Chapter 8: The First Spark of War
Night fell like a cloak over Caelora Hall.
The torches burned blue along the outer walls. The forge glowed faintly in the courtyard, and soft footsteps echoed in the halls. The air was still—but something in the wind had changed.
Eron stood in the newly rebuilt watchtower, overlooking the western forest trail.
Eric's voice rang sharp in his mind.
> "Unregistered movement detected. Five heat signatures.
Unknown faction. Tactical range: 2.7 km and closing."
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> "How many are armed?" Eron asked.
> "All of them. And one of them carries an encrypted pulse beacon—military grade."
"They're not scouts. They're a message."
Eron's eyes narrowed.
He looked down into the courtyard where Rurik was hammering at the edge of a new spearhead. Lyra was organizing medicine crates. The others rested from long shifts rebuilding.
They weren't soldiers.
Not yet.
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He turned to Eric. "Can we avoid them?"
> "Negative. They are already following your broadcast signal.
They will reach the edge of Caelora territory in one hour."
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⚔️ Command Decision: Defend or Strike First
> [System Prompt Activated]
Choose Strategy:
1. Fortify Defenses
2. Ambush Before Arrival
3. Meet Diplomatically
(Choose within 15 minutes)
Eron paced the tower floor, thinking fast.
> "Eric. Show me their formation."
A 3D map formed in the air, glowing red where each enemy scout moved.
Rurik climbed up beside him, arms folded.
> "War already?"
> "Feels like a warning," Eron said.
"They want to see how we react."
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> "Then give them an answer," Rurik growled.
"The kind they won't forget."
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Eron selected Option 2: Ambush Before Arrival.
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> [Command Confirmed. Setting Ambush Points.
Temporary Combat Buff Activated: Territory Advantage +10%]
He summoned Kale, Sira, and Nira.
> "We strike before they see our walls. Hit fast, hit hard, and vanish."
They moved silently through the night forest, taking hidden positions along the canyon pass just beyond the old Caeloran border stone.
The enemy arrived on schedule—five figures in dark armor, moving confidently, carelessly.
> "They don't expect resistance," Sira whispered.
> "Then they'll bleed for it," Kale said, blades drawn.
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Eron raised his fist. Eric's timer ticked in his vision.
> "Engage in 3… 2… 1…"
They hit like ghosts.
Kale moved first, a blur of twin blades and silence.
Nira's strange aura flared briefly—silver energy bursting outward to freeze one enemy's feet in place.
Sira loosed a soul-tipped arrow that pierced a helmet clean through.
It was over in under two minutes.
One enemy survived—barely.
Eron stood over him as the man gasped.
> "You… Caelora wasn't supposed to still burn…"
> "It doesn't burn," Eron said.
"It fights."
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> [Combat Encounter Complete]
+Soul Data Stored
+New Item Looted: Beacon Shard – Tracked Signal Remnant
Eric Sync: 33.9%
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Back in the vault, Eric examined the shard.
> "This beacon links to a faction based near the southern spine. Not a full clan—more likely mercenaries or hired hands."
> "Who hired them?" Eron asked.
> "Unknown. But the sender wanted you to respond.
And now… they know how you respond."
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Far away…
In the shadow of a red-glass fortress, a man draped in silver furs tapped his fingers on a black stone table.
> "So the Caeloran cub has claws."
"Send the invitation."
His aide blinked. "Invitation?"
The man smiled coldly.
> "Let's see if the flame can survive a storm."
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