The spectral warrior's green eyes blazed in the forest clearing, its translucent form clad in ancient, rune-etched armor that shimmered with the same eerie glow as the black stone altar's runes. Elias Vaeron, his frail six-year-old body slumped against the altar, gripped his musket, its rune-enhanced bayonet flickering faintly. His pale face, smudged with soot and scarred by an arrow graze on his left cheek, was taut with pain, his steel-gray eyes flecked with amber locked on the ghostly figure. The Dominion Interface screamed in his vision: Spectral Entity: Vaeron Ancestor. Arcane Signature: Relic-Bound. Intent: Unknown.
The non-human entity, its obsidian-scaled hide scarred and red eyes burning, roared from the clearing's edge, its claws tearing at the earth. The Order of the Veil's white-cloaked leader, their gaunt face pale and silver hair singed, clutched their cracked staff, their green eyes wide with shock. The black-armored figure, their helm glinting and arcane blade dimmed by Elias's strikes, staggered, blood seeping from gashes in their armor. The Cult of the Iron Flame's red-robed figures, their iron masks carved with fiery runes, paused their fireballs, their chants faltering. The imperial vanguard, led by Lord-Captain Valthar's gold-trimmed helm, clashed with House Taryn's green-armored cavalry in the distance, their golden stag banners tattered. Lady Seline Kaelar, her silver armor dented and blonde hair matted with blood, stood with her last rider—scarred-jaw—her blue eyes fierce despite the odds. Mira, her freckled face pale and auburn braid frayed, clutched her dagger beside Elias, her brown eyes darting between the spectral warrior and the beast. The last militia soldier, gaunt and bloodied, held a rusted sword, his loyalty to Elias a fading spark in the chaos.
Elias's burned right arm throbbed, the blistered skin screaming under his tattered nightshirt, blood seeping from a fresh graze on his shoulder. The interface flashed: Vaeron Relic: Arcane Amplifier Activated. Risk: Catastrophic. His blood had triggered the altar, summoning this warrior—friend or foe, he couldn't tell. His past life's instincts—honed in desperate battles—urged caution, but the resonance in his chest demanded action.
The spectral warrior spoke, its voice a hollow echo, reverberating with ancient authority. "Heir of Vaeron, your blood calls us. Claim the Amplifier, or perish." Its glowing blade pointed at Elias, then swept toward the beast, as if challenging all comers.
Elias's heart pounded. The Amplifier—his blood, the altar—was a weapon, but how to wield it? The interface pinged: Tactics (Level 1): Leverage spectral entity to disrupt enemies. "Seline!" he shouted, his voice raw but steady. "Keep the Cult back! Mira, watch the beast!" Seline nodded, her angular face set, her spear raised as she and her rider flanked the red-robed figures. Mira scrambled to the clearing's edge, her wiry frame tense, ready to dodge the beast's claws.
The interface flashed: Diplomacy (Level 1): Probe entity's intent. Elias raised his musket, its bayonet glowing faintly. "Ancestor or not," he called, "name your price. I'm not dying for a ghost."
The warrior's green eyes narrowed, its translucent armor shimmering. "Prove your worth, heir. The Amplifier demands strength." It lunged at the non-human entity, its blade slicing scales, drawing black blood. The beast roared, its tail lashing, but the spectral blade held, green sparks flying.
The Cult's leader, their iron mask glinting, hissed. "The Amplifier is ours!" Fireballs arced, striking the Veil's white-cloaked leader, who deflected with a green shield, their staff trembling. The interface updated: Veil Losses: 1 infantry. Cult Morale: High.
The black-armored figure charged Elias, their blade flaring. He parried with the bayonet, runes clashing, pain searing his burned arm. The interface flashed: Enemy Damage: Critical. Combat Ability: Low. The figure fell to their knees, their helm cracking, revealing a scarred face—male, mid-thirties, eyes glowing green with arcane corruption.
