"There was once a king whose name was carved from history. Not because he was forgotten—but because the world refused to remember."
—Unknown, Inscription on the Third Wall
The next morning brought a strange stillness over Stormwatch.
Not peace.
Stillness.
The kind that settled after storms, before blood dried, when warriors stared into campfires wondering what would come next. The rain had passed. The wind no longer howled. The sun rose behind a veil of gray clouds that refused to burn away.
Jag stood at the Forge Yard with Ashra and Branwyn. The shield maiden was hammering dents out of her broken buckler while Ashra inspected two new blades on the rack.
[Stormwatch Status: Tier C Fortified]
Traits: Beacon of Resistance (+5% Hero Recovery Rate, +10% Morale Regeneration)
[Citadel Upgrade Path Unlocked: Military Doctrine]
Choose Doctrine:
• "Iron Vigil" – Defensive bonuses, Unit Fortification
• "Crimson March" – Offensive expansion, Scouting and Preemptive Strike bonuses
• "Silent Accord" – Ambush and Subterfuge, Elite Assassin Recruitment
Jag read them slowly. Deliberately. Then chose:
[Doctrine Chosen: Iron Vigil]
Ashra glanced at him. "You're digging in."
"I'm tired of praying we survive the next wave," he replied. "Let them be the ones to fear the walls."
Branwyn smirked. "Harden the shell, then sharpen the spear. Works for turtles."
[New Construction Options Available]
• Barricade Reinforcement (Outer Gate HP +30%) – 150 Gold
• Guardian Tower (Hero Deployment Node) – 200 Gold
• Tower Slot +1 – 250 Gold
Available Gold: 200
Jag built the Guardian Tower.
[Guardian Tower Constructed – Eastern Inner Wall]
Hero Deployment Cooldown Reduced by 20%
The system pulsed again.
[Scout Report Received]
Origin: Watcher's Guild Post 02
Status: Distress
Message:
"We raised the banner—but it was not ours. Gods forgive us. Something answered."
Jag narrowed his eyes. "What banner?"
The system displayed the recovered visual—a blurred image of a black standard, stitched with silver bones and a crown of thorns.
Ashra went still.
Branwyn muttered, "That's impossible. That's... that's the Forgotten King's sigil."
[New Event Chain: Echoes of the Forsaken Line]
• Quest Unlocked: Investigate Black Banner Ruins
• Reward: ???
• Warning: Unknown Anomaly Risk
Jag chose to go himself. The idea of sending Ashra again—already limping from the last battle—wasn't acceptable. Branwyn insisted on accompanying him.
[Expedition Formed]
Jag Arclight (Lv. 4)
Branwyn the Breaker (Lv. 3)
Escort Force: 2 Elite Guard
Travel Time: 2 Hours
They reached Watcher Post 02 by dusk.
It was empty.
No blood. No bodies. Just torn fabric, shattered lenses, and the tattered remains of a dark banner nailed to the ground with what looked like ribs.
Branwyn knelt beside the banner.
"This isn't cloth," she said. "It's... skin."
Then the world changed.
[System Alert: Anomaly Triggered]
Event: Memory of the Forgotten King
You are witnessing an Echo-Class Projection.
The trees shimmered.
The fort rebuilt itself in ghostly silhouette.
The sounds of drums and chanting filled the air.
And then—a figure.
Tall. Regal. Head crowned not with gold, but nails. His eyes were hollow, and yet the pressure of his presence made Branwyn drop to one knee.
The Forgotten King.
"Stormwatch endures... again. You always cling to the shell. But shells crack, Prince of Echoes. One more blow… and your wall will join your name in dust."
[Mind Check: SUCCESS]
Jag remains focused.
He replied evenly. "You can crawl out of whatever grave you want. This wall still stands."
The king grinned.
"For now."
Then the vision shattered.
The banner turned to ash.
And in its place lay a sealed black scroll.
[Artifact Obtained: Edict of the Hollow Crown]
Usage: 1x per battle – Halts all Anomaly-type enemies for 15 seconds
They returned by nightfall.
Stormwatch greeted them with raised torches and steady chants. Garron had held the gates while they were gone. Ashra met them first, nodding.
"Did you find your ghost?"
Jag held up the scroll. "Found worse. But we're still standing."
The system confirmed the Event Completion.
[Echoes of the Forsaken Line – Phase 1 Complete]
Next Event: The Hollow Procession – Unlocks after next wave
Bonus Trait Unlocked: Ghost-Touched (Jag only) – +10% Resistance to Anomaly-based fear
That night, Jag didn't sleep.
He stood atop the central tower, looking out beyond the mist.
And he saw something.
A single silver crown.
Floating above the trees.
Watching.
Waiting.