CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 84: KINGDOM OF CONCORDIA

Jax was asleep when, suddenly, he opened his eyes and recognized the strange place. It was the same space where he had previously spoken with the gods of time and the goddess of the moon.

Seeing them in front of him, he was surprised, but he quickly reacted, understanding what kind of place he was in.

The moon goddess was the first to speak.

"I’m glad to see your progress, Jax. Your results have been impressive. But it also saddens me that I cannot enjoy this game any longer."

She looked at him intently and added,

"At this moment, all the requirements for an event have been met. All guilds must participate. This is a hunt. Two beings broke the rules and now must be pursued by the players."

She paused and revealed their names:

"The first is the Demon Empress, Al’Kash. The second, the Demon Emperor, the White Stag."

Jax remained silent, stunned. With those names on the table, he understood the gravity of the situation.

The goddess continued,

"All the gods will offer great rewards to anyone who manages to find them."

Jax frowned and asked,

"What do they want to do with them? Why are they being hunted? What mistake did they make?"

The goddess responded firmly,

"Do not ask more than you should. Do as you are commanded. There is no time limit, but you must give your best effort."

After saying that, she vanished.

The god of time remained, and with a gesture of his hands, formed a cocoon of light that distorted reality, isolating them in a private space.

"My wife may seem strict," he said calmly, "but don’t think she agrees with all of this. We also answer to someone else. Don’t worry, no one can hear us here—not even him."

The god stepped a little closer.

"I just want to tell you one thing: find them, but do not hand them over. They possess something so valuable that even the gods fear them. I wish you luck, young hero."

Then, he too vanished.

Jax’s mind was in chaos. At first, he had wanted to avoid the Demon Empress and stay as far away as possible. But now he understood why the gods seemed desperate to stop her.

He recalled that meeting with Al’Kash. She had shared vital information with him, almost as if begging for help. Now everything made sense: she surely knew in advance that a hunt was coming. She also knew that once the players knew their names, many would sell her out or try to kill her for the reward. That’s why she had turned to a human she once considered inferior.

Jax slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Manaia leaning over him, passing a damp towel across his chest.

"Finally awake?" she asked with a soft smile.

Jax blinked, confused.

"How long was I out?"

"Two full days," she replied, wringing the towel into a bowl of fresh water. "After the battle against the sea beings, you didn’t wake at all during that time."

Jax gritted his teeth. Two days... he thought. It wasn’t just fatigue. Deep inside, he knew it was the gods’ fault.

"What has happened in the village while I was asleep?" he asked seriously.

Manaia sat beside him, her expression concerned.

"A lot. Envoys from different races have arrived requesting an audience with you. They want to submit themselves and be under your protection."

"Who exactly?" Jax pressed.

She began to list calmly:

"Stone golems, eagle-men, hawk-men, minotaur tribes, kobolds, draconians, centaurs, elemental servants, even some dark elves who traveled from far away... and they’re not the only ones. Also desert orcs, werewolves, lizard tribes, and even wandering specters."

Jax remained silent, processing the information.

"All of them... want to submit to me?" he murmured incredulously.

Manaia nodded.

"Yes. They await your orders."

The young man sighed deeply.

"I will see them... but first I want a moment alone."

Manaia looked at him, surprised.

"A moment alone?"

Jax nodded seriously.

"Yes. I need to think."

She hesitated for a second, then smiled tenderly, like a caring wife.

"Alright. I’ll wait for you outside."

She rose softly and left the hut, leaving him in silence.

Jax stared at the ceiling, his mind in knots. Obeying the gods was the most logical choice. Rebelling against them would be madness. But... could he really ignore what the god of time had said?

He knew that any decision would put him on a tightrope. And with every passing second, the weight of the future pressed harder on his shoulders.

Jax closed his eyes for a moment. He didn’t have a clear answer, but deep in his heart, he knew what he had to do.

Rising, he pushed the blanket aside and stepped out of the hut. In front of him, Manaia waited calmly, as if she had been standing there the entire time.

"Are you ready to see them?" she asked softly.

"Yes," Jax replied.

They began walking together toward the village exit. The path was still marked by the remnants of the battle, but life seemed to be returning.

"You look worried," Manaia said, glancing at him.

