The city within the forest did not appear to be in good condition.
The forest had already encroached upon more than half of the city before them, with only a few areas near the safe zones retaining the city's appearance.
The rest of the city was covered by the dense sea of trees.
The city's iconic skyscrapers were in disarray, battered by giant trees that had sprung up from the ground.
Even above many of the giant trees, dilapidated cars covered in vines could be seen.
It had only been a month and a half since the doomsday game descended, yet the city before them seemed to have endured a century of weathering.
In the face of rampant nature, humanity's traces of civilization were quietly erased by the forest.
...
Within the city, the few remaining safe zones were merely separated by a street.
Inside the safe zones, most people were disheveled, their mental states deteriorating one by one.
The initial monster attacks, followed by the undead invasion, had brought much suffering to this city.
Later, when the world ascended, the undead's aggression significantly decreased, and the survivors thought better days were coming.
Although communication with the outside world had been completely severed, their own surging power gave them some confidence in facing the unknown.
However, the dense jungle that grew overnight outside the city,
and the terrifying monsters within the jungle, made the humans here realize that they were still at the bottom of the food chain.
Amidst the booming thunder,
everyone in the remaining safe zones within the city was struck with fear.
Such a grand display was definitely not a natural phenomenon.
The roar from before was all too familiar to everyone,
it was the Beast King that ruled this place, the Beast King that kept humans as snacks in pens.
Yet, from the Beast King's roar, they did not hear its usual cruelty and dominance, but rather a desperate wail.
The Beast King seemed to be in a fierce battle; would the ruler of this place change hands again?
Gazing at the dense dark clouds that suddenly obscured the sky in the distance, people waited uneasily for the battle to end.
The suddenly appearing Beast King, after clearing out the undead, had settled in the forest outside the city.
The remaining survivors in the city both feared and hated this giant beast.
Although the Beast King had destroyed the undead, it seemed to have developed a taste for humans.
For reasons the survivors could not comprehend, this Beast King had actually penned up the humans.
Seeing the Beast King seemingly in danger at this moment, most people's expressions were tinged with a deep-seated hatred.
Yet, alongside the hatred, there seemed to be a hint of confusion.
A smaller portion of people were more direct, lowering their heads and praying for something.
If anyone were to approach, they would discover that they were praying for the Beast King to survive.
This was truly a malicious joke, but upon reflection, it was also the helplessness of the weak.
After all, compared to the monsters that initially slaughtered indiscriminately, and the undead that wantonly killed living beings,
this man-eating Beast King was at least a being with whom communication was possible.
The thunder in the distance gradually subsided,
the dark clouds in the sky slowly dispersed, and sunlight once again pierced through the clouds, shining down.
Whoosh!
A circular black shadow suddenly flew from the distant forest towards the few remaining safe zones.
The survivors in the safe zones looked up at the approaching black shadow with some bewilderment.
Thump!
The black shadow landed heavily in the center of the road where the few safe zones converged.
A scorched smell drifted into the safe zones along with the kicked-up dust.
Everyone's bodies trembled in fear, but no one dared to look towards the source of the sound.
Even the prayers of those who had lowered their heads became louder.
Until,
"Look up! Beasts are not worth worshipping!"
A sharp male voice suddenly echoed in everyone's ears.
Those who had been praying with their heads bowed were instantly struck to their hearts, as if a bolt of lightning had exploded in their minds.
All those who had lowered their heads turned their faces pale and looked around in utter shock.
But all they saw were other survivors equally shocked.
And some quick-witted individuals suddenly realized that at the moment this strange voice sounded, the confusion and unease in their hearts seemed to have quietly dissipated.
"Come to me!"
The command, which could not be refused, echoed in everyone's ears.
The moment they heard it, their bodies automatically acted according to the words.
For a time, the survivors in all the remaining safe zones in the city walked out of their homes and headed towards the place where the roads converged outside the safe zones.
Sunlight, piercing through the largely dispersed clouds, cast several beams of light onto the shattered roads of the city.
The survivors who arrived here instinctively slowed their steps, looking hesitantly at the strange scene in the square.
A massive, scorched black head, the size of a small building, had fallen heavily onto the road, creating a deep crater.
Everyone could see clearly that, although the face was charred black, this was indeed the head of the man-eating Beast King.
However, after a brief glance, everyone's gaze no longer paid attention to the Beast King's death.
Their eyes were now all drawn to a young man.