The lion pride

The lioness lowered her body completely, her four paws planted firmly on the ground and her taut back slightly arched.

A chilling wave of murderous intent swept over them, making the atmosphere unbearably oppressive. The deathly silence before a predator struck engulfed the clearing, danger filling every inch of the air.

Taiju, Senku, and Yuzuriha stiffened and instinctively started to retreat, but before they could take a step, Li Xiang stopped them with a low shout.

"Don't move! Everyone stay where you are! Move slowly, and whatever you do, don't run!"

Li Xiang's voice was steady and calm.

Her gaze remained fixed on the lioness as she explained.

"A lion can sprint at eighty kilometers an hour. There's no way a human on two legs can outrun one."

"And a predator's hunting instinct is to chase fleeing prey. The moment you turn and run, you'll trigger its urge to hunt. Worse, turning your back exposes the major arteries in your neck. It'll go straight for your throat, and you'll be dead."

"Listen, everyone. Don't make any sudden moves. Stay calm."

At this critical moment, no one questioned Li Xiang's judgment.

The four immediately coordinated their positions, quickly forming a solid semicircle with their backs close together, leaving no blind spots for a surprise attack.

No one dared move recklessly again. They all faced forward, staring intently at the approaching pride.

The lioness took a step forward, her heavy paw landing with an overwhelming sense of menace.

The four slowly shifted back a step in unison, keeping the same rhythm without flinching and maintaining a precarious safe distance from the lion.

A standoff with one lion was dangerous enough, but a moment later, the surrounding grass suddenly stirred.

Rustling sounds came one after another as shadows moved. Three or four adult lions emerged from the woods on either side, silently closing in and cutting off their retreat.

Four or five lions of various sizes watched them hungrily, trapping the four in the clearing beside the stream.

Li Xiang's pupils contracted, and her heart sank.

Why were there so many more?

Taiju panicked completely, his whole body rigid. "What do we do, Li Xiang? There are so many of them! We can't hold them off!"

Senku's expression turned deadly serious as well. He quickly surveyed their surroundings and assessed the situation calmly.

"There's no easy way out now. Our only option is to keep formation and move slowly. We absolutely cannot provoke the entire pride into attacking."

Li Xiang scanned the ground and immediately gave an order. "Everyone, grab the rocks around you!"

"If a lion lunges at you, don't swing wildly. Put all your strength into attacking its eyes, nose, or mouth!"

"Those are its most sensitive, vulnerable areas. Only a hard blow there has a chance of making it back off! Ordinary blows won't do anything to a beast like this!"

She stressed, "Remember, no matter how panicked you are, protect your throat and neck. Those are our fatal weak points. If it gets your throat, you're done!"

All three nodded intently, their nerves stretched taut. They bent down and quickly picked up suitably sized stones, gripping them tightly, every muscle tensed and ready to fight.

Everyone was prepared to hold their ground and counterattack when an opening appeared, but the wild lions had no intention of following human expectations.

Instead of recklessly charging in for the kill, they crept closer step by step, bodies low, slowly squeezing the space available to the four.

The gap kept shrinking. One lion on the outer flank had already reached the edge of their formation, its fangs bared and foul breath washing over them. Another half step, and it could sink its teeth into Yuzuriha, who stood farthest forward.

In that split second!

Taiju's pupils contracted. He had no time to think; instinct moved faster than anything else.

He reached out, bent sharply, and scooped Yuzuriha up in his arms, swiftly retreating two steps.

That sudden movement finally set off the long-tense pride.

The leading lioness erupted in fury!

A deep roar burst from her throat, leaving their ears ringing. Her sharp fangs gleamed, her golden mane bristled, and savage aggression surged through her entire body.

A moment later, the lioness drove off with all four legs, exploding into full speed as she lunged straight at them!

"Run!"

Senku made the call instantly, shouting at the top of his lungs!

The fragile balance shattered. All four scattered backward and ran with everything they had.

But human strength meant nothing against a wild beast's overwhelming speed.

The lions' heavy footfalls and roars filled their ears. The distance closed rapidly, the shadow of death pursuing them relentlessly.

Within seconds, the pride was almost upon them.

At that critical moment, Taiju stopped abruptly and turned to roar at the other three.

"Li Xiang! Senku! Take Yuzuriha and go! I'm strong! I'll stay and hold them off!"

His eyes were resolute. He had decided to cover their retreat alone, using his own body to buy the other three time to escape.

"Don't be stupid!" Li Xiang snapped, her tone stern. "This is no time to play hero! You can't stop this many lions by yourself! You'll only throw your life away!"

"Listen to me! Stop running!"

Li Xiang quickly called out to the sprinting Taiju, her words tumbling out fast.

"You've got a rock! Don't run! Turn around, aim, and hit their eyes! Strike their weak points precisely!"

Taiju instantly snapped back to his senses, forced himself to stop, and spun around.

The pride was already right behind him. The leading lioness opened her gaping jaws and lunged with a roar.

Taiju gritted his teeth, summoned every ounce of strength, and hurled the stone with a powerful swing of his arm!

Thud!

The stone struck the leading lioness squarely in the eye!

The lioness let out an agonized howl. Her massive body lurched, and she instinctively lowered her head to shield her eye. Her charge broke off instantly, the searing pain stopping her in her tracks.

"Keep throwing! Everyone!"

Senku reacted immediately, raising his arm and accurately hurling his stone at the lion right behind her. Yuzuriha forced down her fear and threw hers as well.

Stone after stone struck the pride, but apart from the one precise hit to a vulnerable spot, the blows to other parts of their bodies had almost no effect.

They could only slow the pursuit briefly, not drive off these enraged beasts.

The lions paused only momentarily before recovering, lowering their bodies again in preparation for another deadly charge.

The situation remained perilous, with no sign of a turning point.

As everyone braced themselves to counterattack again, a lion waiting on the flank seized an opening. It suddenly accelerated, dodged the stones, and lunged straight at the unsuspecting Yuzuriha!

It moved with astonishing speed, its fangs flashing coldly. It was mere inches from Yuzuriha, close enough to bite her in the next instant!

"Watch out!"

A cold gleam flashed in Li Xiang's eyes. Without time for another thought, she darted forward.

Just as the lion's fangs were about to reach Yuzuriha, she clamped a hand around Yuzuriha's arm and yanked her several steps backward with a swift, powerful pull!

Yuzuriha nearly fell as she was dragged back.

A sharp rush of air swept past her ear. The lion's teeth narrowly missed the hem of her clothes, and it landed hard on the empty ground.

They had narrowly escaped a fatal strike!

Li Xiang steadied herself, her voice urgent. "Don't just stand there! Run!"