The battle below was chaos. Undead swarming through the breach in the wall, crashing against the defenders like a relentless tide. The moans of the undead mixed with the clang of steel on steel, the crack of bone, and the desperate shouts of Starlight's defenders. Xander wiped the sweat from his brow, his pulse quickening as he surveyed the scene below. Among the scattered defenders, his team was down there, desperately trying to push back the horde. He spotted Jo's familiar figure, her sword flashing as she cut down an undead warrior, while Zoey fired arrow after arrow at the larger creatures trying to storm through the gap. But the enemy just kept coming.

Harvey growled beside him, his eyes sweeping over the horde, and then back out to the approaching Boneflame Wyrm. Xander could see the tension in his jaw, the way his gaze lingered on the thinning line of defenders.

"They can't hold them off for much longer," Harvey said.

The Boneflame Wyrm. The massive dragon, skeletal and wrapped in ethereal flames, moved like a giant siege engine, its massive form plowing through the field below, heading straight for the breach. It was terrifying, yes, but something about its movements didn't fit. Xander narrowed his eyes, focusing on the creature's path. Its tail swept in wide, repetitive arcs, smashing into anything nearby. It trampled its own undead soldiers as it advanced, charging in rigid, straight lines.

Harvey cursed under his breath. "That thing's going to tear us apart."

Xander wasn't so sure. "Wait," he said, his gaze locked on the dragon. The creature had just trampled another wave of undead soldiers, its massive form moving in a predictable pattern, almost like clockwork. The dragon swung its tail again in the same direction, moving stiffly and clumsily, like a war machine set to a single task.

"It's not acting intelligent," Xander said. "It's behaving like… like a construct. Like it's being controlled. Look at it!"

Harvey glanced at him. "What are you getting at?"

Xander didn't respond immediately. His mind was already analyzing, calculating. The Boneflame Wyrm was powerful, but it lacked intelligence. Its movements were predictable, mechanical. It didn't have the grace or cunning of a living being. That was a weakness. A major one.

"It's not intelligent," Xander said, louder this time. "It can be baited. Look at how it's moving. Straight lines, repeating the same attacks. If we can predict where it's going, we can lead it."

Harvey followed Xander's gaze back to the dragon, his expression sharpening as he saw what Xander had seen. "We could use that," he said slowly. "If we could get it to charge in the right direction…"

Xander tilted his head, his mind already chewing on the wyrm's pattern. "We need to use its own weight against it. The city's already falling apart. We just need to lure it into a weak spot."

Harvey grunted in agreement. "And fast. We're running out of time."

Xander studied the breach, where the Boneflame Wyrm was lumbering closer, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. His team was still holding the line, but barely. Zoey and Jo battled fiercely against the undead, but their efforts were futile as more kept appearing. The defenders on either side of the breach were faltering, being pushed back as the horde swarmed through the gap.

His mind clicked into place. They needed to trap the wyrm. But where?

"We need someplace we can trap it." Xander said.

Harvey's eyes looked back toward the town on the other side of the breach, landing on a building just beyond it. "There," he said, pointing.

Xander followed his line of sight. The building Harvey had spotted was large, a two-story grain storage facility, its stone walls cracked and sagging from the explosion. It had taken hits, but it was still standing, albeit precariously. If something heavy hit it, something as big as the Boneflame Wyrm, the entire structure would collapse.

"That building's got a basement," Harvey continued, growing more animated. "If we can get the dragon to charge through the breach and into that building, its weight will collapse the whole thing. The basement will give way, and the rest of the building will come down on top of it."

Xander's mind worked through the possibilities. Harvey was right. The building's position wasn't perfect, but it was close enough. Just beyond the breach, mostly along the dragon's current path. If they could lure the Boneflame Wyrm straight through the gap in the wall and into the building, it would crush everything beneath it, burying itself in the rubble.

"It won't stop the entire horde," Xander said. "But it'll take out the dragon. And if we do it right, it'll destroy a good chunk of the undead forces that poured through the breach."

"It'll give us time. That's what we need right now."

Xander took a deep breath. The defenders were barely holding on, and his team was fighting with everything they had to stop the undead from flooding into the city. But this plan was their only shot to turn the tide. If they could take out the dragon, if they could collapse the building on top of it, it might just buy them enough time to regroup, to push back. It wasn't the best plan, but they didn't have time for the best plan. All they had time for was a poor plan executed violently, as a famous general once said.

"We'll need to coordinate with the others," Xander said. "We can't have the dragon trampling our own people."

