The valley shook.
Blue flames erupted from every crack covering the Mana Crystal Golem's body.
Its shattered Mana Crystal Heart no longer pulsed steadily.
Instead...
It burned.
Like a dying star refusing to fade.
---
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
The Regional Boss has entered its final phase.
Remaining life force is being converted into combat power.
Estimated duration...
Two minutes.
Sam's expression hardened.
"Then we end this in two."
---
The Mana Crystal Golem roared.
ROOOOOOOOOOOAR!!
The sound echoed across the mountains.
Every remaining monster in the valley stopped fighting.
One by one...
They lowered their heads.
Not in fear.
In mourning.
They had accepted their king's final battle.
---
Without warning...
The Mana Crystal Golem vanished.
BOOOOOOM!!
The earth exploded beneath Sam's feet.
"Shadow Step!"
Sam disappeared.
The colossal fist crashed into the ground.
The impact split the valley apart.
A canyon nearly thirty meters long opened beneath the force of the strike.
Even the Goblin Warlord King was forced back several steps.
Leon narrowed his eyes from the shadows.
"...It's even faster."
---
"Commander!"
Rex warned.
Above!
Sam looked up.
The Mana Crystal Golem had leaped high into the sky.
Its enormous body descended like a falling mountain.
Sam smiled.
"Perfect."
"Vertical Instant Slash!"
A crescent blade of compressed mana surged upward.
BOOOOOOM!!
The attack struck the golem's shoulder.
Instead of stopping...
It only altered its course.
The Regional Boss slammed into the valley floor.
CRAAAAAAAAASH!!
Crystal pillars shattered.
Dust swallowed the battlefield.
---
The moment the dust rose...
A massive figure burst through it.
The Goblin Warlord King.
Its crystal war maul glowed with brilliant blue runes.
"ROOOOOOOAR!!"
It swung with every ounce of strength in its evolved body.
"Crystal Breaker!"
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The war maul crashed directly into the Mana Crystal Golem's chest.
The shattered crystal armor exploded completely.
Stone fragments scattered across the valley.
The Regional Boss staggered backward.
For the first time...
Its true core lay exposed.
---
"Now!"
Sam shouted.
The Goblin Mage floated into the air.
Blue mana condensed above its staff.
One Mana Lance...
Became three.
Then six.
Then twelve.
Even Leon looked up in surprise.
"...It evolved again?"
Inside his mind...
Rex answered.
Negative.
Skill mastery increased through combat.
The Goblin Mage lowered its staff.
"Mana Lance!"
WHOOSH!
Twelve brilliant spears streaked across the battlefield.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
One after another...
They pierced the exposed core.
Cracks spread across the crystal.
The Mana Crystal Golem let out a roar unlike any before.
A roar of pain.
---
The giant turned wildly.
Its massive arm swept toward the Goblin Mage.
Before it could connect—
A shadow flashed across the battlefield.
Leon.
He appeared beneath the golem's arm.
Twin daggers gleamed.
"Phantom Sever."
SHING!
The tendons of crystal binding the giant's arm were sliced apart.
The attack didn't stop the arm...
But it slowed it.
That single heartbeat...
Was enough.
The Goblin Mage drifted clear.
Leon vanished back into the shadows before the giant could retaliate.
The Elite Scouts erupted from concealment.
Like ghosts.
Each assassin struck an elite monster attempting to reinforce the boss.
Necks were cut.
Vital points pierced.
Before the monsters understood what had happened...
The scouts had already disappeared.
The battlefield belonged to the shadows.
---
Sam's eyes never left the exposed core.
"This ends now."
Mana surged through his body.
Attack Chain.
One strike.
Three strikes.
Seven strikes.
Fifteen strikes.
Every slash landed upon the fractured crystal.
The cracks spread faster.
The Mana Crystal Golem desperately raised its remaining fist.
The Goblin Warlord King intercepted it.
CLAAAAAAAAANG!!
It planted its feet.
Blue mana erupted around its crystal armor.
"King's Rally!"
A thunderous roar burst from its chest.
The Goblin Mage's mana surged.
The Elite Scouts moved faster.
Even Sam felt renewed strength flow through his body.
The Goblin Warlord King smiled.
A true king...
Standing beside its Commander.
---
Inside his mind...
Rex's voice rang out.
Commander!
Core integrity below five percent!
Destroy it now!
Sam inhaled deeply.
His sword began vibrating violently.
The same unstable power gathered once again.
Prototype Combination Skill...
Activated.
Blue lightning danced along the blade.
The valley fell silent.
Every eye turned toward the Commander of Base 101.
Sam smiled.
"For Base 101..."
He vanished.
The decisive strike...
Descended.