Chapter 172: The Rewards

10 YEARS AGO, BEFORE THE TIMELINE

Liam sat comfortably within his consciousness space, observing the aftermath of the invasion through the planetary interface floating before him. The invasion of Double X’s world had finally come to an end, and although the battle had resulted in countless deaths and the destruction of several kingdoms, the surviving participants had fulfilled their roles and earned the rewards promised to them.

Naturally, Liam had no intention of leaving them empty-handed.

After all, rewarding those who had participated in the invasion would encourage them to cooperate with him in future operations, and there was no reason to waste an opportunity to strengthen his influence over the various forces involved.

"Now then, let’s see what everyone wants."

Liam tapped the floating interface, causing several lines of text to appear before him. The rewards had been divided into two parts, with the first allowing each surviving participant to receive a wish of their choosing, while the second would determine their future arrangements and whether they would remain in Double X’s world.

Of course, there were limitations.

’They can wish for whatever they want, but they should know their own limits. If someone asks for something ridiculous, there’s no reason for me to grant it.’

Liam wasn’t running a charity organization, after all.

He was willing to reward those who had contributed to the invasion, but that didn’t mean he would blindly fulfill every demand they made. A wish had to be reasonable relative to the value of their contributions, and anyone who attempted to exploit the reward system would quickly discover that there were limits to what they could obtain.

With that thought in mind, Liam started the reward distribution.

"Gold! I want a mountain of gold!"

A warrior who had participated in the invasion immediately shouted his wish, his eyes practically sparkling at the thought of possessing such wealth. He had spent most of his existence fighting battles and struggling to obtain resources, so the opportunity to acquire a fortune without having to work for it was practically irresistible.

A moment later, a large chest materialized in front of him, filled with gold coins that shimmered beneath the sunlight.

"HAHAHA! I’M RICH!"

The warrior immediately threw himself toward the chest, burying both hands in the coins as though he were afraid someone might take them away. He had expected a reasonable amount of wealth, but seeing the actual reward appear before his eyes was an entirely different experience.

Elsewhere, another participant made a very different choice.

"I want a powerful artifact, preferably one capable of increasing my combat strength!"

The individual stared at the horizon, carefully considering his options before finalizing his wish. A moment later, a beautifully crafted weapon appeared in his hands, its surface covered in intricate patterns that radiated a faint magical glow.

He swung it experimentally, feeling the power contained within the artifact.

"This is amazing!"

Unlike the warrior who had chosen gold, he had decided to invest his reward in something that could help him survive future battles. After all, wealth was useful, but possessing enough strength to protect himself was far more valuable in the long run.

Of course, not everyone was interested in gold or weapons.

Some participants had become attached to Double X’s world after spending so much time fighting there, and they wanted to remain rather than return to their previous lives. For them, Liam offered another option: the right to settle within the conquered territories, receive a suitable plot of land, and establish themselves as nobles under the new order.

"I wish to remain here and establish my own territory."

The participant who made the request looked toward the distant landscape, where the remnants of the invasion could still be seen. Despite the destruction, he had found the world fascinating, and the thought of owning land where he could build a home and gather followers was far more appealing than returning to his previous circumstances.

A map appeared before him, highlighting a designated territory that would become his domain.

"So just like that, I’m a noble now?"

He couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. He had entered the world as an invader, fought against its inhabitants, and somehow ended up receiving land and a noble title as a reward for his efforts.

"Well, I suppose I should start building my mansion!"

Similar scenes unfolded throughout the conquered territories.

Some chose wealth, others selected artifacts, and a number of participants decided to settle permanently within the world, establishing their own domains and becoming nobles under the authority of the new regime. The rewards varied according to their wishes and contributions, but the underlying principle remained the same.

Those who had participated in the invasion would receive something in return.

Meanwhile, Liam watched the distribution from his consciousness space, occasionally examining the requests that appeared on his interface.

’Not bad. Most of them seem to understand their limits.’

He had expected a few unreasonable demands, but the majority of the participants had chosen practical rewards that wouldn’t cost him too much. Some gold, a few artifacts, and several territories were hardly a significant price to pay for the influence he had gained through the invasion.

Besides, the new settlements might prove useful in the future.

If he needed to organize another invasion, he would already have a group of experienced individuals who had fought under his command and understood how he operated. Rewarding them now was an investment in future cooperation, and Liam had no intention of overlooking such an opportunity.

However, there was still one final matter to address.

The individuals who had participated in the invasion through their Short-term Physical Manifestation abilities were not ordinary living beings. Many of them had originally belonged to the world of the dead, temporarily manifesting physical bodies to participate in the battle before returning to their original locations once their allotted time had expired.

And now, their time was up.

Deep within the underworld, an enormous mountain stood beneath a dark and gloomy sky.

The Mountain of the Dead stretched toward the heavens, its jagged slopes covered in countless structures and winding pathways. This was where the deceased resided, and although some had grown accustomed to their existence there, others still found the place unbearably dull.

Suddenly, several figures appeared within the mountain’s vicinity, their bodies materializing in flashes of dim light.

For a brief moment, they stood motionless, staring at the familiar landscape before their expressions changed.

"...No."

One of them slowly looked toward the dark sky, his face twisting in disbelief.

"No, no, no! You’re telling me I’m back already?!"

Another individual immediately collapsed onto his knees, clutching his head with both hands.

"NOOOOO! I WAS FINALLY HAVING FUN!"

Their cries echoed across the mountain, startling several nearby residents who had been going about their usual activities. Some of the newly returned dead simply stared at the ground in despair, while others began shouting complaints toward the heavens.

"I’m back in this hellish place again!"

"I was just getting started! I hadn’t even finished exploring the world!"

"Who decided that our manifestation should have a time limit?!"

One of the dead warriors slammed his fist against a nearby stone, only to recoil when the impact hurt his hand.

"Damn it! I can’t even enjoy myself properly here!"

The scene quickly descended into chaos as more individuals realized that their time in the living world had come to an end. For those who had spent their days in the underworld without much excitement, participating in the invasion had been a rare opportunity to experience something different.

They had fought enemies, explored unfamiliar lands, and witnessed a world filled with living creatures.

Now, they were back where they started.

Calean watched the commotion with a rather amused expression. The ant king had grown accustomed to the peculiar behavior of the deceased, and their reactions were hardly surprising, especially considering how much excitement the invasion had provided them.

"Relax, everyone." His voice carried across the gathering, gradually attracting the attention of those nearby.

"The Entity isn’t done yet, and there’s a good chance we’ll be able to participate again."

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere changed.

"Really?"

"You’re not lying, are you?"

"Does that mean we might get to return to the living world again?"

Calean nodded calmly, although he couldn’t guarantee exactly when another opportunity would arrive.

"Think about it. The invasion was successful, and the Entity has already demonstrated that he can arrange these operations. If another conflict occurs, why wouldn’t he call upon us again?"

The dead exchanged glances, their previous despair gradually giving way to renewed hope.

One of them immediately stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes.

"Then I’ll start preparing right now!"

"Preparing for what? You’re already dead!"

"Shut up! I need to make sure I’m ready when the next opportunity comes!"

Calean couldn’t help but chuckle at their reactions.

Although the Mountain of the Dead remained as gloomy as ever, the prospect of another invasion had given its inhabitants something to look forward to. They might have been forced to return to their original home, but at least their participation in the living world had not necessarily been a one-time occurrence.

And somewhere beyond the boundaries of the underworld, Liam continued observing the results of his invasion, unaware of the commotion his decision had caused among the dead.

Or perhaps he simply didn’t care.

After all, if another opportunity arose, he would have plenty of warriors waiting to answer his call.