Calamity Dragon, Starting with the Cultivation of Knight Families

Chapter 284 Players Gather, Border War

"It's been almost a year since we entered this world, so why hasn't the game announced a 'war of civilizations' yet? Something's not right."

In an ancient underground ruin.

Nearly three hundred players are currently gathered here around Russell, a border city of the Kingdom of Andrews.

Including players who couldn't come due to personal reasons, there are probably only about 500 players left in the entire city of Russell.

It may not seem like much, but don't forget, this is just a small player group around a border town in a kingdom.

"Something is wrong."

"You should know that the entire empire has already launched wars against sixteen civilizations this year!"

"The scale of this war far exceeds that of any previous one."

"To put it simply, according to calculations, almost all government departments and citizens of the entire Star Empire have been mobilized!"

"In fact, as you have seen, the player war footage released by the Empire also features a large number of ancient deities that we ordinary people have never seen before."

"The sight of these ancient deities and the Yunting Dragon Clan all together was truly exhilarating."

In the center of the ruins plaza, all the players who had gathered were discussing the six players who had obtained the temporary captain rank of the Star Empire's 'Russell Free Legion'.

"Perhaps it is because the Empire has so many civilizations at war that it has not yet taken our world into consideration."

"Furthermore, the players who come to the 'Shadow' world are all new players in the new era of Blue Star. According to the normal process, the real game will definitely need to give us players a certain amount of time to grow."

"Of course, this might also be because Chief Dragon God wants to select some new players to become the backbone of the empire; otherwise, there would be no need for the official titles of our temporary Free Legion to appear in our respective rewards."

"However, whatever the reason, we must remain calm for now."

"From the information we have, we can tell that this world is definitely not simple."

Among the six captain-level players, Yue Xin, who plays the human 'Bertrand' in this world, spoke calmly.

Yes.

After a year of hard work, Yue Xin has now become a captain in Russell, the border city where he was born.

Although his current extraordinary rank is not high.

However, it has already entered the mid-stage of the fourth tier.

He is also one of the few mid-level players in the entire region at present.

The difference in strength between intermediate and low-level players is enormous.

Therefore, in the game where strength speaks volumes, Yue Xin naturally obtained the highest temporary military rank in this area.

Based on the logic of how real games currently operate.

Players who manage to stand out from the crowd, even if they lack intelligence and skill, will definitely have good luck.

Therefore, given the game's mechanics that heavily rely on individual luck, these six players who have currently earned the temporary captain rank will undoubtedly continue to rise in rank, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

What does a promotion in military rank mean?

This is the biggest change in gaming that has occurred since the fusion of real-world gaming and universal gaming.

After RealGames introduced a million new players to 'Shadowworld', the game mechanics established the Stellaris Empire as a key part of RealGames. Based on the real-world situation, the game mode was changed to a more standardized and militarized 'War Game' mode.

Let's say that.

Just like Yue Xin, who has just obtained the temporary captain rank, every 100 days, in addition to the normal game settlement rewards, he can also receive an extra personal rank reward exclusive to the captain rank and a logistical support reward for a 100-person squad.

In the Stellaris Empire, the rank of captain corresponds to the position of squad leader under the command of each legion of the military.

This also means that he has the authority to command a small team of 100 people.

Therefore, Yue Xin's rank of captain grants him powers that are extremely similar to those of a company commander during World War II on Earth.

Yue Xin can collect the personal rewards from his military rank at any time, and the salary he receives is actually no different from that of a squad leader in the Star Empire.

You get 500 merit points per month. These merit points can be used to exchange for magic crystals and magic items, as well as Imperial Gold Coins of the Star Empire and Blue Star Union Coins.

At the same time, regardless of whether these merit points are consumed or not, the final total value can be used as an important basis for judging the promotion to the next military rank.

In short, merit points are extremely valuable in the Star Empire, and are even an important basis for high-level professionals to exchange for 'elemental cores', a crucial material needed to advance to the Saint rank.

Of course, merit points are the most important basis for advancement from Saint to Demigod and from Demigod to God.

Therefore, it is easy to imagine how important merit points are to players and citizens of the Star Empire.

The personal reward for a captain is simple: 500 merit points every 100 days.

