NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 142
No matter how cunning beasts may seem, they are ultimately driven by instinct, their actions governed by a simple, straightforward logic. The Wolf Bear ancestor, relying on its primal instincts, sensed the relative weakness of the humans inhabiting the ancient city ruins. However, it remained uncertain whether these humans possessed any hidden defenses or reinforcements.
The beast had no desire to investigate further, no inclination to strategize or wait. Its sole focus was on the immediate gratification of its hunger. The Wolf Bear ancestor craved the taste of fresh human flesh.
With a commanding roar, it ordered a full-scale charge, leading the pack towards the city ruins, eager to feast on the unsuspecting inhabitants.
Unbeknownst to the Wolf Bear ancestor, its battle cry had reached the ears of Lu Ming, miles away.
Meanwhile, Wei Lan sped towards the source of the commotion, following Lu Ming's directions. But the rough terrain made for a slow and bumpy ride. As the sounds of battle grew louder, Lu Ming suddenly spoke up.
"Stop. This is too slow. By the time we get there, it'll probably be too late."
He stepped out of the vehicle, listening intently to the distant chaos. He glanced back at the three women inside, a conflicted expression on his face.
Lu Ming's desire to rush to the scene was tempered by the knowledge that leaving the women behind would expose them to danger. He couldn't risk the safety of Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan, let alone the young Lolita. Yet, the vehicle was too slow to make a timely arrival.
Lost in thought, a sudden inspiration sparked in Lu Ming's mind.
A bold idea struck Lu Ming. He walked to the front of the vehicle and instructed, "Fasten your seatbelts." Without hesitation, he hoisted the entire military vehicle onto his shoulders. "Who said I could only ride in a vehicle?" he thought with a smirk. "The vehicle can ride me, too."
With the added weight of the vehicle and its occupants, Lu Ming's speed surpassed that of any car. He sprinted across the terrain, covering ground ten times faster than before. As the sounds of battle intensified, Lu Ming couldn't help but chide himself for not thinking of this sooner. The burden of the vehicle and the women was negligible compared to his immense strength.
In no time, he reached a small hill overlooking the ancient city ruins, gently setting the vehicle down. Ignoring the surprised exclamations of the women as they regained their bearings, he climbed to the hilltop for a better view.
Below, the sprawling complex of the ancient city ruins lay before him, the scene of a desperate struggle unfolding.
The ancient city, though restored to some semblance of order, now bore the scars of a brutal attack. Swarms of Six-legged Wolf Bears had breached the walls, engaging in fierce combat with the Awakened defenders. The air was thick with the sounds of battle, cries of pain, and desperate shouts.
However, the true spectacle unfolded outside the city walls. There, two figures engaged in a titanic struggle against a colossal beast.
Bai Tianyu, his body glowing crimson from the activation of his Blood Boiling superpower, fought alongside Duan Mei against the Wolf Bear ancestor. Despite his enhanced Level 7 strength, the sheer size and power of the Level 8 beast proved overwhelming. The 30-meter tall, 50-meter long monstrosity moved with surprising agility, toying with Bai Tianyu and Duan Mei like a cat playing with mice.
Even with Duan Mei's Level 6 abilities, the duo struggled to hold their own against the relentless onslaught. A swipe of the Wolf Bear ancestor's massive paw sent Bai Tianyu flying, the sickening crunch of breaking bones echoing through the air.
The Wolf Bear ancestor let out a triumphant roar, its message clear: "These Tribulation Transcenders are nothing but weaklings!"
It turned its attention to the fallen Bai Tianyu, eager to claim its prize. But as it moved in for the kill, a figure descended from the hilltop, a whirlwind of motion that blurred the line between man and beast.
The Wolf Bear ancestor, fueled by its hunger and confidence, continued its advance towards the fallen Bai Tianyu. However, its attention was suddenly drawn to a new figure standing atop a nearby hill.
