373: Chapter 308: Grouping Confirmed, Teaming Up with the Eternal Divine Court

The thirty-minute countdown was like the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, silently giving all the advancing teams time for final preparations and psychological adjustments. Within the floating islands, the group from Xinghai University had already completed their final combat readiness checks and information digestion.

Li Mo summarized the known information regarding the "Void Swarm," forming a concise tactical briefing:

Core Characteristics: Terrifying numbers (Swarm tactics), extreme evolution and adaptability, possession of a collective mental network (Hive Mind), adept at devouring and assimilating matter and energy, with some Advanced units possessing the ability to erode rules.

Speculated Common Units:

Drones/Basic Combat Units: Most numerous, melee biting or long-range acid spitting; weak individually but a great threat in clusters.

Piercers/Assault Units: High speed, high penetration, adept at breaking through defensive lines.

Devourers/Heavy Units: Massive in size, high defense, capable of devouring energy attacks and even small-scale rules.

Infectious Spores/Special Units: Release spores to infect the environment and organisms, weakening enemies or converting them into temporary Void Swarm units.

Hive Lords/Command Units: Possess high intelligence, command local swarms, and may have special abilities.

(Possible) Void Lurkers/Assassin Units: Invisible, high attack, adept at ambushing key targets.

Response Strategy (Preliminary):

Solidify Defensive Lines: Multi-layered, three-dimensional defense to avoid being breached at a single point.

Firepower Density and Sustainability: Requires powerful area-of-effect damage and sustained output capabilities to handle the swarm.

Anti-Mental Erosion: Guard against the swarm's mental network interference and willpower shocks.

Mobile Forces: Used to fill gaps in the defensive line, counterattack, and clear special units.

Purification and Healing: Deal with special attacks like Infectious Spores and maintain the team's combat effectiveness.

Xinghai University's Advantages:

The Legalist Edicts Domain can effectively maintain battle line discipline and resist mental erosion.

Mohist Mechanisms and defense towers are adept at constructing solid defensive lines and dealing area damage.

Moonlight purification abilities may be highly effective against Void Realm pollution.

School of Military strategy and Hundred Schools of Thought provide high flexibility and strong adaptability.

"This information can only serve as a reference; the actual Zerg variants and tactics we encounter may be more complex," Li Mo concluded at last. "The most crucial thing is cooperation with our teammates. Our random teammates... I hope they aren't too terrible."

Just as he finished speaking, the countdown hit zero.

The grand, indifferent voice of the Universe's Will resounded once more:

[Phase Two: Guarding the Kindling. Random grouping complete.]

[Commencing teleportation to preset assembly area. During teleportation, each team will be informed of their group members' basic information and the temporary communication channel key.]

The familiar sensation of spatial tugging occurred, but it was softer and more stable than when they first entered the Endless Star Sea. The scene before their eyes shifted; it was no longer the Void Realm or floating islands, but a vast, boundless, strange plain filled with a faint golden radiance.

The ground of the plain was not soil but a kind of semi-transparent, pale golden crystal that felt like solidified energy, firm and slightly warm to the touch. Above the plain, there were no sun, moon, or stars—only an endless golden celestial light that seemed to originate from the world itself. In the distance, the outlines of towering mountains and some peculiar, ancient, and magnificent architectural phantoms were faintly visible. The air was filled with a solemn, dignified atmosphere, yet it also carried a faint sense of sorrow and unyielding antiquity. This was the simulation space of the [Ancient · Final Defense Line].

The group from Xinghai University (core members and projections of some elite subordinate race representatives) appeared in a relatively flat area of the plain. Almost simultaneously, ripples appeared in the surrounding space as four other teams manifested one after another.

Lin Zhou's gaze was like lightning as he quickly scanned the new teammates. His identity crystal card also timely projected the brief information for this group:

[Group 73 · Member List]:

Eternal Divine Court Academy (Phase One Ranking: 3)

Xinghai University (Phase One Ranking: 87)

Mechanical Divine Domain Academy (Phase One Ranking: 22)

Phantom Sound Academy (Phase One Ranking: 156)

Star Hunter Academy (Phase One Ranking: 241)

Seeing this list, everyone from Xinghai University felt a chill in their hearts.

The Eternal Divine Court! A behemoth ranked third! A terrifying entity with over twenty-one thousand points! Its captain was even a monster whose divine office was said to be [Eternal]! They had actually been grouped together!

The Mechanical Divine Domain Academy, ranked 22nd, was also an extremely strong team, known for its rigorous logic and cold tactics.

