I Can Extract Game Items

As the final seconds ticked away, Dorian raised his staff one last time, and a blinding pillar of light shot into the sky.

--- Continue your saga on empire

System Notification:

[ Mission Complete: Protect Dorian Emberfall ]

[ Objective Achieved: Ruined Castle Location Unveiled ]

---

Dorian turned to the gathered players and knights. "The ruined castle has been revealed. We march immediately. The sorcerer's reign ends tonight."

The players erupted in cheers, momentarily forgetting their exhaustion as they prepared for the final confrontation. Lilo grinned while nudging Ezran with her elbow.

"See? I told you we'd survive."

Ezran gave a shaky laugh. "Barely…"

Boris hoisted his axe onto his shoulder. "Let's finish this."

The army regrouped and began to march in the direction of the light which was pointing a path to the ruined castle.

...

...

(( Thirty Minutes Later ))

The ruined castle towers silhouetted against the blood-red sky.

The very air around it seemed alive with dark energy, pulsing in rhythm with the monolith far in the distance. The battle outside its gates had already descended into chaos. Knights, players, and mages clashed with Malrik's summoned undead and shadowy constructs.

Standing atop the highest parapet of the ruined castle, Malrik gazed down at the battlefield, shrouded in flowing black and crimson robes.

His pale yet sharp face was illuminated by the glowing runes etched into his skin. In his hand, a twisted staff crackled with malevolent energy.

"You think you can stop me?" Malrik's voice echoed with arrogance. "You are mere insects before my power. I have waited centuries for this moment, and nothing will stand in my way!"

---

System Notification:

[ City Boss Encounter: Malrik, The Dark Sorcerer (Level 85) ]

[ Warning: Malrik is protected by an advanced barrier. Reduce his defenses before attempting direct attacks. ]

---

The level 75 mage, Dorian Emberfall, and the leader of the army, Sir Verek, a muscular warrior clad in gleaming silver armor, stood at the forefront of the battle.

They were the kingdom's best hope, but even their combined might seemed like a flicker against Malrik's overwhelming power.

Dorian raised his staff, summoning a massive wave of fire, the size of a truck. It surged toward Malrik, consuming everything in their path.

Malrik laughed as he raised his staff high. A translucent barrier materialized around him, and the flames shattered against it like glass. "Pathetic," he sneered. "You dare to challenge me with such weak magic?"

Sir Verek bellowed while charging forward with his greatsword which emitted a brilliant blue glow. He leaped into the air, bringing the blade down with enough force to shake the ground. The strike connected with the barrier, causing it to flicker for a brief moment, but it held firm.

---

System Notification:

[ Malrik's Barrier is absorbing energy from the monolith. Disrupt the connection to weaken his defenses. ]

---

Meanwhile, Lilo, Boris, and Ezran had joined the fray, fighting through waves of undead and shadow constructs to reach the castle.

"Why do the bad guys always have to pick the creepiest places to hang out?" Lilo quipped before firing an arrow that exploded into a cluster of shadowy skeletons. "Couldn't he have picked a nice beach or something?"

Boris swung his massive axe, cutting down another wave of enemies. "Less talking, more smashing!" he shouted with a fierce grin despite the chaos.

Ezran stood at the rear, casting frost and fire spells in quick succession. "This is insane," he muttered while wiping sweat from his brow. "Even with all of us, we're barely holding the line."

"Welcome to city-level bosses," Lilo replied before dodging an incoming blast of dark energy. "It's not supposed to be easy!"

---

Malrik raised his staff, chanting in a guttural language. Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, snaring knights and players alike. Those caught in the tendrils cried out as their life force was drained, feeding the sorcerer's power.

Dorian acted quickly, summoning a massive storm of lightning that tore through the tendrils, freeing those trapped. "Keep attacking! We have to weaken him!"

Sir Verek nodded before rallying the troops. "Knights, focus on the constructs! Adventurers, disrupt his connection to the monolith!"

---

Lilo, Boris, and Ezran fought their way closer to Malrik amongst the multitude of players.

Their teamwork shone as they combined their abilities. Lilo's explosive arrows cleared paths through the undead, Boris tanked the shadow constructs with his sheer brute force, and Ezran's frost spells slowed their enemies, buying precious time.

As they neared the castle, a massive shadow construct emerged—a towering beast of black mist and spiky armor. Its level, 45, hovered above it, marking it as a mini-boss.

"Great," Boris grumbled. "Because this wasn't hard enough already."

"Stop whining and hit it!" Lilo shouted while firing a flurry of arrows at the beast's glowing core.

Ezran gulped but steadied himself, summoning a massive fireball. "On it!"

The three of them worked together to bring the construct down.

Their coordinated attacks finally shattered it into a cloud of black mist. They barely had time to catch their breath before another wave of enemies surged forward.

---

Back at the castle, Malrik's power seemed to grow with each passing moment. His barrier flickered as players targeted the monolith's connection, but it still held strong.

Dorian and Sir Verek pushed forward, using their combined might to force Malrik to go on the defensive—briefly.

"You've entertained me enough," Malrik voiced with a low and dangerous tone. He raised his staff, and the sky darkened. Bolts of black lightning rained down, scattering the army and sending players scrambling for cover.

Dorian stepped forward with his staff glowing as he began casting a massive spell. "This ends now, Malrik!" he roared.

Malrik smirked as his eyes narrowed. "Does it?"

"You seem to have overestimated yourself..."

With a flick of his wrist, Malrik unleashed a spear of dark energy that tore through the air with unprecedented speed.

It arrived before Dorian instantaneously who was still chanting.

The level 75 mage gasped as the energy struck him directly, interrupting his chant.

He screamed as his body disintegrated into ash.

The battlefield went silent for a moment as the realization of what had just happened sunk in.

---

System Notification:

[ Warning: Dorian Emberfall has been defeated. Threat level increased. ]

---