The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, the Oriole Follows Behind

Hiding in the high-rise, listening to the clamor of the rat tide fade into the distance below, Wang Keke and Lin Mo both let out a sigh of relief. Wang Keke took out her water bottle and took small sips to calm her racing heart, while Lin Mo carefully licked and cleaned the rat blood and dust from his fur, his amber eyes still holding a trace of annoyance from being mobbed.

"These rats are truly terrifying..." Wang Keke said, still shaken. "We absolutely cannot stay in one place for too long from now on, especially... well, especially after roasting meat." She felt a bit embarrassed as she said it, since she had been the one to suggest it.

Lin Mo nodded in deep agreement, sending a thought over: A lesson written in blood, etched into the heart.

Just as they were resting and preparing to search for their next hunting target, a new sound emerged from the street below.

It was not the rat pack returning, but a sound that was more agile and far more dangerous.

"Hiss-hiss--"

"Meow-woo--!"

Low, threatening hisses and sharp cat cries rang out, interspersed with the short, sharp whimpers of rats meeting their end.

Wang Keke and Lin Mo exchanged a look, then quietly moved to the shattered window to peer down cautiously.

They saw that the area where they had just fought the rat pack was now the stage for a new hunt.

Three cat-like monsters, each the size of a cheetah but with larger, more tiger-like heads, were nimbly pouncing on the Iron-Toothed Rats that had been left behind or injured when the rat tide scattered.

Their movements were elegant yet lethal; every swipe of their claws precisely tore through a rat's throat or spine, and their powerful hind legs granted them astonishing Jump ability, often crossing several meters in a single leap.

They were Tiger-Headed Cats at the mid-stage of the Beast Soldier Rank! They were clearly predators drawn by the rat tide, currently enjoying this "buffet."

"It's Tiger-Headed Cats..." Wang Keke lowered her voice, communicating with Lin Mo through their mental link. "Their sense of smell and hearing are very sharp. We have to be careful and wait for them to finish eating and leave."

Lin Mo stared at the three Tiger-Headed Cats. Their fluid hunting movements and the beauty of that feline combination of Agility and Power Burst stirred something within him.

If he could devour this type of monster, would there be a chance to gain a talent like [Agility] or [Precision]? This might be a significant improvement to compensate for his current, relatively straightforward combat style.

However, he also knew that three mid-stage Beast Soldier Rank Tiger-Headed Cats were far from comparable to the three foolish wild boars from before. The agility and coordinated hunting ability of felines were extremely troublesome. He suppressed his restless urges and decided to follow Wang Keke's advice and avoid their sharp edge for now.

However, things rarely go as planned.

Just as one Tiger-Headed Cat picked up an Iron-Toothed Rat to enjoy, its massive tiger head suddenly froze. Its sensitive nostrils twitched vigorously toward the building where Lin Mo and Wang Keke were hiding.

In the air, besides the thick scent of rat blood and the cats themselves, there remained a trace of... something that didn't belong. A faint, fresh scent belonging to a young human girl, and... a powerful predator's aura that it found both unfamiliar and vaguely daunting!

"Hiss-hiss--!"

The Tiger-Headed Cat immediately let out a warning growl, dropped its food, and locked its amber slit pupils onto a window of the building. The other two Tiger-Headed Cats, which had been eating, also raised their heads and looked over vigilantly.

They had been discovered!

"Oh no! We've been spotted!" Wang Keke's heart tightened.

The next second, the lead Tiger-Headed Cat bent its four limbs slightly, and its powerful hind legs pushed off with a violent force!

Whoosh!

It actually leaped four or five meters high in one go, its hook-like sharp claws firmly gripping the damaged wall of the second-floor window frame. Its massive tiger head, filled with cold killing intent, poked into the room! Those slit pupils instantly locked onto Wang Keke and Lin Mo inside!

"Ah!" Wang Keke was startled by the sudden close encounter and took a step back, her telekinetically controlled flying daggers shooting out instantly!

However, the Tiger-Headed Cat's agility was far beyond imagination! It tilted its head, and the daggers grazed its ear, slicing off only a few hairs! It then seized the momentum to lunge fully into the room!

At this critical moment, a white shadow slammed in from the side like a cannonball!

It was Lin Mo!

He had been ready to strike, and [Power Burst] pushed his starting speed to the limit. Like a wild bull breaking through a mountain, he slammed heavily into the side of the Tiger-Headed Cat's body!

"Bang!"

A dull thud echoed, accompanied by the Tiger-Headed Cat's pained hiss. It was knocked straight out of the window by the sheer force of the impact, tumbling onto the street below and rolling several times before stabilizing, though it was clearly badly shaken.

However, the crisis was not over!

Just as Lin Mo knocked the first one away, the other two Tiger-Headed Cats used their astonishing jumping ability to dart in through other broken windows like two gray streaks of lightning! Their target was clear—the relatively smaller, "weaker" smelling Wang Keke!

"Mimi!" Wang Keke cried out. Her two flying daggers returned to defend her, turning into two silver lights to shield her front as she fought desperately to block them.

