Chapter 23 Seeds Of Dominion

• Six months later…
• The trajectory of River’s decline had spiraled into chaos, the scale of its losses growing exponentially. Violent protests erupted in the streets, escalating into uncontrollable riots that forced the imposition of martial law. Rivermirror, in its growing power, severed its ties completely, banishing River’s citizens from its borders. Under the new law, any River resident found within Rivermirror’s territory would face immediate execution if sufficient evidence was presented—unless a Baron explicitly approved their presence. Rivermirror declared itself an independent city, governed by its Barons, with Hound assuming the role of overseer of all Seers. His position was absolute, his influence terrifyingly vast.
• With Binge’s vast knowledge and experience, along with Gazier and Evee’s mastery of core hunting and resource management, the installation of the relay core was a resounding success. Dubbed “Prototype 0,” the system became the backbone of Rivermirror’s stability and prosperity, elevating the city into a thriving hub. Rune-constructed farms, orchestrated by Binge, produced a bounty of vegetation, while clean water flowed freely to its citizens, transforming the Barons into figures of reverence. For many, they were gods—providers of life in a world teetering on collapse.