Xander readied his spear as General Malgrath moved toward them, his towering figure cloaked in the flickering light of necrotic energy. The Warden of the Dead seemed to glide more than walk, each step deliberate, his rusted armor groaning with every movement. Beneath his hood, green flames danced. The massive maul in his hands scraped along the ground, leaving a trail of dark energy in its wake.

"Here comes the main event!" Xander shouted, trying to project confidence. His heart raced in his chest, but he couldn't afford to let panic show. "Kane, Wyatt, take the center! Jo, Harvey, we flank! Keep your distance from that maul."

Kane nodded, hefting his shield as he stepped forward with Wyatt. The two tanks braced themselves, shields up, as the rest of the group spread out. Zoey, with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes, nocked a frost-infused arrow and moved to the side, her gaze locked on Malgrath's exposed joints. The others quickly took their positions, their movements sharp and practiced.

As the two tanks stepped up to engage, General Malgrath paused, his head tilting ever so slightly, as though sizing them up. The green flames in his eyes flaring for a moment, and then he spoke, sending a chill down Xander's spine.

"Your struggle is futile, mortals. With Tomb Breaker, I will grind you into dust and crush your cities just as I did countless times in the first age."

Without warning, Malgrath swung his maul, Tomb Breaker, in a wide arc, the maul cutting through the air with a whistling sound that made Xander's heart leap into his throat. Kane raised his shield just in time, the maul slamming into it with a deafening clang. The force of the blow sent Kane staggering half a step back, but he held his ground, bracing himself for another hit.

"Watch that reach!" Kane grunted, adjusting his stance.

Wyatt followed suit, his own shield up, waiting for the next strike. Zoey let loose an arrow, the frost-tipped shaft streaking through the air and lodging itself into the rusted armor around Malgrath's knee. Ice crackled across the joint, slowing his movement, but it barely phased him.

"Let's see if lightning does better," Jo muttered as she darted in, her blade slicing across Malgrath's armor in a smooth motion. It wasn't enough to cause actual damage, but it kept the pressure on.

The green flames in Malgrath's eyes suddenly flared brighter, and he raised the wicked maul high above his head. Xander felt a cold dread settle over him as he recognized the move.

"Get clear!" Xander yelled.

But the warning came a heartbeat too late.

Tomb Breaker slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Harvey, closest to the epicenter, was caught off guard and thrown off his feet. His massive frame hit the ground hard, and the rest of the team staggered under the force of the blast.

Malgrath's laughter echoed through the tent. "You think you can stand before me? You are nothing!"

Ford rushed forward, his hand glowing faintly. He placed his hand on Harvey's back, a gentle wave of healing washing over him. It was enough to get Harvey back on his feet, but not much more.

"Harvey, you good?" Xander asked. He hated the feeling of helplessness when someone on his team went down. Memories of Alex flashed before his eyes, but he shook them away. Not now.

"I'm fine," Harvey grunted, pulling himself up and grabbing his war hammer. "Keep in the fight!"

The team quickly regrouped, but Malgrath persisted. The general's gaze locked onto Zoey, the green fire in his eyes flaring brightly.

"Your fear amuses me," Malgrath hissed, his voice dripping with malice.

The words sent a chill through Xander as he realized what was happening. "Zoey, break line of sight! Now!"

But before she could react, Malgrath's green gaze locked onto her. Xander saw her flinch and then freeze. Her bow slipped from her fingers, clattering to the floor. She stood stock-still, eyes wide and unfocused.

"Zoey!" He shouted, heart skipping a beat. For a split second, he didn't know what to do. He could see the fear in her eyes, her body trembling as the magic took hold of her. Zoey, who always laughed in the face of danger, became paralyzed.

"Break his sight! Jo! Help her!" Xander barked.

Jo was already moving, darting between Zoey and the general, breaking the line of sight. Zoey gasped as the spell broke, blinking rapidly as she regained her senses.

