The alliance had grown into something formidable. From the Beastkin enclaves came packs of wolf-kin berserkers, cat-folk scouts slipping through shadows like smoke, fox-kin illusionists weaving deceptions, and now dragonkin riders soaring above, their wings casting fleeting shadows over the marching columns. Aelar Thorne rode Vyrath high above the procession, the wind whipping his cloak as they scouted the southern plains leading back toward Willowbrook and beyond—to the front lines where Vorath's forces gathered like a gathering storm.
Level 13 pulsed with new power. All Breed had reached Level 4 after the Sky Trial bonds, granting him 7 bond slots and enhanced Empathy Echo that now allowed brief sharing of intentions during combat—silent coordination without words. The dragon rider harness strapped across his chest hummed with latent energy, stabilizing the telepathic link with Vyrath: The winds are favorable, rider. But darkness stirs below.
Aelar peered down. The plains stretched vast and golden under the sun, reminiscent of the wheat fields around Kot Addu during harvest, but here the grass whispered with magic—subtle glows where leylines surfaced. Below, the allied army moved: Borin's dwarven contingents hauling siege engines, Lirael's elven archers in loose formation, Kira's wolf-kin howling in rhythmic cadence to keep pace. Ren darted ahead with scouts, Mira and Vixen coordinating illusions to mask their numbers from distant eyes.
Yet scouts reported grim tidings. Vorath's vanguard had pushed south faster than anticipated—undead legions raised from ancient battlefields, orc warbands swollen with conscripts, and worst of all, Fallen High leading twisted hybrid monstrosities born from corrupted All Breed rituals. These abominations—hulking fusions of orc muscle and necrotic flesh, or elf grace twisted into spider-like limbs—served as shock troops, their very presence corrupting the land.
Aelar signed in mid-flight, the system responding to the open skies:
Sign-In Location: Skies Above the Southern Plains (Unique – Aerial Domain).
Reward: Storm Rider Boots (Enhanced Aerial Mobility + Wind Resistance), Skill: Dragon Breath Channeling (Amplify Companion's Breath Weapon), All Breed EXP +250 (Level 5).
All Breed upgraded: bond slots to 8, and a new tier feature—Legacy Preview: he could now mentally simulate potential hybrid offspring outcomes with greater detail, including combat aptitudes. A child with Vyrath's line might inherit scaled wings, innate lightning breath, and High Human versatility—skyborne mages or warriors unmatched.
The preview stirred unease. In Kot Addu, legacy meant family gatherings, stories passed down, Eid feasts with cousins. Here, it carried weight of war and survival. He pushed the thought aside as Vyrath banked sharply.
Enemy sighted ahead, Vyrath's voice echoed in his mind. Corrupted flock—wyverns ridden by Fallen scouts.
Aelar's heart quickened. "Sound the alert. Dive!"
The allied force below reacted instantly—horns blaring, shields raising. From the skies, a dozen corrupted wyverns descended, ridden by hooded figures whose auras reeked of dark magic. Their mounts' scales were cracked and oozing black ichor, eyes glowing with void light.
The aerial battle erupted in chaos. Vyrath roared, lightning breath crackling forth in a brilliant arc. Aelar channeled it through the new skill—breath weapon amplified, forking into multiple bolts that struck two wyverns mid-dive. Scales shattered, riders tumbling with screams as mounts spiraled down in flames. Enemy Defeated: Corrupted Wyvern Rider x2. +300 XP.
Other dragonkin joined: sapphire and emerald scales flashing as they weaved through enemy formations. One rider—a young dragonkin named Sylara—unleashed frost breath, freezing a wyvern's wings mid-beat; it plummeted like a stone, crashing into the plains with bone-crunching impact.
Aelar directed Vyrath into a steep climb, dodging a necrotic fireball hurled by a Fallen rider. Empathy Echo flared—intentions of the enemy leader, a Fallen High with pale, veined skin and eyes like shattered obsidian. Kill the pure one. Harvest his blood.
"Focus on the leader!" Aelar shouted telepathically to the dragonkin network.
