Sole Castle Lord (1)

He hadn't stopped hunting all night. Aside from a short nap at dawn, he'd holed up in the hobgoblin village all day, solely focused on leveling up. The result of that effort? He'd hit his target of level 274.

No point grinding more—there wasn't enough time before the siege to level again—so he logged off the hunt and headed back to the village. Since he was jumping back into sieges, it was time to form a guild first.

"This guild name feels way better than the last one, somehow."

He'd put real thought into it since the plan called for keeping it active at least a month. Taesung, Darius, and his crew—they still had a mountain of rage coming their way, and it hadn't cooled one bit. Sandro planned to savor the revenge like a gourmet feast: slow, deliberate, and leaving nothing out.

Last time it was Bernstein Castle. This time? Snatching both Rozentas Castle and Kaljen Castle in one go!

To avoid any mix-ups, he'd unified the guild ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mark per Phoenix's request. No big deal since marks could be swapped anytime, but this one clicked perfectly: a phoenix silhouette with wings spread wide. It kinda resembled his pet dragon Ferari.

Whoosh—the space mage teleport dropped him here, surprisingly quiet. Nothing like the chaos of Bernstein Castle he'd just left. Hard to believe this was a siege site ten minutes from kickoff.

No wonder no streams are covering it. Probably the least hyped siege of all castles.

But today, he and Ferari would forge a legend here—one broadcasters would regret missing forever.

As always before battle, he checked his status one last time. With a few more legendary items equipped lately, it barely looked like his anymore—so stacked. Especially the magic power and MP; off the charts, even top mage rankers couldn't touch it.

Stats scaled: every 100 points boosted effects by 10% of base. Under 100, 1 magic power gave +10 MP and +1 magic defense. At 1200+, it was +22 MP and +2.2 magic defense per point. At nearly 300, the power was showing—pure magic power build from his fresh char paying off big.

"Finally, time to feel this insane magic defense in action!"

High magic defense made him a tank, but a mage counter too. No weaknesses—a true broken char, status screaming it now.

He hadn't expected Hellfire in person anyway. His sudden appearance would've tipped off the defenders. And with thin numbers, couldn't spare randos. Hidden Card, top tanker, perfect for breaching to the inner gate.

Drop the obelisk, siege ends instantly. Blitz, cap it, then aid elsewhere—smart to commit a heavy hitter.

Does he have to talk like that to feel better? What a prick.

Forced apology, but still salty. Whatever—business. Do the job, collect pay, done.

Beyond the bridge overlooking Rozentas inner keep, he blended with the sparse crowd awaiting siege start. Unlike other sieges ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with thousands, spectators here barely hit a hundred. Phoenix's 200 hid in other villages for surprise assault.

Slim numbers, but best ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to purge spies. Op at 15 mins post-start—when they think it'll end easy again.

Brap! Bra-bra-brap!

The inner horn blared, signaling a hectic hour ahead. A month later, he declared war for Tiese's first—and last—legendary siege.

After today... the world would remember Sandro!

Reactivating stealth reset cooldown, then he stepped onto the sole path: the bridge. Ten meters wide, fifty long, arched steel span. While other castles raged, here it was dead silent before the gate.

Endless AoE barrages earned it "Despair Bridge." He crossed solo, stealthed.

No gate guards spotted him up to the door. Leaving the sealed steel behind, he slipped the narrow wall gap to the rear.

Pre-scouted route: opposite main gate. Castle on sheer cliffs, defenses focused on the player-only entry. Rear to NPCs only; users mobbed the front.

Sky access only—solid strat. With detect mages everywhere, no way they expect a stealth thief strolling by. But mine's 8-star!

Cliff-wall crevice led rear: NPC archers as predicted. Shadow Step range: 26m at 8-star. Wall-hug to strike easy.

Whoosh! Target archer missed him visually. But neighbor turned—stealth reset, vanished.

Low def/HP thief, but skilled control? Nightmare to kill. Terrain + timing = god-tier skill, complaints be damned.

Tip-toeing past soldiers, up the wall. Plaza peek: 100 tanks/heals/archers barricaded obelisk.

Damn, empty house for real. That few on D? No wonder they say it'd never be retaken if lost!

Bernstein obelisk? 2k+ Taesung barricade, four squads split. Rozentas? Playground.

Gate tough, sure—but that skimpy? Still, smart to pull obelisk guards for gate max.

Worked till now. But a month after my war dec? Ignored me completely. Time to make 'em regret sticking to it.

Inner gate reached, he crept first tower stairs. Four towers total, 50m spaced pairs flanking gate.

Hellfire's double-check reason: Titan wipes one pair easy, but crossing for others? Ground run, through tank/dps fire. Lone titan surprise? Suicide rush before full clear.

Valid worry. But not his—Luitus summoning elsewhere today.

"Man, so boring again. Everyone hyped for Bernstein retake."

"Wanna go there? Siege pull, dying nonstop? Nah, safe farm here best."

"Sieges drop no gear anyway, guild comps. We join Taesung to slack? High-end talent gossiping = waste."

"Yeah yeah, next go siege then. Mages lining up for this."

"Nah... just too dull. Not quitting this spot, heh."

Open-top square tower: 30 chattering mages packed tight, no tanks—logical with ground dps below.

120 total raining AoE on bridge foes: Despair earned.

Hellfire thought of me for this setup. Titan here? Mages vaporized.

But siege vids showed no titan need. On-site confirmed.

'Cause I'm your mage-slaying mana shield thief!

Tankier than insane def, mana absorb via divine swords—mages = infinite pots.

So lax, no detects even.

Five mins eavesdropping, signal hit.