The aftermath of the battle at Iron Fang Outpost left a haunting impression upon the dunes. Dark tendrils of smoke curled toward the sky, blending with the amber clouds that hung low like the breath of forgotten gods. Corpses—both monstrous and mortal—lay in grotesque arrangements across the sand, their blood forming a tainted mosaic of red, green, and black.
Kael stood still amid the carnage, his necrotic armor flickering with residual mana, gripping a grotesque orb that throbbed in his palm.
Zerek's Plague Core.
The orb pulsated with a dark rhythm, its surface marbled with emerald corruption and deep shadows of necromantic essence. A faint whisper echoed in Kael's mind—words not in language, but in hunger.
Aria stepped beside him, her golden eyes narrowed at the object. "That core… it's not just infected. It's alive in some way."
Lyssa walked around to flank them. "This isn't normal plague magic. It's something ancient. Something... engineered."
Kael nodded. "Exactly. Zerek was more than a mad warlock—he was a conduit. This core could be the key to controlling plague magic, not just resisting it."
He tucked the core into his dimensional belt and strode into the heart of the outpost. Its sandstone walls, scorched by inferno and acid, groaned with each step. The remaining guards saluted weakly as Kael passed. Inside the central chamber lay a dormant System Altar—a glowing rune circle partially buried in dust and debris.
Kael knelt beside it, brushed it clean, and placed the Plague Core into its center.
[System Alert: Rare Core Detected – "Zerek's Plague Core"]Classification: Corrupted Lord CoreAffinity: Necromancy + PlagueFusion Compatibility: 58% (Undead Units)Unlock Options Available:
Refine into Passive Ability
Infuse into Summoning Beacon – Unlock Plague-Class Troops
Deconstruct for Fusion Core ComponentsWarning: High corruption level. Infusion without purification may result in backlash or unit mutation.Recommendation: Use purified essence or high-stability Fusion Fragment.
Kael called forth his inventory with a flick of his hand, retrieving a glowing crystalline shard—Wraith Zephyr Core Fragment, the result of Nira's Elemental Fusion from their last battle. He placed the fragment beside the core on the altar.
[Fusion Compatibility Confirmed: Contradictory Essence Detected]Fusion Pathway Unlocked: Essence Synthesis – Necroplague Hybrid CoreRisk Level: High – Chance of Corruption or Explosion (17%)Projected Success Effect:
Unlocks Passive Ability: Plague Sovereignty
Grants control and resistance bonuses to plague-related threats
Enhances fusion options for plague-based undead constructsProceed with Fusion?
[YES] – [NO]
Kael's gaze hardened. "Let's gamble."
He pressed [YES].
The altar erupted in a swirl of emerald and violet flame. The floor shuddered. Lightning arced from the core to the ceiling, as magical symbols lit up across the stone walls like a city of stars. Kael held steady, pouring his necrotic energy into the altar to stabilize the clash.
Lyssa drew her bow, prepared to shatter the core if it went wild. Aria conjured a ward of flame just in case.
But then the storm calmed. The core cracked—and light burst from within.
[System Alert: Fusion Successful!]New Passive Unlocked: "Plague Sovereignty" (Lord Class – Tier I)Effect:
Undead Units gain +25% resistance to plague, toxin, and corruption
Undead Command Ability: "Contaminate" unlocked (Tier I)
Limited control granted over infected enemies up to Tier II
Fusion Entities gain +15% Contagion EffectivenessSkill Synergy: Compatible with "Necroveil," "Wraith Channel," and "Ashbind"Growth Potential: Adaptive | Corruption Status: Stable
Kael collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily. He opened his hand—and from his palm, green necrotic vapor rose, completely under his control.
"Now I can command what once plagued us."
Nira, perched atop a broken column nearby, clapped her hands. "Oooooh, shiny new power! Can I try fusing a plague rat with a wind bat next?"
Aria snorted. "If you do, I'm moving my tent far away."
Kael grinned at their banter, but his mind remained focused. He tapped into his System interface.
[New Command Ability Unlocked: "Contaminate" (Tier I)]Type: Active – AoE DebuffCooldown: 30 SecondsEffect: Target zone becomes afflicted with slow-acting plague aura. Infected enemies suffer 10% reduced defenses and spread contamination to others.Bonus Effect: Undead under Kael's command gain +5% attack speed in plague zones.
"This changes the battlefield," Kael whispered.
Suddenly, a new ping rang in his mind. A side window expanded in the interface.
[Sub-Quest Alert: "Fragmented Lords"]You've acquired a Lord-Class Passive Ability. Your evolution has begun.Objectives:
Acquire 3 Additional Lord-Class Passives
Discover Location of 1 Supreme Lord BeaconProgress: 1/3 | Supreme Beacon: Not LocatedReward Upon Completion:
Skill Crystal (Lord Class)
Blueprint: Undead Obelisk – Tier II Defensive Structure
Fusion Token x1
Before he could reflect, a soldier burst into the chamber.
"My Lord! Hostile forces approaching from the northeast ridge!"
Kael rose at once and followed the scout to the outpost's top rampart. Dust clouds stirred on the horizon. Ten, maybe twelve riders, mounted on flaming serpents and wolves, advanced with practiced formation.
Sera squinted. "No banners. Raiders?"
"No," Lyssa said quietly. "That one leading them… he's a Lord."
Kael's eyes narrowed. He opened his interface and scanned the approaching force.
[System Alert: Hostile Signature Detected]Lord Class Presence Identified: "Eshar – Flame-Hunter of the Sands"Class: Nomadic Lord – Beast-Fire HybridLevel: 18Summon Affinity: Fire Beasts | Mounted Combat | Area SuppressionThreat Level: Moderate-HighBehavior Detected: Opportunistic AssaultTime to Engagement: 7 minutes
Kael raised his voice to his captains. "Prepare all defensive lines. Mobilize undead archers to the outer wall. Skeleton knights form a tight phalanx at the gate. Nira, you're on fusion oversight."
"Aye aye!" the girl chimed, then ran down the stairs, calling out ingredients like a chef. "Gimme fire beetle bits and ash ghoul bones!"
Within moments, the ground near the outpost shimmered. Undead constructs rose from freshly opened graves—some were classic skeletal soldiers, but others bore twisted shapes, like beasts caught mid-transformation.
Kael lifted his hand and summoned three new Wraithbound using his strengthened command.
The air turned thick with anticipation.
Then came the horns.
From the ridge, Eshar's forces surged forward—blazing hooves tearing across the sand like meteors. The lead Lord, clad in crimson armor wreathed in living fire, drew a glaive that bled heat. His beast—a molten basilisk—screeched as it galloped.
But Kael didn't flinch.
He activated "Contaminate."
[System Alert: Active Skill "Contaminate" Deployed]Zone Effect: 50-meter radius – Plague Aura EngagedEnemy Resistance Check: Failure (11 units)Effect Applied: -10% Defense | Spread Rate: 3sBonus Effect Activated: All Undead within zone gain +5% Attack Speed
As the raiders entered the infected zone, some of their beasts faltered. Their hides blackened slightly, the plague taking root. The skeletal archers fired in perfect unison, arrows dipped in ghostfire oil streaking through the air.
The first wave shattered like glass.
Kael raised his sword. "For the Undying Sand!"
And the real battle began.