Chapter 1571: Battle of the Fugitives

Lin Dui, you're leaving again!?

Having seen Lin An finish interrogating the giant tree, they then looked at the so‑called Wanshen Tribe's dungeon distribution map.

Those nearby, whether Zhang Tie or Gao Tian, were all tense at this moment.

Nobody is an idiot.

Even just from the giant tree's words, including the information from those earlier monsters, they vaguely guessed that this group of fugitives had a huge impact on humanity and must be eradicated.

But after one great battle, Lin An immediately launched another great battle..

Especially since they were still deep in the enemy's lair, facing the 'mighty' Wanshen in their eyes.

Although they had no doubt about Lin An's strength.

But..

Is it...?

"Lin An!"

"Stay."

A sound of dissatisfaction rose, filled with resentment and an extremely complex tone.

Unlike the others, who were somewhat afraid of Lin An and dared not say more, only Xiao Mo Ling and Zhang Tie dared to speak up.

Only seeing Mo Ling, already blood‑less, now walk weakly to Lin An's side.

She clenched her lower lip, firmly grabbed Lin An's hand, lifted her head and stared at him fixedly.

"Don't go anymore..."

"There aren't that many enemies. There isn't that much to do!"

"Stay! Rest!"

"We can help you too! Then we'll go together!"

It's hard to say how distressed Xiao Mo Ling feels right now.

If we say that in the eyes of Long An's members, and even the Soviets, Luo En, etc., Lin An's strength leaves them unable to feel envy—only awe and longing.

Such strength to the extreme, wielding power to suppress everything, is truly something people yearn for and long to possess.

But only the squad members know what Lin An's sudden surge of strength truly represents.

It represents unimaginable desperate slaughter, representing battles desperate enough to make anyone despair.

One wave hasn't settled before another rises.

Life‑and‑death crises, one after another.

Exhausted, utterly exhausted, they all look mentally and physically drained.

If it were oneself fighting so desperately, it would be like an endless war machine constantly wandering between life and death.

Zhang Tie guarantees that no one present could bear the cost of such strength!

Yes, many of them feel that Lin Dui and the system have some unclear 'connection,' maybe even a 'cheat'.

But deep down, Xiong Hanzi and the others know very well that they have never seen Lin An easily gain power, nor have they ever seen a windfall.

Lin An went from weak to strong, from almost being killed by even a Suturer, to now single‑handedly slaughtering the 'gods'—who knows the hardship he endured?

Lin An's strength was bought with his life! It came from countless efforts, countless turnarounds in desperate situations!

Lowering his head and glancing sideways, Lin An saw Mo Ling's stubborn face, unwilling to let him leave, then lifted his gaze to see the worried looks of the crowd.

Go together?

In the brief silence, Lin An secretly sighed, a warmth flowing through his heart.

He knows that Zhang Tie and the others are afraid he's too exhausted, and they themselves feel uneasy.

Since the fugitives have already hidden away, even said to be hiding among humans for who knows how long.

Such rats just need to be cleared out sometime; there's no rush.

But.

Rowing against the current, if you don't advance you retreat.

The pressure is too great, really too great.

In everyone's eyes, Lin An knows that perhaps he already appears invincible, and even several third‑rank Awakened Ones have excitedly discussed after this battle whether Long An, under his leadership, will 'end' this apocalypse.

But for Lin An, the stronger he becomes, the weaker he feels.

The apocalypse will not end.

Having witnessed high‑level power and seen civilization after civilization fall, he clearly knows his current power amounts to nothing.

A new disaster will come soon.

Apocalyptic battlefield, civilizations slaughtering each other, a new catastrophe, disaster, enemies...

Content with the status quo, any slack is a deadly poison capable of killing everyone!

Unless he abandons everything and also learns to survive like the fugitives, hiding in the dungeon!

No, that wouldn't last long either—high‑rank beings can only survive in a dormant state, which is hardly different from death.

"It won't be long, believe me."

Lin An unconsciously squeezed out a smile and gently rubbed Xiao Mo Ling's head.

