A different world game? A different world game!

Information is compared instantly.

Information about a small team was presented to them.

This is the latest squad information.

[The Steadfast]

Captain: Cedric (Human) - Level 11.

Title: Immovable Barrier.

Warrior - Shield Guard.

Information—wielding a massive tower shield inscribed with runes of order, its combat style focuses on absolute defense and precise support.

Isabella (Elf) - Level 11.

Title: Demon-Slaying Arrow Heart

Ranger - Magic Archer.

Information—wielding an enchanted longbow that shines with the power of pure order, adept at eliminating high-threat targets from extremely long range and purifying the darkness.

Baron (Dwarf) - Level 10.

Warrior - Dwarf Guardian.

Information—clad in heavy armor, wielding a powered flail and flamethrower, serving as both a mobile firing point and an approachable guard.

Lydia (Orc) - Level 10.

Rogue - Assassin.

Information—Proficient in stealth and dual-wielding short blades, responsible for harassing enemies, scouting traps, and protecting spellcasters.

Oliver (human) - Level 10.

Mage - The Holy Lightbringer.

Information—Masters powerful spells of Holy Light and Order, and is proficient in purification, dispel, group protection, and emergency healing. The core philosophy is "to dispel corruption with light."

The squad information was confirmed, and the event and mission information were sent out.

Far away.

Cedric had just finished strength training, and the blue gem at his waist was flashing a blood-red warning symbol rapidly.

He immediately opened his interface, scrolled to the channel page, and the urgent channel information was directly mapped into an emergency channel.

Really trustworthy.

When you see the word "void".

In an instant, his resolute, rock-solid face became incredibly solemn and stern.

"【Guardians】, all personnel! Top priority mission!" His deep roar was simultaneously transmitted to the other four members through the squad's internal channel.

“Void energy fluctuations have been confirmed near Hamton – meaning the rift could open at any moment. We must get there and prepare before it tears through reality and the Void Vanguard surges out!”

Without any hesitation, he turned and rushed toward the armory.

Thankfully, they weren't on a mission.

They were now in the Night's Watch, at a city outpost in a large city.

City outposts also serve as transit points, equipped with small teleportation arrays that can only transport a small squad of personnel.

Otherwise, it would seriously offend the local authorities.

But that's enough for now.

"Target teleportation coordinates received! Three minutes to prepare! Oliver, prepare large-scale protective divine spells. Everyone else, high alert!" His words fell like a hammer, shattering the previous calm.

The team members' languid expressions vanished instantly, and they swiftly rushed towards their equipment positions.

Their mission is to build a bulwark of human resistance where the tentacles of doom reach.

Inside the Hamton stronghold, just as Old Jack picked up a loaf of bread and took a bite, the runic device on the wall suddenly burst forth with a blinding blood-red light.

The special alarm, representing the highest level of threat, sounded like ice picks piercing everyone's eardrums!

A reply from headquarters was sent out instantly.

Bran opened the interface almost instantly.

A few seconds later, the base fell into dead silence, with only the lingering buzz of the detector and the chilling alarm sounding.

“Void…” Old Jack’s voice was hoarse as he slowly put down the bread in his hand, his resolute face etched with an unprecedented seriousness.

"As expected... it's the void!"

Ella's face turned pale instantly, and Mog emitted a low hum, even the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble.

Once the threat is confirmed, time becomes the most precious resource.

When they detect data fluctuations in the void, it means that the void has already begun drilling.

If the Void Vanguard can open a rift even as the barrier is raised again, it means that the Void Vanguard has truly arrived this time.

"Bran, Ella! Bring out all the high-precision detection devices!"

Old Jack's voice was resolute, all traces of his previous leisurely demeanor gone.

"Get out of here immediately! Go to the spot we just discovered—no, use that area as a center and cover the entire orchard area! Conduct a thorough search! We have to find that damn exact location!"

The threat of the void is unpredictable; the rift could tear open at any moment.

"Mog! You're with me!"

He turned to the Tree Man, “We’re going to the town hall to find the mayor and the garrison captain! Quickly! Notify them: highest level disaster warning! All non-combat personnel in the city are to immediately move into fortified underground bunkers, and the garrison is to assemble and stand by! Don’t ask why, just tell them—it’s the Night’s Watch’s highest order, concerning the survival of Hamton! Emphasize that anyone who hears eerie whispers or sees a cold purple light must immediately cover their ears, close their eyes, and run!”

