The dawn that rose over Greystone wasn't warm. It was the cold kind of light, pale and tight like a drawn bowstring.
Kaelen stood atop the eastern watchtower, his eyes locked on the crimson torches still flickering across the horizon. They hadn't moved for hours. Not closer, not farther.
Just watching.
A message without words.
"They're testing us," Kaelen muttered.
Below, the people of Greystone had begun their routines, but everything was different. The air carried the weight of war. The usual hum of trade and laughter had given way to whispers and preparation. Even the birds had fallen silent.
Neria appeared beside him, draped in her cloak of leaves and shadow. She looked well-rested but alert. Her hands glowed faintly green—early signs of her passive mana bloom awakening with the morning sun.
"They're not moving yet?" she asked.
Kaelen shook his head. "No. But they're waiting for something."
"Orders from their commander, probably. Or they're baiting us."
"Either way," Kaelen said, "we make the first move on our terms."
He opened his System interface and flicked through the War Management panel.
[Greystone Defense Matrix – Status: GREEN]
Bone Trenches: 100% integritySpirit Net Traps: Active (East and South)Wight Patrols: Synced (5 squads)Scout Routes: OperationalDefensive Bonus (Under Synergy Bond): +12%
Kaelen turned to her. "Can you empower the southern vines again today?"
Neria nodded. "The Moonshade is reacting well. I think we'll have a full bloom before nightfall. It'll buy us time if they push too far into the thickets."
He gave her a tight smile. "Good. Because I'm about to make a loud statement."
By midday, Kaelen had already rallied a small strike force of Wights, two Pack Beasts, and a single Umbra Skirmisher—the new elite unit he'd unlocked from the shop. Fast, agile, and deadly, the Skirmisher wore armor that seemed to blend into the light, its movements liquid and ghostlike.
Sylra joined them, armor glinting with freshly applied defensive runes. She held her twin sabers across her back and wore a grim look.
"I assume this is a hit-and-run?" she asked.
Kaelen nodded. "We sweep the eastern ridge, burn their torch posts, and drop two Spirit Net traps as we retreat. If they respond too quickly, we test their movement speed. If they don't… we'll know they're stalling for something."
"Understood."
With the group formed and formation lines synchronized, Kaelen gave the command. "Move out."
They marched fast and silent, navigating through the winding trees and shadows until they reached the first ridge.
The torch had been planted on a spiked banner driven into the earth. Around it were runes carved into the dirt in a language Kaelen didn't recognize—but the energy radiating from them was unmistakable.
"Blood magic," Sylra muttered, kneeling beside the sigils. "Not native to this realm."
"I was afraid of that," Kaelen said. "Destroy it."
She took out a nullfire blade and sliced the banner off at the root. The torch hissed and sparked, then shattered into ash.
Kaelen opened his map.
System Update
[Enemy Outpost Marker: Removed][Fog of War Expansion: -10m Radius to Crimson Observation][Reputation with Independent Lords +3]
"Let's hit the next one."
They struck two more torch banners in quick succession, planting traps where the torches once burned. When they reached the fourth post, however, things changed.
Kaelen was just finishing the trap placement when he heard it—a sound like steam hissing over frozen ground.
A flame arced through the air toward them.
"DOWN!"
The squad hit the ground as the fireball detonated just behind them, turning trees into flaming splinters. From the treeline came crimson-armored soldiers—lean, fast, and wearing helms shaped like jackals.
[Enemy Identified: Crimson Marauder – Tier 3 Infantry]Level: 22Traits: Bloodlust, Fire Immunity (Minor), Fiend Pact Buff (Active)
Kaelen clicked his tongue. "Sylra, on me! Umbra, flank left!"
The battle exploded into chaos. Wight archers fired from the trees while Kaelen led the front line, carving through the Marauders with bone-forged blades. Each enemy dropped spilled energy into the ground, absorbed by Kaelen's Necromantic Reservoir passive.
He absorbed it like a sponge.
[System Alert: Necro Reserves at 78% – Eligible for On-field Reinforcement]Activate Temp Summon? [Y/N]
"Yes!"
A surge of bone and black mist surged from the ground, forming a skeletal jaguar—one of Kaelen's custom mid-tier creatures.
It pounced into battle, turning the tide.
The Crimson Marauders broke formation and fell back.
Kaelen didn't pursue.
They'd made their point.
Kaelen returned to Greystone hours later, blood-soaked and exhausted. But victory showed in his stride. Neria ran to meet him at the gate, her eyes full of worry that faded the moment she saw him unharmed.
"You made it," she said, hugging him briefly.
"Barely," he admitted. "But we showed them we're not prey."
As they walked back to the command center, Kaelen opened the updated Quest Panel.
Quest: The Crimson March (Phase II)
Objectives:
Repel first Crimson Advance (0/1)
Forge a Crimson Mirror Sigil (0/1)
Unlock Tier II Strategic Upgrade (0/1)Optional: Rescue Captured Lord (0/1)
Rewards: +2500 EXP, Strategic Upgrade Token, +1 Elite Unit SlotBonus: Crimson Mirror Sigil reveals enemy camp updates every 12 hours.
Sylra joined them inside.
"We held the line. But it's going to escalate now."
Kaelen sat down, wiping ash from his cheek. "Then we need allies."
"Or a miracle," Neria added softly.
Kaelen's System blinked.
System Interface – New Message
[Incoming Request: Lord Vesryn of Hollowdeep]Message:"Saw your mark. Crimson dogs are moving on us too. I propose a neutral envoy meet. I've got something that might help us both. Interested?"
Kaelen smiled.
"Looks like we might just get both."