The sea was restless. Dock 13 had been reforged into a fortress of iron and coral, but even its glowing wards and spiked battlements felt small compared to the immensity of the storm rolling over the horizon. The sky was a canvas of jagged lightning, the thunder rolling like drums of war.
Ethan Cross stood atop the seawall, staring at the horizon where the waves seemed unnaturally high. His interface pulsed with a warning.
[Global System Alert]
⚠️ An Abyssal Rift has destabilized near Dock 13.
⚠️ High-tier abyssal creatures will swarm the stronghold.
⚔️ Defend until the rift stabilizes.
Time Remaining: 2 Hours
Brandon tightened the straps on his Coral Ward Armor beside him. "Looks like the warm-up's over."
Kaela raised her staff, the glow of her radiant gem reflecting against her determined eyes. "No running this time. If we fall here, it's over for everyone at the dock."
Ethan's grip on the Abyssforged Greatsword tightened. His mythical class burned with power beneath his skin. "Then we don't fall."
The First Wave
The sea erupted as hulking figures burst from the depths—twisted crabs with claws the size of ships, serpentine eels coated in abyssal rot, and fish-like humanoids wielding jagged coral weapons.
[Enemy Status: Abyssal Brute Crab – Lv. 52]
HP: 13,075 / 13,075
DEF: Extremely High (Shell Armor)
Skills: Crushing Claw, Shell Shockwave, Regenerate Carapace
[Enemy Status: Abyssal Serpent Eel – Lv. 50]
HP: 8,341 / 8,341
AGI: High (Fast Striker)
Skills: Whiplash Strike, Venom Spit, Coil Bind
[Enemy Status: Abyssal Deep Marauder – Lv. 49]
HP: 6,905 / 6,905
Skills: Jagged Slash, Drown Grip, Frenzy Strike
"Hold formation!" Ethan shouted, his voice carrying across Dock 13.
The newly-trained Tidebreak Formation squads moved into position. Dwarves raised their shields, locking into an iron wall, while Siren Tidecallers chanted behind them, summoning waves of water to crash against the oncoming horde.
A Wavecrash Cleave detonated against the first crab, smashing it backward with 2,175 damage. The beast shrieked, but another came crashing forward.
Brandon lunged, spear flashing with stormlight. Storm Lunge!
Damage: -1,563 (Critical!)
Kaela's Radiant Burst scorched the serpent eel mid-air. Damage: -947, -951, -963.
And then Ethan stepped forward. His Abyssforged Greatsword roared with abyssal energy.
[Skill Activated: Abyssal Rift Cleave]
Unleash a sweeping arc of void energy that ignores 50% enemy defense.
The blade tore through two marauders in one strike.
Damage: -1,705, -1,689
HP [0/6905] [0/6905]
The Siege Tightens
For thirty minutes, the battle raged across the dock. Players and NPCs alike fell into formation, but the abyss was endless. For every beast cut down, two more emerged from the foaming waters.
System messages flooded Ethan's vision:
[NPC Unit Fallen: Iron Bastion Axeman]
[Player Death Detected: Revyn – Permanent Loss]
[Morale -5]
His chest tightened. Every fallen meant someone gone not just here, but in the real world too. And yet he had no time to mourn—an Abyssal Brute Crab barreled toward the central gate, claws snapping like thunder.
Ethan leapt, cloak flaring, sword glowing with dark power. His blade came down with a roar.
[Skill Activated: Abyssal Rend]
Damage: -3,351 (Armor Penetration Critical!)
The crab's shell shattered, spraying chunks of abyssal iron-like fragments across the field. NPCs swarmed it, finishing the job with spears and axes.
Still, the system window warned him.
[Wave 1 Cleared – 65% Losses Sustained]
Mid-Boss Emerges
The water heaved as something massive approached. The storm itself seemed to recoil. From the depths rose a monstrous shape, an amalgamation of flesh and coral, its body pulsing with abyssal glow.
[Enemy Status: Abyssal Warlord – Lv. 55]
HP: 42,537 / 42,537
Skills: Abyssal Roar (AoE Fear), Coral Spear Barrage, Crushing Maul
Trait: High Resistance to Physical Attacks
The dock shuddered as it pulled itself onto the seawall, towering over defenders. Its roar cracked the air like a living earthquake.
[Abyssal Roar Activated – Morale -15, Movement Speed -20% for 30 seconds]
NPCs faltered, some collapsing in terror. Even Brandon flinched.
"Kaela!" Ethan barked.
She slammed her staff down, releasing a blinding wave of light. [Skill Activated: Purge Fear]
Status Effect Removed! Morale +10
The defenders steadied, but the Warlord was already moving, slamming its maul into the wall.
Dock Integrity: 87% → 73%
"We can't let it breach!" Brandon shouted.
Ethan rushed forward. His sword gleamed with void light.
[Skill Activated: Abyssal Harbinger's Judgment]
Channel the abyss through your body, multiplying damage output x3 for 15 seconds.
His strikes tore into the Warlord's flesh.
Damage: -3,005, -3,211, -2,997
Brandon's spear flashed beside him.
Damage: -1,479, -1,505
Kaela's radiant beams lanced across the monster's chest.
Damage: -1,135, -1,149
The Warlord bellowed, HP plunging: 42,537 → 31,300 → 24,122
But it retaliated. Its coral spear barrage ripped into the defenders.
NPC Casualties: -5
Ethan HP: -2,087 (Critical! Remaining: 4,925/7,012)
Blood filled Ethan's mouth. He wiped it away and roared back. "I AM THE HARBINGER!"
He unleashed another Abyssal Rift Cleave, splitting through the Warlord's torso.
Damage: -4,233 (Massive Critical!)
HP: 9,411 → 0
The Abyssal Warlord collapsed, crashing into the sea with a final scream.
Aftermath of the First Siege
The system chimed.
[Major Objective Completed: Defend Dock 13 (Phase 1)]
Rewards: +25 Reputation (Iron Bastion), +30 Reputation (Siren Tidecallers)
Rare Loot: Abyssal Heart Shard (1), Coral Maul (Unique)
Dock Morale +25
Resource Losses: -15% Stockpile
But Ethan could not rest. The Rift still pulsed in the distance, its glow spreading wider.
Kaela limped over, staff crackling faintly. "That was just the first wave. The Rift isn't closing."
Brandon spat onto the ground, his armor bloodied. "Then the real nightmare hasn't even started."
Ethan stared at the swirling abyssal glow. His heart hammered like a drum, but his grip on the Abyssforged Greatsword didn't falter.
"If the abyss wants a war," he said grimly, "then we give it one."
The storm above Dock 13 raged on. The second siege was only moments away.