Chapter 405: The Legendary Game
The Experience Points had soared to 140 million, a staggering achievement. William couldn't help but smile as he observed his impressive progress. However, to reach even greater heights, he knew he needed to push his limits and overcome the challenges that lay ahead.
It wasn't just about accumulating Experience Points; there was also the matter of Krypton Gold. William was determined not to let the game's developers take all the credit for his success. He had decided to stay in the game for the time being, not only because he wanted to maintain his advantage but also because he was running short on fresh ideas.
The players were on the verge of entering the high-level gameplay, and they were saving up resources to upgrade their equipment. Less than a hundred players in the Legendary Continent had reached this elite level, all of them belonging to the category of hardcore gamers. It wasn't the right time to seek out high-level players.
Nevertheless, the advantages of these hardcore gamers were becoming increasingly evident. Their equipment might not be the best, and their skills and secret techniques might not be top-tier, but the gap between high-level and Intermediate Level players was significant.
Having high-level players on your team made hunting monsters and completing quests significantly easier. Their high Health Points alone made a massive difference. As a result, various guilds were eager to recruit high-level players.
Where there were people, there were bound to be conflicts. Players who were deeply invested in the virtual world were skilled in manipulation and deception for personal gain, employing various strategies that were hard to predict.
In the distant northern military fortress, guilds often engaged in fierce battles to recruit high-level players. Schemes like alienation tactics, charm offensives, self-sacrificing tactics, and backstabbing were regularly employed, creating a constantly changing landscape of intrigue. It was truly a sight to behold.
William couldn't help but applaud the players' creativity. He had witnessed similar events in his past life, which was why he had chosen to go solo, relying on his technical skills and good looks to become a celebrity escort.
William even witnessed a small guild that he had encountered multiple times attempting to recruit several hardcore gamers from a big guild, leveraging their secrets, resources, and equipment. The two players who had been poached then tried to recruit two more hardcore gamers from their old guild, leading to internal strife within the small guild and ultimately causing the complete dissolution of the large guild.
The guild's president, who went by the name "Slow Wind," returned to Dawn City feeling lonely and disheartened, as if he had seen through the transient nature of the mortal world and was considering retirement. Nobody knew if he would stumble upon a Legendary script by chance and make a triumphant comeback.
In any case, the player's world was a complex and ever-evolving ecosystem. Aside from the constant conflicts, players enjoyed the scenery, engaged in daily activities, and completed quests. William never interfered in the internal disputes between players, knowing that no matter how they fought, guilds would rise and fall. Ultimately, players would continue to reside in Dawn City, and the Dawn Mercenary Regiment's reputation would continue to grow.
William's calculations indicated that there were over 10000 large and small guilds in Dawn City. Of these, the guild led by the club accounted for 53% of the players, with fewer than ten such guilds in total. The remaining 47% of players were distributed among over 10000 other guilds, ranging from dozens to hundreds of members. These smaller guilds were formed by friends and family, and they catered to both hardcore and casual players. The strength of these guilds varied widely.
Naturally, the most numerous guild was the Glory Guild, a two-time world champion. With nearly 150000 members, it was the largest gaming guild in China. As the leading guild in Dawn City, the Glory Guild consistently excelled in various activities, tasks, and leaderboards.
Some large guilds engaged in covert operations, targeting various issues in the background, but this was all part of the game. After all, players like William had a knack for compiling data on various activities and tasks. William might not have access to the company's data on spending Krypton Gold, but he had plenty of other resources at his disposal.
Recently, two guilds had risen prominently in the gaming scene. The Mars Power guild had been created by players from Mars, while the "The Moon is Bigger than Earth" guild was founded by an incredibly wealthy N-generation player with assets exceeding 200 billion. The latter had chosen the whimsical guild name "Lunar Super Circle."
These two guilds were exclusive to players from Mars and the Moon, respectively, and their presence had sparked some rivalry among Earth players. However, in the grand scheme of things, this rivalry was minor, as all Chinese players stood united in the face of national wars.
