IMC Chapter 50

The Rain Girl, stumbling along, found that her little short legs were still lagging behind the group. So, she decided to lunge forward and grab the little white cat’s tail, hanging on for support.

The little white cat glanced back, meowed in resignation, and then lifted its tail, transferring the Rain Girl onto its back. Though the cat was small, the Rain Girl’s even smaller size meant it had no trouble carrying her without affecting its speed.

Thus, the small team of four non-human creatures slowly approached the tribe. The Xia Wang Tribe looked very familiar; everything was unchanged from when they left.

However, in the dead of night, the empty tribe appeared particularly eerie. The swirling night mist under the moonlight added a touch of mystery to the scene.

Shu Bao did not rashly enter the tribe. After all, if life was a necessary condition to activate the Chaotic World, then entering the tribe without caution might make their refuge outing meaningless.

After circling the tribe, and finding everything still very quiet with no abnormalities, Shu Bao continued to patrol the surrounding area for a while longer. During this time, the mouse occasionally darts out from the tribe, as well as bats and owls flying through the air.

Shu Bao realized that life was not the condition for activating the Chaotic World; it was likely the tribe’s residents. The tribe’s mission hall determined the magical attributes of the Xia Wang Tribe and could recognize the tribe’s residents. It was probably only when the tribe’s residents were inside that the mission hall would default to the tribe being in an activated state.

Moreover, since no chaotic creatures had appeared in the tribe over such a long period, it indicated that their plan was effective. As long as there were no residents in the tribe, it would not appear in the Chaotic World at night, and chaotic creatures would not detect the Xia Wang Tribe’s presence.

This discovery greatly relieved Shu Bao. With this, the Xia Wang Tribe at least had the option to choose, rather than being forced into daily defense.

After waiting a bit longer around the tribe, Shu Bao returned. Perhaps he would try to enter the tribe the next day, but today he was determined not to take risks.

Upon returning to the temporary camp, the Rain Girl had already fallen asleep, even leaving a drool mark on the little white cat.

Shu Bao explained the situation of the tribe and his plans for the next day to the high priest. He wanted to understand how the Xia Wang Tribe’s appearance in the Chaotic World worked: whether it activated when any resident entered the tribe, or if it required a certain number of residents to trigger, and what the state of the tribe would be in the real world after activation.

The high priest supported Shu Bao’s plan and prepared to attempt it the next day.

In the Chaotic World, some of the people who had left not long ago had indeed returned, searching for traces of the Necromancer Legion. There were also some who had come hoping to try their luck after hearing the news.

However, after several rounds of meticulous searching, they found no sign of the Necromancer Legion, and they eventually gave up and left.

Had the Xia Wang Tribe appeared there tonight, it would undoubtedly have attracted their attention. If they discovered that the Xia Wang Tribe was connected to the real world, the tribe would have to defend against more than just the magical beasts tonight.

It had been over a month since the Xia Wang Tribe activated the Chaotic World. Today was the most relaxed day they had experienced in that time. Even though this was just a temporary camp and there were no defensive barriers around, they quickly fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next morning, the tribe members awoke to the sunlight filtering through the forest, feeling refreshed from the unique moisture of the woods. They soon started cooking the food they had prepared the day before, including some provisions for the forest giant wolves.

Without the forest giant wolves guarding them overnight, it would have been impossible for them to enjoy such a comfortable night.

After breakfast, the tribe members went about their daily tasks. The hunting team, along with a small group of forest giant wolves, went out to hunt, while others continued collecting supplies or tending to crops and livestock.

During the day, they were free to come and go from the tribe, but the dragon eggs and some supplies were still not retrieved. The high priest had informed them that tonight they would attempt to enter the tribe with part of the group while the rest would stay outside.

Since this was the will of the deity, no one opposed it. They were all quite curious. If it hadn’t been for the risk of an accident, they themselves would have been eager to try.

As anticipation built among the tribe members, time passed, and evening arrived. Everyone gathered outside the tribe, waiting for Shu Bao’s command.

As midnight approached, signaling the time when the Chaotic World was supposed to appear, no one had yet moved. Suddenly, the wolf pack on the outskirts began to howl as a warning, and the tribe members immediately became alert. Clearly, their two-day stay outside the tribe had attracted some unwanted attention.

