The Two Brothers' Battle

In the evening, the fully armed seven-member Fire Hammer Squad left the Supply Base and entered the Wilderness Zone.

At this time, the Fire Hammer Squad's formation was as follows:

The Wei Brothers, Wei Tie and Wei Qing, carrying curved sabers and shields, walked at the front to clear the way.

The two rookies, Luo Feng and Luo Xia, stayed in the middle of the group with Chen Gu, the squad's machine gunner, under protection.

As for Captain Gao Feng and Zhang Ke, they brought up the rear.

"We'll follow this highway. In about three days, we'll reach our destination—County-Level City 0201."

Captain Gao Feng pointed at the highway stretching into the distance beneath their feet.

The highway had long since fallen into disrepair. Cracks covered many sections, and potholes were everywhere.

Dilapidated sedans, vans, and trucks could be seen all around... If one looked closely enough, one could even spot blackened bloodstains on the broken road.

The setting sun hung at the horizon, its crimson light shining upon the desolate highway that had been silent and ruined for decades. A savage, barren aura filled the air.

"Let's go!"

Captain Gao Feng said.

The seven of them advanced at a steady pace. Along the way, they could hear all sorts of strange monster roars.

Luo Xia and the others looked toward the ruined villages and houses on either side of the highway, where they could even spot quite a few monsters.

"There's a Unicorn Boar ahead, somewhere between G-class and F-class. Which one of you two brothers will take it? This will be your first battle since entering the Wilderness Zone!"

Gao Feng suddenly signaled everyone to stop, then spoke to Luo Feng and Luo Xia.

"Eldest brother, let me go."

Luo Xia said.

But Luo Feng stopped him, putting on a relaxed smile as he said:

"Alright, you already got to show off during the Combat Assessment. This time, let me do it. It'll be a good chance to see how the monsters out here differ from those in the Combat Assessment."

That was what he said.

But in truth, Luo Feng was worried that Luo Xia might be in danger. He wanted to go first and set an example for him.

After all, monsters in the Wilderness Zone were generally fiercer and more savage than those raised in the Military Region.

If he fought first and let Luo Xia watch from the side, Luo Xia could learn from it before fighting himself, reducing the danger.

At this moment, Captain Gao Feng said, "Mm, Luo Feng, go ahead."

Chen Gu reminded him, "Luo Feng, don't be careless. Wilderness Zone monsters are nothing like the ones raised in the Military Region. They're much more dangerous."

Luo Feng nodded. "Mm."

He drew his Bloodshadow Battleblade, held his shield in his left hand, and quickly approached the Unicorn Boar.

"Captain, isn't it a little too demanding to have Luo Feng face a Unicorn Boar close to F-class in his very first battle?"

An F-class monster was equivalent to an Intermediate Warrior.

Of course, monsters possessed stronger bodies, so an F-class monster would be somewhat stronger than an Intermediate Warrior of the same level.

After Luo Feng had walked farther away, Chen Gu spoke to Gao Feng.

Zhang Ke nodded in agreement. "Although we should test Luo Feng and Luo Xia, isn't it too hasty to have Luo Feng face a Unicorn Boar in his first battle?"

Wei Tie glanced at Luo Xia in the group and said bluntly:

"The Captain's arrangement is fine. Luo Feng's Physical Quality isn't inferior to that monster's at all. The difficulty may be high, but even if he suffers a little, he should still win."

Luo Xia had been smiling all along. He did not think Luo Feng would suffer at the hands of an F-class Unicorn Boar.

After all, with Luo Xia's help, Luo Feng was stronger than he had been in the Original Work. His Physical Quality was now already close to that of an Elementary Warrior-General.

Though he might be somewhat lacking in combat experience, his Physical Quality, which was close to that of an Elementary Warrior-General, was more than enough to make up for that weakness!

And indeed, that was the case.

Just as everyone was wondering how Luo Feng would deal with the Unicorn Boar ahead, he had already launched his attack!

After circling each other for three to five exchanges, Luo Feng, whose strength surpassed the Unicorn Boar's, forcibly broke through its defenses with his Bloodshadow Battleblade. He nearly sliced off half its head and claimed victory!

Gao Feng and the others watched in surprise.

Especially Gao Feng and Chen Gu.

