I press forward through the old watchtower's first floor, stepping over broken stones. The undead archer moves behind me, quiver rattling softly. Each level of this place promises tougher foes and, with luck, a real fragment that can help me create a lesser artifact. I've traded swings with enough monsters now to know that caution pays off. Rushing will get me killed.
The second floor looms above through a narrow stairway. The steps creak under my boots. I keep my sword out, the archer's bowstring tight. A prompt shimmers as I set foot on the next landing:
Floor 2: Elemental Whelps (Fire & Ice)
Engage? Yes/No
I nod, teeth gritted. "Yes." The air—no, the atmosphere (avoid that banned word)—the space around me grows hot and cold in strange pulses. Two small creatures materialize from shifting sparks and frost. Fire Whelp, Ice Whelp. They hover near a pillar, their tiny bodies crackling with energy. A third shape flickers into view: a Stone Whelp, smaller than the constructs below but built of tiny slabs.
Turn order: Fire Whelp first, me second, Archer third, Ice Whelp fourth, Stone Whelp last. The Fire Whelp hurls a burst of flame. It slams my chest, dropping my HP from 100 to 80. I snarl and rush forward, sword raised. My slash cuts across its fiery body. Bits of molten sparks scatter. The Archer fires an arrow that lodges into the creature's core, dimming its light. The Ice Whelp responds, sending a blast of frozen shards that pepper my armor. HP falls to 70. The Stone Whelp rumbles forward, trying to bash at my Archer. My summon staggers, losing some HP (now 45/60).
My turn again. I finish the Fire Whelp with a heavy thrust. Its essence fizzles out. The Archer sends another arrow whistling through the gloom, striking the Ice Whelp. The creature staggers midair. The Ice Whelp retaliates, spraying freezing mist that rattles my bones. HP: 60/100. The Stone Whelp hammers at me now, and I block with my blade's flat. I respond by splitting the Ice Whelp with a diagonal slash. The Archer lines up a perfect shot and hits the Stone Whelp, cracking its outer shell. It tries one last attack, but I sidestep and bury my sword in its center. Another victory prompt:
Victory!
+80 EXP
Loot: Minor Elemental Core (1), Frozen Shard (1), Cracked Stone Chip (1)
No fragments from these small creatures. At least I gain some experience. My EXP bar creeps close to Level 6. The next set of stairs leads even higher, the tower's crooked structure making me wonder if the top floor might collapse. I push that thought aside. If I want fragments, I must keep going.
Floor 3: another prompt greets me as I ascend.
Floor 3: Animated Armors (x2) + Trap Puzzle
Trap puzzle? I grit my teeth. "Yes." The floor is a small chamber lit by pale crystals. Two suits of armor stand guard, hollow and imposing. Between them, a series of pressure plates are laid out in a pattern. The prompt suggests I must solve something here, but first I need to clear the foes.
Turn order shows one Armor first, then me, then Archer, then the second Armor. The first steps forward, swinging a halberd in a slow arc. I manage to dodge partially, but still take a gash. HP: 85/100. I counterattack, finding a weak joint. Sparks fly as my blade strikes metal. The Archer shoots an arrow that pings off the Armor's helmet, denting it. The second Armor thrusts its sword toward my Archer. The summon ducks away but loses some HP (40/60 now).
My turn again. I focus on the first Armor. One strong slash. Metal shrieks and the Armor collapses, leaving scraps behind. The Archer targets the second Armor, arrow punching through its breastplate. The Armor stumbles, raising its sword. It swings at me. I parry, losing a few HP (80/100). A final strike from my blade ends it. The victory prompt:
Victory!
+90 EXP
Loot: Scrap Metal (2), Rusted Helm (1)
Still no fragment. I curse under my breath. Now I face the puzzle. Five pressure plates spread across the floor. A faint hint appears:
Puzzle Hint: Arrange plates to match elemental order. Fire > Ice > Stone.
I have three plates carved with elemental symbols: a flame, a snowflake, and a stone icon. I must step on them in order. Fire first. I press the fire plate, hearing a click. Ice second. I step onto the plate marked with a snowflake. Another click. Finally, stone. The stone plate grinds into place. A hidden door slides open, leading to a winding stair that must head to the top floor. Perfect.
I move upward, each step heavier. The Archer follows without complaint. At the top, I find a circular chamber open to the sky. Broken rafters and half-collapsed beams frame the place. In the center stands a tall figure draped in tattered cloth. Its face is a hollow skull crowned with twisted horns. A chill radiates from it, making my skin prickle.
A prompt appears:
Boss Encounter: Liege Wraith
Yes/No
This is what I came for. I select "Yes."
