The horrific scene before them hit Lin Mo and Wang Keke like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing all the joy they had felt over their gains and breakthrough.
Fear, anger, disgust... A tangled mess of emotions made Wang Keke tremble uncontrollably. She bit her lip hard to keep from crying out.
Lin Mo was equally shaken, but his human soul forced him to calm down quickly. Don't panic! Under no circumstances can we give ourselves away!
He immediately nudged Wang Keke with his head, signaling her to retreat. Like two shadows, the human and tiger cautiously slipped back into the deeper shadows of the scrap heap, scarcely daring to breathe.
"Communication... Right! The Communication Watch!" Wang Keke grasped at a lifeline and hurriedly raised her wrist, operating the Tactical Watch issued by the Military, which was supposedly covered by a special signal within the trial zone.
But the glaring red X on the screen and the no-signal warning sent her heart plummeting.
"N-no signal?!" Wang Keke's voice broke, all color draining from her face. "How can there be no signal? The instructors said there should be signal in the trial zone..."
Lin Mo's heart sank, too. He understood in an instant! This wasn't an accident! It was a planned ambush! Their enemies had to be carrying some kind of Signal Jammer! They'd completely cut off any chance of calling for help!
Damn it! We've been played! Lin Mo's inner alarm bells rang. The Blood Wolf Mercenary Group had some nerve! And their methods were way too professional!
They had to leave at once and get the word back!
He gave a low growl and nudged Wang Keke with his paw, signaling her to retrace their steps and get out at full speed.
Wang Keke also came to her senses. Now wasn't the time to be afraid—they had to get the message out! She nodded firmly, then turned to follow Lin Mo and sneak away along the path they'd come.
But just as they moved—
"Ying, ying, ying... Heh, heh, heh..."
A voice rang out abruptly behind them, shrill as a night owl's wail and grating like metal scraping against metal. It brimmed with mockery and smugness.
"Boss, I told you I was right, didn't I?" the voice went on. "Make a little noise near one of the main roads leading back to the rendezvous point, and these pampered brats will come running. They're curious, and they think their families will protect them. They're like cats drawn by the smell of fish. See? We've reeled in another two.
"And one's a rare big white cat, too. Catch a few more, and we can squeeze even more ransom money out of the Wang Family and Li Family. Heh, heh, heh..."
The voice slithered into their ears like a venomous snake, freezing Wang Keke and Lin Mo's blood in an instant!
They'd been spotted all along!
The two of them whirled around. A wiry man with a simian build had somehow appeared atop the scrap heap where they'd been hiding. He wore an unsettling, fake smile, and his eyes darted about with cunning and cruelty. The blood-drenched wolf head on his armband stood out starkly.
At the same time, footsteps sounded from the shadows of the surrounding ruins. Figures in dark red combat uniforms appeared like phantoms—more than ten of them! They carried an assortment of modified firearms and melee weapons, their faces twisted into grins like cats playing with mice. They had sealed off every escape route.
In the open space at the center of the encirclement stood a one-eyed giant with a vicious scar across his face and an aura like a primeval beast—Scarred Blood Wolf. He let out a thunderous laugh.
"Hahaha! Good! Lone Wolf, you're one crafty bastard. No wonder you're the Blood Wolf's strategist! This plan worked like a charm!"
His single eye gleamed with menace as he sized up Wang Keke and Lin Mo like merchandise. It lingered especially on Lin Mo's majestic white body and the wings on his back. He licked his lips. "Well, well, the Wang Family girl, and this mutated Winged Tiger... We've landed a big catch this time! Brothers, take them down!"
"Run!"
Only one thought remained in Wang Keke and Lin Mo's minds!
The instant Scarred Blood Wolf finished speaking, Wang Keke unleashed her Psychic Power. Two Flying Daggers shot like lightning at the two mercenaries blocking the nearest exit! At the same time, she turned to break through in the opposite direction!
Lin Mo activated [Power Burst]. His massive body surged forward with unstoppable force, a white bolt of lightning slamming toward a gun-wielding mercenary at the side! He had to make an opening for Wang Keke!
