Lord Evolution: Starting With SS-rank Skills

It was nighttime, and the people of Glenwood could be heard shouting their acceptance of Rowan's reign. The voices of children, women, men, and soldiers combined to create a thundering cacophony that spread across the area.

Fagin watched as his people chanted Rowan's name with respect and fear—something he hadn't experienced throughout his long reign.

Of course, as a lord, his people had chanted his name numerous times, but it had never held this much emotion—they only did it because they were forced to, not because they wanted to.

"This," he muttered, finding it difficult to speak.

Roland and the other soldiers watched their lord's back with pride shining in their eyes.

The scene unfolding before them was both amazing and divine.

At that moment, they realized their lord was not a simple man but someone capable of capturing the necessary emotions from everyone, including his own enemies.

Ren and Liara felt the same. Liara continued looking at Rowan; she couldn't believe that the same young Rowan of yesteryears, who always hid behind his father during large gatherings, would have the courage and power to invoke such emotions from men far older and more experienced than him.

She couldn't help but feel sad that her other sisters, who were captured by Glenwood, weren't here to observe the scene.

The chanting of the people continued, quickly transforming from chants of acceptance to chants of Rowan's name.

"We hail Lord Rowan!" their voices thundered.

Rowan listened to the chanting of his name with a smile on his face. He observed the happy and delighted faces of the crowd before turning to look at Fagin, who couldn't believe his own eyes at that moment.

When Fagin felt Rowan's gaze on him, he quickly asked the question that had been bothering him: "You have my staff of authority and my people already. Will you please let me go? I will leave this village and promise never to return!"

But his words were met with a mocking chuckle from Rowan.

Fagin's eyes widened immediately. While Rowan chuckled, what he heard was the maniacal laugh of a reaper ready to take his soul.

Rowan didn't even pay attention to him and turned to the people, basking in their chants for a few minutes before silencing them with a simple wave of his hand.

Everyone stared at him with smiles on their faces, awaiting his next words.

"You made the right choice accepting my reign, and I promise you will not regret it as we will keep growing stronger and better each day that passes by," he started.

"On the other hand, I will be using my authority as your new lord to set a new standard for all the men who think like these two," Rowan said as the soldiers dragged Fagin and Stanis forward.

"These two do not deserve to continue living after the sins they have committed. They have not only committed sins against you people but against your ancestors, and those sins, from now on, will be punishable by instant execution!"

Rowan's words spread across the area quickly.

Fagin's eyes widened, and tears began falling from them.

"Please, you said you would spare me if I gave you the staff of authority! I did that! And you even took my people and territory away from me," Fagin began speaking frantically, pleading for his life.

Rowan didn't even bother to look at him.

He drew his sword immediately, the sharp blade glistening under the moonlight.

Fagin's body began to shiver. Stanis saw the cold blade, and he too began to shiver as the realization dawned on him.

"Cover the eyes of your little ones," Rowan commanded.

The women and men immediately did as he said; all the innocent little children were prevented from witnessing the traumatizing execution.

Although they had already experienced the battle earlier, beheading someone they had known and respected since they were born might create some sort of trauma, which Rowan sought to prevent as best as he could.

The soldiers made Fagin and Stanis kneel on the ground, bowing their heads. Stanis intended to resist, but the pain in his body stopped him. Fagin's huge build also made it pretty difficult to break out of the tight clutch of the soldier pressing him down.

"Today, I deliver the justice my people deserve!" Rowan yelled.

Roland and the soldiers lifted their swords and chanted a thunderous, "Justice for Winterseed!"

The people of Winterseed observed the process silently.

"Please, do not kill me! I beg you, have mercy on me!" Fagin cried out in a loud voice.

"Do not let him kill me, your lord! I have done a lot for you all!" he continued.

Rowan snorted, lifted his sword, and sent it flying, delivering a clean execution. Stanis's head fell from his body and rolled under Fagin.

