Point of View: Sylvanas
It has been a year since we arrived on this planet.
At the beginning, we were tense. Everything was unfamiliar—the endless forest, the massive islands, the savage tribes, the strange energy saturating the air. But over time, we adapted.
The System's missions guided us. When unexpected situations arose, they updated. When we shifted strategies, they adjusted. Without those updates, we likely would have suffered casualties by now.
And so far… no one has died.
That is something I do not intend to lose.
Over this year, the troops have grown stronger. More disciplined. More lethal.
But also more tense.
It shows in the silence of the camp. In the way they sleep with their weapons within reach. In how they react to the slightest sound from the forest.
A year of nonstop combat wears down even the best.
The only System function that had never worked was communication.
Until today.
The interface before me lit up.
[The Guardian wishes to add you to the group chat]
[Accept?]
I accepted without hesitation.
Floating screens appeared around me. On each one stood the other leaders. At the center was the Guardian.
"I am pleased to see you are still alive," he said calmly. "I assume you have grown accustomed to this world."
No one responded immediately.
"The communication function is now enabled. You may use it whenever you wish. The FD cost is minimal."
Kael spoke first.
"Why contact us now?"
The Guardian folded his hands.
"Because a year has passed. It is time you understand the next step."
The atmosphere grew heavier.
"You are not here merely to survive. You are here to conquer."
We already knew that. The main mission had always made it clear.
But it had never explained how.
The Guardian continued.
"At the center of this planet lies a core—the energetic heart of this world. To conquer it, you must seize it."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"Is it protected?"
"Yes. A barrier surrounds it. An extremely resilient defense."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"There are two methods to weaken it."
He raised one finger.
"The first is to eliminate every Ascended on the planet. When none remain, the barrier will collapse on its own."
Some leaders exchanged glances.
"But it is a long method," he added. "Inefficient."
He raised a second finger.
"The second method is to eliminate the dominant entities—the strongest beings and their factions. If you destroy those who concentrate the planet's power, the barrier will weaken significantly. At that point, sufficient force will be enough to shatter it."
That made sense.
The Guardian observed us before speaking again.
"When the barrier breaks… the core will be exposed."
His tone shifted.
"And you must destroy it."
A pause.
"Once destroyed, the planet will collapse and explode within minutes."
Silence fell completely.
Kael spoke in disbelief.
"Explode?"
Lysera frowned.
"You're speaking figuratively… right?"
The Guardian slowly shook his head.
"No."
A faint chill ran down my spine.
A year fighting here. Adapting. Building bases.
And it would all be reduced to dust.
"Then we'll die with it," Xyra murmured.
The Guardian's voice turned firm.
"No."
His gaze swept across every screen.
"I will not allow you to die if you follow the proper procedure. The System will guide you. An extraction portal will open before the final collapse. But you must act with precision."
The tension eased slightly.
This was not suicide.
It was strategy.
Rangar spoke next.
"What should we do now?"
"You have already identified the dominant forces in your respective regions. This planet operates under a tribal structure. Eliminate the most powerful tribes. When the world's balance is disrupted, I will contact you again."
The connection ended.
The screens vanished.
The forest felt far too quiet again.
I knew which tribe was the strongest on this island.
The primates.
Large.
Intelligent.
Coordinated.
I opened my interface.
[Main Mission: Conquer the World]
[Arc 4: Slaughter the Tribes]
[Description: To conquer this planet, eliminate the following targets]
[Mission 1: The 20 Most Powerful Tribes]
[Mission 2: Possible existence of 5 Peak Level 1 Ascended beasts within certain tribes]
[Reward: Large amount of FD points]
[Penalty for failure]
Penalty.
That word was the only one that concerned me.
I feel no guilt for killing.
These creatures do not speak. Do not negotiate. Do not reason as we do.
They are organized animals driven by instinct.
I have killed hundreds in the dungeon.
That does not weigh on me.
But if I fail…
If the System decides we have failed…
Will the penalty mean deaths?
So far, I have not lost a single soldier.
And I do not intend to start now.
I closed the interface.
"Attention! Assemble!"
The soldiers lined up immediately. Their movements were precise—but I could see the tension in their eyes.
A year of continuous combat leaves invisible scars.
I looked at them.
"In two days, we attack the primate tribe."
A restrained murmur ran through the ranks.
One spoke.
"Commander Sylvanas… they are the strongest tribe in the forest."
Another added,
"There is nothing above them on this island."
I know.
"Review your missions."
They did.
The silence grew heavier.
"As you can see," I said firmly, "we have no choice."
This was not an emotional decision.
I dismissed them to prepare.
As I walked toward my tent, one thought remained clear in my mind:
I am not afraid of killing.
I am afraid of failing.
Failure could cost us lives.