189: Chapter 189 Three Directions

All the rules collided rapidly in Chen Aoyun's mind.

[Exclusive Resource], [Maximum Distance], [Four Slots], [Prohibit Invalid Occupation]...

Before the countdown hit zero, Chen Aoyun's gaze suddenly stopped on a resource point of another country!

"Lean in, everyone. I have a plan to deal with this!"

Fan Ling was still passionately arguing with Saku Kenichi. Chen Aoyun had to call Fan Ling's name several times to get this guy to come over.

The four formed a circle, and Chen Aoyun said,

"When the map opens in a moment, I need you to do this..."

The final map of the third act had finally reached the moment of activation.

Unlike previous maps, there was no chessboard grid. Movement did not require planning by the [Strategist]; the [Roleplayer]s of each country moved freely directly on the map.

Zhao Hongxiu, Xiao Zhenghong, and Fan Ling—the three [Roleplayer]s of the Dragon Country—all appeared at the Dragon Country's spawn point.

Seeing all three Dragon Country [Roleplayer]s appear, the audience immediately began discussing it fervently,

"Are they crazy?!

The rules of this final map are so unfavorable to the Dragon Country that it can be called unsolvable. How does the Dragon Country [Strategist] dare to send [Roleplayer]s onto the field?

And to send three of them at once.

Other countries send three [Roleplayer]s because their combat power is similar, and they have something to compete for.

Does your Dragon Country have anything to compete for?

No!

With nothing to compete for, why does your Dragon Country also send three [Roleplayer]s? Is it because you think you haven't been deducted enough total points and want more?"

Outside the chessboard, Saku Kenichi's gaze silently rested on Chen Aoyun.

"With such rules, if you can still activate the Heroic Spirit Manifestation, Chen Aoyun, I will truly admire you!"

Inside the chessboard map, after the start, the [Strategist]s of each country headed straight towards the opposite points.

Only the Dragon Country was different.

The three [Roleplayer]s of the Dragon Country headed in three different directions:

Zhao Hongxiu headed north. Her goal was clear and easy to understand: the 'Martial Temple Resource' at the opposite point.

Fan Ling moved toward the northwest direction. At the furthest end of the northwest was Russia's 'Ice Crown Resource Point'.

Why would the Dragon Country [Roleplayer] move in this direction? Could it be that the Dragon Country had secretly reached some agreement with Russia, and that the Dragon Country Heroic Spirit [Du Yu] could use Russia's 'Ice Crown'?

It was possible, but the probability was low.

If Russia gave the 'Ice Crown' to the Dragon Country, even if the Dragon Country people could use the resources in this resource point, what would Russia do itself?

The Dragon Country and Russia were not yet close enough to wear the same pair of pants.

Furthermore, Russia's spawn point was adjacent to the Dragon Country's spawn point. Correspondingly, the 'Ice Crown Resource Point' created by Russia was also at the extreme other end, right at the doorstep of the USA's spawn point. The USA would not send people to guard this resource point without leaving like the Sakura Country did.

But if Fan Ling's goal was here, he would still have to cross the entire map. During that time, no matter which country's [Roleplayer] he encountered, he could be killed on the spot.

Everyone could not understand Fan Ling's purpose. The other Dragon Country [Roleplayer], Xiao Zhenghong, also had a very strange movement direction.

The direction Xiao Zhenghong moved after leaving the Dragon Country spawn point was actually heading west all the way.

"To the west is the 'Angels Arrival' resource point corresponding to France's Heroic Spirit [Joan of Arc].

Could the Dragon Country people be thinking of snatching this resource point?

Although this resource point is relatively close to the Dragon Country's spawn point, I absolutely do not believe that the 'Angels Arrival' resource point could have any connection to the Dragon Country's Heroic Spirit [Du Yu]?!

