The battle with Darius Vex’s forces had ended, but the air around New Dawn was thick with anticipation — the quiet before the storm. The siege had been repelled, but we all knew the war had just begun.
I stood in the courtyard of New Dawn, gazing out toward the horizon. The Vexholm army had retreated for now, but the scarred earth was a grim reminder that our defenses were not yet invincible.
The turrets were in place, the traps set, and Jake had finished reinforcing the gates, but it was clear: we weren’t done yet.
A faint rumble vibrated through the ground — not from Darius, but something else.
"Lord Thorn is here," Jake called from the watchtower. His tone was a mix of awe and confusion.
I blinked, then walked swiftly toward the front gates.
Lord Thorn, the mysterious warrior who had helped us during the first wave of the siege, had arrived with his group of reinforcements. He and his men had arrived just as the Vexholm army was about to overwhelm us.
Ironclad Keep was well known throughout the land — a military outpost turned fortress, led by one of the fiercest and most respected leaders in the region.
The only thing stranger than Lord Thorn’s timely arrival was that he had refused any formal recognition when we first met. He seemed like a man on a mission, intent on nothing more than survival.
As I approached the front gates, Lord Thorn dismounted from his large warhorse, his armor dark and imposing — iron plates etched with runes that glowed faintly in the moonlight. He towered over most people, his grim expression hiding any trace of emotion. His sword, Soulshatter, was sheathed at his side, but there was a palpable tension in the air.
"Lord Thorn," I greeted him, raising a hand in respectful acknowledgment. "Thank you for your help during the battle."
Thorn’s sharp gaze met mine, his lips curling slightly into a smile.
"We’ve crossed paths now, Hunter. You’ll need more than just reinforcements if you want to hold this city."
"More than just reinforcements?" I asked, confused.
"I didn’t come here for charity," Thorn said bluntly. "I came because New Dawn has something others don’t."
I raised an eyebrow.
"And what’s that?"
"Hope," Thorn answered. "And a good leader. I can see why Darius Vex wants this place."
Thorn’s group set up camp just outside the city gates, and after a brief consultation with Jake, we agreed to meet again the following morning.
"Let’s talk then," Thorn had said, his tone serious, if not slightly amused.
The next morning, we gathered in the central courtyard — Jake, Adam, Emily, and Marcus, along with Lord Thorn and a handful of his lieutenants.
The tension in the air was palpable, but we were past small talk.
"We need to talk strategy," I began, drawing everyone’s attention. "Darius will come again, and when he does, we need to be ready. His forces are vast. He won't give up after losing one siege."
Thorn nodded.
"I know the type," he said grimly. "Darius’s pride is just as dangerous as his army. He’ll return. But when he does, you’ll need more than just walls to stop him. You’ll need alliances."
"Alliances?" I echoed.
"I don’t just want New Dawn to survive. I want it to thrive. If you’re going to hold this place, you need to have allies. Ironclad Keep can lend you the strength you need, but we’ll need something in return."
Jake crossed his arms. "What do you want?"
Thorn’s eyes glinted. "The Heartstone. The power source of New Dawn. We’ll help you defend it. But you’ll owe us."
I looked around at my council. The decision was mine.
Ironclad Keep had power — an army, resources, experience. They could turn the tide of any battle. But giving them access to the Heartstone...
I felt a sudden weight in my chest. The Heartstone wasn’t just a power source; it was the foundation of New Dawn.
It held all the city’s energy, the magic that had built this place, the core of everything we were trying to protect.
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The tension between survival and sacrifice tugged at me.
"Fine," I said after a long silence. "We’ll accept your help. But only on our terms. New Dawn belongs to its people, and we won’t be bought."
Thorn smiled — a rare thing for him. "A fair trade."
That evening, as the moon rose over New Dawn, something inside me changed.
The System had been silent for a while now, but as the city settled into a cautious calm, I felt the familiar pulse of power surge through me.
[Evolution Available: Shield Mage]
- Magic Trapper Class → Shield Mage
New Skills Unlocked:
- Greater Mana Barrier
- Aegis Pulse
- Defender’s Ward (Passive)
- Bastion Rune (Passive)
The choice was clear.
I had built traps, laid down barriers, and defended with what I had. But New Dawn needed something more — it needed me to become the shield it deserved.
I walked into the heart of the city, standing before the Heartstone. The power that flowed from it felt like nothing I had experienced before.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
[Evolution Complete: Shield Mage]
New Skills Unlocked:
- Greater Mana Barrier (Create massive, high-durability shields for structures and teams)
- Aegis Pulse (Generate a pulse of energy to temporarily reinforce structures)
- Defender’s Ward (Passive: Buff all nearby defensive structures)
- Bastion Rune (Passive: Increase defensive structures' durability by 25%)
I felt the power course through me, stronger and more refined than before.
The city felt alive again, more than just a place. It was something I had sworn to protect, and now, I had the power to do so.
The very next day, our first test came.
Darius Vex had been gathering his forces — we knew it was only a matter of time before his army would try to reclaim the land.
But for now, we had Ironclad Keep at our backs.
I stood at the wall, Jake beside me, Adam ready with his Elemental Arrows, Emily at the ready.
"Let’s do this," I said, gripping my staff.
The first volley of Vexholm siege artillery launched in the distance.
I slammed my staff into the ground.
Boom!
A Greater Mana Barrier expanded outward, catching the first incoming projectile.
The force of the blast still rattled the walls, but the barrier absorbed it, rendering it harmless.
Jake grinned.
"That’ll buy us a few more seconds."
"Let’s hope it buys us enough time," I muttered.
Name: Hunter Vale
Level: 14
Class: Shield Mage
Profession: City Lord
Stats:
- Health: 210/210
- Mana: 320/320
- Strength: 15
- Agility: 18
- Intelligence: 30
- Endurance: 22
- Wisdom: 20
Skills:
- Magic Bolt (Lv 5)
- Trap Sense (Passive)
- Barrier Rune (Lv 2)
- Arcane Chain Trap (Lv 2)
- Greater Mana Barrier (Lv 1)
- Aegis Pulse (Lv 1)
- Defender’s Ward (Passive)
- Bastion Rune (Passive)
Achievements:
- Defender of New Dawn! (+10% Health Regen, +5% Mana Efficiency)
- Siege Victorious! (+10 Stat Points)
- Lord of the Walls (+15% Defensive Tower Strength)
- Shield of New Dawn! (+15% Mana Shield Strength, +5% Trap Effectiveness)
Master of Defenses! (+10% Shield Durability, +10% Defensive Buffs)