This battle, aside from the Gold Monster's skill causing some low-level Challengers to pass out, could be said to have ended with everyone at full health. The Melee Professionals, who usually had to risk their lives leaving their cars to engage in close combat beneath the city walls, did not even get a chance to act this time.
"Damn it, I was inside the car watching a battle that should go down in history! What a loss!"
"It proves that the scale of this beast tide was massive, so why did the actual fighting feel easier than in the Tier 4 world?"
"The easiest large-scale beast tide ever, even including a King-tier monster! It's absolutely incredible. I can brag about this for a lifetime."
In fact, many people understood the reason why the battle was so easy.
"The Undead army was constantly blocking the bottleneck position, which provided the ranged units with a safe environment for continuous output."
"Blocking the bottleneck is very dangerous. Before, it relied on vehicles and Melee fighters, leading to too many casualties. More often, commanders preferred to let the monsters fight beneath the city walls."
"Yes, the Undead don't fear death, and their loss is not mourned. As long as Wei Huan can summon them, this defense line will always exist."
"It's not just the ground. The flying monsters in the sky were also held back by those Magic Eye Lords. Also, we need to mention the Hunter who could summon three pterosaurs to help fight. Being one against three is very strong, and the tamed pterosaurs give us air superiority."
"The Gold Monster was also cleverly breached from the inside by the Undead, plus the Nether flame Bombs! Holy cow, if we start listing everything, it'll never end. I always knew this kid Wei Huan was impressive, but now I realize I still underestimated him."
"Hahaha, our Azure Dragon Legion is truly rising again!"
A great victory brought a huge surge in morale. And unlike the high-ranking officials and leaders of Aosam who were wary of Yake, the entire Azure Dragon Legion was celebrating as if it were a holiday. Everyone's face was beaming with joy. Of course, the happy people were the core members of the main combat teams, ranked second, third, fourth, and so on. As for what the first-ranked person thought, no one knew for the moment, as he was not here and was currently on vacation back on Blue Star.
"What do you think Old Ma is feeling?"
"What could he be feeling? What can he feel? He was overtaken by Wei Huan on the leaderboard and dropped to sixth. His equipment is inferior, so it's normal for his true combat power to be less than Wei Huan's."
"Old Ma is quite sensitive about his pride."
"I don't think it's about pride. He was once the hope of the whole village. It's good for him to rest now."
"Hope of the whole village, you say?"
Just as they were talking, a familiar voice rang out. The two chatting men whipped their heads around and saw a bearded middle-aged man standing behind them, looking at them with a half-smile. The two were speechless. Wasn't this a case of speaking of the devil? Old Ma, the Azure Dragon Legion's strongest Challenger, Ma Bufan, when did he return? How much did he hear?
"I heard everything. I've been here since you asked what Old Ma was feeling."
"This, this, haha..."
"You, you're not playing fair! What if we were speaking ill of you?"
"We weren't speaking ill of you! We were saying you were magnanimous and that you worked hard."
Ma Bufan smiled and looked at the scene of celebration outside the car. "The battle had already begun when I received the news, and by the time I rushed back, it was over. I didn't expect to be labeled the 'hope of the whole village.' I think it's the hope of the whole vehicle, right? Can you accept the difference in rank?"
"Yes! Why not?"
"I'm fine with it. They are all very young and have shown extraordinary abilities all the way up. I've always been looking forward to this."
"Exactly. If someone suddenly parachuted in, I might need to adjust. But as for now, I particularly hope to see them dominate the field, carrying the hopes of all our Azure Dragon Legion soldiers to the very front."
"That's right. Our Azure Dragon Legion was originally Daxia's eldest son, the strongest legion before the Challenger World descended. Who knew that afterwards our strength would fall behind the Vermilion Bird Legion, and at the beginning of the year, we were even targeted and crushed like soft persimmons by the Dark Beast Lord? That's what hurts."
