The Fantasy Mission Plane—this peculiar realm inadvertently activated by officers who had excessively delayed their advancement tasks—exceeded conventional mission assessment standards in difficulty. Within the Evolution Battlefield, such missions were triggered with extreme rarity, yet offered correspondingly lavish rewards.
Yet, however tempting the rewards, Renyu remained deeply dissatisfied. Every soldier under his command was valued at ten kilograms of purple gold—equivalent to the resources a captain would earn only by achieving a perfect score in a standard mission. No matter how brilliantly this mission concluded, Renyu was destined to suffer a loss in purple gold. This oversight had completely eluded his anticipation. Originally, this cohort of senior engineers had been intended for a formal military officer of Zhao Weiguo's rank, a Lieutenant Colonel. Had Zhao Weiguo been present, he would have been ecstatic over Renyu's conscripted troops—they represented not merely combat strength, but the tangible extension of Renyu's industrial vision. Moreover, Renyu commanded five hundred such conscripts.
Captain Xiao Feng was equally displeased. His plan had stipulated that Renyu and Yun Chenhe should ideally bring no troops, arguing that Renyu's large contingent would limit the size of his own initial force. Yet Yun Chenhe had paid no heed, deploying his full complement of nine hundred troops according to his own strategy, while Renyu himself commanded five hundred conscripts.
Barely four months after returning from the Sea Song plane, Renyu embarked on another expedition. This chain quest persisted even during the mid-game respite stipulated by Evolution Battlefield; the sooner one entered, the more precious time could be saved.
Standing upon the central platform of the Evolution Battlefield, Xiao Long offered final instructions to the three about to depart: ‘Remember, the primary objective is to hold this mission. The trigger conditions are low—sixty points suffice. In other words, simply safeguarding the base and troops meets the requirement. When facing local factions, exercise restraint where possible. Do not let impulsive actions provoke major conflict.’
Xiao Feng responded with unshakeable confidence: ‘Rest assured, sir. This mission is child's play for me.’
Xiao Long turned his gaze to Yun Chenhe and Renyu. Yun Chenhe wore a gentle smile: ‘Lieutenant Colonel Xiao, you know I wouldn't trifle with my contract count. Once this mission is complete, I'll be entirely free, correct?’
Xiao Long nodded in confirmation. ‘The new contract is already signed. Successfully triggering the mission will reset your contract count to zero. At that point, the Azure Dragon Society will offer you fresh opportunities for advancement.’
‘We'll discuss that after the mission concludes,’ Yun Chenhe said, his expression turning serious as he set aside his smile. ‘For now, I'll dedicate myself entirely to fulfilling this mission.’
Xiao Long nodded with satisfaction, summoning his Evolutionary Light Screen—a rare public display visible to all nearby. From the screen, he retrieved a crystal-clear marble and handed it to Zhao Xiao Feng. Within the sphere floated a faint point of light. Upon extraction, that light suddenly blazed brilliantly. Simultaneously, a corresponding pillar of light abruptly materialised above the well opening, its destination unknown.
Zhao Xiao Feng grasped the wondrous marble. Instantly, the light point extended two beams, connecting Renyu and Yun Chenhe respectively—the manifestation of the mysterious pact between the three. As if guided by an invisible hand, the pillar above the well split into three beams, engulfing them.
Within the transit corridor, the Evolution Battlefield briefing material crystallised in their minds:
"History has settled, the future is locked. Note: This plane exhibits extreme ignorance. Combat Evolution Officers need not conceal their talents from native lifeforms, but must maintain secrecy regarding their status. Conscripts for this plane shall materialise directly within the mission plane, not be hosted by native lifeforms. Bases may be selectively deployed by Combat Evolution Officers at designated locations."
Renyu couldn't help but feel puzzled. This differed entirely from his experience in the Sea Song plane—every Evolution Battlefield operation had been meticulously planned. Bases were constructed two years in advance by native intelligent life through legitimate commercial channels, while conscripts were carefully selected from the dying through soul-transfer techniques. He had assumed this was standard practice for Evolution Battlefield, yet this plane proved remarkably ‘unconventional.’
After a moment's contemplation, Renyu gradually arrived at an answer: "Perhaps precisely because this plane's ignorance is so profound, even the most extraordinary disturbances we create will be dismissed by native lifeforms as mere magic. This notion struck him as akin to deceiving simpletons—much like ancient merchants passing off narwhal tusks as legendary sea dragon horns, a trick that wouldn't fly in modern times.