Phantom Sound Academy and Star Hunter Academy were ranked relatively lower, but to make it into the top thousand, they were by no means weak.

In this grouping... Xinghai University was surprisingly the second-highest ranked team on paper! Second only to the Eternal Divine Court! This undoubtedly pushed them into a delicate position—they were among the strong (relative to the bottom three teams), yet remained under the shadow of the mountain that was the Eternal Divine Court.

Lin Zhou's gaze first locked onto the Eternal Divine Court team.

It was a core squad of only ten people (obviously most of their forces remained on standby in their Divine Kingdom), but every single one of them emitted a heart-palpitatingly powerful aura. At their head was a young man dressed in a pure white divine robe with gold trim. His blonde hair was as brilliant as the sun, and his face was handsome to the point of near-perfection, yet his eyes were like two eternally burning, cold stars. Merely by standing there, a layer of dense, pure, and inviolable milky-white Holy Light naturally flowed around him. That radiance seemed capable of freezing time, making the light of the surrounding golden plain appear dull by comparison. His divine fluctuations were as deep as an abyss, yet they carried a sense of absolute "Order" and "Immutability."

[Eternal Divine Court Captain: Helios St. Brilliance]

Estimated Divinity Level: LV550+ (Above Mid-Tier Divine Power, Intermediate stage)

divine office: [Eternal] (Faint-Weak?), [Order], [Light] (?) — Information incomplete, but the sense of pressure is extremely strong.

Temperament: Absolute arrogance, coldness, treating all things like straw dogs, as if he himself were the Incarnation of truth and rules.

Behind Helios stood nine team members, also dressed in white and gold divine robes, their auras solemn and powerful. Their subordinate races were not directly manifested, but judging from the faintly connected mental fluctuations filled with "Immortality" and "Sanctity," they were very likely the legendary Immortal Heroic Spirit Legion—a terrifying War unit transformed from the Souls of the most devout believers, nearly eternal, fearless of death, strictly disciplined, and possessing super-strong affinity and amplification for the powers of sanctity and Order.

Helios's gaze was like two cold searchlights, slowly scanning the other four teams. When he swept over Xinghai University, his cold eyes seemed to pause for half a second. The unique, restrained purple aura and civilization atmosphere on Lin Zhou seemed to catch a sliver of his attention, but that was all. There was no curiosity or scrutiny in his eyes, only a high-and-mighty, matter-of-fact assessment and indifference, as if he were checking whether a few tools were up to standard.

When his gaze fell on the lowest-ranked Star Hunter Academy (an academy known for hunting star beasts with a rugged style), that undisguised indifference even carried a nearly imperceptible trace of... disgust? It was as if the wild and unrestrained aura on them had polluted this sacred space.

The other three teams were also sizing each other up. The personnel from the Mechanical Divine Domain Academy were shrouded in a faint metallic luster, their eyes cold and expressions minimal, like precision instruments. The members of Phantom Sound Academy mostly possessed an ethereal temperament, with faint musical notes flowing around them. The people from Star Hunter Academy were burly, their eyes sharp as eagles, carrying a thick sense of wariness.

After a brief silence, the temporary communication channel (a shared mental link network) was automatically established and activated. A cold, emotionless voice was the first to sound; it was Helios:

"I am Helios St. Brilliance, Captain of the Eternal Divine Court. Based on ranking and strength, I will serve as the temporary commander-in-chief of this group. Any objections?"

His tone was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable weight. It was not a consultation, but an announcement.

The captain of the Mechanical Divine Domain Academy (a bald man with most of his face covered by metal) responded immediately, his voice as flat as a synthesized tone: "No objections. Logical judgment: Optimal solution." Clearly, they fully identified with the principle of strength above all else, and their own divine Domain leaned toward absolute Order, which seemed to have commonalities with the philosophy of the Eternal Divine Court.

A female captain from Phantom Sound Academy, who possessed a gentle temperament and held a silver harp, hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Captain Helios's strength is extraordinary; we naturally follow your lead. It's just that the dungeon situation is still unclear, and the command strategy..."

"I have my own arrangements," Helios interrupted her, not even looking in her direction. "Your task is to obey Orders and play to your strengths. I do not wish to see any pointless questioning or self-assertive behavior; that would affect 'Order' and 'Efficiency'."

The female captain of Phantasm Sound turned slightly pale, bit her lip, and said no more. The captain of Star Hunter Academy (a scarred, burly man) let out a cold snort but did not directly oppose, clearly also wary of the Eternal Divine Court's might.

