"Not all monsters come with claws. Some come with strategy."
— General Lyssen, On the Tactics of the Beastclans
Snow turned to fog.
By dawn, a heavy mist rolled in from the west, cloaking the citadel's outer ridge in a pale, suffocating veil. Visibility dropped to near-zero beyond the first tower. Watchmen lit torches and bells were rung every ten minutes, not to signal danger—but to prove they were still alive.
Jag stood at the command tower, staring into the white haze.
[New Threat Detected]
– Fogborn Alpha (Beast Class – ???)
– Unknown Pack Size
– Estimated Contact: 07:45:12
Recommended Action: Scout or Prepare Heavy Artillery
Morale: 75% (BOLSTERED)
Available Gold: 150
System Note: Threat exceeds previously recorded difficulty. Upgrade advised.
"Fogborn Alpha," Jag muttered. "Never seen that in any campaign."
Ashra stood beside him, arms crossed, sword at her hip.
"They hunt in silence," she said. "Fog is their weapon. They use it like armor. If the Alpha is leading them, you won't see the first death. You'll hear the last breath."
Jag opened the Command Interface, scanning for answers. The mage tower wouldn't cut it against beasts immune to spell light. He needed splash, fire, or something louder than silence.
Tower Upgrades (Limited Offer):
Upgrade Archer Tower → Sharpshooter Tower (150 Gold)
• Range Increase, +50% Crit Chance
Upgrade Barracks → Vanguard Barracks (150 Gold)
• Units gain shield bash (Stun 1s)
Build New Tower Site: Unavailable until Level 3
Gold Available: 150
Jag cursed under his breath. Not enough for Artillery, and too early to risk expansion. But he needed something—anything—to interrupt fast enemies.
He made the call.
"Upgrade the barracks," he said. "If they get past the first line, we need our troops to slow them down."
[Upgrade Confirmed: Vanguard Barracks]
Barracks HP Restored to 100%
Shield Bash (Passive Stun): +Chance to interrupt charging enemies
Units Gained +10% HP
Gold Remaining: 0
A deep rumble echoed from the barracks yard as wooden supports were replaced with iron reinforcements. Shields now bore the insignia of Stormwatch—a broken sun over stone.
[Jag Arclight – Lv. 2]
• Traits:
– Tactical Instinct (Lv.1)
– Mental Map (Passive)
• New Skill Point Gained
• Available Talent:
– Command Surge (Active): Boost unit ATK/DEF for 20s, CD: 5 min
– Field Engineer (Passive): +10% tower integrity and repair speed
– Tactical Withdrawal (Active): Pull all troops back instantly to fallback position
He hesitated.
One gave firepower, the other survivability, and the last, mobility.
Jag selected Command Surge.
[Skill Acquired: Command Surge (Active)]
– Buff: +20% ATK, +20% DEF to all troops for 20s
– Cooldown: 5 minutes
– Morale Boost: Minor
Seven hours before the next wave.
Garron found him in the chapel, leaning over a war map. Scouts had returned—barely. One was blind from claw wounds. The other missing a hand. They didn't see the Alpha. Only its work.
One scout whispered before collapsing, "It moved like wind… ripped through our flank before we drew blades…"
Garron spat to the side. "This ain't goblins or gnolls. This is war-beast warfare. These things don't fight to test you—they fight to end you."
Jag asked, "What's the best counter?"
The veteran scratched his beard. "Loud weapons. Fire. Fire hurts 'em. But all our bombards were sent east last winter. You want flame, you'll have to make it."
Ashra stepped in. "There is a dwarven forge cell beneath the armory. Locked. Forbidden to nobles without Runewright access."
Jag blinked. Then opened his System Interface.
[Side Quest Unlocked: Emberlocked]
– Objective: Gain access to Dwarven Forge beneath Stormwatch
– Requirement: Unlock hidden Runewright Skill OR locate Rune Key
– Time Cost: Variable
– Reward: Temporary Flame Trap (AoE Fire, 200 DMG over 6s)
– Risk: None
Jag's heart pounded.
"We're getting in."
The forge was buried behind the western barracks, beneath a reinforced vault carved into stone. Runes glowed faintly on its door—ancient, faded, but alive.
Ashra stepped aside, and Garron passed Jag a battered bronze key taken from the old quartermaster's office.
