The hall, still bathed in the soft lattice glow of the starlit covenant, hummed with purpose. Kael, standing near the central dais, held a scroll heavier than any ordinary parchment, its runes pulsating faintly with a rhythm that seemed to echo from another plane.
> Kael (addressing the deployment heads of the Azure Sect): "This is the planetary conversion scroll. Once cast into the Devourer Region, it will shift the entire domain into the veiled plane. You must enter the region, deploy it, and then retreat outside the portal. Wait thirty minutes exactly before returning."
The Azure Sect heads exchanged nods, their expressions grave but determined. They understood the weight of this task; even a minor misstep could unravel centuries of preparation.
> Khaldron (calm, commanding): "Do not rush. Let the scroll do its work. Your presence is necessary only to guide the lattice and ensure the conversion's alignment. The Devourer Region will vanish from the material plane, hidden from all eyes, yet fully accessible to us in the veiled realm."
The deployment team moved in silence, their robes swirling as they ascended the portal dais. Frost motes gathered around them, responding to the ethereal energy of the scroll. Each hand, each step, each pulse of cultivation was synchronized with the lattice threading through the Azure Sect.
Once they crossed the threshold, the Devourer Region sprawled before them like a desolate canvas: dead trees towering like petrified mountains, gnarled roots curling across barren plains, and the remnants of ancient leviathans sprawled in eternal repose.
Kael's voice echoed faintly through the lattice:
> Kael: "Place the scroll at the central nexus of the region. Ensure the runes face outward in alignment with the ley conduits. Once activated, step back immediately."
The heads carefully laid the scroll upon a stone pedestal, etched with faint glyphs designed to anchor the conversion. As they completed the alignment, silver and crimson threads of energy began to spiral outward, entwining with the runes of the Devourer trees. The ground itself shivered, the trees quivering as if breathing for the first time in centuries.
> Deployment Head: "It's… alive. The energy flows through every root, every branch…"
A wave of visible distortion rippled across the plains as the scroll's magic enveloped the domain. Colors shifted unnaturally, shadows danced like living things, and a humming pulse vibrated through the air—a temporal heartbeat as the Devourer Region prepared to slip entirely into the veiled plane.
> Khaldron (over lattice, still outside): "Stand clear. Wait thirty minutes. The lattice will protect you, but your patience ensures the conversion is absolute."
The deployment team took their positions outside the immediate nexus, the energy of the scroll forming a shimmering barrier around them. For thirty minutes, the Devourer Region twisted, folded, and faded from the material plane, becoming a domain accessible only to those who could perceive the veiled world.
Frost motes in the Azure Sect hall pulsed in tandem with the conversion, echoing the rhythm of distant, unseen energy. When thirty minutes passed, the portal shimmered, and the heads returned, their faces awash with awe and exhaustion. The Devourer Region, now hidden from all eyes, was fully under the control of the Azure Sect and accessible only via the lattice or veiled-plane gateways.
> Kael: "Well done. Every tree, every root, every remnant is now under our command. Prepare the lumber extraction and deploy the golems. The first phase begins at dawn."
Outside the portal, the Devourer Region lay silent, still, and empty to any mortal gaze—but beneath the veiled plane, the trees, the roots, and the ley currents throbbed with life and purpose, ready to serve the grand design Khaldron had set in motion.
The heads of the Azure Sect, still hovering near the portal, exchanged uneasy glances. The grass of the central unused plains swayed gently under a cold wind, untouched by cultivation or settlement, the vast openness emphasizing the weight of their task.
> Azure Head Engineer: "Master Kael… this portal… it will hold? For the entirety of the conversion?"
The lattice hummed faintly, threads of silver and crimson weaving across the open plain, anchoring the portal to the central nexus. The scroll's energy radiated in concentric rings, binding the Devourer Region to the veiled plane.
> Kael (calmly, without haste): "Yes. The portal is anchored to this plain. Its open expanse, free of interference, allows the lattice to stabilize fully. The conversion will remain intact for as long as the runes maintain alignment."
> Azure Head Scholar: "And the region itself… it will remain undisturbed until we deploy our labor?"
Kael's gaze swept across the grassland, frost motes flickering faintly, reflecting the lattice's control.
> Kael: "Every tree, every ley current, every root of the Devourer Region is now locked in the veiled plane. The portal acts as a tether, temporary yet perfectly secure. From here, laborers and golems may enter and exit, extracting resources, while the material world remains untouched. Nothing shall falter."
