Chapter 3: Bubu Wang Entrusted with an Important Task
The world introduction contained a vast amount of information, and Su Xiao only grasped the general idea for the moment.
Overall, this world was similar to the Survival Trial World, belonging to that type of unknown star system.
Unlike the Survival Trial, this world was many times more dangerous. Setting aside the threat of enemy contractors for now, just consider the battlefield he was currently on.
This was Su Xiao’s first experience in a large-scale cold weapon battlefield. As far as his eyes could see, there were soldiers everywhere. These soldiers were physically strong, reeking of blood, clearly accustomed to living on the edge of life and death. He urgently needed to know the level of martial power in this world, so he immediately used the Apostle’s Eye to scan the soldier beside him.
The information was as follows:
Name: Ivan Leiden
Category: Human
Position: Iron Blood Legion Third-Class Soldier, Spearman
Health: 100%
Mana: 220/220
Strength: 30
Agility: 31
Stamina: 29
Intelligence: 22
Charm: 5
Skill 1: Well-Trained (Passive Lv.10), increases Health by 180 points.
Skill 2: Teamwork (Passive Lv.16), when the number of soldiers reaches 100, Strength, Agility, Stamina +1; when the number of soldiers reaches 1000, Strength, Agility, Stamina +2; when the number of soldiers reaches 10,000, Strength, Agility, Stamina +3.
Skill 3: V-Formation (Passive Lv.20), a V-formation composed of 1200 soldiers increases individual soldier attack power by +10% and morale by +50%.
Skill 4: Concave Formation (Passive Lv.20), a concave formation composed of 3000 soldiers increases individual soldier defense by +6 and morale by +60%.
…
After seeing the strength of this third-class soldier, Su Xiao felt a sense of his hair standing on end. Soldiers of this caliber were countless in the war, conservatively estimated in the tens of thousands.
Actually, Su Xiao guessed wrong. The number of soldiers of this strength was over a hundred thousand, not to mention those even stronger, and this didn’t even include the enemy.
If soldiers of this strength formed battle formations, the destructive power they unleashed would multiply exponentially.
Sometimes, having a strong side wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Remember, the war had already lasted 70 years, which meant the enemy’s strength was no less than this.
Moreover, judging by the current momentum, Su Xiao was right in the middle of these soldiers, meaning war was about to break out. This left him somewhat speechless; the intensity of this world was far too high.
Taking advantage of the war not yet having started, Su Xiao checked the war mission.
[War Mission: World Core (First Ring, Two Rings Total)]
Difficulty Level: Lv.29
Mission Briefing: Find the location of the World Core and obtain it.
Mission Information: The area where the Hunter is located does not require searching for the World Core for now. The World Core is being sought by an agility-type contractor team. The Hunter must first recapture the Black Earth Fortress. After successfully capturing the Black Earth Fortress and stabilizing the situation, the Hunter will activate the War Branch Mission.
Mission Time Limit: 30 Natural Days
Mission Reward: Visible upon victory in the World Conquest War.
Mission Penalty: Forced Execution.
…
Just as Su Xiao finished reviewing the mission information, a prompt from Reincarnation Paradise appeared.
[War Channel has been opened. Detected that the Hunter has no adventure group. Remaining speech count (10/10). Speech count can be transferred.]
A semi-transparent screen appeared before Su Xiao’s eyes. There were over a thousand contractors in the War Channel, divided into three colors: blue, yellow, and green, corresponding to three war zones.
Green represented ‘Hill Grand Canyon,’ yellow represented ‘Odele Fortress,’ and blue represented ‘Black Earth Plains.’
Within the War Channel:
Nasha (Fantasy Adventure Group Leader): “Fantasy Adventure Group located at ‘Black Earth Plains.’”
Ge Siling (Symbiosis Alliance Leader): “Symbiosis Alliance located at ‘Odele Fortress.’ Team status is good, watching the scenery from the fortress.”
Saint (Holy Temple Guild Leader): “Holy Temple Guild located at ‘Hill Grand Canyon.’ Nothing but rocks, no special circumstances.”
