Chapter 21: Clash of Banners

The sun was still setting when Hikaru returned from the ruins of Blisterfang, his troops bloodied but victorious. Behind them, Engineers and Builders swarmed over the ancient facility, already integrating the Automated Defense Battery tech into the newly claimed territory. The red-glowing turrets shimmered with deadly potential.

But Hikaru's eyes weren't on the ruins anymore. They were fixed on the northern horizon—where smoke now curled into the skies like a taunt.

A new village had risen. A new player had made their move.

And they were close.

Too close.

Inside the command tent, a new map had been unfurled. Illya traced her fingers over the terrain separating them from the new outpost.

"They didn't just spawn randomly," she murmured. "This isn't a coincidence."

"It's a challenge," Kora said grimly. "Whoever it is—they're not afraid of us."

Hikaru nodded. "Scout report?"

A slender unit stepped forward—Whisper, a recon specialist with the Phantom Watcher class. She knelt and laid out a set of sketches and observations.

"Player banner identified. Black scythe crossed with a golden flame. Village name: Ashveil."

Illya's eyes widened. "Ashveil? That name sounds…"

"Deliberate," Hikaru finished. "And arrogant."

Whisper continued. "Village is already Level 2. Defensive walls are up. Units sighted include Flame Mages, Scorchblade Infantry, and a mechanical creature resembling a fire-elemental golem."

"Another System-blessed?" Kora asked.

Whisper nodded. "Highly likely. The player's name: Lucien. Title granted by System: Infernal Strategist."

A chill settled in the tent.

System Notification: Another Player Has Claimed Territory Near You. PvP Zones Now Active in Overlapping Sectors.

Neutral Zone: Emberpath Fields

Resource Conflict Likely

"Then we need to establish presence there first," Hikaru said. "We'll be fighting a resource war before a blade is even drawn."

"But it's more than that," Illya said. "The System gave him a title. That means quests, buffs, and likely—followers."

"And if he thinks he's the only one playing the long game," Hikaru muttered, "he's in for a rude awakening."

Lucien stood atop a scorched cliff, his cloak of black and ember fluttering behind him. Around him moved units forged in fire and war—his Infernal Vassals, their eyes glowing with System-enhanced fury.

A lieutenant approached. "The enemy—Hikaru—has captured the Blisterfang Dunes. Their defenses are advanced. One of our spy drones was destroyed before reaching the perimeter."

Lucien didn't seem surprised.

"He's smart," Lucien said. "But intelligence only matters until fire melts it."

Another scout knelt. "Should we provoke him?"

Lucien gave a thin smile. "No. Let him come. But if he dares touch Emberpath… we burn his entire village."

Hikaru wasted no time. A Command Beacon was erected in the heart of Hollowshade. Around it, elite troops began drills. Siege Golems were retrofitted with energy cores from Blisterfang. New turret blueprints were already being incorporated into the perimeter defenses.

He summoned his officers.

"This is the first of many challenges. And it won't be the last," he began. "Lucien is dangerous—but not invincible."

Dravos grunted. "Then let me march on his gates."

Hikaru shook his head. "We don't strike blind. We play the System."

He tapped a rune on the table. A new interface appeared.

New Mission Activated: PvP Reconquest – Emberpath Fields

Objective: Establish Outpost and Outmine before Ashveil does

Reward: Territory Control, System Favor, Rare Resource Nodes

Failure: Resource Drain, Morale Drop, Opponent Buff

He looked around. "We win this, we cripple his growth."

Illya smirked. "Let's do it."

A dusty plain dotted with mineral-rich hills and dense obsidian quarries—Emberpath Fields was a treasure trove of rare ore and mana stones. Both factions arrived at the same time, their banners raised.

The ground became a chessboard.

No direct combat yet—but tension was thick.

Outpost towers rose. Miners began their drills. But sabotage happened daily—supplies vanished, scouts went missing, and towers were found half-melted at dawn.

Illya reported back. "He's testing us."

"And we'll pass," Hikaru said. "Time for a move."

That night, a squad of Phantom Watchers slipped into Ashveil's half-constructed camp.

They planted false blueprints, rerouted mana wells, and even hacked one of the enemy's drone turrets—turning it on their own.

Lucien woke to the sound of fire and screams.

He emerged to find a third of his Emberpath outpost in ruins.

System Notification: Sabotage Successful

Enemy Outpost Development: -30%

Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Shadow on the Sand

Reward: +300 Influence, Unique Building Unlocked – Phantom Barracks

"Now," Hikaru said the next day, "we start construction of our own Mana Forge. I want Emberpath claimed and secured before week's end."

But Lucien wasn't one to sit back and bleed.

Alarms blared.

Illya burst into the war tent, robes half-charred.

"We've been hit!"

"What?"

Lucien had retaliated. He'd sent Embercrawlers—burrowing fire-elemental constructs—underneath their resource storage.

Half the northern depot exploded. Resource stores dropped by 18%. A third of the mana crystals harvested from Blisterfang were gone.

System Alert: Strategic Resource Loss

Morale: -12%

System Favor: -1 Level

Hikaru punched the table.

"He's escalated."

Kora, appearing at his side, said grimly, "Then it's war."

Hikaru's eyes gleamed.

"Good."