He Yiming stood frozen, staring at the massive structure before him. It wasn't just a wall,it was a fortress. Rising over thirty meters high and stretching hundreds of meters in length, the dam loomed over the battlefield like an immovable giant.
"...What the hell?"
He blinked, half-expecting the scene to waver like an illusion. But it didn't. The stone beneath his feet was real. The players scrambling across the dam were real. The massive drainage outlets built into its foundation were real.
"Brother Ming is here!" A player standing atop the dam spotted him and waved excitedly.
The shout was enough to break He Yiming from his daze. He ascended the structure, still trying to process what he was seeing. He had expected a flimsy barricade at best. Maybe a few hastily dug trenches. But this? This was a fully operational defense system, complete with internal channels for water drainage and reinforced walls thick enough to withstand siege weaponry.
It was absurd.
It was ridiculous.
It was also, somehow, undeniably impressive.
"Brother Ming, what do you think?"
"How is it? Our masterpiece, huh?"
"Brothers, even if we die, we must protect Brother Ming!"
"No choice. If we fail, we're gonna end up as meat shields anyway."
"You think dying once is bad? I just finished upgrading my armor! At least let me tank properly before getting one-shot!"
The players were grinning, chatting, hyping each other up. Their enthusiasm was so infectious that He Yiming couldn't bring himself to scold them for their insanity. Instead, he let out a deep breath and shook his head.
"...You've done well."
His words were met with cheers.
Then, someone shouted, "Look!"
Every head turned.
A deep, rumbling roar echoed through the sky.
In the distance, the ocean surged violently. The horizon darkened as an impossibly vast wall of water rose, blotting out the setting sun. The air trembled. The ground shuddered. It was as if the entire world was being swallowed by the sea.
A tsunami.
No, not just a tsunami but a army.
Atop the roaring waves, countless figures emerged. Hulking creatures with scaled bodies, gleaming bone spears clutched in webbed hands. The Sea Race, riding the flood like conquerors descending upon a ruined kingdom.
"Hold the grass…" someone muttered.
"This is insane."
"This isn't just a wave. This is an extinction event."
Even in a game, the sheer scale of the approaching disaster was enough to make their blood run cold. But then—
"Take a screenshot!"
A flurry of menu sounds filled the air as players rushed to capture the moment.
"I'm getting this in 4K!"
"Bro, imagine the views on this post!"
"Game of the year confirmed!"
He Yiming massaged his temples. The enemy was literally riding a natural disaster toward them, and these lunatics were treating it like a photo op.
"Are you ready, everyone?"
Star's voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.
"Awaiting orders, Brother Star!"
"Everyone, enter combat positions!"
The stronger players immediately took their places within the fortress, while those who had recently died and been reset to lower cultivation realms remained stationed on the dam's surface.
He Yiming watched them go but did not move to join the fight. Instead, he turned and walked back toward the Sect Hall.
If a Foundation Establishment powerhouse appeared, he would need to handle it himself. He couldn't afford to waste his strength on mere foot soldiers.
The battle had only just begun.
The tsunami hit.
A deafening crash shook the land as the wave collided with the dam. Water surged violently, but instead of sweeping away the defenses, it was funneled through the countless drainage outlets. The dam held firm.
The Sea Race, expecting to ride the wave straight into the sect, were instead thrown into momentary chaos.
"What?!"
"This wall is still standing?!"
"Don't panic! We are the Sea Race! Even without the waves, we will crush these weak humans!"
The first wave of warriors lunged forward, leaping onto the dam.
The players stationed above immediately sprang into action.
"AHHHH! HELP!"
One player collapsed on the spot, his limbs trembling violently.
Another turned tail and ran, flailing his arms wildly.
A third fell to his knees, clutching his head.
The Sea Race warriors hesitated.
"...Are they serious?"
"This is embarrassing. Humans are really this weak?"
"Forget it! Just kill them!"
A wave of bone spears flew through the air, skewering several players on the spot. The rest fled in terror, dashing into the tunnels of the dam.
"Chase them! Kill them all!"
The Sea Race charged forward. One after another, they rushed into the passage, their laughter echoing off the stone walls.
Then..
Boom!
A massive stone slab slammed down behind them, sealing the exit.
Silence.
The Sea Race warriors skidded to a stop.
A single voice echoed from deeper inside the tunnel.
"Welcome, gentlemen… to the slaughterhouse."