"Thanks," Zoey breathed, her hands shaking as she quickly grabbed her bow. "That was… intense."

"Don't stop now!" Xander urged.

The battle continued, each member of the team throwing everything they had at the towering undead general. Kane and Wyatt worked in tandem, their shields deflecting Malgrath's massive swings as Jo and Harvey darted in and out, landing blows where they could.

Ford, standing just behind the front lines, kept his healing light but steady. His focus was on keeping the group in the fight, not on undoing any catastrophic damage. He knew they couldn't rely on healing to carry them through. They had to avoid getting hit in the first place.

"Watch it! He's charging up again!" Harvey called out, his eyes locked on Malgrath as the flames around the maul intensified.

The maul glowed with necrotic energy, the runes etched into the maul pulsing with dark magic.

"Spread out!" Xander shouted.

As Malgrath swung the maul, glowing with sickly green light, the team scattered. The attack hit the ground where they had been standing moments earlier. The impact sending a wave of necrotic energy across the tent. Wyatt and Kane barely dodged the worst of it, their shields absorbing some of the blow, but the shockwave still hit them with enough force to stagger.

"Is this the best this age offers?" Malgrath taunted, his voice filled with cruel amusement. "I expected more from so-called heroes."

The taunts cut deep, but Xander couldn't let them shake him. He knew they had to stay focused. They were wearing the boss down, bit by bit, but the Warden of the Dead would not fall easily.

"Keep hitting him!" Xander ordered.

Jo moved in with a flurry of strikes, her blade slicing through the gaps in Malgrath's armor. Zoey loosed another frost arrow, the tip shattering against the undead general's shoulder, sending cracks of ice across his armor.

And then, finally, there was a shift. General Malgrath staggered back, flames flaring from beneath his hood. His movements slowed, his armor groaning under the strain. The Warden of the Dead seemed to take a moment to assess the damage his enemies had inflicted, but Xander knew what was coming. They had pushed the general into his second phase, and things were about to get far more dangerous.

"This boss has phases! We've hit the second phase. Get ready!" Xander called out, his voice strained but firm. He cast a quick glance across the battlefield. Kane and Wyatt still held the frontline, shields raised, while Zoey circled, her bowstring taut, frost-tipped arrows ready. Jo had her sword poised, muscles coiled for a strike.

"Soldiers to me!" Malgrath called. Across the tent, skeletal hands burst from the ground as undead soldiers answered their general's call.

"Harvey! Take the party crashers!" Xander called.

"Ironclad Vanguard!" Harvey called about the chaos of battle. The rest of his adventuring team answered immediately with a battle cry and rolled to their leader.

The surrounding temperature dropped as necrotic energy crackled through the air. A low, ominous rumble shook the ground beneath their feet, and Xander felt it before he saw it.

"Watch the ground!" Xander shouted, recognizing the signs of ground corruption because of the green veins of glowing energy that appeared on the ground.

With a deafening crash, Malgrath slammed his massive maul into the earth yet again. The ground beneath them began to blacken and crack, pulsing with dark energy. The corruption spread slowly but in a predictable pattern, forcing the teams to move or risk being caught in the decaying ground.

"Kane, move left! Jo, pull back! Keep away from the corruption!" Xander's orders were sharp, his mind racing to adapt as the battlefield shifted. The corrupted zones spread like a virus, sections of the earth turning black, the necrotic energy eating away at the ground.

Before they could fully adjust, Malgrath raised his maul once again, and with another bone-rattling crash, the weapon slammed down in quick succession. The earth rippled with more necrotic shockwaves, spreading from the point of impact. Xander leapt to the side just in time, his heart racing as the wave passed by, barely missing him.

"He's not slowing down!" Jo shouted, her eyes darting to Xander. "What's the plan?"

"Keep moving around the room! It's a movement based phase!" Xander shouted, his voice steady despite the tension. "We can't stay in one place. Kane, hold him off. Harvey, stay on the soldiers!"

