Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

Wen Yu strenuously crawled to Sun Ruixing's side and felt for his neck.

It was all blood!

Wen Yu didn't know how severe Sun Ruixing's injuries were, but seeing the sheer amount of blood lost, he knew it was a miracle Sun Ruixing had managed to hold on this long!

Thankfully, Sun Ruixing still had a faint pulse.

Forcefully dragging the nearby Fourth Prince, Wen Yu lay flat and maneuvered the prince onto his back.

Then, he crawled in the direction they were originally heading.

The scorching yellow sand relentlessly burned Wen Yu's exposed internal organs. Fortunately, thanks to the abilities of the Blood and Flesh Badge, his organs possessed extraordinary resilience. Otherwise, the mere act of crawling would have caused his exposed organs to tear loose!

Crawling only with his hands, Wen Yu moved no faster than a man sprinting at full speed. Blinded, Wen Yu could only rely on his instincts, heading towards the silver light Sun Ruixing had mentioned!

This was undoubtedly an agonizing ordeal!

Because Wen Yu had no idea if he was moving in the right direction. Even the slightest deviation meant everyone would have died in vain!

Perhaps his efforts were merely futile!

But there was no other choice!

It was like Burly Bear's resolute self-detonation.

It was like Monkey holding off three Third-level Demon Fiends all by himself.

It was like William's desperate counterattack.

It was like Jiang Wentao and Chu Ziling's noble sacrifice.

It was like Sun Ruixing, merely Level 2, tenaciously carrying everyone's hopes to the very brink of their destination.

On the shattered Flashing Bluestar, a man, carrying a child on his back, crawled onward like an earthworm, driven by the will to survive and the hopes of all who had sacrificed themselves!

Then, Wen Yu felt warmth and hope.

「...」

A comforting warmth suffused Wen Yu's entire body.

Then, a white light gradually brightened before his eyes.

The first thing that entered his sight was the silver-haired Treasure Land Protector, seated on a chair before him.

Wen Yu slowly surveyed his surroundings.

Before him was a space the size of a soccer field, and seven figures shrouded in orbs of light.

"This is a Healing Light. Consider it an additional reward for you all."

"Also, thank you…" the Treasure Land Protector said, his voice tinged with wistfulness.

These words rendered Wen Yu speechless.

"Your thanks are not for me," Wen Yu said. "You should say them to those who laid down their lives to protect you."

Wen Yu had harbored some suspicions. Now, hearing the Treasure Land Protector's words, he understood completely.

The Treasure Land Protector seated on the chair was indeed the Fourth Prince—the last hope of the Flashing Bluestar!

"Although all of this is an illusion, I still want to say thank you," the Fourth Prince said, slowly shaking his head.

Wen Yu nodded.

"Since it's all an illusion, does that mean those who died didn't truly die?"

The Fourth Prince slowly shook his head again.

"They are truly dead. The environment, the plot, even my royal mother—all were illusions I created. But the Demon Fiends were real, and therefore, the deaths were also real!"

"Hm." Wen Yu nodded.

"Aren't Treasure Land Protectors forbidden from harming professionalists in any way? What is this then? Murder? Or are you toying with us?"

The Fourth Prince met Wen Yu's gaze, his own indifferent and placid.

"The trial was already prepared. Its content and difficulty are automatically generated based on the professionalists' strength. My role is merely to guide and create the illusion, like playing the opening credits of a movie for you. So, for those who died, I am sorry, but it is not my fault!"

The Prince hadn't even finished speaking when Wen Yu's roar cut him off!

"Then what damn use is your 'THANK YOU'!?"

"They're all dead! Go to hell and say your 'thank you' there!"

The moment Wen Yu's roar subsided, he wrenched himself free from the Healing Light's aura and lunged at the Fourth Prince.

However, a gentle force repelled him.

"It's not my fault, is it?" The Fourth Prince's indifferent voice sounded.

"I warned you. Behind greed lies destruction. You didn't believe it, and neither did they. You all trusted your strength too much!"

"You think you're strong. You think you can disdain any crisis. You even believe you're far from death. But your paltry Third-level strength, compared to your adversaries, is laughably insufficient!"

"Third-level strength! What does that amount to? You fundamentally misunderstand how weak you are, how pathetic your confidence is! How utterly laughable your fearless attitude is!"

"Now, all of this is about to conclude. You've obtained the treasure, and others have even paid the price for you. What reason do you have to be angry? It wasn't you who died!"

Wen Yu fell silent immediately.

After a long moment, Wen Yu lifted his head. His icy gaze fixed on the Fourth Prince, yet a smile spread across his lips.

"That's right."

"I reaped all the benefits, and someone else paid the price for me. How perfect. Truly perfect!"

Wen Yu began to clap slowly, again, and again!

Until his hands were covered in wounds, blood seeping out, only to be perfectly healed by the Healing Light, then torn open anew…

"But right now, I genuinely want to kill you. Genuinely."

The Fourth Prince slowly shook his head.

"Within the treasure land, you cannot kill me, and I will not venture outside. So, in essence, I will live, and you will live. Yes, that's how it is!"

Wen Yu nodded in understanding. In the treasure land, the Treasure Land Protector is an invincible existence!

Slowly lowering his hands, Wen Yu quietly allowed the Healing Light to mend his wounds, simultaneously deactivating his combat state.

The little Soul Beast, perhaps sensing its master's current mood, quietly nuzzled Wen Yu's cheek.

Sensing the little Soul Beast's spiritual fluctuations, Wen Yu slowly closed his eyes.

After a ten-day journey, only these seven individuals within the Healing Light had made it through.

And most of those who survived are cowards!!!

Then Wen Yu recalled William and the others.

I succeeded. No, we succeeded!

I'm sorry. Although I know you can't hear me, and it's useless!

But I still have to say it: I'm sorry. Thank you... Wen Yu murmured in his heart.

It was difficult to articulate Wen Yu's emotions at this moment—there was the relief of survival, but also something far more complex.

Wen Yu felt a crushing weight on his chest, as if he were suffocating. It was agonizing.

And this Healing Light cannot cure that!

「...」

After a long pause, the Healing Light gradually faded.

Wen Yu stood quietly, reacquainting himself with the sensation of standing on his own two feet.

"We made it? We made it? The mission is complete? I don't have to die! I survived!" A triumphant roar came from nearby.

But this joyous cry sounded incredibly grating to Wen Yu.

"Brother Wen Yu, you guys are incredible! I knew you could do it!" Sun Aotian's excited voice came from behind. Then, he leaped onto Wen Yu's back, shaking him back and forth, eager to share his elation.

"Incredible, huh?" Wen Yu asked, turning his head with a smile.

"Absolutely incredible! So incredible!"

"Actually," Wen Yu's voice turned frigid, "I think *you* guys are even more incredible!"

Then, a large hand shot out and clamped onto Sun Aotian's neck!

"You guys are truly something. Really. You all performed admirably."

Wen Yu's face was wreathed in smiles as he delivered this bone-chilling sarcasm, his grip on Sun Aotian's neck gradually tightening.