The chill of early morning clung to the air like damp cloth as the warriors of Blackmist Hold gathered outside the eastern gates. Mist rolled in waves across the valley floor, drifting around armoured feet and sharpening the tension that already hung thick over the encampment.
Aeron stood at the head of the assembled troops, his black robe rippling gently in the breeze. Hollowfang hung at his waist, its dull red aura pulsing softly, resonating with the killing intent in its master's heart. He could feel it—Crimson Pass was near. And it had to be taken back.
Beside him stood Dalia, dressed in deep-blue robes that shimmered faintly with water energy, her expression unreadable. To her left, Kael gripped his new spear, the weapon infused with Spirit-Touched Silver, crafted by the Ironroot Clan's best.
The soldiers before them were no longer mere militia—they were the beginning of a true army. They wore spirit-infused armour with protective runes and carried blades, spears, and bows forged in the Deepforge. And most importantly, they had a cause.
"Today," Aeron said, his voice calm but carrying over the ranks, "we march not for conquest. We march to reclaim what was stolen. Crimson Pass once belonged to the people of the Vale. They took it from us in blood. So now, we return it—in blood."
A unified roar erupted from the troops.
---
Hours Later – Approaching Crimson Pass
Crimson Pass lay between two massive hills shaped like jagged wolf fangs. The pass itself was a narrow choke point that served as a strategic route between the northern duchies and the southern valleys. For decades, it had been under the control of the Crimson Grave Sect, guarded by an outpost of elite warriors.
The Blackmist forces advanced in tight formation, the terrain growing steeper as they neared the rocky cliffs of the pass. Scouts moved ahead in silence, signaling back with hand signs and spirit pulses. There were three enemy lookouts perched in towers—easily visible, but surely just the outer ring of defense.
Kael signaled the rear units to fan out and hide among the trees. The strike would need to be clean and sudden. They couldn't afford to be dragged into a prolonged siege.
Aeron stepped to the front. "Dalia. Kael. Begin the sweep."
---
Dalia's Assault – A Dance of Ice
With silent grace, Dalia raised both hands and traced a series of sigils in the air. Moisture gathered rapidly, pulled from the very air and condensed into thin, needle-like spears of ice. Then, in a fluid motion, she thrust her hands forward.
> "Frostspire Arrowfall!"
Dozens of icy projectiles shot through the air with a high-pitched whistle. They rained down on the first lookout post, piercing through the wooden defenses and impaling two guards before they could even scream. The tower collapsed moments later as ice spread across its base and shattered the supports.
The second tower was already alert, but before the guards could blow the warning horn, Kael dashed in with speed that blurred his form.
---
Kael's Charge – Storming the Tower
Kael's feet left the ground as his spirit energy surged. A pale green aura, thick and crackling with electricity, burst around him.
> "Lightning Burst Thrust!"
He leapt through the air, the tip of his spear aimed like a bolt from the heavens. With a crash, he drove through the wooden platform, cleaving the enemy lookout in half and sending splinters raining below.
Three more enemies attempted to charge him from behind, but Kael spun his spear in a wide arc.
> "Whirlwind Reap!"
The wind howled around him as the spinning spear became a crescent of destruction, cutting down the remaining defenders.
"Clear!" he shouted.
---
Aeron's Entrance – The Sword That Speaks
As the third tower opened fire with flaming arrows, Aeron stepped forward, his expression blank. He placed his hand gently on Hollowfang and drew the blade in one fluid motion.
The red energy around the sword pulsed violently.
> "Blood Echo – First Form: Severing Line!"
He swung the blade downward at an angle, but the strike didn't stop with the air. A wave of blood-red energy tore through the ground and cut through the tower like a knife through cloth. Screams rang out as the structure collapsed inward, consumed by the echoing pulse of the strike.
Dozens of soldiers surged forward at the signal.
The outer defenses of Crimson Pass had fallen.
---
Inside the Pass – First Resistance
The terrain narrowed sharply at the entrance to the inner pass. Rocky outcrops, hidden trenches, and spiritual traps dotted the path.
From the ridge above, the first wave of true resistance revealed itself—dozens of Crimson Grave Sect warriors, clad in crimson robes and black spirit armour, chanted in unison.
> "Bloodbind Formation – Circle of Agony!"
A red formation lit up beneath the Blackmist forces, pulsing with suppressive force. Several of Aeron's soldiers staggered, clutching their chests as their spirit energy was locked in place.
Aeron's eyes narrowed. "Formation breakers, now!"
From the rear, five cultivators sprinted forward, each holding a glowing rune crystal. They tossed the crystals into the ground and began chanting.
> "Counter Formation – Nullseal Grid!"
The crystals flared with blue light, clashing against the blood-red formation. A moment later, a violent explosion of opposing energies lit up the pass as the suppression field shattered.
"Push forward!" Kael roared, his spear already cutting down the first sect warriors in range.