Jax remained silent for a few seconds before replying.

"There’s too much at stake. I don’t want anything that happens to drag you down."

She stopped, took his arm, and looked at him firmly.

"No matter what happens, you have me. Always."

He smiled slightly and nodded.

"Thank you... I don’t want to worry you more than necessary."

Without another word, he pulled her close. They embraced, and their lips met in a slow, sincere kiss—an instant of mutual support before returning to the world awaiting them.

When they reached the village exit, Jax stopped, surprised. The forest in front of him had almost completely disappeared. Where towering trees had once stood, there were now open clearings and piles of stacked wood and stone.

"The Dogkin have done an excellent job," Manaia commented with a slight smile. "They’ve already collected all the stone and wood you requested."

Jax nodded, pleased.

"Excellent. Release Senda, their leader. She has done more than I expected."

Manaia lifted her chin, a gleam in her eyes.

"I will, but after the meeting. I want to be present when it happens."

"Alright," Jax replied firmly.

Then, in front of them, the makeshift tents began to open. One by one, the representatives of the tribes emerged: stone golems with massive bodies, eagle-men and hawk-men spreading their wings, imposing minotaurs, bright-eyed kobolds, glistening-scaled draconians, armed centaurs, dark elves with cold stares, desert orcs, werewolves, and lizard tribes. Even wandering specters floated silently among the shadows.

All eyes were on him, bowing or gesturing respectfully.

The representatives of each race lined up in front of Jax and Manaia. Silence was heavy until a stone golem, with a voice deep as an earthquake, spoke first.

"The Demon Empress freed us from our former yokes. She told us that you are our new ruler, the one who has conquered the depths and earned the right."

A hawk-man inclined his wings in reverence.

"We have brought all the gold, gems, and metals from our tribes. It is our sincerity, to show that we accept your leadership."

"And we hope you will accept our races under your banner," added a fiery-eyed minotaur, placing a box filled with ingots and sacred objects at Jax’s feet.

Behind them, other leaders did the same: chests of magical essences, enchanted weapons, mana stones, even ancestral relics. The wealth piled up before him, a mountain of offerings reflecting their submission.

Jax stepped forward, raising his hand to impose silence. His voice was clear, firm, and filled with authority.

"I accept your loyalty. But understand this: I did not come here to repeat the mistakes of the past. There will be no supremacies, no races dominating others. I want to build something different: a city where all live together. One flag, one law."

Murmurs rose, surprised by his words. Jax continued, listing with severity:

"The rules will be simple and absolute:

There will be no fights between races within my domain.

Killing another city inhabitant is prohibited.

All shared resources will be managed fairly.

Supreme authority resides with me and the women of my guild. Their words carry the same weight as mine.

Anyone who breaks these rules will be punished with expulsion or death, depending on the severity."

Jax let his eyes scan each of them, locking their gazes as if weighing their souls.

"But there will also be rewards. Those who contribute with effort, wisdom, or resources can rise. You will not be condemned to be mere servants. Your contributions can make you officials, guardians, district leaders, or counselors. Whoever works for the city will be part of its glory."

Silence reigned. Slowly, a golem struck its chest in respect. Then a werewolf raised its fist. Then the eagle-men spread their wings. One by one, the tribes accepted his conditions, kneeling before him.

Manaia, beside him, watched silently, a mix of pride and awe on her face.

At that moment, Jax was not just a warrior but a ruler.

He observed how the representatives of the various races bowed in acceptance. The tension in the air slowly dissipated, and with it, a kind smile appeared on his face.

He stepped forward, extending his arms as if to embrace everyone present.

"You have offered your loyalty, your riches, and most importantly, your trust. I, Jax, accept you. From this day forward, you will no longer be isolated tribes or opposing races. Together, we will form the Kingdom of Concordia, a place where each of you is equal under my banner."

A murmur of surprise ran through the crowd, followed by cheers and acclamations. The golems struck the ground in respect, the eagle-men and hawk-men raised their wings to the sky, and the chants of the minotaurs echoed like a unified roar.

Jax’s smile remained calm, imposing, and full of conviction. For the first time, they all felt they were facing something greater than their clans: they were witnessing the birth of a kingdom.