Slowly opening his eyes, Kuran looked at the ceiling of his room and felt slight pressure on his bare chest. Looking down he smiled as he saw the sleeping forms of Isadel and Lehid on his sides, their heads and from each an arm are on his chest.

Carefully to not wake them he stroke the naked bodies of his two mistresses and his mind wandered back to when it became official...

Six months ago, a few weeks after the victory against Steadfast and the followed up announcement of the crowning of Arlene and the marriage between her and Overlord Kuran, he also announced that he and the Skeith Lehid are a couple.

He used that to also make her the Lady of the lands of his passed away mistress Istar.

And two months ago, during an incident where he was again rebutting her adepts to woo him, she simply went up and kissed him and didn't let go.

He struggled to get her off but had realized how smooth her skin was and how passionate she kissed him... so he gave her a try and that resulted in today's position. Her being an official member of his harem.

As he stroke Lehid's side, he felt her belly and the bulge that is forming... reminding him that she told him recently that she is expecting an egg from him.

From what he was told, while a "pregnancy" for Skeiths last only 6 months, hatching the egg was taking almost the same time, thus giving a time frame of 12 months. Also he has to expect that their child will at first resemble more of a human on the head, so the newborn could suckle on the mother's breast. Only later the break would grow and replace the lips.

Neither Lehid nor Gnarl or anybody else could explain why lips get replaced by beaks if the other way around sounds more practical.

"Evolution in fantasy settings are just funny..." muttered the dark lord with an amused smile.

"So that is the fourth wall awareness the Yuma's are known for?" asked a voice and Kuran didn't even had to ask who it was as Sunkren moved in and sat on the bed.

"Yes it is... and your early appearance is explained by?" mused the still laying Overlord.

"Just were wondering if you were up for some morning exercises." giggles the Succubus but then winked "Nah, you had enough last night. Nope I just wanted to remind you that today is the announcement."

"Thanks." he said and then laughs "You know... I didn't expect you to be so responsible when we first met each other."

"Not surprising. I was looking for a new darling. And... each time I do, I am a bit... on my own tracks." laughs Sunkren and plays a bit with her own tail and shakes her head. "But once you agreed," she grinned "I am dedicated to make you happy. And the best way here is to ensure everything runs according to plan or schedule." then she leaned in and kissed his lips "Though you could have gained my qualities faster if you hadn't fight it for nearly four months."

"You know why I did try to refuse you."

"Point" and tipped her own nose in thought

Then she snapped her fingers "Before I forget. During the night I had to stop another adapted revolt from Steadfast old territory."

A groan was heard and he wished he had a free hand to slap his forehead. "Again? That is the tenth adept since we took victory."

"Despite the former Virtues adepts to keep things under control, here are still too many of Steadfast's commanding officers left that try to avenge him or carry on the legacy of his." sighs Sunkren and rubs her head and shakes her head "Not to mention each time to execute, banish or send one of them to the mines, you are seemingly only creating martyrs in their eyes."

"Can't you two he a bit more silent?" sighs Lehid with closed eyes "I am still trying to sleep. I am heavy with an egg you know!"

"You're not that heavy yet." sighs Isadel and lifts her hand to stroke the Skeith's head "But I can get where you're coming from on that matter."

"Well... if you two are awake now, can you please lift off from me?" chuckles Kuran and strokes his two girls head "I have some Overlording to do."

"Can't you stay a bit?" inquired Isadel and snuggles on him "We just had such a wonderful night and why not continue it here?"

"You definitely hang out too much with either Sunkren here or Ahya." stated Lehid with rolling eyes and shifts off her lover.

"I am not that active with her." defends Sunkren herself while raising her hands "She hangs out with Ahya a lot more often."

"Speaking of her" mused the dark elf and looks at her beloved one "Ever considered having her join our little family?"

"While she has the curves of that" he admits with a chuckle and rubs his chin "I didn't consider that... mostly due having been too busy with the girls I already have and running a small empire. And to get everything in motion to close up some open business. Namely finally getting the Skeith to respond and being ready to pull off the take over on the Naga's territory, just as Ahya requests."