The heads nodded in solemn acknowledgment, understanding the precision and power behind such a deployment. The vast grassland, empty and silent, now bore the invisible weight of a hidden world—a domain fully under the Azure Sect's unseen command.
> Kael: "Prepare the golems. Coordinate the extraction routes. Every tree, every root, every harvestable resource shall be accounted for. Efficiency is paramount."
The heads moved swiftly, their training and experience blending with the lattice's pulse. The portal remained stable, suspended above the open plains like a silvered eye into another reality, awaiting the first wave of labor and extraction.
The grass of the central plain swayed under the wind, indifferent to the immense forces anchored above it, yet every stalk seemed to hum faintly with the lattice's rhythm—silent witnesses to the birth of a hidden dominion.
Kael's frost-lit gaze swept over the Azure Sect heads gathered in the central plain, their robes fluttering under the cold wind that cut across the empty grasslands. The portal shimmered before them, a silvered gateway into the veiled Devourer Region, suspended above the unbroken expanse.
> Khaldron: "This is a temporary portal. The main conduit is still under construction. Your task is clear: establish an outpost immediately."
The heads exchanged glances, the enormity of the assignment settling over them like the chill in the wind.
> Azure Head Engineer: "An outpost… in the Devourer Region itself, while the portal remains temporary?"
Khaldron's lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile, frost motes swirling like quiet sparks around him.
> Khaldron: "Yes. You are the first to step into that hidden world. Secure it, fortify it, and prepare it for the arrival of laborers and golems. Every structure, every supply node, every defensive post must be established under the lattice's guidance. Time is finite—work swiftly."
> Azure Head Scholar: "And the resources… extraction will begin immediately upon securing the outpost?"
> Khaldron: "Correct. Lumber, ley currents, and any other harvestable matter are to be cataloged and managed. Efficiency and order will determine the speed of the main portal's activation. Nothing is to be wasted, and no misstep tolerated. The Devourer Region's veins now belong to us."
The grass of the central plain swayed under the wind, silent witnesses to the unseen forces now threading through the lattice. Frost motes spiraled higher, guiding the heads' steps as if marking the pulse of the world beyond.
> Khaldron: "Remember—this portal is temporary. Its stability is sufficient for now, but your vigilance will ensure it remains unbroken. The outpost is the anchor for all future operations. Fail here, and the veiled region may falter. Succeed, and we lay the foundation for dominion."
The Azure Sect heads bowed in unison, frost-lit light glancing off their robes, before moving in precise formation toward the portal. Each step carried the weight of responsibility, as the cold wind of the plains whispered through the grass, echoing the rhythm of the lattice and the hidden dominion that awaited beyond.
The wind swept across the central plain, rippling the tall, untamed grass as frost motes shimmered faintly in the chill. The temporary portal hovered like a silvered eye, tethering the veiled Devourer Region to the Azure Sect's domain. Khaldron's gaze remained fixed upon it, silent yet commanding, frost-lit eyes glinting beneath the gray light of the overcast sky.
> Dwarf Elder (firmly): "Master Kael, do not concern yourself. We are on standby 24/7. Alongside our rune engineers, Azure Sect scholars, and labor coordinators, the outpost will be ready and fully prepared."
The elder's voice carried the weight of unshakable resolve, echoing across the plain. Around him, other leaders nodded, their expressions a mixture of awe and determination. The lattice thrummed faintly beneath their feet, as if acknowledging the coordination of their combined efforts.
> Khaldron: "Good. Remember, every rune, every formation, every structure must align with the lattice. The portal's stability is temporary, and the veiled region is delicate. Precision is not optional."
> Dwarf Elder: "We understand. Every rune placed, every laborer dispatched, every resource accounted for—our watches never falter. The portal will remain steady under our vigilance."
A cold gust swept through the plain, bending the grass like living waves. Khaldron's gaze flicked briefly to the horizon, where the unused expanse stretched endlessly, perfect for anchoring the temporary portal. His hand brushed against the ethereal runes on the scroll in front of him, and the lattice pulsed in resonance, a silent affirmation of his words.
> Khaldron: "Then proceed. Establish the outpost. The Devourer Region's veins are ours to manage. The lattice watches, and so do I."
The Dwarf Elder inclined his head solemnly, signaling readiness. Around them, Azure Sect rune engineers began moving toward the portal, their tools and formations shimmering with frost-lit energy. The air was taut with anticipation—the first steps into a hidden dominion about to be made, under the vigilant eyes of the Reaper and the unyielding lattice that bound the world.
