God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World!

Chapter 438: The New Lord

Gabriel and Serpahina stepped out of the abandoned building and onto the battlefield, and the moment he appeared in the open, the last bits of resistance in the Eastern lines broke. The Eastern camp fighters looked around, searching for Dominic, but there was no one with Gabriel.

No words needed to be said for them to understand what had transpired inside. One by one, weapons fell, rifles placed down with trembling care, spears sliding from tired palms, blades tossed aside because nobody wanted to be the last idiot still holding steel.

Broken Dawn soldiers moved in and took control fast, kicking weapons away, separating groups, forcing the Eastern survivors to kneel in rows, and the Eastern captains who had been shouting earlier now kept quiet, staring at the dirt with hollow faces. A few tried to speak to their men, but even their voices sounded weak, and when they saw Broken Dawn’s core members standing firm, they understood that surrender was the only option left.

All eyes snapped to Gabriel when he stepped farther out onto the field, his greatsword resting on his shoulder, his posture steady, and his gaze sweeping over the damage without any panic. He did not rush and he did not celebrate. He just looked at bodies, broken vehicles, dropped gear, and the scattered stains that marked where people had fallen. Then he lifted his eyes toward the sky and paused when he noticed the light.

The sun was coming up.

The night had finally ended.

The pale morning glow crept over the camp walls and across the rubble, and it made the tired faces on both sides look even more drained. Some Broken Dawn fighters breathed out hard and leaned on their weapons, and some Eastern soldiers blinked like they had only just realized how long the battle had dragged on. Gabriel’s expression stayed calm as he watched the sunrise for a brief moment, and the simple fact settled in his mind and in the Broken Dawn members too, that they had fought for hours and survived until daybreak.

Sophie and Scarlett approached him, and Alice followed behind them with a cocky smirk on her face as though she was the one who had done everything in the fight. Sophie stopped close enough for Gabriel to hear her clearly and spoke fast, keeping her voice level even though the report was bad.

"The civilians back in the walls are panicking," she said. "They heard the fighting stop and now rumors are spreading. Some think Dominic is still alive. Some think Broken Dawn will start killing people. It’s turning into unrest, and a few people are already taking advantage of it, pushing others around and trying to grab supplies and claim authority while everyone is scared."

"Very typical," Gabriel Kittredge muttered under his breath. Humans tended to take advantage of situations like this. They might have been lawful citizens, but the moment the authority figure fell, they became no different from animals.

Scarlett’s face did not change and she spoke right after, asking the question that had already been in his mind. "What will you do with the surviving Eastern camp army."

Alice clicked her tongue and looked toward the kneeling lines.

"If we let them breathe too long they will start acting brave again. How about we slit their necks one after the other."

"That will not be necessary," Gabriel replied, then turned away from them and faced the kneeling Eastern troops so they could not pretend they did not hear him. When he spoke, his voice carried across the front without him needing to shout.

"Dominic and Henry are gone," he said, his tone firm. "No more orders are coming from them. The war is over."

He took a few steps forward and planted the tip of his sword into the dirt as a clear sign that he was in control.

"You surrendered to Broken Dawn and Broken Dawn accepted it. That means you live if you follow instructions."

The Eastern captains exchanged looks, and the fear in those looks was obvious, but Gabriel did not slow down.

"From this moment, the Eastern camp has a new ruler," he continued. "I am that ruler. My name is Gabriel Reyes. I am the new lord of the Eastern camp."

The words sent a ripple through the crowd. It was not cheers. It was shock. Some faces tightened because they understood what it meant for their ranks and their old privileges.

His tone stayed even.

"Things will change here. Anyone who uses the unrest to hurt civilians, steal supplies, or fight for their own position will be put down. Anyone who follows the rules will be fed, protected, and allowed to live. Broken Dawn will secure the walls, restore order, and anyone with sense will help instead of resist."

For a moment the field was quiet. Then the first Eastern captain dropped fully to his knees and bowed his head. The next did the same, and soon the gesture spread through the rows. Armor clinked, hands pressed to the dirt, heads lowered, and voices rose in uneven bursts as men tried to prove loyalty before the wrong person noticed hesitation.

"We submit!" someone shouted.

"We accept!" another yelled.

Then the words became clearer as more joined, and the chant rolled toward the camp walls.

"Lord Gabriel!"

"Lord Gabriel, our new lord!"

"Long live Sir Broken!"

...

Broken Dawn soldiers tightened their line and started pointing people into order, making space for the wounded to be dragged back, and a few called for healers and water without waiting for permission because the fighting was done and the survivors needed to stop bleeding.

Sophie watched closely, already thinking about how the civilians would react when they heard the chant. She shifted her gaze back to the broad back of the man standing in front of her, and something akin to pride flashed across her eyes.

Meanwhile, Gabriel let the chant run for a few seconds, then looked at Sophie beside him as if telling her to take over everything from here.

She nodded, understanding what he meant even without speaking. In Broken Dawn, her position, although unofficial, was no different from a vice leader.

"Stay where you are. Do not move without being told. Any Eastern soldier who obeys will not be harmed. Any man caught trying to run, loot, or start trouble will be executed, no excuses."

While Sophie was giving out a bunch of orders as they walked away, Gabriel turned his head toward Anna, who was nearby with a calm yet prideful expression. He gave his next order in a low voice that only she could hear.

"Anna, gather the dead hero ranks, most especially Henry’s corpse."

Anna’s grin widened like she had been waiting for those words all night.

"Yes, master," she said, almost bouncing on her heels, as she spun around and jogged off toward the piles of fallen bodies.