"This is within the realm of the Rings." Zheng Zha was the first among the Zhongzhou Team to recover his senses, looking around as he spoke.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy: this was a colossal world-battlefield. In terms of sheer scope, both the Mummy world the Zhongzhou Team had experienced previously and the more recent Starship Troopers world were but mere trifles compared to the battleground encompassed by the world of the Rings. This horror movie spanned a battlefield the size of an entire world.

Because the world of the Rings was structured like a movie trilogy, it shared similarities with the Mummy universe. However, when the team entered this world, the "Main God" informed Zheng Zha that they were entering the Lord of the Rings world, without specifying which installment. Therefore, it was highly probable that this horror mission would take place across the entirety of the three-part saga, meaning the battlefield was immense—it would be normal to spend several months here.

Zheng Zha pondered these thoughts internally, recalling how he had exchanged for a large cache of supplies relevant to this mission, such as the Ice Condensing Pills, which were perfectly suited for deployment in a horror world of this massive scale.

By this time, the rest of the Zhongzhou Team had also stabilized: Zheng Zha,

Zhan Lan, Zhao Yingkong, Zhang Heng, Cheng Xiao, Wang Xia.

Bawang, Zero Point, Rogandao, and Chu Xuan—ten people in total. Besides them, five more men and women lay on the ground. This horror movie world carried a difficulty level involving fifteen people, a number that exceeded Zheng Zha's initial expectations.

"Chu Xuan. Based on the surroundings, try to deduce our current location."

Zheng Zha spoke to Chu Xuan while glancing at his wristwatch.

Chu Xuan also scanned the area, but before he could utter a word, the "Main God's" voice resonated within everyone's minds.

"The Nan Yanzhou Team and the Bei Bingzhou Team have already entered the world of the Rings. The Dong Meizhou Team will enter a random segment of the world of the Rings three days later. The Tianshen Squad will enter a random segment of the world of the Rings ten days later. Killing members of the opposing squads who have not unlocked their Gene Locks will yield a reward of two thousand points and one C-class side mission.

Killing members of the opposing squads who have unlocked their Gene Locks will yield a reward of seven thousand points and one B-class side mission. Each member of your own squad killed will count as negative one point; killing an opposing member counts as positive one point. The final sum multiplied by two thousand will be the total reward points distributed among the surviving members of both teams..." By the time this message concluded, all ten members of the Zhongzhou Team were completely stunned, even Chu Xuan silently adjusted his glasses.

In this battle within the Lord of the Rings world, five separate Reaper Squads had entered simultaneously.

Not only had five squads entered at once, but one of them was among the two most peculiar teams in the Main God's space: the Tianshen Reaper Squad, one of the Demon Reapers. This news was absolutely staggering.

Zheng Zha let out a breath and looked back at his watch, then recited the team mission: "All five teams arrive simultaneously in the city of Mordor. Teleport back to their respective 'Main God' spaces in half an hour... During the duration in the Lord of the Rings world, all high-tech weaponry will be ineffective against the creatures of the Rings world, but will remain effective against members of other Reaper Squads..." After finishing this section, Zheng Zha looked back at the others, saying with a wry smile, "It seems this situation is getting complicated. Last time we had three teams fighting, it was already extreme; now there are five, and one of them is the Tianshen Reaper Squad. Plus, the Nan Yanzhou Team is here too. We had an intellectual battle with them in Starship Troopers that nearly wiped them out. I wonder what will happen when we meet them again..." As he spoke, the five figures on the ground began to stir slightly. The first to sit up was a muscular middle-aged man, who was surprisingly still wearing the tight compression shorts favored during workouts, his entire body defined by bulging muscle, his face handsome in a rugged way. A few seconds after sitting up, this man sprang to his feet and, without a word, kicked out directly at Rogandao, who was nearest to him.

Rogandao was momentarily distracted, having just heard the "Main God's" announcement and Zheng Zha’s words. By the time the kick neared his face, he finally reacted. Yet, having partaken of Dragon Blood, his reaction speed and overall capabilities far surpassed those of the muscular man. He managed to throw an arm up to guard his face. With a dull thud, Rogandao was sent sprawling back onto the ground.

The muscular man also seemed momentarily taken aback. He charged toward Rogandao again, reaching toward his waist with his other hand. However, after only two steps, he felt a sharp, agonizing pain in his side, and his body went limp as he collapsed onto the ground. Standing behind him was a short-haired young woman—it was Zhao Yingkong.

Zheng Zha paid it no mind; Rogandao was unharmed, and the middle-aged man was merely immobilized. He cleared his throat and stated, "I know you all have many questions. Sit down quietly now and listen to our explanation. Do not attempt to attack us, or... I cannot guarantee your safety."

The muscular man writhed on the ground for nearly ten seconds, large beads of sweat rolling down his face. When he finally managed to sit up slowly, his body seemed drenched as if washed clean. Looking at Zhao Yingkong now, his expression was filled with terror, as if this beautiful young girl were a reincarnated demon. The fierce energy he possessed upon waking had completely vanished.

The other four also sat up: two men and two women. One man and one woman wore identical-style school uniforms, appearing close in age. The other pair consisted of a handsome youth and a woman in her late twenties, dressed in overly provocative attire. All four stared blankly at their surroundings.

Zheng Zha paused slightly, then designated Zhan Lan to handle the explanations.

Although 100 reward points weren't significant, for controllers of mental power, reward points and side mission counts were equally precious. Lacking significant combat capability, every single point was vital to them.

A few minutes later.

The five newcomers finished listening to Zhan Lan's account. This situation unfolded much faster than previous instances. The individuals bustling around the banquet were all child-sized, perhaps seven or eight years old, yet their appearances spanned from infancy to old age. These were the famously known Hobbits, or Halflings, of the Lord of the Rings world.

With so much evidence surrounding them, the five had no choice but to believe.

The handsome youth was the first of the five to regain composure. He observed the incessantly busy Hobbits, his eyes darting around, before asking, "Ha, this is truly unbelievable. I was just online discussing hacking techniques with someone, and the