Chapter 98: Hunter's Island (7)
Chapter 98: Hunter’s Island (7)
Feng Bu Jue’s frustration boiled over as he realized the truth. “All this time chasing me, and it’s just a dog?!” He was already in combat mode, and switching back to common status now would waste over a minute of vitality value burn. That wouldn’t do at all.
He darted sideways, flashlight gripped in his left hand, its beam slicing through the gloom, while his right tightened around Mario’s Pipe Wrench. He’d end this quickly—with the fastest, most brutal strike possible.
But as the beast entered his view, illuminated by artificial light, shock froze him. His earlier decision to activate Spirit Sense Body Technique suddenly felt like the best choice ever.
A cacophony of pounding footsteps echoed through the damp, misty air. A monstrous black shadow emerged through the fog, neck proudly arched. Its almond-shaped eyes blazed like coals. Flat-headed, ears erect, teeth bared in a scissor-like bite, its muscular frame was compact yet powerful. The neck sloped into a broad, sturdy back, short and wide, with thighs long and robust. Every proportion screamed peak physical conditioning.
This wasn’t just a well-bred canine—it was a terror forged for carnage. Blacker than coal, larger than any tiger, its body radiated a hellish glow. Unlike mythic three-headed hellhounds, this one had a single head, but its drooling jaws and glowing fur left no doubt: this was no ordinary hound.
“This thing’s gotta be alchemy-made!” Feng Bu Jue spat, but the beast was already lunging.
It reared up on hind legs, aiming straight for his throat. He backflipped, his enhanced reflexes sending him farther than expected. Spirit Sense Body Technique’s boost was staggering. For the first time, he felt superhuman—a surge of speed, strength, and hyper-awareness. His dynamic vision sharpened, time seemingly slowing. He could’ve plucked a mosquito mid-flight with two fingers.
Like Neo dodging Smith’s punches in The Matrix, he barely felt the strain.
The hound snarled, matching his leap with a feral arc.
Clang!
Jungle air rang with metal-on-metal as Feng Bu Jue hit the ground, the wrench jammed between snapping jaws. The beast’s bite could crush steel, yet the iron tool held firm—a normal dog’s teeth would’ve shattered.
Up close, the creature’s hybrid nature became absurd. Doberman head, mastiff body, lion-sized frame—it was a monstrosity. Feng Bu Jue’s left hand released the flashlight, drawing Zaroff’s knife from his satchel. He plunged it into the hound’s soft underbelly.
Blood sprayed his face. No time to flinch. He dragged the blade downward, from throat to gut. The beast thrashed, teeth gouging deep grooves into the wrench. But unarmed combat against a weaponized, dexterous foe was futile.
With a final shriek, the hound collapsed, its weight threatening to pin him. Feng Bu Jue shoved it aside, gasping. Vitality value plummeted to 32%—three minutes of combat costing 2% every five seconds. Dawn was still three hours away. Another encounter like this, or another “mountain leech” incident, and he’d be dead before Zaroff even lifted a finger.
He deactivated the technique, breath ragged. Fatigue crashed over him like a tidal wave—a side effect of overexertion. But rest was a luxury. Every step southeast meant safety. He retrieved the flashlight, sheathed his weapons, and trudged onward, reeking of blood and viscera.
Discomfort meant little. Feng Bu Jue’s endurance was legendary. Crowded buses, rancid food, week-long hygiene strikes—none fazed him. To him, blood-soaked clothes were a minor inconvenience. A female player might’ve quit in disgust, but he pressed on, unfazed.
Meanwhile, Yijian Qingcheng and Caibupainenotafraid faced their own hellhound.
The beast mirrored Feng Bu Jue’s opponent. Yijian, a combat specialist, danced with it, his sword flashing. But the hound’s stamina outlasted his. Cornered against a tree, he realized his speed alone wouldn’t save him—strength-wise, he was outmatched.
Caibupainenotafraid watched, gripping her hammer. Her Hide and Seek title’s active skill, “Count to Ten,” required allies. She crept behind the hound, abandoning her passive role.
Moonlight bathed the clearing. Yijian’s breath hitched as the beast closed in. Then, a blur of motion—a petite figure leapt from the sky, sledgehammer raised.
Caibupainenotafraid descended like a vengeful goddess, her strike splitting the night.
(End of Chapter)
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