Dalia flanked left, freezing the cliffside and causing part of it to collapse onto the defenders.
Aeron surged forward, Hollowfang slashing through two enemies in a blur. He ducked under a burning palm strike and countered with a precise stab that pierced his opponent's heart.
"Second Form – Heart Splitter!"
The blade vibrated as the red aura burrowed into the corpse, leaving it to collapse like a puppet with its strings cut.
---
Elite Cultivators Appear
Suddenly, the tide shifted.
From the depths of the pass emerged a squad of elite cultivators clad in black robes, their eyes glowing with crimson spirit energy. Each of them was at least Level 43—a full stage above most of Aeron's men.
Their leader stepped forward, face concealed by a bone-white mask.
> "By order of the Crimson Grave Sect, this rebellion ends now."
Aeron exhaled slowly. "Then it truly begins."
He raised Hollowfang, and energy began to condense around his body.
> "Blood Echo – Third Form: Phantom Rend!"
Aeron vanished in a streak of red light. When he reappeared, he stood behind the bone-masked leader—who hadn't moved.
A moment later, a diagonal slash opened across the man's chest, blood spurting as the mask cracked slightly.
But he didn't fall.
> "Interesting," the masked man said. "You're no ordinary rebel."
Then, his aura surged. Flames ignited around his fists as he lunged at Aeron.
> "Flame Burial Palm!"
Aeron raised Hollowfang, blocking the strike. The impact sent him skidding backward, his boots dragging deep grooves in the ground.
Before the man could follow up, Kael intercepted with a thrust aimed at his ribs.
The enemy spun mid-air and kicked Kael aside, but the opening gave Dalia time.
> "Glacier Lock!"
A burst of freezing mist surrounded the elite warrior's feet, slowing him just enough.
Aeron surged forward again, Hollowfang glowing with even more intensity.
> "Blood Echo – Fourth Form: Crimson Howl!"
He slashed upward, and a wave of red energy roared like a beast, smashing into the masked man and sending him flying into the cliffs.
The sound of cracking stone echoed through the pass.
The elite cultivator struggled to rise, his mask shattered, revealing a face half-burnt, half-healed by fire essence.
> "This isn't the end... Sovereign of the Vale..." he rasped before collapsing.
Aeron stood silently, breath heavy, blade dripping blood and energy.
Behind him, the Blackmist soldiers rallied. The path ahead was theirs.
But deeper within the pass, more shadows stirred.
And the true heart of the Crimson Grave Sect had yet to reveal itself.
As the dust settled and the smell of burnt rock and blood hung in the cold mountain air, Aeron stood still, Hollowfang pulsing weakly as it absorbed the blood essence of the fallen. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. The masked cultivator lay crushed against the cliff wall, his aura dissipating slowly into the open sky.
But there was no time for reflection.
Kael limped toward Aeron, a thin trail of blood running down his arm. "More of them are coming from deeper within the pass," he said, eyes narrowed toward the dark archway beyond the fallen ridge. "Elite cultivators, maybe more than ten. I sensed at least three at Level 45 or above."
Aeron clenched his fist.
Behind them, the Blackmist troops were regrouping. Dozens were injured. Five lay dead.
Dalia knelt by one fallen soldier, her fingers pulsing with blue light as she tried to stabilise his spirit core. "We need a healer corps on the front," she shouted over her shoulder. "Someone get Merrik!"
A young cultivator dashed off.
Aeron turned toward the narrow pathway that led deeper into Crimson Pass. "We've broken the outer formation. If we stop now, we'll lose the advantage."
Kael grunted. "Our men are tired."
"They'll rest when this place is ours," Aeron said, voice cold and resolute.
He lifted Hollowfang, its red aura steady once more.
"Move forward. We end this tonight."
---
Deeper into the Pass – The Ambush
The inner walls of Crimson Pass twisted sharply, with cliffs rising higher on either side. The path narrowed, with only enough room for five people to walk shoulder-to-shoulder. Loose stones and blood-darkened earth made footing treacherous.
They advanced cautiously.
Then came the sound—a low hum, unnatural.
Suddenly, a volley of crimson spears made of pure spirit energy came flying down from both ridges above.
> "Formation! Shields!"
Kael and the other frontline warriors raised their spirit-forged shields, locking them in a semi-circle. The spears struck, exploding in a rain of crimson flame and black smoke.
Before the mist cleared, two figures leapt from above, descending on wings made of wind-imbued robes.
They were sect assassins.
One struck directly toward Aeron, dual daggers gleaming with a poisonous green light.
> "Silent Fang Technique – Vein Sever!"
Aeron sidestepped, barely avoiding the strike. He brought Hollowfang upward.
> "Second Form – Heart Splitter!"
The red blade flashed, and the assassin's right arm flew into the air, blood spraying.
But the assassin didn't scream. He spun and landed with a roll, already forming another attack with one hand.