Before Harvey could answer, Malgrath let out a bellowing screaming. With a sickening rumble, the tent flap flew open once again as more skeletal soldiers emerged. Harvey's eyes widened, and with no need for a further command, his team moved into action.

"Harvey, Wyatt, take those skeletons down! Don't let them overwhelm us!" Xander called out.

The skeletal soldiers clambered forward, their bones clattering with every step. Harvey and Wyatt took the brunt of the assault, smashing their weapons into the brittle bones of the advancing undead. The skeletal soldiers weren't powerful, but they were numerous, and if left unchecked, they could quickly swarm the battlefield.

"Grind them down!" Harvey roared, his massive war hammer crashing into a group of skeletal soldiers. Bones shattered, scattering across the battlefield, but more kept coming.

Xander forced himself to focus on the immediate threat. The towering general, still relentless in his pursuit. Harvey was doing his part, and he was trusting Xander to do his. As Malgrath swung his maul again, Xander saw the telltale glow of dark energy gathering around it.

"Everyone spread out!" Xander called as the maul came down, unleashing another shockwave. Kane blocked the strike with his shield, but the force knocked him back a few steps, his legs trembling under the weight of the blow.

"We're holding!" Kane grunted, quickly repositioning himself, but Xander could see the strain in his friend's eyes. They couldn't keep this up much longer without a change in strategy.

"Harvey's team is getting pinned down by those skeletons!" Zoey called out, nocking another arrow and letting it fly into the exposed ribcage of a skeletal soldier.

Xander turned to see Harvey's team struggling to manage the rising numbers. The skeletal soldiers were multiplying, and despite Harvey's brute strength, the relentless wave of minions threatened to overwhelm them.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Harvey, shift focus! Take out the skeletal archers in the back. They're the ones causing the most trouble!" Xander ordered.

Harvey gave a quick nod, adjusting his strategy, while Wyatt and the unnamed rogue cut through the front lines, clearing a path to the skeletal archers that had taken potshots at both teams.

Just as Xander thought they were regaining some control over the battlefield, Malgrath turned his burning gaze toward Ford.

"I'll enjoy watching you crumble beneath my power," the Warden of the Dead taunted, his voice low and cold.

Xander's stomach dropped as he recognized the attack. "Line of sight attack! Ford, break line of sight!" he shouted, but the spell hit before Ford could react.

Zoey didn't hesitate. She darted between Ford and Malgrath just as Jo had done for her earlier, breaking the line of sight and disrupting the spell. Ford gasped, his chest heaving as he stumbled back, regaining his senses.

"I'm… I'm fine," Ford panted. "That was close."

"Don't let it happen again. That's twice we've missed that attack." Xander snapped, his voice edged with tension. There was no room for mistakes here.

The corrupted ground continued to pulse beneath their feet, and Xander felt the weight of the battle bearing down on him. Every decision had to be precise, every movement coordinated. Harvey's team was still holding the skeletal soldiers at bay, but barely.

"Ford, monitor them!" Xander barked, nodding toward Harvey and Wyatt. Ford's healing in the first two phases remained minimal so far, but they'd need him to keep everyone upright with the fight escalating.

"Got it!" Ford replied, his hands glowing faintly as he prepared to heal when needed.

Xander returned his focus to Malgrath. The general's swings were coming faster now, more erratic.

"Kane, Jo, focus on his joints! Zoey, take out any weaknesses you see! We're getting close!" Xander called out. He could feel the tension building, the signs that they were pushing Malgrath toward another shift in power.

With another series of coordinated strikes, they hammered Malgrath's armor. Jo's blade found gaps in the rusted metal, slicing through while Zoey's frost arrows struck, freezing the weak points in his armor.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of dodging attacks and repositioning, Xander saw it: a crack in Malgrath's armor. The flames in the general's eyes dimmed as the armor weakened, cracks spreading like spiderwebs across his chest plate.

"We're getting through!" Xander shouted, feeling a surge of adrenaline. "Just a little more!"

