The setting sun painted the battlefield in warm hues as thousands of players gathered in front of Duke Gaul's looming territory. The air was thick with leisurely activities as the players chatted, purchased equipment from players and NPCs who were selling for the upcoming war, and formulated strategies.

Players were aware that NPCs in World of Eternia were incredibly realistic, but it still surprised them to see how realistic they were sometimes. Like this upcoming war between Humanity and the Mushrooms was a player-only thing. There was no quest or anything related to the NPCs in this war. Players just wanted to fight for their faction. If the storyline was going according to its original path, Brandon would be training an army of NPC soldiers from the capital, preparing to descend on Duke Gaul’s territory.

However, due to his decision to inform the other players about his quest, it led to this player-only battle. Apparently, this mass migration of adventurers was not difficult for merchants and the like to miss. They traveled in droves as the smell of sweet, sweet money assaulted their nostrils. Now, they were selling their wares to both sides of the upcoming war until they were sold out! Most merchants had enough of a conscience to sell only to those from the human race, but there were a few unscrupulous merchants who only cared for the coinage and sold to both sides.

Eventually, once everyone was logged in and ready to go, both sides got into formation as the war was about to begin. While the average player had no real war training or knowledge, that wouldn’t stop them from acting like they did as they formed up like actual soldiers going to war. And then, like it always happens when it involved player-formed large skirmishes, it started with mass ear-deafening screaming as they rushed toward each other. Most of the hastily made formations that players emulated from different forms of media broke down at this stage.

The war was slowly transitioning from an actual battle to a different scene of reality. Enemies on the other side of the battle began to turn into nothing but incoming experience points. They were no longer humans, but the humanoid personification of exp that would make them stronger. In no time, the corner of their lips widened as the fun was mere moments from the beginning.

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Then, the two sides collided with dozens of players being knocked high into the sky, impaled, slashed, decapitated, trampled, or fighting. The war has truly begun as the mass of digital characters fully embraced bloodshed, combat, and one of the most important things in a video game: having fun.

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“Someone, please explain why there are thousands of adventurers fighting outside my territory…” Duke Gaul’s hand ran down his face in exasperation.

“We are not completely sure yet, my Lord.” One of Duke Gaul’s knights responded. “None of them seem to be entirely coherent, and both sides are fighting to the death. When one of our scouts went forward to question one of the wounded, he was stabbed in the chest by the human with a crazed smile on his face before he screamed. ‘I got one of the traitors! Yes!’”

“Traitors? Does King Avery perhaps suspect something?” Duke Gaul scratched his double chin. “No, that’s impossible... He wouldn’t rely on mere Adventurers to deal with me. The royal army would be outside rather than those adventurers.” Duke Gaul stood up.

“No matter. Prepare the army, just in case. I’m not afraid of some adventurers, but I’d rather their squabble not involve my people.” Duke Gaul ordered.

“Should we gather the citizens for their safety and inform them that there might be something to be worried about, my Lord?” A knight questioned.

“No, that isn’t necessary.” Duke Gaul’s eyebrow rose when the knight asked this question.

Those who have eaten the Queen’s mushroom should already be informed after he’s received the news. Duke Gaul has long converted all of his citizens to becoming his Queen’s children. This knight must have been converted recently if he wasn’t aware of how the system worked between them and their Queen.

"Now be gone, all of you. Hasten your preparations, ensuring not a single error befalls. Keep vigilant watch over the battle and promptly relay to me the victor's name and their subsequent actions. I cannot fathom that these adventurers have engaged in an abrupt conflict within my domain without apparent cause."

“Yes, my Lord!” Multiple knights ran out to do their duties.