Children laughed and played in the expansive park, running across green fields dotted with flowers, trees providing shade, and playgrounds filled with equipment. Vendors stood nearby, selling snacks to families who strolled by, enjoying the peaceful morning.
"Careful, Lius, slide down slowly," a mother called to her son, poised to go down a half-meter slide. Her husband, standing beside her, added, "Hold on tight, son. Trust your dad."
Around them, scenes of happiness unfolded: families enjoying their time, children running about, their parents watching with smiles of contentment. It was an idyllic scene, where life seemed as peaceful as ever.
In stark contrast to this serenity, the tension inside a flying ship was almost unbearable.
"Damn it... I told you to retreat! Why are you all so stubborn?!" shouted a man wielding a longbow, his voice filled with anger.
His eyes were red with fury, his fists clenched as he glared at his crew, each gaze carrying the weight of his frustration and grief. "Sorry doesn't cut it... Do you think they can come back to life with an apology?" he spat, pacing the room.
"We were too greedy, Captain," admitted a young man, trembling, though he braved an attempt to calm the captain's wrath.
But the anger lingered, unresolved, as the captain gritted his teeth, his rage fueled by the heavy losses they had suffered.
"Sis Laras, how about we go to Meanos Mall? I heard they've got some amazing new stuff," Aisha suggested, her voice light and eager.
"Hmmm... sounds fun. Let's go," Laras replied with a smile. Aisha and Laras had grown close over the past few days, forming a bond akin to sisters. Aisha felt a sense of warmth and safety around Laras, someone she could rely on without hesitation.
Soon, they reached a bustling area. The main road stretched wide, flanked by towering buildings, one of them rising 25 floors high with a sleek and aesthetic design.
Parking their flying car, the two women made their way toward the mall's entrance. As they entered, Aisha's eyes widened in awe.
"It's massive... I can't believe they built this in just 15 days," she marveled, her voice full of wonder. Despite managing the affairs of Essim's island, she had rarely had the chance to experience the marvels created on her own turf.
"Haha, let's go! There's a jewelry store over there," Laras said, pulling Aisha along, her excitement contagious.
Meanwhile, Essim was in a starkly different environment—a large, silent room lit by bright white lights. This was his main storage room, a chamber filled with rows upon rows of gold chests, arranged like books in a vast library.
He had amassed a staggering amount of resources—millions of gold chests over just 15 days. The scale of his wealth was unimaginable.
[Do you want to open a gold chest?] the system asked.
"Yes."
[Successfully opened a gold chest, obtained:]
White stone x4
Medium well blueprint
Hard iron sword
The items materialized in the air: stones, a blueprint, and a sword. Essim swiftly gathered them, storing them in another chest beside him. This daily ritual of opening chests and sorting items had become second nature to him. Since his failure to place in the top 20 during the first event, Essim had shed any arrogance. Now, he planned meticulously, working tirelessly to ensure nothing was left to chance.
On a floating island spanning 3 million square kilometers, a grand room held a 10-meter tall black portal. Through it, a figure emerged—a young man with a confident smile, surveying his surroundings.
"Awesome… Lord William has finally returned," a voice said.
"Welcome back, Lord," others chimed in.
"How was the journey to the Realm of the Gods?" someone asked.
"Calm down," William replied, "I've only just returned. Call an emergency meeting in the Alliance Main Hall, 10 minutes."
"Yes, Lord," a woman in a tight black suit and skirt answered, already making the arrangements.
Though to most, William's return was an isolated event, similar occurrences were unfolding across two other locations in the Mystic Realm. Every figure emerging from the portals radiated an intimidating power, far beyond that of ordinary rulers.
Back on Essim's island, he sat in the Alliance Main Hall, scanning through detailed reports on his desk: population updates, crime rates, hunter associations, and the growing influence of various guilds and martial arts organizations. The island's development was his responsibility, and he stayed meticulously informed of every aspect.
As noon approached, Essim prepared to leave for lunch at his favorite restaurant, Rudi Resto. But just as he rose from his chair, a system notification appeared.
[Congratulations to the Sovereigns still standing…]
[The Race War Battle Event has begun.]
[Event duration: 29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes.]
[Regional boundaries have been removed…]
[Regional chat has been removed, Blue Planet race chat added.]
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