But the victory was short-lived. As Malgrath took additional damage, the cracks in his armor deepened, and a blast of green fire erupted from the gaps. The flames in his eyes grew wilder, more intense.

"Brace yourselves! Phase shift!" Xander called, his voice strained as the tension mounted.

"A third phase!?" Zoey screamed, the stress in her voice unmistakable.

Green flames erupted from the cracks in General Malgrath's rusted armor. The flames danced wildly as the general entered the next phase of the fight, his movements more erratic and dangerous. His once sluggish swings now carried terrifying speed and force, and the necrotic energy around him intensified, spreading corruption across the ground in deadly patterns.

"Soldiers have stopped spawning. Harvey, finish what's left!" Xander shouted, his eyes darting from ally to enemy. Kane held the frontline, shield raised, absorbing the brunt of Malgrath's attacks. Harvey's team quickly finished smashing through the last skeletal soldiers, and his team rejoined the primary fight, adding their firepower to the assault.

"Dig deep!" Xander ordered, his voice hoarse.

"Kane, Wyatt, take the front! Zoey, focus your fire on those cracks in his armor!" Xander barked orders as he dodged another wave of necrotic energy rippling from the maul's impact. The ground continued to decay beneath their feet, making it harder to stay in position for long.

As the team repositioned, Malgrath swung his fiery maul in a brutal arc, the flames trailing behind it like a comet's tail. Jo darted to the side, but the corrupted ground slowed her movements. Before she could fully clear the danger zone, Malgrath's maul came crashing down, and Xander heard the sickening crunch.

Jo let out a cry of pain as she crumpled to the ground, her leg clearly broken.

"Jo!" Xander screamed as he rushed to her side. She clutched her leg, her face pale and twisted in agony.

"I… I'm out," Jo gasped, her voice strained. "I can't move."

Xander dropped to his knees beside her, his hands glowing with healing energy. He cast a quick spell to stabilize her, but he could tell the damage was too severe for her to continue fighting. The shattering of her leg made it impossible for her to stand, much less fight.

"You'll be okay, but you need to stay down," Xander said, his voice urgent.

Just as Xander stood to rejoin the fight, a blur of motion caught his eye. The scout, who had been hiding behind the crates since the start of the battle, suddenly dashed out of his cover, his face pale but determined. He skidded to a halt next to Jo, eyes wide with fear but resolute.

"What are you doing?!" Xander barked, startled by the scout's sudden movement.

"I… I can get her out of here," the scout stammered, clearly terrified but unwilling to sit by any longer.

Xander hesitated for only a second before he responded. "Do it! Get her out of the line of fire!"

The scout nodded quickly and crouched beside Jo, gently lifting her arm over his shoulder. With a grunt of effort, he began dragging her toward the edge of the tent, away from the corrupted ground and the deadly swings of Malgrath's maul. Jo grimaced in pain but didn't protest, her eyes locking with Xander's as she was pulled to safety.

The scout's courage had bought them one minor victory, but the fight was far from over. With Jo safely out of the fray, Xander turned back to the battle, his mind still reeling from the close call. Malgrath showed no signs of slowing down in his third phase. If anything, the green flames pouring from his armor seemed to grow more intense with every strike.

"Zoey. Take her place! Keep hitting his weak spots!" Xander shouted, pivoting back to his role as commander. His mind raced as he processed the new dynamic of the fight. Jo was out, but they couldn't lose momentum now.

Zoey nodded, already adjusting her position. She nocked another frost-tipped arrow and fired. The shot flying to embed itself in the widening cracks in Malgrath's chest plate.

The general roared in anger, as he swung again, this time catching Harvey with a glancing blow. The massive fighter staggered back, smoke rising from his armor where the flames had made contact.

"Ford, hit him with a heal!" Xander called. Ford's hands were glowing, already casting a healing spell. A warm light washed over Harvey, mending the worst of his burns and bringing him back to fighting form.

