Crossing the wilderness to survive, starting with a broken kitchen knife.

In the days that followed, Zhang Shi arranged for personnel to treat the wounded and repair damaged defenses while preparing to form alliances with other forces. He knew time was running out, and every passing second could give the Lizardmen more opportunities to launch their next attack.

Zhang Shi first sent his sincere request for cooperation and detailed information about the Lizardmen's attack to each known sphere of influence, including their fighting style, weapons and equipment, and the power of the terrifying fire beads, hoping to attract the attention of other forces and discuss countermeasures together.

At the same time, he also strengthened the island's internal defenses. Lao Bai led the craftsmen, working day and night, setting more hidden and deadly traps around the woods. These included not only spikes and traps, but also trigger-activated magic traps. Any Lizardmen who entered would be struck by a surge of magical energy, slowing their attack. Zhao Feng, in turn, intensified the training of his soldiers, developing specialized tactics tailored to the Lizardmen's weaknesses and attack methods. This strengthened their combat skills and teamwork, striving to minimize casualties and inflict a heavier blow on the Lizardmen in the next encounter.

Meanwhile, Ge Dalong focused on researching ways to combat the lizardmen's flames. He consulted numerous ancient books and magical materials, experimenting with various magical potions and protective barriers, hoping to find an effective way to resist the blazing flames and protect the soldiers.

A few days later, the major factions gradually returned with news. Some expressed a willingness to meet with Zhang Shi to discuss the possibility of cooperation, but others remained cautious, lacking sufficient understanding of the Lizardmen threat or fearing that collaborating with Zhang Shi would lead to unnecessary conflict.

Zhang Shi was not discouraged by this. He decided to personally visit the locations of the forces willing to meet, demonstrating his sincerity and determination. Before leaving, he made detailed arrangements for the defense of the island to ensure its safety during his absence.

Zhang Shi's first stop was the Alliance of Light. The two factions were old acquaintances, and Liu Yu, the leader, warmly welcomed him. During the meeting, Zhang Shi elaborated on his views on the Lizardmen threat and the need for cooperation. He emphasized the Lizardmen's organized and disciplined fighting style, which had put Zhang Shi at a significant disadvantage. Zhang Shi speculated that they must have already had some understanding of the survivors. In other words, they had long been under their watch.

Liu Yu also stated that the Alliance of Light had suffered considerable losses in previous battles with the Lizardmen and, knowing their formidable strength, was willing to form an alliance with Zhang Shi's island forces to jointly combat this common enemy. Both sides were willing to share intelligence, and as a gesture of sincerity, Liu Yu even offered to establish a two-way teleportation point at the base, allowing for ready deployment of troops in the event of a Lizardmen attack. Zhang Shi pondered for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement. Liu Yu was a trustworthy figure. The two factions, joining forces, were bound to have closer cooperation in the future. Without mutual trust, the alliance would certainly not last.

After leaving the Bright Alliance, Zhang Shi immediately traveled to other factions. In his communications with these factions, he fully demonstrated his wisdom and leadership skills, gradually convincing more and more factions to join the fight against the Lizardmen. Although the process was not smooth, and he encountered some doubts and difficulties, Zhang Shi never gave up, knowing that at this time, every extra person meant more strength.

After a period of struggle, an alliance centered around Zhang Shi's island forces and the Alliance of Light gradually formed. The various factions began to pool resources, share technology and intelligence, and jointly train soldiers in preparation for the impending decisive battle with the Lizardmen. Zhang Shi, fully aware that the outcome of this war hinged on the fate of the entire survivor world, shouldered the heavy responsibility of leading the alliance into an unknown battlefield.

Recently, chat channels have been flooded with reports of Lizardman invasions. Some have successfully defended themselves, while others have been annihilated by the Lizardmen. For a time, the entire wilderness world was in chaos. Judging from the information revealed in the chat channels, the Lizardmen are individually powerful, with speed and strength comparable to those of the current survivors. Furthermore, some of them are skilled in magic, and Zhang Shi himself has suffered a great loss in this regard.

As Zhang Shi integrates various forces, he increasingly feels the weight of this crisis. Every interaction with other forces is like finding a ray of light while groping forward in the darkness, but it also comes with various difficult choices and challenges.

As the alliance took shape, Zhang Shi began to organize the elites of various factions to discuss a strategic plan against the Lizardmen. They gathered in a makeshift command tent, where a large map hung, marking the strongholds of each faction and areas frequented by Lizardmen.

"Based on the intelligence we've gathered so far, the Lizardmen appear to be systematically conducting scattered attacks on our various forces, attempting to defeat them one by one." Zhang Shi stood in front of the map, analyzing with a serious expression, "We can no longer passively accept attacks. We must take the initiative, find their lair, and deliver a fatal blow."

Everyone nodded in agreement, but some expressed concern. "However, we have no idea where the Lizardmen's lair is. A blind attack could lead us into a trap," said a general from another faction.

"This is indeed a problem, but we can't just sit there and wait for death." Zhang Shi said after a moment of contemplation, "We can first send out some reconnaissance teams to search various sea areas, and at the same time strengthen the defenses of various strongholds to prevent further attacks from the Lizardmen."

In the days that followed, reconnaissance teams set out one after another, cautiously searching for traces of the Lizardmen across the vast ocean. Zhang Shi, in turn, led the soldiers through arduous training on the island, enhancing their combat capabilities and coordination.

However, the Lizardmen's actions were always beyond their expectations. One day, a reconnaissance team suddenly sent back an urgent message. They had discovered a large fleet of Lizardmen gathering in a remote sea area. It looked like they were coming with ill intentions and seemed to be preparing to launch a large-scale attack.

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Shi immediately summoned the alliance's top brass for a meeting. "This time, the enemy is in the open, while we are in the dark. This could be our chance to inflict a heavy blow on the Lizardmen. We can't miss it," Zhang Shi said with a determined look, his heart agitated.