Demonic Beasts Attack

Chapter 17: Demonic Beasts Approach

The rich, tantalizing aroma of roasted meat drifted like an invisible yet irresistible signal on the evening breeze, silently seeping through the intangible barrier around the small courtyard and merging into the primal, desire-laden air of the primeval night. To the living beings of this wild land, accustomed to raw flesh and blood, this scent was a strange and novel stimulus—the complex fragrance of fats and proteins catalyzed by flame, carrying an indescribable allure.

Chen An was completely unaware. Immersed in the satisfaction of his harvest and meal, he sat by the kitchen stove, gnawing slowly on the last charred, fragrant rib in the flickering firelight. Steam from the boiled well water mingled with the meat's aroma, lending this corner of the courtyard a rare warmth and comfort. He even indulged himself by scooping up some hot water with a broad leaf, sipping it slowly as the warmth soothed his stomach.

But this peace was soon shattered.

At first, it was just a subtle instinct. The usual rhythmic roars and running sounds of various demonic beasts outside the courtyard seemed to falter with an unnatural pause. Then, a heavy, oppressive footfall approached from afar, heading straight for the courtyard. The steps were steady, each one landing like a drumbeat, carrying the unyielding confidence of a predator.

Chen An's chewing slowed. His ears pricked up instinctively, and his muscles tensed slightly. He set down the bone, rose quietly, and blew out the brightest flames in the stove, leaving only a few embers glowing faintly. Like a wary rabbit, he crept silently to the main door and peered out nervously through the crack.

The moon was veiled by thin clouds, leaving the yard outside dim and shadowy, with only vague outlines visible. But the approaching footsteps and the thick, nauseating stench of blood and musk that followed left no doubt—an uninvited guest had arrived.

It was here!

A massive black silhouette appeared like a specter on the open ground beyond the courtyard gate, stopping precisely at the invisible boundary where the giant python had halted earlier. By the faint starlight and the dying glow of the embers, Chen An barely made out its form.

It was a wolf-like demonic beast the size of a sturdy ox! Its body was covered in coarse, dark blue fur that gleamed with a metallic coldness under the moonlight. Its head was enormous, with a protruding snout and a mouth full of dagger-like, gleaming white fangs. Saliva dripped from its jaws, sizzling into small puffs of white smoke as it hit the ground. Most terrifying of all were its eyes—not the usual green or yellow, but a burning, blood-red filled with brutality and hunger, like two hellish lanterns locked onto the courtyard—more precisely, onto the lingering source of the roasted meat aroma from the kitchen!

The smell of roasted meat had drawn it here! Chen An's heart sank as he silently cursed his carelessness. The olfactory senses of these primeval creatures far exceeded his imagination.

The Green Wolf demonic beast lowered its front half, a suppressed growl rumbling like thunder from its throat. Its crimson gaze swept the courtyard before settling on the kitchen. It seemed puzzled—why did this seemingly defenseless yard hold such an enticing scent, yet radiate no pressure from a powerful being?

Cautiously, it took a step forward.

Just as its front paw was about to cross that invisible boundary—

"Hum..."

A faint tremor, as if resonating directly in the depths of the soul, rippled through the air. It wasn't a sound, but more like a soft chime of spatial law.

The Green Wolf slammed into an invisible, unyielding elastic wall. Its massive body jolted violently, its forward momentum abruptly halted! For the first time, a look of human-like shock and disbelief crossed its ferocious face.

"ROAR—!"

After a brief daze came a furious bellow! The sound waves rolled out, rattling the wooden courtyard gate. It was enraged. In this territory, when had it ever been blocked by an invisible obstacle?

It backed up a few steps, its crimson eyes blazing with murderous intent. Every muscle bulged, and its dark blue fur bristled. Then, with a sudden burst of power, it charged like a bolt of blue lightning, slamming into the invisible barrier with ten times the force of before!

"BOOM!!!"

This impact was far heavier and more violent than the giant python's earlier attempt. The dull thunderclap seemed to strike solid matter, and faint, barely visible ripples—like transparent waves—spread across the air at the point of collision before instantly fading.

The Green Wolf's fate was even worse. It felt as if it had crashed into an ancient mountain. The immense recoil sent its entire body tumbling backward uncontrollably, landing in a heap with a pained grunt. It shook its massive head, struggled to its feet, and the brutality in its eyes was replaced by a flicker of doubt.

It no longer charged blindly. Instead, it began to pace around the courtyard wall, its crimson gaze scanning every inch of the stone wall, the wooden gate, and the void it couldn't comprehend. Sometimes it lashed out with its claws, the strikes sharp and fierce, but they only cut through the air a few feet from the wall. Other times, it opened its maw wide and spat out dark, corrosive spheres of light that hit the barrier and vanished without a trace, like stones sinking into the sea.

Attack after attack, varied and relentless, all met the same fate—effortlessly neutralized by that thin, world-separating barrier. The barrier didn't budge, not even a single moss flake fell from the wall.

Behind the door, Chen An watched with a pounding heart and icy hands. Though he trusted the Safe Zone, witnessing such ferocious attacks being casually blocked was a massive visual and psychological shock. He gripped his stone axe tightly, knowing it was useless, but it gave him a sliver of false security.

The Green Wolf's agitation grew. It couldn't understand what was happening. The delicious scent was right there, tantalizingly close yet unreachable. This frustration drove it wilder, its roars growing more piercing, echoing through the valley as if the land itself responded.

It began rubbing and slamming its massive body against the trees and rocks near the wall, kicking up dust and debris, trying to find a weak point or an entrance. It even raised its head and howled long and loud, the sound carrying a summoning quality, hoping to call its kin.

But the only response was the more frenzied roars of other demonic beasts in the distance—none of its kind came. In this land of survival of the fittest, its failure and distress might instead attract stronger predators.

After nearly an hour of this, the Green Wolf finally exhausted itself. It stopped its futile attacks, stood still, panting heavily, its crimson eyes fixed on the courtyard with a gaze full of unwillingness, confusion, and... a hint of wariness.

It finally realized that this ordinary-looking courtyard held a power it couldn't understand or shake. Staying here any longer would only waste its strength and expose its weakness, serving no purpose.

It let out a low, venomous growl of warning, taking one last deep look at the courtyard as if to etch this strange place into its memory. Then it turned and limped away, disappearing into the thick darkness.

Outside the yard, the usual primeval clamor resumed, as if the thrilling battle had never happened.

Chen An leaned against the door, sliding slowly to the ground, letting out a long, trembling breath. Cold sweat had soaked his undershirt. Though it had ended without harm, the oppressive feeling of being locked onto by a top predator still left him shaken.

He walked into the yard, staring into the direction where the Green Wolf had vanished. The night was deep, like the maw of a giant beast. He realized once again how dangerous the world beyond the wall was. And the aroma of roasted meat—he would have to be far more careful with it in the future.

At the same time, the absolute reliability of the Safe Zone had been proven beyond doubt through this real-world test. It gave him a heavy, solid foundation for his future survival.

But he didn't know where the defeated Green Wolf would carry the news of this "strange courtyard." A tiny ripple had perhaps already begun to spread silently through the undercurrents of the primeval world.

(End of Chapter 17)