"The fire remembers the cities it burned. And it dreams of burning again."
—From the Ash Codex, Vol. III
The hour struck.
The wind turned.
The fire came.
[Wave Commencing: Fire-Wrought Echoes]
— Estimated Duration: 8 Minutes
— Threat Level: Class A-
— Enemies:
• 20x Emberthralls (Fire-Infused Infantry)
• 10x Flame Husk Archers (Ranged)
• 2x Blazecallers (Elite Flame Mages)
• 1x Flamebound Effigy (Boss-Class Siege Caster)
Objective: Breach Inner Barricade / Cripple Mage Tower
The walls of Stormwatch glowed.
Not from torchlight—but the reflection of an advancing blaze on the southern ridge.
The Flamebound marched with no battle cries.
They simply burned.
Jag activated full Command Oversight.
Garron: Southern Gate
Branwyn: Inner Walkway
Ashra: Mage Tower Shadows
Rialt: Ridge Traps
Militia Units: 18 Deployed
Mage Tower: Full Charge
Guardian Tower: Online
Command Skills: Mark Target, Command Surge, Siege Trap Override
Ashra flicked onto Jag's feed.
"Blazecallers spotted—chanting. Long-range ignition pattern."
Jag barked, "Mage Tower: Disruptive Blast. Now."
The arcane beacon flared.
A pulse of violet exploded across the field.
[Mage Tower Blast]
Blazecaller 1: Casting interrupted
Blazecaller 2: Minor burn
5 Flame Husks incinerated
Ashra struck.
Blades of blacksteel found throat and heart.
[Ashra Skill: Ember Sever]
Blazecaller 1: Neutralized
But the Flamebound Effigy approached.
A creature of molten brass, coals for lungs, and smoke for a face. It towered above the battlefield.
[Boss: Flamebound Effigy]
HP: 720
Trait: Siege Caster
Skill: Infernal Barrage (Deals AoE damage to structures + DoT)
Immunities: Stun, Fire, Fear
Jag used Mark Target.
The towers responded with focused fire.
Musketeer: 43 DMG
Mage: 51 DMG
Guardian Tower: 30 DMG
Rialt's Trap: Trigger
A geyser of shrapnel and frozen gas erupted.
[Trap Success: 78 DMG, Effigy Slowed]
Ashra blinked behind it—then retreated as the heat pulsed.
Jag activated Command Surge.
All defenders: +20% ATK / DEF
Morale: +5%
Then the Effigy raised its arms.
Infernal Barrage activated.
[Damage Applied]
Barracks: -40 HP
Mage Tower: -62 HP (Core Stabilizer hit)
Branwyn: -31 HP, status: burning
3 Militia: Lost
Garron led a charge beneath the wall.
A formation of shields. Fire licked off their edges.
They rammed into the Emberthralls.
Emberthrall: -18, -20, -21 HP
Garron: Cleave triggered
Branwyn, flames still dancing on her armor, threw herself into the nearest archer line.
Flame Husk: -34 HP
Branwyn: Staggered, but holding
Rialt activated a second trap.
A rumble split the ridge as a buried oil cache detonated.
[Explosion: 104 DMG to Effigy]
[Effigy HP: 720 → 387]
Status: Molten Shield Depleted
Jag struck now.
Led the last reserve unit through the gate, straight into the enemy's burning heart.
[Hero Engaged: Jag Arclight]
Sword: +20 Fire Resist (Ashra's blessing)
Combo: 3-Hit Chain Slash
Effigy: -42, -39, -51 HP
The beast retaliated.
A sweep of molten chains knocked Jag back 12 feet.
[Jag: -48 HP, Fracture Status: Avoided]
Ashra reappeared beside him, daggers coated in frost oil.
She drove both blades into the Effigy's exposed throat joint.
[Critical!] -88 HP
Branwyn struck from behind.
Shield Ram + Blunt Strike
Effigy: -63 HP
Final Mage Burst: -42 DMG
[BOSS DEFEATED: Flamebound Effigy]
Explosion Radius Triggered: Allies Evacuated
Loot: Ember Core (1), Smelted Helm, 130 Gold
[WAVE COMPLETE: Victory]
Casualties: 5 Militia, 1 Tower Core (50% integrity)
Morale: 85%
EXP Gain: +300
Gold Gained: +180
Artifact Gained: Ember Core (used in Wyrmbreaker construction)
That night, they repaired what could be repaired.
Rialt carried the Ember Core into the forge.
"This'll do. Two more cores like this, and the Wyrmbreaker breathes."
Jag stood at the highest watchpost.
The Forsaken Eye floated silently.
And from the deep black—
a new sound echoed.
Drums.
Not of war.
Of mourning.