The tremor lasted only a few seconds.
Then...
Silence returned.
Across Eastern Aetherra...
Every eye remained fixed on the Emerald Wildlands.
No one believed it was over.
---
Inside Base 101...
The Alliance Hall construction site fell completely silent.
Workers stopped lifting stone.
Blacksmiths lowered their hammers.
Even George looked toward the eastern horizon.
"...That didn't feel natural."
Master Doran nodded slowly.
"It wasn't."
---
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Massive mana fluctuations detected.
Origin confirmed...
The Emerald Wildlands.
Energy levels...
Still increasing.
Current assessment...
The Regional Zone has entered its first awakening phase.
Sam folded his arms.
"So..."
"It's waking up before the countdown ends."
Affirmative.
---
A loud horn echoed from the western wall.
BWOOOOOOO!
A guard shouted.
"Commander!"
"Long-range communication!"
Sam immediately turned.
"Command Hall."
---
Moments later...
The leaders of Base 101 gathered once more.
Ben.
Mira.
Zora.
Leon.
Runa.
Kael.
George.
Master Doran.
The Goblin Warlord King.
The Goblin Mage.
At the center of the table...
Three communication screens appeared.
Dennis.
Elena.
Atlas.
All three had clearly felt the tremor.
Dennis spoke first.
"Everyone felt it?"
Sam nodded.
"Yes."
Elena's expression was serious.
"Our dragons became agitated before it happened."
"They sensed something."
Atlas adjusted his goggles.
"My instruments recorded a surge unlike anything I've ever seen."
He placed several readings onto the screen.
"The mana output increased by nearly three hundred percent."
The room became quiet.
---
Dennis folded his arms.
"The countdown says eighteen days remain."
"So why is the Wildlands already changing?"
No one had an answer.
Until...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
New information received from the World System.
A golden screen unfolded before every Commander.
---
WORLD SYSTEM
Regional Zone Update
The Emerald Wildlands have entered...
Phase One: Awakening
Ancient mana is spreading beyond the Regional Zone.
Regional monsters are beginning to evolve.
Warning...
Monster migration is expected throughout Eastern Aetherra.
Defend your kingdoms.
Protect your people.
---
The screen vanished.
Ben's eyes narrowed.
"So monsters everywhere are about to get stronger."
Zora nodded.
"And they'll begin moving."
Leon quietly added,
"Toward us."
---
Another screen appeared.
---
WORLD EVENT
Kingdom Defense
Duration:
Until the Emerald Wildlands fully stabilize.
Objective:
Protect your kingdom from the regional monster migration.
Reward:
Varies according to performance.
Failure may result in severe territorial losses.
---
Kael smiled.
"So..."
"The Wildlands are sending us a welcome gift."
Runa sighed.
"You really do enjoy this."
Kael laughed.
"I really do."
---
Dennis looked toward Sam.
"We're too far away to reinforce one another quickly."
Sam nodded.
"Each kingdom holds its own territory."
Atlas leaned forward.
"But we share information immediately."
Elena agreed.
"If one kingdom identifies a new monster..."
"The others need to know."
"Agreed," Sam replied.
---
The meeting ended.
Each Commander returned to preparing their kingdom.
No one wasted another moment.
---
That evening...
Leon stood atop Base 101's western wall.
One of the Shadow Scouts landed silently beside him.
"Report."
The scout knelt.
"Large movement."
Leon's eyes sharpened.
"Where?"
The scout pointed toward the northern forest.
"Monsters."
"They're leaving the mountains."
"Heading south."
"Numbers?"
"...Thousands."
Leon looked toward the dark forest.
Without another word...
He vanished.
Eight Shadow Scouts followed.
Like shadows swallowed by the night.
---
Deep within the Emerald Wildlands...
An ancient stone gate slowly cracked open.
Dust drifted into the air.
Massive vines snapped apart.
Ancient emerald runes illuminated the darkness.
For the first time in countless ages...
A colossal figure took a single step forward.
BOOM.
The earth trembled.
Its glowing emerald eyes opened.
And across Eastern Aetherra...
Every Commander's System issued the same warning.
WARNING.
A Regional Lord has awakened.