"The dead do not march alone. When they move, the world listens."
—Eastern Watch Proverb, forbidden after Year 347
Midnight came with silence.
But not the kind Stormwatch had grown used to.
This was a loaded silence, like a bowstring stretched past breaking. And it carried with it the weight of presence. The kind of dread that settled before something colossal moved.
[System Alert]
— Wave Countdown: 00:00:00
— Anomaly-Class Assault Incoming
Classification: The Hollow Procession
Type: March of the Forgotten
Estimated Duration: 10 Minutes Continuous
Objectives: Breach Central Wall, Convert Fallen Units into Echo-Bound
Warning:
• Every slain defender may rise as an enemy under the Procession.
• Morale penalties will trigger conversion faster.
• Wave includes: Anomaly Echoes, Ruin-Walkers, Banner Thralls, and 1x Echo Warden
Jag stood before the War Table, fully armored.
Ashra flanked him. Branwyn, bandaged but mobile, adjusted her new shield straps. Garron had his axe resting on one shoulder.
"They won't just kill us," Jag said flatly. "They'll unmake us."
[Stormwatch Morale: 93%]
[Citadel Buff: Beacon of Resistance Active]
Ashra whispered, "Then we make damn sure none of us fall."
[Battlefield Deployment]
Tower Layout:
• Musketeer Tower (West)
• Mage Tower (Center)
• Guardian Tower (East)
Active Units:
• Ashra (Hero - Assassin)
• Branwyn (Hero - Shield Maiden)
• Garron (Hero - Defender)
• 10 Elite Guards
• 12 Trained Militia
Command Skills:
• Command Surge (Active)
• Mark Target (Active)
• Edict of the Hollow Crown (1x Use)
The first enemy appeared with no sound.
A Banner Thrall, faceless and draped in the shredded remnants of a forgotten flag. Behind it came Echoes: translucent warriors wielding weapons made of memory. They flickered like candlelight.
[Enemy Type: Echo-Bound]
HP: Variable
Status: Unstable, Vulnerable to Flame and Soul Damage
Passive: Fear Pulse (Low Morale units suffer penalties)
Branwyn slammed her shield to the ground. "Hold tight. They want fear. We give them steel."
Militia Morale Hold: SUCCESS
Ashra leapt from the ramparts, blades in hand, and vanished into mist.
Moments later, the head of a Banner Thrall tumbled across the stone.
Kill Confirmed
[Ashra Skill: Deathstep Activated]
Crit Rate +15% for 20s
The Mage Tower pulsed, casting searing blue flame across the ghostly line.
9 Echo-Bound Dispersed.
But more came.
Then the Echo Warden arrived.
A towering knight of rust and memory, wrapped in silver bindings. His chest bore a black crown sigil that pulsed with heatless light. Where he walked, the Procession followed.
[Boss-Class: Echo Warden]
HP: 500
Immunity: Fear, Fire, Knockback
Ability: Call of the Hollow (Revives one fallen enemy every 30s)
Jag immediately hit Mark Target.
[Warden takes +25% Damage for 10s]
Branwyn charged first, shield raised.
Ashra and Garron flanked left and right.
The Warden swung his blade in a massive arc, hitting all three heroes.
Ashra: -24 HP
Garron: -32 HP (Bleeding)
Branwyn: -18 HP, Knockback RESISTED
Jag activated Command Surge.
All Heroes: +20% ATK / DEF for 20s
Militia Charges: +Morale
Ashra danced under the Warden's strikes, carving glowing marks into his side.
Garron struck his knee.
Branwyn used her Iron Stand ability.
Warden HP: 500 → 328
But the Procession wasn't idle.
Two Militia fell to the Echoes.
[Conversion Triggered]
2x Echo-Bound Spawned from fallen units
Morale Drop: -4%
Jag clenched his jaw.
Then used the scroll.
[Edict of the Hollow Crown: ACTIVATED]
— All Anomaly units halted for 15s
— Revivals suspended
— Morale Freeze Applied
Jag shouted over the walls. "Now! Burn them all!"
The Mage Tower surged.
AoE Blast — 17 Kills
Musketeer shot — direct to Warden's helm.
Crit!
Warden HP: 328 → 241
Ashra's strike hit the black crown sigil.
Shatter Pulse Triggered!
Warden Stunned.
Branwyn rammed her shield into his chest, knocking him back into the arcane burst.
Garron followed with a two-handed cleave.
Warden HP: 241 → 98
But the scroll's effect ended.
The Warden howled.
Call of the Hollow activated.
1 Echo Warden revived a fallen Thrall.
Ashra bled.
Branwyn staggered.
The wall trembled.
Then Jag saw it:
Warden's chest open for one last strike
He activated Mark Target again.
Ashra dove.
Blades sang.
Warden HP: 98 → 0
[Echo Warden DEFEATED]
The remaining enemies scattered like leaves.
The Procession faded.
[WAVE COMPLETE: Victory]
Heroes Survived: All
Casualties: 4 Militia
Morale: 89%
EXP Gain: +300
Gold Earned: +250
[New System Alert: Forsaken Eye Detected]
A silver crown now hovered above Stormwatch.
Visible only to those who had seen the Forgotten King.
Ashra collapsed beside Jag. "That wasn't a wave. That was a warning."
Branwyn replied, "Then we just gave our reply."
Jag stared at the pulsing crown. It watched them like a god watching ants.
He didn't flinch.