The first rays of dawn spread across the eastern plains.
A cool breeze rolled through the sea of grass separating two mighty armies.
On one side...
The banners of Base 305 fluttered proudly atop stone walls.
Silver dragons danced across crimson cloth.
Thousands of Dragon Knights stood ready.
Ballistae lined the battlements.
Mage Corps gathered behind glowing defensive formations.
Every soldier watched the open field in complete silence.
On the opposite side...
The black banners of Base 001 waved above an endless sea of Beastmen.
Wolf Riders.
Bear Guardians.
Tiger Berserkers.
Rhino Breakers.
Battle Shamans.
Twenty thousand warriors.
Not one moved.
Not one spoke.
Their discipline rivaled any human army.
Between them...
An empty stretch of land waited.
Ground that could become a battlefield...
Or history.
---
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
All life signs remain stable.
No hidden forces detected.
Probability of an ambush...
Less than three percent.
Sam nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Good."
---
The western gates of Base 305 slowly opened.
BOOOOOOM...
Commander Elena stepped forward.
Her silver armor reflected the morning sun.
Her crimson cape flowed behind her.
A dragon-shaped insignia gleamed proudly on her chest.
Beside her walked Sam.
His black cloak shifted gently with the wind.
Ben followed close behind.
Zora walked calmly beside him.
Leon moved almost silently, his presence fading into the surroundings despite walking in plain sight.
Runa rested a hand on her bow.
Kael carried his Frost Spear across his shoulders.
The Goblin Warlord King marched behind Sam like an unshakable guardian.
The Goblin Mage floated beside it, crystal mana circling its staff.
Far behind...
Dragon Knights lined the walls.
Even farther away...
Leon knew the Shadow Scouts were already hidden throughout the surrounding hills.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
Across the field...
A deep horn echoed through the Beast Kingdom.
BWOOOOOOOOOO!!
The ranks parted.
A massive black direwolf emerged.
Upon its back sat Bjorn.
The Beast King.
His armor was forged from black steel.
Ancient runes glowed faintly across his massive greataxe.
His golden eyes remained fixed ahead.
Behind him walked four generals.
Among them...
Prince Ragnar.
The future of Base 001.
When Bjorn reached the center of the field...
He dismounted.
His direwolf quietly moved aside.
Bjorn continued the remaining distance on foot.
Sam did the same.
Elena matched his pace.
Soon...
The three rulers stood only several paces apart.
---
Silence.
Thousands of eyes watched.
No one dared interrupt.
Finally...
Bjorn smiled.
"So."
"The famous Commander Sam."
His voice carried effortlessly across the field.
"I expected someone older."
Sam smiled back.
"I expected someone shorter."
For one heartbeat...
Silence.
Then...
Bjorn threw back his head and laughed.
"Hahahaha!"
The deep laugh echoed across the plains.
Even some Beastmen chuckled.
Ben quietly muttered,
"I think he likes you."
Kael grinned.
"That's one way to make a first impression."
---
Bjorn turned toward Elena.
"And Commander Elena."
"You've guarded these lands well."
Elena met his gaze without flinching.
"I've protected my people."
"As any ruler should."
Bjorn nodded once.
"I respect that."
His smile faded.
"But respect..."
"...doesn't fill empty stomachs."
He slowly turned toward the eastern horizon.
"My forests are dying."
"The rivers feeding Base 001 have begun to dry."
"The great hunting grounds no longer sustain my people."
"My children deserve a future."
His golden eyes returned to Elena.
"So do yours."
The words carried no hatred.
Only conviction.
---
Sam watched him quietly.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Behavioral analysis updated.
Subject displays no signs of deception.
Emotional state...
Resolute.
Probability that Base 001 is facing a genuine resource crisis...
Ninety-eight percent.
Sam's expression remained calm.
---
Elena finally spoke.
"And your solution..."
"...was invasion?"
Bjorn answered immediately.
"I first sent scouts."
"No answer."
"I sent merchants."
"They vanished."
"I sent diplomats."
"They never returned."
Every Dragon Knight looked at one another.
Elena frowned.
"I never received diplomats."
Bjorn's expression hardened.
"I know."
Sam looked between them.
Someone...
Had prevented peace before it could begin.
---
Before anyone could continue...
Leon suddenly disappeared.
Runa immediately reached for her bow.
Ben drew half his sword.
Kael lowered his Frost Spear.
A heartbeat later...
Leon reappeared beside Sam.
"Commander."
"What is it?"
"I found them."
"Who?"
Leon looked toward the nearby ridge.
"The ones watching."
---
High above the valley...
Three cloaked figures stood among the rocks.
They weren't Dragon Knights.
They weren't Beastmen.
One quietly lowered a strange crystal.
"The meeting has begun."
Another smiled beneath his hood.
"Excellent."
"The Eastern Kings are exactly where our master predicted."
Without another word...
The three figures vanished.
---
Inside his mind...
Rex's normally calm voice became urgent.
Commander!
Unknown observers detected.
Identity...
Unable to determine.
System interference detected.
Threat assessment...
Extremely High.
Sam's eyes narrowed.
He looked toward the empty ridge.
Someone else...
Had been manipulating events.
Perhaps...
From the very beginning.
---
Before anyone could react further—
The sky trembled.
Every Commander instinctively looked upward.
The clouds split apart.
A brilliant emerald pillar of light erupted far beyond the eastern mountains.
It pierced the heavens.
The entire continent seemed to shake.
RUMMMMMBLE...
RUMMMMMBLE...
RUMMMMMBLE...
Then...
A massive golden screen spread across the sky.
Visible from every kingdom...
Every city...
Every corner of Eastern Aetherra.
---
WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT
Regional Zone Detected
The Emerald Wildlands
Status: Unclaimed
Danger Level: Unknown
Ancient Civilization Confirmed
Regional Boss Detected
Regional Lords Detected
Ancient Ruins Detected
Titan-Class Energy Signature Detected
Warning...
Warning...
Warning...
This Regional Zone possesses the potential to alter the balance of power across Eastern Aetherra.
---
Complete silence.
Bjorn slowly looked toward the emerald pillar.
Elena's blue eyes widened.
Even Leon stared at the sky.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
His voice carried something Sam had never heard before.
Excitement.
Commander...
Everything...
Has just changed.