They were Warrior-General-level powerhouses. From that single battle alone, they could determine—

Luo Feng's Physical Quality was definitely not merely that of an Advanced Warrior, as Wu Tong had said. He was already extremely close to an Elementary Warrior-General!

But... he was only eighteen!

Could Luo Feng really reach Warrior-General-level strength at eighteen?!

Chen Gu and Gao Feng could hardly believe it.

"Freak!"

"Monster!"

Those were the words spoken by the Wei Brothers.

Though Luo Feng's battle against the Unicorn Boar had been short, the Movement Technique, power, and reflexes he displayed were all utterly monstrous!

"Captain."

Luo Feng ran back from the distance. "This horn..."

Gao Feng frowned as he looked at Luo Feng. After a while, he suddenly broke into a smile. "You killed it, so naturally, the horn belongs to you."

Luo Feng nodded and did not refuse. He directly put the horn into his Backpack.

Chen Gu smiled. "If you sell that horn to the Wuguan, it should be worth three thousand. You'll also get a few contribution points. If you sell it to the HR Alliance, you can get five thousand for it."

As they talked, the group continued onward.

Not long after, they encountered another F-class monster—a Tiger Cat Beast.

The Tiger Cat had speckled markings over its body and was as burly as a calf. Both its speed and strength surpassed those of the Unicorn Boar from before.

"This time, Luo Xia will go." Gao Feng spoke.

Luo Xia nodded, drew his Silver Moon Longsword, held his shield, and stepped out of the group.

"Xia, don't be careless."

Eldest brother Luo Feng reminded him. This Tiger Cat Beast was much stronger than the Unicorn Boar he had killed himself.

Though he knew his younger brother was stronger than him, this was still his younger brother's first time facing a Wilderness Zone monster. As his eldest brother, how could he not be nervous?

"Don't worry, eldest brother."

Luo Xia smiled faintly, pushed off with the tip of his foot, and charged straight toward the Tiger Cat Beast!

"What incredible speed!"

The speed Luo Xia displayed astonished Gao Feng and the others.

In almost the blink of an eye, Luo Xia had already reached the Tiger Cat Beast's side.

The Tiger Cat Beast was extremely alert. It instantly noticed Luo Xia, let out a hiss, and immediately assumed an attacking stance.

It kicked off the ground with both hind legs, nimbly dodging Luo Xia's slash first. Then, the instant it landed, it sprang forward like a coiled spring, baring its vicious claws and fangs as it pounced at Luo Xia.

At that moment, Luo Xia's shield rose at just the right time. With a clang, it sent the pouncing Tiger Cat reeling backward, while the long sword in his hand shot out like a venomous snake.

With a muffled thud.

The long sword pierced straight through the Tiger Cat's throat!

Blood sprayed everywhere!

Luo Xia lightly tapped the ground and retreated.

The Tiger Cat collapsed on the ground, twitching as it let out pained roars.

Before long, the Tiger Cat gradually lost all signs of life and stopped moving!

In just one exchange, the F-class Tiger Cat Beast had died at Luo Xia's hands!

Even faster than when Luo Feng had killed the Unicorn Boar!

"Just now... did he do that on purpose?"

From afar, Zhang Ke, who had watched the entire battle, asked Chen Gu beside him in astonishment.

Chen Gu furrowed his brows, replaying the scene of Luo Xia's battle against the Tiger Cat in his mind. After a long while, he finally answered:

"He did it on purpose! Luo Xia deliberately missed with his first strike so the Tiger Cat would dodge and pounce at him!"

Gao Feng nodded and added:

"Only when the Tiger Cat pounced would he have a chance to expose its weak point and kill it in one strike!"

The Wei Brothers were stunned.

On purpose?

He did it just to expose the Tiger Cat Beast's weakness?

Wei Qing asked in shock, "With this kind of combat intelligence, Luo Xia... is he really a Newcomer?!"

This sort of combat experience—creating opportunities to expose a monster's weaknesses—was something only Warriors who had fought in the Wilderness Zone for many years would possess!

How could Luo Xia, a Newcomer, fight like that too?

Luo Feng beside them fell into thought. So monsters could be fought this way too...

If I had guided the Unicorn Boar like this during our battle, perhaps I wouldn't have needed five exchanges. I might have been able to kill it in two!