The return to Arkanos was met with cheers.
The goblin scouts at the gates were the first to spot Nyxaris and his group emerging from the dense treeline, and the message spread like wildfire.
"Chief Nyxaris is back!"
Erik, standing near the still-forming central plaza, turned with a wide grin. "They made it," he muttered, relief flooding his features.
As Nyxaris passed through the gates, Erik approached, his long coat billowing in the breeze.
"You did it," Erik said, clapping his shoulder. "The Ruin Sentinels…?"
"Broken down to scrap," Nyxaris replied casually. "We've got something better now." He lifted the glowing crystal, pulsing faintly—the Core of the Forgotten Flame.
Erik's eyes widened. "That's—"
"A relic," Nyxaris interrupted. "And the key to our next step."
The goblins began unloading supplies from their bags—broken scraps of sentinel armor, ruined stone, magical cores still pulsing with faint energy.
Zeraldris' voice echoed softly in Nyxaris' mind, "You must forge this next piece yourself. Let no hand but yours shape the foundation of your people's future."
Nyxaris stood silently, letting the weight of the words settle. He turned to Erik.
"I'll need a clearing near the village heart," he said. "Open space. Strong earth. This forge… it's not ordinary."
"We'll have it cleared by morning," Erik nodded. "You'll have full support."
[SYSTEM QUEST IN PROGRESS: Echoes of the Flame]
That night, the villagers—human and goblin alike—watched from a respectful distance as Nyxaris stood alone in the clearing. Around him, glowing lines of runes began to spiral from the Core, forming a large circular pattern on the earth.
From his hand, threads of primordial energy unfurled, binding earth and magic, history and potential.
"Is he… drawing the structure?" one goblin whispered.
"It looks alive…" said another.
Flames of pale blue and white erupted along the lines as stone and metal rose from the ground, twisting, shaping, obeying only Nyxaris' will. Zeraldris guided him gently, offering ancient knowledge—how to balance leyline pressure, how to inscribe a core chamber that wouldn't collapse under magical strain.
Hours passed.
Then—BOOM. A wave of golden energy burst from the circle, and the forge stood completed.
It wasn't large, but it radiated overwhelming presence—runed spires, flowing flame veins through its walls, and a central core that looked like a suspended miniature sun.
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT – WORLD NOTICE]
A New Relic Structure Has Been Born: The Ember Forge of Arkanos
For the first time in game history, a player has forged a Tier 5 Relic-Class Construct. The world shifts in response.
Players all around the world saw the message.
Commentators exploded online. Forums overflowed. Conspiracy channels launched investigations.
But no one knew who Nyxaris was.
Back in Arkanos, Erik exhaled slowly. "You… really did it."
Nyxaris stepped back from the glowing forge, his robes slightly singed, eyes burning with purpose.
"This is just the beginning."
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: Arm the Vanguard]
Objective: Use the Ember Forge to craft weapons and armor for your people. Empower them for what's to come.
Reward: Unlock Unique Class Advancement for Village Warriors | +10 Reputation with all Subordinates
Nyxaris looked out over the village.
Tomorrow, the forging would begin.
But tonight?
Tonight, the fire had returned to the heart of the forest.
Morning sunlight filtered through the trees, bathing Arkanos in golden light. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, mixing with the sounds of hammering and construction—an ever-growing village, once hidden, now awakening.
Near the Ember Forge, smoke curled skyward as goblins and humans gathered around its base, wide-eyed. The warmth it radiated wasn't just heat—it was energy, purpose.
Nyxaris stood at the center, sleeves rolled up, black gauntlet etched with runes on one hand, his other hand glowing with Primordial energy. Around him, raw materials floated mid-air—ingots of steel, shattered sentinel cores, bone, crystal, and obsidian.
Zeraldris spoke softly within, his tone focused.
"Forge with intention. These weapons aren't just tools… they're your people's future."
Nyxaris nodded and turned to Erik, who stood nearby with a scroll.
"How many fighters do we have ready?"
"Thirty-seven," Erik replied. "Ten humans, the rest goblins. Eager, but under-equipped."
Nyxaris gestured to the forge. "Then let's fix that."
He lifted his hand, and the Ember Forge pulsed. Instantly, schematics formed in the air—blueprints dancing with light.
"Zeraldris," Nyxaris muttered, "begin calculations for adaptive armor—light, durable, enchantment-ready."
"Already ahead of you. Try fusing the ruined sentinel cores into the armor plates. Their magic will reinforce it passively."
Metal slammed against metal, and flame burst upward.
Hours passed.
The villagers watched as Nyxaris forged the first piece—a curved blade, black and silver, humming with energy. When he handed it to a young goblin soldier, the weapon adapted to its wielder, reshaping slightly to fit their grip.
The goblin's eyes sparkled. "It… listens to me."
Nyxaris gave a small smirk. "It should."
One by one, armor sets and weapons were crafted. Shields made from hybrid alloys, bows strung with spectral threads, spears engraved with elemental glyphs. Every soldier received gear attuned to them.
