The Lin Mo Hunting Special Task Force's first official mission targeted a pack of Gale Wolves active in Black Wind Valley to the east.
According to intelligence from the outpost and preliminary drone reconnaissance by the Wind-Breaking Squad, the pack numbered around fifty. It included a Junior War General–rank Wolf King, more than a dozen high-level Beast Soldier Elite Alpha Wolves, and mostly mid-level Beast Soldiers. They were swift, worked together seamlessly, and excelled at hunting in packs. They dominated the area around Black Wind Valley and posed a major threat to small hunting teams and lone martial artists who passed through.
(Inner thoughts): A Junior War General Wolf King? Excellent! Just the thing to test out my new gear! Those high-level Beast Soldier Elite Alpha Wolves should provide plenty of energy, too. And... what if I inherit a talent like Swiftness or Wolf Synergy? Heh. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
The team leader, Wang Deshui, devised the battle plan after carefully considering both sides' strengths and the terrain.
"Our advantages are our high-end combat power, long-range firepower, and superior intelligence. Our disadvantages are our numbers and the fact that they have home-field advantage." Wang Deshui traced the terrain of Black Wind Valley on the Electronic Sandbox. "We can't let them surround us. We'll draw them out and finish them off on relatively open ground."
The plan was as follows:
1. Lure the enemy: The most mobile scouts, Li Ning and Zhang Yong, would drive a Light Off-road Vehicle equipped with loudspeakers and blood-scented bait to the entrance of the valley, where the wolves were often active. They would provoke the pack, then lead it to a prepared ambush site: a relatively flat, open stretch of Gravel Beach, ideal for sniping and deploying their firepower.
2. Sniping: Snipers Wang Tao and Wang Hai would take up positions on two high points flanking the ambush site, lock onto the Wolf King and Elite Alpha Wolves, and try to take them out or inflict serious wounds right away.
3. Hold the line: Shield Warrior Li Kai and machine gunner Wang Haitao would set up a simple defensive line at the front of the ambush site to hold off the wolves' initial charge and suppress them with gunfire.
4. Main assault: Lin Mo, Wang Keke, Aunt Zhang, and team leader Wang Deshui would hide behind the ambush site as the main assault force. Once the pack had been weakened by the defensive line and the snipers, Lin Mo and Wang Keke would charge into the pack and focus on killing the Elite Alpha Wolves and Wolf King, while Aunt Zhang and Wang Deshui provided support and dealt with threats.
5. Aerial surveillance and support: The drone would monitor the entire operation and provide a view of the battlefield, while remaining ready to drop smoke or flash grenades for tactical support.
The day of the operation. Early morning.
Three Armored Vehicles left the outpost without a sound and headed toward Black Wind Valley. The atmosphere was tense and charged with excitement.
Once they reached the designated position, each group quickly took up its place. Lin Mo crouched behind a rock at the back of the ambush site. His Dark Gold Armor reflected the cold gleam of the morning sun. Holding his breath, he fixed his golden tiger eyes on the entrance to the valley, his muscles tensing slightly like a leopard about to pounce.
(Inner thoughts): I'm a little nervous, but mostly excited! I have to make this first feast a good one!
Before long, the distant rumble of an engine, the piercing blare of a loudspeaker, and faint howls reached them from the direction of the valley. The sounds grew closer, accompanied by billowing clouds of dust.
"They're here! There are a lot of them! The Wolf King is near the middle of the pack!" The drone operator, Li Ning, spoke over the comms.
"Snipers, take your positions!"
"Blocking team, stand by!"
"Assault team, prepare!"
The orders were brief and forceful.
Soon, a vast gray tide of wolves poured out of the valley, chasing the Light Off-road Vehicle that had been sent to lure them toward Gravel Beach. They ran so fast their legs were little more than blurs, their fangs bared and their eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
"Bang!" "Bang!"
Two muffled gunshots rang out almost simultaneously, splitting the sky!
The snipers had opened fire! The specially made Armor-piercing Bullets shot toward the pack too fast for the naked eye to follow.
"Awooo!" A sharp, furious howl rang out. A particularly powerful giant wolf with deep blue-gray fur and a tuft of white on its forehead—the Wolf King—leaped sideways, narrowly dodging the bullet aimed at its head. But the round still grazed its foreleg, spraying blood. At almost the same time, an Elite Alpha Wolf charging at the front wasn't so lucky. Another sniper round struck it in the neck, blowing away half of it. It fell to the ground with a howl and died!
"Open fire!" Wang Deshui ordered.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat!" Wang Haitao's Heavy Machine Gun roared, unleashing a blazing storm of bullets that swept over the wolves at the front. Seven or eight mid-level Gale Wolves were riddled with bullets on the spot.
The pack's charge faltered!
"Now! Your Highness, Tiger King! Keke! Go!" Aunt Zhang called in a low voice.
"Roar!"
Lin Mo had been holding back for long enough. He roared, announcing the start of the hunt, and activated Lightning Strike! His Dark Gold form became a streak of lightning that tore through the air and plunged straight into the slightly disordered pack!
