A new chapter begins.
My colony grows stronger by the day—antennae twirling like satellite dishes, scouring the BL horizon for a fresh nest… or just some new friends who won’t eat us.
This time, destiny led me into the heart of Barren Land (BL), where things heat up faster than a sun-baked leaf. I didn’t make the journey alone—my loyal friend @Daliane was right beside me, just like always. We migrated together into the vibrant sands of Server 574, stepping into the legendary alliance known as SKY.
SKY isn’t just famous for their YouTube presence. They’re active, respectful, and most of all, genuinely connected. Every officer, especially the alliance leader, is approachable, engaged, and deeply dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment. SKY doesn’t operate like a top-down hierarchy—they gather ideas from members, make decisions based on collective input, and ensure everyone feels heard. It’s the kind of place where you fight side by side… and laugh in the chat between battles.
And trust me—laughing helps.
Because here’s the thing: I might need to bulk up… my fingers.
Yes. It’s time to dust off imaginary dumbbells and sculpt my tapping technique.
If I were training for the Antlympics, I’d be bench-pressing pixels. 
Rallies vanish in seconds. Blink and you’re out. The pace here isn’t just fast—it’s ferocious.
The BL war cycle hasn’t officially started yet, but tensions already buzz beneath the surface. SKY is warming up through the ongoing Duel battles, which let us test our mettle. Honestly? My ants are trying their best, but many of our alliance members—like the silent juggernaut Ukr0n—are operating on another level. I’ve never seen him chat, but I’ve seen what he does to enemy forces… and let’s just say, I land around 18% damage before he politely bulldozes my troops into ant dust. Dude’s a silent demolition crew with mandibles of doom.
Thanks to the time zone madness (+3.5 UTC difference), I’ve started scheduling 3:30 A.M. wake-ups just to catch opportunities at prime hours (16:00–24:00 UTC). Is it ridiculous? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
The island feels calm for now. But this is BL.
It’s not calm for long.
This is just the warm-up before the jaws snap and alliances collide.
So here I am, flexing my metaphorical antennae to get to know SKY’s members and allies… and keeping a side-eye on future rivals.
Let’s see how this desert story unfolds.
The peaceful haze over Barren Land (BL) is evaporating… and fast.
Over the past few days, our team moved like a whisper—claiming every colony in our zone without triggering a single clash with the opposing camp. Now we’re constructing a sprawling tower highway, one stretch at a time, heading straight toward the war zone. Something tells me that by tomorrow—or maybe even tonight—we’ll see the first sparks fly.
The energy in SKY is electric.
Everyone’s sharpening their ants’ pincers and prepping for the clash.
It’s the kind of vibe that makes your thorax twitch.
We’ve occupied several high-LV colonies that spawn more T11 ants—giving us a sweet early advantage. And then came the big moment: the rules of BL finally unlocked the use of T11 troops.
I was ready.
Set my alarm for 3:30 A.M. local time, leapt out of bed like a sandstorm survivor, and started chasing down those high-LV T11-producing colonies. Went straight for LV11… and BOOM—within 11 minutes, every colony was gone. Devoured. SKY members were clearly just as prepared as I was.
LV10 colonies didn’t last long either—wiped out within 20 minutes. So I circled back to my trusty LV6s and started upgrading them to LV8, like a determined ant architect.
Honestly? The devs feel a little stingy with colony spawns.
I mean, how hard could it be to stretch that for loop just a bit more?
If I were in charge, I’d throw in a cheeky while(true) and let colonies rain from the heavens like bonus candy at a swarm party.
Devs, take notes
Oh—and quick correction from last time:
War hours in BL are from 0:00 to 8:00 UTC, which works perfectly for a sunrise grinder like me. That’s 3:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. local time—just right for early birds… and early ants. 
This schedule was clearly designed for rooster-style warriors.
Images from the BL .
“Dust Rises – Waiting on Thorn Monolith”
Just as we expected… the first skirmishes have begun.
