Silence.
For one brief moment...
The battlefield seemed to stop.
Only scattered particles of blue System light remained where the young spearman had fallen.
Kael stared at them.
His grip tightened around his Frost Spear.
"..."
The soldier's final words echoed through his mind.
«"Don't..."»
«"Let them through..."»
---
"Captain!"
A veteran spearman blocked the fangs of another Mana Serpent.
"Orders!"
Another serpent burst from the ground.
BOOOOOOM!!
A soldier was thrown backward.
The Spear Corps' formation began to waver.
Fear spread through the ranks.
They had lost one of their own.
The monsters sensed it.
The Mana Serpents attacked even more ferociously.
---
On the northern wall...
Runa watched the Spear Corps struggle.
Her fingers tightened around her bow.
"Kael..."
She whispered.
"Get up."
---
Behind the Vanguard...
Ben turned toward the battlefield.
His expression hardened.
Inside his mind...
His System spoke.
General...
Captain Kael's formation is collapsing.
Ben clenched his jaw.
"No..."
"He'll recover."
"He has to."
---
High above the battlefield...
The Emerald Behemoth watched silently.
Its massive emerald eyes never left Kael.
It wasn't attacking.
It was judging him.
Would he become another casualty...
Or another commander?
---
In the center of the battlefield...
A Mana Serpent lunged.
Kael moved instinctively.
His Frost Spear pierced its skull.
SHRAAAK!!
The monster dissolved into emerald light.
Another attacked.
Then another.
His spear never stopped moving.
But his thoughts remained fixed on the young soldier who had smiled even as death claimed him.
---
"Captain!"
A frightened recruit stumbled backward.
"They're breaking through!"
Kael looked around.
The Spear Corps was no longer fighting as one.
Small groups had formed.
The line was collapsing.
He slowly closed his eyes.
"No..."
When they opened again...
The anger was gone.
Only resolve remained.
He planted the butt of his Frost Spear into the earth.
BOOOOOOM!!
A wave of freezing mana rippled across the battlefield.
Every member of the Spear Corps turned toward him.
His voice thundered across the plains.
"SPEAR CORPS!"
The frightened soldiers immediately straightened.
"Stand your ground!"
"We do not retreat!"
His eyes swept across every face.
"You entrusted your lives to me."
"I will not fail you."
He lifted his Frost Spear toward the charging monsters.
"Reform the line!"
"NOW!"
Without hesitation...
The scattered Spear Corps began moving.
Ranks reformed.
Shields locked.
Spears lowered.
The fear that had threatened to consume them disappeared.
In its place...
Came determination.
---
Inside his mind...
A familiar voice echoed.
Class Evolution Conditions Fulfilled.
Kael froze.
The world around him became silent.
Leadership acknowledged.
Courage acknowledged.
Protection acknowledged.
Class Evolution commencing...
---
A pillar of icy blue light erupted into the heavens.
WHOOOOOOOOOM!!
The battlefield stopped.
Humans looked toward Kael.
Monsters looked toward Kael.
Even the Emerald Behemoth narrowed its eyes.
Snow began falling across the northern plains.
Cold mana spread in every direction.
Kael's armor transformed.
Silver plates became etched with glowing frost runes.
A royal blue cloak formed across his shoulders.
His Frost Spear lengthened.
Its crystalline blade shone like frozen starlight.
---
Class Evolution Complete.
Captain Class has evolved.
New Class Acquired...
Frost Spear General
---
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
General-Class Commander detected.
Captain Kael has successfully evolved into Frost Spear General.
A smile crossed Sam's face.
"Well earned."
---
Ben laughed proudly.
"Welcome..."
"...General."
---
Runa smiled from atop the wall.
"I knew you'd do it."
---
The Spear Corps stared at their commander in amazement.
Kael slowly turned toward them.
His voice was calm.
Steady.
Confident.
"Today..."
"No one else dies."
He raised his evolved Frost Spear.
Frost mana surged around every soldier behind him.
Inside the hearts of the Spear Corps...
Fear vanished.
Their resolve became one.
---
New Skill Unlocked.
General's Advance
All allied Spear Corps within command range receive increased strength, speed, defense, and frost affinity.
Formation synchronization established.
---
Kael lowered his spear.
His blue eyes locked onto the Mana Serpents surrounding them.
Then...
He smiled.
"Spear Corps..."
Hundreds of soldiers lowered their spears in perfect unison.
"...Advance."
BOOOOOOOM!!
Kael charged.
The Spear Corps followed as one.
Like a single spear thrust toward the heart of the battlefield.
From atop the distant hill...
The Emerald Behemoth watched in silence.
For the first time...
The Regional Monster Commander felt something it had not expected.
Respect.
Another General...
Had been born.