Chapter 1413: Chapter 1413: Aftermath and Beginning

To protect the weapon they had reclaimed at great cost, Edward spared no effort, playing nearly all his cards.

This battle showcased the depth and might of the First Guild to the players of the ancient gods. They had thought that despite Edward’s guild being the top, the other super guilds amongst the ancient gods were not too far behind.

Yet, in this battle, Edward’s guild emerged victorious, striking fear into the hearts of the offensive guilds.

One after another, Steel Golems marched onto the battlefield as if they cost nothing, possessing immense defensive power like ramparts alongside the Puppet creatures that drained Demon Crystals.

Without the protection of the walls, these Puppet Golems became an unending barrier, while the rear-positioned Magic Energy Cannons and Alchemical War Weapons decimated the attacking legions.

The cost, however, was that if these Puppets were not destroyed, they required a Demon Crystal to be replenished every hour.

Now exceedingly precious, Edward’s guild did not possess many Demon Crystals. Activating those Alchemical Puppets and devices, the guild’s Demon Crystal reserves could only last for five hours.

Obviously, this was not enough, so Edward used various methods to contact Li Yao in reality.

In truth, Edward’s guild had been driven into a corner, and it was nearly impossible for one guild to hold off a hundred.

Under the strict regulation of Demon Crystals, Edward also couldn’t obtain more.

Hence, Edward turned to Li Yao, and to Starfire, arranging a video conference where Sister Li, Feng Yi, and the enchantress negotiated terms alongside him.

To secure the War Blade, Edward went so far as to sign a secret alliance with Starfire behind the scenes.

The two guilds mutually supported each other, and the basis of this deep alliance was the cooperation in this very war.

Edward’s guild unconditionally shared most of their War Alchemy Techniques with Starfire, who in turn provided enough Demon Crystals to support Edward’s guild through this difficult time, for a modest fee.

Eventually, both sides reached a consensus, signing a secret and undisclosed alliance pact.

It was only with the support of Starfire’s Demon Crystals that Edward’s guild was able to withstand two days and nights of continuous assault.

Creating a miracle of enduring a siege by a hundred guilds without falling, this battle awoke numerous super guilds to their disparity with Edward’s guild, unbeknownst to them, Starfire’s Demon Crystals were the main reason for the guild’s resilience.

It seemed as though Edward had made a loss, but in actuality, it was not so. While War Alchemy Techniques, though rare, were not under strict lock-down. Demon Crystals, however, despite being consumable, were tightly controlled by various factions, and it was nearly impossible for players to obtain them.

Indeed, influenced by reality, Edward’s guild decision-making team also felt they were at a loss, as technology was key.

However, Li Yao directly revealed his identity as the leader of the Withered Sun Legion, and only then did Edward’s guild’s decision-making team realize that Li Yao’s power had expanded once more.

Not to be overlooked, the number of Witherbarks was significant, and by fully converting them, Li Yao would become an incredibly crucial member of the decision-making circle among the High Elves.

The magic of the High Elves flourished, and as Alchemy was their forte, obtaining War Alchemy Techniques wouldn’t be difficult for Li Yao. This revelation adjusted their attitudes accordingly.

Li Yao closely followed the livestream of the great battle while he was organizing his Legion. When over a hundred guilds retreated, it signified that Edward’s Guild had managed to hold on to the Sickles. Edward’s Guild’s base had been reduced to ruins, with all walls destroyed, and most of the significant structures inside had collapsed. It looked like a desolate wasteland.

Bodies piled up like mountains, and blood flowed like rivers on the battlefield, completely reddening the river next to the guild’s base–a scene of extreme brutality. This battle significantly elevated the prestige of Edward’s Guild.

Li Yao immediately sent a congratulatory letter to Edward, then shifted his attention to the contention for the other two weapons.

The competition for the remaining weapons was even more intense. Over the course of several days, several guilds had been annihilated, with no strong guild able to withstand the siege by other guilds and emerge victorious.

The ferocious battle continued unabated even with the arrival of a mainline quest, until after three or four more days, the two weapons were acquired by a group of mysterious forces who also suppressed the Divine Power’s pillar of light before vanishing without a trace.

One set of War Blades disappeared, leaving all contesting guilds frustrated, but without a single clue, they could only speculate that some guild had secretly acquired them, yet there was no information.

The guilds frantically continued their efforts for another two days before retreating begrudgingly.

A Sickles was obtained by Edward’s Guild, which had righteously defended the weapon against an onslaught of hundreds of guilds. Another mysterious force acquired a set of War Blades and then disappeared without a trace.

The turmoil that lasted nearly a month came to an end. Players tallied that the battle engaged over hundreds of large guilds, with most of the super guilds participating, and countless smaller guilds and forces.

The total scale exceeded three hundred million people, and the players referred to it on the forums as the Star Chaos.

This name was coined because they analyzed that the battle was mainly spurred by the chief culprit, Li Yao.

Some clever individuals pointed out that Li Yao and Starfire Guild were the biggest winners of this melee. It was Li Yao’s disclosure of the three weapons that triggered the unrest, and as a result, Starfire Guild prudently withdrew from the chaos.

Starfire Guild, without any losses, benefitted immensely from the Star Chaos. During the height of the turmoil, the guild was busily expanding, preparing for the mainline quest as an important hub. Only after players saw the aerial view of Spark Shazhou Port did they realize that Starfire now possessed a truly magnificent city.

Furthermore, revelations about Li Yao assuming the position of Legion Commander of the Withered Sun Legion caused a stir.

The news that Starfire Guild secretly supported Edward’s Guild, helping them navigate through crisis, somehow leaked out.

In conclusion, all indications pointed to Starfire being the cause of everything, as if Starfire had orchestrated the course of events from behind the scenes. As a result, Li Yao earned a new title: the Puppet Master.

This perspective was accepted by countless players, and even if that was the reality, there was nothing to complain about–who wouldn’t want to be such a mastermind, quietly amassing wealth?

With the matter concluded, most of the attention shifted to the mainline quest. The entrance to the mainline quest had been gradually uncovered, and the battle for it officially began.

Some fleets also reached Sunsail Harbor, and the arrival of the first batch of supplies and armaments revitalized the port occupied by the Withered Sun Legion.

At sea, the North Sea Pirates and the Undead Force’s fleet, which had taken over the Tower of the Windwalker, also launched assaults, causing trouble for many player fleets.

However, the success of the first batch of fortunate players who reached Sunsail Harbor, and their hefty profits, greatly stimulated interest in maritime trade.

As for Li Yao, he was deeply relieved. He turned his focus to the guild’s raid progression, awaiting the end of the mainline quest’s initial explorations. When the supplies and armaments were ready, Li Yao planned to personally lead a grand war…