"Jack, activate all the attack systems," Rex ordered. "Aim for its eyes and the base of its tentacles."
"Understood!"
Jack quickly operated the ship's weapons systems.
Several high-energy lasers shot toward the Deep-Sea Demon Octopus.
However, the defensive power of this seventh-level sea monster was astonishing.
The laser attacks only left faint scorch marks on its scales and failed to cause any real damage.
"Conventional weapons are only having a limited effect," Amy analyzed. "The warriors need to attack directly."
"I'll handle it."
Rex leaped into the air.
A powerful surge of wind law energy erupted from his body.
"Blade Storm!"
Dozens of razor-sharp wind blades shot toward the Deep-Sea Demon Octopus.
Their destructive power far exceeded that of ordinary weapons, leaving several bloody wounds across the monster's body.
The Deep-Sea Demon Octopus let out a furious roar as pain spread through its body.
One of its massive tentacles immediately lashed toward Rex.
Rex nimbly dodged through the air while continuing to unleash attacks formed from wind law.
The experts from the other teams also joined the battle.
Attacks of various colors and attributes intertwined in the air, creating a spectacular battlefield.
Morris summoned a massive water dragon that wrapped around two of the Deep-Sea Demon Octopus's tentacles.
Brad, meanwhile, summoned a blazing spear and aimed directly at the monster's vital points.
Kulak's metal-based attacks were the sharpest of all.
The metallic blades he condensed were even capable of cutting through the Deep-Sea Demon Octopus's scale defenses.
"This thing's defense is truly incredible," Rowan secretly evaluated as he watched the battle. "Still, with the strength of the alliance, defeating it shouldn't be a problem."
While the main combat forces were engaged in a fierce battle with the Deep-Sea Demon Octopus, the other three sixth-level sea monsters finally emerged from the depths.
These three monsters were smaller in size, but their numbers made the situation considerably more complicated.
"Split into groups!" Kulak shouted while fighting. "Every two teams will deal with one sixth-level sea monster. Rex, Morris, and I will handle the seventh-level one!"
Following Kulak's arrangements, the Blazing Flame Battle Group and the Tidal Exploration Team were assigned to deal with one of the sixth-level sea monsters.
The warriors from both teams quickly coordinated their movements.
Brad took charge of the main assault, while Morris focused on control and support.
What surprised everyone was the astonishing combat power displayed by the two teams while fighting the sea monster.
Brad's blazing attacks and Morris's water-based control techniques worked together perfectly.
In only fifteen minutes, they successfully killed the sixth-level sea monster.
"Excellent work!"
The warriors from the other teams praised them when they saw the result.
However, this was also where the problem began.
Based on the sea monster's size and strength, the sixth-level Deep-Sea Giant Ray was worth approximately eight million credits.
The problem was that the Blazing Flame Battle Group and the Tidal Exploration Team immediately disagreed over how the spoils should be divided.
"Our Blazing Flame Battle Group took on the main offensive role," Brad declared immediately after the sea monster was killed. "I believe the spoils should be divided sixty-forty. We take sixty percent."
"Sixty-forty?"
Morris immediately objected.
"The control abilities of our Tidal Exploration Team were the key to victory. Without our cooperation, you could never have defeated the sea monster so quickly. The spoils should be divided equally."
"An equal split isn't fair," Brad insisted. "Our attack output accounted for at least seventy percent of the battle. A sixty-forty split is already more than reasonable."
"Attack output?"
Morris's tone turned hostile.
"If our water-based control techniques hadn't restricted the sea monster's movements, how many of your attacks would have actually hit? I think a thirty-seventy split would be more appropriate. We should receive seventy percent."
"Thirty-seventy? Have you lost your mind?"
Brad's expression turned ugly.
"We were the ones who took on the greater risk. Why should you get the larger share?"
The argument between the two team leaders grew louder and louder.
Before long, it attracted the attention of the other warriors still fighting nearby.
The fact that the two teams had already begun arguing over the spoils in the middle of a battle made everyone uneasy.
"You're still in the middle of a battle, and you've already started arguing over the spoils?"
Kulak questioned them angrily during a brief opening in his battle with the seventh-level Deep-Sea Demon Octopus.
"Can't you wait until the battle is over before discussing this?"
"We're only discussing the distribution plan in advance," Brad defended himself awkwardly. "That way, there won't be any disputes after the battle ends."
"Discussing? From where I'm standing, it looks more like arguing."
