Chapter 1882: Bestowing Meaning Upon the Flag
After storing the Xenomorph into the item, Xu Huo returned to the Player Building area.
In just that short time, the Player Building had been riddled with holes from the chaotic battle between the Sand Sea players and the 010 District players. Neither side knew who had used an item, as gusts of sand and wind would occasionally kick up within the city. Besides the main forces from both sides, some Outer Zone players without any faction had also been dragged into the fray, turning it into a three-way melee in the blink of an eye.
Neither the 010 District nor the Sand Sea players were wantonly destroying the city, as both sides still wanted to keep the place usable. However, the players who had been dragged in had no such scruples. To kill players more conveniently, they would even deliberately destroy buildings to achieve their goals.
This "no-holds-barred" fighting style put pressure on both the 010 District and Sand Sea players. As they fought, they shifted some of their attention to these Outer Zone players, at one point even surpassing their focus on vying for the Sand Sea Safe Zone.
This evenly matched battle wouldn't end anytime soon.
"So you're here." Deng Xiahei, passing by the Player Building, suddenly spotted Xu Huo and quickly stopped, asking, "Are you done with your business?"
Xu Huo gave a slight nod. "Have the people from the other safe zones in 010 District arrived?"
"On the way," Deng Xiahei said. "There are only so many players in 010 District. They can't all be B-rank players, and there aren't that many long-distance teleportation items, so it'll take some time."
"But looking at this situation now..." He gazed at the hazy, yellow sky ahead. "How can we turn this around?"
At least a hundred players were currently locked in chaotic combat here, a considerable number of whom were the most powerful among the existing 010 District players. Even if both sides were severely weakened, it wouldn't be their turn to reverse the situation.
"Since it's about lighting the lighthouse, there must be some kind of symbol, right?" Xu Huo said. "The main force from 010 District hasn't arrived yet. You still have time."
Deng Xiahei thought for a moment. "I'll go ask Liao Xiaoyi and the others if they have a common flag."
Xu Huo nodded and followed him towards the city center.
Liao Xiaoyi and Gan Feng were locked in combat with Brother Xia, Zhang Kai, and their group. Both sides were heavily injured. Seeing Xu Huo and Deng Xiahei suddenly approach, Brother Xia and the others' expressions changed. Before they could do anything, the items in their hands suddenly slipped away—and it wasn't just them; the same happened to Liao Xiaoyi's side.
Without their items, both sides could still rely on their traits and physical strength to fight. But if one side produced a capable Super Evolver, this balance would be broken. Brother Xia and his group, who had already encountered Xu Huo before, immediately realized their side was at a disadvantage and tactically scattered.
Xu Huo didn't pursue them. Instead, he and Deng Xiahei stopped Liao Xiaoyi.
"A flag?" Liao Xiaoyi pondered for a moment. "When the safe zones were established under the name CK, all safe zones had a common large flag. But many people don't recognize it anymore."
"How about letting Melissa give it a try?" Deng Xiahei suggested.
Everyone's eyes fell on him. Under the pressure, Deng Xiahei continued, "Isn't this a good opportunity to win people over? You can notify the players outside. Even if Melissa can't bear the next generation, the appearance of a child can give them a shot in the arm, at least making them more hopeful for the future?"
Xu Huo turned his head to look at him. "If you don't know how to talk, you can keep your mouth shut."
Only then did Deng Xiahei shut up.
Xu Huo then said to Liao Xiaoyi and the others, "Is there still a flag for the safe zone?"
"There are some in the warehouse of the Radiant Safe Zone," Gan Feng said. "We found several large crates while checking supplies."
"Then please bring them all out," Xu Huo said. "It would be best to plant them all around the Sand Sea Safe Zone."
Seeing that Gan Feng wanted to say something, he raised his hand to stop him. "This isn't just for the Outer Zone players to clear the instance. What Deng Xiahei said isn't entirely without reason. The 010 District players need cohesion. Even if it can't pull back the players who have left, at least it can keep those who remain from being so scattered. Haven't you noticed that there are 010 District players in the Sand Sea Safe Zone?"
Just like the CK12 players they had seen before, a small group of players who had stayed behind had chosen better conditions.
"Besides, we can try this method to see if it can send away more Outer Zone players."
Gan Feng didn't raise any further objections. Liao Xiaoyi, reciprocating the favor, said, "I know something about the Lighthouse Instance, but how do we complete this symbolic clearance task? Without having Melissa show up."
If Melissa could cure the Black Thorn Disease, having her appear would be absolutely fine. The key was that she couldn't. A public appearance would be deception. Not only would they face censure, but Melissa's future situation would likely become very difficult as well.
"Then let's add a bit of drama." Xu Huo pondered for a moment, looked up at the sky, and said, "But the timing is a bit late. It would have been much more effective if it were just after dawn."
"For now, we'll make do." As he spoke, he took out "Umbrella Brings Rain," holding it with both hands and opening it.
Almost the moment the umbrella was raised, a torrential downpour fell from the sky. Except for Xu Huo, Deng Xiahei, Liao Xiaoyi, and the others were instantly drenched.
The rain was so heavy that speaking meant getting a mouthful of water. So, they moved into a nearby building. Xu Huo didn't close the umbrella but continued, "Retaking the Sand Sea Safe Zone is a necessary condition, so the drama can only happen at the end of the battle."
"The tallest building in this city is an office building. I saw it when I arrived. On the rooftop, there's a flag of the Safe Zone Alliance established by the Cannibal Players."
Xu Huo turned to Deng Xiahei. "In a moment, when I put away the umbrella, you go and replace the flag on top of that building. Contact Juan Er and the others to spread the news that the 010 District people have regained control of the Sand Sea center. Then publicly announce that you have mastered the method to clear the instance."
"Wouldn't that make other Outer Zone players worry about the high-risk instance and focus their fire on us?" Deng Xiahei asked worriedly.
"People's thoughts aren't set in stone. As long as you add that an A-rank player has emerged in the 010 District and that they will settle scores with Outer Zone players after retaking the Sand Sea Safe Zone, some people will want to leave. Even if they can't make up their minds, they'll at least hold steady for a while."
Xu Huo paused for a moment, then said, "By then, the people in the Sand Sea Safe Zone will definitely try to switch the flag back."
After all, the city was this big, and information wasn't exchanged in real-time. A clear symbol could represent many things.
"It doesn't matter if the flag gets switched midway. You or the 010 District people can just switch it back. But if you all lose to the Sand Sea Safe Zone, then consider my words unsaid."
"With a big battle imminent, don't say unlucky things," Deng Xiahei quickly interjected.
Xu Huo nodded in agreement. "In short, the flag itself isn't important. The act of vying for the flag is what reinforces its meaning."