Chapter 13: Ferocity

“Crocodile lizards, one large and one small.” Zhou Wan’s tone was urgent. “The big one is nearly three meters long, and the smaller one about one and a half meters! They’ve spotted us.”

“Damn it!” Liu Feng cursed, quickly scanning the surroundings. “No fighting in the water. Lure them ashore, head to the front. I remember there’s a restaurant at the community entrance—go to the second floor.”

He pointed to a row of shops about ten meters ahead, outside the community. The first floor was already submerged about one-third under water.

“Zhou Wan and Ming Hu, go ahead first. The three of us will cover the rear. Move fast!” Liu Feng ordered decisively.

The group instantly quickened their pace, wading through waist-deep water with great effort. Chen Yan roared fiercely, his massive frame guarding the rear. A baseball bat was strapped to his back, and he gripped a firefighter’s axe tightly, standing like an unyielding dam.

The dark shapes beneath the water sensed the prey accelerating and suddenly surged forward. Two distinct V-shaped ripples spread across the murky surface.

“Han Ning!” Liu Feng shouted.

“Got it.” Han Ning’s expression was serious. Facing the oncoming threat, he thrust both hands forward as if pressing against an invisible force.

In an instant, ten dark green vines covered with sharp thorns shot out from beneath the turbid water like venomous snakes hunting their prey.

*Splash! Splash! Splash!*

The sound of vines breaking through the water echoed continuously.

Most of the vines targeted the smaller, faster crocodile lizard.

Seven or eight vines wrapped precisely around its limbs, neck, and long tail.

“Hiss!” The small crocodile lizard froze as the vines coiled tightly, struggling wildly. The vines stretched taut, emitting a grating creak, sending sprays of water everywhere.

Han Ning’s face involuntarily twitched.

He could clearly feel the immense force pulling at his arms through the vines.

Though small, this little crocodile lizard was still larger than the juvenile one Han Ning had encountered ten days prior.

The tenacity of intermediate-level vine magic far surpassed the basic level, yet even so, against such brute strength, it struggled.

Meanwhile, the enormous crocodile lizard relied on its formidable size and power to break through two or three vines blocking its path. Its speed only slowed slightly as it charged forward, jaws wide, lined with razor-sharp teeth and exuding a stinking breath, aiming straight for Chen Yan at the rear.

“Monster, get the hell away from me!” Chen Yan bellowed like thunder, muscles bulging, his skin faintly glowing with a rocky gray-white sheen.

Rather than retreating, he charged fiercely at the giant lizard, swinging his sharp firefighter’s axe with all his might, striking the fearsome head emerging from the water.

*Boom!*

A dull, earth-shaking crash sounded like two trucks colliding, water splashing wildly.

Chen Yan grunted as the massive recoil forced him back three steps. He stumbled, falling backward into the knee-deep flood, nearly dropping his axe. His hand was cracked open, blood streaming.

The giant crocodile lizard’s head was slammed down hard, its forward momentum abruptly halted.

“Now’s our chance! Up the stairs!” Liu Feng seized the precious opportunity and shouted loudly.

Lu Minghu, chainsaw buzzing fiercely, had already led Zhou Wan to the restaurant entrance.

The staircase to the second floor was still above water.

Like a nimble cat, Lu Minghu leapt up the stairs, Zhou Wan close behind.

“Han Ning, help Old Chen retreat. I’ll cover the rear,” Liu Feng shouted to Han Ning, his gaze fixed on the small crocodile lizard still struggling fiercely, momentarily trapped by Han Ning.

Concrete debris and rusted steel pipes scattered in the murky water suddenly floated up as if moved by an invisible giant hand, hurtling with whistling wind toward the small crocodile lizard’s head and back!

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Heavy impacts echoed against the scales.

Though not seriously wounded, the sudden blows stunned the small lizard, its body tilting and interrupted in its struggle, momentarily halting its pursuit.

Han Ning swung his right hand again, leaving only two vines to continue entangling the small crocodile lizard.

The other vines shifted direction, binding the fallen Chen Yan and dragging him backward, quickly distancing him from the giant crocodile lizard.

The four dashed up to the second floor as fast as possible.

The staircase opened onto a narrow corridor, flanked by several private rooms and a main hall.

Inside the hall, overturned tables and chairs lay in disarray, windows shattered, letting wind and rain blow in ceaselessly.

“Block the stairwell!” Liu Feng’s slightly breathless voice came from below as he scrambled up, all fours, looking thoroughly exhausted.

By now, Chen Yan had regained his senses.

“Pfft, pfft!” He spat out water, using his burly frame to block the stairwell, holding the firefighter’s axe horizontally before him.

Han Ning summoned more vines, weaving a crude barrier net.

Almost as soon as their defense was complete, chilling roars and violent impacts pounded the stairs below.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The wooden stairs groaned painfully under the tremendous force, splinters falling like rain.

The two crocodile lizards were clearly enraged.

“The big one’s coming up. Get ready!” Liu Feng’s eyes blazed as he scanned the hall. Several heavy solid wood chairs trembled slightly, as if awakened by an unseen power.

Lu Minghu stood a little further back, the chainsaw’s high-speed whirring piercing the dilapidated hall’s silence.

He gripped the saw tightly, eyes fixed intently on the stairwell.

Zhou Wan stood directly facing the stairwell, drawing her composite bow, a carbon fiber arrow gleaming coldly nocked steadily on the string. The bowstring was half-drawn, the arrowhead subtly adjusting with her gaze, ready to release at any moment.

*Crash.*

A tremendous sound—above the stairwell, the wooden floorboards and Han Ning’s woven vine net were shattered by an overwhelming force.

Wood chips, dust, and broken vines scattered everywhere.

A colossal, grotesque head covered with slimy, pale scales thrust through the entrance, reeking of foul breath. Ping-pong ball-sized yellow vertical pupils locked instantly onto the closest target—Chen Yan.

“Roar!”

A deafening bellow nearly tore the roof off. Half the giant crocodile lizard’s body surged onto the second floor. It swung its massive forelimbs, striking toward Chen Yan blocking its path.

Chen Yan’s pupils dilated sharply, reaction blazing at a life-or-death moment. His arms glowed with an intense gray-white stony sheen as he raised his firefighter’s axe without hesitation to meet the attack head-on.

*Bang… crack!*

A muffled crash exploded.

Chen Yan’s entire body was like a truck hit at full speed, feet lifting off the ground as he was flung backward like a cannonball, crashing into the wooden partition of a private dining room.

The heavy firefighter’s axe slipped from his grasp, spinning into a far wall.

The giant crocodile lizard, landing a successful strike, whipped its spiked tail in a sweeping arc, aiming directly at Lu Minghu.