Kael's frost-lit eyes swept across the central plain, lingering on the elders gathered there. Every one of them bore the weight of relentless duty—faces lined with exhaustion, robes damp with sweat, hands calloused from endless hours of preparation. Their eyes were heavy, some bloodshot, yet their focus had not wavered. Kael noted silently: not one had rested since the summons, and still they stood ready, the burdens of their regions etched into their weary forms.
> Kael: "Elders, guard them well. This region is untested, and even the smallest misstep may ripple through the lattice."
The Dwarf Elder straightened, fatigue evident in his posture, but his voice rang with unwavering resolve.
> Kael (to the Dwarf Elder): "If you require anything—supplies, labor, or adjustments to the formations—call upon us. Use this communication token."
He placed a small rune-etched device in the elder's hands, glowing faintly with frost-lit energy.
> Kael: "It links directly to the Azure Sect command and to me. Nothing will go unnoticed. No request will go unanswered. Consider it a direct line to the lattice's oversight."
The Dwarf Elder accepted it solemnly, eyes flicking to Kael with a mixture of awe and gratitude.
> Dwarf Elder: "Understood, Master Kael. We shall monitor the portal and the outpost tirelessly. The Devourer Region will not falter under our watch, no matter the hour."
Kael's gaze lingered on the assembled elders, noting the shadows under their eyes, the faint tremor of exhaustion in their fingers. Yet their discipline was flawless—the lattice pulsed faintly beneath their feet, echoing their tireless dedication.
> Kael (softly, to himself): "They have not slept… yet they endure. Let the operation commence. Every rune, every laborer, every golem shall serve the lattice faithfully."
With that, he stepped back, fading into the faint mist over the central plain as the elders and Azure Sect teams moved forward. The temporary portal shimmered, a silvered eye over the plains, anchoring the hidden dominion beyond, while the tireless guardians of the lattice prepared to bring the Devourer Region under firm control.
The central plain lay tense and silent. Every elder, head engineer, and master scholar had assembled, eyes fixed on the temporary portal, anticipation coiling like steel in the air. Khaldron and Kael had already stepped aside, leaving the gathered leaders behind, their presence a ghostly weight upon the assembly. No words were spoken, only the faint hum of the lattice threading through the ground.
From the threshold of the portal, the Head Azure Cultivator appeared, carrying the monumental scroll of planetary conversion—immense, stretching beyond both arms, runes etched in silver and crimson glittering faintly like captured starlight. Without hesitation, he hurled the colossal scroll into the portal. It unrolled mid-air, cascading with glowing runes that ignited the threshold, brushing the shimmering walls, anchoring immediately into the Devourer Region's void lattice.
Before the scroll had even settled, the cultivator sprinted after it, vanishing into the portal. Silver motes trailed behind him, tracing the motion like frozen sparks, and the portal pulsed faintly under the weight of the scroll's command.
Inside the Devourer Region, the cultivator crouched near the immense parchment, adjusting it within the intricate formations. Every rune pulsed in harmony with the void, converting the chaotic energy of the region into the veiled world's framework. Despite the scroll's overwhelming size, his movements were precise and deliberate, ensuring the transformation stabilized.
Outside, the central plain remained still, the temporary portal shimmering like a silvered eye. Those left behind could only watch, breath held, as thirty minutes stretched ahead, the veiled conversion silently weaving itself into existence, leaving Khaldron and Kael absent, their work already beyond the veil.
The minutes dragged like hours across the central plain.
The elders stood motionless, their silhouettes stiff against the wind. No one dared to shift, no one dared to speak. The temporary portal hovered above them—its edges trembling faintly, as if strained by the colossal forces threading through its frame. Frost motes gathered around its rim, swirling in solemn rhythm, their glow deepening with every pulse from the veiled world beyond.
At the twenty-minute mark, the lattice beneath their feet shivered.
A soft tremor passed through the plain—subtle, but undeniable. Several elders stiffened, hands drifting instinctively toward their rune pendants.
> Dwarf Elder (under his breath): "The conversion reaches its crest… hold steady…"
The air thickened. Colors bent and recoiled. For a moment, the sky itself dimmed, as though the light were being drawn into the portal. Grass flattened in concentric ripples, each wave synchronized to the heartbeat of the scroll's immense magic.
