Silence—deafening and heavy—hung in the air.
Then, in the next instant, it shattered. The Sarkaz mercenaries erupted in a thunderous roar. Some raised their arms high, shouting with all their strength; some clung to each other and wept; others struck their weapons against the ground, creating a clanging rhythm that echoed through the deck.
"I share the same blood as you! We are all Terrans! We fight for freedom! We fight for our dignity! For our promises! For the liberation of Kazdel!"
The Pioneer stepped forward. "Long live freedom!"
""Long live freedom!""
The mercenaries' cheers grew louder, their voices crashing together like waves. The deck trembled under their fervor, sounding almost like a riot.
Felix's face remained solemn as he turned away. He had said all that needed to be said. His message had been delivered. The choice of what to do next—whether to stay, to leave, to fight—was now in the hands of the Sarkaz mercenaries who had yet to abandon Babel.
At the far end of the corridor, he saw Kal'tsit standing there, her expression complicated. Felix's gaze softened slightly.
"Doctor Kal'tsit, I believe you know what I intend to do."
"To lead the Sarkaz as a Sankta… perhaps it isn't so strange that such things happen around you," Kal'tsit replied calmly. "When I look at you, I can't help but think of General Theresis."
"You think I'm like him?" Felix raised a brow.
"No… you're also quite like Theresa."
Felix smiled faintly. "Maybe both of them were right in their own ways. What I want to do is take the right parts of each—and make them my own strength."
"…"
Kal'tsit's gaze deepened with emotion she didn't voice.
"What about Amiya?"
"She's awake… but she's lost all memory of that day."
"And the Black Crown?"
"It hasn't awakened yet… Amiya…" Kal'tsit hesitated before saying softly, "She's not suited to remain in Kazdel any longer."
"Planning to start over somewhere new?"
Kal'tsit fell silent. "I never intended to hide anything from you."
"I know."
Felix met her eyes. "I hope that the next time we meet, we can still be partners—and not enemies."
"I hope so too."
He gave her a polite nod before striding down the corridor. Kal'tsit watched his back, lips parting as if to speak, but no words came.
----
Those who had stood on the deck listening to Felix's speech weren't only Sarkaz mercenaries. Among them were many players who had arrived due to faction missions. They had joined in the cheering as well—and among them was Yangyan XF.
He wasn't just moved; he was shaken to the core. Fired up by the Pioneer's words, he recorded the entire speech. With minimal editing, he uploaded the video online, adding only his own commentary. Within moments, it spread like wildfire.
"This is the main storyline for the mid-to-late stages of Version 2.0—also the main arc for Tomorrow's Development," Yangyan XF explained in his video. "As everyone in the faction knows, the Pioneer has formed an alliance with Babel in Kazdel. From reports on the front lines, we learned that Babel's leader—the Sarkaz King, Theresa—has fallen. The Pioneer has now vowed to fight for his lost friend, to fight for Kazdel, to fight for tomorrow itself!"
He wasn't usually so emotional when narrating, but it was clear that this time, his voice carried genuine passion.
"The Kazdel arc may seem to have reached its conclusion—but as the Pioneer told us, it's only the beginning. Now that he's taking full control of Kazdel, our mission as players is to fight on behalf of Tomorrow's Development—to rebuild Kazdel, to build the home that will belong to all of us."
"Perhaps the Sarkaz once had a Sarkaz King or you could say Demon King, perhaps they've had heroes before—but right now, to me, the Pioneer is the uncrowned king, the one who can truly save Kazdel's people from the flames of despair!"
Players who watched the speech felt their hearts surge. The Pioneer's passionate words, his righteous fury—it all set their blood on fire. The ceiling might as well have burst open; goosebumps covered their skin.
Kazdel Liberation (A Defining Moment).
"Holy crap, that was insane!"
"Damn it, I'm logging in right now—time to fight for Tomorrow's Development!"
"The way those Sarkaz mercs cheered… they forgot what race the Pioneer even was! That's his charisma for you."
"I miss the rage!"
"Hey, isn't this basically just a reenactment of the U.S. occupation of Iraq in 2003-2004 after the fall of Saddam Hussein?!"
