[You have joined a new faction—[Black Star Army]!]
[You have acquired the identity of a member of the Black Star Army!]
[Black Star Army Faction Panel Now Open]
[Black Star Army] Merit System Launched
[Black Star Army Faction Shop Now Open]
[Depending on the relationship between the Black Star Army and various factions, some factions' perceptions of you have changed.]
In the packed lobby of the Planet Gilman Legion branch, Strong Vodka, the guild leader, led the crowd out of the combat testing room, each of them looking at the prompts on the panel with great delight.
Looking at the unlocked faction shop, the dazzling array of goods captivated everyone's attention, their eyes gleaming with longing.
"Vice President, the club has messaged us, asking how things are going."
"Haha, tell them it's no problem, those professional players can join. As expected of Shattered Star Ring player who has managed the growth camp for two or three versions, the professional knowledge here is almost complete from basic to advanced." Strong Vodka rubbed his hands together, still not out of the excitement.
Just then, a group of guild players walked towards them. The leader was "Captain Old Henry," the vice president of the Kangaroo Guild, which was the official guild of the famous Australia professional club "Kangaroo Boxing" and a long-time rival of the Strong Vodka. The two sides had fought many guild wars.
"Hey guys, you got here before us." Captain Old Henry waved to the group, including the Strong Vodka.
"You've come too?" The Strong Vodka stopped and started chatting.
We became friends after a fight. We've played three versions together and are quite familiar with each other, almost like friends. Our relationship is pretty good when we're not fighting in guild wars. Although we're competitors, players don't necessarily harbor deep hatred for each other.
"You've already joined?"
"Yes, there are quite a lot of people. You can wait in line."
After a brief chat, Captain Old Henry led his men off to conduct the tests. Henry, the strongman, watched them leave, then touched his lips.
A guild leader whispered, "Every guild will send someone to join the legion; nobody wants to miss this opportunity. That means everyone will be on the same side, so there should be less competition."
"Hmph, you're wrong. Since the Black Star Army is expanding, there will definitely be a lot of mission resources in the short term. Even if there are a lot of resources, there will still be differences in quality. In order to get better missions and better resource points, the major guilds will definitely compete for them. I think the competition between guilds will not decrease, but will become more frequent." Strong Vodka shook his head, not very optimistic.
"Really? I've noticed that the Huaxia players on the Shattered Star Ring side rarely engage in guild wars to compete for resources."
"Who said that? They're the same, just not as intense. After all, most of the guilds over there are Huaxia, so there's less fighting between their own people. On our side, there are too many guilds from different countries, so they're natural rivals. Besides, our factions have been opposing each other for so long, everyone's used to it."
As he spoke, the Strong Vodka suddenly remembered something and his spirits lifted.
"By the way, speaking of the Shattered Star Ring... we're now part of the Black Star Army. The Legion is an inter-stellar faction, and its headquarters are over there. I wonder if we can travel to the Shattered Star Ring with the Legion's forces."
This was a crucial question, and everyone became curious.
Strong Vodka, took out his communicator and downloaded the Legion Assistant app as instructed.
Buzz! Phillip's virtual projection appeared at the top of the screen, about the size of a finger, bright and cute, bowing obediently and speaking in a soft, sweet voice:
"Welcome to the Black Star Army's internal assistant, hum. I am a subroutine of the Legion's AI, Phillip. I'm happy to serve the valiant Black Star warriors. If you'd like, you can give me a new appearance and even a new name, hum~"
"Oh, so cute..."
The adorable projection struck a nerve with him; even strong Strong Vodka seemed to melt his heart. The once burly, bearded man now grinned like a crumpled, hairy chrysanthemum, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to the fierce Russia bear-fighting man.
"Ahem, Vice President, mind your image." The guild leader standing nearby almost wanted to gouge his own eyes out.
Strong Vodka wiped his mouth and hurriedly asked, "I'd like to ask, are we newcomers allowed to return to the Shattered Star Ring with the Legion?"
"That's how it is. Following the Legion Commander's highest orders, those recruited here are generally expected to stay and help the Legion expand. However, it's not impossible for you to go to the Legion's headquarters. Depending on the Legion's schedule, we will periodically use the Crimson Dynasty's stargate passages to transport supplies from the headquarters to the branches in the Constellation Corridor. If you really want to go to the Shattered Star Ring, you can submit an application and return with the transport unit."
