Wang Mei's top priority right now was the safety of her guild members.
After contacting the entire squads, out of 100 squads, only 38 responded. Seven of the squads had already gathered together with Wang Mei, while the remaining 62 were not yet known.
According to the squad leaders who had been contacted earlier, they experienced the same thing as Wang Mei. They were fooled by a bird monster that imitated the human voices, then was ambushed by a group of monsters. Luckily, they managed to escape, although only in small numbers.
Wang Mei asked them to return to the camp. However, most of the squad members were seriously injured and lost the healers, making it difficult for them to move. Even if they could do it, it would take them a long time to return. Only a few teams were able to return to the camp.
She also contacted the Siberian Knights and the Heavenly Dragon Guild Masters for help, but there was no response.
Whether she liked it or not, Wang Mei had to pick up all her guild members. Moreover, one of them was the most precious person in her life, Wang Yi.
Even though the situation was chaotic, she believed that there was a chance for them to survive. They might still be alive somewhere in the Dungeon.
First, Wang Mei and her men would search for all the squads whose whereabouts were known. After that, they returned to the camp to get the supplies and informed their allied guilds. Then, she would look for other squads that had lost contact.
Wang Mei didn't look for her sister first because she put her hopes in Wang Yi. She was sure that her stubborn sister would not die so easily. Besides, the girl's whereabouts hadn't been found yet, so it would take a long time for her to find Wang Yi. Before she could find her sister, many of her members would be dead.
This time, she would not let her ego.
"I will save as many of my guild members as I can. Wang Yi is a strong girl. She will survive. Yes… She will be fine."
That was what she thought.
However, without her knowing it, the death flag was about to fly.
After exploring the forest for a long time, their search was stopped because their path was blocked by a river. Some were sent to find a way across the river and the rest took the opportunity to rest. While Wang Mei herself seemed busy discussing with Captain Chen Wei.
"Are you sure there is no other way?"
"There isn't other way for now. If we want to cross, we have to turn 10 km away or go through the river."
Captain Chen Wei pointed to a giant dead tree that had fallen in the middle of the river. The dead tree connected to the other side.
"It can't be helped. We'll all cross over the river."
Wang Mei then called on all her men to get back on their feet. They began to rise with exhausted expressions on their faces.
Captain Chen Wei was the first to walk on the dead tree. Then, followed by other members. They crossed the river like a line of ants. Meanwhile, Wang Mei still remained behind. She planned to become the last person to cross the river after making sure all her men made it to the other side.
After 10 minutes, half of her men had reached the other side of the river.
"Quick, quicken your footsteps! There are a lot of people waiting!"
In the middle of the crossing process, suddenly there was a commotion on the other side. Naturally, this caught Wang Mei's attention.
She placed her palm on her forehead while she squinted her eyes, trying to focus her vision.
Instantly, her eyes opened wide.
"No…"
A swarm of monsters, about hundreds of them, appeared from behind the forest. They charged at the thirty Nine Sky members who were on the opposite side. Including Captain Chen Wei.
"We are under attack! We are under attack!!"
"Monsters!"
"Stay the course! Keep your positions!"
A scream was heard from a distance. Hearing that, Wang Mei's instincts automatically commanded her to make a move. However, her body was restrained.
"What are you doing?!" Wang Mei snapped. One of her men restrained herself.
"Leader! We are under attack too!"
"WHAT?!"
Wang Mei looked back. Her eyes widened as she saw hundreds of monsters coming out from behind the pine forest. Direwolves, chupacabras, direlions, lycantropes, and various beast-like monsters swarmed in droves, charging towards them. Now, she couldn't help the battle on the other side.
"I have to end this as soon as possible…"
The woman quickly dashed through the crowd of Hunters. Before the monsters could clash with her men, Wang Mei had already slashed down a werelion!
SLASH!!!!!
SPLAAT!
The fighting spirit of her men began to flare up when they saw their leader had advanced towards the monsters first. Without a doubt, they quickly followed.
"Attack!"
The thirty members of Nine Sky rushed towards over the 100 monsters. At first glance, the battle was unbalanced, but Wang Mei's presence covered the difference in their numbers.