He temporarily halted the research into the fugitives' lair.

But as if he had just thought of something, after a slight pause he simply took off the death god mask.

Although the air was thick with bloody scent and chaotic spiritual energy, resembling the smell after gunfire.

But Lin An actually still quite likes breathing like a person.

"Lin Dui.. you.."

Everyone suddenly looked at Lin An, at his youthful face.

It's still the same as I remember.

In fact, many people hadn't seen Lin An without his mask in so long that they momentarily felt dazed.

Especially for the members of Long An and Tai Er.

Although they all knew Lin An's appearance, in their minds he was forever a cold, eerie mask.

It was as if what lay beneath the mask wasn't a person, but some kind of indescribable cold presence.

"Lin An... really looks just like a person..."

"He actually... is really just like us..."

"Captain Lin, you haven't taken off your mask in so long, I'm almost forgetting what you look like."

"Still the same as a year ago..."

"Time... really flies..."

"It's just like... dreaming..."

Before the rising bonfire at night, Zhang Tie stared blankly at Lin An, who sat calmly by the fire, accompanying them.

Watching Xiao Mo Ling seem to also lie on Lin An's shoulder and sleep just as before.

Watching Gao Tian volunteer to grill the meat, and Wen Ya cooking the soup.

Although the situation is very different, everyone has changed.

But such a familiar scene inevitably reminded him of the night Long An was just completed.

Even though he is already at the Fourth Stage, no poison in this world could possibly affect him.

But after drinking cup after cup of the strong alcohol Tai Er brought, Zhang Tie's eyes suddenly turned red, and he muttered in a daze.

"Captain Lin, during this time you've been away..."

"We're really scared..."

"Everyone, we're really worried about you..."

As the words fell, Wen Ya, who was cooking soup by the fire with her back to Lin An, trembled slightly.

Listening to Zhang Tie's unintentionally spoken words, Lin An remained silent, slightly startled.

Shadows fell on his face as he faced the crackling warm bonfire.

Lin An thought for a moment, then smiled.

"I will always be here."

"Everyone will always be here...."

"Hurry! All accessible instances must be shut down!"

"The Tree of Good and Evil has been captured by Lin An! That guy will definitely betray us!!"

In a chaotic instance, a horned demon roared while commanding a winged eyeball-like creature.

Seeing the so-called War God reluctant—or unwilling—to leave the instance, he flew into a rage, thrusting his fork forward and roaring loudly.

"Idiot!! If you're unwilling to leave, just wait for Lin An to come in and crush your head!!"

Coldly looking at the horned demon in the Hell Dungeon, the Fourth Stage known as the War God glared with dissatisfaction.

"My instance, I've operated it for so long! The First Generation tells me to give it up now and even take the core away! Tell me, what am I supposed to do from now on!?"

"Besides, is Lin An really that strong? The instance is our home turf! Here we're stronger and he's weaker—what's there to fear?"

It was as if he heard nothing outside the window.

Merely content with managing his own followers, the War God seemed to greatly doubt the migration plan announced by the First Generation Escapees.

After the Escapees reached the outside world, not only did their strength greatly diminish, but even using the rules left them helpless.

Perhaps we really can't beat them.

Perhaps the Lin An outside is truly strong.

He didn't think the other side still had the guts to come kill them here.

Instead, he felt that this was a deliberate excuse by those First Generation Escapees to deceive him.

A human being, the apocalypse has only just broken out over a year ago.

Fourth Stage Peak? How could that be!? Fourth Stage Advanced, at most!

He hadn't even seen where the dead people were; according to what he knew, most of the forces sent out had actually died at the hands of the Judges.

"Idiot!"

I don't know how many of those gods who don't believe Lin An could possibly come in I've encountered.

The horned demon spat a mouthful of lava, its whole body of flames shaking as if angry; after cursing loudly, it also couldn't be bothered to deal with these idiots.

He is one of the few who, together with the First Generation, hid in the vortex and watched the battle to the end.

Lin An's terror is far more terrifying than these idiots imagine!