CHAPTER 165: THE GREAT APES

The faces of the survivors changed greatly when they saw the System message appear before their eyes.

[The Night Event has reached its final moments.]

The rolling dark clouds suddenly came to a standstill before slowly parting, as though an invisible giant had reached into the heavens and pulled them apart.

The full moon, now hanging low in the western sky as dawn approached, finally emerged from behind the clouds, its pale light spilling across the earth in a final, resplendent glow.

Far away, the red lightning sparking around the undead anomaly was instantly snuffed out, prompting the abomination to groan in relief.

The anomaly’s body shuddered once more as an echo of the gruesome pain it had just experienced rippled through its body. But after a short while, its jaws clenched, and it slowly rose to its feet.

It shot a glance towards the escaping humans, completely ignoring the monsters prostrated around it in submission.

An imperceptible glint flashed through its eyes as it raised a foot, about to take a step, only for it to freeze. Its eyes quickly snapped upwards, just in time to see a massive spherical globe appear in the now-cleared skies.

Its eyes narrowed as it lingered for a moment. Then, without hesitation, it disappeared in the direction Kael, or rather, the Primordial Instinct, had escaped in, each step sending its two-meter frame flashing forward by half a kilometer.

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Elena’s blood froze when she saw the System message flash before her eyes, and that was saying a great deal, as she didn't easily feel cold thanks to the great affinity for ice her class granted her.

Even as more messages appeared, the group didn't dare to stop. The fear almost overwhelmed them, but they had not gone through so much over the past month, only to be rendered helpless by such a paltry emotion. Though the female teacher stumbled to the ground, none bothered to stop and wait for her. Thankfully, Claire quickly helped her up before carrying the middle-aged woman as she scrambled to catch up with the team. The older woman repeatedly thanked her, tears streaming down her pale face as her trembling hands clutched at Claire. Despite her fear, she struggled to express her gratitude, her voice breaking with every word.

[The Night Event has lasted for an entire month. During this time, all participants have been granted an opportunity to grow stronger at an accelerated rate.]

[A few rose to the occasion, but many more fell.]

Nathan gritted his teeth, pain flashing through his emerald eyes as he read the last message. He knew better than to let his emotions overwhelm him now, but the System continued its announcements, indifferent to the turmoil within him.

[The return of creatures belonging to higher race grades will restore the world to its former balance.]

[The Night Event has served its purpose.]

[However, the end of the Night Event does not signify the end of the apocalypse.]

[The true apocalypse is about to begin.]

“Higher race grades?” Iris shouted as she kept running. “What the hell is going on?”

The survivors' expressions grew grim, and for a brief moment, even their hurried footsteps faltered.

Yet, before they could even finish reading the messages that continued to appear before them, a great change occurred.

HELLO!

A young and springful voice suddenly resounded through the area, sending a chill down the spines of the survivors. Their faces turned paper-white when they realized they hadn't heard the voice in the usual way. Rather than the words drifting into their ears, it was more like they echoed directly inside their minds, something they weren't entirely unfamiliar with.

The survivors turned back just in time to see a comet streak down from a globe suspended high in the skies.

The expected impact never came. In fact, not even a speck of dust was disturbed, causing the paltry emotion the survivors had almost dismissed to grip their hearts with renewed interest.

A purple flash erupted before the group, and the old principal appeared in its wake, his usually composed face twisted with panic.

A flicker of hesitation flashed across his face before it soon morphed into pain. But this time, he hardened his heart and made a difficult decision.

Why had he not teleported the group away, just as he had when they were chased by a zombie during the first Night Event they had participated in?

Sure, the mana expenditure would have been astronomical, making it impossible to sustain over the long term. But in a moment of grave danger, it could still have been their only chance at survival.

The answer was simple.

The answer was simple. His teleportation skill could only affect those whose classes were of the same rank as his or lower. After all, his class was only Epic rank. Unlike Nathan, who could mark someone's shadow and step through it with even Kael in tow, the old man wasn't restricted by the number of people he could transport. As long as he had enough mana, he could teleport an entire group. But there was one restriction he couldn't overcome: he couldn't teleport someone whose class was of Legendary rank.

And the old man couldn't bear the thought of leaving any of his students behind. Each and every one of them was like a grandchild to him, and even imagining abandoning them filled his heart with unbearable pain.

Yet, with the unprecedented danger closing in, he could no longer afford to hesitate.

Ignoring Elena, who was carrying both Rose and Alice, the old man flashed into the middle of the others, and soon after, a purple glow swallowed them all.

Why the rush?!

That springful voice resounded once again, and this time, its owner appeared before them. A suave-looking, five-meter-tall ape covered in white fur strode forward, smaller purple patches of fur stretching across its chest, shoulders, and elbow. A massive axe rested against its left shoulder, gripped casually in its left hand, while its right held a long halberd radiating an aura of shocking antiquity.

Its steps carried an almost playful bounce, its arms swinging farther forward than a creature of its size should, while its waist twisted with each stride in an exaggerated, almost theatrical rhythm.

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AN: One more chapter to end this volume. Thanks for reading 🙃.