Chapter Forty-Eight: Annihilation

With only twenty minutes remaining in the game, the Dark Veil Storm had already decimated most of Maple Island’s urban center. The surviving players were forced to retreat toward the central hills, making encounters with others inevitable. Fishscale Arm and his two companions, having just reached the hillside, were incredibly unlucky to run into the Death Song squad, who were ascending from the opposite direction.

As the saying goes, enemies are quick to recognize one another. Upon learning that his rivals had suffered heavy losses while raiding the insect nest, Death Song decided to finish them off himself. Since the killing phase of the assessment was set to begin once all objectives were met, bullying them with superior numbers was perfectly justified. He hurried his team toward the hill and collided straight into his desired prey.

"Sister Fish, where are you heading in such a rush?"

Death Song’s voice dripped with sarcasm. Fishscale Arm didn't need to look back to know things had taken a turn for the worse. He immediately pulled out an ant-shell shield to block his rear, but the attack came from beneath his feet.

A ring of ghostly light shimmered on the ground. The quick-reacting Blood Feather dodged to the side, but Fishscale Arm and Repeater Chicken were caught off guard and stepped directly into it. Not only did they take mystical damage, but they also triggered an explosion, causing them to lose their footing and plummet in speed, leaving them in a perilous position.

"Move in!"

Seeing the advantage, Death Song ordered his three melee fighters to charge. He then brandished a bizarre, cyan-colored scythe and locked his sights on Blood Feather.

Death Song belonged to the Scavengers, a faction that specialized in firearms. However, much like the eccentric Cup of Wine, he had shifted his focus to mysticism after acquiring an anomalous weapon. He had even gained the favor of a veteran Scavenger who also practiced mysticism, securing extra benefits.

The "Desolation Ghost Light," which possessed both mystical and explosive damage, was a built-in effect of his cyan scythe. Many players had fallen victim to it before because they couldn't predict his attack patterns, and now, it was the turn of Fishscale Arm and Repeater Chicken to suffer.

"Blood Feather, you're a freelancer; there's no need to get involved in this."

While channeling his mystical skill, Death Song warned Blood Feather in a hollow voice. He had dealt with him many times—sometimes as allies, sometimes as enemies—and knew him well. Blood Feather didn't belong to any guild and stayed out of their power struggles. He was a lone wolf with few friends and even fewer enemies. Although he had some history with Fishscale Arm, it was hardly a bond of life and death. If Death Song could convince him to stand down with a few words, he would be more than happy to do so.

However, the taciturn Blood Feather answered with action.

A throwing axe spun through the air, launched with lethal speed and precision. As two of Death Song's fighters overlapped, the axe tore through them, dealing massive damage and applying a slowing effect. The third melee player, seeing the axe coming again, hastily raised his ant-shell shield to block. With a sharp clang, the axe was deflected to the ground, but the sheer force of the blow sent the player reeling backward.

Because of the steep terrain, Death Song’s team was already struggling for stable footing. Struck by this sudden blow, the player tumbled backward twice before coming to a stop. Although his intervention had saved his two teammates, it gave Fishscale Arm and Repeater Chicken enough breathing room to rejoin the fray.

"Hmph!"

Finishing his skill channel, Death Song expressionlessly swung his cyan scythe, weaving a curtain of light behind Fishscale Arm and his group. If they tried to retreat, they would be hit with slow and debuff effects—a move that effectively sealed their exit.

Fishscale Arm noticed the change behind him and said to his companions in a grim, low voice, "We either die fighting or fight to the death. There is no other choice!"

"Right..."

Repeater Chicken swallowed hard, drew his weapon, and moved to Fishscale Arm's side to counterattack the two opponents standing right in front of them.

The two Death Song fighters who had been hit by the axe were forced to use healing potions. Their speed was compromised, preventing them from regrouping with the others, which turned a five-versus-three advantage into a local two-versus-three disadvantage. However, these players were skilled; confident they weren't in immediate danger of death, they retreated calmly, focusing on defending against Fishscale Arm and Blood Feather to keep their health in a safe range.

"Spread out!"

A shout came from behind, and the two players dove to the sides. The sudden opening in their line of sight revealed a massive fireball flying straight at Fishscale Arm and Repeater Chicken.

This fireball came from the last member of the Death Song squad, who was alternating attacks with Death Song to provide constant ranged support.

At the critical moment, Fishscale Arm used his experience to override his instincts. He stepped forward, shielding the frozen and terrified Repeater Chicken, and both were instantly engulfed in flames.

Boom!

Even though his vision was obscured by fire, the damage notifications let the university student player know exactly how the battle was shifting.

The ant-shell shield, salvaged from the Ant Queen, had low durability and couldn't withstand repeated impacts. Hit directly by the fireball, it shattered in Fishscale Arm's hands. While the flames were weakened, they still dealt significant damage to him and Repeater Chicken.

