Is this really a Game?!

As Reign was resting, he was thinking of the battle they had just taken part in, as well as the system. The fact the system had done a scan on all of them was not shocking to him as that was something most people already knew, hence why the system was able to show them their stats and the like.

Still, the fact that the system had told them that in the beginning, it had simply done some things without considering what they wanted simply because it had already 'determined' their answer did bother Reign. Did that mean that the system knew everything about them from the very start, could it truly read their minds?

The system was a part of the universe, it was present everywhere from what Reign knew, well, almost everywhere.

It was clear that the system was still spreading its influence as it had only now found Earth and integrated with it, not to mention the fact that there were civilizations out there that were hostile to the system and had found a way to hide from it, otherwise the system, being one that hated any civilization that utilized the technology it deemed as 'unnecessary' and 'useless', to the point of pretty much forbidding it, which was quite weird and suspicious in Reign's mind, were deemed as enemies by the system.

The system had marked all those civilizations as the enemies of the entire universe, and it was clear that without being able to hide themselves, those civilizations would have perished a long time ago.

'I didn't allow the system to have full access to my body, I had merely done it because Raziel had told me not to do so, as well as because I had a nagging feeling in the back of my head that it would not be a good idea to allow the system full access, I now realize I have definitely done the right thing.' Reign told himself before sighing.

Thanks to his bloodline, he was actually one of the rare beings in the universe who could actually hide his stats and body information from the system. Even though Raziel had told him that he didn't like the system, nor did the system like him, it still didn't mark Raziel and the other Nephilims as enemies.

Why though?

They were almost independent of the system from what Reign knew, and Raziel didn't even hide the fact he disliked the system, so why was he not marked as an enemy?

Was Raziel simply too powerful, to the point that even the system, that was seemingly omnipresent, could not act against him?

As Reign pondered these questions, a subtle unease settled within him. The mysteries of the system and its interactions with beings like Raziel hinted at a complexity that surpassed their understanding. However, now was not the time for existential contemplation; there were immediate concerns demanding their attention.

It wasn't long after they had returned that Reign, as well as most of the players in his territories, had suddenly heard a new notification.

Ding!

[ The system has concluded that the monster activity on the planet has changed, the new phase is not starting. ]

[ New phase initiated, the True New World has taken shape. ]

[ The monsters no longer have to stay in one place, and thanks to that, monsters with greater intellect have managed to carve out their own territories in the world. ]

[ The monster territories are similar to the territories that humanity has, the main difference being the lack of help from the system for the monsters with low intellect, as well as those that were not native to the planet. ]

[ From now on, all beings on Earth will have access to the system, the monster territories have taken shape, and the main goal of this phase is for humanity to defend against those territories and conquer them, allying with monsters is another possibility as there exist some that have high intellect and are as smart as humans. ]

[ Be warned, however, with the existence of monster territories on the planet, the danger that the players will face has increased as the territories have a hierarchy and structure, and the monsters present there are bound to be harder to deal with. ]

[ Monsters will continue roaming the world as usual, and there are some monsters that have decided to not make territories for themselves, but create a horde that moves from one area to another, decimating anything that stands in their way. ]

Reign sighed.

Each time the system speaks about a new phase, it is always a bad thing for humanity.

This time, they were able to find out that monsters had made territories, which could be said to be similar to the areas controlled by Field Bosses, except for the fact that Field Bosses disliked being with others and were always alone.

 Reign gathered his thoughts, realizing that the dynamic of their world had once again shifted. The emergence of monster territories brought a new layer of complexity to their challenges. The absence of system support for less intelligent monsters meant that some areas might be more manageable, but the territories controlled by intelligent monsters presented a formidable threat.

He called a meeting with his team to discuss the implications of this new phase. The atmosphere was tense as they sat in the war room, maps, and strategic notes spread across the table.

Aelrinder, ever composed, spoke first, "This development changes our priorities. We not only have to defend against roaming monsters but also contend with organized territories. Our approach needs to be strategic, focusing on alliances where possible and tactical elimination when necessary."

Tank, known for his straightforward tactics, grunted in agreement, "We can't afford to let these monster territories become breeding grounds for powerful creatures. We need a systematic approach to eliminate the threat and secure our territories."

Reign nodded, "Agreed. We should also explore the possibility of forming alliances with intelligent monsters. If some can match human intellect, it's better to have them as allies than enemies."

"After all, the world where me and Laura had finished our previous challenge had done so, they had allied with monsters, and that was how they had been able to contend against the demons for so long."

Laura, however, raised another concern "What about the monster territories that align with our cities? Are we expecting direct confrontations with organized monster forces?"

Beast, always observant, interjected, "It's likely. We need to fortify our defenses, increase patrols, and ensure the safety of our citizens. We can't afford to underestimate the threat posed by these territories."

The meeting continued, with plans and strategies being formulated to adapt to the evolving challenges. The Tier V team, battle-hardened from their recent victory, embraced the new mission with determination. As discussions unfolded, messages arrived from other territories, indicating that they, too, were grappling with the same concerns.

Reign sighed as he had almost forgotten that the territories that they had allied themselves with were all weaker than they were, their leaders were mostly peak Tier IVs that were about to evolve.

To be honest, the difference in power between Reign's territories and their allies was immense. Even if all the allied territories were to join hands and fight against Reign and his faction, they would end up losing, and they would lose quite badly.

Without Reign and his men, there was a high chance some of them would have already been destroyed by monsters after the initial attacks months ago when the barriers between regions fell down, and now, with the new phase active and the monster organized, the territories that were allied with them were panicking.

They didn't wish to fully integrate with Doncaster and Wilkashere, after all, they had survived for months before being found by Reign and his teams, and even though they did trust Reign thanks to all the help he and his faction had provided, they still preferred to live in their own territory as they had for months than to move.

Reign had no qualms about it, after all, those territories also worked to his favor as his men could teleport to them via the portals and then explore the areas around them and hunt down monsters.

It was never a bad thing to have more places that one could explore and hunt in as all of them had their own challenges and different kinds of monsters there. Different minerals and plants could also be found there, and the diversity that they offered was of great benefit to them all.

"They've already arrived?" Reign asked the young man who had entered the building to notify him of the arrival of the lords of the other territories, to which the young man replied with a simple nod.

"It seems they're quite apprehensive of the following challenges, well, it is to be expected." Reign said with a sigh.

"I did think they would first talk to their people and only then call us, it seems I underestimated the danger that they might be in, tell them to come in."