The initial hour of the expedition was characterized by sheer chaos. Over 100,000 magus, from various factions and races, sought to enter the celestial ruins through the nine different access points. The scale of the operation was immense, with tens of thousands of drones and hundreds of traps springing into action as the first layer of the ruins was breached. Unfortunately, without proper preparation, the consequences were dire, resulting in the loss of thousands of magus' lives and the critical injury of many others even before they could step foot into the first layer of the ruins.
In situations like this, being among the first to dive into the ruins often meant taking on the role of cannon fodder. These pioneers bore the brunt of the initial trap activations, effectively serving as the vanguard in a perilous expedition. A select few with exceptional skills could seize the opportunity to slip through the defenses before they were fully engaged. However, for those who lagged behind, the perils were not limited to the traps; they also had to contend with the congestion of magus all vying to enter the ruins simultaneously.
The Magus Alliance, setting aside politics and personal interests, had devised a strategic plan that involved deploying two distinct waves. The first wave, the most skilled and capable magus from the top-grade faction, entered the ruins first. Their primary mission was to confront and neutralize the initial layers of defenses, ultimately creating a more secure path for those who would follow.
In contrast, the second wave entered the fray approximately 30 minutes later, by which time most of the elves and a significant portion of the 50,000 neutral zone magus had engaged with and managed to surpass the initial defensive barriers of the celestial ruins. This two-wave approach aimed to maximize the chances of a successful expedition while minimizing casualties and chaos during the initial entry phase.
20,000 magus of the human alliance made the daring leap through the nine portals located inside the space station. Their objective was to clear what remained of the ruins' defenses and secure a foothold within the celestial ruins before entering the vaults.
If luck was on their side, they would stumble upon an unexplored vault, granting them access to a celestial temple. Successfully clearing one of these temples would earn them a coveted gold medal, sufficient to venture deeper into the celestial ruins. However, if they weren't fortunate enough to find such a treasure, they would continue their exploration of the first layer's vaults. Their task involved systematically removing roaming drones and formidable constructs, all in the hope of discovering a rare drop of a medal or, better yet, an unclaimed celestial temple waiting to be conquered.
####
Three hours after the celestial ruins had opened, a particular hall within the magus alliance space station was abuzz with activity. The hall was teeming with several hundred elders and faction representatives who had gathered to assess the unfolding situation.
Multiple screens adorned the walls, each displaying limited images sent by the magus within the celestial ruins. These visuals served as a means for the gathered individuals to gain a semblance of the conditions on the expedition.
Many of those present in the hall had personally experienced the trials of the ruins during their youth. Consequently, the sights and experiences being relayed via the screens held a degree of familiarity for them.
On another side of the hall, an array of data was being continuously updated. It displayed real-time statistics on the magus alliance members venturing into the ruins.
Each member had been given a seal before embarking on the expedition, and this seal provided crucial information on the number of magus in each layer and vault. These statistics were cross-referenced with the points earned by the participants within the ruins. The result was a dynamic and engaging visualization, offering the observers insights into the evolving conditions and progress of the magus within the celestial ruins. It was an intricate web of data and imagery that provided a comprehensive and real-time overview of the ongoing expedition.
[Human Magus participants]
[Total magus: 33,102]
[Total casualties: 472]
[Faction point accumulations Ranking]
[Rank 1: Arcanum - 996 member - 220,032 points]
[Rank 2: Nephilim - 984 member - 209,117 points]
[Rank 3: Oculus - 1000 member - 198,880 points]
[Rank 4: Cross - 952 members - 189,229 points]
[Rank 5: Imperium - 998 members - 188,144 points]
The elder from the Cross faction couldn't hide their excitement upon seeing the data. Even though their faction held a grade 5 status, achieving a position in the top 5 was a significant achievement that they celebrated with enthusiasm.
In stark contrast, the Nephilim elders were visibly perturbed by the high number of casualties that had occurred in the early hours of the expedition. Elder Estefan of the Azazel family and Elder Dolorian of the Azteban family exchanged disapproving glances, and their collective frustration was directed at Elder Serafina, the grand magus elder of the Amarhiks family
Elder Dolorian expressed his annoyance, "This is the result of the magus brought in by that fool Jinhao. They're making our faction look bad."
Serafina remained composed and responded, "Let's not overreact, Dolorian. It's only been three hours, and we are still in second place."
Elder Estefan interjected with a pointed remark, "The Patriarch has issued his decree; we cannot afford to be second."
Tensions were rising among the Nephilim elders, and the pressure to maintain their faction's status and reputation within the celestial ruins weighed heavily on their shoulders.
As the factions observed the data, Fury Hammar, the grand magus council of the alliance, began to explain the events leading to the 400 casualties. He also mentioned how some enforcers had managed to enter the [celestial crossings] and had initiated the location of the first basecamp for the alliance.
This discussion prompted a reaction from a group seated at a special table at the front of the room. These individuals were the elders representing the top human alliance factions.
A young-looking grand magus from the Arcanum faction expressed his concern, stating, "I believe you brought too many enforcers, and they rushed into the second layer too soon."
Another elder, representing the Arkaland faction and sharing a similar sentiment, "Council, the enforcers were meant to serve, not to compete for medals with the magus."
The comments from the elders at the special table challenged the authority of the council. Surprisingly, the council members, who had previously exuded an air of authority, now appeared somewhat meek. The council head responded, "Yes, of course, I will certainly remind them of their role."
A shared sense of concern and understanding swept through the room, as everyone was aware of the limitations imposed by the number of medals provided by the celestial ruins. While the first layer consisted of a total of 5,000 vault rooms, it held the potential to accommodate medals for all the magus. However, the second layer offered only a total limit of 50,000 medals, which meant that approximately half of the magus would be unable to progress to the second layer. Each subsequent layer would distribute even fewer medals, making it increasingly challenging for magus to reach the deeper levels.
This limitation of medals was a critical factor that influenced the strategies of most factions. They chose to divide their forces among the nine paths, willing to take on the role of the vanguard and face the dangers of the first layer to ensure that as many of their members as possible could advance deeper into the ruins. The fierce competition for medals was a central concern for all, affecting the decision-making and tactics employed by the magus alliance during the expedition.
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