Chapter 22: The Beast Tide Attacks
"It's coming!" Irving's deep gaze was fixed in one direction.
As the tide of beasts, composed of various species, was rapidly advancing, a surge of anxiety was filling him. This was his first time facing such a massive horde of beasts.
Compared to the group of Wind Wolves he had encountered in the mine, this group was at least ten times larger. The most crucial part was that if the shelter behind him fell, the game would be over!
Meanwhile.
In other shelters scattered across the other world, waves of beasts were attacking.
Many players were so terrified by the sheer scale of the attack that their legs gave out before they could even start fighting back.
"No! No!"
The players gasped, their pupils dilated like bronze bells. The next moment, they felt their bodies being flung away like kites with broken strings, and the shelter behind them was obliterated in an instant.
This beast tide, driven by the will of the Blue Star, was the first test before the apocalypse. Under the law of survival of the fittest, weaker players would be eliminated.
There were also many players who had formed temporary alliances. There were also some guilds that choose to jointly defend a shelter together.
This split the pressure among them. However, in the face of such a vast tide of beasts, they could only hold on desperately. Players are constantly being mercilessly slaughtered by exotic beasts.
Blood stained the ground red, and every corner of the other world was filled with the howls of beasts and the screams of players.
Outside a stone shelter, the three layers of wooden fences appeared so frail in front of the massive beast tide.
Irving could clearly see the pigmen leading the charge, their eyes glowing red like lanterns. They were the first to break through the outermost fence, entering the designated path in the middle.
Vicky was fully engaged in casting support magic. Streaks of flowing light emerged from her body, briefly lingering in the air before swiftly entering Irving's body.
Whir! The staff in Irving's hand was continuously gathering power, while he kept his gaze fixed on the rapidly approaching beast tide.
Two hundred meters!
One hundred meters!
Finally, fifty meters...
Vicky could clearly see the grotesque faces of the pigmen and even smell the stench emanating from their bodies.
Her nerves were like a tightly strung bow, and she couldn't help but cry out, "It's too late! They are about to pounce!"
The next moment, the group of pigmen at the forefront inexplicably slowed down.
"Now is the time!" A glint of chilling light flashed in Irving's deep eyes. He abruptly manipulated the staff in his hand toward the location of the swamp trap, casting the spell [Intermediate Fireball]!
Boom!
The dazzling firelight was as blinding as the sun, hurting the eyes. A giant fireball was hurled at the pigmen stuck in the swamp.
When the fireball hit, a massive shockwave rippled through the air. Even Irving's figure swayed, and Vicky behind him had to hold onto the railings of the shelter.
When the two lifted their heads again, the former swamp had morphed into a sea of fire, with countless pigmen rolling in the flames, emitting gut-wrenching screams.
"Watch out!" Just then, Vicky suddenly noticed a figure bursting from the fiery sea. With a plump figure and incredible speed, she quickly alerted.
Irving's gaze narrowed, and he immediately recognized the figure. It was the Butcher, the monstrous creature they had encountered at the altar earlier!
This Butcher, however, was now enveloped in roaring flames and charged towards them like a ball of fire.
Roar!
Before Irving could react, he heard a familiar sound by his ear. Then he saw Little Black rush out. Its body enveloped in purple flames, although it looked tiny compared to the Butcher...
The Butcher roared, opening its huge gaping mouth, as if it could swallow Little Black whole!
"Come back!"
Irving's face paled instantly, and even Vicky, who had just let down her guard, felt her heart jump into her throat.
The next moment.
An unexpected scene took place. Little Black, after being swallowed by the flames, suddenly swelled, transforming into a fierce beast two to three meters tall! The purple flames covering its body grew even more intense!
Roar!
Little Black roared and with a swipe of its paw, it sent the giant Butcher flying. It seemed to enjoy bathing in the sea of fire, continually knocking down all the beasts trying to rush out.
Seeing this scene, not only Vicky but even Irving was stunned for a moment.
However, he quickly understood. The purple flame inherent in the Hellhound indicated that it had a unique affinity with fire. The fiery sea in front of them seemed to be a playground specifically prepared for Little Black, and its inherent genes were instantly amplified.
In front of the shelter, the flames raged on.
Hundreds and thousands of beasts were trapped in the pre-set swamp trap. As one batch fell, a new one surged in. Meanwhile, system notifications kept ringing in Irving's ears.
[You have successfully killed a pigman...]
[You have successfully killed a pigman...]
[You have successfully killed the Butcher...]
[You have successfully killed...]
Countless equipment and material information appeared before his eyes.
Faced with catastrophe for the first time, Irving, who was initially a bit nervous, now felt waves of excitement.
This is not a catastrophe, it's clearly a cornucopia!
Thousands of beasts were trapped in the swamp trap, and when the sea of fire gradually died down, there was more equipment and materials dropped than they could possibly collect.
"We've finally survived this wave of disaster…" Vicky looked at the scene before her and couldn't help but sigh in relief. Her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at Irving.
If she had to face such a massive wave of beasts on her own, there wouldn't be the slightest chance of survival.
At this moment, Irving also put down his staff, looking forward to the dropped equipment.
Thousands of beasts, coupled with his talent, [Tenfold Drop Rate], this wave could at least yield thousands of pieces of equipment, some of which might even be of high or rare tier... The mere thought of it was exciting.
Roar!
Suddenly, a deafening roar rang out.
Through the flames, they could vaguely see two figures entangled in a fight.
A moment later, Little Black suddenly let out a mournful howl, its body thrown out from the fight and landing heavily in front of Irving...