The factory building was dim and cold.
Thirteen white fighters, each with a different appearance, were recovering their strength while discussing their next move.
The Snow Wolf Druid, Dick Brooks, was calculating on a small notebook.
"Central Continent team earned four points. East Sea Team took one from Central Continent team. And we managed to steal one point from the East Sea Tem."
He looked at the remaining newcomers and cursed, "Fuc*! That East Sea captain who can fire sword slash is way too strong. Our rookies couldn't dodge him at all. He killed two of them on the spot!"
The magician, Albert Ellen, tried to comfort him.
"It's fine. Right now, Central Continent team leads the East Sea team by one point, and they lead us by three. As long as the reward‑penalty stays under ten thousand, we can still afford it if we pool together."
Gonniel suddenly slammed his fist on the metal railing. Frost instantly spread out from the point of impact, coating the entire rail in ice.
"Damn it! Don't talk about that! We must earn reward points. I can't swallow this humiliation!"
No one dared to speak.
The one who had the best relationship with him, the ice‑lance wielder Eric, stepped forward.
"Captain, the East Sea team no longer has a psychic controller. Most likely, they won't be able to locate us anymore."
Eric glanced at the wise Snow Wolf Druid.
"Brooks, what do you think Central Continent team's goal is? Why would they kidnap the East Sea team's psychic controller? Are they simply trying to use him as a hostage to force the East Sea team into fighting us?"
Dick Brooks shook his huge wolf head.
"The strategist of Central Continent team is terrifying. Every step he takes is always several moves ahead of mine. He always manages to think one layer deeper. If I have to guess… then yes, what you said is probably correct."
Not far from their location, Chu Xuan and the others were whispering among themselves.
"Remember this. Group A's mission is to lure away their veteran fighters. No matter what methods you use—even if you have to insult their ancestors or curse their families—you must draw those veterans away."
"Group B, your job is to support Group A. But under no circumstances can you appear before the North Polar Team notices you. You must wait until they are just about to kill Group A members before showing up. Is that clear?"
Zheng Zha, a member of Group A, raised his hand.
"Can I ask a question?"
Chu Xuan rolled his eyes at him.
"Speak."
"If the goal is to attract the attention of the North Polar Team veterans, why can't both groups go together? Why must we split into two teams? Why wait until we're nearly overwhelmed before Group B helps? What's the point of doing it this way?"
Chu Xuan replied with a blank expression.
"If everyone had as many doubts and questions as you, I would suggest disbanding right now. Everyone can do whatever they want."
Zhan Lan tugged Zheng Zha back.
"Forget it… His intelligence really is above ours. Just follow his arrangements."
Zheng Zha looked directly at Chu Xuan and spoke slowly and clearly.
"If I find out you're trying to trick us the same way you tricked Li Shuaixi and Fei Hao… I swear, even if it costs me a thousand reward points, I'll kill you."
Chu Xuan shrugged.
"Finished with your nonsense? Can we begin?"
"Hold on."
Yujin suddenly interrupted Chu Xuan's order.
"Wait a moment."
He pulled Chu Xuan aside into a quiet corner.
"I have a ninjutsu technique I wasn't very good at before, but I finally mastered it. It lets me create a physical clone—one with a real body. The clone can act as bait to attract the North Polar Team's attention. When they mistake the clone for me, I can charge straight into their rookies."
"That way, our team suffers the least losses. Can we do it this way?"
Chu Xuan could immediately tell what Yujin was thinking.
"Are you really concerned about your teammates' casualties? Or are you planning to claim all the reward points for yourself?"
"Hehe~" Yujin didn't deny it, letting out an awkward laugh.
"You can do that, but I don't recommend it," Chu Xuan continued. "From the intelligence I have now, that so-called Lord God … it is not focused on individual strength. Or rather, it likes to see the growth of the team. I haven't figured out the specifics yet, but the outcome is always the same."
"Even individual strength can't achieve absolute invincibility. This space has all sorts of strange rules, skills, and missions. No matter how powerful you are, there will come a day when you can't handle everything."
Seeing that Yujin was listening patiently, Chu Xuan pressed on.
"You could dominate and let your teammates grow under your wing, but my advice is—don't interfere too much."
"Growth with sacrifices… that's true growth."
Yujin smacked his lips. "So it was you from the start, planning to push them into desperation, huh?"
Chu Xuan remained silent, which was enough of an acknowledgment.
"Alright, I get it then."
Thinking of Fourth-Stage Gene Awakener Zheng Zha's combat ability, Yujin shrugged. "Then go ahead. Show what you've got."
With that nod from Yujin, Zheng Zha immediately received his task—hold off the North Polar Team's captain, Gonniel.
In the factory, the North Polar Team was still discussing how to deal with the situation.
Suddenly, a long-haired girl—the psychic controller of the North Polar Team, Bev Field—shot upright.
"Coming! Someone's here! So many of them! It's! It's the Central Continent team!"
"Fuc*! Fuc*! Fuc*!"
Snow Wolf Sage Brooks slammed his thigh. "I got it! The Central Continent team kidnapped the East Sea team's psychic just to pick us off one by one!"
Gonniel instantly flew into a rage. The temperature in the factory plummeted!
"The Central Continent team really doesn't respect me! I'll freeze every last one of them into blocks of ice! Ah!"
A suffocating sense of despair filled the factory. The members of the Central Continent team were in a dire and brutal situation.
Nova, strengthened as a werewolf, was drenched in blood. Her fur, soaked and matted, hung in clumps. Her body was covered with wounds, some deep enough to expose bone.
One of her legs was frozen stiff, making movement extremely difficult. She struggled to catch her breath in a corner with the last of her strength, her eyes burning with unwillingness and fury.
Zheng Zha, strengthened as a vampire, wasn't in any better condition. His clothes were shredded, and his body was marked by frost-covered scratches. Blood had already clotted and stuck to his torn garments.
His face was pale as paper, his lips drained of color, clearly exhausted. If he hadn't activated his First-Level Gene Lock, he wouldn't have lasted a single round against Gonniel.
Zhang Jie's two Desert Eagles fell to the floor. A frozen spear from Alexis had pierced his chest. If it hadn't been for Zhao Yingkong rushing to his aid, he would have been the first member of the Central Continent team to die.
****
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