CHAPTER 328: ESCAPING WHILE SAVING LIVES

"Quaaacccccccc!"

The shrill, echoing cry of a gigantic hen resounded at an incredibly close distance. A massive shadow suddenly descended from the sky, blotting out Silvanus’s figure completely.

The giant chicken leapt into the air, gathering momentum as it lunged forward—its sharp claws striking straight toward Silvanus’s neck!

Silvanus’s eyes widened. He didn’t want to die! That stupid egg was clearly the problem—so why was he the one getting attacked?!

Boom!

The enormous hen’s claws slashed across the sand, but in that split second, Silvanus rolled to the side, narrowly escaping the deadly strike by a hair’s breadth.

Immediately after, he sprang to his feet. The wind howled around him as he kicked off, running at an incredible speed without making a sound. That foolish egg still clung stubbornly to him, but at this point, Silvanus had no time to care.

Either they both ran—or they both died. In any case, he refused to die here.

"Quaaac!"

The massive hen screeched, lifting one foot, but only sand slipped through its claws. Silvanus’s figure had long vanished.

It tilted its head slightly, seemingly confused, as the eight eyes scattered across its face and neck blinked one after another.

Then, spreading its wings wide, it let out a thunderous cry and stomped forward in the direction Silvanus had fled, each step making the ground quake violently.

"This godforsaken place... we’ve been walking for ages and still haven’t found a single damn thing!"

Thora growled in frustration. He wanted to claim first place, yet up to now, he hadn’t managed to kill a single shadow creature. Those weird plants they’d seen were of no help at all!

His gaze drifted toward Matthew, whom they’d been dragging the whole way. "Is it because of this unlucky bastard?" he snapped, giving Matthew a hard kick like he was booting a ball.

Matthew clutched his stomach, coughing violently—his mind blurred from the pain.

Just then, a sound like the air being torn apart split through the sky.

Thora’s eyes widened. Instinctively, he turned his head, but before he could react, Silvanus’s foot came crashing into him with a forceful kick that sent him flying. His massive body was slammed deep into the dune, half-buried in sand.

Silvanus only saw a group of people from a distance, but the closer he looked, the more familiar they seemed—especially when he saw Matthew being dragged along. Without a moment’s hesitation, he lunged forward.

The group consisted of five people. Seeing Thora buried in the sand from the kick, the other four were visibly alarmed.

"You’re looking for me, aren’t you?" Silvanus cracked his fingers, his face cold as he stared at them.

Instinctively, they stepped back slightly.

Thora’s voice boomed like thunder at that moment: "Kill him! Kill him! Hurry up!"

He swallowed a mouthful of sand, making his words somewhat garbled, his voice rough and hoarse.

Hearing this, the others snapped back to alertness.

Of course—they outnumbered him. What was there to fear? No matter Silvanus’s strength, he was still just a lone kid.

"Watch this!" one of them shouted. At the same time, the dunes beneath their feet began to shift and writhe continuously.

Facing the group, Silvanus made a decisive move. With incredible speed, he grabbed Matthew and vanished from sight.

The group froze: "..."

"Looks like he’s scared of us, huh?"

"Haha, you think so?"

"Thora, are you okay?" another asked, checking on him.

Thora shoved the person aside, his gaze icy. "Who cares if that brat’s scared? I’m going to deal with him today, no matter what!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a deafening sound suddenly echoed from above. Without warning, a dark shadow appeared overhead—and it grew larger!

The group instinctively looked up, only to see a gigantic chicken beast descending, its claws shining so brightly they nearly blinded them!

"Aaaaaa!"

"Run!"

Screaming, the group didn’t care who was who anymore—they practically shoved each other as they bolted.

But the group clearly couldn’t match Silvanus’s speed, and because the distance was so short, it wasn’t long before man and beast were locked in a chaotic skirmish — someone even grabbed at Lumin!

Thora launched a small burst of flame and roared, "Don’t run!"

They could still hold together; if anyone fled, many of them would be doomed!

One of them yelled, "I don’t want to die!" and then crushed Lumin in his hands.

At the moment of life and death, Thora’s words meant nothing.

Thora’s eyes went wide, disbelief ringing in them — and at that instant the beast’s claws came down!

Matthew heard the wind scream past his ear as he opened his eyes. He felt his waist being hauled; Silvanus’s blazing blond hair slammed into his vision.

"Sil... Silvanus..."

Matthew was on the verge of tears.

Silvanus said nothing. He ran at top speed, driving himself as if he would sprint across the entire desert in one go — his legs seemed to have no concept of fatigue.

Matthew pressed his lips together and could only remain silent.

No one knew how long Silvanus ran, but at last they reached the arena’s boundary. On the way, they passed several others heading for the edge — clearly, this desert offered nothing worth scoring.

A damp, earthy scent brushed Matthew’s nose.

They had reached a forest, but it was utterly different from the one before: the branches were jet-black, withered and brittle; the ground was a dusty black, and the vegetation bore clear scorch marks. Looking out further, nothing remained but charred limbs of trees.

At least the giant chicken beast would not follow them here.

Silvanus set Matthew down and frowned. "That bastard had better die inside the beast’s mouth — otherwise I’ll kill him myself."

While he spoke, Silvanus undid the ropes binding Matthew.

Matthew hung his head and muttered, "It’s because I’m useless."

"All right, all right — I get it, you’re useless. No need to repeat it." Silvanus waved a hand by his ear, as if brushing aside Matthew’s self-reproach. "Can you get up?" he asked.

Matthew wavered and stood. His stomach still hurt, but he could probably walk.

At that moment, he noticed something and hesitated: "Silvanus, your stomach..."

Silvanus glanced down — his abdomen protruded slightly. He only just noticed it too. He plunged a hand inside and pulled out the stupid egg, face darkening. "Having fun clinging to me, huh? Now scram."

He moved to throw the egg to the ground, but remembering what it had done earlier, he clenched it and tucked it inside his shirt instead. "Fine. Better not go anywhere. Stay put."

The egg quivered once and then honestly stopped moving.

Matthew stared, bewildered. Before he could speak, Silvanus flicked his hand, and an arrow of light shot through, piercing a shadow creature hiding among the trees.

This shadow creature looked like a giant grub; the arrow drove through it, and it collapsed to the ground, thrashing and writhing in nauseating fashion.

Silvanus patted Matthew on the back with no concern and said, "Go finish it before it dies — the points will go to you."

Matthew blinked at Silvanus, still dazed. Seeing Matthew’s stunned face, Silvanus knit his brows and barked, "Hurry up!"

Startled, Matthew snapped to and rushed forward.