Beneath a starless sky, the corrupted forest writhed like a living thing, its bare trees rising like broken claws against the gloom. Shadows slithered among rotting roots, their forms whispering in an ancient tongue heavy with hatred, an echo rising from the earth itself. The wind cut like an icy blade, carrying fragments of a shattered song that resonated from the depths, awakening something forgotten that had never fully died.
In the darkness, the horde's creatures gathered, drawn to the sanctuary like moths to a dying flame. Deformed goblins, with cracked skin and sunken eyes glowing with a sickly sheen, dragged their hunched bodies through twisted branches, their sharp teeth snapping with hunger. Shadowy beasts, with matted fur and claws that tore the earth, stalked silently, their low growls marking the passage of time. All answered an unseen call, a formless presence at the forest's heart, its voice blending with the wind: "The reliquary… soon it will be ours. The summoning lord and his nuns… mere obstacles we will crush." A purple flash streaked across the sky, brief but intense, as if the reliquary, corrupted by enemy hands, pulsed in the distance, staining the clouds with a venom promising more than darkness: a power capable of breaking souls.
The reliquary, a sacred artifact lost in a past battle, had been seized and perverted, its light twisted into a force now fueling this horde. Valka had been forged by the Sacred Order to seek it, a weapon crafted to track, purify, or destroy it, and to serve the lord who summoned her. Her arrival at the sanctuary had stirred the shadows, and the entity knew it. "She will not have it," it murmured, its greed echoing in every rotting leaf as the horde advanced, their eyes gleaming with a hunger that anticipated devastation. The sacred barrier trembled, a fragile veil on the verge of tearing.
Yet within the sanctuary, a faint light resisted, a fire burning with unyielding will.
The icy wind roared outside the sanctuary, a feral wail clawing at the stone walls like invisible talons. Inside, the thickness of the walls reduced it to a low hum, almost a resentful whisper. Candles flickered on the splintered wooden table, their amber light dancing as a defiance against the shadows lurking in the corners. The earthy scent of roasted goblin rabbit filled the air, a rustic warmth seeping through the cracks to wrestle with the cold. Beyond the fogged stained-glass windows, the forest twisted under the wind's howl, branches like black fingers scratching the glass, hungry and alive.
Renn sat at the head, slumped in his chair as if the world's weight had crushed him. The fight with the Shadow Stalker and the effort of bringing Valka into the world had ground his bones; every muscle screamed, but his gray eyes cut through the dimness like freshly sharpened steel. Across from him, Lilith, Seraphina, and Valka stood as steady silhouettes, anchors in a night that reeked of storm.
With a slow, almost weary motion, Renn sank his blessed dagger into a chunk of meat. The blade glinted briefly before striking the wood with a dry clink. "Well, here we are," he growled, his voice rough as a gravel road. "The four of us, alive against all odds. Still don't get how the hell we're not fertilizing the forest." He let out a sharp laugh, an echo of blood and ash, not soft dreams.
To his right, Lilith snorted, pure sarcasm, leaning until her arm brushed his, a warmth that bit through the cold. Her black hair fell like spilled ink, and her red eyes sparked with a mix of mockery and something sharper, barely cloaked in the dark habit edged with gold. "Easy, my lord," she said, spearing a sacred fruit with her knife's tip as if hunting. "You've got your shadows, your sharp toys… and me, the real miracle here." She shot him a sidelong glance, a blade wrapped in velvet, as the fruit burst under her knife with a juicy crunch.
Renn huffed, planting a firm hand on her shoulder, fingers gripping the fabric with a blend of exhaustion and gratitude. "Since you latched onto my shadow, I've done nothing but owe you my hide. This world had me half in the grave, but you keep putting out my fires." He gave her a crooked half-smile, eyes glinting under the weight of fatigue.