Watching the battlefield unfold, one thing’s crystal-clear—this BL cycle won’t be easy. The enemy camp is stacked with strong players, and they’re here for one thing: victory. No freebies, no soft fights.
After a couple of short but successful battles in the northern zone, our alliance leader made a deliberate call: hold position.
Instead of pressing forward, we anchored ourselves close to enemy territory—redirecting resources to gather more clay buffs, fortifying for the future.
From the enemy camp, only one alliance—TIG—has pushed into the northern region.
On our side, only Jp1 has advanced southward.
Looks like both camps are playing the same strategy: avoid early losses, and strengthen as much as possible before the real storm hits.
For now, it’s a delicate dance.
Each side watches the other with eagle-eyed precision.
So far, only one alliance from each camp has engaged in heavy combat.
In the south, Jp1 is facing a tough grind.
They’re up against two enemy alliances that hold the healing mushroom advantage, which makes the region extra brutal. Despite not winning the clash outright, their approach is brave and smart.
Let’s be real—anyone in their place would’ve struggled.
But Jp1 is doing the right thing: hit fast, hit deep, and keep casualties low.
They’re fighting guerrilla-style to steal as many buffs from the enemy zone as they can… and trust me, that’s no easy feat.
As I said, neither camp has triggered the main war yet.
The silence is strategic.
All eyes are locked on the future battleground: Thorn Monolith.
That area remains sealed off for now, but in four days, the tunnels to LV8 will open—and I suspect that’s when all hell breaks loose.
Until then?
We wait.
Each side gathering strength.
Each tower built with purpose.
Each scout creeping forward in silence.
But I wonder… will this tense calm hold for four more days?
Or will someone snap, break the silence, and throw the first real punch?
Episode 4 – War Beneath the Fungi Skies 
Reset arrived like a distant thunderclap.
No warhorns. No fanfare. Just the hum of keyboards, whispered commands across alliances, and flashing screens under sleepy eyes.
They showed up. Not just SKY—though their numbers were solid.
It was a shared commitment:
Players across factions waking at 2AM, 4AM, 5AM
Groggy minds, focused fingers
A full-field presence that blurred the lines between loyalty, strategy, and pure willpower
Tactical Playbooks Opened
Plans weren’t simple.
They were layered like an ant’s underground maze:
Distract KTA enough to divide their attention
Draw MFS into committing ranged defenses early
Drain enemy stamina while towers crumble one by one 
Early momentum? 
Achieved.
KTA lost key towers. MFS took hits. A sense of rhythm built across the sandblasted arena.
But then…
Curveballs & Reinforcements
Out of nowhere, like wind across dunes:
TIG entered with 50 fully-committed troops
MFS brought 45 fungus-fueled elites
And suddenly, Jp1 was under siege
TGM had to shift defenses to stop TIG’s push
GRIT in Action
This wasn’t just about strength.
It was about GRIT—not Ants, not numbers, but unyielding resolve.
Grit is:
- Persisting through fatigue
- Adapting under fire
- Pressing forward when victory feels uncertain
Both sides showed it.
SKY held.
TIG surged.
KTA advanced, then fell back.
No one flinched. Just finger taps, troop moves, split-second decisions.
Towers were built, smashed, rebuilt again.
Ants poured out like dust devils in a storm.
Healers threw mushrooms like last-minute lifelines.
And still, the sands of BL shifted.
As the Sun Set…
After eight relentless hours, silence returned.
No victor crowned.
Just tired tacticians counting spores, refreshing stamina, and scribbling new plans for dawn.
What Lies Ahead?
The Tree awaits. That’s the true prize.
Buff zones and middle clashes? Strategic bonuses.
Fungi supplies in some camps… running low
Adaptation will beat repetition
This war isn’t over.
It’s evolving.
And every player—Sky or Tig, KTA or Jp1—is dancing on the edge of brilliance or burnout.
So we wait. And watch. And ready the next scroll…
