The Rising Tide of War in Dongwu City
The number of players online in Dongwu City was steadily increasing. Even those with pressing real-life commitments set aside their tasks—if they weren't crucial—and chose to log in and tackle missions instead. Players from other border cities, yet to engage in the war, flocked to the teleportation array.
During wartime, the teleportation array was free for all extraordinary individuals, significantly increasing player circulation.
In an instant, the player count in Tobu City surpassed one million, all eagerly anticipating the monstrous tide looming hundreds of kilometers beyond the closed gates.
Buzzbuzz
Before the Guard Brigade and Xiahou Fuxing could fully react, the war medals on their chests began to hum softly. Simultaneously, their panels lit up with notifications.
[Players participating in the Battle of Tobu City will receive double kill merits, continuing until the end of the war.]
"Shit!" Xiahou Fuxing exclaimed, his heart racing with excitement. The rewards for these merits were undeniably enticing, including the coveted silver-level Barrett.
The power of that weapon exceeded the limits of most players, especially with its potential for L-type and M-type transformations, making it highly attractive.
Bullet screen: [Shit!] ×n
Bullet screen: [Tell my mother-in-law I won't be visiting today. Let's go out and earn some rewards!]
Joyful comments flooded the screen, with many urging the game developers to open more slots for players.
Yet, the Guard Brigade wore solemn expressions. As they gazed at the encroaching black wave, one member stated gravely, "We should return to the city. This war in Dongwu City will be exceptionally challenging."
"The players are gathering. Why fear these millions of monsters?" Demacia dismissed the concern, his blood boiling with excitement. Even in the face of such a massive force, he felt an urge to charge in and confront it head-on.
"Just look for yourself."
The Guard Brigade raised his voice over the buzzing, sharing alarming news about Nanling City in the player forum.
[War mission in Nanling City! The beast tide and strange tide are approaching!]
Demacia and Xiahou Fuxing exchanged surprised glances. The Guard Brigade continued, "The surge in player numbers in Tobu City means a decrease in other border cities. The bosses in this world aren't mindless."
"Moreover, the internet is vulnerable to surveillance. This war may not only involve Dongwu City but also all four major border cities. However, Dongwu City will face the fiercest challenges."
The Guard spoke with conviction. "If those ancient gods are watching the dawn, it won't be long before other cities receive similar news."
As if on cue, a flood of posts began to appear on the player forum and Alchemy Magic Network, filled with images of various monsters. It seemed the federal network not only facilitated communication for its own but also for its enemies.
"Tsk, there's no real-name system on this network," Demacia remarked, looking at the two of them. "Should we head back?"
"Let's go. The network needs an upgrade, at least to prevent outsiders from peeping. But that's easier said than done. In this extraordinary world, fingerprints, iris scans, and even DNA aren't foolproof. Just like Night Rose, even standing right in front of us, we can't determine what's real."
As the Guard was about to click the offline button, the dense throng of monsters began to shift ominously.
The monsters spread out rapidly, extending in all directions. The already vast tide of creatures became even more daunting.
Before any questions could arise, the distinct roar of supersonic speed pierced the air, and a missile with a trailing flame descended into the mass of monsters.
Boom!
The earth-shattering explosion erupted, a massive fireball rising in the distance, vaporizing countless monsters and clearing a vast area with a seven-kilometer diameter.
In a chain reaction, before the fireball dissipated, the sky erupted with more roars as missiles followed suit, streaking down with deadly precision.
The landing points of these missiles were eerily accurate, covering every inch of the visible battlefield.
"What the hell? Is that a nuclear strike?" Demacia muttered, his eyes wide as the mushroom cloud from the initial explosion was torn apart by the shockwaves of subsequent missiles.
Boom boom boom. Buzzing.
The missiles rained down relentlessly, each explosion marking the death of thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of monsters.
"I can't shake this feeling of danger. I'm pulling out," Xiahou Fuxing said, swallowing hard before decisively clicking offline.
The other two exchanged glances, mirroring his sentiment. They feared the next missile might land right at their feet.
Boom! Boom! Boom.
Even after their departure, the bombardment continued unabated.