She tilted her head, clicking her tongue like scolding a pup. "Someone's got to stitch you together, my lord. You're a mess with a soul, but I enjoy the chaos." She popped the fruit into her mouth, chewing with a satisfaction that was pure provocation, a challenge in every bite.
To his left, Seraphina straightened Renn's dagger on the table with a precise motion, as if ordering a battalion. Her white habit, crossed with gold and red lines, caught the light like a beacon, and her stance was a granite wall. "Lilith, enough circus," she cut in, her voice sharp as an axe in timber. "Our lord needs a plan, not your antics. We survived today, but what's coming won't wait for your jests." Her golden eyes locked on Renn, steady, with a gleam of pride she didn't bother to mask.
Lilith twirled her knife between her fingers with a playful flash, winking at Renn. "Jealous, big sister? My chaos always pulls us out of the muck. Right, boss?"
"No doubt," Renn grunted, slicing another piece of meat with a screech that scraped the air. He slid it toward her with the blade, a rough but comradely gesture. "Today was hell with those damn goblins—I'm starting to get sick of them." His gaze flicked to Seraphina, dropping another piece in front of her with a curt nod. "And you, with that ice-cold head, keep me from crashing. I know you've only been with me a day, but it already feels like I depend on you." His eyes slid to Valka for a moment, curious, before returning to the table.
Seraphina took the meat with a short, almost martial motion, a flash crossing her face before it hardened again. "You set the pace, I hold the line. Period. But don't get complacent." Her tone was pure steel, but a slight grip on her dagger's hilt let slip a trace of warmth.
From the window, Valka turned, her figure outlined against the glass where the forest's shadows coiled like vipers. Her silver hair fell like liquid frost, and her blue eyes were wells that captured effortlessly. The light armor, white with navy streaks, shaped a presence vibrating with raw, silent strength, like distant thunder. She walked to the table with steps that barely touched the floor, sitting as if the air bent to her. "The forest speaks," she said, her voice deep, a rumble that sank under the skin. "Something stirs in the water. It's coming."
Renn drove his dagger into the wood, leaning toward her with a tight grimace. "Trouble, huh? Good thing I've got you on board." He flicked a piece of meat to her with a quick wrist snap, instinctive, almost protective. "Your presence has weight since you got here. I don't know what dragged you to me, but I'm glad for the backup."
She took the piece with steady fingers, letting out a low note that reverberated like a distant drum. "Your song found me, and I came. I'm the weapon that will cut the unworthy from existence." Her eyes met his, a silent lightning flashing between them, before she lowered her gaze and took a bite with surgical precision.
Lilith leaned back, elbow on the table, nudging Renn lightly. "Look at you, my lord, tending to us even when you're falling apart. Not everyone's got that."
"Stubbornness, maybe?" he shot back, winking as he sliced a fruit and dropped it in front of her with a deft move. "Still waiting for you all to tell me to shove off."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, throwing Lilith a cutting glance. "If we did, it'd be for letting her yap so much. But it's not happening." Her voice was a blade, but a twitch in her jaw betrayed a laugh fighting to break free.
"Discipline and chaos," Lilith said with a laugh, giving Renn a playful shove. "We're your favorite storm, admit it."
Valka turned her head, eyes fixed on the fogged glass. "One burns, one channels. You tie them together." Her voice was a whisper that cut like ice. She leaned forward, fingers gripping the table until the wood creaked. "But the water rises. It's almost here."
Renn frowned, his dagger still in hand. "How close?" His voice dropped to a sharp growl, urgency creeping in as he scanned the three. "We're tougher than that damn forest, but I don't like how this looks."
Lilith dropped her knife with a sharp clack, her smile vanishing. "If it's coming, we shred it. Wouldn't be the first time."
"Then we sharpen the weapons," Seraphina said, already standing, checking her dagger's edge with a fluid motion. Her golden eyes flashed, sharp as the blade itself.
