Damian observed every move the guilds made and how their leaders mobilized their members.
"Jace is the best. He got five hundred people fired up, and they'd charge into battle without hesitation."
"Cedric's not smart. All he relies on is brute force and absolute authority. He's too domineering."
"Lilith's strength is listening to her subordinates. Orion's interesting—he rented an A106 ship to go it alone. That's bold. Fuyao, based on your data analysis, which guild will thrive the most?"
"Jace's Hope Guild has the most potential. Lilith's Science Guild has the highest average talent, ranking second."
[Master, your private ship is ready. Shall we land on the planet?]
"Not yet. Let them take the risks first." Damian turned off the screen, uninterested in how the passengers scrambled. He retreated to his private quarters, feeling lonelier than ever. "As you said, I need a pet. Chronic loneliness is taking a toll on me."
[Master, selecting a companion from the passengers could alleviate your mental strain. A deeply researched suggestion.]
"Cough... try to be more tactful next time, alright?"
[Master requires physical relief. Addressing it among the passengers would be... discreet?]
"Discreet my foot! Leave me alone. I need to train." He headed to the gravity chamber.
The gravity chamber could simulate multiple times Earth's gravity, pushing his body to the limit and accelerating its reinforcement. As long as he strengthened fast enough, he could level up without absorbing energy crystals.
"Set it to five times gravity."
Thud! A crushing weight slammed down, nearly overwhelming him. "Heavy, but exhilarating." He began his workout, using every apparatus.
In space, nearly a thousand ships converged on the green planet. Among countless asteroids, the fleet seemed insignificant. When confronted with impassable rocks, the ships auto-targeted and cleared obstacles.
Figures pressed against portholes, eyes flickering between curiosity and fear—eager for the unknown, terrified by it. As the planet neared, familiar green hues sparked excitement. Only life could thrill them now. Upon entering the atmosphere, speed stabilized, and cruise mode engaged.
[Planet capture confirmed. Captain, designate landing coordinates.]
Without input, the ship would hover until power depleted. Lilith rushed to the cockpit.
"Can you display the planet's map?"
A flat projection appeared, showing three continents scattered across longitudes. Red dots pulsed across the map. When asked, the system clarified: other ships' landing sites.
"Makes sense. Feels like a game..." She hesitated, studying data before choosing a site at 30°N, southwest of the northern continent.
[Landing site confirmed. Descending now.]
As the ship neared the surface, passengers cheered—the ground was grassland.
"So vividly green!"
[God, this place is beautiful!]
"Guess there are many Purple Star-like planets out there. We just weren't strong enough to find them."
Debates erupted: science vs. survival.
"Are the beasts here strong? Can we defeat them?"
"Just get out there and see."
The landing was smooth. After pressure equalization, the ramp lowered onto soft turf. Lilith went first, steadying herself on the ladder before leaping five meters to land gracefully.
"Lilith, when did you master the art of flight?"
She grinned: "Try it. Lower gravity than Purple Star." She jumped several meters—impossible for normals, but they were transcendents. Others followed, laughter echoing. Lilith scanned the endless plain, lost.
"We just wander aimlessly?"
After fruitless searches, they gathered beside the ship. Liang Yu's idea broke the stalemate: "No need to land. Let's scout from above. Efficient."
Lilith agreed: "Right. Reboard."
The ship buzzed low over the terrain. They spotted creatures—rare but documented—then, after ten minutes, a pack.
"Wolf-bodies, lizard-limbs. High-impact. Lizard-wolves, per the train's intel."
Wilson scoffed: "Lizard-wolves? Ridiculous name. But there's a lot... let's do this!"
They landed. Over three hundred disembarked, weapons ready—guns primed before blades. Within minutes, howls shattered the plains. Not them attacking—the lizard-wolves charged, seeing humans as prey.
Training proved critical. Lilith's shots found marks; others sprayed wildly, wasting ammo.
"Stay calm! Space out, controlled bursts. Do you realize bullets cost money?"
Lilith, now commander, rallied them, holding the line. Unaware of human strength, the beasts attacked relentlessly, piling corpses. After ten minutes, the pack retreated. The outsiders gained confidence, learning battle rhythm.
Lilith ordered: "Twenty stay to load the kills. Others—pursue. Exterminate them."
Meanwhile, in the central continent's tropics, Jace's five hundred huddled in a valley.
"Blood-Eye Serpents are lethal. No frontal assaults. Traps first. Everyone pitches in. Energy crystals split evenly. No cheating—I'm watching, and you're all watching each other!"
Immediate replies: "Follow the captain! Dig fast! Slackers get ventilated!"
With carrot-and-stick tactics, Jace controlled the group. Half-hour later, traps set, he lured the serpents while others ambushed.
"Be careful, Captain!"