The first rays of dawn crept over the Icefang village, painting the snow in faint gold as Aelar Frostveil stood outside the guest hut, buckling his sword belt. His dark blue frostweave armor bore fresh scratches, the silver runes dulled from yesterday's battles, and his silver-white ponytail hung loose, tousled by the night's restless sleep. Kaelith stretched beside him, silver-streaked fur glinting, glacial eyes sharp despite the fatigue—they'd survived a brutal day, but the rune-stone's pulse in his pouch promised more to come. Today, they'd ride back to the Crystal Palace to consult Theron.
Elara emerged, her pale blue tunic patched with frostweave, staff in hand. The Wraith core's mana still lingered in her aura, her movements sharper. "You look like you wrestled Kaelith all night," she teased, smirking.
"Felt like it," Aelar replied, patting the wolf's flank. "You're glowing—core's working?"
She twirled her staff. "Feels good. Stronger already."
Torin approached, his Frost Boar, Gruk, snuffling at his side, icy spines gleaming with renewed vigor from the Abomination core half. "Gruk's itching to move," he said, spear slung over his shoulder. "Home's a long ride—let's not dawdle."
Gorrim joined them, axe freshly sharpened, Varg the Frost Hound trotting beside him, amber eyes bright from his core boost. "My warriors'll hold here," he said. "You lot get that stone figured out—don't want more beasts crawling up my arse."
Aelar nodded, pulling the stone from his pouch—its violet pulse quickened under his touch. "Theron'll know it. We leave in an hour—check the squad, Torin."
As Torin barked orders, Aelar thought, "Sylvara, recheck Elara, Torin, Gorrim—progress?"
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Target: Elara Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 5)
Stats:
Strength: 38 (+3)
Agility: 55 (+5)
Intelligence: 62 (+2)
Mana: 95 (+5)
Skills: Frost Weaving (Level 6) Mana Focus (Level 5) Staff Combat (Level 4): Improved melee prowess.
Sylvara: Core's pushing her toward Grandmaster—focus on agility.
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Target: Torin Iceblade
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 6)
Stats:
Strength: 62 (+2)
Agility: 48 (+3)
Intelligence: 42 (+2)
Mana: 55 (+5)
Skills: Spear Mastery (Level 7) Beast Synergy (Level 5): Stronger Gruk bond. Endurance (Level 5)
Companion: Gruk
Stats: Strength 68 (+3), Agility 42 (+2)
Sylvara: Agility's key—Grandmaster's near.
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Target: Gorrim Icefang
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 6)
Stats:
Strength: 72 (+2)
Agility: 45 (+5)
Intelligence: 36 (+1)
Mana: 50 (+5)
Skills: Axe Mastery (Level 7) Beast Command (Level 5): Enhanced Varg control. Resilience (Level 5)
Companion: Varg
Stats: Strength 58 (+3), Agility 62 (+2)
Sylvara: Agility rising—mana growth next.
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"Elara, work your staff drills," Aelar said. "Torin, Gorrim—speed training with the beasts. We're close to breaking through."
Elara raised a brow. "Bossing us already?"
"Leading," Aelar corrected, smirking. "You'll thank me."
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As the squad packed—fifteen Frostveil guards joining Aelar, Elara, and Torin—Kaelith's ears twitched, a growl rumbling. Aelar froze. "Sylvara, scan!"
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Target: Order Shadow Stalker (Unnamed)
Race: Human
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 5)
Stats:
Strength: 40
Agility: 65
Intelligence: 25
Mana: 35
Skills: Silent Strike (Level 4): Stealthy, lethal attacks. Smoke Veil (Level 3): Obscuring smoke cloud. Dagger Mastery (Level 5): Precise knife work.
Sylvara: Ambush—thirty signatures, fast and quiet.
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"Ambush!" Aelar shouted, drawing his sword. "Circle up—beasts out!"
Shadows darted from the mist—thirty Order assassins, cloaked in black, daggers glinting. Their leader, a wiry human with a scarred face and cold gray eyes, hissed, "Frostborn dies today!"
Aelar snapped, "Prove it!" Ice Crafting a ring of jagged spikes around the squad—assassins leaped over, but two impaled, blood spraying. He unleashed Frost Shroud, mist cloaking them, and swung with Swordsmanship, blade clashing a dagger—sparks flew. "Kaelith, hunt!" The wolf darted, Frost Howl stunning five—Blizzard Charge followed, tearing one's throat as Ice Armor deflected a knife.