As for the local aristocratic forces.

Screw them, they're just a hindrance.

This level of communication should be left to the Night Watch at headquarters; they just need to act quickly, as is the established procedure.

Other levels of disaster may have other ways of happening, but the void only has one way.

Anyone who dares to obstruct will be met with the Night's Watch's brutality; this is clear to all forces.

The void signifies the end of the world.

Any attempt to obstruct in any way will be considered a betrayal of the world, and the Night Watch will not care about such things; they will be executed.

The gate to the outpost was pushed open forcefully, and the squad members dashed into the fading twilight like arrows released from a bow.

The fields were still beautiful, with golden waves of rice swaying in the evening breeze, but what the night watchman saw now was only the shadow of emptiness lurking below the horizon, enough to devour this tranquility.

They must act faster than the shadows, no matter how dangerous, their only thought at this moment is to protect the town's peace.

Old Jack's steps were incredibly heavy yet incredibly firm as he ran quickly toward the town center, where lights still twinkled and smoke curled from chimneys, representing what they had sworn to protect with their lives.

Heavy footsteps pounded on the stone path leading to the town hall, each step pressing on the taut strings of the heart.

In the small square in the center of town, Hans, the garrison captain who had just finished his shift, was wiping a slightly old wooden-handled short sword, while several other garrison members, also wearing studded leather armor, were chatting and eating bread next to him.

These people were all around thirty or forty years old, their faces tanned and rough by the winds of the fields, their eyes carrying the simplicity of farmers and the vigilance of guards.

The Hamton Guard, just as the Night's Watch originally proposed, is composed of men who love their homes, are responsible, but have no chance or are unwilling to leave their hometown to become adventurers or official members of the Night's Watch.

The Night's Watch outpost regularly sends people to instruct them on basic combat, patrolling, and simple anomaly identification.

After all, one has nothing better to do than to do something. Especially when the crisis of the evil god has been resolved and there are no more dangerous monsters caused by abnormal energy appearing around.

"Old Jack! Why are you running so fast? What happened?"

When Hans saw the anxious look on Old Jack's and the enormous tree-man Mog's face, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stood up to greet them.

The townspeople had an almost instinctive trust in the Night Watch.

This is not only because the Night's Watch has protected the town for over a decade and helped them solve countless problems, both big and small.

More importantly, the future of many young people in the town rests on the Night Watch, and many talented children are sent there for training.

Few become Night Watchmen, but many do become adventurers.

In the eyes of the residents of Hamton, the Night Watchmen are not just guardians, but also a kind of guide to the future.

Under such changes, they no longer knew what nobles or local lords were.

With the night watchman present, unfair treatment won't happen here.

"Hans, highest level of disaster warning!" Old Jack didn't waste any words, his voice loud and urgent, making sure everyone in the square could hear, "Void! Void energy fluctuations detected in the orchard area near the town; the rift could open at any moment!"

The square fell silent instantly.

A half-eaten loaf of bread fell to the ground.

"The...Void?" A guard's voice trembled. The legendary source of the apocalypse was a term that only appeared in the terrifying fragments of history described by the Night's Watch.

Some of their children became adventurers or night watchmen.

So they know something about the situation.

The Night's Watch never concealed the end of the Void.

Problems arise from concealment and fear, because the mind can bring both power and harm.

What's needed is proper guidance.

Especially when the Night's Watch is capable of guiding.

However, you simply cannot make the garrison personnel in these rural towns clearly understand what the void will bring.

"Yes! The void!"

Old Jack said decisively, "No time for explanations! Execute the emergency plan! Immediately!"

"First, all non-combatants should immediately take cover in their own cellars, wine cellars, or the town hall's underground storage room. Close the doors and windows tightly and plug their ears."

"Anyone who hears eerie whispers or sees inexplicable purple light must immediately close their eyes and run away. No matter where you go, just run. Mog, use your root senses to assist in guiding them."

Mog gave a heavy hum and strode toward the ancient oak tree beside the guild hall, extending its roots deep into the ground. An aura of tranquility spread, slightly calming the panic.

"Second, Hans! Assemble all garrison members! Take your weapons and whistles, and block all roads leading from the orchard to the town according to the pre-arranged plan. Prevent any curious fools from approaching. If you encounter monsters... do your best to intercept them, prioritizing your own safety and the safety of the people."

