The metallic clang of Malphas's unique hammer resonated like a thunderous echo throughout Volks Valley. A wave of purple energy escaped with each strike, rippling across the ground until crashing into the rock huts.
The elders shuddered, and the younger ones watched with a glint in their eyes.
The reason for all this was simple: Malphas was creating something gigantic—something that would protect them from the dangers of the valley and from the impending war.
An imposing wall was rising to divide the purified zone from the fog, forged from the Void itself.
Aleskra steel and Blood Iron fused together, interwoven with threads of Void and shadow to form something the Tree System would consider an aberration.
An error in the world.
Ethan was observing the progress from a small elevated structure, still bare-chested, the purple marks on his skin vibrating to the rhythm of the hammering.
A complex expression was drawn on his face. Although he had reached Level 29 and defeated an A+ Rank colossus, a sensation of uneasiness crawled down his spine.
'That golem… it almost destroyed everything.' The battle had been much more brutal than he expected—not because of the golem itself, but because of the bomb it carried, which had the power to annihilate everything. 'If they send several of them, or even a battalion with Rank S heroes…'
Below, on the esplanade used for training, the air was charged with a different kind of friction. Goran and his ten best men held their new Wailing Blades with trembling hands. The dark swords seemed to react to their grip, throbbing rhythmically as if trying to communicate with their wielders.
"Keep your guard up!" roared Seraphina, walking between the rows of mercenaries like an implacable commander. She was training them in body, soul, and mind.
However, this was not a training session that common people could easily endure.
Suddenly, one of the soldiers fell to his knees, his legs shaking. Seraphina approached quickly and stopped right in front of him.
"Up, soldier." Her spear was driven into the ground as she looked at the group with determined eyes. "That sword feeds on your will. If you are weak, it will consume you before the enemy does. But if you are strong, you will be unstoppable." She lowered her gaze to the defeated soldier and roared with force, "Now get up! Show your worth! Show who you are!"
Moved by pure strength of will, the soldier clenched his teeth and stood up again. He lifted the sword with difficulty and returned to his stance along with the others. The sword vibrated in his hands.
"Don't you think you're being a bit excessive, little bird?" Lyra's voice resonated in the air.
The beautiful redhead leaned against one of the beams of the forge, observing the training with her emerald green eyes.
An expression of contempt appeared on Seraphina's face.
"You should be at your post, rat." Although she did not turn to look at her, an electric spark enveloped the tip of her spear. "Humans need discipline—something you lack."
Lyra let out a mocking laugh while she played with her daggers. "What they need is to not die of a heart attack before the battle. Look at that poor man; even Goran looks like he's about to wet his new boots."
"Stop, both of you!" Ethan interrupted, descending from the wooden structure.
He stopped in front of Goran, who was drenched in sweat. He took the Wailing Blade from the mercenary and immediately felt a slight connection; the sword was hungry for battle.
His deep eyes locked onto the soldier. "You must not handle it as a simple sword, Goran," said Ethan. "It is a part of my System. If you master it, you will be a nightmare for the followers of the Tree. But if fear consumes you, you will be nothing more than another corpse."
Goran swallowed hard and nodded firmly, taking back the sword. "Y-yes, my Sovereign. We will not fail."
Ethan turned toward his two main followers. The tension between them was too great. If he wanted them to cooperate, he had to handle this with care.
"Seraphina, continue with the training, but remember they are humans, not Sentinels. They need breaks." He ordered, then looked at Lyra. "And you, stop provoking her. I need you to keep watch. If your shadows detect anything, inform me immediately."
Lyra raised her hand to her forehead in a mock military salute. "As you command, my leader."
Seraphina clenched her teeth at Lyra's mockery.
Ethan returned to the Void Altar. The memory of the golem still weighed heavily on his mind.
'I need more... more strength. The valley is too large for so few to guard.' He opened the system menu, his eyes stopping on the Soul Essence.
[Avaible Soul Essence: 15,000 units]
'The last mass summoning consumed 50,000.' He navigated through the system, scrolling through the options until stopping at one of them.
[LESSER SUMMONING: LEGION REINFORCEMENT] [Cost: 10,000 Soul Essence units] [Guaranteed result: Scouting or support units of rank B/B+]
Ethan did not hesitate. He turned toward the Void Altar and whispered: "Summon."
Suddenly, the Altar reacted. A column of purple light—thinner than the last time, but sharper—shot toward the sky. The air grew heavy, and the smell of ozone and ash filled the valley.
The shadows that Malphas manipulated separated and flickered as ten figures emerged from them.
This time, they were not humanoids, but quadrupeds—lean and agile, made of liquid, viscous darkness. Their eyes shone with the same intense violet as Ethan's, and their fangs were made of a transparent material with a light purple hue. Corrosive saliva dripped from their jaws.
[SUCCESFUL SUMMONING!] [Unit: Void Seekers(10)] [Rank:B]
[Description: Tireless trackers with the ability to merge with the shadows of the terrain. Their bite drains the mana of the target and transfers it to the sovereign.]
The creatures ran at surprising speed until they surrounded Ethan, emitting a purr so powerful it made the ground vibrate slightly.
'Fast.' Ethan smiled.
"It seems Lyra will have companions," he murmured, watching as one of them faded into the shadows only to reappear next to its pack in a blink.
Upon seeing the new creatures surrounding Ethan, Lyra approached with curiosity. "Wow, they are beautiful. Much better than the lapdogs the Guild uses," she said with sincerity.
"Use them well, Lyra," said Ethan, turning to look at the horizon in the direction of Aleskra.
"I want every centimeter of the valley guarded. If a rat from Aleskra crosses the fog, I want to know long before they even see our walls."
Ethan felt his connection with the valley strengthen.
With Malphas building steel defenses, Seraphina training the human vanguard, and Lyra extending her shadows with the new seekers, Volks Valley was transforming into a true fortress.
'The first phase is almost complete.'
In the distance, the walls began to rise above the fog. Their surface, covered by purple veins and shadow threads at the edge of a world of mist, gave the impression of a nightmare made manifest.