Ma Bufan nodded. "Fang William, that son-of-a-gun, I don't know what he eats to be so powerful. Damn it, once that Halo is activated, the entire army goes god-like. Now..."
Before he could finish, Ma Bufan froze. He saw a vehicle, which he'd recognize even if it were reduced to ash, flying in from outside the city wall and landing inside the supply point. Under the light, the door opened, and a muscular man with a crew cut emerged from the double-door.
"Holy cow, we can't mention people today!" The crew member who also saw this covered his mouth.
This was uncanny. Mention one, and another one appears. Why is Fang William here?
"Everyone's busy, I'll go meet him." Although Ma Bufan missed the battle, he was still the "Big Brother" of the Azure Dragon Legion. He immediately found his duty and turned to leave the vehicle.
Outside the car, the Tier 5 world's pressure was blocked by the shield, allowing Challengers whose Sequence level was insufficient to leave the car and move naturally to assess post-battle damage and begin reconstruction. As Ma Bufan approached, he saw the Logistics and Construction personnel, who were usually constantly busy, chatting happily by the wall, while only a small number of Technical Department members were maintaining and servicing the weapons. There was no sense of tension that one would expect after enduring a large-scale beast tide siege. Too relaxed.
Yet, it was this very sight that allowed Ma Bufan to stand tall and proud in front of Fang William for the first time. "Captain Fang, are you here to help us get through the beast tide? Thank you for your kindness! Our kids came back, and we managed to weather this crisis."
Fang William smiled and shook Ma Bufan's hand. "Captain Ma, hello. Long time no see. I heard you were on vacation recently, I didn't expect to run into you today. Let's go see Commander Mu first. The matter of this beast tide is complicated. Aosam has truly crossed the line this time..."
Upon hearing about serious business, Ma Bufan put away his competitive thoughts, and his expression also became serious. "This way. Commander Mu is in the base."
---
On Blue Star, the heat of this live stream was just beginning, spreading through various means and channels. The truth was exposed in the process, Aosam's malicious intent was revealed, and its ruling party was condemned worldwide. That very evening, massive protest rallies and large-scale unrest erupted in Aosam's capital. The government deployed Challenger troops to suppress the unrest. Coincidentally, a media reporter managed to photograph that the captain of the Challenger squad suppressing the unrest was none other than Yake Frank's Co-Captain. Thus, more insider details were uncovered: how the leaders internally fractured the hero's vehicle, how they falsely accused the hero of treason, and how they forced the hero into disillusionment and hiding.
Before the Yake incident, although Aosam citizens knew that their Congress was controlled by a group of old politicians and capitalists who were not Challengers, and that this could lead to problems in the long run, as ordinary citizens, they mostly made do as long as life was barely manageable. Kind people are easy to placate, unless they truly see no hope for the future. When Aosam arranged for someone to maliciously tear up the alliance and even use the Gold Monster to destroy humanity's first Tier 5 city, the Aosam populace felt no satisfaction from having played a trick on an opponent. Instead, they felt their vision blacken, unable to believe that such short-sighted leaders were managing their country. Shouldn't humanity's enemy be the Dark Beast Lord? Haven't enough people died on the great battlefield? Why incite internal strife? If this was about the ownership of that island, since their own strength was insufficient, they should just yield. The territory could be smaller, the environment less ideal, but it should still stand tall and honorably!
The Aosam Congress issued a statement the next morning. The statement claimed that the "mad" vehicle Captain's actions were purely personal, and Aosam had never issued any orders detrimental to peaceful pioneering. They stressed that humanity shared a common destiny and that the Dark Beasts were the true enemy. Aosam insisted that it consistently adhered to the Challenger World Pioneer Corps Treaty and had never violated it...
"Hmph!"
Every Daxia Challenger who heard the statement delivered a mouthful of saliva at the Aosam Congress. How utterly shameless! Who doesn't know that Aosam loves to breach treaties and bully others? When encountering a powerful nation like Daxia, they resort to schemes and conspiracies. Their image as a major power has long been ruined by those old men. They may have the combat power of a major power, but their international image is rapidly plummeting to that of a third-rate nation.
