Swamp Ambush and the Tiger-Roar Forest Python

The glorious victory in the first battle against the Gale Wolf pack greatly boosted the morale of the Lin Mo Hunting Special Task Force, and it also caused Lin Mo's appetite and ambition to swell in tandem.

Beast Soldier Rank and low-level Beast General Rank creatures could no longer fully satisfy his craving for energy and talent; his gaze turned toward more dangerous, and more "delicious," targets.

The next prey was locked onto the Horned Forest Python in the Western Swamp area.

According to limited information provided by Outpost No. 03 and multiple risky reconnaissance missions by the Wind-Breaking Squad (who nearly got left behind by the venomous insects and lurkers in the swamp), it was confirmed that this python had reached the mid-level War General rank. It was over twenty meters long, as thick as a water barrel, and covered in slimy, tough, dark green scales. A pitch-black horn on its forehead contained a bizarre mental shock ability. It lurked deep within the swamp, and with the help of the complex terrain, it was extremely difficult to deal with.

(Internal Monologue): "Mid-level War General! Now that's exciting! If I can swallow it and inherit something like [Underwater Breathing] or [Mental Resistance], that would be a huge profit! Even if not, this massive life essence is enough for me to have a hearty meal. Maybe I'll even be able to touch the threshold of the Beast General rank!"

However, the hardest part of hunting the Horned Forest Python wasn't the battle itself, but how to find it, lock onto it, and ensure that during the hunt, it wouldn't be interfered with by other swamp creatures or escape back to its bottomless lair in the swamp.

To this end, the Wind-Breaking Squad formulated an extremely meticulous plan, the core of which was: lure the snake out and surround it on land.

Step one: Location and clearing.

Scouts Li Ning and Zhang Yong operated "Stalker" drones equipped with moisture-proof and anti-corrosion coatings, conducting high-intensity reconnaissance over the swamp for several consecutive days, finally locking onto a relatively dry, hard area where the Horned Forest Python often sunbathed and ambushed prey.

At the same time, other members of the squad, led by Wang Deshui, carefully cleared potential threats along the path to the preset ambush point, such as Poison Arrow Frog packs and lurking Crocodile Beast Soldiers.

Step two: Bait and provocation.

They used a specially made high-concentration pheromone bait, simulating the scent of a powerful creature injured and bleeding, and placed it at the edge of the hard ground. At the same time, Wang Keke attempted to use her mental power to conduct a long-range provocation, probing the python's mind like a thin needle to enrage it.

The plan went smoothly at first. The pheromones and mental provocation successfully caught the attention of the Horned Forest Python. The behemoth slowly raised its hideous head from the silt, its cold vertical pupils locked onto the direction of the bait, and then it twisted its massive body, slithering over at a leisurely pace.

(Internal Monologue): "It's out! Good heavens, this size, this presence... it's even more intimidating than I imagined! But once it's on land, it's my world!"

Step three: Ambush and fierce battle.

When most of the Horned Forest Python's body had left the swamp, stepped onto the hard ground, and begun to swallow the bait, the attack order was given!

"Bang! Bang!"

The sniper took the lead! Specially made armor-piercing rounds whistled toward the python's vital spot and eyes!

However, the reaction and defense of a mid-level War General monster far exceeded that of a Gale Wolf King! The python jerked its head, its hard horn precisely knocking one bullet away, while the other bullet hit the scales on its neck, only splashing a trail of sparks and leaving a white mark, failing to penetrate!

"Hiss--!" Completely enraged, the python let out a piercing hiss, and the horn on its forehead flashed with black light!

An invisible mental shock spread out like a tide!

Shield Warrior Li Kai, who was closest, bore the brunt of it. Despite being prepared, he still felt his head go blank, and his movements froze instantly. Even Wang Keke, who was controlling the Flying Daggers from afar, let out a muffled groan, and the trajectory of her daggers became momentarily chaotic.

(Internal Monologue): "Damn it! Mental attack! It's impossible to guard against!"

