The skies above Greystone had turned from pale blue to a deep crimson orange, bathed in the final rays of the setting sun. The uneasy quiet that had settled after the skirmish earlier still lingered like smoke, and the scent of charred wood and dried blood clung to the wind.
Kaelen stood inside the command tent, arms crossed, eyes locked on the flickering system interface projected in front of him.
System Notification
[You have received a Message Request from Lord Vesryn of Hollowdeep.]Status: Neutral – Unknown AlignmentSuggested Response: CAUTION ADVISEDOffer: Temporary Alliance Negotiation
Kaelen's lips thinned into a thoughtful line. "Neria, what do we know about Vesryn?"
Neria, who had returned with a satchel of glowing spirit herbs and a series of vine-bound parchments, set her things down. "He's a minor lord, rumored to have started in one of the Hollow zones. Not many resources, but strong class affinity with dark magic. Might be a Soul Architect or Shadowsmith."
"Shadowsmith?" Sylra asked, leaning against the command table with her arms folded.
Neria nodded. "Crafters of illusions and weapons forged from ambient fear and shadow essence. Very rare. Usually isolated."
Kaelen exhaled and tapped the interface.
"Accept request. Schedule meeting—one hour. Neutral ground. South Whispering Pines. Just me and one escort."
An hour later, Kaelen and Sylra arrived at the designated location—a grove of leaning pine trees that whispered when the wind passed through. Ancient stone markers dotted the area, remnants of some forgotten age, now used for secret meetings and neutral exchanges.
A faint shimmer split the air ahead, and from it stepped a man robed in matte black. His features were sharp, with eyes like molten silver and hair tied into a sleek topknot. On his back rested a blade that seemed to drink in the light rather than reflect it.
"Lord Kaelen," he said with a slight bow. "A pleasure."
"Vesryn," Kaelen replied, keeping his expression neutral. "I hope this is worth my time."
The other lord chuckled. "It is. And perhaps more. You've stirred the Crimson Dogs. They're regrouping, you know."
"I expected as much."
Vesryn produced a small orb from his robes—no bigger than a fist. It shimmered with blue and violet runes, pulsing in rhythm.
"This," he said, "is a Reconnaissance Beacon I salvaged from one of the older systems—pre-Worldfall. It links into the older fragments of the Watcher Network. If installed at your highest tower, it will map all movements within a 4-kilometer radius. Even cloaked."
Kaelen narrowed his eyes. "What's the cost?"
"Nothing now. But when I call for your assistance, you will come. No matter what. And you will not question it."
Sylra stepped forward. "That's a heavy price."
Kaelen raised a hand to stop her. He met Vesryn's eyes, and for a moment, silence stretched between them.
Then Kaelen nodded.
"I'll accept. But only one binding. No long-term chains."
Vesryn smiled faintly. "Agreed."
System Update
[Reconnaissance Beacon Acquired – Legendary Tier]Requires: Elevated Mana Source TowerInstall to unlock: Fog Dispersion, Movement Trail Mapping, and Enemy Class IDOne-time Pact Initiated: Vesryn of HollowdeepBinding Level: Tier I (Obligatory Response – One Time Use)
Back at Greystone, Kaelen personally installed the Beacon atop the Eastern Tower. As soon as it was linked with the village's Nexus Crystal, the map expanded.
New Interface Unlocked – Regional Mapping: Enhanced
Enemy Movement Paths: VisiblePredicted Routes: CalculatedResource Nodes: Revealed (Unclaimed only)Crimson Camp: Located
Kaelen stared at the glowing red icon that had appeared at the northern edge of the forest—three concentric rings and a crimson skull in the center.
"They're building a fortress."
Neria appeared beside him. "Then we don't wait."
Later that night, Kaelen entered the private training yard where Elara, his younger sister, was sparring with two of the Bone Constructs he had summoned earlier. Her movements had improved rapidly in the last few days, the fluidity in her stance now matching the grace of her unique class: Mirage Tactician.
She finished with a spin, throwing her crystalline chakram through both constructs, the blades bouncing off the walls before returning to her grip like loyal pets.
Kaelen clapped slowly. "You've gotten sharper."
She grinned, wiping sweat off her brow. "I'm not letting you do all the fighting. I've got quests of my own, remember?"
She swiped open her System Panel, revealing her objectives:
[Quest: Tactical Bloom – Elara's Initiation]
Objectives:– Successfully Coordinate a Minor Battle (0/1)– Deploy Illusion Field during Combat (0/3)– Trick an Elite Enemy into Friendly Fire (0/1)Reward: Mirage Bloom Upgrade | Tactical Node – Clone Projection
Kaelen reviewed the quest quietly, nodding. "The next skirmish will be yours. I'll deploy Wight troops under your command. We'll ambush one of the Crimson patrols moving through the northern gulley."
Elara's eyes lit up. "Seriously?"
"You've earned it. But you'll also be testing the Refund Summon Exploit."
Her smile turned mischievous. "Only three times per week, right?"
He nodded. "Exactly. You'll summon temporary constructs using the illusion mod, fight with them, and when you refund them, I get Soul Points. You, in turn, receive their mimic blueprints for your Mirage Arsenal."
"And the SP you gain?" she asked.
"I'll use them to reinforce the Specter Ward perimeter. Your fight feeds our defense."
Kaelen returned to his core chamber and activated the System Shop fully, now that the Beacon had expanded its operational bandwidth.
The interface bloomed before him:
[SYSTEM SHOP – TIER I UNLOCKED]
Summons
Wight Archer – 100 SPBone Beast – 300 SPUmbra Skirmisher – 750 SPCrimson Warden (Locked – Tier II)
Defenses
Bone Spike Wall – 200 SPSpecter Ward Node – 500 SPFlame Trap Array – 650 SPSoul Lantern Beacon – 900 SP
Support Structures
Necroforge Anvil – 800 SPEther Reclaimer – 1000 SPTactical Relay Pylon – 1250 SP
Special (Refund Loop Eligible)
Phantom Blade Dancer (Illusion-Summon Hybrid) – 400 SPMirage Wolfpack (Temporary, 2 Minute Duration) – 600 SPShadow Spear Construct (Refund: 50% SP to MC, Blueprint to Elara) – 750 SP
Kaelen bought two Mirage Wolfpacks and a Shadow Spear Construct, then redirected them to Elara's field. The refund cycle would begin as soon as she dismissed them after battle.
The synergy between his Soul Point growth and her Mirage Library expansion was now woven directly into the economy of war.
The next morning, scouts returned with reports.
"The Crimson Marauders are moving. Two full squads are pushing into the northern gulley."
Kaelen gave a single nod. "Ready the illusions. This fight is hers."
From a distance, Elara watched the map shift, her face calm.
She wasn't just the sister of the Lord of Greystone anymore.
She was its strategist.
And this time, the Crimson Dogs would face something they couldn't cut through.