The cold came before the chaos.
It wasn't the natural chill of night, nor the frost conjured by an ice-wielding climber. It was a deliberate kind of cold—the stillness before something precise and merciless cut the world open.
On the third night following the capture of the Eastern Mana Forge, Blackhunt's newly claimed stronghold stood tall. Repairs were nearly done. Defensive wards crackled in the stone. For the first time in weeks, members of the guild had started to relax.
They didn't realize a storm was already inside the walls.
🕛 Midnight – The Betrayal Begins
A Blackhunt sentry named Rafi staggered through the southern gate, blood on his lips.
"They're… inside," he gasped before collapsing.
Kaido caught him. "Who's inside?!"
No answer.
Just a dagger through the air.
Kaido dodged on instinct—but the blade grazed his shoulder, sizzling through armor.
[System Alert – Assassination Skill Detected]
[Climber ID: UNKNOWN – Crimson Vale Infiltration]
Before anyone could react, the forge courtyard erupted.
Shadows moved across the walls—silent, fast, coordinated.
They weren't fighting for control.
They were here to steal.
⚠️ [System Notification – Emergency Event Triggered]
💥 Control Key: Under Siege
⚠️ Crimson Vale agents have infiltrated your stronghold
🕒 Time Remaining Before Forced Extraction: 30 minutes
🏴 Defend the Key Core or lose control of 1 of 3 Temple Keys
🔥 Immediate Defense
Toni issued commands instantly. "Split into three response teams!"
Core Defense – Riya, Vikram, Asha
Outer Wall & Detection – Kaido, Raunak, Sana
Interception & Retaliation – Ankit, Toni, Raghav
"Protect the key room at all costs," Toni said. "If they steal the crystal core, we lose the right to enter the Temple."
Ankit nodded, blades drawn.
"No survivors."
🩸 Core Room – The Serpent & The Mask
Riya was first into the core chamber, ice aura flaring around her fingers. The central key crystal, a glowing blue sphere marked with the Blackhunt insignia, pulsed violently as its internal defenses began activating.
Suddenly, a masked figure stepped out from the shadows. Clad in loose robes and wielding a twin-edged chain-blade shaped like a Möbius loop, the enemy climber bowed mockingly.
"The Vale sends their regards," the voice whispered.
Asha's eyes narrowed. "He's not ordinary."
"He's not alive," Vikram muttered.
He was right.
[Enemy Detected: Crimson Vale Execution Monk – Revenant Class]
Passive Trait: Undying Will (Cannot be permanently killed outside the Temple Trial)
Vikram vanished, striking from behind. The monk twisted unnaturally, dodging mid-fall and slashing with the chain in one fluid motion.
Riya blasted him with frost. Asha weaved a mirror-illusion to confuse his path.
But he pressed forward—toward the crystal.
⚔️ Main Battlefield – Counter-Ambush
Outside, Raunak swung his halberd, splitting a rooftop in two as three assassins tumbled out. Kaido launched a barrage of energy mines, forcing a retreat.
Sana caught an injured scout with seconds to spare, using her Soul Weapon's healing surge to close a fatal wound.
Toni and Ankit, meanwhile, sprinted through the halls.
"They're here for the core," Toni growled. "We don't have time for finesse."
"Then we cut through," Ankit replied.
They burst through the western corridor—intercepting a Crimson Vale second unit carrying disruption scrolls meant to disable the internal defenses.
Ankit moved first.
Two slashes. One scream. Silence.
Toni picked off the runner with an arrow to the thigh, then another to the heart.
[Enemy Eliminated – Crimson Vale Infiltrator]
"Clear," Ankit said.
"No," Toni said, turning. "Not yet."
🗡️ The Core Room – Final Stand
Inside the crystal chamber, the battle had turned.
Vikram was injured, blood streaking his side. Riya's left arm was burned. Asha was breathing hard, her illusions flickering.
And the Revenant Monk had reached the edge of the key pedestal.
He smiled beneath his mask.
"Fools. The Tower favors those who take, not those who defend."
Suddenly, a second monk arrived—this one faster, deadlier, twin daggers glowing with cursed energy.
Asha screamed, preparing to cover the crystal—
But a pair of flaming Talwars sliced through the second monk's chest, sending him spiraling into the wall.
Ankit stepped forward, eyes blazing.
"You came into our house," he said. "Bad choice."
⚔️ Duel: Ankit vs The Revenant Monk
The monk lunged, chain-blade twisting like a snake. Ankit deflected the first strike, only for the chain to twist mid-air and strike from behind.
He rolled, blocked with crossed blades, then struck low, slicing the monk's legs.
But the Revenant did not fall.
He grinned. "Pain… is just data."
[Passive Skill – Revenant Loop: On fatal hit, revive with 10% HP after 5 seconds. Limit 3x]
Toni arrived, drawing the monk's focus. "Back off—he's not normal."
"I noticed," Ankit replied.
They attacked together.
Toni laid suppressive fire with spectral arrows. Ankit weaved between the shots, delivering precision strikes that tore into the monk's aura.
First revive. Second.
On the third, the monk coughed blood and stumbled, the chain-blade finally falling limp.
"You think… you've won?"
"We don't think," Ankit said. "We prove."
And with a final slash, he cleaved the monk's core.
[Execution Complete. Revenant Class Mark Removed.]
[Blackhunt has retained control of the Eastern Key.]
🌄 Dawn Breaks
The stronghold was battered, walls cracked, torches burned out—but the key still glowed in the center of the chamber.
Ankit stood over the ruined body of the monk.
Toni turned toward the others. "We held."
Asha leaned against the wall. "Barely."
Riya smiled faintly. "Still counts."
Vikram nodded, holding his ribs. "Next time, we prepare better."
📜 Final System Log
📢 [Temple Access Timer: 5 Days Remaining]
🧭 Keys Active – Blackhunt: 2 / Crimson Vale: 1
⚠️ Tower Alert: The next attempt will come from the sky
Ankit sheathed his blades.
"Let them come," he said. "We're done chasing."
"Now," Toni said, "we defend what's ours—and take what's next."