The golden light swallowed the heavens.
Not only above the Mana Crystal Valley...
But across the entire world.
Every Commander.
Every kingdom.
Every survivor.
Looked toward the sky.
The System...
Had witnessed history.
---
Inside the Mana Crystal Valley...
A familiar sound echoed inside Sam's mind.
DING!
Then another.
And another.
The notifications flooded in faster than he could read them.
---
Regional Boss Defeated
Mana Crystal Golem
Rewards Calculating...
---
First Regional Boss Defeat
Historical Achievement Confirmed.
Calculating Global Rewards...
---
Hidden Legacy Holder Bonus Detected.
Additional Rewards Available.
---
Kingdom Contribution Detected.
Calculating Allied Rewards...
---
Rex spoke calmly.
Commander...
Please remain still.
The System is distributing rewards.
---
Golden pillars of light descended from the sky.
One surrounded Sam.
Another enveloped the Goblin Warlord King.
Another embraced the Goblin Mage.
A fourth expanded to cover Leon and the eight Elite Scouts.
The valley glowed like daylight.
---
Sam felt an overwhelming surge of energy flow through his body.
Every exhausted muscle recovered.
Every trace of fatigue disappeared.
His mana expanded once again.
DING!
---
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
Level Up!
---
Commander Level Increased.
New Stat Points Awarded.
New Commander Rewards Pending.
---
Sam smiled.
"So this is what defeating a Regional Boss feels like..."
---
Nearby...
The Goblin Warlord King stood motionless.
Its crystal armor radiated brilliant blue light.
DING!
---
Goblin Warlord King
Level Increased.
Level Increased.
Level Increased.
New Skill Mastery Achieved.
King's Rally Level Increased.
Crystal Breaker Level Increased.
---
The mighty undead bowed its head toward Sam.
"My strength..."
"...belongs to my Commander."
Sam nodded proudly.
"You've earned every bit of it."
---
The Goblin Mage floated silently.
Blue crystal mana spiraled around its staff.
The surrounding crystal fragments lifted into the air.
DING!
---
Goblin Mage
Level Increased.
Level Increased.
Level Increased.
Mana Lance Advanced to Level 2.
New Passive Acquired.
Mana Affinity.
Crystal-element spells consume less mana and gain increased power.
---
The Goblin Mage's soul flames burned brighter than ever.
Its mastery over crystal mana had become permanent.
---
Several meters away...
Leon stared at the blue screen before him.
For the first time since receiving his class...
His System spoke with unusual excitement.
---
Requirements Fulfilled.
Outstanding Battlefield Performance Confirmed.
Elite Scout Leadership Confirmed.
Humanity's First Regional Boss Victory Confirmed.
Class Evolution Available.
Current Class:
Assassin
Eligible Evolution:
Phantom Assassin
---
Leon smiled.
"...It's finally time."
Without hesitation...
He selected...
YES.
---
Darkness gathered around him.
Unlike Sam's brilliant evolution...
Leon's was silent.
The surrounding light seemed to disappear.
His body dissolved into living shadows.
Even Sam struggled to sense him.
The Elite Scouts looked around in confusion.
"...Captain?"
For several seconds...
Leon completely vanished.
Then...
A voice echoed behind them.
"I'm right here."
The scouts spun around.
Leon stood calmly behind them.
None of them had sensed him.
Not one.
His cloak had darkened.
Faint silver markings now traced its edges.
His twin daggers shimmered with shadow mana.
His presence...
Had nearly disappeared from the world itself.
---
DING!
Class Evolution Complete.
New Class:
Phantom Assassin
---
New Skills Acquired.
Phantom Step (Epic)
Move through shadows with incredible speed while leaving deceptive afterimages.
Shadow Execution (Epic)
A devastating assassination technique that deals massive damage to unaware or weakened targets.
Presence Erasure (Rare Passive)
Greatly suppresses the user's presence, making detection exceptionally difficult.
Scout Command (Epic Passive)
All Scout Corps members receive increased stealth, perception, movement speed, and coordination while operating under your command.
---
Leon slowly exhaled.
"So this..."
"...is my new path."
---
Before he could say another word...
The eight Elite Scouts were also surrounded by pillars of light.
DING!
Elite Scout Corps Reward Confirmed.
Humanity's First Regional Boss Victory Bonus Awarded.
All Elite Scouts have advanced.
Class Advancement Available.
Current Class:
Elite Scout
Advanced Class:
Shadow Scout
---
One by one...
The scouts evolved.
Their movements became lighter.
Their senses sharpened.
The forests around them seemed to welcome their presence.
They looked toward Leon.
He smiled.
"Congratulations."
One of the newly evolved Shadow Scouts knelt.
"We'll become the eyes and blades of Base 101."
The remaining scouts followed.
Leon nodded.
"Then let's make sure no enemy ever reaches our Commander unnoticed."
---
Inside his mind...
Rex suddenly spoke.
Commander...
The global announcement...
Is ready.
The golden light above the valley intensified.
Across System World...
Every Commander looked toward the heavens.
The System...
Was about to record humanity's first great victory.