The world rumbled upon hearing the announcement. Everyone dropped whatever they were doing and waited anxiously for the ten minutes to pass, their hearts pounding with anticipation. The announcement was not just for the players; even the owners of the territories designated as starter territories for players heard the ominous voice from the sky.

As the ten minutes ticked away, the tension grew palpable. People exchanged nervous glances, their minds racing about the upcoming event. Finally, the voice echoed again from the heavens, cutting through the silence like a blade.

[World Event: Monster Tide]

[Rules:

1. Only territories designated as players’ starting territories or those owned directly or indirectly by players will be attacked by the monster tide.

2. The tide will consist of twelve waves, each lasting four hours.

3. If a wave is not defeated within four hours, the subsequent waves will not stop and will attack together with the remaining monsters from the previous waves.

4. The first three waves are compulsory for all territories.

5. After the third wave is completed, territory owners will be asked if they want to participate in subsequent waves or forfeit. This question will be asked ten minutes before the start of every wave, beginning with the fourth wave.

6. If they accept, they will be attacked by the corresponding wave.

7. If they refuse, they will forfeit and will no longer have the chance to participate in further waves.

8. Once accepted, a wave cannot be forfeited before the next wave begins.

9. The difficulty of the first wave will depend on the overall strength of each territory, including but not limited to the territory realm, size, and strength of residents.

10. The strength of subsequent waves will increase progressively. The fourth, seventh, and tenth waves will be significantly more challenging compared to the previous waves.

11. Each monster killed will award points, with the number of points depending on the strength of the monster. The players' accounts will also count points from followers’ kills.

12. After the event finishes, the ranking of the top 100 players with the most points will be displayed.

13. Points can be used in a limited-time event shop to purchase various items, including potion formulas, potions, skills, and other valuable items.]

[The event will start in an hour.]

“We have an hour to finalize our preparations. Let’s make it count,” Drake said, his voice steady and commanding. His followers accepted the order and began last-minute preparations, checking for any weaknesses in their defenses. He saw a counter on his panel, likely signifying the number of points.

The clock seemed to tick slowly as all the players waited for the upcoming event. Excitement buzzed through the air; this was the first major event of the game, and they were eager to prove themselves and earn rewards.

On the other hand, the territory owners were less enthusiastic. They commanded their subordinates to prepare for the upcoming battle that would determine their survival. Weak territory owners, in particular, were panicking. Their only solace was the ability to forfeit after three waves, but even passing those first three waves seemed like an insurmountable challenge.

However, not all territory owners were fearful. A few strong ones looked forward to the battles with excitement. They saw the monsters not just as threats but as opportunities. These monsters could provide valuable materials and, most importantly, the coveted potion formulas.

Finally, the countdown ended.

[Wave 1]

A roar echoed through the air as the first wave of monsters surged toward the territories. The ground trembled under the weight of their advance. Thousands upon thousands of monsters attacked from all sides. Drake stood on a makeshift wall with Yumi, Ayame, Maria, and Aria, surveying the approaching horde.

The monsters emerged from the fog, looking as though they had lost all reasoning, driven only by a desire to destroy everything in their path. However, the territory residents remained unfazed. Relaxed smiles adorned their faces as they watched the oncoming monsters. These were mere Mortals, weak and insignificant. Not a single veteran monster was among them. In contrast, everyone in the territory, except Drake, was an Extraordinary.

Before the monsters could reach the territory, most fell victim to the various traps set in the fog zone outside the perimeter. Many tumbled into pits and were crushed by the weight of other monsters. Others were impaled by spike traps. Drake watched his points soar at a breakneck speed, as the kills by his followers were credited to him.

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Eventually, just over a thousand monsters managed to reach the territory, but they were swiftly dealt with by the nearby residents. The wave was defeated almost as soon as it began. Tens of thousands of monsters perished without even touching a single person within the territory, and the first wave was over in a matter of minutes.

Afterward, a few fox women left the territory to collect the various items dropped by the monsters. Given the monsters' weakness, the drops were not particularly valuable. The primary profit from the wave was the more than ten thousand fog coins they earned.

As they rearranged the traps and chatted among themselves, time passed swiftly. Soon enough, it was time for the second wave.

[Wave 2]

The second wave was even larger than the first. More than ten thousand monsters attacked from each side, with a few dozen veteran monsters mixed in. Yet, Drake and his followers remained unfazed. Drake leisurely ate some snacks while Yumi gently massaged his back, both watching the monsters charge toward the territory.

