The Birth of A Clan

The flickering light of the Ashvale Event Board lit up the plaza like a carnival. Dozens of players huddled around it, scrolling through quests and challenges. At the very top of the board glowed a crimson notice:

DUNGEON RAID: DEADWOOD DEPTHS

Requirements: 4-player party minimum | Clan affiliation required

Rewards: Shared XP | Item Drops | Elite Boss Loot

Final Boss Level: 20 - "The Devourer of Echoes"

Status: UNCLEARED

Tyler scanned the listing, eyes narrowing. Kaela was already grinning.

"Looks like we've got our next challenge," she said. "But… clan requirement. We don't have one."

Tyler smirked. "Let's fix that."

They approached the nearby Clan Registration Terminal, a sleek obsidian console with holographic runes floating around its interface.

"Enter Clan Name," it prompted.

Kaela tilted her head. "Something fitting. Something that sounds like us."

Tyler thought about everything—the betrayal, the survival, the rise.

"How about… Faded Ashes?" he said.

"Everything that burned us… we'll build from it."

Kaela nodded, her voice soft. "Perfect."

CLAN REGISTERED: Faded Ashes

Founder: Tyler Freedman

Co-Founder: Kaela Vireen

Status: Active

Just as they finished registration, two players approached from the crowd—a tall, silver-haired young man with a polished staff and a smaller, green-eyed girl carrying a longbow across her back.

"You're the ones who downed that level 8 beast, right?" the man asked. "I'm Eryk. This is my little sister, Nysa. We want in."

Tyler blinked, surprised by the forwardness. "Just like that?"

Nysa rolled her eyes. "You're heading into Deadwood Depths. Only idiots or legends take that on at level five."

Kaela raised an eyebrow. "And you two?"

"I'm a level 12 healer," Eryk said proudly. "Nysa's level 9. Archer. Stealth specialization. We've been training for a solid run—we just needed the right team."

Tyler looked at Kaela. She gave a slight nod.

"You're in," Tyler said. "Welcome to Faded Ashes."

The console lit up as the new members were officially added.

CLAN UPDATE: 4 Active Members

Tyler (Ancient Warrior) – Lv. 5

Kaela (Mana Striker) – Lv. 6

Eryk (Healer Mage) – Lv. 12

Nysa (Stealth Archer) – Lv. 9

The Event Board glowed brighter as the dungeon slot opened for their team.

DEADWOOD DEPTHS – Entry Confirmed

Reward Breakdown:

• Shared XP (Boosted for Unique Classes)

• Credits (Rare Drop Chance)

• Guaranteed Silver+ Gear

• Final Boss: Level 20 "Devourer of Echoes"

Kaela exhaled. "We're really doing this."

Tyler adjusted the strap on his silver-plated shoulder armor, the piece he'd gained from the boss fight glowing faintly with increased agility.

"Yeah," he said. "Let's show this world what happens when the broken rise from the ashes."

As the teleportation glyph activated beneath them, a distant pair of eyes in Ashvale watched—those of the Halden family, waiting in silence near the city's edge.