"Sieges don't begin with walls falling. They begin with someone daring to whisper, 'We can take that place.'"
— Old Border Saying, Origin Unknown
It was a still morning.
No wind. No birdsong. The kind of silence that pressed against the chest, as though the air itself hesitated to draw breath. Jag stood atop Stormwatch's northern tower, watching the horizon.
The skies were beginning to bruise with overcast. The grass, soaked from last night's rain, whispered with a chill wind that didn't rustle leaves—but slid like fingers across stone.
[System Alert]
Time Until Next Invasion: 07:42:13
Next Wave Forecast: Siege-Type Assault
Classification: Class B Threat Detected
Unique Unit: Siege Caller – Unknown Subspecies
Estimated Forces: 60+
Warning: Terrain Alteration Expected
Jag squinted. "Siege Caller?"
Ashra appeared at his side, flexing her gloved fingers, the newly forged Iron Shortblade strapped to her back.
She spoke calmly, "I've only heard of them in Eastern mercenary scrolls. Not a beast. A herald."
Jag frowned. "A herald?"
She nodded once. "They don't fight. They announce. And whatever answers is usually not meant for mortals."
[System Note: Siege Caller identified as a Tier II Summoner-Type Enemy]
Special Trait: "Invocation of Ruin"
– After 3 minutes on the field, it summons siege-class monsters
Recommended Strategy: Assassinate before 3-minute timer elapses
Jag Arclight – Lv. 3
• Traits:
– Tactical Instinct (Lv.1)
– Mental Map (Passive)
– Command Surge (Active)
– War Council (Captain Garron Assigned)
• Gold: 0
• EXP: 60 / 300
• Tower Slots: 1 (Unbuilt)
• Skill Points: 1
The Forge Yard hummed in the background, its latest gear output still warm. Meanwhile, the barracks had been partially reinforced using stone from the collapsed tower, boosting wall durability by 12%.
[Citadel Tier D → C Upgrade Pending]
Requirements Remaining: 1 Defensive Hero, 1 New Facility
Jag opened the new build interface.
Tower Construction Menu
• Flame Artillery (AOE – Slow Fire Damage): 250 Gold
• Lightning Tower (High Damage, Anti-Armor): 300 Gold
• Musketeer Tower (Long Range, Piercing Shot): 200 Gold
[Gold: 0]
[Tower Slot Available: 1]
The system gently pulsed.
"Survived long enough to be poor. You're doing well."
Jag snorted. "Says the system with all the gold."
He closed the tower menu.
"Captain Garron," he called.
The older man appeared from the gatehouse, still wearing the patched chestplate from the last fight. "Aye?"
"Scout the west ridge," Jag ordered. "If the Caller steps onto the field, I want his blood on our blades before he chants a syllable."
Garron gave a tight nod. "I'll take three men and keep our mouths shut."
[Side Quest Activated: Strike the Herald]
Objective: Intercept the Siege Caller before it reaches Summon Point
Reward: +150 EXP, +100 Gold, +Siege Cancel
Risk: Medium
Failure: Siege-Class Monster arrival
While Garron's squad vanished into the western trees, Jag reviewed the newly glowing Hero Terminal.
New Hero Recruitment Opportunity
• Requirements Met: Forge Yard Active, Citadel Level 3
Hero Class Detected Nearby: Shield Sister – "Branwyn the Breaker"
• Status: Wounded, Trapped in Eastern Ravine
• Threat Level Around Zone: Moderate
• Time to Retrieve: 2 Hours
Jag cursed. "It's bait. Right before a siege wave."
Ashra simply asked, "Do you want her?"
Jag thought for only a moment, then: "Yes."
Ashra gave a soft smile. "Then I'll go."
He blinked. "What?"
She buckled her sword. "If Garron's hunting the caller, someone needs to bring the shield maiden. That someone is me."
[Hero Mission Accepted: Rescue Branwyn the Breaker]
Hero Assigned: Ashra
Escort Force: 1 Elite Guard
ETA: Return in 2.5 Hours
Success Rate: 79%
Failure Penalty: Potential Hero Loss
Jag hesitated… but nodded.
"I'll hold the fort."
Ashra Affinity: BONDED → UNBREAKABLE (Pending Confirmation)
Ashra placed a hand on his chestplate. "Don't let the wall fall, Prince. I'm not digging through rubble to find you."
Then she was gone.
Hours passed.
The sky darkened unnaturally as the sun crested noon.
Then—
[Alert: Hostile Activity Detected – Siege Caller Entered Field]
ETA to Summon Point: 02:59
Allied Unit Garron – Engaging Target
The system opened a real-time feed.
Garron had reached the edge of a swamp, three militia crouched behind him. There, in the middle of rotted ruins, stood the Siege Caller.
It had no face. No mouth. Just a spiraled horn grown from its chest like a tumor. Beneath it, the ground cracked with veins of light.
"Invocation begins in 2:54…"
Garron raised his fist.
And charged.
[COMBAT: Siege Caller Assault]
• Garron HP: 180
• Siege Caller HP: ???
• Status: Channeled (Cannot Move While Casting)
• Militia Unit Kellen: Engaged
First Strike Successful: Siege Caster Interrupted
The screen trembled.
The horn shrieked—no sound, just visual disruption—as Garron's axe bit deep.
[Siege Cancel Progress: 33%]
But the Caller wasn't alone.
Spawnlings emerged—mutated doglike things with split jaws. They pounced.
Militia recruit fell first—torn apart mid-cry.
[Unit Lost – Morale Dip: -4%]
Garron took a deep cut to his ribs—but didn't fall.
He swung again.
[Siege Cancel Progress: 65%]
Then—
An arrow from the brush.
Jag's emergency sniper, posted earlier on a hunch, fired true.
It struck the horn directly.
[CRITICAL HIT – Siege Caller DISRUPTED]
Casting Broken
Summon Cancelled
+150 EXP
+100 Gold
Trait Point Earned
Garron limped away alive. One militia didn't.
Stormwatch Morale: 92%
[Tower Construction Menu Active]
Gold: 100
• Musketeer Tower Constructed at Ridgeline Watchpoint
Tower Stats:
– Long Range
– Pierce: 30 Base
– Crit: 20%
– Cooldown: 2.8s
Jag sat on the watchtower again, gripping the banister.
Time ticked forward.
The real wave hadn't come yet.
Ashra had not returned.
And then—**
[System Alert – FINAL COUNTDOWN: 00:03:00]
Wave Designation: HEAVY INFANTRY – ELITE SIEGE DRONES
Estimated Enemy Count: 80
Composition:
– 40x Bonecrush Raiders
– 20x Siege Beetles
– 4x Towerkillers
"Prepare. They come without a horn."