From the information given by the system, it seems that each country can at most seize three enemy flags.
After Xuanyuan Zhen communicated with the military high command, they all agreed there was no need to keep participating in the national war.
Although this time Huaxia eventually reversed the situation and became the victorious nation, the cost was extremely heavy.
Because of population factors, each Huaxia warrior was bound to the largest number of collateral players. In this national war, Huaxia lost several million in battle, while collateral player deaths exceeded a hundred million.
If the fight continued, Huaxia's losses would only grow larger.
"We can only let Country M go!" Zhao Tiequan said with great unwillingness.
Xuanyuan Zhen shook his head. "No choice. We can't sacrifice everyone's safety just to turn one more country into a defeated nation. Every death of a player is a huge loss."
"We won the victory, but at a terrible cost…"
After deciding to withdraw, the Huaxia army returned to Huaxia City through the portal.
A month later, the global national war came to an end. A total of 204 countries had participated, with 82 victorious nations in the end.
Worth mentioning is that Huaxia's withdrawal gave Country M a chance to breathe, and in the end, they too became a victorious nation.
After the war ended, according to the system prompt, Dong Shuai randomly drew three regions from the maps of three defeated nations.
After the drawing, Huaxia's northeast, northwest, and western frontiers each extended outward by equal areas. The beasts in those areas all departed, and Huaxia directly sent people to build fortress cities to occupy them.
Huaxia's total territory expanded from nearly 100,000 square kilometers to 114,000 square kilometers. Its global ranking leapt from fifth to fourth!
As Huaxia's land grew, the territories of Country F, Island Nation, and Country H shrank accordingly.
In the previously occupied zones, fortress cities collapsed and disappeared, and beasts once again seized control of those regions.
Meanwhile, in the 122 defeated countries, a "Tribute Card Chest" appeared inside each fortress city. According to the requirement, the defeated nations had to fill the chest within a month.
Different grade items had different tribute values, so there was no way to cheat by using low-quality goods.
On the other hand, one to three new fortress teleport arrays appeared in every nation's fortress city. These teleport arrays were one-way.
One-way didn't mean you could go but not return; it meant that only victorious nations could use them, while defeated ones could not.
Each one-way teleport could be used only once in a month, and could send at most ten people.
So for now, no nation was using them. Likely, they were waiting until the last days of the month, after strengthening themselves, before heading to the defeated countries.
On the international forums, Huaxia players were locked in flame wars with players from Country F, Island Nation, and Country H.
Of course, it wasn't just Huaxia and those four countries. Any countries that had clashed in the war surely weren't going to stay quiet.
But arguments are arguments—the first mortal-level national war had now concluded.
As for how the rewards and punishments would ultimately affect future international power structures, time would tell.
......…
At the War God Temple headquarters in Huaxia City, Hua Tianchen, Luo Ping, and Tian Feng were discussing something with Jiang Kai.
"So, you're saying some seventh-rank bizarre class user sent you into the Bewildering Mist Zone, which delayed you?" Luo Ping frowned.
Jiang Kai nodded. "Yeah, otherwise I'd have been back long ago."
Hua Tianchen frowned. "A seventh-rank bizarre class… that should be the highest known professional rank at present. We only have three seventh-rank martial disciples, yet the bizarre classes already have a seventh-rank?"
Jiang Kai asked, "God Hua, what exactly is the deal with these bizarre classes? If they're just another type of powerful profession, and their strength is generally above same-rank extraordinary professions, why doesn't the military cultivate some bizarre class users?"
Tian Feng poured tea for the three and said, "Jiang Kai, Wei Ying told you to find him before breaking through to extraordinary. It should involve this matter, so let's not steal his lines."
Luo Ping was silent for a long while before suddenly speaking. "This matter isn't simple!
"That person may have wanted you to miss the national war and be branded a sinner. But at the same time, we must recognize they didn't care at all about the war's outcome!
"The national war's results directly caused major shifts in global rankings. Even before the reward-punishment system was clarified, most already believed the war was tied to national fortune. That shows this group wasn't thinking of Huaxia at all.
"Huaxia's fate is tied to every player, and to every person's safety in reality. Yet that person couldn't care less… I find it very suspicious!"
Hua Tianchen suddenly said, "So it seems that seventh-rank bizarre class, and the forces behind her, may be connected to the traitors in this war!"
Jiang Kai immediately suggested, "You could check Xuanwu or the Huang family. Aside from them, I don't really have other enemies."
Luo Ping thought for a while, then said, "Understood. For now, keep this quiet. We'll secretly strengthen our power and investigate them carefully!"
Jiang Kai grinned.
Before, the military had held back in investigating the Huang family out of face. But now, if they truly had shaken the nation's foundations, the military would never let them go.
The matter was settled—the military decided to formally investigate.
"By the way, Jiang Kai, though you were delayed this time, you also made great contributions and redeemed yourself. We've decided to reward you. What do you want?"
Jiang Kai's eyes widened. "God Luo, whatever I ask for, you'll give?"
Luo Ping smiled lightly, speaking with generosity. "Your contribution was immense. Our Huaxia's global ranking went up by one because of you. Do you really think the military would shortchange you?"
Jiang Kai thought carefully, deciding to take advantage of this rare chance to request some high-tier rewards.
After pondering, he took out the small broken sword.
"Three big bosses, my request isn't much. Could you check if the military has any materials similar to this sword?"
The Demon-Slaying Sword was a treasure—capable of directly killing demon-race king-level bosses. If it could be repaired, it would be a money-maker for sure!
Also, its memories were fragmented. If repaired, maybe it could teach a sword art even stronger than the 'Moonlit Fairy Trace Sword.'
Of course, best not to let it touch Dongli.
Tian Feng smiled. "Jiang Kai, you're a divine-ranked person now. Why are you still keeping a little broken sword like this? Let me see. I know a bit of forging—maybe I can tell."
Jiang Kai was quite nervous, hoping Tian God could identify the weapon's material.
After a thorough inspection, Tian Feng's brows only knit tighter.
"Uh… this material I've never seen before."
"You've never seen it?" Luo Ping was doubtful, taking it to look himself. In the end, his expression was the same. "Hiss… I know hundreds of ores, but this material I truly don't recognize. Tianchen, you take a look."
Hua Tianchen examined it, then shook his head. "Never seen it."
Jiang Kai was utterly dejected. If even the three great gods hadn't seen it, repairing it would be nearly impossible.
He shook his head with a sigh and put the little broken sword away.
"Then give me a few dozen Tiger-Eye Stones and Tears of God, a hundred drops of Tears of Repentance… Oh, and I'm still short some third- and fourth-rank Heaven Book fragments. Get me two sets of Fourth-Rank Pursuit and Extraordinary Fifth-Rank Pursuit. If not those, some other divine gear is fine. I'm not picky, just stuff I can use. Also, a set of Extraordinary Fifth-Rank Destiny materials! Twenty sets of Drunkard's job-change materials—we're especially short in the guild right now. Ten advanced skill books too, those are really hard to get… And also, about that villa by Lake Jingxin… I was thinking, if I could merge a few villas together, wouldn't living there be much more comfortable?"
"Stop!" The three generals cut Jiang Kai off in unison.
"Cough, cough…" Luo Ping cleared his throat, weakly saying, "Let me take another look at that sword from just now."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.