The Fireflame Rabbit had no idea what the humans were saying. Its simple "squeak squeak" couldn't be detected by the players' system as a language because the prerequisite was the concept of language itself.
However, the Fireflame Rabbit had one advantage: it was obedient.
The boss had given strict orders.
Whenever it saw a human approaching with a smile and speaking incomprehensible words, it was to deliver a hefty beating.
This player had long set his pain perception to zero.
Yet, the combination of slaps and kicks, while not causing much harm, was deeply humiliating.
Moreover, he couldn't immunize against dizziness nor block the sour smell from the Fireflame Rabbit's feet, so it wasn't long before he was foaming at the mouth and fainted.
It was summer now.
The Fireflame Rabbit, covered in fur, would sweat from running early and late, and since it had no habit of bathing, one could only imagine how strong the odor from its feet was.
This was also why Su Nian ordered these creatures to guard outside the dragon's lair.
Too pungent.
The Fireflame Rabbit's ferocious actions left the Sakura Island players trembling, not daring to ask further questions.
Moreover, they had no chance to ask.
Because Bugs Bunny had already led a large group of Fireflame Rabbits, rumbling over, surrounding the entire experimental field.
Bugs Bunny wore a sullen expression, clearly in a bad mood.
With its paws behind its back, it walked slowly to the front of the Sakura Island players.
First, it looked them up and down.
Then, with a "pfft," it turned its head and spat, hitting the face of the already unconscious player on the ground with precision [HP-1].
"Squeak squeak!"
It howled, and the group of burly rabbits behind it surged forward.
They were like a group of burly men storming into a village of little girls, with wanton smiles and fierce looks.
"Whoosh—"
A strong wind rose, a storm was brewing.
The sky was covered with dark clouds, obscuring the sun.
It seemed unwilling to witness the impending tragic scene.
These players, who hadn't leveled up much due to being cooped up in the dragon's lair, were soon tied up with sturdy vines by the burly rabbits.
"What are you... what are you trying to do?"
"Mr. Rabbit, we've been diligently planting potatoes, why are you capturing us?"
A group of Sakura Island players were pressed to the ground by the Fireflame Rabbits, their faces against the soil of the field.
The field had just been fertilized in the morning, and the mix of foul smell and earthy scent made them nauseous.
A sense of foreboding welled up in their hearts.
Bugs Bunny couldn't respond to these humans with words, but it could with actions.
"Squeak squeak!"
Hearing Bugs Bunny's command, the Fireflame Rabbits' eyes gleamed fiercely, and they grabbed the limbs of the Sakura Island players, exerting force.
The sound of "crack crack" echoed throughout the experimental field.
The players noticed their health bars dropped slightly, and a [Dislocated Limbs] debuff appeared beneath.
What were these monsters planning by dislocating their limbs?
Were they going to feed them feces?
The players grew increasingly terrified.
Just as they were puzzled, a group of Kobolds appeared, pulling a makeshift cart piled high with large boxer shorts!
"Could these creatures be planning to?"
"Gentlemen, to think that as humans, the ruling primates of Blue Star, we Sakura people, descendants of the Sun Goddess, are now to wash underwear for a bunch of monsters!"
"What a humiliation! I, I wish to commit seppuku!"
"I don't think they're going to make us wash underwear, after all, they've dislocated our limbs, they can't expect us to wash with our mouths?"
The players discussed fervently in their team chat.
Everyone had their own opinions.
But they truly couldn't fathom what these monsters were up to.
Bolikri led the Kobolds to the front, and all the Fireflame Rabbits, including Bugs Bunny, stood tall and saluted. Bolikri returned the salute solemnly.
Then it cast a not-so-friendly gaze upon the Sakura Island players.
The Black Dragon Boss had fallen asleep, and although the juvenile dragon's advancement to a young dragon wouldn't take more than a week, they still needed to be on guard.
These oddly dressed humans were a threat.
Bolikri wanted very much to kill them on the spot.
But preserving their lives was the Black Dragon's order, and Bolikri would follow it strictly, even if it didn't understand why.
"Blindfold their eyes, stuff their mouths and ears!"
Bolikri turned around and barked orders to the Kobolds behind it.
This time, the players understood.
The system automatically translated the Kobold language for them.
This left them terrified, struggling desperately.
But only their heads could move.
Seeing these creatures were determined to mess with them.
The more timid players began to cry and beg for mercy.
The more hot-tempered ones started cursing loudly.
"Mr. Kobold, what did we do wrong? Why are you treating us like this?"
"This is prisoner abuse, you'll be taken to a military court!"
"You brutish beasts, just wait, one day our brave Sakura warriors will kill you!"
...
Bolikri watched expressionlessly as these humans were blindfolded with large boxer shorts and had their ears and mouths stuffed with rags.
They were like little girls with their eyes covered and mouths stuffed with lollipops, their curses and pleas turning into helpless "mm mm" sounds.
The world finally quieted down.
"Take them away, lock them in the dungeon!"
...
While a group of captured players fell into a dark and hopeless situation.
At the entrance of Sakura Island No. 1 Novice Village.
Yamaguchi Mura Chicken stood alone, looking at the overcast sky and smelling the earthy scent of rain in the air, a deep sadness hidden in his eyes.
Although there was no pain.
But, it had already been shattered once.
It was a feeling indescribable by words, one that required a lifetime to savor.
"Young master, what should we do now, continue to attack the dragon's lair?"
Mori Yama Yaren stood behind Yamaguchi Mura Chicken, asking softly.
"Attack?!"
Yamaguchi Mura Chicken let out a bitter laugh.
"Our equipment, gone! All dropped!"
"Our morale, gone! All lost!"
"With what do we attack those cunning monsters? They not only anticipated our plan to set fire to the forest but also built a firebreak in advance!"
The more Yamaguchi Mura Chicken spoke, the more desolate he felt. He thought of the cherry blossoms in his hometown, thought of his childhood sweetheart, and couldn't help but feel a surge of sorrow.
That powerful deity sent them here to play a game, to invade this other world, but why specifically target our Sakura No. 1 Novice Village?
Clearly, the monsters around other novice villages were normal.
Mori Yama Yaren, seeing his young master's desolate state, couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
He walked up to Yamaguchi Mura Chicken, gently holding his shoulders, lips trembling, softly comforting:
"Young master, don't give up, you still have me!"
Yamaguchi Mura Chicken's eyelid twitched, just about to retort with "what use are you," when he suddenly noticed in the distance on the horizon of the plain.
At the end of the horizon, where it connected with the dark sky and clouds, a long black ribbon appeared.
That was, the monster army.
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