The glorious victory in the first battle against the Gale Wolf pack had greatly boosted the morale of the Lin Mo Hunting Special Task Force. It had also whetted Lin Mo's appetite and fueled his ambition.
Beast Soldier Rank monsters and Junior Beast Generals could no longer fully satisfy his hunger for energy and talents. His gaze had turned to targets that were more dangerous—and far more "delicious."
His next prey was the Horned Forest Python lurking in the Western Swamp.
Based on the limited information provided by the Outpost and several risky reconnaissance missions by the Wind-Breaking Squad—which had nearly ended with them being caught by the swamp's poisonous insects and Stalkers—they confirmed that the python was an Intermediate War General. It was over twenty meters long and as thick as a barrel, its body covered in slick, tough, dark green scales. A pitch-black horn on its forehead held the power to unleash strange mental attacks. It had made its lair deep in the swamp, where the complicated terrain made it exceptionally difficult to deal with.
Intermediate War General! Now we're talking! If I can devour it and inherit something like Underwater Breathing or Mental Resistance, I'll hit the jackpot! Even if I don't, its vast life force should be enough to fill my belly. Maybe I'll even reach the threshold of Beast General Rank!
However, the hardest part of hunting the Horned Forest Python wasn't the fight. It was finding and tracking the creature, then making sure no other swamp-dwellers interfered during the hunt—or that it didn't escape back to its unfathomably deep lair.
To that end, the Wind-Breaking Squad drew up an extremely thorough plan. Its core strategy was to lure the snake out and surround it on dry land.
Step One: Locate the target and clear the area.
Scouts Li Ning and Zhang Yong operated the Stalker drones, which had been fitted with moisture-proof and corrosion-resistant coatings. After several days of intensive aerial reconnaissance over the swamp, they finally pinpointed a relatively dry patch of firm ground where the Horned Forest Python often basked in the sun and ambushed its prey.
Meanwhile, the rest of the squad, led by Wang Deshui, carefully cleared the potential threats along the route to the planned ambush site, including Poison Arrow Frog swarms and lurking Crocodile Beast Soldiers.
Step Two: Bait and provoke.
They used a specially prepared, highly concentrated pheromone lure that mimicked the scent of a powerful creature bleeding, and placed it at the edge of the firm ground. At the same time, Wang Keke tried to provoke the python from a distance with her mental power, needling its mind like a fine pin.
At first, the plan went smoothly. The pheromones and mental provocation successfully drew the Horned Forest Python's attention. The enormous creature slowly raised its menacing head from the mud. Its cold, vertical pupils fixed on the lure, and then it slithered over at a leisurely pace.
It's coming out! Damn, look at its size and that presence... It's even more intimidating than I expected! But once it's on land, this is my turf!
Step Three: Ambush and fierce battle.
As soon as most of the Horned Forest Python's body had left the swamp and reached the firm ground, it began eating the bait. The order to attack rang out!
Bang! Bang!
The snipers struck first! Specially made Armor-piercing Bullets whistled toward the python's vital point and eyes!
But an Intermediate War General's reactions and defenses far surpassed the Gale Wolf King's! The python snapped its head aside, and its hard horn knocked one bullet out of the air. The other struck the scales on its neck, throwing off a shower of sparks and leaving a white mark—but failed to penetrate.
"Ssshaaa—!" The thoroughly enraged python let out a piercing hiss, and its horn flashed with a dark light!
An invisible mental shock wave spread out like a rising tide!
Shield Warrior Li Kai was closest and bore the brunt of the attack. Though he had been prepared, his mind still went blank and his movements froze. Even Wang Keke, controlling her Flying Daggers from a distance, gave a muffled grunt as their trajectories wavered for an instant.
Holy crap! A mental attack! There's no way to guard against that!
Only Lin Mo was barely affected. Perhaps his unusual soul was the reason, or perhaps his innate Tiger Might gave him some resistance to attacks of this kind. He let out a roar and activated Lightning Strike, his dark golden form shooting forward like a cannonball toward the relatively vulnerable underside of the python!