The pressure now shifted to Xinghai University. Everyone's gaze, including Helios's cold stare, fell upon Lin Zhou.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Su Yueyao frowned slightly, Qin Qing tightened her grip on her sword hilt, and Zhao Hao's fists were clenched so tight they creaked.

Li Mo, meanwhile, was rapidly analyzing the information revealed in Aelius's words: an extreme devotion to Order and efficiency, a confidence (arrogance) bordering on dictatorship, and a clear tendency to reject non-Order factions.

Lin Zhou's expression remained calm. Meeting Aelius's gaze, he spoke slowly: "Captain Aelius, I have long admired you. As commander-in-chief, one must be responsible for the overall situation, coordinate all parties, and respond to changes. The Eternal Divine Court's strength is unrivaled in this group, so it is a good thing that you are willing to take on this heavy responsibility."

He shifted the tone of the conversation, his voice remaining steady: "However, the dungeon is named 'Watching the Fire of Civilization,' and our opponents are the strange and unpredictable Void Realm Zerg. The battlefield changes in an instant, and Zerg tactics may not follow 'Order.' Relying solely on absolute obedience and preset arrangements might lead to a loss of flexibility, making it difficult to respond to emergencies in time. I suggest that after establishing the basic command framework and objectives, each team should retain a certain degree of tactical autonomy and room for on-the-spot decision-making. We should also establish an efficient battlefield information-sharing mechanism to respond quickly to changes. This way, we can ensure overall coordination while leveraging the strengths and adaptability of each team. What does Captain Aelius think?"

These words were neither humble nor arrogant. They affirmed the status of the Eternal Divine Court and the reasonableness of Aelius taking command, while also pointing out potential problems and offering constructive suggestions. The logic was clear, the consideration comprehensive, and he did not directly challenge Aelius's authority, merely offering a "suggestion."

However, after Aelius finished listening, even the last faint ripple in his cold, golden eyes vanished, leaving only pure indifference, as if he were looking at a fool trying to object to established truth.

"Xinghai University, Lin Zhou." Aelius's voice was like ice that had frozen for ten thousand years. "I have heard a little about your battle record and 'theories.' Defeating a Titan was merely a trick. Discussing the Dao with the Primordial Realm was nothing more than grandstanding. Relying on an Acquired and mixed Dao—reaching this point is already quite an achievement by luck."

He paused, his tone devoid of mockery, possessing only the coldness of stating a fact: "Your suggestion is based on a fear of 'chaos' and 'variables,' as well as a blind confidence in your so-called 'flexibility.' However, true power stems from absolute Order and immutable truth. Under my command, all 'variables' will be incorporated into the framework of 'Order' and eliminated. Each team only needs to strictly execute Orders and fulfill its prescribed 'role.' 'Autonomy' and 'on-the-spot decision-making' will only bring unnecessary risks and efficiency losses, destroying the overall 'Eternity' and 'Harmony.'"

He looked at Lin Zhou, as if delivering a final verdict: "Your team's ranking is acceptable. In the upcoming mission, I will assign appropriate defensive areas and tasks based on your characteristics. All you need to do is execute them perfectly; do not let me see any 'accidents.' Do you understand?"

The undisguised contempt and near-commanding tone completely reduced Xinghai University to the position of a tool that only "acts on Orders."

The faces of everyone from Xinghai University darkened. Zhao Hao was about to blurt something out, but was sternly stopped by a look from Qin Qing. Su Yueyao's moonlight shimmered slightly, her cold eyes staring directly at Aelius without flinching. Li Mo was rapidly recording Aelius's words, analyzing his personality and potential command style.

Lin Zhou listened quietly, his face revealing neither joy nor anger. He had long expected that cooperating with such an extremely orderly and arrogant powerhouse would not go smoothly. Aelius's reaction was even more... "typical" than he had anticipated.

He did not continue to argue, merely nodding slightly, his tone flat: "Since Captain Aelius already has a comprehensive plan, we will naturally do our best to cooperate. However, the situation on the battlefield changes in a myriad of ways. If a situation occurs that is outside Captain Aelius's plan, our team will take necessary measures based on the principles of preserving the defensive line and completing the mission. At that time, I hope the Captain will understand."

These words were like needles hidden in silk; they ostensibly accepted the command while secretly retaining the power and justification for independent action in "special circumstances."

Aelius did not seem to care about the reservation in Lin Zhou's words, or rather, he simply did not believe that anything "outside the plan" could exceed his control. He just coldly shifted his gaze, as if Lin Zhou and Xinghai University had already been "registered and filed."