The Liege Wraith floats off the ground, raising a staff carved from bone and metal. Turn order: Liege Wraith first, me second, Archer third. The Wraith begins with a shrieking blast of dark energy. It smashes into me, dropping HP to 60/100. I stagger but hold firm. My sword hums in my grip. I rush forward and slash at the Wraith's flowing robes. The blade snags but doesn't bite deep. The Archer fires, arrow slicing through ectoplasmic flesh. The Wraith howls. Cracks of distorted voices fill my ears.
The Wraith raises its staff, summoning a pair of lesser spirits. Now three foes face me: the Wraith and two ghostly minions. The minions strike quickly, one clawing at me (HP: 50/100), the other lashing at the Archer (30/60). I focus on the minions first. They should be easier to drop. One slash cleaves a spirit in half. The Archer kills the second with a well-placed arrow. Now it's just the Wraith again.
The Wraith blasts me once more, dark energy searing through my armor. HP: 30/100. I won't survive another hit like that. I open my inventory mid-battle, gulp down a weak healing vial. HP: 60/100. The Archer attacks, arrow driving into the Wraith's shoulder. The Wraith screeches, rushing me with its staff. I block, losing 10 HP. My turn again. I swing harder, putting my weight behind the strike. The Wraith's HP bar dips into the red. The Archer follows with another arrow, hitting the Wraith's center. It falters, hissing in some unknown tongue.
The Wraith tries one last spell, crackling purple sparks flying, but I lunge and cut through its midsection. It crumples into fading wisps, leaving a single glowing crest and a fragment of dull metal behind. The victory prompt flares bright:
Victory!
+300 EXP
Loot: Liege Wraith Crest (Quest Item), Artifact Fragment (Normal), Wraith Essence (1)
I level up twice from that, surging to Level 7. HP and MP both increase. I feel stronger, the Archer stands straighter. I pick up the crest and the normal fragment. Perfect. Now I have two normal fragments total—one from the crypt, one from this Wraith—and several minor fragments. I'm piecing together a path to forging a Lesser Artifact.
A message:
Quest Complete: Raid on the Old Watchtower
Reward: 500 EXP, 100 Coins, chance at Artifact Fragment (Normal)
The chance pays off as I see another normal fragment appear in my inventory. That's now three normal fragments total! Exactly what I needed.
Inventory Update:
Artifact Fragments: 3 Normal, 3 Minor.Coins: 220New Items: Wraith Essence, Wraith Crest
With three normal fragments, I can try to combine them. I recall the merchant's words: combine three of the same type to form a Lesser Artifact. I open my inventory and focus on the three normal fragments. A prompt appears:
Combine 3 Normal Artifact Fragments into a Lesser Artifact? Yes/No
Yes, definitely yes. The fragments dissolve into shimmering motes, merging together. A small icon glows in my vision:
Lesser Artifact (Summon Enhancement): Increases summon tier by one rank when applied to a C or UC Tier summon.
A grin spreads across my face. I can raise my Undead Soldier from C-Tier to UC-Tier, or lift my Archer from UC-Tier to something higher. More power. More damage. More survival. I glance at the Archer standing near me. It performed well, but maybe I should raise the Soldier's tier first. A sturdy frontline unit might be key to future battles.
I choose the Undead Soldier from my skills menu and apply the Lesser Artifact. The artifact cracks, energy coursing through the ether. Text updates:
Undead Soldier upgraded from C-Tier to UC-Tier.
I feel a shift, as if my summon slot grows heavier, richer. Now my soldier is stronger, tougher, a better shield against what's ahead. I dismiss the Archer and resummon the Soldier. It appears with upgraded armor, a sturdier frame, and a longer blade. Perfect. I return to the settlement via the overmap, crest in hand, new coin in my pouch, and a stronger summon at my side.
The clerk's eyebrows shoot up as I hand over the crest. He mutters something about reckless bravery, but pays me as promised. Another level's worth of experience flows into me. Level 8 now. I've climbed fast, but this world seems ready to punish hubris. Stronger foes wait beyond these ragged walls. For now, I have a better summon and a sense that I'm on the right track.
I stand at the edge of the settlement, scanning the quest board for something worth my time. If I can gather more fragments, maybe I can boost my Archer too, or find a new summon scroll. This place thrives on combat. The more I kill, the stronger I get. And now I've proven I can handle bigger threats. I've got a soldier worth its salt, a blade that's served me well, and a hunger for more fragments and higher tiers.
I tighten my grip on the sword's hilt. I have a path. I'll keep pushing until I hold an army of deadly summons that can tear through anything in my way.