"Third, notify the town mayor! Have him organize manpower to maintain order. Headquarters has sent elite troops to support us, and we must minimize casualties before they arrive."

Old Jack's concise and clear commands were like a cold spring, instantly waking the stunned garrison.

"Understood! Execute!"

The panic on Hans's face was replaced by the toughness of a warrior, and he suddenly blew the brass whistle hanging around his neck.

A sharp whistle shattered the tranquility of dusk.

"Ron, take some men and beat the gong! Go door to door to let them know! Don't cause any chaos!"

"Karl, go to the west end and call for help!"

"Guys, grab your weapons! Defend our home!"

The guards immediately sprang into action, their simple expressions replaced by a tragic and resolute determination.

They didn't have the strength of the Night's Watch, but their sense of duty to protect their homeland was crystal clear at that moment.

There was no hesitation, no complaints, only immediate action.

This swiftness stems from years of absolute trust in the Night's Watch's training and judgment.

There were no cowards in the garrison.

They have also encountered crises.

This world is never safe.

Perhaps there would have been panic ten years ago, but now, ten years later, no community has escaped the harm caused by followers of evil gods.

Wherever the Night's Watch outposts were located, they were affected by various factors early on.

Meanwhile, Bran and Ella had already rushed back to the edge of the orchard where they had discovered the anomaly.

Ella's delicate bowstring was taut, and her sharp eyes scanned every shadowy corner around her.

Bran knelt on the ground, with a bunch of strange alchemical instruments laid out in front of him.

He attached the "buzzing bug" that emitted a piercing, high-frequency buzzing sound to a larger, rune-engraved brass chassis.

The chassis glowed with a deep blue light, and complex spectral patterns and data streams danced in the air.

“The Void Index… is still climbing!” Bran’s voice was hoarse, sweat trickling down his beard. “The peak intensity is almost exceeding the peak warning threshold… Damn, this is three times faster than the record!”

The previous record was before the Rat Wars.

A faint chill began to permeate the air, not the coolness of an autumn breeze, but a deep-seated emptiness that seemed to drain away life.

The leaves of several nearby apple trees were rapidly losing their luster, with the edges beginning to curl and turn gray, within the visible range of the two people.

too fast.

Why so fast?
“It’s about to tear space apart…” Ella’s voice was tense, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

She couldn't sense any powerful evil energy, but the pressure from that "emptiness" was more despairing than any raging demon.

Bran stared at the wildly fluctuating data, a flicker of fear of death in his eyes, but more so a resigned acceptance of his fate.

He grinned, revealing a row of teeth stained yellow from smoking, and tried to make his voice sound light: "Hey, Ella, looks like we won't be drinking ale today. If I break any of my precious instruments later... remember to send my pension to my good-for-nothing siblings and tell them it's the alchemical dream fund that Bran risked his life for."

Ella paused for a moment, then forced a not-so-pleasant smile, pulling the bowstring tighter: "Fine, the captain's share goes to your younger siblings too, since Uncle Jack's all alone anyway. But if your detector can pinpoint our exact location before we turn into snacks, maybe... we can at least have a whole corpse left?"

"Pah! Kids talk nonsense!" Bran spat, his hands moving non-stop as he quickly switched detection modes. "Forget about a whole corpse. If these high-end items can transmit crucial data back at the last moment, their deaths will be worthwhile... Watch out for that patch of bushes to the east! The data has been disturbed!"

The Night's Watch possess resurrection technology.

The problem is that, at this stage, all the resurrection techniques they know and have seen require corpses.

In this time of crisis.

The void won't leave them any corpses.

How can you revive someone if there's no corpse?
Perhaps headquarters has some new technology; I hope so.

This is the only comfort they can find in their hearts, and it is also the reason why they can face death more calmly.

The two quickly adjusted their positions, back to back, their eyes fixed on the area that had begun to emit a faint, eerie purple light.

The air seemed to freeze, and a terrifying sense of tearing apart was brewing invisibly.

They knew that the four of them were no match for the void creatures that were about to burst forth from the sky.

But they knew even more clearly that every second before reinforcements arrived, they had to stay here to buy even the slightest bit of time for evacuation and to provide crucial gap coordinates for the subsequent counterattack.

In this suffocating sense of calm awaiting the end of the world, that touch of self-deprecating humor was the last bit of courage and warmth they offered each other. (End of Chapter)