The wind howled outside, rattling the stained glass until it groaned, and the candles spat sparks that died in the air. A crack ran through the walls, as if the sanctuary gasped. Suddenly, a boom shook the floor, swallowing the echo of their voices. An ethereal presence tore through the air, clear and brutal:
[World Announcement]: "Children of light and shadow, the sacred barrier falls in 4 hours. The Trial of Beasts begins. Face the horde and etch your name in the infinite world!"
Renn stood, the chair screeching against the wood. He looked at the three, jaw tight, but a wild spark in his eyes. "Dinner's over, girls. Let's give them a show they won't forget."
Seraphina rose with a fluid motion, as if the steel of her will shaped every gesture. Her golden eyes gleamed with a pride that needed no words. "Your resolve is commendable, my lord," she said, her voice calm but cutting, like a sheathed blade. "I guide you, not bind you. You've overcome every shadow in your path. I'm with you."
"Four hours," Lilith repeated, setting the fruit aside with a mischievous glint in her red eyes. She leaned forward, elbows on the table. "A horde! This is getting juicy. Think they'll bring something with more teeth than that Stalker?"
"Hope not," Renn grunted, twisting a weary smile. "I'm done dodging claws for today."
Valka turned to the window, her silhouette framed against the glass where the shadows thickened like spilled ink. "The water whispers chaos," she said, her voice resonating deep, an echo that vibrated in the bones. "They'll come from the north and west. We can corner them where the terrain favors us." Her blue eyes caught his, steady, as if she already saw the battlefield.
"That's pure gold," Renn replied, drumming his fingers on the table, the quick rhythm of his mind clashing with his exhaustion. Lilith ignites me, Seraphina steadies me, and Valka… Valka's a damn enigma I need to figure out, he thought, swallowing a knot of unease with a slow breath. "We've got the Workshop, the tower, and you three. I know we can crush them, Seraphina. How do we set it up?"
Before she could answer, Renn snapped his bracer on with a sharp click. The holographic interface bathed his face in a blue glow, illuminating the fatigue lines under his eyes. "Let's see how those geniuses are holding up after their big night," he said, his voice laced with tired sarcasm as he skimmed the Lords' chat.
[Lord_Torin]: "Damn it! My dragon's limping after last night's hunt. Not sure it'll hold up against the horde."
[Lord_Kael]: "My elementals are a joke. Sending them for food was dumb."
[Lord_Soren]: "My Ogres are ready. Let those bastards come."
[Lord_Gav]: "My Rare Minotaur's gonna stomp anything that crosses the barrier."
[Lord_Mira]: "Lost two Spectral Wolves in the mist. No big deal, still got more."
[Lord_Veyra]: "My Centaur's banged up but still kicks—got ambushed by Kobolds last night."
[Lord_Elara]: "My troops are solid, thanks to Renn's cooking trick. Food prep was key."
Renn let out a dry laugh, snapping the bracer shut with a wrist flick. "Check this out, Seraphina. Torin with his gimpy lizard, Kael with his paper elementals… and Elara, the only one with a brain, thanks to us. Your idea was a damn win."
"Poor devils," Lilith said, crossing her arms with a crooked smile dripping with mockery. "Hunting without a plan, like the forest was gonna hug them. We've got class, my lord."
Seraphina tilted her head, a spark of satisfaction crossing her face. "Arrogance drowned them, my lord. You pointed them right, and that puts us a step ahead."
Valka hummed a low note, a rumble that seemed to rise from the earth itself. "The water smells their chaos," she said, eyes fixed on some point beyond the glass. "We're the blade that cuts it. Use it."
Renn nodded, feeling their words weave together, stitching a purpose that burned in his chest. "Then let's play that edge," he said, his voice hardening like iron as the announcement's echo still buzzed in his head. "Four hours to become legend. Let's shape this."
The air in the sanctuary crackled with restless energy, the candles flickering faster as if answering an unseen presence, and a soft hum filled the room as the System spoke in Renn's mind, its voice cutting through his thoughts like a blade of light in the dark.
