【 THE PLAYERS PLAN 】

【

】

【Quest Objective: Reach Sandstorm City — Complete! 】

【Hidden Quest “Blitzkrieg Assault” : Complete! 】

【All participating players shall received: Special Lottery Ticket ×3.】

【

】

【War Contribution Points are being calculated. Players will receive additional Special Lottery Tickets based on the points they have obtained…】

As these strings of notifications echoed one after another, every player who had participated in the second offensive received the latest system messages.

Looking at the glowing golden Special Lottery Tickets in their personal accounts, every player’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Finally, their long-awaited rewards had arrived!

But the system messages didn’t end there…

After the rewards were distributed, a new prompt appeared.

【

】

【Main Questline Triggered: Battle of Sandstorm City】

【Quest Description: During the second offensive, through unity and determination, you’ve pushed yourselves to the very gates of Sandstorm City in less than a week…】

【Now, it’s time to plan your next move.】

【Reliable intelligence from the upper ranks of the Church of Life reveals that the so-called “Divine Kingdom of the World Tree” within Sandstorm City is nothing but a fabricated lies, a conspiracy orchestrated by the gods behind the Orcs to target the Goddess herself…】

【However, the Goddess has already discovered a way to locate the true Divine Kingdom and is secretly preparing to act.】

【To thwart the enemy’s schemes and assist the Goddess in her search for the true Divine Kingdom, you’ve decided to buy time by launching a new offensive against the Orcs…】

【Quest Objective: Use any means necessary to stall for time, weaken the Orc’s forces, and hold the line until the Goddess descends into the battlefield.】

【Quest Rewards: 50,000 EXP, 50,000 Contribution Points, Special Lottery Ticket ×3, +1 Favorability with the Goddess Eve.】

【Minimum Level Requirements: 31 】

【

】

【Special Features Unlocked! 】

【During the “Battle of Sandstorm City” all participating players shall receive the “Goddess’ Stamina Blessing” and activate the War Contribution Points System. For every 500 War Points earned, players will receive an additional Special Lottery Ticket.】

【Charge forth! For the glory of the Goddess and the Elvenkind! 】

Upon seeing the newly released questline, the players were hardly surprised.

After all, in large-scale story-driven events like this, quests were typically chained together with one leading naturally into the next, pushing the storyline forward step by step.

However, when their eyes fell upon the quest rewards, their calm quickly gave way to excitement.

“Holy crap! They’re actually rewarding us with the Goddess favorability this time?!”

Ever since the game’s inception, the rarest and most coveted reward had always been the increase of the Goddess’s favorability.

As the leader of their faction, raising their favorability with the Goddess didn’t just grant valuable discounts in the exchange store, which was already a huge advantage.

However, according to some players who were staunch believers in the game’s superstitions, there was more to it than just practical benefits. They claimed that increasing the Goddess’s favorability supposedly will also improved the chances of obtaining rare items or unlocking top-tier skills when purchasing equipment or drawing new abilities.

While it may sound far-fetched, many players actually believe in this superstition.

Besides, putting the increase in the Goddess’ favorability aside, the other rewards were also incredibly generous.

“Whoa… 50,000 Contribution Points? Did I read that right? Since when has the system been so generous?”

“And EXP too! That’s almost enough for me to level up!”

Excitement spread rapidly among the players.

Even the elite Silver-rankers inside the command tent, along with the guildmasters from various guilds couldn’t help but reveal satisfied smiles.

Although they weren’t particularly concerned about accumulating EXP anymore, the rewards of Contribution Points, added Goddess Favorability, and Special Lottery Tickets were hugely attractive, especially the Favorability bonus, which was essentially a permanent buff.

Moreover, as their levels progressed higher and higher, the cost of buying items continued to rise steeply. At this point, the in-shop discounts, which once seemed minor, were becoming increasingly important. Even small discounts, when stacked over time, adds up significantly, potentially saving players a small fortune.

After all, not everyone could afford to spend freely like “Little Salty Cat,” the real estate tycoon whose wealth was practically limitless, or “Demacia,” the notorious smuggling lord whose underground dealings ensured he never lacked for resources.

Seeing the players’ reactions, Evé was thoroughly satisfied.

