HideousGrain
i would help the valyrs to let the reclaim the savannah and become the overlord, give hiraku a new Lord position and let both rule the savannah region as permanent allies with soul contracts for all parties. clearly stating they help each other, stay out of their respectiv terretories and for trade business (Michael offers goods from the jungle and gets things from the savannah region and vise versa). you need good and trustworthy allies
I’d rather he just supported an ally Lord to claim the territory (Valyrs, centaurs, maybe even Hiraku?) but keep an outpost of sorts, all just buffers from intruders. Michael solely keeping to the Untamed Jungle feels more correct, with all his benefits concentrated there and very well-adjusted to the region, plus the ancient ruins he’s covering that’s still awaiting exploration. Spreading outwards doesn’t make sense logistically. Of course, he should still harvest from the savannah, especially all those Lords fighting over it. Just reap them all.
Personally I would like to see him take a least part of the savana for himself. If micheal only keeps the jungle territory it would mean he can only grow in one direction (North). However that would mean arx end up as a border city of his future kingdom/empire. I don't think this is the wisest thing for safety. Or if we are wild maybe could make the jungle expand into the savanna? After all it seems like everything in the jungle grows extremely quickly. So it shouldn’t take a long time to turn it into a Forrest