[System]: "The Sacred Order System detects your lord's barrier nearing its breaking point. In times of trial, sincerity forges victory. Your succubus, Lilith, burns with a devoted, unconditional love for you, a fire that's sustained your path since the day she joined you, a spark grown through every shared battle. Do not scorn her flame, my lord; show her your care with a kiss to seal her devotion and let her power rise to shield you as she's always longed to. Reward: Ascension to Sister, evolution to Archangel Succubus."
Renn tilted his head slightly, processing the words for a moment before turning to the girls with a faint smile that softened his urgency-hardened features, his eyes seeking theirs with a mix of trust and warmth that seemed to wrap them like a cloak against the coming storm. "Listen up," he said, his tone calm but laced with a quiet certainty that filled the air, "the System just gave me a task. Says I should kiss Lilith to unlock her potential—that her love for me needs sealing so she can ascend and protect us. What do you think? I want your take, because this is something we do together."
Seraphina crossed her arms, her stance as rigid as ever, but her tone was firm and practical, cutting the air with a clarity that left no room for doubt, her golden eyes meeting Renn's with an intensity that carried unwavering support. "Do it, my lord," she said, her voice ringing with an authority that was both guide and encouragement. "Lilith's power will give us an edge we need now more than ever. No place for hesitation, not when we're this close to what's coming. Her strength is our strength."
Valka inclined her head, her silver hair falling like a shimmering curtain over her shoulder, catching the candlelight in a subtle gleam that amplified her mystic presence. "The water feels her love, my lord," she said, her voice calm and deep, resonating like an echo that brushed the sanctuary walls, heavy with a certainty from beyond the visible. "It's an eternal bond, a tie that transcends this world and will bind us tighter in the battle ahead. Do it, and her power will resonate with mine."
Lilith let out a soft giggle, her red eyes gleaming with an emotion she couldn't hold back as she leaned closer, her fingers toying with the edge of the fruit she'd been cutting, leaving a sweet trail on the wood that glowed like amber drops under the light. "A kiss, my lord?" she said, her tone playful but thick with a sincerity that sliced through her usual teasing, her eyes searching his with a blend of adoration and hope that burned within her. "You don't need a quest for that, but if the System says my love for you can make me stronger, how could I say no to something I've wanted since the day I first saw you?"
Renn smiled, a genuine warmth lighting his eyes as he moved toward her, his motion slow and deliberate, as if ensuring the moment carried the weight it deserved after all they'd shared. "Well, if the System insists, who am I to argue," he said, his voice soft but steady, laden with an affection that didn't need embellishment to feel real. He took her waist with both hands, pulling her gently to him, his fingers resting carefully on her habit's fabric, feeling the heat of her skin through it as a reminder of her constant presence. Lilith gazed at him with adoration, her arms wrapping around him with a mix of eagerness and reverence as he tilted his head and kissed her passionately on the lips, a warm, protective gesture that mirrored how much he valued her, sealing a bond forged through the dark days they'd faced together since her arrival in this world.
"Oh, my lord, finally…" Lilith murmured against his lips, her voice trembling with joy as she clung to him, her hands sliding to his nape to deepen the kiss with a fervor that seemed to spill from her soul. The heat of her skin melded with his, and for a moment, the sanctuary faded, leaving only the tie binding them—a connection grown through every battle, every shared night, every time she'd been his spark in the storm, now burning brighter than ever.