"Rrrip—!"
His sharp metal claws scraped across the scales on the python's belly, sending up a dazzling spray of sparks. At last, they tore through several scales, leaving a few shallow, bleeding gashes!
The python, stung by the pain, went completely berserk. Its huge body whipped around like a steel lash toward Lin Mo, while its gaping maw lunged at him through a stinking cloud of venomous mist!
The fight erupted into a fever pitch!
Wang Haitao's Heavy Machine Gun rounds clattered against the python's body but struggled to inflict any serious damage. Wang Keke's Flying Daggers focused on its eyes and wounds, harassing it. Aunt Zhang and Wang Deshui moved along its flanks, looking for opportunities to land heavy blows.
As the main attacker, Lin Mo relied on Lightning Strike's Extreme Speed and his ability to fly low, circling the python as he pounced, clawed, and bit, dodging its deadly coils and attempts to swallow him. Deep pressure marks and dents from impacts marred his armor, and the muscles beneath his Tough Skin throbbed with pain.
The python was simply too strong and too well-armored! Its slick scales, in particular, greatly weakened the impact of physical attacks.
After failing to make headway for some time, the python seemed to realize it couldn't gain the upper hand on land. It suddenly lashed its tail, sweeping up a sheet of mud to block their vision, then twisted around and tried to escape into the depths of the swamp!
"Not good! It's running!" Wang Deshui cried.
If it made it back into the swamp, hunting it again would be nearly impossible. All their previous efforts would have gone to waste!
Trying to run? Did you ask me first?! You think I'm going to let a meal slip away once it's in my mouth?!
At the critical moment, a fierce glint appeared in Lin Mo's eyes! His wings beat with all their might as he unleashed every ounce of his strength. Like a golden arrow loosed from a bow, he caught up in an instant with the python's head as it slid toward the swamp!
Instead of attacking, he did something no one could have expected. He abruptly changed direction and slammed his heavily armored shoulder into the python's head just as it was about to plunge into the swamp, striking like a battering ram!
"BOOM!!!"
The dull, thunderous impact sounded like a drumbeat!
The immense recoil sent Lin Mo's blood surging and left his wings numb. The Horned Forest Python, struck with sudden, tremendous force, was knocked off course. Its head smashed into the edge of the firm ground, leaving it dazed and disoriented.
That brief delay sealed its fate!
"Now!" Aunt Zhang cried. Her Combat Blade flashed out like a streak of light and pierced the python's mouth, which had fallen slightly open from the impact. The blade drove straight into its brain!
Wang Keke's four Flying Daggers, like piranhas scenting blood, darted through the gashes Lin Mo had torn in the python's belly and churned furiously inside!
"Sss..." The Horned Forest Python let out one last, feeble hiss. Its enormous body convulsed violently for a while, then collapsed to the ground, motionless and silent.
Phew... We got it! That thing was damn tough! It almost got away! Good thing I can fly!
Lin Mo landed on the ground, panting as he looked at the enormous corpse before him. He was shaken, but even more excited and satisfied. This battle had been far harder than the fight against the Gale Wolf pack, but it had also put his strength and the team's coordination to a much greater test.
He eagerly went over and began enjoying this hard-won "Intermediate War General feast." A surging torrent of life energy poured into his body like rivers flowing into the sea. Every cell rejoiced. He could clearly feel his stalled strength growing at a noticeable pace, bringing him ever closer to the threshold...
It was worth it! That beating wasn't for nothing! A few more meals like this, and Beast General Rank will be within reach!
The members of the Wind-Breaking Squad watched Lin Mo feast, with the terrifying python's corpse lying nearby. Their smiles brimmed with relief and a sense of accomplishment. They had really done it—they had hunted down a powerful Intermediate War General!
The hunting squad's reputation would spread throughout Outpost No. 03, and perhaps even farther, on the strength of this even more glorious victory.
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