The atmosphere in Bastion was electric, a city alive with celebration as the victorious forces returned home. The walls hummed with cheers, a crescendo of voices that seemed to shake the very foundation of the city. The roar grew deafening as the ships descended, banners hastily patched together bearing the crest of a mountain and a blade beneath it—the symbol of the Titan Blade himself—fluttering proudly in the evening breeze. The sight sent a wave of jubilant energy rippling through the gathered thousands.
Moyo stood on the deck of the lead ship, momentarily overwhelmed. His mind, still heavy from the trials of the yellow zone, struggled to process the sheer scale of the reception. Annika’s warm hand slipping around his arm jolted him back to the present. She gave him a knowing smile before lifting his arm to wave at the crowd. For a moment, Moyo blinked at her, startled, before he relented and waved along. The action was met with a renewed roar of approval, the sound washing over him like a tide. Annika shook her head with a quiet laugh, her presence grounding him in the chaos.
As the ships landed, the returning forces were immediately swarmed by the citizens of Bastion. Cheers turned to shouts of congratulations, and waves of people surged forward to greet their heroes. Tables stretched endlessly through the streets, laden with hastily prepared but delicious-looking food. Large barrels of wine—where had those come from?—were rolled out to add to the merriment.
The scene was both overwhelming and heartwarming, a stark contrast to the somber burden Moyo had carried for so long. The weight had lifted, replaced by an unfamiliar sense of relief. But beneath the joy, he felt the exhaustion settle deep in his bones. His steps toward the capital felt heavy, his mind clouded with the weariness of battles fought and victories hard-earned.
“TITAN BLADE!” The chant echoed from the crowd as he passed, a title shouted with reverence. Yet, it was a distant sound to Moyo, his thoughts focused inward. Around him, the ascenders of Bastion bore the marks of their growth—newly claimed power and wealth evident in their every step. He realized they were now strong enough to forge their own paths, their own settlements if they so chose.
But none of that mattered to him at the moment. What mattered was that he was home, the burden temporarily set aside.
At the gates of the palace, Martha waited for them, her face alight with a proud smile.
“I could explain to you just how much this has done for Bastion,” she began, her tone playful, “but I suspect it would go over your head right now.”
Moyo chuckled, stepping forward and gathering her into a warm hug. He kissed her forehead, a rare display of affection that left her momentarily stunned.
“Thank you,” he said simply.
Martha blinked, the shock giving way to a soft, fond expression. “You’re welcome,” she replied, watching him as he turned away.
The greetings from the people blurred into the background as Moyo walked through the palace, his steps slow and deliberate. Annika kept pace beside him, her presence a quiet reassurance.
As they reached the doors to his quarters, he stopped, glancing at her. “If I didn’t know better, I’d assume you wanted to stay the night,” he said, his voice low and teasing.
Annika raised an eyebrow, stepping forward and opening the door. “I don’t see you complaining,” she shot back, her tone effortlessly calm.
Moyo blinked at her response, his mind momentarily at a loss. Was that a yes?
Either way, the question faded as he stepped inside and collapsed onto the bed, his body sinking into the soft embrace of the mattress. His eyes closed as the warm presence of Annika filled the space, her quiet steadiness a balm to his weary soul. A groan escaped his lips—a mixture of exhaustion and gratitude—before sleep claimed him.
********************
Annika lingered for a moment, watching Moyo’s peaceful, serene expression as he slept. His chest rose and fell with a steady rhythm, his features relaxed in a way she rarely saw. He looked far younger, almost boyish, without the weight of leadership etched into his face. Leaning down, she brushed a soft kiss against his forehead before straightening and quietly making her way to the door. She opened it carefully, casting one last glance over her shoulder at the man who had unwittingly become the center of their world.
No one could argue that Moyo didn’t deserve peace, even if fleeting. He had borne too much, shouldered too many burdens, and yet somehow, he pulled them all along with him. It was something Annika found herself increasingly grateful for, though she wondered if he realized just how deeply his presence affected them.
She could sense the weight of his fear, the shadow of what it meant to be a titan. She had seen the worst reflections of that title in the companions of the forsaken and could only imagine the horrors Moyo faced confronting Durnak himself. Yet, even with all of that, he exuded a quiet strength. His very being was a calming presence that assured those around him of their safety and pushed them to grow stronger.