A whirlwind of golden light and black shadows enveloped Lilith, gently pulling her from his arms as the System's power surged through her, a radiance filling the room with an almost tangible energy that vibrated in the air and echoed off the walls. Renn stepped back, his breath ragged but his eyes locked on her, watching with a mix of awe and pride as the transformation began, his heart racing at the miracle unfolding before him. Her black hair lit up with silver streaks that shone like stars trapped in the night, falling in ethereal waves to her waist, moving as if touched by an unseen wind only she could feel. Her red eyes gained a vivid golden rim, bright and piercing, reflecting a fusion of her demonic essence with a newfound celestial touch, a gaze that seemed to see beyond the visible, charged with a power that hummed in the air like a distant drum. Shadow wings sprouted from her back, grand and majestic, black with golden edges that gleamed like a divine blade's edge, unfurling with a soft sound that filled the room like a whisper of power, a faint rustle resonating with her renewed heartbeat. Her pale skin began to emit a faint glow, like dew under moonlight, and golden runes appeared on her shoulders and forearms, pulsing with each breath as if alive, marking her ascension. Her black habit transformed, gaining gold and silver details that wove into intricate patterns, accentuating her voluptuous figure with an elegance blending the sacred and profane, a presence that filled the space with a renewed strength that seemed to vibrate in the air and resonate in the souls of those watching.
[System]: Profile updated: Lilith: Archangel Succubus Nun, Rank: Sister, Level 8. Skills: Enhanced Shadow Barrier, Supreme Confusion, Shadow Wings. Special: Absolute Devotion (Loyalty 100). Description: A purified succubus ascended to Archangel, her power blends shadow and light, her loyalty to Renn unbreakable.
Lilith spread her wings slowly, as if testing her new form, the air around her humming faintly with a subtle current that answered her renewed presence, a power filling the room with an almost palpable energy that echoed off the walls and into the hearts of those around her. A trembling smile of excitement curved her lips as she looked at Renn, her red eyes with golden rims shining with a mix of joy and reverence that seemed to overflow from within like a flooding river. "My lord, this is for you," she said, stepping close to brush his cheek with a finger, her touch warm against his skin as her voice quivered with an intensity she couldn't contain. "You've finally given me what I dreamed of since I came to your side. I feel… I feel I can protect you even more now, stand by you in whatever's coming, be more than the spark I've always been for you." Her wings shifted slightly, a soft whisper filling the air, and Renn felt a shiver run through him—not of cold, but of awe at what she'd become.
Renn returned her smile, taking her hand with affection as their fingers intertwined, a simple gesture speaking louder than words, his heart pounding with a mix of pride and gratitude he could barely voice. "You deserve it, Lilith," he said, his voice soft but firm with quiet certainty, his eyes meeting hers in a silent connection that seemed to still the time around them. "You've always been with me, from day one, and this… this just makes you more you, stronger for us. You don't know how much it means to see you like this, to know you're ready for what's next."
Seraphina cleared her throat, her voice slicing through the moment with a well-honed edge, pulling them back to reality with a clarity that brooked no distraction, her golden eyes glinting with a mix of approval and urgency that charged the air. "Lilith's power gives us an edge, my lord," she said, firm and authoritative, her rigid stance a contrast to the warmth she'd shown before. "Now, focus on the defense. Time's pressing, and we need to be ready for what's coming. The horde won't wait."
Renn nodded, releasing Lilith's hand with a final squeeze before leaning over the makeshift map Seraphina had spread out—a scrap of cloth marked with charcoal that seemed to tremble under the candlelight—his fingers drumming on the wood as his mind shifted back to the plan, the weight of responsibility settling on him like armor he couldn't shed. "You're right," he said, his tone hardening with determination but keeping a warmth toward them that included them in every step. "We've got the Workshop, a tower, and you three. I know together we can do this, Seraphina. How do we lay it out? I want us all in on this, facing it like we always have."
Seraphina pointed at the map with a precise motion, her finger tracing lines over the charcoal as she spoke with a calm that belied the moment's urgency, her golden eyes following the marks with an attention that seemed to etch them into her mind. "My lord, your leadership honors me," she said, her tone steady but laced with a pride that resonated softly in the air, a recognition filling the space between them with her presence. "The Workshop can craft light traps for the perimeter, and I suggest more towers to bolster our position. Valka can cover the north with her song, Lilith the west with her confusion, and I'll take the front with divine light. We can funnel the horde into a bottleneck and keep control, ensuring they don't get too far."
