In the deep cave.
Twenty or thirty figures could be vaguely seen.
The low growls of the Calamity Beast and the stench emanated from outside the cave, but no one inside reacted.
They were either leaning against the rock wall with their heads drooping, or lying on their sides on the ground with their eyes open, all with a numb expression.
Zhao Lei leaned against the rock wall, his gaze also somewhat unfocused.
Since arriving in this world, they have encountered Calamity Beast they could not defeat, sooner or later.
However, the Calamity Beast did not kill them; instead, they brought them back here and imprisoned them.
Zhao Lei wasn't too surprised by this situation.
After he entered the Erosion Zone, he heard some veterans talk about similar situations.
For example, when they first went out to build the city, the city fell. Not everyone died; some were captured by the Calamity Beast.
What were they taken there for?
have no idea.
But it can't possibly be a good thing.
After all, even humans never show mercy to their enemies when they fight, let alone now that they are not even the same race.
Therefore, he wasn't too surprised by his current situation.
Moreover, there's really only one thing to do!
Periodically, one person is sent up to be fed to the Broken Claw Beast!
This is what they're mainly here to do!
Because of this, many people resisted, but without exception, all of them died on the front lines.
Now, all that's left is for the Calamity Beast to choose from...
Fortunately, the Broken Claw Beast doesn't eat people every day; it only demands offerings from them every few days.
That's why they have so many people left now.
Even Zhao Lei sometimes thought about it.
If they hadn't been captured and imprisoned here by the Calamity Beast, would more have died? Would they have all perished outside?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but give a wry smile.
What are you laughing at?
A slightly hoarse voice came from the side.
Zhao Lei turned his head and looked over.
She was a female soldier, and because she hadn't washed herself much for over a month, she looked somewhat disheveled.
Lin Yao was a teammate he had found outside, and together they were encountered and captured by the Calamity Beast.
Actually, it wasn't just the two of them together at the time; there was another male soldier, but that one was already...
"No," Zhao Lei sighed heavily, "I was just wondering how much longer we could hold out."
Hearing this, Lin Yao also fell silent.
She turned her head, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the cave.
Even though the intervals between the Broken Claw Beast's demands for offerings were not short, nearly half of the people still perished in the past two months.
Especially now, almost no one has been brought back.
It is foreseeable that their area will be completely cleared out in the near future.
She then gave a wry smile.
"Perhaps... when the Broken Claw Beast sees fewer people, it will have more time to improve its diet, which might allow us to live a little longer."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Lei gave another wry smile.
He hadn't considered this possibility, but after hearing it mentioned, he thought about it carefully and realized it was indeed possible, but...
In the end, they're just waiting to die!
Suddenly, the mournful cries of the Calamity Beast came from outside.
The two glanced outside, then numbly looked away.
Compared to them, the lower-level Calamity Beast are actually the most miserable.
Despite the Broken Claw Beast's efforts to reduce the food ratio for each Calamity Beast, a large number of Calamity Beast still require more than ten of their own kind to consume each day.
Therefore, they are the ones who are truly desperate!
If you don't join this group, you'll be hunted as food by both humans and other Calamity Beast.
Even if you join, if you're not strong enough, you'll still be treated as food.
but...
Zhao Lei sighed softly.
Compared to those low-level Calamity Beast, they weren't actually that different; ultimately, they were just fish on the chopping block.
Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the cave.
Two Calamity Beast appeared at the cave entrance.
They didn't come in; they just stood outside the cave shouting.
"Quick, pick one! Lord Broken Claw Beast needs a change of pace!"
There was no response; the cave was deathly silent.
A moment later, Zhao Lei, supporting himself on the ground, stood up with some difficulty.
The people around him also subconsciously looked at him.
Although his eyes remained numb, a hint of tension had crept in.
After all, if luck isn't on their side, they might be the ones offered up.
"Count off as usual, no repeating," Zhao Lei said with some difficulty.
Then he began to speak:
"Twenty one"
"Twenty three"
"57"
"72"
"..."
One after another, the voices of people counting off rang out after him.
A moment later, the sound faded.
Zhao Lei took a light breath and turned to look at the Calamity Beast standing at the door:
"What number did Lord Broken Claw Beast give us today?"
Upon hearing his words, one soldier after another stared intently at the Calamity Beast at the entrance.
This is a plan they devised themselves.
The host first writes a number on Stone or somewhere else, and everyone else calls out their own number. The person whose number is closest to that number is the one whose offering will be given this time.
Well... it's barely fair.
After all, apart from the first host, the subsequent hosts were all appointed by the person who was presented to the throne in the previous round.
But on one occasion, after the Calamity Beast outside reported this matter to the Broken Claw Beast above, the Broken Claw Beast seemed to take an interest in it, and it provided the figures each time.
Now it truly becomes completely fair.
After all, no one knew which number the Broken Claw Beast would call out.
One warrior after another nervously watched the two Calamity Beast at the entrance, fearing they might be chosen.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Calamity Beast at the entrance grunted twice, then said:
77.
Upon hearing this, most of the people inside the cave breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Lei also breathed a sigh of relief.
He reported 21, which is still far from 77.
Of course, that's not how it should be viewed, but in any case, it wasn't him this time.
He turned his gaze back and scanned the inside of the cave.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, except...
Their gazes lingered on Lin Yao, who stood frozen in place, her face pale...
76!
This is the number she reported, and it's the closest to 77!
Upon realizing this, Zhao Lei froze on the spot.
The chosen one could be anyone else, or it could be him, but it just so happens that...
"Hurry up! You'll be in trouble if Lord Broken Claw Beast gets impatient!" the Calamity Beast urged at the cave entrance.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yao lowered her head, remained silent for a moment, and then walked out of the cave.
However, she hadn't gone far when a hand rose up and stopped her.
Following the hand, Lin Yao raised her gaze.
Zhao Lei was staring at her with a serious expression.
"I'll go in your place."
" Zhao Lei, what are you thinking about? You..."
Lin Yao's eyes widened suddenly, but before she could finish speaking, Zhao Lei interrupted her.
"I told you, I'll go in your place!"
After a pause, Lin Yao bit her lip and looked at Zhao Lei.
Do you think I'm a coward?
"I know you're not someone who's afraid of death..."
The two argued inside the cave.
The people around them watched them.
At the entrance, the two Calamity Beast also watched this scene, amusement spreading across their faces.
"Alright."
It interrupted the two, staring directly at the human who had tried to stop them, and said:
"Lord Broken Claw Beast said he wants number 77, so it's number 77. When did you, a worthless human, become someone who can speak on behalf of Lord Broken Claw Beast?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Lei's body trembled slightly. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but at that moment, a cold hand grabbed his wrist.
He stood frozen in place, then slowly turned his head.
Lin Yao was looking at him, a faint smile on her face.
"We... we'll all have this day, won't we?"