Only Lin Mo, perhaps because his soul was special, or perhaps because his innate tiger's might had a certain resistance to such attacks, was the least affected. He roared, [Lightning Strike] activated, and his dark golden figure shot out like a cannonball, aiming straight for the python's relatively vulnerable abdomen!

"Rip--!"

The sharp metal claw-gloves drew a trail of blinding sparks across the python's abdominal scales, finally tearing through several scales and leaving behind a few shallow, bloody wounds!

Stung by the pain, the python went completely berserk. Its massive body whipped around like a steel lash, sweeping toward Lin Mo, while it opened its blood-red maw, biting down with a foul, poisonous mist!

The battle instantly entered a white-hot state!

Wang Haitao's heavy machine gun bullets clattered against the python, but struggled to cause fatal damage. Wang Keke's Flying Daggers mainly attacked its eyes and wounds to harass it. Aunt Zhang and Wang Deshui roamed the flanks, looking for opportunities to deliver heavy blows.

As the main attacker, Lin Mo relied on the extreme speed of [Lightning Strike] and his low-altitude flight ability to circle, pounce, and bite around the python, avoiding its lethal coils and strikes. His armor was covered in deep indentations and impact craters, and the muscles under his [Tough Skin] throbbed with soreness.

The strength and defense of this python were simply too strong! Especially that slimy hide, which greatly weakened the effects of physical attacks.

Unable to win after a long struggle, the python seemed to realize it wouldn't gain any advantage on land. It suddenly swept up a large amount of mud with its tail to obscure their vision, then twisted its body, intending to flee back into the depths of the swamp!

"No! It's trying to run!" Wang Deshui exclaimed.

Once it escaped back into the swamp, hunting it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven, and all their previous efforts would be in vain!

(Internal Monologue): "Want to run? Did you ask me first?! You think I'll let the meat in my mouth fly away?!"

At the critical moment, a fierce light flashed in Lin Mo's eyes! He flapped his wings to their absolute limit, erupting with all his power, and like a golden arrow released from a bow, he overtook the python, instantly catching up to the head of the creature as it slid toward the swamp!

He didn't choose to attack; instead, he performed a move that no one expected—he abruptly adjusted his direction and used the side of his heavy shoulder armor like a battering ram, slamming fiercely into the python's head just as it was about to plunge into the swamp!

"BOOM!!!"

A dull sound like a beating drum echoed out!

Lin Mo felt his blood churn from the massive recoil, his wings going numb. As for the Horned Forest Python, it was knocked off course by this sudden, heavy impact, its head smashing into the edge of the hard ground, leaving it dizzy and disoriented!

This brief delay sealed its fate!

"Good chance!" Aunt Zhang shouted, her war blade unsheathed, turning into a flash of light as it precisely pierced into the python's slightly opened maw from the impact, penetrating straight into its brain!

Wang Keke's four Flying Daggers also acted like piranhas smelling blood, instantly diving into the abdominal wound Lin Mo had torn open, churning wildly!

"Hiss..." The Horned Forest Python let out one last, powerless hiss, its massive body twitching violently for a moment before finally collapsing to the ground, silent forever.

(Internal Monologue): "Phew... done! Damn thing was tough! Almost let it get away! Good thing I can fly!"

Lin Mo landed on the ground, panting heavily, looking at the corpse of the behemoth before him. He felt a lingering fear, but even more so, excitement and satisfaction. This battle was far more difficult than dealing with the Gale Wolf pack, but it was also a better test of his strength and the team's coordination.

He couldn't wait to step forward and begin enjoying this hard-won "mid-level War General feast." The surging life energy poured into his body like a river into the sea, and every cell in his body was cheering. He could clearly feel that his stagnant strength was growing at a considerable rate, getting closer and closer to that boundary...

(Internal Monologue): "Worth it! The beating wasn't for nothing! A few more times like this, and the Beast General rank is just around the corner!"

The members of the Wind-Breaking Squad looked at Lin Mo, who was gorging himself, and the terrifying corpse of the python, all revealing smiles of relief and accomplishment. They had truly succeeded in hunting a powerful mid-level War General monster!

The reputation of the hunting squad would surely spread throughout Outpost No. 03 and even further afield with this even more glorious achievement.