A different world game? A different world game!

Iron Oak Plain.

A crucial crossroads in the vast heartland of this continent.

Its fertile soil nourishes several towns and numerous villages.

The wide ancient trade routes and the emerging magical railroads act like blood vessels, continuously transporting supplies and people to the edge city-states of the Palagon Desert and the bustling ports of the southern free city-states.

This plain is so important that it connects so many urban centers.

As a result, over the years, the plains have become dotted with paths of all sizes, and various buildings have sprung up in the wild.

There were so many people coming and going, whether in hotels or inns, that there weren't even many bandits here.

Because they would be attacked by the masses.

Although there weren't many bandits, they appeared every year.

Because this area is so bustling with caravans, it is so alluring.

But those are all things of the past.

Many years ago, the number of bandits began to decrease.

Bandits are mostly born from ordinary people who are starving and freezing.

Of course, there were also the thugs in charge.

However, since the establishment of the Adventurers' House, bandits have gradually disappeared from various factions.

Adventurers are happy to take on such commissions, and anyone with a bit of ability and ambition who has martial prowess will become an adventurer rather than a bandit.

Not to mention that now that they've become bandits, they can't recruit many people to join them, so everyone's lives have become a little easier.

Of course, you can't attribute such credit to those damned lords; you should thank the Night's Watch.

At least any ordinary person with a modicum of common sense knows this.

Not to mention the ordinary residents of the villages and towns on this vast plain, who are well aware of this.

However, even that is now in the past.

But this abundance has now become a deadly attraction—two grotesque void rifts, emanating thick purple light and mist, like sores spewing out filth, have opened right at the central boundary of this plain.

Fortunately, the changes are not too significant compared to the original.

People coming and going can now take a longer route than they used to, which would have taken half a day longer.

Because the central area had become a huge war zone, the surrounding businesses inexplicably became more prosperous.

We should thank the Night's Watch for this achievement.

When the initial Void Vanguard opened a breach in the world and invaded.

The Night's Watch's reaction was textbook-fast.

As the first rift opened and the alarm ripped through the [channel] from the tranquility of the Ring Tower City command post, the nearest rapid reaction force shot towards Iron Oak like arrows released from a bow.

Before the local residents had fully recovered from the panic, a ring of walls made of cold steel and arcane runes had already stood majestically around the two rifts.

Moreover, these circular city walls are constantly being updated and iterated.

In the past six months, we've already changed to the third model.

The reason for the frequent replacements is that the surrounded creatures are extremely destructive, so they have to be replaced even if not otherwise.

“Damn location,” spat a shield warrior with a fresh burn scar on his face, dressed in the heavy armor of the local kingdom’s elite.

He slammed the buzzing Skullcutter heavy flail down into a clawed beast that was charging up the wall.

The crystalline shell of the clawed beast, formed from purplish-black energy, shattered instantly, smashing it into a corpse that quickly turned to ashes.

“But it’s fucking fast! If it were any slower…” Before he could finish speaking, the Night Watch veteran’s heavy spiked hammer had already smashed the head of another Claw Beast that was trying to sneak up.

"It's like playing whack-a-mole when I was a kid."

"I didn't know how to knock for months when I was a kid."

"After all, you've grown up."

"Don't tell lame jokes, we're at war."

Tremendous stress.

Larger than expected.

The Iron Oak Plains possess an exceptionally vigorous vitality, and perhaps it is this surging vortex of life force that has become the best "nourisher" for the Void.

The surging claw beasts, twisted crystal cluster crawlers, and terrifying low-level "Soul Eaters" formed a tide that crashed against the dark gray barrier of the defensive circle almost day and night.

Damn void.

The void creatures that surged forth were endless, gushing forth day and night, showing no sign of stopping.

That's enough.

But if there's only one, that's fine.

Just a few days ago, another new rift suddenly opened up not far away, and the violent energy flow instantly tore open the weak point of the original defense line that had not yet been reinforced, and the surging void creatures poured in like a tsunami.

After a brutal and bloody battle, the defense line was forced to retreat as a whole, forming a larger figure-eight ring defense circle that locked the two gaps in the center.