Directly summoning soldiers or deploying bases in a magical plane would be dismissed as summoning magic by the populace. Those folk were largely illiterate; word-of-mouth accounts would inevitably distort events, growing increasingly fantastical with each retelling. Without written or visual records, no one would believe it. Attempting such feats in technologically advanced planes would likely spark sensational scientific discoveries, with reports and audiovisual records preserving these historic events—a scenario incompatible with Evolution Battlefield's founding principles. Thus, Evolution Battlefield was clearly ‘catering to its audience,’ seeing the illiterate nature of its subjects and dispensing with even the pretence of disguise.
Yet Renyu's smile froze instantly. Xiao Feng's holographic interface displayed various identity options. With a few deft taps, he designated himself as the Third Prince of the Northwestern Duchy of the Thorn Gem Empire, while assigning Renyu and Yun Chenhe the roles of loyal knight and household servant respectively—Renyu as loyal knight, Yun Chenhe as servant. (Having had a disagreement with Yun Chenhe over troop numbers, Xiao Feng promptly exacted his revenge with consummate skill.)
Through the shuttle conduit, Renyu immediately challenged this unilateral action: ‘Captain Xiao Feng, I expect a satisfactory explanation for your conduct.’
Xiao Feng responded haughtily: ‘As Supreme Commander, I owe no explanation. Do you object?’
‘I obey military orders,’ Renyu stated coldly, ‘but I will not tolerate personal degradation.’
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A mocking curve lifted Xiao Feng's lips as he drawled, ‘I truly fail to comprehend why reservists like yourselves are accorded such importance. Yet having experienced warfare in the age of firearms, you ought to remember—before your superiors, your sole duty is obedience.’
Renyu asked in a low voice, ‘Is this your military's regulation?’
Yun Chenhe interjected with a light chuckle, ‘Renyu, he's quite right. It seems this captain regards us as his direct subordinates.’ The implication was clear: this commissioned officer evidently did not view them as equal partners.
Xiao Feng turned his head, his gaze condescending as he appraised Yun Chenhe. "What? Unwilling to be cannon fodder? On the battlefield, that is precisely your role."
Renyu fell silent. It seemed not every military force was as he had imagined. Perhaps the army he envisioned was the exception, while those that emphasised obedience and hierarchical suppression were the norm.
Yun Chenhe countered impassively, ‘You seem to believe the mission can be accomplished without us?’
‘Reservists like you, without a base,’ Xiao Feng sneered, "are merely flaunting your knowledge of firearms warfare before regular officers still stuck in the cold weapons era. Others might treat you with courtesy for your experience, but I needn't bother—I too fought in the firearms era and commanded major campaigns. You hold little value to me, so you'd do well to recognise your place."
Hearing this, Renyu ceased his argument. Xiao Feng, seemingly satisfied he'd silenced the two reserve lieutenants, turned back to his holodisplay with an air of self-importance. Yun Chenhe retreated behind his own screen, a barely perceptible sneer playing at the corners of his mouth.
Renyu was filled with bewilderment: why encounter such an emotional officer?
In truth, Yun Chenhe could answer Renyu's question simply because Renyu was still too young. Over the long years of the Evolution Battlefield, officers who had lived three or four hundred years were not uncommon. Those who had reigned supreme across multiple planes often became extremely self-assured, even stubbornly self-willed. The reason officers showed such deference to reservists who'd experienced the Firearms Era was that they'd been soundly beaten on the battlefield by Combat Evolution Officers accompanied by their personal assistants. Faced with a two-against-one situation, many officers could only protest the unfairness while simultaneously training their own assistants. Moreover, after twenty missions of rigorous selection, the reservists who survived were essentially the cream of the crop.
Yet at the warrant officer level, personal heroism still finds ample scope. Regular officers inherently hold greater advantages in missions—they possess bases and develop more adeptly, unless the reservist possesses pure logistical talent. Moreover, the Golden Shackles are harder to obtain than the Prosperity Silk Knot, with limited carry quotas. Unless relationships are exceptionally close, few would use the Golden Shackles to bring someone into the mission world. Thus, the Prosperity Silk Knot is chiefly employed to screen reservists, while the Golden Shackles serve to cultivate peers of equal standing.
The rift seemed to have been sown even before the mission commenced.