"We've got to hit him harder," Harvey grunted, his face set in grim determination. He hefted his war hammer and charged forward, joining Kane on the frontline.

Xander felt the strain of the battle bearing down on him, but he couldn't let himself falter. With Jo out and the team taking more damage, both he and Ford had to focus on keeping the party alive. His hands glowed faintly as he cast a healing spell on Kane, whose shield was absorbing the brunt of Malgrath's attacks.

"We're taking too many hits," Xander muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the battlefield. The corruption was spreading faster now, and Malgrath's fiery strikes left patches of burning ground wherever his maul landed.

"Stay mobile! Don't let the corruption trap you!" Xander shouted, issuing commands even as he cast another healing spell on Zoey, who had narrowly dodged an explosion of green flames.

The pressure was relentless. Malgrath's attacks were coming faster, each swing of his maul leaving destruction in its wake. Ford was casting healing spells almost constantly now, his hands trembling from the effort. Xander stepped in to help, his own magic keeping the group from falling apart.

"Ford, focus on Harvey and Wyatt! I'll take care of Kane and Zoey!" Xander ordered, his voice tight with focus.

The battle continued to spiral into chaos, but despite the mounting pressure, they were making progress. Each hit they landed widened the cracks in Malgrath's armor, and the green flames spilling from his chest plate grew more erratic with every blow.

Zoey loosed another arrow, her frost magic targeting the weakest points in Malgrath's armor. The arrow struck, sending a shudder through the undead general. Kane and Harvey pressed forward, their combined might staggered the boss momentarily.

"We're wearing him down!" Xander shouted. "Keep pushing!"

Malgrath swung his maul again, this time aiming for Harvey, but the fighter dodged just in time, countering with a crushing blow from his war hammer. The impact forced Malgrath back, and a loud crack echoed through the battlefield as another piece of his armor shattered, sending rusted fragments flying.

The battle was reaching its breaking point. The green flames within Malgrath flared wildly, licking at the air like a living thing. Xander could feel the intensity of the fight rising to a crescendo, the pressure mounting with each passing moment.

General Malgrath staggered, the green flames in his eyes pulsing wildly. The nearly shattered rusted armor was leaking necrotic energy from widening cracks in his chest plate. The group had battled hard to get the Warden of the Dead to this point, but Xander knew they couldn't give up.

"Push! Push! Now!" Xander shouted.

Harvey swung his war hammer with all his might, smashing it into Malgrath's side. The impact sent a shudder through the general's towering form, and Zoey's arrows followed, piercing the cracks in his armor.

Kane raised his shield, bracing himself for another blow as Malgrath swung his massive maul, now wreathed in fading green flames. But the general's strength was faltering. His movements were slower, and his attacks were more desperate. As the flames around Malgrath dimmed, Xander's pulse quickened. They had him.

"Finish him!" Xander yelled.

Harvey charged forward, bringing his war hammer down in a powerful overhead strike. The blow connected with the general's chest, directly over the largest crack in his armor. There was a sharp, resonating crack as Malgrath's chest plate shattered, sending fragments of rusted metal flying.

The green flames within the general erupted violently, surging outward in one last burst of necrotic energy. Xander threw up his hand, gritting his teeth as the wave of energy passed over them. But when the light cleared, General Malgrath was on one knee, his maul dragging along the ground, the last of his strength drained.

The green flames in his eyes extinguished, and for the first time, Xander saw something resembling defeat in the general's expression.

"You… have bested me today," Malgrath growled, his voice seething with fury. "But know this: I am not destroyed. This is not the end. I am bound to my stronghold, and when I return, I will bring an army that will drown your precious city in darkness."

With that, the ground beneath Malgrath spewed dark energy that swirled around him as though the earth itself was pulling him back. Xander watched as the vortex swallowed the general, his form disappearing into the abyss. The green flames winked out a moment later, and the tent fell eerily silent.

