Is this really a Game?!

With their mission to New York temporarily on hold, the team turned their attention to finding a new hunting ground to level up more effectively. They knew that the increasing number of powerful monsters and the chaos in the territories made it essential to grow stronger.

As they discussed possible alternatives, Aethion offered his advice. "You should consider exploring areas that are less densely populated with high-tier monsters but still offer significant challenges. It's not only about leveling up but also honing your skills and gaining valuable experience. A well-rounded approach is key to survival and success."

"After all, you all know that the best way to increase your proficiencies and gain more items and materials is through fighting and defeating monsters who are slightly more powerful than you, and right now, with your current strength, it won't be easy to find good items as the rate of which they drop is quite low."

The team decided to explore different territories they had been to before and the interconnected regions. This time, they would focus on areas that were less affected by the recent disruptions. Their aim was to build a foundation of strength and experience that would eventually enable them to tackle more challenging locations like the desert.

Luckily for them, they had a lot of information that was left over by the 'Butcher' and her men. They had gone to the mountain that separated Wilkashere and the territory they had allied with before, but unfortunately, even though they had managed to sense the aura of Tier V monsters, there proved to be only 3 Tier V monsters present, the rest were Tier IV monsters, which was perfect for the residence of Wilkashere as they could hunt there, but it wasn't good for them.

The notes left by the Butcher's men proved very valuable as they had marked some areas as 'too dangerous' in the past. Some of those proved to be nothing more but areas with a high concentration of Tier IV monsters as the notes had been made back when they were low-grade Tier IV combatants or lower, but some proved to be just what Reign and the others needed as there were Tier V monsters present there.

Reign and Laura worked on their alliances with other territories, seeking information on promising hunting grounds and arranging collaborative hunts between their player groups. As the players embarked on these new expeditions, they found themselves facing monsters and environments they hadn't encountered before. Each battle was a learning experience, and their adaptability and teamwork improved.

The players also delved into researching the best ways to deal with various monster types. They shared his findings with everybody, helping them devise more effective strategies against different adversaries. The player's battles became more coordinated, and their combat efficiency increased significantly.

Over time, Reign and the others noticed a shift in the dynamics of Earth. More territories were uniting against the rising chaos, forging alliances, and strengthening their defenses. Communication among players had become essential for their survival, and a sense of camaraderie began to develop. 

More and more territories were making contact with them, many of them eager and excited to find new people who could help them out in the dangerous new world they were in. 

The team's strength continued to grow as they honed their skills and gained experience from their encounters. As the days passed, the team's levels increased steadily. They embraced the journey and the challenges, fully aware that they were preparing themselves for the grand mission they had undertaken. Their vision was clear, their determination unwavering, and their bonds unbreakable.

But the question of when they would reach Tier VI and become ready to confront the dangers of New York remained. Each day brought them closer to that critical milestone, and they could sense the mounting tension in the air.

One day, a crucial message arrived from another territory. It was a warning about a particularly potent and aggressive group of monsters making their way towards their base in Doncaster. The urgency of the situation was clear, and they had to act swiftly to protect their home.

Reign, Laura, Shadow, and their team prepared for the impending battle, gathering resources, crafting weapons, and devising a strategic defense plan. The alliance with the neighboring territories was tested as they called upon their allies for assistance.

The approaching monsters were unlike any they had faced before. A massive swarm of Tier IV and Tier V monsters that was led by 3 peak Tier V monsters was coming their way. The allied forces rallied at the base, strengthening its defenses and preparing for the onslaught. The tension was palpable as they waited for the monsters to arrive. From the information they had gained, there were 350 Tier IV monsters in the swarm together with 50 Tier V monsters.

That number alone made everybody shocked, as well as afraid. After all, only about 3 weeks had passed since Reign and the others had come back, and even though they had been increasing their strength and leveling up, they had just managed to reach the mid-grade of Tier V.

This wasn't the first time they had come across such a wave, even while Reign and the others were gone, the territories had been attacked a couple of times by monsters, but most of those times, the monsters weren't that powerful and the players were more than powerful enough to defeat them.

Still, nobody thought they would lose the battle.

They were fighting for Doncaster, in front of Doncaster, together with everybody.

It wasn't just because they were fighting to protect those they cared about, it was also because they were fighting in their own territory, and inside the territory, everybody was boosted.

Even with the enemy being led by three peak Tier V monsters who were close to evolving, they were completely unafraid of them.

The battle commenced with a deafening roar as the first wave of monsters crashed upon their defenses. The allied forces fought valiantly, holding their ground and pushing back the horde of creatures. The teamwork and cooperation they had cultivated over the months were crucial in this life-or-death struggle.

The Golden Tree shone brightly as it weakened all the monsters, including the Tier Vs, while simultaneously increasing the strength of the players, boosting their speed, strength, defense, and more.

Reign didn't wait for a moment to transform.

His true form appeared above the battlefield, stopping the battle for a moment as everybody present stared at him who was floating above them all. He simply smirked before flying to the back where the 3 Tier V monsters that possessed a higher intellect compared to the other monsters were located.

As Reign was flying above them, the soil around the army of monsters suddenly burst open. Large ants and other kinds of monsters came out of the ground and attacked the monsters.

M'azgara appeared behind the army and stared at the army of monsters with a smile as her elites charged forward, each one emanating the aura of a Tier V being.

She managed to evolve about 1 week after Reign and the others arrived.

With a Tier V Brood Mother in their territory, Doncaster didn't fear fighting any army!

The players had acted as bait to get all the monsters close so that the ants could ambush them, attacking them from all sides. Reign and the others allowed for such a thing as they were certain that with them present, they could make sure nobody died before the ants attacked.

The players felt reinvigorated upon seeing the hundreds of ants that were attacking the monsters. More ants and other monsters continued pouring out from below the ground, some even drilling below the monsters and causing them to feel down through the ground before being attacked by the monsters below.

The entire battlefield was flipped on its head as the monster army that seemingly possessed a great advantage was immediately placed at a disadvantage. Their numbers meant little to nothing now, and even the Tier V monsters proved to barely be able to do anything as Wolf and the rest attacked them, using their superior power against them.

Tank had been ready to summon his own army to help out the players if the situation called for it, but luckily, things didn't develop that way. He charged through the monsters, a red bull with demonic horns appearing around him as all the monsters were sent flying, only for him to be stopped by two Tier V monsters later, which caused a large smile to appear on his face as he clenched his axe, ready to fight.

The rest were doing the same, using their powers to deal with any Tier IV monster around them while clashing against the Tier Vs.

As for Reign, he had arrived at the very back of the army and was staring at the three peak Tier V monsters who were staring back at him with nervous expressions. 

With his transformation and the two powerful swords in his possession, Reign didn't even fear clashing against a Tier VI monster, let alone three peak Tier Vs.