Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2978: Blood Covenant

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Dark Realm, Gelid Alps, Snow Elven Region, Forsell District, Frosnow City

“Master Crafter, the truth is, the core forging method you have already bestowed upon us is worth more than our entire race put together,” the Chieftain said, taking a step forward.

“We cannot ask for anything more from you; to do so would be taking disgraceful advantage of your boundless generosity. Henceforth, the Frosling race is yours to rule, command, and dispose of as you see fit,” He added. He wasn’t just agreeing to my terms—he was seizing the moment to hitch his wagon completely to my train.

I suppressed a smirk. The Chieftain was a sharp one. He knew that someone who could effortlessly create a Ruler-class core forging method wasn’t exactly hurting for loyal retainers. He was betting everything that there were hundreds of desperate dark races out there that would gladly crawl through the dirt and become the filth beneath my boots if it meant their people could receive a tailored, potential Ruler-class core forging technique. The Froslings would be incredibly stupid—and entirely deserve extinction—if they let an opportunity like this slip through their fingers.

The Chieftain wasn’t alone in this desperate gamble, either. Looking around the massive oval table, I could see the exact same fanatic conviction mirrored in the eyes of every single tribal head.

Besides, they weren’t going into this blindly. Moon Fright had already thoroughly briefed them on why a being of my stature would show interest in a struggling race like theirs: the Winter Valley.

With all that information laid out plainly on the board, they didn’t see a single reason to object to their Chieftain’s declaration. Serving a powerful, generous mastermind who actually gave them the tools to grow strong was a trillion times better than remaining slaves to the arrogant Snow Elves or trying to make it on their own.

Some of the tribal heads around the table had even secretly entertained the thought of bringing out the most beautiful and powerful females of their clan to seduce me. They were completely desperate; they honestly wouldn’t have cared if I had taken a fancy to their race for such shallow, transactional reasons. As long as their younger generation could secure the complete, unrestricted Ruler-class core forging method, they viewed any sacrifice as completely worth it.

That forging method, combined with the untouched resources of the Winter Valley, meant they would possess the foundation to rise as a genuine, independent Ruler-class force within a couple of centuries.

However, Moon Fright had already fiercely shot that idea down behind closed doors. She had warned them bluntly that they would only succeed in irking the Master Crafter by trying to repay his life-altering generosity with such lowly, predictable schemes. Looking at her now, she gave me a subtle, respectful nod, knowing she had spared her elders from making a catastrophic blunder.

“Stand up,” I commanded smoothly, leaning back in the heavy chair at the head of the table. “I understand your intentions. And considering my ambitions in the Winter Valley, I have little choice but to take you under my wing. So, if you are truly ready to represent your entire race and swear your undying loyalty to me, then call out my name three times aloud: Dalton V. Wyatt.”

The Chieftain dropped back down to his knees, and every single tribal head behind him followed his lead in a wave of synchronized, absolute reverence. In unison, they drew their ceremonial blades, cutting along their palms before forming tight fists. Holding their hands before them, they squeezed their blood onto the floor.

Speaking with the collective weight of the entire Frosling race, they swore their eternal loyalty directly to me:

“In the presence of the will of the Frosell,

We surrender our bodies and our souls to Dalton V. Wyatt.

We entrust our destiny and our faith to Dalton V. Wyatt.

We pledge eternal loyalty and absolute obedience to Dalton V. Wyatt.”

The words echoed sharply within the high-ceilinged meeting hall, carrying a heavy, almost physical resonance as the fresh blood pooled on the cold stone floor.

These guys were damn serious. They had used their own lifeblood to summon the embers of the Frosell’s celestial will in their blood, forging a true Blood Covenant—an absolute oath binding their entire bloodline. They didn’t just hitch their wagon to mine; they had chained their entire race’s future, their children, and the generations to come, directly to mine.

That was fucking crazy.

It only went to show the sheer, agonizing desperation they had been driven to by the Snow Elves. To completely give up the autonomy of your entire species’ future just for a chance at survival and growth—it was a terrifying gamble. But it also gave me an absolute, unbreakable piece of leverage. Under the blood covenant, they were mine now.

The crazy part about this blood covenant was that it was entirely one-sided. It placed absolute demands on the Froslings, yet asked for absolutely nothing from my end.

Legally and metaphysically, I was under zero obligation. Even if I turned around right now, walked out of this hall, and completely abandoned everything I had discussed with Moon Fright, these guys would still be cosmically compelled by the contract to follow me, serve me, and obey my every whim until the end of time.

They had given me total, unconditional ownership. It was the ultimate proof that the Chieftain hadn’t been exaggerating or blowing political smoke when he said the core forging method I bestowed upon them was worth more than their entire race put together.

“Rise,” I said, my voice dropping into a deeper, commanding tone that carried the new weight of our bond.

The Frosling leaders stood up in unison, their eyes locked onto me, waiting for the first decree from their new master.

“Since you were brave enough to trust the fate of your race to me by officially tying your bloodline to my name,” I continued, looking each of the tribal heads in the eye, “I will do everything in my power to keep that trust. I don’t break my contracts, and I certainly don’t waste assets as valuable as you.”

I turned back to the oval table, gesturing for the Chieftain and Moon Fright to take their positions.