"Ah yes... she wants to be the queen of them. Even if it means to be under your rule." nods the succubus in memory. "Still wonder why you."

"That I wonder as well." admits Kuran and shifts to a more comfortable sitting position, most to the silent protest of Isadel "While now I might be a worthwhile ally, back then my position wasn't that favorable. Not to mention our quest to find a dragon egg. Why would the prize for her scepter be that? Especially even if we find one, it would be most likely a big piece of stone now."

"I have run some sources" admits Sunkren and shrugs "But they are yet to give me a clear answer. Most of it is that they believe somebody might try bringing back dragons once more."

"For that I had a better idea." admits Kuran and waves the hand off "And I bet all of you in the Abyss would agree as well on that."

"You forget a few things are still in place." she chuckles "Even if you and your friends tended to... ignore that one particular rule."

"Now I plan to break it down and shatter the remains in the wind" laughs Kuran and began to stand up "Well... keep looking. Perhaps we find out who wants that egg in return. And for what."

"As you wish my Overlord" chuckles Sunkren and kissed his lips once more.

Lehid yawns and stood up as well, "Well, I think I am going back to my place and see what the idiots of the city councils want from me this time.

Properly again lowering taxes or permission to do stupid things."

"Speaking off." butted Isadel in "How are you handling the Skeith that stayed and came after you announced you want to build a new community?"

"It is going well. According to Raven, the Mercenaries that stayed as part of the army are glad to be part of a community again, the same that moved in, as so far only those banished are moving in... so we have the kind that behave because we are a safe haven... others... well here is a reason why the mines also contains Skeith by now." and she stretched her limbs and spread her wings a bit to ease up the joints and on a few spots a pop were heard as those jumped back in proper place

After a short pause she shrugs "Once we manage to make the Great Wings approve the new community, we get a small income by those who seek out their luck in the new communitie but then it's pretty much dependent on our own growth to determine how well it goes."

Isadel nodded "Well... I going to talk with Grandma. She is still asking when Kuran shows up to finally set up a gate in the forests of us."

"She's getting impatient, isn't she?" asks Sunkren with crossing arms and sighs "I have a few guesses why... I would help but your kind got too many protection spells up for me to show up." then shrugged "Then again, my colleges all messed up your minds too often to allow uninvited appearances."

"I am still fascinated with how little care you look at the fact that many people hate demon kind." admits Lehid while getting her clothes on "I mean you were not even reacting as some of my people shot you with arrows upon spotting."

"Eh, I am used to that. At least I am now recognized as an Overlord Mistress and such people know I am loyal to him, and such only a danger if they piss off our darling." before she disappears in green flames, leaving the two blue colored females alone.

Overlord: Kingdoms Rise

Kuran, now fully clothed moved down the stairs from his quarters towards the throne room and only stopped to look into the room of his chicant daughter. The little girl has grown a lot and now was at the size of an adult and behaves like a six year old. Shaking his head he whispered "Chicants really grow up too fast." and wondered how she will react once she sees her younger siblings.

Unor and the other two Taumin he had impregnated back when he first encountered the minotaur like species have given birth to three strong children. One boy and two girls. Their names are Xemor, Visala and Taia.

While by Taumin Law and for publics sake, all three female Taumin are his mistresses/mates, for Kuran is only Unor a true member of his circle of woman. The other two, Weset and Xuku, accept that he does not have the same love for them as he has for Unor. Though they still feel honored that he accepts his children and pays them the attention they deserve.

He sighed at the thought of his furry lover "Unor... wonder what you're doing at the moment..."

Overlord: Kingdoms Rise

Unor sat in her tent and was holding her daughter Visala against her exposed breast, feeding the young life with her milk while watching the activities outside.

Since the battle at the capital, the Taumin tribe that have moved for that common cause were given the lands that borders the great dessert as a reward. The taumin chief understood from the beginning her mates intention. First these lands were wide and rich. A worthy prize for their help.

On the other side, aside from the desert that lies beyond the borders, they serve as a new deterrent for any orcs that try to come here. A weakened Clan against four strong standing Taumin tribes is not a fight. It is a slaughter on the orcs.

To which no honor holds on either side... that both understood, despite having differences in their believe in honor.