Elara spun her staff, "Back off!" A frost barrier rose, blocking three—her Frost Weaving launched patterns, ice shards piercing a chest, then she parried a dagger with Staff Combat, cracking the attacker's jaw. "Not so silent now!" she taunted, agility keeping her fluid.
Torin roared, "Gruk, sweep!" The Frost Boar charged, Spine Charge flattening four—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust in a tight arc, skewering one, then spun to block another. "Cowards!" he bellowed, Endurance shrugging off a graze, Beast Synergy syncing Gruk's next ram—two more fell, crushed.
Gorrim swung his axe, "Varg, rip 'em!" The Frost Hound's Swift Pursuit darted, Frost Bite sinking into a leg—Gorrim's Axe Mastery cleaved the man's arm, Resilience soaking a dagger stab to his side. "Sneaky rats!" he growled, kicking the corpse free.
The Shadow Stalker lunged at Aelar, Silent Strike aiming for his neck—Aelar's Mana Manipulation sensed the shift, dodging as Glacial Chains lashed out—not binding, but slashing like blades, cutting the Stalker's arm. "Too loud!" Aelar mocked, Frost Bite snapping at his shoulder—mana surged back, blood dripping. The Stalker's Smoke Veil erupted, gray haze blinding them.
"Elara, clear it!" Aelar yelled, coughing. Her Frost Weaving conjured a gust of ice wind, dispersing the smoke—she struck with her staff, cracking the Stalker's ribs. "Hide again, I dare you!" she spat.
Torin thrust his spear through the haze, "Gruk, pin him!" The boar tackled, spines piercing the Stalker's leg—Torin's strike followed, grazing his chest. "Slippery bastard!" he cursed, agility faltering as a dagger nicked his arm.
Gorrim roared, "Varg, flank!" The hound darted, jaws tearing the Stalker's calf—Gorrim's axe swung high, Resilience holding as a dagger grazed his neck, the blade biting the Stalker's shoulder. "Bleed out!" he snarled.
The Stalker laughed, ragged, "You're blind—the deep rises!" He threw a smoke bomb, vanishing—Aelar's chains missed, but Kaelith's howl tracked him, Blizzard Charge slamming him down. Aelar crafted an ice spear mid-air, hurling it with Swordsmanship—it pierced the Stalker's back, pinning him as Torin's spear, Gorrim's axe, and Elara's shards finished him, blood pooling.
The assassins broke, ten fleeing—Varg chased one, Gruk trampled another, Kaelith downed a third. Aelar panted, "Enough—let 'em run."
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Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Grandmaster (Level 8)
Stats:
Strength: 90
Agility: 100
Intelligence: 74
Mana: 145
Skills: Frostborn Legacy (Innate, Level 6) Glacial Chains (Level 10) Frost Bite (Level 3) Frost Shroud (Level 6) Mana Manipulation (Level 10) Ice Crafting (Level 8) Swordsmanship (Level 10): Peerless sword mastery. Beast Taming (Level 5)
Companion: Kaelith
Stats: Strength 70, Agility 60, Intelligence 25, Mana 50
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Aelar wiped his blade, the stone pulsing faster. "They're desperate," he said, sheathing it. "Elara, core from the Abomination—split it with Torin and Gorrim now."
Elara nodded, handing halves to them. "Boost your agility—keep up with me."
Torin grunted, absorbing it—Gruk snorted approval. "Faster's good."
Gorrim took his, Varg growling. "Aye—won't let you outpace me, Frostborn."
Aelar held the stone, its glow intensifying. "Theron'll crack this. Let's move—double time."
Elara frowned. "That 'deep rises' bit—another rift?"
"Or something bigger," Aelar said. "We'll see."
The squad mounted, Kaelith leading as they rode south, the village fading behind. Torin rubbed his arm. "Sneaky lot—Gruk hated 'em."
"Good," Aelar said. "Elara, Torin—drills on the ride. Gorrim, send word if more hit."
Gorrim nodded from the village edge. "Varg'll sniff 'em out. Safe travels, Frostborn."
Aelar clutched the stone, its pulse a drumbeat against the silence—a warning of shadows yet to come.