The winds over Greystone howled like ancient wolves. From atop the western watchtower, Kaelen observed the shifting horizon. Stormclouds gathered in unnatural spirals, stained red with the tint of corrupted mana. Even without a scout's report, he could tell—the Crimson Pact's forces were on the move.
But Greystone was no longer just a dying village.
It was a stronghold of bone and shadow. His stronghold.
Inside the central command hall—constructed from undead-reinforced lumber and hardened grave-clay—Kaelen stood before a circular war-table. Elara sat cross-legged atop a pile of scrolls beside him, sketching miniature formations with glowing chalk. Sylra leaned against the far pillar, sharpening her blades.
"We've confirmed it," Sylra said. "The Crimson Pact's vanguard will strike within six days. They're massing troops at the edge of Stonecrack Ridge."
Kaelen nodded grimly. "Then it's time to activate the second quest phase."
[Quest Update: Siblings of Sovereignty – Phase Two Unlocked]
Phase Two: Broken Shield, Forged Blade
– Elara must lead a scouting mission and return with strategic data. (In Progress)– Kaelen must defeat a Named Elite enemy in battle. (Pending)– Construct a Tier-2 Fortress Expansion. (0/1)– Conduct a joint summoning ritual using hybrid classes. (0/1)
Reward:– Shared Refund Nexus– Access to Class Fusion Subtree– "Ancestral Oath" Legacy Option (Locked)
"I'll go tonight," Elara said, slinging a rune-belt over her shoulder. "If I travel through the Howling Pass and keep my arcane presence suppressed, I can get close to the enemy camp without triggering their wards."
Kaelen's gaze hardened. "You're eight. You're not going alone."
She grinned. "I'm eight and stronger than most of your skeleton knights."
"…Take a Reaver with you."
"Deal."
Elara crouched beside a fallen tree, shadowed by a silent Wraithbone Reaver. Her breath was steady. Her small fingers danced over the runes embedded in her bracer as she scanned the terrain with a spyglass laced with divination magic.
Through the mist, she saw it: crimson tents, cursed siege golems, and an imposing warrior clad in plated flesh-armor—the Pact's Bloodreaper Commander.
She gulped.
"That's gotta be the Named Elite."
Her chalk glowed faintly as she began drawing symbols into a parchment—recording troop numbers, patrol paths, and weak points.
Then she heard it. A crack of twigs behind her.
Enemy scouts.
Meanwhile, back at Greystone, Kaelen studied the System Shop. With his recent SP gains, he could finally unlock a new fortress upgrade.
Tier-2 Expansion – Crypt Guard BastionCost: 800 SPRefund: 80,000System Points: +1
He activated the purchase.
[Upgrade Acquired: Crypt Guard Bastion]
Defensive rating: +35%Bonus: Unlocks Crypt Wall TurretsSP Gained: +80,000System Points Gained: +1
The village trembled as bone-towers emerged from the northern wall, their tops lined with rune-etched skulls capable of discharging necrotic blasts. Villagers paused, awe-struck by the rapid transformation.
Kaelen turned to Sylra. "We're ready for the first siege. Barely."
Sylra walked over, standing close. "And what if the second comes right after?"
"Then we fight again. This place will hold."
"…And if we don't?"
Kaelen stared at her, unwavering. "Then we die fighting. But we don't die running."
Elara sprinted through the woods, breath ragged, clutching her scrolls. Behind her, Crimson Pact scouts gave chase—four of them, mounted on twisted hounds of bone and ash.
"I warned Kaelen this would happen," she muttered.
She turned mid-sprint and snapped her fingers.
The Wraithbone Reaver she'd hidden in the trees lunged from the shadows, eviscerating one of the scouts before turning on the others.
Elara didn't stay to watch.
She had to reach the village.
And fast.
Kaelen knelt at the village gates as Elara staggered in, bruised but breathing. He caught her in his arms, holding her tightly.
"You're insane," he muttered.
She smiled weakly. "But useful."
"Very."
She handed him the scrolls. "Pact's numbers. Their commander. Weak points."
Kaelen scanned them, impressed. "This gives us a shot."
Sylra appeared beside them. "With this… we could pre-empt the first siege."
Kaelen stood. "Then we plan a strike."
System Notification – Fusion Ritual Ready
The moment they had both anticipated finally arrived. Kaelen and Elara entered the summoning chamber, lined with obsidian bones and moonlight-infused crystals. At its center was a fused summoning circle—designed from a hybrid of Elara's Mirage Artificer glyphs and Kaelen's Necromancer runes.
Both placed a drop of blood in the center.
Ritual CommencedFusion Type: Necro-Mirage ConstructCore Essence: Shadow-FlameResult: Phantom Gravecaller WyvernClass: Mythic Undead-ClassLoyalty: AbsoluteBind: Dual Linked – Kaelen + ElaraSP Refund: +100,000System Points: +2
A massive beast emerged from the summoning circle, its wings spread wide, composed of fire-kissed bones and illusions. Its roar shook the entire valley.
Kaelen looked at Elara.
"We're not just surviving anymore."
She nodded.
"We're fighting back."