Before he could leap again, a surge of water crashed into him, freezing into jagged ice mid-air.
> "Glacier Lance!" Dalia's voice rang out, and her projectile pierced the assassin's throat.
The second assassin was already behind Kael, aiming a blade at his spine.
Kael felt the energy shift and turned instinctively.
> "Thunder Snap!"
A jolt of lightning burst from his palm, catching the attacker mid-lunge. The blade missed by inches, grazing Kael's side.
Kael roared and drove his spear forward.
> "Storm Drill!"
The spear rotated, enveloped by violent wind and electricity, piercing straight through the assassin's chest and pinning him to the rock wall.
The pass grew silent again, the only sound the crackle of Kael's spear as it drew energy back into his core.
---
Crimson Gate – The Inner Sanctum
They finally reached the heart of Crimson Pass.
An iron gate stood embedded in the rock wall, surrounded by glowing glyphs that pulsed like a heartbeat. Above the gate, engraved in ancient script, were the words:
> "Here rests the Will of Crimson."
Aeron stepped forward.
"This must be it. Their command centre."
Kael frowned. "Do we knock?"
Before Aeron could respond, the gate trembled—and opened on its own.
Darkness lay within. And from it stepped three figures. Each one exuded power, their robes adorned with blood sigils and bone pendants.
The one in the middle was a woman with long silver hair, her eyes burning red, her cultivation at Level 48. She smiled, cruel and cold.
> "You came far, little sovereign. But this is as far as your rebellion goes."
Dalia stepped forward, face hard. "You are the Crimson Trinity."
The woman bowed mockingly. "A pleasure. I am Yurei. And these are my brothers, Velon and Kairas."
The two men nodded. One radiated intense fire qi; the other was surrounded by a soft mist of soul energy.
> "You may have taken the outer pass," Yurei continued, "but this sanctum is consecrated. We have waited years to defend it. You'll die here."
Aeron didn't flinch.
"Then die trying."
He raised Hollowfang.
---
The Battle – Three Versus Three
Velon moved first, fire spiralling around him as he slammed both fists into the ground.
> "Molten Cage!"
Pillars of molten rock shot up around Kael, boxing him in. The air shimmered from the heat.
Kael gritted his teeth and surged his spirit energy.
> "Break!"
He stabbed his spear into the ground, channelling his thunder qi into the earth. A surge of electricity exploded outward, shattering the molten pillars.
Kael charged at Velon.
Dalia faced Kairas, whose aura bent the light around him. Illusions danced in her vision, trying to mislead her.
She closed her eyes.
> "Stillwater Pulse!"
A wave of water spirit energy erupted from her, dispelling the illusions and revealing Kairas mid-cast.
She pointed both hands forward.
> "Hydra Stream!"
Three jets of high-pressure water shot out, forcing Kairas to erect a barrier.
But cracks formed immediately. He grunted.
Meanwhile, Aeron engaged Yurei directly.
Her weapon was a chain made of spirit-forged bones, each link glowing with red light.
> "Crimson Bind!"
The chain shot toward him like a serpent.
Aeron parried once, then twice—but the third loop caught his arm.
Yurei yanked hard.
> "Blood Drain!"
Pain shot through Aeron as the chain tried to siphon his blood essence.
But Hollowfang responded.
> "Sixth Form – Echo Reversal!"
A burst of red light exploded from Aeron's blade, travelling back along the chain. Yurei screamed as the feedback struck her core.
Aeron broke free.
He dashed in.
> "Fifth Form – Red Rain!"
He slashed rapidly, each strike releasing droplets of red energy that turned into blades mid-air.
Yurei tried to counter with her chain, but the barrage was too dense. She screamed as several cuts opened across her arms and torso.
Blood spilled.
And Hollowfang drank.
---
Turning the Tide
Kael and Velon clashed in the background, lightning and fire colliding in bursts that rocked the ground. Kael, though slightly slower, had the edge in control. Every thrust of his spear pushed Velon back.
Finally, with a roar:
> "Stormrend Impale!"
Kael's spear pierced through Velon's defences, driving into his chest.
Velon coughed blood—and fell.
Dalia overwhelmed Kairas with unrelenting precision. As he tried to escape, she caught him in an ice trap and finished him with a silent lance of water through the heart.
Yurei, bleeding and panting, faced Aeron alone.
She grinned weakly. "You'll... regret this."
Aeron stepped forward.
> "No. I'll remember it."
With a final, clean strike—Hollowfang cut through her chest, ending her.
---
Crimson Pass – Liberated
The gate was theirs.
The army cheered as Aeron raised his sword above the blood-soaked stone.
"Crimson Pass," he said loudly, voice echoing over the valley, "belongs to the Vale once more!"
But in the distance, from a hidden ridge, a pair of unseen eyes watched the scene through a long-range spirit lens.
A voice muttered, "The Sovereign rises... We must inform the Sect Elders."
And shadows began to move.