Silence filled the communication screens.
Dennis studied the black feather.
Elena examined the emerald crystal.
Atlas adjusted his goggles three separate times.
Finally...
Dennis broke the silence.
"So..."
"We're no longer dealing with just monsters."
Sam nodded.
"I don't think we ever were."
---
Atlas leaned closer to his screen.
"Leon."
The Shadow Scout Captain looked up.
"You said the vision showed cities."
Leon nodded.
"It did."
Atlas folded his arms.
"Were they ancient?"
Leon thought for several moments.
Then slowly shook his head.
"No."
"They looked... alive."
The room became quiet.
---
Elena spoke next.
"If that's true..."
"There are civilizations beyond Eastern Aetherra."
Roland frowned.
"We've never found evidence of that."
Atlas answered immediately.
"Because we've never looked beyond the eastern mountain ranges."
He pointed toward the map of Aetherra.
"Our records end here."
His finger stopped at the massive mountain chain forming Eastern Aetherra's western border.
"Everything beyond this..."
"...is blank."
---
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Historical database incomplete.
Maps beyond the western mountains are inaccessible.
Cause... Unknown.
Sam narrowed his eyes.
"So even the System doesn't know."
Correction.
The System is withholding information.
For the first time in a long while...
Rex sounded uncertain.
---
Dennis leaned back.
"Then someone doesn't want us crossing those mountains."
Sophia nodded.
"Or they want us focused somewhere else."
---
George suddenly pointed toward the emerald crystal.
"What if..."
Everyone looked at him.
"What if the Emerald Wildlands are between us and whatever's out there?"
Atlas's eyes widened.
"I was thinking the same thing."
He walked to the large map.
"The Wildlands aren't just another Regional Zone."
He pointed to the center of Eastern Aetherra.
"They're positioned almost perfectly."
"Like a gate."
---
Master Doran quietly folded his arms.
"A gate..."
"Or a lock."
---
The room fell silent once more.
Before anyone could continue—
DING!
A golden screen unfolded before every Commander.
---
WORLD SYSTEM
Kingdom Defense Update
Monster Migration Progress...
Thirty-one percent complete.
Regional Kingdom Status...
Base 101 — Stable
Base 202 — Stable
Base 305 — Stable
Base 187 — Stable
Base 001 — Stable
Additional kingdoms continue defensive operations.
Countdown to Emerald Wildlands Stabilization...
16 Days Remaining
---
Another notification immediately appeared.
---
Alliance Notice
All member kingdoms are advised to continue strengthening expedition forces.
Regional Guardian activity has increased.
Additional awakenings are expected.
---
The screen slowly faded.
---
Dennis stood.
"My kingdom still has monsters to hunt."
Marcus nodded behind him.
"The soldiers are waiting."
Dennis smiled at Sam.
"We'll talk again tomorrow."
The communication screen vanished.
---
Elena spoke next.
"My Dragon Knights have detected unusual mana currents near the Wildlands."
She looked directly at Sam.
"I'll send you the reports."
Sam nodded.
"Thank you."
Roland saluted.
"We'll keep the skies under watch."
Their screen disappeared.
---
Only Atlas remained.
He looked unusually excited.
"George."
George grinned.
"...Yes?"
"I think I figured out how to increase the Alliance Hall's communication range."
George's eyes lit up.
"You did?"
Atlas held up a sketch.
"If we replace the central mana conduit with a harmonic crystal array..."
George immediately interrupted.
"We'll double the signal!"
Atlas laughed.
"You already figured it out."
George laughed too.
"Of course I did!"
Master Doran sighed.
"There they go again."
Even Sam smiled.
Atlas finally looked back at the Commander of Base 101.
"We'll be ready."
"So will Project Titan."
His screen disappeared.
---
The council chamber grew quiet.
Ben looked around the table.
"Everyone's moving."
Sam nodded.
"They have to."
He walked to the crystal window.
Beyond the walls...
The people of Base 101 continued building, training, and living.
They didn't yet know what waited beyond the Emerald Wildlands.
But they were preparing anyway.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Probability of humanity surviving the coming expedition continues to rise.
Sam smiled faintly.
"Good."
Then his expression became determined.
"Because we're going to need every advantage we can get."
Far beyond the eastern horizon...
Within the Emerald Wildlands...
Six emerald lights pulsed beneath the ancient forest.
Six Regional Guardians remained.
And somewhere deeper still...
The unseen Regional Lord continued to watch.
Waiting for the King of Base 101...
To take the next step.