The goblin drums thundered, a relentless beat that shook the earth. Siege towers creaked forward, their wheels grinding against the soil, pushed by squads of warriors and guarded by shamans chanting guttural incantations. Wolves surged ahead, snapping at the air, their eyes glowing with hunger.
On the City Wall, Tide raised his hands, purple and crimson sparks dancing between his fingers. His captains stood ready, each division of Moon Mages braced for the storm.
Then the sky erupted.
• Brian's division unleashed chains of silver light. They lashed out like living serpents, wrapping around wolves mid‑leap. The beasts howled as the chains tightened, glowing runes burning into their fur before slamming them to the ground in stunned heaps.
• Fisher and Burns directed volleys of lunar fire. Violet flames streaked across the battlefield, exploding in dazzling bursts that painted the night sky with arcs of color. Goblin riders were engulfed, their armor melting, their screams drowned in the roar of fire.
• James's group targeted shamans and Alpha wolves. Bolts of star‑shaped energy shot forth, piercing through chanting goblins. Each impact detonated with a flash of white light, silencing their spells mid‑syllable. Alpha wolves staggered, their eyes glowing briefly before collapsing in convulsions.
• Tide himself bent the battlefield with gravity. Invisible hands pressed down on goblins, crushing them flat against the earth. Siege towers groaned as their wheels sank into the soil, slowed by the crushing weight. Goblins screamed, bones snapping under the unseen force.
The wall became a storm of magic.
Arcs of violet fire streaked overhead, leaving trails of smoke and sparks. Chains of moonlight glowed like rivers of silver, binding wolves in mid‑air. Star‑bolts exploded in dazzling bursts, painting the battlefield in flashes of white and gold. And beneath it all, the crushing pull of gravity warped the ground, dragging goblins to their knees.
The defenders stood tall, their spells weaving together into a tapestry of destruction. The air smelled of ozone and burning flesh, the night sky alive with color.
The goblin horde faltered, stunned by the sheer spectacle. For every step forward, ten fell screaming, consumed by fire, bound in chains, or crushed beneath invisible weight.
Tide's smile widened. His voice was a whisper, but it carried across the wall.
"Let them feel the storm."
The siege towers ground closer, within five meters of the wall. Their bridges slammed down, goblins surging forward with shrieks of triumph.
But instead of steel meeting flesh, they crashed into a shimmering magic shield.
The barrier glowed with lunar and solar energy, a translucent wall of light stretching across the city's defenses. Arrows, spells, and blades bounced harmlessly off it. Goblins slammed into the shield, stunned, their weapons scraping uselessly against its surface. Confusion spread like wildfire.
The shield was not Sam's command — it was the System's grace. A permanent barrier erected for two weeks, granting Overlords time to prepare.
In the main hall, Sam stirred. His body glowed faintly, the last of the Tier‑Up Crystal's energy settling into his veins. He rose slowly, aura blazing brighter than before. Tier Six.
Indra and Dionysus remained cocooned beside him, their transformations ongoing. Lightning crackled around the cub, shadow and webbing pulsed around the spider. Helios watched over them, wings spread, pride burning in his eyes.
Sam exhaled, steady now. The battle had begun.
The goblins screamed in frustration, slamming against the shield. Wolves clawed and snapped, their fangs sparking against the barrier. Siege towers groaned as shamans tried to force them forward.
But the Moon Mages did not relent.
Brian's chains lashed out again, binding wolves in glowing shackles. Fisher and Burns hurled violet fire, explosions lighting the battlefield like fireworks. James's star‑bolts pierced shamans, their chants cut short in bursts of white light.
Tide raised his hands higher, gravity magic surging. Siege towers tilted, their wheels sinking deeper, goblins crushed beneath invisible weight.
The battlefield became a canvas of destruction — glowing arcs, collapsing formations, wolves pinned to the earth. The goblin horde faltered, their advance slowed to a crawl.
And above it all, the defenders stood tall, their spells weaving together into a storm that shook the night.
The siege towers groaned as their bridges slammed down against the wall. Goblins shrieked in triumph, charging forward with spears and jagged blades raised high.
But their victory cries turned to confusion the instant they met the shimmering barrier.
The magic shield held firm, glowing with lunar and solar energy. Goblins slammed into it, their weapons scraping uselessly against the surface. Arrows bounced back, spells fizzled, claws sparked against the translucent wall.
The shield shimmered like glass, yet it was impenetrable. Goblins pressed harder, piling against it, their frustration rising. Wolves clawed and snapped, their fangs sparking against the barrier.
The defenders above watched calmly, knowing the shield would not break.
Atop the wall, the Solar Warriors stepped forward. Their golden armor gleamed in the moonlight, shields strapped tight, swords raised.
One captain grinned, thrusting his blade through the barrier. The sword pierced effortlessly, stabbing into a goblin's chest. The creature collapsed, blood spraying against the shield.
The warriors laughed, realizing the truth: the shield blocked enemy attacks but allowed theirs to pass freely.
They struck with abandon.
• Swords stabbed through the barrier, skewering goblins as they tried to cross the bridges.
• Spears thrust downward, piercing wolves mid‑leap.
• Shields slammed against the barrier, the impact reverberating through goblin bodies on the other side.
The captains roared with delight, reveling in the freedom to attack without fear.
But amid the chaos, Justin remained composed. He barked orders, rallying the troops back into formation. "Hold the line! Keep the ranks tight!"
