"Perang Server Dunia... hal yang pasti akan datang akhirnya tiba juga."
Han Xiao membuka kiriman tersebut dan membacanya sekilas. Melihat isinya persis seperti yang ia duga, ia menghela napas.
Kiriman itu diumumkan bersama oleh Galactic Business Alliance, September Conference, Northern Tropic of Cancer Light, Southeast Asia War Alliance, dan berbagai aliansi guild. Secara sederhana, itu adalah surat tantangan cobaan yang ditujukan kepada semua aliansi pemain. Surat itu menyebutkan waktu dan lokasi, dengan tujuan memulai pertempuran besar-besaran.
Para pemain dari berbagai aliansi biasanya bergerak sesuai perintah faksi mereka, tetapi hal ini tidak terlalu berkaitan dengan faksi. Ini hanyalah sebuah acara antara para pemain.
Hal yang sama pernah terjadi pada kehidupan sebelumnya. Berbagai aliansi guild mengumumkan perang, dan itu berubah menjadi pertempuran antara jutaan pemain yang berlangsung selama berhari-hari. Peristiwa itu kemudian dicatat dalam 'Galaxy Chronicles', dengan nama 'Pertempuran Planet Tabor'.
Teknisi Hebat Han juga aktif beberapa waktu dalam pertempuran ini pada kehidupan sebelumnya, terutama untuk menjarah peralatan dan item yang dijatuhkan oleh para pemain. Ia meraup untung besar darinya. Kali ini, meskipun perang tetap terjadi, karena efek kupu-kupu yang ia timbulkan, waktu dan lokasinya sedikit berubah.
Dari sudut pandangnya, pengumuman tantangan oleh aliansi-aliansi guild ini bukanlah hal yang mendadak. Ini sudah menjadi tahap akhir Versi 4.0. Jika mereka tidak membuat kehebohan besar, mereka tidak akan memiliki kesempatan untuk melakukannya dalam waktu dekat. Salah satu alasannya adalah untuk membenarkan pembunuhan anggota faksi musuh, dan alasan lainnya adalah untuk memperkuat persatuan aliansi-aliansi guild besar dengan mengajak para pemain normal untuk ikut serta di dalamnya juga.
"... Pada dasarnya, mereka bosan, jadi mereka ingin memulai pertikaian."
Han Xiao menggelengkan kepala. Urusan internal para pemain sama sekali tidak ada hubungannya dengan dirinya. Ia tidak berencana untuk ikut campur.
Lokasinya bukan di Zona Pertempuran Ferdinand. Tempat itu berada di sebuah planet di garis depan bernama Marrison. Ketika para pemain menuju ke sana untuk berpartisipasi, hal itu akan memengaruhi pertempuran tentara di garis depan sampai batas tertentu. Meskipun tentara dapat menggunakan perintah untuk menahan para pemain dan tidak membiarkan mereka berpartisipasi dalam pertempuran besar yang dapat diikuti oleh semua pemain ini, tindakan itu tidak akan memberikan dampak positif, dan Han Xiao juga tidak berencana untuk melakukannya.
Bagaimanapun, para pemain bukanlah anak buahnya sungguhan. Jika ia terlalu mengekang mereka, itu hanya akan menghasilkan efek sebaliknya.
Tentu saja, tidak hanya dirinya, tetapi semua organisasi yang memiliki pemain akan terkena dampak dalam tingkat yang berbeda-beda. Jika kekuatan-kekuatan ini dengan paksa menghentikan para pemain mereka, hal itu justru akan menguntungkan tentara dan membuat perekrutan pemain menjadi lebih mudah di masa depan.
"Para pemain tentara akan tetap bersatu dalam perang ini. Mereka akan menjadi kelompok terbesar, jadi mereka mungkin akan menjadi sasaran banyak aliansi lain... tapi itu tidak buruk bagiku."
Mata Han Xiao berbinar.