In the torchlight and moonlight, a pair of glowing eyes appeared from the shadows, and more and more of them emerged, their numbers clearly exceeding those of the forest giant wolves. This, it seemed, was why they dared to attack the Xia Wang Tribe.

As these creatures approached, the tribe members got a clearer look at their attackers. They were wolf-like creatures but with a more fearsome appearance. They had two unusual forward-growing fangs. Although their size was smaller than that of the forest giant wolves, they were still more than twice the size of the wolves Shu Bao was familiar with. Moreover, the attackers were coming in a massive wave, with an estimated number of over one hundred.

“Ivory Jackals. They usually operate in groups, but this group seems excessively large!” The high priest, having roughly estimated the number of jackals, was also deeply shocked. The surrounding ivory jackals continued to gather, their terrifying numbers making even the forest giant wolves feel threatened. The giant wolves lowered their bodies and growled lowly, seemingly trying to intimidate the approaching jackals.

Though the Xia Wang Tribe members were greatly shocked, they were familiar with confronting chaotic creatures and quickly stabilized their emotions, waiting for the high priest and the deity’s next instructions.

Shu Bao observed the situation and was surprised to find, whether by coincidence or not, that the attacking jackals had left a gap. This gap was directly aligned with the entrance to the Xia Wang Tribe.

This scene led Shu Bao to deep thought. Was the connection between the chaotic world and the real world really just through the Black Stones?

The high priest issued defensive orders and the surrounding jackals finally reached a terrifying number. The forest giant wolves’ intimidation failed. The jackals, baring their fangs, advanced step by step, then lunged fiercely. In an instant, the howls of wolves and barks of dogs shattered the previously quiet night. The forest giant wolves, embodying the spirit of hardworking wolves, charged fearlessly.

The Xia Wang Tribe members also quickly began to counterattack, especially the hunting team. Thanks to the tacit understanding developed with the forest giant wolves, they managed to tear open a gap in the jackal encirclement.

However, more ivory jackals gathered in the profound darkness, and the gap was soon filled again.

With the bravery of the forest giant wolves, the fighting skills of the tribe members, and the magical attacks from the high priest and Mu Bao, the Xia Wang Tribe managed to hold their ground for the time being. But Shu Bao knew that this situation couldn’t last long; there were too many ivory jackals!

Shu Bao glanced back at the distant tribe gate and decided to retreat to the tribe. At least there, they would have the fence and traps to block the enemies, rather than directly colliding with the beasts as they were now.

Noticing the tribe’s intent to retreat, the ivory jackals became even more frenzied. They seemed crazed as if they were determined to bite a piece of flesh from their opponents, no matter what!

Just when the Xia Wang Tribe members felt they were struggling, a warhorse’s neigh sounded. In an instant, the surrounding world was enveloped in a blood-red hue, followed by an eerie green light.

The crowd turned their heads and saw that the black warhorse brought back by the deity now had a shadowy figure on its back. Before they could understand what was happening, more and more warhorses appeared behind it, and each group of warhorses carried a ghostly figure.

The members of the Xia Wang Tribe shuddered in unison, instinctively sensing that the figures and horses appearing were not alive. But before their fear could fully set in, the warhorses led their army into the midst of the ivory jackals.

In an instant, the screams of the jackals filled the air. Wherever the squad glowing with eerie green light went, the ivory jackals would suffer heavy casualties.

Even if some of the soldiers were killed by the ivory jackals, they would be revived the next moment.

The Xia Wang Tribe and the forest wolves were stunned. The ivory jackals numbered nearly three hundred by now, but the army of necromancers was even larger, quickly numbering in the thousands. The roles of attacker and defender were reversed in the blink of an eye. The necromancer army began to slaughter the ivory jackals.

With the necromancer army taking over the battle, the Xia Wang Tribe members and the forest giant wolves could merely watch.

Seeing the valiant necromancer army, the forest giant wolves cautiously retreated, eventually positioning themselves behind the tribe members.

Watching the forest giant wolves trying to hide their large, furry bodies, the Xia Wang Tribe members: “…” You’re so big and furry. How can you hide at all?

