Many shared the same thoughts as Sebastian.
Most believed their rankings would be high, even expecting to break into the top ten. If not the top ten, then surely the top hundred would be within reach.
But the results delivered a harsh blow to their expectations.
Not only did they fail to make the top hundred, but they couldn't even crack the top thousand. This left many questioning whether the rankings were rigged.
And this suspicion only grew stronger when they saw the top ten.
1st Place: Ethan Carter [Fifth Tier: Demon-Type]
2nd Place: Ryan Mitchell [Fourth Tier: Elemental-Type]
3rd Place: Lily Bennett [Fourth Tier: Angel-Type]
4th Place: Derek Thompson [Fourth Tier: Beast-Type]
9th Place: Alex [Fourth Tier: Plant-Type]
Plant-type!
A plant-type had actually made it into the top ten!
Generally speaking, plant-type were known for their resilience but weak offensive capabilities. In the early stages, when attributes were universally low and skills scarce, they were considered the weakest. So, for a plant-type to surpass other factions and break into the top ten was nothing short of astonishing.
The regional chat exploded with discussions.
"Who is this Alex? How did a plant-type make it into the top ten?"
"With the early-game strength of plant-types, how did he reach the fourth tier so quickly?"
"What's the big deal? Don't you remember the one who crushed Sebastian? Wasn't that a Plant-type
army?"
"True, even Sebastian was no match. He's definitely fourth tier."
"So, that powerhouse and the ninth-ranked guy are the same person?"
"Possibly, but there could be other strong plant-type lords out there."
Messages flew by as everyone speculated about the identity of the ninth-ranked lord.
Meanwhile, Alex, the source of all this speculation, was leisurely enjoying some roasted meat in his territory while keeping an eye on the rankings and regional chat.
From the moment the rankings appeared, he had guessed his position might not be too high. After all, the myriad realms had collapsed, and everyone from the entire world had been transported here. With such a massive population, it wasn't surprising that a few geniuses would emerge.
Moreover, everyone had their own opportunities. He wasn't the only one with good luck.
To rank ninth out of ten million people, he was more than satisfied—even a little surprised. His initial conservative estimate had been around the top hundred, so breaking into the top ten was unexpected.
Those ranked above him were, without exception, lords with powerful early-game armies. The one who caught Alex's attention the most was the first-place holder.
As the only fifth-tier lord on the list, towering above ten million others, and with a Demon-type army—a faction as renowned as the Angel-type—his strength was undoubtedly formidable. If Alex were to face him now, he likely wouldn't stand a chance.
Of course, Alex didn't believe his Plant-type army was inferior. He had already crushed an Angel-type army. Why should he fear a mere Demon-type?
The priority now was to find a way to upgrade his territory to the fifth tier. That would push his ranking even higher and earn him better rewards.
He had already checked the rewards. Aside from the top three receiving additional territory essences corresponding to their tier, those in the top ten, top hundred, top thousand, and even top ten thousand would receive varying amounts of Mana. Staying on the leaderboard would ensure a steady flow of resources, gradually widening the gap between him and others.
"Looks like I'll have to head out tomorrow," Alex thought to himself.
With that, he closed the rankings interface, quickly finished his meal, and got up. He climbed the stairs to the wooden house built into the Tree of Life.
The Lord's Castle, now upgraded to the fourth tier, had become much more grandiose and spacious. It extended from the ground up to the tree trunk, complementing the Tree of Life perfectly. Its elevated position also provided a great vantage point to observe the surroundings, making it ideal for both enjoying the scenery and scouting for threats.
Inside the wooden house, there were four rooms, each facing a different direction of the Tree of Life. Alex had decorated them with animal hides freshly crafted in the Production Workshop. Even the beds were now covered with thick furs to keep out the cold.
Alex lay down comfortably, stretching his body until his joints cracked. He had spent the entire day dealing with the beast tide, and now he could finally rest in peace.
As his mind relaxed, he drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
Meanwhile, in a territory filled with gravestones on the Endless Wasteland, Luke closed the rankings and regional chat, his eyes filled with shock.
"He's actually that strong…"
Just moments ago, he had opened the rankings and immediately spotted a familiar name.
Alex!
Plant Type!
Wasn't that the man he had traded with before?
He could hardly believe that he had interacted with the ninth-ranked lord—and that they were so close to each other!
The thought of having faced such a figure made Luke's heart race, a mix of nervousness and excitement.
As the saying goes, "The early bird catches the worm." He and Alex weren't far apart, and they had already made contact. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If he could build a good relationship with Alex, he would have a powerful ally. No longer would he need to live in fear on this desolate wasteland.
The ninth rank in the region was no joke. That level of strength was beyond anything he could imagine. Otherwise, how could Alex have risen above ten million others?
"How can I get closer to him? Wait—that thing!"
Suddenly, Luke's eyes lit up. He quickly opened his message history, found Alex's name, and after a moment of thought, sent him a message.
With that done, he closed the interface and hurriedly left his territory with his fourth-tier army, heading toward a nearby territory.
The night passed quickly.
Early in the morning, Alex was awakened by a flood of message notifications. Yawning, he sat up in bed and opened his private messages. There were too many to count, but one immediately caught his eye—a message from Luke, someone he had met and traded with before.
Alex remembered him clearly and quickly opened the message.
But the next moment, his expression changed.
"Destroying a fourth-tier territory… can also yield fourth-tier territory essence?"
Alex stared intently at the message. It detailed a method to reach the fifth tier. To obtain the territory essence needed for the upgrade, aside from clearing monster nests, one could also destroy territories of the same tier or kill their lords.
Alex froze. This was the first time he had heard of such a method.
Wasn't this essentially forcing them to turn on each other?
Why would such a rule exist?
Alex was filled with confusion. He knew that once this rule spread, it would lead to endless slaughter and plunder.
To level up and survive in this world, people would do anything.
This world was far more complicated than he had imagined.