24: Chapter 24 A stampede of beasts!

"Run... run..."

"Ten... thousand... beasts... stampeding..."

Su Qingyao's voice was like a gossamer thread soaked in blood; every word was filled with endless despair and terror.

As soon as the words fell, she lost consciousness completely. Her soft body slumped in Qin Yu's arms, and those eyes, still weeping blood, closed powerlessly.

The entire cavern was dead silent.

The cheers that had been vibrant just a second ago due to the return with a full load of prey and sea salt came to an abrupt halt.

All the girls stared blankly at this scene, watching Su Qingyao, who had collapsed in Qin Yu's arms with blood flowing from her seven orifices; an indescribable chill surged from the soles of their feet straight to their scalps!

"Ten Thousand Beasts Stampede... what does that mean?"

"Su Qingyao... what happened to her? Is she going to die?"

"It's a curse! It must be the curse of those Velociraptors!"

Panic spread faster than a plague, instantly gripping everyone's heart.

The confidence and joy built up just moments ago from killing the Velociraptors and overcoming the salt shortage were shattered in this instant by Su Qingyao's miserable appearance and desperate last words!

"Shut up, all of you!"

Just as the panic was about to turn into a riot, Qin Yu's bone-chilling voice boomed in everyone's ears like a thunderclap!

He held the unconscious Su Qingyao and slowly stood straight.

There was not a trace of panic on his face, only a calmness and gravity like a ten-thousand-year-old iceberg.

His gaze swept over the faces twisted by fear, and finally, it landed on a certain point in the void.

Within his field of vision, a blood-red, flickering countdown appeared prominently at the very top of the system panel!

【Warning! Novice protection period has ended!】

【Tribe final assessment task activated: Ten Thousand Beasts Stampede】

【Task objective: In the upcoming beast tide, ensure the Tribe core (totem pillar) is not destroyed, and survive.】

【Task difficulty: Hell-level】

【Assessment countdown: 23:59:58】

So that was it!

Qin Yu understood in an instant!

This was not some curse, nor was it an accidental beast attack!

This was a cold and ruthless final assessment set by the 【wilderness lord system】 to screen for survivors!

A graduation exam!

Either pass, or... die!

Su Qingyao's 【Holy Priestess】 profession gave her the ability to foresee the future. She had forcibly peered into this impending natural disaster, exceeding the limits of what her current rank could withstand, which was why she suffered such a terrifying backlash!

She had used her own life to trade for this precious 24-hour warning for the entire Tribe!

"Lin Waner!"

Qin Yu's voice carried not a hint of emotion.

"Chief! I'm here!"

Lin Waner's pretty face was deathly pale, but she still rushed out at the first moment, forcibly suppressing the fear in her heart.

"Take her inside and use all your power to heal her! No matter what method you use, I need her to live!"

Qin Yu carefully handed Su Qingyao to Lin Waner.

"Yes!"

Lin Waner did not dare to delay and immediately called two girls to carry Su Qingyao into the deepest, safest part of the cavern.

Qin Yu took a deep breath, turned around, and faced the twenty-plus girls before him, who were like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow.

His gaze became colder than a Siberian cold front and sharper than the keenest blade!

"What you heard is correct."

"An unprecedented beast tide, composed of thousands upon thousands of beasts and monsters, is surging toward us!"

"They will trample the forest, tear apart the rocks, and destroy everything we have built!"

"They will tear us all to pieces, leaving not even our bones behind!"

Qin Yu's words were like heavy hammers, smashing fiercely against every girl's heart, causing their faces to turn pale inch by inch.

Despair, like a dark tide, began to drown their reason.

"It's over... we're dead for sure..."

"Thousands upon thousands... how could we possibly block them..."

A mentally fragile girl's legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground, sobbing in despair.

However, Qin Yu's next words made her sobbing abruptly catch in her throat.

"But!"

Qin Yu's voice rose sharply, filled with an unquestionable, iron-blooded will!

"We still have twenty-four hours!"

He extended one finger, pointing at the defensive fortifications under construction that were beginning to take shape.

"You have two choices now."

"First, sit here and cry, sit here and wait for death, and twenty-four hours later, be ripped open by those beasts when they charge in!"

"Second!"

Qin Yu's gaze, like burning flames, swept over everyone!

"Pick up your weapons, pick up your tools! Use these last twenty-four hours to turn this place! Into a meat grinder that no beast will ever return from!"

"Will you choose to be eaten like garbage, or will you choose to fight like a warrior, tear the enemy apart with your own hands, and make their flesh and blood our victory feast!"

"Choose for yourselves!"

These words were full of blood and violence, yet they acted like the most potent adrenaline shot, stabbing fiercely into all the girls' hearts!

That's right!

What use is crying? Waiting for death?

They were no longer the weak, ordinary girls they had been, unable to even truss a chicken!

They had Valkyries! They had Arcanists! They had Life Priests!

They had an all-powerful Chief!

Death?

Even if they were to die, they would tear a chunk of flesh off those beasts first!

"We... we are not afraid!"

"So what if it's a beast tide! Screw them!"

"Chief! Give the order! We will listen to you!"

In the crowd, it was unknown who shouted first.

Immediately after, deafening shouts like a mountain-toppling tsunami completely replaced the crying and fear!

In every girl's eyes, flames named "hope" and "madness" were reignited!

Qin Yu nodded with satisfaction.

Very good.

This was the Tribe he wanted!

A band of warrior women who, when forced to the brink, could transform into demons just to survive!

He strode to the highest point of the cavern, overlooking the entire camp, his voice resonating through the entire valley like the judgment of a deity!

"Everyone, listen to my orders!"

"From now on, all rest is cancelled!"

"Our war has already begun!"

"All personnel, enter... Level One combat readiness!"