The surroundings were quiet. A cold wind howled through the forest, stirring an inexplicably chilling rustle. As the leaves swayed, the sunlight gradually flickered between light and shadow.
Revis vaguely sensed the unusual desolation. Though America had become a wasteland before the Old World, it was still teeming with life. Vegetation spread wildly, and animals reproduced without restraint.
The forest here should not have been as terrifying, filthy, and foul-smelling as Scrap Iron Fort. The pale leaves looked like the silvery fangs of some enormous creature.
Revis's heart tightened. I've probably entered that beast's territory.
The forest was unnaturally silent, but that tense stillness was soon broken. Gunfire rang out from the pale woods, accompanied by a long, bloodcurdling scream.
The scream sounded male. He immediately ran toward its source, praying that the Sabertooth Tiger had not eaten them all. At the same time, he hoped those under attack were Speedy Gang members rather than some innocent travelers.
The gunfire had not stopped. Revis drew closer and closer to its source, gripping his gun as he vaulted over low shrubs like an athlete clearing hurdles, avoiding rocks, thorny bushes, and fallen logs in his path.
"Andreyev, don't fucking move!" The Mohawk punk in a glaring yellow jacket faced the mutated Sabertooth Tiger, raising an old automatic rifle with trembling hands.
"Ah..."
Andreyev could only moan unconsciously. His bloodied fingers weakly scratched at the ground, his belly split open as if by scissors. Intestines mixed with blood spilled wetly onto the ground, blending with the red-stained snow, while the Sabertooth Tiger brazenly feasted on his entrails.
Revis hid behind a low shrub. Half of the Sabertooth Tiger's body was blocked by a pine tree, and he did not dare make any rash move. Felines had extremely keen hearing.
Yet the Speedy