[System Notification: One in a Million (LV5) — Every Worldborn kill grants +1 to a random attribute.]
The final descent of the game didn't come with world-shattering thunder or cosmic anomalies. Instead, the world simply went silent.
In a single heartbeat, the swarms of mindless mobs surrounding the city vanished. They didn't die; they were erased, leaving no trace they had ever existed.
The silence was short-lived. A Planar Broadcast shattered the stillness:
[Planar Broadcast: 366 Void Rifts across Azure Prime have stabilized into permanent Void Corridors. An influx of Worldborn is imminent.]
[366 Monster Prime Citadels have been established. Their strength varies; the weakest are equivalent to Southhaven.]
The ratio was staggering—nearly seven monster cities for every human stronghold. In a typical planetary invasion, one to nine was the norm, so Azure Prime had caught a slight break, but the implications were still grim.
[From this moment forward, every monster encountered is a living soul. They possess intellect, emotion, and power. They are no longer mindless drones, but the true enemies of Azure Prime. Each kill will grant War Merit.]
[Azure Prime’s Newbie Period has concluded. Survival Mission Tier 2 is now active.]
[Objective: Reclaim 60% of lost territory.]
[Current Completion: 0.001%]
[Protection period has expired. Standard mobs will no longer drop equipment.]
[Survival Mission Tier 1 has concluded. GCP Settlement in progress. Phase rewards are being distributed!]
[You have made a significant contribution to Azure Prime. Reward: 10 Attribute Fruits.]
Ash Valor stared at the notification. Ten fruits? That was the equivalent of a hundred million Gold. A massive windfall. He didn't hesitate, consuming them immediately.
[Willpower +20,000]
[The Plane War is about to commence. All registered Awakened, prepare for transport to Sector 836.]
Inside The Skystrider Guild, nearly thirty thousand elites had signed up for the planar conflict.
"Listen up," Caden Marlowe’s voice rang through the guild channel, devoid of flowery goodbyes. "I’m heading out to carve up some bastards in Sector 836. Try not to die while I’m gone. When I get back, we’re taking down a Prime Citadel."
The chat exploded.
"Godspeed, boss!"
"Kill a few for us!"
"Take care, Marlowe!"
Ash started to type a private message, then reconsidered and simply posted in the public channel: "Fight well, sir."
[War Missions Issued: Every monster teleportation node destroyed grants 1,000 War Merit.]
[War Missions Issued: Every Overlord kill grants a minimum of 100 War Merit.]
[War Missions Issued: Rewards for destroying the first Monster Prime Citadel will be based on GCP.]
Hundreds of missions flooded the interface, alongside random triggers and Warfront Map Quests.
[Rift Gate for Peerless City has been repaired. All Awakened may return to their respective Prime Citadels.]
Ash let out a long breath of relief. With Orion leading thirty thousand elites back to the Guild Grounds, the weight on Ash’s shoulders vanished. He didn't need to worry about guild logistics or grand defensive strategies anymore.
"If Orion’s back, I can stop playing commander," Ash muttered. For two months, his One in a Million talent had been stagnant. Now, the Worldborn were here. "One stat point per kill. My spring has finally arrived."
He turned to his team. "Grant, get Blackwing ready. We’re scouting the perimeter."
Two hundred miles from the Guild Grounds, a massive fortress had materialized—a Crimson Vow castle, acting as a Prime Citadel for the invaders. It was roughly the size of Southhaven and named "Crimspire," ruled by a Voidlord known as Crimson Gaze.
Above the city, a Rift Gate spanning tens of thousands of meters pulsed with malevolent energy, bridging the gap between Azure Prime and the Crimson Vow world.
Monsters never before seen on Azure Prime poured through. Some had human torsos with bat-like wings and glowing red eyes. Giant mosquitoes with human faces buzzed through the air, alongside Crimson Spiders that defied gravity, skittering across the sky.
"Hahaha! Finally! We’ve crossed over!"
"A Level 1 Plane? This is a hunting ground!"
"We’re the vanguard. Let’s claim some land—I’m going to be an Overlord by sunset!"
"The blood of these red-souled creatures... I can smell how sweet it is."
Similar scenes played out across all 366 monster cities. Even the "trash" mobs were Level 100 Worldborn. Within minutes of the invasion, some human cities were already under siege.
[Planar Broadcast: Evan Valor is laying siege to Monster Prime Citadel #19!]
