The battlefield stood silent.
Thirty-two thousand monsters stretched across the northern plains.
Crystal Wolves.
Stone Apes.
Mana Serpents.
Crystal Boars.
Rank after rank...
They stood perfectly still.
Not a single monster broke formation.
Not one roared.
At their head...
The Emerald Behemoth towered over the entire army.
Its emerald crystal armor reflected the morning sun.
Its piercing green eyes remained fixed on the walls of Base 101.
Watching.
Studying.
Waiting.
---
Atop the northern battlements...
The leaders of Base 101 stood side by side.
Sam.
Ben.
Zora.
Leon.
Runa.
Kael.
Mira.
The Crystal Giant.
The Goblin Warlord King.
The Goblin Archmage.
Behind them...
Thousands of soldiers gripped their weapons.
The wind carried only the sound of fluttering banners.
Inside his mind...
Rex's calm voice echoed.
Commander...
Enemy Commander is analyzing our defensive formation.
Probability of adaptive tactics... Ninety-nine percent.
Sam slowly smiled.
"So..."
"It really does think."
---
Far below...
The Emerald Behemoth slowly raised one massive arm.
Its growl rolled across the plains like distant thunder.
RRRRRRRRMMMMMM...
Instantly...
The monster army moved.
Not with chaos.
Not with instinct.
With discipline.
Crystal Wolves split into two enormous packs, racing toward both flanks.
Stone Apes advanced in massive shield formations, carrying towering slabs of crystal before them.
Crystal Boars lowered their heads, forming a living battering ram aimed directly at the northern gate.
Without warning...
The ground exploded.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Long cracks raced across the battlefield.
Mana Serpents.
Hundreds of them.
They disappeared beneath the earth.
Ben's eyes narrowed.
"They're attacking from four directions."
Sam never looked away from the battlefield.
"It knows exactly how to break a fortress."
---
Ben stepped forward.
His blue cloak fluttered proudly behind him.
He slowly raised his sword.
His voice thundered across the walls.
"VANGUARD!"
Thousands of soldiers answered instantly.
"YES, GENERAL!"
"SHIELD WALL!"
BOOOOOOM!!
Thousands of shields slammed together.
Steel locked against steel.
The entire northern wall became an unbreakable fortress.
Ben smiled.
"Good."
"Let's see them break this."
---
Several towers away...
Runa stood atop the highest watchtower.
The morning wind danced through her silver hair.
Her bow was already drawn.
Hundreds of archers stood behind her.
Every eye watched their commander.
She calmly surveyed the battlefield.
Then...
She noticed something.
"The Stone Apes..."
"They're protecting the Boars."
One of her officers frowned.
"Commander?"
She pointed toward the advancing formation.
"The wolves are a distraction."
"The real attack is the gate."
She slowly raised one hand.
"Archers..."
"Ignore the wolves."
Every archer looked surprised.
"Target..."
"The Stone Apes."
The officers immediately understood.
Without the Stone Apes...
The Crystal Boars would lose their cover.
Hundreds of bows slowly rose together.
---
On the eastern wall...
Zora stood calmly beside the Goblin Archmage.
Ancient runes glowed beneath their feet.
Mana surged through the city's barrier.
The Goblin Archmage quietly lifted its ancient staff.
Blue mana spiraled into the sky.
Zora smiled.
"Our turn."
Every mage behind her raised their staffs.
Thousands of mana circles illuminated the battlements.
---
Near the northern gate...
Kael rested his Frost Spear across one shoulder.
Behind him...
The Spear Corps waited with eager smiles.
Kael looked toward Ben.
"When the shield wall stops them..."
He planted the butt of his spear into the stone.
BOOM!
"We charge."
The Spear Corps answered together.
"YES, CAPTAIN!"
---
Meanwhile...
Leon was already gone.
Eight Shadow Scouts vanished alongside him.
Not toward the center.
Not toward the gate.
Into the shadows surrounding the monster army.
Inside his mind...
His System spoke.
Captain...
Enemy officers detected.
Estimated number...
Twelve.
Leon smiled faintly.
"So..."
"They're organized."
His body dissolved into darkness.
"Let's remove their commanders."
The Shadow Scouts disappeared without leaving a trace.
---
Standing before the gate...
The Crystal Giant took one heavy step forward.
BOOM!
The walls trembled beneath its weight.
Its massive crystal fists slowly clenched.
Beside it...
The Goblin Warlord King rested its enormous battle axe across one shoulder.
Behind their king...
Hundreds of Goblin Warriors formed disciplined ranks.
Above them...
The Goblin Archmage floated silently beside Zora.
Sam's three greatest undead...
Were ready.
---
Across the battlefield...
The Emerald Behemoth watched every movement.
It watched Ben organize the Vanguard.
It watched Runa reposition her archers.
It watched Zora prepare the barrier.
It watched Leon disappear.
Then...
Something unexpected happened.
The Emerald Behemoth smiled.
A deep rumble escaped its throat.
Not rage.
Not hatred.
Recognition.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke immediately.
Commander...
Warning.
Enemy Commander has completed battlefield assessment.
It recognizes our command structure.
Sam slowly lifted Soul Reaver.
Black runes ignited along the blade.
Crimson mana erupted into the sky.
A confident smile crossed his face.
"Good."
"So have I."
He pointed his sword toward the enemy army.
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Today..."
"We show them why this kingdom stands."
He raised Soul Reaver high.
"For Base 101!"
A deafening roar answered him.
"FOR BASE 101!!"
The Emerald Behemoth slammed both fists into the earth.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The plains exploded.
The monster army charged.
Crystal Boars thundered toward the gate.
Stone Apes advanced behind crystal shields.
Crystal Wolves raced across both flanks.
The earth burst apart as Mana Serpents surged beneath the battlefield.
Ben lowered his sword.
"VANGUARD!"
"HOLD THE LINE!"
CRAAAAAASH!!
The Crystal Boars slammed into the shield wall.
The impact shook the northern battlements.
Steel screamed.
Stone cracked.
Dust filled the air.
But the Vanguard...
Did not move.
Ben grinned.
"Not..."
"One..."
"Step."
Behind the shield wall...
Kael lowered his Frost Spear.
A fierce smile spread across his face.
"Open the line..."
The Spear Corps leaned forward.
"...and we'll break them."
High above...
Runa drew back her bow.
A brilliant mana arrow formed upon the string.
She took one slow breath.
Then...
Her voice rang across the towers.
"ARCHERS..."
"LOOSE!!"
THOOOOOOOM!!
Thousands of arrows darkened the morning sky.
The Second Battle for Base 101...
Had truly begun.