Aiden’s fortress(dusk)

The fortress is eerily quiet as Aiden walks through the worn-out paths. His body is still wracked with pain from the status abnormalities left by the Shadow General, each step a reminder of his near-death experience. His once sharp gaze now carries the weight of exhaustion, but he knows that he can’t afford to rest. It was an painful experience as abnormality status has taken quite a toll on his body, it was never like this wh

At the village square.

Old Man Kellan approaches Aiden, his face etched with concern.He was a dwarf, his stature dwarfed even by the average human, but his strength and skill were anything but diminutive. His beard, a tangled mass of dark wiry hair, framed a face etched with the lines of a life spent laboring over molten metal.

Kellan: “The villagers... they still whisper about the Shadow General’s attack. They’re scared, Aiden. Some have even thought about leaving.”

Aiden clenches his fists, frustration gnawing at him.

Aiden: “I know. I’m trying… but it’s hard to regain their trust after that disaster. It's understandable why no one wants to–”

Kellan interrupts Aiden mid sentence. 

Kellan(frustratingly): “It’s not just trust, lad. They need to believe you can protect them. The fortress, it’s our only defense... and the villagers, they’ve heard of the slave traders lurking nearby. They’ve been snatching our people in the dead of night.”

Aiden’s eyes narrow. This was his chance.

Aiden: “Tell the villagers to stay inside tonight. I’ll deal with those slave traders myself.”

Outside the fortress walls, midnight.

The air is cold, filled with tension. Aiden, despite his weakened state from the status abnormalities—his mana depleted, his reflexes dulled—pushes on. His mind flashes back to the villagers he failed to protect before. This time, he couldn’t afford to lose.

Suddenly, shadows move in the distance. A group of men, around twelve in number, creep toward the village. The slave traders.

Slaver’s Captain: “Today’s Slave hunt is going to be a breeze! Alberen has the weakest defences out of all the places we have hunted!!!”

“Slaves are money!!! Should you Tarnish the products or fulfill your own desires, you will end up as Monster bait!!”

All the slavers were excited and high spirited , then a voice came out of the crowd reassuring their captain.

Slaver 1: “This isn’t our first rodeo, Captain!”

Slaver’s Captain: “Yes! Now, go get the slaves!!!”

Aiden steps forward, confronting them head-on.

Aiden: “You think this is your hunting ground?!!”

“You dare come to my land and pull this shit?!!”  Aiden unsheathes his rusty sword 

“Your lives are over as of today!! ”

Slaver 2: (laughing) “Look at him! He’s barely standing.”

Aiden grits his teeth. His Time Distortion ability is still on cooldown, and the Base Keeper’s Relic isn’t granting him much help in this state. But he’s not giving up. The fight begins, and Aiden’s sword clashes against the traders. He struggles, his body sluggish, his movements not as sharp as they once were.

One of the slave traders with his cutlass slashes at him, cutting into his side. Aiden stumbles, his breath ragged.

Inside the fortress walls.

The villagers watch from their windows, fear gripping them. Lina, the only one who still believed in Aiden, runs to the square, rallying the others.

Lina: “Aiden is out there fighting for us! If we leave him now, we’ll be slaves tomorrow! Are we going to let him die out there alone?”

All the villagers present seemed to be hesitant and it looked like Lina’s word ain’t doing much to boost the morale. Ten amidst the crowd Old man Garret steps up and also tries to convince others.

Garret: “That young lad is fighting out there…. For who? What would affect him if some of us goes missing, it's not like you all are related to him!”

Garret approached Marek and looked in his eye and asked him in a loud and firm voice.

“What is it?! You all tell me for what purpose he is fighting out there desperately!? For some selfish people who can't even stand up for their own good”

“Let me tell y'all, if that boy dies today all that is left for you is a life full of misery and regret.”

Garrett snatched the shovel from the haystack, its wooden handle rough against his calloused fingers. He strode toward the gate, ready to lend Aiden a hand.

The villagers hesitated, but then slowly, they stepped forward. One by one, they grab whatever they can find—stones, farming tools, anything that can serve as a weapon.

The battlefield.

Aiden is on his knees, blood dripping from his wounds. The slave traders smirk, closing in for the kill.

Slaver 3: “Looks like your time’s up, Base Keeper.”

Suddenly, stones fly through the air, hitting the slave traders. A villager with a rusty pitchfork charges in, stabbing one of the traders in the side.

Villager: “You won’t take us without a fight!”

The villagers flood the area, their numbers overwhelming the traders. The chaos gives Aiden a brief reprieve. He rises to his feet, using the distraction to strike down one of the traders from behind.

The battle rages on, and despite their lack of combat skill, the villagers’ determination turns the tide. Together, they manage to kill several of the slave traders. Some of the remaining traders panic and try to flee, with only two or three managing to escape into the night.

The village square, dawn.

The villagers stand in silence, the bodies of the slain slave traders scattered around them. Aiden leans on his sword, barely able to stand, but alive.

Old Man Kellan steps forward, his voice solemn.

Kellan: “You’ve saved us, lad… ”

Aiden (Trembling voice): “I didn't do anything, it was your own effort and courage that took them down..”

Kellan: “You say that but it was because of you that we were able to fight against them, your resilience , and determination to save us gave us that courage to fight them back.”

The villagers murmur in agreement. Slowly, Aiden can feel their trust being restored, but he knows it’s fragile. Lina walks over, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Lina: “We believe in you, Aiden. Don’t lose hope.”

A darkened room, somewhere far from the fortress.

The runaway slave traders kneel before a shadowy figure sitting on a lavish throne, surrounded by half-naked women who look dazed and broken. The figure is tall, imposing, with a cruel smile playing on his lips.

Slave Trader Chief: “So… the Base Keeper fought back, did he? Interesting.”

The shadowy figure leans forward, his eyes gleaming with malice.

Slave Trader Chief: “Let him have his little victory. Soon, he’ll realize who truly controls this land.”

Sound of the trader’s trembling voices echoes in the room.

End of Episode 6