Chapter 995: Invisible Barrier

"Brother Hao, we’re out of ammo!"

Gu Dehao and his crew couldn’t hold any longer.

They’d slaughtered more beasts than they could count, but still couldn’t stop them from charging down.

At this point, it was too late to retreat.

No matter how fast they ran, they couldn’t outrun these beasts.

"Close-quarters combat!"

Gu Dehao gave the order, waiting for them to rush down so they could fight hand-to-hand.

Everything they’d learned were killing moves—fast, precise, vicious—aimed to kill in a single strike.

Facing these huge monsters in close combat, they might get hurt, but that didn’t mean they would lose.

Everyone gripped their daggers, crouched low, waiting for the beasts to come.

Even Gu Dehao ignored his injuries and blood loss, ready to face the fight.

Right after that, a shocking, jaw-dropping scene unfolded.

"Roar roar roar!!!!!"

"Awooo awooo awooo awooo!!!!"

"Aooo aooo aooo!!!!"

The beasts’ agonized howls rang out.

They charged madly down the mountain, and halfway down a large number of them collapsed and didn’t get up, wailing in pain.

Some unwilling to give up, with their prey practically within reach, chose to ram straight ahead.

But it was like they’d hit some kind of barrier—they just couldn’t get through.

The beasts that were about to reach the middle of the slope all stopped when they saw the carnage ahead.

Their eyes were full of terror, none of the earlier ferocity left.

"What the hell is going on?" someone blurted out in surprise.

Gu Dehao couldn’t make sense of it either.

He stared at the scene in front of him and quickly spotted the problem.

The beasts lying on the ground were all down below the midpoint of Chaotic Stone Ridge.

Not a single one could charge all the way down; it was like there was some barrier there blocking their steps.

To verify his guess, Gu Dehao slowly stood up. He glanced at the torn-open wound on his shoulder, then jabbed it with his hand, making fresh blood seep out.

Boldly, he walked forward, his sharp eyes locked on those restless beasts.

"Brother Hao!"

"Old Gu!"

His men called out in worry, stepping up to stop him.

Gu Dehao turned to look at everyone. "Nobody move!"

His authoritative gaze swept over the group, who were itching to act and clearly not planning to listen. His pale face darkened slightly.

"Is what I say getting more and more useless? Do I even exist in your eyes anymore?!"

Seeing them bow their heads, Gu Dehao didn’t think they were actually reflecting on themselves.

This bunch of subordinates were all old foxes, but they were also loyal and genuine.

They’d gone through life-and-death together for years; the bond between them was naturally different.

"Old Gu, I know what you’re trying to do, but this isn’t something you should be the one to risk." A middle-aged man stepped up to persuade him.

Gu Dehao let out a cold snort. "Listen to yourself, like my life is worth so damn much more than yours, like your lives don’t count as lives!"

"Brother Hao, let me do it!"

A wounded subordinate stepped forward.

The beasts’ furious roars exploded in their ears; they were getting more and more agitated.

Gu Dehao swept them all with a sharp glare. "One more goddamn word of whining and I’ll boot every last one of you when we get back!"

With no one daring to stop him, he lifted his foot and walked ahead.

The beasts on the mountainside caught the faint scent of blood in the air and grew even more frenzied.

"Awooo awooo awooo!!!"

"Roar roar roar!!!"

"Aooo aooo aooo——"

Even with the blood tempting them, they still didn’t dare advance a single step.

As if some demon or monster ahead would swallow them whole.

Gu Dehao’s eyes narrowed slightly as he moved forward again. The beasts became even more violent, their gaze on him turning increasingly savage.

Looking at the beasts that had fallen below the midpoint of the slope, Gu Dehao confirmed they were already corpses.

Why did they suddenly die?

They hadn’t even had time to make a move.