Everyone was startled, exchanged glances, and their eyes gleamed with excitement. Sure enough, it really could cross star systems.
Suppressing his excitement, Strong Vodka asked, "So, are the Legion troops going back to the Shattered Star Ring soon?"
"Yes, there is." Phillip counted on his fingers and said crisply, "The Legion Commander will stay here for a while before setting sail for the return voyage, which will probably take one or two months. You can go back with His Excellency the Legion Commander then."
A glint flashed in the eyes of the Strong Vodka, who nodded emphatically and glanced back at the crowd.
"We need to talk to the president and other club members..."
As the first batch of players who remained on Planet Gilman joined the Legion, they shared various news from within the Legion on the forums.
Players from all star systems are paying close attention to the Constellation Corridor forum. Most people know that Constellation Corridor players can choose whether or not to cross star systems, and they are all incredibly envious.
Players on the Constellation Corridor who were still on their way to Planet Gilman couldn't help but discuss this topic enthusiastically on the forums, debating whether to stay or leave.
A large number of people hesitated.
"We've played through several versions of the Constellation Corridor and are quite familiar with it. We've built up so much favor with factions and characters. If we go to the Shattered Star Ring now, wouldn't all our previous efforts be wasted? Staying here means we're still doing Legion quests, so there's no need to start all over again in the Shattered Star Ring."
"That's right. Actually, joining the legion is mainly for their benefits. What's the point of going to the Shattered Star Ring? There are millions of players there, most of them Huaxia. They've been operating there for several versions, and we don't have an advantage. We'd have to compete with them if we went."
"Exactly, we haven't even finished exploring the Constellation Corridor, what are we doing going to another star system?"
"This is the Central Galaxy, the most prosperous place in the universe. Why not develop here and instead go to a remote, peripheral star system? Isn't that just asking for trouble?"
The time and effort invested in the three versions are sunk costs, and many players are reluctant to give up these achievements.
If they could go and return at any time, they wouldn't hesitate. But now they can only follow the legion's troops across star systems. Who knows how often the legion sends out transport troops? And who knows if they'll be approved to return? If things don't go their way in the Shattered Star Ring, who knows how long it will take to get back?
Of course, every viewpoint has its opposing voices, and some players are in favor of going to the Shattered Star Ring.
"We are among the first players to cross star systems, why should we give up such a great opportunity? Others don't even have a way to cross star systems."
"Go and play with our Huaxia comrades in the Shattered Star Ring!"
"Don't forget the Shattered World quests; they're pinned to the top of the Legion's quest list, clearly a new main storyline. The quest descriptions also state that developing the Shattered World is an operation by the Crimson Dynasty, with the Black Star Army merely one participant. This storyline feels more like the Empire's own narrative! Therefore, by joining the Legion to explore the Shattered World, we're essentially working for the Crimson Dynasty!"
"Yes, perhaps helping the Empire's expedition to explore new star systems was originally part of the main storyline of our Constellation Corridor. The Black Star Army's recruitment of us might be a subtle way of taking us there and having us participate in missions."
Over the past decade, the Crimson Dynasty's ambitions toward the Shattered World have become common knowledge, and players within its territory are naturally aware of this as well. Although they are currently unaware of the Shattered World Shattered World's future importance, they are quite interested in it.
After the Tyrant's Gathering, Han Xiao kept the main quest of Shattered World at the top of the Legion list. After such a long period of preparation, the effect was remarkable, which attracted players from the Constellation Corridor to explore Shattered World with him... which also made it easier for him to transplant the wild chives to his greenhouse at home for unified cultivation.
Of course, he couldn't possibly capture all the players in the Constellation Corridor. Meeting the leader would only take a few days, but Master Han had planned to stay in the Constellation Corridor for two or three months before setting off. His purpose was to give the players there enough time to wait for more people to make up their minds... From his perspective, the more players willing to follow him to explore the Shattered World, the better.
The debaters on the forum held differing opinions, and the influence grew. Over the next few days, more players from all over flocked to Planet Gilman to join the legion, and the number of people gathered increased significantly.
Soon, the number of players staying on Planet Gilman exceeded two million, and the number was increasing every day.
Almost all the major guilds have a presence on Planet Gilman, and soon, club guilds from Russia, Australia, and various smaller countries began discussing this issue.
