Empahrus and Jack talked for a while longer.
The Giant came to understand that it was this very lord, Jack, who had also avanged his people by killing the reptilians.
Combined with everything Jack told him, the satisfied revenge, the safety, security, peace and prosperity, the pure gold nuggets in the wagon...
And seeing the huge army gathered around him...
The surprisingly friendly nature of the humans even tho they explicitly said they needed this lands, and were the ones to free it...
[Lord system: Lord Empharus has surrendered fully to you. Lord Empharus had no resources, troops or territories. All civilians are now 100% loyal to you and Lord Empharus has become a Hero in your domain]
The system was short and slightly different compared to when Ang'ris had surrendered.
However it told him all he needed to know and he instantly grabbed the two floating summoning stones before him.
[Giant Civilian summoning stone (Rare Rank). 10 seconds summoning time. Cost: 1000 gold coins]
[Giant trash troop summoning stone (Rare Rank). 10 seconds summoning stone. Cost: 1000 gold coins]
Jack could quickly see how a normal lord giant starting out in Prime, would have a very harsh and slow start.
'If everyone only started with 1000 gold coins, this Empahrus could only choose to summon either one civilian or one trash troop to help him...'
Jack had gained new respect for this Empharus.
Despite all odds of spawning in the 'uncommon and above' area of the peninsula, with only a single summon to help him get started..
He had managed to build a small village with more than 500 giants before Sha'ri had killed most of them and forced them to flee.
"My Emperor. Please hold your promise. The future of my people is in your hands"
Empharus spoke and the giant kneeled down before Jack.
All the 100 giants posed themselves likewise behind their former lord.
Jack had accumulated more resources the past few days, and had just enough to do what he did now.
"Please rise and stand back with the army Empharus"
Jack spoke and the giants obeyed immediately.
Jack then created a 25 meters tall stone wall with a strong gate in the middle.
The entire path through the mountains was now fortified with this.
He continued to build the high wall in one square kilometres along the mountains and into the Blackwoods.
He created another gate in the middle of the wall inside the woods.
"Ruben! You and your army will be granted these woods. Protect the mountain path and secure the woods!"
Jack then created with his last wood and stone resources, houses and a few other essential items.
"William. Continue to scour the Blackwoods. The boss still haven't shown itself. Also send word the for cavalry and bring everyone here."
William and his army broke off while Ruben and his army settled into the new fortifications.
Jack turned to Empharus.
"I want you and your giants to accompy me and my army. We will secure these mountains and their peaks. There is a natural road on the north path, we will follow it."
Empharus had seen Emperor Jack erect tall and strong walls quickly. That he had resources had at least not been a lie, and he felt more confident that he had made the right choice.
"As you will my Emperor." Was all he said.
Finding the path to the Icy Peaks top didn't take long.
It was a natural open path with grass and bushes amidst the blackwood trees. Easy to find.
As they walked up the mountain, the path began to 'snake' it's way further up, and the blackwood trees began to diminish and soon disappeared completely.
Instead the nature now turned into strong vines and grass.
Further up they came to a small plateau where the vines as grass vanished. It was barren and sandy here.
Jack could look far and wide.
He saw his territories beyond the thick forest of blackwood.
Endless fields and smaller forests. Hills and herds of beasts, probably the tri-horn herd.
He could see as far as the capital Eros where the towers of his citadel rose from the beach.
He could see the large river rushing from the capital to Ocean City.
But beyond this, it was simply too far to see.
They were high up the mountain now, and beyond the small plateau where his troops ate their rations, the temperature began to slowly decrease.
As they continued the final stretch the soon arrived at the top of the north Icy Peaks.
And just as it's name suggested, snow and ice covered the landscape here.
Giant mommoth-like creatures appeared with large twisted horns on the top of their heads.
"Empharus. You're now a Hero in my territory and this will be my first command to you. Help the troops kill these creatures. Find the boss of these peaks and bring me it's head."
Jack spoke calmly and full of authority.
He wanted to see how giants fought.
"As you will my Emperor." Empharus truly was a 'man' of few words.
The troops formed up into battle sections and began to explore the icy peaks and hunt the giant mammoth animals.
The troops had a real challenge whenever they faced these beasts.
