On the afternoon of the third day, the custom gear Lin Mo had been eagerly awaiting finally arrived. When the specially made metal crate, which took four strong men to carry, was opened, even the well-traveled members of the Wind-Breaking Squad couldn't help letting out a low gasp of amazement.
The streamlined dark gold armor gleamed coldly under the training ground lights. Fine energy channels, faintly resembling tiger stripes, could be seen across the armor plates.
The chest plate was thick, protecting his vital areas, and the shoulder guards had small spikes that added a touch of intimidation. The armor on his limbs fit his muscles perfectly, while the joints were made of a matte black flexible metal to ensure none of his movements were restricted.
The most ingenious part was the wings. Rather than covering them entirely, thin, sturdy alloy feather blades had been fitted at key points along the wing bones and the edges of the membranes. They offered protection and aided his flight without adding too much weight. His tiger claws were also fitted with metal caps featuring deep grooves and astonishingly sharp tips, which gleamed coldly.
(Inner thoughts): Holy crap! This looks incredible! The money was well spent! The design, the craftsmanship—this is absolutely a divine weapon!
At Lin Mo's impatient urging, Wang Keke and several squad members helped him put on the armor.
The entire set used a special system of clasps and magnetic fasteners, making it easier to put on than he'd expected. When the last Wing Blade clicked into place, Lin Mo abruptly rose onto his hind legs and let out a deafening tiger roar!
"Roar—!!"
The roar rolled through the air. Paired with his imposing armor, it unleashed an overwhelming, savage aura, as if an ancient war tiger had crossed through time to arrive among them. Even Aunt Zhang's expression turned more solemn, and she gave a slight nod.
Adaptation training began immediately. Lin Mo started by sprinting, jumping, and stopping abruptly to test his agility.
The dark gold armor felt like a second skin and barely impeded him at all. In fact, the leg plates supported and propelled his muscles, making it easier to activate his [Lightning Strike]. His explosive speed seemed to have improved slightly, too.
Next came the defense test. He had Wang Haitao fire a training Armor-piercing Bullet—a reduced-power version—at his chest plate.
"Bang!"
The training round hit with a dull thud, leaving a faint white mark on the chest plate before bouncing away. Lin Mo felt a substantial impact, but it was well within what he could handle.
(Inner thoughts): This is great! With this defense, a Beast Soldier Rank attack would probably feel like a tickle! And a Beast General Rank attack... I should be able to take a few hits!
Last came the flight test. He took off with a flap of his wings, the Wing Blades making a soft hiss as they cut through the air. They didn't hinder his flight; if anything, they seemed to slice through the air more efficiently, slightly improving his stability and speed at low altitudes. He even tried dragging the feather blades along the edge of his wing across a steel post used for testing, leaving a clean cut!
(Inner thoughts): Perfect! A full upgrade to attack, defense, and speed! This investment was worth every penny! You little darlings at the front, just wait for your Tiger King Daddy to come spoil you!
On the morning of the fourth day, the sun rose.
Three heavily modified armored off-road vehicles roared out of the Wang Family's gates. Like steel behemoths, they broke through the City Barrier's final veil of light and truly entered the Wilderness Zone.
Lin Mo stood majestically atop the "Tiger King Exclusive Vehicle" at the head of the convoy. His dark gold armor shimmered beneath the morning sun, his wings were folded behind him, and his golden tiger eyes sharply scanned the road ahead. Wang Keke sat in the passenger seat, dressed in a smart combat uniform, her small face alight with excitement and nerves.
The convoy took a bumpy dirt road that had clearly been cleared by people. The city's high-rises soon fell behind them. As far as the eye could see, the landscape was both desolate and full of life.
The shattered skeleton of an elevated highway wound into the distance like the bones of a giant beast. Abandoned vehicles were rusted and tangled in all kinds of rampant plants, which had swallowed them up. Farther away lay a forest so dense it seemed eerie, along with rolling hills. The air was heavy with the smell of soil and humus, and carried the faintest hint of danger.
(Inner thoughts): So this is the real wilderness? It's nothing like the simulation training ground. This wildness, this sense of danger... I like it!
Along the way, they occasionally ran into other human squads. Some drove modified jeeps, while others were even traveling on foot. Everyone was travel-worn and wary, with the air of people who had been through blood and fire.
When they saw the convoy of three top-of-the-line armored vehicles—especially the imposing Winged Giant Tiger clad in dark gold armor atop one of them—they all looked shocked, stunned, and even a little horrified.
