CHAPTER 40 — "WHEN THE ISLAND BREATHES"
Morning arrived quietly.
No alarms. No screams. No monsters.
Just the soft light of dawn filtering through the thick canopy of Blackfang Desolation.
For the first time since landing on the island, the world felt… peaceful.
Long Hao woke first.
As always.
He sat up slowly, listening.
Wind brushing leaves.Water trickling somewhere nearby.Breathing—steady, familiar.
Everyone was still asleep.
Chen Wulian lay sprawled on his back, one arm hanging off the platform, snoring loudly enough to scare away anything with common sense.
"…Unbelievable," Long Hao murmured.
Ling Yifan stirred next, eyes opening sharply before his body even moved.
"…Morning," he said quietly.
"You slept," Long Hao replied.
"…Four hours," Ling Yifan corrected. "Acceptable."
Nearby, Bai Qianlan turned over, illusion petals fading like morning mist. Ouyang Xue'er groaned softly, burying her face into her cloak.
"Five more minutes…"
Chen suddenly rolled over.
"WHY IS THE GROUND SO HARD—"
He sat up and blinked.
"…Oh right. Murder island."
The camp slowly came alive.
Jin Roulan was the first on her feet after Ling Yifan, already cleaning her blade near the fire pit.
Zhao Lanyue stretched, yawning lightly as she climbed down from her watch perch.
"Clear night," she said. "No movement."
"Good," Ling Yifan replied. "We keep discipline."
Wang Junxie returned from a quick scouting sweep, landing lightly.
"Same as before. Stream's still clean."
Ouyang Xue'er perked up instantly.
"Water!"
She grabbed two containers and dragged Chen with her.
"Captain! You're on water duty!"
Chen saluted lazily.
"Yes, yes—captain does chores too!"
Bai Qianlan followed them, sleeves rolled slightly as she gathered fallen leaves for camouflage repair.
Long Hao reinforced the shelter supports silently, tightening bindings, testing weight.
Ling Yifan oversaw everything.
"No splashing near the stream.""Keep fire low.""Rotate watch after breakfast.""Chen—don't sit on the food supplies."
"I WAS JUST RESTING NEAR THEM!"
"That's worse."
Despite the scolding, there was an odd rhythm to it.
Like a team that had done this many times before.
They ate simply.
Dried meat.
Roasted roots.
Clean water.
Nothing fancy—but enough.
Chen chewed loudly.
"…I kinda like this."
Ouyang Xue'er blinked.
"You like sleeping on wood and eating roots?"
"No," he grinned. "I like that we're still alive."
Bai Qianlan smiled faintly.
"That is a good thing."
Ling Yifan checked the sun's position.
"Afternoon soon. We hunt then."
Zhao Lanyue nodded.
"Gold-tier zones are within reach."
Han Duwei cracked his knuckles.
"More points."
Wang Junxie added calmly,
"If we're efficient, we can push our academy ranking higher by nightfall."
Chen grinned wide.
"See? Even the quiet ones are bloodthirsty!"
Long Hao looked toward the forest.
"…Stay alert."
System — quietly watching
As the others moved, Long Hao lingered for half a second.
His breathing slowed.
The world sharpened.
And then—
[ECLIPSE SYSTEM — STATUS WINDOW UPDATED]
A translucent panel unfolded before his eyes, silent and smooth.
Name: Long HaoClan: Long (Dragon Lineage — Sealed)Talent Sigil (Public): Void Master — Gold PeakTrue Talent (Hidden): Dragon-Eclipse BloodlineUnsealing Progress:28%
Strength: High (Suppressed)Agility: High (Controlled)Endurance: Very HighPerception: ExtremeDanger Sense: ActiveCombat Efficiency: Abnormal
Active Effects:– Shadow Veil (Passive)– Eclipse Suppression (Active)– Dragon Blood Resonance (Dormant)
Long Hao frowned slightly.
"…Twenty-eight percent already?"
[Yes.]
The system's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"You didn't tell me it increased."
[Host did not ask.]
"…Fair."
He studied the numbers for a moment longer.
"…Am I ready for whatever's coming?"
There was a brief pause.
[Probability of survival: Unknown.][Probability of escalation: High.]
Long Hao exhaled.
"…You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Another pause.
[Observation: Host heartbeat increased when danger approached.][Conclusion: Host is alive.]
"…That's not comforting."
[It is accurate.]
Long Hao almost laughed.
Almost.
By midday, the camp was secured.
Traps reset.
Fire concealed.
Escape routes marked.
The team moved out in formation.
Not rushed.
Not careless.
They found them quickly.
A group of Gold-tier Ironhide Wolves, five of them, prowling near a broken stone ridge.
Chen whispered excitedly.
"Dinner."
Ling Yifan raised a hand.
"Wait."
Bai Qianlan's illusions spread, distorting light.
Ouyang Xue'er's frost crept silently along the ground.
The first wolf never saw it coming.
The second fell seconds later.
The third—
THUMP.
A heavy sound echoed.
Not close.
But not far either.
Everyone froze.
The wolves stopped moving.
The wind died.
No insects.No birds.No distant calls.
Silence.
Not natural silence.
The kind that pressed against the ears.
Ling Yifan's eyes narrowed.
"…That wasn't us."
Long Hao slowly turned his head.
"…That wasn't a monster like the others."
Chen swallowed.
"…Why do I suddenly not like this hunt?"
Another sound followed.
THUUUMMMP.
Deeper.
Heavier.
The ground trembled—just a little.
The forest held its breath.
So did they.
[CHAPTER ENDS]