Just then, two short axes tore through the flames, one after the other, spinning toward the Death Song fighter who had dove to the right. Before he could stand up, he was pinned to the ground. The player realized his strength attribute wasn't high enough to break free and turned pale with shock.

Yet, the expected flurry of attacks never came.

The university player suddenly received a third damage notification, only to realize that Blood Feather had ignored the residual flames and charged at the teammate who had fallen to the left. The shield-bearing teammate tried to rescue him but was a step too late. Death Song unleashed another ring of Desolation Ghost Light to trap Blood Feather, but Blood Feather silently activated the "Unstoppable" effect of his Flame Badge. Increasing his offense and defense while ignoring all crowd control, he stomped the ground, leaped high into the air, and gripped his throwing axe, bringing it down in a ferocious, heavy strike.

Heavy Strike!

*Pfft...*

The melee player, unable to dodge, wasn't killed instantly because Death Song had distributed Flame Badges to his team to bolster their health. But it only bought him half a second. The throwing axe cleaved through his body, spraying dark mountain soil into the air. The impact sent the Death Song fighter flying, only for him to be struck down by a heavy punch. As his body rebounded from the second impact, his life reached zero.

[Broadcast: Scavenger reserve member "X066" has killed Foundation reserve employee "D824"!]

"Damn it!"

Death Song cursed under his breath. He and his remaining teammate locked onto Blood Feather, one using a weapon effect and the other casting a fireball, hitting the target almost simultaneously.

Blood Feather had secured the kill, but he had taken heavy damage and was now within the kill threshold of the two ranged players. Suddenly, a golden light shimmered, allowing Blood Feather to escape certain death. Two skills slammed into his golden form, dealing no damage at all.

Seeing his attack fail, Death Song’s eyes turned icy. He reached into his pack and pulled out a pitch-black spider eye—a special item dropped by the Spider Lord that possessed the power of "Willpower Deterrence."

With the dangerous Blood Feather currently in a state of invincibility, Death Song knew he had to use these two seconds to eliminate Fishscale Arm and Repeater Chicken. If he dragged it out, he might be attacked from behind. He decided to use the spider eye immediately.

[Tip: You have used the one-time consumable item "Shadow-Eater Spider Eye." All targets within fifteen meters facing you will be affected by "Willpower Deterrence."]

The Spider Lord’s "Willpower Deterrence" normally had harsh requirements, needing the player to meet its gaze. But the dropped item, containing the last of the creature's life energy, not only relaxed the conditions but also raised the willpower check threshold to Level 9.

Fishscale Arm and Repeater Chicken, having just recovered some health, were instantly stunned by the deterrence effect, standing motionless and helpless.

"Kill them!"

Death Song roared. The shield-bearing player quickly switched to a battle saber and charged at Fishscale Arm, while the fighter who had been pinned by the axes scrambled to his feet and lunged at Repeater Chicken.

With their current damage output, they would secure the kills in three seconds. Even if Blood Feather broke out of his invincibility to save them, it would be too late.

Seeing this, Death Song felt certain of victory. After years of clashing with Fishscale Arm, he relished the chance to finally beat his old rival and wash away his past humiliations. Seeing Fishscale Arm reduced to a helpless target brought him immense satisfaction.

*Hahaha!*

"If you want to retire, you old geezer, stop popping up and making things annoying!"

Death Song sneered. He had heard rumors that Fishscale Arm intended to return to active duty, and he had been looking for a chance to nip that ambition in the bud. Honestly, after fighting for so many years and losing more often than not, he felt an instinctive desire to avoid Fishscale Arm—but he also wanted to hand him a crushing defeat, ensuring the existence of "Fishscale Arm" would vanish from the closed beta and never appear in the official release.

However, before his smile could fade, his teammate shouted in shock: "Someone’s here!"

*Someone?*

Death Song instinctively assumed the intruder was behind him. To his surprise, a resolute figure emerged from the mountain, rushing down like a tiger to pounce on the teammate attacking Fishscale Arm.

"Thunder Duke?"

*Oh no!*

It was common knowledge that Thunder Duke was highly regarded by Fishscale Arm and had even received financial support from him when founding the Thunder Guild. The appearance of this man meant Fishscale Arm’s side had gained powerful reinforcements. Death Song feared that not only would he fail to wipe out his rival, but he might end up being wiped out himself.

What puzzled him, however, was that Thunder Duke was alone. His guild members were nowhere to be seen.

"I didn't see Thunder Duke clear any large insect nests, but I did see plenty of kill notifications. Could it be that he’s the only one left in the Thunder Guild?"

Death Song’s doubt lasted only a second before he resolved to continue the attack. The situation was dire—wolves in front, tigers behind. If he didn't secure a victory now, he would inevitably be attacked from the rear. He didn't think his reputation was good enough to form an alliance with the remaining parties.

[Broadcast: Foundation reserve employee "D521" has killed Foundation reserve employee "D653"!]

