The war table gleamed beneath the lantern light, its surface covered in maps and markers. Behind Sam's chair stood his Kings Guard Golems, five Phoenix‑cloaked warriors on one side, five Tiger‑cloaked on the other. Their silver armor caught the glow, their presence radiating silent menace.
Sam walked toward the table, Dionysus perched lightly on his shoulder. Her skull‑patterned body gleamed faintly, legs tapping against his collar.
He paused mid‑step, glancing at her. "Dionysus… why didn't you hatch from an egg like the others?"
The spider tilted her head, mandibles clicking. "I ate it."
Sam froze, the words sinking in. "You… ate the egg?"
He immediately summoned the System. "Is that even possible?"
The System's voice resonated in his mind:
• Sin Beasts are unique. They do not operate by the same rules as normal beasts or monsters on Samus.
• Three other Sin Beasts have awakened: Lust, Greed, and Sloth.
• Their Overlords have also been informed of Gluttony's awakening.
Sam's breath caught. Other Overlords now knew of Dionysus. The implications swirled in his mind — rival powers, rival Sin Beasts, each tied to a deadly sin. What alliances or wars would this spark?
He sat heavily at the war table, fingers drumming against the wood. Dionysus chuckled softly, as if amused by his unease.
Miles away, the goblin‑wolf army pressed forward through the forest. The ground shook beneath the weight of thousands of feet and paws.
A scout sprinted ahead, bowing low before the towering figure of Garthok, the Tier Seven Goblin Rider. His wolf mount snarled, eyes glowing red.
"Mighty Garthok," the scout stammered. "We are within fifteen miles of the Human Overlord's territory. We can see the top of the city wall in the distance."
Garthok looked ahead, squinting. The wall rose like a mountain, its top gleaming faintly in the fading light. At least twenty meters high.
He grinned, jagged teeth flashing. "Grateful am I that the Great Shaman gave us siege engines. Without them, this task would be impossible."
But as he stared at the wall, new thoughts crept into his mind. What if this territory were mine? What if these walls belonged to me?
His chest swelled with ambition. I would be the Great Garthok. The Shaman himself would bow before me.
Greed burned in his heart, twisting his grin into something darker. He raised his spear, urging the army forward.
Back in Twilight Domain, Sam received the System alert: the advancing army was less than twenty minutes out.
He rose from the war table, voice steady. "Positions. Now."
The Kings Guard shifted, their cloaks rippling as they moved to flank him. Dionysus trilled with excitement, storming energy flickering faintly around her.
Across the domain, horns sounded. Troops scrambled into formation, shadows stretching long across the walls.
The siege was about to begin.
At the city gate, Lux sat tall upon his massive Lunar Wolf, its white fur shimmering under the moonlight. The Moonlight Cavalry lined up behind him, armor gleaming, crescent insignias glowing faintly gold and amethyst.
Two captains flanked Lux:
• Drax, on the left, sneered. "Do the goblin trash truly dare test the Twilight Lord?"
• Gamma, on the right, spat curses. "Curse the mothers that birthed them. They'll regret ever leaving their holes."
Lux laughed, his voice carrying over the cavalry. "We were the first troops summoned by the Lord. Tonight, we show these lowly goblins how powerful our master truly is. Make sure he doesn't even need to draw his sword."
The cavalry roared in agreement, wolves snarling in anticipation. The ground trembled beneath their formation, a wall of disciplined power waiting to be unleashed.
On the City Wall, Tide stood with his four captains, each commanding a division of Moon Mages. His eyes glowed faintly, purple and red energy crackling between his fingers.
He gave orders with precision:
• Brian would lead the group tasked with injuring and subduing wolves.
• Fisher and Burns would command mages targeting goblin riders, warriors, and archers.
• James would lead the strike against goblin shamans and Alpha wolves.
• Tide himself would lead the group wielding gravity magic, controlling the battlefield and the siege engines.
He dismissed them curtly. No small talk followed — all knew Tide had no patience for idle chatter. The captains dispersed, their mages lining the wall, spells already humming in their hands.