This quest was essential for her; thus, she didn’t mind being a little more generous with the rewards. Not to mention, once the quest was complete, she will be the one who would profit the most.

The EXP expenditure could easily be offset by the divine power she’d gain, which would not only enhance her abilities but also provide her with a significant advantage in the future. As for the Contribution Points, they were practically a non-issue at this stage. The war had progressed far enough that the players’ offerings, combined with Eve’s tireless efforts in repairing and reselling their equipment, had already more than covered the reward costs.

In fact, the cycle of contributions and reselling had turned into a steady revenue stream, ensuring that the quest’s expenses would be swiftly balanced out, if not entirely recouped.

It made Evé reflect on the fact that waging war really was a really lucrative method to rake in lots of fortune…

The players had earned a fortune plundering and attacking the Orcs, upgrading all their gear along the way, while she, as the mastermind behind it all, had also gained a considerable amount of wealth.

Silence lingered in the command tent for a while before Li Mu finally broke it.

“The next chained quest is here… it’s time for us to start planning carefully…”

Everyone looked up at him.

“The rewards for this are quite generous, but the objective itself doesn’t seem too difficult. All it says we have to do is stall for time…”

“However…” Li Mu paused, his expression turning serious. “I don’t believe this will be simple at all, given that it’s offering us such lavish rewards. I have a feeling the upcoming battles won’t be so easy.”

The other players nodded in agreement.

“I think so too,” Ji Gang echoed. “We can’t use teleportation arrays in this region, so our usual method of human wave tactics are practically useless in this scenario. The orc army, on the other hand, outnumbers us more than two to one. Our situation is already tough enough, not to mention the quest hints that the Goddess will also be joining the fight later on… so it’s safe to assume our enemies we will be facing won’t be simple at all.”

HootyBird added, “Besides, our task of stalling for time doesn’t mean sitting back and doing nothing. We’ll need to stage feints and skirmishes, and we can’t let the orcs realize what we’re doing either.”

“That’s right, guys,” Little Salty Cat chimed in. “Looks like a straightforward confrontation won’t work this time. Instead, it’s asking us to fight with enough force and presence to make it look convincing.”

Each player began voicing their thoughts and suggestions, their faces a mix of concentration and concern as they weighed the situation before them.

As the one who had called this meeting, Li Mu nodded repeatedly in approval. Much of what they said aligned with his own thinking, and yet… something still felt off.

How should he put it…?

This strange feeling had been with him ever since Zero revealed the true purpose of this war. The words lingered in his mind, heavy and elusive, a shadow over his thoughts. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong. All the pieces seemed to fit perfectly, the rewards, the challenges, even the players’ growing enthusiasm. But there was still a sense that something was missing, something fundamental that no amount of careful planning could address.

It was a vague, nagging sensation—almost as if they were overlooking a crucial detail, like a piece of the puzzle that hadn’t yet clicked into place.

It left a faint sense of frustration in his chest.

Just then, a deep voice cut through the discussion.

“…Is this really all there is to it?”

Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.

It was Stir-Fried Tomato, the guildmaster of First Legion.

His expression was faintly displeased as he swept his gaze across the room.

“All we’re going to do is stall for time?”

Li Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“…What are you getting at?”

Tomato glanced at him and said flatly:

“We’ve finally come all this way, and while our main objective is technically to launch a diversionary assault, wouldn’t it be even better if we could actually capture Sandstorm City?”

“After enduring a march through this arid wasteland and gathering such a massive army, I’m sure everyone here must be thinking the same thing, right?”

“Would you guys really be satisfied if all we did was feint an attack and hold out until the whole campaign ends?”

The command tent fell silent.

Li Mu’s eyes flickered and in that moment, he finally realized what that lingering discomfort in his heart was.

Of course!

After fighting for so many days, enduring a relentless march, and finally making it this far…

Would they really be content with merely staging a diversion?

This whole war campaign had been raging for months, ever since the first expedition group set out. From the very beginning, they, the players had believed that their ultimate goal was to crush the orc forces completely and seize control of the Desert.

But as they pushed deeper and deeper into the heart of the Desert and learned more about the orcs, they gradually realized just how difficult that goal would be.