Of the clan whose remains were scattered on this territory sought out to join the tribes and after proving their fighting skills and how they can contribute to them, they were allowed to join.

One even tried to win her over as mate, but she refused him as she was already having her beloved one.

In the past six months, two more orc clans have appeared. One tried to force their way through and paid dearly for it. The other understood instantly they couldn't win and have left after a short negotiation that allowed them to leave the kingdoms territory without having to return to the desert.

While being lost in thought, she didn't notice at first that Alar came into the tent. Only as he cleared his voice, she turns her attention to him "What is it Alar?" she wondered.

"What urgend news you have that you, as my Beta couldn't decide it alone?"

While she is the Chief of the Iron Capture Clan, due the relative recent birth of her daughter, based on Taumin Traditions, her duties are taken over by the Beta, except for a select few situations where she has to act and she cannot be challenged to a fight for her title. At least until her daughter is old enough to walk.

"Alpha. An Orc Clan has crossed the dessert and have put up camp at the borders of these lands." reports her Beta while sitting down in front of her "But something unusual happened. They have sent a single man to us. They are requesting a meeting. A meeting between their clan chief and the Alphas of the tribes."

That caught Unors attention. Normally Orc clans don't talk to others, unless they have reason to respect the others strength. And in most cases don't respect Taumin tribes until they have fought once.

Intrigued by that she looks at her beta "Did they state the reasons or terms of that meeting?"

"Only Alphas, with two warriors." was his reply and shakes his head "Given what we taught, it could be a trap. Orc Honor isn't Taumin Honor. Traps have a spot in their way of fighting."

"I am aware. However the Orc Leader should also be aware that if he dares to kill us Alphas, our clans won't hesitate to retaliate. And my Mate will properly see himself that this clan would be wiped out to the last Orc. Not to mention the anger of our race if he kills me, a mother and a child."

"Then I ask you to remind him on that fact." was his answer and looks up "I don't want that our Tribe loses such a good leader."

Unor nods "I will be careful. Don't worry." though in her heart she knew the truth... he says he worries for the tribe. However his concern is solely for her. If she hasn't chosen Kuran to be her mate, Alar would have been a serious consideration. And she can see that he would do everything to gain the honor of being her mate.

If both could be honest on that matter... it is flustering for her.

Overlord: Kingdoms Rise

"So... that sounds interesting." muttered Silver as he studied the most recent maps he acquired.

The young lord was in his study surrounded by geography books and maps that he gathered over the past months. After the war was over and the kingdom stabilized, he took it as a personal mission to find other countries to build ties with.

For now he is content with using books and maps to single out potential goals but once a proper fleet is in Overlord Kurans control, he plans to make a well equipped expedition. But that might take a few years... due building time. And some important changes in his life.

"Still working here? You didn't leave your study for almost two days now." said a female voice behind him "Did you at least eat and drink properly or did you miss that as well? And did you at least take some sleep breaks?"

Silver turned his head around and spotted Wyslith coming towards him. He then looked away instantly as he thought of the answer of his question to which he sheepishly admits "I... have not a single clue."

Rolling her eyes Wyslith sighs "I can understand that you are determined to pull through the idea we had, but you don't help anybody if you are working yourself to death." then she took one of his hands and placed on her stomach "We are married four months now. And I am with a growing child in the third. Both of us have responsibilities regarding our coming parenthood... that I stay healthy so our baby grows nicely in me."

"And mine is to ensure I stay in shape to support you." finished Silver and leans back with a hand on his head, ruffling his hair. Sighing loudly "You're right..."

"Good that you see it my way." nods the young succubus and leans in to kiss his lips "Now let's get you a bath and something to eat. Then you join me in bed and won't leave until you slept well enough. And let's hope my mother doesn't show up in the meanwhile."

To which Silver was filled with some dread. Ever since Sunkren became his mother-in-law, she showed up at least once or twice a week to check on the two and her coming grandchild... and aside from the experienced woman's adepts to show them... the succubus way of a healthy marriage, she is quick to punish Silver for any shortcomings he could have prevented with "common sense" as she implies.