"Or you could say... Allied occupation of Germany in 1945! Let's hope Tomorrow's Development doesn't build Kazdel Wall, and makes Kazdel into the Federal Republic of Kazdel and the Kazdel Democratic Republic."
It was destiny—a sense of fate in motion. And at that moment, every player felt it: the Pioneer, once just another NPC, now stood towering in their hearts.
This—this was the true main story of Kazdel.
And each of them was now a part of it, the ones who would push that story forward.
Within a short span, the video didn't just explode in popularity—it dominated the front page. The Kazdel section of the forums, along with the main boards, erupted into chaos. Every thread buzzed with talk about Tomorrow's Development and the Kazdel main storyline.
Among domestic players, Tomorrow's Development had already become a household name after a series of high-profile events. But this… this was like a bomb going off at point-blank range. The entire community went up in flames.
Was Tomorrow's Development about to rise from an ordinary faction to a powerful, nation-level force?
That meant more opportunities, more rewards, more exploration.
Players affiliated with Tomorrow's Development felt a surge of pride. Some of them had never cared much for storylines, but after hearing the Pioneer's speech, even they were filled with anticipation for what awaited in Kazdel.
Almost simultaneously, Yanfei shared Yangyan XF's video link on her feed—purely out of admiration for her "Brother Pioneer." At the same time, several members of professional esports teams under Tomorrow's Development began posting their own updates.
This was a mobilization.
They had all sensed something within the Pioneer's words—a signal. Tomorrow's Development was about to enter Kazdel in full force.
To other nations, Kazdel might not have seemed vast. But to players, it was a colossal, unclaimed territory—a massive cake, and only the strongest factions would get a slice of it.
Even overseas audiences caught wind of the translated video. Western gamers—those same stay-at-home MMORPG veterans—erupted in cheers. Many who hadn't joined Tomorrow's Development before now switched factions out of sheer excitement. Among them was none other than Asmongold, the top North American streamer once known for his World of Warcraft antics.
On stream, he praised the Pioneer to high heaven, quit his current faction live on air, and rallied thousands of followers to head straight for Kazdel.
The players all knew—the long wait was over. It was time to bare their fangs.
The timing was perfect. The Pioneer had proven himself as an open-minded, strong, and visionary leader. The Sarkaz mercenaries, fired up like warriors on a holy crusade, were joining Tomorrow's Development in droves.
Tomorrow's Development would truly… Developing a better tomorrow.
----
The long night was finally ending.
The pale moon hung faintly behind the clouds.
That was how Felix saw it.
He hadn't fought many battles in his lifetime, but to secure Kazdel's future, he knew—many more would come.
The Kazdel Mobile City was the nation's core, the former headquarters of the Military Commission. It should have been fully taken over by Babel after their victory. But now, with Babel in disarray and Princess Theresa gone, every Sarkaz could feel the shift in the air.
Becoming the rightful master of the Mobile City under such circumstances would not be easy.
By late July, Babel no longer existed. The Rhodes Island departed Kazdel, carrying a number of mercenaries who inherited the Princess's ideals and still held dreams for the future.
At their head—unquestionably—was Doctor Kal'tsit. ACE, Scout, Mantra, and Logos, loyal Babel elites, followed her. Yet the teams that left were few.
The majority of mercenaries remained on Kazdel soil. They donned Tomorrow's Development's black-and-white uniforms, gripping weapons forged by the organization—sleek, advanced machinery that elevated their power to a new level. But mastering those weapons… that would take time.
To support Felix, Ulšulah dispatched most of the adventurers and mercenaries under Tomorrow's Development to the site where the Rhodes Island had once docked. They would serve as his new vanguard—his fresh forces.
Kazdel, now leaderless without its Princess or General, had become a fractured battlefield.
In the north, Felix commanded the Frontier District—a region closest to Yan Country, strategically ideal for trade and logistics.
The central region, home to the Kazdel Mobile City, was now ungoverned. After the Military Commission's defeat, Babel should have taken control—but with Theresa's death, the remnants of the council were stirring again, their ambitions reignited.
