A heavy silence followed Yu Song’s words. They weren’t loud, but they landed like stones, deep and final.
Xu Tianming stepped up beside him. "Yu Song is right. Leader Qingran hasn’t misled us once. If she says it can be done, I’ll believe her."
Soone in the back mumbled, "What choice do we even have? Might as well die trying than sit and wait to be eaten."
That sparked a ripple of low murmurs but it was no longer hostile.
Qingran let the stirrings settle before she spoke. Her voice was calm, but it cut through the room with a startling clarity.
"Then let’s gamble."
She looked around at the group. Her eyes didn’t waver, and though her tone remained steady, there was sothing in it, sothing that made people listen without aning to.
"We’re not just fighting with our bodies. We’re fighting with our lives."
She gave them a mont to absorb it before continuing.
"You think I’m not afraid?" Her voice softened, but it didn’t lose strength. "I’m afraid. I’m tired. But more than anyone else here, I know the difference between waiting to die... and fighting to live."
Her gaze swept over each face.
"You’re afraid of failure. But failure isn’t the scary part. The real fear is standing still while the people beside you die one by one, and you do nothing."
So lowered their heads. Others clenched their fists.
"I’m not a god. I won’t force any of you to stay." She gestured to the door. "If you truly believe you can’t do this, you’re free to leave. I won’t stop you."
No one moved.
Ti seed to stretch, each second was like a quiet judgnt.
Finally, a young man stepped forward. His voice was small, but it carried weight. "I... I don’t know how to read the blueprints, but I’m strong. I can lift things."
"I used to work construction," another added. "I know how to mix concrete and I can understand the blueprint. I have my doubts but I’ll make my experience count."
"I can help mix the cent as well."
"I can follow the night group when they’re going on the scouting trips."
Qingran stood still through it all. Her expression didn’t change, but sothing in her eyes flickered, too faint to na.
She nodded. "Good. From now on, we’re no longer people waiting to die. We are survivor who are going to survival."
She turned and pointed at the map laid out on the table.
"morize this. We start assigning teams today. I’ll lead the material run myself. The rest of you begin prepping the terrain. For now prep yourselves, get so rest. Work starts tonight."
"Leader Qingran!" soone called just as she turned away.
She stopped and turned to look at the person.
It was the young woman from earlier, still pale but with a determined light in her eyes. "You said we have thirty days. But what if we can’t last that long?"
Qingran paused for only a mont. Then she looked back, gaze calm and unwavering.
"Then we finish half the wall by day ten. Raise the main structure by day twenty. And seal the last opening if we still have ti, we’ve already used two days from the thirty."
Her tone was so certain it didn’t feel like a plan, it felt like a prophecy.
"This isn’t a matter of ’if.’ It’s a matter of ’must.’"
The room stilled again. Not in fear, but in sothing heavier. A shared resolve.
"eting’s over" she said. "Go eat. I’ll post team assignnts in the lobby soon. Don’t expect easy jobs, every task is tied to survival."
The group slowly began to disperse. The tension hadn’t vanished, but sothing had changed. Their backs weren’t hunched the way they’d been before. Their steps weren’t as hesitant.
Yu Song ca to her side.
"They didn’t believe you at first," he said quietly.
"I know," she replied.
"But now they do."
She said nothing.
He looked at her for a mont, then chuckled under his breath. "You’re surprisingly good at speeches."
"I just said the truth."
Yu Song bowed and left the room. "I’ll go get so rest. I have a feeling I’ll be on the night shift."
Qingran chuckled, he definitely was.
**********************
The air was dusky and murky, several steps was heard by the second.
The man at the throne, sat down lazily, his eyes light up, finally more play things to entertain him.
"Jay, tell did they surrender? Tell you’ve brought more playthings for "
The man nad Jay sighed, he didn’t know how many more tis he would tell his boss that humans werent toys.
"Theyre a small group of survivors. Their leader refused to surrender and directly killed himself."
The man smiled and appeared before them in a flash.
"All right. 7 n and two won." He glanced at them, looking for who he would play with today.
"Very well. Have the n taken to the coal mines and as for these lovely ladies." He said stroking the blondie’s hair. She hissed shifting away from his react. He only chuckled and smiled "Take my to my room."
"You bastard! You will rot in hell!"
"..."
Piak!
"This is hell! I am hell. This is my domain and if you don’t follow my orders, you will suffer.... You can be toys for my pets." He licked his lips, thinking about the fun he was going to have.
The woman felt her body freeze, she should have taken her life along with their leader when she had the chance.
"Boss, please be nice to the ladies. You promised not to hit them."
"..."
"She should have watched her mouth. I can’t really control my hands."
"..."
Ray sent a dark glare, the man rolled his eyes and nodded.
"Very well. I won’t hit them." He hissed slightly "You’re so stiff, loosen up a little or I’ll have to do that myself."
".."
"You’ve already bent over. What more do you want?" Ray hissed as he beaconed the n to follow him.
"Don’t hit the won. I know youre a tyrant but at least..."
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