of Draconia, enjoyed all the recruits.

While this happened, Talila, Maeve, Inara, and Ashoka explored the old city as Hemera wrote a detailed account of their journey through it as they returned days ago and were now sleeping.

The four women wanted him to read it, but he was busy with the empire. Two months had slipped by since he had rescued Lucrezia, and only now did he find a moment to investigate further.

Archer urged his harem not to stray far from Draconia's safety, a request they'd all agreed to. He was sitting on his palace outside Emberport that the 1st Legion had built for him and the empresses.

The government wanted to do something official so the people could see that their kingdom was becoming an empire, but he had been putting it off thanks to all the work he'd been doing over the last few months.

'I need to build up the forces on Avidia for the spring,' he thought, sending a message to Aisha. 'Can you send twenty legions to Emberport? That will make thirty-two in total on the southern continent.'

Moments later, the Dragonkin woman's voice sounded in his mind. 'I'll send a runner to High Commend ordering them to dispatch the armies with the 1st and 2nd Fleet. Is that okay with you, darling? I've been meaning to ask you, but work always distracts me.'

'That's perfect Aisha,' he replied with a smile. 'Thank you beautiful.'

The woman's giggle echoed in his head as she sweetly replied. 'You're welcome, husband.'

Following that, he continued drinking his tea while watching Emberport City, which was alive with Fire Elves. As he sat there, Teuila summoned him to the Western wall where she was stationed with her legion.

When he appeared on the walkway, he noticed the blue-haired woman standing there, staring off into the distance with a focused expression on her beautiful face. Moments later, she turned in his direction with a smile.

''Looks like scouts are trying to get close. I've noticed them lingering around the past few days,'' Teuila responded while rubbing her stomach.

Archer's eyes narrowed at her words as he looked at the horse riders in the distance. Thanks to his dragon's sight, he could tell there were three men and one woman Fire Elves, causing him to think. 'What are they doing? An attack maybe?'

He shrugged and summoned several flying Broodmaws that appeared from a portal beside him. Teuila was shocked but giggled when he ordered them to hunt down the scouts, making the beasts fly toward the enemies.

''They will kill the idiots for coming too close, but I wonder why they suddenly appear?'' he mumbled to himself. ''Winter is still bad; storms are happening nearly every day.''

The young woman answered with her idea of what was happening. ''I believe they're being pressured by the Alliance leaders to do something. All of their previous attempts have failed, forcing them to become desperate.''

He agreed with a nod. ''I'll deploy two legions here when they arrive. Our forces are stretched thin across southern Avidia.''

Teuila laughed, leaning up against him, speaking. ''No wonder, you've got hundreds of forts and thousands of roads they need to patrol. Luckily, the Fire Elves love you and the benefits they're getting.''

''They better,'' he said with a chuckle. ''I've spent a fortune upgrading this place to win their hearts, but at least it worked, and no rebellions or protests have broken out.''

Following that, the couple continued talking before the flying Broodmaws returned to the wall and let out a hitter. His head snapped toward them. ''Thank you for that. Tell Circe I'll come visit her soon.''

The monsters nodded and returned to the Domain just as Teuila questioned him. ''What did the thing say to you, love?''

''More scouts are roaming the landscape, but a strange magic is stopping the creatures from chasing them,'' he answered.

Afterward, he summoned his wings and flew toward the soldier's location as he scooped the blue-haired beauty into a princess carry. As this happened, she looked at him with glowing eyes.

''What are you doing now?'' she sweetly asked.

''Going to check on these scouts,'' he replied, diving toward the ground and flying a few meters above it. ''The Broodmaws said the aura was strange and scared them.''

Following that, he soared over the snow-covered desert, the icy wind biting at his face as he glided above the dunes. Below, the landscape stretched endlessly, a stark canvas of white marred by jagged rock outcrops.

His keen violet eyes scanned the terrain, searching for the scouts he'd set out to find. The strange aura they'd described lingered in his mind, a puzzle yet to be solved. As he banked to follow a shallow ravine, movement caught his attention.

Herds of cow-like beasts the size of small cars roamed in loose clusters across the snowy expanse. Their breath steamed in the frigid air, and their low grunts echoed faintly as they pawed through the snow for buried scrub.

''So beautiful,'' Teuila mumbled with bright eyes. ''Desert Wanderers. Rare and wonderful monsters.''

Archer slowed his flight, hovering briefly to watch. The beasts moved with a calm rhythm, undisturbed, their massive forms blending into the wintry landscape. No sign of panic or the eerie disturbance the scouts had feared.

When hearing the blue-haired woman's voice, he commented. ''So they're good to have? Are they fighters?''

''No, I'd say their livestock,'' Teuila responded. ''They are highly valued in the Southlands for their hide and meat.''

His smile grew wide as he descended closer to the herd before using his Shadow Creatures to kidnap every single monster. They numbered in the tens of thousands; this would help the empire in a time of need.