With each missile capable of clearing a seven-kilometer radius, the army sprawling for hundreds of kilometers appeared far more formidable than it had moments ago.
The flames grew brighter and more intense.
Suddenly, the sky transformed into a brilliant scarlet, casting an ominous hue over the landscape.
Missiles detonated mid-air, unleashing a catastrophic wave of energy that obliterated the mountain peak where they had just stood.
On a scarlet throne, an extraordinarily beautiful woman surveyed the chaos from her elevated seat, her expression calm yet commanding. A chilling legendary aura radiated from her, enveloping the region.
"Speed up," she commanded.
"Stop!"
In a sea of stars, Luo Ning abruptly opened her golden eyes, speaking in a grave tone.
The alchemist, who had been fervently adjusting missile landing point data, froze mid-action.
"What's wrong?" Eric asked, concern creeping into his voice as he regarded her intently.
The rare foresight potential she possessed was unprecedented in over a thousand years of dawn history. This was the first time it had manifested.
Sabo had insisted on bringing her along, and Eric had complied without hesitation.
"There's a legend blocking the missile strikes. Missiles can only penetrate their defenses by launching multiple strikes in the same location, as they detonate mid-air," Luo Ning explained, her vision swirling faster as fatigue crept into her golden eyes. "Additionally, many forces are obstructing my sight, making it difficult to calculate the landing points."
Eric frowned. "It's okay. Don't push yourself. Wait until they're closer."
Luo Ning's golden eyes flared with renewed intensity as the power of the surrounding stars rapidly aligned. "There's something corrupting and obstructing my view. I need to continue!"
The alchemists received the order, quickly adjusting coordinates without any visibility, then pressing the launch button.
Suddenly, a massive roar erupted, and the missiles began to surge away, targeting the monstrous horde less than 300 kilometers away.
At this moment, the outer gates began to reveal the approaching scarlet tide in the distance.
The intercontinental missiles thundered through the air like a storm of wrath.
The tide of monsters, now visible, cast a heavy shadow over the people of Tobu City.
At that moment, outside Dongwu City, the scarlet sky transformed into darkness, exuding a sinister aura.
Sabo stood amid the encroaching miasma, his expression contemplative. This war seemed more daunting than he had anticipated.
It was evident that the ancient gods wielded far greater influence over the world than he had imagined.
Buzz~
A thunderous roar resonated as a missile streaked past him, heading straight for the scarlet throne below.
The tainted air offered no resistance to the missile, nor did it deter the scarlet force from detonating mid-air.
The missile plummeted at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
Han Buna, seated upon the scarlet throne, narrowed her eyes slightly. She couldn't comprehend the corrupting force in the sky, which seemed advanced in nature.
It felt like an existence designed to specifically counter her power.
This realization unsettled her.
With a flick of her hand, adorned with bright red nails, she halted the incoming missile in mid-flight.
As she clenched her fist, a missile traveling at 30 Mach—ten kilometers per second—became engulfed in scarlet energy, detonating in the air.
Boom!
The explosive force tore through the scarlet aura, and a colossal fireball erupted, illuminating the sky like a sun.
The overwhelming energy vaporized a vast swath of creatures from the ancient god kingdom, but due to their scattered formation, the damage was less severe than anticipated.
Han Buna's gaze darkened as she observed the shattered remnants of a wine glass in her hand. She spoke calmly, "There's something obstructing my power. Find a way to eliminate it."
As her words hung in the air, an even more sinister energy began to coalesce, summoning forth a massive purple tiger with wings, towering dozens of meters.
It roared defiantly at the sky, unleashing a devastating wave of abyssal energy.
The purple force collided violently with the absolute filth overhead.
Boom boom boom.
While it cleared away the corrupt clouds, more missiles continued to breach the tainted field, raining down upon the horde of monsters.
This time, it was not merely a firestorm. Endless thunder cascaded from the heavens, obliterating numerous ancient god forces, while other missiles accurately struck the heart of the abyssal realm.
In the instant of detonation, the violent shockwaves obliterated a large portion of the ancient gods' power, while the remaining forces struggled to recover.
