The cheers echoed across the northern plains.
"BASE 101!"
"BASE 101!"
"BASE 101!"
The voices of thousands of soldiers rolled across the battlefield outside the northern walls of Base 101.
For the first time since the battle had begun...
No monsters answered.
Only victory remained.
---
Sam stood silently where the final clash had ended.
The glowing emerald heart rested in the palm of his hand.
It pulsed with a slow...
Steady rhythm.
Behind him...
Emerald Soul Reaver gave a gentle hum.
The emerald runes carved across the legendary blade gradually dimmed until only a faint glow remained.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Weapon synchronization complete.
Emerald Soul Reaver has stabilized.
Current compatibility... One Hundred Percent.
Sam smiled.
"It suits me."
---
Before him...
The Emerald Behemoth's enormous body slowly began dissolving into countless emerald particles.
Its ancient eyes remained fixed upon Sam until the very end.
Its final words echoed softly across the battlefield.
"Protect..."
"...your people."
The last fragments of its body scattered into the morning wind.
The guardian was gone.
---
Silence settled across the battlefield.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Sam lowered his head.
"You fought well."
---
At the northern gate...
Ben raised his sword high.
"VANGUARD!"
Thousands of soldiers snapped to attention.
"SALUTE!"
Steel rang across the battlefield.
Every member of the Vanguard saluted.
---
Kael planted his Frost Spear into the earth.
The Spear Corps immediately followed.
Helmets lowered.
Heads bowed.
No one spoke.
They honored both their victory...
And the young soldier who had given his life protecting his General.
Kael closed his eyes.
"We won't forget."
The Spear Corps answered together.
"We won't."
---
High atop the northern watchtower...
Runa removed her helmet.
The Archer Corps followed.
She looked toward Sam standing alone upon the battlefield.
"We made it."
One of her officers smiled.
"No, General."
"We made history."
A faint smile crossed Runa's face.
"Then let's become worthy of it."
---
Far behind the battlefield...
Leon stepped from the shadows.
A Crystal Ape officer collapsed behind him.
Its body dissolved into particles of light.
Inside his mind...
His System spoke.
Final Enemy Officer Eliminated.
Enemy Command Structure Destroyed.
Leon sheathed his daggers.
"I guess..."
"...I finished just in time."
A small smile crossed his face.
"Nice work, Commander."
---
Along the eastern wall...
Zora watched the Goblin Archmage lower its ancient staff.
For the first time...
The undead mage turned toward her.
It gave a slow nod.
A master acknowledging a worthy student.
Zora smiled.
"I'll keep learning."
---
Near the battlefield...
The Crystal Giant resumed its silent vigil before the kingdom.
The Goblin Warlord King rested its massive axe across one shoulder.
Behind it...
The Goblin Army stood in disciplined formation.
Awaiting only one command.
---
George hurried across the battlefield with several engineers following behind him.
He stared at the enormous crater left by the final clash.
"...Master Doran..."
"...do you realize what happened here?"
Master Doran wasn't listening.
His eyes remained fixed on the sword in Sam's hand.
"...Impossible."
George blinked.
"What?"
The old blacksmith slowly approached.
His weathered hands trembled slightly.
"The balance..."
"The mana flow..."
"The crystal core..."
His eyes widened.
"It evolved..."
Sam smiled.
"You recognize it?"
Master Doran gently placed one rough hand against Emerald Soul Reaver.
The weapon pulsed softly beneath his fingertips.
For several long moments...
Neither man spoke.
Then...
Doran laughed.
A deep...
Heartfelt laugh.
"Hahaha..."
"I knew it."
George stared.
"You knew?"
Doran nodded.
"When I forged Soul Reaver..."
"I knew that ore wasn't ordinary."
"It responded to mana unlike anything I'd ever forged."
He shook his head.
"I thought I'd simply found the finest ore in the world."
His eyes rested proudly upon the transformed blade.
"I was wrong."
"I forged the beginning of a legend."
Sam smiled.
"No."
"You forged a masterpiece."
"If anyone deserves the credit..."
"It's you."
For perhaps the first time in years...
Master Doran stood speechless.
Then he laughed again.
"Looks like..."
"...I've still got a lot left to learn."
George grinned.
"Already thinking about your next masterpiece?"
The old blacksmith folded his arms.
"If my Commander keeps fighting monsters like that..."
"...I'd better keep forging weapons worthy of him."
Laughter spread among the nearby soldiers.
The tension that had gripped Base 101 finally disappeared.
---
Inside his mind...
Rex interrupted the celebration.
Commander...
Analysis of the Emerald Heart complete.
Golden light appeared before Sam.
One System window unfolded.
Then another.
Then another.
---
Guardian Key Identified
Guardian Key 2 of 7 Acquired
Name: Heart of the Emerald Behemoth
Status: Bound to Commander Sam Martin
Guardian Keys Collected: 2/7
Remaining Guardian Keys: 5
---
Sam's smile faded.
"...Guardian Key?"
Rex answered immediately.
Affirmative.
The Emerald Behemoth served as both a Regional Monster Commander and the Second Guardian of the Emerald Wildlands.
The Heart of the Emerald Behemoth is the Second Guardian Key.
Sam looked down at the glowing crystal resting in his palm.
"So this wasn't simply its heart..."
Rex continued.
Negative.
All seven Guardian Keys must be gathered to unlock the path leading to the Emerald Throne.
Current Progress: 2 of 7 Guardian Keys secured.
Five Guardians remain.
The emerald crystal pulsed once.
A wave of ancient mana rippled through Sam's hand before fading away.
He slowly closed his fingers around it.
"Our journey..."
"...is far from over."
He placed the Heart of the Emerald Behemoth inside his inventory.
Far beyond the northern plains...
Deep within the ancient Emerald Wildlands...
Hidden beyond forgotten ruins...
Five distant emerald lights flickered.
One...
After another...
As though something had sensed...
The Second Guardian Key...
Had found a new master.
---
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke one final time.
Commander...
World Event rewards are ready to be distributed.
Base 101 has fulfilled multiple hidden objectives.
Reward calculations complete.
Sam smiled.
"I had a feeling this was coming."
The battle for Base 101 was over.
But the road to the Emerald Throne...
Had only just begun.