The battlefield shook.
The Elite Corruption Commander's wounds sealed before everyone's eyes.
Cracks in its crystal armor disappeared.
Black mist poured from its body.
Its crimson eyes glowed brighter than ever.
A cruel smile spread across its face.
"You..."
"...cannot... kill... corruption."
Silence spread across the battlefield.
Then...
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander.
Analysis complete.
The Corruption Core has been located.
Sam kept his eyes on the Elite.
"Where?"
Inside its chest.
Hidden beneath the regenerated crystal armor.
Destroy the Core...
The Elite dies permanently.
A slow smile appeared on Sam's face.
"So that's your weakness."
---
The Elite roared.
Hundreds of Corruption Beasts charged once more.
"Hold the line!" Ben shouted.
The defenders answered with a deafening roar.
"FOR BASE 101!"
The second wave crashed into the fortress.
---
Ben planted his shield into the earth.
Skill Activated
Guardian's Wall
Golden light spread across the front line.
Corruption Beasts slammed into the shield wall again and again.
None broke through.
Ben gritted his teeth.
"We don't fall!"
The infantry behind him thrust their spears through the gaps in the shields.
Monster after monster collapsed.
---
To Ben's right...
Kael pointed his spear toward a charging Corrupted Ogre.
"Formation!"
The spear company moved as one.
Skill Activated
Spear Rain
Dozens of spears struck in perfect rhythm.
The Ogre stumbled.
Before it could recover...
Kael lunged.
Piercing Thrust!
His spear drove straight through the monster's throat.
The giant crashed to the ground.
---
High above the battlefield...
Runa drew another arrow.
She slowed her breathing.
Everything else disappeared.
Only her target remained.
Skill Activated
Eagle's Precision
The world seemed to freeze.
She released the string.
The arrow crossed the battlefield like a streak of light.
SHING!
A Corrupted Beast preparing to ambush Ben fell instantly.
Ben glanced toward the wall and laughed.
"Nice shot!"
Runa simply reached for another arrow.
---
Behind the lines...
Zora raised both hands.
Mana gathered above her until the sky itself shimmered.
Sweat rolled down her forehead.
"This one's..."
"...going to hurt."
She slammed her staff into the ground.
Skill Activated
Arcane Explosion
A brilliant sphere of blue mana erupted in the center of the battlefield.
BOOOOOOM!!
Dozens of Corruption Beasts were thrown into the air.
The advancing horde split apart.
George let out a whistle.
"Remind me never to make you angry."
---
Near the center of the battlefield...
The Goblin Mage lifted its staff.
Its blue soul fire blazed.
Dark mana spiraled around its body.
Skill Activated
Mana Drain
Thin strands of black energy shot toward nearby Corruption Beasts.
The corrupted creatures screamed.
Their mana was ripped from their bodies.
The Goblin Mage's aura swelled.
Its next spell formed almost instantly.
"Shadow Fireball."
A sphere of black flames crashed into the weakened monsters.
The explosion consumed everything within its path.
Another notification flashed before Sam.
---
Goblin Mage
Level 22 → 23
Skill Mastery Increased:
Shadow Fireball
---
The undead mage lowered its staff.
Not a single movement was wasted.
---
The Goblin Chief charged once again.
The Elite met it head-on.
Axes collided.
BOOOOOOM!!
The shockwave flattened nearby Corruption Beasts.
The Elite pushed forward.
The Goblin Chief refused to retreat.
Blue soul fire erupted from its eyes.
Skill Activated
Intimidating Roar
"ROOOOOOOAR!!"
The battlefield froze.
Nearby Corruption Beasts hesitated.
Several weaker monsters instinctively stepped backward.
The Goblin Chief seized the opening.
War Chief's Cleave!
Its massive axe crashed into the Elite's chest.
CRAAAAACK!!
More crystal shattered away.
For the first time...
The glowing black Core became visible.
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex's voice rang out.
NOW, COMMANDER!
---
Sam disappeared.
Shadow Step.
He reappeared directly in front of the Elite.
The monster swung its massive blade.
Too slow.
Sam twisted past the attack.
His sword ignited with dark mana.
Vertical Instant Slash.
A single brilliant arc flashed across the battlefield.
SLAAAAASH!!
The blade pierced through the shattered armor...
Straight into the Corruption Core.
Time seemed to stop.
The Elite looked down at its chest.
A thin crack spread across the black crystal.
Then another.
And another.
Its eyes widened.
"No..."
CRACK!
The Core exploded.
A blinding pillar of golden light shot into the sky.
The Elite's body began crumbling into black ash.
The remaining Corruption Beasts froze.
Without their commander...
The corruption controlling them vanished.
One after another...
They collapsed.
Silence.
The battlefield became still.
Then...
A familiar chime echoed throughout Base 101.
DING!
---
WORLD MISSION UPDATE
Regional Threat Eliminated.
Base 101 Successfully Defended.
Calculating Rewards...
---
Cheers erupted from every wall.
"We won!"
"The Commander defeated the Elite!"
"Base 101 stands!"
Ben raised his shield high.
Kael thrust his spear into the air.
Runa smiled for the first time since the battle began.
Even Leon allowed himself a small nod of approval.
George laughed so hard he nearly dropped his hammer.
"I knew we'd survive!"
Mira looked toward the wounded filling the medical tents.
"And thanks to everyone..."
"...we didn't lose a single soldier."
Sam slowly sheathed his sword.
He looked across the battlefield.
The Goblin Mage stood quietly beside him.
The Goblin Chief rested its axe against one shoulder.
Both undead waited patiently for their next command.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Congratulations, Commander.
You have taken your first true step toward becoming the leader humanity needs.
Before Sam could answer...
Another golden screen appeared.
Unlike the last one...
This one belonged to him alone.
Its contents slowly began to reveal themselves.