Within the newly expanded main building, the orb's platform had transformed. The once-simple pedestal was now a large circular table of polished marble, surrounded by throne-like chairs crafted from the same material. Each seat radiated authority, and Moyo subtly noted that the largest chair, positioned at the head of the table, was clearly meant for him.
Without hesitation, he took his seat, Aje materializing at his side with a solemn expression. She bowed slightly, then remained poised to speak.
"You may begin," Martha said, her voice unsteady as a series of notifications lit up their HUDs.
[Congratulations, Bastion has been upgraded to a Level 2 Settlement Town!]
[Bastion is the first settlement on C-102 to upgrade to town status!]
[Rewards granted:
200,000 credits5,000 lesser aether shards1,000 refined aether shardsAccess to greater blueprintsContinental map activatedTrade hub upgraded to Level 2]**
[Paths have been released for Planet C-102!]
[Citizens of Bastion have been granted access to advanced paths!]
"That's a lot of changes," Moyo remarked, lacing his fingers together as a glowing map materialized in the center of the table.
"The golden glowing point is our location," Martha began, pointing to the shimmering marker. "We're in the green zone—what I call the 'easy zone.' Here, the strongest aberrants are capped at Level 50."
She traced the borders of the green zone for all to see before gesturing to another area. "The yellow zone has a level cap of 200. It's far beyond our reach for now, but with the dangers ahead, we may not have a choice."
"What do you mean?" Ayo asked, leaning forward.
Martha's expression darkened. "I'll get to that. The red zone—" She pointed to a vast, ominous region on the map. "—is where the true terrors reside. Monsters there cap at Level 300."
A chill spread through the room.
"We're barely at Level 30!" Annika exclaimed, her voice rising in alarm.
Aje cast a knowing glance at Moyo, who raised an eyebrow. She wisely bowed her head, keeping silent about her knowledge of his true strength.
"From the map, we can see the necromancer is at the edge of the green zone," Martha continued, her voice steady. "But I'll let Aje explain the true scope of the threat we face."
Aje stepped forward, bowing slightly. "The necromancer belongs to the Undeath Empire—a star-spanning faction aligned with the Legion of the Tainted," she began.
The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in.
"They are known by many names," Aje continued. "The Accursed, the Denizens of the Ether, the Abyss. They serve under a monarch whose name cannot be spoken aloud, but it can be written."
Red letters materialized in the air beside her: Araman.
Moyo felt his throat tighten. The name was unspeakable, the mere attempt to do so met with an unnatural resistance. The others looked similarly affected as Aje nodded grimly.
"It is forbidden," she confirmed. "Their goal is the downfall of the system itself, to sever its hold on the aether of the universe."
"And is that such a bad thing?" Martha interjected, her tone thoughtful.
Moyo glanced at her, understanding her sentiment. The system had brought unimaginable horrors to their lives. Would the world not be better off without it?
Aje's gaze sharpened. "They do not merely seek the system's fall. Aether is a force of creation and destruction. Left unchecked, it would rampage across the cosmos. They seek to bend it to their will, to upset the balance of order and chaos that the system has maintained for eons."
"So they don't just want the system gone," Annika said, frowning. "They want to make themselves gods."
"In essence, yes," Aje replied. "The sovereigns—beings that transcend even the most powerful ascenders—are the closest equivalent to gods. The Tainted aim to ascend to that level of power, regardless of the cost."
"Why would our little world matter to them?" Idris asked, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "What could a Tier 2 nascent world possibly offer them?"
"That, I cannot answer," Aje admitted. "But I urge you to destroy the necromancer. Failure to do so will invite the wrath of the system and its vanguard."
Martha's eyes lit up with recognition. "The vanguards. I saw a reference to them while parsing unrestricted information. What are they?"
"They are an intergalactic body of enforcers, peacekeepers," Aje explained. "It is likely that one is already watching this world."
"Then we don't have time," Moyo interjected, his voice firm. "Three days is too short, and we have much to do."
"Starting with protecting the other settlements around us, even if they're far away," Martha said as red dots appeared scattered across the green zone.