The tolling of the bell in Elemental Year 32 echoed across every corner of the Yuanmiao Continent, heralding the turning of a new page in this magical era. Upon the pinnacles of each nation's towering mage towers, elemental mages clad in star-patterned robes stood solemnly. Their crystal orbs refracted the dazzling radiance of the celestial river. The luminous point known as the ‘Elemental Star’ approached at a visible pace, its brilliant trajectory tracing a magnificent arc across the night sky.
‘The Elemental Tide approaches,’ proclaimed every astrologer, delivering this earth-shattering prophecy. ‘In forty years, we shall witness the zenith of the Elemental Tide—an event occurring but once every three millennia.’ This news reverberated like thunder across royal courts and mage councils, stirring up a tempest of upheaval. The very fabric of magic across the continent stood on the brink of cataclysmic change.
The most immediate impact is manifested in the military strength of nations. The once scarce ranks of mages were now swelling exponentially. During the elemental ebb, this continent of five hundred million inhabitants boasted roughly five million individuals with magical potential, yet fewer than six hundred thousand were formally registered as mages (including apprentices). Among these, the Thornstone Empire, dominating the continent's heartland, held the foremost position. Possessing thirty thousand registered spellcasters, it stood as the sole superpower capable of fielding four full-strength mage legions (each comprising fifteen hundred mages).
The geography of Yuanmiao Continent is remarkably distinctive. The planet's atmospheric circulation and ocean currents predominantly flow from west to east, while the continent's topography resembles an inverted pear. The northern regions are vast, endless ice fields stretching near the polar regions. Permafrost and glaciers form a formidable white wasteland, the domain of frost trolls and snow wolf tribes. Even the most intrepid explorers dare not venture here lightly.
In stark contrast lies the southern continent. The equatorial sun lavishes its bounty upon this fertile land, where warm, humid sea breezes nurture dense tropical rainforests that blanket the skies. A myriad of islands dot the azure seas, the largest rivaling half the size of Australia. This region, perpetually drenched in rain and riddled with treacherous reefs, is a mariner's nightmare yet a paradise for wondrous creatures.
The Thorns Gem Empire spans approximately two million square kilometres, occupying a strategic central position on the continent. It is separated from the northern ice fields by the vast Orcish Steppes, and from the southern wilderness by dozens of kingdoms, principalities, and the domains of the Winged Folk. To the east, the Empire maintains a long-standing standoff with an alliance comprising four great kingdoms and twelve principalities. Further east, humid maritime winds struggle to penetrate inland, forming a desert belt stretching thousands of kilometres to the colossal Dragon Spine Mountains—a range rivalling the scale of America's Appalachians. East of the Dragon Spine lies the continent's eastern seaboard, a narrow strip of hilly terrain sandwiched between the mountains and the ocean, barely three to four hundred kilometres wide at its broadest point. Upon this barren land, a few civilisations struggled to survive in tribal forms, starkly contrasting with the flourishing magical civilisations of the continent's heartland.
Evolution Battlefield's infiltration of the Yuanmiao Continent commenced in the tribal regions along its eastern coastline. The first Combat Evolution Officers engaged in desperate combat there against ferocious beasts and dangerous magical creatures. After years of bloody conflict, they successfully established initial strongholds before advancing westward. Crossing the towering Dragon Spine Mountains, they discovered an ancient trade route through the barren desert leading to the continent's heartland—a pivotal discovery that directly triggered subsequent chain missions.
The second-phase mission involving Yuan Cong and others unfolded precisely within this vast desert expanse. Combat Evolution Officers from the Arabian Alliance of the Middle East, the Hierarchy Guild of South Asia, the Son of Heaven Covenant, and the Knights of God fiercely competed here. Not only did deadly giant scorpion beasts roam these lands, but ferocious sand lizard tribes lurked beneath the dunes. After brutal clashes, the officers of the Azure Dragon Society successfully established stable settlements along the eastern borderlands of the Four Kingdoms Alliance.
Now, this grand, transdimensional journey is poised to enter a new phase. The Evolution Battlefield continues its westward deployment, though rather than placing Renyu and his companions directly within the core regions of the Thorn Gem Empire or the prosperous eastern alliance territories, it has meticulously selected the Duchy of White Rock—bordering orc territories on the northern coast of the empire—as the point of entry. Xiao Feng has been granted a distinguished identity—arriving in this world as the third in line to the throne of the Duchy of White Rock. Renyu and Yun Chenhe have been assigned as newly recruited retainers to this young noble.
