Chapter 260: Have You Ever Risked Your Life for Anyone?

On a dozen or so Crystals, one red light strand after another appeared, and these strands were extremely eerie.

They looked like living things, twisting wildly, making anyone who glanced at them feel a chill down their spine.

At this moment, everyone finally knew what the real danger was!

No one dared to slack off any longer; they all scrambled to find ways to resist the entanglement of blood threads.

But the despairing fact was that, no matter how they struggled, they could not escape the blood threads' grasp.

And once the blood threads wrapped them, they found their bodies could no longer move, and something seemed to be drawn out from within, making them feel increasingly weak.

"What's happening? I feel myself getting weaker!"

"Ah! Your complexion is turning paler and paler; what's going on!"

"These blood threads seem to be draining our life; what do we do? What do we do? Are we doomed this time?"

"I don't want to die! What do we do? Someone, please save me; I really don't want to die!"

…

Ruan Qingtan's complexion was equally terrible, and seeing everyone's panicked eyes, they were at a loss for a moment.

And at that moment, Lin Yifan finally arrived!

When he saw the scene before him, he couldn't help but gasp sharply!

Hundreds to thousands of Survivors had gathered on the island, and a dozen or so black‑robed figures were manipulating blood‑colored Crystals, weaving a bizarre blood thread net that ensnared everyone.

From Lin Yifan's viewpoint, it was clear that many people's complexions were deteriorating, even their skin developing wrinkles, evidently due to massive loss of life force!

But even more frightening, beneath the lake's surface, a huge dark silhouette could be faintly seen moving.

Lin Yifan didn't know what that thing was, but upon seeing it, he sensed a terrifying aura.

It seemed as if that thing could claim his life at any moment!

"Captain's here!" Hong Shaoqiang stood on the shore, previously helpless, thinking how to comfort Ruan Qingtan.

But at that moment, seeing Lin Yifan standing on the lake's surface, he was overjoyed.

"Captain's here?" Ruan Qingtan, who had been completely disoriented, quickly turned, and upon seeing Lin Yifan, tears welled up, shouting wildly:

"Captain, you must leave! Do not enter the lake island; they've set many traps there, we've already been caught, don't make a pointless sacrifice again."

In fact, by now everyone on the lake island knew the chance of escaping was slim.

Even then, some others surprisingly showed a sliver of conscience; instead of pleading for help, they shouted, urging him to stay away:

"Big brother Lin Yifan, don't come any more; we can't live any longer, your coming would only be a death march, there's no need!"

"Exactly, we're doomed; you shouldn't come to die for us. We're all compatriots from Earth Star; survive if you can!"

"This damned world makes every second a torment. I stopped wanting to live long ago; dying now is still painful. Lin Yifan, I've always resented you, but I know you're a good person; just keep living! If you can survive to the end, ask that thief of a sky why it torments us so!"

"Right, you should live in our stead, live well, live until the final chapter, until the day the event uncovers the truth, and find all the truth for us!"

…

Listening to everyone's words, Lin Yifan felt moved for the first time!

Although he had helped many before, selfishly he was still acting for himself.

He never expected anyone to repay him, but when faced with life and death, those who should have been terrified of death didn't ask him for guidance; instead, they urged him to keep living.

Yet, although most were strangers, there were still two teammates: Ruan Qingtan and Hong Shaoqiang!

Especially Hong Shaoqiang, whose Shelter still had a young daughter waiting for his return.

If he truly died here, what would become of his daughter?

Thus Lin Yifan could not escape alone!

At that moment, Moris burst into a wild laugh, his face playful as he said to Lin Yifan:

"Tsk tsk tsk! What a moving scene! So many people hoping you run, hoping you live for them!"

"Lin Yifan, you wouldn't want to betray their hopes, would you? Oh right! If you don't betray them, you'll still die here, fulfilling their wishes, and your conscience will be condemned, right?"

"Now the question arises: what do you choose? To live and die together with them, or to flee yourself? I'm so curious! Really curious!"

"Such a spectacle is truly fascinating!"

"You, the first traitor to our kind, shut up!" Lin Yifan rolled his eyes, disdainfully turned his head toward Moris, sneering:

"You think you deserve to watch my spectacle?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he rushed straight into the red light strands' woven circle, heading to Hong Shaoqiang and Ruan Qingtan.

"Captain, you're being foolish; didn't we tell you not to come in!" Ruan Qingtan, frantic and panicked, blurted out:

"Coming here to die, are you stupid?"

"Don't worry, I won't die!" Lin Yifan reached out, patting Ruan Qingtan's shoulder, then turned to Hong Shaoqiang and asked:

"How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, but the others probably aren't doing well!" Hong Shaoqiang gritted his teeth and said:

"These Red Moon‑faith madmen must have already activated the altar; I just saw the Red Moon's projection becoming clearer!"

Lin Yifan looked up; indeed, the Red Moon in the sky had become denser than before, even emitting an eerie red glow.

"We must destroy the altar first!" He inhaled, then turned his gaze to the red light strands binding the people and the red Crystals extending them, speaking gravely:

"However, the immediate priority is to destroy these red Crystals first; the altar is merely a prop, and these red Crystals absorb life force as a medium to summon the Red Moon. If we can't destroy them, even returning to the altar is useless."

"But we're bound by these red light strands and can't move," Ruan Qingtan said anxiously.

"And we can't leave the fire circle; those Maggot Human Bones outside are still waiting!"

"I'll handle these!"

Lin Yifan squinted, examining those Maggot Human Bones closely.

Sure enough, he found that although those Maggot Human Bones were at Tier 2, their Life Tier was still below his.

