Full health is the kill threshold, no matter if you're a god or a demon!

The announcement ended, but its echoes seemed to linger in the soul.

But it seems that everything is no different from before.

The maps did not immediately erupt into deafening shouts and battles.

Instead, all the players were in an eerie, unsettling calm.

On the human side, the anticipated scenario of the pig-man alliance besieging the city did not materialize.

No large number of enemy figures suddenly appeared in the territory of the Eagle Clan.

The borders of the Demon Bear Clan remained quiet as usual.

Even the ratmen, who are most skilled at harassment and underground operations, did not launch any decent attack immediately.

It was as if all races simultaneously pressed the pause button the moment the announcement was made, digesting the rules, observing, and waiting.

"Something's not right..." On the city wall of the azure town, Wang Mian kept refreshing the channel, asking the scouts he had deployed in advance along the border. Everyone reported that they had not found any enemies.

He frowned. "It's too peaceful."

"That's actually normal," Wu Zhan said, standing beside him. "After Liu Nian's demonstration, they're clearly more cautious and don't dare to act rashly. Perhaps they're waiting for us to let our guard down? Waiting for problems to arise within our ranks? Or perhaps they're waiting for... a certain opportunity?"

Liu Nian was currently in the energy hall where Miya was. Standing in front of him were sixty elite Abe beemen who had just completed their initial armament and whose auras were significantly stronger than those of ordinary beemen.

These bee-man warriors, besides their sharp weapons and light armor, also possess various synergy badges that Liu Nian obtained from Wu Zhan—[Spore Symbiosis], [Microbial Resonance], [Iron Defense]... With the enhancement of these badges, the attributes of these sixty bee-men are simply heaven-defying!

Because Mia is permanently bound to the floating city, she can no longer be upgraded through traditional methods.

Her growth is now linked to macro-level indicators such as the prosperity of the entire Abe Bee tribe, its contributions to war, and its resource collection.

However, at the same time, she gained the authority to bestow her original power upon her people, causing them to undergo targeted evolution.

Currently, at her LV99 level, she can support 100 beemen to evolve into "elite units".

These elites will break away from the typical bee-human growth template, gaining stronger base attributes, unique skills, and greater growth potential. The evolution path can be chosen as needed:

Hive Guardian: The Ultimate Guardian. After evolution, its connection with the hive city deepens further, gaining the "Immortal" trait within the floating city's area (it can resurrect itself by consuming the Queen's stored energy after death). It possesses extremely strong defensive and survivability capabilities, but its mobility and independent combat ability are relatively weak. It is the last bulwark guarding the Queen's true form and the city's core.

Honeybee Vanguard: A primary combat assault unit. Upon evolution, its attack power and mobility are greatly increased, its stinger is strengthened, and it can unleash a variety of short-to-medium range attack skills. It excels at blitzkrieg, breaking through enemy lines, and assassinating high-value targets.

Nest Builder: A super engineering bee. After evolution, its construction, repair, and modification efficiency increases exponentially, and it can use Spirit Honey and special materials to synthesize high-strength building units or war machines. It is the core of city construction and battlefield fortification.

Healer: A group healer. After evolution, its healing range, effect, and efficiency are greatly enhanced, and it can release a continuous buff aura, even possessing the ability to revive on the battlefield.

Shadow Hunter: An intelligence and guerrilla expert. After evolution, its stealth, reconnaissance, and counter-reconnaissance abilities reach their peak. It can perform long-range psycho-sensing and pheromone marking, and excels in infiltration behind enemy lines, intelligence gathering, harassment, and sabotage.

Liu Nian obtained a large number of Bond Badges from Wu Zhan in order to complement these evolutions and create an elite special forces team that combines high mobility, high lethality, high survivability, and excellent reconnaissance and assault capabilities.

This squad will serve as the spearhead of his "Independent Mobile Brigade," accompanying him on the most dangerous and critical missions.

The eerie calm on the first day of the promotion battle did not last long.

However, this first wisp of smoke did not ignite on the main battlefield between humans and the three chaotic races, but instead exploded first in the territory of the trolls in the cross-regional competition!

East Zurshlag.

Just as Liu Nian predicted, the rule obtained by "stealing" the city lord's authority and forcibly binding vassal relationships was as fragile as quicksand.

When the news that "Troll King Gonk has surrendered to humans, and all the trolls of East Zul'Shlag have become vassals of humans" spread widely among players, it not only triggered humiliation and anger among the trolls of the city, but also stimulated the sensitive nerves of the other two troll kings—Zul'jin the Skullbreaker of West Zul'Shlag and Mankor the Bloodaxe of South Zul'Shlag.

What a disgrace! An immense disgrace!

Trolls, once the strongest race in the human region (mentioned in Chapter 3), now have a faction bowing down to humans and becoming their lackeys.

This is not only a stain on the Eastern Zul'Shrag, but also a trampling on the entire troll race!

Zulkin and Manco reached a rare understanding almost at the same time they received the definite news.

Without much discussion, they each assembled their elite troops, split into two groups, and launched a fierce attack on East Zulshlag!

Their goal was clear: to reclaim this "corrupted" city, purge the traitors, and restore the trolls' prestige!

Ideally, we should capture those two traitors, Gunk and Mosh, and reclaim the crown!

Manco possesses a cross-shaped prop: the Trial of the Rebels.

This thing has the same function as the Banner of Exile in Liu Nian's hand: to judge traitors in the clan and expel them from the clan, turning them into ronin!

Also, if that human Liu Nian dares to show up, execute him in the most cruel way as a warning to others!

For Liu Nian, what made the situation even worse was that in East Zul'Shlag, more than 90% of the troll players chose silence and passive non-resistance in the face of the attack from their former kin.

"The rules of vassalage forbid us from attacking humans, but they don't stipulate that we must fight to the death for humans, do they?"

"Return the city to King Zul'jin/King Mankor!"

"That piece of trash, Mosh, rose to power by betraying his own kind. Does he even deserve to be our king?"

"Open the city gates! Welcome the true troll king back!"

Such remarks spread like a plague throughout the city, and many troll players deliberately left their defensive posts, gathering in the square or tavern to watch coldly.

A small number of troll warriors who were loyal to the new city lord Mosh, or who dared not openly violate the rules out of awe, were left isolated and confused, unable to organize an effective defense.

Inside the city lord's mansion, Mosh, his face ashen, slumped on the rough stone seat. The crown on his head seemed to weigh a ton, pressing down on him so heavily that he could hardly breathe.

Two massive armies surged toward this place, leaving the city in complete chaos.

"It's over...it's all over..." Mosh muttered to himself, his heart filled with despair.