The battlefield trembled.
The Corruption Horde surged forward like a tidal wave.
Hundreds of monsters crashed against the walls of Base 101.
Steel rang.
Magic exploded.
Arrows rained from the sky.
Yet every soldier held their ground.
At the center of it all...
A towering figure slowly advanced.
The Elite Corruption Commander.
Its crimson eyes locked onto Sam.
Then...
It smiled.
"...Commander..."
Its raspy voice echoed across the battlefield.
"I... will... claim... your... Base."
Ben cursed.
"It can talk?"
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex answered.
Commander...
Elite Corruption Commanders possess intelligence comparable to humans.
Do not underestimate it.
Sam slowly stepped forward.
"I wasn't planning to."
---
The Elite raised its massive bone blade.
With one swing...
BOOM!!
A wave of corrupted energy ripped across the battlefield.
Three defensive barricades shattered instantly.
Several soldiers were thrown backward.
"Shields!"
Ben roared.
He charged first.
Skill Activated
Guardian's Wall
Golden light erupted from Ben's tower shield.
BOOM!!
The corrupted shockwave slammed into him.
His boots carved deep trenches through the dirt...
But he didn't move another inch.
The soldiers behind him remained unharmed.
Ben grinned.
"You're gonna have to hit harder than that!"
Cheers erupted from the wall.
---
"Archers!"
Runa raised her bow.
"Target the eyes!"
Skill Activated
Triple Shot
Three glowing arrows left her bow at once.
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
The Elite tilted its head.
Two arrows missed.
The third struck its shoulder.
CLANG!
The crystal armor deflected the shot.
Runa frowned.
"...Too tough."
---
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex immediately analyzed the impact.
Crystal density exceeds expectations.
Weak point located beneath the left shoulder joint.
Probability of success if struck there: 87%.
Sam nodded almost imperceptibly.
---
"Zora!"
"The left shoulder!"
Without asking how he knew...
Zora trusted him completely.
She raised her staff.
Mana swirled violently around her.
Skill Activated
Fire Lance
A blazing spear of fire shot across the battlefield.
BOOM!!
The Elite raised its blade to block.
The explosion forced it back three steps.
Cracks spread across the crystal covering its left shoulder.
George's eyes widened.
"It damaged it!"
---
The Elite roared.
Dozens of Corrupted Wolves rushed toward Zora.
Before they could reach her...
Kael stepped forward.
He spun his spear with practiced precision.
Skill Activated
Whirlwind Spear
The spear became a silver cyclone.
Three wolves were launched into the air.
A fourth was pierced through the chest.
Kael planted his spear into the ground.
"No one's touching our mages."
---
On the western wall...
A Corruption Beast leaped toward a young soldier.
The terrified recruit froze.
Too slow.
Too frightened.
Before the beast could strike—
A shadow flashed overhead.
Leon.
Skill Activated
Silent Step
He appeared behind the monster without making a sound.
One clean slash.
The beast collapsed.
Leon sheathed his daggers.
"Stay focused."
The young soldier nodded repeatedly.
"Y-Yes, Captain!"
---
Near the center of the battlefield...
The Goblin Chief finally moved.
Blue soul fire blazed within its empty eyes.
Sam pointed toward the Elite.
"Chief."
"Break its line."
The undead giant lowered its stance.
Then...
It exploded forward.
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath its feet.
The Corruption Horde scattered.
Several monsters were sent flying from the impact alone.
The Elite answered with a massive downward slash.
The Goblin Chief met it head-on.
Skill Activated
Iron Body
Its muscles darkened like forged steel.
CRAAAANG!!
The two weapons collided.
A shockwave burst across the battlefield.
Neither warrior moved.
George laughed in disbelief.
"That monster actually stopped it!"
---
Meanwhile...
The Goblin Mage calmly raised its staff.
Dark mana gathered overhead.
Skill Activated
Shadow Fireball
A sphere of black flames shot into the center of the horde.
BOOOOOOM!!
Dark fire erupted across the battlefield.
Unlike ordinary flames...
These continued burning.
Every Corruption Beast touched by the black fire screamed as the corruption itself was consumed.
Zora stared in amazement.
"It purified the corruption..."
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex answered.
Negative.
It is devouring corrupted mana to strengthen itself.
A new notification appeared before Sam.
---
Goblin Mage has absorbed corrupted mana.
Mana Reserves Increased.
---
Sam smiled.
"So that's one of your abilities..."
---
The Elite suddenly overpowered the Goblin Chief.
With a violent kick...
The undead giant was hurled backward.
It crashed through three abandoned wagons before coming to a stop.
Ben's expression hardened.
"It's strong."
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke urgently.
Commander...
The crystal armor is weakening.
Now is your opportunity.
Sam's grip tightened around his sword.
Dark mana surged around him.
"Everyone..."
"Keep the horde off me."
Ben slammed his shield against the ground.
"You heard the Commander!"
"No monster gets through!"
Every officer stepped forward.
The road to the Elite...
Was theirs to hold.
Sam lowered his stance.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Let's end this."
Skill Activated
Shadow Step
His body vanished into darkness.
The Elite's crimson eyes widened.
For the first time since the battle began...
It had lost sight of its prey.