"The times have changed, but some people are still using old methods of 'united front diplomacy.' Facing the pressure of the Dark Beasts, humanity can only win this war by letting go of the past, setting aside the future, and truly achieving unity."
At this moment, Mu Dehao was receiving Fang William in his office. Also present were Captain Ma Bufan, Wei Huan, and Mu Zhong. Mu Dehao sighed as he sipped his tea, his gaze sweeping across the faces of Fang William, Ma Bufan, and Wei Huan. "Everyone understands the logic, but it's always difficult to convince others who should be the leader, especially Aosam. If they are not the leader, they would rather flip the table. You are all our strongest Challengers. Unification by force is slowly becoming the last resort. Aosam seems to be aware of this, which is why their recent actions have become increasingly drastic. Be wary of the last struggles of those who are cornered."
After a couple more sentences, Mu Dehao's adjutant came over and whispered in his ear. Mu Dehao reluctantly stood up. "I have something to deal with. Please continue chatting."
In truth, everyone knew there was no urgent matter that absolutely required his presence. It was because the earlier conversation had reached a critical point. If the only path left was unification by force, these top-ranked powerhouses of Daxia must be even more united and avoid internal strife over who would ultimately lead the unified effort. Ensuring their alignment was paramount. Simply put, the elder appropriately stepped away, leaving the young people space to interact privately. It didn't matter which of them became the leader, as long as they remained united.
Mu Zhong understood his father best. As soon as Mu Dehao left, Mu Zhong stood up and shook hands with both Fang William and Ma Bufan. "Captain Fang, Captain Ma, hello. Good to see you again."
They had all met before, but for various reasons, they had never had an in-depth conversation. These "Big Brothers" of the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird Legions were genuinely warm and welcoming towards them. They later learned that in voting situations concerning Wei Huan, they always stood on his side. They did not show any attitude of vigilance or jealousy towards the rapidly rising young man, Wei Huan. Instead, they were full of expectation.
Mu Zhong said, "Commander Mu will probably be busy for a while. How about coming to our vehicle for a midnight snack? Our head chef is very capable, and consuming his food long-term has the effect of increasing attributes."
"I think I've heard of that. The Challenger World has all sorts of strange abilities, but the setup in your car is truly excellent."
"We must go try it. I heard it not only boosts attributes but also has first-rate taste."
They laughed and walked towards Wei Huan's vehicle. Mu Zhong and Ma Bufan were in charge of the light conversation, while Wei Huan and Fang William walked in silence. The two lagging behind were not very talkative, though Fang William seemed much more relaxed by comparison.
As they walked, he suddenly reached out and put his hand on Wei Huan's shoulder. "I first heard your name half a year ago. You won this year's Newcomer King, and you did it a day faster than previous winners. I immediately felt that this year would be great for us, that a significant figure would emerge. I was right. In just over half a year, you've already reached this point. How many great things did you accomplish during this time? What I admire most is that you killed a hundred thousand Dark Beasts and even killed a Dark Beast Royalty. I couldn't do that. You are truly formidable."
Wei Huan replied, "You are my idol."
Fang William smiled broadly, showing his teeth. "Admire your idol, understand your idol, surpass your idol—you've already done it."
"Not yet. Your military exploits on the great battlefield are the goal I want to learn from and surpass."
"That's true. Since you've already arrived in the Tier 5 world, a great battlefield can be arranged soon. When are you planning to gain some experience?"
"It will take one or two months."
Wei Huan said this because his "semi-seal" would be lifted in a month, and the great battlefield was too dangerous, so he had to wait until he was fully recovered. Fang William suddenly realized, "Ah, right. You have a Mofidi, don't you? Homa's Pseudo-Divine Artifact from the Haisang Nation is with you. If you count the time, the assessment should be starting in about one or two months."