With a soft sigh, Annika adjusted her spear on her back and made her way to the grand hall where the others were gathered. Conversations hushed as she entered, all eyes turning to her.
“How is he?” Ayo asked from her seat, her voice carrying a faint rasp.
Annika glanced at her, noting the subtle but profound changes in the flame mage. Ayo’s eyes glowed a constant red now, her arms marked with faintly shimmering symbols, and the once-ever-present shard embedded in her forehead had vanished.
“Knocked out,” Annika replied, nodding gratefully as Samantha handed her a vial of glowing liquid. “Should sleep well tonight.”
[vial of health: this uncommon potion heals all damages over time.]
Annika downed the potion in one gulp, the warm, soothing effect spreading through her body. She sighed as the healing magic knit her lingering aches, reclining into a chair as her body began to relax.
“Those were some of the toughest days of our lives,” Josh said, his voice heavy as he leaned forward, his massive hammer resting headfirst on the ground.
Annika cracked an eye open to look at him.
“Those… things,” he continued, shaking his head. “If we had faced them at full strength…” He trailed off, leaving the unspoken truth to hang in the air.
“We’d be nothing but corpses,” Ayo finished grimly, running a hand through her hair. She froze mid-motion, frowning at her fingers, now blackened at the tips. She stared at them for a moment before continuing. “Those were truly terrifying beings. Voryn, the Grandmage of the Forsaken… He wiped out an entire world by himself. That’s the kind of monster the Archailect holds within its grasp.”
“Something changed in you,” Martha said, breaking the tension. It wasn’t a question but an observation.
Ayo nodded slowly. “Turns out the phoenix—a very, very powerful being, mind you—wanted Voryn dead even more than I did. And in the process, I learned there are different aspects or paths for fire mages.”
“Indeed,” Boyle interjected, leaning forward. “The path of life and rebirth, the phoenix. The path of destruction, the dragons. The radiant art of the sun. The volcanic flames of the mountains. And the corrupted fire of blight.”
All eyes turned to Boyle in surprise.
“I’m an artificer,” he said simply, shrugging at their stares.
“He’s right,” Ayo confirmed. “I managed to fuse three aspects of fire together.”
“That’s… rare,” Boyle said, his voice filled with quiet awe.
Ayo smiled softly, her body igniting into an ethereal blaze. Flames of three distinct colors—golden red, deep crimson, and sickly black—danced across her form, harmonious yet otherworldly. The fire illuminated the room but caused no harm.
“One was the flames of the phoenix, which absorbed my original flame path and made it stronger. Another is the draconic path of destruction. And the last…”
“…is the corrupted path of the blight,” Boyle finished, his gaze sharp.
Ayo blinked at him in surprise.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“I can see the differences,” he said, nodding at her. “And how they’ve fused cleanly within you. But be cautious. The allure of fire, especially corrupted fire, is insidious.”
Martha cleared her throat, steering the conversation away before tension could mount. “Was it a reward from the system?” she asked.
The flames around Ayo dimmed as she nodded. “In a way, yes. But it was also a choice.”
The room fell silent as the gravity of her words settled over them.
“The phoenix, or a fragment of her, appeared as the shard shattered,” Ayo continued, her voice tinged with a quiet tension, the weight of her experience evident in her furrowed brow. She hesitated, searching for the right words. “She does that—gathers promising pure fire mages to her side. It’s like a collection, though for what purpose, I have no idea. She said she saw talent in me and wanted me to absorb the ‘gift’ she’d left within the shard.”
Ayo paused, her gaze distant as if replaying the encounter in her mind. “That was all it was to her. The shard itself didn’t matter, nor did the sentience that had formed within it. She only cared that I absorbed the path of the phoenix. In that moment, I knew that if I gave in, if I submitted myself to her...” She trailed off, her voice dropping into a whisper. “I would cease to be me.”
Her words hung in the air as the group absorbed them.
“She left the flames of the dragons in the shard too, didn’t she?” Idris asked, breaking the silence.
Ayo nodded. “Yes. It wasn’t just the phoenix flame. That’s what made it so tempting. The power, the completeness of it... but I knew better. I couldn’t trust her. So, I added the blight flame. It was the only way to ensure her plans wouldn’t come to fruition.”
“You took a huge risk,” Annika said, her voice soft yet full of admiration.