As more missiles fell, the electric currents filled the air, reducing countless monsters to charred remains.
This gap presented an opportunity. Nearly 150 intercontinental missiles arced gracefully through the sky, aiming to blanket the entire monstrous horde.
But at that moment, the figures of Weian emerged above the throng of monsters.
More than a dozen warped or malevolent beings extended their hands in unison, and Sabo's expression shifted with concern.
He muttered, "What a pity."
The absolute filth surrounding them erupted as the united power of the ancient gods began to collapse, while the remaining force swiftly eradicated the extreme dirt.
Boom boom boom.
The sky was engulfed in a tempest of thunder, flames, and icy blasts, forming an incredible canopy of chaos.
A fraction of the missiles plummeted, unleashing enough power to obliterate a first-order legend, clearing a path through the monstrous ranks.
The horde advanced rapidly, now less than 200 kilometers from Tobu City.
This proximity created an overwhelming sense of urgency, as the grotesque forms of the monsters overshadowed the city, making it appear small and vulnerable.
Sabo returned to the outer city of Dongchengmen, his gaze fixed on the monstrous army that surrounded Dongwu City on three sides. His expression turned contemplative.
He noted the distant sensation emanating from the West City Gate, aware that a group of powerful figures were observing from the capital.
These individuals wielded too much influence.
The transformation of Tobu City was not merely a statement; it was a calculated move. Even if it represented a fundamental change, it had to showcase enough power to earn the Federation's respect.
Success was uncertain, but as long as the white epidemic was on board, Sabo understood the implications.
They would carve their own path. If the Federation truly sought to obstruct them, Tobu City might just declare its independence.
He surmised the crux of the white epidemic's strategy: the Star Federation was a force that could not be ignored, and the white epidemic would soon present a compelling case.
Sabo looked back at the city, where players had begun to stir. In the live broadcasts of players outside the city, the monstrous tide was already becoming visible. The players and legions who had amassed at the East City Gate were eager for action.
But an army of over seven million monsters was not something they could easily resist. Sabo felt a twinge of confusion; the number of missiles had not yet been issued. Why?
He retrieved his mobile phone, but before he could speak, a spatial fluctuation manifested beside him.
The white epidemic, clad in black with a calm demeanor, appeared on the wall of the East Gate.
At that moment, the monstrous army was less than 50 kilometers from Dongwu City.
"Oh, my friend, you finally showed up. I've missed you. I'll leave this to you. Your innocent little lady makes the Federation uneasy. I need to retrieve some things that had an owner, but now the ownership is unclear."
"This is quite the opportunity. You've done well, my friend. Those old fools seem to be involved. Why can't they all be naive and simple-minded?"
With that, Sabo's figure vanished.
Bai Yi's eyes flickered slightly. He bent down to make some adjustments, his voice carrying across Dongcheng District: "Open the city gates and line up outside."
"Yes!"
With a resounding reply, the heavy gates of Tobu City began to creak open, and players, whispers, and the Wucheng army surged out of the gates in an instant.
The players would not heed commands; they rushed toward the monstrous horde fifty kilometers away. Meanwhile, 40,000 martial arts soldiers and 30,000 light language troops stood ready at the gates, their eyes fixed on the vast throng before them.
The war was about to commence.
As for the Federation's opinions, the white epidemic could not have cared less.
The Federation had always been a valuable ally, and it could even be said they had nurtured him, so he was willing to engage with them.
It all depended on whether the legislators would cooperate. Sending the [Grassroots Reform Plan] to Diane was merely a formality. Metheus would surely grasp the necessity of reform. If the federal government refused to follow suit, then Dongwu City would forge its own path.
The only obstacle would be if the sword saint intervened. What could they do to stop the white epidemic?
While his current strength might not be limitless, it certainly wasn't something to be trifled with.
As the furious teleportation array in front of him activated, he rubbed his tired eyebrows.
The sensation of peering at the West City Gate with a smile shifted slightly.
The power of the demon dimension flickered, and a muddy silver subordinate appeared on the teleportation array.
Transfer magic, activate teleportation array, start!
(End of this chapter)