Below the rank of captain, there are logistical support rewards for squad members.

This item cannot be easily obtained.

To obtain this item, Yue Xin, the so-called temporary captain of the 'Freedom Legion,' formed his own squad.

The squad support bonus is equivalent to the basic salary given to each squad member under the organization.

Therefore, similarly, the team's logistical support experience is also displayed in merit points.

Based on the most basic team organization, ten people per group, and one hundred people per team.

Furthermore, based on the average rank of sergeant for a group of soldiers and the average rank of second lieutenant for ten group leaders, a normal squad can have a basic 3000 merit points to distribute every 100 days.

Therefore, it is conceivable that in this world, the war game mode that real games uniformly arrange for players can also be called the volunteer soldier recruitment mode.

The more soldiers a player recruits, the more opportunities for promotion and rewards they will have.

Within a year, Yue Xin's recruited soldiers were naturally already at full strength.

After all, due to the Black Prison Clan, wars frequently broke out among the kingdoms in this world, making the slave market very developed.

In this world, as long as you have money, you can even obtain an honorary noble title by making donations.

Of course, those in power in this world are not fools.

Even the original noble families did not want to threaten the status of those who obtained titles through donations.

Therefore, a merchant or individual who becomes a nobleman through fundraising can at most obtain the status of a baron with real power.

However, most people can only obtain the title of honorary baron. The title of baron with real power cannot be obtained by simply donating money. It requires the guarantee of at least three powerful viscounts of the country and even a rigorous identity vetting process.

In short, this is not a problem that money can solve.

The privileges of an honorary baron are few.

For example, they had no fiefdoms or the authority to command troops.

However, their noble status was recognized, and they had the right to purchase a property of no more than 100 acres to build a baron's mansion, as well as some exemptions from commercial rights.

At the same time, the baron's mansion also has the power to employ no more than five hundred servants or slaves.

They could even form their own guard team, but the number of guards could not exceed fifty.

Furthermore, once the guard is established, it must be reported to the local powerful nobles and must obey the orders of the local nobles or royal family to join any war that may occur.

In short, the existence of the honorary baron is rather useless.

Therefore, even if someone donates an honorary noble title, most people will not build their own honorary baronial mansion.

After all, the reason most individuals donate titles is simply that many merchants value the exemptions and benefits associated with commercial activities.

Of course, this does not prevent individuals in various kingdoms from suddenly becoming rich and making donations to become nobles and 'establish their own residences'.

However, overall...

The fundraising policies in this world are quite favorable to players.

For example, Yue Xin, through fundraising in a border city, established his own baronial estate under the name of a viscount. Because the character Yue Xin played was a commoner from a local village, he didn't encounter any major problems with the vetting process.

The donation of the honorary baronship was completed simply by the accidental discovery of a chest of treasure underground.

Furthermore, because Yue Xin used certain methods, the local viscount was even delighted to sell one of his own territories to him to establish his own residence.

therefore.

In one year, Yue Xin spent a lot of money.

It was finally completed not long ago.

Because he had purchased five hundred slaves as servants in advance, he successfully completed the formation of a hundred-person squad within that year.

The squad of 100 men consisted mostly of soldiers captured in small-scale wars waged by neighboring countries in different locations each year.

Many of these soldiers were disabled, or even had internal injuries and serious illnesses.

Otherwise, Yue Xin wouldn't have had the chance to buy it at all.

After all, after each of the frequent small-scale wars between the kingdoms, most of the captured soldiers, especially the high-quality ones, would be bought up by the nobles within their respective kingdoms.

It's only natural that the deformed and broken ones were left behind.

But no matter how severe the internal injury or how serious the illness, as long as it doesn't involve losing an arm or a leg, Yue Xin naturally has a way to cure it at a very low cost.

Therefore, once these slaves are cured and their gratitude is gained, selecting loyal soldiers becomes quite simple.

By leveraging the real-game team logistics reward allocation authority, Yue Xin successfully trained over fifty apprentice knights and more than ten apprentice warlocks within a year.

Even more remarkably, three of them, who had the best aptitude, successfully advanced to the next level after receiving a low-level bloodline infusion ceremony.

Thus, it is conceivable that in this world without superhumans, but which actually possesses mid-level magic power, their strength, if not enough to conquer a kingdom, is sufficient to control a city.