Rex was also clearly displeased with their behavior.
"How can we cooperate effectively with this kind of attitude?"
However, Brad and Morris were clearly unwilling to give ground on the matter.
As the argument continued, members of both teams began taking sides and supporting their respective leaders.
"Our captain is right. We clearly took on the greater risk," one of the Blazing Flame Battle Group's deputy leaders said in support of Brad. "Most of the sea monster's attacks were directed at us."
"Nonsense!"
A member of the Tidal Exploration Team immediately fired back.
"Our control techniques consumed far more law energy, and without our cooperation, the battle could never have gone so smoothly."
As the argument between the two teams grew increasingly heated and threatened to develop into an internal conflict, the leaders of the other teams became deeply concerned.
"This can't continue."
Within the Freedom Wings Exploration Group, Amy spoke to Rex with worry.
"The alliance has only just been established, and we're already facing this kind of problem. What are we going to do during the rest of the expedition?"
"I didn't expect the problem to surface so quickly either."
Rex continued directing attacks as he answered.
"It seems a temporary alliance thrown together at the last moment really is fragile."
Rowan watched everything from the side.
He gained a deeper understanding of human greed.
When faced with enormous benefits, even people engaged in a life-or-death battle could find it difficult to suppress their greed.
"How ironic," Rowan thought to himself.
"An alliance formed to resist an external threat has already begun developing cracks because of internal disputes over the distribution of benefits."
The argument continued for several minutes.
The other teams still engaged in battle gradually began to suffer the consequences.
Some warriors became distracted by the dispute, causing their attack efficiency to drop.
Even worse, several members of the Blazing Flame Battle Group and the Tidal Exploration Team actually stopped attacking the remaining sea monsters and focused entirely on supporting their respective leaders' arguments.
"Enough!"
Kulak finally lost his patience.
While continuing to battle the Deep-Sea Demon Octopus, he roared furiously.
"If you continue like this, every single one of us is going to die here!"
However, Brad and Morris both seemed convinced that they were in the right.
The argument not only failed to stop, but grew even more intense.
"I'll say this one last time. Sixty-forty. We take sixty percent. That's our bottom line."
Brad's attitude was firm.
"I'll say this one last time as well. Fifty-fifty. We won't give up a single point."
Morris was equally unwilling to compromise.
Seeing that the two men were completely incapable of reaching an agreement, the leaders of the other teams began considering whether they should intervene and mediate.
The problem was that they were all competitors who also coveted the spoils.
It would be difficult for any of them to act as a truly impartial mediator.
"How about this?"
The leader of a team called the Abyss Hunters proposed an idea.
"Several unrelated teams can act as arbitrators and determine the distribution ratio based on the actual circumstances of the battle."
"No," Brad immediately refused. "This is an internal matter between our two teams. We don't need outsiders interfering."
"I agree with Brad."
Morris unexpectedly reached an agreement with Brad on this matter.
"We'll resolve our own problems ourselves."
Seeing that both leaders had united in rejecting outside mediation, the other team leaders could only feel helpless.
Under these circumstances, they truly had no way to force their intervention.
"Then discuss it among yourselves," Kulak said helplessly. "But make it quick. We still have a battle to finish."
However, the situation soon became even more dramatic.
While Brad and Morris continued arguing, the two remaining sixth-level sea monsters suddenly launched a counterattack.
Perhaps they had sensed the death of their companion.
The two sea monsters became even more violent and dangerous.
One of them, a sixth-level Thunder Eel, released a powerful electrical attack.
Its target was the Blazing Flame Battle Group and the Tidal Exploration Team, who were still arguing.
The powerful current spread through the seawater and instantly covered the area where both teams were located.
"Watch out!"
Rex shouted a warning.
But it was already too late.
Because both teams had been completely focused on their argument, their reactions were half a beat too slow.
Although they ultimately managed to defend against the attack, the process was extremely chaotic.
Several members even suffered minor injuries.
"Look at yourselves!"
Kulak angrily reprimanded them.
"You nearly forgot the most basic battlefield awareness over a little bit of loot. That is a fatal mistake!"
This incident finally made Brad and Morris realize the seriousness of the situation.
Arguing over profits in the middle of a life-or-death battle was indeed extremely dangerous.
"Fine. We'll focus on the battle first. We'll discuss the distribution after everything is over."
Brad reluctantly compromised.
"Agreed."
Morris also nodded.