"Holy crap! What's that?!"
"A Winged Tiger?! And it's wearing armor?!"
"That's the Wang Family convoy! Is that... Miss Wang and her battle pet 'Mimi'? The internet-famous tiger?"
"Internet-famous? You call that internet-famous? With that kind of presence, I'd believe it was a beast king!"
"Bringing such an eye-catching battle pet into the wilderness... The Wang Family really is loaded!"
Their astonished shouts and murmurs drifted over.
(Inner thoughts): Hmph, a bunch of bumpkins who've never seen the world! How could you possibly imagine the majesty of this king? Internet-famous? That's in the past! I'm a battle tiger now—a hunting tiger!
Lin Mo took their stares in stride. He even deliberately raised his head, letting the sun better define the lines of his armor as he basked in what he imagined was everyone's attention.
The convoy made the trip without incident and finally reached its destination, Outpost No. 03, in the late afternoon.
The outpost stood on a relatively high hill. It had been built around an old-era military post and expanded, with a massive alloy wall ten meters tall surrounding it, covered in electric fencing and firing ports. Soldiers patrolled the top, alongside automated defensive weapons.
Beyond the wall lay a wide stretch of cleared land, rigged with barbed wire, minefields, and anti-monster stakes. The place was steeped in the cold atmosphere of war.
After strict identity checks and decontamination procedures, the heavy alloy gates slowly opened and the convoy drove inside. The outpost was much larger than it looked from the outside, with barracks, warehouses, a repair shop, a training ground, and several taller command and residential buildings. The air smelled of machine oil and gunpowder, with a faint trace of blood.
A tall, stern-faced middle-aged man in a crisp military uniform stood in front of the command building with several officers. His epaulets marked him as a colonel. A hearty smile spread across his face, and his gaze immediately landed on Lin Mo atop the vehicle. Unconcealed admiration flashed in his eyes.
"Hahaha! Keke! And our great hero, 'Mimi'! We've been waiting for you!" The man strode forward, his voice booming.
Wang Keke jumped out of the vehicle and called happily, "Uncle Thirteen!"
The man was Wang Feng, the top commander of Outpost No. 03 and Wang Keke's Uncle Thirteen. He was a formidable mid-stage Battle General.
Wang Feng gave Wang Keke's shoulder a hearty pat, then looked at Lin Mo with sparkling eyes and marveled, "Well, I'll be! You look even more imposing than you did in the videos! That getup is quite the sight! I hear you made the Wang Family proud in the Loyalty Trial!"
(Inner thoughts): Uncle Thirteen? He seems pretty straightforward, not scheming like her father—cough, I mean, not as far-sighted. But calling me 'Mimi' right off the bat? Not cool! I'll have to find a chance to get him to call me Tiger King!
Lin Mo leaped lightly from the roof of the vehicle and landed without a sound. He gave a reserved low growl as a greeting.
Wang Feng didn't mind. He warmly welcomed everyone. "You've had a tough journey! Your rooms are all ready. The brothers from the Wind-Breaking Squad will stay in the barracks, as usual. Keke, you and Aunt Zhang can stay in the officers' quarters. They're a bit more comfortable."
He paused and looked at Lin Mo with a smile. "As for our special comrade here... I had the largest storage room cleared out for him. It's next to the warehouse, and we've laid down hay and soft mats. There's plenty of room!"
(Inner thoughts): A room to myself? Not bad. It's no match for my luxurious tiger den, but it's better than squeezing in with a bunch of people. I'll accept it, reluctantly.
Wang Feng continued, "The cafeteria's putting on an extra meal tonight to welcome you! There's no need to rush into missions or hunting. Get some good rest first and acclimate to the outpost and the highland air pressure.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll have someone show you around the terrain near the outpost, the safe zones, the danger zones, our regular patrol routes, and our defensive priorities."
His expression grew more serious. "The wilderness isn't a game. Monsters of Beast General Rank sometimes stray into the area outside our outpost. You need to understand the situation before making a safe hunting plan. For the next few days, you can stay inside the outpost and in the absolutely safe nearby areas, and observe how the other hunting squads operate."
(Inner thoughts): Get familiar with the area first? Keep my head down and grow stronger? Uncle Thirteen knows what he's doing! That's exactly what I want! I can use the time to check out the front-line cafeteria's food and dining rules.
Lin Mo had no objections. He followed a soldier toward his "room," his heart filled with anticipation for the wilderness hunting that was about to begin. His Devour Talent was already ravenous!
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