"Some are in the path of the Tainted's march to our walls," Idris noted, his arms crossed.
"March?" Annika asked, puzzled.
"The system said we need to destroy it, not defend against it," Ayo pointed out.
"That may be true," Idris replied. "But it is an advocate of undeath. None of us have the strength to directly attack its stronghold. And if I'm correct, it can send waves of its forces to besiege us endlessly."
"Classic necromancer tactics," Annika muttered.
The group turned to her in surprise.
"I might have played a bit of roleplay in the past," she admitted sheepishly. "But seriously, the best strategy against them is a direct assault. The last thing they want is a head-on confrontation, which is why they rely on hordes of minions to wear us down."
"Lady Annika is correct," Aje confirmed. "The necromancer will employ its minions—those it has slain and resurrected as mockeries of life—to attack you."
The room fell silent as they contemplated the meaning.
"That means we can expect it to throw everything it has into building a viable army against our walls?" Moyo asked, his gaze sharp.
Aje nodded. "Correct. The necromancer will utilize every available resource, raising whatever creatures it can to bolster its forces."
"Then we have no time to waste. We need every advantage we can get," Martha said firmly, glancing at Moyo.
"Bring up the path specialization," Moyo ordered.
A shimmering tree of colors manifested in the air above the table, each branch pulsating with faint, vibrant energy.
"Paths are essentially the culmination of the two aether paths you intend to pursue," Aje began, as Martha straightened in her chair.
"Some individuals are granted their paths unknowingly at the advent of the system," Aje continued, nodding toward Martha. "Lady Martha here is one such case."
"You mean the Path of the Webweaver?" Martha asked, surprise flashing in her eyes.
Aje bowed slightly, her expression one of reverence. "Indeed. It is an honored path within the Archailect, bestowed upon few. Your actions must have deeply impressed the system itself to have granted it to you."
"You speak as if the system has sentience," Idris pointed out, his tone skeptical.
"That has been a topic of debate for countless centuries," Aje replied. "I cannot confirm or deny it. I am but a fragment—a mere sliver of the system's immense whole. Countless quintillions of constructs like myself exist across the Archailect."
"Wait," Martha interjected, her brows furrowed. "Are you saying you're not your own entity? That you report back to the system itself?"
Moyo's eyes narrowed, his hand unconsciously brushing the hilt of his blade. A moment's decision away from action, he watched Aje carefully.
"No," Aje clarified quickly, sensing the tension. "I am an independent construct, brought into existence by the system's interaction with this settlement. In essence, I am Bastion, and Bastion is me. My role as a contractor for the syndicate is part of an introductory package. Should this world reach Tier 3, the syndicate itself will establish a hub here, complete with countless smaller stations across C-102."
"We'll deal with that later," Idris interrupted, bringing the focus back. "We need to begin acquiring our paths now."
As if summoned by his words, the orange, swirling flame that had earlier transported Boyle to the Trial of Fire reappeared, spitting the blacksmith back out. The hulking figure emerged, soot-covered and coughing wisps of smoke, a massive hammer strapped to his back. The hammer's head radiated heat, fiery mana cracks dancing along its surface.
Boyle straightened, a grin breaking across his face as the portal vanished behind him.
"I welcome the Tier 2 Elemental Artificer of Bastion, Lord Boyle," Aje announced, her voice carrying a ceremonious tone.
Cheers erupted in the room, and Boyle chuckled, wiping his soot-covered hands on his pants.
"You're literally on fire, old man," Annika teased with a grin.
Boyle smirked, shaking his head. "I received… quite the education, wherever that place was," he said, glancing at Moyo, his expression turning serious.
"And where exactly was that?" Moyo asked, his curiosity piqued.
"I'm afraid I can't say, my lord," Boyle replied. "The Covenant binds me by oath to keep its secrets. I am, after all, now a Covenant Apprentice." Pride colored his voice as he straightened.
"No time for that now. War is upon us," he added. "And as your smith, I'll craft weapons worthy of Bastion. To the best of my new abilities, of course."
"Martha, what weapon do you want?" Boyle asked without missing a beat.
"Someone's in a cheerful mood," Annika quipped.