Liga Pro selama tahap akhir sebuah versi adalah cara yang sangat baik untuk mendongkrak penjualan. Banyak pemain akan bersedia menghabiskan sebagian besar tabungan mereka untuk membuat diri mereka lebih kuat. Ketika itu terjadi, penjualan tentara akan meroket, dan Han Xiao akan meraup banyak EXP.
Namun, Liga Pro telah diselenggarakan sebanyak tiga kali. Sebagian besar pemain normal kini sangat menyadari bahwa mereka tidak memiliki peluang. Banyak dari mereka yang lebih memilih menyimpan EXP untuk digunakan pada versi berikutnya.
Perang berskala besar itu berbeda; para pemain tidak akan melewatkannya. Ini juga merupakan kesempatan alami untuk mendongkrak penjualan, yang sangat bermanfaat baginya. Ia akan dapat meraup lebih banyak EXP menjelang akhir Versi 4.0 yang akan menjadi persediaannya selama pembaruan versi.
"Jika aku tidak salah ingat, selang waktu dari Versi 4.0 ke Versi 5.0 seharusnya sekitar setengah abad, bahkan lebih lama dari yang sebelumnya..."
Versi berikutnya adalah Bencana Para Super. Konflik antara para Super Beyond Grade A akan pecah, dan beberapa makhluk dari Era Kuno akan kembali. Namun, karena ia telah mengubah sebagian besar alur cerita, peristiwa di Versi 5.0 pasti akan sangat berbeda karena efek kupu-kupu.
Ini bukan masalah besar. Han Xiao mengenal orang-orang penting tersebut, jadi ia tidak takut mengubah alur cerita asli. Bagian terbesar dari versi berikutnya sebenarnya adalah para pemain.
Dalam Versi 5.0, level maksimal para pemain akan mencapai level 180, yang berarti mereka akan menjadi tingkat Calamity. Nama versi 'Bencana Para Super' adalah petunjuk halus bagi para pemain bahwa dampak mereka terhadap alam semesta pada versi berikutnya akan sangat besar. "Ini adalah kabar baik bagiku."
Pada saat itu, para kombatan tingkat menengah di alam semesta yang telah dijelajahi akan meroket. Meskipun para pemain akan membawa kekacauan, mereka juga akan menjadi kekuatan penting dalam melawan Peradaban Pohon Dunia. Dalam Perang Pohon Dunia pada kehidupan sebelumnya, pentingnya para pemain sama sekali tidak tergantikan. Jika bukan karena jutaan pemain tingkat Calamity, alam semesta yang telah dijelajahi akan menderita kerusakan yang jauh lebih parah.
Selain itu, tentara akan menjadi jauh lebih kuat. Semua perencanaan ini sepanjang versi-versi sebelumnya adalah untuk saat ketika para pemain berevolusi.
Ada waktu dekade hingga versi berikutnya, jadi ia memiliki lebih dari cukup waktu untuk bersiap. Ditambah lagi, beberapa perkataan Manison tua masuk akal; fondasi sangat penting bagi seorang Mechanic. Ia berencana menghabiskan waktu puluhan tahun untuk fokus meningkatkan keterampilan Mechanic-nya sambil menunggu efek dari [Key of Adeptus Mechanicus] menjadi semakin kuat.
Efek dari bakat ini akan meningkat setiap beberapa hari sekali, terus-menerus membuatnya semakin kuat. Ini berarti semakin banyak pengikut Manison yang lari ke dalam pelukannya. Ia dapat membayangkan pergeseran dalam Iman Mesin.
Segala jenis pikiran melintas di benaknya. Han Xiao terus menjelajahi forum hingga medan perang dibersihkan. Ia kemudian naik ke pesawat antariksa untuk kembali ke Istana Black Star. Ia telah membulatkan tekadnya untuk menyelesaikan sisa dua puluh tujuh tanding tanding dalam waktu dua bulan.
