Morning settled peacefully over Base 101.
Eighteen days remained until the Emerald Wildlands Expedition.
Unlike the days before...
The kingdom was no longer preparing for survival.
It was preparing for conquest.
The Industrial District echoed with the sound of hammers.
The Barracks overflowed with soldiers drilling beneath Ben's watchful eye.
Kael pushed the Spear Corps through relentless formation exercises.
Runa's Archer Corps practiced firing in perfect synchronization.
Mira's Medical Corps treated the wounded while training new healers.
Every district of the Silver Kingdom had become alive with purpose.
Inside the Mage Hall...
Blue mana illuminated the enormous chamber.
Rows of Apprentice Mages sat quietly around glowing mana circles.
At the center...
Zora stood beside the Goblin Archmage.
Between them rested a crystal taken from the Emerald Behemoth's battlefield.
Its emerald light pulsed steadily.
The Goblin Archmage slowly raised its staff.
"Mana..."
"...does not obey."
"It responds."
Zora watched every movement carefully.
Around them...
The Mage Corps remained completely silent.
No one wished to miss a single lesson.
The Goblin Archmage pointed toward the crystal.
"Listen."
Zora frowned.
"...Listen?"
The undead mage nodded.
"Mana..."
"...has a voice."
She closed her eyes.
At first...
Nothing.
Only silence.
Then...
A faint rhythm.
Like the slow beating of a distant heart.
Thump...
Thump...
Thump...
Her eyes opened in surprise.
"I hear it..."
The Goblin Archmage smiled.
"You understand."
Hours passed.
One lesson became another.
Mana circles.
Spell structures.
Mana flow.
Spell compression.
Arcane resonance.
By sunset...
The exhausted apprentices could barely stand.
Yet Zora continued.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Outside the Mage Hall...
Sam quietly watched through the open doorway.
Ben folded his arms beside him.
"She's been in there since sunrise."
Sam nodded.
"She hasn't stopped once."
Rex spoke inside Sam's mind.
Commander...
Her mana signature has changed significantly.
Evolution probability increasing.
Back inside...
The Goblin Archmage lifted its staff one final time.
"One spell."
"...Do not control it."
"...Become part of it."
Zora slowly inhaled.
She raised her own staff.
Blue mana gathered.
Then emerald mana joined it.
Neither force resisted the other.
Instead...
They flowed together naturally.
The entire Mage Hall began glowing.
The apprentices looked around in amazement.
The mana wasn't coming from Zora alone.
The very air answered her.
Her System suddenly chimed.
DING!
The world around her became silent.
Golden windows unfolded before her eyes.
Class Evolution Conditions Fulfilled
Leadership... Confirmed.
Arcane Mastery... Confirmed.
Mage Corps Loyalty... Confirmed.
Ancient Mana Synchronization... Confirmed.
Evolution Beginning...
A pillar of sapphire light erupted through the roof of the Mage Hall.
WHOOOOOOOOOM!!
The entire kingdom stopped.
Ben looked toward the tower.
"...Another one."
Kael smiled.
"I knew it."
Runa lowered her bow.
"It's Zora."
Mira smiled warmly.
"She earned it."
George nearly dropped a bundle of blueprints.
"It happened again?!"
Master Doran simply nodded.
"Our kingdom keeps growing."
Inside the Mage Hall...
Mana swirled around Zora like a living storm.
Her robes transformed into elegant royal-blue battle robes embroidered with silver runes.
Her staff lengthened.
A floating crystal crown appeared above its tip.
Ancient symbols circled her body.
The surrounding mana bowed toward her.
CLASS EVOLUTION COMPLETE
Zora
Mage Commander
⬇
Arcane General
New Skills Acquired
Legendary Skill — Arcane Dominion
Epic Skill — Grand Mana Network
Epic Skill — General's Command
Legendary Skill — Celestial Storm
The light slowly faded.
Zora opened her eyes.
They now shimmered with brilliant sapphire light.
She could sense every current of mana throughout Base 101.
Every mage.
Every spell.
Every fluctuation.
She smiled.
"So this..."
"...is what lies beyond."
The Goblin Archmage stepped forward.
For the first time...
It bowed deeply.
"My General..."
"...you have surpassed the student."
Silence filled the hall.
Zora quickly shook her head.
"I still have much to learn."
The undead mage smiled.
"A true master..."
"...always says that."
Outside...
Sam entered the hall.
The Mage Corps immediately saluted.
Zora turned toward him.
She lowered her head respectfully.
"Commander."
Sam smiled proudly.
"Congratulations..."
"...General."
A warm smile spread across her face.
"Thank you."
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Base 101 now possesses five General-class leaders.
Overall military strength has increased substantially.
Estimated kingdom combat power...
Continuing to rise.
Sam looked around the Mage Hall.
His officers.
His friends.
His kingdom.
One by one...
They were becoming legends.
And the Silver Kingdom...
Was only beginning its rise.