Vaid Empire: Conquest Ch. 04

Vaid Empire: Conquest is a massive fantasy series that aims to mix erotica with the quality of a published novel. New chapters and artwork are released every month absolutely free, with the completely optional possibility to receive early access. The Series focuses heavily on worldbuilding, story, and characters.

The world of Ayphieal is shattered and chaotic, with kingdoms and tribes of six distinctive races vying for territory amongst themselves. It is only when a young human warrior finally pushes back against the chaos that the world begins to shift towards order.

***

26th of Twic, 5 BVE.

Lower Human Basin, Near Zilrin.

"It's just as our maps predicted, Chief Dominax." Hesin announced as he reached the center of the camp. "The ground is far too flat and open to proceed without being spotted. Yet if we approach from the south, we may be able to use the surrounding forest to remain hidden."

"Very well, we shall send a small group to create a distraction at their northern gate." Dominax replied as his misgivings were confirmed. The holographic globe had been more than helpful during their journey to the outskirts of Zilrin, allowing the group of nearly four thousand Omrinian warriors to delve into the heart of Zilrin territory without being detected by the smaller settlements under Chief Manith's rule. "During which, the rest of our forces will remain hidden in the tree line outside of the southern gate. If executed properly the distraction will lure the guards to the other side of Zilrin, allowing a select few to sneak over the southern wall and open the gate for the rest of us." Dominax continued.

"I will gladly lead the distraction, my Chief." Clin stated as he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"No, Hesin is far more suited for the task. I require both you and Salduin at my side for tonight's attack." Dominax commanded. "We shall take the majority of the settlement before they're even aware of what's occurred."

"Tonight? But your men have yet to even arrive!" Fildir exclaimed in a mix of surprise and frustration. Roughly three years younger than Dominax, Korvis's son had been nothing short of insubordinate during their short time together. Though the small army of warriors had been placed under Dominax's command, Fildir's interference seemingly never ceased.

"We can wait no longer. Every moment spent in these woods risks our discovery. If we are to succeed in our goal, we must proceed without them." Dominax firmly answered, all while knowing that his own warriors were never meant to rendezvous with them. If all went well, Briza and Xenia would take Omrin completely by surprise any day now.

"That is unacceptable!" Fildir fired back, folding his arms across his narrow chest. Though Korvis had been quite formidable in his prime, it appeared that his son didn't inherit his imposing form. Thin and wiry, the younger man only possessed a small hint of muscle under his greenish tunic. Yet even with their large differences, hints of his father's facial features revealed his heritage, topped with the same long brown hair of Korvis. "Our deal requires your men to assist in the coming fight. We will wait for them to arrive or return to Omrin!"

Dominax placed his strong hand on the younger man's shoulder, a gesture meant to intimidate rather than comfort. "OUR deal is between your father and I, not you. If you wish to return, you'll do so alone."

Fildir held his gaze for several seconds before turning his head away. "My father won't like this."

"Perhaps, though that's not your concern." Dominax stated sternly as he removed his hand. Looking past Fildir he caught many nearby warriors eying the confrontation, doing little to conceal their amusement. It had been clear to him after only a short period of time among the men that nearly none of them regarded Fildir with respect. Their loyalty had been earned only through obligation, a relationship that likely extended to Korvis as well. "Now go, you are dismissed. Assist the men in preparing for tonight's battle."

Opening his mouth to argue, Fildir stopped himself before reluctantly turning to leave.

"You two are dismissed as well." He commanded, addressing both Clin and Salduin. "Yet I must discuss the details of the distraction with Hesin."

The two warriors granted their Chief a respectful bow of their heads before departing the camp's center.

"Fildir will accompany your group to the north gate." Dominax explained in a carefully hushed tone, preventing the nearby men from eavesdropping as they went about their business. "He must not return from the battle."

Only a moment passed before an expression of understanding overtook Hesin's hooded face. "Is that wise? Chief Korvis won't be pleased to learn that his son perished. The boy's behavior could be punished in other ways that don't go as far as death."

