The journey home was peaceful.
For the first time since entering the Ancient Necropolis...
No one felt the overwhelming pressure of countless watching eyes.
The dead forest was still.
The gray leaves no longer seemed threatening.
Even the cold wind had softened.
The expedition marched in silence.
Each person was lost in their own thoughts.
...
Ben finally broke the silence.
"So..."
"What actually happened in there?"
George immediately leaned closer.
"I've been wondering the same thing."
"Did you really meet the Eternal King?"
Sam nodded.
"I did."
Everyone's eyes widened.
Dennis folded his arms.
"And?"
Sam thought for a moment.
"He wasn't the monster I expected."
"He was a king."
"A king who protected his people until the very end."
No one spoke.
Zora looked at Sam again.
"I can still feel it..."
"The mana around you has changed."
"It feels..."
She paused.
"...ancient."
Sam smiled but didn't answer.
Some things...
Were better left unsaid.
...
Two days later...
The walls of Base 101 appeared on the horizon.
The guards standing atop the watchtowers immediately recognized the returning expedition.
"Commander!"
"The Commander has returned!"
The bells rang throughout the fortress.
Citizens poured into the streets.
Children ran toward the gates.
Workers abandoned their stations.
The massive gates slowly opened.
RUMBLE...
The expedition marched into Base 101.
Thunderous cheers erupted.
"They're back!"
"Our Commander returned!"
"They did it!"
Ben laughed.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this."
George waved enthusiastically at everyone.
Kael simply smiled.
Even Dennis looked impressed.
"Your people trust you."
Sam looked around the bustling streets.
The smiling faces.
The repaired homes.
The soldiers standing proudly along the roads.
This...
Was why he fought.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Welcome home.
Sam smiled.
"It's good to be back."
Just then—
DING!
A familiar golden light appeared above the center of Base 101.
Sam's smile disappeared.
Every Commander knew that light.
It wasn't local.
It belonged to the System.
The golden screen rapidly expanded.
Higher...
Higher...
Until it stretched across the entire sky.
Not just above Base 101.
Across the whole world.
People everywhere stopped what they were doing.
Every Commander looked upward.
The System's voice echoed across the heavens.
---
WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT
A Hidden Legacy has been claimed.
Humanity has taken another step toward survival.
Calculating World Progress...
Please wait...
---
The citizens stared at the sky in stunned silence.
Ben slowly turned toward Sam.
"...That wouldn't have anything to do with you..."
Sam rubbed the back of his head.
"...Maybe."
Before Ben could respond—
The golden screen changed again.
---
World Progress: 11%
New World Events Unlocked...
Scanning...
Preparing Announcement...
---
The screen flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then a single line appeared.
---
The Age of Kings has begun.
---
A deafening silence spread across System World.
Far beyond Base 101...
Far beyond the Ancient Necropolis...
Hidden eyes slowly opened.
Ancient powers that had slept since before humanity's arrival...
Had finally begun to awaken.