One Tiger-Headed Cat nimbly changed direction in mid-air, avoiding the trajectory of the daggers, and swiped its claws directly at Wang Keke's face! The other pounced from the flank, cutting off her retreat!

Their coordination was seamless, vicious, and lethal!

Lin Mo roared, wanting to turn back to assist, but the Tiger-Headed Cat he had knocked away had already recovered. It growled and pounced again, entangling him tightly!

In an instant, the room descended into a chaotic and dangerous melee!

Relying on her sharpness as a Spirit Reader and the flexibility of her flying daggers, Wang Keke barely managed to hold her own, but facing two mid-stage Beast Soldier Rank monsters known for their Agility, she was stretched thin and in constant danger. Several white marks were quickly scratched onto her light armor; had it not been for the interference of her daggers, she would have been injured long ago.

Lin Mo, meanwhile, was burning with rage. This Tiger-Headed Cat was extremely cunning, refusing to clash head-on. Instead, it used its speed to constantly circle and harass him, its claws striking like a venomous snake whenever an opportunity arose. It left white marks on his [Tough Skin]; while it couldn't break his defense, it severely restricted his movements, preventing him from helping Wang Keke immediately.

This can't go on! Lin Mo thought ruthlessly. He could see that Wang Keke was struggling to hold on.

He intentionally left an opening, taking a claw strike from the entangling Tiger-Headed Cat head-on. A dull pain flared in his chest, but at the same time, his thick, long tail lashed out like an iron whip, predicting the opponent's landing spot!

"Snap!"

With a crisp sound, his tail struck the Tiger-Headed Cat precisely on its waist. Felines are known for having "copper heads and iron bones, but tofu waists," and this blow nearly knocked the wind out of it, causing its movements to falter instantly!

Now was the time!

Lin Mo ignored it, activating [Power Burst] once more. Like a wild horse breaking its tether, he charged toward the two Tiger-Headed Cats surrounding Wang Keke!

"Roar!"

A violent tiger roar shook their very souls! The two Tiger-Headed Cats currently attacking Wang Keke were struck by the sudden bellow and powerful aura, causing their movements to falter for a split second.

Wang Keke seized the opportunity, pouring her full mental energy into her attack, increasing the speed of her two flying knives by another thirty percent as they clung to one of the beasts like maggots on rotting bones!

Lin Mo moved like a white grim reaper, lunging straight for the other one! This time, he held nothing back; his sharp claws glinted with a cold light, carrying the momentum to tear through everything as he struck down from above!

The Tiger-Headed Cat tried to dodge using its Agility, but Lin Mo's pouncing angle was incredibly tricky, cutting off most of its retreat paths!

"Puchi!"

His sharp claws slammed heavily into its shoulder blade, and the sound of shattering bone was clearly audible! The Tiger-Headed Cat let out a miserable howl as it was pinned to the ground by the immense force!

Lin Mo showed no mercy, following up with his other claw to end its life instantly.

On the other side, the Tiger-Headed Cat entangled by the flying knives saw its companion perish in an instant and grew fearful, wanting to flee, but how could Wang Keke let it go? Her telekinetic power locked onto it tightly, and the flying knives, moving like darting silver fish, finally found their opening and pierced through its throat!

As for the Tiger-Headed Cat that had been struck in the waist by Lin Mo, it had just recovered its senses only to see its two companions already dead, and terrified out of its wits, it turned to leap out of the window.

"Trying to run?" Lin Mo snorted coldly, his four limbs exerting force as he arrived before it could escape, biting down on its nape the moment it leaped toward the window!

"Crunch!"

The crisp sound of a snapping neck bone echoed.

The battle was over.

The room was in shambles, permeated with a heavy scent of blood. Wang Keke leaned against the wall, exhausted, gasping for air with sweat covering her forehead and her face pale; clearly, her mental energy consumption had been immense.

Lin Mo was also panting slightly, looking at the three Tiger-Headed Cat corpses on the floor. He felt no joy, only a growing sense of gravity. Three mid-stage Beast Soldier Tiger-Headed Cats had made the fight this difficult, revealing flaws in their coordination and tactics. If his defense hadn't been strong enough and his explosive power fierce, Wang Keke might have been in danger just now.

It seems that having attributes and talents alone isn't enough; combat experience and on-the-spot adaptability still require a great deal of tempering, Lin Mo warned himself inwardly.

He walked over to Wang Keke and gently rubbed his head against her, conveying a thought of concern.

Wang Keke felt his intentions and felt a warmth in her heart. She reached out to hug his furry, large head, her voice still trembling slightly: "Mimi... we won... but, that was so hard..."

Lin Mo let out a low growl in agreement.

This skirmish had taught them a much deeper lesson. In the wilderness, crises lurked on all sides, and the roles of hunter and prey could switch at any moment.

He glanced at the Tiger-Headed Cat corpses on the ground, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Now, it was time to harvest the spoils. He wondered what kind of surprises these agile feline monsters would bring him.