Absolute Beast Dominion

From the moment Leo learned that being part of a territory was mandatory, he had already planned to create his own. That resolve only solidified after learning that a territory leader could set rules at their own discretion and command members freely. Even if someone was being blatantly extorted within a territory, the academy would not intervene.

He understood the academy's reasoning. They wanted students to learn how to stand on their own and experience the harsh reality of the outside world. But Leo had already lived under someone else's rule in his previous life—and that experience had ended with his death. This time, with power firmly in his grasp, he would not repeat the same mistake or submit to such a stupid fate.

Still, one detail didn't sit right with him.

After a session ended, the academy would claim the territory.

Even though it was stated that the territory would be protected and even named after its creator, it was still something Leo would have built with his own hands. The thought of simply handing it over left a sour taste in his mouth.

This, too, was a deliberate trick by the academy—to condition people to lose their territories.

In the real world, cities were destroyed left and right in a matter of seconds. By forcing students to part with their territories, the academy was preparing future leaders—those destined to govern powerful cities—for that reality.

In essence, the academy was crafting a safe, miniature version of real life. Inside its walls, death was minimal. Outside, chaos reigned. These students were being molded into humanity's future pillars.

After doing some research on his phone, Leo learned that a territory could be created even by a single individual. However, a minimum of one hectare of land had to be constantly maintained. Additionally, the leader needed legitimate territorial control rights.

Territory control rights could be purchased at a cost of 10,000 AC per hectare.

Leo didn't need to buy any.

Placing first in the trial granted him control over 1,000 hectares of land. Lily, having placed third, gained 334 hectares. Miho, ranked 994, received control rights over a single hectare.

{Land Control Right = 1000 hectares ÷ student rank}

Such vast land would realistically never be fully utilized. However, territories were not permanent. They could be lost.

A territory could fall for many reasons, but the most common was attacks from fellow candidates—second only to beast invasions.

The motivation behind student attacks lay in the prosperity ranking.

These rankings served as a measure of how developed a territory was. It took into account the number of members, buildings, agricultural output, and industrial production—such as potions, tools, and weapons. By attacking and razing a territory, one could reduce competition, and any loot within the territory would rightfully belong to the attacker.

Since all students were required to join a territory, even non-combatants were included. Researchers and creators could join territories to focus on experiments and production, using either internally produced materials or outsourced resources. Everything was calculated.

Based on prosperity rankings, the academy issued rewards.

And among all rankings, prosperity was the only one that rewarded beasts and beast eggs of 'choice'.

These beasts possessed, at minimum, super bloodlines.

That fact alone made prosperity ranking one of the most coveted and dangerous systems within the academy.

Leo's gaze drifted upward as he noticed a massive display embedded in the ceiling of Aurelius Hall. It showed the locations of every territory established across the academy's jurisdiction.

"The academy really just wants blood…" Leo muttered wryly.

Aside from the first week—known as the newbie protection period—during which newly established territories remained hidden, all territories had their locations revealed publicly along with their leader's name.

Suddenly, one of the territory icons began blinking red.

"What!?" someone shouted nearby.

At the same time, that person's phone vibrated. He glanced over freeze before fury overtook his face.

"Grey! You bastard!"

The man bolted outside. Leo watched as he summoned a bird-type beast, grabbed onto its legs, and was swiftly carried off in the direction of the blinking red territory.

Leo studied the display closely.

One territory was labelled Grey's Territory (Purple), spanning 16 hectares. The territory being attacked covered 11 hectares and was marked in blue. The colours represented a territory's progress and development level.

It was clear—Grey had attacked his neighbouring territory.

It didn't take long.

The blue-tier territory vanished from the display, and a +500 flashed over Grey's territory.

"Hoh?" Leo murmured. "So even destroying a territory increases prosperity points?"

He immediately checked the leaderboard.

Under the 'Under 10 Years' category, Grey's territory rose from rank 56 to 55, its prosperity score increasing from 2200 to 2700.

"So there are categories based on how long a territory has existed…"

Leo scanned the divisions.

Under 5 years

Under 10 years

Under 15 years

Under 20 years

Overall ranking

The rewards for each category were similar, with later-year categories offering slightly greater benefits. However, the most enticing reward lay in the overall ranking.

First place.

A Royal Beast of choice. And 5 noble beasts of choice.

Along with vast quantities of advancement treasures and high-grade weapons, and tools.

Leo's eyes narrowed slightly.

He also noticed that several other territories were blinking yellow.

That indicated wild beast attacks.

Leo was still lost in thought when someone suddenly bumped into him.

"Ahh!" a girl cried as she lost her balance and fell to the floor.

Lily immediately snapped her attention away from the map and looked toward the source of the sound. The moment her eyes landed on the girl, only one thought crossed her mind.

"So beautiful…" she muttered unconsciously.

She quickly shook her head, as if trying to dispel the thought, and turned to look at Leo instead.

He was simply giving the fallen girl a weird look, completely unfazed by her beauty, making her sigh in relief.

The girl suddenly sprang to her feet and looked at Leo with pitiful, watery eyes.

"S-sir! Please help me!" she pleaded. As she spoke, she bent forward into a deep bow.

Lily couldn't help but notice that the motion caused her clothes in the neckline to shift, revealing a generous swathe of smooth, milky skin beneath the fabric—an angle and allure that would have made most men freeze or drool without thinking.

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A/N: I know, I know, a lot of info dump. But I cannot help it.