"Lord Moyo first," Martha replied, gesturing toward their leader.
"My lord's weapon surpasses anything I can forge at the moment," Boyle said, wisdom and respect evident in his tone.
Moyo patted Ida at his side. "I'm fine," he said simply.
How Boyle had known the weapon's quality, Moyo couldn't guess, but he appreciated the smith's insight.
"I want a spear of lightning," Annika chimed in, her eyes alight with excitement.
"A staff—of fire. Flaming staff... you know," Ayo sputtered, gesturing vaguely.
Josh leaned forward. "A warhammer. I plan to take the mana path next."
Idris held up his axe. "Think you can improve this?"
Boyle examined the weapon with a critical eye, nodding. "There's a lot I can do to enhance it. But I'll need some specific materials."
"The financial strength of Bastion is at your disposal," Moyo assured him.
Boyle's grin widened as he clapped his hands, a spark of fire igniting in the air. "Good. Then let's get to work!"
Ushotan stood at the boundary between the green zone and the yellow zone, feeling the raw pulse of aether emanating from the stronger territory. The air was thick with power, a tangible reminder of the dangers within. He knew what to expect in the yellow zone—monsters far beyond his current rank—and he knew he stood no chance alone. But that was why he had brought his army.
The wyvern stood at his side, its corrupted form a grotesque symbol of his power. His horde rampaged into the yellow zone; their twisted forms eager for conquest.
As he expected, they were crushed.
The yellow zone was a bastion for creatures up to rank 200, and they tore through his forces with brutal efficiency. Yet, Ushotan watched with a detached satisfaction as his miasma worked its insidious magic. The slain were not truly dead. Those that fell to his influence began to rise, their corrupted forms joining his ranks. Even a few of the yellow zone's mighty beasts succumbed, bolstering his meager forces with grotesque additions.
He had seen the planetary notification—the upgrade, the sealing of the continent, and the revelation of his presence. He understood what it meant.
His masters had abandoned him.
The thought gnawed at him, but he refused to dwell on it. The reasons were irrelevant. Perhaps his overlords had grown tired of him. Perhaps their schemes had been uncovered by the system. Either way, it no longer mattered.
This was now his game to win.
If he could conquer this continent within the three days allotted, the system's laws would turn the planet into a trial world—cut off from the Archailect's network, shunned by the orderly worlds of the system. Such a world would be a haven for chaos, left to the mercies of raiders and pirates, free from the vigilance of the vanguard.
It was a prize worth any risk.
As his minions fell in battle, they took some of the yellow zone's creatures with them. Those creatures, in turn, rose under the influence of his miasma, swelling his forces.
The lack of manifested tier 2 dungeons was a missed opportunity. They could have been a source of even greater power, but Ushotan had little patience for what could have been. His focus was on the present, on testing the resilience of the continent's defenders.
He was certain the thief who had robbed him of his prize in the dungeon was here, somewhere on this continent. It was only a matter of time before they crossed paths.
"A day," he murmured to himself, his voice a raspy whisper of decay.
One day was all he would give the continent's inhabitants. If they fell to the broken tier 1 dungeons and the forces spilling from his stronghold, their corpses would rise to bolster his ranks. He would march his new army against the other continents, overwhelming them one by one.
In the far distance of the yellow zone, roars echoed in response to his summons.
His army grew larger by the minute.
[due to the nature of the trial, C-102 is currently facing, all ascenders can now pick a second aether path and create their paths going forward!]
"That seems surprisingly vague," Martha murmured.
"To maximize efficiency, paths can only be acquired during the heat of battle or when an ascender gains a profound understanding of their fighting style," Aje clarified.
"I see. Then how come Moyo here doesn't have one?" Martha asked curiously, glancing toward him.
Aje shrugged, her gaze meeting Moyo's. He offered a nonchalant shrug in return.
"Seeing the...ah...capabilities of our lord here, I believe he'll no doubt obtain one soon enough," she replied.
The tier 2 hub, now accessible to the settlement, was a significant upgrade. Moyo had initially suggested purchasing imbued weapons for Bastion's defenders, but Martha had disagreed, pointing out they now had an artificer. From the clanging of metal emanating from Boyle's forge, Moyo knew the smith was hard at work, recruiting others to assist him.