A tall, muscular man, radiating an aura of calm authority, observed the scene with a furrowed brow. His lack of panic and the hint of anger in his eyes irked the beast. Moreover, the man's elevated position mirrored the way the Wolf Bear ancestor surveyed its domain on Bear Mountain, further fueling its ire.
With a snarl, the beast bared its fangs at the man, as if to say, "Don't worry, you're next on the menu." It then resumed its charge towards Bai Tianyu, prioritizing the seemingly weaker Level 6 target over the unknown stranger.
The Wolf Bear ancestor's logic was sound, but its plan was thwarted. Just as it neared Bai Tianyu, the tall man appeared between them, a swift and silent shadow blocking its path.
"Level 8... It's Level 8..." Bai Tianyu's labored voice reached Lu Ming's ears from behind. The Colonel lay broken and battered, his body ravaged by the Wolf Bear ancestor's brutal attack.
Lu Ming merely raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly. "I understand," he replied, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding around them.
Bai Tianyu felt a wave of relief wash over him at Lu Ming's simple affirmation. He knew Lu Ming well enough to understand that if the situation was truly hopeless, Lu Ming would either not have shown up or would have retreated immediately. His presence here was a testament to his confidence in facing the formidable beast.
However, Bai Tianyu's assumption that the Level 8 beast was "nothing" to Lu Ming was a slight exaggeration. While Lu Ming possessed immense power, he had not yet reached Level 9, meaning the Wolf Bear ancestor posed a significant challenge. In fact, Lu Ming felt considerable pressure as he confronted the monstrous creature.
Hoping to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, Lu Ming attempted to communicate. "Can we not fight?" he asked, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
But the Wolf Bear ancestor's response was swift and unequivocal. With a deafening roar, it charged forward, its primal instincts overriding any potential for peaceful resolution. Though intelligent in its own right, the beast lacked the capacity to understand human language. Lu Ming's Mandarin words were meaningless to it.
As the mountain of fur and muscle bore down on him, Lu Ming took a deep breath, bracing himself for the impact. He channeled his Origin Power, planting his feet firmly and twisting his waist as he drew back his right fist, gathering all his strength into a single, focused point.
The Wolf Bear ancestor's giant paw, the size of Lu Ming's entire body, swung down like a collapsing wall. Lu Ming met the attack with a thunderous punch.
"Boom!"
The collision of fist and paw sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the sheer force of the impact echoing across the battlefield. The Wolf Bear ancestor staggered backward, its right paw a mangled mess of flesh and bone.
The clash between Lu Ming and the Wolf Bear ancestor reverberated throughout the battlefield, a deafening roar that sent shockwaves across the ancient city ruins. Moments later, the air was filled with the terrified screams of the Six-legged Wolf Bears.
The Wolf Bear ancestor retreated frantically, its right paw a mangled mess of flesh and bone. It stared at Lu Ming, who stood uninjured, a look of pure bewilderment etched on its face. The creature couldn't fathom how this seemingly inferior mutant could match its own strength.
Indeed, after that initial exchange, Lu Ming realized that they were evenly matched in terms of raw power. His three-dimensional attribute score had surpassed 2,000, nearing Level 9 levels, but the Wolf Bear ancestor's physical prowess was surprisingly comparable. This was no ordinary Level 8 beast.
The prospect of a prolonged battle between two evenly matched powerhouses loomed large, yet Lu Ming had gleaned valuable insight from their initial clash. While the Wolf Bear ancestor possessed immense strength, it lacked the refined techniques and combat expertise that Lu Ming had honed over countless battles.
Lu Ming's mastery of the Explosive Fist, a martial art technique perfected to the highest level, had given him a decisive advantage in their first exchange. It was akin to a fight between two individuals of equal strength, one a novice and the other a seasoned warrior. The outcome was predictable.
With this realization, Lu Ming's confidence surged. He took a deep breath, expelling any lingering doubts, and charged towards the bewildered Wolf Bear ancestor, ready to unleash his full arsenal of skills and techniques.