The rune-covered golem's blue glow cast an eerie light across the forest clearing, its massive stone form grinding forward, each step shaking the earth. Elias Vaeron stood before the black stone altar, his frail six-year-old body pulsing with the Arcane Amplifier's temporary strength, his musket's rune-etched bayonet blazing green in his blood-streaked hands. His pale face, smudged with soot and scarred by an arrow graze on his left cheek, was taut with focus, his steel-gray eyes flecked with amber locked on the golem. The Dominion Interface screamed in his vision: Arcane Construct: Stone Golem. Composition: Enchanted granite, blue rune matrix. Threat Level: Catastrophic.
The altar's green runes pulsed in time with Elias's heartbeat, the Vaeron Relic: Arcane Amplifier amplifying his senses, dulling the pain in his burned right arm, its blistered skin hidden beneath his tattered nightshirt. The Order of the Veil's white-cloaked leader lay defeated, their gaunt face pale, silver hair singed, and cracked staff lifeless. The Cult of the Iron Flame's red-robed figures, their iron masks glinting with fiery runes, rallied despite their leader's cracked mask, their fireballs flickering. The imperial vanguard, led by Lord-Captain Valthar's gold-trimmed helm, pressed the remnants of House Taryn's green-armored cavalry, their golden stag banners nearly gone. Lady Seline Kaelar, her silver armor dented and blonde hair matted with blood, fought alone, her blue eyes fierce as her spear flashed. Mira, her freckled face pale and auburn braid frayed, clutched her bloodied dagger beside Elias, her brown eyes burning with defiance despite her burned hand and bandaged arm. The last militia soldier was gone, their sacrifice marked by a rusted sword in the dirt.
Elias's enhanced senses sharpened the forest's details—the scent of charred wood, the distant clash of steel, the golem's grinding steps. The interface flashed: Tactics (Level 1): Exploit golem's weight to limit mobility. His past life's instincts—urban traps, heavy armor vulnerabilities—surged, urging him to use the forest's terrain. The golem was slow, its rune-covered stone body vulnerable to imbalance.
"Seline!" Elias shouted, his voice clear despite his frail frame. "Lure it to the soft ground near the stream!" Seline's angular face turned, her spear glinting as she nodded, darting toward the clearing's edge where the ground turned muddy from a hidden brook. "Mira, find stones—sharp ones!" Mira scrambled, her wiry frame diving into the underbrush, scavenging flint shards.
The interface pinged: Tactics (Level 1): Coordinate with Taryn remnants to divide enemies. Elias raised his voice, shouting toward Lord Edric Taryn, whose bearded face was bloodied, his green plate armor dented. "Taryn! Hit the Cult now, or the golem crushes us all!"
Edric's hazel eyes met Elias's, his gray-streaked hair whipping as he rallied his five remaining cavalry. "You're mad, Vaeron," he called, but his sword rose. "Taryn! On the red robes!" His riders charged, lances piercing a Cult follower, their mask shattering. The interface updated: Cult Losses: 1 infantry. Morale: Wavering.
The golem advanced, its blue runes pulsing, a low hum emanating from its core. The interface tagged: Weak Point: Central rune cluster. Elias's mind raced—a precise strike could disrupt it, but his musket was empty, the bayonet his only weapon. The Arcane Resonance Trap blueprint lingered, but he lacked materials. The altar's runes, still active, might amplify his bayonet further.
The Cult's leader, their cracked mask leaking blood, chanted, fireballs arcing toward Seline. She dodged, her silver armor glinting, her spear striking another follower. The interface flashed: Cult Losses: 1 infantry. The vanguard's lances clashed with Taryn's cavalry, Valthar's voice booming, his gold-trimmed helm gleaming.
Elias darted to the altar, scraping his bayonet across the runes, green light flaring brighter. The interface confirmed: Bayonet Enhancement: Maximized. His body surged with power, the Amplifier dulling his pain, sharpening his reflexes. He charged the golem, aiming for its central runes, the bayonet slashing. Sparks erupted, stone chipping, but the golem's arm swung, knocking him back. He hit the ground, breath stolen, the interface noting: Allied Damage: Moderate.
Mira returned, her braid bouncing, hands clutching sharp flint. "Got these!" she said, tossing them. Elias grabbed one, rigging it with vine from the clearing's edge, crafting a crude spearhead. The interface pinged: Legacy Protocol: Unlocked. Blueprint Available—Rune-Infused Javelin. A thrown weapon, amplifying arcane disruption: flint, vine, altar rune etchings. He carved the flint, copying the altar's patterns, the Amplifier guiding his shaking hands.
The golem reached Seline, its stone fist slamming the ground, mud splashing. She rolled, her spear jabbing its leg, chipping stone. The interface flashed: Golem Mobility: Reduced by 10%. The Cult's fireballs struck Taryn's cavalry, felling one, the interface noting: Taryn Losses: 1 cavalry.
Elias finished the javelin, its flint head glowing faintly green. "Seline, clear!" he shouted, hurling it at the golem's rune cluster. The javelin struck, runes flaring, a blue shockwave erupting. The golem staggered, its hum faltering. The interface updated: Golem Arcane Output: Reduced by 25%.
The Cult's leader lunged, their fiery runes blazing, a fireball grazing Mira. She screamed, her burned hand worsening, but her dagger slashed, felling a follower. The interface flashed: Cult Losses: 1 infantry. Seline's spear struck another, her blue eyes fierce, but a Cult chant knocked her back, her armor cracking.
The vanguard broke through, Valthar's cavalry charging the clearing. The interface screamed: Vanguard Proximity: 5 meters. Elias's enhanced strength waned, the Amplifier's surge fading, pain flooding back. His burned arm screamed, blood seeping from his shoulder graze.
The golem recovered, its runes pulsing, a stone fist aimed at Elias. He dove, the altar shielding him, its runes flaring. The interface warned: Relic Resonance: Overload Risk. His blood tingled, the altar's power unstable. He couldn't sustain another activation without collapsing.
"Seline, Mira, to the stream!" Elias shouted, scrambling toward the muddy ground. The forest's brook was shallow but slick, perfect for slowing the golem. Seline followed, her blonde hair plastered to her face, her spear ready. Mira limped, her burned hand clutched to her chest, her dagger still gripped.
The interface pinged: Tactics (Level 1): Use terrain to trap golem. Elias directed them to scatter vines across the stream's bank, Mira's hands shaking but quick. The golem lumbered forward, its weight sinking into the mud, runes dimming. The interface flashed: Golem Mobility: Reduced by 30%.
Taryn's remnants fought the Cult, Edric's sword a blur, but his forces dwindled, only three cavalry left. The vanguard's lances struck, felling another. The interface noted: Taryn Losses: 1 cavalry. Morale: Critical.
The Cult's leader chanted, a fiery rune flaring, aimed at the altar. Elias tackled Mira, shielding her, the fireball cracking the stone, runes flickering. The interface screamed: Relic Integrity: Compromised. The golem roared, breaking free, its fist smashing the bank, mud spraying.
Elias raised his musket, the bayonet blazing, and struck the golem's rune cluster. The runes shattered, blue light fading, the golem collapsing into lifeless stone. The interface flashed: Golem Neutralized.
But the Cult's leader advanced, their mask gone, revealing a burned, fanatical face. "The Amplifier dies with you," they hissed, fireballs forming. Seline's spear struck, grazing their shoulder, but their chant continued.
A new sound broke through—a low, keening wail from the altar's ruins. The interface screamed: Arcane Rift: Forming. Source: Relic Overload. A crack split the air, green and blue light swirling, forming a portal above the altar, shadowy figures stirring within.