First Victory and the Dirge of the Wolf Pack

The first official operation of the Lin Mo Hunting Special Task Force targeted a pack of Gale Wolves active in the Black Wind Valley to the east.

According to outpost intelligence and the Wind-Breaking Squad's preliminary drone reconnaissance, the pack consisted of about fifty Gale Wolves, including one Junior War General-level Wolf King, over a dozen high-tier Beast Soldier Elite Alpha Wolves, and the rest mostly mid-tier Beast Soldiers. They were swift, coordinated, and skilled at encirclement, making them the overlords of the Black Wind Valley area and a major threat to small hunting parties and lone martial artists passing through.

(Internal Monologue): "A Junior War General Wolf King? Not bad, not bad at all. Just the thing to test the quality of my new gear! Those high-tier Beast Soldier Elite Alpha Wolves should also provide plenty of energy and... what if I inherit a talent like [Swiftness] or [Wolf Synergy]? Hehe, just thinking about it makes me drool."

The battle plan was formulated by the captain, Wang Deshui, taking full account of the strengths and weaknesses of both sides as well as the terrain.

"Our advantages lie in high-end combat power, long-range firepower, and information control. Our disadvantages are our numbers and the enemy's home-field advantage." Wang Deshui traced the terrain of the Black Wind Valley on the electronic sandbox. "We cannot get caught in their encirclement. We must lure them out and finish them in relatively open terrain."

The plan was as follows:

1. Lure: The most mobile scouts, Li Ning and Zhang Yong, would drive a Light Off-road Vehicle equipped with a loudspeaker and bloody bait to the valley entrance where the pack was active to provoke them. Once enraged, they would lead the pack to a pre-set ambush point—a Gravel Beach that was relatively flat with an open field of vision, ideal for sniping and maximizing firepower.

2. Sniping: Snipers Wang Tao and Wang Hai would occupy two high points on the flanks of the ambush site in advance, locking onto the Wolf King and the Elite Alpha Wolves to attempt a decapitation strike or heavy damage at the first opportunity.

3. Frontal Blockade: Shield Warrior Li Kai and Machine Gunner Wang Haitao would construct a simple defensive line at the front of the ambush site, responsible for resisting the initial charge of the wolf pack and providing fire suppression.

4. Core Assault: Lin Mo, Wang Keke, Aunt Zhang, and Captain Wang Deshui would act as the core assault force, hidden behind the ambush site. Once the pack was weakened by the blockade and sniping, Lin Mo and Wang Keke would be responsible for cutting into the pack to focus on killing the Elite Alpha Wolves and the Wolf King, while Aunt Zhang and Wang Deshui would provide support and clear threats.

5. Aerial Surveillance and Support: Drones would monitor the entire process, providing battlefield vision and standing ready to drop smoke or flash grenades for tactical support.

The day of the operation, early morning.

Three armored vehicles drove silently away from the outpost, heading toward the Black Wind Valley. The atmosphere was heavy yet exhilarating.

Upon reaching the designated position, each team quickly took their places. Lin Mo lay prone behind a rock behind the ambush site, his Dark Gold Armor reflecting a cold, hard luster in the morning light. He suppressed his aura, his golden tiger pupils fixed tightly on the valley entrance, his muscles slightly tensed like a leopard about to pounce.

(Internal Monologue): "A little nervous, but mostly excited! My first big feast—I have to make it look good!"

Before long, the roar of an engine, the piercing sound of a loudspeaker, and faint wolf howls drifted from the direction of the valley entrance. The sounds grew closer, accompanied by rolling dust.

"They're here! There are a lot of them! The Wolf King is in the middle-rear of the pack!" the voice of the drone operator, Li Ning, came through the communicator.

"Snipers in position!"

"Blockade team ready!"

"Assault team prepared!"

The orders were concise and powerful.

Soon, a dark mass of wolves surged from the valley entrance like a gray tide, chasing the off-road vehicle responsible for the lure toward the Gravel Beach. They were extremely fast, their four limbs leaving afterimages as they ran, fangs bared, eyes flashing with bloodthirsty light.

"Bang!" "Bang!"

Two muffled, nearly overlapping gunshots tore through the sky!

The snipers had opened fire! The specialized Armor-piercing Bullets shot toward the pack at a speed the naked eye could barely track.

"Awoo--!" A shrill, angry howl rang out. A particularly robust giant wolf with deep cyan fur and a tuft of white hair on its forehead—the Wolf King—suddenly leaped to the side, narrowly dodging the bullet aimed at its head. However, the bullet still grazed its front leg, spraying a burst of blood. At the same time, an Elite Alpha Wolf charging at the front was not so lucky; it was struck directly in the neck by another sniper round, half its neck blown away, and it collapsed to the ground, dead.

"Fire!" Wang Deshui commanded.

"Da-da-da-da--!" Wang Haitao's Heavy Machine Gun let out a violent roar. A scorching metal storm instantly engulfed the wolves at the front, and seven or eight mid-tier Gale Wolves were turned into sieves on the spot.

The momentum of the wolf pack's charge faltered!

"Now! Your Excellency Tiger King! Keke! Go!" Aunt Zhang shouted.

"Roar--!!"

Lin Mo had long been unable to restrain himself. He let out a roar declaring the start of the hunt, and [Lightning Strike] was instantly activated! His dark golden figure turned into a bolt of lightning that tore through the air, charging straight into the slightly chaotic pack!

