Chapter 99: Apocalypse

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Apocalypse

Seeing this scene, the girls who had never experienced such a situation instantly felt uncomfortable.

The icy campus belle Su Qingyue’s pretty face flushed red, and she bit her lip.

She glared fiercely at Lin Ji, then turned her head to look out the window, her heart sour with jealousy.

The timid Bai Taotao and Lin Yurou were even more embarrassed, their faces flushed crimson.

Their eyes darted around, not daring to look in the direction of the large bed.

As a mature and sensible woman who had been through it all, Shen Manyun only coughed awkwardly.

She adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose, pretending to examine the room’s decor.

Only Qin Yao, who had just boarded the ship, showed no restraint at all. Instead, she audibly sniffed the air.

Her captivating peach-blossom eyes swept over Lin Ji, Gu Yihan, and Tang Ling.

She stuck out her crimson tongue to lick her red lips, then teased with a half-smile:

"Tsk, tsk, the Captain’s stamina is truly unfathomable."

"And he still had the leisure to take on two at once."

"Next time there’s such good fun, can you bring me along?"

"Enough. Let’s talk business."

Lin Ji’s expression remained unchanged, showing no trace of embarrassment at being caught in the act.

He sat down naturally on the edge of the messy bed, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.

"You’ve all heard the system’s rules."

Lin Ji exhaled a pale blue smoke ring, his gaze sharp as a blade sweeping over the women, his tone serious.

"Let’s hear it. What are your thoughts for the next seven days?"

Qin Yao, who was most accustomed to this law of the jungle, was the first to speak up eagerly.

Leaning against the cabin wall, her impressive chest straining against her tight leather outfit, her eyes gleamed with a warlike and crazed light.

"These rules suit me perfectly!"

Qin Yao sneered.

"Killing and looting are what I do best."

"Those small guilds and resource ships are nothing but moving point banks and supply packs in front of our Red heavy artillery!"

"Just say the word, Captain, and I’ll blast them to the bottom anytime."

"Kill all the men, take the women and supplies!"

As the Deputy Captain, Gu Yihan forced down her embarrassment and adopted a manager’s rationality.

Frowning slightly, she analyzed calmly:

"Stealing points is important, but it’s also costly!"

"Our firepower may be sufficient, but if we get surrounded or dragged into a prolonged battle..."

"Our ammunition reserves and sustained combat capability are our most critical weaknesses. We need Tang Ling to step up logistics."

"And then there’s... the beast tide! We must be extra vigilant! We need to increase the night watch."

Shen Manyun also adjusted her glasses, her tone filled with deep concern.

"Yihan is right. Moreover, the system’s points for destroying player Vessels are set too high."

"This will greatly incentivize the top-ranked major guilds to hunt down elite squads like ours—small in number but with high-level Vessels."

"In their eyes, we’re a piece of prime meat."

Standing to the side, Tang Ling blushed, stealing a glance at Lin Ji sitting by the bed, and softly voiced her commitment:

"Boss... I’ll try to open more furnaces tomorrow."

"With the Eye of Construction and the Heart of Fire Element, my forging efficiency has improved a lot."

"I’ll do my best to replenish everyone’s armor, high-grade arrows, and spare ammunition for the heavy cannons before tomorrow night..."

As for Su Qingyue, Lin Yurou, and Bai Taotao.

Due to a lack of broad strategic vision, or their reserved and shy personalities.

They simply listened quietly at this moment, without speaking.

After hearing the women’s opinions, Lin Ji gave a slight nod and extinguished the cigarette butt in his hand.

"Your points are all valid, but none of you have seen the core purpose behind this new rule."

Lin Ji stood up, his robust figure casting a shadow full of pressure under the torchlight.

His voice low, he continued.

"The system is screening, conducting a brutal consolidation of resources and cultivation of war machines."

Lin Ji walked to the window, looking out at the dark sea.

"The points for killing player vessels are far higher than for Sea Monsters, forcing those scattered survivors to devour each other."

"Or be compelled to pledge allegiance to or be absorbed by major guilds."