However, the expressions on both men's faces made it clear that they had only temporarily set aside the dispute.
Neither of them had truly abandoned his position.
This reluctant compromise only made the other teams even more worried about the stability of the alliance.
"How long can this kind of cooperation really last?"
Amy privately expressed her concern to Rex.
"If we have to argue over the spoils every single time, this alliance won't get very far."
"I know."
Rex's tone was heavy.
"But right now, we need the strength of this alliance to resist the imperial armies. At the very least, we have to hold together until we break through the blockade."
Rowan listened to their conversation.
He gained a clearer understanding of the challenges that lay ahead.
If the alliance was already this fragile internally, then when it faced a truly powerful enemy, this loose cooperation could very well collapse at the most critical moment.
Once all the teams returned their attention to the battle, the remaining sea monsters were quickly eliminated.
The seventh-level Deep-Sea Demon Octopus was finally killed under the combined attacks of Kulak, Rex, and Morris.
The other two sixth-level sea monsters were also defeated by the remaining teams.
When the battle ended, the surface of the sea gradually returned to calm.
The corpses of the four sea monsters floated on the water, releasing an intense stench of blood.
The total value of the spoils exceeded thirty million credits.
To any of the teams present, this was an enormous fortune.
"We can discuss the distribution now."
Brad immediately brought up the earlier dispute again.
"I still stand by my original position. Our Blazing Flame Battle Group should receive sixty percent."
"I still stand by mine. Fifty-fifty."
Morris was equally unwilling to compromise.
Seeing the two men begin arguing again, the members of the other teams grew increasingly annoyed.
Their willingness to turn against one another over a relatively small amount of profit made everyone worried about the future of the alliance.
"How about this?"
A young warrior proposed a new idea.
"We find an impartial third party to judge the matter. For example, a mediator from the Virtual Universe Company."
Rowan's heart stirred when he heard the suggestion.
If they truly invited a mediator from the Virtual Universe Company, there was a good chance that his and Silver Moon's identities would be exposed.
At the same time, however, this could also be an excellent opportunity to learn what the other teams truly thought.
"Are there people from the Virtual Universe Company in Reno Port?" someone asked.
"There should be," the young warrior replied. "I saw their insignia at the port yesterday."
"I object."
Brad immediately rejected the idea.
"The Virtual Universe Company's mediation fees are extremely expensive, and their procedures are complicated. This isn't suitable for our current emergency situation."
"I object as well."
Morris also refused.
"We are exploration teams, not parties involved in a commercial dispute. We don't need outside mediation."
Seeing that both parties involved opposed external mediation, the others no longer insisted on the suggestion.
However, the problem still remained unresolved.
The argument continued.
"Then how about we vote?"
Someone proposed another solution.
"All the teams present can vote on which distribution plan they support."
"Vote?"
Brad considered the suggestion for a moment.
"Fine. But the premise is that everyone must understand the actual course of the battle. We can't make a decision based purely on subjective impressions."
"No problem."
Morris agreed.
"We can describe the battle in detail and let everyone make a fair judgment."
And so, a detailed recounting of the battle began.
"Based on Captain Brad's account, the Blazing Flame Battle Group did indeed take on the primary offensive role," one of the team leaders said after listening to the explanation.
"But Captain Morris also has a valid point. The contribution of control abilities to the battle was also extremely important."
"I think we need to consider everything together."
Another team leader offered his opinion.
"Both offense and control were important. However, those who took on greater risks should indeed receive greater compensation."
The leaders of the various teams began expressing their opinions.
However, their views were far from unanimous.
Some supported a sixty-forty split.
Others supported an equal division.
Some even proposed a seventy-thirty split.
"It looks like voting won't solve the problem either."
Amy spoke quietly to Rex.
"Everyone has a different standard for judging the situation."
"That is normal."
Rex answered.
"When profits are involved, it is difficult for anyone to remain completely impartial. Everyone will unconsciously consider their own position."
The argument continued for nearly an hour.
Even then, no agreement was reached.
Neither Brad nor Morris was willing to compromise, while the other teams were unable to offer a solution that satisfied both sides.
"This is getting us nowhere."
Kulak finally lost his patience.
"Our time is valuable. We can't waste all of it on this kind of argument."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Brad asked.
"It is very simple."
Kulak's voice turned cold.
"You two teams will fight each other. The winner gets all the spoils."
"A duel?"
Morris frowned.
"That would only cause unnecessary losses."
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