Chapter 8 - Imperial Vanguard Crumbles

Void Manor's alarms screamed as imperial vanguards breached the mist veil—fifty elite lancers on armored griffins, banners fluttering with the Emperor's golden eagle. Their captain, a grizzled B-rank with earth-shaking hammer, bellowed orders while scanning for Alex. "The Dragon Anomaly dies today! For Valeria and the Throne!"Alex stood on the central spire, Eclipse Abyss Inferno Sovereign perched beside him, realm gates rippling air. Pyra's flames lit the fog red; Lira's shadows wove traps below. Perfect test for the pact. His SSS-fused core hummed, stats tripled since the forest.[Siege Alert: Wave 1/3. Evolve Defenses? Imperial Scrap Bounty High.]"Pyra, inferno wall! Lira, bind the flanks!" Alex commanded. Pyra slammed palms down—flame barriers erupted, charring griffin wings mid-dive. Lira's Void Thunder Binds lashed out, shocking riders into freefall. Eclipse gated above the chaos, Apocalypse Dome descending like a black sun. Essence drained en masse; griffins withered, lancers mummified.The captain roared, hammer summoning a stone avalanche. Alex Thunder-Phased through boulders, Abyssal Lance—now Abyss Inferno—clashing metal. Sparks flew; Alex's drain siphoned earth essence. "Your Emperor hunts scraps. Become mine."Hammer cracked under superior speed. [Essence Harvest: Earthshaker (Lv.2), +Hammer Mastery. Wave 1 Cleared: +500 Spirit Stones.] Captain knelt, broken. "Mercy, Sovereign... intel: Valeria rallies 10k at Dawn Fortress."Loot piled—griffin feathers (flight scrap?), imperial armors. Alex fed feathers to Eclipse: [Chain Evo: Storm Abyss Sovereign (SSS- Rank). New Trait: Aerial Gate (Sky Teleports).]Wave 2 crashed: arcane archers raining mana arrows. Pyra phoenix-dove, absorbing blasts; Lira phased through, slitting throats. Alex gated mid-air, lance sweeping squads. Pyra pressed close post-kill, breath hot. "Your power... binds me tighter." Lira smirked, fingers trailing his arm. Harem loyalty climbing.[Waifu Sync: Pyra Fire Boost +20%, Lira Shadow Amp +15%.]Wave 3: Siege beasts—iron rhinos stampeding. Eclipse grew massive, Storm Breath hurricane-devouring the herd. Alex pierced the alpha rhino: [Beast Core Absorbed. Unlock: Mount Evolution Line.]Vanguard routed, survivors swearing fealty. Dual Sects swelled—100 strong now. But horizon glowed: Valeria's full army marched.[Quest Update: Dawn Fortress Assault. Infiltrate or Siege? Reward: Imperial Vault.]Alex mounted Eclipse, waifus flanking. "Infiltrate. Scrap their Emperor's toys." Gates hummed—sky raid inbound.