[System Update: Wave 2 Incoming]Estimated Enemy Count: 85+ E-Tier BeastsComposition: Mixed melee and ranged, some armored variants detected
Strategy Required: Flank Response + Aerial Alert + Area Suppression
The moment the sun dipped below the horizon, the forest beyond the Bone Bastion came alive with low growls and rustling thuds. The trees shuddered with motion.
Iden stood atop the tower, arms crossed, watching.
"This one's different," he muttered. "They're more organized."
Rael stood just behind him, Sanctum Bloom gently pulsing outward. Nyra had already vanished into the mist, syncing with the Scouts.
"We strike first," Iden ordered.
At Iden's mental command, the two Mage Skeletons and two Scout Archers stepped forward to the upper tier of the battlements. Their staves and bows rose in perfect timing.
From the treeline, the beasts emerged:
Spined Raptors with scaled armor
Ground Crawlers with venom-dripping mandibles
A trio of Brute Howlers—massive and tank-like
"Mages, target the center. Archers, suppress the flank."
CASTING: Bonebolt → Arcane Fanburst (Triggered by Nexus aura)Firing: Triple-Shot Volley – Reinforced Bone Arrows
Bright bolts of condensed bone magic streaked through the air, followed by sharp arrow volleys.
Direct hits:– 6 Crawlers neutralized– 2 Raptors staggered– AoE burst scorched a Brute's face clean off
Iden's command grid flared with feedback:
[Mage Skeleton A: LV3 → LV4][Mage Skeleton B: LV2 → LV3]
+XP Earned (Iden): 210+XP Earned (Summons): 630 split
"Now—send the Bladeguards and Juggernauts!"
The gates cracked open for a moment—just long enough for the armored skeletons to push forward and meet the enraged beasts halfway.
The Bladeguards deflected fangs with bone-crafted shields, slashing at weak points marked earlier by Scout fire. The Juggernauts charged low, body-slamming through Crawlers like undead wrecking balls.
Iden had programmed a side routine for the Bone Architect:
Maintain structural integrity of trap anchors
Rebuild walls in real-time
Deploy emergency Bone Spike Deployers
As the second line of Raptor-class beasts broke through the treeline and tried climbing the east wall—
CRACK! — the Bone Architect's trigger launched a set of timed spikes upward, impaling two before they reached the top.
"That's my builder," Iden whispered.
In a synchronized move, the Scouts relayed enemy movement through shadow glyphs Nyra had scattered across the field. She darted in and out of combat zones, slicing through distracted beasts or tagging Brutes for future focus-fire.
"Their left flank is collapsing," she called from the shadows.
"Shift the Mage fire right," Iden responded instantly. "Burn them down."
CAST: Arcane Fanburst – Mage Skeleton A
– 4 Raptors incinerated– Ground left smoking
Juggernaut A → LV10 – Evolution Available
🔓 Options: Bone Guardian / Skullbreaker (Choose later)
Bladeguard A → LV10 – Evolution Available
Mage Skeleton B → LV4 → LV5
Scout B → LV7 → LV8
🧠 Iden: Growth and Control
Iden has reached Level 10
Gained: +5 Stat Points, +1 Skill Point
🔓 System Update:– Total Summon Capacity: 17 → 18
New System Trait: Command Layer ExpansionAllows Iden to issue two simultaneous class-based schedules
He immediately opened his status screen and assigned the new slot:
Summon Deployed: Mage Skeleton (Arcane Core Enhanced)
→ Equipped immediately using stored second Soul Core→ Learned: "Chain Spark" – Low-damage chain lightning for clearing swarm enemies
As the final Brute fell under a coordinated assault of Juggernauts and one final Bonebolt, the battlefield quieted.
Resource Retrieval Initiated:
Beastbone x120
Venom Sac x14
Arcane Flesh x3
Mana Stone Fragment x7
Rare: Ember-Claw Core x1 (Stored)
Raid Points Earned: +400Total RP: 420
Materials have been auto-sorted into the Storehouse
Nyra reappeared beside him, blood smeared on her jaw.
"East pit first?"
Iden nodded. "The smallest. We raid within the hour. Rael's prepping recovery."
Rael walked past him, gently casting Pulse Chain over the wounded summons, her expression determined.
"We clear them all," she said quietly. "We have four days."
"No," Iden corrected. "We'll do it in three."
His eyes glowed with system overlays and schedule layers.
The war had only just begun.