Harvey was already moving. "I'll send a runner. They need to hold the breach long enough for us to lure the dragon into position."

Xander watched Harvey grab a nearby soldier from the wall, giving him rapid instructions. The dragon was still advancing, moving toward the breach, smashing through its own forces as it went. They had little time.

"We'll need to get its attention," Xander said, his voice calm despite the urgency. "If we can distract it, make it focus on us. It'll follow us straight through the breach and into the building."

Harvey grinned, a fierce light in his eyes. "I'm counting on you to get its attention."

"Thanks, Harvey. You're all heart."

"I'll clear you a path. Just don't trip and get squished. I'd rather not have to explain that one to Jo!"

"Hilarious."

Harvey slapped Xander on the shoulder. "You ready for this?"

Xander leaned forward against the wall, his heart pounding in his chest. The plan was simple, but it was dangerous. They would have to get close enough to the dragon to lure it in, and that meant putting themselves directly in its path. But there was no other choice. If they didn't take out the dragon, the defenders wouldn't last much longer.

Xander's eyes remained fixed on the Boneflame Wyrm, its massive form barreling closer to the breach. He could already see the undead swarming around its feet, crushed under its bulk as it moved with mechanical precision. All he needed to do was get its attention, lure it through a pile of attackers, avoid letting it trample any defenders, and lure it through a warehouse with himself escaping before the floor gave out and collapsed on the dragon. No problem…

"Let's get to work," Xander said, his voice hard and resolute.

Xander's boots hit the ground hard as he and Harvey leaped from the palisade wall, the battlefield engulfing them in chaos. The clang of steel on steel, the low moans of the undead, and the distant rumble of the Boneflame Wyrm crashing through the streets blurred together in a storm of sound. Thoughts become actions, he thought to himself again. Believe that this will work and it will work…

Yep, he was dead. He thought.

"Stay close!" Harvey shouted, holding his war hammer over his head and charging forward. The path to the wyrm was strewn with debris and the shambling corpses of the undead. Harvey swung his hammer in wide arcs, bones shattering and rotten flesh splattering across the ground as he mowed through the first wave of attackers. His strikes were powerful, each one clearing enough space for Xander to move forward, but the horde kept coming.

Xander followed in Harvey's wake, his mind laser-focused on their task. The Boneflame Wyrm loomed ahead, its skeletal form lit by eerie green flames, casting jagged shadows over the battlefield. Its massive claws tearing through earth and undead alike.

"I hope you're ready for this," Harvey grunted, bringing his war hammer down on the skull of an undead knight. The creature's head shattered with a sickening crunch, but three more undead soldiers were already staggering forward to take its place.

Xander ducked under a wild swing from another undead, deflecting a blow with his warpick as he stepped in beside Harvey. "Just keep them off me," Xander panted, his voice strained but determined. "I'll get the dragon's attention."

Harvey flashed a brief grin, despite the chaos. "No pressure, right?"

Xander gave a tight smile in return. "None at all."

They continued their push through the horde, fighting their way toward the Boneflame Wyrm, which now towered over the shattered battlefield. The closer they got, the more the ground trembled beneath them. The wyrm's tail swept in wide arcs, crashing through anything in its path. As they approached, Xander spotted something off to the left. It was his spear, embedded in the ground where he had dropped it during the initial chaos. His weapon. The key to turning the tide of this fight.

"Harvey!" Xander called out, veering slightly to the side. "Cover me!"

"What do you think I've been doing!" Harvey barked, smashing his war hammer into another undead soldier that lunged toward them.

Xander sprinted toward his spear, dodging the swiping claws of an undead creature that stumbled in his path. He slid to a stop, grabbed the spear's shaft, and yanked it free from the dirt. The familiar weight of the weapon in his hand felt like an extension of his own body, its cool metal a reassuring presence in the chaos.

The Boneflame Wyrm was close now. Its wings stretched wide, and Xander froze for a moment. The creature's massive, skeletal maw opened, and green flames flickered inside, lighting up the hollow sockets of its eyes. For a heartbeat, it looked as if the dragon was about to unleash a devastating breath attack, one that would obliterate everything in its path.

But nothing came. No fire, no acid, no ice. The wyrm appeared incapable of such an attack. It wasn't an actual dragon, just a construct of bone and rage.

Not a real dragon, Xander reminded himself, though his hands still gripped the spear tightly.

Still, it was dangerous. The Boneflame Wyrm let out a guttural roar reverberating across the battlefield, its hollow eyes locking onto Xander. He had its attention now.

