The Old World is celebrating the Winter Festival, marking the passing of another year.

Humans have temporarily forgotten the threats of Green Skin, Chaos, and the Undead and are wholly focused on celebrating the festival.

Not only the humans of the Old World, but also those of the New World are doing the same.

New World, Lustria Land Bridge, Pioneer Coast, Plunderer's Port.

The Expeditionary Army from Tiriel has established a large port town here, primarily using the port for fishing purposes. The town is bustling with people, and upon the five to six-meter high city walls, many troops are patrolling.

Far in the distance, as far as the eye can see, a lush tropical rainforest covers the entire view. Despite it being Winter Festival, the average temperature here is still around eighteen degrees, and in summer, it can reach above thirty degrees. The year-round high temperatures and heavy rainfall make it difficult for the Tiriel Expeditionary Army to adapt. They have been here for ten months and have already established a fairly solid colony stronghold, ensuring self-sufficiency through hunting, fishing, and farming. Many young soldiers are eager to venture into the forest in search of the legendary endless treasure left by the Ancient Saints.

The Tiriel Expeditionary Army consists of dozens of large sailing ships, a total of five corps, approximately twelve thousand people. After spending several months crossing the ocean and engaging in numerous battles against Dark Elf Pirates, Ancient Tomb King Pirates, Vampire Pirates, and the forces of nature (referring to sea storms), they had about eight thousand people left when landing on the Pioneer Coast, roughly six thousand soldiers and over a thousand accompanying personnel, including over eight hundred women.

As soon as they landed on Lustria's Pioneer Coast, these greedy and cunning mercenaries and conscripts mutinied, with armies attacking each other, plundering supplies, and ruthlessly killing their compatriots. Curiosity about the New World was quickly replaced by the fear of being far from the civilized world. After a few attempts to explore the forest ended with no one returning, the remaining soldiers became terrified of the forest, and the Expeditionary Army fell into division and constant fear.

The Expeditionary Army soon found themselves besieged from all sides. To their northeast was a Chaos-worshipping Barbarian Tribe called Skogji. The ruthless Norsca Tribe had inexplicably settled there, eyeing the Expeditionary Army with intention to use them for a grand sacrificial ceremony for the Dark Gods.

To the northwest lay the unfathomable tropical rainforest, from which no explorer returned.

To the southeast, the Green Skin Tribe was active all over.

Along the coast, Vampire Pirates frequently attacked and plundered the Expeditionary Army.

After two consecutive battles, the morale of the Expeditionary Army was extremely low, facing food shortages and gradually heading towards collapse.

At this moment, a tall and handsome human, with the looks of a mythical perfect male, appeared before the expeditionary soldiers. His long silver hair was silky smooth without split ends. As the Expeditionary Army verged on collapse, this handsome man called on everyone to unite and follow his command.

His name was Fugen.

The speech given by the man named Fugen was ridiculed by many, with some old soldiers mockingly saying that with looks like his, he should be selling himself in Tiriel's high-end clubs instead of staying here on the expedition, that a delicate and effeminate man shouldn't be here, and should return to his mother's bed to suckle.

The handsome man named Fugen, hearing this, was neither angry nor did he take it to heart. He simply silenced the entire Expeditionary Army with his flawless performance. When a Chaos Champion from the Skogji Tribe led a large group of Barbarian warriors to attack the expeditionary camp, Fugen raised the military flag high and slew the Chaos Champion with just one sword strike, ensuring that not a single Barbarian successfully retreated.

On the battlefield, this handsome man's godlike performance left the entire Expeditionary Army in awe. No matter how dire the situation or how fierce the Barbarian assaults, Fugen always held the military flag high at the front of the army. His head of silver hair danced wildly on the bloody battlefield, and every strike of his Longsword claimed the lives of several Barbarian Raiders. Even in the bloodiest center of battle, his elegant posture remained immaculate, and his eyes brimmed with extreme confidence and pride. Not a single Barbarian could withstand a single strike from him. Under Fugen's fierce battle and gaze, the Expeditionary Army soldiers, demoralized and fighting poorly due to fear and internal conflict, felt a deep-seated sense of shame, as if abandoning him and fleeing would be a stain they could never wash away.

Forgotten senses of honor and duty were finally rekindled in the hearts of the Expeditionary Army soldiers. They unleashed a roar from the depths of their souls, turned around, and returned to the battlefield. Despite the human soldiers being far inferior to the Barbarians in quality, causing the front line to frequently collapse, under Fugen's command, they reformed time and again under the military flag, eventually defeating the attacking Barbarians completely.

Not a single Barbarian escaped, and the Chaos Scraps paid the price in blood. When all the soldiers of the Expeditionary Army shouted victory over the devastated battlefield, they felt reborn, with a sense of newfound life pervading every soldier's heart, as if their souls were cleansed.

The day after the war ended, the soldiers revolted, killing three Mercenary Corps leaders and their few cronies who refused to follow Fugen's command. Thousands gathered outside Fugen's tent, chanting his name, imploring him to become their leader.