C14 Players Who Don't Care about Their Lives

The initial clash swiftly resulted in casualties. Despite strategically positioning the most robust players at the forefront, their lack of equipment was a glaring issue. It was unclear if a player's size correlated with their health in the game, but the moment they engaged, several were left bloodied. One unfortunate player managed to snap a skeleton's arm, only to be fatally stabbed in the neck with the creature's sharp, broken bone.

The horrific spectacle caused many players to scream in terror. Morphy, with his greatsword at the ready, anticipated a rapid decline in morale, foreseeing a disastrous rout with the monsters in hot pursuit.

Contrary to expectations, the death of some players didn't lead to a continued decrease in their numbers. The injured ones began to guard their vital points, and the rest, recovering from their initial shock, fought back with increased ferocity, even managing to push the defensive line forward several steps.

"Don't rush in recklessly, prioritize defense!" Shadow of Wind's urgent cry snapped the players out of their frenzy. They regrouped and tightened their defense, advancing with renewed caution.

Though the first onslaught of monsters hadn't inflicted severe damage, it had slowed the group's pace. On the left flank, another encounter with monsters unfolded, this time featuring a hulking Kobold.

The Kobold, even more formidable than Shadow of Wind, leaped high and lunged at a player with the ferocity of a tiger descending a hill. Its jaws could open wide enough to engulf a basketball, and it clamped down on the left team's MT's shoulder, ripping off the entire arm in a savage tear.

"Ahhhh!" Despite having dulled his pain sensitivity, the player couldn't help but let out an agonized scream. Ignoring the blood gushing from his wound, he relentlessly pounded the Kobold's snout with his right hand until he collapsed from blood loss.

The Kobold, seemingly unaccustomed to such a fierce adversary, was stunned into inaction. Seizing the moment, several players stepped over their fallen comrade's body and ferociously hammered the Kobold's skull with their weapons, shattering it completely. All the while, they disregarded the onslaught from other zombies and skeletons.

Morphy felt a pang of heartache witnessing the team's reckless combat style. Despite their lack of strength, their unyielding courage promised the makings of warriors. Yet, they were falling one by one.

Monsters surged in relentless waves, drastically reducing the team's pace. With the safety zone still a good ten to twenty minutes away, they had already lost five players, and another seven or eight were virtually out of the fight. Shadow of Wind's voice cut through the chaos, "We can't stop! The last three teams will hold off the monsters. Everyone else, full speed ahead!"

At Shadow of Wind's command, the rear groups decelerated, forming a human barricade against the oncoming tide of beasts. Morphy and his companions, positioned at the heart of the group, were deeply stirred by the players' decisive stance. Such resolve was usually seen in the most elite squads, yet here it was, embodied by ordinary people with slim odds and little power. It was no wonder the father god had sought their help... But to sacrifice so many at the outset, did they harbor no regrets?

Glancing back, Morphy saw the thirty players quickly engulfed by the horde, yet they fought on valiantly. Despite broken limbs and crippling wounds, they used everything at their disposal to delay the monsters, even if it meant just one more precious second.

Shelley watched in horror as the young man who had vowed to protect her, now with both hands torn off by zombies, fiercely clung to a kobold, his teeth sunk deep into its throat, refusing to let go even as he was ripped apart. The ferocity and gruesomeness of the scene surpassed anything she had ever imagined. Although she had slain her share of isolated monsters and witnessed countless life-or-death struggles, none had ever struck her as profoundly as this.

Surrounded by teammates who remained stoically silent, seemingly indifferent to the fate of their comrades, Shelley couldn't contain her question, "Is it really worth it, this senseless sacrifice?"

"Absolutely," replied a player, grinning at Shelley without a hint of dread. "Didn't the fallen ones say our mission is to get you to the village, even if it costs us our lives?" With that, he and his squad, under Shadow of Wind's directive, embraced their role as a suicide squad and charged into the fray.

As the player count dwindled, Morphy and his companions were increasingly astounded. With only about twenty left from the original hundred-man team, their spirits remained unbroken despite the tragic loss of their teammates. Their formidable resolve earned Morphy and the others' deep respect, and they found themselves continuously praying for the brave souls from the Otherworld, whose fearlessness in the face of death had touched their hearts.

The tide of battle had turned in favor of the monsters. Morphy's group was eager to join the fray, but Shadow of Wind held them back, insisting, "Conserve your strength until our last breath. If we fall, you'll need all your energy to confront the monsters." His words forced them to suppress their impulse to fight and instead focus on conserving energy for the potential challenges ahead. The Creator Deity had promised that the Brave Ones would protect everyone up to Kenta Village, but what good was reaching the village if the Brave Ones perished along the way? Their unwavering faith in the deity left no room for doubt; they were determined to honor the Brave Ones' sacrifices by making it to Kenta Village.

Minutes later, the monsters were on their heels again. Shadow of Wind checked the time and broke into a grin, announcing, "We're only about five minutes from the safe zone! Run with them, and the rest of us will buy time. Reinforcements are on their way—this time, we've got it!" Cheers erupted:

"Roar!"

"Boss Shadow of Wind, you're the man!"

"Is it our turn at last? Let's take down these monsters!!"

To Morphy and his group, the Brave Ones seemed even more eager to face their fate, charging at the monsters with a ferocity akin to being under a berserk spell.

Shadow of Wind had laid out the plan to the players: upon death, they'd respawn in Beginner Village and hurry back to the fight. The first thirty to fall should be arriving soon, followed by a steady stream of reinforcements. As long as they could hold out until the first group's return, the mission was as good as secured.

Faang Qiubai watched it all unfold with quiet admiration for Shadow of Wind's tactics, yet one aspect irked him. The players had shifted from a focus on slaying monsters to merely stalling for time, resulting in few kills and a significant drain on the creative power needed for their resurrection. Qiubai himself had gained little from the ordeal, leaving him in a state of profound discontent.

When Morphy and his companions caught sight of a group of familiar figures sprinting towards them, they were utterly dumbfounded. Moments before, they had witnessed these very people being ripped to shreds in a valiant effort to stop a monster, leaving not even a trace of their bodies behind. Yet now, here they were, racing towards them from ahead, completely intact.

A miracle? Indeed, it must be the work of the Creator Deity!