The world beyond Ironstar Bastion pulsed with danger.
Aether fog blanketed the land, concealing mutated beasts, rogue lords, and ancient relics waiting to be unearthed. Each step forward risked death—or the possibility of divine loot.
Fang Yuan stood atop his fortified ramparts, cloak flapping behind him, silver eyes locked on the horizon. Around him, his newly summoned forces assembled. The Arc-Tech Commander Valeen led the formation, her drones scanning terrain, while Thunderblade Warlord, Crimson Blight Assassin, and Aether Wingrider units mobilized like seasoned veterans.
> [Fog Border Reached: Unlocking Zone – Crimson Ridge Ruins]
Estimated Threat Level: C to A
Boss Entity: Fog-Bound Revenant King – Potential Mythic Drop
Fang Yuan smirked. "It's time to dominate."
He raised his hand.
"Deploy Vanguard Formation Omega."
---
[System Skill Activated: Tactical Suppression Field]
From Valeen's gauntlet, a hexagonal grid spread out, mapping enemy positions. Drones zipped ahead, locking targets.
The Thunderblade Warlord leaped forward, crashing into fog beasts—mutated bone-wolves that screeched and spat violet venom. His blade cleaved arcs of lightning through flesh and mist.
Behind him, the Plasma Priestess unleashed radiant lances of searing light, each cast bolstered by the [Tactical Amplification] chip Fang Yuan had looted earlier.
> [Enemy Defeated: Fogfang Pack Leader – A-Rank]
[Loot: Legendary Drop – Fogbrand Soul Spear]
[Skill Shard: Miststep Lv.1 | Fusion Candidate: Shadow Units]
"System," Fang Yuan ordered. "Auto-allocate Miststep to Crimson Blight Assassin."
> [Fusion Successful – Assassin evolved to: Shadowmist Slayer (S-Tier)]
The assassin vanished in a ripple of black and violet mist. Seconds later, enemy beast captains began dropping without a sound, their corpses collapsing like puppets with cut strings.
"Commander Valeen," Fang Yuan said, "We press into the heart of the ruins."
---
[Ruins of Crimson Ridge – Core Sanctum Unlocked]
Inside, massive pillars of broken obsidian and blood-red vines stretched toward a shattered ceiling. Glowing runes pulsed across the floor—language lost to the First System Era.
A massive throne sat atop a raised platform.
Upon it… the Fog-Bound Revenant King stirred.
> [Boss Battle Engaged – Mythic Variant Detected]
Race: Forgotten Sovereign | Affinity: Blood Mist, Soul Leech
Traits: Phase Shift, Undying Will, Glitch-Aware Entity
It laughed—low, guttural, ancient.
"You… You carry the Dominion Glitch. The System trembles before you…"
Fang Yuan replied coldly, "Then tremble."
---
[Boss Battle: Commencing Tactical Conquest Protocols]
The entire Bastion force surged. Plasma cannons locked on. Valeen activated her Arc-Tech Overdrive, enhancing all units by 25% for 30 seconds. The Soulshard Hounds pounced first, distracting the Revenant while Thunderblade Warlord and Shadowmist Slayer coordinated lethal strikes.
Despite that, the Revenant was no pushover. His soul mist struck back—dozens of spectral blades sliced through the air.
Fang Yuan gritted his teeth. "System—activate Divine Token Reserve."
> [Glitched System Override Activated: Limitless Mana Surge]
[Skill Chain Unlocked: Infinite Radiant Nova Lv. MAX]
Energy burst from Fang Yuan himself.
He wasn't just a Lord.
He was a Glitched Sovereign.
With his own hand, he cast the final blast—a blinding pillar of pure mana that obliterated the Revenant's throne and reduced the boss to atoms.
Silence fell.
Then…
> [Boss Defeated: Mythic Kill Confirmed]
[Loot Acquired: Revenant King's Crown | Realm Modifier: Crimson Mist Removal]
[Dominion Rank Increased: F+ → E-Tier Realm Lord]
Fang Yuan looked up as the entire fog around the Crimson Ridge cleared.
His domain expanded visibly on the map.
Ironstar was no longer a lonely bastion.
It was a rising empire.
---