Chapter 228: Clash at the Port

This operation nets our Battle Zone a 40% share!

Outside the massive blue light shield, among several Awakeners gathered at the port’s edge, a young man in heavy armor had a flash of eerie blue in his eyes.

As the leader of the Japanese Battle Zone, he had every reason to take these actions.

“Forty percent?! We can give you at most thirty percent!”

“Our South Korean Battle Zone team has only two Third-Stage Mid-level members; the rest are mere top-tier novices.”

“And Kim Woo is here as well. There’s no way we’re handing over that much!”

“Didn’t you take more than enough last time?!”

….

Arguments and bickering ensued.

About seventy people gathered, with no one willing to yield an inch.

They were all part of the Awakened Squad taking part in the Intercontinental Instance. Having collaborated on numerous missions, they knew each other well.

Usually, they wouldn’t work so closely together, but this time, circumstances were extraordinary.

“Enough, stop arguing.”

“The allocation doesn’t matter; we’ll stick to the original ratio. The key is that we must not let the Huaxia Battle Zone folks take any resources this time!”

“Unless we cripple their war machines, we won’t be able to drive the prices up!”

“With access to their Battle Zone, aren’t the Safe Zone resources already ripe for the taking?!”

The most seasoned among them was an Awakened from the Philippine Battle Zone, his bare chest on display as he casually swung his gloves. His explosive fighting style had many trembling in fear.

“That’s right. In this Intercontinental Instance, the exact haul isn’t what matters.”

“What matters is pinning down the Huaxia Battle Zone squad. Only by scaring them stiff—making them too frightened to send reinforcements—can we secure victory once and for all!”

“What’s the use of gathering more Spirit Energy Ore?!”

“If we knock out their air superiority, they’ll be forced to beg for mercy. Then, when the time comes, they’ll have nothing left!”

“We must proceed cautiously. Huaxia Battle Zone has suffered several setbacks; they might deploy their strongest lineup this time.”

As he finished speaking, Kim Woo, standing at the front of the South Korean Squad, sneered dismissively at the light shield.

“What’s there to worry about?”

“Their previous captains were all killed by us. The remaining squads are too weak to worry about.”

“Six teams against one? Unless they scurry away like rats as soon as they get in, they’re doomed.”

“Not to mention, their Battle Zone is full of cowards. Talented Awakeners come only from major powers. How many do you think they can muster?”

“A bunch of A-Class talents—I could singlehandedly crush them.”

While speaking, Kim Woo twirled the broken blade in his hand, his eyes filled with contempt.

Naturally, his words dripped with confidence.

As one of the top figures in the South Korean Battle Zone, he had suppressed his true strength for seven years, always capping at Third-Stage Mid-level. With formidable combat talent and an unexpandable Spirit Energy reserve, he considered himself among the elite.

Unlike Huaxia Battle Zone, where the strong held all the cards, their zone was smaller than even a provincial capital in Huaxia, giving him free rein.

“Theoretically, that’s true. But we must remain vigilant.”

“Don’t you remember that global bulletin from before?”

“Huaxia Battle Zone produced a Number One in the Fourth System—a kid named Yenir, whose strength is off the charts! We haven’t gathered any intel on him yet. What if…”

Worry crept in as a squad captain from the Southeast Battle Zone quietly reminded them.

Representing the entirety of Southeast Asia, they never harbored ambitions like Japan or Korea. Their goal was merely to coast along.

They cared more about minimizing their own casualties than maximizing the haul.

“Yenir?”

“No way, you’re overthinking it.”

“Not to mention, what use is a newly Third-Staged Awakener? Even if he’s strong, he’s only got an edge among novices.”

“The main force is the Third-Stage Mid-levels. No matter how talented he is, he’s still a waste. I could crush him with a single flick of my finger.”

“And besides, do you really think Huaxia Battle Zone would willingly send him in?”

“What, sending batch after batch still isn’t enough? Do they dare to send that kid in?”

Kim Woo retorted instinctively, casting a disdainful glance at the Southeast Battle Zone squad captain. Only a worthless member from a small country would fuss over such trivialities.

If it weren’t for needing extra manpower to simplify their operations, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill the lot of them.

“That’s right. If Huaxia Battle Zone dares to send that kid in, I won’t mind chopping his head off as a trophy.”

“Global Number One…”

He chuckled softly.

A Third-Stage Awakener, appearing like a wraith at the edge, spoke in a deep tone as his dagger danced rhythmically.

“I’ve already got six heads of those Chinese pigs as trophies.”

“Global Number One—now that’s a collector’s piece…”

At the sudden appearance of Dong Yefeng, a chill ran down everyone’s spine, and many glanced at him warily.

Even within the same squad, many feared the ruthless methods of this assassin.

Boasting S-Class talent and a rare spatial ability, his mobility was insane—appearing and disappearing like a ghost. After dispatching foes, he took pleasure in preserving their heads as trophies, drying them into grotesque art. Among Awakeners, he was notorious for his extreme cruelty.

“Then it’s settled.”

As the instance’s countdown neared, Kim Woo stepped back slightly, reluctant to stand near Dong Yefeng.

“This instance is non-reset; progress inside won’t be overwritten.”

“We’ve been in here once before. Although the haul was modest, we gathered a ton of intel.”

“Once inside, I suggest immediately leveraging NPC forces to track down any traces of Huaxia Battle Zone.”

“Kill them! Our mission is complete!”

“Leverage NPCs?”

Many first-timers among the Battle Zone Awakeners asked in confusion:

“Isn’t this instance the Zombie Wasteland? Hasn’t the internal disaster begun yet?”

“No, or rather, it’s only on a small scale.”

“Once we’re in, the world’s progress remains largely normal—though disaster is imminent.”

“Watch out for the NPCs; their technology is formidable. Some even rival a Third-Stage existence, and there should be plenty of side quests to exploit.”

After a brief explanation, a cold, electronic alert suddenly pierced through:

“Beep. Instance countdown: 60 seconds until start. Huaxia Battle Zone has entered the Intercontinental Instance range. Prepare to enter.”

“Please enter within 60 seconds. Once the countdown ends, the instance will begin.”

With that, all seventy Awakeners fixed their eyes on the distant horizon.

This Intercontinental Instance covers an immense area. It seemed the Huaxia Battle Zone group had already arrived.

“Let’s move! Get in!”

“Kill them all!”