He ignored the ordinary wolves, his targets fixed on the Elite Alpha Wolves that were injured or targeted by the snipers! His tiger claws, covered in gauntlets, flashed with cold light. [Tough Skin] allowed him to ignore the sporadic bites of wolf teeth. Like a tiger among sheep, every pounce and bite was inevitably accompanied by the scream and death of an Elite Alpha Wolf.

Wang Keke followed closely behind. Four Flying Daggers, like living silver fish, traced lethal trajectories in the air, precisely severing the throats of the vicious wolves attempting to pounce on Lin Mo from the flanks or interfering with the Wolf King's movements.

Seeing his elites being slaughtered rapidly, the Wolf King's scarlet eyes filled with rage. It let out a long howl, ignoring the injury on its leg, and a faint cyan light enveloped its body. Its speed surged again, and like a cyan bolt of lightning, it lunged straight at Lin Mo, who posed the greatest threat to it!

(Internal Monologue): "Well done! I was waiting for you!"

Lin Mo was fearless. He abandoned his pursuit of an Elite Alpha Wolf and turned to meet the Wolf King. [Power Burst] activated simultaneously, his muscle strength instantly climbing to its peak!

One tiger and one wolf, two figures collided violently!

"Boom!"

A muffled impact sounded, and shockwaves rolled outward! Relying on his superior strength and the advantage of his armor, Lin Mo forced the Wolf King to stagger. The Wolf King twisted its body flexibly, its cyan-glowing claws swiping fiercely at Lin Mo's chest and abdomen!

"Clang--!" A teeth-grinding sound of metal friction rang out. Several clear white marks were left on the dark gold chest plate, but it did not break!

(Internal Monologue): "Haha! Can't break my defense! Awesome!"

Lin Mo took the opportunity to open his tiger maw wide, his teeth—covered by metal gauntlets—biting fiercely into the Wolf King's neck! The Wolf King, terrified, tried desperately to dodge, but it was still bitten on the shoulder blade, the sound of bone shattering clearly audible!

"Awoo--!" The Wolf King let out a painful howl.

Just then, Wang Keke's Flying Daggers shot in like ghosts from a tricky angle, aiming straight for the Wolf King's eyes and its other intact front leg joint!

The Wolf King was overwhelmed, leaving itself wide open.

Lin Mo seized the opportunity. [Lightning Strike] activated again, his massive body displaying agility that defied logic. He instantly circled to the Wolf King's side, and with a tiger palm that gathered all his strength and the terrifying force of [Power Burst], he slammed it like a heavy hammer into the Wolf King's waist!

"Crack!"

That was the crisp sound of a spine snapping!

The fierce light in the Wolf King's eyes dimmed instantly. Its massive body flew out like a broken sack, twitched a few times on the ground, and then fell silent.

With the Wolf King dead, the remaining Gale Wolves instantly lost their backbone. Under the continuous barrage from the Sniper and the Machine Gunner, they quickly collapsed into disarray and fled in all directions. The Wind-Breaking Squad pressed their advantage, leaving behind another dozen wolf carcasses.

The battle ended, and the entire Gravel Beach was permeated with a thick, bloody stench. Aside from a few clever ones that had slipped away at the start and those that escaped at the end, the majority of the Gale Wolf pack had been annihilated, including the Wolf King and all the Elite Alpha Wolves.

A massive harvest! A massive harvest indeed! Hahahaha!

Lin Mo stood beside the Wolf King's corpse, filled with a sense of triumph. His armor was stained with wolf blood, adding to his fierce appearance. He couldn't wait to start enjoying his spoils—beginning with the Wolf King's heart and the parts richest in energy, while simultaneously activating his Combat Devour talent.

A source of life essence and energy, far purer and more vast than that of a Beast Soldier Rank monster, surged into his body, nourishing his flesh and bones and pushing his strength toward the peak of the Advanced Beast Soldier level. At the same time, he vaguely sensed that faint fragments of information regarding "speed" and "wind" were being parsed; while far from enough to inherit a talent, it gave him a slight improvement in his understanding of speed.

Not bad, not bad! The energy is plentiful! Although I didn't inherit a talent directly, this feeling... if I take down a few more Beast General Rank monsters, I might just be able to break through to the Beast General level!

The members of the Wind-Breaking Squad began to skillfully clean the battlefield, stripping away valuable wolf pelts, fangs, and claws, and cutting off the best cuts of wolf meat to prepare for the return to the outpost.

Looking at the mountain of spoils and the majestic, dark-gold Winged Tiger currently feasting, every team member wore a smile. This hunt had been meticulously planned, smoothly executed, and yielded brilliant results, fully proving the combat effectiveness of their special squad.

Wang Keke walked over to Lin Mo, gently stroking his blood-stained armor, her eyes filled with pride: "Mimi, we did it!"

Lin Mo raised his head, let out a satisfied low growl, and rubbed his head against her.

Success? This is only the beginning! My buffet journey has officially kicked off! Who should I pick as my next target?

Loaded with prey and the joy of victory, the convoy headed back toward the setting sun in triumph. The soldiers at Outpost No. 03 watched the massive Wolf King carcass, the piles of wolf bodies, and the Tiger King atop the vehicle—looking like a monarch returning from conquest—all casting gazes of admiration and awe.

The Lin Mo Hunting Special Task Force had achieved victory in their first battle and made a name for themselves in one fell swoop!