Chapter 010: Rescuing Survivors

At this moment, not far from Hope Village, beside a river, a group of people were resting.

Since the Doomsday Game began yesterday, most of them had gradually learned how to battle demon beasts in the midst of fleeing and had obtained a number of supplies from the beasts, allowing them to survive.

However, these supplies did not include water, so they had to search for water during their migration.

As for why they were migrating, it was naturally because they hadn't found a safe place yet. When they stayed in one place and cleared out the nearby demon beasts, after a while, more would come toward them as if they could smell their scent.

With no other choice, they could only run and rest wherever possible.

During their migration, they occasionally encountered isolated groups of people, most of whom would join their team.

But as their numbers increased, so did their losses.

After all, when demon beasts attacked, everyone could only look after themselves. Those who ran slower would become the unfortunate souls under the claws of the beasts.

They too wanted to find a safer place, but after the apocalypse, all they could see around them were desolate wilds. How could any place be safe?

Thinking of this, they couldn't help but feel a sense of drifting and wondered when they would finally find peace.

Just then, some of those scooping up water at the riverbank suddenly stopped their motions.

"You have entered the range governed by Hope Village, and you may proceed to Hope Village."

"Note: Territories like villages, towns, and cities can resist demon beasts of different levels according to their defensive power."

After listening to the message and reading it several times, someone spoke up.

"There's a safe place now. It can defend against demon beasts."

"I knew it. This game wouldn't leave us without a way out."

The speakers' eyes instantly reddened, and their tears fell uncontrollably. The others sported similar expressions.

From a comfortable and peaceful life to a primitive one, they had it tough!

After calming their emotions a bit, everyone hastily reorganized and headed in the direction of Hope Village as indicated on the map.

Different from their previous aimlessness, this time they harbored a few more strands of hope.

But just as they had covered a short distance, an unexpected event occurred.

A pack of demon beasts emerged and encircled them completely.

Those in the team who had leveled up couldn't help but check their stats.

"Demon Beast: Shadow Demon Dog"

"Level: **"

"Introduction: Hunts in packs, fast as a shadow, 'Jungle Scavenger'. Beware of it; it will leave you with no remains."

"Attributes: **"

Obviously, these Shadow Demon Dogs were of a higher level than them, which was why they couldn't see their level and attributes.

But the few lines from the introduction were enough to make them realize that they were probably doomed.

Looking into the greedy eyes of the Shadow Demon Dogs, many felt a sense of collapse.

Nevertheless, thinking of their fragile lives, many still drew their weapons and stood firm against the Shadow Demon Dogs.

But to the Shadow Demon Dogs, they appeared to have no threat at all; with a light growl, they rapidly charged towards them, ready to feast.

The Shadow Demon Dogs possessed intelligence, and their first choice was those in the team who appeared weak.

And just as their name suggested, they came without a trace and vanished just as quickly, leaving wounds on many in an instant. They swiftly targeted their prey, bit into their necks, and then dragged them away to gnaw on without hesitation.

"No!"

"Help!"

The scene was filled with overlapping screams, and the crowd turned chaotic.

Some couldn't handle the shock and tried to escape from the group.

But the Shadow Demon Dogs had already considered them easy prey and wouldn't let them go easily. Those who attempted to flee had their legs injured by the beasts' sharp claws, preventing them from escaping, and then the beasts went after the live "prey."

When Zhou Zhengping and Li Xingteng arrived with their team, what they saw was this bloody scene.

They knew that humans and demon beasts would soon turn into orbs of light and disappear after death, but they had never imagined that before becoming orbs of light, the beasts could devour human flesh and blood, and after feasting, these demon beasts would be able to level up.

Because just moments ago, they had seen one of the Shadow Demon Dogs level up from Level 3 to Level 4 after devouring a human.

At that point, they realized why the Demon Beasts were so sensitive to their presence, and why they went so crazy upon seeing them.

They saw the Demon Beasts as tools to level up and acquire dropped supplies, while the beasts saw them as food to level up!

And the arrival of Zhou Zhengping and Li Xingteng instantly ignited hope among the group, for the equipment and weapons they bore were exceptionally out of the ordinary.

"Save us, please we beg you!"

