The rough, frantic sound of the villagers' exit—finally faded. Roderick's authoritative voice had quieted the crowd, leaving the room in a heavy, humid silence. The air, thick with the scent of stale ale and the faint, metallic tang of residual battle-lust, felt charged. As the splintered wood of the doorway stood like a broken tooth, a silent testament to the almost evening victory celebrations and Chief Lyssa's thunderous, ale-fueled entrance. I stood there, the general of a nonexistent army, my back burning with a flush that had nothing to do with fever. Flanked by two towering women—one smelling of iron and ancient forests, the other of silk and precision-drafted schematics—I felt utterly exposed.
"Damn women... making me feel like this," I muttered, snatching the blanket from the bed and throwing it over my trousers like a hasty field tent to hide my still-stiffened soldier.
Armenia's lips curved into a wicked, wolf-like smirk that managed to be both predatory and utterly gorgeous. "Well, General," she purred, her golden eyes dropping with deliberate slowness. "The scent of victory is a strong aphrodisiac, even to the most disciplined of warriors."
Célestine, the newly-minted engineer, tilted her head, her hand resting delicately on the brass compass at her breast. Her melodic voice, heavy with its French lilt, cut through the tension with the cool sharpness of a blueprint drawn in steel. "I have records, mon Général, that indicate a full-bore cannon does not go unfired in my presence, once its firing solution is acquired. A word and it is done, oui?"
The Nerve! I almost choked on my own indignation. This "War Dominion" wasn't a game; it was a military-themed harem management simulator built by horny historians!
"So, what's the plan?" Armenia broke the silence, her tone instantly snapping back to military efficiency. The shift was immediate, a chilling reminder of the thousands she must have commanded in her past life.
I grabbed the Ephone, the cool glass a sobering touch against my palm. The blue light illuminated the stark reality of our situation:
[Mission Update – Bloodline of the Wolf]Condition of Completion:
✓ Kill the Worg Rider Scouts (5/5) – Completed
✓ Break the incoming expeditionary Orc Force (500/500) – Completed
× Capture Orc Fortress – (Brokeshield)
× Escort Selene and Mereia to Lunavark to reclaim the buried bloodline
"We need to strike a balance," I said, my voice hardening. I walked to the nearest window, the rising sun blinding me for a second, before I squinted and looked out towards the looming black silhouette of the old fortress on the foot of the big mountain. "Our immediate mission hasn't changed. We need to capture the Orc Fortress."
I zoomed the tactical view onto the fortress, but the map remained a hazy, frustrating gray. "Tch. No actual data. We'll need a recon team to get a better read on the defenses. Until then, we fortify Eldenthyr."
I turned to Célestine, the strategist taking full command. "Célestine, Your unit?"
"Yes, mon Général," she replied with a graceful dip of her head. "An Engineer Corps, Eighteen strong, equipped with the tools of my trade. Though I suspect they will need to be made aware of the local materials first"
"Battle Capabilities? I assume you and Armenia are different in purpose?" I asked, a flicker of understanding crossing my face.
"No. Armenia's command is direct confrontation. Her strength is the offensive hammer," Célestine explained, touching the compass at her chest. "Mine is strategic defense,assets acquisition, structural construction and fortification. My general purpose is to make sure your territory is intact both in offense and defense"
My territory... The word tasted sweet.
"Im sensing that you are the key to strengthening this village," I stated, nodding slowly. "Your first assignment, as soon as your unit arrives, is to fix the walls and reinforce the gate. Second, check whatever resources are available on this land that we could use. And third, begin transforming this village into an impenetrable fortress worthy of a true general's base of operations."
"Understood, mon Général," Célestine affirmed, her smile unwavering. "The plans are already in my head. We will turn Eldenthyr into a star-fortress, a bastion that will never fall."
I shifted my gaze to Armenia, the wolf-woman. "Armenia, I just leveled up. You probably have eighteen units now, correct?"
"Yes, General. They already arrived," she confirmed, a spark of pride in her golden eyes.
"Arrived?" I blinked. "But did they give them quarters and supplies?"
"The village is generous," Armenia replied, a low chuckle escaping her lips. "They provided housing near the gates—six per house—and stocked them with food and clothing. My wolves are broken into two halves, the other half already resting and the other half is at fest."
"Good. so far i think there is no imminent threat to be aware off" I smiled, tapping the Ephone. "But tomorrow, I want the unit to train riding a cuckoo. We need to be versatile in combat. Speed is our shield."
"Understood," Armenia agreed, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Tomorrow morning, the Berserkers will be same as you when you ride"
I tapped the Ephone again, navigating to the Gacha tab.
