The Snipe and the Clam Fight; the Fisherman Profits

After the frustrating incident where the boar had been right there for the taking, only to get away, Lin Mo and Wang Keke trudged through the ruins like wilted eggplants. Everything they saw looked like it was about to steal their kill.

"Ugh, all that work for nothing, and we wasted so much energy, too." Wang Keke kicked a pebble and complained with a pout.

Lin Mo felt exactly the same way, but as the team's (self-appointed) pillar of morale, he sent her an encouraging thought through their mental link: Hang in there. We can win. Though even he thought his encouragement sounded a little hollow.

Just as they were wondering whether they should find somewhere to eat more dried rations and soothe their wounded spirits, an extremely fierce commotion erupted from somewhere in the block ahead, accompanied by angry roars and hissing!

The sounds were filled with savagery and pain. This was no ordinary scuffle!

Lin Mo's ears instantly perked up like antennae. Wang Keke grew alert as well, instinctively tightening her grip on her Flying Dagger.

"Should we go take a look?" Wang Keke whispered, her eyes betraying both nerves and curiosity.

Lin Mo nodded and silently crept toward the source of the noise. If they couldn't get any boar meat, they could at least watch the boar run... No, wait—there was nothing wrong with watching the commotion, was there?

They cautiously climbed onto the second-floor platform of a half-collapsed shopping mall. Using a broken concrete pillar for cover, they peered down.

At the sight, both their eyes went wide!

The intersection below was in complete disarray, with wrecked vehicles strewn everywhere. In the middle of the battlefield, two enormous monsters were fighting to the death!

One resembled a lion, but was even more imposing, standing nearly two meters at the shoulder. Short, dark-golden fur covered its body, and its muscles bulged like rocks. A tuft of flame-red mane crowned its massive head, and its fangs jutted from its mouth as it radiated a savage aura. It was an Advanced Beast Soldier, a Lion Mastiff! It was known for its strength and defense, and its talent was likely either Giant Strength or Intimidation.

Its opponent was a mottled python, thick as a barrel and more than ten meters long! Its scales were a vivid cauliflower color, like poisonous mushrooms. Its triangular head reared high as its tongue flicked in and out, producing a skin-crawling hiss. The Cauliflower Python was also an Advanced Beast Soldier, famed for its powerful Constriction and suspected venomous nature.

The two monster overlords had apparently clashed over territory or prey, and the fight had already reached the point of no return!

A deep, bone-revealing gash ran across the Lion Mastiff's shoulder blade, its blood staining its dark-golden fur. The python's fangs had clearly inflicted the wound. But the Cauliflower Python was in no better shape. Scales had shattered in several places, and the worst damage was to the rear half of its body, which the Lion Mastiff had nearly bitten clean through. Only a little skin and flesh still connected it, leaving it dragging uselessly along the ground.

"Oh my god... It's a Lion Mastiff and a Cauliflower Python!" Wang Keke covered her mouth and cried in a hushed voice. "How did they end up fighting? They're both so badly hurt!"

But a moment later, a light brighter than a spotlight burst into Lin Mo's amber tiger eyes!

An opportunity! A huge opportunity!

When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits! The ancients hadn't lied!

These were both Advanced Beast Soldiers! Their whole bodies were treasures! Especially the talents they might possess—whether it was Giant Strength, Constriction, or Poison Resistance, Lin Mo coveted them all! And judging by their injuries, both had suffered grievously and were nearly spent!

I struck it rich! I struck it rich! I've really hit the jackpot this time! Lin Mo was overjoyed, the tip of his tail quivering with excitement. His earlier frustration vanished, replaced by the thrill of winning the lottery.

He kept his eyes fixed on the battle below and sent Wang Keke a perfectly clear, resolute thought through their mental link: Get ready... We're picking up the scraps!

Wang Keke blinked at first, then understood. Her cheeks flushed with excitement as she nodded firmly, controlling her Flying Dagger to hover in front of her, ready to strike at any moment. She knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

The deadly struggle below had reached its final moments.

Summoning the last of its strength, the Lion Mastiff lunged and clamped its jaws around the Cauliflower Python near its neck! Its tremendous bite shattered the snake's scales, sending blood gushing everywhere!

The Cauliflower Python counterattacked with everything it had. Its massive body whipped like a giant lash, its mangled tail striking the Lion Mastiff hard in the abdomen. At the same time, the front half of its body wound frantically around the Lion Mastiff, constricting its neck and forelegs!