But obviously, players at this time wouldn't do that.

After all, the enemy of all players is not the mortals of this world, but the invisible Black Prison Clan.

In fact, in real games, measures are taken to prevent individual players from disrupting the game.

It also strictly limits player behavior, prohibiting players from actively attacking the 'neutral faction,' which is the human faction in this world.

They were not even allowed to publicly display their divine power.

Even when it's a reactive counterattack, all actions must be carried out covertly.

If a large-scale, overt discussion about extraordinary events occurs in a certain region, or if high-ranking members of the Black Prison Clan are observed, then players in that region are likely to face the worst possible settlement rewards.

In severe cases, an entire group of players who operate within a single city may face the penalty of losing their player status.

Alternatively, all players in the region may be forced to leave their original areas and undergo a period of anonymity lasting at least six months.

In short, the player gameplay in the Shadow World is very standardized and somewhat militarized.

The consequences of violating this rule are very serious.

Therefore, in order to strictly limit the behavior of players in different regions.

Even though real-world games have established basic regulations, further refinement of the process and ensuring greater secrecy regarding player behavior in different regions are still necessary.

Therefore, just like the border city where Yue Xin lives.

Each region has its own direct superior military unit.

Although higher-ranking military units cannot have direct jurisdiction over other players before the 'War of Civilizations' truly begins.

However, they indirectly possess some power to execute disqualified players and to evaluate them, which will directly affect the settlement rewards of each individual player in the area.

Therefore, in a game process similar to semi-military warfare.

Of the current million players, aside from those who have been eliminated for various reasons, most of the remaining players after a year have already been able to regulate their behavior.

In addition, for players in the Shadow World, each region has its own regional chat channel.

This allows players in different regions to maintain constant communication and exchange of information.

That's quite convenient.

After all, these players can't just slowly search for players from their own region on large player forums to form groups, can they?

Therefore, the three hundred players gathered in the underground ruins at this moment do not, strictly speaking, need to gather in a real-world location.

But this time, these players gathered together.

The reason is actually very simple.

Because Russell, a border city of the Kingdom of Andrews, is currently facing a border war that a neighboring country is about to start after the autumn harvest.

Although a war of this scale would not be large.

However, it also directly affects the regional situation and even puts some pressure on players in the region.

During war, players are absolutely prohibited from displaying extraordinary powers.

However, in order to protect the interests of players in their respective areas, players in border cities like Yue Xin must also ensure the possibility of taking action if the war goes against them.

Similarly, Yue Xin and others also had to consider the interests of the players in the opposing kingdom.

That's too difficult!
Therefore, most of the players who have gathered here are discussing this matter.

It cannot display supernatural power.

However, demonstrating the strength of an apprentice knight should be sufficient.

As long as they don't use magic, these players' physical strength, comparable to that of apprentice knights, is enough to make them shine in small-scale battles.

Everything is fine as long as you keep things in moderation.

But the most troublesome point is the players from the opposing kingdoms. How should we deal with them?
We are all players from Earth, and currently we are all in the same faction in the 'War of Civilizations' initiated by the Star Empire.

We must protect their rights while also protecting our own.

Therefore, secret communication before the war is essential.

Therefore, at this gathering, the group quickly selected a player to secretly infiltrate the border region of the opposing kingdom.

They don't have much to do.

That means first contacting the player on the other side, and then establishing direct contact through a forum group chat.

This way, everyone can discuss things directly.

In short, acting is something that benefits everyone, so no one would refuse it.

But Yue Xin and the other six players with the temporary captain rank also considered the worst-case scenario.

That is, in real games, there are no restrictions on fighting and killing between players, taking into account the possibility that the opposing player might be difficult to reason with.

Therefore, considering the rules of the game, Yue Xin and his team didn't mind directly engaging the opposing players.

The brave wins when we meet on a narrow road.

The fact that real games do not restrict player-versus-player combat is likely intentional.

The purpose is actually quite easy to guess: to train players against each other and to select players with potential for further development.

Therefore, this gathering of players in the border city of Russell was held.

After discussion, all players had a clear objective.

That means if a small-scale war breaks out between players in the border city of Russell, they must be the winners!
(End of this chapter)