In the west, near Laterano, lay the domain of the Scar Market, a gathering of mercenaries driven purely by profit. They would be easy enough to handle.
The east and south were under the command of individuals said to bear traces of ancient Sarkaz bloodlines—perhaps Vampires or flesh eaters.
----
"You've returned."
The heavy door creaked open. Felix lifted his gaze from the glowing terminal screen and saw W standing silently in the doorway.
"I asked you to track down the traitor's trail. I didn't expect you to move so quickly."
"…They're all dead."
"I see."
Felix nodded lightly, unsurprised by her answer. Her crimson eyes held no satisfaction—no relief from vengeance—only emptiness.
"Do you think that's enough?" he asked quietly. "The Princess's death has been avenged… do you feel like it's over now?"
"Tch. Who knows."
W's tone was dismissive, almost careless.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Felix looked up as two familiar faces stepped inside—
"Hoederer, Ines."
The mercenary leader standing before her now felt like a different man altogether. Though Hoederer appeared slicker than before—perhaps a side effect of the princess's absence—the heavy, razor-sharp aura around him told W that he had no intention of laying down his weapon.
Both he and Ines wore the thick, dust-resistant, Originium-proof coats of Tomorrow's Development standard issue. When W entered the camp, she overheard former Babel mercenaries chatting about how these coats were the latest research product developed by the organization's science institute.
"Any new developments?"
"...The Kazdel Mobile City administration thanks us for our patience. The new city lord—she says she hopes to meet with you face-to-face, Pioneer."
"The new city lord?"
Felix raised an eyebrow. "The person in charge, right? I remember the last head of Kazdel's Mobile City was a Vampire, wasn't he? Taken out by Babel?"
"Yes, sir, that's correct. The new leader is a distant relative of that same Vampire—also of pure blood. During the final battle outside the city, she was defeated by Lady Mantra and Logos together... or so the rumors say. Her bloodline is said to be extremely pure. If the Vampire Duke of the royal court truly perished, she could very well be the next ruler of the Vampire Court."
"That's a small matter. As long as she's willing to hand over control of the Mobile City, I see no reason to refuse a meeting. After all, they're the ones who lost this war."
To W, Felix felt... unfamiliar. The man she once knew would have cracked a joke or two to ease the tension, maybe even play things off lightly. But now—now there was something different about him. He carried an air of authority, of quiet command.
Not that she'd ever admit it, but... maybe—just maybe—he reminded her of the Princess. Just a little. A tiny little bit.
"Pioneer, I advise against meeting her."
Ines spoke firmly. "With our current strength, we can take the Mobile City by force."
"So what then?" Felix replied calmly. "Crush an already defeated foe just to prove we can?"
He shook his head. "The Princess and the General—what they had was a clash of ideals. Those mercenaries who followed them to their deaths did so out of conviction. But now, with both of them gone, tell me—would anyone still fight for that same cause? The reason for battle has long since vanished."
He stood up. "Still, I appreciate your counsel, Ines. In that case, you'll accompany me to meet this Vampire. And we'll enter the city—as victors."
"Understood."
Ines bowed deeply. The Pioneer took the lance from the weapon rack, slung it across his back, and strode out of the office without another word.
W watched his departing figure in a daze. Hoederer let out a breath of relief. "Looks like we'll take Kazdel's Mobile City without a fight after all. If things escalated again, I doubt it would end as cleanly as last time."
Ines nodded silently. The Princess's death had shaken the Sarkaz to their core, stirring grief and anger alike. If another battle broke out now, the casualties would be unimaginable.
"W, your mission's done. What will you do next? Fight alongside the Pioneer... or walk away?"
"I..."
Hoederer glanced at Ines and sighed softly, sensing the question had come too soon. "You heard what the Pioneer said the other day. We serve him now because he's doing what the Princess once did—what the Princess wanted to do. Truth be told... he might even do it better."
"Why?"
W glared, unwilling to let anyone speak ill of her late monarch.
"Because he doesn't just talk. He acts. Because he, as a Sankta, has earned the loyalty of every Sarkaz mercenary under him. And because of his ambition. Isn't that enough?"