It had only been a day since the dungeon victory, yet peace was already splintering.
Kaelen stood in his command hall, flanked by Selene, Eon, Aria, and several elite officers. The war horn had sounded across Stormrift at dawn—its ominous tone backed by a glowing red notification in the System's interface.
[World Event Triggered – Domain War Challenge Received]Challenger: Lord Varkus Dreadthorn (Rank #87 – Crimson Thorn Domain)Location: Northern Border of StormriftTime Until Engagement: 72 hoursVictory Condition: Occupy Enemy Command Spire OR Defeat Enemy LordRewards: Land Expansion, Tier-5 Resource Node, Follower Conversion Rate +5%
"Varkus," Selene murmured. "He's not just some ambitious upstart. He's a killer. The Crimson Thorn Domain thrives on domination tactics—eliminating young Lords before they can rise."
Kaelen clenched his fists. "He thinks I'm an easy target."
"Most new Lords never survive a first Domain War," Eon added grimly. "Especially against someone ranked in the Top 100."
Aria's fists glowed faintly, Pyrella curled protectively around her shoulders. "Then we'll just have to change history."
Kaelen turned toward the war table, the 3D map of their border zones alive with blinking enemy signals. He pointed toward the valley chokepoint near the Thunderbreak cliffs.
"Then we make our stand there."
As the countdown ticked away, Stormrift erupted into activity.
Troops were mobilized, siege weaponry was constructed, and new recruits poured in through evolving summoning gates. Kaelen activated his newest privilege as a Domain Holder:
[Lord Privilege – Tier Expansion Unlocked]Function: Unlock Evolution Tree Tier-2 Paths for 3 Unit TypesSelection:
Stormriders → Storm Heralds (Lightning Cavalry with Chain-Arc AoE)
Ironleaf Guardians → Verdant Wardens (Defensive Units with Root Wall and Reflect Thorns)
Skyborne Archers → Gale Valkyries (Ranged Aerial Units with Critical Piercing Shot)
All three units underwent mass evolution. Lightning surged. The battlefield lit up with new strength.
Eon watched the evolutions with a satisfied nod. "He's giving us the best odds possible. Now it's our turn to deliver."
Meanwhile, Selene gathered her Celestialsprites and prepared her unique field: Harmonic Ascension, a large-area support boost that activated mid-battle to supercharge evolving troops.
"You're not just defending your Domain," she told Kaelen that evening. "You're defining your legacy."
Kaelen stood atop his command tower, eyes on the horizon. "Then let it be one written in thunder."
Late into the night before the war, the group gathered around a central firepit in the garden hall, their final moment of calm.
Aria sat beside Eon, her fingers gently running over Pyrella's scales. "I used to be scared," she confessed. "When I first arrived here, I didn't even know how to summon properly. Now…"
Eon met her gaze. "Now, you're the strongest person I've ever met."
She blushed. "You're just saying that because I summon cute wyrmlings."
"No," he said seriously. "I'm saying that because you never let fear stop you."
Across the fire, Kaelen shared a quiet moment with Selene. She was watching the stars, fingers laced in his.
"Have you ever thought about what comes after?" she asked.
"After this war?"
"After we win. After the world accepts that Stormrift isn't just some fledgling Domain."
Kaelen nodded. "I've thought about it. And I think I want to build more than just a kingdom. I want a future—with those I trust, those I fight for."
Selene turned to him, her silver eyes catching the firelight. "Then let me be a part of that future."
He leaned in slowly, and under the silent stars, their lips met—a promise forged not in words, but in the soft press of certainty.
The following morning, the System blared a universal notice:
[Global Broadcast – Domain War Begins in 1 Hour]
Across the Stormrift border, black-armored troops of the Crimson Thorn gathered in perfect formation. Siege towers rumbled behind them, their war drums echoing.
Kaelen, now clad in his Lord-tier battle armor—a long coat of woven stormsteel and phoenix hide—stood atop the ramparts.
Behind him, tens of thousands of troops waited. New elite units stood alongside evolved summons. Banners of Stormrift fluttered in the air.
Selene took her position at the high point of the cliffs. Aria mounted Pyrella, now upgraded with shimmering scale armor. Eon activated his Class skill—Draconic Vanguard—doubling Pyrella's aura effect radius.
[Timer: 00:00:00][Domain War Commencing – Good Luck, Lords]
Kaelen raised his blade high.
"FOR STORMRIFT!"
A chorus of voices thundered in reply. The battlefield exploded into motion.
Arrows rained. Siege engines roared. Storm Heralds charged into flanks with crackling lances, while Gale Valkyries rained precision death from above.
Kaelen and Selene coordinated through mental-link crystals, issuing commands across the field. Every troop was exactly where it needed to be.
At the heart of the battle, Kaelen personally faced off against a Crimson Thorn Elite. Their duel lit the field with shockwaves—his Stormblade meeting cursed steel, lightning clashing with bloodfire.
[Enemy Commander Defeated – Morale Shifted +20% in Favor of Stormrift]
In the skies, Aria and Pyrella unleashed harmonic pulses that disoriented entire battalions. Eon charged into weakened lines, commanding an elite squad of Flamefang Riders.
Despite the enemy's numbers, Stormrift pushed back hard.