The Night's Watch had never built such a defensive perimeter before; it was truly an eye-opener for them.

As long as it works, that's fine.

This "chain" is now bearing double the pressure.

On the city wall, two completely different but equally blood-stained standard armors stood side by side.

The Night Watch's signature dark silver-grey, robust and practical modular armor.

The kingdom's most elite griffin guards wear even more ornate plate armor inlaid with magic resistance runes.

The difference lies in the fact that the guards' members mostly have a faint emblem provided by the Night's Watch branded on the inside of their left arm guards.

That is proof of the oath.

They are no longer just ordinary mortal warriors, but "adventure warriors" blessed by the Night's Watch and possessing digitized power, drawing upon a power called "experience" by slaying the void.

With such a powerful force of adventure, who could refuse it?
Nobles and lords aren't fools.

You don't necessarily have to become an adventurer to make an oath and be willing to contribute to the future of the world.

Destroying void creatures grants experience, enhances one's strength, and also boosts the morale and endurance of the elite national forces composed of these adventurers.

Of course, this is in comparison to their past selves. Compared to the current Night's Watch, they are still no match for them; the difference in strength is still quite significant.

The war has lasted for more than half a year.

The Night's Watch is no longer the hasty responder it once was.

They, along with their countless allies and the transformed legions, have developed sophisticated processes for dealing with this "hellish drawing."

Of course, the rifts in the void continue to unfold steadily across the world.

Although it hasn't reached the point of a full-scale invasion yet, the arrival of a new storm is a foregone conclusion.

In the past six months or so, void creatures have come into the view of all living beings.

Worth celebrating.

At least they weathered the Void Vanguard invasion and the ensuing standoff smoothly. Don't underestimate them.

It's important to know that almost half the world fell during the Vanguard invasion phase, especially at the very beginning.

Generally speaking, if a world can withstand the initial stage of the Void Vanguard invasion, then they have about a 40% chance of holding out until the real invasion begins.

Of course, "collapse" here does not mean that the world was destroyed during the Vanguard invasion phase, but rather that the world was already in ruins during the Vanguard invasion phase, with almost no possibility of resisting the subsequent full-scale invasion.

The beginning of a full-scale invasion is the end that tolls the death knell.

At least their world survived, taking a big step forward and becoming one of the top 50% of the invaded worlds.

Adam's hand brushed across the cold metal edge in front of him, the icy touch creating a strange contrast with the blood magic surging within him.

He has graduated, and he is with his friends.

They also formed a team.

Unlike most orphans taken in by the Night Watch who later become adventurers, these gifted children, gathered together from a young age, were trained from the outset to become the Soul Keepers.

Having ceased to be new recruits, they were naturally assigned as a group to the areas most in need of manpower.

That is, the walls used to defend against void creatures.

They had only recently been transferred here, and the reason for the transfer was, of course, that another fissure had opened up next to them, causing the pressure here to increase dramatically, and the originally sufficient manpower was now somewhat stretched thin.

His combat unit was located at one of the key points where the two lines of defense intersected.

The fortifications here are a marvel of Night's Watch logistics and alchemical technology.

The massive, robust Steel Spine Tower, resembling an inverted mountain peak, stands majestically, its body radiating pure white-gold arcane light, echoing another similar spire not far away.

Between these two foundation stones is not a slowly built stone wall, but a thick, metal-like folded wall that seems to have grown instantly from the earth, reaching a height of nearly twenty meters.

This is not an inanimate object.

The magic circuits embedded in the wall are now operating at full capacity, connecting the powerful magic barriers released by the two Steel Spine Towers to form a visible energy curtain covering the wall surface.

Countless intricate runes flowed and flickered on the light screen.

"Feeling much better?" Tokkok's voice came from the side.

He crouched on the specially designed sniping platform, the crosshair of his [Blue-2] enchanted piercing crossbow firmly locked onto a special fluctuation point in the surging tide below.

His bowstring was taut, and his knuckles were slightly white.

Eva nodded subconsciously. When the barrier was fully connected, the whispers that clung to her like maggots and could drive people to madness were greatly weakened.

The Night Watch's improved magic is remarkably effective at dispelling the spiritual influence of the Void.

