"Have you heard? Sebastian was out clearing a monster nest today when he got absolutely crushed by some unknown lord. Rumor has it, he almost didn't make it out alive."
"Wait, seriously? Is that for real?"
"Dead serious. Someone saw it with their own eyes. If you don't believe me, ask around. The news is already spreading like wildfire."
"I can vouch for it! I ran into Sebastian around noon when he was rushing back. The look on his face, it was like he'd just been through hell."
"No way! I thought Sebastian was already at Tier 4. Who's strong enough to take him down? A demon-type lord?"
"Word is, it was a plant-type."
"Plant-type? No way! Since when can plant-types beat angel-types?!"
The news of Sebastian's crushing defeat spread like a hurricane, sweeping through the entire region and causing an uproar.
Everyone was talking about it.
Even those who rarely frequented the regional chat couldn't resist popping in to get the details. They all wanted to know who this mysterious figure was, someone powerful enough to humiliate the so-called strongest unit type—the angel-type.
Of course, many were also here to revel in Sebastian's misfortune.
After all, Sebastian had been throwing his weight around with his angel army, bullying other lords and extorting them for Mana. Many had been seething with resentment but were too afraid to speak up.
Now, someone had finally given him a taste of his own medicine, and it felt like justice had been served. People couldn't help but cheer and even send mocking messages.
"Hey Sebastian, where's all that arrogance now?"
"Too scared to show your face?"
"Maybe this'll teach you to stop acting so high and mighty!"
In short, reactions to the shocking news varied, but the most talked-about topic was the identity of the mysterious plant-type lord.
Everyone was speculating about who this person was and how they'd crossed paths with Sebastian.
While Sebastian's character left much to be desired, his strength was undeniable.
To defeat him so decisively, this person's power must be terrifying.
If they could somehow befriend such a powerhouse, it would undoubtedly be a huge boon.
Unfortunately, the person who'd spread the news had been too far away to get a clear look at the lord's face, let alone figure out who they were.
This left countless people disappointed as they returned to their own affairs.
At the edge of the wilderness, deep within a forest, the two men who had passed by Alex's territory earlier stood still, staring at the flood of messages in the regional chat, their faces filled with shock and uncertainty.
"Big bro, do you think the person who defeated Sebastian could be the one we ran into this morning?" the younger man asked, his throat dry as he swallowed hard.
He couldn't help but recall the plant-type territory they'd encountered earlier. It wasn't far from where the incident had taken place. Could it really have been that guy?
"It's possible," the older man replied, his expression grave. "Not only was it close by, but the scale of that territory didn't seem like something a Tier 3 lord could have."
"Are you saying… Tier 4?" the younger man gasped, his eyes widening.
"Most likely. Only a Tier 4 territory could be that massive. It also explains why he was so calm—he wasn't worried about the beast tide at all."
The younger man's mind reeled, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
If that was the case, then he'd almost offended a Tier 4 lord earlier? The thought of his earlier recklessness sent a chill down his spine, leaving him filled with dread.
Thank goodness.
Thank goodness he hadn't provoked the man, or he'd be dead without even knowing how it happened.
"So what do we do? Should we spread the word?" the younger man whispered.
The older man shook his head. "Better not. We don't want to attract unnecessary trouble. Someone like that is way out of our league."
"Right. Let's just finish scouting the beast tide and head back. We've only got one day left of the safety period," the younger man said, clearly still anxious.
"Agreed. Let's move." With that, the two stopped discussing the matter and continued on their way toward the wall.
Meanwhile, in another part of the mountains, Alex, the man at the center of the rumors, was also browsing the regional chat, surprised by what he saw.
He hadn't realized there'd been a third person present during his fight with Sebastian, let alone that they'd spread the news.
He couldn't help but wonder what Sebastian's expression must be like right now.
Probably seething with rage, wishing he could tear Alex apart.
Alex smirked coldly. What could Sebastian do, anyway? The feud between them was already set in stone, and Alex had no intention of letting Sebastian off the hook.
Of course, he'd love to eliminate the threat right away.
The problem was, he didn't know where Sebastian's territory was.
Moreover, with the beast tide approaching, it would be unwise to waste resources and troops on attacking another territory. He'd have to wait until after the beast tide to deal with Sebastian.
With that in mind, Alex ignored the chatter and continued deeper into the mountains with his plant army.
As he searched for monster nests and cleared out any monsters along the way, he used the battles to hone his combat skills.
It was true what they said—people grew quickly in harsh environments.
In just a few days, Alex's combat skills had improved significantly, far surpassing his previous level. Combined with his Tier 4 physique and reflexes, he could now hold his own against Tier 4 monsters, though barely.
It wasn't that he aimed to become some unparalleled master.
But having basic survival skills was essential.
After all, if he found himself in a dire situation without his units, wouldn't he just be waiting to die?
Fortunately, he had a decent aptitude for learning, and his progress was faster than expected.
And so, Alex spent the entire afternoon in the forest.
When he was hungry, he ate the dried meat he'd brought with him.
When he was tired, he rested on the spot, letting his plants keep watch.
The only disappointment was that he didn't come across any monster nests, though he did encounter plenty of scattered Tier 3 monsters, which netted him several hundred Mana.
By the time the sky began to darken, Alex led his plants back to his territory, using the Mana he'd earned to finally recruit a full complement of forty units.
Then, early the next morning, he set out again.
He continued to sweep through the mountains, earning more Mana.
Finally, as the sun set on the last evening, Alex returned to his territory, exhausted.
The Mana he'd collected had surpassed a thousand, which should be enough to handle the upcoming beast tide.
"One more night…"
Alex sat by the campfire, staring blankly at the flickering flames.
Tomorrow marked the end of the safety period.
It was hard to believe he'd already been in this world for seven days. It felt like a lifetime.
He opened the regional chat and glanced through it. Almost everyone was discussing the beast tide, their messages filled with anticipation, fear, and anxiety.
The most worried were those closest to the forest and those with weaker forces, fearing they wouldn't survive the onslaught.
Even the most arrogant lords had set aside their pride, forming alliances to increase their chances of survival. No one dared to leave their territory now, afraid they wouldn't make it back in time before the beast tide engulfed them.
Tonight, for many, would be a sleepless night.