Di pangkalan pelatihan militer Crimson Dynasty yang rahasia, Gaud berjalan-jalan melalui pangkalan pelatihan tersebut, mengenakan seragam perwira tinggi dynasty. Ia sedang tidak dalam suasana hati yang baik. Baru saja, Gaud menerima pesan dari jajaran atas dynasty, yang menyuruhnya untuk menunda rencana tersebut tanpa batas waktu. Rencana yang dimaksud adalah menggunakan Kemampuan Esper-nya untuk mencoba memecahkan energi inti dari Evolution Cube.
Kembali ketika mereka merancang rencana ini, hal itu sepenuhnya dapat dicapai. Namun, zaman berubah terlalu cepat, mengganggu tempo banyak petinggi dynasty dari faksi hawk. Pada titik ini, posisi dan kekuatan Black Star telah mencapai ketinggian baru, sehingga rencana ini menjadi semakin berisiko. Oleh karena itu, jajaran atas tidak punya pilihan selain menghentikan sementara rencana ini dengan pasrah, baik karena mereka tidak ingin berurusan dengan Black Star maupun untuk menyembunyikan Gaud sebagai kartu as.
Pada akarnya, ini semua karena pertumbuhan Black Star yang sangat cepat yang terus mengubah situasi berulang kali, begitu sering hingga orang-orang tidak dapat bereaksi cukup cepat.
Inilah sumber dari suasana hati Gaud yang buruk. Kecepatan pertumbuhan Black Star bahkan lebih cepat daripada pertumbuhannya meskipun ini adalah akun barunya. Ia bahkan tidak bisa melihat lampu belakang Black Star. Sulit baginya untuk tidak merasa frustrasi.
"Black Star... Black Star..." gumam Gaud sambil berjalan ke fasilitas pelatihan publik tanpa sadar.
Suara pertempuran sengit memasuki telinganya. Ia melihat ke sumber suara tersebut dan melihat kelas elit tingkat rendah bertarung secara berpasangan di bawah pengawasan sersan instruktur. Mereka tampak seperti sekelompok pemula.
Pada saat ini, dua Pugilist tingkat C sedang bertarung di arena, yang satu mendominasi sementara yang satunya lagi hampir tidak bisa bertahan. Sepertinya kekalahan pihak yang terakhir hanya tinggal menunggu waktu.
Tanpa diduga, hanya beberapa tahun—ralat, beberapa detik kemudian, tanding tanding ini berakhir. Orang yang hampir tidak bisa bertahan ditendang keluar oleh ayunan kaki lawannya. Ia meluncur di lantai dan kebetulan berhenti tepat di depan Gaud. "Karlot, kau kalah lagi." Sersan instruktur mengerutkan kening pada yang kalah. "Catatanmu nol kemenangan dan sembilan kekalahan. Memalukan."
Chapter 1179 Impeachment
“The World Server War... what’s bound to come will come in the end.”
Han Xiao opened the post and browsed through. Seeing that the content was the same as he expected, he sighed.
The post was jointly announced by Galactic Business Alliance, September Conference, Northern Tropic of Cancer Light, Southeast Asia War Alliance, and multiple guild alliances. In simple terms, it was an ordeal challenge letter targeted at all player alliances. It stated a time and location, aiming to start an enormous battle.
The players of the various alliances usually moved according to their faction’s orders, but this did not have much to do with factions. It was just an event between the players.
The same thing had happened in his previous life. The various guild alliances announced the war, and it turned into a battle between millions of players that lasted for many days. It was then recorded in the ‘Galaxy Chronicles’, given the name of ‘Planet Tabor Battle’.
The Great Mechanic Han was also active for some time in this battle in his previous life, mainly to loot the equipment and items the players dropped. He had made a big fortune from it. This time, although the war still happened, due to the butterfly effect he had caused, the time and location had changed slightly.
From his perspective, these guild alliances announcing this challenge was not sudden. It was already the final stage of Version 4.0. If they did not create some big news, they would not have a chance to do so anytime soon. One reason was to justify killing those in the hostile alliances, and another was to strengthen the unity of the big guild alliances by having the normal players take part in it too.
“... Basically, they’re bored, so they want to start a fight.”
Han Xiao shook his head. The internal affairs of the players had nothing to do with him. He did not plan to interfere.