Without hesitation, a group armed with weapons joined the battle.

Along their journey, they encountered numerous Demon Beasts and had used them for practice, becoming adept in the use of Long Spears. The spear provided a safer alternative than close-quarters weapons like the Iron Axe.

Long Spears began to leave marks on the Shadow Demon Dogs, and as the marks appeared, Blood Bars became visible above their heads.

Level 1 and 2 Shadow Demon Dogs could be dealt with swiftly with 60 points of damage from a Long Spear - a quick succession of 2 to 4 hits was enough.

However, the Level 3 and 4 Shadow Demon Dogs were able to dodge, making some attacks misses, which made the fight quite more strenuous.

Importantly, the Level 4 Shadow Demon Dogs, displaying higher intelligence, knew that Zhou Zhengping and his group were not to be trifled with. Seeing the numbers of the humans, they started to howl loudly.

With its calls, the other Shadow Demon Dogs began to abandon their prey and gathered around the Level 4 Shadow Demon Dog, charging into battle to create an opening for escape.

But Zhou Zhengping and Li Xingteng weren't about to give them that chance. They exchanged a look and seamlessly abandoned their Long Spears for Iron Axes, opting for close-combat which the rest of the Guard Team followed suit.

Then, even though the Shadow Demon Dogs left wounds and their Life Values began to drop, they kept hacking away relentlessly, understanding the fight was a matter of life and death.

With the advantage in numbers, the Shadow Demon Dogs were hit repeatedly, their Blood Bars dropped, and they died one after the other.

[Congratulations Host, for killing a lv.4 Shadow Demon Dog, you have obtained 4 sharp teeth, 4 Shadow Boots, 40 Experience Points, and 40 copper coins.]

With the demise of the leading Shadow Hound, the crisis had quietly come to an end.

They had been saved!

The rescued group quickly realized this and collapsed on the ground, unable to move.

And for those who had lost family to the Shadow Demon Dogs, they wept uncontrollably at the sight of the indistinct remains.

Even as those remains would eventually vanish with the game's reset, the shadow cast upon their hearts would not disappear.

Zhou Zhengping sighed internally as he watched this unfold.

They had just received a mission to rescue the displaced at a designated location, and had rushed there following the map.

But they were still too late.

Li Xingteng stepped forward to offer comfort, "We are from Hope Village's Guard Team. Quick, gather yourselves and we'll head to the territory; it can fend off the Demon Beasts, and you'll be safe once we're there."

The word "safe" hit a sensitive nerve in their hearts.

One by one, they collected themselves, ready to follow.

Those who were injured were also helped along.

After the Doomsday Game manifested, their bodies seemed to become digitized too. When injured, their Life Values would drop, but with timely healing and the passage of time, Life Values would slowly recover, and wounds would heal along with them.

Hence, as long as a person wasn't dead, nobody would give up.

The group followed Zhou Zhengping toward Hope Village, a glint of hope in their eyes.

Elsewhere, Zhou Bai sighed with relief at the sight of several small green dots moving toward the territory on the Lord Map.

Receiving news of displaced people entering the territory, she glanced at the map and saw red dots slowly surrounding a group of green dots; she immediately issued a mission to the Guard Team.

Fortunately, they had made it in time, but Zhou Bai knew some green dots had still vanished, which weighed her mood down.

In this Doomsday Game, human lives were so fragile! If she had not been lucky enough to obtain the Lord Token, her family would have been in dire straits.

"Everything alright?" Ding Qiurou asked, regarding Zhou Bai's changing expressions with concern.

"It's fine now; they're on their way back. However, quite a few people died before they could get here," Zhou Bai replied succinctly.

Listening to this, Ding Qiurou's expression turned a bit melancholic, but she tried to console Zhou Bai, "You've done what you could. Don't overthink it."

"Right," Zhou Bai understood. In this Doomsday Game, overthinking was only tormenting oneself. Instead of dwelling on those who had died, it was better to think about how to build up the territory, to shelter oneself, one's family, and others.

Her gaze then returned to the Lord Map.

The small green and red dots were very significant! They had to be utilized properly!

Moreover, it was necessary to let those outside the territory know of its existence, so they could find refuge there, and to also provide more sources of combat strength for the territory.