Not to mention [Du Yu], the concept of angels was not prevalent in the Dragon Country of the Old Era at all. The entire Huaxia Civilization probably didn't have a single Heroic Spirit related to 'Angels Arrival'.

Is the Dragon Country playing their old trick of feinting to the east while attacking in the west again?"

Three [Roleplayer]s, three directions.

The 'Martial Temple Resource Point' that Zhao Hongxiu was heading to was the Dragon Country's own resource point, which could certainly be used by the Dragon Country's Heroic Spirit [Du Yu]. There was no dispute about that, but this resource point was also the hardest one for the Dragon Country to obtain.

Because this resource point was right at the doorstep of the Sakura Country's spawn point. The Sakura Country didn't care about their ranking and, instead of taking their own confirmed resource points, had already sent all three [Roleplayer]s to guard this resource point airtight!

And the resource point Fan Ling was going to was more intriguing.

Whether the Dragon Country had reached some secret cooperation with Russia was hard to say. Saku Kenichi would not make the same mistake again. As long as Fan Ling could get close to Russia's resource point, the Sakura Country would definitely take action. In any case, this resource point was not far from the 'Martial Temple Resource Point' they were guarding.

Finally, there was the west, where Xiao Zhenghong was headed.

If one were to ask which direction's resource point was the easiest for the Dragon Country to take, without considering whether they could actually take it, the 'Angels Arrival' resource point in the west did not require crossing the map, had the shortest tangential distance, and could also largely avoid the [Roleplayer]s of other countries.

Of course, while the 'Angels Arrival' was the easiest resource point to take, it was also the resource point that the Dragon Country was least likely to occupy!

Because no matter how you looked at it, the Dragon Country's [Du Yu] could not be related to the four words 'Angels Arrival' in any way!

After seeing the movements of the three Dragon Country [Roleplayer]s, Saku Kenichi of the Sakura Country pondered for a moment and chose a strategy of remaining still, letting the three Sakura Country [Roleplayer]s stay on guard near the 'Martial Temple Resource Point'.

[Roleplayer] Kayahara Ao raised an objection,

"The previous two times we guarded the resource point and didn't move, we suffered losses.

Why are you still determined to guard a single resource point this time?

Let's take the initiative and attack!

If we kill all three from the Dragon Country, wouldn't all problems be solved?!"

Kayahara Ao's voice reached Saku Kenichi's ear, and Saku Kenichi had to patiently explain,

"The reason we stayed put at the resource points on the previous two maps was because there were too many usable resource points on the map. If we moved, the Dragon Country could take advantage of the loopholes.

The situation is different this time.

We are not moving this time because the resource points needed by almost all countries are on the opposite side of the map.

If we move, we will run into the [Roleplayer]s of other countries. Although our Sakura Country has already made our attitude clear—that we are not competing for rankings—but..."

Glancing around, Saku Kenichi was not looking at the Dragon Country, but at the USA.

"But have you thought about the relationship between our Sakura Country and the USA?

Our Sakura Country is not competing for rankings, but the USA is.

Once I let you move out and you encounter a battle between the USA and other countries, will you help our ally, the USA, or not?

If you don't help, I can't explain it to the USA.

If you do help, wouldn't the Dragon Country have another loophole to exploit?

I know you want to say that this is a low-probability event, but as a [Strategist], what I am guarding against is exactly this kind of low-probability event!

Moreover, the logic is similar.

Regardless of whether our Sakura Country has the desire to compete for rankings, we will be seen as an ally of the USA... Therefore, even if you want to take the initiative to attack, you have to wait until those two from the Dragon Country pass the halfway point.

As long as Zhao Hongxiu and Fan Ling from the Dragon Country pass the halfway point and there is no possibility of them encountering [Roleplayer]s from other countries, I will not hesitate to let you and Togaya Atsuto each choose one person to hunt down!

By then, no matter if their real goal is the 'Martial Temple Resource' or Russia's 'Ice Crown', they won't be able to get close!"

