But we were still standing.
The fields surrounding New Dawn were littered with the wreckage of Vexholm's war machines, broken siege engines, and the corpses of their undead soldiers. There was an eerie quiet hanging over the city as the militia cleared the battlefield, stacking the bodies of the fallen into neat piles, while the wounded were rushed into the medical tents.
As the sunset bathed the city in a blood-red hue, I stood at the gates, my mind still reeling from the battle. We had held them off, but just barely. I could feel the weight of the city on my shoulders.
We were alive — but for how long?
Behind me, the sounds of rebuilding began. Jake and his team were already working on reinforcing the walls, while Adam and the others scouted the battlefield, gathering whatever materials could be salvaged. The city was alive with the activity of recovery.
But despite the victory, one thing was clear:
The war was far from over.
That evening, after the last of the fires had been extinguished and the surviving troops had been tended to, I called a council meeting in the central hall.
Jake, Adam, Emily, Marcus, and Lord Thorn were already seated around the table. The room was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the stone walls. Thorn sat with his arms crossed, his eyes cold but focused.
"We need to talk," I said, my voice steady despite the fatigue weighing me down. "What happens next?"
Thorn shifted in his seat. "Darius will regroup. He’s no fool. He’ll retreat for now, lick his wounds, and return with reinforcements."
"That’s not good enough," Jake said, slamming his fist on the table. "We need to get stronger. We need more firepower. More defenses."
Thorn’s lips curled into a faint smile, but it wasn’t one of reassurance. "I agree. But you’re not just facing Darius’s army. There are other forces at play here. Forces that could destroy you long before Darius ever gets the chance."
I narrowed my eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Thorn looked around at the group before speaking. "I’ve seen the signs. The runes in the mountains. The necromantic magic in the land. Darius is just one piece of a much larger puzzle."
My mind raced. "Are you saying Darius isn’t the only threat?"
"Exactly," Thorn replied. "Darius is conquering, yes. But the true danger is far older than him. We’re all caught in a war that started long before Veltheria was even discovered."
I felt a chill run through me. Thorn wasn’t just talking about Darius’s ambitions anymore. He was talking about something deeper. Ancient.
"Then we need to prepare," I said, my voice unwavering. "If we’re going to survive this war, we need to build stronger defenses. I’m not talking about just walls. I’m talking about turning New Dawn into a fortress that can withstand anything."
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Jake grinned. "Now we’re talking."
The next few days were a blur of activity. New Dawn was being rebuilt — better than before. The walls were fortified with reinforced iron and arcane steel. The Elemental Turrets were upgraded with mana-infused alloys, making them more powerful and able to withstand greater pressure.
Jake worked tirelessly, overseeing the construction of defensive turrets that could track enemies at long distances. The mana reactors were expanded to provide more power to the city’s defenses. Magic-infused traps were set along the outer perimeter, designed to keep out both physical and magical threats.
Adam, on the other hand, was deep in his craft. With the Ravager remains and some salvaged Vexholm equipment, he forged new weapons — arcane bows that could pierce through mana shields, and fire-infused arrows that could explode upon impact.
Emily and Marcus trained the militia, pushing them to their limits, ensuring they were ready for whatever Darius might throw at us next.
And me? I spent my time at the Mana Core, ensuring that the Mana Shield would hold, and working with Thorn to build even stronger defensive wards. My Shield Mage abilities were the city’s cornerstone, and I knew I had to become more proficient.
But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about Thorn’s warning. If Darius was just one piece of the puzzle, then what else was out there?
On the fifth day after the siege, a scout came through the gates with a warning.
"Darius is mobilizing," he reported breathlessly. "He’s gathering allies — from the north, the east, and even the underworld. He’s preparing for another assault, a much larger one."
I gritted my teeth. "We’ve held him off twice now. But he’s bringing more than just soldiers."
Thorn spoke up, his voice low. "He’s desperate. He’ll come soon, and when he does, he’ll bring everything he has. We’re not just fighting for the city anymore — we’re fighting for survival."
Jake looked over the battle plans. "We need more defenses. More mana barriers, more traps, more arcane turrets."
Adam added, "And we need to deal with those necromancers. They’re the key to Vexholm’s power."
I nodded. "We can’t afford to wait for him to strike first. We take the fight to him."
The hours turned into days. New Dawn’s fortifications grew stronger, and with Lord Thorn’s guidance, we set up outposts on the borderlands — places where we could track Vexholm’s movements and respond quickly.
Jake completed the last of the Elemental Turrets, which could now fire lightning, fire, and ice in rapid succession. The Mana Shield was expanded, providing more energy for the city’s defenses.
Adam crafted an armory filled with the finest elemental arrows, and he began setting up snipe posts along the outer perimeter, giving us an advantage when it came time for the final stand.
But even with all the new equipment, there was a feeling of unease.
I knew that once Darius Vex arrived, we’d be facing more than just a siege. We’d be fighting a war for the future of this world.
As I stood in the center of the courtyard, my mind raced. The city was ready — but was I? Was New Dawn?
Thorn had said we were all caught in something bigger than just Darius Vex.
I closed my eyes and felt the power of the Mana Core pulse beneath my feet. The future was uncertain. We were surrounded by enemies, both near and far.
And then it hit me.
We weren’t just defending New Dawn.
We were fighting for everything this world could become.
And I would never let it fall.
Name: Hunter Vale
Level: 16
Class: Shield Mage
Profession: City Lord
Stats:
Health: 250/250
Mana: 400/400
Strength: 20
Agility: 22
Intelligence: 36
Endurance: 30
Wisdom: 26
Skills:
Magic Bolt (Lv 5)
Trap Sense (Passive)
Barrier Rune (Lv 2)
Arcane Chain Trap (Lv 2)
Greater Mana Barrier (Lv 2)
Aegis Pulse (Lv 2)
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, +5% Trap Effectiveness)
Hero of the Second Siege! (+25% Mana Shield Strength, +15% Elemental Resistance)
Keeper of the Heartstone! (+10% Mana Efficiency, +10% Trap Deployment Speed)