The Scarlet soldiers and players collided in an instant. Each individual had their own purpose, yet the chaos behind them didn't deter the players' charge.
As more enemies emerged, emotions erupted within the players—confusion mixed with exhilaration. When did this game become so inundated with monsters?
"Hurrah!"
"Rush!"
"Damn it, those mages need to be cautious when casting spells! This game doesn't allow for friendly fire!"
"Get a healer over here! My health is gone!"
"Don't block my path! That health bar was my monster!"
"Are you really going to hit your teammates?"
"Scrappy mages!"
"Beep, beep, beep!"
"Fuck! Xiahousi has started sounding the charge horn! Brothers, let's take him down first!"
As the exhilarating music reached its crescendo, the trumpet's call ignited the battlefield on the plains.
The terrain of valleys and plains meant that battles in the open were much more challenging than in confined spaces. Xiahou Fuxing, equipped with his war horn, stood firmly in the plains.
In the valley, the combat was direct and chaotic. Although the NPCs were generally stronger than the players, their lack of mobility meant they could only engage in melee combat.
Players were more concerned about timing than about wasting time; they feared being unable to land hits or break through defenses.
However, things were different on the plains. The NPCs, tasked with protecting their teleportation arrays, could extend their battle lines. With greater speed and expertise, they could easily kite players or strike from a distance.
But for now, the war had not devolved into a ranged battle; the charge had obliterated any kiting tactics.
With bloodshot eyes, the players pressed forward, their morale boosted by 30%. They charged toward the enemy's teleportation array, howling in unison.
Scarlet soldiers, caught off guard by their relentless advance, were forced into direct combat.
A scene of chaos unfolded, with blood and flesh flying everywhere. With over fifty thousand players clashing with a similar number of Scarlet soldiers, the scale of the battle was colossal.
The four anchors muted the sounds from other battle zones, desperately trying to issue commands, but their influence was minimal. Only players from guilds and studios heeded their calls, yet that was enough.
Xiahou Fuxing remained the most relaxed. He didn't need to shout orders; blowing the ancient bugle was enough to galvanize the players into an unending rush.
The entire plain was a cacophony of shouts and clashes.
Not far away, in a tent positioned between the battlefield and Dongwu City, the commanders of the four legions observed the broadcast in astonishment.
The players' fighting style was unique, a blend of frenzy and order.
In the three valley battle zones, the main forces surged forward violently. Mages tactically moved aside to clear paths for warriors and assassins, levitating to rain down spells like fireballs and ice arrows with precision.
The players' micro-manipulations even caught the attention of the seasoned legion commanders.
However, the mages and alchemists often struggled with accuracy, their spells sometimes hitting nearly defeated monsters and inadvertently affecting their own comrades.
In their legions, such carelessness would result in severe consequences for those responsible.
What astonished the commanders the most was the battlefield on the plains. When the urgent horn sounded, the players surged forward as if summoned by an unseen force.
Fortunately, this charge was not as extreme as the last. Mages, alchemists, and even some rare divine magicians maintained their composure, executing long-range attacks as needed.
This difference was understandable. The previous battle had dragged on for days, pushing players into a frenzy. This time, the charge came right at the start, and emotions had not yet escalated to madness.
Sabo also synchronized the live broadcast to the parliament, showcasing the players' combat effectiveness to garner support for the emerging military merit system.
If the Federation recognized the players' combat capabilities, it could lead to fewer casualties among Dawn's soldiers.
"Why is this fight so tough?" one player exclaimed.
"Damn, aren't these monsters supposed to feel pain? Why do these soldiers seem so invulnerable?"
"Ruizhi, it's just a game! Stop talking nonsense and look at the health bar!"
"The craziest part is this health bar! I've been chopped down to a sliver of health by the corpses!"
"Just treat it like a self-destruct buff! Charge in and take them down! If all else fails, chop off their hands and feet first, and I'll finish them off!"
"Oh, how I miss charging in! If I had known, I would have gone to Xiahou Fuxing's side. Killing monsters while listening to the charge would have been so smooth."
"Host, change the song! Turn up the speakers!"
In the valley's war zone, frontline players began to voice their frustrations.
The Scarlet warriors were much stronger this time, enveloped by a strange red light and seemingly impervious to pain. Players could slice their necks, but the soldiers would retaliate fiercely.
Although the level gap wasn't as vast as expected, the battle remained arduous.
Observing carefully, a guard struck one of the soldiers with a silver dagger, piercing its neck.
[You killed a level 26 Scarlet soldier. Experience +380.]
The monster's head flew off, blood spraying wildly.
Yet even headless, the soldier tried to attack, missing its target as it collapsed, becoming a mosaic of death.
Wei Lu watched the red luminescence surrounding the monsters. He appeared behind another soldier, stabbing it in the back, but the creature continued forward, oblivious, until a fireball struck it down.
Wei Lu glanced at the floating mage player, who was eagerly attempting to snatch kills, and remained silent.
"The monsters this time have a death delay. They're likely elite units. Everyone, stay alert," he warned, noticing the barrage of comments.
He searched the music library, cranked up the volume, and hit play.
The players in the broadcast room were instantly electrified.
"I feel a powerful will awakening! The anchor knows how to play!"
"Sickle, hammer! Big Brother is back! Hurrah!"
"Just as the pear blossoms bloom, a soft veil floats over the Tianya River! Ulla!"
