15 Days Until the Emerald Wildlands Expedition
The Silver Kingdom continued to grow.
Stone walls rose higher.
Roads stretched farther.
The sounds of construction echoed throughout Base 101.
But inside one building...
Only silence remained.
---
The Royal Forge.
The heat was overwhelming.
Molten mana-steel flowed through glowing channels carved into the stone floor.
Rows of newly forged weapons rested upon enchanted racks.
Every apprentice worked quietly.
No one dared disturb the man standing at the center of the forge.
Master Doran.
---
Emerald Soul Reaver rested upon a black stone anvil.
The old blacksmith slowly circled the legendary weapon.
He didn't touch it.
Not yet.
Instead...
He watched.
The emerald runes flowing through the blade.
The living mana inside the metal.
The crystal heart beating within the guard.
Every detail fascinated him.
---
Inside his mind...
His System spoke.
Analyzing...
Unknown forging principles detected.
Doran frowned.
"Unknown?"
He had spent decades mastering the forge.
There shouldn't be anything unknown.
Yet this sword...
Defied everything he believed about blacksmithing.
---
Sam entered the forge quietly.
George followed behind him.
Neither interrupted.
Doran eventually spoke without turning around.
"Commander..."
"When this sword evolved..."
"...it didn't simply become stronger."
Sam nodded.
"I know."
"It became alive."
The old blacksmith slowly smiled.
"Exactly."
---
He finally lifted Emerald Soul Reaver.
The weapon hummed softly.
Instead of resisting...
It welcomed him.
Doran's weathered hands trembled.
Not from weakness.
From excitement.
"I forged the body..."
He whispered.
"But the battle..."
"...forged the soul."
---
George blinked.
"So weapons can actually..."
"...grow?"
Doran nodded.
"Not ordinary weapons."
"Legendary ones."
He looked toward Sam.
"The Commander didn't merely evolve his sword."
"He proved..."
"...that weapons possess potential."
Silence settled over the forge.
Every apprentice listened.
None of them had ever heard their master speak with such awe.
---
Doran carefully returned the sword.
He slowly picked up his old forging hammer.
The same hammer he had used for decades.
Its handle was worn smooth.
Its head was scarred by countless years of work.
He smiled.
"We're not finished yet."
He walked toward the largest furnace.
Mana-steel ingots already glowed inside.
Doran raised his hammer.
"This kingdom..."
"...will need weapons worthy of its future."
---
BOOM!!
The first strike landed.
The entire forge trembled.
Blue mana erupted from the anvil.
---
A second strike.
BOOM!!
Golden sparks flew through the air.
Every apprentice instinctively stepped backward.
---
A third strike.
BOOOOOOM!!
The furnace exploded with silver flames.
The entire Royal Forge shook violently.
Outside...
Workers stopped.
George looked toward the ceiling.
"...Master?"
---
Inside the forge...
Doran continued striking.
Again.
And again.
Every blow carried decades of experience.
Every strike carried his pride.
Every strike carried his promise to the kingdom.
---
Then—
DING!
Time itself froze.
Golden windows unfolded before Doran.
---
Class Evolution Conditions Fulfilled
Master Craftsmanship... Confirmed.
Legendary Weapon Creator... Confirmed.
Kingdom Loyalty... Confirmed.
Pursuit of Perfection... Confirmed.
Evolution Beginning...
---
A pillar of blazing silver light erupted from the Royal Forge.
WHOOOOOOOOOM!!
The entire Silver Kingdom looked toward the sky.
George laughed.
"I KNEW IT!"
Sam smiled proudly.
"It's finally his turn."
---
Inside the forge...
Doran's old leather apron transformed into magnificent black-and-silver forging robes.
Ancient runes spread across heavy gauntlets covering both hands.
His hammer lengthened.
Silver flames surrounded its head.
The air itself seemed to bend around the legendary craftsman.
Every weapon inside the forge began humming.
Swords.
Spears.
Axes.
Bows.
Even armor.
They all answered him.
---
CLASS EVOLUTION COMPLETE
Master Doran
Master Blacksmith
⬇
Legendary Forge Master
---
New Skills Acquired
Legendary Skill — Soul Forge
Legendary Skill — Weapon Evolution
Epic Skill — King's Armory
Epic Skill — Master Craftsman's Blessing
---
The silver light slowly faded.
Doran opened his eyes.
The entire forge appeared different.
He no longer saw steel.
He saw...
Potential.
Every ingot held countless possibilities.
Every weapon possessed a soul waiting to awaken.
He smiled.
"So..."
"This is what I've been chasing."
---
His System spoke.
Legendary Forge Authority recognized.
You are now capable of creating evolving equipment.
---
George's jaw slowly dropped.
"...Commander."
"...Did his hammer just evolve too?"
Sam laughed.
"It looks like it."
---
Doran turned toward the gathered apprentices.
His voice was calm.
But powerful.
"Listen carefully."
Every apprentice immediately stood at attention.
"From today onward..."
"We no longer forge weapons."
He lifted his evolved hammer.
"We forge legends."
Silence.
Then...
Every blacksmith struck their hammer against their anvil.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The sound echoed throughout the Silver Kingdom.
---
Outside the forge...
Rex spoke inside Sam's mind.
Commander...
Kingdom analysis complete.
All primary departments have now produced General or Master-class leaders.
Silver Kingdom combat and industrial strength have increased beyond previous projections.
Estimated readiness for the Emerald Wildlands Expedition...
Ninety-one percent.
Sam looked toward the countdown in the sky.
15 Days Remaining.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"We're almost ready."
Far beyond Base 101...
The remaining Guardian Keys still waited.
But for now...
The Silver Kingdom had become stronger than ever before.