Amberlight City had once been a shining jewel in the Lightning Sect’s territory—a bustling hub of commerce and culture located in the western region of the southern continent. The city was strategically important for several reasons.
Its location at the crossroads of major trade routes that connected the entire southern continent made it a vital economic center. Caravans laden with goods from all over would pass through Amberlight, bringing wealth and resources to the Lightning Sect.
But the city’s real value lay in its unique livestock—the Thunder Rams.
The hills surrounding Amberlight were home to these rare creatures, whose bodies were rich with powerful lightning-attributed energy. The Thunder Rams’ wool was an invaluable resource, used to create the sect’s martial attire, which was known for its durability and mana conductivity.
This wool wasn’t just a commodity; it was an integral part of the Lightning Sect’s identity, enhancing their disciples’ power in battle. Losing Amberlight had meant losing access to this vital resource, and it was a blow to the morale of the Lightning Sect that they couldn’t afford to leave unanswered.
Amberlight’s defenses had been formidable, protected by the Lightning Sect’s elite guards and its well defended barriers. Its stone walls, reinforced with powerful lightning runes, had stood as a bastion against countless beast tides and was well designed to repel attacks, though it saw few battles ever as a mainly merchant city. No one wanted to frustrate the merchants too much.
The city had been designed to be impregnable, with layers of defensive formations that could repel even the most determined invaders. Yet, despite these advantages, the city had fallen into the hands of the Endless Sun Sect just over two months ago.
The Sun Sect had been patient, waiting for the right moment to strike. They had infiltrated the city with spies, slowly weakening its defenses from within as the Lightning Sect had been forced to redirect resources and manpower to more urgent fronts in the ongoing war—particularly in regions closer to their headquarters where the fighting was fiercest.
As Amberlight’s defenses thinned, the Sun Sect’s agents sowed discord, turning key figures within the city’s leadership and merchant groups against each other and even encouraging some to defect.
By the time the final assault came, the city was vulnerable and exposed, and the Sun Sect’s forces overwhelmed it with brutal efficiency that led to nearly zero bloodshed except for the guard teams that had been left. All now replaced with Sun Sect guards that patrolled the skies now.
Since then, the Sun Sect had fortified their position in Amberlight, transforming it into a stronghold from which they launched further incursions into Lightning Sect territory. The city’s fall had also disrupted trade routes, as they canceled all supplies and shipments toward Lightning Sect territories, causing extra stress and economic turmoil that rippled through the sect’s territory.
Now, retaking Amberlight had become a top priority for the Lightning Sect’s War Council after the recent success of Lassim’s team. The city’s loss had been a significant blow to their morale, and its strategic importance made its recapture essential for turning the tide of the conflict in the western region.
To ensure success, they had reinforced Lassim’s team with two Spirit Transcendent inner disciples—Tristan and Eveline.
As dawn broke over the horizon, casting its golden light across the desolate mountains surrounding their hidden camp, Lassim’s team gathered in a secluded corner of the cave. They sat in a circle around a detailed map of Amberlight City, which was spread out on the ground between them.
The atmosphere was tense but focused; everyone understood the gravity of the task ahead.
Lassim glanced at the entrance as two figures stood by, their auras distinctly more powerful than everyone else combined.
"Tristan, Eveline," Lassim said, gesturing for them to join the circle. "Glad you could join the team. We’ve got a lot to cover if you want to join us."
They were Tristan and Eveline, the Spirit Transcendent inner disciples assigned to assist in the mission. Tristan, a tall man with short-cropped blue hair and piercing blue eyes, gave a curt nod of acknowledgment to Lassim’s gaze, while Eveline, a woman with auburn hair tied back in a practical braid, offered no more than a stare in return.
"Thanks," Tristan said as he surveyed the map. "I’ve been briefed on the basics, but I’m eager to hear the specifics of what plan you have in mind."
Eveline nodded in agreement. "We’re here to help however we can. Just point us in the right direction. I need to blow off some steam after failing the final stage of the God’s Trial. I’m still pissed about what happened. Stupid Famthar tricked me with a bunch of cute bunnies that nearly ate me alive."
Aerin, who had been studying the map intently, looked up as they took their seats. "Welcome. I’m the master of our plans, Aerin," he introduced himself quickly before turning back to the task at hand. "Let’s get started."
He pointed to the map, his sharp eyes moving over the key locations in Amberlight City. "Amberlight is a unique target for us. Its location at the crossroads of major trade routes makes it invaluable to the sect’s economy. But more than that, the Thunder Rams and their lightning-infused wool are vital resources for our sect’s martial attire.
The Sun Sect knows this, and they’ve fortified the city accordingly."
Eveline leaned in closer to get a better look. "How well-defended are we talking?"