"Roar—!" The Lion Mastiff let out a strangled, agonized roar as it struggled desperately.

"Hisss—!" The Cauliflower Python, its vital spot bitten, let out a despairing hiss.

They remained locked together for a full minute, until their strength gradually ebbed away.

The Lion Mastiff's bite weakened, and its eyes began to glaze over. The Cauliflower Python's coils loosened, its tongue drooping limply.

Thud! Thud!

Two heavy impacts rang out almost at the same time.

Dust billowed into the air.

The two Advanced Beast Soldiers had actually killed each other!

The intersection fell silent in an instant, with only the thick stench of blood lingering in the air.

Lin Mo and Wang Keke exchanged a look from the platform. Each saw the other's delight—and a hint of disbelief.

"They're... dead?" Wang Keke asked, still a little dazed.

Lin Mo growled softly, urging her on. What are you waiting for? While they're still fresh!

He leaped down from the platform and landed nimbly on the street, warily surveying the surroundings to make sure there were no other "orioles" waiting in the wings. Wang Keke followed close behind, landing lightly.

Up close, the monsters seemed even larger, and the battle's brutality was all the more apparent. The Lion Mastiff had nearly been crushed out of shape, blood spilling from its mouth and nose. The Cauliflower Python's neck was almost bitten through, and its tail was barely hanging on by a scrap of skin.

"Quick! Cut off their ears! And the python's tail..." Lin Mo gestured with a paw, urging Wang Keke to hurry. Even a short section of an Advanced Beast Soldier's tail was valuable, and it might contain some of its talent energy, which could help him absorb and analyze it.

Wang Keke immediately got to work. She took out a specially made alloy knife and, holding her breath against the heavy stench of blood, began cutting off the Lion Mastiff's thick ears and the Cauliflower Python's brightly colored, nearly severed tail.

Lin Mo wasn't idle, either. He went over to the Lion Mastiff's corpse and stared at the enormous beast, restraining his urge to start devouring it immediately. He knew they couldn't stay here long. The commotion they'd made and the smell of blood could attract something much more troublesome at any moment.

What a shame. I can only choose one... His gaze shifted between the Lion Mastiff and the Cauliflower Python. He really wanted the Lion Mastiff's Giant Strength, but the Cauliflower Python's Constriction—or the Poison Resistance it might have—was just as tempting. Besides, he'd heard python meat was very nutritious.

In the end, he made his choice: the Lion Mastiff! Strength was fundamental, and the meat of a canine would be easier to stomach than python meat, which already looked a little creepy. (He conveniently ignored the fact that he'd previously thought cat meat smelled foul.)

He activated his Devour Talent and began tearing into a relatively intact hind leg of the Lion Mastiff. As expected, the flesh of an Advanced Beast Soldier was packed with energy. Wave after wave of searing heat surged into his body, coursing through his limbs and bones and filling him with strength!

[Combat Devour Talent] was operating at full power, attempting to analyze the core talent that might be present.

Wang Keke worked quickly. Before long, she had cut off the left ear from each monster—the Lion Mastiff's ear was thick, while the Cauliflower Python's was tiny, little more than a specialized scale in a hollow—and packed up the brightly patterned, nearly one-meter-long broken tail.

"Mimi, I'm done! Let's hurry!" she urged.

Lin Mo felt he'd eaten enough. If he ate any more, he'd be stuffed. He cast a reluctant glance at the rest of the Lion Mastiff's corpse and the intact Cauliflower Python, then decisively got to his feet.

"Roar!" He growled, signaling that it was time to leave.

The girl and tiger carried their rich spoils away like two little thieves who'd just scored some treasure. Their hearts pounded, but their feet moved swiftly, and they soon vanished into the maze of ruined alleyways, far from this dangerous place.

Only after they'd run far enough to find a relatively secluded spot to hide did they finally breathe a sigh of relief. They exchanged a look and couldn't help grinning like fools.

"Hehe, Mimi, we're rich!" Wang Keke said, hugging the heavy python tail, her eyes curving into crescents. Proof of an Advanced Beast Soldier—this would shock the entire arena at the competition!

Lin Mo licked the Lion Mastiff's blood from the corner of his mouth, feeling the surging energy within him and the feedback from Combat Devour as it worked hard to analyze the talent. He was happier than ever.

Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise! The boar got away, and we ended up with a lion and a python instead! This was a huge profit!

The process might have been a little opportunistic, but the result was incredibly satisfying. This trial was starting to seem quite lovable again.