Valka stepped forward, her tall, voluptuous figure casting a shadow that seemed to move with her, her armor reflecting the candlelight in subtle flashes that amplified her mystic presence. "The north is mine, my lord," she said, her voice resonant as a deep echo that vibrated in Renn's chest, heavy with a certainty that seemed to come from beyond the room. "My song will trap them in a whirl of water and shadow, using the sacred spring we found earlier. I can feel the currents now—they're restless, ready to answer my voice. I'll stop them before they touch the ground." Her blue eyes flared with an intensity that anticipated the coming chaos.
Lilith grinned, her newly gained shadow wings fluttering with a playful motion that filled the air with a soft whisper, her figure now more imposing under the candlelight that danced over the golden runes pulsing on her skin. "The west will be a maze, my lord," she said, her tone thick with contained excitement that echoed her new form, her red eyes with golden rims gleaming with a mix of enthusiasm and devotion that burned within her. "With these wings, I can move fast and confuse them from above. I'll make them trip over each other 'til they don't know where they are—a perfect chaos for you, my lord." Her voice trembled slightly with the thrill of her transformation.
Renn listened, nodding slowly as he visualized the plan, his eyes tracking the map's lines with an attention that soaked in every detail, his mind racing to fill gaps and anticipate the horde's moves with each passing second. "That sounds solid," he said, his voice firm but open to their input, reflecting the trust he had in them and the strength they'd built together since day one in this world. "More towers would give us an advantage, especially if they hit from multiple sides. How many can we make with what we've got, Seraphina?"
"With 150 crystals," Seraphina replied, pointing to the glowing pile in the corner, their forms shimmering like fallen stars against the cold stone, "we can build two more towers and still have enough for traps. I suggest one south and one east to cover the flanks. That'd give us a stronger perimeter—a ring of light forcing them through where we want them."
"Perfect," Renn said, snapping his bracer on with a quick motion, the holographic interface humming to life in the air with a faint buzz that broke the brief silence. "Let's do it." [System]: Construction completed: 2 Watchtowers (South, East). Cost: 60 Sacred Energy Crystals. Remaining resources: 90.] The ground trembled slightly as the new towers rose, joining the existing Sacred Watchtower to form a sturdier perimeter around the sanctuary, their silhouettes stark against the gloom like silent sentinels standing against the night—a ring of light defying the shadows hammering the barrier with growing fury.
The air in the sanctuary thrummed with renewed energy, the candles flickering faster as if responding to the new towers, and a soft hum filled the room as the System spoke again in Renn's mind, its voice cutting through his thoughts like a flash of light in the dark.
[System]: "The Sacred Order System sees the storm approaching with rising fury. The abbess Seraphina, lover of order, hides a void carved by solitude in her soul, a weight she's borne silently since swearing to serve the Order. Her devotion to you fills that gap, my lord, but her coldness is a mask hiding her need for connection. Embrace her, show her that her ambition to maintain order doesn't burden you, that she'll always have your support as a shoulder to lean on. Reward: Buff: 50% attack, 50% defense for all units. Duration: 24 hours."
Renn tilted his head slightly, processing the words for a moment before turning to Seraphina with a smile that softened his urgency-hardened features, his eyes seeking hers with a mix of trust and warmth that seemed to wrap them like a cloak against the coming storm. "Got another task," he said, his tone calm but laden with a quiet certainty that filled the air. "The System says to hug you, Seraphina—that your devotion needs to know you're not alone, that you'll always have my support. You okay with that? I want us all in this, like always."
Seraphina crossed her arms, her stance as rigid as ever, but for a moment, her golden eyes wavered, a flicker of vulnerability shining through before she nodded with a confidence that seemed more fragile than usual. "If it strengthens us, my lord, go ahead," she said, her tone authoritative but open, a tacit acknowledgment of her faith in him and the group they'd built together, her voice trembling slightly with a rare hint of emotion.
