Clouds gathered, heavy with the promise of rain, but it wasn’t the weather that worried me.
It was the Vexholm army, now encroaching on our western borders.
And their new siege weapons were much worse than before.
I stood atop the wall of New Dawn, my hands clenched around the staff that had become as much a part of me as the city itself.
The Greater Mana Barrier I had summoned only days ago had held strong against the initial volley of Vexholm artillery, but the true test was ahead. If Darius was planning anything bigger, we needed a stronger defense.
Behind me, Jake, Adam, and the rest of the crew were already in position. The Mana Wells hummed steadily, feeding power to the newly expanded turrets, the Elemental Turrets, and the Mana Core that had become our lifeblood.
I looked down at the courtyard below, where the rest of the militia was already preparing — checking weapons, adjusting armor, making sure everyone was ready for the fight of their lives.
The first wave came with the rumble of war machines in the distance. The Vexholm army had pushed forward in force, setting up siege weapons at the edge of the forest.
Jake was already shouting orders to the workers in the courtyard, directing them to reinforce weak points in the walls.
"Get those extra runes on the southern turret!" he yelled to the workers.
"Make sure the Mana Turret cannons are aimed at their siege towers!" Adam called, his voice calm but firm. He was standing by his archery station, his Elemental Arrows glowing with deadly energy. They were ready.
I closed my eyes for a moment, focusing on the Mana Shield. The energy of the Heartstone thrummed through me as I prepared the city's defenses.
Greater Mana Barrier—the shield had been built to protect New Dawn, but it had never faced the full might of an army like this.
I placed my hand on the Heartstone, channeling all my energy into the shield.
[Greater Mana Barrier Activated]
Mana Shield Strength: 100,000/100,000
Duration: 24 hours
Mana Consumption: High (Regenerating)
I felt the Mana Shield wrap around the city like an invisible dome, the glow of its energy faint but solid.
It would hold.
The first projectile came from the enemy's siege catapults—a massive boulder that smashed into the wall with a thunderous crash. It was a direct hit, and for a moment, the whole city seemed to shake.
The Mana Shield flickered, but it held strong.
Boom!
Another volley slammed into the western gate.
The Greater Mana Barrier absorbed the force, but the strain was palpable. Jake’s turrets activated, firing arcane blasts at the incoming projectiles, but they were no match for the sheer scale of the enemy siege.
Darius Vex had clearly come prepared for this fight.
I watched as the Vexholm army began its march forward, a sea of soldiers and war beasts moving in coordinated rows. Their undead legions shuffled behind them, their hollow eyes glowing with a sickly green light.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
They weren’t just fighting us with brute force.
They were fighting us with magic.
The Vexholm siege beasts—giant, armored Ravager-like creatures—charged the gates.
I raised my staff and focused harder.
"Hold the line!" I shouted, voice booming.
Jake activated the Elemental Turrets, each one firing a wave of fire, ice, or lightning at the incoming beasts.
The Ravagers roared as the elemental blasts hit their armored hides, but they kept coming.
Behind me, Adam lined up another Earthsplitter Arrow.
"Let’s see if this does the trick," he muttered.
The arrow flew, slamming into one of the Ravagers’ legs and shattering its armored armor. The beast fell with a resounding crash, but others quickly took its place.
More siege weapons were approaching.
"This is only the beginning," I muttered, my voice grim.
"We need to push them back now."
The Vexholm forces kept pressing. The wall was holding, but it wasn’t enough. The Ravagers were too strong, and their siege cannons were tearing into the western wall.
I felt the weight of the battle — the weight of New Dawn — pressing down on me.
Then I realized: the shield wasn’t enough.
We needed more.
I turned to Jake and Adam.
"I’m going in." My voice was firm.
Jake’s eyes widened. "You’re not going alone—"
"I am the shield," I said, cutting him off. "If New Dawn falls, I fall with it."
I raised my staff high, the energy surging through me as I summoned the Greater Mana Barrier once more. This time, I would protect the city as much as myself.
I focused.
Aegis Pulse.
A shockwave of mana rippled outward from my position, reinforcing the Mana Shield and strengthening the outer walls. The Ravagers screeched as the pulse hit, and their advance slowed, just enough for Jake’s turrets to open fire.
"Now!" I shouted.
Adam unleashed another Inferno Arrow—this one aimed at a group of siege beasts gathered at the edge of the western wall.
The flame arrows detonated, creating a massive explosion that sent the enemy reeling.
The Vexholm forces hesitated, just for a moment.
"That’s our chance!" Marcus shouted.
With the Ravagers momentarily stunned, we had a narrow window.
Jake’s turrets fired in quick succession, taking down Vexholm siege beasts one by one.
Adam’s arrows flew like meteors, each one adding to the devastation.
And Emily activated her Healing Wards, keeping our militia fighting despite the onslaught.
The ground shook as the Ravagers charged again, but now we were ready. My Aegis Pulse had reinforced the walls, and Greater Mana Barrier was holding strong.
With one final surge of energy, I raised my staff.
"Now, New Dawn!"
The final wave of turrets, traps, and elemental arrows collided with the Vexholm army, pushing them back once and for all.
Darius Vex’s forces began to retreat, their siege engines still smoking, their army scattered and broken.
As the last of the Vexholm forces fled, we stood at the wall, breathing heavily.
New Dawn had won — but at a cost.
The wall was battered, the Mana Shield had been pushed to its limits, and the turrets were nearly depleted of mana.
I turned to Jake, Adam, Emily, and Marcus, my voice hoarse.
"We did it," I said quietly. "But this isn’t over. Not by a long shot."
Jake nodded. "They’ll come again. But we’ll be ready."
We had survived.
But the war for New Dawn had only just begun.
Name: Hunter Vale
Level: 14
Class: Shield Mage
Profession: City Lord
Stats:
Health: 220/220
Mana: 340/340
Strength: 16
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 32
Endurance: 24
Wisdom: 22
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)
The Shield That Protects! (+20% Shield Mana Efficiency)