The first attack came at dawn.
Mist covered Blackridge.
Visibility was low.
Guards stood tense on the walls.
Suddenly—
A horn sounded.
Low.
Urgent.
"Enemies!"
Arin rushed out.
Rynor and Jaren followed.
Lyra was already chanting.
Kelsin held reports tightly.
Shapes moved in the fog.
Dozens.
Fast.
Armed.
Bandits.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Hostile Force Detected]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Threat Level – High]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Estimated Enemy Count – 120]
Bren cursed.
"Too many…"
Arin's mind raced.
They had less than sixty fighters.
Many wounded.
No siege weapons.
No reserves.
"Close the gate," Arin ordered.
"Archers ready."
Rynor ran to the front.
Sword drawn.
"I'll hold the stairs."
Jaren took position near the breach.
"Anyone enters, they die."
Lyra raised her staff.
Mana surged.
"Wind Barrier."
A transparent wall formed near the gate.
Arrows bounced away.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Defensive Formation Bonus +10%]
Bandits crashed against the gate.
Bam.
Bam.
Bam.
Wood cracked.
Arin climbed the tower.
His heart pounded.
He activated Observation.
[ Leader Stats:
STR: 55 | MAG: 12 | SPD: 48 | END: 52 | INT: 30 | CHA: 40
Talent: Brutal Combat (High) ]
"A boss," Arin thought.
The gate broke.
Enemies flooded in.
"Now!" Arin shouted.
Lyra released her spell.
"Mana Burst!"
Blue fire exploded.
Five bandits were thrown away.
Rynor cut down two attackers.
Blood sprayed.
His movements were precise.
No hesitation.
Jaren swung his axe.
Bones shattered.
Shields split.
Arin stayed behind, issuing commands.
"Left flank! Reinforce!"
"Archers, target leaders!"
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Command Efficiency +15%]
Suddenly, the bandit leader charged.
He leaped onto the wall.
Straight toward Arin.
Too fast.
Arin froze for a split second.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Crisis Response Activated]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Temporary Boost – STR +8 | SPD +8]
He moved.
Barely.
Steel clashed.
Pain shot through his arm.
Rynor rushed in.
Together, they attacked.
Two blades.
One target.
The leader roared.
Then fell.
The bandits panicked.
Without their boss, they broke.
Some fled.
Some surrendered.
After two hours—
Silence returned.
Bodies lay everywhere.
Smoke rose.
Blood stained the stones.
Jaren leaned on his axe.
"Damn… that was close."
Lyra collapsed to her knees.
Exhausted.
Arin stood still.
Hands trembling.
Alive.
Barely.
The system activated.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Border Defense Successful]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Territory Prestige +20%]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Rewards Granted]
STR +1
SPD +1
CHA +1
Command Skill +1
[PLAYER PROFILE – ARIN ELDORIA
STR: 7
MAG: 5
SPD: 7
END: 6
INT: 9
CHA: 9
Growth Potential: SSS
System Authority: Level 2
Territory Authority: Level 1
]
Captain Bren knelt.
"Your Highness… Blackridge owes you its life."
The soldiers followed.
One by one.
They knelt.
Arin raised his hand.
"Stand."
"This is only the beginning."
That night, fires burned on the walls.
Guards doubled.
Scouts were sent out.
From the forest, dark figures watched.
"Report to the master," one whispered.
"The prince is dangerous."
Arin looked at the battlefield.
"This land is mine now," he thought.
"And I'll protect it."