The subterranean chamber of Ironclad Fortress hummed with a deafening vibration of energy. Dozens of pure Aetherium crystals were piled atop a stone table, emitting a blinding, deep blue glow. Alden Vance sat cross-legged in the center of the room, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he took a deep breath."Are you sure your body won't explode, Alden?" Garrick Ironwill asked in a heavy voice. His ancient mechanical arm hissed, venting hot steam as he crossed his arms. "These two hundred raw Aetherium crystals are enough to obliterate an entire magic tower if released unchecked. Even a high-tier mage would burn to ash trying to digest them all at once."Lyra Sylvaine shifted the roll of logistics maps beside her, her silver eyes gazing intently at Alden's biological structure. "In theory, an Eos-Vaelhart human body would be instantly obliterated. But Alden's biology is a complete anomaly. His physical cells don't channel magic; instead, they devour and condense it like a black

The Kryos ice mountains presented a cold, terrifying sight. Behind the thin blizzard sweeping through the border region of the Kryos Mine stood a fortress of black stone carved with high-tier magical spells. That fortress was the heart of the Sovereign Concord's Aetherium supply, a place where thousands of human slaves were forced to dig crystals to the death to power Grand General Vaelor's Dimensional Destruction Weapon."This infiltration must be done quickly, Alden," Lyra Sylvaine whispered while analyzing the protective spell formation through her crystal spyglass. "The barrier at the main gate is Aegis Volcanus. A tier-six protective spell designed to melt intruders before they even touch the fortress fence."Garrick Ironwill adjusted the position of his ancient mechanical arm, which creaked softly. "We can set Aetherium gunpowder explosives on the west side to draw the fortress's attention, Alden. You can break through the underground drainage system with a small team."Alden Va

Red dust and the stench of blood mingled in the humid air of the Kryos Mine. Amidst piles of silver armor shattered to pieces, Alden Vance stood tall. Faint smoke rose from the skin of his arms, which were now adorned with faint golden lines—the physical mark of Stage Four Somatic Resonance, Apex Skeleton. His bones were now as hard as Aetherium steel, capable of enduring thousands of tons of pressure without taking his life.Around him, hundreds of Ashen Vanguard soldiers and former human slaves knelt or stood frozen in place. They no longer looked at Alden as an ordinary human, but as a figure crossing the line between legend and sheer destruction."Bastard... did you really destroy Inquisitor Vaelen with your bare hands?" Garrick Ironwill muttered. The massively muscled veteran leader stepped closer, his ancient mechanical arm creaking softly as he wiped cold sweat from his forehead. "I've seen dozens of high-tier mages die at his hands over the years, and you... you crushed him li

Alden Vance's footsteps no longer left ordinary tracks in the arid soil of the Deadlands. Every time his heels struck the ground, a small shockwave exploded, hurling dust and stones into the air like cannon fire. With his Level Four Somatic Resonance structure—the Apex Skeleton—his bones were as hard as microscopic steel, constantly absorbing Aetherium from the atmosphere. His speed surpassed the natural limits of living beings. A fierce wind howled against his face, yet Alden didn't even blink.In Alden's memory, Commander Daxus's words before his head was crushed still echoed clearly. One hundred thousand humans from all across the border region were being gathered at Oakhaven Fortress. They weren't being used as forced labor, but as fuel. A sacrificial offering of pure blood to stabilize the Aetherial Veins, which had fractured due to the greed of the Sovereigns."One hundred thousand lives," Alden whispered in a cold voice. His eyes glowed a faded red, radiating a purely lethal au

Black smoke curled up from the ruins of the main gate of Oakhaven Fortress. The fifty-meter-high stone wall that had once stood majestically as a symbol of the Sovereign Concord's dominance was now shattered into pieces. Among the still-smoldering rubble, hundreds of thousands of humans poured out in trembling steps. Tears of emotion, fear, and lingering trauma mingled in the air as they saw the free sky for the first time after years of enslavement.Heavy footsteps echoed over the ruins. The familiar hum of ancient machinery sounded amidst the noise. Garrick Ironwill, leading a pioneer battalion of the Ashen Vanguard, stepped forward through the thick dust. His giant mechanical arm emitted hot steam, while his sharp eyes stared at the scene of slaughter before him with unhidden wonder."By the ancestors..." Garrick called out in his booming, deep voice. He stopped exactly five steps in front of Alden Vance. "Alden... did you really level this damn place all by yourself?"Alden stood