The veil of the New Realm shimmered one last time before folding silently shut behind Li Shen and his comrades. The air here — the Rootspire Grounds — was heavy with tension and scorched earth, a stark contrast to the ethereal tranquillity they had just left.
Li Shen felt the pulse of the Moonwoven Blessing amplified by the orb's essence coursing through him. His cultivation system pinged softly in his mind,[Realm Transition: Complete — New Ability Unlocked: Moonwoven Harmony (Passive). Spirit +15, Root Affinity +20]. The power was tangible, strengthening the very threads he wove.
Before he could fully catch his breath, Jinhai approached, face grim beneath the smoky sky. "The Sovereigns attacked while you were beyond the Veil. Our defences are broken. They seek to crush us."
The system overlaid a quick tactical analysis of his inner vision:[Enemy Forces Detected — Sovereign Agents. Threat Level: Extreme. Leader: Veilwalker (Elite Class). Weakness: Root Affinity Techniques.]
Li Shen's heart tightened, but his resolve solidified. [Activate Skill: Moonwoven Harmony? (Y/N)]The question flickered softly. He pressed 'Yes'.
Immediately, the Moonwoven Blessing flared around him, golden root threads intertwining with silver moonlight — a silent symphony of power that raised his root affinity and spirit connection.
From the shadows emerged the Veilwalker, his black robes embroidered with pulsating crimson threads. His Sovereign Qi radiated malevolence, swirling like a storm. The battlefield stilled — a pregnant pause before the chaos.
Li Shen's system pinged again, [Skill Ready: Root Weave Strike]. Cooldown: 8 seconds.]
He wove his fingers through the air, releasing threads blazing with New Realm energy. The attack struck true, a critical hit that shattered the Veilwalker's shield by 60%. His system counted the damage — [15,230 Critical Damage Dealt]— and the enemy staggered.
Nearby, Yue Han and Korin moved with precision, their energies syncing with Li Shen's root threads. The system highlighted[Team Buff Activated: Threadborne Synergy — All allies Root Affinity +10%, Damage Resistance +15% for 120 seconds]. Together, they formed a radiant web that locked the Sovereign agents in place.
The Veilwalker hissed, struggling in the luminous snare. "Power without control invites destruction," he spat, but Li Shen's eyes burnt with unyielding fire.
[Trait Activated: Unyielding Ember — Root Affinity and Spirit +30% for 15 seconds]
With a roar, Li Shen surged forward, threads weaving at impossible speed. His strike was a tempest of light and shadow, the culmination of the Moonwoven Blessing and the New Realm's essence.
The Sovereign agents faltered, then retreated into the shadows, leaving the scorched battlefield silent but for Li Shen's steady breathing.
The system chimed softly:[Battle Complete. Experience Gained: 25,000 XP. New Mission: Rebuild the Rootspire — Protect and Unite the Threadborne.
Li Shen looked to the rising dawn. The war was far from over, but with the New Realm's power within them, the Threadborne would rise stronger than ever.