"NPCs?"
"Why are there so many NPCs here?"
The Zero Wing members who had been holding the line against the monster army stared in astonishment as NPC after NPC appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
But compared to the Zero Wing members' surprise, the players and major factions watching through the video feed were far more shaken.
"So many NPCs—that's got to be over three hundred!"
"No way! There are even Tier 3 class holders among these NPCs!"
"Tier 3 class holders? How is that even possible? Tier 3 NPCs are considered regional overlords in NPC cities, and now there are ten of them defending this town? How did Zero Wing pull that off?"
...
Everyone on the forums stared dumbfounded at the ten level-70 Tier 3 NPCs, while the higher-ups of the major factions wore expressions of bewilderment and wariness.
Ordinary players might not understand the power of Tier 3 NPCs, but the major guilds knew all too well.
Sure, Tier 3 NPCs were only one tier above Tier 2, but that single tier difference was an enormous chasm. It wasn't just a gap in base stats—combat ability played an even bigger role. Even with identical base stats, a Tier 3 NPC could mop the floor with a whole pile of Tier 2 NPCs. That was precisely why smaller NPC cities were garrisoned by Tier 3 NPCs.
And Stone Forest Town now had ten Tier 3 NPCs defending it...
Moreover, NPCs weren't monsters. They could coordinate with each other, unleashing tremendous combat power—though not as smoothly as player teamwork.
Ten Tier 3 NPCs working together? Forget High Great Lords of the same level—even Legendary monsters of the same level would get beaten senseless.
While everyone was still marveling, large numbers of NPCs also appeared simultaneously at the other two Magic Towers in Stone Forest Town and at Zero Wing's base. Though their numbers were smaller than the NPC guards', the lowest among them were level-70 Tier 2 NPCs—far stronger than the Tier 1 guards that made up the bulk of Zero Wing's garrison.
And among the NPCs stationed at these locations, there were Tier 3 NPCs as well.
A careful count revealed that the number of Tier 3 NPC adventurers alone totaled thirty—more than the Great Lord-level Evil Demons!
"Damn it! Where did this Zero Wing Guild dig up so many Tier 2 and Tier 3 NPCs?" Qi Yitao watched the NPC adventurers launch their counterattack and felt his heart bleed.
These NPC adventurers were ridiculously powerful.
Taking on Lord-level Evil Beasts was like child's play—they could suppress one-on-one with ease, and a Tier 2 squad could take one down with just a few coordinated attacks. Even the Lord-level Evil Demons, while capable of suppressing a single Tier 2 NPC, were outnumbered. With the Tier 2 NPCs coordinating among themselves, they made short work of the Lord-level Evil Demons.
But that wasn't even the worst of it. The Tier 3 NPCs, when facing anything below Lord-level, were basically one-shotting everything. Each Tier 3 skill used sent whole swathes of monsters to their graves. The Tier 3 Grand Mages in particular could slaughter monsters below Lord-level almost as fast as a Magic Tower—explosive sounds echoed ceaselessly throughout the entirety of Stone Forest Town.
Even the fearsome Great Lord-level Evil Demons, when two or three Tier 3 NPCs teamed up against them, had no recourse whatsoever. Once one was restrained, the remaining NPCs would seize the moment to attack in unison, instantly finishing off the Evil Demons with their comparatively thin health pools.
Watching the Evil Beast and Evil Demon armies rapidly dwindling, Qi Yitao immediately ordered all his forces to abandon the attack on the Magic Towers and redirect toward Zero Wing's base.
Attacking the Magic Towers had been about killing more Zero Wing members, but the situation no longer allowed it. Continuing the fight would certainly cost Zero Wing heavy casualties, but the monster army he had painstakingly assembled would likely be wiped out entirely.
The only option left was to destroy Zero Wing's base—at least that would still fulfill his original objective.
Sure enough, the massive hordes of Evil Beasts and Evil Demons throughout Stone Forest Town surged toward Zero Wing's base from every direction, as if answering a call.
"Black Flame, I'll admit your guild's strength and resources exceeded my expectations. But this battle has destined you to lose Stone Forest Town." Qi Yitao gazed at the Evil Beast and Evil Demon armies that had already encircled Zero Wing's base and allowed himself a faint smile.
The losses this time had indeed exceeded his projections, but with Stone Forest Town destroyed, Zero Wing's foundation would be severed. As for himself, he could always gather more Evil Beasts and Evil Demons—it would just take a bit more time.