Inside the Devourer Region, the Head Azure Cultivator continued his work. Though unseen by those outside, the lattice's echo revealed fragments of his struggle—flashes of energy rippling through the portal, a fleeting silhouette twisting against crimson light, the scroll's runes flaring violently before settling.
A booming pulse erupted through the portal.
The elders flinched, the sound deep enough to vibrate bone.
The portal stretched—widening for a breath—before snapping back to perfect form. A ring of frost spiraled outward across the plain, coating the grass in a thin crystalline layer.
> Azure Scholar (whispering): "That was the scroll binding the region's core… If he misaligned even an inch—"
> Dwarf Elder: "He did not. Trust the Head."
Time crawled. Each heartbeat echoed unnaturally loud in the tense silence.
Twenty-five minutes.
Twenty-six.
The lattice threads turned visible—thin veins of pale silver running through the ground, pulsing in tandem with the portal. The entire plain now thrummed like a single living organ, synchronized to the immense structure of the veiled world.
At the thirtieth minute precisely, the portal shuddered once more—then steadied.
A low, resonant chime rang through the air, like the tolling of a deep celestial bell. The frost motes froze mid-spin, then scattered.
A silhouette appeared within the portal.
The Head Azure Cultivator stumbled through, breath ragged, robes scorched along the edges from the scroll's final discharge. Yet his eyes burned with triumph.
Behind him, the portal showed a brief glimpse—just long enough for the elders to see it:
The Devourer Region, utterly transformed.
The dead trees glowed with runic veins. Ley currents twisted in mirrored spirals. The sky above the veiled plane shimmered like faint auroras, pulsing with the rhythm of a world remade.
Then the portal sealed the view once more.
The cultivator fell to one knee, planting his palm on the frost-lined grass.
> Head Azure Cultivator (hoarse, but resolute):
"The conversion is complete. The Devourer Region… now rests fully within the veiled plane. Anchored. Stable. Obedient."
A wave of breath escaped the assembled elders—relief, awe, disbelief.
The Dwarf Elder stepped forward, voice low and reverent.
> Dwarf Elder: "And the scroll?"
> Head Azure Cultivator: "Integrated into the nexus. Its runes flow through every root… every shadow… every grain of dust. Nothing remains uncontrolled."
The portal pulsed once in acknowledgment, its silver glow softening.
Then a deeper silence fell.
A presence—not seen, but felt—descended upon the plain like a cold shadow.
Khaldron and Kael stepped from the mist at the far edge of the field, as if walking out of thin air. Neither had been visible before, yet both now appeared with the calm certainty of those who had witnessed the entire process from afar.
Frost motes descended around them in spiraling patterns of recognition.
> Kael (quiet, frost-lit):
"The first phase is complete."
> Khaldron (voice like iron wrapped in winter):
"Prepare the outpost.
The hidden dominion wakes."
The moment the Head Azure Cultivator confirmed the conversion's completion, the plain shifted from silence to controlled urgency. Orders rippled through the ranks, and the massive operation that had been waiting on standby finally surged into motion.
From the edges of the central plain, the first lines of workers emerged—moving in disciplined formation, their silhouettes cutting through the frost-lined grass.
Outside the Portal – The Staging Grounds
The temporary portal flickered steadily overhead, a silver eye watching the preparations. Below it, the exterior establishment began forming with rapid precision.
Warehouse haulers arrived first—massive wagons pulled by rune-etched beasts and golem constructs, each cart carrying stacked crates of materials: enchanted timber, metal plates, formation anchors, food supplies, essence lamps, spare runes, and stabilizing pillars.
The haulers rumbled across the plain, wheels leaving deep tracks in the frost-kissed earth. Rune-lamps flickered on their sides, casting wandering shadows.
Behind them marched the carpenters—axes strapped across their backs, saw-blades forged from mythic ore glowing faintly blue. They formed immediate work crews, marking out the foundations for temporary bunkers, barracks, and large storage shelters.
> Carpenter Foreman:
"Mark these lines for wind-bracing! Warehouse walls up first—resources must not be exposed!"
Next came the engineers—Azure Sect structural masters wearing slim metallic harnesses brimming with tools. They carried folded scaffolds, portable arcane rigs, and energy coils for stabilizing the portal's base.
> Lead Engineer:
"Builders to the south quadrant. We start with the anchoring pylons. Set your levels—no deviation, not even by a finger's width."