"Very," Aerin replied. "The Sun Sect has taken what we used before and set up an additional series of layered defenses around the command center in the city square. Their leadership is likely holed up there, surrounded by barriers powered by the city’s lightning-infused ley lines.
It’s going to take a coordinated effort to break through without causing excessive damage to the city itself, which we want to avoid at all costs."
Tristan crossed his arms, considering the situation.
"Now, here’s what I’m thinking," Aerin said, nodding. "We’ll split into two teams. Lassim, Tristan, and Eveline will handle the main assault on the Sun Sect’s command center. We’ll do what’s worked best before and make your team’s goal to draw out their strongest defenders and drag them away after engaging them head-on.
Lassim’s dual-element techniques will be crucial for disrupting their barriers formations and he’s quite safe and fast while retreating with his [Aegis] technique."
Aerin added, "Now, forgive me for being presumptuous but since both of you are quite famous in the sect as inner sect disciples, I’m quite familiar with your specialties. I was thinking that we could use Tristan’s long-range attacks to keep their forces on the defensive and continually follow Lassim away, but also maintain an eye on our progress in the city if you can manage it.
Yet, before that, Eveline, I’m sure might be able to make Lassim’s efforts to get past the new and old barriers a bit easier?"
Eveline tapped a spot on the map near the command center. "I can disable their defensive formations and create openings for the assault. My disruption techniques will weaken their barriers and prevent them from coordinating an effective defense."
Tristan gave a brief nod. "I can definitely target whatever you want from a distance from here to the other edge of the continent as long as I know where you want my strikes ahead of time. Leave that to me. Once Lassim breaches the inner defenses, I’ll cover him by taking out any leaders who try to counterattack, escape or just grab their attention if they don’t follow."
"Perfect," Aerin said while moving his finger to point to a spot on the map. "Meanwhile, Lara, Kaelin, I and the rest of us will infiltrate the city through an old drainage system on the eastern side over here. We’ll disable their guard’s barracks first as that’s where they keep their communication lines.
We’ll sabotage that to create as much chaos as possible and disrupt their chances to know what’s going on inside the city after the leaders are distracted and pulled away. Once we’ve done that, we’ll head near the city square and assist with the final assault on the command center if you can make sure those barriers are down.
As long as you three take care of the Spirit Transcendents, we’ll be able to work together to handle any Spirit Ascension disciples that remain and retake control over the city’s nexus key for the old lightning arrays that run through the city and manage its defenses.
Once we are in control, I know the secret access code that can trigger the [Thunderbolt Killing Array] that is the city’s main defense. We can use that to assist in killing any transcendents that are left over and help you three. Luckily they haven’t been able to use it against us so far, so at least their spies didn’t do as great of a job before they took over."
Kaelin grinned, his excitement evident. "Quick in and out, with a lot of action in between. Sounds good to me."
Lara, more focused, asked, "And if they try to reinforce their positions during the attack?"
Aerin’s gaze hardened. "We’ll need to stay adaptable as always. If things go sideways, we can regroup and adapt our strategy on the fly. But the key is speed and minimizing the loss of property and life to the citizens. We can’t afford to get bogged down in a prolonged battle or leave most of the city in ruins. We hit them quickly, take out their leadership, and retake the city."
Lassim, who had been listening intently, finally spoke. "We’ve got a solid plan then if there’s no other additions? The Sun Sect won’t give up Amberlight easily. Let’s make sure we’re prepared for whatever they throw at us."
With the plan set, the team spent the next few hours refining their strategy, double-checking their readiness, and mentally preparing for the challenges ahead. The capture of Amberlight would not be an easy fight, but with the combined strength of Lassim’s team and their new allies, they were ready to face it head-on.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the landscape in shades of red and gold, Lassim’s team departed from their camp, flying swiftly and silently through the evening sky toward Amberlight City.
The city’s towering walls came into view as they approached, the banners of the Endless Sun Sect fluttering in the wind atop its battlements.
The team split into their designated groups as they neared the city. Lassim, Tristan, and Eveline descended toward the western side, where they would begin the main assault. Aerin, Kaelin, and Lara veered off to the east, heading for the drainage system that would allow them to infiltrate the city unnoticed.
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Lassim and his group landed lightly on a rooftop of a house that overlooked the western gate outside the main city walls. The general populace had long since expanded their homes beyond the main protective walls due to the peace over the years.
From their vantage point, they could see the Sun Sect’s forces patrolling the streets below, their movements disciplined and efficient. Tristan crouched beside Lassim, his eyes scanning the city’s defenses.
Lassim began, "Alright Eveline, once I charge in, I’ll make a big scene. I need you to start disrupting their formations as soon as you see me power up. We’ll need an opening to get their attention."
Eveline’s expression was calm and focused. "Consider it done."
With the plan set, Lassim raised his halberd, its blade crackling with energy. "Let’s do this!"