Chapter 1302 - 709: Self-Rescue

Chapter 1302: Chapter 709: Self-Rescue

What concept do ordinary people have of those increasingly dense black clouds?

"Captain, it feels like it’s about to rain heavily." A mercenary looked at the increasingly dense black clouds overhead and couldn’t help but remark.

"Will that affect our actions? What should we do? Just retreat directly?"

"It’s just rain, what’s the big deal?"

The mercenaries had different attitudes toward this; some were worried, while others remained calm. After all, they were accustomed to being out in the field, and had experienced heavy rain before. With so many buildings around, they could easily find shelter, and with the protection of the structures, they could withstand attacks from the skeletons lurking in the darkness.

While others were still arguing, Scorpion, the captain, remained silent because he had noticed something strange.

"Have you noticed? Those rats seem a bit off."

Following these words, the members of the Mercenary Corps noticed the surrounding rustling sounds, though they thought nothing of it.

"What’s so strange about that? Besides skeletons, there are only rats here."

"Moreover, these guys aren’t afraid of people at all; it’s common for them to come out during the day."

"But look at them; they seem to be scared of something."

Scorpion wasn’t trying to truly understand the rats’ psychology. It was just that previously, the rats would stare at people intently. But now, they were scrambling away, ignoring the humans entirely.

"Go! Quickly, retreat!"

Observing the rats active in the shadows, Scorpion quickly made a decision — since supplies were depleted and they had to return anyway, it was better to retreat immediately.

Those capable of venturing into the depths of the ruins, primarily the first team, had certain methods, similar to how Scorpion sensed the environmental anomalies. Some might even have extraordinary means to foresee changes.

But compared to the decisive retreat, some people lacked such resolve. Of course, one could say that their previous smooth actions in the ruins had made them complacent.

They believed the ruins’ structures would help them endure this "storm," and everything would be over by dawn.

Some even thought that this was a moment for them to seize initiative, like those in the second team who felt that if they stayed, they’d gain an advantage over most people.

It’s just a little wind and rain...

And those active squads scattered throughout the ruins were not there to clear a path, obviously behind the first team.

In one squad, William crouched and continuously comforted his agitated hunting dog Fergus, while issuing a warning to his teammates.

"My girl is very uneasy; she tells me danger is coming."

In another squad, Laura looked up at the hawk circling above and warned her companions.

"The wind carries a strange scent; we shouldn’t linger."

The abnormal weather similarly alarmed other teams. For them, long-term tasks had contingency plans; when uncontrollable factors appeared, preserving themselves was the top priority, so they retreated decisively.

But the speed at which darkness fell was faster than anyone had anticipated. What began as a haze gradually thickened into a dense black fog that instantly blocked out the sun, plunging the entire ruin into gloom.

Even more frightening was the sinister force which constantly extended outward, showing no signs of stopping, as if it intended to drag the entire world into darkness.

Even the adventurers and scavengers at the periphery, however naive, sensed something was wrong. The mobilized troops, the galloping horses... everything alerted them to the danger

Especially for those who had experienced past tragedies caused by the Taboo Legion, the marks of skeleton slaughter remained there.

Fortunately, due to recent frequent clean-ups, the skeletons on the outskirts had reduced considerably, preventing immediate casualties as darkness fell.

However, the large influx of returning adventurers would shock the town, inevitably attracting those with malicious intent.

Not to mention the various factions suppressed by Lance, some having arrived at the town. Would they miss this opportunity?

Unknown, but darkness obscured the sun, skeletons grew more ferocious, fueled by a stronger hatred for the living.

Not to mention that in the ruins, millions of skeletons held back nothing, especially at the central area where the density was even more exaggerated.

The surrounding skeletons, now supposedly hiding in the buildings’ shadows, surged forth with any living being as their target for attack.

Even the Scorpion Mercenary Group that began their retreat immediately was attacked. The bones that could previously be shattered with a strike had become tougher.

No need for much, just a bit more, and it meant more physical exertion multiplied by the countless skeletons, translating into a terrifying, overwhelming power.

They knew they couldn’t be held up and had to break through before the skeletons fully spread out; otherwise, the surrounding hordes would only multiply.

Alhazred was right; those deeply embedded squads scattered without a clear direction to flee would be like grains of sand, easily cut off and consumed alive by the skeletons.

Even the Mendicant Monk and Candlelight Priest weren’t exempt, soon finding themselves engulfed by skeletons.