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

Wu Zhan opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Yun Xiangrong asked softly, "Then... what will happen to Longcheng?"

"I don't know," Liu Nian said frankly. "It might become a no-man's land, it might be occupied by other races, or... it might just be abandoned."

The group exchanged glances and fell silent.

Outside the window, the brightly lit Dragon City bustled with activity in the night. Countless players were still busy on the streets, contributing to the construction of this nascent city. Unbeknownst to them, the city's inhabitants were discussing a cruel question—

This city cannot be taken away.

"Why don't we ask a professional?" Wu Zhan suddenly spoke up, breaking the dull atmosphere.

He closed his eyes, and after a moment, a phantom figure slowly solidified in the room.

Hector stroked his beard and looked at the group with a smile: "What do you want?"

Wu Zhan explained the situation in a few words, especially emphasizing the problems in Longcheng after Liu Nian's ascension.

After listening, Hector's smile gradually faded, replaced by deep thought.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Normally, the process of the Ascension War is like this—the victorious race is ascension-leveled, and the entire region becomes that race's 'ancestral land,' similar to a secret realm. No one except members of the race and invited visitors can enter. Newly joined players will train in the ancestral land, killing those defeated races that have become wild monsters."

He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"But your current situation... is indeed special."

He looked at Liu Nian with a mixture of scrutiny, admiration, and disbelief in his eyes.

"Liu Nian ascended ahead of schedule and pioneered a completely new racial path called 'Dragon Descendant.' This means that you have actually skipped the normal ascension process and taken a path that has never been done before."

"So?" Wu Zhan pressed eagerly, "What will happen to Dragon City?"

Hector stroked his beard: "Unless your people maintain control of this area, once you all ascend and leave, the region where Dragon City is located will once again become 'no man's land'."

"No man's land?" Wang Mian frowned, this was similar to Liu Nian's guess.

"Yes." Hector nodded. "The system refreshes monsters and resources regularly. Other races can enter and try to occupy it. To put it bluntly, it's an unclaimed territory; whoever has the ability can take it."

Wu Zhan pondered, "So, we need to ensure that there are always players below level 99 occupying this spot?"

"Yes. And this refers to the situation before the Ascension War ends," Hector explained patiently. "Once the Ascension War is over, the victorious race will automatically gain this region. At that time, the Dragonborn will no longer be entitled to occupy this place."

Liu Nian, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "Is it possible to 'merge' Dragon City into the floating city of Anaxim?"

He had a bold idea in his mind.

The floating city, now merged with the nest city, possesses the attribute of unlimited growth. If it could devour Dragon City…

"Merge?" Hector paused for a moment, then chuckled. "Young man, good idea, but do you know what level of main city Dragon City is? Level eight!" Hector emphasized each word. "Level eight main city."

He pointed out the window: "Ascalon used to be a level eight capital city, and its foundation is still there. In addition, you have occupied the Forbidden Mobility Mines, there are a lot of high-level dungeons nearby, and most importantly—the Heart of Terra is here."

He looked at Liu Nian with a hint of regret in his eyes: "If you force the merger, there will only be one result—Anaksim will become a satellite city of Ascalon, trapped here as well."

"Satellite city?" Liu Nian frowned.

"It's just an auxiliary structure." Hector shrugged. "What level is your floating city at right now?"

Liu Nian remained silent.

The floating city was recently built. Although it has the attributes of a nest city, it is not a main city and has no level yet. It will only become a level 2 main city when he designates it as the main city.

Hector's meaning was clear: it was impossible for Ascalon to be swallowed up by relying on the floating city.

Hector said, "If the floating city can be upgraded to level eight, it can merge with Ascalon, and then merge with another level eight city, leaping to become a level nine main city! At that time, your strength will be on par with the five major powers!"

Wu Zhan gasped, "An eighth-level main city? How many resources would that require?"

"An astronomical figure." Hector smiled wryly, a hint of weariness in his eyes. "Ascalon was once a level eight capital city, but that was the result of generations and centuries of accumulation. You want to reach level eight in a short time..."

He shook his head and didn't continue, but the meaning was clear—impossible, absolutely impossible.

Liu Nian frowned.

It's unrealistic to make it so that players never break level 99.

It's unrealistic to expect the promotion war to continue indefinitely.

Upgrade the floating city to level eight in a short time? That's even more unrealistic.

None of these paths lead to a dead end.

"Isn't there any other way?" Yun Xiangrong asked unwillingly.

Looking out the window at Dragon City and the players still busy at work, a stubborn feeling welled up inside her—this was the city they had built with their own hands, why should they give it up?

Hector remained silent for a long time.

It took so long that even Wu Zhan began to grow impatient before he finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity.

"There is also an extreme method."

"What method?" several people asked simultaneously.

Hector raised his head, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"We will annihilate all six factions participating in the Ascension War—the Pigmen, the Ratmen, the Goblins, the Demon Bears, the Eagleborn, and you humans of Earth."

After these words were spoken, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Yun Xiangrong's eyes widened, thinking she had misheard.

"To...to eliminate them all?" she stammered, repeating.

"Yes." Hector's voice flickered in the light and shadow, each word striking everyone's hearts like a stone. "If all six major forces fail, then this region will be completely devoid of Ascendants. The system will determine 'No winner in the Ascendancy War,' and then—"

He paused, then said, slowly and deliberately, "Not only Ascalon, but the entire region will become no man's land!"

Liu Nian's pupils contracted slightly.

No man's land... does not belong to any faction, but is open to any force to occupy.

He instantly understood what Hector meant.

"At that time," Hector looked at them, his gaze so deep it seemed to see right through them, "you can directly occupy the area where Dragon City is located and designate it as the territory of the Dragonborn. Even... if you wish, you can occupy the entire arena."

The entire competition area.

These four words echoed in the room like a thunderclap.

Wu Zhan swallowed hard. "You mean...we want to kill all the pigmen, ratmen, goblins, demon bears, eagle-born, and all the players from our original human faction on Earth?"

"It's not about killing," Hector corrected. "It's about making them fail in the Ascension War. As for how they fail, that's your business."

Wang Mian took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm: "But, but..."

"That's why I said it's an extreme approach," Hector said softly. "Whether you do it or not is your choice. I'm just showing you the possibility."