Four hours passed like minutes.
Marcus’s eyes opened before the first light touched the horizon. Old habits from his previous life wake before dawn, check your gear, prepare for battle.
Some things never changed, even across lifetimes.
He sat up quietly, not wanting to wake the others scattered around the dying campfire. Liz was curled up near the embers, her blade within arm’s reach even in sleep. Tobin snored softly against a tree. Vera meditated with her eyes closed, though Marcus suspected she wasn’t actually asleep. Keepers didn’t seem to need much rest.
Dain and Mikael shared watch duty, their silhouettes visible at the camp’s perimeter.
And Nigard...
Nigard sat alone at the far edge of camp, staring toward where the fortress would be. Preparing mentally, most likely. Everyone had their own pre-battle rituals.
Marcus pulled up his status mentally.
[SYSTEM]
The interface flickered to life, familiar blue light casting shadows across his face.
Then something new appeared.
[NEW NOTIFICATION]
Marcus’s eyebrows rose. The system rarely initiated contact. Usually it just passively tracked his progress, displayed stats when requested, and administered Void Harvest rewards.
He focused on the notification.
[QUEST AVAILABLE]
[QUEST: LIBERATION OF ASHVEIL]
[OBJECTIVE 1: Destroy the Ashfang Fortress][OBJECTIVE 2: Free Ashveil’s Survivors]
[OBJECTIVE 3: Seal the Corrupted Ley Line]
[REWARD: EXTREME SPECIAL TIER]
[ACCEPT? YES / NO]
Marcus stared at the quest notification for a long moment. The system had offered him missions before, but this was his first EXTREME SPECIAL TIER reward.
Obviously, he’d planned on doing this even without the mission liberating Ashveil was already the goal. But if the system wanted to reward him for it?
"Who am I to complain?".
"Finally remembered me, system." Marcus muttered under his breath, a slight smirk crossing his face. "Wonder what this special tier reward is. Looks promising."
He selected YES without hesitation.
[QUEST ACCEPTED][PROGRESS: 0/3 OBJECTIVES COMPLETE]
The notification faded, leaving Marcus in the pre-dawn darkness with his thoughts.
He wondered what constituted a reward worthy of system secrecy. More currency? New abilities? Equipment? The Echo Core in his inventory had been labeled "high grade summoning material" but he still hadn’t figured out what to do with it.
Maybe this reward would actually be useful.
Movement caught his attention. Vera’s eyes opened, glowing faintly with residual ley line energy.
"You’re up early," she said quietly.
"Habit." Marcus stood, stretching muscles that protested slightly from sleeping on hard ground. "How long until dawn?"
Vera glanced at the horizon. "Thirty minutes. Maybe less."
"Then we should wake the others. Supply caravan will be passing the ambush point within the hour."
Vera nodded and began rousing the group with practiced efficiency. Within minutes, everyone was awake and preparing gear with the quiet focus of people who knew what was coming.
Marcus checked his inventory one final time:
• Dagon (equipped, can materialize instantly)
• Devil Loom Coat (equipped, passive on cooldown from last fight)
• Warden’s Seal (key item, function still mysterious)
• Echo Core (high grade material, purpose unknown)
• 3 Corruption Cores (from specimen kills)
• 10 Big HP Potions (100 HP recovery each)
• 10 Big MP Potions (100 MP recovery each)
• 175 coins remaining
Everything accounted for. He’d replaced the HP potion he used earlier, bringing his stock back to full. Everything ready.
Liz approached, her blade already strapped to her side. "You look thoughtful."
"Just planning." Marcus closed his inventory.
"Today’s going to get complicated."
"When isn’t it?" She allowed herself a small smile. "At least this time we have a plan."
"Plans change." Marcus glanced across the camp at Nigard, who was checking his runic tattoos with unnecessary intensity. "Be ready to adapt."
Liz followed his gaze. "You don’t trust him."
"I don’t trust anyone we met wandering alone in a forest." Marcus kept his voice low. "But we need the numbers. Just... stay alert."
"Always."
Tobin joined them, fully armored despite the early hour. The Warden carried his shield like it weighed nothing, years of experience evident in every movement.
"Dain’s already scouting the ambush point," Tobin reported. "Says the caravan should pass through in forty minutes, give or take."
"Perfect." Marcus addressed the group as they gathered. "Everyone remembers the plan?"
Vera stepped forward with the map. "Caravan passes here." She pointed to a narrow section of road flanked by dense forest. "Six guards, two drivers, one supply cart. We hit them fast and quiet. Kill the guards, spare the drivers if possible we need their knowledge of fortress protocols."
"Uniforms and credentials are priority," Mikael added, adjusting his glasses. "Without those, we won’t make it past the main gate."
"And once we’re inside?" Nigard asked, studying the map carefully.
"We split up as planned," Vera answered. "Team One plants explosives at the eastern wall. Team Two hits the supply depot. Timing is critical both teams need to be clear before detonation."
"Seems like a lot could go wrong," Nigard observed.
"That’s why we’re good at what we do." Liz’s tone carried confidence. "We’ve handled worse odds."
Nigard nodded slowly. "Just making sure everyone’s thought it through. Don’t want to walk into something unprepared."
"We’re as prepared as we can be." Marcus’s voice was matter-of-fact. "Everyone clear on their roles?"
Nods all around.
"Good. Dain will signal when the caravan’s approaching. Tobin and I take the front guards. Liz and Nigard handle the rear. Vera and Mikael secure the drivers and cart. Clean. Fast. Quiet."
"What if they fight back?" Mikael asked.
"Then we make it quick." Marcus materialized Dagon briefly, the blade appearing in his hand for a moment before he dismissed it again. Making a point. "No survivors means no one reports back to the fortress. Understood?"
More nods. Grimmer this time.
The group dispersed to final preparations. Checking weapons, adjusting armor, mental preparation for the violence to come.
A bird call echoed through the forest. Three short chirps, then one long. Dain’s signal.
Pssshhh!!
Caravan approaching.
"Positions!" Marcus called out, voice carrying just loud enough for the group. "Stay quiet. No one moves until I give the signal."
The group melted into the forest with practiced efficiency. Tobin vanished behind thick undergrowth despite his heavy armor. Liz climbed a tree with her Bladecaster agility. Vera and Mikael positioned themselves near the road with clear sight lines. Nigard took up position opposite Marcus, runic tattoos beginning to glow faintly in preparation.
Marcus crouched behind a massive oak, His Soul Reading extended outward, tracking everyone’s positions.
The sound of wheels on dirt reached Marcus’s ears. Then voices guards talking amongst themselves, complaints about the early hour and the boring assignment.
Eight emotional signatures entering his awareness. Six guards radiating bored alertness. Two drivers focused on the road ahead.
Perfect ambush conditions.
The caravan rolled into view. Six soldiers in Ashfang armor flanking a covered cart pulled by two horses. Marcus raised his hand, visible to the team positioned around the kill zone.
The caravan moved deeper into the ambush point.
Closer.
Closer.
Marcus’s hand dropped in a sharp cutting motion.
"Now."