Seline's spear struck a Cult follower, their mask shattering, revealing a burned face twisted in fanaticism. Her rider fell to a fireball, the interface screaming: Allied Losses: 1 rider. Seline's cry was raw, her blonde hair whipping as she fought alone.
The beast lunged at the spectral warrior, claws meeting blade, the clearing shaking. Taryn's cavalry faltered, Edric's bearded face bloodied as he retreated, his green armor dented. The vanguard pressed, Valthar's voice booming. The interface noted: Taryn Losses: 2 cavalry. Vanguard Proximity: 10 meters.
Elias scanned the clearing, spotting a shattered staff from a fallen Veil follower. The interface pinged: Legacy Protocol: Unlocked. Blueprint Available—Arcane Resonance Trap. A device to amplify the altar's runes, disrupting arcane users: crystal shards, vine, alchemical residue. The well's vial, still in Mira's pouch, could work. "Mira, the vial!" he shouted.
She tossed it, her braid bouncing, her freckled face pale but fierce. Elias caught it, packing the glowing residue into a vine-wrapped crystal shard, his hands shaking but precise. The interface estimated: Construction Time: 35 seconds. He worked fast, blood seeping from his shoulder.
The spectral warrior's blade carved into the beast, its roars weakening. The interface flashed: Entity Damage: Severe. But the Cult's fireballs struck the warrior, its form flickering. The Veil's leader chanted, their staff flaring, empowering the black-armored figure, who rose, their blade glowing again.
Elias finished the trap, tying the vine to the altar's base. "Seline, lure them!" he shouted. She taunted the Cult, her spear flashing, drawing them toward the altar. Elias lit the vine, the trap humming, runes flaring. A green shockwave erupted, knocking the Cult's leader back, their mask cracking. The interface updated: Cult Arcane Output: Reduced by 30%.
The black-armored figure lunged, their blade grazing Elias's side, pain exploding. He countered, the bayonet slashing their chest, runes burning through armor. They collapsed, their blade dimming. The interface flashed: Enemy Neutralized.
The beast roared, breaking free, its claws aimed at Elias. The spectral warrior intercepted, its blade slicing deep, black blood spraying. The beast fell, its red eyes dimming. The interface noted: Entity Neutralized.
But the Veil's leader advanced, their staff pulsing. "The Amplifier is mine," they hissed, a green bolt lancing toward Elias. He dove, the altar absorbing the blast, its runes flaring brighter. The interface screamed: Relic Resonance: Critical. Activation Risk: Extreme.
Seline fought the Cult, her spear a blur, but their numbers overwhelmed her. The last militia soldier fell to a fireball, the interface noting: Allied Losses: 1 militia. Mira's dagger struck a Cult follower, but a fiery rune burned her hand, her cry piercing.
The vanguard broke through, Valthar's cavalry charging the clearing. Taryn's forces collapsed, Edric retreating into the forest. The interface flashed: Taryn Morale: Broken.
Elias's vision blurred, his frail body failing. The spectral warrior turned, its green eyes locked on him. "Claim it, heir," it said, pointing to the altar. Elias's hand brushed the stone, his blood smearing, the runes blazing. A surge coursed through him, his body glowing green, strength flooding his limbs.
The interface screamed: Amplifier Activated: Temporary Enhancement. His pain faded, his senses sharpened. He raised the musket, its bayonet blazing, and charged the Veil's leader. The blade struck, shattering their staff, green sparks erupting. They fell, their green eyes dimming.
The Cult's leader rallied, their fireballs arcing. Elias dodged, the Amplifier's power guiding him. But a new sound broke through—a low, resonant chant from the forest's depths, distinct from the Cult's. The interface screamed: New Entity: Arcane Construct. Affiliation: Unknown. Threat Level: Catastrophic.
A massive, rune-covered golem emerged, its stone body glowing with blue light, its eyes fixed on the altar.