296 THE ARMY OF SODOM CITY
Leo leaned back in thought, then a realization struck him. "What if we didn't need a stationary dungeon? What if we could create something more adaptable—a realm like the Emperor of Koresh's magic domain?"
Yun-Yun's eyes widened. "You've experienced his magic chess domain? That's an extraordinary encounter but only the most advanced mages can summon such a domain. Can you recreate the same conditions?"
"Ermm…"
"The possession of a magic dungeon is a coveted achievement for most mages, but the ability to summon a magic domain is a far greater feat," Yun-Yun explained.
"It's like an upgrade. A magical domain is untethered, hidden within your soul, and can be summoned at will. It requires no rooting or stationary defenses," she explained further.
Then Leo's face darkened.
"But that would mean we are dealing with a mage with a magic domain. He has complete control over his own domain and could manipulate the realm to his advantage," he added.
"Yes, I'm afraid so."
However, Leo was undeterred by her worry. "I've studied the magic codes of the chess realm and found its magic codes strikingly similar to the structure of my dungeon…. With some differences."
Then Yun-Yun's eyes sparkled with determination and asked, "Then perhaps you can transform your dungeon into a magic domain."
"Ermmm…"
"The knowledge I've gained from the third tier of the Giga Codex has significantly enhanced my programming skills, giving access to some basic programming language," Leo replied.
"Is that enough to transform your dungeon into a magical realm?" she asked.
Leo replied with confidence, "I believe I can reconfigure my magic dungeon into a magic domain, akin to the Emperor's Chessboard Domain or even better."
Yun-Yun's expression shifted from doubt to awe. "If you can achieve that, you'll become the first mage under Ana tier capable of summoning a magic domain. It would be a game-changer."
Leo's determination solidified into resolve. "Then that is what I will do."
-----
[At the gates of the emperor's palace]
Emperor Ramses III stood atop the towering walls of his impregnable fortress-palace, his imposing silhouette framed against the crimson hues of a dying sun.
Below, the banners of Sodom City fluttered defiantly in the wind as the invading army approached.
"Traitors!" Ramses bellowed, his voice echoing like a storm over the battlefield.
His piercing gaze burned with fury as he addressed the advancing force. "How dare you feast on the wealth of the Koresh Empire and now turn your blades against me? You will all pay for this treachery!"
The enemy army halted at the massive iron gates of Debauchery City, their ranks eerily silent save for the rustle of armor and the crackle of flames from their torches.
From the vanguard, General Nahum rode forward, his armor darkened by soot and war. He stopped just within earshot, his expression cold and unyielding.
"Do not act as though there was ever unity between us," Nahum called out, his voice calm yet cutting. "While Sodom City may be part of the Koresh Empire in name, you have always treated us as outcasts. You never saw us as equals. You've schemed endlessly to strip us of our independence, but we've endured. Your armies failed to break us, and now we stand here, ready to break you."
The truth in Nahum's words was undeniable, though Ramses's pride refused to acknowledge it.
Sodom City, though technically under Koresh's rule, had always been a thorn in the empire's side. Its rulers governed with a fierce autonomy that Ramses despised. Time and again, he had sought to crush their spirit and bring them under his absolute control, even sending an army to subjugate the city—but the campaign had ended in humiliating failure.
Now, the tables had turned.
Sodom's banners flew high as their forces marched to the gates of Debauchery City, the heart of the Koresh Empire. The air thrummed with the tension of betrayal and retribution as Ramses stared down at the invaders.
For the first time, the mighty emperor felt the weight of uncertainty. The fate of the empire was at stake. This wasn't the first time the emperor had faced such a predicament, but this time, his mother… Godmother wasn't by his side.
"Mother…. If only you are here."
------
Ramses was not a powerful mage, but he wielded something far more formidable: a magic domain in the form of a colossal chessboard, inherited from his mother, Zorana, when their souls crossed into this world.
Within his magic domain, Ramses was not merely an emperor—he was a god.
The rules of the board were bent to his will, amplifying the strength of the units on his black side. This was how he had crushed the demon army, whose power was anything but trivial.
Now, Ramses prepared to unleash the chessboard's might once more, this time against the Sodom traitors. Though Godmother was not at his side, the traitors were mere humans, not fearsome demons.
"Traitors of Sodom… if I can defeat the demon army from Heaven's Cage, I can defeat you," Ramses told himself.
The armies of Sodom city had breached the city's fortification with ease after the demon army's earlier breach. After the first demon invasion, the guards of the walls of the city were defeated.
Only the armies of the emperor remained as they defended the palace as the last bastion of defense of Debauchery City.
Emperor Ramses watched the armies of Sodom at the gates of his palace. He wasn't worried though.
In a shocking move he ordered, "Open the gates of the palace. Let them come in."
The army of Sodom city rushed inside.
Suddenly, the air before the palace grew heavy, and a vast checkered pattern materialized, mimicking a chessboard that stretched across the battlefield.
"Now you all die here in my palace, traitors," Ramses screamed.
Ramses took his position as the King piece, while his strongest generals assumed their respective roles among the major pieces. The regular armies filled the pawn positions, ready for battle.
But this time, Godmother wasn't here to help him.
"If only mother is here", he said.
But something was wrong. As the chessboard formed, the enemy forces began retreating, moving deliberately out of range of the chessboard's influence.