The next day.
In the outer region of the Star Dou Forest.
A beam of blinding sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, gently casting its light across the land.
The intense rays seemed to cleanse the earth of its sins, gradually sweeping away the lingering shadows from the battlefield.
Countless wounded soul beasts cautiously peered around, roaring at each other in low tones, carefully surveying the area with uncertainty.
A massive figure sat silently atop a dead tree, its broad back silhouetted in bleak solitude.
A suffocating silence hung in the air, with grief and sorrow weighing down the atmosphere.
"Roar—!"
The Titan Giant Ape let out a low growl and roar, staring blankly at the shattered piece of Azure Bull Python's horn in its hand. Its eyes were bloodshot.
Rustle—!
Soul beasts with cultivation levels over ten thousand years slowly emerged from the core region, recognizing the familiar figure and sighing in relief. One by one, they led their injured clansmen—thousand-year and hundred-year soul beasts alike—into the area.
Some came down from trees, others crawled out of ponds.
But nearly every soul beast was battered and bloodied.
Missing limbs, gouged-out eyes… such injuries were common.
The faint scent of blood still lingered heavily in the air.
All the soul beasts trembled uncontrollably, their eyes filled with dread, still traumatized by the recent slaughter.
Some refused to step foot on the ground, clinging to branches as if the forest floor were a hellish abyss waiting to devour them.
The Titan Giant Ape turned its massive head toward the gathering soul beasts.
Even soul beasts that were usually hostile toward one another now instinctively kept their distance, licking their wounds and glancing nervously at the giant ape.
Plant-type soul beasts with healing abilities and gentler personalities had already begun to use their soul skills to treat the injured, scattering colorful lights across the forest.
This shimmer of energy brought a fleeting glimpse of hope to the deathly still woods.
A pained, bitter expression surfaced on the Titan Giant Ape's face as a storm of emotion roiled in its heart.
Unable to hold it in any longer, it howled up at the sky—"Awooooo!"
Several soul beasts emitting dark, ominous soul energy glanced at each other, then cautiously stepped forward.
One Pink Empress Spider Queen attempted a hesitant psychic transmission:
"Respected Overlord... our clan has suffered heavy losses... We humbly ask for your protection."
Other ten-thousand-year soul beasts chimed in one after another:
"That's right... Lord Overlord, we beg you... help us destroy them."
"I've lost a leg!"
"I lost an eye!"
"They took my brother!"
"They took my wife and kids!"
"They took... me!"
The soul beasts fell silent, all turning to the last speaker with odd looks.
It was a Two-Headed Wolf, now left with only one head. A gory hole marked the place where its other head used to be.
Seeing their stares, the Two-Headed Wolf bellowed in grief:
"I—I lost myself! I was decapitated! I'm the unluckiest one!"
"Who says so?!"
A shrill voice interrupted.
All heads turned toward a massive ancient tree, where a Bloodthirsty Macaque stood on a branch, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I... I lost my future generations!"
The macaque covered its face and cried.
Seeing its utterly destroyed lower half, the soul beasts exchanged sympathetic glances.
Even the Titan Giant Ape's expression twitched—but in the next moment, rage ignited in its bloodshot eyes.
It rose to its feet.
Just then—
"Roar!"
A ten-thousand-year-old Crystal Scorpion with no sentience lunged forward, eyes glowing hungrily as it tried to seize a wounded soul beast.
Boom—!
The Titan Giant Ape sent it flying with a slap, roaring furiously at it.
Dazed and disoriented, the scorpion scurried off with its tail between its legs.
Turning to face the others, the Titan Giant Ape roared:
"If these wretched monsters want war—then war they shall have! Gather your clans! Gather your kind! With me, we will wipe them out to the last one!"
"ROAR!"
"OOOH!!!"
"Long live our Overlord!"
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
The soul beasts erupted in furious roars, releasing all their rage and sorrow.
Boom boom boom—!
The ground trembled violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
Suddenly, dark clouds gathered overhead, blotting out the once brilliant sunlight.
The world was plunged into darkness.
The soul beasts shivered as they saw the now-familiar scene unfold before them.
Some were already breaking down in terror, bolting back toward the core region.
"They're coming... they're coming again!!!"
"RUN!!!"
From the distance, a black tide surged forward like a tsunami—the Zerg Swarm.
The Titan Giant Ape's gaze sharpened, his eyes glowing a fierce crimson.
He beat his chest furiously—thud, thud, thud—and roared:
"Don't panic! Stay with me! Kill every last one of those filthy, savage beasts!!"
Seeing the overwhelming aura of the Titan Giant Ape, the soul beasts began to settle. They quickly formed ranks—an army of beasts—howling and roaring in defiance as they braced for the oncoming swarm.
BOOM—!
The black tide of Zerg smashed into the soul beast army.
And thus, the carnage erupted once more in the Star Dou Forest!
But this time, the battle wasn't limited to this region.
With the forest's core as the center, the Zerg Swarm spread outward in waves—an unstoppable flood.
Dark, oppressive, and monstrous, they expanded their dominion with every passing moment.
Though their numbers weren't enough to completely conquer the entire outer region just yet, Zerg hunting parties surged through the woods, wiping out targets in small squads.
Overhead, swarms of Overlords scouted the unexplored areas.
Underground, the Creep and Worker Drones were rapidly expanding the hive.
A terrifying underground empire was baring its fangs at last.
Meanwhile…
Within the Zerg Hive.
Lin Fan reclined on Xiao Wu's smooth thighs, enjoying Zhu Zhuyun's "oral massage" service.
Relaxed, he glanced at the mental interface—then froze.
The Main Brain's voice echoed in his mind:
[Devourer unlocked.]
Devourer-class Zerg… now available for production?!
****
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