The summoner walked down the steep mountain switchbacks under his own physical power, descending the two-kilometer trail with steady, disciplined footsteps.
With every stride over the fractured slate, he conducted a thorough, unflinching inventory of his physical and combat parameters.
All six host rings rested completely closed around his right forearm, suppressing the twelvefold multiplier to preserve his torn shoulder ligaments.
His reserve attribute pool held five unassigned points, his mana pool registered flat zero, and the royal decree wound remained open along his ribs.
At the tree-line watch-fire camp fifty paces from the high ridge, Princess Didi arrived leading the vanguard of the capital relief column.
Without grand speeches or imperial ceremony, she drew her silver rapier and quietly took up the first watch along the perimeter.
"The northern approach is secure," she whispered softly as he approached the crackling embers of the bivouac fire.
