For one brief heartbeat...
Neither Sam nor the Emerald Guardian moved.
The wind carried smoke across the shattered plains.
Broken crystal glittered beneath the morning sun.
Then—
The Guardian charged.
CRAAAAAAASH!!
The ground collapsed beneath its hooves.
Its cracked mana core burned with unstable emerald light.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Warning.
The Emerald Guardian is sacrificing its remaining mana.
Power output increasing rapidly.
Sam narrowed his eyes.
"A final gamble."
The Guardian lowered its crystal antlers.
Ancient mana gathered around them.
The surrounding earth withered.
Crystal spread across the battlefield.
The remaining monsters abandoned all caution.
Every one of them rushed toward Base 101.
The Guardian had given only one command.
Break the humans.
"VANGUARD!"
Ben's voice shook the battlefield.
"FORM RANKS!"
More than a thousand soldiers moved without hesitation.
Human shields locked together.
Goblin Warriors filled every opening.
Not one gap remained.
Ben raised his Mana Steel sword.
"We stand here!"
"So our families don't have to!"
The soldiers roared.
"FOR BASE 101!"
The monsters crashed into the formation.
BOOOOOOM!!
Crystal Boars slammed against the shields.
Stone Apes hammered with enormous fists.
Mana Serpents burst from beneath the frozen earth.
The line bent.
But it did not break.
Ben stood at the very front.
His sword flashed.
One monster fell.
Then another.
Then another.
Still...
More came.
A young recruit stumbled.
His shield slipped.
A Crystal Wolf lunged.
Before it could strike—
Ben stepped between them.
CLANG!!
Its crystal fangs slammed into Ben's shield.
He drove his shoulder forward.
The wolf flew backward.
He pulled the frightened soldier to his feet.
"Stay with the formation!"
"Never fight alone!"
The recruit swallowed hard.
"Y-Yes, Captain!"
Ben looked around.
Everywhere he turned...
His soldiers were trusting his commands.
The Goblin Warriors followed his signals without hesitation.
The Vanguard moved like one body.
Not because they had to.
Because they believed in him.
Inside Ben's mind...
A golden chime echoed.
DING!
Class Evolution Available
Vanguard Captain
↓
Vanguard General
Ben froze for the briefest moment.
Then smiled.
"So..."
"It's finally time."
Golden light erupted around him.
The battlefield paused.
Every soldier looked toward their captain.
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Benjamin has fulfilled the conditions for Class Evolution.
The light intensified.
Ben's armor transformed.
Heavy silver plates became engraved with glowing blue runes.
A royal blue cloak settled across his shoulders.
His shield expanded.
His sword gleamed with refined mana steel.
When the light faded...
A different presence stood on the battlefield.
Class Evolution Complete
Ben
Vanguard Captain
↓
Vanguard General
New Skills Acquired
General's Command
Iron Bastion
Battlefield Presence
Ben lifted his sword high.
"General's Command!"
Blue light exploded across the battlefield.
Every soldier felt it.
Fear disappeared.
Fatigue faded.
Strength returned.
The Goblin Warriors roared.
The Vanguard straightened.
Even the Spear Corps and Archer Corps felt the blessing.
Inside his mind...
Rex announced:
All allied combat efficiency increased.
Morale maximized.
Formation stability increased.
Ben slammed his shield into the ground.
"Iron Bastion!"
An enormous wall of blue mana rose before the Vanguard.
The next monster charge smashed into it.
CRAAAAAASH!!
Crystal shattered.
Stone exploded.
The barrier never moved.
The entire charge stopped dead.
Kael laughed.
"That's our General!"
He pointed his Frost King's Spear.
"Spear Corps!"
"Break them!"
Two hundred spearmen surged through the opening.
Their spears struck with perfect precision.
Runa smiled from the battlements.
"Archers!"
"Support the advance!"
Storm Volley filled the sky.
Arrow after arrow found its mark.
Zora looked toward Ben.
"So this..."
"...is the power of a General."
The Goblin Archmage nodded.
Together they unleashed another devastating barrage.
Blue fire engulfed the battlefield.
Mira watched from behind the lines.
A smile appeared on her face.
"They've all grown."
Around her...
The Medical Corps continued saving lives.
Not one healer retreated.
High above them all...
Sam watched his kingdom fight.
His people.
His captains.
His friends.
No longer survivors.
No longer refugees.
A kingdom.
A family.
He smiled proudly.
"You've all become strong."
Then his expression sharpened.
He turned back toward the Emerald Guardian.
Only one enemy remained.
The Guardian roared.
Its cracked mana core shined brighter than ever.
Sam lowered Soul Reaver.
Black mana spiraled around the blade.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke calmly.
Commander...
The probability of destroying the mana core...
Has reached one hundred percent.
Sam disappeared.
"Shadow Step."
The final duel...
Had begun.