"Stop with the nonsensical lyrics; sing in Russian!"
"Damn, don't you know it's an automatic translation? Can't you adjust it yourself?"
"Whatever, let's just enjoy it! Hula!"
The sudden music ignited excitement among the players. Though there was no war in the real world, the combination of a genuine battle and poignant music sent adrenaline coursing through their veins.
They charged forward, eager to start slaying.
As for the elite monsters encased in red light? They would just charge recklessly.
The conflict grew fiercer, drawing the attention of all those observing the war.
A true flesh-and-blood millstone was in motion.
Bodies of players and soldiers alike were trampled into paste. Helicopters formed long lines, ferrying more players to the battlefield. Fueled by passionate music, they joined the fray without fear.
One side fought to the death; the other, unafraid of death. The war intensified.
In the kingdom behind the teleportation array, a woman draped in a scarlet robe and crown sat on her throne, observing scenes from the four major battle zones.
Tap, tap, tap.
Her pale fingers drummed on the armrest as she contemplated the stagnant battles.
"These wonders are truly fascinating. Have you ever seen anything like them?" Hanbuna asked with keen interest.
"Your Majesty, we have already brought them to our side. They are eager to join any organization, but once they die, they return to Dongwu City and cannot be killed," a middle-aged man replied calmly.
The influence of the ancient gods on the kingdom was growing, birthing more golden powerhouses.
While some gold-ranked individuals emerged from the wild, many turned to the ancient gods in hopes of reaching a higher level.
These individuals gained power but lost their freedom.
Hanbuna nodded. "Would it be useful to have them create chaos in Dongwu City?"
"We've tested that. They can cause trouble, but they can't kill. They're somewhat fearful of the Federation's laws; killing in the city would strip them of their strength," the middle-aged man explained.
Hanbuna's interest waned slightly. "What about the data on these wonders?"
"Strong immortality. There's currently no way to eliminate them. They obey commands and follow directions seriously, but they refuse to kill within the city."
"Lastly, these wonders can connect with one another. If one learns a secret, the entire Federation will know."
"These are some recorded battle characteristics. They form a formidable army. It seems the wonders grow stronger through conflict."
As the middle-aged man spoke, he handed Hanbuna a small notebook filled with observations.
She took it, her gaze thoughtful as her fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest.
Turning to an orc, two humans, and a night elf to her left, she said calmly, "We cannot allow them to continue growing. You four go. I want the combat data on the transformation legion—now."
The four figures stood, a powerful mid-gold aura radiating from them. Scarlet flashed in their eyes as they bowed to Hanbuna and moved toward the packed soldiers in the distance.
The players had been fighting for five hours, with groups continuously rotating in, yet their excitement remained undiminished.
Low-level players could level up by defeating just three or four monsters. With a stroke of luck, even if they died, they still walked away with gains.
Higher-level players faced fewer risks, and those reaching level 20 no longer felt completely suppressed on the battlefield.
They killed efficiently, racking up rewards at a rapid pace.
The sound of gold coins accumulating in tasks echoed in their minds, reminiscent of thirty yuan being deposited into someone's account.
With current player transactions, one gold coin sold for thirty yuan, and demand consistently exceeded supply.
In a short span, players earned hundreds of dollars.
This fueled their rising excitement, and coupled with the battlefield atmosphere and increasingly passionate music, their fighting spirit surged, granting them the upper hand.
But just then, a roar echoed across the valley and plains, causing all players to pause, then erupt with renewed fervor. A familiar situation arose.
[Warning: A gold-level boss appears! Please exercise caution.]
The sudden emergence of the enemy boss sent players into a frenzy. The already fired-up crowd charged forward wildly.
Thousands of mages ceased their monster-snatching antics, ready to unleash their mana on the impending boss.
As the sky turned crimson, bosses materialized on all four battlefields—signaling a chance for combat and upgrades!
Buzz~
With remarkable coordination, the players' divine sorcerers, alchemists, and mages unleashed their long-range attacks simultaneously.
The brilliance of divine arts and spells intermixed with potion bottles and bullets.
The overwhelming torrent of magic spells stunned the four golden gods, but they soon disregarded the incoming attacks.
A swordsman, a magic swordsman, and two berserkers unleashed their mid-gold might, charging straight into the ranks of players.
"Fuck! No defense break?"
"Fuck, I missed!"
"Damn, there's no way we can fight this! We've all leveled up!"
"The level gap is too vast! Damn, my equipment!"
"This is a trash game! Every time we play, it ends with a scripted kill. Isn't it because they don't want us to reach max level too quickly?"
The boss's onslaught was relentless, and the players found themselves powerless against the golden median.
Even those nearing the maximum level struggled to breach the defenses.
After all, how could a level 25 player take down a monster above level 60?
Suddenly, the players were thrown into a passive stance. The Whispering Legion, positioned nearby, prepared to engage. They had previously hunted lower gold ranks, and now faced a mid-gold rank.
Though apprehensive, they felt anticipation at the thought of the rewards—3,000 gold coins each, real money that justified taking risks.
The generous death pension alleviated their worries. Regardless of the need to defend their homeland, the potential rewards fueled their fighting spirit.
"Prepare!"
The captains of each Whispering Squad heard their superiors' voices crackle over the intercom, but the message cut off mid-sentence.
At that moment, a dragon's roar reverberated through the air, its ancient power pressing down on the players in the plains, leaving them in awe.
Our boss is here!