THOOOOOOOM!!
Thousands of arrows screamed across the battlefield.
The sky disappeared beneath a rain of steel.
"Impact!"
Runa's calm voice echoed from the highest watchtower.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The first volley crashed into the advancing Stone Apes.
Crystal shields shattered.
Mana exploded into the air.
Several Stone Apes collapsed before they could even reach the walls.
But...
The Emerald Behemoth didn't even look.
It simply raised one finger.
RRRRRMMMM...
Instantly...
The remaining Stone Apes changed formation.
The front line lifted their crystal slabs overhead.
The second line pushed forward.
The third line filled every gap.
Runa's eyes narrowed.
"It adapted..."
One of her officers looked shocked.
"Commander..."
"They changed formations after one volley."
"They're learning."
Runa immediately gave another order.
"Second Corps!"
"Split your fire!"
"Target the rear formation!"
"Third Corps!"
"Support the Vanguard!"
Every Archer Captain saluted.
"Yes, Commander!"
The Archer Corps adjusted instantly.
---
At the northern gate...
CRAAAAASH!!
Another wave of Crystal Boars smashed into Ben's shield wall.
The impact shook the battlements.
Several soldiers stumbled.
None fell.
Ben planted his sword into the stone.
"SHIELDS!"
The Vanguard roared together.
"MARCH OF BASE 101!!"
Golden light erupted beneath the formation.
Every shield connected.
Every soldier's mana flowed into the next.
The wall became one.
The Crystal Boars hit again.
BOOOOOOOM!!
This time...
They stopped dead.
The largest boar screamed as its tusks splintered against the reinforced shield wall.
Ben smiled.
"Now."
---
Behind the Vanguard...
Kael's eyes lit up.
He spun his Frost Spear once.
Cold mist spread across the ground.
Behind him...
The Spear Corps lowered their weapons.
Every spear glowed with icy mana.
Kael grinned.
"Spear Corps!"
"With me!"
He lunged forward.
"FROST CHARGE!!"
BOOOOOOOM!!
The Vanguard opened a narrow gap.
At that exact moment...
Kael exploded through it like an arrow.
Hundreds of Spear Corps soldiers followed.
Their formation pierced straight into the stunned Crystal Boars.
SHUNK!
SHUNK!
SHUNK!
Frozen spears pierced crystal armor.
Ice spread across the monsters.
Several Crystal Boars collapsed instantly.
The defenders erupted in cheers.
---
Far above...
Zora watched calmly.
Beside her...
The Goblin Archmage quietly raised its staff.
Ancient runes spun through the air.
Blue mana gathered into dozens of glowing circles.
Zora smiled.
"So that's how you shape mana..."
The Goblin Archmage pointed forward.
"Crystal Prison."
WHOOM!!
Gigantic crystal pillars erupted beneath a charging pack of Crystal Wolves.
The monsters became trapped instantly.
Zora's eyes widened.
"It didn't overpower them..."
"It controlled the battlefield."
For a brief moment...
She watched every movement of the Goblin Archmage's spellcasting.
Every gesture.
Every flow of mana.
She memorized it all.
---
Meanwhile...
Deep behind the monster army...
Leon crouched atop a massive crystal boulder.
Eight Shadow Scouts surrounded him.
Inside his mind...
His System spoke.
Captain...
Enemy officers confirmed.
Twelve targets.
Leon slowly smiled.
"They're directing the formations."
He pointed toward the battlefield.
"No alarms."
"No mistakes."
"We remove them."
Every Shadow Scout disappeared.
Like ghosts.
---
Back at the gate...
The Crystal Giant finally moved.
BOOOOOOOM!!
It stepped directly into the path of the largest Stone Ape.
The ape swung a crystal club.
CRAAAAASH!!
The Crystal Giant caught it with one hand.
The battlefield froze.
The giant squeezed.
CRACK!
The crystal weapon shattered into thousands of pieces.
With its other fist...
It punched.
BOOOOOOOM!!
The Stone Ape was launched across the battlefield, crashing through dozens of monsters.
The defenders roared.
---
Beside the giant...
The Goblin Warlord King lifted its colossal axe.
"GRAAAAAAAAH!!"
Hundreds of Goblin Warriors charged behind their king.
Unlike the monsters...
They fought with purpose.
Axes rose and fell.
Shields locked together.
Every goblin followed the Warlord King's commands without hesitation.
Ben looked over briefly.
A grin crossed his face.
"They've become a real army."
---
High above them all...
The Emerald Behemoth watched silently.
It did not attack.
It observed.
Calculated.
Adapted.
Inside his mind...
Rex's voice suddenly sharpened.
Commander...
Warning.
Enemy Commander has altered its strategy.
Sam narrowed his eyes.
"What now?"
Before Rex could answer—
The ground beneath Kael's Spear Corps exploded.
BOOOOOOOM!!
Massive Mana Serpents burst from underground.
One...
Three...
Ten...
Dozens.
They erupted directly in the middle of Kael's formation.
"AMBUSH!"
Kael spun his Frost Spear, cutting down the first serpent.
"Form up!"
But the attack had already begun.
High above...
Runa's eyes widened.
"Kael!"
Leon, hidden behind enemy lines, turned toward the explosion.
The Emerald Behemoth slowly smiled.
It hadn't been trying to break the gate.
It had been waiting...
For Kael to leave it.
The real battle...
Had finally begun.