Even Erik was gifted something special—The Ironbrand Mantle, a coat lined with reinforced enchantments for leadership and battlefield awareness.
By nightfall, the first generation of Arkanos Vanguard stood armed and ready in the village square.
Erik looked them over and turned to Nyxaris. "They're loyal. And now they're equipped. I'd say you've earned their trust."
Suddenly—a pulse of light flared before Nyxaris.
[SYSTEM QUEST COMPLETE: Arm the Vanguard]
+10 to Leadership | Unique Class Advancement Unlocked for Subordinates: Vanguard of Arkanos
New Title Gained: Flame of Foundation
The people no longer see you as a leader… they see you as their sovereign.
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE: Expand Your Reach]
Objective: Choose the direction of your next expansion. East – rumored ruins. West – a hidden trade caravan. North – an ancient elven glade. South – volcanic lands teeming with spirits.
Your empire must begin to shape the world. Choose your path.
Zeraldris chuckled faintly.
"Well now… it's time to draw the borders of your legacy."
Nyxaris narrowed his eyes and looked at the village gates.
"Then let's take the next step... together."
He turned to Erik and the newly formed Vanguard.
"Gather the scouts. We ride out at dawn."
The next morning arrived with a chill breeze, though anticipation burned warmer than the rising sun. The village of Arkanos had changed—no longer just a collection of huts, but a symbol of progress. Its people, both human and goblin, moved with purpose now. Soldiers trained in newly formed barracks, scouts polished their gear, and farmers prepared land freshly cleared by Nyxaris' magic.
At the center of it all, Nyxaris stood atop a stone platform facing his people.
"Today, we take the next step," he declared. His voice carried—not loud, but commanding. "The system gave us options. East to ruins. West to merchants. South to fire. But we go north."
Erik nodded beside him. "The elven glade?"
Nyxaris looked to the horizon. "Ancient power sleeps there. If we're to build something great, we'll need more than strength—we'll need wisdom… and magic."
From within, Zeraldris' voice chimed in with approval.
"Good choice. The elves, if still there, will be cautious—but if you win their trust, their gifts are beyond measure."
"Scouts ready?" Nyxaris asked.
"Five elite," Erik said. "Including two goblins. They're eager."
Nyxaris gave a small nod. "We move light and fast. No full army yet. Just a delegation. If we gain their trust, I'll offer them alliance… or protection."
He turned to one of the scouts—a wiry goblin with sharp eyes. "What's your name?"
"Skiri, my lord."
"You lead the way," Nyxaris said, then glanced at another scout, a human woman in a green cloak. "And you?"
"Lenna."
"You'll be my eyes," he said. "If anything moves in that forest without our say, I want to know."
They bowed.
A low chime echoed only in Nyxaris' ears.
[NEW SYSTEM OBJECTIVE UNLOCKED]
Secure an Alliance with the Northern Glade.
Side Objective: Discover the source of the magical anomaly within.
Rewards: Unknown | Failure Condition: Elves view you as a threat. Reputation will plummet.
Nyxaris' eyes narrowed. "Something's in that forest beyond just trees and spirits."
"I feel it too," Zeraldris murmured. "A presence. Not just ancient… something broken, watching."
Later, as the group crossed into the edge of the forest, sunlight filtered through canopies thick with magic. Trees shimmered faintly, and the air was almost too still.
Skiri crouched near a path. "Tracks. Hooved. Light-weight. Elves, maybe. Could be watching us already."
Lenna whispered, "There's a ward nearby. I can sense the flow of mana bending just ahead."
Nyxaris reached out and pulsed his magic gently—a ripple extended outward. In response, the forest stirred.
Whispers.
A gust of wind brushed through the trees. Then… silence.
From ahead, cloaked figures emerged—tall, graceful, with silver and emerald eyes. Bows already drawn.
A female voice spoke in perfect clarity.
"You trespass on sacred ground."
Nyxaris stepped forward, his presence steady, calm. "I am Nyxaris. Ruler of Arkanos. I've come to offer peace."
The elves didn't lower their bows.
Then, another voice—a deeper, more aged one—came from behind the line. An elf dressed in layered green robes stepped forward. His aura was thick with ancient magic.
"You wield a power… that should not exist," the elder said. "One not meant for this world."
Nyxaris met his gaze calmly. "And yet I do. Which is why I've come—not to conquer, but to build something that no longer follows the rules… yet brings balance."
The elder's eyes gleamed. "Then prove your words. Follow us… to the Heartgrove."
[NEW QUEST UPDATE: Trials of the Glade]
Prove your intent through three trials set by the elven high circle. Only then will you be granted alliance.
As they were led deeper into the mystical glade, Zeraldris whispered,
"These elves may be your greatest allies… or your sharpest enemies. Let's see what path your empire walks."
Nyxaris walked without hesitation.
Because for him… there was no turning back.