The apocalypse struck, and I became a druid.

Page 219

Han Ning looked at everyone: "Time is of the essence. The water zombies could attack at any time. Apart from those who need to stand guard, all members who have reached the peak of the Great Black Stone level should gather at the central square one hour after receiving their monster crystals. I will try to help you break through the barrier."

After the meeting, everyone quickly got to work.

Chairman Wu and other members of the study group first led their companions to distribute crystals, allocate resources, and arrange construction plans.

An hour later, at the central square.

Fifteen awakened individuals who had reached the peak of the Great Black Stone level sat cross-legged, with several glittering crystals placed in front of each of them.

People like Chairman Wu, Lin Qianqian, A Long, and later Xu Ming, Professor Ye, Cheng Rui, and others were among them.

Their expressions were solemn, their eyes filled with anticipation.

A number of other members gathered around to watch, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Han Ning walked to the center of the square, scanned the crowd, and said, "Let's begin, absorb energy."

"Ah."

Upon hearing this, everyone grasped the monster crystals in their hands and began to absorb them.

In an instant, surging energy fluctuations reverberated within the cave.

At the same time, Han Ning's body lit up with emerald green light, and his body rapidly grew taller and deformed in the light.

In the blink of an eye, an ancient tree, nearly twenty meters tall, with a vigorous trunk, lush branches and leaves, and surging life energy, stands in the center of the square.

This is based on the life form of the ancient tree spirit of the Emerald Tree!

Thick roots burrow into the ground, and the emerald green canopy moves undisturbed without wind, casting countless soft spots of light.

[Life Realm] Full Power Unleashed!

Centered on the ancient tree, a rich, tangible life energy spread outwards, forming a huge emerald green halo that enveloped the entire plaza.

Everyone within the aura felt a sudden surge of energy, their fatigue and hidden injuries slowly healing, and their energy absorption efficiency increasing.

The built-in natural blessing function helps everyone unlock their potential and inspire wisdom.

A massive amount of energy surged into their bodies, impacting that invisible barrier.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Energy surged in the square, and various colored lights emanated from the awakened ones, marking the most crucial moment.

Sudden.

Ah Long, standing in the crowd, let out a low roar.

The sound of flowing water echoed in the air.

He was enveloped in a deep blue light.

In the blink of an eye, it transformed from a human form into an energy body composed entirely of water.

Then, the water flow continued to deform and twist.

boom! boom! boom!

One powerful aura after another suddenly erupted from the crowd!

Then came Lin Qianqian, President Wu... and Yu Na.

One after another, the awakened ones suddenly opened their eyes, their eyes blazing with light, and the energy fluctuations around their bodies surged, rapidly breaking through a certain limit and reaching a completely new level.

Muscles swell, bones crack, mental fluctuations, colorful bubbles, black energy... the phenomena of advancement are all different.

The powerful blast of air kicked up dust around them, eliciting gasps from the onlookers.

In just a few minutes, more than ten people successfully broke through!

With the addition of the two Black Iron level fighters already present, the Black Iron level combat power in the Biyun Gathering Area instantly surged to 12!

Furthermore, several people are still experiencing energy fluctuations.

Gradually.

The ancient tree that Han Ning had transformed into slowly dimmed its light and returned to human form, his face slightly pale.

Providing assistance to so many people in their breakthroughs at once must have taken a toll on him.

"call……"

He looked around at those still standing or with their eyes closed, savoring the lingering effects of the breakthrough.

Or perhaps it was their companions who were still striving to break through, and they didn't disturb them.

This collective breakthrough, with ten people reaching the Iron level, has exceeded his expectations.

Other gathering areas have at most one or two, or two or three, Black Iron level Awakeners.

And the number of people gathered in their area suddenly increased to 12!

This is the current situation; as time goes on, there will be more.

"Hurry up and familiarize yourself with your powers. Distribute the remaining crystals to the other companions to consolidate your realm. We may not have much time left," Han Ning whispered to Zhao Kai.

……

After the collective breakthrough.

The survivors throughout the settlement began intensive preparations for the battle.

The study group led by Chairman Wu and the logistics staff became the busiest group of people.