Still, that had always been their endgame.

Now, this new quest had caught them off guard, with the seemingly simple objective had even come off as a relief to some.

Alas…

Was that really enough?

People are greedy by nature.

They had managed to gather an army of this scale and even attracted the attention and envy of countless netizens back on Earth…

Of course they wanted to do something greater!

Not to mention… Lady Zero had also said that the extent of damage they could inflict on the orcs would ultimately depend on their own efforts.

Therefore, in a way, their current objective was actually rather flexible, and how far they could push themselves was clearly up to them.

“….Tomato is right,” Li Mu said after a brief silence. “Is merely holding out, faking an attack until the campaign ends really all we want? I believe we’re more than capable of going further… Who knows, we might even trigger some hidden storyline.”

He looked around at the other players, his gaze sweeping across the room, meeting the eyes of each individual present.

“So tell me, why shouldn’t we at least try to take Sandstorm City for real?”

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, the entire tent fell into an awkward silence.

Everyone in the room seemed lost in thought, as if weighing the implications of Li Mu’s words. But then, as if a spark had been lit, a ripple of excitement spread throughout the group.

One by one, players began to shift in their seats, their expressions lighting up with the same realization.

Their answer was obvious—just like Li Mu, even if they hadn’t said it out loud, many of them had also been secretly hoping for this outcome all along.

“This is a very tempting proposal…” Meng Zhihan finally spoke. “But how exactly are we supposed to break through Sandstorm city’s defenses?”

“A direct assault is definitely out of the question since Sandstorm City is far too well-fortified, and their garrison is really massive.”

HootyBird shook her head.

“So… like, the best strategy would be to lure the orcs’ main army out of the city, fight them on open ground, wear them down bit by bit, and then wait until we’re stronger before going all in with the siege!” Little Salty Cat proposed.

“But how do we lure the enemy’s main army out of their city?” Someone asked.

Everyone fell into deep thought.

At that moment, the player who first brought up the idea, Tomato again:

“Divide our forces.”

The other players looked at him in surprise, not expecting such a straightforward response.

Tomato continued, undeterred, “The orcs want to wipe us out just as much as we want to take them down. All we need to do is expose a deliberate weakness—whether real or feigned—and there’s a good chance they’ll seize the opportunity to attack us directly.”

Li Mu frowned, shaking his head slightly.

“That’s risky…” he said, his voice low. “Remember, they’re plotting a scheme for the Goddess, so they probably won’t fall for something like that. They could see through our ruse and retaliate in ways we can’t predict.”

“Then let’s attack the surrounding orc tribes!”

Tomato suggested again.

“My guild’s reconnaissance team have already scouted the area. There are several medium-sized orc tribes nearby. They’re quite wealthy and unlike the tribes we’ve fought before, their defenses are weak. Some of them haven’t even finished building their fortifications!”

“If we strike those tribes, victory should come easily. One by one, we’ll wipe them out and force the Orc’s main army to come after us!”

The central region of the Desert was different from the northern area.

The northern orc tribes had only begun constructing fortifications because they were pressured by the players’ vanguard forces. Even then, it took them over a month to slowly complete their defenses.

But here, in the heart of the Desert of Death, the orcs had never felt threatened by the players. As a result, they hadn’t built any defenses early on.

It wasn’t until the players formally declared war that the nearby orcs scrambled to erect their tribe’s walls and fortifications.

However… the players moved far faster than they had anticipated.

Once the players launched their invasion of the Desert, their advance unfolded in a lightning-fast blitzkrieg fashion, which completely exceeded the orcs’ expectations.

In the orcs’ original estimates, this invasion should’ve taken one or two months at least but in just a matter of days, they had pushed all the way to the gates of Sandstorm City.

Because of this, they were caught unprepared and many of the surrounding tribes hadn’t finished their fortifications at all…

Even so, Li Mu shook his head again:

“It’s a good plan, but I still think it’s pretty unreliable.”

“The orcs were even willing to abandon their tribes and let their weaker tribesmen fend for themselves, so what makes you think they won’t do the same with these?”

Hearing that, Tomato frowned.

Li Mu had a point.

Judging by the orcs’ past behavior, ignoring the plight of these nearby tribes was certainly within the realm of possibility.