[Snow Bulko, Rare]
[Fortitude: 60]
[Spirit Power: 15]
[Ability: Steel Tusk]
These 'Bulko' creatures had long, rough and dense fur.
Combined with naturally thick skin, it was hard for the humans weapon to wound them.
However they were slow, and Jacks troops could evade most of their trashing attacks.
Their horns, or tusks, was hard as steel and easily smashed boulders and shields alike.
However, as the troops had prolonged engagements all over the peaks, Empharus showed Jack the value of giants.
He went to a trashing Bulko, surrounded by troops and used a wooden log to smash the create down in one strike.
The bulko lay on its side, temporarily paralyzed by the impact.
His troops could now directly jump onto it and spear it down from above.
After a few of such spectacles, Empharus became cheered by the troops and they quickly changed tactics to simply trap the beasts and let Empharus smack them down.
The sun was about to settle behind the mountains as the boss was finally spotted.
Everything about it was twice the size as the normal ones. Even it's stats, and a second ability to manipulate ice.
Jack and Empharus worked together in bringing it down.
Empharus directly challenged the boss Bulko and wrestled with it in hand to hand combat.
Whenever the boss tried to manipulate ice, Jack simply turned it into water and dismissed it.
This also tired the boss as it had to spend spirit power every single time.
Eventually Empharus evaded the tusks and had gained a death-lock around its neck.
Jack was quick to use his dilato's tooth with proccs to end it entirely.
[You have slain the boss of Icy Peaks, North]
[Gained: Tusk of Reverence(Rare)]
[Territory merging with Etal Empire]
After this no more systems announcements came.
'Why did I expect a reward... Obviously my current conquest mission is the Bloodfall Mountains.'
Jack created a solid bridge with his ability, allowing his army to cross the casm that was the mountain path beneath.
In the South Icy Peaks, Jack and his army fought a brutal war against ice trolls.
3-5 meters tall and muscular. But savage and extremely dum.
It took untill far into the night before the boss was slain, again by Empharus and Jacks teamwork, before the notifications rang again.
The entire peninsula including all the mountains now belonged to Jack and was depicted in the territory maps as 'Etal Empire'.
Jack gained another fortitude essence core from this boss, and gave both items to Empharus.
He had now gained a large one-handed weapon and his fortitude stat rested neatly at 100.
[Tusk of Reverence, Rare]
[Made from the base of the huge horns of a Bulko boss. It's an extremely sturdy bludgeon weapon, with natural smaller tusks as spikes. 10% chance to knock-out on successful hits]
The weapon was a very large two-handed weapon than only the largest and strongest humans could dream to swing.
But in the hands of Empharus. It was just a small club with spikes. However it was rare, strong and with a 10% chance to knock-out on a single hit.
So seeing it would fit in the giants single hand, he had given it to him.
"Thank you my Emperor." Was yet again all e said.
But Jack wasn't done.
"No thank you Empharus. And thanks to your help, We've claimed the entire icy peaks and the Blackwood's below in a single day. From this day forward, these twin icy peaks will be the home to your race. Safeguard the mountains and the mountain pass that runs over them. In return, I will give you everything you need to build your new home."
Empharus was clearly touched by this.
So much land and the entire backing of an empire. He would forever be loyal and couldn't wait to begin his work in these wide new lands.
"I will send your brethren to you once I'm back down from the peaks. And many more when I reach the capital to place the summoning stones."
Jack promised this as he began the descent, and Empharus bowed deeply with a single word.
"Emperor!" A single word that expressed all his gratitude.
In the following days, Jack reached the capital with the leftover of his armies. He trained new troops to restock all tree armies to 50.000.
Rubens army in walls at the mountain pass. A beginning town he renamed to 'High Pass'.
He found that the passage between the mountains slightly turned upwards from the lands below. Meaning that the new town truly was located on the highest slope of the entire path - the name was fitting.
Williams army had relocated to the south edge of the crazed forest, near the roots of Bloodfall Mountains. Stay low and ready, scout the mountains for passable roads. That was their only mission.
Jack had his 50.000 army in the capital, with the original 5000 common guards and 20.000 epic citadel guards.
20.000 civilians escorted by Rubens army detachment were moving with an endless convoy of wagons with resources and supplies for both High Pass town, and Empharus and whatever he was building at the peaks.
Today, a single week remained before he would depart with his ships.