The Crystal Palace stood resolute under a dawn sky, its ice spires catching the first light as Aelar Frostveil strode into the war room, his dark blue frostweave armor polished but battle-worn. His silver-white ponytail swayed, the three rune-stones pulsing in his pouch, their violet glow dim but restless. Kaelith padded beside him, silver-streaked fur gleaming, glacial eyes sharp—the Frostspire victory lingered, but the Order's final key loomed, a threat to unseal the Frost Depths' Legendary beasts.
Theron Frostveil stood over a map, his frostblade gleaming nearby, Ursok the Frostbear dozing in a corner. "Scouts found their stronghold," he said, pointing to a mark beyond the Frostspire. "Iron Hollow—a fortress in the deep ice. The last stone's there."
Elara Glintfrost leaned on her staff, her pale blue tunic crisp, the Behemoth core half fueling her mana's edge. "One more key," she said, silver hair glinting. "Then the Depths stay sealed."
Torin Iceblade leaned against the wall, his Frost Boar, Gruk, snuffling at his feet, icy spines sharp from the core boost. "Gruk's ready," he grunted, spear in hand. "Let's end it."
Aelar nodded, trusting their instincts—Elara's magic and Torin's grit needed no push unless the fight demanded it. "Sylvara, scan," he thought, checking their growth.
Target: Elara Glintfrost
Ascension Tier: Grandmaster (Level 1)
Stats:
Strength: 50 (+2) Agility: 68 (+2) Intelligence: 69 (+1) Mana: 115 (+3)
Skills: Frost Weaving (Level 8): Masterful ice constructs. Mana Focus (Level 5) Staff Combat (Level 4)
Target: Torin Iceblade
Ascension Tier: Grandmaster (Level 2)
Stats:
Strength: 74 (+2) Agility: 60 (+2) Intelligence: 48 (+1) Mana: 70 (+2)
Skills: Spear Mastery (Level 8) Beast Synergy (Level 5) Endurance (Level 5)
Companion: Gruk Stats: Strength 80 (+2), Agility 54 (+2)
"Elara, keep building mana—spells hit harder," Aelar said. "Torin, speed with Gruk—faster strikes."
Elara smirked. "Winning already?"
"Always," Aelar replied, grinning.
Theron tapped the map. "Iron Hollow's fortified—fifty Order, maybe more. Take thirty guards—strike at dusk."
Aelar gripped his sword. "We'll take the stone, end their game."
The Order's Assault
As the squad prepared in the courtyard, Kaelith's growl erupted—a warhorn blared, ice cracking outside the palace walls. Aelar rushed to the ramparts, Elara and Torin beside him—fifty Order warriors stormed the gates, led by a hulking human in black plate, wielding a mana-charged greatsword, a fourth rune-stone glowing at his chest.
"Sylvara, analyze!" Aelar thought.
Target: Order Warlord (Unnamed)
Race: Human
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 4)
Stats:
Strength: 80 Agility: 50 Intelligence: 40 Mana: 90
Skills: Blade Storm (Level 5): Rapid, wide-area sword strikes. Frost Charge (Level 4): Mana-enhanced rush. Mana Ward (Level 3): Defensive mana shield.
"They're here!" Aelar shouted, leaping down. "Hit them!"—no orders needed; Elara and Torin moved instinctively.
Aelar charged, Frost Shroud cloaking him—Ice Crafting a spiked barrier mid-run, blocking a Blade Storm swing—Swordsmanship clashed the greatsword, sparks flying. "Big blade!" he taunted, Glacial Chains spiraling—not binding, but slashing the Warlord's arm—blood dripped, frost mixing.
Elara darted left, Frost Weaving a frost lattice—five warriors tangled, her ice shards felling three. "Stay still!" she snapped, Mana Focus sharpening a frost spear, piercing the Warlord's Mana Ward—cracks spread. She spun her staff, Staff Combat cracking a warrior's skull, "Next!"—agility fluid.
Torin roared, "Gruk, crush!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge trampled six, spines piercing—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, Beast Synergy skewering a chest. "Weak!" he bellowed, Endurance soaking a Frost Charge graze—frost seared, Gruk biting a leg—bone snapped.
The Warlord's Blade Storm spun, ice exploding—Aelar rolled, Mana Manipulation steadying his flow, Ice Crafting a shield mid-dodge—blades grazed, frost biting. "Kaelith, flank!"—only directing the wolf—the Frostwolf's Blizzard Charge tackled the Warlord, Ice Armor deflecting a swing, jaws tearing his thigh—blood gushed.
