The bad news from the elf messenger hit Alex like a punch to the chest. He stood in the middle of Ironforge's stone great hall, clutching the hilt of the newly forged Mithril sword Durin had just presented. "Sylvana Village is under attack? The Shadow Legion... How many?" His voice was trembling, yet resolute. Elara beside him went pale, her blue eyes red-rimmed: "I have to go back! Brother Thorne... The Elders..." The messenger – a young elf with hastily bandaged wounds – gasped: "The Legion numbers about two hundred, led by a Dark General – a high-ranking minion of the Dark Lord. They've surrounded the village, using darkness to seal the barrier. We can hold out for a few days, but we need reinforcements!"
Durin, the Dwarf King, slammed his hammer onto the stone table, making a resounding clang: "Hmph, the Dark Lord dares to touch my allies? I will send an elite squad – fifty Dwarf warriors with anti-shadow Mithril hammers. But the journey back to the forest is long; we must be quick!" Alex nodded, the System chiming in his head: [Main Quest: Rescue Sylvana Village. Reward: New Skill – Shadow Army, Level +5.] He looked at Elara: "We leave now. We can't let the village fall to them." Elara gripped his hand: "Together." The Dwarf warriors and the human merchant caravan also joined, forming a small army of about eighty people, setting off immediately.
The journey back to Sylvana took two days, crossing mountainous terrain and dense forests. Alex used the time to practice with his new Shadow Cloak, reducing the backlash. He tested Shadow Barrier on the whole team, creating a translucent black shield to ward off the cold wind and rain. "It works well," a Dwarf complimented, but the darkness whispered: "More... Devour your enemies to become stronger..." Alex resisted, focusing on Elara – she taught him how to incorporate forest magic for balance. The first night, around the campfire, Elara spoke of the past: "I lost my parents in the ancient war with the darkness. If the Dark Lord returns, everything will be lost." Alex comforted her: "I won't let that happen. In the old world, I was nobody, but here... I have a reason to fight." In that moment, the connection between them deepened, like an invisible thread.
On the second day, they approached the forest border. The air was frigid, the trees withered, the signs of spreading darkness evident. In the distance, black smoke billowed from the direction of Sylvana. "They're burning the forest!" Elara yelled. The contingent rushed forward but were ambushed: a squad of corrupted Orcs and Shadow Beasts charged out from the bushes, numbering about thirty. "An ambush!" Durin roared, swinging his hammer and decapitating an Orc. Alex immediately activated Shadow Dominion; black tentacles crawled from the ground, wrapping around five Beasts, draining their life force with agonizing screams, their bodies shriveling and dissolving into black dust. [Experience +400.]
Elara shot green arrows continuously; the bolts pierced two Orcs, exploding and incinerating them to ashes. The Dwarves formed a shield wall, their hammers swinging wide, crushing enemies with resounding metallic clangs. But the enemies were numerous; a Shadow Beast leaped up, clawing at a Dwarf's shield, tearing through his flesh. "Shadow Barrier!" Alex created a black shield covering his comrade, blocking the next attack. The Orc leader – a massive figure in black armor – lunged at Alex: "Shadow Sovereign! The Dark Lord wants your head!" It swung its glossy black axe, striking down with terrifying force, the air tearing apart. Alex dodged; the axe hit the ground, exploding dirt and rock fragments. "Shadow Strike!" He countered, the dark blade flying swiftly, severing the Orc's arm; foul black blood sprayed. The leader struggled, using its remaining arm to swing the axe back, grazing Alex's chest, tearing his cloak and skin. Blood flowed, pain spread: "Aargh!" But the cloak reduced the backlash; he kept his composure.
"Shadow Summon!" Alex summoned the Orc phantom from the previous battle, tall and vicious, which lunged and tore at the leader. The two figures wrestled, claws tearing at flesh, the darkness swirling like a storm. Alex's phantom bit the leader's neck, devouring it with a repulsive "gulp," and its body dissolved. [Experience +300. Level up: Level 15 → Level 16.] The ambush ended, but the group lost a few men. "Keep going! Sylvana is waiting!" Durin yelled.
They arrived at Sylvana at sunset. The sight was horrifying: the village was surrounded by the Shadow Legion – corrupted Orcs, Goblins, Shadow Beasts, and invisible phantoms hovering in the air. The elf barrier shimmered green, but was cracking under the dark assault. The Dark General – a tall figure in a black robe, face concealed, wielding a black staff – stood in the center, his mocking voice echoing: "Weak elves! The sealed jewel will belong to the Dark Lord!" Thorne and the elves fought back from above, arrows raining down, but the enemy was too numerous.
Alex charged, the contingent following. "Attack from the rear!" he yelled. Shadow Dominion erupted on a massive scale; black tentacles swept across dozens of enemies, draining their life force, creating chaotic screams. Elara combined: "Shadow Fusion!" The dark-green tentacles swept away a squad of Orcs, crushing them to dust. The Dwarves charged in like a storm, Mithril hammers cleaving the darkness, creating bright explosions. Durin beheaded a Shadow Beast: "Let them taste the Dwarf hammer!"
But the Dark General turned, his staff raised: "Shadow Sovereign? You've come. Taste true power!" He summoned a gigantic wave of darkness, covering the entire battlefield; visibility was murky. Invisible enemies attacked; a phantom grazed Elara, tearing her shoulder. "Elara!" Alex rushed forward, using Shadow Barrier to shield her, but the General's darkness was powerful, and the shield cracked. "Shadow Summon Army!" Alex experimented, summoning five Goblin and Orc phantoms, which charged to fight back. [New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Army Lv.1 – Summon a small army of shadows.] They wrestled with the enemies, biting and tearing in chaos.
The Dark General charged Alex, his staff striking down like a black lightning bolt. Alex dodged, but the blow grazed his leg, the pain numbing. "Shadow Strike Barrage!" He shot a series of dark blades, cutting the General's robe, revealing a monstrous face – gray skin, blood-red eyes. He laughed: "You are weak! The Dark Lord will devour you!" He countered with darkness wrapping around Alex, draining his life force; the backlash surged. "Devour... Become a part of me..." The darkness whispered fiercely. Alex nearly lost control, but the image of the injured Elara brought him back to his senses. "No! Shadow Fusion with the forest!" He combined the residual magic from Elara, and the green-tinged darkness swept across, pushing the General back. [Level up: Level 16 → Level 18.]
The battle dragged on; elves rushed out from the village to support, arrows flying like rain. Thorne cleaved a squad of Goblins, yelling: "Sister! You made it!" The Shadow Legion began to crumble, but the Dark General roared: "Retreat! But this is not the end!" He vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a chaotic legion that was swiftly defeated. The village was saved, but suffered heavy damage: burnt houses, many dead elves. [Quest Complete: Shadow Army Skill acquired, Level +5 (Level 18 → Level 23).]
Eldrin greeted them, holding the jewel: "You saved us. But the Dark Lord is fully awakening. You must find the next ally – the Dragon tribe at the Volcano Mountain." Alex nodded, but that night's dream returned: the Dark Lord appeared, whispering: "You belong to me..." He woke up with a start.