Morning sunlight poured over the Silver Kingdom.
The sounds of rebuilding echoed throughout Base 101.
Workers repaired the northern battlefield.
Engineers measured the massive crater left behind by the Emerald Behemoth.
Soldiers trained harder than ever.
Victory had not made them complacent.
It had made them hungrier.
Fourteen days remained until the Emerald Wildlands Expedition.
No one intended to waste them.
---
Deep inside the Royal Forge...
A blazing sea of white-hot flames roared beneath an enormous forge unlike anything Base 101 had possessed before.
Mana Crystal furnaces glowed brilliantly.
Blue rivers of molten mana-steel flowed through enchanted channels.
The forge itself had evolved.
George stood proudly beside the machinery.
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"It finally works."
"I knew the Mana Crystal Valley would change everything."
Master Doran slowly ran his hand across the ancient forge.
His weathered face remained calm.
But inside...
His heart pounded.
"This..."
"...is the forge I've waited my entire life to use."
---
A few moments later...
The great doors opened.
Sam entered first.
Behind him walked Ben...
Kael...
Runa...
Leon...
Zora...
Mira...
George...
The Goblin Warlord King...
The Goblin Archmage...
Even the Crystal Giant stood silently outside the forge, watching through the enormous entrance.
Everyone looked toward Doran.
The old blacksmith smiled.
"I asked you all here for one reason."
He looked at every General.
"Kings aren't protected by one sword."
"They're protected by the people standing beside them."
Silence filled the forge.
"You've all earned something."
---
George stepped forward.
With a grin...
He pulled away a massive cloth covering several weapon racks.
Everyone froze.
Eight complete equipment sets rested before them.
Every piece shimmered with mana.
Every rune had been carved by hand.
Every weapon radiated incredible craftsmanship.
George folded his arms proudly.
"The new forge."
"The Mana Crystal Valley."
"And Doran's evolution."
"This..."
"...is the result."
---
Doran walked toward the first armor stand.
"This belongs to the Commander."
Black armor trimmed with emerald crystal reflected the forge's firelight.
The breastplate carried the emblem of Base 101.
Ancient emerald runes pulsed across every plate.
Matching greaves...
Gauntlets...
And reinforced boots completed the set.
Beside it rested a flowing black cloak.
Sam slowly approached.
The moment he touched the armor...
Emerald Soul Reaver hummed.
WHOOM...
The emerald runes upon the sword answered the armor.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Legendary Equipment detected.
Synchronization established.
Equipment Bonus Active.
Emerald Command Armor.
Legendary.
Movement Speed Increased.
Defense Increased.
Mana Regeneration Increased.
Weapon Synchronization Improved.
Sam smiled.
"It feels..."
"...like it was made for me."
Doran nodded.
"It was."
---
Next...
Doran turned toward Ben.
A massive suit of blue mana-steel armor stood waiting.
Its shield was taller than most men.
The edges glowed with defensive runes.
"General..."
"Wear it proudly."
Ben placed one hand upon the shield.
Blue mana surged around him.
Rex immediately analyzed it.
Vanguard General Equipment.
Formation Defense Increased.
Shield Skills Enhanced.
Nearby allies receive additional protection.
Ben laughed.
"I almost feel sorry for anyone trying to break my line."
---
Kael stepped forward.
A suit of silver armor etched with icy blue runes waited beside an elegant spear harness.
The Frost King's Spear resonated immediately.
Snowflakes drifted through the forge.
Doran smiled.
"You always move forward."
"So I forged armor that won't slow you."
Kael equipped it.
Cold mana spread through the room.
Rex spoke.
Frost General Equipment.
Frost Affinity Increased.
Charge Speed Increased.
Formation Synchronization Enhanced.
Kael grinned.
"The monsters won't know what hit them."
---
Runa approached next.
Lightweight silver armor rested upon the stand.
A long azure cloak flowed behind it.
Reinforced bracers surrounded both forearms.
The Skybreaker Bow glowed brilliantly.
Runa smiled.
"It's beautiful."
Rex confirmed.
Skybreaker General Equipment.
Accuracy Increased.
Arrow Velocity Increased.
Wind Resistance Reduced.
General Aura Expanded.
Runa carefully fastened the cloak.
"My Archer Corps..."
"...will never fall behind."
---
Leon silently walked toward his equipment.
Dark gray armor absorbed the surrounding light.
Even standing still...
It seemed difficult to focus on.
Twin dagger sheaths rested at the waist.
Leon equipped the armor without a word.
Then...
He disappeared.
George blinked.
"...Where'd he go?"
A calm voice answered from directly behind him.
"I'm right here."
Everyone jumped.
Leon smiled faintly.
Phantom General Equipment.
Presence Suppression Increased.
Stealth Efficiency Increased.
Ambush Damage Increased.
Ben laughed.
"You're impossible to keep track of."
---
Zora stepped forward.
Elegant robes woven with silver thread floated gently despite the still air.
A crystal circlet rested above the collar.
Her staff immediately resonated.
Blue mana surrounded her.
Arcane General Equipment.
Mana Efficiency Increased.
Spell Casting Speed Increased.
Area Spell Control Enhanced.
Zora closed her eyes.
"The mana..."
"It obeys far more easily."
---
Mira approached last among the Generals.
White and gold vestments rested upon the stand.
Protective runes shimmered softly across the fabric.
Unlike ordinary robes...
Hidden mana-steel plates reinforced vital areas.
She slowly placed them on.
Warm golden light spread throughout the forge.
Saint General Vestments.
Healing Effectiveness Increased.
Protective Magic Strengthened.
Mana Consumption Reduced.
Mira smiled warmly.
"If someone falls..."
"I'll bring them back."
Kael looked toward her.
"I'm counting on it."
She smiled.
"You always can."
---
Finally...
George scratched the back of his head.
"What about me?"
Doran laughed.
"You think I'd forget my loudest apprentice?"
Everyone chuckled.
A pair of heavy forging gauntlets rested beside a leather tool harness filled with enchanted instruments.
George immediately put them on.
His eyes widened.
"I can actually feel the mana inside the metal!"
Kingdom Architect Equipment.
Construction Speed Increased.
Engineering Success Rate Increased.
Kingdom Project Efficiency Increased.
George looked like a child on his birthday.
"I've got so many ideas!"
---
Silence followed.
Then...
Doran walked toward the final weapon stand.
Resting upon it...
Was a magnificent blacksmith's hammer.
Its head shimmered with silver and emerald veins.
The old blacksmith slowly picked it up.
The forge answered.
WHOOM...
Flames rose higher.
Mana flowed more smoothly.
Rex spoke quietly.
Master Blacksmith Doran...
Forge Master Evolution confirmed.
Forge Master's Hammer recognized.
Forging Quality Increased.
Legendary Crafting Probability Increased.
Doran smiled.
"So..."
"My greatest work..."
"...still lies ahead."
---
Sam looked around the forge.
Every General now stood equipped with gear worthy of their rank.
Every leader had grown stronger.
Not alone...
But together.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Kingdom evaluation complete.
Base 101 now possesses the greatest concentration of General-grade equipment within the region.
Military Rating...
Increased.
Industrial Rating...
Increased.
Kingdom Prestige...
Increased.
Sam looked toward his companions.
His Generals.
His friends.
His kingdom.
A smile crossed his face.
"We're almost ready."
Outside the forge...
The great countdown hanging above the Silver Kingdom shimmered beneath the afternoon sun.
EMERALD WILDLANDS EXPEDITION
14 DAYS REMAINING
The road to the Emerald Throne drew closer.
And Base 101 had never been stronger.