Chapter 1028 (2/2)

That drew a sharp release of breath from the gathering of people who circled up around Naffur. Partly because many of them had fought to save people newly liberated from that strange, frozen time of the borderlands or had been those people themselves. And partly because of what such a change meant.

Valor Rend took a sharp step forward. “Does that mean… all seven Zones…?”

“No,” Naffur’s sharp answer took at least some of the building tension out of the crowd. People loosened their grips on their weapons. Although there were plenty of rumors and half-truths about what would happen when seven Zones connected to New Earth, everyone agreed it wouldn’t be good. “But we have received word that the sixth Zone has connected. Southwest of Zone 1, actually. And it will likely be the first direction we proceed.

“Per the orders of Randidly Ghosthound… the Order Ducis has a new mission; to become the levee that protects the fragile lives of budding humanity. We will be the first defense, softening and easing the transition into the System and new Earth. We will travel to the edges of the world and end the most dangerous threats we find, so the heartlands of our world can flourish. We will do this simply because someone needs to; otherwise, thousands will die.

“We will be a lighthouse, guiding the uninitiated toward civilization. We will be wanderers, treading the lost and warped ways so that we can leave behind maps for those that come after us. That is our Order Ducis. That is why we put you all through hell, so we can find ten individuals who can give their lives to this cause. Ten individuals who can walk into the unknown without fear.”

Despite herself, Vye felt her heart burning as she listened to Naffur’s words. This is exactly what she wanted; the opportunity to see the edges of the world and walk away unscathed. More than ever before, she craved those untouched vistas and the empty wildernesses. If she could go there and fine people freed from the borderlands, all the better.

“...I don’t want to alarm you, but we have a… theory about why the borderlands are expanding so quickly.” Naffur’s mouth was pressed into a thin line. “For reference, the speed of expansion has quadrupled. And reports continue to flood in from all directions that this is a universal phenomenon across the edge of New Earth.

“Most people don’t think about the details, but there has been a distinct pattern to the arrival of Zones to a New Earth. After all, this world of ours is still supposed to be a planet. Yet according to the best estimates, the area that we currently have access to is only about .5 percent of the Earth’s original total surface area.”

Scratching his head, Naffur’s expression turned sad. “Also, keep in mind that Zones connecting have liberated new borderlands for us to explore, but they have never occurred in an area already occupied by borderlands. What then, does it mean that the borderlands expansion accelerated suddenly?”

The crowd was quiet. But Vye drew in a sharp breath. “Because… because the seventh Zone is going to be far away. It’s not just going to be clustered around each other as the previous six have been.”

“Exactly, that’s the most popular theory at this point.” Naffur smiled at Vye, then spread his arms wide. “We don’t know when that will be. But if its arrival reveals 10% of the original surface area of Earth? That is the equivalent of three landmasses the size of Russia. So we need to be out there, now. We need to have the areas that we can control now under control. Because otherwise…”

The silence that followed Naffur’s words was a heavy one. No one needed to understand what would happen if a country that had been frozen for the past two years suddenly reappeared with a healthy infestation of monsters. The Levels of monsters in newly freed up areas started low, but they rapidly skyrocketed to match the already freed areas.

And it had recently been scientifically proved that the farther those monsters were from the ‘origin point’ of New Earth, a spot sitting between Zones 1 and 32, the faster that rise proceeded. A report had emerged from East Providence that stated its research indicated a monster located at the current edge of the borderlands would proceed to grow from Level 1 to Level 50 in twenty-four hours.

A monster could go from a helpless goblin to a lich in a single day. Which was barely enough time for a human, if they chose to rush things, to get a Class and gain their first Level.

There were obviously stronger and weaker groups of monsters that emerged in halos around specific Mana dense areas, but the average of the Levels for those groups was around 50. Very rarely were groups of monsters weaker than Level 30 seen in borderland areas.

Naffur clapped his hands sharply, shaking the crowd from his thoughts. “That’s why you are fighting. That’s why we are pushing you to your limits. All those lives… we will be the ones to save them. We will be the ones pushing outward to prepare for their arrival. So without further ado, back to your training!”

Vye rubbed her hands together. Nearby, she could see Valor clenching his fists while his determined gaze bored a hole into the ground. Then he noticed her glance and looked up. Their eyes met.

“Ah! One more thing.” Naffur said. He pointed over toward the mess hall tent. “For now, a temporary board has been placed near the canteen. We are working on a more permanent solution… but for now, check your rank. Those at the top… the details of your score aren’t listed, but the person at the top received 305 out of a total 500. The median score… is 281. So don’t think you have the space to slacken even for a second.

“As for the people at the bottom… if our stated goals don’t align with your own… leave. Don’t waste our time.”

Then Naffur was gone, and as one, the crowd hurried over toward the canteen area. Vye stood on her tiptoes and looked at the careful list of forty-six names that had been scorched into the wooden board. Her first thought was that it was rather hasty to physically burn the list into the wood when it would likely change frequently.

But then Vye pinched herself and refocused on the contents of the list. Of course, the individual at the top wasn’t a surprise to anyone in the camp.

Vye spared Valor a glance, wondering how he had earned 305 points. Valor was currently suppressing a smirk. Shaking her head, Vye turned back to the board. What a douche. I wonder what I-

Vye blinked. She actually found her own name quite easily.