Chapter 301: Countdown Begins

The two who were hit were slammed to the ground and immediately tangled by swarming black tendrils.

Amid the wailing cries, their bodies shrank at a visible speed, finally becoming dry, withered corpses.

Someone stepped forward and touched the corpse; it instantly turned into flying ash.

This scene made everyone involuntarily gasp a cold breath, retreat several steps quickly, and mutter fearful comments, their faces full of terror:

"What just happened? What was that black thing?"

"It seemed like black tendrils, but they didn't look solid—more like tendrils formed from black mist. Anyway, it's really weird."

"Geez, never mind what it is; that thing can kill unseen, which is terrifying. We should quickly think of a way to deal with it."

…

And Lin Yifan's eyes seemed about to split, watching his comrades die right before him; that kind of insight was truly unbearable.

More importantly, the feeling of wanting to save people yet being powerless made him resent his own strength for the first time.

Moreover, the castle gate was within arm's reach, but the distance felt like a heavenly chasm.

How much time remains until the Dungeon Time ends now?

No one knows; staying here any longer will only become more dangerous.

At that moment.

"Lin Yifan! Look up quickly. Look at the sky!" Ruan Qingtan, behind them, shouted with a suddenly delighted face.

Lin Yifan looked up at the words and saw that a massive Countdown projection had appeared in the night sky—00:07:32.

The numbers above kept flashing, a proper Countdown.

"It's the remaining Dungeon Time!" someone exclaimed. "We have just over seven minutes left!"

"This damned place, I don't want to stay even one more minute."

"I used to think life in the Initial Domain wasn't meant for humans, but now it seems unbelievably wonderful."

…

Everyone's spirits rose considerably upon seeing hope, yet Lin Yifan's expression remained extremely solemn.

"What's wrong with you? We can leave any moment; why does your face look so grim?" Ruan Qingtan, beside him, asked hurriedly upon seeing Lin Yifan's expression.

"Because everyone got happy too early," Lin Yifan sighed lightly, speaking with a wry smile.

Seven minutes, which are usually a flick of the finger, now feel like a life‑or‑death sprint.

And Lin Yifan clearly felt the underground noises becoming more frequent.

Surely, trying to get through these seven minutes peacefully won't be easy.

But now that it's come to this, he could only take a deep breath and shout to the crowd:

"Everyone, calm down first! Though there are still seven minutes, we must endure them to leave safely, so don't be careless; if we capsize before the Bell Gate, we'll be in big trouble."

His voice was hoarse yet firm; upon hearing him, everyone instantly realized they had celebrated too early, calmed down, and stared around with tense faces.

The hunter who had previously discovered the trap suddenly turned pale, shouting in panic:

"We're doomed; I feel all the traps around have activated. We must leave immediately, or we'll face lethal danger."

Lin Yifan inhaled deeply, pointed at the opposite gate, and said in a low voice:

"It seems the rules here aim to stop us from leaving; we must comply with them."

Then he raised the Dawnbreak in his hand, his expression stern, and spoke:

"I'll lead the charge; whatever survival skills you have, don't hide them—show them all to me."

"We'll all rush to the gate; once we break through, we'll survive these seven minutes and live!"

Determination flashed across everyone's faces.

In this life‑or‑death moment, fear turned into a gamble of courage.

"One, two, three—run!"

At Lin Yifan's command, all survivors summoned their last strength and surged toward the castle gate.

The black tendrils underground, now as if maddened, surged from all directions like a tide, crazily trying to encircle the crowd.

The Dawnbreak in Lin Yifan's hand suddenly burst with dazzling light; the blade sliced the air, emitting a sharp whine.

He lunged forward in a single step, the long sword sweeping; the fierce blade light fell like a silver moon, instantly cleaving the oncoming black tendrils in two.

The severed tendrils hissed sharply, turning into black mist that vanished, yet more tendrils erupted from the ground, walls, even the air, forming an impenetrable death net over the crowd.

"Don't stop! Keep charging!" Lin Yifan roared, his blade flashing continuously, carving a narrow passage through the tendril encirclement.

He felt his palm go numb; each swing felt like cutting through tough rubber, and the severed tendrils splashed corrosive black liquid that spattered on his arm, scorching a fierce blood mark.

But he dared not stop, not to mention the many behind him; even if he were alone, stopping now would guarantee death.

"Watch the left side!" Ruan Qingtan suddenly screamed.

Lin Yifan quickly glanced with his peripheral vision and instantly saw a twisted mass of tendrils erupting from the ground, thrusting toward his ribs.

He swerved sharply; the tendril brushed his waist, tearing a bloody wound.

At the same time, a harrowing scream came from behind—a last guest was ensnared by a tendril around the ankle and was instantly dragged to the ground.

His body withered at a visible speed, the flesh beneath the skin seeming sucked out, leaving only a shrunken layer of skin clinging to the bones.

"Save… save me…" the man cried desperately, reaching out, but his fingertips turned to ash the instant they touched his companion.

"Damned!" Lin Yifan's eyes burned, and a feeling of rabbit‑dies‑fox‑sorrow rose in his heart.

Yet even in grief, he dared not pause a moment; his hand again drew a sword arc.

The Dawnbreak, as if sensing Lin Yifan's emotions, suddenly radiated dazzling light.

"Boom!"

As the sword struck down, a blinding blade flash slammed into the ground, simultaneously exploding into a dazzling holy light.

The blast wave shredded all tendrils within a five‑meter radius into fragments, the black mist and dust mixing into a murky vortex.

The crowd seized the chance to sprint forward, but only after charging a dozen meters the ground suddenly shuddered violently, and a gigantic tentacle as thick as a water bucket burst from the earth, its tip splitting open a circular mouth lined with sharp teeth that snapped down at the crowd!

"Get down!" Lin Yifan leapt up, and the blade of Dawnbreak suddenly flared with blood‑red patterns.

He gripped the sword with both hands and, using all his strength, cleaved at that terrifying mouth.

The instant the blade struck the teeth, a shrill clash of metal rang, almost shattering eardrums.

The tentacle was split open with a deep fissure, spraying viscous black slime, but more tentacle branches proliferated wildly from the crack, and in an instant they coiled around Lin Yifan's arm.