He ignored the ordinary wolves, making a beeline for the wounded Elite Alpha Wolves and those the snipers had targeted. His clawed gauntlets flashed as he struck. Tough Skin let him ignore the occasional bite from a wolf, and he tore through them like a tiger among sheep. Each pounce and bite brought an Elite Alpha Wolf's scream and death.
Wang Keke followed close behind. Her four Flying Daggers were like silver fish come to life, tracing lethal paths through the air. They precisely cut the throats of wolves trying to flank Lin Mo or disrupted the Wolf King's movements.
Seeing his Elite Alpha Wolves being slaughtered one after another, the Wolf King's eyes blazed with rage. It let out a long howl, ignored the wound on its leg, and became wreathed in a faint blue glow. Its speed surged as it shot toward Lin Mo like a blue bolt of lightning—the enemy who threatened it most!
(Inner thoughts): Just as I hoped! I've been waiting for you!
Lin Mo wasn't afraid in the least. He abandoned his pursuit of an Elite Alpha Wolf and turned to face the Wolf King! He activated Power Burst at the same time, driving his muscles to their limit!
A tiger and a wolf collided with tremendous force!
"Boom!"
A dull crash rang out, and a blast of air rolled over them! With his superior strength and armor, Lin Mo slammed the Wolf King off balance. The Wolf King twisted nimbly and raked at Lin Mo's chest and stomach with its blue-glowing claws!
"Scrreee!" The grating scrape of metal sounded. Several clear white marks appeared on Lin Mo's Dark Gold breastplate, but it held!
(Inner thoughts): Haha! It can't get through my armor! This is great!
Lin Mo seized the opening and snapped his jaws at the Wolf King's neck, his teeth enclosed in metal guards! The Wolf King dodged desperately, but Lin Mo still caught its shoulder blade. The sound of bone breaking rang out clearly!
"Awooo!" The Wolf King howled in pain.
Just then, Wang Keke's Flying Daggers shot in from tricky angles like ghosts, aimed at the Wolf King's eyes and the joint of its uninjured foreleg!
The Wolf King struggled to defend itself, leaving its guard wide open.
Lin Mo seized his chance and activated Lightning Strike again. His massive frame moved with astonishing agility as he instantly circled to the Wolf King's side. He focused all his strength into one blow, his palm crashing into the Wolf King's lower back like a sledgehammer, amplified by the terrifying force of Power Burst!
"Crack!"
Its spine snapped.
The ferocity in the Wolf King's eyes faded instantly. Its enormous body flew through the air like a broken sack, hit the ground, and twitched a few times before going still.
With the Wolf King dead, the remaining Gale Wolves lost their leader. Under the continued fire of the snipers and machine gunners, they quickly fell into disarray and scattered in every direction. The Wind-Breaking Squad pursued them and left more than a dozen additional wolf carcasses behind.
The battle was over. Gravel Beach was thick with the stench of blood. Apart from a few clever wolves that had slipped away at the beginning and the ones that escaped at the end, most of the Gale Wolves had been wiped out, including the Wolf King and every Elite Alpha Wolf.
(Inner thoughts): A huge haul! What a huge haul! Hahahaha!
Lin Mo stood beside the Wolf King's corpse, brimming with satisfaction. A little wolf blood stained his armor, making him look even more ferocious. He eagerly began to enjoy his spoils, starting with the Wolf King's heart and the parts richest in energy, as he activated his Combat Devour talent.
A surge of life essence and energy far purer and more abundant than that of a Beast Soldier–rank monster flowed into his body. It nourished his flesh and bones and pushed his strength toward the peak of Advanced Beast Soldier. At the same time, he vaguely sensed that a fragment of information about "speed" and "wind" had been deciphered. It was nowhere near enough to inherit a talent, but it gave him a slightly better understanding of speed.
(Inner thoughts): Not bad, not bad! Plenty of energy! I didn't inherit a talent outright, but this feeling... If I get a few more Beast General–rank monsters, I might break through to Beast General!
The members of the Wind-Breaking Squad began efficiently cleaning up the battlefield, removing valuable wolf pelts, fangs, and claws. They cut up the best wolf meat to take back to the outpost.
Looking at the mountain of spoils and the majestic Dark Gold Winged Tiger feasting heartily, all the team members smiled. The hunt had been carefully planned and smoothly executed, and the results were spectacular. It had proved the combat strength of their special team.
Wang Keke came over to Lin Mo and gently stroked his bloodstained armor, her eyes brimming with pride. "Mimi, we did it!"
Lin Mo raised his head and gave a satisfied growl, rubbing it against her.
(Inner thoughts): We did it? This is only the beginning! My all-you-can-eat journey is officially underway! Who should I choose as my next target?
Loaded with their prey and the joy of victory, the convoy returned in triumph beneath the setting sun. The soldiers at Outpost No. 03 stared at the huge corpse of the Wolf King and the pile of dead wolves, as well as the Tiger King atop a vehicle, looking every inch a monarch returning victorious. Their faces filled with admiration and astonishment.
The Lin Mo Hunting Special Task Force had won its first battle—and made a name for itself in a single fight!
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