Chapter 471: 471
Romeo knew they had suffered heavy losses. Even though Starfire had casualties too, their losses paled in comparison.
The problem was that their formation had been broken too quickly. There was simply no time to regroup and fill the gaps, plus visibility was nil. Any attempt to reorganize would undoubtedly result in more chaos.
Li Yao’s Sonic Arrow allowed him to monitor the battlefield continuously, but Romeo wasn’t so fortunate. He had essentially lost control of the situation but he couldn’t admit it. If he did, it would lead to total collapse.
Starfire had torn through their frontline, barging into their ranks. Without any protection, their weaker members were left incredibly vulnerable.
Though they had fighters within their ranks, it was impossible to establish a new defensive line. Under heavy firepower, they faced inevitable defeat.
Romeo sighed inwardly, conceding that his plans to stop Starfire had failed.
The only consolation was that the fog had obscured the battlefield. No one could see the extent of the carnage, thereby saving the Devil Alliance some face.
Romeo was ready to admit defeat. The losses outweighted the gains. His initial plan had been to block Starfire’s team, even if only for a night, so Prairie Fire would lose their chance at the first kill.
But it was too late now. Their defeat was certain, and Prairie Fire’s sudden appearance had eradicated the Devil Alliance’s opportunity to rise.
“Starfire…” Romeo clenched his fists.
“Now is not the time to take on Starfire,” said the Priestess beside him.
Romeo nodded, replying, “I know. We’ve shown our hand, and we’ll surely face retribution from the alliance of guilds. I’m furious. Prairie Fire not only foiled our plans, but they’re also using us as a human shield.”
“It was a no-win situation. Prairie Fire was unexpectedly cunning,” the Priestess understood the gravity of their exposure. They had wanted to maintain their cover a bit longer, but the earlier confrontations had given them the opportunity they needed.
The first kill, coupled with the exposure they had during the battle, should have skyrocketed their reputation. Everything had been going smoothly until Prairie Fire’s interruption had thrown them off balance.
What frustrated them more was that Starfire, originally everybody’s common enemy, had shown up earlier.
Now that they had exposed themselves prematurely, they would become the target of the alliance of guilds, especially the top-ranking guilds.
The actions of the Devil Alliance were underhanded. They had tricked the other guilds, stirring up trouble that was far from over.
Due to their actions, Starfire were now shielded from a lot of the fallout, giving them the opportunity to grow.
Even if they wanted to withdraw now, it was impossible.
Regardless, if they abandoned their position, would Starfire also retreat?
“We have sighted the base camp of the instance. Let’s break through their lines,” the Guardian Angel’s voice echoed in the guild war channel.
Everyone except Li Yao was unaware of how far the battle had progressed as the fog did not discriminate between friend and foe.
Upon hearing the Guardian Knight proclaim that they had broken through the enemy’s lines, cheers and excitement filled the air.
“Starfire will prevail!” Mu Zi exclaimed excitedly, joining in the carnage.
Not just Mu Zi—everyone was overjoyed. This was the elation of a triumphant victory; it was an immense morale boost.
“Starfire will prevail!”
“Starfire will prevail!”
Originally, everyone was silent, trying not to distract from Li Yao’s commands. However, with Mu Zi leading the cheers, their passion erupted. The voices of nearly a thousand people echoed through the valley, resonating to the heavens.
Now everyone knew the exact location of Starfire.
Although those from other guilds didn’t mind too much, the members of the Devil Alliance wore deep frowns. Even if they couldn’t see, the cheers told them that Starfire had appeared behind their lines.
They knew they hadn’t let them through. The only explanation was that Starfire had broken through. And that realization filled the ranks of the Devil Alliance with dread. Their faces were pale; their expressions, dazed.
The impact of this realisation was significant. It was hard for them to accept that their large allied forces had been breached by the smaller Starfire team.
“Prairie Fire… He really is a man of miracles, managing to win battles thought unwinnable,” Serena sighed.
“It’s a shame we don’t know how Starfire managed to break through the Devil Alliance’s line. It seems unreal,” said Xiao Ze.
“Exactly. That’s why it’s a miracle. I thought it would be a fight to the death with Starfire ultimately losing due to being outnumbered. But after this battle, Starfire’s cohesion will certainly strengthen. Even if they don’t get the first kill, no one can stop Starfire’s rise,” Serena had a clear understanding of the situation.
Unintentionally, Starfire had achieved what the Devil Alliance aimed for but failed to reach – a chance to wow a large audience of gamers across different districts. This would invariably attract a flood of players and experts wanting to join Starfire.
“It isn’t over yet. Now that Starfire has entered the dungeon, they’ll be the favorites to get the first kill,” said Xiao Ze, “It’s a shame we still can’t see this fight for supremacy.”
The audience was overjoyed. Today’s battle was unprecedented—high-level fights, breathtaking stunts—it was even better than watching an international match.
Although the final war was concealed by the fog, the electrifying cheers caused everyone’s blood to boil.
The speed of the war had slowed down for a while. With their lines being breached, the Devil Alliance’s players lost their spirit, seeming all but drained.
They knew their attempts to prevent Starfire from entering the instance had failed. With that, their will to fight was gone.
Yet, Li Yao declared, “We’ve thwarted their plans. We have a choice between two paths. One, enter the instance and struggle for the first kill.”
“What’s the second option?” asked newcomer Mu Zi.
“Yeah, what’s the other one?” echoed the Guardian Angel.
Li Yao boldly declared through the guild war channel, “The second choice is for us to turn around and fight our way back. We won’t stop until the end. In this valley, only the victor can survive. We’ll crush those looking to hinder Starfire, make them hurt. Even if we lose, they’ll remember not to mess with Starfire.”
There was a wave of silence on the channel. Everyone was shocked by Li Yao’s audacious plan. They had made it through the enemy lines, but the enemy’s forces were still many times larger than theirs…