"When the enemy mixes sword and fire, you don't pick one wall—you build two."
—Jag, briefing prior to Wave 6
+1 Day — Ashen Vault Campaign, Day 4
The air tasted of copper.
Black smoke curled from the fields where mechanical parts still steamed from the last wave. No birds sang. No wind. Just silence and anticipation.
Jag stood with Ashra and Branwyn atop the central wall of Tower C. Below them, the war machines of Stormwatch were locked and primed.
[Wave 6 Incoming – "Hybrid Assault" Detected]
Composition:
• Clockgrinder Infantry (Standard Ground Frontliners)
• Disruptor Reavers (EMP-Saboteur Melee)
• Drone Bombers (Aerial Siege, Fire Payload)
• Ascendant Node Sync (Buffing Unit – Hidden)
Threat Level: High
Duration Forecast: 16+ minutes
Objective: Hold All Three Towers – No Structural Collapse Allowed
[Defense Configuration – Static Phase Ready]
• Tower A: Ballista + Rapid-Fire Repeater
• Tower B: Mage Relay + Spell Mesh + Oil Trap
• Tower C: Grenadier + Arc Beacon + Recovery Field
• Jag – Midfield Vanguard
• Ashra – Right Flank Interceptor
• Branwyn – Left Flank Anchor
Resource Pool: 150 Gold | 1 Strategic Token
Optional Activation: Reserve Firetrap Net (60 Gold)
Jag Activated: Firetrap Net – Deployed beneath central lane
Wave 6 – First Contact: Clockgrinders + Disruptors
Like a steel tide, the enemy surged up three separate paths.
• Left: Standard infantry
• Right: Agile saboteurs
• Center: Dual threat, merging force
[Branwyn Skill: Earth Hammer Ring]
— 5 Units Crushed
— Left Flank Holds
[Ashra Skill: Blink Barrage]
— Engaged 8 Reavers
— Critical hits: 5
— Right Flank Slows
[Jag Triggers: Firetrap Net]
— Clockgrinders ignited
— 41% reduced push velocity
— Mid-line stable
Minute 7 – Drones Enter
A sudden shriek tore the air. From above the blackened cliffs, a squadron of Drone Bombers descended in perfect V-formation. Their chassis glowed molten red. Each carried a compact furnace core beneath their bellies.
[System Alert: Flame Payload Charging – 12 seconds]
Drone Count: 9
Target Zones: A and C
Suggested Action: Interrupt Midair, or Shield Impact Zones
Branwyn shouted, "On me!" and threw her shield up as Tower A whirred into overdrive.
[Ballista Rapid-Fire – Activated]
• 6 Drones shot down
Jag leapt from the front, slicing one drone in half midair using Skyreach Slash
[Kill Confirmed – Ashforge Blade]
Remaining Drones: 2
Impact Absorbed: Tower C Shield Field – 34% capacity drained
Minute 11 – Ascendant Node Revealed
Ashra's shadowstep brought her to a blinking distortion behind the central hill.
Her eyes widened. "Node unit hiding behind terrain. Giving regeneration and speed buffs!"
Jag issued a mark command.
[Target Priority: Ascendant Node – Right Field Shadow]
Ashra Skill: Phantom Spiral
• 5x chained strikes
• Node HP: 320 → 80 → 0
[Buff Sync Broken – Enemy Momentum Slows]
Final Push: Reinforced Infantry Surge
Branwyn gritted her teeth as heavier Clockgrinders returned—this time with black plating and hooked gauntlets.
[Elite Variant: "Breakers"]
• Trait: Grabs defenders and slams them into terrain
• Target: Tower B Support Line
[Jag: Oath Wall Deployed]
• Effect: 20s Zone Defense Boost
• Result: Tower B held with 9% health remaining
Ashra blinked back and eliminated final flanker with Twin Bladespin
[Wave 6 Cleared – Time: 16m 41s]
Structural Damage:
• Tower A – Moderate (12%)
• Tower B – Heavy (Down to 9% Integrity)
• Tower C – Stable
Morale: 91%
Casualties: 2 injured (non-fatal)
Rewards:
+190 Gold
+1 Strategic Token
Upgrade Options:
• Reinforce Tower B with Ashsteel Walls (100 Gold)
• Install Elemental Beacon at Tower A (1 Token – Increases elemental tower output)
• Deploy Smoke Cloud Field on right flank (60 Gold – vision reduction for enemies)
Jag selected:
Ashsteel Walls – Tower B Reinforced
+35% Durability
Fire resistance increased
Midnight – Watchtower Discussion
Ashra leaned against the stone rail, arms crossed. "That node was coordinated. Not random. That means the machines are operating under tiered tactics again."
Branwyn snorted. "Every time we crush one general, they build a smarter one."
Rialt entered with an updated scan.
"The next wave contains a known commander-type unit: the Grey Reaper. This thing wasn't built. It was saved."
[Wave 7 Advance Notice:
Boss-Class Detected – Grey Reaper (AI Unit: X-Reclaimer)]
• Traits: Adaptive Combat AI | Rebuilding Trait | Battlefield Override Authority
• Threat Level: S
Estimated Arrival: 6 Hours
Jag stared into the dark horizon.
"Then we don't wait for it. We plan for it."