While Martha and Samantha coordinated logistics, reports from the long-range scouts—aided by wind-affinity mana users—indicated that tier 1 dungeons were opening across the region. An army of aberrants, some as high as level 50, was advancing.
Oddly, Moyo felt little tension. Bastion now had strong commanders eager to prove themselves in battle. Idris, whom Annika had dubbed "Lord Commander of Bastion's Forces," had mustered the troops. Josh stood ready with his old hammer, casting impatient glances at Boyle's forge. Ayo, the "Lady of Flames," prepared her mages, and Annika, now firmly in the ranks of initiates, stood tall, an independent powerhouse in her own right.
Then came the news of refugees. Long lines of people, chased by dungeon creatures that had emerged near their homes, trudged toward Bastion.
This gave Moyo an idea. Drawing Annika and Martha aside, he shared his plan, careful not to distract Idris from his duties.
"That's a bold plan," Annika said, nodding. "It may work, but as you know, I can't keep it up for long."
"You said we could send a continental message?" Moyo asked Aje.
"Yes, but it will cost fifty thousand credits," she warned.
"A steep yet necessary price to pay for the lives we'll save," Martha agreed.
Standing next to Annika, Moyo waited in silence. Her fingers intertwined with his as they both gazed at the lines of refugees streaming into Bastion.
"Things are moving too fast," she said, her voice tinged with worry.
"We have no choice—not if we want to survive," Moyo replied, gripping her hand reassuringly as the winds whipped around them.
"Let us light up Bastion, then," he said, unsheathing Ida.
His aura and intent fused together, his core trembling. He would stand by his people. Bastion was his, and these were his people.
[aura and intent are fusing within you; a path is being created!]
Moyo's chest trembled as he released his power. Purple energy shot skyward just as Annika released a column of raw lightning, illuminating the night sky with thunderous brilliance.
[continental notification: Follow the thunder, follow the power to safety, to Bastion.]
Something shifted within Moyo's core as his aura and aether fused completely. His body glowed, illuminating the landscape.
[path: Crushing Blade has been created!]
[notice: you are the first to create an uncommon path in your system!]
[rewards:
200,000 credits2,000 lesser aether shards1,000 refined aether shards]
[notice: Path is evolving due to recent accumulated accomplishments into a rare path!]
The light emanating from his body intensified, turning a tainted purple as Ida cracked. Raw power coursed through the blade, siphoning aether from the air.
[notice: Weapon Ida is upgrading from imbued rank to lesser arcane rank! Resources are needed!]
Moyo barely registered Annika standing beside him. His focus was solely on the opportunity before him. He sacrificed all 20 of the Wyrm scales. Ida floated before him, wreathed in a radiant glow as unseen forces reforged it.
[Wyrm scales infused!]
The blade darkened, its edges humming with raw energy. Moyo seized it forcefully, nearly falling to his knees under the mounting pressure.
[due to your designation as "Titan," you are being judged by the system. Survive the trial.]
A dungeon gate appeared before Bastion, and a massive figure stepped through.
[Urguth the Bloodthirsty has arrived. Level 150!]
Bastion reeled under the weight of its aura. Screams echoed as the settlement trembled, the walls shaking violently. Yet, Moyo stepped forward, pushing Annika back gently.
His roar of defiance shattered the terror gripping the settlement. Before him stood the red-skinned horror, its glowing blade dripping molten fire. Its leathery wings beat great gusts of wind as its molten eyes bore into him.
If the system wanted to test him, Moyo would answer. He swore this on the title it had bestowed upon him—Titan. He would redefine what it meant to be one.
Urguth raised its massive bone blade, wreathed in red fire. Moyo met it with Ida, aura and intent fused into a singular, blistering column of raw power.
He uttered a single word in his native tongue.
"Dàpadà."
Return.
Something cracked within him as the blades clashed. A system notification blinked in his vision even as the deafening sound of the impact reverberated through the night.
[rare path: Titan Blade has been created!]