CHAPTER 750: IMPERIAL GIFTS

As soon as Vlad set foot in the inner heart of Constantinopla, he was overwhelmed by an immediate surge of power. A myriad of forces spread in every direction, and his senses flared in response. Within seconds, he detected countless Sages—too many to count—and the number of Legends easily surpassed three digits.

"Amazing," Vlad muttered, awestruck.

Even for someone like him, who had walked through the brutal chaos of the Doomsday World and battled Superior Legends, this level of cultivation density was awe-inspiring. The sheer number of high-level entities in a single city left no doubt: this was the true heart of the Graecia Empire.

But soon his focus shifted from the people to the structures themselves. Though they retained a medieval aesthetic, the level of innovation and engineering was staggering—beyond anything Vlad had seen, even in the most advanced scientific literature.

Towers dotted the horizon, seamlessly integrated with magic and machinery. He observed several that constantly drew energy from the void between worlds, purifying it and channeling it into the city like a divine breath of life.

"No wonder people rise so quickly here," Vlad thought.

He didn’t dwell on it long. Up ahead, Konstantine had already begun ascending into the air. "From here on, we’re permitted to fly," the Kylon King explained. "Dukes are granted that right within the inner circle."

Vlad nodded and rose beside him, and together they soared deeper into the capital’s heart.

The inner ring of Constantinopla was even larger than the outer. Despite flying at peak speed, it took them nearly thirty minutes to reach the central district. As they approached, Vlad’s eyes widened in disbelief. Suspended above them were massive floating castles, each large enough to house tens of thousands.

Even without asking, Vlad could sense that merely living within the inner ring required unimaginable status and power. But these castles—hovering high above even that elite domain—belonged to the apex of power.

Luckily, Konstantine anticipated his curiosity. "Those are the Sacred Kingdoms," he explained. "Each one belongs to one of the nine most powerful families in the Graecia Empire. Originally, they were held by the founding families of the Empire, but over time, about half have changed hands."

Vlad’s eyes narrowed slightly. Though he wasn’t a vain man, the idea of one day taking a Sacred Kingdom for himself stirred something inside him. As if sensing the thought, Konstantine gave a knowing smile and shook his head.

"Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew," he warned. "To claim a Sacred Kingdom, you must defeat the family in control of it. Most of them have several Superior Legends, and it’s rumored that some even harbor a Lord at their core."

Vlad’s ambition cooled immediately. Just facing a single Superior Legend had pushed him to the brink; facing several at once was suicidal. Not to mention that Terra’s military, while strong, was still growing and couldn’t compete with factions that had existed in the Higher Dimension for hundreds of thousands of years.

Konstantine smiled at the silence, satisfied that the warning had been received.

Soon, they descended into the center of the capital. There stood a building that was only second to the floating kingdoms: the Senate.

"This is where we’ll finalize everything," Konstantine said. "Here, you’ll receive your Duke Emblem and your Imperial Gifts. We’ll also register the union of your world to the Empire and transfer the commanding rights of Terra officially to you."

Vlad nodded. Everything about the Graecia Empire reflected the structure of a high civilization. Bureaucracy, strict procedure, and meticulous documentation weren’t weaknesses—they were strengths, safeguards against fraud, and a testament to the empire’s organizational power.

The Senate was bustling. Dozens of elders, many of them at the Sage Realm or higher, moved through the halls with absolute focus. Their movements were precise, efficient, and without unnecessary delay. Even when passing by two Dukes, they didn’t flinch or bow. They simply continued on with their tasks.

Vlad, rather than feeling disrespected, was impressed. The level of discipline and dedication on display was refreshing. These weren’t sycophants or showmen.

They were functionaries, each serving a purpose. It was clear that anyone working here did not achieve their role out of luck.

It didn’t take long before they reached a wide desk behind which three figures were seated. Two were human, dressed in refined robes of imperial silk. The third was an ogre.

Unlike the brutish, violent aura typically associated with his kind, this ogre radiated wisdom and authority. His posture was straight, his gaze piercing, and his presence calm—commanding not through power, but through knowledge.

Konstantine approached with a respectful bow. "Good day, Councilor Merody," he said politely.

The ogre didn’t bother with small talk. His eyes locked onto Konstantine as he grunted, "Business?"

Konstantine smiled faintly. He hadn’t come for pleasantries. He had come because Merody was efficient and Vlad had made it clear that time was of the essence.

"I am here with the newly appointed Duke, Vlad Xaos. We’ve come for his emblem and his Imperial Gifts."

The ogre turned his focus to Vlad. The True Depravita mirrored Konstantine’s bow with one of his own.

Without a word, Merody summoned a crystal from his desk and floated it toward Vlad.

"Imprint your energy," the ogre instructed. "We must verify your identity."

Vlad didn’t hesitate. He extended his hand and sent a pulse of energy into the crystal. It glowed with a brilliant white hue, pulsing rhythmically in response to his Depravita essence.

Merody nodded, glancing down at a glowing ring on his finger. After a brief moment of silence, he looked up again.

"Identity confirmed. Your emblem is en route. It will arrive shortly. In the meantime, choose your Imperial Gifts."

With a wave of his hand, three large parchment scrolls appeared in front of Vlad, floating mid-air. The first contained a list of rare artifacts, cultivation resources, and even warships, the second a list of cultivation techniques, and the last one a catalog of territories.