The runes flickered.
[RUNIC DOOR OPENED]
Inside, warmth returned.
It was more than a forge. It was a weapon's vault, untouched by time. Dwarven tools lay beside barrels of enchanted pitch and flame-burst steel.
Jag's eyes widened.
[Blueprint Unlocked: Flame Trap (x1)]
• Can be placed on path (one-time activation)
• AoE Fire: 200 DMG over 6s
• Costs 0 Gold (Salvaged Use)
Placement Required Before Wave Begins.
He returned to the Command Grid and placed it on the main trail just before the barracks line.
[Trap Deployed: Flame Trap – Ridge Pass]
Hours passed.
The fog thickened.
Not a single howl. Not a roar.
Just silence.
Jag didn't like it.
[Wave Begins in 00:03:00]
He stood at the battlements beside Ashra and Garron. The new recruits waited with shields, teeth clenched, eyes wide. The towers had been repaired. The trap was set.
[Wave Incoming]
– 30x Fogborn Packhounds (Fast, Invisibility in Fog)
– 2x Fogborn Maulers (Elite Brutes)
– 1x Fogborn Alpha (??? – Leadership Unit, Tier Unknown)
Warning: Invisibility active until within 6 meters
Fog Density: Maximum
Then they heard it.
Not growls. Not screams.
Breathing.
Heavy. Wet. Fast.
Then—silence broke.
Fogborn Packhounds exploded from the mist—gray, long-limbed beasts with vertical jaws and spined legs. They ran on all fours, eyes glowing pale blue.
The archers fired blindly, hitting only two.
Jag activated his passive.
[Mental Map – Activated]
– Fog Density Negated
– All enemies now visible to Commander
– Command Boost Active
He barked commands. "Archers! Focus fire on Mauler—rear left! Mage Tower, prep for AoE shot!"
[Combat Engaged]
• Barracks Engaged
• Trap Primed
– Command Surge: Ready
– Trap Activation Imminent
Two dozen packhounds charged down the pass—and triggered the trap.
[FLAME TRAP ACTIVATED]
Fire erupted, coating the ridge in a cone of searing red light. Fog boiled away. Beasts screamed. A dozen burned alive—others rolled out screaming.
Morale surged.
Enemy Losses: 13/33
Remaining: 20
The Maulers broke through next—thick hide, armored shoulders, claws the length of spears.
The barracks shook as one rammed into it. Two recruits were thrown back. One lost consciousness instantly.
[Command Surge ACTIVATED]
– Barracks Units: ATK/DEF boosted
– All units gain +10 Morale for 20s
Ashra leapt the walls again. Her blade danced like lightning.
One Mauler turned to intercept her.
She dove beneath its swipe—slashed its tendons—then leapt to deliver a finishing blow. The brute roared, stumbled, and fell.
The final enemy approached.
It didn't run. It walked.
Massive. Quiet. Eyes glowing deep blue like moonstone.
Fogborn Alpha.
It stepped through fire unbothered.
Ashra charged—but the beast blinked behind her, moving like smoke. Its claws grazed her ribs—she reeled.
Ashra HP: 150 → 82
– Bleeding (Minor)
Jag's pulse raced.
[Active Option Available: Tactical Withdrawal]
But he didn't retreat.
He looked at Garron. "You. Now."
The old veteran nodded grimly and ran in—slamming his axe into the Alpha's flank. It turned—and Ashra struck its neck.
[FOGBORN ALPHA STUNNED – 3s]
Mage tower fired a final shot.
The Alpha collapsed.
[WAVE COMPLETE]
– Enemies Defeated: 33/33
– Trap Used: 1
– Units Lost: 0 (1 Incapacitated)
– Morale: 82% (STEADY)
– Resources Gained: +200 Gold
– EXP Gained: +120
– Skill Point +1
– Title Upgrade Available
Later that night, Jag collapsed onto his cot.
His hands burned from gripping steel. His eyes were bloodshot. But he'd won.
The System chimed softly.
[New Title Acquired: Commander of the Unseen]
– Grants passive insight to enemy types not yet encountered
– Activates pre-wave predictive threat overlay
Next Wave Forecast: Unknown
System Message: "You have survived three. But the fourth… brings change."
He stared into the night.
Three waves down.
One kingdom left.
And Stormwatch still stood.