Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

Just as Wen Yu was deep in thought, all the professionists present were gathered before the Exchange Stone Pillar, with occasional flashes of teleportation light.

This was a sign of rank-up challenges.

The first battle in the treasure land allowed Chu Ziling and Jiang Wentao to be directly promoted to Third-level professionists.

Even if the others didn't level up, they earned a large amount of points, greatly improving their physical prowess.

"What's wrong? You look troubled?" a soft, questioning voice sounded.

Wen Yu opened his eyes to see William standing before him.

"Nothing..." Wen Yu answered evasively.

"Do you need something?" Wen Yu asked.

William sat down beside Wen Yu. "I was thinking, why don't all of us who are left unite? You saw the recent battle. It wasn't threatening for us two Third-level professionists, but it posed a great threat to the Level 2 professionists. I believe if we unite, all of us can survive this trial!"

Wen Yu stroked his chin, thinking seriously. It wasn't William's suggestion I was contemplating, but the nature of this trial itself.

"Don't you think this trial was too simple for us two?" Wen Yu asked.

William snorted heavily. "Hmph."

"Your idea of 'simple' is built on the deaths of more than half the professionists! You think it's simple? I think if battles of this intensity continue, none of us will survive three days of non-stop attacks!"

A trace of anger was evident in William's words, a clear sign of his displeasure with Wen Yu.

With Wen Yu's strength, if he had unleashed his full power, so many people wouldn't have had to die!

Wen Yu slowly shook his head, unfazed by William's dissatisfaction.

The recent battle couldn't even compare to the demon plague Wen Yu remembered.

The demon plague Wen Yu had experienced in his past life, whether in scale or duration, far surpassed this one!

According to the available intel, this was supposed to be the Demon Tribe's all-out attack on the Silver Moon Tribe. However, from what Wen Yu saw, it was nothing more than child's play!

Something still isn't right. Wen Yu's frown deepened.

The brief battle had felt like a game to him. If this is the trial, then for me, it's hardly 'despair and destruction.' The Treasure Land Protector is just handing out free points!

While Wen Yu was pondering the trial's purpose, the city wall behind him suddenly began to shake.

As the wall shook, black bricks slowly parted, reopening the entrance Wen Yu and the others had used.

The burly figure of Walsey appeared before everyone.

Walsey's deep voice rumbled, "The mission has changed!" As he spoke, Wen Yu's right eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably.

"You have thirty minutes to sort through your gains from this battle. Then, I will come for you!" After this brief instruction, Walsey's figure once again vanished behind the city wall.

"What's going on?" William frowned, gazing at the spot where Walsey had disappeared.

Wen Yu said, "I'm afraid the real trial mission is about to begin." His sense of unease intensified.

As soon as Walsey finished speaking, I understood. That battle was just the first test, or perhaps, a bonus round. Eliminate the weak, and make the powerful experts even stronger!

After hearing Walsey, Wen Yu said directly to William, "Although we don't know what the next mission is, forming an alliance is crucial now."

"Yes." William, noticing Wen Yu's tension, nodded promptly.

「The thirty minutes passed in a blink.」

All the professionists had converted their recent battle gains into strength.

Under William's organization, all the professionists quietly awaited the mission Walsey had mentioned.

The city wall opened once more, and Walsey slowly walked in.

"Follow me!" With this simple command, Walsey turned and headed straight for the elevator platform inside the city wall.

Wen Yu was the first to follow him.

With a roar of machinery, the Stone Platform carried Wen Yu and the others down the city wall.

"This way." Waving his hand, Walsey led Wen Yu and the others toward the center of Silver Moon Holy City.

Under Walsey's guidance, the entirety of Silver Moon Holy City was revealed to everyone for the first time!

Exquisite and magnificent buildings stood everywhere, but closer inspection revealed that most bore noticeable damage and scratches.

What was even more surprising was that, despite it being afternoon, the streets were devoid of pedestrians.

The entire city seemed like a ghost town!

Jiang Wentao's voice came from behind Wen Yu. "Have you noticed? Apart from our guide and Walsey, we haven't seen anyone else."

Wen Yu nodded.

He said, "Theoretically, even if the Silver Moon Tribe suffered heavy losses, it wouldn't be like this. It seems this place is undoubtedly an illusion!"

"Also, there are some strange things," Jiang Wentao added.

"Oh?" Wen Yu's ears perked up.

Jiang Wentao continued, "If this place is truly an illusion, then logically, we shouldn't have been able to earn points from killing Demon Fiends, nor should the Exchange Stone Pillar have appeared!"

"Those Demon Fiends must have been real!" Wen Yu insisted with conviction.

Jiang Wentao chuckled. "I didn't say they were fake."

"My point is, in this illusion, the Demon Fiends we've directly contacted are real. They are likely Demon Fiends tamed or enslaved by the Treasure Land Protector. There certainly aren't many of them."

"According to military intelligence, treasure lands and Demon Fiends are enemies. If every Treasure Land Protector could enslave large numbers of Demon Fiends, why would they bother arranging the Human Race Sequence or creating treasure lands?"

"That battle just now was merely a ploy to make the powerful experts stronger and eliminate the weak."

"This time, I'm afraid, is the true trial."

"Given the scale of this trial, the upcoming battles won't be easy!"

Wen Yu nodded in agreement.

「After approximately an hour of walking」

Walsey stopped in front of an ordinary-looking house. He waved at Wen Yu and the others, then led the way inside.

The house wasn't large. With Wen Yu's group of nearly forty professionists entering, it immediately became cramped.

Walsey pointed to Wen Yu, William, Chu Ziling, and Jiang Wentao. "You, you, you, and you—the four of you, come with me. The rest of you wait here." He then walked into an adjacent small room.