The battlefield was a wasteland of jagged rocks, broken towers, and trenches soaked in the scent of dried mana. Blackhunt crouched just outside the serpent-insignia stronghold, concealed behind a shattered ridge. The rival guild hadn't advanced yet—but their defenses were solid.
Toni spread a scroll across a slab of stone. "Their formation is crude, but heavy. Four on the walls, two archers, two elemental types, and two enforcers guarding the front gate."
"And the commander?" Ankit asked, eyes fixed ahead.
"Not visible," Vikram's voice came from the shadows behind them. "But he's there. Room beneath the central tower. Arrogant, but focused. Soul weapon is… corrupted. A scythe."
Ankit nodded. "That confirms it. Shiven Dral."
Kaido whistled. "That bastard used to be part of the Seventh Ladder Guild before he burned them to the ground."
Sana tied her hair and gripped her Vitality Blade. "So, he's both talented and unstable. Great."
⚔️ Blackhunt Battle Formation
Frontline: Ankit, Raunak, Raghav
Midline: Sana, Toni, Eshan
Rear: Riya, Kaido, Asha
Shadow Support: Vikram
"Raghav, deploy barriers on entry. Kaido, open with a wide-range shock. Asha, illusions over our side so they misread our numbers. Toni—coordinate the pressure points. Sana, cover whoever gets isolated."
Ankit raised both Talwars, the air humming with suppressed energy.
"This is our first real raid. We don't just win—we announce ourselves to the Tower."
The team moved like a well-oiled machine.
💥 The Siege Begins
Kaido launched the first strike—an arc of crackling thunder that collapsed the front barricade. Screams echoed. The enemy defenders scrambled to reorganize.
Raunak crashed through next, his axe cleaving through a shield bearer like a blade through paper. Raghav flanked left, shielding the rest while Ankit dashed center—his Talwars dancing in a blur of silver and crimson.
Eshan moved like a ghost—his cursed glaive not cutting, but devouring the mana from his targets. With every strike, his eyes grew darker.
Sana weaved between allies, blocking arrows mid-flight and patching minor wounds mid-combat. One of the elementalists turned to attack her—only to be intercepted by Riya's cryo blade fan slicing through the air, freezing his legs solid.
Asha's illusions made it appear as if Blackhunt had double its numbers, confusing their archers and drawing fire into empty space.
Shiven finally emerged from the tower, scythe in hand, eyes glowing with violet flame.
"You dare raid my hold?" he shouted, swinging the scythe with a wild roar that sent black mana tearing across the courtyard.
Ankit jumped into the air and clashed against it—steel against corruption.
Their weapons screamed.
"You're late," Ankit growled.
💀 Commander Duel: Ankit vs. Shiven Dral
Each strike tested the limits of their soul weapons. Shiven's corrupted scythe pulled energy from the ground, forming black spikes that erupted upward. Ankit responded with clean footwork and relentless twin strikes—each imbued with his proficiency and growing synergy.
"You fight like a storm," Shiven hissed. "But storms pass."
Ankit parried and slammed both Talwars into the ground. Twin waves of pressure knocked Shiven back.
"I'm not a storm," Ankit said. "I'm the blade that follows it."
And then, with a flash of silver light—he unleashed a Soul Proficiency Slash, splitting Shiven's shoulder armor open.
Shiven fell back, coughing blood. His guild was already in retreat, scattered and overwhelmed.
📢 [Tower Announcement]
🏆 Stronghold #7 has been captured by Blackhunt.
⏳ Hold for 24 hours to receive Evolutionary Boost for Soul Weapons.
🗺️ Territory map updated. Blackhunt is now a recognized faction on Floor 4.
That night, they lit torches across the broken tower.
Kaido painted their insignia on the front gate. A sleek black wolf head with crimson eyes—the mark of Blackhunt.
Eshan stood beside the balcony, watching over the battlefield with quiet eyes.
"Was that worth it?" he asked.
Toni nodded. "We proved we're not just individuals. We're a force now."
Ankit looked up at the night sky—the Tower stars shining cold above them.
"And this… is just the beginning."