The battlefield outside the northern walls of Base 101 fell silent.
Neither Sam...
Nor the Emerald Behemoth moved.
Between them...
Black mana and ancient emerald mana collided, twisting together into a violent storm.
The pressure alone forced cracks through the earth.
The soldiers on the walls struggled to breathe.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Weapon Evolution Progress... 95%.
Final synchronization in progress.
Estimated completion depends upon continued exposure to ancient emerald mana.
Sam smiled.
"So..."
"We're not finished yet."
Across the battlefield...
The Emerald Behemoth slowly lowered its fists.
Its ancient gaze never left Soul Reaver.
"The weapon endures."
"It has accepted the trial."
Sam rested the blade across his shoulder.
"It was forged to endure."
The Behemoth nodded.
"I believe you."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The giant vanished.
The battlefield exploded beneath its speed.
Sam's instincts screamed.
"Above!"
Without hesitation—
"Shadow Step!"
WHOOSH!!
He disappeared.
CRAAAAAAAAASH!!
The Emerald Behemoth's heel smashed into the ground where he had stood.
The impact sent a ring-shaped shockwave racing across the plains.
Broken stone slammed against the walls of Base 101.
High above...
Sam appeared in midair.
Before he could react—
The Emerald Behemoth was already there.
Its massive elbow descended.
"So fast..."
Sam crossed Soul Reaver before him.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The blow launched him across the battlefield.
He crashed through three enormous boulders before finally stopping.
Dust filled the air.
On the northern wall...
Mira took a step forward.
"Commander!"
Ben held out an arm.
"No."
"He isn't finished."
The dust slowly settled.
Sam stood.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it away.
Then smiled.
"That one actually hurt."
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Physical condition... Stable.
Minor internal injuries detected.
Weapon Evolution Progress... 96%.
The Emerald Behemoth smiled.
"Excellent."
"You still stand."
"It has been a very long time..."
"...since I have met a king worthy of this trial."
Ancient emerald mana erupted from every crystal embedded in its body.
The battlefield shook.
The remaining monsters instinctively retreated.
Even they feared what was coming.
Far behind the monster army...
Leon drove another Shadow Fang Dagger into the neck of a Crystal Ape officer.
SHRAAAAK!!
The massive creature collapsed.
Inside his mind...
His System confirmed.
Enemy Officer Eliminated.
Seven Remaining.
Leon looked toward Sam.
"...Finish it."
Then he vanished once more.
High atop the northern watchtower...
Runa's Hawk Eye Dominion expanded to its limit.
Her golden eyes followed every strand of mana surrounding the duel.
Then...
She froze.
"...General Ben."
Ben looked up.
"What is it?"
"The mana..."
"It isn't flowing only into Soul Reaver anymore."
"It's flowing into Commander Sam."
Silence spread across the wall.
Inside his mind...
Rex immediately confirmed her observation.
Commander...
Synchronization has extended beyond the weapon.
Your mana is adapting to the Ancient Emerald Core.
Sam's eyes widened.
"So the evolution..."
"...is changing both of us."
The Emerald Behemoth slowly nodded.
"You finally understand."
"The blade chooses no weak king."
"If the weapon awakens..."
"...its master must awaken with it."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The giant raised both fists.
Ancient emerald mana gathered between them.
The pressure bent the air itself.
"This strike..."
"...ended every challenger before you."
Sam inhaled slowly.
He planted one foot forward.
Shadow mana erupted beneath him.
Soul Reaver pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The emerald runes spread across the hilt.
Across the guard.
Across the entire blade.
Inside his mind...
Rex's normally calm voice echoed.
For the first time...
It sounded excited.
Commander...
Weapon Evolution Progress...
99%.
Final synchronization imminent.
One final surge of ancient mana required.
Sam smiled.
"Then..."
"...come and give it to me."
The Emerald Behemoth laughed.
A deep...
Thunderous laugh.
"At last."
"A king..."
"...who understands."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The Emerald Behemoth charged.
At the same instant...
Sam disappeared into the shadows.
One emerald streak.
One black streak.
They raced toward one another.
The fate of Soul Reaver...
Would be decided...
In the next exchange.