A cry for help
The battle in Moonview Valley has come to a complete end.
As the smoke cleared, the battle scars on the frozen ground lay dormant, and the entire valley, having shed its previous brutality, returned to tranquility. Having experienced a deadly battle that transcended levels, Lu Heng's mindset was no longer the same as before. With his breakthrough to the Silver Tier and the acquisition of three rare spoils of war, the pressure of survival that had been building for days was finally relieved for a brief moment.
Without teammates to celebrate, without outsiders to offer comfort and concern, the road to the apocalypse is a solitary journey where only oneself can make or break one's own destiny.
Lu Heng glanced at the Mech-Driven Butler and Furniture Puppet beside him, and calmly instructed them to prepare a meal.
The battle has ended, and there should be a special ceremony. It doesn't have to be grand or spectacular; for him, a sumptuous meal is the best reward after a bloody battle.
The two mechanical units immediately took charge of their respective tasks, their movements precise and efficient without the slightest delay. The Mech-Driven Butler inventoried the stored dried meat and marinated game, and organized various edible ingredients; the Furniture Puppet cleaned the stove, lit the charcoal fire, and methodically arranged the cooking utensils. Soon, wisps of smoke rose within the valley, the warm firelight dispelling the chill of the wilderness, and the aroma of roasting food slowly spread, creating a tranquil atmosphere that stood in stark contrast to the bloody battle that had just taken place.
Lu Heng stood quietly to the side, his mind at peace, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.
Meanwhile, deep within the distant Frost Forest, a sudden crisis descended.
In what was once a relatively safe foraging area in the forest, the Wolf Pack was making its usual patrol. After searching the entire forest area, they had not encountered any Silver Tier, and the pack originally thought that their foraging trip today would be safe and sound. However, no one expected that a catastrophic crisis was quietly lurking.
Suddenly, the dense forest stirred, and eight agile figures in bizarre attire darted out—a complete Elite Green Demon Squad of Bronze Tier warriors.
They were not scattered, wandering monsters; their formation was orderly, their movements measured, and they wielded sharpened bone weapons, their eyes filled with ferocity and bloodlust. Unlike wild beasts that fight solely on instinct, these Green Demon were ruthless and cunning in their attacks, their teamwork impeccable, and their methods extremely cruel, making them elite combatants far surpassing ordinary mutants.
Caught off guard, the Wolf Pack was forced to engage in battle.
Despite their overwhelming numerical advantage and naturally sharp teeth and claws that are extremely lethal, all advantages vanish instantly before the well-equipped and tactically sophisticated Elite Green Demon. The Green Demon ' bone blades are exceptionally sharp, each slash aimed straight for vital points, and their rhythm of attack and defense is methodical, completely overwhelming the chaotic fighting style of wild beasts.
In just a few rounds, several gray wolves were wounded and fell to the ground, their blood soaking the frozen ground in the forest.
The Wolf King stood at the rear of the pack, its scarlet eyes rapidly scanning the battlefield, instantly assessing the disparity in strength between the two sides. Being naturally wary and rational, it knew that continuing the fight would only result in the annihilation of the entire pack. It immediately and decisively let out a retreat howl, ordering all wolf members to break through and evacuate.
But the fighting never begins or ends in the hands of the weak.
The battle was passively initiated by the Wolf Pack pack, but it was no longer up to the Wolf King to end. This Green Demon Squad was extremely aggressive, once they set their sights on their prey, they would relentlessly pursue them. Taking advantage of the Wolf Pack's retreat, the entire squad chased after them, relentlessly entangled the fleeing wolf pack, and refused to give them even the slightest chance to breathe.
As the Wolf King raced at full speed, leading his pack to break through to safety, he personally covered the rear and held off the pursuers, his eyes filled with anxiety and frustration. He had roamed the Frost Forest for a long time and had never encountered such a formidable opponent. Despite having a large pack, he had no power to resist and could only flee passively.
They fled relentlessly, pursued closely, and the number of casualties among their tribe continued to rise.
In the face of utter despair, a single, glimmer of hope suddenly flashed through the Wolf King's mind.
In Moonview Valley, there lived Lu Heng, a human with fierce fighting prowess and unpredictable methods.
This was its only source of help, and the only way for the entire wolf pack to survive. A resolute glint flashed in the Wolf King's eyes. He stopped lingering in the fight, pushed his body to its limit, and led the decimated pack in a desperate escape towards the direction of Moonview Valley.