Facing the ivory jackals with no fear, the forest giant wolves, like pitiful and helpless big dogs, squeezed from the outermost edge to the very center of the crowd.

The necromancer army decimated the ivory jackals in just a few minutes. When the number of ivory jackals decreased sharply and no longer posed a threat to the tribe, everyone expected the jackals to flee, as they were deceitful creatures.

However, the ivory jackals continued to charge forward frenziedly. But they could not break through the iron hooves of the necromancer army. In the blink of an eye, no living ivory jackals remained on the field.

The members of the Xia Wang Tribe remained stunned by the shock, while the black horse nearby happily trotted back to the deity and lowered its head.

Shu Bao patted the warhorse’s face with his paw. “Well done!”

The warhorse immediately let out a joyful neigh and nuzzled the fluffy deity. The deity was jostled to and fro, and it took a while before he managed to stand firm again.

The members of the Xia Wang Tribe looked on, feeling that the black horse didn’t seem so frightening anymore.

The forest giant wolves, however, didn’t share this sentiment. They continued to push themselves behind the tribe members, determined to stay out of sight.

With the ivory jackals defeated, the scene was left in disarray. The high priest sighed as he looked at the scattered jackal corpses. “Ah, with so much meat, we’re sure to waste a lot of it.”

At the mention of food, the forest giant wolves perked up their ears. However, intimidated by the terrifying power of the warhorse, they remained quietly lying down.

Fortunately, Shu Bao was always generous. “Give some of the meat to the forest giant wolves. If there’s still too much left, I’ll see if I can sell it.”

Shu Bao had long considered setting up a trading caravan. However, with the nearby Long Tribe being unfriendly, he figured he might have to sell his tribe’s produce to the taverns in the Chaotic World first. He wondered if the tavern owner would give extra attention with Lan Qing around.

Of course, Shu Bao’s primary concern wasn’t about trading at the moment but rather the unusual behavior of the ivory jackals. Their massive gatherings and frenzied attacks were clearly abnormal.

Shu Bao suddenly recalled Duan Zhuo, who had sneaked into the tribe. The tribe itself was merely a conduit; Duan Zhuo could have quietly left without being noticed before, but he ended up returning. At the time, he had claimed it was because he feared accidentally entering the Chaotic World again. However, it now seemed that the answer might not be that simple.

It appeared that beings who had entered the Chaotic World were being compelled to return to it as if the light instinctively drove away the darkness.

However, the real world probably didn’t anticipate that the Xia Wang Tribe would resist this expulsion so forcefully.

Shu Bao hadn’t intended to stay away from the Chaotic World for too long. But that didn’t mean he enjoyed being pressured like this. Thus, the warhorse’s intervention was quite relieving for him.

The warhorse, having interacted with the fluffy deity, was very happy. Not only had it killed many ivory jackals, but it also took on the task of transporting the bodies. The tribe quickly overcame their fear of the necromancer army after the recent interaction and began piling the ivory jackal corpses onto the warhorse for transport back to the tribe.

Even the forest giant wolves benefited from the necromancer army’s transport service. The timid forest giant wolves led a team to their cave.

When the team arrived at the forest giant wolf’s cave, it caused quite a stir. The forest giant wolves watched in terror as the necromancer soldiers unloaded the ivory jackal corpses, their big heads following the soldiers’ movements without daring to make a move.

After unloading the goods, the necromancer army set off to return to the tribe. The forest giant wolves hesitated for a moment but ultimately overcame their fear and decided to follow back to the tribe to continue their protective duties.

The necromancer army marched ahead, their straight-backed forms illuminated by eerie blue-green light.

The forest giant wolves trailing behind, affected by this, gradually straightened their heads and backs. However, unlike the necromancer army, the forest giant wolves lacked the same imposing aura and instead ended up moving in unison, almost comically.

When the team returned near the tribe, Shu Bao observed the scene from afar and felt some concern. “These dogs shouldn’t have any forest wolf blood, should they?” He needed a fierce canine army, not a bunch of house-wreckers.

The high priest evidently didn’t understand the deity’s concern but noticed the forest giant wolves’ strange gait. “Maybe they’re injured. I’ll go check.”

Shu Bao nodded in agreement. “Go quickly. The sooner we find out, the sooner we can treat them.”

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