Fagin saw the head of his captain, and his eyes widened in fear. He began to plead once again for his life, but it was too late.

Rowan executed him even before he could let out a single word.

As Fagin's lifeless body slumped to the ground, a heavy silence enveloped the crowd. For a brief moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then, from the midst of the villagers, a single voice shouted, "Justice for Winterseed!"

"Hail Lord Rowan!" another joined in.

Soon, everyone erupted into a unified chant, their voices merging into a powerful anthem that echoed through the night.

"Justice for Winterseed! Hail Lord Rowan!"

The thunderous chorus washed over Rowan like a tide, filling him with a mix of triumph and humility. He turned to face the sea of faces—men, women, and children—all looking to him with hope and reverence. Their eyes reflected the glow of the torches, but also something brighter: faith in a better future.

Rowan continued smiling as the Quest completion notification popped up in front of him.

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QUEST COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY

REWARDS:

X1 Common-grade Territory Box, X1 Wheel Ticket, 1,000,000 Evolution Points

You have unlocked WHEEL feature

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[100x Rewards activated | x100 Common-grade Territory Box, x100 Wheel Ticket, x100,000,000 Evolution Points have been added]

The smile on Rowan's face widened as he reviewed the rewards before him.

The appearance of the rewards and the chanting made his smile widen even more.

The amount of joy he felt right now could not be compared to any he had felt!

*Do not enjoy the moment alone!!*

As he basked in the joyous feeling, a voice suddenly protested in his head, and he was quickly reminded of Blaze, whom he had kept inside the Divine Beast Plain after exhausting its powers earlier.

He quickly called it out, and it appeared sneakily out of midair, relaxing on Rowan's shoulder. It stared at the people chanting the name of its master with a smug expression on its face.

The people were too focused on their jubilation, and they failed to see Blaze appearing out of nowhere. They wouldn't be too surprised, though, as they had already seen it before, even witnessed its magical prowess.

Rowan observed the shocking growth of Blaze, both in size and cultivation level, for a few seconds before returning his gaze to the crowd. He brought out his staff of authority and lifted it into the air.

The intricately carved symbols caught the moonlight, casting shimmering patterns that danced across the crowd.

"People of Glenwood and Winterseed," his voice rang out, clear and strong. "Tonight, we have ended the reign of tyranny and injustice. No longer will you live in fear or suffer under the whims of those who do not honor you. From this day forward, I vow to lead with integrity, wisdom, and compassion."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd, faces lighting up with renewed hope. Roland and the other soldiers stood tall behind Rowan, their expressions a blend of pride and unwavering loyalty. Liara watched from the sidelines, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She could hardly believe that the timid boy she once knew had become the man standing before them—a true leader.

Rowan continued, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Together, we will rebuild and strengthen our lands. We will honor our ancestors by forging a future that our children can be proud of. Will you stand with me in this new beginning?"

An overwhelming roar of approval met his question. "We stand with you, Lord Rowan!"

He nodded, a satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Lowering the staff, he placed it firmly on the ground before him—a symbolic gesture sealing his commitment. "Then let it be known that unity and justice will be the pillars of our reign."

The people erupted once more into jubilant cheers. The atmosphere transformed into one of celebration, a stark contrast to the tension that had gripped them moments before. Families embraced, soldiers clasped each other's shoulders, and children danced around with uninhibited joy.

Amidst the revelry, Rowan took a moment to observe his newfound domain. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Roland standing beside him, a respectful distance away.

"You have made the name of Winterseed great again, greater than what your father could ever imagine," Roland said quietly with a smile.

---

It was still nighttime in Winterseed, and the villagers were already in their homes, fast asleep—quite different from the previous night when most of them had spent their time in the village square, worrying and praying for the safety of their days.

Meanwhile, at the southern border, a tall, imposing figure could be seen approaching the village, dressed in ragged clothes and clutching a small bottle containing a glowing opaque liquid.

He suddenly halted and observed the village with a calm smile, "I am finally back with the milk!"