Which is a mixed bag of things that Silver agrees, even painfully to his own stupidity, that he could have done better. And some aspects... he has a very heavy suspicion that it only makes sense for a succubus and those married to one long enough.

"Let's... let's just go and don't think about it, ok?" suggested Silver, standing up carefully to not throw off his wife.

"Good. And now let's have a nice warm bath as the small family we have." agreed Wyslith and holds onto the arm of her husband, grinning while her tail flicked happily.

Overlord: Kingdoms Rise

"So there they are..." muttered Gnarl as he looked at his pool he normally uses to communicate with his master when he is out of the tower and watch his steps.

Though with a little tweeking it was showing now the contents of a small crystal orb he got delivered recently. "Now I ask myself that I should be happy to have finally found them or be furious for looking at the wrong place all the freaking time."

"What are you talking about Gnarl?" hissed a voice behind him

Glancing back he chuckles "Ah, Lady Ahya. I haven't expected you that early... what brings the honor of you showing up?"

"Nothing much. I wanted to know if you have found any cluessss for the dragon egg I need." she replied and slithers over to the pool and looks in.

Her eyes widened "Odd... you're watching dog people inssstead of your usual dutiesssss?"

Waving her off, Gnarl grunted "That is not of your concern. And don't worry. We will find that blasted dragon egg you need so much." then he turns to her "Did you at least prepare everything to show the lord how he can take over your people, as you want him to do so."

"The setting is almosssst ready. We only need one thing. And that will be built in once we have the egg" smirked the female Naga and stroke her scepters head.

Turning back to the pool Gnarl shrugged melancholy "Perhaps I should drop by chance that you tend to hypnotize Isadel during your private sessions to make some to... influence her in being more supportive to you." While looking at the pool. He doesn't have to turn around to even see her surprised face.

Quickly recovering the redhead Naga mused "Quite the claim, Gnarl. But do you have any evidence? Else I could say you are trying to badmouth me."

"I just need to drop it. The master won't risk to lose your support... but he won't feel himself above it to investigate. And taken that he recently said that he wondered why his Dark Elf girl is so supportive even if it harms the Dark Elves interests at certain moments." and he grinned as he turns back "And we are both aware of how far he would go if he feels one of his mistresses being threatened... just ask the poor fool that tried to murder Queen Arlene after it became public 5 months ago that she is expecting the Masters child."

A dry gulp runs down her throat. Ahya knew that the relationship between Queen Arlene and Overlord Kuran are purely for political reasons, and if their child doesn't die before having own kids, they won't share the bed ever again.

However it didn't stop him to be swift as during a public hearing of the queen to the needs one of Steadfast religious zealots tried to murder her in public.

Or to put it in the terms of the guy "To execute her for selling her soul to the incarnation of all evil."

Only two days later was his trial and on the third day he was hanged.

And like mentioned before, Ahya was aware that the Overlord and the Queen have a pure political relationship... she shakes a bit at the thought of how far he would go if somebody was involved he actually loved... like Isadel.

Turning around in haste she thought out loud "I think I ssssssssshould try and finish it as sssoon assss possssible." and was leaving quickly.

Gnarl chuckled only loudly and looked down at the images the pool showed the old minion "Kelda. .. that smart move of yours is the reason why the master of back then saw you as his favorite... and wanted your son to be the next in line. Now how to get your descendants to follow a call they won't care anymore…"

Overlord: Kingdoms Rise

"Lord Sindir. I am glad that you have joined me and Nario at our tea." smiled Laurent and took a sip.

"We were working together for months now." replied the old alchemist lord while waiting until the servant was finishing filling his cup. Then he put some milk in and took a sip "Even if on different projects."

"Sssspeaking of Projectssss" countered the four armed Naga while taking his own up and a cookie "How isss your ressssearch doing? I heard you hit a wall there."

"Indeed I did. While I am able to turn humans into hybrid versions of green and browns, each time I adept to make a red, the body burns to ashes. And by blue... at first the transformation seems to be in order but then the blue Hybrid just explodes." sighs Sindir and shakes his head and waves with his free hand "And don't get me started with the project of the other way around... trying to turn minions into hybrids or at least give them some more intelligence. No matter what I try, the minions I am testing on, either die in various ways, get even dumber as result or simply stop functioning. With no clear reason as to why... and it isn't like I could go and adept to make an autopsy on the dead ones. Even with the blues I have trouble to get a look at and look inside a minion long enough to even make out what could be remotely a possibility."

