18: Dew and Rain

Coordinates: 08694

This is a world riddled with holes, on the verge of collapse. The last embers of humanity are about to be extinguished. Can you bring salvation, or destruction?

Optional Task One: Eliminate one thousand Disaster Beasts and protect survivors to the best of your ability.

Optional Task Two: Help the Calamity Mother Beast devour everything and evolve.

Number of Participants: 10

Time Limit: 23.59.59

Reminder: You cannot actively return to Blue Star.

Chen Lin suddenly appeared without warning amidst ruins, surrounded by dilapidated tall buildings overgrown with moss and vines.

The streets were lined with numerous rusted cars, indicating that this place once enjoyed a prosperity similar to Blue Star.

The sky was covered by a thick haze, blocking out all sunlight, as if radioactive dust permeated the air after a nuclear winter.

The smell of the air here was truly indescribable; Chen Lin frowned slightly.

He scanned the transparent frame before him and immediately understood that selecting a task likely meant choosing a faction.

Chen Lin didn't hesitate, directly choosing Task One.

It wasn't for any particular reason.

Mainly, if the Calamity Mother Beast devoured everything, what would his Hei Ming eat?

Just as Chen Lin took a step, he suddenly heard a series of sounds, and then a nearby glass door was shattered by a figure flying backward!

Clang! Countless shards accompanied a petite and delicate girl as she fell to the ground.

Roar!

A blood-red, skinless crawling Disaster Beast darted out from the dim shop, pouncing on the girl!

"Ugh..." The girl propped herself up, her vision somewhat blurry, and struggled to reach for the long saber beside her.

However, she was still a step too slow. With the Disaster Beast so close, about to bite her neck, the fear of death surged into her heart.

Her hands instinctively went up to protect herself. Just then, a flash of sword light cut through instantly!

Pfft!

Head and body separated, the monster in mid-air lost its balance and fell to the ground, spilling a large amount of blood.

Not dead... The girl snapped back to reality and looked over, only to see a handsome young man with short black hair and bright, deep eyes!

He flicked the sword, then re-sheathed it.

Chen Lin stared at the girl, or rather, at the two dark red horns protruding from her hair, a look of surprise on his face, "You're quite unique!"

...... The girl fell silent, unsure how to respond.

The atmosphere grew quiet, and Chen Lin also felt he might have been a bit impolite. "Hello, my name is Chen Lin."

"Lu Yu."

Seeing his outstretched hand, Lu Yu took it. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Chen Lin was about to ask her about the situation in this world when a sharp shout rang out.

"Something's wrong, everyone retreat!"

Hearing this, Lu Yu's expression immediately changed. She quickly picked up the long saber from the ground and grabbed Chen Lin's hand, trying to leave.

"Hurry, or else..."

Before she could finish, a car crashed straight into them from a distance. Chen Lin pulled hard, throwing Lu Yu backward.

He, on the other hand, held his staff horizontally in front of him, intending to take the impact head-on!

Bang!

The car slammed into Chen Lin. Under the immense impact, he was knocked back more than ten meters before finally coming to a complete stop.

Lu Yu's face paled in panic. Enduring the pain, she quickly ran over, "Are you alright?"

Whoosh—

Chen Lin calmed his surging blood and shook his head. Then he looked at a two-legged Disaster Beast in front of him, covered in ferocious spikes.

"It's a Blade Demon, we can't get away." Lu Yu's gaze was solemn, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the hilt of her saber.

Bang!

The Blade Demon walked faster and faster. The next instant, the ground beneath its feet caved in as it suddenly charged forward with full force!

So fast!

Before Lu Yu could react, a figure swept past her, instantly meeting the charge!

Clang!

Chen Lin drew the blade from his staff, and it collided with the Blade Demon's sharp blade-like arm, producing a clear, ringing sound.

Roar!

The Blade Demon roared, swinging its other blade-like arm, slashing towards Chen Lin's head.

Chen Lin's expression was calm. He violently shook it off, then immediately retreated a few steps. "Lu Yu, give me your saber!"

Hearing this, Lu Yu quickly threw the long saber to Chen Lin.

Swish!

Precisely grabbing the hilt and drawing the blade, Chen Lin's eyes showed a fighting spirit. "Now, come again!"

Roar!

The Blade Demon seemed to feel provoked, instantly charging forward, its two blade-like arms swinging wildly!

Chen Lin was not afraid in the slightest, using both a saber and a sword, yet without any awkwardness, incredibly skilled!

In a few seconds, the two exchanged dozens of blows, moving so fast that afterimages appeared, dazzling to the eye!

Lu Yu's mouth was agape, somewhat shocked. "So strong... To be able to clash with a Blade Demon like this, even my sister couldn't do it!"

Crack! Just after thousands of exchanges, Chen Lin suddenly found an opening. He slightly tilted his head to dodge a fatal attack, then immediately slashed upward with the long saber in his left hand!

The sharp blade, under his terrifying strength, cut through the air, instantly slicing through the Blade Demon's arm!

Roar!

The Blade Demon let out a pained roar. Chen Lin, with lightning speed, plunged his sword into its heart!

Chh! It pierced through the hard skin, going straight through to the back!

However, even so, the Blade Demon still wasn't dead. Its eyes were fixed on Chen Lin, still trying to kill him even with only one arm left!

"Futile struggle."

Chen Lin blocked the incoming blade-like arm, then with a final slash of his long saber, he decapitated it. The head rolled on the ground.

"You're not from here." Lu Yu came over, touching her still aching backside. "Someone with such strength couldn't be unknown!"

Chen Lin was noncommittal, smiling faintly, "This saber is very sharp."

"It underwent a Cataclysm; it's also a kind of 'Disaster Beast' in a different way." Seeing that he didn't want to answer, Lu Yu didn't dwell on the question.

This Cataclysm should be what makes this world different, Chen Lin asked her to elaborate.

Lu Yu's expression was a bit strange; shouldn't this be something everyone knows?

However, for the person who had saved her twice, she was very patient. "A long time ago, a red mist suddenly appeared globally. Wherever it passed, both humans and animals underwent mutations."

"The red mist lasted for a full month, and more and more people couldn't bear the torment, becoming insane."

"Finally, they turned into creatures without reason, only knowing how to kill all living things except their own kind."

"We call the red mist 'Sinister Qi'. Even now, Sinister Qi still exists, though greatly diluted and dispersed in the air."

"Now, the Sinister Qi seems to be changing again; even sabers... even mountains and rivers can undergo Cataclysm."

"I no longer know... how humanity can survive."

Looking at Lu Yu's dimming eyes, Chen Lin sighed inwardly. When alien civilizations invade in full force, the Blue Star Human Clan will also face a similar moment of extinction.

What should be done then?

Shaking his head, he quickly pushed the thoughts aside. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. All he could do at the moment was continuously improve himself, so that in the future, he would have the power to protect his family.

Pointing to the dark red horns on Lu Yu's head, Chen Lin asked, "So, is this a result of your mutation?"

"Yes." Lu Yu nodded, then seeing that Chen Lin had no signs of Cataclysm on him, she silently lowered her head. "Those who don't lose their minds in the Sinister Qi won't completely turn into Disaster Beasts. We've identified the key, and it seems to be willpower?"

"Willpower allows us to resist the Cataclysm and gradually grow stronger."