His voice cut through the laughter, restoring discipline. The Solar Warriors obeyed, their strikes becoming precise, coordinated. Justin himself fought with deadly efficiency, each thrust of his blade dropping another goblin.
The wall became a killing ground. Goblins fell in heaps, their bodies piling against the shield. Wolves collapsed, spears jutting from their sides. The siege towers shook as their bridges became slick with blood.
In the main hall, Sam's aura flared. His voice echoed across the domain, carried by the System itself.
"Now."
The gates thundered open.
The Moonlight Cavalry surged forward like a tidal wave of silver and amethyst. Wolves thundered across the ground, their paws striking with the force of drums, eyes glowing crimson beneath crescent marks. Armor gleamed under the moonlight, spears raised high, shields strapped tight.
At the front rode Lux, his wolf snarling, fur shimmering like liquid moonlight. He lowered his spear, its silver tip glowing faintly purple, and bellowed:
"Show them the Twilight Lord's power!"
On his left, Drax roared, his voice booming over the charge. "Break them! Let the goblin trash choke on their own blood!" His wolf leapt into the fray, jaws snapping, tearing a goblin rider from his mount in a spray of crimson.
On his right, Gamma cursed the enemy with venom. "Curse the mothers that birthed them! Tonight, they die!" His spear skewered two goblins at once, lifting them screaming before tossing their bodies aside.
The cavalry smashed into the goblin front lines with devastating force.
• Wolves tore through formations, fangs ripping flesh, claws shredding shields.
• Spears pierced armor, skewering goblins in clusters, their bodies collapsing in heaps.
• Shields slammed into warriors, breaking bones, sending them sprawling into the dirt.
The goblin tide faltered instantly. Formations broke under the sheer ferocity of the assault. Panic spread like wildfire as wolves ripped through their ranks, riders striking with precision and brutality.
Lux's spear impaled a goblin captain, flames of lunar energy bursting from the wound. He yanked the weapon free, spinning it in a deadly arc that cut down three more. His wolf lunged, jaws clamping onto a goblin's throat, tossing the body aside like a rag doll.
Drax fought like a storm, his greatsword flashing in the moonlight. Each swing cleaved through armor and bone, goblins falling in halves at his feet. His wolf barreled forward, smashing into a squad of warriors, scattering them like leaves in the wind.
Gamma reveled in the slaughter, his laughter echoing across the battlefield. He thrust his spear again and again, each strike precise, each kill brutal. His wolf leapt onto a siege bridge, tearing goblins apart as they tried to cross.
Behind them, the rest of the cavalry pressed forward, wolves snarling, riders striking with relentless fury. The ground shook beneath their charge, the battlefield consumed by chaos.
The goblin army screamed, their advance collapsing under the countercharge. Wolves ripped through their ranks, spears pierced shields, shields bashed bodies aside. The cavalry carved a path of devastation, turning the tide of battle in an instant.
The night sky glowed with fire and moonlight, the clash of steel and the roar of wolves echoing across the domain.
The goblin tide was broken.
The battlefield was chaos. Goblins screamed as wolves tore through their ranks, the Moonlight Cavalry carving a path of devastation. Siege towers shook, their bridges slick with blood, goblins collapsing against the impenetrable shield.
From the rear, Garthok watched in disbelief. His jagged teeth ground together, fury burning in his chest.
"This… this cannot be," he snarled, gripping his spear tight. His wolf mount growled beneath him, sensing his rage.
The goblin army was crumbling. The shield had turned their siege into a slaughter, the cavalry's charge had shattered their formations. Fear spread among his warriors, their chants faltering, their eyes darting toward the wall.
But Garthok refused retreat. Greed burned hotter than fear. If I claim this domain, if I take these walls, I will be the Great Garthok. The Shaman himself will bow before me.
He raised his spear high, voice booming across the battlefield. "Forward! Send the second wave! Push the towers! Drive the wolves! Claim the walls!"
The goblin army roared, though the sound was strained, desperate. Thousands surged forward, shamans whipping them into frenzy, warriors pressing against the shield, wolves snapping at the defenders.
Garthok's ambition blinded him, driving him into reckless fury. Victory was slipping away, but he would not let it go.
Then it came.
A piercing bird cry split the battlefield, sharp and resonant, echoing across the domain.
The sound froze goblins mid‑step. Wolves whimpered, ears flattening. Even Garthok's mount trembled, its growl dying in its throat.
An intense heat washed over the battlefield, rolling like a wave. Goblins staggered, sweat pouring down their faces, their armor scorching. Wolves yelped, their fur singed. Shamans faltered, their chants breaking.
But the Twilight troops stood untouched. The heat passed over them like a warm breeze, invigorating rather than burning.
Fear rose in the hearts of the enemy. Confusion spread, panic bubbling.
From behind the wall, a shadow burst forth.
A huge flaming bird shot into the sky, wings unfurling with a blaze of fire.
• Five meters long, four‑meter wingspan.
• Flames of red and gold trailed behind it, painting the night with streaks of fire.
• Its cry echoed again, louder, shaking the battlefield.
The goblin army stared in terror. Wolves cowered, goblins dropped their weapons, shamans fell silent.
Garthok's eyes widened, his jaw trembling. A single word escaped his lips, barely a whisper, drowned by the roar of flames.
"Phoenix."
The bird soared higher, flames cascading from its wings, the night sky ablaze. The battlefield was bathed in red and gold light, the goblin army frozen in fear.
The Twilight Domain had revealed its guardian.