William, standing atop the fortress wall, watched as groups of players ventured in and out, engaging in various skirmishes and battles across the land. He couldn't help but smile, realizing that he had made the right choice.
He eagerly anticipated the national war, as it would provide foreign players with a taste of Chinese gaming tactics and strategies that had been honed over time. Normally, each version of the main task featured only one large-scale war task, with most early tasks being exploratory in nature. The epic battles were typically reserved for the later stages of the game.
However, the ten-year-long Blood War was different. It was an ongoing conflict that didn't stop after just one or two battles. It had been going on for a decade, and with the participation of players, the war might be shortened, but the challenges and changes it brought to the Chinese players were significant.
With the possibility of the epic boss making a sudden appearance, the Dawn Corps had adjusted its strategy. Instead of focusing on the Orc Empire, their target was now the countless magic caves in the far north. NPC characters could gain experience and become more formidable by defeating both NPCs and players. This was causing the NPC legion to grow stronger.
William's plan was to strengthen the high-level legion and promote the Intermediate Level legion to the Advanced Level by engaging dark creatures in the magic caves. As for players, they were the main force, and they wouldn't suffer permanent losses. Plus, they had the Prince's generous Experience Point rewards at their disposal. If they lacked equipment, high-interest loans were readily available, and players could always return to the game service.
William had no worries about players failing to repay their loans. After all, the [Gods] had their ways. As time passed, the Dawn Corps continued to evolve strategically.
The war had been ongoing for over two months, and the human legion of The Blue Frost Empire had managed to capture two military fortresses at the cost of some casualties. Battles raged on across the continent as humans and Elves fought together. William had even lent some players from The Blue Frost Empire to experience these new challenges.
Within a tall building in the fortress, William found himself engrossed in a game of mahjong with Olaf, Annie, and Diablo. The inclusion of mahjong in the game might seem unusual, but it had been created by players and popularized by William himself.
The players couldn't help but shake their heads at William's blatant plagiarism, but they also recognized his ingenuity in adapting and introducing new elements into the game world.
As the game progressed, William's fortunes took a downturn. After losing
over 3000 magic stones in just three rounds, he decided it was time to step away from the table. He had hoped to win some quick cash from Olaf, but Annie had other plans.
Annie cheerfully collected her winnings, and Diablo joined her in celebrating their victory. William's attempt to shift the blame onto Olaf for losing money backfired, as Diablo and Annie reminded him of their agreement that whoever lost the game would pay up.
William handed over 300 magic stones without protest, and Annie accepted them with a triumphant grin. It seemed that luck was not on William's side today.
Frustrated with his losing streak, William decided to change tactics. He stood up and announced, "Enough of this game! I can't keep losing. Who wants to play a different game? Let's go!"
He was hoping to win some fresh magic stones from Olaf, but Annie was quick to join the game once again.
As the group continued to play, they realized that their skills in Legendary card games were quite lackluster. These cards featured portraits of Legendary figures, their signature skills, and affiliations with different factions. The cards had the ability to counter each other, making the game both strategic and engaging.
High-level cards had only one skill, while lower-level cards had more. William had even added his own touch to some of the cards, including creating a set for the Pontiff of Light, which had gained popularity among Temple staff.
While some Legendary and epic bosses felt slighted by the creation of these cards, most players enjoyed the additional gameplay element. William had added a world tree symbol to the cards, signifying the influence of the Elves and minimizing any copyright concerns.
As a result of these new additions, William's influence continued to spread throughout the Legendary Continent. He had brought a wealth of entertainment options to the players, from mahjong to poker and Legendary card games.
In fact, many players praised William for his shameless plagiarism, recognizing the value and entertainment he had brought to the game. They admired his ability to spot opportunities and innovate in the virtual world.
William was pleased with the positive response, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He even earned a nickname for himself: "[Dawn Lord Inventor Who Doesn't Work Hard]."
As the war raged on and time passed, William remained a central figure in the Legendary Continent, leaving his mark on both the game world and the players who inhabited it.