The location was not in the Ferdinand Battle Zone. It was on a planet in the frontlines called Marrison. When the players headed there to participate, it would affect the army’s battle in the frontlines to a certain extent. Although the army could use orders to restrain the players and not let them participate in the big battle all players could take part in, it would not have a positive impact, nor did Han Xiao plan to do so.
After all, players were not really his employees. If he restrained them too much, it would only achieve the opposite effect.
Of course, not only him, but all the organizations who had players would be affected to different extents. If these forces forcefully stopped their players, it would instead benefit the army and make recruiting players easier in the future.
“The army players will stick together in this war. They’ll be the largest group, so they’ll probably be targeted by many other alliances... but that’s not bad for me.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
The Pro League during the final stage of a version was an excellent way to boost sales. Many players would be willing to spend a lot of their savings to make themselves stronger. When that happened, the army’s sales would rocket, and Han Xiao would harvest a lot of EXP.
However, the Pro League had already been hosted three times. Most normal players were now very aware that they had no chances. A lot of them preferred saving their EXP to use in the next version.
Large scale wars were different; the players would not miss it. It was also a natural opportunity to boost sales, which was very beneficial for him. He would be able to harvest even more EXP near the end of Version 4.0 that would become his inventory during the version update.
“If I remember correctly, the interval between Version 4.0 to Version 5.0 should be about half a century, even longer than the last one...”
The next version was the Calamity of the Supers. The conflict between the Beyond Grade As would break out, and some of the Primordial Ones would return. However, since he had changed a large portion of the storyline, the events in Version 5.0 would certainly be completely different because of the butterfly effect.
This was not a big deal. Han Xiao knew those people who were important, so he was not afraid of changing the original storyline. The biggest version of the next version was actually the players.
In Version 5.0, the maximum level of the players would become level 180, which meant they would become Calamity Grades. The version name ‘Calamity of the Supers’ was a subtle hint to the players that their impact on the universe in the next version would be tremendous. “This is good news for me.”
By then, the middle level combatants of the explored universe would skyrocket. Although the players would bring chaos, they would also become a crucial force in fighting the World Tree Civilization. In the World Tree War in his previous life, the importance of the players was absolutely irreplicable. If not for the millions of Calamity Grade players, the explored universe would have suffered even heavier damage.
Also, the army would become excessively stronger. All this planning throughout these past versions was for when the players evolved.
There were decades till the next version, so he had more than enough time to prepare. Plus, some of old Manison’s words made a lot of sense; foundation was crucial for Mechanics. He planned to spend decades focusing on improving his Mechanic skills while waiting for the effects of (Key of Adeptus Mechanicus] to become stronger.
The effects of this talent would increase once every few days, continuously making him stronger. This meant that more and more of Manison’s believers were running into his arms. He could imagine the shift in the Machinery Faith.
All kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind. Han Xiao continued to browse through the forums till the battlefield was cleaned up. He then boarded the spaceship back to Black Star Palace. He had made up his mind on finishing the remaining twenty-seven spars within two months.
In a secret Crimson Dynasty military training base, Gaud strolled through the training base, wearing a high-level dynasty officer uniform. He was not in a good mood. Just now, Gaud had received a message from the dynasty’s upper echelons, telling him to postpone the plan indefinitely. The plan referred to using his Esper Ability to try to figure out the core energy of the Evolution Cube.
Back when they came up with this plan, it was totally achievable. However, times were changing too quickly, disrupting the tempo of many hawk faction dynasty upper echelons. At this point, Black Star’s position and strength had reached a new height, so this plan became more and more risky. Hence, the upper echelons had no choice but to pause this plan temporarily with resignation, both because they did not want to mess with Black Star as well as to keep Gaud hidden as a trump card.
At the root of it, this was because of Black Star’s extremely quick growth that kept changing the situation repeatedly, so often that people could not react fast enough.
This was the source of Gaud’s bad mood. Black Star’s growth speed was even faster than his even though this was his new account. He could not even see Black Star’s taillights. It was tough for him not to feel frustrated.