Ash froze. The sheer efficiency of the man was terrifying. The invasion had barely begun, and Evan was already on the offensive. It was a clear message to everyone on Azure Prime: Evan Valor is still here. We are not the prey.
Ash pulled up his map. "Citadel #19... that’s only thirty miles from Peerless City?"
He chuckled as he realized the strategy. Evan hadn't failed to clear it earlier—he had left it there. He’d turned a monster stronghold into a permanent training camp for the humans of Peerless City. Only someone with Evan’s power would dare such a move.
For now, most ordinary players were terrified to leave their walls, let alone attack a Citadel. Ash and Grant flew toward the Southreach Range, finding no immediate threats. The Void Rift Ash had destroyed months ago sat right where the Guild Grounds now stood; had he not closed it, they would be facing a Citadel right at their doorstep.
"We got lucky," Ash noted. "No immediate pressure on the home front."
He was about to suggest a dungeon run to Vera Laine when a message popped up from her first.
"Captain, we have a problem. A Crimson Vow teleportation node just appeared thirty miles to the west."
"West?" Ash frowned. That was right on the border between Skystrider and Eternal Guild territory. "That’s right in the middle of both guilds."
"Captain, Eternal is much stronger than us," Vera said hesitantly. "What do we do?"
"What do you think? We move! Before those bastards steal all the kills."
"Captain... I meant that since we’re the 'weaker' side, the monsters might target us first."
Ash shrugged. "It’s just one node. If Evan Valor can treat a whole city like a training ground, we can handle a teleportation point. Grant, turn us west. Vera, get everyone to the west gate. Now."
Orion, having just returned to the guild, didn't even have time for a drink of water before he heard the news. "Emergency squads, gear up! We’re heading west!"
Ash’s team arrived first, thanks to their flying mounts. As they approached, the sky turned a deep, bruised crimson. A fortress stood in the center of the corruption, flanked by six ominous spires.
"Since when do monsters use defense towers?" Ash muttered, activating Eye of Clarity.
[Level 1 Specter Spire]
[Attack: 500,000]
[Range: 1,200 meters]
[HP: 1 Billion]
[Defense: 200,000]
The towers had a high fire rate and enough power to melt a tank, but Ash just grinned. "I outrange them. We can kite these things for free."
"Vera, warn the guild. These spires hit as hard as our Level 5 towers."
Vera snapped a photo of the fortress and posted it to the forums. If a mere outpost looked like this, what did the actual Citadels hold?
As they closed in, Ash saw swarms of monsters erupting from the castle. The numbers were far higher than he had anticipated.
"Wait, the spires are already firing?" Ash heard the distant boom of magical explosions.
"Captain, looks like Eternal Guild beat us here. They’re already engaged."
"They aren't hitting the castle yet," Ash noted, observing the lack of damage numbers on the structures. "They’re pinned down."
Eternal’s vanguard was struggling. They couldn't get close enough to threaten the spires.
"Rex, fly us toward the spires. We’re going to cheese them," Ash commanded. "Orion’s main force will be here soon. We’re safe."
A group of monsters peeled off from the main swarm, heading straight for them. A Level 260 Crimson Bat led the pack. It hovered at a distance, its gaze lingering on Ash. Being Level 270 himself, Ash was clearly the primary threat.
The bat didn't charge blindly. It turned to its pack. "Brothers, look at this choice meat! There’s a Level 270 here."
"I’m excited," another hissed. "Our first hunt."
"Captain, should we just unleash our skills on these humans?"
Ash’s eye twitched. Being discussed like a side of beef was irritating. He locked onto the leader.
"Skybreaker Volley V!"
[System: Kill Count +1. War Merit +1. Random Attribute +1. GCP +10,000. EXP +100,000.]
No gold dropped, but 1 point of War Merit was worth 10,000 gold in the new economy. The instant death of their leader sent the bats into a panic.
"He’s too strong! Retreat!"
"You aren't going anywhere," Ash muttered, his fingers a blur. "Tenfold Shot."
With his range and attack speed, triggering a stun was inevitable. The bats were plucked from the sky one by one. One managed to flutter just outside his range, but Ash wasn't finished.
"Mindshackle!"
The bat froze, its mind seized, and it involuntarily flew back toward the group.
Rex gave a thumbs up. "Captain, that’s just cruel. I love it."
[Kill Count +8. War Merit +8. Random Attributes +8.]