Gu Xiaosheng (Blood Wolf Adventure Group Leader): “Located at ‘Odele Fortress.’ Sending a few seconds of silence for ‘Black Earth Plains.’”
…
Various adventure groups began spontaneously reporting their positions in the War Channel. According to Su Xiao’s tally, there were a total of 12 adventure groups, large and small. Based on the number of members, there were 10 medium-sized adventure groups and 2 large adventure groups.
A full twelve adventure groups entering one world, not counting the numerous independent contractors, showed just how large the scale of a war world was.
Moreover, the main force of the war wasn’t the contractors yet, but the native forces. Their numbers were too vast. Only after the current war temporarily subsided would the contractors from both sides officially engage. However, in the ongoing war, contractors from both sides might still encounter each other.
Before the various adventure groups could finish their negotiations in the War Channel, some independent contractors had already started cursing angrily. After all, in a world like this, the hope of survival was far, far too low.
Su Xiao, on the contrary, felt a sense of excitement. He didn’t know if other contractors feared the human wave tactic, but at least he did not.
With his innate ability, Soul Devourer, which restored Mana and Health after killing enemies, as long as Su Xiao wasn’t killed by a powerful foe or exhausted his stamina, he could definitely survive to the end against a surging tide of enemies.
Besides, the large-scale war was just the beginning. The tougher opponents were yet to come, namely the contractors from Apocalypse Paradise.
It was impossible for Su Xiao to stay on the front lines the whole time. If that were the case, sending him to this world would be pointless for Reincarnation Paradise.
But before that, he had to deal with the current war. Barring any surprises, hundreds of thousands of soldiers would soon be locked in battle.
From the weapons of the soldiers around him, it was clear this was a cold weapon era. Of course, this didn’t rule out magic or other supernatural abilities.
Thump, thump, thump…
The ground began to tremble slightly. Su Xiao looked back and saw dozens of towering creatures approaching. These creatures were over 8 meters tall, with facial features and body shapes similar to humans, but much more rugged. This should be the Giant Clan.
“Soldiers.”
A vigorous voice spread across the battlefield. Su Xiao could only tell the sound came from behind; the exact location was unknown.
“I am Marquis Mark, the Legion Commander of the Empire’s Iron Blood Legion.”
The voice paused for a moment, seemingly waiting for the sound to spread across the battlefield. Su Xiao had no idea how the Marquis’s voice could be so loud; it was probably some kind of magical amplification device.
“Tell me, are you willing to become slaves of the tribes? Slaves of those Kobolds and Minotaurs, letting your families suffer bullying?
Just half a month ago, we lost the Black Earth Plains Fortress. Do you still remember the humiliation of that time?
Today, this very day, I, Marquis Mark, will lead you to take it back. It belongs to us. It was built with our sweat and blood. It must never become the enemy’s defensive line. I have sworn to His Majesty the King that if I don’t retake the Black Earth Fortress, I will never set foot in the Holy Dragon City again.
Soldiers, join me! Kill all those filthy Alliance members who haven’t bathed in years or decades! Use their blood to wash away the shame of losing the Black Earth Fortress!”
After hearing this pre-battle speech, whose source he couldn’t pinpoint, Su Xiao felt nothing at all. He even felt like having a smoke. He had no idea what rank a Marquis held in this world, and even if he did, he wouldn’t have much of a reaction.
Su Xiao had no reaction, but the soldiers near him were quite stirred up.
These soldiers were panting heavily, their hands gripping their weapons trembling. This showed that Marquis Mark was probably a big shot in the Empire.
The military formation, composed of over a hundred thousand people from three races, began to march forward. The destination went without saying—it had to be the fortress that had been breached half a month ago.
Su Xiao marched with the army. With over a hundred thousand people on the move, the ground began to shake, and dust billowed behind the army. Marquis Mark, a high-ranking noble who rarely participated in battles personally, ended up eating dust.
Bubu Wang was not near Su Xiao. After contacting Bubu Wang, Su Xiao learned a shocking piece of news: Bubu Wang had actually been assigned to the agility-type contractor team, the one searching for the World Core. This left Su Xiao utterly astonished.