And if that happened, their baiting strategy would amount to nothing.

But just then, an excited female voice rang out:

“Hey everyone, I’ve got an idea!”

Everyone turned toward the source.

It was Dōngdōng, the only Silver Priest player and one of the senior members of Heart of Nature, who had been quietly observing from the corner.

“Dōngdōng? What’s your idea?”

Li Mu asked with interest.

Dōngdōng smiled.

“I think Tom’s plan has a lot of potential!”

“T-Tom?” Tomato looked at her incredulously.

She smiled again and explained:

“We’re already deep in the heart of the orcs’ territory. If we strike the surrounding tribes and their main army does nothing but watch them fall, the damage to their reputation will be catastrophic.”

“When the time comes, if we spread a few rumors that their Royal Court had abandoned them… hehe, with public opinion turning against them from all sides, I wonder if they will be able to handle the pressure?”

“Moreover, even if their main army refuses to help the nearby tribes, it still plays to our advantage! We’ll defeat these tribes, grow stronger, and possibly even undermine the morale of their main army. Who knows? We might even cause a few of them to defect!”

Her suggestion made the players’ eyes light up.

Demacia sighed in admiration.

“As expected of my evangelical partner… you’re becoming more and more like me.”

Dōngdōng: “…”

Li Mu, whilst deep in thought, glanced at Dōngdōng and said calmly:

“You’re still not finished laying out your plans, are you?”

Dōngdōng nodded.

“Of course!”

“Now, everyone think about it…what is the biggest limitation that’s preventing us from unleashing our full potential as players?”

Boxlunch’s eyes lit up.

“The teleportation array?”

Dōngdōng snapped her fingers with a grin.

“Exactly!”

“That’s right, it’s because we can’t use the teleportation arrays in this region.”

After saying that, she smiled again.

“Now then… do you all know why we can’t use them?”

“Obviously, it’s because we’re in Uller’s territory. The Goddess’s power is suppressed here,” Little Salty Cat replied instinctively.

But as soon as she finished speaking, she quickly covered her mouth.

The young girl’s eyes sparkled as her lips curved into a Cheshire grin…

She slammed her golden legendary staff hard into the ground and exclaimed:

“I see! Sister Dōngdōng, you’re brilliant!”

Dōngdōng simply smiled without saying a word.

“Huh?”

Many players still looked confused.

Little Salty Cat explained further:

“The reason we can’t use teleportation arrays is because the Goddess’s power is being suppressed in this region. But… if we wipe out the nearby orc tribes, wouldn’t that weaken Uller’s influence?”

Li Mu shook his head.

“That won’t work. Sandstorm City is situated right here. No matter how much we weaken them, the Goddess’s power probably still won’t surpass Uller’s. Even if we manage to set up a teleportation array, the distance would likely be too far, and the orcs could easily cut off our supply routes.”

Teleportation arrays can only transport a limited number of people at a time.

Hence, it’s practically useless if the distance is too long as it would be far too easy to intercept. By then, the orcs could simply send a small force to block the array or even destroy it outright.

Little Salty Cat frowned and fell into deep thought.

But Dōngdōng smiled again.

“So what? Who says we have to actually set up a teleportation array anyway?”

As she spoke, she glanced at Rose.

The others noticed where she was looking and suddenly understood what she’s implying.

“You mean… underground?”

Li Mu’s eyes lit up.

This area connects to the Underground region below them, and Spider Queen Rose specializes in making tunnels.

With her aid, they could easily carve out a tunnel leading back to the players’ camp through an underground passage…

This just might work!

However…

“I’m afraid it’s still not enough. The further we push the frontlines, the weaker our teleportation arrays will become. The mana density in this region seems much lower than that of the Elven Forest. So the consumption of magic stones would be astronomical. Once the battle starts, I doubt we can sustain the kind of large-scale teleportation we had before…” Li Mu added.

Dōngdōng, however, just kept smiling.

“That’s not a problem. We don’t need to actually transport large numbers of people. We just need to make the enemy believe that we can use teleportation arrays.”

— 526 —

〘 PREVIOUS 〙

〘 NEXT 〙

— —

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep