45: Chapter 45 Hope in Desperate Circumstances

The wooden door slammed shut behind them.

The room was filled with a heavy atmosphere.

Exhausted, the people slumped on the floor, the dim light from the fireplace illuminating pale and weary faces.

Ke Yun knelt on the ground, carefully pulling the nearly collapsed Qi Yun into her arms, letting his head rest on her soft and warm lap.

She closed her eyes, fully activating the passive effect of "Life Hymn".

Everyone's minor wounds were slowly healing, and their overly depleted mental energy and stamina were also gradually recovering.

However, this fleeting tranquility was incredibly fragile.

The countdown showed 19 minutes remaining.

These 19 minutes felt as long as a century.

Many girls couldn't help but open their panels over and over again, staring intently at the slowly ticking numbers.

They prayed frantically in their hearts that the zombies' footsteps would be slower, and that time would pass faster.

【Zombie Horde Remaining Time: 18 minutes 57 seconds】

【18 minutes 56 seconds】

【18 minutes 55 seconds】

Every tick of the numbers lashed out at everyone's taut nerves.

Time had never been as slow as it was in this moment; every second felt as long as a century.

Just two minutes later.

"Hrr... Raa..."

The chilling roars came from afar, surging again like a tide, rapidly approaching the wooden house.

The brief tranquility was completely shattered!

"Bang! Boom!"

Violent crashing sounds came from all directions!

Despite the blessing of the defense boundary stone, the wooden house's defense level had been substantially improved.

But under the tireless and frantic assault of hundreds of zombies, the durability was still continuously dropping.

"House structure durability has dropped to 99%."

Bai Yu's cold voice rang out in the trembling house as she stared intently at the data fed back by the system.

"According to the simulation based on the current impact intensity, the wooden house can support for at most 12 minutes."

12 minutes!

But the zombie horde would last for another 17 minutes!

Everyone's heart sank to the bottom.

Once the wooden house was breached, facing the zombie horde surging from all directions, how long could their exhausted force hold out?

Even if rare classes like Qi Yun, Xia Jin, and Shu Qianxue could barely hold out for a while with their personal prowess.

But what about the remaining girls?

Those girls with non-combat classes, in this kind of melee with no defenses to rely on, might not even last a minute!

Casualties would be unavoidable, potentially leading to total annihilation.

"What to do... what to do..."

Qi Yun leaned in Ke Yun's arms, his brain racing at an unprecedented speed.

The consumption of Space Slash was far beyond imagination, and it could not be used again in the short term.

Xia Jin and Shu Qianxue's combat power was greatly reduced, and the ordinary warriors were also at the end of their rope.

All emergency measures had been exhausted! This was simply an unsolvable death trap!

"Damn it! Let's fight them to the end!"

Shu Qianxue punched the floor in frustration, her eyes bloodshot.

Xia Jin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the weakness in her body, her blood-red eyes sweeping over the crowd, her voice hoarse:

"Everyone with combat capability, form a circle! Protect those without melee capability in the middle!"

"This is perhaps the only thing we can do! Maybe... everyone can survive!"

But everyone understood that this was too idealistic.

Under the absolute impact of the zombie horde, the so-called circular formation would be overrun in an instant.

"No... otherwise..."

A trembling voice rang out; a girl who was usually very quiet gathered her courage and stood up, her face covered in tear stains.

"Clan Leader, Sister Xia Jin, you... you should escape!"

"You have strong combat power and have a chance to survive! Don't worry about us! We can't... we can't all die here!"

As soon as she finished speaking.

"Don't let me hear such words a second time!"

Qi Yun shouted abruptly, his voice weak but filled with unquestionable determination.

He struggled to sit up straight, his gaze sweeping sharply over the crowd.

"I have said it before, as long as I, Qi Yun, have a breath left, I will never abandon any of you! These words will always hold true!"

The girls looked at their Clan Leader; even at the brink of exhaustion, he still hadn't given up on them.

This steadfastness allowed their hearts, which were on the verge of collapse, to find a sliver of reliance.

However, the cruelty of reality would not change because of belief.

The wooden house shook more and more violently, and its durability continued to drop. Where was the hope?

Right in this suffocating atmosphere of despair, a calm voice broke the silence.

"There is still one way."

Everyone turned their heads sharply to look at the source of the voice, Bai Yu.

