The battlefield trembled under the weight of approaching doom.
Beyond Greystone's fortified walls, the morning fog split as a legion of beasts emerged from the shadowed forest. The horde stretched across the treeline—a river of white-skinned apes howling with anticipation. At their head stood three towering figures: the infamous Silverback Warlord known as Whiteclaw, his obsidian-armored general Kong, and the blazing monster that bathed the trees in embers with every breath—Inferna, the Flameborne General.
Inferna scoffed, flames leaking from her nostrils as she turned to Whiteclaw. "This is the mighty Greystone? A pile of rocks and mud? We should've come sooner."
Kong cracked his knuckles, lips pulled back in a sneer. "Let me go first. I'll tear their walls down with my bare hands."
Whiteclaw raised a hand. His voice was deep, guttural, but calm. "No. Let the fodder go. I want to see their fear when half their army falls before we even touch them."
The signal was given.
Dozens of lesser ape-beasts surged forward, screeching as they sprinted toward Greystone's walls. Their claws scraped against earth and stone, their cries a chorus of death.
Inside the walls, Lucas Carter stood atop the main watchtower, a cold breeze lifting his cloak. His eyes narrowed as the horde charged.
DING!
[System Quest: Survival of the Stronghold - Main Objective: Defend Greystone and Defeat the Tide Generals.]
[Reward: ???]
[Bonus Objective: Keep Casualties Under 20%.]
Lucas tightened his grip on his newly-forged gauntlets with twin-daggers, created from Beast Fusion with Umbra and Zephyra. Elira stood beside him, arrows notched, magic sizzling around her fingertips. Kaela crouched just below, one hand stroking Thunderfang's fur.
"They think we're weak," Lucas said, smirking. "Let them come."
Reynard called from below. "Traps are ready. On your mark, my lord."
Lucas raised a hand.
"Now."
He brought it down.
BOOM.
The ground before Greystone erupted. Magical glyphs shimmered before detonating with explosive force. Fire. Lightning. Ice. Dozens of traps flared at once, engulfing the front lines of the charging apes. Limbs flew. Screams echoed. The tide's advance halted, confusion spreading among their ranks.
By the time the smoke cleared, nearly half the lesser apes lay dead or writhing in agony.
DING!
[EXP Gained: +3,400]
[Kaela (Lvl. 22) - EXP +1,200][Elira (Lvl. 22) - EXP +1,200] [Lucas (Lvl. 23) - EXP +1,200]
Lucas exhaled, his stance steady. "One more push like that and they'll break."
But Whiteclaw didn't flinch.
He simply turned to his generals.
"Enough games."
Kong roared, leaping over the front lines like a boulder launched from a catapult.
Inferna spread her wings of fire and launched herself into the air.
Lucas's smile faded.
"Positions! The real fight starts now!"
Inferna landed far from the main force, wings trailing flames across the battlefield. She turned toward Elira, her molten eyes narrowing.
"You have magic. Let's see if it burns like mine."
Elira stood her ground. Luna growled beneath her, fur bristling with stored kinetic energy.
The Flameborne General struck first, a barrage of fireballs launched like meteors.
Elira twisted her body and rolled to the side. Luna shot forward, zigzagging through the blaze. Elira retaliated with a volley of enchanted arrows, each glowing with ice runes. They slammed into Inferna's hide, exploding in frosty bursts.
Inferna screamed, flames flaring brighter. "COLD? You dare?"
She launched into a spin, unleashing a ring of fire that scorched the earth for twenty meters around her. Luna leapt clear with seconds to spare, but the heat singed Elira's arm.
Elira grimaced and took cover behind a boulder. "She's too fast. And she's above level 25..."
DING!
[Enemy Identified: Inferna - Flameborne General - Lvl. 30]
Luna snorted, pacing. Elira closed her eyes, focusing her mana. If power alone wasn't enough, she needed to outthink the flaming brute.
She dashed left, then sharply right, firing three arrows in succession—each one deliberately aimed to herd Inferna backward, toward the broken remnants of a collapsed wall.
Inferna snarled and took the bait.
But as she landed where Elira had wanted—a trap rune flared.
BOOM!
A concussive burst of gravity magic slammed Inferna into the ground. The flames around her sputtered. Elira seized the opening, drawing a specialized arrow from her quiver—laced with storm essence.
"Fall."
She fired.
CRACK!
The bolt struck Inferna's chest and detonated, sending arcs of lightning tearing through her armor.
But the general rose slowly, smoke rising from her fur. Blood dripped down her front. Her smile was feral.
"Not bad... little girl. But it's my turn."
Back on the field, Lucas watched the flare of lightning and fire in the distance. He wanted to help Elira, but Kong was heading straight for the gates—and Kaela stood waiting.
Kaela's striped fur glistened with sweat. Thunderfang snarled beside her, low and thunderous.
"He's mine," she growled.
Lucas nodded. "Then don't hold back."
Kaela launched forward, meeting Kong in the middle of the field.
Their clash was thunder.