The moment the crew heard there was high-tier loot up for grabs, they went wild. No one was holding back or being polite.
Xu Qingqiang argued, "If we open five Sea Beads at once next time, the Criminal Sequence wants three of them."
Captain Xue countered, "Brother Xu, those of us on the front lines need them more! How about we take three and you take two?"
"In these recent battles, we've been the ones charging in first," Xu Qingqiang retorted. "We need the mobility to dodge the deadliest initial stages."
"But after that, you guys dive deep into the fray!" Xue argued. "We're the ones holding the line for the rest of the fight."
Mu Zhong stepped in to settle the dispute. "The decision is already made. Out of five Sea Beads, two go to the Martial King squad, two to the Criminal squad, and one to the Ranged team."
Both captains protested immediately. "The Ranged team doesn't even leave the vehicle! Isn't that a waste?"
"What if they have to?" Mu Zhong asked. "No one can guarantee safety forever. Besides, the 'Opening Battle' is in a 'Lost Battlefield'—we don't know what to expect. We can't rule out a scenario where long-range units need to fight outside the vehicle."
The two captains fell silent and eventually agreed.
Four hours later, they encountered another Gold Chest. The three who had consumed the Sea Beads fought like ocean warriors, moving through the water a thousand times more flexibly than before. The monster was a massive, winged fish that attacked by biting and lashing out with its fins and tail. Humans looked like ants before it.
"Could this be a Kunpeng?" Mu Zhong speculated over a private channel with Wei Huan.
"Like from the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas'?" Wei Huan asked.
"Legends are being confirmed. They will definitely appear in the Tier 7 world, so a Gold Chest spawning a Kunpeng isn't far-fetched."
They watched Captain Xue, who was swimming like a laser beam around the beast. Despite being the "tank," his taunts were so effective that the monster focused entirely on him.
However, the smiles faded when they looked at the Alliance crew members. These auxiliary teams were hesitant, clumsy, and often got in the way.
"After this fight, call a meeting for the squad leaders," Wei Huan told Mu Zhong. "They need tactical training. They have to find their roles."
As the days passed and the Opening Battle drew near, news reached them of an Aosam fleet led by a captain named Anton. This team had successfully razed ten Dark Beast cities in random challenges without a single casualty.
"The crew list is interesting," Mu Zhong noted. "The Xu father and son we've been looking for are on that ship."
Wei Huan was stunned. He had been searching for Xu Man and his father, Xu Qinxue, for a long time. In Wei Huan's previous life, Xu Man was the "Holy Lord" of the War Tribe, a powerful figure who had seized the Liu family's assets and manipulated global events. In this life, Wei Huan had dismantled the War Tribe early, forcing the Xus into hiding. It turned out they had fled to Aosam for protection.
"Old Hodgson is a sly fox," Wei Huan remarked. "He plays the peacemaker with us while grooming a new 'hero' team using our wanted criminals."
Mu Zhong added, "The captain, Anton, is a Sleepless who has manifested a Demon Dharma Form. He can dismantle a city single-handedly."
Wei Huan frowned. 'A Demon Dharma Form?' It reminded him of Denton, the man he and Yake had killed during the Colossus Trial. If these "heroes" were connected to that same dark power, Aosam was playing a very dangerous game.
Suddenly, Mu Zhong's expression sharpened. He was receiving an urgent transmission via the Heart of Steel.
"Wei Huan, a Diamond Chest has been discovered in the Tier 5 world," Mu Zhong reported.
"So soon? It's only been two months since the last one."
"The Diamond Chest spawned on an island near a Great Bear outpost. They're too afraid to open it alone and want us to co-develop the loot."
A Diamond Chest meant a potential Vocational Training Ground—a massive boost for humanity.
"Should we go back before the Opening Battle?" Mu Zhong asked.
"We have to," Wei Huan decided. "A Diamond Chest doesn't just offer a training ground; it offers Diamond-tier gear. If we can power up one more time before the big war, we might be able to cripple the Dark Beast race entirely."
Wei Huan announced the temporary suspension of their Tier 6 operations. The Alliance vehicles were free to stay or leave, but most were too terrified to remain without Wei Huan's protection.
Wei Huan led his elite combat squad out of the war vehicle. A massive group appeared in the deep sea, illuminated by flickering lights:
Some lit cigarettes, some stretched their limbs, Others summoned Crypt Beasts—skeletal, jellyfish-like mounts—to carry them through the depths.
They stood before the Great World Gate, a 100-meter-tall portal rotating slowly in the center of the dark ocean. Wei Huan stepped onto the back of a massive Mother Burrow Beast, black flames flickering around him.
"Let's go," he signaled. With a final look at the abyss, he stepped into the gate.