Chapter 729.1: War For Paradise

Atop Blood Peak, the setting sun hung low in the west as frigid winds swept through snow-covered branches.

A middle-aged man clad in a white robe stood on the summit.

He was thin, with a high-bridged nose and a pair of rimless glasses beneath his brows. If one ignored the white robe draped over his shoulders that looked so utterly at odds with his scholarly appearance, he might have resembled an ordinary teacher.

However, that was only at first glance.

As for a name, he no longer possessed such a thing. From the moment he entered the Sanctuary and became a Pathfinder, he had discarded both his mortal identity and the flesh that had once borne it.

Though if one insisted on a title by which he walked the world, he did have one. The Mutant Humans of Ten Peaks Mountain called him the Beast King.

As for humans... Those eliminated by natural selection never had the opportunity to meet him.

Expressionless, he gazed toward Manor Peak. He watched the thunder of guns and artillery without emotion and heard the cries of agony spread across the battlefield. Beneath the setting sun, he watched the bloodstained flag rise slowly.

Only after all noise had faded did he murmur thoughtfully, "A little faster than I expected..."

The Stonehorn Tribe had been the barrier he placed at the gateway to Ten Peaks Mountain. He had assumed they could stall the New Alliance for at least a month. Instead, Manor Peak had fallen in a single day.

There were still some surviving Mutant Humans and goblins left there, but they would hardly be capable of mounting any meaningful resistance. At most, they could create a little trouble.

Thinking of this, a trace of regret appeared on the Beast King's face.

What a pity...

Gary had been one of his carefully selected creations. The cybernetics implanted in that mutant had even been personally designed by him, through the hands of Mutant Human shamans.

Apparently, their overall strength was still insufficient. Moreover, the cybernetics' true potential had never even been fully demonstrated.

Yet instead of discouragement, his interest only grew stronger. To him, Mutant Humans were merely tools. The entirety of the Ocean Edge Province was their breeding ground. They could produce as many as they wished. Given enough time, they could even fill the entire wasteland with them!

Compared to that, experimental data was far more valuable.

They needed to test laboratory results on the battlefield to continuously refine their designs based on combat feedback. Only then could they select increasingly superior lifeforms. Only then could they finally complete the unfinished dream of the Prosperity Era.

With that, they would be able to complete Project Complete Human!

Only when humanity evolved into a greater species could the paradise they sought truly come into existence. And when that day arrived, he would transplant his consciousness into a new body.

Then, with endless time at his disposal, he would finally think of a new name for himself.

Speaking of names... Those shelter freaks are surprisingly good at naming things.

"... Goblin? An interesting title." Watching a small mutant being thrown from a cliffside, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

He could hear the dying screams of those he had chosen. Naturally, he could also hear the words spoken by the shelter residents who killed them.

Among the sounds he heard most frequently was the term used for those small green-skinned creatures.

Naming his creations had never been one of his talents. After creating those small mutant variants, he had simply raised them alongside the larger Mutant Humans. Sometimes they were even tossed into cooking pots as seasoning by their bigger cousins.

Unexpectedly, his enemies had solved the naming problem for him.

Since the shelter residents had given them a name, he might as well use it. After all, it rolled off the tongue rather nicely.

Turning around, he looked at the timid small green mutant standing behind him and casually said, "From this day forward, “Goblin” shall be your name. Make your enemies and your companions remember it."

Disbelief appeared in the creature's amber eyes before it transformed into overwhelming excitement. "Y-yes!" The small green mutant threw itself to the ground, repeatedly smashing its forehead against the earth in gratitude for the name bestowed by the Beast King.

A name!

Tears streamed down its face. From this day onward, they too possessed a name.

By the time it raised its head again, the Beast King had already vanished, as though he had dissolved into the swirling snow and wind.

"G... Go... blin!" The small green mutant priest, still unable to speak properly, struggled to pronounce the unfamiliar word. Then it suddenly spun around and looked toward the countless other small Mutant Humans behind it.

