Three days. That was all they had.
Uther stood before the council room, a hand pressed against the glowing mana map. Red markers blinked at the edges, signaling the approach of cult forces. Their numbers unknown. Their intent obvious.
Burn the village to ash.
"We hold them here," Uther said coldly. "We fight, not flee."
---
Fortification Orders
The village square echoed with the clang of hammers and the shout of orders. Garrick led the construction of reinforced walls using enchanted stone from the mana forge, embedding glyphs of resilience into the base.
> [System Upgrade: Mana-Infused Wall – Durability Increased by 150%]
[Siege Resistance: Moderate]
On the northern cliffside, Reyna and two arcane smiths built mana ballistae—giant magical siege weapons that absorbed ambient mana and fired searing bolts.
Uther spent two hours personally inscribing the targeting runes.
> [Siege Weapon Constructed: 2x Mana Ballista – Effective Against Elite Units and Constructs]
---
Reinforcements from the Outside
With coins acquired through trade and controlled use of the forge's byproducts, Uther purchased three dozen hardened mercenaries from a neutral southern caravan. Rough men and women, scarred and weary—but loyal to gold and survival.
"You'll be paid double if we win," Uther told their captain, a one-eyed dwarf named Hark. "And a land parcel if you stay after."
The dwarf grinned. "I like the sound of that."
---
Internal Tensions
Despite progress, tension ran high. Some villagers feared the cult's retaliation. Whispers of a traitor still hiding among the recruits grew louder. Mara's tailing efforts yielded little.
"We may have missed one," she warned Uther. "Selis wasn't acting alone."
"We'll draw them out during the battle," Uther replied. "Chaos reveals cracks."
---
Nightfall: Final Preparations
Torches lined the walls. Mana lamps flickered across the fields. Watch posts were doubled. Hunters moved in patrols along the ridge.
Uther, alone in the village square, stared up at the dark sky.
Then the System spoke:
> [System Alert: Cult Vanguard Approaching]
[Time Remaining: 18 Hours]
[Enemy Type: Warlocks, Voidbeasts, Unknown Classified Unit]
[Prepare for Combat]
Uther clenched his fist.
"So be it. Let them come."
As dawn painted the horizon blood-orange, the village stood ready.
Uther had personally redrawn the defensive map. Every barrier, every bottleneck, every kill zone was designed with one goal:
Protect the core. Protect the forge.
---
The Heart of the Village
The forge — now fully activated — pulsed with steady mana surges, its glow visible through the reinforced walls surrounding it. Uther had stationed his most trusted fighters here:
Kael and his shieldbearers manned the outer perimeter.
Reyna and her mages formed an inner arcane barrier.
Three mercenary squads were placed on rotating shifts to ensure no blind spots.
> [System Notification: Strategic Prioritization Recognized]
[Village Core: Fortified | Mana Forge: Protected]
[Combat Efficiency +20% for Defenders Within the Core]
---
Emergency Protocols
Uther gave strict orders to all civilians:
Evacuate to underground shelters beneath the granary and chapel.
Children and non-combatants were marked with System-imbued sigils for rescue prioritization.
Elena, the village healer, took charge of the injured triage system.
A signal rune was placed atop the forge — if it turned red, all remaining forces were to collapse back and form the last line of defense.
---
Preparing for Impact
The cult's vanguard was less than ten hours away. From the eastern ridge, smoke rose—signal fires set by Mara's forward scouts. Uther stood atop the battlements, overlooking the fields where the enemy would approach.
Reyna joined him.
"They're not masking their presence," she said.
"They want us to fear them," Uther replied. "But this time, we're ready."
Then came the rumble.
The earth trembled slightly. Faint howls echoed across the trees. Mana in the air twisted unnaturally.
> [System Alert: Void Corruption Detected Within 1km]
[Warning: Unknown Units Approaching – Estimated Enemy Count: 60+]
[Leader Unit Detected – Cult Lieutenant-Class Presence Confirmed]
---
Final Preparations
Uther drew his blade, the System responding immediately:
> [Skill Activated: Commander's Insight – All Nearby Units Gain +10 Morale]
[Bonus Effect: Defense Formations Lock in – Barricades Reinforced by +15%]
"Hold your ground!" he shouted to every soul within the walls. "We've built this village from ash. We've survived monsters, betrayal, and shadows. Today, we do not break!"
The defenders roared in answer.
And from the eastern forest, glowing eyes emerged from the mist.
The siege of the mysterious village had begun.