As the system announcements concluded, more and more players headed towards the athletic field.
Many players who initially planned to wait and see were now spurred into action by the rewards on the Level Ranking. Except for those injured in the previous Beast Tide waves, all surviving players rushed to the field.
At this moment, the athletic field was already crowded with people, numbering over a thousand.
Fortunately, South Mountain Academy's field was large enough that even with over a thousand players, it didn't feel cramped.
These players were roughly divided into three groups.
First was the group Yan Zhou led out from Teaching Building 1, originally about two hundred strong, but it had grown along the way to about four or five hundred.
This was currently the largest group.
Then there were the groups led by Li Mingliang, first on the Level Ranking, and Jiang Yuanji, second on the Level Ranking.
Each group had about two hundred members.
Aside from these, there were some scattered individuals.
After a brief period of chaos, the leaders of the groups finally faced each other.
"So you're Boss Yan?"
Li Mingliang looked at Yan Zhou with a smile, glancing at the people behind him, and said:
"No wonder you're the first to reach Level 2, you've got quite the following."
Yan Zhou chuckled and said, "What followers? These are my brothers. If you join my team now, you can be organized into a squad, and we can look out for each other when the Beast Tide hits."
Li Mingliang's smile faded as he said:
"Brother Yan, you're just using your numbers to snatch monsters."
Yan Zhou wasn't angered by this, his smile unwavering, as he replied, "Li, you're joking. I'm only considering the safety of our classmates."
"Facing the Beast Tide with organization and discipline is the only way to minimize casualties."
"If you trust me, Li, you can join my team. You'll be the second-in-command of our Blazing Flame Guild!"
Li Mingliang frowned. His intention was to sow discord in Yan Zhou's team.
But with just a few words, Yan Zhou had turned the tables on him.
No wonder his family is in business; his words are smoother than the school leaders'!
Li Mingliang thought to himself. Just as he was about to speak, a powerful voice interrupted:
"You talk too much! Let's just get to the point and discuss how to divide the territory."
Jiang Yuanji slammed a long spear into the ground, causing a slight tremor.
Among the three, only Jiang Yuanji was an athlete, tall and strong.
After the game descended, who knows what talent he awakened, but with a long spear in hand, dozens of Nock Fiends couldn't get close to him.
His sheer presence attracted many followers.
"Impossible!" Jiang Yuanji frowned, "That area has the most Teleportation Arrays. You can't take half by yourself; it's unfair!"
Yan Zhou smiled and said, "That's right. Li, your group is only about two hundred strong. If anyone should get that territory, it should be our Blazing Flame Guild."
"Ha! A guild? You think this is just a game?"
Li Mingliang was instantly displeased and said, "I don't care. We may be fewer, but we're definitely not weaker. That territory is ours!"
Though Yan Zhou still wore a smile, his tone turned colder:
"Li, I advise you not to be stubborn. Our numbers are two to three times yours."
Li Mingliang sneered, "So what? You think I'm afraid of you?"
From what he understood, Yan Zhou, like him, had a B-Rank Talent. Though Yan Zhou had more people, Li Mingliang had the fifth-ranked Yang Huai by his side, also a B-Rank Godblessed.
If it came to a fight, the outcome was uncertain.
As the tension reached its peak, a loud "boom" echoed as Jiang Yuanji slammed his spear into the ground again.
He said coldly, "Since we can't agree, let's rely on our own skills!"
With that, he led his group to the other end of the field.
Li Mingliang snorted and led his team away as well.
Yan Zhou squinted as he watched the two groups leave. Beside him, Li Feng asked:
"Brother Yan, what should we do? Should we send people to claim territory first?"
Yan Zhou pondered for a moment and said, "No need. We have the numbers; we'll have the advantage anyway."
"Do this: spread the word that anyone interested in joining our Blazing Flame Guild should do so quickly, or they'll miss the chance."
Li Feng was taken aback, then realized, "Brother Yan, are you suggesting... blocking the field? Isn't that a bit much?"
Yan Zhou sneered, "Even if we don't block the field, do you think the other two groups won't?"
Li Feng scratched his head, "True, alright! I'll get on it right away!"
As Yan Zhou predicted, besides them, Li Mingliang's group also sent people to block the field.
Jiang Yuanji seemed to disdain such tactics but didn't intervene.
Of course, blocking the field naturally incited resentment among other players.
"Yan Zhou, you bastard, not letting us in unless we join your team? Who do you think you are!?"
"This isn't fair! The Beast Tide isn't yours to control, why can't we join in?"
"Not letting us fight? Is there no justice? No law?"
"Fuck, before the apocalypse, I had to put up with you rich kids in games, and now after the apocalypse, it's the same shit!"
"Forget it, just join if you can't beat them. Brother, which side are you going to?"
"I'll never join that rich kid Yan Zhou's side. I'm going with Jiang Yuanji's team. I heard they have three B-Rank Godblessed, including him."
"Not necessarily, Jiang Yuanji seems stronger."
"I'll stick with Li Mingliang, first on the Level Ranking. He's more likely to get the Gold Treasure Chest."
"..."
The three groups collectively accounted for four-fifths of the players in Novice Zone 911.
The remaining players, despite their grievances, could only grumble to themselves or choose to join one of the factions.
Thus, the players in Novice Zone 911 were smoothly absorbed by these three groups.
Whether it was Yan Zhou, Li Mingliang, or the relatively low-key Jiang Yuanji, their teams expanded significantly.
Seeing his strong and growing forces, Yan Zhou beamed with joy.
According to Li Feng's recent tally, his forces were the largest, having grown to six hundred, making them the biggest faction in Novice Zone 911.
"Haha, once I secure the Gold Treasure Chest, let's see how they compete with me!"
Yan Zhou felt a wave of satisfaction.
Just as they finished organizing their teams, the countdown for the fourth wave of the Beast Tide reached zero.
"Rumble, rumble, rumble!!!"
Intense energy waves emanated from all around, as the Teleportation Arrays surrounding the field lit up, and massive Ogres began to emerge from them.
[Ogre]
[Level: 2]
[Skill: Gravity Strike]
"Level 2 new monsters?"
Yan Zhou wasn't too surprised.
Having reached Level 5, he wasn't overly concerned about these Level 2 monsters.
"Anyway, these monsters can't withstand my [Thunderfire]!"
As he thought smugly, Li Feng suddenly tugged at his shoulder and said:
"Brother Yan, something seems off. Why are there so many monsters?"
Stop overreacting, more monsters just mean more to kill... Yan Zhou thought to himself, then looked around.
The next second, he was stunned.
Thousands of Ogres were continuously emerging from the Teleportation Arrays, swinging their spiked clubs and roaring at the sky.
"Roar, roar, roar!!!"
The terrifying roars were deafening, echoing through the sky, causing the players on the field to shiver involuntarily.