Reborn as the Third Prince: To Build and Conquer my way to Royalty.

The grand halls of Verdenez Castle felt colder to King Martin than usual, despite the roaring fires in the hearths. Reports from Linye, once dismissed as exaggerated rumors, were now piling up on his desk, each one more baffling than the last. His financial advisors, usually so precise, stammered about inexplicable surges in Linye's economy, a prosperity that defied all known trade routes and resource allocations. The county, a desolate wasteland just weeks ago, was now flourishing, its jobless rates plummeting, its streets bustling with a newfound energy.

"Alfred," Martin commanded, his voice strained, a subtle tremor betraying his unease. He still felt the phantom weight of Sylus's command, a silent, infuriating leash that bound his will. It was a constant reminder of his son's terrifying power. "Dispatch a scouting party. Discreetly. I want to know the true source of Linye's prosperity. And I want to know what my third son is truly doing in that county."

His personal guard captain, a stern man named Commander Valerius, bowed. "As you command, Your Majesty. A small, elite reconnaissance unit will depart at once. They will observe, gather intelligence, and report back."

Martin nodded, pinching the bridge of his nose. He trusted Valerius. The commander was loyal, efficient, and possessed a keen eye for anomalies. He would uncover the truth.

Days later, Commander Valerius and his hand-picked team of five elite scouts arrived at the outskirts of Linye. They were disguised as traveling merchants, their faces obscured by wide-brimmed hats, their movements practiced in subtlety. What they saw immediately defied every report they had received.

The air, even from a distance, hummed with a vibrant energy. The gate, once a symbol of division, was gone, replaced by a wide, open thoroughfare where citizens mingled freely, their faces alight with a hope Valerius hadn't seen in years. The streets, once pockmarked and dusty, were now smoothly paved, lined with newly constructed, sturdy wooden buildings. The scent of fresh bread and roasting meat filled the air, a stark contrast to the usual stench of poverty.

"By the stars," one scout whispered, his eyes wide. "This is... a miracle."

Valerius, a veteran of countless campaigns, felt a prickle of unease. Miracles were rare, and often came with a hidden cost. He remembered the King's strained voice, the subtle fear in his eyes when he spoke of Prince Sylus.

They moved deeper into the city, blending with the bustling crowds. What they observed only deepened their bewilderment. Workers, thousands of them, moved with an almost unnatural efficiency, their movements synchronized, their faces determined. They saw former Red Vipers, identifiable by their scarred faces, working side-by-side with common laborers, their eyes dull but obedient, their bodies moving with a purpose they hadn't possessed before.

"Commander," another scout murmured, pointing discreetly. "Look at their hands. And their arms."

Valerius followed his gaze. On the backs of hands, on forearms, on shoulders – subtle, glowing sigils pulsed faintly. The symbol of a falling angel. The mark of Prince Sylus. And these sigils seemed to empower them, allowing them to lift heavier loads, work longer hours, and coordinate with uncanny precision.

They also noticed the constant flow of goods. Wagons, some pulled by Aria in its smaller, less conspicuous form, others by the very "moving wagons" Sylus had invented, transported massive loads of shimmering, multi-colored crystals from the direction of Alhara. These were not the dull, unrefined mana stones of the royal mines. These were pure, radiant Mana Crystals, pulsing with an almost divine energy.

"The Alhara cave," Valerius muttered, a cold dread settling in his stomach. The King had mentioned it, a place of ancient corruption, guarded by terrifying Dalins. How could Prince Sylus be extracting anything from there, let alone such pure mana?

They spent two days observing, gathering as much information as possible. They saw Alfred, the former Ripper, now youthful and commanding, directing operations with an almost supernatural efficiency. They saw Zani, the Prince's Mystero, moving among the people, her presence radiating a quiet strength that inspired unwavering loyalty. They even glimpsed a shadowy, ethereal figure, Sophia, occasionally flitting at the edges of Sylus's presence, her dark mist causing subtle shivers of unease in those nearby.

The transformation was undeniable. Linye was no longer a county; it was a burgeoning kingdom, forged by the will of its young prince. And that prince... he wielded powers that defied conventional understanding, powers that seemed to touch the very fabric of reality.

Valerius knew he had seen enough. This was beyond a mere economic boom. This was something profound, something dangerous.

