The massive gates of Base 101 slowly opened.
A long line of wagons rolled into the fortress.
Each one was piled high with supplies recovered from the fallen Base 117.
Refined iron.
Hardwood timber.
Monster Cores.
Mana Crystals.
Food.
Medicine.
Even before the soldiers announced their return...
The citizens knew.
Their Commander had come home.
Cheers erupted throughout the fortress.
"Commander Sam is back!"
"They're home!"
"They brought supplies!"
Children ran through the streets with excited smiles while workers hurried toward the wagons to help unload them.
Sam looked across the bustling fortress.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Home.
---
George's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
He sprinted toward the first wagon.
"No way..."
"No way!"
He threw open one of the crates.
Inside...
Hundreds of bars of refined iron gleamed beneath the sunlight.
George slowly looked toward Sam.
"...Commander."
"You robbed a kingdom."
Ben laughed.
"Not exactly."
George opened another crate.
Hardwood.
Another.
Mana Crystals.
Another.
Monster Cores.
His jaw slowly dropped.
"...I take it back."
"You robbed two kingdoms."
The nearby soldiers burst into laughter.
Even Doran's normally stoic expression softened.
"This much material..."
"...will keep the forge running for months."
George rubbed his hands together excitedly.
"I've got enough projects to last a year!"
---
Nearby...
Mira helped the lone survivor from Base 117 down from one of the wagons.
Several citizens immediately welcomed her.
One elderly woman wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.
A little girl handed her a bowl of warm soup.
The survivor's eyes filled with tears.
"You..."
"You don't even know me."
The elderly woman smiled kindly.
"You made it here."
"That's enough."
The survivor quietly lowered her head.
For the first time since losing her home...
She smiled.
---
At the center of the fortress...
Kael stood examining his new Frost Spear.
The silver weapon reflected the morning light.
He slowly spun it through the air.
The movement was smooth.
Natural.
A faint trail of frost followed each swing.
Several soldiers gathered to watch.
"Captain Kael looks even stronger."
"That spear is incredible."
Kael planted the Frost Spear into the ground.
"I won't waste the Commander's trust."
---
Not far away...
The Goblin Chief and Goblin Mage stood silently beside Sam.
Although they remained perfectly still...
Many of the newer recruits couldn't help but stare.
"They're..."
"...undead."
"But they fought for us."
"I saw the Goblin Chief stop that Elite by itself."
"The Goblin Mage wiped out dozens of monsters."
Fear slowly became admiration.
Sam noticed.
That was enough.
---
A sudden horn echoed from the western wall.
BWOOOOOOOM!
Every soldier instinctively looked toward the sky.
A lookout leaned over the battlements.
"Commander!"
"Airship approaching!"
Ben immediately grabbed his shield.
"Battle positions!"
Leon climbed the watchtower with practiced speed.
A moment later...
He lowered his spyglass.
"It's human."
A small smile crossed Sam's face.
"I know that ship."
---
A familiar wooden airship descended outside Base 101.
Its white sails caught the afternoon wind.
The vessel landed smoothly beyond the gates.
The loading ramp lowered.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the wood.
Then...
A familiar laugh rang through the courtyard.
"Hahaha!"
"You disappear for one day..."
"...and somehow come back richer than when you left."
Dennis walked down the ramp with a broad grin.
Sam stepped forward.
"Good to see you again."
The two Commanders clasped forearms.
Dennis looked toward the endless line of supply wagons.
"...Seriously."
"What happened?"
Ben couldn't help but grin.
"It's a long story."
---
A few minutes later...
Inside the command hall...
Dennis listened quietly as Sam explained everything.
Base 117.
Commander Ethan.
The ruined fortress.
The journal.
Commander Bjorn.
By the time Sam finished...
The room had fallen silent.
Dennis slowly leaned back in his chair.
"So..."
"It's true."
"Commanders are already conquering other Bases."
Sam nodded.
"We're no longer fighting only monsters."
Dennis let out a long sigh.
"My System warned me this Trial would change people."
"I didn't think it'd happen this fast."
---
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex spoke calmly.
Commander...
Dennis appears trustworthy.
However, continue exercising caution.
Sam gave the slightest nod.
Trust...
Was earned.
Not given.
---
Dennis reached into his backpack.
"I didn't come empty-handed."
He unfolded a weathered map across the table.
"I've been exploring west of my territory."
His finger pointed toward several markings.
"I found two monster nests."
"A rich iron deposit."
"And..."
He hesitated.
"...something strange."
Everyone leaned closer.
"There was an enormous stone tower."
"It wasn't there three days ago."
"No doors."
"No windows."
"Just..."
"There."
Leon's expression became serious.
"A System structure?"
Dennis nodded.
"My System couldn't identify it."
---
Sam looked thoughtfully at the map.
"In return..."
He slid Commander Ethan's journal across the table.
Dennis carefully opened it.
His smile slowly disappeared.
"...Bjorn."
"So that's the kind of man he is."
He closed the journal and returned it.
"We all need to get stronger."
"No exceptions."
---
Just then...
Both Sam and Dennis froze.
Neither had spoken.
Neither had moved.
Inside Sam's mind...
Rex's voice echoed.
Commander...
A World Announcement is about to begin.
Across the table...
Dennis stared into empty space.
His own System was speaking to him as well.
The officers exchanged confused glances.
They had seen this before.
Every Commander communicated with their own System differently.
Neither Sam nor Dennis spoke until the voices in their minds fell silent.
Then...
The entire fortress shook.
Outside...
A brilliant golden light illuminated the sky.
Every citizen rushed into the streets.
Every soldier looked upward.
The familiar screen stretched across the heavens once more.
Large golden letters slowly appeared.
WORLD EVENT
Initializing...
Sam and Dennis exchanged a single glance.
Whatever came next...
Would affect every Commander in System World.