“I didn’t feel like I had a choice,” Ayo admitted. “You didn’t see her. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was some kind of deity.”
Martha scoffed lightly, shaking her head. “There are no deities. Gods were never real, at least not the way we thought. Isn’t that right, Aje?”
The construct materialized in a shimmer of light, inclining her head toward Martha. “Indeed, Lady Martha. What your civilization once considered gods were merely the echoes of the remnants of the authorities of powerful beings far away in the cosmos. Most were likely monarchs, some deceased, others still active.”
Ayo frowned. “And the phoenix? What is she, then?”
Aje turned her glowing gaze toward Ayo. “The phoenix is one such example. An ancient monarch over two thousand years old, beloved of the Golden Garuda—a being of similar power. Together, they rule a system of worlds, refraining from expanding their influence into other galaxies as many monarchs do.”
“Monarchs take over galaxies?” Annika asked, her surprise evident.
“Not quite,” Aje clarified. “They spread their influence by empowering vassals to hold domains in their name, suffusing those regions with their authorities. It is... a complicated process.”
“Meaning you can’t tell us everything,” Martha said, narrowing her eyes.
Aje inclined her head again. “Correct. There are limitations to what I am permitted to share at this time. Apologies, Lady Martha.”
“Of course,” Martha muttered, leaning back in her chair.
“However,” Aje continued, her tone shifting to something more contemplative, “not all monarchs seek to expand their dominion. Some prefer to push the boundaries of the system itself, holding back the tainted that lurk at its edges. They liberate and cultivate newly birthed worlds, preparing them for the system to fill with life. Such actions sharpen and improve their authorities.”
“That’s... a lot,” Idris said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“It’s nothing you need to concern yourselves with at this stage,” Aje reassured them. “The journey to monarch is a long and arduous one, one that lies far beyond where you currently stand.”
With that, she disappeared as suddenly as she had arrived, leaving the group in reflective silence.
“That’s comforting,” Ayo muttered dryly, breaking the spell.
Martha sighed, glancing at the others. “We’ve barely scratched the surface of what this world—this system—really holds.”
“And yet,” Annika said softly, “we’re still here. Still standing.”
For now, that was enough.
“...and the rest of you all, what did you get?” Annika asked, her tone light but her curiosity genuine.
“A rare skill, an insane level-up to 150, and enough attribute points to push most of them close to 500 individually,” she boasted with a grin.
“Same here,” Josh added, nodding, as the others murmured their agreement—except for Ayo, whose path had been irrevocably transformed into the Eternal Wyrmfire.
“A mouthful of a name, really,” Annika teased, earning a soft chuckle from Ayo.
“Not only have we broken considerably deeper into the rank of Advocate, but I can say for a fact that we are now some of the strongest people in the entire world,” Martha said, her analytical tone giving weight to the statement.
“Barring whatever ranks those other factions have reached,” Idris pointed out cautiously, leaning back in his chair.
Martha shrugged. “Maybe, but take it from me—our presence in the Yellow Zone wasn’t just about survival; it was about growth. And speaking of growth, I believe we’ll soon be swimming in quests.”
Boyle nodded in agreement, his fingers moving rapidly over his Hud. “I believe you’ll find this particularly relevant,” he said as he shared a message.
Annika’s Hud pinged, and she skimmed the notification before reading it aloud.
----------------------------------------
[System Notification: Quest Unlocked]
Quest: Claim the Forge Mountain
Difficulty: Very Hard
Advisable Rank: Peak Advocate
Quest Type: Solo
Description:
The fall of the Forsaken Titan has left a scar upon the land, and in its place, the Forge Mountain has risen—a monumental peak brimming with untapped potential and untold danger. At its heart lies the Guardian of the Forge Mountain, an ancient construct forged in the fires of forgotten eons. This being stands watch, determined to prevent any unworthy from claiming the mountain's power.
As the Elemental Artificer, the mantle falls upon you, Boyle, to prove your mastery. Journey to the liberated Yellow Zone, where the mountain now looms, and conquer its secrets. Only one of your unique skillset may withstand the trials ahead. The mountain will test your will, craft, and strength.
