Chapter 1940 â Shi Fengâs Decision
âBig Sis Rain, how are things on Zero Wingâs side? Based on the latest update, Miracleâs forces should arrive on Kama Island in ten minutes or so,â Blue Phoenix asked anxiously as she read the most recent report she had received from her subordinate.
It might be fine if Miracle had simply sent 30,000 elite players, but a considerable portion of its army was expert players.
This wasnât a trivial matter. If such a powerful team trapped Zero Wingâs team, it would be annihilated.
Aqua Roseâs sea-based Peak Legacy couldnât help them, either. The battle would take place on land, and Aqua Rose wouldnât receive a boost to her combat power.
âBased on Black Flameâs attitude, I doubt that Zero Wing will leave Kama Island without a fight,â Phoenix Rain said, shaking her head. She felt that Shi Feng was simply too reckless. She then ordered, âBlue, relay my commands. Have all nearby Guild members gather on Kama Island. Weâll hurry and reinforce Zero Wing immediately!â
âIâll get it done!â Blue Phoenix nodded.
Meanwhile, in the Demonkinâs nest on Kama Island, Zero Wingâs members were horrified when they heard about Miracleâs mobilization. They had never thought that the Guild would be so ruthless as to dispatch an army of 30,000 players.
This was the army of a super-first-rate Guild, not a first-rate Guild. Moreover, Miracle had only dispatched slightly fewer Tier 2 experts than the number Zero Wing currently had on the island. If they tried to stand their ground against Miracleâs army, the battle would definitely end with their deaths.
âGuild Leader, are we going to retaliate?â Aqua Rose asked Shi Feng.
âNo. With our current strength, fighting Miracle would be suicide,â Shi Feng said, shaking his head.
They might have had a chance if Miracle had merely dispatched ordinary and elite players. With Zero Wingâs team of Tier 2 experts, they could use guerilla tactics and have a chance of surviving Miracleâs 30,000-strong army.
Unfortunately, reality was cruel. The expert players Miracle had dispatched were far stronger than ordinary expert players, and if they tried to take these experts on while so drastically outnumbered, not even guerilla tactics would save them from a miserable death.
Miracle was a veteran super-first-rate Guild that could rival veteran Super Guilds in terms of overall strength. It simply hadnât earned the title of âSuper Guildâ due to lacking a legacy. Miracleâs Tier 2 experts were of a far higher quality than those from first-rate Guilds or recently-risen superpowers.
The quality difference wasnât a result of a gap in Basic Attributes, but due to a difference in combat standards. Refinement Realm experts were considered top-ranked players in first-rate Guilds, but to superpowers, Refinement Realm experts ranked nowhere near the top. Naturally, the difference between a Refinement Realm expert and one who hadnât reached that realm wasnât easy to make up.
Zero Wing had been able to stand against super-first-rate Guilds and Super Guilds because these powers had only dispatched a small number of their Refinement Realm experts or by relying on its playersâ overwhelming advantage in Basic Attributes.
However, this situation was different. In an era where weapons and equipment drop-rates had decreased, Zero Wingâs Tier 2 experts no longer had as much of a Basic Attribute advantage. In a one-on-one fight, Miracleâs Tier 2 experts would stomp on most of Zero Wingâs.
Unfortunately, it couldnât be helped. Miracle had secured its foundation after many years of hard work and investment.
This was also why the various large Guilds tried so hard to nurture experts.
In Godâs Domain, experts were a Guildâs true support pillar. Weapons, equipment, and tools were only one of the many means used to improve a Guildâs strength.
âThen, are we going to retreat?â Aqua Rose asked.
âNo. We cannot afford to do that. This is a Manatite vein we are talking about Finding another one wonât be easy,â Shi Feng said, shaking his head.
Aqua Rose was speechless. If they werenât going to fight or retreat, what were they going to do?
âFor now, youâll continue to lead the team and clear out the Demonkin next. Leave Miracle to me. No matter what happens, donât leave the cave,â Shi Feng said, chuckling in response to Aqua Roseâs confusion.
âGuild Leader, youâre not planning on dealing with Miracle by yourself, are you? Thatâs too dangerous! Iâll go with you!â Aqua Rose anxiously insisted after realizing that Shi Feng intended to act solo.
He might be alright if he were surrounded by dozens or hundreds of Tier 2 experts, but if Miracle used magic arrays or traps to suppress him, the army would even whittle his HP down to zero, regardless of how extraordinarily strong Shi Feng was. The various superpowers were even capable of killing Mythic monsters, much less a Tier 2 player like Shi Feng.
âDo I look that stupid?â Shi Feng laughed when he noticed Aqua Roseâs nervous reaction. âRelax. I know what I am doing.â
After saying so, Shi Feng left the Demonkin nest alone.
Meanwhile, a large fraction of Miracleâs members had gathered on Kama Islandâs beach. Even Thousand Miles had arrived to command the battle personally.
Miracleâs 30,000-strong army occupied more than half of the islandâs beach. Even the lowest-leveled player present was Level 56, and they were all well-equipped. As for Refinement Realm experts, just the ones participating in the expedition this time numbered more than 150, and every one of them was a Tier 2 player.
âVice Guild Leader, the Manatite vein is located in a massive pit in the islandâs valley,â the leader of the Assassin party that had tracked Zero Wingâs team reported from Thousand Milesâs side. âIâve already stationed my party outside the cave entrance to deal with Zero Wingâs members. Thus far, the Guild hasnât shown any signs of retreating.â
âZero Wing must be suicidal. They still havenât fled.â Thousand Miles laughed. âHavenât they made peace with losing their Manatite vein?â
Miracle had not tried to hide its large-scale mobilization. With Zero Wingâs connection with Phoenix Rain, how could the Guild have possibly missed Miracleâs movements?
The only explanation was that Zero Wing was being stubborn.
But it didnât matter. The difference between the two Guildsâ strength was already massive, and the Sea of Deathâs inner region was Miracleâs territory. Zero Wing didnât stand a chance.
Suddenly, the gray-clad Assassinâs expression darkened as he reported to Thousand Miles.
Sensing the change, Thousand Miles demanded, âWhat happened?â
âA moment ago, Black Flame abruptly charged out of the cave. Moreover, he discovered the five players I left to guard the entrance and killed them all...â the Assassin muttered softly.
âInteresting! He dares to emerge alone? Does he plan to use guerilla tactics with the power of a single player?â Thousand Milesâs lips curled into a smile. âPerhaps we should play along. Relay my orders! Have every team prepare a magic array and use it the moment they spot Black Flame! I want to see what he is capable of in the face of Miracleâs army!â
After Thousand Miles issued the command, Miracleâs members swarmed Kama Island in 100-man teams, sweeping across the island like a fine-toothed comb in their search for Shi Feng. With how closely the various teams operated, if one of them discovered their quarry, reinforcements would reach the scene quickly.
Meanwhile, roughly 2,000 yards away from Miracleâs army, Shi Feng grinned as he watched Miracleâs approaching army from the top of the islandâs valley. He then pulled a tome that radiated Demonic Energy from his bag.
This tome was none other than the Ancient Abyssal Book, an abyssal treasure that he could use to open an Abyss Passage.
âDark Abyss, descend!