Wei Huan's expression remained unchanged, but he was inwardly surprised. He had indeed not thought about the Mofidi assessment. Furthermore...
"Does Captain Fang also have a Mofidi fragment?"
Fang William shook his head. "I only know that Homa had one, and another one is in the hands of Brahmanda from the Three Kingdoms. He is a Tier 5 Sequence Angel, but he primarily wields Retribution. The power of the Light Element has a huge restrictive effect on you. There is also one in Aglis' hands. She was the one who told me that the Mofidi assessment is about to begin and urged me to find a Mofidi quickly, as there might be unexpected gains after the assessment."
Before Wei Huan could speak, Fang William continued, "I have traced and confirmed that one Mofidi is with the leader of a small nation. Once this current matter is resolved, I will leave the Challenger World to negotiate this. You should also prepare in advance. Based on what we currently know, the Mofidi assessment is not simple and may result in casualties. Druids might have an advantage, but a Shaman, who is also a Natural Element..." Fang William looked at Mu Zhong seriously, "A pure support class will be very dangerous."
Mu Zhong nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Captain Fang."
As they spoke, they arrived at Wei Huan's vehicle. The car was still lively. After a great victory, everyone was wide awake and couldn't settle down to cultivate. They were all chatting in the main area. Seeing Wei Huan return, and thinking about their Boss's ability to take on ten thousand today, although they were filled with reverence, everyone couldn't help but step forward to say a few words. "Boss, Commander Mu, you're back? Hello, Captain Ma, Captain Fang."
Mu Zhong smiled and said, "Carry on, everyone. We're just going to grab a bite."
"Okay, Commander! Chef Liu made lots of delicious food, saved just for you. It's really good."
Talking about delicious food naturally increases one's sense of happiness. When combined with a complete and exhilarating victory, even Wei Huan ate the midnight snack with immense pleasure. Furthermore, taking advantage of the delicious food, Wei Huan finally had a deeper exchange with these heroes of his previous life. Captain Fang William on the left and Captain Ma Bufan on the right—each was a Daxia superhero, a pillar of humanity. Even though Captain Ma Bufan died prematurely in the previous life, Wei Huan could never forget his contribution to humanity and the scenes of his valiant fighting.
Wei Huan, though naturally reserved, maintained a respectful gaze towards the two seniors, which made the two captains feel comfortable. A harmonious two-way exchange perfectly aligned with Mu Dehao's expectations. Regardless of the situation in Aosam, the internal affairs of Daxia must be solid to deliver the strongest punch!
After a satisfying midnight snack, the two captains, seeing that their attributes had genuinely increased via their data glasses, were astonished and insisted on meeting Liu Chengzhi. Mu Zhong smilingly reminded them, "The head chef belongs to us. I'll get angry if you try to poach him."
Captain Ma Bufan laughed heartily. "Since we're so close, can't I just come to your car and freeload on food? No poaching needed. I'll just bring my mouth every time."
Fang William also laughed. "When you've finished studying the recipes that Grandma Liu bought, remember to show me."
When Liu Chengzhi came over, the time was 10:30 PM. The protest marches in Aosam were in full swing, and reporters were about to capture a photo of Yake' Co-Captain. In the Tier 5 world, the previously chaotic Black Tortoise City temporarily paused its reconstruction, allowing the Challengers who had been busy for hours to rest. The Tier 5 world was slowly calming down. Even the sea waves seemed much smaller than during the day.
On the coast less than a hundred kilometers from Black Tortoise City, where a Teleportation Gate used to appear for 11 days every quarter, it had vanished at the same moment the assessment ended. In the darkness, two vehicles drove up from a distance. Their radars were scanning at full power, and after confirming that there were no guarding vehicles nearby, they stopped on the shore.
Inside one car, someone said proudly, "See? Wasn't I right? This is a great opportunity. If we miss today, we don't know how long we'll have to wait. Hurry and tell them they can return."
