The chamber fell into absolute silence.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The nine ancient doorways stood before them, each radiating a different aura.
The pressure inside the Hall of Masters grew heavier with every passing second.
It wasn't hostile...
It was expectant.
As though the Titans themselves were watching.
---
CRRRRRRRRRRRR...
Stone groaned.
Every eye turned toward the massive crowned statue at the end of the hall.
Dust cascaded from its shoulders.
Its enormous head slowly lifted.
Then...
Two brilliant golden eyes ignited beneath the ancient crown.
WHOOM!!
An overwhelming wave of pressure swept across the chamber.
Even Ben instinctively tightened his grip on his greatsword.
Kael planted the butt of his spear against the stone floor.
George felt his knees nearly buckle.
Only Sam remained completely still.
---
The ancient voice echoed once more.
It no longer sounded like a recording.
It sounded...
Alive.
> "Only those deemed worthy..."
> "...may inherit the Legacy of the Titans."
The golden eyes swept across every member of Base 101.
> "No trial may be aided."
> "No inheritance may be stolen."
> "Victory grants legacy."
The chamber grew colder.
> "Failure..."
The golden eyes narrowed.
> "...grants only death."
Silence.
Not one person doubted the warning.
---
George slowly adjusted his enchanted gauntlets.
"So..."
"If we enter..."
"We're completely alone."
Master Doran nodded.
His weathered face showed no fear.
"That's how true masters are forged."
"No one can swing your hammer for you."
"No one can build your kingdom for you."
"You either prove yourself..."
"...or you don't."
---
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Scanning complete.
Each trial exists within its own independent dimensional space.
Outside assistance is impossible.
Communication between participants has been disabled.
Sam quietly nodded.
Exactly as expected.
The Titans weren't searching for soldiers.
They were searching...
For successors.
---
Sam turned toward the people beside him.
These weren't merely officers anymore.
They were the pillars of the Silver Kingdom.
Ben...
The shield that never retreated.
Kael...
The spear that shattered impossible odds.
Runa...
The eyes that watched every battlefield.
Leon...
The unseen blade protecting the kingdom's future.
Zora...
The kingdom's arcane genius.
Mira...
The healer who refused to let hope die.
George...
The architect who turned dreams into reality.
Master Doran...
The blacksmith whose creations had become legends.
Every one of them...
Had earned this moment.
---
A small smile appeared on Sam's face.
"It looks like..."
"We'll meet again when this is over."
Ben laughed loudly.
"Hah!"
"I'll finish first!"
Kael smirked.
"I doubt that."
"My spear's been waiting for this."
Leon casually twirled one of Shadow Fang's blades.
"You two talk too much."
Before anyone noticed...
He had already vanished.
A heartbeat later...
He reappeared beside the Trial of the Shadow.
Runa couldn't help smiling.
"Show-off."
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke another word.
Yet both understood.
Come back alive.
---
Nearby...
Mira noticed the silent exchange.
A faint smile crossed her lips.
Then she glanced toward Kael.
The usually fearless Spear General stood quietly before his doorway.
For just a moment...
Their eyes met.
Kael gave a small nod.
Mira returned it.
No promises.
No dramatic farewell.
Just quiet trust.
---
George cracked his neck.
"When we return..."
"I have a feeling Base 101 won't even recognize us."
Master Doran burst into laughter.
"Good!"
"Because my forge won't recognize me either!"
---
The Titan King's voice thundered once again.
> "Choose."
Without hesitation...
Ben stepped toward the Trial of the Vanguard.
WHOOM!!
The doorway swallowed him whole.
---
Kael walked toward the Trial of the Spear.
Without looking back...
He crossed the threshold.
---
Runa took one final breath.
She rested a hand on the Skybreaker Bow.
Then disappeared into the Trial of the Archer.
---
Leon smiled faintly.
His body dissolved into shadows.
The Trial of the Shadow accepted him.
---
Zora adjusted her robes.
Arcane energy danced around her staff.
"The Titans created magic..."
"I wonder what they'll teach me."
She stepped forward.
---
Mira closed her eyes.
Offering one silent prayer...
Not for herself.
But for everyone entering these trials.
Then...
She entered the Trial of the Healer.
---
George rolled his shoulders.
"Time to see what the greatest engineers in history left behind."
He vanished into the Trial of the Builder.
---
Master Doran rested the Forge Master's Hammer across his shoulder.
His grin widened.
"I've been waiting my whole life for this."
With one confident step...
He disappeared.
---
Silence returned.
Only one doorway remained.
The Trial of the Commander.
Unlike the others...
There was no light beyond its entrance.
Only endless darkness.
A darkness so complete...
It seemed capable of swallowing the world itself.
---
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex spoke quietly.
Commander...
Threat assessment impossible.
Enemy level... Unknown.
Probability of survival... Cannot be calculated.
Sam slowly drew the Emerald Soul Reaver.
The emerald blade hummed softly.
As if it, too...
Had been waiting for this day.
Sam smiled.
"Good."
"I'd be disappointed if it were easy."
Without another word...
The Commander of the Silver Kingdom stepped into the darkness.
WHOOM!!
The final doorway slammed shut.
The Hall of Masters became silent once again.
Deep within the forgotten Titan Kingdom...
Nine successors had begun nine different journeys.
And somewhere beyond the endless darkness of the Commander's Trial...
A colossal figure slowly opened its ancient golden eyes.
Its voice rumbled through the void.
> "Welcome..."
> "...Successor."
> "Let us see..."
> "...whether you are worthy to become a king."