At this moment, fireworks were in full bloom in Moonview Valley.
The Mech-Driven Butler and Furniture Puppet had finished cooking the meal. A table full of steaming food was neatly arranged, and the rich aroma of meat filled the air, enough to dispel all the fatigue from the battle.
Lu Heng stepped forward, preparing to sit down and enjoy this post-battle reward, when the smart Wristband on his wrist suddenly sounded an urgent warning buzzer.
A red warning popped up on the screen instantly, the words glaringly obvious: A large number of unknown high-speed creatures are rapidly approaching the direction of Moonview Valley.
Upon seeing the notification, Lu Heng frowned slightly, his heart filled with nothing but gloom.
Just when we finally had a peaceful moment and were looking forward to a sumptuous dinner, we were disturbed by an uninvited guest.
Without uttering any further complaints, he simply raised his hand and took out the newly acquired Silver Tier loot from his backpack— the Goblin Battleaxe.
The moment the battle axe touched my hand, a heavy force traveled up my arm and through my entire body.
This weapon was far heavier than the Heavy Armor Sword he usually used, several times Heavy Armor Sword. Lu Heng weighed it in one hand, then lightly tossed it twice, secretly relieved.
If one does not break through to the Silver Tier and achieve a qualitative leap in physical strength, with Black Iron or Bronze Tier physique, one simply cannot wield this heavy battle axe, let alone fight on the battlefield.
Despite being both Silver Tier weapons, the Goblin Battleaxe and the Heavy Armor Sword have completely different combat roles.
The Heavy Armor Sword is lightweight and agile, suitable for a nimble fighting style that relies on maneuvering and seizing opportunities to break through enemy lines. It focuses on precise surprise attacks and seizing openings. On the other hand, the Goblin Battleaxe is heavy and domineering, with wide and sweeping moves. It takes the approach of crushing enemies head-on and violently destroying them.
The brand-new weapons and combat system require practical testing and refinement.
Lu Heng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he had already made up his mind.
These uninvited invaders arrived at just the right time. They were perfect for testing the new battle axe's limits and refining its new combat rhythm. A newly forged blade must be tested with blood, and these alien creatures were the best whetstone.
He ignored the food on the table, picked up his axe, stood up, and strode out of the mouth of Moonview Valley.
Just as they stepped out of the valley and into the distance, a disheveled scene came into view in the open field ahead.
A vast Wolf Pack came running at full speed, their fur disheveled, covered in blood, each one breathing heavily and exhausted, completely unlike their former ferocious kings of the forest, looking exactly like a pack of stray dogs.
Looking at this scene, Lu Heng silently complained to himself.
These wolves are truly pathetic. Every time we meet, they act so cowardly and pathetic, it's utterly shameful. I'm almost too lazy to have anything to do with them anymore.
At this moment, the Wolf Pack had no time to pay attention to Lu Heng's expression. All the gray wolves stopped and turned their heads to howl and warn behind them. Their howls were full of anxiety and fear, as if they were desperately trying to stop the pursuers behind them, or as if they were silently asking for help.
Following the direction of the Wolf Pack' howls, Lu Heng looked up and gazed into the distance, past the disheveled wolf pack, and saw the battle situation behind them.
On the edge of the distant forest, a lone wolf shadow never fully fled.
The Wolf King did not only care about his own survival, but also stayed behind, using his own strength to hold back and restrain all the Green Demon pursuers behind him, buying time for the clan to escape.
Upon seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed across Lu Heng's eyes.
It must be said that this Alpha Wolf's combat strength was mediocre, and it was no match for a truly high-level alien species. However, its sense of responsibility to protect its clan far exceeded that of ordinary wild beasts, which was truly rare.
The thought vanished in an instant, but Lu Heng had already made up his mind.
I should help with this.
He raised his hand, and with a thought, activated the Blood Qi Rune skill he had just learned.
He knew very well that the Goblin Battleaxe's exclusive enhanced tearing power could only be triggered by blood energy.
In order to accurately test the weapon's performance and steadily refine his moves, Lu Heng deliberately restrained his strength and did not unleash his full power. He only slightly activated his internal energy and blood, allowing the battle axe to be imbued with a faint blood energy, keeping it within the range of practice and testing.
Ready, Lu Heng, wielding the heavy Goblin Battleaxe, charged straight at the pursuing Elite Green Demon Squad.