Thousands of monsters were once again killed by the traps, but the sheer number was too much for the traps alone to handle. As the monsters pressed on, defenders on standby rushed into the fray, cutting through the tide with lethal efficiency.

Everyone fought hard to impress their lord. The five members of the assassin squad moved like shadows among the monsters, their speed making them nearly untouchable. Wherever they passed, monsters dropped like sacks of potatoes.

Not to be outdone, the fox women displayed their impressive skills with a variety of weapons. Though they refrained from using their fox fire to avoid burning potential loot, their combat prowess was almost on par with the assassins.

Within ten minutes, all the monsters, including the veterans, lay defeated. In less than fifteen minutes, the second wave was over.

As the defenders collected the loot, they found mostly fog coins and some occasional low-level items. The veteran monsters had dropped a few materials useful for various potions. Everything was gathered and stored in a warehouse built that morning for sorting later.

Drake observed the proceedings with satisfaction. “Well done,” he remarked, his voice carrying a note of pride. His followers smiled, their morale high as they prepared for the next challenge.

“How did these monsters start attacking at exactly the four-hour mark? Where were they previously? If they were there from the beginning, why didn’t they attack before?” Drake mused aloud, his brow furrowed in thought.

“Young master, maybe they were from fog zones that teleported around us at that point. Then they might have been stopped by a barrier and released at the wave’s start, induced with some kind of madness,” Maria suggested, her voice thoughtful.

Drake considered her words, nodding slowly. “Samantha,” he called.

“Yes, my lord,” Samantha responded, materializing from his shadow.

“Go check the fog zones near us. Take a territory compass with you,” Drake ordered.

“As you wish, my lord,” Samantha replied, disappearing into the shadows.

Fifteen minutes later, Samantha returned. “My lord, I have returned,” she announced.

“What did you find?” Drake asked, his curiosity piqued.

“My lord, as Maria guessed, there were two new fog zones around us. Currently, they are devoid of any monsters. Most likely, all the monsters from those fog zones attacked us. Additionally, I found a few early-stage sequence nine herbs growing in one of the fog zones, along with many mortal herbs. The second fog zone does not have anything to offer,” Samantha reported.

“Interesting. Is this a hidden reward for those who dare to venture outside the territory amidst the monster tide?” Drake mused. He then refocused on Samantha. “Take a few people and collect as many herbs as possible. Prioritize the sequence 9 herbs,” he instructed.

“Yes, my lord,” Samantha acknowledged and disappeared once more.

Drake felt a twinge of regret for not checking the fog zones during the previous wave. ‘Whatever, it was only the first wave. Even if there was something, it might be too low-level for me or my followers to use,’ he thought, dismissing the missed opportunity.

An hour later, Samantha returned with her group, carrying the collected herbs from the fog zone. They deposited them in the warehouse before resuming their assigned positions.

[Wave 3]

In the third wave, the number of monsters increased even more, including hundreds of veteran monsters. At the back of the horde, a rank 1, Extraordinary monster loomed, its presence commanding.

The territory residents remained unfazed. Each of them had hunted tens of Extraordinary monsters, and some of the stronger residents had faced even more formidable foes. Additionally, they had all trained extensively in the training room. Thus, a lone rank 1, Extraordinary monster didn’t cause any commotion.

Once again, a few defenders left their positions and engaged the enemy. The assassin squad dispatched five assassins, and with fifteen fox women, they swiftly massacred the monsters within twenty minutes. The lone Extraordinary monster, the boss of the tide, was defeated before it could even show its might.

The monster dropped a rank 1, Extraordinary potion, Trainee Mage for the Mage path. Although it was a common path, Drake had no interest in it, and even his followers disdained to use it. However, this did not mean it was useless. While Drake and his followers did not need it, other players would be extremely excited to receive it, especially since it was for the Mage path, the most popular one.

The rest of the loot was collected and stored in the warehouse. Samantha, showing her proactive nature, left with a few fox women without needing Drake’s instructions to explore the new fog zones that appeared. Drake appreciated such initiative in his followers. He also noticed that the fox women accompanying her were the same ones captured with her in the castle.

Drake didn’t interfere with their actions. He understood that as his followers grew, cliques would inevitably form. With their loyalty, he didn’t worry about rebellion or betrayal. Though it might give Maria some headaches, it was her problem to manage.

They returned later with many bags filled with different materials. Among their findings were several large jars filled with tree sap that could be used as potion ingredients.

As the four hours neared their end, the compulsory part of the event was about to conclude. The defenders prepared themselves for what was to come next.