Chapter 19: The Crimson Citadel

The shadow of the fortress loomed over the horizon, its jagged spires piercing the sky like talons. The Crimson Citadel—a name whispered in dread by those who knew of its existence. This was no ordinary stronghold; it radiated an oppressive energy, as if the very stones were steeped in malice. The Sovereigns had made it their domain, and it was here that Ishar's next trial awaited.

The group halted at the edge of a narrow cliff, the path winding precariously toward the citadel's gates. Ishar's skeletal warriors stood silently, their glowing eyes scanning the surroundings for threats. Lin Yao and Fei followed his gaze, their expressions heavy with unease.

"So that's it," Lin Yao muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief. "The Crimson Citadel. It looks worse than the stories."

Fei shivered, clutching his dagger. "Are we really going in there? That place looks like it's alive."

Ishar's pale eyes fixed on the fortress, unyielding. "We don't have a choice. Whatever power the Sovereigns guard, it's ours to claim."

Lin Yao sighed, gripping her staff tightly. "You're really good at ignoring the part where we might die."

"Survival is secondary," Ishar replied coldly. "Victory is all that matters."

The Citadel's Guardians

As they approached the gates, a low rumble echoed through the air. The massive iron doors began to creak open, revealing a dark, mist-filled courtyard. From within the shadows, figures emerged—hulking forms clad in crimson armor, their weapons glowing with faint, malevolent light. The air around them crackled with suppressed energy.

The system's voice resonated in Ishar's mind.

Enemies Identified: Crimson Wardens. Enhanced Combat Efficiency. Immune to Basic Dark Magic.

Lin Yao stepped back, her eyes narrowing. "Those are no ordinary guards. Look at the way they're moving. They're not alive."

"No," Ishar said, his tone colder than the mountain air. "They're constructs. Perfectly crafted killing machines."

The first of the Crimson Wardens raised its weapon, a massive halberd that gleamed with a blood-red aura. It let out a guttural roar before charging. The others followed suit, their footsteps shaking the ground as they closed the distance.

Ishar raised his hand, summoning Dark Grasp. Tendrils of shadow erupted from the ground, coiling around the lead Warden. But the construct's glowing armor flared, and the tendrils dissolved as if burned away.

"They're immune to basic dark magic!" Lin Yao shouted, her staff glowing as she prepared to attack.

"Then we use what's not basic," Ishar replied.

He stepped forward, summoning Obsidian Dominion. Shadows coiled tightly around his skeletal warriors, merging with their forms and transforming them into towering, armored figures. The newly enhanced summons charged forward, meeting the Crimson Wardens with devastating force.

Lin Yao unleashed a burst of energy, her staff emitting waves of light that disrupted the Wardens' movements. Fei darted between the chaos, targeting weak points in the constructs' armor with quick, precise strikes. Though his movements were less refined than Lin Yao's, his determination gave him strength.

The battle raged, each clash of weapons sending shockwaves through the courtyard. Ishar faced two Wardens at once, his Shadowforge Blade clashing against their halberds. The constructs fought with precision, their strikes calculated and relentless. But Ishar was faster, his blade weaving through their defenses to strike at the faint, glowing cores within their chests.

"Focus on the cores," Ishar commanded. "It's their only weakness."

Lin Yao nodded, redirecting her energy blasts toward the center of one Warden's chest. The attack landed true, shattering its core and reducing the construct to a pile of lifeless armor. Fei followed suit, his dagger finding the exposed core of another Warden and driving deep. The creature let out a hollow scream before collapsing.

The Inner Sanctum

With the Wardens defeated, the group pressed deeper into the citadel. The courtyard gave way to a massive hall, its walls lined with ancient tapestries depicting scenes of conquest and bloodshed. The air was thick with power, the shadows shifting unnaturally as if alive.

Fei glanced around nervously. "This place feels… wrong. Like it's watching us."

Lin Yao's eyes scanned the room, her staff glowing faintly. "It probably is. The Sovereigns don't strike me as the kind to leave their treasures unguarded."

Ishar approached the center of the hall, where a raised dais held an ornate pedestal. Upon it rested a black crystal, its surface pulsing with a faint, crimson glow. The system's voice echoed in his mind.

Artifact Identified: Shard of Dominion. Enhances Control Over Summons and Amplifies Offensive Capabilities.

Before Ishar could reach for the shard, a deep, resonant voice filled the hall.

"So, the usurper finally arrives."

The shadows at the far end of the hall coalesced into a towering figure, its form draped in tattered robes of crimson and black. Its face was obscured by a featureless mask, but its presence was suffocating, the very air trembling with its power.

"Who are you?" Ishar demanded, his pale eyes locking onto the figure.

"I am Sovereign Valkar," the figure replied, its voice a guttural echo. "One of the throne's true masters. And you, necromancer, are an insect daring to claim what is mine."

Lin Yao gripped her staff tightly, her eyes narrowing. "Great. Another egomaniac with too much power."

Valkar let out a low, menacing laugh. "You think yourself strong? You are but a shadow of what the throne once commanded. Allow me to remind you of your place."

With a wave of his hand, Valkar summoned a legion of shadowy figures, their forms flickering like flames in the wind. The hall erupted into chaos as the figures surged forward, their weapons striking with deadly precision.

The Sovereign's Wrath

Ishar raised his hand, summoning a barrier of shadows to shield the group. "Hold the line," he commanded, his voice sharp. "Focus on survival."

His skeletal guardians surged forward, their enhanced forms clashing with Valkar's shadowy minions. Lin Yao stood at Ishar's side, her staff unleashing bursts of energy that scattered the attackers. Fei moved with surprising agility, his dagger flashing as he struck down any foe that broke through the line.

Valkar advanced slowly, his presence overwhelming. Each step seemed to sap the strength from the air, the shadows growing darker and more oppressive. Ishar stepped forward to meet him, his Shadowforge Blade crackling with energy.

Their weapons clashed, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the hall. Valkar fought with the precision of a seasoned warrior, his strikes calculated and devastating. But Ishar was relentless, the throne's power surging through him as he countered blow for blow.

"You are strong," Valkar said, his voice filled with grudging respect. "But strength alone will not save you."

He raised his hand, summoning a massive spear of shadowy energy. The weapon hurtled toward Ishar, its power enough to shatter the very ground beneath him. Ishar raised both hands, summoning Obsidian Dominion to intercept. The shadows collided, the explosion tearing through the hall and sending debris flying.

The Shard Claimed

As the dust settled, Ishar emerged from the rubble, his pale eyes glowing with unyielding determination. Valkar staggered, his form flickering as cracks spread across his body.

"You… cannot…" Valkar began, but his words were cut off as Ishar drove his blade into the Sovereign's chest. The figure let out a final, guttural roar before dissolving into shadows that faded into the air.

The hall fell silent, the oppressive energy dissipating. Ishar approached the pedestal, his hand closing around the Shard of Dominion. The system's voice echoed in his mind.

Shard Acquired: Offensive and Summoning Capabilities Enhanced. New Ability Unlocked: Crimson Wraiths.

He turned to Lin Yao and Fei, his voice calm but firm. "We move forward. The Sovereigns won't stop, and neither will we."

As they left the citadel, the shadows seemed to part before them, the weight of their victory marking the beginning of a far greater challenge.