The wind carried the stench of corruption.
Dust rose across the plains as hundreds of monsters charged toward Base 101.
The ground trembled beneath their footsteps.
The soldiers atop the walls tightened their grips on their weapons.
No one spoke.
No one ran.
Every eye remained fixed on Commander Sam.
Inside his mind...
Rex's calm voice echoed.
Estimated time until contact...
Thirty seconds.
Sam slowly raised his sword.
"Archers..."
Runa stepped forward.
Her emerald eyes never left the approaching horde.
"Ready!"
Thirty archers drew their bows as one.
Mana gathered around enchanted arrows.
"Loose!"
WHOOSH!
The sky darkened beneath a rain of arrows.
Hundreds of projectiles crashed into the front ranks.
Corruption Beasts fell one after another.
Yet...
The horde never slowed.
"They're still coming!"
---
"Mages!"
Zora raised her staff.
The Apprentice Mages completed their spell circles.
Brilliant fire erupted across the battlefield.
Columns of flame engulfed the charging monsters.
Explosions echoed across the valley.
Dozens of Corruption Beasts were reduced to ash.
Smoke covered the battlefield.
When it cleared...
The surviving monsters continued forward.
Ben grinned.
"Persistent bastards."
---
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke again.
Commander...
The Elite has not yet entered the battlefield.
Sam narrowed his eyes.
"So it's waiting."
Correct.
---
The first monsters reached the walls.
"INFANTRY!"
Ben roared.
"SHIELDS!"
Eighty Human Infantry locked their shields together.
Beside them...
Fifty Goblin Warriors formed a second defensive line.
The first Corruption Beast leaped.
SLAM!
It crashed into the shield wall.
Another followed.
Then another.
Within seconds...
The battle erupted across the entire western wall.
Steel clashed against claws.
Spears pierced corrupted flesh.
The defenders refused to give an inch.
---
Kael spun his spear through the air.
A Corrupted Wolf lunged toward him.
THRUST!
His spear pierced straight through its skull.
He ripped the weapon free before driving it into another beast.
"Hold formation!"
"No gaps!"
The spear soldiers answered with disciplined precision.
"YES, CAPTAIN!"
---
Inside the medical station...
Mira worked without rest.
"Healer Three!"
"Take care of that arm!"
"More recovery potions!"
A wounded Goblin Warrior staggered toward her.
She immediately cast healing magic.
Soft white light surrounded the injured warrior.
Within moments...
The bleeding stopped.
The Goblin bowed gratefully before returning to the wall.
Mira smiled.
"Go protect your home."
---
George laughed as he carried fresh weapons toward the defenders.
"I just finished that sword!"
A soldier caught it in midair.
"Then I'll make sure it gets used!"
Doran simply continued hammering.
CLANG!
Another spear.
CLANG!
Another shield.
The forge never rested.
---
Sam watched everything from the command platform.
Every officer was performing flawlessly.
Every soldier fought with courage.
But...
Something was wrong.
Inside his mind...
Rex confirmed his suspicion.
Commander...
The Elite is approaching.
Sam looked beyond the battlefield.
The Corruption Horde suddenly split apart.
Something enormous walked through the opening.
Each step shook the earth.
BOOM...
BOOM...
BOOM...
It stood nearly four meters tall.
Black crystal armor covered its body.
Its right arm had transformed into a massive blade of corrupted bone.
Its glowing crimson eyes locked onto the fortress.
A System notification appeared before Sam.
---
Elite Corruption Commander
Level: 30
Threat Assessment:
High
---
George stared with wide eyes.
"...That's bigger than the Goblin Chief."
Ben planted his shield into the ground.
"Finally."
"A real fight."
---
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Do not underestimate it.
It possesses intelligence.
The Elite suddenly lifted its blade toward Base 101.
It let out a deafening roar.
Every remaining Corruption Beast answered.
Then...
The entire horde charged at once.
Sam's eyes sharpened.
He pointed his sword toward the battlefield.
"Ben!"
"The walls are yours!"
"Kael!"
"Support the west gate!"
"Zora!"
"Focus every spell on the Elite!"
He took one final step forward.
"The Goblin Mage..."
"The Goblin Chief..."
"With me."
Blue soul fire ignited within the eyes of both undead.
Without hesitation...
They stepped beside their Commander.
The soldiers watched in silence.
Their Commander...
And his Undead Legion...
Were about to face the strongest enemy they had encountered since arriving in System World.