The dragon reared back, its claws digging into the ground as it began its charge. Massive, unstoppable, and filled with primal fury. Xander had no time to waste.

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"Xander!" Harvey's voice cut through the chaos as he held off another group of undead.

Xander raised his spear, triggering a Judgemental Strike. Divine energy surged through him, crackling along the length of his weapon. He aimed at the dragon, every fiber of his being focused on the strike.

"Suck it!", With a roar, Xander unleashed the divine strike. A searing bolt of energy exploded from the spearhead as it connected with his target, crashing into the Boneflame Wyrm's skeletal form. The wyrm howled in rage as the divine power seared through its bones, cracking and splintering them under the force of the blow. Its green flames flickered and dimmed, its body trembling with the damage it had taken.

But the strike had only enraged it further.

Xander didn't wait to see what would happen next. He spun on his heel and bolted. Behind him, the wyrm barreled forward, its massive claws tearing through anything in its path. None of it slowed the creature down. The wyrm focused solely on Xander.

"You got its attention with that one! Run, man, run!" Harvey called as Xander barreled past with the wyrm hot on his heels.

The ground shook with each of the wyrm's steps; the rumbling making it difficult to keep his footing. Xander leaped over a fallen beam, nearly losing his balance as he dodged a piece of debris that came crashing down. His legs burned, every step a struggle as the weight of his armor dragged at him, but he forced himself to keep going.

Undead surged around him, stumbling through the battlefield in their mindless hunger. Xander swung his spear as he ran, cutting through the creatures that tried to block his path, but there were too many. He ducked under the outstretched arms of a rotting corpse, narrowly avoiding its grasp as he pushed forward.

The breach in the wall loomed ahead, and Xander's pulse quickened. He could see the defenders still holding the line, desperately trying to keep the undead from flooding into the city. His team was there. Jo and Kane, side by side, fighting back the horde with every ounce of strength they had. But they weren't moving.

"Move!" Xander shouted as he ran, his voice hoarse from the effort. "Get out of the way!"

But they held their ground, swinging swords and casting spells, determined to stop the undead from advancing any further. Didn't they see the giant murder machine right behind him? Didn't they realize what was coming?

Xander's breath caught in his throat as the Boneflame Wyrm drew closer, its skeletal form looming behind him like a shadow of death. "Move!" he shouted again, desperation creeping into his voice.the dragon's wing clipped Kane

At the last possible second, the defenders scattered. Xander watched in horror as Kane was clipped by the wyrm's wing, his body sent tumbling across the ground. But Xander couldn't stop. He had to keep going.

He raced through the breach, his lungs burning, his legs aching with the effort. Behind him, the wyrm crashed through the gap in the wall, sending debris flying as it plowed through the defenders and undead alike. The trap was almost set.

Xander's eyes locked onto the grain warehouse ahead, the building Harvey had pointed out earlier. It was their last hope. He slammed into the door, forcing it open, and stumbled inside.

The air was thick with dust and the scent of grain. He sprinted across the warehouse, heading for the back door, the floor groaning beneath his feet. The wyrm was upon him. He'd run out of time.

The walls shook as the wyrm slammed into the building, its massive bulk tearing through the structure. Xander's winced as he heard the floorboards creaking and splintering beneath the dragon's weight. The building was going to collapse. If he didn't hurry, he'd be going down with it.

He reached the back door, his hand closing around the handle. It was stuck, barred from the outside.

"Damn it!" Xander cursed, slamming his shoulder into the door. The building trembled around him, the ceiling giving way. He could hear the dragon's roars growing louder, the sound of bones grinding against wood and stone as it thrashed inside the collapsing warehouse.

With a final, desperate shove, Xander broke through the door, stumbling out into the street just as the building collapsed behind him. Falling wood and stone echoed through the streets, followed by the deafening thud as the rubble buried the Boneflame Wyrm.

Xander turned, gasping for breath as he watched the warehouse crumble into a pile of debris and bone. The wyrm's green flames flickered one last time before being snuffed out, leaving only a cloud of dust in the aftermath.

Xander groaned as he picked himself up off the ground, his limbs aching from the fall, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His whole body felt like one giant bruise, but it wasn't the worst he'd ever felt. The warehouse was now nothing more than a pile of rubble, the Boneflame Wyrm buried beneath it. For now, at least.

