The wind swept across the eastern plains.
Twenty thousand Beastmen stood in perfect formation.
Not one voice broke the silence.
Not one soldier moved without permission.
War banners bearing the black beast emblem fluttered against the darkening sky.
At the head of the army...
Bjorn sat atop a massive black direwolf.
The beast stood over three meters tall, its crimson eyes fixed on Base 305 in the distance.
Bjorn's golden eyes never left the fortress walls.
Specifically...
The man standing beside Commander Elena.
Commander Sam.
For several long moments...
The Beast King simply watched.
Then...
He smiled.
"So that's the Necromancer."
Behind him, four generals waited.
A towering Bear Beastman clad in plate armor stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
Bjorn didn't turn.
"Speak."
"The army is in position."
"The siege engines are ready."
"We can begin the assault immediately."
Bjorn's answer was immediate.
"No."
The Bear General blinked.
"No...?"
Bjorn finally looked at him.
"I didn't march twenty thousand warriors here to win with numbers."
The general lowered his head.
"My apologies."
Another general stepped forward.
A lean Wolf Beastman with twin daggers at his waist.
"Our Shadow Fangs have confirmed Commander Sam arrived this morning."
"We observed his delegation from the forest."
"They're disciplined."
"They noticed some of our scouts."
Bjorn nodded with approval.
"As expected."
The Wolf General frowned.
"We could attempt to eliminate their scouts tonight."
Bjorn's gaze hardened.
"No."
The temperature around him seemed to drop.
"We are not assassins."
"We are warriors."
"If Sam dies..."
"It will be on the battlefield."
The Wolf General struck his fist against his chest.
"As you command."
Farther back...
A young Tiger Beastman couldn't contain his excitement.
"Father..."
"When do we attack?"
Bjorn looked toward the speaker.
The young warrior stood proudly beside his own mount.
His armor was polished.
His axe had never tasted defeat.
Prince Ragnar.
Heir to the Beast Kingdom.
Bjorn studied his son.
"What do you see?"
Ragnar looked toward Base 305.
"Walls."
"Dragon Knights."
"A strong army."
Bjorn nodded.
"And?"
Ragnar frowned.
"...Commander Sam."
Bjorn smiled.
"Good."
"What else?"
Ragnar remained silent.
He couldn't see anything more.
Bjorn pointed toward the fortress.
"You see walls."
"I see supply lines."
"You see soldiers."
"I see discipline."
"You see one Commander."
"I see two kingdoms standing together."
Ragnar's expression slowly changed.
Bjorn continued.
"Never underestimate an enemy."
"The moment you believe victory is guaranteed..."
"You've already begun to lose."
Ragnar lowered his head.
"I understand."
"No."
Bjorn shook his head.
"You will."
Inside his mind...
A deep voice echoed.
Commander...
Enemy analysis complete.
Commander Sam.
Commander Elena.
Joint military strength exceeds previous projections.
Estimated victory probability...
Sixty-three percent.
Bjorn's System paused.
Recommendation...
Request reinforcements.
Bjorn chuckled.
"No."
His generals looked at him curiously.
The Beast King stood from his direwolf.
He lifted his enormous greataxe.
Its blade shimmered with ancient crimson runes.
"I didn't come here because victory is certain."
He rested the weapon on his shoulder.
"I came..."
"...because worthy opponents are rare."
Thousands of Beastmen roared as one.
"GLORY TO THE BEAST KING!"
"GLORY TO THE BEAST KING!"
"GLORY TO THE BEAST KING!"
The plains shook beneath their voices.
Back atop the walls of Base 305...
The thunderous roar reached the defenders.
Ben narrowed his eyes.
"They've got spirit."
Kael grinned.
"So do we."
Runa watched the enemy archers.
"They're well trained."
Zora studied the enemy's shamans.
"They have battle mages."
Leon appeared silently beside Sam.
"Their scouts are still watching us."
Sam nodded.
"Let them."
He stepped to the front of the wall.
The evening wind caught his black cloak.
Miles away...
Bjorn did the same.
Two Commanders.
Separated by an ocean of soldiers.
Yet both understood the same truth.
This battle would decide more than the fate of Base 305.
It would shape the future of humanity and the Beast Kingdom.
Bjorn slowly raised his greataxe.
The entire Beastman army fell silent.
Then, with a single powerful motion...
He drove the butt of the weapon into the earth.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact echoed across the plains.
A pillar of crimson energy erupted into the sky.
Moments later...
A brilliant blue pillar answered from the walls of Base 305.
Sam had released his own aura.
Blue and crimson light illuminated the battlefield.
Neither Commander attacked.
Neither Commander spoke.
But every soldier present understood.
The war...
Had begun.