Sanctum stood at the peak of the world.
Iden had not asked for fame. But with Valtross dead, his fortress razed, and his armies melted into history, there was no ignoring the shift. Sanctum had not just survived—it had dominated. And in the aftermath, the world began to move.
First came the messages.
Alliance Requests: 86 PendingRanking Notification: #1 Summoner – Iden (Sanctum)Reward: Blueprint Token x2 | Mythical Skill Core x1
Not even a full day had passed since the announcement, but now representatives, emissaries, and lone powerhouses were arriving—each from corners of the world that had remained silent till now.
Within the high-ceiling chamber lined with bone-struts and alloy pillars, Iden sat at the center table. Behind him, Arlen sorted data on incoming factions. Kael leaned against the rear wall, sharp-eyed and quiet. Rael and Nyra were present as well, both armed and watching with a protective stillness.
The latest envoy stepped forward. A man clad in crimson with bronze tattoos running along his face.
"We represent the southern cluster of desert factions," he said smoothly. "Our alliance wishes to pledge support. In exchange, we request access to your teleportation development and to co-build an interlinking node."
Iden studied him. "And if I said no?"
The man didn't hesitate. "Then we will wait and regret. But if we said yes… you'd have a desert stronghold and full trade access to one-third of the lower continent."
Iden considered for a moment before speaking. "Draw up the framework. We'll decide after you meet the new conditions being drafted."
Far beneath the tower, in a reinforced chamber guarded by elite skeletons, the hum of arc-reactors echoed.
On a large screen projected by Arlen's custom-built interface, a 3D schematic of a winged construct rotated slowly. Sharp angles, multiple payload ports, reinforced core housing, and multi-mode flight systems.
At the top, glowing in deep red font: PROJECT: FALLOUTStatus: [DEVELOPMENT STAGE – 31%]
Kael wiped sweat from his brow. "Each construct will need a mana reactor of its own. We're using salvaged cores and abyssal materials, but to mass-produce..."
"We'll need to start mining the Skyroot Ruins again," Arlen muttered. "And refine all aerial stabilizers before the first flight test."
Iden nodded slowly. "No one in the world must know. Not until it flies."
They agreed in silence. Fallout was to be their hidden sword. Not a deterrent—a last word.
A hooded figure waited near the trade depot.
The man's nameplate shimmered faintly under his cloak:trader_viper
He grinned when he saw Iden approach.
"Told you I'd crawl out of a crater someday," he chuckled.
Iden narrowed his eyes. "The food-for-treasure deal. You were the first human I met in this world."
"Yup. That 'treasure' I had? Still want it? You might like what it's become." He revealed a glowing token from his bag—etched with three symbols. One was unfamiliar even to the System's interface.
"It's a beacon fragment," he explained. "You'll need three to build a full Nexus Gate. Allows controlled teleportation across entire regions, not just within them."
Iden raised an eyebrow. "You selling it?"
"No." trader_viper's grin widened. "I'm giving it. Call it a delayed payment. But… I want in."
"In Sanctum?"
"No," he said. "In Fallout."
Iden didn't answer. Not yet. But something flickered in his eyes. A recognition. A threat worth keeping close—or wielding like a blade.
System Notification – Teleportation Network Node Available
You've acquired [Beacon Fragment: Nexus Core (1/3)]You may now begin the construction of Teleportation Hub Alpha• 3-Day Construction Timeline• Allows allied faction representatives to travel directly to Sanctum• Auto-Assigns as regional transportation spine
Alliance Territories: NeutralVassal Lords: 3 Active RequestsAbyssal Survivors: DormantRogue Candidates: Tracking Signals Reestablished
But underneath it all...No one knew what was coming.
The skies still looked calm.But deep underground, Fallout's shadow grew longer.