"Xander!" Jo's voice cut through the ragged cheers that had gone up from the defenders. Before he could even fully regain his balance, she was at his side, gripping his arm tightly, her face pale with concern. "Are you okay?"

He nodded, trying to muster a reassuring smile, but all he managed was a grimace. "I'm fine," he said, brushing the dust off his armor. His muscles protested every movement. "Just needed a minute."

Jo's eyes darted over his frame, as if searching for some hidden wound, but Xander could tell she was angry too. Relief and frustration warred on her face.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" she said, crossing her arms, her voice hard but wavering at the edges.

Before Xander could reply, a system message floated briefly in his vision.

The First Battle of Starlight Quest Update! Defenders rejoice! You have successfully destroyed enough of the invading forces to break their morale. The attacking legions have retreated to regroup before their next attack. The next attack will begin in 5:59:59 Victory Conditions: Survive for 48 hours while maintaining the structural integrity of the Starlight stronghold or destroy a significant portion of the enemy forces. The value of each defeated unit will vary based on the type and quality of the enemy combatant. WARNING! Failure to meet either condition will result in the fall of Starlight and its destruction as a safe zone.

The cold, detached words of the system lingered in his mind, but the weight of the message itself hit the hardest. Six hours. That was it. He had hoped that it was a one-and-done event, but in war, hope wasn't a strategy.

Jo's hand tightened on his arm, pulling his attention back to her. She looked at him, her expression softening now. "We did it," she whispered. "But don't you ever do that again."

Xander exhaled, trying to shrug off the exhaustion that clung to him. "It worked, didn't it?" he said with a half-hearted smile, though even he knew the risk he'd taken had been reckless.

"I'm glad you're alive, but you can't keep throwing yourself in front of danger," she said before her lips pressed against his as she kissed him,

Xander opened his mouth to respond as they broke their kiss, but a booming voice interrupted him.

"Nice job outrunning that monster, Xander!" Harvey's familiar bellow echoed from across the street, and a moment later, the big man was beside them, slapping Xander on the back hard enough to make him wince. "I didn't think you'd make it out of that one. That was… what do they call it? Daring? Suicidal?"

Xander chuckled, shaking his head. "Somewhere in between, I think."

Harvey let out a hearty laugh, his grin wide despite the ash and blood that streaked his face. "Of course, you wouldn't have succeeded without someone plowing the road for you. We should mark this occasion. Maybe I'll put it on my calendar so you can thank me again next year."

"You have a calendar?" Xander asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nah," Harvey grinned. "But I could make one. 'Xander's Reckless Day Planner' has a ring to it."

Despite himself, Xander laughed, even though it hurt to do so. Jo shot them both a look, though her earlier frustration seemed to fade. "You two are impossible," she said, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.

"Impossible, but effective," Harvey replied with a wink. "And, as far as I can tell, still alive. So that counts for something."

Xander knew Harvey was right. But that system message meant they weren't out of the woods yet. Six hours wasn't much time to rest, regroup, and heal. The defenders were still scrambling, the injured being carried from the battlefield, and the wall... what was left of it... was in tatters. The next wave would be worse.

"Does anyone else find that message a little wonky? They're undead. You would think they wouldn't have a moral to break," Xander pondered for a moment.

"Some kind of event mechanic, maybe?" Jo responded.

"Could be a bug?" Harvey said before clamping his hand over his mouth.

"Keep that one to yourself, Harv. How about we agree not to look a gift horse in the mouth? I know I'm the one who brought it up, but we probably shouldn't look too closely at this," Xander concluded.

The clatter of debris and hurried voices pulled their attention toward the rubble, where Thalindra's sharp voice cut through the air. "Get those wounded over here! We need people clearing this rubble before the next wave hits!"

Enzo moved quickly beside her, organizing the remaining defenders and directing the medics. "Prioritize the critical injuries first! We need to stabilize as many as we can before the next attack."

Xander watched them for a moment, his chest tightening as he coughed. Every capable person in Starlight was running on fumes, doing everything they could to hold the line. Six hours wasn't enough. Not by a long shot.

"Six hours..." Jo said quietly, as she reached down a hand to help up one defender that had collapsed after the simulation message in exhaustion. "It's not enough time to repair the wall. Not enough time to treat all the wounded."

Xander didn't have the words to make it better. "We'll have to make it work."

"I don't think we have an option for anything else," Jo agreed, her expression grim as her eyes followed a stretcher carrying a wounded soldier away from the battlefield.

