SSS Class Mythic Beast Master

"Dune actually made Rein the commander of the Melo Warriors." Marie breathed, the words emerging half-disbelieving despite witnessing it directly.

Joseph's lips twitched into something between a smile and bewilderment. "A Supreme Commander. He didn't just have the Forerunners warrior help us, but made it so Rein can lead them."

Casseo shook his head slowly, the gesture carrying amazement rather than denial. "The legends were one thing, but this..."

Reinhard closed his eyes, blocking out their reactions.

The memories flooded back, not his own but Dune's, experienced through the Star Jewel's power. He saw the faces of warriors laughing in Melo City's streets, and then he heard their voices cheering after victories.

He felt their determination when facing impossible odds and witnessed their pride in protecting something worth dying for. He understood now why these people had answered the call, it was all to help Dune.

Commander Dune had continued their wishes of helping the citizens gain the courage to be happy about their cities despite constant threats. He had given them the courage to take pride in what they'd helped protect and died protecting.

And then for some of them, it was Dune who'd helped them gain the belief to keep rising even against terrible forces that should have broken them.

This understanding settled across Reinhard's shoulders, making him understand the role of Supreme Commander a bit.

He sighed, opening his eyes to meet the expectant gazes of fifty-plus spectral warriors. "That man really is a bastard."

The golden warriors erupted into laughter as all of them nodded.

"Ahh, a fellow brother who understands how much of a bastard Dune was!" One warrior shouted, his voice mixing joy with affectionate exasperation.

"Even the future generation knows!" Another added, slapping his spectral thigh hard enough to create a sound despite his incorporeal nature.

"He never changed, did he? Still manipulating people into doing the right thing!"

"Making us feel guilty if we don't give everything!"

Their laughter continued, overlapping voices that helped illustrate the experience they had with Dune.

Reinhard's expression shifted as he looked forward. "Still, he is right. Let's fulfill the wish of the Forerunners and end this darkness!"

The warriors cheered, a unified sound that made the forest tremble. Their spectral forms shined brighter, power radiating outward to push back against the Dark Silence's oppressive atmosphere.

The others' eyes shined with barely contained excitement. Marie's grip on Longinus tightened, the crimson-gold spear catching golden light from the warriors. Joseph spun Arondight in a ready position as he grinned in anticipation.

Casseo clenched his fist while his body slightly trembled. Veryn's grimoire pages turned rapidly, as her eyes shine and she had a faint smile.

Amiya's eyes lit up like stars, her entire body trembling as she tried to control herself. The map crinkled further in her grip, but her gaze swept across the golden warriors with something approaching reverence. Janus grinned widely as he trembled in excitement while Honor nodded his head slowly.

Honor then say softly. "It would be our honor to fight with you all."

Bargest stepped forward with a chuckle. "Don't sweat it. He's right, we should have ended this threat instead of leaving it to the future. But now that it's come to this, rely on us to protect and pave the way for you all."

Marie shook her head sharply, platinum hair swaying with the motion as she grinned and held out her hand toward Bargest. "You guys aren't our escort but comrades."

Bargest's eyes widened in surprise, and then he laughed again. He reached forward, his golden hand grasping Marie's solid one, the contact created a brief flash of light.

"Just like my old recruits..." Bargest's grin widened until it threatened to split his face. "You're right. Then, as comrades, let's go see the true face of our enemy."

Everyone nodded, grins spreading like wildfire through the assembled group as all of them were unified by a shared goal and determination.

"Forward!" Reinhard commanded, his voice carrying authority granted by Dune's final gift.

They rushed out as one with Amiya leading the way, a map held in one hand while the other gripped her weapon. Her earlier uncertainty had vanished, replaced by confidence born from having everyone at her back. She called out directions with clarity. "East-northeast! The path curves but leads directly toward the center!"

Root-humanoids emerged from the tree line ahead.

Drasil Step.

Blue ripples spread from beneath his feet. Time slowed to a crawl, the world slowing down as Reinhard rushed forward towards the humanoids. Zenuken turned into a blur as he began chopping, slashing, hacking, and cutting them apart.

The first one was chopped in half, the other one was slashed into twos, and the last two were torn into pieces. Before he then unleashed Ragnarock, leading countless slashes and chops to appear over the enemies. When Drasil Step ended, the root-constructs exploded simultaneously, wood fragments scattering.

The golden Melo warriors engaged immediately behind him. Their weapons of swords, spears, axes, and hammers began carving through enemies with swiftness. They fought as they had in life, coordinating without verbal communication, covering each other's flanks instinctively.

One warrior with auburn hair thrust her spear through a Night Terror's torso. When tendrils erupted from the creature's split face, another warrior's axe severed them before they could strike. A third warrior's sword finished the Terror, devouring it with a massive serpent head.

Joseph moved through the chaos as he blasted out with his lance over and over. Each thrust pierced holes inside the humanoids before he swept out, the lance cleaving through the Night Terrors coming on his right. The light grey lance with black spiraling streaks caught and reflected golden light from the warriors.

When he thrust forward, wind gathered around the lance's tip, extending its reach by several feet. The enhanced strike pierced three root-constructs in a line.

Veryn created barriers of fire by borrowing help from a Melo warrior whose Beast Spirit produced flames. She gestured, and the warrior's fire diverted from its original path, flowing under her control to create a wall that blocked advancing enemies.

Another gesture redirected water another warrior had summoned, the liquid flowing to extinguish flames threatening to spread to their own position.

A root-construct's claws tore across one warrior's chest, tearing through his spectral armor and creating holes in him. But then golden light filled the wounds immediately, knitting him back together within seconds.

He laughed, driving his sword through the construct's torso in retaliation.