Instead, Kael slammed the Fire Elemental cores into the Magic Shield Generator. A dome of flickering orange energy erupted, encasing the hut and the spring. Nova took to the skies, raining down magic missiles, while Kael used his knowledge of the terrain to lure the Rexes into a pitfall trap he’d spent the afternoon digging.

"You're building on a mana vein," Nova’s voice crackled through the proximity chat. "The Shadow Legion will be here by nightfall to claim it. You should pack up."

They returned to Kael’s hut just as three riders on high-level Rexes appeared on the ridge. These were the "Shadow Legion," a dominant tribe known for strip-mining servers. "Hand over the spring, newbie," their leader typed.

Frustrated by the unexpected resistance and the drain on their resources, the Legion retreated into the darkness. A New Horizon