Thick fog choked the horizon like a living shroud, descending far faster than any natural mist should. Hikaru stood atop Ashenhold's wooden palisade, eyes narrowed as the pale gray tendrils swept through the forest's edge, devouring visibility in seconds.
The eerie horn blast still echoed in his ears, like a call from something primal and patient.
"Status report!" Hikaru barked, spinning toward his nearby officers.
Kora arrived first, helmet under her arm, lips taut. "All outer patrols have been pulled back. Visibility dropped to less than ten meters. Archer units have full quivers and are positioned on all towers. Spellwatchers from the Mage Tower report magical interference."
"Magical interference?" he repeated.
"Something's cloaking the fog. It's not natural—it resists wind and dispersal spells."
System Alert: Region Event Detected – "Fog of War" (Player-Initiated)
➤ Source: Venatrix Ascendant – Enemy Player Action
➤ Effect:
– Visibility reduced to 20%
– Trap detection disabled
– Ranged accuracy penalties (−30%)
– Magic Channeling Delay (+10%)
➤ Estimated Duration: 4 in-game hours
"So that's your game…" Hikaru murmured.
"You want to blind us before hitting us."
He tapped open the Minimap.
The landscape had become a mess of gray haze, obscuring the enemy's approach vectors. Only the area inside the inner walls remained clear.
Suddenly—
Skill Ready: Tactical Insight – [Use Now]?
Hikaru didn't hesitate.
Tactical Insight Activated – Revealing hostile movement paths for 30 seconds
The minimap flared to life.
Dozens of red lines streaked across the screen from all directions. From the west—heavy infantry columns. From the north—beast-like skirmishers. From the south—a group of fast-moving cavalry attempting to sweep in through a side path.
A full three-pronged offensive.
And worse—one massive red node marked "???" slowly advanced from the east.
"Sound the war drums," Hikaru ordered, already moving down the steps. "We're about to be surrounded."
He burst into the inner yard where Blake was suiting up, his armor still half-strapped.
"What's the play?" Blake asked, calm even in chaos.
"We divide the forces into three defensive triangles," Hikaru said quickly. "Northern wall gets spearmen and flame archers—those skirmishers won't handle fire. Western front holds the heavy infantry with shield-bearers. Southern road gets spike traps and lancers. Blake—you take the south. Kora's already on the west."
"And the east?" Blake asked.
"I'll hold it myself."
Blake stared at him, then nodded.
"Try not to die, Lord."
System Notification: Defensive Deployment Activated – Phase 1 Defense Bonus (+5%)
➤ Resource Cost: 120 Wood, 80 Iron, 20 Mana
➤ Effect: +5% Defense Bonus for 10 minutes
➤ Trait Synergy Bonus: Tactical Deployment (+2%)
As the drumbeats rolled across Ashenhold, soldiers scrambled to their posts. Torches lit the battlements, giving some contrast to the creeping gray wall beyond.
Then came the silence.
Then—a whisper of claws.
Thud. Thud. SKREEE!
The first beast lunged out of the mist onto the northern wall—and was instantly skewered by a flaming arrow.
"Contact north!" a soldier screamed.
And just like that, the night erupted into war.
Battle Commenced: Ashenhold vs. Venatrix Strike Forces
➤ Objective: Survive the Fog Assault
➤ Time Limit: 4 in-game hours
➤ Bonuses: Increased XP and resource gain based on performance
➤ Enemy Commander: ??? – Unknown Tier
The western front shook with the impact of giant axes clashing against shields. Kora, bloodied but fierce, screamed orders through the chaos.
"Hold the line! Use their weight against them!"
Her units responded with practiced discipline, even as the enemy beasts howled and leapt atop their own dead to scale the wall.
At the southern road, Blake and his lancer squad burst from concealment to impale the swift raiders charging through the side path.
A trap exploded with a shower of steel shards, buying them precious seconds.
Meanwhile, Hikaru waited on the eastern cliff path, surrounded by only four mage apprentices and two standard infantry squads.
From the fog came footsteps. Measured. Metallic.
And then—a silhouette.
She stepped into view with a grace that was not natural. Cloaked in silver-and-purple armor, with a long curved staff and shadowy eyes, the woman smiled.
"Well, this is a surprise. You're the Ashenhold Lord?" Her voice was smooth, venomous.
System Alert: Enemy Player Encountered – [Venatrix Ascendant: Shadowcaller]
➤ Tier: Intermediate
➤ Specialization: Summoner / Corruptor
➤ Current Unit: Elite War Ape (Bound)
➤ Notable Skills: Fog March, Glyph Detonation, Nightmare Surge
Hikaru read the data at a glance. "So you're the one who's been poking my borders."
She tilted her head. "You're quick for a newbie. Most Lords don't even make it past the first raid."
"I'm not most Lords," he said, drawing his sword.
"Then let's test that."
She raised her staff—and the fog itself coiled like a serpent.
Behind her, the War Ape roared. A beast twice the height of any man, covered in dark armor and glowing glyphs, it thundered forward.
"Focus fire!" Hikaru shouted to his mages.
The apprentices cast simultaneously—fire bolts, mana spikes, one weak lightning chain. The damage was minimal.
The War Ape smashed through the infantry line, throwing a soldier like a doll.
"Not enough!" one mage screamed. "We can't bring it down!"
Hikaru reached into his inventory and pulled out a scroll he'd been saving.
Item Used: Scroll of Mana Overload (Single Use)
➤ Effect: Doubles next magic cast by user
➤ Cooldown: None – Item consumed
He activated Mana Burst and slammed the sword into the ground.
"CHAIN BIND!"
Golden arcs of energy erupted, wrapping around the War Ape's limbs. The creature thrashed, bellowing.
"Now!" he roared.
The mages channeled everything they had—one more coordinated blast.
With a deafening boom, the War Ape fell backward, crashing into a jagged stone.
Enemy Unit Eliminated: War Ape (Elite)
➤ XP Gained: +220
➤ Loot: Corrupted Fang x2, War Plate Fragment, Beast Glyph (Damaged)
The Shadowcaller narrowed her eyes. "Impressive."
Then she smiled—and vanished into the fog.
"Coward," Hikaru muttered, panting. His health was down by half, his mana nearly gone.
But they had held.
For now.
System Notification: Battle Victory – Fog Assault Repelled
➤ Units Lost: 23
➤ Enemy Casualties: 87
➤ Territory Integrity: 94%
➤ Morale: +15
➤ Regional Reputation: +5
➤ Loot Summary: Beast Glyphs x4, Iron x80, Battle XP
As dawn broke again, the fog receded slowly, like a wounded beast retreating into the trees.
Hikaru stood alone at the cliff's edge, blade still in hand.
He had won—but he knew this was just the beginning.
More players were out there.
And not all of them would leave so easily next time.