CHAPTER 66: REACHING THE SHORE

[Resistance to mental debuffs increased by 15%. All allies within 50 meters receive 5% morale boost.]

[Title Acquired: "First Dawn of Survival"]

[Effect: Presence boosts morale of allies within 50 meters by 15%. Allies fighting alongside you gain +5% to all stats. Enemies within 20 meters suffer -5% Willpower.]

[Contribution Reward:First Place – Hidden Wave Completion]

[Rewards:　• 2x Random Epic Skill Scroll　• 1x Mythic-grade Item Box (Sealed)　• +150 Free Attribute Points　• +2 Awakener Levels

Stat Growth: Significant increase detected.Strength +37, Agility +42, Constitution +28, Spirit +40.]

[New Feature Unlocked: Streaming]

[Your actions can now be streamed across higher dimensions to amuse and attract the attention of beings beyond this world. Their interest may bring gifts, blessings... or curses.]

Ling Yu’s brows twitched.

Stream...? Amuse them?

A sharp frown tugged at her lips. She had lived through an apocalypse once before, and even in that world, the arrogance of higher beings had been unbearable. Now, the system wanted to turn her into some kind of performer?

"...How annoying."

[It’s indeed annoying, Host. Let’s ignore them!]

"You are speaking well for someone who hasn’t appeared in the last few days." Ling Yu raised an eyebrow at her system as she replied.

[Well, I have been working here and there in order to take care of things for the Host! Don’t criticise me over things you don’t know!]

The system showed a emoji that represented how huffy it was being, which made Ling Yu speechless.

’Seriously, acting spoiled now?’

[I made sure the Host can use the functions of the system well before I left! And until next time, I’ll be with the Host every second from now on!]

Well, Ling Yu could not deny the usefulness of her system. Thanks to this, she had a lot of different kinds of original artifacts and weapons in her system shop, and it also helped her get and secure many resources.

"Well, suit yourself." Ling Yu said as she turned her attention back to the streaming option of the Apocalypse system.

She recalled how some Awakeners in her previous life had suddenly risen in power overnight after being blessed by these unknown "watchers." So this was the hidden mechanic behind their rapid growth.

Since the stream watchers gave the hunters resources, they could easily find and buy weapons and artifacts to increase their power. But even among those watchers, there seemed to be a class system. Not that it’s any of her issues.

Her gaze lowered to the stat window, scanning the neat increases in her attributes. The sheer leap in power sent a faint thrill through her, though her expression never broke from calm detachment.

"...Good. With this, my survival rate in the second wave increases."

But her mind remained sharp, unclouded by joy. If her prediction was correct, the corpses of both monsters and humans would not remain silent. The second wave would likely bring walking corpses or, in fact, zombies gnashing their teeth under the blood moon.

’I must reach the shore first, before the second wave overlaps. If monsters and zombies attack together, this group of people will be wiped out instantly.’

She closed the system window and exhaled slowly. Even though new titles and rewards were stacking up, Ling Yu knew better than to bask in it. Everything she earned was simply another tool to pave her way through the storm of blood that was about to come.

***

"...If the corpses reanimate, we’ll be fighting from all sides," Ling Yu muttered under her breath. "Monster remnants from the river, and zombies from the shore. If both waves overlap, we’ll be wiped out."

Her sharp tone drew He Xun’s attention. He stepped forward, drenched in sweat and monster blood, his weapon still trembling faintly from the earlier fight. "What did you say?"

Ling Yu turned to him, her face calm but eyes serious. "We can’t stay here floating like sitting ducks. If we don’t secure ground before the next wave hits, we’ll be caught between water and land. That’s akin to committing suicide."

The other students, overhearing her, exchanged uneasy glances. The truth of her words weighed heavily, though some still looked doubtful.

Before anyone could speak, Ru Feifei puffed her cheeks and snapped at them. "Why are you all looking like that? Didn’t Yu’er just save all of you? If she says danger is coming, then it is! Are you going to argue with the one who literally risked her life so you’re not fish bait right now?"

Some lowered their heads in shame, unable to meet her fiery glare.

He Xun nodded slowly. "She’s right. We can’t afford to waste time." But he slowly looked up at Ling Yu with a sharp glint flashing across his eyes, "But how are you so sure that there would be a zombie monster wave?"

Ling Yu tilted her head toward the shoreline in the distance, barely visible through the mist. "Isn’t it what usually happens in stories? Considering the time, place, and monsters we killed, it’s only a matter of time before it happens. We have to move right away, even if you don’t believe my words. I’m not responsible for this calamity."

"Even if land is dangerous, at least we can build defenses there. On the contrary, we can do nothing in the water. Completely powerless and helpless."

The System’s cold mechanical voice suddenly echoed over their heads, as if mocking her urgency:

[Warning! Second Wave will commence in 2 hours.]

[Survivors are advised to prepare for landfall.]

Ling Yu’s expression hardened.

As I thought... The true nightmare starts once we set foot on land.

Still, she raised her arm and pointed ahead, her commanding presence leaving no room for hesitation.

"Everyone, prepare to row. We’re heading to shore— now!"

After they reached the shore, everyone was in utter shock and silence.

The moment the ship’s anchor groaned against the shallow waters and the ramp clattered onto the ruined dock, a chill spread through the group. Everyone fell silent, the reality of the apocalypse unfolding right before their eyes.