The Alliance Council finally came to an end.
One by one...
The leaders rose from their seats.
No one left immediately.
Instead...
They gathered around the great crystal map one last time.
The Emerald Wildlands continued to pulse with an emerald glow.
Twenty-one days.
That was all the time humanity had left.
---
Outside...
Base 101 buzzed with life.
Word of the Alliance Council had spread throughout the kingdom.
Workers moved with renewed determination.
Blacksmiths hammered glowing mana-steel late into the evening.
Builders raised new stone walls around expanding districts.
Soldiers trained without rest.
Every citizen understood one thing.
The future of humanity would be decided in the Emerald Wildlands.
---
Inside the Commander's Manor...
Sam stood beside the crystal window.
The emerald pillar was still visible on the distant horizon.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Alliance synchronization complete.
Current Alliance Members...
Base 101.
Base 202.
Base 305.
Projected military readiness...
Increasing daily.
Sam nodded.
"We'll be ready."
---
A knock came at the door.
"Commander."
"Enter."
Ben walked in first.
Mira followed carrying several reports.
Zora, Leon, Runa, Kael, George, and Master Doran entered shortly after.
Atlas, Dennis, and Elena had already departed for their kingdoms.
It was time for Base 101 to prepare.
Sam took his seat.
"Let's begin."
---
"Ben."
The Vanguard Captain stood.
"Our joint training program has begun."
"The Goblin Warriors are drilling beside the Vanguard."
"The new recruits are adapting faster than expected."
He smiled.
"They've stopped treating the goblins like monsters."
"They treat them like fellow soldiers."
The Goblin Warlord King struck its chest proudly.
BOOM.
Several officers smiled.
---
"Mira."
The Commander of the Medical Corps stood.
"The second hospital is complete."
"We've trained forty additional battlefield healers."
She placed several scrolls on the table.
"I've also prepared expedition medical kits for every squad."
"No soldier enters the Wildlands without emergency supplies."
Sam nodded.
"Excellent."
---
"George."
George immediately unrolled three enormous blueprints.
"The Alliance Hall has begun construction."
Everyone looked up.
George grinned from ear to ear.
"I couldn't wait."
He pointed excitedly.
"The foundation is already finished."
"The main support pillars go up tomorrow."
Atlas had left behind several engineering notes.
George held them up proudly.
"We're using some of his reinforcement techniques."
Master Doran folded his arms.
"I'll admit..."
"They're impressive."
George looked smug.
"I know."
---
"Doran."
The Master Blacksmith stepped forward.
"The forge now produces enough mana-steel equipment to arm one hundred soldiers every week."
He uncovered another rack of weapons.
"Our apprentices are improving rapidly."
He looked toward Kael.
"I'll have enough spearheads ready for your entire corps before the expedition."
Kael smiled.
"Now you're speaking my language."
---
"Zora."
"The Mage Corps has begun studying the mana fluctuations surrounding the Emerald Wildlands."
She pointed toward several glowing diagrams.
"The mana there behaves differently."
"It doesn't flow..."
"It pulses."
Leon looked at the map.
"Like something breathing."
The room became quiet.
---
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex responded.
Confirmed.
Mana Pulse detected.
Pattern...
Organic.
Probability of connection to the Regional Zone...
Ninety-nine percent.
---
Runa crossed her arms.
"My archers have also noticed something."
She placed several black-fletched arrows on the table.
"These were recovered near the eastern forests."
Leon immediately picked one up.
He examined the shaft.
Then the fletching.
Then the carved symbol near its base.
His expression hardened.
"This isn't ours."
Ben frowned.
"Dragon Knights?"
Leon slowly shook his head.
"No."
"Beast Kingdom?"
Again...
"No."
He looked toward Sam.
"I've never seen this mark before."
Rex immediately scanned it.
Commander...
Unknown insignia.
No match found within Alliance records.
Silence settled over the room.
---
Kael rested the Frost King's Spear against his shoulder.
"So..."
"We've got more mysteries."
George laughed.
"Wouldn't be an adventure without them."
---
Suddenly...
DING!
A familiar golden screen appeared before Sam.
Then another appeared before every captain.
---
BASE MISSION
Prepare for the Emerald Wildlands
Objectives:
- Complete the Alliance Hall.
- Equip one thousand soldiers with mana-steel equipment.
- Train all expedition forces.
- Stockpile ninety days of food and medical supplies.
Mission Difficulty:
S-Rank
Rewards:
Hidden.
Failure Penalty:
Unknown.
Mission Time Remaining:
21 Days
---
The screen slowly faded.
No one spoke.
Finally...
Sam stood.
He looked at every leader around the table.
"This won't be easy."
"But nothing we've accomplished ever has been."
His eyes moved from one familiar face to the next.
Ben.
Mira.
Zora.
Leon.
Runa.
Kael.
George.
Master Doran.
The Goblin Warlord King.
The Goblin Mage.
"We've built this kingdom together."
"Now..."
"We'll show the world what Base 101 is capable of."
Every captain struck a fist against their chest.
"YES, COMMANDER!"
Outside...
The sounds of construction, training, and industry echoed throughout Base 101.
Far beyond the kingdom...
The Emerald Wildlands waited.
Patiently.
Silently.
As though the ancient land already knew...
Its next visitors were coming.