Seed of the Oakspire (Progression Epic Fantasy) [Wriathon Finisher!]

2025 Spring Writathon Finisher! Yelden Valley has long prospered beneath the golden glow of the Oakspire, a massive, ancient oak tree whose magic holds back the feral beasts and horrors of the Deadlands. But the Oakspire's protection is failing. Shadows stir in the north. Ghouls, more cunning and coordinated than ever recorded, march under an unseen banner, testing the valley's defenses and leaving trails of death in their wake. Val, a battle hardened ranger, is thrust onto the front lines of this burgeoning war. From ambushes led by intelligent wights to desperate sieges against impossible odds, he and his dwindling company fight to uncover the source of the infection. They face not just mindless undead, but corrupted monstrosities, necromantic ogres, and a deadly foe from legend orchestrating the chaos from the depths of the Deadlands. As villages fall and hope dwindles, a strange and ancient power awakens within Val. It's a force tied to life itself, allowing him to mend shattered bodies and bolster his allies, its origins shrouded in mostly forgotten legends of the valley's creation. But can this nascent ability turn the tide against an enemy that commands legions of the dead and wields necromancy potent enough to challenge the Oakspire itself? Upload schedule is Monday and Thursday with 3-5k word chapters.