The banner of Hikaru's village now fluttered over Deadroot Hollow, a symbol of triumph and defiance. The undead menace had been purged, but there was no time to bask in victory.
Expansion was the game now—and every moment spent idle gave others the chance to strike first.
Back in the command tent, a newly updated map spread across the table. Three figures stood before it: Hikaru, Illya, and Kora. Duskblade, as always, remained in the shadows—present but not part of the discussion unless he chose to be.
"The Hollow is ours, but we can't fortify it until the outpost is built," Illya said, pushing a pin into the zone marker.
"Already in motion," Hikaru replied. "We've deployed engineers and labor units. It'll be functional within two days."
Kora looked at the next highlighted territory. "Then it's time for the Spires or the Dunes."
Hikaru's fingers drummed against the table. "The Spires are tempting, but elven ambushes are risky. We can't afford heavy losses this early."
"Then Blisterfang Dunes it is," Illya said with a nod. "It's unclaimed, has ancient ruins, and according to the scouts—buried tech."
Hikaru's eyes sharpened.
"Tech?"
Illya nodded. "Relics. Before this world was torn by magic, it was ruled by science. The System says some constructs still roam the dunes—semi-sentient war machines."
That caught everyone's attention.
Hikaru leaned forward. "If we can capture one of them, we might get a new class of unit or defense."
Kora frowned. "Or bring down a death machine on our heads."
"That's war," Hikaru said simply. "Prepare the assault team. We move at dawn."
The trek to Blisterfang was brutal.
Unlike the cursed swamps or verdant forests, the dunes offered no cover—just open sand and scorching sun. Hikaru led a force of 60 elite units, including his newly trained Shadow Archers and Rune Blademasters, along with siege golems and a team of Engineers specialized in artifact salvage.
Duskblade was absent this time.
"I don't do heat," he'd said with a smirk before vanishing into the dark.
Instead, Hikaru brought Dravos, a newly recruited frontline commander with the Earthshaker class—slow, tanky, but nearly unkillable.
Half a day into the desert, the winds shifted—and they found the ruins.
Half-buried towers of ancient alloy, blackened pylons protruding from the sand like daggers. Energy flickered faintly within the structures. Strange glyphs pulsed dimly across panels.
Hikaru's HUD pinged.
System Alert: Ruin Discovered – Core of Dominion
Description: Once a facility for automated warfare, the Core now houses derelict constructs, corrupted AI, and ancient weaponry.
Danger Rating: High
Reward Potential: Extreme
He smiled. "Just our kind of mess."
Illya raised her staff. "Magical interference is heavy here. Spells will be unstable."
Hikaru gave the signal.
"Split into three squads. Watch for ambushes."
The ruins were silent—too silent.
Then, a metallic screech.
Out of the ground burst a spider-like machine, its limbs crackling with static. Its body was sleek, armored, and glowing with red lines.
System Alert: Encounter – Sentinel Mk. IV
HP: 18,000
Traits: EMP Pulse, Web Launcher, Regeneration Module
It launched into the nearest squad with terrifying speed. Blades flashed. Arrows flew. The Sentinel fired an energy beam that cut through a Blademaster's shield like paper.
"Dravos, pin it!" Hikaru shouted.
The Earthshaker charged, slamming a plated fist into the ground. A wall of rock burst upward, smashing into the construct and halting its advance.
Illya unleashed a glyph of silence, disabling the Sentinel's pulse long enough for the archers to let loose a coordinated volley.
The Sentinel screeched—and exploded.
A core clattered onto the ground, pulsing with unstable power.
Loot Acquired: Sentinel Energy Core (Rare)
– Can be used to upgrade Siege Golem Mk. II
– OR install into base defense grid for automated turrets
Hikaru grinned. "That's what we came for. Keep moving."
Deeper into the ruins, the energy readings intensified.
They passed through a shattered corridor into what looked like a control chamber. Floating above a pedestal was a sphere of shifting energy, encased in a containment field.
Suddenly, the System chimed.
Mini-Boss Encounter: Architect Core
HP: 40,000
Traits: Barrier Field, Drone Swarm, Logic Overclock
Victory Condition: Survive and disable core AI
The walls began to move. Drones detached from the ceiling. Lasers locked onto targets.
The battle began.
It was a blur of chaos.
Drones rained plasma. The AI launched data waves that disoriented spellcasters. Illya staggered, blood dripping from her nose.
"Shield the Engineers!" Hikaru barked.
Dravos held the line as Hikaru and his elite vanguard tore into the drones. But the Architect Core's barrier absorbed everything.
Then one Engineer shouted, "We found a control node! Give us two minutes!"
"Buy them time!" Hikaru roared.
Illya, drained but determined, summoned a wave of ice, slowing the drones. The Engineers worked frantically at the panel.
"Almost there!"
The Core began to charge a final beam—enough to level the entire chamber.
Then—click.
The shield dropped.
Hikaru lunged forward, sword ablaze with energy, and slammed it into the core.
With a shriek of static and an implosion of light, the Architect Core shattered.
System Alert: Ruins Cleared – Blisterfang Control Node Captured
➤ Unique Reward: Ancient Turret Blueprint (Unlocked)
➤ New Structure Available: Automated Defense Battery
➤ Resources Gained: Sentinel Parts x70, Plasma Lenses x12, Core Fragments x8
The troops erupted in cheers.
Hikaru looked out across the ruined horizon. "Begin outpost construction. This place will be our fortress in the sands."
Illya collapsed to one knee. "We nearly died for this."
"But we didn't," Hikaru said. "And now we have tech no one else does."
Kora's voice crackled in on the comm crystal. "Hikaru… something's happening."
"What?"
"There's smoke rising from the north. And a new banner. A player village just expanded near us."
Hikaru's eyes narrowed.
"Finally… a neighbor."