He paused to take another sip of his tea "And those who got dumber or stop functioning don't show any differences compared to healthy ones. At least nothing I can observe."

"Ah yessss..." sighs Nario "The limitationsss of our technology." and shakes his head while moving one of his free hands over the table "We ssssimply lack the meanssss to look at certain partsss of the bodiesss in a different light."

Laurent looked at his friend "You mean with our means to look at the inside of a body, we miss something?"

"Of courssse." nodded the Naga and put his cup down and spread his arms "We Nagassss know for a long time, that in the brainsss, the activity issss controlled by certain dosssesss of mixturesss the brain producess on itsss own and tiny lightning boltsss. Too tiny to sssee or feel. That'ssss one of the dissscovoeriesss that allowed usss to change our bodiesss to our persssonal likingssss if we are good and ssstrong enough asss magessss. We alssso believe, at least the tiny thunder could be watched, with the right meassuressss."

"But you haven't discovered that." assumes Sindir while stroking his beard and looks at the Naga "Are you suggesting that I should pause that part of the research until we found a way to see the brain activities of the Minions to find a clue what is going wrong?"

"That'ssss what a Naga would do." admits Nario with a shrug "Once we hit a wall at our current resssearch, we adapt to either find a new way to overcome it, or we try to look at it from a different angle. Or we paussse it completely and once a solution exisssst, we continue."

Sindir shakes his head "For your suggestions I have to ensure that in case I die before we could continue, that whoever picks up my work understands what is going on. And I don't like that."

"Ahhh... the humansss and their jealoussss nature. With ussss Nagasss you would be recognized for the dissscoveriesss you made and be hailed asss the father of the potionsss. Thossse picking up, are jusst praissssed for being able to take your ideasss further and improve them. You wouldn't be forgotten."

To that Sindir looks at him "Do you have somebody who understands the field of Alchemy? Because in this case... I like to have that one as an assistant. To continue the work after me if my time comes before perfection."

"I will persssonally ssssee that you gain an asssisstant that is worthy your legacy." promised the Naga with a smile.

"Thank you. How is your research going." wondered Sindir in return

Laurent adjusted his glasses "It goes along well. It is just difficult to keep up with the discoveries we make. Especially as Gnarl suddenly delivered us the Tower Heart that served the Second and Third Overlord as their magical source of power."

"I sssstill wonder how he gained that. Lassst we heard about it, wasss asss the fourth usssed it to dessstory the anti magic fieldssss of the gloriusss empire. But now we have it. Resstored and full with magical power." Mused Nario rubbing his chain "I wonder how that minion managed to gain it."

"I think it has something to do with Mephil. Bet Gnarl had his own shopping list in the week we had him." assumes Laurent and then tapped his finger on the table "But back to the question... with the help of the Heart and our research, we managed to create some prototype orbs. With them it is possible to collect Life Force and send them directly to the Overlord's orb to create new minions. While the reach is still only within the tower, the Lord doesn't have to be connected to that delivery system we build to have it work.

"Yesss, and with sssome more tweaking or having a sssmart sssyssstem working, we can collect life force all over the Overlordsss and hisss alliesss landsss and make more minionsss. Or, once we found out how, ssstore them, ready to ussse."

"Storing Life force?" raised Sindir an eyebrow and thought about it "I take the Overlord asked for it so he doesn't have to feed all the minions he could call upon?"

"Indeed Lord Ssssindir." confirmed the Naga "He esssspecially told usss to find a way asss he wantsss the life force ready for ussse but not having to feed them. He underssstandssss that thisss land can only ssssuport so many mouthsss."

Sindir understood but was also disturbed. While he now knows that the Overlord is limiting his forced for convenience's sake, he also understood that, with a storage system, he could command at a moments notice armies larger than anything this world ever saw. But... should he really be concerned about it?

In the past six months he saw that he isn't ruled by a monster. However he has a goal and ruling an empire is just a stepping stone. And due to this fact he doesn't know if he should worry or not.