The Second Battle of Starlight Quest Notification! The Second Battle of Starlight has been won! The defenders have achieved the hidden victory condition of defeating General Malgrath and forcing his retreat to his fortress stronghold. Rewards: Experience Points, 1000 Gold,

The battle was over.

Xander's chest heaved as he leaned on his spear for support, his mind struggling to grasp the reality of what had just happened. They had won. They defeated General Malgrath, seemingly banishing him back to his stronghold. The stress of the fight lifted slightly, and for the first time in what felt like hours, Xander allowed himself to relax ever so slightly.

The scout broke the silence, who had been hiding behind the crates for most of the fight. His eyes were wide with disbelief as he scrambled to the entrance of the tent and peered outside.

"They're retreating!" the scout shouted. "The undead… they're all retreating!"

"We actually did it," Kane said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Xander staggered forward, feeling the exhaustion settling into his bones. He glanced at Harvey, who leaned heavily on his war hammer, sweat dripping from his face. Ford dropped to his knees, panting as he cast one final healing spell on Kane, who wiped blood from his mouth but smiled.

Harvey joined them, his expression thoughtful as he glanced between the shattered ground where Malgrath had fallen. "You know," he said, wiping sweat from his brow, "this feels like it was always supposed to happen. It's like the fight was meant to end here. Maybe the world event has predetermined points where bosses retreat or get banished when certain conditions are met."

Kane nodded. "Probably," he agreed. "That last phase could have wiped us if it went on any longer. Feels like we got lucky."

Midwest Regional Announcement: Forces in the Midwest have defeated General Malgrath, Warden of the Dead!

Forces defeated the General, and his armies are retreating. The Midwest Region has completed the active world event in its region. Dungeons and monster spawn locations will now return to their standard behavior. All graveyards in the region are now sanctified and will act as standard monster spawn locations. Congratulations players on being the first region to complete the event!

Relief washed over the group like a wave. Zoey slumped against the side of the tent, wiping frost from her bow as she exhaled deeply. "That… was intense," she muttered. "But hey, I'm not complaining about winning."

Xander allowed himself a small smile, though the tension of the fight still lingered in his muscles. His eyes drifted to the spot where Malgrath had disappeared as he made his way over to take a seat on the ground next to Jo.

"You ok?" He asked as he cast another healing spell on her.

"I'm going to need a hand walking for a bit and I'm going to be sore for a couple days, but I'll live," Jo responded with a bit of a strained smile.

Global Event Announcement: The Midwest Region has DEFEATED General Malgrath!

With the General beaten back to take refuge in its stronghold, the Ashfall Stronghold raid dungeon is now open! Gather your party and test your strength against the General and his forces.

With the defeat of the Midwestern Region General, the strength and number of the undead forces in all other regions will decrease by 5%.

"A raid dungeon? Right on our backdoor?" Zoey said, her eyes as wide as saucers, "Can you imagine the loot?"

"Let's find out what the butcher's bill is for this siege event before we go off and attempt a raid," Xander said with a hint of disbelief.

"Starlight just got a lot more strategic in its location," Harvey added, "with that being a global announcement, I'm sure the raid will attract more attention."

"Hey… guys," Zoey called, her tone laced with excitement. "Look at this."

Xander turned to see Zoey standing over two large chests that hadn't been there during the fight. The ornate metal gleamed in the low light, and it was clear they hadn't been there before. Zoey knelt down and traced the edges of one chest, her eyes wide with glee.

"Looks like the loot finally dropped," she said with a grin. "We earned this."

Xander helped Jo to her feet as the pair walked over slowly as she leaned on him for support. He was sure there was going to be quite a bit of work to do in Starlight, but the sight of the chests provided a sense of closure. They had fought hard, defeated an undead general, and earned their reward.

"We earned this," Xander said, gesturing to the loot chests as Zoey cracked one open, the sound of gold and gear clinking within.

For a moment, the tent filled with the sound of chests being opened, gear inspected, and quiet, relieved laughter. The battle had taken its toll, but they had come out on top. And for today, that was enough.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.