BOOOOOOOOM!!
The frozen earth shattered beneath the charge of the Spear Corps.
Kael led from the very front.
His newly evolved Frost Spear carved a path through the battlefield.
"General's Advance!"
A brilliant blue aura erupted around the Spear Corps.
Every soldier felt it.
Their movements became sharper.
Their formations tighter.
Their spears struck with perfect unity.
"FOR GENERAL KAEL!"
The battle cry echoed across the northern plains.
SHUNK!
SHUNK!
SHUNK!
Mana Serpents fell one after another.
The ambush...
Had become a rout.
---
On the northern wall...
Ben smiled proudly.
"Look at him."
Mira let out a quiet breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"He did it..."
Ben nodded.
"He stopped fighting like a captain."
"He started fighting like a general."
---
High above...
The Emerald Behemoth watched Kael's advance.
Its emerald eyes narrowed.
Then...
It slowly lifted two claws.
RRRRRMMMM...
The monster army changed formation again.
Crystal Wolves peeled away from the main assault.
Stone Apes shifted to protect the rear.
A corridor opened through the center of the battlefield.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Enemy commander is protecting something.
Sam's crimson eyes sharpened.
"The officers."
---
Far behind the monster army...
Leon crouched atop a shattered crystal outcrop.
Eight Shadow Scouts surrounded him.
Not one had been discovered.
His System spoke.
Captain...
Enemy officers are moving.
Formation adjusted.
Leon looked through the battlefield.
Twelve towering monsters.
Each carried emerald banners made from crystal.
Each one directed a different section of the army.
"So..."
"They really do have officers."
He looked toward his scouts.
"No mistakes."
"One strike."
"One kill."
The Shadow Scouts nodded.
Then disappeared.
---
On the highest watchtower...
Runa watched Leon vanish into the battlefield.
She knew exactly where he was going.
She couldn't see him.
But she knew.
She slowly raised her bow.
"Hawkeye."
Mana gathered in her eyes.
The battlefield seemed to slow.
Every movement became clear.
Every heartbeat...
Every gust of wind...
Every hidden threat.
Then...
She found him.
A single shadow moving between thousands of monsters.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I've got you."
---
Leon slipped silently behind the first monster officer.
A massive Crystal Ape.
It barked orders with deep growls.
Entire formations responded instantly.
Leon drew a Shadow Fang Dagger.
Inside his mind...
His System counted.
Three...
Two...
One...
He moved.
"Shadow Step."
WHOOSH!
He appeared behind the officer.
The dagger flashed.
SHRAAAK!!
The Crystal Ape's head separated from its body.
Before it hit the ground...
Leon caught it.
Lowered it silently.
No roar.
No warning.
The surrounding monsters never noticed.
Inside his mind...
His System confirmed.
Enemy Officer eliminated.
Eleven remaining.
Leon disappeared once more.
---
Suddenly...
Runa's eyes widened.
"Leon!"
High above him...
A Crystal Vulture had spotted movement.
Its wings folded.
It dived like a spear.
Far too fast.
Far too close.
Without hesitation...
Runa drew her bow.
Mana surged into a single arrow.
"Piercing Shot."
THOOOOOOM!!
The arrow crossed the battlefield in a heartbeat.
SHRAAAK!!
It pierced straight through the Crystal Vulture's skull.
The monster exploded into emerald fragments less than a meter above Leon.
Leon looked up.
The fragments drifted harmlessly around him.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"...Perfect timing."
On the tower...
Runa smiled back, though she knew he couldn't see her.
"Don't mention it."
---
Watching from the hill...
The Emerald Behemoth slowly turned its head toward the northern wall.
Its gaze settled on Runa.
Then...
Toward the battlefield.
Where Leon had already vanished again.
Inside its emerald eyes...
Understanding dawned.
Those two...
Were hunting together.
---
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex spoke urgently.
Commander...
Enemy commander has identified Captain Leon and Captain Runa as a combined tactical threat.
Sam's smile faded.
"What will it do?"
A brief pause.
Then—
Recommendation...
Prepare for retaliation.
Far across the battlefield...
The Emerald Behemoth raised its massive arm toward the sky.
Its roar shook the heavens.
RRRRRROOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!
The clouds above the battlefield cracked.
Something answered.
Hundreds of crystal-winged shadows emerged from the storm.
Their destination...
The highest watchtower.
The home of the Archer Corps.