That meant his Shadow Strangle could achieve its maximum effect, i. e., an instant kill!

The biggest trouble before us is actually this group of Red Moon followers led by Morris, all of whose Life Tier is one level above Lin Yifan's.

And Morris, the leader, has finally seen his own level!

His Life Tier is two tiers higher, and he is also an Intermediate mage!

Although Lin Yifan still hasn't figured out the different ranks of mages, being the person in charge of this operation means he cannot be weak.

What troubles Lin Yifan even more is that he discovered, besides this group of Red Moon followers, there is another group lying in ambush on the outskirts.

He has no idea who these people are!

But they are most likely members of the Dark Night Divine Cult!

Thinking of the Dark Night Divine Cult, Lin Yifan suddenly recalled the warning left earlier by Aeri Liya.

Perhaps the fragment of Dark Night Divine Essence on his body can break the deadlock!

Anyway, he has to take a gamble!

Lin Yifan squinted and whispered to Ruan Qingtan and Hong Shaoqiang:

"In a moment I will instantly kill all Maggot Human Bones, and also wound these technicians; the severity is uncertain, but as soon as they are hurt there will surely be a brief opening."

"You must seize this chance, find a way to kill them, or break the current stalemate."

Lin Yifan has already calculated that, although his Shadow Strangle is indeed powerful, it is not without cost.

Each time he uses Shadow Strangle, his intelligence drops by 5 points; his intelligence is only about 70, even with a double attribute buff it only reaches 140.

The number of Shadow Strangle casts he can perform is limited, and he cannot exhaust all his intelligence, otherwise in the ensuing battle he would be helpless.

So, during that later opening, he must rely on others for help!

Ruan Qingtan and Hong Shaoqiang don't know exactly how Lin Yifan will instant‑kill.

But they trust Lin Yifan!

So they answer without hesitation.

Lin Yifan doesn't hesitate either and suddenly says to Morris:

"Morris, you will definitely die here today!"

The moment he speaks, he activates Shadow Strangle, instantly eradicating all Maggot Human Bones.

At the same time, he hurls the skill onto Morris and the priests behind him!

Shadow Strangle can achieve an instant kill against those whose Life Tier is lower than Lin Yifan's, but against those whose Life Tier is higher than his, it can only cause damage proportionally.

The priests whose Life Tier is only one level above Lin Yifan's are directly severely wounded!

"Ah!"

"Poof!"

"Plop!"

…

Cries of pain and the sounds of the severely wounded falling to the ground rise and fall in succession.

Even the strongest, Morris, spits out a mouthful of fresh blood!

The staff in his hand wavers and falls to the ground!

Seeing this, Lin Yifan, unable to wait for his own energy to be depleted, uses a Shadow Raid, snatches the staff, and crushes the red Crystal on it.

At once, the intertwined red light that had been wrapping the Survivors instantly dissipates.

"Everyone, move in quickly and kill these disgusting priests!" Ruan Qingtan and Hong Shaoqiang, breaking free of control, roar and instantly rush toward the severely wounded priests.

Among the Survivors behind them, some fall to the ground, but those with lighter injuries also charge toward the priests.

The priests were already severely wounded, and the suddenness left them no preparation, so they were cleanly slaughtered by the crowd.

Only the leader Morris, strong and quick to react, instantly escaped the encirclement.

He glared angrily at everything before him, his gaze full of venom as he roared at Lin Yifan:

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Bastard, Lin Yifan, you bastard! You ruined my plan again, you should die, you really should die!"

"Cough cough cough!"

Continuously releasing skills has already drained Lin Yifan's intelligence; his head aches terribly, but he still forces himself to stand, and the cold smirk says:

"Even if I deserve to die, so what? Dare you kill me? Can you kill me?"

Indeed, Lin Yifan relied on Morris's unwillingness to kill him, which is why he boldly entered the circle.

And Morris truly does not dare to kill him; even now, his face turning iron‑blue with anger, he can only roar like a madman:

"Yes, I cannot kill you, but that doesn't mean I can't kill others!"

At that point, he suddenly spreads his arms and leaps into the air.

Simultaneously, the strange markings on his forehead begin to spread downward rapidly, soon covering his entire face and then extending below his neck.

After a few seconds, Lin Yifan sees the markings also covering his fingertips, so needless to say, his whole body is likely covered in the strange patterns!

Lin Yifan doesn't know what these markings mean.

But his subconscious tells him.

Danger!

There is danger!

Trusting his sixth sense, Lin Yifan shouts to everyone at once:

"Come back quickly, hide behind me!"

"Thinking of helping these trash? Too late!" Morris cackles, raising both hands:

"Come out! My children, my allies!"

As his words finish, countless tentacles sprout from all directions, waving toward the crowd!

These tentacles are almost identical to those that appeared on the earlier altars.

Everyone who had seen those tentacles instantly felt their souls flee!

And Lin Yifan's complexion instantly turned terribly grim, yet he was not actually panicked!

He turned his head toward the lake surface and shouted at the crowd:

"Everyone jump into the lake! These damn things are afraid of water!"

At that moment, no one doubted Lin Yifan any longer; upon hearing it, they immediately leapt into the water.

Sure enough, those previously rampant tentacles dared not touch the water's surface at all.

The crowd finally exhaled a sigh of relief, but before they could fully release it, a scene that filled them with despair reappeared!

In the sky, a massive flock of winged elves appeared!

They were the Dark Night Elves!

The hunters' organization of the Dark Night Divine Cult!

A full three hundred of them all manifested over the lake's sky!

Each of them brandished a crossbow, the bolts aimed directly at the Human Survivors soaking in the lake.