BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The Emerald Behemoth crossed the battlefield in a single step.
Its colossal fist descended toward Sam like a falling mountain.
The air screamed.
The ground collapsed beneath the overwhelming pressure.
"Shadow Step."
WHOOSH!!
Sam vanished.
CRAAAAAAAAASH!!
The Behemoth's punch struck the battlefield outside Base 101.
The impact carved a crater hundreds of meters wide.
Chunks of earth and stone rained across the plains.
Before the dust could settle—
SHIIIIING!!
A streak of black light flashed behind the giant.
"Vertical Instant Slash!"
Soul Reaver cut across the Emerald Behemoth's back.
SHRAAAAAAK!!
Another deep wound opened across its crystal armor.
Emerald blood scattered into the air.
But this time...
The blood never reached the ground.
Every glowing drop curved through the air.
Like tiny streams of emerald light...
They were drawn into Soul Reaver.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Ancient mana absorption increasing.
Weapon Evolution Progress...
73%.
Sam smiled.
"So every wound speeds it up."
The Emerald Behemoth slowly turned.
"It does."
"But every moment..."
"...brings you closer to death."
BOOOOOOOM!!
Its elbow swept across the battlefield.
Sam barely ducked beneath it.
The shockwave alone blasted him backward.
His boots carved deep trenches through the earth before he stopped.
On the northern wall...
Ben slammed a Crystal Boar to the ground with his shield.
His eyes never left Sam.
"Come on, Commander..."
"You've got this."
High atop the watchtower...
Runa's golden eyes followed every movement.
"Hawk Eye Dominion."
The world slowed.
She could see every exchange.
Every movement.
Every fluctuation of mana.
Then...
Her expression changed.
"...The sword."
One of her officers looked toward her.
"General?"
"The emerald mana isn't disappearing."
"It's being absorbed."
Far behind the enemy army...
Leon silently slit the throat of another Crystal Ape officer.
SHRAAAK!!
The massive monster collapsed without a sound.
Inside his mind...
His System confirmed.
Enemy Officer Eliminated.
Nine Remaining.
Leon wiped the blood from his dagger.
"The Commander is running out of time."
Then he disappeared once more.
Back on the battlefield...
The Emerald Behemoth raised both fists.
Ancient emerald mana gathered around them.
"So."
"Show me."
"The resolve of the king they follow."
It slammed both fists into the earth.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The northern battlefield exploded.
Massive emerald crystal pillars erupted from below.
One.
Ten.
Fifty.
Hundreds.
They raced toward Sam from every direction.
Trying to impale him.
"Shadow Step!"
WHOOSH!!
Sam disappeared again.
He reappeared atop one crystal pillar.
Only for another to erupt beneath him.
Then another.
And another.
The battlefield became a deadly maze of emerald crystal.
Inside his mind...
Rex's voice remained calm.
Calculating escape route...
Recommendation...
There is none.
Sam laughed.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
He tightened his grip on Soul Reaver.
"Then..."
"...I'll make one."
Black mana erupted around him.
Shadow gathered beneath his feet.
His crimson eyes burned with determination.
"Fire Missiles."
Hundreds of magic circles surrounded him.
Then...
He smiled.
"No..."
"Thousands."
Every soldier on the walls looked skyward.
The heavens above Base 101 disappeared beneath countless black magic circles.
Ben's jaw dropped.
"...Commander."
Kael laughed.
"He's serious now."
Even the Emerald Behemoth's eyes widened.
"...Excellent."
Sam lowered Soul Reaver.
"Go."
WHOOSH!!
Thousands of Fire Missiles rained across the battlefield.
The crystal pillars exploded one after another.
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
The northern plains became an ocean of fire.
Smoke rose into the heavens.
The shockwaves battered the walls of Base 101.
When the final explosion faded...
The crystal forest was gone.
Only Sam remained standing in the center of the ruined battlefield.
Soul Reaver pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The emerald runes spread farther along the blade.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke again.
His voice was unmistakably excited.
Commander...
Weapon Evolution Progress...
81%.
Evolution accelerating beyond projected estimates.
Across the battlefield...
The Emerald Behemoth smiled.
It slowly raised its head toward the sky.
"So..."
"It has accepted you."
Ancient emerald mana erupted from every crystal embedded within its body.
The pressure shook the battlefield.
Every soldier of Base 101 felt it.
The Emerald Behemoth slowly spread its arms.
"Then survive..."
"...the final trial."
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The heavens split apart.
A colossal emerald magic circle formed above the battlefield.
Its shadow stretched across the northern plains.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke with unmistakable urgency.
Commander...
Extreme mana signature detected.
Recommendation...
Prepare for maximum-impact engagement.
Sam slowly raised Soul Reaver.
Black and emerald mana spiraled around the blade.
A confident smile crossed his face.
"I've been waiting for this."
The King of Base 101...
And the Emerald Behemoth...
Prepared for their greatest clash yet.