Overlord: Kingdoms Rise

"Well... the announcement is only a matter of days now." mused Halbert as he stood in the center of the coliseum that was recently finished. The last decorative work is done right now and in theory they could hold the first battles right now.

After the war, the Lord has taken the duty of overlooking the construction while sending the Chaos to clean up the different monster so the Overlord could repay his last dept regarding people of the Abyss.

Sipping on some red wine he looks at one of his adjutants and asks "Where are the Chaos right now?"

"They are near the mountains, taking care of two giant demons right now. If all went by plan, they are back at their camp at the end of the week."

Halbert nodded. Ever since the green Minion Silence has joined the Chaos, their... destructive tendencies were much more concentrated. In controllable ways. The Lord laughed "If anybody had told me a year ago that the strongest force of this kingdom would be a group of four Minions, I would have sent him into an Asylum." and then turns around "Let's head back. We need to tell Lord Kuran his Coliseum is ready for use. Now we should start with announcing the games we planned for nearly half a year now."

"Of course Sire. Shall I send our... contact to recruit your champions?" wondered the Adjutant.

Looking at him, Halbert grins and claps the boys back "Smart idea!" and they head for the Nethergate that stood close to the Coliseum... or rather one of five as Overlord Kuran has reasoned if people came from all the Kingdom here, it would take forever to send them through one gate. So they set up five.

The same counts for towns that would take high traffic... Halbert remembers that it nearly took five months to travel to all the places and set up the gates. And the only one left is still Steadfast's old territory.

"If those idiots there wouldn't make things so hard, they could've had a safe travel system by now." muttered Halbert and then looks at the mountains in the distance "Well... I wonder how Sirius is doing... Minus's death and the end of the Civil War did hurt the lands after all."

"How so?" asked the Adjutant.

Halbert looked at him but remembers that this one only started working for him only two months ago and lived in a rather isolated village before.

"That mountain range lacks a lot of ways to build livestock so the lord of that place always needs outside help. And now, as its function as a natural barrier is not needed now, many left. The castles and towers are barely manned and the only interest are the bug farms of our Overlord. But in the long run, they need an official new Lord, with people who have no problem living in such a region." "I take it that won't be easy."

"Not at all my boy... not at all..."

Overlord: Kingdoms Rise

The Wolf Queen laid on her extra large pillow next to the throne of Overlord Kuran. Ever since she ended up here due these crazed Minions, she at first complained being now a humans slave... but given how her life is now she cannot complain.

"Good morning Sarah. Had a good night?" came her master's voice.

Raising her head she yawned once and shakes the head to throw out the tiredness for the moment "I had a good night. Thanks." and looks at him "I hope you enjoyed the night with two of your mates."

"Oh I did. I did." he chuckled while sitting on the throne and wondered where the others are "How is the pack?"

"Those who grew up recently are having their first minions on their back. And as always with freshlings on both ends... it is amusing to watch." she laughed and looked at him "So... anything in the agenda that should be in my attention?"

"You ask because you want a hunt, right?" he mused, leaning to the side of the throne to look down on her.

Looking up she would smirk if her facial features would allow it "I am a big bad wolf queen. I need to keep my form if you want to keep me as a pet that leaves an impression to guests."

"The only thing that should be in your attention is that I announce the upcoming tournament... if Halbert shows up soon to tell the coliseum is ready." he said "That's the only time where you have to be around for giving an impression. And for that I simply send a few minions after you to fetch you."

Standing up and stretching herself she mused "Then I get out and fetch some of my best wolves for the hunt. I promise not to mess with the hunters... too much."

"Do what you believe you must do." laughs Kuran and watches her leave.

Then he gazes out of a window and smirks "The last six months were more than productive..." and looks at the small towers that are built around the main tower. Once finished, they should hold everything the destroyed castle of the capital were holding. Making his tower officially the political center of this kingdom.

And to his amusement, people are already flogging over and have begun to build a town in the shadow of the Tower.

Now he likes to see how wannabe heroes are going to justify the destruction of the entire tower without throwing the kingdom into anarchy.

That would be amusing for him... very amusing. And began to laugh at the prospect.