Vyrath spun, wings cutting air like blades. Aelar swapped to Hybrid Master, blending Mage Aspirant with Aerial Maneuvering. He cast Arcane Missile—bolts enhanced by dragon synergy, trailing lightning—homing on the Fallen leader. The shots struck true, exploding against dark wards in bursts of violet energy. The Fallen snarled, countering with a wave of shadow tendrils that lashed upward.
Aelar activated Shield Barrier, the dome absorbing the assault but cracking under strain. Vyrath dove through the gap, claws raking the enemy wyvern's flank—gouts of black blood spraying. The rider retaliated, a cursed blade slashing toward Aelar. He parried with his sword, sparks flying, then countered with Wolf Kin Slash—claws manifesting from his All Breed bond with Kira, tearing through armor.
The Fallen rider fell, mount crashing. Boss Defeated: Fallen High Scout. +600 XP. Level 14.
The remaining corrupted wyverns scattered, harried by allied dragonkin. Below, ground forces engaged stragglers—orc reinforcements charging from hidden ravines.
The plains battle intensified. Undead hordes shambled forward—skeletons clattering, zombies groaning—led by necromancers chanting in guttural tongues. Orc berserkers roared, axes gleaming.
Aelar directed aerial support: dragonkin strafing runs breathing fire and lightning across enemy lines, charring ranks in sweeping infernos. Smoke rose thick, the scent of burned flesh mixing with ozone.
On the ground, Kira shifted fully—massive wolf form tearing through undead, claws rending bone. Ren flanked, daggers a blur. Borin anchored the center, axe a whirlwind. Lirael perched on a rise, arrows raining with elven precision.
Aelar landed Vyrath amid the fray, dismounting to join. All Breed aura rallied allies—favorability boosting morale, Empathy Echo coordinating strikes. He forged a quick platonic bond with Sylara mid-battle: Bond: Sylara (Frost Synergy – Ice-Enhanced Spells).
With it, he cast an amplified Frost Nova—ice spreading from his feet, freezing orc feet in place for allied cleaves.
A massive abomination lumbered forward—a Fallen hybrid: orc torso fused with draconic wings and necrotic tendrils. It bellowed, spewing shadow flames.
Vivid climax: Aelar remounted Vyrath, lifting off. They circled the beast. Aelar channeled Dragon Breath—lightning infused with frost from Sylara's bond—striking in a spiraling torrent. The abomination roared, tendrils lashing. Vyrath dodged, tail whipping to sever one.
Aelar leaped from Vyrath's back—Storm Rider Boots activating, propelling him in a wind-assisted glide. He landed on the abomination's shoulder, sword plunging into its neck while channeling Arcane Missile point-blank. Explosion ripped through corrupted flesh. Abomination Defeated. +800 XP. Level 15.
The enemy broke—retreating in disarray. Allied cheers rose, horns sounding victory.
But cost was high: wounded littered the field, dragonkin nursing scorched wings, Beastkin mourning fallen packmates.
In the aftermath, campfires burned under starlit skies. Aelar walked among the wounded, Nature Affinity healing where he could. Vixen approached, fur singed but eyes bright.
"Your light saved many today," she said softly. "The aura… it binds us closer."
Kira joined, still in partial shift. "The pack recognizes strength. And heart."
Aelar met their gazes—Empathy Echo warm with trust, affection. "Bonds grow in battle, but endure in peace. When this war ends…"
He left it unspoken, but the promise lingered.
Later, alone with Vyrath, Aelar gazed northward. The Black Spires loomed closer. Vorath awaited.
A final sign-in at the victory site:
Sign-In Location: Plains of Valor (Unique – Post-Battle).
Reward: Unity Banner (Party Morale Boost +20% in Group Fights), Lore: "All Breed's true power blooms in shared sacrifice, forging legends across races."
Level 15 brought new class fusion: Aerial Sovereign—blending dragon rider perks with multi-class fluidity.
Aelar prayed quietly, facing the stars. "Strengthen us, Ya Allah. Let unity prevail."