The battlefield erupted.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The earth split apart beneath the Spear Corps.
Towering Mana Serpents burst from the ground, their emerald scales gleaming beneath the morning sun.
Soldiers were thrown into the air.
Formation shattered.
"Enemy beneath us!"
Kael's eyes narrowed.
He twisted his Frost Spear through the air.
"Frost Sweep!"
WHOOOOOSH!!
A crescent of freezing mana exploded outward.
The nearest Mana Serpent froze solid before shattering into hundreds of crystal fragments.
But three more immediately replaced it.
They weren't attacking randomly.
They were surrounding the Spear Corps.
---
On the northern wall...
Runa saw everything.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Kael's surrounded..."
One of her officers looked toward her.
"Commander?"
Runa never took her eyes off the battlefield.
"Third Company!"
"Support the Spear Corps!"
"Target every Mana Serpent around Captain Kael!"
"Loose!"
THOOOOOOM!!
Hundreds of arrows rained from the sky.
Each shot landed with incredible precision.
One serpent lost an eye.
Another had its jaw pinned to the ground.
A third was struck directly through its open mouth.
Kael glanced upward.
"...Perfect timing."
A faint smile crossed his face.
---
Far behind the monster lines...
Leon watched from the shadows.
His eyes never left the battlefield.
Inside his mind...
His System spoke.
Captain...
Enemy command unit remains stationary.
Probability...
The ambush was intentional.
Leon looked toward the Emerald Behemoth.
"It wanted Kael isolated."
Correct.
Leon quietly disappeared once more.
"Then I'll return the favor."
---
At the northern gate...
Ben saw the Spear Corps being surrounded.
He slammed his sword against his shield.
"Vanguard!"
"Advance three steps!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Thousands of soldiers moved as one.
The defensive line pushed forward just enough to relieve pressure on Kael without exposing the gate.
Ben shouted again.
"No one fights alone!"
The Vanguard answered with a thunderous roar.
---
Along the eastern wall...
The Goblin Archmage raised its ancient staff.
Dozens of blue runic circles appeared above the battlefield.
"Crystal Prison."
WHOOM!!
Towering crystal pillars erupted around several Mana Serpents.
The monsters became trapped instantly.
Zora stared.
Again...
The Goblin Archmage wasn't simply casting.
It was controlling the battlefield itself.
Mana flowed through every spell with incredible efficiency.
She quietly whispered,
"...Teach me."
---
Standing before the gate...
The Crystal Giant roared.
Its enormous fist smashed into the ground.
BOOOOOOOM!!
The shockwave knocked dozens of Crystal Wolves off their feet.
The Goblin Warlord King seized the opportunity.
It raised its colossal axe.
"GRAAAAAAAAH!!"
Hundreds of Goblin Warriors charged.
They struck the stunned wolves before they could recover.
Axes rose.
Blood flew.
The Goblin Army held the left flank with ruthless discipline.
---
In the center of the battlefield...
Kael fought like a man possessed.
His Frost Spear danced through the air.
One serpent fell.
Then another.
Then another.
Ice covered the battlefield around him.
Yet more Mana Serpents emerged from below.
One lunged from behind.
Too fast.
Too close.
"Captain!"
A Spear Corps soldier shoved Kael aside.
CRUNCH!
The serpent's fangs pierced the young soldier instead.
Kael's eyes widened.
"...No."
The soldier smiled weakly.
"...Don't..."
"...let them through..."
His body dissolved into particles of System light.
Silence.
For one brief moment...
Kael stood completely still.
Then...
His grip tightened around his Frost Spear.
Cold mana exploded around him.
The air itself began to freeze.
On the wall...
Runa felt the sudden surge of mana.
She looked toward Kael.
"...He's angry."
Ben looked over as well.
"So am I."
---
High above the battlefield...
The Emerald Behemoth watched everything unfold.
It wasn't smiling anymore.
It had expected panic.
Instead...
Every commander of Base 101 was adapting.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Battlefield analysis updated.
Enemy commander is beginning to underestimate human resolve.
Sam slowly drew a deep breath.
His crimson eyes locked onto the Emerald Behemoth.
"Then it's time..."
"...to remind it why this kingdom still stands."
He lifted Soul Reaver.
Black flames ignited along its blade.
The mana surrounding the battlefield trembled.
For the first time since the battle began...
The Emerald Behemoth took a single step forward.
Its duel with the King of Base 101...
Was about to begin.