In response, Dominax waved his hand dismissively. "Punishment is not my desire. Though he is a nuisance to be sure, his death is merely a necessity. There are events in motion beyond what you are aware of, yet in any case Korvis won't be a concern much longer."

Raising his eyebrow in a questioning gesture Hesin leaned in closer. "Events? Chief Dominax...I'd be far more useful if I were included in your aims."

"Ah but you are, my friend. Follow my orders and you shall be rewarded with my trust. Understand?" Dominax asked with an insidious smile.

After a moment of consideration Hesin's eyes narrowed. "Yes, my Chief, it will be done. The boy will be dealt with."

***

The torchlight flickered lightly on Lalian's illustrations as his mind worked, desperately attempting to concentrate despite the fluttering gasps of the nearby slave atop Chief Manith's lap. Seated at a small table to the right of the crude throne, Lalian was forced to endure the presence of his winged master's shameless lust as Manith rammed his green Lanthian manhood into the human woman's bare vagina.

A Lanthian himself, Lalian had been dragged along when Manith fled their homeland. Typical of their species, his skin was divided down the middle of his body into two separate shades of green, easily allowing him to blend into the gargantuan trees of his birthplace. His short hair and keen eyes were similarly separated into both dark and light green shades. Yet in contrast to his master's large build, he possessed very little muscle, while standing three inches shorter than Manith's six-foot-tall frame.

Though his hand steadily traced along the thin wooden slab cut in the tradition of his people, he couldn't stop his gaze from occasionally wandering towards the four alluring slaves seated at the base of the throne resting on thin cushions of various dull colors. Kept completely nude, two of the three women displayed small round bellies as their pregnancies advanced. Despite his...'condition', he felt his own manhood move ever so slightly under his shabby loincloth.

Taking notice of his concealed glances, the nearest slave gracefully stood up and closed the small distance between them, placing her hand gently on his bare shoulder. The touch forced a subtle shutter through him, though she made no comment of it. "How fares your progress, Lalian?"

"Quite well, miss." He replied, retaining his attention on his work even as he attempted to ignore the soft sensation of her hand. Though his master had utilized Lalian's advanced intelligence numerous times in the past, his focus had now shifted to designing new walls that could replace Zilrin's nearly crumbling defenses.

"Leave him alone." Chief Manith commanded as the slave in his lap placed her hands on her own breasts, steadily riding his shaft with visible enthusiasm. "He must...remain undisturbed."

Granting their master a submissive nod, the woman removed her hand from Lalian's shoulder. "My apologies." She obediently replied before granting Lalian a sympathetic look. Leaning only a miniscule amount closer she spoke in a whisper intended only for his ears. "And to you I'm sorry as well...as this can't be easy for you..." She let out as her eyes gestured to his loincloth, and then towards the lude display of female bodies before she returned to sitting position.

A deep green came to his cheeks as embarrassment flooded his entire being. Though her words held kind intentions, they only recalled the memory of what he had lost.

It was no secret among the five slave women of what had occurred. While most outsiders remained blissfully ignorant of The Lanthian Empire's cruel traditions, they had been regaled with the details of the life that their master had bravely, albeit narrowly, escaped. Though a male Lanthian ruled over each city, the females almost exclusively enjoyed freedom inside of their matriarchal society. Kept enslaved and chaste, the males suffered continuously under their control. Yet every year, those who had only just reached manhood would be pitted against each other in non-lethal combat until only one victor remained.

From Lalian's frame it wasn't hard to reach the factual conclusion that he had lost early on, though all males knew the consequences for those who lost. While the victor would be granted the opportunity of challenging the ruling male, the defeated were ceremonially stripped of their wings, along with their testicles. Wishing only to breed with the most capable males the act of procreation was reserved exclusively for their local ruler, a fate that Lalian had been cruelly denied.

To gaze upon five beautiful slaves and know that he would never be capable of siring children with them had nearly become torture, a feeling that vastly deepened when two had fallen pregnant by a Lanthian that had escaped their sadistic traditions. Yet while a human may lose their arousal after such a heartless castration, Lalian's species held no such luxury. Though his fertility had been entirely cut away, the desire to utilize his non-functioning manhood remained strong.