On another section of the wall, Justin gathered his four captains: Jones, Greg, Trent, and Mack. Each was assigned twenty troops to command and a position to hold.
Jones frowned. "What about you and your fifteen troops, Justin? What will we be doing?"
Greg smirked. "Making sure you don't die."
Trent and Mack burst out laughing. Jones turned red. "It only happened once!"
Even Justin chuckled, shaking his head. "We'll reinforce any group in need. Wherever the wall falters, we'll be there."
Greg looked at Jones again, grinning. "Told ya." The group laughed together, easing the tension before battle.
Back in the forest, Garthok halted the army at the treeline. He observed the walls, seeing only a few hundred defenders. His grin widened.
"Victory is close," he muttered. "The Great Garthok will rise."
He ordered the army forward. Siege engines creaked as goblins pushed them into position. Archers and shamans guarded the towers, small squads of warriors flanking them. Wolves growled and snapped, eager for human flesh.
The first wave surged:
• Half the goblin troops with the siege engines.
• All the wolves, used as meat shields.
Goblin Riders and wolves rushed forward, goblin warriors running to keep pace.
On the City Wall, defenders watched the green and gray tide surge toward them: 1,300 goblins and 1,000 wolves, siege towers looming behind.
Tide's eyes narrowed. He looked behind him toward his shadow. "Seven, inform the Lord the attack has begun."
In the main hall, silence pressed heavy against the stone walls. Sam sat cross‑legged on the floor, sweat pouring down his forehead. His breathing was steady but strained, his body trembling as he clutched the Tier‑Up Crystal.
He had dismissed everyone to their positions. Now, alone with Helios, Indra, Dionysus, and the looming Kings Guard, he prepared to ascend.
The crystal dissolved into light, flooding his body with raw power. His veins burned, his muscles tightened, and his aura surged outward.
Tier Six.
The bond flared. Indra collapsed beside him, lightning enveloping the cub, cocooning him in a storm of crackling energy. Dionysus quivered, black smoke and webbing wrapping around her, forming a cocoon of shadow. Both beasts trembled, their bodies reshaping under the surge.
Helios stood over them, wings spread, flames flickering with pride.
One approached, bowing. "Great Phoenix, the battle has begun."
Helios snorted, fire sparking from his beak. "Tell them to stick to the jobs Sam gave them. The Twilight Lord will awaken even more powerful soon."
He turned back to the cocooned forms of Indra and Dionysus. "The domain may awaken two new guardians tonight."
Lightning cracked louder around Indra, the cub's body glowing with stormlight. Dionysus's cocoon pulsed with eerie laughter, shadows writhing.
Helios's gaze hardened. "Shade Assassins," he commanded. "All but One — go to the wall. Cause chaos in the enemy ranks when the time is right."
The assassins melted into the shadows, vanishing from sight.
Helios remained, pride swelling in his chest as he stared at Sam and the two cocooned beasts. "Twilight Lord… you will rise."
On the City Wall, the defenders braced as the goblin‑wolf tide surged closer. Siege towers creaked forward, wolves snarled, goblin riders screamed war cries.
Tide stood tall, robes whipping in the wind. His eyes glowed faintly, purple and red energy sparking between his fingers.
He smiled.
"Finally," he whispered. "It's time."
The Moon Mages around him raised their hands, spells humming. Gravity magic pulsed, the air thickening. Wolves stumbled, goblins slowed, the battlefield bending to Tide's will.
Brian's division unleashed spells, striking wolves with precision, injuring but not killing. Fisher and Burns directed volleys of energy at goblin riders and warriors, cutting through their ranks. James's group targeted shamans and Alpha wolves, bolts of starfire streaking across the field.
The wall shook with the roar of spells and the clash of steel.
Justin's laughter echoed from another section of the wall as his captains rallied their troops, arrows and spells raining down.
Lux and the Moonlight Cavalry waited behind the gate, wolves snarling, armor gleaming.
And in the main hall, Sam's aura surged higher, Indra and Dionysus cocooned in power, Helios watching with pride.
The siege had begun.