We have finally entered the week of the first-ever Siege War. As the battle for castle ownership heats up, clans on every server are scrambling to recruit new members, while intensifying monopolies and skirmishes to hinder the growth of their rivals. Conversely, a significant number of casual players uninterested in the Siege War have begun to leave, causing a major ripple effect on the in-game economy.

■ Siege War Opening Soon! Who Will Claim the 500 Million Adena?

With less than a week left until the Siege War, major factions that have dominated their respective servers are on high alert for the opening salvo on Sunday, June 21, at 8:00 PM.

The stage for the first Siege War is set at Kent Castle, Windwood Castle, and the Orc Fortress. Since the service launched, a massive amount of tax revenue has accumulated in each server. Consequently, all eyes are on who will seize these long-held riches. The Kent Castle on the Death Knight server is particularly significant, as it holds over 500 million Adena, making the victory not just a matter of prestige, but a highly lucrative reward.

Clans are making a final push before the Siege War begins. They are working hard to bolster their ranks while simultaneously increasing pressure on rival factions currently leveling up, aiming to break their will to compete.

■ Consolidating Power! Hunting Grounds Monopoly Deepens

It is not just the 'ruling' factions and the 'dissidents' who are clashing. With the true prize of castle ownership now within reach, reports of intensified hunting grounds monopolies are becoming a common occurrence across all servers.

The severity varies by server. While some servers still have the most popular hunting grounds, such as the upper floors of the Ivory Tower, open to all, others are reportedly under total control—not just the Ivory Tower and the Oren Snowy Fields, but even the Flame Dragon's Nest, Dragon Valley, and the upper levels of the main dungeon.

While some of these reports, such as the control of the main dungeon's upper floors, may be slightly exaggerated, it is clear that the monopoly situation is escalating. In some servers, neutral clans are forming coalitions to declare themselves as dissidents in response to these excessive restrictions. It remains to be seen whether the addition of the Siege War will breathe new life into these servers.

■ High-End Equipment Flooding the Market! A Sign of Exodus or a New Opportunity?

While this is the most thrilling moment for players who love combat and are looking forward to the Siege War, the opposite trend is emerging among mid-to-low-tier players who have little stake in the competition, leading to a flood of high-end equipment hitting the market.

The prevailing view is that as gameplay constraints tighten—due to persistent login issues and the intensifying hunting grounds monopolies ahead of the Siege War—players are choosing to leave the game and liquidate their assets. As more equipment enters the market, the value of Adena is also trending downward.

Some are leaving alongside friends they played with, while others see this as an opportunity. With an abundance of items available and the value of Adena dropping, players can upgrade their gear at a lower cost. This has enabled some to push into higher-level hunting grounds, while others who previously avoided PVP are using this chance to jump into the fray.

It remains to be seen how this shift will affect each server. While a decline in the total user pool over time is natural, the key question is whether the influx of equipment into the market will act as a new source of vitality.