Renn stepped toward her, extending his arms carefully and wrapping her in a warm embrace, his touch gentle but firm, a gesture conveying gratitude and support without overstatement, his hands resting on her shoulders as he felt her initial tension ease slightly against him. "Thanks for everything, Seraphina," he said, his voice sincere as he met her eyes, silently acknowledging how her strength had held him up since she'd sworn to serve at his side—a pillar keeping order when everything seemed to crumble. "Your drive to keep us together doesn't weigh me down, never has. I'll always be here for you, like you are for me." His words echoed the faith he'd placed in her, recognizing the solitude she'd carried silently and now shared in this moment.
Seraphina stiffened for a heartbeat, her hands hesitating before resting lightly on his arms, a small but significant gesture that cracked her usual mask of coldness. "If this makes us stronger, my lord," she murmured, her voice softer than usual, "I accept it." Her golden eyes shone with a blend of gratitude and resolve.
[System]: Buff activated: 50% attack, 50% defense for all units. Duration: 24 hours.] A golden light enveloped the group, and Renn felt a surge of energy rush through him, his muscles tightening with a renewed strength that seemed to hum under his skin, a warmth spreading to the three nuns and filling the air with a sense of shared power—a unity readying them for what lay ahead.
Lilith laughed, leaning on the table with a mischievous grin that flashed her white teeth under the light, her shadow wings fluttering slightly with the buff's energy, a motion filling the air with a soft whisper that echoed her new form. "First you kiss me, now you hug big sister, my lord," she said, her tone playful but thick with affection resonating in every word, her red eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and devotion. "You're looking out for us your way, aren't you? Always do, and now I feel it more than ever."
Valka hummed a low note, her gaze fixed on the window where the shadows now struck the barrier with greater force, a steady drumming that filled the silence with an urgency that couldn't be ignored. "The water binds us, my lord," she said, her tone dry but edged with a hint of humor that cut the air like a cool whisper, her blue eyes flaring with an intensity anticipating the nearing chaos. "This power will make us stronger, and we'll use it well. The reliquary's closer than they think, and this horde is just the start of what we'll face."
Renn flexed his hands, the buff settling like fire in his veins. "This buys us some breathing room," he said, his voice firm, cutting through the hum of the bracer he snapped on with a click. "Ninety crystals left—traps, now." [System]: 10 Perimeter Light Traps. Cost: 50 Crystals. Resources: 40.] The ground quaked faintly as golden crystals sprouted from the earth like sharp teeth, a gleaming fence against the shadows pounding the barrier with ravenous rhythm.
"All set," Renn said, his eyes sweeping the three with a glint of gratitude. "Lilith, west with your shadows. Valka, north with your song. Seraphina, with me at the front. We adapt if this goes sideways—together, from here on out."
Lilith leaped up, wings snapping with a wink. "Your orders, my lord. The west's gonna be a circus—my goblins will dance 'til they drop dead, just for you." Her gold-rimmed red eyes flashed, excitement vibrating in her voice.
Valka rose, her armor glinting under the candles. "North's mine, my lord," she said, her voice a deep rumble filling the air. "My song will drown them before they touch ground—the spring's already whispering my name." Her blue eyes sliced through the dimness, steady.
Seraphina brushed his shoulder, firm but warm. "You're ready, my lord," she said, her tone a serene edge. "You've led us this far—the front's ours." Her golden eyes anchored him, a silent vow.
The wind roared louder, a crack echoing through the stained glass as if something massive clawed at the barrier. Renn clenched his fists, the drumming quickening in his chest. Lilith, catching his tension, hooked onto his arm, her impish grin slicing through the strain. "Always yours, my lord," she said, her wings brushing the floor with a whisper. But her eyes lifted to the fogged glass, where a shadow larger than the rest loomed for an instant before fading.