Chapter 5: Wind Sea Continent (Friendly Initial Disadvantage War Zone).
...
After a brief period of dizziness, Su Xiao opened his eyes to find himself in a forest. The surrounding trees were lush and green, with towering canopies that blocked out most of the sunlight. The air was thick with moisture, carrying a faint scent of salt and earth.
He quickly scanned his surroundings, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his blade. The forest was quiet, too quiet, with no signs of wildlife or human activity. This was a typical starting area for a war zone, but the lack of immediate threats didn't put him at ease.
A translucent notification window appeared before him, displaying information about the current world.
[World Name: Wind Sea Continent]
[World Type: War Zone]
[Faction: Friendly Initial Disadvantage]
[Objective: Survive and complete assigned missions.]
[Note: This world is a battlefield between multiple factions. Allies are at a numerical and strategic disadvantage. Proceed with caution.]
Su Xiao's eyes narrowed as he read the details. "Friendly Initial Disadvantage" meant that his faction was weaker from the start, likely outnumbered or outgunned. This wasn't unusual for him, but it meant he needed to be even more cautious.
He checked his personal status, confirming that all his equipment and abilities were intact. His blade, Dragon-Slaying Flash, was at his side, and his skills, including Blade Path: Azure Demon and the Cyan Steel Shadow Energy, were ready for use.
A second notification appeared, listing the initial mission.
[Initial Mission: Reach the Central Area of Wind Sea Continent within 72 hours.]
[Reward: 500 Paradise Coins, 1 Random Skill Scroll.]
[Failure: Death.]
Su Xiao memorized the mission details. The Central Area was likely the main hub of the war zone, where factions clashed and resources were contested. He needed to get there quickly, but without drawing unnecessary attention.
He began moving through the forest, his footsteps silent on the damp ground. His senses were on high alert, detecting any movement or sound that might indicate danger. The forest was dense, with thick underbrush and twisted roots, making travel slow but manageable.
After about an hour of walking, he heard the faint sound of voices in the distance. He crouched low, using the trees for cover, and crept closer. Through the foliage, he saw a group of five figures gathered around a small campfire. They were dressed in mismatched armor and carried various weapons, clearly a group of contractors from another faction.
One of them, a burly man with a scar across his face, spoke in a gruff tone. "This area is crawling with enemies. We need to move out before they find us."
A woman with a bow replied, "Agreed. The Central Area is our best bet for supplies and reinforcements. But we have to be careful—there are ambushes everywhere."
Su Xiao observed them for a moment, noting their equipment and demeanor. They seemed to be from the same faction as him, based on the insignia on their armor. He decided to approach, but cautiously.
He stepped out from behind the tree, his hands raised slightly to show he wasn't a threat. The group immediately tensed, weapons drawn, but relaxed when they saw his faction insignia.
"Hey, another survivor!" the scarred man said, lowering his axe. "You alone?"
Su Xiao nodded. "Just arrived. Heading to the Central Area."
The woman with the bow studied him. "You're a contractor from Reincarnation Paradise? Good. We could use more fighters. The Wind Sea Continent is a mess right now—multiple factions fighting for control. Our side is outnumbered, but we have a few strongholds."
Su Xiao didn't respond immediately, instead assessing the group's strength. They were all around the seventh or eighth rank, decent fighters but not exceptional. He decided to travel with them for now, as they might have useful information.
"I'll join you," he said simply.
The scarred man grinned. "Welcome aboard. I'm Stone, this is Mist, Arrow, Hammer, and Swift." He gestured to each member in turn. "We're heading to a safe zone about half a day's travel from here. From there, we can plan our route to the Central Area."
Su Xiao nodded and fell into step behind them. As they walked, he kept his eyes and ears open, memorizing the terrain and noting potential ambush points. The forest gradually gave way to rocky hills, and the sound of distant explosions echoed from the direction of the Central Area.
The war was already in full swing.