Objective:
1. Travel to the Yellow Zone and locate the newly formed Forge Mountain.
2. Survive the mountain’s hostile terrain and environmental hazards.
3. Confront and defeat the Guardian of the Forge Mountain to claim its heart.
4. Establish the Forge Mountain as your own, unlocking its secrets and capabilities.
Rewards:
* Forge Mountain (Upgradable Rare-Class Base): A mountain rich in rare materials and imbued with forge magic, serving as your ultimate workshop and sanctuary.
* Skill: Resonant Prospecting: Allows you to sense and locate metal ores deep within the earth, with increased precision for rare and exotic metals.
* 10,000 Mithril Ingots: A precious metal for crafting exceptional artifacts.
* 2,000 Aurums: High-value ingots for trade or advanced crafting.
* Arcane-Class Forge Hammer: A tool of immense power, designed to amplify your elemental affinity and crafting abilities.
* +50 to All Attributes: A permanent enhancement to your physical and mental capabilities.
* Possibility of Rare or Legendary Class Ascension: Upon successful completion, a path to new heights may unlock.
* Rare-Grade Blueprints: Schematics for crafting items of extraordinary quality.
* Unknown Rare Metal: A mysterious material of unparalleled properties, awaiting your discovery.
Additional Notes:
* This quest is tailored specifically to you and cannot be undertaken by anyone else.
* There is no time limit, but delaying may allow the mountain’s defenses to grow stronger.
* Success requires cunning, strength, and mastery of your elemental craft.
* Beware: Failure may result in irreparable loss of life or limb.
Will you accept the challenge and claim the Forge Mountain, Boyle?
[ACCEPT QUEST] | [DECLINE]
----------------------------------------
Annika blinked at the message. “We just escaped that place,” she whispered.
Martha smiled faintly, folding her arms. “Boyle isn’t the only one to receive something special.” She nodded toward Samantha, who seemed lost in thought, her gaze glued to her Hud.
Ayo tapped Samantha lightly on the shoulder, causing her to jolt. She glanced around sheepishly before giving a half-smile.
“Easy,” Annika said softly, concern in her voice. “You looked so far away.”
Martha’s Hud pinged, drawing her attention. She read through the message, her brows arching high. “Well, this is... interesting.” She forwarded the notification to the others.
----------------------------------------
[System Notification: Quest Unlocked]
Quest: The Trial of the Webweaver
Difficulty: Hard
Advisable Rank: Peak Advocate
Quest Type: Solo
Description:
Deep within the Yellow Zone lies a labyrinthine cave, veiled in shadows and whispers of ancient knowledge. This place is known only as the Nest of Threads, a domain said to have been woven by primordial Webweavers who sought to intertwine fate and reality. The cave has remained sealed since the collapse of the Forsaken Titan, but its energies stir once more, beckoning those attuned to its intricate patterns.
The Nest of Threads is not a place for the faint of heart. To unlock its secrets, you, Martha, must endure its trials—facing illusions, unraveling mysteries, and confronting the embodiment of your own fears. Prove your mastery over the Path of the Webweaver, and you may walk away forever changed.
Objective:
1. Travel to the Yellow Zone and locate the entrance to the Nest of Threads.
2. Navigate through the maze-like cave system, overcoming illusions and deadly traps.
3. Face and defeat the Guardian of the Loom, a creature born of the cave’s ancient energies, to earn the trial’s favor.
4. Claim the Secret of the Weavers and unlock a new thread of power in your path.
Rewards:
* 2,000 Aurums: A trove of valuable currency for trade or use.
* Possible Class/Path Upgrade: Unlock an advanced form of the Webweaver’s abilities.
* Secret of the Weavers (Undisclosed): A hidden truth that may alter your understanding of the Path of the Webweaver.
* 200 Greater Aether Shards: Rare resources for enhancing skills, equipment, or abilities.
Additional Notes:
* This quest is designed solely for you and cannot be undertaken by anyone else.
* There is no time limit, but the energies of the Nest of Threads are known to grow more unstable over time.
* The trials will test your mind, mana, and mastery of Ethereal threads—failure could lead to permanent loss of self.
* Success requires both cunning and resolve.
Will you accept the challenge and embrace the threads of fate, Martha?
[ACCEPT QUEST] | [DECLINE]
----------------------------------------
“Seriously, what’s with the ominous tone of these quests?” Annika muttered, rubbing her temples.
“It’s the system. Drama is practically built into it,” Samantha replied with a sigh, showing her Hud to the group.
The room fell silent as they absorbed the weight of the tasks before them.