Chief Manith groaned deeply as he wrapped his large arms around his current lover, holding her firmly as he unloaded his lust into her attractive body. Lalian could only bite his lip in a mix of jealousy and rage as he forced his eye to remain on the carefully transcribed illustration.

"Good goddess that was great...you might be the next to bear my young!" Manith exclaimed with a chuckle as he placed his hand roughly on her flat stomach.

"I would...be honored...master..." the slave let out as she caught her breath. The act of interspecies conception was not well documented inside of The Lanthian Empire, though it had always been known to be possible. The fact that their children would be born as hybrids didn't appear to upset the slaves, though whether they were simply concealing their concerns or not mattered little to Manith.

Yet before the slave had even freed her master's shaft from her womanhood, the main doors of the crude throne room suddenly burst open as a trio of Zilrinian guards rushed in, panting hard and covered in various stains of blood.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF YOUR INTRUSION!" Manith exclaimed in surprise as he hurriedly pushed the slave off his lap, standing tall as his leathery green wings unfurled behind him.

The panic in the men's eyes was clear as they rushed towards their nude leader. Holding a clear wound on his side, one of the men collapsed in a heap onto the stone floor, while another began to shout. "My lord, they've breached the walls! You must flee!"

"WHAT?!?" Manith nearly screamed in anger as the five women quickly grouped together out of his way. "HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!?"

"They took us by surprise...my lord! Most of our guards had fallen before we even knew what occurred!" The other man yelled, wiping dirt from his face. "Please, you must flee! They're almost to The Grand Hall!"

Hesitating for only a moment, The Chief calmed himself somewhat before ordering Lalian to retrieve his armor.

"You don't understand...they're heading this way!" One of the guards stated. "Command has broken down and many of our men have already retreated! We can't repel them!"

Manith took the human-made chest plate from Lalian's grasp and began to fasten it to himself as he replied. "NO. I've come too far, gained too much to simply allow others to take what's mine. We WILL fight, and we WILL repel them. Now tell me, which Chiefdom do these invaders hail from?"

"Omrin, my lord!"

"Ah...Korvis. We shall teach that fat old fool the consequences of attacking Zilrin!" Manith yelled as he ripped his spear from Lalian's hands. "Come! We must reinstate order among the men!"

Lalian watched as the visibly hesitant guards turned to follow their leader before he quickly began to gather his illustrations, holding them close to his chest. Yet as he moved to retreat to The Grand Hall's inner rooms he paused, allowing his curiosity to get the better of him. He strode over to the open doorway, peering out into the night air.

The light from distant fires burned brightly behind the otherwise peaceful buildings that lay just outside. Though while the fighting remained somewhat far-off, the rising screams and shouts of battle announced a steadily approaching danger.

"Lalian...?" One of the pregnant slaves asked with a hint of fear in her voice as she cupped her belly.

The soft voice brought his attention back to the five women, causing him to step away from the entrance. "Yes miss, come. I know of a place we may hide." He replied before shutting the heavy doors despite knowing that they'd provide little resistance.

***

The clashing of hundreds of blades echoed around Manith as his large wings ripped him from the ground, carrying him over the wooden houses of Zilrin. The two guards accompanying him rushed down differing pathways, seeking to gather more men.

From above it quickly became obvious that any attempt at a defense would be nearly impossible. While four thousand Omrin warriors tore their way through the moderately dense settlement, only small clusters of Zilrinian's had managed to gather to provide any opposition.

Manith sored over the small army, twisting to avoid incoming arrows as he sought out Chief Korvis. If he could slay their leader, the efforts of Omrin would be heavily diminished.

Yet as he searched, his green eyes suddenly went wide with panic as a bolt of electricity erupted from far below, arcing towards him. With only a miniscule amount of reaction time he could do nothing as it enveloped his muscled form, painfully seizing every inch of his body.

Lasting only a second the electricity dissipated, leaving his limp body to careen towards the ground. Instinctively using his remaining strength to wrap himself in his leathery wings, Manith crashed through the fragile roof of a nearby hut.

