The final 24 hours arrived like a slow-burning fuse—crackling, bright, and ominous.
No panic. No rest. Just momentum.
Iden's camp pulsed with coordinated chaos. Orders were delivered not through shouting, but through commands, schedules, and silent execution. Skeletons trained, built, harvested, and patrolled in perfect sync.
Time Pressure
[Time Remaining: 24 Hours][Invasion Protocol: 2-Wave E-Tier Monster Raid Approaching]
Iden stood atop the Bone Bastion Tower, eyes scanning the perimeter. This wasn't just survival anymore.
This was preparation for domination.
The Builder Skeletons had worked non-stop. With Nyra's scouting glyphs and Rael's Sanctum Pulse restoring structural stress damage, both builders entered high-speed coordination.
One handled barricade walls and fort upgrades, while the other specialized in trap anchors and support structures.
And after completing its 12th structure—
Builder Skeleton B has reached Level 10.
Evolution Available: Bone Architect
✔ Blueprint Mastery✔ Strategic Construction✔ Repair Threshold Surpassed
Upgrades Gained:– Fracture Recovery (self-repairs damaged structures over time)– Auto-Reinforce: upgrades new builds automatically if blueprint level is lower than skill– Blueprint Generator: unlocks random structure plans from completed buildings
The Builder's skull reshaped—elongated with engraved runes. Its limbs split at the elbows, forming rotating spindles for simultaneous tool use.
Iden watched in silence as the structure beside it reinforced itself, the bone merging seamlessly.
"Self-improving skeletons," he whispered. "Good."
Nyra personally led trap-layering operations.
Her Shadowbound glyphs now integrated with the terrain:
Burrow-sensitive plates set around north flank.
Shock-traps for stampede types in the east clearing.
Slowing glyphs layered into mud trenches near the south gate.
Bone spike dispersers—crafted by Forgemaster—embedded into dead zones.
"If we control where they die," Nyra murmured, "we control the battle."
Each trap linked to her Phantom Relay—which synced with the Scouts and passed real-time enemy movement back to Iden's command interface.
Every summon was being pushed to its limit.
Bladeguard Warriors drilled movement techniques, guard rotations, and breach formations. One began sparring with Iden personally to simulate elite attackers.
Juggernauts bulked up with reinforced plate armor—crafted by Forgemaster. They practiced holding ground against rush-type dummy formations.
Miners harvested Lifestone and Deepglow Crystal—fuel for upcoming crafting.
Woodcutters reinforced outer walls using hardened sap and beastbone nails.
Forgemaster learned to embed elemental energy into weapons using Flamehide Cores.
Scouts leveled from relay duties and shadow-linked chases with Nyra.
🔹 Level Progress Summary (Selected):– Builder B → LV10 → Bone Architect– Miner A → LV9– Bladeguard A → LV9– Scout A → LV7– Juggernaut A → LV7– Forgemaster → LV6
The command load increased with each new layer of infrastructure. And with it, Iden's own body and mind began adapting.
– Summon Capacity: 16
"No more expansion until I evolve further," Iden muttered. "Sixteen is the limit—for now."
Total Summon Capacity: 16/16Composition:– Bladeguard Warrior ×2– Juggernaut ×2– Scout ×2– Builder ×2 (1 evolved: Bone Architect)– Miner ×2– Woodcutter ×2– Forgemaster ×1– Flamesoul Caster ×1– Utility Skeletons ×2 (rotational roles)
Rael, now Level 6, refined her Sanctum Pulse into a variant: Pulse Chain—which allowed her to heal two nearby targets at once. She reserved her energy carefully.
Nyra, having upgraded to Phantom Tactician, now viewed the entire field through the Scout's lens. She "tagged" enemies before they even arrived—using residual mana trails in the forest.
"There's movement to the west," she said at dusk. "Testing paths already."
By nightfall, Iden ran diagnostics across every trap, wall, skeleton, and defense protocol.The Bone Bastion glowed like a necromancer's citadel—pulsing, humming, alive with unlife.
And in his heart, a pressure grew.Excitement. Anticipation. Purpose.
"Tomorrow," he said, "the world finds out what my skeletons can do."