Boxes of weapons, having undergone preliminary enchanting treatment, were distributed from the research lab to the various combat squads.

Another group of people used special carving knives and a gelatinous paint that emitted a pale blue fluorescence to carve intricate patterns at the main entrances of the cave, the supporting pillars, and key points of the external defenses.

Each time a spot is completed, a thin, almost imperceptible light blue energy film quietly covers it, rippling slightly.

This membrane is very similar to the barrier that Han Ning and his group encountered when they first entered the entrance to the Fishman Ruins.

With the enchantment complete, most members of the study group, except for the core members, temporarily ceased their research.

The newly recruited dozen or so Black Iron-level Awakeners were divided into two separate assault teams, one led by Zhao Kai and the other by A Long, serving as the spearhead force.

They need to familiarize themselves with the surge in power as soon as possible and conduct combat drills in advance.

The remaining Blackrock-level and Blackrock-level Awakened were mixed together to reinforce the defenses at the cave entrance.

Thick logs were sharpened and embedded deeply into rock crevices to form a chevaux-de-frise.

Professor Ye, along with some faculty and students from the Agricultural University, urgently inspected the water purification system and food reserves to ensure that they would have the resources for a protracted battle should they be trapped.

...

Deep underwater, far from the area where the clouds gather.

A frenzied atmosphere permeated the eerie complex of pale bones, twisted corals, and enormous shellfish.

Many water ghosts gathered from all directions.

They crawled out of the dark trenches and swam out of the shadows of the shipwrecks, their numbers increasing and becoming so dense that they almost blocked the waters surrounding the complex.

The monsters roared, rubbing their scales together, their claws unconsciously scratching at the underwater rocks, like hungry ghouls, their eyes filled with a devouring desire.

Inside the building inlaid with eerie green beads, an aged water ghoul priest stood before an altar made of countless skulls.

He gripped the emerald-inlaid bone staff tightly in his withered hand, the tip of the staff pointing at a mass of black flesh writhing in the center of the altar, exuding a strong aura of black tide.

"@%……@……"

The old water ghost's voice echoed, its syllables distorted and grating, filled with a sense of madness.

As it chanted, the numerous strong water ghouls kneeling around the altar trembled violently, and wisps of black energy seeped from the gaps in their scales, merging into the chunks of flesh on the altar.

The chunk of flesh began to throb like a heart, faster and faster, and countless tiny black eyes opened on its surface.

hum~

A terrifying wave that sent shivers down one's spine suddenly erupted from the chunk of flesh, transforming into an invisible black halo that swept across the entire water ghost clan.

All the water ghouls, regardless of their strength, simultaneously raised their heads and let out a silent roar at that moment.

Their eyes were completely filled with dark madness, their muscles bulged, bone spurs burst out of their bodies, and their aura surged.

The aged priest waved his bone staff, pointing it in the direction of the mountains.

"Whoosh!"

The assembled army of water zombies surged out of the buildings like a burst dam.

This group of water ghouls is clearly structured, with each group of dozens of water ghouls commanded by a highly intelligent officer.

The hundreds of water ghouls are commanded by a slender water ghoul-like commander.

A clear hierarchy has been formed.

Among the army of water corpses.

At the forefront were dozens of bloated, giant water ghouls covered in thick bone armor.

Closely following them were ordinary soldiers who moved swiftly, their claws gleaming with poisonous light.

Mixed in among them are some special individuals capable of remotely spraying corrosive water arrows or releasing disruptive mental fluctuations.

There were also a few scouts gliding along the sides like shadows.

The army of water corpses was surrounded by a dense swarm of sea beasts of varying sizes.

These sea creatures served as the vanguard of the water ghouls, clearing the way ahead.

Wherever they passed, the water was tinged with a faint ink color, and the aura of the black tide permeated the air.

All living things in the water either fled in terror or were assimilated and absorbed by the black tide, merging into this destructive torrent.

...

A little later.

Outside the Biyun gathering area, in the forest and grassland.

Han Ning stood on the makeshift platform, his gaze sweeping over the Awakened Ones standing in formation below, as well as the four different colored Bee Clan teams floating in the air.

"The threat of the water ghouls is imminent; we must gain air superiority."

Han Ning's voice echoed in the square.