Chapter 55: Trial in the Death Factory

Ding. Entering B-Level Instance: Death Factory.

Current entry minimum: Second Stage.

Match count: 7..

15..

21!

After incorporating Li Dafu into the summoning space and experiencing a familiar bout of dizziness, Yenir suddenly found himself inside a vast factory.

Beneath a metal ceiling spanning three levels, pipes crisscrossed in every direction.

The roar of machinery, accompanied by billowing hot steam, filled the factory with a stifling heat.

He quickly scanned his surroundings.

Among the 20 participants, 19 were Second Stage like him, but one woman with an inscrutable, cold demeanor left Yenir perplexed.

While others were still shaking off their dizziness, a woman who had awoken almost simultaneously with Yenir was coolly surveying the scene.

Her aura was potent enough to dampen one’s senses.

With a barely perceptible narrowing of her eyes, Yenir instantly recognized that this squad-protected woman was a Third-Stage Awakened.

Delicately featured and around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, she wore a full set of dark red leather armor that accentuated her curvaceous figure, resembling a rose in the snow.

Yenir’s glance fell on the six guards in matching Combat Uniforms, sparking a sudden surge of caution.

These people clearly belonged to the same faction.

Meanwhile, the Third-Stage woman also took notice of Yenir.

It was nothing personal—Yenir, having awoken alongside her, stood out in the crowd.

She looked at him indifferently, and upon noticing his youthful appearance, a peculiar glimmer flashed in her eyes; after a brief appraisal, she said nothing more.

In her estimation, Yenir’s aura barely reached the initial phase of Second Stage—he even still bore the marks of Zero Stage.

Before anyone could speak, a system prompt blared instantly:

“Ding. The current instance is a War Instance. No specific objectives have been assigned.”

“Within the Death Factory, you must use the facility to fend off attacks by zombies and mutants. For each round you survive, you will earn corresponding rewards.”

“At the end of each round, there will be 60 seconds to vote for exiting the instance. If over 70% agree, you may exit as a group, or you will automatically exit after clearing 7 rounds.”

“The first defense round will begin in 120 seconds. Please prepare accordingly.”

After the message ended, the protective shield enveloping the entire factory gradually began to dim.

As the mission was about to commence, many awakened combatants began deftly sizing up their temporary teammates; several advanced Second-Stage participants hesitated, glancing at the red-armored woman before preparing to introduce themselves.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am Zhang Lin, Advanced Second Stage. I believe everyone is already somewhat informed, so I won’t belabor the details.”

“Surviving this battlefield instance requires unified teamwork. I had initially considered volunteering as leader, but it seems a Third-Stage Awakened is already at the helm.”

As he spoke, the man modestly looked toward the red-armored Third-Stage woman, signaling his willingness to follow her lead.

Believing that strength speaks for itself, he had no intention of snatching the role; his gaze toward her even burned with a hint of fervor.

Although she appeared aloof, her stunning figure, exquisite features, and formidable power made her, in his eyes, the epitome of perfection.

Of course, it was only a thought he dared entertain.

Like him, many others felt lucky that this instance was led by a Third-Stage, convinced that victory was all but guaranteed.

However, just as the man was about to heap more flattering words, the cold red-armored woman vanished in an instant.

“Bang!”

In a sudden flash—almost leaving an afterimage—the Third-Stage Awakened launched a direct strike, colliding with the man’s lower abdomen before he could react.

His eyes bulged as the tremendous impact made him buckle like a feeble shrimp.

“Ahhhh!!”

A cry of agony erupted, only to be choked off in an instant.

“Bang!”

With a forceful step, her dark red combat boot slammed onto the man’s head, crushing it mercilessly; even the hard concrete shattered under the impact.

“Move another inch and I’ll kill you.”

In a detached tone, the Third-Stage woman paid no heed to the horrified expressions around her, applying just enough pressure as if her next step could crush his head.

Crushed underfoot, the once-relieved Second-Stage participant now found his heart overwhelmed with pure terror.

Had he done something wrong? Why would she attack him?!

Unable to comprehend her motives, every awakened onlooker recoiled in shock.

In the next second, the woman, expressionless, waved her hand to signal her subordinates to act:

“Secure everyone.”

“Anyone who resists will be killed!”

In an instant, the six Second-Stage awakened, as if well-rehearsed, swiftly encircled the group.

Surveying the terrified eyes around her, the woman let out a light laugh before speaking coldly:

“We are the Blood Wolf Squad, and I will be leading this mission.”

“However, your lives now belong to me. After the sixth round of assault, everyone must hand over all rewards you’ve acquired!”

“Behave, and maybe I’ll let some of you survive to the end. Otherwise…”

“Bang!”

In a burst of sudden strength, accompanied by a sound like a balloon popping, the awakened under her boot was crushed before he could cry out, his brain splattering instantly as blood and murky matter flooded the ground.

A ruthless demonstration of authority.

Seeing that her intent was solely to intimidate, she did not hesitate to execute an innocent awakened individual, leaving the Second-Stage group collectively gasping in horror.

“Blood Wolf Squad?! Aren’t you a Farming Team?!”

A mid-level Second-Stage awakened in the crowd cried out in terror, his eyes wide with fear.

Similarly, many others who had regained their senses turned pale, convinced they were doomed by sheer bad luck!

A Farming Team, as the name implies, exploits other awakened like livestock.

This group is typically led by a high-level awakened who assembles teams to raid various instances.

Leveraging their superior strength, they subdue other awakened and force the remainder to partake in high-difficulty missions as cannon fodder; then, at the end, they launch a ‘harvest,’ compelling survivors to surrender their rewards or face execution as their equipment and credit points are seized.

Using such methods, the Farming Team’s gains are astonishing—often reaping multiple times the resources from a single instance.

Through this relentless cycle, these notorious teams amass vast resources to bolster their power!

With terror in their eyes upon realizing that the seven before them were a Farming Team, everyone shared a grim and dismal smile.

It was all over. They were completely doomed.

According to the Bloodwolf leader’s orders, they had to continue to the sixth round. With their strength, mass casualties were likely to begin as early as the fourth round.

This was clearly a death sentence, offering them no escape.

They had thought themselves lucky to have a Third-Stage in charge, only to find they’d walked right into a trap.

Standing in a corner, Yenir felt a sudden chill descend upon his heart.

He never expected that the battlefield instance he casually joined would pit him against the most daunting Farming Team.

If the relationship between awakened and mutants was a cycle of predator and prey, then the Farming Team preyed solely on humans.

Gazing at a fallen awakened on the ground, he frantically searched his mind for a way to break the deadlock.

Their technique was unnervingly precise—striking down a target at the perfect moment to exploit the exit restrictions.

Even if everyone voted to exit now, the conditions for leaving would remain unmet.

This is a bit…

troublesome…