It screamed, it shouted, and it danced wildly.

It told its kin of the miracle it had witnessed and it shared with them the name granted by the Beast King.

At first, disbelief and timidity filled their eyes. Soon afterward, those emotions transformed into fanaticism and devotion. The name spread among the green-skinned creatures like a magical incantation.

Together with the miracle bestowed by the Beast King's favor, it passed from one head to another.

With that, the Goblins were born amidst savage cries echoing across the mountain. Though they had not yet developed their own language or writing system, they had learned how to identify themselves.

That was their first culture, a culture granted by the enemies who slaughtered them and by the god they worshipped.

...

[Wasteland Online Closed Beta Version 0.7 Update]

[Major Updates]

[1. Closed Beta Player Cap Increased: The maximum number of participants has been increased from 50,000 to 100,000!]

[2. Mutant Slime Mold Research Committee Established: In addition to reaching a consensus on the agenda of jointly resolving the threat of Mutant Slime Mold, member factions have also agreed upon a series of cooperative measures.]

[Electronic Travel Permit System: Jointly developed by the Academy, Camp 101, Endpoint Group, Triumphant City's Digital Research Institute, and other research organizations. New Alliance players may apply using their VM devices.]

[Players holding electronic permits may enter areas under the actual control of Cooperative member factions (limited to public zones and infected regions, excluding sensitive facilities) to engage in business operations, exploration, and investigative activities.]

[Member factions guarantee personal safety and basic legal rights for permit holders (see detailed regulations) and are responsible for verifying all permits issued under their authority.]

[Cross-Border Information Services: Member factions will cooperate in information exchange by establishing signal relays and wired communication networks as alternatives to satellite communications. At the same time, all parties pledge not to intercept wired or wireless communications belonging to fellow member factions.]

[In simple terms: VMs can now access the network outside New Alliance territory! (Provided there is a connected signal station nearby)]

[Electronic Accounts: Linked to the Electronic Travel Permit System. Players may use VM electronic currency at major banks within any member faction's territory for withdrawals and currency exchange.]

[The New Alliance Bank will guarantee all transactions. The daily exchange limit without application is 1,000 Silver. Amounts exceeding that limit require declaration through the official forum website. At the same time, players may receive payment in local currencies while operating within member territories. (Currently supported: Dinars, CR, and GP for non-Academy members)]

[New Alliance Bank will convert foreign currency into Silver according to the day's exchange rate and deposit them into player accounts.]

[3. War for Paradise: All members of the Mutant Slime Mold Research Committee have officially declared war on the Torch Church! Players may freely choose to participate in either the Northern Front or Southern Front based on personal preference. Alternatively, players may contribute through production work in the rear.]

[Northern Front: The primary offensive direction of the coalition!]

[Current frontline: Ten Peaks Mountain region, south of the Brocade River Province.]

[Main enemy forces: Mutant Humans and biological derivatives created by the Torch Church.]

[Forces from the Enterprise, Academy, Army, Bugra Free State, and many others will converge on the battlefield.]

[Directions: Ride our trains or arrive by your own means.]

[Southern Front: The New Alliance's second battlefield in the south! Our allies are currently contesting control of the Southern Seas against the North Island Federation.]

[Introduction: The Torch Church has already intervened in the region. We cannot allow our allies to fight alone. Secure the region, and the South Sea New Alliance fleet will provide naval support! Charge forth and bring our tanks onto their beaches!]

[4. New Maps Added: Port Gallon, French Fry Harbor, South Sea New Alliance Archipelago, Shelter 70, Guardian Manor Plains, Guardian Manor Military Base, Ten Peaks Mountain, Ice Sea City, Below Cloud City, and more...]

[5. Various Minor Bug Fixes: ...]

The update announcement appeared without warning.

One moment, the forum was still passionately discussing the bloody battle on Ten Peaks Mountain. The next, Version 0.7 had shot straight to the top of the trending list.

...

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