The dawn air bit at Aelar Frostveil's face as he led his squad south from the Crystal Palace, snow crunching under their mounts' hooves. His dark blue frostweave armor gleamed despite its scars, silver-white ponytail whipping in the wind, the two rune-stones pulsing faintly in his pouch. Kaelith loped beside him, silver-streaked fur cutting through the frost, glacial eyes scanning the tundra—Theron's scouts had pinpointed Order activity near the Frostspire's southern slopes, a likely base. Twenty guards rode behind, flanked by Elara Glintfrost and Torin Iceblade, their resolve hardened after yesterday's rift victory.
Elara rode at his left, her pale blue tunic dusted with snow, staff strapped to her saddle, the Raptor core half sharpening her mana's edge. "Stones are quiet," she said, voice steady. "Too quiet."
"Calm before the storm," Aelar replied, glancing at her. "Order's desperate—means they'll hit hard."
Torin flanked his right, his Frost Boar, Gruk, pounding the snow, icy spines glinting from the core boost. "Gruk smells 'em—humans, blood, mana," he grunted, spear ready. "Close, too."
Aelar nodded, trusting their instincts—Elara's magic and Torin's strength needed no nudge unless the plan demanded it. "Sylvara, scan," he thought, checking their progress.
Target: Elara Glintfrost
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 10)
Stats:
Strength: 48 (+2) Agility: 66 (+2) Intelligence: 68 (+1) Mana: 112 (+2)
Skills: Frost Weaving (Level 7) Mana Focus (Level 5) Staff Combat (Level 4)
Target: Torin Iceblade
Ascension Tier: Grandmaster (Level 1)
Stats:
Strength: 72 (+2) Agility: 58 (+2) Intelligence: 47 (+1) Mana: 68 (+3)
Skills: Spear Mastery (Level 8): Masterful spear techniques. Beast Synergy (Level 5) Endurance (Level 5)
Companion: Gruk Stats: Strength 78 (+2), Agility 52 (+2)
"Elara, keep pushing strength—sparring when we camp," Aelar said, voice low. "Torin, speed with Gruk—run him hard."
Elara grinned. "Still winning?"
"Always," Aelar replied, smirking.
The Order's Base
By noon, the squad reached a jagged valley below the Frostspire—ice caves dotted the slopes, mana humming from within. Kaelith's growl deepened, hackles rising. Aelar dismounted, sword drawn. "Base is in there," he said, stones pulsing. "Stay sharp."
Elara slid off her horse, staff glowing. "Mana's thick—another rift."
Torin patted Gruk, spear ready. "Gruk's ready to crush—let's go."
Aelar trusted them to act—no orders needed yet. "Sylvara, scan," he thought.
Target: Order Rune-Warden (Unnamed)
Race: Human
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 2)
Stats:
Strength: 55 Agility: 60 Intelligence: 50 Mana: 100
Skills: Rune Blast (Level 4): Explosive mana runes. Frost Shield (Level 3): Defensive ice barrier. Mana Bind (Level 3): Mana-draining chains.
Twenty Order warriors spilled from the caves, led by a robed human, his staff etched with glowing runes—a third rune-stone pulsed at his belt. "Frostveil!" he bellowed, "The deep claims you!"
Aelar charged, "Show me!" Frost Shroud cloaked him, Ice Crafting a spiked wall mid-run—it blocked a Rune Blast, ice shattering—Swordsmanship slashed the Warden's staff, mana sparking. "Weak spark!" he taunted, Glacial Chains spiraling—not binding, but slashing his arm—blood dripped, frost mixing.
Elara darted left, Frost Weaving a frost net—three warriors tangled, her ice shards felling two. "Stay down!" she snapped, Mana Focus sharpening a frost spear, piercing a third—Staff Combat parried a sword, cracking a jaw, agility fluid.
Torin roared, "Gruk, charge!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge trampled four, spines piercing—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, Beast Synergy skewering a chest. "Bleed!" he bellowed, Endurance soaking a dagger slash, Gruk biting a leg—bone snapped.
The Warden's Frost Shield flared, blocking Aelar's blade—Mana Bind lashed out, chains tugging his mana—Aelar's Mana Manipulation countered, steadying his flow. "Nice try!" he yelled, Frost Bite sinking into the Warden's shoulder—mana surged back, bitter. "Kaelith, now!"—only directing the wolf—the Frostwolf's Blizzard Charge tackled the Warden, Ice Armor deflecting a staff swing, jaws tearing his robe.