Gacha Recruitment
[ Recruit Spin – 1,000 Coins / Pull ]
Random Chance: Normal → Epic Units.
Command Coins: 5,750
"Five pulls," I muttered, the phantom click of the Gacha wheel spinning in my mind. Not for now. My coin stash was for absolute emergencies.
Instead, my stomach issued a long, drawn-out, embarrassing growl that drowned out the celebratory drums outside.
I looked at the two magnificent women, then back to the empty, cold screen of my phone, and sighed. The gnawing hunger was real.An experienced commander knows that after a battle, the most dangerous enemy is a wounded spirit.
He clapped a firm, reassuring hand on Armenia and Celestine's shoulder. "For now lets celebrate" he said, his voice carrying the easy authority of a man who had seen countless soldiers break and mend. "A victory is not a victory until it is celebrated by the soldiers who won it. And right now, our soldiers are waiting."
His gaze swept the room, put on his clothes and pants as he then turned to the two women who were the pillars of his new army. "Armenia. Célestine. We've earned this feast as much as anyone."
With the matter settled, the small group moved from the quiet ruin of Aexl's quarters back out into the vibrant chaos of the celebration. The cool morning air was thick with the rich, savory smoke of roasting meat and the sweet smell of spilled ale. A bonfire roared in the center of the square, its flames leaping towards the sky, casting dancing shadows on the faces of celebrating elves and Berserkers. The low, ragged drumbeat from the morning had found its rhythm again, a hearty, joyful pulse that vibrated through the ground.
Villagers hailed him with cheers, raising wooden mugs in his honor. Aexl returned the gestures with a nod, a small, genuine smile touching his lips. He was guided to a large, rough-hewn table near the fire, a place of honor. Within moments, a young elf approached, his eyes wide with hero-worship, and placed a heavy wooden platter before him.
The feast was simple, but magnificent. A whole deer and a wild pig turned on massive spits over the fire, their skins crackling and glistening with fat. The elf had carved off generous, steaming chunks of both. The aroma was intoxicating—a primal scent of fire, meat, and herbs.
Aexl picked up a piece of the roasted deer. The meat was tender, rich with a gamey flavor that spoke of the wild forest. He followed it with a chunk of pork, the skin so crisp it shattered between his teeth, giving way to succulent, juicy flesh. He ate with the focused appetite of a soldier who knew not to take a hot meal for granted.
As he ate, he watched his army. He saw Armenia, her face finally clean, laughing loudly as she arm-wrestled one of her hulking Berserkers into submission. He saw Célestine, a look of intense concentration on her noble features as she surveyed the village's damaged palisade, her mind already deconstructing its weaknesses and planning its reconstruction. He saw Lyssa, now calm and sober, sitting with Roderick, a quiet strength returning to her expression.
This, he thought, was real. This wasn't a sterile after-action report or a medal ceremony for politicians. This was the raw, chaotic, and deeply satisfying reward for a battle well-fought. This was the bond of soldiers, a camaraderie forged in blood and fire, and celebrated with meat and ale. It was the very thing he had craved for a lifetime.
He took a long pull from his mug, the cool ale chasing down the rich taste of roasted meat. A warm heaviness settled in his chest, not just from the drink but from the sight before him. This was his army. This was his village. This was his conquest.
Laughter and songs echoed through the hall, mugs clashing in drunken rhythm. Amid the haze, his gaze caught on her.
Juvia.
She was slipping quietly up the steps, moving toward the hall as if to retire for the night. Aexl's lips curved faintly. Who wouldn't be worn out? Everyone had been drinking and celebrating since morning. She'd been serving without pause, smiling for all — though, he noticed, never for him.
A wicked thought stirred in his mind.
He rose, stretching as he waved lazily at the crew that remained — mostly Armenia's berserkers, a handful of Valkyrie warriors, Celestine, some hunters, and a cluster of village girls stubborn enough to keep drinking.
"Well, that's enough for me, boys," Aexl muttered. "Time to call it a night. Big day tomorrow."
Armenia grinned at him, her axe leaning against her chair. Her knowing smirk lingered too long.
"You're the master," she teased, voice heavy with implication.
Celestine, unbothered, downed her mug and replied flatly, "Once the engineer corps arrive, I'll put them to work at first light."
"That's good," Aexl said, ignoring Armenia's jab as if he hadn't heard it. He turned, the ale's warmth fueling a different kind of hunger. His steps carried him up toward the village hall.
Like a wolf following a scent, he moved.
This time, his prey was Juvia.
In his mind what would the Horny Dominion app H-Lords would be satisfied this time