"Grant, keep moving."
As they got closer, the sheer volume of the invasion became clear. Hundreds of monsters were pouring out of the node every minute.
"This isn't a training ground," Ash realized. "It’s a meat grinder. We need to shut this node down entirely."
Ash landed his team two kilometers away, just outside the towers' reach. "Brett, Grant—form the phalanx. We hold here until Orion arrives."
The Crimson Vow energy began to take its toll as they stood their ground.
[You are affected by Crimson Erosion: Continuous HP drain.]
[You are affected by Lifesteal.]
[You are affected by Crimson Corruption: Armor reduced by 10%.]
Dozens of debuffs stacked on Ash, but with his own lifesteal and a team of top-tier healers, his HP barely moved. They formed a "turtle" formation, the tanks rotating damage-mitigation skills while the healers focused on group sustain.
Most of the monsters were occupied with the Eternal Guild forces on the other side, leaving Ash to farm the Level 260 stragglers.
Suddenly, a massive explosion of blood-red energy rocked the formation. Ash’s HP plummeted by half; some of the squishier members were down to twenty percent.
"Captain, summon the skeletons! We need to split this burst damage!"
Ash summoned eleven Undying Skeleton Phantoms, while Rex brought out his own pets. The pressure eased immediately.
Minutes later, Orion arrived with a literal army—ten thousand elites, all Level 200 or higher. Orion looked different than he had months ago; he was Level 260 now, his face hardened by the planar war.
"Ash! Stay put!" Orion shouted over the din of battle. "I’ll cover you while you snipe the towers!"
"Understood. But don't push too far, Orion. Keep the main force at the 1,400-meter mark."
"Three miles of range? Damn, kid," Orion grunted. "Everyone, form ten-man squads! Treat every mob like a dungeon boss! Move out!"
Orion’s presence stabilized the line, but he frowned as he watched the flow of battle. "Something’s wrong, Ash. We brought ten thousand men, and we’re still being held at a standstill."
"Eternal is stuck too," Ash pointed out.
"No, it’s too perfect. They’re matching our strength exactly. If I sent another ten thousand, they’d probably just summon more. They’re trying to pin us here."
Ash realized the trap. A teleportation node placed between two major guilds was a classic bait. If the guilds ignored it, their territories would be overrun. If they committed, their forces would be bled dry far from the safety of their city walls.
"Eternal is calling for reinforcements," Orion said grimly. "We need to end this fast. Ash, you’re the key."
"Me? I just wanted to farm some stats."
"You have the range and the Death Strike proc. You’re the only one who can threaten that castle without us losing half the guild in a frontal assault."
"And if I can't trigger the proc?"
"Then we’re in for a long day. I’m not committing more troops. I trust you."
The pressure was on. Ash focused, but he felt the same unease Orion did. The battle felt orchestrated, a test of strength rather than an all-out slaughter.
"Whatever they’re planning, it ends when the castle falls," Ash said.
[Random War Mission Triggered: Slay the Lord of Crimspire, Crimson Gaze.]
As the notification appeared, a massive Crimson Bat rose from the central keep, its wingspan blotting out the red sun.
[Crimson Bat Lord: Crimson Gaze (LV290)]
[HP: 1.44 Billion]
"There’s the target," Ash said, his grip tightening on his bow. "Orion, give me a distraction. I’m going for the Voidlord."
Orion didn't move. "Wait. Look at him. He’s just hovering there, exposed. He’s not afraid."
"So? Let's kill him."
"No. There are two possibilities: either he’s an idiot, or he’s bait for a much bigger trap. Neither is good. If he’s an idiot, we leave him alive. If we kill him, the System might replace him with someone who actually knows how to fight."
Ash hesitated. "He’s a Level 290 Boss, Orion. None of these things are 'idiots.'"
"Then let’s see what he’s made of."
Orion stepped forward, his Simon’s Longsword pointed directly at the hovering bat lord. "Crimson Gaze! Come down and face me!"
He looked legendary—a lone warrior challenging a god.
Then, Ash heard Orion’s voice in a private whisper: "If that thing actually comes down here, you better shoot it out of the sky instantly. I’m bluffing my ass off."
Ash nearly choked. "You looked so brave. I thought you were going to solo him."
"That’s a Voidlord, Ash. A hundred-man raid might not be enough. If I try to tank that, I’m a dead man. Now get ready."