Ashspire had fallen, but the battlefield had only widened.
The once-fiery sky above the Ember Barrens was now a pallid gray, its infernal red glow reduced to flickering embers on the horizon. The collapse of the fire node had not just crippled Lucien's power—it had shifted the balance of the entire region.
In Hollowshade, the mood was unlike anything the coalition had known since the beginning of the war. Hope.
But Hikaru wasn't celebrating.
He stood atop the Sky Bastion Tower, arms folded, staring at the System map floating in front of him. Three blue territories—controlled by the coalition—now stood against the sea of red. Ashspire had weakened Lucien's reach, but he still held over half the known region.
[System Map Updated]
Coalition Territory: 34%
Lucien's Territory: 57%
Unclaimed: 9%
Illya walked up the stone stairs to join him, her boots echoing faintly in the silence.
"You should be resting," she said, brushing aside her silver bangs. "That was one hell of a raid."
"I don't have time to rest," Hikaru replied. "Lucien will retaliate. Hard."
Illya leaned on the railing. "You're right. And that's why the council wants to hold a war summit. Tonight."
"A summit?" Hikaru's brow furrowed.
She nodded. "All surviving faction leaders. Some of the scattered players are rallying under new banners. We need to unify them before Lucien does."
Hikaru tapped open the System's internal mail.
[Invitation: Coalition War Summit]
Host: Illya Dawnveil, Tactical Director
Location: Hollowshade Central Hall
Time: 21:00 Local
Objective: Strategic Coordination / Unified Command / Deployment Planning
He nodded. "I'll be there."
The Hollowshade Central Hall was usually reserved for trials and ceremony, but tonight it had been transformed. Long crystalline tables shimmered with light runes, while dozens of high-ranking players, guild leaders, and original NPC commanders filled the room with tense conversation.
Kora leaned against a pillar near the entrance, eyeing every new arrival with a smirk. "They look like they've never seen a proper war room before."
Rourke limped in with Tama's support. "They haven't. Most of them fought skirmishes or hoarded resources in isolated nodes. This is different."
At precisely 21:00, Illya raised a hand, and the room fell silent.
"Commanders. Guildmasters. Warlords and Wanderers. Welcome," she began. "As of today, the balance has shifted. Ashspire has fallen. Lucien is wounded. But not dead."
Murmurs rippled.
Illya gestured to Hikaru, who stepped forward and activated the map interface, projecting it midair. It showed not only territory, but known node locations, supply routes, and recent incursion patterns.
"Lucien's forces are regrouping here," Hikaru said, highlighting the Blackflood Expanse, a dark marshland bordering multiple neutral zones. "And intel confirms he's gathering the remnants of the Pyreborn Legions to mount a counteroffensive."
Tama spoke up from the back. "Why there? The terrain's unstable."
"Exactly," Hikaru said. "Only someone with his command over decay and fire could control such an environment. It's a trap—one he thinks we won't risk."
A player from the Skyfire Dominion, a tall man with a flaming spear across his back, raised his voice. "Then why not wait? Let the terrain kill his troops."
"Because he's not building an army," Kora cut in. "He's summoning something."
The room grew quiet.
[System Alert: Obsidian Convergence Detected]
Location: Blackflood Expanse
Risk Level: Unknown
Estimated Completion: 3 Days
Illya nodded. "We believe he's attempting to open a permanent Rift into the Void Layer. If he succeeds, every player and NPC in this region will be subject to permadeath—no respawn, no sanctuary."
Gasps echoed.
"No more waiting," Hikaru said. "We strike in two days. We draw him out and stop the convergence before it's complete."
"But how?" a woman from the Wyrmspire Enclave asked. "We're fractured. Half the alliances won't even share resources."
Illya pulled up a new interface.
[New Feature Unlocked: Unified Coalition System]
Requirements Met: Three Territories Unified + One Archfiend Node Destroyed
Benefits: Shared War Chest / Linked Supply Routes / Tactical Vote Mechanism
"For the first time since we got here," Illya said, "we can operate as a true army."
Hikaru nodded. "We don't just fight for villages anymore. We fight for the whole map."
Hikaru returned to his private quarters well past midnight. The summit had gone better than expected—ten factions agreed to form a Unified Strike Force under a temporary council. More importantly, none had objected to Hikaru acting as the field commander.
Still, he didn't feel the weight lift. If anything, it settled deeper on his shoulders.
He opened his personal log.
Private Journal Entry #72
[Voice-to-Text Transcript Active]
"We've survived raids, betrayals, even the death of our own. But this will be different. Lucien is more than just a strategist—he's evolving with the world, same as us. He isn't just defending his power. He's trying to overwrite the system itself."
He looked out at the quiet village of Hollowshade, flickering lanterns casting shadows on stone.
"I didn't ask for this war. But if I don't lead, who will?"
A knock interrupted him.
It was Nia, her black cloak stained with ash.
"Can't sleep?" she asked.
"Not really."
She stepped in, throwing a pouch on the table. "Latest scout report. Blackflood's covered in pulse crystals—he's definitely charging something big. But here's the weird part."
She spread a sketch across the desk.
Etched in the center of the Blackflood swamp was a massive rune circle—larger than any node they had seen before. It pulsed with black and crimson lines, like a beating heart.
System Warning: Ritual Circle – Unknown Function
Probability of Complete Rift: 84%
Nia's voice was cold. "We may only get one shot at this."
Elsewhere, in the ruins of Ashspire, a single ember flickered within the cracked remains of the fire node.
Lucien stood barefoot in the center of the chamber, surrounded by silent shadows.
He bled from his palms, chanting in an ancient tongue.
System Override Request: Protocol Cinderfall
Status: In Progress
Catalyst: Void Binding / Emberheart Sacrifice
Result: Ascension Class – Emberlord
One of the shadows—Theron—spoke.
"This will burn your last anchor."
Lucien nodded. "I no longer need anchors. Only power."
Flames surged from his body, wrapping around him like living serpents. His golden armor shattered, revealing a new form—blackened skin etched with runes, eyes glowing violet. His voice echoed like thunder.
"Let them come," he growled. "Let them gather. I'll bury them in the ashes of their hope."