At the headquarters of the Strength and Glory Guild, the presidents and vice presidents of six major Russia guilds gathered together. These six guilds are the largest guilds in Russia, each with a club background, essentially representing the Russia professional scene and considered the top leaders by many Russia players. They occasionally engage in guild wars, but when faced with major events, they also discuss countermeasures together.
"Everyone, have you all made up your minds about your clubs? Are you going to stay or leave?" the leader of the Strength and Glory Guild asked.
"The higher-ups said the team's players wouldn't go; instead, they wanted us to send a portion of the guild members to Shattered Star Ring to try and open a branch there."
"We feel the same way. The club members think this cross-star system opportunity is rare and we can't give it up; there might be additional benefits later."
Everyone responded in unison. The guild leader of Strength and Glory looked around and said, "It seems that the plans of us large guilds are all similar. We're going to have our vice guild leader lead a group across star systems to scout ahead for us."
Strong Vodka stepped forward from the crowd, nodded to everyone, and became the person the club had chosen to send to manage the Shattered Star Ring.
I don't know what Australia does, but I guess they'll do the same as us.
"So we're going to the Shattered Star Ring and have to compete with them? We need to recruit some ordinary players to go, otherwise we'll be at a disadvantage in terms of manpower."
Because these six companies are authoritative representatives in the professional gaming community, they have a certain appeal to ordinary Russia gamers. If they raise their voices and set an example for gamers, they can attract many people to follow their lead.
"Hey, it's not just the Australia guilds; that's Huaxia territory too."
"Let's talk to those clubs in Huaxia first. They've been operating three versions of the game there, so it's better to say hello before we go over."
Meanwhile, guilds in Australia also gathered, and the situation was similar to that in Russia, with all of them finalizing the same strategy.
Clubs in Russia and Australia quickly contacted the leading clubs in Huaxia; they were all in the same professional circle and had each other's contact information.
The major guilds of Huaxia held a meeting after a long hiatus.
[Azure Sky has entered the chat room]
[Morning Snow and Evening Frost have entered the chat room]
[Jupiter has entered the chat room]
The leaders of the four major powerhouse clubs— Temple, Long Sky, Dynasty, and Fish-Fragrant Eggplant —as well as some well-known club official guilds such as Rainstorm, Madman, and Jiangcheng, all entered the chat room.
Sky Domain Guild Leader Azure Sky: "The Russians and Australia clubs want to come over? Are they trying to cause trouble? Surprising."
Rain Falls on Green Mountains, Guild Leader of the Drizzle Jianghu: "Helpless. Shattered Star Ring is our chosen home ground. We've been operating here for three versions. I don't know what the people at the club were thinking, agreeing to something like this."
Nine Doors Chairman Three Times Three Equals ⑨: "Damn it, you little Little Sorokin from the club, if you don't agree, then you don't have to."
Protoss Leader Jupiter: "... Typing in Mandarin is too much for me, baby!"
Azure Sky: "Ugh~ How old are you? Still calling yourself a baby, how disgusting! Disgusting!"
The guild leader of the Eternity in One Dynasty"Morning Snow and Evening Frost a funny smiley face.
After some discussion, they realized that although they were managers of guilds under the club, they couldn't actually make decisions on this matter. They could only act according to the instructions of the club's higher-ups. The higher-ups told each guild to prepare for the possible competition, and they had no choice but to comply.
Unfortunately, the club doesn't want competitors to come and take away its resources; it wants to keep all of the legion's resources to itself, but that's not something they can decide.
The Black Star Army's actions were part of the plot; the legion decided to bring their people back, and they had no choice but to accept the reality.
However, these guilds were not worried. The Shattered Star Ring was their stronghold, giving them a huge advantage. Players coming from the Constellation Corridor could not compete with them.
If these foreign clubs and guilds behave themselves and don't cause trouble, then so be it. But if they want to compete with Huaxia clubs for profits... In order to protect the resources of their own professional players, these powerful and well-known clubs don't mind mobilizing their guild members to fight against many Huaxia players and start a national war, so that these foreign guilds will know who the real master of the Shattered Star Ring is.
Just as this topic was gaining traction and sparking discussion among players in the Constellation Corridor and Shattered Star Ring regions, Han Xiao and his group, who had been leisurely traveling and enjoying the scenery, finally arrived at Planet Gilman and made their first real appearance before players in another star region.