Now that the three major tribes had been dealt with, Lin Ye stood before the group and said, "There's no need for us to stay united anymore."
Mo Kongwu frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
Lin Ye replied calmly, "Let's split up and clear out the remaining smaller tribes on our own. We need to reduce the Kobold Tribe's vassal strength as much as possible. If any of you find yourselves outmatched, just call for help in the group."
Aside from the goblins, murlocs, and gnolls, this plane fragment still harbored many minor monster tribes. They weren't particularly powerful, but their numbers could still be a threat if left unchecked.
And then there were the goblins who had escaped earlier. While weak individually, their numbers were not to be underestimated. If they were to regroup under the banner of the ogres, they could still create significant trouble.
To prevent any future disasters, the group agreed to hunt down the stragglers first.
"But isn't that a bit risky?" Fang Xingchen's brows furrowed. "What if a horde of ogres suddenly emerges? If we're scattered, we won't stand a chance."
His concern wasn't baseless. He and Zhang Kexin had the smallest forces. If an ogre warband caught them off guard, escape might not even be possible.
"All good," Su Xingyu reassured him. "I'll have the Sky-Splitting Eagle watch over the depths of the plain. If the kobolds mobilize in large numbers, we'll know about it well in advance."
Lin Ye added, "You two act together. The rest of us will operate solo."
It was a practical decision. With Zhang Kexin lacking a strong infantry core, teaming up was the safest option.
"Stick to cleanup. Don't take unnecessary risks. If a fight seems unwinnable, signal us."
"Got it." Fang Xingchen and Zhang Kexin exchanged glances and nodded.
"Then let's divide the zones," Lin Ye said, pulling out a crude but usable map. "You two pick first."
After a short discussion, Fang Xingchen pointed to the outermost region. "We'll take Area Four."
"Alright," Lin Ye acknowledged. "Brother Wu, your pick."
Mo Kongwu chuckled. "Doesn't make much difference. I'll take the east."
"Then I'll handle the middle," Su Xingyu said, selecting a region closer to the heart of the plane with a broader scope.
Lin Ye gave him a curious glance but didn't question the decision. "That settles it. Report any progress in the group chat so we can coordinate more efficiently."
The group nodded in agreement.
Soon, the coalition split into four teams and advanced toward their assigned regions. The plains, once eerily quiet, now braced for the chaos of war.
Deep in the plane's heart.
Within the stronghold of the Kobold Tribe, activity stirred.
The ogres who had long ruled this domain had constructed a solid stone fortress, yet until now, they had never needed to use it.
The Gnoll Tribe, while numbering under 400,000 in total, wielded strength far beyond what those numbers suggested. With fewer than 200,000 warriors, they still dominated the three major vassal tribes and extracted tribute with impunity.
Their true power lay in their blood.
These were not ordinary ogres. They carried the blood of dragons—legendary, transcendent creatures rivaling the gods themselves. Even a mere trace of draconic lineage could bestow terrifying power.
Some among them had even awakened that bloodline fully, becoming Dragon Vein Ogres—towering brutes whose strength, stamina, and magical resistance eclipsed nearly all others.
Within their ranks, there were two distinct castes: the awakened and the unawakened dragon-blooded kobolds. But even the unawakened were stronger than the mightiest warriors among the goblins, murlocs, or gnolls.
It was this overwhelming superiority that kept their vassals obedient. The occasional punitive raids served as brutal reminders of who truly ruled.
The murlocs, in particular, had learned this lesson the hard way. Once emboldened by the defenses of their marshy settlements, they dared to challenge the kobolds. Their defiance was swiftly crushed by a bombardment of fiery magic from kobold warlocks, reducing their homes to ash and steam.
But now, things were different.
The ogres had begun to notice a troubling shift. More and more monster tribes were fleeing toward their domain, and the cause seemed to be the same mysterious invaders who had annihilated the three major tribes one after another.
At first, the kobolds dismissed the newcomers. Let them stir things up, they thought. When the dust settled, the ogres would step in, crush them, and establish control.
But the swift collapse of their vassals changed everything.
This new tribe wasn't just powerful—it was relentless. The pace and precision of their conquests were unlike anything the ogres had seen before.
If nothing was done, there would be no vassals left to rule.
The time for waiting had ended.
The Kobold Tribe began to mobilize.
A conquering force of nearly 200,000 marched forth—an intimidating coalition of kobolds and nearby subjugated races, united under the banner of draconic dominance.
High above, one of the Sky-Splitting Eagles soared in the clouds, its wings casting a massive shadow across the land. Its beastly eyes tracked the kobold forces with cold calculation.
The ogres had long since noticed the eagle, but they couldn't do anything about it. The bird flew too high, too fast. Their archers couldn't touch it, and their magic lacked the range.
Both Sky-Splitting Eagles that came with the Night Tribe were late-stage fifth-tier beasts, each one a flying fortress. At this level, they ruled the skies, unmatched by anything short of a sixth-tier sky creature.
Even then, few monsters could rival a Sky-Splitting Eagle empowered by bloodline mutations. In most cases, a fifth-tier enemy wouldn't be a threat—they'd be lunch.
After a few failed attempts to attack it, the kobolds stopped trying.
Let it watch. Let it report.
They would soon teach these invaders a lesson so devastating they wouldn't dare show their faces again.
With iron-forged weapons gleaming and marching lines more disciplined than any typical monster horde, the 200,000-strong army advanced with deadly precision.
Unlike the chaotic, market-stall mobs of goblins and gnolls, this was a true military force.
A real war was about to begin.