Silence filled the Royal Forge City.
Not a single breeze disturbed the ancient streets.
Not a single bird sang overhead.
Only the slow echo of thousands of footsteps broke the stillness as the Silver Kingdom's expedition crossed beneath the colossal gate.
---
Every soldier looked around in amazement.
The city dwarfed anything they had ever imagined.
Stone roads stretched for miles.
Massive workshops lined both sides of the streets.
Colossal chimneys reached toward the heavens.
Towering statues of armored Titans stood watch over every district.
Yet...
Everything remained untouched.
It was as though the city had simply...
Stopped.
---
George slowly knelt beside one of the roads.
His hands trembled as he examined the polished stone.
"Incredible..."
"There isn't a single repair mark."
"The entire city was built as one continuous structure."
He looked toward Sam.
"Commander..."
"I couldn't recreate this with a hundred lifetimes."
---
Master Doran stood before an enormous forge.
It was larger than the entire Royal Forge back at Base 101.
Ancient anvils rested exactly where their owners had left them.
Hammers hung neatly on stone walls.
Even the bellows remained intact.
The old blacksmith closed his eyes.
"I can almost hear them..."
"The ringing of steel."
"The roar of the furnaces."
"The voices of master craftsmen."
He slowly opened his eyes again.
"...This was paradise."
---
Ben remained vigilant.
He never lowered his shield.
"Enjoy the scenery later."
"We don't know what still lives here."
The Vanguard Corps tightened their formation.
Every intersection was secured before the expedition advanced.
---
Kael raised a hand.
The Spear Corps immediately halted.
He crouched beside several enormous footprints pressed into the stone.
"They're old..."
"But not ancient."
He frowned.
"Something walked here."
"Something very large."
A murmur spread through the soldiers.
---
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Multiple mana signatures detected.
Dormant.
No hostile intent identified.
Recommendation...
Proceed with caution.
---
Farther ahead...
Zora suddenly stopped.
"Commander."
Everyone turned toward her.
The crystal atop her staff glowed brightly.
"The mana here..."
"It isn't natural."
She pointed toward several towering crystal pillars surrounding the city.
"They're feeding mana into every building."
George's eyes widened.
"A city-wide mana network..."
"That's impossible."
"No..."
Doran corrected quietly.
"It was impossible."
He looked around with newfound determination.
"Now we've seen proof."
---
The expedition continued deeper into the city.
Eventually...
They emerged into an enormous central plaza.
At its center stood a monument unlike anything they had ever seen.
It depicted nine figures standing shoulder to shoulder.
One carried a greatsword.
One held a spear.
Another wielded a bow.
Twin daggers rested in another's hands.
One raised a staff.
Another extended healing light.
One carried the tools of a master builder.
One held a mighty forge hammer.
And standing at the very center...
A crowned warrior rested both hands upon a magnificent sword.
Mira whispered,
"They look..."
"...like us."
No one answered.
Because everyone had reached the same conclusion.
---
Without warning...
The two Guardian Keys at Sam's waist floated into the air.
WHOOM!
Emerald light surged across the monument.
One by one...
The stone figures began to glow.
Then...
Every weapon carried by the statues answered with a brilliant flash of light.
Master Doran instinctively tightened his grip on the Forge Master's Hammer.
It hummed.
Ben's greatsword vibrated.
Kael's Frost King's Spear released icy mist.
Zora's staff shone with azure light.
Mira's vestments radiated warm gold.
George's enchanted gauntlets pulsed with silver mana.
Only Emerald Soul Reaver remained calm.
Inside Sam's mind, Rex immediately reported.
Commander...
Legendary equipment resonance detected.
Emerald Soul Reaver...
Status unchanged.
Current evolution recognized.
No further awakening available.
Scanning remaining equipment...
Potential for legacy synchronization confirmed.
Before anyone could react...
A calm, ancient voice echoed across the plaza.
"Only those who inherit true craftsmanship..."
"...may receive the legacy of the Titans."
The expedition instinctively turned toward the source.
At the far end of the plaza...
A pair of enormous bronze doors slowly began to open.