*Clang!*

*Ding!*

The suddenly appearing Thunder Duke clashed with the player attacking Fishscale Arm, successfully forcing him back. But he couldn't be in two places at once and failed to save Repeater Chicken, leaving only two members of Fishscale Arm's squad alive. Realizing his three guild members weren't with him, Thunder Duke’s mood plummeted. Until just a moment ago, he had been thinking about how to lead his guild to greater heights, only to be betrayed by his trusted subordinates.

A nameless fury ignited within him, making him eager to vent his frustration. His attacks became fiercer and more ruthless. He hacked his opponent back, then raised his shotgun, aiming it at the Death Song squad member who had just killed Repeater Chicken and was now charging at him.

*Bang!*

Muzzle flash flared and bullets sprayed. At such close range, over a dozen pellets slammed into the target's chest. The player couldn't withstand the massive force, flying backward and slamming into a rock, dying from the secondary impact.

[Broadcast: Scavenger reserve member "X034" has killed Foundation reserve employee "D521"!]

Just then, Blood Feather exited his invincibility. Enraged, Thunder Duke entrusted Fishscale Arm’s safety to him and, ignoring the shield-bearing player he had just knocked back, charged straight at Death Song. Leaving two ranged mages to fire at will was suicide. Thunder Duke activated his own "Unstoppable" effect, smashing through a fireball and bringing the two Death Song members into his shotgun's effective range.

*Bang!*

Another deafening gunshot rang out. The heavily upgraded shotgun shells were devastating. Although the spread prevented all damage from hitting one target, it still dealt massive damage to both Death Song and his teammate. They were high-offense, low-defense glass cannons who feared anyone getting close; with skills on cooldown and stamina depleted, it was a nightmare. Death Song managed to use a Sun Invincibility badge to survive, but the university student, unable to escape, was gunned down.

[Broadcast: Scavenger reserve member "X034" has killed university reserve student "U755"!]

[Broadcast: Scavenger reserve member "X066" has killed Foundation reserve employee "D423"!]

The back-to-back broadcasts sent Death Song’s mood into the deep freeze. Blood Feather and Thunder Duke were nearly his equals in combat; even with a numerical advantage, his team couldn't dominate the field in a direct confrontation.

But Death Song didn't think this was the end. He still had an ace up his sleeve, and he saw two high-explosive grenades thrown from the mountain, landing at his feet and at the feet of Fishscale Arm and Blood Feather.

Boom!

The sneak attack caught the exhausted Blood Feather, who had no way to escape. But at the critical moment, Fishscale Arm handed his last invincibility badge to his teammate. Blood Feather survived, but Fishscale Arm took the full force of the explosion and died instantly.

[Broadcast: Foundation reserve employee "D464" has killed Foundation reserve employee "D001"!]

*What?*

Thunder Duke, who had used his invincibility badge to survive the crisis, widened his eyes. "D464" was a member of the Thunder Guild! He never imagined that Clear Sky and the others would not only stop treating him like a brother but would discard their history entirely. This was even more infuriating than the betrayal itself.

"Haha, move in!"

At this moment, three golden invincibility shields were active on the battlefield, all belonging to players with low health. Clear Sky was filled with bravado, leading his team into the fray, intending to finish off Death Song, Blood Feather, and his own guild leader, Thunder Duke, the moment their invincibility expired.

Death Song, who had activated his invincibility first, was the first to lose its protection. A university student from the Thunder Guild suddenly unleashed a fireball, blowing him to pieces.

[Broadcast: University reserve student "U457" has killed Scavenger reserve member "X006"!]

With Death Song dead, his entire squad was wiped out!

This exhilarating news, however, brought no joy to Thunder Duke or Blood Feather, as they were both facing imminent disaster. Clear Sky, determined to wipe everyone out, wouldn't let such a golden opportunity to eliminate rivals and strengthen his own position slip away. He couldn't hide the smile at the corners of his mouth.

But just then, curtains of light descended from the sky, shrouding all five players on the battlefield. The chilling aura of approaching death made Clear Sky shiver. He looked in shock at Death Song’s corpse, where a spirit had appeared!

The spirit gripped a cyan light-scythe, arms outstretched, chanting a death dirge and releasing a soul curtain to draw in all players. This was Death Song’s final ace, an anomalous equipment skill called [Soul Funeral]!

Once the channeling finished, all targets within twenty meters would take massive true damage. Not even "Unstoppable" effects could bypass the soul-tethering; only an invincibility badge could withstand it. The problem was that invincibility badges were rare—even Thunder Duke, as a guild leader, had only one. Clear Sky and his lackeys had no such precious resources, and Blood Feather, if not for Fishscale Arm’s sacrifice, wouldn't have lasted this long either.

In an instant, the four members of the Thunder Guild and the freshly unshielded Blood Feather were all within the kill threshold of the Soul Funeral.

The five players wore different expressions: some indifferent, some furious, some terrified, and some resigned.

As the death chant concluded, the curtain of death erupted.

Its power was unstoppable, granting Death Song a "penta-kill" even after his own elimination!