Inside the tower, as Shi Feng and his group drew ever closer to the teleportation point, the killing intent radiating from the members of the Heavenly Burial Guild resting nearby grew heavier and heavier.
It wasn't just the Heavenly Burial Guild broadcasting such intense killing intent—even the other guild forces resting near the teleportation point carried a chilling presence, their eyes locked firmly on Shi Feng and his companions.
"Hahaha, now this is getting interesting. Zero Wing really must be courting death."
"Don't they know that the closer you get to the teleportation point, the easier it is to be targeted?"
"Probably not. I remember last time during the competition, there were a few guilds who didn't know any better and stationed themselves near the teleportation point early. The moment the battle started, those superpowers took them out first thing."
"Zero Wing can't seriously think that fewer than two thousand experts can waltz into the Ancient Divine Ruin, can they?"
...
The various major factions resting in the distance watched as Zero Wing's group approached the teleportation point, a mixture of surprise and mockery on their faces.
The area surrounding the teleportation point had always been controlled by the five major powers owing to its positional advantage during the competition. Aside from the original Heavenly Burial and Black Water, the rest were all top-tier guilds and super guilds. Now, with even more superpowers joining the fray, the already fierce contest had grown far more intense.
Superpowers being nearby was one thing—if any ordinary faction tried to claim a spot there, those superpowers positioned near the teleportation point would certainly not stand for it. They might not band together for a coordinated attack, but they would absolutely be targeted, and the outcome would be nothing short of catastrophic.
After all, even a single superpower could bring five or six thousand players.
Every one of them was an expert, with several peak experts leading the charge. No ordinary faction could hope to compare.
A single round of targeted pressure could make a first-rate guild bleed. If multiple superpowers all focused their fire on the same group, even a first-rate guild would be eliminated on the spot.
"Boss, should we make our move now?" A Level 50 assassin clad in silvery-gray leather armor licked the corner of his mouth as he looked toward Shi Feng and his group, then turned to Lei Jingyang beside him.
Although Zero Wing had dispatched only experts, some of whom were quite formidable, their numbers were fewer than two thousand—not even in the same league as the Heavenly Burial Guild. Heavenly Burial alone had brought three thousand experts along with ten thousand elites. Moreover, for this expedition to the Ancient City, their entire Thunder Legion had mobilized. Taking out a two-thousand-strong expert force would pose absolutely no problem.
Not to mention the large contingent of Black Water Guild experts already present, numbering another four thousand.
Combined, that made seven thousand expert players and ten thousand elites. Zero Wing's two thousand had no chance whatsoever. They would simply be slaughtered.
"Brother Huo Yun, what's your take?" Lei Jingyang turned to look at the refined young man beside him.
This refined young man was none other than Huo Yun, vice-commander of the Black Water Guild's main third brigade. He held a crimson magic staff, his entire body wreathed in semi-transparent, ethereal flames. Just looking at him was enough to make it hard to breathe. His Level 50 status and the three pieces of Epic-grade equipment radiating their distinctive auras made him stand out prominently within the group.
However, Lei Jingyang knew that compared to his level and equipment, the man before him was also a recently promoted Tier 2 Elementalist—a mage who had mastered Tier 2 magic skills.
It was precisely for this reason that Black Water had appointed Huo Yun as their field leader for this joint operation.
"Those from Zero Wing certainly need to be eliminated, but making a move now would be premature—it would only give them a chance to slip away. Wait until the competition begins, and then we strike. When that happens, even if Zero Wing's people want to flee, it'll be nearly impossible on this chaotic battlefield!" Huo Yun pointed toward the numerous factions positioned behind Zero Wing.
Inside the tower, the system did not prohibit combat—players could fight whenever they wished. But the tower had only a single entrance and exit. Before the melee began, leaving was still relatively easy. Once the fighting erupted, however, battles would rage everywhere, and it would be all too easy to get caught in the crossfire. Because of this, once combat started, it became extremely difficult for players to exit the tower.
"Good point. Then we'll wait until the competition begins before we make our move." Lei Jingyang swept his gaze across his surroundings and nodded. "When the time comes, we won't let a single person from Zero Wing slip away. Especially those unfamiliar faces in Level 50 Gold-grade sets—what a waste to give that gear to the likes of them!"