But the difference in strength was utterly hopeless!
The two mercenaries targeted by the daggers weren't merely high-tier warriors; their reflexes were astonishingly fast. They didn't even try to dodge. Instead, they thrust forward the oddly shaped Alloy Shields in their hands!
"Clang! Clang!"
Two sharp clangs rang out, and sparks flew! Wang Keke had driven the daggers with all her might, yet they were stopped dead. The shields were made of a special material—clearly no ordinary gear!
As for Lin Mo, his charge seemed certain to land. But the gun-wielding mercenary only sneered in disdain. He didn't dodge, simply throwing a punch.
The punch came after Lin Mo's attack had begun, yet landed first. It tore through the air with a shrill whistle and struck Lin Mo squarely in the shoulder blade!
BAM!!
An irresistible, terrifying force slammed into him! Lin Mo felt as if he'd been hit head-on by a speeding truck. His Tough Skin and reinforced bones were helpless against such sheer force! Pain engulfed him, abruptly stopping his charge and sending him tumbling backward. He crashed hard to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust!
"Mimi!" Wang Keke cried in shock and horror.
Before she could react, the wiry man known as Lone Wolf appeared at her side like a phantom. His fingers clamped toward her throat like iron pincers! He moved far faster than she could react.
Wang Keke instinctively formed a shield with her Psychic Power, but Lone Wolf's fingers seemed to carry some kind of energy that pierced defenses. Her psychic shield shattered like paper!
The next moment, he had her by the throat. All the strength drained from her body, and the two Flying Daggers clattered to the ground.
"A Spirit Reader, little girl? Not bad talent, but you're too green." Lone Wolf gave a sinister chuckle and lifted her up like a chick.
"ROAR—!!"
Lin Mo struggled to his feet. Seeing Wang Keke captured, his eyes nearly burst with fury. Ignoring the pain wracking his body, he charged at Lone Wolf again with a roar!
"Beast! Still got fight in you?" A mercenary nearby snorted and kicked Lin Mo hard in the abdomen!
"Urgh..."
Lin Mo felt his guts twist. His massive body was kicked flying again, and he curled up in agony. The other mercenaries swarmed him, raining down punches and kicks on his thickly muscled body while avoiding vital spots.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The dull blows came without pause. Lin Mo's Tough Skin could withstand claws, but it couldn't fully absorb the impact of such sheer force. The pain nearly made him pass out. He struggled desperately, slashing with his claws, but could only leave faint white scratches on the mercenaries' tough combat uniforms. He couldn't deal any real damage.
They were completely outmatched!
Scarred Blood Wolf was at War General Level, and he hadn't even bothered to join in!
Watching Lin Mo get beaten, Wang Keke couldn't stop her tears. She struggled desperately, but to no avail.
Before long, Lin Mo was beaten half to death. His whole body throbbed with pain, and he could no longer fight back. Several mercenaries took out specially made Alloy ropes threaded with Black Tendon Python sinew and tied him up tight, paying special attention to his wings and muzzle.
Wang Keke's psychic power was sealed, and they put her in special handcuffs.
Like discarded rags, the two were dragged roughly into the middle of the open space and tossed into one of the still-empty iron cages.
Clang!
The heavy iron door slammed shut and locked.
Several other captured Wang Family and Li Family scions were already in the cage. When they saw Wang Keke and Lin Mo dragged in, the tiny glimmer of hope in their eyes vanished, leaving only deeper despair.
Wang Keke slumped on the cold floor of the cage. She looked at Lin Mo beside her, covered in wounds and barely breathing, then at the three-head Skull Mound outside and the scattered limbs. Overwhelming fear and helplessness engulfed her completely.
Lin Mo lay in the cage, pain burning everywhere in his body, but the pain in his heart was worse. Since transmigrating, he had never felt such deep despair and humiliation.
Strength! He still wasn't strong enough!
He stared fixedly through the cage at the laughing Scarred Blood Wolf and the treacherous Lone Wolf, etching their faces deep into his soul.
The Blood Wolf Mercenary Group... This grudge could never be settled!
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