After leaving the medical rescue center, Jace's wife urged him to visit the childcare facility. Along the way, Jace revealed his true fears:
"You have no idea how dangerous it out there. I'm terrified something will happen to you, do you understand? People die every day—even I can't guarantee safety."
His wife countered:
"If you died, who'd take care of our son? Let me learn too. That way, no matter who falls, the other can raise him. Isn't that why we're here?"
Her words convinced Jace.
The childcare center resembled a nursery—except there were no human teachers, only robots. After discussing terms, Jace agreed to entrust their child temporarily. It wasn't permanent; parents could retrieve their kids anytime, as long as it didn't disrupt work.
News of Jace's decision spread like wildfire. Others followed suit, freeing up more laborers.
"How many people haven't left the train yet?" Damian asked Fu Yao.
[Approximately 4,000.]
"Why aren't they leaving?"
[They're paralyzed by fear. They live on loans, subsisting on minimal rations—some eat only one stale cake daily. At this rate, 500 Star Coins would sustain them for years.]
Damian refused to tolerate freeloaders. "Everyone capable of working must contribute. How do we fix this?"
[Charge fares. No fees during transit, but when the train docks, impose a 1 Star Coin daily maintenance fee per passenger. For those fighting outside, it's nothing. For hiders, it's lethal.]
Damian added: "Children in childcare are always free. Charge 0.5 Star Coins daily for energy use to those glued to the entertainment zones." Many of the 4,000 "hiders" were addicted to games, neglecting basic needs. Damian had zero patience.
When the rules announced, most shrugged—but the hiders panicked. They had to earn money or starve. Hundreds applied to join guilds for survival. Still, a hardcore few remained defiant, clinging to their "decline to participate" lifestyle.
"Fu Yao, how long until they collapse?"
[A month at most. Then loan defaults trigger penalties.]
"No mercy. Publicly eject them and broadcast the expulsion. Train rules are non-negotiable."
Day 1 of the Gecko Star campaign ended with most guilds succeeding. Only a few struggled against tougher foes.
By Day 2, Damian awoke to news of major guilds assaulting top-ten Gecko tribes. As predicted, large guilds partnered with smaller ones, forming alliances of thousands.
"How many leagues are active?"
[Hope Guild's "Hope Alliance": 16,000 strong, 24 guilds—attacking Tribe #9.]
[Nightfall Guild's "Nightfall Alliance": 13,000, 18 guilds—attacking Tribe #4.]
[Stalled at Tribe #7: Apex Guild leads 17,000, 20 guilds.]
[Science Guild targets Tribe #6: 10,000, 12 guilds.]
[Dragon Soul Guild hits Tribe #5: 8,000, 7 guilds (no small guilds).]
[80+ mid/small guilds form a 30,000-strong alliance on Tribe #8.]
The top three tribes remained untouched. Records warned they each had 8,000–20,000 geckos.
"Display all five alliances' feeds. I want live updates."
Tactics mirrored earlier campaigns: carpet bombings, then squads to mop up. Battle efficiency varied by guild culture. Hope Alliance, however, broke through first. Jace, emboldened, exploited gecko weaknesses with pinpoint strategies. He shared his tactics online for all to learn: "Divide into 3-4 person squads. Assign roles—defenders, melee, ranged harassers. Maximize efficiency, target vulnerabilities."
Damian praised the tactic, dubbing it a textbook case. Other guilds copied it, crushing tribes methodically.
But as they prepared to strike the top three tribes, the geckos united. Sensing existential threat, they merged into a single force. Damian consolidated the mission into one mega-task. Guilds halted, wary, and convened to debate.
Under the North Hemisphere's night sky, dozens of guild leaders roasted meat and strategized.
"Combined, they outnumber us 50,000 to 200,000 in human-equivalent strength," Orion warned. "Before, each tribe had flaws. Now, their combined forces neutralize those weaknesses."
"Strange they were all clustered so close… easy to merge."** If farther apart, guilds could've isolated them.
Lilith urged Jace: "Use your squad strategy? Bomb first, then divide and conquer."
Jace shook his head: "That worked with superior numbers."
"We're gathering more—over 200,000 total. Surely that's enough?"
Atticus, the seasoned soldier, cut in: "Battlefields have contact surfaces. Just because enemy numbers grow doesn't mean we can deploy proportionally. Terrain limits how many actual fighters engage. Your '200k' is mostly non-combatants."
Lilith blinked: "So… it's about effective participation. We look strong, but only 50-60k can fight due to terrain. The rest are irrelevant."