The air around Blackthorn Bastion had begun to change. The once-dead fortress now thrummed with faint pulses of life, Takaviel's swarm, small but tireless, stirred within its ruined halls and broken towers. A creeping, crawling presence filled the stonework. But power invites attention.
On the seventh day of Takaviel's effort to grow his swarm, something stirred beyond the treeline. A presence. Watching. Waiting.
Each day since claiming the fortress, Takaviel had committed every drop of mana he could muster toward building his numbers.
"Summon: Vermex Weaver."
"Summon: Nekrox Striker."
Again and again, his voice rang through the empty chambers. With each summon, his control sharpened, and the Bastion echoed with the skitter of clawed limbs and clicking mandibles.
At night, he rested within the Bastion's deepest vault, allowing *Mana Flow* to slowly replenish his reserves. At dawn, he began again.
For seven days, this rhythm continued.
But on the final day, just as he completed his last summon, a crack split the distant sky,.and something moved in the dark beyond the hills.
[SYSTEM UPDATE – UNIT EVOLUTION]
> You have spent 9 Ability Points.
> Evolving Units…
Evolution Complete: Vermex Weaver → Vermex Silkmind
Evolution Complete: Nekrox Striker → Nekrox Ravager
[Unit Changes Below:]
Summon: Vermex Silkmind
- Level: 2
- Job: Scout / Ambush Specialist
- Mana Cost: 25 MP
- Time to Hatch: 45 Minutes
Core Stats:
- Strength: 5
- Agility: 9
- Intelligence: 7
HP: 70/70
Stamina: 45 /45
Mana: 20/20
Skills:
- Thread Trap – Lays enchanted silk that slows and weakens enemies caught within it.
- Hive-Sense – Shares sensory input with Takaviel for 10 seconds.
Appearance:
Taller and sleeker than its previous form, the Silkmind's black exoskeleton gleams with a faint blue sheen. Its wings are now translucent silver, and glowing marks spiral across its abdomen. The mandibles are finer, and its limbs are designed for stealth.
Summon: Nekrox Ravager
- Level: 2
- Job: Melee Vanguard / Frontline Assault
- Mana Cost: 50 MP
- Time to Hatch: 1 Hour, 45 Minutes
Core Stats:
- Strength: 18
- Agility: 13
- Intelligence: 6
HP: 120/120
Stamina: 60/60
Mana: 15 /15
Skills:
- Savage Bite (Upgraded) – Now causes bleed and armor fracture.
- Bone Burst – Temporary burst of strength and speed for a short charge.
Appearance:
Broader and more armored than before, the Ravager's chitin glows faintly red at its joints. Its bone-blades now have serrated edges, and its beetle-horn has split into twin hooks. It walks with a heavy, menacing thrum, more like a warbeast than an insect.
Devourer Synergy (Updated):
Takaviel could feel it now *Devourer* was more than just a skill. It was a conduit. Every creature consumed left an imprint in his system. The synergy had begun:
> Synergy Activated: Hive Memory.
> Swarm creatures may inherit passive traits from devoured enemies. Chance increases with creature tier and frequency of consumption.
The corpses he devoured previously some laced with stealth, others with raw muscle had begun subtly changing his summons. Even their behavior shifted. The Silkminds had learned to hide better. The Ravagers had grown more aggressive.
---
Swarm Overview (Updated):
Swarm Units:
Scout / Ambush Unit:
- Vermex Silkmind: 34
Melee Vanguard Unit:
- Nekrox Ravager: 28
Total Swarm: 62
As Takaviel stood on the Bastion's highest broken tower, looking over the forested valley, he sensed the disturbance.
A foul energy shimmered on the distant horizon. Shadows shifted unnaturally. The trees beyond Blackthorn Ridge warped in shape, as if something unseen was crawling through them.
Then came the sound.
A faint, high-pitched scream, not made by any living thing. It echoed through the valley like a needle drawn across stone.
Takaviel's swarm fell silent.
He gritted his teeth. "So… they've noticed me."
A storm was coming.
And Blackthorn Bastion would be ready.