"Seven days from now, when the third phase ends."

"This Bone Burial Sea will undoubtedly undergo further consolidation."

"The so-called lone wolves and Rogue Squads will find their living space shrinking more and more."

"So, we can’t just focus on defense."

Lin Ji turned around, his intense gaze sweeping over each woman in the room, a flame of ambition igniting in his eyes.

"To survive the third phase and claim the final divine ranking rewards."

"We must not only take the initiative to hunt high-level Sea Monsters."

"But also do everything possible, at any cost, to enhance each of your talent strengths!"

"In this damned place, falling behind doesn’t just mean getting beaten—it means being devoured as points by others!"

Lin Ji’s words struck the women’s hearts like a heavy hammer.

"Starting tomorrow, we must accelerate our pace of growth."

At this point, Lin Ji silently added a thought in his mind.

Bringing billions of people to this sea, first screening for adapters, then forcing them to build ships.

Now using points to force them to kill each other, like raising venomous insects.

What exactly does this so-called rule, or the mastermind behind this world...

Truly want to achieve?

Are the real enemies they face merely these mutated Sea Beasts?

...

At the same time.

Hundreds of nautical miles away from Lin Ji’s squad, in a deep-sea area.

A massive steel warship, resembling a mobile fortress on the sea.

Was cleaving through violent waves dozens of meters high, sailing steadily through the night.

The ship’s surface gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, with seven heavy cannons emitting dazzling red light distributed along the sides like fangs.

At the highest point of the giant vessel, a Super Storm Tower entwined with blinding purple lightning radiated a heart-stopping aura of destruction.

This was none other than the currently top-ranked Level 5 Fearless-class Main Ship—the Apocalypse!

The top floor of the giant ship housed an extravagantly decorated, oversized conference room.

Compared to Lin Ji’s Captain’s quarters, which still retained a rustic wooden feel and even some clutter.

This place resembled nothing less than the boardroom of a top-tier financial conglomerate from the old world.

The floor was covered with a high-end, hand-woven Persian carpet, while a dazzling crystal chandelier hung overhead. Expensive leather sofas were arranged around the room.

At the head of the conference table.

Sat a middle-aged man dressed in an exquisite Zhongshan suit, with a stern and imposing presence that commanded respect without anger.

He was none other than Gu Yihan’s biological father, the leader of the Apocalypse Guild—Gu Tianming!

On either side of him.

Sat several A-grade Awakened, each exuding an overwhelmingly terrifying aura and an unfathomable presence.

Gu Tianming leaned back in his large leather chair, his eyes fixed on the System Panel displaying the newly released promotion rankings.

His gaze lingered intently on the name in fifth place—"Lin Ji."

His stern brow furrowed tightly.

Gu Tianming turned his head, looking toward the shadows.

There stood a beautiful female attendant, dressed with equal elegance.

His voice was low, carrying an undeniable edge of lethal intent.

"The last message Gu Sen sent before his death on the Magma Floating Island..."

"The one who wiped out our elite squad and caused that madwoman Qin Yao to defect and join the enemy..."

"Is it this Lin Ji, ranked fifth on the list?"

Upon hearing this, the attendant immediately took a respectful step forward.

She presented a hastily recorded piece of Intelligence on parchment, her voice clear and sweet:

"Reporting, Guild Leader. Based on the vague premonitions of the Prophet and our analysis of the wreckage collected near the floating island..."

"We can almost certainly confirm it is this Lin Ji."

Gu Tianming took the Intelligence and glanced at it, a flash of bone-chilling coldness suddenly appearing in his eyes.

Bang!

His fingers tightened abruptly, crushing the parchment into dust.

He lightly tapped the armrest of the leather sofa with his knuckles, producing a rhythmic, oppressive tap-tap sound.

"An LV4 Heavy Cannon Assault Ship? Not only did he kill someone from the Gu family, but he also dares to poach from the Apocalypse."

Gu Tianming let out a cold laugh, his tone icy as he uttered four words:

"Find them."