The battlefield was silent.
Only the crackling of dying corruption remained.
Black ash drifted through the wind before slowly dissolving into countless particles of light.
The Corruption Horde...
Had been completely annihilated.
One by one...
The soldiers of Base 101 lowered their weapons.
Then...
A thunderous cheer erupted across the battlefield.
"WE WON!"
"BASE 101!"
"COMMANDER SAM!"
The sound echoed across the valley.
For the first time since Humanity's First Trial had begun...
Hope outweighed fear.
---
A familiar chime echoed inside Sam's mind.
DING!
Golden notifications appeared one after another.
---
World Mission Objective Completed
✓ Defend Base 101
Reward Calculating...
---
Regional Threat Eliminated
Bonus Reward Granted
---
Perfect Civilian Defense
No Civilian Casualties
Additional Reward Granted
---
Outstanding Commander Performance
Leadership Evaluation Increased
---
Sam watched the notifications continue to stack.
Even he hadn't expected this many rewards.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke calmly.
Exceptional performance, Commander.
The System rewards efficiency.
---
Another notification appeared.
---
Level Up!
Commander Sam
Level 24 → 25
---
A surge of energy rushed through Sam's body.
His muscles felt lighter.
His mana expanded.
His senses became sharper.
He slowly clenched his fist.
"So this is Level 25..."
---
More notifications followed.
---
Bonus Objective Completed
✓ Reach Level 25
Reward Granted
---
Skill Level Increased
Shadow Step → Level 9
Vertical Instant Slash → Level 13
Fire Missiles → Level 5
---
Sam smiled.
Every battle...
Made him stronger.
---
The Goblin Chief suddenly became surrounded by blue soul fire.
The massive undead stood perfectly still as energy poured into its body.
---
Legion Member Level Up
Goblin Chief
Level 21 → Level 23
---
Its muscles became denser.
Its armor darkened.
The battle axe resting on its shoulder pulsed with dark mana.
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex explained.
Commander...
Legion members receive additional experience when defeating powerful enemies.
---
The Goblin Mage was next.
Dark mana spiraled around its staff.
Its blue flames burned brighter than ever.
---
Legion Member Level Up
Goblin Mage
Level 23 → Level 24
---
New Skill Learned
Bone Prison
---
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"A new skill already?"
Correct.
Legion members may awaken new abilities through combat experience.
---
A second notification appeared.
---
Evolution Progress Updated
Goblin Chief: 47%
Goblin Mage: 52%
---
Sam's eyes lingered on the numbers.
"They're already halfway there..."
---
Nearby...
Ben laughed as he wiped monster blood from his shield.
"I'd call today a success."
George grinned.
"I'd call it a lot of cleanup."
Doran looked over the damaged weapons collected from the battlefield.
"We'll have enough work to keep the forge busy all week."
Mira finished treating the last injured soldier.
She smiled with relief.
"Everyone made it home."
Kael rested his spear across his shoulder.
"Our formations held."
Runa looked toward the distant forest.
"They'll be back."
Leon silently nodded.
"They always come back."
---
Sam turned toward the officers.
"You all fought well today."
Ben scratched the back of his head.
"We had a good Commander."
Several soldiers nearby nodded in agreement.
Base 101 had survived...
Not because of luck.
But because every person had fulfilled their role.
---
Suddenly...
A soldier sprinted toward the command group.
"Commander!"
He stopped to catch his breath.
"Scouts have returned!"
Leon stepped forward.
"What did they find?"
The scout swallowed.
"About fifteen kilometers east..."
"We found another Base."
Silence.
George blinked.
"Another Commander?"
The scout nodded.
"Yes."
"But..."
His expression became uneasy.
"The walls were destroyed."
"There wasn't a single survivor."
The battlefield grew quiet once more.
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex's voice carried an unusual weight.
Commander...
This Base was not destroyed by monsters.
Sam's expression darkened.
"What do you mean?"
The attack patterns do not match Corruption Beasts.
A brief pause followed.
Then Rex delivered the conclusion.
Another Commander conquered that Base.
Sam slowly looked toward the eastern horizon.
Humanity's First Trial...
Had only just begun.
And already...
A Commander had fallen.
Far away...
Someone had claimed another human Base.
The competition to lead humanity...
Had become far more dangerous.