"Yes."
In less than ten minutes, three more vehicles suddenly appeared at the location of the former Teleportation Gate. These were the vehicles that had survived cautiously by letting Wei Huan draw the main firepower, stopping their advance at the 80th line, and were ultimately teleported out of the Challenger World earlier than Wei Huan's group. They were exactly who Wei Huan and Mu Zhong had suspected—the remnants of the War Clan.
This suspicion was completely correct. Their secretive evasion of Wei Huan and Mu Zhong was too conspicuous, and their identity was clearly unspeakable. They were indeed Xu Man and Xu Qinxue's group.
What a terrifying family. They already had a very affluent life, but to live an even more extravagant life, they did not hesitate to betray their childhood friend. Moreover, this betrayal seemed to be ingrained in the family's blood. After joining the War Clan, they had already secretly assembled their own team, not only planning their own retreat but also successfully seizing the identity of the War Clan Saint Lord in the previous life. They were like a perpetually insatiable, Taotie-like monstrous beast.
But there were always people who wanted to attempt to tame such a monstrous beast. For example, the person on the other side of the video call when they returned to the Challenger World was Chief Nagasaki, the wanted fugitive from the Omura Group in the Haisang Nation.
The seemingly refined and handsome Chief Nagasaki smiled warmly at Xu Qinxue. "I'm delighted to see you here. This is not the place to talk. Let's leave here and discuss on the way."
Xu Qinxue nodded, scanning the dark coast outside the car, frowning. "Was the Gold Monster charging the city arranged by you?"
"Captain Xu, you're overthinking it. We are fugitives; how could we contact Aosam's officials to take action? We merely seized the opportunity of their malicious intent."
Xu Qinxue frowned more deeply. "You said you have a backer in the Tier 5 world. If it's not Aosam, is it Daxia? What's the benefit of luring us here?"
"Captain Xu, please don't speak like that. With your meticulous style of conduct, you must know who we are about to pledge allegiance to. So, let's not bring up such damaging talk again." Chief Nagasaki smiled, then his eyes turned sharp. "May I see the person I asked you to bring?"
Xu Qinxue stared at Chief Nagasaki for a long time, then turned and stepped away from the position behind him. A person in a wheelchair, who looked like a mass of rotting flesh but had visible Darkness energy gathering around him, appeared in front of the camera.
Chief Nagasaki looked into the eyes on the mass of rotting flesh for a long time, then said, "You are suffering this terribly because of Daxia, because of Wei Huan. Because of him, you lost everything—family, wealth, status, and were even played and abandoned by a woman. It's all Wei Huan's fault. Hate him. Hate him more, and you will become stronger. The day you can personally take revenge and kill him is not far off."
The eyes on the rotting flesh were jet-black, without visible whites, as if a black, thick fog was surging from the depths of his eyes. Stimulated by Chief Nagasaki's words, his body trembled with convulsions, and the black fog gradually intensified, even pouring out from every sweat pore on his body. Finally, this black fog gathered into a mass behind him, churning and expanding until the vehicle could no longer contain it.
Xu Qinxue, who seemed to be witnessing this for the first time, couldn't help but take a few steps back. In the depths of the thick fog, one could vaguely see some extremely evil and powerful entity slowly descending into this world, looking down with a scornful gaze that dismissed everything. Stared at by those cold eyes, Xu Qinxue was speechless. It took him a moment to gasp in astonishment, "What is that? Is that a Dharma Aspect!? How is that possible? What Sequence is he? How could a Dharma Aspect appear?!"
Chief Nagasaki, however, smiled. He gazed at the mass of rotting flesh as if it were a magnificent and immensely powerful weapon of war, and said in a husky voice, "Yes, that's right, child. Hate more. Summon Him with your hatred, nourish Him with your flesh and blood. You've done very well. Just hold on a little longer, and you'll have your revenge."