The heavens trembled.
Golden light stretched from horizon to horizon.
Every kingdom...
Every battlefield...
Every survivor...
Stopped what they were doing.
No one could ignore the enormous golden screen that now covered the sky.
Silence fell across System World.
Then...
The System spoke.
---
WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT
Humanity's First Regional Boss Has Been Defeated.
---
The words echoed across the world.
Every Commander froze.
Every monster hesitated.
Every citizen stared upward.
The announcement continued.
---
Regional Boss:
Mana Crystal Golem
Status:
Defeated
Location:
Mana Crystal Valley
---
Then...
The next words appeared.
---
Commander Responsible...
Sam
Commander of Base 101
---
The world erupted.
---
Base 101
For a heartbeat...
The entire kingdom became silent.
Inside the Industrial District...
George's workers stopped hammering.
The roaring furnaces continued burning...
But no one noticed.
The blacksmiths simply stared at the sky.
Across the Training Grounds...
Hundreds of soldiers lowered their weapons.
The Spear Corps stopped mid-drill.
The Mage Corps ceased casting.
Workers pushing carts through the streets froze in place.
Children pointed excitedly toward the heavens.
"...Commander Sam?"
"He defeated a Regional Boss?"
"The first one?"
Silence lasted only a moment.
Then...
The entire fortress exploded with cheers.
"WE WON!!"
"COMMANDER SAM DID IT!"
"BASE 101!"
"BASE 101!"
The celebration echoed across the kingdom.
Workers embraced one another.
Soldiers slammed their weapons against their shields.
Children laughed as they ran through the streets waving wooden swords.
Even the elderly wiped tears from their eyes.
Their Commander...
Had made history.
---
Inside the Command Hall...
Ben stood before the enormous window.
His eyes never left the golden screen.
A proud smile slowly appeared.
"...I knew you'd do it."
Kael laughed loudly.
"That's our Commander!"
George nearly knocked over a stack of blueprints.
"I told everyone he'd come back with that mine!"
Doran folded his arms.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"...Now I'll finally get to work with mana crystals."
Zora quietly looked toward the sky.
Her blue eyes shimmered.
"You've done something no Commander has ever accomplished..."
"The Age of Kings will remember today."
Ben turned toward everyone in the hall.
"The Commander fulfilled his mission."
He looked around at every leader.
"Our mission continues."
George immediately straightened.
"The Industrial District keeps building!"
Kael rested his Frost Spear against his shoulder.
"The Spear Corps returns to training."
Zora nodded confidently.
"The Mage Corps doubles today's training."
Doran smiled.
"And when the Commander returns..."
"I'll have equipment worthy of this kingdom."
Ben struck his fist against his chest.
"When Commander Sam comes home..."
"I want him returning to a stronger Base 101."
Every officer answered together.
"YES, ACTING COMMANDER!"
Outside...
The people of Base 101 continued celebrating.
For the first time...
They truly understood.
They weren't simply survivors anymore.
They belonged to humanity's first kingdom to defeat a Regional Boss.
---
Base 202
Inside the Command Hall...
Dennis slowly stood.
His eyes never left the golden screen.
A smile spread across his face.
"...You actually did it."
Marcus let out a low whistle.
"A Regional Boss..."
"The first in history."
Sophia adjusted her glasses.
"So that's why he was ranked fourth."
"He wasn't chasing rankings..."
"He was chasing history."
Dennis folded his arms proudly.
"I told all of you."
"Never underestimate Commander Sam."
Victor smiled.
"Our alliance just became far more valuable."
Dennis nodded.
"And we'll make sure we're worthy of it."
---
Base 305
The Dragon Knights halted their morning drills.
Every knight looked toward the heavens.
Commander Elena stood atop the highest tower.
The wind carried her silver hair behind her.
Her piercing blue eyes remained fixed upon the announcement.
A gentle smile appeared.
"So..."
"You really did it."
Sir Cedric approached quietly.
"Commander..."
"What are your orders?"
Elena answered without hesitation.
"Increase training."
"Prepare the Dragon Knights."
"If Commander Sam can accomplish this..."
"We must become even stronger."
The Dragon Knights saluted as one.
"YES, COMMANDER!"
---
Base 187
Steam hissed throughout the workshops.
Atlas slowly lowered the wrench in his hand.
A wide grin spread across his face.
"Hahaha..."
"I knew it."
"I knew he'd be the first."
Miles looked toward the heavens.
"So the Hidden Legacy really changed everything..."
Atlas turned toward the enormous blueprint labeled Project Titan.
"Increase production."
"The future just arrived."
Every engineer hurried back to work.
The Kingdom of Engineers accelerated once again.
---
Base 001
The mountains echoed with the cries of beasts.
Bjorn stood atop another slain monster.
He looked toward the heavens.
"...Sam."
For several moments...
He remained silent.
Then...
He laughed.
A booming laugh echoed throughout the mountains.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"So humanity finally produced someone interesting."
Gunnar grinned.
"What now, Commander?"
Bjorn rested his greataxe across one shoulder.
"Grow stronger."
"When we finally meet..."
"I want him at his very best."
The beasts surrounding him released deafening howls.
The Beast King...
Had acknowledged another king.
---
Back inside the Mana Crystal Valley...
Another notification appeared before Sam.
DING!
---
World Achievement Unlocked
Humanity's First Regional Boss Slayer
Reward Granted.
+100 Fame
+50 Kingdom Reputation
+25 All Attributes
Title Unlocked:
First Regional Boss Slayer
Effects:
- All human kingdoms recognize your achievement.
- Diplomacy with human kingdoms is greatly improved.
- Allied morale increases significantly when fighting alongside you.
---
Another notification immediately followed.
---
Kingdom Achievement
Base 101
Humanity's First Kingdom to Defeat a Regional Boss.
Kingdom Reputation Increased.
Respected → Honored
Kingdom Rank Evaluation Updated.
Special Reward Pending...
---
Sam slowly lowered his sword.
Around him stood...
Leon...
The newly evolved Phantom Assassin.
Eight Shadow Scouts.
The Goblin Mage.
The Goblin Warlord King.
Every one of them had grown stronger.
Every one of them had helped achieve this impossible victory.
Sam smiled.
"This victory..."
He looked at every member of his expedition.
"...belongs to Base 101."
The golden screen flashed once more.
Across the entire world...
Every eye turned toward the heavens.
A final notification slowly appeared.
---
SPECIAL WORLD REWARD
Calculating...
Reward Authorized...
Preparing Distribution...