Back in the Sanctum of Alhara, Sylus stood before the Manifestation Engine, the pure Mana Crystal conduit in his hand. Zani and Sophia flanked him, their faces reflecting a quiet confidence. They had spent the past week systematically extracting Mana Crystals, sending thousands of units to the surface. The process was becoming routine, the drain on Sylus and Zani manageable, the stability of the temporal lift perfected.

"The flow is consistent," Sylus murmured, reviewing the system notifications in his mind. "Linye's needs are being met. The construction is ahead of schedule."

[Karma Points: +100 (For large-scale resource generation and societal uplift).] [Karma Points: 188/1000 (New Cap: 1000).]

Sylus felt a surge of satisfaction. The Karma System's cap had increased again, a testament to the scale of his good deeds. He now had enough points for a significant purchase.

"Master," Sophia purred, her voice a low hum, "I sense... new presences on the surface. They are subtle, well-trained. Not from Linye. They observe. They report."

Sylus's eyes narrowed. "Martin's scouts." He had expected this. His father was too cunning to ignore such a rapid transformation. "They've seen enough to be alarmed. They'll report back to Verdenez."

"What will you do, my lord?" Zani asked, her hand instinctively going to her blade. "Will you intercept them?"

"No," Sylus decided. "Let them report. Let Martin see the truth. Let his fear grow. It will only strengthen my position when the time comes for a true confrontation." He looked at the pure Mana Crystal in his hand. "But it also means we need to accelerate our plans. Martin will not sit idly by. He will try to interfere, to control what he doesn't understand."

He thought of the Dalins, the corrupted guardians of Alhara. They were still a threat, occasionally testing Zani's reinforced barrier, their growls a constant reminder of the raw power they guarded. He thought of Sophia's chilling assessment: purification would require immense power, a "sacrifice of immense scale." He wasn't ready for that.

But he needed to understand them, to find a way to coexist, or at least to neutralize them more permanently.

"Sophia," Sylus commanded, "focus your essence on the Dalins. Not to attack, but to read them. Their purpose, their origin, their connection to the Destroyer. I need to understand their core programming."

Sophia's shadowy form expanded, her dark mist seeping into the crystalline walls, reaching out beyond the Sanctum. She was a Concept, capable of perceiving abstract truths. Her eyes glowed with an eerie, analytical light.

As Sophia delved into the Dalins' essence, Sylus turned his attention to the "Dormant Creation Node." He had learned it held the fragmented consciousness of the Bringinger, and a shard of his own soul. This was the ultimate power of Alhara, capable of reshaping reality itself. But it was dormant. And Sophia had mentioned it needed a "true creator's touch" and a "sacrifice."

He pressed his hand against the central mana sphere again, channeling his Catalyst mana, but this time, he focused on the Node itself, trying to awaken it, to understand its requirements. A faint, almost imperceptible whisper echoed in his mind, a voice that was both ancient and familiar, a resonance with his deepest self. It spoke of balance, of harmony, of unmaking and remaking.

Suddenly, Sophia recoiled, her shadowy form flickering violently. "Master! They are... they are not just guardians! They are a living network! Connected to a central consciousness! And it is... it is stirring!" Her voice was filled with a rare, profound terror. "It senses your intent! It senses the Bringinger's will!"

The entire Sanctum trembled. The colossal Mana Crystal walls pulsed erratically, their light flaring, then dimming. A low, resonant hum, far deeper and more menacing than the Dalins' growls, began to emanate from the very bedrock of Alhara. It was a sound of ancient awakening, of raw, untamed power.

[Alert: Alhara Core Consciousness (Dalins' Overmind) detected. Status: Awakening. Threat Level: Catastrophic.] [Warning: Direct confrontation highly advised against. Recommend immediate retreat.]

Sylus's eyes widened. An Overmind. A central consciousness controlling all Dalins. This wasn't just a threat; it was a direct challenge to his control over Alhara. And it was awakening because he was trying to awaken the Bringinger's Node.

"Zani! Sophia!" Sylus roared, his voice cutting through the trembling air. "Prepare for battle! The main force is coming!"

He knew he couldn't retreat. Not now. Not when he was so close to understanding the Dormant Creation Node. Not when Linye's future depended on Alhara's resources. He had awakened something ancient and terrifying, and he would face it head-on. The Star Killer would not back down.