The Verdant League's forest was a realm of perpetual twilight and raw, shimmering magic. Unlike the clumsy technological perimeter of the Ironwall Empire, the Elves' defenses relied on intricate Mana Wards—spells woven into the ancient trees and forest floor that instantly alerted them to magical or physical intrusion.
Shade, the Shadow Sentry, moved through it with silent contempt. The Elven wards were effective against Aura and brute force, but not against the Core's assimilated Aether-Tech. He used the residue of the [Static Concealment Barrier]—the non-magical blindness it created—to glide past the centuries-old traps.
His target was the Verdant Spire, the massive tree-city headquarters of the Elves.
Diplomacy with a Shadow
Shade materialized, not in the throne room, but in the private observation garden of Matriarch Lyra. She was the unquestioned leader of the Elves, an Archmage whose Tier 4 Aura power shimmered with the gentle, chaotic strength of nature itself (Aura Power: 4,000). Lyra sat perfectly still, observing a crystal scrying pool.
"I was expecting you," Lyra said, her voice ancient and resonant, without turning around. "Or rather, I was expecting your master. The silent, efficient monster that shattered the pride of the Empire."
Shade, carrying the Core's presence in his mind, placed a folded piece of paper—the schematics for the Tier 3 Aura Power Armor—on a low stone table.
"My Lord, the Obsidian Heart, sends a message of neutrality," Shade projected in a calm, clear voice. "The Ironwall Empire's technology relies on these designs. Their power relies on their synthetic fuel. My Lord has neutralized their fuel source and acquired this key to their defense. We offer it to the Verdant League as a sign of mutual interest against a common enemy."
Lyra finally turned. Her eyes, the color of emeralds, held a mixture of alarm and grudging respect. "A monster offers me military intelligence? This is unprecedented. You seek trade, not war."
"War is inefficient," Shade replied, echoing the Core's philosophy. "The Empire attacked your magical traditions and stole your land. We have crippled their entire regional military. We require non-interference in the Veil and access to your Tier 4 Mana-Weaving Artifacts for advanced research. In return, we will supply you with our unlimited Aether-Steel—the only metal that can hold a high-tier rune without degrading."
The offer was the ultimate temptation. The Elves desperately needed materials to craft high-tier Magical Focus Items to defend against the Empire's technologically superior armor.
Lyra took the schematics. Her eyes widened as she scanned the complex energy conduit patterns. "This is perfect... it shows the precise point of failure in their latest chassis. With this, we can craft counter-spells that target their Aether conduits directly."
The Pact of the Veil
Lyra stood, the air around her crackling with mana, but her voice was steady.
"The Obsidian Heart is a force unlike any we have faced. It is a mind that values structure above slaughter," she conceded. "The Verdant League accepts the pact. We grant your nation neutrality and will provide you with ancient Mana-Weaving Artifacts to study. In return, we will be your sole customer for Aether-Steel plates."
The diplomacy was a masterstroke. The Core had not only secured its southern flank from a powerful magical force but had also gained access to the next tier of power: Tier 4 Artifacts, which could unlock even more incredible skills.
— AETHER CORE STATUS UPDATE —
ACQUIRED: Neutrality Pact with the Verdant League.
ACQUIRED: 5x Ancient Mana-Weaving Artifacts (High-Tier Magical Research Material).
NEW ALLY: Matriarch Lyra (Tier 4 Archmage) (Neutral/Trade Partner)
STRATEGIC GAIN: Freedom to launch the final attack on the Imperial Capital without fear of Elven intervention.
The mission was complete. Shade returned to the Fortress, leaving the Elves to pour over the blueprints and prepare their own magical counter-offensive against their ancient foe. The Core had successfully converted its regional enemies into strategic assets.
Preparing for the Capital
Back at the Obsidian Heart Fortress, the Core now commanded: an unstoppable economy, a Tier 4 General (Bulwark), a fully armed Aether Legion, and a neutrality pact with the powerful Elves.
The next phase was the invasion of the Imperial Capital. But first, the Core had to capitalize on its newest resources.