“Black Star... Black Star...” Gaud mumbled as he walked to a public training facility without realizing
The sound of intense battles entered his ears. He looked at the source of the sound and saw a low-grade elite class fighting in pairs under the supervision of the drill sergeant. They looked like a group of novices.
At this time, two Grade C Pugilists were fighting in the venue, one having the upper hand and the other barely hanging on. It looked like the latter losing was just a matter of time.
Unsurprisingly, only a few seconds later, this spar ended. The one who was barely holding out got kicked out by a leg swing of his opponent. He slid on the floor and just so happened to stop in front of Gaud. “Karlot, you lost again.” The drill sergeant frowned at the loser. “You’re at zero wins and nine losses. It’s embarrassing.” “Sorry.” Karlot rubbed his chest, stood up, and smiled with resignation.
The drill sergeant looked unhappy as he yelled, “All of your test scores are at the bottom. I really don’t know why the people above have put you into my elite class to drag down the entire class’ scores. I’ve allowed you to stay in this class because I can see you’re hardworking enough, but if your scores are still at the bottom the next test, I won’t give you another chance and will make you leave!”
After he said that, the classmates all looked at Karlot coldly, not hiding their dissatisfaction.
Although these people were students, they were talents the dynasty had selected from the various departments who were being trained in this secret base. Furthermore, this was an elite class. Everyone in it was a talented dynasty soldier, and they were all renowned in their own divisions.
The opportunity to receive this type of training was very rare, so these students treasured it very much. This was exactly why they disliked Karlot-he was too ordinary and not like an elite at all. Logically, he was not qualified to receive such training.
Due to how difficult it was to get this opportunity, these elites all felt it unfair. From their perspectives, the first thing they thought of was the word ‘bribe’ when they saw a mediocre soldier training with them, making them unavoidably reject Karlot.
Furthermore, as soldiers, they respected the strong above all. Karlot’s ability was too low, so they looked down on him from the bottom of their heart. Naturally, they were not going to treat him well.
Noticing the cold eyes of everyone, Karlot sighed in his mind.
He had accepted the fact that he was mediocre long ago. He knew that these people were elites who were much more talented than him from the beginning, so he was not discouraged.
He had gained this opportunity to undergo such advanced training thanks to Black Star. Although he was carefree, he was not someone who would give up an amazing opportunity. However, he was already doing the very best within his capabilities, yet he still could not match up to the growth speed of these elites. There was nothing else he could do.
Gaud quietly observed from the side.
Some time ago, he had heard people say that someone who Black Star once heeded had entered this training base, and that person’s name was Karlot. As it was related to Black Star, Gaud kept it in mind. This was the first time he had seen this person.
He sized Karlot up. All he could see from Karlot was the word ‘mediocre’.
Gaud considered himself to have sharp eyes, but even he did not find anything special about Karlot. He was confused.
Why was Black Star interested in this guy? He’s known for having accurate and sharp eyes. He shouldn’t have made a poor judgement...
Gaud could not figure it out at all. He thought about it for a second before waving at the drill sergeant.
The drill sergeant had noticed Gaud long ago. He instantly put on a smile and walked over. Almost everyone in this base knew that Gaud was the person with the highest chances of becoming a Beyond Grade A and had received a lot of resources and training. Gaud’s position was quite high.
“What is it, Gaud?”
“That novice called Karlot, whether he passes the tests or not, let him stay in the base,” Gaud whispered.
Hearing this, the drill sergeant was puzzled.
Based on his test scores, Karlot was bound to be disqualified and leave the training base. He did not expect Gaud to speak for him.
“I’m not sure. This guy doesn’t have much value. Keeping him here is a waste of resources.”
“Do what you can then.”
Gaud could not see what was special about Karlot either, but because of Black Star, he wanted to keep Karlot and observe him longer.
Han Xiao had stayed in Black Star Palace and did not go to the frontlines. One and half a month passed quickly.
On this day, a shocking piece of news suddenly erupted in the Modo Civilization!
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