Prey That Comes Knocking

In the middle of a forest.

Several figures were moving through the area.

"Captain, it's just ahead."

Led by Xiao Hua, the five-man squad quickly departed from County 0231, following the tracker's path northward. They moved away from the direction of the military zone and ducked into a stretch of mountain forest.

"Good! That Black-Crowned Golden Eagle has stopped moving; it's likely been killed. But such a massive carcass—a Warlord-level powerhouse capable of killing a Black-Crowned Golden Eagle probably wouldn't care for it, and even if they did, they couldn't carry it away."

The captain said in a low, heavy voice.

"And if the martial artist who killed the Black-Crowned Golden Eagle is only a Warrior... you all understand, right?"

"Understood."

The members of the squad all nodded with resolute expressions.

This was not the first time they had done such a thing.

Although governments of all nations prohibited martial artists from killing one another in the wilderness, such acts had always been impossible to fully suppress.

Even within major factions like the Extreme Martial Arts Hall or the Thunder Martial Arts Hall, it was difficult to completely prevent internal infighting, let alone between martial artists of two different factions.

Killing other martial artists in the wilderness yielded far greater rewards than killing a monster.

Most importantly, after gaining trust through the shared identity of being human, killing a vulnerable person was far simpler than dealing with a monster of the same level.

The captain was thinking exactly this.

If the one who killed the Black-Crowned Golden Eagle was a Warlord, they would naturally act as if nothing had happened. But if it were a Warrior-level martial artist with no background, then naturally... kill them!

"It's that stone mountain right ahead."

Led by Xiao Hua, the five-man squad finally crossed the dense jungle and arrived at the foot of the stone mountain.

The captain took the lead, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings, his brow furrowing slightly.

Why was there no movement at all?

"Is this the place?"

The captain asked.

"Yes, the signal source is near the summit."

Xiao Hua pointed at the screen in his hand, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

He was only a High-level Warrior. As the squad's sniper, if this mission succeeded, he would receive at least five million Chinese Yuan!

For a High-level Warrior, this was already a massive fortune.

"Be careful."

The burly man carrying a giant shield reminded them in a muffled voice: "Anyone who can take down a Black-Crowned Golden Eagle is at least a High-level Warrior, and possibly even... a Spirit Reader."

The captain nodded, though his eyes grew sharper, even carrying a hint of imperceptible greed: "Spread out and search in a fan formation! Xiao Hua, you are responsible for guarding the perimeter! Everyone else, follow me!"

The five-man squad immediately dispersed, their movements practiced; it was clear they had worked together for a long time.

The captain and the shield-bearing brute walked in front, followed closely by two other Warrior-level martial artists, while Xiao Hua raised his sniper rifle to find a vantage point.

The scene at the summit soon came into view.

There was no massive Black-Crowned Golden Eagle carcass as expected, nor was there a Warlord-level powerhouse.

The captain's pupils constricted. Before him lay only a scene of chaotic impact marks, shattered rocks, and... a young figure wearing a brand-new Grade 6 combat suit, standing with his back to them.

"Hm?"

The captain frowned, his heart filled with suspicion.

"Hey! Kid!" One of the Warrior-level martial artists couldn't hold back and shouted, "Where's that Black-Crowned Golden Eagle? Did you pick up the scraps?"

The young figure slowly straightened up and turned around.

A face that looked excessively young wore a playful smile, his gaze sweeping calmly over the five of them.

The Warrior-level martial artist was about to say something more, but the captain reached out to stop him.

"Don't be hasty."

The captain said in a low voice, walking slowly forward at the same time.

The Black-Crowned Golden Eagle's carcass was so large, and it had only been about ten minutes since it crashed to the ground. With Su Zhe's strength alone, it was impossible for him to have hidden the body, so there must be others nearby.

No, there was no need to even talk about hiding the carcass.

How could this kid in front of them have killed the Black-Crowned Golden Eagle alone? In the captain's view, Su Zhe was at most a Low-level Warrior!

However... greed eventually overcame caution.

The value of the Black-Crowned Golden Eagle was too tempting!

And if this kid really had just gotten lucky, or used some special method to scavenge the kill... a flash of ruthlessness crossed the captain's eyes.

"Little brother, we've been tracking that Black-Crowned Golden Eagle for a long time. It was wounded by us, yet you killed it in the end." The captain said in a deep voice, his tone brooks no argument. "According to the rules of the wilderness, the spoils should belong to our squad."

"Oh?" Su Zhe acted as if he had heard an amusing joke. "Rules? Who set these rules? You fired a shot, then it flew a dozen kilometers and I slaughtered it, and now it belongs to you?"

The captain's expression shifted as he watched Su Zhe casually toss over an unremarkable, small metal disc.

It was the tracker core, dismantled from the bullet!

"This is what you were looking for, isn't it?" Su Zhe said offhandedly.

Seeing the tracker removed, the captain's face turned completely grim.

Su Zhe's action made his stance perfectly clear!

"Move!"

The captain stopped wasting words and let out a low shout, his body instantly erupting with a powerful aura.

The full strength of an Intermediate War General-level martial artist exploded forth as his combat blade transformed into a streak of cold light, slashing directly at Su Zhe's face!

Simultaneously, the burly man with the giant shield roared, charging at Su Zhe's flank like a human tank; the massive shield sealed off any room for evasion, while the other two Warrior-level martial artists flanked from the sides, their blades flashing!

In the distance, Xiao Hua's heart tightened. He instinctively wanted to aim, but Su Zhe's figure was blocked by the captain and the shield-bearer, leaving him unable to lock on. He could only remain prone with his sniper rifle, aiming carefully and waiting for an opening.

Two Intermediate War Generals, two Advanced Warriors, and an Advanced Warrior-level sniper?

Su Zhe instantly grasped the situation on the field. There was not a hint of panic in his eyes, only a deathly, icy chill and the killing intent burning within his pitch-black pupils.

He had originally thought that if these people backed down voluntarily or had a slightly better attitude, he wouldn't have to resort to violence.

Now, it seemed they were truly...

"Seeking your own deaths."

Su Zhe didn't even draw the blade on his back. The moment the captain's blade closed in, Su Zhe's right hand suddenly expanded and twisted, instantly transforming into a hideous claw covered in silver-gray keratin, shimmering with a cold, metallic luster!

"Clang—!"

A piercing sound of metal striking metal exploded through the air!

The captain's sure-kill strike was caught dead in its tracks by that claw which had appeared out of thin air!

The blade edge bit into the keratin layer of the claw, leaving behind only a shallow white mark.

Instead, Su Zhe seized the opportunity to leave a deep gash on the captain's arm, tearing through his combat suit as blood began to spill out!

"What?!"

The captain's face drained of color. A massive force surged from the hilt of his blade, numbing his palm so severely he could barely keep his grip.

"What, exactly, are you!"

Damn it, how could a human turn their hand into a claw out of thin air?

In that single instant of engagement, the captain had already begun to regret his decision.

How was he supposed to fight this?

This was a monster!

He thought to himself in horror.