Kayahara Ao asked further, "Then what if the Dragon Country's real goal is neither the 'Martial Temple Resource' nor the 'Ice Crown', but the French people's 'Angels Arrival'? What will you do then?"

Saku Kenichi just wanted to say that the Dragon Country's [Du Yu] could not be related to the word 'Angel' in any way, but the words stuck in his throat, and he hesitated.

"I myself said that a [Strategist]'s duty is to guard against low-probability events.

Better safe than sorry!

Kayahara Ao, you are right!

We must also guard against that French resource point!

In this way, the others will remain still. Kayahara Ao, you move out and go stop the person from the Dragon Country heading to the 'Angels Arrival' resource point for me.

Note, avoid [Roleplayer]s from other countries as much as possible. If it is unavoidable, try not to engage in conflict!"

The Sakura people moved!

They were no longer just guarding near the 'Martial Temple Resource Point', but had split off Kayahara Ao to pursue in the direction where Xiao Zhenghong was.

This was the Sakura Country move that Chen Aoyun least wanted to see, because his real goal was not anywhere else, but exactly this 'Angels Arrival' resource point of the French!

"What to do?" Chen Aoyun remained calm on the surface, but inwardly he had already begun to feel nervous.

...

The spawn points of each country formed a circle, and the resource points each needed were on the opposite side.

When the [Roleplayer]s of each country crossed the map, it was inevitable that they would encounter [Roleplayer]s from other countries.

Having to cross the map as well, Zhao Hongxiu also encountered a similar situation.

She first encountered a [Roleplayer] from Russia. After the encounter, the other party saw that the person was from the Dragon Country and did not take the initiative to attack.

After passing by the Russians without incident, Zhao Hongxiu encountered a [Roleplayer] from Prussia.

The Prussians had no friendship with Chen Aoyun. As soon as Zhao Hongxiu met them, the other party attacked with full force without hesitation!

"No matter how unfavorable the rules are to your Dragon Country, your Dragon Country is still a threat!

Furthermore, your Dragon Country's total points are not low, not much behind my Prussia's total points.

Since that's the case, don't blame me for being impolite!!"

Whether it was the threat on the map or looking at the total points, encountering the Prussians was the worst luck.

Before [Du Yu]'s Manifestation was activated again, Zhao Hongxiu, with a clear gap in [Roleplayer] level, could not possibly be the opponent of the Prussians.

Very quickly, Zhao Hongxiu returned to Chen Aoyun's side in a soul state.

Zhao Hongxiu's death not only caused the Dragon Country's total points to -1, but more crucially, with one person from the Dragon Country dead, the Sakura Country needed one less person to stay behind at the 'Martial Temple Resource Point' to guard!

Saku Kenichi said to Togaya Atsuto,

"I said we didn't need to take the initiative to attack. If the Dragon Country wants to cross the map, they will die on their own.

Now that Zhao Hongxiu is dead, you can take the initiative to attack!

Your target is still Xiao Zhenghong, who is heading to the 'Angels Arrival' resource point!"

The Sakura people sent Togaya Atsuto to pursue Xiao Zhenghong again, and Chen Aoyun's nervous heart thumped a few more times.

"Can you speed up just a tiny bit more? The Sakura people have already sent two people to hunt you down!" Chen Aoyun's voice rang in Xiao Zhenghong's ear.

"This is already my fastest speed!" Xiao Zhenghong calculated the distance to the 'Angels Arrival' resource point while asking Chen Aoyun, "I will be able to enter the resource point in at most three or four hours. What about the Sakura side? According to your observation, how long will it take for the Sakura people to catch up to me?"

After calculating the relative speed, Chen Aoyun said,

"Kayahara Ao, who set out to find you first, might have stronger combat power, but his speed is not fast.

On the contrary, Togaya Atsuto, who came later, is very fast.

It would be best if it's three hours instead of four. In four hours, not only can Togaya Atsuto catch up to you, but even the slower Kayahara Ao can catch up!"