These short five words struck everyone's heart like a bolt of lightning!

"What?!"

"Bai Yu! What did you say?!"

"There's still a way?! Really?!"

Almost at the same time, seven or eight voices rang out simultaneously, filled with unbelievable eagerness and trembling!

All eyes looked at Bai Yu in unison at this moment!

Xia Jin's voice was a bit off-key due to excitement: "Bai Yu! What way?! Tell us quickly!"

She even subconsciously wanted to reach out and grab Bai Yu to ask for an explanation.

Even Ke Yun, who was always composed, lost her usual calmness.

Her hand supporting Qi Yun tightened unconsciously, her voice filled with anticipation:

"Student Bai Yu, what is the way? As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we are all willing to try!"

The other girls instantly gathered around, their originally dim eyes shining with light once again, urging her in a cacophony of voices:

"Sister Bai Yu! Please tell us quickly!"

"What is the way? Do you need us to do anything?"

"Are there any hidden weapons? Or some special items?"

She swept her gaze across the crowd, then looked at Qi Yun and said slowly:

"We can still try to trigger the Clan Leader's Blessing."

The Clan Leader's Blessing?!

Everyone was stunned, and their faces revealed extremely complex expressions! As well as a sliver of absurd hope.

"Within the next 10 minutes, complete a connection and create a new rare class."

Bai Yu's voice remained calm without any ripples.

"Then, pray that this newly awakened rare class has the combat power to maintain the defense line."

"Use this last variable created to hold out for the remaining time."

Qi Yun's body stiffened suddenly, as if he had returned to that night when the Clan Leader's Blessing was announced.

This time, the situation was completely different!

Last time, it was just an announcement in front of everyone.

But this time, it was to connect in front of everyone!

Not under the cover of night, not in a private corner.

But to perform the connection in full view of everyone!

This placed almost harsh demands on the girl's courage and psychological endurance!

The room fell into an eerie silence.

Only the frantic crashing and roaring of zombies outside remained, along with the cold ticking of the system time.

【Remaining Time: 15 minutes 33 seconds】

Every second was pushing everyone towards the abyss.

"I... I am willing!"

A voice with a distinct foreign accent, yet exceptionally firm, rang out.

It was Sophia! She bit her lip, her icy blue eyes flashing with the determination to risk everything.

She stepped forward, looking straight at Qi Yun and Bai Yu:

"I have always longed to become stronger! Longed to possess the power to protect everyone! If this is possible, I am willing to try!"

Her words broke the silence, but Bai Yu slowly shook her head.

Bai Yu examined Sophia with a calm gaze:

"No. First, you have not officially joined the Tribe, so whether you can trigger the Clan Leader's Blessing is unknown."

"Second, the foundation of trust is insufficient. We cannot pin our hopes on someone we have known for less than 24 hours."

Bai Yu's words were cold and realistic.

Sophia opened her mouth, but could not refute.

【Remaining Time: 15 minutes 01 seconds】

The wooden house was still shaking, and the zombies were still crashing against it.

"I'll do it!"

Another voice rang out, crisp, loud, and filled with a forward-moving courage.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Chen Xiaolin stand up from the crowd.

This athletic girl, who was usually lively, cheerful, and carefree, now had an unprecedented seriousness on her face.

Her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes were startlingly bright, looking straight at Qi Yun without any avoidance.

Chen Xiaolin took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and continued:

"Isn't it just... isn't it just that thing! Just like everyone watching a movie!"

"Besides, it's with Qi Yun! Our Clan Leader is so handsome, and his body is so good, I... I'm the one profiting, okay!"

These words, feigning ease and even carrying a bit of a "female hooligan" temperament, rang out at this moment, revealing a bravery and sincerity unique to Chen Xiaolin.

Qi Yun looked at the girl in front of him, her cheeks flushed red, yet she was trying to put on a "I'm going all out" appearance, and his heart was deeply touched.

He knew how much courage it took for Chen Xiaolin to stand out voluntarily.

Qi Yun said solemnly:

"Xiao Lin, are you sure? Once it starts, there is no turning back. And we don't have much time."

Chen Xiaolin nodded vigorously, the flush on her face deepening, yet she did not retreat:

"Sure! Hurry up! Don't dawdle! If you keep dawdling, we're all going to be done for!"