The clamor of victory was soon replaced by a solemn order.
Within Apocalypse Base, William methodically issued one command after another.
Battlefield cleanup, medical treatment for the wounded, gathering of spoils—the Tianqi soldiers, following the battle, cleared the field with equal orderliness.
The prisoners were temporarily gathered under guard, with Rick responsible for the initial screening and testing.
Although Rick's talent was only D-level, he was a well-known figure throughout Tianqi; many people looked at him with expressions of envy.
Many had asked Rick how he had gained such favor, hoping to learn from his experience, but Rick would always give a knowing smile and offer them guidance.
"As long as you learn Chinese well, there will be times for you to be promoted and get rich in the future."
But the crowd didn't take it seriously, assuming Rick was just fooling them.
After the war ended, the most important thing was the collection of Points and supplies.
The latest rules of the Main God Game seemed particularly cold at this moment.
When a player died, whether they were Reincarnators or Hunters, the Points in their personal accounts and the items stored in their system space would become lootable.
This was blatant encouragement—even coercion—for players to kill and plunder one another.
William personally supervised the collection of Points.
When the final figures were presented to him, even with his composure, his pupils contracted slightly.
1.7 million Points.
This number far exceeded his pre-war estimates.
Although the Coalition claimed to be eight thousand strong, the true elites and valuable combatants were likely only half that, and the distribution of Points was extremely uneven.
Even so, many grains of sand make a tower; the spoils scraped from thousands of dead and captured individuals still accumulated into a staggering fortune.
And this didn't even include the physical spoils of war.
To gather so many Points, it seemed Rex and his factions had squeezed quite a lot from the lower levels; however, these Points had now become the property of Tianqi.
With these resources, Tianqi's next stage of development would gain powerful momentum.
At dusk, all Tianqi warriors who had participated in the battle, except for necessary sentries, were summoned to the central square.
A temporary high platform had been built at the front of the square; behind it were rows of stretchers covered with Tianqi flags, holding the remains of the 127 warriors who had sacrificed their lives in this battle.
The atmosphere was solemn and grave; no one made a sound.
William stepped onto the platform. He wasn't wearing his majestic military uniform, but a simple black suit with a white flower pinned to his chest.
His wine-red eyes swept across the tired yet resolute faces below.
"Today, we won."
William spoke; his voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying a heavy penetration.
"With courage, wisdom, and sacrifice, we crushed an enemy several times our size, defended our home, and announced Tianqi's existence to the world."
He paused, his gaze falling upon the flag-covered stretchers.
"But victory comes at a price. Our 127 brothers remain here forever. They will never see Tianqi's future glory, nor will they ever raise a glass in celebration with us again."
The square was silent, save for the sound of the night wind rustling the flags.
"Tianqi will not forget any warrior who bled and sacrificed for her."
William's voice suddenly became resonant and powerful.
"Their remains will be placed at the highest point of the Hall of Heroes, receiving three days of silence and tribute from all members of Tianqi!"
"In three days, we will send these heroes on their final journey with the highest honors, letting their souls return to a pure land and enjoy eternal peace!"
"Their families will receive Tianqi's lifelong protection and support! Their children will be raised by Tianqi, and their elders will be cared for by Tianqi until the end! The compensation Points they deserve will be doubled!"
"For those families left only with children, their Points will be kept safe for them and handed over personally once they reach adulthood!"
"As for those of you who survived..."
William's gaze swept over the crowd once more.
"You have proven your loyalty and valor through blood and fire. The promised rewards—kill Points, extra merits, the rank of Commander for those with a hundred kills, and basic subsidies for all participants—will be calculated and distributed immediately! No delays, no deductions!"
"Today's battle is only the beginning!"
William's voice rose again.
"The road ahead may be even more rugged, and war may be even more cruel! Tell me, are you afraid?!"
"We are not afraid!!!"
A response like a mountain-shaking tsunami erupted instantly!
Every warrior straightened their chest, their eyes burning; their previous fatigue and sorrow were replaced by a deeper, more resolute conviction.
They saw the respect Tianqi showed for the fallen, the fulfillment of promises, and a strong, just collective with a future.
A sense of belonging and honor took deep root at this moment.
William nodded slightly.
"Very well. After dismissal, go to your respective squad leaders at the Logistics Department to verify your battle merits and receive your Points. Then, rest well. Tianqi's future still needs you to carry it forward!"
The crowd dispersed in an orderly fashion. As many left, they couldn't help but look back at the stretchers, their eyes filled with respect.
Lia and Hawk Eye stood at the edge of the crowd, silently watching it all.
Lia's azure eyes were slightly red; she blinked hard, suppressing the stinging sensation.
Deep within Hawk Eye's grayish-blue pupils, a hint of emotion flashed.
They thought of their parents who had entered the dungeon with them, their mother's final instructions, and their father's broad but silent back.
But in the end, they never returned from the dungeon. They waited for a month, moving from initial hope to final despair.
Since the arrival of the Main God Game, they had drifted from place to place, witnessing too much indifference, betrayal, and blatant exploitation.
A faction like Tianqi—handling the affairs of the fallen so solemnly, rewarding living warriors so clearly, and giving explicit promises for the future—had never existed before.
This place didn't feel like a cold organization, but more like... a warm home.
A home willing to bleed for family, and one that would never let family bleed in vain.
"It seems... we've come to the right place."
Lia whispered, her voice choking slightly. After her parents left, she thought there would never be another place in this world she could call home.
But Tianqi had truly shown them the direction of home.
Hawk Eye nodded silently, reaching out to gently pat her shoulder... Three days later, the burial ceremony for the heroes was solemnly held.
Everyone in Tianqi mourned the heroic souls.
After the ceremony, the base seemed to return to its usual operational rhythm, but a more cohesive and united aura was quietly growing.
William knew that beneath the surface calm, undercurrents never ceased.
The people of the [Sentinel Alliance] were coming.
Since the end of the last battle—or perhaps from the very start—the [Sentinel Alliance] had been observing Tianqi, probing its strength.
Although he didn't have the leader's near-perverse perception, he could still sense that someone was secretly watching Tianqi's development.
If nothing unexpected happened, this person was the SSS-Level Talent Hunter from the [Sentinel Alliance].
Before truly meeting the leader of Tianqi, the other party didn't seem to dare approach Tianqi rashly...