The road leading back to Base 101 stretched across rolling hills and open plains.
The morning sun shone brightly overhead.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh grass across the land.
At the front of the expedition...
Walked Sam.
His black cloak swayed behind him with every step.
At his side walked Leon.
The newly evolved Phantom Assassin remained as silent as ever.
Even while walking...
His presence seemed to fade into the surrounding shadows.
Several paces behind them...
The Goblin Warlord King marched proudly.
The Goblin Mage floated beside him, crystal mana lazily swirling around its staff.
The eight Shadow Scouts moved through the surrounding forest.
Sometimes they could be seen.
Most of the time...
They simply vanished.
Watching.
Protecting.
Waiting.
Towering over them all...
The Mana Crystal Golem followed its Commander.
Every step shook the earth.
BOOM...
BOOM...
BOOM...
Its enormous crystal body shimmered beneath the sunlight.
Violet soul flames burned quietly within its eyes.
The giant never walked ahead of Sam.
Nor beside him.
It followed several steps behind...
Like the kingdom's newest guardian.
---
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Estimated arrival at Base 101...
Thirty-four minutes.
Sam nodded.
"How is the Mana Crystal Valley?"
Ownership successfully transferred to Base 101.
Autonomous resource collection has begun.
Skeleton labor units have already been dispatched through the Kingdom Management System.
Sam smiled.
"So it's already working."
Affirmative.
---
Far away...
Base 101 continued its daily routine.
The excitement from the world announcement had settled.
Now...
The kingdom was preparing for its future.
---
Inside the Industrial District...
Construction continued without pause.
Massive stone buildings slowly rose from their foundations.
Workers hauled timber through wide streets.
New warehouses were nearing completion.
Standing atop a scaffold...
George looked over the bustling construction site.
"Keep those supports level!"
"The western workshop must be finished before sunset!"
Workers answered together.
"Yes, Master George!"
George smiled.
The Mana Crystal Mine was finally theirs.
Everything they had planned...
Could now become reality.
---
Across the fortress...
The Advanced Forge blazed with intense heat.
The sound of hammer striking steel echoed endlessly.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Doran carefully inspected several unfinished weapon designs spread across a large worktable.
Mana Sword.
Mana Spear.
Mana Bow.
Mana Staff.
Mana Armor.
He folded his arms.
"No."
"They deserve better."
His apprentice tilted his head.
"Master?"
Doran looked toward the fortress gates.
"The Commander risked his life to secure humanity's first Mana Crystal Mine."
"When those crystals arrive..."
"The first equipment we forge must become the pride of Base 101."
---
Nearby...
Ben stood inside the Training Grounds.
Rows of infantry stood before him.
"Shield Wall!"
Hundreds of shields locked together.
BOOM!
"Advance!"
The formation marched as one.
Ben nodded with satisfaction.
"Again!"
Nearby...
Kael led the Spear Corps.
His Frost Spear danced through the air.
A layer of frost spread across every practice target it touched.
The younger soldiers watched with admiration.
---
At the Mage Training Grounds...
Zora calmly observed dozens of mages practicing together.
"Focus your mana."
"Control before power."
Blue magic illuminated the training field.
Several spells combined into a single formation.
She smiled.
"Better."
---
On the eastern wall...
Runa watched the Archer Corps.
"Loose!"
Hundreds of arrows filled the sky.
Every shot struck near the center of its target.
Runa nodded proudly.
"Excellent."
---
Inside the Healing Hall...
Mira quietly supervised her healers.
Fresh herbs filled the room with a pleasant fragrance.
Healing potions lined newly built shelves.
She checked another patient's bandages before smiling.
"Our duty doesn't end when the battle does."
"It ends..."
"When everyone comes home."
---
Life inside Base 101 moved peacefully.
Until...
A guard standing atop the western wall suddenly froze.
He narrowed his eyes toward the distant horizon.
"...Movement."
Another guard stepped beside him.
"I see it."
His face brightened.
"It's Commander Sam!"
The first guard smiled.
"They're home!"
Then...
The smile disappeared.
The ground beneath the wall trembled.
BOOM...
BOOM...
BOOM...
Both guards stared into the distance.
Something enormous was approaching.
The second guard swallowed.
"...That's not possible."
Without hesitation...
He rang the fortress bell.
DONG!!
DONG!!
DONG!!
The alarm echoed throughout Base 101.
---
Ben immediately looked toward the western wall.
"The perimeter alarm?"
Kael grabbed his Frost Spear.
"Something's approaching."
Runa slung her bow across her shoulder.
"I'm heading to the wall."
Zora sensed an overwhelming surge of mana approaching from the west.
Her expression became serious.
"...Let's move."
George climbed down from the scaffold.
Doran left the forge carrying his massive hammer.
Mira gathered several healers.
Within moments...
Every captain stood atop the western wall.
---
Far across the plains...
The expedition slowly approached.
Ben smiled.
"Our Commander has returned."
Runa's sharp eyes carefully observed every figure.
"Commander Sam."
"Captain Leon."
"The Goblin Warlord King."
"The Goblin Mage."
"The Shadow Scout Corps."
She paused.
"...Everyone is alive."
Mira let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness."
Then Kael pointed beyond them.
"...Look."
Silence fell.
Towering behind the expedition...
Walked an enormous crystal giant.
Its body reflected sunlight like a moving mountain.
Its violet eyes glowed with soul fire.
Every footstep shook the plains.
George whispered,
"...The Mana Crystal Golem."
Doran's eyes widened.
"It should be dead."
Zora slowly closed her eyes.
Mana spread across the battlefield.
Moments later...
She opened them again.
"It is."
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed toward Sam.
"...That giant is undead."
Shock spread across the wall.
Ben slowly smiled.
"So..."
"He really did it."
---
The expedition reached the fortress.
The colossal Mana Crystal Golem stopped several hundred feet from the gates.
Then...
It slowly lowered itself onto one knee.
The earth rumbled beneath the impact.
Its massive head bowed toward Base 101.
Every soldier stared.
One whispered,
"It..."
"...bowed."
Another swallowed nervously.
"The Regional Boss..."
"Recognizes Commander Sam as its master."
Silence lingered for only a heartbeat.
Then the fortress erupted.
"COMMANDER SAM!"
"LONG LIVE BASE 101!"
"HUMANITY'S FIRST HERO!"
Cheers echoed across the kingdom.
Workers dropped their tools.
Children laughed and ran toward the main street.
Soldiers slammed swords against shields.
For the first time...
Everyone truly understood.
Base 101 had become something greater than a fortress.
It had become a kingdom.
And its Commander...
Had become a legend.
The great gates slowly opened.
As Sam crossed the threshold...
He smiled.
"We're home."