The Warlord roared, "The deep owns you!" Frost Charge rushing—Aelar's chains lashed, tripping him—Frost Bite sank into his shoulder, mana surging back. "Not yet!" Aelar yelled, Ice Crafting a massive hammer mid-air, Swordsmanship smashing his chest—armor dented, ribs cracking.
Elara's frost spear pierced the Mana Ward, "Break!"—it shattered, her ice shards pelting his face—blood sprayed. Torin's spear sank into his side, "Fall!"—Gruk's charge crushed his knee. Aelar's chains coiled the greatsword, yanking it free—Swordsmanship slashed his chest, blood pooling. The Warlord fell, the fourth stone rolling free—Aelar grabbed it, mana flaring.
Guards clashed—ten Order warriors fled, five cut down. Aelar panted, "Sylvara, update."
Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 7)
Stats:
Strength: 115 (+3) Agility: 125 (+3) Intelligence: 92 (+2) Mana: 190 (+5)
The Lead Emerges
In the war room, Theron studied the four stones, Ursok growling softly. "Iron Hollow's a decoy," he said, voice grim. "Scouts found the true base—Shadow Crag, west of the Frostspire. The fifth stone's there."
Aelar clenched his fist. "They hit us to slow us—didn't work."
Elara wiped her staff, core absorbed—mana flared. "Shadow Crag's fortified—last stand?"
Torin grunted, core boosting him and Gruk. "Good—Gruk's ready to end it."
Aelar tossed the Warlord's core to Elara. "Split it—Torin's half. Mana for you, speed for him."
Elara caught it, smirking. "Winning?"
"Always," Aelar replied.
Theron nodded. "Rest tonight—ride at dawn. Forty guards, Gorrim's hounds join you."
Aelar gripped his sword. "We'll take the key, seal the Depths for good."
The Behemoth's Echo
As night fell, a rumble shook the palace—Kaelith's howl pierced the air. Aelar rushed to the courtyard, Elara and Torin beside him. "Sylvara, scan!"
Target: Frost Titan (Legendary)
Race: Magical Beast
Beast Tier: Legendary (Level 7)
Stats:
Strength: 140 Agility: 60 Intelligence: 35 Mana: 130
Skills: Ice Slam (Level 5): Devastating ground strike. Frost Pulse (Level 4): Chilling mana wave. Mana Armor (Level 4): Enhanced defense.
A Frost Titan loomed—fifty feet of ice and stone, eyes glowing blue, a rune-stone shard in its chest. "Last gift!" Aelar shouted. "Hit it!"—Elara and Torin moved without prompt.
Aelar charged, Frost Shroud cloaking—Ice Crafting a massive spear mid-run, hurling it—Mana Armor cracked, frost sparking—Swordsmanship slashed its leg—scales shattered, blood spraying. "Big!" he taunted, Glacial Chains piercing the shard—mana flickered.
Elara spun, Frost Weaving a frost lattice—claws tangled, her ice spears piercing its chest. "Stay down!" she snapped, Mana Focus sharpening a frost hammer, cracking its arm—Staff Combat parried a claw, "Slow!"—agility fluid.
Torin roared, "Gruk, smash!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge rammed its knee, spines sinking—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, Beast Synergy piercing its side. "Break!" he bellowed, Endurance soaking an Ice Slam—snow exploded, Gruk biting its ankle.
Aelar darted under, "Kaelith, howl!"—the wolf's Frost Howl stunned it, Blizzard Charge tearing its thigh—Ice Armor deflected a claw. Aelar's Frost Bite sank into the shard—mana surged back—Ice Crafting a hammer mid-air, Swordsmanship smashing it—shard shattered, the Titan roaring as it collapsed, a gold core rolling free.
Aelar claimed it, mana surging. "Sylvara, update."
Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 8)
Stats:
Strength: 118 (+3) Agility: 128 (+3) Intelligence: 94 (+2) Mana: 195 (+5)
Dawn's Promise
Aelar tossed the core to Elara. "Split it—Torin's half. Mana for you, speed for him."
Elara caught it, grinning. "Grandmaster's solid."
Torin patted Gruk, core flaring. "Exalted's next."
Aelar stood with them, Kaelith at his side. "Shadow Crag tomorrow," he said—no orders, their strength clear. "We end this."
The stones pulsed, Shadow Crag calling—the Order's final stand loomed.