Chapter 50: The First Strike
A chill breeze swept through the darkness before dawn, carrying with it the scent of war.
Kael stood atop the eastern wall of his fortified town, eyes locked on the blackened horizon. Just beyond the ridge, enemy camps dotted the valley like embers in the night. Torches flickered. Shadows moved. The air hung thick with tension, every heartbeat syncing with the quiet promise of bloodshed.
Suddenly, a system notification blinked before Kael's eyes, shimmering like starlight in the gloom:
Ding! System Alert:
Major event detected — "Battle for Dominion" has begun.
Objective: Defend your territory and secure victory.
Reward (upon successful defense):
Blueprint: City Core - Tier I
[This blueprint will allow the transformation of your town into a full-fledged city, unlocking advanced infrastructure, military buildings, and population expansion.]
Additional Bonus: Global morale boost, increased recruitment rate.
Kael's breath caught. The City Core Blueprint. This was more than a structural upgrade—it was a symbol of power, legitimacy, and a step toward empire. His people wouldn't just survive—they would rise.
But first, they had to win.
He turned from the alert and surveyed the wall below. Soldiers lined the battlements, their eyes sharp, armor gleaming faintly under the torchlight. Archers tightened bowstrings, and pikemen stood shoulder to shoulder behind the barricades. The newly unlocked Tier III Fortified Walls—thanks to his system—rose proudly, reinforced with magic-infused stone, laced with runes that shimmered faintly when touched by moonlight.
Behind them, layers of Auto-Reinforcing Barricades shifted silently, ready to deploy and repair during combat. Kael's investment in the system had turned this once-vulnerable town into a fortress.
Footsteps approached behind him. It was Ashira, dressed in light combat gear, twin crescent blades on her back. Her golden eyes scanned the darkness below.
"They're moving," she said softly.
Kael nodded. "Yes. It begins."
From within the enemy camp, General Varnic of the Crimson Legion raised his hand. Behind him, five hundred soldiers stood ready—beastmen cavalry from the eastern highlands, armored foot soldiers from the black coast, and a dozen blood-bound war mages cloaked in red and steel.
The first strike had a singular objective: break through the eastern barricades and test Kael's defenses. If they succeeded, they would crush morale before sunrise.
Varnic lowered his hand.
The warhorn blew—a deep, guttural sound that echoed across the hills like the roar of an ancient beast. Drums followed. The ground trembled.
Kael watched it all unfold. "Archers, prepare."
The enemy surged forward, a black tide of armor, claws, and steel. Mounted cavalry led the charge, hooves pounding the earth in thunderous unison. Behind them came the foot soldiers, shields raised high, spears glinting. Magic flared in the rear ranks—red bolts of energy preparing to rain down.
"Archers—now!"
Arrows screamed through the night, meeting the enemy front like a curtain of death. Horses shrieked. Riders fell. Screams pierced the sky as fire arrows ignited the dry grass before the barricades, slowing the advance.
But the enemy pressed on.
Kael's system blinked again:
Auto-Reinforcing Barricades Activated
Defensive durability increased by 12%
Morale boost: +5% (First Strike Repelled)
Stone walls groaned as the first wave crashed against them. The enemy brought siege ladders and hooked chains, trying to scale the defenses. Kael's elite units—trained personally by his generals—rushed into action. Commander Durik, the iron-fisted lieutenant under Kael's First General, swung his massive hammer from the upper platform, smashing an enemy siege ladder into splinters.
Ashira vanished from sight, her shadow leaping between rooftops. Moments later, she reappeared behind enemy mages at the rear, carving through them like a ghost. Spells fizzled as her blades found their marks.
Kael raised his hand, summoning his system's latest passive: War Commander's Aura. A wave of energy pulsed outward.
Passive Activated: War Commander's Aura
Effect: All nearby friendly troops receive +10% combat efficiency, +15% morale regeneration, +5% resistance to fear-based effects.
The tide shifted instantly. Kael's soldiers fought harder, their formations tighter, their attacks fiercer. Even as the enemy pressed harder, the wall held.
"Release the shockwave runes!" Kael ordered.
From the base of the wall, hidden runic panels burst with arcane energy. A concussive wave threw dozens of enemies backward, disrupting their second charge.
Varnic, watching from afar, cursed. "Their walls are enchanted. Fall back! Prepare for phase two."
The warhorn blew again—this time, signaling retreat.
Kael didn't pursue. He watched the enemy withdraw into the darkness, leaving broken bodies and burning weapons in their wake.
By dawn, the battlefield was still. Smoke curled from blackened craters where spells had struck. The eastern forest beyond the wall was littered with fallen enemies.
Kael stood before his war council. A massive table was laid out with maps and figurines. His generals, elite commanders, and tactical aides surrounded it.
"We held," said the First General, voice calm but proud. "Minimal losses. The system's defenses did most of the work."
"They'll come harder next time," Ashira warned, arms crossed. "Tonight was a test. Their real assault is coming."
Kael nodded. "And we'll be ready."
He tapped a marker on the eastern ridge. "Next time, they'll split their assault. I want traps laid in the forest. Pitfalls. Explosive runes. Poison mists."
He pointed to the river valley near the north. "Station archers here. Hidden. If they flank from this side, we'll pin them down."
The First General grinned. "We'll bleed them dry."
Kael opened his system panel. His town's name glowed with renewed power. A second bar had begun to fill—Victory Progress: 14%. The system tracked his success, rewarding him incrementally with minor upgrades: increased resource gain, faster healing, enhanced barracks production.
He could feel it—his town was no longer just a haven. It was becoming a beacon.
"Tonight, they struck first," Kael said, eyes sweeping across his inner circle. "Next time, we strike harder. We do not just defend—we dominate."
The war had begun. And Kael, backed by his system and loyal warriors, was ready to turn the tide.