The woman fought like a goddess of war. Dozens of monsters attacked and charged from various directions, none of which managed to scratch her skin. In fact, she was the one who slaughtered every monster around her.
Slash! Slash! Splat! A lycantropes died.
Slash! Slash! Splat! Two direlions died.
Slash! Slash! Splat! Four gnolls were killed.
"Kuaaaarrrgh!"
The screams of a monster echoed through the air, mixed with thumping and slashing sounds. They died like slaughtered cattle.
Even though Wang Mei's existence had a great impact, it didn't mean that there were no losses on the human side.
"Haaaaaaaaargggg!"
One by one, Wang Mei's men fell, becoming the prey to the monsters. Some of them lost their limbs, some died slowly from loss of blood, and some died without them noticing.
No matter how hard they fought or how high their spirits were, there were always casualties on the battlefield.
Everyone knew this. Wang Mei was no exception.
She fought with all her might, trying to finish the battle as quickly as possible to reduce the number of casualties.
"No… no… no more die… please…"
Wang Mei released more mana. Instantly, the blue aura that enveloped her body grew darker.
"Hyaaaaaa!"
Raging like a storm.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
She continued to swing her sword. Wang Mei didn't stop. She kept cutting whatever was in front of her.
Spat! Splat! Splat!
Blood splattered, soaking the green grass and the scattered pebbles. The thick red liquid flowed into the river, turning the water that was originally clear like crystal into crimson red.
"Haaaaa!"
She continued to fight until there were no more screams. Until there were no more crashes. Until everything was quiet.
Until the battle was over.
Only then did she stop.
Wang Mei looked around her. The monsters that invaded her squad laid lifeless on the ground, as did her men. Out of the thirty people who fought alongside her, eighteen remained.
Then, she looked to the other side. Instantly, her face turned pale. Not a single human was seen standing. There was only a sea of monsters that seemed to be feasting on a meal.
They had died. All of them.
"No…"
A weak tone came from Wang Mei's words. Her knees were shaking. She was going to fall, yet she was still trying to stay strong.
Meanwhile, her men who survived were also not much different. Their faces were pale, with expressions of disbelief.
"No way..."
"They're all…. dead."
"Even Captain Chen Wei…"
When Chen Wei's name was mentioned, Wang Mei was struck. She couldn't believe she was losing the most loyal person to her. Regret and sorrow quickly flooded her heart.
"Chen Wei…. No…"
Unknowingly, one of her eyes welled up with tears. Then, she hastily wiped it off. She didn't want to look weak in front of her men.
"Leader… it's best if we get out of here! While we still have a chance…"
While Wang Mei was still silent. She was still in deep shock. Her eyes were blank when she saw her dead men. Then, the man shook Wang Mei's body again.
"Leader! We have to get out of here!"
Only then did the woman realize her surroundings.
"Yes… we… we should go. We're going back to camp."
The man nodded. Then, he called for the other members to get ready to leave. After that, Wang Mei and her remaining members quickly left the battlefield.
This was the first time Wang Mei had cried since her parents died. Today was the second worst day of her life.
However, today's rotten luck did not stop here.
Just as they were about to leave, a mysterious figure suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He wore a black coat with unique decorations. His face was covered by a mask. And what stood out the most and caught Wang Yi's attention, his hair was black flames.
Instantly, they were surprised when they saw the mysterious figure. At first glance, the person resembled a human. However, everyone knew that the mysterious figure was not part of them.
They begin to feel a depressed sensation. Wang Mei was no exception.
One of the brave members drew a sword at the figure.
"Who are you?!"
Wang Mei quickly rebuked her men. "Hey!"
Her men felt awkward when Wang Mei scolded him.
Then, the mysterious figure answered. "I am the owner."
Everyone frowned, not understanding what the man had said. The only one who understood the meaning of the mysterious figure's words was Wang Mei alone.
Then, the mysterious figure pointed at something. Wang Mei's eyes opened wide.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Bang!
The sword fell to the ground. Blood flowed profusely. His men fell with their heads smashed like melons.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Then, the sound of consecutive gunshots echoed through the air, accompanied by a hysterical scream.