Archelius and his squad—now hardened by the extreme conflict at the Bone Altar—fled the valley, heading north toward the pulsating red nexus of the Demon Race. Archelius was utterly depleted, but the Level 21 Rank D status gave him a resilience he'd never known.
[Core Power: 30/100 (Critical). Status: Urgent Need for Synthesis.]
"We can't stop, War God," Bethany warned, tracking the map. "The northern signature is getting larger. They are definitely mobilizing for a large-scale assault after Rakan's defeat."
"We won't stop," Archelius confirmed, maintaining a steady, grueling pace. "We synthesize on the move. Raji, lead the perimeter scouting. Theodore, focus on defensive posture. Lisa, Bethany, you are on continuous threat detection."
Archelius focused his attention on the final Divine Grade Core he had acquired from Prince Rakan.
[Legendary Beast Core (Divine Grade) x 1 Acquired.]
He immediately checked his crafting options. He needed to prepare for Level 70+ threats.
[Available Fusion Blueprint: Rank D Armor]
[War God's Helm (Rank D): Requires 1 Divine Core, 1 Legendary Silk, 5 Obsidian Scale Plates. Success: 90%. - NEW!]
The War God's Helm would be the final piece of his Rank D defensive set, offering crucial protection against the psychic and magical assaults the Demon Race preferred. He confirmed the craft, utilizing his last Legendary Silk and a handful of spare scale plates the students had harvested.
[Fusion Successful! War God's Helm (Rank D) Acquired.]
A sleek, dark silver helmet materialized, seamless and smooth, radiating a faint blue stabilizing energy. He equipped it instantly.
[War God's Helm (Rank D) Equipped. Defense +40. Passive: Psychic Resistance (Minor). Active: Focus Lock (Stabilizes mind during psychic assault. Cost: 10 CP).]
The subtle increase in mental stability was immediate. He was now fully armored and optimized for Rank D combat.
The Demon Scouting Party
As they moved through a region of jagged, obsidian spires, Raji, using her enhanced Sprint Burst (Rank F), signaled an immediate halt.
"Patrol! High level! Three of them, stationary, waiting in the spires!" Raji whispered back, breathless.
[Threat Detected: Shadow Assassins (Level 45) x 3. Abilities: Stealth, Shadow Clones.]
Level 45 was no longer a Dominance Kill, but a severe distraction. Archelius had to conserve his critical Core Power.
"Raji, you have the highest mobility. Theodore, your defense is superior. You will take down the first assassin together. Lisa, Bethany, when the first one engages, blind the others with concentrated rock throw—disrupt their focus," Archelius commanded.
"We can engage Level 45s?" Theodore questioned, his voice shaky, despite his Level 3 status.
"You have Rank D Command Authority passive boost," Archelius reminded him. "Your Rank F skills are enhanced. You fight as a team, or you die alone. Prove the Rank D boost is real."
Raji and Theodore executed the plan flawlessly. Raji burst forward, drawing the first Shadow Assassin out of the spires. Theodore, using his Iron Skin (Rank F), tanked a deflected shadow claw, then delivered a brutal, physical slam that pinned the creature against a spire.
Archelius, moving with lethal precision, ended the fight with a single, quick slash of the War God's Edge.
[Shadow Assassin (Level 45) Defeated. XP Gained: 450.]
The other two assassins, momentarily disrupted by Lisa and Bethany's precise rock-throwing—which interfered with their shadow cloaks—were dispatched by Archelius with controlled, efficient strikes. He carefully managed his Core Power, ensuring he didn't drain his reserves below the 30% mark.
The three Shadow Assassins, despite their high level, felt like trivialities against his Rank D power. The students' confidence, however, soared with the knowledge that they could contribute to a Level 45 fight.
The Northern Redoubt
They reached the Demon Stronghold—the Northern Redoubt. It wasn't a castle, but a massive, perpetually twilight storm swirling around a colossal, black metal sphere embedded into the mountainside. The atmosphere here was actively hostile, the air thick with chaotic, psychic energy.
[Nexus Detected: Northern Redoubt. Extreme Threat Level: Level 70+.]
[Local Boss: Lord Leka (Status: Mobilizing).]
"Lord Leka is preparing for war," Archelius stated, adjusting the War God's Helm. "He's not waiting for me to hit Level 30. He knows the Rank D ascent means I can bridge the gap."
Bethany pointed to a massive, reinforced entrance on the black sphere. "The strongest energy is coming from inside. It's too dense to track the core. It feels like a massive, focused array."
"That will be the energy mobilization point," Archelius deduced. "We need to smash the source of his power before he finishes mobilizing a full army."
He turned to his squad. "This is the final push. Raji, Theodore, you are on flank defense. The shadows will be thick here. Lisa, Bethany, continuous tracking. Do not let anything above Level 50 get past your detection."
Before they could enter the Redoubt, a voice, dripping with icy contempt, echoed from the darkness.
"An interesting display of efficiency, Rank D. But amateurish planning."
A figure materialized on a high spire overlooking the entrance. It was a man, impeccably clean despite the grime of Aethelgard, wearing a white, pristine military trench coat. He held a simple, elegant energy rifle.
[Entity Detected: Former Academy General Kaelus (Level 25). Threat Level: High (Calculated).]
[System Warning: User Identity Compromised. Kaelus possesses detailed knowledge of Core Zero limitations and System vulnerabilities.]
The Rival: General Kaelus
Kaelus, the former General who oversaw the Core Zero program at the Academy, looked down at Archelius with cold, intellectual interest.
"Archelius, the failure of the Academy," Kaelus sneered, his voice smooth and commanding. "I suspected the System would choose a core-empty vessel—the ultimate insult to our research. But I never expected you, the most pathetic Core Zero, to be the host."
Archelius remained calm, the War God's Helm buffering the General's intimidating presence. "Kaelus. You didn't survive the transference. You weren't a Core Zero."
"I don't need a foolish external System," Kaelus retorted, raising his energy rifle. "I was an Enhanced Core. I built my own pathway to power. I ascended to Rank D myself, through sheer knowledge and manipulation of the local energy fields."
[General Kaelus (Level 25, Rank D). Specialty: Energy Manipulation & Counter-System Tactics.]
"Your level is 25," Archelius countered, pointing the War God's Edge. "My Level is 21. Your power is based on flawed Academy logic. You can't defeat Level 70+ threats."
"Perhaps," Kaelus agreed, a razor-sharp smile cutting his face. "But I don't intend to defeat Lord Leka. I intend to control him. And you are a Rank D complication I cannot allow."
Kaelus gestured to the Redoubt entrance. "If you try to destroy the nexus, Lord Leka will unleash a psychic wave that will shatter your mind, despite that cheap helm. If you try to run, I will utilize the Redoubt's energy field to dismantle your War God's Vestment."
Kaelus stepped onto the edge of the spire, his white coat fluttering in the chaotic wind. "I am the true mastermind of this invasion, Archelius. The System chose you by mistake. I am here to correct that error and claim this Redoubt for myself. I am your intellectual and strategic superior."
"I correct your errors with lethal force, Kaelus," Archelius growled, channeling energy into his blade.
"Then prove it, Core Zero," Kaelus challenged, his energy rifle beginning to charge with a powerful, humming light. "Your ascension ends here. And your little rats will die with you."