The storm over Blackflood had fully awakened.
Thunder cracked like war drums, echoing across the shattered land. The sky, once veiled in dusk, now bled streaks of crimson as arcane lightning danced between clouds. It was a world on the brink of collapse—and the battlefield was the last bastion between order and annihilation.
At the edge of the convergence site, the Heartguard regrouped. Behind them, the second monolith smoldered in ruins. A dull tremor pulsed beneath their feet with every second, signaling the nearing apex of the ritual.
"Only one monolith left," Illya confirmed, wiping ash from her cheek as her mana recharged. "Once Kora brings it down, we move for the center."
"Assuming we survive that long," Rourke muttered, tightening his gauntlets.
Hikaru stood at the head of the battalion, silent, staring at the obsidian core that loomed in the distance. The central convergence was enormous—an inverted spire of energy that twisted the land around it. Lucien's throne hovered at its heart, suspended above a spiraling vortex of runes and molten earth.
But something else caught Hikaru's attention.
[System Alert: Unregistered Magic Detected – High Density Void Energy]
Source: Central Convergence
Projected Surge: Within 3 Hours
"It's accelerating," Hikaru said grimly. "Lucien's pulling something massive. If we wait for all three monoliths, we might be too late."
Illya's eyes widened. "You want to move without the north node down?"
"If we can distract Lucien long enough, we can give Kora the window she needs."
A pause. Then she nodded.
"You're mad," she said. "But I'm with you."
Hikaru raised his blade, the storm reflecting in its edge. "All Heartguard units, form up! Our objective is the convergence core. This is not a drill."
[System Alert: Raid Event Triggered – Assault on Obsidian Core]
Primary Objective: Disrupt the Emberlord's Ritual
Raid Leader: Hikaru
Player Participation: 370
Time Limit: 180 Minutes
The moment the order was given, the Heartguard battalion surged forward across the charred plains, battle cries rising above the howling wind.
The terrain warped around them as the convergence energy grew volatile. Trees twisted into bone-like shapes, rocks floated unnaturally, and pools of corrupted mana erupted into wild arcane flame.
Then, the defenders came.
Out of the black fog rose Lucien's final guard—a host of twisted beings clad in burning armor, their faces hidden behind obsidian masks.
[Enemy Identified: Ember Thralls – Tier 4]
Abilities: Soulfire Blades, Pyroclasm Bursts, Death Nova
Estimated Count: 150+
"Hold formation!" Hikaru shouted. "Suppress and surge!"
Illya conjured a barrier as the first wave of flame struck. Rourke led the front line, his hammer sending shockwaves through enemy lines. Behind them, the support mages kept shields up, while snipers picked off distant targets.
The Heartguard was well-trained, but the Ember Thralls fought like zealots—unrelenting, inhuman, and immune to fear.
One of them lunged at Hikaru, blade wreathed in black fire.
[Skill Activated: Stormrend – Flash Displacement]
Hikaru blinked behind the enemy and delivered a clean strike. Lightning coiled around his sword, lancing through five enemies in a chain burst.
The system pinged.
[Combo Hit: 5x – Critical Surge]
But for every one they felled, two more took its place.
"This isn't sustainable!" Rourke yelled. "We need to get to the core now!"
"Then we punch through!"
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed across the marsh.
The battlefield parted as something massive emerged from the core's perimeter—a towering infernal beast forged from obsidian plates and molten energy.
[Mini-Boss Alert: Obsidian Warden – Level 58]
Special Abilities:
• Earthshock Slam
• Meteor Breath
• Flame Lockdown Aura
The Warden slammed both fists into the ground. Waves of burning rock rippled outward, scattering half of the battalion. A meteor of condensed fire rained from its mouth, obliterating a squad of vanguard players.
Hikaru's heart pounded. "Focus fire! Get it off the path!"
Illya began weaving a complex sigil. "Give me thirty seconds. I'm calling down the Frostbind Nova."
The Warden surged forward, each step a localized earthquake. Players were knocked flying like dolls. Hikaru activated his mobility suite.
[Skill: Stormstep Lv5 – Tempest Leap]
He soared above the battlefield and landed on the Warden's shoulder, plunging his blade into its upper back.
[Critical Strike – Weak Point Hit]
The Warden howled, twisting violently. Hikaru held on, pulling with all his strength to steer the beast away from the others.
Just as the Warden reared up—
[Ultimate Activated – Illya's Frostbind Nova]
A storm of silver and blue cascaded from the sky, encasing the Warden in a prison of crystal frost. The creature roared one last time before freezing mid-motion, locked in a sculpture of pain.
[Boss Status: Obsidian Warden – Neutralized Temporarily]
"Now!" Illya shouted. "To the core!"
They breached the perimeter.
The convergence core pulsed violently now, like the heart of a dying star. Floating runes spun faster and faster as dark lightning scorched the heavens.
Lucien waited for them on a raised obsidian platform, his new form monstrous and divine. Flames licked around his fingers. His voice thundered across the battlefield.
"You are too late, mortals. This world has no place for weak bonds and broken systems. Only power shall remain."
He raised a hand, and the storm bent to his will.
[Boss Encounter Initiated – Lucien, Ascended Emberlord]
Phase I: Domain of Cinder
HP: 8,000,000
Raid Mechanics: Flame Walls, Void Pulse, Ember Phoenix, Phase Transition at 30%
Hikaru stared at the health bar. "That's… insane."
Lucien pointed at them. "Burn."
Flame erupted from the ground. The Heartguard barely had time to scatter as the first wave hit. Ember Phoenixes materialized midair, diving into squads and exploding in suicidal bursts.
Rourke activated his group taunt, drawing fire.
[Skill Activated: Unyielding Bulwark]
"Stick to the plan!" Hikaru shouted. "DPS teams target his anchor points! Illya, drain his mana flow!"
Lucien laughed. "Futile."
Still, the Heartguard fought on. Spells flew, arrows rained, and steel clashed with flame. Every moment was a dance with death.
Then came the second surge.
Lucien raised both hands, and the entire battlefield dimmed.
[Ultimate Cast – Voidbrand Domain Initiated]
A black circle expanded from him, suppressing all player buffs and nullifying skill cooldowns.
[Warning: System Interference Detected – Skill Lock Imminent]
Players began to falter. Healing halted. Shields cracked.
Hikaru's blade dimmed. His abilities locked.
"Not now… damn it!"
Lucien advanced, flame swords materializing at his side.
"This is the end," the Emberlord declared.
But before he could strike—
[System Alert: Obsidian Monolith (North Node) Destroyed]
Shield Disruption – 100%
Ritual Instability – Critical Threshold
Kora's voice rang through the comms. "You're welcome!"
The convergence core shuddered violently. Runes began to flicker.
[Ritual Collapse Initiated]
Lucien's expression twisted. "No!"
Hikaru's skills unlocked. His sword lit up with full energy.
"Now!" he bellowed. "Phase Transition!"