***

"Bring him to me, though leave him alive if possible!" Dominax commanded in a stern voice as he pointed in the general direction of Manith's fall.

Clin nodded before splitting from the group of warriors gathered behind their white-cloaked leader as they marched towards the settlement's center.

The reddish dirt pathway laying before them was illuminated only by the flames of torches as they strode forward. Enemy warriors worked to slow their advancement, though were quickly cut down while others simply turned and fled.

Dominax reached the entrance to The Grand Hall, thrusting open its heavy doors. Meeting no resistance, he strode in with confident steps until he reached the throne.

Staring down at the crudely carved seat in contemplation, he then turned to his accompanying men and women. "Warriors of Omrin, I, Chief Dominax, claim this throne for the Domani Chiefdom! If any should oppose my claim let their voice be heard!"

The warriors seemed momentarily confused before the nearest man spoke up. "My lord, we were under the impression that Chief Korvis would hold the title of Zilrin's Chief."

The lack of hostility in the man's tone sent a trickle of relief through Dominax, as he had correctly read the room. His careful coaxing of respect during their journey to Zilrin had paid off. "So it was. Yet tell me, is he here? Did he come all this way, risking his life to fight amongst you? Or rather, did he choose to cower away, comfortable on his throne?"

Murmuring broke out among the warriors, echoing quietly through the main hall. The fact that they hadn't immediately defended their Chief's honor only proved to Dominax that their loyalties to the man remained fragile.

After a moment the discussion slowly died down before the same warrior took charge and spoke once more. "My lord, it is Chief Korvis's right to react to your decision, not ours. We shall continue to serve you until our return, as per his orders. Yet as is our right, we request that Chief Manith be slain in retribution for our past dead regardless of who holds the throne."

"Very well." Dominax agreed, taking his place on the throne. "The Lanthian ordered the slaughter of my people. He will be handled accordingly."

***

Groaning, Manish slowly staggered to his feet as he brushed debris aside. The fall had heavily damaged his wings, leaving several large tears that dripped light green blood onto the wood floor. After retrieving his spear, he stumbled out of the hut's entrance only to be met by several Omrin Warriors.

Catching sight of his winged form they quickly ran to face him, five in total. Teeth bared like wild animals, they descended upon him with bloodthirsty fury.

Manith swung his spear in wide arcs, attempting to keep their blades at bay. His muscles ached from the fall, yet he fought with furious vigor.

Clin's blonde hair caught Manith's eye as the warrior approached, clutching his sword in both hands. He reached his fellow fighters' position, joining in as they slowly encircled the Lanthian.

Manith watched the men carefully as they ceased their slashes, cautiously watching for an opening as he had managed to temporarily fend them off. Yet moving fast, Manith spun his spear, catching the blade of his nearest enemy and wrenching it from the man's grip, before moving to drive the sharp tip through the man's unguarded chest.

Reacting instantly to the death of their companion, the humans sprang their attack, rushing in to finish him off.

Clin quickly stepped back as the spear spun mere inches from his torso, catching the warrior to his left in the face as it opened a large gash that severed the man's nose.

Swinging his long weapon, Manith batted away their swords as screams from a nearby conflict echoed throughout the night sky, yet neither him nor his combatants reacted as a nearby hut erupted into flames. Rather, their blades simply danced as they smashed into each other.

The blonde-haired warrior blocked an incoming attack, nearly stumbling from the Chief's forceful swing. The move opened the warrior to his right to drive his sword through Manith's shredded wing, inciting a cry of pain to erupt from his green lips as he smashed his pierced wing into his attacker. The man fell hard to the ground, disarmed and unconscious.

Three men remaining, they all frantically ducked as a barrage of arrows slammed into nearby huts, sending a stray arrow directly onto the neck of one of Manith's attackers.

Clin looked to his last remaining ally, before both men charged once more at their winged enemy. Cutting low, then high, Clin could hardly avoid the spear as it spun to and fro, desperate to keep the human pair at bay.