The dust had settled, but the aftermath was far from over. Wounded groaned, defenders limped to regroup, and others began clearing the rubble, filling the streets with sounds of the aftermath. The faint smell of smoke and blood still hung heavy in the air.

JT appeared through the chaos, his face drawn and weary, but his usual upbeat energy still shone in the corners of his eyes. He moved with purpose, scanning the battlefield before his gaze settled on Xander, Jo, and Harvey.

"You all look like hell," JT said, with a hint of a smile.

"Fitting," Xander replied, offering a tired grin. "We've been through it."

JT nodded. "We all have." His taking in the damage to the grain building. "But I saw your dragon stunt. I'm not sure we would still be here without it. Mason says we were close to being routed. Glad you made it out of there."

"Just barely," Xander said.

JT's smile faded slightly. "We're not out of this yet." His voice was steady, but the exhaustion was showing. "The next wave will be harder. We need to get everyone ready, and collapsing a building on the dragon is not a repeatable plan."

Xander nodded, feeling the adrenaline leaving his body. "Yeah, I'm going to need a few before we get back to work."

JT clapped his hands together, raising his voice above the noise of the battlefield. "Alright, everyone! Take a break. Get cleaned up, grab some food, and then meet in the war room in one hour. We need to plan for the next attack."

Xander glanced at Jo, who was still scanning the battlefield, her expression hardening with resolve. "You okay?"

Jo gave him a small wink, though the weariness was evident in her eyes. "I'm fine. Just don't go running headfirst into danger again."

Xander chuckled softly, resting his head on her shoulder. "No promises."

For a moment, they stood there, watching as Starlight's defenders moved about, preparing for the next battle. The respite was brief, but brief moments were all they had at the moment.

"Alright, hero. Let's get something to eat and clean up." Jo said, leaning her head back against his for a moment before breaking contact.

As they trudged back to the inn, Xander took a moment to inspect his character sheet. Even though the dragon was just an undead construct, it had still been enough to level him up. Dexterity had been a real-life savior for him, but he didn't want to keep himself well-rounded. With a quick thought, he placed one point in strength for a little more punch and one in Constitution because more health was always better.

Name: Xander Kell Class: Lightbringer Crusader Level: Ten Health: 106/360 Mana: 20/140

Stats Strength: 10 Dexterity: 14 (+10) Intelligence: 7 Constitution: 8 Charisma: 5

Abilities Taunt Disarm Cat's Grace Cat's Sight Spectral Sight Radiant Smite Radiant Aegis Crusader's Verdict Judgemental Strike Light Heal Moderate Heal Sanctify

Skills Spear Combat: 19 Mace Combat: 13 Knife Combat: 1 Thrown Spear: 1 First Aid: 12 Analyze: 7 Light Armor: 19 Leadership: 11 Meditation: 6

It appeared that level ten was a bit of a milestone, as he had a new ability. A moderate heal spell was good timing, as the party's health pools were getting to a point where his light heal wasn't getting meaningful results during combat. Besides the new ability, there was a blinking status notification fighting for his attention.

The Sacred Bond: Seek Your Enternal Steed Question Notification! A Crusader's journey is incomplete without a companion who shares their unyielding resolve. The time has come for you to seek a steed worthy of your sacred mission, one whose heart beats with the same fire of devotion that fuels your own. Find a suitable steed and prove your worth by passing the Trials of Loyalty, Courage, and Faith, each testing the core of your conviction. Rewards: Radiant Charger

Accept? Yes/No

Quest Update! The Sacred Bond: Seek Your Eternal Steed quest is an automatically accepted class-based quest.

Xander snorted at the quest notification. He wasn't sure why there was an option to accept or decline quests; it seemed like there was always a follow-up message showing that the quest was automatically accepted for one reason or another. He gave a second snort at the thought of running off in the middle of the siege of Starlight to find a pony. That would have to wait until later… if there was a later.

"What's so funny?" Jo asked as she walked beside him.

"I just leveled up and received a class quest at level ten to find a mount," Xander chuckled.

"Not going to lie. That's pretty neat, but yeah, the timing could be better. That's not something very helpful at the moment," Jo said before her eyes glazed over, looking at her own status. "I leveled up as well."

"Congrats!" Xander said as he opened the door for her. "Enough talk for now. I'm exhausted, hungry, and covered in something I don't even want to think about."

"Truth," she responded before climbing the stairs. "It looks like they're putting sandwiches out. Shower, then grab a sandwich or two while we return to the war room. Meet you back down here in fifteen?"

"Sounds good," He said, giving her one last kiss.

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