This is the key to the defense line standing firm.

And that is the function of these tower-like structures; they are multifunctional assemblies, and are qualified products designed just two months ago.

A wall specifically designed for quickly forming defensive lines, which can then be used to confine or defend against void creatures.

The Night's Watch's offensive weapons may not be particularly powerful, but their defensive equipment has, without a doubt, progressed very rapidly.

The reason for this is, of course, that the Night's Watch leadership had already set the tone for defense.

When facing the apocalypse of the void, the requirement is not to defeat the void.

Instead, they managed to defend during the phase of the Void's full-scale invasion.

The void is, after all, the law of destruction of the astral plane; it is one of the greatest laws embodying the law of destruction.

There is no possibility of destruction unless you destroy the astral plane as well, which is no different from destroying the world.

Therefore, all that's needed is defense.

The more territory and population they retain, the greater their victory.

In this situation, defensive capabilities far outweigh offensive capabilities.

This is a manifestation of the prophet Karna.

Because void creatures are endless, at least as far as the world is concerned.

The size of a pile of void creatures is dozens of times that of your entire world. It's impossible to kill them all and crush them all; they would simply pulverize your world.

To put it in some of the world's joking terms...

Thank you, brother.

They could crush you to pieces and destroy your world in one blow, but instead they will send out soldiers you can resist to destroy you wave after wave.

Therefore, defense is the highest priority.

The top of the wall is no longer a simple crenellation like those of an ancient city wall, but a fully integrated combat platform.

The rapidly constructed tracks connect to the "nest" of the city's defensive weapons—the rotating [Judicator] automatic magic bullets emit a continuous, clanging sound.

Specially crafted elemental magic bullets exploded in the beast tide, creating a mixed storm of holy light and shockwaves.

The [Scorching Sun Prism] magic turret continuously condenses and fires condensed rays, precisely igniting the void creatures exposed by the energy nodes, burning them into writhing, screaming purple fireballs.

These are not official products, but rather various experimental items that were sent over.

The intensity of the fighting here is high, but the defensive line is also very well-constructed, making it the perfect testing ground.

All sorts of bizarre city defense weapons have emerged one after another.

This is how the symphony played on the grinding wheel of flesh and blood is performed.

"Roar!" The roar did not come from a wild beast, but from below.

A royal griffin heavy shield warrior leaned forward, his shoulders braced against a massive runic shield that was taller than him, taking the brunt of the impact from an exceptionally large "Cluster Crusher".

The shield's surface flashed wildly, and the reinforced metal platform beneath their feet emitted a screeching sound.

"Now, Felchuck!" shouted a short, stocky dwarf warrior from the Night's Watch.

Before the words were finished, a blurry figure slid out, almost touching the shadow beneath the shield.

It's a flying squirrel!
He seemed to blend into the shadows, and the specially crafted short sword in his hand, tempered with a ghostly light, resembled a sturdy, heavy short dagger with armor-piercing edges on the battlefield.

It pierced with unparalleled precision into the gaps in the crystal cluster joints exposed by the impact on that enormous creature.

"Echoes from the abyss!"

After a low growl with a childish tone, the shadow energy erupted, and the Crystal Cluster Crusher let out a painful howl. Its massive body suddenly stiffened and tilted, knocking over a group of its kind that surged up behind it.

"Good job!"

The dwarf warrior laughed as his massive, buzzing, spiked, heavy blunt weapon, the battering ram, swung with a vicious gust of wind as it crashed down on the fallen monster's head.

Crack! The crystal casing shattered completely!

Not far away, Tokk's crossbow emitted a soft but deadly "whoosh" sound. An arrow flashing with cold light tore through the air and accurately pierced the only compound eye of a "Winged Soul Eater" that was swooping down towards the magic turret. The latter spun and fell.

Eva's longbow performed steadily, with arrows wrapped in the power of wind either firing in bursts to disrupt the enemy or forming a curtain of arrows to slow down the beast tide.

"Om-!"

A familiar buzzing alarm sounded from behind; a small crack had suddenly appeared at the base of the wall.

Several Soul Eaters screamed as they surged forth, their corrosive light mist rushing towards the city walls. (End of Chapter)