Xiao Zhenghong smiled bitterly, "Although I can also directly observe the entire map's route, the route only shows the path direction, and the road conditions are impossible to perceive.

If I encounter wider roads, I can guarantee it to you, but if there are many difficult paths, with my level, I have to detour around some gullies and cliffs. It's hard to say whether it will be three hours or four hours!"

The paths that Xiao Zhenghong needed to detour around, the pursuing Sakura people did not need to detour. This was the result brought about by the gap in levels.

Moreover, it seemed that Chen Aoyun's bad luck had not ended. Just after the conversation with the two ended, Xiao Zhenghong encountered three insurmountable cliffs in a row and had to detour.

"It's over, Togaya Atsuto has caught up quite a bit!"

Seeing that if things continued like this, Xiao Zhenghong would inevitably be caught by Togaya Atsuto before entering the resource point.

Good luck finally descended on the Dragon Country once.

During the pursuit, Togaya Atsuto of the Sakura Country actually encountered a [Roleplayer] from Russia quite unexpectedly.

"My Sakura Country is not seeking rankings, nor do we intend to block you, Russia..."

Togaya Atsuto had only said half of his words when the [Roleplayer] from Russia received instructions from his own [Strategist], Toslev,

"In the first act, the Sakura people treated my Russian Empire like a monkey.

If we hadn't met, so be it, but now that we have, how can we let them go!

Never mind what he wants to say, kill him for me!

Three against one; if he leaves alive, you three don't dare call yourselves [Roleplayer]s of my Russia from now on!"

The usable resource points were all determined by each country, and there was only one for each. Except for the Dragon Country and the Sakura Country, didn't the other countries have three [Roleplayer]s acting together?

Previously, Zhao Hongxiu was killed by the Prussians, and it was so fast, wasn't it because she was in an absolute disadvantage in numbers when her level was not as good as the opponent's!

Now it was the Sakura people's turn to enjoy this treatment.

If there is a grudge, a Game of National Destiny settles it on the spot, not carrying it over to the next Game of National Destiny. This was the experience accumulated by countries over the thousand-year Game of National Destiny, and also a tacit understanding.

Togaya Atsuto had terrible luck meeting the Russians. However, after only five minutes, he returned to Saku Kenichi's side in a soul state.

Togaya Atsuto's death could be said to have solved the Dragon Country's biggest crisis.

But Chen Aoyun still kept his nerves tight. Although Togaya Atsuto was dead, Kayahara Ao was still on the way to pursue Xiao Zhenghong.

If he could detour less later, it would be fine; if he was unlucky and continued to detour, Xiao Zhenghong still could not avoid the fate of being caught up!

Chen Aoyun did not want to leave victory to fate. With a flash of inspiration, he said to Fan Ling on the other end,

"Pretend to bypass the [Roleplayer]s of other countries, and quietly lean towards the area near Kayahara Ao who is pursuing Xiao Zhenghong!

Whether you can attract the opponent depends on your acting skills!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Ling began his tricky operation.

He deliberately accelerated and decelerated. Continuing forward might result in encountering [Roleplayer]s from other countries, so after twisting and turning, he unknowingly slanted to the side of the path Kayahara Ao had to take.

Kayahara Ao was originally rushing in the direction of Xiao Zhenghong. As he pursued, he discovered that Fan Ling was not far away.

After getting permission from Saku Kenichi, Kayahara Ao changed direction and killed towards Fan Ling.

Seeing that he was getting closer and closer to Fan Ling, Saku Kenichi, who had just agreed to change the person for the kill, suddenly realized something was wrong,

"Not right!

Your direction is clear, how did Fan Ling from the Dragon Country twist and turn to your side?

A decoy!

Fan Ling is definitely a decoy!

Ignore Fan Ling, turn around and continue to pursue Xiao Zhenghong for me!"