"Now, sharing preliminary detection data." Aelius stopped paying attention to Lin Zhou and turned to the others. "Three thousand kilometers ahead, there is a high-intensity life and energy reaction cluster, suspected to be the ruins of the 'City of Holy Radiance,' the last line of defense of an ancient civilization, and the location of the 'Temple of the Fire of Civilization.' At the same time, energy fluctuations full of 'devouring' and 'chaos' are detected converging on the area from multiple directions—the Zerg vanguard. Remaining time for teleportation: 59 minutes and 47 seconds (in-dungeon time). Our mission is to head to the City of Holy Radiance immediately after the teleportation ends, establish a defensive line, and prepare to meet the Zerg's general offensive."

He pulled up a simple 3D map projection: "Based on the characteristics of each team, the preliminary defensive deployment is as follows: The Eternal Divine Court will hold the central temple area; the Mechanical Divine Domain will be responsible for the left flank energy hub and the maintenance of the automated defense system; the Phantom Sound Academy will be responsible for the right flank Spiritual Vein nodes and mental barrier assistance; the Star Hunter Academy will be responsible for peripheral reconnaissance and guerrilla harassment; Xinghai University..."

His gaze swept over Lin Zhou and the others again, coldly spitting out a few words: "Responsible for the first line of defense on the frontal perimeter, as well as battlefield purification and partial engineering support."

The first line of defense on the frontal perimeter! This is usually the position that bears the first and most violent impact of the Zerg! Moreover, by adding on auxiliary tasks like "purification" and "engineering support," it was clear that he had positioned Xinghai University as "multi-functional cannon fodder and sappers"!

"You!" Zhao Hao finally couldn't help but growl. Su Yueyao's moonlight turned slightly cold, and Qin Qing's Law sword chimed softly. Even the people from the Mechanical Divine Domain and the Phantom Sound Academy looked over slightly, feeling that this allocation was too harsh and dangerous for Xinghai University. The scarred, burly man from the Star Hunter Academy showed a schadenfreude expression.

Lin Zhou raised his hand, stopping the commotion of his own team members. He looked at Aelius, his eyes deep: "The frontal defensive line is a heavy responsibility. Xinghai University will not shirk it. However, I would ask Captain Aelius to clarify the specific scope of our defensive area, the available resource support, and the connection and coordination plan with the friendly forces on the left and right flanks. Additionally, the specific requirements and priorities for 'purification' and 'engineering support' also need to be clarified to avoid delaying the opportunity for battle."

He did not complain about the danger of the mission, but instead cut straight to the level of specific tactical Execution, demonstrating strong professionalism and a sense of the big picture. This made the members of other teams, who had originally looked down on him slightly, unable to help but look at Lin Zhou with higher regard.

Aelius seemed slightly surprised by Lin Zhou's "tact" and "pragmatism," but remained indifferent: "Specific deployment details will be determined after arriving at the defensive line based on the actual situation. Resource support? The Light of Eternity will shine upon all who uphold Order. Coordination? Simply follow the unified command."

It was still a vague and condescending answer. Lin Zhou did not ask any more questions, merely nodding: "Understood. Xinghai University is ready to enter battle at any time."

Aelius stopped looking at him and began to issue more specific instructions to the other teams. The Mechanical Divine Domain Academy accepted without objection, and although the Phantom Sound Academy and the Star Hunter Academy had doubts, they had no choice but to comply under Aelius's dominance and the prestige of the Eternal Divine Court.

The grouping and assembly were completed in an atmosphere of superficial obedience and surging undercurrents, especially the cold and tense atmosphere between the Eternal Divine Court and Xinghai University.

Lin Zhou retreated to his team. Facing the angry or unwilling eyes of his team members, he shook his head gently and transmitted his voice: "No need to argue. Although the mission is arduous, the frontal defensive line is also the best position to gain contribution points. Aelius is arrogant and arbitrary; his tactics may not be suitable for dealing with the Zerg. We only need to do what we are supposed to do, hold the defensive line, and demonstrate our value. At the critical moment... we will have our own judgment and actions."

He looked toward the distant, vaguely visible majestic city phantom, and the disturbing deep purple shadows beginning to spread across the sky further away. The cold arrogance of the Eternal Divine Court, the terrifying shadows of the Zerg army, the fragile and suspicious Alliance of the five teams... The second stage of "Watching the Fire of Civilization" was already full of thorns from the start. But in Lin Zhou's eyes, there was only calmness and determination.

"Let's go, to our defensive line." He took the lead and walked toward the front line that was about to become a bloody furnace. The Fire of Civilization never dims because of where it is or who it faces. On the contrary, it is in desperate situations that its true colors are revealed.