Reinhard stood amid scattered root fragments, the golden cape blazing behind him. Thousands of descending roots remained frozen, held by invisible hands of the sleeping victims who'd chosen defiance over dreams.

But he wasn't truly alone, even when it seemed that way. He switched to Odin, leading to Zenuken appearing in his hand.

Then he raised Zenuken high, the black-blue blade glittered and then he began shouting. "My legions! Where are you all!? Will you allow your commander to defeat all the foes and protect you all!?"

Light burst around him, starting from the Star Jewel, then connecting to the golden cape and the beliefs it represented.

Golden spectral forms appeared in waves, their armor shining as they appeared. Over fifty warriors from Melo City, summoned by his call, responded to their Supreme Commander's need.

All of them broken free from the roots.

Bargest appeared first, his grin wide and fierce. "No, Commander! We would rather die a second time than allow that!"

The others echoed his declaration, their voices unified. "No, Supreme Commander!"

Reinhard laughed. "Your greatest enemy is finally before you all! It wishes to fully snuff out the Forerunners people! It wishes to deny our efforts and the courage we display every time we get up and continue living!"

All of the Golden Melo Warriors trembled.

His voice grew harder. "It believes that giving up and dreaming is better than struggling! What do you all say to that?"

The Golden Warriors roared in perfect unison: "It can screw off!"

"Why is that?" Reinhard demanded.

"Because we carry the legacy and will of those who have fallen."

Reinhard's grin matched Bargest's wild expression. "Then let's go! Protect me as I run to the top and set this place ablaze. And finally, end this chapter once and for all!"

The warriors roared as they summoned their Beast Spirit. They fell into formation naturally, defenders at the front, ranged attackers in the middle ranks, and close-combat specialists close. Reinhard positioned himself at the formation's spearhead.

"Charge!"

They rushed forward as one.

Reinhard led with explosive speed while the golden warriors followed, their spectral forms leaving light trails that painted the interior in radiant patterns.

More grey humanoid structures appeared from the walls in desperate waves.

Reinhard's eyes glowed as he felt Fenrir's power surge through him as he activated Sinner Reflect. The attack erupted forward, mental assault striking the advancing constructs. 4

They stumbled, disrupted by screams and roars that shouldn't exist in their wooden minds.

He switched to Odin before he rushed through the stumbling enemies, and Zenuken began carving through each of them. Instantly, six constructs exploded simultaneously from being chopped, slashed, and bisected.

The roots tried launching direct attacks of tendrils shooting from walls, attempting to pierce or bind. But they moved sluggishly, many held back by invisible resistance.

The sleeping victims were fighting, their wills preventing the tree from accessing full power.

Allowing for Reinhard and the others to flip, slide, and rush past the struggling roots.

Reinhard continued ascending, following pathways that spiraled upward. Behind him, the golden warriors engaged anything that threatened their Commander's advance.

The Star Jewel pulsed in Reinhard's pocket, warmth spreading through his uniform. Golden light swept outward from the artifact, washing across the interior.

Where the light touched the cocoons, the sleeping victims became visible, not just their bodies but their spirits, their wills made manifest.

Reinhard saw them clearly now.

A man with burn scars holding back three roots, his spectral hands gripping the wood with strength his physical body no longer possessed.

The woman who'd been bullied was standing beside him, adding her effort.

The nameless warrior who'd been forgotten was joining them, his spirit blazing with determination despite having no physical form.

Thousands of them, all visible through the Star Jewel's light. Holding back roots, pushing against the tree's control, cheering as Reinhard and the golden warriors climbed.

Their voices created a symphony of encouragement.

"Keep going!"

"Don't stop!"

"End this thing!"

"For the Golden Age!"

Reinhard's chest tightened with emotion, but he channeled it into speed. They reached the area where three pathways combined, and then he saw roots rushing towards him.

These were roots that weren't controlled by the victims, who rushed out, all aiming to end him.

But Reinhard didn't flinch or stop.

Instantly, shields appeared ahead of him.

Five warriors in heavy armor positioned themselves in a defensive wall, their shields raised. The roots struck with devastating force, sharp tips seeking to pierce.

But the shields held, golden light blazing where wood met spectral metal.

The roots bounced off, deflected away from Reinhard's position.

The shield warriors parted like curtains.

Behind them stood archers, seven warriors with spectral bows drawn. They loosed simultaneously, golden arrows streaking through the air. Each arrow struck a root, pinning it to the walls or shattering it completely.

Warriors with long-range power attacked from the formation's rear. One raised her hands, and bolts of lightning tore through the roots while some fried it to a crisp.

Another gesture, and ice spread across attacking tendrils, freezing them solid. Before then, another swiped their hand down, leading to gravity and pressure to force some vines down as they shattered.

Another summoned spectral blades that flew forward, hacking through anything in their path.

The formation continued upward, never stopping despite constant attacks. The Warriors rotated positions smoothly, the coordination was beautiful, each movement flowing into the next without pause or hesitation.

Pale roots shaped as beasts descended from above. A dragon constructed with a serpentine body covered in wooden scales, jaws opening to reveal a thorn-filled interior.

A massive tiger with root-claws extended, A phoenix with its wings spread wide, trailing smaller tendrils like tail feathers.

More forms followed of bears, wolves, eagles, and creatures like other Phantasm Beasts.

The golden warriors met them without hesitation.

Bargest's Beast Spirit of a massive spectral bear roared with sound that shook reality. He rode it into the dragon construct, his sword cleaving through the wooden skull. The bear's claws tore at wooden scales, ripping them free in chunks.

Erza Beast Spirit had antlers that blazed with golden fire appearing on her head. Her antlers caught the wooden wings of the phoenix and ignited them. The flames spread rapidly, consuming the root-approximation before it could attack.

Voyer was covered in silver fur that burst in blue lightning. He lunged at the tiger construct, electricity arcing from its fur to burn through wood. The tiger tried fighting back, but Voyer was too fast, too aggressive, overwhelming it through pure ferocity.

Other warriors summoned their own Beast Spirits.

A warrior with short black hair became a spectral serpent that wrapped around attacking roots, crushing them before they could reach Reinhard.

Another summoned the wings of an eagle that dove from above, talons raking across wooden beast constructs and tearing them apart.

Another manifested a lion's mane that roared challenges, the sound alone causing weaker roots to retreat.

Garius was covered in full plate armor and cutting through enemies one after another with his spectral blade.

Thane's Beast Spirit took the form of a scholar carrying an enormous book. Pages turned rapidly, each one releasing different elemental attacks such as fire, ice, and lightning that smashed through the enemies.

Corvin's eyes shone as he clapped his hand and summoned twin spectral panthers. The beasts growled before rushing out, tearing, biting, and clawing through the humanoid roots.

Mira Beast Spirit the Owl, made her eyes glow golden. Her gaze froze roots in place, allowing her physical attacks to shatter them easily.

Senna manifested nine tails, each tail independent and capable of deflecting attacks or striking enemies.

The battle became chaotic as fifty-plus warriors protected their commander. They covered each other perfectly, no wasted movements, every action serving the dual purpose of offense and defense.

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