The other participants were also contacting one another and exchanging opinions.
Their conversations primarily revolved around one question: who was willing to form an alliance?
The members of the Skyvault Consortium could cooperate with one another, but the other participants were equally capable of joining forces.
After a period of secret communication, several provisional alliances gradually took shape.
Valentin, Soren, Edmund, and Oscar secretly established an alliance.
Kaine, Wallis, Cedric, and Gurok also reached an agreement behind the scenes.
Samuel and Alvin already belonged to the Eternal Summit, so the two of them naturally intended to cooperate.
Kaine observed the surrounding powerhouses.
Although no one spoke aloud, their eyes met frequently, silently conveying countless intentions.
He immediately understood what was happening, but he did not take it too seriously.
Nor did he主动 contact John and ask to form an alliance.
He remained confident in his own abilities.
As the personal disciple of the Master of the Skyvault Consortium, Kaine had mastered numerous derivative Laws beneath the Space-Time Law. Combined with his extraordinary cultivation of the state of mind, he possessed both the qualifications and the strength to be proud.
"If I allow the map to be assigned randomly, I can save one of my starting selections."
After considering the matter, Kaine decided to choose the privileges of Status and Wealth.
He was ranked tenth, which granted him two selections.
By accepting a randomly assigned kingdom, he could devote both choices to other starting advantages.
"Status will ensure that I begin the competition from a favorable position."
"Wealth will give me the resources required to act immediately after entering the map."
"As for a skill or companions, I do not need either of them."
"As long as I possess enough money, that will be sufficient."
Kaine initially focused his attention on the Sera Kingdom.
"A maritime civilization is suitable for growing through chaos and conquest."
"With my intelligence and ability, establishing a foothold there would be extremely simple."
Elsewhere, Valentin was communicating privately with the other three members of his alliance.
"We cannot choose any of the maritime kingdoms!"
"I know that maritime civilizations are excellent for rapid development, but do not forget about John and his companions."
"John will never overlook such high-quality development maps."
Valentin possessed a special deduction method. He had most likely already inferred the choices John and the other three members of Valhalla intended to make.
Soren transmitted his voice to the others.
"If we directly clash with John’s group at the beginning of the competition, our chances of victory will be poor."
"Worse still, even if we manage to weaken them, the other participants may ultimately benefit from our losses."
"Choosing a maritime kingdom would be unwise."
"That’s right. We can select continental civilizations instead," Oscar replied with a smile.
"There is no need for all four of us to gather in one place."
"We only need to choose neighboring continental and nomadic kingdoms."
"That way, we can support one another whenever necessary."
"I will choose a continental civilization," Edmund agreed.
"The four of us can occupy two continental kingdoms and two nomadic kingdoms."
"I will also choose a continental civilization," Oscar said.
Valentin and Soren accepted the proposal and decided to select nomadic civilizations.
Naturally, all four of them would have to consume one privilege to choose their maps. Otherwise, their starting kingdoms would be assigned randomly.
On the other side, Kaine was also communicating with Wallis, Cedric, and Gurok.
"We should not touch the five maritime kingdoms," Kaine warned.
"Those regions are extremely suitable for rapid development."
"Precisely because they are so advantageous, they will inevitably become the most fiercely contested territories."
"We should avoid them."
"Then where should we go?" Wallis asked through voice transmission. "Should all four of us choose continental civilizations?"
"No. It would be better for us to separate," Gurok replied.
"The disadvantages of continental civilizations are quite obvious."
"If we cannot obtain the cultural recognition of the local population, seizing an Overlord’s Token will become considerably more difficult."
"Continental civilizations are more suited to stable development and long-term management."
"Nomadic and maritime civilizations, on the other hand, favor plunder and rapid expansion."
Cedric immediately understood his meaning.
"Then we should divide ourselves between the nomadic and continental civilizations."
"We should select neighboring kingdoms so that we can still support one another."
"Exactly," Kaine agreed.
"Gurok and I will choose nomadic civilizations."
"Cedric and Wallis will choose continental civilizations."
"That arrangement is acceptable," Gurok replied.
"The only disadvantage is that all of us will have to use one selection on choosing our maps."
Meanwhile, Samuel and Alvin were conducting their own discussion.
Both belonged to the Eternal Summit.
They also possessed rather eccentric personalities and were not particularly skilled at socializing with others.
"Will the two of us be enough?" Alvin asked through voice transmission when Samuel remained silent.
"There should be no problem," Samuel eventually replied.
"The other alliances may appear lively and united, but every one of their members has private motives."
"They are cooperating solely for their own benefit."
"Their agreements are not truly stable."
"We may have fewer people, but we trust one another more."
"Then how should we choose?" Alvin asked.
"I think the maritime civilizations look quite attractive."
"However, I am worried that John’s group will not relinquish them."
"The other alliances will probably also compete over those five kingdoms."
"If we become trapped in that struggle, we will be placed in an extremely passive position."
"Your concern is reasonable. We should choose separately."
"You will select a continental civilization, while I will select a nomadic civilization."
"We should choose two kingdoms located along the border between those civilization types."
"That works," Alvin agreed. "We will still be able to support one another."
With that, the preliminary selections for the top-fifteen-to-top-eight competition were finalized.
The five maritime kingdoms were Lothar, Maria, Sera, Bonn, and Nolan.
John and Holly both selected the Lothar Kingdom as their starting map.
Hilt selected the Bonn Kingdom.
Odelle selected the Maria Kingdom.
Karen selected the Sera Kingdom.
The Nolan Kingdom remained unclaimed.
John used his three privileges to select Wealth, an Exclusive Skill, and the right to Choose His Map.
The five continental kingdoms were Ziyang, Blue Moon, Green Mountain, Wenhua, and Divine Creation.
Edmund selected the continental Ziyang Kingdom.
Oscar selected the continental Blue Moon Kingdom.
Cedric selected the continental Green Mountain Kingdom.
Wallis selected the continental Wenhua Kingdom.
Alvin selected the Divine Creation Kingdom.
The five nomadic kingdoms were Flying Eagle, Golden Wolf, Wild Horse, Poplar, and Heavenly Eagle.
Valentin selected the Flying Eagle Kingdom.
Soren selected the Golden Wolf Kingdom.
Kaine selected the Wild Horse Kingdom.
Gurok selected the Poplar Kingdom.
Samuel selected the Heavenly Eagle Kingdom.
At that moment, the voice of the will of the universe rang out once again.
[Before the competition begins, the following additional explanations will be provided.]
[Explanation One: Any participant who did not use a privilege to select Status will enter the competition as an ordinary civilian.]
[Explanation Two: After entering the competition world, all supernatural strength will be completely sealed.]
[If a participant dies from disease or is killed during a conflict, they will be transported out of the competition world and immediately eliminated.]
[Explanation Three: Every kingdom possesses one Overlord’s Token.]
[Once obtained, an Overlord’s Token cannot be traded.]
[A participant who obtains a token may freely choose when to withdraw from the competition.]
[However, anyone who fails to leave before all eight advancement positions have been filled will be considered eliminated.]
[The top-fifteen-to-top-eight competition...]
[Officially begins!]
As the voice of the will of the universe resounded, the fifteen participants felt the surrounding space transform.
Their bodies turned into streaks of light and disappeared from the secret realm.
When they reappeared, they had already entered the vast mortal world created by the will of the universe.