A group of rune masters followed, each carrying scrolls, ink stones, and metal rods that glowed with frost energy. They moved like a living formation—silent, eyes fixed on the terrain. Every few steps, a master knelt and pressed runic symbols into the soil, weaving the first layer of a protective perimeter.
> Rune Master:
"Activate the first circle. Synchronize to the lattice thread—now."
A wave of silver rippled across the field as their marks ignited.
Then came the heavy thunder of footsteps—golem labor units, each towering three men high, carved from cold stone and veined with silver lines. Their eyes glowed a faint cobalt as they recognized the portal's pulse.
They formed into orderly columns, awaiting command.
> Golem Commander (through a lattice rod):
"Units A through D: Construction.
Units E through H: Hauling.
Units I through L: Defensive perimeter."
The golems obeyed instantly, splitting apart like a massive machine.
This was the exterior setup—order, logistics, and foundation.
But the true work lay beyond.
---
Inside the Portal – The Veiled Outpost Begins
The Head Azure Cultivator signaled, and the first wave of personnel stepped into the portal, their silhouettes dissolving into silver light.
On the veiled side, the Devourer Region now shimmered with structured energy. Where once barren desolation sprawled, now the ley lines glittered like luminous roots under the surface.
The interior establishment began.
Haulers moved inside, unloading supply crates onto the black soil. Carpenters erected frames for structures meant to endure the veiled world's strange energy winds.
Engineers deployed stabilization pylons—slamming them into the ground, each pillar anchoring itself with radiant spikes of energy.
Rune masters etched defensive wards along the pathways, their runes glowing brighter in the veiled plane's twilight.
Golems tore through petrified roots and debris with inhuman efficiency, clearing vast areas in minutes.
> Interior Overseer:
"You six—start laying the foundations for the central warehouse.
Golems, bring those stone blocks forward.
Rune team, begin inscribing the interior wards.
Move with purpose—this region answers to us now!"
The veiled sky pulsed faintly overhead, acknowledging the lattice.
Laborers and specialists moved in flowing formation, hundreds of them dispersing across the newly stabilized terrain. Buildings began to take shape—walls rising, beams locking into place, runic plates fusing into defensive barriers.
A vast warehouse—the first permanent structure—stretched upward, its frame glowing with cold-blue reinforcement lines.
Nearby, the foundation for the command outpost was being leveled, the ground trembling as golems compacted the soil in perfect uniformity.
Frost motes shimmered across the veiled air, swirling like watchful spirits as the Azure Sect reshaped the land.
---
From Afar
And on the distant ridge outside, Kael and Khaldron watched the entire operation unfold—silent, unmoving, cold as guardians of fate.
> Kael:
"The outpost takes shape."
> Khaldron:
"Good. Let them build.
By dawn… this veiled dominion will be ours."
The wind carried their words across the plain, unheard by mortals—but felt by the lattice itself.
The hidden dominion had begun its awakening.
Night descended upon the veiled Devourer Region without warning—no sunset, no dimming sky.
One moment the horizon trembled with shifting light, and the next, a cold, starless darkness swallowed the outpost whole.
The newly built structures—half-finished warehouses, frame towers, runework pylons—glowed faintly as the lattice awakened to compensate. Silver lines pulsed along the walls like slow breaths, keeping the region illuminated just enough for work to continue.
Laborers moved through the dimness with lanterns of essence-light, their steps leaving shimmering prints in the dark soil. Carpenters tightened beams by torch-glow while golems hauled stone blocks silently through the gloom, their eyes flickering with soft cobalt fire.
Beyond the perimeter, the Devourer trees whispered.
Their skeletal branches swayed though no wind touched them—creaking, groaning, bending toward the outpost as if curious about the intruders now shaping their domain.
> Rune Master (softly, while inscribing barriers):
"The night stirs differently here… layer the wards heavier."
A faint vibration rippled through the ground in reply, as though the region itself was listening.
Above, the sky was a blank abyss—no moon, no stars, only the faint shimmer of the veiled plane's currents drifting like ghostly rivers. The portal behind them throbbed faintly, its silver edges casting long shadows across the packed earth.
Inside the command tent, the overseers mapped their next moves, lantern-light trembling over their charts.
> Interior Overseer:
"The outpost holds. Keep the pylons burning through the night.
No one wanders alone after the third bell."
Outside, a low hum resonated—golems patrolling the perimeter, their footsteps echoing like slow drums through the dark.
The night was not hostile…
But it was aware.
And every worker could feel it.