Syrith's words echoed in the Warden's laugh, "The deep laughs at you!" Rune Blast exploded—Aelar rolled, Ice Crafting a shield mid-dodge, shards grazing his chest—frost seared. Elara's frost spear pierced the Frost Shield, "Crack!"—it shattered, her ice shards pelting his chest. Torin's spear sank into his side, "Die!"—Gruk's charge crushed his leg.
Aelar's chains coiled the Warden's staff, yanking it free—Swordsmanship slashed his chest, Ice Crafting a spiked gauntlet to punch his face—blood sprayed, bone crunching. The Warden fell, the third stone rolling free—Aelar grabbed it, mana flaring, the caves trembling.
Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 5)
Stats:
Strength: 110 (+2) Agility: 120 (+2) Intelligence: 88 (+2) Mana: 180 (+5)
The Legendary Threat
The caves shook harder—a roar split the air, ice cracking as a Legendary-tier Frost Behemoth emerged—forty feet of ice and bone, eyes blazing gold, claws like scythes, a fourth rune-stone embedded in its chest. "Another key!" Aelar shouted. "Hit it!"
"Sylvara, analyze!" he thought.
Target: Frost Behemoth (Legendary)
Race: Magical Beast
Beast Tier: Legendary (Level 6)
Stats:
Strength: 130 Agility: 70 Intelligence: 30 Mana: 140
Skills: Ice Quake (Level 5): Devastating ground slam. Frost Roar (Level 4): Stunning, chilling cry. Mana Surge (Level 4): Boosts power.
The Behemoth's Frost Roar stunned the guards—Aelar's Mana Manipulation held, Frost Shroud cloaking as he charged—Ice Crafting a massive spear mid-run, hurling it—claws swatted it, ice shattering. "Big!" he taunted, Swordsmanship slashing its leg—scales cracked, frost-blood spraying.
Elara spun, Frost Weaving a frost lattice—not to bind, but to tangle its claws—she grinned, "Slow down!" Mana Focus sharpened ice spears, piercing its shoulder—blood dripped. She dodged an Ice Quake, Staff Combat cracking its claw, "Not fast enough!"—agility shining.
Torin roared, "Gruk, hit!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge rammed its side, spines sinking—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, Beast Synergy piercing its chest. "Break!" he bellowed, Endurance soaking a claw swipe—frost seared, Gruk biting its ankle.
Aelar darted under, "Kaelith, howl!"—the wolf's Frost Howl countered the roar, Blizzard Charge tearing its thigh—Ice Armor deflected a claw. Aelar's Glacial Chains lashed—not binding, but piercing the rune-stone—Frost Bite sank into its core, mana surging back. "Got you!" he roared, Ice Crafting a hammer mid-air, Swordsmanship smashing the stone—cracks spread, mana dimming.
The Behemoth's Mana Surge flared, Ice Quake slamming—Aelar leaped, chains yanking him clear—Elara's lattice held, "No way!"—ice spears pierced its eye, gold blood spraying. Torin's spear sank into its core, "Fall!"—Gruk's charge crushed its knee. Aelar's hammer slammed again—stone shattered, the Behemoth roaring as it collapsed, a crimson core rolling free.
Aelar claimed it, mana surging. "Sylvara, update."
Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 6)
Stats:
Strength: 112 (+2) Agility: 122 (+2) Intelligence: 90 (+2) Mana: 185 (+5)
The Hunt Continues
The caves stilled, ten guards standing, ten lost. Aelar held the third stone, its pulse faint. "Four keys," he said, panting. "One more, at least."
Elara wiped her staff, core absorbed—mana flared. "They're running out of holes."
Torin grunted, core boosting him and Gruk. "Good—Gruk's hungry."
Aelar tossed the Behemoth core to Elara. "Split it—Torin's half. Strength for you, speed for him."
Elara caught it, smirking. "Winning?"
"Always," Aelar replied, sheathing his sword. "Back to Theron—find the last key."
Night's Strategy
By night, the squad camped under the Frostspire, fires crackling. Aelar sat with Elara and Torin, Kaelith at his side. "Good moves," he said—no orders needed, their strength clear.
Elara twirled her staff. "Grandmaster's close—I feel it."
Torin patted Gruk. "Same—let's end these bastards."
The stones pulsed, a final key calling—the Order's end neared, and Aelar would meet it.